Raclette machine equipped with a cooking plate

Abstract

The raclette appliance (1) comprises a base (3) configured to receive cooking cups; an electrical heating resistor (5) arranged above and at a distance from the base (3); and a cooking plate (6) configured to at least partially cover the electrical heating resistor (5), the cooking plate (6) comprising a lower face oriented towards the base (3) and an upper face comprising a cooking surface (7). The lower face of the cooking plate (6) comprises a reflection surface (12) having an emissivity of between 0.60 and 0.80, the reflection surface (12) being configured to reflect a portion of thermal radiation emitted by the electrical heating resistor (5) towards the base (3). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Raclette machine equipped with a cooking plate Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an electric cooking appliance for cooking food products, and more particularly to a raclette appliance. State of the art

[0002] In a known manner, a raclette machine comprises:

[0003] - a base configured to rest on a work surface,

[0004] - a sole fixed to the base and configured to receive cooking cups each intended to receive at least one food to be cooked,

[0005] - an electric heating resistor which is arranged above and at a distance from the sole and which is configured to be located at least partially above the cooking cups when the cooking cups rest on the sole, and

[0006] - a cooking plate configured to at least partially cover the resistance electric heating plate, the cooking plate comprising a lower face which is oriented towards the floor and an upper face comprising a cooking surface configured to receive and heat food to be cooked.

[0007] In order to ensure, on the one hand, optimal cooking of food placed on the cooking surface and, on the other hand, the melting of the cheese contained in the various cooking dishes, a raclette appliance of the aforementioned type has a high electrical power, generally greater than 800W, or even greater than 1000W for raclette appliances whose base is capable of simultaneously receiving eight cooking dishes.

[0008] Thus, the electrical consumption of such a raclette appliance is relatively high due to the need to heat and / or cook food placed in the cooking bowls and on the cooking plate mainly from the thermal radiation emitted by the electrical heating resistor. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

[0010] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular in providing a raclette appliance which is of simple and economical structure and which has improved energy efficiency, while retaining satisfactory heating and cooking performance.

[0011] To this end, the present invention relates to a raclette appliance comprising:

[0012] - a base configured to receive cooking cups, also called pans, each intended to receive at least one food to be cooked, for example a piece of cheese to melt, or even other foods to cook (bacon, pieces of onions or mushrooms, etc.),

[0013] - an electric heating resistor which is arranged above and at a distance from the sole and which is configured to be located at least partially above the cooking cups when the cooking cups rest on the sole, and

[0014] - a cooking plate configured to at least partially cover the resistance electric heating plate, the cooking plate comprising a lower face which is oriented towards the floor and an upper face comprising a cooking surface configured to receive and heat a food to be cooked, such as vegetables, pancakes or even meat, such as bacon,

[0015] the lower face of the cooking plate comprises a reflection surface having an emissivity of between 0.60 and 0.80, advantageously between 0.65 and 0.80, even more advantageously between 0.70 and 0.75 and for example approximately 0.73, the reflection surface being configured to reflect part of a thermal radiation emitted by the electrical heating resistor towards the base and therefore towards cooking cups arranged on the base.

[0016] Such a configuration of the lower face of the cooking plate makes it possible to return to the base, and therefore to the cooking cups arranged on the latter, a part of the calories emitted by the electric heating element and thus to maintain optimal cooking of the food contained in the cooking cups, and in particular to ensure melting of the cheese contained in the cooking cups, while reducing the electrical power of the electric heating element, and therefore while reducing the electrical consumption of the raclette appliance.

[0017] Furthermore, such an emissivity value for the reflection surface allows the latter to absorb calories emitted by the electrical heating resistor, and therefore to store heat, and thus to ensure satisfactory heating and cooking of food, such as bacon or vegetables, placed on the cooking surface provided on the cooking plate.

[0018] Consequently, the raclette appliance according to the present invention ensures optimal cooking of food placed in the different cooking bowls and on the cooking plate, while presenting improved energy efficiency.

[0019] The raclette appliance may further have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reflection surface is gray in color, and advantageously light gray in color. Such a color ensures reflection of a significant portion of the thermal radiation, emitted by the electrical heating resistor, toward the floor, while ensuring sufficient absorption of this thermal radiation by the cooking plate so as to allow heating and / or satisfactory cooking of food placed on the cooking surface.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reflective surface has a color located in the color range from S 5500-N to S 5502-Y in the NCS System® color chart.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reflection surface extends over substantially the entire lower face of the cooking plate.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower face of the cooking plate is at least partly coated, and for example completely coated, with a surface coating, the surface coating forming the reflection surface. Advantageously, the surface coating is gray in color, and for example light gray in color.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate comprises a cooking portion which is substantially planar and which comprises the cooking surface, and a peripheral rim which is configured to extend downwardly from a peripheral edge of the cooking portion, the reflection surface extending at least partly over a lower face of the cooking portion.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reflection surface extends at least partly over an internal face of the peripheral rim.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the raclette appliance comprises a support structure configured to support the cooking plate and keep the cooking plate away from the base.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support structure is further configured to support the electrical heating resistor.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support structure comprises several support members, such as metal spacers, extending at least partly between the sole and the cooking plate and arranged at a distance from each other. Advantageously, the support members project from an upper face of the sole.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support members, and for example the upper portions of the support members, are configured to support a peripheral portion of the cooking plate.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electrical heating resistor is arranged under the lower face of the cooking plate.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate is metallic, and for example made of aluminum.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the raclette appliance comprises a cooking chamber in which the cooking cups are intended to be housed, the cooking chamber being delimited lower, that is to say downwards, by the sole, and being delimited at the top, that is to say upwards, by the cooking plate. Advantageously, the electric heating resistor is arranged in an upper part of the cooking chamber.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the raclette appliance comprises a base configured to rest on a work surface, the sole being fixed to the base.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support structure is configured to fix the sole to the base.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sole comprises a plurality of receiving indentations, also called receiving cavities, each receiving indentation being configured to receive a cooking dish. The sole may for example comprise six or eight receiving indentations.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate is removable.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate is configured to wrap the electric heating element in such a way as to prevent access to it by a user.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electrical heating resistor comprises a connection portion configured to be electrically connected to an electrical power source, and a heating portion extending substantially parallel to the cooking plate. Advantageously, the support structure is configured to keep the heating portion away from the floor.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating part extends along an extension plane which is substantially horizontal when the base rests on a horizontal surface.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electrical power of the electrical heating resistor is between 700W and 800W, and for example approximately 765W.

[0041] According to another embodiment of the invention, the electrical power of the electrical heating resistor is between 900W and 1000W, and for example approximately 945W. Brief description of the figures

[0042] 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.

[0043] [Fig-1] is a top perspective view of a raclette apparatus according to the present invention;

[0044] [Fig.2] is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the raclette machine of the [Fig.l];

[0045] [Fig.3] is an exploded perspective view of a heating system belonging to the raclette machine in [Fig.l];

[0046] [Fig.4] is a perspective view from above of the cooking plate of the appliance scraper of [Fig.l];

[0047] [Fig.5] is a perspective view from below of the cooking plate of [Fig.4]. Detailed description

[0048] It will be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "lower", "upper", "above" and "under" used to describe the raclette appliance refer to the raclette appliance in use when it is resting on a surface which is flat and horizontal, such as a work surface.

[0049] Unless otherwise stipulated, the term “substantially” means, in this document, “exactly or to within 10% or 10°”.

[0050] Figures 1 to 5 show a raclette appliance 1 comprising a base 2 configured to rest on a work surface, and a sole 3, for example metallic, fixed to an upper part of the base 2. The sole 3 is more particularly configured to receive cooking cups 4, also called pans, each intended to receive at least one food to be cooked, for example a piece of cheese to be melted, or even other food to be cooked (bacon, pieces of onions or mushrooms, etc.). The sole 3 advantageously comprises several receiving indentations 3.1, for example six or eight in number, each configured to receive a cooking cup 4.

[0051] The raclette appliance 1 further comprises an electrical heating resistor 5 which is arranged above and at a distance from the base 3, and which is configured to be located at least partly above the cooking cups 4 when the cooking cups 4 rest on the base 3.

[0052] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the electrical heating resistor 5 comprises a connection part 5.1 configured to be electrically connected to an electrical power source, and a heating part 5.2 extending along an extension plane which is configured to be substantially horizontal when the base 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0053] The electrical power of the electrical heating resistor 5 may for example be between 700W and 800W, and be approximately equal to 765W, or may for example be between 900W and 1000W, and be approximately equal to 945W, depending on the model of raclette appliance.

[0054] The raclette appliance 1 further comprises a cooking plate 6, for example metallic, configured to cover the electric heating resistor 5. In such a way advantageously, the cooking plate 6 is removable, and is configured to envelop the electric heating resistor 5 so as to prevent access to it by a user.

[0055] As shown in [Fig.2], the cooking plate 6 comprises a lower face which is oriented towards the base 3 and an upper face comprising a cooking surface 7 configured to receive and heat a food to be cooked.

[0056] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the cooking plate 6 comprises a cooking part 6.1 which is substantially planar and which comprises the cooking surface 7, and a peripheral rim 6.2 which is configured to extend downwards from a peripheral edge of the cooking part 6.1. Advantageously, the heating part 5.2 of the electric heating resistor 5 extends substantially parallel to the cooking plate 6, and more particularly to the cooking part 6.1.

[0057] As shown in [Fig.2], the raclette appliance 1 comprises a cooking chamber 8 in which the cooking cups 4 are intended to be housed, the cooking chamber 8 being delimited lower, that is to say downwards, by the sole 3, and being delimited upper, that is to say upwards, by the cooking plate 6. Advantageously, the electric heating resistor 5 is arranged in an upper part of the cooking chamber 8, and for example close to the lower face of the cooking plate 6.

[0058] The raclette appliance 1 also comprises a support structure 9 configured to support the cooking plate 6 and to keep the cooking plate 6 at a distance from the base 3. Advantageously, the support structure 9 is further configured to support the electric heating resistor 5 and to keep the heating part 5.2 at a distance from the base 3.

[0059] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the support structure 9 comprises several support members 11, such as metal spacers, extending at least partly between the sole 3 and the cooking plate 6 and arranged at a distance from each other. The support members 11 are more particularly configured to support a peripheral portion of the cooking plate 6. Advantageously, the support members 11 project from an upper face of the sole 3 and are also configured to fix the sole 3 to the base 2.

[0060] According to the present invention, the lower face of the cooking plate 6 comprises a reflection surface 12 having an emissivity of between 0.60 and 0.80, advantageously between 0.65 and 0.80, even more advantageously between 0.70 and 0.75 and for example approximately 0.73. Thus, the reflection surface 12 is more particularly configured to reflect a portion of thermal radiation emitted by the electrical heating resistor 5 towards the base 3, and therefore towards cooking cups 4 arranged on the base 3.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower face of the cooking plate 6 is at least partly coated, and for example completely coated, with a surface coating forming the aforementioned reflection surface 12. The surface coating, and therefore the reflection surface 12, may for example extend over the entire lower face of the cooking plate 6, and therefore over the entire lower face of the cooking part 6.1 and over the entire internal face of the peripheral rim 6.2.

[0062] Advantageously, the surface coating, and therefore the reflection surface 12, is gray in color, and preferably light gray in color with reference S 5500-N in the NCS System® color chart. According to one embodiment of the invention, the surface coating, and therefore the reflection surface 12, has a color located in the color range from S 5500-N to S 5502-Y in the NCS System® color chart.

[0063] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only as an example. 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. Raclette appliance (1) comprising: - a base (3) configured to receive cooking cups (4) each intended to receive at least one food to be cooked, - an electrical heating resistor (5) which is arranged above and at a distance from the base (3) and which is configured to be located at least partly above the cooking cups (4) when the cooking cups (4) rest on the base (3), and - a cooking plate (6) configured to at least partly cover the electrical heating resistor (5), the cooking plate (6) comprising a lower face which is oriented towards the base (3) and an upper face comprising a cooking surface (7) configured to receive and heat a food to be cooked, characterized in that the lower face of the cooking plate (6) comprises a reflection surface (12) having an emissivity of between 0.60 and 0.80,the reflection surface (12) being configured to reflect part of a thermal radiation emitted by the electric heating resistor (5) towards cooking cups (4) arranged on the base (3).,

2. A raclette apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface (12) is gray in color.

3. A raclette appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the underside of the cooking plate (6) is at least partly coated with a surface coating, the surface coating forming the reflective surface (12).

4. A raclette appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cooking plate (6) comprises a cooking portion (6.1) which is substantially planar and which comprises the cooking surface (7), and a peripheral rim (6.2) which is configured to extend downwardly from a peripheral edge of the cooking portion (6.1), the reflection surface (12) extending at least partly over a lower face of the cooking portion (6.1).

5. Raclette apparatus (1) according to claim 4, wherein the reflection surface (12) extends at least partly over an internal face of the peripheral rim (6.2).

6. A raclette apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reflecting surface (12) extends over substantially the entire underside of the hob (6).

7. Raclette appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which comprises a support structure (9) configured to support the cooking plate (6) and keep the cooking plate (6) at a distance from the base (3).

8. Raclette apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein the support structure (9) is further configured to support the electric heating resistor (5).

9. Raclette appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cooking plate (6) is removable.

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