Household appliance and method of operating a household appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12357129-B2
Application number	US-202016809975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2020
Priority date	Mar 7, 2019
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance ( 1 ) comprising a movable first functional unit ( 10 ) for providing a first appliance function to a user, an electrical second functional unit ( 20 ) for providing a second appliance function to the user, and an operating device ( 11 ) for powering the first functional unit ( 10 ), comprising an electric motor ( 12 ), a connection ( 13 ) for supplying power to the electric motor ( 12 ), and a pre-circuit ( 30 ) connected between the connection ( 13 ) and the electric motor ( 12 ), wherein the pre-circuit ( 30 ) comprises a current limiting element ( 31 ) for limiting a current ( 200 ). The invention also relates to a method ( 100 ) for operating a household appliance ( 1 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A food processor comprising:
a movable first functional unit for providing a first device appliance to a user; and
an operating device for powering the first functional unit, comprising:
an electric motor,
a connection for supplying power to the electric motor, and
a pre-circuit connected between the connection and the electric motor;

the food processor further comprising:
a cooking vessel which is configured to be detachable from the operating device; and
an electrical second functional unit for providing a second appliance function to the user,
the second functional unit comprising an electrical resistance heater with a resistance element for heating the resistance heater, the electrical resistance heater thereby being configured to heat food in the cooking vessel by the resistance element to perform the second appliance function, wherein at least a section of the resistance element forms a current limiting element for limiting a current in the pre-circuit by being electrically connected to the pre-circuit, and
the second functional unit with the current limiting element being arranged in the cooking vessel, thereby being detachable from the motor of the operating device.

2. The food processor according to claim 1 ,
wherein,
the operating device comprises a capacitor which can be charged via the connection, the current limiting element being configured to limit a current when the capacitor is being charged.

3. The food processor according to claim 1 ,
wherein,
the resistance element comprises a wire and/or a conductor path and heats up when supplied.

4. The food processor according to claim 1 ,
wherein,
the pre-circuit comprises a switching unit for switching the pre-circuit at least between a protective switch state, in which a current is limited by the current limiting element, and an operative switch state, in which the pre-circuit connects the connection for supplying power and the electric motor and in which the limitation of the current by the current limiting element is deactivated by bridging the second functional unit between the connection for supplying power and the electric motor or by disconnecting the second functional unit from the electric motor.

5. The food processor according to claim 4 ,
wherein,
the switching unit for switching between the protective switch state and the operative switch state comprises at least one first switching element, which is connected in parallel with the current limiting element, and a second switching element, which is connected in series with the current limiting element.

6. The food processor according to claim 4 ,
wherein,
the switching unit for switching between the protective switch state and the operative switch state at least has at least one relay or at least one transistor.

7. The food processor according to claim 1 ,
wherein,
a motor control unit for powering the electric motor is connected between the pre-circuit and the electric motor.

8. The food processor according to claim 1 ,
wherein,
the second functional unit is connected to the operating device by means of an electrical contact, preferably in the form of a plug connection.

9. The food processor according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first functional unit is arranged in the cooking vessel of the food processor, wherein the first functional unit and the second functional unit are configured to process ingredients placed in cooking vessel.

10. A method for operating a food processor with a movable first functional unit for providing a first appliance function for a user, comprising at least the following step:
operating an operating device for powering the first functional unit of the food processor by an electric current,
wherein the operating device comprises:
an electric motor,
a connection for supplying power to the electric motor, and
a pre-circuit connected between the connection and the electric motor;

the food processor further comprising:
a cooking vessel which is configured to be detachable from the operating device; and
an electrical second functional unit for providing a second appliance function to the user,
the current in the pre-circuit being limited by a current limiting element formed by the second functional unit, and
the second functional unit comprises an electrical resistance heater with a resistance element for heating the resistance heater, the electrical resistance heater thereby being configured to heat food in the cooking vessel by the resistance element to perform the second appliance function, wherein at least a section of the resistance element forms the current limiting element for limiting a current in the pre-circuit by being electrically connected to the pre-circuit, wherein the current limiting element is arranged in the cooking vessel, thereby being detachable from the motor of the operating device.

11. The method according to claim 10 ,
wherein,
a capacity of the food processor is charged at least during operation of the operating device, a charging current of the capacity being limited when the current is limited.

12. The method according to claim 10 ,
wherein,
the current is limited in a protective switching state of the operating device, and the method comprises at least one of the following steps:
Switching into an operative switching state in which the limiting of the current by the second functional unit is deactivated, or
Switching to a safety state of the operating device, in which an electric motor of the operating device is electrically disconnected from a connection of the operating device.

13. The method according to claim 12 ,
wherein,
when switching to the operative switch state, the second functional unit is at least partially bridged or electrically disconnected from at least the connection or from the electric motor.

14. The method according to claim 12 ,
wherein,
the following steps are performed when switching to the operative switch state:
Closing of a first switching element of a switching unit of the operating device, which is connected at least partially in parallel with the second functional unit, and
Opening of a second switching element of the switching unit, which is connected at least partially in series with the second functional unit.

15. The method according to claim 10 ,
wherein,
the second functional unit has an electrical resistance heater which is supplied with current at least in certain areas when the current is limited.

16. The method according to claim 12 ,
wherein,
the method comprises the following step:
Switching into an operative switching state, after the switching on or starting, of the operating device.

17. The food processor according to claim 1 , wherein the resistance element is formed by at least a wire or a conductor path.

Assignees

• Vorwerk Co Interholding

Inventors

• Lang Torsten

Classifications

• H05B3/0014

  Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances · CPC title

• H02P29/00

  Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors, appropriate for both AC and DC motors (arrangements for starting electric motors H02P1/00; arrangements for stopping or slowing electric motors H02P3/00; control of motors that can be connected to two or more different electric power supplies H02P4/00; regulating or controlling the speed or torque of two or more electric motors H02P5/00; vector control H02P21/00) · CPC title

• H02J7/345

  using capacitors as storage or buffering devices · CPC title

• H02H9/02 Primary

  responsive to excess current {(current limitation for voltage regulators G05F1/573; disconnection after limiting H02H3/025)} · CPC title

• A47J43/046

  with tools driven from the bottom side · CPC title