FOOD PREPARATION

• US 20190104879A1
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Published: 04/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strix Limited (Strix Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Strix Limited (Strix Group Plc)
• Inventors: Howitt, James Robert
• Granted Patent: US 11,253,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2027/043 for cooking food in steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/04 for cooking food in steam; Devices for extracting fruit juice by means of steam ; Vacuum cooking vessels steam-heated vessels for hotels, restaurants or canteens A47J27/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/10 Cooking-vessels with water-bath arrangements for domestic use
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/16 heated by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2405 for warming food contained in vessels immersed in a water bath, e.g. chafers or steam tables A47J36/2438 takes precedence

Abstract

A food heating device includes a plurality of chambers capable of receiving respective food items. The device further includes a steam generator and a plurality of valves for controlling admittance of steam from said steam generator into said chambers. The device is arranged to operate in at least one mode in which during a first period a first one of said valves is open and at least one of said valves remains closed and wherein said steam generator is operated to produce steam for a time less than said first period.

Claims

1. A food heating device comprising:

a plurality of chambers capable of receiving respective food items;

a steam generator; and

a plurality of valves for controlling admittance of steam from said steam generator into said chambers, said device being arranged to operate in at least one mode in which during a first period a first one of said valves is open and at least one of said valves remains closed and wherein said steam generator is operated to produce steam for a time less than said first period.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the steam generator serves all of the chambers present in the device.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one mode comprises a second period during which said first valve is closed and a second valve is open and wherein said steam generator is operated to produce steam for a time less than said second period.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of valves remains closed during said at least one mode.

5. The device of claim 1 comprising one or more composite valves serving more than one chamber.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the steam generator of claim comprises a heated cavity comprising a sheathed resistance heating element mounted to or formed integrally with a wall thereof.

7. The device of claim 1 comprising a water supply arrangement to supply water to the steam generator.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the water supply arrangement comprises a pump.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the water supply arrangement is arranged to supply water to one or more of the chambers.