Automatic cooking machine

• US 6,112,645 A
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shien-Fang Chang
• Original Assignee: Shien-Fang Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Shien-Fang
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMONE, TIMOTHY F
• Application Number:
  US09/505,976
• Time in Patent Office: 202 Days
• Field of Search: 99/325-334, 99/352-355, 99/357, 99/342, 99/348, 99/443 C, 99/443 R, 99/486, 426/231-233, 426/523, 219/400, 219/413, 219/490, 219/491, 219/494
• US Class Current: 99/327
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/14 Cooking-vessels for use in hotels, restaurants, or canteens
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/1228 Automatic machines for frying and dispensing metered amounts of food

Abstract

An automatic cooking machine includes a feeding device, a deep-fry device, stove device, a cooker transmission device, a serving device, a washing device, a stir-fry device and a panel each mounted on a base. A program logic controller corresponding with micro-switches and photoelectric sensors controls each of the devices to carry out an automatic cooking process. With such an automatic cooking machine design, the automatic cooking machine can stir-fry and deep-fry like a human cook and is easy to keep in good repair.

Claims

1. An automatic cooking machine comprising:

a base (1);

a feeder device (2) mounted on said base (1);

a deep-fry device (3) mounted on said base (1);

a stove device (4) mounted on said base (1);

a cooker device (5) mounted on said base (1);

a serving device (6) mounted on said base (1);

a washing device (7) mounted on said base (1);

a stir-fry device (8) mounted on said base (1); and

a panel (9) mounted on said base (1);

said panel (9) including a PLC (program logic controller) mounted therein to control said feeder device (2), said deep-fry device (3), said stove device (4), said cooker device (5), said serving device (6), said washing device (7) and said stir-fry device (8).

2. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feeding device (2) includes:

a frame (20) with multiple partitions to form a first chamber and a second chamber, a deep-fry net (22) pivotally mounted in said first chamber;

a feeder (28) mounted in said second chamber;

a rationing oil feeder (21) pivotally mounted on said frame (20) near said deep-fry net (22);

a seasoning feeder (29) mounted on said frame (20) near said feeder (29);

two sliding grooves (21L1;

21L2) attached to the top portion of said base (1) each receiving a gear rack (211) therein;

a back plate (10) attached to said base (1);

a feeder motor (213) with a first motor gear (217) attached to said back plate (10); and

a feeder shaft (215) having a second gear (216) attached thereto to engaged with said first motor gear (217) and two first gears (214) attached thereto each engaged with said gear rack (211).

3. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rationing oil feeder (21) is a cylinder closed ends and includes:

a rationing device (21A) mounted in said rationing oil feeder (21);

two oil feeder hubs (21C) each with a hub spring (21D) extending from each end of said rationing oil feeder (21), said two oil feeder hubs (21C) each pivotally mounted on said frame (20);

a filler neck (21M) attached to the periphery of said rationing oil feeder (21) and communicating with said rationing oil feeder (21);

an oil control plate (21E) pivotally mounted on one end of said rationing oil feeder (21), said oil control plate (21E) having an adjusting knob (21K) attached to the top portion thereof;

an adjusting plate (21B) attached to said periphery of said rationing oil feeder (21) and containing an adjusting groove to allow said adjusting knob (21K) to extend through; and

a first return spring (21N) mounted outside of said frame (20) having one end abutting a locking piece on said frame (20) and the other end abutting a protrusion extending from said oil control plate (21E).

4. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automatic cooking machine includes a deep-fry device (3) mounted on the top portion of said base (1) and including a deep-fry cooker (31) mounted thereon to receive a heater (32) and a temperature controller (33) therein.

5. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said automatic cooking machine includes a deep-fry device (3) mounted on the top portion of said base (1) and including a deep-fry cooker (31) mounted thereon to receive a heater (32) and a temperature controller (33) therein.

6. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automatic cooking machine includes:

an inner support (50) attached to said base (1);

a support (501) attached to the top of said inner support (50) and near said back plate (10);

a cooker transmission device (5) attached to said top of said inner support (50); and

a serving device (6) attached to said support (501).

7. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automatic cooking machine includes:

a bracket (100) attached to the backside of said back plate (10);

a stir-fry motor (512) and a serving (621) each mounted on said bracket (100);

a transmission seat (58) attached to said support (501) and having a hollow eccentric shaft (56) pivotally mounted thereon;

said eccentric shaft (56) including one end having an eccentric gear (59) attached thereto and the other end having a eccentric block (561) attached thereto;

a cooker gear (511) attached to said stir-fry motor (512) and engaged with said eccentric gear (59);

a serving middle gear (615) pivotally mounted on said eccentric block (561);

an eccentric gear shaft (57) pivotally mounted on said eccentric block (561);

a gear (616A) pivotally mounted on said eccentric gear shaft (57) and having a first worm (616) extending therefrom, said gear (616A) engaged with said serving middle gear (615);

a serving shaft (614) received in said eccentric shaft (56) and having two ends each extending through said eccentric shaft (56); and

a serving shaft gear (614A) attached to one end of said serving shaft (614) and engaged with said serving middle gear (615).

8. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said automatic cooking machine includes:

a bracket (100) attached to the backside of said back plate (10);

a stir-fry motor (512) and a serving (621) each mounted on said bracket (100);

a transmission seat (58) attached to said support (501) and having a hollow eccentric shaft (56) pivotally mounted thereon;

said eccentric shaft (56) including one end having a eccentric gear (59) attached thereto and the other end having a eccentric block (561) attached thereto;

a cooker gear (511) attached to said stir-fry motor (512) and engaged with said eccentric gear (59);

a serving middle gear (615) pivotally mounted on said eccentric block (561);

an eccentric gear shaft (57) pivotally mounted on said eccentric block (561);

a gear (616A) pivotally mounted on said eccentric gear shaft (57) and having a first worm (616) extending therefrom, said gear (616A) engaged with said serving middle gear (615);

a serving shaft (614) received in said eccentric shaft (56) and having two ends each extending through said eccentric shaft (56); and

a serving shaft gear (614A) attached one end of said serving shaft (614) and engaged with said serving middle gear (615).

9. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cooker transmission device (5) includes:

a Π

-shaped sheet (52A) having two sides each containing a groove (52A1) therein;

a U-shaped connecting arm (620A) having two sides each received in said groove (52A1) and two ends each having a rotating plate (528) pivotally mounted thereon;

a stir-fry cooker (51) mounted between said rotating plates (528);

a serving gear rack (620) attached to the bottom of said connecting arm (620A);

an n-shaped stir-fry rod (52) attached to said Π

-shaped sheet (52A) and receiving said serving gear rack (620) therein;

said n-shaped stir-fry rod (52) having one end forming a first lug (5211) and the other end forming a second lug (5212);

a seat (55) attached to said inner support (50);

a rocker linkage (53) having two ends, one pivotally attached to said seat (55) and the other pivotally attached to said first lug (5211) by an axle (54); and

a shaft mounted between said first lug (5211) and said second lug (5212), said shaft having a second worm (618) formed on one end and engaged with said serving gear rack (620) and a worm gear (617) formed on the other end.

10. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting arm (620A) includes:

a connecting plate (620B) attached to one side of said connecting arm (620A);

a push block (620C) extending from said connecting plate (620B);

a side rod (522) and a side push rod (524) pivotally attached to said Π

-shaped sheet (52A);

a first stopper (525) extending from said side push rod (524) to abut said push block (620C);

a second return spring (523) having one end mounted on said side rod (522) and the other end mounted on said side push rod (524);

a linkage (527) including one end pivotally attached to a free end of said rotating plate (528) and the other end slidably and pivotally mounted on a free end of said side push rod (524); and

a stop rod (526) attached to one side of said Π

-shaped sheet (52A).

11. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stir-fry device (8) is attached to said frame (20) by a positioning plate (80) and includes:

a pivot plate (81) with two ears (82) each pivotally mounted on said positioning plate (80);

a spatula (83) pivotally attached to said pivot plate (81) and extending into said stir-fry cooker (51);

a push rod (84) pivotally attached to said ear (82) of said pivot plate (81);

a support plate (88) attached to said back plate (10);

a thumb plate (86) having a sleeve formed on one end and pivotally mounted on said support plate (88) by a pivot pin (87); and

a connecting rod (85) has one end attached to said thumb plate (86) and the other end attached to said push rod (84).

12. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said stir-fry device (8) is attached to said frame (20) by a positioning plate (80) and includes:

a pivot plate (81) with two ears (82) each pivotally mounted on said positioning plate (80);

a spatula (83) pivotally attached to said pivot plate (81) and extending into said stir-fry cooker (51);

a push rod (84) pivotally attached to said ear (82) of said pivot plate (81);

a support plate (88) attached to said back plate (10);

a thumb plate (86) having a sleeve formed on one end and pivotally mounted on said support plate (88) by a pivot pin (87); and

a connecting rod (85) has one end attached to said thumb plate (86) and the other end attached to said push rod (84).

13. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said serving device (6) includes:

a serving base (622) mounted on the bottom of said base (1);

a motor (67) attached to said serving base (622);

a link rod plate (63) pivotally mounted on said serving base (622) by a main shaft (64);

a link rod (42) and a serving link rod (62) respectively attached to the side of said link rod plate (63);

a serving tray (61) attached to the free end of said serving link rod (62);

a gas burner (41) attached to the free end of said link rod (42);

a main gear (65) attached to one end of said main shaft (64);

a main link rod (66) attached to the other end of said main shaft (64) and connecting to said washing device (7);

a third motor gear (68) attached to said motor (67), said main gear (65) engaged with said third motor gear (68);

a check pawl (651) and an inclined bar (652) with a second pull bar (653) attached to the bottom of said main gear (65);

a recess (63A) defined in the periphery of said link rod plate (63);

a balance rod (622A) pivotally attached to one side of said serving base (622);

a second stopper (622C) attached to said serving base (622);

a hook (622B) formed on the top portion of said balance rod (622A); and

a first pull rod (62A) attached to the top portion of said serving link rod (62).

14. The automatic cooking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said washing device (7) includes:

a moving seat (79) slidably mounted on said base (1);

a connecting bar (711) with one end pivotally attached to said moving seat (79) and the other end pivotally attached to said main link rod (66);

a casing (712) and a washing motor (71) each mounted on said moving seat (79), said casing (712) containing a water outlet (78) defined in the bottom thereof;

a cleaner shaft (74) mounted on said moving seat (79) having spray holes defined therein and one end extending out of said automatic cooking machine;

an electromagnetic water valve (713) attached to the outer end of said cleaner shaft (74);

a cleaner gear (73) pivotally mounted around said cleaner shaft (74);

a fourth motor gear (72) attached to said washing motor (71) and engaged with said cleaner gear (73);

a cleaner wheel (75) mounted around said cleaner axle (74) and attached to said cleaner gear (73);

a centrifugal plate (77) attached to said cleaner wheel (75) and having a arcuate side corresponding to said stir-fry cooker (51); and

multiple brushes (76) attached to said arcuate side of said centrifugal plate (77).