Cooking utensil having contactless driven consumer with a driving unit of the consumer operating based on direct optical detection of the consumers movement

Abstract

A cooking utensil includes a drive unit which is configured to drive at least one consumer, and a receiving unit which is configured to receive energy in a contactless manner and to supply energy to the drive unit. The cooking utensil can be part of a cooking system which further includes a cooktop apparatus having an induction unit configured at least to supply energy for the receiving unit of the cooking utensil.

Claims

1. A cooking utensil, comprising: a drive unit configured to rotate at least one consumer; at least one sensor configured to detect, based on a movement of the at least one consumer, a property of the movement of the at least one consumer, and to transmit a signal corresponding to the detected property to a control unit of a cooktop; an electronics unit configured to receive from the control unit a control command based on the detected property and to control the drive unit based on the control command; and a receiving unit configured to receive energy in a contactless manner and to supply energy to the drive unit; wherein the consumer is disposed in a food chamber defined by an interior housing of the cooking utensil and the drive unit is disposed proximate a base of the food chamber in an intermediate space defined between an exterior housing and the interior housing of the cooking utensil; wherein the intermediate space is larger than the drive unit, such that at least a portion of the intermediate space is unoccupied by the drive unit; and wherein the drive unit is free of moving parts and comprises a plurality of electromagnets; wherein the at least one sensor is configured to optically detect the property of the movement of the at least one consumer.

2. The cooking utensil of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit includes at least one inductor.

3. The cooking utensil of claim 1, wherein the drive unit is configured to supply at least one magnetic field to drive the consumer.

4. The cooking utensil of claim 1, wherein the drive unit is configured to supply a magnetic field that rotates at least substantially about at least one rotation axis and engages at least partially in the food chamber to drive the consumer.

5. The cooking utensil of claim 1, wherein the consumer is configured as a food processing unit.

6. The cooking utensil of claim 3, wherein the consumer has at least one magnetic element configured to interact with the magnetic field.

7. The cooking utensil of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is arranged within the intermediate space of the cooking utensil.

8. The cooking utensil of claim 7, wherein the exterior housing faces away from the food chamber and is made of a material having a magnetic property, and the interior housing faces the food chamber and is made of a material having a magnetic property which is different than the magnetic property of the material of the exterior housing.

9. The cooking utensil of claim 8, further comprising an insulating material to at least largely fill the portion of the intermediate space unoccupied by the drive unit and the receiving unit.

10. A cooking system, comprising: at least one cooking utensil including: a drive unit configured to rotate at least one consumer, a receiving unit configured to receive energy in a contactless manner and to supply energy to the drive unit, an electronics unit, and at least one sensor configured to optically detect a property of a movement of the at least one consumer, wherein the consumer is disposed in a food chamber defined by an interior housing of the cooking utensil and the drive unit is disposed proximate a base of the food chamber in an intermediate space defined between an exterior housing and the interior housing of the cooking utensil; and at least one cooktop apparatus including a control unit, and at least one induction unit having an energy transfer element configured to supply energy to the receiving unit of the cooking utensil and a heating element configured to supply heating energy to the cooking utensil; wherein the at least one sensor is configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the detected property of the at least one consumer to the control unit of the cooktop apparatus, and the electronics unit is configured to receive from the control unit a control command based on the detected property and to control the drive unit based on the control command; and wherein the intermediate space is larger than the drive unit, such that at least a portion of the intermediate space is unoccupied by the drive unit.

11. The cooking system of claim 10, wherein the receiving unit of the cooking utensil includes at least one inductor.

12. The cooking system of claim 10, wherein the drive unit is configured to supply at least one magnetic field to drive the consumer.

13. The cooking system of claim 10, wherein the drive unit includes at least one electric motor configured to drive the consumer.

14. The cooking system of claim 10, wherein the drive unit is configured to supply a magnetic field that rotates at least substantially about at least one rotation axis and engages at least partially in the food chamber to drive the consumer.

15. The cooking system of claim 10, wherein the consumer is configured as a food processing unit.

16. The cooking system of claim 12, wherein the consumer has at least one magnetic element configured to interact with the magnetic field.

17. The cooking system of claim 10, wherein the receiving unit is arranged within the intermediate space of the cooking utensil.

18. The cooking system of claim 17, wherein the exterior housing faces away from the food chamber and is made of a material having a magnetic property, and the interior housing faces the food chamber and is made of a material having a magnetic property which is different than the magnetic property of the material of the exterior housing.

19. The cooking system of claim 18, further comprising an insulating material to at least largely fill the portion of the intermediate space unoccupied by the drive unit and the receiving unit.

20. The cooking utensil of claim 5, wherein the food processing unit includes a processing tool configured to mix a food arranged in the food chamber.

21. The cooking utensil of claim 1, wherein the property of the movement is a rotational speed of the at least one consumer.

22. The cooking utensil of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect the property of the movement based on a magnetic field of the at least one consumer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional diagram of a cooking system with a cooking utensil and with a cooktop apparatus,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the cooking system with the cooktop apparatus and with the cooking utensil,

(4) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a cooktop operating unit of the cooktop apparatus,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of an alternative cooking system with an alternative cooktop apparatus and with a cooking utensil,

(7) FIG. 6 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 5,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional diagram of an alternative cooking system with a cooktop apparatus and with a cooking utensil and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional diagram of an alternative cooking system with a cooktop apparatus and with a cooking utensil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a cooking system 40a, which is configured as an induction cooking system, with a cooking utensil 10a and with a cooktop apparatus 42a, which is configured as an induction cooktop apparatus. The cooktop apparatus 42a comprises a cooktop plate 50a. In an assembled state the cooktop plate 50a forms a part of a cooktop exterior housing. The cooktop plate 50a is provided to allow a cooking utensil 10a to be positioned thereon.

(11) The cooking utensil 10a has a cooking utensil housing unit 32a. The cooking utensil housing unit 32a defines a food chamber 22a. The cooking utensil housing unit 32a of the cooking utensil 10a has an exterior housing part 34a facing away from the food chamber 22a. The cooking utensil housing unit 32a of the cooking utensil 10a has an interior housing part 36a facing the food chamber 22a.

(12) The exterior housing part 34a and the interior housing part 36a are made of materials with different magnetic properties. The exterior housing part 34a is made largely of a non-metal. The interior housing part 36a is made largely of a ferromagnetic metal.

(13) The exterior housing part 34a and the interior housing part 36a define an intermediate space 38a. The cooking utensil 10a has an insulating material (not shown). The intermediate space 38a is largely filled with the insulating material.

(14) The cooking utensil 10a has a consumer 14a. In an assembled state the consumer 14a is arranged within the food chamber 22a. The consumer 14a is configured as a food processing unit 24a. The food processing unit 24a has a processing tool 68a. The processing tool 68a is provided to process food arranged in the food chamber 22a. In the assembled state the processing tool 68a is arranged in the food chamber 22a. In the assembled state the consumer 14a is arranged in proximity to a base of the interior housing part 36a.

(15) The cooking utensil 10a has a drive unit 12a. In an operating state the drive unit 12a drives the consumer 14a of the cooking utensil 10a. In the assembled state the drive unit 12a is arranged within the cooking utensil housing unit 32a. The drive unit 12a is arranged in the intermediate space 38a in the assembled state. In the assembled state the drive unit 12a is arranged in proximity to the base of the interior housing part 36a. In the assembled state the drive unit 12a and the consumer 14a are separated from one another by the base of the interior housing part 36a.

(16) In the assembled state a receiving unit 16a of the cooking utensil 10a is arranged in the intermediate space 38a in addition to the drive unit 12a. The cooking utensil 10a has the receiving unit 16a. The receiving unit 16a is provided to receive energy in a contactless manner. In the assembled state the receiving unit 16a is arranged in proximity to a base of the exterior housing part 34a.

(17) The receiving unit 16a has an inductor. In the operating state the receiving unit 16a is provided to be magnetized by an electromagnetic alternating field. The receiving unit 16a is provided to receive energy transferred by means of inductive energy transfer. In the operating state the receiving unit 16a is provided to supply energy to the drive unit 12a.

(18) In the operating state the drive unit 12a supplies a magnetic field to drive the consumer 14a. The drive unit 12a has an electric motor 18a. In the operating state the drive unit 12a supplies the magnetic field to drive the consumer 14a within the electric motor 18a. The electric motor 18a uses the magnetic field to generate a rotational movement about a rotation axis 20a. In the operating state the electric motor 18a drives the consumer 14a by means of the rotational movement.

(19) The cooking utensil 10a has a shaft 56a. In the assembled state the shaft 56a connects the electric motor 18a and the consumer 14a to one another. In the operating state the shaft 56a transfers the rotational movement generated by the electric motor 18a to the consumer 14a.

(20) In the assembled state the shaft 56a is arranged partially in the intermediate space 38a. The interior housing part 36a has a recess (not shown). In the assembled state the shaft 56a engages through the recess of the interior housing part 36a. A seal is arranged between the shaft 56a and a lateral delimitation of the recess, substantially preventing food arranged in the food chamber 22a passing into the intermediate space 38a.

(21) The cooking utensil 10a has an electronics unit 28a. In the assembled state the electronics unit 28a is arranged within the cooking utensil housing unit 32a. In the assembled state the electronics unit 28a is arranged in the intermediate space 38a. In the operating state the electronics unit 28a is provided to activate the drive unit 12a. In the operating state the electronics unit 28a manages energy supplied by the receiving unit 16a for energy supply purposes. In the operating state the electronics unit 28a regulates an energy supply from the receiving unit 16a to the drive unit 12a.

(22) The cooktop apparatus 42a has an induction unit 44a (see FIGS. 1 to 3). The induction unit 44a is provided to supply energy for the receiving unit 16a of the cooking utensil 10a. In the operating state the induction unit 44a supplies an electromagnetic alternating field to supply energy for the receiving unit 16a. The induction unit 44a supplies the receiving unit 16a with energy by means of inductive energy transfer.

(23) In the present exemplary embodiment the induction unit 44a forms a variable cooking surface region 58a. The induction unit 44a has a number of induction heating elements 46a. Only one of a number of objects present multiple times is shown with a reference character in each of the figures. The induction heating elements 46a are arranged in the form of a matrix. Alternatively the induction heating elements could in particular form a conventional cooktop, which could have in particular fixed heating zones defined by the positions of the induction heating elements and which could in particular be marked on the cooktop plate.

(24) In the present exemplary embodiment the induction unit 44a has forty eight induction heating elements 46a. Only one of the induction heating elements 46a is described in the following. The induction heating element 46a is provided to heat a cooking utensil 10a positioned on the cooktop plate 50a above the induction heating element 46a. In the operating state the induction heating element 46a supplies the energy for the receiving unit 16a.

(25) The cooktop apparatus 42a has a cooktop operating unit 54a for inputting and/or selecting operating parameters, for example a heat output and/or a heat output density and/or a heating zone. The cooktop operating unit 54a is provided to output a value of an operating parameter to an operator.

(26) The cooktop apparatus 42a has the cooktop control unit 30a. The cooktop control unit 30a is provided to execute actions and/or change settings as a function of operating parameters input by means of the cooktop operating unit 54a. The cooktop control unit 30a regulates an energy supply to the induction unit 44a for the performance of a heating operation. The cooking utensil 10a is provided to be positioned on the cooktop plate 50a for the performance of the heating operation.

(27) In the operating state the cooktop control unit 30a sends control commands to the electronics unit 28a of the cooking utensil 10a. In the operating state the electronics unit 28a receives the control commands from the cooktop control unit 30a. In the operating state the electronics unit 28a communicates with the cooktop control unit 30a. In the operating state the electronics unit 28a regulates an energy supply from the receiving unit 16a to the drive unit 12a as a function of the control commands received from the cooktop control unit 30a.

(28) In the present exemplary embodiment the food processing unit 24a is configured as a whisking unit. The food processing unit 24a is provided to mix food arranged within the food chamber 22a.

(29) The cooktop operating unit 54a is provided for the inputting of a rotation speed of the food processing unit 24a (see FIG. 4). In the present exemplary embodiment the cooktop operating unit 54a has a touch-sensitive operating element for inputting the rotation speed of the food processing unit 24a. The cooktop operating unit 54a has a display unit. The cooktop operating unit 54a provides an operator with a selection of rotation speeds by means of the display unit. The display unit is provided to display a rotation speed selected by an operator in an enlarged manner.

(30) The cooktop control unit could activate the drive unit to control the rotation speed of the food processing unit for example as a function of an operating input by means of the cooktop operating unit. Alternatively the cooktop control unit could in particular transmit at least one control command to the electronics unit, which could be provided in particular to activate the drive unit to control the rotation speed of the food processing unit as a function of the control command.

(31) Further exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. The descriptions which follow are substantially restricted to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, it being possible to refer to the description of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 4 for parts, features and functions that remain the same. To distinguish between the exemplary embodiments the letter a in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 4 is replaced by the letters b to d in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 5 to 8. Reference can also be made in principle to the drawings and/or description of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 4 for parts with the same designation, in particular for parts with the same reference characters.

(32) FIG. 5 shows an alternative cooking system 40b with an alternative cooktop apparatus 42b. The cooktop apparatus 42b has a number of induction heating elements 46b. Some of the induction heating elements 46b define a variable cooking surface region 58b. In an operating state the variable cooking surface region 58a is provided to heat a cooking utensil 10b positioned on a cooktop plate 50b above the variable cooking surface region 58b.

(33) Some of the induction heating elements 46b form a conventional cooktop 60b. The variable cooking surface region 58b and the conventional cooktop 60b are arranged next to one another. The induction heating elements 46b of the variable cooking surface region 58b and the induction heating elements 46b of the conventional cooktop 60b are configured differently. The induction heating elements 46b of the conventional cooktop 60b have a substantially round shape. The induction heating elements 46b of the variable cooking surface region 58b have a substantially oval shape.

(34) One of the induction heating elements 46b of the conventional cooktop 60b is described by way of example in the following. The induction heating elements 46b of the variable cooking surface regions 58b could be configured in a similar manner.

(35) An induction unit 44b of the cooktop apparatus 42b has a number of energy transfer elements 48b. Only one of the energy transfer elements 48b is described in the following.

(36) The energy transfer element 48b is configured differently from the induction heating element 46b. The induction unit 44b has a number of coil supports 62b. The induction unit 44b has one coil support 62b for each induction heating element 46b. Only one of the coil supports 62b is described in the following.

(37) The induction heating element 46b and the energy transfer element 48b are mounted on the same coil support 62b. The induction heating element 46b is arranged concentrically around the energy transfer element 48b. In the operating state the energy transfer element 48b supplies the energy for a receiving unit 16b of a cooking utensil 10b.

(38) FIG. 7 shows an alternative cooking system 40c, with an alternative cooktop apparatus 42c. In an operating state a drive unit 12c of the cooktop apparatus 42c drives a consumer 14c. In the operating state the drive unit 12c supplies a magnetic field to drive the consumer 14c. The drive unit 12c has an electric motor 18c. The electric motor 18c is provided to drive the consumer 14c.

(39) In the present exemplary embodiment the drive unit 12c has a permanent magnet 64c. In the assembled state the permanent magnet 64c is supported in such a manner that it can rotate about a rotation axis 20c. The drive unit 14 has a transfer element 66c. In the assembled state the transfer element 66c connects the electric motor 18c and the permanent magnet 64c to one another. The transfer element 66c is configured as a shaft.

(40) The electric motor 18c is provided to drive the permanent magnet 64c. In the operating state the transfer element 66c transfers a rotational movement supplied by the electric motor 18c to the permanent magnet 64c. In the operating state the permanent magnet 64c generates the magnetic field to drive the consumer 14c.

(41) The drive unit 12c supplies a magnetic field that rotates substantially about a rotation axis 20c to drive the consumer 14c. In the operating state the magnetic field supplied by the drive unit 12c engages partially in a food chamber 22c of a cooking utensil 10c. The drive unit 12c supplies the magnetic field to drive the consumer 14c by means of the rotational movement of the permanent magnet 64c.

(42) The consumer 14c has a magnetic element 26c. The magnetic element 26c is configured as a single piece with a processing tool 68c of a food processing unit 24c. In the operating state the magnetic element 26c interacts with the magnetic field supplied by the drive unit 12c.

(43) The magnetic element 26c and the permanent magnet 64c are configured to correspond to one another. In the operating state the magnetic element 26c and the permanent magnet 64c interact with one another. The permanent magnet 64c has at least one first magnetic pole 72c and one at least second magnetic pole 74c. The magnetic element 26c has one at least first magnetic pole 76c and one at least second magnetic pole 78c. For example the permanent magnet and the magnetic element could have a number of first magnetic poles and a number of second magnetic poles, in particular in a first instance.

(44) In a first instance the magnetic poles 72c, 74c of the permanent magnet 64c could in particular be configured substantially identically to one another. The magnetic poles 76c, 78c of the magnetic element 26c could in particular be configured substantially identically to one another. For example the magnetic poles 72c, 74c of the permanent magnet 64c could be arranged facing the cooktop plate 50c in the installed position. The magnetic poles 76c, 78c of the magnetic element 26c could for example be arranged facing the cooktop plate 50c in the installed position. For example the magnetic poles 72c, 74c of the permanent magnet 64c could be configured as south poles and the magnetic poles 76c, 78c of the magnetic element 26c as north poles. Alternatively the magnetic poles 72c, 74c of the permanent magnet 64c could be configured as north poles and the magnetic poles 76c, 78c of the magnetic element 26c as south poles.

(45) In a second instance the magnetic poles 72c, 74c of the permanent magnet 64c could in particular be configured differently. The first magnetic pole 72c of the permanent magnet 64c could be configured as a north pole and the second magnetic pole 74c of the permanent magnet 64c could be configured as a south pole. The magnetic poles 76c, 78c of the magnetic element 26c could in particular be configured differently. The first magnetic pole 76c of the magnetic element 26c could be configured as a south pole and the second magnetic pole 78c of the magnetic element 26c could be configured as a north pole.

(46) FIG. 8 shows an alternative cooking system 40d, with an alternative cooktop apparatus 42d. In an operating state a drive unit 12d of the cooktop apparatus 42d drives a consumer 14d. In the operating state the drive unit 12d supplies a magnetic field to drive the consumer 14d.

(47) In an operating state the drive unit 12d supplies a magnetic field that rotates substantially about a rotation axis 20d to drive the consumer 14d. In the operating state the magnetic field supplied by the drive unit 12d engages partially in a food chamber 22d of a cooking utensil 10d.

(48) In the present exemplary embodiment the drive unit 12d has at least two electromagnets 70d. The drive unit 12d has a number of electromagnets 70d. It is assumed in the following that the drive unit 12d has a number n of electromagnets 70d.

(49) In an assembled state the electromagnets 70d are arranged around the rotation axis 20d. In the assembled state the electromagnets 70d are arranged in a regular manner and substantially in one plane around the rotation axis 20d. The electromagnets 70d are arranged around the rotation axis 20d at an angle of substantially 360°/n from the rotation axis 20d in the plane.

(50) In an operating state an electronics unit 28d of the cooking utensil 10d is provided to activate the electromagnets 70d as a function of control commands transmitted by a cooktop control unit 30d. In the operating state the electronics unit 28d operates the electromagnets 70d. In the operating state the electronics unit 28d activates the electromagnets 70d by means of pulse width modulation. The electronics unit 28d activates the electromagnets 70d with signals with a phase offset of substantially 360°/n. The electromagnets 70d supply the magnetic field rotating substantially about the rotation axis 20d as a function of activation by the electronics unit 28d to drive the consumer 14d.

(51) The drive unit 12d is free of moving parts. In the operating state the drive unit 12d drives the magnetic element 26d of the consumer 14d. In the present exemplary embodiment the magnetic element 26d has a first magnetic pole 76d and a second magnetic pole 78d. The first magnetic pole 76d is configured as a south pole. The second magnetic pole 78d is configured as a north pole.