EP2213946B1 - Method for fault finding and/or analysis in a cooking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for troubleshooting or analysis in a cooking appliance with a first plurality of first components for cooking food in a cooking chamber and / or a second plurality of second components for cleaning at least one interior of the cooking appliance with at least one display device, at least an operating device and at least one control or regulating device, and a cooking appliance therefor.

In the commercial kitchen, so-called intelligent cooking appliances are used to facilitate work processes, which have a multiplicity of automated work programs, such as in the form of cooking programs, cleaning programs, diagnostic programs and auxiliary programs. By way of example, reference is made here to the cooking appliance marketed by the applicant under the trade name SelfCooking Center®, in the cooking chamber of which cooking material can be acted upon with hot air and / or steam. Reference should also be made to the cooking appliance sold under the trade name Vario-Cooking Center®, which is a tiltable crucible in which the food to be cooked can be exposed to contact heat and / or prepared in water, milk, oil or the like.

For the purposes of this application, a diagnostic program is a program which displays in real time data of components of a cooking appliance, such as current temperatures, activation states, running times or the like, during the course of a process in the cooking appliance. Thus, a diagnostic program is essentially a monitoring program that is frequently used for troubleshooting and / or analysis.

FIG. 3a shows a display area 100a, a touch screen of a SelfCooking Center® in two menu levels. In a first menu level, a function key 101a is actuated in a first step S1a in order to change to a second menu level in which a calcification display 102a can be activated in a second step S2a. This activation starts a diagnostic program that allows an operator to detect the calcification state of a SelfCooking Center® steam generator, namely by illuminating a corresponding number of bars on the calcification indicator 102a in red.

It is also common to output service information after detecting errors. For this purpose, the display area 100b according to FIG FIG. 3b four menu levels can be found on a touch screen of a SelfCooking Center®. In a first menu level, the function key 101b can be pressed in a first step S1b in order to change to a second menu level in which an assistance key 103b can be pressed in a second step S2b. This causes a change to a third menu level, in which a service information key 104b can be pressed in a third operation S3b, so that a service information display 105b appears in a fourth menu level, to which a service information according to FIG FIG. 3b "Service 26", with the corresponding service information can then be looked up in a manual.

However, in addition to invoking diagnostics and querying service information, it is sometimes necessary to run a bump test for troubleshooting and / or analysis. By selecting a functional test, a cooking appliance is switched to an appropriate mode, i. possibly active cooking appliance processes are deactivated and all controllable components, such as motors, heaters and the like, can be activated manually. Such a function test is used to locate defective components or to make adjustments to the cooking appliance.

Figure 3c shows by way of example the sequence of a part of a function test in the SelfCooking Center® via a display area 110 on a touchscreen, in which after a cooking process has been deselected in a first step S1c and in a second step S2c a cooking chamber door has been opened, a first menu level appears in a third step S3c a function key 101c can be pressed to change to a second menu level in which in a fourth step S4c an assistance button 103c can be pressed. Subsequently, in a third menu level, among other things, a steam generator emptying button 106c appears, which can be activated in a fifth step S5c, so that the steam generator empties automatically. Thus, the Check the emptying power of the steam generator, move a cooking appliance or initiate another function.

The DE 10 2006 004 387 A1 discloses a circuit for a home appliance that is configured and / or driven to test itself or at least a portion of its components for malfunction. It can be distinguished between different types of errors, and it can be issued maintenance or fault instructions via a display element.

A monitoring device for the operating current of a heating device and a transport device of a baking device is known from EP 1 712 132 A2 known.

Although the known methods for troubleshooting and analysis in cooking appliances have proven themselves, but require specialist knowledge of the operator, possibly with the aid of service manuals or operating manuals.

Instead of a touchscreen as part of a display device and / or operating device, a projection device, such as in the form of a beamer, for projection of a display area inside or outside a cooking appliance can be used, see also the not pre-published FR 0806899 among others the applicant.

The DE 10 2004 046 521 B3 is based on the finding that the operation of a cooking appliance is facilitated by the fact that a user a variety of settings or choices is offered, from which he can select him intuitively appealing. Thus, to set or select a work program, each user can change preset parameters in the way that is closest to him personally, whether using a pictogram key, a codeword key, or a numeric key. This not only facilitates the operability, but also increases the reliability of the operation, so that there is an overall better cooking results.

Object of the present invention is to further develop the method according to the above, which facilitates the operation of the cooking appliance and thus operating errors are at least reduced.

This object is solved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

Preferred methods according to the invention are described in claims 2 to 8.

Optical highlighting can be realized by bordering, magnification, color change, flashing or the like.

• eine Heizeinrichtung, insbesondere umfassend zumindest eine elektrische Heizung, wie in Form von Heizwendel, Heizplatten oder dergleichen, eine gasbetriebene Heizung, eine Mikrowellenquelle, einen Wärmespeicher, einen Wärmetauscher und/oder eine Sensiereinrichtung,
• eine Feuchtigkeitszufuhreinrichtung, insbesondere umfassend zumindest einen Dampfgenerator, einen Wasserzerstäuber, zumindest eine Beschwadungsdüse, eine erste Absperreinrichtung und/oder eine zweite Sensiereinrichtung,
• eine Feuchtigkeitsabführeinrichtung, insbesondere umfassend zumindest einen Kondensator, vorzugsweise mit zumindest einer Ablöschdüse, eine Frischluftzufuhr, eine zweite Absperreinrichtung und/oder eine dritte Sensiereinrichtung,
• eine Fluidzuführeinrichtung, insbesondere umfassend zumindest eine Reinigungsmitteldüse, eine Beschwadungsdüse, eine Ablöschdüse, eine Einrichtung zum, insbesondere geregelten, Befüllen eines Tiegels mit Wasser, eine dritte Absperreinrichtung und/oder eine vierte Sensiereinrichtung, vorzugsweise in Form eines Durchflusssensors,
• eine Flüssigkeitsabfuhreinrichtung, insbesondere mit zumindest einer vierten Absperreinrichtung, einer ersten Pumpeinrichtung und/oder einer fünften Sensiereinrichtung
• eine Garraumatmosphärenzirkulationseinrichtung, insbesondere umfassend zumindest eine Gebläseeinrichtung, eine zweite Pumpeinrichtung und/oder eine sechste Sensiereinrichtung,
• eine Druckgareinrichtung, insbesondere umfassend zumindest eine fünfte Absperreinrichtung und/oder eine siebte Sensiereinrichtung, vorzugsweise mit einem Drucksensor und/oder Druckschalter,
• eine Reinigungseinrichtung zum Reinigen, Entkalken und/oder Klarspülen des zumindest einen Innenraums, wie in Form des Garraums, eines Wasserkessel des Dampfgenerators und/oder eines Kondensatorraums, insbesondere umfassend zumindest ein Reinigungsmittelreservoir, eine Reinigungsmitteldüse, eine dritte Pumpeinrichtung, eine sechste Absperreinrichtung und/oder eine achte Sensiereinrichtung,
• eine Hebe- und/oder Senkeinrichtung für einen Deckel oder einen Garbehälter in einem Tiegel, insbesondere umfassend einen Hubzylinder und eine neunte Sensiereinrichtung,
• eine Kippeinrichtung zum Verkippen eines Tiegels, insbesondere umfassend einen Hubzylinder, eine zehnte Sensiereinrichtung, ein Potentiometer und/oder einen Endschalter
• eine Verriegelungseinrichtung zum Verriegeln eines Garraums, vorzugsweise in einem Tiegel, insbesondere umfassend einen Hubzylinder, eine elfte Sensiereinrichtung ein Potentiometer und/oder einen Endschalter, und/oder
• zumindest eine Absperrvorrichtung in einem Fluidkreislauf, insbesondere umfassend zumindest ein Magnetventil und/oder eine zwölfte Sensiereinrichtung.

The first and / or second components can, in particular by an operator, be selected or, in particular, be composed by the control or regulating device from a group comprising:

• a heating device, in particular comprising at least one electric heater, such as in the form of heating coil, heating plates or the like, a gas-powered heater, a microwave source, a heat accumulator, a heat exchanger and / or a sensing device,
• a moisture supply device, in particular comprising at least one steam generator, a water atomizer, at least one Beschwadungsdüse, a first shut-off device and / or a second sensing device,
• a moisture removal device, in particular comprising at least one condenser, preferably with at least one quenching nozzle, a fresh air supply, a second shut-off device and / or a third sensing device,
• a fluid supply device, in particular comprising at least one cleaning agent nozzle, a Beschwadungsdüse, a Ablöschdüse, means for, in particular controlled, filling a crucible with water, a third shut-off device and / or a fourth sensing device, preferably in the form of a flow sensor,
• a liquid discharge device, in particular with at least one fourth shut-off device, a first pumping device and / or a fifth sensing device
• a cooking-chamber circulation device, in particular comprising at least one fan device, a second pump device and / or a sixth sensor device,
• a Druckgareinrichtung, in particular comprising at least a fifth shut-off device and / or a seventh sensing device, preferably with a pressure sensor and / or pressure switch,
• a cleaning device for cleaning, descaling and / or rinsing the at least one interior space, such as in the cooking chamber, a boiler of the steam generator and / or a condenser space, in particular comprising at least one detergent reservoir, a Reinigungsmitteldüse, a third pumping device, a sixth shut-off device and / or an eighth sensing device,
• a lifting and / or lowering device for a lid or a cooking container in a crucible, in particular comprising a lifting cylinder and a ninth sensing device,
• a tilting device for tilting a crucible, in particular comprising a lifting cylinder, a tenth sensing device, a potentiometer and / or a limit switch
• a locking device for locking a cooking chamber, preferably in a crucible, in particular comprising a lifting cylinder, an eleventh sensing device, a potentiometer and / or a limit switch, and / or
• at least one shut-off device in a fluid circuit, in particular comprising at least one solenoid valve and / or a twelfth sensing device.

It can be a diagnostic information display with at least a first, detected during the course of the work program in the cooking appliance, which is determined by at least one temperature, a microwave energy, a humidity, a flow rate, a pressure, a water level, a power supply, a detergent concentration, a detergent turbidity and / or a period of time to appear.

A diagnostic program may be activated after authentication via a code entry, and / or via radio, an intranet, the Internet and / or a handset. Furthermore, a diagnostic program may start at least at a certain point in time of a work program after activation, preferably during cooking programs during a heating phase and / or during a maximum moisture supply, and / or during cleaning programs during a cleaning cycle.

A second quantity sampled during the functional test may be determined by an engine speed, a pumping power, a power supply, an opening degree of a shut-off device, a clogging degree of a nozzle, and / or a duration of time.

A cooking appliance can be set up to carry out a method according to the invention. It can be provided that the display device, operating device and / or control or regulating device of the cooking appliance, a handset and / or a control center is or are included.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the display device and the operating device are at least partially formed together in the form of a touch screen, and / or the display device comprises at least one projection device, wherein preferably the operating device is a sensing device for detecting an object, such as in the form of a pointer, finger or the like, in at least one projection plane of the projection device.

The invention is thus based on the surprising finding that, without the aid of a manual, circuit diagram or the like, by means of a visualized representation of at least some of the components of a cooking appliance, an identification of said components is directly possible, language problems or the like can be avoided by activating a selected component on the display device. and by initiating a diagnostic program or functional test by activating the component direct access to the various components is possible. This greatly facilitates troubleshooting and / or error analysis while improving the debugging rate.

It is particularly advantageous if a touchscreen is used, on which not only the components are displayed visualized, for example. In the form of graphic Funktionsbildem, but also selected components can be activated. A similarly simple structure is obtained when using a projection device for a display device and a sensing device for detecting an object in a projection plane as part of an operating device.

The method according to the invention can be language-independent, do without descriptive texts and thus represents a universally usable analysis tool that is self-explanatory due to a simple menu structure.

In order to avoid the risk of impairing a cooking process through the expiration of a diagnostic program to be run in parallel therewith, according to the invention two measures which can be used alternatively or cumulatively are proposed, namely the initiation only by a technical service, namely after authentication, and on the other a starting only at certain appropriate times, such as during a heating phase or a maximum moisture, in particular with 100% steaming performance. For cleaning programs, the same applies.

The inventive method also allows easy retrofitting already on the market Gargeräte.

• Figuren 1a und 1b : jeweils einen Anzeigebereich eines Gargeräts während des Ablaufs eines Diagnoseprogramms gemäß einem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren;
• Figur 2 : einen Anzeigebereich eines Gargeräts während des Ablaufs eines Funktionstests während eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;
• Figur 3a : den Ablauf eines bekannten Diagnoseprogramms;
• Figur 3b : den Ablauf einer bekannten Abfrage einer Serviceinformation; und
• Figur 3c : den Ablauf eines bekannten Funktionstestteils.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which embodiments thereof are illustrated with reference to schematic drawings. Showing:

• FIGS. 1a and 1b in each case a display area of a cooking appliance during the course of a diagnostic program according to a method according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 a display area of a cooking appliance during the course of a functional test during a method according to the invention;
• FIG. 3a : the course of a known diagnostic program;
• FIG. 3b : the expiration of a known query of a service information; and
• Figure 3c : the sequence of a known function test part.

An inventive method can be implemented in a cooking appliance, in the food to be cooked with hot air and / or steam can be acted upon, so that similar components as in a SelfCooking Center (R) are used. It is essential for the invention that a visualized representation of all relevant components of the cooking appliance for troubleshooting and / or analysis can be displayed on a display area. The FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2 corresponding display areas 1a, 1b and 1c are to be taken, each containing a cooking appliance display 2a, 2b, 2c. Thereafter, the cooking appliance comprises the following components:
A cooking chamber 10 is operatively connected to a fan room, in which a fan 11 is arranged in the form of a radial fan around which in turn heating coil for providing a heater 12 are arranged. In addition, a steam supply opening 13 leads into the blower chamber for the introduction of steam from a steam generator 20, while further a Beschwadungsdüse 14 opens into the fan room, so as to apply food in the cooking chamber 10 optionally with hot air and / or steam and / or beschwaden can. The cooking chamber 10 is also connected to a drain 15 and a vent 16. In order to be able to circulate a washing liquor serving as a cleaning agent not only in the cooking chamber 10 during a cleaning process, a cleaning agent nozzle 17 connected to a condenser 30 is arranged in the cooking chamber 10. About the trigger 16 is also, for example, for dehumidifying the atmosphere in the cooking chamber 10 fresh air via the blower 11 sucked.

The steam generator 20 comprises a water boiler 21 with a heater 22, wherein the water boiler 21 is not only connected to the cooking chamber 10, namely via the steam supply opening 13, but also with the condenser 30, a water supply 40 and a trigger 51. For emptying the Kettle 21 is also a pump 23 is provided.

The condenser 30 is, as already mentioned, connected via the outflow 15 to the cooking chamber 10, comprises an associated with the water supply 40 Ablöschdüse 31, is in operative connection with the trigger 51 and leads to a drain 32nd

In the trigger 51, a water nozzle 50 is still arranged. In addition, a plurality of shut-off devices, other pumps and also sensors are provided which will not be discussed here in detail except for a temperature sensor 24 and a level electrode 25 in the water boiler 21.

The display area 1a shines on a display device (not shown), for example in the form of a touchscreen or in a projection plane of a beamer, for example, in front of the cooking appliance during a work program, eg in the form of a cooking program, for troubleshooting and / or analysis according to the invention Diagnostic program to start. For this purpose, for example, after pressing a button not shown for activating diagnostic programs during the cooking program, a portion of the cooking appliance display 2a by touching with a Fingers are selected, as in FIG. 1 a is shown by touching the heater 22 of the steam generator 20 with an index finger of a hand.

By selecting the heater 22 on the cooking appliance display 2a, a diagnostic program associated with the heater 22 will initiate, parallel to said cooking program, with a real-time query of information to the heater 22, which will eventually show a diagnostic information display 3a to the heater 22 leads. In particular, the temperature in the kettle 21, as detected by the temperature sensor 24, here 80 ° C., can be taken from this diagnostic information display. Further, from the diagnostic information display 3a, it can be seen that the level electrode 25 is in contact with water (S2 = 0, i.e., water below the level electrode 25, and S2 = 1, that is, water in the level of the level electrode 25). Finally, it can be seen from the diagnostic information display 3a that the heater 22 is 100% active. Based on this information (first quantities) on the diagnosis information display 3a, it is possible to check whether the heater 22 is operating properly or not.

If, for example, the diagnosis information display 3a, as in the present case, it can be seen that the heater 22 is working properly, can be changed by pressing a back button 4a in another menu level. In particular, information about the cooking program can then be displayed again, parallel to which the diagnostic program has been started.

1. i) M4 = 1
   Die Pumpe 23 ist eingeschaltet (0 = ausgeschaltet und 1 = eingeschaltet).
2. ii) Laufzeit = 186 Minuten
   Die Laufzeit der Pumpe 23 beträgt zur Zeit der Abfrage durch das Diagnoseprogramm 186 Minuten.
3. iii) S2 = 1
   Die Niveauelektrode 25 hat Kontakt mit Wasser.
4. iv) Service 10 = 5
   Eine Serviceinformation zu der Pumpe 23 ist bereits 5-mal abgefragt worden.
5. v) Service 10 = 08.10.08
   Die letzte Serviceanfrage zur Pumpe 23 hat am 08. Oktober 2008 stattgefunden.

Of course, all other components of the cooking appliance shown in the cooking appliance 2a can be diagnosed. If, for example, a service information query has shown that the pump 23 is defective, a display area 1b with a cooking appliance display 2b, in which the pump 23 is optically highlighted, automatically appears according to the invention. If now the optically highlighted area is activated, for example, with the index finger of a hand by touching a touchscreen, a diagnostic information display 3b appears on the display area 1b. The following information can be taken from this diagnostic information display 3b:

1. i) M4 = 1
   The pump 23 is switched on (0 = switched off and 1 = switched on).
2. ii) running time = 186 minutes
   The running time of the pump 23 at the time of the query by the diagnostic program 186 minutes.
3. S2) = 1
   The level electrode 25 is in contact with water.
4. iv) Service 10 = 5
   A service information to the pump 23 has already been queried 5 times.
5. v) Service 10 = 08.10.08
   The last service request to the pump 23 took place on October 08, 2008.

The information i) to iii) are quantities to the pump 23 (first sizes), while the information iv) and v) relate to the history of diagnostic programs or service requests (third sizes).

On the basis of the information appearing on the diagnostic information display 3b, a fault analysis can be carried out and, if necessary, the pump 23 repaired. Once troubleshooting has been completed, the pump run time and service information query information can be reset, see "Reset" sections in the Diagnostic Information Display 3b. Then can be changed by pressing the back button 4b in a not shown further menu.

Alternatively, troubleshooting and / or analysis according to the invention may also comprise performing a function as described below FIG. 2 explained in the case in which either a service information query or diagnostic program flow has shown that the pump 23 is defective.

In the display area 1c, the cooking appliance display 2c appears in this case with an optical highlighting of the pump 23. To carry out a functional test on the pump 23, the area of the pump 23 in the cooking appliance display 2c can be touched with the index finger of one hand. As a result, a possibly expiring work program is completed, so to speak manually and the pump 23 is turned on. Then can be seen from a function information display 3c, the pump 23 is switched on (second size) and the level electrode 25 has contact with water (second size).

Advantageously, an operator can display certain functions, either alternatively or in addition to the cooking appliance display 2c and function display 3c, in the display area 1c. It would be conceivable here, for example, to display a temperature profile, for example the course of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 24 over time, without a corresponding temperature profile of the temperature FIG. 2 can be seen.

The features of the invention disclosed in the preceding description, the claims and the drawings may be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims (8)

1. A method for fault finding or analysis in a cooking device by displaying of at least one first or second variable, wherein the cooking device is equipped with a first plurality of first components for cooking items to be cooked in a cooking chamber and a second plurality of second components for cleaning at least one interior of the cooking device, with at least one display device, at least one operating device, and at least one open-loop or closed-loop control device,
   characterized in that

   • at least a part of the first components or at least a part of the second components is visually displayed on the display device, in that they are depicted on the display device graphically via pictograms, schematically in the form of a circuit diagram or photographically, wherein the first or second components are depicted induing their interconnections,

   • at least one of the displayed first or second components can be activated via the operating device, wherein each activated component can be subject to a diagnostic program or a function test via the open-loop or closed-loop control device, and,

   • after execution of a diagnostic program running in parallel during an operating program of the cooking device, a diagnostic information display with at least the first variable detected during the execution of the operating program in the cooking device appears on the display device, or after carrying out a function test, a function information display with at least the second variable queried during the function test appears on the display device.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after detection of a defect via at least one sensing device, the open-loop or closed-loop control device determines at least one first or second component affected by the defect or an assembly affected by the defect, and each affected component or the affected assembly is highlighted optically on the display device compared to the remaining components.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a diagnostic program is activated after authentication and/or via radio, an intranet, the internet and/or a handheld unit, or a diagnostic program starts at at least one defined point of an operating program after activation.
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diagnostic information display shows the first variable or the function information display shows the second variable at at least one point in time or as a function of time.
5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a selection or change can be made between a diagnostic program and a function test by actuating the operating device.
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first variable detected by a diagnostic program is compared with stored variables for detection of a defect, and a function test is automatically started if a defect is detected.
7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a history of diagnostic programs or function tests is displayed in the form of at least one third variable.
8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the third variable comprises the number of diagnostic programs or function tests since start-up of the cooking device, the average interval between two successive diagnostic programs, the average interval between two successive function tests or the period of time since the last diagnostic program or the last function test was carried out.

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