Cooking Appliance

Abstract

A cooking appliance, in particular, a cooking appliance which is mounted at an elevated level, comprising at least one muffle which defines a cooking area, and the muffle opening thereof is surrounded by a muffle frame, a door which closes the muffle opening and a drive device which is used to drive the door and which is controlled by a control circuit. The drive device can be controlled by the control circuit in such a manner that a predetermined driving parameter of the door can be controlled by at least one defined ramp.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A cooking appliance comprising:
 a muffle having a muffle body defining a cooking compartment with a cooking compartment access opening formed in the muffle body;   a door configured for traveling movement in and out of a covering relation with the muffle access opening;   a drive device in mechanical communication with the door for applying motive force thereto; and   a control circuit in operational communication with the drive device for controlling at least one travel parameter of the door wherein the at least one travel parameter is changed linearly for a predetermined time period.   
   
   
       16 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 15  wherein the control circuit is configured for controlling at least one travel parameter including door speed. 
   
   
       17 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 16  wherein the control circuit is configured for controlling door movement wherein a first predetermined linear acceleration can be exceeded as the door starts to travel to a nominal speed. 
   
   
       18 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 17  wherein the control circuit is configured for controlling door movement wherein a second predetermined linear acceleration can be exceeded as the door is being slowed to a further nominal speed. 
   
   
       19 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 15  wherein the control circuit is configured to control door movement wherein the door can travel according to a first predetermined linear acceleration to a nominal speed after actuation of a travel switch panel and can automatically come to a standstill from the nominal speed according to a second predetermined linear acceleration. 
   
   
       20 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 15  wherein the control circuit is configured to control door movement wherein the door can travel according to a first predetermined linear acceleration to a nominal speed while at least one travel switch is actuated and can come to a standstill after at least one travel switch is released. 
   
   
       21 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 15  and further comprising a speed measuring device for determining door travel speed including at least one sensor located on a motor shaft of a drive motor of the drive device. 
   
   
       22 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 15  and further comprising a speed measuring device for determining door travel speed including at least one Hall sensor located on a motor shaft of a drive motor of the drive device. 
   
   
       23 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 15  and further comprising user-operable door speed controls operatively associated with the control circuit. 
   
   
       24 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 15  and further comprising a door speed monitoring device in communication with the control circuit and means for detecting a trapping event at the door using the speed monitoring device. 
   
   
       25 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 21  and further comprising an anti-trap arrangement in communication with the control circuit that can be activated only when the nominal speed of the door has been reached as determined by the speed measuring device. 
   
   
       26 . The cooking appliance according to claim one  15  wherein the control circuit is operable to control the speed of door movement in one of a speed-dependent travel mode and a load-dependent travel mode. 
   
   
       27 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 15  wherein said cooking appliance is configured for mounting above countertop level with a plurality of sides and a downwardly directed muffle opening and the door is configured for covering the downwardly directed muffle opening. 
   
   
       28 . A method for operating a cooking appliance comprising the steps of:
 providing a muffle having a muffle opening, a door configured for traveling movement toward and away from a covering relation with the muffle opening and a control circuit for controlling door movement; and   controlling door movement according to one of a first defined speed ramp when the door begins movement and a second defined speed ramp when the door is stopped.   
   
   
       29 . A method for operating a cooking appliance comprising the steps of:
 providing a muffle having a muffle body defining a cooking compartment with a cooking compartment access opening formed in the muffle body; a door configured for traveling movement in and out of a covering relation with the muffle access opening; a drive device in mechanical communication with the door for applying motive force thereto; and a control circuit in operational communication with the drive device; and   controlling at least one travel parameter of the door using the control circuit wherein the at least one travel parameter is changed linearly for a predetermined time period.