Patent Description:
The present invention generally relates to the food heating technology and, more particularly, to a food heating device and a food heating method using the food heating device.

Current food heating devices include microwaves, ovens, steamers and electric cookers. These food heating devices are respectively suitable for certain types and ranges of foods, but at the same time have limitations. For example, it would not be appropriate to heat frozen foods such as noodles and thick soups by current food heating devices, and these frozen foods would be better properly heated by a conventional manual cooking procedure.

<CIT> discloses a food heating apparatus according to the prior art.

In view of the above, one object of the present invention is to provide a food heating device, which is suitable for more types of foods to be heated and capable of enhancing heating efficiency without involving manual effort in a heating process.

One object of the present invention is to provide a food heating method, which is suitable for more types of foods to be heated and capable of enhancing heating efficiency without involving manual effort in a heating process.

To achieve the foregoing objects, in one aspect of the present invention, a food heating device includes a placement device and a heating device. The placement device includes a casing and a placement board. The placement board is disposed in the casing, and is configured to place a food item. The heating device includes a steam portion, a hot water portion and an injection member. The steam portion and the hot water portion are in communication with the injection member, the injection member passes through the casing and is movably provided corresponding to the placement board, and the steam portion and the hot water portion are configured to inject steam and hot water into the food item on the placement board through the injection member so as to heat the food item.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device further includes a movement device, wherein the movement device includes a sliding block and a sliding shaft. The sliding block is movably provided on the sliding shaft, and the injection member is connected to the sliding block.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the movement device further includes a clamping member. The clamping member is fixed on the sliding block, and clamps the injection member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the movement device further includes a fixing base. The fixing base is fixed on the casing, and the injection member movably passes through the fixing base and the casing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the placement device further includes a door panel and a driving shaft. The driving shaft is connected to the door panel, and is configured to move the door panel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the placement board is fixed on the door panel, and the driving shaft is configured to move the door panel and driving the placement board to move out of or move into the casing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the placement board includes a hollow region and a frame. The frame encircles the hollow region, the hollow region is configured to allow a food item to pass through, and the frame is configured to support the food item.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the placement device further includes a bottom plate. The bottom plate is fixed in the casing, and includes a plurality of slot openings.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device further includes an air extraction device. The air extraction device is provided on the casing, and is in communication with the interior of the casing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device further includes a control module and a scanning device. The control module is signally connected to the scanning device and the heating device, and the scanning device is configured to read information associated with the food item.

In another aspect of the present invention, a food heating method includes the following steps. First, a placement board is moved out from a casing of a placement device such that the placement board is exposed. Then, a food item is placed on the placement board being exposed. Next, the placement board is moved back into the casing such that the placement board is enclosed. At last, steam is injected by a steam portion and hot water is injected by a hot water portion into the food item on the placement board through an injection member of a heating device so as to heat the food item. The steam portion and the hot water portion are in communication with the injection member. The injection member passes through the casing and is movably provided corresponding to the placement board.

In one embodiment of the present invention, heating information associated with the food item is read by a scanning device signally connected to a control module being configured to control the steam portion and the hot water portion of the heating device according to the heating information.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the heating information includes injection time points, duration, temperature ranges of steam and hot water, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the injection member is driven such that the injection member moves downwards and passes through the casing to further insert into the food item. Steam and hot water are simultaneously or sequentially generated, and simultaneously or sequentially injected into the interior of the food item through the injection member so as to heat the food in the interior of the food item.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the injection member moves up and down to disperse steam, hot water, or a combination thereof more uniform in the food item.

In conclusion, the food heating device and the food heating method according to the embodiments of the present invention, by heating food to be heated by steam and hot water, are suitable for more types of food to be heated, and are capable of enhancing heating efficiency without involving manual effort in a heating process.

Detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail by way of embodiments below. The disclosure of the embodiments are sufficient for a person skilled in the art to understand the technical content of the present invention and accordingly implement the present invention. In addition, on the basis of the disclosed content, claims and drawings of the description of the present application, a person skilled in the art could easily understand the objects and advantages of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed descriptions of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. In the drawings:.

The following embodiments when read with the accompanying drawings are made to clearly exhibit the above-mentioned and other technical contents, features and effects of the present disclosure. Through the exposition by means of the specific embodiments, people would further understand the technical means and effects of the present disclosure adopted to achieve the above-indicated objectives. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein can be readily understood and implemented by a person skilled in the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not depart from the concept of the present disclosure shall be encompassed by the appended claims.

Furthermore, the ordinals recited in the specification and the claims such as "first", "second" and so on are intended only to describe the elements claimed and imply or represent neither that the claimed elements have any proceeding ordinals, nor the sequence between one claimed element and another claimed element or between steps of a manufacturing method. The use of these ordinals is merely to differentiate one claimed element having a certain designation from another claimed element having the same designation.

Furthermore, the terms recited in the specifications and the claims such as "above", "over", or "on" are intended not only directly contact with the other element, but also intended indirectly contact with the other element.

Referring to <FIG> shows a schematic diagram of a food heating device <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the food heating device <NUM> can be, for example but not limited to, a table top device that can be placed on a tabletop or an appropriate top. The food heating device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, a placement device <NUM> and a heating device <NUM>. The placement device <NUM> and the heating device <NUM> are primarily disposed in the housing <NUM>. The placement device <NUM> can be configured to place food to be heated, and the heating device <NUM> can be configured to heat food in the placement device <NUM>, with associated details to be given later. As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the food heating device <NUM> further includes a front panel <NUM> and a support frame <NUM>. The front panel <NUM> is a part of the housing <NUM>, and the placement device <NUM> is disposed corresponding to the front panel <NUM>. The support frame <NUM> is provided in the housing <NUM>, and can support the housing <NUM> and associated elements located in the housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of the food heating device <NUM> in <FIG> from another angle, with the support frame <NUM> omitted to better present an internal structure thereof. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in this embodiment, the placement device <NUM> includes a casing <NUM>; the heating device <NUM> includes a steam portion <NUM>, a hot water portion <NUM> and an injection member <NUM>. The steam portion <NUM> and the hot water portion <NUM> are in communication with the injection member <NUM>, and the injection member <NUM> passes through the casing <NUM> so as to enter the casing <NUM>. For example, the steam portion <NUM> and the hot water portion <NUM> can be individually connected to the injection member <NUM> through one or multiple metal tubes (not shown), steam generated by the steam portion <NUM> can pass through the corresponding metal tube to enter the injection member <NUM>, the hot water generated by the hot water portion <NUM> can similarly pass through the corresponding metal tube to enter the injection member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> shows a schematic diagram of the food heating device <NUM> in <FIG>, with the casing <NUM> of the placement device <NUM> being omitted to better present an internal structure thereof. As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the placement device <NUM> further includes a placement board <NUM>. The placement board <NUM> is disposed in the casing <NUM>, and is configured to place food to be heated. The injection member <NUM> is configured as passing through the casing <NUM> and has a movement capability, and is provided corresponding to the placement board <NUM>. For example, as observed from <FIG>, the injection member <NUM> is capable of moving up and down relative to the placement board <NUM> in the casing <NUM>. The steam portion <NUM> and the hot water portion <NUM> are configured to inject steam and hot water into the food to be heated through the injection member <NUM>, so as to heat a food item <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the food heating device <NUM> further includes a movement device <NUM>. The movement device <NUM> includes a sliding block <NUM> and a sliding shaft <NUM>. The sliding block <NUM> is movably provided on the sliding shaft <NUM>, and the injection member <NUM> is connected to the sliding block <NUM>. For example, when the sliding block <NUM> moves up and down along the sliding shaft <NUM>, the sliding block <NUM> drives the injection member <NUM> to together move up and down. In some embodiments, the sliding block <NUM> can be connected to a motor, and the motor can drive in response to a control instruction the sliding block <NUM> to move along the sliding shaft <NUM>. Details of the motor and the connection relationship between the motor and the sliding block <NUM> can be implemented by known techniques and are omitted herein.

As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the movement device <NUM> further includes a clamping member <NUM>. The clamping member <NUM> is fixed on the sliding block <NUM>, and clamps the injection member <NUM>. That is to say, the injection member <NUM> is connected to the sliding block <NUM> by the clamping member <NUM>. In some embodiments, the clamping member <NUM> can be selectively tightened or loosened. In a normal condition, the clamping member <NUM> tightly clamps the injection member <NUM>, such that, when the clamping member <NUM> moves with the sliding block <NUM> along the sliding shaft <NUM>, the injection member <NUM> correspondingly moves with the clamping member <NUM>. However, when the injection member <NUM> needs to be replaced, the clamping member <NUM> can be loosened to facilitate the replacement of the injection member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in this embodiment, the movement device <NUM> further includes a fixing base <NUM>. The fixing base <NUM> is fixed on the casing <NUM>, and includes through holes <NUM>. The through holes <NUM> pass through the fixing base <NUM>, and are aligned with the openings (not shown) on the casing <NUM>. Thus, the injection member <NUM> can movably pass through the through holes <NUM> of the fixing base <NUM> and the openings on the casing <NUM> to enter the interior of the casing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in this embodiment, the placement device <NUM> further includes a door panel <NUM> and a driving shaft <NUM>. The driving shaft <NUM> is connected to the door panel <NUM> and is configured to move the door panel <NUM>, and the door panel <NUM> is provided corresponding to the front panel <NUM>. In some embodiments, the driving shaft <NUM> can be connected to a motor, the motor can drive in response to a control instruction the driving shaft <NUM> to move, and the driving shaft <NUM> can drive the door panel <NUM> to depart from the casing <NUM> to the front panel <NUM> such that the interior of the casing <NUM> enters an open state, or the driving shaft <NUM> can drive the door panel <NUM> to approach and be connected to the casing <NUM> such that the interior of the casing <NUM> enters a closed state. Details of the motor and the connection relationship between the motor and the driving shaft <NUM> can be implemented by known techniques, and are omitted herein.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in this embodiment, the placement board <NUM> is fixed on the door panel <NUM>. Thus, when the driving shaft <NUM> is driven by the motor and hence moves the door panel <NUM>, the movement of the door panel <NUM> correspondingly drives the placement board <NUM>, such that the placement board <NUM> moves out of or moves into the casing <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, the placement board <NUM> includes a hollow region <NUM> and a frame <NUM>. The frame <NUM> encircles the hollow region <NUM>, and food to be heated can be placed on the placement board <NUM> by means of the hollow region <NUM> and the frame <NUM>, with associated details to be given later.

The present invention further provides a food heating method. Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> shows a first schematic diagram of the operation of the food heating device <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG> shows a second schematic diagram of the operation of the food heating device <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG> shows a third schematic diagram of the operation of the food heating device <NUM> in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a flowchart of a food heating method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The food heating method includes the following steps. First, in Step S10, when a user wishes to use the food heating device <NUM>, a control instruction can be sent to the food heating device by, for example but not limited to, a control panel (not shown) provided on the front panel <NUM> or by means of remote control. In this case, as shown in <FIG>, the driving shaft <NUM> drives the door panel <NUM> in a way that the door panel <NUM> moves away from the front panel <NUM>, such that the internal space of the casing <NUM> enters an open state. Correspondingly, the placement board <NUM> moves along with the door panel <NUM> and departs from the internal space of the casing <NUM>, such that the placement board <NUM> becomes exposed. Further, the sliding block <NUM> drives the injection member <NUM> such that the injection member <NUM> moves upwards.

In some embodiments, when the food heating device <NUM> is not in use or is in a standby state, the sliding block <NUM> and the injection member <NUM> can be kept at a highest position, that is, the injection member <NUM> is in a state of not yet having entered the interior space of the casing <NUM>.

Next, as shown in <FIG>, in Step S20, the food item <NUM> carrying food to be heated can be placed on the exposed placement board <NUM>, the hollow region <NUM> allows a lower portion of the food item <NUM> to pass through, and the frame <NUM> can support an upper outer edge portion of the food item <NUM>.

Then, as shown in <FIG>, in Step S30, the driving shaft <NUM> pulls the door panel <NUM> in a way that door panel <NUM> moves and approaches the front panel <NUM> until the door panel <NUM> comes into contact with the casing <NUM>, such that the interior space of the casing <NUM> enters a closed state. Correspondingly, the placement board <NUM> moves along with the door panel <NUM> and enters the interior space of the casing <NUM>, such that the placement board <NUM> enters a state of being enclosed in the casing <NUM>.

Further, in Step S40, the sliding block <NUM> drives the injection member <NUM> such that the injection member <NUM> moves downwards. The injection member <NUM> passes through the fixing base <NUM> and the casing <NUM>, and is further inserted into the food item <NUM>. For example, the top of the food item <NUM> is a sealing film, and the injection member <NUM> punctures the sealing film and enters the interior of the food item <NUM>. At this point, the heating device <NUM> is activated in response to the control instruction, the steam portion <NUM> and the hot water portion <NUM> can simultaneously or sequentially generate steam and hot water and simultaneously or sequentially inject steam and hot water into the interior of the food item <NUM> through the injection member <NUM>, so as to heat the food carried at the interior of the food item <NUM>.

In some embodiments, during the process of the steam portion <NUM> and the hot water portion <NUM> simultaneously or sequentially injecting steam and hot water into the interior of the food item <NUM>, the sliding block <NUM> moves up and down in response to the control instruction. Thus, the injection member <NUM> also correspondingly moves up and down during the process of injecting the steam and hot water, thereby more uniformly dispersing the steam, hot water, or hot water and steam in the food item <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the placement device <NUM> further includes a bottom panel <NUM>. The bottom panel <NUM> is fixed in the casing <NUM>, and includes a plurality of slot openings <NUM>. During the process of the steam portion <NUM> and the hot water portion <NUM> injecting steam and hot water into the food item <NUM> through the injection member <NUM>, water possibly overflowing from the food item <NUM> is discharged and flown out of the casing <NUM> through the slot openings <NUM> of the bottom panel <NUM> and a corresponding channel.

As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the food heating device <NUM> further includes an air extraction device <NUM>. The air extraction device <NUM> includes an air extraction channel <NUM>, and is provided on the casing <NUM>. The air extraction channel <NUM> of the air extraction device <NUM> is in communication with the interior of the casing <NUM>. Accordingly, during the heating process, the air extraction device <NUM> can draw out excessive steam to prevent condensate from condensing at the top of the casing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> shows a block diagram of the food heating device <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the food heating device <NUM> further includes a control module <NUM> and a scanning device <NUM>. The control module <NUM> is signally connected to the placement device <NUM>, the heating device <NUM>, the movement device <NUM>, the air extraction device <NUM> and the scanning device <NUM>. The control module <NUM> can receive a control instruction, and correspondingly control the operations of the placement device <NUM>, the heating device <NUM>, the movement device <NUM> and the air extraction device <NUM>. Further, for example but not limited to, the scanning device <NUM> can be used configured to read information associated with the food item <NUM>, and the control module <NUM> can correspondingly control the steam portion <NUM> and the hot water portion <NUM> of the heating device <NUM> according to the heating information described above.

For example, the food item <NUM> can be provided with a two-dimensional code. The two-dimensional code includes heating information of the food to be heated in the food item <NUM>, and the heating information is, for example, injection time points, duration and temperature ranges of steam and hot water. For example, the scanning device <NUM> is an optical reader provided on the front panel <NUM>, and the user can align the two-dimensional code on the food item <NUM> with the scanning device <NUM> for the scanning device <NUM> to read and analyze related information included in the two-dimensional code. In addition, the control module <NUM> sets and controls operations of corresponding components according to the related information of two-dimensional code.

In conclusion, the food heating device according to the embodiments of the present invention, by heating food to be heated by steam and hot water, is suitable for more types of foods to be heated and capable of enhancing heating efficiency without involving manual effort in a heating process. Regardless of whether food to be heated is food such as noodles or thick soup, the food heating device can quickly heat the food to be heated by steam and hot water, thus significantly enhancing convenience.

Although the technical content of the present invention is disclosed by way of preferred embodiments as above, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

Claim 1:
A food heating device (<NUM>), comprising:
a placement device (<NUM>), comprising a casing (<NUM>) and a placement boadr (<NUM>), the placement board being disposed in the casing and configured to place a food item; and
a heating device (<NUM>), comprising a steam portion (<NUM>), a hot water portion (<NUM>) and an injection member (<NUM>),
wherein the steam portion and the hot water portion are in communication with the injection member, the injection member passes through the casing and is movably provided corresponding to the placement board, the steam portion and the hot water portion is configured to inject steam and hot water through the injection member into the food item on the placement board so as to heat the food item.