An air fryer

Abstract

The application discloses an air fryer, which comprises a shell, a reflecting cover arranged in the shell, a cooking cavity formed below the reflecting cover, the reflecting cover comprising a volute accommodating a fan in a middle part and a stepped part arranged around the volute below the volute, and a side wall of the volute being provided with an exhaust port for connecting the cooking cavity with the atmosphere, and the air fryer further comprises an air outlet adjusting device, which comprises a wind shielding piece shielding the exhaust port and a driving mechanism, and the driving mechanism drives the wind shielding piece to fold outward to change the shielding area of the exhaust port. In the application, the folding movement of the wind shielding piece can change the shielding area of the exhaust port in a more uniform manner, so that the air outlet of each area of the exhaust port can be gradually increased or reduced, and the change helps to maintain the uniformity of the air outlet, avoids the great difference in the air outlet of different positions of the exhaust port, reduces the impact of airflow and the generation of vortex, and reduces the noise level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of household appliance technology, specifically relating to an air fryer. Background Technology

[0002] An air fryer generally consists of a main body, a cooking chamber formed within the main body, and a hot air assembly located within the main body that supplies high-temperature air into the cooking chamber. The cooking chamber contains a pot for holding food. The high-temperature air generated by the hot air assembly heats the food inside the cooking chamber, ensuring thorough contact between the hot air and the food. This utilizes the moisture lost from the food's surface or the oil produced during heating to create a crispy texture, similar to deep-frying. However, existing air fryers also draw moisture from the food when heating it with hot air, resulting in a dry texture. Shortening the heating time to retain moisture can lead to undercooked food, resulting in a burnt exterior and raw interior. Prolonged heating will cause all moisture to be lost, leaving the food dry and tough.

[0003] To solve this technical problem, existing technologies generally involve adding water to the cooking cavity during the cooking process or adjusting the humidity inside the cooking cavity by changing the size of the air outlet of the unit, in order to reduce the loss of moisture from the food itself and achieve a tender roasting effect.

[0004] Patent document CN202220593531.6 discloses a steam air fryer, including a shell, a reflector, a window switching mechanism, a heating component, and an air vent. The shell contains a heating chamber, and the heating component is located within the heating chamber. The air vent is located on the shell, and the reflector has an air vent connecting the heating chamber and the air vent. The window switching mechanism includes a baffle plate and a drive assembly. The drive assembly is located on the shell and connected to the baffle plate. The drive assembly includes a drive knob, a rotating shaft, and a lever. The rotating shaft is located inside the shell and connected to the drive knob. The rotating shaft can be driven by the drive knob to rotate along its own axis. The lever is connected to the rotating shaft and can rotate with the rotating shaft. One end of the lever is connected to the wind deflector. The wind deflector has a guide groove for the lever to pass through. Through the cooperation of the lever and the guide groove, the rotating lever can convert the arc motion into the sliding motion of the wind deflector along the reflector. The air vent on the reflector is a first grid formed by multiple spaced intervals. The wind deflector has a second grid corresponding to the air vent. By sliding the wind deflector up and down, the second grid on the wind deflector can be misaligned or aligned with the air vent, so as to block or open the air vent. This allows the air inside the air fryer to achieve internal circulation mode when it is empty, or to exhaust all the air inside to the outside of the shell through the air vent. However, the space above the reflector is limited by the need to install motors, cooling fans, and a series of transmission structures between the reflector and the top cover of the housing. This severely restricts the downward movement of the baffle plate in this technical solution, which can only switch between two positions: fully open and fully closed. That is, either the air vent is fully open or partially open. This limits the ability to adjust the air outlet area. Consequently, when cooking different ingredients, this technical solution has a severely limited ability to regulate the humidity inside the heating chamber, and cannot meet the needs of cooking various ingredients.

[0005] Patent document CN202321023481.9 discloses an air fryer with air outlet adjustment function, including a lid, an air guide hood, a heat insulation hood, and an air outlet adjustment device. The air guide hood is located inside the lid, and an exhaust port is opened on the rear side wall of the air guide hood. The periphery of the exhaust port bends outward to form an exhaust pipe. A first limiting flange protrudes from the inner side wall of the exhaust pipe near the inlet end. A first clearance hole extending circumferentially is opened through the periphery of the top wall of the air guide hood. The heat insulation hood is located inside the air guide hood, and a steam vent is opened circumferentially on the rear side wall of the heat insulation hood. The steam vent is directly opposite the exhaust port. A second clearance hole extending circumferentially is provided through the periphery of the device. The second clearance hole is located directly below the first clearance hole. The air outlet regulating device is used to open and close the exhaust port and includes a baffle and a driving mechanism. The baffle is installed at the exhaust port. The top of the baffle has a vertically arranged insert rod, which is inserted into the first clearance hole and the second clearance hole and can slide along the extension direction of the first clearance hole and the second clearance hole. The driving mechanism is used to drive the baffle to move relative to the heat insulation cover along the length direction of the exhaust port, that is, the driving mechanism is used to drive the baffle to move circumferentially along the heat insulation cover to adjust the opening and closing of the exhaust port and the size of the exhaust port. In this technical solution, although the movement of the baffle can be used to change the size of the exhaust port to achieve multi-level adjustment of the air outlet area, the way the baffle moves is by sliding along the circumference of the heat insulation cover. This means that there must be enough space for the baffle to slide in the circumference of the heat insulation cover. This space is at least twice the size of the length of the exhaust port. When the heat insulation cover is set in a volute shape, the width of the exhaust port at the end of the volute is reduced, which will restrict the circumferential movement space of the baffle, thus restricting the air outlet adjustment and affecting the cooking effect of the food. Utility Model Content

[0006] This application provides an air fryer to solve the technical problem that when the air fryer has a volute structure on the reflector, the air outlet area of ​​the reflector is adjusted, but the air outlet adjustment effect is affected by the limited circumferential movement space of the baffle, thus failing to meet the cooking requirements of various cooking programs and ingredients.

[0007] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0008] An air fryer includes a housing with a reflector inside. A cooking chamber is formed below the reflector. The reflector includes a volute housing a fan located in the middle and a stepped portion surrounding the volute below it. An exhaust port is provided on the side wall of the volute to connect the cooking chamber to the atmosphere. The air fryer also includes an air outlet adjustment device, which includes a wind deflector that blocks the exhaust port and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism drives the wind deflector to fold outward to change the area of ​​the exhaust port blocked.

[0009] The reflector in this application includes a volute and a stepped portion surrounding the lower part of the volute. The surrounding design of the stepped portion not only helps to guide the flow of hot air, making the hot air coverage wider and allowing more food to be heated, but also extends the radial space of the reflector. The exhaust port is located on the side wall of the volute. The wind deflector is folded outward by the drive mechanism to change the area of ​​obstruction to the exhaust port. This means that the movement space of the wind deflector occupies the radial space extended by the stepped portion on the reflector itself. Therefore, the movement mode of the wind deflector in this application makes full use of the existing space inside the housing, and the movement mode requires little space. There is no need to specially open up space to meet the movement requirements of the wind deflector, thus achieving full utilization of the space inside the housing and having no substantial impact on the overall volume of the air fryer.

[0010] The wind deflector has a movable end and a fixed end. The fixed end is fixed to the reflector. The driving mechanism drives the movable end to move toward the fixed end, causing the wind deflector to fold outward, thereby changing the area of ​​obstruction to the exhaust port.

[0011] There are various ways to achieve the folding movement of the wind deflector, and the fixing method of the wind deflector also varies under different implementation methods. For example, it can be fixedly connected to the reflector at one end; it can be movably connected to the reflector at one end through hinges, pivots, or sliders and slide rails; or it can be linked only to the drive mechanism without being connected to the reflector. For implementations where the wind deflector and reflector are movably connected or not connected, the folding movement of the wind deflector is highly flexible, but it also means a more complex structure, more components, higher cost, and more complex installation. Furthermore, its guidance during movement depends entirely on the housing's guidance and limiting of the drive mechanism, making the operation process more complex. In this technical solution, the wind deflector has a fixed end fixed to the reflector and a movable end, allowing the wind deflector to use the fixed end as a fixed fulcrum, while the movable end moves relative to the fixed end to change the area of ​​obstruction to the exhaust port. The structure is relatively simple, reducing complex mechanical connections and the number of components, and improving the stability and reliability of airflow regulation.

[0012] The wind deflector has two movable ends. The driving mechanism drives the two movable ends to move towards each other, causing the wind deflector to fold outward to change the area of ​​obstruction to the exhaust port.

[0013] This technical solution uses a drive mechanism to drive the connecting part to move the two movable ends toward each other, so that the two ends of the exhaust port along its own length can be opened or blocked simultaneously, which improves the uniformity of airflow and avoids excessive differences in airflow at different positions of the exhaust port. This not only helps to reduce the impact of airflow and the generation of eddies, and lower the noise level, but also helps to make the airflow at the exhaust port smoother and more uniform, improves the efficiency of hot air circulation, and ensures uniform heating of food.

[0014] The windshield is made of a flexible material.

[0015] Flexible materials possess excellent flexibility and deformability. The wind deflector in this technical solution is made of flexible material, enabling easy folding and unfolding. This allows the wind deflector to smoothly change its air outlet area under the action of the drive mechanism, improving adjustment flexibility and response speed. Furthermore, the flexible material allows the wind deflector to better fit and adapt to the shape of the exhaust port and the internal structure of the reflector, achieving effective air outlet area adjustment even in limited spaces. This avoids spatial conflicts or adjustment limitations that may arise from the fixed shape of rigid components. Moreover, when the wind deflector completely blocks the exhaust port, it can directly adhere to the outer periphery of the exhaust port, achieving a seal and preventing hot air leakage. This allows for the internal circulation of hot air and water vapor within the cooking cavity, enabling moisture to flow with the hot air and quickly increase the humidity within the cooking cavity, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender interior texture for the food. In addition, windshields made of flexible materials generate less friction and collision noise during movement. Compared with rigid materials, this reduces the noise generated during the folding and unfolding of the windshield, thus improving the user experience.

[0016] The wind deflector is made of a rigid material and includes a plurality of wind deflector blades arranged along the length of the exhaust port, with adjacent wind deflector blades hinged together by a hinge shaft.

[0017] In this technical solution, the wind deflector is made of rigid material. The use of rigid material ensures that the wind deflector maintains its shape and performance stability under high temperatures and external forces, preventing deformation, damage, or the release of harmful substances, thus making it more reliable in use. The arrangement and hinged design of multiple wind deflectors allow for more precise adjustment of the exhaust port coverage area under the drive mechanism. Each wind deflector can be adjusted independently or collaboratively, enabling multi-level and more refined control of the airflow, thereby meeting different cooking needs.

[0018] The stepped portion is recessed downwards below the windshield to form a clearance space.

[0019] The clearance space on the stepped section in this technical solution allows for the movement of the wind deflector, thereby indirectly increasing the exhaust area of ​​the vent and improving the hot air circulation efficiency, thus enhancing the cooking effect on the food. Furthermore, when the wind deflector is partially or fully folded, the clearance space also guides the hot air emitted from the vent, directing it towards the exhaust port of the casing, reducing hot air dispersion and improving hot air exhaust efficiency.

[0020] The drive mechanism includes a lever, and the top of the housing has a first guide groove through which the lever passes. The first guide groove is located on the side of the exhaust port near the fan.

[0021] In this technical solution, the lever of the drive mechanism extends from the top of the housing through the first guide groove, allowing the user to operate the lever from above the air fryer to adjust the folding degree of the wind deflector. Compared to a technical solution where the lever extends from the side of the housing, the user's wrist rotation angle is relatively smaller when operating the lever extending from the top of the housing, which is ergonomic and more comfortable. Furthermore, the user can intuitively know the area of ​​the exhaust vent currently blocked by observing the position of the lever on the first guide groove at the top of the housing without bending over or looking to the side. The first guide groove is located on the side of the exhaust vent closer to the fan. On one hand, it makes full use of the space inside the housing to arrange the drive mechanism, improving the utilization rate of the internal space. On the other hand, the sidewall of the volute can extend towards the outer periphery of the housing, helping to improve the coverage of the cooking cavity by the volute and enhance the airflow effect, thereby improving the hot air circulation efficiency. Additionally, it effectively shortens the distance between the lever and the front of the housing, improving the convenience of user operation.

[0022] The sidewall of the volute extends outward and downward at an angle. The drive mechanism also includes a connecting rod integrally connected to the lower end of the lever. The lever extends vertically, the connecting rod extends at an angle, and the wind deflector is connected to the connecting rod.

[0023] In this technical solution, the sidewalls of the volute extend outward and downward at an angle, which helps to improve the coverage of the cooking cavity, optimize the flow path of hot air, and improve the efficiency of hot air circulation. Furthermore, the angled sidewalls reduce turbulence and resistance during the flow of hot air, allowing it to flow more smoothly and improving the cooking effect on the food. The angled sidewalls of the volute, along with the matching baffle, are also angled to fit the exhaust port. The integrated design of the connecting rod and the lever, along with the angled extension of the connecting rod, effectively converts the sliding of the lever along the first guide groove into the folding motion of the baffle. The angled connecting rod better adapts to the movement trajectory of the baffle, reducing power loss during transmission and improving the transmission efficiency of the drive mechanism. In addition, the vertical extension of the lever and the angled extension of the connecting rod fully utilize the space within the housing, avoiding movement interference with other components within the housing and ensuring effective driving of the baffle.

[0024] The housing is provided with a motor bracket for mounting the motor, and the motor bracket has a second guide groove for the connecting rod to pass through.

[0025] In this technical solution, the second guide groove provides a clear movement path for the connecting rod, ensuring that the connecting rod will not deviate or wobble during movement, thereby improving the transmission accuracy of the drive mechanism. Furthermore, the precise guidance of the second guide groove reduces the accumulation of errors during the connecting rod's movement, ensuring more accurate and stable folding movement of the windshield. In addition, in this technical solution, the second guide groove is located on the motor bracket, allowing the motor bracket not only to mount the motor but also to slide and guide the connecting rod via the second guide groove, achieving multi-functionality and integration.

[0026] The windshield has a state of completely blocking the exhaust port.

[0027] During cooking, when the baffle completely blocks the exhaust vent, it seals the vent, allowing hot air and steam to circulate within the cooking chamber, achieving a steam-baking cooking mode. This prevents food from becoming dry and tough due to excessive moisture loss. During the air fryer's preheating stage, completely blocking the exhaust vent reduces heat loss, improves hot air utilization efficiency, and concentrates heat within the cooking chamber, accelerating preheating and shortening preheating time. Therefore, completely blocking the exhaust vent allows for precise control at different stages, enhancing the air fryer's versatility. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of an air fryer according to one embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the windshield component according to one embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 3 This is an assembly drawing of the windshield and the drive mechanism according to one embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the windshield in a folded state under the drive of the driving mechanism according to one embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the windshield in an deployed state under the drive mechanism according to one embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the windshield in an deployed state under the drive mechanism according to another embodiment of this application.

[0035] in,

[0036] 1. Shell;

[0037] 2. Windshield component; 21. Windshield plate; 22. Connecting part; 23. First rolled circular structure; 24. Second rolled circular structure;

[0038] 3. Toggle lever; 31. Guide slider;

[0039] 4. Connecting rod;

[0040] 5. Operations section;

[0041] 6. Reflector; 61. Volute; 62. Step; 63. Clearance space; 64. Exhaust port; 65. Fixing rod;

[0042] 7. Motor bracket;

[0043] 8. Electric motor;

[0044] 9. Fan;

[0045] 10. Guide bracket; 101. Slide groove;

[0046] 11. Hinge shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0047] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of this application and the features thereof can be combined with each other.

[0049] Furthermore, it should be understood in the description of this application that the terms "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0050] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0051] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the "above" or "below" of the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0052] like Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, an air fryer includes a shell 1, a reflector 6 inside the shell 1, and a cooking cavity formed below the reflector 6. The reflector 6 includes a volute 61 located in the middle to accommodate a fan and a stepped portion 62 arranged around the volute 61 below it. The side wall of the volute 61 has an exhaust port 64 that connects the cooking cavity to the atmosphere. The air fryer also includes an air outlet adjustment device, which includes a wind deflector 2 that blocks the exhaust port 64 and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism drives the wind deflector 2 to fold outward to change the blocking area of ​​the exhaust port 64.

[0053] The baffle 2 completely blocks the exhaust vent 64. During cooking, when the baffle 2 is in this blocked state, the exhaust vent 64 is sealed, allowing hot air and steam to circulate within the cooking chamber, achieving a steam-baking cooking mode. This prevents food from becoming dry and tough due to excessive moisture loss. During the preheating stage of the air fryer, the baffle 2 completely blocks the exhaust vent 64, reducing heat loss, improving the efficiency of hot air utilization, and concentrating heat circulation within the cooking chamber, thus accelerating preheating and shortening preheating time. Therefore, the baffle 2's complete blockage of the exhaust vent 64 allows for precise control at different stages, enhancing the air fryer's versatility.

[0054] The wind deflector 2 also partially blocks the exhaust vent 64. Different foods and cooking methods have different requirements for hot air. Partially blocking the exhaust vent 64 provides more options for airflow, allowing users to flexibly adjust the hot air circulation according to specific needs and adapt to diverse cooking scenarios. Moreover, by partially blocking the exhaust vent 64, the flow and distribution of hot air can be precisely controlled, making the food heat more evenly and improving the cooking effect. For example, when cooking some foods that require slow baking or low-temperature roasting, partially blocking the exhaust vent 64 can reduce the direct impact of hot air, preventing the food surface from drying out or hardening prematurely.

[0055] The wind deflector 2 also has an unobstructed exhaust port 64. With the exhaust port 64 fully open, the flow of hot air is smoother and stronger, which can form a more efficient hot air circulation, making the food heat more evenly and improving the cooking effect, especially suitable for foods that require fast and high-temperature cooking.

[0056] The reflector 6 in this application includes a volute 61 and a stepped portion 62 surrounding the lower part of the volute 61. The surrounding design of the stepped portion 62 not only helps to guide the flow of hot air, making the hot air coverage wider and allowing more food to be heated, but also extends the radial space of the reflector 6. The exhaust port 64 is located on the side wall of the volute 61. The wind deflector 2 is folded outward under the drive mechanism to change the area of ​​obstruction to the exhaust port 64. This means that the movement space of the wind deflector 2 occupies the radial space extended by the stepped portion 62 on the reflector 6 itself. Therefore, the movement mode of the wind deflector 2 in this application makes full use of the existing space inside the housing 1, and the movement mode requires little space. There is no need to specially open up space to meet the movement requirements of the wind deflector 2, thus achieving full utilization of the space inside the housing 1 and having no substantial impact on the overall volume of the air fryer.

[0057] The folding motion of the windshield 2 can be achieved in various ways, and the fixing method of the windshield 2 also varies under different implementation methods. For example, it can be fixedly connected to the reflector 6 at one end; or it can be movably connected to the reflector 6 at one end through a hinge, pivot, or slider and slide rail; or it can be linked only to the drive mechanism without being connected to the reflector 6. The structural form of the windshield 2 in this application can adopt any of the following embodiments:

[0058] Implementation method one: such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the wind deflector 2 has a movable end and a fixed end. The fixed end is fixed on the reflector 6. The drive mechanism drives the movable end to move towards the fixed end, causing the wind deflector 2 to fold outward, thereby changing the area of ​​the wind deflector 2 covering the exhaust port 64.

[0059] For the implementation method where the wind deflector 2 and the reflector 6 are either movable or not connected, the wind deflector 2 has high flexibility during folding movement, but it also means that its structure is more complex, with more parts, higher cost, and more complicated installation. Furthermore, its guidance during movement relies entirely on the housing 1 to guide and limit the drive mechanism, making the operation process more complex. In this first embodiment, the wind deflector 2 has a fixed end fixed to the reflector 6 and a movable end, allowing the wind deflector 2 to use the fixed end as a fixed fulcrum, while the movable end moves relative to the fixed end to change the area of ​​obstruction of the exhaust port 64. The structure is relatively simple, reducing complex mechanical connections and the number of parts, and improving the stability and reliability of airflow adjustment.

[0060] Specifically, the windshield member 2 in this first embodiment can be constructed in any of the following embodiments:

[0061] Example 1: As Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the windshield 2 is made of flexible material.

[0062] Flexible materials possess excellent flexibility and deformability. In this embodiment, the wind deflector 2 is made of flexible material, allowing for easy folding and unfolding. This enables the wind deflector 2 to smoothly change its air outlet area under the action of the drive mechanism, improving adjustment flexibility and response speed. Furthermore, the flexible material allows the wind deflector 2 to better fit and adapt to the shape of the exhaust port 64 and the internal structure of the reflector 6, achieving effective air outlet area adjustment even in limited spaces. This avoids spatial conflicts or adjustment limitations that may arise from the fixed shape of rigid components. Moreover, when the wind deflector 2 completely blocks the exhaust port 64, the flexible material can directly adhere to the outer periphery of the exhaust port 64, achieving a seal and preventing hot air leakage. This allows for internal circulation of hot air and water vapor within the cooking cavity, enabling moisture to flow with the hot air and quickly increasing the humidity within the cooking cavity, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender interior texture for the food. In addition, the windshield 2, made of flexible material, produces less friction and collision noise during movement. Compared with rigid materials, it can reduce the movement noise of the windshield 2 during folding and unfolding, thus improving the user experience.

[0063] In one specific implementation, the windbreak component 2 includes multiple windbreak plates 21, with adjacent windbreak plates 21 connected by a connecting portion 22. Both the windbreak plates 21 and the connecting portion 22 are structures made of flexible material. Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, it provides a specific example of a wind deflector 2 having two wind deflector plates 21 and a connecting part 22, wherein one wind deflector plate 21 is fixedly connected to the reflector 6 and the other wind deflector plate 21 is connected to the drive mechanism.

[0064] Preferably, the total length of the multiple wind deflectors 21 and the connecting portion 22 is greater than the length of the exhaust port 64, so as to ensure that the wind deflector 2 can cover the entire exhaust port 64 when it is fully extended.

[0065] Furthermore, the length of the connecting part 22 should be as small as possible to avoid the windshield 2 blocking too much of the windshield area when folded.

[0066] Example 2: Figure 6 As shown, the wind deflector 2 is made of a rigid material and includes a plurality of wind deflector plates 21 arranged along the length of the exhaust port 64. Adjacent wind deflector plates 21 are hinged together by a hinge shaft 11.

[0067] In this embodiment 2, the wind deflector 2 is made of rigid material. The use of rigid material ensures that the wind deflector 2 can maintain its shape and performance stability under high temperature and external force, and is not prone to deformation, damage or release of harmful substances, making it more reliable in use. The arrangement and hinged design of multiple wind deflectors 21 make the adjustment of the blocking area of ​​the exhaust port 64 by the wind deflector 2 under the drive mechanism more precise. Each wind deflector 21 can be adjusted independently or collaboratively, thereby realizing multi-level and more delicate control of the air volume, thus meeting different cooking needs.

[0068] In a specific implementation, such as Figure 6 As shown, the wind deflector 2 has two wind deflector plates 21. One wind deflector plate 21 has a first rolled structure 23 at both ends along its length. One end of the rolled structure 23 is connected to a fixed rod 65 on the reflector 6, and the other end is rotatably connected to a hinge shaft 11 via the same structure. The other wind deflector plate 21 has a second rolled structure 24 at both ends along its length. One end of the second rolled structure 24 is rotatably connected to the hinge shaft 11, and the other end is connected to a connecting rod 4 of the drive mechanism. The hinge shaft 11 is in a free state. When the drive mechanism operates, the two wind deflector plates 21 move with the hinge shaft 11. When the drive mechanism is in a free state... Figure 6 When it is at the leftmost position, the windshield 2 is in a folded state, and the exhaust port 64 has the largest air outlet area. When the drive mechanism is in... Figure 6 When it is on the rightmost side, the windshield 2 is fully deployed, the exhaust port 64 is blocked to the maximum extent, and the air outlet area is the smallest.

[0069] Example 3: Not illustrated in Example 3, this example includes a wind deflector comprising multiple wind deflector plates. Adjacent wind deflector plates are connected by a connecting portion made of a flexible material. This flexible material allows for smooth relative movement between the wind deflector plates, enabling the wind deflector to fold or unfold. This flexibility allows for more flexible adjustment of the airflow area, quickly responding to different cooking needs. Furthermore, the flexible connecting portion allows the wind deflector plates to switch freely between multiple angles, achieving more precise airflow area adjustment to meet specific needs in different cooking scenarios.

[0070] Example 4: This example 4 is not illustrated. In this example 4, the wind deflector includes multiple wind deflector plates. Adjacent wind deflector plates are connected by a connecting part. The wind deflector plates are made of a flexible material, while the connecting part is made of a rigid material. The flexible material of the wind deflector plates allows the wind deflector to smoothly change shape when folded or unfolded, adapting to different airflow requirements. This flexibility makes the wind deflector more flexible in adjusting the airflow area, enabling it to quickly respond to different cooking needs. The rigid connecting part ensures a stable connection between adjacent wind deflector plates, preventing deformation or loosening under high temperature or external force, thus improving the overall durability and reliability of the wind deflector.

[0071] Implementation Method 2: This implementation method is not illustrated. In this implementation method, the wind deflector has two movable ends. The driving mechanism drives the two movable ends to move towards each other, causing the wind deflector to fold outward to change the area of ​​obstruction to the exhaust port.

[0072] In this second embodiment, the drive mechanism drives the connecting part to move the two movable ends toward each other, so that the two ends of the exhaust port along its own length can be opened or blocked simultaneously, which improves the uniformity of airflow and avoids excessive differences in airflow at different positions of the exhaust port. This not only helps to reduce the impact of airflow and the generation of eddies, and lower the noise level, but also helps to make the airflow at the exhaust port smoother and more uniform, improves the efficiency of hot air circulation, and ensures uniform heating of food.

[0073] In one specific implementation, the windshield also has a connecting part that connects the two movable ends. A drive mechanism is connected to the connecting part and drives the connecting part to move outward, so as to drive the two movable ends to move towards each other, thereby realizing the outward folding of the windshield.

[0074] The structure of the windbreak component in this second embodiment can be any one of the following embodiments:

[0075] Example 5: This example 5 is not illustrated. In this example 5, the wind deflector is composed of multiple retractable wind deflector plates. A connecting part is provided between two adjacent wind deflector plates. One of the wind deflector plates and the connecting part is provided with a slider, and the other is provided with a slide rail adapted to the slider. Each connecting part is in a free state. Each connecting part is connected to a drive mechanism. When the drive mechanism drives the connecting part to move outward, the slider slides in the slide rail, thereby driving the two adjacent wind deflector plates to move towards each other, realizing the extension and retraction of the wind deflector plates, thereby changing the air outlet area.

[0076] Example 6: This example 6 is not illustrated. In this example 6, the windshield is composed of multiple foldable windshield plates. Each windshield plate is connected to the adjacent windshield plate by a hinge or hinge. The connecting part is a rigid hinge or hinge. Each connecting part is connected to the drive mechanism. When the drive mechanism drives the connecting part to move outward, the hinge or hinge drives the windshield plates at both ends to move towards each other, thereby realizing the folding or unfolding of the windshield plates.

[0077] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the step portion 62 is recessed downwards below the wind deflector 2 to form a clearance space 63. In this embodiment, the clearance space 63 on the step portion 62 is designed to allow for movement of the wind deflector 2, thereby indirectly increasing the exhaust area of ​​the exhaust port 64, improving hot air circulation efficiency, and thus enhancing the cooking effect on the food. Furthermore, when the wind deflector 2 is partially or fully folded, the clearance space 63 can also guide the hot air emitted from the exhaust port 64, concentrating it towards the exhaust port of the housing 1, reducing hot air dispersion and improving hot air exhaust efficiency. In some preferred embodiments, other components can also be installed at the recessed clearance space 63 on the step portion 62 to fully utilize the space.

[0078] The composition of the drive mechanism in this application and its mounting position on the housing 1 can be any of the following embodiments:

[0079] Implementation Method 3: For example Figure 1 As shown, the drive mechanism includes a lever 3, and the top of the housing 1 is provided with a first guide groove through which the lever 3 passes. The first guide groove is located on the side of the exhaust port 64 near the fan 9.

[0080] In this third embodiment, the lever 3 of the drive mechanism extends from the top of the housing 1 through the first guide groove, allowing the user to operate the lever 3 above the air fryer to adjust the folding degree of the wind deflector 2. Compared with the technical solution where the lever extends from the side of the housing, the user's wrist rotation angle is relatively small when operating the lever 3 extending from the top of the housing 1, which is ergonomic and more comfortable. Furthermore, the user can intuitively know the area of ​​the exhaust port 64 that is currently blocked by observing the position of the lever 3 on the first guide groove at the top of the housing 1 without bending over or looking to the side. The first guide groove is located on the side of the exhaust port 64 near the fan 9. On the one hand, it can make full use of the space inside the housing 1 to realize the arrangement of the drive mechanism and improve the utilization rate of the space inside the housing 1. From another perspective, the side wall of the volute 61 can be extended towards the outer periphery of the housing 1, which helps to improve the coverage of the cooking cavity by the volute 61 and improve the hot air diversion effect of the volute 61, thereby improving the hot air circulation efficiency. On the other hand, it can effectively shorten the distance between the lever 3 and the front of the housing 1, improving the convenience of user operation.

[0081] Furthermore, to facilitate the operation of the lever 3, the drive mechanism also includes an operating part 5 mounted on the top of the lever 3.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment of this third implementation, the top of the housing 1 is provided with a reminder indicator of the air outlet area of ​​the exhaust port 64 at a position adjacent to the first guide slide groove. This reminder indicator can have multiple levels; for example, the maximum level represents the exhaust port 64 being fully open, the intermediate level represents half of the exhaust port 64 being blocked and the other half open, and the minimum level represents the exhaust port 64 being completely blocked. The reminder indicator can also be a linear adjustment with multiple levels; for example, the maximum level (exhaust port 64 fully open) can be indicated only at one end of the first guide slide groove, and the minimum level (exhaust port 64 completely blocked) can be indicated at the other end of the first guide slide groove. Between the maximum and minimum levels, the lever 3 can be freely slid according to user needs to achieve multi-level adjustment of the air outlet area.

[0083] As a preferred embodiment of this third implementation method, such as Figure 1 As shown, the sidewall of the volute 61 extends outward and downward at an angle. The drive mechanism also includes a connecting rod 4 integrally connected to the lower end of the lever 3. The lever 3 extends vertically, the connecting rod 4 extends at an angle, and the wind deflector 2 is connected to the connecting rod 4.

[0084] In this embodiment, the sidewall of the volute 61 extends outward and downward at an angle, which helps to improve the coverage of the cooking cavity by the volute 61, optimize the flow path of hot air, and improve the hot air circulation efficiency. Moreover, the angled sidewall can reduce the turbulence and resistance of hot air during the flow process, allowing the hot air to flow more smoothly and improving the cooking effect on the food. The sidewall of the volute 61 extends at an angle, and the matching wind deflector 2 is also arranged at an angle to fit the exhaust port 64. The integrated design of the connecting rod 4 and the lever 3, as well as the angled extension of the connecting rod 4, can more effectively convert the sliding of the lever 3 along the first guide groove into the folding movement of the wind deflector 2. The angled connecting rod 3 can better adapt to the movement trajectory of the wind deflector 2, reduce the loss in the power transmission process, and improve the transmission efficiency of the drive mechanism. In addition, the vertical extension of the lever 3 and the angled extension of the connecting rod 4 can make full use of the space inside the housing 1, avoid motion interference with other components inside the housing 1, and ensure effective driving of the wind deflector 2.

[0085] As a preferred embodiment of this third implementation method, such as Figure 1 As shown, a motor bracket 7 for mounting the motor 8 is provided inside the housing 1, and a second guide groove for the connecting rod 4 to pass through is provided on the motor bracket 7.

[0086] In this embodiment, the second guide groove provides a clear movement path for the connecting rod 4, ensuring that the connecting rod 4 will not deviate or wobble during movement, thereby improving the transmission accuracy of the drive mechanism. Furthermore, the precise guidance of the second guide groove reduces the accumulation of errors during the movement of the connecting rod 4, ensuring more accurate and stable folding movement of the windshield 2. In addition, in this embodiment, the second guide groove is located on the motor bracket 7, allowing the motor bracket 7 not only to mount the motor 8 but also to slide and guide the connecting rod 4 via the second guide groove, achieving multi-functional integration.

[0087] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, the motor bracket 7 and the top wall of the housing 1 cooperate to form a mounting cavity for mounting the motor 8. A guide bracket 10 is provided in the mounting cavity, and a sliding groove 101 is provided on the guide bracket 10. A guide slider 31 is connected to the lever 3. Through the cooperation between the guide slider 31 and the sliding groove 101, the drive mechanism is further guided to ensure the stability and reliability of the folding movement of the windshield 2.

[0088] Implementation Method 4: This implementation method 4 is not illustrated. In this implementation method 4, the drive mechanism includes a lever. The top of the housing is provided with a first guide groove through which the lever passes. The projection of the first guide groove on the horizontal plane is located on the side of the exhaust port facing away from the fan 9.

[0089] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the housing 1 contains a motor 8 for driving the fan 9 of the hot air assembly. The housing 1 also includes a motor bracket 7 for mounting the motor 8 and an air outlet grille opposite the exhaust port 64. The motor bracket 7 and the reflector 6 cooperate to form a cold air chamber, which connects the air outlet grille and the exhaust port 64. The air outlet grille and the motor bracket 7 are integrally formed. By making the air outlet grille and the motor bracket 7 an integral structure, the assembly process required for separate molding can be eliminated, and the structural strength of the air outlet grille can be improved, reducing the probability of deformation due to heat or stress.

[0090] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0091] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

[0092] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. The technical features or structures in the foregoing different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined to form other specific technical solutions as needed. For those skilled in the art, this application can have various modifications and variations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principle of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An air fryer, comprising a housing, wherein a reflector is provided within the housing, a cooking cavity is formed below the reflector, the reflector including a volute housing a fan located in the center and a stepped portion surrounding the volute below the volute, characterized in that, The side wall of the volute is provided with an exhaust port that connects the cooking chamber to the atmosphere. The air fryer also includes an air outlet adjustment device, which includes a wind deflector that blocks the exhaust port and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism drives the wind deflector to fold outward to change the area of ​​the exhaust port that is blocked.

2. An air fryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wind deflector has a movable end and a fixed end. The fixed end is fixed to the reflector. The driving mechanism drives the movable end to move toward the fixed end, causing the wind deflector to fold outward, thereby changing the area of ​​obstruction to the exhaust port.

3. An air fryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wind deflector has two movable ends. The driving mechanism drives the two movable ends to move towards each other, causing the wind deflector to fold outward, thereby changing the area of ​​obstruction to the exhaust port.

4. An air fryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The windshield is made of a flexible material.

5. An air fryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wind deflector is made of a rigid material and includes a plurality of wind deflector blades arranged along the length of the exhaust port, with adjacent wind deflector blades hinged together by a hinge shaft.

6. An air fryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stepped portion is recessed downwards below the windshield to form a clearance space.

7. An air fryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive mechanism includes a lever, and the top of the housing has a first guide groove through which the lever passes. The first guide groove is located on the side of the exhaust port near the fan.

8. An air fryer according to claim 7, characterized in that, The sidewall of the volute extends outward and downward at an angle. The drive mechanism also includes a connecting rod integrally connected to the lower end of the lever. The lever extends vertically, the connecting rod extends at an angle, and the wind deflector is connected to the connecting rod.

9. An air fryer according to claim 8, characterized in that, The housing is provided with a motor bracket for mounting the motor, and the motor bracket has a second guide groove for the connecting rod to pass through.

10. An air fryer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The windshield has a state of completely blocking the exhaust port.

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