Equipment for grilling food

Abstract

A piece of equipment for grilling food includes a frame that can be translated vertically and rotated by 180°, and is adapted to support several pairs of grates hinged to each other. A first motor causes the grate-holding frame to translate vertically and a second motor is configured to rotate the grate-holding frame.

Claims

1. Equipment for grilling food, comprising: at least two vertical uprights (15) equipped with guides for a vertical sliding movement of a grate-holding frame (10) supporting one or more pairs of grates (20a and 20b); said grate-holding frame (10), which is configured to translate in a vertical direction and to rotate; one or more pairs of grates (20a, 20b) hinged to each other, made integral with said grate-holding frame (10) and configured to be opened to receive the food and closed to hold the food during rotation and grilling; a first motor (1b) configured to provide for a vertical translation of said one or more pairs of grates (20a, 20b); a second motor (1a) configured to rotate said grate-holding frame (10) and translating vertically along guides of said vertical uprights (15); a control system (22) configured to provide for a cyclical translation and rotation of said grates; and a heat source placed under said gate-holding frame (10) and said grates (20a, 20b).

2. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising one or more gas plates (24) operating as a heat source.

3. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising one or more lower elements (12) adapted to contain embers as providing a heat source.

4. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein said grate-holding frame (10) is divided in a plurality of sectors on which two or more pairs of grates (20a, 20b) can be rested and constrained.

5. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a PLC control system (22) configured to control the cyclic translation and rotation of said grate-holding frame (10) according to preset time intervals.

6. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein said one or more pairs of grates (20a, 20b) comprise upper and lower grates hinged to each other with rotation hinges (20d) between said upper grates (20a) and said lower grates (20b), and wherein said rotation hinges comprise two or more rotation points, thus making it possible to vary a distance of the lower grates (20b) from the upper grates (20a).

7. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising, as a protection element for the heat source, at least one rear shield (2), side shields (4), and a door in a front part of said equipment, said at least one rear shield, said side shield, and said front door being configured to close the equipment on each side after insertion of the food.

8. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a heat probe configured to control a temperature of the heat source, wherein said probe is connected to said PLC.

9. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising two or more wheels at a base of said equipment, said two or more wheels being configured to allow a translation of the equipment.

10. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising an emergency switch (11) to be used to stop any movement of the equipment or to off the heat source.

11. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising light-emitting devices (25) configured to warn an operator that the equipment is working and to provide information regarding a cooking process.

12. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising control devices that allow a complete rotation of the grate-holding frame only when the grate-holding frame is in a completely lifted position.

13. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a remote control configured to set and/or control all grilling stages, including a start of the first and the second motors, from a suitable distance.

14. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein said grate-holding frame (10) is configured to be replaced with a rotisserie spit in order to cook entire animals.

Description

[0046] FIGS. 1a and 1b, 2, 3 show the grilling equipment in its main parts: [0047] grate-holding frame divided in eight sectors (10); [0048] first motor (1b) for the translation of the grate-holding frame (10) and second motor (1a) for the rotation of the same; [0049] vertical motion transmission unit (3); [0050] protective shield (2) located in the rear part of the grate-holding frame (10); [0051] uprights (15) for the vertical translation of the motor (1a) dedicated to the rotation of the grate-holding frame (10) with several double grates (20a, 20b); [0052] protective shields (4) located at the sides of the grilling area; [0053] drawer (9) suited to contain and protect the transmission members; [0054] double grates (20a) and (20b); [0055] upper grates (20b) suited to contain and hold the food and hinged to the first grate (20a); [0056] translating and rotating grate-holding frame (10) with double grates (20a) and (20b); [0057] emergency switch (11); [0058] element designed to contain the heat source (12), embers (FIG. 1a) or gas plates (24) (FIG. 1b); [0059] equipment supporting base (13); [0060] upright (15) for the grill translation chain; [0061] safety micro switch (16) positioned on the rear shield (2); [0062] PLC connection support; [0063] locking device (20c) for the double upper (20a) and lower (20b) grates that hold the food in position; [0064] upper grate (20a); [0065] hinges (20d) for the rotation of the double upper (20a) and lower (20b) grates; [0066] PLC control system; [0067] gas plates (24); [0068] grill translation chain (25).

[0069] More specifically, always in FIGS. (1a) and (1b) it is possible to observe that the equipment for grilling food comprises, among its main parts, two side supports (13) equipped with vertical elements or uprights (15) with supporting legs and a grill bearing shoulder, said two side supports being connected and made integral with each other by a drawer (ember-holding 12a, plate-holding 12b) in such a way as to obtain a stable structure.

[0070] Each of said side supports (13) comprises a guide for the sliding movement of the translation unit of the grate-holding frame (10) and of the end of the center shaft of the frame itself.

[0071] The first motor (1b) for the vertical translation of the grate-holding frame (10) is applied to the transmission unit (3), which provides for activating the chain (25) on which the translating support of the center shaft of the grate-holding frame (10) itself is fixed.

[0072] Said center shaft of the grill will be connected to the second motor (1a) which translates vertically together with the frame (10) with grates (20a, 20b) and provides for the 180° rotation of the frame itself.

[0073] Around the drawer (12) there are side shields (4) and rear shields (2) designed both to protect the grill from the wind and to prevent the operators from approaching the grill from the wrong side.

[0074] Said first grate (20a) and said second grates (20b) are hinged to each other by means of one or more hinges (20d) that allow the variation of the rotation axis of each grate with respect to the other, while special coupling and fixing devices (20c) allow the pair of grates to be constrained to the frame (10).

[0075] In this case the grate-holding frame comprises eight sectors, each suited to contain hinged pairs of grates (20a, 20b) that are independent of each other, in such a way that it is possible to open even one sector only, in which the food, owing to its characteristics, may have a cooking time different from that of the food positioned in the other sectors.

[0076] In addition to the main mechanical parts described above, the grilling equipment comprises also a unit for controlling and managing the cooking times and stages, provided with an emergency switch (11).

[0077] The operation of the grilling equipment includes the lowering of the grate-holding frame (10), the introduction of the food in the various sectors, the closing of the second grates (20b), following which the food is compressed and held in the correct position.

[0078] The grilling process includes several rotations of the grate-holding frame (10), in such a way that the food can be heated on both sides; more specifically, several intervals are preset for all the grill rotation and translation operations.

[0079] The grate-holding frame (10), with the pair of grates (20a, 20b) closed, is lifted in horizontal position by means of the first motor (1b) and reaches the upper position, where the second motor (1a) provides for its 180° rotation. Successively, the first motor (1b) moves the grill back to the optimal grilling position and this operation is repeated at regular intervals with preset duration and for the preset number of steps.

[0080] The whole management of the grill movement is preset by the control unit (22), which provides for managing all the operations, allowing the cooks to remain at a safety distance.

[0081] At the end of each preset grilling cycle, an acoustic and/or light signal will be activated to warn the operators that the food is ready to be extracted. All or just some of the upper grates are opened, so that the food contained therein can be extracted. Successively, it will be possible to introduce other food and a new grilling cycle can be started.

[0082] Protection casings for the moving members are provided.

[0083] These are the schematic outlines which are sufficient for the expert in the art to carry out the invention, consequently on practical application variants may be developed which do not affect the substance of the innovative concept introduced herein.

[0084] Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.