U.S. patent application number 10/370997 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for hot-air oven having an improved door-sealing member.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ubert Gastrotechnik GmbH. Invention is credited to Stephan, Christoph.
Application Number | 20030159687 10/370997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27674871 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030159687 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stephan, Christoph |
August 28, 2003 |
Hot-air oven having an improved door-sealing member
Abstract
A hot-air oven for the preparation of food is provided. A
cooking chamber delimited by walls is provided in a housing. A
blower produces a hot-air stream in the cooking chamber, and a
controller controls the progress of a cooking process. A rotatable
basket for food can be introduced into the cooking chamber via an
opening in one of the walls. During operation the basket is
subjected to a hot-air stream. A closure element is connected to
the basket and serves to close off the wall opening during
operation. The closure element is supported relative to the basket
via a pivot bearing that is coaxial with an axis of rotation of the
basket.
Inventors: |
Stephan, Christoph;
(Raesfeld, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT W. BECKER & ASSOCIATES
Suite B
707 Highway 66 East
Tijeras
NM
87059
US
|
Assignee: |
Ubert Gastrotechnik GmbH
Raesfeld
DE
|
Family ID: |
27674871 |
Appl. No.: |
10/370997 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/21A ;
126/21R; 219/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/21.00A ;
126/21.00R; 219/400 |
International
Class: |
F24C 015/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2002 |
DE |
10207638.3 |
Claims
1. a hot-air oven for preparation of food, comprising: a housing
having a cooking chamber that is delimited by four side walls one
of which can be embodied as a door, as well as by a bottom wall and
a top wall; a blower means for producing a hot-air stream in said
cooking chamber; a control means for controlling progress of a
cooking process; a basket for food, wherein said basket is
rotatable and is introducible into said cooking chamber via an
opening in one of said walls, wherein during operation said basket
is subjected to a hot-air stream; a closure element that is
connected to said basket and serves to close off said wall opening
during operation; and a pivot bearing that is coaxial with an axis
of rotation of said basket, wherein said closure element is
supported relative to said basket via said pivot bearing.
2. A hot-air oven according to claim 1, wherein said closure
element is provided with a sealing region that is circular
cylindrical or annular and is rotationally symmetrical relative to
said axis of said rotation.
3. A hot-air oven according to claim 2, wherein a sealing means is
provided that during operation is stationary and that is associated
with said housing or said door, and wherein said sealing means
rests against an outer peripheral surface of said sealing
region.
4. A hot-air oven according to claim 1, wherein a surface of said
closure element that faces away from said cooking chamber is
provided with a handle for withdrawing said basket out of said
cooking chamber.
5. A hot-air oven according to claim 1, wherein as a function of
said control means, said basket can be withdrawn from said cooking
chamber only if in a normal position an opening provided on said
basket is directed upwardly.
6. A hot-air oven according to claim 5, wherein said basket is
rotatable out of said normal position into a discharge
position.
7. A hot-air oven according to claim 6, wherein said basket is
rotatable by means of a motor.
8. A hot-air oven according to claim 1, wherein a mechanically
fixed coupling is provided between said closure element and said
basket, and wherein said coupling is in engagement when said basket
is withdrawn from said cooking chamber.
9. A hot-air oven according to claim 8, wherein said coupling is
effected by a manual actuation of a coupling or catch that is
associated with a handle of said closure element.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a hot-air oven for the
preparation of food. The oven includes a housing that has a cooking
chamber delimited by four side walls, one of which can be embodied
as a door, as well as a bottom wall and a top wall. A blower means
is provided for producing a hot-air stream in the cooking chamber.
A control means is also provided for controlling the progress of a
cooking process. A rotatable basket is provided for food and can be
introduced into the cooking chamber via an opening in one of the
walls, whereby during operation a hot-air stream passes through the
basket. In addition, during operation the wall opening is closed
off by a closure element that is connected to the basket.
[0002] A hot-air oven of this type is known, for example, from the
European Patent EP 0734503 B1. In such a hot-air oven, a basket for
the products that are to be prepared is mounted in a cooking
chamber so as to be rotatable about an axis. The basket can be
withdrawn out of the cooking chamber in the axial direction, and is
provided on its free end with a round closure plate that is
disposed concentric to the axis of rotation. This closure plate is
fixedly connected with the basket, and when the basket is
completely inserted seals off the cooking chamber toward the
outside. A seal is provided between the housing, which is
stationary during operation, and a similarly stationary, pivotable
door on the one hand and the rotating closure plate on the other
hand; during operation, the seal is similarly stationary and the
closure plate of the basket slides over the sealing surfaces of the
seal. This form of the sliding seal in practice, especially after
longer periods of operation, leads to sealing problems. In this
sealing region, steam from the cooking chamber, or smoke that might
develop, can escape, which in addition to the possible formation of
odor can also make the surface of the oven dirty.
[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
improve a hot-air oven of the aforementioned general type in such a
way that the sealing of the cooking chamber is improved in the
region of the removal opening for the basket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] This object, and other objects and advantages of the present
invention, will appear more clearly from the following
specification in conjunction with the accompanying schematic
drawings, in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of
an inventive hot-air oven; and
[0006] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the sealing region
of the door of the hot-air oven of FIG. 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The hot-air oven of the present invention is characterized
primarily in that the closure element is supported relative to the
basket in a pivot bearing that is coaxial with the axis of rotation
of the basket.
[0008] Since the closure element is supported relative to the
basket in a pivot bearing that coincides with the axis of rotation,
the basket can be rotated during operation while the closure
element remains stationary. The closure element is preferably
provided with a sealing zone that is circular cylindrical and
rotationally symmetrical relative to the support axis. In this
connection, the seal, which is associated with the housing of the
door, is preferably disposed against the outer peripheral surface
of the cylindrical region of the closure element. To simplify
handling, it is furthermore possible to provide a handle on that
surface of the closure element that faces away from the cooking
chamber. By means of this handle, the basket can be withdrawn out
of the cooking chamber. The operation can be made particularly
reliable if, as a function of a control means, the basket is
withdrawn out of the cooking chamber only when an opening provided
on the basket is directed upwardly. To empty the basket, it is
furthermore advantageous for the basket to be rotatable, by means
of a motor, out of this position and into a discharge or issuing
position. Pursuant to a particularly straightforward embodiment of
the inventive hot-air oven, when the basket is withdrawn from the
cooking chamber a mechanically fixed coupling is effected between
the closure element and the basket. This can be effected by a
manual actuation of a coupling or catch that is associated with the
handle.
[0009] Further specific features of the present invention will be
described in detail subsequently.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Referring now to the drawings in detail, a hot-air oven is
illustrated in perspective in FIG. 1. The hot-air oven has three
fixed side walls 2 as well as a side wall 4 that is provided with a
door 3 and that is to be opened. The upper side is formed by a top
wall 5, and the under side is formed by a non-visible bottom wall.
The walls 2-5 surround the interior of the hot-air oven, a portion
of which is embodied as a cooking chamber.
[0011] The side wall 4 and the door 3 have a circular opening 7
through which a mesh-type basket 8 can be introduced into the
cooking chamber.
[0012] The basket 8 is rotatably mounted in the cooking chamber in
a manner known per se. During operation, a hot-air stream passes
through the basket, which is rotated about an axis that is parallel
to the direction of insertion and that coincides with the axis of
symmetry of the opening 7.
[0013] At one end face, the basket 8 is provided with a closure
element 10 that has a handle 11 for pulling the basket 8 out or
pushing it in.
[0014] The region of the opening 7, and the outer end of the basket
8, are illustrated in greater detail in the cross-sectional view of
FIG. 2. The same components have the same reference numerals.
[0015] In addition to the circular disc shaped outer portion of the
closure element 10 that is visible in FIG. 1, and to which the
handle 7 is fastened, the closure element has a cup-shaped portion
13 that is embodied to be rotationally symmetrical about an axis of
rotation 14, and that is welded or otherwise fused to the outer
portion of the closure element 10. Disposed centrally and
perpendicular to the closure element 10 is a bearing or support pin
15 that passes through the portion 13 and in the direction toward
the basket 8 extends beyond the basket. The pin 15 carries two
bearing discs 16, which are disposed on either side of an end face
17 of the basket 8. A central sleeve spaces the discs 16 apart, so
that the end face 17 of the basket 8 remains rotatable about the
axis 14 between the discs 16. A cap nut secures the discs 16 to the
pin 15.
[0016] The door 3, which is provided with the opening 7 that is
similarly disposed approximately concentrically relative to the
axis 14, is, for receiving the described closure element 10,
provided with a sealing means 20 that is made of an elastomeric or
rubber-elastic material and is provided with a free sealing lip 21
that faces the closure element 10.
[0017] During operation, the interior of the basket 8 can be filled
with food, for example frozen french fries. The basket 8 is then
inserted via the handle 11, in the direction of the axis 14, into
the housing of the hot-air oven 1, stated more precisely into the
cooking chamber, as a result of which the sealing lip 11 of the
sealing means 20 rests against the outer peripheral surface 13 of
the cup-shaped portion of the closure element 10. The cooking
chamber is thereby sealed off relative to the outer atmosphere.
That portion of the closure element 10 that projects radially
beyond the peripheral surface 13 secures the region of the sealing
means 10 and the sealing lip 20 against external contact and also
optically seals the cooking chamber.
[0018] To cook the food, the basket 8 is rotated about the axis 14
and is subjected to a hot-air stream. In this connection, the end
face 17 of the basket 8 also rotates about the axis 14 between the
discs 16, while the closure element 10, with its attached parts,
remains stationary. The sealing of the cooking chamber in the
region of the contact surface between the sealing lip 21 and the
outer peripheral surface 13 is stationary due to the mechanical
uncoupling in the region of the pivot bearing formed by the
elements 16 and 17.
[0019] When the cooking process is concluded, the basket 8 is
rotated into a starting position in which its basket opening is
toward the top. Via the handle 11, the basket 8 can then be pulled
out of the housing until it abuts thereagainst. The opening of the
basket is then rotated downwardly by a motor, so that the food
product issues from the basket 8.
[0020] Pursuant to another embodiment, the rotation of the basket
into a discharge position by motor can be replaced by a manual
rotation via the handle 11. For this purpose, a fixed coupling,
which is not illustrated in FIG. 2, is required that engages only
when the basket 8 is withdrawn out of the cooking chamber.
[0021] On the whole, there results a sealing of the hot-air oven in
the region of the door 3 that, relative to the state of the art,
and as a consequence of the sealing elements, of the sealing means
20 with its sealing lip 21, and of the peripheral surface 13, which
are stationary relative to one another during operation, ensures a
considerably improved and more durable sealing of the cooking
chamber relative to the atmosphere.
[0022] The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure
of German priority document 10 207 638.3 of Feb. 22, 2002.
[0023] The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to
the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also
encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended
claims.
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