Method for operating a heating element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11903096-B2
Application number	US-202218054122-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2022
Priority date	Jan 17, 2018
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a heating element (210), in particular in a food processor (1) for the at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, wherein the following steps are performed: a) detecting an electrical resistance of the heating element (210) such that at least one resistance value is determined, b) performing a heating operation on the heating element (210) based on the at least one determined resistance value to perform the heating operation depending on a temperature of the heating element (210).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a heating element, in particular in a food processor for at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, wherein the following steps are performed:
a) detecting an electrical resistance of the heating element such that at least one resistance value is determined,
b) performing a heating operation on the heating element based on the at least one determined resistance value to perform the heating operation depending on a temperature of the heating element,

wherein the currently detected electrical resistance, which is specific for the electrical resistance of the heating element, is directly serving as a basis for the temperature-dependent heating operation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the heating operation is carried out as temperature control of the heating element with the temperature as controlled parameter.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the resistance is repeatedly detected in accordance with step a) during heating operation, the resistance value in each case being determined by comparing at least one measured current value from a current measurement in the heating element and at least one measured voltage value from a voltage measurement in the heating element with one another.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
a local temperature change in the heating element is detected based on the at least one resistance value.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
a resistance gradient is determined by repeated detection of the resistance during the heating operation, a detection time being determined for this purpose for respective resistance values.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein
the detection time being stored with the respective resistance value.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the total resistance of the heating element is detected in step a).

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
at or after step b) an analysis of the at least one determined resistance value is carried out, at least one of the subsequent analysis results being determined by the analysis:
information about a local temperature change in the heating element,
a temperature of a medium,
information about at least one heat capacity of the medium,
information on a composition of the medium.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein
analysis results being determined by the analysis of information on a composition of the medium, at least a type or an amount of at least one foodstuff in a stirring vessel.

10. A detection device for operating a heating element, in particular in a food processor for at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, comprising:
a voltage measuring device for measuring an electric voltage at the heating element,
a current measuring device for measuring an electric current at the heating element,
an evaluation device for detecting an electrical resistance in the heating element by evaluating detection values of the voltage measuring device and the current measuring device, such that at least one resistance value can be determined in order to provide the at least one resistance value for a temperature-dependent heating operation of the heating element,

wherein the currently detected electrical resistance, which is specific for the electrical resistance of the heating element, is directly serving as a basis for the temperature-dependent heating operation.

11. The detection device according to claim 10 , wherein
the voltage measuring device comprises an active rectifier so that a voltage drop in diodes of the voltage measuring device can be compensated at least partially or predominantly.

12. The detection device according to claim 10 , wherein
the detection device is adapted to perform a method for operating a heating element for the at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, wherein the following steps are performed:
a) detecting an electrical resistance of the heating element such that at least one resistance value is determined,
b) performing a heating operation on the heating element based on the at least one determined resistance value to perform the heating operation depending on a temperature of the heating element.

13. A heating system for operating a heating element for at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, comprising:
detection device for detecting an electrical resistance in said heating element,
a control device for controlling the heating element,
the control device being electrically connected to the detection device to perform the control based on the detection of the resistance,

wherein the currently detected electrical resistance, which is specific for the electrical resistance of the heating element, is directly serving as a basis for the temperature-dependent heating operation.

14. The heating system according to claim 13 , wherein
the heating system is configured to at least perform a method for operating a heating element for the at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs,
wherein the following steps are performed:
a) detecting an electrical resistance of the heating element such that at least one resistance value is determined,
b) performing a heating operation on the heating element based on the at least one determined resistance value to perform the heating operation depending on a temperature of the heating element,

or the detection device is configured for operating a heating element for the at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, comprising:
a voltage measuring device for measuring an electric voltage at the heating element,
a current measuring device for measuring an electric current at the heating element,
an evaluation device for detecting an electrical resistance in the heating element by evaluating detection values of the voltage measuring device and the current measuring device, such that at least one resistance value can be determined in order to provide the at least one resistance value for a temperature-dependent heating operation of the heating element.

15. A food processor for at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, with:
a stirring vessel for receiving and preparing the foodstuffs,
a heating system for operating a heating element for at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, comprising:
detection device for detecting an electrical resistance in said heating element,
a control device for controlling the heating element,

the control device being electrically connected to the detection device to perform the control based on the detection of the resistance
in which a heating element is integrated into the stirring vessel,

wherein the currently detected electrical resistance, which is specific for the electrical resistance of the heating element, is directly serving as a basis for the temperature-dependent heating operation.

16. The food processor according to claim 15 , wherein
at least the heating element is integrated into a base of the stirring vessel of the food processor, and extends flatly therein for heating a medium in the stirring vessel, so that an electrical resistance of the heating element is specific for a temperature of the medium in the stirring vessel,
or in that the heating element is configured as a thick-film heater.

17. A computer program product for operating a heating element, the computer program product being adapted to initiate execution of the following steps when executed by an electronic evaluation device:

Assignees

• Vorwerk Co Interholding

Inventors

• Spitthöver Christoph
• Lang Torsten

Classifications

• H05B1/0261 Primary

  of food · CPC title

• A47J27/004 Primary

  with integral electrical heating means (drinking cups with integral heating means A47J36/2466) · CPC title

• A47J43/046

  with tools driven from the bottom side · CPC title

• H05B1/0258

  For cooking · CPC title

• H05B3/0019

  Circuit arrangements · CPC title