toaster

Abstract

The invention relates to household kitchen equipment, and more particularly to toasters for toasting bread in a mode selected according to specific bread types. The present toaster comprises a housing, a food product heating device, a food product supporting device configured as a horizontally oriented robust central arm, a device for delivering bread to a toasting area and returning it to a receiving and dispensing area, a power card and temperature sensors, wherein the device for delivering bread to the toasting area comprises a lift carriage including a bearing assembly to which are attached the food product supporting device, as well as a mechanism for adjusting the width of a working area according to the thickness of the bread located therein, wherein the mechanism for adjusting the width of the working area consists of heating panels fastened to the vertical sides and having a heating pattern, spring-loaded panel holders for adjusting the width of the working area according to the thickness of the bread, and an actuator for actuating the mechanism by the movement of the lift carriage, wherein the heating pattern is comprised of evenly spaced cells which form a heated region and is arranged aсross the centre of a heating panel, and a temperature sensor is mounted in the centre of each heating panel in the region of the heating pattern, the food product supporting device has a vertically oriented holder on one end thereof, said holder consisting of a robust steel core coated with a liquid-crystal polymer (LCP), the toaster further comprises a rear frame having in the surface thereof a vertical guide slot for the movement therein of the other end of the food product supporting device, and the bearing assembly of the carriage has additional fastening elements in the form of protrusions provided at the mounting sites of the bearings. The technical result consists in an increase in the reliability, durability and service life of the structure, and an increase in electrical safety and operational stability and efficiency, providing, inter alia, for stable and even toasting of a food product and the possibility of selecting toasting modes according to the chosen type of food product.

Description

[0001] TOASTER

[0002] Field of technology to which the invention relates

[0003] The invention relates to household kitchen appliances, in particular to toasters, for toasting bread in accordance with a selected mode for certain types of bread.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] A toaster is known from the level (RU2773900C1, 14.06.2022), consisting of a housing, a product heating device, a product support device, a device for delivering to the cooking zone and returning to the receiving and dispensing zone, wherein the device for delivering to the cooking zone includes a mechanism for raising and lowering the product, including a microlift carriage with a product support device fixed to it and a cantilever projection made on the body of the said carriage, and a mechanism for changing the width of the working zone, for bringing the heating panels closer together until they are pressed against the product and moving them apart after the completion of the cooking process, wherein the mechanism for changing the width of the working zone includes holders fixed to the vertical sides of the heating panels for their movement, having profiled edges that interact with the cantilever projection on the carriage body when the said carriage moves up and down, as well as elements of the mechanism for synchronizing the movement of the heating panels,wherein the product support device comprises a device secured to the carriage by means of a bracket in the form of a rigid central power rod with a double-sided comb secured to it, the teeth of which are set at an acute angle to the said central power rod and are capable of bending, if molded elastically, or rotating, if made rigid on a hinge, under the lateral force of the approaching heating panels, thus reducing the width of the comb and adapting to the thickness of the product.

[0006] The disadvantages include the unreliability of the product support device design, which prevents the operation of the device and leads to its breakdown and the need for its replacement; bearing loss, which leads to an error message and the device stops; unreliability of the design of the power contacts in the panel holders, which leads to their deformation; lack of heating of the glass panels and incorrect operation of the temperature sensors; uneven toasting of the bread, low wear resistance, and the lack of selection of cooking modes in accordance with the selected type of bread.

[0007] The claimed invention eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The technical challenge is to create a toaster with a robust design, high wear resistance, and a long service life, ensuring stable and efficient operation, uniform browning of food, high electrical safety, and the ability to select cooking modes according to the selected food type.

[0009] The technical result consists of increasing the reliability, wear resistance and service life of the structure, improving electrical safety, stability and efficiency of operation, including ensuring a stable, uniform degree of product browning, and providing the ability to select cooking modes in accordance with the selected type of product.

[0010] The technical result is achieved due to the fact that the toaster contains a housing, a product heating device, a product support device made horizontally oriented from a central power rod, a device for delivering to the cooking zone and returning to the receiving and issuing zone, a power board, temperature sensors, wherein the device for delivering bread to the cooking zone contains an elevator carriage including a bearing unit on which a product support device is fixed, as well as a mechanism for changing the width of the working zone depending on the thickness of the bread placed, wherein the mechanism for changing the width of the working zone consists of heating panels with a heating pattern fixed on the vertical sides, spring-loaded panel holders for changing the width of the working zone depending on the thickness of the bread, and a drive mechanism from the movement of the elevator carriage, wherein the heating pattern is made of uniformly distributed honeycombs forming a heated zone,and is located in the center of the heating panel, and the temperature sensor is installed in the center of each heating panel in the area of ​​the heating pattern, wherein the product support device has a vertically oriented holder at one end, consisting of a steel power core coated with a liquid crystal polymer LCP, wherein the toaster additionally includes a rear frame, in the surface of which a vertical guide groove is made, designed for moving the second end of the product support device in it, and the bearing unit of the carriage has additional fixing elements - protrusions made in the places where the bearings are installed.

[0011] In addition, the panel holders have fixing elements with corner projections.

[0012] Additionally, the panel holders have power contacts, each of which is additionally attached to a silver plate. Furthermore, the product support device holder is designed with longitudinal stiffening ribs.

[0013] In addition, the core of the product support device holder and the rod of the product support device are made of a single L-shaped metal part.

[0014] In addition, the core of the product support device holder and the rod of the product support device are made of SUS420 material.

[0015] In addition, an AIN plate is installed between the temperature sensor and the heating panel.

[0016] In addition, a zener diode is installed in the power board.

[0017] In addition, in the power board, the distance between power electronic components is 3.0 mm, and the gaps between current-carrying circuits and component contacts are 8.0 mm.

[0018] In addition, the toaster is designed with the ability to recalculate the readings of the temperature sensor installed in the center of the panel to obtain the temperature in the center of the panels and adjust the cooking time depending on the temperature of the panel at start-up, according to the following expression:

[0019] T = (-21 H 2 + 96574 +536290 + (Ttarget - 160)*10000) / 10000; t - time from the start of heating, sec.

[0020] T is the current target temperature, °C

[0021] Ttarget - final target temperature, °C.

[0022] Brief description of the drawings

[0023] Fig. 1 - General design of the device in disassembled form;

[0024] Fig. 2 - The internal part of the device structure in assembled form;

[0025] Fig.3 - The internal part of the device structure in disassembled form;

[0026] Fig.4 - Heating panel with holder;

[0027] Fig. 5 - Enlarged view of the holder with a lock, equipped with an angular projection and a power contact (view A);

[0028] Fig.6 - Heating panel with heating pattern and temperature sensor;

[0029] Fig. 7 - Elevator carriage (view of its interior);

[0030] Fig. 8 - Elevator carriage, section A-A (side view);

[0031] Fig.9 - Bearing holder in enlarged view (view B);

[0032] Fig. 10 - Part of the elevator carriage with a bearing holder, section B-B (top view);

[0033] Fig. 11 - Rear frame with guide groove. The following elements are indicated by numbers in the figures:

[0034] 1 - front subassembly;

[0035] 2 - top panel;

[0036] 3 - rear subassembly;

[0037] 4 - left heating panel;

[0038] 5 - right heating panel;

[0039] 6 - left reflective glass;

[0040] 7 - right reflective glass;

[0041] 8 - product support device;

[0042] 9 - bottom;

[0043] 10 - crumb tray;

[0044] 11 - network cable;

[0045] 12 - product support device holder;

[0046] 13 - elevator carriage;

[0047] 14 - panel holder;

[0048] 15 - panel holder clamps;

[0049] 16 - power contact;

[0050] 17 - corner projection on the panel holder retainer;

[0051] 18 - temperature sensor;

[0052] 19 - honeycomb heating pattern;

[0053] 20 - bearing holder;

[0054] 21 - protrusion in the bearing holder;

[0055] 22 - rear frame;

[0056] 23 - guide groove.

[0057] Implementation of the invention

[0058] The proposed toaster comprises a housing, a product heating device, a product maintenance device, a device for delivering to the cooking area and returning to the receiving and dispensing area, and temperature sensors.

[0059] Fig. 1 shows the design of the toaster in disassembly, where the front subassembly 1, the top panel 2, the rear subassembly 3, the left heating panel 4, the right heating panel 5, the left reflective glass 6, the right reflective glass 7, the product support device 8, the bottom 9, the crumb tray 10, the power cord 11, the product support device holder 12 are visible. The device for delivering bread to the cooking zone consists of a lift carriage 13 (Figs. 2, 3), installed in the front subassembly, and containing a bearing unit (bearing holder), on which the product support device 8, the guide, and also the mechanism for changing the width of the working zone depending on the thickness of the bread placed are fixed.

[0060] The mechanism for changing the width of the working area consists of glass heating panels 4 and 5 with a heating pattern fixed on the vertical sides, spring-loaded holders 14 of the panels for changing the width of the working area depending on the thickness of the product (bread), and a drive mechanism from the movement of the elevator carriage 13.

[0061] Each panel holder 14 is a part (Fig. 4) made of LCP material, intended for installation of a heating panel 4 or 5 in it, and providing the functions of fixing the panel and electrical contact.

[0062] Panel holders 14 have locking elements 15 (Figs. 4, 5), each of which has an angular projection 17 at its free end (upper and lower pairs). A power contact 16 of the panel holder also passes through a portion of the locking elements 15 (lower pair). When installing the contact assemblies, the elements are securely locked in place and do not pop out after assembly, eliminating problems with contact failure between the elements.

[0063] Each power contact 16 is additionally attached with a silver plate, perhaps by welding, ensuring even more reliable power contact between the component and the heating panel, corrosion resistance, and cooking stability. In addition to silver plates, copper and gold options were considered; however, silver has superior properties in terms of internal resistance and corrosion resistance.

[0064] The product support device 8 is horizontally oriented, consisting of a central load-bearing rod with weaker, elastic (or hinged) peripheral elements that form the base (bottom) of the support device. In this case, the primary support always lies on the central rod, with the lateral elements serving a secondary function.

[0065] The product support device 8 has a holder 12 at one end, which is an elongated, vertically oriented element that is in turn connected to the microlift (via a bracket), and to which the product support device can be formed as a single piece or connected by known methods. Compared to known solutions, the holder 12 of the product support device 8 consists of a steel core coated with a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), which is lightweight and exhibits improved strength and temperature properties. It has increased overall dimensions and stiffening ribs formed along the holder in the polymer coating.

[0066] The core of the holder 12 and the rod of the product support device 8 can be made as a single L-shaped part made of metal (steel), while the rod of the holder, as indicated above, is covered with plastic (liquid crystal polymer (LCP)).

[0067] The material of the product support device rod can be made of SUS420 (stainless steel), which has greater rigidity.

[0068] The toaster also comprises a rear frame 22 (Fig. 11), with its rear surface adjacent to the rear subassembly 3, and with its front surface directed inside the toaster (towards the space in which the product is located), while in the front surface of the rear frame 22, predominantly in the middle, a vertical guide groove 23 is made. The metal end of the rod of the product support device 8, when installed in the toaster, moves within the guide groove 23, which additionally ensures an increase in the overall horizontal rigidity of the structure, holding the structure in the desired position throughout the entire lifting height, does not allow the product support device 8 to deviate to the sides and bend around the product, solving, among other things, the problem of the product falling out during lifting.

[0069] Furthermore, the proposed toaster solves the problem of damage to the elevator carriage bearing assembly 13 (Figs. 7-10) due to insufficient bearing retention at its mounting location (in bearing holder 20). Bearing holder 20 has additional retaining elements—protrusions 21—providing secure fastening and unambiguous retention, preventing bearing loss during operation. In addition to the current mounting option, adhesive and fastener fixation were considered, but these do not provide the required reliability, add unnecessary assembly steps, and increase cost, making them less than optimal. The current solution allows for quick and reliable bearing installation and retention.

[0070] The heating pattern on each glass heating panel 4 and 5 is made of uniformly distributed honeycombs 19, forming a heated zone (Fig. 6), and is located centrally (without offsets) across the entire surface of the heating panel. A single temperature sensor 18 is installed at the upper edge of each panel, preferably in the middle (center), with each sensor located within the heated zone of the panel. This allows for better control of the panel's temperature, as temperature sensor 18 is located within the heated zone, allowing for a smaller temperature difference between the sensor and the center of the panel, and enabling the implementation of a new heating algorithm. For improved heat transfer, an AIN (hard aluminum nitride) plate can be installed between each temperature sensor 18 and the heating glass.Other plate materials were considered, such as Si, but AIN provides the best thermal conductivity in the current application.

[0071] The proposed device's power electronics fully comply with TUV electrical safety requirements. The distances between components and high-voltage circuits, as well as the electrical strength and minimum cycle requirements for components such as relays, buttons, and electric motors, are all maintained.

[0072] A zener diode (VD4) is installed in the power board, the distance between the power electronic components Cl (creepage clearance) = 3.0 mm is increased, the gaps between the current-carrying circuits and the component contacts Cr (creepage distance) = 8.0 mm are increased, which provides enhanced insulation between the electronic components, components and conductors and helps to avoid short circuits and electrical discharges between the power terminals of the electronic components and conductors / contact pads (the creepage distance (creepage clearance) is the distance between two conductors on the surface of the board or along the surface of the insulating material, the gap (creepage distance) is the direct visibility distance between two conductors through the air).

[0073] In addition, an optimal panel heating algorithm has been developed that measures the temperature sensor readings, adapts to the difference in readings between the sensor and the center of the panel, and adapts to the current panel temperature, ensuring the required time and degree of toasting for different types of bread.

[0074] In prior-generation devices, the browning level could vary significantly when selecting the same mode. The problem was caused by inaccurate panel temperature measurements by a sensor located at the edge of the panel.

[0075] The proposed device is designed with the ability to recalculate readings from a temperature sensor installed in the center of the panel to obtain the temperature in the center of the panels and adjust the cooking time depending on the panel temperature at start-up, which solves the problem of inconsistent bread toasting.

[0076] Temperature recalculation can be carried out based on the dynamics of panel heating and the difference between the sensor readings and the actual temperature in the center of the panels.

[0077] T = (-21 *t 2 + 9657*t +536290 + (Ttarget - 160)*10000)710000; t - time from the start of heating, sec;

[0078] T is the target temperature at the moment, °C;

[0079] Ttarget - final target temperature, °C.

[0080] The above heating algorithm determines what target panel temperature (based on sensor readings) should be maintained at the current cooking time in order to achieve the fastest possible heating of the panel's center and then maintain a constant temperature there.

[0081] The cooking time adjustment determines how much to reduce the cooking time based on the initial temperature of the panels. This feature allows you to always achieve the same level of toasted bread with the same cooking mode selected.

[0082] The device works as follows:

[0083] A rectangular receiving opening is located at the top of the upper panel 2. The bread (slice of bread or toast) is placed in the receiving opening. The bread support device 8, which supports the toast, is in the upper position. The cooking process is activated by selecting the desired mode, bread type, and toasting level using the rotary switch and the "OK" button. The selected bread type and cooking time are displayed on the front assembly display 1.

[0084] Product support device 8 begins to move downward along guide groove 23 of rear frame 22, and heating panel holders 14 gradually close, ensuring varying distances between them at different stages of movement. Upon reaching the bottom of the movement, product support device 8 stops, heating panels 4 and 5 are activated, and the product is cooked until done.

[0085] After this, the heating is switched off, and the product holding device 8 begins to move upward. Heating panels 4 and 5 move apart. The product moves to the dispensing area.

[0086] To clean the device, you can select the cleaning mode in the toaster menu, remove the heating panels 4 and 5, and also remove the crumb tray 10 from the bottom 9 by pressing on the tray.

[0087] The design of the toaster, as described above, increases its reliability, durability and service life, improves electrical safety, and enhances its stability and efficiency, including ensuring uniform browning of the product and the ability to select cooking modes in accordance with the selected type of product.

Claims

CLAUSES OF THE INVENTION 1. A toaster characterized in that it comprises a housing, a product heating device, a product support device made horizontally oriented from a central power rod, a device for delivering to the cooking zone and returning to the receiving and issuing zone, a power board, temperature sensors, wherein the device for delivering bread to the cooking zone comprises an elevator carriage including a bearing unit on which a product support device is secured, as well as a mechanism for changing the width of the working zone depending on the thickness of the bread placed, wherein the mechanism for changing the width of the working zone consists of heating panels with a heating pattern secured to the vertical sides, spring-loaded panel holders for changing the width of the working zone depending on the thickness of the bread, and a drive mechanism from the movement of the elevator carriage, wherein the heating pattern is made of uniformly distributed honeycombs forming a heated zone,and is located in the center of the heating panel, and the temperature sensor is installed in the center of each heating panel in the area of ​​the heating pattern, wherein the product support device has a vertically oriented holder at one end, consisting of a steel power core coated with a liquid crystal polymer LCP, wherein the toaster additionally includes a rear frame, in the surface of which a vertical guide groove is made, designed for moving the second end of the product support device in it, and the bearing unit of the carriage has additional fixing elements - protrusions made in the places where the bearings are installed.

2. A toaster according to claim 1, characterized in that the panel holders have fixing elements with angular projections.

3. A toaster according to claim 1, characterized in that the panel holders have power contacts, to each of which a silver plate is additionally attached.

4. A toaster according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder of the product support device is made with longitudinal stiffening ribs.

5. The toaster according to item 1, characterized in that the core of the product support device holder and the rod of the product support device are made of a single L-shaped part made of metal.

6. The toaster according to claim 5, characterized in that the core of the product support device holder and the rod of the product support device are made of SUS420 material.

7. The toaster according to item 1, characterized in that an AIN plate is installed between the temperature sensor and the heating panel.

8. A toaster according to item 1, characterized in that a zener diode is installed in the power board.

9. A toaster according to claim 1, characterized in that in the power board the distance between the power electronic components is 3.0 mm, and the gaps between the current-carrying circuits and the contacts of the components are 8.0 mm.

10. The toaster according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it is designed with the ability to recalculate the readings of the temperature sensor installed in the center of the panel to obtain the temperature in the center of the panels and correct the cooking time depending on the temperature of the panel at start-up, according to the following expression: T = (-21 *t 2 + 9657*t +536290 + (Ttarget - 160)*10000)710000; t - time from the start of heating, sec. T is the current target temperature, °C Ttarget - final target temperature, °C.

Images