EP1289338B1 - Controlling process and device for cooking apparatus, particularly for domestic cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves selectively setting at least one cooking procedure with a predefined first constant or a predefined first variable heating power profile and/or at least one different temperature maintenance procedure with a second predefined constant or second predefined variable heating power profile. A control device has an arrangement for setting a first and/or second procedure. An independent claim is also included for the following: an arrangement for controlling a cooking device with at least one cooking zone and at least one cooking chamber, especially a domestic cooker, and a cooker hob with an inventive arrangement.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling a provided with at least one cooking zone and / or at least one cooking chamber cooking appliance, in particular Haushaltsgargerätes.

Household cookers are equipped with controls that allow each cooking plate or cooking zone (cooking zone) and in the oven each one of several cooking processes or cooking stages (power levels) are adjustable. For this purpose, each cooking plate and the oven is associated with a control element for direct cooking level selection usually. In particular, in self-sufficient cooktops but each cooking plate or each hob can be assigned a control (touch keys) for selection of this hob, while the Garstufenwahl for example, two common for all cooktops controls (touch keys), one of the Garstufen up and the other the cooking steps counts down.

It is known from GB 2 348 747 A to set one of several cooking stages or at least one heat retention stage on a heating element by connecting a changeover switch to a cooking energy regulator or a holding energy pulse generator.

The invention has for its object to provide a method and apparatus for controlling a provided with at least one cooking zone and / or at least one cooking chamber cooking appliance, in particular Haushaltsgargerätes, representing a higher operating comfort.

According to the invention, this object is solved by the features of claims 1, 10 and 23. Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

According to the known method for controlling a provided with at least one cooking zone and / or at least one cooking chamber, in particular Haushaltsgargerätes, several cooking operations corresponding to predetermined constant first heating power or predetermined first Heizleistungsverläufen, and at least one different from the cooking process holding process, a predetermined constant second heating power or a predetermined second heating power curve, set. This allows from each process (state) out, a Gar or other hot state on the one hand or a cold state on the other hand, in a defined warming process (holding state) go.

According to a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, the holding process is set by a predetermined first operating action, which is assigned a predetermined second heating power or a predetermined second heating power curve as a function of the current Garzonen- or cooking space temperature. Is the current fermentation zone or cooking chamber temperature above a predetermined value, if the predetermined first operating action is assigned a constant second heating power, if this temperature is below a predetermined value, a time-varying second heating power profile is assigned to the predetermined first operating action. This procedural training relieves the operator of decisions on an appropriate holding energy and on the other hand of additional operator actions for their final adjustment.

According to a second embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least all running cooking operations (and possibly also independent or simultaneous warming operations) are converted back into the cooking processes (or holding operations) by a single second operating action into predetermined holding operations and these by a single third operating action. This provides the operator with a means to interrupt very quickly and very safely all current operations, without having to turn off the cooking device in case of loss of all settings,

In order to be able to take into account different starting situations on cooktops on the one hand and in the cooking oven on the other hand, different current cooking processes are converted into different holding processes. Otherwise, it is sufficient to convert different ongoing cooking operations in a common holding process.

In this embodiment of the method, predetermined warming operations preferably correspond to predetermined second ones Heating capacities.

The transfer between current cooking processes and warming operations can be carried out when a previously set timer continues to run and / or deleting previously activated cooking joints. The warming operations are preferably switched off after a predetermined time non-use of the cooking appliance.

Both configurations have in common that the second heating power can correspond to a predetermined fraction of the current first or a fraction of a maximum heating power.

Preferably, for the first embodiment, the second heating power curve in a predetermined first period of the current or a maximum first heating power, for example, to quickly bring a cold cooking zone in a warming state, and in a subsequent second period of time a predetermined fraction of the current first or a predetermined fraction the maximum heating power, for example, to keep the warming state.

The known apparatus for controlling a cooking device provided with at least one cooking zone and / or at least one cooking chamber, in particular household cooking appliance, has means for setting several cooking processes corresponding to predetermined constant first heating powers or predetermined first heating performance curves, and at least one of Cooking process deviant holding process, which corresponds to a predetermined second heating power or a predetermined second heating power curve.

• Auswahlmitteln zum Auswählen wenigstens eines Garvorganges und wenigstens eines Warmhaltevorganges und
• ersten Steuermitteln, die einem ausgewählten Warmhaltevorgang in Abhängigkeit von der aktuellen Garzonen- oder Garraumtemperatur eine vorbestimmte zweite Heizleistung-oder einen vorbestimmten zweiten Heizleistungsverlauf zuordnen.

According to a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, the means for adjusting are in particular provided with

• Selection means for selecting at least one cooking process and at least one holding process and
• first control means which assign a predetermined second heating power or a predetermined second heating power curve to a selected holding operation in dependence on the current cooking zone or cooking space temperature.

In this case, a selected second heating performance is attributable to a selected holding operation when the current Garzonen- or cooking space temperature is above a predetermined value, while a selected holding process, a time-varying second Heizleistungsverlauf is assigned, if the current Garzonen- or cooking space temperature is below a predetermined value. The latter allows, in particular, a quick achievement of the holding state from a low level.

The selection means have, in particular, first input means with which at least one cooking process and at least one holding process can be input per cooking zone or cooking space.

Preferably, the first input means comprises a number of zone keys corresponding to the number of cooking zones and cooking chambers to select the cooking zone or cooking space, and two cooking stage buttons, one of which has a positive counting direction of the cooking and holding operations and the other a negative counting direction of cooking mode. and warming operations to select the cooking or holding operation.

• zweiten Eingabemitteln, mit denen der Beginn und das Ende einer Unterbrechung wenigstens aller laufenden Garvorgänge eingebbar ist, und
• zweiten Steuermitteln, die vom Beginn der Unterbrechung an wenigstens alle Garvorgänge in vorbestimmte Warmhaltevorgänge und vom Ende der Unterbrechung an alle Warmhaltevorgänge zurück in die Garvorgänge überführen.

According to a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, the means for adjusting are in particular provided with

• second input means with which the beginning and the end of an interruption of at least all running cooking processes can be entered, and
• second control means which convert from the beginning of the interruption to at least all cooking operations in predetermined warming operations and from the end of the interruption to all warming operations back to the cooking operations.

The second input means are preferably designed as a pause button, with the first time the beginning of the interruption of at least all cooking operations and the following operation, the end of the interruption is entered.

All buttons are especially touch buttons.

Otherwise, the device can also implement all other process features.

Finally, a cooktop is provided with a device shown.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment. The accompanying schematic drawing shows a self-contained cooking pan in plan view.

The cooktop 2 is represented by a frame 4 and a cooktop 6 forming glass ceramic plate 8 are marked on the four cooking zones (Garzonen) 10, 12, 14 and 16, under which there are individually controllable not shown heaters, such as radiant heaters. The cooking zones 12 and 14 are designed as double or multiple cooking zones whose partial zones are individually controllable.

In the lower right corner of the hob 6, a control panel 18 with four cooking zone buttons 20, a double zone button 22, a plus button 24, a minus button 26, a timer button 28 and a power button 32 is marked. Underneath the marked keys, touch sensors, not shown, are arranged in a known manner for the detection of key touches, which are evaluated by a likewise not shown control and processed into control signals for the control of the cooking zones 10 to 16 and for the feedback of the input values.

The cooking zone buttons 20 are used to select the cooking zones 10 to 16. With the double zone button 22, the cooking zones 12 and 14 can be defined as double or multiple cooking zones. The timer button 28 is used to select a timer function. With the plus key 24 and the minus key 26 are assigned to selected functions by counting up (plus key 24) and counting down (minus key 26) values or other functions, after selecting a cooking zone 10 to 16 one of, for example, 9 cooking levels (power levels) that operate this cooking zone should, and after additional selection of the timer button 28, a time after which this cooking zone should automatically turn off. Finally, the power button 32 is provided for turning on and off the cooktop. Next to each cooking zone button 10 to 16 is an unillustrated display for the selected cooking level, above the timer button 28 is an unillustrated display for the selected shutdown time.

According to the invention, on the one hand next to the cooking levels (1 to 9) placed between the level zero and the cooking level 1 warming level adjustable, which can be represented by the sign for a blank. On the other hand, on the control panel 18 an evaluable warming button 30 is marked, which can also be described as a stop & go button or as a pause button.

The inserted hold-warm stage, when selected, triggers an internal control query as to whether the selected sensor or indirectly-sensed temperature of the selected cooking zone 10 to 16 is below a predetermined (lower) temperature or above a predetermined (upper) temperature. In the first case, the unillustrated control of the selected cooking zone 10 to 16 assigns a time-varying heating power curve, which in a first period of about 15 seconds, the cooking zone at 100% and in a subsequently heated section with only 2.5% of the power. In the second case, the selected cooking zone is assigned from the beginning to a constant heating performance curve of 2.5% of the power. In the determination of the temperature is of course also the temperature of a operated in the keep-warming cooking zone.

The mode of action is the following:

After switching on the cooktop by means of power button 32, the desired cooking zone 10 is selected by touching the upper left cooking zone button 20, the first by means of the plus button 24 and / or the minus button 26, the cooking stage 7 and then by means of the timer button 28 in conjunction with the plus button 24 and / or the minus button 26 is assigned a shutdown time. Subsequently, after selection of the cooking zone 16 by means of the lower right cooking zone button 20, a selection of the warming by means of the plus button 24 and / or the minus button 26. Finally, by means of the lower left cooking zone button 20 and the plus button 24 and the minus button 26 for the cooking zone 14, the cooking stage 5 set.

While now the cooking zone 10 is operated until the preselected shutdown with a cooking level 7 corresponding heating power and the cooking zone 14 with a cooking level 5 corresponding heating power, the initially cold cooking zone 16 receives 15 seconds for a heating power of 100% and the remaining time a heating power of 2.5%.

If the operator is suddenly called away after an indefinite period of operation, he presses before leaving the warming button 32 so that the cooking zones 10 and 14 are operated from this moment on like the cooking zone 16 only with 2.5% of the heating power. When the operator, after returning to the cooking hob 2, once again activates the warming-up button 32, the two cooking zones 10 and 14 return to their original cooking mode with the cooking stages 7 and 5, while the cooking zone 16 remains in the holding mode.

If, after the cooking zone 10 has been switched off, the operator is unable to process or offer the food to be cooked during the cooking interruption, he selects the cooking zone 10 by means of the upper left cooking zone button 20 and the plus button 24 and / or the minus button 26 keep warm setting. Since this cooking zone is still hot, it is assigned to a constant heating power in the amount of 2.5% of the heating power instead of a Heizleistungsverlaufes immediately.

It is easy to see that the warming-up routines shown bring about the desired higher operating comfort.

Although the invention has been illustrated with reference to a self-sufficient cooktop with the corresponding features, of course, other solutions are included by it. For example, in a stove interruption scenarios are conceivable, which reduce the heating power of the cooking oven to a different holding heat than the heating capacity of the cooking zones. Also, other operating configurations are conceivable for setting. Finally, both can be the cooking processes as well as in the holding processes other heating or other Heizleistungsverläufe provide. Thus, for example, in the case of a determined hot cooking zone or hot cooking space, it would be possible to set a holding process with a heating power curve starting from zero or to convert any cooking process into such a holding process.

Claims (23)

1. Method of controlling a cooking appliance provided with at least one cooking zone and/or at least one cooking chamber, in particular a domestic cooking appliance, in which plural cooking processes, which correspond to predetermined constant first heating powers or predetermined first heating power curves which are variable over time, and at least one hot-keeping process different from the cooking process, which corresponds to a predetermined constant second heating power or a predetermined second heating power curve which is variable over time, may be set, characterised in that

   - the hot-keeping process is set by a predetermined first operating action, to which according to the current cooking zone temperature or cooking chamber temperature a predetermined constant second heating power or a predetermined heating power curve which is variable over time is allocated, wherein a constant second heating power is allocated to the predetermined operating action if the current cooking zone or cooking chamber temperature lies above a predetermined value, and a second heating power curve is allocated to the predetermined operating action if the current cooking zone or cooking chamber temperature is below a predetermined value, and/or

   - all current cooking processes are converted into predetermined hot-keeping processes by a single second operating action and back into the cooking processes by a single third operating action.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein different current cooking processes are converted into different hot-keeping processes.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein different current cooking processes are converted into a common hot-keeping process.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein predetermined constant second heating powers correspond to the predetermined hot-keeping processes.
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the conversion between current cooking processes and hot-keeping processes is effected upon continued running of a previously set timer.
6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the conversion between current cooking processes and hot-keeping processes is effected upon deletion of previously activated parboiling limits.
7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the hot-keeping processes are switched off after non-use of the cooking appliance predetermined in a timed manner.
8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the constant second heating power corresponds to a predetermined fraction of the current first or a predetermined fraction of a maximum heating power.
9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second heating power curve variable over time in a predetermined first time interval of the current or of a maximum first heating power and in a subsequent second time interval corresponds to a predetermined fraction of the current first or a predetermined fraction of the maximum heating power.
10. Device for controlling a cooking appliance provided with at least one cooking zone and/or at least one cooking chamber, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 9, having means for setting plural cooking processes, which correspond to predetermined constant first heating powers or predetermined first heating power curves variable over time, and for controlling at least one hot-keeping process, which differs from the cooking process and corresponds to a predetermined constant second heating power or a predetermined second heating power curve variable over time, characterised in that

    - the means for setting are provided with selection means for selecting at least one cooking process and at least one hot-keeping process and first control means, which allocate to a selected hot-keeping process according to the current cooking zone or cooking chamber temperature a predetermined second heating power or a predetermined second heating power curve, wherein a constant second heating power may be allocated to a selected hot-keeping process if the current cooking zone or cooking chamber temperature lies above a predetermined value, and a second heating power curve may be allocated to a selected hot-keeping process if the current cooking zone or cooking chamber temperature is below a predetermined value, and/or

    - the means for setting are provided with second input means, with which the start and end of an interruption of all current cooking processes may be input, and second control means, which from the start of the interruption convert all cooking processes to predetermined hot-keeping processes and from the end of the interruption convert all hot-keeping processes back into the cooking processes.
11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the selection means have first input means with which at least one cooking process and at least one hot-keeping process may be input per cooking zone (10, 12,14,16) or cooking chamber respectively.
12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the first input means comprise a number of zone pushbuttons (20), which corresponds to the number of cooking zones (10, 12, 14, 16) and cooking chambers in order to select the cooking zone (10, 12, 14, 16) or cooking chamber, and two cooking stage pushbuttons (24, 26), one of which represents a positive number direction of the cooking and hot-keeping processes and the other represents a negative number direction of the cooking and hot-keeping processes in order to select the cooking or hot-keeping process.
13. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein different current cooking processes may be converted into different hot-keeping processes.
14. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein different cooking processes may be converted into a common hot-keeping process.
15. Device according to one of claims 10 to 14, wherein predetermined second heating powers correspond to the predetermined hot-keeping processes.
16. Device according to one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the interruption of at least all cooking processes is effected upon continued running of a previously set timer.
17. Device according to one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the interruption of at least all cooking process is effected upon deletion of previously activated parboiling limits.
18. Device according to one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the hot-keeping processes switch off after non-use of the cooking appliance predetermined in a timed manner.
19. Device according to one of claims 10 to 18, wherein the second heating power corresponds to a predetermined fraction of the current first or a predetermined fraction of a maximum heating power.
20. Device according to one of claims 10 to 19, wherein the second heating power curve in a predetermined first time interval of the current first or of a maximum heating power and in a subsequent second time interval corresponds to a predetermined fraction of the current first or a predetermined fraction of the maximum heating power.
21. Device according to one of claims 10 to 20, wherein the second input means is formed as a pause button (30), with which upon initial actuation, the start of interruption of at least all cooking processes and upon subsequent actuation the end of interruption may be input.
22. Device according to one of claims 12 to 21, wherein the buttons (20, 24, 26, 28, 30) are formed as contact buttons.
23. Cooking hob having a device according to one of claims 10 to 24.

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