Steam treatment drawer for a domestic cooking appliance

Abstract

A steam-processing drawer (5) for a household cooking appliance (1) has a removable support frame (30) having an evaporator (12, 13) disposed therein; and a steaming dish (20) for receiving a processed object to be steamed, which can be inserted from above into the support frame (30), wherein a steam inlet channel (25) is installed on the steaming dish (20), the steam inlet channel being constructed such that, when the steaming dish (20) is inserted, the steam inlet channel is conductively connected in steam technology to the steam outlet opening (12a) of the evaporator (12, 13). A household cooking appliance (1) has at least one steam-processing drawer (5). The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to household cooking appliances having an oven and a steam-processing drawer disposed below it.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a steam treatment device for a household cooking appliance, comprising a steaming basin for receiving an object to be steamed, wherein a steam inlet channel is connected to a steam outlet opening of an evaporator, and the steam inlet channel is directed to the steaming basin. The invention also relates to a household cooking appliance having at least one such steam treatment drawer. The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to household cooking appliances having an oven and a steam treatment drawer arranged below it. Background Technology

[0002] Known are steam treatment containers for use in the cooking chamber of an oven, which have a steaming pan for holding the object to be steamed, and a lid that can seal the steam from the top. To allow steam to enter and, possibly, to exit into the steam treatment chamber formed by the steaming pan and the lid, it is known to have pipes welded to the steaming pan that are inserted into a rearward interface of the cooking chamber when the steam treatment container is pushed horizontally into the oven's cooking chamber.

[0003] It is also known that passageways are provided in the lid of the steam treatment vessel to allow steam to enter and, if possible, to exit.

[0004] Furthermore, it is known that, with respect to foldable lids, the entry and possible exit of steam are set by the hinge of the steam treatment vessel.

[0005] A known drawback of steam treatment containers is that users must painstakingly connect the inlet and / or outlet of the steam treatment container to the steam technology of the oven. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The objective of this invention is to overcome, at least in part, the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0007] This task is addressed by a steam handling drawer for a household cooking appliance, the drawer having a removable support frame with an evaporator disposed therein; and a steaming dish for accommodating the object to be steamed, which can be placed into the support frame from above, wherein a steam inlet channel is installed on the steaming dish, the steam inlet channel being constructed such that, when the steaming dish is placed, the steam inlet channel is conductively connected to the steam outlet opening of the evaporator in a steam-technical manner.

[0008] This steam handling drawer offers the following advantages: by inserting a removable steaming pan, a simple and reliable steam connection can be established between the steaming pan and the evaporator without requiring any further user intervention. This is particularly user-friendly.

[0009] The support frame of the steam drawer is configured to be moved horizontally in and out, for example, relative to the drawer housing of a household cooking appliance. With the support frame removed, the steaming dish can be lifted upwards. For this purpose, the steaming dish can be placed into the steaming dish-placement area of ​​the support frame. To achieve a particularly large capacity steaming dish, an advantageous modification is that the steaming dish-placement area has no bottom in the area of ​​the steaming dish, so that the bottom of the steaming dish forms the bottom of the steam drawer there.

[0010] The open upper portion of the steaming basin, serving as the feed opening, can be covered by a seal, possibly in a steam-sealed manner, via a cover for the steam treatment drawer, to form a steam treatment chamber. The cover can be a separate component or can be connected to a support frame. In the latter case, the cover can pivot or move relative to the support frame. Advantageously, the cover is made of glass, as glass is highly resistant to chemical and mechanical stresses. The glass is particularly transparent, which allows observation of the interior of the evaporator casing even when the cover is closed.

[0011] An advantageous modification for a compact structure is to incorporate a steam generation unit and a water tank as components in the evaporator.

[0012] For easy evacuation and cleaning, especially descaling, an advantageous modification is that the steam generating unit and / or water tank are constructed separately and / or together in a manner that allows them to be removed from the evaporator-containment area.

[0013] A particular advantage is that, from the user's side, the water tank can be placed into and removed from the receiving recess on the upper side of the steam generating unit. Alternatively, the water tank can be arranged and operated separately from the steam generating unit.

[0014] The steam generating unit is configured to boil water supplied from the water tank and thereby generate steam. For this purpose, the steam generating unit has at least one heating element, which is advantageously arranged on the bottom side. The steam generated during boiling escapes through an evaporator or a steam outlet opening of the steam generating unit.

[0015] One modification involves at least one heating element that is electrically operated. A particularly advantageous modification for removing the steam generating unit is to heat the heating element, for example, by externally supplied thermal radiation and / or contact heat or induction. Therefore, in the case of heating by thermal radiation and / or contact heat, the heating element is not directly electrically operated, but rather (indirectly) heated by a heating device, particularly fixedly installed in the steam handling drawer, similar to a resistance heater. In the case of induction heating, at least one induction coil can be fixedly installed in the steam handling drawer.

[0016] A water tank is provided to replenish water to the steam generating unit. A locking mechanism or valve can be present between the steam generating unit and the water tank to regulate water flow. One modification is that the valve blocks the drain when the water tank is removed and releases the drain when the water tank is installed. Another modification is that the evaporator has a shut-off valve configured to selectively open or close based on the water level in the steam generating unit. Alternatively, a delivery device such as a pump can be used to deliver water from the water tank to the steam generating unit and optionally also to transport water from the steam generating unit back to the water tank. Furthermore, a control unit can be installed to control the evaporator and, possibly, the delivery device.

[0017] In one modification, the steam generating unit exists as a heatable evaporator housing with an open upper portion and an adapter plate that can be placed on the open upper portion of the evaporator housing from the user side. The adapter plate has a steam outlet and a receiving recess with a water inlet for inserting a water tank from the user side. The water tank has a drain outlet for draining water into the evaporator housing. In another modification, the evaporator housing has an internal volume with a generally rectangular shape. The adapter plate can be placed on the upper edge of the evaporator housing via its edge region, and the steam outlet of the adapter plate is arranged next to its receiving recess. In one modification, the internal volume of the evaporator housing corresponds to at least one filling volume of the water tank. In another modification, the steam generating unit has a filter carrier that can be arranged in a steam chamber located above the rated liquid level of the evaporator housing, bounded by the evaporator housing and the adapter plate. The filter carrier is wetted by steam present in the evaporator housing, rather than being submerged in water within the evaporator housing. Therefore, if the filter carrier contains a suitable flavoring agent, such as a seasoning or similar substance, the steam escaping from the steam outlet can be flavored, for example.

[0018] Steam outlet openings can be constructed, for example, in the wall of the steam generating unit, especially in the wall of the evaporator shell, or in the wall of the steam guiding structure extending from the steam generating unit.

[0019] The steam enters through the steam inlet and flows into the steaming basin.

[0020] The steam inlet channel and the steaming pan are separately manufactured components, especially those that are combined or connected to each other. This allows for the cost-effective manufacture of even complexly shaped steam inlet channels. Such a steam inlet channel can also be referred to as an adapter-like steam inlet channel or an adapter. The end region of the steam inlet channel on the steaming pan side can be connected to the steaming pan, for example, by force locking, shape locking, and / or material locking, such as by locking and / or bonding with the steaming pan. One modification is that the end region on the steaming pan side is placed on a fracture in the wall or wall section of the steaming pan. Another modification is that the end region on the steaming pan side is inserted, for example, into a fracture in the wall or wall section of the steaming pan.

[0021] One modification is that the steam inlet channel is made of plastic, which allows even complex shapes to be manufactured in a particularly inexpensive manner. The steam inlet channel can, for example, be an injection-molded part. The steaming basin is advantageously made of stainless steel, for example.

[0022] The steam inlet channel is constructed such that, when the steaming pan is placed in, it is electrically connected to the steam outlet of the steam generating unit, specifically including that, during connection, steam from the steam outlet enters the steam inlet channel through a corresponding opening ("connection opening") in the steam inlet channel. Thus, a electrical connection or conduit is established from the steam outlet of the steam generating unit through the steam inlet channel to the steaming pan. When the steaming pan is removed, the connection is automatically disconnected (i.e., no further user intervention is required).

[0023] One design involves an upward-opening steam outlet and a downward-opening connecting opening in the steam inlet channel, through which steam can enter when the steaming pan is in place. This provides a mechanically simple and easily cleanable steam connection. In this design, when the steaming pan is placed, the edge of the connecting opening of the steam inlet channel contacts the edge of the steam outlet of the steam generating unit, forming a surrounding closed contact surface in the mating area of ​​the edges, which prevents steam from escaping laterally. The contact is maintained by their weight.

[0024] To reliably prevent parasitic steam from escaping through the gap between the edge of the steam outflow opening and the edge of the connecting opening of the steam inflow channel, a seal (e.g., a sealing ring) can be present in the joint area, which can be secured to the steam generation unit or the steam inflow channel.

[0025] One design involves placing the steam inlet channel, with its connecting opening's flat or planar edge, into a steam-sealed manner, possibly via a seal, onto the edge of the steam outlet opening's planar edge. This provides a steam connection that is mechanically particularly simple to construct and easy to clean.

[0026] One design involves inserting the edge of the connecting opening of the steam inlet channel into the edge of the steam outlet opening of the steam generating unit in a steam-sealed manner when the steam basin is placed inside. This advantageously achieves a particularly high level of steam tightness. For this purpose, one edge can be constructed, for example, in a stepped manner in cross-section, with its internal stepped portion immersing into the other edge.

[0027] One design involves arranging a steam removal unit within a removable support frame. A steam discharge channel is connected to the steam discharge opening of the steaming pan, and this channel is configured to be conductively connected to the steam removal unit, particularly to its associated steam inlet, when the steaming pan is placed inside. This advantageously generates a directional steam flow through the steam treatment chamber during the steam treatment process, allowing steam to escape purposefully from the steaming pan and enabling the targeted removal of the extracted steam.

[0028] A steam removal unit can be used, in particular, to direct or remove extracted steam, such as to the range hood or even the range hood itself. The steam removal unit can also be configured to clean the steam, such as to filter it. In one modification, the steam removal unit can be removed from the support frame, for example, for cleaning or replacing the filter.

[0029] The steam exhaust channel can be designed similarly to the steam inlet channel, such that the adapter-like steam exhaust channel has a downward-opening connection opening through which steam can enter the steam inlet opening of the steam removal unit when the steaming pan is placed. In particular, similar to the steam outlet opening of the steam generation unit, the steam inlet opening can be upward-opening, wherein the matching connection opening of the steam exhaust channel can be placed on it or plugged in. The steam exhaust channel can be made of plastic, like the steam inlet channel. It can be shaped in the same or similar manner as the steam inlet channel.

[0030] The steam inlet opening of the steam removal unit can be formed, for example, in the shell wall of the steam removal unit, which enables a particularly compact structure.

[0031] One design arrangement (in the front view) places the evaporator or evaporator-receiving area in front of the placed steaming pan, and the steam removal unit behind the placed steaming pan. This allows for easy access to the evaporator. Furthermore, this arrangement allows for the construction of steaming pans with particularly large capacities and easy removal and placement.

[0032] One design involves the steam inlet opening (in the front view) of the steam inlet channel converging into the steaming pan, located on the front wall of the steaming pan, and the steam outlet opening (in the rear wall of the steaming pan). This advantageously results in particularly short steam passages between the steam generating unit and the steaming pan, and between the steaming pan and the steam removal unit, which is particularly advantageous and cost-effective in terms of energy. In this design, the steam inlet channel is specifically positioned between the steam generating unit and the steaming pan. A steam outlet channel (if present) is also positioned between the steaming pan and the steam removal unit.

[0033] One design integrates the steam inlet and steam outlet into corresponding lateral handles of the steaming pan. This advantageously avoids breakage within the steaming pan, for example, in order to introduce or form the steam inlet and, possibly, the steam outlet. In this design, the steam inlet channel extends from the evaporator located at the front and further from the side of the steaming pan to the handle. The steam outlet channel then extends from another handle beside the steaming pan to the rear steam venting unit.

[0034] Therefore, steam inlet and steam outlet openings are particularly arranged on opposite walls or wall sections of the steaming pan.

[0035] One design involves horizontally oriented, elongated steam inlet and outlet openings, such as slits, a row of slits arranged front to back, or a row of holes. This achieves the advantage that steam can enter and exit the steaming pan through a wider area, enabling particularly uniform application of steam to the steaming pan, or in other words, a particularly uniform distribution of steam flow. A further modification involves the horizontal length of the steam inlet and outlet openings being at least 50%, and particularly at least 75%, of the horizontal extension of their respective walls.

[0036] This task can also be solved by a household cooking appliance having at least one steam-processing drawer as described above. This household cooking appliance can be constructed similarly to a steam-processing drawer and has the same advantages.

[0037] One design involves a household cooking appliance with a range hood, and a steam removal unit, in its inserted state, is connected to the range hood on the steam exhaust side in terms of steam technology. This allows steam drawn from the steaming pan to be safely and conveniently expelled from the cooking appliance for the user.

[0038] One proposed modification is that the household cooking appliance has only one steam-processing drawer as a functional unit for processing cooked food.

[0039] One modification involves a household cooking appliance that, in addition to at least one steam-processing drawer, also includes at least one other type of additional food processing unit with a separate cooking chamber, such as an oven. The oven could be a baking oven, a microwave appliance, or a combination thereof. This could also be referred to as a "multi-cavity" cooking appliance. The steam removal unit is particularly compatible with the oven's range hood.

[0040] One design option is to place the steam drawer below other cooking units, particularly the oven, as this advantageously provides the steam drawer with particularly good accessibility and ease of use. Attached Figure Description

[0041] The features, characteristics, and advantages of the invention described above, as well as the ways and means of implementing the invention, will become clearer and more explicit when combined with the illustrative description of the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a household cooking appliance with a steam-processing drawer is shown in the side view as a sectional view;

[0043] Figure 2 This is shown from an angled upward. Figure 1 A possible variation of a household cooking appliance, in which the steam handling drawer is pulled out, shown in detail in an exploded view.

[0044] Figure 3 This is shown from an angled upward. Figure 2 Steaming basin in a steam treatment drawer;

[0045] Figure 4 The side view shows the section view as a sectional view. Figure 2 The steam treatment drawer in the middle, where the steaming pan is removed;

[0046] Figure 5 An exploded view of a possible evaporator is shown from an oblique, upward perspective; and

[0047] Figure 6A section of the steam handling drawer is shown from an oblique, overhead view, with the steam generation unit of the evaporator removed. Detailed Implementation

[0048] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a multi-chamber household cooking appliance 1 is shown in a side view as a sectional view. The appliance includes a fixed oven chamber 2 with a front feed opening that can be closed by means of a pivotable oven door 3, as indicated by the curved double arrows. Within the housing 4 of the appliance 1, or below the oven chamber 2, there is a steam treatment drawer 5, separately arranged from the oven chamber 2. This steam treatment drawer can be moved horizontally in and out manually and / or mechanically, as indicated by the straight double arrows. The steam treatment drawer 5 has a smaller height than the oven chamber 2 and is located below it.

[0049] A common device control unit 6 is located in the oven door 3. This device control unit includes an operation panel for the oven chamber 2 or for the oven with the oven chamber 2 and the steam handling drawer 5. The device control unit 6 allows for individual operation of the oven chamber 2 and the steam handling drawer 5, enabling the independent cooking of objects within them, such as food or dishes. The oven chamber 2 is heated by means of an energy introduction device, exemplarily shown as a top heating element 7 and a bottom heating element 8, particularly through the rhythmic supply of corresponding power. Control of the heating elements 7 and 8 is achieved through the device control unit 6. The device control unit 6 also includes features for coordinating the processing procedures performed in the oven chamber 2 and the steam handling drawer 5, particularly the end time of the processing procedures, energy input, and / or exhaust control.

[0050] The household cooking appliance 1 is so compact that it fits into a 60cm x 60cm (installation height x installation width) mounting recess.

[0051] Now also refer to Figure 2 The steam handling drawer 5 has an evaporator-receiving area 11 located behind the cover 10, in which modularly constructed evaporators 12 and 13 are located. Each evaporator includes a steam generating unit 12 and a water tank 13 connected thereto. Further details can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The steam generating unit 12 and the water tank 13 can be removed from the evaporator-containment area 11 or, alternatively, fixedly installed therein. The water tank 13 can be covered from above by a tank cover 14.

[0052] In the front view, there is a steaming pan placement area 15 behind the evaporator-receiving area 11. The evaporator-receiving area 11 and the steaming pan placement area 15 are areas arranged front and rear of the support frame 30 that can be moved horizontally.

[0053] The steaming basin placement area 15 has a frame shape with side walls 16, a front wall 17, and a rear wall 18. At least the side walls 16 are constructed as hollow profiles with a rectangular cross-section, making them particularly lightweight and allowing for the protected passage of electrical wires (not shown), such as those supplying power to the heating element of the steam generating unit 12, possibly pump wires, and possibly signal lines for connection, for example, to sensors for the steam generating unit 12 and / or the water tank 13. Furthermore, guide rails (not shown), such as those for a telescopic pull-out system or the steam handling drawer 5, are housed within the hollow side walls 16. Another advantage of using hollow profiles is that they provide a wide upper support surface 19 for supporting the steaming basin 20 in a simple manner. Here, at least the side walls 16 and the rear wall 18 have flat surfaces, which facilitates easy cleaning. The front wall 17 and the rear wall 18 can also be constructed as hollow profiles or as simple walls without hollow profiles. Their upper surfaces can also be used as support surfaces 19, but this is not necessary.

[0054] The steaming pot 20 is constructed in a basin or bowl shape, more precisely, in this case, in a basic shape with a square, open upper side. The steaming pot 20 has a laterally outwardly curved, circumferentially closed flange or edge region 21 on its upper side, through which the steaming pot can be placed from above onto the support surface 19. That is, the steaming pot 20 can be inserted from above into the steaming pot insertion area 15. The opening on the upper side of the steaming pot 20 forms a feed opening 20a for inserting the object to be steamed, such as food. For this purpose, a suitable insert E can be used in the steaming pot 20, onto which the object to be processed can be placed. Especially when the steaming pot 20 is inserted, using this insert E facilitates the feeding and removal of the food.

[0055] In the area laterally surrounded by side walls 16 and walls 17, 18, the steaming basin placement area 15 has no bottom. When the steaming basin 20 is placed inside, its bottom 22 forms a sub-area flush with the bottom surface of the steam treatment drawer 5 within the side frames 16 to 18. This allows the steaming basin 20 to be constructed particularly deep and therefore with a large capacity. Furthermore, the bottom of the support frame 30 is omitted there, which advantageously saves material.

[0056] In addition, for ease of operation, the steaming basin 20 has a side-protruding handle 23, which can fit into the upper open gap of the side wall 16 in the form of a corresponding recess 24 when the steaming basin 20 is placed in.

[0057] Furthermore, the steaming pan 20 has a steam inlet channel 25 made of plastic that extends laterally in a horizontal orientation. This steam inlet channel is mounted on the front wall 17, and when the steaming pan 20 is in the inserted state, this steam inlet channel forms a section that connects to the steam generation unit 12 in terms of steam technology. The steaming pan 20 also has a steam outlet channel 26 (see...). Figure 4 The steam exhaust channel is connected to the rear wall 18, and the steam exhaust channel generates steam technology in conjunction with the steam removal unit 27 (see [reference]) when the steaming pan 20 is in the inserted state. Figure 4 The steam removal unit is located behind the steaming pan-placement area 15 in the front view. The steam removal unit 27 is used at least to discharge steam exported from the steaming pan 20 from the steam handling drawer 5 during the steam handling process, for example, towards the range hood.

[0058] also, Figure 1 A cover 28 is shown, which is preferably positioned on the upper side of the edge region 21 by means of a seal (not shown) to prevent or at least make it difficult for steam to escape through the gap between the steaming basin 20 and the cover 28. The steaming basin 20 and the cover 28 form, or define, a steam treatment chamber 29 in which steam can be applied to the object being processed there. The cover 28 is advantageously a transparent glass cover or has at least one glass plate, and can be a separate component that can be movably arranged on the support frame 30, or can be pivotally connected to the support frame 30, for example, by means of a rotating hinge.

[0059] Figure 3 The steaming basin 20 is shown from an obliquely upward perspective. An adapter-shaped steam inlet channel 25 is arranged on the front side 31 facing the front wall 17, below the edge region 21. This steam inlet channel is constructed with its lower side open, forming a connecting opening 25b therein. Furthermore, this steam inlet channel also has a rearward-facing, slit-shaped steam inlet opening 25a that converges into the steaming basin 20 or the steam treatment chamber 29, through which steam D is introduced into the steaming basin 20 during the steam treatment process.

[0060] Adapter-shaped steam exhaust channel 26 (see) Figure 4 It is located at the rear side 32 below the edge region 21. This steam exhaust passage also has a horizontally stretched basic shape and is connected to the opening 26b (see...). Figure 4The steam discharge channel 26 is constructed with its lower side open in the form of a steam inlet channel 25. Furthermore, the steam discharge channel has a front-facing, slit-shaped steam discharge opening 26a (not shown) that converges into the steaming basin 20 or the steam treatment chamber 29. During the steam treatment process, steam D is discharged from the steaming basin 20 through this steam discharge opening and transported to the steam removal unit 27.

[0061] Figure 4 The steam handling drawer 5 is shown in a side view as a cross-sectional view through evaporators 12 to 13, with the steaming tray 20 removed. The lid 28 is moved back here, thus exposing the steaming tray placement area 15.

[0062] When the steaming pan 20 is placed into the steaming pan placement area 15 from above, as indicated by the broad arrow, the edge of the downward-pointing connecting opening 25b of the steam inlet channel 25 may be placed, or inserted, on the edge side as shown, onto or into the corresponding shaped, upward-pointing, slit-shaped steam outlet opening 12a of the steam generating unit 12. Thus, with the steaming pan 20 placed, a steam passage is created from the steam outlet opening 12a through the steam inlet channel 25 into the steaming pan 20, through which the steam D generated by the steam generating unit 12 is introduced into the steaming pan 20, as indicated by the left arrow. Therefore, the steam outlet opening 12a and the connecting opening 25b, in the inserted state, form a steam connection portion through which steam can pass.

[0063] Furthermore, when the steaming pan 20 is inserted, the downwardly opening connection 26b of the steam discharge channel 26a may be placed, or inserted, at the edge side as shown, onto or into the correspondingly formed open upper side of the receiving portion 27a of the steam removal unit 27 via a seal. The open upper side of the receiving portion 27a is configured as a steam inlet 27b that matches the connection opening 26b. Thus, when the steaming pan 20 is inserted, a steam passage is created from the steaming pan 20 through the steam discharge channel 26 to the steam removal unit 27. Steam D, which may contain smoke and flows through the steaming pan 20, is introduced into the steam removal unit 27 through this steam passage, as indicated by the arrow on the right. Therefore, the connection opening 26b and the steam inlet 27b form a steam connection through which steam can pass when the steaming pan 20 is inserted.

[0064] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

[0065] Figure 5 An exploded view of evaporators 12 to 13, which have a steam generating unit 12 and a water tank 13 that can be placed inside from the top, is shown from an obliquely upward perspective.

[0066] The water tank 13 can be made of transparent plastic, and is therefore shown here in a translucent manner. A lid 14 can be placed on the upward-opening water tank 13. The water tank 13 here exemplarily has a bottom-mounted, tubular or pipe-shaped, inwardly extending drain outlet 40 for discharging water into the steam generating unit 12. The drain outlet 40 has a locking mechanism (not shown) that blocks the drain outlet 40 when the water tank 13 is removed and releases it when the water tank 13 is inserted.

[0067] The steam generating unit 12 is exemplarily present here as a heatable evaporator housing 41 having a rectangular, upwardly open basic shape and an adapter plate 42 that can be placed on the open upper side of the evaporator housing 41 from the user's side. Thus, the adapter plate 42 serves as a cover for the evaporator housing 41. For this purpose, the adapter plate 42 has a laterally projecting edge region 43 or flange that can be placed on the free upper edge 44 of the evaporator housing 41. The internal volume of the evaporator housing 41 corresponds to at least one filling volume of the water tank 13. The adapter plate 42 has a receiving recess 45 for form-fitting placement of the water tank 13 from the user's side, the receiving recess having a water inlet (not shown); and (in the front view) a steam outlet 12a, for example, slit-shaped, located behind the receiving recess 45. An upwardly projecting connecting pipe 46 or tube (see [reference needed]) that can be inserted into a drain outlet 40 can be present at the bottom of the receiving recess 45. Figure 5 When the water tank 13 is inserted into the receiving recess 45, the connecting pipe or tube is introduced into the drain port 40, and the locking mechanism (e.g., a spring-assisted check valve) located therein opens. With the locking mechanism open, if the shut-off valves (not shown) of the evaporators 12 and 13 are also open at the same time, water from the water tank can flow through the drain port 40 and the connecting pipe 46 inserted therein into the evaporator housing 41. The shut-off valve is configured to be selectively opened or closed according to the water level in the evaporator housing 41, for example, by means of a float floating in the water in the evaporator housing 41 ("float valve"). This allows only a small amount of water to be injected into the evaporator housing 41 in a regulated manner, which is distributed on the larger heatable bottom surface of the evaporator housing 41 at a relatively low injection height, enabling a particularly short reaction time and / or a large amount of steam to be generated.

[0068] In one variant, the water tank 13 can be removed from the receiving recess 45 by means of at least one handrail (not shown) arranged thereon and / or by means of an automatic lifting mechanism (not shown).

[0069] In addition, the evaporator housing 41 is provided with at least one heating element (not shown). Advantageously, the evaporator housing 41 is at least partially made of metal or ceramic, while the adapter plate 42 is advantageously made of plastic.

[0070] The steam generating unit 12 may have a filter carrier (not shown) arranged above the rated liquid level of the evaporator housing 41. Therefore, the filter carrier can be wetted by the steam in the evaporator housing 41, rather than being submerged in water within the evaporator housing 41. Thus, if a suitable flavoring such as a seasoning or similar substance is present in the filter carrier, the steam escaping from the steam outlet 12a can be flavored.

[0071] Figure 6 A section of the steam treatment drawer 5 is shown from an oblique, overhead view, with the steam generating unit 12 of the evaporators 12 to 13 removed. The water tank 13 is not shown and, for example, may have been removed.

[0072] As indicated by the wide arrow, with the steaming pan 20 removed, the steam generating unit 12 or the evaporator housing 41 can be removed from the corresponding evaporator gap 47 of the support frame 30 from the user's side, for example, by moving it backward. After removing the adapter plate, the evaporator housing 41 can be emptied by the user and may be cleaned, in particular, degreased, together with the adapter plate 42 and / or the water tank 13, for example, in a washing machine.

[0073] A contact thermocouple (not shown) is located at the bottom of the evaporator gap 47. This contact thermocouple contacts the bottom of the evaporator housing 41 when it is inserted, thereby measuring the external temperature of the bottom. The sensor measurements can be transmitted to a control device for controlling the evaporator 12, such as for steam regulation (starting and stopping at least one heating element) and for detecting insufficient water (e.g., leakage). The control device can be a component of the steam handling drawer 5 or, more generally, a component of a household cooking appliance 1. The control device can particularly correspond to the device control unit 6.

[0074] Generally speaking, unless explicitly excluded by expressions such as "exactly one", "one" or "one" can be understood as singular or plural, especially in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more".

[0075] Unless explicitly excluded, numerical specifications can also precisely include the specified number and the conventional tolerance range.

[0076] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0077] 1. Household cooking utensils

[0078] 2. Oven chamber

[0079] 3. Oven door

[0080] 4. Shell

[0081] 5 Steam treatment drawers

[0082] 6. Equipment control device

[0083] 7. Top heating element

[0084] 8. Bottom heating - heating element

[0085] 10 Cover plate

[0086] 11 Evaporator - Containment Area

[0087] 12 Steam generation units

[0088] 12a Steam outlet opening

[0089] 13 Water Tanks

[0090] 14 Box lid

[0091] 15 Steaming Pan - Placement Area

[0092] 16 Sidewalls

[0093] 17 Anterior wall

[0094] 18. Rear wall

[0095] 19 Support surface

[0096] 20 Steaming Pots

[0097] 20a feed opening

[0098] 21. Edge Area

[0099] 22 Bottom

[0100] 23 Handle

[0101] 24. Depression

[0102] 25 Steam enters the channel

[0103] 25a Steam enters the opening

[0104] 25b Connection opening

[0105] 26 Steam exhaust channel

[0106] 26a Steam exhaust opening

[0107] 26b Connection opening

[0108] 27 Steam removal unit

[0109] 27a Reception Department

[0110] 27b Steam enters the opening

[0111] 28 lids

[0112] 29 Steam Treatment Room

[0113] 30 Supporting Frame

[0114] 31. Front side of the steaming basin

[0115] 32. Back side of the steaming basin

[0116] 40 Drain outlet

[0117] 41 Evaporator casing

[0118] 42 Adapter Board

[0119] 43 Edge area of ​​the adapter board

[0120] 44. Upper edge of the evaporator casing

[0121] 45 Accommodating recessed areas

[0122] 46 Takeover

[0123] 47 Evaporator gap

[0124] E Insert

[0125] D. Steam.

Claims

1. A steam treatment drawer (5) for a domestic cooking appliance (1), said steam treatment drawer having a removable support frame (30) with an evaporator arranged therein; and said steam treatment drawer having a steaming basin (20) which can be placed into the support frame (30) from above for accommodating a treatment object to be steamed, wherein, On the steaming pan (20) a steam inlet channel (25) is mounted, which is configured in such a way that, in the case of the steaming pan (20) being placed in, the steam inlet channel establishes a steam-conducting coupling with the steam outflow opening (12a) of the vaporizer.

2. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to claim 1, wherein, The steam outflow opening (12a) of the vaporizer is an upwardly open opening, the steam inlet channel (25) having a downwardly open coupling opening (25b).

3. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, In the case of the steaming pan (20) being placed in, the steam inlet channel (25) rests with its flat edge of the coupling opening (25b) in a steam-tight manner onto the flat edge of the steam outflow opening (12a).

4. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein, In the case of the steaming pan (20) being placed in, the edge of the coupling opening (25b) of the steam inlet channel (25) is inserted in a steam-tight manner into the edge of the steam outflow opening (12a).

5. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to claim 4, wherein, At least one of the edges is configured in a stepped manner in cross section.

6. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein In the removable support frame (30) a steam removal unit (27) is arranged; A steam discharge channel (26) is connected to a steam discharge opening (26a) of the steaming pan (20); and The steam discharge channel (26) is configured in such a way that, in the case of the steaming pan (20) being placed in, the steam discharge channel establishes a steam-conducting coupling with the steam removal unit (27).

7. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to claim 6, wherein Viewed in the direction of insertion of the support frame (30), the vaporizer is arranged before the placed-in steaming pan (20) and the steam removal unit (27) is arranged after the placed-in steaming pan (20).

8. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to claim 7, wherein The steam inlet opening (25a) of the steam inlet channel (25) into the steaming pan (20) is arranged on a front wall (31) of the steaming pan (20) and the steam discharge opening (26a) into the steaming pan (20) is arranged on a rear wall (32) of the steaming pan (20).

9. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to claim 7, wherein, The steam inlet opening (25a) and the steam discharge opening (26a) are integrated into the respective lateral handle (23) of the steaming pan (20).

10. The steam treatment drawer (5) according to claim 8, wherein, The steam inlet opening (25a) and the steam discharge opening (26a) each have a horizontally oriented, elongated shape.

11. A domestic cooking appliance (1) having at least one steam treatment drawer (5) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. The domestic cooking appliance (1) according to claim 11, wherein, The domestic cooking appliance (1) has an extractor hood, and in the inserted state of the steam treatment drawer (5) the steam removal unit (27) establishes a steam-conducting connection with the extractor hood on the steam discharge side.

13. The domestic cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the claims from 11 to 12, wherein, The domestic cooking appliance (1) has a fixed oven chamber (2) which can be closed with an oven door (3) and a steam treatment drawer (5) which is arranged separately from the oven chamber.

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