Front-cooking-station
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front cooking stations lack comprehensive detection and prevention mechanisms for clogged, missing, or incorrectly installed grease and odor filters, which can lead to operational issues, hygiene problems, and increased fire risk.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a control device that utilizes pressure sensors to detect filter issues, additional position sensors for correct installation verification, and a closure device for the exhaust air opening, along with an integrated extinguishing system with temperature sensors and separate extinguishing agent tanks, to ensure safe operation and prevent fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is used to detect filter clogging, then the detection capability for clogged filters is improved, but the ability to detect missing or incorrectly installed filters is not sufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The filter monitoring function is segmented into multiple independent detection mechanisms: pressure sensors for clogging detection, position sensors for installation position verification, and closure sensors for door closure status. Each sensor type addresses a specific aspect of filter status, collectively providing comprehensive monitoring coverage that overcomes the limitation of using only pressure sensors.
2Reliability
If the blower operation is prevented when filter issues are detected, then safety and hygiene are improved, but operational availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously receives feedback from pressure sensors, position sensors, and closure sensors regarding filter status. Based on this real-time feedback, the system automatically adjusts blower operation - preventing operation when filters are missing, incorrectly installed, or excessively clogged, while allowing normal operation when filters are properly installed and within acceptable clogging levels. This feedback mechanism ensures safety while minimizing unnecessary operational disruptions.
3Reliability
If multiple sensor types are added to comprehensively monitor filter status, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device serves multiple functions: it processes signals from pressure sensors, position sensors, and closure sensors; determines overall filter status based on combined sensor inputs; controls blower operation; and activates alarm signals. By making the control device multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate control units for each sensor type, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents the operation of the blower in case of filter issues, ensures proper filter installation, and automatically activates the extinguishing system in case of overheating or fire, enhancing safety and hygiene by preventing grease deposition and fire spread.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor arrangement with at least one pressure sensor, which measures the pressure in front of the at least one grease and/or odor filter
Implementation Method 2
a fan that extracts the air from the at least one intake opening to the at least one exhaust air opening
Implementation Method 3
at least one grease and/or odor filter, which is arranged in the duct system
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a front cooking station (10) with: - a food preparation area (12), - an air cleaning device, which comprises: + a duct system which has at least one suction opening (14, 16) for sucking in vapors contaminated by the food preparation air and at least one exhaust air opening (18, 20) for discharging air that has been sucked in and cleaned by the air cleaning device into the surrounding area (22) of the front cooking station (10), + at least one blower (24, 26) that blows the air from the at least one intake opening (14, 16) to the at least one exhaust air opening (18, 20), + at least one grease (28, 30) and/or odor filter (32, 34), which is arranged in the duct system, + a sensor arrangement with at least one pressure sensor (106, 108) which can detect and report the pressure in front of the at least one grease (28, 30) and/or odor filter (32, 34) in relation to the air flow direction. It is provided according to the invention that it has a control device (114) for controlling at least the air cleaning device, that the control device (114) responds to a missing, defective and/or incorrectly installed grease (28, 30) and/or odor filter (32, 34) includes when the pressure sensor (106, 108) delivers a value that is below a predetermined pressure threshold value and/or when a difference between the value delivered by the pressure sensor (106, 108) and another pressure value is less than one is a predetermined pressure difference threshold value, and that the control device (114) prevents the operation of the at least one blower (24, 26) after it has detected a missing, defective and/or incorrectly installed grease (28, 30) and/or odor filter ( 32, 34) has closed.