Microwave hood combination with air clean function

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a body at least partially defining a recirculation outlet. The body includes a bottom panel defining at least one inlet. First and second filters are coupled to the bottom panel and in fluid communication with the at least one inlet. The second filter is configured to filter smaller particulates than the first filter. A fan assembly is configured to direct air through at least one inlet and through the recirculation outlet. A cover assembly is operably coupled to the bottom panel. The cover assembly includes at least one inlet cover operable between first and second positions. An actuator is configured to move at least one inlet cover between the first position to cover the first filter to direct air through the second filter and the second position to cover the second filter to direct air through the first filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooking appliance, comprising:
 a body at least partially defining a recirculation outlet, wherein the body includes a bottom panel defining at least one inlet;   a first filter coupled to the bottom panel and in fluid communication with the at least one inlet;   a second filter coupled to the bottom panel and in fluid communication with the at least one inlet, wherein the second filter is configured to filter smaller particulates than the first filter;   a fan assembly configured to direct air through the at least one inlet and through the recirculation outlet; and   a cover assembly operably coupled to the bottom panel, wherein the cover assembly includes:
 at least one inlet cover operable between a first position and a second position; and 
 an actuator operably coupled to the at least one inlet cover, wherein the actuator is configured to move the at least one inlet cover between the first position to cover the first filter to direct the air through the second filter and the second position to cover the second filter to direct the air through the first filter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller operably coupled with the cover assembly, wherein the controller is configured to activate the actuator to move the at least one inlet cover to the first position covering the first filter for an air clean function, and wherein the controller is configured to activate the actuator to move the at least one inlet cover to the second position covering the second filter for a hood function.   
     
     
         3 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter includes at least one of a grease filter and a charcoal filter, and wherein the second filter includes at least one of a total volatile organic compounds filter and a high-efficiency particulate air filter. 
     
     
         4 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet cover includes a first inlet cover and a second inlet cover, and wherein the at least one inlet includes a first inlet and a second inlet, the first filter in fluid communication with the first inlet and the second filter in fluid communication with the second inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The cooking appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator includes a motor operably coupled with a linkage, the linkage coupled with the first inlet cover and the second inlet cover, and wherein the motor and the linkage are configured to rotate the first and second inlet covers between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet cover is a mesh cover having a first portion defining first guide apertures and a second portion defining second guide apertures, and wherein the actuator includes a linear actuator for moving the mesh cover relative to first inlet apertures in fluid communication with the first filter and second inlet apertures in fluid communication with the second filter. 
     
     
         7 . The cooking appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the first guide apertures are aligned with the first inlet apertures and the second guide apertures are offset from the second inlet apertures when the mesh cover is in the first position for a hood function, and wherein the first guide apertures are offset from the first inlet apertures and the second guide apertures are aligned with the second inlet apertures when the mesh cover is in the second position for an air clean function. 
     
     
         8 . A cooking appliance, comprising:
 a body at least partially defining an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the body includes a mesh structure that extends across the air inlet, and wherein the mesh structure includes a first mesh section defining first inlet apertures and a second mesh section defining second mesh apertures;   a first air filter coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the first inlet apertures;   a second air filter coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the second inlet apertures, wherein the second air filter is configured to filter at least some different particulates than the first air filter;   a fan assembly configured to direct air through the air inlet into the body and through the air outlet to expel the air from the body; and   a cover assembly operably coupled to the body, wherein the cover assembly includes:
 an inlet cover operable between a first position and a second position, wherein the inlet cover includes a first segment defining first guide apertures and a second segment defining second guide apertures; and 
 an actuator operably coupled to the inlet cover, wherein the actuator is configured to move the inlet cover between the first position and the second position to adjust positions of the first and second guide apertures relative to the first and second inlet apertures to, consequently, adjust which of the first and second air filters the air is directed through by the fan assembly. 
   
     
     
         9 . The cooking appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the first guide apertures are aligned with the first inlet apertures when the inlet cover is in the first position to direct the air through the first air filter, and wherein the second guide apertures are aligned with the second inlet apertures when the inlet cover is in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The cooking appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the first guide apertures are offset from the first inlet apertures when the inlet cover is in the second position, and wherein the second guide apertures are offset from the second inlet apertures when the inlet cover is in the first position. 
     
     
         11 . The cooking appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the second air filter has a greater thickness than the first air filter, and wherein the second segment of the inlet cover is offset from the first segment of the inlet cover to provide space for the greater thickness of the second air filter. 
     
     
         12 . The cooking appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the body includes a bottom panel defining the air inlet, and wherein the cover assembly is coupled to an inner surface of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         13 . The cooking appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the first air filter is closer to a front panel of the body than of the second air filter, and wherein the first air filter is at least one of a grease filter and a charcoal filter, and further wherein the second air filter is at least one of a total volatile organic compounds filter and a high-efficiency particulate air filter. 
     
     
         14 . The cooking appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator with a motor and a connector, and wherein the linear actuator is configured to move the inlet cover fore and aft relative to the first and second mesh sections. 
     
     
         15 . A cooking appliance, comprising:
 a body at least partially defining at least one air inlet and an air outlet;   at least one first air filter coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the at least one air inlet;   at least one second air filter coupled to the body adjacent to the at least one first air filter and in fluid communication with the at least one air inlet, wherein the at least one second air filter is configured to filter at least some different particulates than the at least one first air filter;   a fan assembly configured to direct air through the at least one air inlet into the body and through the air outlet to expel the air from the body; and   a cover assembly operably coupled to the body, wherein the cover assembly includes:
 at least one inlet cover rotatable between a first position and a second position; and 
 an actuator operably coupled to the at least one inlet cover, wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the at least one inlet cover about at least one rotational axis between the first position and the second position to adjust whether the air is directed through the at least one first air filter or the at least one second air filter by the fan assembly. 
   
     
     
         16 . The cooking appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one inlet cover extends along an outer surface of the at least one first air filter when the at least one inlet cover is in the first position for the air to be directed through the at least one second air filter, and wherein the at least one inlet cover extends along an outer surface of the at least one second air filter when the at least one inlet cover is in the second position for the air to be directed through the at least one first air filter. 
     
     
         17 . The cooking appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first air filter includes a first hood filter and a second hood filter, and wherein the at least one second air filter includes a first air clean filter and a second air clean filter, and further wherein the at least one inlet cover includes a first inlet cover to selectively cover the first hood filter and the first air clean filter and a second inlet cover to selectively cover the second hood filter and the second air clean filter. 
     
     
         18 . The cooking appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes a bottom panel defining the at least one air inlet, and wherein the at least one air inlet includes a first air inlet in fluid communication with the at least one first air filter and a second air inlet in fluid communication with the at least one second air filter, and wherein the cover assembly is coupled to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         19 . The cooking appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator includes a motor, a connector link, and a linkage, and wherein rotational motion of the motor is translated to motion of the linkage by the connector link which, consequently, drives rotation of the at least one inlet cover. 
     
     
         20 . The cooking appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first air filter is at least one of a grease filter and a charcoal filter, and wherein the at least one second air filter is at least one of a total volatile organic compounds filter and a high-efficiency particulate air filter.