EP3783266B1 - Cooking appliance with a cooking chamber closable by means of a door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising a housing, a cooking chamber arranged in the housing with a cooking chamber opening and a door assigned to the cooking chamber opening, the door being pivotable about a rotation axis arranged on the housing in a range of movement between a closed position and an open position of the door, and wherein the cooking chamber is closed in the closed position of the door and accessible in the open position of the door.

Such cooking devices and methods for their operation are already known from the prior art in a variety of embodiments, for example from EP 2 784 257 A1 or from the EP 3 572 606 A1 . The known cooking appliances include a housing, a cooking chamber arranged in the housing with a cooking chamber opening and a door assigned to the cooking chamber opening, the door being movable in a range of movement between a closed position and an open position of the door, and the cooking chamber being closed in the closed position of the door and is accessible when the door is open. At the EP 2 784 257 A1 Part of the moment that the door generates due to its weight around the axis of rotation is balanced by a spring. A further torque is then applied by a motor to automatically close the door. Also at the EP 3 572 606 A1 The door is automatically moved by a motor. This activates a coupling device connected to the door via a gear. The gear is designed to produce an increased force in the movement portion of the door that includes closing to pull the door against a seal.

The DE 10 2004 061 231 B3 discloses a door lock for a stove in which a pivoting lever acts as a locking element. When closing the door, the lever not only performs a pivoting movement, but also a linear movement backwards, pulling the door closed.

From the DE 10 2016 107 137 A1 is a built-in kitchen appliance and a method for its operation known, in which the door is moved by two different drive units both in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction.

The invention therefore faces the problem of providing a cooking appliance of the type mentioned in which the door operating mechanism and the door operation are improved.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a cooking appliance with the features of patent claim 1.

Advantageous refinements and further developments of the invention result from the following subclaims.

The advantage that can be achieved with the invention is, in particular, that in a cooking appliance comprising a housing, a cooking chamber arranged in the housing with a cooking chamber opening and a door assigned to the cooking chamber opening, as well as in a method for its operation, the door operating mechanism and the door actuation are improved. In the case of cooking appliances with a cooking space that can be closed by a door, it is important that the cooking space opening of the cooking space can be tightly closed by means of the door, for example during a cooking process. The same also applies to a cleaning process taking place in the cooking space, such as pyrolytic cleaning of the cooking space or the like. In all of these cases, it is necessary that the cooking chamber opening is tightly closed by means of the door in order to effectively prevent unwanted escape of vapors, cleaning vapors or the like from the cooking chamber. In order to achieve this, it is necessary that the door is pressed firmly in its closed position against a sealing device arranged all around the cooking chamber opening. A high contact pressure is required for this, while only a small amount of force is required to move the door in its remaining range of motion. This is where the invention comes into play. Instead of providing a single drive for the door, according to the invention two drive units are used, the door being movable by means of the first drive unit in a first movement section of the range of movement and by means of the second drive unit in a second movement section of the range of movement of the door. This makes it possible to use weaker and therefore more cost-effective electric motors for the respective drive unit.

In the preferred embodiment, according to which the door can be moved depending on the transfer of the door into its open position or into its closed position by means of the first drive unit in a first movement section of the range of movement and by means of the second drive unit in a second movement section of the range of movement of the door, the Special features when transferring the door into its open position and into its closed position are advantageously taken into account. For example, the above-mentioned high contact pressure when moving the door is only required when it is transferred to its closed position. Accordingly, according to the aforementioned preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible for the door to be movable and moved not only in the second movement section by means of the second drive unit, but also in the first Movement section, namely when the door is transferred to its open position. However, this embodiment of the invention is to be understood purely as an example.

In principle, the design of the door operating mechanism can be freely selected within wide, suitable limits. The design of the cooking appliance according to the invention provides that the door is arranged to be pivotable about an axis of rotation arranged on the housing. In addition, the first drive unit and the second drive unit are each connected to the door in a force-transmitting manner for the automatic movement of the door by means of a common coupling device. Due to this development of the cooking appliance and the method for its operation, according to which the first and second drive units are each connected to the door in a force-transmitting manner for the automatic movement of the door by means of a common coupling device and the first drive unit and the second drive unit are each connected to the door by means of this common coupling device move automatically, a particularly simple and therefore cost-effective design of the cooking appliance is possible. The first drive unit and the second drive unit are connected to the door on the rotation axis side in a force-transmitting manner by means of the coupling device. In this way, for example, a compact and therefore space-saving arrangement of the door operating mechanism is made possible. Furthermore, the cooking appliance according to the invention can therefore be implemented in a way that saves components.

A very advantageous development of the cooking appliance according to the invention provides that the first drive unit has a force introduction device, the force introduction device being between an engagement position in which the force introduction device is in force-transmitting engagement with the coupling device, and a non-engagement position in which the force introduction device is not force-transmitting with the coupling device is engaged, can be transferred back and forth. This makes it possible to either connect the first drive unit to the coupling device in a force-transmitting manner by means of the force introduction device or to release this force transmission connection. The first drive unit can, for example, be connected to the coupling device in a force-transmitting manner by means of the force introduction device only in the case when the above-mentioned high contact pressure of the door is required for a tight closure of the cooking chamber opening of the cooking chamber. Otherwise, the first drive unit can be decoupled from the coupling device in the aforementioned manner, so that any other movement of the door, manually or automatically, is significantly facilitated.

Accordingly, an advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that the first drive unit has a force introduction device, the force introduction device being between an engagement position in which the force introduction device is in force-transmitting engagement with the coupling device, and a non-engagement position in which the force introduction device is not in force-transmitting engagement with the coupling device and is transferred back and forth.

An advantageous development of the aforementioned embodiment of the cooking appliance according to the invention provides that the first drive unit additionally has a motor, an eccentric connected to the motor in a torque-transmitting manner and a carriage, the carriage being resiliently mounted on the housing by means of at least one return spring in such a way that the The force introduction device mounted on the carriage can be automatically transferred from its engaged position to its non-engaged position by means of the return spring, and the motor, the eccentric and the carriage are designed and arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the force introduction device mounted on the carriage can be moved by means of the motor, the eccentric and the carriage from their non-intervention position can be automatically transferred to their engagement position. In this way, the first drive unit can be implemented particularly easily in terms of construction and production technology. The carriage can be mounted on the housing directly or indirectly. For example, it is possible for the first drive unit and the second drive unit to be at least partially designed as an assembly, which is then connected as a whole to the housing in a force-transmitting manner. Accordingly, the carriage can be resiliently mounted on a mounting plate or the like of this assembly.

An advantageous development of the last-mentioned embodiment of the cooking appliance according to the invention provides that the force introduction device is resiliently mounted on the carriage by means of at least one force introduction spring, with a range of movement of the force introduction device relative to the carriage being limited by means of mutually corresponding limiting means of the force introduction device and the carriage. This enables the force introduction device arranged on the carriage to rest resiliently on the coupling device in the engaged position of the force introduction device. Correspondingly, when the force introduction device is in the engaged position, the door can be manually moved from its closed position to its open position against a spring force of the force introduction spring, for example by a user of the cooking appliance.

An advantageous development of the cooking appliance according to the invention provides that the coupling device has a coupling link, the force introduction device of the first drive unit in its engaged position being in engagement with the coupling device by means of the coupling link, preferably that the coupling link has a coupling link slope for redirecting a force introduction device into the Coupling device has force introduced. In this way, the structural design of the cooking appliance according to the invention is further simplified. In addition, the preferred embodiment of this development has the additional advantage that by means of the Force introduction device into the coupling device can be redirected in a simple and robust manner by means of the coupling link slope. Accordingly, the first drive unit can be arranged more flexibly and freely relative to the coupling device, so that the installation space available in the respective cooking appliance according to the invention can be used in a manner adapted to the requirements of the individual case.

An advantageous development of the cooking appliance according to the invention provides that the coupling device has a control link, the control link being designed to actuate at least one switch connected to a control of the cooking appliance in a signal-transmitting manner, preferably that a plurality of switches can be actuated by means of the control link, wherein by means of of the individual switches, the open position of the door, the closed position of the door and an intermediate position of the door can be detected, and wherein the first movement section is formed between the intermediate layer and the closed position of the door and the second movement section is formed between the intermediate layer and the open position of the door. This makes it possible to detect at least one position of the door in a simple and robust manner in terms of design and circuitry. In addition, the preferred embodiment of this development is particularly advantageous since, among other things, the positions of the door that are important for controlling the first and second drive units for the automatic movement of the door can be detected. The aforementioned detection of the at least one position of the door can of course also be used for other functions of the cooking appliance, for example for cooking functions or a pyrolysis function of the cooking appliance, in the control of the cooking appliance.

An advantageous development of the last-mentioned embodiment of the cooking appliance according to the invention provides that the force introduction device of the first drive unit can be transferred from its engaged position to its non-engaged position and/or from its non-engaged position to its engaged position depending on the detection of the intermediate layer. In this way, the control of the first drive unit is realized in a particularly obvious way by means of the control of the cooking appliance. For example, it makes sense if the intermediate layer is designed as the position of the door in which the door is in contact with a sealing device surrounding the cooking space opening, i.e. is in contact with the aforementioned sealing device, without significantly compressing this sealing device. As soon as this intermediate position of the door has been detected during the transfer of the door into its closed position in the aforementioned manner, the force introduction device of the first drive unit can then be transferred from its non-engaged position into its engaged position, so that the door is firmly against by means of the first drive unit and the coupling device the aforementioned sealing device is pressed, namely in such a way that the cooking space opening is essentially tightly closed by means of the door and the sealing device.

Another advantageous development provides that the first movement section is positioned on the closing position side and the second movement section is positioned on the opening position side. As already stated above, a high actuating force, for example a contact pressure for the door to fit tightly against the above-mentioned sealing device, is required when operating the door, particularly when the door is moved into its closed position. Accordingly, it is advantageous to carry out a change in the actuation of the door from the second drive unit to the first drive unit for the corresponding movement section in the movement range of the door.

A further advantageous development provides that the door is automatically transferred to at least one intermediate position of the door by means of the first drive unit and/or the second drive unit and is held in this intermediate position, the intermediate layer of the door being positioned between the closed position and the open position of the door . In this way, the door can not only be automatically moved back and forth between its closed position and its open position. Instead, the door can also occupy at least one intermediate position between its closed position and its open position.

In principle, the at least one intermediate layer of the door can be freely selected within wide, suitable limits. A particularly advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that an automatic program for rapid cooling of the cooking chamber is stored in a control of the cooking appliance, the door being automatically transferred to an intermediate position corresponding to this automatic program when the automatic program is executed. This enables a rapid cooling function in the cooking appliance according to the invention without additional design effort.

Figur 1

das erste Ausführungsbeispiel des Gargeräts in einer Frontalansicht,

Figur 2

das erste Ausführungsbeispiel in einer geschnittenen Seitenansicht, in teilweiser Darstellung,

Figur 3

das erste Ausführungsbeispiel in einer ersten geschnittenen Draufsicht im Bereich der ersten Antriebseinheit, in teilweiser Darstellung,

Figur 4

das erste Ausführungsbeispiel in einer zweiten geschnittenen Draufsicht im Bereich der ersten Antriebseinheit, in teilweiser Darstellung,

Figur 5

das erste Ausführungsbeispiel in einer dritten geschnittenen Draufsicht im Bereich der ersten Antriebseinheit, in teilweiser Darstellung,

Figur 6

das erste Ausführungsbeispiel in einer vierten geschnittenen Draufsicht im Bereich der ersten Antriebseinheit, in teilweiser Darstellung,

Figur 7a

das erste Ausführungsbeispiel in einer fünften geschnittenen Draufsicht im Bereich der ersten Antriebseinheit, in teilweiser Darstellung,

Figur 7b

das erste Ausführungsbeispiel in einer sechsten geschnittenen Draufsicht im Bereich der ersten Antriebseinheit, in teilweiser Darstellung,

Figur 8

die erste Antriebseinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer Seitenansicht,

Figur 9

die erste Antriebseinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer ersten geschnittenen Draufsicht,

Figur 10

die erste Antriebseinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer zweiten geschnittenen Draufsicht,

Figur 11

die erste Antriebseinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer dritten geschnittenen Draufsicht,

Figur 12

die erste Antriebseinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer vierten geschnittenen Draufsicht,

Figur 13

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Gargeräts in einer Frontalansicht,

Figur 14

das zweite Ausführungsbeispiel in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, in teilweiser Darstellung,

Figur 15a

das zweite Ausführungsbeispiel in zwei teilweisen Detailansichten im Bereich

und 15b

der ersten und zweiten Antriebseinheit, mit Blickrichtung von außen und

Figur 16a

das zweite Ausführungsbeispiel in weiteren drei teilweisen Detailansichten im Bereich

bis 16c

der ersten und zweiten Antriebseinheit, mit Blickrichtung von schräg außen und von außen.

Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the drawings and are described in more detail below. The first exemplary embodiment is not according to the invention. Show it

Figure 1

the first exemplary embodiment of the cooking appliance in a frontal view,

Figure 2

the first exemplary embodiment in a sectioned side view, in a partial representation,

Figure 3

the first exemplary embodiment in a first sectional plan view in the area of the first drive unit, in a partial representation,

Figure 4

the first exemplary embodiment in a second sectional plan view in the area of the first drive unit, in a partial representation,

Figure 5

the first exemplary embodiment in a third sectional plan view in the area of the first drive unit, in a partial representation,

Figure 6

the first exemplary embodiment in a fourth sectional plan view in the area of the first drive unit, in a partial representation,

Figure 7a

the first exemplary embodiment in a fifth sectional plan view in the area of the first drive unit, in a partial representation,

Figure 7b

the first exemplary embodiment in a sixth sectional top view in the area of the first drive unit, in a partial representation,

Figure 8

the first drive unit of the first exemplary embodiment in a side view,

Figure 9

the first drive unit of the first exemplary embodiment in a first sectional top view,

Figure 10

the first drive unit of the first exemplary embodiment in a second sectional top view,

Figure 11

the first drive unit of the first exemplary embodiment in a third sectional top view,

Figure 12

the first drive unit of the first exemplary embodiment in a fourth sectional top view,

Figure 13

a second exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the invention in a front view,

Figure 14

the second exemplary embodiment in a perspective view, in a partial representation,

Figure 15a

the second exemplary embodiment in two partial detailed views in the area

and 15b

the first and second drive units, looking from the outside and

Figure 16a

the second exemplary embodiment in another three partial detailed views in the area

until 16c

the first and second drive units, looking diagonally from the outside and from the outside.

In the Fig. 1 to 12 a first exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance not according to the invention is shown purely as an example. The cooking appliance 2 is designed as a household oven and comprises a housing 4, a cooking chamber 6 arranged in the housing 4 with a cooking chamber opening 8 and a door 10 assigned to the cooking chamber opening 8, the door 10 being in a range of movement between one in the Fig. 3 shown closed position and one in the Fig. 1 shown opening position of the door 10 is movable. The cooking space 6 is closed in the closed position of the door 10 and accessible in the open position of the door 10, with a first drive unit 12 and a second drive unit 14 each being arranged on the housing 4 for the automatic movement of the door 10, the door 10 being moved by means of the first drive unit 12 in a first movement section of the movement range and by means the second drive unit 14 is movable in a second movement section of the movement range of the door 10. In the present exemplary embodiment of the cooking appliance 2, the door 10 is in the first movement section of the movement range by means of the first drive unit 12 in the first movement section of the movement range and by means of the second drive unit 14 in the second movement section of the movement range of the door, depending on the transfer of the door 10 into its open position or into its closed position 10 movable, which will be explained in more detail below.

The door 10 is arranged to be pivotable about an axis of rotation 16 arranged on the housing 4, the first drive unit 12 being arranged on a side of the cooking chamber opening 8 opposite the axis of rotation 16 on the housing 4 and the second drive unit 14 being connected to the door 10 on the axis of rotation in a force-transmitting manner . See the Fig. 1 and 2 .

In the present exemplary embodiment, the first movement section of the door 10 ranges from 0° to approximately 3° door opening, with 0° door opening being the one in the Fig. 3 shown closed position of the door 10 corresponds. The second movement section of the door 10 ranges from about 3° to about 85° door opening, with 85° door opening being the one in the Fig. 1 shown opening position of the door 10 corresponds. The first movement section is therefore positioned on the closing position side and the second movement section is positioned on the opening position side. When the door 10 is transferred from its open position to its closed position, the door 10 can initially be automatically moved in the second movement section by means of the second drive unit 14. During the further transfer from its open position to its closed position, i.e. in the first movement section, the door 10 can be moved automatically by means of the first drive unit 12. When the door 10 is transferred from its closed position to its open position, the door 10 can be automatically moved in the first movement section and in the second movement section by means of the second drive unit 14.

The first drive unit 12 has a base plate 18 and a carriage 20, the first drive unit 12 being fastened to the housing 4 by means of the base plate 18 and the carriage 20 being movably held on the base plate 18. See the Fig. 1 to 12 in the synopsis.

The carriage 20 has a base part 22 assigned to the base plate 18 and an actuating part 24 assigned to the door 10, the base part 22 and the actuating part 24 being resiliently connected to one another. See also this Fig. 1 to 12 in the synopsis. The carriage 20 as a whole, i.e. base part 22 and actuating part 24, is between one in the by means of an electric motor 25 Fig. 2 to 5 and 8 to 12 rest position shown and one in the 6, 7a and 7b shown gripping position can be moved back and forth.

The door 10 and the first drive unit 12 have mutually corresponding coupling means 26, 28, wherein the door 10 and the first drive unit 12 can be coupled in a force-transmitting manner by means of these coupling means 26, 28. In the present exemplary embodiment, the coupling means 26 is designed as a hook and is arranged on the actuating part 24 of the carriage 22. The hook 26 can be moved back and forth between an actuation position and a non-actuation position, the door 10 being connectable to the hook 26 in a force-transmitting manner in the actuation position of the hook 26 and not being able to be connected to the hook 26 in a force-transmitting manner in the non-actuation position of the hook 26. The operating position of the hook 26 is in the Fig. 2 , 3 , 6 and 8th until 12 shown. The non-actuation position of the hook 26 is in the Figs. 4 and 5 shown. In the Fig. 7 The hook 26 is initially moved from the door 10 when it is transferred from its open position to its closed position against the spring force of a spring element (not shown). Fig. 6 illustrated actuation position is transferred in the direction of its non-actuation position, in order to then be transferred again into its actuation position by means of the spring force of this spring element when the door 10 is further transferred from its open position to its closed position. This will be explained in more detail below.

The coupling means 28 of the door 10 corresponding to the hook 26 is designed in the present exemplary embodiment as an undercut in an opening 30 of the door 10. The hook 26 can be automatically moved back and forth between its actuation position and its non-actuation position by means of an electric motor 32 of the first drive unit 12. The first drive unit 12 is simultaneously designed as a locking unit for holding the door 10 in its closed position. For this purpose, the hook 26 is simultaneously designed as a locking hook for holding the door 10 in its closed position. Accordingly, it is possible by means of the first drive unit 12 to hold the door 10 in its closed position. The closure unit, in particular the hook and an undercut (coupling means 28), are designed so that there is a frictional connection, but not a positive connection. The door 10 can therefore be torn open even with a hook 26 in the closed position. There is therefore no locking by the locking unit. Locking the door 10 in its closed position is necessary, for example, when the cooking appliance is in pyrolysis mode and can be implemented by a separate locking unit.

The functionality of the cooking appliance according to the present first exemplary embodiment and based on Fig. 1 to 12 explained in more detail.

The door 10 of the cooking appliance 2 is initially in the Fig. 3 closed position shown, so that the cooking space opening 8 and thus the cooking space 6 is closed. In the closed position, the door 10 is frictionally engaged by means of the hook 26, which is also designed as a locking hook held so that the door 10 is effectively secured against unwanted automatic opening.

In the closed position of the door 10, the carriage 20 is in its rest position and the hook 26 is in its operating position. The rest position of the carriage 20 can be detected by means of a switch 34, while the actuating position of the hook 26 can be detected by means of a switch 36. The contact of the door 10 on the carriage 20 can be detected by means of a switch 38. The closed position of the door 10 can be detected by means of the aforementioned switch 38 in combination with a switch 40. See also this Fig. 2 , 9 and 10 .

In order to transfer the door 10 from its closed position to its closed position Fig. 1 In the opening position shown, a user, not shown, of the cooking appliance 2 in the present exemplary embodiment operates a button in the Fig. 1 to 12 Control element, not shown, of the cooking appliance 2. For example, the user presses a control element designed as a push button. However, other controls are also conceivable. In addition, as an alternative or in addition, the transfer of the door 10 from its closed position to its open position can also be initiated automatically. For example, a program sequence of an automatic program stored in a control of the cooking appliance 2 (not shown) provides for such an automatic transfer of the door 10.

After the user has pressed the push button, for example, the hook 26 is first automatically removed from it by means of the electric motor 32 Fig. 3 shown operating position in its in the Fig. 4 transferred to the non-operation position shown. For this purpose, the hook 26 is moved in the image plane by means of the electric motor 32 3 and 4 pivoted upwards. The non-actuation position of the hook 26 can be detected by means of the switch 36, analogous to the actuation position of the hook 26. The mutually corresponding coupling means 26, 28 of the door 10 and the first drive unit 12 are no longer in engagement with one another. Please refer Fig. 4 . The door 10 is then moved from its closed position to its closed position by means of the second drive unit 14 Fig. 1 shown opening position transferred. See the Fig. 2 , 5 and 6 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the door 10 is balanced in such a way that very little force is required to transfer the door 10 from its closed position to its open position, i.e. over the entire range of movement of the door 10 in the direction of the open position. Accordingly, an electric motor, not shown, of the second drive unit 14 can be designed to be weak and therefore inexpensive.

Simultaneously with the transfer of the door 10 from its closed position to its open position, the carriage 20 of the first drive unit 12 is moved by means of the electric motor 25, for example into the Fig. 3 to 5 shown rest position in its example in the Fig. 6, 7a and 7b shown gripping position transferred. Furthermore, the hook 26 is automatically transferred again from its non-actuation position to its actuation position by means of the electric motor 32. See the Fig. 5 and 6 in the synopsis. Analogous to the above statements is the gripping position of the carriage 20 by means of a switch 35, the actuation position of the hook 26 by means of the switch 36, the non-abutment of the door 10 on the carriage 20 by means of the switch 38 and the opening position of the door 10 by means of the aforementioned switch 38 can be detected in combination with the switch 40.

In order to transfer the door 10 from their in the Fig. 1 shown opening position in the Fig. 3 In the closed position shown, for example in order to start a cooking process in the cooking chamber 6, the door 10 is first automatically moved by means of the second drive unit 14 from its open position, i.e. at approximately 85° door opening, to approximately 3° door opening. See the Fig. 7a , in which the door 10 is shown at approximately 3° door opening. At approximately 3° door opening, the door 10, namely the undercut 28 of the door 10 formed at the opening 30, comes into engagement with the hook 26. The door 10 pushes the hook 26 away from the actuation position against the above-mentioned spring force of the spring element, not shown of the hook 26 initially in the direction of the non-actuation position of the hook 26, so that the hook 26 comes into engagement with the undercut 28 of the door 10 when it is automatically returned to its actuation position by means of the spring force of the aforementioned spring element. See the Fig. 7b . The operating position of the hook 26 and the contact of the door 10 on the carriage 22 are, analogous to above, detected by means of the switches 36 and 38.

The door 10 is now no longer moved in the direction of its closed position with the second drive unit 14, but rather by means of the first drive unit 12. For this purpose, the carriage 20 is automatically moved from it into the position by means of the electric motor 25 Fig. 6 to 7b shown gripping position in its in the Fig. 3 to 5 shown rest position, so that the door 10 is moved from approximately 3° door opening to 0° door opening, i.e. in the first movement section when the door 10 is transferred from its open position to its closed position, by means of the first drive unit 12. The first drive unit 12 pulls the door 10 against the above-mentioned sealing device in such a way that the door 10 lies tightly against the sealing device, not shown, in its closed position. Please refer Fig. 3 . Accordingly, the higher force required for this and applied by the first drive unit 12, namely the contact force against the sealing device, is only required over the small first movement section. Due to the favorable arrangement of the first drive unit 12 in terms of power transmission on the side of the cooking chamber opening 8 on the housing 4 opposite the axis of rotation 16, it is still possible to reduce the required power of the first drive unit 12 to a minimum. Analogous to above, the rest position of the carriage 20 is by means of the switch 34, the actuation position of the hook 26 by means of the Switch 36, the contact of the door 10 on the carriage 20 by means of the switch 38 and the closed position of the door 10 by means of the aforementioned switch 38 in combination with the switch 40 can be detected.

The cooking appliance 2 according to the present first exemplary embodiment also has a so-called rapid cooling function. By means of this rapid cooling function, it is possible to cool down the cooking chamber 6 in a shorter time by automatically moving the door 10 into an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position of the door 10. In the control of the cooking appliance 2, not shown, an automatic program for the rapid cooling function of the cooking chamber 6 is stored, the door 10 being automatically transferred to an intermediate position corresponding to this automatic program when the automatic program is executed. The door 10 is transferred from its closed position to the aforementioned intermediate position automatically by means of the second drive unit 14, the door 10 being automatically held in this intermediate position.

This intermediate layer can, for example, be used as the one in the Fig. 7b The position of the door 10 shown and already explained above can be formed. Accordingly, if the automatic program for the rapid cooling function is selected manually or automatically, the hook 26 would remain positioned in its operating position, in contrast to the above statements for transferring the door 10 from its closed position to its open position. The mutually corresponding coupling means 26, 28 of the door 10 and the first drive unit 12 thus remain in engagement with one another. The door 10 is moved from its closed position 10 to its closed position by means of the second drive unit 14 Fig. 7b shown intermediate layer transferred. However, other suitable intermediate layers for the rapid cooling function are also conceivable. Furthermore, the door 10 can also be automatically transferred to at least one intermediate position for other cooking appliance functions. For this purpose, in contrast to the example case explained, it may be necessary to move the hook into its non-actuated position.

In the Fig. 13 to 16c a second exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the invention and the method according to the invention is shown purely as an example. In comparison to the first exemplary embodiment, components that are the same or have the same effect are in the Fig. 13 to 16c with the same reference numbers as in the Fig. 1 to 12 designated.

The cooking appliance 2 according to the second exemplary embodiment is also designed as a household oven and comprises a housing 4, a cooking chamber 6 arranged in the housing 4 with a cooking chamber opening 8 and a door 10 assigned to the cooking chamber opening 8, the door 10 being in a range of movement between one and the other Fig. 14 and 16a to 16c corresponding closed position and one in the Fig. 13 shown and to the Fig. 15a and 15b corresponding opening position of the door 10 can be moved. The cooking space 6, namely the cooking space opening 8, is essentially tightly closed in the closed position of the door 10 and accessible in the open position of the door 10, with a first drive unit 12 and a second drive unit 14 on the housing 4 each for the automatic movement of the door 10 are arranged, and wherein the door 10 can be moved by means of the first drive unit 12 in a first movement section of the range of movement and by means of the second drive unit 14 in a second movement section of the range of movement of the door 10. In the present exemplary embodiment of the cooking appliance 2 according to the invention, the door 10 is in the first movement section of the movement range by means of the first drive unit 12 in the first movement section of the movement range and by means of the second drive unit 14 in the second movement section of the movement range, depending on the transfer of the door 10 into its open position or into its closed position Door 10 is movable, which will be explained in more detail below.

The door 10 is arranged to be pivotable about a rotation axis 16 arranged on the housing 4, the first drive unit 12 and the second drive unit 14 being connected to the door 10 on the rotation axis side in a force-transmitting manner. See the Fig. 14 .

In the present second exemplary embodiment, the first movement section of the door 10 ranges from 0° to approximately 3° door opening, with 0° door opening corresponding to the closed position of the door 10. The second movement section of the door 10 ranges from about 3° to about 85° door opening, with 85° door opening being the one in the Fig. 13 shown opening position of the door 10 corresponds. The first movement section is therefore positioned on the closing position side and the second movement section is positioned on the opening position side. When the door 10 is transferred from its open position to its closed position, the door 10 can initially be automatically moved in the second movement section by means of the second drive unit 14. During the further transfer from its open position to its closed position, i.e. in the first movement section, the door 10 can be moved automatically by means of the first drive unit 12. When the door 10 is transferred from its closed position to its open position, the door 10 can be automatically moved in the first movement section and in the second movement section by means of the second drive unit 14.

The first drive unit 12 and the second drive unit 14 are each connected to the door 10 in a force-transmitting manner for the automatic movement of the door 10 by means of a common coupling device 50. The coupling device 50 comprises a lever 51 which is connected to the door 10 of the cooking appliance 2 in a force-transmitting manner known to those skilled in the art. See the Fig. 14 , in which, however, only the mechanism of the door 10 connected to the coupling device 50 in a torque-transmitting manner is shown.

For this purpose, the first drive unit 12 has a force introduction device 52, the force introduction device 52 being between one in the Fig. 16a to 16c illustrated engagement position, in which the force introduction device 52 is in force-transmitting engagement with the coupling device 50, and one in the Fig. 15a and 15b shown non-engagement position, in which the force introduction device 52 is not in force-transmitting engagement with the coupling device 50, can be moved back and forth. The view in the Fig. 15b differs from the view in the Fig. 15a simply because in the Fig. 15b the carriage 58 is not shown in order to be able to see the force introduction device 52. The same applies to the Fig. 16a and 16b . In the Fig. 16c the carriage 58 is partially shown. Furthermore, in the present second exemplary embodiment, the first drive unit 12 has a motor 54, for example an electric motor, an eccentric 56 connected to the motor 54 in a torque-transmitting manner, and a slide 58, the slide 58 being resiliently mounted on the housing 4 by means of two return springs 60 that the force introduction device 52 mounted on the carriage 58 can be automatically moved from its engaged position to its non-engaged position by means of the return springs 60, and the motor 54, the eccentric 56 and the carriage 58 are designed and arranged relative to one another in such a way that the ones on the carriage 58 mounted force introduction device 52 can be automatically moved from its non-engaged position into its engaged position by means of the motor 54, the eccentric 56 and the slide 58. Furthermore, the carriage 58 is guided on the housing 4 by means of mutually corresponding guide means 5, 59, the guide means of the housing 4 being designed as two guide bolts 5 and the corresponding guide means of the carriage 58 being designed as two elongated holes 59 arranged parallel to one another. See for example the Fig. 15a .

The force introduction device 52 is resiliently mounted on the carriage 58 by means of a force introduction spring 62, namely such that a range of movement of the force introduction device 52 relative to the carriage 58 is limited by means of mutually corresponding limiting means 64, 66 of the force introduction device 52 and the carriage 58. In the present second exemplary embodiment, the mutually corresponding limiting means 64, 66 are designed as an elongated hole 64 in the carriage 58 and a bolt 66 of the force introduction device 52 corresponding to the elongated hole 64. See also for example that Fig. 15a and 15b in the synopsis. An impeller 68 is arranged on the bolt 66, which is rotatably arranged on the rest of the force introduction device 52, so that the force introduction device 52 can roll with little friction in its engaged position on the coupling device 50. See for example the Fig. 16a to 16c in the synopsis. In the Fig. 16c The impeller 68 appears more like a polygon in cross section; In practice, however, the impeller 68 has a circular running surface.

For the purpose of transmitting force between the first drive unit 12 on one side and the coupling device 50 on the other side, in the engaged position of the force introduction device 52, the coupling device 50 has a coupling link 70, the force introduction device 52 of the first drive unit 12 being in its engaged position by means of the Coupling link 70 is engaged with the coupling device 50, namely such that the coupling link 70 has a coupling link slope 72 for redirecting a force introduced into the coupling device 50 by means of the force introduction device 52. See the Fig. 16b and 16c .

Furthermore, the coupling device 50 has a control link 74, the control link 74 being designed to actuate a total of three switches 76, 78, 80 which are connected to a control 7 of the cooking appliance 2 in a signal-transmitting manner, namely that by means of the control link 74, the plurality of switches 76, 78, 80 can be actuated in such a way that the opening position of the door 10, the closed position of the door 10 and an intermediate position of the door 10 can be detected by means of the individual switches 76, 78, 80, the first movement section between the intermediate position and the closed position of the door 10 and the second movement section is formed between the intermediate layer and the opening position of the door 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, the switch 76 is used to detect the open position of the door 10, the switch 78 is used to detect the intermediate position of the door 10 and the switch 80 is used to detect the closed position of the door 10. The force introduction device 52 of the first drive unit 12 is in the present exemplary embodiment Depending on the detection of the intermediate layer during the transfer of the door 10 into its closed position, it can be transferred from its non-engaged position into its engaged position, which is explained in more detail below.

The switches 82 and 84 both serve to detect a rotational position of the eccentric 56, the switches 82, 84 and the eccentric 56 being designed and arranged relative to one another in such a way that both switches 82, 84 can be actuated simultaneously by means of the eccentric 56 when the eccentric 56 in one in the Fig. 16a to 16c shown position, which corresponds to the engagement position of the force introduction device 52. In contrast, neither of the two switches 82, 84 can be actuated by means of the eccentric 56 when the eccentric 56 is in one in the Fig. 15a , 15b shown position, which corresponds to the non-engaged position of the force introduction device 52.

In contrast to the first drive unit 12, the second drive unit 14 is continuously connected to the coupling device 50 in a force-transmitting manner. For this purpose, a motor 86, for example an electric motor, of the second drive unit 14 is connected to the coupling link 70 in a torque-transmitting manner. See for example the Fig. 14 and 15a in the synopsis.

The functionality of the cooking appliance according to the invention and the method according to the invention are described below according to the present second exemplary embodiment and with reference to Fig. 13 to 16c explained in more detail.

The door 10 of the cooking appliance 2 is initially in its position Fig. 16a to 16c corresponding closed position, so that the cooking space opening 8 and thus the cooking space 6 is closed. In the closed position, the door 10 is held by means of the first drive unit 12 with the force introduction device 52 and the coupling link 70 of the coupling device 50, so that the door 10 is effectively secured against unwanted automatic opening.

In the closed position of the door 10, the force introduction device 52 is in its engagement position explained in more detail above. Both switches 82, 84 are actuated by means of the eccentric 56 in the manner explained above. The same applies to the switch 80. Corresponding electrical signals are present in the control 7 of the cooking appliance 2, in the manner known to those skilled in the art, for example for controlling the motors 54, 86 of the first and second drive units 12, 14 and for carrying out Cooking functions can be used.

In order to transfer the door 10 from its closed position to its closed position Fig. 13 In the opening position shown, a user, not shown, of the cooking appliance 2 in the present exemplary embodiment operates a button in the Fig. 13 to 16c Control element, not shown, of the cooking appliance 2. For example, the user presses a control element designed as a push button. However, other controls are also conceivable. In addition, as an alternative or in addition, the transfer of the door 10 from its closed position to its open position can also be initiated automatically. For example, a program sequence of an automatic program stored in the control 7 of the cooking appliance 2 provides for such an automatic transfer of the door 10.

After the user has pressed the push button, for example, the force introduction device 52 is first moved from its engagement position according to Fig. 16a to 16c in theirs Non-intervention situation according to the Fig. 15a and 15b transferred. The motor 54 of the first drive unit 12 is controlled accordingly by means of the controller 7, so that the motor 54 moves the eccentric 56 from it to the Fig. 16a to 16c corresponding rotational position in its to the Fig. 15a and 15b transferred to the corresponding rotational position. The motor 54 of the first drive unit 12 is then switched off using the controller 7. Due to the spring force of the two return springs 60, the carriage 58 and thus the force introduction device 52 arranged on the carriage 58 is in the respective image plane Fig. 15a to 16c moved upwards. The ones to the Fig. 15a and 15b The corresponding rotational position of the eccentric 56 is detected in the manner explained above by means of the two switches 82, 84 and forwarded to the controller 7.

The door 10 is now moved further by means of the second drive unit 14 from a position of the door 10 located between the closed position and the intermediate layer, via the intermediate layer in the Fig. 13 shown opening position transferred. In the present exemplary embodiment, the door 10 is balanced in such a way that very little force is required to transfer the door 10 from its closed position to its open position, i.e. over the entire range of movement of the door 10 in the direction of the open position. Accordingly, the motor 86 of the second drive unit 14 can be designed to be weak and therefore inexpensive. The opening position of the door 10 can be detected using the switch 76, as explained above.

In order to transfer the door 10 from their in the Fig. 13 shown opening position in their to Fig. 16a to 16c Corresponding closed position, for example to start a cooking process in the cooking chamber 6, the door 10 is first automatically moved by means of the second drive unit 14 from its opening position, i.e. at approximately 85 ° door opening, to approximately 3 ° door opening. When the door is opened at approximately 3°, the door 10 is in its intermediate position, which is detected by means of the switch 78 and forwarded to the control 7. The controller 7 then switches off the motor 86 of the second drive unit 14, so that the door 10 is no longer moved with the second drive unit 14 in the direction of its closed position.

Instead, the controller 7 controls the motor 54 in a manner known to those skilled in the art in such a way that the motor 54 moves the eccentric 56 from it into the Fig. 15a and 15b shown rotational position in its in the Fig. 16a to 16c shown rotation position transferred. In the present second exemplary embodiment, it is irrelevant whether the motor 54 moves the eccentric 56 in the image plane Fig. 15a turns left or right. The eccentric 56 presses the carriage 58 against the spring force of the two return springs 60 in the respective image plane Fig. 15a to 16c downward, so that the force introduction device 52 arranged on the carriage 58 is transferred from its non-engaged position into its engaged position and comes into force-transmitting engagement with the coupling link 70. The Force introduction device 52 presses against the coupling link slope 72 by means of the impeller 68, so that the force introduced into the coupling link 70 by means of the force introduction device 52 is deflected in such a way that the door 10 essentially seals the cooking chamber opening 8 of the cooking chamber 6 by means of the coupling device 50.

The door 10 is thus moved from approximately 3° door opening to 0° door opening, i.e. in the first movement section when the door 10 is transferred from its open position to its closed position, by means of the first drive unit 12. The first drive unit 12 presses the door 10 by means of the force introduction device 52, for example, against the above-mentioned sealing device, not shown, in such a way that the door 10 lies tightly against the sealing device, not shown, in its closed position. Accordingly, the higher force required for this and applied by the first drive unit 12, namely the contact force against the aforementioned sealing device, is only required over the small first movement section. Due to the favorable arrangement of the first drive unit 12 in terms of power transmission, it is nevertheless possible to reduce the required power of the first drive unit 12 to a minimum.

Due to the resilient contact of the force introduction device 52 arranged on the carriage 58 on the coupling device 50, namely the coupling link 70, in the engaged position of the force introduction device 52, the door 10, when the force introduction device 52 is in the engaged position, is against a spring force of the force introduction spring 62, for example from the user of the cooking appliance 2, not shown, can be manually moved from its closed position to its open position. Here, the force introduction device 52 moves relative to the carriage 58 in its range of motion limited by the limiting means 64, 66 of the carriage 58 and the force introduction device 52.

For example, the invention can also be used advantageously in other cooking appliances, such as steamers, microwave ovens or combination appliances with a plurality of different types of heating. The invention can also be used in the professional sector, i.e. in commercial cooking appliances.

The cooking appliance according to the invention according to the second exemplary embodiment can, analogous to the first exemplary embodiment, also have a so-called rapid cooling function. For example, an automatic program for the rapid cooling function of the cooking space is stored in the control of the cooking appliance, with the door being automatically transferred to an intermediate position corresponding to this automatic program when the automatic program is executed. The door is transferred from its closed position to the aforementioned intermediate position automatically, for example, by means of the second drive unit, with the door being automatically held in this intermediate position.

Furthermore, according to the second exemplary embodiment, the door can also be automatically transferred to at least one intermediate position for other cooking appliance functions.

70, in the engaged position of the force introduction device 52, the door 10, with the force introduction device 52 in the engaged position, can be manually moved from its closed position to its open position against a spring force of the force introduction spring 62, for example by the user of the cooking appliance 2, not shown. Here, the force introduction device 52 moves relative to the carriage 58 in its range of motion limited by the limiting means 64, 66 of the carriage 58 and the force introduction device 52.

The invention is not limited to the present exemplary embodiments of the cooking appliance according to the invention and the method according to the invention. For example, the invention can also be used advantageously in other cooking appliances, such as steamers, microwave ovens or combination appliances with a plurality of different types of heating. The invention can also be used in the professional sector, i.e. in commercial cooking appliances.

In contrast to the two exemplary embodiments, it is conceivable that the door can be moved by means of the first drive unit in a first movement section of the range of movement and by means of the second drive unit in a second movement section of the range of movement of the door, regardless of whether the door is in its open position or in whose closed position is transferred. However, embodiments with other dependencies are also possible when transferring the door from its open position to its closed position or vice versa, as well as when transferring the door from the open position or its closed position into an intermediate layer positioned between the open position and the closed position. The same applies to a transfer from one intermediate layer of the door to a different intermediate layer of the door.

The cooking appliance according to the invention according to the second exemplary embodiment can, analogous to the first exemplary embodiment, also have a so-called rapid cooling function. For example, an automatic program for the rapid cooling function of the cooking space is stored in the control of the cooking appliance, with the door being automatically transferred to an intermediate position corresponding to this automatic program when the automatic program is executed. The door is transferred from its closed position to the aforementioned intermediate position automatically, for example, by means of the second drive unit, with the door being automatically held in this intermediate position.

Furthermore, according to the second exemplary embodiment, the door can also be automatically transferred to at least one intermediate position for other cooking appliance functions.

Claims (9)

1. A cooking appliance (2) comprising a housing (4), a cooking chamber (6) which is arranged in the housing (4) and has a cooking chamber opening (8), and comprising a door (10) assigned to the cooking chamber opening (8), the door (10) being pivotable about an axis of rotation (16) arranged on the housing (4) in a movement region between a closed position and an opening position of the door (10), the cooking chamber (6) being closed in the closed position of the door (10) and accessible in the opening position of the door (10),
   characterized in that,
   on the housing (4), a first drive unit (12) and a second drive unit (14) are each connected to the door (10) in a force-transmitting manner on the side of the axis of rotation by means of a common coupling device (50) for automatic movement of the door (10), the door (10) being movable by means of the first drive unit (12) in a first movement portion of the movement region and by means of the second drive unit (14) in a second movement portion of the movement region of the door (10).
2. The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first drive unit (12) has a force introduction device (52), the force introduction device (52) being transferable back and forth between an engagement position, in which the force introduction device (52) is engaged with the coupling device (50) in a force-transmitting manner, and a non-engagement position, in which the force introduction device (52) is not engaged with the coupling device (50) in force-transmitting manner,
3. The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first drive unit (12) additionally has a motor (54), a cam (56) connected to the motor (54) in a torque-transmitting manner, and a carriage (58), the carriage (58) being spring-mounted on the housing (4) by means of at least one return spring (60) in such a way that the force introduction device (52) mounted on the carriage (58) can automatically be transferred from its engagement position into its non-engagement position by means of the return spring (60), and the motor (54), the cam (56) and the carriage (58) being designed and arranged relative to one another in such a way that the force introduction device (52) mounted on the carriage (58) can automatically be transferred from its non-engagement position into its engagement position by means of the motor (54), the cam (56) and the carriage (58),
4. The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the force introduction device (52) is spring-mounted on the carriage (58) by means of at least one force introduction spring (62), a movement region of the force introduction device (52) relative to the carriage (58) being limited by means of mutually corresponding limitation means (64, 66) of the force introduction device (52) and the carriage (58).
5. The cooking appliance (2) according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the coupling device (50) has a coupling link (70), the force introduction device (52) of the first drive unit (12) being engaged with the coupling device (50) in its engagement position by means of the coupling link (70), preferably that the coupling link (70) has a coupling link bevel (72) for diverting a force introduced into the coupling device (50) by means of the force introduction device (52).
6. The cooking appliance (2) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coupling device (50) has a control link (74), the control link (74) being designed to actuate at least one switch (76, 78, 80) which is connected to a controller (7) of the cooking appliance (2) for signal transmission, preferably that a plurality of switches (76, 78, 80) can be actuated by means of the control link (74), the opening position of the door (10), the closed position of the door (10) and an intermediate position of the door (10) being detectable by means of the individual switches (76, 78, 80), and the first movement portion being formed between the intermediate position and the closed position of the door (10) and the second movement portion being formed between the intermediate position and the opening position of the door (10).
7. The cooking appliance (2) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first movement portion is positioned on the closed position side and the second movement portion is positioned on the opening position side.
8. The cooking appliance (2) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the door (10) can automatically be transferred into at least one intermediate position of the door (10) by means of the first drive unit and/or the second drive unit (14) and can be held in this intermediate position, the intermediate position of the door (10) being positioned between the closed position and the opening position of the door (10).
9. The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the force introduction device (52) of the first drive unit (12) is transferred, depending on the detection of the intermediate position, from its engagement position into its non-engagement position and/or from its non-engagement position into its engagement position, the intermediate position of the door (10) being positioned between the closed position and the opening position of the door (10).

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