COOKING APPLIANCE WITH AT LEAST ONE CARRYING PLATE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A VIBRATION SENSOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance with at least one carrying plate (3) adapted to receive cookware placed thereon, in particular a cooking hob (1) with a top plate or with a system comprising a top plate and at least one pan support. At least one sensing means for the detection of vibration is comprised. The vibration is generated when food to be cooked and/or cooking adjuvant inside of the cookware is heated up. The food to be cooked and/or cooking adjuvant may be a cooking liquid. A vibration sensor is attached to the carrying plate (3) by way of fixation means which prevent relative movement between the vibration sensor and the carrying plate (3), in particular in the direction towards and/or away from each other. Further, a method for assembling a vibration sensor to a carrying plate (3) of a cooking appliance, particularly to a top plate of a cooking hob (1), is disclosed. The carrying plate (3) transmits vibration movements from a cookware to the vibration sensor. The assembly comprises the assembling steps: - a first rigid frame part (23) is rigidly connected to the carrying plate (3), preferably in a first assembling step; and - the vibration sensor is connected to the first rigid frame part (23) in a way that prevents relative movement between vibration sensor and carrying plate (3), in particular in the direction towards and/or away from each other, preferably in a second assembling step.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance with a carrying plate adapted to receive cookware placed thereon, and a vibration sensor configured to detect vibration generated when food to be cooked and/or cooking adjuvant inside of the cookware is heated up, wherein the vibration sensor is detachably attached to the carrying plate by way of fixation means which prevent relative movement between the vibration sensor and the carrying plate towards and/or away from each other, wherein the fixation means comprise a first plastic rigid frame part, the first rigid frame part being rigidly connected to the carrying plate, and wherein the electronic circuit board comprising the vibration sensor is bordered on all sides by the first rigid frame part.

2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor is attached to a bottom side of the carrying plate.

3. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor is positioned on an electronic circuit board.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first rigid frame part is circumferentially connected to the carrying plate.

7. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein a second rigid frame part is connected to the first rigid frame part via snapping means, wherein the vibration sensor is positioned on an electronic circuit board that is clamped between the first and the second rigid frame parts.

8. The cooking appliance according to claim 7, wherein a sealing frame part is positioned between the electronic circuit board and the first rigid frame part and/or between the electronic circuit board and the second rigid frame part.

9. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor and/or an electronic circuit board comprising the vibration sensor is/are connected via a data bus to any element that can received a data bus communication such as a user interface unit or a power board of the cooking appliance.

10. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the carrying plate comprises a base plate and at least one pan support placed thereon.

11. A method for assembling a vibration sensor to a carrying plate of a cooking appliance, the carrying plate transmitting vibration movements from a cookware to the vibration sensor, wherein the assembly comprises the steps of: a first rigid frame part is rigidly connected to the carrying plate; and the vibration sensor is connected to the first rigid frame part in a way that prevents relative movement between vibration sensor and the carrying plate towards and/or away from each other, wherein, in a following step, a second rigid frame part is snapped into the first rigid frame part, wherein the electronic circuit board comprising the vibration sensor is clamped between the first and the second rigid frame parts.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vibration sensor is fitted into an electronic circuit board and, thereafter, the electronic circuit board comprising the vibration sensor is connected to the first rigid frame part.

13. (canceled)

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a sealing frame part is positioned between the electronic circuit board and the first rigid frame part and/or between the electronic circuit board and the second rigid frame part prior to the step of snapping the second rigid frame part to the first rigid frame part.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the sealing frame part-is connected to the electronic circuit board and, in a following step, the combination of the sealing frame part with the electronic circuit board is connected to the first rigid frame part.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein, in a following step, a first connector of a connecting cable is connected to the vibration sensor or to a circuitry comprising the vibration sensor and a second connector of the connecting cable is connected to a control unit and/or to a user interface unit of the cooking appliance.

17. A cooking appliance comprising a carrying plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface being adapted to receive cookware thereon, and a sensor assembly; the sensor assembly comprising a vibration sensor mounted to a circuit board, a first frame part, a second frame part, and a sealing frame part, said sealing frame part being made of soft and/or flexible material having a U-shaped cross-section and encompassing an outer edge of said circuit board; the first frame part defining an interior perimeter whose shape is complementary to the outer edge of said circuit board; said first and second frame parts being connected via a snap-fit connection such that said circuit board and said sealing frame part encompassing its outer edge are together sandwiched in between said first frame part and said second frame part; said first frame part being rigidly affixed via adhesive to the bottom surface of said carrying plate; wherein relative movement of the vibration sensor and the carrying plate toward and/or away from one another is prevented via: said rigid affixation between the first frame part and the bottom surface of the carrying plate, said snap-fit connection between the first and second frame parts, and a clamping action of the sealing frame part compressed between the edge of said circuit board and one or both of the first and second frame parts.

18. The cooking appliance of claim 17, said interior perimeter being defined by a vertical perimeter wall of said first frame part that completely surrounds the edge of said circuit board, which together with said sealing frame part is received in a space defined within said vertical perimeter wall.

19. The cooking appliance of claim 18, said second frame part comprising a second vertical wall that is received within said space defined by the vertical perimeter wall of the first frame part to achieve said snap-fit connection; wherein the second vertical wall is disposed between said perimeter vertical wall and said sealing frame part encompassing said circuit board.

20. The cooking appliance of claim 19, said snap-fit connection being reversible such that said circuit board having said sensor mounted thereon can be removed from said sensor assembly.

Description

[0028] The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

[0029] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cooking hob illustrating components and modules arranged therein;

[0030] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a sensor arrangement illustrating a sensor circuit board and fixation frame parts; and

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sensor arrangement of FIG. 2 attached to a top plate of the cooking hob;

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates a cooking hob with a carrying plate comprising a base plate and pan support.

[0033] According to the illustration of FIG. 1, an cooking hob 1, which is in this embodiment a induction hob, but could also be a gas or radiant hob, comprises a top plate 3, the upper side thereof facing a user of the induction cooking hob who can place cookware thereon for cooking processes. The top place 3 is usually composed of glass ceramic material and cooking zones are usually indicated thereon (not shown). Four cooking zones are defined by respective induction coil arrangements 5 positioned beneath the top plate 3.

[0034] The induction coils 5 are powered by means of two power boards 7 having identical structure and comprising a number of different electric and electronic components interconnected by a circuitry. In order to provide an intensified cooling effect on power electronic components 9, also integrated in the power board circuitry, a metallic cooling channel 11 is placed on each power board 7 and the power electronic components 9 of each power board 7 are attached to the outer surface of the allocated cooling channel 11. The intensified cooling effect is further increased by means of a cooling fan 13 for each power board 7, blowing cooling air into the interior of the cooling channel 11.

[0035] The induction cooking hob 1 further comprises a user interface 15 for an input of control commands by the user which user interface 15 is attached to the bottom side of the top plate 3 by means of a user interface housing 17. All electric and electronic components are electrically supplied from the domestic power supply by means of a power cable (not shown) which is connected to a mains terminal 19 inside the induction cooking hob 1

[0036] Finally, the induction cooking hob 1 is also equipped with a vibration sensor adapted to support a monitoring of the progress of the cooking process, especially for an automatic cooking program. Particularly cooking liquids inside of a cookware placed on the top plate 3 of the induction cooking hob 1 cause the cookware to start to vibrate at a certain temperature level, which vibration assumes a specific degree when the cooking liquid begins to boil. The start of the boiling state is sensible by said vibration sensor.

[0037] The vibration sensor is attached to the bottom surface of the top plate 3, which top plate 3 passes on the vibration signals from the cookware to the vibration sensor. In order to provide a proper arrangement of the vibration sensor and its suitable connection to a control unit arranged in the user interface 15, the sensor is arranged on a sensor printed circuit board 21 which also comprises connection means. For a firm and secure attachment the sensor printed circuit board 21 is encased by a first frame part 23 and a second frame part 25 as will be explained as follows.

[0038] With reference to FIG. 2, the arrangement of the sensor printed circuit board 21 within the first and second frame parts 23, 25 is described. As can be seen in FIG. 2, a first frame part 23 is of a rectangular shape in order to receive the sensor printed circuit board 21, also being shaped rectangularly. The first frame part 23 is made of a plastic material and comprises, in its installation position, an upper, horizontal frame portion 23a which is crossed (see FIG. 3) by a vertical frame portion 23b. The vertical frame portion 23b forms an outer boundary and an inner section of the horizontal frame portion 23a provides an upper stop surface for the sensor printed circuit board 21 after its integration in the first frame part 23 (see FIG. 3).

[0039] The second frame part 25 is also made of a plastic material and has a rectangular shape. Its outer dimensions are adapted to the inner dimensions of the vertical frame portion 23b of the first frame part 23 in a way that the second frame part 25 is arrangeable in the interior of the vertical frame portion 23b at least without substantial clearance. After arrangement of the second frame part 25 within the vertical frame portion 23b its upper surface provides a lower stop surface for the sensor printed circuit board. In this assembling position, upper and lower stop surfaces form a sandwich-like holding mechanism for the sensor printed circuit board 21.

[0040] For a particular firm arrangement of the sensor printed circuit board 21 between first 23 and second 25 frame parts avoiding movements of these parts relative to each other, the sensor printed circuit board 21 is bordered by a sealing frame part 27 which is of a U-shaped cross section and encompasses the outer edge of the sensor printed circuit board 21 on all sides. The sealing frame part 27 is made of a soft and/or flexible material, like temperature-resistant rubber or silicone, and allows a tight clamping of the outer edge of sensor printed circuit board 21 between first 23 and second 25 frame parts. The connection of the second frame part 25 with the first frame part 23 is realized by snapping means 29a arranged at the vertical frame portion 23b and, as counterparts, by snapping means 29b arranged at the second frame part 25.

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates the installation situation of the arrangement of the sensor printed circuit board 21 between first 23 and second 25 frame parts in the induction cooking hob 1. This figure shows a cross-sectional side view of a centre region of the top plate 3. The sensor printed circuit board arrangement is attached to said centre region by means of gluing. An adhesive beading 31 between an outer section of the horizontal frame portion 23a and the bottom side of the centre region arranges for a permanent fixing of the sensor printed circuit board arrangement.

[0042] The manufacturing of the sensor printed circuit board arrangement during the assembly of the induction cooking hob 1 is as follows. First, the adhesive beading is applied on the bottom side of the centre region of the top plate 3, followed by pressing the first frame part 23 against the bottom side of the top plate 3 until the top edge of the vertical frame portion 23b rests on the bottom surface of the top plate 3. In that position, the adhesive beading is also applied on the upper surface of the outer section of the horizontal frame portion 23a, thus realizing a permanent bonded joint between first frame part 23 and top plate 3. Only thereafter, the sensor printed circuit board 21 is implemented in the first frame part 23 and the mounting of the second frame part 25 finalizes the assembling.

[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment, in which the carrying plate/ top plate 3 is a system comprising a base plate 3a and at least one pan support 3b placed thereon.

[0044] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals 1 cooking hob 3 top plate 3a base plate 3b pan support 5 induction coils arrangement 7 power board 9 power electronic component 11 cooling channel 13 cooling fan 15 user interface 17 user interface housing 19 mains terminal 21 sensor printed circuit board 23 first frame part 23a horizontal frame portion 23b vertical frame portion 25 second frame part 27 sealing frame part 29a,b snapping means 31 adhesive beading