Granted Patent B2

US 12,247,745 · App. 17/369,721 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Inventors: Christian Kufner (Landsberg am Lech, DE); Filip Lindell (Landsberg am Lech, DE); Manuel Ulmer (Landsberg am Lech, DE)

Assignee: RATIONAL AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

F24C14/005B08B9/093G06K7/1417B08B2209/08

Abstract

Claims (23)

1. A cleaning chemical assembly for a cooking appliance, comprising a collection container, a pump, at least two ports for detachably connecting storage containers that contain different cleaning chemicals, and at least one device for identifying the cleaning chemical in the respective storage container,

wherein the device for identifying the cleaning chemical is a switching element that is configured to cooperate with a mechanical coding on the respective storage container to identify the cleaning chemical held within the storage container and mechanically fix the storage container in place in the cleaning chemical assembly,

wherein the switching element includes a plurality of microswitches at the ports,

wherein the cleaning chemical assembly includes, for each port, a flush-out circuit by which the pump can direct liquid from the collection container into the storage container in order to flush out a cleaning solution therefrom, and

wherein the pump is configured to pump liquid to dissolve cleaning chemical from one of the storage containers in a first operating mode and clean the associated flush-out circuit with the liquid in a second operating mode.

2. The cleaning chemical assembly of claim 1 wherein the cleaning chemical assembly includes a valve block by which the flow path of the flush-out circuit is determined.

3. The cleaning chemical assembly of claim 1 wherein the switching element is designed to lock the mechanical coding of the storage container in place in the port in the installation position.

4. The cleaning chemical assembly of claim 1 wherein a switchover valve is provided that can be switched between a first state, in which the pump can pump liquid from the collection container to the first of the two storage containers while the second storage container is disconnected in a liquid-tight manner, and a second state, in which the pump can pump liquid from the collection container to the second storage container while the first storage container is disconnected in a liquid-tight manner, wherein a sensor is provided that can be used to detect whether one of the two storage containers is empty.

5. A cleaning chemical modular system comprising a cleaning chemical assembly of claim 1 wherein a controller is provided which is coupled to the device for identifying the cleaning chemical and is adapted to drive the pump.

6. A cooking appliance comprising a cleaning chemical modular system of claim 5 .

7. The cooking appliance of claim 5 wherein the cooking appliance includes a user interface on which an identity of storage containers inserted at the ports of the cleaning chemical assembly can be displayed to a user and/or the user can specify the cleaning chemical contained in the respective storage container.

8. A cleaning chemical assembly for a cooking appliance, comprising a collection container, a pump, at least two ports for detachably connecting storage containers that contain different cleaning chemicals, and at least one device for identifying the cleaning chemical in a respective storage container,

wherein the device for identifying the cleaning chemical is a switching element that is designed to cooperate with a mechanical coding on the respective storage container,

wherein the switching element includes a plurality of microswitches at the ports,

wherein the cleaning chemical assembly includes, for each port, a flush-out circuit by which the pump can direct liquid from the collection container into the storage container in order to flush out a cleaning solution therefrom,

the cleaning chemical assembly including a valve block by which the flow path of the flush-out circuit is determined, the valve block comprising an outlet port and a drain port, and

wherein the valve block is configured to be placed in a condition in which an outlet fluid communication exists between the pump and the outlet port of the cleaning chemical assembly for pumping the liquid to the cooking appliance, and

wherein the valve block is configured to be placed in a further condition in which there exists a drain fluid communication between the pump and the drain port of the cleaning chemical assembly such that the liquid is discharged from the cleaning chemical assembly without having to discharge the liquid through the outlet port.

9. A cleaning chemical assembly for a cooking appliance, comprising a collection container, a pump, at least two ports for detachably connecting storage containers that contain different cleaning chemicals, and at least one device for identifying the cleaning chemical in a respective storage container,

wherein the device for identifying the cleaning chemical is a switching element that is designed to cooperate with a mechanical coding on the respective storage container,

wherein the switching element includes a plurality of microswitches at the ports,

wherein two storage containers contain the same cleaning chemical, and a switchover valve is provided that can be switched between a first state, in which the pump can pump liquid from the collection container to the first storage container while the second storage container is disconnected in a liquid-tight manner from the liquid pumped by the pump from the collection container while remaining inserted in the cleaning chemical assembly, and a second state, in which the pump can pump liquid from the collection container to the second storage container while the first storage container is disconnected in a liquid-tight manner from the liquid pumped by the pump from the collection container while remaining inserted in the cleaning chemical assembly, wherein a sensor is provided that can be used to detect whether one of the two storage containers is empty, and

wherein the two storage containers remain inserted into the cleaning chemical assembly when the switchover valve is switched between the first state and the second state.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (26)