Food preparation appliance provided with a hot-air cooking device

Abstract

The invention relates to a food preparation appliance (1) comprising a housing (2); a cooking vessel (4) configured to receive food to be cooked; a lid (9) configured to occupy a closed position in which the lid (9) prevents access to the cooking vessel (4) and an open position in which the lid (9) allows access to the cooking vessel (4); a stirring paddle (18) arranged in the cooking vessel (4); a rotation-driving device (22) arranged in the cover (9) and configured to rotate the stirring paddle (18); and a hot-air cooking device (15) comprising a fan (16) mounted on the cover (9) and configured to generate an airflow and a heating element (17) attached to the cover (9) and configured to heat the airflow generated by the fan (16).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Food preparation appliance equipped with a hot air cooking device

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention generally relates to a food preparation appliance for cooking food using a hot air cooking mode and a pressure cooking mode, such as an electric pressure cooker.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] As is known, a food preparation appliance includes:

[0007] - a housing comprising a receiving housing,

[0008] - a cooking tank arranged in the receiving housing and configured to receive food to be cooked,

[0009] - a cover configured to occupy a closed position in which the cover prevents access to the cooking tank and an open position in which the cover allows access to the cooking tank,

[0010] - a stirring blade arranged in the cooking tank and configured to stir food received in the cooking tank, and

[0011] - a rotational drive device configured to rotate the stirring blade about a blade rotation axis.

[0012] In order to avoid providing a passage hole in the bottom wall of the cooking tank, and therefore to provide a sealing device at the level of this passage hole, it is known to arrange the rotation drive device in the cover.

[0013] Such a food preparation appliance allows for mixing of the food received in the cooking tank before and during cooking.

[0014] However, the number of cooking types, and therefore the number of recipes, that can be made with such a food preparation appliance is limited.

[0015] Summary of the invention

[0016] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

[0017] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular in providing a food preparation appliance which is compact and multifunctional, while allowing food to be cooked using different cooking methods and being able to produce an increased number of recipes.

[0018] To this end, the present invention relates to a culinary preparation appliance comprising: - a housing comprising a receiving housing,

[0019] - a cooking tank arranged in the receiving housing and configured to receive food to be cooked,

[0020] - a cover configured to occupy a closed position in which the cover prevents access to the cooking tank and an open position in which the cover allows access to the cooking tank,

[0021] - a stirring blade arranged in the cooking tank and configured to stir food received in the cooking tank, and

[0022] - a rotation drive device arranged in the cover and configured to rotate the stirring blade about a blade rotation axis.

[0023] The food preparation appliance further comprises a hot air cooking device configured to generate a flow of hot air over the food received in the cooking tank, the hot air cooking device comprising a fan mounted on the lid and configured to generate an air flow and a heating element, for example a resistive heating element, attached to the lid and configured to heat the air flow generated by the fan.

[0024] Such a configuration of the food preparation appliance according to the present invention thus makes it possible to cook food, at the user's choice, using a hot air cooking mode.

[0025] Thus, the food preparation appliance according to the present invention allows the cooking of food according to an increased number of recipes while being compact.

[0026] The food preparation appliance may further have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotation drive device is configured to rotate the fan belonging to the hot air cooking device.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fan has a fan axis configured to be substantially coincident with the blade rotation axis.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotational drive device comprises a drive motor arranged in the cover and a drive shaft rotationally coupled to the drive motor, the drive shaft being rotationally integral with the fan.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the stirring blade comprises a coupling portion which is configured to be rotatably coupled to the drive shaft.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the coupling portion and the drive shaft are configured to be aligned along a common extension axis.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the food preparation appliance comprises a fixing device configured to reversibly fix the coupling part to the drive shaft and to make the coupling part and the drive shaft rotationally integral.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixing device comprises a first fixing member provided on a lower end portion of the drive shaft, and a second fixing member provided on an upper end portion of the coupling part and configured to be fixed to the first fixing member.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixing device is of the bayonet or quarter-turn type.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the stirring blade comprises a central hub and at least one blade arm configured to stir food received in the cooking vessel, the central hub comprising the coupling portion.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the central hub comprises a lower hub portion to which the at least one stirring arm is attached, and an upper hub portion comprising the coupling portion.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the central hub is configured to extend substantially coaxially with the blade rotation axis.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the hot air cooking device is arranged at least partly in the cover.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover delimits an internal volume in which the rotation drive device is housed.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover comprises a passage opening opening into a lower face of the cover, the drive shaft extending through the passage opening and projecting from the lower face of the cover.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive shaft extends along an extension axis which is configured to extend substantially vertically when the cover occupies the closed position and the housing rests on a horizontal surface.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lid is configured to seal the cooking vessel when the lid is in the closed position, so as to allow pressure cooking of food received in the cooking vessel. Pressure cooking means that the pressure inside the cooking vessel is at least 40 kPa.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive motor is a permanent magnet synchronous motor, also called a brushless direct current motor and abbreviated as BLDC motor. According to one embodiment of the invention, the food preparation appliance comprises a control unit configured to control an operation of the food preparation appliance according to at least a hot air cooking mode and a stirring mode, the control unit being configured to control an operation of the drive motor according to a first rotational speed when the food preparation appliance is in the hot air cooking mode, and to control an operation of the drive motor according to a second rotational speed when the food preparation appliance is in the stirring mode, the second rotational speed being lower than the first rotational speed.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is further configured to control an operation of the food preparation appliance according to a pressure cooking mode.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating element is arranged opposite the lower face of the cover.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating element is configured to be located opposite the cooking tank, and in particular opposite a bottom wall of the cooking tank, when the lid occupies the closed position.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the invention, the stirring blade is removable.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover is pivotally mounted relative to the housing about a pivot axis. Advantageously, the pivot axis is configured to extend substantially horizontally when the housing rests on a horizontal surface.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking tank delimits a cooking volume and comprises an access opening through which food can be introduced into the cooking volume.

[0050] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking tank comprises a bottom wall and a side wall which extends from the bottom wall, the access opening being delimited by an upper peripheral edge of the side wall.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the invention, the food preparation appliance further comprises a locking member, such as a locking ring for example, movable at least between a locking position in which the locking member locks the cover in the closed position, and an unlocking position in which the cover is movable between the open position and the closed position.

[0052] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fan is housed in an internal volume delimited by the cover. According to another embodiment of the invention, the fan is arranged opposite the lower face of the cover.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the invention, the food preparation appliance comprises a heating device arranged in the housing and configured to heat the cooking tank. Advantageously, the heating device is arranged in a lower part of the housing.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lid comprises at least one vent opening towards the outside of the food preparation appliance and configured to allow water vapor and / or a flow of hot air, present in the cooking tank, to escape when the lid occupies the closed position. Preferably, the at least one vent is provided in a rear part of the lid. The at least one vent may for example be a valve, a grid, or even an articulated flap.

[0055] Brief description of the figures

[0056] The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description with reference to the appended figures, in which identical reference signs correspond to structurally and / or functionally identical or similar elements.

[0057] Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a food preparation appliance according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing a cover of the food preparation appliance in the closed position;

[0058] Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the food preparation apparatus of Figure 1, showing the lid in the open position;

[0059] Figure 3 is a partial schematic sectional view of a food preparation appliance according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0060] Figure 4 is a partial schematic sectional view of a food preparation appliance according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0061] Detailed description

[0062] Figures 1 and 2 show a food preparation appliance 1, such as an electric pressure cooker or an electric multi-cooker with pressure, according to a first embodiment of the invention. The food preparation appliance 1 is configured for cooking food, such as meat, fish, vegetables or others, in particular according to a pressure cooking mode and according to a hot air cooking mode.

[0063] The food preparation appliance 1 comprises a housing 2 comprising a receiving housing 3, and a cooking tank 4 arranged removably in the receiving housing 3 and delimiting a cooking volume 5 configured to receive food to be cooked.

[0064] The cooking tank 4 comprises a bottom wall 6, a side wall 7 which extends from the bottom wall 6, and an access opening 8 through which food can be introduced into the cooking chamber 4. Advantageously, the access opening 8 is delimited by an upper peripheral edge of the side wall 7.

[0065] The food preparation appliance 1 further comprises a cover 9 configured to occupy an open position (see Figure 2) in which the cover 9 allows access to the cooking volume 5, and a closed position (see Figure 1) in which the cover 9 prevents access to the cooking volume 5. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cover 9 is pivotally mounted relative to the housing 2 about a pivot axis. Advantageously, the pivot axis is located in a rear portion of the housing 2 and is configured to extend substantially horizontally when the housing 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0066] In the schematic view shown in Figure 1, a significant clearance is visible between the cover 9 and the cooking tank 4. However, this clearance can be minimal, or even zero, by adjusting the travel of the outer cover 9, or by adjusting the dimensions of the cover 9. A shoulder, corresponding to the edge of the cooking tank 4, can for example be provided in the cover 9.

[0067] The lid 9 may for example be configured to tightly close the cooking tank 4 when the lid 9 occupies the closed position, so as to allow pressure cooking of food received in the cooking tank 4. For this purpose, the food preparation appliance 1 may for example comprise a locking member, such as a locking ring, movable between a locking position in which the locking member locks the lid 9 in the closed position and ensures a tight closure of the cooking tank 4, and an unlocking position in which the lid 9 is movable between the open position and the closed position.

[0068] Advantageously, the cover 9 comprises a vent 13 opening towards the outside of the food preparation appliance 1 and configured to allow water vapor and / or a flow of hot air, present in the cooking tank 4, to escape when the cover 9 occupies the closed position. Preferably, the vent 13 is provided in a rear part of the cover 9. The vent can for example be a valve, a grid, or even an articulated flap.

[0069] The food preparation appliance 1 further comprises a heating device 14, such as a resistive heating element, arranged in the housing 2 and configured to heat the cooking tank 4, and therefore the food to be cooked received in the cooking tank 4. The heating device 14 may for example be configured to be located under the cooking tank 4, or to extend around the cooking tank 4.

[0070] The food preparation appliance 1 also comprises a hot air cooking device 15 configured to generate a flow of hot air on the food received in the cooking tank 4. Advantageously, the hot air cooking device 15 is arranged at least partly in the cover 9.

[0071] The hot air cooking device 15 more particularly comprises a fan 16 mounted on the cover 9 and configured to generate an air flow, and a heating element 17, for example a resistive heating element, fixed to the cover 9 and configured to heat the air flow generated by the fan 16. Advantageously, the fan 16 has a fan axis configured to extend substantially vertically when the cover 9 occupies the closed position and the housing 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0072] According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fan 16 and the heating element 17 are located in an internal volume delimited by the cover 9, and the heating element 17 is configured to be located opposite the bottom wall 6 of the cooking tank 4 when the cover 9 occupies the closed position.

[0073] The food preparation appliance 1 also comprises a stirring blade 18 arranged in the cooking tank 4. Advantageously, the stirring blade 18 is removable. The stirring blade 18 more particularly comprises a central hub 19 and one or more blade arms 21 extending from the central hub 19 and configured to stir food received in the cooking tank 4.

[0074] The food preparation appliance 1 further comprises a rotation drive device 22 arranged in the cover 9, and configured to rotate the stirring blade 18 about a blade rotation axis and to rotate the fan 16 about the fan axis. Advantageously, the fan axis is configured to be substantially coincident with the blade rotation axis, and the central hub 19 is configured to extend substantially coaxially with the blade rotation axis.

[0075] The rotation drive device 22 comprises a drive motor 23 arranged in the cover 9, and more particularly in the internal volume delimited by the cover 9. Advantageously, the drive motor 23 is a permanent magnet synchronous motor, also called a brushless direct current motor and abbreviated as BLDC motor.

[0076] The rotational drive device 22 further comprises a drive shaft 24 which is rotationally coupled to the drive motor 23 and which is rotationally secured to the fan 16. The drive shaft 24 extends along an extension axis which is configured to extend substantially vertically when the cover 9 occupies the closed position and the housing 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0077] The stirring blade 18 more particularly comprises a coupling part 25 which is configured to be coupled in rotation to the drive shaft 24. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the central hub 19 comprises a lower hub part to which the stirring arm(s) 21 are fixed, and an upper hub part comprising the coupling part 25. Advantageously, the coupling part 25 and the drive shaft 24 are configured to be aligned along the same extension axis.

[0078] The food preparation appliance 1 further comprises a fixing device 26 configured to fix reversibly, that is to say temporarily and removably, the coupling part 25 to the drive shaft 24 and to make the coupling part 25 and the drive shaft 24 rotationally integral.

[0079] Advantageously, the fixing device 26 comprises a first fixing member provided on a lower end portion of the drive shaft 24, and a second fixing member provided on an upper end portion of the coupling part 25 and configured to be fixed to the first fixing member. The fixing device 26 may for example be of the bayonet or quarter-turn type.

[0080] The food preparation appliance 1 also comprises a control unit 27, such as an electronic card, configured to control an operation of the food preparation appliance 1 according to a hot air cooking mode, a pressure cooking mode and a stirring mode.

[0081] The control unit 27 is more particularly configured to control an operation of the drive motor 23 according to a first rotation speed when the food preparation appliance 1 is in the hot air cooking mode, and to control the operation of the drive motor 23 according to a second rotation speed when the food preparation appliance 1 is in the stirring mode, the second rotation speed being lower than the first rotation speed.

[0082] Advantageously, the food preparation appliance 1 further comprises a screen 28 provided on the front of the housing 2 and configured to allow a user to put the food preparation appliance into operation, to select operating parameters (a cooking temperature, a heating power, or a preparation operation, etc.) of the food preparation appliance, or to select a complete recipe (a series of operating parameters spread over time).

[0083] When the cover 9 occupies the closed position, a user can select, via the screen 28, an operating mode of the food preparation appliance 1.

[0084] If the user selects the hot air cooking mode, the control unit 27 then controls an operation of the drive motor 23 according to the first rotational speed and also controls a power supply of the heating element 17 so as to heat the air flow generated by the fan 16. When the hot air cooking mode is selected, it is possible to simultaneously activate the heating device 24. In other words, the heating element 17 and the heating device 24 can be made operative in the hot air cooking mode. Given the high rotational speed of the drive shaft 24 during the hot air cooking mode, it may be preferable not to use the stirring blade 18 during this cooking mode so as not to degrade the food received in the cooking tank 4.

[0085] If the user selects the pressure cooking mode, the control unit 27 then controls a power supply to the heating device 14 so as to heat the food received in the cooking tank 4. Preferably, the heating element 17 is rendered inoperative when the pressure cooking mode is selected. However, the stirring blade 18 can be used, and therefore rotated by the rotation drive device 22, continuously or not, when the pressure cooking mode is selected. Thus, the food preparation appliance 1 according to the present invention makes it possible to offer pressure cooking, with stirring of the food.

[0086] Figure 3 shows a food preparation appliance according to a second embodiment of the invention which differs from the first embodiment essentially in that the cover 9 comprises a lower wall provided with a lower face 9.1 configured to be located opposite the access opening 8 of the cooking tank 4 when the cover 9 occupies the closed position, and in addition a passage orifice 9.2 provided on the lower wall and opening into the lower face 9.1 of the cover 9, and for example in a central portion of said lower face 11, in that the heating element 17 is arranged opposite the lower face 9.1, and in that the drive shaft 24 extends through the passage orifice 9.2 provided on the cover 9 and projects from the lower face 9.1.

[0087] According to such an embodiment of the invention, the fan 16 is located in an internal volume of the cover 9 which is delimited in part by the lower wall. Air intake orifices and / or air exhaust orifices (not visible in FIG. 3) opening into the lower face 9.1 are provided in order to allow the circulation of the hot air flow within the cooking tank 4.

[0088] Figure 4 shows a food preparation appliance according to a third embodiment of the invention which differs from the second embodiment essentially in that the fan 16 is arranged opposite the lower face 9.1 of the cover 9.

[0089] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been given only as examples. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Food preparation appliance (1) comprising: - a housing (2) comprising a receiving housing (3), - a cooking tank (4) arranged in the receiving housing (3) and configured to receive food to be cooked, - a cover (9) configured to occupy a closed position in which the cover (9) prevents access to the cooking tank (4) and an open position in which the cover (9) allows access to the cooking tank (4), - a stirring blade (18) arranged in the cooking tank (4) and configured to stir food received in the cooking tank (4), and - a rotation drive device (22) arranged in the cover (9) and configured to rotate the stirring blade (18) about a blade rotation axis, characterized in that the food preparation appliance (1) further comprises a hot air cooking device (15) configured to generate a flow of hot air on the food received in the cooking tank (4), the hot air cooking device (15) comprising a fan (16) mounted on the cover (9) and configured to generate an air flow and a heating element (17) attached to the cover (9) and configured to heat the air flow generated by the fan (16).

2. Food preparation appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rotation drive device (22) is configured to rotate the fan (16) belonging to the hot air cooking device (15).

3. Food preparation appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fan (16) has a fan axis configured to be substantially coincident with the blade rotation axis.

4. Food preparation appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotational drive device (22) comprises a drive motor (23) arranged in the cover (9) and a drive shaft (24) coupled in rotation to the drive motor (23), the drive shaft (24) being integral in rotation with the fan (16).

5. Food preparation appliance (1) according to claim 4, wherein the stirring blade (18) comprises a coupling portion (25) which is configured to be rotationally coupled to the drive shaft (24).

6. Food preparation appliance (1) according to claim 5, which comprises a fixing device (26) configured to reversibly fix the coupling part (25) to the drive shaft (24) and to make the coupling part (25) and the drive shaft (24) rotationally integral.

7. Food preparation appliance (1) according to claim 6, wherein the fixing device (26) comprises a first fixing member (26.1) provided on a lower end portion of the drive shaft (24), and a second fixing member (26.2) provided on an upper end portion of the coupling part (25) and configured to be fixed to the first fixing member (26.1).

8. Food preparation appliance (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the stirring blade (18) comprises a central hub (19) and at least one blade arm (21) configured to stir food received in the cooking tank (4), the central hub (19) comprising the coupling portion (25).

9. Food preparation appliance (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the drive motor (23) is a permanent magnet synchronous motor.

10. Food preparation appliance (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, which comprises a control unit (27) configured to control an operation of the food preparation appliance (1) according to at least one hot air cooking mode and one stirring mode, the control unit (27) being configured to control an operation of the drive motor (23) according to a first rotation speed when the food preparation appliance (1) is in the hot air cooking mode, and to control an operation of the drive motor (23) according to a second rotation speed when the food preparation appliance (1) is in the stirring mode, the second rotation speed being lower than the first rotation speed.

11. Food preparation appliance (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 10, in which the cover (9) comprises a passage orifice (9.2) opening into a lower face (9.1) of the cover (9), the drive shaft (24) extending through the passage hole (9.2) and projecting from the lower face (9.1) of the cover (9).

12. Food preparation appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the hot air cooking device (15) is arranged at least partly in the cover (9).

13. Food preparation appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the cover (9) is configured to seal the cooking tank (4) when the cover (9) occupies the closed position.

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