EP2518410B1 - Method for operating a cooking device and control and regulating device for a cooking device and cooking device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a cooking device, in which the heating unit of the cooking device is operated at least temporarily by a first electronic unit of the cooking device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a control and regulating device for a cooking device, with two electronic units and a relay, with which the operation of a heating unit of the cooking device can be carried out. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular an oven.

From the DE 33 13 957 A1 a control device for an oven for the automatic implementation of a baking or roasting process is known. The control device comprises a time switch which can be set for a total cooking time and which performs a switching process in the course of this total cooking time. Regardless of the total cooking time determined by the nature of the food to be cooked, the timer is designed such that a predetermined time before the end of the total cooking time may cause the heating energy to be switched off and the display to be on during the remaining cooking time. This remaining cooking time should be 30 minutes. If a function of the oven is switched on, the cooking treatment is controlled via the timer.

The EP 2 251 607 A2 discloses a method for a cooking process carried out by means of a cooking device, in which a part of the cooking process takes place in an energy-saving mode.

The EP 2 063 180 A2 discloses a method for operating a baking oven which has a heating cycle, wherein in the heating cycle a cooking space is heated up to a limit temperature in a time interval by means of a clocked operation of a heating element.

The EP 1 273 852 A2 discloses a method for operating a cooking device, wherein a cooking chamber temperature is not regulated in a control interval, but no or a certain amount of heat is supplied to the cooking chamber.

In addition, it is known that in heating ovens a heating unit is operated in a clocked manner and for this purpose a controller unit and a relay connected to it in terms of circuitry are present. The clocking of the heating unit is regulated by means of the control unit when the relay is closed. By means of the control unit, the temperature in the oven or in the cooking chamber of the oven is monitored depending on the set temperature threshold values of the controller unit and the heating unit is then switched on and off depending on this. Since these temperature threshold values of the controller unit are fixed, there is no flexibility in this regard. The energy required to operate the cooking device is therefore relatively high. However, in a not inconsiderable number of preparation processes, it is not necessary to carry out this high energy input into the cooking space for the entire duration of the cooking program that is running.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a cooking device and a control and regulating device for a cooking device, as well as a cooking device, with which or with which or with which a more energy-efficient and energy-saving operation is achieved.

This object is achieved by a method which has the features of claim 1, a control and regulating device which has the features of claim 10, and a cooking appliance which has the features of claim 11.

In a method according to the invention for operating a cooking device, the operation of a heating unit of the cooking device is at least temporarily carried out or regulated by a first electronic unit of the cooking device. During a running cooking program, the first electronic unit of the cooking device is activated in a first time interval and the operation of the heating unit is controlled by or controlled by the first electronic unit. In a second time interval during the running cooking program, the first electronic unit is deactivated or brought into an open switching state or bridged and clocked operation of the heating unit is carried out by a second electronic unit of the cooking device that is separate from the first. Such a procedure at least temporarily, namely in the second time interval, makes control technology and regulation technology significantly simpler Operation carried out. In particular, however, this specific mode of operation can make it possible to operate the cooking appliance in an energy-saving manner.

The electronic units can be electronic or electrical control units.

It is provided that the heating unit is clocked by means of a signal from the second electronic unit in the second time interval for a period of at least one third of the total duration of the cooking program. Especially if the second time interval does not begin immediately after the start of the cooking program, but rather only after a specific heating-up time, a very long duration of the second time interval can be carried out in comparison with the total duration of the cooking program, which in particular saves a relay.

The second time interval is ended before the end of the cooking program end and then the heating unit is again operated in a controlled manner by the first electronic unit for a further time interval. After the end of the second time interval and before the end of the cooking program, the first electronic unit is then brought back into the closed switching state or the bridging is ended, and thus the control and regulation of the clocked operation of the heating unit is carried out via the closed relay.

It is provided that an upper temperature threshold value for switching off the heating unit is specified lower in the second time interval than in operation with the activated first electronic unit. This is a particular advantage in that a relatively large amount of energy and thus corresponding heat is generated in the cooking space by introducing appropriate energy into the cooking space of the cooking device during a period before the first time interval when the cooking program is running. In particular, this is not lost again immediately, so that the energy input can be reduced precisely during the second time interval, but the running cooking program and the preparation of the food to be cooked are not adversely affected thereby.

It is provided that a lower temperature threshold value for switching on the heating unit is specified lower in the second time interval than in operation with the activated first electronic unit. The advantages mentioned above apply analogously and favorably, especially in combination with the lower upper temperature threshold, a particular energy saving potential.

It is provided that in the further time interval the heating unit is operated in a clocked manner via a relay and a first electronic unit and that the upper and lower temperature threshold values to be taken into account for switching the heating unit on and off during clocking are higher than the upper and lower temperature threshold values in the second time interval. Temperature differences of at least 15 ° C., preferably at least 20 ° C., are preferably provided here.

A controller unit is preferably provided as the first electronic unit and a time switch is provided as the second electronic unit. As a result, a component, the time switch, can be used which is of simple construction and thus enables a cost-reduced design. With the timer in particular, it is ensured that simple control operations such as are provided in the second time interval can be carried out.

In the second time interval in particular, it is no longer necessary to accept the specified controller values of the control unit with regard to the temperatures and the resulting cycles of the heating unit. Rather, in the second time interval, the heating unit can be clocked differently with regard to the temperature threshold values to be taken into account.

In particular, during the second time interval, the heating unit is clocked at a significantly lower temperature level than in comparison with operation with the first electronic unit activated.

It is preferably provided that the upper temperature threshold in the second time interval is at least 15 ° C., preferably> 20 ° C. lower than the upper temperature threshold value in the first time interval and thus the operation with the first electronic unit. It is preferably provided that the lower temperature threshold is at least 50 ° C, preferably at least 20 ° C lower than the lower temperature threshold in the first time interval.

It is preferably provided that a relay connected to the first electronic unit for switching the heating unit on and off is permanently bridged in the second time interval. The relay and the controller unit are thus virtually completely bridged and the entire further clocking operation of the heating unit can be easily controlled by the relatively simple timer.

It is preferably provided that the operation of the cooking device with the second time interval is predefined in a user-defined manner. In particular, it can be provided here that the cooking device has a specific control element or a specific position of the control element, by means of which the user himself and, if desired, can set such an energy-saving program in conjunction with the cooking program that is running.

However, it can also be provided that the operation of the cooking device is carried out and started automatically with the second time interval.

In particular, it is provided that the automatic starting is carried out depending on the detection of a signalless state of a second electronic unit on the basis of a control unit which is in the open or bridged switching state. In particular, it is provided that after the signalless state has been recognized, a first reaching of a temperature threshold value of the temperature is recognized and a relay connected to the first electronic unit for switching the heating unit on and off is switched to the open switching state for the duration of the second time interval or in closed switching state is bridged.

In particular, if, after a heating-up phase in which the heating unit is operated, in particular, in the permanently switched on and activated state, the heating unit is switched off after reaching the upper temperature threshold during operation with the activated first electronic unit and this first maximum value of the temperature since the beginning of running cooking program recognized and dependent on it then the operation in the energy-saving mode and thus carried out with the second time interval.

The method according to the invention thus enables in particular a control and regulation process during an ongoing cooking program, which also includes an energy-saving mode. This is achieved by operating over the period of the second time interval. If, in particular, a user sets an operating element to an energy-saving program with respect to the cooking program to be run, the light in the cooking space is automatically switched on and the relay is closed. The first electronic unit is then also in the closed switching state, namely until an upper temperature threshold value specified by the first electronic unit is reached as the temperature value in the cooking chamber in a heating phase. Then the heating unit is switched off, for which purpose the first electronic unit is opened. The relay is then kept in the open switching state for a specific time interval after the heating unit has been switched off, and the heating unit is thus also kept in the switched-off state. During this The temperature in the cooking space continues to be monitored until a temperature value in the cooking space reaches a lower temperature threshold. Depending on the execution of the method, this lower temperature threshold value can be the lower temperature threshold value of the first electronic unit. However, it can also already be the temperature threshold as it is specified in the second time interval, and in particular can therefore be a lower temperature threshold than that of the first electronic unit.

In particular, at the latest then, the first electronic unit is overlaid with a time-controlled signal from the second electronic unit, and the further timed operation of the heating unit then takes place with this time-controlled time signal. This is the operational sequence during the second time interval. In this, the first electronic unit is held in particular when the switching state is open.

However, it can also be provided that the second electronic unit is a second controller unit, which, however, is designed with different temperature threshold values than the first controller unit.

It is preferably provided that a tolerance time interval is specified which is several minutes. In this tolerance time interval, which begins after the start of the energy-saving mode or the energy-saving program and thus with a program with the second time interval and with the heating unit being clocked at lower temperature threshold values, it is monitored whether a user has at least one more operating setting, in particular at least once again calls the energy saving program. This then suggests that there is an incorrect operation. In order to prevent undesired operating modes or not to continue incorrect settings, the system then automatically returns to normal operation, in which the heating unit is clocked at the higher temperature threshold values, and the further operation is carried out in normal operation or normal mode.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a control regulating device for a cooking appliance, with a first electronic unit, a second electronic unit and a relay, with which the operation of a heating unit of a cooking appliance can be carried out. The The control and regulating device is designed such that the first electronic unit of the cooking device is activated in a first time interval during a running cooking program and the heating unit is operated by the first electronic unit, in particular via a relay. The control and regulating device is also designed such that the first electronic unit is deactivated in a second time interval and a clocked operation of the heating unit is controllable by the second electronic unit of the cooking device.

The deactivated state of the first electronic unit, in particular the control unit, can be designed such that the first electronic unit is in an open switching state. It can also be designed such that the first electronic unit is in the closed switching state and is correspondingly bridged electronically, so that no signals from the first electronic unit reach the heating unit and the heating unit is controlled only via the second electronic unit.

Basically, a deactivated state of an electronic unit or a relay is understood to mean a state in which the components are in the open switching state or in the closed switching state but are bridged.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a cooking appliance, in particular an oven, which is designed to carry out a method according to the invention or an advantageous embodiment thereof. In particular, the cooking device can have a control and regulating device according to the invention.

Further features of the invention result from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Gargeräts;

Fig. 2

ein vereinfachtes Schaltbild eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Steuer- und Regeleinrichtung; und

Fig. 3

ein Diagramm, bei dem der Temperaturverlauf in einen Garraum während eines ablaufenden Garprogramms in Abhängigkeit von der Zeit dargestellt ist, wobei diesbezüglich ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens gezeigt ist.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cooking device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a simplified circuit diagram of an embodiment of a control and regulating device according to the invention; and

Fig. 3

a diagram in which the temperature profile is shown in a cooking chamber during an ongoing cooking program as a function of time, an embodiment of a method according to the invention being shown in this regard.

Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

In Fig. 1 An oven 1 is shown which has a cooking space 2 which is delimited by a muffle 3. A loading opening is formed at the front, which can be closed by a door, not shown. The oven 1 also includes cooking zones 4, 5, 6 and 7. In addition, an operating device 8 is provided which has a display unit 9 and at least one operating element 10. Both the number and the position of the components of the operating device 8 and the position of the operating elements 10 themselves are only examples.

In addition, the baking oven 1 also includes a control and regulating device 11 only by way of example and indicated. In addition, it comprises a heating unit 12 which is arranged, for example, in a hot air box behind a rear wall 13 of a muffle 3. A blower is also arranged there by way of example, by means of which air heated by means of the heating unit 12 is blown into the cooking space 2 via openings in the rear wall 13. The oven 1 can also have at least one further heating unit 14 which is arranged in the region of a base on the muffle 3. In addition, other heating units, such as For example, a grill radiator arranged on the ceiling of the muffle 3 may be provided.

The control and regulating device 11 is provided for operating the heating units 12, 14 and can also carry out further control and regulating processes of the oven 1.

In Fig. 2 a circuit diagram of the control and regulating device 11 is only shown as an example. This has a timer 15 as a second electronic unit. In addition, a first electronic unit in the form of a controller unit 16 is provided as an oven controller. This controller unit 16 is electrically connected to a relay and is selected for an operating mode of the oven 1 via the control element 10, which represents a preselection switch. The control and regulating device 11 also ensures the operation of a light source 18, which is provided for illuminating the cooking space 2. In addition, operation of a motor 19 for driving the blower mentioned is also provided with the control and regulating device 11.

The control and regulating device 11 is designed such that during a running cooking program, which can be selected, for example, with the control element 10 and / or another control element, the controller unit 16 of the cooking device is activated in a first time interval during the duration of the cooking program and thus in the closed state Switching state is operable and the operation of at least one heating unit 12, 14 can be carried out via the controller unit 16 and the relay 17. The controller unit 16 is characterized by two temperature threshold values. An upper temperature threshold and a lower temperature threshold are defined. If the temperature in the cooking space 2 reaches this upper temperature threshold value, a heating unit 12, 14 is switched off by opening the controller unit 16. If the temperature in the cooking space 2 falls below the lower temperature threshold value of the controller unit 16, the controller unit 16 is closed again and the heating unit 12, 14 is thus switched on again.

The control and regulating device 11 is also designed so that it also quasi an energy-saving mode during an ongoing cooking program can perform. For this purpose, this energy-saving mode is selected in a user-defined manner, for example by actuating a corresponding control element 10. For this purpose, the control element 10 can, for example, be turned into a corresponding position or operated in some other way. However, it can also be provided that this energy-saving mode is started and carried out automatically by the control and regulating device 11.

In this energy-saving mode, the controller unit 16 is then bypassed or deactivated in a second time interval, in particular following the first time interval, during the running cooking program, and in particular the relay 17 is also brought into the open switching state or bypassed. The execution of the further operation of at least one heating unit 12, 14 is controlled via the timer 15.

The controller unit 16 is thus superimposed with a time-controlled signal from the time switch 15.

Concerning. The process sequence is further referred to the diagram Fig. 3 referred. The temperature in the cooking space 2 is shown there depending on the time.

If a cooking program is started at time t0, the operation of a heating unit 12, 14 with the control unit 16 and the relay 17 is regulated and controlled by the control and regulating device 11 in a first time interval up to the time t1. The controller unit 16 is operated in the closed switching state and in this first time interval, which also represents the heating phase, the heating unit 12, 14 is operated continuously in the switched-on mode. As can be seen here, the temperature in the cooking chamber 2 rises and then reaches the upper threshold value of the control unit 16 at the time t1. At this time t1 the control unit 16 is then opened and the heating unit 12, 14 is thus switched off. The heating unit 12, 14 then remains switched off for a subsequent period of time between the times t1 and t2.

In particular, the second time interval can then begin here. In this second time interval, different upper and lower temperature threshold values T3 and T4 are predefined in comparison to the predefined upper temperature threshold value T1 and a predefined lower temperature threshold value T2 of the controller unit 16. How It can be seen that the upper temperature threshold value T3 is smaller than the upper threshold value T1. The lower temperature threshold T4 is also smaller than the lower temperature threshold T2.

In this operation in the second time interval, the heating unit 12, 14 is therefore not switched on again when the temperature in the cooking space 2 falls below the temperature threshold T2, but only when the lower lower temperature threshold T4 is undershot. In this time interval, which preferably only lasts until time t3 at time t3, the clocking of a heating unit 12, 14 and thus the alternating switched on and off operation of the heating unit 12, 14 is then controlled only via the timer 15. As can be seen, the energy input into the cooking space 2 is carried out at a lower temperature level.

If instead of this energy-saving mode - and thus without performing the clocked operation at the lower temperature level of the second time interval - the clocked operation of the heating unit 12, 14 would take place permanently via the controller unit 16 and the relay 17 at the higher temperature level, then a significantly higher energy input would occur respectively. This is because the two threshold values T1 and T2 of the controller unit 16 are significantly higher. Operation would then take place from time t1, which corresponds to operation from time t3, as in FIG Fig. 3 is shown.

During the second time interval, the controller unit 16 is superimposed with a time-controlled signal from the time switch 15. In particular when the energy-saving mode is carried out automatically, no signal is detected at the mains voltage input and thus at the 230V input of the time switch 15 after the temperature threshold T1 has been reached at the time t1, because the controller unit 16 is in the open switching state. The control and regulating device 11 recognizes this and also recognizes the first reaching of this upper temperature threshold value T1 since the start of the cooking program and then opens the relay 17 for the duration of the second time interval.

In the exemplary embodiment it is provided that the operation is ended in the second time interval before the end of the cooking program. This is the case at time t3. After the point in time t3, in particular until the end of the cooking program, another Time interval then again the operation by means of the controller unit 16 and the relay 17 is carried out and thus the clocking of the heating unit 12, 14 is not carried out via the timer 15, but via the controller unit 16 and the relay 17. As can be seen here, the higher temperature threshold values T1 and T2 with regard to switching the heating unit 12, 14 on and off again apply in this regard. It can be provided that in this third time phase the upper temperature threshold value of the controller unit 16 is also compared to that of the Temperature threshold T1 lower upper temperature threshold T5 is specified. However, this upper temperature threshold value T5 is also clearly above the upper temperature threshold value T3, as is specified during operation with the timer 15.

Reference list

1

oven

2nd

Cooking space

3rd

Muffle

4, 5, 6, 7

Cooking zones

8th

Operating device

9

Ad unit

10th

Control element

11

Control and regulating device

12th

Heating unit

13

Back wall

14

Heating unit

15

Timer

16

Controller unit

17th

relay

18th

Light source

19th

engine

t1, t2, t3, t4

Times

T1, T2, T3, T4, T5

Temperature thresholds

Claims (11)

1. Method for operating a cooking device (1), in which the operation of at least one heating unit (12, 14) of the cooking device (1) is carried out at least temporarily by a first electronic unit (16) of the cooking device (1), wherein during a running cooking program in a first time interval the first electronic unit (16) is activated and the operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is carried out by the first electronic unit (16), and in a second time interval the first electronic unit (16) is deactivated and a clocked operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is carried out by a second electronic unit (15) of the cooking device (1), wherein the heating unit (12, 14) is clocked by means of a signal from the second electronic unit (15) in the second time interval for a period of at least one third of the total duration of the cooking program, the second time interval is terminated before the end of the cooking program is reached, characterised in that subsequently for a further time interval the operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is again carried out by the first electronic unit (16) and in the further time interval the heating unit (12, 14) is operated via a relay (17) in a clocked manner with the first electronic unit (16), wherein an upper temperature threshold value (T3) for switching off the heating unit (12, 14) is set lower in the second time interval than in operation with the activated first electronic unit (16) and wherein the upper and lower temperature threshold values (T1, T5, T2) to be taken into account for the switching on and off of the heating unit (12, 14) taking place during the clocking are higher than the temperature threshold values (T3, T4) in the second time interval.
2. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the second time interval a relay (17) connected to the first electronic unit (16) for switching the heating unit (12, 14) on and off is permanently deactivated, in particular is kept in the open switching state.
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second time interval is started after a heating phase and a first switching off of the heating unit (12, 14), in particular is started at the latest with a second switching on of the heating unit (12, 14) since the beginning of the running program.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the operation of the cooking device (1) with the second time interval is predetermined in a user-defined manner.
5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the operation with the second time interval is carried out by selecting an energy-saving program.
6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the operation of the cooking device (1) with the second time interval is started automatically.
7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the automatic starting is carried out as a function of a detection of a signalless state of the second electronic unit (15) on the basis of a first electronic unit (16) which is in the deactivated state, in particular after the detection of an upper temperature threshold value of the temperature in the cooking chamber (2) first being reached and then a relay (17) connected to the first electronic unit (16) for switching the heating unit (12, 14) on and off is deactivated for the duration of the second time interval, in particular is transferred to the open switching state.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that for the further time interval until the end of the cooking program the operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is again carried out by the first electronic unit (16).
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that during a running cooking program in the first time interval a regulating unit (16) is activated as the first electronic unit and the operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is carried out by the regulating unit (16), and in the second time interval the regulating unit (16) is deactivated and a clocked operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is controlled by a timer (15) as the second electronic unit of the cooking device (1).
10. Control and regulating device (11) for a cooking device (1), having a timer (15), a first electronic unit, in particular a regulating unit (16), a second electronic unit, in particular a timer (15), and a relay (17), with which the operation of at least one heating unit (12, 14) of the cooking device (1) can be carried out, wherein the control and regulating device (11) is embodied such that the first electronic unit (16) is activated during a running cooking program in a first time interval and the operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is carried out by the first electronic unit (16), and in a second time interval the first electronic unit (16) is deactivated and a clocked operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is controlled by the second electronic unit of the cooking device (1), wherein the heating unit (12, 14) is clocked by means of a signal from the second electronic unit (15) in the second time interval for a period of at least one third of the total duration of the cooking program, the second time interval is terminated before the end of the cooking program is reached, and subsequently for a further time interval the operation of the heating unit (12, 14) is again carried out by the first electronic unit (16) and in the further time interval the heating unit (12, 14) is operated via a relay (17) in a clocked manner with the first electronic unit (16), wherein an upper temperature threshold value (T3) for switching off the heating unit (12, 14) is set lower in the second time interval than in operation with the activated first electronic unit (16) and a lower temperature threshold value (T4) for switching on the heating unit (12, 14) is set lower in the second time interval than in operation with the activated first electronic unit (16), wherein the upper and lower temperature threshold values (T1, T5, T2) to be taken into account for the switching on and off of the heating unit (12, 14) taking place during the clocking are higher than the temperature threshold values (T3, T4) in the second time interval.
11. Cooking device, in particular oven (1), which is embodied to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 9 and has a control and regulating device (11) according to claim 10.

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