Food warmer

Abstract

Food warming device (1) with a heat generating device (3), with a serving dish (7), and with a control device suitable for controlling at least one temperature in the heat generating device (3), characterized in that the heat generating device (3) is suitable for generating steam and comprises a steam outlet element (3.3), wherein the serving dish (7) has a steam inlet element (5.1) which is designed as a connection and machine interface for the steam outlet element (3.3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a food warming device (1) with a heat generating device (3), with a serving dish (7), and with a control device which is suitable for controlling at least one temperature in the heat generating device (3),

[0002] Such food warming devices are commonly known in the art, for example, as microwaves. In a microwave, pre-cooked food is heated in a serving dish so that it can then be served and eaten. Microwaves have been shown to be less suitable for heating pre-cooked vegetables, for example. The way microwaves work destroys the structures in the vegetables, causing them to lose their firm texture and become too soft.

[0003] The process of filling the food into the serving bowl, positioning the serving bowl in a microwave and removing the serving bowl from the microwave is time-consuming and requires a lot of intervention by care staff.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop a food warming device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the food warming device operates in a largely automated manner and is more gentle on the food and requires less personnel-intensive maintenance.

[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention in that the heat generating device is suitable for generating steam and comprises a steam outlet element, wherein the serving bowl has a steam inlet element which is designed as a connection and machine interface for the steam outlet element.

[0006] The present invention makes it possible to connect a serving dish adapted to the heat generating device, containing a pre-cooked food to be heated, to the heat generating device in such a way that the steam outlet element of the heat generating device is coupled to the steam inlet element of the serving dish, and steam generated in the heat generating device is directed into the serving dish. Parameters such as temperature, heating time, and / or steam pressure can be adjusted using the control system. Once a heating process is complete, the serving dish can be easily removed from the steam outlet element of the heat generating device, for example, to be taken to a location where the food is to be consumed.

[0007] There is therefore no need to further process or refill the food.

[0008] A further advantage of the present invention is that the heat generating device comprises a steam boiler and a riser pipe, at the free end of which the steam outlet element is formed. The riser pipe can be used to create a distance between the steam boiler and the serving dish, and also to incorporate a valve outside the steam boiler into the heat generating device.

[0009] It is also an advantage of the present invention that the steam inlet element forms a recess on an outer side of the serving tray, which recess is adapted to the shape of the steam outlet element, such that the steam outlet element is releasably connected to the serving tray via the recess during a heating process, and the serving tray can be removed from the steam outlet element after the heating process has ended. The design of the steam inlet element as a recess, into which the steam outlet element of the heat generating device can releasably engage, results in a stable seating of the serving tray during the heating process.

[0010] Another advantage is that the recess forms a curve on the inside of the serving bowl. The recess can thus essentially be the negative of the inner curve. A curve on the inside of the serving bowl is easy to clean.

[0011] It is also advantageous that the curvature forms a perimeter on which first steam inlet openings are formed. The curvature on the inside of the serving bowl is not only easier to clean than a recess, but it also creates the possibility of arranging steam inlet openings along its perimeter, allowing them to be directed 360° into the bowl cavity of the food bowl.

[0012] It is also advantageous that the serving tray has a base in which the steam inlet element is located. This allows a person to select from a selection of foods, such as vegetables, and fill the selected foods into the serving tray. The person can then position the serving tray, filled with the selected foods, along with the steam inlet element, onto the steam outlet element of the heat generator and start a heating process via the control system. Once the heating process is complete, the person can remove the serving tray from the heat generator and take it with them to eat the prepared food.

[0013] Further advantages arise from the further features of the subclaims.

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail below. It shows: Fig. 1 schematic front view of a food warming device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 schematic side view of the steam pressure device also Fig. 1; Fig. 3 schematic, perspective top view of a serving tray of the food warming device from Fig. 1; Fig. 4 schematic, perspective bottom view of a serving tray of the food warming device from Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 schematic, perspective side view of a serving tray of the food warming device from Fig. 1.

[0015] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a front view of a food warming device 1. The food warming device 1 comprises a heat generating device 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the heat generating device 3 is designed as a cylindrical, horizontal steam pressure vessel 3.1, which has a greater length l than a diameter d. In other embodiments, the steam pressure vessel 3.1 can also have other shapes or orientations; for example, the cylindrical steam pressure vessel 3.1 can also be arranged vertically or even be spherically shaped.

[0016] The steam pressure vessel 3.1 of the heat generating device 3 forms a top side 3.2 with a peripheral section. A steam outlet element 3.3 is formed on the top side 3.2. In the illustrated embodiment, the heat generating device 3 also includes a riser 3.4. This is arranged between the top side 3.1 and the steam outlet element 3.3. The riser 3.4 connects the interior of the steam pressure vessel 3.1 with the steam outlet element 3.3 at the free end 3.5 of the riser 3.4.

[0017] A serving bowl 5 has a steam inlet element 5.1. In the illustrated embodiment, the steam inlet element 5.1 is formed in a base 5.2 of the serving bowl 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the serving bowl 5 has the shape of a bowl. In the illustrated embodiment, the bowl is point-symmetrical with respect to a central axis. The steam outlet element 3.3 forms a connection and a machine interface with the steam inlet element 5.1 for the serving bowl 5. This allows the serving bowl 5 to be detachably coupled to the steam outlet element 3.3 of the heat generating device 3 by means of the steam inlet element 5.1.

[0018] A valve device (not shown) with at least one valve (not shown) is arranged between the heat generating device 3 and the serving dish 5. Such a valve is, for example, a steam pressure valve. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve device is located in the riser 3.4. To actuate the valve device, for example to start or stop a heating process, an actuator 7 is arranged on the riser 3.4, with which the valve device can be opened or closed. The valve arrangement is part of a control device which, in addition to the valve device, also comprises an electronic and / or electrical control part with which an electrical power supply from the public grid or from an energy storage device can be switched on and off, so that the food warming device 1 or just the heat generating device 3 can be switched on and off.Such a control unit is also suitable for controlling physical parameters that can be adjusted automatically after selecting a preset operating mode or individually without such a selection. Such physical parameters include, for example, the cooking temperature, cooking time, and steam pressure. The steam pressure can be adjusted and controlled with the help of the control unit via the valve device.

[0019] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the food warming device 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the steam pressure vessel 3.1 has a circular cross-section with a diameter d that is significantly smaller than the length l of the steam pressure vessel 3.1.

[0020] In other embodiments, a plurality of steam outlet elements 3.3 can also be formed on the steam pressure vessel 3.1, for example in a row on the top side 3.2, such that a plurality of serving bowls 5 can be placed next to one another on each steam outlet element 3.3 or a large serving bowl can be placed on a plurality of steam outlet elements 3.3.

[0021] In Fig. 3 shows the serving bowl 5 in perspective and from above. In Fig. 4 shows the serving bowl 5 in perspective from below. The steam inlet element 5.2 is shown on the base 5.2 of the serving bowl 5. The steam inlet element 5.2 has a protrusion 5.3 on the inside of the base 5.2 and a corresponding indentation 5.4 on the outside of the base 5.2. The steam outlet element 3.3 is designed to fit precisely into the indentation 5.4 on the outside of the base 5.2 of the serving bowl. The steam outlet element 3.3 and the steam inlet element 5.2 thus each form a matching interface.

[0022] The protrusion 5.3 on the inside of the base 5.2 forms a perimeter 5.5 in which at least one first steam inlet opening 5.6 and preferably a plurality of first steam inlet openings 5.6 are formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the first steam inlet openings 5.6 are arranged evenly distributed over 360° of the perimeter. In other embodiments, the distribution of the steam inlet openings 5.6 can also be uneven.

[0023] The protuberance 5.3 forms at least one second steam inlet opening 5.8, but preferably a plurality of second steam inlet openings 5.8, on a protuberance top side 5.7 that is substantially perpendicular to the circumference 5.5 and horizontal during the heating process. Due to the distribution of the first and second steam inlet openings 5.6 and 5.8 on the protuberance 5.3, steam can penetrate very evenly into the food located in the bowl space during the heating process for cooking.

[0024] In Fig. 5 shows a side view of the serving dish. The serving dish can be releasably closed with a lid (not shown). This optimizes the heating process and allows for safe transport of the cooked food in the serving dish without significant heat loss. List of reference symbols 1 food warming device 3 Heat generation device 3.1 Steam pressure boiler 3.2 Top 3.3 Steam outlet element 3.4 Riser pipe 3.5 free end 5 serving bowls 5.1 Steam inlet element 5.2 Soil 5.3 Protrusion 5.4 Invagination 5.5 Scope 5.6 first steam inlet opening 5.7 Top of the protrusion 5.8 second steam inlet opening 7 Actuator I Length d diameter

Claims

[1] Food warming device (1) with a heat generating device (3), with a serving dish (7), and with a control device which is suitable for controlling at least one temperature in the heat generating device (3), characterized by in that the heat generating device (3) is suitable for generating steam and comprises a steam outlet element (3.3), wherein the serving tray (7) has a steam inlet element (5.1) which is designed as a connection and machine interface for the steam outlet element (3.3). [2] Food warming device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the steam generating device (3) comprises a steam boiler (3.1) and a riser pipe (3.4), at the free end (3.5) of which the steam outlet element (3.3) is formed. [3] Food warming device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the steam inlet element (5.1) forms an indentation (5.4) on an outer side of the serving tray (7), which is adapted to a shape of the steam outlet element (3.3), such that the steam outlet element (3.3) is detachably coupled to the serving tray (7) via the indentation (5.4) during a heating process and the serving tray (7) can be removed from the steam outlet element (3.3) after the heating process has ended. [4] Food warming device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the indentation (5.4) forms a protrusion (5.3) on an inner side of the serving bowl (7). [5] Food warming device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the protuberance (5.3) forms a circumference (5.5) on which first steam inlet openings (5.6) are formed. [6] Food warming device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized bythat the protuberance (5.3) forms a substantially horizontal protuberance top side (5.7) in which second steam inlet openings (5.8) are formed. [7] Food warming device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the first steam inlet openings (5.6) and the second steam inlet openings (5.8) are aligned at a substantially right angle to each other. [8] Food warming device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the serving bowl (7) has a base (5.2) in which the steam inlet element (5.1) is arranged. [9] Food warming device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heat generating device (3) comprises a steam valve. [10] Food warming device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the heat generating device (3) comprises an actuator (7) which is suitable for changing the amount of steam escaping from the steam outlet element (3.3).

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