Automated cooking apparatus having air flow regulation and reduced fire hazard

Abstract

An automated cooking apparatus includes a computer system configured to store a recipe and a cooking apparatus that includes: a frying pan that can hold food ingredients, a heater that can heat the frying pan under the control of the computer system based on the recipe, an exterior body that can hold the frying pan and the heater, and a lid that can keep food ingredients in the frying pan while the food ingredients are stirred and mixed during cooking. A lid-movement mechanism can open and close the lid under the control of the computer system. A transport mechanism can move the frying pan and the cooking apparatus, under the control of the computer system, to mix, stir, or distribute the food ingredients in the frying pan to produce a cooked food.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated cooking apparatus, comprising:
 a computer system configured to store a recipe;   a frying pan configured to hold food ingredients;   a heater configured to heat the frying pan under the control of the computer system based on the recipe;   a lid configured to keep food ingredients in the frying pan while the food ingredients are stirred and mixed during cooking;   a lid-movement mechanism configured to open and close the lid under the control of the computer system; and   a transport mechanism configured to move the frying pan and the lid-movement mechanism under the control of the computer system, to mix, stir, or distribute the food ingredients in the frying pan to produce a cooked food.   
     
     
         2 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid-movement mechanism is configured to open and close the lid while the transport mechanism moves the frying pan and the lid-movement mechanism under the control of the computer system. 
     
     
         3 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises one or more openings. 
     
     
         4 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more openings in the lid are covered by a net or a screen. 
     
     
         5 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a cover configured to close the one or more openings in the lid or keep the one or more openings in the lid open under the control of the computer system, which regulates air flow in and out of the frying pan.   
     
     
         6 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the cover is configured to be opened or closed while the transport mechanism moves the frying pan and the lid-movement mechanism under the control of the computer system. 
     
     
         7 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cover is hinged to the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cover is separable from the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frying pan comprises a thermal insulation that is configured to keep heat generated by the heater inside the frying pan. 
     
     
         10 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense food ingredients into the frying pan under the control of the computer system; and   an unloading mechanism configured to turn the frying pan to unload the cooked food from the frying pan.   
     
     
         11 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frying pan comprises a spout or an opening configured to unload the food ingredients from the frying pan. 
     
     
         12 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the spout has a shape of a tunnel. 
     
     
         13 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a sprout cover configured to cover and seal the spout under the control of the computer system.   
     
     
         14 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frying pan has a portion of an interior surface facing downward which obstructs the food ingredients from jumping out of the frying pan when the food ingredients are mixed, stirred, or distributed by the transport mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a frame configured to support the frying pan and the lid-movement mechanism, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to move the frame under the control of the computer system.   
     
     
         16 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid-movement mechanism is configured to move the lid by rotation, or a linear motion, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid-movement mechanism comprises a primary turning pair comprising a first mating part and a second mating part, wherein the first mating part of the primary turning pair is connected to the lid, and wherein the lid-movement mechanism comprises a sub mechanism configured to rotate the second mating part of the primary turning pair. 
     
     
         18 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the lid-movement mechanism further comprises a secondary turning pair comprising a first mating part and a second mating part, wherein the first mating part of the secondary turning pair is connected to the lid, and a second sub-mechanism configured to restrain the movement of the second mating part of the secondary turning pair to a rotation relative to the holder, wherein the axes of the primary turning pair and the secondary turning par are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The automated cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes an inlet and an outlet, the automated cooking apparatus further comprising:
 an air pump configured to pump air into the inlet, and/or to exhaust air from the outlet under the control of the computer system.   
     
     
         20 . An automated cooking apparatus, comprising:
 a computer system configured to store a recipe;   a cooking apparatus, comprising:
 a frying pan configured to hold food ingredients; 
 a heater configured to heat the frying pan under the control of the computer system based on the recipe; 
 an exterior body configured to hold the frying pan and the heater; and 
 a lid configured to keep food ingredients in the frying pan while the food ingredients are stirred and mixed during cooking; 
   a lid-movement mechanism configured to open and close the lid under the control of the computer system; and   a transport mechanism configured to move the frying pan and the cooking apparatus, under the control of the computer system, to mix, stir, or distribute the food ingredients in the frying pan to produce a cooked food.