food processor

Abstract

A food processor comprises a casing unit, a heating unit arranged in the casing unit, and a pot unit located below the heating unit. The casing unit comprises a shell and a container box mounted on the shell. The pot unit can be pulled out and mounted on the shell, and defines a container space suitable for accommodating food ingredients, and a liquid outlet suitable for allowing liquid produced by the food ingredients to flow from the bottom of the container space into the container box. The heating unit can provide hot air flow and is suitable for heating the food ingredients located in the pot unit. The container box can be pulled out and mounted on the shell relative to the shell. Since the container box adopts a drawer-like pull-out and plug-in design, it can be pulled out relative to the shell to pour liquid or clean it, and it is quite easy to assemble and disassemble, which is conducive to ensuring hygiene and safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance for cooking food, and in particular to a food processor capable of air-frying ingredients into food using a hot air flow. Background Art

[0002] Currently available air fryers generally include a casing unit, a pot body unit that is removably mounted in the casing unit, and a heating unit that is mounted in the casing unit and located above the pot body unit.

[0003] The pot unit can be drawn out relative to the housing unit to accommodate food, so that when the pot unit and the housing unit are clamped together, the food can be fried into food by the hot air flow (hot air) provided by the heating unit.

[0004] During the cooking process of such conventional food processors, the fat and water contained in the ingredients will flow out and accumulate at the bottom of the pot unit. The excess water and fat may not only affect the taste, but also generate additional fumes when the fat is heated again after flowing out.

[0005] One current solution is to install a drain port at the bottom of the pot unit to drain water and grease, and to use a container mounted on the housing unit to store the drained water and grease. While this design can solve the problem of water and grease remaining in the pot unit, the container is difficult to remove from the housing unit for cleaning, which is inconvenient and needs further improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a food processor that can solve at least one problem of the background technology.

[0007] The food processor of the present invention includes a casing unit, a heating unit arranged in the casing unit, and a pot unit located below the heating unit. The casing unit includes a shell and a container box installed in the shell. The pot unit can be pulled out and clamped in the shell, and defines a container space suitable for accommodating food, and a liquid outlet suitable for allowing liquid generated by the food to flow from the bottom of the container space into the container box. The heating unit can provide a hot air flow and is suitable for heating the food located in the pot unit. The container box can be pulled out and clamped in the shell relative to the shell.

[0008] In the food processor of the present invention, the pot body unit includes a pot body defining the accommodating space and the liquid outlet, and the pot body includes a pot bottom wall extending downwardly and surrounding the liquid outlet.

[0009] The food processor described in the present invention has the pot body unit that can be pushed backward and snapped into the shell, or pulled forward and detached from the shell, thereby being able to switch between a snap-in position and a detached position. The food processor also includes a valve body unit arranged at the liquid outlet, and the valve body unit can switch between an open state and a closed state. When the pot body unit is in the snap-in position, the valve body unit is in the open state and allows the liquid to flow into the containing box from the liquid outlet. When the pot body unit is in the detached position, the valve body unit is in the closed state and does not allow the liquid to flow out of the liquid outlet.

[0010] The food processor described in the present invention, the casing unit also includes at least one block protruding forward from the shell and positioned lower than the liquid outlet, the valve body unit includes a valve body combination pivotally connected to the pot body unit and capable of pivoting up and down relative to the pot body unit, and an elastic force combination located between the valve body combination and the pot body unit above and below. When the pot body unit is pushed backward, the valve body combination can be pressed by the at least one block to pivot downward and squeeze the elastic force combination, and the valve body unit is transformed into the open state. When the pot body unit is pulled forward, the valve body combination can be supported by the elastic force combination to pivot upward, and the valve body unit is transformed into the closed state.

[0011] The food processor described in the present invention, the pot body unit also includes a pot body that defines the accommodating space and the liquid outlet, and a support seat extending to the bottom of the pot body, the valve body assembly is pivotally connected to the support seat axially left and right, and is located between the pot body and the support seat above and below, the elastic force assembly is located between the valve body assembly and the support seat above and below, when the pot body unit is in the clamping position, the valve body assembly is clamped under the at least one clamping block without closing the liquid outlet, and squeezes the elastic force assembly downward, when the pot body unit is in the disengaged position, the elastic force assembly pushes upward against the valve body assembly, so that the valve body assembly closes the liquid outlet.

[0012] The food processor described in the present invention, the pot body unit also includes a wall body installed in front of the pot body, the support seat includes a straight seat wall extending downward from the rear of the wall body, a horizontal seat wall extending backward from the straight seat wall to below the valve body assembly, and two side seat walls extending upward from the left and right sides of the horizontal seat wall respectively, the valve body assembly is pivotally connected between the side seat walls, and the elastic force assembly is located between the valve body assembly and the horizontal seat wall.

[0013] The food processor described in the present invention, the valve body assembly includes a valve shaft pivotally arranged axially left and right on the support seat, a valve member sleeved on the valve shaft and capable of pivoting up and down, and a valve sleeve arranged on the valve member and made of soft material. When the valve body unit is in the open state, the valve sleeve does not close the liquid outlet. When the valve body unit is in the closed state, the valve sleeve plugs the liquid outlet and closes the liquid outlet.

[0014] The food processor described in the present invention, the valve component includes a main valve wall extending rearward from the valve shaft and on which the valve sleeve is set, an extended valve wall extending obliquely rearward and downward from the main valve wall and clamped under the at least one clamping block of the housing unit, and two side valve walls extending upward from the main valve wall and the extended valve wall and spaced left and right from each other and located on the left and right sides of the valve sleeve, the side valve walls, the main valve wall and the extended valve wall being suitable for cooperating to guide the liquid flowing out of the liquid outlet to the containing box.

[0015] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the container box adopts a drawer-like design that can be pulled out and snapped in, and can be pulled out relative to the shell to pour liquid or clean it, and is quite easy to disassemble and assemble, which is conducive to ensuring hygiene and safety. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a food processor according to the present invention, wherein a pot unit of the embodiment is in a snap-fit ​​position;

[0017] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the embodiment, showing the pot unit in a disengaged position;

[0019] Figure 4 is an incomplete cross-sectional view illustrating that the pot unit is in the clamping position, and a valve unit of the embodiment is in an open state;

[0020] Figure 5 It is an incomplete exploded perspective view, which magnifies and illustrates the local structure of the embodiment;

[0021] Figure 6 It is an incomplete cross-sectional view, illustrating that the pot body unit is in the disengaged position and the valve body unit is in a closed state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] See Figures 1 to 3 An embodiment of the food processor of the present invention is a so-called air fryer, comprising a housing unit 1, a heating unit 2 (see FIG. Figure 2 ), a pot body unit 3 which can be withdrawably mounted on the casing unit 1 and is located below the heating unit 2, and a valve body unit 4 installed at the bottom of the pot body unit 3.

[0023] In the following description, the moving direction of the pot unit 3 when being pulled out relative to the housing unit 1 is defined as the front, and the moving direction of the pot unit 3 when being inserted into the housing unit 1 is defined as the rear, as a reference for the front and rear directions in the subsequent description.

[0024] See Figures 3 to 5 The housing unit 1 includes a housing 11 with an opening facing forward, a container box 12 mounted at the bottom of the housing 11, and two card blocks 13 protruding forward from the housing 11 (see Figure 5 ).

[0025] The housing 11 includes a top wall 14 (see Supplementary Reference) spaced apart from each other. Figure 1 ) and a shell bottom 15, a shell side wall 16 extending upward from the shell bottom 15 and defining a card interface 161 located in the front, and a shell surrounding wall 17 that is annular and integrally connected between the shell top wall 14 and the shell side wall 16 above and below.

[0026] The upper half of the bottom portion 15 of the housing is formed with a movable groove 151 (see FIG. Figure 5 ), the lower half is formed with a rail groove 152 (see FIG. Figure 3 ), and form a channel 153 extending up and down and communicating between the movable groove 151 and the rail groove 152 up and down.

[0027] The movable groove 151 is used to accommodate the valve body unit 4 and provide a movable space for the valve body unit 4 when the pot unit 3 moves forward and backward relative to the housing unit 1 and drives the valve body unit 4 to move forward and backward.

[0028] The housing bottom 15 also includes a plurality of guide blocks 154 positioned within the rail groove 152. The guide blocks 154 are arranged in groups of two at intervals along the length of the rail groove 152. The guide blocks 154 in each group are positioned on opposite sides of the rail groove 152 in the width direction. The guide blocks 154 cooperate to form a guide rail that supports and guides the container box 12.

[0029] The container box 12 includes a liquid storage portion 121 extending along the length of the rail groove 152, and a handle portion 122 extending along the outer edge of the shell bottom 15. The liquid storage portion 121 is suitable for storing liquid. The handle portion 122 is suitable for allowing a user to remove the container box 12 from the shell 11 or insert the container box 12 into the shell 11, and is adapted to form a complete bottom shell shape with the shell bottom 15.

[0030] The blocks 13 are located at the end of the rail groove 152 and are spaced apart from each other. Each block 13 is roughly in the shape of an inverted right-angled trapezoid with horizontal upper and lower bases and a tip protruding forward.

[0031] See Figure 2 The heating unit 2 is disposed inside the housing wall 17 of the housing 11 and includes components such as a fan and a heating coil to provide a hot air flow (hot air) suitable for heating the food contained in the pot unit 3. Since the structure of the heating unit 2 is well known, a detailed structural diagram and description are omitted.

[0032] See Figures 3 to 5 The pot unit 3 can be withdrawably mounted in front of the shell side wall 16 of the shell 11 and includes a wall 31 (see FIG. Figure 3 ), a pot body 32 arranged behind the wall body 31 and used to accommodate the ingredients, a handle 33 assembled in front of the wall body 31 and in an inverted L shape, and a support base 34 extending from the wall body 31 to the bottom of the pot body 32.

[0033] The wall 31 can cover and seal the card interface 161 , and cooperate with the housing 11 to form a complete shell shape.

[0034] The pot body 32 includes a container space 321 (see Figure 4 ) a pot wall 322 and a pot bottom wall 323. The accommodating space 321 is suitable for accommodating the pot to be heated by the heating unit 2 (see Figure 2 ) to heat the food. The pot bottom wall 323 is higher than the block 13 of the housing unit 1 and surrounds a liquid outlet 324 located on one of the left and right sides of the front. The pot bottom wall 323 extends slightly downward from the diagonal angle of the liquid outlet 324 toward the liquid outlet 324, and the extension is sufficient to allow liquids such as water or oil generated by the food to flow and concentrate toward the liquid outlet 324. The liquid outlet 324 is located above the valve body unit 4 and higher than the block 13, and allows the liquid flowing and concentrating at the liquid outlet 324 to flow downward from the bottom of the accommodating space 321.

[0035] The support seat 34 includes a straight seat wall 341 extending downward from the rear of the wall body 31, a horizontal seat wall 342 extending backward from the straight seat wall 341, two side seat walls 343 extending upward from the left and right sides of the horizontal seat wall 342, and two positioning columns 344 spaced apart on the left and right and protruding upward from the rear end of the horizontal seat wall 342.

[0036] The valve unit 4 includes a valve assembly 41 located below the liquid outlet 324 of the pot body 32 and pivotally connected to the support seat 34, and a spring assembly 42 located above and below the valve assembly 41 and the support seat 34. The transverse seat wall 342 extends rearward from the vertical seat wall 341 and extends below the valve assembly 41.

[0037] The valve body assembly 41 includes a valve shaft 43 pivotally arranged axially left and right between the side seat walls 343 of the support seat 34, a valve member 44 that is sleeved on the valve shaft 43 and can pivot up and down with the valve shaft 43 as the pivot center, and a valve sleeve 45 that is sleeved on the valve member 44 and is made of soft material and has a cap shape.

[0038] The valve component 44 includes a main valve wall 441 extending rearward from the valve shaft 43 and for the valve sleeve 45 to be set, an extended valve wall 442 extending obliquely rearward and downward from the main valve wall 441, and two side valve walls 443 extending upward from the main valve wall 441 and the extended valve wall 442 and spaced apart from each other to the left and right sides of the valve sleeve 45.

[0039] The main valve wall 441 protrudes upward to form a cap protrusion 444 for the valve sleeve 45. The left and right sides of the rear end of the extended valve wall 442 are respectively clamped under the clamping block 13 of the housing unit 1 (due to the cutaway relationship, Figure 4 The side valve wall 443, the main valve wall 441 and the extended valve wall 442 are adapted to cooperate with each other to guide the liquid flowing out of the upper liquid outlet 324 to the container 12. The valve sleeve 45 is partially positioned in the liquid outlet 324 of the pot body 32, but does not completely close the liquid outlet 324 (see FIG. Figure 4 (indicated).

[0040] The elastic assembly 42 includes two springs 421 respectively sleeved on the positioning posts 344 of the support seat 34. Each spring 421 is supported between the main valve wall 441 of the valve member 44 and the horizontal seat wall 342 of the support seat 34.

[0041] Next, the use variation of this embodiment is described: the pot unit 3 can be pushed backwards and fixed to the shell 11, or pulled forwards and separated from the shell 11, so that it can be used in a Figure 1 、 4 The clip-on position shown is similar to a Figure 3 、 6 The disengaged position shown in FIG. 4 is changed, thereby driving the valve body unit 4 to a position as shown in FIG. Figure 4 The open state shown is similar to a Figure 6 Transitions between the closed states shown.

[0042] See Figure 1 、 4 When the pot body unit 3 is in the clamping position, the wall body 31 of the pot body unit 3 clamps the shell side wall 16 of the shell 11 to close the clamping interface 161, and the valve body unit 4 is in the open state.

[0043] When the valve body unit 4 is in the open state, the extended valve wall 442 of the valve member 44 of the valve body assembly 41 is abutted against the bottom of the blocking block 13, causing the main valve wall 441 to squeeze the spring 421 of the elastic assembly 42. At this point, the valve sleeve 45 is mostly separated from the liquid outlet 324, but does not completely block the liquid outlet 324, allowing the liquid to flow out of the liquid outlet 324, and then flow downward along the main valve wall 441 and the extended valve wall 442, through the channel 153 formed in the housing bottom 15, and into the liquid storage portion 121 of the container 12.

[0044] When the liquid flows through the main valve wall 441 and the extended valve wall 442 , the side valve wall 443 can prevent the liquid from flowing out of the valve member 44 in the left and right directions, thereby ensuring that the liquid can effectively flow into the container 12 .

[0045] See Figure 3 、 6 When the pot body unit 3 is in the disengaged position, the wall body 31 of the pot body unit 3 is separated from the shell side wall 16 of the shell 11 without closing the card interface 161, and the valve body unit 4 is in the closed state.

[0046] When the valve body unit 4 is in the closed state, the main valve wall 441 of the valve body assembly 41 is supported by the spring 421 of the elastic assembly 42, so that the valve sleeve 45 is completely located in the liquid outlet 324, completely blocking and closing the liquid outlet 324, and preventing the liquid from flowing out of the liquid outlet 324.

[0047] When the pot body unit 3 is pulled out relative to the casing unit 1, the valve body unit 4 will be changed to the closed state. In this way, even if there is liquid in the accommodating space 321 that has not had time to leak out, it will be blocked by the valve sleeve 45 and will not flow out from the liquid outlet 324. Therefore, this embodiment can avoid the problem of water leakage or oil leakage when the pot body unit 3 is pulled out.

[0048] In summary, the container box 12 of the food processor of the present invention adopts a drawer-type pull-out and plug-in design, which can be pulled out relative to the shell 11 to pour liquid or clean. It is very easy to disassemble and assemble, which helps to ensure hygiene and safety. The valve body unit 4 can automatically switch between the closed state and the open state when it is plugged in or pulled out relative to the casing unit 1. It has the characteristics of being able to discharge excess oil and water when plugged in, and not leaking when pulled out.

[0049] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. Equivalent variations based on the claims and the description of the specification should also be covered by the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A food processor, comprising a housing unit, a heating unit disposed in the housing unit, and a pot unit located below the heating unit, the housing unit comprising a shell and a container mounted on the shell, the pot unit being removably mounted on the shell and defining a container space for containing food, and a liquid outlet for allowing liquid generated by the food to flow from the bottom of the container space into the container, the heating unit being capable of providing a hot air flow for heating the food in the pot unit, characterized in that: The container box can be pulled out relative to the shell and clamped in the shell; wherein the pot body unit can be pushed backward and clamped in the shell, or pulled forward and detached from the shell, so that it can be switched between a clamped position and a detached position. The food processor also includes a valve body unit arranged at the liquid outlet, and the valve body unit can be switched between an open state and a closed state. When the pot body unit is in the clamping position, the valve body unit is in the open state and allows the liquid to flow into the container box from the liquid outlet. When the pot body unit is in the detached position, the valve body unit is in the closed state and does not allow the liquid to flow out of the liquid outlet.

2. The food processor according to claim 1, wherein: The pot body unit includes a pot body defining the accommodating space and the liquid outlet, and the pot body includes a pot bottom wall extending downwardly and surrounding the liquid outlet.

3. The food processor according to claim 1, wherein: The casing unit also includes at least one blocking block protruding forward from the shell and positioned lower than the liquid outlet. The valve body unit includes a valve body assembly pivotally connected to the pot body unit and capable of pivoting up and down relative to the pot body unit, and an elastic force assembly located between the valve body assembly and the pot body unit above and below. When the pot body unit is pushed backward, the valve body assembly can be pressed by the at least one blocking block and pivot downward and squeeze the elastic force assembly, causing the valve body unit to change to the open state. When the pot body unit is pulled forward, the valve body assembly can be supported by the elastic force assembly and pivot upward, causing the valve body unit to change to the closed state.

4. The food processor according to claim 3, wherein: The pot body unit also includes a pot body that defines the accommodating space and the liquid outlet, and a support seat extending to the bottom of the pot body. The valve body assembly is pivotally connected to the support seat axially left and right, and is located between the pot body and the support seat above and below. The elastic force assembly is located between the valve body assembly and the support seat above and below. When the pot body unit is in the clamping position, the valve body assembly is clamped under the at least one clamping block without closing the liquid outlet, and squeezes the elastic force assembly downward. When the pot body unit is in the disengaged position, the elastic force assembly pushes upward against the valve body assembly, so that the valve body assembly closes the liquid outlet.

5. The food processor according to claim 4, wherein: The pot body unit also includes a wall body installed in front of the pot body, and the support seat includes a straight seat wall extending downward from the rear of the wall body, a horizontal seat wall extending backward from the straight seat wall to the bottom of the valve body assembly, and two side seat walls extending upward from the left and right sides of the horizontal seat wall respectively. The valve body assembly is pivotally connected between the side seat walls, and the elastic force assembly is located between the valve body assembly and the horizontal seat wall.

6. The food processor according to claim 4, wherein: The valve body assembly includes a valve shaft pivotally arranged axially left and right on the support seat, a valve member that is sleeved on the valve shaft and can pivot up and down, and a valve sleeve arranged on the valve member and made of soft material. When the valve body unit is in the open state, the valve sleeve does not close the liquid outlet. When the valve body unit is in the closed state, the valve sleeve plugs the liquid outlet and closes the liquid outlet.

7. The food processor according to claim 6, wherein: The valve component includes a main valve wall extending rearward from the valve shaft and for the valve sleeve to be set, an extended valve wall extending obliquely rearward and downward from the main valve wall and clamped under the at least one clamping block of the housing unit, and two side valve walls extending upward from the main valve wall and the extended valve wall and spaced left and right from each other and located on the left and right sides of the valve sleeve. The side valve walls, the main valve wall and the extended valve wall are suitable for cooperating to guide the liquid flowing out of the liquid outlet to the containing box.

Images