HOUSEHOLD COOKING APPLIANCE

Abstract

A household cooking appliance includes a cooking compartment for receiving food to be cooked, a cooking compartment divider received in the cooking compartment for dividing the cooking compartment into different cooking compartment sections and designed for removal from the cooking compartment, and an identifying facility configured to identify the cooking compartment divider in the cooking compartment and to adapt an operating state of the household cooking appliance to the cooking compartment divider in response to an identification of the cooking compartment divider.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A household cooking appliance, comprising: a cooking compartment for receiving food to be cooked; a cooking compartment divider received in the cooking compartment for dividing the cooking compartment into different cooking compartment sections and designed for removal from the cooking compartment; and an identifying facility configured to identify the cooking compartment divider in the cooking compartment and to adapt an operating state of the household cooking appliance to the cooking compartment divider in response to an identification of the cooking compartment divider.

12. The household cooking appliance of claim 11, constructed in a form of a household oven.

13. The household cooking appliance of claim 11, wherein the identifying facility is configured to mechanically and/or electronically identify the cooking compartment divider.

14. The household cooking appliance of claim 11, wherein the operating state of the household cooking appliance comprises a cooking procedure and/or a display option.

15. The household cooking appliance of claim 11, further comprising guide rails mounted in the cooking compartment, said cooking compartment divider including a base unit which is guided in a movable manner on the guide rails of the cooking compartment.

16. The household cooking appliance of claim 15, wherein the base unit includes an electrical and/or electronic component, said identifying facility configured to identify the electrical and/or electronic component.

17. The household cooking appliance of claim 16, wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is a heating element.

18. The household cooking appliance of claim 16, wherein the identifying facility is configured to perform an electrical resistance measurement on the electrical and/or electronic component in order to identify the electrical and/or electronic component.

19. The household cooking appliance of claim 15, wherein the cooking compartment divider includes an accessory unit connected to the base unit in a detachable manner.

20. The household cooking appliance of claim 19, wherein the accessory unit is at least one of an insulation unit, a grill unit and a pizza baking unit.

21. The household cooking appliance of claim 19, wherein the base unit includes connecting elements configured to connect the accessory unit to the base unit in a detachable manner.

22. The household cooking appliance of claim 19, wherein the connecting elements are guide rails.

23. The household cooking appliance of claim 19, wherein the identifying facility is configured to identify the base unit and/or the accessory unit.

24. The household cooking appliance of claim 19, wherein the identifying facility is configured to identify a model variant of the accessory unit and to adapt the operating state of the household cooking appliance to the model variant.

Description

[0031] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the household appliance are the subject matter of the subordinate claims and also of the exemplary embodiments of the household cooking appliance that are described below. The household cooking appliance is further explained below with the aid of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household cooking appliance;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a further schematic perspective view of the household cooking appliance in accordance with FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of the household cooking appliance in accordance with FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a cooking compartment divider for the household cooking appliance in accordance with FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a base unit for the cooking compartment divider in accordance with FIG. 4;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an accessory unit for the cooking compartment divider in accordance with FIG. 4; and

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of an accessory unit for the cooking compartment divider in accordance with FIG. 4.

[0039] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements have been provided with the same reference characters provided that nothing else is indicated.

[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household cooking appliance 1. The household cooking appliance 1 can be a stove, an oven, a microwave combination oven, a double oven or the like. The household cooking appliance 1 has a cooking compartment 2 that can be closed with the aid of a door 3. The cooking compartment 2 can also be referred to as a muffle or oven muffle. The cooking compartment 2 can be arranged in the interior of a housing of the household cooking appliance 1.

[0041] The door 3 is illustrated in FIG. 1 in a closed position. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivoting axis that is provided on a lower end of the door 3 or on a lower edge 4 of the door 3. Alternatively, the door 3 can be fastened to the side of the cooking compartment 2. Moreover, the door 3 can be arranged on an oven carriage that can be pulled out of the cooking compartment 2. The movement type of the door 3 when the door 3 is opened however can be selected arbitrarily. This means that the door 3 in principle can perform any arbitrary movement when the door is opened.

[0042] It is possible to provide a handle 6 on an upper section or on an upper edge 5 of the door 3. The door 3 can however also be handleless. The cooking compartment 2 has a floor 7, a ceiling 8 that is arranged lying opposite the floor 7, a rear wall 9 that is arranged lying opposite the door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 that are arranged lying opposite one another. The cooking compartment 2 is preferably cube-shaped or cuboid. The cooking compartment 2 can be produced from a metal material, in particular from sheet steel.

[0043] The household cooking appliance 1 furthermore comprises control knobs 13, 14 that are provided on a switch panel or control panel 12. The control knobs 13, 14 can be for example rotatable. On the rear side on the control panel 12 it is possible to provide a control facility 15, which is only illustrated schematically, for controlling the household cooking appliance 1. The control facility 15 can be a regulating facility and/or control facility. Furthermore, a notification display 16 can be provided on the control panel 12. With the aid of the notification display 16, it is possible to display an operating state of the household cooking appliance 1. For example, it is possible with the aid of the notification display 16 to display a temperature that is set with the aid of the control knobs 13, 14.

[0044] A coordinate system having a width direction or x-direction x, a height direction or y-direction y and a depth direction or z-direction z is allocated to the household cooking appliance 1 or to the cooking compartment 2. The directions x, y, z are oriented perpendicular to one another. The x-direction x is oriented from the side wall 10 in the direction of the side wall 11. The y-direction y is oriented from the floor 7 in the direction of the ceiling 8. The z-direction z is oriented from the rear wall 9 in the direction of the closed door 3.

[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates a further schematic perspective view of the household cooking appliance 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic front view of the household cooking appliance 1. Reference is made below to FIGS. 2 and 3 simultaneously.

[0046] Guide rails 17, 18 are provided on the two side walls 10, 11 and a cooking compartment divider 19 is held in the cooking compartment 2 with the aid of the guide rails. A first guide rail 17 and a second guide rail 18 are provided. The guide rails 17, 18 are also suitable for example for carrying a baking tray. The cooking compartment divider 19 can be removed from the cooking compartment 2.

[0047] The cooking compartment divider 19 divides the cooking compartment 2 into an upper or first cooking compartment section 20 and a lower or second cooking compartment section 21. The cooking compartment divider 19 consequently divides the cooking compartment 2 horizontally into the first cooking compartment section 20 and the second cooking compartment section 21. Horizontally in this case means in a plane that spans from the x-direction x and the z-direction z.

[0048] The household cooking appliance 1 furthermore comprises an identifying facility 22 for identifying the cooking compartment divider 19. This means in particular that the identifying facility 22 is configured so as to identify whether the cooking compartment divider 19 is located in the cooking compartment 2 or not. This identification can be performed for example mechanically and/or electronically. A mechanical identification is possible for example with the aid of switches and/or plungers. An electronic identification can be achieved for example with the aid of suitable sensors or also with the aid of a resistance measurement.

[0049] The identifying facility 22 can be part of the control facility 15. The identifying facility 22 is at least operatively connected to the control facility 15 with the result that the identifying facility 22 is configured so as to adapt an operating state of the household cooking appliance 1 to the identified cooking compartment divider 19. This means in particular that an adaptation of the operating state of the household cooking appliance 1 is only then required if the cooking compartment divider 19 is located in the cooking compartment 2 and is identified by the identifying facility 22.

[0050] The fact that the operating state is adapted in the present case is to be understood to mean in particular that for example a cooking procedure or a cooking program can be influenced by a corresponding control of heating elements in such a manner that only the first cooking compartment section 20 and not the second cooking compartment section 21 is actively heated. It is also possible during a cooking procedure to adapt a temperature control to the cooking compartment divider 19 that is identified.

[0051] The operating state can however also comprise display options. This means for example that with the aid of the notification display 16 it is possible to display that the cooking compartment divider 19 is located in the cooking compartment 2. The operating state in the present case can also accordingly be understood to mean the point of a baking procedure or baking program that the household cooking appliance 1 is in.

[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a cooking compartment divider 19 that is mentioned above. FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a base unit 23 for the cooking compartment divider 19. FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a first accessory unit 24 for the cooking compartment divider 19. FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a second accessory unit 25 for the cooking compartment divider 19. Reference is simultaneously made below to FIGS. 4 to 7.

[0053] The cooking compartment divider 19 comprises the base unit 23 and at least one of the accessory units 24, 25. At least one accessory unit 24, 25 is provided. The base unit 23 is guided with the aid of the guide rails 17, 18 in the cooking compartment 2. The respective accessory unit 24, 25 is connected in a positive-fit manner to the base unit 23. A positive-fit connection results due to the engagement into or behind at least two connecting partners, in the present case the base unit 23 and one of the accessory units 24, 25. A positive-fit connection can be detached any number of times and re-established.

[0054] The base unit 23 comprises connecting elements 26, 27, in particular guide rails, and the respective accessory unit 24, 25 is connected in a detachable manner with the aid of the connecting elements to the base unit 23. A first connecting element 26 and a second connecting element 27 are provided. In particular, the respective accessory unit 24, 25 can be pulled out in a direction of extraction A from the base unit 23. Accordingly, the respective accessory unit 24, 25 can be inserted in a direction of insertion E into the base unit 23. The direction of extraction A and the direction of insertion E are oriented parallel to the z-direction z.

[0055] The base unit 23 comprises a frame-shaped carrier element 28 that is guided on the guide rails 17, 18 of the cooking compartment 2. The two connecting elements 26, 27 are provided on the side of the carrier element 28. The connecting elements 26, 27 are preferably C-shaped or U-shaped in cross section. The carrier element 28 carries an electrical and/or electronic component 29. The component 29 is placed in an opening 30 of the carrier element 28, which penetrates the frame-shaped carrier elements 28.

[0056] The component 29 in the present case is a meandering curved heating element, in particular a tubular heating element. The component 29 comprises a plug 31 for energizing the component 29. The plug 31 can be inserted into a corresponding mating plug that can be provided on the rear wall 9 of the cooking compartment 2. The identifying facility 22 is coupled to the component 29, in particular to the plug 31. The identifying facility 22 can consequently identify the component 29, for example with the aid of a resistance measurement.

[0057] The first accessory unit 24 is preferably a plate-shaped insulation element or insulating element. The first accessory unit 24 covers the component 29 upwards in the direction of the first cooking compartment section 20. Heat from the component 29 is consequently preferably introduced essentially downwards into the second cooking compartment section 21. The first accessory unit 24 can have a central depression 32. Fluid can collect in the depression 32. Moreover, a container for food to be cooked or the like can also be placed in the depression 32.

[0058] The second accessory unit 25 is preferably a grill plate. The second accessory unit 25 can likewise be inserted into the connecting elements 26, 27 of the base unit 23. The second accessory unit 25 is preferably produced from a coated aluminum alloy. The second accessory unit 25 is likewise plate-shaped and can have ribs 33 that extend along the z-direction z. Moreover, an accessory unit 24, 25 can also be provided in the form of a pizza plate or a pizza stone.

[0059] Furthermore, it is possible to provide connecting elements 26, 27 on the carrier element 28 of the base unit 23 not just, as is illustrated in FIG. 5, on the upper side but rather connecting elements 26, 27 of this type can also be attached on the lower side to the carrier element 28. In this case, the component 29 is then placed between two accessory units 24, 25 that are attached to the base unit 23 on the upper side and lower side.

[0060] The identifying facility 22 is configured so as to identify a model variant or a type of the respective accessory unit 24, 25. For example, if it is identified that the second accessory unit 25 is a grill plate, it is then possible to accordingly execute a grilling program. For example, the above-mentioned insulation unit, the grill plate or the pizza stone are used as different model variants or types of the accessory unit 24, 25.

[0061] The cooking compartment divider 19 can consequently be identified for example due to a resistance measurement. This is in particular then possible to perform if the cooking compartment divider 19 has a component 29, for example in the form of a heating element. The cooking compartment divider 19 can additionally or alternatively be identified by a switch that is actuated by the insertion of the cooking compartment divider 19 into the cooking compartment 2, in particular with the aid of a plunger.

[0062] In the event that the cooking compartment divider 19 is constructed in a modular manner and comprises the base unit 23 and also the accessory units 24, 25, the base unit 23 and/or the accessory units 24, 25 can be identified as separate modules due to the actuation of a further or an additional switch in addition to the resistance measurement that is provided. It is possible to provide different plungers and/or switches.

[0063] Moreover, it is also possible to identify a position of the first accessory unit 24 that is designed as an insulation unit. This is to be understood to mean that the identifying facility 22 is configured so as to identify whether the first accessory unit 24 is pointing upwards in the direction of the first cooking compartment section 20 or downwards in the direction of the second cooking compartment section 21. It is possible with the aid of the identification of the cooking compartment divider 19 or the base unit 23 to adapt the types of heating or the display options by the control facility 15 of the household cooking appliance 1 to the functions of the cooking compartment divider 19 or the base unit 23 and the accessory units 24, 25.

[0064] For example, it is possible due to the identification of the cooking compartment divider 19 and optionally one of the accessory units 24, 25 for separating the cooking compartment sections 20, 21 to adapt the types of heating of the household cooking appliance 1 and/or the display on the notification display 16 to the operation of the two different cooking compartment sections 20, 21. When the cooking compartment divider 19 is removed, a mode for a normal oven operation is changed into or switched to again.

[0065] In the event that the cooking compartment divider 19 is modular or reversible, it is possible due to the identification of the first accessory unit 24 for further types of heating modes or display options to be switched. For example, if the second accessory unit 25 is a pizza stone or a grill plate, the types of heating and the display are adapted on the notification display 16 for this operating mode.

[0066] If different accessory units 24, 25 are used in a household cooking appliance 1, it is possible due to a further switch, which is actuated for example by a further or two-stage plunger, to differentiate between these accessory units 24, 25. It is thus possible, in the event that the accessory unit 24, 25 is a pizza stone, to use for example the maximum power of the component 29 while in the case of a grill mode or the use of a contact plate as an accessory unit 24, 25 a reduced power is provided. Moreover, it is possible to ensure that an operation of the household cooking appliance 1 without the respective accessory unit 24, 25 can be identified and optionally is prevented via the evaluation with the aid of the identifying facility 22.

[0067] It is possible due to the identification of the cooking compartment divider 19 and its accessory units 24, 25 to adapt the types of heating and/or the display and control options of the household cooking appliance 1. As a consequence, a possible operating error by the user is prevented. Moreover, the operation for the user is facilitated since only options are displayed that are possible in the specific configuration of the cooking compartment divider 19 and its accessory units 24, 25. It is possible due to the identification of the individual accessory units 24, 25 to prevent damage to structural elements of the cooking compartment divider 19 since the component 29 can only be operated in the power range that the component is provided for. If all the accessory units 24, 25 are removed and only the base unit 23 is received in the cooking compartment 2, it is possible, due to the detection possibilities that are provided, to prevent an operation of the cooking compartment divider 19 without an accessory unit 24, 25.

[0068] The cooking compartment divider 19 divides the cooking compartment 2 into two separate cooking compartment sections 20, 21 that can be operated in parallel. The second cooking compartment section 21 can be operated for example using top heat, bottom heat, grill heat, grill heat and bottom heat and also intensive bottom heat and consequently comprises an advantage with respect to a passive cooking compartment divider. Furthermore, when the cooking compartment divider 19 is removed, the household cooking appliance 1 can be used as usual. Further use possibilities, which further increase the flexibility of the household cooking appliance 1, are available to the user due to the removal and/or repositioning of the base unit 23 and the insertion of the respective accessory unit 24, 25.

[0069] Although the present invention has been described with the aid of exemplary embodiments, the invention can be modified in diverse ways.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS THAT ARE USED

[0070] 1 Household cooking appliance [0071] 2 Cooking compartment [0072] 3 Door [0073] 4 Lower edge [0074] 5 Upper edge [0075] 6 Handle [0076] 7 Floor [0077] 8 Ceiling [0078] 9 Rear wall [0079] 10 Side wall [0080] 11 Side wall [0081] 12 Control panel [0082] 13 Control knob [0083] 14 Control knob [0084] 15 Control facility [0085] 16 Notification display [0086] 17 Guide rail [0087] 18 Guide rail [0088] 19 Cooking compartment divider [0089] 20 Cooking compartment section [0090] 21 Cooking compartment section [0091] 22 Identifying facility [0092] 23 Base unit [0093] 24 Accessory unit [0094] 25 Accessory unit [0095] 26 Connecting element [0096] 27 Connecting element [0097] 28 Carrier element [0098] 29 Component [0099] 30 Opening [0100] 31 Plug [0101] 32 Depression [0102] 33 Rib [0103] A Direction of extraction [0104] E Direction of insertion [0105] x x-direction [0106] y y-direction [0107] z z-direction