Method for operating a steam oven and steam oven

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a steam oven ( 1 ), especially a domestic steam oven, wherein the steam oven ( 1 ) has a control unit ( 2 ) and a water reservoir ( 3 ) and wherein the steam oven ( 1 ) is equipped with a pyrolytic cleaning function. To better protect the electronics and sensors of the oven, the invention is characterized in that the operation of the pyrolytic cleaning comprises the following steps after the pyrolytic cleaning function is activated by the user: a) detecting of the actual water level (L) in the water reservoir ( 3 ) by the control unit ( 2 ); b) comparing of the detected actual water level (L) with a defined minimum pyrolytic water level (LMP) by the control unit ( 2 ); c) starting the pyrolytic cleaning function by the control unit ( 2 ) if the actual water level (L) is equal or above the minimum pyrolytic water level (LMP) or d) not starting the pyrolytic cleaning function but issuing of an alarm to the user by the control unit ( 2 ) if the actual water level (L) is below the minimum pyrolytic water level (LMP) to alert the user to fill up water into the water reservoir ( 3 ). Furthermore, the invention relates to a steam oven.

1 . Method for operating a steam oven ( 1 ), especially a domestic steam oven, wherein the steam oven ( 1 ) has a control unit ( 2 ) and a water reservoir ( 3 ) and wherein the steam oven ( 1 ) is equipped with a pyrolytic cleaning function, 
       characterized in that 
       the operation of the pyrolytic cleaning comprises the following steps after the pyrolytic cleaning function is activated by the user:
 a) detecting of the actual water level (L) in the water reservoir ( 3 ) by the control unit ( 2 ); 
 b) comparing of the detected actual water level (L) with a defined minimum pyrolytic water level (L MP ) by the control unit ( 2 ); 
 c) starting the pyrolytic cleaning function by the control unit ( 2 ) if the actual water level (L) is equal or above the minimum pyrolytic water level (L MP ) or 
 d) not starting the pyrolytic cleaning function but issuing of an alarm to the user by the control unit ( 2 ) if the actual water level (L) is below the minimum pyrolytic water level (L MP ) to alert the user to fill up water into the water reservoir ( 3 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the operation of the pyrolytic cleaning furthermore comprises the steps after the pyrolytic cleaning function is activated by the user and before carrying out step c) of  claim 1 :
 b′) after detecting of the actual water level (L) in the water reservoir ( 3 ) according to step a) of  claim 1 : comparing of the detected actual water level (L) with a defined overfilled water level (L OF ) by the control unit ( 2 );   c′) starting the pyrolytic cleaning function by the control unit ( 2 ) if the actual water level (L) is below the overfilled water level (L OF ) or   d′) not starting the pyrolytic cleaning function but issuing of an alarm to the user by the control unit ( 2 ) if the actual water level (L) is above the overfilled water level (L OF ) to alert the user to drain water from the water reservoir ( 3 ).   
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the minimum pyrolytic water level (L MP ) is a maximum water level (L MN ) for normal steam cooking operation. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the minimum pyrolytic water level (L MP ) is a water level which is between a maximum water level (L MN ) for normal steam cooking operation and a defined overfilled water level (L OF ). 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an alarm is issued to the user by the control unit ( 2 ) if the actual water level (L) is above a defined overfilled water level (L OF ) to alert the user to drain water from the water reservoir ( 3 ). 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the alarm signal is an optical signal. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the alarm signal is an acoustic signal. 
     
     
         8 . Steam oven ( 1 ), especially domestic steam oven, which has a control unit ( 2 ) and a water reservoir ( 3 ) and elements to carry out a pyrolytic cleaning function, for carrying out the method according to  claim 1 , 
       characterized in that 
       the steam oven ( 1 ) comprises at least one sensor element ( 4 ) to detect the actual water level (L) in the reservoir ( 3 ), wherein the control unit ( 2 ) comprises means for comparing the detected actual water level (L) with a defined minimum pyrolytic water level (L MP ) and wherein the control unit ( 2 ) comprises alarm means for issuing of an alarm to the user if the actual water level (L) is below the minimum pyrolytic water level (L MP ) and if a pyrolytic cleaning operation is activated. 
     
     
         9 . Steam oven according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the at least one sensor element ( 4 ) is designed to detect an overfilled water level (L OF ), wherein the control unit ( 2 ) comprises means for comparing the detected actual water level (L) with the overfilled water level (L OF ) and wherein the control unit ( 2 ) comprises alarm means for issuing of an alarm to the user if the actual water level (L) is above the overfilled water level (L OF ). 
     
     
         10 . Steam oven according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the sensor element ( 4 ) comprises at least one floating magnet and relay reeds. 
     
     
         11 . Steam oven according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the sensor element ( 4 ) is a capacitive element. 
     
     
         12 . Steam oven according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the control unit ( 3 ) is designed to calculate and output the water volume necessary to reach a defined water level in accordance with a detected water level by the sensor element ( 4 ). 
     
     
         13 . Steam oven according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the water level is the minimum pyrolytic water level (L MP ). 
     
     
         14 . Steam oven according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the water level is the maximum water level (L MN ) for normal steam cooking operation. 
     
     
         15 . Steam oven according to  claim 8 , characterized in that it comprises optical and/or acoustic alarm signal means.