Cooking device and method for controlling the same

Provided is a cooking device. The cooking device includes a frame to form a cooking chamber; a burner to heat the cooking chamber; a gas valve to control a flow of a gas which will be supplied to the burner; an ignition unit to ignite a mixed gas of the gas and air which is supplied to the burner; a fan to enable the air heated by the burner to flow; a fan motor to rotate the fan; and a control unit to control the fan motor, wherein, when the fan motor is normally operated, the control unit turns on the gas valve and operates the ignition unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 and 35 U.S.C. § 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0007750, filed in Korea on Jan. 16, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a cooking device and a method for controlling the same.

A cooking device is a device for cooking food using heat from a heat source. For example, a cooking device generally includes an oven range having an oven chamber in which the food is cooked, and a burner provided in the oven chamber to burn gas.

An example of a conventional oven range is provided in Korean Patent Publication No. 2014-0067749 (published on Jun. 5, 2014). The gas oven range disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2014-0067749 includes a cavity which forms an oven chamber, and a burner assembly which is installed at the cavity. The burner assembly includes a burner, a fan which enables air heated by a flame of the burner to flow in the oven chamber, and a fan motor which rotates the fan. Also, an air inlet port through which additional air is introduced may be formed at the cavity. A flow of the heated air is enabled by the fan rotated by the fan motor, and the additional air is introduced from an outside of the cavity by the flow of the air in the oven chamber.

As disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2010-0013997, when a cooking start command is input, a fan motor operation command is input to the fan motor, and a mixed gas in which a gas is mixed with air is supplied toward the burner. However, when the fan motor is not operated, for example, when a connector for supplying electric power to the fan motor or a connector for providing a control signal to the fan motor is not normally connected, or when the fan motor is defective, the flame is generated from the burner, but the additional air is not supplied to the burner. If the additional air is not supplied to the burner, the mixed gas in which the gas is mixed with the air is incompletely burned, and thus carbon monoxide is generated.

Therefore, a technique for detecting whether the fan motor is normally operated is required, and a technique for preventing generation of carbon monoxide is also required.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a cooking device which is able to detect whether a fan motor is normally operated, and enables a gas to be supplied to a burner when the fan motor is normally operated, and a method for controlling the same.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a cooking device including a frame to form a cooking chamber, a burner to heat the cooking chamber, a gas valve to control a flow of a gas to be supplied to the burner, an ignition unit to ignite a mixture of the gas supplied to the burner and air, a fan to enable the air heated by the burner to flow, a motor to rotate the fan, and a control unit to control the motor, wherein, when the fan motor is operating in a normal state, the control unit turns on the gas valve and operates the ignition unit.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for controlling a cooking device, including selecting a cooking mode and inputting a start command for the cooking device through a user interface, applying electric power to a fan motor by a control unit, determining an operating state of the fan motor by the control unit, and turning on a gas valve to supply a gas to a burner and operating an ignition unit when it is determined that the fan motor is operating in a normal state.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided another method for controlling a cooking device, including generating a flame from a burner by operating a fan motor and opening a gas valve, determining an operating state of the fan motor by a controller, closing the gas valve by the control unit to stop a supply of gas supplied to the burner when the fan motor is not operating in the normal state, and generating error information from a user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Advantages, features, and methods for achieving those of embodiments may become apparent upon referring to embodiments described later in detail together with the attached drawings. However, embodiments are not limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinafter, but may be embodied in different modes. The same reference numbers may refer to the same elements throughout the specification.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG. 2is a front view illustrating a state in which a door is removed from cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of a burner assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 4is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which burner assembly is installed at a frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a cooking device1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an oven unit20.

Cooking device1may further include one or more of a cook-top unit60and a drawer unit40. Cooking device1may further include a control panel50. Cooking device1may further include an outer case11. Outer case11may cover both side surfaces and rear surfaces of oven unit20and drawer unit40.

It is understood that cook-top unit60and drawer unit40may be omitted according to a type of cooking device1. Further, a plurality of oven units20may be provided.

Cook-top unit60, oven unit20and drawer unit40may be provided at an upper portion, a center portion, and a lower portion of cooking device1, respectively. Control panel50is provided at a rear portion of an upper surface of cooking device1.

Cook-top unit60may include a plurality of cook-top burners61. Cook-top burners61may heat a container in which food is provided or may directly heat the food using a flame generated by burning a gas, and thus may cook or heat the food. An operational unit62to operate the plurality of cook-top burners61may be provided at a front end of cook-top unit60.

As another non-limiting example, cook-top unit60may include one or more electric heaters. However, the one or more electric heaters may be provided so not to be exposed or visible outside of cook-top unit60.

Oven unit20may include a frame21which forms a cooking chamber22. For example, frame21may be formed in a rectangular parallelepipe-like shape of which a front surface is open, but is not limited thereto.

Oven unit20may further include an upper burner24for cooking or heating food accommodated in cooking chamber22. As another example, upper burner24may be replaced with an electric heater.

Oven unit20may further include a partition plate190to divide cooking chamber22into a first chamber22aand a second chamber22b. Partition plate190may be coupled to a rear wall35of frame21in cooking chamber22.

Oven unit20may further include a burner assembly23provided in second chamber22b. First chamber22amay accommodate food item.

It is understood that burner assembly23and upper burner24may be simultaneously operated, or only one of them may be operated at a particular time. Upper burner24is provided above the food in cooking chamber24so as to provide heat to the food from above the food, and burner assembly23may be disposed at a rear of the food in cooking chamber22.

Oven unit20may further include a door25to open and close access to cooking chamber22. Door25may be rotatably connected to cooking device1. For example, door25may open and close access to cooking chamber22in a pull-down method in which an upper end thereof is rotated up and down about a lower end thereof. It is understood that an operating method of door25is not limited in such embodiment.

A door handle26to be gripped or grasped by a user's hand to rotate door25may be provided at an upper end of a front surface of door25.

Drawer unit40serves to a container, in which food may be put, and keep or maintain the container at a predetermined temperature. Drawer unit40may include a drawer41to accommodate the container. Drawer41may be inserted into or withdrawn from cooking device1, such as in a sliding manner. A handle42which is gripped or grasped by the user may be provided at a front surface of drawer41.

Control panel50may include a user interface52to receive an operation signal to operate cooking device1. More particularly, control panel50may receive an operation signal to operate at least one of cook-top unit60, oven unit20and drawer unit40. User interface52may display a variety of information about operation of cooking device1.

Frame21may include both side walls31, a bottom wall32, an upper wall33and a rear wall35. According to the present embodiment, it is understood that a “front” is a direction toward a front surface of cooking device1, and a “rear” is a direction toward a rear surface of cooking device1. Regarding cooking chamber22, it is understood that a “front” is a direction toward door25of oven unit20, and a “rear” is a direction toward rear wall35of frame21. The invention. however, is not limited to such description.

Partition plate190may be attached to rear wall35of frame21. Accordingly, with partition plate190provided at rear wall35of frame21, and burner assembly23provided at second chamber22bformed between partition plate190and rear wall35of frame21, a recessed portion32athat is recessed downward may be formed at bottom wall32of frame21, which increases a capacity of frame21.

Burner assembly23may include a burner device100, a fan210, and a fan motor212. Burner device100may include a burner110to generate the flame or fire by burning a gas.

Burner110is not limited, and may include an opened loop type burner tube. In other words, the burner tube may be formed in a non-annular shape. For example, the burner tube may be formed in a “U” shape, but is not limited thereto. Gas and air may be supplied to a first end of burner tube, and a second end of burner tube may be blocked.

A gas discharge hole114to discharge a mixed gas may be provided at burner110. A burner hole (not shown) through which burner110passes or extends through may be formed at rear wall35of frame21. In such arrangement, burner110is located at cooking chamber22, and a part thereof may pass through the burner hole (not shown), and may be located between rear wall35of frame21and outer case11.

An exhaust hole34through which an exhaust gas is discharged may be formed at upper wall33of frame21. Exhaust hole34may be formed at rear wall35of frame21and not upper wall33.

Burner device100may further include a burner cover130that covers burner110. Burner cover130may include a first cover140and a second cover160. For example, first cover140may cover burner110from a front side (e.g., first side) of burner110, and second cover160may cover burner110from a rear side (e.g., second side) of burner110.

A first opening142through which air of cooking chamber22passes may be formed at first cover140, and a second opening162through which air passed through first opening142passes may be formed at second cover160. First cover140may include a first insertion portion144which may pass through bottom wall32of frame21, and second cover160may include a second insertion portion164which may pass through bottom wall32of frame21.

Burner device100may further include an ignition unit189to ignite the mixed gas supplied to burner110. For example, ignition unit189may be provided at burner110, and a part of ignition unit189may pass through second cover160and upper wall33of frame21. Ignition unit189may instead be provided at first cover140or second cover160.

Fan210operates to flow the heated air in cooking chamber22. Fan motor212may be disposed between rear wall35of frame21and outer case11, and fan210may be located at second chamber22bin cooking chamber22.

Therefore, a shaft213of fan motor212may pass through rear wall35of frame21and may be coupled to fan210. Fan motor212may be fixed to rear wall35of frame21or outer case11by a motor mount which is not illustrated.

Partition plate190may protect burner device100. For example, partition plate190may prevent a food item from moving to burner device100during cooking. Partition plate190may have an air suction port192through which air in cooking chamber22is suctioned, and an air discharge port194through which air heated by burner device100is discharged to cooking chamber22.

While partition plate190is attached to rear wall35of frame21, a lower end of partition plate190may be in contact with bottom wall32of frame21. Partition plate190may be in contact with bottom wall32of frame21between recessed portion32aof bottom wall32and rear wall35.

Burner assembly23may further include a nozzle holder220to inject the gas to burner110. Nozzle holder220may be located between rear wall35of frame21and outer case11, and may be attached to, for example, rear wall35of frame21. As another example, when an insulating material is installed at an outside of frame21, nozzle holder220may be installed at the insulating material. Nozzle holder220may include a nozzle that is aligned with burner110passed through rear wall35of frame21and injects gas to burner110.

A through-hole32bthrough which insertion portions144and164of burner cover130pass may be formed at bottom wall32of frame21. Therefore, as insertion portions144and164of burner cover130pass through through-hole32b, insertion portions144and164are located at an outside of frame21.

Portions of first insertion portion144of first cover140and second insertion portion164of second cover160are spaced apart from each or, and form an introduction hole146.

Fan210is provided at an exhaust path P1which is an outer space of a combustion chamber C. Exhaust path P1(which may be referred to as an “exhaust chamber”) may be formed near an outer surface of burner cover130, rear wall35of frame21, and partition plate190.

Hereinafter, an operation of burner assembly23is described.

When operation of burner assembly100is started, gas is injected from nozzle provided at nozzle holder220to burner110. Then, air A1(which is air outside of frame) around burner110is supplied to burner110together with gas G. At this time, since a lower pressure is formed around gas supplied to burner110, air A1around burner110may be naturally supplied to burner110by a pressure difference.

And since insertion portions144and164of burner cover130pass through bottom wall32of frame21and are located at an outside of frame21, additional air A2to burn the mixed gas in burner110may be introduced into combustion chamber C through introduction hole146of burner cover130.

Additional air A2introduced into combustion chamber C may flow toward burner110.

Meanwhile, when mixed gas is supplied to burner110, mixed gas is ignited by ignition unit189, and thus flame is generated at burner110. And fan motor212is turned on, and fan210is rotated.

When fan210is rotated, air in first chamber22ais introduced into combustion chamber C of second chamber22bthrough air suction port192of partition plate190. At this time, air introduced into combustion chamber C passes through an area formed by an inner circumferential surface of burner110.

Air introduced into combustion chamber C is heated by flame generated from burner110, and then discharged from combustion chamber C.

air discharged from combustion chamber C flows through exhaust path P1between second cover160and rear wall35of frame21, and is discharged to first chamber22athrough air discharge port194of partition plate190.

above-described embodiment has described that burner assembly is installed at rear wall of frame from an inside of frame. However, unlike this, burner assembly may be installed at rear wall of frame from an outside of frame.

Alternatively, burner assembly may be formed at one of both side walls of frame.

The above-described embodiment has described that burner cover130includes two covers and forms combustion chamber C. However, unlike this, one or three or more covers may form combustion chamber C. That is, as long as combustion chamber C and exhaust path P1can be divided, a type of burner cover130and a number of covers included in burner cover are not limited.

Also, above-described embodiment has described that fan is installed at a rear of burner cover, and air heated by burner flows toward fan. However, unlike this, fan may be installed at a front of burner cover so that air passed through fan is heated by burner. However, in case of former, fan may be a fan by which air flowed in an axial direction is discharged in a radial direction, and in case of latter, fan may be a fan by which air flowed in axial direction is discharged in axial direction.

FIG. 5is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 5, cooking device1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a gas valve74which controls a flow of gas to be supplied toward burner110, and a control unit70which controls gas valve74.

Gas valve74may cut off flow of gas, or may allow flow of gas. Also, gas valve74may control a flow rate of flowing gas.

Cooking device1may further include a relay72. Relay72may be turned on when a cooking start command is input.

Relay72may be connected to fan motor212. When relay72is turned on, electric power may be applied to fan motor212.

Fan motor212may be connected to relay72through a connector. It is understood that relay72may be omitted. In this case, fan motor212may be connected to control unit70through connector.

Control unit70may also control ignition unit189and fan motor212.

Cooking device1may further include user interface52. User interface52may include an input unit53which selects a cooking mode and also inputs cooking start command or like.

User interface52may further include a display unit54which display the variety of information. For example, display unit54may display a selected cooking mode. Also, display unit54may further display one or more of a remaining cooking time and a target cooking temperature.

Input unit53may be provided separately from display unit54. Alternatively, a touch screen in which input unit53and display unit54are integrated may be provided.

User interface52may further include a notice unit55to generate error information of at least fan motor212.

Control unit70may include a current detection unit71to detect a current of fan motor212. Alternatively, control unit70may include a current detection function which detects current of fan motor212.

The control unit70may determine whether fan motor212is normally operated based on current of fan motor212. If it is determined that fan motor212is normally operated, control unit70may turn on gas valve74, and may operate ignition unit189.

FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 6, through user interface52, cooking mode may be selected and cooking start command may be input (S1).

When cooking start command is input, selected cooking mode may be displayed on display unit54. The target cooking temperature and remaining cooking time until completion of cooking may be additionally displayed on display unit54, but disclosed embodiments of invention are not limited thereto.

When cooking start command is input, control unit70turns on fan motor212. For example, control unit70turns on relay72connected to fan motor212.

When relay72is turned on, fan motor212is in a state in which electric power may be applied thereto. When fan motor212is normally connected to relay72, the electric power may be normally applied to fan motor212.

In the specification, a state in which fan motor212is normally operated may be referred to as a normal state of fan motor212, and a state in which fan motor212is not normally connected to relay72or fan motor212is damaged and thus is not normally operated may be referred to as an abnormal state of fan motor212.

Control unit70may determine whether current in fan motor212is detected through current detection unit71(S3). That is, in the embodiment, whether fan motor212is normally operated may be determined based on current of fan motor212detected by current detection unit71.

As a result determined in an operation S3, when current is detected by current detection unit71, control unit70determines whether a time for which current is detected in current detection unit71is a first reference time or more (S4).

As a result determined in an operation S4, when time for which current is detected in current detection unit71is first reference time or more, control unit70determines that fan motor212is in normal state. When fan motor212is in the normal state, fan210may be normally rotated.

In the embodiment, reason why it is determined that fan motor212is in the normal state when the time for which the current is detected in current detection unit71is the first reference time or more is to prevent a case in which it is erroneously determined that fan motor212is in normal state due to a current detection error of current detection unit71.

When it is determined that fan motor212is normally operated, control unit70turns on gas valve74(S5). When gas valve74is turned on, gas may be supplied to burner110from nozzle of nozzle holder220.

And control unit70operates ignition unit189(S6). If ignition unit189is operated, mixed gas discharged from burner110is burned, and flame is generated, and thus food in cooking chamber22may be cooked.

Control unit70may enable gas valve74to be maintained in an ON state during cooking process, or may control an amount of gas flowing through gas valve74. Also, control unit70may enable fan motor212to be continuously turned on or to be repeatedly turned on and off during cooking process.

Control unit70may determine whether cooking is completed (S7), and then may turn off gas valve74when the cooking is completed (S8). Of course, when the cooking is completed, fan motor212may also be turned off.

However, as a result determined in operation S3, when it is determined that current is not detected by current detection unit71, it may be determined whether a time for which current is not detected is a second reference time or more (S9). At this time, second reference time may be same as or different from first reference time.

In the embodiment, reason why it is determined that fan motor212is in the abnormal state when the time for which the current is not detected is the second reference time or more is to prevent a case in which it is erroneously determined that fan motor212is in abnormal state due to the current detection error of current detection unit71.

As a result determined in an operation S9, when the time for which the current is not detected is the second reference time or more, control unit70determines that fan motor212is in abnormal state, and then turns off display unit54(S10). Alternatively, some of the variety of information displayed on display unit54which is in ON state may be not displayed.

Also, control unit70may operate notice unit55so that error information is generated from notice unit55. Notice unit55may be a buzzer circuit or a speaker, but is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when fan motor212is normally operated after the cooking start command is input, gas valve74is turned on, and ignition unit189is operated so that burning of the gas occurs in burner110, and thus generation of carbon monoxide due to incomplete combustion of the mixed gas may be prevented.

Also, because it may be determined whether fan motor212is normally operated, the error information may be generated from notice unit55, and thus the user may easily confirm the abnormal state of fan motor212.

FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the cooking device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 7, operations S1to S9in the method for controlling the cooking device illustrated inFIG. 6are the same as those in a method for controlling the cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment, when the time for which the current is not detected is the second reference time or more, control unit70determines that fan motor212is in the abnormal state, and then may enable the error information to be displayed on display unit54(S12). Of course, in the embodiment, the error information may be generated from notice unit55, and notice unit55may also be omitted.

In the above-described embodiments, when the time for which the current is detected is the first reference time or more, it is determined that the fan motor is normally operated. However, unlike this, when the current of the fan motor is detected by current detection unit71and a time for which a detected current value is within a normal current range is the first reference time, it may be determined that the fan motor is normally operated.

Therefore, when the current is detected and the time for which a detected current value is within the normal current range is less than the first reference time, it may be determined that the fan motor is not normally operated.

The structure of the burner assembly described in the specification is only an example. The structure of the burner assembly is not limited, as long as the control method illustrated inFIG. 6 or 7may be applied.

Also, although the above-described embodiments may have described that the additional air is introduced from the lower side of the frame into the combustion chamber, it is understood that additional air may be introduced from a rear side of the frame into the combustion chamber.

Meanwhile, although the above-described embodiments have described that whether the fan motor is normally operated is determined at an early stage in which the cooking start command is input, it is understood that whether the fan motor is normally operated may be determined during the cooking process. In other words, for example, when the current of the fan motor is continuously detected during the cooking process and the time for which the current of the fan motor is not detected is a third reference time or more, the control unit may turn off the gas valve and may stop the cooking. Then, the error information may be generated from the notice unit, or the error information may be displayed on the display unit. At this time, the third reference time may be the same as or different from the second reference time.