Autonomous apparatus for cooking food, and cooking method

Abstract

An autonomous cooking apparatus for food includes a base body, a lid defining with the base body a cooking chamber, a container, disposed in the base body and a mixing device. The mixing device is connected to a drive member configured to make it rotate with respect to the container around a central axis of rotation. The apparatus also comprises a heating device configured to heat air in the cooking chamber and a ventilation device configured to make the air circulate.

Claims

1. An autonomous cooking apparatus for food comprising a base body, a lid defining with said base body a cooking chamber, a container, disposed in the base body and suitable to contain the food to be cooked, a mixing device, comprising at least a mixing blade suitable to cooperate with a cooking plane of said container, to mix said food, said mixing device being connected to a drive member configured to make it rotate with respect to said container around a central axis of rotation, a heating device configured to heat air in said cooking chamber to a desired temperature and a ventilation device configured to make the air circulate, wherein said mixing device is provided with means to receive the hot air along said central axis of rotation comprising an entrance aperture, and with exit means of the hot air comprising exit apertures associated with at least part of said mixing blade, wherein said autonomous apparatus comprises a conveying device disposed between said ventilation device and said means to receive the hot air.

2. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said mixing device comprises a hub rotating around said central axis of rotation to which said mixing blade is connected, wherein said hub is provided with at least one hole that cooperates with said exit apertures associated with said mixing blade.

3. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said hub comprises a plurality of holes, in which a first part of said holes is in fluidic communication with said exit apertures and a second part of said holes communicates directly with said cooking chamber.

4. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said mixing blade is at least partly hollow between said at least one hole and said exit apertures.

5. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 2, comprising a cover which can be removably applied to said mixing blade and provided with means for receiving the hot air cooperating with said at least one hole of the hub and with conveying channels of the hot air provided with holes defining said exit apertures and emerging onto a mixing surface of said mixing device.

6. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 2, comprising fins disposed vertically in an internal compartment of said hub and configured to act as a secondary ventilation device during the rotation of said mixing device.

7. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 1, wherein joining members are provided between said entrance aperture of said mixing device and said conveying device.

8. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said ventilation device is disposed in said base body laterally to said cooking chamber and is configured to make the air circulate from the cooking chamber toward the conveying device through a recirculation channel.

9. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said ventilation device is positioned in the upper part of the cooking chamber and is configured to make the air circulate from the cooking chamber directly into said conveying device.

10. The autonomous apparatus as in that claim 7, wherein said container is inclined with respect to said base body and said joining members comprise elastic elements suitable to compensate a possible misalignment between said central axis of rotation and an axis of rotation of said ventilation device.

11. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said heating device is located upstream of said ventilation device along an air recirculation path.

12. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said heating device is located downstream of said ventilation device along an air recirculation path.

13. The autonomous apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said heating device is located inside said conveying device.

14. A method for cooking food in an autonomous apparatus comprising a base body, a lid defining with said base body a cooking chamber, a heating device, a ventilation device a container, disposed in the base body and suitable to contain the food to be cooked, and a mixing device, comprising at least a mixing blade suitable to cooperate with a cooking plane of said container to mix the food, and connected to a drive member configured to make it rotate with respect to said container around a central axis of rotation, wherein said method provides to heat air to a temperature suitable for cooking the food by means of said heating device, and to make the hot air circulate toward the food to be cooked by means of said ventilation device, wherein, in order to make said hot air circulate toward the food, said cooking method provides to convey the hot air inside the mixing device along said central axis of rotation and to deliver said hot air toward the food at least from exit apertures provided in a mixing surface of said mixing device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view in cross section of an autonomous cooking apparatus according to embodiments described here;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view in cross section of an autonomous cooking apparatus according to variant embodiments described here,

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a detail of an autonomous apparatus according to other variants;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a detail of an autonomous apparatus according to other variants.

(6) To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

(7) Embodiments described here concern an autonomous apparatus 10 for cooking food.

(8) The autonomous apparatus 10 comprises a base body 12 and a lid 14 which can be opened/closed with respect to the base body 12, which, in the closed condition of the lid 14, define a cooking chamber 16.

(9) The lid 14 can be of the type hinged to the base body 12, or it can be of the completely removable type and can be positioned in the closed position.

(10) According to some embodiments, the autonomous apparatus 10 is provided with an external container 11, comprising two parts mobile with respect to each other, respectively associated with the base body 12 and the lid 14. The external container 11 encloses the base body 12 and the lid 14 and performs both an esthetic function and also a protective function, preventing a user from being burnt by coming into contact with internal zones of the autonomous apparatus 10 which can have high temperatures.

(11) Inside the base body 12 a tub-like container 18 is provided in which the food to be cooked can be placed, and is provided with a cooking plane 17.

(12) According to some embodiments, the container 18 is fixed with respect to the base body 12.

(13) According to some embodiments, the container 18 can be removably attached to the base body 12 in such a way that it remains stable when the food is being cooked, but can be removed at the end of cooking to facilitate the removal of the food and the cleaning of the container 18.

(14) The autonomous apparatus 10 also comprises a heating device 22 configured to heat the air which passes in contact with it to a temperature suitable to cook the food.

(15) The apparatus 10 also comprises a ventilation device 23 configured to move the air inside the cooking chamber 16, which cooperates with the heating device 22 in such a way as to heat the air before directing it toward the food to be cooked.

(16) According to some embodiments, the autonomous apparatus 10 also comprises a mixing device 20, rotatable with respect to the container 18 and configured to mix the food contained therein.

(17) The mixing device 20 is made to rotate around a central axis of rotation X passing through the center of the container 18 by a drive member 21.

(18) According to some embodiments, the container 18 can be disposed with its cooking plane 17 parallel to the base body 12.

(19) According to variant embodiments, not shown, the container 18 can be inclined with respect to the base body 12, with the cooking plane 17 having a desired angle of inclination other than zero.

(20) Depending on the position of the container 18 with respect to the base body 12, the central axis of rotation X can be substantially vertical, or be inclined respectively by the corresponding angle of inclination with respect to the vertical.

(21) The drive member 21 comprises a drive shaft 24 which extends vertically along the central axis of rotation X inside the container 18 and a motor member 25 connected thereto and configured to make it rotate.

(22) The drive shaft 24 can extend through a suitable hole 19 made in the cooking plane 17 of the container 18.

(23) According to one aspect of the present invention, the mixing device 20 is suitable to receive hot air through reception means 28 and to deliver jets of hot air through exit means 27, 29, suitably shaped and/or directed, directly toward the food to be cooked.

(24) According to some embodiments, the hot air reception means comprise at least one entrance aperture 28.

(25) According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mixing device 20 comprises a hub 30, which functions as a rotating air distributor, and at least one mixing blade 32 integrally connected with the hub 30, or detachable therefrom, and rotatable together with it.

(26) The hub 30 is connected coaxial to the drive shaft 24 and made to rotate by the latter around the central axis of rotation X.

(27) According to some embodiments, the hub 30 can comprise a connection seating for the drive shaft 24. The hub 30 and the drive shaft 24 can be made integral with each other by same-shape coupling, or by suitable attachment members, in such a way that the rotation of the drive shaft 24 draws the hub 30 and the mixing blade 32 with it.

(28) According to some embodiments, a support device 47 can be provided, keyed on the drive shaft 24 and suitable to support both the container 18 and the mixing device 20, so that the latter can rotate with respect to the former.

(29) The support device 47 can be made with a shape and a material suitable to be inserted inside the hole 19 of the container in such a way as to function as a sealing element and prevent possible leakage of fluids through it.

(30) According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the hub 30 and the at least one mixing blade 32 are made in a single body.

(31) According to variant embodiments, it can be provided that the hub 30 and the at least one mixing blade 32 are made as separate bodies joined together by suitable connection members, so as to allow better cleaning of the components.

(32) For example, it can be provided that the hub 30 and the mixing blade 32 are at least partly hollow and made at least partly communicating with each other, defining together an internal cavity 26 of the mixing device 20.

(33) According to possible variants, two or more mixing blades 32 can be provided, for example, disposed at equal angles with respect to each other around the central axis of rotation X, depending on their shape, or size, or the type of food to be cooked.

(34) According to some embodiments, the two or more mixing blades 32 can have different shapes and/or sizes from each other.

(35) According to some embodiments, the hub 30 can have a cylindrical shape, like a truncated cone, or suchlike, closed at the bottom and having the entrance aperture 28 at the top.

(36) According to some embodiments, the hub 30 comprises at least one through hole 27 or slit, communicating with a plurality of exit apertures 29, to allow the passage of the hot air coming from the entrance aperture 28.

(37) According to some embodiments, in a suitable position the hub 30 has a plurality of through holes 27 or slits, of which one part cooperates with the exit apertures 29, and another part communicates directly with the food.

(38) According to some embodiments, the exit apertures 29 are associated with at least one mixing surface 33 of the mixing blade 32.

(39) According to some embodiments, described for example with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the mixing blade 32 is at least partly hollow between the at least one hole 27 and the exit apertures 29.

(40) According to the embodiments shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mixing blade 32 can be completely hollow and the exit apertures 29 can be made directly in its thickness.

(41) For example, exit apertures 29 can be provided made on an upper and/or lateral mixing surface 33 of the mixing blade 32 to optimize the supply of heat to the food.

(42) According to variant embodiments, described for example with reference to FIG. 4, the mixing blade is partly hollow, and channels 35 are provided so that the hot air can flow between the at least one hole 27 of the hub 30 and the exit apertures 29.

(43) According to variant embodiments, described for example with reference to FIG. 3, a cover 55 can be provided which can be removably applied on the mixing surface 33 of the mixing blade 32.

(44) According to this solution, the cover 55 has air reception means, which cooperate with the holes 27 of the hub 30, and conveying channels 57 provided with air distribution holes which define the exit apertures 29.

(45) According to some embodiments, the mixing blade 32 can have a shape suitable to allow the food to be moved from the center of the container 18 toward the periphery thereof, or vice versa, so as to mix it uniformly.

(46) For example, according to possible solutions, the mixing blade 32 can comprise an internal portion 32a to connect with the hub 30, with a substantially constant height, and an external portion 32b with a height that gradually increases from the center toward the periphery of the container 18.

(47) According to some embodiments, the increasing development of the height of the external portion 32b is such as to define a concavity 33 suitable to receive the food, raising it with respect to the cooking plane 17.

(48) According to other embodiments, however, the mixing blade 20 can have any shape suitable to mix the food.

(49) According to some embodiments, at the lower part the hub 30 and/or the mixing blade 32 have a shape suitable to scrape at least the cooking plane 17 of the container 18, so as to ensure adequate mixing of the food contained therein.

(50) According to other embodiments, the apparatus 10 comprises a device 36 to convey hot air, configured to convey the air heated by the heating device 22 into the mixing device 20.

(51) In particular, the conveying device 36 connects an exit 39 of the ventilation device 23 with the entrance aperture 28 of the hub 30.

(52) The conveying device 36 can be advantageously connected in a removable manner, so as to allow a complete cleaning of the autonomous apparatus 10.

(53) According to some embodiments, the conveying device 36 has a tubular shape and has a first end 42 cooperating with the exit 39, and a second end 43 which cooperates with the entrance aperture 28 of the mixing device 20.

(54) According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the second end 43 is partly inserted inside the entrance aperture 28 of the mixing device 20.

(55) According to possible solutions, between the mixing device 20 and the second end 43, joining members 44 can be provided, suitable to allow the hub 30 to rotate with respect to the conveying channel 36.

(56) According to possible embodiments, the joining members 44 can comprise a gasket 45 disposed between the external lateral surface of the conveying device 36 and the internal surface of the hub 30 which allows both a relative rotation of the two elements and also prevents the heated air introduced into the hub 30 to escape through the entrance aperture 28 itself.

(57) In this way the heated air enters the hub 30 and comes out through the exit apertures 29 and/or the holes 27, impacting directly on the food to be cooked.

(58) According to some embodiments, which can be combined with the embodiments described here, fins 46 can be provided in the compartment 31 inside the hub 30.

(59) The fins 46 can each be disposed on a vertical plane, substantially parallel to the central axis of rotation X, and which develops radially with respect to it.

(60) The fins 46 can function as a secondary ventilation device during the rotation of the mixing device 20, so as to increase the speed of the air emitted through the exit apertures 29.

(61) In this way the air is introduced and distributed more effectively through the food.

(62) According to some embodiments, in the compartment 31 of the hub 30 retention members can be provided, not shown, suitable to position and retain the fins 46 in an appropriate manner.

(63) The air inside the cooking chamber 16 then follows an air path P, indicated by arrows in FIGS. 1-4, caused by the combined action of the ventilation device 23 and the conveying device 36.

(64) According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the heating device 22 is positioned upstream of the ventilation device 23 along the air path P.

(65) According to possible variants, the heating device 22 can be positioned downstream of the ventilation device 23 along the air path P.

(66) According to the embodiment shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the ventilation device 23 can be disposed in a cavity of the base body 12 outside the cooking chamber 16 and in fluid communication with it.

(67) According to these embodiments, the ventilation device 23 can comprise a centrifugal impeller 37 provided with a plurality of blades, and a motor member 38 connected thereto and configured to make it rotate around an axis of rotation Y, for example orthogonal to central axis of rotation X.

(68) According to some embodiments, the centrifugal impeller 37 can be located in proximity to the bottom of the container 18, so as to improve the air suction effectiveness from the cooking chamber 16.

(69) According to these embodiments, the centrifugal impeller 37 sucks the air axially in the direction of the axis of rotation Y and emits it radially with respect thereto.

(70) The centrifugal impeller 37 can be positioned inside a recirculation channel 40 which at least partly defines the air path P toward the conveying device 36.

(71) According to some embodiments, the heating device 22 is disposed along the recirculation channel 40.

(72) According to other embodiments, it can be provided that the heating device 22 is positioned at least partly outside the recirculation channel 40, and is partly inserted into the conveying device 36.

(73) According to possible solutions, the heating device 22 can comprise an electrical resistance 53, a coil having a plurality of spirals, for example in the shape of a helix, a finned heat exchanger suitable to supply a large heat exchange surface with the air passing through it, infrared or induction devices, or similar or comparable elements.

(74) According to this embodiment, the air which, after passing through the food in contact with it, tends to rise upward in the cooking chamber 16 because of the suction of the ventilation device 23, and is forced to follow the air path P through a gap 50 defined between the container 18 and the base body 12 as far as the ventilation device 23.

(75) According to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1, spacer elements 48 can be provided, disposed in the base body 12 and configured to keep the container 18 raised with respect to it, so as to allow the passage of air below the container 18.

(76) Downstream of the ventilation device 23, the air is directed from the latter through the recirculation channel 40 toward the heating device 23 and the conveying device 36 until it passes through the mixing device 20 and reaches the food again.

(77) According to other embodiments, a filter element 52, possibly replaceable, can be provided, disposed between the cooking chamber 16 and the ventilation device 23, suitable to retain possible particles of oil or fat coming from the food present in the cooking chamber 16.

(78) FIG. 2 shows a possible variant embodiment of an autonomous apparatus 10 for cooking food, in which the elements common to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1 have the same reference numbers and will not be further discussed.

(79) According to this variant, the ventilation device 23 can be disposed inside the cooking chamber 16, in proximity to the lid 14.

(80) According to these embodiments, the ventilation device 23 can comprise an axial impeller 137 provided with a plurality of fins, and a motor member 138 configured to make the axial impeller 137 rotate around an axis of rotation X′.

(81) During rotation, the axial impeller 137 sucks an air flow in the radial direction and emits it in the axial direction along the axis of rotation X′ toward the conveying device 36.

(82) In this case it can be provided that the first end 42 of the conveying device 36 has a flared mouth, of a shape suitable to at least partly follow the profile of the axial impeller 137 so that the air emitted by the latter is conveyed therein in an appropriate way.

(83) According to some embodiments, the axis of rotation X′ of the axial impeller 137 can be parallel to or coincide with the central axis of rotation X.

(84) According to possible variants, for example if the container 18 is inclined, the axis of rotation X′ of the axial impeller 137 and the central axis of rotation X of the mixing device 20 can be offset and angled with respect to one another.

(85) In this case, it can be provided that the joining members 44 between the conveying device 36 and the mixing device 20 comprise elastic elements suitable to compensate the offset.

(86) According to possible variant embodiments, the heating device 22 can comprise an electrical resistance 153, or a coil, with a spiral shape, with the spirals positioned so as to follow the profile of the axial impeller 137.

(87) In this way the ventilation device 23 sucks in already heated air and sends it directly to the mixing device 20 by means of the conveying device 36.

(88) According to other variant embodiments, shown with dotted lines in FIG. 2, the heating device 22′ can be disposed inside the conveying device 36, downstream of the ventilation device 23.

(89) According to other embodiments, two heating devices 22, 22′ can be provided, one upstream and one downstream of the ventilation device 23.

(90) According to these embodiments, the air is recirculated directly inside the cooking chamber 16, without deviating it outside it, exploiting its own physical characteristics.

(91) In fact, the air, possibly mixed with steam, tends to rise from the container 18 toward the lid 14 and toward the upper part of the chamber 16, partly by natural convection and partly because it is subjected to the suction action of the ventilation device 23.

(92) The ventilation device 23 in particular increases the recirculation speed of the air, which is heated on each occasion by means of the heating device 22 before being introduced into the mixing device 20, to exit through the exit apertures 29.

(93) Embodiments described here also concern a method to cook food in an autonomous apparatus 10 comprising a base body 12, a lid 14 which can be opened/closed with respect to the base body 12, and defining with it a cooking chamber 16, a container 18 for the food disposed fixed inside the base body 12 and a mixing device 20 disposed in the container and rotatable with respect to the latter around a central axis X.

(94) The cooking method according to the invention provides to heat air to a temperature suitable to cook the food by means of a heating device 22 and to make the heated hot air circulate toward the food to be cooked by means of a ventilation device 23.

(95) According to one aspect of the present invention, the cooking method in particular provides to direct the heated air toward the food by making it pass through the mixing device 20 by introducing it through at least one entrance aperture 28, and making it exit through one or more holes 27 and/or exit apertures 29 directly toward the food to be cooked during the rotation of the mixing device 20.

(96) It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the autonomous apparatus 10 and cooking method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

(97) It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of autonomous apparatus 10 and cooking method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.