(19)
(11) EP 4 579 136 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
02.07.2025 Bulletin 2025/27

(21) Application number: 24208672.6

(22) Date of filing: 24.10.2024
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F24C 7/08(2006.01)
F24C 15/32(2006.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
F24C 15/325; F24C 7/085
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA
Designated Validation States:
GE KH MA MD TN

(30) Priority: 28.12.2023 TR 202319219

(71) Applicant: Arçelik Anonim Sirketi
34445 Istanbul (TR)

(72) Inventors:
  • ERDEM, Funda
    34445 Istanbul (TR)
  • CAVUSOGLU, Gonul
    34445 Istanbul (TR)
  • CELIK, Filiz
    34445 Istanbul (TR)
  • MARASLI, Mehmet
    34445 Istanbul (TR)
  • YILDIZ, Busra
    34445 Istanbul (TR)

   


(54) OVEN


(57) The present invention relates to an oven (1) comprising a cooking chamber (8) which is defined by first and second side walls (2, 3), a rear wall (4), an upper wall (5), a lower wall (6) and a door (7); at least one fan (9) which is positioned on the rear wall (4); at least one heater (10) which is positioned around the fan (9); a fan sheet metal (12) which is mounted on the rear wall (4) and which is disposed in front of the fan (9) and heater (10); at least one power source (11) which receives external electrical power and which distributes the power to the components in the oven (1); at least one movable air guide (13) which is disposed between the fan sheet metal (12) and the rear wall (4) and which can be positioned at any point on the rear wall (4); and a control panel (7.1) which communicates with the fan (9) and/or the movable air guide (13).




Description

Technical Field



[0001] The present invention relates to an oven structure which can dynamically adjust the internal cooking balance and the golden-brown color of the bottom/top surface of the foodstuffs to be baked, in household ovens with air impingement jet technology.

State of the Art



[0002] One of the most common problems encountered in household ovens is the issue of uneven cooking, especially the unbalanced cooking problem which occurs on the upper and lower surfaces of the foodstuff depending on the type and need. The general process during cooking in the oven can be summarized as ensuring that the top of the foodstuff is golden-brown after reaching a certain internal cooking balance. In the traditional ovens, this can be achieved with different functions such as grill, lower heater, depending on the needs of the foodstuff. In the jet impingement concept, since the hot air is delivered to the upper and lower surfaces of the foodstuff by means of nozzles, variable air guiding is required to cook the lower or upper surfaces of the foodstuff better.

[0003] One of the biggest problems in the ovens is that the air flow coming from the top and bottom cannot be controlled dynamically during the cooking process depending on the needs of the foodstuff or the cooking function, which leads to the failure of achieving the desired cooking quality. In order to solve this problem, the user changes the shelf position or cooking function during the cooking process, which reduces the cooking quality and causes an increase in energy consumption.

[0004] After reaching a certain cooking level, more air flow is guided to cook the bottom or top better. However, only by this manner, the optimum internal cooking balance and the golden-brownness of the bottom/top surface can be achieved for foodstuffs such as bread and pizza.

Brief Description of the Invention



[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of an oven which automatically adjusts the air distribution depending on the needs and type of the foodstuff and the cooking function during the cooking process so as to ensure homogeneous cooking.

[0006] Another aim of the present invention is the realization of an oven which can guide more air flow to cook the bottom or top of the foodstuff to be cooked better after reaching a certain cooking level.

[0007] Another aim of the present invention is the realization of an oven which eliminates the problem, encountered in the state of the art, of the air losing speed while flowing from the rear side of the oven towards the front side thereof, which increase the flow speed of air towards the front side of the oven and which prevents the loss in speed and heat at the front wall region of the oven.

[0008] Another aim of the present invention is the realization of an oven which reduces energy consumption.

[0009] 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 cooking chamber which is defined by first and second side walls, a rear wall, an upper wall, a lower wall and a door; at least one fan which is positioned on the rear wall; at least one heater which is positioned around the fan; a fan sheet metal which is mounted on the rear wall and which is disposed in front of the fan and heater; at least one power source which receives external electrical power and which distributes the power to the components in the oven; at least one movable air guide which is disposed between the fan sheet metal and the rear wall and which can be positioned at any point on the rear wall; and a control panel which communicates with the fan and/or the movable air guide.

[0010] The oven of the present invention comprises at least one circuit board which calculates the rotation speed of the fan operating at a fixed speed for a predetermined period of time after this period is reached and/or which decides that the fan is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and a control panel which communicates with the circuit board and which is configured to give commands to the fan.

[0011] The oven of the present invention comprises at least one measuring member which measures the temperature and/or humidity value in the cooking chamber and which is positioned in the cooking chamber.

[0012] The oven of the present invention comprises a circuit board which, according to the information received from the measuring member positioned in the cooking chamber, makes a comparison and runs an algorithm when the temperature of the cooking chamber is equal to or above a predetermined temperature value and which decides on the fan speed, fan rotation direction and position of the movable air guide so as to calculate the air flow rate circulating in the cooking chamber; and a control panel which communicates with the circuit board and which is configured to give commands to the fan and/or the movable air guide.

[0013] The oven of the present invention comprises a circuit board which makes a comparison and runs an algorithm when the flow rate in the cooking chamber is equal to or above a predetermined flow rate value and which decides on the fan speed, fan rotation direction and position of the movable air guide so as to calculate the air flow rate circulating in the cooking chamber; and a control panel which communicates with the circuit board and which is configured to give commands to the fan and/or the movable air guide.

[0014] The oven of the present invention comprises at least one movable air guide having a first edge which is at least partially fixed to the rear wall and a fin-shaped surface which extends from the rear wall towards the fan sheet metal planarly or at a certain angle.

[0015] The oven of the present invention comprises a plurality of air guides which are positioned on the rear wall at certain intervals such that the surfaces thereof do not come into contact with each other.

[0016] The oven of the present invention comprises a control panel where cooking time and cooking temperature can be selected automatically.

[0017] The oven of the present invention comprises a control panel having at least one selection member which enables the manual input of a cooking time and/or cooking temperature.

[0018] The following numerals are referred to in the description of the present invention:
  1. 1. Oven
  2. 2. First wall
  3. 3. Second wall
  4. 4. Rear wall
  5. 5. Upper wall
  6. 6. Lower wall
  7. 7. Door

    7.1 Control panel

    7.2 Screen

    7.3 Selection member

    7.4 Circuit board

    7.5 Storage

  8. 8. Cooking chamber
  9. 9. Fan
  10. 10. Heater
  11. 11. First power source
  12. 12. Fan sheet metal
  13. 13. Movable air guide

    13.1 First edge

    13.2 Surface

  14. 14. Measuring member
  15. 15. Upper plate
  16. 16. Lower plate
  17. 17. Jet nozzle
  18. 18. Ventilation member
  19. 19. Display member

Detailed Description of the Invention



[0019] The oven (1) of the present invention comprises a first and second side wall (2, 3); a rear wall (4); an upper wall (5); a lower wall (6); and a door (7). There is a control panel (7.1) which can be placed at any point on the door (7). An arm (not shown in the figures) is positioned on the door (7) so as to open the door (7) from top to bottom, from left to right or from right to left.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a cooking chamber (8) which is defined by the first and second side walls (2, 3), a rear wall (4), an upper wall (5), a lower wall (6) and a door (7).

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises at least one fan (9) which is positioned on the rear wall (4), a heater which is disposed around the fan (9) and at least one power source (11). A fan sheet metal (12) which is mounted on the rear wall (4) at the corners is provided in front of the said fan (9) and the heater (10).

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, in the cooking chamber (8), after passing through the fan (9) and the heater (10), the hot air enters the central region of the fan sheet metal (12) and passes through the jet nozzles (16) provided on the upper wall (5) and lower wall (6) of the oven (1). Thus, the air flow is accelerated and guided to the foodstuff surface.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a cooking chamber (8) which is defined by first and second side walls (2, 3), a rear wall (4), an upper wall (5), a lower wall (6) and a door (7); at least one fan (9) which is positioned on the rear wall (4); at least one heater (10) which is positioned around the fan (9); a fan sheet metal (12) which is mounted on the rear wall (4) and which is disposed in front of the fan (9) and heater (10); at least one power source (11) which receives external electrical power and which distributes the power to the components in the oven (1); at least one movable air guide (13) which is disposed between the fan sheet metal (12) and the rear wall (4) and which can be positioned at any point on the rear wall (4); and a control panel (7.1) which communicates with the fan (9) and/or the movable air guide (13). By means of the present invention, unexpectedly, it is ensured that after reaching a certain cooking level or time, the air flow transmitted from the upper part and/or lower part of the oven (1) to the cooking chamber (8) by means of the movable air guide (13) is dynamically controlled throughout the cooking process depending on the needs of the foodstuff or the cooking function, thus achieving the desired cooking quality. Only by this manner, the optimum internal cooking balance and the golden-brownness of the bottom/top surface can be achieved for foodstuffs such as bread and pizza.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises at least one measuring member (14) which measures the temperature and/or humidity value in the cooking chamber (8) and which is positioned in the cooking chamber (8). In an embodiment of the present invention, the said measuring member (14) may be a temperature sensor and/or humidity sensor and/or meat probe.

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the measuring member (14) is connected to the control panel (7.1) and the circuit board (7.4).

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises at least one display member (19) which is positioned on the upper wall (5) or on the rear wall (4) or in any intersection of the rear wall (4) and the upper wall (5), in a position so as to see the entirety of the foodstuff to be cooked in the cooking chamber (8) in order to determine the cooking degree of the foodstuff to be cooked together with a measuring member (14) or alone, and which communicates with the control panel (7.1) and the circuit board (7.4).

[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a control panel (7.1) which is configured to give a command to enable the fan (9) to rotate at the fan (9) speed determined according to the information received from the said circuit board (7.4), to rotate the fan (9) clockwise or counterclockwise, and to move the air guide (13) to a certain position at a certain angle.

[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a control panel (7.1) having a user interface with at least one screen (7.2) and at least one selection member (7.3), and a memory (7.5) so as to display user interface windows and receive one or more inputs from the user. In an embodiment of the present invention, the screen (7.2) comprises menus which enable the user to select the type of foodstuff to be cooked, which automatically adjust the temperature and cooking time depending on the foodstuff type selection and which are recorded in the memory (7.5). In an embodiment of the present invention, a cooking time and/or cooking temperature selected by the user can also be entered manually by means of at least one selection member (7.3). In other embodiments of the present invention, the selection member (7.3) can be a button, a touch-sensitive screen or a keypad to provide additional inputs by the user. In an embodiment of the present invention, the screen (7.2) is a touch screen for displaying graphical user interfaces and receiving inputs. In another embodiment of the present invention, additional touch-sensitive buttons are provided next to the screen (7.2).

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises at least one circuit board (7.4) which calculates the rotation speed of the fan (9) operating at a fixed speed for a predetermined period of time after this period is reached and/or which decides that the fan (9) is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and a control panel (7.1) which communicates with the circuit board (7.4) and which is configured to give commands to the fan (9).

[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a circuit board (7.4) which, according to the information received from the measuring member (14) positioned in the cooking chamber (8), makes a comparison and runs an algorithm when the temperature of the cooking chamber (8) is equal to or above a predetermined temperature value and which decides on the fan (9) speed, fan (9) rotation direction and position of the movable air guide (13) so as to calculate the air flow rate circulating in the cooking chamber (8); and a control panel (7.1) which communicates with the circuit board (7.4) and which is configured to give commands to the fan (9) and/or the movable air guide (13).

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a circuit board (7.4) which makes a comparison and runs an algorithm when the flow rate in the cooking chamber (8) is equal to or above a predetermined flow rate value and which decides on the fan (9) speed, fan (9) rotation direction and position of the movable air guide (13) so as to calculate the air flow rate circulating in the cooking chamber (8); and a control panel (7.1) which communicates with the circuit board (7.4) and which is configured to give commands to the fan (9) and/or the movable air guide (13).

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the movable air guide (13) comprises a first edge (13.1) which is at least partially fixed to the rear wall (4) and a fin-shaped surface (13.2) which extends from the rear wall (4) towards the fan sheet metal (12) planarly or at a certain angle. The said air guide (13) is moved by at least one power source (11).

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a plurality of air guides (13) which are positioned on the rear wall (4) at certain intervals such that the surfaces (13.2) thereof do not come into contact with each other.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) may comprise a plurality of power sources (11). The air guide (13) and the oven (1) may be triggered by two separate power sources (11).

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises an upper plate (15) which is placed under the upper wall (5) and a lower plate (16) which is placed on the lower wall (6). Said upper plate (15) and lower plate (16) comprise a plurality of jet nozzles (17) arranged thereon in rows and columns. The said jet nozzles (16) are configured to transmit hot or cold impingement air towards the cooking chamber (8) at a high speed. The relatively hot air entering the central region of the fan sheet metal (12) passes through the fan (9) and the heater (10) and then reaches at least one ventilation member (18) positioned between the upper wall (5) and the upper plate (14) and/or between the lower wall (6) and the lower plate (15). Then, from here, it passes to the jet nozzles (16) provided on the upper plate (14) and the lower plate (15) of the oven (1), and the flow is accelerated and guided to the foodstuff surface. Thus, a more homogeneous and high heat transfer distribution is obtained, which enables the foodstuffs to be cooked homogeneously and more quickly in the oven (1).

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a circuit board (7.4) which calculates the positioning of the movable air guide (13) so as to guide the air towards the jet nozzles (17) provided on an upper plate (15) disposed under the upper wall (5) and/or the jet nozzles (17) provided on a lower plate (16) disposed on the lower wall (6) when a certain percentage of the cooking time corresponding to the selected foodstuff recorded in the memory (7.5) is reached after the user selects the type of foodstuff to be cooked on the screen (7.2) and/or which calculates the speed of the fan (9) and/or the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the fan (9); and a control panel (7.1) which gives the movement command of the air guide (13) and/or the fan (9) depending on the information received from the circuit board (7.4). By means of one or more than one movable air guide (13) added to the back of the air duct, the amount of air coming out from the top and bottom depending on the rotation direction of the fan (9) and the angle (opening) of the movable air guide (13) is adjusted adaptively according to the selected cooking function or the foodstuff type in the automatic menus. By means of this solution, the jet nozzles (17) disposed on both the upper plate (15) and the lower plate (16) are active until a certain cooking level. After reaching a certain cooking level, if the bottom side of the foodstuff to be cooked is desired to be cooked more depending on the need, the air flow path created by the air guide (13) and/or the fan (9) rotated counterclockwise is delivered to the nozzles (17) on the lower plate (16) of the oven (1). If the top side of the foodstuff to be cooked is desired to be cooked more depending on the need, the air flow path created by the air guide (13) and/or the fan (9) rotated clockwise is delivered to the nozzles (17) on the upper plate (15) of the oven (1). Thus, more air flow is guided to cook the bottom or top of the foodstuff to be cooked better. However, only by this manner, the optimum internal cooking balance and the golden-brownness of the bottom/top surface can be achieved for foodstuffs such as bread and pizza.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board (7.4) is positioned on the upper wall (5).

[0038] In another embodiment of the present invention, the control panel (7.1) comprises the circuit board (7.4).

[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) further comprises at least one ventilation member (18) which is positioned between the upper wall (5) and the upper plate (14) and/or between the lower wall (6) and the lower plate (15). The air flow path created by the air guide (13) and/or the fan (9) rotated clockwise by the command coming from the control panel (7.1) to be delivered to the nozzles (17) on the upper plate (15) of the oven (1) differs from the air flow path created by the air guide (13) and/or the fan (9) rotated counterclockwise to be delivered to the nozzles (17) on the lower plate (16) of the oven (1).

[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the flow rate value reaching the nozzles (17) positioned on the upper plate (15) and the lower plate (16) can be changed depending on the rotation direction of the fan (9) and the position and/or angle of the air guide (13).

[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven is an oven (1) having the air impingement jet technology.


Claims

1. An oven (1) comprising a cooking chamber (8) defined by first and second side walls (2, 3), a rear wall (4), an upper wall (5), a lower wall (6) and a door (7); at least one fan (9) positioned on the rear wall (4); at least one heater (10) positioned around the fan (9); a fan sheet metal (12) mounted on the rear wall (4) and disposed in front of the fan (9) and heater (10); and at least one power source (11) receiving external electrical power and distributing the power to the components in the oven (1), characterized by at least one movable air guide (13) disposed between the fan sheet metal (12) and the rear wall (4) and positioned at any point on the rear wall (4); and a control panel (7.1) communicating with the fan (9) and/or the movable air guide (13).
 
2. An oven (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by at least one circuit board (7.4) calculating the rotation speed of the fan (9) which operates at a fixed speed for a predetermined period of time, after this period is reached and/or which decides that the fan (9) is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and a control panel (7.1) communicating with the circuit board (7.4) and configured to give commands to the fan (9).
 
3. An oven (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by at least one measuring member (14) measuring the temperature and/or humidity value in the cooking chamber (8) and positioned in the cooking chamber (8).
 
4. An oven (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a circuit board (7.4) which, according to the information received from the measuring member (14) positioned in the cooking chamber (8), makes a comparison and runs an algorithm when the temperature of the cooking chamber (8) is equal to or above a predetermined temperature value and which decides on the fan (9) speed, fan (9) rotation direction and position of the movable air guide (13) so as to calculate the air flow rate circulating in the cooking chamber (8); and a control panel (7.1) communicating with the circuit board (7.4) and configured to give commands to the fan (9) and/or the movable air guide (13).
 
5. An oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a circuit board (7.4) making a comparison and running an algorithm when the flow rate in the cooking chamber (8) is equal to or above a predetermined flow rate value and deciding on the fan (9) speed, fan (9) rotation direction and position of the movable air guide (13) so as to calculate the air flow rate circulating in the cooking chamber (8); and a control panel (7.1) communicating with the circuit board (7.4) and configured to give commands to the fan (9) and/or the movable air guide (13).
 
6. An oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one movable air guide (13) having a first edge (13.1) which is at least partially fixed to the rear wall (4) and a fin-shaped surface (13.2) extending from the rear wall (4) towards the fan sheet metal (12) planarly or at a certain angle.
 
7. An oven (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by a plurality of air guides (13) positioned on the rear wall (4) at certain intervals such that the surfaces (13.2) thereof do not come into contact with each other.
 
8. An oven (1) as in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized by a control panel (7.1) where the cooking time and the cooking temperature are automatically assigned.
 
9. An oven (1) as in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized by a control panel (7.1) having at least one selection member (7.3) which enables the manual input of a cooking time and/or cooking temperature.
 
10. An oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one display member (19) positioned on the upper wall (5) or on the rear wall (4) or in any intersection of the rear wall (4) and the upper wall (5), in a position so as to see the entirety of the foodstuff to be cooked in the cooking chamber (8) in order to determine the cooking degree of the foodstuff to be cooked together with a measuring member (14) or alone, and communicating with the control panel (7.1) and the circuit board (7.4).
 




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