GB2256127A

GB2256127A - Cooking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2256127A
Application number: GB9111612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi-Chong Tsai
Original assignee: TSAI CHI CHONG
Current assignee: TSAI CHI CHONG
Priority date: 1991-05-30
Filing date: 1991-05-30
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Also published as: GB9111612D0

Abstract

Cooking apparatus includes a washer (30) disposed above a cooker (75), the purpose of the washer being to wash food to be cooked in the cooker. A conduit forms a passageway extending from the washer to the cooker. The food is discharged from the washer into the cooker when the passageway is opened. A container (20) is disposed above the washer (30) for containing the food and a measuring device is disposed between the container (20) and the washer (30) for measuring the food and delivering it to the washer. <IMAGE>

Description

COOKING APPARATUS The invention relates to a cooking apparatus.

Typical cooking apparatus, such as a rice cooker is provided for cooking or steaming the rice only. The rice should be measured-and cleaned manually before it can be disposed into the cooking apparatus.

The objective of the invention is to provide a cooking apparatus with which the rice can be measured and cleaned automatically and can be loaded into the cooker automatically.

A cooking apparatus includes a container, a washer and a cooker disposed in series in a housing, rice, for example, can be stored in the container. a measuring device is disposed between the container and the washer for measuring the rice to be filled into the washer and for delivering the rice into the washer, the rice can be washed within the washer, means for opening a passage to the cooker is disposed between the washer and the cooker so that the rice can be discharged into the cooker and can be cooked by the cooker FIG. 1 is a-perspective view of a cooking apparatus, in which, for clearly illustration purposes, the housing thereof is removed; FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross sectional views of a storage container; FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a washer; FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a stirrer;; FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the operation of the washer; FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial cross sectional views illustratinf the upper portion of the cooker; FIG. 9 is a partial exploded view of the cooker; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a carrier; FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the carrier; and FIG. 12 is side view illustrating the removing operations of the cooker.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a cooking apparatus comprises a container 20, a washer 30 and a cooker 75 disposed in series in a housing 10: the cooker 75, such as a rice cooker is disposed upon a carrier 90 which is movable outward from a door 11 formed on the bottom of the housing 10. A control panel 10 is disposed on the upper portion of the housing 10.

Referring next to FIGS. 2 and 3, the container 20 is disposed in the upper portion of the housing 10 for containing rice to be washed and cooked and includes four ears 21 extended outward therefrom. A bolt 22 couples each of the ears 21 to a bracket 12 which is fixed to the housing 10. A spring 23 is engaged on each bolt 22 and is biased between the ear 21 and the bracket 12 for supporting the container 20. The container 20 will move downward against the springs 23 when rice is filled in the container 20. A sensing unit has a plurality of sensing elements 24 disposed on the lower portion of the container 20 and a sensor 14 fixed to the housing 10 for sensing the height of the container 20 and for sensing the quantity of the rice contained in the container 20.

A mouth 25 is formed in the bottom of the container 20. A neck 26 connects the mouth 25 to the inlet 31 of the washer 30. A cup 27 is rotatably received in the neck 26 and is fixed to the axle 29 of a motor 28 so that the cup 27 can be driven to rotate by the motor 28. The rice contained in the container 20 can flow into the cup 27 and can flow into the washer 30 when the cup 27 rotates so that the quantity of the rice can be measured by the number of revolutions of the motor 28. A bellows 32 is disposed around the coupling portion between the neck 26 and the inlet 31 of the washer 30. A dryer 15 for bowls and dishes can be accommodated in the space between the container 20 and the washer 30 (FIG. 1).

Referring next to FIGS. 4 and 5. four lugs 33 are formed on the outer portion of the washer 30 and are coupled to the brackets 16 by stubs 34 so that the washer 30 can be stably supported on the brackets 16.

An opening 300 is formed in the bottom of the washer 30. The brackets 16 are fixed on the housing 10. The inlet 31 is formed in a cover 35 which is pivotally disposed on the upper portion of the washer 30. A shield 3G is coupled to the cover 35 by a rib 37 and is disposed below the inlet 31 such that the water contained in the washer 30 is prevented from splashing into the inlet 31. A water outlet 38 is formed in the upper portion of the washer 30. A barrel 39 is rotatably received in the lower portion of the washer 30, and has a ring 40 integrally supported in the middle portion by four bars 41 (FIG. 5). A number of key holes 42 are formed in the inner surface of the ring 40. A shroud 43 is fixed in the washer 30 for covering the upper peripheral edge of the barrel 39. A shower head 44 is fixed in the washer 30 and is located above the shroud 43.

Two motors 45. 46 are disposed upon a casing 47 which is formed on the cover 35 of the washer 30. A pinion 48 is fixed on the axle of the motor 45. A cylinder 50 is rotatably supported in the center of the cover 35. A gear 51 is fixed on the upper end of the cylinder 50 and is coupled to the pinion 48 by a belt 52 such that the cylinder 50 can be driven to rotate by the motor 45. A stirrer 53 includes four blades 54 fixed to the screened lower portion 57 of a post 55 which has a square hole 56 formed in the upper end. The lower end of the cylinder 50 has a square cross section and is slidably engaged in the square hole 56 of the stirrer 53 so that the stirrer 53 can be driven to rotate by the motor 45. The stirrer 53 can be guided to move up and down relative to the cylinder 50 by the engagement between the lower end of the cylinder 50 and the square hole 56.Two keys 58 are formed on the upper portion of the post 55 and are engageable within the key holes 42 of the ring 40 when the stirrer 53 moves upward so that the barrel 39 can be driven to rotate. A gasket 59 is fixed on the lower end of the post 55 and is engageable in the opening 300 of the washer 30. rib 591 (FIG. 6) is formed across the bottom of the post 55. A spring 60 is biased between the cover 35 and the upper end of the post 55 for biasing the post 55 downwards.

A shaft 61 is fixed to the axle of the motor 46 and has an inner thread 62 formed therein. A rod 63 has an upper end threadedly engaged with the inner thread 62 of the shaft 61 so that the rod 63 can be caused to move up and down by rotation of the motor 46. A plug 64 is fixed on the lower end of the rod 63. The lower end 65 of the rod 63 which has an enlarged diameter is engageable with the rib 591 of the post 55 when the rod 63 moves upward so that the stirrer 53 can be pushed upward by the lower end 65 of the rod 63, best shown in FIG. 6.

A throat 66 is coupled to the opening 300 of the washer 30. A conduit 67 is formed on the bottom of the throat 66 and can be blocked by the plug 64. h drain pipe 68 is coupled to the throat 66 and a valve 69 is disposed between the throat 66 and the drain pipe 68 for controlling the water flow from the throat 66 to the drain pipe 68. A pipe 681 connects the water outlet 38 of the washer 30 to the drain pipe 68, and another pipe 682 connects the water outlet (not shown) of the dryer 15 to the drain pipe 68. A motor 70 is fixed to the throat 66. A bolt 71 is fixed to the axle of the motor 70. A sleeve 72 is slidably engaged on the conduit 67 and has an extension 73 extended therefrom.

The bolt 71 is threadedly engaged in the free end of the extension 73 so that the sleeve 72 can be caused to move up and down along the conduit 67 when the bolt 71 rotates. As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of notches 74 are formed in the lower portion of the sleeve 72.

Referring next to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a passage 76 is formed in the center of the cap 77 of the cooker 75.

A pair of recesses 78 are oppositely formed in the passage 76. A steam port 79 is formed in the caD 77. A funnel 80 has a first end disposed above the steam port 79 and has a second end fixed to the housing 10 and communicated to the environment. A fan 81 is disDosed in the funnel 80 so as to discharge the steam generated by the cooker 75.

A pin 80 extends in each of the recesses 78. One end of a stem 81, 82 is coupled to the upPer end of each of the pins 80, in which the stem 81 has a smaller diameter and is slidably engaged within a center hole of the other stem 82 such that the stems 81. 82 move up and down in concert. A cylindrical portion 83 is formed on a fin 84 and is rotatably engaged on each of the stems al, 82. A spring 85 is biased between the cylindrical portions 83 for biasing the fins 84 upward.

A spring 86 is engaged on each of the pins 80 for biasing the stems 81, 82 upward. A lid 87 is fixed to the lower ends of the pins 80 so that the lid 87 and the stems 81, 82 move up and down in concert. As shown in FIG. 8, when the sleeve 72 is caused to move downward b the motor 70. the notches 74 of the sleeve 72 is engaged on the cylindrical portions 83 so that the fins 84 can be pressed b the sleeve 72 to rotate downward and so that the passage 76 of the caP 77 is oPened. in order that the obiects from the throat 66 can flow into the cooker 75. When the sleeve 72 moves upward, the spring 85 biases the fins 84 upward to close the passage 76 (FIG. 7).

Referring next to FIGS. 10. 11 and 12, a disc 91 is engaged in a burrow 92 formed in the carrier 90. A protrusion 93 extends upward from the disc 91. A cave 94 is formed in the protrusion 93. A base 95 is formed integrally on the bottom of the cooker 75 and has a den 950 formed therein for engagement with the protrusion 93. A rib 951 is formed in the den 950 for engagement with the cave 94 so that the cooker 75 is prevented from rotating relative to the carrier 90. A plurality of wheels 96 are disposed on the bottom of the carrier 90. A rack 97 is longitudinally fixed on the bottom of the carrier 90. A gear 98 is fixed on an axle of a motor 99 and is engaged with the rack 97 so that the carrier 90 can be caused to move by the motor 99.As shown in FIG, 12, when the carrier 90 moves forward, the door 11 of the housing 10 can be opened by the carrier 90 so that the cooker 75 can move outward of the housing 10.

Referring again to FIG. 1. a pair of water tanks 17 are disposed in the bottom of the housing 10 and located beside the carrier 90 and the cooker 5. A duct 170 connects the water tanks 17 together. An inlet pipe 18 supplies water into the water tanks 17. A float control valve 181 is disposed in one of the water tanks 17 for controllin the water sulk to the water tanks 17. A pump 19 is disposed in the bottom of the water tank 17. A tube 191 connects the pump 19 to the shower head 44 or to the upper portion of the washer 30 for pumping water to the washer 30.

In operation, the rice, for example, contained in the container 20 can be measured by the cup 27 which can be rotated by the motor 28 so that the rice can be delivered to the washer 30. Before the rice is supplied into the washer 30, the stirrer 53 and the plu 64 move downward to the position as shown in FIG. 4, the opening 300 of the washer 30 is closed by the gasket 59 so that the rice is confined within the washer 30, water can flow into the throat 66 via the screened lower portion 57 of the stirrer 53 and the conduit 67 is closed by the plug 64 so that water can not flow into the cooker 75. Water is pumped into the washer 30 by the pump 19. The stirrer 53 can be rotated by the motor 4 so that the rice can be washed by the washer 30. Waste water may flow out through the drain pipe 68.

When the motor 46 rotates, the rod 63 and the stirrer 53 are caused to move upward so that the opening 300 of the washer 30 and the conduit 67 are opened and so that the rice can be discharged through the throat 66 into the cooker 75 and can be steamed or cooked in the cooker 75. The keys 58 of the stirrer 53 are ended in the key holes 42 of the ring 40 so that the barrel 39 can be caused to rotate with the stirrer 53 and so that the rice stuck on the barrel 39 can be flushed by the water flew from the shower head 44.

Claims

CLAI,IS

1. A cooking apparatus comprising a washer disposed above a cooker, said washer being provided to wash objects to be cooked in said cooker, means for forming a passageway to said cooker being disposed between said washer and said cooker, said objects being discharged into said cooker when said passageway of said cooker is formed.

2. A cooking apparatus according to claim i, wherein said washer includes a stirrer rotatably disposed therein, said stirrer includes four blades fixed to a screened lower portion of a post, a first gear is fixed on an upper end of a cylinder and coupled to a first motor, a lower end of said cylinder is slidably engaged in an upper end of said post so that said stirrer can be driven to rotate by said first motor, a first spring is biased between said washer and said upper end of said post for biasing said stirrer downward, an opening is formed in a bottom of said washer and closable by said screened lower end of said post.

3. A cooking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one key is formed on said post of said stirrer, a barrel is rotatably disposed in said washer, a ring is supported in a middle portion of said barrel by at least one bar, at least one key hole is formed in said ring and is engageable with said key so that said barrel can be caused to rotate in concert with said stirrer, a shower head is disposed on an upper portion of said washer for supplying water into said washer.

4. A cooking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a shaft is extended in said cylinder and is fixed to a second motor., an inner thread is formed in said shaft, an upper end of a rod is threadedly engaged with said inner thread of said shaft so that said rod can be caused to move up and down by said second motor, a plug is formed on a lower end of said rod, said passageway can be closed by said plug when said rod moves downward, and said stirrer can be caused to move upward by said rod when said rod moves upward.

5. A cooking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means for forming said passageway to said cooker includes a throat coupled to said opening said washer, and a sleeve slidably engaged on a lower end of said throat, an extension extends from said sleeve and is threadedly engaged with a bolt which is fixed to a third motor so that said sleeve can be caused to move up and down by said third motor, said throat can be closed by said plug; a passage is formed in a middle portion of a cap of said washer, a pair of stems which are engageable with each other are laterally disposed in said passage of said cap, a pair of fins are pivotally engaged on said stems, a second spring is engaged on said stems for biasing said fins upward to close said passage, said fins can be pushed downward by said sleeve when said sleeve moves downward; a pair of recesses are formed in said cap, a pin is slidably received in each of said recesses and has an upper end fixed to a respective stem, a third spring is engaged on each of said pin for biasing said stems upward. a lid is fixed to a lower end of said pins for closing said passage when said pins move upward.

6. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a container disposed above said washer for containing said objects, a neck being provided between said container and said washer, a measurin device being disposed between said container and said washer for measuring said objects and for delivering said objects into said washer, said measuring device including a cup rotatably disposed in said neck and coupled to a motor so that said cup can be caused to rotate by said motor.

7. A cooking apparatus according to claim 6, wherein four ears extend from said container and are coupled to a bracket, a spring is biased between each of said ears and said bracket for biasing said container upwards.

8. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one water tank is disposed beside said cooker1 a pump is disposed in said water tank and is coupled to an upper portion of'said washer for pumping water to said washer.

9. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a carrier is provided below said cooker. a plurality of wheels are disposed on a lower portion of said carrier, a rack is fixed to said lower portion of said carrier and is engaged with a gear which is coupled to a motor so that said carrier can be caused to move by said motor, a disc is engaged in a burrow formed in an upper portion of said carrier, a protrusion is formed on said disc, a den is formed in a bottom of said cooker, said protrusion of said disc is engageable in said den so that said cooker can be stably retained in place.

10. A cooking apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.