Modular cooking appliance having an auto-loading microwave oven
A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven and a second interchangeable cooking module containing a microwave oven. The microwave oven includes a magnetron and a cooking chamber, an oven door for covering the cooking chamber, wherein the oven door includes an external cover and an internal cover, a motor located outside the cooking chamber, a food holding surface located inside the cooking chamber, and a crank-and-cam mechanism connected to the food holding surface via a rod. The crank-and-cam mechanism moves the food holding surface to and fro within the cooking chamber during cooking for promoting food cooking evenness.
1. A modular cooking apparatus, comprising:
a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven; and
a second interchangeable cooking module containing a microwave oven, wherein said microwave oven includes
a magnetron and a cooking chamber;
an oven door for covering said cooking chamber, wherein said oven door includes an external cover and an internal cover;
a motor located outside said microwave oven;
a food holding surface located inside said cooking chamber; and
a to-and-fro motion mechanism connected to said food holding surface via a rod and to said motor, wherein said to-and-fro motion mechanism moves said food holding surface to and fro within said cooking chamber during cooking for promoting food cooking evenness.
2. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said to-and-fro motion mechanism is a crank-and-cam mechanism.
3. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said to-and-fro motion mechanism translates rotational movement from said motor into a linear reciprocating movement to move said food holding surface to and fro within said cooking chamber.
4. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said external and internal covers include two small concentric openings to allow said rod to go through.
5. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 4 , wherein diameters of said two small concentric openings are smaller than a wavelength of microwaves provided by said magnetron.
6. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing for containing said first and second interchangeable cooking modules;
a control panel for receiving cooking inputs;
a controller for controlling said first and second cooking modules; and
a single power plug for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet.
7. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first interchangeable cooking module includes a first food loading mechanism having a belt drive mechanism having a belt, a belt drive motor, a belt drive wheel driven by said belt drive motor, and an opposing belt wheel.
8. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first interchangeable cooking module is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis.
9. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said first interchangeable cooking module includes a back wall having a set of connectors for connecting to said first oven.
10. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first interchangeable cooking module includes at least two insulating surfaces filled with sand or salt held in silicone.
11. A modular cooking apparatus, comprising:
a first interchangeable cooking module containing a convection oven; and
a second interchangeable cooking module containing a microwave oven, wherein said microwave oven includes
a magnetron and a cooking chamber;
an oven door for covering said cooking chamber, wherein said oven door includes an external cover and an internal cover;
a motor located outside said microwave oven;
a food holding surface located inside said cooking chamber; and
a to-and-fro motion mechanism connected to said food holding surface via a rod and to said motor, wherein said to-and-fro motion mechanism moves said food holding surface to and fro within said cooking chamber during cooking for promoting food cooking evenness.
12. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said to-and-fro motion mechanism is a crank-and-cam mechanism.
13. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said to-and-fro motion mechanism translates rotational movement from said motor into a linear reciprocating movement to move said food holding surface to and fro within said cooking chamber.
14. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said external and internal covers include two small concentric openings to allow said rod to go through.
15. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 14 , wherein diameters of said two small concentric openings are smaller than a wavelength of microwaves provided by said magnetron.
16. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a housing for containing said first and second interchangeable cooking modules;
a control panel for receiving cooking inputs;
a controller for controlling said first and second cooking modules; and
a single power plug for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet.
17. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said first interchangeable cooking module includes a first food loading mechanism having a belt drive mechanism having a belt, a belt drive motor, a belt drive wheel driven by said belt drive motor, and an opposing belt wheel.
18. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said first interchangeable cooking module is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis.
19. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said first interchangeable cooking module includes a back wall having a set of connectors for connecting to said first oven.
20. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said first interchangeable cooking module includes at least two insulating surfaces filled with sand or salt held in silicone.