Patent Description:
In particular, the present invention relates to a machine and to a method for cooking food by means of the supply of hot water and steam.

Within the scope of the quick catering industry, it is known to use machines for cooking fresh food and/or for heating precooked food by means of the use of steam.

Patent applications No. <CIT>, No. <CIT> and No. <CIT> of the applicant teach how to cook fresh food contained in a container by means of the supply of hot water and steam into the container containing the food.

Document <CIT> discloses a further example of an apparatus for heating and cooking food.

The cooking of fresh food by means of water and steam requires dosing the steam and the hot water so as to cook the food quickly. At the same time, it is necessary to reach high qualitative levels with regard to the cooking of the food and prevent the presence of water on the bottom of the container so as to meet the customer's expectations both in terms of taste and in terms of product presentation.

Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to automatically and quickly prepare a plurality of different recipes associated with respective cooking programs, container so as to meet the customer's expectations both in terms of taste and in terms of product presentation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cooking food which manages to conciliate the above-described requirements in a simple and cost-effective manner.

According to the present invention, a machine for cooking food according to claim <NUM> is provided. dispensing in an independent manner steam and hot water inside the container.

The control of the time of the steam supply and of the volume of water to be dispensed into the container allows implementing each cooking program in a simple and effective manner.

In particular, the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are on-off type.

In this manner, it is possible to control the supply of steam and hot water to the first and the second openings in a simple and reliable manner.

In particular, the control unit is configured to close in sequence the second solenoid valve and, after a given time interval, the first solenoid valve, so as to interrupt the hot water supply in advance with respect to the end of the steam supply.

In a configuration not covered by the present invention as defined by the appended claims, the control unit is configured to control the first solenoid valve so as to supply steam to the first opening at intervals.

According to the present invention, the control unit is configured to control the second solenoid valve so as to supply hot water to the second opening at intervals.

In this manner, it is possible to control the cooking of the food in the container and prepare a wide range of different recipes.

In particular, the control unit comprises a user interface configured to select a cooking program from a plurality of cooking programs related to respective recipes; the control unit being configured to control the first and the second solenoid valves depending on the selected cooking program so as to prepare the desired recipe.

In particular, the control unit is configured to emit an authorization signal for opening the container and for removing the container from the machine.

In this manner, it is possible to communicate to a user of the machine that the cooking program has come to an end.

In particular, the user interface is configured to set cooking programs depending on respective recipes.

In this manner, it is possible to store a plurality of different recipes in the control unit.

In particular, the user interface is configured to select the time of the steam supply, and/or the steam supply intervals, and/or the volume of hot water to be dispensed, and/or the hot water supply intervals, and/or the delay of the water supply with respect to the steam supply, and/or the delay of the opening of the container with respect to the closing of the first solenoid valve.

In this manner, it is possible to determine the operational parameters of a cooking program.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for cooking food according to claim <NUM>, which allows mitigating the drawbacks of the prior art.

Thanks to the present method, it is possible to supply steam and hot water into the container simultaneously and/or according to any sequence so as to prepare a wide range of different recipes, each of which is associated with a given cooking program.

The invention is described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example embodiment thereof, wherein:.

With reference to <FIG>, reference numeral <NUM> indicates, as a whole, a machine for cooking food <NUM> in a container <NUM> containing said food <NUM>.

The machine <NUM> can be used in public catering places (for example coffee bars, restaurants, diners etc.) or at home.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the food <NUM> contained in the container <NUM> can be a dose of raw pasta or a sauce for said dose of pasta.

The machine <NUM> comprises a dispenser <NUM> configured to be arranged over the container <NUM> and to close the container <NUM> and comprising at least one opening <NUM> for dispensing steam into the container <NUM> and at least one opening <NUM> for dispensing hot water into the container <NUM>; a duct <NUM> and a solenoid valve <NUM>, for supplying steam to the opening <NUM>; a duct <NUM> and a solenoid valve <NUM> for supplying hot water to the opening <NUM>; and a control unit <NUM> configured to control the opening and the closing of the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM> so as to modulate the time of the steam supply and the volume of water depending on a selected cooking program.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM> are on-off type.

In the non-limiting case of the present invention described and illustrated herein, the machine <NUM> comprises a boiler <NUM>, which is configured to provide steam and is connected to the duct <NUM>; a boiler <NUM>, which is configured to provide hot water and is connected to the duct <NUM>; and a duct <NUM> and a solenoid valve <NUM> of on-off type for supplying hot water from the boiler <NUM> to the boiler <NUM>.

In accordance with an embodiment, each boiler <NUM>, <NUM> comprises electric resistors, not shown in the accompanying figures, for adjusting the quantity of heat provided and, consequently, the steam temperature and the hot water temperature, respectively.

In particular, the boiler <NUM> is configured to heat the steam at a temperature ranging between approximately <NUM> and approximately <NUM>, and the boiler <NUM> is configured to heat the hot water at a temperature ranging between approximately <NUM> and approximately <NUM>.

In particular, the machine <NUM> comprises a duct <NUM> for supplying hot water from the boiler <NUM> to a discharge <NUM>, and a safety valve <NUM>, which is coupled to the boiler <NUM>, is in fluidic communication with the duct <NUM> and is configured to allow the passage of hot water in the duct <NUM> in case the pressure inside the boiler <NUM> exceeds a given threshold.

In particular, the machine <NUM> comprises a duct <NUM> for supplying steam from the boiler <NUM> to the discharge <NUM>, and a safety valve <NUM>, which is coupled to the boiler <NUM>, is in fluidic communication with the duct <NUM> and is configured to allow the passage of steam in the duct <NUM> in case the pressure inside the boiler <NUM> exceeds a given threshold.

Furthermore, the machine <NUM> comprises a duct <NUM> for supplying discharge water from the boiler <NUM> to the discharge <NUM>, and a solenoid valve <NUM> of on-off type configured to control the supply of discharge water to the discharge <NUM> along the duct <NUM>.

In particular, the machine <NUM> comprises a temperature sensor <NUM>, which is configured to emit a first temperature signal related to the temperature of the steam in the boiler <NUM>; and a temperature sensor <NUM>, which is configured to emit a second temperature signal related to the temperature of the hot water in the boiler <NUM>.

Furthermore, the machine <NUM> comprises a level probe <NUM>, which is associated with the boiler <NUM> and is configured to emit a level signal related to the level of water in the boiler <NUM>.

In the case described and illustrated herein, the machine <NUM> comprises a connection <NUM> to a water supply network, which ensures an almost unlimited supply of water at ambient temperature; a duct <NUM> for supplying water at ambient temperature from the connection <NUM> to the boiler <NUM>; a solenoid valve <NUM> of on-off type for controlling the supply of water at ambient temperature along the duct <NUM>; a pump <NUM>, which is configured to provide a head sufficient for allowing the flow of the water inside the machine <NUM>; and a flow-rate meter <NUM>, preferably a flowmeter, which is configured to emit a flow-rate signal related to the flow-rate of the water running in the duct <NUM>.

In accordance with a further embodiment, not shown in the accompanying figures, the machine <NUM> comprises, in alternative to the connection <NUM>, a tank, which is configured to contain water at ambient temperature and is fluidically connected to the duct <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the container <NUM> comprises a base wall <NUM>, preferably having a circular shape; a side wall <NUM>, preferably slightly flared, provided with an upper edge <NUM>; and an opening <NUM>, preferably having a circular shape, opposite the base wall <NUM>.

The dispenser <NUM> comprises a central body <NUM> provided with a steam supply channel <NUM>, which is in fluidic communication with the duct <NUM> and with the openings <NUM>, and with a hot water supply channel <NUM>, which is in fluidic communication with the duct <NUM> and with the openings <NUM>; and a lid <NUM>, which is arranged around the central body <NUM> and is configured to close the opening <NUM> of the container <NUM> so as to form a substantially closed cooking compartment for the cooking of the food <NUM>.

In particular, the central body <NUM> comprises a central protrusion <NUM>, which is provided with the openings <NUM>; and an annular wall <NUM>, which extends around the central protrusion <NUM> and is provided with the openings <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the machine <NUM> comprises a duct <NUM>, which is configured to evacuate steam from the container <NUM> and is connected to a steam discharge <NUM>. In particular, the duct <NUM> extends through the lid <NUM> so as to put the inside of the cooking compartment in fluidic communication with the steam discharge <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> comprises a user interface <NUM> configured to allow the selection of a cooking program from a plurality of cooking programs related to respective recipes. The control unit <NUM> is configured to control the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM> depending on a selected cooking program.

Furthermore, the control unit <NUM> is configured to receive the signals emitted by the temperature sensors <NUM> and <NUM>, by the level probe <NUM> and by the flow-rate meter <NUM> and to control the solenoid valves <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> depending on the signals received from the temperature sensors <NUM> and <NUM>, from the level probe <NUM> and from the flow-rate meter <NUM>.

In accordance with an embodiment, the user interface <NUM> comprises a touch-screen panel, not shown in the accompanying figures, by means of which an operator can view and manually select a desired recipe.

Furthermore, the control unit <NUM> comprises a storage <NUM>, in which a plurality of recipes is stored. Each recipe is associated with a plurality of cooking parameters which define a given cooking program.

The user interface <NUM> is configured to allow an operator to set said cooking programs and to store said cooking programs in the storage <NUM>.

More specifically, the plurality of cooking parameters comprises the time of the steam supply, and/or the steam supply intervals, and/or the volume of hot water to be dispensed, and/or the hot water supply intervals, and/or the delay of the hot water supply with respect to the steam supply, and/or the delay of the opening of the container <NUM> with respect to the closing of the solenoid valve <NUM>, and/or the flow-rate of hot water to be dispensed inside the container <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, a graph is shown of an opening and closing state <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> and of an opening and closing state <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> in a particular operational configuration of the machine <NUM>. More specifically, the graph of <FIG> is a cartesian plane wherein the abscissa axis represents the time and the ordinate axis represents the opening/closing states <NUM> and <NUM> of the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM>, each of which can assume the value <NUM> (closed solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM>) or the value <NUM> (open solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM>). When the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM> are open, steam and hot water are dispensed inside the container <NUM>. Vice versa, when the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM> are closed the supply of steam and hot water inside the container <NUM> is interrupted.

In the non-limiting case of the present invention described and illustrated herein, the control unit <NUM> is configured to control the state <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> so as to supply in a continuous manner steam to the openings <NUM> and to control the state <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> so as to supply hot water to the openings <NUM> at intervals.

The control unit <NUM> is configured to determine the delay of the hot water supply with respect to the steam supply. In such circumstance, the control unit <NUM> is configured to control the opening of the solenoid valve <NUM> at a time instant <NUM> and to control the opening of the solenoid valve <NUM> at a subsequent time instant <NUM> with respect to the time instant <NUM>.

Furthermore, the control unit <NUM> is configured to close in sequence the solenoid valve <NUM> and, after a given time interval, the solenoid valve <NUM>. In other words, the control unit <NUM> is configured to control the closing of the solenoid valve <NUM> at a time instant <NUM> and to control the closing of the solenoid valve <NUM> at a time instant <NUM>, which is subsequent with respect to the time instant <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> is configured to emit an authorization signal for opening the container <NUM> and for removing the container <NUM> from the machine <NUM> once the cooking program has come to an end. In particular, the control unit <NUM> is configured to emit said authorization signal at a given time instant <NUM>, subsequent to the closing time instant <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> and to the opening time instant <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM>.

In accordance with an embodiment, the user interface <NUM> is configured to display the authorization signal emitted by the control unit <NUM> and/or to emit a sound notice related to the authorization signal.

With reference to <FIG>, a graph is shown of an opening and closing state <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> and of an opening and closing state <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> in a further operational configuration of the machine <NUM>. In the non-limiting case of the present invention described and illustrated herein, the control unit <NUM> is configured to control the state <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> so as to supply steam to the openings <NUM> at intervals and to control the state <NUM> of the solenoid valve <NUM> so as to supply hot water to the openings <NUM> at intervals.

In use and with reference to <FIG>, an operator arranges the container <NUM> containing food <NUM> under the dispenser <NUM> so that the lid <NUM> closes the opening <NUM> of the container <NUM> and selects by means of the user interface <NUM> the desired recipe from the plurality of recipes stored in the storage <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> associates the selected recipe with a cooking program and respective cooking parameters and controls the solenoid valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and the pump <NUM> depending on said cooking parameters and on the signals emitted by the temperature sensors <NUM> and <NUM>, by the level probe <NUM> and by the flow-rate meter <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the control unit <NUM> controls the opening of the solenoid valve <NUM> at the time instant <NUM> allowing the supply of steam inside the container <NUM>. After a given time interval, the control unit <NUM> controls the opening of the solenoid valve <NUM> at the time instant <NUM> allowing the supply of hot water inside the container <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> keeps the solenoid valve <NUM> open up to the time instant <NUM> allowing the continuous supply of steam to the openings <NUM> and intermittently opens/closes the solenoid valve <NUM> so as to supply hot water to the openings <NUM> at intervals.

When the selected cooking program is coming close to an end, the control unit <NUM> closes the solenoid valve <NUM> at the time instant <NUM> and, after a given time interval, the solenoid valve <NUM> at the time instant <NUM>.

Once the cooking program has come to an end, the control unit <NUM> emits at the time instant <NUM> the authorization signal for opening the container <NUM> and for removing the container <NUM> from the machine <NUM>. Said authorization signal is displayed by the user interface <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the control unit <NUM> intermittently opens/closes the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM> so as to supply at intervals steam and hot water respectively to the openings <NUM> and to the openings <NUM>.

During each cooking process, the control unit <NUM> controls the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM> independently of each other. In this manner, it is possible to supply steam and hot water into the container <NUM> simultaneously and/or according to any sequence.

Claim 1:
A machine for cooking food, the machine (<NUM>) comprising:
- a dispenser (<NUM>) configured to be arranged over a container (<NUM>) containing food (<NUM>) and to close the container (<NUM>) and comprising at least one first opening (<NUM>) to dispense steam into the container (<NUM>) and at least one second opening (<NUM>) to dispense hot water into the container (<NUM>);
- a first duct (<NUM>) and a first solenoid valve (<NUM>) to supply steam to the first opening (<NUM>);
- a second duct (<NUM>) and a second solenoid valve (<NUM>) to supply hot water to the second opening (<NUM>); and
- a control unit (<NUM>) configured to control the opening and the closing of the first and the second solenoid valves (<NUM>, <NUM>) so as to modulate the time of the steam supply and the volume of water depending on a selected cooking program,
said machine for cooking food being characterised that the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to control a first opening/closing state (<NUM>) of the first solenoid valve (<NUM>) so as to supply in a continuous manner steam to the first opening (<NUM>) and to control a second opening/closing state (<NUM>) of the second solenoid valve (<NUM>) so as to supply hot water to the second opening (<NUM>) at intervals.