Patent Description:
In particular, the present invention relates to a machine 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>, 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 in the container containing the food.

Document <CIT> discloses a further example of apparatus for controlled, quick and steam heating of pasta and sauce, said apparatus comprising:.

In the currently known machines, steam is dispensed into the container by a dispenser at temperatures above <NUM>. Consequently, it is necessary to provide a coupling between the container and the dispenser that is stable and solid, so as to prevent undesired steam leakage from the container and that, at the same time, allows a quick replacement of the container, so as to meet the short cooking times required in the quick catering sector.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cooking food that can easily and economically satisfy the needs set out above.

According to the present invention, a machine for cooking food in a container according to claim <NUM> is manufactured.

Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to ensure a solid and stable coupling between the dispenser and the container during the cooking of the food and, at the same time, it is possible to decouple the container from the dispenser so as to allow the replacement of the container in a simple and fast way.

In other words, the mechanism allows keeping the container pressed against the dispenser during the cooking process so as to prevent steam leakage from the container and separating the container from the dispenser, by operating the command unit, once the cooking process is finished.

In particular, the support has a plurality of openings.

In this way, it is possible to reduce the weight of the support and prevent any liquids from accumulating on the support.

In particular, the machine comprises a steam supply duct, which is in fluidic communication with the at least one first opening; and a hot water supply duct, which is in fluidic communication with the at least one second opening.

In this way, it is possible to independently supply steam and hot water respectively to the first opening and to the second opening.

In particular, the mechanism is configured to push the container against the dispenser so as to close an upper opening of the container and to form a substantially closed cooking compartment for cooking the food.

In this way, it is possible to ensure the sealing of the steam inside the container during the cooking process.

In particular, the dispenser comprises a lid configured to close the container, so as to form the substantially closed cooking compartment together with the container.

In particular, the support is movable in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis.

In this way, it is possible to control by means of the command unit the distance of the container from the dispenser.

In particular, the dispenser extends along the longitudinal axis from the plate towards the support in the space between the plate and the support.

In this way, the dispenser is substantially aligned with the movement direction of the support.

In particular, the mechanism comprises a crossbar, which is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and is connected to the kinematic assembly of the connecting rod-crank type; and at least one guide, which extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and is connected to the movable crossbar and the support.

In this way, it is possible to guide the translatory movement of the crossbar and of the support in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

In particular, the kinematic assembly of the connecting rod-crank type comprises a shaft, which is rotatable about a transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis and is connected to the command unit; a crank body jointly coupled to the shaft; and a connecting rod body having a first end hinged to the crank body and a second end hinged to the movable crossbar.

The rotation of the shaft, controlled by the command unit, determines the rotation of the crank body and, consequently, the movement of the connecting rod body. In this way, it is possible to determine the translation of the movable crossbar along the longitudinal axis.

In particular, the elastic element is arranged between the movable crossbar and a blocking element fixed to the frame so as to counteract the movement of the movable crossbar towards the dispenser.

In particular, the mechanism comprises two lateral guides arranged on opposite bands with respect to the dispenser; each lateral guide being a rod comprising a first end connected to the movable crossbar and a second end connected to the support so as to transmit the translatory motion from the movable crossbar to the support.

In particular, the command unit comprises a hand lever so as to allow the support to be lowered manually.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a non-limiting example embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:.

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

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 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 frame <NUM> comprising a plate <NUM> having an upper face <NUM> and a lower face <NUM>; a dispenser <NUM> supported by the plate <NUM> along the lower face <NUM>; a support <NUM> configured to be arranged below the container <NUM> and to support the container <NUM>; and a mechanism <NUM> coupled to the plate <NUM> and to the support <NUM> and comprising at least one elastic element <NUM> for pushing the support <NUM> towards the dispenser <NUM>; and a command unit <NUM> for counteracting the force of the elastic element <NUM> and lowering the support <NUM> with respect to the plate <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> further comprises a casing <NUM>, within which a first boiler and a second boiler, not shown in the accompanying figures, are arranged for respectively supplying steam and hot water to the dispenser <NUM>; and a bearing <NUM>, which is fixed to the casing <NUM> above the plate <NUM> and is provided with two annular-shaped blocking elements <NUM>.

The dispenser <NUM> extends along a longitudinal axis A1 from the plate <NUM> towards the support <NUM> in the space between the plate <NUM> and the support <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the container <NUM> is configured to contain food <NUM> and 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 upper opening <NUM>, preferably having a circular shape, opposite the base wall <NUM>.

The dispenser <NUM> comprises 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>.

The machine <NUM> comprises a steam supply duct <NUM>, which is in fluidic communication with the opening <NUM>; and a hot water supply duct <NUM>, which is in fluidic communication with the opening <NUM>.

In the non-limiting case of the present invention described and illustrated herein, 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 opening <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 about the central body <NUM> and is configured to close the upper opening <NUM> of the container <NUM> so as to form a substantially closed cooking compartment for cooking the food <NUM>.

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

The machine <NUM> further comprises a steam evacuation duct <NUM>, which is configured to evacuate steam from the container <NUM> and is connected to a steam discharge, not shown in the accompanying figures. In particular, the duct <NUM> extends through the lid <NUM> so as to put the inside of the cooking compartment into fluidic communication with the steam discharge.

With reference to <FIG>, the mechanism <NUM> is configured to push the container <NUM> against the dispenser <NUM> so as to close the upper opening <NUM> of the container <NUM> and to form the substantially closed cooking compartment.

According to the present invention, the mechanism <NUM> comprises a kinematic assembly <NUM> of the connecting rod-crank type configured to convert a rotary motion given to the command unit <NUM> into a translatory motion of the support <NUM>.

More specifically, the mechanism <NUM> comprises a crossbar <NUM>, which is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 and is connected to the kinematic assembly <NUM>; and at least one guide <NUM>, which extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 and is connected to the crossbar <NUM> and the support <NUM>.

In the case described and illustrated herein, the mechanism <NUM> comprises two lateral guides <NUM> arranged on opposite bands with respect to the dispenser <NUM>. Each guide <NUM> extends through a respective opening of the plate <NUM> and inside the respective blocking element <NUM>. In particular, each guide <NUM> is a rod comprising an end <NUM> connected to the movable crossbar <NUM> and an end <NUM> connected to the support <NUM>.

The crossbar <NUM> faces the upper face <NUM> of the plate <NUM> and extends in a direction substantially transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis A1.

In particular, the mechanism <NUM> comprises two elastic elements <NUM>, each of which is arranged between the crossbar <NUM> and the respective blocking element <NUM> so as to counteract the movement of the crossbar <NUM> towards the dispenser <NUM>. In the present case, each elastic element <NUM> is a coil spring arranged about the respective guide <NUM>.

The kinematic assembly <NUM> comprises a shaft <NUM>, which is rotatable about a transverse axis A2 with respect to the longitudinal axis A1 and is connected to the command unit <NUM>; a crank body <NUM> jointly coupled to the shaft <NUM>; and a connecting rod body <NUM> provided with an end <NUM> hinged to the crank body <NUM> and with an end <NUM> hinged to the crossbar <NUM>.

In particular, the connecting rod body <NUM> is hinged to the crank body <NUM> and to the crossbar <NUM> by means of respective pins <NUM>, which allow the relative rotation between the connecting rod body <NUM> and the crank body <NUM> and between the connecting rod body <NUM> and the crossbar <NUM>.

More specifically, the support <NUM> is jointly coupled to the crossbar <NUM> through the guides <NUM> and is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A1. Also, the support <NUM> has a plurality of openings <NUM>.

In the case described and illustrated herein, the command unit <NUM> comprises a hand lever <NUM>, configured to be operated by an operator assigned to the machine <NUM>. More specifically, the hand lever <NUM> is configured to actuate the rotation of the shaft <NUM>.

In use and with reference to <FIG>, an operator operates the command unit <NUM> by turning the hand lever <NUM> clockwise. The operation of the command unit <NUM> determines the rotation of the shaft <NUM> and of the crank body <NUM>, which in turn moves the connecting rod body <NUM> and the crossbar <NUM>.

In particular, the end <NUM> of the connecting rod body <NUM> describes a translatory motion in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 towards the plate <NUM> and drags the crossbar <NUM> to which it is hinged.

Since the crossbar <NUM> is connected to the support <NUM> by means of the guides <NUM>, the translation of the crossbar <NUM> determines the lowering of the support <NUM> with respect to the dispenser <NUM>.

At this point the operator places the container <NUM> containing food <NUM> on the support <NUM> and releases the hand lever <NUM>.

Thanks to the action of the elastic elements <NUM>, which determine respective forces on the crossbar <NUM> in directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 and directed upwards, the support <NUM> is brought back towards the dispenser <NUM> and the container <NUM> is pushed with a given pressure against the lid <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM>. In this way, the dispenser <NUM> and the container <NUM> form a substantially closed cooking compartment.

Subsequently, the dispenser <NUM> dispenses steam and hot water into the container <NUM> respectively from the opening <NUM> and from the openings <NUM> simultaneously and/or according to any sequence so as to cook the food <NUM> according to a given recipe.

Once the cooking of the food <NUM> is finished, the operator of the machine <NUM> operates the command unit <NUM> again by turning the hand lever <NUM> so as to lower the support <NUM> and separate the container <NUM> from the dispenser <NUM> allowing the removal of the container <NUM> from the support <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A machine for cooking food in a container, the machine (<NUM>) comprising:
- a frame (<NUM>) comprising a plate (<NUM>) having an upper face (<NUM>) and a lower face (<NUM>);
- a dispenser (<NUM>) supported by the plate (<NUM>) along the lower face (<NUM>) and comprising at least one first opening (<NUM>) for dispensing steam into the container (<NUM>) and at least one second opening (<NUM>) for dispensing hot water into the container (<NUM>);
- a support (<NUM>) configured to be arranged below the container (<NUM>) and to support the container (<NUM>); and
- a mechanism (<NUM>) coupled to the plate (<NUM>) and to the support (<NUM>) and comprising at least one elastic element (<NUM>) for pushing the support (<NUM>) towards the dispenser (<NUM>); a command unit (<NUM>) for counteracting the force of the elastic element (<NUM>) and lowering the support (<NUM>) with respect to the plate (<NUM>); and a kinematic assembly (<NUM>) of the connecting rod-crank type configured to convert a rotary motion given to the command unit (<NUM>) into a translatory motion of the support (<NUM>).