Autonomous apparatus for cooking food, and corresponding method

Abstract

Autonomous apparatus for cooking food comprising a support body ( 12 ), an openable lid ( 14 ), an internal container ( 16 ) which can be extracted/inserted with respect to said support body ( 12 ) and open at the top, at least one heating device ( 18 ) and at least one element ( 20 ) to generate a flow of air toward the inside of said container.

1 . Autonomous apparatus for cooking food comprising a support body ( 12 ), an openable lid ( 14 ), an internal container ( 16 ) which can be extracted/inserted with respect to said support body ( 12 ) and open at the top, at least one heating device ( 18 ) and at least one element ( 20 ) to generate a flow of air toward the inside of said container ( 16 ), said at least one air flow generator element ( 20 ) being connected to a return exit ( 28 ) cooperating, when said lid ( 14 ) is in the closed position on said container ( 16 ), with a peripheral edge ( 24   a ) of said container ( 16 ) to remove said flow of air from said container ( 16 ) and to channel it toward said at least one heating device ( 18 ) by means of an annular pipe ( 30 ), characterized in that said annular pipe ( 30 ) has two ends symmetrically connected to said at least one air flow generator element ( 20 ). 
     
     
         2 . Autonomous apparatus as in  claim 1 , characterized in that said annular pipe ( 30 ) has a plurality of fissures ( 32 ) disposed along it and in correspondence with an upper edge ( 13 ) of said support body ( 12 ). 
     
     
         3 . Autonomous apparatus as in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that it comprises a sending aperture ( 34 ) with a substantially hollow toroidal shape cooperating with a peripheral edge ( 24   a ) of the container ( 16 ). 
     
     
         4 . Autonomous apparatus as in  claim 3 , characterized in that said sending aperture ( 34 ) has a circumferential slit ( 36 ) configured to allow said flow of air to exit from the cavity of said sending aperture ( 34 ) and to position itself with said lid ( 14 ) at least partly closed in said container ( 16 ). 
     
     
         5 . Autonomous apparatus as in  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that said sending aperture ( 34 ) develops on a lower circumference with respect to said circumferential edge ( 24   a ) to determine the discharge of said flow of air from said container ( 16 ) toward said return exit ( 28 ). 
     
     
         6 . Autonomous apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said container ( 16 ) is rotatable around an axis of rotation by means of a drive member ( 46 ). 
     
     
         7 . Autonomous apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises a mixing device ( 48 ) provided with at least one mixing blade rotating with respect to said container ( 16 ). 
     
     
         8 . Method to return a flow of air inside an autonomous apparatus ( 10 ) for cooking food comprising a support body ( 12 ), an openable lid ( 14 ), an internal container ( 16 ) which can be extracted/inserted with respect to said support body ( 12 ) and open at the top, at least one heating device ( 18 ) and at least one element ( 20 ) to generate a flow of air toward the inside of said container ( 16 ), characterized in that it provides to:
 heat a flow of air by means of said at least one heating device ( 18 );   remove said flow of used air from said container ( 16 ) through a return exit ( 28 ) cooperating, when said lid ( 14 ) is in the closed position on said container ( 16 ), with a peripheral edge ( 24   a ) of said container ( 16 );   channel said flow of air toward said at least one heating device ( 18 ) by means of an annular pipe ( 30 ) in order to define a closed circuit travel of said flow of air, wherein said the annular pipe ( 30 ) has two ends, symmetrically connected to said at least one air flow generator element ( 20 ).