Description:The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

Field of the invention
[0001] This disclosure relates to a fermentation unit in a household appliance.

Background of the invention
[0002] Especially when the temperatures outside the atmosphere is low, the edible items like idli/dosa batters are hard to ferment. The batters require a temperatures of around 25-30 degrees for fermenting the items. The warmer the temperature, the faster is the fermentation. The present invention provides a solution for the same by using the heat dissipated from the compressor of an appliance.

[0003] A patent application US53653830 discloses an assembly for the domestic making of a fermented beverage under chilled pressure conditions. The assembly of the invention includes a pressure vessel having a size to fit in a usual home refrigerator for the domestic fermenting of a fermentable liquid mixture under pressure and under chilled conditions, The pressure vessel defines a closed fermentation chamber for containing a bath having an amount of fermentable liquid mixture effective to provide a pressurized atmosphere above the surface of the bath within the closed fermentation chamber during the fermenting process, A pressure relief valve controls the pressure within the fermentation chamber at a level sufficient to maintain safety conditions during the fermentation process, Pressurized gaseous material is introduced into the pressure vessel to enhance the fermentation process within the chamber.

Brief description of the invention:
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a fermentation unit in a household appliance.

[0005] The objects are solved by a fermentation unit in a household appliance having the features according to claims 1 and 10.

[0006] The invention relates to a fermentation unit in a household appliance. The appliance comprises a compressor adapted to dissipate heat in the appliance. The appliance comprises a base stand assembly positioned below the appliance in proximity to the compressor. The appliance comprises a fermentation unit having a storage box for storing an edible item and a fan. The fan circulates the dissipated heat from the compressor to the storage box.

[0007] A feature of this invention is that, the base stand assembly comprises a pull-out tray for accommodating the storage box and the fan.

[0008] Another feature of this invention is that,the at least one cut-section is made in the pull-out tray corresponding to at least one dimension of the fan for positioning the fan in the pull-out tray.

[0009] Another feature of this invention is that, the dimensions of the storage box is made corresponding to dimensions of the pull-out tray of the base-stand assembly.

[0010] Another feature of this invention is that, the storage box is removably placed in the pull-out tray of the base-stand assembly.

[0011] Another feature of this invention is that, the pull-out tray having the storage box comprises multiple holes for a flow of the heat received from the compressor.

[0012] Another feature of this invention is that, the fan comprises a filter adapted to filter out impurities received from the compressor.

[0013] Another feature of this invention is that, the appliance comprises a switch positioned on an external surface of the appliance, the switch is activated to start a fermenting process of the item stored in the storage box

[0014] Another feature of this invention is that, the appliance comprises a controller for deactivating the switch after a predefined time.

[0015] Another feature of this invention is that, an enclosure is made from the compressor to the base stand assembly for circulating the heat dissipating from the compressor towards the removal box of the base stand assembly.

[0016] With the above disclosed fermentation unit in the base-stand assembly of a household appliance, the idli/dosa batter can be fermented without much hassel even in a low range temperature. The heat dissipating from the compressor is effectively used for fermenting process. The user can use the storage box not only for fermenting the batter but also for heating the items or for keeping the items warms in the low range of temperature. The automatic shut-off or deactivation of the fermented process helps the user to get the desired results without much manual intervention. The above disclosed fermentation unit can be used as a retrofit solution in the exisiting conventional appliances.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0017] Figure 1 illustrates a fermentation unit in a household appliance, in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0018] Figure 1 illustrates the adjustable holder in a household appliance, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The appliance 10 comprises a compressor 12 adapted to dissipate heat in the appliance 10. The appliance 10 comprises a base stand assembly 14 positioned below the appliance 10 in proximity to the compressor 12. The appliance 10 comprises a fermentation unit 16 having a storage box 18 for storing an edible item and a fan 20. The fan 20 circulates the dissipated heat from the compressor 12 to the storage box 18.

[0019]Further , the construction of the appliance 10 and the components of the appliance 10 is explained in detail. According to one embodiment of the invention, the appliance 10 is a refrigerator. The appliance 10 is chosen from a group of appliances comprising a single door refrigerator, a mutli-door refrigerator and the like. The appliance 10 comprises the base stand assmebly 14 having a pull-out tray 22. The tray 22 can be pulled out and can be pushed into the base stand assmebly 14 for accessing the items stored inside. During the normal use of the tray 22, the tray 22 is filled with non-refrigeration items like onions, potatos and the like. The storage box 18 disclosed in this inveniton is placed in this pull-out tray 22 for fermentation of the item stored in the storage box 18.

[0020] The storage box 18, fan 20 and filter 24 together forms the fermentation unit 16. According to one embodiment of the invention, the storage box 18 is used to store an edible batter for fermentation process. However,it is to be understood that, the storage box 18 can be used to store any edible item for any of the cooking purpose like heating, fermenting and the like where the heat is used. The dimensions of the storage box 18 is made corresponding to the dimensions of the base-stand assembly 14.

[0021] The base stand assembly 14 comprises a pull-out tray 22 for accommodating the storage box 18 and the fan 20. As mentioend above, the storage box 18 is made to fit to size of the pull-out tray 22 of the base-stand assembly 14. At least one cut-section is made in the pull-out tray 22 corresponding to at least one dimension of the fan 20 for positioning the fan 20 inside the pull-out tray 22. The storage box 18 is removably placed in the pull-out tray 22 of the base-stand assembly 14.The pull-out tray 22 comprises multiple holes 30 for a flow of the heat received from the compressor 12. The heat from the compressor 12 is circulated through out the circumference of the storage box 18.

[0022] The fan 20 comprises a filter 24 adapted to filter out impurities received from the compressor 12. The appliance 10 comprises a switch 26 positioned on an external surface of the appliance 10, the switch 26 is activated to start a fermenting process of the item stored in the storage box 18 . According to one embodiment of the invention, the switch 26 is manually activated by the user of the appliance 10 , after loading the storage box 18 in the base -stand assembly 14. According to another embodiment of the invention, the switch 26 is automatically activated upon detecting the storage box in the base-stand assembly 14. The automatic detection can be done by any means as known in the state of the art, wherein one such means is a load sensor or proxmity sensor and the like.

[0023] The appliance 10 comprises a controller 28 for deactivating the switch 26 after a predefined time. The controller 28 is chosen from a group of controllers comprising a microcontroller, a micro processor, a digital switch, an integrated circuit and the like. The controller 28 activates or deactivates the switch 26 based on the requirement. The controller 28 keeps the switch 26 in the activate state for the predefined amount of time, for instance a time period of 5-6hrs. The controller 28 and the switch 26 are present on the external surface of the appliance 10.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, an enclosure (not shown) is made from the compressor 12 to the base stand assembly 14 for circulating the heat dissipating from the compressor 12 towards the storage box 18 of the base stand assembly 14. For instance, the enclosure is a pipe made from the compressor 12 to the storage box 18 of the base-stand assembly 14.

[0025] A method of working of the fermentation unit 16 in a base-stand assembly 14. The user stores the batter in the storage box 18 that needs to be fermented , when the temperatures are of low range. The user takes out the pull-out tray 22 of the base stand assembly 14 and loads the storage box 18 having the batter that needs to be fermented. And the switch 26 is activated manually or automatically either by the user or the controller 28 respectively. The switch 26 will be activated for a predefined amount of time. During this period, upon activation of the switch 26, the fan 20 starts circulating the heat dissipating from the compressor 12 towards the base-stand assembly 14. The circulated heat is made to flow through filter 24 of the fan 20 for filtering out the impurities. The received heat is circulated all over the pull-out tray 22 through the holes 30 made on the surface, such that , the batter inside the storage box 18 will be fermented due to the received heat.

[0026] With the above disclosed fermentation unit in the base-stand assembly 14 of a household appliance 10, the idli/dosa batter can be fermented without much hassel even in a low range temperature. The heat dissipating from the compressor 12 is effectively used for fermenting process. The user can use the storage box not only for fermenting the batter but also for heating the items or for keeping the items warms in the low range of temperature. The automatic shut-off or deactivation of the fermented process helps the user to get the desired results without much manual intervention. The above disclosed fermentation unit 16 can be used as a retrofit solution in the exisiting conventional appliances.

[0027] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

List of Reference Signsf
10 household appliance
12 compressor
14 base stand assembly
16 fermentation unit
18 storage box
20 fan
22 pull-out tray
24 filter
26 switch
28 controller
30 holes
, C , Claims:We Claim:
1. A household appliance (10) comprising:
- a compressor (12) adapted to dissipate heat in said appliance (10);
- a base stand assembly (14) positioned below said appliance (10) in proximity to said compressor (12);
characterized in that:
a fermentation unit (16) positioned in said base-stand assembly (14), said fermentation unit (16) comprising:
- a storage box (18) for storing an edible item; and
- a fan (20), said fan (20) adapted to circulate said dissipated heat from said compressor (12) to said storage box (18).

2. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base stand assembly (14) comprises a pull-out tray (22) for accommodating said storage box (18) and said fan (20).

3. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one cut-section is made in said pull-out tray (22) corresponding to at least one dimension of said fan (20) for positioning said fan (20) in said pull-out tray (22).

4. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein dimensions of said storage box (18) is made corresponding to dimensions of said pull-out tray (22) of said base-stand assembly (14).

5. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage box (18) is removably placed in said pull-out tray (22) of said base-stand assembly (14).

6. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pull-out tray (22) having the storage box (18), comprises multiple holes (30) for a flow of said heat received from said compressor (12).

7. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fan (20) comprises a filter (24) adapted to filter out impurities received from said compressor (12).
8. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said appliance (10) comprises a switch (26) positioned on an external surface of said appliance (10), said switch (26) is activated to start a fermenting process of said item stored in said storage box (18).

9. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said appliance (10) comprises a controller (28) for deactivating said switch (26) after a predefined time.

10. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an enclosure is made from said compressor (12) to said base stand assembly (14) for circulating said heat dissipating from said compressor (28) towards said storage box (18) of said base stand assembly (14).