U.S. patent application number 12/065576 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-23 for method for controlling a heating device and system for carrying out said method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Miele & Cie. KG. Invention is credited to Torsten Erdmann, Frank Liemke, Diana Mueller, Joerg Nattkemper, Detlef Niehaus, Verena Pohlmann, Ulrich Van Pels.
Application Number | 20080257970 12/065576 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37110169 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080257970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Erdmann; Torsten ; et
al. |
October 23, 2008 |
Method for Controlling a Heating Device and System for Carrying Out
Said Method
Abstract
A method for controlling a warming device includes: providing a
system including the warming device and a household appliance, the
system configured to at least one of process and prepare at least
one of a beverage and a food; and automatically turning on a
heating element of the warming device by a selection of a future
activation time at which the household appliance is switched from a
standby state to an ON state, the selection being made using the
household appliance.
Inventors: |
Erdmann; Torsten; (Beckum,
DE) ; Liemke; Frank; (Guetersloh, DE) ;
Mueller; Diana; (Guetersloh, DE) ; Nattkemper;
Joerg; (Hamm, DE) ; Niehaus; Detlef; (Hamm,
DE) ; Pohlmann; Verena; (Brussels, BE) ; Van
Pels; Ulrich; (Rheda-Wiedenbrueck, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P.O. BOX 770, Church Street Station
New York
NY
10008-0770
US
|
Assignee: |
Miele & Cie. KG
Guetersloh
DE
|
Family ID: |
37110169 |
Appl. No.: |
12/065576 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
August 26, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP06/08392 |
371 Date: |
March 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
237/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/52 20130101;
A47J 31/4417 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
237/12 |
International
Class: |
F24D 19/00 20060101
F24D019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 1, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 041 776.0 |
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9: A method for controlling a warming device, the method
comprising: providing a system including the warming device and a
household appliance, the system configured to at least one of
process and prepare at least one of a beverage and a food; and
automatically turning on a heating element of the warming device by
a selection of a future activation time at which the household
appliance is switched from a standby state to an ON state, the
selection being made using the household appliance.
10: The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the automatically
turning on the heating element is performed so as to turn on the
heating element at a point in time subsequent to the selection of
the activation time of the household appliance and prior to the
activation time.
11: The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the automatically
turning off the heating element is performed so as to turn off the
heating element at a point in time subsequent to a selection of a
future deactivation time of the household appliance and prior to
the deactivation time.
12: The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising
automatically turning off the heating element using the household
appliance at a point in time subsequent to a selection of a future
deactivation time of the household appliance and prior to the
deactivation time.
13: A system configured to at least one of process and prepare at
least one of beverages and foods, the system comprising: a
household appliance configured to select a future activation time
at which the household appliance is switched from a standby state
to an ON state; and a warming device including a heating element
configured to be automatically turned on by the selection of the
future activation time.
14: The system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the
household appliance and the warming device is configured to preset
a time interval between the activation of the heating element and
the activation of the household appliance.
15: The system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the
household appliance and the warming device is configured to preset
a time interval between a deactivation of the heating element and a
deactivation time of the household appliance.
16: The system as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the
household appliance and the warming device is configured to preset
a time interval between a deactivation of the heating element and a
deactivation time of the household appliance.
17: The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the warming device
includes a control element configured to turn off the heating
element independently of settings made using the household
appliance prior to the turning off.
18: The system as recited in claims 14, wherein the warming device
includes a control element configured to turn off the heating
element independently of settings made using the household
appliance prior to the turning off.
19: The system as recited in claims 15, wherein the warming device
includes a control element configured to turn off the heating
element independently of settings made using the household
appliance prior to the turning off.
20: The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the household
appliance includes a control element configured to turn off the
household appliance manually and independently of settings made
using the household appliance prior to the turning off.
21: The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the household
appliance includes a control element configured to turn off the
household appliance manually and independently of settings made
using the household appliance prior to the turning off.
22: The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the household
appliance includes a control element configured to turn off the
household appliance manually and independently of settings made
using the household appliance prior to the turning off.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 371 of International Patent Application No.
PCT/EP2006/008392, filed Aug. 26, 2006, and claims benefit of
German Patent Application No. 10 2005 041 776.0, filed Sep. 1,
2005. The International Application was published in German on Mar.
8, 2007 as WO 2007/025688 A1 under PCT Article 21(2).
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a
warming device for warming dishes, glasses, or the like, and to a
system for carrying out said method.
BACKGROUND
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,391 B1. describes a system that includes
a cooking range and a warming drawer integrated therein. The
heating element of the known warming drawer is manually turned on
as needed, using a rotary knob provided on the range. Once the
range is in pyrolytic mode, the heating element of the warming
drawer is automatically turned off.
[0004] Moreover, German Patent DE 41 39 804 C1 describes a method
for controlling a warming device for warming coffee cups of a
coffee maker, the warming device and the coffeemaker together
forming one system. The warming device is controlled as a function
of the operating state of the coffee maker, a heating element of
the warming device being automatically turned on as a function of
the activation of the coffee machine.
SUMMARY
[0005] It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a method
for controlling a warming device, which will enhance the
ease-of-use.
[0006] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method
for controlling a warming device. The method includes: providing a
system including the warming device and a household appliance, the
system configured to at least one of process and prepare at least
one of a beverage and a food; and automatically turning on a
heating element of the warming device by a selection of a future
activation time at which the household appliance is switched from a
standby state to an ON state, the selection being made using the
household appliance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Aspects of the present invention will now be described by
way of exemplary embodiments with reference to the following
drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] In addition to enhancing the ease-of-use, an advantage
offered by the present invention is that it improves the quality of
the beverages and foods served. This is advantageous when there is
a relatively long period of time between the preparation and
consumption of the beverages or foods.
[0012] A future activation time at which the household appliance is
switched from a standby state to an ON state can be selected on the
household appliance. Since the heating element of the warming
device is automatically turned on by such a selection, it is
possible to turn on the warming device before the household
appliance is fully operational, so that the warming device can
already be used when the household appliance is switched on.
[0013] According to an aspect of the aforementioned exemplary
embodiment, the heating element of the warming device is turned on
at a point in time subsequent to the selection of the activation
time of the household appliance and prior to this activation time.
This is advantageous, for example, when it is desired to pre-warm
dishes, such as cups or the like, so as to prevent hot beverages or
foods from cooling down before they are consumed.
[0014] In another embodiment according to the present invention,
the heating element of the warming device is automatically turned
off at a point in time subsequent to the selection of a future
deactivation time of the household appliance on the household
appliance and prior to this deactivation time. This makes it easier
for the user to control the warming device, thus further improving
the ease-of-use.
[0015] In an embodiment according to the present invention, the
time interval between the activation of the heating element of the
warming device and the activation time of the household appliance
can be preset on the household appliance or on the warming device.
This further improves the ease-of-use. Thus, the user can easily
control the level of heating of the warming device according to
his/her subjective perception.
[0016] In another embodiment, the time interval between the
deactivation of the heating element of the warming device and the
deactivation time of the household appliance can be preset on the
household appliance or on the warming device. This additionally
allows the user to set this time interval according to his/her
subjective perception. The user is thus also able to influence the
energy consumption of the warming device as desired.
[0017] Since the heating element of the warming device can be
turned off by a control element of the warming device independently
of the settings made on the household appliance prior to
manipulating the control element, the user is able to disable the
automatism of the present invention, if desired.
[0018] The same objective underlies an embodiment of the system, in
which the household appliance has a control element which allows
the household appliance to be completely turned off manually
independently of the settings made on the household appliance prior
to manipulating the control element. This allows the warming device
to be turned off indirectly.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. The system according to the
present invention includes a household appliance 2 in the form of a
beverage preparing device and a warming device 4 in the form of a
warming drawer. Beverage preparing device 2 is an automatic coffee
maker which is designed as a built-in unit. Warming drawer 4 is
also designed as a built-in unit and serves to warm, or keep warm,
dishes, particularly coffee cups. In this embodiment, household
appliance 2 has an electrical receptacle which can be switched by
controller 2.1 of household appliance 2 and is connected to the
electrical mains 6. Heating element 4.1 of warming device 4 is
designed as a radiant heating element and is connected to the
switchable receptacle of household appliance 2 via a power cord 8.
Warming device 4 also has an externally manipulatable control
element 4.2 which can also be used to interrupt the supply of power
to heating element 4.1. In the figure, both the switch of the
switchable receptacle and switch 4.3, which can be operated by
control element 4.2, are shown in their rest positions, in which
power supply from electrical mains 6 via power cord 8 to heating
element 4.1 is interrupted.
[0020] The present exemplary embodiment is a system in which, in
addition to an OFF state in which household appliance 2 is
completely turned off, and an ON state in which household appliance
2 is completely turned on so that all functions of household
appliance 2 are available, household appliance 2 can also be
switched to a standby state, either automatically or manually. In
this standby state, not all the functions of household appliance 2
are available. In particular, the main functions for making coffee
are not available in this mode. In the ON state, the user can
select a future activation time at which household appliance 2 will
be returned to the ON state after it has previously been switched
to the standby state. To this end, controller 2.1 has integrated
therein a generally known timer which produces a control signal for
switching household appliance 2 to the ON state, said control
signal being produced on a daily basis at the specified activation
time.
[0021] The operation of the present exemplary embodiment will now
be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 1.
[0022] Household appliance 2, which is in the form of a beverage
preparing device, and warming device 4, which in the form of a
warming drawer, are OFF and switch 4.3, which can be operated by
control element 4.2, is in the rest position shown in FIG. 1. The
user turns on household appliance 2 using a control element 4.2
which is takes the form of a main switch and is provided on the
household appliance. Controller 2.1 of household appliance 2 is
designed such that when household appliance 2 is turned on, the
switch of the switchable receptacle is simultaneously moved from
the rest position shown in FIG. 1 to the closed position, so that
heating element 4.1 of warming device 4 is connected to electrical
mains 6. Heating element 4.1 heats the interior of warming device
4, so that dishes placed therein are pre-warmed. Once beverage
preparing device 2 is ready to operate, the user may tap coffee
into a pre-warmed cup.
[0023] This beverage preparing device 2 is provided with controls
and indicators which also allow the user to select and set a future
activation time at which beverage preparing device 2 will be turned
on again after it has previously been switched to the standby
state. To this end, the controls and indicators are connected in
signal communication with the controller of beverage preparing
device 2 in a manner known per se. In addition, the user can use
the controls and indicators to select and set a time interval by
which the activation of heating element 4.1 of warming device 4 is
to precede the activation of beverage preparing device 2.
[0024] Similar to the activation time, the user can also select and
set a future deactivation time for beverage preparing device 2
using the controls and indicators. As with the activation of
heating element 4.1 of warming device 4, the user can use the
controls and indicators to select and set a time interval by which
the deactivation of heating element 4.1 is to precede the
deactivation of beverage preparing device 2.
[0025] The aforementioned settings with respect to the activation
and deactivation times of beverage preparing device 2 and with
respect to the activation and deactivation of heating element 4.1
of warming device 4, which have been made by the user using the
controls and indicators of beverage preparing device 2, are stored
in a memory of controller 2.1 and are used by controller 2.1 of
beverage preparing device 2 until they are changed by the user.
[0026] When beverage preparing device 2 and heating element 4.1 of
warming device 4 are ON, the user can disable the above-mentioned
automatism by manipulating control element 4.2 and manually turn
off heating element 4.1 independently of the settings previously
made on beverage preparing device 2. Once the deactivation time
specified for beverage preparing device 2 and stored in controller
2.1 is reached, the beverage preparing device is switched from the
ON state to the standby state. In this manner, switch 4.3, which
can be operated by control element 4.2, is returned to its rest
position, see FIG. 1. When the activation time for beverage
preparing device 2 is reached again, the beverage preparing device
is automatically switched from the standby state to the ON state.
If, as explained earlier, the user has selected and specified a
time interval by which the activation of heating element 4.1 is to
precede the activation of beverage preparing device 2, warming
device 4 is heated accordingly and dishes placed therein are
already pre-warmed. If the user has not specified any such time
interval, heating element 4.1 will be automatically turned on when
beverage preparing device 2 is switched from the standby state to
the ON state.
[0027] If, contrary to the above, the user turns beverage preparing
device 2 completely off using main switch 2.2, then both beverage
preparing device 2 and heating element 4.1 of warming device 4 will
not be automatically turned on again. Beverage preparing device 2
and heating element 4.1 will not be turned again until main switch
2.2 is operated again. Since the settings previously made on
beverage preparing device 2 with respect to the daily activation
and deactivation times of beverage preparing device 2 are stored in
a memory of controller 2.1, these settings are used again once
beverage preparing device 2 is returned to the standby state.
[0028] The present exemplary embodiment requires the use of a
special switch 4.3, because this switch automatically moves to the
rest position after beverage preparing device 2 is switched from
the ON state to the standby state. However, in principle, switch
4.3 can also be a conventional switch. In this case, however, it
would be necessary to manually return switch 4.3 to the rest
position by manipulating control element 4.2. This allows an
otherwise conventional warming device 4 to be turned on
automatically as a function of the operating state of beverage
preparing device 2.
[0029] Furthermore, warming device 4, in addition to being supplied
with power via beverage preparing device 2, could be connected
directly to another power supply. Thus, heating element 4.1 of
warming device 4 would be able to be turned on both depending on
beverage preparing device 2 and independently of beverage preparing
device 2.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment. In contrast to
the first exemplary embodiment, heating element 4.1 of warming
device 4 is controlled by two household appliances 2, namely a
beverage preparing device and a cooking range. Controllers 2.1 of
household appliances 2 are each connected in signal communication
with a controller 4.4. of warming device 4 via safety low voltage
lines 10. Moreover, control element 4.2 is connected in signal
communication with controller 4.4. Controller 4.4 operates switch
4.3 as a function of the signals from household appliances 2 and
control element 4.2, so that heating element 4.1 is or is not
electrically conductively connected to electrical mains 6. The
safety low voltage lines 10 used here facilitate the wiring between
household appliances 2 and warming devices 4 in the second
exemplary embodiment. Apart from that, this exemplary embodiment is
similar to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0031] It would also be possible to use line voltage in place of
safety low voltage.
[0032] A third exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. Contrary to
the second exemplary embodiment, in this exemplary embodiment, an
electrical power supply line 10 is used for signal transfer in a
generally known manner in place of the safety low voltage lines
between household appliances 2 and warming device 4. Thus, a system
provided in appliances 2 and 4 for signal transmission via
electrical power supply line 10 can also be used for the method of
the present invention, thereby further reducing the wiring
complexity and thus the cost of manufacture.
[0033] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary
embodiments described herein. For example, the method of the
present invention can also be used in other suitable household
appliances for processing or preparing beverages or foods and
warming devices, in particular food warmers. Moreover, it is also
possible to use other suitable heating elements.
* * * * *