Method for operating a cooking appliance with automatic door opening and cooking appliance

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a cooking appliance (1), in which method a cooking program of the cooking appliance (1) is executed when cooking a cooked matter in a cooking space (3) of the cooking appliance (1), and when a final time point of the cooking program is reached, a door (4) of the cooking appliance (1) which closes the cooking space (3) during the cooking program is automatically opened by an opening device (10) of the cooking appliance (1), wherein the door (4) is determined to be opened and / or remains opened for a preset duration before the opening. Another aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a cooking appliance. In this method, a cooking program of the cooking appliance is executed while food is being cooked in the cooking space of the cooking appliance. When the end time of the cooking program is reached, the door of the cooking space of the cooking appliance, which was closed during the cooking program, is automatically opened by a door opening device of the cooking appliance. Another aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance. Background Technology

[0002] A method is known from EP 1 714 083 B1, in which a door is automatically opened to prevent continued cooking of the food after the cooking process has ended. The temperature in the cooking space is detected, and if the temperature in the cooking space falls below a threshold after the door has automatically opened, the door is closed again.

[0003] What is needed in this known method is to continuously monitor the temperature in the cooking space after the door is opened. Temperature monitoring is difficult and inaccurate due to the strong turbulence that may occur in the cooking space when the door is opened and subsequently, if necessary. Therefore, closing the door is inaccurate, and if the door is left open for too long, it may undesirably have adverse effects on the food being cooked. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method and cooking appliance in which the operation of an automatically opening door is improved.

[0005] This task is solved by the method and cooking utensils proposed according to the present invention.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for operating a cooking appliance. In this method, a cooking program of the cooking appliance is executed while food is being cooked in the cooking space of the cooking appliance. At the end of the cooking program, the door of the cooking space, which was closed during the cooking program, is automatically opened by a door opening device of the cooking appliance. After this automatic opening, the door remains open for a duration determined before opening and / or for a fixed preset duration before opening. With this design, it is no longer necessary to detect the temperature in the cooking space while the door is open and then perform further manipulation of the door accordingly. The manipulation of the door is improved in this respect because of the duration determined and / or fixed preset before automatic opening, during which the door remains open. Therefore, a more precise and demand-oriented program for the control and manipulation of the door can be achieved. In particular, the determination of the duration is based on at least one criterion.

[0007] In particular, the setting ensures that, with a fixed preset duration, this duration remains unchanged after the door is opened. Therefore, the duration is fixed or unchangeable, independent of the situation after the door is opened. This duration can also be set to a duration determined before the door is opened. However, it is also possible to set this determined duration to change based on the situation after the door is opened.

[0008] In one advantageous implementation, a preset duration is set by the user before the door opens. This is a particularly simple scenario. This design eliminates the need for complex calculation methods that would otherwise be implemented through control of the cooking appliance.

[0009] In another implementation, it is possible to set a predetermined duration for which the door opens before it is pre-set, depending on the food being cooked. For this purpose, it is possible to set specific information, namely, for which type of food, the duration for which the door remains open after the cooking process is advantageous. This can be determined through prior experiments. The knowledge gained can be stored as a reference table. For example, this knowledge can be stored in the control unit of the cooking appliance. Thus, for example, it is achieved that a first duration for which the door is open at the end of the cooking process is advantageous for a first type of food.

[0010] It can also be set to preset a different second duration for at least the second type of cooking.

[0011] In addition, you can also refer to other dishes and assign them separate durations.

[0012] Therefore, this method does not require determining the opening duration during the door's open state. Rather, the procedure is predetermined and ends no later than when the door is open. It is also feasible, in particular, that the procedure ends no later than when the door has reached its open position. Thus, a short duration can be achieved, within which the temperature is determined, at most during the pivoting process from the closed position to the open position.

[0013] In particular, it is designed to automatically open the door immediately after the cooking program ends, and even to open the door autonomously.

[0014] In one advantageous embodiment, the cooking object is automatically identified by a detector of the cooking appliance. Therefore, this identification can be performed independently of the user, and thus the duration for which the door to be kept open for automatic opening can be identified and selected from an advantageously stored reference table.

[0015] In one advantageous embodiment, the detector is a camera.

[0016] Alternatively, the type or category of the food to be cooked can be entered into the input unit of the cooking appliance before the cooking program begins or while the cooking program is being executed.

[0017] In particular, this can also be done when the detector of the cooking appliance fails to identify or incorrectly identifies the food being cooked in the embodiment.

[0018] In one advantageous implementation, information about the food being cooked is provided to the cooking appliance by the user before the door is opened.

[0019] Specifically, the system stores reference values ​​for the duration of cooking for a particular food item in the cooking appliance, and selects the stored reference value based on the food item to be cooked. As mentioned above, this can be presented according to a reference table.

[0020] It can also be set to determine the heat mass based on the heating characteristics of the cooking appliance and the food being cooked, and accordingly determine the duration of door opening. Heat mass, also known as heat capacity, is the amount of heat a component can absorb under a given temperature change. The greater the heat capacity, the more energy is required to heat the component.

[0021] Specifically, this design ensures that the door opens automatically immediately after the cooking program ends, preventing undesirable further cooking and thus avoiding negative impacts on the desired cooking state. Because the door opens immediately after the cooking program ends, heat and / or steam can be immediately expelled from the cooking space. This prevents undesirable further cooking of the food and essentially maintains the cooking state achieved through the cooking program.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, the duration determined and then fixed at the moment the door opens is based on the temperature in the cooking space at the time the door opens. Therefore, the temperature in the cooking space is determined at the point when the door begins to open, and then the duration for which the door remains open is immediately determined. This can also be controlled by a control unit so that the temperature in the cooking space is determined within a short period of time before the end time, for example, less than ten seconds, especially less than five seconds. Based on this temperature in the cooking space, determined shortly before the end time of the cooking program, it is then possible to determine how long the door should remain open after automatic opening. This duration is also fixed and preset. Therefore, it is also possible to configure this determination to be completed before the end time. It is also possible to configure this determination to begin before the end time and to be completed shortly after the end time (e.g., less than two seconds, especially less than one second, after the door begins to open).

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the door is closed again after a fixed, preset duration. This closing is also automatic. This prevents the cooking space from cooling excessively, and thus also prevents the cooked food from being undesirably damaged, or undesirably cooled, due to the door being open.

[0024] Preferably, after the door closes again, the temperature of the cooking space and / or the food being cooked is detected, and the heating unit of the cooking appliance is activated based on whether this determined temperature is lower than a reference temperature. This also prevents the food from undesirably cooling down.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment, a heat-preservation mode for the cooking appliances is activated after the door is closed again to keep the food warm in the cooking space. This heat-preservation mode prevents the cooking appliances from undesirably cooling down. Therefore, the cooking state achieved after the end of the cooking process is essentially maintained.

[0026] In an advantageous embodiment, the fixed preset duration for which the door is open is determined and fixed based on the type of cooking program. This is also a standard by which the fixed preset duration is determined. This determination is therefore also performed before the end time of the cooking program. Because different cooking programs last different durations and / or produce different states in the cooking space, this is also specific information, based on which the duration of the door in the open state can be determined more accurately.

[0027] In this case, it is also possible to determine, for example, which functional units of the cooking appliance are activated for the cooking process. Thus, for example, the circulating air fan, heating unit, grill heating element, top heater and / or bottom heater, and steam generating unit of the cooking appliance can be mentioned as functional units. Based on which of these functional units is activated during the cooking process and / or for how long and / or when these functional units are activated, the duration for which the door should be opened immediately after the end of the cooking process can be determined.

[0028] If the type and / or shape and / or weight and / or composition of the food are taken into account in order to determine the duration of the door being open, then it is possible to consider these factors. This can be detected automatically or input by the user.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, a detection unit is used to detect the cooking appliance's surrounding environment in front of the door before the door is opened. Based on the detected information, the door is opened by the control unit of the cooking appliance. This prevents the door from being opened, even if there are objects in the surrounding environment, for example; the door will pivot to that area. Collisions with such objects are thus avoided. Damage to the door and / or such objects is particularly prevented. Undesirable temperature effects on objects due to a potentially hot door are also avoided. Detection of people, especially objects, is advantageous if, for example, a user is near the door and may be observing the cooking space through the door's viewing window or positioned very close to the door. This is because, for example, it prevents hot steam from flowing towards the user in the event of accidental door opening.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment, it is possible to set a warning indication before opening. This warning indication can be, for example, an acoustic signal. Additionally or alternatively, this signal can also be output optically.

[0031] The detection unit can be a component of a cooking appliance. For example, the detection unit could be a camera.

[0032] In one advantageous embodiment, the timing of door opening and / or the opening width of the door are specifically determined by the control unit of the cooking appliance, based on whether the surrounding environment in front of the door is occupied by objects. Therefore, it is possible to prevent opening in principle due to this situation. However, it is also possible to initiate opening based on the position and / or type of objects in or in front of the door's vicinity, but initially at an opening angle that avoids collision between the door and objects and / or undesirable flow of media from the cooking space across objects when the door is opened.

[0033] In one advantageous implementation, a fixed preset door opening angle or opening width can be set. Therefore, not only is the duration for which the door automatically remains open preset, but also the door opening width or opening angle is preset.

[0034] The door is pivotally arranged around an axis within the housing of the cooking appliance. This axis is preferably a horizontal axis. This axis is particularly oriented in the width direction of the cooking appliance.

[0035] It can also be configured such that the door is pivotally positioned on the housing of the cooking appliance around a vertical axis oriented along the height direction.

[0036] It can also be set to determine the door's opening angle or opening width shortly before the door is opened. In an advantageous embodiment, while the door is open, the opening angle can be changed at least once based on a changing criterion. This opening angle changes at least once specifically based on the occurrence of the changing criterion. Therefore, dynamic positional changes of the open door can also be achieved. Thus, it is possible to intelligently respond to changing circumstances.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment, the end time of the cooking program is automatically identified by a control unit. The entire duration of this cooking program is known and stored. Therefore, if the start of the cooking program is known, the control unit also knows the end time. This can be preset using the internal clock of the cooking appliance. The end time of the cooking program can also be known, for example, by presets of cooking time and heating type. It is also possible to configure specific sensors in the cooking appliance that can determine this end time of the cooking program, or to determine the end time based on this information via the control unit. Such sensors can be, for example, a λ probe, a humidity sensor, or a weight sensor. Such sensors can also be, for example, a meat skewer (Fleischspieß) that can be inserted into the meat of the cooked food. The state of the cooked food can also be determined by detecting it, and the end time of the cooking program can be determined accordingly. This can be achieved, for example, by a camera. Therefore, the end time of the cooking program can be inferred from the identification of the external state of the cooked food. For example, this could be the identification of browning of the cooked food.

[0038] The control unit of a cooking appliance can be installed within the appliance itself. However, the control unit can also be external. For example, it can be a component of a user's communication terminal. This communication terminal could be, for example, a mobile radio terminal, such as a smartphone or tablet. It is also possible to configure the control unit to operate via a data cloud, also known as the cloud.

[0039] If the control unit is located outside the cooking appliance or outside the appliance's housing and spaced apart from it, the temperature in the cooking space can be measured even when the door is open. This temperature can then be analyzed and / or displayed on the display unit of the external control unit. It can also be configured so that the user of the external control unit receives a message or signal when the temperature falls below a predetermined threshold, prompting the door to close. This can be initiated by the user or performed automatically.

[0040] As mentioned above, under certain conditions, it is possible for a hot surface to come into contact with the cooking appliance by opening or partially opening its door. This detection can be achieved by monitoring the immediate surrounding area in front of the door (e.g., using a sensor from a camera within the human visible spectrum or infrared range, or by other external devices). A door-opening mechanism, which also includes a motor for pivoting the door, can be activated by releasing a signal.

[0041] Additionally or alternatively, this program can also be set for automatic door closing. This prevents objects from getting stuck between the door and the housing when the door is closed.

[0042] Advantageously, sensors or detection units can also be arranged on the exterior of the cooking appliance. They can be arranged, for example, at the range hood. This forms a total system having at least one unit including the cooking appliance and the exterior of the cooking appliance.

[0043] However, this detection unit can also be placed, for example, on the cooking appliance itself, such as on the front control panel. If the detection unit is placed externally, it can exchange information with the cooking appliance wirelessly. It can also be configured to optionally select or activate an automatic door opening function in the basic settings of the cooking appliance.

[0044] Similarly, when the child safety function of the cooking appliance is activated, this door opening function is deactivated.

[0045] Another aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance having a housing. A cooking space is constructed within the housing. Food can be cooked within the cooking space. The cooking appliance further has a door, which is movably, and particularly pivotally, arranged at the housing. The door is configured to close the cooking space. The cooking appliance is configured to perform a method according to the foregoing aspects or its advantageous design. A control unit is particularly provided for this purpose. The control unit can be a component of the cooking appliance. However, the control unit can also be arranged externally to the cooking appliance. A system having a cooking appliance and at least the externally located control unit is then provided.

[0046] The terms "above", "below", "front", "back", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth", "width", and "height" are used to describe the position and orientation provided in the routine use and positioning of the device.

[0047] Other features of the invention are derived from the accompanying drawings and description. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those mentioned below in the description of the drawings and / or shown separately in the drawings, can be used not only in the combinations described but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is also considered to include and disclose embodiments not explicitly shown and illustrated in the drawings, but which are known and achievable through individual combinations of features from the illustrated embodiments. Furthermore, embodiments and feature combinations obtained particularly through the embodiments described above can be considered as disclosed. Attached Figure Description

[0048] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the schematic diagrams. Wherein:

[0049] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the present invention is shown in the closed state of the cooking appliance door;

[0050] Figure 2 It shows that according to Figure 1 The illustration depicts a building with an automatically opening door; and

[0051] Figure 3 It shows that according to Figure 1 The illustration shows the door passing through Figure 2 It will automatically close again after the specified time in the current state.

[0052] Components that are identical or have the same function are given the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0053] Figure 1 The cooking appliance 1 is illustrated in the diagram. For example, the cooking appliance 1 can be an oven. The cooking appliance 1 can also be a steam cooking appliance or a microwave cooking appliance. It is also possible to provide a cooking appliance 1 that combines the functions of an oven, a microwave cooking appliance, and a steam cooking appliance.

[0054] Cooking appliance 1 has a housing 2. A cooking space 3 is constructed within the housing 2. The cooking space is defined by the walls of a muffle oven (not shown). Cooking appliance 1 also has a door 4. Door 4... Figure 1The cooking space 3 is shown in the closed state. The cooking space 3 can be closed from the front via door 4. In this embodiment, door 4 is pivotable about an axis, which is specifically the horizontal axis A. In this embodiment, door 4 has an observation window 5 and a handle 6.

[0055] In one embodiment, the cooking appliance 1 has a front panel 7. The front panel 7 is constructed separately from the door 4. In another embodiment, the front panel is arranged above the door 4 along the height direction (y-direction). The front panel is fixedly positioned at the housing 2. The cooking appliance 1 may also include an operation and / or display unit 8. This operation and / or display unit is preferably located on the operation panel 7. The cooking appliance 1 may also preferably have at least one detection unit 9. This detection unit is located on the operation panel 7. The detection unit 9 may be at least one camera. The camera is sensitive in the human visible spectrum and / or infrared range. Preferably, multiple detection units 9 may also be provided.

[0056] The cooking appliance 1 also has a door opening device 10. This door opening device 10 can, for example, have a motor. The door 4 can be opened automatically using the door opening device 10. The door can also be closed automatically again using the door opening device 10. The cooking appliance 1 preferably also has a control unit 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 11 is arranged within the cooking appliance 1 itself. Figure 1 In an alternative embodiment also shown, the control unit 11' can be located externally to the cooking appliance 1. This control unit can also be, for example, a cloud. Similarly, the control unit 11' can also be, for example, a physical device, such as a communication terminal.

[0057] If the control unit 11' is arranged outside the cooking appliance 1, then a system 12 having the control unit 11' and the cooking appliance 1 is also obtained.

[0058] The cooking appliance 1 or system 12 is further constructed to perform the methods described below.

[0059] When cooking appliance 1 or system 12 is running, cooking is performed on the food within the cooking space 3 of cooking appliance 1. This cooking process executes a cooking procedure that can be performed by cooking appliance 1. Upon reaching the end time of the cooking procedure, door 4 immediately and automatically opens. Door 4 remains closed during the cooking procedure. The automatic opening of door 4 is achieved via door opening device 10. It is configured that door 4 remains open for a fixed preset duration before opening. It is also possible to configure door 4 to remain open for a fixed preset duration determined when the door is opened and thereafter. In this method, further monitoring is not performed after the door is opened, thus allowing for adjustments to the duration accordingly. Specifically, it is not configured to detect the temperature of the cooking space 3 while the door is open and determine the duration for which door 4 remains open based on that temperature.

[0060] It can also be set that a preset duration is fixed before the door is opened, which can be fixed by the user. It can also be set that the preset duration before opening door 4 is fixed based on the food being cooked during the cooking process.

[0061] Additionally or alternatively, it is usually possible to set a preset duration before opening door 4, which is preset according to the type of cooking program selected, already selected, or already started for cooking the food.

[0062] It can be set to automatically identify the food to be cooked, especially in the cooking space 3, via the detector 13 of the cooking appliance 1. This is especially true when the food to be cooked has already been introduced into the cooking space 3.

[0063] It can also be configured so that information about the food being cooked is provided to the cooking appliance 1 by the user. This is especially true before the automatic opening of door 4 and therefore before the end time of the cooking program. Here, for example, input can be made via voice signal. The operation-and / or display unit 8 is therefore also configured to receive and / or output voice signals. However, it can also be configured so that this information is manually input by manipulating an input element that may be a component of the operation-and / or display unit 8.

[0064] Similarly, it is possible to configure the cooking appliance 1, particularly the control unit 11 or 11', to store reference values ​​for the duration of a specific food being cooked. These stored reference values ​​are assigned and selected based on the food to be cooked.

[0065] It can also be set that, when cooking food, the heat quality is determined by the heating characteristics of the cooking appliance 1 and the food, and the duration of the preset door 4 is determined and fixed accordingly.

[0066] If based on Figure 1 If the diagram shows the end time of the cooking process, then door 4 will proceed according to... Figure 2 The icon in the image opens automatically. Here, you can set either a fixed opening width or a fixed opening angle. This opening angle can be adjusted relative to... Figure 1 The vertical position is in degrees.

[0067] based on Figure 2 The illustration shows that after the preset open duration has elapsed, door 4 is set to close automatically. Figure 3 The image shows the state where door 4 is closed again in this case.

[0068] The duration of this fixed preset can be set based on the temperature in the cooking space 3, which is determined shortly before the end time of the cooking program and / or at the end time of the cooking program.

[0069] What can be set is, such as Figure 3 As shown, after door 4 closes again, the temperature of the food in cooking space 3 and / or the food cooked in cooking space 3 is detected. The heating unit 14 of cooking appliance 1 is activated based on a comparison between the actual temperature and a reference temperature. A heat-preservation mode for cooking appliance 1 is activated in particular after door 4 closes to keep the food cooked in cooking space 3 warm. In an advantageous embodiment, the environment surrounding cooking appliance 1 is detected using a detection unit, such as detection unit 9, immediately before door 4 opens, at the end of the cooking program. The opening of door 4 is controlled based on the detected information. This means that such opening can be performed without restriction. However, if an object is present in the surrounding environment, the opening of door 4 can be prevented or delayed. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to adjust the opening angle or opening width. Therefore, damage to such objects should be avoided in particular.

[0070] If from Figure 2 If the departure door 4 needs to be closed again, the same observation scenario can be performed. For example, the surrounding environment area between door 4 and cooking space 3 can be detected accordingly. For this purpose, a detection unit 9 can also be provided. The detection unit 9 can be configured as a fisheye camera not only in this case, but also in other cases.

[0071] It is also generally possible that the opening angle of door 4 is fixed and / or determined shortly before door 4 is opened and / or changed at least once during the open state of door 4 according to a changing criterion. Such a changing criterion could be, for example, an object in the surrounding environment of door 4 that could impair the movement and / or position of door 4, and / or that object could be damaged by passing through door 4. The changing criterion could also be, for example, the temperature and / or amount and / or humidity of the medium escaping from cooking space 3 when door 4 is open.

[0072] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0073] 1. Cooking utensils

[0074] 2. Shell

[0075] 3. Cooking space

[0076] 4 doors

[0077] 5. Observation Window

[0078] 6 handles

[0079] 7. Front Panel

[0080] 8. Operation and Display Unit

[0081] 9 Detection Units

[0082] 10. Door opening mechanism

[0083] 11, 11' Control Unit

[0084] 12 systems

[0085] 13 detectors

[0086] 14 Heating Units

[0087] y-axis (height direction)

[0088] A. Horizontal axis.

Claims

1. Method for operating a cooking appliance (1), in which method a cooking program of the cooking appliance (1) is executed when cooking food in a cooking space (3) of the cooking appliance (1), and a door (4) of the cooking appliance (1), which closes the cooking space (3) during the cooking program, is automatically opened by an opening device (10) of the cooking appliance (1) when a final time point of the cooking program is reached, characterized in that The door (4) is determined to be opened before opening and / or remains open for a fixedly preset duration before opening, wherein, before opening the door (4), the surroundings of the cooking appliance (1) in front of the door (4) are detected using at least one detection unit (9), and the opening of the door (4) is controlled in accordance with the detected information, wherein the detection unit (9) is arranged on a front panel (7) of the cooking appliance (1) which is configured separately from the door (4), wherein, depending on the occupancy of the surroundings in front of the door (4), the point in time at which the door (4) is opened and / or the opening angle of the door (4) is specifically preset by a control unit (11, 11').

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The fixedly preset duration before opening the door (4) is preset by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The preset duration determined before opening the door (4) is preset in accordance with the cooking goods being cooked in the cooking.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The cooking goods are automatically recognized by a probe (13) of the cooking appliance (1).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, Information about the cooking goods is informed to the cooking appliance (1) by a user before opening the door (4).

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Reference values for the duration for specific cooking goods are stored in the cooking appliance (1), and the stored reference values are selected in accordance with the cooking goods to be cooked.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, When cooking the cooking goods, the thermal mass is determined by the heating characteristics of the cooking appliance (1) and the cooking goods, and the duration for opening the door (4) is determined therefrom.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The fixedly preset duration determined when the end point in time of the cooking program is reached is determined in accordance with the temperature in the cooking space (3).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The fixedly preset duration determined when the end point in time of the cooking program is reached is determined in accordance with the temperature in the cooking space (3) at the end point in time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, The door (4) is closed again after the fixedly preset duration has elapsed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, After the door is closed again, the temperature in the cooking space (3) and / or of the cooking goods is detected, and a heating unit (14) of the cooking appliance (1) is activated in accordance with whether this determined temperature is below a reference temperature.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, A hold mode of the cooking appliance (1) is activated after the door (4) is closed again for holding the cooking goods in the cooking space.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, The opening angle of the door (4) is fixedly preset for the open state, and / or the opening angle of the door (4) is determined shortly before the opening, and / or the opening angle of the door (4) is changed at least once in the open state of the door (4) in accordance with a change criterion.

14. Cooking appliance (1), having a housing (2) in which a cooking space (3) is configured in which cooking goods can be cooked, and having a door (4) which is movably arranged at the housing (2) and is configured for closing the cooking space (3), wherein the cooking appliance (1) being configured to carry out the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

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