Hot air fryer type cooking equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hot air fryer type cooking device (1), which comprises: a housing (2) equipped with an outer wall (3), a cooking chamber arranged inside the housing, and an air circulation device, the air circulation device including a suction device and an extraction device. The suction device includes a cold air inlet (9), the air inlet (9) being arranged on the outer wall and configured to convey air from the inlet to the cooking chamber via a heating device. The extraction device includes a hot air outlet (10), the air outlet (10) being arranged on the outer wall and equipped with a grille (11), the extraction device being configured to discharge air from the cooking chamber via the grille. Additionally, the air inlet (9) is formed by a channel (15), the channel (15) being arranged between the outer wall (3) of the housing (2) and the grille (11) of the air outlet (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to cooking equipment, and more precisely to a hot air fryer that allows food to be cooked by using very little oil or even no oil at all.

[0002] The present invention particularly relates to such a hot air fryer, which includes an air circulation device. The air circulation device is equipped with a cold air suction device, a hot air extraction device, and a grille arranged on the outer wall of the housing of the device. Air circulates through this grille.

[0003] The main object of the present invention is to optimize the design of the air circulation device on the equipment. Background Art

[0004] Cooking equipment of the hot air fryer type is known to those skilled in the art. These cooking equipments allow a significant reduction in the amount of fat, or even its complete elimination, during the cooking of food that may be of plant or animal origin (such as French fries, vegetables, meat or fish). In fact, cooking with hot air circulating in the cooking chamber with little or no oil allows for the consumption of more nutritious food while retaining satisfactory sensory characteristics for the user.

[0005] Such cooking equipment generally includes a housing and a tray; the tray houses a basket in which the food to be cooked is placed. Once the food is placed in the basket and the basket is positioned in the tray, the housing of the cooking equipment can be closed to form a cooking chamber containing the tray, the basket, and the food. Then, hot air is blown into this cooking chamber by means of a heating device and an air circulation device, and the circulation of the hot air thus ensures the cooking of the food.

[0006] The air circulation device includes a cold air suction device and a hot air extraction device. The cold air suction device includes a cold air inlet, which is arranged on the outer wall of the housing of the cooking equipment. The suction device is configured to transport air from the inlet through the heating device to the cooking chamber. The circulation of the cold air in the cooking equipment until the heating device also allows the cooling of the equipment. The extraction device includes a hot air outlet, which is arranged on the outer wall of the housing. The hot air extraction device is configured to discharge air from the cooking chamber.

[0007] Traditionally, both the cold air inlet and the hot air outlet on the outer wall of the housing of the cooking equipment are covered with grilles. When the inlet and the outlet are far apart on the outer wall of the housing, there are two different grilles on the housing, which may be detrimental to the overall aesthetics of the cooking equipment.

[0008] A cooking device described in the Chinese utility model CN206499378U is also known. The cooking device proposes a hot air outlet formed by an opening on the outer wall of the shell, and a cold air inlet formed by perforations on the outer wall. These perforations are located around the opening. Additionally, a large-sized grille covers both the opening and the perforations, and is thus simultaneously penetrated by the cold air entering the cooking device and the hot air discharged from the cooking chamber. The size of the grille is also detrimental to the overall aesthetics of the cooking device. Additionally, the grille is designed with a high-temperature resistant material because the grille is partially penetrated by the hot air extracted from the cooking chamber in the area of the air outlet. Such high-temperature resistant materials (such as steel or heat-resistant plastics) are more expensive than standard materials. The large size of the grille thus increases the cost of the cooking device. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The hot air fryer-type cooking device according to the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks. Thus, the device includes: a shell equipped with an outer wall, a cooking chamber arranged inside the shell, an air circulation device, and an air heating device. The air circulation device includes a suction device, the suction device includes a cold air inlet, the cold air inlet is arranged on the outer wall of the shell, and the suction device is configured to transport air from the inlet to the cooking chamber via the heating device. Additionally, the air circulation device includes an extraction device, the extraction device includes a hot air outlet, the hot air outlet is arranged on the outer wall of the shell and is equipped with a grille, and the extraction device is configured to discharge air from the cooking chamber via the grille. Notably, the air inlet is formed by a channel configured between the outer wall of the shell and the grille of the air outlet.

[0010] Therefore, the cooking device according to the present invention advantageously proposes the presence of a single grille that is specifically used to discharge the hot air extracted from the cooking chamber, and the cold air inlet is formed by a channel surrounding the grille. This allows for a reduction in the size of the grille designed with a high-temperature resistant material; thus, the cost of the grille is lower. The channel between the outer wall of the shell and the contour of the grille is advantageously concealed; this concealment of the channel and the reduction in the grille size greatly improve the overall aesthetics of the cooking device. Advantageously, by forming a cold air barrier that channels the extracted hot air flow, the suction of cold air and the extraction of hot air are carried out in the same area of the outer wall of the shell, which avoids heating the outer wall of the shell around the hot air outlet.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the device, the channel is at least configured between the lateral side of the grille of the air outlet and the outer wall. According to another embodiment, the channel is at least configured between the lower side of the grille of the air outlet and the outer wall. According to a preferred embodiment, in order to optimize the flow rate of the incoming cold air, the channel is configured between the lateral side of the grille of the air outlet and the outer wall, and is configured between the lower side of the grille of the air outlet and the outer wall.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the device, the grille includes a rectifying grille that is oriented to discharge air along an upwardly inclined trajectory to the outside of the housing. This allows the hot air to be optimally directed away from the air inlet provided around the grille and to dissipate more quickly into the surrounding environment.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the device, the grille abuts against the outer wall or is arranged flush with the outer wall, which enables the grille to blend into the plane of the outer wall. Additionally, the outer wall includes at least one cavity, and the air inlet leads to the cavity. The at least one cavity extends beyond the contour of the grille to define the passage. Thus, the air inlet is covered by the grille, such that even though the cold air does not pass through the grille, only the periphery of the cavity is discreetly visible at the perimeter of the grille. Embodiment variants can be envisaged within the scope of the present invention where there is no cavity on the outer wall of the housing and the grille is slightly moved outward relative to the outer wall.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the device, the grille has a parallelogram shape, preferably a rectangle. Embodiment variants can be envisaged within the scope of the present invention, such as circular or oval grilles.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the device, the housing includes a rear wall on which an air inlet and an air outlet are configured. Within the scope of the present invention, it is conceivable to configure them on another surface of the housing.

[0016] For the device according to the present invention, the grille is made of a high-temperature resistant material, preferably steel. Other materials than steel can be envisaged, particularly high-temperature resistant plastics. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following description based on the drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is a view showing a cooking device of the hot air fryer type, highlighting the rear part of the device on which the grille is arranged;

[0019] Figure 2 is a view showing the interior of the cooking device in cross-section to highlight the design of such a device;

[0020] Figure 3 is a view showing the grille fixed to the outer wall of the housing and the cavity on the outer wall being exposed around the grille.

[0021] Figure 4 is a view showing the presence of a rectifying grille on the grille. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] In the following of the description, the cooking device 1 consists of, for example, a hot air fryer, other designs of existing hot air fryers, and can also include the necessary features of the subject matter of the present invention detailed below.

[0023] In the following of the description, unless otherwise stated, the term "fryer" will be used to name the cooking device.

[0024] As Figure 1 shown, the fryer 1 includes a housing 2, which includes an outer wall 3, and the outer wall 3 is equipped with a rear wall 3a opposite to the front surface 1a of the fryer 1. The front surface 1a allows a drawer-like insertion of a tray 4 into a cooking chamber 5 arranged inside the housing 2, and the tray 4 is operated by means of an operating handle 6. A heating device 7 is arranged inside the housing 2, above the cooking chamber 5. As Figures 1 to 3 shown, an air circulation device 8 allows cold air to be sucked in through an air inlet 9 arranged on the rear wall 3a, and the cold air is conveyed to the heating device 7 to be heated. Once heated, it is then conveyed to the cooking chamber 5. Then, the hot air is discharged outside the fryer 1 through an air outlet 10, which is configured on the rear wall 3a and includes a grille 11. The air circulation device 8 includes a ventilator 12, which allows air to be conveyed from the air inlet 9 to the air outlet 10. Various electrical components of the fryer 1, in particular the heating device 7 and the ventilator 12, are connected to a power supply circuit. These general features are known in hot air fryers on the current market, so they will not be detailed here; a person skilled in the art can, for example, refer to the hot air fryer developed by the applicant, such as the hot air fryer sold under the name FRY sold. As described above, Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the fryer 1 is of the drawer type, but the present invention can be implemented on other designs of hot air fryers (especially lid-type fryers, such as the hot air fryer sold by the applicant under the name sold).

[0025] As Figure 1 and Figure 3 shown, the grille 11 includes a rectangle having two lateral sides 11a, 11b and a lower side 11c. The grille 11 is set flush with the rear wall 3a, and the grille 11 is fixed to the rear wall 3a by means of two screws 13a, 13b. The rear wall 3a includes a cavity 14, and the air inlet 9 leads to the cavity 14; the cavity 14 extends beyond the lateral sides 11a, 11b and the lower side 11c of the grille 11, which enables a passage 15 to be concealed between the contour 16 of the rear wall 3a and the grille 11, and the passage 15 defines the air inlet 9 on the rear wall 3a. Thus, cold air enters through the passage 15 surrounding the grille 11, and then the hot air flows out again through the grille 11 at the end of the air circulation cycle. The grille 11 is made of steel, and this material provides very good high-temperature resistance. It is still conceivable to use other high-temperature-resistant materials.

[0026] As Figure 4 shown, the grille 11 includes flow - straightening grilles 17 which are inclined to direct the outflowing hot air stream upward (as shown by arrow 18), which allows the hot air to be directed upward away from the surroundings as quickly and optimally as possible, at a distance from the passage 15 around the grille 11 through which cold air enters. This prevents the hot air from heating the cold air which enters the fryer 1 and participates in the cooling of the device components before the air is heated by the heating device for food cooking in the cooking chamber 5. The presence of the passage 15 around the lateral sides 11a, 11b and the lower side 11c of the grille 11 also allows a cold air stream to be generated around the grille 11, as schematically shown by the arrow 19 in Figure 3 , which allows the hot air stream to be diverted out to prevent the hot air from heating the rear wall 3a of the housing 2.

[0027] In the above - described embodiment, the air inlet 9 and the air outlet 10 are provided on the rear wall 3a of the housing 2; the air inlet 9 and the air outlet 10 can be located on another surface of the outer wall 3 of the housing 2.

Claims

1. A hot air fryer type cooking device (1), which comprises: a housing (2) equipped with an outer wall (3), a cooking chamber (5) arranged inside the housing, and an air circulation device (8), and the air circulation device (8) comprises: - a suction device, the suction device comprising a fresh air inlet (9), the air inlet (9) being arranged on the outer wall of the housing, the suction device being configured to convey air from the inlet through a heating device (7) to the cooking chamber; and - an extraction device, the extraction device comprising a hot air outlet (10), the air outlet (10) being arranged on the outer wall of the housing and equipped with a grille (11), the extraction device being configured to discharge air from the cooking chamber through the grille, characterized in that the air inlet (9) is formed by a channel (15), the channel (15) being configured between the outer wall (3) of the housing (2) and the grille (11) of the air outlet (10), the grille (11) being in contact with or flush with the outer wall (3), the outer wall comprising at least one cavity (14), the air inlet (9) leading to the cavity, and the at least one cavity extending beyond the contour (16) of the grille (11) to define the channel (15).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the channel (15) is at least configured between the lateral sides (11a, 11b) of the grille (11) of the air outlet (10) and the outer wall (3).

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel (15) is at least configured between the lower side (11c) of the grille (11) of the air outlet (10) and the outer wall (3).

4. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grille (11) comprises a deflector (17), the deflector (17) being oriented to discharge air along an upwardly inclined trajectory to the outside of the housing (2).

5. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grille (11) has a parallelogram shape.

6. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grille (11) has a rectangular shape.

7. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (2) comprises a rear wall (3a), on which the air inlet (9) and the air outlet (10) are configured.

8. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grille (11) is made of a high temperature resistant material.

9. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grille (11) is made of steel.

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