Microwave cooking equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microwave cooking device, the microwave cooking device: having a cooking space bounded by the walls of the cooking space; having a cooking device lamp; having an opening in the wall of the cooking space, the cooking device lamp being held in the opening; having a shielding device in the region of the opening, the shielding device preventing microwaves from escaping from the cooking space through the opening; wherein the cooking device lamp has an LED light source and a light guide rod, the light guide rod feeding the light emitted by the LED light source into the cooking space; the cooking device lamp has a holding plate, the holding plate being provided with a void, the light guide rod of the cooking device lamp being placed in the void; the holding plate holds a sleeve member surrounding the light guide rod; the holding plate is arranged on the wall of the cooking space so as to cover the opening.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a microwave cooking device, the microwave cooking device:

[0002] - having a cooking space bounded by the walls of the cooking space,

[0003] - having a cooking device lamp,

[0004] - having an opening in the wall of the cooking space, in which the cooking device lamp is held,

[0005] - having a shielding device in the region of the opening, which prevents microwaves from escaping from the cooking space through the opening. Background Art

[0006] Cooking devices are well known in the prior art in the form of ovens, steamers, microwave ovens or other devices for private household or commercial application purposes. Cooking devices are used for preparing food and for this purpose have a cooking space, which is formed by a so-called muffle and the walls of the muffle, i.e. the muffle walls or the walls of the cooking space.

[0007] In order to be able to observe and evaluate the cooking process, cooking devices have lighting devices, as described in the applicant's own DE502006001187. Such lamps are inserted into through-holes in the wall of the cooking space, which are introduced into the wall of the cooking space during the manufacture of the muffle.

[0008] The muffle is a component made of metal, usually in multiple parts. Here, the muffle parts are formed from metal sheets in pressing.

[0009] The tools and facilities for manufacturing muffle parts are very expensive, so that manufacturers of cooking devices try to make sufficient use of the tools and manufacture different device types and models using the same muffle.

[0010] The development of lighting technology has led to an increase in the use of cooking appliance lamps based on LED modules, which offer high energy-saving potential and thus improve the energy efficiency of cooking appliances. However, the special requirements of LED lighting technology have led to completely new cooking appliance lamps, which have different structural forms, mounting dimensions, and requirements for their arrangement in cooking appliances. In particular, the temperature sensitivity of LED light sources has led to the LED light sources having to be arranged at a significantly greater distance from the cooking space, and the light emitted is usually fed into the cooking space via a light conductor. This has led to the development of muffle furnaces with matching wall openings for feeding light into the cooking space for the use of cooking appliance lamps based on LED technology, and to the adjustment or replacement of existing production tools. This is disadvantageous both economically and from a sustainability perspective. Summary of the Invention

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to equip a microwave cooking appliance with a cooking appliance lamp based on LED technology, the microwave cooking appliance having an opening configured for the use of a conventional lamp in the cooking space wall.

[0012] This object is achieved by a microwave cooking appliance according to the invention, whereby:

[0013] - The cooking appliance lamp has an LED light source and a light guide rod that feeds the light emitted by the LED light source into the cooking space,

[0014] - The cooking appliance lamp has a retaining plate provided with a cutout, into which the light guide rod of the cooking appliance lamp is inserted,

[0015] - The retaining plate holds a sleeve member around the light guide rod,

[0016] - The retaining plate is arranged on the cooking space wall in such a way as to cover the opening.

[0017] Here, the opening in the cooking space wall has a first opening size, while the cutout in the retaining plate has a second opening size, which is smaller than the first opening size.

[0018] A particular feature of the present invention lies in the retaining plate defined as above, which adapts the fixed profile and fixed position defined by the opening in the cooking space wall to the use of LED lighting devices. In this way, neither does the cooking space wall, which is part of the muffle furnace, have to be matched to modern LED-based cooking appliance lamps, nor does the cooking appliance lamp, which has been developed taking into account the advantages of LED technology, have to be expensively modified in order to match the existing cooking appliance wall suitable for conventional lamps.

[0019] Thus, the retaining plate according to the invention allows the continued use of components based on existing conventional technologies and the production tools provided for manufacturing such components until, for example, new tools need to be purchased due to tool wear and thus the tools can also be replaced. At the same time, lighting devices that have already been adapted to the new requirements can be continued to be used without changing the structure. Thus, the retaining plate allows a seamless transition from conventional technology to new technology, i.e., a smooth transition.

[0020] In addition, the sleeve member surrounding the light guide rod prevents microwave radiation from escaping from the cooking space, so that the sleeve member has the function of a microwave trap.

[0021] The retaining plate can be fixed in such a way that openings in the cooking space wall can be closed in different ways. Thus, a threaded connection is as feasible as a clamping connection or a snap connection. The way of fixing especially follows the fixing way provided for the conventional cooking device lamps hitherto arranged in the openings. Usually, this involves snap wings that slide over the opening edge when sinking into or passing through the opening and are elastically squeezed back into place. However, after passing through the opening, the snap wings protrude and accommodate the cooking space wall between the snap wings themselves and the retaining plate, i.e., the snap wings hook behind the cooking space wall.

[0022] A particularly preferred embodiment is one in which the sleeve member is constructed as a separate component, and in particular the sleeve member has a support flange and a bent fixing leg.

[0023] Constructing the sleeve member as a separate component has the important advantage of creating a modular system. Thus, one and the same sleeve member can be used on retaining plates arranged in different ways and adapted to the respective conditions of the openings provided in the cooking space wall for conventional lighting devices. In addition, different materials can be used for manufacturing the retaining plate and the sleeve member. Finally, the dimensions of the sleeve member can be adapted to the shielding device for microwave radiation, which is only restrictively feasible when forming the retaining plate section.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the retaining plate is formed by a plate member.

[0025] Finally, it is provided that the retaining plate is constructed with receiving slots through which the fixing legs of the sleeve member are guided and hook behind the retaining plate on the side facing away from the support flange.

[0026] The fixing legs allow the sleeve member to be simply fixed to the retaining plate, especially in the case where another fixing device is additionally provided, and the other fixing device together with the fixing legs fixes the sleeve member to the retaining plate. A snap element that sinks into a corresponding snap opening in the retaining plate is particularly suitable here. However, riveting and threaded connections are also feasible.

[0027] There is an annular gap between the sleeve member and the light guide rod, and the annular gap is caused by assembly purposes and different coefficients of expansion. In order to prevent steam from escaping from the cooking space along the annular gap between the light guide rod and the sleeve member, it is stipulated that the retaining plate or the sleeve member itself is provided with a sealing element, and the sealing element closes the annular gap. In addition, the sealing element can also have the function of holding the cooking device lamp on the wall of the cooking space, especially in the case where the sealing element is inelastic, such as a graphite ring embedded in a ceramic holding device. However, it is also feasible to create such a holding device with an elastomeric sealing element constructed accordingly.

[0028] The sleeve member can have a perforated sleeve wall, that is, the sleeve member is constructed as a perforated plate or a mesh hose (Gitternetzschlauch), and the sleeve member still fulfills its function as a microwave trap. Description of the Drawings

[0029] Other advantages of the present invention and a better understanding of the present invention are obtained from the following description of the embodiments. In the drawings:

[0030] Figure 1 The arrangement structure according to the present invention of the cooking device lamp in the cooking space wall of the microwave cooking device shown in an exploded view;

[0031] Figure 2 Shown in a side view in the assembled form according to Figure 1 the arrangement structure;

[0032] Figure 3 Shown according to Figure 2 a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line III-III in

[0033] Figure 4 Shown according to Figure 3 a partial enlarged view of the partial circle IV in

[0034] Figure 5 a view of the retaining plate and the sleeve member on the side facing away from the cooking space; and

[0035] Figure 6 a view of the retaining plate and the sleeve member on the side facing the cooking space. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0036] In the drawings, the arrangement structure of the cooking device lamp 12 in the section of the cooking space wall 11 is generally denoted by the reference numeral 10.

[0037] In Figure 1The arrangement structure 10 is shown in exploded view. The cooking space wall 11 has an opening 13 which is provided for a cooking device lamp of a conventional construction type (i.e. in the case of using a reflector and a halogen lamp for example) and which is surrounded by a series of threaded holes 14.

[0038] The cooking device lamp, which is generally provided with the reference numeral 12, firstly comprises a lamp socket part 15 which holds an LED light source not shown further, which is connected to a connecting wire 16 and which is then constructed with a holding flange 17 for fixing an optical guide rod 18.

[0039] A holding plate 19 is provided with through holes 20 and is dimensioned such that it covers the opening 13 of the cooking space wall 11. Here, the through holes 20 of the holding plate 19 are aligned with the threaded holes 14 of the cooking space wall 11.

[0040] The holding plate 19 itself has a cut-out 21 for the optical guide rod 18 to pass through and for receiving an elastomeric seal 30, i.e. a sealing element. Then, on the side of the holding plate 19 facing away from the cooking space, there is provided a sleeve member 22 which is able to receive the optical guide rod 18.

[0041] The sleeve member 22 has, at its end facing the holding plate 19, a support flange 23 which carries fixing feet 24 and holding lugs 25 which are radially opposed to the fixing feet 24. The holding lugs 25 are provided with first riveting holes 26 which are aligned with second riveting holes 27 on the side of the holding plate. The riveting holes 26, 27 can be penetrated by fixing rivets 28 in order to fix the sleeve member 22 to the holding plate 19.

[0042] A fixing bolt 29 passes through the through holes 20 of the holding plate 19 and engages in the threaded holes 14 of the cooking space wall 11 in order to fix the holding plate 19 to the cooking space wall 11.

[0043] The above can in particular also be seen with the aid of Figure 2 as Figure 2 a side view showing the arrangement structure 10, in which the components shown in exploded view are assembled together. Figure 1 The components shown in exploded view are assembled together.

[0044] Figure 4 In Figure 3 a detail enlarged view according to partial circle IV in Figure 3 the arrangement structure 10 is again shown in assembled form. Figure 2 itself is a sectional view according to section line III-III in

[0045] From Figure 4First, it can be seen that the lamp holder component 15 includes a cooling body 31, on which a circuit board 32 is fixed, and the circuit board is provided with an LED module 33, which forms the light source of the cooking device lamp 12, and the light guide rod 18 is arranged downstream of the LED module in the light emission direction. Therefore, the light guide rod can receive the light emitted by the LED module 33 and transmit the light to the cooking space.

[0046] For its part, the light-guiding rod 18 has, near its end on the LED module side, a latching groove 34 , into which latching wings 35 , which are formed by the retaining collar 17 , engage.

[0047] The light-guiding rod 18 is inserted into the elastomeric seal 30. The light-guiding rod 18 is also located in the opening 13 of the cooking space wall 11. It should be pointed out that the opening 13 in this view is only visible as a narrow gap between the cooking space wall 11 and the sleeve component 22, which is caused by the selected section plane.

[0048] The elastomer seal 30 seals the annular gap R between the sleeve component 22 and the light-guiding rod 18 to prevent cooking steam from escaping from the cooking space. In the present embodiment, the elastomer seal 30 engages with a retaining groove 36 in the edge region of the recess 21 of the retaining plate 19. In an alternative embodiment not shown, it is also conceivable that the elastomer seal 30 is arranged on the sleeve component 22 itself.

[0049] Figure 4 A person skilled in the art can easily conceive of a relatively inflexible seal in the form of, for example, a graphite ring, which is fixed to the sleeve component 22 or to the retaining plate 19 and has an axial extension sufficient for supporting the light-guiding rod 18. A sealing ring configured in this way is not only able to close the annular gap R without problems, but is also able to hold the cooking device luminaire 12 as a whole, so that further fixing of the cooking device luminaire 12 to the cooking device is not absolutely necessary.

[0050] from Figure 5 and Figure 6 A better understanding of the fixing of the sleeve member 22 on the retaining plate 19 is obtained by looking at the two figures from above (the side facing away from the cooking space, Figure 5 ) and from below (towards the side of the cooking space, Figure 6 ) shows the holding plate. The illustration of the light guiding rod 18 is omitted.

[0051] Figure 5 and Figure 6 First, it is shown that the holding plate 19 is provided with a fixing slot 37, through which the fixing foot 24 is recessed and thus projects on the side of the holding plate 19 opposite the support flange 23 of the sleeve component 22. The fixing foot 24 of the sleeve component 22 rests with its end on the holding plate 19.

[0052] The retaining lug 25 of the sleeve member 22 aligns the first riveting hole 26 of the retaining lug with the second riveting hole 27 of the retaining plate 19, wherein the fixing rivet 28 passes through the two riveting holes 26, 27 so as to reliably fix the sleeve member 22 on the retaining plate 19 together with the fixing leg 24. In addition, in Figure 5 and Figure 6 the elastomeric seal 30 can also be seen, but the elastomeric seal has no function of fixing the sleeve member on the retaining plate 19.

[0053] The present invention shows how a cooking appliance lamp 12 based on modern LED technology can be provided for a cooking space wall 11 having an opening 13 for anchoring a conventional cooking space lamp (the conventional cooking space lamp being provided with, for example, a halogen lamp or an incandescent lamp) by using an adapted retaining plate 19. In particular, the cooking appliance lamp 12 having the light guide rod 18 only requires a small opening in the cooking space wall 11 for feeding light into the cooking space. The retaining plate 19 correspondingly reduces the diameter of the opening 13 to a size suitable for introducing the light guide rod 18. The retaining plate 19 is thus an adapter plate. Due to the retaining plate, existing molds and tools can continue to be used to manufacture the cooking space and nevertheless LED lamps can be used. The LED lamps do not have to be matched to the existing conditions in terms of their structural type and structural shape.

[0054] Here, the core idea of the present invention is to provide a suitable introducing device for the light guide rod 18 in such a way that, by using in particular the retaining plate 19, the over-sized opening 13 in the cooking space wall 11 is reduced in terms of its size for the light guide rod 18 to pass through.

[0055] The sleeve member 22 serves as a shielding device for microwave radiation so as to prevent the microwave radiation from escaping from the cooking space. Thus, the sleeve member 22 realizes the function of the grid structure known from the prior art, which is arranged in association with the opening 13 of the cooking space wall 11 in the case of using a typical cooking appliance lamp.

[0056] List of reference numerals

[0057] 10 Arrangement structure

[0058] 11 Cooking space wall

[0059] 12 Cooking appliance lamp

[0060] 13 Opening

[0061] 14 Threaded hole

[0062] 15 Lamp socket part

[0063] 16 Connecting wire

[0064] 17 Retaining flange

[0065] 18 Light guide rod

[0066] 19 Retaining plate

[0067] 20 Through hole

[0068] 21 Clearance part

[0069] 22 Sleeve member

[0070] 23 Support flange

[0071] 24 Fixed foot

[0072] 25 Retaining lug

[0073] 26 First riveting hole

[0074] 27 Second riveting hole

[0075] 28 Fixed rivet

[0076] 29 Fixed bolt

[0077] 30 Elastomeric seal

[0078] 31 Cooling body

[0079] 32 Circuit board

[0080] 33 LED module

[0081] 34 Locking groove

[0082] 35 Locking wing

[0083] 36 Retaining groove

[0084] 37 Fixed seam

[0085] R Annular gap

Claims

1. A microwave cooking device, the microwave cooking device: - having a cooking space bounded by a cooking space wall (11), - having a cooking device lamp (12), - having an opening (13) in the cooking space wall (11), in which the cooking device lamp (12) is held, - having a shielding device in the region of the opening (13), which prevents microwaves from escaping from the cooking space through the opening (13), characterized in that - the cooking device lamp (12) has an LED light source and a light guide rod (18), which feeds the light emitted by the LED light source into the cooking space, - the cooking device lamp (12) has a holding plate (19), which is provided with a cut-out (21), into which the light guide rod (18) of the cooking device lamp (12) is inserted, - the holding plate (19) holds a sleeve member (22) around the light guide rod (18), - the holding plate (19) is arranged on the cooking space wall (11) so as to cover the opening (13), the sleeve member (22) is constructed as a separate member, and the sleeve member has a support flange (23) and bent fixing feet (24), and the holding plate (19) is constructed with a receiving slit, through which the fixing feet (24) of the sleeve member (22) are guided and hook the holding plate (19) on the side facing away from the support flange (23).

2. The microwave cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding plate (19) carries a sealing element (30), which seals the annular gap R between the light guide rod (18) and the opening (13).

3. The microwave cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve member (22) carries a sealing element (30), which seals the annular gap R between the sleeve member (22) and the light guide rod (18).

4. The microwave cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sleeve member (22) has a through-hole in its sleeve wall.

5. The microwave cooking device according to claim 4, characterized in that the sleeve member (22) is constructed as a mesh hose.

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