A machine for preparing pasta-based dishes for direct consumption starting from precooked deep-frozen pasta products

Abstract: A machine for preparing pasta-based dishes for direct consumption starting from precooked deep-frozen pasta products, comprises at least one basket (23) adapted to receive the dosages of precooked deep-frozen pasta, a vat (20) containing heated water, a drive arrangement (25-27.36) for moving the basket (23) between a dipped position where the basket (23) is submerged under the heated water contained in the vat (20) for heating the precooked deep-frozen pasta and a removed position where the basket (23) is removed from the vat (20).

Description: This invention relates to a machine for preparing pasta-based dishes for direct consumption starting from a precooked deep-frozen pasta products. Such a machine is described in document FR-A-2596250. Modern industrial catering requires that meals be prepared in the simplest and quickest possible way. The preparation of pasta-based dishes, customarily in greatest demand, unfortunaly clashes with the above requirement. In fact, it is well known that the cooking time of pasta is too long to meet the requirement for prompt serving. In addition, after cooking, pasta must be strained, an operation which is less than convenient to perform on a commercial scale. It matters to observe, moreover, that the need to cook pasta products in commercial amounts ill suits the demand for proper cooking and apportionment of the pasta contingent on orders. The pasta-making industry currently offers precooked deep-frozen pasta products which are basically standard pasta products thoroughly cooked to an optimum condition for consumption and then deep-frozen while in that condition. By simple subsequent heating, this precooked deep-frozen pasta can be consumed directly. It is the object of this invention to provide a machine for preparing pasta-based dishes for direct consumption starting from precooked deep-frozen pasta products, which satisfies the aforesaid requirement and demand. This object is achieved by a machine for preparing pasta-based dishes as set out in the first claim. For a better understanding of the features and advantages of this invention, a detailed description of two exemplary, non-limitative embodiments thereof will be given next with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine, according to the invention, for preparing pasta-based dishes for direct consumption; Figure 2 is a front view section along line II-II in Figure 3 of the machine shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view section along line III-III in Figure 2 of the machine shown in Figure 1; Figures 4, 5 show, according to the same sectional views as in Figures 2, 3, respectively, variations and additions to the machine shown in Figure 1; and The machine generally shown at 10 in Figure 1 has a body 11 housing and supporting the various machine components as explained hereinafter. This machine 10 has a loading means comprising two chests 12, each slidable in a respective, box-type seat 13 inside the body 11. From each chest 12 there extends an integrally formed drive rod 14 which comes out of the body 11 front and is terminated with a knob 15. Each chest 12 is open at the top and the bottom, the top opening being indicated at 16 and the bottom one at 17; correspondingly therewith, the seat 13 has a top opening 18 for communication with the machine 10 exterior and a bottom opening 19 for communication with the machine interior. The two openings, 18 and 19, of the seat 13 are offset with respect to each other so as to overlap in no areas thereof. Located beneath the bottom openings 19 of the seats 13 is an inner vat 20 containing water 21. Arranged within the vat 20 are an electric resistance heater 29 for heating the water 21 and a thermostat, diagramatically represented by a block 22, for controlling the temperature of the water 21. Mounted between the bottom openings 19 of the seats 13 and the vat 20 are two perforated baskets 23 which are pivoted on a shaft 24. Each basket 23 is in registry with a respective opening 19 and driven independently by a respective electric motor 25 connected to the basket 23 through a crank linkage; specifically, the motor 25 rotates a disc 36 whereon a connecting rod 26 is journalled with one end, the other connecting rod end being journalled on a shoulder 27 which extends from basket 23 and is integral therewith. Arranged along the path of travel of each basket is a respective delivery outlet 28 which extends on the exterior of the body 11 of the machine 10. The machine just described operates as follows. A precooked deep-frozen pasta product, or as explained in the beginning, a pasta product cooked to an optimum condition for consumption and then deep-frozen while in this optimum condition, is introduced into the machine 10. Prior to introducing the pasta into the machine 10, however, the electric resistance heater 29 is energized to bring the water 21 to boiling temperature; the thermostat 22 will de-energize the electric resistance heater 29 upon the water 21 attaining said boiling temperature and again energize said electric resistance heater on the water 21 temperature dropping below said boiling temperature. Reference is now made to Figure 3 which illustrates the operation of just one of the two chests 12 and of the underlying basket 23. In order to have the precooked deep-frozen pasta, indicated at 30, fed in, the chest 12 should be moved to a position where the top opening 16 of the chest is alianed to the top opening 18 of the seat 13, as shown in full lines. This movement of the chest 12 is performed by pulling the knob 15 out so as to bring the chest to said position through the rod 14. Then, the precooked deep-frozen pasta 30 is introduced into the chest 12 through the openings 18 and 16, using a paddle 31, for example, as shown in dash and dot lines, until the chest is filled completely. Thereafter, by pushing in the knob 15, the chest 12 is moved into the position shown in dash and dot lines, where the bottom opening 17 of the chest comes to registry with the bottom opening 19 of the seat 13. In this situation, the pasta 30 will drop by gravity through the openings 17 and 19 into the basket 23 occupying the position shown schematically in dash lines where the basket is raised fully above the free surface of the boiling water 21. At this point, the electric motor 25 is energized to lower the basket 23 into the vat 20 until the pasta 30 becomes fully submerged under the water (the basket shown in full lines). After a predetermined short time when the pasta 30 is heated to defrost and back to the optimum condition for consumption it had before deep-freezing, the motor 25 is again operated to return the basket 23 to its original raised position (shown in dash lines) where the now heated pasta 30 is strained. After a predetermined short straining time, the motor 25 will rotate the basket in a clockwise direction into the tilted position shown in dash and dot lines where the heated pasta 30 is unloaded from the basket by gravity and directed through the outlet 28 out into a container 32 for ultimate consumption. The basket 23 is then returned by the motor 25 to its raised position shown in dash lines, in readiness for another processing cycle like that just described. A timer, represented schematically by a block 33 and connected to the electric motor 25, controls the residence time of basket 23 in the various operational positions discussed and illustrated. In order to keep a constant level for the water 21 in the vat 20, a level sensor is provided in the vat 20 at the free surface of the water, as represented schematically by a block 34, and a solenoid valve 35, located on the vat 20 exterior at the bottom of the vat and connected to the level sensor 34, is provided to control the inflow of water from a water supply external of the vat 20. Upon the level of the water 21 dropping below a preset level, the level sensor 34 will control the solenoid valve 35 to open and admit water into the vat 20, and control the solenoid valve to close as the predetermined water level is reached once again. The other chest 12, and the other basket 23, not shown in Figure 3, operate the same way. Thus, the machine 10 can automatically issue dishes for direct consumption, starting from precooked deep-frozen pasta. The various operations involved in the preparation of such pasta-based dishes for direct consumption can be apparently carried out in rapid sequence by virtue of the straightforward working movements provided for the chest 12 and the basket 23. The operator would only intervene to load pasta 30 into the machine, all the other steps being carried out in a fully automatic manner, which makes the preparation of pasta dishes for direct consumption quite a simple matter. The ability to keep the temperature of the water 21 controlled through the thermostat 22 and the residence time of the pasta 30 in the water 21 controlled through the timer 33, results in the pasta dish being issued in an optimum condition for immediate consumption. The chests 12 allow the pasta to be properly metered by that each chest may be sized to contain an amount of precooked deep-frozen pasta appropriate to prepare a selected number of pasta servings, contingent on demands. For example, each chest 12 may contain an adequate amount of precooked deep-frozen pasta to prepare one pasta serving. On that account, this machine 10 can be highly useful in the industrial catering field. This machine 10 has a further advantageous feature, as follows. The steam that evolves from the boiling water 21 in the vat 20 is conveyed into a chamber 60 wherein a vessel 37 is placed. As indicated by arrows, the steam is directed into the chamber 60 by forced convection through a fan 38 comprising a fan rotor 39 and an electric motor 40 driving the fan rotor 39. The chamber 60 has a top opening 41 shut off from the outside by a lid 42. Thus, the chamber 60 is turned into a closed heated chamber wherein the vessel 37 and its contents can be kept hot by the heat generated by the boiling water 21. The vessel 37 might contain a condiment, such as a sauce, ragout, etc., for adding to the prepared pasta. The vessel 37 could be replaced with the container 32 to keep the prepared pasta hot. The vessel 37 can be accessed to by just lifting the lid 42. On contacting the vessel 37, steam condenses into drops, and this condensate is allowed to drip onto the bottom 43 of the machine body 11 whence it is drained off by gravity through a conduit 44. In this way, vapors and the accompanying smell can be trapped in which would otherwise create some obvious problems within the room where the machine is installed. The front of the machine 10 has a window 45 closed by a clear screen 46 through which the baskets 23 can be observed at any operational stages, whether to monitor that the various steps proceed satisfactorily or to let the consumers survey the preparation of the pasta dish. Also fitted to the front of the machine 10 is a panel 47 which incorporates control and monitoring circuitry for the machine 10, including the timer 33, which may be a microprocessor type. The front panel 47 is provided with an on/off pushbutton switch 48 and a cluster of pushbutton switches 49 connected to the timer 33, each controlling the movement of a basket 23 through a predetermined time sequence for preparing a specific kind of pasta. In essence, through the pushbutton controls 49, different kinds of pasta products can be processed, and one pasta variety be prepared in one of the two baskets 23 and another variety in the other of baskets 23. It stands to reason that variations and/or additions to what has been described and illustrated above would be possible. The arrangement used to load the precooked deep-frozen pasta into the machine may be other than that described and illustrated, based on the moving chests 12. As an example, a hopper is conceivable which has a movable bottom to be opened to unload the pasta into a basket after the hopper has been filled with pasta. It would also be possible to load the pasta directly into a basket through a chute communicating the exterior of the machine to its interior. The motor driving the basket may be any motor type and coupled to the basket directly, rather than through a crank linkage. The basket may be imparted any types of movements, not necessarily a rotary one, between the position where it is dipped in the water and the unloading position; for instance, the basket could be imparted a vertical translatory movement between the unload/strain position and the submerged position under water, and a rotary movement between the load/strain position and the unload position. The various basket movements can be implemented through means well within the capability of a skilled person in the art. Of course, the machine could have a single basket, or more than two baskets, the choice depending on the output sought. The number of the loading means would then change to suit. Several water vats could be provided for dipping the baskets thereinto. Also, there may be provided a number of heated chambers whereto the steam is led, to accommodate vessels containing a range of different condiments. Several such vessels could be accommodated inside one and the same heated chamber. Alternatively, the steam could be admitted to the chambers by natural convection, although forced convection is definitely more effective. Shown in Figures 4, 5 is an alternative vat to the previously discussed vat 20. This alternative vat, indicated at 50, is provided on the bottom with a well 51 which extends downwards from the bottom. Externally of the well 51 and wound around it is an electric resistance heater 52. The bottom end of the well 51 has a discharge port 53 which is provided with a manually (as shown in the drawing Figures) or electrically operated valve 54. In order to raise the temperature of the water in the vat 50 to boiling temperature, the electric resistance heater 52 is operated to apply heat to the well 51 and the water contained therein. As a result, a definite convective motion of the water is established within the vat 50 which enables the water to be brought to boiling in a short time. This convective motion also promotes prompt heating of the precooked deep-frozen pasta dipped into the vat 50 during the working phase. By virtue of this convective motion, reduced power requirements can be additionally achieved for the electric resistance heater 52. By opening the valve 54, the vat 50 can be emptied for cleaning and maintenance. By placing the electric resistance heater on the outside of the vat, the cleaning and maintenance operations can be made easier and faster to carry out. In order to make the cleaning of the machine internal components automatic, a flushing arrangement may be provided using jetted streams of a liquid such as water, or water plus a detergent, or just a detergent. Figures 4, 5 show an embodiment of this flushing arrangement. In essence, a rigid, straight supply pipe 55 is provided having delivery nozzles 56 arranged at suitable locations. This pipe 55 is mounted, at its ends, on specially provided holders so as to be freely rotatable about its axis. One end of the pipe 55 is closed off and the other end communicated to a conduit 57 through a rotary union; the conduit 57 is communicated, in turn, to the delivery side of a pump 58. Fixedly and coaxially mounted to the pipe 55 end connected to the conduit 57 is a gear wheel 59 in mesh engagement with another gear wheel 61 attached to the shaft of an electric motor 62. For flushing, the pump 58 is operated to draw water from the water supply and force it into the pipe 55 through the conduit 57. Simultaneously therewith, the electric motor 62 is caused to reciprocate rotatively so as to drive the pipe 55 of the same motion through pulley 61 and pulley 59; the reciprocating rotary motion of the pipe 55 subtends a predetermined angle. Thus, water is forced out of the nozzles 56 toward the component parts to be flushed clean. The arrangement of the nozzles 56 and the angle wherethrough the pipe 55 is reciprocated rotatively should obviously be selected to effectively produce flushing of the machine internal parts, specifically the vat and the baskets. Of course, a delivery means other than that just described could be used to serve the same functions. Such delivery means may be a movable one like that just described; for instance, a suitably perforated rotor could be arranged to have water pumped thereinto such that the rotor will force the water out in plural directions while turning by reaction. The delivery means may also be provided stationary. In general, the precooked deep-frozen pasta for loading into machine 10 may be advantageously packaged in sealed single dosage packages which would be just unsealed upon loading them into the machine. This ensures sanitary handling and precise metering.

Claims: A machine for preparing pasta-based dishes for direct consumption starting from precooked deep-frozen pasta products, comprising at least one basket (23) adapted to receive dosages of precooked deep-frozen pasta, a vat (20;50) containing heated water, a means (25-27,36) for moving the basket (23) between an immersed position where the basket (23) is submerged under the heated water contained in the vat (20;50) for heating the precooked deep-frozen pasta and a removed position where the basket (23) is removed from the vat (20;50), characterized by means (12-19) for loading precooked deep-frozen pasta dosages into said basket (23), said loading means comprising at least one chest (12) slidable by an external drive in a box-type seat (13) within the machine body (11), the chest (12) having a top opening (16) which, in one operational position of the chest (12), overlies an outwardly oriented top opening (18) of the seat (13) communicating with the exterior of the machine for introducing the precooked deep-frozen pasta into the chest, the chest (12) also having a bottom opening (17) which, in a successive operational position of the chest (12), overlies a bottom opening (19) of the seat (13) oriented inwardly of the machine and offset with respect to the top opening (18) of the seat (13) for unloading the precooked deep-frozen pasta into the basket (23). A machine according to Claim 1, wherein the chest (12) is driven through a rod (14) coming out of the machine body (11). A machine according to either Claim 1 or 2, wherein the removed position of the basket (23) is a position where the heated pasta is unloaded from the basket (23). A machine according to Claim 3, wherein intermediate to the basket (23) submerged and unloading positions is a position for loading the basket with the precooked deep-frozen pasta and straining the heated pasta. A machine according to Claim 4, wherein a timer means (33) is arranged to hold up for a predetermined time period the basket (23) moving means (25-27,36) when the basket (23) occupies said submerged and unloading positions and said intermediate position. A machine according to Claim 4, wherein the basket (23) is driven of rotary motion by its respective moving means (25-27,36). A machine according to Claim 1, wherein a heater means (29;52) and a thermostating means (22) are arranged to raise and maintain the water contained in the vat (20;50) to a boiling temperature. A machine according to Claim 7, wherein the steam released from the boiling water contained in the vat (20;50) is conveyed into at least one chamber (60) formed in the machine body (11) and accommodating at least one vessel (37). A machine according to Claim 8, wherein the steam is conveyed into the chamber (60) forcibly by means of a fan (38). A machine according to Claim 8, wherein the machine body (11) has a bottom (43) collecting the drops of condensate which result from condensation of the steam, said bottom (43) being communicated to the outside through a conduit (44) for draining the drops of condensate to the outside. A machine according to Claim 8, wherein said chamber (60) has an outwardly oriented opening (41) shut by a lid (42). A machine according to Claim 1, wherein a sensor means (34) for sensing the level of the free surface of the water in the vat (20), and a valve means (35) connected to said sensor means (34) are arranged to control the inflow of water into the vat (20) from an outside source so as to maintain a predetermined level of the free surface of the water inside the vat (20). A machine according to Claim 1, having a front provided with a window (45) through which the basket (23) can be observed at its operational positions. A machine according to Claim 1, wherein an outlet (28) is arranged to direct the heated pasta being unloaded from the basket (23) outwards. A machine according to Claim 1, wherein the vat (50) is provided at the bottom with a heated well (51). A machine according to Claim 15, wherein around the exterior of the well (51) there is wound an electric resistance heater (52) for heating the well (51) and, hence, the water in the vat (50). A machine according to Claim 1, wherein delivery means (55) are further provided inside the machine which are fed with a pressurized flushing liquid and are provided with nozzles (56) directing jets of the flushing liquid toward the internal machine components to be flushed.

Inventors: CALIARI MARIO, VEZZANI ENRICO, CALIARI, MARIO, VEZZANI, ENRICO
Applicants: ZINI PRODOTTI ALIMENTARI S R L, ZINI PRODOTTI ALIMENTARI S.R.L.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A47J27
IPC codes: A47J27