FOUR

Abstract

------ OVEN The invention relates to an oven (1) comprising an enclosure (2), the enclosure (2) comprising an internal cooking volume (7) and an opening (6) leading to the outside through a mouth, the opening (6) being configured to connect the internal cooking volume (7) with the outside, the internal volume (7) defining from the inside out a first chamber (8) and a second chamber (9), the second chamber (9) leading to the mouth (10) of the opening (6); a door (11), movable between a retracted position, in which the first chamber (8) is in communication with the opening (6) via the second chamber (9), and a closed position in which the door (11) blocks the circulation of air between the first chamber (8) and the second chamber (9); a screen (18); power supply means (P); heating means (E) and control means (C). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: OVEN

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of furnaces and relates more particularly to a furnace with reduced pressure loss.

[0002] Ovens are used in many areas of everyday life and in industry.

[0003] When a part to be heated is introduced into a furnace, opening the doors connects the interior of the furnace, at a high temperature, with the exterior, at a lower temperature, and causes a pressure drop, reducing the temperature inside the furnace. As a result, the part to be heated is introduced into a furnace that is not at the optimum temperature, and energy has been consumed unnecessarily to heat the hot air that escaped from inside the furnace when the doors were opened, and energy will have to be consumed to bring the furnace back to the correct temperature once the doors are closed.

[0004] Thus, in the illustrative field of luggage, for shaping the luggage, the heat treatment is carried out in ovens in which a temperature increase is previously carried out in the enclosure of an oven. For the introduction of the piece of luggage to be heated mounted on a support, the doors of the hot oven are open, which leads to a loss of heat from the enclosure. This results on the one hand in the piece not being introduced at the optimum temperature and, on the other hand, in additional energy consumption being necessary to compensate for the heat loss.

[0005] With the current pressing concerns relating to energy expenditure which lead to the search for maximum energy savings, there is therefore a need for an oven which allows the positioning of a part to be heat treated in the oven enclosure, without loss of heat linked to the opening of the oven doors.

[0006] The Applicant therefore proposes to meet these needs by using an oven whose interior volume is divided into two chambers, a retractable door separating the two chambers so as to be able to heat only a first chamber while a second chamber remains open to the outside. The oven further comprises a movable screen supporting a part to be treated and configured to close the second chamber, the retractable door only opening once the part to be treated has been received in the second chamber so as to be able to heat the second chamber without having lost the heat contained in the first chamber, with the screen which closes the second chamber.

[0007] The present invention therefore relates to an oven comprising an enclosure, the enclosure comprising an interior cooking volume and an opening opening through an em opening towards the outside, the opening being configured to put the interior cooking volume in communication with the outside, the interior volume defining from the inside towards the outside a first chamber and a second chamber, the second chamber opening onto the mouth of the opening; a door, movable between a retracted position, in which the first chamber is in communication with the opening via the second chamber, and a closed position in which the door blocks the circulation of air between the first chamber and the second chamber; a screen, configured to close the mouth of the opening from the outside; power supply means;and heating means, connected to the power supply means and configured to heat the interior volume with a circulation of hot air from the first chamber to the opening, and control means controlling the door, the power supply means and the heating means. ;

[0008] Thus, the second chamber constitutes an airlock which allows the introduction and heat treatment of a part to be shaped, without loss of heat. This is particularly advantageous from an economic point of view as well as from the point of view of the heat treatment process which is carried out without breakage. In addition, the fact that the heat is confined in the interior volume of the furnace guarantees significant comfort for the user.

[0009] The heating means may in particular be the RAdiation emitted by electrical resistors (RAR).

[0010] The removable screen allows the part to be heat treated to be introduced into the second chamber while the door in the closed position prevents the release of heat from the first chamber, the door only moving to the retracted position when the screen closes the second chamber, to allow the heat to heat the part to be heat treated without it being able to escape from the furnace and being confined only in the furnace.

[0011] Compared to the state of the art where it is first necessary to open the furnace, and therefore lose heat to the outside, to introduce the part, the invention makes it possible to open the furnace only when the part is already in the position in the second chamber where it will be heat treated and insulated from the outside by the screen.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the door is configured to move from the closed position to the retracted position when the screen closes the opening.

[0013] Thus, such a condition ensures that the heat accumulated in the first chamber is transferred without loss to the second chamber.

[0014] It is understood that the door passes from the closed position to the retracted position when the screen closes the opening, the passage from the closed position to the retracted position of the door being able to be simultaneous or subsequent to the closing of opening through the screen.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the oven comprises position sensors configured to detect the position of the screen.

[0016] Thus, such sensors ensure that the door is only allowed to open when the airlock sealing conditions are met.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the door is of the guillotine or sliding type.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the door is mounted to pivot and open towards the interior.

[0019] Thus, such an opening method guarantees that the second chamber is not cluttered and that the volume of the second chamber is not reduced.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the door comprises two panels.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the screen comprises a shaping support, the screen being configured such that when the screen closes the opening, the support is disposed on the inner face of the screen facing the mouth of the opening to be received in the second chamber.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the oven is of the type with an upward-facing opening.

[0023] Thus, such a vertical configuration promotes the diffusion of heat from the first chamber to the second chamber where the part to be heat treated is in use, on the support.

[0024] It is understood that the support is not necessarily carried by the screen and can also be attached before the screen in the second chamber or even be formed in the second chamber, the invention not being limited in this respect.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the oven comprises ventilation means. These ventilation means, in particular air mixers, allow better distribution of heat in the oven enclosure as well as better temperature uniformity.

[0026] To better illustrate the object of the present invention, several embodiments will be described below, for informational and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings.

[0027] In these drawings:

[0028] [Fig. 1] is a cross-sectional view of the furnace enclosure according to the present invention.

[0029] [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of the furnace screen according to the present invention.

[0030] [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view of the furnace according to the present invention at a first stage of operation.

[0031] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view of the furnace according to the present invention at a second stage of operation.

[0032] Referring to [Fig. 1], it can be seen that there is shown an oven 1 according to the present invention having an enclosure 2. In a known manner, the enclosure 2 has a bottom 3, side walls 4 and a top 5. The enclosure 2 also has an opening 6 connecting the inside and the outside of the oven 1. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3-4, the oven 1 is a vertical oven, i.e. with an opening oriented upwards, the opening 6 being provided on the top 5.

[0033] The enclosure 2 comprises an interior volume 7. The interior volume 7 defines, from the interior of the enclosure 2 to the exterior of the enclosure 2, a first chamber 8 and a second chamber 9. The second chamber 9 opens at the mouth 10 of the opening 6, so that the second chamber 9 is in communication with the exterior of the enclosure 2 via the opening 6.

[0034] The oven 1 comprises heating means E (symbolized by the layer E) arranged, preferably for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3-4, at the level of the bottom 3, either at the level of the first chamber 8, so that the heat diffuses upwards, or towards the second chamber 9.

[0035] These heating means E can be electric (resistances emitting heat when a current flows through them), gas (burners or nozzles which vaporize gas associated with an igniter to continuously burn the gas vaporized by the burners or nozzles).

[0036] The oven 1 also comprises power supply means P (symbolized by the block P) configured to supply power to the heating means E. When the oven is electric, these power supply means P are traditionally transformers connected to the mains. When the oven is gas-fired, the power supply means P are one or more valves controlling a gas supply from the natural gas network or gas cylinders.

[0037] The oven 1 also comprises control means C (shown schematically only in [Fig.l]) configured to control the power supply means P and the heating means E, and ventilation means 24 (described below), as well as the door 11 when the actuation of the door 11 is not manual.These control means C are a human-machine interface, of the traditional type with on / off buttons or a computer interface (tablet or computer or control automaton) and a thermostat controlling the power supply means and the heating means, the human-machine interface comprising an electronic card comprising calculation means (microcontroller, processor, microprocessor, digital signal processor, programmable gate array (FPGA), application-specific integrated component (ASIC)) associated with memory (read-only memory (ROM, EPROM, EEPROM), random access memory (RAM, flash memory)) comprising a control program of the . oven.

[0038] The oven 1 further comprises a door 11. The door 11 is arranged within the interior volume 7. In Figures 1 and 3-4, it can be seen that the door 11 comprises two leaves 12. Each leaf 12 has a first end 13 by which the leaf 12 is connected to rotate about an axis 14, to a side wall 4 of the enclosure 2. Each leaf 12 also has a second free end 15, opposite the first end 13.

[0039] In Figures 1 and 3, it can be seen that the door 11 is in a closed position, in which the second ends 15 of the leaves 12 are in contact. In this closed position, the door 11 separates the first chamber 8 from the second chamber 9, the second chamber 9 remaining in communication with the outside of the enclosure 2 via the opening 6. Preferably, in the closed position, the door 11 thermally insulates the first chamber 8 from the second chamber 9. It should be noted that the person skilled in the art will be able to envisage any known thermal insulation means, such as for example thermal insulation seals. In this closed position, the door 11 prevents the circulation of air between the first chamber 8 and the second chamber 9, and therefore the opening 6, so that if the heating means E are activated, the heat remains contained in the first chamber 8.

[0040] In [Fig. 4], it can be seen that the door 11 is in a retracted position. The leaves 12 are folded down along the side walls 4 of the enclosure 2. In this retracted position, the first chamber 8 and the second chamber 9 are in communication, i.e. the door 10 does not prevent the circulation of air between the first chamber 8 and the second chamber 9, so that if the heating means E are activated, the heat diffuses from the first chamber 8 to the second chamber 9. In the retracted position, the door 11 also does not obstruct the opening 6 so as to allow the introduction through the opening 6 of a part to be heat-treated into the enclosure 2.

[0041] It should be noted that the door 11 may have a different structure and / or operation, provided that in the closed position, the door separates the first chamber 8 and the second chamber 9 and prevents the circulation of air between the first chamber 8 and the second chamber 9 and, in the retracted position, the door does not prevent the circulation of air between the first chamber 8 and the second chamber 9. For example, the door may be a single pivoting leaf, of the guillotine type or even a slider.

[0042] Particularly preferably, in the case of a door with one or two pivoting leaves, the door is mounted pivoting towards the inside of the interior volume 7, i.e. in the first chamber 8, so as not to interfere with the volume of the second chamber 9 so that the part to be heat treated can be received in the second room 9 without being bothered by the door.

[0043] The ends 15 of the doors are advantageously beveled, to guarantee excellent sealing in the closed position.

[0044] The door 11 will advantageously be made of a heat-resistant material, in particular metal or composite material.

[0045] Advantageously, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3-4, the side walls 4 of the enclosure 2 have, at the level of the first chamber 8, a recess 16 configured to receive a leaf 12 so that in the retracted position of the door 11, the door 11 has a minimal bulk in the first chamber 8, which promotes homogeneity and diffusion of heat. In this configuration, in the closed position of the door 11, the first chamber 8 is defined by the portion of the interior volume 7 delimited by the bottom 3 and the side walls 15 and the door 11, and the second chamber 9 is defined by the portion of the interior volume 7 delimited by the door 11 and the mouth 10 of the opening 6.

[0046] The enclosure 2 further comprises a plate 17 mounted on the top 5. The plate 17 is sized such that it does not obstruct the opening 6.

[0047] The furnace 1 comprises a screen 18, configured to close the mouth 10 of the opening 6 from the outside of the enclosure 2 by being positioned on the plate 17. The screen 18 comprises a plate 19. The plate 19 has a support face 20, configured to, in the position of closing the opening 6 by the screen 18, be oriented towards the enclosure 2. The support face 20 is also configured to receive a support 21 for a part to be heat-treated. The support 21 is well known to those skilled in the art and is configured to receive a part to be heat-treated and to shape said part. For example, the support 21 is a former commonly encountered in the field of plastics processing for shaping a part under the effect of heat. In Figures 2-4, it can be seen that the embodiment of the invention shown comprises a frame 22, arranged around the support 21 and connected to the support 21.The frame 22 is configured to hold a part to be treated in the form of a membrane (not shown), the membrane extending above the support 21. The frame 22 is arranged by suitable means (for example removable fixings) on the support 21 and in a sealed manner, preferably frames the entire support 21, to hold the membrane over its entire periphery.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the support 21 may be equipped with a vacuum device configured to press the membrane against the support 21.

[0049] The support 21 can also be attached to the screen 19 or placed in the oven 1.

[0050] Advantageously, the plate 17 is provided with thermal insulation seals 23 so that when the screen 18 rests on the plate 17, as can be seen in Figures 3-4, no heat leakage occurs between the interior volume 7 of the enclosure 2 and the exterior of the enclosure 2. Advantageously, the oven 1 may include positioning means configured to guarantee precise positioning of the screen 18 relative to the opening 6, so as to completely close the mouth 10 of the opening 6 and guarantee optimal thermal insulation, while maintaining the screen 18.

[0051] The screen 18 and the opening 6 are dimensioned such that in the position of closure of the opening 6 by the screen 18, on the one hand, the opening 6 is entirely closed and, on the other hand, the support 21 is received in the second chamber 9. Furthermore, the dimensioning and positioning of the door 11 are such that in the closed position, the door 11 does not interfere with the support 21 when the screen 18 is in the closed position. It should be noted that the person skilled in the art will be able to adapt the dimensions of the screen 18, the support 21 and the door 10 according to the desired shaping needs, provided that in operation, the screen 18 obstructs the opening 6, the support 21 is received in the second chamber 9 and the door 11 separates the first chamber 8 and the second chamber 9 in the closed position.

[0052] Advantageously and as shown in Figures 3-4, the leaves 12 of the door 11 are, in the closed position, inclined towards the inside of the interior volume 7 of the enclosure 2, so as to increase the volume of the second chamber 9 for receiving the part to be treated.

[0053] The oven 1 is configured such that when the screen 18 is in the position for closing the opening 6, the opening of the door 11, i.e. its passage from the closed position to the retracted position, is triggered. The triggering of the opening of the door 11 can be carried out by means of a manual control or be automated, for example by the use of position sensors configured to detect the position of the screen 18.

[0054] Furthermore, the oven 1 may be equipped with a locking device configured to lock the screen 18 in position on the plate 17.

[0055] We will now describe the operation of the invention with reference to Figures 1 and 3-4.

[0056] Initially, the door 11 is in the closed position, as shown in [Fig.l]. The heating means E are activated so that the first chamber 8 is heated. Because the door 11 is in the closed position, only the first chamber 8 is heated. Once the desired temperature inside the first chamber 8 is reached, the screen 18, carrying the part to be heat-treated, previously arranged and held between the frame 22 and the support 23, is brought to the level of the opening 6, the support face 20 facing the opening 6. The support 21 is passed through the opening 6 and received in the second chamber 9 until the plate 19 of the screen 18 comes into contact with the plate 17 of the enclosure 2 so as to close the mouth 10 of the opening 6, as can be seen in [Fig. 3]. Thus, in this configuration, the second chamber 9, closed on one side by the screen 18 and on the other by the door 11, constitutes a thermally insulated airlock containing the part to be treated before opening the door 11. The opening of the door 11 can then be triggered. The door 11 moves from the closed position to the retracted position by pivoting the leaves 12 until they are received in the recesses 16 of the side walls 4 of the enclosure 2, as can be seen in [Fig. 4]. The heat contained in the first chamber 8 can thus diffuse into the second chamber 9. It is thus possible to heat treat the part to be shaped by means of the support 21 with the heat initially contained in the first chamber 8, without losses linked to the introduction of the part into the furnace 1.

[0057] Thanks to the airlock constituted by the second chamber 9, the present invention allows the introduction of a part to be heat treated into the furnace 1 and its heat treatment without loss of heat.

[0058] Preferably, the removal of the heat-treated part is carried out by removing the screen 18, with prior closing of the door 11.

[0059] Advantageously and as shown according to the embodiment of Figures 1-4, the furnace is preferably of the vertical opening type so as to promote the rise of heat towards the part to be heat treated. It should however be noted that any furnace geometries may be suitable, provided that the triggering of the opening of the door is only permitted once the mouth of the opening is closed by the screen. For example, the furnace may be of the side opening type.

[0060] According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3-4, the furnace 1 comprises ventilation means 24, for example pulsed air, at the bottom 3 of the enclosure 2, and configured to promote the diffusion of heat. It should be noted that the person skilled in the art will be able to determine the nature, number and positioning of the ventilation means according to the needs. For example, additional ventilation means can be envisaged at the second chamber 9 to blow cold air so as to cool the heat-treated part, after closing the door 11 and before removing the screen 18.

[0061] According to another embodiment, the screen is equipped with gripping members to facilitate its handling, manually by an operator or automatically by a robot.

[0062] It is understood that the embodiments which have just been described have been given for informational and non-limiting purposes and that embodiments may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Demands - Oven (1) comprising: - an enclosure (2), the enclosure (2) comprising an internal cooking volume (7) and an opening (6) leading to the outside through a mouth, the opening (6) being configured to connect the internal cooking volume (7) with the outside, the internal volume (7) defining from the inside out a first chamber (8), having a bottom (3), and a second chamber (9), the second chamber (9) leading to the mouth (10) of the opening (6); - a door (11), movable between a retracted position, in which the first chamber (8) is in communication with the opening (6) via the second chamber (9), and a closed position in which the door (11) blocks the circulation of air between the first chamber (8) and the second chamber (9); - a screen (18), configured to close the mouth of the opening (6) from the outside, the door (11) being configured to move from the closed position to the retracted position when the screen (18) closes the opening (6) by means of a manual or automated control, and the screen (18) having a shaping support (21), the screen (18) being configured such that when the screen (18) closes the opening (6), the support (21) is disposed on the inner face (20) of the screen (18) facing the mouth of the opening (6) to be received in the second chamber (9); - means of power supply (P); - heating means (E), arranged at the bottom level (8), connected to the power supply means (P) and configured to heat the internal volume (7) with a hot air circulation from the first chamber (8) to the opening (6); - ventilation means (24), at the bottom level (3), configured to promote heat diffusion, and - control means (C) controlling the door (11), power supply means (P) and heating means (E).

2. - Oven (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes position sensors configured to detect the position of the screen (18).

3. - Oven according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door is of the guillotine or sliding type.

4. - Oven (1) according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that the door (11) is mounted pivoting inwards.

5. - Oven (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door comprises two panels (12).

6. - Oven (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oven (1) is of the upward-facing opening type.

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