GB2221982A

GB2221982A - Apparatus for preparing fried food

Info

Publication number: GB2221982A
Application number: GB8819601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Valerio Falavigna
Original assignee: NUCLIDE Srl
Current assignee: NUCLIDE Srl
Priority date: 1988-08-17
Filing date: 1988-08-17
Publication date: 1990-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-17
Also published as: NL8802038A; GB2221982B; GB8819601D0; FR2635450B3; DE3827964A1; ES2010307A6; FR2635450A1

Description

2221982 APPARATUS FOR PREPAPING FRIED FOOD This invention relates to

apparatus for preparing fried food and in particular, though not exclusively, to an automatic fried food dispenser with means for at least partially purifying the cooking fumes.

Automatic fried food dispensers are known which consist of a cupboardtype frame which houses means for storing the food and a frier with oil kept at a pre-set temperature. The means for storing the food may consist of simple containers or, in the case of pre-cooked frozen food, a refrigerator. The dispenser includes means for automatically extracting the food from the containers or the refrigerator and for feeding the extracted food in fixed portions into the frier. The frier is fitted with a small basket, or some other means of collecting up the food and dis?ensing it to the outside. The means for the automatic extraction of the food is activated by a token-operated mechanism, which is also the means by which payment for the food is effected.

Given the fact that these automatic dispensers are mainly inst-311ad in enclosed spaces, it is usual to provide a system for the purif!c3t!on or extraction of the cooking furnes. The simplest solition to this problem is the extraction of the fumes via a duct which leads to the outside, but this system entails the inconvenience of having to install the dispenser in an area close to a window or to a flue to allow for the extraction of the fumes. If the location of the dispenser needs to be changed, it can be done only by moving the furne-extraction duct. Also, if the duct needs to extend over long distances, there is the possibility of condensate collecting in the duct and this may necessitate the periodic maintenance of the duct in order to prevent the condensate from falling back into the automatic dispenser.

Some types of automatic dispenser are fitted with an electrostatic or active charcoal filter inside the cupboard-type frame and with a mechanism with circulates the fumes through the filter. However the fu- nes contain moisture, and the continuous circulation of the fumes causes condensate to collect in the filter which reduces its efficiency to the point of rendering it completely useless. These types of automatic dispensers with devices for the internal filtering of fumes, whilst avoiding the problem of having to be installed in particular locations, entail the inconvenience of needing frequent maintenance checks for the removal of the condensate from the filters and for the replacement of those parts of the filters which are irreparably damaged.

The inconveniences listed above may be at least reduced by the development of an automatic fried food dispenser which has an effective system for the purification of cooking fumes, requires only a small number of maintenance checks, and which can be installed in enclosed spaces without requiring a duct leading to the outside for the extraction of cooking fumes.

According to this invention, there is provided a dispenser for automatically dispensing fried food and including means for at least partially purifying the cooking fumes, said dispenser including a cupboardtype firame which houses:

means for storing food., means for measuring out and feeding portions of said food into a frier; means for dispensing the fried food to the outside, a flow path for cooking fumes, said flow path being incorporated in said frame and extending to cover in use at least the area above the frier; means for circulating the cooking fumes along said flow path; means for filtering the cooking fumes, and means for reducing the moisture content of the cooking fumes mounted upstream of said means for filtering.

The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an automatic dispenser in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a section view taken on lines II-II of Figure 1, showing a first example of filter means, and Figure 3 is a section view similar to Figure 2, but showing a second example of filter means.

Referring to the drawings, the automatic dispenser generally indicated by reference numeral 1 comprises a cupboard-type frame 2 which houses a known means for preservation or storage of the food which is to be fried, for example the storage means may comprise simple containers, or, whcn the food is pre-cooked and frozen, a refrigerator. The frame 2 includes a frier 3 with oil kept at the constant temperature best suited for good frying and a means of measuring out food portions and feeding them into the frier 3. The means for measuring out and feeding in the food portions is activated by a token-operated mechanism 4 or other type of automatic payment device, and a button 5 positioned on the front side of the cupboard-type frame 2. The frier 3 is fitted with a dispenser which extracts the fried food and dispens-es it in a known way into the containers U.' which are accessible from the outside.

The means for measuring out and feeding the portions of food, as well as the means for dispensing the fried food, are omitted from the illustrations for the sake of simplicity, but suitable means are known to those skilled in the art. The frame 2 incorporates a flow path 7-for the cooking fumes which extends to cover at least the area above the frier 3. The flow path can be simply defined as extending from partition 8 to the connection with the frame 2. Fitted along the length of the flow path 7 are a means for circulating the fumes 9, a means for filtering 10 and a means for reducing the moisture content of the fumes 11. In more detail, the means for circulating the furnes 9 may comprise a fan, indicated schernatically. in Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 2, the means for filtering comprises a multi-layer filter, having layers 12 which effect physical filtering of the fumes and an active charcoal cartridge which effects chemical purification of the fumes. The multi-layer filter which may be replaced after a pre-set number of operating hours. In Figure 3, the means for filtering comprises an electrostatic filter 14 of known typ which is illustrated schematically.

The means for reducing the moisture content of the fumes is shown in Figures 2 and 3 as being mounted upstream of the means for filtering 13114. However the means for reducing the moisture content of the fumes may be mounted on the means for filtering 10, in accordance with the direction of circulation of the fumes. The means for reducing the moisture content of the fumes comprises a heat exchanger 15 which cools the fumes down to a temperature below the condensation temperature of the moisture content of the fumes. For more advantageous results, the heat exchanger 15 can be made up of an evaporator, with the appropriate type of finning, of a known type of refrigeration circuit 105 connected to a compressor 17 housed in the [frame 2.

A condensate collector 18 may be fitted below the heat exchanger 15, and the collector 13 may be connected, via a tube 19, to a condensate container 20 which is easily removable for emptying.

The operation of the fumes purification system of the examples of the automatic dispenser will now be described. The activation of the fan 9 is linked to a pre-set temperature, fixed by the manufacturers, of the oil in the frier, and this causes the circulati n of the fumes along the flow path 7, through the rneans for reducing the moisture content, e.g. the evaporator 15, and through the filter 10. The passage of the fumes through the evaporator 15 causes the moisture in the fumes to condense and the condensate drains into the condensate collector 18 and then into the condensate container 20. In this way the fumes which enter the filter 10 contain a reduced level of, or no, moist substances and therefore do not impair the efficiency of the filter.

The illustrated examples of the automatic dispenser reduce the moisture content of the fumes before they pass through the means for filtering, thus allowing the filter to function effectively, and reducing the possibility of unpleasant smelling fumes leaking out of the automatic dispenser. Maintenance checks are reduced to a periodic cleaning and replacement of the means for filtering, along with the cleaning or replacement of the condensate container.

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Claims

1. A dispenser for automatically dispensing fried food and including means for at least partially purifying the cooking fumes, said dispenser including a cupboard-type frame which houses: means for storing food; means for measuring out and feeding portions of said food into a frier; means for dispensing the fried food to the outside, a flow path for cooking fumes, said flow path being incorporated in said frame and extending to cover in use at least the area above the frier; means for circulating the cooking fumes along said flow path; means for filtering the cooking fumes, and means for reducing the moisture content of the cooking fumes mounted upstream of said means for filtering.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for reducing the moisture content of the cooking furnes comprises a heat exchanger which cools the cooking fumes to a temperature below that of the condensation temperature of the moisture contained in the cooking f um e s.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said means for reducing the moisture content of the cooking fumes comprises an evaporator of a refrigeration circuit.

4. A dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which further includes means for collecting condensate fitted below said means for reducing the moisture content of the cooking fumes.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for collecting condensate is connected to a re-novable condensate container housed within the frame.

6. A dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said means for circulating the cooking fumes consists of a fan associated with said flow path.

7. A dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said means for filtering comprises an active charcoal filter.

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8. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said means for filtering comprises an electrostatic filter.

9.

said frying means; path., Apparatus for preparing fried food, including: frying means for frying said food.. means defining a flow path for cooking fumes generated by rneans for causing said cooking fumes to pas3 along said flow means for filtering said cooking fumes, and means for reducing the moisture content of said cooking fumes located upstream of said means for filtering.

10. A dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

11. Any and all novel features and combinations and subcombinations thereof substantially as herein disclosed.

Published 1990 at The Patent Office- State House. 6671 High Holborn. LondonWC1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtainedfro- The Patent Office Sales Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpingtor- Kei.t BR5 3F.D_ Pr,T,ed by TA.A:iplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent, Con 1'87