(19)
(11) EP 2 370 743 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
01.05.2013 Bulletin 2013/18

(21) Application number: 09799619.3

(22) Date of filing: 17.12.2009
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F24C 15/20(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/EP2009/067431
(87) International publication number:
WO 2010/076236 (08.07.2010 Gazette 2010/27)

(54)

AN OVEN COMPRISING AN EXHAUST OPENING

OFEN MIT EINER AUSLASSÖFFNUNG

FOUR COMPRENANT UNE OUVERTURE D'ECHAPPEMENT


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 31.12.2008 TR 200810090

(43) Date of publication of application:
05.10.2011 Bulletin 2011/40

(73) Proprietor: Arçelik Anonim Sirketi
34950 Istanbul (TR)

(72) Inventors:
  • GOCER, Mehmet Baris
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • YAMAN, Yalcin
    34950 Istanbul (TR)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A1- 1 975 516
US-A1- 2009 110 592
US-A1- 2008 110 879
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to an oven wherein air is exhausted by means of an exhaust opening.

    [0002] In ovens, a heater and a control unit controlling the heater are located in order that the cooking process can be performed. Since the heater heats the cabinet portion, which is closer to itself, more, the heated air is aimed to be distributed homogeneously by blowing air into the cabinet. In order that the moisture getting out of the cooked food and the blown air can be exhausted, an exhaust opening is located preferably on the cabinet. The control unit controls the heater and the cooking algorithm according to the moisture and/or the temperature condition inside the cabinet. Since the sensor, measuring the temperature and the moisture, cannot be disposed into the cabinet, it is preferably disposed to the exhaust opening wherein the air output occurs. However, since the air is not distributed fully homogeneously inside the cabinet, the ambient conditions such as the moisture, temperature and the carbon monoxide amount cannot be detected reliably by the said sensor.

    [0003] In the state of the art United States of America Patent Document No US20080110879, a cooking appliance, which comprises an exhaust opening providing the air inside the oven cavity to be exhausted, a cooling fan providing the airflow on the oven cavity and a cavity vent enabling the air blown by the fan to be exhausted, is explained.

    [0004] Document EP 1 975 516 describes an oven having two exhaust openings providing the air inside the oven cavity to be exhausted, a cooling fan providing the airflow on the oven cavity, and two valves for opening and closing each of the exhaust openings.

    [0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of an oven, wherein the ambient conditions inside the cooking chamber are effectively determined.

    [0006] The oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a cabinet, a lower panel which is located at the ceiling of the cabinet, an upper panel which is disposed above the lower panel, a volume which exists between the panels, a fan which is disposed into the volume, an outlet, through which the air blown by the fan is exhausted from the front side of the panels, and a control unit which controls the cooking process.

    [0007] The oven, furthermore, comprises at least two exhaust openings which open towards between the panels from the upper side of the cabinet in order that the air inside the cabinet can be exhausted through the outlet. The exhaust openings are connected to each other by means of a passage channel. In at least one of the exhaust openings, at least one valve, which is controlled by the control unit, is located.

    [0008] The oven comprises a connection channel which connects the passage channel to the receptacle wherein the fan is situated.

    [0009] The oven further comprises a sensor which is disposed onto the connection channel.

    [0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit controls the valves according to the data it receives from the sensor.

    [0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, a filter is disposed into at least one of the exhaust openings.

    [0012] In the household appliance of the present invention, the air, which is not homogeneously distributed inside the cabinet, is sucked in through the exhaust openings at different areas, and the ambient conditions inside the cabinet are determined more reliably by performing the measurements of the sensor in this mixed air. Thus, by the valves being reliably controlled by means of the control unit, the amount of air sucked in through the exhaust openings can be adjusted according to the values measured by means of the sensor.

    [0013] The oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

    Figure 1 - is the perspective view of an oven.

    Figure 2 - is the schematic view of an oven.

    Figure 3 - is the exploded view of a lower panel, an upper panel, a fan, a valve and a control unit.

    Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the exhaust openings connected to each other by a passage channel.

    Figure 5 - is the cross-sectional view of the exhaust openings connected to each other by a passage channel.



    [0014] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

    1. Oven

    2. Cabinet

    3. Lower panel

    4. Upper panel

    5. Fan

    6. Outlet

    7. Control unit

    8. Valve

    9. Passage channel

    10. ,110. Exhaust opening

    11. Connection channel

    12. Sensor

    13. Filter



    [0015] The oven (1) comprises a cabinet (2) wherein the cooking process is performed, a lower panel (3) which is disposed onto the cabinet (2), an upper panel (4) which is disposed above the lower panel (3) such that a volume (H) will remain between them, a fan (5) which is disposed between the panels (3 and 4), an outlet (6) which enables the air blown by the fan (5) to be exhausted from the front portion by flowing through the volume (H), and a control unit (7) which controls the cooking process according to the cooking algorithm stored in its memory (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

    [0016] The oven (1), furthermore, comprises
    • at least two exhaust openings (10, 110), one end of which opens into the cabinet (2) and the other end to the volume (H),
    • a passage channel (9) which extends between the exhaust openings (10, 110), and one end of which is connected to one exhaust opening (10) and the other end to the other exhaust opening (110), and
    • at least one valve (8) which opens and closes at least one of the exhaust openings (10, 110)
    (Figure 5).

    [0017] The exhaust openings (10 and 110) suck in air from the different areas of the cabinet (2). The air, which is not homogeneously distributed inside the cabinet (2) in terms of temperature and moisture values, is sucked in from different areas and joined together in the air passage channel (9). The oven (1), furthermore, comprises a connection channel (11) which extends between the passage channel (9) and the fan (5). In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a fan receptacle (R) which provides the fan (5) to be disposed between the panels (3 and 4). One end of the connection channel (11) opens to the passage channel (9) and the other end to the fan receptacle (R). Thus, the air, received from the exhaust openings (10 and 110), joins together in the passage channel (9), is mixed while flowing through the connection channel (11), and is directed to the outlet (6) by the fan (5) (Figure 3 and Figure 4 and Figure 5).

    [0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, a valve (8) is located on only one of the exhaust openings (10, 110). In this embodiment, while there is a continuous air exhaust through one of the exhaust openings (10 or 110), air flow is enabled through the other exhaust opening (10 or 110), to which the valve is mounted, when the amount of exhaust air is desired to be increased.

    [0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, a valve (8) is located on both exhaust openings (10 and 110). For example, since the temperature inside the cabinet (2) is desired to be rapidly increased when the cooking process starts, both valves (8) are closed, and as the cooking is performed, firstly one of the valves (8) is opened and in the last phase, both valves (8) are opened and thus, the amount of moisture inside the cabinet (2) is rapidly reduced. According to the data that the cooking, which is controlled by the control unit (7), is in the start, middle and last phase, the control unit (7) opens and closes the valves (8).

    [0020] The oven (1) further comprises a sensor (12) which is disposed onto the connection channel (11), and which detects the values such as the moisture, temperature and carbon monoxide in the air received from the exhaust openings (10, 110) and transmits the data to the control unit (7). By disposing the sensor (12) onto the connection channel (11), the air sucked in by the exhaust openings (10 and 110) from different areas is mixed and the average values are measured. Thus, it can be understood more exactly whether the food is cooked or not. For example, while the temperature of the air flowing through an exhaust opening (10) is higher than the average temperature inside the cabinet (2) since the exhaust opening (10) is close to the heater, the temperature of the air flowing through the other exhaust opening (110) is lower than the average temperature of the cabinet (2). Since the air received from the exhaust openings (10 and 110) is already mixed while flowing through the connection channel (11), the temperature value, read from the sensor (12) on the connection channel (11), is almost equal to the average temperature value inside the cabinet (2) (Figure 3 and Figure 5).

    [0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (7) controls the valves (8) in accordance with the data it receives from the sensor (12). The control unit (7) continuously receives data from the sensor (12) during the cooking, and opens and closes the valves (8) in order to be able to control the cooking and to balance the temperature and the amount of moisture inside the cabinet (2).

    [0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the fan (5) is disposed between the passage channel (9) and the outlet (6), almost in the middle portion of the panels (3 and 4), and provides the air inside the cabinet (2) to be sucked in through the exhaust openings (10, 110) by causing a pressure drop in the passage channel (9) while blowing air towards the outlet (6).

    [0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises exhaust openings (10 and 110), one of which is disposed close to the fan (5) and the other one far from the fan (5), and a filter (13) which is disposed into the exhaust opening (110) that is close to the fan (5). More suction is performed through the exhaust opening (110), which is disposed close to the fan (5). By means of the filter (13), the oil particles from the cooked food mixing with the air are filtered and thus, oil accumulation on the fan (5) and on the outlet (6) is prevented. In a version of this embodiment, a valve (8) is disposed only onto the exhaust opening (10), which is far from the fan (5), in order to control the amount of air exiting the cabinet (2) (Figure 5).

    [0024] By means of the embodiment of the present invention, the temperature and the amount of moisture inside the cabinet (2) can be adjusted by means of the valves (8) disposed onto the exhaust openings (10 and 110). By means of the sensor (12) disposed onto the connection channel (11), the temperature and moisture condition inside the cabinet (2) is reliably measured. The control unit (7) adjusts the valves (8) according to the measured values.


    Claims

    1. An oven (1) comprising a cabinet (2) wherein the cooking process is performed, a lower panel (3) which is disposed onto the cabinet (2), an upper panel (4) which is disposed above the lower panel (3) such that a volume (H) will remain between them, a fan (5) which is disposed between the panels (3 and 4), an outlet (6) which enables the air blown by the fan (5) to be exhausted from the front portion by passing through the volume (H), and a control unit (7) which controls the cooking process according to the cooking algorithm stored in its memory, at least two exhaust openings (10, 110), one end of which opens into the cabinet (2) and the other end to the volume (H), and at least one valve (8) which opens and closes at least one of the exhaust openings (10, 110), characterized by

    - a passage channel (9) which extends between the exhaust openings (10, 110), and one end of which is connected to one exhaust opening (10) and the other end to the other exhaust opening (110),

    - a connection channel (11) which extends between the passage channel (9) and the fan (5), and

    - a sensor (12) which is disposed onto the connection channel (11), and which detects the values such as the moisture, temperature and carbon monoxide in the air received from the exhaust openings (10, 110) and transmits the data to the control unit (7).


     
    2. An oven (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (7) which controls the valves (8) in accordance with the data it receives from the sensor (12).
     
    3. An oven (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the exhaust openings (10 and 110), one of which is disposed close to the fan (5) and the other one far from the fan (5), and by a filter (13) which is disposed into the exhaust opening (110) that is close to the fan (5).
     
    4. An oven (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the valve (8) which is disposed into the exhaust opening (10) that is far from the fan (5).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Ofen (1), umfassend einen Raum (2), in dem der Kochvorgang durchgeführt wird, eine untere Platte (3), die auf dem Raum (2) angeordnet ist, eine obere Platte (4), die über der unteren Platte (3) angeordnet ist, derart, dass ein Volumen (H) dazwischen gebildet wird, ein Gebläse (5), das zwischen den Platten (3 und 4) angeordnet ist, einen Auslass (6), der es ermöglicht, die Luft, die vom Gebläse (5) geblasen wird, aus dem vorderen Abschnitt abzulassen, indem sie durch das Volumen (H) strömt, und eine Steuereinheit (7), die den Kochvorgang entsprechend dem in ihrem Speicher gespeicherten Algorithmus steuert, wenigstens zwei Abluftöffnungen (10, 110), deren eines Ende sich in den Raum (2) hinein und deren anderes Ende in das Volumen (H) hinein öffnet, und wenigstens ein Ventil (8), das wenigstens eine der Abluftöffnungen (10, 110) öffnet und schließt, gekennzeichnet durch

    - einen Durchlasskanal (9), der sich zwischen den Abluftöffnungen (10, 110) erstreckt und dessen eines Ende mit einer Abluftöffnung (10) und dessen anderes Ende mit der anderen Abluftöffnung (110) verbunden ist,

    - einen Verbindungskanal (11), der sich zwischen dem Durchlasskanal (9) und dem Gebläse (5) erstreckt, und

    - einen Sensor (12), der am Verbindungskanal (11) angeordnet ist und die Werte wie etwa Feuchtigkeit, Temperatur und Kohlenmonoxid in der Luft detektiert, die aus den Abluftöffnungen (10, 110) strömt, und die Daten an die Steuereinheit (7) überträgt.


     
    2. Ofen (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuereinheit (7) die Ventile (8) entsprechend den Daten steuert, die sie vom Sensor (12) empfängt.
     
    3. Ofen (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine der Abluftöffnungen (10 und 110) nah am Gebläse (5) und die andere vom Gebläse (5) entfernt angeordnet ist, und durch einen Filter (13), der in der Abluftöffnung (110) angeordnet ist, die nah am Gebläse (5) angeordnet ist.
     
    4. Ofen (1) nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Ventil (8) in der Abluftöffnung (10) angeordnet ist, die vom Gebläse (5) entfernt angeordnet ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Un four (1) comprenant une armoire (2) où le processus de cuisson est réalisé, un panneau inférieur (3) qui est disposé sur l'armoire (2), un panneau supérieur (4) qui est disposé au-dessus du panneau inférieur (3) de telle sorte qu'un volume (H) reste entre eux, un ventilateur (5) qui est disposé entre les panneaux (3 et 4), une sortie (6) qui permet à l'air soufflé par le ventilateur (5) d'être échappé à partir de la partie avant en passant à travers le volume (H), et une unité de commande (7) qui contrôle le processus de cuisson selon l'algorithme de cuisson enregistré dans sa mémoire, au moins deux ouvertures d'échappement (10, 110) dont l'une extrémité s'ouvre dans l'armoire (2) et l'autre extrémité s'ouvre dans le volume (H), et au moins une soupape (8) qui ouvre et ferme au moins l'une des ouvertures d'échappement (10, 110), caractérisé par

    - un canal de passage (9) qui s'étend entre les ouvertures d'échappement (10, 110) et dont l'une extrémité est reliée à une ouverture d'échappement (10) et l'autre extrémité est reliée à l'autre ouverture d'échappement (110),

    - un canal de connexion (11) qui s'étend entre le canal de passage (9) et le ventilateur (5), et

    - un capteur (12) qui est disposé sur le canal de connexion (11) et qui détecte les valeurs telles que l'humidité, la température et la quantité du monoxyde de carbone dans l'air reçu par les ouvertures d'échappement (10, 110) et qui transmet les données à l'unité de commande (7).


     
    2. Un four (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé par l'unité de commande (7) qui contrôle les soupapes (8) en conformité avec les données reçues du capteur (12).
     
    3. Un four (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par les ouvertures d'échappement (10 et 110), dont l'un est disposé près du ventilateur (5) et l'autre est loin du ventilateur (5), et par un filtre (13) qui est disposé dans l'ouverture d'échappement (110) qui est près du ventilateur (5).
     
    4. Un four (1) selon la Revendication 3, caractérisé par la soupape (8) qui est disposée dans l'ouverture d'échappement (10) qui est loin du ventilateur (5).
     




    Drawing














    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description