Image capturing module and food processing apparatus comprising the same

A food processing apparatus is provided that includes: a housing structure, a food container structure which is disposed in the housing structure, and an image capturing module, which is located on the food container structure and includes a shell, an image capturing assembly and an air curtain assembly. The shell includes an optical channel which includes a lower opening end, an upper opening end and a wall surface disposed between the lower opening end and the upper opening end. The lower opening end faces the food container structure, the image capturing assembly is disposed at the upper opening end, and the air curtain assembly is disposed on the wall surface. In this way, the air curtain assembly can blow away or block the oil fumes after the food is heated, so that the image capturing module can observe the food processing clearly without being affected by the oil fumes.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 109114045 filed on Apr. 27, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an image capturing module and a food processing apparatus comprises the same, and more particularly to an image capturing module being able to avoid the effects of oil fumes and a food processing apparatus using said image capturing module to observe and record the images of the food intended to be roasted or heated.

BACKGROUND

As time progresses, there are more and more consumers use varies food processing apparatuses such as coffee roaster, air fryer, microwave and the like to perform processes for example heating up food and the like. Taking coffee roaster (bean roaster) for example, beans (coffee beans or Job's tears) will be constantly stirred and heated to an appropriate state. Besides using the preset program of the coffee roaster to automatically complete the roasting process, users can observe the look (colors), smell, crackling and the like of the beans, and then control the roasting process of the beans.

To this end, an image capturing device is disposed inside the food processing apparatuses to capture the image of the appearance of the food during processing, and then the image is shown on a display for users to observe. However, while the food is being heated, oil fumes (or steam) are often generated, and excessive oil fume will certainly cause the image capturing device unable to capture the appearance of the food clearly.

Accordingly, there are several problems to be solved in the related art of food processing apparatus for warming up food.

SUMMARY

An objective herein is to provide a food processing apparatus, allowing its image capturing device to be less affected by oil fumes and steam, and thus can capture the food image clearly.

For the above purpose, the disclosure includes a food processing apparatus comprising: a housing structure; a food container structure disposed inside the housing structure; and an image capturing module located above the food container structure and comprising a shell, an image capturing assembly and an air curtain assembly, wherein the shell comprises an optical channel having a lower opening end, an upper opening end and a wall surface disposed between the lower opening end and the upper opening end. The lower opening end faces the food container structure, the image capturing assembly is disposed at the upper opening end, and the air curtain assembly is disposed on the wall surface.

In an example embodiment, the air curtain assembly comprises a fan and an air channel. The air channel comprises an outer opening end and an inner opening end, and the fan is disposed at the inner opening end or between the inner opening end and the outer opening end, wherein, the inner opening end is disposed on the wall surface, and the outer opening end is disposed on an outer side surface or an inner side surface of the shell.

In an example embodiment, the air curtain assembly further comprises a filter, disposed on the outer opening end.

In an example embodiment, the air curtain assembly comprises a fan, a first air channel and a second air channel. The first air channel and the second air channel each comprises an outer opening end and an inner opening end. The fan is disposed at the inner opening end of the first air channel or between the inner opening end and the outer opening end; wherein, the inner opening end of the first air channel is disposed on the wall surface, while the inner opening end of the second air channel is disposed on the wall surface and faces the inner opening end of the first air channel; wherein, the outer opening end of the first air channel and the outer opening end of the second air channel are both disposed on an outer side surface of the shell.

In an example embodiment, the air curtain assembly further comprises at least one filter, disposed at the outer opening end of the first air channel and/or at the outer opening end of the second air channel.

In an example embodiment, the image capturing module further comprises an image capturing device and a protective lens, disposed under the image capturing device.

In an example embodiment, the image capturing module further comprises at least one light-emitting device, disposed adjacent to the lower opening end of the optical channel and facing the food container structure.

In an example embodiment, the image capturing module further comprises at least one light-emitting device, disposed inside the housing structure and facing the food container structure.

In an example embodiment, the image capturing module at least partially disposed inside the housing structure, or disposed on the housing structure.

In an example embodiment, the optical channel is a truncated cone channel, the lower opening end is larger than the upper opening end.

Another objective is to provide an image capturing module, which can be detached from said food processing apparatus and be used independently.

For the above purpose, the disclosure includes an image capturing module comprising a shell, an image capturing assembly and an air curtain assembly, wherein, the shell comprises an optical channel having a lower opening end, an upper opening end and a wall surface disposed between the lower opening end and the upper opening end. The image capturing assembly is disposed at the upper opening end, and the air curtain assembly is disposed on the wall surface.

To make the above purposes, technical features and advantages clearer and easier to understand, the preferred embodiments with the reference drawings will be described in detail hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The particular embodiments of the present invention are described in detail hereinafter. Nevertheless, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, there are varies ways to implement the embodiments. The scope of protection for the present invention should not be limited within the contents of the specification.

Unless clearly specified in context, an expression used in a singular “a/an” also includes the expression in its plural form, and the stated position (such as upper, lower, inner, outer, etc.) is a relative position and may be defined according to the using state of the food processing apparatus. The above terms are not used to indicate or imply that the food processing apparatus needs a structure, operations or manufactures with specific directions and thus should not be understood as limitations of the present invention.

FIG.1andFIG.2are sectional schematic views showing a food processing apparatus1of the first preferred embodiment according to the subject invention. The food processing apparatus1mainly comprises a housing structure10, a food container structure20and an image capturing module30, and it may also comprise other elements such as blending barrel, heater rotating blade and the like (not shown) according to the type of the food processing apparatus. The food container structure20and the image capturing module30may be disposed inside the housing structure10. Taking coffee roaster as an example to further describe the technical features of the housing structure10, the food container structure20and the image capturing module30hereinafter. The disclosure of Taiwan Patent Application No. 106126572 can also be referred to but shall not be limited thereto so that the technical features can also comprise other embodiments or be implemented by other ways. Accordingly, the entire contents of Taiwan Patent Application No. 106126572 are incorporated herein by reference.

The housing structure10presents an appearance of a cuboid but is not limited to such a shape. The housing structure10has a containing space for receiving the food container structure20and the image capturing module30and other related elements. The food container structure20may contain food1A, such as coffee beans or bread during baking, and may be connected to other processing elements, such as a stirring barrel (not shown). The food1A is not kept in the food container20the whole time, but may be moved into the stirring barrel to be heated, and then moved back to the food container20. In other embodiments (not shown), the food1A may also be directly performed the process of heating and the like in the food container20without stirring.

The image capturing module30is at least partially disposed inside the housing structure10, that is, the image capturing module30may partially protrude outside of the housing structure10. In this embodiment, the image capturing module30is completely disposed inside the housing structure10(no parts protrude outside of the housing structure10). The image capturing module30located above the food container structure20, and an observation opening102, that is, an upper opening, of the food container structure20may be open or transparent to allow the image capturing module30to observe and capture the images of food1A in the food container structure20.

More specifically, the image capturing module30comprises a shell300, an image capturing assembly400and an air curtain assembly500, wherein, the shell300may be an appearance of a cuboid, but not limited to such a shape, the image capturing assembly400, the air curtain assembly500and the like may be contained within the shell300. The shell300is at least partially disposed inside the housing structure10, and comprises an optical channel310which can be a hollow channel and extends upward from a bottom surface301of the shell300. The optical channel310may comprise a lower opening end311, an upper opening end312and a wall surface313disposed between the lower opening end311and the upper opening end312. The lower opening end311faces the food container structure20, that is, facing the observation opening102of the food container structure20, and preferably, there are no elements or structures that block the light between the lower opening end311and the observation opening102.

The image capturing assembly400is disposed at the upper opening end312, and may be partially located in the optical channel310, at the upper opening end312, or above the upper opening end312. The air curtain assembly500is disposed upon the wall surface313, that is, disposed between the lower opening end311and upper opening end312(below the image capturing assembly400), to create an air curtain (airflow) in the optical channel310. Preferably, the air curtain assembly500does not protrude into the optical channel310to avoid affecting the image capturing of the image capturing assembly400.

In this way, the oil fumes produced by heating up the food1A and flow into the optical channel310can be effectively blocked or eliminated by the air curtain created by the air curtain assembly500so as to ensure that the oil fumes will be unable to contact with the image capturing assembly400and will not stay in the optical channel310. Therefore, the lens, protective lens and the like of the image capturing assembly400will not be contaminated by the oil fumes. The image capturing assembly400can capture the image of the food1A clearly if there is no oil fume in the optical channel310.

Next, the air curtain assembly500will be further described. The air curtain assembly500can be implemented as anything that can generate airflow to block oil fumes. In this embodiment, the air curtain assembly500may comprise a fan510and an air channel520having an outer opening end521and an inner opening end522. The fan510is disposed at the inner opening end522or between the inner opening end522and the outer opening end521. The inner opening end522is disposed on the wall surface313, and the outer opening end521is disposed at an outer side surface320such as a top surface or a side surface of the shell300. In this way, the fan510runs to suck the air from the outer opening end521into the air channel520, and then blow the air out from the inner opening end522into the optical channel310; thereafter, the air along the wall surface313of the optical channel310is blown out from the lower opening end311, and the oil fumes are blown out at the same time.

As shown inFIG.3, preferably, the air curtain assembly500further comprises a filter530disposed at the outer opening end521. The filter530can not only prevent dust in the air from being sucked into the food processing apparatus1and cause the fan510and the image capturing assembly400to accumulate dust, but also prevent dust from being scattered on the food1A in the food containing structure20. If the fan510is operated as an air extraction means, the filter530can also filter the oil fume from the heated food to prevent the oil fumes from diffusing to the interior space.

Furthermore, preferably, the image capturing module30comprises an image capturing device410and a protective lens420. The protective lens420is disposed under the image capturing device410to ensure that the image capturing device410will not be contacted by the oil fumes or dust which are not successfully blocked, and may also avoid damage of the image capturing device410due to any collision. In addition, the image capturing module30preferably comprises a light-emitting device700which is disposed adjacent to the lower opening end311of the optical channel310and faces the food container structure20. In this way, when the brightness in the housing structure10is insufficient, the light-emitting device700may emit light toward the food containing structure20so that the image capturing device410may capture the image of the food1A clearly.

Furthermore, the optical channel310of the image capturing module30may be a truncated cone-shaped channel, and the lower opening end311is larger than the upper opening end312, so that the image capturing device410can capture a wider range of images.

FIG.4andFIG.5are the schematic views disclosing the structures of the food processing apparatus2and the image capturing module30′ according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the food processing apparatuses1and2is that the image capturing module30′ can be disposed on the housing structure10, that is, on the top surface101of the housing structure10. The top surface101of the housing structure10comprises a transparent observation opening103to allow the image capturing module30′ to capture images of food2A in the food containing structure20through the observation opening103. The observation opening103is open to allow fluid connection between the inner space from the optical channel310to the housing structure10through the observation opening103. Therefore, oil fumes inside the housing structure10may go into the optical channel310though the observation opening103.

Furthermore, the air curtain assembly600of the image capturing module30′ comprises a fan610, a first air channel620and a second air channel630. The first air channel620and the second air channel630each comprises an outer opening end621,631and an inner opening end622,632. The fan610is disposed at the inner opening end622of the first air channel620or between the inner opening end622and the outer opening end621; wherein, the inner opening end622of the first air channel620is disposed on the wall surface313, and the inner opening end632of the second air channel630is disposed on the wall surface313and faces the inner opening end622of the first air channel620; wherein both the outer opening end621of the first air channel620and the outer opening end631of the second air channel630are disposed on an outer side surface320of the shell300.

In this way, when the fan610is operated, the fresh air will be sucked from the outer opening end621and be blown into the optical channel310from the inner opening end622. Meanwhile, the oil fumes produced by the heated food2A will be blown into the inner opening end632with the fresh air, and then be exhausted from the outer opening end631through the second air channel630. The image capturing module30′ may also provide a second fan (not shown) in the second air channel630to improve the efficiency of air exhausting. Additionally, the air curtain assembly600further comprises at least a filter530disposed at the outer opening end621of the first air channel620and/or the outer opening end631of the second air channel630.

The image capturing module30′ may comprise an air curtain assembly500in the first embodiment instead of the air curtain assembly600. Similarly, the image capturing module30may also comprise the air curtain assembly600in the second embodiment instead of the air curtain assembly500.

FIG.6andFIG.7are schematic views showing the structures of the food processing apparatus3and the image capturing module30″ according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the food processing apparatus1and the food processing apparatus3is that the filter530and the outer opening end521are disposed on an inner side surface321of the shell300.

In particularly, the inner side surface321of the shell300is located inside the housing structure10. Therefore, when the fan510of the air curtain assembly500starts to run, the oil fumes produced by the food1A will circulate inside the food processing apparatus3through the air channel520. To prevent affecting the capturing of the image capturing assembly400when the oil fumes are being sucked in from the outer opening end521, the filter530disposed on the inner side surface321of the shell300may absorb the greasy oil of the oil fumes to make the image capturing assembly400able to capture the images of the food1A clearly.

In addition, the light-emitting device700of the food processing apparatus3may be disposed at different locations, as shown inFIG.6, a plurality of light-emitting devices700can be disposed on the inner upper part of the housing structure10, thereby completely illuminating the inside of the food processing device3. Alternatively, as shown inFIG.7, the plurality of light-emitting devices700may also be disposed next to the lower opening end311of the optical channel310of the image capturing module30″ (surrounding the lower opening end311). The light-emitting devices700surrounding the lower opening end311may facilitate the light to focus on the location of the food1A and thus are helpful in recording and capturing the images by the image capturing assembly400.

Accordingly, the image capturing module of the food processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an air curtain assembly and is able to blow away or block the oil fumes produced by the heated food to allow the image capturing module to capture and/or record the images of food clearly without being affected by the oil fume. In addition to the food processing apparatus, the image capture module can also be used in other places with oil fume, smoke, and dust to capture images of objects. Moreover, the image capturing module may be detached from the food processing apparatus independently for cleaning or replacement.

The above embodiments are merely provided to describe the technical solutions of the present invention, but not limited thereto. It should be appreciated by persons skilled in this field that they may proceed with a variety of modifications based on the disclosures of the embodiments or evenly replace some or all of the technical features. Nevertheless, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

The following reference numerals are used to denote certain elements.1,2,3: food processing apparatus1A: food10: housing structure20: food container structure30,30′,30″: image capturing module101: top surface102,103: observation opening300: shell301: bottom surface310: optical channel311: lower opening channel312: upper opening channel313: wall surface320: outer side surface321: inner side surface400: image capturing assembly410: image capturing device420: protective lens500,600: air curtain assembly510,610: fan520: air channel521,621,631: outer opening end522,622,632: inner opening end530: filter620: first air channel630: second air channel700: light-emitting device