APPARATUS FOR COOKING FOOD

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for cooking food includes two solid plates (2, 3, 2', 3', 102, 103) which subject an initial food material (110) to high heat and pressure, and the pressure is adjusted in dependence upon the nature of the initial food material by an adjusting device (Fig. 4, Fig. 5). An intermediate device (107, 117, 127, 137) for a cooking apparatus for cooking between heated pressing plates (2, 2', 3, 3', 102, 103) has an elastic and heat-conductive intermediate element (107, 117, 127, 137) arranged to surround an inital food material (110) and to contact the plates to transfer heat and pressure from the plates (2, 2', 3, 3', 102, 103) to the initial food material, and a drive (115-118) for moving the intermediate element (107, 117, 127, 137) through apparatus so as to place its portions with the initial food material (110) in the same into a cooking space of the apparatus (1). The intermediate element (107, 117,,127, 137) can be formed as a stainless steel element with a thickness of 0.0005-0.0030''. An apparatus (Figs. 28-29) movable manually between a distal and a proximal position and in the proximal position is forcedly movable toward the other plate by a drive to apply the pressure to the food material (110).

Description: DESC IPTION APPARATUS FOR COOKING FOOD Technical Field The presenc invention relaces Co an apparacus for cooking food. More parcicularly, ic relates to an apparacus for cooking food in which an inicial food material is subjected to the action of two hot plates which heat che inicial food macerial and also apply pressure to che same. Background Arc In apparatuses of che above type since not only che high temperature buc also che high pressure is applied co che inicial food macerial, che Cemperacure of evaporacion of liquids or juices of che inicial food material considerably increases under che accion of high pressure. As a resul of this, che liquid or juices from che inicial food material do noc evaporaCe as fast as in convencio apparacus and remain in Che food, whereas cooking of inner porcion is performed wich che vapors of higher cemperaCure generaced inside of chat food. The cooked food is much juicier and che cooking cime is much shorter Chan in che convencion apparacuses. When an inicial food macerial is placed direccly onto a lower plate of che cooking apparacus and Chen heaced and compressed becween boch places, he food macerial scicks Co che places, chus causing che necessity of cleaning che places actually after. each cooking cycle. Wrapping of an initial food material in aluminum foil, cooking it in che foil, and Chen removing Che cooked produce and wichdrawing che same from che foil is inconvenienc, cime-consuming as well as foil-consuming. Using a scill mecal box-shaped insert which is insertable into the apparatus with che inicial food macerial in ic and Chen withdrawable after cooking does not achieve good results, since che metal sheets of the box warp under the action of heat and form air pockets between Che boxes and che places, thus causing unacceptable reduction of heat transfer from the places to the food macerial. Thus none of che above devices satisfy Che requirements of low materia consumption, unimpeded heat transfer and fasc operacion. Summary of che Invencion Accordingly, ic is an object of Che presenC invencion co provide an apparac for cooking food of Che above mencioned cype, in which a pressure developed in ch food macerial is adjuscable. In keeping w ch chese objeccs and wich ochers which will become apparenc hereinafcer, one feaCure of che presenC invencion resides, briefly stated, in an apparatus having two plates, acting means for acting upon at least one plate and apply pressure heating means for heating the plates, wherein means is provide for adjusting che pressure Co be developed in he initial food material in dependence on the nature of the latter. As explained hereinabove, che main purpose of applying Che pressure co che inicial food macerial (in addicion co che temperature) is to increase che evapora temperature of the juices in the initial food material. Various initial food materials (types of meat, poulCry, etc., quantity of Che inicial food macerial, degree of sofcness, ecc.) have differenc preferable cemperaCure ranges of cooking and therefore different values of pressure are required. When the cooking appara is designed in accordance with the present invention, it allows adjustment of pressure in food material depending on the nature of the initial food material and thereby selection of the optimal cooking parameters in the apparatus for each particular initial food material. Another feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in an intermediaCe device which has an elascic heac-conduccive elemenc arranged co be placed in a surface concacc wich che places of Che cooking apparacus and Co surround an inicial food macerial so as Co separaCe Che inicial food material from che places and aC che same cime unobjeccionably Cransfer heac and pressure from Che places, and means for moving che elemenC between at least first posicion in which che elemenC surrounds che inicial food macerial and is locaCed in che cooking space becween Che places so as Co cook che inicial food macerial by che plates co a final produce, and a second posicion in which said element is withdrawn from che cooking space wich che final produc and Che laccer can be Chen removed from che elemenC. When che device is designed in accordance wich he presenC invencion, ics incermediace elemenC is used many cimes and Cherefore a low macerial consumpcion is guaranceed, che incermediace elemenC is heaC-conduccive and flacly lies on che places so as o provide an unobjeccionable heac cransfer, and fasc operacion of che cooking apparacus is provided since che moving means quickly move che incermediace elemenc inco and ouc of che cooking space. The incermediace elemenc can be of heat resisCanc plascics like TEFLON, or mecals like aluminum. Advancageously, ic is composed of scainless sceel wich a chickness of 0.0005 - 0.0030 as will be explained in decail hereinbelow. In a surprising and unexpecced manner, ic noc only transfers heat from Che places Co che inicial food macerial which is known in che arc, buc ceases co be stiff and cherefore provides complecely flat abucmenc againsc he places. Scainless sceel elemenc of a greacer chickness warp under che action of heac and form air gaps becween chem and che plates, which air gaps reduce the heat transfer and cause a non-uniform heac cransfer co Che food macerial. Scill anocher feacure is a cooking apparacus in which one of Che plates is movable relacive co che ocher firsc by manual means co bring Che one place close SUBSTITUTE SHEET to che other place wich an inicial food macerial cherebecween, Chen drive means move Che one place furcher cowards che ocher place Co apply hea and pressure Co che inicial food macerial and cook che laCCer, then the manual means manually withdraw the one plate from the other plate to open the cooking space and to remove che cooked product. In accordance with another advantageous feature of the present invencion, a single adjuscing means aces upon che upper place and Che lower plaCe Co adjusc a final discance becween chem co be reached by che drive means and cherefore co adjusc a pressure Co be applied onco che inicial food macerial. The adjuscing mea can include one adjuscing member which displaces che lower place and anocher adjusting member which limits che movemenC of che upper plate, and boch accuacable by a single elemenC. Boch places can be pivocable wich cheir pivoc axes which are offsec relacive Co one anocher boch in a horizoncal direccion and in a vertical direction. - The pivot axis of the upper plates which is driven by drive means for pressing the initial food material is advantageously located above and laterally beyond the upper plate, to provide beccer condicions of accing upon Che food macerial. The novel feaCures of che presenC invencion are sec forch in parcicular in che appended claims. The invencion icself, however, will be besC undersCood from Che following descripcion of preferred embodimencs which is accompanied by che following drawings. Brief Descripcion of Che Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspeccive view of an apparacus for cooking food in accordance wich che presenC invencion; FIG. 2 is a schemacic perspeccive view of inner elements of che invencive TE SHEET apparacus for cooking food; FIG. 3 is a boccom view of che inner elemenCs shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a view showing a device for adjuscing che pressure in che invencive apparacus, in accordance wich one embodimenC of Che invencion; FIG. 5 is a view showing che adjuscing device in accordance wich anocher embodimenC of che invencion; FIG. 6 is a view showing che adjuscing device in accordance wich a furcher embodimenC of che invencion; FIG. 7 is a view showing covers insertable between hot solid bodies of the inventive apparacus; FIG. 8 is a view showing another embodiment of the inventive cooking apparatus with a d-.or locking safety device; FIG. 9 is a view showing an inventive cooking apparatus in accordance with a different drive; FIGS. 10 and 11 are views showing details of FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively; FIG. 12 is a view showing an apparatus for cooking with Cwo places which apply heac and pressure co an inicial food maCerial, and wich an incermediace device in accordance wich Che presenC invencion; FIG. 13 is a side view of an incermediace device in accordance wich che presenC invencion; FIG. 14 is a perspeccive view of a porcion of che incermediace device of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is a perspeccive view of che incermediace device of FIG. 13; FIG. 16 is a view showing a reinforcing element of the device of FIG. 13; FIG. 17 is a view showing a fragment of another modification of the reinforcing element; FIG. 18 is a view showing anocher modificacion of che invencive incermediac device; SUBSTITUTE SHEET FIG. 19 shows a furcher modificacion of che invencive incer ediate device; FIG. 20 schematically shows che operaCion of che incermediace device of FIG. 19; FIG. 21 shows a scill furcher modification of Che incermediace device of che invencion; FIGS. 22, 23, 24 and FIG. 25 show two further modifications of the inventive intermediate device; FIG. 26 shows still another modification of the inventive device; FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an apparatus for cooking food in acco ' rdance with further embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 28 is a side view of the interior of che invencive apparacus and FIG. 28a is a block diagram of same; FIG. 29 is a plan view of che apparatus for cooking food of FIG. 28; FIGS. 30 and 31 show various positions of upper and lower places of che apparacus for cooking; FIG. 32 shows a furcher modificacion of Che invencive cooking apparacus; FIGS. 33 and 34 show scill a furcher modificacion of che apparacus for cooking food in accordance wich che presenC invencion. Descripcion of Preferred Embodiments A cooking apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of Che invencion is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The cooking apparacus has a housing 1 which forms an incerior of the apparacus for accommodacing all inner pares and mechanisms. An upper place of Che apparacus is. idencified wich reference numeral 2, while a lower place is identified with reference numeral 3. At least one plate, for example the upper plate 2 is vertically movable relative to the other plate, here the lower plate, between a distal posicion and a pluralicy of proximal posicions as will be explained hereinbelow. CU3ST1TUTE SHgET The upper place is provided wich beams 4 and Che lower place is provided wich channels 5. A pluralicy of screws 7 excend chrough openings in che beams an channels and cooperace wich nucs 8 which are fixed in che beams 4. SprockeCs 9 are arranged on screws 7, and a chain 10 passes around Che sprockecs 9 in engagemenc Cherewich. An eleccric mocor II is provided on Che ouCpuC shafe 12 of ics reducer 6 wich a driving sprockec 13 which engages wich che chain 10. An idler sprockec 14 is also provided co adjusc Che cension of Che chain 10. When che electric mocor is accuaced by a noc shown swicch, ic rocaces Che sprockec 13 on che shaft 12 and therefore moves che chain 10. The chain turns the. screws 7 so Chat they are screwed into che nucs 8, whereby Che upper place 2 is forcedly pulled coward che lower place 3 and an inicial food maCerial placed on che lower place and broughc in concacc wich Che upper place and somewhaC compressed. When che rocacion of che electric motor is reversed, the plate 2 is moved away of the plate 3. The screw 7 and the nuts 8 perform a double function. On the one hand, they serve as driving elements so as to move the upper plate 2 relative to the lower place 3. On che ocher hand, chey also serve as guiding elemencs which reliably guide che movemenc of che upper place so ChaC no additional guiding elements are needed. Heating elements 17 are furcher provided for heating Che places. They are atcached co che upper place and che lower place by known mechods. The heacing elements 17 are connecCable Co a source of eleccric current, for example a household or commercial eleccrical neCwork, and are chereby heaced so as co heac che places 2 and 3. As can be seen from che drawing che invencive apparacus has a single eleccrical conduit which is co be plugged inco che eleccrical network so as to supply electric power Co che eleccric mocor 11 for moving Che upper place 2 and SUBSTITUTESHEET co che heacing elemencs 17 so as co heac che places. Ic is idencified wich reference numeral 64. In accordance wich che invencion, pressure in the initial food material is adjusted in dependence on the nacure of che inicial food macerial, so as co increase correspondingly che evaporacion Cemperacure of che juices in ic. The required values of pressure for respeccive inicial food maCerials can be decermir.e from experimencs. For example wich che Cemperacure of 550°F che required pressure in che initial food maCerials is approximacely as follows: Co make rare sCeak of beef - 75-85 psi medium sceak of beef - 70-90 psi well-done sceak of beef - 70-80-- psi chicken breasc - 50-70 psi chicken leg - 65-80 psi cornish hen - 60-70 psi During cooking in che cooking apparacus in accordance wich che presenc invencion, Che pressure is adjusced in accordance wich che inicial food macerial so as co obcain such a pressure which resulcs in a proper temperature of evaporati of the juices and thereby in high juice contents of the final product and in very short time of cooking, namely within 30-90 sec. for Che above listed food material When the pressure in che inicial food macerial is selected in accordance wich che above lisced values che rare sceak can be made in 30 sec, medium sceak in 45-60 sec, well-done sceak in 70-100 sec, chicken breasc in 55-90 se , chicken leg in 60-100 sec, cornish hen in 80-90 sec, etc. In accordance wich che invencion, means is provided for adjusting movement of the upper plate so as to obtain the required pressure in correspondence with che inicial food macerial. One of such adjuscing means is shown in FIG. 4. This adjuscing means is associated with an apparatus which has only one cencral bole 18 which is screwable in one immovable nuC 20 arranged in Cwo supports 19. The embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 can also be provided with such adjusting means. The upper plate 2 is movable by the bolt 18 relative to the lower plate 3 as will be explained hereinbelow in detail with respect to an apparatus shown in FIG. 9 with a drive in accordance wich che embodimenC which is different from the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3. The upper support 19 is provided with a force sensor which senses a force F applied by the bolt 18 during movement of the upper place 2, co che inicial. food maCerial- This force is also applied Co Che upper supporc 19 and cherefore can be sensed by che force sensor 21 arranged on Chis supporc. The force sensor can be formed as a wire gauge, se iconduccive sensor, etc. A linear displacement sensor 22 is arranged on a scationary part of the apparatus and senses a linear displacemenc of bole 18 which is adequate Co the displacement of the upper plate 2. The adjusting means is further provided with a microprocessor 23 which is connecced wich che sensors 21 and 22. On che ocher hand, che microprocessor 23 has inpucs for incroducing daca corresponding Co che weighc of che inicial food maCerial co be cooked (G) and che required pressure (P) selecCed for inscance in accordance wich che above lisced values or based on Che experience of a cook. As shown in che drawing, inscead of manual weighing of che initial food macerial, a weighc decermining elemenc (scale, ecc.) 24 can be connected wich che micro¬ processor shown in phanCo line. Finally, che microprocessor 23 is connecced wich an eleccric mocor 11. The apparacus wich che adjuscing means in accordance wich che embodiment of FIG. 4 can operace in che chree following modes. While operacing in Che firsc mode, che required pressure P and che weight of the initial food macerial G are incroducεd firsc inco che microprocessor. The eleccric mocor 11' is curned on and the upper plate 2' is moved downwardly toward the lower plate 3' and brings the initial food material which has been placed on the lower plate, into contact wich che upper place. During subsequenC downward movement of the upper plate and compression of the initial food material, the force sensor 21 supplies into the microprocessor continuously the values of F, while the linear displacement sensor 22 supplies into the same the value of linear displacement or more particularly the changing distance x between the plates. When the product of F and x becomes equal to the product of G and P divided by density of the meat product (which is approximately the same for all row meats and therefore can be introduced into che microprocessor while programming), che microprocessor curns the electric motor off, since the required pressure has been achieved. The upper plate 2' stops, and the cooking is performed in condition of this pressure. At the end of the cooking time the electric motor is reversed as will be explained, and che upper place is wichdrawn up Co ics inicial position. For operacing in che second mode, ic shall be firsc deCermined from che experimencs whac percencage of compression muse be provided in Che inicial food macerial (i.e. of final Chickness co che inicial chickness of che food macerial). A user inCroduces inco che microprocessor the required compression in corresponden with the pressure in the inicial food macerial required for Che parcicular food macerial. The eleccric mocor 11' is curned " on and che upper plate is moved downwardly. The force sensor 21 senses the moment when the initial food material is brought into contacc wich che upper place (since che force increases) and ac chis momenc che linear displacemenc sensor senses che inicial chickness of che inicial food maCerial and Chen concinues sensing che diminishing chickness. During chis process che microprocessor concinuously compares che inicial Chickness of che food maCerial wich che currenc chickness of che food macerial aC every momenc of che movemenC of che lower place and when che compression inCrσduced into the microprocessor is reached, turns off che eleccric mocor. The process of cooking scares, and afcer a cercain Cime che upper place is moved back. Finally, che adjuscing means can be formed and operaCe in a furcher mode, differenc from cwo firsc-mencioned modes. From experiments, a user determines what final thickness of the food material corresponds to the pressure in che food macerial required for che parcicular food macerial. For a particular food material, the user introduces into che microprocessor 23 the required value of Che final Chickness of che food maCerial. During movemenC of Che upper place 2' coward che lower place 3' and compression of che food macerial, che linear displacemenc sensor concinuously supplies che values of the distance between the plates x, and when the value of the final thickness or the distance between the plates x is reached, the micropro'cessor curns off che electric motor and the lowe plate is stopped for cooking during the respective cooking time. The above described adjusting means can operate in cooking apparatus having a movable lower plate 3'. Ic is however, underscood chac chey can be used in a cooking apparacus wich a movable upper place. The adjuscing means shown in FIG. 5 cooperaCe wich Che movable upper place of che cooking apparacus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, buc of course can be used for che apparacus of FIG. 9. This adjuscing means includes a Curnable knob 25 wich a screw 26 having a shaped groove. A pin 27 is guided in Che groove of che scre and is fixedly connecced wich a body 28 which carries a sensicive elemenc 29 of swicch connecced wich che eleccric mocor 11. A body 30 wich a conical surface i fixedly connecced wich Che bole 7 of che upper place 2. When from experimencs a user knows a required final chickness (discance becween che places) of che food macerial co provide che respeccive pressure in che food maCerial, he curns che knob 25' associaced wich graduacion marks showing che final chickness and stops SUBSTITUTESHEET che knob ac che respeccive graduacion mark. The curning of che knob resulcs in curning of che screw 26, and cherefore axial displacemenc of che pin 27, che body 28, and che sensing elemenc 29. Depending on che axial discance of che sensing element 29 from the axis of the screw 7 and the body 30, the body 30 reaches the sensing element 29 earlier or later so as to turn off the electric motor at the required moment and to stop the upper plate at the required distance from the lower plate. Thereby the respective pressure of che food material is reached and the cooking is performed at this pressure. Uppermost position of che place 2' is determined by a body 30' and swicch 29'. FIGS. 6 and 10 show che adjuscing means in accordance wich scill a furcher embodiment. A pressure sensor or sensors 31 are arranged in at least one palce 2 or 3 and connecced wich concrols of che eleccric mocor 11 directly or via an averaging unit. During compression of the food material between the plates, the sensors 31 sense che pressure in che inicial food macerial and supply che values, for example, Co a microprocessor which Curns off che eleccric mocor when che required pressure corresponding co che parcicular food macerial is reached. FIGS. 7 and 11 show chac che places 2 and 3 are provided wich covers 32 and 33 which cogecher form a box for direcc cooking and cover che places Co prevenc che need for frequenc cleaning. The covers 32 and 33 are easily removabl for cleaning purposes. The lower cover 33 is provided wich a Cray-like excension 34 which exeends forwardly beyond che fronc edge of che lower place 3. Before insercing che inicial food maCerial inco Che box, ic can be firsc deposited on the extension 36, for example for observation, etc. After the food material has been cooked, it is first slid onto the extension 36 and then can easily be remove from che laccer for serving, or cue Co pieces on che excension, etc. This significantly facilitates manipulations with the food material during operation of the machine. The lower cover has a rear wall 34 which is somewhat lower than SUBSTITUTE SHEET side walls 35 so as Co provide ies easy passage when insercing Co che place whil using che side walls as guides during operacion. FIG. 8 is a view showing a door 38 of che inventive apparatus, provided with a device for locking which simulCaneously performs safecy funccion. The device includes a movable magnec 56 which is supporced movable in direccion of che arrow 37 on a scacionary pare of che apparatus, for example inwardly beyond ies fronC wall 58. The magnec 56 is arranged in a circuic of che eleccric mocor 11 so as Co close or open che circuic and cherefore Co Curn on or off che eleccr mocor. When a user turns che door 38 composed of magnecically aCCracCable maCer for example steel or provided with a handle 60 made of such a material, and che edge of che door approaches Che magnec 56, Che laCCer attracts the door and firm holds it in the closed condition. Simultaneously, che. magnec moves in Che direc of che arrow 37 so as co close che circuic of Che eleccric mocor 11, for example by affeccing a swiech 59 and co allow scarcing of che laCCer. This means chat only when Che door is closed and a user's hand, cloches, etc. cannot be caught into che cooking space, che mocor can be scarced and che upper place 2 can move downwardly Coward che lower place. Thus, che magnec 56 is a pare of che lock wh locks che door, on Che one hand, and a pare of a safecy device which prevencs scarcing of Che mocor unless che door is closed, on che ocher hand. This simplifies che conscruccion of che apparacus because of che double funccion of che magnec. FIG. 9 shows che cooking apparacus in accordance wich Che invencion, in which only one cencral bole 7' is provided, as mencioned hereinabove. The eleccric gear mocor 11' drives, chrough a reducer, a driving sprockec 13', a chain 10', and a sprockec 9' mounced on a nuc 8'. The rocacion of che nuc 8' resulcs in vercical movement of che screw 7' and Chereby Che upper place 2'. The incerior of che cooking apparacus is subdivided by a partition 40, as well SUBST as a boccom 42 and a cover 43, inco cwo comparcmencs 44 and 45. The comparcmenc 44 forms a cooking comparcmenc of che apparacus and accommodaCes substantially the cooking parts, namely the plates 2' and 3' with the heating elements in the heating box 47. The compartment 45 forms an electrical and electronic compartmen and accommodates substantially the electric motor 11', transmission parts, a timer 48 which deCermines the time of cooking which is adjustable and se s the required cime of cooking from che momenc of che final compression of che food material to the moment of withdrawal start of the movable plate, a temperature control unit 49 which adjusts the temperature of the heating elements and cherefo Che Cemperacure of che places, concrols of che eleccric motor for turning on and off of the same, the microprocessor with respective sensors such as the linear displacement sensor, force sensor, etc As mentioned hereinabove, the cooking apparatus is provided with means for adjusting che cooking cime, che cemperacure of che places, as well as ocher concr means. The consCruccion shown in FIG. 2 is very space economical and inexpensive co manufaccure. In accordance wich a furcher very imporcanc feature of the present inventio the apparatus is formed so that more heat is emanated by the lower hot parts unde the lower surface of the food material. Ic has been found chac some amounc of juices (liquid) is squeezed from che food macerial and accumulates under che lower surface of the food macerial. They form a liquid layer which possesses heac insulacing propercies and cherefore che lower surface (and Che adjoining pare) of Che food macerial is ulcimaCεly less cooked Chan Che upper surface since ic receives less heac. To eliminace chis disadvancage ic is proposed in accordance wich the present invencion co form che cooking apparacus so chac che lower surface of Che food macerial receives despice - 15- the presence of juices, che same amount of heat. The lower parts of the apparac which are locaced under che lower surface of Che food macerial emanate more heat so that ulcimacely che same amounc of heat is received by the lower surface and the upper surface of the food material. In accordance with one approach Co Chis problem, che heacers which are associaced wich che lower place 3 in FIG. 2 generace more heac Chan che heacers associaeed wich che upper place 2 or in ocher words are heated Co a higher Cemperacure. For chis purpose che heacers 17 associaced wich che lower place 3 can have a higher resiscance (a greacer wire diamecer or a shorcer lengch) Chan che heaters 17 associated wich che upper place 2. In Chis case Che lower place is heaeed co a higher cemperacure Chan che upper place. However, since becween the lower plate and the lower surface of the food material there is a layer of juices with poor heat conductivity, the same amount of heat reaches the lower and upper surfaces of the food macerial. In accordance wich anocher approach, che lower cover 33 in FIG. 7 is made Chinner Chan che upper cover 32 and Cherefore is more heac onduccive Chan che upper cover 32. While boch places 2 and 3 cransfer che same amounC of heac Co boch covers 32 and 33, che lower cover 33 Cransmics more heaC Chan che upper cover 32, and afcεr reducing of che heac amounC by che layer of juices, che same amounc of heat reaches the lower and upper surfaces of che food macerial. In such conscruccions boch surfaces of che foodmacerial are cooked accuall idencically. FIG. 12 shows an apparacus for cooking food which is provided wich an incermediace device in accordance wich che presenC invencion. The cooking apparacus has a housing 101 in which cwo places 101 and 103 are arranged. The places are heaeed by heacing elemencs 104, and ac lease one of che places is SUBSTITUTESHEET driven Co move in a vercical direccion by a drive 105 Cowards and away from che ocher place. In che proximal posicion of che places Chey define cherebecween a cooking space 106. An inicial food macerial 1 I 1 is cooked in che cooking space 107 under che accion of heac and pressure applied by Che plates 102, 103. The cooking apparatus can be provided with means for adjusting the temperature and pressure of cooking, as well as the cooking time. An intermediate device to be located in the cooking space 106 is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 as formed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. It has an intermediate element which is elastic and heat-conductive. It is identified with reference numeral 107 and can be composed of materials which will be discussed in detail hereinbelow. In a first or cooking position the element 103 is located substantially inside the cooking space 106. It is somewha stiff and therefore assumes a U-shaped configuration. Its upper portion 107' flacly concaccs che upper place, ies lower porcion 107" flatly contacts the lower place, ies rear porcion 107" connecCs che upper and lower porcions wich one anocher. The fronc edge of che fronC porcion 107' of Che elemenc 107 is removably aceached Co Che upper place, for example by interengaging openings 108 in che elemenc 107 and projeccions 109 on che upper place. Moving means are provided for moving che element 107 becween Che firsc or cooking posicion inside Che cooking space, and a second posicion ouCside che cooking space and shown in broken lines. The moving means include a handle 110 provided on che fronC end of che lower porcion 107" of che elemenc 107. A user grasps che handle 100 and moves che elemenc 107 wich an initial food material 111 into the cooking space 106, wherein upon lowering of the upper plate 102 the food is cooked to obcain a final food produce. Then Che upper place is moved upwardly away from che lower place by che drive 105. The user grasps Che handle 110 and moves che elemenc 107 wich Che final produce 111' on it outwardly from SUBSTITUTE SHEET Che cooking space 106 Co remove che final product 111' from the element 107. Then the element 107 can be cleaned by a sponge, a brush or the like. When element 107 is made of less stiff material, like for example TEFLON, a reinforcing member 112 is attached to the portion 107". The reinforcing member 112 is formed as a frame having a concour which corresponds Co che conCour of che porcion 107", provided wich a cencral hole 112'", composed of mecal and removably aceached co che elemenc 107 for example by bars 112". The frame has a rear sCripshaped end 112 ; which during movemenC of che elemenc 7 and ies lower porcion 107" scracches Che lower place 2 so as Co clean ic from accidenCal dircying during cooking. While che scrip-shaped end 112' is sCraighc in FIG. 16, ic can also be benc downwardly as indencified by 112'" in FIG. 17 so as co improve che scracching accion. In ocher words, ic is provided wich a benC down sharp edge which scracches che lower place. Pegs 119 can furcher secure member 107 co frame 112. As can be seen from FIG. 13 a Cray-like projeccion 114 is arranged in fron of che cooking space 106 for supporcing che element 107 in its position outside of the cooking space 106, for loading an initial food material on the respective portion of the element 107 before moving into che cooking space, and for removin Che final food produce from Che same afcer wichdrawal from Che cooking space. Also, a porcion of che elemenc 107 which hangs downwardly from Che Cray 114 is easy Co clean by a sponge, a brush or che like. To facilicace Che cleaning, che Cray I 14 can be provided with a downwardly excending' element-supporting portion 114' against which the element 107 is supported during cleaning in a vertical posicion, Chus resiscing a pressure of a cleaning member. . FIG. 15a shows cwo bars 110' which can be used for pushing che incermediac elemenc inco che cooking space, while in FIG. 15b che bars are connecced wich on SUBSTITUTE SHEET - 18- another co form a one-piece pushing member 110". The elemenc 107 can be formed jusc as a flexible sheet, wich no reinforceme and provided wich openings similar Co Che opening 108 in FIG. 14. The inicial food macerial is wrapped wich such element and placed into the cooking space 106 where it is cooked. Then the element 107 with the final cooked product is withdrawn from the cooking space, and the upper edge of the element 107 is suspended onto the projections 109 of the upper plate. By pulling the lower portion of the element 107 the cooked product is removed from the element 107, while the upper edge is still retained on che projeccions 109. The intermediate device shown in FIG. 18 also has the handle 110 provided on the lower portion of the element 117 which is supplied from the roll 118 mounted on a shaft. The shaft carries a cylindrical bush 15 provided with a plurality of grooves 115'. An arresting pin 116 has a first end selectively engageable into a respective one of the grooves 115' and a second end provided with a push button 116". A spring 116' biases Che pin ! 16 inco engagemenc wich che grooves. Afcer cooking of one sec of produces, che elemenc 117 is pulled so as co place in che cooking space 106 a new porcion of che elemenc. For chis purpose che pin 116 is disengaged from Che respeccive groove Co allow Curning of Che roll 118, and Chen engages inco Che next groove. FIG. 19 shows the intermediate device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Here an elastic and heat conductive element 117 has a length which is a multiple of a double depth "d" of the cooking space 106. Moving means for moving the element 117 through the cooking space include an upper rolle 118 provided with a handle 19 arranged to turn the roller 118 so that it moves che elemenc 117 upwardly or in a rearward direction, and a lower roller 120 with a handle 121 arranged to turn the roller 120 so that it moves the element 117 c U3STITUTE SHEET downwardly or in a foreward direction. FIG. 20 illustrates a preferable mode of operation of the cooking machine and movement of che elemenc 117 of che intermediace device. In the posicion shown in FIG. 16a, porcions 117' and 117" are associated wich Che lower and upper places and che inicial food macerial 111 is cooked beCween Chem. Then by accuacion of che roller 120, che elemenc 117 is moved in che forward direccion, Che portion 117" with Che final product is wichdrawn from Che cooking space by oen sCep onco che Cray 114, che final produce is removed, a clean porcion 117'" is now over che lower place, as shown in FIG. 16b. Then by accuacion of che lower roller 20 che elemenc 117 is moved again in che forward direccion by one more seep, as shown in FIG. 16c, so chac che "dircy" portion 117" of the element 117 moves down, the clean portion 117'" is located over the Cray 114 and a new inicial food produce is placed onco ic. Finally, by actuacion of che upper roller 118, che elemenc 117 is moved rearwardly by one seep, che clean portion 117"' is now locaced over che lower place and che food material cooked in the cooking space, being surrounded by the element 117 inside che cooking space. The above described mode of operacion is preferable, buc of course noc only one possible. Cleaning means are further provided for cleaning Che element 117 afcer passing che cooking space 106. The cleaning means includes a housing 112 wich a lower drain opening, and a pluralicy of cleaning members arranged inside che housing. The cleaning members include liquid (wacer) spraying member 124 and 125 which spray waCer or anocher cleaning solution onco opposice sides of che elemenC 117. The spraying members 124 and 125 can be actuated from the curning of the handle 121 as schematically shown in broken lines, or manually. A brush member 126 is located below one of the spraying members and scrubs the element 117 in addition to the action of liquid. It can be provided a Curbine which is SUBSTITUTESHEET rotatable by a flow of cleaning water so as to rotate the brush member. On the other hand, the brush member can be connected with the roller 20 by a transmissio 118 with a ratio such that during one revolution of the roller 120 the brush member 126 performs several revolutions. Finally, a drying member 123 can be arranged downstream of other cleaning members so as to dry the element 117 by heat which can be a sterilizing heat of ultraviolet radiation, etc. It is to be understood that after the element 117 has been moved completely onto the roller 120, it can be rewound back onto the roller 118, advantageously wich che places 102 and 103 heaeed, so as co be addicionally scerilized during chis rearward rewinding. Reference numeral 134 idencifies a door of che cooking apparacus, which can be associated with respective switches as will be explained hereinbelow. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 21 the element 117 is moved by moving means which include an upper roller 118 and a lower roller 120 for rearward and forward movements of the element 117 respectively. The rollers are provided with stepper motors 120 and 131 respectively. The stepper motors 120 and 131 can be controlled manually so as to provide the respective movements of the element 117. On the other hand, the motors can be provided with controllers 132 and 133 which are actuated in dependence on che respeccive posicions of che door 134, for example in response co contact of the door with the- respective switches which are associated with the respective positions of the door and are connected to che respeccive concrollers. Thus, che elemenc 117 is moved automatically in the respective direction in response to opening or closing of the door. FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 show an elastic and heat conductive element 137 which is formed somewhat differently. It has an elongated carrier strip 38 provided with a plurality of pockets 139. Each pocket can be openable and closeable at least at one side, preferably a front side 139'. Of course, for convenience it can also be openable and closeable at both lateral sides 139". For this purpose SUBSTITUTE SHEET Che respeccive sides can be provided wich zipper-like which are closeable by pressing cogecher. On che ocher hand, che pockets alternatingly can be provided with a flipper 135 which can be bent as shown in phanton line in FIG. 23. The whole element can be moved from rear to front of the machien. It is also possible to move it transversely through Che cooking apparacus as shown in FIB. 25, for which purpose side windows can be provided in che apparacus walls. In che posicion upscream of che cooking space or ac che righc side of che apparacus che respeccive pockeC is opened, an inicial food macerial is inCroduced inco ic, chen che pockeC is closed, che elemenc 137 is moved Co che lefc so Chac Che pocke wich Che fooc maCerial is posicioned in che cooking space 106, and che food material is cooked. Then the element 137 is moved further to the left, the pocket with the final cooked product is moved to the left side of the cooking apparatus and is opened there for removal of the final cooked product from it. FIG. 26 shows still a further embodiment of the invention. Here the elemen 127 forms a closed loop, running over deviating rollers 155, tensioning rollers 151, and between driving rollers 145 and a pressing roller 146. The driving rollers 145 which drive the element 127 are driven from a motor 143 through a belt 144. The element 127 passes chrough a cleaning device 147 which includes a housing wich a draining opening 148, cwo brushes- 149, and Cwo pairs of spraying elemencs 150. The elemenc 127 passes during running, chrough Che cooking space becween che upper and lower places 103 and 102. The closed loop includes che lefc Curn 142 and che right curn 141 which can be complecely closed by a housing of che cooking apparacus so as co leave open only che fronC area of Che cooking space for loading and unloading. FIG. 26 represencs a fronC. view of che cooking apparacus, or in ocher words, che curns 141 and 142 are locaced aC boch laCeral sides of che cooking space and che elemenc 127 moves from lefc Co righc. Ic is Co be underscood chac che rollers which guide and drive Che elemenc 127 can be located so that the element 127 runs over a path which is different from that shown in FIG. 26. Also the cleaning device can be located at the right side of the cooking space, in deviation from the location shown in FIG. 26. Nozzles 156 spray an anci-scicking subscance onco che elemenc 127. The elemenCs 107, 117, 127, 137 can be composed of convencional material such as aluminum, silicon rubber, tetrafluorethylene, reinforced fluorethylene, fiberglass, etc However, in accordance with a new and especially advantageous feacure of che presenC invencion, ic also can be formed of scainless sceel. Ic is known chac scainless sceel has high heat-conductive properties and does not affect food in any way. However, stainless steel elements are as a rule stiff. When conventional stainless steel band is used as the element in the inventive intermediate device, it undesirably affects the cooking. The reason is that under the action of heat the stainless steel band warps since it is not restraine from inside by a very soft food material which cannot offer a sufficient resistan co che scainless sceel band Co press ic flacly and in compleCe surface concacc againsc che places. As a resulc of chis, air gaps appear becween che places and che warped scainless sceel band, and at the locations of these gaps the heat transfer is considerably reduced (from the plates to the initial food material). The food material is therefore cooked non-uniformly with its some par completely cooked and its other parts uncooked and cooked insufficiently. In a surprising and unexpected manner it was found that when in accordance with the present invention the stainless steel intermediate element has a thickness of 0.0005-0.0030" it eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art. The stainles steel element with the above thickness becomes so elastic that even with a very low resistance (backing) offered by the food material from inside, it flatly lies againsc che places wich a complece surface concacc againsc che places in che area of che food macerial so chac no air gaps develop becween che incermediac -23- elemenc and che places, and the heat cransfer from che places to the food material is uniform and provides a uniform cooking (FIG. 19). In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the stainless steel intermediate material can be coated with a layer of titanium nitride with a thickness of 0.001 - 0.0005 so as to increase its resistance to wear during cocking, to scratching during cleaning, Co scicking by an inicial food macerial, and co excessive flexing so that additional reinforcing frame as 112 in FIG. 16, is not needed as shown in FIG. 13. As % can be. seen from FIG. 27, an apparatus for cooking food in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention has an upper plate idencified wich reference numeral 201 and a lower place idencified wich reference numeral 202. The places are provided wich heacing means." The apparacus is provided wich cemperacure adjuscing means acCuacable by knobs 203 and 205 which adjusc che cemperacure of che upper place and lower place, respeccively. An adjuscing knob 204 adjusCs a pressure co be applied co che inicial food macerial by adjuscing a final discance becween che place wich che food macerial cherebecween. An adjuscin knob 206 adjusCs a cime of cooking. Reference numeral 230 idencifies an accuacing push buccon. The rear edges of che places 201 and 202 are connecced wich one anocher by an elascic member 209 of metal, plastic, etc. The member 209 is provided with an excension 208 for guiding away che wasCes removed from che places during cheir cleaning. The upper plate 201 is openable and closeable by means of a handle 214. The places can be cleaned in che open posicion of che upper place, while Che cooking is carried ouc in che closed posicion of che upper place as will be expla hereinbelow in deCail wich reference Co furcher Figures of che drawing. As can be seen from FIGS. 28 and 29, che upper place 201 is connecced by cwo bars 222 wich a shafe 224 of a worm wheel 217. The worm wheel 217 is in engagemenc wich a worm member 216. The worm wheel has a horizontal axis, while the worm member has a vertical axis. The worm wheel 217 sits on the shaft 24 with interposition of a coupling 223. The shaft 224 is supported in two supports 225. The worm member is driven in rotation by a motor 221, preferably an electric motor. The adjusting knob 4 has a shaft 210 with a conical gear 211 which engages with a conical gear 212 having an inner thread. A threaded pin 212' extends through the conical gear 212 and abuts against a projection 213 of the lower plate 22. The lower plate 22 is pivotable about an axle 222. The shaft 210 is connected with a cam 220 having a shaped surface and rotatable about a horizontal axis of the shaft 210. The cam 220 is connected via a vertically movable rod with a limiting member 219 having an end finger cooperating with a rear projection 218 of che upper place 201. An incerlock device includes a cam 233 connected- wich che rear projeccion 18 of Che upper plate 201 and a cooperating switch 232. The apparatus for cooking of the invention operates in Che following manner. By curning che knobs 103 and 205 Che desired cemperacure of che places 201 and 202 is presec. The knob 206 presecs che cime of cooking. The knob 106 is turned and adjuscs che posicion of che lower place 202 through the parts 210, 211, 212, 212' and 213, and also adjusts che posicion of che limicing member 219 chrough che pares 210, 220. In che open posicion of che upper place 201 che incerlocking device is disconnecced and che moCor 221 cannoc be curned on. This posicion is shown in doCCed line. In chis posicion che coupling 223 keeps Che worm wheel 217 disconnecced from che shaft 224. Then a user turns the upper plate 201 by the handle 214 in counterclockwise direction to the closed position in which che upper place exeends close Co che lower place and preferably couches from above an inicia food macerial which has been incroduced into the apparatus or more particularly placed on the lower plate. When che upper place assumes che closed posicion show in dash-doc line, Che device 232, 233 is actuated and allows switching on of the coupling 223 which couples the worm wheel 217 with the shaft 224 and also switchi on of the motor 221. The above switchings are performed in response to depressin the push button 230 by a user. The motor 221 rotates the worm member 216, the worm wheel 217 and the upper plate 201 further in counterclockwise direction to reach between the plates the distance which is determined by contact of the projection of Che upper place wich che swicch 219. The laCCer Chen scops che mocor buc keeps che coupling. Food is cooked by heac and pressure. Afcer elapsing Che cime of cooking, che signal from a swicch 234 of a Cimer disconneccs the coupling 223 and actuates a buzzer. The user then turns the upper plate in clockwise direction away from the lower place co remove che cooked produce from che apparacus . As can be seen from FIG. 28 che axes of pivocing of che places 201 and 202 are offsee from one anocher boch horizontally and vertically. The axis of pivoti of the upper plate is offset upwardly and laterally beyond the upper plate. In this construction the resulting force R of the force V applied by the pivoting of the upper plate and the force S which cends co squeeze Che inicial food maceri from che cooking space becween che places, is always direcced Coward che lower plate. The fact chac che invencive apparacus provides che adjuscmenc of boch the upper place and Che lower place is very imporcanC. FIG. 31 shows a sicuacion in which only che upper place is adjuscable. Here praccically che upper place is always inclined relacive co che lower plate during reaching of che final discance becween che places and deviaces from parallelism up or down. Only in one inscanc the upper place can exCend parallel Co Che lower place. In concrasc, when in accordance wich che invencion boch places are adjusced, chey are always parallel to one another. FIG. 32 shows that the apparatus is provided with a protective casing 226 which is pivotable also about the pivot axis of the upper plate. In the operativ position shown in solid line the casing 226 extends horizontally and overlaps from Che fronc che mouch (lefc end in FIG. 32) of Che cooking space becween Che places. Thus no foreign objeccs, including pares of user's body, can be caughc in che cooking space. This posicion is reCained by a corsion spring 231. For opening che cooking space a user presses che casing 226 downwardly againsc che force of che spring and releases che mouch of che cooking space. In che last mencioned posicion Che casing 226 is reCained by a laCch 226. At the same time it presses a switch 227 which blocks che motor from being turned on. Thus with the open cooking space the apparatus cannot be actuated. FIG. 33 shows a cross section of the upper plate 201 in its open position identified in dotted line in FIG. 28. Here the plate 201 is heated by hot air. Air is heated by an electric heater 241 or gas heater ' 42 and supplied by a fan 243 actuated by a motor 244 through a passage 245 into inner passages 246 and 247 of the hollow shaft 224. The heated air heats Che upper place 201 and exics chrough passage 245' back co che heacers. The temperature of the air can be adjusted by the temperature adjusting knob 203' via a thermocouple 248 and its control element 249. Another possibility of adjusting the temperature of the upper plate is shown in FIG. 54. Here a thermosensitive element 250, for example a bimetal plate is located in the passage 246 and changes its position under the action of heat to adjust a flow cross section of the passage 246. The lower plate of the inventive cooking apparatus can be heated in the same manner as the upper plate. The invention is not limited to the details shown since various modificatio and structural changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in particula in the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for cooking food, comprising at least two solid plates, at least one of said plates being movable relative to the other plate so chat an initial food material can be directly contacted by said plates from both sides; means for heaCing said places Co a high temperature; means for acting on at least said one plate and including driving means for driving said one plate into movement toward said ocher place so as co develop in Che inicial food macerial a high pressure, so chac cooking is performed noc only under che accion of che high cemperacure, but also under simultaneous action of the high pressure which increases the temperature of evaporation of liquid matter from the initial food material; and means for adjusting the pressure in the initial food material in dependence on the nature of the initial food material, said adjusting means including a sensing elemenc which senses at least one parameter of the movement of said one plate and when said parameter reaches a value • - corresponding to said pressure in the initial food material said sensing element switches off said driving means. 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sending element is formed as an end switch actuatable by said one place and operacive for curning " off said driving means; and further comprising means for changing a position of said end swicch relacive co said ocher place. 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing element is formed so that ic senses a force applied Co said one plate and a final distance between said plates, said adjusting means further including a microprocessor arranged to receive data about weight of the initial food material and said pressure and to compare a product of the weight and the pressure with the product of the force and the distance so as to turn off said driving means when said products become equal. 4. An apparacus as defined in claim 3, wherein said adjuscing means includes means for weighing che inicial food macerial and introducing che weighc into said microprocessor. 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing element is arranged in at least one of said plates and senses a pressure which is being developed in the initial food material and wh n it reaches said pressure of at least 10 p.s.i. turns off said driving means. 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said sensing element includes a plurality of sensing members arranged in at least one of said plates and connected with one another so as to sense an average pressure developed in the initial food material over its dimension extending in a direction of said at lease one place. 7. An apparacus for cooking food as defined in claim 1, wherein said accing means includes an eleccric drive elemenc which moves said one place relaci co said ocher place, said heacing means including an eleccric heacing elemenc which heacs each of said places, and furcher comprising means for supplying eleccric power and including a common eleccric conduic which connects said electric drive element and said electric heating element simultaneously with a source of electric power. 8. An apparatus for cooking food as defined in claim 1, wherein said one plate is movable relative to said other plate in a first direction, said acting means comprising a drive which includes three threaded elemencs spaced" from one anocher in a plane excending Cransverse Co said one direccion, each of said chreaded elemencs including a threaded spindle member and a chreaded nuc member screwed on che laCCer, said chreaded nuc members forming a firsc group of Chreaded members and said Chreaded spindle members forming a second group of threaded member, the threaded members of one of said groups being non-rotatably and axially non-displaceably connected with one of said plates, while the threaded members of the other group ar.e rotatably and axially non-displaceably connected with the other of said plates, said drive also including a chain member arranged to rotate the threaded members of said other group whereby the threaded members of said one group are displaced axially and thereby moves said one plate relative to said other plate, whereby said threaded element serve simultaneously as driving means and as guiding means for said one plate. 9. An apparatus for cooking food as defined in claim 1, wherein said solid places have fron edges aC a side Chrough which che inicial food material is inserted between said plates; and further comprising a box-shaped insert iπsertable into a space between said plates and formed so that it is in contact with said plates and also is brought into contact with the initial food material when said one plate has been moved toward said other plate, said box-shaped insert having a projection extending forwardly beyond said edges and forming a tray for handling the initial food material or cooked food. 10. An apparacus as defined in claim 9, wherein said inserC has an upper co and che lower cover, aC least said lower cover having a rear wall and side walls, said rear wall being somewhat lower than said side walls of said lower cover. 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said solid plates include a lower plate and an upper plate, said lower plate being heatable to a temperature which is higher than that of said upper plate; and further comprising means for independently heating said lower plate and said upper plate co che respeccive cemperacures. 12. An apparacus as defined in claim 11, wherein said lower place has lower heater and said upper plate has upper heater, said lower heater is formed so that ic heacs said lower place Co che higher Cemperacure while said upper heacer is formed so chac ic heacs said upper place Co che lower cemperacure wich che same power supply Co said upper and lower heaCers. 13. An apparacus as defined in claim 12, wherein said lower heacer has a lower resisCance Chan said upper heaCer. 14. An apparacus as defined in claim 1, and furcher comprising a box-shape inserc inserced becween said places and having an upper cover member and a lower cover member, said lower cover member being chinner Chan said upper cover member so as Co cransfer more heac from said lower place Chan said upper cover cransfers from said upper place. » 15. An incermediace device of an apparacus for cooking by heaeed pressing places defining a cooking space cherebecween, Che incermediace device comprising an elascic heat-conductive element arranged Co be placed in a surface contact with che places of the cooking apparacus and Co surround an inicial food macerial so as co separaCe Che inicial food macerial from che places and ac che same cime unobjeccionably Cransfer heac and pressure from che places Co che inicial food macerial; and means for moving said element becween aC lease firsc posicion in which said elemenc surrounds che inicial food maCerial and is locaced in che cooking space becween che places so as Co cook Che inicial food maCerial by the plates to a final produce, and a second posicion in which said elemenc is wichdrawn from che cooking space wich che final produce and che final produce can Chen be removed from che elemenc. 16. An incermediace device as defined in claim 15, wherein said elemenc in said firsc posicion is U-shaped and has an upper porcion associacable wich an upper one of che places and having fronc and rear ends, a lower porcion associaca wich a lower one of che places and having fronc and rear ends, and a rear porcion conneccing said rear ends of said upper and lower portions with one another; and further comprising means for removably attaching said front end of said upper portion to the upper plate. 17. An intermediate device as defined in claim 16, wherein said moving means is provided at said front end of said lower portion of said element and includes a member which is graspable by a user and is connected with said front end of said lower portion of said element so as to grasp said member and pull said front end of said lower portion in a direction away from the cooking space to thereby withdraw said element from the cooking space. 18. An intermediate device as defined in claim 15, and further comprising a reinforcing member associated with said lower portion of said element, said lower portion having a predetermined contour, said reinforcing member being formed as a frame having a contour which substantially corresponds to the contour of said lower portion and is at least removably ' attachable to the latter so as to move between said first and second positions cogecher wich said lower porcion and cherefore Cogecher wich said elemenc. 19. An incermediace elemenc as defined in claim 18, wherein said frame has a rear scrip-shaped porcion which is formed so chac during movemenC of said frame together with said element between said first and. second positions said rear strip-shaped portion of said frame scratches the lower plate thus cleaning the same from accidental dirtying. 20. An intermediate device as defined in claim 19, wherein said strip-shape portion of said frame has a rear end which is somewhat bent downwardly so as to form a sharp edge for improving the scratching of the lower plate during movement of said frame togecher wich said elemenc becween said firsc and second posicions. 21. An intermediate device as defined in claim 15, wherein the cooking space has a predecer ined depCh, said elemenc having a length which is substanti greater than a double depth of the cooking space, said moving means being formed so that chey move said elemenc chrough Che cooking space in a forward direccion and also move said elemenc Chrough Che cooking space in a rearward direccion, alcernacingly in a desired sequence. 22. An incermediace device as defined in claim 21, wherein said moving means is formed so chac chey move one pare of said elemenc in said forward direction by one forward seep so as co wichdraw one pare of said elemenc wich che final produce chereon from said firsc posicion in said cooking space Co said second posicion oucside said cooking space for removal of Che final produce from said elemenc, Chen chey move said element again in said forward direction by anocher forward seep so as Co move said one pare forwardly for cleaning and co move anocher clean pare cf said elemenc in fronc of Che cooking space for loadin a new inicial food maCerial, and Chen chey move said elemenc in said rearward direccion by one rearward seep so as co move che ocher pare of Che elemenc wich che new inicial food macerial inco che cooking space for cooking Che same. 23. An incermediace device as defined in claim 21, wherein said moving means includes an upsCream roller locaced upsCream of che cooking space and a downscream rollers locaced downsCream of che cooking space and boch carrying said elemenc, and means for roCaCing said rollers. 24. An incermediace device as defined in claim 21, and furcher comprising means for cleaning said elemenc afcar wichdrawing che same from che cooking spac afcer cooking and locaced downscream of che cooking space, said cleaning means including at lease one cleaning member accing upon said elemenc so as co clean che latter after wichdrawing said elemenc from che cooking space. 25. An incermediace device as defined in claim 24, wherein said cleaning means includes a cleaning housing chrough which said element passes, said cleaning member is formed as a liquid spraying member located in said cleaning housing and arranged so as to spray liquid against at least one side of said element inside said cleaning housing. 26. An intermediate device as defined in claim 25, wherein said cleaning means also includes a second such liquid spraying member located in said cleaning housing and arranged to spray liquid against another side of said element inside said cleaning housing, so as together with said first mentioned cleaning member to clean both side of said element. 27. An intermediate device as defined in claim 25, wherein said cleaning means further includes a brush member arranged downstream of said liquid spraying member so as to clean said element additionally to said liquid spraying member inside said cleaning housing, said brush member being formed as a rotatable brush member wich a liquid Curbine pare accuacable in rocacion by che same liquid. 28. An incermediace device as defined in claim 25, wherein said cleaning device furcher includes a drying member locaCed in said cleaning housing downscrea of said cleaning member so as co dry said elemenc after liquid spraying by said liquid spraying member, said drying member being formed so as to simul aneously sanitize said element. 29. An intermediate device as defined in claim 15, wherein said moving means is formed so as to move said element in a forward direction to withdraw one part of said element with a final produce on ic from said firsc posicion in che cooking space Co said second posicion oucside che cooking space, che cooking apparacus having an openable and closablε door; and furcher comprising accuacing means for accuacing said moving means Co move in said forward direccion in responsε co moving che door from ies closed posicion co ies open posicion. 30. An incermediace device as defined in claim 29; and furcher comprising further actuating means for actuating said moving means Co move into the cooking space a clean part of said element in response to moving the door from- its open to its closed position so as to move inco che cooking space the clean part of the element wich a new initial food material on it Co be cooked in che cooking space. 31. An incermediace device as defined in claim 30, wherein said moving means is formed so as co move said elemenc in a rearward direction to move the clean part of the element into the cooking space, said further actuating member being operative for actuating said moving means to move said elemenc and therefore said clean part of said elemenc in said rearward direccion inco che cooking space. 32. An incermediace device as defined in claim 15, wherein said elemenc is provided wich a pluralicy of openable and closeable pockets formed so that each pocket can accommodate the initial food material and in said first position aC lease one of said pockees is closed and locaCed in Che cooking space wich the initial food material inside said one pocket to be cooked in the latter, while in said second position said one pocket can be opened and the final product can be removed from said one pocket. 33. An intermediace device as defined in claim 32, wherein each of said pockees has ac lease one side which is closable and openable in a zipper-like manner so as Co lock and co expose respecCively che incerior of each of said pock 34. An incermediace device as defined in claim 15, wherein said elemenc is a scainless sCeel elemenc with a chickness of 0.0005 -0..0030" so as noc only cransfer heac from Che places co che inicial food maCerial, buc also flacly abuc againsc che places in surface concacc wichouc inCermediate gaps therebetween, with the initial food material surrounded by said elεment. 35. An incermediace device as defined in claim 32, wherein said elemenC is coaced with a layer of titanium nitride with a thickness of 0.0001 rθ.0005 co increase resiscance Co wear, scracching, sticking and flexing of the stainless steel element. 36. An apparatus for cooking comprising two plates defining a cooking space therebetween; means for heating said plates; means for moving at least one of said plates relative to the other of said plates so as to cook an initial food product in said cooking space under the action of said plates with heating the initial food material by the plates and pressing Che initial food macerial between the plates; and intermediate device located in said cooking space and formed as defined in claim 1. 37. An element to be used in an apparatus for cooking by heated pressing plates and to be located becween che heacing places and an inicial -food macerial during cooking, che elemenc is formed as a scainless sCeel elemenc wich a chickness of 0.0005 -0.0030 so as noc only cransfer heac from the plates to the initial food material, but also flatly abut against the plates in surface contact without intermediate gaps therebetween, with the initial food macerial surrounded by said element. 38. An apparatus for cooking food, comprising a lower plate; an upper plate; means for heating said plates; and means for moving at least one of said plates relative to che ocher of said places so as co apply heat and also to apply pressure to an initial food material to cook the latter under the action of heat and pressure, said moving means including manual means and drive means formed so that before cooking a user by said manual means can bring said one plate to a position substantially close Co said ocher place, ChereafCer said drive means drives said one place Coward said ocher plate to compress the initial food SHEET aterial therebetween and cherefore cook the latter, and thereafter a user by said manual means can withdraw said one plate away of said other plate to open a space between said plates for removing a cooked product. 39. An apparatus as defined in claim 38; and further comprising means for coupling said one plate to said drive means after said manual means has brought said one plate to the position close to said other plate, and uncoupling said one plate from said drive means after the cooking, and including a coupling uni . 40. An apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein said drive means include an electric motor, a worm member having a substantially horizontal axis and driven by said motor, and a worm gear having a substantially horizontal axis and engaging with said worm member, said worm gear having a shaft which supports sai one plate so that said one plate is pivotable about said horizontal axis by said drive means and by said manual means. 41. An apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said other plate is also movable relativε to said one plate; and further comprising means for adjusting a pressure to be applied to the initial food material by adjusting a final dista between said places afcer said drive means has driven said one place Coward said ocher place, said adjuscing means being formed Co adjust simultaneously said lower plate and said upper plate. 42. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said adjusting means includes means for displacing said other plate a fixed first final position, and means for limiting the movement of said one plate by said drive means to a secon final position; and further comprising a single actuating member acting upon said adjusting means and therefore upon said other plate displacing means and said one plate limiting means, for adjusting the final distance between said plates . 43. An apparatus as defi'ned in claim 41, wherein said one plate is pivotabl by said manual and said drive means about a first pivot axis, said other plate being pivotable about a second pivot axes, said pivot axes being offsec from one anocher in a horizoncal direccion and in a vercical direction. 44. An apparatus as defined in claim 38; and further comprising means for preventing actuation of said drive means before said one plate has been brought by said manual means to the position close to said other plate for introducing the initial food material between the plates. 45. An apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said plates define therebetween a cooking space having a front mouth for' introducing an initial food material and removing a cooked product; and further comprising a casing moveable between an operative position in which it closes said mouth and an inoperative posicion in which ic releases said mouch. 46. An apparacus as defined in claim 38, wherein said upper place forms said one plate and is pivotable by said manual means and said drive means about an axis which is located laterally beyond and above said upper plate. 47. An apparatus as defined in claim 38, and further comprising means for heating each of said plates and including a passage formed in each of said plates, and an element for heating air and supplying the thus heated air into said passage so as co heat a respeccive one of said plates. 48. An apparatus as defined in claim 47; and further comprising means for adjusting the temperature of each of said plates and operative for adjusting che cemperacure of che heaeed air supplied inCo said passage. 49. An apparatus as defined in claim 47; and further comprising means for adjusting the temperature of each of said plates and operative for adjusting the quantity of the heated air supplied into said passage.

Inventors: SANCHEZ WILLIAM, SHERMAN VICTOR, ZBOROVSKY ILYA, SANCHEZ, WILLIAM, SHERMAN, VICTOR, ZBOROVSKY, ILYA
Applicants: SANCHEZ WILLIAM, SHERMAN VICTOR, ZBOROVSKY ILYA, SANCHEZ, WILLIAM, SHERMAN, VICTOR, ZBOROVSKY, ILYA
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A47J37
IPC codes: A47J37