WO2023237206A1

WO2023237206A1 - Oven with a system for a tray temperature detection

Info

Publication number: WO2023237206A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/065761
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luka BROZIC; Anže CAKŠ; Franci ŠTRAJHAR; Blaž BREZOVNIK; Matej ZORMAN; Jure PLASKAN; Klavdija JANEŽIC; Špela PARAŠUH; Li YONGXIANG; Zhao YINGDA; Zheng YONGBO; Liu LICHUANG; Dai LINLIN; Jure ERNST; Jonas Henger; Simon BREZOVNIK
Original assignee: Gorenje, d.o.o.
Priority date: 2022-06-09
Filing date: 2022-06-09
Publication date: 2023-12-14

Abstract

An oven (10) comprises a housing (1) with a heating device for heating a cavity (A) in the housing (1) for cooking; a controller for operating the heating device for cooking; a tray holding device (TH), which is mounted to the cavity (A) and configured to hold a tray (D) inside the cavity (A) in a slidable manner and at predefined positions; and a temperature sensor (TS) which is located at a side wall or rear wall of the housing (1) having a spring element by which a measuring tip (TP) of the temperature sensor (TS) is extractable into the cavity (A), wherein in an extracted state the measuring tip (TP) physically contacts the tray (D) when the tray (D) is at an inner end position inside the cavity (A), wherein the controller comprises at least one cooking algorithm which is configured to control the heating device based on a tray temperature measured by the temperature sensor (TS).

Description

Oven with a system for a tray temperature detection

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an oven with a system for a tray temperature detection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During cooking programs the temperature of the heating cavity is typically adjusted due to measurements of the temperature of the air inside the cavity. For such a purpose a temperature sensor is located somewhere in the cavity or the temperature is estimated by a predefined routine. In order to further improve the control over the cooking effects by controlling the temperature of the food it would be useful having more precise information about the temperature of the food or its close vicinity at a particular moment. Different regimes of cooking would require a more precise knowledge or estimate about the temperature of the food at different moments and stages of cooking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to improve the measurements of temperature inside the oven cavity for getting better information about the temperature of a component of the oven inside the cavity at a particular moment during cooking.

The object is solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims.

The present invention pertains an oven according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention the oven comprises a housing with a heating device for heating a cavity in the housing for cooking; a controller for operating the heating device for cooking; a tray holding device, which is mounted to the cavity and configured to hold a tray inside the cavity in a movable manner and at predefined positions; and a temperature sensor which is located at a side wall or rear wall of the housing having a spring element by which a measuring tip of the temperature sensor is extractable into the cavity, wherein in an extracted state the measuring tip physically contacts the tray when the tray is at an inner end position inside the cavity, wherein the controller comprises at least one cooking algorithm which is configured to control the heating device based on a tray temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

The heating device can be a known heating component mounted on top and/or bottom of the cavity and/or a heating device for heating air which is circulated by a fan. The controller is part of the electronics of the oven and can be connected to a human-machine interface, a communication unit in order to get connected to wireless devices or to a data platform (cloud, internet, remote computers, mobile phones and similar). The tray holding device can comprise telescopic or sliding guides mounted at a predefined height of the sidewalls inside the cavity and wherein one or several trays can be placed or attached to the guides such that the tray can slide with a movable part of the guides along a fixed part of the guides, wherein the latter is mounted to the cavity side walls, and be moved between an outer position, where the tray can be attached to the guides and an inner end position (predefined positions), at which the tray is fully inside the cavity. At the inner end position the tray can reach the default extracted position of the temperature sensor and come into direct physical contact with the temperature sensor.

Regarding the tray there can be an empirical estimate known or a known correlation about the distribution of the temperature over the tray and/or about a thermal conductivity of the tray from its inner regions to the edge where the temperature sensor measures the temperature. This can help to estimate the temperature of the food by measuring the temperature by the temperature sensor. When the temperature sensor is located at the rear wall, the tray can reach the tip of the sensor at the inner end position. In another configuration the temperature sensor, or an additional temperature sensor (for redundant reasons), can be located at a side wall of the cavity and contact the tray from a side, at the inner end position or at another position. For the side position of the sensor it is possible that the tray has a corresponding side face (cut-out, tapered or inclined side face or similar to which the tip of the temperature sensor can be slid in when the tray is moved along the temperature sensor such that the tip head of the sensor can be slightly pushed to the side wall against its spring force. The temperature sensor can further comprise a position detection function for detecting the contact to the tray and it becomes possible to start an automatic baking/cooking program when the tray touches the sensor's head. The position detection function can be realized for example by a switch in the head of the sensor which can be directed towards the tray.

Generally, it has to be mentioned that the temperature sensor enables measuring the temperature of the tray using the physical contact in combination with suitable algorithms for cooking (different) food which can be run by the controller and based on the temperature measurements of the tray, what can help estimating the current temperature of the food and also ensure repeatable and reliable cooking results. The cooking algorithm can be chosen by a user and/or it is possible that the user can simply scan the food packaging (code) by a scanner and automatically set cooking parameters and/or the algorithm for controlling the heating device(s) due to the predefined program (algorithm) and initially and/or iteratively controlled tray temperature. The temperature sensor can also be applied to household appliances with a heating cavity and general (several) kinds of ovens.

The oven device as described represents an oven with a system for tray temperature detection suitable for special baking algorithms which are based on the knowledge and/or estimate of the tray temperature at a desired or predefined moment. The rear wall can be part of the cavity. Further, the rear wall can be a cover which covers or closes the interior of the oven from the rear side and can be located opposite to the door of the oven. The wording located can mean that the sensor is located in a broad sense or specifically also that it is mounted somewhere.

According to a further embodiment of the oven the heating device comprises an infrared heater and/or a first upper heater and/or a second upper heater and/or a fan heater and/or a lower heater.

The heating device can have different components, which can be controlled by the controller and used for providing a particular way of heating the cavity and/or the food according to the algorithm(s) which can use the measurement from the temperature sensor.

According to a further embodiment the oven further comprises a scanning device for scanning a code for a cooking programme.

The scanning device can be mounted inside the housing, wherein the housing can have an opening at the front or another side of the housing through which a code can be scanned. The code can be a EAN code or any other type of code which can be optically identified. Also other optic code or image detection devices can be applied to recognize the food to be cooked by an automatically selectable algorithm. The controller can be connected to the scanning device and configured to recognize the scanned code and/or food and to select at least one of the predefined algorithms for automatic cooking.

Instead of the oven all features can also be valid for a cooking appliance in general.

According to a further embodiment of the oven the tray is a tray for grilling or a pizza stone or a baking tray. Special types of trays can be used which can contact the temperature sensor and which are suitable that its temperature can be measured and adapted by the heating device within the running algorithm. It is possible that only specially designed types of trays can touch the sensor's head, for example trays with a protrusion in the direction to towards the temperature sensor so when user uses classic baking trays it can be possible that they do not touch the sensor.

According to a further embodiment of the oven the temperature sensor is pushed by the spring to a default extracted position and when the tray is at the inner end position the measuring tip is physically direct contactable by the tray and/or when the tray is at the inner end position the measuring tip is displaced against a spring force of the spring from the default extracted position by a predefined distance.

The default extracted position can be a state of the temperature sensor at which the tip at its maximum extended position relative to a main body of the temperature sensor, wherein the main body can be fixed to the housing and the head tip can extend to the cavity through the wall of the housing. The direct contact between the tray and the tip of the temperature sensor can be improved when the tip is displaced by the predefined distance. At this position the tip is actively pushed against a surface of the tray without moving the tray from the inner end position.

According to a further embodiment of the oven the cooking algorithm is configured to operate the heating device such that a predefined cooking process is performed by operating at least one component of the heating device over a predefined time.

According to a further embodiment of the oven the temperature sensor has a position detection function for detecting the contact to the tray.

The cooking process can be performed by operating at least one component of the heating device over a predefined time based on a desired temperature at the tray or of the tray due to the predefined process, wherein the desired temperature can be estimated from the temperature measurement with the temperature sensor and from knowing physical properties of the tray.

According to a further embodiment of the oven the tray holding device is configured to provide a lock-in function at the inner end position of the tray with a predefined lock-in force which needed for releasing the tray from the inner end position, wherein the lock-in force is greater than a spring force of the spring.

The tray holding device can accept the tray when the oven door is open and then pushed to the inner end position where the tray holding device, for example telescopic guides, can be locked-in by a lock-in function with projecting details at movable guides that can be held in lock-in counterparts at the fixed guides which can be mounted to the cavity and hold the movable guides at the inner end position for the tray.

According to a further embodiment of the oven the tray has a predefined size and can have a predefined shape in order to reach the measuring tip when the tray is at the inner end position.

According to a further embodiment of the oven the temperature sensor has a telescopic structure and the spring is mounted in an interior of the temperature sensor.

According to a further embodiment the oven further comprises an interface for receiving commands for the controller and for the cooking algorithm.

The choice of the algorithm or of details for the cooking and heating procedure can be made automatically by scanning a code and/or by a user input. By the spring a continuous contact between the temperature sensor and a tray can be achieved what enables a contact temperature measuring of a tray surface. The main benefit of this system can be to ensure repeatable cooking results and can make cooking more simple for the user and achieve a better accuracy in temperature measurement.

The user can choose between different cooking algorithms depending on the food to be prepared. Therefore, a cooking algorithm could be chosen by the user through the control panel or by scanning the code on the food packaging.

The (controller) oven can automatically set the needed cooking parameters depending on the scanned food. The user can put the food in the oven and confirm the start of the cooking process, wherein for special types of food, for example steaks and pizza, also special algorithms can be provided or predefined.

The temperature sensor can be provided on a predefined baking level with predefined height in the cavity but can be also provided on multiple levels, for example using several of the mentioned temperature sensors.

BRIEF DESCIRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings as appended.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate a comparative embodiment and embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the intended advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.

Fig. 1 shows a temperature sensor in a housing of an oven according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a tray and a temperature sensor in a cavity of an oven according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a tray holding device for a tray of the oven according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a front side of the oven according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

In Fig. 1 a view from the interior of the housing 1 is shown with the rear wall rw on the opposite side of the door (not shown), and the rear wall is a part of the cavity A. Further, a fan cover fc can be mounted to the rear wall rw and the sensors head TP can extend through the latter. The temperature sensor TS is fixedly mounted inside the housing 1 (not shown) and extends through the rear wall rw, wherein there can be several consecutive walls and/or covers and/or panels which can all together represent the rear part of the housing 1. The temperature sensor TS can have a tip TP which can project into the cavity A through a draw opening in the rear wall rw. The tip TP can have a flat front surface for touching a flat face of the tray (not shown).

In Fig. 2 the tray D at the inner end position is shown and the tip TP of the temperature sensor TS extends into the interior of the cavity and touches a surface of the tray. At this inner end position the tray D pushes the tip TP for a predefined distance against the spring force towards the rear wall. The tray D is shown as a component having a bowl shape, for example. The spring can be mounted in the main body or in the tip head TP.

At this position of the tray a lock-in force can be provided which is needed to be overcome for releasing the tray from the inner end position, wherein the lock-in force is greater than a spring force of the spring.

In Fig. 3 a tray holding device TH is shown which can have a guide structure with a part that can be fixed to the housing and a slideable part that can slide along the fixed part. The movable part, the latter is shown in Fig. 3, can have and end portion TH-E as an upwards projecting protrusion to which the tray can be leaned to. The fixed part fp can have at a lower edge region a first lock-in detail HF-fp, for example in a curved shape which peak (bridge) has to be overcome by pushing a second lock-in detail HF-mp of the movable part over the first lock-in detail HP-fp. The second lock-in detail HF-mp can be formed as a bracket which can be pushed over the peak of the first lock-in detail HP-fp, wherein the second lock-in detail HF-mp can be mounted at an lower end portion of the movable guide mp and can consequently provide a lock-in function at the inner end position of the tray with a predefined lock-in force. The right part of Fig. 3 shows a zoomed in end of the guide TH.

The tray can be designed such to fit the guides, for example the telescopic guides, with a minimal clearance. The end position at which the tray can be located and moved with the movable guides can be held at the inner end position with the help of the hold-in function or with the protruding part TH-E.

In Fig. 4 a front view of the oven 10 is shown wherein there can be an opening in a front cover through which a scanner SD in the interior can scan a code on a packaging of a food product. Various other types of openings can be provided and the scanning device SD can be connected to the controller (not shown) for providing information to the cooking algorithm. The scanner SD can be mounted on the control panel, behind a glass.

In the foregoing detailed description, various features are grouped together in one or more examples or examples with the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS Oven (10) comprising:

- a housing (1) with a heating device for heating a cavity (A) in the housing (1) for cooking;

- a controller for operating the heating device for cooking;

- a tray holding device (TH), which is mounted to the cavity (A) and configured to hold a tray (D) inside the cavity (A) in a movable manner and at predefined positions; and

- a temperature sensor (TS) which is located at a side wall or rear wall (rw) of the housing (1) having a spring element by which a measuring tip (TP) of the temperature sensor (TS) is extractable into the cavity (A), wherein in an extracted state the measuring tip (TP) physically contacts the tray (D) when the tray (D) is at an inner end position inside the cavity (A), wherein the controller comprises at least one cooking algorithm which is configured to control the heating device based on a tray temperature measured by the temperature sensor (TS). Oven (10) according to claim 1, wherein the heating device comprises an infrared heater and/or a first upper heater and/or a second upper heater and/or a fan heater and/or a lower heater. Oven (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oven (10) further comprises a scanning device (SD) for scanning a code for a cooking programme. Oven (10) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tray is a tray for grilling or a pizza stone or a baking tray. Oven (10) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature sensor (TS) is pushed by the spring to a default extracted position and when the tray is at the inner end position the measuring tip (TP) is physically direct contactable by the tray (D) and/or when the tray is at the inner end position the measuring tip (TP) is displaced against a spring force of the spring from the default extracted position by a predefined distance. Oven (10) according to claim 5, wherein the temperature sensor (TS) has a position detection function for detecting the contact to the tray. Oven (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cooking algorithm is configured to operate the heating device such that a predefined cooking process is performed by operating at least one component of the heating device over a predefined time. Oven (10) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tray holding device (TH) is configured to provide a lock-in function at the inner end position of the tray (D) with a predefined lock-in force which is needed for releasing the tray from the inner end position, wherein the lock-in force is greater than a spring force of the spring. Oven (10) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tray (D) has a predefined size in order to reach the measuring tip (TP) when the tray (D) is at the inner end position. Oven (10) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the temperature sensor (TS) has a telescopic structure and the spring is mounted in an interior of the temperature sensor (TS). Oven (10) according to any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising an interface for receiving commands for the controller and for the cooking algorithm.