WO2011080223A2

WO2011080223A2 - A cooking device

Info

Publication number: WO2011080223A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/070690
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cemalettin Kalayci
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2009-12-31
Filing date: 2010-12-23
Publication date: 2011-07-07
Also published as: EP2519774A2; WO2011080223A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a body (2), an oven cavity (3) which is located inside the body (2) and wherein foods to be cooked are placed, a sensor (4) which detects at least one of the parameters inside the oven cavity (3).

Description

A COOKING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device comprising a sensor.

[0002] In cooking devices, sensors are used in order to detect the parameters such as the cooking situation and the type of the food and the amount of moisture in the oven cavity.

[0003] In the state of the art Japanese Patent Applications No. JP2001 182948 and JP2133714, cooking devices comprising a sensor which is used for detecting the conditions in the cooking cavity and an opening/closing cover which is disposed in front of the sensor for protecting the sensor are explained.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking device

comprising a sensor which makes measurements with high accuracy without being affected by the conditions of the inner volume.

[0005] In the cooking device realized in order to attain the aim of the present

invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, the sensor which makes detection regarding to the situation in the oven cavity is separated from the oven cavity by means of a first cover. A diaphragm shutter is disposed between the first cover and the sensor. When a detection is to be made by the sensor, first the first cover is opened and then the diaphragm shutter is opened and closed. When the diaphragm shutter is opened, the sensor makes detection. The opening and closing interval of the diaphragm shutter is determined according to the duration of making detection.

[0006] Thus, the sensor is prevented from being affected by the factors such as the high temperature occurring in the oven cavity during cooking and the oil and dirt spattering to the oven cavity walls. The detection accuracy of the sensor is increased and the operating life thereof is extended.

[0007] The sensor can be positioned in a receptacle inside the oven cavity or can also be disposed outside the oven cavity in different embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiment wherein the sensor is disposed outside the oven cavity, an opening is present on one of the oven cavity walls. The sensor is positioned behind the opening. In this embodiment, the first cover is sized such as to cover the opening.

[0008] The diaphragm shutter comprises blades that open by rotating. The blades are rotatably fastened on a circle with certain intervals. When the diaphragm shutter is to be closed, the blades move such that their free ends move towards the center of the circle. When the diaphragm shutter is to be opened, the blades rotate such that the points, from where they are fastened on the circle, are at the center and the free ends thereof move towards the wall of the circle.

[0009] In different embodiments of the present invention, the sensor can be a moisture sensor that detects the amount of moisture in the oven cavity, a display device or an infrared distance sensor that detects the type or amount of cooking of the food inside the oven cavity.

[0010] The model embodiments that relate to a cooking device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[001 1] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cooking device.

[0012] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the cooking device of the present

invention.

[0013] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the diaphragm shutter in the open position.

[0014] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the diaphragm shutter in the closed position.

[0015] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooking device

2. Body

3. Oven cavity

4. Sensor

5. First cover

6. Diaphragm shutter

7. Control unit

8. Opening

9. Blade

10. Housing 1 1. Ventilating mechanism

12. Fan

[0016] The cooking device (1) comprises a body (2), an oven cavity (3) which is located inside the body (2) and wherein foods to be cooked are placed, a sensor (4) which detects at least one of the parameters inside the oven cavity (3) (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

[0017] The cooking device (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises:

- a housing (10) wherein the sensor (4) is disposed,

- An opening/closing first cover (5) which separates the housing (10) and the oven cavity (3) from each other and

- a diaphragm shutter (6) which is located between the first cover (5) and the sensor (4)

[0018] (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

[0019] Thus, the sensor (4) is provided to be protected from the negative effects of the oven cavity (3) conditions and the detection accuracy is also increased by providing that there are no obstructions between the sensor (4) and the oven cavity (3) during the detection process.

[0020] The cooking device (1) comprises a control unit (7) which at first provides the first cover (5) to be opened and then the diaphragm shutter (6) to be opened and closed instantaneously, and afterwards the first cover (5) to be closed and the sensor (4) to make detection as soon as the diaphragm shutter (6) is opened, when a parameter inside the oven cavity (3) is desired to be detected by the sensor (4).

[0021] When a detection is desired to be performed by the sensor (4), the control unit (7) first opens the first cover (5) and then the diaphragm shutter (6). At that moment, the sensor (4) makes detection in accordance with the command received from the control unit (7). The detection process lasts only a few seconds. When the detection process is completed, the diaphragm shutter (6) and the first cover (5) are closed respectively and remain in the closed position until the next detection process.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor (4) is disposed

outside the oven cavity (3). In this embodiment, the cooking device (1) comprises an opening (8), which aligns with the sensor (4) on a wall of the oven cavity (3) and the front of which is closed with the first cover (5). Thus, the risk of the sensor (4) being adversely affected by the conditions occurring in the oven cavity (3) during cooking is minimized.

[0023] The diaphragm shutter (6) comprises at least three blades (9) that are assembled onto a circular line at constant angular intervals and that rotatably move between a closed position, wherein the blades (9) completely close the circular opening in the middle thereof, and an open position, wherein the blades (9) partially close the circular opening in the middle thereof (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor (4) is a moisture sensor. Thus, the amount of moisture being formed in the oven cavity (3) during cooking is provided to be detected with high accuracy without damaging the sensor (4).

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor (4) is a display device. Thus, during cooking, the data such as the type and cooking situation of foods in the oven cavity (3) are provided to be detected with high accuracy without damaging the sensor (4).

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor (4) is an infrared type distance sensor. Thus, the data including whether or not food is disposed in the oven cavity (3) or the rising amount of the food during cooking are provided to be detected with high accuracy without damaging the sensor (4).

[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1 )

comprises a ventilating mechanism (1 1 ) which, after the first cover (5) is opened, blows air onto the opening such as to form an air curtain between the housing (10) and the oven cavity (3). Thus, before the diaphragm shutter (6) is opened and measurement is made by the sensor (4), an air curtain is provided to be formed in front of the sensor (4) and hence, the hot air inside the oven cavity (3) is prevented from filling into the housing (10) when the diaphragm shutter (6) is opened.

[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the ventilating mechanism (1 1 ) comprises a fan (12) which provides air to be blown onto the opening (8).

[0029] In the cooking device (1 ) of the present invention, the sensor (4) that is used for detecting the parameters inside the oven cavity (3) is provided to be least affected by the factors such as high temperature, oil and dirt in t n oven cavity (3) that can decrease the detection efficiency.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooking device (1 ) comprising a body (2), an oven cavity (3) which is located inside the body (2) and wherein foods to be cooked are placed, a sensor (4) which detects at least one of the parameters inside the oven cavity (3), characterized by

- a housing (10) wherein the sensor (4) is disposed,

- a diaphragm shutter (6) which is located between the first cover (5) and the sensor (4).

2. A cooking device (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a control unit (7) which at first provides the first cover (5) to be opened and then the diaphragm shutter (6) to be opened and closed instantaneously, and afterwards the first cover (5) to be closed and the sensor (4) to make detection as soon as the diaphragm shutter (6) is opened, when a parameter in the oven cavity (3) is desired to be detected by the sensor (4).

3. The cooking device (1 ) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the sensor (4) which is disposed outside the oven cavity (3) and an opening (8) which aligns with the sensor (4) on a wall of the oven cavity (3) and the front of which is closed with the first cover (5).

4. A cooking device (1 ) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the diaphragm shutter (6) which comprises at least three blades (9) that are assembled onto a circular line at constant angular intervals and that rotatably move between a closed position, wherein the blades (9) completely close the circular opening in the middle thereof, and an open position, wherein the blades (9) partially close the circular opening in the middle thereof.

5. A cooking device (1 ) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the sensor (4) that is a moisture sensor.

6. A cooking device (1 ) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the sensor (4) that is a display device.

7. A cooking device (1 ) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the sensor (4) that is an infrared type distance sensor.

8. A cooking device (1 ) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a ventilating mechanism (1 1 ) which, after the first cover (5) is opened, blows air onto the opening (8) such as to form an air curtain between the housing (10) and the oven cavity (3).