Patent Description:
Prior art includes at least <CIT> and <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a system for scheduling maintenance of a component in a wind turbine. The system receives signals from each of the wind turbines in a population of wind turbines. From the signals, the system detects a failure of the component in one of the wind turbine. In response to the detect failure, the system calculates a new life value for the component. The life value is then compared to a threshold value. If the life value is within a specified parameter compared to the threshold value, the system schedules a change of the component in all of the wind turbines in the population.

<CIT> discloses a computer system is provided that is connected to the Internet and enables a plurality of network connected devices to access resource management platform. The computer system includes an Internet enabled computer platform that implements a multi-tenant architecture that enables multiple platform clients to populate the platform with various information regarding their maintenance service requirements. The computer system includes one or more tools that (i) track activities of consumers in connection with their appliances or other consumer resource, (ii) extracts insights from such activities, and/or (iii) enables service businesses or manufacturers to upload information or documents related to maintenance services, such tools enabling the automated suggestion of maintenance actions and/or product or service requirements of consumers. A range of different intelligent features are provided. The computer system may include a CMMS with intelligent features. A number of related computer implemented methods for managing maintenance in an intelligent way is also provided.

The aim of maintaining an appliance is to maintain the appliance in an operational state. This may for example consist in identifying the state of a component of the appliance and in replacing it in case of malfunction.

However, for certain appliances, it is important to ensure "preventive" maintenance consisting in replacing components before they are faulty. This is in particular the case in professional kitchens in which it is not acceptable for a kitchen appliance, such as an oven or a braiser, to break down on account of a malfunction of one of its components.

In the current art, in order to remedy this problem, the components of a kitchen appliance are therefore replaced before they are liable to exhibit a malfunction, thus making it possible to maintain the appliance in an operational state. Accordingly, maintenance operations on a cooking appliance at a customer's premises are scheduled at set intervals. In the case of an oven for example, the manager responsible for the maintenance operations may decide to set a first date for a first maintenance operation during which one or more components are changed in a preventive manner, a second date for a second maintenance operation during which one or more other components are changed in a preventive manner, etc..

However, it is appreciated that at least some of the replaced components could still be used numerous times and therefore that the maintenance operations may turn out to be premature and therefore non- optimal.

There is therefore a genuine need for a method of maintenance making it possible to optimize the maintenance operations and to trigger them only at the opportune moments.

Moreover, when a maintenance operation is performed by a maintenance operator on an appliance, the latter does not necessarily have access to the log for this appliance, and in particular to data relating to the previous maintenance operations carried out on this appliance. These maintenance data would, however, be very useful to him in order to better diagnose the state of the appliance and avoid for example replacing a component which had just been replaced during a previous maintenance operation and which would still be fully operational.

In the prior art, it has for example been proposed to record data of this type on a database at the premises of the manager responsible for the maintenance operations. However, the operator does not always think to consult this database before going to a user's premises for a maintenance operation and does not necessarily have any means of remote communication with this database in order to consult it.

The invention proposes to afford a solution to at least part of the aforementioned problems, which is simple, effective and economic.

According to a first aspect, the invention proposes a method for maintenance of a non-computing appliance, such as a kitchen appliance, as provided by appended claim <NUM>.

Some examples methods for maintenance of a non-computing appliance which are of background interest comprise the steps:
a1) performing a maintenance operation in respect of the appliance, characterized in that it comprises the additional step consisting in:
b1) recording data relating to the maintenance operation in a memory integrated into the appliance.

In the present patent application, non-computing appliance is understood to mean an appliance whose prime function is not to process data. A computer is thus not a non-computing appliance. Here the non-computing appliance is preferably an electrical appliance. It may for example be a kitchen appliance, and in particular a cooking appliance, such as an oven (for example combination oven) or a braiser.

Contrary to the prior art, here the memory for storing the maintenance data is integrated into the appliance which forms the subject of the maintenance operation. A maintenance operator can thus have access to the maintenance log of the appliance, and this will aid and accelerate the diagnosis of the state of the appliance.

The example methods of background interest in some examples may comprise one or more of the following steps or characteristics, taken in isolation from one another or in combination with one another:.

The present disclosure also relates to a non-computing appliance, for example kitchen appliance, comprising components liable to undergo a maintenance operation, characterized in that it comprises an integrated memory for storing maintenance data, and integrated means for recording maintenance data in said memory, said recording means being configured to be accessible only to a maintenance operator and/or usable only by such an operator.

The appliance may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation from one another or in combination with one another:.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is proposed a method for maintenance of a non-computing appliance, such as a kitchen appliance, comprising the steps of:.

characterized in that step a2) comprises sub-steps consisting in:.

In the present patent application, three types of values of a data item representative of the lifetime of a component are distinguished: a threshold value, a reference value and a current value. In the case where, for example, the data item representative of the lifetime is expressed in hours of use, the reference value of a component is for example <NUM><NUM> hours. Beyond <NUM><NUM> hours of use of the appliance, a risk of malfunction of the component then exists. The current value corresponds here to the effective duration of use of the appliance at a customer's premises, for example <NUM><NUM> hours at a given time. It is thus understood that the appliance could be used for another <NUM><NUM> hours before the component exhibits a risk of malfunction. However, as indicated in the foregoing, to avoid premature replacement of the component which could serve for a further <NUM><NUM> hours, the invention proposes to compare the current value (<NUM><NUM> hours) not to the reference value but to a threshold value which is calculated on the basis of the reference value and additional information. In the case where the calculated threshold value is greater than the reference value, and is for example <NUM><NUM> hours, the appliance can still be used for <NUM><NUM> hours before performing the replacement of the component whose duration of use is thus optimized. In the converse case where the calculated threshold value is less than the reference value, and is for example <NUM><NUM> hours, the maintenance operation is then brought forward with respect to what was scheduled originally, thus making it possible to reduce the risk of breakdown of the appliance by malfunction of the component. As soon as the current value reaches or exceeds the threshold value (<NUM><NUM> hours in the aforementioned example), a maintenance operation is performed, for example to replace the component. The invention thus allows better planning of preventive maintenance.

According to the invention, the information which is used to calculate the threshold value originates from several identical or similar appliances at users' premises, these appliances each being equipped with the same component. This information is very useful since it makes it possible to more accurately determine the effective lifetime of the component. By way of example, if one and the same component has been identified as faulty and replaced in similar appliances and used under similar conditions at a duration of use of <NUM><NUM> hours, the threshold value could be set at <NUM><NUM> hours whereas the reference value of this component is <NUM><NUM> hours.

In the present patent application, "component of an appliance" is intended for example to mean a leaktightness means such as a seal, an electrical component such as a contactor, an electrovalve, a motor, a locking means, a means for measuring a parameter such as a sensor, a heating element, a water treatment means, a lighting means, etc..

The information obtained comprises operating data and maintenance data. The operating data comprises parameters which are measured by sensors fitted to said appliances and/or parameters metered by meters fitted to the appliances. The operating data also comprises anomalies detected in the appliances.

The parameters measured and metered may be for example temperatures, pressures, degrees of humidity, flowrates, numbers of operating cycles, numbers of starts of motors, durations of operation of the components, etc. The anomalies detected are for example breakdowns and error messages. The error messages can be hierarchized as a function for example of their criticality and of their frequency of occurrence (recurrence).

The reception and the processing of the data and parameters arising from the appliances makes it possible to remotely supervise the aging of these appliances, with a view for example to improving production output quality as well as the quality of their tracking once in deployment. This also makes it possible to have a better overview of the operation of the appliances as well as their use by users. Monitoring the aging of the components will make it possible to propose preventive maintenance exactly tailored with respect to the use of the appliance. Knowledge of the profile of the use of the appliance at the customer's premises and of the lifetime of the components will make it possible to intervene at the best moment between the probability of breaking down and the premature exchange of a component.

The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following steps or characteristics, taken in isolation from one another or in combination with one another:.

The present invention also relates to an installation or facility for implementing the method as claimed, characterized in that it comprises:.

the computing server comprising means for monitoring said current value, means for obtaining said reference value and said information in respect of a population of appliances, means for calculating said threshold value, means for comparing said current value with said threshold value, and means for emitting an alert for the attention of said maintenance department as a function of the results of said comparison.

The installation according to the invention can comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation from one another or in combination with one another:.

The invention will be better understood and other details, characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:.

Reference is firstly made to <FIG> which represents an appliance, here a kitchen appliance, liable to form the subject of a maintenance operation with a view for example to verifying the state of components or to replacing them. Here the appliance is an oven <NUM> and more precisely a combination oven since it is configured to cook foods according to two modes of cooking, which may optionally be combined: blown air and steam.

Typically, the oven <NUM> comprises a muffle <NUM> defining a cooking enclosure <NUM> and a door <NUM> for closing this enclosure. The muffle <NUM> has several tiers (here six in number) and can accommodate several cooking trays or pans one above the other.

The oven <NUM> is equipped with a control panel <NUM> comprising selection means such as buttons <NUM> and display means, for example digital or with touchscreen. The buttons <NUM> may for example serve to adjust or select a mode of cooking, a temperature setting, etc..

The generation of steam in the enclosure <NUM> is obtained by means of a boiler which is associated in particular with a pump, a nozzle for injecting steam into the enclosure <NUM>, and electrovalves (for example for supplying and for draining the boiler). The oven <NUM> can be equipped with other electrovalves such as an electrovalve for cleaning the enclosure <NUM>.

For the ventilation of the enclosure <NUM> and the generation of blown air, the oven <NUM> comprises a fan <NUM> which is protected here by a grid <NUM> and which is associated with an electric motor.

The oven <NUM> also comprises means of electrical attachment to an electrical network and means of hydraulic attachment to a water distribution network, in particular for supplying water to the boiler.

The door <NUM> of the oven <NUM> is equipped with a handle <NUM> associated with locking means. This door is advantageously ventilated and is of the cold door type.

Here the oven <NUM> is equipped with connection means <NUM>, <NUM> accessible here on the front face of the oven. Here the connection means <NUM> comprise a port, for example of the USB type, for the connection to the oven of an electronic device <NUM> such as a telephone, a tablet, a computer, etc. Here the connection means <NUM> comprise a plug for attachment to an electric current socket. These connection means <NUM> are attached to similar connection means situated in the enclosure <NUM> for the attachment of a core probe, which makes it possible to track the cooking temperature of a food by sticking this probe into the core of this food.

The oven <NUM> can comprise means for lighting the enclosure <NUM>. The oven <NUM> comprises several sensors for measuring parameters. These are for example temperature probes (muffle temperature probe, boiler temperature probe, etc.), position sensors (door sensor <NUM>, etc.), arbitrary detectors (boiler water level probe, state detectors for the inputs and outputs of the electronic cards, number of rotations of a motor, quantity of water consumed, etc.).

The oven <NUM> furthermore comprises meters of parameters. These are for example monitoring systems associated with components of the oven and intended to meter operating parameters of these components such as numbers of starts/cycles, durations of operation, etc. An electronic card, equipped for example with a microprocessor, may be able to meter parameters of this type by itself.

The oven <NUM> can comprise several electronic cards for managing data and for controlling the various items of equipment of the oven, such as the electrovalves, the sensors, the pumps, the motors, the lighting means, the boiler, the fan <NUM>, etc..

In an example, the oven <NUM> comprises an integrated memory for recording maintenance data as well as means for recording maintenance data in this memory.

The oven <NUM> comprises means of remote communication with a computing server. The oven <NUM> is equipped with an integrated memory <NUM> which is schematically represented here by a dashed rectangle. This memory <NUM> is for example of the electronic or magnetic type and is linked to the data recording means which are formed here by the control panel <NUM> and/or by the connection means <NUM> (USB port). The control panel <NUM> can indeed comprise means for inputting maintenance data, for example by means of a keyboard or keys, or afford access to a particular mode of recording of the maintenance data. As indicated in the foregoing, the connection means <NUM> can be used to transmit maintenance data to the oven <NUM> and to record them in the memory <NUM>, by means of the electronic device <NUM>.

The oven recording means (control panel <NUM> and/or means of connection <NUM>) are configured to be accessible only to a maintenance operator and/or usable only by such an operator. Thus, these data cannot be recorded on the memory by an unauthorized person such as the user of the oven for example. Access to all or part of the data recorded on the memory by the user can, however, be permitted with a view to the consultation thereof.

The recording means can be configured to be usable by means of a password. This password could for example be necessary in order to access the aforementioned particular menu accessible through the control panel <NUM>. This password could be requested by the electronic device <NUM> upon its connection to the oven <NUM>, this electronic device advantageously being equipped with appropriate software for connection and communication with the oven <NUM>.

As a variant, the means of connection to the electronic device <NUM> could be of the wireless type, and for example based on IR, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc..

In another example, the oven <NUM> is equipped with means <NUM> of remote communication which can for example comprise a SIM card (in the case where the communication is effected through a telephone network, for example <NUM>), a modem (in the case where the communication is effected through the Internet), an emitter/receiver of low-frequency radio waves (in the case where the communication is effected through the Sigfox® network for example), etc. The means <NUM> are schematically represented here by a dashed rectangle. <FIG> is a block diagram representing steps of a method for maintenance of a non-computing appliance of background relevance, which will be described in what follows in conjunction with the oven <NUM> of <FIG>.

In the example represented, the method comprises four steps a1), b1), c1) and d1) of which two a1) and b1) are considered to be essential and two others c1) and d1) to be optional but recommended.

The essential steps of the method of maintenance are:.

Steps a1), b1) and c1) of the method are preferably carried out by one and the same maintenance operator, directly on the site of the user where the oven <NUM> is situated.

The maintenance operation (step a1)) can consist in replacing one or more components of the oven <NUM>, in carrying out tests on the oven, etc. Data relating to this maintenance operation are then recorded by the operator in the memory <NUM> of the oven <NUM> (step b1)). As explained in the foregoing, this recording can be performed directly by means of the control panel <NUM> or by means of the electronic device <NUM>.

The recorded data are for example the date and time of the maintenance operation, the nature of this operation, the tests carried out, the anomalies or faults detected, the components repaired or replaced, etc. In the case where the oven <NUM> has already formed the subject of maintenance operations, the operator can consult the memory <NUM> of the oven <NUM> so as to have access to the data relating to these previous operations (step c1)), before commencing the maintenance operation thereof. This can in particular aid and accelerate diagnosis thereof in case of malfunction of the oven <NUM>.

Step d1) of transmitting the maintenance data can be carried out by the oven <NUM> itself by means of its means <NUM> of remote communication. This transmission can be performed in an automatic manner at the end of the maintenance operation. Other types of data can be transmitted to the computing server by way of the communication means <NUM>. This is in particular the case in respect of the operating data of the oven <NUM>, which comprise the parameters measured by the various sensors or meters of the oven, which are listed hereinabove, as well as the anomalies which may also be detected by these sensors (when for example the door <NUM> of the oven is poorly closed/locked, the drainage of the boiler is inoperative, a probe is not operational, the temperature of the muffle is excessive, etc.).

<FIG> is a block diagram representing steps of a method for maintenance of a non-computing appliance according to embodiments of the claimed invention and which will be described in what follows in conjunction with the oven <NUM> of <FIG>.

In the example represented, the method comprises three steps a2), b2) and c2), which are:.

According to the claimed invention, step a2) comprises the sub-steps consisting in obtaining a reference value VR of the data item, obtaining information IN in respect of one and the same component of several identical or similar ovens at users' premises, and calculating the threshold value Vs on the basis of the reference value VR and the aforementioned information IN.

By way of example, the monitored component of the oven <NUM> can be a motor, such as a ventilation motor of the oven <NUM>. According to the data provided by the supplier or the manufacturer, the motor has for example a lifetime of <NUM><NUM> hours in use (that is to say it accomplishes its function and retains its properties for <NUM><NUM> operating hours of the oven <NUM>). The data item representative of the lifetime of the component is then the number of hours in use and its reference value VR, here given by the supplier, is <NUM><NUM> hours.

The threshold value Vs, with which the current value Vc is compared, is calculated on the basis of the reference value VR (<NUM><NUM> hours) and of the information IN. Vs may be less than or greater than VR, or indeed even equal.

The information IN comprises the maintenance data and the operating data described hereinabove, that is to say the data relating to the maintenance operations, the parameters measured by the sensors, and the anomalies observed. This information IN originates from a population of ovens <NUM> equipped with a similar or identical component (ventilation motor). This information IN will allow better understanding of the aging of this motor and consequently adjustment of the threshold value Vs, that is to say its effective lifetime.

For example, if it is observed that the ventilation motors of the ovens of the population have exhibited anomalies or have formed the subject of maintenance operations with a view to their replacement after <NUM><NUM> hours of use of the oven, the threshold value Vs will be able to be set at <NUM><NUM> hours whereas the reference value VR, that is to say the estimated lifetime provided by the maker, is <NUM><NUM> hours.

The information IN is preferably transmitted by the various ovens of the population to the computing server by way of their means <NUM> of remote communication. Steps a2) and b2) are thus carried out remotely by the computing server. Step c2) is for its part carried out by a maintenance system able to carry out a maintenance operation. This maintenance operation can be carried out remotely or at the user's site, in particular when a replacement of components is necessary.

<FIG> is a schematic view of an installation for implementing the method according to embodiments of the claimed invention.

In the top right of the drawing are represented non-computing appliances, here kitchen appliances (oven <NUM> and braiser <NUM>') of a population of appliances. These appliances may be at the premises of a single user or at the premises of several distinct users and therefore be remote from one another. Each appliance is equipped with means <NUM> of remote communication with the computing server <NUM>. As described in the foregoing, the information IN transmitted by the appliances <NUM>, <NUM>' to the server <NUM> comprises, in particular, maintenance data and operating data (parameters measured and anomalies detected). This information IN is preferably associated with means of identification of the appliance which has emitted this information, such as an IP address for example. They can also comprise information date-stamping means such as the date and the time of transmission of this information.

The periodicity of transmission of the information IN to the server <NUM> can depend on the nature of said information. The maintenance data can be transmitted as soon as the corresponding maintenance operation has terminated, that is to say randomly, whereas the operating data can be transmitted more regularly, for example daily.

When a component is replaced during a maintenance operation, it is preferable that the operator in charge of this maintenance updates the data of the appliance relating to this component ("reset to zero").

The aim of the server <NUM> is in particular to process and to monitor the information transmitted by the appliances <NUM>, <NUM>'. It is in particular configured to implement steps a2) and b2) of the method according to the invention.

Here the server <NUM> has access to several databases, such as a database <NUM> of the maker of the appliances and a database <NUM> of the manager responsible for the maintenance of the appliances during deployment.

The data of the base <NUM> comprise for example information about the various components liable to form the subject of a maintenance operation, as well as their estimated lifetime (reference value VR), technical analyses and autodiagnostics, etc..

The data of the base <NUM> comprise for example information about the population of appliances to be monitored, the subscribers, the parametrization of the alerts, analysis reports, etc..

The server <NUM> can be configured to transmit information or afford access to this information to three different targets, the users <NUM>, the manager <NUM> responsible for the maintenance operations, and the manufacturer <NUM> of the appliances.

The information transmitted to the user <NUM> comprises for example analysis reports, notifications about the uses of the appliances, consumption reports, etc..

The information transmitted to the manager <NUM> comprises on the one hand information making it possible to produce a log of the events (log of breakdowns, error messages, maintenance operations, etc.) and on the other hand to supervise the population remotely and to optimize the maintenance operations. This latter information allows an overview of the operation of the appliances and a planning of the preventive maintenance. As a function of this latter information, the manager <NUM> will ask operators to intervene at users' premises to carry out maintenance operations.

The information transmitted to the manufacturer <NUM> allows supervision of the aging of the components and a profiling of the use of the appliances by users. Said information makes it possible for example to compile reports on the actual uses and lifetimes of the appliances/components, analyses of the failure/aging conditions, information about the improvement of the parametrization and autodiagnosis, etc..

Claim 1:
Method for maintenance of a non-computing appliance (<NUM>) whose primary function is not to process data, such as a kitchen appliance, the method comprising the steps of:
a2) identifying a datum representative of the lifetime of at least one component of the appliance, and determining a threshold value (Vs) of the said datum beyond which a risk of malfunction of the component may occur,
b2) monitoring the current value (Vc) of the said datum of an appliance in a user's site,
c2) performing a maintenance operation on the appliance as soon as said current value (Vc) exceeds said threshold value (Vs), characterised in that step a2) comprises the sub-steps of:
- obtaining a reference value (Vr) of the said datum, the reference value being an estimated lifetime of the at least one component;
- obtaining information (IN) for one and the same component of several identical or similar appliances in users' sites, wherein the information (IN) obtained comprises operating data and maintenance data, wherein the operating data comprises parameters of the identical or similar appliances and anomalies detected in the identical or similar appliances, and wherein the parameters are measured by sensors fitted to the identical or similar appliances and/or metered by meters fitted to the identical or similar appliances; and
- calculating said threshold value (Vs) on the basis of said reference value (Vr) and the said information (IN).