OVEN WITH A TOUCH DOOR HANDLE

Description

[0001] The present invention is an oven with a touch-detecting door handle.

[0002] Known are ovens with handles made in whole or in part of metal, among others, described in European Patents EP3136002 and EP3246632, however, these handles do not have touch detection function.

[0003] Solution using the touch detection sensor for automatic door opening is used however, in a built-in dishwashing machine. This solution is subject to International patent application WO2016/105312. The dishwasher door has a decorative cover, comprising a touch surface of the capacity sensor, and a controller, also built-in the dishwasher door, actuating the door opening mechanism upon detection of an electric charge transmitted through the capacity sensor in the door cover. The dishwasher door does not have a handle for door opening, thus the appliance cannot be opened manually. In addition, decorative strip is an additional, custom element of the appliance, introduced solely for the purpose of touch detection, and thus incurs additional cost.

[0004] Document WO2018109590A1 describes a device for locking a door lock of an electric household appliance, comprising a locking element mounted on a support body. The locking element is designed to cooperate with at least one holding element and the locking actuating system. The lock actuation system comprises an electric actuator and a drive transmission to the locking element that causes angular movement of the locking element between - a first inoperative state, in which the locking element is not engaged with the holding element, to allow the door to be opened by manually applying an opening force to the door, and - an operating state in which the locking element is engaged with the holding element. The device is furthermore equipped with at least one sensor, for example an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor or a microswitch, which is connected to the oven control system. The function of the sensor is, for example, to detect the position of the oven door or to detect the correct position of the hook in the locked state and to provide a signal to the oven control system.

[0005] Document EP2927603A1 describes a door opening system for a household appliance in which the door is kept closed by a hook member engaged with a recess. The door may be opened manually by lifting the hook element by the user or automatically by pressing a button or a touch sensor to release the hook element.

[0006] In turn, document KR 2010 0081241 A discloses a method for controlling the opening of the door of a microwave oven. A handle with a resistance sensor is mounted on the door of the microwave oven. When the user holds the handle, the electrical resistance changes and the sensor sends a signal to the motor control unit, which the motor rolls up or releases the cable supporting the microwave door.

[0007] Another document EP 2 950 002 A1 discloses an oven including an auxiliary motor drive to assist in the manual opening of the oven door. The object of this invention is to make it easier for the user to open the oven door. The oven is equipped with one or more sensors that can detect the force applied to the oven handle when opening the door or the opening angle of the oven door, and on this basis control the operation of the auxiliary motor drive to assist in opening or closing the door.

[0008] Document DE 10 2010 003898 A1 discloses a door handle for a household appliance such as an oven or a microwave oven. The handle is in the form of a beam placed on the holding elements with which the handle is attached at an outer side of a door. The lighting device is formed for lighting the handle bar or indicating information at the handle bar.

[0009] The purpose of the invention is an oven, wherein the access to the cavity is possible either by manual opening of the door closing the cavity or automatic opening of the door initiated by the user touching the touch sensor located in the handle of the oven door. It was important that in the solution according to the present invention, for the control of automatic door opening, structural elements of the oven were used, eliminating the need to mount additional elements to enable automatic door opening function.

[0010] The oven body according to the invention comprises a working cavity, closed by a door with a metal handle, connected to the appliance body by means of hinges fixed in the hinge mountings located in the oven body, wherein hinges exert constant force on the closed door, trying to open it. The door is retained in the closed position by a lock located in the appliance body, equipped with clamps that hold the pin located on the oven door, thereby preventing the door from opening. Furthermore, the lock is equipped with an electrical drive for moving the element that opens the clamp, electrically controlled by the master control unit located in the oven body. The oven is also equipped with a touch sensor and electronic module recording changes of the electrical parameters generated by the touch sensor, while the touch sensor and the electronic module recording changes of the electrical parameters and the master control unit are electrically connected by means of structural elements of the oven. The oven according to the invention is characterised in that the metal surface of the handle coated with an insulating layer, is part of the touch-detecting sensor, which the metal surface of the handle is electrically connected to an electronic module recording changes of electrical parameters generated by the touch sensor. Electronic module recording changes of electrical parameters is built on the PCB located inside the oven door and connected electrically with the touch sensor by means of metal connectors located inside the mounting brackets for the door handle of the oven. The PCB is also electrically connected with metal structural elements of the oven door, by means of attached thereto pair of first resilient elements in contact with other pair of resilient elements which are respectively fixed to the first and second metal structural element of the oven door, and metal structural components of the oven door are connected electrically in a known manner by means of hinges to the master control unit in the body of the oven.

[0011] It is advantageous that the insulating layer covering the metal handle of the oven door is a polymer resin or epoxy resin.

[0012] It is advantageous that the touch sensor is a capacity sensor.

[0013] It is advantageous that the touch sensor is an induction sensor.

[0014] The subject of this invention is described in detail on the embodiment shown in figure, where fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of the oven, fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the disassembled oven door, fig. 3 shows detail of the oven door indicated in fig. 2, fig. 4 is a view of the PCB with an electronic module recording changes of electrical parameters caused touching the oven handle, fig. 5 shows a fragment of the cross-section of the oven door in a plane passing through the bracket mounting the handle to the door of the oven, and fig. 6 shows the detail indicated in fig. 5.

[0015] The oven 1 has in its body 2 a working cavity closed by a door 3 with a metal handle 4, connected to the appliance body by means of hinges 5 fixed in the mountings located in the body 2 of the oven 1. Hinges 5 exert on the closed door 3 constant force tending to open it and are retained in the closed position by means of a lock 6 in the body of the appliance 2, whose clamps are holding a pin 7 located on the upper strip of the door 3 of the oven 1, preventing the door from opening. The lock 6 has a drive controlled by electrically by a master control unit 8. The lock 6 drive is enabled by the rotation of an element, which temporarily opens the clamps of the lock and releases the pin 7 causing automatic door opening. Master control module 8 starts the lock 6 drive when it receives a signal from the electronic module 9 recording changes of the electrical parameters caused by the user touching the insulator-coated surface 10 of the handle 4 of the door 3 of the oven 1. In an embodiment of the invention, the touch sensor is a capacity sensor. Electrical signal created as a result of the user touching the surface 10 of the handle 4 is transmitted to the electronic module 9 built in the PCB 11 by means of metal screws 12. Screws 12 are located inside the handle brackets 13 fixing the handle 4 to the door 3 and PCB 11 located on the inside of the outer glass pane 14 of the door 3 of the oven 1. Glass pane 14 is attached to the metal structural elements 15 of the door 3 of the oven 1. PCB 11 is electrically connected by metal structural elements 15 of the door 3 of the oven 1 by means of a pair of attached to the PCB 11 first resilient elements 16 in contact with the second pair of resilient elements 17, respectively fixed to the first and second metal structural element 15 of the door 3 of the oven 1. Metal structural element 15 of the door 3 are electrically connected in a known manner with hinges to the master control unit 8 in the body 2 of the oven 1.

[0016] The oven door according to the invention, can be opened by the user manually, but also when the hands are occupied, the user can touch the handle, for example, with the elbow and then the door will open automatically. Additional function of the oven, automatic door opening, is obtained without the need for significant changes in the design. The solution according to the invention can be used to control other elements of the appliance, initiated by a signal detected by the touch sensor.

List of symbols

[0017] 

1 - oven,

2 - body of the oven,

3 - door of the oven,

4 - handle,

5 - hinge,

6 - lock,

7 - pin on the upper strip of the oven door,

8 - master control unit,

9 - electronic module recording changes in electrical parameters caused by the user's touch of the oven door handle,

10 - handle surface coated with a layer of insulator,

11 - PCB,

12 - metal connector,

13 - handle bracket,

14 - door outer glass pane,

15 - metal structural elements of the door,

16 - resilient element of the first pair,

17 - resilient element of the second pair.

Claims

1. Oven (1) comprising:

a body (2) with a working cavity and a master control unit (8);

a door (3) with a metal handle (4) comprising an insulator-coated surface (10), and a first and a second metal structural element (15); connected to the oven body (2) by means of hinges (5) fixed in hinge mountings located in the body (2) of the oven (1) ; and

a lock (6), comprising a pin (7) located on the oven door (3), a clamp and an element opening the clamp with an electrical drive controlled by a master control unit (8) located in the body (2) wherein the hinges (5) exert on the closed oven door (3) constant force, trying to open it, and the door (3) is retained in the closed position by the lock (6);

characterised in that the oven (1) further comprises:

a PCB (11) with a touch sensor and an electronic module (9) recording changes of the electrical parameters generated by the touch sensor, wherein the metal surface of the handle (4) is part of the touch sensor, wherein the PCB (11) is located inside the door (3), connected and electrically connected to the handle (4) by means of metal connectors (12), located inside brackets (13) mounting the handle (4) to the door (3);

wherein the door (3) further comprises of first pair of resilient elements (16) arranged on the PCB (11) and a second pair of resilient elements (17) fixed respectively to the metal structural elements (15) of the door (3) of the oven (1);

wherein the PCB (11) is electrically connected to the metal structural elements (15) of the oven door (3) by means of the attached pair of first resilient elements (16) in contact with the second pair of resilient elements (17) fixed respectively to the metal structural elements (15) of the door (3) of the oven (1), and the metal structural elements (15) of the door (3) of the oven (1 ) are electrically connected with hinges (5) to the master control unit (8) located in the body (2) of the oven (1);

wherein the master control unit (8) activates the electrical drive when it receives a signal from the electronic module (9) recording changes in electrical parameters caused by the touch of the insulator-coated surface (10) of the handle (4) of the oven door (3) by the user.

2. Oven with a touch door handle according to claim 1, characterised in that the insulating layer covering the metal handle of the oven door is a polymer resin or epoxy resin.

3. Oven with a touch door handle according to claim 1, characterised in that the touch sensor is a capacity sensor.

4. Oven with a touch door handle according to claim 1, characterised in that the touch sensor is an induction sensor.

Ansprüche

1. Backofen (1), bestehend aus:

einem Gehäuse (2) mit einem Arbeitshohlraum und einer Hauptsteuereinheit (8); einer Tür (3) mit einem Metallgriff (4), bestehend aus einer mit einem Isoliermaterial beschichteten Oberfläche (10) und einem ersten und einem zweiten Metallkonstruktionselement (15); verbunden mit dem Backofengehäuse (2) mittels Scharnieren (5), die in Scharnierhalterungen befestigt sind, die sich im Gehäuse (2) des Backofens (1) befinden; und

einer Verriegelung (6), bestehend aus einem an der Backofentür (3) angeordneten Stift (7), einem Riegel und einem Element zum Öffnen des Riegels mit einem elektrischen Antrieb, der von einer im Gehäuse (2) angeordneten Hauptsteuereinheit (8) gesteuert wird, wobei die Scharniere (5) auf die geschlossene Backofentür (3) eine konstante Kraft ausüben die versucht, sie zu öffnen, und die Tür (3) durch die Verriegelung (6) in der geschlossenen Position gehalten wird;

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Backofen (1) ferner eine Leiterplatte (11) mit einem Berührungssensor und ein elektronisches Modul (9) umfasst, das Änderungen der elektrischen Parameter aufzeichnet, die durch den Berührungssensor erzeugt werden, wobei die Metalloberfläche des Griffs (4) Teil des Berührungssensors ist, wobei die Leiterplatte (11) innerhalb der Tür (3) angeordnet ist, verbunden und elektrisch mit dem Griff (4) mittels Metallverbindern (12) verbunden ist, die sich innerhalb der Halterungen (13) befinden, mit denen der Griff (4) an der Tür (3) befestigt ist;

wobei die Tür (3) ferner ein erstes Paar elastischer Elemente (16), die auf der Leiterplatte (11) angeordnet sind, und ein zweites Paar elastischer Elemente (17) umfasst, die jeweils an den Metallkonstruktionselementen (15) der Tür (3) des Backofens (1) befestigt sind;

wobei die Leiterplatte (11) mit den Metallkonstruktionselementen (15) der Backofentür (3) mittels des angebrachten Paars der ersten elastischen Elemente (16) in Kontakt mit dem zweiten Paar der elastischen Elemente (17), die jeweils an den Metallkonstruktionselementen (15) der Tür (3) des Backofens (1) befestigt sind, elektrisch verbunden ist, und die Metallkonstruktionselemente (15) der Tür (3) des Backofens (1 ) elektrisch verbunden sind

2. Backofen mit Berührungstürgriff nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Isolierschicht, mit der der Metallgriff der Backofentür beschichtet ist, ein Polymerharz oder Epoxidharz ist.

3. Backofen mit einem Berührungstürgriff nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Berührungssensor ein Kapazitätssensor ist.

4. Backofen mit Berührungstürgriff nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Berührungssensor ein Induktionssensor ist.

Revendications

1. Four (1) comportant :

un corps (2) avec une chambre de traitement et une unité de commande principale (8); une porte (3) avec une poignée en métal (4) possédant une surface à revêtement isolant (10), et un premier et deuxième élément structurel en métal (15); relié au corps du four (2) à l'aide de charnières (5) fixées à des supports de charnières situés dans le corps (2) du four (1) ; et

un verrou (6), comprenant une clavette (7) située dans la porte du four (3), une attache et un élément ouvrant l'attache avec un entrainement électrique commandé par l'unité de commande principale (8) située dans le corps (2) où les charnières (5) exercent une force constante sur la porte du four (3), quand il y a tentative de l'ouvrir, et la porte (3) est maintenue en position fermée par le verrou (6) ;

caractérisé en ce que le four (1) comprend en outre :

un circuit imprimé (11) avec un capteur tactile et un module électronique (9) enregistrant les modifications des paramètres électriques générées par le capteur tactile, où la surface en métal de la poignée (4) fait partie du capteur tactile, où le circuit imprimé (11) est situé à l'intérieur de la porte (3), connecté et relié électriquement à la poignée (4) à l'aide de connecteurs en métal (12), situés à l'intérieur des supports (13) de fixation de la poignée (4) de la porte (3) ;

où la porte (3) est pourvu en outre d'une première paire d'éléments élastiques (16) fixés sur le circuit imprimé (11) et d'une deuxième paire d'éléments élastiques (17) fixés respectivement aux éléments structurels en métal (15) de la porte (3) du four (1) ;

où le circuit imprimé (11)est relié électriquement aux éléments structurels en métal (15) de la porte du four (3) à l'aide de la paire attachée des premiers éléments élastiques (16) en contact avec la deuxième paire d'éléments élastiques (17) fixés respectivement aux éléments structurels en métal (15) de la porte (3) du four (1), et les éléments structurels en métal (15) de la porte (3) du four (1 ) sont reliés électriquement

2. Four avec une poignée de porte tactile conforme à la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la couche isolante couvrant la poignée en métal de la porte du four est une résine polymère ou une résine époxy.

3. Four avec une poignée de porte tactile conforme à la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le capteur tactile est un capteur de capacité.

4. Four avec une poignée de porte tactile conforme à la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le capteur tactile est un capteur à induction.

Drawing