FR3058034A1 - STEAM TRAY FOR CULINARY PREPARATION APPARATUS AND CULINARY PREPARATION APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention aims a steam tray (100) for food preparation apparatus, the apparatus comprising: - an electric motor integrated in a base mechanically connected to at least one tank provided with means for prohibiting the operation of the engine in the absence of lid on the tank, - a drive means rotated by the motor connected to at least one rotating tool in the tank, the plate having a plurality of through openings (105) and being provided with locking means (110) the tray on the tank, the lock disabling means prohibition.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a steam tray for a food preparation appliance and a cooking appliance. It applies, in particular, to the field of cooking food with steam.

STATE OF THE ART

Currently, there are cooking appliances for steaming. These devices, commonly called "steam cookers", include a reservoir for receiving water, and at least one "basket" nested on the reservoir. The basket is hermetically attached to the tank and is topped with a cover. Several baskets can be stacked, the cover being placed on the basket furthest from the tank. The water in the tank is brought to the boil, allowing food to be cooked in the baskets. There is therefore no food processing with such a device.

There are also culinary preparation apparatuses comprising a culinary preparation tool actuated by a motor which is adapted to the reception of a steam basket. The basket is placed on the bowl of the food preparation appliance. However, the basket is not suitable for engaging the locking means. And the food preparation tool and the engine are therefore deactivated when the steam basket is placed on the tank.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to block a steam tray on a tank without deactivating a tool and without the steam tray being in an unstable position, while allowing homogeneous cooking of the food on the steam tray.

To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a steam tray for a food preparation appliance, the appliance comprising:

- an electric motor integrated in a base mechanically connected to at least one tank provided with means for prohibiting the operation of the engine in the absence of a cover on the tank,

- A drive means rotated by the motor connected to at least one mobile tool 5 in rotation in the tank, in which the plate has several through openings and is provided with means for locking the plate on the tank, the locking deactivating means of prohibition.

Thanks to these provisions, the steam tray replaces the cover of a cooking appliance. The locking means of the steam tray on the tank allow the steam tray to be properly held in place without instability. In addition, the locking means deactivates the prohibition means, which allows a user to steam food while a tool is activated for cutting other food, for example.

In embodiments, for each through opening, comprising an inlet on the underside of the tray and an outlet on the upper side of the tray, the axis passing through the center of the outlet and the center of the inlet forms a surface inclined with the upper face of the steam tray.

These embodiments allow the steam to reach the food on the steam tray. However, splashes or projectiles of the food worked by the mobile tool in the tank do not reach the food on the steam tray.

In embodiments, for each through opening, the inclined surface is in a plane tangent to the rotation of the mobile tool, oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the mobile tool.

Such a through opening makes it possible to prevent food splashes in the tank from passing through an orifice due to the rotation of the tool.

In embodiments, the inclined surface has an obtuse elbow so that no liquid is retained in the through opening.

Thanks to these provisions, any liquid in the steam basket, such as condensed water, flows into the tank without stagnating in the through opening.

In embodiments, the bottom of the tray is concave oriented towards the inside of the tank, in the form of a bowl.

These embodiments allow any liquid to flow onto the tray towards the inside of the tank.

In embodiments, the tray object of the present invention receives at least one steam basket placed on the tray.

So the tray and the steam basket are separated to keep the steam tray on the tank if the tool is running and remove the basket if necessary.

In embodiments, the tray object of the present invention comprises at least one cover surmounting the steam basket.

These embodiments make it possible to prevent the evacuation of the vapor and to obtain a homogeneous cooking of the food.

In embodiments, the cover includes means for fitting which activate the means for locking the tray and deactivate the means for prohibiting the food preparation appliance.

These embodiments make it possible to stabilize all of the accessories placed on the steam tray to the tank and to the food preparation appliance and to lock the assembly for more safety for the user.

In embodiments, the tray that is the subject of the present invention is integrated into a tank of a culinary preparation appliance, the locking means being integrated into the tank.

Thanks to these provisions, the dimensions of the food preparation appliance are not increased.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a cooking preparation apparatus comprising:

- an electric motor integrated in a base mechanically connected to at least one tank provided with means for prohibiting the operation of the engine in the absence of a cover on the tank,

- a drive means rotated by the motor connected to at least one movable tool in rotation in the tank and

- A tray object of the present invention.

The aims, advantages and particular characteristics of the culinary preparation device object of the present invention being similar to those of the tray object of the present invention, they are not repeated here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the tray and of the culinary preparation appliance which are the subject of the present invention, with reference to the drawings annexed, in which:

FIG. 1 represents, diagrammatically and in perspective, a first particular embodiment of the tray object of the present invention mounted on a tank,

FIG. 2 represents, diagrammatically and in perspective, several through openings of an embodiment of the plate which is the subject of the present invention,

FIG. 3 represents, schematically and in perspective, according to a second perspective, the first particular embodiment of the tray object of the present invention,

FIG. 4 represents, diagrammatically and in perspective, according to the first perspective, the first particular embodiment of the tray object of the present invention and the flows of vapor and liquid,

- Figure 5 shows, schematically and in perspective, several through openings of an embodiment of the tray object of the present invention and the vapor and liquid flows and

- Figure 6 shows, schematically and in perspective, an embodiment of a culinary preparation device object of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

This description is given without limitation, each characteristic of an embodiment can be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment in an advantageous manner. Furthermore, each parameter of an exemplary embodiment can be implemented independently of other parameters of said exemplary embodiment.

We can already note that the figures are not to scale.

FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, which are not to scale, show a schematic view of an embodiment of the steam tray 100 which is the subject of the present invention. Figures 2 and 5 show a plurality of through openings of a steam tray 100 object of the present invention.

The steam tray 100 for culinary preparation apparatus 60 has several through openings 105. The culinary preparation apparatus 60 is described below with reference to FIG. 6 and comprises:

an electric motor (not shown) integrated in a base 605 mechanically connected to at least one tank 200 provided with means for prohibiting the operation of the engine in the absence of a cover on the tank 200 and

- A drive means 610 set in rotation by the motor connected to at least îo a mobile tool 210 in rotation in the tank 200.

The steam tray 100 is provided with locking means 165 of the tray 100 on the tank 200, the locking deactivating the prohibition means.

The locking means 165 of the plate on the tank 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

The plate 100 has an upper face 125 and a lower face 130.

The upper face 125 of the tray 100 is the face configured to receive a steam basket 300. The lower face 130 is the face of the tray 100 facing the interior of the tank 200 when the tray 100 is mounted on the tank.

Each through opening 105 has an inlet 145 on the lower face 130 of the tray and an outlet 140 on the upper face 125 of the tray 100. The axis 160 passing through the center of the outlet 140 and the center of the inlet 145 forms an inclined surface 150 with the upper face 125 of the steam plate 100.

The axis 160 is inclined relative to normal to the upper face 125 of the steam plate. The axis 160 forms an inclined surface 150 in that the surface of the through opening 105 between the inlet 145 and the outlet 140 is generally inclined along the axis 160.

The surface 150 may be a cylinder trunk, for which the surfaces defining the parallel faces of the cylinder trunk are the upper face 125 and the lower face 130. It will be recalled that a cylinder is a solid of revolution obtained by rotation d 'a straight line called generator along a closed curve called directing curve. The directing curve can be any geometric shape, and more particularly, a regular circle, rectangle or polygon. The generator of the cylinder is parallel to the axis 160.

Preferably, the surface 150 is composed of two parts:

- a cylinder trunk:

- whose surfaces defining the trunk of the cylinder are parallel to the upper face 125, and one of which coincides with the upper face 125,

- whose director is a circle and whose generator is parallel to the normal with upper face 125 and;

- a half-sphere, to remind you that a half-sphere is a sphere cut by a plane passing through its center of gravity:

- of the same radius as the circle of the director of the cylinder trunk described above,

- such that the circle left by the cutting plane of the hemisphere is coincident with the circle at the end of the cylinder trunk not included in the upper face 125 and

the hemisphere being truncated by a rectangular parallelepiped of dimensions smaller than the diameter of the hemisphere, penetrating into the hemisphere such that one face of the parallelepiped is parallel to the lower face 130 and one face of the parallelepiped is parallel to the generatrix of the cylinder trunk, and up to the center of gravity of the hemisphere, the outlet therefore being of rectangular shape.

In the description of the surface 150 above, the hemisphere and the cylinder trunk are empty volumes defined by material covering a peripheral surface of the volume. That is to say that, as regards the cylinder trunk, the material is located on the cylindrical part, the face of the trunk being empty of material. And, with regard to the half-sphere, the material is on the spherical part, the cut part and the part truncated by the parallelepiped being empty of material. The parallelepiped being an empty volume of matter of which none of the faces is defined by matter.

Preferably, the surface 150 described above is such that the height of the cylinder trunk is equal to the thickness of the plate 100 between the upper face 125 and the lower face 130 which are substantially parallel. The hemisphere is created in a hemispherical protuberance, with a radius greater than that of the hemisphere of the surface 150. The protuberance being on the lower face 130. The protrusion may include a lug 155 on the end the most distant from the underside 130, the lug facilitating the flow of a liquid from the tray 100 to the tank 200.

In these embodiments, the outlet 140 is circular in shape in the plane of the upper face 125 and the inlet 145 is generally rectangular in shape, defined by the penetration of a parallelepiped in a hemisphere. Inlet and outlet may have chamfers or rounded edges.

In preferred embodiments, the inclined surface 150 comprises an obtuse elbow so that no liquid is retained in the through opening 105. As a reminder, an obtuse angle is an angle between ninety degrees and one hundred and eighty degrees. The surface 150, described above has an angle of ninety degrees. The obtuse elbow is between the normal axis at the entrance 145 passing through the center of gravity of the entrance and the normal axis at the exit

145 passing through the center of gravity exit 140.

The through openings 105 are arranged on the plate in concentric circles 15. The center of the concentric circles being superimposed with the axis of rotation of the tool 210 in the base 200.

For each through opening 105, the inclined surface 150 is in a plane tangent to the rotation of the mobile tool 210, oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the mobile tool 210. In other words, the surface 150 is such that the orientation of the entry 145, defined by the axis passing through the center of gravity of the entry 145 normal to the entry at the center of gravity in a direction from the interior of the opening 105 towards the exterior of the opening 105, is in a plane tangent to the rotation of the tool 210 and oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the tool 210. Under these conditions, splashes due to the rotation of the tool 210 do not enter the opening 105.

Thus, each through opening 105 on the same concentric circle has a different orientation. And each opening opens onto the same half-line passing from the center of the concentric circles in the same orientation.

If a through opening 105 is placed in the center of the concentric circles, the orientation of this opening is independent of the direction of rotation of the tool 210.

The tray 100 has a generally oval shape and has two handles

135 diametrically opposed. The projection of the tank 200 on the tray 100 is included in the tray, and the centers of gravity of the projection of the tank 200 on the tray 100 are substantially combined.

The junction between the handles 130 and the upper face 125 is a surface 120 generally inclined from the periphery of the plate 100 towards the center of gravity of the upper face 125.

The tray 100 has a relief 115 on the periphery of the upper face 125 configured to fit a corresponding relief of a steam basket on the tray.

Preferably, the bottom of the tray 100 is concave oriented towards the inside of the tank 200, in the form of a bowl. The bottom of the tray is defined by the underside 130. These embodiments allow a cover to be placed directly on the steam tray and the food inside the bowl formed by the concavity. In addition, the steam is evenly distributed in a steam basket 300.

The upper face 125 and the lower face 130 are substantially parallel 15 and define a conical concavity towards the center of the concentric circles of arrangement of the through openings 125. In such a way that, when the vapor condenses, its flow is directed from the inclined surfaces 120 handles towards said center and flows towards the tank 200 through the through openings 105.

The different flows in the tank 200 and through the through openings

105 of the steam tray are explained with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

In FIG. 4, steam flows 405 are observed leaving a liquid 410 contained and heated in the tank 200 towards the steam plate 100 and passing through the openings opening from the inlet 145 towards the outlet 140. The liquid 410 is shown by a level line. Liquid 410 can be water or water containing foods such as lump or soup vegetables.

The direction of rotation of the tool 210 in the tank 200 is represented by the arrow 415. The rotation of the tool 210 causes the liquid to rotate in the same direction

420. Splashes from this rotation cannot penetrate into the through openings 105 which are oriented in the opposite direction. The inlet 145 is in a plane radial to a circle representative of the rotation of the liquid and such that the direction from the inside to the outside of the opening 105 through this inlet is the same as the direction of rotation of the liquid 410. Splashes of the liquid will therefore become blocked on the full semi-spherical part of the through opening 105.

A liquid flowing on the upper face 125 of the plate 100 is represented by the curve 505. The liquid flows along the cylinder trunk of the opening 150 then along the hemisphere towards the inlet 145 of the opening 105. Once the entry 145 has been reached, the liquid runs along the material of the opening opening towards the lug 155 where the liquid forms a drop and flows towards the tank 200.

FIG. 6, which is not to scale, shows an embodiment of a culinary preparation appliance 60 which is the subject of the present invention.

îo The culinary preparation appliance 60 comprises:

- an electric motor integrated in a base 605 mechanically connected to the tank 200 provided with means for prohibiting the operation of the engine in the absence of a cover on the tank 200,

- a drive means 610 set in rotation by the motor connected to at least 15 a mobile tool 210 in rotation in the tank 200 and

- A tray 100 object of the present invention.

The tank 200 may include means of attachment 220 to the base 600.

The base 600 comprises a base 615 accommodating the tank 200. The tank 200 comprises at least one lug 220 for fixing the tank 200 to the base 615. The tank 200 is substantially in the form of a bowl and has a blind hole, comprising a side wall 215, into which the base 615 is inserted. Each fixing lug 220 is located on a lateral face 215 of the blind hole in the base 200. Preferably, the tank 200 comprises three fixing lugs 220 allowing good guidance in plan of the rotation of the tank 200 relative to the base 615. The lugs 220 are uniformly distributed over the side wall 215 of the blind hole of the tank 200. Each fixing lug 220 guides the tank 200 in rotation towards the locking position and keeps the tank in position once the tank 200 is in the locked position. Each fixing lug 220 has a slender part and a non-return stop. The elongated part is inserted into a slot in the base 615 and a rotation of the tank 200 relative to the base 615 between the interlocking of the non-return stop in a corresponding relief on the base 615.

In the center of the base 615 are located the drive means 610 driving in rotation a tool 210 in the tank 200, by starting the engine when the moyensο prohibition means are deactivated. The driving means 610 comprises a part of concave shape in a shaft. This concave part has a geometry corresponding to the geometry of the shaft of the tool 210, such that the drive means 610 fits with the shaft of the tool and drives this tool 210 in rotation.

The tank 200 is therefore locked on the base 600. The tray 100 is positioned on the tank 200 and the means for locking the tray 100 on the tank deactivate the prohibition means.

The steam tray 100 receives at least one steam basket 300 placed on the tray 100. A relief of the steam basket 300 fits with the relief 110 of the steam tray 100. The steam basket 300 may include handles. The steam basket 300 substantially resembles a pan, the bottom of which is perforated to allow the steam coming from the tank to pass after passing through the steam tray 100 while retaining food.

A cover 400 surmounts the steam basket 300. The cover 400 may include side handles and / or a handle 405 on the top made of thermally insulating material.

The cover 145 has a transparent upper face, for example made of glass so that a user can see the state of preparation of the food placed in the steam basket 300. The cover 145 may include a seal at the place where the cover 400 fits onto the steam basket 300.

In embodiments, the cover 400 includes nesting means 410 which activate the means for locking the tray 100 and deactivate the means for prohibiting the food preparation appliance.

The locking means 110 are carried by a lateral surface of the steam tray 100. The locking means 110 comprise two guide reliefs configured to guide the steam tray 100 during a rotation of the steam tray 100 relative to the tank 200 and lock steam tray 100 to tank 200. Each guide relief is a groove. The tank 200 comprising a corresponding relief.

The central part has a locking relief. The locking relief is triangular in shape. The triangular shape of the locking relief is configured so that an angle of the triangle slides along a locking relief of the tank 200.

Once the end of the race along the locking relief of the tank 200 has been reached, another angle of the triangle maintains it in the locked position.

The locking means of the tank 200 comprise a locking relief of triangular shape configured to guide the sliding of the locking relief of the steam plate 100. The locking relief of the steam plate 100, by sliding along one side of the triangle of the base 200 relief relief, lowers a rod towards base 600.Once the limit switch is reached, the rod is inserted into an opening in base 600 and deactivates the prohibition means. The prohibition means are, for example a push button which prevents the flow of electric current to the engine as long as a cover or the steam tray 100 does not close the tank 200. The rod is, for example in the handle

230 of tank 200.

The interlocking means can operate in a similar manner to the above locking means, by activating a rod in the steam basket 300, which also activates a rod in the steam plate 100. The rod of the steam plate being located in the continuity of the rod of the tank 200 which deactivates the prohibition means.

In embodiments, the tray 100 is integrated into a tank 200 of a food preparation appliance, the locking means being integrated into the tank

200. For example, the plate can be fitted inside the tank 200 on a corresponding relief in the tank 200.

Claims (10)

1. Steam tray (100) for a food preparation appliance (60), the appliance comprising: - an electric motor integrated in a base (600) mechanically connected to at least one tank (200) provided with means for prohibiting the operation of the 5 motor in the absence of a cover on the tank, - a drive means (610) rotated by the motor connected to at least one mobile tool (210) rotating in the tank, characterized in that the plate has several through openings (105) and is provided with means for locking (110) of the plate on the tank, the locking îo deactivating the prohibition means. 2. Tray (100) according to claim 1, in which, for each through opening (105), comprising an inlet (145) on the lower face (130) of the tray and an outlet (140) on the upper face (125) of the plate, the axis (160) 15 passing through the center of the outlet and the center of the inlet forming an inclined surface (150) with the upper face of the steam tray. 3. Tray (100) according to claim 2, wherein, for each through opening (105), the inclined surface (150) is in a plane tangent to the rotation of 20 the mobile tool (210), oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the mobile tool. 4. Tray (100) according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the inclined surface (150) has an obtuse elbow so that no liquid is 25 retained in the through opening (105). 5. Tray (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bottom of the tray (125) is concave oriented towards the inside of the tank (200), in the form of a bowl. 6. Tray (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, integrated in the tank (200) of the food preparation appliance, the locking means being integrated in the tank. 5 7. Food preparation appliance (60) comprising: - an electric motor integrated in a base (600) mechanically connected to at least one tank (200) provided with means for prohibiting the operation of the motor in the absence of a cover on the tank, - a drive means (610) rotated by the motor connected to at least one mobile tool (210) rotating in the tank and - a tray (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6. 8. Food preparation appliance (60) according to claim 7, comprising at least one steam basket (300) placed on the tray. 9. Food preparation appliance (60) according to claim 8, which comprises at least one cover (400) surmounting the steam basket (300). 10. Food preparation appliance (60) according to claim 9, in which the cover (400) comprises interlocking means (410) which activate the plate locking means (100) and deactivate the means for preventing the food preparation appliance (60). 1/3 115