Cooking device with locking device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances have low contact pressure of the door on the oven body, leading to incomplete locking and safety risks, as the locking elements can be spring-mounted and only partially engaged, allowing microwave radiation to escape.
Innovation Solution
The locking element is designed to move translationally in two directions, engaging with a stationary engagement element, and a connecting mechanism using a gear mechanism, toothed rack, and guide links ensures proper engagement and increased contact pressure, with a switching device controlling energy supply based on the locking position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spring-mounted locking elements are used that can be deflected at any time, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the door may appear locked while actually being improperly closed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a manipulation element (such as a handle) must be actively moved to a specific position to engage the locking elements. The system provides visual or tactile feedback to confirm proper engagement. This ensures that the door is truly locked before the appliance can be operated, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive mechanical feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent requires preliminary action by the user to move the manipulation element into the locking position before the door can be considered properly closed. This preliminary engagement action ensures that locking elements are definitively positioned before any appliance operation occurs, preventing the scenario where the door appears locked but is actually improperly closed.
2Device complexity
If the door contact pressure is determined solely by user force on the oven door, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates because insufficient contact pressure results in incomplete locking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic locking mechanism where the contact pressure is not static but is actively adjusted through the movement of the manipulation element. As the user moves the handle into the locked position, the locking elements are progressively engaged, dynamically increasing the contact pressure to a predetermined sufficient level. This dynamic process ensures proper locking without requiring complex pre-adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the closing action and the locking action into a single integrated movement of the manipulation element. The same user action that closes the door also engages the locking elements and establishes the required contact pressure. This merging of functions simplifies the device while ensuring manufacturing precision through the integrated mechanical design that guarantees sufficient engagement force.
3Ease of operation
If locking elements are positioned without querying their engagement status, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety deteriorates because microwave radiation can escape when the door is not properly closed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback system that monitors the engagement status of locking elements through the position of the manipulation element. The appliance's control system receives feedback about whether the door is properly locked before allowing microwave operation. This feedback mechanism ensures safety by preventing microwave emission when the door is improperly closed, while maintaining ease of operation through automatic status detection without requiring user verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual verification of locking status with an automated detection system that monitors the manipulation element's position. This substitution of mechanical monitoring with a sensor-based or position-based detection system ensures accurate detection of proper locking engagement, preventing microwave radiation escape while allowing the user to simply close and lock the door without additional safety checks.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cooking appliance, comprising at least one interior space arranged within at least one housing with at least one opening which can be closed by means of at least one closure element (1), comprising at least one locking device (3) comprising at least one locking element (5, 5'), the closure element ( 1) can be fixed at least indirectly to the housing by means of the locking element (5, 5') and the locking device (3) comprises at least one manipulation element (7) which is operatively connected to the locking element (5, 5') in such a way that by means of a Alignment and/or position change of the manipulation element (7) the locking element (5, 5') can be moved by means of at least one first movement from at least one first position into at least one second position and by means of at least one second movement from the second position into the first position is movable, wherein the locking element (5, 5 ') at de r first movement translationally in a first direction (R1, R1') towards the housing and in the second movement translationally in a first direction (R1, R1') opposite, second direction (R2, R2') movable.