Cooking appliance

Abstract

A cooking appliance apparatus, in particular an oven apparatus, includes a muffle which defines a cooking chamber, and a heating element to heat the cooking chamber at least partially. A switching unit connects the heating element to a first supply voltage in a first operating state and to a second supply voltage in a second operating state, with the second supply voltage being different from the first supply voltage.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance apparatus, in particular an oven apparatus, comprising: a muffle defining a cooking chamber; a resistance heating element configured to heat the cooking chamber; a switching unit configured to connect the resistance heating element to a first supply voltage in a first operating state wherein the resistance heating element is connected to a first phase of a power supply network, and to a second supply voltage in a second operating state, with the second supply voltage being different from the first supply voltage; a high-frequency power supply unit configured to receive the first supply voltage and configured to supply the second supply voltage in the second operating state wherein the resistance heating element is connected to the high-frequency power supply unit, the first supply voltage being connected to the resistance heating element without passing through the high-frequency power supply unit by being connected to the first phase of the power supply network; and an induction heating element connected to the high-frequency power supply unit in an operating state, the switching unit is configured to connect the resistance heating element to a third supply voltage in a third operating state, and the third supply voltage is a further network voltage supplied from a second phase of the power supply network.

2. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage differ at least in respect of frequency in at least one operating state.

3. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high-frequency power supply unit includes an inverter to supply the induction heating element.

4. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is configured to deactivate the resistance heating element in a further operating state.

5. A cooking appliance, in particular an oven, comprising: a cooking appliance apparatus, said cooking appliance apparatus including: a muffle defining a cooking chamber, a resistance heating element configured to heat the cooking chamber, a switching unit configured to connect the resistance heating element to a first supply voltage in a first operating state wherein the resistance heating element is connected to a first phase of a power supply network, and to a second supply voltage in a second operating state, with the second supply voltage being different from the first supply voltage, a high-frequency power supply unit configured to receive the first supply voltage and configured to supply the second supply voltage in the second operating state wherein the resistance heating element is connected to the high-frequency power supply unit, the first supply voltage being connected to the resistance heating element without passing through the high-frequency power supply unit by being connected to the first phase of the power supply network, and an induction heating element which is connected to the high-frequency power supply unit in an operating state, the switching unit is configured to connect the resistance heating element to a third supply voltage in a third operating state, and the third supply voltage is a further network voltage supplied from a second phase of the power supply network.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage differ at least in respect of frequency in at least one operating state.

7. The cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein the high-frequency power supply unit including an inverter to supply the induction heating element.

8. The cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein the switching unit is configured to deactivate the resistance heating element in a further operating state.

9. A method for operating a cooking appliance apparatus, comprising: connecting, by a switching unit, a resistance heating element of the cooking appliance apparatus for heating a cooking chamber defined by a muffle of the cooking appliance apparatus to a first supply voltage in a first operating state wherein the resistance heating element is connected to a first phase of a power supply network, and to a second supply voltage in a second operating state, with the second supply voltage wherein the resistance heating element is connected to the high-frequency power supply unit, being different from the first supply voltage, wherein the high-frequency power supply unit receives the first supply voltage, which is a network voltage supplied from the first phase of a power supply network, and supplies the second supply voltage, and the first supply voltage is connected to the resistance heating element without passing through the high-frequency power supply unit by being connected to the first phase of the power supply network; and connecting an induction heating element to the high-frequency power supply unit in an operating state, the switching unit is configured to connect the resistance heating element to a third supply voltage in a third operating state, and the third supply voltage is a further network voltage supplied from a second phase of the power supply network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the resistance heating element is connected directly to the first supply voltage of the first phase of the power supply network by the switching unit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the resistance heating element is connected directly to the third supply voltage of the second phase of the power supply network by the switching unit.

12. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 5, wherein the resistance heating element is connected directly to the first supply voltage of the first phase of the power supply network by the switching unit.

13. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 12, wherein the resistance heating element is connected directly to the third supply voltage of the second phase of the power supply network by the switching unit.

14. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistance heating element is connected directly to the first supply voltage of the first phase of the power supply network by the switching unit.

15. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the resistance heating element is connected directly to the third supply voltage of the second phase of the power supply network by the switching unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages will emerge from the description of the drawing which follows. The drawing shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawing, description and claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them in further useful combinations.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cooking appliance with a cooking appliance apparatus,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a muffle delimiting a cooking chamber, a heating element, a fan unit and two further heating elements of the cooking appliance apparatus, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the heating element, the further heating elements, a high-frequency power supply unit and a switching unit of the cooking appliance apparatus, as well as a phase and a further phase of a power supply network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a cooking appliance 32, which is configured as an induction cooking appliance, with a cooking appliance apparatus 10, which is configured as an induction cooking appliance apparatus. The cooking appliance 32 could be configured as a grill appliance and/or a steam cooking appliance and/or a microwave appliance for example. In the present exemplary embodiment the cooking appliance 32 is configured as an oven, namely in particular an induction oven. The cooking appliance apparatus 10 is configured as an oven apparatus, namely in particular an induction oven apparatus.

(6) The cooking appliance apparatus 10 has a muffle 12, which defines a cooking chamber 16. The muffle 12 partially delimits the cooking chamber 16. In an operating state the muffle 12 essentially delimits the cooking chamber 16 together with a cooking appliance door 34. The cooking appliance apparatus 10 comprises the cooking appliance door 34.

(7) The muffle 12a has five muffle walls 14. Where objects are present multiple times, only one is shown with a reference character in the figures. In the operating state the muffle walls 14 essentially define the cooking chamber 16 together with the cooking appliance door 34.

(8) One of the muffle walls 14 is configured as a muffle bottom wall 36. One of the muffle walls 14 is configured as a muffle top wall 38. One of the muffle walls 14 is configured as a muffle rear wall 40. Two of the muffle walls 14 are configured as a muffle side wall 42, 44. Only one of the muffle walls 14 is described in the following.

(9) The cooking appliance apparatus 10 has an operator interface 46 for inputting and/or selecting operating parameters (see FIG. 1), for example a heating power and/or a heating power density and/or a heating zone. The operator interface 46 is provided to output a value of an operating parameter to an operator.

(10) The cooking appliance apparatus 10 has a control unit 30. The control unit 30 is provided to perform actions and/or change settings as a function of operating parameters input by means of the operator interface 46. In an operating state the control unit 30 regulates an energy supply to at least one heating element 18.

(11) The cooking appliance apparatus 10 comprises the heating element 18 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The heating element 18 is configured as a resistance heating element. In the operating state the heating element 18 is provided to heat the cooking chamber 16 partially.

(12) In the present exemplary embodiment the cooking appliance apparatus 10 has two further heating elements 52. Alternatively the cooking appliance apparatus 10 could in particular have a different number of further heating elements 52. For example the cooking appliance apparatus 10 could have just one further heating element 52. Alternatively the cooking appliance apparatus 10 could have for example at least three, in particular at least four, advantageously at least five and preferably a number of, further heating elements 52.

(13) In an operating state the further heating elements 52 are arranged outside the cooking chamber 16. A lower further heating element 52 of the further heating elements 52 is arranged below the muffle wall 14 configured as the muffle bottom wall 36 in its incorporated state. The lower further heating element 52 is arranged on the muffle wall 14 configured as the muffle bottom wall 36.

(14) An upper further heating element 52 of the further heating elements 52 is arranged above the muffle wall 14 configured as the muffle top wall 38 in its incorporated state. The upper further heating element 52 is arranged on the muffle wall 14 configured as the muffle top wall 38.

(15) Alternatively at least one further heating element 52 could be arranged on a muffle wall 14 configured as a muffle side wall 42, 44 and/or on a muffle wall 14 configured as the muffle rear wall 40. Only one of the further heating elements 52 is described in the following.

(16) In the present exemplary embodiment the further heating element 52 is provided to heat the muffle wall 14, on which the further heating element 52 is arranged. In the present exemplary embodiment the further heating element 52 heats the muffle wall 14 inductively. The further heating element 52 is configured as an induction heating element.

(17) The cooking appliance apparatus 10 has a fan unit 48 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The fan unit 48 has a fan wheel which can be rotated about a rotation axis. In the operating state the fan unit 48 generates a fluid flow by means of the fan wheel. In the operating state the fan unit 48 circulates fluids present in the cooking chamber 16.

(18) When viewed from the front, the fan unit 48 is arranged in a rear region of the cooking chamber 16. The fan unit 48 is arranged in proximity to the muffle rear wall 40.

(19) The cooking appliance apparatus 10 has a cooking appliance rear wall 50. The cooking appliance rear wall 50 is arranged within the cooking chamber 16. When viewed from the front, the cooking appliance rear wall 50 is arranged in front of the fan unit 48. The cooking appliance rear wall 50 is arranged in proximity to the muffle rear wall 40.

(20) The fan unit 48 is arranged in proximity to the heating element 18. When viewed from the front, the heating element 18 is arranged behind the cooking appliance rear wall 50. The heating element 18 is arranged in proximity to the muffle rear wall 40.

(21) The cooking appliance apparatus 10 has a switching unit 20 (see FIG. 3). The switching unit 20 connects the heating element 18 to different supply voltages 22, 24, 56 in different operating states.

(22) In a first operating state the switching unit 20 connects the heating element 18 to a first supply voltage 22. In the first operating state the heating element 18 could output for example a power of essentially 2.2 kW.

(23) In a second operating state the switching unit 20 connects the heating element 18 to a second supply voltage 24, which is different from the first supply voltage 22. In the second operating state the heating element 18 could output for example a power of essentially 3.7 kW.

(24) In the present exemplary embodiment the first supply voltage 22 and the second supply voltage 24 differ in respect of frequency in an operating state. The first supply voltage 22 is a network voltage supplied from a phase 26 of a power supply network. In the present exemplary embodiment the first supply voltage 22 has a frequency of essentially 50 Hz.

(25) The cooking appliance apparatus 10 has a high-frequency power supply unit 28. The high-frequency power supply unit 28 supplies the second supply voltage 24. In the present exemplary embodiment the first supply voltage 22 has a frequency of at least 1 kHz.

(26) The high-frequency power supply unit 28 has an inverter 54. Alternatively the high-frequency power supply unit 28 could in particular have a different number of inverters 54. For example the high-frequency power supply unit 28 could have at least two, in particular at least four, advantageously at least six and preferably a number of inverters 54.

(27) In an operating state the inverter 54 supplies the frequency of at least 1 kHz. The inverter 54 is provided to supply the further heating element 52 configured as an induction heating element.

(28) The further heating element 52 is connected to the high-frequency power supply unit 28 in an operating state. In the second operating state the heating element 18 and the further heating element 52 are connected to the high-frequency power supply unit 28.

(29) In a third operating state the switching unit 20 connects the heating element 18 to a third supply voltage 56. The third supply voltage 56 is a further network voltage supplied from a further phase 58 of the power supply network. The phase 26 and the further phase 58 are different phases of the same power supply network. In the third operating state the heating element 18 could output a power of essentially 2.2 kW for example. In the third operating state the further heating element 52 could output a power of essentially 3.6 kW for example.

(30) In a further operating state the switching unit 20 deactivates the heating element 18. The switching unit 20 connects the heating element 18 to a deactivation contact 60 in the further operating state. The heating element 18 is out of operation in the further operating state.

(31) In a method for operating the cooking appliance apparatus 10 the cooking chamber 16 is partially heated by the heating element 18 in an operating state. In the present exemplary embodiment the cooking chamber 16 is heated partially by the further heating element 52 in an operating state. The heating element 18 is connected to the first supply voltage 22 in the first operating state and to the second supply voltage 24, which is different from the first supply voltage 22, in the second operating state.