SANDWICH MAKER

A sandwich maker is provided, including a support structure, a pressing mechanism, a hot-pressing structure, a bearing structure, a conveying mechanism, and a controller. The pressing mechanism includes a first motor set, a first transmission rod, and a connecting base, where the connecting base performs linear reciprocating motion along a first direction driven by the first motor set and the first transmission rod. The hot-pressing structure includes a heating device and a pressing mold. The pressing mold has a first mold cavity. The bearing structure includes a heating furnace and a bearing mold. The bearing mold has a second mold cavity. The conveying mechanism includes a second motor, a second transmission rod, and a conveying base, where the conveying base performs linear reciprocating motion along a second direction driven by the second motor and the second transmission rod. The controller controls operation of the sandwich maker.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Patent Application No. 109210077 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Aug. 4, 2020, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pastry machine, and in particular, to a sandwich maker.

Related Art

A sandwich maker is a very common pastry machine at present. Through design of a mold cavity in a hot-pressing structure and a bearing structure, various creative dishes are formed by the sandwich maker.

Generally, the sandwich maker in the market mainly performs hot pressing on a food material placed in the mold cavity through rotating a hot-pressing structure and a bearing structure pivotally connected to each other from a separated state to a combined state. However, the sandwich maker in the market may only manually place the food material into the mold cavity, and the hot-pressing structure and the bearing structure are driven by power manually to perform hot pressing.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, in an embodiment, a sandwich maker is provided, including a support structure, a pressing mechanism, a hot-pressing structure, a bearing structure, a conveying mechanism, and a controller. The pressing mechanism is disposed on the support structure and includes a first motor set, a first transmission rod, and a connecting base, where the first transmission rod is connected to the first motor set, the connecting base is connected to the first transmission rod, and the connecting base performs linear reciprocating motion driven by the first motor set and the first transmission rod. The hot-pressing structure is fixed to the connecting base and includes a heating device and a pressing mold, where the pressing mold is connected to the connecting base, the heating device is disposed between the connecting base and the pressing mold, and the pressing mold has a first mold cavity. The bearing structure is fixed to the support structure, where the bearing structure includes a heating furnace and a bearing mold, the heating furnace being correspondingly disposed below the hot-pressing structure, and the bearing mold being disposed above the heating furnace and having a second mold cavity. The conveying mechanism includes a second motor, a second transmission rod, and a conveying base, where the second motor is fixed to the support structure, the second transmission rod is connected to the second motor, the conveying base is connected to the second transmission rod and performs linear reciprocating motion along a second direction driven by the second motor and the second transmission rod, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction. The controller is disposed on the support structure and electrically connected to the first motor set, the second motor, the heating device, and the heating furnace to control operation of the first motor set, the second motor, the heating device, and the heating furnace.

In summary, the sandwich maker of the present invention controls, by using the controller, the second motor in the conveying mechanism to drive the second transmission rod to drive the conveying base to perform linear motion, so that a to-be-heated food material (such as toast) is conveyed the inside of the sandwich maker. Next, the controller controls the first motor set to drive the pressing mechanism to drive the hot-pressing structure to move toward the bearing structure, and press the heat-pressing structure to be engaged with the bearing structure, and control the operation of the heating device and the heating furnace, so that the sandwich maker is operated and performs hot pressing fully automatically. In this way, after the food material is placed in the conveying base and started, the sandwich maker automatically performs hot pressing, achieving automation and humanization.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following provides detailed descriptions of various embodiments. However, the embodiments are merely used as an example for description and are not intended to narrow the protection scope of this creation. In addition, some elements may be omitted in the drawings in the embodiments, to clearly show technical features of this creation. The same label in all accompanying drawings are used to represent the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1is a three-dimensional view of a sandwich maker with a housing omitted according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a partial side view of movement of the sandwich maker to an initial position according to an embodiment of the present invention. A sandwich maker1performs hot pressing on a food material by pressing up and down, so that a general user may quickly heat and make a variety of delicious creative hot-pressed toasts in a simple and rapid manner.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the sandwich maker1includes a support structure10, a pressing mechanism11, a hot-pressing structure12, a bearing structure13, a conveying mechanism14, and a controller15. InFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a physical connection relationship between each element and the controller15is omitted to facilitate description of an overall structure. The controller15may be electrically connected to the first motor set111, the second motor141, the heating device121, and the heating furnace131through cables and wires, etc., to control operation of the first motor set111, the second motor141, the heating device121, and the heating furnace131.

Still referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the pressing mechanism11of the sandwich maker1is disposed on the support structure10, and the pressing mechanism11includes the first motor set111, a first transmission rod112, and a connecting base113. The first transmission rod112is connected to the first motor set111, the connecting base113is connected to the first transmission rod112, and the connecting base113performs linear reciprocating motion along a first direction20driven by the first motor set111and the first transmission rod112.

In this embodiment, the first motor set111includes a motor and a speed reducing mechanism (not shown). A motor of the first motor set111may be a DC motor or an AC motor, and a rotating shaft of the first motor set is connected to the speed reducing mechanism formed by a gear set, and the first transmission rod112is in a form of a rack and is connected to the speed reducing mechanism. A lower side end of the first transmission rod112is locked with the connecting base113. By disposing the foregoing mechanism, the connecting base113may perform linear reciprocating motion along an axial direction of the first transmission rod112driven by the first motor set111and the first transmission rod112. In this embodiment, the axial direction of the first transmission rod112is a first direction20.

In addition, in some embodiments, the first motor set111may further be a linear motor, and a stator of the first motor set is fixedly mounted to the support structure10through bolts, and a mover of the first motor set is connected to the first transmission rod112. Through the foregoing configuration, a bidirectional axial force output by a linear motor is guided to be conveyed to the first transmission rod112and drive the connecting base113to perform linear reciprocating motion.

Next, still referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the hot-pressing structure12of the sandwich maker1is fixed to the connecting base113. The hot-pressing structure12includes a heating device121and a pressing mold122. The pressing mold122is connected to the connecting base113, and the heating device121is disposed between the connecting base113and the pressing mold122. In this embodiment, the pressing mold122may be fixed to the connecting base113in a bolt-locking manner, and the heating device121is, for example, a heating tube to be fixed between the connecting base113and the pressing mold122in a locking manner. The heating device121is electrically connected to the controller15to convert electrical energy into thermal energy, and conducts the thermal energy to the pressing mold122to cause the pressing mold122to generate a high temperature.

As shown inFIG. 2, the pressing mold122has a first mold cavity1221. In this embodiment, a shape of the first mold cavity1221of the pressing mold122is a square. In some embodiments, the first mold cavity1221is a round, a pentagon, an octagon, or other arbitrary shapes, etc., depending on what kind of a dish shape the user wants to make, and is set as needed. Alternatively, the pressing mold122with a replaceable shape is used for replacement as needed.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the bearing structure13of the sandwich maker1is fixed to the support structure10. The bearing structure13includes a heating furnace131and a bearing mold132. The heating furnace131is correspondingly disposed below the hot-pressing structure12, and the bearing mold132is disposed above the heating furnace131and has a second mold cavity1321. In this embodiment, one side of the heating furnace131may be mounted on the support structure10through locking, and the other side may further be fixed to the bearing mold132through locking. The heating furnace131has a heater1311and is electrically connected to the controller15to convert electrical energy into heat energy, and conduct the heat energy to the bearing mold132, so that the bearing mold132generates a high temperature.

In this embodiment, a shape of the second cavity1321of the bearing mold132is square. In some embodiments, the second mold cavity1321may be a round, a pentagon, an octagon, or other arbitrary shapes, etc., depending on what kind of a dish shape the user wants to make, and is set as needed. Alternatively, a bearing mold132with a replaceable shape is used for replacement as needed.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the conveying mechanism14of the sandwich maker1includes a second motor141, a second transmission rod142, and a conveying base143. The second motor141is fixed to the support structure10, the second transmission rod142is connected to the second motor141, and the conveying base143is connected to the second transmission rod142. The conveying base143performs linear reciprocating motion along a second direction21driven by the second motor141and the second transmission rod142. An implementation used in this embodiment is detailed later. However, in some embodiments, the second motor141may be a linear motor, a stator of the second motor is locked on the support structure10, and a mover of the second motor is connected to the second transmission rod142. The conveying base143performs linear reciprocating motion along an axial direction of the second transmission rod142driven by the second motor141and the second transmission rod142.

Wherein the first direction20is perpendicular to the second direction21, in this embodiment, the axial direction of the second transmission rod142is the second direction21and is perpendicular to the axial direction, that is, the first direction20, of the first transmission rod112.

FIG. 3is a control block diagram of the sandwich maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the controller15of the sandwich maker1may be disposed at any position on the support structure10, as long as the controller15may facilitate miniaturization of an overall structure or facilitate connection of other elements. As previous described, the controller15is electrically connected to the first motor set111, the second motor141, the heating device121, and the heating furnace131to control operation of the first motor set111, the second motor141, the heating device121, and the heating furnace131. For example, in this embodiment, the controller15controls the first motor set111to drive the pressing mechanism11, and drive the hot-pressing structure12to move toward the bearing structure13and to be pressed to be engaged with the bearing structure13. The controller15further controls the second motor141to drive the second transmission rod142to drive the conveying base143to perform linear reciprocating motion. In addition, the controller15may control heating of the heating device121and the heating furnace131. Accordingly, the sandwich maker1may automatically perform hot pressing on a food material placed in the conveying base143in a non-manual manner, achieving product automation and humanization. In this embodiment, the controller15is a programmable automation controller (PAC). In some embodiments, the controller may further be a programmable logic controller (PLC), a micro controller (MCU), and other types of controllers.

Returning toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, in this embodiment, the support structure10of the sandwich maker1includes a top cover101, a receiving portion102, and a base103. The receiving portion102is located between the top cover101and the base103, the first motor set111is fixed to the top cover101, the heating furnace131is disposed on the base103, and the second motor141is fixed to the receiving portion102. In this embodiment, the top cover101, the receiving portion102, and the base103may be made of metal, such as stainless steel (SUS304), iron, cast iron, and aluminum, etc., through metal stamping or casting. In some embodiments, the top cover101, the receiving portion102, and the base103may further be made of plastic through injection molding, and then spliced in a fixing method such as bolt locking or riveting to form the support structure10. In some embodiments, the support structure10may further be an integrally formed metal support structure through casting or an integrally formed plastic support structure through injection molding.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the receiving portion102of the support structure10has a first guide structure1021, the conveying base143includes a second guide structure1432, and the second guide structure1432is engaged with the first guide structure1021, so that the second guide structure1432performs linear motion under guidance of the first guide structure1021. In this embodiment, a body of the second motor141is fixed to the support structure10by bolt locking, the second transmission rod142is a screw rod and is connected to the second motor141, and the conveying base143is connected to the second transmission rod142by threaded engagement through an inner screw hole of the conveying base. The first guide structure1021is a sliding rail, and the second guide structure1432is a sliding groove. Through matching of the first guide structure1021and the second guide structure1432, the conveying base143is guided to move along the second guide structure1432, and rotational freedom of the conveying base143is restricted by the support structure10. Therefore, through rotation output by the second motor141and conveyed to the second transmission rod142, the second guide structure1432performs linear reciprocating motion under guidance of the first guide structure1021, and the conveying base143further performs linear reciprocating motion along the second direction21.

In some embodiments, the first guide structure1021may further be a sliding groove, and the second guide structure1432is a sliding rail.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the sandwich maker1further includes two guide rods16. The two guide rods16are fixed between the top cover101and the base103and are disposed in parallel with the first transmission rod112. There are guide holes on both sides of the connecting base113to insert the connecting base113between the two guide rods16, so that the connecting base113may only move along an axial direction of the connecting base113under restriction and guidance by the two guide rods16. Guided by the two guide rods16, the hot-pressing structure12performs the linear reciprocating motion more stably driven by the first motor set111and is positioned more accurately. For example, in this embodiment, the two guide rods16may be a rod of other shapes such as a metal round rod or a plastic round rod, and is fixed between the top cover101and the base103by bolt locking, riveting, welding, and adhesive dispensing. In this embodiment, lubricating oil may further be applied to a surface of the two guide rods16to reduce a friction coefficient and increase a service life of the product.

In addition, in some implementations, the pressing mechanism11may further be implemented in the following manners. A motor body of the first motor set111is mounted above the top cover101, the rotating shaft passes downward through the top cover101and is connected to one end of the first transmission rod112, and the other end of the first transmission rod112is threadedly engaged with the connecting base113. In addition, there are guide holes on both sides of the connecting base113to insert the connecting base113between the two guide rods16, so that the connecting base113may only move along an axial direction of the connecting base under restriction and guidance by the two guide rods16. Through the foregoing restriction and guidance, rotation of the first motor set111is output, and is converted into an axial linear motion through threaded engagement of the connecting base113and the first transmission rod112to drive the connecting base113to perform linear reciprocating motion.

Next, referring toFIG. 4,FIG. 4is a partial side view of movement of the sandwich maker to a hot-pressing position according to the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 4, the controller15of the sandwich maker1controls the first motor set111to drive the connecting base113to selectively move between an initial position (as shown inFIG. 2) and a hot-pressing position (as shown inFIG. 4). When the connecting base113is at the initial position (referring toFIG. 2), the pressing mold122and the bearing mold132are separated from each other and spaced apart. When the connecting base113is moved to the hot-pressing position (referring toFIG. 4), the pressing mold122passes through a hollow portion1431and is engaged with the bearing mold132. Accordingly, through control logic of the foregoing controller15, the connecting base113provides a sufficient space at the initial position for the conveying base143to feed a food material into or out of the sandwich maker1, and the connecting base113performs hot pressing on the food material at the hot-pressing position.

In this embodiment, the connecting base113is initially located at the initial position. When the conveying base143conveys the food material below the pressing mold122, the controller15of the sandwich maker1continuously controls the heating device121and the heating furnace131to maintain at a high temperature, and causes the first motor set111to drive the connecting base113to the hot-pressing position, so that hot pressing is implemented after a required heating time, such as 60 seconds or 90 seconds. Finally, the controller15controls the first motor set111to drive the connecting base113back to the initial position, so that hot pressing is completed.

In other embodiments, the connecting base113may further be moved to the hot-pressing position first, and after a short heating time, such as 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds, the first motor set111drives the connecting base113to the initial position. The foregoing steps are repeated several times, for example, 2 times, 3 times, and 5 times, etc. Through the foregoing process, the food material may be evenly attached to the first mold cavity1221and the second mold cavity1321. Afterwards, the first motor set111drives the connecting base113to the hot-pressing position for a long time, such as 1 minute or 2 minutes, etc., so that hot pressing is implemented. Finally, the controller15controls the first motor set111to drive the connecting base113back to the initial position, so that hot pressing is completed.

In addition, referring toFIG. 5,FIG. 5is a three-dimensional view of a sandwich maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 5, the sandwich maker1further includes a housing17. The housing17covers the support structure10, the pressing mechanism11, the hot-pressing structure12, the bearing structure13, the conveying mechanism14, and the controller15, to protect the foregoing structures and mechanisms through the housing17. The housing17has a front housing171and a flat plate172. The front housing171has an opening1711, the opening1711corresponds to the conveying base143, and the flat plate172is assembled on the front housing171and located at a bottom of the opening1711. In this embodiment, the housing17is made of stainless steel (SUS304) and is formed by metal stamping and bolting and splicing. In some embodiments, the housing17may further be made of other metals, such as iron, cast iron, aluminum, or steel, etc., and spliced by metal stamping or casting, and then welding, bolt locking, or riveting. The housing may further be made of plastic and integrally made by injection molding, or spliced in a fixing method such as bolt locking, riveting, or adhesive dispensing.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 5, the controller15of the sandwich maker1controls the second motor141to drive the conveying base143to selectively move between the first position (as shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 5) and the second position (as shown inFIG. 4). When the conveying base143is at the first position (referring toFIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 5), the hollow portion1431of the conveying base143protrudes from the housing17and is located above the flat plate172, and the user may put a food material into the hollow portion1431of the conveying base143. When the conveying base143is at the second position (referring toFIG. 4), the hollow portion1431of the conveying base143is accommodated in the housing17. Accordingly, the food material on the flat plate172is pushed to the inside of the housing17through an edge of the hollow portion1431of the conveying base143, until the food material falls into the second cavity1321of the bearing mold132, thereby automatically conveying the food material.

In addition, the food material is conveyed into the housing17for cooking to prevent the user from accidentally touching a heat source and being burned during heating. In this embodiment, the second motor141is controlled by the controller15, so that the conveying base143is located at the first position. At this time, the user puts the food material into the hollow portion1431of the conveying base143, and then the second motor141is controlled by the controller15, so that the conveying base143is moved to the second position. At this time, the food material loses support of the flat plate172and falls into the second cavity1321of the lower bearing mold132, and then the foregoing hot pressing may be implemented through the control by the controller15.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 3, a control panel18connected to the controller15is disposed on the front housing171of the housing17, so that the user may operate the controller15through the control panel18, and causes a control interface of the sandwich maker1to be humanized by selecting a desired hot pressing method or length of time.

Next, as shown inFIG. 5, a side housing173of the housing17has a plurality of heat dissipation holes1731, so that heat generated by the first motor set111, the second motor141, the heating device121, and the heating furnace131during operation may be conducted via the air through the heat dissipation holes1731to the outside of the housing17, thereby improving product safety and availability and beautifying a product shape. In this embodiment, the heat dissipation hole1731is formed integrally with the side housing173through metal stamping.

FIG. 6is a section view of a bearing structure of the sandwich maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, it can be seen fromFIG. 2that because the bearing mold132of the bearing structure13is very close to the conveying base143of the conveying mechanism14, a hot-pressed food material may be pushed up through a periphery of the conveying base143to be away from the bearing mold132and transported to the flat plate172. However, in order to further cause the hot-pressed dish to be more smoothly detached from the bearing mold132and return to a height in which the conveying base143may easily push the food material up, as shown inFIG. 6, the bearing structure13of the sandwich maker1further includes an elastic member133and a pushing member134. It should be noted that, for description of an overall structure, a detailed structure shown inFIG. 6is omitted inFIG. 2andFIG. 4.

The elastic member133is disposed on the bearing mold132, and the pushing member134is disposed on the elastic member133. Accordingly, when hot pressing is completed on the food material, the connecting base113returns to the initial position from the hot-pressing position, and a restoring force accumulated by the elastic member133compressed and deformed during the hot pressing drives the pushing member134to push the dish back to a height before the hot pressing, so that the conveying base143can push the dish back to the flat plate172by using the pushing member134and conveyed to the outside of the housing17for the user to enjoy, thereby causing the product more to be humanized. In this embodiment, the pushing member134is a stainless steel sheet, and the elastic member133is a plurality of springs fixed between the pushing member134and the bearing mold132by welding.