A step-by-step feeding cooking machine and kitchen appliance

Abstract

This utility model provides a step-by-step ingredient-feeding cooking machine and kitchen appliance, including a pot body and a pot lid. The pot lid is fastened to the pot body to form a secure connection. Several openings are provided on the pot lid, and feeding hoppers are inserted into the outer sides of these openings. A motor is installed inside the pot lid, and the motor rotates to drive a baffle plate. Feeding ports are opened on the baffle plate, and each feeding port connects to one of the openings, allowing the feeding hopper to communicate with the inner cavity of the pot body. This utility model uses a motor to drive the baffle plate to rotate, causing the feeding ports on the baffle plate to connect to different feeding hoppers in a preset sequence, achieving "automatic switching of ingredient feeding according to cooking time." Users can pre-place ingredients into the corresponding feeding hoppers according to their cooking requirements, avoiding overcooking or undercooking due to delays caused by manual operation, thus ensuring the taste and cooking effect of the dish.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of household appliance and kitchenware technology, and relates to an automatic cooking pot, especially a step-by-step ingredient-adding cooking machine and kitchen appliance. Background Technology

[0002] In Chinese cuisine, the precise matching of heat and the timing of ingredient addition is a core element determining the flavor, texture, and aroma of a dish. This process relies on the dynamic adaptation of ingredient characteristics to the heat curve—for example, oils need to form a fresh-locking film when they are about to smoke but have not yet decomposed; sugars need to release their nutty aroma when they have passed the caramelization threshold; and proteins need to balance water retention and secondary heating space when they are slightly coagulated on the surface and in a colloidal state internally. However, existing cooking equipment (including traditional automatic cooking machines) has the following key problems, making it difficult to meet the core needs of Chinese cuisine. The way ingredients are added violates the logic of Chinese cooking: existing cooking machines generally adopt a "one-time addition" mode, putting all ingredients into the pot at once and forcing all ingredients to share the same temperature-time curve. This method directly compresses the key "time axis" in Chinese cooking, causing the optimal heating range of ingredients with different characteristics to be destroyed. Ingredients that need to be quickly shaped at high temperatures become soft and have a poor texture due to prolonged heating, while ingredients that need to be slowly cooked at low temperatures are scalded by the instantaneous high temperature, and the internal flavor precursors cannot be fully transformed. In the end, the dish becomes a mixture that is "cooked at the same time but has no flavor layers", losing the core of the taste narrative of Chinese cuisine built by time difference. Disruptions in the physicochemical reactions of ingredients lead to a decline in dish quality: Adding ingredients all at once forces key physicochemical reactions (Maillard reaction, caramelization, chlorophyll color retention, pectin hydrolysis, etc.) of different ingredients in the pot to occur simultaneously, rather than independently within their respective optimal timeframes. For example, ingredients that need to be activated early for aroma and those that need to be enhanced later for umami are heated at the same time, causing fat-soluble aromatic substances to evaporate prematurely and water-based umami substances to be destroyed by overheating. The Maillard reaction and caramelization reaction are out of sync, resulting in dishes with weak aroma, dull color, and stiff texture, failing to meet the quality standards of traditional handmade cooking.

[0003] For example, Chinese patent literature has disclosed a feeding box and an automatic cooking machine [Chinese Patent No.: 202323221622.0], which includes a box body, partitions, several bottom covers, and several drive components. The partitions divide the inner cavity of the box body into several feeding chambers. Each feeding chamber has a feeding port at the top and a feeding outlet at the bottom, allowing for the storage of various ingredients. The feeding chambers are arranged circumferentially along the box body, effectively reducing the space occupied by the pot lid and facilitating integration with the pot lid. The drive components are connected to the bottom covers one-to-one, and can drive the bottom covers to open or close the feeding outlets of the feeding chambers one-to-one. This allows for individual control of the opening timing of the feeding outlets of each feeding chamber, thereby controlling the order in which ingredients are fed into each feeding chamber without affecting each other, making operation simple and convenient.

[0004] Although the above-mentioned technical solution achieves separate food dispensing by opening and closing the bottom cover driven by a motor, it has the following key problems: First, the transmission components (motor, drive structure) are placed directly inside the food cavity and come into direct contact with the food, which not only fails to meet food hygiene requirements, but is also prone to blockage or damage to the components or motor due to food residue and juice; Second, the overall structure is complex, requiring multiple sets of drive components to control different feeding cavities, resulting in high manufacturing costs, large equipment weight, and high difficulty and cost of subsequent maintenance, making it difficult to achieve large-scale application and popularization in home / commercial scenarios. Insufficient equipment stability and ease of operation: The connection between the lid and the body of some existing cooking machines is loose. When attempting to add ingredients in stages (such as when the motor-driven components are in motion), problems such as lid displacement and body shaking may occur, affecting the accuracy of ingredient addition and cooking safety. At the same time, the lack of a reasonable feeding hopper layout design, with uneven distribution of feeding hoppers in some machines, leads to an imbalance in the weight-bearing capacity of the lid, further reducing the stability of the equipment operation. In addition, the operation of users taking out and putting in ingredients and cleaning the equipment is cumbersome and does not meet the convenience requirements of daily use. In summary, existing cooking equipment either fails to reproduce the flavor of Chinese cuisine due to incorrect ingredient feeding logic or lacks practicality due to structural design defects. It is difficult to solve the core problem of "precisely controlling the timing of ingredient feeding in automated Chinese cooking". There is an urgent need for an automatic ingredient feeding device that can fit the logic of Chinese cooking, has a reliable structure, and is easy to operate, to fill the existing technological gap. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the aforementioned problems in existing technologies by proposing a step-by-step ingredient-adding cooking machine and kitchen appliance.

[0006] The purpose of this utility model can be achieved through the following technical solution: a step-by-step feeding cooking machine, including a pot body and a pot lid, wherein the pot lid is fastened to the pot body to form a fixed connection, the pot lid is provided with several openings, a feeding hopper is inserted into the outer side of the openings, a motor is installed on the inner side of the pot lid, the motor rotates to drive a baffle plate, the baffle plate has a feeding port, the feeding port is connected to any of the openings, so that the feeding hopper is connected to the inner cavity of the pot body.

[0007] In the above-mentioned step-by-step feeding cooking machine, a boss is provided on the inner side of the pot lid, and a mounting cavity is recessed on the boss. The motor is embedded in the mounting cavity, and the end of the motor shaft extends out of the mounting cavity and is fixed to the center of the baffle plate. The through-hole penetrates the surface of the boss, and the surface of the baffle plate and the surface of the boss form a slidable contact.

[0008] In the above-mentioned step-feeding cooking machine, several of the feeding hoppers are arranged in a circular array around the center of the pot lid.

[0009] In the above-mentioned step-feeding cooking machine, the feeding hopper is a cylindrical shell, which is a straight cylinder or a conical cylinder, and the cross-section of the cylindrical shell is trapezoidal, square, rectangular, circular or elliptical.

[0010] In the above-mentioned step-feeding cooking machine, the feeding hopper has an open opening.

[0011] In the above-mentioned step-by-step feeding cooking machine, the open top is covered with a cap.

[0012] In the above-mentioned step-by-step feeding cooking machine, the pot body and the pot lid are fitted with a locking structure. The locking structure includes an annular groove on the rim of the pot body and an annular protrusion on the edge of the pot lid. The annular protrusion is embedded in the annular groove to form a circumferential locking and fixing.

[0013] In the above-mentioned step-by-step ingredient-adding cooking machine, a handle is fixed to the center of the outer side of the pot lid. The handle is an inverted U-shaped part, and the two ends of the U-shaped part are fixed to the pot lid by screws.

[0014] A kitchen appliance, including the aforementioned step-by-step ingredient-adding stir-fry machine.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, this step-by-step ingredient-feeding cooking machine and kitchen appliance have the following beneficial effects: Ensuring food hygiene and reducing equipment failure risks: Compared to existing technologies, this invention employs a concealed motor assembly and a baffle isolation structure. The motor is embedded in the mounting cavity of the inner boss of the pot lid, connected to the baffle only via a rotating shaft. The baffle slides against the boss surface to switch the feeding port. This design ensures that the motor, rotating shaft, and other transmission components are completely isolated from the food. This avoids the problem of oil contamination of the food by the components, meeting food hygiene requirements. Furthermore, it prevents food residue from entering the transmission structure, effectively reducing the probability of transmission component blockage and motor damage, and extending the equipment's lifespan.

[0016] Simplified and integrated structure reduces production and maintenance costs: Optimized integrated design: The motor, baffle, and feeding hopper are all integrated into the pot lid. The motor is hidden through a boss mounting cavity, eliminating the need for a separate feeding box and complex transmission system. The overall structure is more compact, reducing the number of parts (e.g., eliminating the need for a separate drive component for each feeding chamber), thus lowering manufacturing costs and overall equipment weight. Improved maintenance convenience: The core transmission components (motor, baffle) are concentrated in the pot lid area, and the feeding hopper uses an "external plug-in" connection, facilitating disassembly and replacement. Compared to the complex structure of existing technologies with "transmission components built into a box cavity," this solution eliminates the need to disassemble the pot body or the entire feeding structure during maintenance. The pot lid component can be inspected separately, reducing maintenance difficulty and costs.

[0017] Precise and controllable ingredient dispensing to meet the needs of step-by-step cooking: Stable dispensing sequence: A motor-driven baffle rotates, connecting the dispensing ports on the baffle to different hoppers in a set order, achieving "automatic switching of ingredient dispensing according to cooking time". Users can pre-place ingredients into the corresponding hoppers according to their cooking requirements, avoiding overcooking or undercooking due to manual operation delays, ensuring the taste and cooking effect of the dish. Reliable sealing of dispensing: The surface of the baffle slides and fits snugly against the surface of the raised platform, completely blocking unconnected hoppers. This prevents oil fumes and moisture from the pot from flowing back into the hoppers and contaminating the ingredients, while also preventing the ingredients in the hoppers from becoming damp or heated prematurely, ensuring the freshness of the ingredients.

[0018] Optimized user experience, balancing stability and practicality: Balanced lid load-bearing: Several feeding hoppers are arranged in a circular array around the center of the lid. This layout ensures the weight of the hoppers and the food inside is evenly distributed around the lid, preventing tilting and instability caused by concentrated weight on one side, thus improving the stability of the equipment during use. Enhanced ease of operation: Flexible hopper design: Supports both straight and conical shell types, with selectable cross-sections such as trapezoidal, square, and round. The conical design features a "larger diameter opening facing outwards" for easy food input, while the thin-walled structure reduces weight while ensuring sufficient capacity. Open and closed lid compatibility: The open hopper can be used directly for feeding and venting, or it can be sealed with a lid (with small vent holes) to balance hygiene and dust prevention (the lid prevents dust accumulation when not in use) with cooking venting needs. Safe and heat-resistant design: An inverted U-shaped handle is located on the outer center of the lid, secured with screws. Users can remove or place the lid without touching the high-temperature area, preventing burns, and facilitating the locking and unlocking of the lid and pot body.

[0019] Securely fastened for safe cooking: The pot body and lid utilize a "ring groove + ring convex strip" locking structure. The ring convex strip embeds into the ring groove to form an interference fit friction lock, achieving both axial fixation (preventing the lid from loosening and floating) and circumferential fixation (avoiding the lid from rotating synchronously when the motor drives the baffle). This fastening method maintains a stable connection during cooking (especially when the pot body heats up and generates gas pressure), preventing oil fume leakage or accidental lid detachment, thus improving safety. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the complete external shape of this step-by-step ingredient-adding cooking machine.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the bottom surface of the pot lid in this step-by-step ingredient-adding cooking machine.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a 3D diagram of the internal structure of the pot lid in this step-by-step ingredient-adding cooking machine.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a 3D structural diagram of the lid and body of the wok in this step-by-step ingredient-adding stir-fry machine.

[0024] In the diagram, 1 is the pot body; 2 is the pot lid; 2a is the opening; 2b is the boss; 3 is the feeding hopper; 4 is the motor; 5 is the baffle plate; 5a is the feeding port; and 6 is the handle. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, which are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0026] Example 1

[0027] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, a step-by-step feeding cooking machine includes a pot body 1 and a pot lid 2. The pot lid 2 is fastened to the pot body 1 to form a fixed connection. The pot lid 2 is provided with several openings 2a. A feeding hopper 3 is inserted into the outside of the openings 2a. A motor 4 is installed on the inside of the pot lid 2. The motor 4 rotates to drive a baffle 5. A feeding port 5a is opened on the baffle 5. The feeding port 5a is connected to any of the openings 2a, so that the feeding hopper 3 is connected to the inner cavity of the pot body 1.

[0028] like Figure 2 and 3 As shown, preferably, a boss 2b is provided on the inner side of the pot lid 2, and a mounting cavity is recessed on the boss 2b. The motor 4 is embedded in the mounting cavity, and the end of the motor 4 shaft extends out of the mounting cavity and is fixed to the center of the baffle 5. The through port 2a penetrates the surface of the boss 2b, and the surface of the baffle 5 and the surface of the boss 2b form a slidable contact.

[0029] By setting the boss 2b and its mounting cavity, the motor 4 is concealed, thus protecting the motor 4 and optimizing the integrated structure of the pot lid 2. The baffle 5 is designed to cover the boss 2b and slide and rotate, which can not only effectively separate the food in each feeding hopper 3, but also smoothly rotate and switch between feeding operations of different feeding hoppers 3.

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, preferably, several feeding hoppers 3 are arranged in a circular array around the center of the pot lid 2. Specifically, 3 to 6 feeding hoppers 3 are arranged symmetrically around the center. When feeding ingredients, it is important to ensure that the feeding hoppers 3 that hold the ingredients are symmetrically distributed around the center, which can basically ensure the load-bearing balance of the pot lid 2 and improve the stability coefficient.

[0031] Preferably, the feeding hopper 3 is a cylindrical shell, which can be a straight cylinder or a conical cylinder, and the cross-section of the cylindrical shell can be trapezoidal, square, rectangular, circular, or elliptical. The cylindrical shell has a thin-walled structure, which can reduce weight and accommodate more food. When the cylindrical shell is a conical cylinder, the small diameter opening of the cone is connected to the inlet 2a, and the large diameter opening of the cone faces outward to facilitate the feeding of food. Different cross-sectional shapes of the cylindrical shell can all achieve good storage and feeding of food, and can be selected according to preference and needs.

[0032] Preferably, the feeding hopper 3 has an open opening. The user puts food into the feeding hopper 3 through the open opening, which can be left uncovered to keep it unobstructed, and can be used for both feeding and venting.

[0033] Preferably, the open end is covered with a cap. The open end of the feeding hopper 3 can also be sealed with a cap to maintain hygiene, and a small hole is made in the cap for venting.

[0034] like Figure 1 and 4As shown, preferably, the pot body 1 and the pot lid 2 are fitted together by a locking structure. The locking structure includes an annular groove on the rim of the pot body 1 and an annular protrusion on the edge of the pot lid 2. The annular protrusion is embedded in the annular groove to form a circumferential locking and fixing.

[0035] The annular protrusion and the annular groove form a frictional engagement through an interference fit, thereby tightly fastening the lid 2 and the pot body 1. This provides both axial and circumferential fixation, ensuring that the lid 2 and the pot body 1 remain firmly engaged without being affected during the rotation of the baffle 5 driven by the motor 4.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, preferably, a handle 6 is fixed to the center of the outer side of the pot lid 2. The handle 6 is an inverted U-shaped part, and the two ends of the U-shaped part are fixed to the pot lid 2 by screws. The user can pick up and put down the pot lid 2 by holding the handle 6, thereby preventing burns and facilitating the opening and closing of the pot lid 2 and the pot body 1.

[0037] How to use this step-by-step ingredient-adding cooking machine: Several different ingredients are placed into several feeding hoppers 3 in sequence according to the order of addition. The pot body 1 is heated and cooked. According to the set cooking time, the motor 4 is started to rotate the baffle 5, so that the feeding port 5a is connected to the feeding hoppers 3 in sequence, and the corresponding ingredients are put into the pot body 1 for heating until all the ingredients in the feeding hoppers 3 are put into the pot body 1 and the best cooking effect is achieved.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] Based on Embodiment 1, the difference in this embodiment is as follows: A kitchen appliance, including the aforementioned step-by-step ingredient-adding stir-fry machine.

[0040] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative examples illustrating the spirit of this utility model. Those skilled in the art to which this utility model pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to substitute them, without departing from the spirit of this utility model or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0041] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

Claims

1. A step-by-step ingredient-feeding stir-fry machine, comprising a pot body and a pot lid, wherein the pot lid engages with the pot body to form a secure connection, characterized in that, The pot lid is provided with several openings, and a feeding hopper is inserted into the outer side of the opening. A motor is installed on the inner side of the pot lid. The motor rotates and drives a baffle plate. A feeding port is opened on the baffle plate. The feeding port is connected to any of the openings, so that the feeding hopper is connected to the inner cavity of the pot body.

2. The step-by-step ingredient-feeding cooking machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner side of the pot lid is provided with a boss, and a mounting cavity is recessed on the boss. The motor is embedded in the mounting cavity, and the end of the motor shaft extends out of the mounting cavity and is fixed to the center of the baffle plate. The opening penetrates the surface of the boss, and the surface of the baffle plate and the surface of the boss form a slidable contact.

3. The step-by-step ingredient-feeding cooking machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Several of the aforementioned feeding hoppers are arranged in a circular array around the center of the pot lid.

4. The step-by-step ingredient-feeding cooking machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding hopper is a cylindrical shell, which is a straight cylinder or a conical cylinder, and the cross-section of the cylindrical shell is trapezoidal, square, rectangular, circular or elliptical.

5. The step-by-step ingredient-feeding cooking machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding hopper has an open opening.

6. The step-charging stir fry machine according to claim 5, wherein, The opening is covered with a cap.

7. The step-by-step ingredient-feeding cooking machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pot body and the pot lid are fitted together by a locking structure. The locking structure includes an annular groove on the rim of the pot body and an annular protrusion on the edge of the pot lid. The annular protrusion is embedded in the annular groove to form a circumferential locking and fixing.

8. The step-charging stir fry machine according to claim 1, wherein, A handle is fixed to the center of the outer side of the pot lid. The handle is an inverted U-shaped part, and the two ends of the U-shaped part are fixed to the pot lid with screws.

9. A kitchen appliance characterized in that, The cooking machine includes the step-feeding cooking machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images