Equipment for grilling food

Abstract

The invention is a new piece of equipment for grilling food comprising, in its main parts, a lower support, a supporting and guiding upright, a lifting and lowering mechanism, a rotation mechanism, a grill carrier frame, a combined grill, a control circuit.

Description

[0001] EQUIPMENT FOR GRILLING FOOD

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present patent concerns equipment for grilling various types of food such as meat, vegetables, cheese, etc.

[0004] Several types of grills in various shapes and sizes are currently known. In particular, large grills are known, which are used for communal grilling, for example during communal events or village festivals, where large quantities of food of different types and in different sizes need to be grilled, for example polenta, portions of pork, meat, whole chickens, vegetables.

[0005] During grilling the food must be turned several times, usually upside down, or placed in more or less hot positions, so that it is cooked evenly on all sides.

[0006] Currently, the food to be grilled is moved and repositioned by hand by the cooking staff, using standard or big forks.

[0007] The food to be grilled is repositioned more or less frequently depending on its quality and size, so that the staff is forced to stand near the grill and brazier and intervene constantly in order to cook each portion of food evenly and to avoid overcooking it.

[0008] As a result, the cooking staff must frequently get very close to the grill and the brazier underneath, exposing themselves to the great heat emitted by the brazier and to the cooking fumes, with the risk of direct and indirect bums caused by the percolating fat sizzling on the embers.

[0009] In addition to the above, the position of the staff, close to the food being grilled, represents a hygiene-related risk, as the sweat of said staff can drop on the food being grilled.

[0010] Another, equally important drawback is represented by the fact that said staff, feeling hot due to their proximity to the brazier, temporarily move to cooler areas, thus being subjected to a continuous temperature fluctuation; this alternation between hot and less hot positions can damage the personnel's health. In order to overcome all the drawbacks mentioned above, a new piece of equipment for grilling food has been designed and manufactured which is capable of lifting, lowering and turning the grill or grill assembly.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new piece of equipment that can rotate the grill or grill assembly on a horizontal axis, so that each side of the food being cooked is alternately exposed to heat.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new piece of equipment in which the height of the grill or grill assembly with respect to the underlying heat source can be modified.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new piece of equipment that performs all said operations autonomously, with no need for any operator.

[0014] These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new equipment for grilling food comprising, in its main parts, a lower support, a supporting and guiding upright, a lifting and lowering mechanism, a rotation mechanism, a grill carrier frame, a combined grill, a control circuit.

[0015] The lower support is designed to contain, accommodate, support the hob comprising at least one brazier or another heat source such as embers, gas burners, thermoelectric heating elements.

[0016] Said heat source can be constituted by gas burners controlled by a valve and a thermocouple.

[0017] Said heat source can be constituted by embers or charcoal, in which case an embers and / or charcoal tray is provided.

[0018] Said heat source can be constituted by thermoelectric elements and / or catalytic elements and / or fan heaters.

[0019] Said lower support can comprise legs or other similar parts suited to space it from the supporting surface, the ground or the floor.

[0020] Said supporting and guiding upright is applied or fixed to one side of said lower support. More specifically, said supporting and guiding upright is arranged in a preferably median position on said side of said lower support.

[0021] Said supporting and guiding upright in turn comprises two mutually telescopic parts, of which a first part suited to be integral with said lower support and a second part suited to translate vertically, orthogonally to said lower support.

[0022] Said second part of said supporting and guiding upright is translated by said lifting and lowering mechanism.

[0023] Said lifting and lowering mechanism can consist of any mechanism suitable for obtaining the vertical translation of said second part of said supporting and guiding upright to any arbitrary position between the highest and the lowest position.

[0024] According to the invention, said lifting and lowering mechanism comprises, for example, a pneumatic actuator or piston or a worm screw shaft coupled with an electric motor.

[0025] Said rotation mechanism is applied to said second translating upper part of said supporting and guiding upright.

[0026] Said rotation mechanism is designed to accommodate, support and rotate said grill. Basically, said rotation mechanism comprises, in its main parts, an electric motor with gearbox, a possible angular position sensor, a shaft provided with a seat for connecting and fixing the grill carrier frame.

[0027] Said electric motor with gearbox sets said shaft provided with a seat rotating.

[0028] The position sensor detects the angular position of the shaft provided with a seat and, consequently, the angular position of the grill carrier frame and of the combined grill.

[0029] The grill carrier frame comprises several linear elements, generally metal section bars arranged in a quadrilateral pattern. On the edge of said grill carrier frame, at one of said linear elements, there is a side element suited to connect and secure said frame to said seat in the shaft of said rotation mechanism.

[0030] Said grill carrier frame is provided with elements, hooks, housings or other elements suited to be used to receive and secure said combined grill to said grill carrier frame.

[0031] The combined grill comprises two substantially square or rectangular grates that can be superimposed to each other.

[0032] The two joined grates hinged together can translate and / or rotate away from each other in such a way that it is possible to access the space between them to insert the food to be cooked, or one towards the position parallel to the other to hold the food to be cooked between said two grates.

[0033] A frame is provided, which is equipped with mechanisms suited to keep said two grates parallel and close to each other, regardless of the angular position assumed by the grill with two grates.

[0034] Said control circuit comprises a push button panel and a display, and is connected to said lifting and lowering mechanism and to said rotation mechanism.

[0035] Said control circuit operates the lifting and lowering mechanism, detects the angular position of the combined grill, and operates said rotation mechanism throughout the cooking cycle.

[0036] An additional control device controls the intensity of the flame.

[0037] The characteristics of the invention are better clarified in the following description, making reference to the drawings, which are attached by way of non-limiting example.

[0038] Figures la and lb show, respectively, an axonometric view and a front view of the new equipment for grilling food comprising, in its main parts, a lower support (1), a supporting and guiding upright (2), a lifting and lowering mechanism (3), a rotation mechanism (4), a frame (5) suited to carry the grill (6), a combined grill (6), a control circuit (7).

[0039] The lower support (1) is designed to contain, accommodate, support another heat source such as embers, gas burners, thermoelectric heating elements.

[0040] Said lower support (1) comprises legs (1.1) that are used to rest it on and space it from the table, the ground or the floor.

[0041] Said supporting and guiding upright (2) is applied or fixed to one side of said lower support (1).

[0042] Figures 2a and 2b show, respectively, a disassembled view and a partially sectioned axonometric view of the various component parts making up said supporting and guiding upright (2).

[0043] Said supporting and guiding upright (2) in turn comprises two mutually telescopic parts (2.1, 2.2), of which a first part (2.1) suited to be joined to said lower support (1) and a second part (2.2) suited to translate on said first part (2.1) and vertically, orthogonally to said lower support (1).

[0044] Said second part (2.2) of said supporting and guiding upright (2) is translated by said lifting and lowering mechanism (3).

[0045] Said lifting and lowering mechanism (3) consists, in this example, of a worm screw shaft (3) coupled with an electric motor.

[0046] Said rotation mechanism (4) is applied to said second upper part (2.2) of said supporting and guiding upright (2).

[0047] Said rotation mechanism (4) is designed to accommodate, support and rotate said frame (5) carrying said grill (6).

[0048] Said rotation mechanism (4) comprises, in its main parts, an electric motor (4.1) with gearbox (4.2), an angular position sensor (4.3), a shaft (4.41) provided with a seat (4.42) suited to be used for connecting and fixing the frame (5) carrying the grill (6).

[0049] Said electric motor (4.1) with gearbox (4.2) sets said shaft (4.41) provided with a seat (4.42) rotating.

[0050] The position sensor (4.3) detects the angular position of the shaft (4.41) provided with a seat (4.42) and, consequently, the angular position of the frame (5) carrying the grill (6) and of the combined grill (6).

[0051] Figure 3 shows the frame (5) carrying the grill (6) and the parts of the combined grill (6.1, 6.2).

[0052] The frame (5) carrying the grill (6) comprises several linear elements, generally metal section bars arranged in a quadrilateral pattern. On the edge of said frame (5) there is a side element (5.1) suited to connect and secure said frame to said seat (4.42) in the shaft (4.41) of said rotation mechanism (4).

[0053] Said frame (5) carrying the grill (6) is provided with elements (5.3), hooks, housings (5.2) or other elements suited to be used to receive and secure said combined grill (6) to said frame (5) carrying the grill (6).

[0054] The combined grill (6) comprises two substantially square or rectangular grates (6.1, 6.2) that can be superimposed to each other.

[0055] The two joined grates (6.1, 6.2) hinged together can translate and / or rotate away from each other (6.2, 6.1) in such a way that it is possible to access the space between said two grates (6.1, 6.2) to insert the food to be cooked, or one towards the position parallel to the other (6.2, 6.1) to hold the food to be cooked between said two grates (6.1, 6.2).

[0056] Said control circuit (7) comprises a push button panel (7.1) and a display (7.2), and is connected to said lifting and lowering mechanism (3) and to said rotation mechanism (4).

[0057] Said control circuit (7) operates the lifting and lowering mechanism (3), detects the angular position of the combined grill (6), and operates said rotation mechanism (4).

[0058] The operation of the new equipment is described below.

[0059] Before or after igniting or switching on the heat source in the lower support (1) and inserting the food to be cooked between the two grates (6.1, 6.2) of the combined grill (6), the operator can set an appropriate food-specific grilling programme in the control circuit (7).

[0060] The control circuit (7) ensures that the frame (5) carrying the grill (6) and the combined grill (6) are kept substantially horizontal at a certain height from the heat source for a given lapse of time and, at regular or programmed intervals, operates the lifting and lowering mechanism (3) so as to bring the frame (5) carrying the grill (6) and the combined grill (6) at least to a height slightly exceeding half its depth, operates the rotation mechanism (4) in order to turn the frame (5) carrying the grill (6) and the combined grill (6) upside down, and operates the lifting and lowering mechanism (3) again in order to lower the frame (5) carrying the grill (6) and the combined grill (6) to an optimal height for cooking the food positioned in the grill (6) itself.

[0061] After a pre-determined cooking time, with the relevant lifting-rotation-lowering operations, the control circuit (7) lifts the frame (5) carrying the grill (6) and the combined grill (6) from the heat source, so that the food is not cooked further but still kept in a hot zone, and rotates the frame (5) carrying the grill (6) so that the opening side of the two grates (6.1, 6.2) of the combined grill (6) is facing upwards and / or towards the operator.

[0062] According to the invention, instead of said frame (5) carrying the grill (6) and of said combined grill (6), a roasting spit (8), shown in Figure 4, or a rotisserie (9), shown Figure 5, can be attached to the rotation mechanism (4). In this case, said rotation mechanism (4) rotates said spit (8) or rotisserie (9) at an adjustable speed, so as to sequentially expose all the sides of the food placed on the spit (8) or rotisserie (9), while the lifting and lowering mechanism (3) can position and maintain said spit (8) or rotisserie (9) at a fixed height with respect to the underlying heat source, or can translate said spit (8) or rotisserie (9) vertically at different times to different heights with respect to said underlying heat source, so as to obtain different cooking results for the surface layer and the inside of the food positioned on said spit (8) or rotisserie (9).

[0063] The new equipment for grilling food made up as described above offers considerable advantages.

[0064] The new equipment allows the operator to avoid approaching the heat source repeatedly as it autonomously provides for turning the food to be cooked upside down.

[0065] The new equipment makes it possible to maintain a high level of hygiene for the food being cooked, as the operator can remain away from the food being cooked and any sweat or droplets of saliva do not reach the food.

[0066] The new equipment allows the operator to move away from the grill, as the control circuit (7) can be conveniently programmed to lift the food away from the heat source once the set cooking time has elapsed.

[0067] The new equipment makes it possible to cook each type of food in the optimal way by rotating the grill (6) according to the set timing so that it is cooked evenly on both sides, and by lifting or lowering the grill (6) in such a way as to obtain different cooking results for the surface layer and the inside of the food.

[0068] According to the invention, the control circuit (7) can be managed by an external device such as a mobile phone with a suitable application.

[0069] According to the invention, other control devices with acoustic warnings and / or indicator lights can be included.

[0070] The equipment described is particularly compact and lightweight, and can be used both outdoors and indoors, in a domestic environment or professionally for restaurants, agritourism facilities and leisure in general.

[0071] With the device described above, the food is cooked by combining the heat that is provided by the heat source with, to a lesser extent, the heat that is provided by the hot grill itself, that is, through direct cooking, and wherein said grill leaves the characteristic grill marks.

[0072] These are the schematic outlines that are sufficient for the expert in the art to carry out the invention, consequently, on practical application variants may be obtained that do not affect the substance of the innovative concept introduced herewith.

[0073] Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are made.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Equipment for grilling food, characterized in that it comprises:• a lower support (1) suited to contain, accommodate, support at least one heat source;• a supporting and guiding upright (2) applied or fixed to one side of said lower support (1), said upright (2) comprising at least two mutually telescopic parts (2.1, 2.2), of which a first part (2.1) is suited to be joined to said lower support (1) and a second part (2.2) is suited to translate vertically, orthogonally to said lower support (1);• a lifting and lowering mechanism (3) for the vertical translation of said second part (2.2) of said supporting and guiding upright (2) with respect to said first part (2.1) of said supporting and guiding upright (2);• a rotation mechanism (4) applied to said second part (2.2) of said upright (2) and suited to accommodate, support, hold and rotate a grill (6) or a frame (5) suited to carry the grill (6);• a grill (6) comprising two combined and hinged grates (6.1, 6.2) which can be superimposed to each other, wherein at least one (6.1) of said grates (6.1, 6.2) or said frame (5) carrying the grill (6) has an element (5.1) suited to connect and fix said two grates (6.1, 6.2) or said frame (5) to said rotation mechanism (4);• a control circuit (7) controlling and connected to said lifting and lowering mechanism (3), and controlling and connected to said rotation mechanism (4); and wherein said control circuit (7) actuates said lifting and lowering mechanism (3) in such a way as to lift the combined grill (6), actuates said rotation mechanism (4) in such a way as to rotate said combined grill (6) or said frame (5) carrying the grill (6), actuates said lifting and lowering mechanism (3) in such a way as to bring the combined grill (6) to a suitable height with respect to the heatsource of the lower support (1) and to a suitable height to allow the rotation of the grill (6).

2. Grilling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an angular position sensor (4.3) suited to detect the angular position of the combined grill (6) on its axis of rotation and connection to said rotation mechanism (4).

3. Grilling equipment according to claims 1, 2, characterized in that said control circuit (7) comprises a push button panel (7.1) for settings, a display (7.2), warning lights and / or acoustic warning devices.

4. Grilling equipment according to claims 1, 2, 3, characterized in that said combined grill (6) comprises two grates (6.1, 6.2) which can be superimposed and are hinged to each other, and which are provided with a mechanism for keeping said two grates (6.1, 6.2) parallel and close to each other, independently of the angular position assumed by the combined grill (6).

5. Grilling equipment according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said grates (6.1, 6.2) of said combined grill (6) comprise elements suited to allow for different distances when they are brought near each other and are substantially parallel.

6. Grilling equipment according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said control circuit (7) periodically• actuates the lifting and lowering mechanism (3) in such a way as to lift the combined grill (6) to a height exceeding at least half the size of the grill (6), orthogonal to its rotation axis,• actuates the rotation mechanism (4) in such a way as to turn the combined grill (6) substantially upside down,• actuates the lifting and lowering mechanism (3) in such a way as to lower the combined grill (6) to a suitable grilling height with respect to the heat sources of the lower support (1).

7. Grilling equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, after a preset time, said control circuit (7) actuates said lifting and lowering mechanism (3) in such a way as to move said combined grill (6) away from the heat sources and actuates at least one acoustic warning device and / or one warning light.

8. Grilling equipment according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said heat source consists of gas burners controlled by a valve and a thermocouple and / or thermoelectric elements and / or catalytic elements and / or fan heaters.

9. Grilling equipment according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said heat sources are controlled by a valve and a thermocouple.

10. Grilling equipment according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said heat source consists of embers or charcoal, and wherein said new grilling equipment comprises an embers or charcoal tray.

11. Grilling equipment according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower support (1) comprises legs (1.1) or other similar parts suited to space it from a supporting surface, the ground or the floor.

Images