Hot air cooking appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooking appliance (1) comprising a cooking chamber (3); a fan (7) configured to generate an airflow in the cooking chamber (3); a drive unit (9) configured to rotate the fan (7); an upper heating device (8) configured to heat the airflow generated by the fan (7); and a separating element (13) configured to be located in the cooking chamber (3). The cooking appliance (1) has a first operating configuration in which it comprises a first cooking compartment (14) and a second cooking compartment (15) delimited by the cooking chamber (3) and the separating element (13), and a second operating configuration in which it comprises a single main cooking compartment delimited at least partially by the cooking chamber (3). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Hot air cooking appliance Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a cooking appliance for cooking food products, and in particular to a multi-cooking appliance using at least one hot air cooking function. State of the art

[0002] Document US2022 / 0202239 discloses an electric cooking appliance for cooking food, in particular using a hot air cooking method. Such an electric cooking appliance comprises:

[0003] - a first cooking compartment and a second independent cooking compartment pendants from one another, that is to say fluidly separated from one another, and respectively defining first and second cooking zones distinct from one another, and

[0004] - first and second fans configured to respectively generate a first airflow in the first cooking compartment and a second airflow in the second cooking compartment, and

[0005] - first and second heating devices configured to heat respec tively the first and second generated air flows.

[0006] Such an electric cooking appliance allows the cooking of food in the first and second cooking compartments with different types of cooking, at different temperatures and with different cooking times.

[0007] However, the dimensions of the first and second cooking compartments do not allow the cooking of a large quantity of food at one time, nor the cooking of a large dish, unless the electric cooking appliance is oversized, which would significantly increase the manufacturing costs and the size of the electric cooking appliance. Summary of the invention

[0008] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular in providing a cooking appliance for cooking food, in particular using a hot air cooking method, which is compact and multifunctional, while allowing the cooking of a large quantity of food in one go and while allowing the simultaneous cooking of different foods in independent cooking compartments.

[0009] To this end, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance configured for cooking food, the cooking appliance comprising:

[0010] - a cooking chamber,

[0011] - a fan configured to generate an air flow in the cooking chamber,

[0012] - a drive unit configured to rotate the fan,

[0013] - a heating device associated with the fan and configured to heat the flow air generated by the fan,

[0014] - a lower heating device configured to heat the cooking chamber, And

[0015] - a separating element configured to be located in the cooking chamber.

[0016] The cooking appliance has a first configuration of use in which the cooking appliance comprises a first cooking compartment and a second cooking compartment which are delimited by the cooking chamber and by the separating element and in which a food placed in the first cooking compartment is capable of being heated at least by one of the upper heating device and the lower heating device and a food placed in the second cooking compartment is capable of being heated at least by one of the upper heating device and the heating device,and a second configuration of use in which the cooking appliance comprises a single main cooking compartment delimited at least in part by the cooking chamber and in which a food placed in the main cooking compartment is capable of being heated by both the upper heating device and the lower heating device.

[0017] Such a configuration of the cooking appliance allows, when the cooking appliance is in the first configuration of use, the cooking of food arranged in the first and second cooking compartments with different types of cooking, at different temperatures and with different cooking times, and allows, when the cooking appliance is in the second configuration of use, the cooking, in the main cooking compartment, of food contained in a large dish or a large quantity of food.

[0018] Thus, the cooking appliance according to the present invention allows the cooking of a wide variety of foods while being compact.

[0019] The cooking appliance may further have one or more of the following features, which may be taken alone or in combination.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, when the cooking appliance is in the second configuration of use, the main cooking compartment is directly exposed to both the upper heating device and the lower heating device.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second cooking compartments are independent of each other, that is to say fluidically separated from each other, when the cooking appliance is in the first configuration of use. Advantageously, the separating element is configured to fluidly separate the first cooking compartment and the second cooking compartment (i.e. to prevent fluid communication between the first and second cooking compartments through the separating element) when the cooking appliance is in the first use configuration.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance is of the oven type.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main cooking compartment has a cooking volume corresponding substantially to the sum of the cooking volumes of the first and second cooking compartments. A ratio of the cooking volume of the main cooking compartment to the sum of the cooking volumes of the first and second cooking compartments may, for example, be between 1.1 and 1.2.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance comprises a control unit configured to control the operation of the cooking appliance according to a hot air cooking mode. Thus, the cooking appliance is configured to cook food contained in the cooking chamber, and for example in the main cooking compartment or at least one of the first and second cooking compartments, according to a hot air cooking mode.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is configured to separate, i.e. to divide, the cooking chamber into the first cooking compartment and the second cooking compartment when the cooking appliance is in the first configuration of use.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element forms at least one wall, for example a side wall, an upper wall or a lower wall, of each of the first and second compartments.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separation element has a general plate shape, and may for example be a separation plate.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is metallic.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking chamber comprises a access opening, and the cooking appliance comprises a door movable between a closed position in which the door closes the access opening and prevents access to the cooking chamber, and an open position in which the door releases the access opening and allows access to the cooking chamber. When the door occupies the open position and the cooking appliance is in the first use configuration, the door allows access to both the first and second cooking compartments, and when the door occupies the open position and the cooking appliance is in the second use configuration, the door allows access to the main cooking compartment.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the door is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis which is substantially horizontal when the cooking appliance rests on a horizontal surface. Advantageously, the pivot axis is located near a lower front edge of a frame of the cooking appliance.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper heating device is arranged in an upper part of the cooking appliance.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper heating device is located opposite the cooking chamber. Such an arrangement of the upper heating device makes it possible to brown, at the end of cooking, the food contained in the main cooking compartment or in at least one of the first and second cooking compartments.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper heating device comprises a resistive heating element.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower heating device is arranged in a lower part of the cooking appliance. The lower heating device may, for example, be arranged in a lower part of the cooking chamber.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower heating device comprises a resistive heating element.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, when the cooking appliance is in the first configuration of use, the separating element is configured to allow a flow of the air flow, generated by the fan, in the first cooking compartment and to prevent a flow of said air flow in the second cooking compartment.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance has a first variant of the first configuration of use in which the separating element is configured to extend substantially horizontally and the first and second cooking compartments are configured to be arranged one above the other, when the cooking appliance rests on a horizontal surface.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, when the cooking appliance is in the first variant of the first configuration of use, a food item placed in the first cooking compartment is capable of being heated only by the upper heating device, and a food item placed in the second cooking compartment is capable of being heated only by the lower heating device. In other words, when the cooking appliance is in the first variant of the first configuration of use, the first cooking compartment is directly exposed only to the upper heating device, and the second cooking compartment is directly exposed only to the lower heating device.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance is configured to generate a flow of hot air only in the first cooking compartment when the cooking appliance is in the first variant of the first configuration of use.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance has a second variant of the first configuration of use in which the separating element is configured to extend substantially vertically and the first and second cooking compartments are configured to be arranged next to each other, when the cooking appliance rests on a horizontal surface.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance is configured to generate respectively a first flow of hot air in the first cooking compartment but also a second flow of hot air in the second cooking compartment when the cooking appliance is in the second variant of the first configuration of use.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance comprises two fans configured to respectively generate a first air flow in the first cooking compartment and a second air flow in the second cooking compartment, and two upper heating devices respectively associated with the two fans and configured to respectively heat the first and second air flows generated by the two fans. Advantageously, the two upper heating devices are configured to be located respectively opposite the first and second cooking compartments.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance comprises two lower heating devices configured to heat the cooking chamber and to be associated respectively with the first and second cooking compartments.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, when the cooking appliance is in the second variant of the first configuration of use, a food item arranged in the first cooking compartment is able to be heated by both the respective upper heating device and the respective lower heating device, and a food item arranged in the second cooking compartment is able to be heated by both the respective upper heating device and the respective lower heating device.In other words, when the cooking appliance is in the second variant of the first use configuration, the first cooking compartment is directly exposed to both the respective upper heating device and the respective lower heating device, and the second cooking compartment is directly exposed to both the respective upper heating device and the respective lower heating device.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance comprises two separate drive units associated with the two fans respectively.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance comprises a user interface, for example provided on the frame of the cooking appliance, configured to allow a user to select at least one operating parameter of the cooking appliance, and for example at least one operating mode of the cooking appliance.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is removable, the separating element being located in the cooking chamber when the cooking appliance is in the first configuration of use and being able to be removed from the cooking chamber, i.e. located outside the cooking chamber, when the cooking appliance is in the second configuration of use. Such a configuration of the separating element makes it possible to limit the manufacturing costs of the cooking appliance, while allowing easy cleaning of the separating element.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is configured to be inserted into and removed from the cooking chamber via the access opening.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is mounted to be movable in the cooking chamber between a first position in which the separating element and the cooking chamber delimit at least the first cooking compartment and the second cooking compartment, and a second position in which the separating element and the cooking chamber delimit the single main cooking compartment. Such a configuration of the separating element allows a user to easily move the cooking appliance between the first and second configurations of use.

[0050] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is configured to be manually moved between the first and second positions.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance comprises a movement mechanism configured to move the separating element between the first and second positions.

[0052] According to one embodiment of the invention, the user interface is configured to allow a user to select a usage configuration of the cooking appliance from among the first and second usage configurations. Advantageously, the control unit is configured to control the operation of the movement mechanism according to the usage configuration selected by the user, so as to automatically move the separating element between the first and second positions.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is mounted to move in translation, and for example mounted to slide, relative to a frame of the cooking appliance in a direction of movement.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the invention, the direction of movement extends substantially perpendicular to a plane of extension of the separation element.

[0055] According to one embodiment of the invention, the direction of movement is substantially horizontal when the cooking appliance rests on a horizontal surface.

[0056] According to one embodiment of the invention, the direction of movement is substantially vertical when the cooking appliance rests on a horizontal surface.

[0057] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis of the door extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement.

[0058] According to another embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis of the door extends substantially parallel to the direction of movement.

[0059] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is configured to form a bottom wall of the main cooking compartment when the separating element occupies the second position.

[0060] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element is configured to form a side wall of the main cooking compartment when the separating element occupies the second position.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element comprises a gripping portion configured to be grasped by a user. The presence of such a gripping portion allows a user to easily move the separating element between the first and second positions or to easily remove the separating element from the cooking chamber.

[0062] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower heating device is configured to be covered by the separating element when the separating element occupies the second position. Brief description of the figures

[0063] 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.

[0064] [Fig.l] is a partial front perspective view of a cooking appliance according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing the cooking appliance in a first variant of a first configuration of use;

[0065] [Fig.2] is a partial front perspective view of the cooking appliance of [Fig.l], showing the removal of a separating element belonging to the cooking appliance;

[0066] [Fig. 3] is a partial front perspective view of the cooking appliance of [Fig. 1], showing the cooking appliance in a second use configuration;

[0067] [Fig.4] is another partial front perspective view of the cooking appliance of [Fig.l], showing the cooking appliance in a second use configuration;

[0068] [Fig.5] is a partial front perspective view of a cooking appliance according to a second embodiment of the invention, showing the cooking appliance in a second variant of a first configuration of use;

[0069] [Fig.6] is a partial front perspective view of the cooking appliance of [Fig.5], showing the removal of a separating element belonging to the cooking appliance;

[0070] [Fig.7] is a partial front perspective view of the cooking appliance of [Fig.5], showing the cooking appliance in a second use configuration;

[0071] [Fig.8] is another partial front perspective view of the cooking appliance of [Fig.7], showing the cooking appliance in a second use configuration;

[0072] [Fig.9] is a partial front perspective view of a cooking appliance according to a third embodiment of the invention, showing the cooking appliance in a first configuration of use;

[0073] [Fig. 10] is a partial front perspective view of the cooking appliance of [Fig. 9], showing the cooking appliance in a second use configuration;

[0074] [Fig. 11] is a partial front perspective view of a cooking appliance according to yet a fourth embodiment of the invention, showing the cooking appliance in a first configuration of use;

[0075] [Fig. 12] is a partial front perspective view of the cooking appliance of [Fig.l 1], showing the cooking appliance in a second use configuration. Detailed Description

[0076] In this document, the terms "lower" and "upper" used to describe the cooking appliance refer to the cooking appliance in use, i.e. resting on a horizontal surface.

[0077] Figures 1 to 4 show a cooking appliance 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The cooking appliance 1 is configured for cooking food, such as meat, fish, vegetables or other food products, in particular according to a hot air cooking mode.

[0078] The cooking appliance 1 comprises a frame 2 delimiting a cooking chamber 3 provided with an access opening 4, and a door 5 movable between a closed position in which the door 5 closes the access opening 4 and prevents access to the cooking chamber 3, and an open position in which the door 5 releases the access opening 4 and allows access to the cooking chamber 3. The door 5 can by example be pivotally mounted around a pivot axis which is substantially horizontal when the cooking appliance 1 rests on a horizontal surface and which is advantageously located near a lower front edge of the frame 2.

[0079] The cooking appliance 1 further comprises a fan 7 configured to generate an air flow in the cooking chamber 3, and an upper heating device 8 configured to heat the air flow generated by the fan 7. Advantageously, the upper heating device 8 comprises a resistive heating element and is located opposite the cooking chamber 3.

[0080] The cooking appliance 1 further comprises a drive unit 9 which is provided with a drive motor 11 and which is configured to rotate the fan 7 about an axis of rotation. Advantageously, the axis of rotation is substantially vertical when the cooking appliance 1 rests on a horizontal surface. The fan 7 may for example be directly coupled in rotation to an output shaft of the drive motor 11, or be coupled to the latter via a motion transmission mechanism configured to transmit a rotational movement from the drive motor 11 to the fan 7.

[0081] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the drive unit 9 and the fan 7 are arranged above the upper heating device 8, and are not accessible to a user. The drive unit 9 and the fan 7 may for example be arranged in an internal housing arranged above the cooking chamber 3 and delimited by the frame 2.

[0082] The cooking appliance 1 also comprises a lower heating device 12 which is arranged in a lower portion of the cooking chamber 3 and which is configured to heat the cooking chamber 3 by conduction. Advantageously, the lower heating device 12 comprises a resistive heating element.

[0083] The cooking appliance 1 further comprises a separating element 13, such as a separating plate, configured to be located in the cooking chamber 3. The separating element 13 may for example be metallic.

[0084] The cooking appliance 1 more particularly has a first configuration of use in which the cooking appliance 1 comprises a first cooking compartment 14 and a second cooking compartment 15 which are delimited by the separating element 13 and the cooking chamber 3 and which are independent of each other, and a second configuration of use in which the cooking appliance 1 comprises a single main cooking compartment 16 delimited at least in part by the cooking chamber 3. Advantageously, the separating element 13 is configured to separate the cooking chamber 3 into the first cooking compartment 14 and the second cooking compartment 15 when the cooking appliance 1 is in the first use configuration.

[0085] The first and second cooking compartments 14, 15 may for example have identical or different cooking volumes and identical or different shapes, and the main cooking compartment 16 advantageously has a cooking volume corresponding substantially to the sum of the cooking volumes of the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15.

[0086] When the door 5 occupies the open position and the cooking appliance 1 is in the first configuration of use, the door 5 allows access to the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15 via the access opening 4, and when the door 5 occupies the open position and the cooking appliance 1 is in the second configuration of use, the door 5 allows access to the main cooking compartment 16 via the access opening 4.

[0087] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the separating element 13 is removable, and is configured to be inserted into and removed from the cooking chamber 3 via the access opening 4. The first configuration of use of the cooking appliance 1 corresponds more particularly to a configuration of use in which the separating element 13 is located in the cooking chamber 3, while the second configuration of use of the cooking appliance 1 corresponds more particularly to a configuration of use in which the separating element 13 is deposited, i.e. is located outside the cooking chamber 3.

[0088] Advantageously, the cooking appliance 1, and more particularly the side walls of the cooking chamber 3, may be provided with fixing devices (not shown in the figures), such as fixing grooves or slides or the like, configured to allow the insertion and retention of the lateral portions of the separating element 13 in the cooking chamber 3.

[0089] According to the first embodiment of the invention, and therefore according to a first variant of the first configuration of use, the separating element 13 is configured to extend substantially horizontally and the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15 are configured to be arranged one above the other, when the cooking appliance 1 rests on a horizontal surface and is in the first configuration of use. Thus, the cooking appliance 1 is configured to generate a flow of hot air only in the first cooking compartment 14 when the cooking appliance 1 is in the first configuration of use, and to generate a flow of hot air in the main cooking compartment 16 when the cooking appliance 1 is in the second configuration of use.

[0090] According to the first embodiment of the invention, when the cooking appliance 1 is in the first variant of the first configuration of use, the first cooking compartment 14 is directly exposed only to the device of upper heating device 8, and the second cooking compartment 15 is directly exposed only to the lower heating device 12. Thus, a food placed in the first cooking compartment 14 is able to be heated only by, or at least essentially by, the upper heating device 8, and a food placed in the second cooking compartment 15 is able to be heated only by, or at least essentially by, the lower heating device 12.

[0091] The cooking appliance 1 also comprises a control unit 17 which comprises for example a controller, such as a microcontroller, or a processor, such as a microprocessor, and which is configured to control the operation of the cooking appliance 1, and in particular of the upper heating device 8, the lower heating device 12, the drive motor 11 and the fan 7.

[0092] The control unit 17 is more particularly configured to control the operation of the cooking appliance 1 according to a hot air cooking mode. The user can then control a hot air cooking mode using a user interface provided on the frame 2, and the control unit 17 then controls an activation of the drive motor 11 so as to rotate the fan 7 and generate an air flow within the cooking chamber 3 and also an electrical supply of the upper heating device 8 so as to heat this air flow. Such a cooking mode can for example be used to cook food contained in the main cooking compartment 16 when the cooking appliance 1 is in the second configuration of use, or to cook food contained in the first cooking compartment 14 when the cooking appliance 1 is in the first configuration of use.Food contained in the second cooking compartment 15 can be cooked by electrically powering the lower heating device 12.

[0093] The cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention also makes it possible to brown the food contained in the main cooking compartment 16 or in the first cooking compartment 14. For example, by selecting a brown cooking mode, the control unit 17 can command, at the end of the hot air cooking cycle, a stop of the drive motor 11 while maintaining an electrical supply to the upper heating device 8, which ensures, due to the position of the latter opposite the cooking chamber 3, brown cooking of the food.

[0094] Advantageously, the cooking appliance 1, and more particularly the side walls of the cooking chamber 3, may be provided with retaining devices (not shown in the figures) configured to allow the insertion and retention of cooking accessories, such as cooking plates, cooking grids or drip pans, in the main cooking compartment 16 and in the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15.

[0095] In order to facilitate the removal and insertion of the separating element 13 into and out of the cooking chamber 3, the separating element 13 may advantageously be provided with a gripping portion 18 configured to be grasped by a user.

[0096] Figures 5 to 8 show a cooking appliance 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention and according to a second variant of the first configuration of use, which differs from the first embodiment essentially in that the separating element 13 is configured to extend substantially vertically and in that the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15 are configured to be arranged next to each other, when the cooking appliance 1 rests on a horizontal surface and is in the first configuration of use.

[0097] According to the second embodiment of the invention, and therefore according to a second variant of the first configuration of use, the cooking appliance 1 is configured to generate respectively a first flow of hot air in the first cooking compartment 14 and a second flow of hot air in the second cooking compartment 15, when the cooking appliance 1 is in the first configuration of use. For this purpose, the cooking appliance 1 comprises two fans 7 configured to generate respectively the first and second air flows respectively in the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15, and two upper heating devices 8 associated respectively with the two fans 7 and configured to heat respectively the first and second air flows generated by the two fans 7.Advantageously, the two upper heating devices 8 are configured to be located respectively opposite the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15. The control unit 17 is advantageously configured to independently control the two fans 7 and to independently control the two upper heating devices 8.

[0098] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance 1 comprises two separate drive units 9 associated respectively with the two fans 7. However, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance 1 could comprise a single drive unit 9, and therefore a single drive motor 11, configured to simultaneously drive the two fans 7 in rotation.

[0099] According to such an embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance 1 advantageously comprises two lower heating devices 12 configured to be associated respectively with the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15.

[0100] According to the second embodiment of the invention, when the cooking appliance 1 is in the first configuration of use, the first cooking compartment 14 is directly exposed to both the upper heating device 8 and the device lower heating device 12, and the second cooking compartment 15 is directly exposed to both the upper heating device 8 and the lower heating device 12. Thus, a food placed in the first cooking compartment 14 is capable of being heated by both the upper heating device 8 and the lower heating device 12, and a food placed in the second cooking compartment 15 is capable of being heated by both the upper heating device 8 and the lower heating device 12.

[0101] Figures 9 and 10 show a cooking appliance 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention which differs from the first embodiment essentially in that the separating element 13 is mounted to move in the cooking chamber 3 between a first position (see [Fig. 9]) in which the separating element 13 and the cooking chamber 3 delimit the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15, and a second position (see [Fig. 10]) in which the separating element 13 and the cooking chamber 3 delimit the single main cooking compartment 16. Advantageously, the separating element 13 is mounted to slide relative to the frame 2 of the cooking appliance 1 in a direction of movement D which extends substantially perpendicular to a plane of extension of the separating element 13.

[0102] According to the third embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the direction of movement D is substantially vertical when the cooking appliance 1 rests on a horizontal surface, and the pivot axis of the door 5 extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement D.

[0103] According to the third embodiment of the invention, the separating element 13 is configured to form a bottom wall of the main cooking compartment 16 and to cover the lower heating device 12 when the separating element 13 occupies the second position.

[0104] The separating element 13 may for example be configured to be manually moved between the first and second positions. In order to facilitate gripping and moving the separating element 13 between the first and second positions, the separating element 13 is advantageously provided with a gripping portion 18 configured to be grasped by a user.

[0105] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance 1 could comprise a movement mechanism configured to automatically move the separating element 13 between the first and second positions. For this purpose, the user interface is advantageously configured to allow a user to select the usage configuration of the cooking appliance 1 from among the first and second usage configurations, and the control unit 17 is configured to control the operation of the movement mechanism according to the usage configuration selected by the user, so as to automatically move tically the separating element 13 between the first and second positions.

[0106] Figures 11 and 12 show a cooking appliance 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention which differs from the second embodiment essentially in that the direction of movement D is substantially horizontal when the cooking appliance 1 rests on a horizontal surface, and the pivot axis of the door 5 extends substantially parallel to the direction of movement D.

[0107] According to the fourth embodiment of the invention, the separating element 13 is configured to form a side wall of the main cooking compartment 16 when the separating element 13 occupies the second position.

[0108] According to an embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the cooking appliance 1 could be configured to comprise more than two cooking compartments when it is in the first configuration of use.

[0109] According to an embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the cooking appliance 1 could comprise a first door associated with the first cooking compartment 14 and movable between a closed position in which the first door prevents access to the first cooking compartment 14 and an open position in which the first door allows access to the first cooking compartment 14, and a second door associated with the second cooking compartment 15 and movable between a closed position in which the second door prevents access to the second cooking compartment 15 and an open position in which the second door allows access to the second cooking compartment 15.Such a configuration of the cooking appliance 1 makes it possible to access one of the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15 by opening the respective door, without impacting the cooking of the food placed in the other of the first and second cooking compartments 14, 15.

[0110] 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. Cooking appliance (1) configured for cooking food, the cooking appliance (1) comprising at least: - a cooking chamber (3), - a fan (7) configured to generate an air flow in the cooking chamber (3), - a drive unit (9) configured to rotate the fan (7), - an upper heating device (8) associated with the fan (7) and configured to heat the air flow generated by the fan (7), - a lower heating device (12) configured to heat the cooking chamber (3), and - a separating element (13) configured to be located in the cooking chamber (3), characterized in that the cooking appliance (1) has a first configuration of use in which the cooking appliance (1) comprises a first cooking compartment (14) and a second cooking compartment (15) which are delimited by the cooking chamber (3) and by the separating element (13),and wherein a food item arranged in the first cooking compartment (14) is capable of being heated at least by one of the upper heating device (8) and the lower heating device (12) and a food item arranged in the second cooking compartment (15) is capable of being heated at least by one of the upper heating device (8) and the lower heating device (12), and a second configuration of use in which the cooking appliance comprises a single main cooking compartment (16) delimited at least in part by the cooking chamber (3) and in which a food item arranged in the main cooking compartment (16) is capable of being heated by both the upper heating device (8) and the lower heating device (12).,

2. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main cooking compartment (16) has a cooking volume corresponding substantially to the sum of the cooking volumes of the first and second cooking compartments (14, 15).

3. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which the separating element (13) has a general shape of plate.

4. A cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cooking chamber (3) comprises an access opening (4), and the cooking appliance (1) comprises a door (5) movable between a closed position in which the door (5) closes the access opening (4) and prevents access to the cooking chamber (3), and an open position in which the door (5) releases the access opening (4) and allows access to the cooking chamber (3).

5. A cooking appliance (1) according to claim 4, wherein the door (5) is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis which is substantially horizontal when the cooking appliance (1) is resting on a horizontal surface.

6. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, having a first variant of the first configuration of use in which the separating element (13) is configured to extend substantially horizontally and the first and second cooking compartments (14, 15) are configured to be arranged one above the other, when the cooking appliance (1) rests on a horizontal surface.

7. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, having a second variant of the first configuration of use in which the separating element (13) is configured to extend substantially vertically and the first and second cooking compartments (14, 15) are configured to be arranged next to each other, when the cooking appliance (1) rests on a horizontal surface.

8. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the separating element (13) is mounted movably in the cooking chamber (3) between a first position in which the separating element (13) and the cooking chamber (3) delimit at least the first cooking compartment (14) and the second cooking compartment (15), and a second position in which the separating element (13) and the cooking chamber (3) delimit the single main cooking compartment (16).

9. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 8, wherein the separating element (13) is mounted to move in translation relative to a frame (2) of the cooking appliance (1) in a direction of movement (D).

10. A cooking appliance (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the separating element (13) is configured to form a bottom wall of the main cooking compartment (16) when the separating element (13) occupies the second position.

11. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the separating element (13) is configured to form a side wall of the main cooking compartment (16) when the separating element (13) occupies the second position.

12. A cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the separating element (13) is removable, the separating element (13) being located in the cooking chamber (3) when the cooking appliance (1) is in the first use configuration and being removable from the cooking chamber (3) when the cooking appliance (1) is in the second use configuration.

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