SYSTEM FOR PREPARING FOOD BY MICROWAVES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for preparing food by microwaves, comprising a microwave generator, in particular a magnetron, at least one food container formed of a microwave-tight material, at least one lid adapted for closing an open top side (40) of said at least one food container and for sealing it in a microwave-tight way, a stirrer rotatably arranged inside said food container and adapted to be driven by a motor, preferably by a motor arranged outside of the food container, a docking station adapted to removably receive said at least one food container in a configuration in which the food container is sealed by said at least one lid and to feed microwaves generated by said microwave generator into the food container for heating any food comprised therein, preferably wherein the docking station includes a motor for driving said stirrer inside the food container.

Claims

1. A system for preparing food by microwaves, comprising: a microwave generator, a food container formed of a microwave-tight material, a lid adapted for closing an open top side of said food container and for sealing it in a microwave-tight way, a stirrer rotatably arranged inside said food container and adapted to be driven by a motor, a docking station adapted to removably receive said food container in a configuration in which the food container is sealed by said lid and to feed microwaves generated by said microwave generator into the food container for heating any food therein.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the food container includes a bottom, side walls and an open top side, the bottom and the side walls of the food container being made of metal.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station is adapted to feed microwaves generated by said microwave generator into the food container via said lid.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein lid is made of material adapted to prevent leakage of microwaves.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lid is irremovably connected to the docking station or wherein the lid comprises a through hole for feeding microwaves into the food container, wherein said through hole is adapted to be removably connected to the docking station and hence to the microwave generator via a microwave-tight sealing.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a control device for controlling the microwave generator, and/or a safety device adapted to avoid generation of microwaves unless the lid has been microwave-tightly closed if the microwave generator is part of the lid, and unless the vessel is microwave-tightly coupled to the microwave generator if the microwave generator is not part of the lid.

7. The system according to claim 1, comprising a control device for controlling the motor that drives the stirrer arranged inside the food container.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the docking station comprises a section that is adapted to support a bottom of the removable food container and that comprises the motor for the stirrer.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stirrer is adapted for mixing, cutting and/or mincing the food in the food container, the stirrer comprising at least one sharp edge for cutting and/or mincing the food in the food containers.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein a lower part of a first driving shaft connected to the stirrer and an upper part of a second driving shaft connected to the motor are formed complementary to each other, so that the first driving shaft and the second driving shaft are connectable or connected to each other and form a torque proof unit.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the food container includes a first driving shaft connected to the stirrer and extending along a rotation axis, the docking station includes a second driving shaft connected to and rotatable by the motor, and the second driving shaft is connectable or connected to the first driving shaft of the food container, wherein the rotation axis of the driving shaft extends vertically, wherein the second driving shaft is rotatable around the rotation axis and forms a torque proof unit with the first driving shaft when the food container is received by the docking station, wherein the first driving shaft includes a gear wheel at its lower portion, wherein the second driving shaft of the docking station is at least partially complementary to said gear wheel so that the first driving shaft and the second driving shaft connected to each other are torque proof.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising at least two said food containers each being removable and with different volumes for taking up food, each comprising an open top side being adapted to be coupled to said lid that has at least one of the same size and shape.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a drawer moveable inside and out of a cavity of a kitchen furniture cabinet, wherein said docking station is an integrated part of said drawer.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a scale system integrated within the food container and/or within the docking station.

15. The system according to according to claim 1, further comprising a drawer adapted for installation in a piece of kitchen furniture, wherein said drawer includes said docking station, and wherein said drawer and hence said docking station are moveable between a position inside the piece of kitchen furniture and a position in front of said piece of kitchen furniture.

16. The system according to claim 1, said docking station comprising a motor adapted to drive from outside the food container said stirrer located inside the food container.

17. A system for preparing food by microwaves, comprising: first and second open-topped food containers each formed of a microwave-tight material and each having a stirrer disposed therein at a bottom thereof and being connected to a respective first driving shaft that extends through the bottom of the respective container; a docking station adapted to removably receive and seat the bottom of each said container, the docking station comprising a microwave generator for generating microwaves and a motor operatively coupled to a second driving shaft, a lower part of said first driving shaft of each said container and an upper part of said second driving shaft being formed complementarily to one another such that when the respective container is seated in said docking station its first driving shaft and said second driving shaft form a torque proof unit; a first lid formed of a microwave-tight material adapted for closing an open top side of the first food container and for sealing it in a microwave-tight way, the first lid being adapted to couple to said microwave generator when the first container is seated in said docking station, with said first lid closing said first container, in order to introduce microwaves generated by said microwave generator into said first container via a through hole in said lid; and a safety device that avoids generation of microwaves unless said lid is microwave-tightly coupled to said microwave generator, said safety device comprising a microswitch that recognizes the coupling between the lid and the microwave generator.

18. The system according to claim 17, said first lid being further adapted for closing an open top side of the second food container and for sealing it in a microwave-tight way, the first lid being adapted to couple to said microwave generator when the second container is seated in said docking station, with said first lid closing said second container, in order to introduce microwaves generated by said microwave generator into said second container via said through hole.

19. The system according to claim 17, said first and second containers having different volumes.

20. The system according to claim 17, said docking station being disposed in a drawer of a kitchen furniture.

Description

[0033] The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a food container for preparing food according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view at the lower side of the food container and at a docking station for said food container according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the food container received by the docking station according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and

[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the food container for preparing food according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a food container 10 for preparing food according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The food container 10 is provided for preparing food by microwaves.

[0039] The food container 10 includes a circular bottom 12 and a cylindrical side wall 14. Further, the food container 10 includes a stirrer 16 arranged above the bottom 12 of said food container 10. The stirrer 16 is rotatable around a vertical rotation axis. Said vertical rotation axis extends perpendicular to the bottom 12. In this embodiment, the vertical axis extends through the centre of the bottom 12. For example, the stirrer 16 is made of metal. In this example, the bottom 12 and the side wall 14 of the food container 10 are made of metal. The bottom 12 and the side wall 14 made of metal prevent that the microwaves escape from the food container 10 through said bottom 12 and side wall 14.

[0040] The stirrer 16 mixes, cuts and/or minces the food in the food container 10. Thus, the stirrer 16 allows an efficient cooking of the food. The microwaves heats up the food in the food container 10. At the same time, the food is mixed, cut and/or minced by the stirrer 16. The food container 10 with the stirrer 16 allows a uniform heating of the food.

[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view at the lower side of the food container 10 and at a docking station 18 for said food container 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The food container 10 and the docking station 18 form a system for preparing food by microwaves.

[0042] In this embodiment, the docking station 18 is arranged on a drawer 22. Said drawer 22 is provided for installation in a piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24, e.g. a kitchen cabinet, and includes the docking station 18. The drawer 22 and hence the docking station 18 are slidable between a position inside the piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24 and a position in front of said piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24.

[0043] Further, the food container 10 includes a first driving shaft 26. Said first driving shaft 26 is connected to the stirrer 16. The first driving shaft 26 extends along the rotation axis of the stirrer 16. In this example, a gear wheel is attached at the lower end of the first driving shaft 26. Said gear wheel is connectable to a second driving shaft 28 arranged in a recess 30 of the docking station 18. The second driving shaft 28 is rotatable and directly or indirectly driven by a motor. For example, said motor is arranged inside the docking station 18. Optionally, electric contact elements 32 are arranged at the lower side of the food container 10, wherein said electric contact elements 32 are connectable to further electric contact elements 34 arranged in the recess 30 of the docking station 18. The food container 10 is cleanable in a dishwasher.

[0044] Alternatively, the motor may be arranged inside the food container 10 and beneath the bottom 12 of said food container 10. In this case, the motor is controlled and supplied with power via the electric contact elements 32 and 34.

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the food container 10 received by the docking station 18 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] The docking station 18 is arranged on the drawer 22 of the piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24. The drawer 22 is slidable between the position inside the piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24 and the place in front of said piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24. The food container 10 is received by the docking station 18. Further, the food container 10 is closed by a lid 36. Said lid 36 is removable from the food container 10. Moreover, the food container 10 comprises a handle 38 arranged at the side wall 14. The drawer 22 is moveable into the piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24 together with the docking station 18 and the food container 10.

[0047] For example, the lid 36 includes at least one microwave generator, which is not shown, for radiating microwaves through the open top side 40 into the food container 10. Preferably, the microwave generator is a magnetron. Alternatively, the lid includes at least one coupling arrangement adapted for a microwave-coupling to at least one microwave generator. Moreover, the microwave generator may be arranged inside the piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24, wherein preferably a wave guide may be provided for feeding the microwaves into the food container 10 via the lid 36.

[0048] Further, the system may comprise at least one control device for controlling the microwave generator. Moreover, the system may comprise at least one safety device. Preferably, said safety device is adapted to avoid generation of microwaves unless the lid 36 has been microwave-tightly closed, if the microwave generator is part of the lid 36, and unless the vessel is microwave-tightly coupled to the microwave generator, if the microwave generator is not part of the lid 36.

[0049] The microwave generator can be arranged inside the docking station 18 (not shown) near the lid 36 of the food container 10. The through hole of the lid 36 shown in FIG. 3 can be releasably coupled via anot shownmicrowave tight coupling device to the docking station and hence to the microwave generator. In that case, the lid 36 may be a separate part and microwave-tightly connectable to the food container 10 as well as to the docking station 18. Alternatively, the lid 36 may be an integral part of the docking station 18, wherein said lid 36 is microwave-tightly connectable to the food container 10 (not shown).

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the food container 10 for preparing food according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] The food container 10 includes the circular bottom 12, the cylindrical side wall 14 and the stirrer 16. Said stirrer 16 is arranged above the bottom 12. The stirrer 16 is rotatable around the vertical rotation axis. Said vertical rotation axis extends perpendicular to the bottom 12. In this example, the vertical axis extends through the centre of the bottom 12. For example, the stirrer 16 is made of metal. In this example, the bottom 12 and the side wall 14 of the food container 10 are also made of metal. The bottom 12 and the side wall 14 made of metal prevent that the microwaves escape from the food container 10 through said bottom 12 and side wall 14.

[0052] The stirrer 16 cuts, mixes and/or minces the food in the food container 10. Thus, the stirrer 16 allows an efficient cooking of the food. The microwaves heats up the food in the food container 10, while the food is mixed, cut and/or minced by said stirrer 16 at the same time. The food container 10 with the stirrer 16 allows the uniform heating up of the food.

[0053] The food container 10 is arranged above the docking station 18. In the second embodiment, the docking station 18 is a freestanding device. The food container 10 and the docking station 18 form the system for preparing food by microwaves. In contrast, the docking station 18 of the first embodiment is integrated in the drawer 22 of the piece 20 of kitchen furniture 24. The motor for driving the stirrer 16 may be arranged either beneath the bottom 12 inside the food container 10 or in the docking station 18. In the first case, the docking station 18 provides the motor inside the food container 10 with power. In the second case, the food container 10 may include the first driving shaft 26 connected to the stirrer 16 and connectable to the second driving shaft 28 in the docking station 18. Moreover, in the second case, the food container 10 is cleanable in the dishwasher.

[0054] The food container 10 includes an open top side 40. The microwaves enter the food container 10 through said open top side 40. For example, the open top side 40 of the food container 10 is covered by a lid with an integrated microwave generator. Preferably, said microwave generator is a magnetron. Alternatively, the food container 10 is covered by a lid including a coupling arrangement adapted for a microwave-coupling to a microwave generator, e.g. magnetron. Thus, the food container 10, the docking station 18, the lid and the integrated microwave generator are used as a freestanding device.

[0055] Additionally, the food prepared in the food container 10 may be heated up by induction heating, radiant heating and/or thick-film heating technologies beside the microwave heating.

[0056] The first and second embodiments of the present invention may be combined. For example, the system for preparing food by microwaves may comprise the food container 10, the docking station 18 integrated within the drawer 22 according to the first embodiment and the freestanding docking station 18 according to the second embodiment.

[0057] The food container 10 and/or the docking station 18 may communicate with other cooking appliances. Further, the food container 10 and/or the docking station 18 may communicate with a mobile and/or stationary computer device.

[0058] A scale system may be integrated in the food container 18 and/or docking station 18, in particular in the bottom 12 of the food container 10. Said scale system may communicate with other cooking appliances and/or with the mobile and/or stationary computer device.

[0059] The system according to the present invention is an independent microwave device. The food container 10 is microwave-tight. The food container 10 and the docking station 18 are freestanding in the kitchen. Alternatively, the docking station 18 is an integrated part of the drawer 22, wherein the docking station 18 receives the food container 10.

[0060] Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0061] 10 food container [0062] 12 bottom [0063] 14 side wall [0064] 16 stirrer [0065] 18 docking station [0066] 20 piece of kitchen furniture [0067] 22 drawer [0068] 24 kitchen furniture [0069] 26 first driving shaft [0070] 28 second driving shaft [0071] 30 recess [0072] 32 electric contact elements of the food container [0073] 34 electric contact elements of the docking station [0074] 36 lid [0075] 38 handle [0076] 40 open top side