Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A_CONTROL SYSTEM FOR COOKING APPARATUS
This invention relates to control systems for cooking
apparatus and, more particularly, to such control sy-~tems of
the type controlled by a programmed digital microcomputer
and suitable for use as a control system for commercial
cooking apparatus.
U.S. Pa~ent 4,437,159~Waugh relates to a cooking
computer for use with a deep fat fryer and having a
temperature sensing probe. Up to 12 recipes, each of which
includes a cooking time and a time-temperature adjustment
factor for adjusting cooking time as a function of
temperature during a cook cyle, can be stored in a
microcomputer. Cooking times and time compensation factors
stored in recipes are user alterable through a keyboard.
Such a cooking computer is not capable of automatically
shifting a temperature control setpoint when selecting a
product and starting a cook cycle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved control system for cooking apparatus which
avoids one or more of the disadvantages of prior such
control systems.
It is another object of the invention to provide a new
and improved control system for cooking apparatus in which a
user selectable product key is capable of setting the
cooking temperature if the cooking temperature has not been
set at the selected value elsewh0re in the apparatus.
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It is another object of the invention to provide a new
and improved control system for cooking apparatus which is
capable of automatically shifting the temperature of the
cooking apparatus if the temperature set elsewhere in the
apparatus has not been set at a newly selected value
corresponding to a newly selected product.
It is another object of the invention to provide a new
and improved control system for cooking apparatus which is
capable of setting a parameter if the parameter has been set
elsewhere at other than a newly selected value.
In accordance with the invention, a control system for
cooking apparatus comprises means for optionally selecting a
program subroutine for an optionally selected product for
programming a microcomputer to control a cooking process.
The control system also includes means responsive to the
optionally selected subroutine for setting a parameter other
than cooking time at a selected value in accordance with the
optionally selected subroutine. The control system also
includes means responsive to the optionally selected
subroutine for storing timing information relating to the
cooking process. The control system also includes means
responsive to the storing means for determining whether the
cooking process is complete.
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Also in accordance with the invention, a control system
for cooking appaxatus comprises means for optionally
selecting a program subroutine for an optionally selected
product for programming a microcomputer to control a cooking
process. The system also includes means responsive to the
optionally selected subroutine for attempting to set a
parameter of the apparatus at a selected value in accordance
with the optionally selected subroutine. The apparatus also
includes means coupled to the attempting means for
determining whether the parameter has been set at the
selected value elsewhere in the apparatus, and first
register means coupled to the determining means for setting
the parameter at~the select~d value. The apparatus also
includes means for proceeding with the balance of the
optionally selected subroutine, and second register means
responsive to the optionally selected subroutine for storing
timing information relating to the cooking process. The
apparatus also includes means responsive to the second
register means for decrementing the second register means as
the cooking process continues, and means responsive to the
second register means for determining whether the cooking
process is complete.
Also in accordance with the invention, a control system
for cooking apparatus comprises means for optionally
selecting a program subroutine for an optionally selected
product for programming a microcomputer to control a cooking
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process. The system also includes means responsive to the
optionally selected subroutine for attempting to set a
parameter of the apparatus at a selected value in accordance
with the optionally selected subroutine. The control system
also includes first means coupled to the attempting means
for determining whether the paxameter has been set at the
selected value elsewhere in the apparatus, and second means
for determining whether the parameter set at the selected
value elsewhere is operating within a predetermined
operating range of the selected value of the parameter as
attempted to be set~ The system also includes means
responsive to the second determining means for continuing
with the balance of the subroutinè and register means
responsive to the subroutine for storing timing information
relating to the cooking process. The system also includes
means responsive to the register means for decrementing the
register means as the cooking process continues, and means
responsive to the register means for determining whether the
cooking process is complete.
Referring now to the drawings;
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fryer including a
control system constructed in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 represents apparatus including a microcomputer
and usable in connection with a control system constructed
in accordance with the invention; and
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Fig. 3 is a flow chart comprising a representation of a
portion of a microcomputer which operates according to a
computer program produced according to the flow chart.
Before referring to the drawings in detail, it will be
understood that for purposes of clarity, the apparatus
repr~sented in block diagrams in Figs. 2 and 3 utilizes, for
example, an analog-to-digital converter and a microprocessor
which includes such hardware as a central processing unit,
program and xandom access memories, timing and control
circuitry, input-output interface devices and oth~r
conventional digital subsystems necessary to the operation
of the central processing unit as is well understood by
those skilled in`the art. The microprocessor operates
according to the computer program produced according to the
flow chart represented in the drawings.
Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the
drawings, there is represented cooking apparatus lO
comprising, for example, a fryer 11 having a movable product
basket 12 operated by a gear and motor train 13 for movement
into and out of the cooking medium such as shortening in the
fryer 11.
~ he frying apparatus 11 has an oil drain pipe 14
connected to a drain valve 15 in a filter unit 160 The
filter unit preferably comprises papers and chemicals for
filtering the cooking oil. A pump 17 is provided for
returning the oil to the cooking apparatus via a pipe 18.
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A control panel 20 having a display screen 20a in a header
assembly 21 is connected to a control including a
microcomputer in the header assembly for operating the
control.
, Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2 of the
drawings, the microcomputer 22 includes a central processing
unit which receives an input from the keyboard 23 which may,
for example, comprise a capacitive keyboard.
The control includes a conventional power supply 24, a
! reset circuit 25 for resetting the microcomputer when
renewing power in the power supply, a clock oscillator 26
for providing clock pulses to the microcomputer 22, a
temperature sensor circuit 27 for.sensing the temperature
within the cooking apparatus, an audible alarm 28, an
alpha/numeric display 29 and indicator lights 30. The
apparatus also includes an input status circuit 31 which
may, ~or example, be responsive to a door switch and to the
open/close condition of the drain valve. The microcomputer
controls an output relay circuit 32 which may, for example,
control the gas valves of a burner or a heating element or
microwave or other heating means.
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Considering now the programmed microcomputer with
reference to the flow chart of Fig. 3, the control system
for cooking apparatus includes means 35 for optionally
selecting a program subroutine 36 for programming the
microcomputer to control a cooking process utilizing a
cooking medium, for example, shortening or cooking oil. The
selecting means 35 preferably comprises an "optional enter"
portion 35 which may, for example, be a product cycle key,
such as, a chicken cycle key. The control system also
includes means 37 for attempting to set a parameter other
than cooking time at a selected value in accordance with the
optionally selected subroutine. The parameter may, for
example, be the temperature of the cooking medium sensed by
a temperature sensing probe of the temperature sensor
circuit 27, or the parameter may, for example, be level,
pressure or humidity.
~ he control system also includes means 38 coupled to
the attempting means or determining whether the parameter
has been set at a selected value elsewhere in the apparatus.
The means 38 comprises a "is parameter set elsewhere at
selected value?" microprocessor portion. The control system
also includes first register means 33 coupled to the
determining means 38 for setting the parameter at the
selected value. More particularly, the first register means
comprises a "set parameter register" microprocessor portion
coupled to the "no" output of the means 38.
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The control system also includes means 40 for
proceeding with the balance of the optionally selected
subroutine. The means 40 comprises a "proceed with balance
of subroutine" microprocessor portion coupled to the output
of the "set parameter" register microprocessor portion 39.
The control system also includes second register means
41 responsive to the optionally selected subroutine for
storing timing information relating to the cooking process,
for example, the total cooking tims for a product. The
second register means 41 comprises a "load register"
microprocessor portion coupled to the microprocessor portion
40. When the "load register" microprocessor portion 40 is
loaded, the cooking process for the selected product begins.
The "load register" microprocessor portion 40 output is
coupled to a status display 42 which may, for example,
provide audio and visual outputs. For example, the display
may indicate an operator prompt or alarm message.
The control system also includes means 43 responsive to
the second register means 41 for decrementing the register
means 41 as the cooking process continues. The means 43
compri`se a "decrement register" microprocessor portion 43.
The control system also includes means 44 responsive to the
register means 41 for determining whether the cooking
process is complete. The means 44 comprises a "is process
complete?" microprocessor portion. The "no" output of the
microprocessor portion 44 is coupled to the Ndecrement
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register" microprocessor portion 43 to continue the
decrementing of the register microprocessor portion 41 until
the cooking process is complete. The microprocessor portion
44 has a "yes" output coupled to a status display 45 which
may, for example, display the word "done" indicating that
the cooking process is complete~ The display may also, for
example, take the form of an audio signal.
The decrementing of the register microprocessor portion
41 by the "decrement register" microprocessor portion 43 may
be done by, for example, a timer or a complex cooking
computer program function.
The status display microprocessor portion 45 is coupled
to the "optional enter" microprocessor portion 35 to
terminate the program subroutine cooking process.
The control system also includes second means ~6 for
determining whether the parameter set at the selected value
elsewhere is operat~ng within a predetermined operating
range o the selected value of the parameter as attempted to
be set by the microprocessor portion 37. ~he second means
46 comprises a "is parameter set at the selected value
elsewhere operating within a predetermined operating range
of the selected ~alue o~ the parameter as attempted to be
set?" coupled to the "yes" output of the microprocessor
portion 38. A "proceed" microprocessor portion 47 is
coupled to the "yes" output of the microprocessor portion
46. The apparatus also includes means 47, 48 responsive to
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the second determining means 46 for continuing with the
balance of the subroutine. The "proceed" microprocessor
portion 47 is coupled to a "skip set parameter, continue
with balance of subroutine" microprocessor portion 48. The
microprocessor portion 48 is coupled to the "load register"
microprocessor portion 41.
The "no" output of the "is parameter set at selected
value elsewhere within range of selected value attempted to
be set?" microprocessor portion 46 is coupled to a "stop"
microprocessor portion ~9. The "stop" microprocessor
portion 49 is coupled to the "optional enter" microprocessor
portion 35 to terminate the program subroutine.
The control system also includes a plurality of
additional portions similar to those just described from the
"optional enter" key 35 through the "stop" microprocessor
portion 49. A portion of another channel similar to that
just described is represented in Fig. 3 with similar
portions having similar reference numerals primed to
represent the coupling between the "set parameter" register
39' microprocessor portion and the "is parameter set at
selected value?" microprocessor portion 38.
While there has been described what is at present
considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention,
it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various
changes and modifications may be made therein without
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departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed to
cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the
true spirit and scope of the invention.
