Cooking appliance

Abstract

A cooking appliance, comprising: a cooker body (10), which accommodates an inner pot (12) for placing food materials in and a driving device (14); a cover (20), which is arranged on the cooker body (10) in an openable and closable manner; and a stirring assembly (30), which is configured to be mounted at the bottom of the inner pot (12) and be driven by the driving device (14) to rotate, wherein a protrusion (122) is provided on an inner wall (120) of the inner pot (12); the stirring assembly (30) comprises a stirring blade (32) and a spoiler (34), the spoiler (34) comprising an axial mounting section (341); by means of the axial mounting section (341), the spoiler (34) is mounted above the stirring blade (32) in a rotatable manner relative to the stirring blade (32); and the spoiler (34) is configured in such a way that same can be blocked by the protrusion (122) and can be kept at the position, and the stirring blade (32) is configured not to come into contact with the protrusion (122) during rotation.

Description

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cooking utensils, and more particularly to cooking utensils with a stirring function. Background Art To achieve automated cooking, particularly automatic stir-frying, cooking utensils with stirring devices are known. Typically, the stirring device is installed in the inner pot of the cooking utensils, and a motor and a transmission member driven by the motor are installed in the lid to drive the stirring device, thereby stirring the ingredients in the pot. Furthermore, during the stirring process, it is often desirable to be able to flip the stirred ingredients to ensure even heating. As described in CN107616676A, to flip the ingredients, conventional methods may employ stamping the inner pot to form protrusions. However, this process is complex and does not guarantee a proper flipping effect. The cooking utensils according to this invention include a support frame mounted on the inner pot opening. The support frame is equipped with a spoiler to block the food and ensure that it is fully flipped. However, in this invention, the support frame is bulky, making it difficult to assemble and disassemble, and difficult to store when not in use. Furthermore, in some cases, such as when the lid of a cooking appliance performs other functions, the motor driving the stirring device needs to be placed in the cooking pot, with the lower end of the stirring device connected to the driving device. In this case, the technical solution according to this invention is no longer suitable. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a cooking appliance for implementing an automatic stir-frying function in a cooking appliance with a driving device in the pot, ensuring that the stirred food is fully turned. Specifically, a cooking appliance according to the present invention comprises:

[0002] - The pot body, which houses the inner pot for holding food and the driving device;

[0003] - a lid, openably and closably attached to the pot body, defining a cooking space together with the inner pot; - a stirring assembly, configured to be mounted on the bottom of the inner pot and driven for rotation by the driving device; The inner pot is characterized in that a protrusion is provided on the inner wall of the inner pot; the stirring assembly includes a stirring blade and a spoiler; the spoiler includes an axial mounting section, via which the spoiler is rotatably mounted above the stirring blade relative to the stirring blade; the spoiler is configured to be blocked and maintained in position by the protrusion, while the stirring blade is configured to avoid contact with the protrusion during rotation. In the cooking appliance according to the present invention, the driving device is located within the pot body rather than being carried by the lid. It is understood that the bottom of the inner pot has a through-hole for the driving device or stirring assembly to pass through, thereby coupling the driving device and the stirring assembly. Advantageously, the driving device is configured to drive the stirring assembly to rotate about a rotation axis. Preferably, the stirring assembly is removably mounted within the inner pot. According to some embodiments, the cooking appliance can be equipped with multiple interchangeable stirring assemblies to achieve different functions. The so-called "stirring blade," also known as a "stirring blade," may or may not have a cutting function, but its primary function is to stir the ingredients in the pot, causing them to move within the pot rather than remain in one position. The stirring assembly according to the present invention also includes a spoiler. Advantageously, the spoiler is mounted coaxially with the stirring blade. The spoiler is mounted via its axial mounting section so that it can rotate relative to the stirring blade. When the stirring assembly is driven to rotate by the driving device, even if the spoiler is not initially in position, it will rotate due to friction with the stirring blade or the food's push, until a protrusion in the inner pot blocks the spoiler and maintains it in its operating position. The stirring blade, driven by the driving device, continues to rotate about its axis, thereby causing relative rotation between the spoiler and the stirring blade. In this operating state, when the stirring blade pushes the food in the pot onto the spoiler, the spoiler, which is blocked by the inner pot's protrusion and remains stationary, forces the food to flip or mix, thereby ensuring that the food is fully flipped, heated evenly, and resists sticking to the pot.According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stirring assembly includes an axial stopper mounted at the bottom of the spoiler, which is fixed to the top of the stirring blade to rotatably mount the spoiler above the stirring blade. As the name suggests, the axial stopper axially limits the position of the spoiler, preventing it from moving along the stirring assembly's rotational axis. Simultaneously, the axial stopper positions the axial mounting section of the spoiler on the stirring blade in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction, preferably along its rotational axis. In other words, the axial stopper cooperates with the axial mounting section to secure the spoiler to the top of the stirring blade. This securing mechanism ensures that only relative rotational freedom between the spoiler and the stirring blade along the rotational axis is retained. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the axial stopper includes a sleeve and a retaining ring. The outer wall of the axial mounting section is provided with an annular groove, and the retaining ring is mounted within the annular groove. The sleeve is mounted outside the axial mounting section and retaining ring, and is secured to the top of the stirring blade. More specifically, according to this embodiment, after the retaining ring is installed in the annular groove, its outer diameter is larger than that of the axial mounting section. The top end of the sleeve includes a radially inwardly extending return edge, against which the retaining ring abuts to axially limit the spoiler. The components of this embodiment are simple in shape and easy to manufacture. Alternatively, an integrally formed flange can be directly provided on the axial mounting section to replace the annular groove and retaining ring, or any other axial retaining structure known to those skilled in the art can be employed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the top of the mixing blade includes an L-shaped retaining groove, and the sleeve includes retaining ribs within. The sleeve can be rotated until the retaining ribs are inserted into the retaining groove, thereby securing the sleeve axially and circumferentially. This allows for easy installation and removal of the sleeve, enabling convenient removal of the spoiler, facilitating various cooking methods and facilitating cleaning. Alternatively, any other known removable securing method can be employed to secure the sleeve, such as a threaded connection. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an axial protrusion is provided on the top of the mixing blade, and a hollow section is provided at the bottom of the axial mounting section of the spoiler, and the hollow section is sleeved on the axial protrusion.Although the axial mounting section of the spoiler is mounted over the axial protrusion on top of the blade holder, the axial protrusion does not impose a circumferential constraint on it, but only serves to position it. In other words, the cooperation between the axial mounting section and the axial protrusion allows relative rotation between them about the rotation axis. Alternatively, the axial protrusion can be configured as a hollow section, into which the axial mounting section is inserted for positioning. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the spoiler includes a spoiler blade comprising a first section extending obliquely upward from the axial mounting section and a second section extending downward from the apex of the first section, the second section being blocked by the protrusion of the inner pot. It will be understood that the axial mounting section is located on the rotation axis of the stirring assembly and is relatively low in height, while the spoiler blade is fixed to the axial mounting section. To expand the effective spoiler area, the first section extends obliquely upward, while the second section extends downward close to the sidewall of the inner pot. The first and second sections together form a shape similar to a ram's horn. The height and radial position of the apex of the first section can be adjusted according to actual needs. According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the second section is blocked by the protrusion of the inner pot, the first and second sections respectively disturb and stir the food being stirred by the stirring blade and rotating in the inner pot. In fact, when the second section of the spoiler blade contacts the protrusion, the height and thickness combination formed by the two together disturbs and stirs the food and turns it over on the side of the inner pot. At the same time, because the spoiler blade remains stationary, the rotating food and the spoiler blade move relative to each other. Therefore, the first section, and possibly the second section, of the spoiler blade also stir the food. Advantageously, when the spoiler is mounted on the stirring blade, the apex of the first section is at least half the height of the inner pot. This ensures that the lower portion of the food being stirred in the pot can pass under the spoiler blade, while the upper portion of the food is driven to move and stirred by the spoiler blade due to the relative motion. If the apex of the first section is set too low, the upper portion of the food will not be stirred. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inner pot includes two protrusions, and the spoiler includes two spoiler blades, one located corresponding to each of the two protrusions.The number and position of the protrusions correspond to the spoiler blades, and they can be either single or multiple. When there are two or more protrusions, they are preferably evenly distributed along the circumference of the inner pot. Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the two protrusions are positioned at diametrically opposed positions within the inner pot, with the two spoiler blades of the spoiler forming a 180° angle with each other. This arrangement is structurally simple, provides balanced forces, and offers excellent results. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the protrusions are fixed to the inner sidewall of the inner pot. The protrusions can be separately machined components, secured to appropriate locations on the inner sidewall of the inner pot using keys or other attachment devices. Of course, the protrusions can also be integrally formed with the inner pot, for example, by stamping or other processes. The inner sidewall of the inner pot refers to the wall portion excluding the bottom wall, and can be the cylindrical sidewall near the pot opening or the arc segment connecting the bottom wall and the cylindrical sidewall. For example, the protrusions can be fixed to the top of the arc segment. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stirring blade includes a blade holder and a stirring blade fixed to the blade holder. A drive shaft assembly connected to the drive device is provided at the bottom of the inner pot. The blade holder is driven to rotate by the drive shaft assembly and is detachable from the drive shaft assembly. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the drive shaft assembly includes an upwardly projecting drive shaft, and the stirring blade holder is detachably fastened to the drive shaft, for example, by an interference fit. Specifically, the drive shaft assembly passes through a through-hole in the bottom of the inner pot and is directly or indirectly connected to the drive device disposed within the pot body to provide rotational power. It should be understood that the general description above and the detailed description below are merely exemplary and illustrative and do not limit the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG1 is a perspective schematic diagram of a cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG2 is a top view of the pot body of the cooking appliance shown in FIG1 , wherein the pot body contains an inner pot, which contains a stirring assembly. FIG3 is an exploded perspective view of the inner pot and stirring assembly shown in FIG2 . FIG4 is a perspective schematic diagram of the stirring blade and shaft sleeve shown in FIG2 . Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the inner pot and stirring assembly along the AA section shown in Figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, like numbers in different figures represent like or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. Rather, they are merely examples of devices, systems, apparatuses, and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present invention. FIG1 shows an overall exterior view of a cooking appliance according to the present invention. The cooking appliance may be an electric rice cooker, an electric pressure cooker, or an electric heating appliance with a baking function, particularly, for example, a multi-function cooking machine. As shown in FIG1 , the cooking appliance includes a pot body 10 and a lid 20. The lid 20 is openably and closably disposed on the pot body 10 to enclose the cooking space. The pot body 10 houses an inner pot 12 for holding food and typically includes a heating mechanism, such as a resistor, which may be located below or near the inner pot 12. Furthermore, the lid 20 of the cooking appliance according to the present invention may be equipped with a baking device (not shown), such as a heating mechanism, an air duct, and a fan, to enable the cooking function of the cooking appliance. In addition, to enable cooking functions such as stir-frying and stewing, the pot body 10 also houses a drive device 14 (see Figure 5) to rotate a stirring assembly 30 installed in the inner pot 12, thereby stirring the ingredients evenly. Figure 2 shows a top view of the pot body 10, which includes the inner pot 12 with the stirring assembly 30 installed. As shown in Figure 2, two protrusions 122 are provided on the inner wall of the inner pot 12, located radially opposite each other. The stirring assembly 30 is installed in the center of the inner pot 12 and includes a stirring blade 32 and a spoiler 34. Figure 2 shows the stirring assembly 30 in its operating position, where the spoiler 34 is blocked and maintained by the protrusions 122 of the inner pot. Specifically, the spoiler 34 is configured so that each end is blocked by a protrusion 122. In other words, the spoiler 34 is configured to include two radially extending wings that are 180° apart. It can also be seen that the length and shape of the stirring blade 32 are designed so that it does not come into contact with the protrusion 122 during rotation. Figure 3 further illustrates the various components of the stirring assembly 30 in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the spoiler 34 includes an axial mounting section 341 and two spoiler blades 38, forming an overall shape resembling the letter "M," or a ram's horn. An annular groove 342 is provided on the outer wall of the axial mounting section 341.The spoiler 34 is mounted to the top 320 of the mixing blade 32 via the axial mounting section 341, and this mounting allows the spoiler 34 to rotate about its axis relative to the mixing blade 32. In this embodiment, this is achieved with the aid of an axial stopper 36. As shown in Figure 3, the axial stopper 36 comprises a sleeve 361 fixed to the top 320 of the mixing blade 32 and a stopper ring 362 mounted within the annular groove 342 of the axial mounting section 341. The sleeve 361 is positioned over the axial mounting section 341 and the stopper ring 362. Figure 3 also shows a drive shaft assembly 40. It should be understood that the drive shaft assembly 40 is sealingly mounted in the bottom through-hole of the inner pot 12 and is connected to the drive device 14 disposed within the pot body 10 to transmit power provided by the drive device 14 to the mixing assembly 30 mounted on the drive shaft assembly 40. The mixing assembly 30 is preferably removably secured to the drive shaft, for example, by an interference fit. Figure 4 further illustrates details of the mixing blade 32 and the shaft sleeve 361, with the shaft sleeve 361 shown in a flipped perspective view to more clearly illustrate its internal structure. As shown in Figure 4, the mixing blade 32 includes a blade holder 322 for mounting on the drive shaft assembly 40 and a mixing blade 324 secured to the blade holder. In this embodiment, the mixing blade 324 only has a mixing function, not a cutting function. The top 320 of the mixing blade 32 is provided with a central axial protrusion 323 and two arc-shaped baffles 325 surrounding the axial protrusion 323. As shown in Figure 5, in this embodiment, the axial mounting section 341 has a hollow section at its bottom that fits over the axial protrusion 323, while the arc-shaped baffles 325 provide radial positioning for the axial mounting section 341. Furthermore, each arc-shaped baffle 325 is provided with an L-shaped slot 321 on its outer side, including an upper baffle and a side baffle. Retaining ribs 363 are provided at corresponding locations on the inner sidewall of the shaft sleeve 361. In this embodiment, there are two L-shaped slots 321 and two retaining ribs 363, each located diametrically opposite each other. Furthermore, a radially inwardly extending return edge 365 is provided at the top of the shaft sleeve 361. To rotatably mount the spoiler 34 to the top of the mixing blade 32, the retaining ring 362 is first placed within the shaft sleeve 361. The two are then inserted together from the bottom of the axial mounting section 341 until the retaining ring 362 engages the annular groove 342.The hollow bottom section of the axial mounting section 341 is then sleeved onto the axial protrusion 323, positioned within the arc-shaped baffle 325. Simultaneously, the shaft sleeve 361 is positioned outside the arc-shaped baffle 325. At this point, the shaft sleeve 361 is rotated so that its retaining ribs 363 are inserted into the L-shaped slot 321, thereby securing the shaft sleeve 361 to the top 320 of the mixing blade 32 both axially and circumferentially. It will be appreciated that this securing structure only restricts the displacement of the spoiler 34 in the axial and radial directions, but allows the spoiler 34 and the mixing blade 32 to rotate relative to each other around their respective axes. This structure also allows for easy removal of the spoiler 34 from the mixing blade 32, resulting in a simple structure and ease of cleaning. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the inner pot 12 along the AA plane in Figure 2, taken through two radially opposing inner pot protrusions 122. The inner pot 12 includes a sidewall 121 and a bottom wall 123. The sidewall 121 comprises a nearly vertical cylindrical section located below the pot opening and an arc segment connecting the cylindrical section to the bottom wall 123. As shown in Figure 5, in this embodiment, the protrusion 122 is located vertically at the upper end of the arc segment. On the one hand, placing the protrusion at a location with a larger inner pot diameter allows the stirring blade 324 to have a greater radial length, ensuring more effective stirring. On the other hand, placing the protrusion at a location with a lower inner pot height allows the spoiler 34 to have a greater height, thereby increasing the effective spoiler area. As shown in FIG5 , the spoiler 34 includes two spoiler blades 38. Each spoiler blade 38 comprises a first segment 381 extending obliquely upward and outward from the axial mounting section 341, and a second segment 382 extending downward and almost vertically from the apex 380 of the first segment 381. When the bottom end of the second segment 382 is blocked by the protrusion 122 of the inner pot 12 and maintained in the operating position (i.e., the position shown in FIG2 ), the height and thickness combination of the two segments causes food in the inner pot 12 to flip laterally when it moves to the position of the protrusion 122. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distance H2 between the apex 380 of the first segment and the bottom wall 123 is at least half the inner pot height H1. This ensures that the lower portion of the food being stirred in the pot can pass under the spoiler blades, while the upper portion of the food is driven into motion and stirred by the spoiler blades due to the relative motion.The cooking appliance according to the present invention operates as follows: the stirring assembly 30 is mounted on the drive shaft assembly 40. Driven by the drive device 14, the drive shaft assembly 40 rotates, thereby driving the stirring blade 32 to rotate about the axis R. When the stirring assembly 30 is installed, the spoiler 34 can be directly installed in the working position, i.e., the position blocked by the inner pot protrusion 122. If the spoiler 34 is not properly installed, it will still rotate to its working position due to friction between it and the stirring blade 32 or the influence of the rotating food. When the spoiler 34 is in contact with the inner pot protrusion 122 and maintained in the working position, the stirring blade 32 continues to rotate under the drive of the drive shaft assembly 40 because the connection between the spoiler 34 and the stirring blade 32 does not restrict relative rotation between them and the stirring blade 32 is arranged so that it does not contact the inner pot protrusion 122. As a result, the stirring blade 32 propels the food in the pot as it rotates about its axis. The lower portion of the food is able to pass beneath the baffle blade 38, while the upper portion of the food is simultaneously driven and stirred by the first section 381 of the baffle blade due to the relative motion. When the food reaches the baffle 34, it is blocked by the baffle 34 and thereby flipped, ensuring that the food is evenly heated and does not stick to the pot. The terminology used in this application is intended solely to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or," as used herein, refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Terms used herein to denote relative spatial positions, such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "thickness," "radial," and "axial," are intended for ease of explanation to describe the relationship of one feature relative to another, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and are not limited to a single position or spatial orientation. It should be understood that, depending on the placement of the product, terms referring to relative spatial positions may be intended to encompass different orientations beyond those shown in the drawings and should not be construed as limiting. Furthermore, the descriptor "horizontal" as used herein does not necessarily equate to being perpendicular to gravity; a certain degree of tilt is permitted.

[0004] "Including" or "comprising" and similar expressions mean that the elements or objects listed before "including" or "comprising" include the elements or objects listed after "including" or "comprising" and their equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the surface of the other element or separated from the surface of the other element by a distance. Terms such as "mounted," "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, removable connections, or integration; mechanical connections, electrical connections, or communication between the two elements; direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediary, internal communication between the two elements, or interaction between the two elements, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited. In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature. The above description of the cooking appliance of the present invention is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

Claims 1. A cooking utensil, comprising: - a pot body (10), which accommodates an inner pot (12) for holding food materials and a driving device (14); - a cover (20), which is openably and closably disposed on the pot body (10) and defines a cooking space together with the inner pot (12); - a stirring assembly (30), arranged to be mounted on the bottom of the inner pot (12) and driven to rotate by the driving device (14); characterized in that a protrusion (122) is provided on the inner wall (120) of the inner pot (12); the stirring assembly (30) comprises a stirring blade (32) and a spoiler (34); the spoiler (34) comprises an axial mounting section (341); the spoiler (34) is mounted above the stirring blade (32) in a rotatable manner relative to the stirring blade (32) through the axial mounting section (341); the spoiler (34) is arranged to be blocked by the protrusion (122) and maintained in this position; and the stirring blade (32) is arranged not to contact the protrusion (122) when rotating.

2. The cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stirring assembly (30) comprises an axial stopper (36) mounted at the bottom of the spoiler (34), which is fixed to the top of the stirring blade (32) so as to rotatably mount the spoiler (34) above the stirring blade (32).

3. The cooking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The axial limiting member (36) comprises a shaft sleeve (361) and a limiting ring (362); an annular groove (342) is provided on the outer wall of the axial mounting section (341); the limiting ring (362) is installed in the annular groove (342); the shaft sleeve (361) is sleeved outside the axial mounting section (341) and the limiting ring (362); and the shaft sleeve (361) is fixed to the top of the stirring blade (32).

4. The cooking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The top of the stirring blade (32) includes an L-shaped slot (321), the interior of the shaft sleeve (361) includes a retaining rib (363), and the shaft sleeve (361) can be rotated to a position where the retaining rib (363) is inserted into the L-shaped slot (321), thereby fixing the shaft sleeve (361) in the axial and circumferential directions.

5. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The top (320) of the stirring blade (32) is provided with an axial protrusion (323), and the bottom of the axial mounting section (341) of the spoiler (34) has a hollow section, which is sleeved on the axial protrusion (323).

6. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The spoiler (34) comprises a spoiler blade (38), the spoiler blade (38) comprising a first section (381) extending obliquely upward from the axial mounting section and a second section (382) extending downward from the apex of the first section, the second section (382) being blocked by the protrusion (122) of the inner pot.

7. The cooking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: When the spoiler (34) is mounted on the stirring blade (32), the height of the top point of the first section (381) is at least half the height of the inner pot (12).

8. The cooking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: When the second section (382) is blocked by the protrusion (122) of the inner pot, the first section (381) and the second section (382) respectively perform turbulent stirring on the food material that is stirred by the stirring blade (32) and rotates in the inner pot (12).

9. The cooking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner pot (12) comprises two protrusions (122), and the spoiler (34) comprises two spoiler blades (38) whose positions correspond to the two protrusions respectively.

10. The cooking device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The two protrusions (122) are arranged at radially opposite positions in the inner pot (12), and the two spoiler blades (38) of the spoiler (34) form an angle of 180° with each other.

11. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The protrusion (122) is fixed on the inner wall of the inner pot (12).

12. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The stirring blade (32) comprises a blade holder (322) and a stirring blade (324) fixed to the blade holder. A driving shaft assembly (40) connected to the driving device (14) is provided at the bottom of the inner pot (12). The blade holder (322) is driven by the driving device (14). The moving shaft assembly (40) is driven to rotate and can be removed from the driving shaft assembly (40).

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