Kitchen equipment for preparing food

Abstract

Kitchen equipment (10, 11 ) for preparing food (15), comprising a support frame (12) configured to support a preparation container (200) adapted to contain the food (15) to be prepared and means (20) for treating said food (15), including corresponding mixing means (201 ) and / or chopping means (203) of said food (15), characterised in that it comprises hydraulic means (22) which are adapted to operate, or activate, said means (20) for treating said food (15).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] KITCHEN EQUIPMENT FOR PREPARING FOOD.

[0003] Field of application of this invention

[0004] The present invention relates to kitchen equipment for preparing food. n equipment capable of processing food such as mixing, , isking, whipping said food, etc. is known.

[0005] According to a known type, this equipment is driven by one or more electric motors.

[0006] When these familiar pieces of equipment are configured to perform different treatments on products such as mixing or blending or whipping, they generally require multiple motors to rotate the means adapted to perform the treatment.

[0007] In fact, the number of revolutions of the mixing means is generally considerably lower than the number of revolutions at which the blending or whipping means must work.

[0008] This implies the use of several motors for each different type of treatment.

[0009] This is particularly the case when such equipment is sized to process large quantities of food, as is the case in restaurant or farmhouse kitchens.

[0010] As a result, the use of several motors generates significant overall dimensions that are not compatible with kitchen equipment.

[0011] Alternatively, it is possible to use motors such as brushless ones, which are configured to work at high rpm and low rpm.

[0012] However, this solution means that in order to guarantee sufficient drive torque to process also large quantities of food, it is necessary to oversize the motor. This normally generates dimensions that are not compatible with kitchen equipment.

[0013] Exposure and advantages of the invention

[0014] The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of making available kitchen equipment for preparing food which is structurally and functionally designed to overcome one or more of the limits set out above with reference to the known prior art.

[0015] In the sector, there is therefore a need for equipment of the type referred to above, which does not take up a lot of space and which enables various treatments to be carried out on food, even when the quantities of food to be processed are large.

[0016] A further object of the invention is also that of making available to the art kitchen equipment for preparing food in the context of a simple, rational solution with a rather low cost.

[0017] Such and other objects are achieved by virtue of the features of the invention reported in independent claim 1. The dependent claims outline preferred and / or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

[0018] In particular, the present invention makes available kitchen equipment for preparing food, comprising a support frame configured to support a preparation container adapted to contain the food to be prepared and means for treating said food, including corresponding mixing means and / or chopping means of said food, and which comprises hydraulic means which are adapted to operate, or activate, said means for treating said food.

[0019] In this way, it is possible to have a piece of equipment capable of performing several treatments on foods by means of a single, particularly small hydraulic motor.

[0020] Thanks to this solution, it is possible to install a hydraulic motor that is capable of working over a wide range of revolutions per minute, and this operation is made possible even without the presence of a gearbox coupled to the hydraulic means, as said hydraulic means are capable of delivering a high drive torque even when working at high revolutions per minute.

[0021] This is possible without these hydraulic means taking up large overall dimensions that would be inappropriate for kitchen equipment.

[0022] Preferably said food mixing means comprises a movable mixing paddle, in particular one that can be rotated inside the preparation container of said food.

[0023] Said movable mixing paddle is preferably shaped to mix, and / or, blend, and / or whisk said food inside the preparation container.

[0024] Preferably said chopping means of said food comprise a movable chopping paddle, in particular rotatable inside the preparation container of said food preferably shaped to chop said food inside the preparation container.

[0025] Advantageously, said hydraulic means for operating said mixing means and / or chopping means of said food comprise a corresponding hydraulic motor for operating said mixing means and / or chopping means of said food, in particular the corresponding mixing paddle and / or chopping paddle.

[0026] In particular, said hydraulic motor for operating said mixing means and / or chopping means of said food, in particular of the corresponding mixing paddle and / or chopping paddle, is supported at an upper opening of said preparation container of said food.

[0027] Optionally, the preparation container is housed in a containment element from which it is preferably manually insertable / removable.

[0028] Preferably said hydraulic motor operating said mixing means is mounted on a movable arm configured to move from the preparation container i and allow access to the upper opening of the preparation container. In particular, said hydraulic means comprise corresponding reservoir means, in particular in the form of a reservoir for containing hydraulic oil.

[0029] Preferably said hydraulic means comprise corresponding means for pumping hydraulic oil from said reservoir means, in particular from said reservoir, for containing hydraulic oil to said hydraulic operating motor and vice versa.

[0030] In particular said equipment comprises means for emitting what is contained in the preparation container in particular said food, preferably in the form of a corresponding tap, in connection, in particular through a respective conduit or tube, to said preparation container.

[0031] Additionally, said equipment may comprise thermal conditioning means of said food.

[0032] In particular, such thermal conditioning means comprise heating means housed in a corresponding chamber, or cavity, preferably provided at said preparation container and / or containment element.

[0033] In particular they are positioned in the lower part thereof and / or at the side wall thereof, for example a bottom and / or a side wall of the preparation container.

[0034] Preferably said equipment includes means for supplying electrical energy, in particular for supplying and controlling said hydraulic means for operating or activating said means for treating said food and / or said means for thermally conditioning said food.

[0035] Brief description of the drawings

[0036] This and other innovative aspects or respective advantageous embodiments, are however, set forth in the appended claims, the technical characteristics of which can be found, together with corresponding advantages achieved, in the following detailed description, illustrating a purely non-limiting example of the embodiment of the invention, which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: figure 1 a, 1 b shows a schematic, raised front and side view of the preferred embodiment of the equipment according to the present invention;

[0037] - figure 2a, 2b shows a schematic plan view from above of the preferred implementation of equipment according to the present invention with the hydraulic motor in the working and out-of-space position, respectively; figure 3a, 3b shows a schematic, raised front and side view of a different embodiment of the equipment according to the present invention;

[0038] - figure 4a, 4b illustrates a schematic view of the heating means of preparation container 200 according to two possible embodiments.

[0039] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0040] The attached figures illustrate a preferred embodiment of kitchen equipment 10, 11 for preparing food 15.

[0041] As illustrated, the equipment 10, 11 comprises a support frame 12 configured to support a preparation container 200 adapted to contain the food 15 to be prepared and means 20 for treating said food 15, in particular including corresponding mixing means 201 and / or chopping means 203 of said food 15.

[0042] As can be seen from said figures, advantageously, said support frame 12 is movable, preferably on corresponding ground support means, especially comprising or consisting of corresponding wheels 14, especially in the form of two or four wheels 14, preferably provided at the opposite side flanks of the equipment or of said support frame 12.

[0043] Advantageously, as illustrated, said equipment 10, 11 comprises hydraulic means 22 which are adapted to operate, or activate, said means 20 for treating said food 15, in particular corresponding mixing means 201 of said food, and / or chopping means 203 of said food, 15.

[0044] In this way, it is possible to have equipment 10, 11 with hydraulic means 22 capable of performing different processing on the foods, i.e. processing requiring very different speeds of the mixing means 201 and / or the chopping means 203 of said food 15. This is also possible if the amount of food 15 to be treated is large, as is the case in the catering industry. At the same time, it allows the equipment 10, 11 itself to remain small.

[0045] Advantageously, as illustrated, said equipment 10, 11 comprises a preparation container 200 of said food 15.

[0046] In particular, said preparation container 200 may be in the form of a single container, preferably cylindrical and made of stainless steel, and having a side wall 200a, and an upper opening, 200b for introducing / removing said food 15, opposed to a bottom 200c.

[0047] At the upper opening, 200b, a lid 200d can be provided, which can be especially opened to introduce / remove said food 15.

[0048] Said lid 200d may be of the exploratory type, i.e. with a part shaped in such a way as to allow one to see inside the preparation container 200.

[0049] According to a possible embodiment, the preparation container 200 is housed in a containment element 200x from which it is preferably manually insertable / removable.

[0050] Said containment element 200x is preferably installed on the support frame 12.

[0051] This allows the preparation container 200 to be removed manually to facilitate the removal of the treated food 15 or the washing of the container 200 itself. This solution with a removable preparation container 200 is preferable when said container is sized to hold less than 20 litres of food 15 e.g. 10 - 15 litres. Conversely, when said preparation container 200 is sized to hold more than 15 or 20 litres of food 15, a solution with a fixed container 200 is preferred, shown in figures 3a, 3b, i.e. not removable from the support frame 12 or the containment element 200x.

[0052] As depicted in figure 3a, 3b, in such a case advantageously the equipment 10, 11 may include means 18 for emitting what is contained in the preparation container 200 in particular for emitting said food 15.

[0053] Preferably said emitting means 18 are in the form of a corresponding tap 181 , in connection, especially through a respective conduit or tube 182, to said preparation container 200.

[0054] Opening or closing the tap 181 allows the contents of the container 200 to escape or be retained.

[0055] This allows the container 200 to be easily emptied of the food 15 contained in it or any washing liquid.

[0056] Said tap 181 may possibly be fitted with extraction means such as an auger, not shown in the figure, which facilitates the exit of foods of a consistency that does not guarantee independent outflow.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, said mixing means 201 of said food 15 comprise a movable mixing paddle 201 a.

[0058] The term mixing means 201 refers to means capable of mixing, blending, whipping, etc., the food 15 contained in the preparation container 200.

[0059] In particular, said mixing paddle 201 a is rotatable inside the preparation container 200.

[0060] Preferably, said mixing paddle 201a can have different shapes depending on the type of processing it has to perform on the food 15. For example, it may be shaped to mix, and / or, blend, and / or whip said food 15 inside the preparation container 200.

[0061] Said 201 a movable mixing paddle in particular is provided with a corresponding vertically extended rotating shaft 20a.

[0062] Preferably said chopping means 203 of said food 15 comprise a movable chopping paddle 203a.

[0063] In particular, said chopping paddle 203a is rotatable inside the preparation container 200 of said food 15.

[0064] Preferably, the chopping paddle 203a can have different shapes depending on the type of processing it has to perform on the food 15. For example, it can be shaped to chop finely or coarsely or to obtain different shapes of pieces of said food 15.

[0065] Said movable chopping paddle 203a in particular is provided with a corresponding vertically extended rotating shaft 20a.

[0066] In particular, said shaft 20a of the mixing paddle 201 a and / or the chopping paddle 203a must be shaped to be mechanically coupled to the hydraulic means 22 from which it receives motion.

[0067] As can be deduced from the figures, advantageously, said hydraulic means 22 for operating said mixing means 201 and / or chopping means 203 of said food 15 comprise a corresponding hydraulic motor 220 for operating said mixing means 201 and / or chopping means 203 of said food 15, in particular the corresponding mixing paddle 201 a and / or chopping paddle 203a.

[0068] In particular, said shaft 20a of the mixing paddle 201 a and / or of the chopping paddle 203a must be shaped to be mechanically coupled / uncoupled with the hydraulic motor 220 operating said mixing means 201 and / or chopping means 203 of said food 15, in particular of the corresponding mixing paddle, 201a and / or chopping paddle 203a.

[0069] Thanks to this solution, it is possible to install a single hydraulic motor 220, which is capable of working at a very variable speed, e.g. between 20 and 2000 rpm.

[0070] This operation is made possible even without a gearbox coupled to the hydraulic motor 220, as the hydraulic motor 220 is able to deliver a high drive torque even when working at high rpm, and this is possible without taking up large overall dimensions that would be inappropriate for kitchen equipment. Such a hydraulic motor 220 can, for example, have a power of 1 .1 KW.

[0071] On the contrary in the known art, it is not possible with a single electric motor to achieve such a wide range of revolutions per minute and at the same time a high enough torque to also process large quantities of food 15 e.g. 5 to 20 litres and more.

[0072] This allows the treating means 20 to perform both high and low rotational speed treatments on the food 15.

[0073] In fact, the rotational speed of the mixing means is generally considerably lower than the rotational speed at which the blending or whipping means must work.

[0074] Advantageously, as illustrated, said hydraulic motor 220 for operating said mixing means 201 and / or chopping means 203 of said food 15, in particular of the corresponding mixing paddle 201 a and / or chopping paddle 203a, is supported at an upper opening 200b of said preparation container 200 of said food 15.

[0075] In particular, said hydraulic motor 220 operating said mixing means 201 is mounted on a movable arm 220a configured to move from the preparation container 200 and allow access to the upper opening 200b of the preparation container 200.

[0076] This allows the hydraulic motor 220, which is located above the upper opening 200b of the preparation container 200, to be moved.

[0077] This facilitates the possible removal of the preparation container 200 from the containment element 200x in which it is housed, and / or allows the possible removal of the lid 200d, and / or easy intervention on the food 15 contained in the preparation container 200.

[0078] Preferably the mobile arm 220a is configured to move out of the way by translating above the preparation container 200.

[0079] As shown in figure 2a, this translation may be performed by rotation about a vertical axis parallel to the axis of symmetry of the container 200.

[0080] In an embodiment not shown in the figure, the movable arm 220a can lift away from the container 200, for example by rotation about a horizontal axis. Advantageously, the equipment 10 illustrated in figure 4a and the equipment 11 illustrated in figure 4b, may comprise thermal conditioning means 202, of said food 15, in particular heating means 25 housed in a corresponding chamber, or cavity, 202za preferably provided at said preparation container 200 of said food 15 and / or containment element 200x.

[0081] In particular, as illustrated in figures 4a, 4b, said heating means 25 are housed at the bottom 200c and / or at the side wall 200a of said preparation container 200 of said food 15.

[0082] Alternatively, if the containment element 200x is present, said heating means 25 may be accommodated at the bottom and / or at the side wall of said containment element 200x.

[0083] In order to ensure the safety of the operator using the equipment, the surfaces in contact with said heating means 25 are preferably insulated with suitable insulating material known to a person skilled in the art.

[0084] Such heating means 25 may include electric heating resistors, e.g. powered by 380 volts.

[0085] In particular, said thermal conditioning means 202, in particular heating means 25, may act directly on said food 15, heating it or also be used for cooking e.g. steaming or pasteurising foods 15.

[0086] In the case of, for example, steaming or pasteurisation, the equipment 10, 11 may comprise a basket to be housed inside said preparation container 200. In such a case, water is introduced into said preparation container 200, for example, which is heated by said thermal conditioning means 202. The food 15 is placed inside the basket, which in turn is placed inside said preparation container 200 preferably above the water level in the case of steaming, or immersed in water in the case of pasteurisation.

[0087] For said steaming or pasteurisation, the equipment 10, 11 may provide a hermetically sealed lid 200d on the preparation container 200.

[0088] Said tight seal is a function of the safety regulations of the sector in which said equipment 10, 11 is used.

[0089] In the case of steaming or pasteurisation, by the emission means 18 in the form of a corresponding tap 181 , the container 200 can be easily emptied of the water used for treatment.

[0090] As can be deduced from said figures, advantageously, said hydraulic means 22 comprise corresponding reservoir means 221 , in particular in the form of a reservoir for containing hydraulic oil.

[0091] Advantageously, as can be deduced from said figures, said hydraulic means 22 comprise corresponding means 222 for pumping hydraulic oil from said reservoir means 221 , for containing hydraulic oil, to said hydraulic operating motor 220 and vice versa.

[0092] As shown in the figures, said hydraulic oil pumping means 222 and said reservoir means 221 are preferably housed within the support frame 12, and further they are preferably placed below said preparation container 200 of said food 15 and / or containment element 200x.

[0093] We do not describe in detail the hydraulic system that connects said hydraulic oil pumping means 222 from said reservoir means 221 to said hydraulic operating motor 220 as it is generally known to a person skilled in the art.

[0094] A preferred embodiment provides that the hydraulic oil used in said system is food grade, in order to prevent problems of contamination of the treated food 15.

[0095] According to an aspect of the invention, means 223 are provided for supplying electrical energy, especially for supplying electrical energy for supplying and controlling said hydraulic means 22 for operating or activating said means 20 for treating said food 15 and / or the means 202 for thermally conditioning, i.e. heating or cooling, said food 15.

[0096] Advantageously, said means 223 for supplying electrical energy are suitable for supplying energy to operate said means 222 of pumping hydraulic oil of said hydraulic means 22. Said means 223 for supplying electrical energy may comprise one or more electric motors.

[0097] Preferably, the pumping means 222 may comprise one or more hydraulic pumps, e.g. carrying 230V and / or 380V, which operate the hydraulic motor 220.

[0098] The choice of the number of pumps depends on several factors, e.g. flow rate and capacity of the reservoir 221 .

[0099] Figures 1 b and 3b show a possible embodiment in which the means 223 for supplying electricity comprise two motors. Said two motors activate the means 222 for pumping hydraulic oil, which in said embodiment depicted in the figure comprises two hydraulic pumps that activate the hydraulic motor 220.

[0100] Advantageously, the equipment 10, 11 comprises means 245 for activating and deactivating said hydraulic motor 220 by operating said electric power supply means 223.

[0101] Said activation and deactivation means 245 act on the activation means of said treatment means 20 of said food 15.

[0102] In a particularly advantageous manner, said activation and deactivation means 245 of said hydraulic motor 220 and / or treatment means 20 are operated by a respective control button.

[0103] Advantageously, means 245 are provided for activating and deactivating said thermal conditioning means 202, i.e. for heating or cooling, said food 15. In particular, said means 245 for activating and deactivating said thermal conditioning means 202 may be in the form of a corresponding thermostat.

[0104] In a particularly advantageous manner, said equipment 10, 11 comprises a corresponding control panel 247 having respective display means 246 in the form of a corresponding display.

[0105] Preferably said equipment 10, 11 comprises a corresponding control unit for the management and control of the electric power supply means 223 and / or said hydraulic operating or activating means 22 and / or said thermal conditioning means 202 and / or respective activation and deactivation means 245.

[0106] In practice, as is evident, the technical characteristics illustrated above allow, individually or in a respective combination, achieving one or more of the following advantageous results:

[0107] - it is possible to have equipment 10, 11 that is flexible in terms of processing, allowing different treatments to be performed on the food 15, e.g. blending, mixing, whipping, chopping, cooking, steaming, pasteurising, etc.;

[0108] - it is possible to have equipment 10, 11 that is suitable for the catering industry, as it allows the processing of large quantities of food 15;

[0109] - it is possible to have equipment 10, 11 that has reduced dimensions;

[0110] - it is possible to have equipment 10, 11 with a simple and essential structure;

[0111] - it is possible to have equipment 10, 11 that has construction and maintenance costs that are not excessively high.

[0112] The present invention is susceptible to evident industrial application. The person skilled in the art will also be able to imagine numerous modifications and / or variations to be made to the same invention, while remaining within the scope of the inventive concept, as extensively explained. In addition, a person skilled in the art may envisage further preferred embodiments of the invention that comprise one or more of the above-mentioned features of the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, in particular as set out in the attached claims. Moreover, it must also be understood that all the details of the invention can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Kitchen equipment (10, 11 ) for preparing food (15), comprising a support frame (12) configured to support a preparation container (200) adapted to contain the food (15) to be prepared and means (20) for treating said food (15), including corresponding mixing means (201 ) and / or chopping means (203) of said food (15), characterised in that it comprises hydraulic means (22) which are adapted to operate, or activate, said means (20) for treating said food (15).

2. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that said mixing means (201 ) of said food (15) comprise a movable mixing paddle (201 a), in particular rotatable inside the preparation container (200) of said food (15) and in that said movable mixing paddle (201 a) is preferably shaped to mix, and / or blend and / or whip said food (15) inside the preparation container (200).

3. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that said chopping means (203) of said food (15) comprise a movable chopping paddle (203a), in particular rotatable inside the preparation container (200) of said food (15) preferably shaped to chop said food (15) inside the preparation container (200).

4. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said hydraulic means (22) for operating said mixing means (201 ) and / or chopping means (203) of said food (15) comprise a corresponding hydraulic motor (220) for operating said mixing means (201 ) and / or chopping means (203) of said food (15), in particular the corresponding mixing paddle (201 a) and / or chopping paddle (203a).

5. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said hydraulic motor (220) for operating said mixing means (201 ) and / or chopping means (203) of said food (15), in particular of the corresponding mixing paddle (201 a) and / or chopping paddle (203a), issupported at an upper opening (200b) of said preparation container (200) of said food (15).

6. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the preparation container (200) is housed in a containment element (200x) from which it is preferably manually insertable / removable.

7. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said hydraulic motor (220) operating said mixing means (201 ) is mounted on a movable arm (220a) configured to move from the preparation container (200) and allow access to the upper opening (200b) of the preparation container (200).

8. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said hydraulic means (22) comprise corresponding reservoir means (221 ), in particular in the form of a reservoir for containing hydraulic oil.

9. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said hydraulic means (22) comprise corresponding means (222) for pumping hydraulic oil from said reservoir means, in particular from said reservoir, (221 ) for containing hydraulic oil to said hydraulic operating motor (220) and vice versa.

10. Equipment (11 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means (18) for emitting what is contained in the preparation container (200), in particular said food (15), preferably in the form of a corresponding tap (181 ), in connection, in particular through a respective conduit or tube (182), to said preparation container (200).

11. Equipment (10, 11 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises thermal conditioning means (202) of said food (15), in particular heating means (25) housed in a corresponding chamber, or cavity, (202za) preferably provided at said preparation container(200) of said food (15), and / or containment element (200x) in particular in the lower part thereof and / or at the side wall thereof, for example a bottom (200c) and / or a side wall (200a) of said preparation container (200).

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