Abstract: A method for achieving movement of a gas burner of a cooking hob relative to a cavity in which said burner rests when not in use and from which it partially emerges for its activation, by which following a command for activating the burner a magnetic force is generated on the heating element which causes it to move and partially emerge from the cavity, said force ceasing when a burner deactivation command is given, with its consequent return to its rest position within the corresponding cavity. The method is implemented by a device comprising fixed conductor means arranged to cooperate magnetically with magnetically sensitive means associated with the movable burner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for carrying out the method for drying crockery in a dishwasher with a rinse container closeable by means of a door. By means of two or three successive different method steps, the drying is improved. The method steps include a drainage phase, a drying phase with blower or condenser and an automatic, partial opening of the door.

Abstract: The method provides for applying to the solenoid valve, during its movement of closure by the action of a spring, a voltage signal the purpose of which is to brake this closure movement. The circuit comprises a static switch connected between the coil of the solenoid valve and earth, and an intermediate tap between these two components from which a voltage signal is withdrawn and is transformed by a microcontroller into a control signal for the static switch, such as to apply the braking signal to the solenoid valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for carrying out the method for rinsing in a dish washer with a rinse water circuit, in which the rinse water is evacuated from the sump of the wash chamber by means of a circulating pump and, passing through a filter, is supplied to the spray devices in the wash chamber, the filter being cleaned in counterflow to the rinse water by means of introduced cleaning water. During the entire rinsing procedure the filter is cleaned in counterflow, the dirt particles in the filter being kept in suspension. The cleaning water is supplied to the rinse water circuit and preferably removed therefrom.

Abstract: An oven structure (1) comprises a casing (2) provided with walls (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) defining a cooking chamber (4) open on one side (4A) of said casing (2), and below said casing (2) an element (20) provided with a cavity (19) defined by walls (21, 22, 23, 26) rising from the lower wall (24) of said element (20), said cavity (19) facing the lower wall (8) of said casing (2). At least part (26) of said element (20) is removable to allow connection to a gas heating member (29), said cavity (19) being able at choice either to receive an electrical heating member (60) or become the seat of a hot air stream generated by the gas member (29), the lower wall (8) of said casing (2) being provided with apertures (16) which are preferably closed when the cavity (19) of the lower element (20) contains the electrical heating member (60) and are open when said lower element (20) is connected to the gas heating member (29).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sealing the transitional region between a rotatably mounted spraying arm of a dishwashing machine and its stationary bearing member by means of a sealing element, which is disposed therebetween and is impinged by the rinsing water flowing therethrough. The sealing and sliding friction functions are separated through the inclusion of a slip ring in the transitional region and this achieves significant sealing with a long service life.

Abstract: A method for achieving load balance in washing machines provided with a rotary drum driven by an electric motor under the control of control means, and in which a circuit is provided for measuring a physical quantity associated with information relative to the state (balanced or unbalanced) of the load in the drum, the method comprising, after the wash stage, a stage in which the drum speed is gradually increased during which the physical quantity is continuously monitored to ascertain the state of load distribution within the drum, and a stage of rapid rotational speed increase at the moment in which a state of balanced load distribution within the drum is detected.

Abstract: An arrangement for the stable connection of two home appliances stacked one above the other, particularly a washing machine and a drier comprises two vertically displaceable supporting feet (21) provided with vertical recesses and fixed to the bottom of the upper appliance, and two vertically protruding connection elements, fixed to the worktop of the lower appliance, which are adapted to be introduced into the recesses of supporting feet when the two appliances are stacked one above the other.

Abstract: A control device for heating elements, particularly for use in household electrical appliances such as cookers, cooking hobs, ovens and the like, comprising a driven switch in series with the, a first capacitor acting as a filter in parallel with the load, a second capacitor acting as a freewheeling capacitor operationally in series with the load and with the capacitor, these two being connected in parallel, and at least one inductor means in series with the load, characterised in that: a) the driven switch is a static switch hence able to assume an open state and a closed state; b) an inductor is provided in parallel with the load, or alternatively a section of the inductor means is in parallel with the load; c) a freewheeling diode is provided connected between an intermediate point between the inductor or section and freewheeling capacitor and an intermediate point between the load and static switch, so that when the static switch is in one state the freewheeling capacitor is charged via the freewheeling d

Abstract: A microwave oven comprises a microwave radiation source, a microwave-activable bottom heater (4) on which the food is placed, and optionally an IR-radiating top heater, which all can be controlled via the control unit of the oven. Further, the oven comprises one or more sensors for sensing the temperature of the bottom heater (4) and feeding this information back to the control unit. The feedback temperature information makes it possible to impart the desired temperature to the bottom heater (4) by controlling the microwave radiation source and/or the top heater.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for securing an outlet hose and an inlet hose or an inlet valve to a rear wall baffle of a domestic appliance such as a washing machine, dishwasher and the like. The outlay on parts and assembly is considerably reduced in that there is provided in the rear wall baffle an opening into which a retaining portion may be resiliently engaged, and in that the retaining portion has two outwardly open resilient engagement openings, into which the outlet hose and the inlet hose or the inlet valve may be resiliently engaged and axially immovably secured before resilient engagement of the retaining portion in the opening in the rear wall baffle.

Abstract: A control circuit for a series type dc motor. The control circuit uses a switching cell to control motor speed. The switching cell and motor receive power from a filtered dc supply. A tachometer generator produces a voltage proportional to motor speed. The speed voltage is compared to a speed reference signal voltage and the difference is proportionally integrated to develop a speed error signal voltage. The speed reference signal voltage is developed at a summing node where a current generated by the control's microcontroller is summed with a current proportional to the input ripple voltage of the control's dc supply. The microcontroller also receives a voltage proportional to the control's dc input as a reference. The speed error signal voltage is compared with the output voltage of a current sensor that is in series with the motor feeder arrangement and the comparator's output is used to reset a bistable flip flop.

Abstract: A method for controlling the microwave feed in a microwave oven, as well as a microwave oven for implementing the method, is disclosed. The power level (P) of the microwaves is controlled by periodic activation or inactivation of the microwave radiation source of the oven during a sequence of control cycles. The oven has a rotary bottom plate carrying the food or dish, and/or a rotary field agitator or aerial. The heating uniformity is improved by adjusting to one another the duration of the control cycle and the revolution time of the bottom plate or of the field agitator or aerial, while taking into consideration the aimed-at power level. In a procedure composed of several steps with different power levels and heating times, the heating times of the different steps are also adjusted to the current control-cycle duration.

Abstract: A microwave oven having a cavity and a door for closing off the cavity. The oven is fitted with a pressure actuated safety catch device which prevents opening of the door as a consequence of a sudden pressure increase in the cavity. The sudden pressure increase in the cavity is used to activate the safety catch device which catches the locking device of the door.

Abstract: A method for the heating of beverages or foodstuffs in fluid form contained in a package or container which is placed in a microwave oven whose cavity is adapted as to the dimensions and shape of the package or container. When the target temperature of the beverage or foodstuff is reached, heating is ceased. A microwave oven for such heating includes a package-adapted cavity and control means for ceasing heating when the target temperature is reached, which can be sensed by incorporated means for sensing moisture release, IR radiation from the beverage or foodstuff or means for sensing its light permeability.

Abstract: A smoke and vapour detector for microwave ovens comprises a light transmitter (12) and two light receivers (13, 14) arranged in a housing (11) through which air from the microwave chamber flows during a heating procedure. One receiver (13) is designed to receive direct light from the transmitter (12), and the other receiver (14) is designed to receive indirect or scattered light from the interior of the housing (11). The signals from the receivers are differentiated and subtracted from one another in order to generate a difference signal indicating the presence of smoke or water vapour in the chamber air.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence of a food container such as a saucepan dish or the like, placed on a heating element of a glass ceramic cooking hob comprising electrical conductor rings fed with signals which are identical but of opposite phase, between the conductor rings there being interposed a detector ring traversed by electrical signals, the conductor and detector rings being positioned in correspondence with that cooking region of the glass ceramic hob where the heating element is positioned, the signals from the detector ring varying on the basis of the presence or absence of the food container on the hob, a control being provided to measure the variation in the electrical signals and to intervene in the operation of the heating element.

Abstract: A microwave oven is provided with a weighing device comprising a plate having a vertically movable shaft, and a fluid-containing bladder or a fluid-containing piston and cylinder assembly, and a pressure sensor for sensing the weight of a food product to be cooked in the oven. The problem residing in that the electronic components included in prior-art weighing devices are placed in an unsuitable environment under the cavity bottom of the oven is solved by placing the electronic components on a circuit board for the remaining control electronics in a space separate from the space under the cavity bottom. This solution means that the vertically movable shaft generates a pressure change in the bladder or the piston and cylinder assembly. This pressure change is transmitted to the pressure sensor, which generates a weight-indicating signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a saucepan on the hob plate of a glass ceramic cooking hob associated with a heating element includes measuring the variation in a physical characteristic of an electrical resistive element positioned between the heating element and the hob plate of the glass ceramic cooking hob caused by a body or saucepan being placed on the hob, the variation being evaluated by control means which, on the basis thereof, controls the heating element to change its operating parameters.