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JP-7857322-B2 - A machine for cooking food in a container.

JP7857322B2JP 7857322 B2JP7857322 B2JP 7857322B2JP-7857322-B2

Inventors

  • ジャン・ルカ・ラナ

Assignees

  • パスティフィッチョ・ラナ・エッセ・ピ・ア

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20220511
Priority Date
20210512

Claims (13)

  1. A machine for cooking food in a container, A frame (3) comprising a plate (4) having an upper side surface (5) and a lower side surface (6), A dispenser (7) is supported by the plate (4) along the lower surface (6) and has at least one first opening (20) for dispensing steam into the container (2) and at least one second opening (21) for dispensing hot water into the container (2), A support (8) is positioned below the container (2) and configured to support the container (2), A machine (1) comprising a mechanism (9) having at least one elastic element (10) coupled to the plate (4) and the support (8) for pressing the support (8) against the dispenser (7), and a command unit (11) for lowering the support (8) relative to the plate (4) in opposition to the force of the elastic element (10).
  2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the support (8) has a plurality of openings (42).
  3. The machine according to claim 1, comprising a steam supply duct (22) fluidly communicating with at least one first opening (20), and a hot water supply duct (23) fluidly communicating with at least one second opening (21).
  4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism (9) is configured to close the upper opening (19) of the container (2) and press the container (2) against the dispenser (7) to form a substantially closed cooking compartment for cooking the food (15).
  5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein the dispenser (7) comprises a lid (27) configured to close the container (2).
  6. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the support (8) is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (A1).
  7. The machine according to claim 6, wherein the dispenser (7) extends along the longitudinal axis (A1) from the plate (4) toward the support (8) within the space between the plate (4) and the support (8).
  8. The machine according to claim 6, wherein the mechanism (9) comprises a connecting rod crank type kinematic assembly (31).
  9. The machine according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism (9) comprises a crossbar (32) movable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (A1) and connected to the connecting rod crank type kinematic assembly (31), and at least one guide (33) extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (A1) and connected to the movable crossbar and the support (8).
  10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein the kinematic assembly (31) of the connecting rod crank type is rotatable about a transverse axis (A2) with respect to the longitudinal axis (A1) and comprises a shaft (36) connected to the command unit (11), a crank body (37) coupled together with the shaft (36), and a connecting rod body (38) having a first end (39) hinged to the crank body (37) and a second end (40) hinged to the movable crossbar (32).
  11. The machine according to claim 9, wherein the elastic element (10) is positioned between the movable crossbar (32) and a blocking element (14) fixed to the frame (3) to counteract the movement of the movable crossbar (32) toward the dispenser (7).
  12. The machine according to claim 9, wherein the mechanism (9) comprises two lateral guides (33) arranged on opposing bands with respect to the dispenser (7), each lateral guide (33) being a rod having a first end (34) connected to the movable crossbar (32) and a second end (35) connected to the support (8).
  13. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the command unit (11) comprises a hand lever (43).

Description

Cross-reference of related applications This patent application relates to Italian Patent Application No. 102021000012230, filed on 12 May 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This invention relates to a machine for cooking food in a container. In particular, the present invention relates to a machine for cooking food using the supply of hot water and steam. Within the quick catering industry, it is known to use machinery to cook fresh food and/or heat pre-cooked food using steam. The applicant of this application's International Patent Applications WO2019/207509, WO2020/212909, and WO2020/212207 teach a method for cooking fresh food contained in a container by supplying hot water and steam into the container containing the food. In currently known machines, steam is dispensed into containers by a dispenser at temperatures above 100°C. Therefore, a stable and robust connection is required between the container and the dispenser to prevent unwanted steam leakage from the container, while simultaneously enabling quick container replacement to meet the demands of the quick catering sector for reduced cooking times. Brochure for International Patent Application No. WO2019/207509Brochure for International Patent Application No. WO2020/212909Brochure for International Patent Application No. WO2020/212207 This is a perspective view of a machine for cooking food in a container according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity.Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the machine's details. Referring to Figure 1, reference numeral 1, as a whole, represents the machine for cooking the food within the container 2 containing the food. Machine 1 can be used in public catering establishments (e.g., coffee bars, restaurants, cafeterias, etc.) or in homes. According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the food contained in the container 2 may be a single serving of fresh pasta or a single serving of pasta sauce. The machine 1 comprises a frame 3 having a plate 4 with an upper side surface 5 and a lower side surface 6; a dispenser 7 supported by the plate 4 along the lower side surface 6; a support 8 positioned below the container 2 and configured to support the container 2; and a mechanism comprising at least one elastic element 109 coupled to the plate 4 and the support 8 for pressing the support 8 against the dispenser 7; and a command unit 11 for counteracting the force of the elastic element 10 and lowering the support 8 relative to the plate 4. The frame 3 comprises a casing 12, which contains a first boiler and a second boiler (not shown in the attached diagram) configured to supply steam and hot water to the dispenser 7, respectively; and a bearing 13, which is fixed to the casing 12 above the plate 4 and comprises two annular blocking elements 14. The dispenser 7 extends along the longitudinal axis A1 from the plate 4 toward the support 8, within the space between the plate 4 and the support 8. Referring to Figure 2, the container 2 is configured to contain food 15 and comprises a bottom wall 16, preferably having a circular shape, side walls 17, preferably slightly flared and having an upper edge 18, and an upper opening 19, preferably having a circular shape and facing the bottom wall 16. The dispenser 7 includes at least one opening 20 for dispensing steam into the container 2, and at least one opening 21 for dispensing hot water into the container 2. Machine 1 includes a steam supply duct 22 that is fluidly connected to the opening 20, and a hot water supply duct 23 that is fluidly connected to the opening 21. In non-limiting examples of the present invention described and illustrated herein, the dispenser 7 comprises a central body 24 having a steam supply passage 25 that fluidly communicates with a duct 22 and an opening 20, and a hot water supply passage 26 that fluidly communicates with a duct 23 and an opening 21; and a lid 27 positioned around the central body 24 and configured to close the upper opening 19 of the container 2 to form a substantially closed cooking compartment for cooking food 15. In particular, the central main body 24 comprises a central projection 28 having an opening 20, and an annular wall 29 extending around the central projection 28 and having multiple openings 21. Machine 1 is configured to discharge steam from container 2 and further comprises a steam discharge duct 30 connected to a steam outlet, which is not shown in the attached diagram. In particular, the duct 30 penetrates the lid 27 to fluidly communicate with the steam outlet inside the cooking compartment. Referring to Figure 1, the mechanism 9 is configured to press the container 2 against the dispenser 7, closing the upper opening 19 of the container 2 and forming a substantially closed cooking compartment. In particular, mechanism 9 includes a connecting rod crank type kinematic assembly 31 configured to convert the rotational motion given to the comma