Electric cooking appliance comprising a hot air cooking system equipped with a movable heating device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric cooking appliance (1) comprising a housing (3), a cooking chamber (5) configured to receive food to be cooked, a lid (8), and a hot air cooking system (10) configured to generate a flow of hot air over the food received in the cooking chamber (5). The hot air cooking system (10) comprises a fan (11) mechanically connected to the lid (8) and configured to generate a flow of air over the food received in the cooking chamber (5), a drive unit (12) configured to rotate the fan (11), and a heating device (13) mechanically connected to the lid (8) and configured to heat the airflow generated by the fan (11). The electric cooking appliance (1) further comprises a control unit (2) configured to control the operation of the electric cooking appliance (1) in a hot air cooking mode. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Electric cooking appliance comprising a hot air cooking system equipped with a movable heating device technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a food preparation device for cooking food according to at least one hot air cooking method, such as an electric pressure cooker. State of the art

[0002] It is known from the prior art to use an electric cooking appliance comprising:

[0003] - a housing including a receiving compartment,

[0004] - a cooking vessel configured to be placed in the receiving housing and to receive food to be cooked,

[0005] - a cover configured to occupy a closed position in which the lid prevents access to the cooking vessel and an open position in which the lid allows access to the cooking vessel, the lid having a lower wall which extends substantially in relation to the cooking vessel when the lid is in the closed position,

[0006] - a hot air cooking system configured to generate a hot air flow on food received in the cooking vessel, the hot air cooking system includes a fan mechanically connected to the lid and configured to generate an airflow over food received in the cooking vessel, a drive unit configured to rotate the fan around an axis of rotation, and a heating device mechanically connected to the lid and configured to heat the airflow generated by the fan, and

[0007] - a control unit configured to control the operation of the electric cooking appliance according to at least one hot air cooking mode.

[0008] This type of electric cooking appliance is particularly efficient because it allows a user to cook food in the cooking chamber using a hot air cooking method, with the hot air being generated by the rotation of the fan simultaneously with the operation of the heating device.

[0009] However, a drawback of such an electric cooking appliance lies in the difficulty of cleaning the hot air cooking system, and more specifically the fan. Indeed, cooking food generally leads to the production of steam or particles that can accumulate, in particular, on the fan blades. Summary of the invention

[0010] The technical problem at the basis of the invention therefore consists of providing an electric cooking appliance of simple, compact and economical structure, while allowing easy and optimal cleaning of a fan equipping the hot air cooking system of such a cooking appliance.

[0011] To this end, the present invention relates to an electric cooking appliance comprising:

[0012] - a housing comprising a receiving compartment,

[0013] - a cooking vessel configured to be placed in the receiving housing and to receive food to be cooked,

[0014] - a cover configured to occupy a closed position in which the lid prevents access to the cooking vessel and an open position in which the lid allows access to the cooking vessel, the lid having a lower wall which extends substantially in relation to the cooking vessel when the lid is in the closed position,

[0015] - a hot air cooking system configured to generate a hot air flow on food received in the cooking vessel, the hot air cooking system includes a fan mechanically connected to the lid and configured to generate an airflow over food received in the cooking vessel, a drive unit configured to rotate the fan around an axis of rotation, and a heating device mechanically connected to the lid and configured to heat the airflow generated by the fan, and

[0016] - a control unit configured to control the operation of the electric cooking appliance according to at least one hot air cooking mode,

[0017] the heating device being mounted movable relative to the cover between a functional configuration in which the heating device is close to the fan and a cleaning configuration in which the heating device is far from the fan and is configured to allow free access to the fan.

[0018] Such a configuration of the electric cooking appliance makes it possible to change the position of the heating device, and therefore to create a clearance allowing easy access to the fan for example in order to carry out a cleaning of the fan.

[0019] In this document, free access to the fan means access that allows a user to reach the fan directly with at least one hand, bypassing the heating device. In particular, such free access allows a user to access the fan directly and freely, for example with a cleaning utensil, such as a cloth or sponge, or with your hand for the purpose of cleaning the fan.

[0020] The electric cooking appliance may also have one or more of the following characteristics, which may be taken alone or in combination.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating device is configured to be moved towards the cleaning configuration by a displacement movement directed away from the lower wall of the lid. In other words, the heating device is configured to be moved towards the cleaning configuration by being moved away from the lower wall of the lid.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating device comprises a heating electric resistance.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover comprises an upper cover part and a lower cover part, the lower cover part comprising the lower wall of the cover and the heating device being mounted movable relative to the lower cover part.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper lid portion and the lower lid portion are fixed relative to each other. Fixed means that the upper and lower lid portions cannot be detached by a user during standard use of the electric cooking appliance.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric cooking appliance includes a linking device configured to mechanically connect the heating device to the lower lid part.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating device is mounted pivoting relative to the cover around a pivot axis.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis is substantially horizontal when the housing rests on a horizontal surface.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting device is a pivot joint.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the linkage device is a ball joint configured to allow movement of the heating device along any axis.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric cooking appliance includes a return element, such as a return spring for example, configured to stress the heating device in the functional configuration.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the return member is a torsion spring which is configured to extend substantially coaxially with the pivot axis around which the heating device is pivotally mounted.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric cooking appliance includes a retaining element, such as a retaining hook for example, configured to hold the heating device in the functional configuration.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining member is fixed to the lower part of the cover.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating device is fixed in a removable manner relative to the cover.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lid is mounted to pivot relative to the housing about a lid axis. Advantageously, the lid axis is substantially horizontal when the housing rests on a horizontal surface.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lid and the cooking vessel are configured to delimit a cooking chamber when the lid is in the closed position.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking vessel has an access opening through which food can be introduced into the cooking vessel. Advantageously, the cooking vessel has an upper peripheral rim delimiting the access opening.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fan is configured to extend substantially in relation to the cooking vessel, and for example in relation to the access opening, when the lid is in the closed position.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating device is configured to be located at least partly opposite the cooking vessel, and for example opposite the access opening, when the lid is in the closed position and the heating device is in the functional configuration.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating device comprises a main heating portion configured to extend below the fan when the heating device is in the functional configuration and the cover is in the closed position.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating device comprises at least one heating portion configured to extend around the fan. In such a configuration of the electric cooking appliance, the cleaning configuration of the heating device further allows access to a peripheral portion of the fan, said peripheral portion being inaccessible when the heating device is in its functional configuration.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main heating part extends substantially horizontally when the heating device is in the functional configuration, that the lid is in the closed position and that the case rests on a horizontal surface.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main heating part extends substantially coaxially with the axis of rotation.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric cooking appliance includes a power supply part configured to electrically supply the heating device, the power supply part being provided at least in part in the cover and being configured to be electrically connected to a power supply source.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the invention, the power supply part comprises a flexible power cable.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the invention, the power supply part is fixed and cannot be removed from the cover.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fan is fixed in a removable manner with respect to the cover, and for example with respect to the lower part of the cover.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating device, in the cleaning configuration, at least partially defines a lateral clearance configured to allow the fan to move transversely to the axis of rotation when the fan is detached from the cover. In other words, the lateral clearance is configured to allow passage of the fan and a user's hand to install and remove the fan.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive unit comprises a drive motor and a drive shaft rotationally coupled to the drive motor, the fan being configured to occupy a use configuration in which the fan is rotationally fixed to the drive shaft, and a cleaning configuration in which the fan is detached from the drive shaft and is able to be separated from the cover.

[0050] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive motor is housed in the cover.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive shaft extends along the axis of rotation and through a passage provided in the cover. Advantageously, the drive shaft protrudes from the underside of the cover.

[0052] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric cooking appliance includes a measuring device configured to measure a power supply parameter of the electric motor during an operating cycle of the drive unit, and the control unit is configured to detect the presence or absence of the fan depending on the measured value of the power supply parameter, i.e. to indicate whether the fan is attached to the cover or not, depending on the measured value of the power supply parameter and to prohibit the operation of the heating device in the absence of the fan.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to trigger at least one action of the electric cooking appliance, and for example prevent the electric cooking appliance from operating in hot air cooking mode when the absence of the fan has been detected by the control unit.

[0054] The electrical power consumed by the drive motor is relatively low when the fan is not attached. Conversely, when the fan is present, the required motor torque, and therefore the electrical power consumed, is higher and varies according to the fan's rotational speed. Since the electric motor's torque is proportional to a power supply parameter, such as the motor's supply current, monitoring this power supply parameter by the control unit makes it easy to detect variations in the electric motor's torque during an operating cycle, and thus, in particular, to detect the absence of the fan when the power supply parameter is relatively low.Thus, the electric cooking appliance according to the present invention makes it possible to automatically detect the presence or absence of the fan without the addition of a specific sensor dedicated to this function.

[0055] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric cooking appliance includes a fastening device comprising a first fastening part fixed to the drive shaft, and for example to a lower end portion of the drive shaft, and a second fastening part fixed to the fan and configured to be reversibly assembled to the first fastening part.

[0056] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second fixing part is fixed to a hub of the fan, said hub being centered on the axis of rotation.

[0057] According to one embodiment of the invention, one of the first fixing part and the second fixing part is a male fixing part and the other of the first fixing part and the second fixing part is a female fixing part.

[0058] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fastening device is a bayonet fastening device. Such a configuration of the fastening device allows for quick and easy assembly and disassembly of the fan; the fan can be mounted and disassembled by a user without the use of tools. Brief description of the figures

[0059] The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description with reference to the accompanying figures, in which identical reference signs correspond to structurally and / or functionally identical or similar elements.

[0060] [Fig-1] is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electric cooking appliance according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing a lid of the electric cooking appliance in a closed position;

[0061] [Fig.2] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric cooking appliance of the [Fig.1], showing the lid in an open position and showing a heating device in a functional configuration;

[0062] [Fig.3] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric cooking appliance of the [Fig.l], showing the lid in the open position and the heating device in a cleaning configuration;

[0063] [Fig.4] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric cooking appliance of the [Fig.l], showing the lid in an open position and showing an operation to dismantle a fan fitted to the electric cooking appliance;

[0064] [Fig.5] is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electric cooking appliance according to a second embodiment of the invention, showing the cover of the electric cooking appliance in the closed position and the heating device in a functional configuration;

[0065] [Fig.6] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric cooking appliance of the [Fig.5], showing the lid in the open position and the heating device in the cleaning configuration. Detailed description

[0066] Unless otherwise stipulated, the term "substantially" means, in this document, "exactly or to within 10% or to within 10°".

[0067] In this document, the terms "upper", "lower" and "below" are defined with respect to normal use of the electric cooking appliance 1 during which the housing rests on a horizontal surface.

[0068] Figures 1 to 4 represent an electric cooking appliance 1, such as an electric hot air cooker or an electric multi-cooker, according to a first embodiment of the invention. The electric cooking appliance 1 is configured to cook food, such as meat, fish, vegetables, or other foods, and includes a control unit 2 configured to control the operation of the electric cooking appliance 1 according to at least one hot air cooking mode, the operation of which will be detailed below.

[0069] The electric cooking appliance 1 comprises a housing 3 including a receiving compartment 4, and a cooking chamber 5 removably mounted in the receiving compartment 4 and configured to receive food to be cooked. The cooking chamber 5 has an access opening 6, delimited by an upper peripheral edge 7 of the cooking chamber 5, through which food can be introduced into the cooking chamber 5.

[0070] According to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, the electric cooking appliance 1 comprises a lid 8 pivotally mounted about a lid axis A1 which is substantially horizontal when the housing 3 rests on a horizontal surface. The lid 8 is configured to occupy a closed position (see [Fig. 1]) in which the lid 8 prevents access to the cooking chamber 5 and an open position (see Figures 2 to 4) in which the lid 8 allows access to the cooking chamber 5.

[0071] The lid 8 includes, in particular, a lower wall 9 which is configured to extend substantially in relation to the access opening 6 provided on the cooking vessel 5 when the lid 8 is in the closed position. The lid 8 and the cooking vessel 5 are also configured to define a cooking chamber when the lid 8 is in the closed position.

[0072] The lid 8 further comprises an upper lid portion 8.A and a lower lid portion 8.B. The lower lid portion 8.B includes the lower wall 9 of the lid 8. The upper lid portion 8.A and the lower lid portion 8.B are fixed to each other. Fixed means that the upper and lower lid portions 8.A, 8.B cannot be detached by a user during normal use of the electric cooking appliance 1.

[0073] The electric cooking appliance 1 further comprises a hot air cooking system 10 disposed at least partly in the lid 8 and configured to generate a flow of hot air over the food received in the cooking chamber 5 when the electric cooking appliance 1 is in hot air cooking mode.

[0074] The hot air cooking system 10 comprises a fan 11 mechanically connected to the cover 8 and a drive unit 12 configured to rotate the fan 11 around an axis of rotation A2. The drive unit 12 includes, in particular, a drive motor 12.1 housed in the cover 8, and a drive shaft 12.2 rotationally coupled on one side to the drive motor 12.1 and on the other side to the fan 11. Advantageously, the drive shaft 12.2 extends along the axis of rotation A2 and through a passage provided on the cover 8 so as to protrude from the underside of the lower wall 9.

[0075] More specifically, the fan 11 is configured to generate an airflow over food received in the cooking tank 5. As shown in [Fig.1], the fan 11 is configured to extend substantially in relation to the cooking tank 5, and more particularly to extend in relation to the access opening 6, when the lid 8 is in the closed position.

[0076] The hot air cooking system 10 further includes a heating device 13 mechanically connected to the cover 8 via a linkage device 14, and configured to heat the airflow generated by the fan 11.

[0077] According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, the connecting device 14 is a pivot joint allowing the heating device 13 to pivot relative to the lower cover portion 8B about a pivot axis A3. The connecting device 14 is configured to allow the heating device 13 to pivot between a functional configuration in which the heating device 13 is close to the fan 11 (see Figures 1 and 2) and a cleaning configuration in which the heating device 13 is away from the fan 11 (see [Fig. 3]) and is configured to allow free access to the fan. Advantageously, the pivot axis A3 is substantially horizontal when the housing 3 rests on a horizontal surface. As shown in [Fig.3], the heating device 13 delimits, in the cleaning configuration, a lateral clearance configured to allow free access to the fan 11. In other words, the lateral clearance is configured to allow the passage of a user's hand, for example.

[0078] Such a configuration of the electric cooking appliance 1 makes it possible to move the heating device 13 from the functional configuration to the cleaning configuration, and thus to create a lateral clearance allowing easy access to the fan 11, for example in order to dismantle the fan 11 and carry out a cleaning of the latter.

[0079] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the heating device 13 comprises an electric heating element and is configured to be located at least partially opposite the cooking vessel 5, and in particular opposite the access opening 6, when the cover 8 is in the closed position and the heating device 13 is in its functional configuration. More specifically, the heating device 13 comprises a main heating element 13.1 configured to extend below the fan 11 when the heating device 13 is in its functional configuration and the cover 8 is in the closed position. The main heating element 13.1 extends substantially horizontally when the cover 8 is in the closed position, the heating device 13 is in its functional configuration, and the housing 3 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0080] According to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, the electric cooking appliance 1 further comprises a power supply portion 15 configured to electrically supply the heating device 13. The power supply portion 15 may, for example, comprise a flexible power cable electrically connected to the heating device 13. Advantageously, the power supply portion 15 is provided at least in part within the cover 8, and is configured to be electrically connected to a power supply source.

[0081] Advantageously, the electric cooking appliance 1 also includes a return element 16 configured to move the heating element 13 into the functional configuration and to maintain it in that functional configuration. Advantageously, the return element 16, which may be a torsion spring, for example, is configured to extend coaxially with the connecting device 14 in order to exert a restoring force capable of returning the heating element 13 from the cleaning configuration to the functional configuration when no stress is applied to the heating element 13 by the user.

[0082] According to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, the fan 11 is removably fixed relative to the cover 8, and more particularly relative to the lower part of the cover 8.B. Thus, the fan 11 is configured to occupy a usage configuration (see Figures 1 to 3) in which the fan 11 is rotationally fixed to the drive shaft 12.2, and a cleaning configuration (see [Fig.4]) in which the fan 11 is detached from the drive shaft 12.2 and is able to be separated from the cover 8.

[0083] Advantageously, and as can be seen more particularly in Figures 3 and 4, the electric cooking appliance 1 includes a fastening device 18 comprising a first fastening portion 18.1 fixed to the drive shaft 12.2, and for example to a lower end portion of the drive shaft 12.2, and a second fastening portion 18.2 fixed to the fan 11 and configured to be reversibly assembled to the first fastening portion 18.1. According to one embodiment of the invention, one of the first fastening portion 18.1 and the second fastening portion 18.2 is a male fastening portion, and the other of the first fastening portion 18.1 and the second fastening portion 18.2 is a female fastening portion. However, a bayonet-type assembly or an equivalent mechanical assembly may nevertheless be feasible technical alternatives to a male / female assembly.

[0084] According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, the electric cooking appliance 1 comprises a measuring device 19 configured to measure a power supply parameter of the electric motor 12.2, for example the current power supply to the electric motor 12.2, during an operating cycle of the drive unit 12. Advantageously, the control unit 2 is configured to detect the presence or absence of the fan 11, i.e., whether the fan 11 is attached to the cover 8 or not, based on the measured value of the power supply parameter by the measuring device 19, and thus to prevent the operation of the heating device 13 if the fan 11 is absent. According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit 2 can be configured to trigger at least one action of the electric cooking appliance 1, and for example, prevent the electric cooking appliance 1 from operating in hot air cooking mode, when the absence of the fan 11 has been detected by the control unit 2.

[0085] The electrical power consumed by the drive motor 12.1 is relatively low when the fan 11 is not attached to the fan 11. On the contrary, when the fan 11 is present, the required motor torque, and therefore the electrical power consumed, is higher, and varies according to the rotational speed of the fan 11. Since the motor torque of the drive motor 12.1 is proportional to a power supply parameter of the drive motor 12.1, such as the supply current of the drive motor 12.1, monitoring such a power supply parameter by the control unit 2 makes it easy to detect a variation in the motor torque of the drive motor 12.1 during an operating cycle of the drive motor 12.1, and thus to detect in particular the absence of the fan 11 when the power supply parameter is relatively low.Thus, the electric cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention makes it possible to automatically detect the presence or absence of the fan 11 without the addition of a specific sensor dedicated to this function.

[0086] Figures 5 and 6 depict an electric cooking appliance 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention, which differs from the first embodiment of the invention essentially in that the electric cooking appliance 1 is optionally provided with a return element 16 and further comprises a retaining element 17, such as a retaining hook, for example. The retaining element 17 is configured to hold the heating element 13 in the functional configuration in order to prevent the mass of the heating element 13 or the rotation of the fan 11 from causing an unintentional movement of the heating element 13 from the functional configuration to the cleaning configuration, for example, during operation of the electric cooking appliance 1 in hot air cooking mode.The retaining member 17 can for example be mobile between a retaining position in which the retaining member 17 is able to hold the heating device 13 in the functional configuration, and a release position in. which the retaining element 17 allows a movement of the heating device 13 into the cleaning configuration.

[0087] According to an embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the heating device 13 is fixed in a removable manner relative to the cover 8. Such a configuration of the invention allows, for example, for cleaning of the heating device 13, or for dismantling of the heating device 13 in the context of after-sales service, for example.

[0088] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the construction of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. An electric cooking appliance (1) comprising: - a housing (3) including a receiving compartment (4), - a cooking vessel (5) configured to be placed in the receiving compartment (4) and to receive food to be cooked, - a lid (8) configured to occupy a closed position in which the lid (8) prevents access to the cooking vessel (5) and an open position in which the lid (8) permits access to the cooking vessel (5), the lid (8) having a lower wall (9) which extends substantially opposite the cooking vessel (5) when the lid (8) is in the closed position, - a hot air cooking system (10) configured to generate a flow of hot air over food received in the cooking vessel (5),the hot air cooking system (10) comprising a fan (11) mechanically connected to the lid (8) and configured to generate an airflow over food received in the cooking vessel (5), a drive unit (12) configured to rotate the fan (11) around an axis of rotation (A2), and a heating device (13) mechanically connected to the lid (8) and configured to heat the airflow generated by the fan (11), and - a control unit (2) configured to control the operation of the electric cooking appliance (1) according to at least one hot air cooking mode,characterized in that the heating device (13) is pivotally mounted relative to the cover (8) about a pivot axis (A3) and between a functional configuration in which the heating device (13) is close to the fan (11) and a cleaning configuration in which the heating device (13) is away from the fan (11) and is configured to allow free access to the fan (11).

2. Electric cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lid (8) comprises an upper lid part (8.A) and a lower lid part (8.B), the lower lid part (8.B) comprising the lower wall (9) of the lid (8) and the heating device (13) being mounted movable relative to the lower lid part (8.B).

3. Electric cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, which includes a return element (16) configured to stress the heating device (13) in the functional configuration.

4. Electric cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which includes a retaining member (17) configured to retain the heating device (13) in the functional configuration.

5. Electric cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heating device (13) is removably fixed relative to the cover (8).

6. Electric cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fan (11) is removably fixed relative to the cover (8).

7. Electric cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive unit (12) comprises a drive motor (12.1) and a drive shaft (12.2) rotationally coupled to the drive motor (12.1), the fan (11) being configured to occupy a use configuration in which the fan (11) is rotationally fixed to the drive shaft (12.2), and a cleaning configuration in which the fan (11) is uncoupled from the drive shaft (12.2) and is capable of being detached from the cover (8).

8. Electric cooking appliance (1) according to claim 7, which includes a fastening device (18) comprising a first fastening part (18.1) fixed to the drive shaft (12.2), and a second fastening part (18.2) fixed to the fan (11) and configured to be reversibly assembled to the first fastening part (18.1).

9. Electric cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which includes a measuring device (19) configured to measure a power supply parameter of the electric motor during an operating cycle of the drive unit (12), and the control unit (2) is configured to detect the presence or absence of the fan (11) as a function of the measured value of the power supply parameter and to prohibit the operation of the heating device (13) in the absence of the fan (11).

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