A cooking device with a food storage function

Abstract

The application relates to a cooking device with a food storage function, which comprises an inner container, and a food storage cavity outside the inner container for storing food, the food storage cavity being capable of heat transfer with the inner container. In the application, the food storage cavity is arranged outside the inner container, the food storage function does not occupy the internal space of the inner container, so that the food storage function and the cooking function can be simultaneously performed, and the food storage cavity is capable of heat transfer with the inner container, so that the heat in the inner container can be transferred to the food storage cavity and used for heat preservation of the food stored in the food storage cavity, a heating device does not need to be additionally arranged, the structure is simple, environment-friendly, and energy consumption is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cooking apparatus, and more particularly to a cooking apparatus with a food storage function. Background Technology

[0002] A steam oven is a combined cooking appliance that integrates baking and steaming functions, offering cooking options such as steaming alone, baking alone, or a combination of both. Examples include Chinese invention patent application number CN202111526610.1 (publication number CN114287789A) entitled "A Steam Oven Combination," and Chinese utility model patent ZL202122199759.5 (authorization announcement number CN216293752U) entitled "A Steam Oven Inner Structure and a Steam Oven Combination."

[0003] Traditional steam ovens typically only have cooking functions and lack food storage capabilities. Chinese invention patent ZL201510572701.7 (authorization announcement number CN105054812B) discloses an oven with refrigeration and preservation functions. It includes a cabinet with a baking liner, an oven door, a heating element, and a control panel. The oven door is hinged to the front end of the cabinet, and the heating element is electrically connected to the control panel. It also includes a circulating refrigeration component for cooling the baking liner. This patent allows food to be refrigerated in the liner, achieving food preservation. However, food preservation and cooking cannot be performed simultaneously, and it cannot maintain the temperature of cooked food for later storage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cooking device with a food storage function that simultaneously performs food storage and cooking functions, in contrast to the prior art.

[0005] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cooking device with food storage function that has food heat preservation and storage function, in contrast to the prior art.

[0006] The third technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cooking device with food storage function that has the function of keeping food warm and moist.

[0007] The fourth technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cooking device with a food reservation function and a food storage function, in contrast to the prior art.

[0008] The fifth technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cooking device with a multi-dish reservation function and a food storage function, in contrast to the prior art.

[0009] The sixth technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cooking device with a food storage function that makes it easy to take out food compared to the prior art.

[0010] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: a cooking device with a food storage function, comprising an inner pot, characterized in that a food storage cavity for storing food is provided outside the inner pot, and the food storage cavity can transfer heat with the interior of the inner pot.

[0011] Furthermore, the inner liner has an adjustable, closable conveying port on its wall, through which the storage cavity and the interior of the inner liner are fluidly connected. This allows gas from the inner liner to enter the storage cavity through the conveying port, achieving cross-flow of air between the two. Hot air and moisture from the inner liner can simultaneously enter the storage cavity, achieving temperature and humidity control for the stored vegetables. Moreover, by adjusting the size of the conveying port, the temperature and humidity within the storage cavity can be adjusted, resulting in better storage performance.

[0012] Furthermore, the food storage cavity is located above the inner liner, and the delivery port is located on the top wall of the inner liner. This allows for a compact internal structure of the cooking device. Also, since the gas in the inner liner tends to rise, placing the food storage cavity above the inner liner allows for better flow of gas into the storage cavity.

[0013] Furthermore, an upper mounting plate is horizontally disposed above the inner liner. A vertically extending mounting gap exists between the lower surface of the upper mounting plate and the top surface of the inner liner. A control panel that can be rotated and flipped forward and backward is rotatably mounted on the front side of the upper mounting plate. The control panel, the upper surface of the upper mounting plate, and the top of the cooking device's housing form the aforementioned food storage cavity. A connecting opening is provided on the upper mounting plate, which is connected to the aforementioned conveying port via a connecting sleeve. This design effectively forms the aforementioned food storage cavity structure and ensures good communication between the food storage cavity and the inner liner.

[0014] Furthermore, the connecting port on the upper mounting plate is vertically aligned with the conveying port on the inner liner, and the connecting sleeve extends vertically. This allows airflow in the inner liner to enter the storage cavity more smoothly, thereby better maintaining the temperature and moisture of the food in the storage cavity.

[0015] Furthermore, the connecting sleeve has a horizontally extending insertion port along its circumference. A baffle matching the cross-sectional size of the connecting sleeve at its location is horizontally inserted into the insertion port. The system also includes a translation mechanism for driving the baffle to move horizontally relative to the insertion port. By driving the baffle with the translation mechanism, the movement of the baffle relative to the insertion port is achieved, thereby enabling the opening and closing of the conveying port and controlling the actual opening size.

[0016] Furthermore, the translation mechanism includes a drive motor, a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, and a first transmission gear. A transmission rack extending along the moving direction is fixed to one end of the baffle. The drive motor is mounted on the upper surface of the upper mounting plate. A horizontally extending first rotating shaft is fixed in the mounting gap. The first transmission gear is mounted on the first rotating shaft and meshes with the transmission rack. The drive shaft of the drive motor vertically passes through the upper mounting plate and extends into the mounting gap. The first bevel gear is mounted on the drive shaft, and the second bevel gear is coaxially arranged with the first transmission gear and meshes with it. Thus, by driving the baffle to move relative to the insertion opening with the drive motor, the opening and closing of the conveying port and the actual opening size can be controlled.

[0017] Furthermore, a slide bar extending along the length direction is protruding from one side of the transmission rack, and a slide rail extending along the length direction of the transmission rack is fixed on the bottom surface of the upper mounting plate. The slide bar is embedded in the slide rail and can move back and forth along the slide rail. The movement of the slide bar in the slide rail can guide the baffle, thereby enabling the baffle to move smoothly relative to the mounting opening.

[0018] Furthermore, the storage cavity is equipped with a food delivery device for conveying food to be cooked into the inner liner through the aforementioned conveying port or for conveying cooked food back into the storage cavity. This food delivery device includes...

[0019] A container is used to hold the food and can pass through the conveyor opening vertically. In the food delivery state, the container is vertically aligned with the conveyor opening.

[0020] Loading rack, used for loading the aforementioned containers, and

[0021] The food conveying mechanism is used to feed the containers on the loading rack into the inner liner through the conveying port, or to send the containers in the inner liner back to the loading rack. The food delivery device can send the food to be cooked in the storage cavity into the inner liner, or send the cooked food in the inner liner into the storage cavity for storage.

[0022] Furthermore, the container is a horizontally placed bowl. The loading rack includes a frame, a first grip, and a second grip, which respectively grip the outer periphery of the container. A first telescopic motor is horizontally mounted on the frame. A drive gear block capable of moving back and forth under the drive of the first telescopic motor is mounted on the output shaft of the first telescopic motor. Drive tooth surfaces extending along the length direction of the drive tooth block are respectively provided on both sides of the drive tooth block.

[0023] The loading frame also includes a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod corresponding to the first grip and the second grip, respectively, and a first transmission gear block and a second transmission gear block corresponding to the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, respectively. The first transmission gear block and the second transmission gear block are respectively disposed on both sides of the driving gear block. Each transmission gear block is fan-shaped, and each transmission gear block has a vertically extending second rotating shaft fixed at its end and is rotatably connected to one end of the frame body through the second rotating shaft. One end of each connecting rod is fixed to the second rotating shaft of the corresponding transmission gear block. Each transmission gear block has a transmission tooth surface along its length on its arc surface, and the transmission tooth surface of the transmission gear block meshes with the corresponding driving tooth surface. The other end of each connecting rod is rotatably connected to the corresponding grip. When the first telescopic motor drives the aforementioned drive gear block to move in one direction, it transmits the power to the first and second grips through the transmission gear blocks, causing the first and second grips to grip the container from both sides, thus achieving stable loading of the container. When the drive gear block moves in another direction, the first and second grips release the container, easily achieving unloading of the container.

[0024] Furthermore, weight sensors for detecting the weight of food placed in the container are respectively installed on the first and second grips. This allows the food in the container to be weighed, and the cooking device can cook the dish more effectively based on the obtained food weight.

[0025] Furthermore, the food conveying mechanism includes a vertically arranged second telescopic motor and a loading magnetic component that can form a magnetic connection with the container. A first mounting bracket is fixed to the upper surface of the upper mounting plate. The second telescopic motor is mounted on the first mounting bracket with its telescopic rod pointing downwards. The loading magnetic component is fixed to the free end of the telescopic rod. The connecting port and the conveying port extend horizontally outwards, forming a first notch and a second notch for the telescopic rod and the loading magnetic component to pass through. In the food delivery state, the container is unloaded from the loading rack, and a stable magnetic connection is formed between the loading magnetic component and the container. Driven by the second telescopic motor, the food to be cooked is delivered into the steaming rack inside the inner pot. When cooking is complete, the loading magnetic component re-establishes a magnetic connection with the container, and the second telescopic motor drives the container to rise and reload it onto the loading rack.

[0026] Furthermore, the loading magnetic component is an electromagnet block. The loading magnetic component can be controlled by switching on and off electricity, thereby enabling the loading magnetic component to be connected to or separated from the container as needed.

[0027] Furthermore, the food delivery device also includes a circular rotating platform, and at least two loading racks are spaced circumferentially on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating platform. At least two containers are also included, each corresponding to one of the loading racks. In the food delivery state, the corresponding loading rack rotates to above the connecting opening, with the container on the loading rack directly facing the connecting opening. This allows the storage chamber to store multiple dishes simultaneously, and multiple dishes can be ordered at the same time.

[0028] Furthermore, the rotating platform includes a circular rotating cover arranged vertically and a cylindrical fixed base. The lower end of the fixed base is closed, and a rotating motor is installed in the fixed base. A second transmission gear is horizontally mounted on the output shaft of the rotating motor, and a transmission gear ring that meshes with the second transmission gear is arranged circumferentially on the inner side of the rotating cover. This allows the corresponding dish to be rotated above the connecting opening as needed.

[0029] Furthermore, the upper end of the fixed base has radially extending sliding edges around its perimeter, and the inner surface of the rotating cover is circumferentially recessed with a groove for the sliding edges to be fitted and circumferentially slidable. This allows the rotating cover to rotate smoothly relative to the fixed base, thereby allowing each dish to rotate smoothly relative to the connecting opening.

[0030] Furthermore, the upper edge of the fixed base extends radially outward to form a mounting perimeter. Circular mounting rings are spaced at intervals on the top surface of this mounting perimeter, each ring containing a ball bearing that can roll relative to its ring. The perimeter of the mounting perimeter bends outward and upward to form the aforementioned sliding edge. The lower end of the inner side of the rotating cover is recessed outward to form a first annular groove. The side of this first annular groove has the aforementioned sliding groove circumferentially formed, and the top surface of this first annular groove is recessed upward to form a rolling groove for the upper ends of each ball bearing to be embedded and roll. This allows the rotating cover to rotate smoothly relative to the fixed base, thus facilitating the convenient rotation of the desired food item above the connecting opening.

[0031] Furthermore, each of the containers has at least two colors, and the system also includes a recognition system capable of identifying containers of different colors. This recognition system is electrically connected to the controller of the cooking device and has a camera for capturing images of each container. In this way, the recognition system can identify different dishes by their colors and thus activate the corresponding cooking mode.

[0032] Furthermore, it also includes an ejection mechanism for pushing the corresponding container out through the opening in the box where the control panel is located, thereby making it easier for users to pick up and put down the dishes.

[0033] Furthermore, the ejection mechanism is located below the aforementioned food delivery device. This mechanism includes an ejection screw extending in the front-to-back direction and an ejection motor for driving the screw to rotate. An ejection nut is threadedly connected to the ejection screw, forming a threaded transmission pair with the screw. The ejection nut is fixed to the bottom surface of the rotating platform's fixed base. Thus, the ejection motor drives the ejection screw to rotate, causing the ejection nut to move along the screw, thereby achieving the ejection and pushing of the container.

[0034] Furthermore, the rear end of the ejector screw is fixed to the output shaft of the ejector motor, and the front and rear ends of the ejector screw are rotatably mounted on the upper mounting plate via a second mounting bracket fixed to the upper surface of the upper mounting plate.

[0035] Furthermore, a guide rod extending forward and backward is fixed to the second mounting bracket, and a guide sleeve extending forward and backward and sleeved on the guide rod is fixed to the push-out nut. The guide sleeve can move forward and backward along the guide rod. This allows the entire food delivery mechanism to be smoothly pushed out and pushed in.

[0036] Furthermore, an upper heating element is installed on the upper surface of the inner pot, and a rotating mechanism is also included for driving the upper heating element to rotate up and down. In the food delivery state, the delivery port is offset from the upper heating element, thus facilitating the delivery of food to the steaming rack of the inner pot.

[0037] Furthermore, the delivery port is located at the front end of the top wall of the inner pot. The left and right sides of the rear end of the upper heating tube extend outwards in the left-right direction to form extension tubes. Each extension tube is rotatably inserted into the corresponding side wall of the inner pot, with the free end of each extension tube exposed outside the inner pot. At least one of the free ends of each extension tube is equipped with the aforementioned rotating mechanism. The front end of the upper heating tube is detachably connected to the top wall of the inner pot. In the food delivery state, the rotating mechanism drives the rear end of the upper heating tube to rotate downwards, disengaging the front end of the upper heating tube from the top wall of the inner pot. In the cooking state, the rotating mechanism drives the rear end of the upper heating tube to rotate upwards, detaching the front end of the upper heating tube from the top wall of the inner pot. This facilitates the vertical rotation of the upper heating tube while maintaining a stable connection between the upper heating tube and the top wall of the inner pot during cooking.

[0038] Furthermore, the rotating mechanism includes a rotary motor, on the output shaft of which a first transmission bevel gear is mounted, and a second transmission bevel gear meshing with the first transmission bevel gear is mounted on the free end of the corresponding extension tube. Thus, through the drive of the rotary motor and the transmission between the first and second transmission bevel gears, the upper heating tube can be smoothly rotated up and down.

[0039] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are: the vegetable storage cavity is set outside the inner pot, and the vegetable storage function does not occupy the internal space of the inner pot. Therefore, the vegetable storage function and the cooking function can be carried out simultaneously. In addition, the vegetable storage cavity can transfer heat with the inside of the inner pot. In this way, the heat inside the inner pot can be transferred to the vegetable storage cavity to keep the vegetables stored in the vegetable storage cavity warm. There is no need to set up a separate heating device. The structure is simple, environmentally friendly and has low energy consumption. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cooking device in an embodiment of the present invention (with the food delivery device not pushed out);

[0041] Figure 2 This is a partial structural diagram of the cooking device in an embodiment of the present invention (with the food delivery device not pushed out);

[0042] Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of the cooking device in an embodiment of the present invention (with the food delivery device not pushed out);

[0043] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another partial structure of the cooking device in an embodiment of the present invention (with the food delivery device not pushed out);

[0044] Figure 5 This is a partial structural diagram of the cooking device in another state in an embodiment of the present invention (with the food delivery device pushed out);

[0045] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the food delivery device in its initial state in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure from another direction;

[0047] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the food delivery device in the pushed-out state in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the food delivery device in the food delivery state in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the food delivery device in an embodiment of the present invention, showing the food being delivered or in the cooking state.

[0050] Figure 11 This is a partial structural diagram of the food delivery device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the translation mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 13 This is a cross-sectional view of the rotary table in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the loading frame in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 15 This is an exploded view of the loading frame structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the vegetable transport mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention (in its initial state);

[0056] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the vegetable transport mechanism in another state (extended state) in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0057] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0058] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Since the embodiments disclosed in this invention can be arranged in different directions, these terms indicating direction are only for illustration and should not be regarded as limitations. For example, "upper" and "lower" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity. In addition, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features.

[0059] like Figures 1-17 As shown, a cooking device (e.g., a steam oven, a regular oven, a steam oven, etc.) includes a housing 1, an inner liner 11 disposed within the housing 1, and a door 12 that can cover the front opening of the inner liner 11. Further, a storage cavity 10 for storing food is provided outside the inner liner 11, and this storage cavity 10 can transfer heat with the interior of the inner liner 11. In this invention, the storage cavity 10 is located outside the inner liner 11, and the food storage function does not occupy the internal space of the inner liner 11. Therefore, the food storage function and the cooking function can be performed simultaneously. Furthermore, the storage cavity 10 can transfer heat with the interior of the inner liner 11, so the heat inside the inner liner 11 can be transferred to the storage cavity 10 to keep the food stored in the storage cavity 10 warm. No separate heating device is required, resulting in a simple, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient structure.

[0060] The storage cavity 10 can be positioned relative to the inner liner 11 in various ways, such as above, below, to the left, behind, or on the back of the inner liner 11. Furthermore, heat transfer between the storage cavity 10 and the inner liner 11 can be achieved through various methods, such as heat conduction, heat convection, or heat radiation. In this embodiment, preferably, the top wall of the inner liner 11 has an openable and adjustable conveying port 111, through which the storage cavity 10 and the interior of the inner liner 11 are in fluid communication. This allows gas in the inner liner 11 to enter the storage cavity 10 through the conveying port 111, achieving cross-flow of air between the two. Hot air and moisture from the inner liner 11 can simultaneously enter the storage cavity 10, achieving heat preservation and moisture retention for the food stored in the storage cavity 10. Moreover, by adjusting the opening size of the conveying port 111, the temperature and humidity inside the storage cavity 10 can be adjusted, thereby achieving better food storage results. The aforementioned food storage cavity 10 is located above the aforementioned inner pot 11, and the aforementioned conveying port 111 is opened on the top wall of the inner pot 11, thereby making the internal structure of the cooking device compact. Furthermore, since the gas in the inner pot 11 has the characteristic of rising upwards, placing the food storage cavity 10 above the inner pot 11 allows the gas in the inner pot 11 to flow into the food storage cavity 10 more effectively.

[0061] Specifically, an upper mounting plate 14 is horizontally arranged above the inner liner 11. A vertically extending mounting gap is left between the lower surface of the upper mounting plate 14 and the top surface of the inner liner 11. A control panel 13, which can be flipped back and forth, is rotatably mounted on the front side of the upper mounting plate 14. The control panel 13, the upper surface of the upper mounting plate 14, and the top of the cooking device housing 1 form the food storage cavity 10. A connecting port 141 is provided on the upper mounting plate 14, which is connected to the conveying port 111 via a connecting sleeve 17. This effectively forms the structure of the food storage cavity 10 and facilitates communication between the food storage cavity 10 and the inner liner 11. Preferably, the connecting port 141 on the upper mounting plate 14 and the conveying port 111 on the inner liner 11 are vertically aligned, and the connecting sleeve 17 extends vertically. On the one hand, it allows the airflow in the inner liner 11 to enter the food storage cavity 10 more smoothly, thereby better maintaining the temperature and moisture of the food in the food storage cavity 10; on the other hand, it allows the food to be transported more smoothly through the connecting sleeve 17 during the following food delivery process. In this embodiment, preferably, the upper end of the control panel 13 is rotatably connected to the box body 1.

[0062] Furthermore, to control the opening and closing of the aforementioned conveying port 111 and the actual opening area, a horizontally extending fitting opening 171 is provided on the aforementioned connecting sleeve 17 along its circumference. A baffle 20, matching the cross-sectional size of the connecting sleeve 17 at its location, is horizontally inserted into the fitting opening 171. A translation mechanism 2 is also included to drive the baffle 20 to move horizontally relative to the fitting opening 171. The translation mechanism 2 drives the baffle 20 to move relative to the fitting opening 171, thereby enabling control of the opening and closing of the conveying port 111 and the actual opening area. Specifically, in this embodiment, the translation mechanism 2 includes a drive motor 21, a first bevel gear 22, a second bevel gear 23, and a first transmission gear 24. One end of the baffle 20 is fixed with a transmission rack 25 extending along its moving direction. The drive motor 21 is mounted on the upper surface of the upper mounting plate 14. A horizontally extending first rotating shaft 26 is fixed in the mounting gap. The first transmission gear 24 is mounted on the first rotating shaft 26 and meshes with the transmission rack 25. The drive shaft of the drive motor 21 vertically passes through the upper mounting plate 14 and extends into the mounting gap. The first bevel gear 22 is mounted on the drive shaft, while the second bevel gear 23 is coaxially arranged with the transmission gear 24 and meshes with the first bevel gear 22. Thus, by driving the baffle 20 relative to the insertion port 171 with the drive motor 21, the opening and closing of the conveying port 111 and the actual opening area size can be controlled. Preferably, a slide bar 251 extending along the length direction is protruding from one side of the aforementioned transmission rack 25, and a slide rail 27 extending along the length direction of the transmission rack 25 is fixed on the bottom surface of the aforementioned upper mounting plate 14. The slide bar 251 is embedded in the slide rail 27 and can move back and forth along the slide rail 27. The movement of the slide bar 251 in the slide rail 27 can guide the baffle 20, thereby enabling the baffle 20 to move smoothly relative to the mounting opening 171.

[0063] The cooking device of this invention, in addition to the aforementioned heat preservation and moisture retention for food storage, also features a food reservation function. When the food reservation function is activated, the food in the storage cavity 10 can be sent into the inner pot 11 for cooking. Therefore, the storage cavity 10 is equipped with a food delivery device 3 for transferring food to be cooked into the inner pot 11 through the aforementioned conveying port 111 or for transferring cooked food back to the storage cavity 10. The food delivery device 3 includes a container 31, a loading rack 4, and a food transport mechanism 32. The container 31 is used to hold the food and can pass vertically through the aforementioned conveying port 111. In the food delivery state, the container 31 is vertically aligned with the aforementioned conveying port 111. The loading rack 4 is used to load the aforementioned container 31, and the food transport mechanism 32 is used to send the aforementioned container 31 on the loading rack 4 into the inner pot 11 through the aforementioned conveying port 111, or to send the aforementioned container 31 in the inner pot 11 back to the loading rack 4. In this way, the food to be cooked in the food storage cavity 10 can be sent into the inner pot 11 through the food delivery device 3, or the cooked food in the inner pot 11 can be sent into the food storage cavity 10 for storage.

[0064] In this embodiment, specifically, the container 31 is a horizontally placed bowl, and the loading rack 4 includes a frame 41, a first grip 42, and a second grip 43. The first grip 42 and the second grip 43 respectively hold the outer periphery of the container 31 on both sides. A first telescopic motor 44 is horizontally mounted on the frame 41. A drive tooth block 441 that can move back and forth under the drive of the first telescopic motor 44 is mounted on the output shaft of the first telescopic motor 44. Drive tooth surfaces 4411 extending along the length direction of the drive tooth block 441 are respectively provided on both sides of the drive tooth block 441. The loading frame 4 also includes a first connecting rod 451 and a second connecting rod 452 corresponding to the first grip 42 and the second grip 43, respectively, and a first transmission gear block 461 and a second transmission gear block 462 corresponding to the first connecting rod 451 and the second connecting rod 452, respectively. The first transmission gear block 461 and the second transmission gear block 462 are respectively disposed on both sides of the driving gear block 441. The shape of each transmission gear block is fan-shaped, and the end of each transmission gear block is fixed with a vertically extending second rotating shaft 48 and is rotatably connected to one end of the frame 41 through the second rotating shaft 48. One end of each connecting rod is fixed to the second rotating shaft 48 of the corresponding transmission gear block. The arc surface of each transmission gear block is provided with a transmission tooth surface 463 along its length direction, and the transmission tooth surface 463 of each transmission gear block meshes with the corresponding driving tooth surface 4411. The other end of each connecting rod is rotatably connected to the corresponding grip. When the first telescopic motor 44 drives the drive gear 441 to move in one direction, the drive gears transmit power to the first grip 42 and the second grip 43, which grip the container 31 from both sides, thus achieving stable loading of the container 31. When the drive gear 441 moves in another direction, the first grip 42 and the second grip 43 release the container 31, easily unloading the container 31.

[0065] Preferably, the loading frame 4 further includes a first auxiliary link 453 and a second auxiliary link 454 corresponding to the first link 451 and the second link 452 respectively. The first auxiliary link 453 is located outside and parallel to the first link 451, with one end pivotally connected to the first grip 42 and the other end pivotally connected to one end of the frame 41. Similarly, the second auxiliary link 454 is located outside and parallel to the second link 452, with one end pivotally connected to the second grip 43 and the other end pivotally connected to the other end of the frame 41. This allows each transmission gear block to drive the corresponding grip movement more smoothly. In this embodiment, the free end of each grip has an arc-shaped handle 49 that matches the outer surface of the corresponding side of the container 31. Furthermore, each grip handle 49 is equipped with a weight sensor 47 for detecting the weight of the food placed in the container 31, thereby enabling the food in the container 31 to be weighed and the cooking device to cook the dish better based on the obtained food weight.

[0066] In this embodiment, the food conveying mechanism 32 includes a vertically arranged second telescopic motor 322 and a loading magnetic component 324 that can form a magnetic connection with the container 31. A first mounting bracket 321 is fixed on the upper surface of the upper mounting plate 14. The second telescopic motor 322 is mounted on the first mounting bracket 321 with its telescopic rod pointing downwards. The loading magnetic component 324 is fixed to the free end of the telescopic rod. The connecting port 141 and the conveying port 111 extend horizontally outwards to form a first notch 1411 and a second notch 1111 for the telescopic rod and the loading magnetic component 324 to pass through. In the food delivery state, the container 31 is unloaded from the loading rack 4, and at the same time, a stable magnetic connection is formed between the loading magnetic component 324 and the container 31. Driven by the second telescopic motor 322, the food to be cooked is delivered into the steaming rack 16 inside the inner pot 11. When cooking is complete, the magnetic component 324 re-establishes a magnetic connection with the container 31, and the second telescopic motor 322 drives the container 31 to rise and be reloaded onto the loading rack 4.

[0067] Preferably, the lower end of the second telescopic motor 322 is fixed with an upward-bent mounting base 323. The loading magnetic component 324 is a block and fixed to the upper end of the mounting base 323, facing the communication port 141. Simultaneously, the loading magnetic component 324 has a magnetic attraction surface 3241 that can adhere to the outer surface of the container 31, thereby enabling more stable magnetic attraction of the container 31. More preferably, in this embodiment, the loading magnetic component 324 is an electromagnet block, which can be controlled by switching on and off power to connect or separate the loading magnetic component 324 from the container 31 as needed.

[0068] Furthermore, the aforementioned food delivery device 3 also includes a circular rotating platform 33, and at least two loading racks 4 are spaced circumferentially on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating platform 33. At least two containers 31 are also included, each corresponding to one of the loading racks 4. In the food delivery state, the corresponding loading rack 4 rotates to above the connecting opening 141, with the containers 31 on the loading rack 4 vertically aligned with the connecting opening 141. Thus, the food storage cavity 10 can simultaneously store multiple dishes and simultaneously schedule multiple dishes. In this embodiment, there are four loading racks 4, so this embodiment can store up to four dishes simultaneously and simultaneously schedule the cooking of up to four dishes.

[0069] Furthermore, the aforementioned rotating platform 33 includes a circular rotating cover 331 arranged vertically and a cylindrical fixed base 332. The lower end of the fixed base 332 is closed, and a rotating motor 333 is installed in the fixed base 332. A second transmission gear 3331 is horizontally mounted on the output shaft of the rotating motor 333. A transmission gear ring 3311 that meshes with the second transmission gear 3331 is provided circumferentially on the inner side of the rotating cover 331, thereby allowing the corresponding dish to be rotated above the connecting opening 141 as needed. Preferably, the upper end of the fixed base 332 has radially extending sliding edges 3321 around its perimeter, and the inner side of the rotating cover 331 is recessed circumferentially for the sliding edges 3321 to be fitted and slide circumferentially, thereby allowing the rotating cover 331 to rotate smoothly relative to the fixed base 332, and thus allowing each dish to rotate smoothly relative to the connecting opening 141. More preferably, the upper edge of the fixed base 332 extends radially outward in the circumferential direction to form a mounting perimeter 3322. The top surface of the mounting perimeter 3322 is provided with circular mounting rings 3323 spaced apart in the circumferential direction. Each mounting ring 3323 is fitted with a ball 3324 that can roll relative to the mounting ring 3323 in which it is located. The periphery of the mounting perimeter 3322 bends outward and upward in the circumferential direction to form the sliding edge 3321. The lower end of the inner side surface of the rotating cover 331 is recessed outward in the circumferential direction to form a first annular groove 331a. The upper side surface of the first annular groove 331a is provided with the sliding groove 3312 in the circumferential direction. The top surface of the first annular groove 331a is recessed upward to form a rolling groove 331b for the upper end of each ball 3324 to be fitted and roll. This allows the rotating cover 331 to rotate smoothly relative to the fixed base 332, thereby making it convenient to rotate the desired dishes to the top of the connecting port 141.

[0070] In this embodiment, the four containers 31 are all different colors, and a recognition system (not shown) is also included to identify the different colored containers 31. This recognition system is electrically connected to the controller (not shown) of the cooking device and has a camera 3211 for capturing images of each container 31. Thus, the recognition system can identify different dishes by their different colors and activate the corresponding cooking mode. Preferably, in this embodiment, the second mounting bracket 54 is a gate-shaped bracket, and the camera 3211 is mounted on the top surface of the second mounting bracket 54, thereby better capturing images of the containers 31 rotated to the connecting opening 141, and thus better capturing the color of the container 31 containing the dish to be cooked.

[0071] Furthermore, to facilitate the user's loading and unloading of food, the cooking device in this embodiment also includes a pushing mechanism 5 for pushing the corresponding container 31 out through the opening of the housing 1 where the control panel 13 is located. Specifically, the pushing mechanism 5 is located below the food delivery device 3. The pushing mechanism 5 includes a pushing screw 52 extending in the front-rear direction and a pushing motor 51 for driving the pushing screw 52 to rotate. A pushing nut 53 is threadedly connected to the pushing screw 52. The pushing nut 53 and the pushing screw 52 form a threaded transmission pair, and the pushing nut 53 is fixed to the bottom surface of the fixed seat 332 of the rotating table 33. In this way, the pushing motor 51 drives the pushing screw 52 to rotate, realizing the movement of the pushing nut 53 along the pushing screw 52, ​​thereby realizing the pushing out and pushing in of the container 31. Preferably, the rear end of the pushing screw 52 is fixed on the output shaft of the pushing motor 51, and the front and rear ends of the pushing screw 52 are rotatably mounted on the upper mounting plate 14 through a second mounting bracket 54 fixed on the upper surface of the upper mounting plate 14. Furthermore, a guide rod 56 extending forward and backward is fixed on the second mounting bracket 54, and a guide sleeve 55 extending forward and backward and sleeved on the guide rod 56 is fixed on the push-out nut 53. The guide sleeve 55 can move forward and backward along the guide rod 56. This allows the entire food delivery mechanism to be smoothly pushed out and pushed in.

[0072] An upper heating tube 15 is installed on the upper surface of the inner pot 11. To facilitate the upper heating tube 15 interfering with the conveying of food into the inner pot 11, the cooking device also includes a rotating mechanism 6 for driving the upper heating tube 15 to rotate up and down. In the food delivery state, the conveying port 111 is offset from the upper heating tube 15, thereby facilitating the delivery of food to the steam rack 16 of the inner pot 11. Furthermore, the conveying port 111 is located at the front end of the top wall of the inner pot 11. The front end of the upper heating tube 15 is fixed by a buckle seat 112 fixed to the inner top surface of the inner pot 11. The left and right sides of the rear end of the upper heating tube 15 extend outward in the left and right directions to form extension tubes 151. Each extension tube 151 is rotatably inserted into the corresponding side wall of the inner pot 11, and the free end of each extension tube 151 is exposed outside the inner pot 11. The rotating mechanism 6 is provided at one of the free ends of each extension tube 151. In the food delivery state, the aforementioned rotating mechanism 6 drives the rear end of the upper heating tube 15 to rotate downwards, causing the front end of the upper heating tube 15 to disengage from the top wall of the inner pot 11. In the cooking state, the aforementioned rotating mechanism 6 drives the rear end of the upper heating tube 15 to rotate upwards, causing the front end of the upper heating tube 15 to engage with the aforementioned latching seat 112 from bottom to top. This facilitates the vertical rotation of the upper heating tube 15 and ensures a stable connection between the upper heating tube 15 and the top wall of the inner pot 11 in the cooking state. Specifically, the aforementioned rotating mechanism 6 includes a rotary motor 61, on which a first transmission bevel gear 62 is mounted, and a second transmission bevel gear 63 meshing with the first transmission bevel gear 62 is mounted on the free end of the corresponding extension tube 151. Thus, through the drive of the rotary motor 61 and the transmission of the first transmission bevel gear 62 and the second transmission bevel gear 63, the smooth vertical rotation of the upper heating tube 15 can be achieved.

[0073] The working process of this invention is as follows:

[0074] With the food delivery device 3 extended, the user places the food into the corresponding container 31 (in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating table 33). The pushing mechanism 5 pushes the food delivery device 3 into the storage cavity 10, and the control panel 13 returns to its vertical position, closing the storage cavity 10. The rotating table 33 rotates, placing the corresponding container 31 above the connecting port 141. The translation mechanism 2 drives the baffle 20 to translate, fully opening the connecting port 141. Simultaneously, the rotation mechanism 6 drives the upper heating tube 15 to rotate downwards, causing the upper heating tube 15 to be offset from the conveying port 111. The loading rack 4 unloads the container 31, forming a magnetic connection between the container 31 and the loading magnetic suction component 324 of the food transport mechanism 32. The second telescopic motor 322 sends the container 31 downwards through the conveying port 111 into the inner liner 11. During transport, the loading magnetic suction component 324 remains magnetically connected to the container 31, and the container 31 remains horizontal at all times. When container 31 is transported onto the steam rack 16, the loading magnetic connector 324 is de-energized, detaching container 31 from the magnetic connector 324. The second telescopic motor 322 resets, the upper heating element 15 resets, and simultaneously, the baffle 20, driven by the translation mechanism 2, closes the connection port 141 again, and the cooking device enters the cooking state. Specifically, when container 31 is above the connection port 141, the camera 3211 on the first mounting bracket 321 captures an image of container 31. The recognition system identifies the color of container 31 and transmits this information to the controller, which then activates the corresponding cooking mode based on the color of container 31.

[0075] When the first dish is cooked, the translation mechanism 2 drives the baffle 20 to open the conveyor port 111. At the same time, the upper heating tube 15 rotates downwards to offset itself from the conveyor port 111. The second telescopic motor 322 drives the loading magnetic component 324 into the inner liner 11 and magnetically connects it securely to the container 31. Then, the container 31 is moved upwards out of the inner liner 11. When the container 31 is transported to the preset position above the connecting port 141, the first grip 42 and the second grip 43 of the loading rack 4 re-grip the container 31. To cook the second dish, the above operation is repeated.

[0076] When all the dishes are cooked, the cooked dishes are temporarily stored in the storage chamber 10. During the storage process, the actual opening area of ​​the conveying port 111 can be adjusted by controlling the movement of the baffle 20, thereby adjusting the temperature and humidity inside the storage chamber.

[0077] The term "fluid connectivity" as used in this invention refers to the spatial relationship between two components or parts (hereinafter referred to as the first part and the second part, respectively), that is, a fluid (gas, liquid, or a mixture of both) can flow from the first part along a flow path and / or be transported to the second part. This can be a direct connection between the first part and the second part, or an indirect connection between the first part and the second part through at least one third party. This third party can be a fluid channel such as a pipe, channel, conduit, guide, hole, or groove, or a chamber that allows fluid to flow through, or a combination of the above.

Claims

1. A cooking device with a food storage function, comprising an inner pot (11), characterized in that, Outside the inner liner (11), there is a food storage cavity (10) for storing food. This food storage cavity (10) can transfer heat with the inside of the inner liner (11). The inner liner (11) has an opening (111) on its wall that can be opened and closed and whose actual opening area is adjustable. The storage cavity (10) and the interior of the inner liner (11) are in fluid communication through the opening (111). The storage cavity (10) is located above the inner liner (11), and the conveying port (111) is located on the top wall of the inner liner (11). An upper mounting plate (14) is horizontally arranged above the inner liner (11). The lower surface of the upper mounting plate (14) and the top surface of the inner liner (11) are provided with an installation gap extending vertically. A control panel (13) that can be flipped back and forth is rotatably mounted on the front side of the upper mounting plate (14). The control panel (13), the upper surface of the upper mounting plate (14), and the top of the housing (1) of the cooking device form the storage cavity (10). A connecting port (141) is provided on the upper mounting plate (14). The connecting port (141) is connected to the conveying port (111) through a connecting sleeve (17).

2. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting port (141) on the upper mounting plate (14) is directly opposite the conveying port (111) on the inner liner (11), and the connecting sleeve (17) extends vertically.

3. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting sleeve (17) has a horizontally extending insertion port (171) along the circumferential direction. A baffle (20) matching the cross-sectional size of the connecting sleeve (17) at its location is horizontally inserted into the insertion port (171). The device also includes a translation mechanism (2) for driving the baffle (20) to move horizontally relative to the insertion port (171).

4. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The translation mechanism (2) includes a drive motor (21), a first bevel gear (22), a second bevel gear (23), and a first transmission gear (24). One end of the baffle (20) is fixed with a transmission rack (25) extending along its moving direction. The drive motor (21) is mounted on the upper surface of the upper mounting plate (14). A horizontally extending first rotating shaft (26) is fixed in the mounting gap. The first transmission gear (24) is mounted on the first rotating shaft (26) and meshes with the transmission rack (25). The drive shaft of the drive motor (21) passes vertically through the upper mounting plate (14) and extends into the mounting gap. The first bevel gear (22) is mounted on the drive shaft. The second bevel gear (23) is coaxially arranged with the first transmission gear (24) and meshes with the first bevel gear (22).

5. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The transmission rack (25) has a slide bar (251) protruding from one side and extending along its length direction. The upper mounting plate (14) has a slide rail (27) extending along the length direction of the transmission rack (25) fixed on its bottom surface. The slide bar (251) is embedded in the slide rail (27) and can move back and forth along the slide rail (27).

6. The cooking apparatus with food storage function as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The storage cavity (10) is equipped with a food delivery device (3) for transferring food to be cooked into the inner liner (11) through the conveying port (111) or for transferring cooked food back into the storage cavity (10). The food delivery device (3) includes... A container (31) is used to hold the food and can pass through the conveyor opening (111) vertically. In the food delivery state, the container (31) is vertically aligned with the conveyor opening (111). Loading rack (4), for loading the aforementioned container (31), and The vegetable transport mechanism (32) is used to send the container (31) on the loading rack (4) into the inner liner (11) through the conveying port (111), or to send the container (31) in the inner liner (11) back to the loading rack (4).

7. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The container (31) is a horizontally placed bowl. The loading rack (4) includes a frame (41), a first grip (42), and a second grip (43). The first grip (42) and the second grip (43) respectively hold the outer periphery of the container (31). A first telescopic motor (44) is horizontally mounted on the frame (41). A drive tooth block (441) that can move back and forth under the drive of the first telescopic motor (44) is mounted on the output shaft of the first telescopic motor (44). Drive tooth surfaces (4411) extending along the length direction of the drive tooth block (441) are respectively provided on both sides of the drive tooth block (441). The loading frame (4) further includes a first connecting rod (451) and a second connecting rod (452) corresponding to the first grip (42) and the second grip (43) respectively, and a first transmission gear block (461) and a second transmission gear block (462) corresponding to the first connecting rod (451) and the second connecting rod (452) respectively. The first transmission gear block (461) and the second transmission gear block (462) are respectively arranged on both sides of the drive gear block (441). The shape of each transmission gear block is fan-shaped, and each transmission gear block is fan-shaped. The ends of the moving tooth blocks are respectively fixed with vertically extending second rotating shafts (48) and are rotatably connected to one end of the frame (41) through the second rotating shafts (48). One end of each connecting rod is fixed to the second rotating shaft (48) of the corresponding transmission tooth block. Each transmission tooth block has a transmission tooth surface (463) along its length direction on its arc surface, and the transmission tooth surface (463) of each transmission tooth block meshes with the corresponding drive tooth surface (4411). The other end of each connecting rod is rotatably connected to the corresponding grip.

8. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The first grip (42) and the second grip (43) are respectively equipped with weight sensors (47) for detecting the weight of food placed in the container (31).

9. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The vegetable transport mechanism (32) includes a vertically arranged second telescopic motor (322) and a loading magnetic component (324) that can form a magnetic connection with the container (31). A first mounting bracket (321) is fixed on the upper surface of the upper mounting plate (14). The second telescopic motor (322) is mounted on the first mounting bracket (321) with the telescopic rod of the second telescopic motor (322) pointing downward. The loading magnetic component (324) is fixed to the free end of the telescopic rod. The connecting port (141) and the conveying port (111) extend horizontally outward to form a first notch (1411) and a second notch (1111) for the telescopic rod and the loading magnetic component (324) to pass through.

10. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The magnetic loading component (324) is an electromagnet block.

11. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The food delivery device (3) also includes a circular rotating platform (33), and the loading racks (4) are at least two and are spaced apart on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating platform (33). The containers (31) are also at least two and correspond one-to-one with the loading racks (4). In the food delivery state, the corresponding loading rack (4) rotates to the top of the connecting port (141) and the containers (31) on the loading rack (4) are vertically aligned with the connecting port (141).

12. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The rotating platform (33) includes a circular rotating cover (331) arranged vertically and a cylindrical fixed base (332). The lower end of the fixed base (332) is closed, and a rotating motor (333) is installed in the fixed base (332). A second transmission gear (3331) is horizontally mounted on the output shaft of the rotating motor (333). A transmission gear ring (3311) that meshes with the second transmission gear (3331) is arranged circumferentially on the inner side of the rotating cover (331).

13. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The upper end of the fixed base (332) has radially extending sliding edges (3321) around its perimeter, and the inner side of the rotating cover (331) is provided with a groove (3312) for the sliding edges (3321) to be fitted and slide circumferentially.

14. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The upper edge of the fixed base (332) extends radially outward in the circumferential direction to form a mounting perimeter (3322). The top surface of the mounting perimeter (3322) is provided with circular mounting rings (3323) spaced apart in the circumferential direction. Each mounting ring (3323) is fitted with a ball (3324) that can roll relative to the mounting ring (3323) in which it is located. The periphery of the mounting perimeter (3322) bends outward and upward in the circumferential direction to form the sliding edge (3321). The lower end of the inner side of the rotating cover (331) is recessed outward in the circumferential direction to form a first annular groove (331a). The side of the first annular groove (331a) is provided with the sliding groove (3312) in the circumferential direction. The top surface of the first annular groove (331a) is recessed upward to form a rolling groove (331b) for the upper end of each ball (3324) to be fitted and roll.

15. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 11, characterized in that, Each of the containers (31) has at least two colors, and includes an identification system that can identify containers (31) of different colors. The identification system is electrically connected to the controller of the cooking device and has a camera (3211) for taking pictures of each container (31).

16. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 12, characterized in that, It also includes an ejection mechanism (5) for ejecting the corresponding container (31) through the opening of the box (1) where the control panel (13) is located.

17. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The pushing mechanism (5) is located below the above-mentioned food delivery device (3). The pushing mechanism (5) includes a pushing screw (52) extending in the front-back direction and a pushing motor (51) for driving the pushing screw (52) to rotate. A pushing nut (53) is threadedly connected to the pushing screw (52). The pushing nut (53) and the pushing screw (52) constitute a threaded transmission pair. The pushing nut (53) is fixed to the bottom surface of the fixed seat (332) of the above-mentioned rotating table (33).

18. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 17, characterized in that, The rear end of the ejector screw (52) is fixed to the output shaft of the ejector motor (51), and the front and rear ends of the ejector screw (52) are rotatably mounted on the upper mounting plate (14) via a second mounting bracket (54) fixed to the upper surface of the upper mounting plate (14). Furthermore, a guide rod (56) extending forward and backward is fixed on the second mounting bracket (54), and a guide sleeve (55) extending forward and backward and sleeved on the guide rod (56) is fixed on the push-out nut (53). The guide sleeve (55) can move forward and backward along the guide rod (56).

19. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The inner liner (11) is equipped with an upper heating tube (15) on its upper surface, and also includes a rotating mechanism (6) for driving the upper heating tube (15) to rotate up and down. In the food delivery state, the above-mentioned delivery port (111) is offset from the upper heating tube (15).

20. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 19, characterized in that, The delivery port (111) is located at the front end of the top wall of the inner pot (11). The left and right sides of the rear end of the upper heating tube (15) extend outward in the left and right directions to form extension tubes (151). Each extension tube (151) is rotatably inserted into the corresponding side wall of the inner pot (11). The free ends of each extension tube (151) are exposed outside the inner pot (11). At least one of the free ends of each extension tube (151) is provided with the above-mentioned rotating mechanism (6). The front end of the upper heating tube (15) is detachably connected to the top wall of the inner pot (11). In the food delivery state, the above-mentioned rotating mechanism (6) drives the rear end of the upper heating tube (15) to rotate downward so that the front end of the upper heating tube (15) is separated from the top wall of the inner pot (11). In the cooking state, the above-mentioned rotating mechanism (6) drives the rear end of the upper heating tube (15) to rotate upward so that the front end of the upper heating tube (15) is detachably connected to the top wall of the inner pot (11).

21. The cooking device with food storage function as described in claim 20, characterized in that, The rotating mechanism (6) includes a rotary motor (61), on the output shaft of which a first transmission bevel gear (62) is mounted, and a second transmission bevel gear (63) that meshes with the first transmission bevel gear (62) is mounted on the free end of the corresponding extension tube (151).

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