Description

The present invention refers to an apparatus for the heating and/or the cooking of food, in particular for the cooking of pasta, and to a particular method related thereto.

An automatic apparatus for the cooking of pasta is known by the Italian patent IT 1226495 under the same name of the Applicant.

The apparatus described in such patent is a machine (or distributor) that by means of the introduction of a token or coin, or the activation of a switch, deposits automatically in a one-way container (plate), a portion of cooked and dressed pasta.

The portion of pasta, before being deposited on the above mentioned plate, never comes into contact with a physical person or with elements not belonging to the distributor itself.

The distributor does not only provide to deposit, as already said, a portion of cooked pasta in a one-way container, but also provides to weigh, cook and dress it.

Referring to figure n.1 , where such apparatus is schematically reproduced, the raw pasta, similar to the one sold in shops, is deposited on the hopper 10. From the hopper 10, by means of the force of gravity, the pasta falls inside the dispenser 11 , that in the loading position presents an opening 12 turned upwards. The dispenser 11, by now charged, by using the appropriate command, rotates on itself shifting the opening 12 downwards, and releases its content to the slide 13, initially in horizontal position.

By means of an electric command to a hidden motor, the slide 13 is rotated and placed in vertical position, as shown by the dotted lines.

From here the still raw pasta slides into a metal container (pot) 15 which is in a first operational vertical position.

At the same time, a dosage of water coming from the tank 16, previously filled, goes into the pot 15 through the pipeline 17.

The pot 15, once having been charged of raw pasta and pre-warmed water, is immediately hermetically closed by the lid 18 and instantaneously warmed by the electric transformer 19, positioned next to the pot 15.

By activating the transformer the water contained in the pot 15 warms up. Since the pot 15 is closed, it generates a pressure that permits to cook the pasta in a very short time.

Once the cooking is done, the pot 15 and the relevant transformer 19, rotate of about 140° until a second operational position, inclined downwards, as shown in the dotted lines. When the pressure is released the lid opens itself and provokes the spill of the content.

In this position, under the pot 15 there is the filter 20 that retains the pasta in itself and permits the spill of the cooking water which, in its turn, goes to deposit itself in the drainage tank 21. After a short permanence in such second position, while the pot 15 goes back to the first position, the filter 20, turning over, deposits the cooked and warm pasta into the plate 22.

Now the sauce 23 and cheese 24 containers enter into function and, by means of a simple electron tube, release on the already deposited and cooked pasta a portion of its content.

In the meanwhile the dispenser 11, rotating, has brought back its opening upwards 12. The lid 18 and every other component of the distributor has brought itself in the starting position and everything is hence ready for the next cycle.

The heating of the water occurs by means of a primary of a reed valve transformer (with "cloak" nucleus) connected to electric power at a frequency of 50 Hz and a secondary associated to the pot 15.

The aim of the present invention is, on the other hand, to provide for an apparatus and a method for cooking pasta that is quicker in the cooking time.

Another purpose is that of cooking the pasta consuming less energy than the prior art.

A further aim is that of realizing an apparatus which is lighter than the prior art.

According to the present invention, those aims and others are reached by an apparatus for food cooking comprising: a metal container; heating means for heating said metal container; characterized in that said heating means comprise a transformer having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit; said transformer operates at a frequency greater than 5 kHz; said primary circuit comprises a plurality of coils; said secondary circuit is formed directly by said metal container.

Such aims are also reached by a method for pasta cooking comprising the steps of: applying a primary of a transformer to a metal container, said transformer having a toroidal core; said metal container directly forms the secondary of said transformer; applying a generator of an alternated voltage at a frequency greater than 10 kHz to said primary; applying an ultrasound generator to said metal container; inserting water and pasta in said metal container; closing the lid of said metal container; activating said alternated voltage generated and said ultrasound generator; agitating the metal container by rotation; releasing the pressure of said metal container while it is upright, up to a programmed value; closing the lid; rotating said metal container downwards; completely opening the lid of said metal container; emptying the content of said metal container. Further characteristics of the invention are described in the relevant claims. The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will result to be evident from the following detailed description of a practical example of its realization, illustrated as a simplifying but not limiting example in the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows schematically an apparatus for pasta cooking according to prior art.

figure 2 shows schematically an apparatus for pasta cooking displayed in a first operational position, according to a variation of the present invention;

figure 3 shows schematically an apparatus for pasta cooking, displayed in a second operational position (rotation), according to a variation of the present invention;

figure 4 shows schematically a particular of the pot of the apparatus for pasta cooking, according to the present invention.

With reference to the attached figures, an apparatus, in particular automatic, for cooking pasta, according to the present invention, is in part as the type illustrated in figure 1 and previously described.

The automatic apparatus, according to the present invention, diverges from the previous one as regards the cooking of pasta.

In the old version the cooking chamber caused a short circuit of the secondary of the transformer which was, among other things, with "cloak" type nucleus.

According to the present invention, the cooking chamber is the secondary circuit itself; this enhances considerably the performance of the machine.

The transformer is no more with "cloak" type nucleus, but a toroidal transformer with oriented grains or iron powder cores, which operates at high frequency, in particular at a frequency which goes from 5 kHz to 1 GHz, preferably from 5 kHz to 500 kHz, and even more preferably between 5 kHz and 100 kHz.

The more the frequency is high, the more the dimensions of the transformer decrease and, as a consequence thereof, the overall weigh of the apparatus, which is mainly given by the transformer, decreases.

The pot 30, realized in stainless steel 316L suitable for food, with a tubular shape, is positioned inside a toroidal transformer 31 with oriented grains or ferrite wrapt by coils of conductor. The pot 30 is equipped with a thread 32 for the fixing of a lid (ball valve which is not shown) in order to close the pot 30.

The pot 30 (or cooking chamber) goes centrally and perpendicularly through the transformer 31 constituting directly its secondary circuit. The pot is realized in a dimension able to contain one hectogram of pasta and about half a litre of water, in order to cook one portion of pasta at the time.

The new heating and cooking system has permitted to considerably reduce the electrical consumption and the dimensions of the machine.

The new system reduces of more than thirty per cent the energy consumption and the cooking timing with respect to the prior art.

The tension that generates into the pot, which depends upon the relation of the coils, and upon the fact that the secondary of the transformer is the pot itself, is very low and in the order of little more than one volt (for example equal to 1 ,6 volt), without causing any problem to the user. It is preferable, according to the present invention, to apply an ultrasound generator 33, for example at the bottom of the pot 30.

The ultrasound generator 33 emits a signal at a frequency superior to 20 kHz, which varies periodically with respect to the ultrasonic frequency that sends in resonance the molecular structure of the raw pasta.

This creates physically a dilatation and contraction at molecular level and consequently helps the water, already hot and under pressure, to reach and cook the inside of the pasta.

The frequency of the ultrasounds varies in a range of 20% around said ultrasound frequency. The synergy among the transformer of heating that works at high frequency and the use of the ultrasound generator, allows that the cooking of the pasta occurs in a short period of time and guarantees a reduced consumption of energy with respect to the prior art. In an example of realization of the present invention, working with a transformer at a frequency of 20 kHz having a weight of around 5 kg (considerably reduced with respect to the transformers at 50 Hz), and with an ultrasound generator working in a range of 20% around said ultrasound frequency, and a total electric consumption of around 2 kW or less more, cooking in about half a litre of water a hectogram of pasta, the pasta is cooked in 2 minutes (a timing considerably reduced with reference to the normal cooking timings).

Using a cooking system as described above and hence reducing weight and consumptions, the apparatus for pasta cooking has been realized in a domestic version and in a version for hotels. With reference to the figures, it can be noted the pot 40 with the relevant lid 41, the toroidal transformer 42 that surrounds the pot 40, and the drainage tank 43, placed at the side of the pot 40.

The apparatus for cooking is fixed in a way that enables it to rotate on a support structure 44 leaned on the ground or on a kitchen surface, depending on the dimensions of the apparatus. A motor 45 activates the coupling 46 and rotates the pot 40 of about 140° downwards for the release of the water and the cooked pasta.

A motor 47 activates the coupling 48 and opens the lid 41.

The functioning is very simple, the water is inserted into the pot, automatically or by hand depending upon the cases. The pasta is inserted in adequate quantity, also in this case automatically or by hand depending upon the cases. The alimentation of the transformer is turned on and, preferably, the ultrasound generator is activated and then one waits for the cooking of the pasta.

The alternating current that passes in the primary circuit of the transformer generates an electromagnetic field, that induces eddy currents in the pot. The resistivity of the pot's material that opposes itself to the flux of these currents is the cause of the generated heat.

The ultrasound generator accelerates the cooking of the pasta.

After the insertion of the pasta and during the cooking of the latter, it is possible to program the activation of the motor 45 for rotating the pot 40 once or more times of about 140° downwards, and hence make return the pot in vertical position, in order to mix several times the pasta inside the pot 15.

Once the cooking is done, a pressure sensor reads the pressure inside the cooking chamber and, measuring in thousandths the opening of the lid, discharges the pressure present in the pot until the value previously programmed , then completely closes the lid; at this point the pot rotates of about 140° degrees downwards and once finishing the rotation opens completely the lid and drains the automatically cooked pasta; the cooking water is lead to the drainage tank, whilst the pasta is positioned on a plate.

The domestic version of the apparatus may not include the automatic dosage of the raw pasta or of the water for cooking which, in this case, will be dosed and inserted directly by the user.

The same machine, of the convenient dimension, is dedicated to the canteen, restaurant and barrack industry and to every aspect of professional catering business.

With the apparatus of the present invention the cooking of the pasta occurs in one single pot. It will be possible, in case of multiple requests, to use other pots or machines of the same type in parallel.

The apparatus has been here described for its main application, that is the cooking of pasta, but the surprising characteristics of the apparatus can also be utilised in other fields, like for example for industrial applications in cases where there is the need to heat objects and materials of different type. The materials utilised by the apparatus for pasta cooking, as well as its dimensions, could be of every type depending upon the needs and state of art of technology.