EP4177526A1 - Baking oven with recirculation unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an oven for preparing food, comprising a housing (2) in which a baking chamber (3) is provided, a first heating device (4) which is provided in the upper area of the baking chamber (3), a second heating device (5 ), which is provided in the lower area of the baking chamber (3) and a circulating air unit (6), characterized in that the circulating air unit (6) is provided on a first side wall (3.1) of the baking chamber (3) and that a fan motor (6.1) the air circulation unit (6) is integrated into a side area (2.1) of the housing (2), which is located behind a control unit (1.1) of the oven (1).

Description

The innovation concerns an oven with a convection unit.

Ovens are known per se. In particular, ovens are known which are used specifically for the preparation of convenience foods, i.e., for example, ready-to-prepare meals such as frozen ready meals, in particular pizzas and baguettes. Ovens of this type are used, for example, in fast-food restaurants.

The problem with known baking ovens is that they often only have an uneven distribution of heat in the baking chamber and therefore the food is often heated unevenly. As a result, the food to be heated often has an uneven degree of browning, which is undesirable.

Proceeding from this, it is the task of the innovation to specify a baking oven which, despite its compact design, enables food to be heated better.

The task is solved by a baking oven according to the features of claim 1 . Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The innovation relates to an oven. The oven is in particular a compact oven with a height smaller than the width of the oven. In particular, the oven is designed as a free-standing oven, ie the oven has a housing that is not intended for installation in a piece of furniture, in particular a kitchen cabinet. The housing can be a stainless steel housing, for example.

A baking chamber is provided in the housing of the baking oven. The oven has a first heating device which is provided in the upper area of the oven and is used to supply top heat to the food to be prepared. In addition, the oven has a second heating device, which is arranged in the lower area of the oven and is used to supply bottom heat to the food to be prepared. A recirculation unit is also provided. The air circulation unit is arranged on a side wall of the baking chamber. The fan motor is integrated in a side area of the housing of the baking oven to the side next to the baking chamber, with the side area being located behind a control unit of the baking oven.

The main advantage of the oven is that a compact oven is created which, despite the limited installation space, especially in the depth direction, has a circulating air function and thus enables more even heat distribution in the baking chamber, which leads to better preparation results.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a suction opening and a blow-out opening of the air circulation unit are provided in the first side wall of the baking chamber. This means that air flows through the baking chamber from only one side of the baking chamber, which leads to a more compact design.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the suction opening and the exhaust opening are offset from one another in the depth direction of the baking chamber arranged. This means that the air recirculation unit can suck in the air, for example, in a rear area of the side wall and let it flow out in a front area of the side wall. This ensures a good flow of air through the baking chamber, which leads to improved temperature distribution.

According to one embodiment, the suction opening is arranged lower in the baking chamber than the exhaust opening. In an alternative embodiment, the exhaust opening can also be arranged deeper in the baking chamber than the suction opening.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the air recirculation unit has a flow channel and a fan wheel driven by the fan motor, with the fan wheel being provided in the flow channel. This creates a locally limited space in which the fan wheel is arranged, which contributes to the high efficiency of the air recirculation unit.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal extension of the flow channel extends in the depth direction of the baking chamber. A channel is thus created which connects the suction opening to the blow-out opening which is spaced apart in the depth direction. This in turn increases the efficiency of the air recirculation unit.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the air recirculation unit has a fan wheel, which is designed for radial suction and for axial blowing out of the air. It is thus possible, despite the offset arrangement of the suction opening in the depth direction of the baking chamber relative to the exhaust opening, to place the fan wheel in the area of the exhaust opening and to convey the air radially from the suction opening.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the air recirculation unit has an intermediate wall, with a peripheral wall section protruding from the intermediate wall, by means of which the flow channel is delimited in the radial direction. The intermediate wall makes it possible to form a thermal barrier between the fan motor and the baking chamber, which on the one hand delimits the flow channel and on the other hand limits the heat input into the fan motor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the intermediate wall is attached to the first side wall of the baking chamber in such a way that the intermediate wall forms the flow channel with the peripheral wall section and the first side wall of the baking chamber. The interaction of the intermediate wall with the side wall of the baking chamber thus forms an at least essentially closed flow channel, which enables the air moved by the fan wheel to flow effectively through the baking chamber.

According to one embodiment, a layer of insulating material is provided between the first side wall of the baking chamber and the intermediate wall. This can limit the heat transfer in the direction of the fan motor.

According to one embodiment, the air recirculation unit has a support wall to which the fan motor is attached. The support wall preferably extends over the entire height and depth of the oven. It is preferably connected directly to the housing of the oven in order to stably fix the fan motor. In addition, the heat input into the fan motor can be reduced by fixing the fan motor to the support wall instead of the intermediate wall.

According to one embodiment, the supporting wall is provided on the side of the intermediate wall facing away from the baking chamber. The intermediate wall is arranged at a distance from the supporting wall and fixed to it. This sandwich-like design of the air recirculation unit means that the heat input into the fan motor and also into the housing wall can be reduced

According to one embodiment, a layer of insulating material is provided between the supporting wall and the intermediate wall. This can further reduce the heat loss from the baking chamber and the heat input into the fan motor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a circulating air control unit is provided for controlling the circulating air function of the oven. The circulating air control unit has a separate control circuit board which is arranged separately from a main control circuit board which controls the other oven functions. This creates a modular design, so that it is also possible to retrofit ovens with the air circulation unit.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a temperature sensor is arranged in the baking chamber, which is provided on a second side wall of the baking chamber, which is opposite the air circulation unit. As a result, the temperature can be measured on the side opposite the air circulation unit, which enables improved temperature control of the oven.

The terms "approximately", "substantially" or "roughly" mean deviations from the exact value by +/-10%, preferably by +/-5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function .

Further developments, advantages and application possibilities of the innovation also result from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All of the features described and/or illustrated are fundamentally the subject of the innovation, either individually or in any combination, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or how they relate back to them. The content of the claims is also made part of the description.

Fig. 1

beispielhaft ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines neuerungsgemäßen Backofens mit geöffnetem Backraum in einer ersten perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 2

beispielhaft ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines neuerungsgemäßen Backofens mit geöffnetem Backraum in einer zweiten perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 3

beispielhaft die Umlufteinheit des Backofens in einer ersten perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung;

Fig. 4

beispielhaft die Umlufteinheit des Backofens in einer zweiten perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung;

Fig. 5

beispielhaft die Umlufteinheit des Backofens im zusammengefügten Zustand in einer ersten perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 6

beispielhaft die Umlufteinheit des Backofens im zusammengefügten Zustand in einer zweiten perspektivischen Darstellung; und

Fig. 7

beispielhaft ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines neuerungsgemäßen Backofens mit teilweise geöffnetem Gehäuse in einer oberseitigen perspektivischen Darstellung.

The innovation is explained in more detail below with reference to figures of exemplary embodiments. show:

1

an exemplary embodiment of a baking oven according to the invention with an open baking chamber in a first perspective view;

2

an exemplary embodiment of a baking oven according to the invention with an open baking chamber in a second perspective view;

3

example, the air circulation unit of the oven in a first perspective exploded view;

4

example, the air circulation unit of the oven in a second perspective exploded view;

figure 5

example, the air circulation unit of the oven in the assembled state in a first perspective view;

6

example, the air circulation unit of the oven in the assembled state in a second perspective view; and

7

an exemplary embodiment of an oven according to the innovation with a partially open housing in a top perspective view.

The Figures 1 and 2 show an oven 1 according to the innovation in different perspective views. The oven 1 is embodied as a free-standing appliance and is in particular a compact oven which is embodied in restaurants or snack bars for heating convenience food, ie for example ready-to-prepare meals such as frozen ready meals etc. In particular, the oven 1 is configured to bake frozen pizzas or frozen baguettes.

The baking oven 1 has a housing 2 which includes an opening for a baking chamber 3 at the front. The baking chamber can be loaded with the food to be prepared via the opening. In particular, the oven cannot have a door that can be swung open, but rather a slide-in device 1.2 can be provided (see Fig. 7 ), which has a closing panel and a support surface or a grate for the food to be prepared. The closing panel is designed to close the opening of the baking chamber 3 after inserting the insert 1.2 into the baking chamber 3. A handle can also be provided on the closing panel of the inserter 1.2, via which the inserter 1.2 can be pulled out of the baking chamber 3 and by means of which the inserter 1.2 can be lifted and transported after being pulled out of the baking chamber. The handle can be designed, for example, as a handle-like handle that protrudes perpendicularly from the closing panel. The handle may be removably fixed to the striker panel by a quick connect mechanism.

The oven 1 also has an operating unit 1.1, by means of which the oven's baking programs can be selected. In particular, the oven has 1 pre-programmed programs for the preparation of pizza and baguette. The control unit 1.1 is designed in such a way that the baking function can be activated by pressing a button or a combination of buttons, so that operation is greatly simplified. Once the predefined program has been selected and started, it is carried out automatically, i.e. the operator has no influence on the control of the heating devices and/or the air circulation unit. The temperature selection and temperature control of the baking oven 1 is preferably carried out fully automatically without operator influence.

The baking oven 1 has a first heating device 4 and a second heating device 5, by means of which the baking chamber 3 is heated. The first and second heating devices 4, 5 can in particular be resistance heating devices, in particular heating coils.

In addition, the baking oven 1 has an air circulation unit 6 by means of which air circulation can be generated in the baking chamber 3 . The air circulation unit 6 is provided on the first side wall 3.1 of the baking chamber 3, which delimits the baking chamber 3 laterally. In particular, the air recirculation unit 6 is provided on the outside of the first side wall 3.1 in such a way that the fan motor 6.1 and the air recirculation control unit 6.10 of the air recirculation unit 6 are accommodated in a side area 2.1 of the housing 2 of the oven 1, which is located behind the operating unit 1.1.

The structure of the air recirculation unit 6 is described in more detail below. On the first side wall 3.1 of the baking chamber 3 there is a suction opening 6.2 and a blow-out opening 6.3. The suction opening 6.2 and the exhaust opening 6.3 are spaced apart from one another in the depth direction TR of the baking chamber 3, for example in such a way that the suction opening 6.2 is in a rear area of the side wall 3.1 and the exhaust opening 6.3 is in a front area of the side wall 3.1. The exhaust opening 6.3 is thus provided closer to the opening of the baking chamber 3 than the suction opening 6.2. In principle, an inverse arrangement of the suction opening 6.2 and the exhaust opening 6.3 is also conceivable. The exhaust opening 6.3 is preferably provided in the area, in particular in the flow direction of the air, in front of a fan wheel 6.1.1, which is driven by the fan motor 6.1 and which serves to generate the air flow through the baking chamber 3.

Figures 3 and 4 show the recirculation unit 6 in exploded views from different perspectives. As explained above, the recirculation unit 6 is directly connected to the rear of the first side wall 3.1. It comprises a first layer of insulating material 6.7, an intermediate wall 6.5, a second layer of insulating material 6.9, a supporting wall 6.8 and a fan motor 6.1.

The first insulating material layer 6.7 is provided on the back of the first side wall 3.1. The intermediate wall 6.5, which is arranged parallel to the first side wall 3.1 in the installed state, directly adjoins the first insulating material layer 6.7. The intermediate wall 6.5 has a wall section 6.6, which is preferably designed to be closed all the way around. The wall section 6.6 can consist, for example, of a multiply bent or edged flat material that is welded onto the intermediate wall 6.5.

The insulating material layer 6.7 has a section which is adapted to the peripheral contour of the wall section 6.6, so that when the wall section 6.6 and the insulating material layer 6.7 are joined congruently, the wall section 6.6 extends through the section of the insulating material layer 6.7. The wall section 6.6 can thus be positioned on the first side wall 3.1 in such a way that the wall section 6.6 rests on the outside with its free-end edge, which faces away from the intermediate wall 6.5, on the first side wall 3.1. As a result, a flow channel 6.4 is delimited by the intermediate wall 6.5, the wall section 6.6 and the first side wall 3.1, in which the fan wheel 6.1.1 is provided and through which the air flow can be directed by means of the fan wheel 6.1.1.

The fan wheel 6.1.1 is configured to suck in the air laterally from the intake opening 6.2 and blow it out through the exhaust opening 6.3.

A support wall 6.8 is provided to hold the fan motor 6.1. In the assembled state, the support wall 6.8 is aligned parallel to the intermediate wall 6.5 and to the first side wall 3.1. The supporting wall 6.8 is preferably formed by a sheet metal piece with a folded edge, which is sized so that it extends along the entire depth and the entire height of the interior of the housing 2 and can be fixed on the outside relative to the housing wall.

The intermediate wall 6.5 is preferably not itself fixed directly to the housing 2 of the baking oven 1, but is held by means of the supporting wall 6.8. For example, press-in sleeves 6.5.1 can be provided on the intermediate wall 6.5, each of which has an internal thread. The support wall 6.8 has several holes that when Assembling the circulating air unit 6 each coincide with a press-fit sleeve of the intermediate wall 6.5 that corresponds in terms of position, so that the supporting wall 6.8 can be screwed through the bores to the intermediate wall 6.5.

For thermal shielding of the fan motor 6.1, a second insulating material layer 6.9 is preferably provided between the intermediate wall 6.5 and the supporting wall 6.8.

A connection point for the fan motor 6.1 is provided on the back of the supporting wall 6.8. The fan motor 6.1 is flanged there, for example. The shaft of the fan motor 6.1 extends through the supporting wall 6.8, the second layer of insulating material 6.9 and the intermediate wall 6.5 into the flow channel 6.4, so that the fan wheel 6.1.1 can be fixed on the shaft. The fan motor 6.1 preferably has a further fan wheel 6.1.2, which cools the fan motor itself. The other fan wheel 6.1.2 is attached, for example, to the shaft of the fan motor 6.1 and is preferably located between the supporting wall 6.8 and the fan motor 6.1 itself. When the shaft rotates, the fan wheel 6.1.2 generates an air flow away from the baking chamber 3 over the fan motor 6.1 to cool it down.

As in particular in 6 can be seen, the air recirculation unit 6 has a circuit board which forms the air recirculation control unit 6.10. The circulating air control unit 6.10 implements functions that are required to control and operate the ventilation motor 6.1. The circulating air control unit 6.10 can be connected to a main control circuit board of the oven 1, for example by means of spacers, and can be electrically coupled to it via a cable connection.

In a second side wall 3.2 opposite the first side wall 3.1 and thus on the side of the baking chamber 3 opposite the air circulation unit 6, a temperature sensor is provided, by means of which the temperature in the baking chamber 3 can be measured. The temperature information determined by the temperature sensor is used to control the oven 1 in order to obtain a predefined temperature profile for the respective selected program.

As previously mentioned, once a predefined program has been selected and started, that program will run automatically so that the operator has no control over the heaters and/or the air recirculation unit. In particular, the air recirculation unit does not run continuously but is switched on and off under program control. The user therefore has no influence on whether the recirculation unit is activated or not.

The innovation was described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that numerous changes and modifications are possible without departing from the idea on which the innovation is based.

Reference List

1

oven

1.1

operating unit

1.2

insert

2

Housing

2.1

side panel

3

baking room

3.1

first side wall

3.2

second side wall

4

first heater

5

second heater

6

recirculation unit

6.1

fan motor

6.1.1

fan wheel

6.1.2

fan wheel

6.2

intake port

6.3

exhaust port

6.4

flow channel

6.5

partition

6.5.1

press-in sleeve

6.6

circumferential wall section

6.7

insulating material layer

6.8

supporting wall

6.9

insulating material layer

6.10

recirculation control unit

TR

depth direction

Claims (16)

Baking oven for preparing food, comprising a housing (2) in which a baking chamber (3) is provided, a first heating device (4) which is provided in the upper area of the baking chamber (3), a second heating device (5) which is lower area of the baking chamber (3) and a circulating air unit (6), characterized in that the circulating air unit (6) is provided on a first side wall (3.1) of the baking chamber (3) and in that a fan motor (6.1) of the circulating air unit (6 ) is integrated into a side area (2.1) of the housing (2), which is located behind a control unit (1.1) of the oven (1). Baking oven according to Claim 1, characterized in that an intake opening (6.2) and an exhaust opening (6.3) of the air circulation unit (6) are provided in the first side wall (3.1) of the baking chamber (3). Baking oven according to Claim 2, characterized in that the suction opening (6.2) and the exhaust opening (6.3) are offset from one another in the depth direction (TR) of the baking chamber (3). Baking oven according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction opening (6.2) is arranged lower in the baking chamber (3) than the exhaust opening (6.3). Baking oven according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air circulation unit (6) has a flow channel (6.4) and a fan wheel (6.1.1) driven by the fan motor (6.1), the fan wheel (6.1.1) being in the flow channel (6.4 ) is provided. Baking oven according to Claim 5, characterized in that the flow channel (6.4) extends with its longitudinal extent in the depth direction (TR) of the baking chamber (3). Baking oven according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circulating air unit (6) has a fan wheel (6.1.1) which is designed for radial suction and for axial blowing out of the air. Baking oven according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the air circulation unit (6) has an intermediate wall (6.5), a peripheral wall section (6.6) protruding from the intermediate wall (6.5), by means of which the flow channel (6.4) is delimited. Baking oven according to Claim 8, characterized in that the intermediate wall (6.5) is attached to the first side wall (3.1) of the baking chamber (3) in such a way that the intermediate wall (6.5) is connected to the peripheral wall section (6.6) and the first side wall (3.1) of the baking chamber (3) form the flow channel (6.4). Baking oven according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that an insulating material layer (6.7) is provided between the first side wall (3.1) of the baking chamber (3) and the intermediate wall (6.5). Baking oven according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air circulation unit (6) has a support wall (6.8) to which the fan motor (6.1) is attached. Baking oven according to Claim 11, characterized in that the supporting wall (6.8) is provided on the side of the intermediate wall (6.5) facing away from the baking chamber (3). Baking oven according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the intermediate wall (6.5) is arranged at a distance from the supporting wall (6.8) and is fixed to it. Baking oven according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that an insulating material layer (6.9) is provided between the supporting wall (6.8) and the intermediate wall (6.5). Baking oven according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a circulating air control unit (6.10) is provided for controlling the circulating air function of the baking oven (1) and in that the circulating air control unit (6.10) has a separate control circuit board which is controlled by a main control circuit board which controls the other oven functions takes place, is arranged separately. Baking oven according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a temperature sensor is arranged in the baking chamber (3) and is provided on a second side wall (3.2) of the baking chamber (3) which is opposite the air circulation unit (6).

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