Household appliance comprising a device for capturing images and / or videos

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oven, preferably a household oven, comprising at least one device for capturing images and / or video, for instance a camera, to monitor baking. The device (6) for capturing images and / or video obliquely protrudes a top wall (4), wherein the second, inner wall (4' ) of the top wall (4) comprises a slanting surface (4a) with an opening (4b) that cooperates with the device (6) for capturing images and / or video. On the optical path of the device (6) for capturing images and / or video, two sealed and airtight spaces (10',16' ) are provided, which prevent the entry of dust and / or other impurities and the heat transfer and / or heat conduction from an oven cavity (2) to the area of an optical part of the device (6) for capturing images and / or video.

Description

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR CAPTURING IMAGES AND / OR VIDEOS

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising at least one device for capturing images and / or video, for instance a camera, to monitor baking.

[0002] The device for capturing images and / or video, for instance the camera, arranged inside a household oven must operate without interruption, which necessitates maintaining a suitable temperature range to ensure direct monitoring of items being prepared in the oven. Known solutions involve the camera arranged inside a body of the oven or inside an oven door, which are typically high-temperature areas. Occasionally, temperatures may surpass the said suitable temperature range, which necessitates the introduction of a system to regulate and maintain the desired temperature range.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide the household appliance with at least one device for capturing images and / or video, for instance the camera, to monitor items being prepared or stored inside the household appliance, which would address the shortcomings of the known solutions.

[0004] The object according to the present invention is achieved by the household appliance comprising at least one device for capturing images and / or video, for instance the camera, to monitor items being prepared or stored inside the household appliance in accordance with claim 1.

[0005] The present invention is further described in detail by means of accompanying drawings whereFig. 1 shows a diagram of a household appliance with a device for capturing images and / or video,Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section of detail II shown in Fig. 1,Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section of detail III shown in Fig. 2.

[0006] The present invention is, in continuation, described by means of an embodiment in which a household appliance provided is a household oven. The said household oven comprises a body 1, which surrounds an oven cavity 2, and a door 3, which closes the said oven cavity 2. Furthermore, the said body 1 comprises two side walls, a back wall, a top wall 4 and a bottom wall, wherein the orientation of each wall is defined based on the position of the oven in which it is typically built-in. The said top wall 4 in the presented embodiment comprises a first, outer wall 4’, which is arranged along the cold side, averted from the oven cavity 2, and a second, inner wall 4”, which is arranged along the hot side and directly borders the oven cavity 2.

[0007] In the area above the top wall 4, a guide 5 is arranged to provide cooling air for the oven. Furthermore, in the area of the door 3, preferably inclined away from the door 3 and towards the back wall, at least one device 6 for capturing images and / or video is arranged, wherein the said device 6 protrudes the top wall 4 in a way that it extends from the area of the guide 5 outside the oven cavity 2 above the top wall 4 and at least to the area where the oven cavity 2 begins. To ensure the said device 6 for capturing images and / or video is arranged as optimally as possible for a quality capture of images and / or video, the said inner wall 4” of the top wall 4 is, in the area of contact between the device 6 for capturing images and / or video and the top wall 4, formed with a surface 4a, which can optionally be designed in an inclined position and against which rests the end of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video facing the oven cavity 2. The said surface 4a is formed with an opening 4b, which enables the device 6 for capturing images and / or video a view of the oven cavity 2.

[0008] At least one said device 6 for capturing images and / or video comprises a cooling channel 7, which on its first end, arranged outside the oven cavity 2 or in the area of the guide 5, can be provided with a suction or pressure means 8, for instance a fan. The second end of the said cooling channel 7, arranged in the area of the oven cavity 2, ends with a fastening means 9, which is provided for holding the cooling channel 7 in place in relation to the top wall 4. The said cooling channel 7 is fluidly connected with the cooling air from the area of the guide 5, to the air between the guide 5 and exterior body of the oven or directly to the surrounding cooling air from outside the oven.

[0009] The said opening 4b on the surface 4a of the inner wall 4” of the top wall 4 is, is closed from the interior of the oven cavity 2 with a transparent plate or a covering 10, wherein between the said inner wall 4” and the transparent covering 10 the first sealing means 11 is arranged. In this manner, between the said fastening means 9 and transparent covering 10, an airtight space 10’ is created, which prevents heat transfer and / or heat conduction from the oven cavity 2 to the optical part of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video.

[0010] The said opening 4b is preferably formed as a circular opening that must not exceed the predetermined dimensions, which, in case the oven according to the invention is selected as a microwave oven, prevents microwave radiation from escaping the oven and / or protects the device 6 for capturing images and / or video from microwave radiation.

[0011] The said cooling channel 7 of the said suction or pressure means 8 is, in the present embodiment, formed with a suction duct 12 and a cooling duct 13. The said cooling duct 13 is preferably coaxially arranged inside the suction duct 12, wherein between both ducts 12; 13 a permanent channel 14 is provided. The said channel 14 is provided for an uninterrupted flow of cooling air, which the suction or pressure means 8 draws or pushes from the area of the guide 5. Also possible is an embodiment of the cooling channel 7 where the cooling duct 13 is arranged around the suction duct 12, next to the suction duct 12, or similar.

[0012] The said fastening means 9 is formed on its side, facing surface 4a of the inner wall 4” of the top wall 4, with an opening 15, which is closed from the side facing towards the opening 4b on surface 4a by means of a transparent plate 16. The latter is held in place on its side, facing towards surface 4a of the inner wall 4” of the top wall 4, by means of at least one protrusion 17 of the fastening means 9, while from the opposite side, it is pushed by means of a sealing means 18 in the direction of the optical part of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video. Between the said transparent plate 16 and the said optical part of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video, an additional airtight space 16’ is provided, which in addition to the said airtight space 10’ additionally inhibits the heat transfer and / or heat conduction from the oven cavity 2 to the optical part of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video.

[0013] Alternatively, an embodiment is possible where the suction or pressure means 8 is absent, wherein the flow of cooling air through the area of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video and the cooling of the latter is ensured by the Venturi effect, which is caused by the flow of cooling air in the area of the guide 5 above the top wall 4. Also possible is an embodiment where the flow of cooling air uses a combination of the suction or pressure means and the Venturi effect or anything similar.

[0014] During the operation of the oven, a cold airflow A runs in the direction from the guide 5 through a channel 14 between the said ducts 12; 13, after which it passes through the area of the optical part of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video or the area above the said additional airtight space 16’, where it turns into the other cooling duct 13, which is directly connected to the suction or pressure means 8. The said cold airflow A cools the optical part of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video and, as a heated airflow B, exits through the exit opening of the suction or pressure means 8 into the area of the existing opening for releasing the air from the oven.

[0015] The said sealing means 11; 18 are selected as rubber seals, aluminium seals, ceramic seals or seals made of any other suitable material. On the optical path of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video, two sealed and airtight spaces 10’, 16’ are provided, which prevent the entry of dust and / or other impurities and the heat transfer and / or heat conduction from the oven cavity 2 to the area of the optical part of the device 6 for capturing images and / or video.

[0016] The entire device 6 for capturing images and / or video is attached inside the oven by means of an easily detachable connection, such as by means of a snap joint.

Claims

Claims1. A household appliance comprising at least one device for capturing images and / or video, for instance a camera, for monitoring the preparation or storage of items, wherein the household appliance is preferably selected as an oven comprising a body, which surrounds an oven cavity, and a door, which closes the said oven cavity, a side wall, a back wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, wherein the said top wall comprises a first, outer wall, which is arranged along the cold side, away from the oven cavity, and a second, inner wall, which is arranged along the hot side and directly borders the oven cavity, characterized in that a device (6) for capturing images and / or video protrudes a top wall (4), wherein a second, inner wall (4’) of the top wall (4) comprises a surface (4a) with an opening (4b) that cooperates with the device (6) for capturing images and / or video, and wherein two sealed and airtight spaces (10’, 16’) are provided in the optical path of the device (6) for capturing images and / or video which prevent the entry of dust and / or other impurities and the heat transfer and / or heat conduction from an oven cavity (2) to the area of the optical part of the device (6) for capturing images and / or video.

2. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (6) for capturing images and / or video comprises a cooling channel (7), which comprises a suction duct (12) and a cooling duct (13), wherein the cooling channel (7) can, on its first end positioned outside the oven cavity (2) or in the area of the guide (5), be provided with a suction or a pressure means (8), and the second end of the cooling channel (7), which is positioned inside the oven cavity (2), ends with a fastening means (9), which is provided for holding the cooling channel (7) in place in relation to the top wall (4), wherein between both ducts (12; 13), a channel (14) is provided, which allows for an uninterrupted flow of cooling air, which the suction or pressure means (8) sucks or pushes from the area of a guide (5).

3. The household appliance according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in thatthe cooling channel (7) is fluidly connected with the cooling air from the area of the guide (5), to the air between the guide (5) and the exterior body of the oven or directly to thesurrounding cooling air from outside the oven.

4. The household appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (4b) on the surface (4a) of the inner wall (4”) of the top wall (4) is, from the interior of the oven cavity (2) and by means of a sealing means (11), closed with a transparent plate or a covering (10), wherein between the said fastening means (9) and the transparent covering (10) an airtight space (10’) is created, wherein the fastening means (9) is, on its side facing towards the inclined surface (4a) or the inner wall (4”) of the top wall (4) formed with an opening (15), which is, from the side facing towards the opening (4b) on the surface (4a), by means of a second sealing means (18) closed with a transparent plate (16), while from the opposite side, it is pushed in the direction of the optical part of the device (6) for capturing images and / or video, which creates between the said transparent covering (16) and said optical part of the device (6) for capturing images and / or video, an additional airtight space (16’), wherein each airtight space (10’; 16’) inhibits the heat transfer and / or heat conduction from the oven cavity (2) to the optical part of the device (6) for capturing images and / or video.

5. The household appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (4b) is preferably formed as a circular opening that must not exceed the predetermined dimensions in order to prevent microwave radiation escaping from the oven and / or protect the device (6) for capturing images and / or video from microwave radiation.

6. The household appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (6) for capturing images and / or video is attached inside the oven by means of an easily detachable connection, such as by means of a snap joint.

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