WO2004095996A1

WO2004095996A1 - An apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use

Info

Publication number: WO2004095996A1
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sergio Zappella
Original assignee: Eko S.P.A.
Priority date: 2003-04-28
Filing date: 2004-04-23
Publication date: 2004-11-11
Also published as: ITVR20030047A1

Abstract

An apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use, comprises a supporting structure (2) which can rest on a supporting surface (P), supporting a tank (3) for containing oil for frying foods and a basket (4) removably inserted in the tank (3). Attached to the tank (3) there is a lid (8), heating means (9) for heating the oil contained in the tank and rotation means (14) for rotating the basket (4) about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the base (6) of the tank (3). The apparatus also comprises angling means (15) for moving the tank (3) and the basket (4) contained in it between a first operating position for frying with continuous full immersion, in which the base (6) is substantially parallel with the supporting surface (P), and a second operating position for frying with periodic partial immersion, in which the base (6) is at an angle to the supporting surface (P).

Description

An apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use, comprising the characteristics described in the preamble to claim 1.

Background Art

According to a first, known technology, apparatuses for frying foods have a tank which can be filled with oil, in which a metal basket full of the product to be cooked is inserted. During food frying, the basket remains stationary and completely immersed in the oil. However, this first known technology has several disadvantages.

In particular, for frying some types of foods, such fryers require a relatively large amount of oil, which means a lengthy heating time, as well as significant energy consumption.

Moreover, for foods such as pieces of potato, the basket needs shaking regularly during cooking, to prevent the pieces of potato from sticking together, in which case they are not cooked in an optimum fashion. A solution to the above-mention problems is proposed in Italian patent 1 216 389 and European patent 263 084 in the name of De Longhi S .p .A..

Said patents describe a fryer in which the tank for the oil and the basket inserted in it are cylindrically symmetrical and are set at an angle to a horizontal surface.

Moreover, the basket can turn about its axis of symmetry in such a way that the oil tank only needs to be partly filled, since rotation of the basket causes the food contained in it to be periodically immersed in and extracted from the oil. The basket can be moved using a special lever between a cooking position in which it is positioned on the base of the tank and engaged with drive means which cause it to rotate, and a draining position in which it in raised above the oil and the drive means are disengaged.

Although this solution solves some of the disadvantages mentioned, it is not free of other disadvantages.

Firstly, this second type of fryer is not suitable for frying battered or breaded foods .

Indeed, in order to be fried in the optimum way, these foods must not be extracted from the oil. Also, if they come into direct contact with the basket, the latter' s mesh tends to ruin the batter and/or bread coating.

Moreover, at the moment when the food exits the oil, the batter causes the individual pieces to stick to one another and to the basket. Secondly, the production capacity being equal, fryers made according to this second type have larger dimensions than those of conventional fryers in which the tank is not angled and the basket is fixed.

What is more, frying by means of discontinuous immersion is not optimum when the product to be cooked is frozen.

Not last, the net food cooking time is greater in periodic immersion fryers than in conventional fryers . Although this aspect is compensated, when frying small amounts of food, by the slower oil heating time in conventional fryers, when frying large quantities of food, in successive stages, an excessively long cooking time is often a big disadvantage .

Disclosure of the Invention

In this situation the technical need which forms the basis of the present invention is the production of an apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use, which overcomes the above- mentioned disadvantages.

In particular, the technical need of the present invention is the production of an apparatus for frying foods , in particular for domestic use, which allows optimum cooking of all types of foods, whether battered, breaded, frozen, etc., at the same time optimising the amount of oil needed for cooking. The technical need of the present invention is also the production of an apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use, which has the smallest possible dimensions to production capacity ratio. The technical need specified and the aims indicated are substantially achieved by an apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use, as described in the claims herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further features and the advantages of the present invention, are more clearly illustrated in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several preferred embodiments of an apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use, without limiting the scope of the inventive concept, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic transparent side view of an apparatus for frying foods made according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a first operating position, with the basket in the draining position; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus illustrated in

Figure 1 with the basket in the cooking position;

Figure 3 is a schematic transparent side view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 in a second operating position, with the basket in the draining position; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the apparatus illustrated in

Figure 3 with the basket in the cooling position;

Figure 5 is a schematic transparent side view of an apparatus for frying foods made according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in a first operating position, with the basket in the draining position;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 5 with the basket in the cooking position;

Figure 7 is a schematic transparent side view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 5 in a second operating position, with the basket in the draining position;

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 7 with the basket in the cooking position; Figure 9 is a schematic transparent side view of an apparatus for frying foods made according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in a first operating position, with the basket in the draining position; Figure 10 is a schematic view of the apparatus illustrated in

Figure 9 with the basket in the cooking position;

Figure 11 is a schematic transparent side view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 9 in a second operating position, with the basket in the draining position; and Figure 12 is a schematic view of the apparatus illustrated in

Figure 11 with the basket in the cooking position.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole an apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use, according to the present invention, which comprises a supporting structure 2, in which a tank 3 for containing the oil is mounted (the oil level is indicated with a dashed line in the accompanying drawings) , and in which a basket 4 for the food to be fried is inserted.

The supporting structure 2 can rest on a supporting surface P either directly or by means of one or more supporting feet 5.

The tank 3 for containing the oil is delimited by a base 6 and a side wall 7, and the top of the tank is closed by a lid 8 operatively attached to the supporting structure 2.

In accordance with known methods, not illustrated here, the lid 8 may be fitted with filters, an inspection window, etc.

The base 6 of the tank 3 is operatively attached to means 9 for heating the oil contained in it, for example consisting of electric heating elements.

The basket 4 is removably inserted in the tank 3. In the embodiments illustrated the fryer has means 10 for extracting the basket 4 which allow the basket 4 to be moved between a lowered position (Figures 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) and a raised position (Figures 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) .

In the lowered position, the basket 4 is inserted in the tank 3 and at least partly immersed in the oil. In the raised position, the basket 4 is lifted above the lowered position and completely out of the oil .

The extraction means 10 comprise an actuating handle 11 pivoting at the supporting structure 2 , and a set of linkages 12 connected between the handle 11 and the basket 4. When the basket 4 is in the lowered position, the handle 11 is inserted in a special housing 13 in the supporting structure 2.

However, these basket 4 extraction means 10 are not described in detail here, nor are they illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, since they are of the known type. Means of this type are, for example, described in the above-mentioned Italian patent 1 216 389 and European patent 263 084.

At the centre of the base 6 of the tank 3 , the apparatus 1 disclosed comprises rotation means 14, which engage with the basket 4 when the latter is in the lowered position.

The rotation means 14 are attached to the tank 3 and to the basket 4, for rotating the basket 4 relative to the tank 3, about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the base 6 of the tank 3. A fundamental feature of the present invention is that the apparatus 1 also comprises angling means 15 for moving the tank 3, and the basket 4 contained in it, between a first operating position

(Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10) and a second operating position (3, 4,

7, 8, 11, 12) . The first operating position is a position for frying with full and continuous immersion of the product to be fried. When the tank

3 is in this position, the base 6 is substantially parallel with the supporting surface P.

The second operating position is for frying with partial and periodic immersion of the product to be fried. When the tank 3 is in this second position, the base 6 is at an angle to the supporting surface P.

In the preferred embodiments, the angling means 15 move the tank 3 between the first operating position and a plurality of second operating positions in which the base 6 of the tank 3 is at different angles to the supporting surface .

In this way, the apparatus 1 can fry both in the conventional way, with complete immersion of the product for the whole cooking time, and cyclically, immersing the product in the oil cyclically, thus minimising oil consumption. Moreover, thanks to the possibility of varying the angle of the tank 3 , the apparatus 1 can be adapted to various production capacities, as is more clearly described below.

In a first embodiment of the present invention (Figures 1 - 4) , the angling means 15 operate on the supporting structure 2 to set it at an angle to the supporting surface P, consequently angling the tank 3. By way of example, the accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment in which the angling means 15 consist of a supporting foot 5 extractable from the supporting structure 2, which therefore has a variable height that can be adjusted according to requirements. The supporting foot 5 is operated by means of a rack 16 integral with it which engages with a gear wheel 17 that may be either motor-driven or manually operated.

Special locking devices (not illustrated) can be fitted, to prevent unwanted rotation of the gear wheel 17 and so to keep the tank 3 in the desired operating position. Alternatively, the supporting foot 5 can also be fitted at the lower end of a screw which is screwed to the supporting structure 2 (embodiment not illustrated) . Varying the degree to which the screw is screwed in also varies the height of the foot 5.

In another alternative embodiment, also not illustrated, the supporting foot 5 may consist of a cam mechanism substantially similar to that illustrated in Figures 5 to 8.

In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, the angling means 15 operate directly on the tank 3 to vary its angle to the supporting surface, without changing the position of the supporting structure 2.

In the case illustrated, the angling means 15 comprise a cam element 18 (which may be motor-driven or manually operated) which operates on a side portion 19 of the base 6 of the tank 3 to raise it. The tank 3 pivots inside the supporting structure 2 by means of an enlarged edge 20 connected to a supporting edge 21 on the support structure 2, so that when the cam element 18 pushes the portion 19 of the base 6 on which it can operate upwards, the tank 3 rotates about the pivot point between the enlarged edge 20 and the supporting edge 21.

Both the heating means 9 and the rotation means 14 are integral with the tank 3 and follow the movements imparted to it by the angling means 15.

Again, suitable operation of the cam allows variation of the angle of the tank 3.

Special locking devices (not illustrates) may be fitted, to keep the cam in the desired position. In the third embodiment illustrated (Figures 9 - 12) , the supporting structure 2 consists of at least a first part 22 resting on the supporting surface P and a second part 23 which moves the tank 3 which contains the oil, the rotation means 14 and the heating means 9. The first part and the second part 23 are attached to one another by the angling means 15, which are such that they allow the second part 23 to be angled relative to the first part 22.

In the embodiment illustrated, the angling means 15 comprise at least one rotatable connecting element 24 (a pin) and means 25 for rotating the second part 23 relative to the first part 22 about the rotatable connecting element 24.

As illustrated, the means 25 for rotating the second part 23 relative to the first part consist of a gear 16a, 17a similar to that used to move the supporting foot 5 in the embodiment in Figures 1 to 4. Depending on requirements, the gear wheel 17a and the rack 16a may be attached respectively to the first part 22 and the second part 23 of the supporting structure 2, or vice versa.

In all of the embodiments illustrated, moreover (even if not shown) , the tank 3 may be removable, so that it can be cleaned more easily.

The apparatus 1 disclosed by the present invention operates in accordance with what has been described above .

The present invention brings important advantages .

Firstly, the apparatus disclosed is a dual-purpose apparatus which, with the tank in the first operating position, can be used as a static conventional fryer (even if the basket may or may not be made to rotate, as required) , and which, with the basket in any second operating position, can be used as a fryer with discontinuous product immersion, consequently saving oil.

Secondly, the apparatus allows optimum cooking of all types of foods, whether battered, breaded, frozen, etc. Moreover, the apparatus according to the present invention guarantees optimised cooking times according to circumstances .

Another great advantage of the apparatus disclosed is the possibility of varying the angle of the tank. In this way, it is possible to reduce oil consumption to a minimum whatever the amount of food to be cooked.

For example, if, when the tank is in the second operating position at the maximum angle, the apparatus can cook a predetermined amount of food (that is to say, a predetermined volume of food) with a predetermined amount of oil, around half that oil is sufficient to cook half that amount of food; to do this, the angle of the tank may simply be halved.

It should also be noticed that the present invention is relatively easy to produce and the cost linked to implementation of the invention is not very high. The invention described may be subject to modifications and variations without thereby departing from the inventive concept .

All the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements and all of the materials used, as well as the forms and dimensions of the various components, may be any according to requirements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for frying foods, in particular for domestic use, comprising

- a supporting structure (2) which can rest on a supporting surface (P) ; - a tank (3) for containing oil for frying the foods, supported by the supporting structure (2) and delimited by a base (6) and a side wall (7) ;

- a lid (8) operatively attached to the tank (3) and to the supporting structure (2) for closing the top of the tank (3) ; - heating means (9) operatively attached to the tank (3) for heating the oil contained in it;

- a removable basket (4) inserted in the tank (3) ; and

- rotation means (14) attached to the tank (3) for rotating the basket (4) about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the base (6) of the tank (3) ; the apparatus being characterised in that it also comprises angling means (15) for moving the tank (3) and the basket (4) contained in it between a first operating position for frying with continuous full immersion, in which the base (6) is substantially parallel with the supporting surface (P) , and a second operating position for frying with periodic partial immersion, in which the base (6) is at an angle to the supporting surface (P) .

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the angling means (15) move the tank (3) between the first operating position and a plurality of second operating positions in which the base (6) of the tank (3) is at different angles to the supporting surface (P) .

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the angling means (15) operate on the supporting structure (2) to set it at an angle to the supporting surface (P) , consequently angling the tank (3) .

. The apparatus according to claim 3 , characterised in that the angling means (15) comprise at least one supporting foot (5) with variable height attached to the supporting structure (2) , for supporting the supporting structure (2) on the supporting surface (P) .

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the supporting foot (5) is operated by means of a rack (16) .

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the supporting foot (5) is motor-driven.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterised in that the supporting foot (5) can be retracted into the supporting structure (2) .

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the angling means (15) operate directly on the tank (3) to vary its angle, the tank (3) being mobile relative to the structure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the angling means (15) comprise a cam element (18) operating on the tank (3) .

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the supporting structure (2) comprises at least a first part and a second part (23) attached to one another by the angling means (15) , the latter operating on the second part (23) to angle it relative to the first part (22) .

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that the angling means (15) comprise at least one rotatable connecting element (24) and means (25) for rotating the second part (23) relative to the first part (22) about the rotatable connecting element (24) , the tank (3) being mounted in the second part (23) .

12. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims , characterised in that the tank (3) comprises a seat made in the supporting structure (2) and a containment element removably inserted in said seat.

13. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims , characterised in that the basket (4) can be made to rotate by the rotation means (14) in all of the operating positions.

14. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it also comprises means (10) for extracting the basket (4) , for moving the basket (4) between a lowered position in which it is inserted in the tank (3) for immersion in the oil and is engaged with the rotation means (14) , and a raised position in which it is lifted above the lowered position and completely out of the oil and in which it is disengaged from the rotation means (14) .