US20130042853A1

US20130042853A1 - Cooking assembly that saves energy, reduces noise, and circularly removes fumes

Info

Publication number: US20130042853A1
Application number: US13/565,880
Authority: US
Inventors: Ting-Fang Chiang
Original assignee: Fancy Food Service Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: FANCY FOOD SERVICES EQUIPMENT Co Ltd; Fancy Food Service Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-08-19
Filing date: 2012-08-03
Publication date: 2013-02-21
Also published as: TW201309247A

Abstract

A cooking assembly that saves energy, reduces noise, and circularly removes fumes comprises a venting outlet disposed opposite to an absorbing inlet of an absorbing device. The air expelled from the venting outlet permits guiding fumes and smells generated during cooking into an absorbing scope of the absorbing inlet, thereby offering a recurring air curtain over a cooking platen. The cooking assembly keeps heating energy but takes away the cooking fumes and smells from the cooking platen via a consistent and recurring operation to clarify the air. The recurring air curtain avoids wasting air conditioning energy and prevents from leaking the air polluted by fumes out, which allows the cooking assembly to omit an extra outdoor discharging pipe but attain a fresh and tranquil dining atmosphere, and decrease the energy consumption of the facility for being friendly to the environment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooking assembly, particularly to a teppanyaki platform of the cooking assembly that saves energy, reduces noise, and circularly removes fumes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional cooking assembly 1 comprises a platform 11 provided with a cooking platen 12 and a filter 14 installed in the platform 11 for drawing cooking fumes on the cooking platen 12. Wherein, the platform 11 has an air unit indisposed thereon. The filter 14 includes an absorbing inlet 141 defined on the air unit 111, a venting outlet 142 defined on one side of the platform 11, a filtering unit 143 installed in the platform 11, an air pump 145 disposed on the platform 11, and an air channel 144 connected with the absorbing inlet 141, the venting outlet 142, the filtering unit 143, and the air pump 145. The cooking fumes generated curing frying on the cooking platen 12 are drawn by the absorbing inlet 141 via the operation of the air pump 145 and filtered by the filtering unit 143 so as to be expelled via the venting outlet 142. Whereby, the cooking fumes do not disperse away from the cooking platen 12, and consumers can enjoy their fine food in a smokeless environment.
However, the conventional cooking assembly 1 has the following shortcomings:
1. The cooking assembly 1 is usually operated in an air-conditioned space. Wherein, when the cooking fumes are drawn and filtered, the cooled air is also sucked. Accordingly, in order to keep a moderate temperature in the dining space, the operating power of the air conditioner must be sufficient to cool the dining space. However, increasing the operating power of the air conditioner concurrently augments the expense of electricity.
2. The absorbing inlet 141, which is near the cook, is fixed on one side of the cooking platen 12. Herein, a convection of air is easily occurred and speeded up when the cooled air from the air-conditioner meets the heating air on the cooking platen 12. Whereby, the cooking fumes on the cooking platen 12 adversely scatter in view of the convection, and the fixed absorbing inlet 141 can not directly absorb the cooking fumes, so that the dinning environment becomes smoky.
3. Further, in order to efficiently expel the cooking fumes from the cooking platen 12, the air pump 145 must operate with sufficient power or rotation speed to increase the absorbing power. However, the absorbing efficiency of the air pump 145 is still limited since the cooking fumes scatter in an open space. Moreover, the higher the rotation speed of the air pump 145 is provided, the more noise is generated.
4. When the operating efficiency of the air pump 145 is enhanced, more cooled air from the air-conditioner is concurrently absorbed, and so is the thermal heat on the cooking platen 12. Therefore, besides wasting the air-conditioner energy, the heating energy such as fuel gas is also wasted.
5. The filtering unit 143 may be able to clean the cooking fumes. However, since the components of the cooking fumes are different, it is difficult to completely eliminate the smelly odor of the cooking fumes unless the filtering unit 143 provides manifold purification. Nonetheless, the conventional cooking assembly 1 simply absorbs cooking fumes and expels it right away, so there is in fact insufficient time to purify the reek of the cooking fumes. Accordingly, when different foods are cooked on respective cooking platens 12 of the cooking assemblies 1, the reek of the cooking fumes is mixed in the air and influences consumers, which ruins the dining atmosphere.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the purpose of this invention to provide a cooking assembly that saves energy, reduces noise, and circularly removes fumes for allowing a recurring air curtain to be formed on a cooking platen. Preferably, cooking fumes can be captured efficiently, requisite energy is consumed less, a fresh and tranquil dining space is provided, and the environment is protected.
The cooking assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a platform, a cooking platen disposed on the platform for cooking, and an absorbing device installed in the platform; the absorbing device having at least one absorbing inlet disposed near the cooking platen for absorbing fumes, a first air channel connected to the absorbing inlet for guiding the fumes, and an air pump connected to the first air channel for pumping air. Wherein, at least one venting outlet is disposed on the platform, opposite to the absorbing inlet, for guiding the fumes generated in time of cooking into an absorbing scope of the absorbing inlet.
Preferably, an end of the first air channel is connected to the venting outlet for the first air channel to further guide the fumes absorbed by the absorbing inlet out of the venting outlet.
Preferably, a second air channel is connected with the venting outlet, and an end of the second air channel is connected with a blower for causing a current of air.
Preferably, a connecting wall is disposed between the platform and the cooking platen; the connecting wall is disposed higher than the cooking platen; the venting outlet is disposed on the connecting wall.
Preferably, the absorbing outlet is disposed on the connecting wall.
Preferably, the first air channel is connected with a filter for filtering the fumes.
Preferably, the first air channel is connected with a purifying device for removing smells.
Accordingly, the venting outlet assists in guiding the cooking fumes into the absorbing scope of the absorbing inlet, so that the absorbing device can efficiently capture the cooking fumes and the cooking fumes do not scatter easily. Preferably, users do not have to augment the operating efficiency of the air pump, and the noise resulted from the air pump is prevented. Moreover, the air conditioner energy is not wasted, and the dinning atmosphere is fresh and tranquil. Favorably, the environment is protected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional cooking assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in using;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the second preferred embodiment of the present invention in using;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a further perspective view showing the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to FIG. 2, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. A cooking assembly 3 that saves energy, reduces noise, and circularly removes fumes comprises a platform 31, a cooking platen 32 disposed on the platform 31 for cooking, and an absorbing device 33 installed in the platform 31 for absorbing cooking fumes on the cooking platen 32. The absorbing device 33 has at least one absorbing inlet 331 disposed near the cooking platen 32 for absorbing the cooking fumes on the cooking platen 32, a first air channel 334 connected to the absorbing inlet 331 for guiding the fumes, and an air pump 333 connected to the first air channel 334. Wherein, at least one venting outlet 332 is disposed on the platform 31, opposite to the absorbing inlet 331. In this embodiment, a second air channel 36 is connected with the venting outlet 332, and an end of the second air channel 36 is connected with a blower 361 for causing a current of air. Moreover, the absorbing inlet 331 and the venting outlet 332 can be defined on the platform 31. Alternatively, the platform 31 can be provided with a first air unit 311 as well as a second air unit 312, corresponding to the first air unit 311, so that the absorbing inlet 331 is defined on the first air unit 311 and the venting outlet 332 is defined on the second air unit 312, respectively. In this embodiment, the first air unit 311 and the second air unit 312 is provided.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in operation, the blower 361 gives external air to the absorbing inlet 331 via the venting outlet 332. Whereby, the air pump 333 is able to draw the air within an absorbing scope of the absorbing inlet 331. Herein, the blower 361 giving external air and the air pump 333 drawing the air conduce to a recurring air curtain to be formed on the cooking platen 32. Wherein, the recurring air curtain assists the absorbing inlet 331 in capturing cooking fumes. Namely, the cooking fumes surrounding consumers will be guided into the absorbing scope of the absorbing inlet 331 by the air from the venting outlet 332. After that, the cooking fumes sucked via the absorbing inlet 331 will be expelled via the first air channel 334. Preferably, a dinning space is kept fresh since the cooking fumes and smells do not scatter; namely, the cooking fumes are meticulously collected and smelly odors are prevented. The present invention is prevented from promoting the operating efficiency of the air pump 333 and installing an outdoor discharging pipe. Further, since the absorbing inlet 331 simply draws the cooking fumes on the cooking platen 32 and the air given from the venting outlet 332, cool air in the dinning space is prevented from wasting. Concurrently, a complementary cooperation of the blower and the air pump keeps the heat energy for cooking on the cooking platen 32. Unlike the present invention, the conventional cooking assembly merely provides a single absorbing inlet with powerful suction to suck the cooking fumes, which adversely draws the heat energy near the absorbing inlet on the cooking platen at the same time. Accordingly, when the present invention prevents the heat energy from running off, the heat energy such as gas will not be over-consumed and a stable heating is guaranteed.
FIG. 4 shows a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cooking assembly 3 similarly comprises a platform 31, a cooking platen 32, and an absorbing device 33. Characterized in that, the first air channel 334 is further connected with a filter 34 for removing smoke, and a purifying device 37 for purifying smells. Further, one end of the first air channel 334 is connected with the venting outlet 332. Referring to FIG. 5, in operation, the air pump 333 is operated to cooperate with the absorbing inlet 331 for drawing the cooking fumes and smelly odors generated on the cooking platen 32. Thence, the filter 34 and the purifying device 37 cooperatively remove the smelly molecules in the cooking fumes so as to purify the air accordingly. Afterward, the filtered cooking fumes and the purified air result in cleaned air that is given out from the venting outlet 332 toward the absorbing inlet 331. Thus, besides the air recurring function similar to that of the first preferred embodiment, the temperature of the discharged cleaned air is somewhat maintained on the cooking platen 32 since the recurring function keeps the cleaned air traveling over the cooking platen 32. Accordingly, the heat energy on the cooking platen 32 does not scatter easily. Moreover, by means of the recurring function, the air in the dinning space is continuously purified by the purifying device 37, which efficiently removes the smelly odors existing in the air. Additionally, when the recurring function keeps the cleaned air traveling over the cooking platen 32, cooking smells generated while frying foods can be reserved on the respective cooking assemblies 3. Namely, the smelly odors do not scatter and mix in the air in the dinning space, which ensures the consumer of a fresh dinning space.
FIG. 6 shows a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cooking assembly 3 similarly comprises a platform 31, a cooking platen 32, and an absorbing device 33. The like functions and structures correlated to that of afore preferred embodiments are herein omitted. Differently, a connecting wall 35 is disposed between the platform 31 and the cooking platen 32. Wherein, the connecting wall 35 is disposed slightly higher than the cooking platen 32, so that the venting outlet 332 can be defined on the connecting wall 35. In fact, the absorbing inlet 331 can be concurrently defined on the connecting wall 35, opposite to the venting outlet 332, as shown in FIG. 7. Herein, when the absorbing inlet 331 and the venting outlet 332 are defined on the connecting wall 35, an invisible structure is provided, which facilitates the operation of the cook or the consumer.
To sum up, the present invention particularly devotes the correspondently disposed absorbing inlet and venting outlet to pushing discharged air from the venting outlet to the absorbing scope of the absorbing inlet. Namely, cooking fumes generated on the cooking platen is motivated by the discharged air from the venting outlet toward the absorbing scope of the absorbing inlet, so that the cooking fumes can be collected more thoroughly. Accordingly, the cooking fumes on the cooking platen do not scatter easily, the air conditioner in the dinning space does not waste electricity too much, the operation efficiency of the air pump does not have to be enhanced, the dinning atmosphere is more fresh and tranquil, and the environment is protected.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooking assembly that saves energy, reduces noise, and circularly removes fumes comprising a platform, a cooking platen disposed on said platform for cooking, and an absorbing device installed in said platform; said absorbing device having at least one absorbing inlet disposed near said cooking platen for absorbing fumes, a first air channel connected to said absorbing inlet for guiding said fumes, and an air pump connected to said first air channel for pumping air;

wherein, at least one venting outlet is disposed on said platform, opposite to said absorbing inlet, for guiding said fumes generated in time of cooking into an absorbing scope of said absorbing inlet.

2. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, an end of said first air channel is connected to said venting outlet for said first air channel to further guide said fumes absorbed by said absorbing inlet out of said venting outlet.

3. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a second air channel is connected with said venting outlet, and an end of said second air channel is connected with a blower for causing a current of air.

4. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a connecting wall is disposed between said platform and said cooking platen; said connecting wall is disposed higher than said cooking platen, and said venting outlet is disposed on said connecting wall.

5. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein, a connecting wall is disposed between said platform and said cooking platen; said connecting wall is disposed higher than said cooking platen, and said venting outlet is disposed on said connecting wall.

6. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein, said absorbing inlet is disposed on said connecting wall.

7. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein, said absorbing inlet is disposed on said connecting wall.

8. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said first air channel is connected with a filter for filtering said fumes.

9. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein, said first air channel is connected with a filter for filtering said fumes.

10. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said first air channel is connected with a purifying device for removing smells.

11. The cooking assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein, said first air channel is connected with a purifying device for removing smells.