Baking oven door and baking oven

Abstract

The invention is directed to a baking oven door 2 and baking oven 1. A camera 10 is mounted inside the door 2 and coupled to a heat sink 8 constituting an outer cover of the door 2.

Claims

1. Baking oven door (2) adapted to be attached to a household or industrial type baking oven (1) and being adapted to close an opening (4) to a muffle (5) of the baking oven (1), the baking oven door (2) comprising an outer (8) and an inner wall (7) and at least one image recording device (10), wherein the at least one image recording device (10) is mounted inside the door (2) in between the outer (8) and inner wall (7) and is arranged and adapted to pick up images of the muffle (5) interior, and wherein at least a part of an outer side of the outer wall (8) comprises a heat sink which is thermally coupled to the image recording device (10).

2. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink is a flat, sheet-like thermal conductor (8), wherein the heat sink at least partially constitutes an outer cover of the baking oven door (2).

3. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall (8) and/or outer cover comprises a thermal conductor, are/is opaque to a user of the baking oven (1).

4. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 2, wherein the thermal conductor (8) is made from metal, a metal alloy, ceramic and/or plastic, and/or the thermal conductor (8) comprises metal, metal alloy, ceramic and/or plastic particles and/or fibres embedded in a matrix.

5. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall (7) of the door (2) comprises an image recording window (13), wherein the inner wall (7) is made from glass at least in the region of the image recording window (13).

6. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one partition wall (9) arranged between the outer (8) and inner wall (7), wherein the image recording device (10) is mounted in between the partition wall (9) and the outer wall (8), and the partition wall/walls (9), (17) between the image recording device (10) and the inner wall (7) comprises/comprise a further image recording window (14), wherein the at least one partition wall (9) is made from glass at least in the region of the further image recording window (14).

7. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, comprising at least one channel (15, 16) running in vertical direction in normal use of the baking oven door (2), the channel (15, 16) being designed for guiding through a cooling medium, wherein the cooling medium comprises a gaseous cooling medium.

8. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 7, wherein at least one channel (15, 16) is arranged at least one of between the inner wall (7) and an adjacent partition wall (9), between two adjacent partition walls (9), and the outer wall (8) and an adjacent partition wall (9).

9. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein the image recording device (10) is coupled to a cooling element (11) which is arranged within the baking oven door (2) and which is in direct thermal contact with the heat sink (8).

10. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 7, wherein the at least one channel (16) is arranged and designed such that the cooling medium passing through the channel (16) impinges the image recording device (10) and/or the cooling element (11).

11. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein an insulation material (12) is provided at least one of in a space between the inner wall (7) and the outer wall (8), in a space between the inner wall (7) and an adjacent partition wall (9), in a space between adjacent partition walls (9) and in a space between the outer wall (8) and an adjacent partition wall (9), wherein the insulation material (12) has recesses adapted to the size of a first image recording window (13) and/or a second image recording window (14).

12. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 7, wherein at least one channel (15) passes through an insulation material (12), wherein the one channel (15) is positioned on a side of the insulation material (12) facing towards the outer wall (8).

13. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein at least the inner wall (7), and preferably an at least one partition wall (9) arranged between the image recording device (10) and the inner wall (7), are coated with an infra-red reflecting material on a side facing the muffle (5) in normal use of the baking oven door (2), at least in the region of a first image recording window (13) and/or a second image recording window (14).

14. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner wall (7), outer wall (8) and at least one partition wall (9), is coated with a non-reflecting optic material on a side facing towards the outer side of the baking oven door (2), at least in the region of a first image recording window (13) and/or a second image recording window (14).

15. Household baking oven (1) comprising at least one muffle (5) and at least one baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, the at least one baking oven door (2) being mounted to the baking oven (1) and adapted for closing the at least one muffle (5) during normal operation of the baking oven (1).

16. Household baking oven (1) according to claim 15, further comprising at least one display device (18) adapted to display and/or project images recorded by the image recording device (10) on a display area, wherein the at least one display devices (18) is mounted and integrated, in a front cover of the baking oven, in particular in a front wall (8).

17. Household baking oven (1) according to claim 15, wherein the image recording device (10) is mounted in an upper part of the baking oven door (2).

18. Household baking oven (1) according to claim 16, wherein the at least one display devices comprises a mobile type display device (20).

19. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein the image recording device (10) is in at least one channel (15, 16) formed between the outer (8) and inner wall (7), and a cooling medium is provided in the at least one channel (15, 16) such that the image recording device (10) is in direct fluid contact with the cooling medium in the at least one channel (15, 16).

20. Baking oven door (2) according to claim 1, wherein the image recording device (10) is positioned at an inner surface of the outer wall (8), the inner surface facing the inner wall (7).

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in connection with the annexed figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a baking oven; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a vertical sectional view of a baking oven door.

(4) In the figures, like elements are designated by like reference signs.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a baking oven 1 comprising a door 2. The door 2 is hingedly attached to a frame 3 of the baking oven 1 and is designed and adapted to close at least an opening 4 of a baking camber, i. e. a muffle 5, of the baking oven 1.

(6) In the present case, the door 2 is sized such that in the closed state, it covers or extends over nearly the whole front face 6 of the baking oven 1. Such configurations are often requested or preferred by customers and users, mainly for design and esthetic reasons. However, a door configured to cover the whole front face may be effective in reducing heat loss through the door 2.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a vertical sectional view of the door 2. The door 2 has a layer structure and comprises an inner wall 7, an outer wall 8 and a partition wall 9 arranged between the inner wall 7 and the outer wall 8. Note that the partition wall 9 is only optional, i. e. the present invention can also be implemented without any partition wall 9.

(8) The door 2 further comprises a camera 10, which in more general terms constitutes an image recording device. The camera 10 is mounted between the partition wall 9 and the outer wall 8. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the camera 10 is mounted to the outer wall 8.

(9) In accordance with the present invention, the outer wall 8 constitutes a heat sink to which the camera 10 and/or an optional cooling element 11 is/are thermally coupled. If a cooling element 11 is used, the camera 10 may be thermally coupled to the cooling element which in turn is thermally coupled to the heat sink.

(10) The heat sink in the present case constitutes a front cover of the door. The front cover is exposed to environmental temperatures of the baking oven 1, which in general are far below the temperatures prevailing within the muffle 2 and within the door 2 during operation of the baking oven 1. Due to the comparatively low temperatures of the heat sink, i. e. front cover, the camera 10 can be efficiently cooled without any further cooling devices.

(11) The heat sink is formed as a flat sheet-like thermal conductor, which may be made from metal, metal alloys, ceramics, plastics or mixtures thereof. Any other material with good heat conducting and heat emission properties can be used as well. In the present case the heat sink is made from aluminum which has comparatively good heat conducting properties. In the present case, the heat sink, thermal conductor, outer cover and outer wall are all the same.

(12) As the aluminum heat sink has comparatively good heat conducting and emission properties, heat can be efficiently removed from the camera 10 and released to the surrounding environment, i. e. the camera 10 can be efficiently protected against overtemperatures. Due to the advantageous thermal properties of the aluminum heat sink, temperatures prevailing at the outer side of the door 2 can be kept low reducing the danger of burns.

(13) As the outer wall, i. e. the outer cover, in the present case is made from aluminum, the outer wall is not transparent to a user of the baking oven 1. As a consequence, items placed within the muffle 5 can not be directly observed by the user's eye. However, the camera 10 is arranged and adapted to pick up images of the interior of the muffle 5, such that images of an item, such as foodstuff, arranged within the muffle 5 can be presented to the user.

(14) Sections of the door 2 towards the muffle interior have to be sufficiently transparent and adequately sized so that the camera 10 can pick up images of relevant sections of the muffle interior. Here, the inner wall 7 and the partition wall 9 can be provided with image recording windows sized and positioned to obtain a satisfactory field of view F at least with respect to relevant areas or sections within the muffle 5. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the inner wall is made from glass which is transparent anyway.

(15) In the space between the partition wall 9 and the inner wall 7 there is arranged an insulation material 12. The insulation material is applied for reducing heat transfer and heat loss through the door 2.

(16) In order to obtain suitable field of view angles , the insulation material 12 has a cut-out sufficiently large so as not to impair the field of view F of the camera 10. Via the cut-out in the insulation material 12 a first image recording window 13 of the inner wall 7 is defined.

(17) Further, a second image recording window 14 is provided in the partition wall 9. The size, location and orientation of the second image recording window 14 is adapted and adjusted to the first image recording window 13 so that an optimal field of view F is obtained. The partition wall 9 may be made from glass or other materials, wherein at least the section of the partition wall 9 containing or constituting the second image recording window 14 is made from glass.

(18) The insulation material 12 is cut out according to the image recording windows. Respective recesses in the insulation material 12 are such that an optimal field of view F can be realized.

(19) An additional measure to reduce the temperatures within the door 2, i. e. to reduce the thermal load of the camera 10, is to provide cooling channels within the door 2. The cooling channels are adapted to guide through a cooling medium.

(20) In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, a first cooling channel 15 is provided within the insulation material 12, such that a flow of cooling medium can be directed to the first 13 and second image recording window 14. In FIG. 2, a flow of cooling medium is indicated by vertical arrows.

(21) The first cooling channel 15 is provided as a type of cut-out channel in the insulation material 12. The first cooling channel 15 is in particular designed to cool, i. e. to lower the temperature in the space between the first 13 and second image recording window 14. In this way, heat radiation impinging on the camera 10 can be reduced, which in turn reduces the thermal load of the camera 10 and improves image quality.

(22) As an additional way to cool the camera 10, the space between the outer wall 8 and the partition wall 9 can be used as a second cooling channel 16. By guiding through a cooling medium, such as a gaseous cooling medium, in particular air, through the second cooling channel 16, the camera 10 and/or the cooling element 11 can be directly cooled, i. e. directly impinged with cooling medium.

(23) So far, the camera 10 is shielded from high temperatures prevailing in the muffle 5 by the inner wall 7 and the partition wall 9. Insulation material 12 and circulation of a cooling medium further contribute to reduce temperature load of the camera 10. The insulation material 12 also reduces heat loss through the door, which is a relevant aspect for low energy baking ovens.

(24) An additional possibility for reducing thermal load of the camera 10 and heat loss through the door 2 is to provide at least the inner wall 7, and/or the partition wall 9 with an infra-red reflecting coating. In this way, heat radiation through the door 2, i. e. heat loss through the door and thermal load of the camera 10, can be further reduced. Preferably, the infra-red reflecting coating is applied to the side of the inner wall 7 and/or partition wall 9 facing the muffle 5.

(25) On a side of the inner wall 7 and the partition wall 9 oriented away from the muffle 5, i. e. facing the camera 10, there may be applied a mat paint. Such a mat paint may be useful in reducing reflections and other optical interferences and disturbances impairing image quality of the camera 10.

(26) The cooling medium, in particular air, can be actively guided through the first and second cooling channel 15 and 16. However, it is also possible to design the first and/or the second cooling channel such that a flow of cooling medium can be established and maintained by thermal processes.

(27) Images recorded by the camera 10 can be presented to a user of the baking oven 1 on a display attached, preferably removably attached, to the baking oven 1. Such a display may be a conventional display device, including optical displays and projection displays and the like fixedly installed at the oven 1. Further, images recorded by the camera 10 can be displayed on mobile imaging devices. Such a mobile imaging device may be any suitable mobile display device able to communicate with the baking oven 1, i. e. to receive and display images recorded by the camera 10. In particular, display devices of mobile phones and mobile computers can be used to display images recorded by the camera 10. In the latter cases, information of the camera 10, in particular images of the interior of the muffle 5 can be viewed from remote locations.

(28) As can be seen, the proposed door is effective in reducing temperature load to a camera mounted within the door. In particular, the camera can be efficiently protected from thermal impacts, leading to improved image quality, display quality and lifetime of respective imaging devices.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(29) 1 baking oven 2 door 3 frame 4 opening 5 muffle 6 front face 7 inner wall 8 outer wall 9 partition wall 10 camera 11 cooling element 12 insulation material 13 first image recording window 14 second image recording window 15 first cooling channel 16 second cooling channel F field of view field of view angle