WO2015170086A1

WO2015170086A1 - Heating and/or cooking apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2015170086A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/051319
Authority: WO
Inventors: John MCGREEVY; Oliver COLLIS
Original assignee: Mm Microwave Limited
Priority date: 2014-05-06
Filing date: 2015-05-06
Publication date: 2015-11-12
Also published as: GB201407939D0; GB2528352A; GB201507716D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus and a method for use in the heating and/or cooking of a foodstuff and which is particularly of use when incorporated as part of a vending apparatus so as to allow a consumer selected foodstuff to be quickly and efficiently heated and/ or cooked to the required condition without the need for direct consumer intervention. The apparatus utilises microwave energy generated from one or magnetrons into a chamber in which the foodstuff and the chamber is configured to optimise the cooking and/ or heating effect on the foodstuff.

Description

Heating and/or cooking apparatus

The invention to which this application relates is apparatus for use in the rendering of a foodstuff into a preferred condition for consumption when the foodstuff leaves the apparatus. In particular, although not necessarily exclusively, the apparatus is provided for use in the heating and/or cooking of foodstuff from a frozen, chilled or ambient condition into a sufficiently heated condition for preferred consumption. Yet more, the apparatus is preferably provided in a form which allows the automatic or at least semi-automatic preparation of the foodstuff to occur with limited, or no, consumer intervention.

The provision of apparatus for the preparation of foodstuffs is well known and there are a number of methods and apparatus which are provided in order to allow the same to be achieved. However, for a long time there has been a perceived need to be able to provide for the automatic or semi-automatic preparation of foodstuffs for a consumer which can be achieved without the need for skilled personnel to be involved in the preparation of the foodstuff and for the apparatus to be provided to allow the cooking and/or heating of the foodstuff to be achieved in a relatively quick time and in a uniform and repeatable manner. One particular area of perceived need is in the preparation of foodstuffs to be dispensed for consumption by vending apparatus. This type of apparatus is typically provided in order to allow the user to input an identified payment into the apparatus, if required, and make a selection of a foodstuff which is then dispensed automatically by the apparatus to the consumer. Most typically, conventionally, the type of foodstuff which is dispensed from this type of apparatus is in a condition which is ready for consumption when stored in the vending apparatus and therefore is in the same condition when consumed as it was when stored, such as, for example, a bar of chocolate, a packet of crisps or the like.

However, there is a desire to be able to provide a foodstuff in a condition which is changed once the same has been selected by the user so as to be changed from a condition in which the same is stored to a condition which is ready for consumption. One form of foodstuff is that which is provided to be stored in ambient, chilled or frozen conditions and then cooked and/or heated so as to be provided in a heated condition suitable for consumption. An example of foodstuffs of this type are chips or French fries.

The conventional approach for the provision of this type of foodstuff is for the consumer to go into a restaurant or cafeteria in which the chips or French fries are cooked in a conventional manner. However, these establishments are not open at all times and cannot be provided at all of the many locations at which unattended vending apparatus could be provided. Previous attempts have been made to cook the foodstuff quickly which has involved the frying of the foodstuff or the microwaving of the foodstuff. However, to date, it has been found that the use of frying techniques have been impractical and unacceptably hazardous. With regard to microwave techniques, it has been found that the use of conventional microwave apparatus has been impossible in order to be able to heat the foodstuff to a sufficient temperature using apparatus which is connected to conventional mains power supplies of the type to which vending apparatus is typically connected. Thus, while one possible solution to this problem is to add extra microwave generating magnetrons to the microwave apparatus in order to increase the heating power of the apparatus, this is in fact impractical as the increase in the number of magnetrons requires an increase in the magnitude of the power supply and which increase cannot be achieved when only conventional domestic scale power supplies of the type located at standard vending apparatus locations are available. It is also impractical and expensive to provide larger or industrial scale power supplies to the many locations at which vending apparatus would be provided.

As such, at the present time the provision of automatic or semi automatic heating and/or cooking apparatus of the type which would be utilised in vending apparatus has not be possible to achieve on a commercially practical basis.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide apparatus for the heating and/or cooking of a foodstuff into a condition which is fit for consumption and to provide the apparatus in a form which can achieve this heating and/or cooking in an automatic or semi automatic manner and in a timely manner following the user selection to consume the foodstuff. A further aim is to allow the apparatus to be able to be installed at any location at which there is provided a domestic mains power supply.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for the preparation of a foodstuff for consumption, said apparatus including a chamber for the location of the foodstuff therein, one or more magnetrons capable of generating microwave energy into the chamber to heat and/or cook the foodstuff, said chamber defined by a number of walls forming the base, side walls and a roof and wherein at least one of the walls is provided with a portion which depends inwardly into the chamber in order to configure the chamber to increase the effect of the microwave energy in heating and/or cooking the said foodstuff. In one embodiment the microwave energy from the respective magnetrons is introduced into the chamber via one or more channels which connect the magnetrons to a respective wall of the chamber.

In one embodiment first and second magnetrons are provided which can be operated, in combination, using power supplied from a conventional power supply such as to operate on a power supply in the region of 11 Amps .

In one embodiment the portion which depends inwardly into the chamber is located on the wall which forms the roof of the chamber.

Typically the said portion has it's centre axis coaxially located with the centre axis of the chamber running from the roof to the base of the chamber

In one embodiment the shape of the portion changes as it depends into the chamber so as to optimise the cooking and/or heating effect of the microwave energy.

Typically the foodstuff which is to be heated and/or cooked is located in a container which in turn is located on the base in the chamber in a position at the said centre axis of the chamber.

Typically the shape of the said portion which depends inwardly of the chamber and/or the shape of a container in which the foodstuff is provided and/or the shape of the foodstuff are respectively selected so as to optimise at least one parameter of the cooking and/or heating effect on the said foodstuff.

Typically the parameters are any, or any combination of; time to achieve the required heating and/ or cooking effect; the temperature of the foodstuff which is achieved, the consistency of the heated and/or cooked foodstuff, safety of the operation of the magnetrons, and/or the uniformity of the heating and/or cooking effect.

Typically the effect of the said portion protruding inwardly of the chamber is to shorten the height of the chamber at least at that portion in which the foodstuff is located in the chamber. Typically this is provided to effectively increase the intensity and hence heating and/or cooking effect of the microwave energy on the foodstuff in comparison to the heating effect which would be achieved if the microwaves from the magnetrons were emitted into a conventional flat sided chamber. This is important as it is found that the use of the conventional flat sided chamber does not achieve the desired heating and/or cooking effect on the foodstuff within the timescale required for the acceptable automatic vending of the foodstuff following selection of the same by a user of the vending machine.

Typically the shape of the chamber, the foodstuff and/or foodstuff container is selected such that the microwaves which enter the chamber are at, or close to, resonant frequency which further enhances the intensity of the heating and/ or cooking effect of the microwave energy in the chamber on the foodstuff.

In one embodiment at least part of the base or a further part is provided to be movable from a position externally of the chamber to a position within the chamber for heating and/or cooking of the foodstuff.

Typically the foodstuff selected for cooking and/or heating is placed on the said at least part of the base or further part and is then moved into position in the chamber. Typically, once the foodstuff is heated and/or cooked for the predetermined time, the at least part of the base or said further part is moved from the chamber to allow the foodstuff to be removed from the at least part of the base or further part for consumption.

In one embodiment the apparatus includes a door formed in, or forming, a wall of the chamber to allow access to be gained to the interior of the chamber to allow the placement and removal of the foodstuff.

In one embodiment the chamber includes further heating means which can be selectively operated to provide a browning and/or crisping effect on the foodstuff during and/or after the heating and/or cooking process.

In one embodiment the chamber includes at least one apertured or perforated portion, said portion provided in communication with a gas extraction means provided to allow the extraction of air and/or steam from the chamber during the heating and/or cooking of the foodstuff.

In one embodiment the operation of the apparatus to perform a heating and/or cooking cycle on a foodstuff is commenced automatically upon the insertion of a valid user selection of the foodstuff. In one embodiment the selection is rendered valid by the input of a monetary or equivalent sum into the apparatus.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a consumer operated foodstuff vending apparatus incorporating microwave energy heating and/or cooking apparatus for a foodstuff to render a consumer selected foodstuff into an acceptable form for consumption. In one embodiment the apparatus includes means for storing the foodstuff in a chilled or frozen condition and the means for cooking and/or heating the foodstuff into a form suitable for consumption upon the foodstuff being selected by a user.

In one embodiment a range of foodstuffs are available for selection by a user of the vending apparatus and at least one of the foodstuffs is required to be heated and/or cooked prior to dispensing to the user.

In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing a heated or cooked foodstuff to a consumer from vending apparatus, wherein said method comprises the steps of receiving a valid consumer selection of a foodstuff, moving the selected foodstuff and container for the same into a chamber, generating microwave energy in the chamber to heat and/or cook the foodstuff using predetermined parameters, and moving the foodstuff to a position at which the same can be accessed by the consumer for consumption.

In one embodiment the method includes the step of identifying whether the selected foodstuff is required to be cooked or heated and, if so, automatically moving the said foodstuff into the said chamber prior to allowing access to the same to the consumer.

In one embodiment one or more magnetrons capable of generating microwave energy into the chamber are provided to heat and/or cook the foodstuff, and forming in at least one of the walls of the chamber a portion which depends inwardly into the chamber in order to configure the chamber to increase the effect of the microwave energy in heating and/or cooking the said foodstuff. Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying figures; wherein

Figure 1 illustrates an elevation of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional elevation along line AA;

Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional elevation along line BB;

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of foodstuff in a container which is to be heated using the apparatus;

Figures 6a— i illustrate a further embodiment of the apparatus; and

Figure 7 illustrates vending apparatus of the type which can include the heating and/ or cooking apparatus of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, it should be appreciated that the apparatus shown is typically provided to be included as part of a larger item of apparatus such as a vending apparatus 1 of the type shown in Figure 7 and that all or a large portion of the apparatus will typically be enclosed within the housing 3 of the vending apparatus so that, for example, only a door or access opening of the apparatus described herein will be accessible to allow the cooked and/or heated foodstuff to be removed from the vending apparatus. The vending apparatus will also typically include conventional means 5 for the consumer to make a payment and means 7 to select the foodstuff item which is to be purchased and heated for consumption. The apparatus can also be provided with refrigeration means 9 to allow the foodstuff items 11 to be stored at the required temperature prior to selection, thereby allowing the foodstuff located in the vending machine to have an identifiable and achievable shelf life as consumer selection is awaited. There may be a single foodstuff type available for selection or in another embodiment a range of foodstuffs may be available. In the latter case, means for identifying the foodstuff selected are provided and, if the foodstuff is required to be heated or cooked the same is moved automatically to the heating and cooking apparatus of the form now described and which typically is provided as part of the vending apparatus 1. Access means 13 are provided to allow consumer access to the foodstuff item once it has been heated and/ or cooked.

In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 — 4, and in Figures 6a-i there is provided a chamber 2 which has a base 4, and side walls 6, 8, 10 and 12. The chamber is completed by a roof 14.

It will be seen from the figures, that the base and side walls, are largely planer and have a smooth finished surface. The roof, 14, is provided with a protruding portion 16, which protrudes inwardly from the roof as shown and, in the embodiment shown, the central axis 20 of the portion 16 is mounted co-axially with the central axis 18 of the chamber. First and second magnetrons and mountings therefore 22, 24, are provided externally of the chamber and are provided with a power supply thereto which, preferably, is a conventional domestic mains power supply. When operated, the magnetrons generate microwaves which are carried from the magnetrons via channels 30, 32 respectively, to respective apertures 34, 36, formed in side walls of the chamber so as to allow the microwaves which are generated from the magnetrons, to be emitted into the chamber 2.

Typically, the chamber is formed with respect to the microwaves which are generated such that the microwaves are at or near resonance within the chamber 2. In addition, the portion 16 which is typically formed from the same sheet metal or metal alloy as the walls of the chamber, and which protrudes from the roof 14, is formed of a shape and dimension so as to maximise and increase the effect of the microwaves within the chamber and more particularly, with respect to maximising the heating effect on the foodstuff 38 in the chamber. The portion is typically mechanically attached to the roof and fixed in position.

An example of an item of foodstuff 38 which is to be heated using the apparatus of the invention, is shown in more detail in Figure 5 and, in this embodiment, the foodstuff is carried by a container 40 which may be formed simply of card or similar material which is microwave proof or may also be formed in a manner to include a susceptor to encourage the heating of the food stuff using microwaves. The foodstuff itself, is provided in this case, in the form of chips or French fries but it should be appreciated that other food stuffs may also be heated effectively using the apparatus of the invention.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, the shape and form of the food stuff but more particularly, in this case, the package, is known and will typically be the same for each repeated use of the apparatus. Furthermore, it is preferred that the location of the food stuff and package within the chamber, will be substantially the same on each occasion of use and, as a result of this, it is then possible to use this as a further parameter which is referred to when designing the shape of the chamber and particularly, the shape and dimensions of the protruding portion 16 from the roof 14 so as to maximise the heating effect of the microwaves and to focus the same on the particular location of the food stuff 38 and container 40 within the chamber and the area of the food stuff and container which is to be cooked when in the chamber.

In one embodiment, the chamber is provided with one or more apertures 42 which are acted upon by gas movement means 44, such as a fan, in order to allow air and/or liquid such as steam, which is created in the chamber during the heating process, to be removed during the heating process as it is found that by reducing the amount of steam in the chamber, the effect of the microwave on the food stuffs, is increased and furthermore, the reduction in steam can reduce the opportunity for the foodstuff to become soggy during the cooking process. Furthermore, the chamber may be provided with a heating means (not shown but which may act as a grill using electrical elements), in addition to the microwave energy, which causes the food stuff to be browned and/or crisped during or after the microwave cooking process. In one embodiment, this heating means may be provided separate to the chamber and the food stuff is moved to be acted upon by the same following the microwave heating.

Furthermore, thermal imaging means can be provided and an area 46 is provided to allow the thermal condition of the foodstuff within the chamber to be assessed and in one embodiment the foodstuff item will only be dispended if the detected thermal parameters meet specific predetermined values. In one embodiment the thermal imaging means may detect the temperature of the foodstuff at predetermined spaced locations.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is provided to allow the automatic or semi-automatic movement and heating and/or cooking and dispensing of the food stuff to occur and in one arrangement, a plurality of food stuff containers, with the food stuff therein, are retained in a storage environment which can be in ambient temperatures, cooled or frozen conditions and typically within the larger item of apparatus. When the user then makes a selection of the particular food stuff, and, if necessary, makes the required payment, the food stuff container 40 is moved from the storage location into the chamber and in one arrangement this is achieved by moving the base of the chamber, or part of the base or a further part mounted with respect to the base, to a first position adjacent to the storage position below the chamber and at which the food stuff container is moved into a selected location on the base, and then the base 4 or base part or further part is moved into a second position in which the same forms the floor or part of the floor of the chamber as shown in the Figures. Once in position, the magnetrons can be provided with the required power and operated to create microwaves within the chamber and heat and/or cook the foodstuff for a pre-determined period of time and the one or more fans are also operated to remove steam from the chamber, if required. Once the item of food is heated and/ or cooked for the required time, the container with the heated and/ or cooked food stuff, is then removed, in one embodiment by moving the base, base part or further part downwardly so as to move the foodstuff into a dispensing position at the access opening 13 in the larger item of apparatus from which the same can be accessed by the consumer.

Thus it will be appreciated that in this form, no direct user interaction is required and hence the heated and/or cooked food stuff can be dispensed from the apparatus in a similar manner to a pre-packaged non-cooked item from a vending machine and with which a consumer is experienced at using.

Furthermore, the provision of the cooking apparatus in the form described, and in particular, maximising the effect of the microwaves which are generated from the one or magnetrons into the chamber, allows the foodstuff to be heated to the required temperature so as to render the foodstuff attractive for consumption and for the same to be achieved without the need for an up-grading of a normal domestic power supply in order to be able to power the magnetrons. This represents a significant breakthrough in the provision and heating of foodstuffs from unattended apparatus which has been a problem within this area for many years and has, to date, not been practically solved.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the preparation of a foodstuff for consumption, said apparatus including a chamber for the location of the foodstuff therein, one or more magnetrons capable of generating microwave energy into the chamber to heat and/or cook the foodstuff, said chamber defined by a number of walls forming the base, side walls and a roof and wherein at least one of the walls is provided with a portion which depends inwardly into the chamber in order to configure the chamber to increase the effect of the microwave energy in heating and/or cooking the said foodstuff.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the microwave energy from the one or more magnetrons is introduced into the chamber via one or more channels which connect the magnetrons to a respective wall of the chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein first and second magnetrons are provided and operated, in combination, using power supplied from a conventional mains power supply and thereby allow the apparatus to be operated in any environment where there is access to the conventional mains power supply.

4 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the portion which depends inwardly into the chamber is located on the roof of the chamber.

5 Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the said portion has it's centre axis coaxially located with the centre axis of the chamber which extends from the roof to the base of the chamber

6 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shape of the portion changes as it depends into the chamber so as to optimise the cooking and/or heating effect of the microwave energy.

7 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the foodstuff is located in a container which, in turn, is located on the base in the chamber.

8 Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the container is positioned at the centre axis of the chamber.

9 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shape of the said portion which depends inwardly of the chamber and/or the shape of a container in which the foodstuff is provided and/or the shape of the foodstuff are respectively selected so as to optimise at least one parameter of the cooking and/or heating effect on the said foodstuff.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the said parameters are any, or any combination of; time to achieve the required heating and/or cooking effect; the temperature of the foodstuff which is achieved, the consistency of the heated and/or cooked foodstuff, safety of the operation of the magnetrons, and/or the uniformity of the heating and/or cooking effect.

1 1. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said portion is formed so as to shorten the height of the chamber at least at that portion in which the foodstuff is located in the chamber when being heated or cooked.

12 Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the provision of the portion intensifies the effect of the microwave energy.

13 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the microwaves which enter the chamber are at, or close to, resonant frequency.

14 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least part of the base or a further part is provided to be movable from a position externally of the chamber to a position within the chamber for heating and/or cooking of the foodstuff.

15 Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the foodstuff selected for cooking and/or heating is placed on the said at least part of the base or further part and is then moved into position in the chamber.

16 Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein once the foodstuff is heated and/or cooked for the predetermined time, the at least part of the base or said further part is moved from the chamber to allow the foodstuff to be removed from the at least part of the base, or further part, for consumption.

17 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a door formed in, or forming, a wall of the chamber to allow access to be gained to the interior of the chamber to allow the placement and removal of the foodstuff.

18 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein further heating means are provided in the chamber.

19 Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the further heating means are selectively operated to provide a browning and/or crisping effect on the foodstuff during and/or after the microwave energy heating and/or cooking process.

20 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the chamber is provided in communication with a gas extraction means provided to allow the extraction of air and/or steam from the chamber during the heating and/or cooking of the foodstuff.

21. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein thermal imaging means are provided to allow the thermal condition of the foodstuff within the chamber to be assessed.

22 A consumer operated foodstuff vending apparatus incorporating microwave energy heating and/or cooking apparatus for a foodstuff to render a consumer selected foodstuff into an acceptable form for consumption.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the microwave energy heating and/or cooking apparatus is as described in any of claims 1 -21.

24. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the apparatus includes means for storing the foodstuff in a chilled or frozen condition prior to cooking and/or heating.

25 Apparatus according to any of claims 22-24 wherein a range of foodstuffs are available for selection by a user of the vending apparatus and at least one of the foodstuffs is required to be heated and/or cooked prior to consumption by the user.

26 Apparatus according to any of claims 22-25 wherein the performing of the heating and/or cooking cycle on a foodstuff is commenced automatically upon receipt of a valid user selection of the foodstuff.

27 Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the selection is rendered valid by the input of a monetary or equivalent sum into the apparatus.

28 A method of providing a heated or cooked foodstuff to a consumer from vending apparatus, wherein said method comprises the steps of receiving a valid consumer selection of a foodstuff, moving the selected foodstuff and container for the same into a chamber, generating microwave energy in the chamber to heat and/or cook the foodstuff using predetermined parameters, and moving the foodstuff to a position at which the same can be accessed by the consumer for consumption.

29 A method according to claim 28 wherein the method includes the step of identifying whether the selected foodstuff is required to be cooked or heated and, if so, automatically moving the said foodstuff into the said chamber prior to allowing access to the same to the consumer.

30 A method according to claim 28 wherein one or more magnetrons capable of generating microwave energy into the chamber are provided to heat and/or cook the foodstuff, and forming in at least one of the walls of the chamber a portion which depends inwardly into the chamber in order to configure the chamber to increase the effect of the microwave energy in heating and/or cooking the said foodstuff.

31. A method according to claim 28 wherein thermal imaging means are used to determine the temperature of the heated and/or cooked foodstuff and the foodstuff is only dispensed if the thermal parameters which are detected meet predetermined temperature requirements of the foodstuff to be acceptable for consumption.