Device, method and computer program for heating food

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for heating food (300), comprising: at least one container (200) for receiving food (300), a rotation unit (30) for setting the container (200) into rotation around a rotation axis (10) of the container (200) and a heating unit (40) configured to heat a heating zone (50) of the container (200), for heating food (300) received therein, wherein the heating zone (50) is offset with respect to the rotation axis (10) of the container (200), such that food (300) accumulating away from the rotation axis (10) can be heated. The invention further relates to a method and a computer program for heating food (300).

Description

[0001] Device, method and computer program for heating food

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for heating food, a method for heating food and a computer program for heating food.

[0004] Traditional devices and methods for heating food often suffer from inefficiencies regarding the introduction of heat from a heating unit to the food via a container comprising the food. In existing devices, the heat distribution is frequently uneven, leading to underutilized energy and suboptimal warming of the container contents. This not only results in increased energy consumption but also extends the overall heating time, contributing to user inconvenience and dissatisfaction. Moreover, the uneven application of heat in conventional heating devices poses a significant challenge to the integrity of containers, particularly at the bottom surface. Over time, the localized heating of container bottoms can lead to degradation, warping, and other structural issues, diminishing the lifespan of the containers and potentially posing safety concerns.

[0005] Based on this, it is subject of the present invention to provide a device for heating food, a method for heating food as well as a computer program for heating food that are improved with respect to the drawbacks of the prior art introduced above.

[0006] This task is solved by a device for heating food with the features of claim 1 , a method for heating food according to claim 11 as well as a computer program for heating food according to claim 15.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the corresponding dependent claims and described in the following.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to a device for heating food. The device according to the invention comprises: at least one container for receiving food, a rotation unit for setting the container into rotation around a rotation axis of the container and a heating unit configured to heat a heating zone of the container, for heating food received therein, wherein the heating zone is offset with respect to the rotation axis of the container, such that food accumulating away from the rotation axis can be heated. Particularly, food may accumulate away from the rotation axis as a consequence of a centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the container, urging the food away from the rotation axis and toward an inner surface of a circumferential wall of the container.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotation axis of the container is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity, such that food received in the container accumulates in the heating zone. As such, food may accumulate away from the rotation axis as a consequence of a gravitational force acting on the food and urging the food toward an inner surface of a circumferential wall of the container.

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a holder for holding the container, wherein the holder is configured such that it can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the device in an operational state of the device. In other words, an angle of inclination between the rotation axis and the direction of gravity g can be changed. The horizontal plane extends perpendicular to the direction of gravity. Particularly, the angle of inclination can be changed between 0 and 50°, more particularly between 30° and 50°.

[0011] For example, the circumferential wall of the container is rotation-symmetric with respect to the rotation axis of the container, which eases the guiding of food on the inner surface of the circumferential wall under rotation of the container and reduces the risk of a splashing of food out of the container. Food may be inserted into and removed from the container via an opening of the container.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the invention, the heating zone is limited to a portion of a bottom of the container. That is, the heating unit does not heat the entire bottom of the container but only said portion of the container, viewed in a rest frame of the container wherein the container is not rotating around its rotation axis. For example, the portion is smaller than 50%, particularly smaller than 25%, more particularly smaller than 10% than a total surface area of the bottom of the container. Limiting the heating zone to said portion allows to focus the heat to an area of the container where food accumulates, particularly due to gravitational and / or centrifugal forces, which realizes an energy-efficient heating of the food and at the same time reduces the risk of structural damage of the container due to overheating of portions that are not in contact with food.

[0013] Particularly, if the rotation axis of the container is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity, the heating zone, and thus the portion of the bottom of the container, are located below the rotation axis, viewed along the direction of gravity. This measure allows to heat food accumulating away from the rotation axis particularly due to the gravitational force. Alternatively, the heating zone is ring-shaped. Particularly, the heating zone is ring-shaped and extends around the rotation axis of the container. This measure allows to heat food accumulating away from the rotation axis due to the centrifugal force.

[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, the heating unit comprises or is an induction heating unit, such that the heating zone can be inductively heated.

[0015] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the heating zone and the rotation axis of the container can be shifted with respect to each other. To this end, the heating unit and the container can be attached to the holder so that they can be shifted relative to each other

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, the rotation unit comprises an actuator and a plurality of rolls arranged to contact an outer surface of a wall of the container, wherein the actuator is configured to set at least one of the rolls and thus the container into rotation around its rotation axis. The rotation unit may be attached to the holder.

[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, the container is contacted and held only by the rolls. That is, besides the rolls, no further structures establish a mechanical connection with the container, which advantageously reduces the friction of the rotational motion of the container.

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a control unit configured to control at least one of the following parameters: a rotational sense of the rotation of the container, a rotational acceleration of the rotation of the container, a rotational velocity of the rotation of the container, a heating power associated with the heating of the heating zone.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a user interface for receiving inputs of a user for controlling at least one of said parameters.

[0020] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for heating food using the device according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein food is received in the at least one container, the container is set into rotation around its rotation axis by means of the rotation unit and wherein the heating zone of the container is heated by means of said heating unit.

[0021] In an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the following parameters is controlled, particularly by means of said control unit: the rotational sense of the rotation of the container, the rotational acceleration of the rotation of the container, the rotational velocity of the rotation of the container, the heating power associated with the heating of the heating zone.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the parameters is controlled according to a predefined protocol for heating food. The protocol may comprise a sequence of different combinations of said parameters. For example, the control unit or a computer may first cause the rotation unit to set the container into rotation with a predefined first rotational acceleration to a predefined first rotational velocity for a first predefined rotation time while causing a heating of the heating zone by means of the induction heating unit with a predefined first heating power. Subsequently, the control unit or a computer may cause the rotation unit to set the container into rotation with a predefined second rotational acceleration to a predefined second rotational velocity for a second predefined rotation time while causing a heating of the heating zone by means of the induction heating unit with a predefined second heating power.

[0023] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the predefined protocol is selected via a user interface.

[0024] In another embodiment of the invention, a protocol for heating food can be programmed via the user interface. In other words, at least one of said parameters, particularly a sequence of different combinations of said parameters can be programmed via the user interface and subsequently be executed by the device.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the invention, the rotational sense of the rotation of the container is reversed at least two times within a predefined reversion time, particularly wherein the reversion time is between 0.2 s and 2 s. Particularly, the rotational acceleration associated with a reversion of the rotational sense is at least 10 rad / s2, particularly between 10 rad / s2and 200 rad / s2. These measures allow to release food adhering to the bottom of the container and thus to reduce the risk of overcooked or burned food, as well as to reduce the risk of an overheating of portions of the bottom of the container.

[0026] A third aspect of the invention relates to a computer program for heating food. The computer program comprises instructions to cause the device according to the first aspect of the invention to execute at least the following steps of the method according to second aspect of the invention: setting the container into rotation around its rotation axis by means of the rotation unit and heating the heating zone of the container by means of the heating unit.

[0027] Particularly, the computer program can be executed on said control unit and / or said computer.

[0028] Exemplary embodiments are described below in conjunction with a Figure. The Figure is appended to the claims and accompanied by text explaining individual features of the shown embodiments and aspects of the present invention. Each individual feature shown in the Figure and / or mentioned in the text of the Figure may be incorporated (also in an isolated fashion) into a claim relating to the device according to the first aspect of the invention and / or the method for heating food according to the second aspect of the invention and / or the computer program for heating food according to the third aspect of the invention. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a device for heating food according to the invention.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a device 100 for heating food 300 according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 100 comprises a container 200 for receiving food 300, a rotation unit 30 for setting the container 200 into rotation around a rotation axis 10 of the container 200, as well as a heating unit 40 configured to heat a heating zone 50 of the container 200. As can be seen in Fig. 1 , the heating zone 50 is offset by a distance d with respect to the rotation axis 10 of the container 200, such that food 300 accumulating away from the rotation axis 10 can be heated.

[0030] As can further be seen in the embodiment of Fig. 1 , the device 100 comprises a holder 101 for holding the container 200. The holder 101 is configured such that it can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane H of the device 100 in an operational state of the device 100. In other words, an angle of inclination between the rotation axis 10 and the direction of gravity g can be changed. The horizontal plane H extends perpendicular to the direction of gravity g. To realize the inclination, the holder 101 may for example be mounted to a frame structure of the device 100 (not shown) via a pivotable hinge. For example, the angle of inclination between the horizontal plane H and the holder 101 or between the rotation axis 10 and the direction of gravity g may be changed between 0 and 50°, particularly between 30° and 50°. As such, food 300 may accumulate away from the rotation axis 10 as a consequence of a gravitational force acting on the food 300, as shown in the cut view through the container 200 in Fig. 1.

[0031] Food 300 received in the container 200 may also accumulate away from the rotation axis 10 as a consequence of a centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the container 200, urging the food away from the rotation axis 10 and toward an inner surface of a circumferential wall of the container 200. To this end, in the present embodiment, the rotation unit 30 of the device 100 comprises an actuator 106 and a plurality of rolls 104, 104a, 104b contacting an outer surface of the wall of the container 200. The actuator 106 drives one driver roll 104a which is operatively connected to the actuator 106 by means of a torque transmission 109, wherein two guide rolls 104b serve as guiding means for the rotation of the container 200 caused by the driver roll 104a. The three rolls 104, 104a, 104b contact the container 200 essentially equidistantly along a circumferential direction defined by the circumferential wall of the container 200. The container 200 is held by the holder 101 only via the rolls 104, 104a, 104b forming part of the rotation unit 30, such that a bottom 204 of the container 200 is spaced from a holder plate 109. That is, besides the rolls 104, 104a, 104b, no further structures establish a mechanical connection between the holder 101 and the container 200, which advantageously reduces the friction of the rotational motion of the container 200. Each roll 104, 104a, 104b is releasably attached to a respective sealed rotary shaft 110, such that the rolls 104, 104a, 104b may be taken off for cleaning the holder plate 109 below the rolls 104, 104a, 104b.

[0032] The heating unit 40 according to the present embodiment comprises an induction heating unit with a coil 103 mounted on a coil platform 102, which in turn is integrated in the holder 101. The coil platform 102 can be moved step-free with respect to the hold 101 , such that the distance d can be changed in a continuous manner. For example, the distance d can be changed between 10 mm and 50 mm. This measure allows to adjust the position of the heating zone 50 for containers 200 with different geometries. The coil 103 can be powered by an alternating electric current passing through it, such that the resulting magnetic field induces an electrical current in the container 200, particularly in its bottom 204, which in turn realizes the heating zone 50 in the container 200, particularly in a portion of its bottom 204. The container 200 comprises a ferromagnetic body 201 which increases the heating efficiency of the container 200 as a consequence of the high magnetic permeability of the ferromagnetic body 201. For example, the ferromagnetic body 201 can comprises steel and / or titanium, and / or ferromagnetic stainless steel. As can be seen in Fig. 1 , the coil 203 extends around a coil axis 20 which is offset with respect to the rotation axis 10 of the device 100, thereby realizing the offset between the heating zone 50 and the rotation axis 10. As such, the induction heating unit is configured to heat a portion of the bottom 204 of the container 200 that is offset with respect to its rotation axis 10, which renders the heating of food 300 accumulating away from the rotation axis 10 as a consequence of the gravitational and centrifugal force more efficient. Moreover, the offset between the heating zone 50 and the rotation axis 10 reduces the risk of an overheating and associated structural damage of portions of the bottom 204 of the container 200 that are not in contact with food 300.

[0033] An inside of the container 200 with its ferromagnetic body 201 comprises an anti-adhesive coating 202 for reducing the adhesion of food to the container 200, such that food 300 is less likely to stick to the bottom 204 of the container 200 and free to move away from the rotation axis 10 of the container 200 as a consequence of the gravitational and centrifugal force. For example, the anti-adhesive coating 202 comprises polytetrafluoroethylene or ceramic coatings.

[0034] As can further be seen in Fig. 1 , the container 200 comprises a stirring fin 203 protruding away from the inside of the circumferential wall of the container 200 toward the rotation axis 10 for stirring food 300 under rotation of the container 200.

[0035] The device 100 according to the embodiment of Fig. 1 additionally comprises a control unit 108 configured to control at least one of the following parameters: a rotational sense of the rotation of the container 200, a rotational acceleration of the rotation of the container 200, a rotational velocity of the rotation of the container 200, a heating power associated with the heating of the heating zone 50. To control the heating power associated with the heating of the heating zone 50, the control unit 108 according to the present embodiment is configured to control a frequency and an amplitude of the alternating current used for the inductive heating. In particular, to heat food 300 inside the container 200, at least one of said parameters may be controlled according to a predefined protocol for heating food 300 stored on a memory of the control unit 108 and / or of a computer 400 communicating with the control unit 108. For example, once food 300 is arranged in the container 200, the control unit 108 may cause the rotation unit 30 to set the container 200 into rotation with a predefined rotational acceleration to a predefined rotational velocity for a predefined rotation time while causing a heating of the heating zone 50 by means of the induction heating unit.

[0036] A plurality of different predefined protocols for heating food 300 may be stored on a memory of the control unit 108 and / or the computer 400 and may be selected by a user via a user interface 500 connected to the holder 101 .

[0037] List of reference signs

[0038] Rotation axis 10

[0039] Coil axis 20

[0040] Rotation unit 30

[0041] Heating unit 40

[0042] Heating zone 50

[0043] Device 100

[0044] Holder 101

[0045] Coil platform 102

[0046] Coil 103

[0047] Roll 104

[0048] Driver roll 104a

[0049] Guide roll 104b

[0050] Actuator 106

[0051] Torque transmission 107

[0052] Control unit 108

[0053] Holder plate 109

[0054] Sealed rotary shaft 110

[0055] Container 200

[0056] Ferromagnetic Body 201

[0057] Anit-adhesive coating 202

[0058] Stirring fin 203

[0059] Bottom 204

[0060] Food 300

[0061] Computer 400

[0062] User interface 500

[0063] Distance d

[0064] Direction of gravity g Horizontal plane H

Claims

Patent claims1. A device (10) for heating food (300), comprising:- at least one container (200) for receiving food (300),- a rotation unit (30) for setting the container (200) into rotation around a rotation axis (10) of the container (200) and- a heating unit (40) configured to heat a heating zone (50) of the container (200), for heating food (300) received therein, wherein the heating zone (50) is offset with respect to the rotation axis (10) of the container (200), such that food (300) accumulating away from the rotation axis (10) can be heated.

2. The device (10) for heating food (300) according to claim 1 , wherein the device (10) comprises a holder (101) for holding the container (200), wherein the holder (101) is configured such that it can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane (H) of the device (100) in an operational state of the device (100).

3. The device (10) for heating food (300) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation axis (10) of the container (200) is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity (g), such that food (300) received in the container (200) accumulates in the heating zone (50).

4. The device (10) for heating food (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating zone (50) is limited to a portion of a bottom (204) of the container (200).

5. The device (10) for heating food (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating unit (40) comprises or is an induction heating unit, such that the heating zone (50) can be inductively heated.

6. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating zone (50) and the rotation axis (10) of the container (200) can be shifted with respect to each other.

7. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation unit (30) comprises an actuator (106) and a plurality of rolls (104, 104a, 104b) arranged to contact an outer surface of a wall of the container (200), wherein the actuator (106) is configured to set at least one of the rolls (104, 104a, 104b) and thus the container (200) into rotation around its rotation axis (10).

8. The device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the container (200) is contacted and held only by the rolls (104, 104a, 104b).

9. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (108) configured to control at least one of the following parameters: a rotational sense of the rotation of the container (200), a rotational acceleration of the rotation of the container (200), a rotational velocity of the rotation of the container (200), a heating power associated with the heating of the heating zone (50).

10. The device (10) according to claim 9, comprising a user interface (500) for receiving inputs of a user for controlling at least one of said parameters.

11. A method for heating food (300) using the device (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein food (300) is received in the at least one container (200), the container (200) is set into rotation around its rotation axis (10) by means of the rotation unit (30) and wherein the heating zone (50) of the container (200) is heated by means of said heating unit (40).

12. The method for heating food (300) according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the following parameters is controlled, particularly by means of said control unit (108): the rotational sense of the rotation of the container (200), the rotational acceleration of the rotation of the container (200), the rotational velocity of the rotation of the container (200), the heating power associated with the heating of the heating zone (50).

13. The method for heating food (300) according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the parameters is controlled according to a predefined protocol for heating food (300).

14. The method for heating food (300) according to claim 13, wherein the predefined protocol is selected via a user interface (500).

15. A computer program for heating food (300), comprising instructions to cause the device (10) of claim 1 to execute at least the following steps according to the method of claim 11 :- setting the container (200) into rotation around its rotation axis (10) by means of the rotation unit (30) and- heating the heating zone (50) of the container (200) by means of the heating unit (40).

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