EP3057872A1

EP3057872A1 - Combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature

Info

Publication number: EP3057872A1
Application number: EP14812813.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nereo Marzaro
Original assignee: Sirman SpA
Current assignee: Sirman SpA
Priority date: 2013-10-17
Filing date: 2014-10-16
Publication date: 2016-08-24
Also published as: WO2015056284A1; ITVI20130074U1

Abstract

A combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature, comprising a structure (10) which contains the functioning means of the machine and for supporting the control panel (20) of the machine; the machine has a packaging section (30) for packaging foods in vacuum bags or containers, which is combined with a cooking section (40) of the foods that are just packaged in the packaging section (30).

Description

COMBINED MACHINE FOR VACUUM PACKAGING AND FOR COOKING FOOD AT LOW TEMPERATURE

The present invention generally relates to a combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature.

More particularly, the invention relates to a combined machine, which is configured for packaging in vacuum bags the product to be cooked and for cooking said product in a water bath, at low temperature.

The machine is intended for use in professional kitchens or in the preparation and storage of domestic food, as well as for snack bars and high-end home use.

Machines for packaging foods under vacuum are known, according to which the product to be packaged is introduced into a plastic envelope, which is in turn is placed in a decompression chamber or tank, made of steel and closed by a lid, generally provided with a manual lifting, which includes suction means able to create vacuum inside the chamber, and with at least one sealing bar, which is used for welding the envelope.

Said machines can be professional-type or compact machines for small portions of food and they generally have means for setting the vacuum time and the welding time, means for displaying the percentage of vacuum and the remaining time, means for storing the settings made, means for counting cycles and counters of the vacuum pump, means for pre-heating the pump, means for performing a cleaning cycle of the oil used in the machine, and optional tubular means for an external suction.

However, said machines allow only the vacuum packaging of food to increase its retention, without providing further treatment, while the current market needs provide for packaging inside vacuum bags the product to be cooked and then cook said product in a water bath, at low temperature, since said type of cooking provides an excellent result in flavor and a very limited loss of weight of the product, thus also enhancing the products of second choice.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking foods at low temperature, which can be used in particular in snack bars, as well as in professional kitchens or home because of its versatility, compactness, speed and comfort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking foods at low-temperature, which has low dimensions and weights, with respect to similar known machines. A further object of the present invention is to provide a combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature, which is extremely reliable and efficient, as well as sturdy and cheap and which has a simple construction and simple operation for any operator.

These and other objects are achieved, according to the present invention, by a combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature, according to the appended claim 1.

Other technical features of said combined machine are given in the dependent claims.

Advantageously, the combined machine according to the invention allows the preparation of cooked food at low temperature and in a water bath, which is packaged inside vacuum bags, in order to obtain excellent results in the flavor of the food, with an extremely reduced weight loss of the product.

The combined machine according to the invention also have particular efficiencies, both in terms of resistance to external pressure (for performing a vacuum packaging of the products) and in terms of low- temperature cooking of the products, since it allows a static heating of the water of a tank in which the product, which is just packed, is soaked.

These and other objects and advantages will appear more clear from the following description, relating to preferred embodiments of the combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low-temperature, according to the present invention, and from the enclosed drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low-temperature, according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low- temperature, according to the present invention.

With reference to the above mentioned figures, the combined machine according to the invention is composed of a support and containment structure 10, which contains the functional means of said machine and which externally supports a plurality of control panels 20.

In particular, the combined machine according to the invention has a packaging section 30 for packaging the product inside vacuum bags, which is laterally coupled to a cooking section 40 of the product, which is just packaged.

The packaging section 30 includes at least one decompression chamber 31 for vacuum packaging a product, for example within an envelope made of plastic material or other suitable container.

The decompression chamber 31 comprises a tank, made of steel, which can be closed by at least one cover or lid 32, which is automatically or manually actuated, and a vacuum pump, which is suitable to suck, once the tank is closed with the cover 32, the air contained in the chamber 31 , said chamber 31 also having an inner sealing bar 34, possibly removable, which is heated by an internal resistance, so as to weld the opened flaps of the envelope or bag, made of plastic material, by cooperating with a like-membrane abutment 33, placed on the cover 32 and able to create the pressure for ensuring a hermetic seal on the envelope or bag of plastic material.

The weld is thus performed by the pressure exerted by the membrane system 33, 34 at a prefixed temperature of the sealing bar 33 and through a pulse which is electronically controlled.

The packaging section 30 allows to quickly and easily set the time during which the vacuum is made and the bag sealing time and also allows to display the vacuum percentage, the remaining time, the last settings, the vacuum cycles, the use of the pump and the cleaning cycles.

In optional embodiments, the packaging section 30 has also an external suction tube for performing the vacuum for a prefixed time interval.

Moreover, the cooking section 40 of the combined machine allows to cook the product which has been previously packed in the packaging section

30.

Cooking takes place in a water bath, at low temperature (i.e. the temperature is lower than 100°C) and with an accurate control of said temperature, considering that said type of cooking gives an excellent result in the flavor of the product, limited weight loss of the product and opportunity to enhance and re-evaluate even second choice products. In particular, the cooking section 40 has a steel structure 41 , which incorporates a cooking tank 42, possibly closable by a lid and heated on the bottom, by means of armored resistances, to obtain a static heating of the water contained in the tank.

An electronic temperature control with a temperature and time display allows to perform an accurate check of the temperature, as well as to adjust the set temperature and the cooking time.

From the above description, the technical characteristics of the combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature, which is the object of the present invention, are clear and give many, important and obvious advantages, such as those previously mentioned. It is finally clear that many variations may be made to the combined machine, without departing from the principles of novelty inherent in the inventive idea, as it is clear that in the practical implementation of the invention, the materials, forms and dimensions of the technical details may be any according to requirements and they can be replaced with other technically equivalent.

Claims

1. Combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature cooking, comprising a containment structure (10) for supporting function means and a control panel (20) for operating the machine, characterized in that said combined machine has a packaging section (30) for packaging food inside vacuum bags or containers, which is placed alongside a cooking section (40) for cooking foods which are previously packaged in said packaging section (30).

2. Combined machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that said packaging section (30) includes at least one decompression chamber (31) for vacuum packaging foods within envelopes or bags made of plastic.

3. Combined machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said decompression chamber (31) includes a tank, which can be removed and which can be closed by at least one cover or lid (32), and a vacuum pump, which is configured to suck, once the tank is closed with said cover (32), the air which is contained in the decompression chamber (31) to create vacuum.

4. Combined machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said chamber (31) contains a bar (33) for welding the opened edges or flaps of said envelope or bag, said bar (33) being able to cooperate with a membrane system (34) positioned on the lid (32), which is provided for having a given pressure, at a prefixed temperature of said bar (33) and through an electronically controlled pulse, in order to ensure a hermetic seal of said envelope or bag.

5. Combined machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said packaging section (30) allows to set the vacuum time and the welding time of said envelope or bag, as well as to display the vacuum percentage, the time remaining, the last settings, the vacuum cycles, the use of the pump and the cleaning cycles.

6. Combined machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said packaging section (30) includes at least one external suction pipe for performing suction at prefixed time intervals.

7. Combined machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cooking section (40) allows to perform a food cooking in a water bath, at low temperature and with an accurate control of said temperature.

8. Combined machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cooking section (40) has an external structure (41), which incorporates a cooking tank (42) heated on the bottom by means of resistors, in order to obtain a static heating of the water contained within said tank (42).

9. Combined machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cooking section (40) comprises an electronic temperature control system, which displays the temperature and the functioning time, in order to perform an accurate check of the temperature, as well as to adjust the set temperature and the cooking time.