DOMESTIC BAKING DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD

Abstract

A domestic baking device for baking a food product, in particular a flat bread, made of a dough portion which is first received in a portion capsule. The baking device includes a baking and pressing device (2) for baking and pressing the dough portion (3, 3) between a first and a second baking plate (5). At least the first baking plate (4) can be driven relative to the second baking plate (5) along a preferably linear displacement path (s) towards the second baking plate (5) by means of adjusting means (7) which include an electric motor in order to flatten the dough portion (3, 3) by pressing same between the baking plates (4, 5). The baking and shaping device (2) is paired with monitoring means in order to monitor the pressing process of the dough portion (3, 3), including comparing means designed to monitor the curve of an electric motor signal (10), in particular a current or voltage signal, over the displacement path (s) of the first baking plate (4) in order to determine if a reference signal (9) that changes over the displacement path (s) of the first baking plate (4) has been reached or exceeded and to carry out an action if the reference signal (9) has been reached or exceeded.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A domestic baking device for baking a food product, in particular a flat bread, from a dough portion initially held in a portion capsule, the domestic baking device comprising a baking and pressing apparatus (2) for baking and pressing the dough portion (3, 3), between a first and a second baking plate (5), at least the first baking plate (4) being drivable relative to the second baking plate (5) for a pressing flattening of the dough portion (3, 3) between the baking plates (4, 5) by means of movement means (7) comprising an electric motor along a movement path (s) towards the second baking plate (5), wherein monitoring means for monitoring the pressing process of the dough portion (3, 3) are associated with the baking and pressing apparatus (2), the monitoring means comprising comparing means, wherein the comparing means are designed to monitor the curve of an electrical motor signal (10), over the movement path (s) of the first baking plate (4) for the reaching or exceeding of a reference signal (9), which changes over the movement path (s) of the first baking plate (4), and to perform an action if the reference signal (9) is reached or exceeded, the monitoring means being configured in such a manner that the action is or comprises putting out a warning signal, and/or that the action is or comprises stopping or slowing down the movement of the first baking plate (4) towards the second baking plate (5) and/or returning the first baking plate (4) to an initial position, wherein a memory in which the reference signal levels are stored with the associated position information is associated to the monitoring means, the monitoring means being configured to assign a reference signal level of the reference signal (9) with motor signal levels of the motor signal (10) via signals indicative of a respective movement position of the first baking plate (4) along the movement path (s) and the reference signal levels increasing along the movement path (s) of the first baking plate (4) towards the second baking plate (5).

18. The domestic baking device according to claim 17, wherein the monitoring means are configured to determine the signals indicative of the position by integrating rotation angles or rotations of a motor shaft of the electric motor or of a rotating and/or pivoting unit coupled with the motor shaft of the electric motor to transmit a torque.

19. The domestic baking device according to claim 18, wherein initialization means for setting an initial position for the integration are associated to the monitoring means.

20. The domestic baking device according to claim 17, wherein the first baking plate (4) is disposed along the vertical above the second baking plate (5) if the domestic baking device (1) is supported on a horizontal supporting surface and/or wherein the first baking plate is disposed parallel to the second baking plate (5) during the movement.

21. The domestic baking device according to claim 17, wherein the domestic baking device (1) comprising a capsule-emptying-apparatus for removing the dough portion (3, 3) from a portion capsule, the capsule-emptying apparatus having a plunger being adjustable relative to a capsule support for applying force to, the capsule and/or comprising a holding-down stamp being drivable by means of an electric motor.

22. The domestic baking device according to claim 17, wherein the movement means (7) comprise a transmission device, for guiding the first baking plate (4) along the movement path (s) during its movement.

23. A method for operating a domestic baking device (1) according to claim 17, for baking a food product, in particular a flat bread, from a dough portion (3, 3) from a portion capsule, the first baking plate (4) being driven by the electric motor for a pressing flattening of the dough portion (3, 3) disposed between the baking plates (4, 5) along the movement path (s) towards the second baking plate (5), wherein a curve of an electrical motor signal (10), over the movement path (s) of the first baking plate (4) is monitored for the reaching or exceeding of a reference signal (9), which changes over the movement path (s) of the first baking plate (4), and, if the reference signal (9) is reached or exceeded, an action is performed by monitoring means in such a manner that as the action, a warning signal, is output and/or the movement of the first baking plate (4) towards the second baking plate (5) is stopped or slowed down and/or the first baking plate (4) is returned to the initial position through corresponding driving of the electric motor, wherein in order to monitor the curve of the electrical motor signal (10) during the movement motor signal levels are compared to reference signal levels, which are stored in a memory, wherein the motor signal levels and reference signal levels to be compared are assigned via signals indicative of the position of respective movement positions of the first baking plate (4) along the movement path (s), and wherein the reference signal levels increase along the movement path (s) of the first baking plate (4) towards the second baking plate (5).

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the signals indicative of the position are determined by integrating rotation angles or rotations of a motor shaft or of a rotating or pivoting unit coupled with the motor shaft to transmit a torque, in particular a gear wheel or a spindle or a spindle nut or a lever arm.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein a sensor for detecting the rotation angles and/or rotations is initialized prior to the integration to define an initial position of the first baking plate (4).

26. The domestic baking device according to claim 17, wherein the movement path is a straight movement path.

27. The domestic baking device according to claim 17, wherein the electric motor signal is a current or voltage signal.

28. The domestic baking device according to claim 17, wherein the warning signal is a visual and/or acoustic and/or haptic warning signal.

29. The domestic baking device according to claim 28, wherein the rotating and/or pivoting unit is a gear wear or a spindle or a spindle nut or a lever arm.

30. The domestic baking device according to claim 21, wherein the plunger is adjustable relative to the capsule support for deforming the capsule.

31. The domestic baking device according to claim 22, wherein the movement means comprises a single transmission device.

32. The domestic baking device according to claim 22, wherein the transmission device comprises a spindle drive (8).

33. The domestic baking device according to claim 32, wherein the spindle drive omits guiding devices acting at the outer circumference of the first baking plate (4) for guiding the first baking plate (4) along the movement path(s) during its movement.

34. The method according to claim 23, wherein the electric motor signal is a current or voltage signal.

35. The method according to claim 23, wherein the warning signal is a visual and/or acoustic and/or haptic warning signal.

36. The method according to claim 24, wherein the rotating or pivoting unit is a gear wear or a spindle or a spindle nut or a lever arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be derived from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and from the drawings.

[0028] In the following,

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a (combined) baking and pressing apparatus of a domestic baking device realized according to the idea of the invention,

[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a correlation between the force applied on the first baking plate and the movement path of the first baking plate,

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the curve of a reference signal over a movement path of the first baking plate and the signal curve of a motor signal, in this case a current consumption of the electric motor for moving the first baking plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In the figures, the same elements and elements having the same function are referenced with the same reference numerals.

[0033] In FIG. 1, a domestic baking device 1 is partially illustrated. More specifically, a combined baking and pressing apparatus 2 of domestic baking device 1 for baking, pressing (flattening) a dough portion 3, for forming a (flat) flat bread in the case at hand, is illustrated. Additionally, the domestic baking device preferably comprises a capsule-emptying apparatus (not shown) for removing dough portion 3 from a portion capsule. In principle, a portion capsule preferably comprises a tub-like capsule body which is sealed by a lid film, the capsule body being made of plastic or light metal alloys.

[0034] Baking and pressing apparatus 2 comprises a first baking plate 4 which is designed as a heating and pressing plate and which is disposed along a vertical V above and parallel to a second baking plate 5 which is also designed as a heating and baking plate in the specific exemplary embodiment. Second baking plate 5 is fixed during the pressing process moving or driving first baking plate 4, translatorically in the case at hand, along a movement path. In order to remove the finished food product, a flat bread in the case at hand, second baking plate 5 can preferably be brought into a tilted position. Additionally or alternatively, it is conceivable to move second baking plate 5 for a loading with dough portion 3, for example translatorically perpendicular to movement path s, namely between a receiving or loading position for a loading with the dough portion and the illustrated baking and pressing position.

[0035] Both baking plates 4, 5 are in a baking cavity 6 (baking chamber) preferably having a metallic housing disposed in a housing of domestic baking device 1. In addition or as an alternative to a direct heating (heating plate) of the baking plate, it is conceivable to heat the baking chamber in the form of an oven.

[0036] Movement means 7 are assigned to first baking plate 4 in order to move the baking plate between an upper initial position and a lower final position which is moved towards second baking plate 5 along movement path s, in the case at hand along a vertical. Movement means 7 comprise an electric drive motor (not shown) and a gear assigned thereto. In the specific exemplary embodiment, movement means 7 also comprise a spindle drive 8 which is exemplarily and preferably disposed centrally for a translatory movement of the first baking plate along movement path s. Instead of the illustrated spindle drive, other transmission means, for example a toggle level assembly, can also be provided. Ideally, the movement means, the depicted kinematics assembly in the case at hand, further on perform the preferably exclusive guiding of the first baking plate during the movement along the movement path, in the case at hand during the vertical translation. Alternatively, the guiding of the first baking plate can also be realized by means of separate guiding devices, for example at the outer circumference of the first baking plate, said separate guiding devices being preferably dispensed with.

[0037] Dough portion 3 is normally positioned as represented by dashed lines and referred to with reference sign 3, namely centrally in an area under spindle drive 8 in order to reduce transverse forces to a minimum. In case of error, it is conceivable that the dough portion is eccentrically arranged or positioned as referred to with reference sign 3 leading to improperly high forces during the pressing process. Additionally or alternatively, it is conceivable that foreign matters enter the area between baking plates 4, 5 because of a mishandling by the user or that the dough portion is completely or partly frozen. All of these errors result in inadmissibly high forces and thus torques and thus current consumption of the electric motor of the adjusting means for adjusting the first baking plate 4.

[0038] In the diagram according to FIG. 2, a typical force path F over movement path s of first baking plate 4 is illustrated. In the case at hand, the recording of the force path starts at point a at which the first baking plate contacts dough portion 3. After the compression of the dough portion, in the case at hand by approximately , the force increases exponentially (after point b). The force path reaches a force maximum at a point at which the dough is pressed flat to a target height (point d). In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the target height of the dough portion after the pressing process is 1.2 mm. The corresponding force maximum is approximately 1000 N. Point c shows a state shortly before reaching the final movement point (end of the movement path) of the first baking plate.

[0039] Significantly higher forces are needed for the flat pressing of frozen doughs. In this case, the force path significantly increases already at the beginning of the flat pressing. If a thawed dough provided by the manufacturer is compressed by 5 mm, for example, the applied force is approximately 30 N. If, in comparison, a frozen dough is compressed by 5 mm, the applied force is in a range of approximately 1000 N. According to the invention, the maximum reference value (reference signal level) for the position would be significantly lower than 1000 N, i.e. at 70 N (30 N multiplied by a safety margin), for example. If, therefore, a frozen dough was conveyed onto second (lower) baking plate 5 and was flat pressed by means of the first baking plate, an error message in the control software of the monitoring means would be output when exceeding a motor signal, in particular the current consumption for generating 70 N pressing force. In reaction of the control software to said error message, the electric motor for driving the first baking plate may be stopped. If, in comparison, an error message was output when exceeding the current consumption for generating 1000 N pressing force, the resulting overload would be significantly higher. This is avoided according to the invention.

[0040] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the motor shaft or a gear wheel or another rotating component of the spindle drive is assigned a non-illustrated rotation angle encoder detecting the angles of rotation of the rotating component and which are added or integrated by non-illustrated monitoring means comprising a microcontroller in the case at hand that is connected to the encoder in a signal-conducting manner, so that a movement position of the first baking plate along the exemplary translatory movement path s can be inferred. A reference signal level of a reference signal 9 (cf. FIG. 3) is assigned to any movement position of the first baking plate along its movement path s. Reference signal 9 thus refers to a limit value signal which signal curve is plotted over the movement path s of the first baking plate. A current consumption I is provided as a reference signal in the case at hand. Over the movement path s a motor signal 10 provided to the monitoring means, a current consumption signal in the present case, is compared with the reference signal 9thus a comparison of the motor signal curve 10 over the movement path s with the reference signal curve 9 over the movement path s results. Only as an example, motor signal 10 exceeds reference signal 9 at a movement path position S.sub.1. Thus the motor current consumption at this point is too high compared to the reference signal 9, whereby the monitoring means detect a fault which may be caused, for example, by the first baking plate being moved against an eccentrically positioned dough portion, against an impermissible object, or against a completely or partially frozen dough portion. Subsequently, the monitoring means trigger an action, such as stopping and/or returning the first baking plate to its starting position in an (upper) starting position. Before a movement, in particular before any movement of the first baking plate, an initialization takes place, for example by actuating a microswitch 11 (see FIG. 1) in or shortly after the starting position, whereby alternative initialization options can of course also be implemented.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0041] 1 domestic baking device [0042] 2 baking and pressing apparatus [0043] 3, 3 dough portion [0044] 4 first baking plate [0045] 5 second baking plate [0046] 6 baking chamber [0047] 7 movement means [0048] 8 spindle drive [0049] 9 reference signal [0050] 10 motor signal [0051] 11 micro switch [0052] s movement path [0053] I current consumption [0054] V vertical