Cooking appliance having dome for separating sensor mechanism from muffle furnace

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooking appliance having a housing in which a cooking chamber (3) is formed, which is delimited by walls of a muffle (4). The sensor device (6, 37) is designed to monitor the cooking process. The sensor device (6, 37) is separated from an inner side (12) of a wall (10) of the muffle furnace (4) by means of a dome (11). The dome (11) has a feed opening (13) close to the sensor means (6, 37) and a detection opening (14) close to the cooking chamber (3). The closure element (15) can be moved from a release position into a closed position. In the release position, the detection path (16) extending from the feed opening (13) to the detection opening (14) is released. By means of the movement of the closure element (15) into the closed position, the extent of heat transfer from the cooking chamber (3) to the sensor mechanism (6, 37) can be reduced. At least one wall (18, 20, 21) of the dome (11) delimiting the interior of the dome (11) has a plurality of through-holes (22).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a cooking appliance having a housing in which a cooking chamber is constructed, wherein the cooking chamber is defined by the wall of a muffle furnace of the cooking appliance. The cooking appliance comprises at least one sensor device, which is constructed to monitor a cooking process that can be carried out in the cooking chamber. The at least one sensor device is separated from the inner side of the wall of the muffle furnace by means of a dome of the cooking appliance. The dome has a feed opening close to the at least one sensor device and a detection opening close to the cooking chamber. A closure element can be moved from a release position into a closed position, wherein in the release position a detection path extending from the feed opening to the detection opening is released. By moving the closure element into the closed position, the degree of heat transfer from the cooking chamber to the at least one sensor device can be reduced. Background Art

[0002] DE 102019213485 A1 describes a microwave oven with a microwave dome, wherein the microwave dome has a first sensor opening and a second sensor opening. A corresponding sensor is arranged behind the sensor opening. A dome cover is provided to close the cooking chamber opening of the microwave dome, which can be moved by a motor. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which in particular thermal loading of the sensor device can be avoided as far as possible.

[0004] This object is achieved by a cooking appliance having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention together with expedient developments are described in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0005] The cooking device according to the invention has a housing in which a cooking chamber is formed, which is delimited by the wall of the muffle of the cooking device, and the cooking device has at least one sensor device, which is designed to monitor a cooking process that can be carried out in the cooking chamber. The at least one sensor device is separated from the inner side of the wall of the muffle by means of a dome of the cooking device. The dome has a feed opening close to the at least one sensor device and a detection opening close to the cooking chamber. The cooking device includes a closing element, which can be moved from a release position to a closed position. In the release position, the detection path extending from the feed opening to the detection opening is released. By moving the closing element into the closed position, the degree of heat transfer from the cooking chamber to the at least one sensor device can be reduced. At least one wall of the dome that delimits the interior space of the dome has a plurality of through holes.

[0006] The arrangement of the through-holes in at least one wall of the dome has the result that, during operation of the cooking appliance, i.e., for example, during a cooking process, heat from the cooking chamber is prevented as much as possible from reaching the sensor device by heat conduction along the wall of the dome having the through-holes. This is because, due to the through-holes arranged in at least one wall, the path to be traversed by the heat during heat transfer by heat conduction is significantly longer than in the case of an otherwise identical wall of the dome but without the through-holes. As a result, thermal loading of the sensor device can be avoided as much as possible.

[0007] The desire to avoid heat transfer to the sensor device is based on the recognition that sensor devices that can be used to monitor cooking processes that can be carried out in a cooking chamber are generally sensitive to high temperatures. This applies, for example, when the sensor device is designed for a sensor surface, which is in the form of the surface of a lens of a camera, but also for a camera of an electronic component integrated into the sensor device, which can be designed in particular for signal processing. For sensor devices designed as acoustic sensors or as pressure sensors, heat-sensitive membranes or the like can be present, which should be protected from thermal loading.

[0008] This also applies when the at least one sensor device is designed, for example, as a humidity sensor, for which the sensor surface can be formed of metal. This involves, for example, avoiding contact of the sensor surface with, in particular, hot water and / or with steam, in order to prevent oxidation of the sensor surface as largely as possible. In this context, it is also advantageous to avoid heat transfer to the sensor device.

[0009] In the cooking appliance, the dome ensures that at least one sensor device is kept spaced apart from the inner side of the wall of the muffle. That is, the sensor device does not come into contact with the muffle wall at all, thereby preventing direct heat conduction from the muffle wall into the sensor device. In addition, the arrangement of the dome makes the heat input to the sensor device due to thermal radiation negligible. And heat transfer due to convection can be counteracted in particular and very easily by providing an air flow, which can be used to dissipate heat from the dome and additionally to cool the sensor device.

[0010] Since the movable closure element is arranged on the dome, it is possible to move the closure element from the release position into the closed position and back again. In the closed position, the closure element, which can also be referred to as a shutter, serves to additionally thermally decouple the sensor device from the cooking chamber. This applies to heat transfer along the dome both by thermal radiation and by thermal conduction and by convection.

[0011] Furthermore, the provision of the through-opening in at least one wall of the dome advantageously allows the through-opening to be used for air flow, so that on the one hand a cooling function is achieved and on the other hand fumes can be carried away from the cooking chamber.

[0012] Providing a through hole in at least one wall of the dome allows the cooling air flow of the cooking chamber that is already present to be utilized, in particular for cooling the sensor unit and / or the dome, without having to install a separate air guide channel or air shaft in order to guide the cooling air to or away from the dome. Rather, the dome having at least one wall with a through hole can be very easily embedded in a free air flow that can be generated by means of a fan that is preferably provided for the cooking appliance. If such a fan is originally used for guiding cooling air inside the cooking appliance, it can participate in this cooling air guidance in order to ensure cooling of the dome to a sufficient extent, as a sub-function.

[0013] The provision of through-holes in at least one wall of the dome makes it particularly easy to integrate the dome into an already existing cooling concept, which includes an air flow that can be provided by means of a preferably provided fan. In particular, a peripheral flushing and / or thorough flushing of the dome can be provided with cooling air, which is sufficient for cooling and for exhausting fumes and which nevertheless barely affects the main air flow of the superordinate cooling concept.

[0014] The provision of a through hole in at least one wall of the dome allows the dome to be designed to be open to the atmosphere. This allows the installation of expensive, for example, airtight or at least sealed air-conducting ducts or covers to be dispensed with. This is because the already existing cover of the superordinate ventilation concept can be used in an advantageous manner.

[0015] The dome advantageously serves not only as a support for the closure element but also as a shield for the sensor device from the inner side of the wall of the muffle. Rather, the provision of the through-holes in at least one wall of the dome ensures a particularly low heat transfer by heat conduction, i.e. a very low heat dissipation from the cooking chamber.

[0016] The dome can be formed in the manner of a projection which is at least partially formed in the wall of the muffle. Additionally or alternatively, the dome can be formed as a separate component which is connected to the wall of the muffle.

[0017] By providing the closure element, the cooking chamber projection or dome can be divided into two sections in an advantageous manner, wherein the sections can be separated from one another thermally, ie with respect to heat radiation, heat conduction and convection, by moving the closure element into the closed position.

[0018] The closing element can be arranged in the region of the feed opening. This has the advantage that a smaller closing element is sufficient for a dome that preferably widens from the feed opening toward the detection opening. Furthermore, such a small closing element must be moved only over a small displacement distance in order to move from the release position into the closed position. However, when the closing element is arranged in the region of the feed opening, it is disadvantageous that stagnation heat from the cooking chamber can rise relatively unhindered into the interior of the dome and only at the very end completely interrupt the upward heat transfer through the closing element. In contrast, a further advantage of arranging the closing element in the region of the feed opening or in the vicinity of the feed opening is that the path for dirt that may rise from the cooking chamber is longer and the closing element is therefore less contaminated than if the closing element were arranged closer to the cooking chamber.

[0019] Furthermore, the closing element can be arranged in the region of the detection opening. This has the advantage that very good thermal decoupling of the sensor mechanism can be achieved due to the displacement of the closing element into the closed position. However, the arrangement of the closing element in the region of the detection opening is associated with the fact that the area of ​​the closing element is relatively large for a dome that widens toward the cooking chamber. Accordingly, large lifts are also required in order to move or displace the closing element from the release position into the closed position and back. Furthermore, it is more difficult to protect the closing element from contamination if the closing element is located very close to the detection opening or in the region of the detection opening.

[0020] The closure element, which is preferably moved into the closed position, is spaced apart from the feed opening and the detection opening in the height direction of the dome. Due to such an arrangement of the closure element, two thermal zones can be formed in the dome. The heat transfer from the cooking chamber to the feed opening by means of thermal radiation and convection is reduced by means of a first and relatively hot zone or thermal zone close to the cooking chamber. And in a second zone or thermal zone or similar section of the dome remote from the cooking chamber, particularly effective active cooling can be achieved. The reason for this is that only a small amount of heat flows into this second zone or this second section. This is because good thermal decoupling of the second zone or second section can be achieved by means of the closure element.

[0021] Due to the preferably provided reduction in the cross section of the dome from the detection opening to the feed opening, i.e. due to the, for example, funnel-shaped shape of the dome, when the closure element is arranged in the height direction between the feed opening and the detection opening, the displacement distance for displacing the closure element from the release position into the closed position and back is always relatively small. This is advantageous.

[0022] Furthermore, the arrangement of the closure element in the height direction of the dome between the feed opening and the test opening makes it possible to produce two dome sections, between which the closure element is arranged, separately for providing the dome and to mount them on top of one another. This advantageously provides a large design margin in the selection of materials for the dome sections, in particular the dome halves.

[0023] The advantages associated with the arrangement of the closure element spaced apart from the feed opening and the test opening apply to a particular extent if the closure element moved into the closed position is arranged essentially centrally relative to the distance of the feed opening from the test opening.

[0024] The height direction of the dome can, but need not, coincide with the height direction of the cooking appliance. Rather, other orientations of the vertical axis of the dome are possible, in particular an inclined orientation of the vertical axis of the dome, which is preferably aligned with the center point of the cooking appliance. In particular, if the sensor device can be designed as a sensor other than a camera, for example as a humidity sensor or a pressure sensor, then larger deviations of the orientation of the vertical axis of the dome from the height direction of the cooking appliance can be provided without adversely affecting the detection of the variables detectable by means of these sensors.

[0025] However, even if the sensor device is designed as a camera, an oblique orientation of the vertical axis or longitudinal axis of the dome relative to the height direction of the cooking appliance can be provided. For example, the dome can be arranged in the region of a wall of a muffle furnace, in particular in the form of a cooking chamber ceiling, so that the viewing direction along the vertical axis of the dome substantially corresponds to the viewing direction of a user of the cooking appliance who, when the door of the cooking appliance is slightly opened, looks into the cooking chamber in order to assess the state of the food being cooked in the cooking chamber. Correspondingly, the vertical axis of the dome can be oriented slightly obliquely from the cooking chamber ceiling relative to the center of the cooking chamber.

[0026] It can be provided that at least one wall of the dome has a through hole in a partial region close to the cooking chamber. This is advantageous because heat conduction is largely prevented in this way at locations where particularly high temperatures prevail during operation of the cooking appliance, that is, during a cooking process in the cooking chamber. Furthermore, by providing through holes in a partial region close to the cooking chamber, smoke can be actively sucked away from the cooking chamber via the dome.

[0027] If the partial area of ​​the dome close to the cooking chamber is embedded in an insulating material for thermally insulating the cooking chamber, relatively simple measures can be taken to prevent smoke from penetrating through the through-hole into the insulating material or the heat-insulating material.

[0028] Can provide, at least one wall of the dome has through-hole in the partial area away from the cooking chamber.Can realize the surrounding sweep for the partial area of ​​the dome away from the cooking chamber very easily with cooling air like this.

[0029] Furthermore, condensation and / or smoke rising in the interior of the dome can be discharged through the through-opening formed in this partial region before it reaches the sensor device.

[0030] It has been found to be further advantageous if at least one wall of the dome has through-holes both in a subregion close to the cooking chamber and in a subregion remote from the cooking chamber. In this way, in particular, heat transfer to the sensor device by heat conduction in the wall of the dome having through-holes can be largely prevented. Furthermore, the advantages explained for the formation of through-holes in the corresponding subregion of the wall also apply to this embodiment.

[0031] The dome preferably has a plurality of walls facing one another. In this case, it can be provided that only one of the walls has a through hole. In such a design, it is very easy to create a negative pressure in the interior of the dome in order to create a directional air flow which can be used to cool the dome and / or to remove smoke from the dome.

[0032] For example, the Bernoulli effect and / or a Dollard blower (known per se and therefore not explained in detail here) can be used to generate the negative pressure. In addition or as an alternative, the interior of the dome can be flushed by providing an overpressure, for example to cause cooling of the dome.

[0033] Alternatively, it can be provided that if the dome has a plurality of walls facing one another, two of these walls have through-holes. In such a design, it is particularly easy to achieve a flow of cooling air through the dome in a transverse direction, that is, transversely to the detection path. Furthermore, it is particularly easy to ensure that an air flow directed into the cooking chamber is generated in the interior of the dome by an overpressure in the environment of the dome. In this way, smoke from the cooking chamber can be particularly effectively prevented from reaching the sensor device.

[0034] If the sensor device is designed as a camera, the camera lens can be advantageously swept, in particular when the dome is swept transversely with cooling air. This applies in particular if the camera lens is not arranged in a close-fitting manner at the feed opening, but rather an air gap is formed at this location, i.e. between the camera lens and the feed opening. This allows particularly effective cooling of the camera.

[0035] As an alternative, if the dome has a plurality of walls facing one another, all of the walls can have through-holes. In this way, a reduction of the heat conduction via the walls of the dome can be achieved, in particular as much as possible. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cooling air flow in the interior of the dome can also be adjusted very easily. This is beneficial for improved cooling of the sensor mechanism.

[0036] The walls of the dome facing each other can be configured in particular as walls of the dome that are opposite each other transversely to the detection path. In this way, it is particularly easy to achieve, in particular along the transverse direction of the dome, a sweep of the interior space of the dome.

[0037] The cooking appliance preferably has at least one fan, which is designed to provide an air flow in the partial space of the cooking appliance, which is arranged between the outer side of the muffle and the inner side of the housing. In this case, the operation of the at least one fan can cause heat to be dissipated from the dome and / or from the at least one sensor device by means of the air flow. In this way, in particular, heat from the cooking chamber can be prevented as much as possible from being transferred to the at least one sensor device.

[0038] Preferably, the air can be sucked out of the interior of the dome by means of a fan. On the one hand, this ensures that there is no hot stagnant air in the interior of the dome, which could lead to an undesirable heat transfer to the sensor device. In addition, the purpose of sucking smoke out of the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance via the dome can be achieved in this way.

[0039] In addition or as an alternative, it can be provided that air can be introduced into the interior of the dome by means of a fan. This is also beneficial for dissipating heat from the dome and / or from the sensor device.

[0040] Preferably, by means of a fan, air can be introduced into the interior of the dome via the through-holes formed in the first wall of the dome and the air can be discharged via the through-holes formed in the second wall of the dome. In this case, the first wall and the second wall face each other. In this way, a lateral flushing of the dome with cooling air in the form of an air flow can be achieved in an advantageous manner. This contributes to an effective cooling of the dome and thus serves to effectively reduce the heat transfer to the sensor device.

[0041] It can be provided that at least in a partial area of ​​the wall the through holes are covered by means of a covering element, wherein the covering element prohibits air flow from passing through these through holes. In this way, it is possible to set very specifically which through holes should only be used to reduce heat conduction and which through holes should be used as air through holes.

[0042] In particular, the provision of the at least one covering element makes it possible to prevent smoke from entering the insulating or insulating material of the cooking appliance through the through-opening, which lines the muffle on the outside and provides for the thermal insulation of the muffle. Furthermore, the provision of the at least one covering element makes it possible to very effectively and easily set a desired air flow through the interior of the dome.

[0043] Preferably, the dome has a first section close to the cooking chamber and a second section remote from the cooking chamber. In this case, at least one wall has a first material in the first section and a second material different from the first material in the second section. In this way, it can be achieved very effectively that the materials used in the respective section are particularly well suited to their respective use.

[0044] For example, it is advantageous if the material used in the first section has a particularly low thermal conductivity, in particular a lower thermal conductivity than the second material, because in this way a heat transfer to the at least one sensor device by heat conduction via at least one wall of the dome can be largely prevented.

[0045] It can be provided that the cooking appliance has a device for applying microwaves to the cooking chamber. It has been found to be advantageous if the first section has metallic and / or electrically conductive properties, by which the microwaves can be prevented from escaping through the dome into the environment of the first section. This is because it is possible to achieve a particularly effective reduction of the microwave radiation in the region of the first section and thus to block it. In the second section, the microwave radiation is preferably reduced in such a way that there is a particularly large degree of freedom in the selection of the material used in the second section. For example, the second section can be formed from a ceramic material and / or from a plastic.

[0046] The first section can have metallic and / or electrically conductive properties, in that the first section is formed from at least one metal. In addition or as an alternative, it is possible that a metallic coating is applied to the base body of the wall. In this case, the metallic coating can be arranged on the inner side of the base body facing the interior space of the dome and / or on the outer side of the base body facing away from the interior space. In all these cases, the provision of metallic material or metallic and / or electrically conductive properties ensures that the microwave radiation is effectively blocked, thereby preventing the microwave radiation from escaping from the cooking appliance.

[0047] If the cooking appliance does not have a device for applying microwaves to the cooking chamber, it can also be provided that the first section is formed from a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the material used for the second section. As a result, the heat conduction to the sensor device is already greatly reduced in the first section. In particular, the material used in the first section can be a ceramic material. In particular, if the cooking appliance does not have a device for applying microwaves to the cooking chamber, the second section can be formed in particular from plastic, such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). This is advantageous in terms of cost and in terms of easy and low-cost availability of the second section.

[0048] It can be provided that the closure element can be moved linearly for displacement from the release position into the closed position and for return displacement. Here, the closure element is arranged in a pocket-shaped receiving portion in the release position. This allows a well-guided displacement of the closure element from the release position into the closed position and back.

[0049] As an alternative, it can be provided that the closure element can be rotated about the rotation axis for displacement from the release position into the closed position and back, wherein the closure element is arranged in a pocket-shaped receiving portion in the release position. Such mobility of the closure element can be realized in a particularly compact and space-saving manner. In addition, the rotation of the closure element about the rotation axis can be realized technically very easily, for example, by providing an electric motor or the like, in order to move the closure element from the release position into the closed position and back.

[0050] The pocket-shaped receiving portion can be arranged in particular on the wall of the dome or be formed in the wall of the dome. In this way, the closing element can be integrated into the dome particularly easily.

[0051] Preferably, the closure element shields at least one section of the dome toward the cooking chamber in the closed position. In this way, the degree of heat transfer from the cooking chamber to the sensor device can be particularly effectively reduced.

[0052] Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the closure element is designed in the manner of a flap which can be pivoted about a pivot axis from a release position into a closed position. The flap can be arranged on the inside of one of the walls of the dome. In particular, by designing at least one side of the closure element to reflect light, the sensor device can look into the cooking chamber using this reflective side of the closure element.

[0053] In particular, when the closure element is arranged as a flap at the inspection opening of the dome, the closure element can be moved very easily and with little effort from the release position into the closed position and back again by pivoting the flap about the pivot axis.

[0054] If the sensor device is designed as a camera, the cooking process carried out in the cooking chamber can be monitored particularly easily, for example by displaying the image captured by the camera on a display device of the cooking appliance. In this way, the user of the cooking appliance can easily obtain information about the state of the food in the cooking chamber by observing the image, without the user having to open the door of the cooking appliance for this purpose, by means of which the charging opening of the muffle furnace can be closed.

[0055] Preferably, at least one sensor device comprises a first camera with an image sensor and a second camera with an infrared sensor. In this case, the cooking appliance has a movement device, by means of which the first camera or the second camera can be placed at the feed opening selectively or successively. With the aid of the second camera with the infrared sensor, a thermal image of the cooking chamber can be compiled and displayed in particular to the user, which allows good conclusions to be drawn about the state of the food in the cooking chamber. And with the aid of the first camera with the image sensor, an image of the food can be captured, which can be displayed to the user with the aid of the display device. This is advantageous.

[0056] In addition or as an alternative, the data recorded by the first camera and the second camera can be fed to a control device of the cooking appliance, which can be used to control the cooking process of the food in a particularly easy manner. This is because automatic monitoring of the cooking process can be achieved very easily by evaluating the data recorded by the first camera and the second camera by the control device. This makes the cooking of food particularly easy and convenient for the user of the cooking appliance.

[0057] The cooking appliance preferably has a control device which is designed to effect a displacement of the closure element from the closed position into the released position and back again as a function of switching on the cooking appliance and / or as a function of the end of the cooking process.

[0058] This is based on the knowledge that contamination of the closure element may occur during operation of the cooking appliance. This is because one of the tasks of the closure element is, in particular, to protect the sensor mechanism in the closed position from contamination by dirt. By means of the frequent movement of the closure element from the release position into the closed position and back again, good ease of handling of the closure element can be ensured during such movement. In addition, deposits or dirt that may have accumulated on the closure element can thus be scraped off or pushed into an area where they do not interfere. In particular, cleaning of the closure element can be achieved in this way.

[0059] It is particularly easy to carry out such a cleaning movement when the cooking appliance is switched on, in particular each time the cooking appliance is switched on, and / or after the cooking process is finished, in particular each time the cooking process is finished, because in this way the regular movement of the closing element can be ensured.

[0060] Expressions such as "above", "below", "front", "behind", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth direction", "width direction", "height direction" etc. are used to indicate the positions and orientations that result when the cooking appliance is used as intended and arranged as intended and when an observer, in particular standing in front of the cooking appliance and looking in the direction of the cooking appliance, is behind it.

[0061] The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown separately in the figures can be used not only in the respectively described combination but also in other combinations or separately without leaving the scope of the invention. Therefore, the following embodiments should be regarded as included in the present invention and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but can be known and generated from the explained embodiments through separate feature combinations. Therefore, embodiments and feature combinations that do not have all the features of the originally expressed independent claims should also be regarded as disclosed. In addition, the following embodiments and feature combinations should be regarded as disclosed, in particular through the embodiments explained above, which embodiments and feature combinations exceed or differ from the feature combinations explained in the back-references of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the claims, from the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings.

[0063] Figure 1 The cooking appliance is shown in a greatly simplified perspective view;

[0064] Figure 2 The dome of the cooking appliance is schematically shown in FIG. Figure 1 Arrangement in the region of a cover wall of a muffle furnace of a cooking appliance;

[0065] Figure 3 The view from the cooking chamber shows the Figure 2 a dome, wherein the closure element moves into a released position;

[0066] Figure 4 The view from the cooking chamber shows the Figure 2 a dome, wherein the closure element moves into a closed position;

[0067] Figure 5 The effect of providing a large number of holes or similar through-holes in the wall of the dome is schematically shown;

[0068] Figure 6 The arrangement of the closing element at the upper end of the dome is schematically shown;

[0069] Figure 7 The arrangement of the closing element at the lower end of the dome is schematically shown;

[0070] Figure 8 The substantially central arrangement of the closing element at the dome is schematically shown;

[0071] Fig. 9 The configuration of through holes or apertures in all the walls of the vault is schematically shown;

[0072] Fig.10 The extraction of smoke from a partial area of ​​the vault by means of a fan of the cooking appliance is schematically shown;

[0073] Fig.11 The control of a cooling air throughflow in the dome is schematically shown, wherein the throughflow is caused by means of a fan of the cooking appliance; and

[0074] Fig.12 The combination of the extraction of hot air and smoke from the vault and the flow of cold air through the vault in different levels or sections of the vault is schematically shown.

[0075] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are shown with the same reference symbols. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] Figure 1 A household appliance in the form of a cooking appliance 1 is shown greatly simplified, having a housing 2 or outer housing which is substantially cuboid in shape. A cooking chamber 3 is formed in the cooking appliance 1, wherein the cooking chamber 3 is delimited by the walls of a muffle 4 of the cooking appliance 1. The front charging opening of the muffle 4 can be closed by means of a door 5 of the cooking appliance 1, which is closed at Figure 1 The wall of the muffle furnace 4 is shown in the case of being opened a little. Figure 1 In with Figure 2 In the overview of the housing, there is a bottom 7 , two opposite side walls 8 , a rear wall 9 and a cover wall 10 .

[0077] In order to monitor the cooking process that can be carried out in the cooking chamber 3, the cooking appliance 1 has at least one sensor device. Figure 2, a first camera 6 is shown, which is designed to record images of the food being cooked in the cooking chamber 3 during the cooking process. In order to prevent the sensor device, in this case the camera 6, from being acted upon by heat from the cooking chamber 3 to the greatest extent possible, the cooking appliance 1 has a dome 11. The dome 11 ensures that the camera 6 is spaced apart from an inner side 12 of one of the walls of the muffle 4, for example, from an inner side 12 of the cover wall 10.

[0078] exist Figure 2 , it is schematically and exemplarily shown that the dome 11 is arranged in the region of the cover wall 10 so that the camera 6 can observe the inside of the cooking chamber 3 from above. The dome 11 has an inlet opening 13 near the camera 6 and a detection opening 14 near the cooking chamber. Here, the dome 11 widens from the inlet opening 13 to the detection opening 14. In particular, the dome 11 is designed in the form of a prism, as shown here by way of example, wherein the inlet opening 13 and the detection opening 14 can be designed in a rectangular, in particular square, shape.

[0079] exist Figure 2 Schematically, the closure element 15 is shown moved into the closed position. In the closed position, the closure element 15 closes a detection path 16 extending from the feed opening 13 to the detection opening 14. Along this detection path 16, the camera 6 can observe the inside of the cooking chamber 3 or film the food (not shown here) in the cooking chamber 3.

[0080] If the closure element 15 is moved into the release position (see Figure 3 ), the detection path 16 is released. Correspondingly, Figure 3 The lens 17 of the camera 6 facing the cooking chamber 3 can be seen in FIG. If the closing element 15 is moved into the closed position relative to this (see FIG. Figure 4 ), then the closing element 15 effectively prevents heat transfer from the cooking chamber 3 to the camera 6. By moving the closing element 15 into the closed position (see Figure 4 ), thereby ensuring good thermal decoupling of the camera 6 from the heat of the cooking chamber 3.

[0081] Here, the thermal decoupling is further improved by forming a plurality of through-holes 22 in at least one wall 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11. Figure 2 In the figure, the left wall 20 and the opposite right wall 21 along the transverse direction y of the cooking chamber 3 and the cooking device 1 can be seen in the four walls 18, 19, 10, 21 of the dome 11. These opposite walls 20, 21 of the dome 11 can also be Figure 3 in and Figure 4 It can be seen in.

[0082] In addition, Figure 2 In FIG. 1 , the front wall 18 of the dome 11 can be seen along the depth direction x of the cooking device 1 and the cooking chamber 3, while in FIG. Figure 3 in and Figure 4 In the figure, the rear wall 19 of the dome 11 can be seen along the depth direction x of the cooking device 1 and the cooking chamber 3. The transverse direction y, the depth direction x and the height direction z of the cooking device 1 are shown in FIG. Figure 1 in and Figure 2 It is indicated by the corresponding coordinate system.

[0083] Of the through-holes 22, only some are provided with reference numerals in the figures for reasons of clarity. Figure 5 It can be shown how the heat conduction from the detection opening 14 to the feed opening 13 is improved by the arrangement of the through hole 22 in at least one of the walls 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11, for example in the Figure 5 Because the heat reaches the feed port 13 from the detection port 14 along the path 23 due to heat conduction, the path is longer than that in the same Figure 5 The straight line path 24 is shown in FIG.

[0084] exist Figure 2 1 shows a variant of the dome 11 in which the closure element 15 is arranged in the height direction z of the dome 11 in a manner that is substantially equally spaced from the feed opening 13 and the detection opening 14. Figure 6 1 shows a variant of the dome 11, in which the closure element 15 is arranged at the upper end of the dome 11 in the height direction z, that is, in the region of the feed opening 13 of the dome 11. Figure 7 In a variant of , the closure element 15 is arranged in the height direction z of the dome 11 at the bottom, ie in the region of the detection opening 14 .

[0085] Due to the shape of the dome 11, which widens from the feed opening 13 to the test opening 14, the upper arrangement of the closure element 15 (cf. Figure 6 ) has the advantage that the lift or displacement stroke for moving the closing element 15 in this way is particularly small. In addition, the closing element 15 is less susceptible to contamination because the distance from the test opening 14 to the closing element 15 is shorter than in the case of an arrangement of the closing element 15. Figure 2 in and Figure 7 In the variant shown in FIG.

[0086] In contrast, the dome 11 Figure 7The variant shown in FIG. 1 has the advantage that the closing element 15 provides particularly good thermal decoupling. However, the closing element 15 should be designed with a larger area and the displacement stroke or lift of the closing element 15 should be greater than that of the dome 11. Figure 6 The variant shown in FIG.

[0087] The arrangement of the closure element 15, which is spaced apart from both the feed opening 13 and the test opening 14, in particular the closure element 15 Figure 2 The central arrangement shown in the figure allows in particular to place the Figure 6 Neutral Figure 7 The advantages of the variants shown in are combined.

[0088] In addition, the closure element 15 is Figure 8 The schematically shown substantially central arrangement in FIG. 1 provides the possibility of forming the respective sections 25, 26 of the dome 11 from different, respectively particularly well-suited materials. Figure 8 The dome 11 can have a first section 25 close to the cooking chamber 3 and a second section 26 remote from the cooking chamber 3 .

[0089] If the cooking appliance 1 has Figure 8 In contrast to the microwave generator 27 schematically shown in FIG. 1 , it is advantageous to construct the walls 18, 19, 20, 21 from metal in the lower section 25, that is, for example, in the lower dome half, or to provide at least one metallic surface or coating of the base body of the respective wall 18, 19, 20, 21. This is because the microwave radiation is thus particularly well blocked in the first section 25. In the upper dome half or in the second section 26, there is great freedom in the choice of material, because in the first section 25 the microwave radiation is reduced to a sufficiently great extent.

[0090] In contrast, if the cooking appliance 1 is not Figure 8 In the case of a microwave generator 27 schematically shown in the figure or such a device for applying microwaves to the cooking chamber 3, for example, the first section 25 can be formed of a material with poor thermal conductivity, such as, for example, a ceramic material. In contrast, the second section 26 of the dome 11 can be formed, for example, of metal or of plastic, the latter being advantageous in particular for cost reasons.

[0091] It can be provided that the closure element 15 can be linearly displaced in order to move the closure element 15 from the release position (see Figure 3 ) to the closed position (see Figure 4 As an alternative, it is possible that the closing element 15 can be moved about a height direction z or a vertical axis or a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the dome 11 (see Figure 8) to rotate the rotation axis oriented to rotate the closure element 15 from the release position to the closed position and back. Such a rotational movement of the closure element 15 around the rotation axis can be achieved particularly easily by means of an actuator, such as an electric motor.

[0092] The through-opening 22 or hole in at least one wall 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11 can be formed, for example, only in the first section 25 or only in the second section 26. In addition, it is possible that not only in the wall 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11, Figure 8 Through-holes 22 are provided both below and above the interface provided by the closure element 15, as exemplarily and schematically shown in Figure 8 as shown in .

[0093] Furthermore, the through-opening 22 can be formed in only one of the walls 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11 or, for example, in two opposite walls 20, 21 of the dome 11 or in all four walls 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11. The latter case is schematically illustrated in Fig. 9 In contrast, the dome 11 is schematically shown in Figure 8 In the illustration shown in FIG. 1 , the walls 20, 21 of the two sides of the dome 11 that are opposite to each other in the transverse direction y of the dome 11 do not have through-holes 22 or holes, but only have holes, for example, in the Figure 8 The front wall 18 along the depth direction x and / or the rear wall 19 along the depth direction x, which is not visible in the figure, are provided with through-openings 22 or holes.

[0094] Depending on which of the walls 18, 19, 20, 21 are provided with through-holes 22, different ventilation concepts can be achieved. Figures 10 to 12 To explain.

[0095] according to Figure 2 The cooking appliance 1 has at least one fan 28 which is Figure 2 The illustration is only schematic and does not correspond to reality from the perspective of the actual arrangement inside the housing 2. Figure 2 In the embodiment, only the upper housing wall 29 is schematically and partially shown in the housing 2 of the cooking appliance 1. The fan 28 can be arranged in particular in a part of the space of the cooking appliance 1 which is constructed between the outer side 30 of the muffle 4 and the inner side 31 of the housing 2 (see Figure 2 ). The fan 28 can provide an air flow during operation, for example for ventilating the door 5 of the cooking appliance 1 and / or for removing smoke from the cooking chamber 3 of the cooking appliance 1. The air flow provided by the fan 28 is preferably also used in order to cool at least one sensor device, that is, for example, the camera 6 and to remove heat and / or smoke from the region of the dome 11.

[0096] For example, Fig.10 , the operation of the fan 28 is shown, wherein the fan 28 removes smoke and / or hot stagnant air from the interior of the dome 11. The air flow or the air sucked out of the dome 11 through the through-opening 22 is shown by the flow lines 32.

[0097] In order to enable suction from a specific region of the dome 11, in particular, at least one partial region of at least one wall 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11 can be covered by means of a covering element 33, which is Fig.10 The cover element 33 can be formed, for example, from plastic.

[0098] Despite the provision of the covering element 33, the through-holes 22 formed in at least one wall 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11 ensure that heat conduction from the detection opening 14 of the dome 11 to the feed opening 13 of the dome 11 is reduced. The covering element 33 ensures in particular that the uncovered through-holes 22 additionally function as air through-holes, while all through-holes 22 prevent heat conduction.

[0099] For Fig.10 For the dome 11 schematically shown in FIG. Figure 6 The closure element 15 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged in the region of the feed opening 13. However, the closure element 15 can also be arranged in this variant as in FIG. Figure 7 or such as in Figure 8 in and Fig. 9 As shown in FIG. 1 , the dome 11 is arranged spaced apart from the feed opening 13 and the detection opening 14 along the height direction z of the dome 11 .

[0100] In addition, from Figure 2 and for example from Figure 8 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the dome 11 has a pocket-shaped receiving portion 34 for accommodating the closing element 15, which receiving portion can be integrated, for example, into at least one of the walls 18, 19, 20, 21 of the dome 11. The closing element 15 moves from this pocket-shaped receiving portion 34 to, for example, Figure 2 in and Figure 4 in or Figure 8 In order to cause the displacement of the closure element 15 from the release position into the closed position and back, the cooking appliance 1 can have a control mechanism 35 or a similar control device, wherein the control mechanism 35 is Figure 2 The illustration is greatly simplified.

[0101] In addition, from Figure 2As can be seen in FIG, at least one sensor device of the cooking device 1 can include a camera 6 having an image sensor 36. Thus, images of the food being cooked in the cooking chamber 3 can be captured by means of these (optical) cameras 6. Furthermore, the sensor device of the cooking device 1 can include a second camera 37, which is designed as an infrared camera and therefore has an infrared sensor 38. Figure 2 Schematically shown in FIG. 1 is a kinematic mechanism 39 of the cooking appliance 1 , by means of which the first camera 6 or the second camera 37 can be placed at the inlet opening 13 of the dome 11 either alternatively or successively.

[0102] In the fan 28 Fig.11 In the operation schematically shown in FIG. 1 , the interior of the dome 11 can be flushed laterally with cooling air, for example, to achieve cooling of the dome 11. Fig.12 As in FIG. 2 , the corresponding air flow is illustrated by flow lines 40 .

[0103] exist Fig.12 Schematically shows the operation of the fan 28, wherein the fan 28 is used on the one hand in the lower section 25 of the dome 11 to suck hot air and / or smoke out of the cooking chamber 3. At the same time, the fan 28 causes cooling air to flow through the dome 11, in particular from the upper section 26 of the dome 11.

[0104] Such a fluid guidance or air flow can be achieved, for example, by arranging the dome 11 between the inner side 31 of the housing 2 and the outer side 30 of the muffle 4, in particular between the inner side 31 of the upper housing wall 29 of the housing 2 and the outer side 30 of the cover wall 10 of the muffle 4 (see Figure 2 ) in a partial space so that the lower section 25 of the dome 11 along the height direction z of the dome 11 is affected by the suction side of the fan 28, while the upper section 26 of the dome 11 is loaded with air from the pressure side of the fan 28.

[0105] For the cooking device 1, provision can be made in an advantageous manner to utilize the cooling air flow that occurs in the partial space of the cooking device 1 during the operation of the fan 28 in order to simultaneously cause a corresponding forced movement of the air flow in the region of the dome 11. For example, a local negative pressure field can be generated in the region of the dome 11 by the Bernoulli effect, so that air is sucked in. As a supplement or alternative, an active air supply to the dome 11 can result in a flow through the dome 11 due to an overpressure.

[0106] Therefore, in particular, the following possibility exists: participation in the upstream flow system of the cooking appliance 1 generated by the fan 28 not only causes cooling of the dome 11 and at least one sensor device, for example in the form of the first camera 6 and / or the second camera 37, but also causes the smoke to be transported out of the cooking chamber 3.

[0107] Overall, the example shows how improved cooling of a sensor holder unit provided by the dome 11 can be provided for a domestic appliance, which is designed here as a cooking appliance 1 .

[0108] List of reference numerals:

[0109] 1 Cooking utensils

[0110] 2 Housing

[0111] 3 Cooking room

[0112] 4 Muffle furnace

[0113] 5 doors

[0114] 6 Camera

[0115] 7 Bottom

[0116] 8 Sidewall

[0117] 9 Back wall

[0118] 10. Cover the wall

[0119] 11. Vault

[0120] 12 Inner side

[0121] 13 Feed port

[0122] 14 Inspection port

[0123] 15 Closure element

[0124] 16 Detection Path

[0125] 17 Lenses

[0126] 18 walls

[0127] 19 wall

[0128] 20 wall

[0129] 21 wall

[0130] 22 Through Holes

[0131] 23 Ways

[0132] 24 Ways

[0133] 25 Segments

[0134] 26 Segments

[0135] 27 Microwave Generator

[0136] 28 Fan

[0137] 29 Shell wall

[0138] 30 Outer side

[0139] 31 Inner side

[0140] 32 Streamline

[0141] 33 Covering element

[0142] 34 Reception Department

[0143] 35 Control Agency

[0144] 36 Image Sensor

[0145] 37 Camera

[0146] 38 Infrared sensor

[0147] 39 Sports Organization

[0148] 40 Streamline

[0149] x Depth

[0150] y horizontal direction

[0151] z height direction

Claims

1. A cooking appliance (1) comprising a housing (2) in which a cooking chamber (3) is formed, wherein the cooking chamber is delimited by the wall of a muffle furnace (4) of the cooking appliance (1); and comprising at least one sensor device (6, 37) which is provided for monitoring a cooking process which can be carried out in the cooking chamber (3), wherein the at least one sensor device (6, 37) is separated from an inner side (12) of a wall (10) of the muffle furnace (4) by means of a dome (11) of the cooking appliance (1), wherein the dome (11) The invention relates to a cooking chamber (3) having a feed opening (13) near at least one sensor device (6, 37) and a detection opening (14) near the cooking chamber (3); and having a closing element (15) which can be moved from a release position to a closed position, wherein in the release position a detection path (16) extending from the feed opening (13) to the detection opening (14) is released, and wherein the degree of heat transfer from the cooking chamber (3) to the at least one sensor device (6, 37) can be reduced by the movement of the closing element (15) into the closed position, characterized in that At least one wall (18, 20, 21) of the dome (11) which defines the interior space of the dome (11) has a plurality of through holes (22).

2. The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The closure element (15) moved into the closed position is arranged spaced apart from the feed opening (13) and the detection opening (14) along the height direction (z) of the dome (11), in particular, arranged substantially centrally with respect to the distance of the feed opening (13) from the detection opening (14).

3. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one wall (18, 19, 20, 21) of the dome (11) has a through hole (22) in a partial region close to the cooking chamber (3) and / or in a partial region remote from the cooking chamber (3).

4. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The dome (11) has a plurality of walls (18, 19, 20, 21) facing each other, in particular lying opposite each other transversely to the detection path (16), wherein only one of the walls (18, 19, 20, 21) has a through hole (22) or two of the walls (18, 19, 20, 21) have a through hole (22) or all of the walls (18, 19, 20, 21) have a through hole (22).

5. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The cooking appliance (1) has at least one fan (28) which is designed to provide an air flow in a partial space between an outer side (30) of a muffle furnace (4) of the cooking appliance (1) and an inner side (31) of a housing (2), wherein operation of the at least one fan (28) can cause heat to be dissipated from the dome (11) and / or from at least one sensor device (6, 37) by means of the air flow.

6. The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that: By means of the fan (28), air can be sucked out of the interior of the dome (11) and / or air can be introduced into the interior of the dome (11).

7. The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: By means of a fan (28), air can be introduced into the interior of the dome (11) via a through hole (22) formed in a first wall (20) of the dome (11) and air can be discharged via a through hole (22) formed in a second wall (21) of the dome (11), wherein the first wall (20) and the second wall (21) face each other.

8. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that At least in partial regions of the walls (18, 19, 20, 21), the through-openings (22) are covered by means of covering elements (33) which prevent an air flow from passing through the through-openings (22).

9. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The dome (11) has a first section (25) close to the cooking chamber (3) and a second section (26) remote from the cooking chamber (3), wherein the at least one wall (18, 19, 20, 21) has a first material in the first section (25) and a second material different from the first material in the second section (26).

10. The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The cooking device (1) has a device (27) for applying microwaves to a cooking chamber (3), wherein the first section (25) has metallic and / or electrically conductive properties, by which microwaves can be prevented from escaping through the dome (11) into the environment of the first section (25), or the cooking device (1) does not have a device (27) for applying microwaves to the cooking chamber (3), wherein the first section (25) is formed of a material, in particular ceramic, having a lower thermal conductivity than the material used for the second section (26).

11. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The closure element (15) is linearly movable or rotatable about a rotation axis in order to be displaced from a release position into a closed position, wherein the closure element (15) is arranged in a pocket-shaped receiving portion (34) in the release position, in particular on a wall (18, 19, 20, 21) of the dome (11), and wherein the closure element (15) covers at least one section of the dome (11) towards the cooking chamber (3) in the closed position.

12. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one sensor mechanism comprises a first camera (6) with an image sensor (36) and a second camera (37) with an infrared sensor (38), wherein the cooking appliance (1) has a movement mechanism (39) by means of which the first camera (6) or the second camera (37) can be placed at the feed opening (13) selectively or successively.

13. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The cooking appliance (1) has a control device (35) which is designed to cause a displacement of the closure element (15) from a closed position into a released position and back again as a function of switching on the cooking appliance (1) and / or as a function of the end of a cooking process.

Images