WO2020087096A1

WO2020087096A1 - Drive device for a microwave oven

Info

Publication number: WO2020087096A1
Application number: PCT/AT2018/060261
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joachim KORNAUTH; Andreas ROCK
Original assignee: Kornauth Joachim
Priority date: 2018-10-29
Filing date: 2018-10-29
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Also published as: DE112018008109A5

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drive device for a microwave oven comprising: a rotational drive which rotates a drive shaft for connection to a rotating plate about a rotational axis, a linear guide for receiving the rotational drive, and a linear drive for moving the rotational drive in the axial direction of the rotational axis, wherein the movement is restricted by way of the linear guide.

Description

DRIVING DEVICE FOR A MICROWAVE DEVICE

The present invention relates to a drive device for a microwave device (also referred to as a microwave oven or microwave oven) and a microwave device with a drive device.

From US 5 804 800 A a drive device for a microwave oven is known, through which a turntable that rotates about a vertical axis can also be moved along the vertical axis.

US 5,672,291 describes a drive device for a microwave device for the selective rotation or vertical alignment of a turntable.

US Pat. No. 5,695,672 describes a control method which enables the holding device (for example a turntable) to move vertically and adjusts the holding device to an optimal height for the cooking process. At the start of a cooking process, a control mechanism automatically raises the turntable step by step, and the amount of radio frequency waves reflected from the cooking space is detected at each vertical position of the turntable. Then the vertical position of the turntable at which the detected reflected radiation was lowest is determined, and the turntable is set to this position to continue the cooking process. If the detected reflected radiation changes, a new vertical position of the turntable, at which the reflected radiation is lowest, is redetermined and the turntable is set to this new position. Here the vertical method for determining the optimal vertical position is described separately from the rotary movement for heating the food, but not both at the same time.

DE 697 29 232 T2 describes a method for controlling the movement of a hotplate of a microwave oven, in which the height of the hotplate is controlled, inter alia, by parameters such as the weight of the food. The weight is recorded on a scale.

The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative, space-saving and economical drive for a microwave oven, which makes it possible to position and move the loading of a turntable in a microwave field and to determine the weight of the food. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microwave device with which it is possible within a short period of time, for example, <1 minute, to heat edible goods, in particular food goods, in particular to thaw and eat frozen, frozen goods close.

The task is solved by the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are part of the claims dependent thereon.

According to one embodiment, a drive device for a microwave device comprises a rotary drive which rotates a drive shaft for connection to a rotary switch about an axis of rotation. In addition, the drive device comprises a linear guide for receiving the rotary drive and a linear drive for moving the rotary drive in the axial direction of the axis of rotation, the movement being limited by the linear guide.

The rotary drive consists of a motor, for example an electric motor, which is installed in a non-rotating cage. The motor rotates the drive shaft around the axis of rotation and the anti-rotation cage is supported by the linear guide. Through the linear guide, the rotary drive is movably guided in the axial direction of the axis of rotation, the movement being fixed by the linear guide. The rotary drive is moved in the axial direction by the linear drive, which includes an electric motor, for example. This is particularly advantageous, since it decouples the movement in the axial direction of the axis of rotation from the rotational movement about the axis of rotation. This arrangement is also advantageous since such an arrangement optimizes the space requirements for the drive device. In particular, this arrangement enables that the good, and in particular food good, can be placed radially to the drive shaft and / or the linear drive can be accommodated in a cylindrical tube which projects into the oven chamber and preferably serves as a microwave choke.

In the present case, in the axial direction means that the linear guide moves the rotary drive along the axis of rotation of the rotary drive. The linear guide advantageously moves the rotary drive parallel to the axis of rotation. However, the present invention is not limited by such a parallel linear guide. For example, the linear guide can move the rotary drive in the axial direction in that a guide direction of the linear guide forms an angle of <90 ° with the axis of rotation or the guide is designed as a curve geometry. It may be expedient if the drive device comprises a scale that is set up to determine the weight of an occupancy of the turntable. The scale or load cell can advantageously measure a force in the direction of the axis of rotation of the drive shaft. This is particularly advantageous since it enables the weight of the occupancy, ie the goods, of the turntable to be determined, and thus the positioning and movement by the drive device to be optimized in accordance with the determined weight of the occupancy.

In particular, it can be expedient if a first connection point on one side of the scale is connected to the linear guide and a second connection point on another side of the scale can be connected to the microwave device. This connection of the scale is particularly advantageous since the scale is not moved by moving parts of the drive device. Accelerations of the drive unit can thus be measured and thus ensure proper functioning and the cable routing, for example for electronically reading out the scale, is simplified. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the scale can be connected directly or indirectly to the linear guide. It may be expedient for the weight to be determined resistively, that is to say, for example, by means of a strain gauge which is attached along the connection of the first and second connecting points.

The linear guide preferably comprises at least one slidingly guided slide. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the linear guide can alternatively also be equipped with a rolling element. In particular, it can be expedient to design the slide as a projection on the housing of the rotary drive and to manufacture at least one rail, which receives the slide, as a recess on the linear guide in the axial direction. The present invention is not limited to such a rail and slide system. For example, circular bushings with ball recirculation, linear guide bushings on parallel rails and preferably circular rails, bushings with ball recirculation on pro filschienen, or a linear guide on rollers can be used.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous to connect one end of the linear guide to a slide bearing for guiding the drive shaft. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the plain bearing can be replaced by an alternative bearing for guiding the drive shaft, for example a roller bearing.

It can be expedient if the slide guides the rotary drive in the axial direction of the axis of rotation and the slide bearing drives the drive shaft in the axial direction of the axis of rotation. se leads. Such a linear guide, which is expediently assembled from separate parts, makes it possible in particular to stabilize the rotational movement about the axis of rotation and the linear movement in the axial direction.

In the drive device according to the invention for a microwave device, it has proven to be expedient if the linear drive comprises a rotary motor, the rotary motor being connected to the rotary drive via a belt. In particular, the belt attacks the rotary motor and can be rolled up and unrolled by it. Furthermore, the belt is directly or indirectly connected to the rotary drive. Thus, the belt can transmit a force from the rotary motor to the rotary drive. It can be particularly advantageous if the belt is rigid and the force transmission thus acts directly. The main feature of this solution is that it is particularly cheap, stable and resistant to overload. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that a linear drive can also be implemented as an alternative. For example, a linear motor can be used for the linear drive. For example, alternating magnetic fields can be used.

Furthermore, it has proven to be expedient to guide the belt over a pulley. This makes it possible for the torque of the rotary motor to be reduced. In particular, it can be advantageous to attach at least one fixed roller to the linear drive and to connect a loose roller to the rotary drive. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that alternative possibilities for reducing the torque, such as a gear transmission, are also possible.

Furthermore, it may be expedient if the drive device further comprises a reset element which counteracts the linear drive. This makes it possible for the linear drive to exert a force in the axial direction and for the restoring element to exert a force opposite to the axial direction. This solution has the advantage that only a pulling force that is particularly easy to guide is required. The restoring element is advantageously a spring, since an overload, for example a strong pressure on the turntable by the user, does not damage the linear drive. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the force generated by the restoring element can also be generated, for example, by gravitation or a magnetic force.

It may be expedient if the drive device for the microwave device further comprises at least one switch for recognizing an end position of the movement. The linear guide limits the movement of the rotary drive both in axial and in radial direction. A switch for recognizing the end position is advantageous in particular in the axial direction, since a zero position of the axial direction can be determined thereby. The movement in the axial direction can thus be determined and monitored more precisely.

Such a detection of the end position is particularly advantageous if the Rückstellele element is used, which counteracts the linear drive. As a result, the movement in the axial direction can be determined and thus adjusted each time the switch is actuated. This enables a particularly precise control in the axial direction, which is also very inexpensive to implement.

A mechanical switch which interrupts a circuit by mechanical actuation has proven to be expedient. Alternatively, however, any other measuring system, for example an optical or a magnetic measuring system such as a reed contact, can also be used.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the rotary drive comprises a rotary sensor that is set up to determine the rotational speed of the drive shaft. As a result, the rotational speed of the turntable can be determined via the rotational speed of the drive shaft, and the position of the material to be heated in the microwave oven can thus be inferred. The rotation sensor advantageously comprises an incremental sensor and an incremental encoder. For example, a magnetic sensor such as a Hall sensor can be used as an incremental sensor. As an incremental encoder, a magnet can be used which is directly or indirectly connected radially eccentrically to the drive shaft. Alternatively, an optical measuring system can also be used. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the rotational speed can also be inferred, for example, from the current consumption of the rotary drive. In combination with control of the axial movement, it is possible to move to a specific position of the microwave field, which offers a great advantage due to the inhomogeneity of the microwave field.

According to one embodiment, the microwave device comprises a drive device according to the invention and at least one microwave radiation source.

The microwave device expediently has an oven housing, to the housing of which the at least one microwave radiation source is coupled by means of a microwave coupling element, the microwave coupling element being distributed away from the housing jacket and at least one holding device in the oven housing is provided for the material to be heated, which can be rotated about the axis of rotation by means of the drive device, the at least one material holding device being formed by the rotary switch which is provided for holding the material to be heated, in particular on thawing material, in a precise position.

This enables, in particular, a particularly compact construction of the microwave device with simultaneous optimal use of the microwave field by the drive device.

In the microwave device according to the invention, for example, two, three or four microwave radiation sources can be coupled to the housing jacket in an evenly distributed manner by means of associated microwave coupling elements, so that there is a uniform distribution of the microwaves in the interior of the cylindrical oven housing with an optimal swirling of the microwave field.

More than one material holding device for material to be heated, in particular that is to be thawed, can be provided in the furnace housing and are axially spaced apart from one another. Preferably, only a single good holding device for the material to be heated, in particular thawed, is provided in the furnace housing, which is arranged axially in the center of the furnace and can be rotated about the central axis of rotation by means of the drive device.

It can be expedient if the housing jacket of the furnace housing has a heating device in order to prevent the formation of condensation. The heating device can be formed by an electrical resistance heating which surrounds the housing jacket. Likewise, it is possible for the housing jacket to consist at least partially of a material which, under the influence of microwaves, has such an eddy current loss that self-heating is brought about.

In the microwave device according to the invention, it has proven to be expedient if the turntable can be removed from the oven housing for loading with goods to be warmed, in particular thawed, so that the turntable is equipped with goods to be warmed, in particular thawed, from outside the mic and in the loaded state can be used in the microwave oven.

The turntable is preferably ver binding torque-transmitting with the drive device. This can be realized, for example, by a positive connection, such as a tongue and groove connection, a locking pin connection or the like, between the turntable and the drive device. The respective microwave coupling device is preferably formed by a waveguide. The respective waveguide opens with its end remote from the associated microwave radiation source, preferably tangentially into the housing jacket of the cylindrical furnace housing.

The turntable is expediently designed with good holding means which are provided equidistantly spaced along at least one partial circle concentric to the central axis. The good holding means can be holes, recesses, recesses, loop elements, clamping elements, or the like. be educated.

The turntable can, for example, be formed over the entire surface in a disk shape with the holes and / or recesses and / or recesses. Another possibility is that the turntable for weight reduction is designed as a web or rib structure with corresponding holes, loop elements and / or clamping elements, which is limited by the web or rib edges, i.e. are formed.

The turntable can be set up in such a way that the material to be heated is set in a movement that is not a rotation about the central axis. This Vorrich device can be implemented, for example, by a gear that moves the good holding means arranged on the turntable about axes deviating from the central axis.

The good holding means are provided in the turntable, preferably evenly spaced along at least one partial circle concentric with the central axis. The good-holding means formed in the turntable have clear dimensions which are adapted to the goods to be heated, in particular thawed, in such a way that the good, in particular food good, extends axially defined through the turntable and defined by the turntable, in a precise position and is held reliably.

It may be advantageous if the material-holding means are formed with spaced, partial contact surfaces in order to allow vapor and / or moisture to be dissipated between the rotary plate and the material to be heated, in particular thawed. The partial contact areas can be realized, for example, by the edge of the e.g. Well-holding means formed by holes, corrugated, serrated, or the like. is designed.

The turntable preferably consists of a microwave-transparent material or of a hybrid, ie of parts that consist of a material that is easily coupled with microwaves. In the turntable, for example, three to nine good holding means can be provided equidistantly along the at least one partial circle.

It is expedient if a collecting device made of microwave-permeable material is removably provided in the oven housing for collecting moisture and / or dirt particles. After being removed from the oven housing, the collecting device can be cleaned manually or with the aid of a dishwasher, i.e. getting washed.

In the microwave device according to the invention, the drive device for the at least one holding device is preferably arranged in the region of the bottom of the oven housing. The bottom of the furnace housing can be formed with a central cap-like bulge, through which a cavity is determined on the underside, in which the drive device formed by a motor is provided.

The drive device can be provided by a microwave-reflecting cap element which is provided immovably. With such a design, the cap element can be designed with a smooth surface. However, it can be advantageous if the cap element is provided so as to be rotatable about the central axis and is designed to scatter the microwave reflection with a non-smooth, for example ribbed, nubbed, corrugated and / or indented surface. Such a configuration of the last-mentioned type has the advantage that the microwaves on the cap element are not only reflected, but also also scattered, so that the effect of the microwaves on the material to be heated, in particular thawed, in particular foodstuffs further improved, ie is optimized.

With the help of the microwave-reflecting cap element, the material defined by the turntable, held precisely in position is not only applied radially on the outside, but also by means of the microwaves-reflecting cap element on its radial inside with microwaves, so that a uniform action of the microwaves on it Good and therefore optimal heating properties, especially thawing properties for the goods.

According to the invention, the furnace housing can be cylindrical and have a cover with a protective device against leakage radiation. Depending on the furnace load, the protective device can, for example, form a 1/4 or 1/2 choke. If in the following we speak of a cylindrical furnace housing or a cylindrical housing casing, it goes without saying that it is not only a circular, smooth base surface profile that is meant, but that the base surface profile can also be designed to be polygonally smooth or wavy.

In order to prevent the moisture in the cylindrical furnace housing from being effective on the material to be heated, in particular thawed, it can be expedient if the housing cover has a suction device with which moisture is sucked out of the furnace housing and discharged. The suction device can be formed by a suction fan. Another possibility is that the housing cover is designed with perforation holes so that the warm air in the furnace housing rises and flows out of the furnace housing through the perforation holes.

It has proven to be advantageous if the microwave device has a weighing device for determining the loading of the good holding device. The weighing device can also be used to control the power of the microwave device. With the help of the weighing device, it is advantageously also possible to incorrectly load the microwave device according to the invention, e.g. with ham and cheese toast, potatoes or the like.

The respective microwave radiation source is preferably formed by a magnetron, to which a fan is connected for cooling, and the respective magnetron is connected in terms of flow by means of a pipeline to the cylindrical housing jacket, through which the heat loss generated in the magnetron enters the interior of the cylindrical furnace housing is introduced. It may be appropriate to provide a filter device in the respective flow channel.

Such an embodiment of the microwave device according to the invention has the advantage that the waste heat of the respective magnetron can be introduced into the interior of the cylindrical oven housing with the aid of the associated fan, in order to remove the moisture generated when the goods are warmed, in particular thawed, in particular food goods to apply the said waste heat and to extract and drain the moisture from the interior of the cylindrical furnace housing by means of the suction device. The respective pipeline, by means of which the associated magnetron is fluidically connected to the housing shell, advantageously opens tangentially into the cylindrical housing shell.

The microwave device according to the invention is preferably used for food to be heated, in particular to be thawed, which has a defined shape and which is inserted into a dimensionally stable receptacle casing body, for heating, in particular thawing, is introduced into the microwave device. The respective receptacle casing body for the material to be heated, in particular thawed, is preferably made from a tasteless or a particular taste dough material, in particular a waffle, as is similar to e.g. used for ice cream is formed.

The food product mentioned can be, for example, vegetables and / or fruit and / or meat and / or fish or the like. act that prepares mushy and / or small pieces and e.g. deep-frozen in a conical or frustoconical shape e.g. is stored and stored in a freezer until it is sold. Accordingly, the dimensionally stable receptacle casing bodies are made from the dough material until use, i.e. for combination with the frozen food, stored. For sale, the frozen food good is inserted into a suitable dimensionally stable receptacle casing body and then the dimensionally stable receptacle casing body with the food goods to be warmed, in particular thawed, is inserted into the microwave device with the aid of the good holding device, and that Microwave device switched on, so that within a short period of time, for example less than a minute the food is heated with the receptacle casing body, in particular thawed and is available for consumption.

The microwave device according to the invention is able, for example, to heat frozen food material within a short period of <1 minute from -20 ° C. to + 80 ° C.

Further details, features and advantages emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the microwave device according to the invention shown schematically in the drawing or the essential details thereof, it being explicitly clarified that the size ratios in the axial and radial direction of the microwave device do not correspond to the real conditions correspond, but are only intended to illustrate the invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, this will be explained in more detail using the exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. The same parts are provided with the same reference numerals and the same component designations. Wei terhin can also represent some features or combinations of features from the different embodiments shown and described for independent, inventive or inventive solutions.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the drive unit, installed in a cooking space;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the drive device;

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the drive device;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the microwave device in the viewing direction from above;

Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view taken along section line II-II in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 shows a section of the microwave device in sections - similar to that

Section according to Figure 5 in particular to illustrate the microwave reflecting cap element.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the drive device for a microwave device 600, the microwave device having an oven interior 601 with a housing jacket 602. A closable oven door (not shown) for introducing material into the oven interior 601 is formed on the housing jacket 602. According to a preferred embodiment, the oven door is placed in the ceiling opposite the floor 610. Furthermore, an opening for a microwave coupling element (waveguide) is provided in a preferred circumferential direction on the housing jacket 602, which are not shown in FIG. 1.

Furthermore, the furnace housing 602 comprises a drive housing 605 with a through opening 606 for the passage of a drive shaft 202 of the drive device. The drive housing 605 is arranged in the region of the bottom 610 of the furnace housing 602. The drive housing 605 delimits a space for the drive device on the upper side. In particular, the drive housing 605 has drive housing openings 608 for ventilating the cooking space. The drive housing protrudes into the interior 601 of the oven, which forms space, and allows the drive shaft 202 to pass through with low microwave leakage radiation.

2 and 3 show particularly well that the drive device 100 comprises the rotary drive 200, which is received by the linear guide 300 of the drive device 100 and can be moved by the linear drive 400 of the drive device 100 along the axis of rotation of the rotary drive. By means of a scale 500 of the drive device 100, in particular the weight of a load of the drive device 100 can be determined and the function of the drive can be checked by measuring acceleration forces during operation.

In detail, the rotary drive 200 includes a motor (concealed), a drive shaft 202 connected to the motor, which is rotatable about the axis of rotation, and an anti-rotation cage 210 which receives the motor.

The drive shaft 202 comprises a motor end, which is connected to the motor for torque transmission, and a cooking chamber end 212 opposite the motor end with a receptacle for transmitting the torque to the turntable (not shown). The transmission of the torque can, for example, be positive, non-positive, or material.

The motor of the rotary drive 200 is secured against rotation in the anti-rotation cage 210. Furthermore, the rotary drive includes a radially eccentrically arranged rotary encoder 208, i.e. radially spaced from the axis of rotation, which is connected to the motor end of the drive shaft 202, and a rotation sensor 206, which is connected to the anti-rotation cage 210. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the incremental sensor is connected to the drive shaft and the incremental encoder is connected to the anti-rotation cage.

Furthermore, a projection is formed on the anti-rotation cage 210, which is received by the linear guide 300 as a slide 214. A second carriage, hidden in the figures by the rotary drive 200, lies opposite the carriage 214 and is likewise received by the linear guide 300. In addition, the torsion-proof cage 210 has end stops 216 for mechanically limiting the movement with respect to the linear guide 300. The anti-rotation cage 210 is advantageously manufactured as a metal stamped part. The linear guide 300, which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, comprises two opposite rails 304 for receiving the carriages 214 of the rotary drive 200. As best seen in FIG. 2, the rails 304 are through an elongated opening in two opposite, laterally arranged side plates 309 formed. The rails 304 extend axially in the direction of the axis of rotation and are fastened at one end by a base plate 310 and at an opposite end by a cover plate 312.

Furthermore, the slide bearing 306 for guiding the drive shaft 202 is formed on the cover plate 312. In particular, the slide bearing 306 comprises two round through openings for guiding the drive shaft 202, a through opening being formed in the cover plate 312 and a second through opening being formed in a slide bearing element 314 which is connected to the cover plate 312.

The base plate 310 contains fastening means for attaching the linear drive 400 and the balance 500. In addition, a switch 316 for detecting an end position, that is to say a zero position, is attached to the base plate 310. In alternative embodiments, not shown, the switch is attached to either at least one of the side plates, the cover plate or the scale.

The side plates 309, which form the rails 304, the base plate 310, the cover plate 312 and the slide bearing element 314 are advantageously individual metal stamped parts. The linear guide 300 is assembled from these individual parts by fastening means, for example by screws. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the linear guide 300 can also be produced in one piece, for example by a printing process or a sintering process.

The linear drive 400, which is best shown in FIG. 3, moves the rotary drive 200 in the axial direction, that is to say along a first direction of movement along the axis of rotation, via a belt 404, which connects the rotary motor 402 to the anti-rotation cage 210. For the opposite movement along the axis of rotation, that is, counter to the axial direction, a spring 405 is used as the restoring element, via which the cage 210 secured against rotation is connected to the base plate 310. The movement is guided by the linear guide 300. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the spring 405 binds the non-rotating cage 210 to the cover plate 312 of the linear drive 300. In particular, in order to reduce the torque on the rotary motor 402, the belt 404 is guided over a block and tackle 406. The block and tackle 406 is formed by a fixed roller 408, which is connected to the bottom plate 310, and a loose roller 410, which is connected to the anti-rotation cage 210. Furthermore, the belt 404 is fastened by the belt attachment 412 from the base plate 310. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the fixed roller 408 is connected to the cover plate 312 of the linear drive 300. Furthermore, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that further fixed and loose rollers can be used to further reduce the torque.

The microwave device 600 comprises microwave radiation sources for generating a microwave field in order to heat good and in particular food good, which are not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In order to avoid thermal effects due to local intensity maxima and minima of the static radiation field, the material in the radiation field in the furnace interior 601 is rotated about the axis of rotation by the rotary drive 200 and by the linear drive 400 the rotary drive 200, and thus the material, is moved in the axial direction emotional. The movement of the linear drive 400 is restricted by the linear guide 300.

In particular, the guided movement in the axial direction takes place through the interaction of the linear guide 300, the linear drive 400 and the rotary drive 300. The movement is limited both in the axial and in the radial direction of the axis of rotation.

The radial limitation of the movement takes place through the interaction of the rails 304 and slide 214. In particular, the slide 214 is guided through the rails 304. Furthermore, the movement in the axial direction of the axis of rotation is limited at one end by either the switch 316 or the stop element 216. At the opposite end, the movement in the axial direction of the axis of rotation is limited by the return actuating element, that is, a position of the spring 405. In particular, this position of the spring 405 is reached when no force is transmitted by the belt 404 from the linear drive 400 to the rotary drive 300.

The scale 500, as can best be seen in FIG. 1, is connected to the linear guide 300 at a first connection point 502 and to the microwave device 600 at a second connection point 504. A strain gauge, which cannot be seen in the figures, is along the Connection of the first connection point 502 with the second connection point 504 attached. The turntable changes the weight of the drive device 100, this leads to a deformation of the balance 500 with the strain gauge and thereby the resistance of the strain gauge changes and thus the weight of the occupancy can be measured resistively.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the microwave device 10 which has an oven housing 12 with a cylindrical housing jacket 14. A number of microwave coupling elements 16 are coupled to the housing shell 14 and are tangentially spaced from the cylindrical housing shell 14, preferably uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction. The microwave coupling elements 16 serve to couple associated microwave radiation sources 18 to the cylindrical oven housing 12 of the microwave device 10.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the microwave radiation sources 18 are offset axially equidistantly from one another by means of the associated microwave coupling elements 16. In Fig. 5 four microwave coupling elements 16 are illustrated, only the two end-side microwave coupling elements are shown in the drawing. The two mittle Ren microwave coupling elements are only indicated by dash-dotted lines 20.

It is understood by a person skilled in the art that any number of microwave radiation sources can be used, depending on their power and the volume of the room to be heated.

According to the invention, it is also possible for a number of microwave radiation sources 18 with their associated microwave coupling elements 16 not to be axially offset, but rather to be arranged in a common plane, distributed in the circumferential direction.

In the cylindrical furnace housing 12, a good holding device 22 is provided axially in the center, which can be driven about a central axis 26 by means of a drive device 24. In particular, the drive device 24 can be designed as the drive device 100, which is described in particular with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The good holding device 22 has a turntable 28, which is designed in particular for temporarily holding food to be heated or frozen and thawed food good with good holding means 30. The good holding means 30 are provided equidistantly along a partial circle 32 which is concentric with the central axis 26. For example, the turntable 28 is ausgebil det with five or six good holding means 30. The good holding means 30 are designed for example as holes; they can, for example, of recesses, recesses, loop elements, clamping elements or the like. be educated.

The provided for the holding device 22 formed by a turntable 28 to drive device 24, 100 is arranged in the region of the bottom 36 of the cylindrical furnace housing 12. For this purpose, the bottom 36 is formed with a cap-like bulge 37.

The drive device 24, 100 is arranged in the space delimited on the top by the bulge 37.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment, the drive device 24, 100 formed by a motor being surrounded by a microwave-reflecting cap element 38, so that the foodstuff 40 to be heated, in particular frozen and thawed, is not only on its radially outer side 42, but is also subjected to microwaves on its radially inner side 44 in order to bring about a uniform and rapid heating, in particular thawing of the food item 40.

The cap element 38 can be provided immovably and can be designed with a smooth surface. Another possibility is that the cap element 38 is provided so as to be rotatable about the central axis 26 and, with a non-smooth, e.g. ribbed, nubbed, corrugated and / or indented surface is formed.

As can also be clearly seen from FIG. 6, the food 40 to be heated, in particular thawed in particular, has, for example, a conical shape and is inserted into a conformally dimensionally stable receptacle casing body 46. The respective ge-stable receptacle casing body 46 consists of an edible, tasteless or taste-possessing dough material, so that the food material 40 can be eaten together with the receptacle casing body 46 after thawing and removal from the microwave oven 10.

The receptacle casing body 46 can be formed, for example, by a waffle, as has been used hitherto for eating ice cream portions. FIGS. 4 and 5 also clarify that the respective microwave radiation source 18 formed by a magnetron is connected to a fan 48 for cooling it. The respective microwave radiation source 18 is also connected in terms of flow technology to the cylindrical housing jacket 14 by means of a pipeline 50; the respective pipeline 50 opens into the interior 34 of the cylindrical furnace housing 14 in a tangentially oriented manner. Through the pipes 50, the waste heat generated in the microwave radiation sources 18 is introduced into the interior 34 of the cylindrical oven housing 12 in order to heat the moisture generated when heating, in particular thawing, frozen food 40 and by means of a suction device 52 from the micro wave device 10 vacuum. The suction device 52 formed by a fan is arranged on the housing cover 54 of the cylindrical oven housing 12 of the microwave device 10.

The housing cover 54 is preferably formed with a protective device against leakage radiation, which is configured as a 1/4 or 1/2 choke depending on the furnace loading.

4 and 5, a device housing 56 is indicated by a thin dash-dotted line.

FIG. 5 also schematically illustrates a weighing device 58 which is assigned to the drive device 24. With the aid of the weighing device 58, it is advantageously possible to determine the loading of the good holding device 22 and to control the performance of the microwell device 10 as a function of the respective loading. The weighing device 58 is also suitable for the operation of the microwave device 10 in the event of incorrect loading - e.g. with ham and cheese toast, potatoes or the like - to prevent.

FIG. 5 also shows a collecting device 60 which is removably arranged in the furnace housing 12 and which serves to collect moisture and / or dirt particles. After the collecting device 60 has been removed from the furnace housing 12, it can be cleaned in order to remove dirt particles and / or moisture from the collecting device 60. The cleaning can be done manually or mechanically e.g. by means of a dishwasher.

The turntable 28 is detachably coupled to the drive shaft 62 of the drive device 24 by means of a positive connection 64. The turntable 28 has a rod-shaped handle 66 with which the turntable 28 can be separated from the positive connection and can be removed from the furnace housing 12 as soon as the housing cover 52 has been actuated to open the furnace housing 12, ie has been pivoted open, for example.

Reference symbol list:

Claims

Claims:

1. A drive device (100) for a microwave device (600) comprising a rotary drive (200) which rotates a drive shaft (202) for connection to a rotary table about an axis of rotation, a linear guide (300) for receiving the rotary drive (200), and a linear drive (400) for moving the rotary drive (200) in the axial direction of the axis of rotation, the movement being restricted by the linear guide (300).

2. Drive device for a microwave device according to claim 1, further comprising a scale (500), which is set up to determine the weight of an occupancy of the turntable.

3. Drive device for a microwave device according to claim 2, wherein a first connection point (502) on one side of the scale is connected to the linear guide and a second connection point (504) on another side is connectable to the microwave unit.

4. Drive device for a microwave device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the linear guide takes at least one slidingly guided carriage (214).

5. Drive device for a microwave device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one end of the linear guide with a slide bearing (306) for guiding the drive shaft (212) is connected.

6. Drive device for a microwave device according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the carriage guides the rotary drive in the axial direction of the axis of rotation and the slide bearing guides the drive shaft in the axial direction of the axis of rotation.

7. Drive device for a microwave device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the linear drive comprises a rotary motor (402), wherein the rotary motor is connected to the rotary drive via a belt (404).

8. Drive device for a microwave device according to claim 7, wherein the belt is guided via a pulley block (406).

9. Drive device for a microwave device according to one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a reset element (414) which counteracts the linear drive.

10. Drive device for a microwave device according to claim 9, wherein the reset element is a spring.

11. Drive device for a microwave device according to one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising at least one switch (316) for detecting an end position of the movement.

12. Drive device for a microwave device according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the rotary drive comprises a rotation sensor (204) which is set up to determine the rotational speed and / or the rotational angle of the drive shaft.

13. Drive device for a microwave device according to claim 12, wherein the rotation sensor (204) comprises an incremental sensor (206) and an incremental encoder (208) and / or wherein the rotation sensor (204) comprises a position sensor and a position transmitter.

14. Microwave device with a drive device according to one of claims 1 to 13 and at least one microwave radiation source (18).

15. The microwave device according to claim 14, wherein the microwave device comprises: an oven housing (12), on the housing shell (14) of which the at least one microwave radiation source (18) is coupled by means of a microwave coupling element (16), the microwave coupling element (16) from the housing jacket is distributed, and in the furnace housing (12) at least one holding device (22) for the material to be heated (40) is provided, which can be rotated about the axis of rotation (26) by means of the drive device (100, 24) is, wherein the at least one good holding device is formed by the turntable, which is provided for, positionally accurate holding of the goods to be heated, in particular thawed (40).