An automatic catering apparatus

Abstract

This invention discloses an automatic catering device, which includes a cabinet, a platform, a positioning mechanism, and a heating mechanism. The cabinet forms a receiving space; the platform is disposed within the receiving space and is used to hold a food container, the food container having a through hole; the positioning mechanism is disposed within the receiving space and is used to drive the food container to rotate so that the through hole reaches a predetermined position; the heating mechanism includes an insertion tube and an insertion tube transmission mechanism, the insertion tube transmission mechanism being used to drive the insertion tube and the platform to move relative to each other so that the insertion tube can be inserted into the through hole located at the predetermined position, thereby allowing the injection of heating medium into the food container through the insertion tube to heat the food inside the food container. This simplifies the processing flow, shortens processing time, and improves processing efficiency. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to open the food container before heating, reducing the number of times the food inside the container comes into contact with the external environment and improving food safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food processing machinery, and in particular to an automated catering equipment. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous advancement of technology, the food processing industry is gradually developing towards industrialization, specialization, and automation. Among these, the field of automatic food processing machinery has received particular attention. Automated catering equipment can directly replace manual labor in processing ingredients in food containers, thereby improving processing quality.

[0003] Currently, when automatic catering equipment heats food in containers, the lid of the container usually needs to be opened first before heating the food inside. This process is too complicated and takes a long time. Furthermore, the food inside the container is directly exposed to the outside air, posing a potential food safety hazard. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides an automatic catering device to solve the technical problems of complex processing procedures, long processing time, and low food safety caused by the need to open the lid before heating food in food containers in the prior art.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, one technical solution adopted by the present invention is to provide an automatic catering equipment, characterized in that it includes:

[0006] The cabinet forms an accommodating space;

[0007] A platform is disposed within the accommodating space for supporting food containers, the food containers having through holes;

[0008] A positioning mechanism is disposed within the accommodating space to drive the food container to rotate so that the through hole reaches a predetermined position;

[0009] A heating mechanism includes an insertion tube and an insertion tube transmission mechanism. The insertion tube transmission mechanism is used to drive the insertion tube and the platform to move relative to each other, so that the insertion tube can be inserted into the through hole located at the predetermined position, thereby allowing the injection of heating medium into the food container through the insertion tube to heat the food inside the food container.

[0010] The automatic catering equipment of the present invention includes a cabinet, a platform, a positioning mechanism, and a heating mechanism. The cabinet forms a receiving space; the platform is disposed within the receiving space and is used to support food containers, the food containers having through holes; the positioning mechanism is disposed within the receiving space and is used to drive the food containers to rotate so that the through holes reach a predetermined position; the heating mechanism includes an insertion tube and an insertion tube transmission mechanism, the insertion tube transmission mechanism being used to drive the insertion tube and the platform to move relative to each other so that the insertion tube can be inserted into the through hole located at the predetermined position, thereby allowing the injection of heating medium into the food container through the insertion tube to heat the food inside the food container. This simplifies the processing flow, shortens processing time, and improves processing efficiency. Furthermore, the food container does not need to be opened before heating, which reduces the number of times the food inside the container comes into contact with the external environment, improving food safety. Attached Figure Description

[0011] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort, wherein:

[0012] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of an embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the fixed shaft and rotating shaft assembly in one embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the fixed shaft and rotating shaft assembly in one embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the fixed shaft in one embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the first sleeve in one embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the second sleeve in one embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 9This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the conduit in one embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the conduit in one embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 11 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of a food container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 12 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of another embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 13 This is an exploded view of a portion of the structure in another embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 14 yes Figure 13 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of a food container;

[0026] Figure 15 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of another embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 16 This is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 17 This is an exploded structural diagram of another embodiment of the food container of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 18 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 19 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portion of the structure in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 20 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portion of the structure in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 21 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of an embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 22 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the positioning mechanism in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 23 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the positioning mechanism in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 24 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the water collection tray in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 25 This is a cross-sectional view of the water collection tray in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 26 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the heating mechanism in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 27 This is an exploded structural diagram of the heating mechanism in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 28 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the heating mechanism in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 29 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the insertion tube in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 30 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the steam treatment mechanism in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 31 This is an exploded structural diagram of the steam treatment mechanism in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 32 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portion of the steam treatment mechanism in one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 33 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portion of the steam treatment mechanism in another embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 34 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the automatic catering equipment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] The terms "first" and "second" in this application are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly defined. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices. The term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0048] See Figures 1 to 3 An embodiment of the food container 10 of the present invention includes an outer bowl 100, an inner bowl 200, a lid 300, and a rotating shaft assembly 400. The outer bowl 100 forms a first receiving cavity 110 for containing a first ingredient; the inner bowl 200 forms a second receiving cavity 210 for containing a second ingredient. The inner bowl 200 is disposed within or above the first receiving cavity 110, and an opening 220 is formed at the bottom of the inner bowl 200. The opening 220 is covered with a first sealing film 230; the cover 300 is placed on the outer bowl 100 or the inner bowl 200; the rotating shaft assembly 400 is disposed on the inner bowl 200 or the cover 300, and the rotating shaft assembly 400 is connected to the first sealing film 230 through the first connector 240, so that when the rotating shaft assembly 400 rotates, it can drive the first connector 240 to tear open the first sealing film 230, so that the second ingredient falls into the first receiving cavity 110 through the opening 220 and mixes with the first ingredient.

[0049] The food container 10 of the present invention includes an outer bowl 100, an inner bowl 200 disposed within the outer bowl 100, and a cover 300 covering the outer bowl 100 or the inner bowl 200. An opening 220 is formed at the bottom of the inner bowl 200, a first sealing film 230 is covered over the opening 220, and a rotating shaft assembly 400 is disposed on the inner bowl 200 or the cover 300. The rotating shaft assembly 400 is connected to the first sealing film 230 via a first connector 240, so that when the rotating shaft assembly 400 rotates, it can drive the first connector 240 to tear. The first sealing film 230 is opened so that the second ingredient in the inner bowl 200 falls into the outer bowl 100 through the opening 220, and then mixes with the first ingredient in the outer bowl 100. This eliminates the original disassembly process of the outer bowl, inner bowl and lid. The mixing process does not require opening the food container 10, reducing the number of times the ingredients come into contact with the external environment. The film can be torn off directly through the rotating shaft assembly 400 to achieve the mixing of the two ingredients for subsequent processing, making the processing process simpler, shortening the processing time, improving processing efficiency and food safety.

[0050] In this embodiment, the food container 10 is circular. In other embodiments, the food container 10 may also be square, polygonal, or other shapes, and there is no limitation here.

[0051] In this embodiment, the first ingredient can be powder, noodles, or other ingredients, and the second ingredient can be side dishes, soup base, or other ingredients.

[0052] In this embodiment, a groove (not shown in the figure) may be formed on the cover 300 for holding tableware, sauces, etc., and sealed in the groove by a sealing film (not shown in the figure).

[0053] In this embodiment, the first sealing film 230 can be covered to the opening 220 by heat fusion. In other embodiments, the first sealing film 230 can also be covered to the opening 220 by other means such as adhesive, and there is no limitation here.

[0054] In this embodiment, a hollow fixed shaft 310 is fixedly provided on the lid 300 along the closing direction of the lid 300 relative to the outer bowl 100 or the inner bowl 200. The rotating shaft assembly 400 is rotatably connected to the fixed shaft 310 so that the rotating shaft assembly 400 can rotate relative to the lid 300 around the fixed shaft 310. By providing the fixed shaft 310 fixedly connected to the lid 300 to cooperate with the rotating shaft assembly 400 to achieve rotation, the problem of poor sealing caused by directly rotatably connecting the rotating shaft assembly 400 to the lid 300 can be avoided, reducing the entry of external air or moisture into the food container 10 and improving food safety.

[0055] In this embodiment, the peripheral sidewall of the inner bowl 200 forms a clearance notch 250 protruding into the inner bowl 200. At least a portion of the fixed shaft 310 and the rotating shaft assembly 400 are accommodated in the clearance notch 250. No additional accommodating space is required to accommodate the fixed shaft 310 and the rotating shaft assembly 400, which makes the structure of the food container 10 more compact.

[0056] In other embodiments, lugs (not shown in the figure) may be provided on the outer bowl 100 or the cover 300 to accommodate the fixing shaft 310 and the rotating shaft assembly 400. The fixing shaft 310 and the rotating shaft assembly 400 are located on the outside of the inner bowl 200, which can increase the volume of the second accommodating cavity 210 of the inner bowl 200 to accommodate more second ingredients.

[0057] See also Figure 4 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, the rotating shaft assembly 400 includes a first sleeve 410, a second sleeve 420, and a conduit 430. The first sleeve 410 is sleeved around the fixed shaft 310. The second sleeve 420 is engaged with the first sleeve 410. The conduit 430 is inserted and supported on the second sleeve 420 and communicates with the fixed shaft 310. At least one of the first sleeve 410, the second sleeve 420, and the conduit 430 is configured to rotate relative to the fixed shaft 310 and is connected to the first connector 240. By configuring the first sleeve 410, the second sleeve 420, and the conduit 430 to form the rotating shaft assembly 400, the external insertion tube (not shown in the figure) can be inserted into the conduit 430, and the conduit 430 can extend and retract along the axial direction of the conduit 430, which facilitates the positioning and cooperation between the insertion tube and the conduit 430.

[0058] Participate in 6 to Figure 9 In this embodiment, the first sleeve 410 is rotatably disposed around the fixed shaft 310. A flange 311 is formed at the bottom of the outer sidewall of the fixed shaft 310, and a first support platform 411 is formed on the inner sidewall of the first sleeve 410, which is supported on the flange 311. A groove 412 is provided at the bottom of the first sleeve 410, and a buckle 421 is provided at the top of the second sleeve 420. The groove 412 and the buckle 421 cooperate to connect the first sleeve 410 with the fixed shaft 310. The second sleeve 420 is engaged; a through groove 422 is formed on the bottom wall of the second sleeve 420, and a second support platform 431 is formed on the outer side wall of the guide tube 430. The guide tube 430 passes through the through groove 422, and the second support platform 431 is supported on the bottom wall surrounding the through groove 422, so that the guide tube 430 can extend and retract relative to the second sleeve 420. The guide tube 430 is configured to drive the second sleeve 420 and the first sleeve 410 to rotate around the fixed shaft 310.

[0059] In other embodiments, a buckle may be provided at the bottom of the first sleeve 410 and a slot may be provided at the top of the second sleeve 420 to achieve a snap-fit ​​connection between the first sleeve 410 and the second sleeve 420.

[0060] In other embodiments, the first sleeve 410 and the second sleeve 420 may also be fixedly connected by magnetic attraction, adhesive or other means, which is not limited here.

[0061] In this embodiment, a limiting groove 423 communicating with the through groove 422 is further provided on the bottom wall of the second sleeve 420, and a limiting protrusion 432 is formed on the outer side wall of the conduit 430. The limiting protrusion 432 is accommodated in the limiting groove 423 to restrict the conduit 430 from rotating relative to the second sleeve 420.

[0062] See also 5 and Figure 10 In this embodiment, a limiting post 433 is formed on the inner wall of the catheter 430. The limiting post 433 is located on the side of the second support platform 431 facing the cover 300 and is used to interfere with the external cannula to drive the rotating shaft assembly 400 to rotate relative to the cover 300.

[0063] In this embodiment, the number of limiting posts 433 is at least two, and the at least two limiting posts 433 are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the catheter 430 to interfere with the external cannula.

[0064] In this embodiment, the extension length H1 of one of the at least two limiting posts 433 along the axial direction of the catheter 430 is greater than the extension length H2 of the other along the axial direction of the catheter 430, so that when the external cannula is inserted into the catheter 430, the limiting post 433 provides less resistance to the external cannula, thereby facilitating the insertion of the external cannula.

[0065] In this embodiment, a through hole 435 is formed at the bottom of the conduit 430 to allow the heating medium to be delivered to the first accommodating cavity 110 through the conduit 430, thereby realizing automatic heating of the first and second ingredients.

[0066] In this embodiment, the diameter of the through hole 435 can be 0.8mm to 1mm, for example, 0.8mm, 0.9mm or 1mm. There are multiple through holes 435, which are arranged in a regular polygonal pattern, such as a regular hexagon or a regular octagon. This can reduce the steam noise generated during the transport of the gaseous heating medium and the noise generated by the water bubbles generated by the liquid in the first and second ingredients during the heating process.

[0067] In this embodiment, a grid 260 is provided inside the inner bowl 200. The grid 260 is used to divide the second accommodating cavity 210 into a first part and a second part. The opening 220 is located at the bottom of the first part. The second food ingredient includes solid and liquid substances. The solid substances are blocked by the grid 260 in the first part of the second accommodating cavity 210. The liquid substances are contained in the first part and the second part of the second accommodating cavity 210 and can flow through the grid 260. By concentrating the solid substances in the second food ingredient in the first part corresponding to the opening 220, the residue of solid substances can be reduced during the process of the opening 220 being opened and the second food ingredient falling into the first accommodating cavity 110.

[0068] In other embodiments, the first connector 240 may also move without the pivot assembly 400. For example, the food container 10 may further include a pull member (not shown in the figure), which is disposed on the cover 300 and connected to the first connector 240 for moving relative to the cover 300 to drive the first connector 240 to break the tear piece 270, thereby tearing open the first sealing film 230.

[0069] See Figure 11 In this embodiment, the first connector 240 connects the rotating shaft assembly 400 and the first sealing film 230 from the side of the bottom wall of the inner bowl 200 away from the second accommodating cavity 210, and the first connector 240 is connected to the side of the first sealing film 230 away from the rotating shaft assembly 400, so that the first sealing film 230 can be completely torn open and the opening 220 of the inner bowl 200 can be fully exposed, thereby preventing the second food from remaining in the inner bowl 200.

[0070] In this embodiment, the first connector 240 can be arranged in a strip shape to increase the tensile strength of the first connector 240, making the first connector 240 less likely to break during the pulling process, thereby improving the reliability of the food container 10. The first sealing film 230 and the first connector 240 can be integrally formed or fixedly connected by means of adhesive or other methods.

[0071] In other embodiments, the first connector 240 may also be arranged in a linear form, which is not limited here.

[0072] In this embodiment, the first connector 240 may be made of cotton or PP (Polypropylene) material, and there is no limitation.

[0073] See Figure 12 and Figure 13In another specific embodiment, the first sealing film 230 may not be directly fixed to the first connector 240. Specifically, a tear-off piece 270 is formed together with the bottom edge of the inner bowl 200. The first sealing film 230 is further fixed to the tear-off piece 270, and the tear-off piece 270 is further connected to the first connector 240. The first connector 240 is configured to break the tear-off piece 270 when subjected to external force, thereby tearing open the first sealing film 230, so that the second ingredient falls into the first accommodating cavity 110 through the opening 220 and mixes with the first ingredient. This eliminates the original disassembly process of the outer bowl, inner bowl and lid. The mixing process does not require opening the food container 10, reducing the number of times the ingredients come into contact with the external environment. The film can be torn directly through the rotating shaft assembly 400 to achieve the mixing of the two ingredients for subsequent processing, making the processing process simpler, shortening the processing time, improving processing efficiency and food safety.

[0074] See also Figure 14 In this embodiment, a thickness reduction area 271 is provided at the connection position between the break piece 270 and the bottom edge of the inner bowl 200, so that the break piece 270 breaks off from the bottom edge of the inner bowl 200 along the thickness reduction area 271, which can prevent the break piece 270 from breaking off from the inner bowl 200 under the action of external force and causing damage to the inner bowl 200.

[0075] In this embodiment, the breakable piece 270 is provided with a first through hole 272 that penetrates the breakable piece 270 and the first sealing film 230 thereon. The first connector 240 is inserted into the first through hole 272 so that the breakable piece 270 and the first connector 240 are relatively fixed, thereby enabling the breakable piece 270 to move with the first connector 240.

[0076] In this embodiment, a first limiting block 241 is provided at one end of the first connector 240 connected to the first sealing membrane 230. The first limiting block 241 is used to limit the end of the first connector 240 connected to the first sealing membrane 230 to one side of the first through hole 272, so that when the first connector 240 is subjected to external force, the first limiting block 241 acts on the breakable piece 270, thereby enabling the breakable piece 270 to be broken.

[0077] In this embodiment, the rotating shaft assembly 400 is connected to the first connector 240 and is used to rotate relative to the inner bowl 200 so as to drive the first connector 240 to break the tear piece 270 and then tear open the first sealing film 230, thereby enabling automatic film tearing.

[0078] In this embodiment, the rotating shaft assembly 400 is provided with a second through hole 424, and the first connector 240 passes through the second through hole 424, so that the pull-off piece 270 is relatively fixed with the rotating shaft assembly 400, thereby allowing the pull-off piece 270 to rotate and rewind with the rotating shaft assembly 400. Specifically, the second through hole 424 can be formed on the second sleeve 420 of the rotating shaft assembly 400. In other embodiments, the second through hole 424 can also be formed on the first sleeve 410 or the guide tube 430, and there is no limitation here.

[0079] In this embodiment, a second limiting block 242 is provided at one end of the first connector 240 connected to the rotating shaft assembly 400. The second limiting block 242 is used to limit the end of the first connector 240 connected to the rotating shaft assembly 400 to one side of the second through hole 424.

[0080] In other embodiments, the first connector 240 may also be fixedly connected to the break piece 270 or the shaft assembly 400 by means of winding or the like, and there is no limitation on this.

[0081] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 Another embodiment of the food container 10 of the present invention includes an outer bowl 100, an inner bowl 200, a lid 300, and a rotating shaft assembly 400. The outer bowl 100 forms a first receiving cavity 110 for containing a first ingredient. The inner bowl 200 is integrally formed with the lid 300 to form a second receiving cavity 210 for containing a second ingredient. The inner bowl 200 is disposed within or above the first receiving cavity 110. An opening 220 is formed at the bottom of the container, and a first sealing film 230 is covered on the opening 220. A cover 300 is placed on the outer bowl 100. A rotating shaft assembly 400 is disposed on the inner bowl 200 or the cover 300. The rotating shaft assembly 400 is connected to the first sealing film 230 through a first connector 240, so that when the rotating shaft assembly 400 rotates, it can drive the first connector 240 to tear open the first sealing film 230, so that the second ingredient falls into the first receiving cavity 110 through the opening 220 and mixes with the first ingredient.

[0082] See Figures 15 to 17Another embodiment of the food container 10 of the present invention includes an outer bowl 100, an inner bowl 200, a lid 300, and a rotating shaft assembly 400. The outer bowl 100 forms a first receiving cavity 110 for containing a first ingredient; the inner bowl 200 forms a second receiving cavity 210 for containing a second ingredient. The inner bowl 200 is disposed within or above the first receiving cavity 110, and an opening (not shown in the figure) is formed at the bottom of the inner bowl 200, the opening being covered by a first sealing film (not shown in the figure); the lid 300 covers the outer bowl 100 or the inner bowl 200; the rotating shaft assembly 400 is provided with... The rotating shaft assembly 400 is placed on the lid 300 and connected to the first sealing film via the first connector 240. When the rotating shaft assembly 400 rotates, it can drive the first connector 240 to tear open the first sealing film, allowing the second ingredient to fall into the first receiving cavity 110 through the opening and mix with the first ingredient. This eliminates the need for disassembling the original outer bowl, inner bowl, and lid. The mixing process does not require opening the food container 10, reducing the number of times the ingredients come into contact with the external environment. The two ingredients can be mixed directly by tearing the film through the rotating shaft assembly 400, making the processing flow simpler, shortening the processing time, improving processing efficiency, and ensuring food safety.

[0083] In other embodiments, the pivot 400 may also be disposed on the inner bowl 200, which is not limited here.

[0084] In this embodiment, the top of the inner bowl 200 is fixedly connected to the cover 300. The inner bowl 200 has a receiving groove 280 and a through hole 281 communicating with the receiving groove 280. The rotating shaft assembly 400 is disposed in the receiving groove 280 perpendicular to the closing direction of the cover 300 relative to the outer bowl 100 or the inner bowl 200. The first connecting member 240 passes through the through hole 281 to connect with the rotating shaft assembly 400.

[0085] In this embodiment, an annular support 120 is formed on the inner sidewall of the outer bowl 100. A second sealing film 130 is covered on the annular support 120 to seal the first ingredient. The second sealing film 130 is connected to the rotating shaft assembly 400 through a second connector 140, so that when the rotating shaft assembly 400 rotates relative to the inner bowl 200 or the cover 300, it can drive the second connector 140 to tear open the second sealing film 130, so that the first ingredient is exposed, and the second ingredient is mixed with the first ingredient. By setting the second sealing film 130 to further seal the first ingredient, it is more conducive to the storage of the first ingredient and improves food safety.

[0086] In this embodiment, the rotating shaft assembly 400 includes a rotating shaft 440 and a fixing member 450. The fixing member 450 is used to fix the rotating shaft 440 to the cover 300 and to insert into the receiving groove 280 when the cover 300 is fixedly connected to the inner bowl 200.

[0087] In this embodiment, at least one end of the rotating shaft 440 extends through the cover 300 and protrudes from the cover 300, enabling external devices to drive the rotating shaft 440 to rotate without opening the cover 300. This allows the first connector 240 and the second connector 140 to be wound onto the rotating shaft 440, thereby achieving the mixing of the first and second ingredients and facilitating the automatic processing of ingredients in the food container 10.

[0088] In this embodiment, the food container 10 may further include a one-way component 150 and a fixing component 160. The bottom of the outer bowl 100 is provided with a through hole 170. The one-way component 150 is disposed through the through hole 170 to allow the heating medium to be delivered unidirectionally to the first accommodating cavity 110, thereby enabling the heating of the first and second ingredients and preventing the first and second ingredients from leaking out when not heated. The fixing component 160 is used to fix the one-way component 150 to the through hole 170 to prevent the one-way component 150 from falling off.

[0089] In this embodiment, the one-way member 150 can be made of a flexible material. The one-way member 150 can be hemispherical, arc-shaped, or pointed. A slot is formed on the one-way member 150. The shape of the slot can be trident-shaped, cross-shaped, or polygonal fork-shaped.

[0090] See Figure 3 , Figures 18 to 20 In one embodiment of the automatic catering equipment 20 of the present invention, the automatic catering equipment 20 is used to process food containers 10, thereby realizing the processing of ingredients inside the food containers 10. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned... Figure 3 The food container 10 is used as an example for illustration. The specific structure of the food container 10 is described in the above embodiment of the food container 10, and will not be repeated here.

[0091] In this embodiment, the automatic catering equipment 20 includes a cabinet 500, a platform 600, a positioning mechanism 700, and a heating mechanism 800. The cabinet 500 forms an accommodating space. The platform 600 is disposed within the accommodating space and is used to support a food container 10. The food container 10 is provided with a through hole 320. The positioning mechanism 700 is disposed within the accommodating space and is used to drive the food container 10 to rotate so that the through hole 320 reaches a predetermined position. The heating mechanism 800 includes an insertion tube 810 and an insertion tube transmission mechanism 820. The insertion tube transmission mechanism 820 is used to drive the insertion tube 810 and the platform 600 to move relative to each other so that the insertion tube 810 can be inserted into the through hole 320 located at the predetermined position, thereby allowing the heating medium to be injected into the food container 10 through the insertion tube 810 to heat the food inside the food container 10.

[0092] The automatic catering equipment 20 of the present invention includes a cabinet 500 and a platform 600, a positioning mechanism 700, and a heating mechanism 800 disposed within the cabinet 500. After the positioning mechanism 700 positions the food container 10 supported on the platform 600, the insertion tube 810 is directly driven to move relative to the platform 600 through the insertion tube transmission mechanism 820 of the heating mechanism 800, so that the insertion tube 810 can be inserted into the through hole 320 of the food container 10 located at a predetermined position. This allows heating medium to be injected into the food container 10 through the insertion tube 810, thereby heating the food inside the food container 10. This simplifies the processing flow, shortens the processing time, and improves the processing efficiency. Furthermore, the food container 10 does not need to be opened before heating, which reduces the number of times the food inside the food container comes into contact with the external environment and improves food safety.

[0093] In this embodiment, the automatic catering equipment 20 further includes a platform translation mechanism 610, which is used to drive the platform 600 in the horizontal direction so that the platform 600 extends out of the accommodating space to receive the food container 10, and further drive the platform 600 in the horizontal direction in the reverse direction so that the food container 10 is returned to the accommodating space along with the platform 600.

[0094] In this embodiment, the automatic catering equipment 20 further includes a scanning mechanism (not shown in the figure). The scanning mechanism is disposed on the cabinet 500 and is used to scan and authenticate the mark (not shown in the figure) on the food container 10. After the scanning mechanism authenticates the mark as valid, the platform translation mechanism 610 drives the platform 600 in the horizontal direction so that the platform 600 extends out of the accommodating space.

[0095] In this embodiment, the identifier can be a QR code or a barcode, etc.

[0096] In this embodiment, the automatic catering equipment 20 further includes a switch button 510, which is disposed on the cabinet 500. After the switch button 510 is pressed, the platform translation mechanism 610 drives the platform 600 in the horizontal direction in the opposite direction, so that the food container 10 is returned to the accommodating space along the platform 600.

[0097] In this embodiment, the automatic catering equipment 20 further includes a prompting mechanism 520, which is disposed on the cabinet 500 and is used to issue a prompt message after the heating mechanism 800 has finished heating the food. The platform translation mechanism 610 further drives the platform 600 in the horizontal direction after the switch button 510 is pressed, so that the processed food container 10 extends out of the accommodating space along with the platform 600.

[0098] In this embodiment, the prompting mechanism 520 can be an indicator light, which can provide prompts through light.

[0099] In other embodiments, the prompting mechanism 520 may also be a display screen or a buzzer, etc., to provide prompts through graphics or sound, and there is no limitation on this.

[0100] In other embodiments, the automated catering equipment 20 may further include a sensor (not shown) disposed on the platform 600. After the platform translation mechanism 610 extends out of the accommodating space and the sensor senses that the food container 10 is placed on the platform 600 or the food container 10 is removed from the platform 600, the platform 600 is horizontally reversed so that the platform 600 returns to the accommodating space.

[0101] See also Figure 3 , Figure 19 , Figures 21 to 23 In this embodiment, the platform 600 includes a platform body 620 and a turntable 630 rotatably supported on the platform body 620. The turntable 630 is used to carry the food container 10. The food container 10 is provided with a through hole 320 and a limiting part 330. The positioning mechanism 700 includes a rotary drive mechanism 710 and a limiting baffle 720. The rotary drive mechanism 710 is connected to the turntable 630 and is used to drive the turntable 630 to rotate the food container 10. The limiting baffle 720 is disposed on the periphery of the food container 10 and is used to abut against the limiting part 330 of the food container 10 after the through hole 320 reaches a predetermined position, so that the through hole 320 is kept in the predetermined position. The positioning accuracy of the food container 10 is high, which is beneficial for the subsequent automatic processing of the food container.

[0102] In this embodiment, the positioning mechanism 700 further includes a first sensor 730, which is used to sense the food container 10. After the first sensor 730 senses that the food container 10 is placed on the turntable 630, the rotation drive mechanism 710 starts to drive the turntable 630 to rotate.

[0103] In this embodiment, the positioning mechanism 700 may further include a second sensor 740, which is further used to sense the rotation angle of the turntable 630. After the second sensor 740 senses the preset rotation angle of the turntable 630, the rotation drive mechanism 710 stops driving the turntable 630 to rotate. For example, the preset rotation angle is 360°. The turntable 630 is provided with a sensor 631. Before the turntable 630 rotates, the sensor 631 corresponds to the second sensor 740. After the turntable 630 starts to rotate, when the second sensor 740 senses the sensor 631, the turntable 630 rotates 360° and then stops rotating.

[0104] In this embodiment, the preset angle is greater than the rotation angle required for the through hole 320 to rotate to the predetermined position. The food container 10 is configured to slide relative to the turntable 630 while the limiting part 330 abuts against the limiting baffle 720 and the rotation drive mechanism 710 continues to drive the turntable 630 to rotate. Therefore, it is not necessary to directly measure the rotation angle of the turntable 630, and the accuracy requirement is lower.

[0105] In other embodiments, the positioning mechanism 700 may further include a second sensor (not shown in the figure). After the second sensor detects that the limiting part 330 of the food container 10 abuts against the limiting baffle 720, the rotation drive mechanism 710 stops driving the turntable 630 to rotate. This can reduce the friction between the food container 10 and the turntable 630, thereby reducing the wear of the food container 10 and the turntable 630, which is beneficial to improving the service life of the automatic catering equipment 20.

[0106] In this embodiment, the rotary drive mechanism 710 includes a first gear 711 connected to and coaxially arranged with the turntable 630, a second gear 712 meshing with the first gear 711, and a rotary drive member 713 connected to the second gear 712. The rotary drive member 713 drives the second gear 712 to rotate, thereby enabling the turntable 630 to rotate through the first gear 711.

[0107] In this embodiment, the positioning mechanism 700 may further include a limiting plate 750, which is disposed above the turntable 630. The limiting plate 750 is used to press the food container 10 onto the turntable 630, thereby preventing the lid 300 of the food container 10 from being pulled out when the insertion tube 810 is withdrawn from the food container 10.

[0108] In this embodiment, the end of the limiting plate 750 is set with an inclined surface. The limiting plate 750 is used to abut against the food container 10 carried on the platform 600 when the platform translation mechanism 610 moves the platform 600 in a horizontal direction close to the limiting plate 750.

[0109] See also Figure 24 and Figure 25 In this embodiment, the platform 600 may further include a water collection tray 640, which is disposed on the turntable 630. The food container 10 is supported on the water collection tray 640. The water collection tray 640 is used to collect water overflowing from the food container 10, which can prevent the water overflowing from the food container 10 from flowing into the automatic catering equipment 20, thereby keeping the container space dry, avoiding the growth of bacteria, which is conducive to further improving food safety and extending the service life of the automatic catering equipment 20.

[0110] In this embodiment, the water collection tray 640 includes a bottom plate 641 and an annular side plate 642. The bottom plate 641 and the annular side plate 642 together form a collection cavity. A protrusion 643 is provided on the bottom plate 641. The food container 10 is supported on the protrusion 643 so that the bottom of the food container 10 is spaced apart from the bottom plate 641 to leave room for the water overflowing from the food container 10.

[0111] In this embodiment, the bottom of the food container 10 may be provided with a positioning recess (not shown in the figure) for accommodating the protrusion 643. The water collection tray 640 is configured to allow the user to remove the water collection tray 640 from the turntable 630 by grabbing the protrusion 643, thereby cleaning the water in the water collection tray 640. This helps to keep the container space inside the automatic catering equipment 20 dry, making it less prone to bacterial growth and thus ensuring higher food safety.

[0112] In this embodiment, the protrusion 643 is arranged in an I-shape in the vertical direction of the main surface of the base plate 641, which is beneficial for the user to grip.

[0113] In this embodiment, the height D1 of the protrusion 643 along the vertical direction of the main surface of the base plate 641 is greater than the height D2 of the annular side plate 642 along the vertical direction of the main surface of the base plate 641, so that when the food container 10 is supported on the protrusion 643, the bottom of the food container 10 and the annular side plate 642 are spaced apart, so that the water overflowing from the food container 10 can flow into the collection chamber along the annular side plate 642.

[0114] In this embodiment, the turntable 630 is recessed to form a receiving cavity, and at least a portion of the water collection tray 640 and the food container 10 are disposed within the receiving cavity, making the overall fit structure of the turntable 630, the water collection tray 640 and the food container 10 more stable.

[0115] See also Figures 26 to 28 In this embodiment, the insertion transmission mechanism 820 includes an insertion translation mechanism 830 and an insertion rotation mechanism 840. The insertion translation mechanism 830 uses translation to drive the insertion tube 810 so that the insertion tube 810 is inserted into the through hole 320 and docks with the rotating shaft assembly 400 of the food container 10. The insertion rotation mechanism 840 is used to drive the insertion tube 810 to drive the rotating shaft assembly 400 to rotate synchronously. The insertion tube 810 is further used to inject heating medium into the food container 10.

[0116] In this embodiment, a through hole 320 is provided on the cover 300 of the food container 10, and the fixing shaft 310 of the food container 10 is fixed in the through hole 320. The conduit 430 of the rotating shaft assembly 400 is used to receive the insertion tube 810 and drive the first sleeve 410 and the second sleeve 420 of the rotating shaft assembly 400 to rotate synchronously with the insertion tube 810. The conduit 430 is further used to guide the heating medium input from the insertion tube 810 into the first accommodating cavity 110.

[0117] See also Figure 10 and Figure 29 In this embodiment, a first limiting post 811 is formed on the outer side wall of the cannula 810. The first limiting post 811 can interfere with the second limiting post 433 of the catheter 430 to drive the catheter 430 to rotate.

[0118] In this embodiment, the top of the second limiting post 433 is formed with an inclined surface 434, so that when the cannula 810 is inserted into the catheter 430, the first limiting post 811 can slide along the inclined surface 434 between two adjacent second limiting posts 433, thereby interfering with the second limiting post 433.

[0119] In this embodiment, the cannula rotation mechanism 840 is used to drive the cannula 810 to reciprocate at a predetermined angle during the insertion of the cannula 810 into the catheter 430 by the cannula translation mechanism 830, so that the first limiting post 811 and the second limiting post 433 are misaligned with each other, so that the first limiting post 811 can interfere with the second limiting post 433, thereby improving reliability.

[0120] See also Figure 1 and Figure 3 The through hole 320 is covered with a second sealing membrane 340. The end of the insertion tube 810 is set in a pointed shape to pierce the second sealing membrane 340. By setting the second sealing membrane 340, the interior of the food container 10 can be further isolated from the outside air, which is beneficial to the preservation of food.

[0121] See also Figures 26 to 28In this embodiment, the cannula translation mechanism 830 includes a base plate 831, a slide rail 832 and a vertical drive member 833 respectively disposed on the base plate 831, and a slider 834 slidably disposed on the slide rail 832. The cannula 810 is connected to the slider 834 through a connecting plate 835, and the vertical drive member 833 drives the connecting plate 835 to slide in the vertical direction.

[0122] In other embodiments, the cannula 810 may also be vertically driven by other driving components such as cylinders, and there are no restrictions on this.

[0123] In this embodiment, an upper limit sensor 836 and a lower limit sensor 837 are provided on the substrate 831, and a positioning member 838 is provided on the connecting plate 835. When the upper limit sensor 836 senses the positioning member 838, the vertical drive member 833 no longer drives the connecting plate 835 to rise. When the lower limit sensor 837 senses the positioning member 838, the vertical drive member 833 no longer drives the connecting plate 835 to fall, thereby achieving the positioning of the insertion tube 810 in the vertical direction.

[0124] In other embodiments, the upper limit sensor 836 and the lower limit sensor 837 may also be disposed on the connecting plate 835, and the positioning member 838 may be disposed on the substrate 831, without limitation.

[0125] In this embodiment, the cannula rotation mechanism 840 includes a first gear 841 connected to and coaxially arranged with the cannula 810, a second gear 842 meshing with the first gear 841, and a rotation drive member 843 connected to the second gear 842. The rotation drive member 843 drives the second gear 842 to rotate, thereby enabling the cannula 810 to rotate through the first gear 841.

[0126] See also Figure 19 In this embodiment, the heating medium can be water vapor. The automatic catering equipment 20 may further include a steam generator 530. The steam generator 530 is connected to the insertion tube 810 through a rotary joint 531. The steam generator 530 is used to generate water vapor, which is delivered to the food container 10 through the rotary joint 531 and the insertion tube 810.

[0127] In this embodiment, the automatic catering equipment 20 may further include a water pump 532, which is connected to a steam generator 530 and is used to supply water to the steam generator 530.

[0128] In other embodiments, the heating medium may also be hot water or other heating media, and there is no limitation on this.

[0129] See also Figures 30 to 32In this embodiment, the automatic catering equipment 20 may further include a steam treatment mechanism 900, at least a portion of which is disposed within the accommodating space for condensing and recovering water vapor overflowing from the food container 10.

[0130] In this embodiment, the steam treatment mechanism 900 includes a fan 910, an air duct 920, and a condensation recovery mechanism 930. The fan 910 is disposed in the accommodating space and is used to draw water vapor from the accommodating space. The air duct 920 is connected to the fan 910 and is used to send the water vapor drawn by the fan 910 out of the accommodating space through the ventilation port 541 of the cabinet 500. The condensation recovery mechanism 930 is used to condense the water vapor sent out of the accommodating space and recover it back into the accommodating space, thereby keeping the accommodating space dry, avoiding the growth of bacteria, which is beneficial to improving food safety and extending the service life of the automatic catering equipment 20.

[0131] In this embodiment, the condensation recovery mechanism 930 includes a condensation plate 931, which is disposed on the outside of the cabinet 500 and corresponding to the ventilation opening 541. It is used to cooperate with the cabinet 500 to form a condensation chamber, thereby condensing the water vapor output from the ventilation opening 541 to form condensate, and further guiding the condensate back to the accommodating space through the first guide port 542 on the cabinet 500.

[0132] In this embodiment, the condensation recovery mechanism 930 may further include a guide plate 932, which is disposed on the inner side of the cabinet 500. The guide plate 932 forms a first guide groove (not shown in the figure) corresponding to the first guide port 542. The bottom of the guide plate 932 is further provided with a guide pipe 933 communicating with the first guide groove. The condensate can flow back to the accommodating space through the first guide port 542, the first guide groove and the guide pipe 933.

[0133] In this embodiment, a second guide groove 543 corresponding to the guide pipe 933 and a water collection tank 544 connected to the second guide groove 543 are formed on the bottom plate of the cabinet 500. The water collection tank 544 is sunken so that the condensate flowing back through the second guide groove 543 can be concentrated in the water collection tank 544.

[0134] See Figure 33 In other embodiments, an extension 934 may be formed on the guide plate 932, with the end of the extension 934 extending to the second guide groove 543, so that condensate can flow back into the accommodating space through the first guide port 542, the first guide groove and the extension 934.

[0135] See also Figures 30 to 32 , Figure 34In this embodiment, the bottom plate is further formed with a second guide port 545 located at the bottom of the water collection tank 544, and the automatic catering equipment 20 further includes a water collection box 550. The water collection box 550 is disposed at the bottom of the cabinet 500 and is disposed corresponding to the second guide port 545 for collecting condensate flowing out through the second guide port 545.

[0136] In this embodiment, a groove 560 is further provided on the base plate, and the water collection box 550 is slidably disposed on the groove 560 so that the water collection box 550 can be pulled out relative to the base plate, which facilitates the treatment of the collected condensate.

[0137] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic catering equipment, characterized in that, include: The cabinet forms an accommodating space; A platform is disposed within the accommodating space for supporting food containers, the food containers having through holes; A positioning mechanism is disposed within the accommodating space to drive the food container to rotate so that the through hole reaches a predetermined position; A heating mechanism, comprising an insertion tube and an insertion tube transmission mechanism, wherein the insertion tube transmission mechanism is used to drive the insertion tube and the platform to move relative to each other, so that the insertion tube can be inserted into the through hole located at the predetermined position, thereby allowing the injection of heating medium into the food container through the insertion tube to heat the food inside the food container; The heating medium is water vapor, and the automatic catering equipment further includes a steam treatment mechanism, at least a portion of which is disposed within the accommodating space for condensing and recovering the water vapor overflowing from the food container. The food container is further provided with a rotating shaft assembly, and the insertion tube transmission mechanism further includes an insertion tube translation mechanism and an insertion tube rotation mechanism. The insertion tube translation mechanism is used to translate the insertion tube so that the insertion tube is inserted into the through hole and docks with the rotating shaft assembly. The insertion tube rotation mechanism is used to drive the insertion tube to drive the rotating shaft assembly to rotate synchronously. The food container includes an outer bowl and an inner bowl. The outer bowl forms a first receiving cavity for containing a first ingredient. The inner bowl forms a second receiving cavity for containing a second ingredient. The inner bowl is disposed inside or above the first receiving cavity, and an opening is formed at the bottom of the inner bowl. The opening is covered with a sealing film. The rotating shaft assembly is connected to the sealing film via a connector. When the rotating shaft assembly rotates, it can drive the connector to tear open the sealing film, so that the second ingredient falls into the first receiving cavity through the opening and mixes with the first ingredient. The food container further includes a lid, a through hole is provided on the lid, and a hollow fixed shaft is fixedly provided in the through hole. The rotating shaft assembly includes a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a conduit. The first sleeve is sleeved around the periphery of the fixed shaft, the second sleeve is snapped into the first sleeve, and the conduit is inserted and supported on the second sleeve and communicates with the fixed shaft. The conduit is used to receive the insertion tube and drive the first sleeve and the second sleeve to rotate synchronously with the insertion tube. The conduit is further used to guide the heating medium input from the insertion tube into the first accommodating cavity.

2. The automatic catering equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The automatic catering equipment further includes a platform translation mechanism, which is used to drive the platform in a horizontal direction so that the platform extends out of the accommodating space to receive the food container, and further drive the platform in a horizontal reverse direction so that the food container returns to the accommodating space with the platform.

3. The automatic catering equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The automatic catering equipment further includes a scanning mechanism, which is disposed on the cabinet and is used to scan and authenticate the markings on the food containers. After the scanning mechanism authenticates the markings as valid, the platform translation mechanism moves the platform horizontally so that the platform extends out of the accommodating space.

4. The automatic catering equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The automatic catering equipment further includes a switch button, which is disposed on the cabinet. After the switch button is pressed, the platform translation mechanism reverses the horizontal direction to move the platform, so that the food container is moved back to the accommodating space along the platform.

5. The automatic catering equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The automatic catering equipment further includes a prompting mechanism, which is disposed on the cabinet and is used to issue a prompt message after the heating mechanism has finished heating the food. The platform translation mechanism further transmits the platform horizontally after the switch button is pressed, so that the processed food container extends out of the accommodating space along the platform.

6. The automatic catering equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The automatic catering equipment further includes a sensor disposed on the platform. After the platform translation mechanism extends out of the accommodating space and the sensor senses that the food container is placed on the platform or the food container is removed from the platform, it reverses the horizontal direction to move the platform back into the accommodating space.

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