Method for Detecting an Overload of a Cooking Apparatus with Cooking Products, and Cooking Apparatus

Abstract

A method of detecting an overload of a cooking appliance (10) with food to be cooked is described, in which the food to be cooked is optically detected and/or a cooking chamber humidity profile and/or cooking chamber temperature profile is/are detected and evaluated during an ongoing cooking process in order to draw conclusions about an overload of the cooking appliance (10), taking into account the selected cooking program. A warning signal is output if an overload of the cooking appliance (10) has been detected. Further described is a cooking appliance (10).

Claims

1. A method of detecting an overload of a cooking appliance with food to be cooked, in which at least one step from the following group is selected: the food to be cooked is optically detected; a cooking chamber humidity profile is detected; or a cooking chamber temperature profile is detected, and evaluated during an ongoing cooking process in order to draw conclusions about the overload of the cooking appliance, taking into account the selected cooking program, wherein a warning signal is output if the overload of the cooking appliance has been detected.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is output if a setpoint value that is individually stored for the selected cooking program is not reached and/or if an actual value exceeds or falls below a threshold value that is individually stored for the selected cooking program.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the threshold value and the setpoint value are a temperature value, a humidity value, a time or a number.

4-16. (canceled)

17. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is output if a setpoint cooking chamber temperature is not reached in one or more cooking steps of the cooking process.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the warning signal is output if the setpoint cooking chamber temperature is not reached in a number of cooking steps that is stored as a threshold value.

19. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is output if a setpoint cooking chamber temperature is not reached after a time stored as a setpoint value.

20. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is output if, after loading, an actual cooking chamber temperature falls below a cooking chamber temperature defined as a threshold value.

21. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is output if a setpoint humidity is not reached in one or more cooking steps of the cooking process.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the warning signal is output if the setpoint humidity is not reached in a number of cooking steps that is stored as a threshold value.

23. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is output if a setpoint humidity is not reached after a time stored as a setpoint value.

24. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is output if an actual humidity is above a humidity defined as a threshold value.

25. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is output if the number of dehumidification intervals is above a value stored as a threshold value.

26. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooking appliance is placed in a locked state when the warning signal is output, so that only an authorized operator can unlock the cooking appliance.

27. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a reason for the warning signal is logged, wherein the reason is output directly or on request.

28. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a reason for the warning signal is transmitted via a communication interface to a central unit which is interconnected with a plurality of cooking appliances, whereby a statistical survey for a plurality of cooking appliances is possible.

29. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the food to be cooked is optically detected for at least a period of time between when it is introduced into the cooking chamber and completion of the cooking process in the cooking chamber.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that the food to be cooked is optically detected by an optical sensor.

31. A cooking appliance for cooking foods to be cooked, comprising a cooking chamber, a cooking program memory, a sensor unit, and an overload detection circuit, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one of: an optical sensor; a temperature sensor; and a humidity sensor, in order to optically detect the food to be cooked, to detect the temperature in the cooking chamber and/or the humidity in the cooking chamber, wherein at least one individual cooking program that is matched to the food to be cooked is stored in the cooking program memory, the cooking program having at least one of a threshold value or a setpoint value assigned to it, and wherein the overload detection circuit is configured to detect an overload, taking into account an output of the sensor unit as well as the selected cooking program, based on the threshold value or setpoint value assigned.

32. The cooking appliance according to claim 31, characterized in that the cooking appliance is configured to receive output from the sensor unit and evaluate during an ongoing cooking process in order to draw conclusions about the overload of the cooking appliance, taking into account the selected cooking program, wherein a warning signal is output if the overload of the cooking appliance has been detected.

Description

[0049] Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings, to which reference is made and in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cooking appliance according to the invention; and

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart that illustrates the method according to the invention.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a cooking appliance 10 having a housing 12 which comprises a cooking chamber 14 in which food to be cooked is cooked.

[0053] The cooking appliance 10 further includes an electronics installation chamber 16, which is also accommodated in the housing 12. Provided in the electronics installation chamber 16 are, inter alia, a cooking program memory 18 and an overload detection means 20, which may be part of a control and evaluation unit 22.

[0054] The cooking appliance 10 further comprises a steam generator 24 and a heating device 26, by means of which an appropriate cooking chamber atmosphere is produced depending on the selected cooking program and/or the cooking processes to be executed by the cooking program.

[0055] The cooking chamber 14 furthermore has a sensor unit 28 assigned to it, which in the embodiment shown comprises a temperature sensor 30 and a humidity sensor 32.

[0056] The temperature sensor 30 may be used to sense the cooking chamber temperature, whereas the humidity sensor 32 is provided to sense the humidity in the cooking chamber 14, which is also referred to as cooking chamber humidity.

[0057] With reference to FIG. 2, it will now be explained how the cooking appliance 10 carries out a method according to the invention in order to draw conclusions, based on the cooking program selected, about an overload of the cooking appliance 10 with regard to the food to be cooked.

[0058] The user of the cooking appliance 10 loads the cooking appliance 10, in particular the cooking chamber 14, with food to be cooked. Depending on the food to be cooked, the user of the cooking appliance 10 selects a cooking program matched thereto, which is stored in the cooking program memory 18.

[0059] Selecting the cooking program causes correspondingly stored threshold and/or setpoint values to be loaded, among other things, on the basis of which the overload detection means 20 of the cooking appliance 10 can determine an overload of the cooking appliance 10 during the cooking process.

[0060] In particular, the overload detection means 20 determines the stored threshold and/or setpoint values continuously during the cooking process, so that an overload can still be detected even during the cooking process. This refers both to scenarios in which an additional load is placed in the cooking chamber 14 during an already started cooking process, and to scenarios in which a cooking chamber atmosphere changes in an unfavorable way during the cooking process. This may be the case if a food being cooked changes its volume during the cooking process or releases or absorbs a relatively large amount of moisture.

[0061] In general, the overloading should be detected as early as possible, so that the food being cooked can at best still be removed and saved.

[0062] As soon as the cooking program 18 has been started, the appropriate cooking processes and the respective cooking steps are executed.

[0063] Using the sensor unit 28, that is, the temperature sensor 30 and the humidity sensor 32, the cooking chamber temperature profile and the cooking chamber humidity profile are captured and evaluated in order to draw conclusions about an overload of the cooking appliance 10.

[0064] In doing so, the respectively captured humidity and/or temperature values are compared with the setpoint and/or threshold values individually stored for the selected cooking program in order to determine whether or not the respectively stored setpoint value is reached and/or whether the captured value exceeds or falls below the stored threshold value. If this is the case, there is an overload of the cooking appliance 10.

[0065] This is also referred to as a cooking process-specific detection of an overload, since cooking process-specific parameters are made use of for overload detection.

[0066] If there is an overload of the cooking appliance 10, a warning signal is output.

[0067] An overload may be determined, for example, if a setpoint cooking chamber temperature that is stored in the cooking program is not reached in one or more cooking steps of the cooking process. Therefore, respective setpoint cooking chamber temperatures are stored for the individual cooking processes of the cooking program, in particular their cooking steps. An overloading can also be determined, for example, in that the respectively desired setpoint cooking chamber temperature is not reached in a number of cooking steps that is stored as a threshold value. In this respect there is a certain tolerance since a warning signal is not already output the first time, but only when the number of cooking steps that is stored as a threshold value is reached in which the setpoint cooking chamber temperature was not reached.

[0068] Alternatively or additionally, the warning signal may be output if the setpoint cooking chamber temperature has also not been reached after a time stored as a setpoint value has elapsed. Insofar, the setpoint value is a time specification that is compared with the time of the cooking program or of the cooking process.

[0069] Further, provision may be made alternatively or additionally for the warning signal to be output if an actual cooking chamber temperature falls below a cooking chamber temperature defined as a threshold value after loading the cooking appliance 10. The corresponding drop in temperature indicates that too large a quantity of chilled food to be cooked has been introduced. At least the quantity is above the maximum load limit, so that an overloading of the cooking appliance 10 has taken place, as a result of which the actual cooking chamber temperature has dropped correspondingly heavily.

[0070] Furthermore, as an alternative or in addition, an overload of the cooking appliance 10 can be detected based on the data captured by the humidity sensor 32.

[0071] For example, a warning signal is output even if a setpoint humidity, which is also stored in the corresponding cooking program, is not reached in one or more cooking steps of the cooking process. A certain tolerance may be provided here as well, so that the warning signal is only output when the setpoint humidity was not reached in a number of cooking steps that is stored as a threshold value.

[0072] Alternatively or additionally, the warning signal is output if the setpoint humidity was also not reached after a preset time. The time stored accordingly thus constitutes a setpoint value up to which the setpoint humidity must be reached at the latest. The time applied may be the time of the entire cooking program, of a cooking process or of a cooking step.

[0073] The actual humidity of the cooking chamber 14 may also be made use of to detect an overload, provided that the actual humidity for particular cooking programs is above a humidity defined as a threshold value. This is of significance, for example, for cooking programs and corresponding foods to be cooked that are moist and are to be dried by means of the cooking appliance 10 or the selected cooking program. A correspondingly high actual humidity is therefore indicative of an overload of the cooking appliance 10.

[0074] Should the cooking appliance 10 have an automated dehumidification, a warning signal can be output if the number of dehumidification intervals is above a correspondingly stored value, which therefore constitutes a threshold value. As soon as a measured actual humidity is above a permissible humidity, a dehumidification is performed in an automated manner. If these dehumidification processes are carried out very often, that is, above a threshold value, it can then be concluded that there is an excessive humidity in the cooking chamber 14, which is connected to an overload of the cooking appliance 10.

[0075] Irrespective of the reason for outputting the warning signal, the cooking appliance 10 can be automatically put into a locked state when the warning signal is output, so that only an authorized operator of the cooking appliance 10 can unlock it again, for example the store manager. This ensures that the store manager is informed that an incorrect operation has occurred, namely, that the cooking appliance 10 has been overloaded, which is the reason for the reduced quality of the food being cooked or the cooking process/program being aborted.

[0076] The particular reason why the warning signal was output can be logged with the cooking appliance 10, so that the respective reason can be reviewed by the authorized operator. The reason may be displayed directly on a display of the cooking appliance 10 or may only be output on request, if this is desired.

[0077] In this way, it can be retraced later why the food cooked did not achieve the desired cooking result, because in fact there was an overload. In other words, the operator of the cooking appliance 10 ignored the operating instructions and overloaded the cooking appliance 10.

[0078] Furthermore, the warning signal may not be output until the end of the cooking process/program. Alternatively, in addition to the warning signal, an appropriate indication is provided at the end of the cooking process/program to inform the authorized operator, for example the store manager.

[0079] The cooking appliance 10 may generally be a connective cooking appliance 10, that is, a cooking appliance 10 having at least one communication interface 34 via which the cooking appliance 10 can communicate.

[0080] The communication interface 34 may be an Internet interface, for example a WLAN or LAN interface, so that the cooking appliance 10 can communicate in a simple manner with a remotely located central unit, in particular a central processing unit.

[0081] Accordingly, the cooking appliance 10 is configured to transmit the reason for the output of the warning signal to the central unit, which is additionally networked with further cooking appliances situated at other locations. This allows a statistical survey to be carried out involving a plurality of cooking appliances 10 as well as the operation thereof in order to draw conclusions about problems in the operation of the cooking appliance or appliances 10. This allows needs-oriented additional training to be identified and carried out accordingly in order to remove recurring operating errors.

[0082] The plurality of cooking appliances 10 and the central processing unit form a corresponding system.

[0083] The cooking appliance 10 further comprises a further sensor unit 28, which comprises an optical sensor 36 in the form of a camera, which is connected to the control and evaluation unit 22, in particular the overload detection means 20. This sensor unit 28 can be used for performing an optical overload detection.

[0084] The camera 36 takes images of the food to be cooked when it is placed in the cooking chamber 14 or has already been placed in the cooking chamber 14, that is, for example during the cooking process. The image taken accordingly is forwarded to the control and evaluation unit 22 for evaluation, which then determines the quantity and/or the volume or the caliber of the food introduced and to be cooked, by means of known image recognition algorithms, for example an edge detection algorithm.

[0085] Subsequently, the control and evaluation unit 22, in particular the overload detection means 20, compares the information extracted from the images with data stored in the cooking program memory 18 for the individually selected cooking program, i.e. with a stored threshold or setpoint value. To this end, the overload detection means 20 accesses the cooking program memory 18 to obtain the respective threshold and/or setpoint values. This allows an overload of the cooking appliance 10 to be detected if the quantity exceeds the setpoint value individually stored for the selected cooking program.

[0086] In case an overload has been detected, the cooking appliance 10 outputs a corresponding warning signal, as has already been described based on the cooking chamber humidity profile and/or the cooking chamber temperature profile.

[0087] The further, previously described sequences of the cooking process-specific detection can be applied analogously to the optical overload detection of the cooking appliance 10.

[0088] The optical detection of the overload allows the overload to be detected before the respective cooking process of the cooking program loaded is started; see FIG. 2. Accordingly, the food to be cooked can still be saved by not starting the cooking process.

[0089] In particular, the cooking appliance 10 is locked by the control and evaluation unit 22 so that the cooking process cannot be started. The cooking appliance 10 then has to be first released by an authorized operator of the cooking appliance 10.

[0090] This makes it possible to easily determine an overload of the cooking appliance 10 with food to be cooked, as a result of which the reason for the inferior quality of the food being cooked can be identified in a simple manner.

[0091] Furthermore, the need for appropriate additional training can be determined in this way in a simple and targeted manner.