Patents Assigned to Rational AG
  • Patent number: 12064054
    Abstract: A loading and/or unloading station of at least one cooking device with a plurality of insertion levels defining insertion heights for food in at least one cooking chamber, the at least one insertion and/or food carrier which can be loaded with at least one food can be placed at each insertion height, the loading and/or unloading station including a sensing device for determining the loading of the cooking chamber, which has at least one camera device for recording images which are evaluated or can be evaluated in a data processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Reimar Waitz, David Schick, Bruno Maas, Oliver Merker, Thomas Schreiner
  • Patent number: 9750089
    Abstract: A cooking device has at least one pre-set parameter for at least one predetermined program, such as a cooking program, and/or cleaning program, and/or for at least one predetermined mode of operation, such as a cooking mode of operation or a cleaning mode of operation. The preset parameter can be modified by means of at least one modification function element of a control element of the cooking device. During a particular time period, the modification can be confirmed, accepted and/or stored by means of at least one confirmation and/or storage function element of the control element of the cooking device, and after a particular time period has elapsed, the modification can be confirmed, accepted and/or stored automatically by the cooking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Peter Wiedemann, Andrea Jürgens, Cornelia Dietmayer, Michael Greiner, Erwin Schuller, Gerd Funk, Thomas Treu
  • Patent number: 9557066
    Abstract: A cooking appliance including an interior, a fan mechanism having at least one fan wheel in the interior, at least one first flow directing member for subdividing the interior into a pressure chamber that houses the fan wheel and a cooking chamber, in which the first flow directing member includes at least one suction port for sucking atmosphere from the cooking chamber into the pressure chamber when the fan wheel is in operation and at least one blow-off port for blowing atmosphere from the pressure chamber into the cooking chamber when the fan wheel is in operation; and at least one second flow directing member that is included with the fan mechanism in the area of the suction port of the first flow directing member in order to improve the flow from the cooking chamber into the pressure chamber by forcing an axial main flow H in the suction zone of the fan mechanism, where the second flow directing member performs a nozzle function, extends from the fan mechanism into the cooking chamber, and overlaps the e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Ernst Claussen, Joachim J. Hylla, Oliver Witt, Yingan Xia, Michael Herner, Thomas Schreiner, Robert Kurth, Leonhard Ring, Aldo Paintner
  • Patent number: 8734877
    Abstract: A method relates to adjusting a parameter of a process to be executed in a cooking appliance. The parameter has a range of values. The method includes displaying a set of pictorial depictions on a display. Each pictorial depiction represents one of the values in the range. A manual selection from among the pictorial depictions is input. The process is executed in accordance with the value represented by the manually selected pictorial depiction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Regina Hömme, Michael Greiner, Judith Kling
  • Patent number: 8475857
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for the energy-saving control of at least one process in a food processing device including a processing chamber, at least one processing device, and a control or regulating device. The control or regulating device can reduce the duration of at least the first process step or the duration of regulation in the first processing step or switch off the processing device during at least a part of the processing step to save energy, based on at least one first variable relating to the climate in the processing chamber or at least one second variable relating to the processing device or at least one third variable relating to the food item to be processed or at least one fourth variable relating to a degree of soiling of the processing chamber, during at least one second processing step directly after the first processing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventor: Manfred Breunig
  • Patent number: 8455028
    Abstract: A method for operating at least one cooking process in a cooking chamber of a cooking appliance is based on a multiple number of parameters that can be entered through an input device of the cooking appliance. Based on the parameters, at least one cooking product and/or cooking program, at least one starting and/or ending time of the cooking of at least one cooking product and/or for at least one cooking program, and at least one cooking parameter can be selected. An output device indicates when each cooking product is to be loaded into and removed from the cooking chamber in dependence of the starting time and/or ending time, and the selection of a multiple number of cooking products. Additionally, the sequence of cooking of the cooking products can be optimized based on at least one parameter that determines at least one cooking parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Manfred Breunig, Michael Greiner
  • Patent number: 8344294
    Abstract: A method for the cooking of a cooking product in a cooking appliance with a cooking chamber that comprises at least one heating device, a computer device, a memory device and at least one sensor device, is carried out, in dependence on a degree of cooking of a cooking product and/or of a cooking duration, in particular determined by the core temperature, the browning, the pH value and/or the cooking value, from values measured by the sensor device with consideration of the at least occasionally deposited values in the memory device via the computer device, wherein at least two steps separated from one another in time, comprising a pre-cooking step, which is interrupted when a determined intermediate value of the degree of cooking and/or of the duration of cooking, in particular a determined remaining time for reaching the cooking duration is reached, and a finishing cooking step, in particular a finishing step that is recalled at a later time point in order to end the cooking of the cooking product with consi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Michael Greiner, Manfred Breunig
  • Patent number: 8269151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for displaying the curve when a desired climate has been reached in a cooking compartment of a cooking appliance by taking into account at least one actual value of the first variable that changes over time and is characteristic of the climate in the cooking compartment. Said method is characterized in that the actual value of the first variable is detected at least once during an interval t0 to t1 and is compared with a desired value of the first variable, said desired value characterizing the desired climate, a point in time t2 when a second interval is to begin and/or the point in time t3 when the desired climate has been reached is/are estimated in accordance with said comparison, and the course of the first variable over time is taken into account at least once when estimating the point in time t3 during a second interval t2 to t3, wherein t2?t1. The invention also relates to a cooking appliance for carrying out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Juergen Klasmeier, Michael Greiner, Peter Wiedemann, Manfred Breunig, Bruno Maas, Michael Fink, Judith Kling, Cornelia Dietmayer
  • Patent number: 8178142
    Abstract: A method for conducting a treatment program in a preparation chamber of a food preparation appliance comprises: (a) determining at least one first value of the preparation chamber atmosphere and/or of the atmosphere surrounding the food preparation appliance before selection and/or beginning of the treatment program, (b) storing the first value, (c) determining at least one second value of the preparation chamber atmosphere and/or of the atmosphere surrounding the food preparation appliance after loading the cooking product into the preparation chamber or after introduction of a lime removal and/or cleaning agent into the preparation chamber and/or after beginning of the treatment program, (d) determining at least one third value from the first and second value, (e) comparing the third value with the stored values, and (f) conducting the treatment program as a function of the result of the comparison of the third value with stored values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Michael Greiner, Oliver Merker, Reinhard Nielsen, Stefan Rusche, Thomas Schreiner, Manfred Breunig
  • Publication number: 20120003364
    Abstract: A method for selecting and arranging program representatives and a cooking device therefor including displaying program representatives on a display device, where the programs are for a cooking device, selecting program representatives via an input device, where the display device is connected to the input device and a control or regulating device, and storing the programs on a storage device, where the control or regulating device is connected to the storage device, the cooking device, or provided by the cooking device, and to the display device to display a program representative as a virtual token on a virtual token board on the display device. The method also includes placing the virtual token on an area of the virtual token board through various means, which enables a representation of a cooking process through the virtual token board to determine when and how to cook and item using the cooking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Rational AG
    Inventors: Judith Kling, Michael Greiner, Peter Wiedemann, Andre Juergens-Heinersdorff, Simon Seemueller, Karin Klimm
  • Publication number: 20110253123
    Abstract: A cooking appliance including an interior, a fan mechanism having at least one fan wheel in the interior, at least one first flow directing member for subdividing the interior into a pressure chamber that houses the fan wheel and a cooking chamber, in which the first flow directing member includes at least one suction port for sucking atmosphere from the cooking chamber into the pressure chamber when the fan wheel is in operation and at least one blow-off port for blowing atmosphere from the pressure chamber into the cooking chamber when the fan wheel is in operation; and at least one second flow directing member that is included with the fan mechanism in the area of the suction port of the first flow directing member in order to improve the flow from the cooking chamber into the pressure chamber by forcing an axial main flow H in the suction zone of the fan mechanism, where the second flow directing member performs a nozzle function, extends from the fan mechanism into the cooking chamber, and overlaps the e
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Rational AG
    Inventors: Ernst Claussen, Joachim J. Hylla, Oliver Witt, Yingan Xia, Michael Herner, Tomas Schreiner, Robert Kurth, Leonhard Ring, Aldo Paintner
  • Patent number: 8025740
    Abstract: A process for conducting cleaning operations at predetermined time intervals in a chamber or container of a fluid-receiving device of a foodstuff-processing apparatus first comprises receiving a first fluid in the chamber or container. Then, first and second degrees of cleaning are determined at first and second moments in time, respectively. Then, a first difference between the first and second degrees of cleaning is determined. In a first case, in which the second degree of cleaning lies below a first limit value, the action duration of the at least one cleaning agent during at least one subsequent cleaning operation is set depending on the first degree of cleaning. In a second case, in which the second degree of cleaning lies above the first limit value, a greater amount of cleaning agent is supplied and/or the time interval between two subsequent, successive cleaning operations is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Andrea Juergens, Gerhard Kramer, Judith Kling, Tobias Gayer, Wolfgang Holzapfel, Bruno Maas, Erwin Schuller, Kerstin Geiger, Peter Wiedemann, Manfred Breunig
  • Patent number: 7856170
    Abstract: A heatable housing and a device such as a cooking appliance including a heatable housing for producing steam includes at least one wall that delimits an interior space, which is enclosed by the housing at least in areas and which serves to hold a liquid to be vaporized. The wall has at least one hollow for accommodating at least one heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Stefan Rusche, Thomas Schreiner, Thomas Garner, Manfred Bucher, Paul Linseisen, Bruno Maas, Peter Kohlstrung
  • Publication number: 20080295702
    Abstract: A cooking device has at least one pre-set parameter for at least one predetermined program, such as a cooking program, and/or cleaning program, and/or for at least one predetermined mode of operation, such as a cooking mode of operation or a cleaning mode of operation. The preset parameter can be modified by means of at least one modification function element of a control element of the cooking device. During a particular time period, the modification can be confirmed, accepted and/or stored by means of at least one confirmation and/or storage function element of the control element of the cooking device, and after a particular time period has elapsed, the modification can be confirmed, accepted and/or stored automatically by the cooking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Rational AG
    Inventors: Peter Wiedemann, Andrea Jurgens, Cornelia Dietmayer, Michael Greiner, Erwin Schuller, Gerd Funk, Thomas Treu
  • Patent number: 7438240
    Abstract: A hand-held sprayer includes an at least partially hollow shaft section, a liquid dispensing section and a hollow connecting plug element for connecting a hose extension to the hand-held sprayer. The connecting plug element is arranged within shaft section and can be fastened by a fastening element plugable through at least one opening from the outside into the shaft section and the connecting plug element has a groove running circumferentially around its outer periphery which the fastening element engages when the connecting plug element is fastened to the shaft section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventor: Hermann Rabe
  • Patent number: 7409311
    Abstract: A method for cooking a cooking load includes at least two particularly individual items for cooking, the cooking state of which is characterized by at least two cooking state parameters, including a first cooking state parameter and a second cooking state parameter, in a cooking chamber with application of at least one measuring device for recording values of at least one property of at least one cooking load, for determining at least one of said cooking state parameters, which alters depending on the cooking process, whereby at least two of the items for cooking in the cooking load, differ in size, total surface area, volume, weight and/or diameter, in particular, mean diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Judith Imgram, Andrea Jürgens, Katrin Lauterbach, Jürgen Klasmeier, Michael Greiner, Roland Sterzel
  • Patent number: 7232978
    Abstract: A method for controlling a delta-T cooking process includes (a) selecting of a set core temperature KTs and a delta-T value for the food to be cooked, (b) introducing the food to be cooked into the cooking space at an initial core temperature KT0; (c) increasing the actual cooking space temperature GTa as a function of the actual core temperature KTa over the course of at least one first time interval in such a way that an essentially constant difference approximately on the order of magnitude of the delta-T value is maintained between GTa and KTa until KTa=KTs+A and thus corresponds to a maximum value GTa-r, where A is a temperature value smaller than delta-T; and finally (d) stepwise and/or continuously decreasing the actual cooking space temperature GTa during a second time interval to a final cooking space temperature of GTe=KTs+B, where B is a temperature value of 0?B<A, in such a way that, when GTa becomes essentially the same as GTe, KTa reaches KTs more-or-less simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Andrea Jürgens, Judith Imgram, Katrin Lauterbach, Kathrin Hildenbrand, Roland Sterzel, Michael Greiner, Jürgen Klasmeier
  • Patent number: 7223943
    Abstract: In a method for improved fresh air supply in a cooking apparatus, an inner housing is provided to circumscribe a cooking chamber. A fan chamber is separated from the cooking chamber via at least one flow guide element. The fan chamber has a fan with a fan wheel which comprises primary blades on its side facing the first flow guide element and auxiliary blades on its side facing the wall of the inner housing through which the axle of the fan wheel passes to connect with a motor arranged outside of the inner housing. The fan wheel is provided for the circulation of cooking atmosphere and/or suction of fresh air into the inner housing via a fresh air channel, a mouth of which is separated from the axle of the fan wheel and runs into the inner housing through the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Peter Kohlstrung, Thomas Schreiner
  • Publication number: 20070098857
    Abstract: A method for determining at least one physical characteristic in a product to be cooked, such as in a product to be cooked used in a cooking process, is characterized by the following steps: generating a temporal, changeable temperature field within a product to be cooked; acquiring a plurality of first measured values in the product to be cooked, said first measured values comprising at least one first temperature value at a first position and at least one second temperature value at a second position separated from the first position, and determining the physical characteristic from the first measured values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Rational AG
    Inventor: Peter Kohlstrung
  • Patent number: 7202454
    Abstract: A method for the determination of a turning time of at least one cooking product, to which heat is supplied from one side during a cooking process includes a) determination of a first temperature TA in the cooking product at the beginning of the cooking process at an initial time point tA as well as of a set temperature TE of the cooking product which must exist at the end of the cooking process at the end time tE; b) acquiring of a first temperature difference between the set temperature Tset and the first temperature TA; c) determination of at least one actual temperature Tactual in the cooking product at several times during the cooking process; d) acquiring of the time of turning tT as the time at which a second temperature difference between the set temperature Tset and the actual temperature Tactual reaches a certain fraction of the first temperature difference; and e) outputting a signal when the time of turning tT is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Peter Wiedemann, Klaus Altenburger, Helen Podestat