EP3659395A1

EP3659395A1 - A microwave oven comprising a cooking stone

Info

Publication number: EP3659395A1
Application number: EP18739778.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pinar YAVUZ; Suleyman Alper YESILCUBUK; Sezgi YIKILMAZCINAR; Oguzhan KAYA; Serdal Elmas; Simge TARKUC
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-07-24
Filing date: 2018-06-29
Publication date: 2020-06-03
Also published as: WO2019020313A1; TR201710760A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microwave oven (1) comprising an oven cavity (2) wherein the foodstuffs to be cooked are placed; a plurality of carriers (3) that are oppositely disposed on the side walls of the oven cavity (2); a microwave generator (4) that generates microwaves, and a microwavable cooking stone (5) that is disposed into the oven cavity (2), that is produced from a refractory material and that has a support surface (S) whereon the foodstuff is placed.

Description

A MICROWAVE OVEN COMPRISING A COOKING STONE

The present invention relates to an oven comprising a cooking stone for use in microwave ovens in particular for cooking pizza and, more in general, for cooking pastry and bread.
Cooking stones suitable for cooking pizza and pastry in particular in microwave ovens are available on the market. Generally the state of the art cooking stones are produced from refractory materials, such as ceramic or stone, that have a high capacity of storing heat and releasing the heat slowly over time, thus allowing to directly heat the base of the pastry that is in contact with the tray. In order to ensure an optimal cooking efficiency, said stones need to be preheated before placing the foodstuffs to be cooked thereon. The method for preheating said stones generally comprises keeping the same in the oven cavity of a traditional oven heated at a minimum temperature for a minimum interval of time.
If the cooking stone is not placed to the proper position in the oven determined by the producer during the preheating process performed before placing the foodstuffs into the microwave oven, the cooking stone cannot be heated to the desired temperature.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US20140238250, a microwavable heating element is disclosed.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a microwave oven with improved cooking efficiency.
The microwave oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises an oven cavity wherein the foodstuffs to be cooked are placed; a plurality of carriers that are oppositely disposed on the side walls of the oven cavity; a microwave generator that generates microwaves, and a microwavable cooking stone that is disposed into the oven cavity, that is produced from a refractory material and that has a support surface whereon the foodstuff is placed.
The microwave oven of the present invention comprises a cooking stone tray having a housing wherein the cooking stone is placed and at least one support that is positioned on the carrier when the cooking stone tray is placed into the oven cavity. The cooking stone tray is moved on the carriers by means of the supports, thus can be slidably placed in and taken out of the oven cavity. By means of the cooking stone tray, the cooking stone is enabled to be suspended at the proper height in the oven cavity. Thus, the cooking stone can be efficiently heated, enabling the oven cavity to be more quickly heated. Moreover, by means of the cooking stone tray, the placement of the cooking stone into the oven cavity is facilitated, thus providing ease of use for the microwave oven.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven comprises a channel that extends along the side wall of the oven cavity so as to be above one of the carriers, and at least one extension that is disposed on the support and that is fitted into the channel when the cooking stone tray is placed on the carrier. The carrier corresponding to the position where the cooking stone can be efficiently heated in the oven cavity is predetermined by the producer. The channel wherein the extension disposed on the cooking stone tray moves is arranged above the determined carrier. Thus, by means of the extension, the cooking stone tray is enabled to be placed on the proper carrier.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven comprises at least one protrusion that is disposed on one of the carriers, and at least one opening that is disposed on the support and wherein the protrusion is fitted. The protrusion disposed on the carrier determined by the producer is fitted into the opening arranged on the support when the cooking stone tray is placed into the oven cavity. Thus, the user is informed that the cooking stone tray is placed to the proper position.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven comprises at least one tab that is disposed on the support and that extends over the housing. The tab that is formed by bending the plate obtained with the formation of the opening preferably arranged on the support is bent over the housing so as to prevent the cooking stone from dislodging from the housing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven comprises the support that is connected to the center of the side surface of the cooking stone tray in the vertical direction. By means of the position of the support, the cooking stone is enabled to be placed in alignment with the carrier determined by the producer.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven comprises a temperature sensor that is disposed in the oven cavity and a control unit that provides the detection of the cooking stone tray in the oven cavity according to the data received from the temperature sensor. If the microwave oven is operated without placing the cooking stone tray, microwaves emitted by the microwave generator into the oven cavity are reflected and return to the microwave generator, thus causing the malfunctioning of the microwave oven. In this embodiment, the producer predetermines the oven cavity temperature that is anticipated to be reached when the microwave oven is operated for a certain time after the oven tray is placed into the oven cavity. The control unit compares the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with the temperature values determined by the producer and decides whether the oven tray is placed in to the oven cavity.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven comprises the cooking stone having a plurality of cut-outs and a plurality of blocks containing microwaveable susceptor material therein, each placed into one cut-out. In this embodiment, the cut-outs on the cooking stone receive composite materials comprising particles of susceptor material, namely the particles of a material with the capacity of absorbing microwave radiation and converting the same to thermal energy. The composite material is arranged parallel to the support surface as a plurality of distinct blocks of composite material spread beneath the support surface whereon the foodstuff is placed. The blocks of composite material are designed to have a variable capacity of absorbing the microwave energy so as to compensate the uneven distribution of microwave energy in the oven cavities of the microwave ovens. To this aim, the blocks of composite material comprise a variable amount of susceptor material.
By means of the present invention, a microwave oven with ease of use is realized.
The microwave oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a microwave oven.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the microwave oven in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the cooking stone tray in another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the cooking stone in another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 - is the partial schematic view of the cooking stone in another embodiment of the present invention.
The elements in the figures are numbered as follows:

Microwave oven
Oven cavity
Carrier
Microwave generator
Cooking stone
Housing
Support
Cooking stone tray
Channel
Extension
Protrusion
Opening
Tab
Temperature sensor
Control unit
Cut-out
Block
S. Support Surface

The microwave oven (1) comprises an oven cavity (2) wherein the foodstuffs to be cooked are placed; a plurality of carriers (3) that are oppositely disposed on the side walls of the oven cavity (2); a microwave generator (4) that generates microwaves, and a microwavable cooking stone (5) that is disposed into the oven cavity (2), that is produced from a refractory material and that has a support surface (S) whereon the foodstuff is placed (Figure 1).
The microwave oven (1) of the present invention comprises a cooking stone tray (8) having

a housing (6) wherein the cooking stone (5) is placed, and
at least one support (7) that is positioned on the carrier (3) when placed into the oven cavity (2).

Depending on the varying microwave distribution in the microwave oven (1), the cooking stone (5) shows different characteristics in different regions in the oven cavity (2). Therefore, the temperature that the cooking stone (5) reaches after a certain preheating period varies in different regions of the oven cavity (2). By means of the cooking stone tray (8), the cooking stone (5) is enabled to be placed to the proper position in the microwave oven (1). The cooking stone tray (8) is placed into the oven cavity (2) as a plurality of supports (7) on the cooking stone tray (8) are placed onto the carriers (3). Thus, the cooking stone (5) is suspended in the oven cavity (2).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven (1) comprises a channel (9) that extends along the side wall of the oven cavity (2) so as to be above one of the carriers (3), and at least one extension (10) that is disposed on the support (7) and that is fitted into the channel (9) when the cooking stone tray (8) is placed on the carrier (3). The cooking stone (5) shows different heating characteristics in different positions in the microwave oven (1). The channel (9) arranged on the side wall of the oven cavity (2) is positioned above the carrier (3) determined by the producer. Thus, the cooking stone (5) is kept at the correct position when the user places the cooking stone (5) into the oven cavity (2). While placing the cooking stone tray (8) into the oven cavity (2), the user fits the extension (10) on the support (7) into the channel (9). Thus, the extension (10) hits the side wall of the oven cavity (2) if the cooking stone tray (8) is tried to be placed onto a different carrier (3), preventing the cooking stone (5) from being positioned on the wrong carrier (3).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven (1) comprises at least one protrusion (11) that is disposed on one of the carriers (3), and at least one opening (12) that is disposed on the support (7) and wherein the protrusion (11) is fitted. After being placed onto the carrier (3), the cooking stone tray (8) is slidably moved into the oven cavity (2). The protrusion (11) disposed on the carrier (3) is fitted into the opening (12) arranged on the support (7) when the entire cooking stone tray (8) is placed into the oven cavity (2). Thus, the cooking stone (5) is enabled to be fixed at the proper position in the oven cavity (2).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven (1) comprises at least one tab (13) that is disposed on the support (7) and that extends over the housing (6). When the cooking stone (5) is placed into the housing (6), the tab (13) extends over the housing (6) and prevents the cooking stone (5) from dislodging from the housing (6).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven (1) comprises the support (7) that is connected to the center of the side surface of the cooking stone tray (8) in the vertical direction. By means of the position of the support, the cooking stone (5) is enabled to be placed in alignment with the carrier (3) determined by the producer.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven (1) comprises a temperature sensor (14) that is disposed in the oven cavity (2) and a control unit (15) that provides the detection of the cooking stone tray (8) in the oven cavity (2) according to the data received from the temperature sensor (14). If the microwave oven (1) is operated without placing the cooking stone tray (8), microwaves emitted by the microwave generator (4) into the oven cavity (2) are reflected and return to the microwave generator (4), thus causing the malfunctioning of the microwave oven (1). Upon determining that the cooking stone tray (8) is not in the oven cavity (2), the control unit (15) deactivates the microwave generator (4) and prevents the microwave oven (1) from being operated before the cooking stone tray (8) is placed. Thus, the lifetime of the microwave oven (1) is increased.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave oven (1) comprises the cooking stone (5) having a plurality of cut-outs (16) and a plurality of blocks (17) containing microwaveable susceptor material therein, each placed into one cut-out (16). The susceptor material is for instance a metal, a metal oxide or a metal based material. According to an embodiment of the invention, the susceptor material is iron or an iron compound, such as magnetite (Fe_3O4) or hematite (Fe_2O3).
In the microwave oven (1) of the present invention, the cooking stone (5) placed on the cooking stone tray (8) is enabled to be correctly positioned in the oven cavity (2).

Claims

A microwave oven (1) comprising an oven cavity (2) wherein the foodstuffs to be cooked are placed; a plurality of carriers (3) that are oppositely disposed on the side walls of the oven cavity (2); a microwave generator (4) that generates microwaves, and a microwavable cooking stone (5) that is disposed into the oven cavity (2), that is produced from a refractory material and that has a support surface (S) whereon the foodstuff is placed, characterized by a cooking stone tray (8) having

- a housing (6) wherein the cooking stone (5) is placed, and

- at least one support (7) that is positioned on the carrier (3) when placed into the oven cavity (2).
A microwave oven (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a channel (9) that extends along the side wall of the oven cavity (2) so as to be above one of the carriers (3), and at least one extension (10) that is disposed on the support (7) and that is fitted into the channel (9) when the cooking stone tray (8) is placed on the carrier (3).
A microwave oven (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one protrusion (11) that is disposed on one of the carriers (3), and at least one opening (12) that is disposed on the support (7) and wherein the protrusion (11) is fitted.
A microwave oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one tab (13) that is disposed on the support (7) and that extends over the housing (6).
A microwave oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the support (7) that is connected to the center of the side surface of the cooking stone tray (8) in the vertical direction.
A microwave oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a temperature sensor (14) that is disposed in the oven cavity (2) and a control unit (15) that provides the detection of the cooking stone tray (8) in the oven cavity (2) according to the data received from the temperature sensor (14).
A microwave oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the cooking stone (5) having a plurality of cut-outs (16) and a plurality of blocks (17) containing microwaveable susceptor material therein, each placed into one cut-out (16).