Temperature sensor assembly for an automatic baking machine

• US 5,438,915 A
• Filed: 01/28/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chen, Shang-Hsien
• Original Assignee: Chen, Shang-Hsien
• Inventors: Chen, Shang-Hsien
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US08/187,987
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 99/325-328, 99/329 R, 99/331-333, 99/337, 99/338, 99/348, 99/352, 99/353, 99/467, 99/468, 99/483, 99/484, 99/486, 366/69, 366/96-98, 366/144-147, 366/601, 426/504, 426/512
• US Class Current: 99/331
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 7/005 in combination with mixing or kneading devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/015 electrically heated
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor

Abstract

A temperature sensor assembly is used for an automatic baking machine which includes an oven and a container disposed within the oven so as to bake bread therein. The oven has a heat device mounted therein so as to heat the container. The temperature sensor assembly includes a shell member, a sensor element, a bias unit, and a housing member. The shell member is attached to the inner wall of the oven and has a heat transfer portion near the container. The heat transfer portion is made of a material which permits heat to transfer therethrough. The sensor element contacts the heat transfer portion of the shell member so as to detect a temperature of the heat transfer portion, and has a pair of conducting legs respectively adapted to be connected electrically to two conducting wires of the heat device so as to signal and actuate the heat device to heat the container when the temperature of the heat transfer portion is below a predetermined temperature. The bias unit biases the sensor element to press against the heat transfer portion of the shell member. The housing member is coupled with the shell member so as to retain the bias unit therebetween and is attached to the inner wall of the oven so as to position the temperature sensor assembly on the oven.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor assembly for an automatic baking machine, said automatic baking machine including an oven and a container disposed within said oven so as to bake bread therein, said oven having a heat device mounted therein so as to heat said container, said temperature sensor assembly comprising:

a shell member attached to an inner wall of said oven and having a heat transfer portion near said container, said heat transfer portion being made of a material which permits heat to transfer therethrough;

.

a sensor element contacting said heat transfer portion of said shell member so as to detect a temperature of said heat transfer portion, and having a pair of conducting legs respectively adapted to be connected electrically to two conducting wires of said heat device, said sensor element signaling and actuating said heat device to heat said container when the temperature of said heat transfer portion is below a predetermined temperature;

a bias unit biasing said sensor element to press against said heat transfer portion of said shell member; and

a housing member coupling with said shell member so as to retain said bias unit therebetween, said housing member being attached to said inner wall of said oven so as to position said temperature sensor assembly on said oven,

wherein said bias unit includes an elongated cushion member, a positioning member and a connection mechanism interconnecting said cushion member and said positioning member, said positioning member having a notch of a semicircular cross-section formed in a surface thereof so as to hold said sensor element in said notch, said cushion member being made of a hard rubber material so as to push said positioning member to press said sensor element against said heat transfer portion of said shell member.

2. A temperature sensor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connection mechanism includes two positioning holes formed in said positioning member, and two rods projecting from said cushion member and extending respectively into said positioning holes.