EP2469184A1 - Cooking device and method for operating same - Google Patents

Abstract

The cooking appliance has a cooking chamber provided with a door, a heating source, a catalyst device and a control device. The heating device heats the interior of the cooking chamber. The catalyst device has a temperature sensor that detects the characteristic temperature of catalyst device. The control unit determines finishing time of cooking process based on determined characteristic temperature of catalyst device. An independent claim is included for apparatus for operating cooking appliance.

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance having a heatable cooking chamber, a door closing the cooking chamber, a catalyst device and a control device, and a method for operating such a cooking appliance.

Cooking appliances are subject to a constant process of development in order to give the user the greatest possible comfort in the preparation of food. Among other things, cooking appliances are equipped with many supporting functions to facilitate the preparation of food and to improve the result of a cooking process.

Among other things, automatic programs in cooking appliances, such as an oven, offered to assist the user in the preparation of food. The automatic programs can be designed so that a user selects only a product that he wants to prepare from, for example, a predetermined list and then only has to start the cooking process.

All basic settings of the oven for the appropriate preparation can then be specified by the automatic program. A user then does not have to manually set the operating mode, the temperature or other parameters. He could, for example, simply select the automatic program for a cake in the display of the cooking appliance and otherwise would not have to make any further adjustments to the cooking appliance.

It is particularly convenient for a user, when the cooking device automatically ends the cooking process, when a food is cooked to perfection. Then the cooking appliance is switched off by the program automatic, whereby a Nachgaren or even at worst a burning of the food is prevented. However, this may not always work satisfactorily.

Although some automatic programs are currently automatically terminated, however, usually fixed pre-programmed times are used for a particular cooking process. Although it is possible to set even different degrees of browning for a cooking process in some appliances, such programs only work satisfactorily if a user adheres exactly to the stipulated specifications, such as, for example, the exact amount of a food.

Inaccuracies or errors by the user are usually not considered in current programs. For example, if a user selects the automatic program for a medium browning cake, for a successful cooking process of satisfactory quality, it is necessary that the amount of dough required by the program be made available, or at least the amount of dough introduced. If the user makes mistakes during the preparation of the dough, which results in either more or less dough being introduced into the cooking process, the result may suffer. A reproducible quality can not be guaranteed then, because the preset program simply runs as set. Depending on the amount of dough, a cake can either be just right, not even cooked or already burnt.

There are also known finish-controlled automatic programs that adjust during cooking in narrow limits to the food to be cooked. In this case, for example, a core temperature sensor or an O ₂ sensor are used to draw conclusions about the state of food of a food. A core temperature probe, however, is only suitable for certain foods and is not very comfortable because the sensor must be inserted into the food at the beginning of a cooking process or even after a certain time. Furthermore, a core temperature sensor is a separate accessory, which is often not very much the case with customers.

An O ₂ sensor indirectly detects the proportion of relative humidity in the vapor, and this method makes use of the fact that the maximum moisture is usually delivered in the time proximity of the finished time. A method for determining the first steam outlet from a cooking chamber opening is also based on the liquid emerging from the food during the cooking process. However, these methods, which adapt the cooking process to the resulting moisture, are in particular not suitable for dishes which have a high liquid content. For example, when a piece of meat is braised in a sauce, such methods do not provide reliable results.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance and a method for operating such a cooking appliance, with which the end of a cooking process can be determined automatically and satisfactorily.

This object is achieved by a method for operating a cooking appliance having the features of claim 1 and by a cooking appliance having the features of claim 13. Further embodiments emerge from the subclaims and the exemplary embodiment.

The inventive method is suitable for operating a cooking appliance, which has at least one cooking chamber. The cooking chamber becomes thermal with at least one heating source heated. So that the heat is held in the cooking chamber, the cooking chamber can be closed by means of at least one door. Furthermore, a control device is provided with which the cooking appliance is controlled. The control device also derives the end point of a cooking process from the values determined during a catalyst reaction at a catalyst device.

Such ausgestaltetes cooking appliance offers many advantages. A significant advantage is that the finished time of the cooking process can be determined automatically and reliably by the values determined on the catalyst device. This ensures that the automatic programs not only make the setting of the required parameters for a cooking process, but that the end of the cooking process can be well matched to the food to be cooked in each case. This allows a user to start a cooking process and then not necessarily be within the reach of the cooking appliance.

Since the control device derives the finish time of the cooking process on the basis of the values which are determined during the cooking process on the catalyst device, this method for determining the finish time point is very reliable. These values are determined by the food to be cooked, since different catalyst reactions take place depending on the composition and amount of the food. Therefore, the method according to the invention provides a very reliable method for determining the finish time.

In order to determine at the time of a catalyst reaction, at least one characteristic temperature of the catalyst device is preferably determined with at least one temperature sensor. Such a characteristic temperature can be, for example, the operating or operating temperature of the catalyst device. In particular, however, the characteristic temperature is also the maximum temperature that occurs during a catalyst reaction. Other characteristic temperatures also provide a beneficial value. The characteristic temperature can also be determined by calculation from the temperature profile of a catalyst reaction, for example by averaging.

Particularly preferably, the course of the catalyst reaction is determined for this purpose. Depending on the food and / or amount of food to be cooked, the characteristics of the reaction curve may look different. Therefore, determining the reaction curve is advantageous to determine the finish time of a cooking process. Depending on the composition of the food, larger temperature differences, longer or shorter reactions or even more catalyst reactions occur. For example, alcohol emitted in the vapors and various fat compositions react differently. In particular, the correlate Times at which the reaction curves have extreme values, for example maxima in the course of the temperature, particularly advantageous with the finish time of the cooking process.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the temperature sensor determines a catalyst reaction via a significant increase in temperature of the catalyst device and registers the associated time. If, for example, alcohol produced in the vapors during the baking of a cake by the yeast is released, it reacts violently in the catalyst device. As a result, the temperature of the catalyst device increases significantly, whereby the presence of a catalyst reaction can be well determined. It is also conceivable that the duration and / or the strength of the catalyst reaction is used as a characteristic for the assessment of the cooking process.

Another preferred way of detecting a catalyst reaction and the time it takes place is to evaluate the control difference of the radiator output of a radiator associated with the catalyst device. A catalyst device works particularly effectively when it is heated to a certain operating temperature. For this purpose, one of the catalyst device associated radiator must be operated in a certain Heiztaktung or with a certain heat output, so that the desired operating temperature of the catalyst device is achieved. If there is a catalyst reaction in the catalyst, heat energy is generated, which makes it unnecessary to activate the heating element during the catalyst reaction, since no additional heat is required in order to achieve the desired operating temperature of the catalyst device. As a result, a catalyst reaction can be determined.

In order to determine a catalyst reaction, it is furthermore advantageous and preferred for the catalyst device to be kept at a constant working temperature. Thus, differences in the power required can be determined to determine the presence of a reaction in the catalyst device.

In preferred embodiments, the control device controls a radiator assigned to the catalyst device for this purpose. As a result, the catalyst device is maintained on the one hand at working temperature, on the other hand, the end point of the cooking process can be derived by means of the control data and the values determined therefrom.

In further particularly preferred embodiments, the temperature difference between the working temperature and at least one characteristic reaction temperature is determined. In particular, the difference between the maximum reaction temperature and the working temperature is suitable to draw conclusions about the food, the amount of food and deduce from this the ready time of the cooking process. However, other characteristic reaction temperatures can also be used advantageously. For example, the average temperature determined via the reaction can also be used to determine the finish time.

Also, the period of time between the start of the cooking process and the achievement of a characteristic reaction temperature is preferably measured. In this case, the characteristic reaction temperature may in particular be the maximum reaction temperature again.

After the catalyst reaction, the cooking process is particularly preferably continued for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time may depend on the food to be cooked and is made available in particular in a database for appropriate cooking operations. In particular, such values have previously been determined experimentally for a corresponding foodstuff.

The finish time of the cooking process is defined in particularly preferred embodiments over a further period of time. For this purpose, a residual period of time until the end of the cooking process is determined from the characteristic of the catalyst reaction in conjunction with the time until the characteristic reaction temperature is reached. From the time to reach the catalyst reaction information can be drawn regarding the nature and amount of food to be cooked. Based on the characteristic of the catalyst reaction, the time until the catalyst reaction is reached can then be set in relation to a specific factor. This factor results either directly from the characteristic of the catalyst reaction or is made available on the basis of the characteristic from a database.

Furthermore, it is also preferred that the automatic pyrolysis processes and the characteristic working temperature are controlled via the values determined using the temperature sensor. Smoke produced during pyrolysis is converted in the catalytic converter. If there is no more smoke, no catalyst reaction takes place. Then the pyrolysis can be stopped.

The cooking appliance according to the invention comprises at least one cooking chamber which can be closed by at least one door closing the cooking chamber. The cooking chamber can be heated with at least one radiator. The cooking appliance further comprises at least one catalyst device and at least one temperature sensor for detecting a characteristic temperature of the catalyst device. At least one control device is provided, which is suitable and designed to derive the end point of the cooking process from the values determined during a catalyst reaction at the catalyst device.

The cooking appliance according to the invention offers many advantages. A considerable advantage is that the control device can reliably determine the finished time of the cooking process by means of the determined values during a catalytic reaction. The values determined are determined by the food to be cooked, which results in particularly accurate results for the ready-to-eat time of the food to be cooked. Depending on the composition and quantity of the food, different catalyst reactions take place. Therefore, the method according to the invention provides a very reliable method for determining the finish time.

Particularly preferably, the control device is suitable and designed to operate the one of the catalyst device associated radiator in particular clocked. As a result, among other things, a constant operating temperature of the catalyst direction can be achieved.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiment, which will be explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1:

eine stark schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Gargeräts als Einzelgerät;

Fig. 2:

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Gargeräts als Einbaugerät;

Fig. 3:

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch eine Katalysatoreinrichtung mit zugeordneter Steuereinrichtung;

Fig. 4:

einen Temperaturverlauf eines Garvorgangs mit einer Katalysatorreaktion;

Fig. 5:

einen weiteren Temperaturverlauf eines Garvorgangsmit; und

Fig. 6:

einen weiteren Temperaturverlauf mit zwei Katalysatorreaktionen.

In the figures show:

Fig. 1:

a highly schematic perspective view of a cooking appliance as a single unit;

Fig. 2:

a schematic perspective view of a cooking appliance as a built-in device;

3:

a schematic cross section through a catalyst device with associated control device;

4:

a temperature profile of a cooking process with a catalyst reaction;

Fig. 5:

a further temperature profile of a cooking process; and

Fig. 6:

a further temperature profile with two catalyst reactions.

In FIG. 1 is a cooking appliance 1 according to the invention is shown in a strong perspective view, which is designed here as a stove 20 and a stand-alone device. The cooking appliance 1 has a housing 15, on which a cooking chamber 2 is provided, which can be closed with a door 4. When the door 4 is open, a food can be introduced into the cooking chamber 2. In the oven, the food can then be prepared using, for example, top and / or bottom heat, a convection or grill function.

On the stove, a hob 16 is arranged, which is divided into several cooking zones 17. You can make the desired settings for cooking over some controls 18 on a control panel 19. The control panel 19 may also include a display device such as a display on which the current state of the cooking appliance 1 and the set parameters can be displayed.

In FIG. 2 1 shows a cooking appliance 1 in a perspective schematic view, which in the present case is designed as a baking oven 30 suitable for installation. The surrounding the cooking chamber 2 housing 15 can in turn be surrounded by a furniture body, not shown here. In FIG. 2 the cooking appliance 1 is shown with half open door 4. Above the cooking chamber 2 is space for a not visible here control device 5 and a catalyst device 6. The electronics of the controller 4 is cooled by a device cooling 15.

FIG. 3 shows a catalyst device 6, which communicates with a control device 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the catalyst device 6 is surrounded by a housing 24 in which a catalyst honeycomb 23 can be seen above a radiator 12. The radiator 12 includes several heating elements 22. The radiator 12 may also be configured in any other suitable manner. The same applies to the number and arrangement of the catalyst honeycomb 23, if any such are provided in the catalyst device 6.

At the catalyst device 6, a temperature sensor 9 is further provided. The temperature sensor 9 can measure the temperature of the catalyst device 6, wherein these values can be evaluated by the control device 5 and represented, for example, as a temperature profile 25.

In order to achieve a suitable working temperature 13 of the catalyst device 6, the control device 5 is suitable for clocking the radiator 12 of the catalyst device 6 or also to operate it constantly. Via the temperature sensor 9, the temperature of the catalyst device 6 is measured and the control device 5 adjusts the heating power or the timing of the radiator 12 accordingly.

In the FIG. 4 The graph shown shows an evaluation 26 of the temperature profile 25 of the catalyst device 6. For this purpose, the values 7 determined by the temperature sensor 9 were converted by the control device 5 into a curve representation 27.

The upper curve shows the time profile of the cooking chamber temperature 28. The curve below shows the values 7 determined by the temperature sensor 9, which are determined by the control device 5 in FIG a temperature profile 25 have been converted. The temperature of the catalyst device 6 rises steadily up to the working temperature 13. At this temperature, the catalyst device 6 is then kept constant. This is also done by the control device 5, the values of the temperature sensor 9 used for this purpose and the radiator 12 either clocked or constant but also operates.

Depending on the cooking process or depending on the foods to be cooked, a catalytic reaction 100 occurs at a certain time, which can be detected, for example, by a rise in temperature 11. When a catalyst reaction occurs, for example, alcohol produced by the yeast during baking of a cake has been released into the vapor which then reacts in the catalyst means 6, raising the temperature to a characteristic value 10 at the characteristic time t1. It may be advantageous to switch off the heating element 12 in each case when measuring the temperature in order to obtain a more sensitive evaluation.

But it is also possible to detect the beginning of the catalyst reaction 100 via the timing of the catalyst device 6 associated radiator 12. When this radiator 12 is operated in a clocked manner, the current temperature of the catalyst device 6 is measured by means of the temperature sensor 9. If the temperature of the catalyst device 6 increases by a catalyst reaction 100, no external energy needs to be applied to bring the catalyst device 6 to a desired operating temperature 13. As a result, it can be determined whether a catalyst reaction 100 is present and how long it lasts.

Depending on the food and also depending on the amount of food, a catalyst reaction 100 takes place at a certain time and has different characteristics. In this case, the temperature difference 14 may be different from the working temperature. This depends on the composition and amount of the food and also on the texture e.g. the geometry of the cooking vessel from. The larger, for example, the opening of a cooking vessel, the faster such a reaction 100 will take place or the more pronounced the reaction can be 100.

After a temperature rise 11 to the temperature characteristic of the corresponding catalyst reaction 10, the temperature drops back to the operating temperature 13 of the catalyst device 6 from.

To determine the end point of a cooking process 8, the time period t ₁ between the start of the cooking process and the achievement of the characteristic temperature 10 is measured. Subsequently, the cooking process is continued for a predetermined time t ₂ . This period of time t ₂ may have previously been determined experimentally for such a cooking process. Then the Control device 5 retrieve the corresponding value for the period t ₂ from a database.

The remaining cooking time t ₃ is then based on the time t ₁ to reach the catalyst reaction 100, which is set with a factor specific to the catalyst reaction 100 in a ratio. This results in the time t ₃ , which is still necessary until the end of a cooking process. The specific factor may again vary depending on the cooking process or food. This factor can then be retrieved in the embodiment shown here by the control device 5 from a database. The corresponding factors as well as the predetermined time intervals t ₂ are expediently determined experimentally by experts at least for the most common cooking processes.

FIG. 5 shows the time t ₁ to a catalyst reaction 100 of a particular food. The time span t ₁ for the same food is shown dotted when a small amount is added to the oven for cooking. For example, if you bake a cake, the time to reach the catalyst reaction 100 is equal to the time t _{1 of} the solid curve. For example, with half of the dough, the dashed curve could indicate catalyst reaction 100. Since the remaining cooking time t _{3 is} determined by way of this value t ₁ in conjunction with a specific factor, it is reliably ensured that both the type and the quantity of the food are taken into account in the determination of the finish time 8.

In FIG. 6 another case is shown in which several catalyst reactions take place during a cooking process. In the embodiment shown here, two catalyst reactions 100 take place, but have the same characteristics. This is not absolutely necessary since, depending on the composition, a food can deliver different substances at different times in the vapors, as a result of which several catalytic reactions 100 can take place whose characteristic temperatures 10 can also be different.

In such a case, the time interval t ₁ is again measured until the first catalyst reaction. Upon reaching the second characteristic temperature 10, a further time interval t _{1.1 is} determined, which corresponds to the time between the first and the second characteristic temperature 10 of the two catalyst reactions 100. Subsequently, the cooking process is continued again for a predetermined time. The last time period t ₃ to the finish time 8 of the cooking process is then determined again over the time t ₁ , which is then set, for example, in relation to a factor which derives from the two catalyst reactions 100. In this case, the control device 5 derive this factor again from a database. It is conceivable also, that in the case of several catalyst reactions 100, the total time interval t ₁ , t _{1.1 of} the catalyst reactions 100 is set in relation to the corresponding factor.

It is furthermore possible for the processes of the automatic pyrolysis and the characteristic working temperature 13 to be controlled via the values determined using the temperature sensor 9. In the pyrolysis resulting smoke is converted in the catalyst device 6. The sensor 9 can be used to also determine the end of a resulting catalyst reaction 100. This will allow the pyrolysis to be stopped.

It is within the skill of one skilled in the art to modify the described embodiments in a manner not shown in order to achieve the effects described, without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Cooking appliance

2

oven

3

heating source

4

door

5

control device

6

catalyst device

7

determined values

8th

End point of cooking / ready time

9

temperature sensor

10

characteristic temperature

11

temperature rise

12

radiator

13

working temperature

14

temperature difference

15

casing

16

hob

17

cooking zones

18

operating element

19

control panel

20

stove

21

cooling equipment

22

heater

23

catalyst honeycomb

24

casing

25

temperature curve

26

evaluation

27

graph

28

Oven temperature

30

oven

100

catalyst reaction

t ₁

Time to catalyst reaction

t _1.1

Time span between two catalyst reactions

t ₂

predetermined period of time

t ₃

determined remaining time span

Claims (14)

Method for operating a cooking appliance (1), wherein the cooking appliance (1) comprises at least one cooking chamber (2) and is controlled by at least one control device (5), wherein the cooking chamber (2) with at least one heating source (3) is thermally heated and is closed by at least one door (4), characterized in that the control device (5) derives the end point (8) of a cooking process from the values (7) determined on a catalyst device (6) during a catalyst reaction (100). Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that at least one characteristic temperature (10) of the catalyst device (6) is detected with at least one temperature sensor (9). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the time course (10) of the catalyst reaction (100) is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the reaction catalyst (100) over a temperature increase (11) of the catalyst device (6) is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
the catalyst reaction (100) via the control difference of the radiator power of the catalytic converter device associated (6) a heater (12) is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the catalyst device (6) is kept at operating temperature (13). Method according to claim 4,
characterized,
that the control device (5) comprises the catalyst device associated (6) radiator (12) drives to maintain the catalyst device (6) to the working temperature (13) and derives the endpoint (8) of the cooking process with the drive data. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the temperature difference (14) between the working temperature (13) and at least one characteristic reaction temperature (10) is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the time interval (t ₁₎ between the start of the cooking process and the achievement of a characteristic reaction temperature (10) is measured. Method according to claim 9,
characterized,
that the cooking process after the reaction catalyst (100) a predetermined time period (t ₂₎ is continued. Method according to claim 10,
characterized,
in that a residual period of time (t ₃ ) is determined from the characteristic of the catalyst reaction (100) in conjunction with the time span (t ₁ ) until the characteristic reaction temperature (10) has been reached, until the end of the cooking process. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the processes of the pyrolysis and the working temperature (13) are controlled via the values (7) determined with the temperature sensor (9). Cooking appliance (1) having at least one cooking chamber (2), at least one door (4) closing the cooking chamber (2), at least one heating source (3) and at least one catalyst device (6) and at least one temperature sensor (9) for detecting a Characteristic temperature (11, 13) of the catalyst device (6),
characterized,
in that at least one control device (5) is provided, which is suitable and designed to derive the end point (8) of the cooking process from the values (7) determined on the catalyst device (6) during a catalyst reaction (100). Cooking appliance according to claim 13,
characterized,
in that the control device (5) is suitable and designed to operate a heating element (12) associated with the catalyst device (6) in a clocked manner.

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