Cooking Appliance for Commercial Kitchens Comprising a Fat Extraction Device, Fat Extraction Device and Method for Operating Such a Cooking Appliance with Fat Extraction

Abstract

A cooking appliance for commercial kitchens has a fat collection device with at least one fat collection container, at least one fat extraction line, at least one suction pump and at least one fat discharge line. The fat extraction line extends from the fat collection container to the suction pump. The suction pump conveys a fat-water mixture via the fat extraction line into the fat discharge line. A cleaning device is provided which conveys water at least via the fat extraction line and the fat collection container into a cooking chamber outlet of the cooking appliance.

Claims

1-28. (canceled)

29. A cooking appliance for commercial kitchens comprising a cooking chamber for cooking food to be cooked, a heating device for heating a cooking chamber atmosphere, an appliance controller for controlling the cooking appliance, and a cooking chamber outlet located below a floor of the cooking chamber and provided for draining off a fat-water mixture and gaseous components of the cooking chamber atmosphere from the cooking chamber, wherein the cooking chamber outlet extends from a drain opening in a floor region of the cooking chamber to a siphon device, wherein a fat collection device is provided, the fat collection device comprising at least one fat collection container, at least one fat extraction line, at least one suction pump and at least one fat discharge line, wherein the fat extraction line extends from the fat collection container to the suction pump, wherein the suction pump is configured to convey the fat-water mixture extracted via the fat extraction line into the fat discharge line, and wherein a cleaning device is provided, the cleaning device being configured to convey water at least via the fat extraction line and the fat collection container into the cooking chamber outlet in a direction towards the siphon device.

30. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the cooking appliance is a combi-steamer comprising the cooking chamber for cooking food to be cooked arrangeable on a plurality of cooking levels.

31. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the cooking appliance is a rotisserie appliance comprising the cooking chamber for cooking food to be cooked arrangeable on a rotatable support for food to be cooked.

32. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the fat collection container is located in an initial region of the cooking chamber outlet.

33. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein an end portion of the fat collection container is configured in a ramp-shaped manner in a direction towards the siphon device.

34. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein a branch line for draining off gaseous components of a fluid or vapours discharged from the cooking chamber into the cooking chamber outlet branches off the cooking chamber outlet between the fat collection container and the siphon device.

35. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the water of the cleaning device used for flushing the fat collection device is heated.

36. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the suction pump is configured as a pump which can be flowed through in both directions, whereby it can be flowed through against a pumping direction.

37. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the fat discharge line comprises a riser pipe arranged at a pump outlet of the suction pump and extending upwardly from there over a certain portion.

38. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the cleaning device has a water supply and wherein the fat collection device has a shut-off valve at an inlet of the water supply of the cleaning device into the fat extraction line, such that, after shutting off the fat extraction line, the cleaning device can clean the suction pump and the fat discharge line by flushing through.

39. The cooking appliance of claim 38, wherein the water supply comprises at least one water supply line leading into the riser pipe above the suction pump.

40. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the fat collection device comprises the cleaning device.

41. The cooking appliance of claim 29, wherein the cleaning device comprises a water supply line connected to the fat discharge line and connectable to a water source.

42. A fat collection device for commercial kitchen cooking appliances comprising at least one fat collection container, at least one fat extraction line, at least one suction pump and at least one fat discharge line, wherein the fat collection container is arrangeable on a cooking chamber outlet of the cooking appliance in the vicinity of a drain opening in the floor or in the floor region of the cooking appliance, wherein the fat extraction line extends from the fat collection container to the suction pump, wherein the suction pump is configured to convey the fat-water mixture extracted via the fat extraction line into the fat discharge line, and wherein the fat collection device comprises a cleaning device configured to convey water at least via the fat extraction line and the fat collection container into the cooking chamber outlet in a direction towards a siphon device at the end of the cooking chamber outlet of the cooking appliance.

43. A method for operating a commercial kitchen cooking appliance and for collecting fat produced during a cooking process, the method comprising the steps of: collecting a fat-water mixture escaping from a cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, via a drain opening thereof, within a fat collection container of a fat collection device connected to a cooking chamber outlet of the cooking appliance, extracting the fat-water mixture via at least one fat extraction line from the fat collection container by means of a suction pump arranged at an end of the fat extraction line, discharging the fat-water mixture extracted by the suction pump via a fat discharge line to a fat storage tank, and carrying out a cleaning process of the fat collection device after completing a cleaning process of the cooking appliance, by conveying water in a reverse direction to an extraction direction at least through the fat extraction line and the fat collection container into the cooking chamber outlet in a direction towards a siphon device at an end of the cooking chamber outlet of the cooking appliance.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein an operation of the suction pump is performed in a clocked manner.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the clocking is performed as a function of the food to be cooked.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the clocking is performed as a function of the cooking process.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein, during the cleaning process, water is conveyed through the fat discharge line, the fat extraction line and the fat collection container into the cooking chamber outlet.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the cleaning process of the fat collection device is performed both at the beginning and at the end of the cleaning process of the cooking appliance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cooking appliance in the form of a combi-steamer;

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the cooking appliance of FIG. 1 with the cooking chamber door removed;

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a cooking appliance in the form of a large combi-steamer with a rack trolley;

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a construction of an embodiment of the cooking appliance in the form of a combi-steamer;

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a cooking chamber outlet and a partial view of a fat collection device with a fat extraction line;

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a view of a rear face of the cooking appliance in the form of a combi-steamer with a fat suction pump, a fat discharge line and a water supply of the cleaning device of the fat collection device; and

[0061] FIGS. 7a, 7b show a view of the rear face of the cooking appliance according to FIG. 6 with a variant of the cleaning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0062] In the figures, same elements are provided with same reference sings.

[0063] A conventional cooking appliance 1 in the form of a combi-steamer comprising a cooking chamber 3 for cooking food products is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the cooking chamber 3 can be closed by a cooking chamber door 5. The cooking chamber door 5 has a door handle 8 for the handling thereof. A so-called technical space 6 is located adjacent to the cooking chamber 3, wherein a drive device for a fan wheel 7, an appliance controller having a display and control panel 9, and a hand shower 11 comprising a hand shower head 13 are arranged within the technical space 6.

[0064] As can be seen, the hand shower head 13 is arranged so as to be received in a niche-like receptacle 19 and, in the resting position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, does not protrude over a front face of the cooking appliance 1. Due to the niche-like receptacle 19 the hand shower head 13 can be easily gripped and can be pulled out together with a part of a supply line (not shown). The cooking appliance 1 has a water supply to which the hand shower 11 is connected, wherein water can be sprayed via the hand shower 11 into the cooking chamber 3, for example for performing a manual cleaning process.

[0065] As is also visible from FIG. 2, the cooking chamber 3 has a drain opening 15 in the region of its floor 4, wherein not only a fat-water mixture formed by condensed water and the fat released from the food to be cooked during the cooking process can stream out or flow out through said drain opening, but also a gaseous cooking chamber atmosphere, all together forming the vapours defined herein, and a cleaning medium generated in the course of a cleaning process or a generated cleaning or washing liquor are able to be removed from the cooking chamber 3 through said drain opening.

[0066] Indicated schematically, an internal temperature sensor 17 of the cooking appliance 1, which in the exemplary embodiment shown serves as a core temperature sensor, is also located on the floor 4 of the cooking chamber 3.

[0067] An exhaust air outlet 21, to which an exhaust air pipe leads, is visible on the upper face of the cooking chamber 1. This is described in greater detail below.

[0068] Whilst in FIGS. 1 and 2a cooking appliance 1 of a relatively small overall size is shown, in FIG. 3a cooking appliance 1 of a large overall size is shown. Visible through a transparent door glass 20 of the cooking chamber door 5 is a (suspension) frame 29 comprising a plurality of insertion rails 31 which serve to receive a number of insertion plates or insertion grids forming insertion levels, loaded with the food to be cooked, as suitable or desired for the respective cooking process. A corresponding frame 29 is located on the opposing side, and both frames 29 are part of a rack frame of a rack trolley 23 known per se. This rack trolley 23 has a rectangular frame 25 on which a roller 27 is provided at each corner, wherein at least two of the rollers 27 are rotatable. As visible from FIG. 3, the frame 29 has twenty insertion rails 31, which provides the possibility of receiving a large quantity of food to be cooked on up to twenty insertion levels. The cooking appliance 1 in turn rests on four corner columns 14.

[0069] Advantageously, for example, a collection tray or collection pan (not shown) having a slightly downwardly offset opening can be inserted on the lowest insertion rails on both sides, whereby the liquid fat flows toward this opening, which in the inserted state of the collection pan comes to rest above the drain opening 15. As a result, the fat dripping from above can be collected and conducted to the drain opening 15 and drain therein, whereby the cooking chamber floor 4 of the cooking appliance is covered to a significantly lesser degree with fat. As a result, the floor 4 of the cooking chamber 3 does not have to be cleaned as intensively, which significantly simplifies the cleaning of the cooking chamber 3.

[0070] If a large quantity of fatty food to be cooked, such as for example ducks or geese, is cooked in such a large cooking appliance 1, a correspondingly large quantity of released fat is produced.

[0071] In FIG. 4a construction of the two cooking appliances 1 and 1 illustrated is shown schematically, wherein the size ratios of the individual components are not shown true to scale but only schematically. Since the two cooking appliances are combi-steamers, there are a plurality of insertion levels 32 for correspondingly receiving food to be cooked. The fan wheel 7 is driven by the drive device in the form of a motor 12, whereby the air or cooking chamber atmosphere 22 can be circulated in the cooking chamber 3.

[0072] The drain opening 15 is formed in the floor 4 of the cooking chamber 3, wherein a cooking chamber outlet 33, which extends on the lower face of the cooking chamber 3 to a siphon device 35 and leads into same, is connected to said drain opening 15. The siphon device 35 has a siphon container 36 in which a water reservoir 37 is located. As known from the prior art, a separating plate 41 extending into the water reservoir 37 is provided in the siphon container 36. As a result, an odour seal is formed relative to the cooking appliance drain 43 which is connected to the drains of the building. A drainage channel 44 leads out of the siphon container 36 into the drains (not shown).

[0073] Shown schematically is a water supply 45 supplied with fresh water according to arrow 47, wherein the fresh water can be fed via a water supply line 49 into the siphon container 36. A drainage pump 51, to which a drain line 53 is connected, is provided for emptying the siphon container 36, the water reservoir 37 being able to be pumped out via the drain line 53 into the drains 44. After the siphon container 36 is emptied, fresh water can be fed via water supply line 49 of the water supply 45 into the siphon container 36 in order to form the water reservoir 37 again.

[0074] The cooking appliance 1, 1, shown schematically in FIG. 4, has an automatic cleaning device of the cooking appliance which comprises a supply line 55 by which liquid from the water reservoir 37 can be introduced into the cooking chamber 3 by means of a circulating pump 57. The water reservoir 37 serves for condensing exhaust air, which is supplied via the cooking chamber outlet 33 to the siphon device 35, wherein corresponding vapour components also reach the water reservoir 37 and act thereon. Thus, for performing the automatic cleaning of the cooking appliance, the water reservoir 37 is emptied by means of the drainage pump 51 and fresh water is supplied via the water supply line 49. The fresh water can then serve as an initial liquid for automatic cleaning and, if required, supplied repeatedly to the cooking chamber 3 by means of the circulating pump 57.

[0075] Moreover, such an automatic cleaning device of a combi-steamer is known from the prior art and thus is not described further.

[0076] According to an aspect of the present invention, the cooking appliance 1, 1 comprises a fat collection device 59 comprising a fat collection container 61 which is arranged below the cooking chamber outlet 33, as shown in FIG. 4, which is preferably welded to the cooking chamber outlet 33. A connection opening 71 for a fat extraction pipe being part of a fat extraction line 73 is shown in dashed lines. Other connecting options providing a permanent connection of the cooking chamber outlet 33 and the fat collection container 61 fall within the scope of the invention.

[0077] Reference is now made to FIG. 5 in which a part of the fat collection device 59 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view.

[0078] For connecting the cooking chamber outlet 33 to the cooking chamber 3, the cooking chamber outlet 33 has a cooking chamber outlet entry 34 with a connecting flange 38 which can be screwed to the cooking chamber floor 4. In the embodiment shown, to which the invention is not limited, the fat collection container 61 welded to the tubular cooking chamber outlet 33 is located in the vicinity of the cooking chamber outlet entry 34. As clearly visible in FIG. 5, the fat collection container 61 has a ramp-shaped end portion 62. Details thereof are described in greater detail below.

[0079] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cooking chamber outlet 33 terminates in a connection opening 58 for connecting to the siphon container 36 of the siphon device 35.

[0080] As is also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an opening 63 for a branch line 64 for exhaust air from the cooking chamber 3 is located between the fat collection container 61 and the connection opening 58. The opening 63 forms a start of the exhaust air branch line 64 which has a first portion 65, a second portion 67 and a third portion configured as a connecting piece 69. An exhaust air pipe leading to the exhaust air outlet 21 (FIGS. 1 to 3) can be connected to the connecting piece 69.

[0081] The first portion 65 of the exhaust air branch line 64 extends substantially horizontally or with a slight inclination of 1 to 5, preferably of 2 to 2.5. This provides the advantage that steam from the exhaust air condensing therein can flow back again into the cooking chamber outlet 33. The second portion 67 of the exhaust air branch line 64, which is connected thereto, preferably extends in a similar or in the same inclination as the first portion 65. Condensate and optionally also unsolidified fat can flow back from there as well. Moreover, cleaning agent, which may have penetrated into these portions 65 and 66, can flow back again into the cooking chamber outlet 33 and then onward into the siphon device 35 when evacuating cleaning agent from the cooking chamber 3 via the cooking chamber outlet 33.

[0082] The fat collection device 59 also comprises fat extraction line 73 which preferably leads to and opens into the lower region of the fat collection container 61 and provides the option that the fat-water mixture collected in the fat collection container 61 can drain into the fat extraction line 73, respectively. This is supported by the fat extraction line 73 extending at a slight inclination of 1 to 5, preferably of 1.5 to 2.

[0083] Reference is now made to FIG. 6 which shows a perspective view of the rear face 10 of the cooking appliance 1 or 1 only partially shown. As shown in FIG. 6, the fat extraction line 73 extends beyond the rear face 10 of the cooking appliance and is connected to a suction pump 77 via a connecting line 75 or a connecting pipe portion 75. The suction pump 77 serves for extracting the fat-water mixture from the fat collection container 61 and for conveying this mixture via a fat discharge line 82 into a fat storage tank 95 (see FIG. 7a), such as a cannister, a collecting bin, etc.

[0084] The suction pump 77 is connected via a corresponding control and supply cable 79 to the appliance controller, wherein the cable 79 extends from the suction pump 77 via an opening 81 in the rear face 10 of the cooking appliance to the appliance controller.

[0085] The fat discharge line 82 comprises a riser pipe 83 which is held on the rear face 10 of the cooking appliance and extends substantially vertically upwardly. A discharge pipe 85 of the fat discharge line 82 is connected to the riser pipe 83, in the exemplary embodiment said discharge pipe extending substantially horizontally and a shut-off valve 87 being provided at an end thereof for shutting off the fat discharge line 82. At the end of the discharge pipe 85, a corresponding connecting hose 96 and/or connecting pipe portion can be connected to the fat storage tank for collected fat or fat-water mixture, as shown in FIG. 7a.

[0086] According to an embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance 1, 1 comprises a cleaning device by which at least the fat extraction line 73 and the fat collection container 61 can be flushed through in a direction opposing the direction of the fat extraction device, in order to remove both, residues of the fat-water mixture and residues of the cleaning agent penetrated thereinto during the cleaning process of the cooking appliance, so that a contamination of the extracted fat or fat-water mixture can be avoided as far as possible in the next fat extraction process.

[0087] In one embodiment, a water supply line 89 extends from the water supply 45 (FIG. 4) through an opening 90 in the rear wall 10 of the cooking appliance. The water supply line 89 leads into the riser pipe 83 at a position above the suction pump 77. With the supply of water via the water supply line 89, therefore, cleaning and flushing through of the fat collection device 59 from above the suction pump 77 can be performed through the riser pipe 83, the connecting line 75, the fat extraction line 73 and the fat collection container 61, wherein, from the fat collection container 61, the flushing and flushed-through quantity of liquid, respectively, is discharged via the cooking chamber outlet 33 into the siphon device 35 in a streamlined manner due to the ramp-shaped end portion 62.

[0088] In an alternative embodiment, the suction pump 77 can have a non-return device at its pump inlet 78, the non-return device preventing cleaning agent from the fat extraction line 73 and the connecting line 75 from penetrating into the suction pump 77. Accordingly, the water supply line 89 can lead into the connecting pipe portion 75 directly in front of the pump inlet 78, wherein a flushing through can take place from that point as far as the siphon device 35.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 6, two lateral cover walls 91 are provided, the cover walls 91 being connected to the rear wall 10 of the cooking appliance by means of screws 93 via corresponding holding elements 92 and, thus, permit a box-shaped structure which can be combined with a corresponding cover wall (not shown). Advantageously, the entire arrangement of the suction pump 77 and its connections are accessible for maintenance operations without having to reach into the interior of the cooking appliance.

[0090] A further exemplary embodiment of the cleaning device is shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b. The cleaning device accordingly comprises the connecting hose 94 which is connected to the fat discharge line 82, in particular to the shut-off valve 87. To this end, the connecting hose 94, at a first end 94a, can be mounted onto a pipe portion and can be fixed by means of a pipe clip or the like or fastened by means of a screw or bayonet connection to the pipe portion.

[0091] On the one hand, the connecting hose 94, as shown in FIG. 7a, can be connected to the fat storage tank 95 in order to discharge fat therein. Advantageously, the connecting hose 94 is releasably connected to the fat storage tank 95 in order to be able to replace the fat storage tank if required. To this end, a second end 94b of the connecting hose 94 can have a corresponding connector, for example in the form of a screw or bayonet connection.

[0092] The connecting hose 94 can also be configured as a water supply line and can be connected to a water source by means of a water supply line 96, for example a water tap, a pipeline or the like, as indicated schematically in FIG. 7b. As a result, a user can connect the easily accessible connecting hose 94 in a simple manner to a water source and thus flush through the entire fat collection device 59 for cleaning.

[0093] The water supply line 89 is shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 7a and 7b, since it can be optionally provided, as is the case with further water supply lines, in order to permit a flexible use or different cleaning options, for example in combination with water supply 45.

[0094] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown. For example, a plurality of water supply lines can be provided, at least another water supply line leading directly into the fat collection container 61 and/or the fat extraction line 73.

[0095] In a further embodiment, a multi-way valve can be provided upstream of the suction pump inlet 78, the water supplied being able to be conducted either into the connecting line 75 and the fat extraction line 73 or into the suction pump 77 and the fat discharge line 82 connected thereto, successively or at the same time.

[0096] In a further embodiment, for example, the riser pipe 83 can be directly connected to the fat extraction line 73 and the suction pump 77 can be arranged at the upper end of the riser pipe 83 and, in particular, at a height which is above the height of the drain opening 15 of the cooking chamber 3. Thus, cleaning liquid is prevented from penetrating as far as to the suction pump 77. The discharge pipe 85 is then connected to the outlet of the suction pump 77.

[0097] It is thus achieved by means of the present invention that recovery of fat from the cooking chamber is allowed, the fat being substantially or practically free of cleaning agent, wherein the fat has been released primarily from cooked food products. Hence, the quality of the recovered fat for suitable further processing, for example for cosmetics, is significantly increased.

[0098] Additionally, the great advantage is achieved that damaging fat contamination of both, the drainage pump and the circulating pump by fat which has penetrated into the water reservoir, can be significantly reduced, wherein corresponding seals can also be protected. Thus, the durability of the cooking appliance and its service life can be significantly increased.

[0099] This also results in the great advantage that a (negative) effect on the cooking quality is avoided.