FR2864207A1 - Electrical cooking oven, has support that is liberated from action of electromagnet using mechanical device, for sliding support towards front by restoring force of spring - Google Patents

Abstract

The oven has an electromagnet (242) for maintaining a support (140) in a cavity. The electromagnet is activated automatically when the support is slided towards rear of the cavity till an interlocking position, where a spring (360) is not in its equilibrium position. The support is liberated from the action of the electromagnet using a mechanical device, for sliding the support towards the front by restoring force of the spring. The support is placed outside the cavity, when the spring is in equilibrium position. The spring is placed between the support and case.

Description

ELECTRIC HOUSEHOLD FURNACE

  The present invention relates to the technical field of household appliances oven type, and more particularly to those comprising a food positioning grid to be treated in the oven enclosure.

  In such appliances, when a cooking cycle is performed, the user wants to grab the dish disposed in the furnace chamber. Due to the high temperature environment of the internal walls of the oven, this operation can be tricky and generate burns for the user who has to introduce his hands into the furnace enclosure.

  It is known from document FR 1571638, an oven whose front door can open by sliding horizontally, this sliding causing a support food cooked. Such a device thus makes it possible to seize foods cooked without having to introduce hands into the enclosure of the oven.

  However, this expensive device requires the presence of a door oven, which is not systematic, especially in the kind of small oven called toaster oven where often the oven does not have a closing door of the enclosure.

  Similarly, the document US Pat. No. 3,830,220 describes an oven comprising a food support rack set to cook, this rack being mechanically connected to the oven door, the latter pivoting at the bottom, so that when opening from the door, the grill is automatically partially extracted from the oven enclosure, facilitating the extraction of cooked food. In addition to the need for the presence of a door, such a device offers only a reduced travel of the gate, related to the pivoting of the door which does not allow to have a large amplitude in the gate exit.

  It is also known, for example from the document FR 2266110 a wheeled carriage slidable from the front to the back of the oven and viceversa, the carriage supporting a grid on which are put the food to be cooked.

  Such a trolley thus facilitates the exit of food. However, the sliding of the carriage is carried out manually, it is therefore necessary to grasp the carriage to get the grill out of the oven.

  The present invention aims to improve such an output functionality regardless of the presence or absence of a door, and this automatically or manually, without having to grab a hot part disposed in the oven enclosure.

  The present invention is attained by means of an electric household electric cooking oven comprising a frame inside which is housed a cooking chamber opened by its front face, heating means arranged in the enclosure, an element of control accessible by the user and controlling the supply of the heating elements, said oven having a food support, said support being slidably mounted from the front to the rear of the enclosure and vice versa, characterized in that that a spring is disposed substantially horizontally between the support and the frame, establishing an equilibrium position where the support is partially disposed outside the cooking chamber, and in that the oven has a support holding means in the enclosure of the furnace, said means being actuated automatically when said support is slid towards the rear of the enclosure to a latching position where the spring is no longer in its position equilibrium, said support being releasable from the action of the holding means by a suitable device, providing a sliding of the support forward by the restoring force of the spring.

  Thus, the present invention provides a mechanism for maintaining the support of food in an oven on the principle of compressing or extending a spring when sliding the support towards the rear of the oven enclosure, said spring providing, by the restoring force, the mechanical means for removing, at least partially, the support of the cooking chamber. Such a device does not require any connection with the oven door and is very simple in its implementation.

  According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support holding means is an electromagnet in connection with the furnace frame, the support comprising a ferritic piece adapted to come into contact with the electromagnet when the support is in its position. interlocking position.

  The use of an electromagnet makes it easier to perform the function of holding the support in the furnace enclosure, and also allows, in a simple way, to release the support from its position to slide it forward thanks to the spring return force.

  Advantageously, the power supply circuit of the electromagnet comprises a switch which is closed by the support during its sliding towards the engagement position. This characteristic makes it possible to feed the electromagnet only wisely, that is to say only when the user wishes to carry out a cooking cycle.

  According to one embodiment, the oven comprises a button accessible by the user and used to actuate a switch disposed in the supply circuit of the electromagnet. Such a device allows the user to slide the support forward at any time, whether a cooking cycle is engaged or not. Such a button may or may not be common with the control element of the heating elements.

  Advantageously, the oven comprises a timer for supplying the heating elements for a predetermined time at the end of which the supply of the heating elements is stopped, the supply of the electromagnet also being stopped when the time selected by the timer has elapsed. This arrangement makes it possible to automatically slide the support and the food cooked out of the cooking chamber, at the end of the cooking cycle, while automatically cutting power to the heating elements.

  According to an alternative embodiment the oven has a door comprising a contactor for actuating a switch disposed in the supply circuit of the electromagnet when the door is in a specific open position, causing an automatic release of the support and food when the door is open enough. This aspect is very useful when it is desired to check or control the cooking state of a product without stopping the power supply of the heating elements, while providing a door ajar without action on the ejection mechanism.

  According to a second implementation of the invention, which may be complementary to the first, the holding means comprise a locking hook, adapted to lock the support in a latching position, said hook being rotatable in the frame of way to be engaged by the support when the latter is in its engaged position, said hook being connected to a mechanism adapted to cause the rotation of the hook to unlock the support.

  This device, purely mechanical, reduces costs by avoiding the use of an electromagnet. Moreover, it makes it possible to lock the support without requiring an electrical source, which makes it possible to store the support in the oven when the latter is disconnected.

  Advantageously, the mechanism capable of causing rotation of the hook to unlock the support is controlled by the timer and is actuated when the cooking time has elapsed. As previously mentioned, such a device allows, at the end of cooking, to automatically exit the support and food from the cooking chamber.

  In addition, the oven may include a button accessible by the user and to cause the rotation of the hook to unlock the support.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support holding means comprise a locking hook, able to lock the support in a first latching position, said hook being rotatable in the frame so as to be engaged. by the support when the latter is in its first engagement position, and an electromagnet in connection with the oven frame, the support comprising a ferritic piece adapted to come into contact with the electromagnet when the support is in a second interlocking position, the first position being located between the equilibrium position and the second position, the oven having two suitable devices, one for opening the supply circuit of the electromagnet, the other for to cause the rotation of the hook to release the support of the grip of the hook.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, a dual device makes it possible to maintain the support entirely in the cooking chamber: an electromagnet device that can be easily controlled and that is used during heating cycles, and a mechanical device that takes the relay when the user wants to store his support, without cooking.

  Advantageously, the hook has a bulge adapted to cooperate with the support between the first and second latching position and causing the rotation of the hook away from the support. This trick makes it possible, when the support is held in its second engaged position, to avoid striking the hook when the support is released and returns, by the restoring force of the spring, to its equilibrium position.

  According to one or other of the implementations of the invention, a braking means is interposed on the travel of the support in order to avoid an abrupt exit of the support which could cause the ejection out of the support of certain foods. .

  The present invention will be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of the front part of an oven according to the present invention, FIG. of the support and its ejection mechanism inside the oven, the support being in a first position, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, where the support is in a second position, Figures 4 and 5 show, in top view, a detail of an alternative embodiment where the support is shown in two different positions; FIG. 6 is a top view of an improvement of the present invention.

  As represented in FIG. 1, a furnace 2 according to the invention comprises a frame 4 defining a cooking chamber 6 open on the front face 8. Heating elements are arranged in the enclosure of the furnace, at least close to the vault of the furnace. 'pregnant.

  On the front face of the oven is disposed at least one adjustment knob 10 of the furnace parameters, in particular for supplying the heating elements. This button can be linked to a timer. The oven may also include an oven temperature setting.

  According to the invention, this furnace comprises rails 12 for guiding a support 14, these rails being substantially horizontal and parallel to the sides 3a, 3b of the furnace.

  The support 14 thus has lower branches 15 disposed in the rails 12, said branches being connected to upper legs 16 forming a frame and intended to receive the food to be cooked. The support also comprises an operating handle 18 arranged towards the front of the support.

  Figure 2 shows the support and its holding mechanism and ejection in a top view or has been retained that the bottom wall 3c of the oven. As is visible in this figure, the support consists of a lower frame constituted by the branches 15 and connected to a U-shaped structure formed by the branches 16. A plate, not shown, is arranged on the branches 16 and allows to accommodate dishes and foods to cook or heat.

  Other support structures may be envisaged, the branches 16 may in particular be a metal grid.

  According to the invention, the lower frame is connected to a mass part 20 called coach, in the opposite part to that having the operating handle 18, that is to say in the rear part of the support. This driver 20 includes in particular an opening not shown allowing it to slide along a rod 22 substantially parallel to the guide rails 12 and disposed between two stops 24, 26 fixed to the frame or the wall 3c of the oven, respectively to the back and towards the front of the oven. The driver 20 has an extension 30 along the rod 22 allowing better guidance of the support, the extension ending in two lateral arms 32, 34 arranged on either side of the guide rod 22.

  On the lateral arm 32 is fixed the end of a spring 36. The other end of this spring is fixed on the stop 26 at the front of the oven. The equilibrium position of the spring is that shown in Figures 1 and 2, wherein the support is partially disposed outside the oven.

  On the lateral arm 34 is arranged a polar mass 38 having a flat face 39 disposed vertically.

  In the oven is also disposed an electronic card 40 connected to the frame or to the bottom wall 3c of the oven and including an electromagnet 42 and its electrical control circuit. The electromagnet 42 and the pole mass 38 are arranged vis-à-vis in such a way that the polar mass can come into contact with the electromagnet by its face 39.

  According to the proposed example, the electronic card 40 also comprises a bipolar switch consisting of two strips 44 for interrupting or closing the supply circuit of the electromagnet.

  In the equilibrium position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bipolar switch 20 is open and the electromagnet is not energized.

  Figure 3 shows the support in its engagement position. Thus, when the user wishes to introduce food into the oven to cook or reheat, it pushes the support 14 to the bottom of the oven by the handle 18, against the restoring force of the spring 36. The support then slides along the rails 12 and the rod 22. In this sliding, the side arm 32 closes the bipolar switch by pressing, on its underside, the lamellae 44. The electromagnet is then powered. The sliding is stopped by the meeting between the face 39 of the pole mass 38 and the electromagnet 42, the latter, electrically powered, maintaining the polar mass. The support 14 is thus maintained in this position until the opening of the supply of the electromagnet.

  Indeed, when this opening occurs, the pole mass 38 is released from the grip of the electromagnet 42 and the restoring force of the spring 36 slides the support to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

  The opening of the supply circuit of the electromagnet can be obtained in different ways, for example by the heating element supply timer. It is also conceivable to provide a specific control on one of the walls of the oven allowing the user to momentarily suspend the supply of the electromagnet, independently of the power supply of the heating elements, in order to take the food out of the oven to a control of their cooking or for a complement of recipe. Such a command can be represented by the button 50 shown in FIG. 1. Of course, it is perfectly conceivable that the button 50 can also control the supply of the heating elements.

  According to an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, the oven comprises a hook 60, rotatable about a vertical axis 62. Such a hook can thus pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall 3c of the oven. Furthermore, this hook has a leg 64 terminated by a foot 66 disposed against a wall 68 connected to the frame or the bottom wall of the oven. The leg 64 and its foot 66 perform an elastic return function of the hook 60, so as to have an equilibrium position which is that of Figure 4. It is thus necessary that this leg 64 has a certain elasticity.

  A simple spring disposed transversely between the hook and a part of the frame can achieve the desired function.

  Furthermore, the lateral arm 340 of the coach carrying the polar mass 380 comprises a beveled portion 342 opposite the hook 60. The head 63 of this hook is also rounded so as to cooperate with the beveled portion 342 of the lateral arm 340. The head also has a shoulder 61.

  Thus, in operation, when the user slides the support towards the rear of the oven, the tapered portion 342 comes into contact with the head 63 of the hook. An additional sliding of the support rotates the hook in the direction F about its pivot axis 62. The lateral arm 340 can thus pass the hook, the latter being immediately repositioned by the elastic return of the leg 64 when the interaction between the lateral arm 340 and the head 63 has ceased, as shown in Figure 4. The repositioning of the hook in its equilibrium position allows the shoulder 61 to lock the lateral arm 340 and thus the support in this engagement position.

  Such a hook may be sufficient to achieve the desired function, a means of unlocking the support in this engagement position then being provided, for example in the form of a lever for exerting traction on the head of the hook. This means can be controlled by the user or linked to the supply timer of the heating elements (for example by the rotational stroke of a mechanical timer).

  However, it seems advantageous to combine the two holding devices presented are the hook, purely mechanical device, and the electromagnet, electromagnetic device. Thus, in an advantageous embodiment, the oven has, in addition to the hook, the electromagnet 42 and operating as previously mentioned.

  As is clearly visible in FIG. 4, this electromagnet is positioned such that a distance 6 separates it from the polar mass 380 when the hook holds the lateral arm 340 in a first latching position. In this position, the lateral arm 32 does not interact with the lamellae 44 and the electromagnet 42 is not powered.

  This position makes it possible to maintain the support independently of any power supply to the oven, for example when it is desired to store the support.

  When the user wishes to carry out a thermal cycle, the oven being consequently connected to the electrical network, it further slides the support towards the rear of the oven in order to bring the face 391 of the polar mass 380 in contact with the electromagnet . This sliding also causes the closure of the supply circuit of the electromagnet by interaction of the lamellae 44 with the lateral arm 32. The support can thus be maintained in a second latching position by the electromagnet.

  When stopping the supply of the electromagnet occurs, as previously mentioned, the support undergoes the restoring force of the spring 36 and then slides forward, along the direction G illustrated in FIG. 5. In order to avoid that the lateral arm 340 does not strike the shoulder 61, the hook 60 has a bulge 65 oriented in the same direction as the head 63. This bulge is intended, by cooperation with the beveled portion 342 of the lateral arm 340 during the positioning the support in its second engagement position, to move the hook away from the lateral arm 340. Thus, when the electromagnet is no longer powered, the hook does not have time to resume its position before the passage of the arm Lateral 340 which, by the speed acquired, allows the support to return to its equilibrium position without being stopped by the shoulder 61 of the hook 60.

  Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 6, a braking means is arranged on the travel of the support, so that the exit of the support is not smooth.

  According to the proposed example, the braking means consists, on the one hand, of a groove 70 formed on the lower face of the lateral arm 350 carrying the polar mass 384, and on the other hand of a lamella 72 disposed on the frame or on the bottom wall 3c of the oven. This lamella 72 comprises a portion 73 parallel to the groove and in the extension thereof, the portion 73 being followed by a portion 74 having an angle α less than 10 with the portion 73.

  Thus, when the support returns from one of the engagement positions, as previously defined, to its equilibrium position, the lateral arm 350 moves and engages around the blade after a certain stroke of the support. . Braking is then achieved by friction between the portion 74 of the blade and the groove 70, thanks to the given angle. This braking can slow down or stop the support.

  The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments presented and other variants may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  Thus, the spring 36 can not act in extension, but act in compression, being disposed between the lateral arm 32 and a part connected to the frame and located at the rear of the furnace, such as the abutment 24.

  Furthermore, the means for cutting the power supply of the electromagnet or for unlocking the hook can cover other forms than those described.

  Similarly, the braking means may take other forms, such as air leakage devices, called dashpot, or inertia wheel devices. Other systems, friction, can also be considered. A simple spring, put in opposition at the end of the race of the support, can also be satisfactory for braking the exit of the support.

  One can also consider protecting the ejection mechanism by a plate disposed between the branches 15 and 16 and masking said mechanism vis-à-vis food and radiation of the heating elements. Such a plate thus represents the sole of the cooking chamber. It is then possible to provide heating elements at this sole, between the protection plate and the branches 16 of the support.

Claims (1)

12 CLAIMS   1. Electric cooking oven (2) comprising a cooking frame (4) inside which is housed a cooking chamber (6) open by its front face (8), heating means arranged in the enclosure (6). ), a control member (10, 50) accessible by the user and controlling the supply of the heating elements, said oven (2) having a support (14) food, said support (14) being slidably mounted the front to the rear of the enclosure (6) and vice versa, characterized in that a spring (36) is arranged substantially horizontally between the support (14) and the frame (4), establishing a position d equilibrium wherein the support (14) is partially disposed outside the cooking chamber (6), and in that the oven (2) has means (42, 60) for holding the support (14) in the enclosure (6) of the oven, said means (42, 60) being actuated automatically when said support (14) is slid towards the rear of the enclosure (6) to a position the spring (36) is no longer in its equilibrium position, said support (14) can be released from the action of the holding means (42, 60) by a suitable device, providing a sliding support (14) forwards by the restoring force of the spring (36).   2. Appliance oven (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for holding the support (14) is an electromagnet (42) in connection with the frame (4) of the oven, the support (14) comprising a part ferritic (38, 380, 384) adapted to come into contact with the electromagnet (42) when the support (14) is in its engagement position.   3. Appliance oven (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the supply circuit of the electromagnet (42) comprises a switch which is closed by the support (14) during its sliding to the engagement position .   4. Appliance oven (2) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises a button (10, 50) accessible by the user and for actuating a switch disposed in the supply circuit the electromagnet (42).   5. Appliance oven (2) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a timer for supplying the heating elements for a predetermined time at the end of which the supply of the heating elements is stopped, and in that the supply of the electromagnet (42) is also stopped when the time selected by the timer has elapsed.   6. Appliance oven (2) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it has a door having a switch for actuating a switch disposed in the supply circuit of the electromagnet (42). ) when the door is in a defined open position.   7. Appliance oven (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding means comprise a hook (60) for locking, adapted to lock the support (14) in a latching position, said hook ( 60) being movable in rotation in the frame (4) so as to be engaged by the support (14) when the latter is in its latching position, said hook (60) being connected to a mechanism able to cause its rotation to to unlock the support (14).   8. Appliance oven (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mechanism capable of causing the rotation of the hook (60) to unlock the support (14) is controlled by the timer and is operated when the cooking time is expired.   9. Appliance oven (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a button (10, 50) accessible by the user and for causing the rotation of the hook (60) to unlock the support (14). .   10. Appliance oven (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for holding the support comprises a locking hook (60), adapted to lock the support (14) in a first latching position, said hook (60) being movable in rotation in the frame so as to be engaged by the support (14) when the latter is in its first latching position, as well as an electromagnet (42) in connection with the frame (4 ) of the furnace (2), the support (14) comprising a ferritic piece (380, 384) adapted to come into contact with the electromagnet (42) when the support (14) is in a second latching position, the first position being located between the equilibrium position and the second position, the oven (2) having two suitable devices, one to open the supply circuit of the electromagnet (42), the other to cause rotation of the hook (60) to release the supp ort (14) of the grip of the hook (60).   11. Appliance oven (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hook (60) has a bulge (65) adapted to cooperate with the support (14) between the first and second latching position and causing rotating the hook (60) away from the support (14).   12. Appliance oven (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a braking means (72) is interposed on the stroke of the support (14).