Cooking apparatus and method
AssigneeChipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
InventorsWilliam H. Oliver, Randall W. Nichols
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for cooking food are provided. In particular, food is placed in a bowl held at an angle to horizontal. With the food in the bowl, the bowl is simultaneously heated and rotated. A scraper assembly is disposed within the bowl, to lift the food from the side and bottom surfaces of the bowl as the bowl rotates. A temperature sensor can be provided to provide a signal to discontinue rotation of the bowl and the application of heat to the bowl when the food has reached a desired temperature. A tilt mechanism can also be provided to maintain the food within a desired distance from the top edge of the bowl.
Claims10
A cooking apparatus, comprising:
- a base assembly, including:
- a top surface;
- an aperture in the top surface having a first diameter;
- and
- a circular side wall having a second diameter defining a receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber is open at the aperture in the top surface;
- a plurality of heating elements, wherein the plurality of heating elements are located at intervals along the circular side wall;
- a bowl placed within the receiving chamber, the bowl including:
- a side surface;
- a bottom surface;
- and
- a drive engagement member;
- a tilt sensor, wherein the tilt sensor is operable to detect a desired distance from a top edge of the bowl to material to be cooked placed within the bowl;
- a drive motor;
- a scraper assembly, including:
- a bridge member interconnected to the top surface;
- and
- a scraper blade interconnected to the bridge member, wherein an edge of the scraper blade is in contact with at least the side surface of the bowl;
- and
- a drive element, wherein the drive element is interconnected to the drive motor, wherein the drive element includes an engagement surface that extends into the receiving chamber, wherein the drive element is centered within the receiving chamber, wherein the drive element rotates about an axis that is at an angle from horizontal of from 0 to 140 degrees, and wherein the drive engagement member engages the engagement surface of the drive element when the bowl is placed in the receiving chamber.
A cooking apparatus, comprising:
- a bowl, including:
- a bottom surface;
- a top edge;
- a side extending between the bottom surface and the top edge, the side including an exterior side and having a first maximum diameter;
- a drive engagement member;
- a base assembly, including:
- a top surface with a receiving aperture having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first maximum diameter;
- a receiving chamber;
- a drive motor;
- a drive element interconnected to and rotated by the drive motor;
- a plurality of heating elements, wherein the plurality of heating elements are located at intervals about a third diameter that is concentric with the second diameter of the receiving aperture;
- at least a first support surface, wherein the bowl is received by the receiving chamber, wherein the drive engagement member is mated to the drive element, wherein the at least a first support surface is in contact with at least a portion of an exterior side of the side of the bowl, and wherein the bowl is held at an angle of from horizontal when the bowl is received by the receiving chamber;
- a tilt sensor, wherein the tilt sensor is operable to detect a desired distance from a top edge of the bowl to material to be cooked placed within the bowl;
- a scraper assembly, including:
- a bridge interconnected to the top surface;
- and
- a scraper blade interconnected to the bridge, wherein at least a portion of the scraper blade is in contact with the side of the bowl.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.