Household cooking appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (1), in particular a household cooking oven, comprising a cooking chamber (2) for receiving a cooking product, a cooking chamber divider (19), which can be removed from the cooking chamber (2), for dividing the cooking chamber (2) into different cooking chamber sections (20, 21), and a detection device (22) for detecting the cooking chamber divider (19) received in the cooking chamber (2), wherein the detection device (22) is designed to adapt the operating state of the household cooking appliance (1) to the detected cooking chamber divider (19).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household cooking appliance.

[0002] A household cooking appliance, such as an oven, comprises a cooking chamber enclosed by a muffle or oven liner, to which a door is hinged. With the help of a so-called oven divider, it is possible to divide the cooking chamber horizontally into at least two separate cooking compartments that can be used independently.

[0003] DE 10 2010 062 504 A1 describes an insert for a cooking chamber of a cooking appliance, wherein the cooking appliance has a means of identifying the insert or an insert level and provides or receives suitable control parameters depending on the insert level or an operating mode.

[0004] EP 2 431 667 A1 describes a cooking appliance with a heated insertable cooking compartment divider. A control unit of the cooking appliance is able to detect a shelf level occupied by the insertable cooking compartment divider and subsequently adjust the power input to the insertable cooking compartment divider or to a top heating element.

[0005] EP 2 299 181 A1 describes a cooking appliance with a cooking compartment divider. The cooking appliance comprises a sensor unit designed to detect an identification feature of the cooking compartment divider or an electrical measurement characteristic of the cooking compartment divider in a signal, and a control unit designed to evaluate a signal from the sensor unit. The control unit is designed to carry out a heating process with a heating element of the cooking compartment divider depending on the signal from the sensor unit.

[0006] DE 42 17 545 A1 describes an electric baking and roasting oven with a cooking chamber that can be closed by a door and divided into two separate cooking areas by a plate that can be inserted into the cooking chamber. The plate, which can be connected to a power supply, is equipped with a heating element for the bottom heat of the upper cooking area, which in turn has a heating element on its top side for the top heat.

[0007] The closest state of the art is disclosed in US 2002 / 060215 A1 .

[0008] Against this background, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved household cooking appliance.

[0009] Accordingly, a household appliance, in particular a household oven, is proposed with a cooking chamber for receiving food to be cooked, a cooking chamber divider removable from the cooking chamber for dividing the cooking chamber into different cooking chamber sections, and a detection device for recognizing the cooking chamber divider received in the cooking chamber, wherein the detection device is configured to adapt an operating state of the household cooking appliance to the detected cooking chamber divider.

[0010] Because the appliance has a detection device that can adapt its operating state to the detected oven divider, manual adjustments are unnecessary. This can be achieved, for example, by limiting cooking processes or programs to those suitable for use with an oven divider when the oven divider is in the cooking chamber.

[0011] The oven compartment divider has a base unit that is movably guided on guide rails in the oven compartment.

[0012] Preferably, the guide rails are provided laterally on the side walls of the cooking chamber. The guide rails can be removed from the cooking chamber. Each side wall is assigned such a guide rail. The base unit has a frame-shaped base support which is guided by the guide rails. The base support preferably has a central opening in which an electrical and / or electronic component, for example a heating element, is accommodated.

[0013] The oven compartment divider has an accessory unit, in particular an insulation unit, a grill unit and / or a pizza baking unit, which is detachably connected to the base unit.

[0014] Several different accessory units can be provided. The accessory units are preferably plate-shaped. For example, one accessory unit can be attached to the base unit. Alternatively, several accessory units can be attached to the base unit simultaneously.

[0015] The base unit has connecting elements in the form of guide rails, with the help of which the accessory unit is detachably connected to the base unit.

[0016] Preferably, two such guide rails are provided, which are attached laterally to the aforementioned base support of the base unit. The guide rails can have a C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section. As required, one of the accessory units can be inserted into the connecting elements of the base unit like a drawer to connect the respective accessory unit to the base unit. The connection between the respective accessory unit and the base unit is positive-locking. A positive-locking connection is created by the interlocking or overlapping of at least two connecting parts. A positive-locking connection can be disassembled at will.

[0017] The household cooking appliance can be, for example, a stove, a conventional oven, a combination microwave oven, a double oven, or the like. Preferably, a door is pivotally mounted on the cooking chamber. Hinges may be provided for this purpose. Alternatively, the door can also be attached to a pull-out oven rack or the like that extends from the cooking chamber. In this case, the door is not pivotally mounted on the cooking chamber but can be moved linearly relative to it. The cooking chamber is preferably cube-shaped or cuboid and comprises a base, a ceiling opposite the base, a rear wall opposite the closed door, and two opposing side walls.

[0018] The oven divider is specifically designed to horizontally divide the oven cavity into a first or upper section and a second or lower section. These sections can be used independently. In particular, the oven divider is an active divider. The term "active" in this context means, in particular, that the divider itself has a function, such as a heating function. "Active" specifically means that electrical and / or electronic components are included.

[0019] The detection device can be part of the control unit of the household cooking appliance. In particular, the detection device is at least functionally connected or coupled to the control unit. The detection device is specifically designed to detect or record whether the oven divider is located in the oven cavity or not. Depending on whether the oven divider is located in the oven cavity or not, the operating status is adjusted accordingly.

[0020] For example, the household oven operates in normal mode if the detection device recognizes that there is no oven divider in the cooking chamber. If, on the other hand, the detection device recognizes the oven divider, a cooking process or program can be initiated in which the different sections of the cooking chamber are heated differently.

[0021] In particular, the detection device, with the aid of the control unit, is suitable for adapting or influencing the operating state of the household appliance. The fact that the operating state of the household appliance is "adapted" to the detected oven divider means, in this case, specifically that the household appliance operates differently or displays different options depending on whether the oven divider is present in the oven cavity or not.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the detection device is designed to detect the oven compartment divider mechanically and / or electronically.

[0023] Mechanical detection can be implemented, for example, using one or more switches. These switches can be actuated by different plungers or plunger lengths. The number of switches is arbitrary. Electronic detection can be achieved, for example, by measuring the resistance of an electrical and / or electronic component of the oven divider. Electronic detection is also possible using sensors.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the operating state of the household cooking appliance includes a cooking process and / or display options.

[0025] For example, the cooking process or program is adjusted so that a different temperature is maintained when a divider is present compared to when it is not. Display options can be shown on the appliance's display. This display can indicate, for instance, whether the divider is in the cooking chamber or not. The detection system may also be able to recognize and differentiate between various divider accessories and adjust the operating status accordingly.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, the base unit has an electrical and / or electronic component, in particular a heating element, wherein the detection device is configured to detect the electronic and / or electronic component.

[0027] As mentioned previously, the electrical and / or electronic component can be a heating element. However, the electrical and / or electronic component can also be a sensor or the like. The detection device is specifically designed to detect or identify the electrical and / or electronic component without physical contact.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the detection device is configured to perform an electrical resistance measurement on the electrical and / or electronic component in order to detect the electrical and / or electronic component.

[0029] For example, the electrical and / or electronic component has a connector that, when the oven divider is inserted into the oven cavity, connects with a corresponding mating connector. Using electrical resistance measurement, it is possible to identify different electrical and / or electronic components. For instance, several base units with different electrical and / or electronic components, which may differ in their heating capacity, for example, can be used. The detection device is then designed to distinguish between these different base units.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the detection device is configured to detect the base unit and / or the accessory unit.

[0031] In particular, the detection device can recognize whether the base unit is inserted into the cooking chamber with or without an accessory unit. For example, this allows the operation of the cooking chamber divider without an accessory unit to be detected and prevented.

[0032] According to another embodiment, the detection device is designed to recognize a design of the accessory unit and to adapt the operating state of the household cooking appliance to the recognized design.

[0033] In this context, the term "design" or "type" of an accessory unit means, in particular, that each accessory unit can have an assigned function, for example, in the form of an insulation unit, a grill unit, and / or a pizza baking unit. Accordingly, different designs have different functions.

[0034] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the household appliance are the subject of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the household cooking appliance described below. The household cooking appliance will be explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household cooking appliance; Fig. 2 shows another schematic perspective view of the household cooking appliance according to Fig. 1 Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view of the household cooking appliance according to Fig. 1 Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a cooking chamber divider for the household cooking appliance according to Fig. 1 Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a basic unit for the cooking chamber divider according to Fig. 4Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an accessory unit for the oven compartment divider according to Fig. 4 ; and Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of an accessory unit for the oven compartment divider according to Fig. 4 .

[0035] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements have been given the same reference symbols, unless otherwise indicated.

[0036] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household cooking appliance 1. The household cooking appliance 1 can be a stove, a conventional oven, a combination microwave oven, a double oven, or the like. The household cooking appliance 1 has a cooking chamber 2, which can be closed by means of a door 3. The cooking chamber 2 can also be referred to as a muffle or oven muffle. The cooking chamber 2 can be arranged inside a housing of the household cooking appliance 1.

[0037] Door 3 is in the Fig. 1 The door 3 is shown in a closed position. It can be opened or closed by pivoting it around a pivot axis located at a lower end or at a lower edge 4 of the door 3. Alternatively, the door 3 can be hinged laterally to the oven compartment 2. Furthermore, the door 3 can be mounted on a baking trolley that can be pulled out of the oven compartment 2. However, the movement of the door 3 when opening is entirely arbitrary. That is to say, the door 3 can, in principle, perform any desired movement when opening.

[0038] A handle 6 may be provided on an upper section or on an upper edge 5 of the door 3. However, the door 3 may also be handleless. The cooking chamber 2 has a floor 7, a ceiling 8 opposite the floor 7, a rear wall 9 opposite the closed door 3, and two opposing side walls 10, 11. The cooking chamber 2 is preferably cuboid or cube-shaped. The cooking chamber 2 may be made of a metal material, in particular a sheet of steel.

[0039] The household cooking appliance 1 further comprises control knobs 13, 14 provided on a control panel 12. The control knobs 13, 14 may, for example, be rotatable. A control device 15, shown only schematically, for controlling the household cooking appliance 1 may be provided on the rear of the control panel 12. The control device 15 may be a regulating and / or controlling device. A display 16 may also be provided on the control panel 12. The display 16 can show the operating status of the household cooking appliance 1. For example, the display 16 can show a temperature set using the control knobs 13, 14.

[0040] The household cooking appliance 1, or rather the cooking chamber 2, is assigned a coordinate system with a width direction (x-direction) x, a height direction (y-direction) y, and a depth direction (z-direction) z. The directions x, y, and z are oriented perpendicular to each other. The x-direction x is oriented from the side wall 10 towards the side wall 11. The y-direction y is oriented from the floor 7 towards the ceiling 8. The z-direction z is oriented from the rear wall 9 towards the closed door 3.

[0041] The Fig. 2 shows another schematic perspective view of the household cooking appliance 1. Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of the household cooking appliance 1. The following refers to the... Fig. 2 and 3 Reference was made at the same time.

[0042] Guide rails 17 and 18 are provided on the two side walls 10 and 11, which hold a cooking compartment divider 19 in the cooking compartment 2. A first guide rail 17 and a second guide rail 18 are provided. The guide rails 17 and 18 are also suitable, for example, for supporting a baking tray. The cooking compartment divider 19 can be removed from the cooking compartment 2.

[0043] The oven compartment divider 19 divides the oven compartment 2 into an upper or first oven compartment section 20 and a lower or second oven compartment section 21. The oven compartment divider 19 thus divides the oven compartment 2 horizontally into the first oven compartment section 20 and the second oven compartment section 21. "Horizontal" here means in a plane spanned by the x-direction x and the z-direction z.

[0044] The household cooking appliance 1 further includes a detection device 22 for detecting the cooking compartment divider 19. This means, in particular, that the detection device 22 is designed to recognize whether the cooking compartment divider 19 is located in the cooking compartment 2 or not. This detection can be carried out, for example, mechanically and / or electronically. "Mechanical" detection is possible, for example, using switches and / or plungers. "Electronic" detection can be achieved, for example, using suitable sensors or by measuring resistance.

[0045] The detection device 22 can be part of the control unit 15. At a minimum, the detection device 22 is operatively connected to the control unit 15, such that the detection device 22 is configured to adapt the operating state of the household cooking appliance 1 to the detected cooking compartment divider 19. This means, in particular, that an adaptation of the operating state of the household cooking appliance 1 is only necessary if the cooking compartment divider 19 is located in the cooking chamber 2 and is detected by the detection device 22.

[0046] The phrase "adjusting" the operating state in this context refers in particular to the fact that, for example, a cooking process or cooking program can be influenced by appropriately controlling the heating elements so that only the first cooking chamber section 20, and not the second cooking chamber section 21, is actively heated. Temperature control during a gas cooking process can also be adjusted to the detected cooking chamber divider 19.

[0047] The operating status can also include display options. For example, the display 16 can show that the oven divider 19 is located in the oven compartment 2. Accordingly, the "operating status" can also refer to the point in a baking process or baking program at which the household oven 1 is located.

[0048] The Fig. 4Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a cooking chamber divider 19 as previously mentioned. Fig. 5 Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a base unit 23 for the cooking chamber divider 19. Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a first accessory unit 24 for the oven compartment divider 19. Fig. 7 Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a second accessory unit 25 for the oven compartment divider 19. The following refers to the Figs. 4 to 7 Reference was made at the same time.

[0049] The oven compartment divider 19 comprises the base unit 23 and at least one of the accessory units 24, 25. At least one accessory unit 24, 25 is provided. The base unit 23 is guided in the oven compartment 2 by means of the guide rails 17, 18. The respective accessory unit 24, 25 is positively connected to the base unit 23. A positive connection is created by the interlocking or overlapping of at least two connecting partners, in this case the base unit 23 and one of the accessory units 24, 25. A positive connection can be released and re-established as often as necessary.

[0050] The base unit 23 comprises connecting elements in the form of guide rails (26, 27) by means of which the respective accessory unit 24, 25 is detachably connected to the base unit 23. A first connecting element 26 and a second connecting element 27 are provided. In particular, the respective accessory unit 24, 25 can be pulled out of the base unit 23 in an extension direction A. Correspondingly, the respective accessory unit 24, 25 can be inserted into the base unit 23 in an insertion direction E. The extension direction A and the insertion direction E are oriented parallel to the z-direction.

[0051] The base unit 23 comprises a frame-shaped support element 28, which is guided on the guide rails 17, 18 of the cooking chamber 2. The two connecting elements 26, 27 are provided laterally on the support element 28. The connecting elements 26, 27 are preferably C-shaped or U-shaped in cross-section. The support element 28 carries an electrical and / or electronic component 29. The component 29 is positioned in an opening 30 in the support element 28 that penetrates the frame-shaped support element 28.

[0052] Component 29 is a meandering heating element, in particular a tubular heating element. Component 29 includes a plug 31 for supplying power to component 29. The plug 31 can be inserted into a corresponding mating plug, which may be provided on the rear wall 9 of the cooking chamber 2. The detection device 22 is coupled to component 29, in particular to the plug 31. The detection device 22 can thus detect component 29, for example, by means of a resistance measurement.

[0053] The first accessory unit 24 is preferably a plate-shaped insulating element. The first accessory unit 24 covers the component 29 upwards towards the first cooking chamber section 20. Heat from the component 29 is thus preferably transferred substantially downwards into the second cooking chamber section 21. The first accessory unit 24 may have a central recess 32. Liquid can collect in the recess 32. Furthermore, a cooking container or the like can also be placed in the recess 32.

[0054] The second accessory unit 25 is preferably a grill plate. The second accessory unit 25 can also be inserted into the connecting elements 26, 27 of the base unit 23. The second accessory unit 25 is preferably made of a coated aluminum alloy. The second accessory unit 25 is also plate-shaped and can have ribs 33 extending along the z-direction. Furthermore, an accessory unit 24, 25 in the form of a pizza tray or a pizza stone can also be provided.

[0055] Furthermore, the carrier element 28 of the base unit 23 can be used not only as described in the Fig. 5 The diagram shows that connecting elements 26, 27 are provided on the upper side, but such connecting elements 26, 27 can also be attached to the underside of the support element 28. In this case, the component 29 is then positioned between two accessory units 24, 25 attached to the base unit 23 on the upper and lower sides.

[0056] The recognition device 22 is configured to identify the design or type of the respective accessory unit 24, 25. For example, if it is recognized that the second accessory unit 25 is a grill plate, a grilling program can be executed accordingly. Examples of different designs or types of accessory units 24, 25 include the aforementioned insulation unit, the grill plate, and the pizza stone.

[0057] The oven compartment divider 19 can thus be detected, for example, by a resistance measurement. This is particularly feasible if the oven compartment divider 19 has a component 29, for example, in the form of a heating element. The oven compartment divider 19 can additionally or alternatively be detected by a switch that is activated by inserting the oven compartment divider 19 into the oven compartment 2, particularly with the aid of a plunger.

[0058] If the oven compartment divider 19 is modular and comprises the base unit 23 and the accessory units 24, 25, the base unit 23 and / or the accessory units 24, 25 can be identified as separate modules by actuating a further or additional switch, in addition to the existing resistance measurement. Different plungers and / or switches may be provided.

[0059] Furthermore, it is also possible to detect the position of the first accessory unit 24, which is designed as an insulation unit. This means that the detection device 22 is configured to recognize whether the first accessory unit 24 is pointing upwards towards the first cooking compartment section 20 or downwards towards the second cooking compartment section 21. By detecting the cooking compartment divider 19 or the base unit 23, the heating modes or display options can be adapted by the control unit 15 of the household cooking appliance 1 to the functions of the cooking compartment divider 19 or the base unit 23 and the accessory units 24, 25.

[0060] For example, by detecting the oven compartment divider 19 and optionally one of the accessory units 24, 25 for separating the oven compartment sections 20, 21, the heating modes of the household oven 1 and / or the display on the display screen 16 can be adapted to the operation of two different oven compartment sections 20, 21. Removing the oven compartment divider 19 returns the oven to a mode for normal oven operation.

[0061] If the oven compartment divider 19 is modular or reversible, the detection of the first accessory unit 24, which is an insulation unit, allows switching to additional heating modes or display options. For example, if the second accessory unit 25 is a pizza stone or a grill plate, the heating modes and the display on the screen 16 are adjusted for this operating mode.

[0062] If different accessory units 24, 25 are used in a household cooking appliance 1, a further switch, which is actuated, for example, by an additional or two-stage plunger, can differentiate between these accessory units 24, 25. Thus, if the accessory unit 24, 25 is a pizza stone, for example, the maximum power of component 29 can be used, while a reduced power is provided in grill mode or when a contact plate is used as accessory unit 24, 25. Furthermore, it can be ensured that operation of the household cooking appliance 1 without the respective accessory unit 24, 25 can be detected and optionally prevented by evaluation using the detection device 22.

[0063] By detecting the oven divider 19 and its accessory units 24, 25, the heating modes and / or the display and operating options of the household oven 1 can be adjusted. This prevents potential user errors. Furthermore, operation is simplified for the user, as only options available in the specific configuration of the oven divider 19 and its accessory units 24, 25 are displayed. Detecting the individual accessory units 24, 25 prevents damage to components of the oven divider 19, as component 29 can only be operated within its designated power range. If all accessory units 24, 25 are removed and only the base unit 23 is inserted in the oven cavity 2, the detection capabilities prevent the oven divider 19 from operating without accessory units 24, 25.

[0064] The oven divider 19 divides the oven cavity 2 into two separate oven compartments 20, 21, which can be operated in parallel. The second oven compartment 21 can, for example, be operated with top heat, bottom heat, grill, grill and bottom heat, as well as intensive bottom heat, and thus offers an advantage over a passive oven divider. Furthermore, the oven 1 can be used as usual when the oven divider 19 is removed. By removing and / or repositioning the base unit 23 and inserting the respective accessory unit 24, 25, the user has additional application options available, which further increase the flexibility of the oven 1. Reference symbols used:

[0065] 1 Household appliance 2 Cooking chamber 3 Door 4 Bottom edge 5 Top edge 6 Handle 7 Base 8 Ceiling 9 Back panel 10 Side panel 11 Side panel 12 Control panel 13 Control knob 14 Control knob 15 Control unit 16 Display 17 Guide rail 18 Guide rail 19 Cooking chamber divider 20 Cooking chamber section 21 Cooking chamber section 22 Detection device 23 Base unit 24 Accessory unit 25 Accessory unit 26 Connecting element 27 Connecting element 28 Support element 29 Component 30 Opening 31 Plug 32 Recess 33 Rib A Extraction direction E Insertion direction xx direction yy direction zz direction

Claims

1. Household cooking appliance (1), in particular a household oven, having a cooking compartment (2) for receiving food to be cooked, a cooking compartment divider (19), which can be removed from the cooking compartment (2), for dividing the cooking compartment (2) into different cooking compartment sections (20, 21), and an identifying facility (22) for identifying the cooking compartment divider (19) that is received in the cooking compartment (2), wherein the identifying facility (22) is configured so as to adapt an operating state of the household cooking appliance (1) to the cooking compartment divider (19) that is identified, wherein the cooking compartment divider (19) has a base unit (23) that is guided in a movable manner on guide rails (17, 18) of the cooking compartment (2), wherein the cooking compartment divider (19) has an accessory unit (24, 25) that is connected to the base unit (23) in a detachable manner, characterised in that that the base unit (23) has guide rails (26, 27), with the aid of which the accessory unit (24, 25) is connected to the base unit (23) in a detachable manner.

2. Household cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the identifying facility (22) is configured so as to mechanically and / or electronically identify the cooking compartment divider (19).

3. Household cooking appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the operating state of the household cooking appliance (1) comprises a cooking procedure and / or display options.

4. Household cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base unit (23) has an electrical and / or electronic component (29), in particular a heating element, wherein the identifying facility (22) is configured so as to identify the electrical and / or electronic component (29).

5. Household cooking appliance according to claim 4, characterised in that the identifying facility (22) is configured so as to perform an electrical resistance measurement on the electrical and / or electronic component (29) in order to identify the electrical and / or electronic component (29).

6. Household cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the accessory unit (24, 25) is an insulation unit, a grill unit and / or a pizza baking unit.

7. Household cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the identifying facility (22) is configured so as to identify the base unit (23) and / or the accessory unit (24, 25).

8. Household cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the identifying facility (22) is configured so as to identify a model variant of the accessory unit (24, 25) and to adapt the operating state of the household cooking appliance (1) to the model variant that is identified.

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