EP3647664B1 - Steam cooking appliance and method for automatically operating said steam cooking appliance - Google Patents

Steam cooking appliance and method for automatically operating said steam cooking appliance Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3647664B1
EP3647664B1 EP19202249.9A EP19202249A EP3647664B1 EP 3647664 B1 EP3647664 B1 EP 3647664B1 EP 19202249 A EP19202249 A EP 19202249A EP 3647664 B1 EP3647664 B1 EP 3647664B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
distance
user
cooking chamber
distance sensor
steam
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EP19202249.9A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3647664A1 (en
Inventor
Thomas Metz
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Miele und Cie KG
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Miele und Cie KG
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00—Details
    • F24C15/006—Arrangements for circulation of cooling air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C7/00—Stoves or ranges heated by electric energy
    • F24C7/08—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F24C7/082—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
    • F24C7/085—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination on baking ovens

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for the automatic operation of a steamer according to patent claim 1 and a steamer for carrying out the method according to patent claim 10.
  • steam cookers are known with which food can be cooked (steamed) under steam.
  • a steam cooker or a steam cooking appliance is a cooking appliance that is heated by means of steam.
  • Steam cooking devices are known as individual devices and as combination devices, e.g. as an oven or microwave with an integrated steam cooking function.
  • hot water vapor of up to 100° C. is therefore present in the cooking chamber of the steam cooker in order to steam the food located there.
  • the steam is usually as hot as possible in order to carry out the preparation as quickly as possible.
  • the hot water vapor can then be conveyed out of the cooking chamber, for example through the open cooking chamber door, by a fan, for example the cooling air fan.
  • the publication shows such an approach DE 10 2004 007 122 A1 .
  • the steam from the cooking chamber which can be up to 100°C, can hit the user and cause scalding injuries, particularly in the area of the upper body, head and face.
  • the water vapor can also escape upwards from the cooking chamber and condense on a control element panel, which is usually arranged directly above the cooking chamber or above its door. Water condensing on the control panel can damage it. This can also apply to the surroundings of the steamer such as electrical devices, furniture such as kitchen furniture in particular for accommodating the steamer, curtains, cookbooks and the like in the kitchen and beyond.
  • the cooling air fan is continuously operated at a speed which is suitable, in the event of a sudden opening of the cooking chamber door, to sufficiently mix the vapors of steam escaping from the cooking chamber with cold air and to keep them away from the control element panel and the area around the steam cooking appliance.
  • Another disadvantage is that the permanent operation of the fan of the cooking space can lead to a corresponding need for electrical energy during the entire steam cooking process.
  • blower can wear out quickly and fail as a result of long-term operation. This can prevent the operation of the steam cooking appliance until it is repaired, which usually has to be carried out by customer service. In order to avoid this, it may be necessary to design the fan to be correspondingly durable, which, however, can lead to increased costs for the fan, which can increase the costs of the steam cooking appliance as a whole.
  • a control element such as a button is provided on the steam cooker, via which the speed of the fan, in particular the cooling air fan, can be increased by the user, the user can increase the speed of the fan sufficiently before opening the door of the cooking chamber. In this case, however, the user would still have to wait for the fan to build up the necessary air flow before actually opening the cooking chamber door without suffering the disadvantages described above.
  • This period of time can be perceived as annoying by the user. Also, a user may feel uncomfortable having to perform such an operation. Furthermore, the disadvantages described above can occur if the user fails to increase the speed of the fan before opening the cooking chamber door, or if the user does not set a sufficient speed or does not wait for the user to reach a sufficient speed .
  • the invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a steamer of the type described above, so that the fan can be operated during the cooking process at a lower speed than usual without the above-mentioned disadvantages when opening the door of the cooking chamber and the associated escape of hot water vapor from the cooking compartment.
  • At least one alternative to known steam cooking appliances of this type should be created.
  • the object of the invention is to reduce the energy requirement of the device and/or to improve the comfort of the user.
  • any sensors that are suitable for the corresponding application can be used as the distance sensor.
  • these can be infrared sensors, for example in the form of reflection light barriers or reflection light sensors, ultrasonic sensors or radar sensors.
  • the present invention is based on the finding that a distance sensor can be used to distinguish between the presence and absence of a user within a detection range of the distance sensor and thus preferably in front of the steam cooking appliance.
  • the steam cooker 1 has a steam generator which is arranged outside the cooking chamber and can transport hot steam into the cooking chamber.
  • the cooling air fan is operated at a first speed, in particular at a first temperature of the cooking chamber, which is suitable for carrying out the cooking operation but at the same time is suitable for avoiding annoying noises and useless operation with the corresponding energy consumption of the fan.
  • the cooling air fan will be increased to the second speed, which is greater than the first speed.
  • This second speed is suitable for influencing the hot steam emerging from the cooking chamber in such a way that when a user opens the door of the cooking chamber, the hot steam hitting him is sufficiently mixed with cool air and/or in a direction of flow away from the user and/or is deflected away from the control panel.
  • the fan is operated at a second speed when the presence of the user is detected within the first distance from the distance sensor.
  • the blower is operated at the second speed as soon as the user is detected within the first distance, with the detection of the user starting a time counter with a predetermined or specifiable time interval and the blower as long as at the second speed is operated until the time interval has expired. Re-entering the first gap by the user could reset the time-out counter and/or restart the time interval.
  • the first speed is zero. Such a speed corresponds to a standstill of the fan.
  • the first speed is a minimum operating speed.
  • a minimum operating speed is understood to be one which is suitable for enabling the steam cooking appliance to be operated.
  • the minimum operating speed is suitable for sufficiently cooling the cooking appliance, in particular the electronic components, during operation. This speed is lower than a speed which would be suitable for transporting the hot steam away from the door of the cooking chamber in such a way that, if it is opened, no hot steam can hit the user or reach the control panel.
  • the second speed is designed to convey the hot steam out of the cooking chamber in such a way that when a cooking chamber door is opened, only a permissible amount of hot steam can escape from the cooking chamber, if at all.
  • At least the second speed corresponds to the hitherto usual speed, which is used to deflect and/or cool the hot steam escaping from the cooking chamber as a permanent operating speed of the fan if the door of the cooking chamber is opened by the user.
  • the first distance is approx. 2 m, preferably approx. 1 m.
  • the first distance should be selected in such a way that the change from the first speed to the second speed of the fan of the cooking chamber described at the outset only occurs when if the presence of a user is also detected so close to the steamer that it can be assumed that the user would like to open the door of the cooking chamber. This can be the case, for example, at a first distance of approximately 2 m.
  • Approximately 1 m is preferably selected as the first distance, since it can then be assumed with a high degree of probability that in a kitchen of normal size the user has approached the steam cooking appliance in order to open the door of the cooking chamber.
  • the information Approx. 1 m or approx. 2 m should include a deviation from the exact dimension of up to 25 percent in each direction.
  • the first distance can also be selected or specified for any value between the two dimensions, including the tolerance mentioned.
  • a first distance is a distance between 0.75 m and 2.5 m to the device. This distance is factory set or can be selected by user preference.
  • This aspect of the present invention is based on the finding that it may happen that the presence of the user is detected within the first distance from the steamer and in response to this, as described above, the speed of the fan is increased to the second higher speed, although the user actually does not even open the door of the cooking chamber. If the user has not opened the door of the cooking chamber within this predetermined period of time, it can be assumed that the user's approach to the steam cooking appliance was mistakenly understood as the user's intention to open the door of the cooking chamber. In this case, the second speed can be maintained for the predetermined period of time in order to avoid annoying rapid changes in noise for the user. It is then possible to switch back to the first lower speed in order to be able to use the advantages of operating the steam cooking process again at the first speed, as described above.
  • the temperature of the cooking chamber can now be reduced as an additional measure when the presence of the user is detected within the second distance from the distance sensor will. If, according to the invention, it is assumed that the approach of a user at the first distance to the distance sensor of the steam cooking appliance indicates his intention to open the door of the cooking chamber, this intention can be confirmed if the distance falls below the second small distance and, as an additional measure, the Adjust the temperature of the cooking compartment to the anticipated opening of the cooking compartment door.
  • a further aspect is to use the recognition of the approach of the user, in particular the presence of the user within the second distance to the distance sensor, in order to open the door of the cooking chamber at least partially or completely as an additional measure. This represents a significant gain in convenience.
  • the additional measure such as opening the door of the cooking chamber, can also take place as a function of an operating state of the device and/or as a function of a process state of a cooking process.
  • the temperature of the cooking chamber can also be reduced at the same time, which can offer various advantages for the user.
  • the temperature of the hot water vapor that can escape from the cooking chamber can be reduced so that it is less uncomfortable for the user.
  • the user can also easily start a warming function by opening the cooking chamber door until enough steam comes out of the cooking chamber escaped and a suitable temperature for the keep-warm function has set in the cooking compartment. If the cooking chamber door is then closed again, a warming function can be carried out at this lower temperature instead of a cooking function, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the user can be made aware that the second temperature has been reached by a signal tone and/or a display.
  • the temperature of the cooking chamber can be adjusted by different measures.
  • a preferred measure is that the steam generator is switched off as long as the user is detected within the second distance from the distance sensor.
  • the second temperature is about 70°C. It can be advantageous to use this value as the second temperature because in this way the cooking of the food in the cooking chamber of the steamer can be ended and a warming function can be switched to. In this way, the user can easily end the steam cooking process itself, switch to the keep-warm function and, for example, prepare for removing and serving the cooked food while the food is in the keep-warm state.
  • the second distance is about 1 m, preferably about 0.5 m. Choosing the second distance as small as 1 m, preferably about 0.5 m, can ensure that the resulting triggered functions are only performed by the steamer when the user is really directly in front of the steamer or in front of the distance sensor. This can help to avoid accidental incorrect operation and erroneous triggering of these functions.
  • the specification of approx. 1 m or approx. 0.5 m should include a deviation from the exact measurement of up to 10 percent above and 30 percent below.
  • the second distance can also be selected or specified for any value between the two dimensions, including the tolerance mentioned.
  • a second distance is a distance ranging between 0.35 m and 1.1 m to the device. This distance is factory set or can be selected by user preference.
  • the distance sensor has a detection area in which the presence of a user within the first distance, preferably and the second distance, can be detected, the distance sensor being designed and arranged with its detection area the To detect the presence of a user at least immediately in front of a front of the steamer.
  • This aspect of the present invention is based on the finding that kitchen appliances such as steamers are usually accessible to the user from only one side, which is usually the front of the appliance.
  • a user will usually be directly in front of a steam cooking appliance to operate it, so that the first and second distances described above can be reliably detected when the distance sensor has a detection range which is oriented away from the front of the steam cooking appliance towards the user.
  • the detection range which is oriented away from the front of the steam cooking appliance towards the user.
  • a reliable distinction can be made between the two distances.
  • an approach of the user to the first and/or the second distance and a subsequent operator input by the user and subsequent departure from the first and/or second distance can be detected.
  • Such action occurs, for example, when the user controls or changes an operating setting. Since it is not to be expected here that the user will open the cooking chamber door shortly after this sequence of actions, the time interval triggered when entering the first distance and/or the time interval triggered when entering the second distance can be ended immediately and/or the elapsed time counter can be ended will.
  • the present invention also relates to a steam cooking appliance for use in a method as described above, with a cooking chamber which is designed to accommodate food to be cooked, with a fan, in particular a cooling air fan, which is designed to cool or deflect hot steam escaping when the cooking chamber door is opened, and with at least one distance sensor, which is designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a first distance from the distance sensor.
  • the distance sensor is also designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a second distance from the distance sensor, the second distance from the distance sensor being less than the first distance from the distance sensor.
  • the distance sensor has a detection area in which the presence of a user within the first distance, preferably and the second distance, can be detected, the distance sensor being designed and arranged with its detection area detecting the presence of a user at least to detect immediately before a front of the steamer.
  • a longitudinal direction X which can also be referred to as depth X, extends.
  • a transverse direction (not shown), which can also be referred to as width, extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.
  • a vertical direction Z which can also be referred to as the height Z, extends perpendicularly both to the longitudinal direction X and to the transverse direction.
  • FIG 1 shows a longitudinal section of a steamer 1 according to the invention.
  • the steamer 1 is preferably a steamer 1, but can also be an oven 1 with a steamer function or a microwave oven 1 with a steamer function.
  • the steam cooker 1 is built into a piece of kitchen furniture as a built-in appliance, so that the steam cooker 1 is surrounded by cupboard elements 2 at the top and bottom at the height Z.
  • the steam cooker 1 has a front side 10, which can also be referred to as the front side 10 or as the front panel 10 of the appliance. Inside the steam cooker 1 there is a cooking space 11 in which the food to be cooked can be accommodated. Furthermore, the steam cooker 1 has a steam generator, not shown in any more detail, which is arranged outside the cooking chamber 11 and can transport hot steam into the cooking chamber 11 . A fan 12 is arranged above the cooking chamber 11, which can cool the outside of the cooking chamber 11, in particular the electronics of the steam cooker 1, in order to carry out the operation of the steam cooker 1, in particular the steam cooking of the food located there.
  • the cooking chamber 11 is accessible to a user from the front 10 of the steam cooker 1 via a cooking chamber door 13 . For this purpose, the cooking chamber door 13 can be grasped by the user at a handle 14 and pivoted downwards.
  • the steam cooker 11 has a control panel 15 , which can also be referred to as a switch panel 15 .
  • the control panel 15 has various control elements (not shown) which can be used by the user to influence the operation of the steam cooker 1 .
  • a distance sensor 16 is arranged in the area of the control element panel 15 , which has a detection area A, which points conically away from the front side 10 of the steam cooker 1 and towards a user who can be in front of the steam cooker 1 . Within its detection range A, the distance sensor 16 can distinguish between a first distance B and a second distance C, with the first distance B being approximately 1 m and being greater than the second distance C being approximately 0.5 m.
  • FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a method according to the invention. It is assumed that the steam cooker 1 is operated by a user with a normal steam cooking process.
  • the steamer 1 is operated in a first step 100 with a first speed of the fan 12 such that the first speed of the fan 12 is a minimum operating speed.
  • the fan speed is thus reduced as far as possible during the steam cooking process without components in the steam cooking appliance 1 or surrounding components of the kitchen furniture by which the steam cooking appliance 1 is accommodated becoming too hot.
  • the speed of the blower 12 is selected so low that disturbing noises for the user and unnecessary energy consumption can be avoided.
  • the detection range A of the distance sensor 16 is monitored to determine whether a user is approaching the steam cooker 1 in such a way that the first distance B from the distance sensor 16 is reached or undershot.
  • a second step 200 the presence of a user is detected within the first distance B from the distance sensor 16 of the steamer 1
  • the operation of the fan 12 is continued in a third step 300 at a second speed, which is greater than the first speed.
  • the second speed is designed in such a way that, as previously known, hot steam escaping from the cooking chamber 12 through an open cooking chamber door 13 is cooled by mixing with cold air and/or its direction of flow is influenced so that the user is neither disturbed nor endangered. It is also suppressed in this way that the escaping hot water vapor condenses on the control panel 15 or adjacent kitchen furniture parts, which can have an adverse effect on them.
  • the fan 12 is thus operated in the way that has hitherto been customary throughout the steam cooking process.
  • this operation of the fan 12 at the second, higher speed is limited to the period when a user is within the first distance B from the distance sensor 16, this operating state can be reduced and only immediately before the door 13 of the cooking chamber is opened 11 available.
  • the energy consumption caused thereby and the resulting noise can be avoided compared to continuous operation of the fan 12 at the second, higher speed.
  • the steam cooker 1 switches back to operating 100 the fan 12 at the first speed in order to be able to use the advantages achieved in this way again. This can be done with a time delay of 2 minutes, for example, in order to avoid a change in noise that would disturb the user.
  • the cooking chamber 11 can be operated at a second temperature, in particular as a target temperature. This can be selected to be lower than the temperature during the actual steam cooking process and preferably in a range of approx. Already switching off the steam generator while the user is present at the second distance C is understood here as operating the cooking chamber 11 at a second temperature.
  • the user wants to open the cooking chamber door 13
  • the user only has to approach the distance sensor 16 of the steam cooker 1 and thereby fall below the first distance B from the distance sensor 16. This is recognized by the steam cooker 1 and the speed of the fan 12 is increased to the second speed. The user can then open the cooking compartment door 13 .
  • the settings of the steam cooker 1 with regard to the operation of the fan 12 at the first speed and at the second speed can be made in such a way that, in combination with the first distance B from the distance sensor 16, the second speed of the fan 12 is already sufficiently reached and carried out, in order to convey the corresponding amount of hot water vapor out of the cooking chamber 11 when the user has actually reached the cooking chamber door 13 and opens it.
  • the cooking chamber door 13 can be opened safely for the user.
  • the user can also be able to open the cooking chamber door 13 without delay and without risk.
  • the user switches off the steam generator by falling below the second distance C to the distance sensor 16 or even lowers the temperature of the cooking chamber 11 to the warming temperature of approx be prepared for the steam cooker 1.
  • the user can activate the warming function of the steamer 1 and, for example, prepare to remove and serve the cooked food while the steamer 1 is in the warming function. This can enable the user to operate the steam cooker 1 intuitively with little effort at the same time.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum automatischen Betrieb eines Dampfgargeräts gemäß des Patentanspruchs 1 sowie ein Dampfgargerät zur Durchführung des Verfahrens gemäß des Patentanspruchs 10.The invention relates to a method for the automatic operation of a steamer according to patent claim 1 and a steamer for carrying out the method according to patent claim 10.

Auf dem Gebiet der Gargeräte sind z.B. Dampfgarer bekannt, mit denen Speisen unter Dampf gegart (gedämpft) werden können. Ein Dampfgarer oder auch ein Dampfgargerät ist ein Gargerät mit einer Beheizung mittels Dampf. Dampfgargeräte sind als einzelne Geräte sowie als Kombigeräte z.B. als Backofen oder als Mikrowelle mit integrierter Dampfgarfunktion bekannt.In the field of cooking appliances, for example, steam cookers are known with which food can be cooked (steamed) under steam. A steam cooker or a steam cooking appliance is a cooking appliance that is heated by means of steam. Steam cooking devices are known as individual devices and as combination devices, e.g. as an oven or microwave with an integrated steam cooking function.

Während des Dampfgarprozesses ist somit heißer Wasserdampf von bis zu 100°C im Garraum des Dampfgargeräts vorhanden, um die dort befindlichen Lebensmittel zu dämpfen. Der Wasserdampf ist üblicherweise möglichst heiß, um die Zubereitung möglichst schnell durchzuführen. Der heiße Wasserdampf kann dann von einem Gebläse, beispielsweise dem Kühlluftgebläse, aus dem Garraum zum Beispiel durch die geöffnete Garraumtür herausgefördert werden. Einen derartigen Ansatz zeigt die Druckschrift DE 10 2004 007 122 A1 .During the steam cooking process, hot water vapor of up to 100° C. is therefore present in the cooking chamber of the steam cooker in order to steam the food located there. The steam is usually as hot as possible in order to carry out the preparation as quickly as possible. The hot water vapor can then be conveyed out of the cooking chamber, for example through the open cooking chamber door, by a fan, for example the cooling air fan. The publication shows such an approach DE 10 2004 007 122 A1 .

Wird während des Dampfgarprozesses die Tür des Garraums von einem Benutzer geöffnet, so kann dem Benutzer der bis zu 100°C heiße Wasserdampf aus dem Garraum entgegenschlagen und den Benutzer durch Verbrühen verletzen, insbesondere im Bereich des Oberkörpers, des Kopfes und des Gesichts. Auch kann der Wasserdampf aus dem Garraum nach oben entweichen und an einer Bedienelementblende kondensieren, welche üblicherweise direkt oberhalb des Garraums bzw. oberhalb dessen Tür angeordnet ist. Das an der Bedienelementblende kondensierende Wasser kann diese beschädigen. Dies kann auch für die Umgebung des Dampfgargeräts wie z.B. für elektrische Geräte, Möbel wie insbesondere Küchenmöbel zur Aufnahme des Dampfgargeräts, Vorhänge, Kochbücher und dergleichen in der Küche sowie darüber hinaus gelten.If the door of the cooking chamber is opened by a user during the steam cooking process, the steam from the cooking chamber, which can be up to 100°C, can hit the user and cause scalding injuries, particularly in the area of the upper body, head and face. The water vapor can also escape upwards from the cooking chamber and condense on a control element panel, which is usually arranged directly above the cooking chamber or above its door. Water condensing on the control panel can damage it. This can also apply to the surroundings of the steamer such as electrical devices, furniture such as kitchen furniture in particular for accommodating the steamer, curtains, cookbooks and the like in the kitchen and beyond.

Aus der Druckschrift DE 101 22 402 A1 ist es bekannt, bei einer Annäherung einer nicht autorisierten Person an das Gargerät dieses oder ein Aggregat des Gargerätes abzuschalten umso die Sicherheit der Person bei etwaiger Fehlbedienung zu reduzieren.From the pamphlet DE 101 22 402 A1 it is known that when an unauthorized person approaches the cooking appliance, this or a unit of the cooking appliance can be switched off in order to reduce the safety of the person in the event of any incorrect operation.

Um zu verhindern, dass der beim Öffnen der Tür des Garraums aus dem Garraum austretende heiße Wasserdampf in einer ungewünschten Konzentration den Benutzer oder die Bedienelementblende erreicht, ist es bisher üblich, dass während des Dampfgarprozesses das Kühlluftgebläse durchgehend mit einer Drehzahl betrieben wird, welche geeignet ist, bei einem plötzlichen Aufreißen der Tür des Garraums die aus dem Garraum austretenden Dampfschwaden ausreichend mit kalter Luft zu vermengen und von der Bedienelementblende sowie von der Umgebung des Dampfgargeräts fernzuhalten.In order to prevent the hot steam escaping from the cooking chamber when the door of the cooking chamber is opened in an undesired concentration reaching the user or the control element panel, it has hitherto been customary for steam cooking process, the cooling air fan is continuously operated at a speed which is suitable, in the event of a sudden opening of the cooking chamber door, to sufficiently mix the vapors of steam escaping from the cooking chamber with cold air and to keep them away from the control element panel and the area around the steam cooking appliance.

Zwar können hierdurch die zuvor beschriebenen Nachteile, welche bei einem Austreten von heißem Wasserdampf aus dem Garraum des Dampfgargeräts auftreten können, vermieden oder zumindest reduziert werden.The disadvantages described above, which can occur if hot steam escapes from the cooking chamber of the steam cooking appliance, can be avoided or at least reduced as a result.

Nachteilig ist bei dem dauerhaften Betrieb des Gebläses des Garraums während des gesamten Dampfgarprozesses jedoch, dass dies zu Geräuschen führen kann, welche gerade bei höheren Drehzahlen des Gebläses vom Benutzer als störend empfunden werden können.The disadvantage of the permanent operation of the fan of the cooking chamber during the entire steam cooking process, however, is that this can lead to noises which can be perceived as annoying by the user, especially at higher speeds of the fan.

Nachteilig ist ferner, dass der dauerhafte Betrieb des Gebläses des Garraums während des gesamten Dampfgarprozesses zu einem entsprechenden Bedarf an elektrischer Energie führen kann.Another disadvantage is that the permanent operation of the fan of the cooking space can lead to a corresponding need for electrical energy during the entire steam cooking process.

Nachteilig ist auch, dass das Gebläse durch den dauerhaften Betrieb entsprechend schnell verschleißen und ausfallen kann. Dies kann den Betrieb des Dampfgargeräts bis zu einer Reparatur, welche üblicherweise durch einen Kundendienst durchzuführen ist, verhindern. Um dies zu vermeiden, kann es erforderlich sein, das Gebläse entsprechend langlebig auszubilden, was jedoch zu erhöhten Kosten des Gebläses führen kann, welche die Kosten des Dampfgargeräts als Ganzes erhöhen können.It is also disadvantageous that the blower can wear out quickly and fail as a result of long-term operation. This can prevent the operation of the steam cooking appliance until it is repaired, which usually has to be carried out by customer service. In order to avoid this, it may be necessary to design the fan to be correspondingly durable, which, however, can lead to increased costs for the fan, which can increase the costs of the steam cooking appliance as a whole.

Um diese Nachteile zu vermeiden wäre es denkbar, die Gebläsedrehzahl erst dann zu erhöhen, wenn das Öffnen der Tür des Garraums durch den Benutzer mittels eines Türkontaktschalters sensorisch erfasst wird. Dies wird jedoch üblicherweise zu spät sein, so dass dann bereits heißer Wasserdampf aus dem Garraum entwichen ist. Ferner benötigt das Gebläse des Garraums eine Übergangszeit, um einen Luftstrom aufzubauen, welcher den heißen Wasserdampf wirkungsvoll verwirbeln und ausreichend mit kühlerer Luft vermengen kann, so dass während der Übergangszeit weiter heißer Wasserdampf in unvorteilhafter Konzentration und Strömung aus dem Garraum entweichen kann.In order to avoid these disadvantages, it would be conceivable to only increase the fan speed when the opening of the door of the cooking chamber by the user is detected by a sensor using a door contact switch. However, this will usually be too late, so that by then hot steam will already have escaped from the cooking chamber. Furthermore, the fan of the cooking chamber requires a transitional period in order to build up an air flow which can effectively swirl the hot water vapor and sufficiently mix it with cooler air, so that hot steam can continue to escape from the cooking chamber in an unfavorable concentration and flow during the transitional period.

Falls am Dampfgarer ein Bedienelement wie z.B. eine Taste vorgesehen ist, über welche die Drehzahl des Gebläses, insbesondere des Kühlluftgebläses, vom Benutzer erhöht werden kann, kann der Benutzer selbst die Drehzahl des Gebläses ausreichend erhöhen, bevor er die Tür des Garraums öffnet. In diesem Fall müsste der Benutzer jedoch noch abwarten, bis das Gebläse den erforderlichen Luftstrom aufgebaut hat, bevor er die Tür des Garraums tatsächlich öffnen kann, ohne die zuvor beschriebenen Nachteile zu erleiden.If a control element such as a button is provided on the steam cooker, via which the speed of the fan, in particular the cooling air fan, can be increased by the user, the user can increase the speed of the fan sufficiently before opening the door of the cooking chamber. In this case, however, the user would still have to wait for the fan to build up the necessary air flow before actually opening the cooking chamber door without suffering the disadvantages described above.

Dieser Zeitraum kann vom Benutzer als störend empfunden werden. Auch kann ein Benutzer es als unangenehm empfinden, eine derartige Bedienung vornehmen zu müssen. Ferner kann es zu den zuvor beschriebenen Nachteilen kommen, falls der Benutzer es unterlässt, die Drehzahl des Gebläses vor dem Öffnen der Tür des Garraums zu erhöhen, oder falls keine ausreichende Drehzahl vom Benutzer eingestellt bzw. das Erreichen einer ausreichenden Drehzahl vom Benutzer nicht abgewartet wird.This period of time can be perceived as annoying by the user. Also, a user may feel uncomfortable having to perform such an operation. Furthermore, the disadvantages described above can occur if the user fails to increase the speed of the fan before opening the cooking chamber door, or if the user does not set a sufficient speed or does not wait for the user to reach a sufficient speed .

Der Erfindung stellt sich somit das Problem, ein Dampfgargerät der eingangs beschriebenen Art und Weise bereitzustellen, so dass das Gebläse während des Garprozesses mit einer geringeren Drehzahl betrieben werden kann als bisher üblich, ohne dass die vorstehend genannten Nachteile beim Öffnen der Tür des Garraums und dem damit verbundenen Entweichen heißen Wasserdampfes aus dem Garraum entstehen. Wenigstens soll eine Alternative zu bekannten derartigen Dampfgargeräten geschaffen werden.The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a steamer of the type described above, so that the fan can be operated during the cooking process at a lower speed than usual without the above-mentioned disadvantages when opening the door of the cooking chamber and the associated escape of hot water vapor from the cooking compartment. At least one alternative to known steam cooking appliances of this type should be created.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, den Energiebedarf des Gerätes zu senken und/oder den Komfort des Nutzers zu verbessern.The object of the invention is to reduce the energy requirement of the device and/or to improve the comfort of the user.

Erfindungsgemäß wird dieses Problem durch ein Verfahren mit den Merkmalen des Patentanspruchs 1 sowie durch ein Dampfgargerät mit den Merkmalen des Patentanspruchs 10 gelöst. Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen und Weiterbildungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den nachfolgenden Beschreibungen und den abhängigen Ansprüchen.According to the invention, this problem is solved by a method having the features of patent claim 1 and by a steamer having the features of patent claim 10 . Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the following descriptions and the dependent claims.

Somit betrifft die vorliegende Erfindung ein Verfahren zum automatischen Betrieb eines Dampfgargeräts, wobei das Dampfgargerät wenigstens aufweist:

  • einen Garraum, welcher ausgebildet ist, zu garende Lebensmittel aufzunehmen,
  • ein Gebläse, welches ein Kühlluftgebläse ist, welches ausgebildet ist, heißen Wasserdampf beim Austritt aus dem Garraum mit kälterer Luft zu vermengen und die Strömung, insbesondere die Strömungsrichtung, des austretenden Wasserdampfs zu beeinflussen, und
  • wenigstens einen Abstandssensor, welcher ausgebildet ist, die Anwesenheit oder Abwesenheit eines Benutzers wenigstens innerhalb eines ersten Abstands zum Abstandssensor zu erfassen.
The present invention thus relates to a method for the automatic operation of a steam cooking appliance, the steam cooking appliance having at least:
  • a cooking chamber which is designed to accommodate food to be cooked,
  • a fan which is a cooling air fan which is designed to mix hot water vapor with colder air when it exits the cooking chamber and to influence the flow, in particular the direction of flow, of the escaping water vapor, and
  • at least one distance sensor, which is designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a first distance from the distance sensor.

Als Abstandssensor können jegliche Sensoren verwendet werden, welche für die entsprechende Anwendung geeignet sind. Beispielsweise können dies Infrarot-Sensoren, z.B. als Reflexions-Lichtschranke oder als Reflexions-Lichttaster, Ultraschall-Sensoren oder Radar-Sensoren sein.Any sensors that are suitable for the corresponding application can be used as the distance sensor. For example, these can be infrared sensors, for example in the form of reflection light barriers or reflection light sensors, ultrasonic sensors or radar sensors.

Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren weist wenigstens die Schritte auf:

  • Betreiben des Gebläses mit einer ersten Drehzahl, insbesondere bei einer ersten Temperatur des Garraums,
  • Erfassen der Anwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb des ersten Abstands zum Abstandssensor, und
  • Betreiben des Gebläses mit einer zweiten Drehzahl, welche größer als die erste Drehzahl ist.
The method according to the invention has at least the following steps:
  • Operating the fan at a first speed, in particular at a first temperature of the cooking chamber,
  • detecting the presence of a user within the first distance from the distance sensor, and
  • operating the fan at a second speed that is greater than the first speed.

Der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt dabei die Erkenntnis zugrunde, dass mittels eines Abstandssensors zwischen der Anwesenheit und Abwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb eines Erfassungsbereichs des Abstandssensors und damit vorzugsweise vor dem Dampfgargerät unterschieden werden kann.The present invention is based on the finding that a distance sensor can be used to distinguish between the presence and absence of a user within a detection range of the distance sensor and thus preferably in front of the steam cooking appliance.

Der Dampfgarer 1 weist einen Dampferzeuger auf, welcher außerhalb des Garraums angeordnet ist und heißen Wasserdampf in den Garraum hinein befördern kann.The steam cooker 1 has a steam generator which is arranged outside the cooking chamber and can transport hot steam into the cooking chamber.

Wird keine Anwesenheit eines Benutzers festgestellt, so kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass in absehbarer Zeit die Tür des Garraums des Dampfgargerätes auch nicht von dem Benutzer geöffnet werden wird. In diesem Fall wird das Kühlluftgebläse, mit einer ersten Drehzahl, insbesondere bei einer ersten Temperatur des Garraums betrieben werden, welche geeignet ist, den Garbetrieb durchzuführen, jedoch gleichzeitig geeignet ist, störende Geräusche und einen unnützen Betrieb mit entsprechendem Energieverbrauch des Gebläses zu vermeiden. Hierdurch können die zuvor beschriebenen Nachteile vermieden werden.If no user is detected, it can be assumed that the door of the cooking chamber of the steamer will not be opened by the user in the foreseeable future. In this case, the cooling air fan is operated at a first speed, in particular at a first temperature of the cooking chamber, which is suitable for carrying out the cooking operation but at the same time is suitable for avoiding annoying noises and useless operation with the corresponding energy consumption of the fan. As a result, the disadvantages described above can be avoided.

Nähert sich jedoch ein Benutzer dem Dampfgargerät an, indem er den ersten Abstand zum Abstandssensor unterschreitet bzw. erreicht, so wird das Kühlluftgebläse, auf die zweite Drehzahl gesteigert werden, welche größer als die erste Drehzahl ist. Diese zweite Drehzahl ist geeignet, den aus dem Garraum heraustretenden heißen Wasserdampf derart zu beeinflussen, dass beim Öffnen der Tür des Garraums durch einen Benutzer der ihm entgegenschlagende heiße Wasserdampf ausreichend mit kühler Luft vermengt ist und/oder in eine Strömungsrichtung vom Benutzer weg und/oder von der Bedienelementblende weg umgelenkt wird. Somit kann in diesem Betriebszustand die bisher übliche Art und Weise erreicht werden, ein derartiges Dampfgargerät zu betreiben.However, if a user approaches the steam cooking appliance by falling below or reaching the first distance from the distance sensor, the cooling air fan will be increased to the second speed, which is greater than the first speed. This second speed is suitable for influencing the hot steam emerging from the cooking chamber in such a way that when a user opens the door of the cooking chamber, the hot steam hitting him is sufficiently mixed with cool air and/or in a direction of flow away from the user and/or is deflected away from the control panel. Thus, in this operating state, the hitherto customary way of operating such a steam cooking appliance can be achieved.

Erfindungsgemäß erfolgt das Betreiben des Gebläses mit einer zweiten Drehzahl, wenn die Anwesenheit des Benutzers innerhalb des ersten Abstands zum Abstandssensor erfasst ist. Dies bedeutet gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform, dass das Gebläse mit der zweiten Drehzahl betrieben wird, solange der Benutzer innerhalb des ersten Abstands erfasst ist. Gemäß einer zweiten, alternativen oder ergänzenden Ausführungsform wird das Gebläse mit der zweiten Drehzahl betrieben, sobald der Benutzer innerhalb des ersten Abstands erfasst ist, wobei mit der Erfassung des Benutzers ein Zeitablaufzähler mit einem vorgegebenen oder vorgebbaren Zeitintervall gestartet wird und das Gebläse solange mit der zweiten Drehzahl betrieben wird, bis das Zeitintervall abgelaufen ist. Ein erneutes Eindringen des Benutzers in den ersten Abstand könnte den Zeitablaufzähler zurücksetzen und/oder das Zeitintervall neu starten.According to the invention, the fan is operated at a second speed when the presence of the user is detected within the first distance from the distance sensor. According to a first embodiment, this means that the fan is operated at the second speed as long as the user is detected within the first distance. According to a second, alternative or supplementary embodiment, the blower is operated at the second speed as soon as the user is detected within the first distance, with the detection of the user starting a time counter with a predetermined or specifiable time interval and the blower as long as at the second speed is operated until the time interval has expired. Re-entering the first gap by the user could reset the time-out counter and/or restart the time interval.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung ist die erste Drehzahl Null. Eine derartige Drehzahl entspricht einem Stillstand des Gebläses.According to one aspect of the present invention, the first speed is zero. Such a speed corresponds to a standstill of the fan.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung ist die erste Drehzahl eine minimale Betriebsdrehzahl. Unter einer minimalen Betriebsdrehzahl wird eine solche verstanden, welche dazu geeignet ist, den Betrieb des Dampfgargeräts zu ermöglichen. Bei einem als Kühlluftgebläse ausgeführten Gebläse ist die minimale Betriebsdrehzahl geeignet, das Gargerät, insbesondere die elektronischen Komponenten während des Betriebs ausreichend zu kühlen. Diese Drehzahl ist geringer als eine solche Drehzahl, welche dazu geeignet wäre, den heißen Wasserdampf derart von der Tür des Garraums weg zu befördern, dass, falls diese geöffnet wird, kein heißer Wasserdampf dem Benutzer entgegenschlagen kann oder die Bedienelementblende erreicht.According to an aspect of the present invention, the first speed is a minimum operating speed. A minimum operating speed is understood to be one which is suitable for enabling the steam cooking appliance to be operated. In the case of a fan designed as a cooling air fan, the minimum operating speed is suitable for sufficiently cooling the cooking appliance, in particular the electronic components, during operation. This speed is lower than a speed which would be suitable for transporting the hot steam away from the door of the cooking chamber in such a way that, if it is opened, no hot steam can hit the user or reach the control panel.

Gemäß eines weiteren Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung ist die zweite Drehzahl dazu ausgelegt, den heißen Wasserdampf derart aus dem Garraum heraus zu fördern, dass bei einem Öffnen einer Garraumtür nur eine zulässige Menge von heißem Wasserdampf aus dem Garraum entweichen kann, falls überhaupt. Zumindest entspricht die zweite Drehzahl der bisher üblichen Drehzahl, welche dazu eingesetzt wird, als dauerhafte Betriebsdrehzahl des Gebläses aus dem Garraum austretenden heißen Dampf wie oben beschreiben abzulenken und/oder zu kühlen, falls die Tür des Garraums vom Benutzer geöffnet wird.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the second speed is designed to convey the hot steam out of the cooking chamber in such a way that when a cooking chamber door is opened, only a permissible amount of hot steam can escape from the cooking chamber, if at all. At least the second speed corresponds to the hitherto usual speed, which is used to deflect and/or cool the hot steam escaping from the cooking chamber as a permanent operating speed of the fan if the door of the cooking chamber is opened by the user.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung beträgt der erste Abstand ca. 2 m, vorzugsweise ca. 1 m. Der erste Abstand ist so zu wählen, dass die eingangs beschriebene Veränderung von der ersten Drehzahl auf die zweite Drehzahl des Gebläses des Garraums erst dann eintritt, wenn die Anwesenheit eines Benutzers auch derartig nahe am Dampfgargerät erkannt wird, dass davon auszugehen ist, dass der Benutzer die Tür des Garraums öffnen möchte. Dies kann beispielsweise bei einem ersten Abstand von ca. 2 m der Fall sein. Vorzugsweise wird als erster Abstand ca. 1 m gewählt, da dann mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit davon auszugehen ist, dass bei einer üblichen Küchengröße der Benutzer sich dem Dampfgargerät angenähert hat, um die Tür des Garraums zu öffnen. Die Angabe ca. 1 m bzw. ca. 2 m soll eine Abweichung vom exakten Maß um bis zu 25 Prozent je Richtung einschließen.According to one aspect of the present invention, the first distance is approx. 2 m, preferably approx. 1 m. The first distance should be selected in such a way that the change from the first speed to the second speed of the fan of the cooking chamber described at the outset only occurs when if the presence of a user is also detected so close to the steamer that it can be assumed that the user would like to open the door of the cooking chamber. This can be the case, for example, at a first distance of approximately 2 m. Approximately 1 m is preferably selected as the first distance, since it can then be assumed with a high degree of probability that in a kitchen of normal size the user has approached the steam cooking appliance in order to open the door of the cooking chamber. The information Approx. 1 m or approx. 2 m should include a deviation from the exact dimension of up to 25 percent in each direction.

Alternativ zu den beiden vorstehend genannten Werten kann der erste Abstand auch bei jedem Wert zwischen den beiden Maßen, einschließlich der genannten Toleranz, gewählt oder vorgegeben werden. Ein erster Abstand ist eine Entfernung aus dem Bereich zwischen 0,75 m und 2,5 m zu dem Gerät. Diese Entfernung ist werksseitig vorgegeben oder kann durch Benutzervorgabe gewählt werden.As an alternative to the two values mentioned above, the first distance can also be selected or specified for any value between the two dimensions, including the tolerance mentioned. A first distance is a distance between 0.75 m and 2.5 m to the device. This distance is factory set or can be selected by user preference.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung weist das Verfahren wenigstens den weiteren Schritt auf:

  • nach Ablauf eines vorbestimmten Zeitraums, erneutes Betreiben des Gebläses mit der ersten Drehzahl.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the method has at least the further step:
  • after a predetermined period of time, operating the fan again at the first speed.

Diesem Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt die Erkenntnis zugrunde, dass es vorkommen kann, dass die Anwesenheit des Benutzers innerhalb des ersten Abstands zum Dampfgargerät erkannt und in Reaktion hierauf, wie zuvor beschrieben, die Drehzahl des Gebläses auf die zweite höhere Drehzahl erhöht wird, obwohl der Benutzer tatsächlich gar nicht die Tür des Garraums öffnet. Hat der Benutzer innerhalb dieses vorbestimmten Zeitraums die Tür des Garraums doch nicht geöffnet, so kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass die Annäherung des Benutzers an das Dampfgargerät fälschlicherweise als Intention des Benutzers verstanden wurde, die Tür des Garraums zu öffnen. In diesem Fall kann die zweite Drehzahl für den vorbestimmten Zeitraum beibehalten werden, um störende schnelle Geräuschwechsel für den Benutzer zu vermeiden. Anschließend kann wieder in die erste geringere Drehzahl geschaltet werden, um die Vorteile des Betriebes des Dampfgarprozesses in der ersten Drehzahl wieder nutzen zu können, wie zuvor beschrieben.This aspect of the present invention is based on the finding that it may happen that the presence of the user is detected within the first distance from the steamer and in response to this, as described above, the speed of the fan is increased to the second higher speed, although the user actually does not even open the door of the cooking chamber. If the user has not opened the door of the cooking chamber within this predetermined period of time, it can be assumed that the user's approach to the steam cooking appliance was mistakenly understood as the user's intention to open the door of the cooking chamber. In this case, the second speed can be maintained for the predetermined period of time in order to avoid annoying rapid changes in noise for the user. It is then possible to switch back to the first lower speed in order to be able to use the advantages of operating the steam cooking process again at the first speed, as described above.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung ist der Abstandssensor ferner ausgebildet, die Anwesenheit oder Abwesenheit eines Benutzers wenigstens innerhalb eines zweiten Abstands zum Abstandssensor zu erfassen, wobei der zweite Abstand zum Abstandssensor geringer als der erste Abstand zum Abstandssensor ist, wobei das Verfahren wenigstens die weiteren Schritte aufweist:

  • Erfassen der Anwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb des zweiten Abstands zum Abstandssensor, und
  • Betreiben des Garraums bei einer zweiten Temperatur, welche geringer als die erste Temperatur des Garraums ist.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the distance sensor is also designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a second distance from the distance sensor, the second distance from the distance sensor being less than the first distance from the distance sensor, the method comprising at least the further steps having:
  • detecting the presence of a user within the second distance from the distance sensor, and
  • operating the cooking chamber at a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature of the cooking chamber.

Auf diese Art und Weise kann die Anwesenheit bzw. Abwesenheit des Benutzers gegenüber dem Dampfgargerät noch feiner unterschieden werden, um diese Erkenntnis für wenigstens eine weitere Funktion des Dampfgargeräts zu verwenden.In this way, the presence or absence of the user in relation to the steamer can be differentiated even more finely, in order to use this knowledge for at least one further function of the steamer.

Ist bereits beim Erkennen der Anwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb des ersten Abstands zum Abstandssensor in den Betrieb des Gebläses bei der zweiten höheren Drehzahl geschaltet worden, so kann nun bei Erkennen der Anwesenheit des Benutzers innerhalb des zweiten Abstands zum Abstandssensor als zusätzliche Maßnahme die Temperatur des Garraums reduziert werden. Wird erfindungsgemäß davon ausgegangen, dass die Annäherung eines Benutzers in den ersten Abstand zum Abstandssensor des Dampfgargeräts auf seine Intention, die Tür des Garraums öffnen zu wollen, schließen lässt, so kann diese Intention bei Unterschreiten des zweiten geringen Abstands bekräftigt werden und als zusätzliche Maßnahme die Temperatur des Garraums an das zu erwartende Öffnen der Tür des Garraums angepasst werden.If the fan was switched to the second, higher speed when the presence of a user was detected within the first distance from the distance sensor, the temperature of the cooking chamber can now be reduced as an additional measure when the presence of the user is detected within the second distance from the distance sensor will. If, according to the invention, it is assumed that the approach of a user at the first distance to the distance sensor of the steam cooking appliance indicates his intention to open the door of the cooking chamber, this intention can be confirmed if the distance falls below the second small distance and, as an additional measure, the Adjust the temperature of the cooking compartment to the anticipated opening of the cooking compartment door.

Ein weiterer Aspekt ist es, dass Erkennen der Annäherung des Benutzers, insbesondere der Anwesenheit des Benutzers innerhalb des zweiten Abstands zum Abstandssensor zu nutzen um als zusätzliche Maßnahme die Tür des Garraumes zumindest teilweise oder vollständig zu öffnen. Dies stellt einen deutlichen Komfortgewinn dar.A further aspect is to use the recognition of the approach of the user, in particular the presence of the user within the second distance to the distance sensor, in order to open the door of the cooking chamber at least partially or completely as an additional measure. This represents a significant gain in convenience.

Dabei kann die zusätzliche Maßnahme, wie die Öffnung der Tür des Garraumes, zusätzlich in Abhängigkeit von einem Betriebszustand des Gerätes und/oder in Abhängigkeit eines Prozesszustandes eines Garprozesses erfolgen.In this case, the additional measure, such as opening the door of the cooking chamber, can also take place as a function of an operating state of the device and/or as a function of a process state of a cooking process.

Beispielsweise ist kurz vor dem Garzeitende oder nach dem Garzeitende zu erwarten, dass der Benutzer das Gargut aus dem Garraum entnehmen will, hingegen ist während des Garprozesses eher zu erwarten, dass der Benutzer lediglich eine Sichtkontrolle durchführen will. Dasselbe gilt für Zustände zu Beginn eines Garprozesses, zum Beispiel nach einem Aufheizen oder während eines Garprozesses, wenn der Garprozess das zugeben eines weiteren Gargutes verlangt.For example, shortly before the end of the cooking time or after the end of the cooking time, it is to be expected that the user will want to remove the food from the cooking chamber, whereas during the cooking process it is more likely that the user will only want to carry out a visual inspection. The same applies to states at the beginning of a cooking process, for example after heating up or during a cooking process when the cooking process requires the addition of another item to be cooked.

Somit kann nicht nur die Menge an heißem Wasserdampf, welche beim Öffnen der Tür des Garraums dem Benutzer entgegenschlagen kann, reduziert werden, wie zuvor beschrieben, sondern es kann auch gleichzeitig die Temperatur des Garraums reduziert werden, was verschiedene Vorteile für den Benutzer bieten kann. Beispielsweise kann die Temperatur des heißen Wasserdampfes, welche aus dem Garraum austreten kann, reduziert werden, so dass diese weniger unangenehm vom Benutzer empfunden werden kann.Thus, not only can the amount of hot steam that can hit the user when the door of the cooking chamber is opened be reduced, as described above, but the temperature of the cooking chamber can also be reduced at the same time, which can offer various advantages for the user. For example, the temperature of the hot water vapor that can escape from the cooking chamber can be reduced so that it is less uncomfortable for the user.

Auch kann von dem Benutzer auf einfache Weise eine Warmhaltefunktion gestartet werden, in dem der Benutzer die Garraumtür öffnet, bis genügend Dampf aus dem Garraum entwichen ist und sich eine für die Warmhaltefunktion geeignete Temperatur im Garraum eingestellt hat. Wird dann die Garraumtür wieder geschlossen, kann bei dieser geringeren Temperatur eine Warmhaltefunktion anstelle einer Garfunktion ausgeführt werden, wie weiter unten noch näher beschrieben werden wird. Dabei kann der Benutzer durch einen Signalton und/oder eine Anzeige auf das Erreichen der zweiten Temperatur aufmerksam gemacht werden.The user can also easily start a warming function by opening the cooking chamber door until enough steam comes out of the cooking chamber escaped and a suitable temperature for the keep-warm function has set in the cooking compartment. If the cooking chamber door is then closed again, a warming function can be carried out at this lower temperature instead of a cooking function, as will be described in more detail below. The user can be made aware that the second temperature has been reached by a signal tone and/or a display.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung kann das Anpassen der Temperatur des Garraums kann durch unterschiedliche Maßnahmen erfolgen. Eine bevorzugte Maßnahme ist, dass der Dampferzeuger abgeschaltet ist, solange der Benutzer innerhalb des zweiten Abstands zum Abstandssensor erfasst ist.According to one aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the cooking chamber can be adjusted by different measures. A preferred measure is that the steam generator is switched off as long as the user is detected within the second distance from the distance sensor.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung beträgt die zweite Temperatur ca. 70°C. Als zweite Temperatur diesen Wert zu verwenden, kann vorteilhaft sein, weil auf diese Art und Weise das Garen der Speisen im Garraum des Dampfgargeräts beendet und in eine Warmhaltefunktion übergegangen werden kann. Somit kann der Benutzer auf einfache Weise den Dampfgarprozess an sich beenden, in die Warmhaltefunktion übergehen und zum Beispiel das Entnehmen und Servieren der gegarten Lebensmittel vorbereiten, während die Lebensmittel sich in dem Warmhaltezustand befinden.According to one aspect of the present invention, the second temperature is about 70°C. It can be advantageous to use this value as the second temperature because in this way the cooking of the food in the cooking chamber of the steamer can be ended and a warming function can be switched to. In this way, the user can easily end the steam cooking process itself, switch to the keep-warm function and, for example, prepare for removing and serving the cooked food while the food is in the keep-warm state.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung beträgt der zweite Abstand ca. 1 m, vorzugsweise ca. 0,5 m. Den zweiten Abstand derartig gering bei 1 m, vorzugsweise bei ca. 0,5 m, zu wählen, kann sicherstellen, dass die hierdurch ausgelösten Funktionen erst dann vom Dampfgargerät ausgeführt werden, wenn sich der Benutzer wirklich unmittelbar vor dem Dampfgargerät bzw. vor dessen Abstandssensor befindet. Dies kann eine versehentliche Fehlbedienung und fehlerhafte Auslösung dieser Funktionen vermeiden helfen. Die Angabe ca. 1 m bzw. ca. 0,5 m soll eine Abweichung vom exakten Maß um bis zu 10 Prozent nach oben und 30 Prozent nach unten einschließen.According to one aspect of the present invention, the second distance is about 1 m, preferably about 0.5 m. Choosing the second distance as small as 1 m, preferably about 0.5 m, can ensure that the resulting triggered functions are only performed by the steamer when the user is really directly in front of the steamer or in front of the distance sensor. This can help to avoid accidental incorrect operation and erroneous triggering of these functions. The specification of approx. 1 m or approx. 0.5 m should include a deviation from the exact measurement of up to 10 percent above and 30 percent below.

Alternativ zu den beiden vorstehend genannten Werten kann der zweite Abstand auch bei jedem Wert zwischen den beiden Maßen, einschließlich der genannten Toleranz, gewählt oder vorgegeben werden. Ein zweiter Abstand ist eine Entfernung aus dem Bereich zwischen 0,35 m und 1,1 m zu dem Gerät. Diese Entfernung ist werksseitig vorgegeben oder kann durch Benutzervorgabe gewählt werden.As an alternative to the two values mentioned above, the second distance can also be selected or specified for any value between the two dimensions, including the tolerance mentioned. A second distance is a distance ranging between 0.35 m and 1.1 m to the device. This distance is factory set or can be selected by user preference.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung weist der Abstandssensor einen Erfassungsbereich auf, in dem die Anwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb des ersten Abstands, vorzugsweise und des zweiten Abstands, erfasst werden kann, wobei der Abstandssensor ausgebildet und angeordnet ist, mit seinem Erfassungsbereich die Anwesenheit eines Benutzers wenigstens unmittelbar vor einer Vorderseite des Dampfgargeräts zu erfassen.According to one aspect of the present invention, the distance sensor has a detection area in which the presence of a user within the first distance, preferably and the second distance, can be detected, the distance sensor being designed and arranged with its detection area the To detect the presence of a user at least immediately in front of a front of the steamer.

Diesem Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt die Erkenntnis zugrunde, dass Küchengeräte wie zum Beispiel Dampfgargeräte üblicherweise von lediglich einer Seite für den Benutzer zugänglich sind, was üblicherweise die Vorderseite des Gerätes ist. Insbesondere wird sich ein Benutzer üblicherweise zur Bedienung eines Dampfgargeräts unmittelbar vor diesem aufhalten, so dass die zuvor beschriebenen ersten und zweiten Abstände verlässlich dann erfasst werden können, wenn der Abstandssensor einen Erfassungsbereich besitzt, welcher von der Vorderseite des Dampfgargeräts weg zum Benutzer hin ausgerichtet ist. Hierdurch kann die Anwesenheit bzw. Abwesenheit eines Benutzers im Erfassungsbereich sicher erfasst werden. Ferner kann zwischen den beiden Abständen verlässlich unterschieden werden.This aspect of the present invention is based on the finding that kitchen appliances such as steamers are usually accessible to the user from only one side, which is usually the front of the appliance. In particular, a user will usually be directly in front of a steam cooking appliance to operate it, so that the first and second distances described above can be reliably detected when the distance sensor has a detection range which is oriented away from the front of the steam cooking appliance towards the user. In this way, the presence or absence of a user in the detection area can be reliably detected. Furthermore, a reliable distinction can be made between the two distances.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung kann eine Annäherung des Benutzers in den ersten und/oder in den zweiten Abstand sowie eine darauf folgende Bedieneingabe des Benutzers und darauf folgendes Verlassen des ersten und/oder zweiten Abstandes erfasst werden. Eine derartige Handlung erfolgt beispielsweise, wenn der Benutzer eine Betriebseistellung kontrolliert oder ändert. Da hier nicht zu erwarten ist, dass der Benutzer zeitnah nach dieser Handlungsabfolge die Garraumtür öffnen wird, kann das beim Eintritt in den ersten Abstand ausgelöste Zeitintervall und/oder das beim Eintritt in den zweiten Abstand ausgelöste Zeitintervall unmittelbar beendet werden und/oder der Zeitablaufzähler beendet werden.According to one aspect of the present invention, an approach of the user to the first and/or the second distance and a subsequent operator input by the user and subsequent departure from the first and/or second distance can be detected. Such action occurs, for example, when the user controls or changes an operating setting. Since it is not to be expected here that the user will open the cooking chamber door shortly after this sequence of actions, the time interval triggered when entering the first distance and/or the time interval triggered when entering the second distance can be ended immediately and/or the elapsed time counter can be ended will.

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft auch ein Dampfgargerät zur Verwendung bei einem Verfahren wie zuvor beschrieben mit einem Garraum, welcher ausgebildet ist, zu garende Lebensmittel aufzunehmen, mit einem Gebläse, insbesondere Kühlluftgebläse, welches ausgebildet ist, beim Öffnen der Garraumtür austretenden heißen Wasserdampf abzukühlen oder abzulenken, und mit wenigstens einem Abstandssensor, welcher ausgebildet ist, die Anwesenheit oder Abwesenheit eines Benutzers wenigstens innerhalb eines ersten Abstands zum Abstandssensor zu erfassen. Die Eigenschaften und Vorteile dieser Aspekte der vorliegenden Erfindung wurden bereits zuvor mit Bezug auf das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren erläutert, so dass diese hier nicht wiederholt werden sollen.The present invention also relates to a steam cooking appliance for use in a method as described above, with a cooking chamber which is designed to accommodate food to be cooked, with a fan, in particular a cooling air fan, which is designed to cool or deflect hot steam escaping when the cooking chamber door is opened, and with at least one distance sensor, which is designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a first distance from the distance sensor. The characteristics and advantages of these aspects of the present invention have already been explained above with reference to the method according to the invention, so that they will not be repeated here.

Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung ist der Abstandssensor ferner ausgebildet, die Anwesenheit oder Abwesenheit eines Benutzers wenigstens innerhalb eines zweiten Abstands zum Abstandssensor zu erfassen, wobei der zweite Abstand zum Abstandssensor geringer als der erste Abstand zum Abstandssensor ist. Die Eigenschaften und Vorteile dieser Aspekte der vorliegenden Erfindung wurden bereits zuvor mit Bezug auf das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren erläutert, so dass diese hier nicht wiederholt werden sollen. Gemäß eines Aspekts der vorliegenden Erfindung weist der Abstandssensor einen Erfassungsbereich auf, in dem die Anwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb des ersten Abstands, vorzugsweise und des zweiten Abstands, erfasst werden kann, wobei der Abstandssensor ausgebildet und angeordnet ist, mit seinem Erfassungsbereich die Anwesenheit eines Benutzers wenigstens unmittelbar vor einer Vorderseite des Dampfgargeräts zu erfassen. Die Eigenschaften und Vorteile dieser Aspekte der vorliegenden Erfindung wurden bereits zuvor mit Bezug auf das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren erläutert, so dass diese hier nicht wiederholt werden sollen.According to one aspect of the present invention, the distance sensor is also designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a second distance from the distance sensor, the second distance from the distance sensor being less than the first distance from the distance sensor. The characteristics and advantages of these aspects of the present invention have already been explained above with reference to the method according to the invention, so that they will not be repeated here. According to one aspect of the present invention, the distance sensor has a detection area in which the presence of a user within the first distance, preferably and the second distance, can be detected, the distance sensor being designed and arranged with its detection area detecting the presence of a user at least to detect immediately before a front of the steamer. The characteristics and advantages of these aspects of the present invention have already been explained above with reference to the method according to the invention, so that they will not be repeated here.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung ist in den Zeichnungen rein schematisch dargestellt und wird nachfolgend näher beschrieben. Es zeigt

Figur 1
einen Längsschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Dampfgargeräts; und
Figur 2
ein Ablaufdiagramm eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.
An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows
figure 1
a longitudinal section of a steamer according to the invention; and
figure 2
a flowchart of a method according to the invention.

Die o.g. Figuren werden in kartesischen Koordinaten betrachtet. Es erstreckt sich eine Längsrichtung X, welche auch als Tiefe X bezeichnet werden kann. Senkrecht zur Längsrichtung X erstreckt sich eine Querrichtung (nicht dargestellt), welche auch als Breite bezeichnet werden kann. Senkrecht sowohl zur Längsrichtung X als auch zur Querrichtung erstreckt sich eine vertikale Richtung Z, welche auch als Höhe Z bezeichnet werden kann.The above figures are viewed in Cartesian coordinates. A longitudinal direction X, which can also be referred to as depth X, extends. A transverse direction (not shown), which can also be referred to as width, extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. A vertical direction Z, which can also be referred to as the height Z, extends perpendicularly both to the longitudinal direction X and to the transverse direction.

Figur 1 zeigt einen Längsschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Dampfgargeräts 1. Das Dampfgargerät 1 ist vorzugsweise ein Dampfgarer 1, kann jedoch auch ein Backofen 1 mit Dampfgarfunktion oder eine Mikrowelle 1 mit Dampfgarfunktion sein. Der Dampfgarer 1 ist als Einbaugerät in ein Küchenmöbel eingebaut, so dass der Dampfgarer 1 in der Höhe Z nach oben und nach unten durch Schrankelemente 2 umgeben wird. figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a steamer 1 according to the invention. The steamer 1 is preferably a steamer 1, but can also be an oven 1 with a steamer function or a microwave oven 1 with a steamer function. The steam cooker 1 is built into a piece of kitchen furniture as a built-in appliance, so that the steam cooker 1 is surrounded by cupboard elements 2 at the top and bottom at the height Z.

In der Figur 1 nach rechts hin weist der Dampfgarer 1 eine Vorderseite 10 auf, welche auch als Frontseite 10 oder als Gerätefront 10 bezeichnet werden kann. Im Inneren des Dampfgarers 1 ist ein Garraum 11 angeordnet, in dem zu garende Speisen aufgenommen werden können. Weiterhin verfügt der Dampfgarer 1 über einen nicht weiter dargestellten Dampferzeuger, welcher außerhalb des Garraums 11 angeordnet ist und heißen Wasserdampf in den Garraum 11 hinein befördern kann. Oberhalb des Garraums 11 ist ein Gebläse 12 angeordnet, welches die Außenseite des Garraums 11, insbesondere die Elektronik des Dampfgarers 1 kühlen kann, um den Betrieb des Dampfgarers 1, insbasondere das Dampfgaren der dort befindlichen Speisen durchzuführen. Der Garraum 11 ist über eine Garraumtür 13 für einen Benutzer von der Vorderseite 10 des Dampfgarers 1 zugänglich. Hierzu kann die Garraumtür 13 an einem Handgriff 14 von dem Benutzer gefasst und nach unten geschwenkt werden.In the figure 1 To the right, the steam cooker 1 has a front side 10, which can also be referred to as the front side 10 or as the front panel 10 of the appliance. Inside the steam cooker 1 there is a cooking space 11 in which the food to be cooked can be accommodated. Furthermore, the steam cooker 1 has a steam generator, not shown in any more detail, which is arranged outside the cooking chamber 11 and can transport hot steam into the cooking chamber 11 . A fan 12 is arranged above the cooking chamber 11, which can cool the outside of the cooking chamber 11, in particular the electronics of the steam cooker 1, in order to carry out the operation of the steam cooker 1, in particular the steam cooking of the food located there. The cooking chamber 11 is accessible to a user from the front 10 of the steam cooker 1 via a cooking chamber door 13 . For this purpose, the cooking chamber door 13 can be grasped by the user at a handle 14 and pivoted downwards.

Der Dampfgarer 11 weist oberhalb der Garraumtür 13 eine Bedienelementblende 15 auf, welche auch als Schalterblende 15 bezeichnet werden kann. Die Bedienelementblende 15 weist verschiedene Bedienelemente auf (nicht dargestellt), welche vom Benutzer zur Beeinflussung des Betriebs des Dampfgarers 1 verwendet werden können. Im Bereich der Bedienelementblende 15 ist erfindungsgemäß ein Abstandssensor 16 angeordnet, welcher einen Erfassungsbereich A aufweist, welcher kegelförmig von der Vorderseite 10 des Dampfgarers 1 weg und zu einem Benutzer hin zeigt, welcher sich vor dem Dampfgarer 1 aufhalten kann. Innerhalb seines Erfassungsbereichs A kann der Abstandssensor 16 zwischen einem ersten Abstand B und einem zweiten Abstand C unterscheiden, wobei der erste Abstand B mit ca. 1 m größer ist als der zweite Abstand C mit ca. 0,5 m ist.Above the cooking chamber door 13 , the steam cooker 11 has a control panel 15 , which can also be referred to as a switch panel 15 . The control panel 15 has various control elements (not shown) which can be used by the user to influence the operation of the steam cooker 1 . According to the invention, a distance sensor 16 is arranged in the area of the control element panel 15 , which has a detection area A, which points conically away from the front side 10 of the steam cooker 1 and towards a user who can be in front of the steam cooker 1 . Within its detection range A, the distance sensor 16 can distinguish between a first distance B and a second distance C, with the first distance B being approximately 1 m and being greater than the second distance C being approximately 0.5 m.

Fig. 2 zeigt ein Ablaufdiagramm eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens. Es wird davon ausgegangen, dass der Dampfgarer 1 von einem Benutzer mit einem üblichen Dampfgarprozess betrieben wird. 2 shows a flowchart of a method according to the invention. It is assumed that the steam cooker 1 is operated by a user with a normal steam cooking process.

Erfindungsgemäß wird der Dampfgarer 1 jedoch in einem ersten Schritt 100 mit einer ersten Drehzahl des Gebläses 12 derart betrieben, dass die erste Drehzahl des Gebläses 12 eine minimale Betriebsdrehzahl ist. Somit wird während des Dampfgarprozesses die Gebläsedrehzahl so weit wie möglich abgesenkt, ohne dass Bauteile im Dampfgargerät 1 oder umgebende Bestandteile des Küchenmöbels, von denen das Dampfgargerät 1 aufgenommen wird, zu heiß werden können. Gleichzeitig wird jedoch die Drehzahl des Gebläses 12 so gering gewählt, dass störende Geräusche für den Benutzer sowie ein unnötiger Energieverbrauch vermieden werden können.According to the invention, however, the steamer 1 is operated in a first step 100 with a first speed of the fan 12 such that the first speed of the fan 12 is a minimum operating speed. The fan speed is thus reduced as far as possible during the steam cooking process without components in the steam cooking appliance 1 or surrounding components of the kitchen furniture by which the steam cooking appliance 1 is accommodated becoming too hot. At the same time, however, the speed of the blower 12 is selected so low that disturbing noises for the user and unnecessary energy consumption can be avoided.

Während des Betreibens 100 des Gebläses 12 mit der ersten Drehzahl erfolgt die Überwachung des Erfassungsbereichs A des Abstandssensors 16 dahingehend, ob ein Benutzer sich dem Dampfgarer 1 derart nähert, dass der erste Abstand B zum Abstandssensor 16 erreicht oder unterschritten wird.During the operation 100 of the blower 12 at the first speed, the detection range A of the distance sensor 16 is monitored to determine whether a user is approaching the steam cooker 1 in such a way that the first distance B from the distance sensor 16 is reached or undershot.

Wird in einem zweiten Schritt 200 die Anwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb des ersten Abstands B zum Abstandssensor 16 des Dampfgarers 1 erfasst, so wird der Betrieb des Gebläses 12 in einem dritten Schritt 300 mit einer zweiten Drehzahl fortgesetzt, welche größer als die erste Drehzahl ist. Die zweite Drehzahl ist dabei derart ausgelegt, dass, wie bisher bekannt, durch eine geöffnete Garraumtür 13 aus dem Garraum 12 austretender heißer Wasserdampf durch Vermengung mit kalter Luft gekühlt wird und/oder dessen Strömungsrichtung beeinflusst wird, so dass der Benutzer durch den austretenden Wasserdampf weder gestört noch gefährdet wird. Auch wird so unterdrückt, dass der entweichende heiße Wasserdampf an der Bedienelementblende 15 oder benachbarten Küchenmöbelteilen kondensiert, wodurch eine Beeinträchtigung dieser werden kann.If, in a second step 200, the presence of a user is detected within the first distance B from the distance sensor 16 of the steamer 1, the operation of the fan 12 is continued in a third step 300 at a second speed, which is greater than the first speed. The second speed is designed in such a way that, as previously known, hot steam escaping from the cooking chamber 12 through an open cooking chamber door 13 is cooled by mixing with cold air and/or its direction of flow is influenced so that the user is neither disturbed nor endangered. It is also suppressed in this way that the escaping hot water vapor condenses on the control panel 15 or adjacent kitchen furniture parts, which can have an adverse effect on them.

Das Gebläse 12 wird somit derart betrieben, wie es bisher durchgehend während des Dampfgarprozesses üblich ist. Da dieser Betrieb des Gebläses 12 bei der zweiten höheren Drehzahl jedoch auf den Zeitraum beschränkt wird, wenn sich ein Benutzer innerhalb des ersten Abstands B zum Abstandssensor 16 befindet, kann dieser Betriebszustand reduziert werden und nur zeitlich unmittelbar vor einem möglichen Öffnen der Tür 13 des Garraums 11 vorliegen. Gleichzeitig können während des Betriebs des Dampfgarers 1 bei der ersten geringeren Drehzahl des Gebläses 12 der hierdurch verursachte Energieverbrauch und entstehende Lärm gegenüber einem durchgehenden Betrieb des Gebläses 12 mit der zweiten höheren Drehzahlen vermieden werden.The fan 12 is thus operated in the way that has hitherto been customary throughout the steam cooking process. However, since this operation of the fan 12 at the second, higher speed is limited to the period when a user is within the first distance B from the distance sensor 16, this operating state can be reduced and only immediately before the door 13 of the cooking chamber is opened 11 available. At the same time, during the operation of the steam cooker 1 at the first, lower speed of the fan 12, the energy consumption caused thereby and the resulting noise can be avoided compared to continuous operation of the fan 12 at the second, higher speed.

Wird ein Verlassen des Erfassungsbereichs A des Abstandssensors 16 durch den Benutzer erkannt, ohne das der Benutzer den Dampfgarprozess beendet und/oder die Garraumtür 13 geöffnet hat, so kann auch dies vom Abstandssensor 16 erkannt werden. In diesem Fall geht der Dampfgarer 1 wieder zum Betreiben 100 des Gebläses 12 mit der ersten Drehzahl über, um die hierdurch erreichten Vorteile wieder nutzen zu können. Dies kann zeitverzögert zum Beispiel um 2 Minuten erfolgen, um einen für den Benutzer störenden Geräuschwechsel zu vermeiden.If the user detects that he has left the detection area A of the distance sensor 16 without the user having ended the steam cooking process and/or opening the cooking chamber door 13 , then this can also be detected by the distance sensor 16 . In this case, the steam cooker 1 switches back to operating 100 the fan 12 at the first speed in order to be able to use the advantages achieved in this way again. This can be done with a time delay of 2 minutes, for example, in order to avoid a change in noise that would disturb the user.

Befindet sich der Benutzer innerhalb des ersten Abstands B zum Abstandssensor 16 und nähert sich weiter der Vorderseite 10 des Dampfgarers 1 an, so dass auch der zweite Abstand C zum Abstandssensor 16 durch den Benutzer erreicht bzw. unterschritten wird, so kann dies in einem vierten Schritt 400 von dem Abstandssensor 16 erfasst werden. In diesem Fall kann in einem fünften Schritt 500 der Garraum 11 bei einer zweiten Temperatur, insbesondere als Zieltemperatur, betrieben werden. Diese kann geringer als die Temperatur während des eigentlichen Dampfgarprozesses gewählt werden und vorzugsweise in einem Bereich von ca. 70° liegen, um eine Warmhaltefunktion durch den Dampfgarer 1 zu realisieren. Bereits das Abschalten des Dampferzeugers während der Anwesenheit des Benutzers in dem zweiten Abstand C wird hier als Betrieb des Garraums 11 bei einer zweiten Temperatur verstanden.If the user is within the first distance B from the distance sensor 16 and continues to approach the front 10 of the steam cooker 1, so that the second distance C from the distance sensor 16 is also reached or undershot by the user, this can be done in a fourth step 400 are detected by the distance sensor 16. In this case, in a fifth step 500, the cooking chamber 11 can be operated at a second temperature, in particular as a target temperature. This can be selected to be lower than the temperature during the actual steam cooking process and preferably in a range of approx. Already switching off the steam generator while the user is present at the second distance C is understood here as operating the cooking chamber 11 at a second temperature.

Betrachtet man das zuvor beschriebene Verfahren aus Sicht des Benutzers, so ist es diesem erfindungsgemäß nun möglich, den Dampfgarer 1 während des eigentlichen Dampfgarprozesses bei der ersten Drehzahl des Gebläses 12 energiesparsamer sowie geräuschärmer als bisher bekannt zu betreiben.If you look at the method described above from the user's point of view, it is now possible according to the invention to operate the steam cooker 1 during the actual steam cooking process at the first speed of the fan 12 more energy-efficiently and with less noise than previously known.

Möchte der Benutzer die Garraumtür 13 öffnen, so muss sich der Benutzer lediglich dem Abstandssensor 16 des Dampfgarers 1 nähern und dabei den ersten Abstand B zum Abstandssensor 16 unterschreiten. Dies wird vom Dampfgarer 1 erkannt und die Drehzahl des Gebläses 12 wird auf die zweite Drehzahl erhöht. Der Benutzer kann dann die Garraumtür 13 öffnen.If the user wants to open the cooking chamber door 13, the user only has to approach the distance sensor 16 of the steam cooker 1 and thereby fall below the first distance B from the distance sensor 16. This is recognized by the steam cooker 1 and the speed of the fan 12 is increased to the second speed. The user can then open the cooking compartment door 13 .

Die Einstellungen des Dampfgarers 1 hinsichtlich des Betriebs des Gebläses 12 mit der ersten Drehzahl sowie mit der zweiten Drehzahl können dabei derart vorgenommen werden, dass in Kombination mit dem ersten Abstand B zum Abstandssensor 16 die zweite Drehzahl des Gebläses 12 bereits ausreichend erreicht und durchgeführt ist, um die entsprechende Menge von heißem Wasserdampf aus dem Garraum 11 hinauszufördern, wenn der Benutzer tatsächlich die Garraumtür 13 erreicht hat und diese öffnet. Hierdurch kann ein gefahrloses Öffnen der Garraumtür 13 für den Benutzer realisiert werden. Auch kann dem Benutzer das gefahrlose Öffnen der Garraumtür 13 verzögerungsfrei ermöglicht werden.The settings of the steam cooker 1 with regard to the operation of the fan 12 at the first speed and at the second speed can be made in such a way that, in combination with the first distance B from the distance sensor 16, the second speed of the fan 12 is already sufficiently reached and carried out, in order to convey the corresponding amount of hot water vapor out of the cooking chamber 11 when the user has actually reached the cooking chamber door 13 and opens it. As a result, the cooking chamber door 13 can be opened safely for the user. The user can also be able to open the cooking chamber door 13 without delay and without risk.

Wird durch das Unterschreiten des zweiten Abstands C zum Abstandssensor 16 durch den Benutzer der Dampferzeuger abgeschaltet oder sogar die Temperatur des Garraums 11 auf die Warmhaltetemperatur bei ca. 70°C abgesenkt, so kann auch eine derartige Warmhaltefunktion von dem Benutzer durch eine entsprechend nahe Annäherung an den Dampfgarer 1 vorbereitet werden. Somit kann der Benutzer durch seine Annäherung an das Dampfgargerät und das zeitweilige öffnen der Garraumtür die Warmhaltefunktion des Dampfgarers 1 aktivieren und zum Beispiel das Entnehmen sowie das Servieren der gegarten Speisen vorbereiten, während sich der Dampfgarer 1 in der Warmhaltefunktion befindet. Dies kann dem Benutzer eine intuitive Bedienung des Dampfgarers 1 mit gleichzeitig geringem Aufwand ermöglichen.If the user switches off the steam generator by falling below the second distance C to the distance sensor 16 or even lowers the temperature of the cooking chamber 11 to the warming temperature of approx be prepared for the steam cooker 1. Thus, by approaching the steamer and temporarily opening the cooking chamber door, the user can activate the warming function of the steamer 1 and, for example, prepare to remove and serve the cooked food while the steamer 1 is in the warming function. This can enable the user to operate the steam cooker 1 intuitively with little effort at the same time.

Bezugszeichenliste (Bestandteil der Beschreibung)List of reference symbols (part of the description)

AA
Erfassungsbereich des Abstandssensors 16Detection range of the distance sensor 16
BB
erster Abstand zum Abstandssensor 16first distance to distance sensor 16
CC
zweiter Abstand zum Abstandssensor 16second distance to distance sensor 16
XX
Längsrichtung; Tiefelongitudinal direction; depth
ZZ
vertikale Richtung; Höhevertical direction; Height
11
Dampfgargerät; Dampfgarer; Backofen mit Dampfgarfunktion; Mikrowelle mit Dampfgarfunktionsteamer; steamer; oven with steam function; Microwave with steam function
1010
Vorderseite; Frontseite; GerätefrontFront; front; device front
1111
Garraumcooking chamber
1212
Gebläsefan
1313
Garraumtürcooking chamber door
1414
Handgriff der Garraumtür 13Cooking compartment door handle 13
1515
Bedienelementblende; Schalterblendecontrol panel; switch bezel
1616
Abstandssensordistance sensor
22
Schrankelementecabinet elements
100100
(erneutes) Betreiben Gebläse 12 mit erster Drehzahl(again) operating fan 12 at first speed
200200
Erfassen Anwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb des ersten Abstands B zum Abstandssensor 16Detecting the presence of a user within the first distance B from the distance sensor 16
300300
Betreiben Gebläse 12 mit zweiter DrehzahlOperate fan 12 at second speed
400400
Erfassen Anwesenheit eines Benutzers innerhalb des zweiten Abstands C zum Abstandssensor 16Detecting the presence of a user within the second distance C from the distance sensor 16
500500
Betreiben Garraum 11 bei zweiter TemperaturOperating the cooking chamber 11 at the second temperature

Claims (12)

  1. Method for the automatic operation of a steam cooking appliance (1),
    the steam cooking appliance (1) at least comprising:
    a cooking chamber (11) which is designed to accommodate food to be cooked,
    a cooking chamber door (13) for closing the cooking chamber (11),
    a fan (12) which is designed to generate an air flow emerging from the steam cooking appliance (1), and
    at least one distance sensor (16) which is designed to detect the presence or
    absence of a user at least within a first distance (B) from the distance sensor (16),
    the method comprising at least the following steps:
    operating (100) the fan (12) at a first speed, and
    detecting (200) the presence of a user within the first distance (B) from the distance sensor (16),
    characterised by the following step:
    operating (300) the fan (12) at a second speed, which is greater than the first speed, when the presence of the user is detected within the first distance from the distance sensor,
    the fan (12) being a cooling air fan and
    the second speed being designed, when the cooking chamber door (13) is opened, to influence the hot water vapour in such a way that
    only a permissible amount of hot water vapour can escape from the cooking chamber (11)
    and/or the hot water vapour is cooled
    and/or the direction of flow of the water vapour is influenced.
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the first speed is a minimum operating speed.
  3. Method according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first distance (B) is approximately 2 m, preferably approximately 1 m.
  4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by at least the following further step:
    after a predetermined period of time has elapsed and/or if the presence of a user within the first distance (B) from the distance sensor (16) is no longer detected, the cooling air fan (12) is operated (100) again at the first speed.
  5. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
    the distance sensor (16) being further designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a second distance (C) from the distance sensor (16),
    the second distance (C) from the distance sensor (16) being smaller than the first distance (B) from the distance sensor (16),
    characterised by at least the following further steps:
    operating (100) the cooking chamber (11) at a first temperature in order to cook food in the cooking chamber (11),
    detecting (400) the presence of a user within the second distance (C) from the distance sensor (16),
    operating (500) the cooking chamber (11) at a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature of the cooking chamber (11).
  6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that,
    in order to operate (500) the cooking chamber (11) at the second temperature, the supply of steam to the cooking chamber (12) is suppressed, and in particular approximately 70°C is set as the default for the second temperature.
  7. Method according to either claim 5 or claim 6, characterised in that the second distance (C) is approximately 1 m, preferably approximately 0.5 m.
  8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the distance sensor (16) has a detection region (A) in which the presence of a user within the first distance (B) can be detected, preferably in which the presence of a user within the first distance (B) and the second distance (C) can be detected,
    the distance sensor (16) being designed and arranged to detect, using the detection region (A) thereof, the presence of a user at least immediately in front of a front side (10) of the steam cooking appliance (1).
  9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that upon detecting (400) the presence of a user within the first distance (B) from the distance sensor (16) or within the second distance (C) from the distance sensor (16), the cooking chamber door (13) is at least partially or completely opened.
  10. Steam cooking appliance (1),
    comprising a cooking chamber (11) which is designed to accommodate food to be cooked,
    comprising a cooking chamber door (13) for closing the cooking chamber (11), comprising a cooling air fan (12) which is designed to convey an air flow out of the steam cooking appliance (1), and
    comprising at least one distance sensor (16) which is designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a first distance (B) from the distance sensor (16), characterised in that
    the steam cooking appliance (1) is designed to carry out the method according to any of the preceding claims.
  11. Steam cooking appliance (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that
    the distance sensor (16) being further designed to detect the presence or absence of a user at least within a second distance (C) from the distance sensor (16),
    the second distance (C) from the distance sensor (16) being smaller than the first distance (B) from the distance sensor (16).
  12. Steam cooking appliance (1) according to either claim 10 or claim 11, characterised in that the distance sensor (16) has a detection region (A) in which the presence of a user within the first distance (B), and preferably the second distance (C), can be detected,
    the distance sensor (16) being designed and arranged to detect, using the detection region (A) thereof, the presence of a user at least immediately in front of a front side (10) of the steam cooking appliance (1).
EP19202249.9A 2018-10-31 2019-10-09 Steam cooking appliance and method for automatically operating said steam cooking appliance Active EP3647664B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102018127223.5A DE102018127223A1 (en) 2018-10-31 2018-10-31 Process for the automatic operation of a steam cooker and steam cooker therefor

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3647664A1 EP3647664A1 (en) 2020-05-06
EP3647664B1 true EP3647664B1 (en) 2022-04-06

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19202249.9A Active EP3647664B1 (en) 2018-10-31 2019-10-09 Steam cooking appliance and method for automatically operating said steam cooking appliance

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EP (1) EP3647664B1 (en)
DE (1) DE102018127223A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111981541B (en) * 2020-08-26 2022-02-08 宁波方太厨具有限公司 Operation control method of range hood and range hood
BE1029396B1 (en) * 2021-05-11 2022-12-12 Miele & Cie Process for cooling the vapor or steam escaping from the cooking chamber of a cooking appliance and cooking appliance

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10122402B4 (en) * 2001-05-09 2005-10-27 Rational Ag Method for securing a cooking appliance and this performing cooking appliance
DE102004007122B4 (en) 2004-02-12 2006-11-16 Miele & Cie. Kg Method for operating a cooking appliance
DE102010061339A1 (en) * 2010-12-20 2012-06-21 Miele & Cie. Kg Cooking appliance and method for operating a cooking appliance
DE102014112169A1 (en) * 2014-08-26 2016-03-03 Miele & Cie. Kg Method and device for controlling a domestic appliance and household appliance
DE102014115460A1 (en) * 2014-10-23 2016-04-28 Miele & Cie. Kg Method and device for operating a domestic appliance and household appliance

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DE102018127223A1 (en) 2020-04-30

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