Abstract:
A system used to program and coordinate the cooking operations for two or more ovens such that the cooking operations are completed at the same time, independent of particular setting variations. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a single controller is utilized to program each of the ovens, with the controller incorporating an auto sequencing feature which causes the different cooking operations to be automatically performed, while terminating at the same time. Preferably, the system enables a second cooking operation to be programmed and initiated after a first cooking operation, while still providing for the auto sequencing of the cooking operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention pertains to the art of cooking appliances and, more particularly, to a system for programming multiple ovens for different cooking operations, while enabling automatic sequencing of the cooking operations such that the operations can terminate simultaneously.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    When preparing a meal, whether in a commercial or residential setting, it is typically necessary to plan in advance the sequence in which different food items will be cooked in an attempt to have all the components of the meal completed at the same time. In some environments, only a single oven is available such that it is impossible to have all of the desired components of the meal done at the same time. However, the facilities at essentially all commercial cooking establishments provide for multiple ovens. Even in a residential setting, dual wall ovens are fairly commonplace. In addition, slide-in ranges which incorporate multiple ovens are now advantageously available in the marketplace. In any event, there exists various scenarios wherein multiple oven cooking operations can be performed for a single overall meal.  
           [0005]    Regardless of the availability of multiple cooking ovens, the timing in the completion of the meal depends upon individual(s) actually preparing the meal. For example, if the cook is to prepare a casserole and biscuits, with the casserole needing to be cooked at 350° F. for 60 minutes, and the biscuits at 475° F. for 12 minutes, it is necessary for the cook to timely preheat the ovens and place the biscuits for baking after the casserole has been cooking for 48 minutes. Taking into account all the remaining prep and other work which might be required in connection with the overall meal, it is not uncommon to miss the window of opportunity in timing the cooking of various components of a meal. Obviously, missing this window can have a negative effect on the success of the entire meal. Although some cooking appliances provide for the programming of a delayed cooking operation, this still requires the user to calculate the delayed cooking time between the ovens and then to program at least one oven to operate in a delay cook mode. Not only can this process be time consuming, but it leaves room for errors which could detriment the meal.  
           [0006]    Based on the above, it would be beneficial to enable multiple cooking cavities to be programmed for separate cooking operations through a system which provides for an automatic sequencing of the cooking operations. With such an arrangement, even though the cooking operations to be performed may have various different parameters, such as cooking time and temperature, the operations can be caused to advantageously, automatically finish at the same time.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is directed to a system used to program and coordinate the cooking operations for two or more ovens such that the cooking operations are completed at the same time, independent of particular setting variations. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a single controller is utilized to program each of the ovens, with the controller incorporating an auto sequencing feature which causes the different cooking operations to be automatically performed, while terminating at the same time. Preferably, the system enables a second cooking operation to be programmed and initiated after a first cooking operation, while still providing for the auto sequencing of the cooking operation.  
           [0008]    In accordance with the invention, a user need not calculate any delayed cooking operation or properly time the initiation of a second cooking operation in order to assure that the multiple cooking operations will finish at the same time. In any event, additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide-in double oven range incorporating the automatic cook sequencing system of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a double wall oven incorporating the automatic cook sequencing system of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the control system of the invention; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a control sequence in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    With initial reference to FIG. 1, the invention is illustrated for use in connection with an electric range generally indicated at  2 . In the embodiment shown, electric range  2  includes a cabinet  5  within which is arranged a first or upper oven  8  and a second or lower oven  9 . Upper and lower ovens  8  and  9  have associated doors  10  and  11  which are respectively provided with handles  12  and  13  that can be used to pivot doors  10  and  11  in order to access respective cooking chambers or cavities of ovens  8  and  9 . For the sake of completeness, this figure illustrates doors  10  and  11  with respective viewing windows  14  and  15 .  
         [0014]    Cabinet  5  is also provided with an associated range top  18  which supports various spaced surface heating elements  20 - 23  in a manner known in the art. At an upper rear portion, cabinet  5  includes an upstanding portion  26  which is provided with a control panel  28 . At this point, it should be realized that the arrangement and location of control panel  28  could vary in accordance with the present invention. For example, control panel  28  could be located along an upper face panel  32  of cabinet  5 . In any event, upstanding portion  26  includes a plurality of knobs  36 - 39  for use in selectively activating and deactivating surface heating elements  20 - 23  respectively. Control panel  28  is preferably arranged between knobs  36 - 39  and is shown to include a substantially central display  44 , such as an LED, LCD or VFD display unit. Furthermore, control panel  28  is provided with a number pad generally indicated at  46  that has an associated button  48  for use in setting a clock arranged either within display  44  or in another portion of control panel  28 .  
         [0015]    As also known in the art and shown in this figure, control panel  28  of range  2  includes a first row of control buttons generally indicated at  51  which are generally used to establish an operational mode for upper oven  8 . Although not separately labeled, first row  51  preferably includes cancel, bake, broil, cleaning mode, toasting, warming mode and light control members shown in the form of buttons. In a generally similar manner, a second row of control buttons  61  are provided for lower oven  9 . In the most preferred form of the invention, second row  61  includes cancel, bake, broil, cleaning mode, convection mode and light control members, preferably in the form of individual buttons. In the most preferred form of the invention, the user is able to program the operation of at least upper and lower ovens  8  and  9  through the use of the first and second rows of buttons  51  and  61 , along with numeric pad  46 , timer buttons  70  and  72 , cook time and stop time buttons  74  and  76 , and an auto set button  78 . Since this basic programming arrangement is known in the art as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,630 which is incorporated herein by reference, and not considered part of the present invention, it will not be described further here in detail. Instead, with reference to this first embodiment, the inclusion of sequencing button  80 , shown arranged between the convection mode and light buttons in row  61  for exemplary purposes, is of concern with respect to the present invention. In general, sequencing button  80  can be used to cause programmed cooking operations for ovens  8  and  9  to automatically terminate at the same time, regardless of whether different cooking levels, times and/or modes are selected. In any event, additional details of the preferred sequencing control will be presented below after discussing the embodiment of FIG. 2.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 shows the invention in connection with a cooking appliance  102  depicted as a wall oven. In the embodiment shown, cooking appliance  102  constitutes a dual oven wall unit which includes a structural frame  103  supporting an upper cooking cavity  104  and a lower cooking cavity  105 . According to the present invention, respective door assemblies  110  and  111  are provided to selectively provide access to upper and lower cooking cavities  104  and  105 . Cooking appliance  102  is shown to incorporate an upper control panel  112 . In the embodiment shown, control panel  112  includes first and second rows of oven control buttons  113  and  114  for programming, in combination with a numeric pad  115  and a display  117 , particular cooking operations for oven cavities  104  and  105  respectively.  
         [0017]    Again the general programming and operation of cooking appliance  102  to perform distinct cooking operations in oven cavities  104  and  105  is known in the art and does not form part of the present invention. Instead, like the embodiment of FIG. 1, different cooking operations can be established for oven cavities  104  and  105  through upper control panel  112 . What is important to note in connection with this embodiment is that the present invention can be applied to dual wall ovens. In fact, the invention is applicable to any dual oven arrangement wherein the controls for the ovens are linked. At this point, it should be realized that the embodiment of FIG. 2 has not been described as including a button directly corresponding to sequencing button  80  of the first embodiment. Instead, in this embodiment, certain predetermined control elements on panel  112  are utilized to initiate a desired sequencing operation. For instance, depressing two or more buttons within numeric pad  115  simultaneously would initiate the sequencing operation as will not be discussed with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0018]    In accordance with the invention, the sequencing operation can be performed in various fashions. In general, the control of cooking operations performed in oven cavities  8  and  9 , or  104  and  105 , are regulated by a common controller, such as CPU  200  as shown in FIG.  3 . CPU  200  receives cooking operation control inputs for upper oven cavities  8 ,  104  as indicated at  205 , with upper oven inputs  205  collectively including selection from row  51 ,  113 , numeric pad  46 ,  115 , cook time and temperature settings. In a similar manner, CPU  200  receives cooking operation control inputs for lower oven cavities  9 ,  105  as generically indicated at  210 . Additional control signals can also be received in a manner known in the art, such as temperature and door position signals as indicated at  215  and  220  respectively. Again, operating a dual oven in this general manner is known in the art. However, in accordance with the invention, CPU  200  is also linked to a sequencing control  225 , which preferably constitutes either sequencing control button  80  or a predetermined simultaneous or sequential operation of a plurality of control elements. CPU  200  can also output various operational parameters, such as audible and/or visual signals at  250 , upper oven heating element(s)  255 , lower oven heating element(s)  260 , lights  265  within the oven cavities  8 ,  9  or  104 ,  105 , and door locks  270 .  
         [0019]    More specifically, in accordance with the invention, the cooking mode, temperature and/or time settings for upper and lower oven cavities  8 ,  9  or  104 ,  105  can vary from each other by inputs at  205  and  210 . If sequencing control  225  is not activated, separate and distinct cooking operations will simply be performed, whether immediately or on a delay basic depending on the particular operator programming. However, if sequencing control  225  is activated, CPU  200  will automatically function to sequence the two cooking operations to finish at the same time. In this sense, the operator need not calculate one or more specific delay times in order to assure that two different food items will be completed simultaneously.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 will now be reference to present a particular cooking example. In initial step  400 , a user establishes a first desired cooking operation in a first one of the dual oven cavities, such as a casserole to be cooked at 350° F. for sixty minutes. In accordance with the invention, a user can next establish a second desired cooking operation for the second one of the dual oven cavities in step  405 , such as arranging biscuits for cooking at 475° F. for twelve minutes. It is also possible in accordance with the invention to enable the first cooking operation to be initiated at  410  prior to proceeding to step  405 . In either case, if an automatic sequencing control signal is received at  415 , the first and second cooking operations will be automatically sequenced to finish at the same time. In the particular example provided, the start of the second cooking operation would be automatically delayed by CPU  200  for approximately forty-eight minutes and, more specifically, enough time to allow for the twelve minute cook time and, preferably, an ample warm-up period.  
         [0021]    When employing the present invention, the user need not calculate any delay period, which can be particularly problematic if an initial delayed cooking operation is established for the first oven cavity or if the first cooking operation is already underway. If a second cooking operation is to be sequenced with a first cooking operation which is already underway and the time remaining on the first cooking operation is less than that established for the second cooking operation, CPU  200  will preferably provide an audible and/or visual non-available sequence signal to the user at  250 . In any event, if the cooking operations are successively programmed, CPU  200  will control the respective ovens to turn on the oven with the longest cook time first, then automatically sequence the other oven at an appropriate time to allow both ovens to complete their cooking functions at precisely the same time.  
         [0022]    Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, as indicated above, it should be readily apparent that the automatic cook time sequencing system of the present invention can be incorporated into a variety of different types of cooking appliances having multiple ovens. To this end, it should be recognized that the ovens in accordance with the present invention can also vary and may include radiant, convection, microwave, combinations thereof, and the like. In addition, the ovens can be heated through various energy sources, including electricity or gas. Therefore, in general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.