IP Library Granted Patent US 12,035,841
Granted Patent B2
US 12,035,841 · App. 17/506,191 · Granted Jul 16, 2024

Automatic cooking machine having a blender

Inventors: Wu-Chou Kuo (Taipei, TW); Hao-Che Hsu (San Mateo, CA); Yu-Min Lee (New Taipei, TW)
Assignee: BOTRISTA, INC.
A47J36/165A47J27/002A47J27/14A47J36/06A47J36/26A47J44/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,035,841
App. No.
17/506,191
Granted
Jul 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic cooking machine includes: an upper portion provided with a connection port thereon; a control interface arranged to operably generate control commands based on a user's manipulations to control operation of the automatic cooking machine; a base; a heater arranged on the base; a supporting portion coupled between the upper portion and the base, and arranged to support the upper portion; a hopper for receiving materials and having a hollow feeding tube, wherein the feeding tube is detachably inserted into the connection port; a cooking pot capable of being heated on the heater; and a strainer capable of being placed in the cooking pot and receiving materials. The automatic cooking machine further comprises: a blender, comprising: two cantilever arms, multiple blending arms, a ring-shaped flange, and a positioning pillar.

Claims (64)

1. An automatic cooking machine ( 100 ), comprising:

an upper portion ( 110 ), having a connection port ( 314 ) thereon;

a control interface ( 112 ), arranged to operably generate controlling commands according to manipulations of a user to control operations of the automatic cooking machine ( 100 );

a base ( 120 );

a heater ( 122 ), arranged on the base ( 120 );

a supporting portion ( 130 ), coupled between the upper portion ( 110 ) and the base ( 120 ), and arranged to support the upper portion ( 110 );

a hopper ( 140 ), arranged to operably receive ingredients, and having a hollow feeding tube ( 242 ), wherein the feeding tube ( 242 ) is detachably inserted into the connection port ( 314 ), and a terminal end of the feeding tube ( 242 ) has an opening ( 244 );

a cooking pot ( 150 ), arranged to be capable of being heated on the heater ( 122 ); and

a strainer ( 160 ), arranged to be capable of being placed in the cooking pot ( 150 ) to receive ingredients, wherein the strainer ( 160 ) is provided with one or more holders ( 962 ), a bottom and sidewalls of the strainer ( 160 ) are provided with multiple filter pores ( 964 ), and when the strainer ( 160 ) is placed in the cooking pot ( 150 ), the one or more holders ( 962 ) are exposed outside the cooking pot ( 150 );

wherein a holding base ( 1066 ) is further arranged at a center position of the bottom of the strainer ( 160 ), and the holding base ( 1066 ) has a notch positioned thereon, while the automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) further comprises:

a second motor ( 1210 ), arranged to operably drive a second rotating shaft ( 812 ) to rotate;

a driving element ( 810 ), coupled with the second rotating shaft ( 812 ), wherein the driving element ( 810 ) comprises:

two bended driving arms ( 814 ), respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the driving element ( 810 ), wherein free ends of the two driving arms ( 814 ) substantially extend downwards; and

a blender ( 820 ), comprising:

two cantilever arms ( 822 ), respectively arranged at two opposite sides of a top portion of the blender ( 820 );

multiple blending arms ( 824 ), respectively extending outwards from a main body of the blender ( 820 );

a ring-shaped flange ( 923 ), positioned near a bottom portion of the blender ( 820 ) and extending outwards from the blender ( 820 ); and

a positioning pillar ( 925 ), positioned beneath the ring-shaped flange ( 923 ), and arranged to be operably inserted into the notch on the holding base ( 1066 );

wherein when the second motor ( 1210 ) drives the second rotating shaft ( 812 ) to rotate the driving element ( 810 ), the two driving arms ( 814 ) respectively touch and push the two cantilever arms ( 822 ) of the blender ( 820 ) to drive the blender ( 820 ) to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

2. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first motor ( 510 ), arranged to operably drive a first rotating shaft ( 411 ) to rotate;

a moving arm ( 410 ), coupled with the first rotating shaft ( 411 ), wherein the moving arm ( 410 ) comprises:

a first magnetic element ( 413 ), arranged on one of surfaces of the moving arm ( 410 );

a first limiting element ( 415 ), extending outwards from one of the surfaces of the moving arm ( 410 ); and

a free end ( 417 ); and

a blocking element ( 420 ), comprising:

a blocking plate ( 421 ), arranged to operably block the opening ( 244 ) of the feeding tube ( 242 );

a tail portion ( 423 );

a connecting portion ( 425 ), positioned between the blocking plate ( 421 ) and the tail portion ( 423 );

a second magnetic element ( 427 ), arranged on one of surfaces of the connecting portion ( 425 ); and

a second limiting element ( 429 ), extending outwards from one of the surfaces of the connecting portion ( 425 ) or extending outwards from one of surfaces of the blocking plate ( 421 );

wherein when the blocking element ( 420 ) approaches the moving arm ( 410 ), the first magnetic element ( 413 ) and the second magnetic element ( 427 ) are attracted to each other, causing the blocking element ( 420 ) to detachably attach on the moving arm ( 410 ).

3. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein the moving arm ( 410 ) further comprises a first notch ( 519 ) positioned on the free end ( 417 ), while the blocking element ( 420 ) further comprises a second notch ( 629 ) positioned on the tail portion ( 423 );

wherein the first limiting element ( 415 ) is utilized to block the second notch ( 629 ), while the second limiting element ( 429 ) is utilized to block the first notch ( 519 ).

4. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein the first magnetic element ( 413 ) is arranged on a bottom surface of the moving arm ( 410 ), and the first limiting element ( 415 ) is arranged on an upper surface of the moving arm ( 410 ).

5. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 4 , wherein the second magnetic element ( 427 ) and the second limiting element ( 429 ) are both arranged on a bottom surface of the blocking element ( 420 ).

6. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 4 , wherein the second magnetic element ( 427 ) is arranged on an upper surface of the blocking element ( 420 ), while the second limiting element ( 429 ) is arranged on a bottom surface of the blocking element ( 420 ).

7. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 4 , wherein the free end ( 417 ) of the moving arm ( 410 ) bends downwards, so that an included angle ( 710 ) between 120-165 degrees is formed between the free end ( 417 ) and a main body of the moving arm ( 410 ).

8. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein the connection port ( 314 ) penetrates the upper portion ( 110 ).

9. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 2 , further comprising:

a pivot ( 132 ), arranged on the supporting portion ( 130 ) and connected with the upper portion ( 110 );

wherein the upper portion ( 110 ) is pivoted with the supporting portion ( 130 ) through the pivot ( 132 ), so that an end of the upper portion ( 110 ) is enabled to be lifted upwards.

10. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 2 , further comprising:

a water inlet port ( 190 , 290 ), arranged to operably input cold water or hot water;

a liquid channel ( 1222 , 1262 , 1226 , 1228 ; 1224 , 1264 , 1226 , 1228 ), coupled with the water inlet port ( 190 , 290 ), and arranged to operably transmit the cold water or the hot water inputted from the water inlet port ( 190 , 290 ); and

a water outlet connector ( 1250 ), coupled with the liquid channel ( 1222 , 1262 , 1226 , 1228 ; 1224 , 1264 , 1226 , 1228 ), and arranged to operably output cold water or hot water into the strainer ( 160 ).

11. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 10 , further comprising:

a pot lid ( 170 ), comprising a material inlet port ( 172 ) and a water delivery hole ( 174 );

wherein when the pot lid ( 170 ) covers the cooking pot ( 150 ), the material inlet port ( 172 ) is aligned with the opening ( 244 ) of the feeding tube ( 242 ), and the water delivery hole ( 174 ) is aligned with the water outlet connector ( 1250 ).

12. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 10 , further comprising:

an inlet valve ( 1262 , 1264 ), arranged on the liquid channel ( 1222 , 1262 , 1226 , 1228 ; 1224 , 1264 , 1226 , 1228 ), and arranged to operably control timing of outputting cold water or hot water from the water outlet connector ( 1250 ).

13. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein a hole ( 952 ) is arranged near a bottom portion of a sidewall of the cooking pot ( 150 ), and the automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) further comprises:

a drain pipe ( 180 ), coupled with the hole ( 952 ), and arranged to operably drain liquid from the cooking pot ( 150 );

a drain valve ( 1270 ), coupled with an output terminal of the drain pipe ( 180 ), and arranged to operably control timing of draining the liquid from the cooking pot ( 150 ); and

a drain port ( 184 ), coupled with the drain valve ( 1270 ), and arranged to operably output liquid passed through the drain valve ( 1270 );

wherein during a period in which the heater ( 122 ) heats the cooking pot ( 150 ), the inlet valve ( 1262 , 1264 ) intermittently turns on and turns off, so that the water outlet connector ( 1250 ) outputs cold water or hot water into the strainer ( 160 ), while the drain valve ( 1270 ) intermittently turns on and turns off to output a portion of the liquid within the cooking pot ( 150 ).

14. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein a hole ( 952 ) is arranged near a bottom portion of a sidewall of the cooking pot ( 150 ), and the automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) further comprises:

a drain pipe ( 180 ), coupled with the hole ( 952 ), arranged to operably drain liquid from the cooking pot ( 150 );

a drain valve ( 1270 ), coupled with an output terminal of the drain pipe ( 180 ), and arranged to operably control timing of draining the liquid from the cooking pot ( 150 ); and

a drain port ( 184 ), coupled with the drain valve ( 1270 ), and arranged to operably output liquid passed through the drain valve ( 1270 ).

15. The automatic cooking machine ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the blender ( 820 ) further comprises:

a bended disturbing arm ( 921 ); and

a bevel structure ( 927 ), arranged between the ring-shaped flange ( 923 ) and the positioning pillar ( 925 );

wherein when the positioning pillar ( 925 ) is inserted into the notch on the holding base ( 1066 ), a main body of the disturbing arm ( 921 ) approaches the bottom of the strainer ( 160 ) or lies flat on the bottom of the strainer ( 160 ).

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2026
From: CATHAY BANK
To: BOTRISTA, INC.
Reel/Frame 075725/0782 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2025
From: BOTRISTA, INC., A DE CORPORATION, F/K/A BOTRISTA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: EAST WEST BANK, A CALIFORNIA BANKING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070228/0600 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 11, 2024
From: BOTRISTA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: BOTRISTA, INC.
Reel/Frame 067070/0485 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: BOTRISTA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064435/0331 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: BOTRISTA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: CATHAY BANK
Reel/Frame 064441/0798 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: BOTRISTA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 059615/0818 →
Continuity (4)
Division 16559195 · Sep 3, 2019
Provisional Application 62798073 · Jan 29, 2019
Provisional Application 62725668 · Aug 31, 2018
Related Publication 20220039591A1 · Feb 10, 2022