Steamer sink and steam treatment drawer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steaming tray (51) for use in a steam handling drawer (5), the steaming tray having a tray component (20a) with an upper loading opening (20b) and a steam inlet adapter (25) disposed on the outer side of the tray component (20a), wherein at least one sub-region of the tray component (20a) and / or the steam inlet adapter (25) is constructed as a plastic injection molded part and at least one sensor component (52A, 52B) of a sensor is fitted into at least one plastic injection molded part. A steam cooking appliance (5, 9) having a steam handling drawer (5) capable of being horizontally removed from a drawer housing (9), the steam cooking appliance having a steaming tray (51) capable of being inserted into the steam handling drawer (5) from above and having a control device (6) coupled to a sensing element of at least one sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, the control device being configured to control the operation of the evaporator (12-14) based on sensor measurements sensed by means of at least one sensing element. The present invention is particularly advantageous for use in multi-chamber household appliances, which include additional cooking appliances, such as ovens, arranged above a steam cooking appliance with a steam handling drawer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a steaming tray for use in a steam handling drawer, the steaming tray comprising: a tray member having an upper filling opening surrounded by an upper edge of the tray member having a shape that laterally protrudes outward beyond the sidewall of the tray member; and a seal covering the upper portion of the upper edge. The invention also relates to a steam cooking appliance having a steam handling drawer removable horizontally from a drawer housing, into which the steaming tray can be inserted, wherein a cover for at least largely steam-sealing the filling opening of the steaming tray can be placed on the seal of the inserted steaming tray. Furthermore, the invention relates to a household cooking appliance having at least one such steam cooking appliance. The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to multi-chamber household appliances with additional cooking appliances (e.g., ovens) arranged above the steam cooking appliance having a steam handling drawer. Background Technology

[0002] A dual oven is known, comprising two separate, fixed oven spaces that can be closed off by front oven doors, each oven space being heated by means of a resistance heating element. One of the oven spaces can also be used as a heated rack.

[0003] Furthermore, a dual oven is known, having two separate oven spaces that can be heated by means of a bottom heating element (resistive heating element) and a top heating element (resistive heating element). One of the two oven spaces is constructed as a drawer.

[0004] A household cooking appliance is also known, having a fixed oven space that can be closed through a front oven door and a separate fixed steam treatment space that can be closed through its own front oven door.

[0005] Furthermore, a household cooking appliance with an oven is known, in which a cooking chamber divider for thermally isolating the oven space into two sub-spaces can be installed. The two sub-spaces can be heated separately. A cooking utensil including a pot and a lid can be pushed into one of the sub-spaces, wherein the cooking utensil has a steam interface for connecting to an evaporator located outside the oven space.

[0006] An oven / steamer drawer combination is also known, wherein the steamer drawer is arranged below the oven. The filling opening on the upper side of the steaming tray can be covered by a pivotable lid. A disadvantage of this configuration is that when the lid is flipped up, the steamer drawer can collide with the open oven door, potentially causing damage to the lid and / or the oven door. Furthermore, such a steamer drawer is difficult to clean thoroughly. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The objective of this invention is to at least partially overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and, in particular, to provide an improved feasible solution for controlling the steam treatment process in the steaming tank of a steam treatment drawer.

[0008] This task is solved according to the features of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments can be obtained, in particular, from the dependent claims.

[0009] The task is accomplished by providing a steaming trough for use in a steam processing drawer, the steaming trough having a trough component with an upper loading opening and a steam inlet adapter (also referred to as a steam inlet gap) disposed on the outer side of the trough component, wherein at least one sub-region of the trough component and / or the steam inlet adapter is constructed as a plastic injection molded part; and at least one sensor component of the sensor is fitted into at least one plastic injection molded part.

[0010] This steaming tank achieves the following advantages: the sensor components can be structurally and robustly integrated into the steaming tank with low steam consumption. This also advantageously provides a feasible solution for measuring and adjusting the environment present in the steaming tank (including the tank components and the steam inlet adapter). Features, especially control of steam processing. The sensor component can be inserted into the injection mold during the manufacture of the plastic injection molded part or subsequently inserted into the empty part of the plastic injection molded part and then injected or injection molded there.

[0011] The steaming tray is used to hold cooked food during the steam treatment process. Specifically, the steaming tray is designed to be inserted into a steam treatment drawer from above. In one modification, the upper edge of the steaming tray is designed to be steam-sealed by a lid. The steaming tray and lid then form a steam treatment space.

[0012] In one modified version, the trough component has a basic square shape, specifically, it has a bottom and surrounding sidewalls, wherein the surrounding sidewalls have a front sidewall section, a rear sidewall section, a left sidewall section, and a right sidewall section. The upper part of the trough component is open and serves as the upper filling opening. Another modified version has a shape conforming to standard cooking utensils.

[0013] One modification is that the tank component is manufactured as a single injection-molded plastic part, which allows for the provision of complex shapes at a particularly low cost. Another modification is that the tank component is made of metal, such as stainless steel, which enables exceptionally high resistance to steam and other chemical stresses.

[0014] A steam inlet adapter is used to direct steam into a steaming tank, particularly into the tank component. Steam is generated via an evaporator in a steam treatment drawer. The steam inlet adapter is specifically designed for placement at the steam outlet of the evaporator. In one modification, the steam inlet adapter is located on the front side edge section of the tank component.

[0015] One modification involves providing a steam venting adapter (also called a steam venting slit) on the outer surface of the sidewall section of the tank component. This achieves the advantage that steam and fumes can be discharged from the steam treatment space during the steam treatment process. This advantageously reduces the deposition of condensate and grease in the tank component. The steam venting adapter enables steam-technical connection of the tank component, for example, to the steam removal unit of a steam treatment drawer. The steam venting adapter can, for example, exist opposite a steam inlet adapter on the rear side edge section of the sidewall of the tank component.

[0016] Advantageously, the adapter is at least partially manufactured as a plastic injection molded part. If the groove component is made of metal, the adapter can be manufactured separately and then bonded to or molded onto the groove component (especially injection molded thereon), or the adapter can be injection molded onto the groove component. If the groove component is made of plastic, the adapter can be integrally manufactured as a plastic injection molded part with the groove component, molded onto it (especially injection molded thereon), or alternatively manufactured separately and then bonded to the groove component. One modification is that the adapter is partially integrally manufactured as a plastic injection molded part with the groove component and partially has at least one additional component, such as a cover-like component. This at least one additional component can be form-fitted, force-fitted, and / or material-fittedly connected to other components of the adapter, such as by locking and / or bonding.

[0017] One modification involves placing the steam inlet adapter onto the steam outlet of the steam generation unit at its opening (“connection opening”). To securely connect the steam outlet to the connection opening, the steam inlet adapter can have a seal (“transfer seal”). This seal can be manufactured separately and subsequently installed, or advantageously integrally manufactured with the steam inlet adapter using a two-component (2K) injection molding process. Similarly, a steam exhaust adapter can be placed onto the steam inlet of the steam generation unit at its connection opening towards the steam removal unit and equipped there with a transfer seal.

[0018] The sensor component can be the sole component of the sensor, or it can be a component of a multi-piece or multi-component sensor. At least one sensor can, for example, include:

[0019] - Temperature sensor, configured to measure the temperature in the steam handling space or in the steam (flow) passage of the adapter.

[0020] - Humidity sensor, configured to measure humidity in the steam handling space or in the steam passage of the adapter, and / or

[0021] - A chemical sensor, configured to measure at least one chemical substance, such as oxygen, hydrocarbons, etc., in the steam processing space or in the steam passage of the adapter.

[0022] One design involves a sensor component that is a thermally conductive material volume exposed on the steam-loadable inner wall of the steam bath. This advantageously enables thermal recording of the temperature present in the steam bath in a structurally easy-to-implement, mechanically robust, and reproducible manner. The temperature of the material volume can then be measured or sensed, in particular, by a temperature sensor, which serves as another sensor component.

[0023] "A thermally conductive material body" is particularly understood to mean a material body whose specific thermal conductivity is significantly higher than that of the plastic in a plastic injection molded part. "A thermally conductive material body" can also be understood to mean a material body whose specific thermal conductivity is higher than approximately 20λW / (m K).

[0024] One modification is that the material body is a full-volume component, for example, in the form of a disc, sheet, pin, etc.

[0025] As an alternative, the material body can be combined with humidity sensors or chemical sensors to form a sieve or similar device. The sieve in this case serves to protect the sensor. Compared to partially constructing a sieve from within a plastic injection molded part, the advantage of using a separate sieve is that the sieve aperture size and shape can be set more precisely. The sieve does not need to be made of a thermally conductive material.

[0026] One design involves the material body being exposed on the outer surface of the steaming tank. This provides the following advantages: the material body can be sensed particularly easily by sensors, especially temperature sensors, even if the sensors are not components of the steaming tank but rather components of the steam treatment drawer. Therefore, positioning the sensors on the material body is also particularly easy. Another advantage is that, in the case of temperature sensors, the temperature of the material body can thus be measured non-contactly.

[0027] One design option is that the material body is a metallic material body, especially an iron-containing material body. This material body can be advantageously and inexpensively formed, has good thermal conductivity, and is readily formable. The material body can be made of, for example, stainless steel, copper, etc. Alternatively, the material body can be made of, for example, ceramic.

[0028] One design involves a sensor component that is a thermally conductive material, i.e., it does not have or is not a sensing element or sensor. This allows for a particularly simple and robust construction. The sensing element, especially a temperature sensor, can then sense, in particular contact with, and especially force-locked contact, for example, through spring support, while the steaming tank is placed in the steam treatment drawer.

[0029] One design involves at least one sensor component having, or sensing element, integrated into the steaming tank. This achieves the advantage of reliably and user-friendly sensing of environmental characteristics of the steam handling space, steam passages, etc., even when the measurement location is not easily accessible (e.g., in an adapter). A modification involves at least one sensor component comprising not only a material body but also a sensing element. The sensing element can then contact the material body or be mounted on it, for example, by brazing or welding. The sensing element can be, for example, a temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple. When the steaming tank is in place, the sensing element can be electrically connected to the steam handling drawer, for example, via a contact surface or contact piece, thereby enabling data technology coupling, particularly with the control device of the steam drawer.

[0030] One design involves a tank component that is injection molded from plastic, with at least one sensor component, particularly just one material body, inserted into the bottom of the tank component. This allows for the advantageous determination of at least one characteristic of the environment within the steam processing space, particularly the temperature present there.

[0031] One design involves a tank component that is a plastic injection-molded part, with at least one sensor component, particularly just one material body, embedded in the sidewall of the tank component. This allows for the advantageous determination of at least one characteristic of the environment within the steam treatment space, particularly the temperature present there. Another advantage is that the inner surface of the at least one sensor component, particularly the material body exposed to the steam treatment space, facing the steam treatment space, is not covered by condensate deposited on the bottom of the tank component, and therefore allows for particularly reliable measurement of the environmental characteristics within the steam treatment space, particularly the steam temperature, without the thermal effects of the condensate (which forms in the steam tank and deposits on the bottom). For this purpose, an advantageous modification involves embedding the sensor component, particularly just the material body, in the sidewall of the tank component at a predetermined distance from the bottom.

[0032] One design involves inserting at least one sensor component into the side wall of the steaming tank at the height of the bottom of the food placement component. This achieves another advantage: it allows for particularly precise measurement of the environmental characteristics within the steaming tank at the location of the food.

[0033] In particular, in the case where only one material body is inserted into the side wall of the slot component, if the material body or sensor, especially the temperature sensor, is shaped in an arched, e.g., dome-like manner toward the corresponding other sensor component of the sensor, then particularly reliable contact between the material body and the temperature sensor of the drawer can be achieved.

[0034] One modification is that at least one sensor, particularly a temperature sensor, is installed in the left or right side wall of the slot component, because the sensor’s wires can be guided particularly easily through the hollow side beam of the drawer when the slot component is installed.

[0035] One design involves embedding at least one sensor component within the wall of the steam passage of the steam inlet adapter. This advantageously allows for the measurement of the characteristics of the steam entering the tank component without being affected by the environment within the tank component.

[0036] An advantageous design for situations where a steam exhaust adapter is also present is to have at least one sensor component installed in the wall of the steam passage of the steam exhaust adapter. This advantageously enables the measurement of the characteristics of the smoke discharged from the tank component.

[0037] In particular, multiple sensor components can also be located at different positions in the steaming tank for more precise, for example, position-based differentiation. The environmental characteristics of the steaming tank are detected in a manner that allows for the use of the relationship between the measured values ​​to control the steam treatment process, for example, by utilizing the temperature difference between the steam introduced through the steam inlet adapter and the steam / fumes discharged from the steam outlet adapter.

[0038] One design involves the gripping portion of the steaming tank projecting laterally from the outer surfaces (in the front view) of the left and right sidewall sections of the tank component, extending upwards beyond the upper edge. Advantageously, the gripping portion is made of plastic and, for example, is an injection-molded part. If the tank component is made of metal, the gripping portion can be manufactured separately and then bonded to the tank component, or the gripping portion can be injection-molded onto the tank component. If the tank component is made of plastic, the gripping portion can be manufactured integrally with the tank component, molded thereon (e.g., injection-molded), or alternatively manufactured separately and then bonded to the tank component.

[0039] The task is also accomplished by a steam cooking appliance with a steam treatment drawer, wherein:

[0040] - The steam treatment drawer can be moved horizontally out of the drawer housing;

[0041] - The steaming tank according to any one of the preceding claims can be inserted into the steam treatment drawer from above;

[0042] - The tank components of the steaming tank are connected to the evaporator arranged in the steam treatment drawer in the inserted state via a steam inlet adapter in a steam technology.

[0043] - A cover capable of moving along the direction of movement of the steam treatment drawer on the steaming tank, particularly on the seal on its upper side, for covering the filling opening of the steaming tank; and

[0044] - A control device that is data-technically coupled to a sensing element or sensor of at least one sensor, the control device being configured to control the operation of the evaporator based on sensor measurements sensed by means of at least one sensing element.

[0045] The steam cooking appliance can be modified in a similar way to a steaming tub (and vice versa) and achieve the same advantages.

[0046] One modification is that the steam treatment drawer has a support frame that can be horizontally removed from the drawer housing, the support frame having side beams on which the upper edge of the inserted steaming tank rests.

[0047] One modification involves the lid being movable along the direction of movement of the support frame on the support frame and / or on the steaming tray, particularly on the seal on its upper side, when the support frame is removed. More precisely, it is movable between a closed position where the lid steam-sealedly covers the steaming tray and a fully open position where the steaming tray can be removed from the steam handling drawer. The lid can also occupy an intermediate position. When the lid is partially open and fully open, it is at least partially submerged in the drawer housing. Compared to a flip-top lid, a sliding lid has the advantage that it does not collide with objects located above the steam cooking appliance, such as the open oven door of an oven arranged above it, when open. Furthermore, it achieves a particularly superior appearance. Additionally, it advantageously achieves particularly good space utilization, especially enabling a particularly large steam handling space. A further advantage compared to a flip-top lid is that the material thickness of the lid can be particularly small, as the lid does not need to be designed for mechanical resistance to forceful closure. Furthermore, the sliding cover can be reliably pushed into the drawer housing without the risk of tipping over and / or falling into the drawer housing. It also achieves the advantage that, by opening the cover only slightly, a strong steam surge can be avoided particularly easily when opening the cover after the steam treatment process.

[0048] One modification is that the steam handling drawer has an evaporator. This evaporator can be removably installed in the steam handling drawer. Steam generated by the evaporator is directed into a steaming chamber to steam items placed there, especially cooked items. An advantageous modification for a compact design is that the evaporator, as a component, has a steam generating unit and a water tank. An advantageous modification for easy emptying and cleaning, especially for removing limescale, is that the steam generating unit and / or water tank are constructed in a manner that allows them to be removed individually and / or jointly from the evaporator-receiving area. Particularly advantageous is that the water tank can be inserted into and removed from a receiving recess on the upper side of the steam generating unit by the user. Alternatively, the water tank can be arranged separately from the steam generating unit and can be operated. The steam generating unit is configured to boil the water supplied by the water tank and thereby generate steam. For this purpose, the steam generating unit has at least one heating element advantageously arranged on the bottom side. The steam generated during boiling is discharged through the steam outlet of the evaporator or the steam generating unit. One modification is that at least one heating element is an electrically operated heating element. A particularly advantageous modification for removing the steam generating unit is that the heating element is capable of being heated, for example, by externally supplied thermal radiation and / or contact heat or induction. Therefore, in this case, the heating element is not directly electrically operated. An advantageous modification in the case of heating by thermal radiation and / or contact heat is that the heating element is heated (indirectly) by a heating device, such as a resistance heating device, which is fixedly mounted in the steam handling drawer. One modification is that, in the case of induction heating, at least one induction coil is fixedly mounted in the steam handling drawer.

[0049] One modification involves constructing an upper-opening recess in the side beam for the fitting insertion of an associated gripper into the steaming tub. This achieves the advantage that the steaming tub can be securely inserted into the side beam by means of the gripper's shape-locking mechanism, which facilitates a correct and particularly reliable fit, especially when the support frame is moved into and out of the drawer housing. Furthermore, the operation of inserting and removing the steaming tub is particularly user-friendly.

[0050] The steaming trough can be inserted into the support frame from above, particularly into the steaming trough-insertion area of ​​the support frame. Here, the steaming trough is placed on the side beam at least by means of its left and right edge regions. If the steaming trough has a surrounding edge region, it is advantageous for the steaming trough to be placed on the support frame, particularly the steaming trough-insertion area, by means of its entire edge region, that is, placed on the front and rear walls of the support frame in addition to being placed on the side beam.

[0051] One design option is that at least the side beams are constructed as hollow profiles. This advantageously contributes to achieving a lightweight and compact structure. Therefore, the side beams can provide protected routing for electrical wires. For example, slide rails for a telescopic drawer system, connecting the steam treatment drawer, and especially its support frame, to the drawer housing, can also be installed in the side beams. Another advantage of using hollow profiles is that they allow for a simple construction of a wider upper support surface for supporting the steaming tank and, if necessary, the lid.

[0052] One modification involves a steam cooking appliance incorporating a temperature sensor configured (e.g., constructed and arranged) to sense the temperature of a thermally conductive material exposed on the outer surface opposite the cooking chamber. This allows for reliable temperature sensing within the steam processing space and / or the steam passage of the adapter, advantageously while simultaneously ensuring steam tightness at the measurement location, eliminating chemical stress on the sensor (e.g., due to steam), and preventing sensor contamination. The temperature sensor and the material together form a multi-piece temperature sensor.

[0053] One design option is that, particularly when the material body is inserted into the bottom or side wall of the tank component, the temperature sensor can be magnetically and detachably attached to the material body. This achieves the advantage that the temperature sensor can be easily removed by the user after the steaming tank is taken out of the steam treatment drawer and can also be easily reinstalled. This is especially easy to achieve when the material body is inserted into the bottom or side wall of the tank component.

[0054] As an alternative, a temperature sensor can be configured to sense the temperature of the material body through (non-magnetic) contact. Specifically, one design involves a steam handling drawer having at least one sensing element, particularly a temperature sensor, which contacts the material body placed in the bottom or side wall of the steaming tub when the tub is inserted. This can be implemented particularly easily and inexpensively. This design can be implemented, for example, such that a temperature sensor is positioned at the location of the material body, which contacts the material body, particularly by force-locking, when the steaming tub is inserted. The temperature sensor can be supported in a resilient manner, such that it is pressed against the material body by a spring when the steaming tub is inserted.

[0055] Alternatively, the temperature sensor can be configured to sense the temperature of a material body without contact (e.g., in the case where the temperature sensor is an IR sensor).

[0056] The task is also accomplished by a household cooking appliance, which includes at least one steam cooking appliance as described above. This household cooking appliance can be constructed similarly to (and vice versa) steam cooking appliances and steaming tubs and has the same advantages.

[0057] One modification is that the household cooking appliance has at least the following steam cooking appliance, which has a steam processing drawer as a functional unit for processing cooked food.

[0058] One design is a household cooking appliance that, in addition to having at least one steam drawer, also has at least one other type of cooking unit or cooking appliance with its own separate cooking chamber, such as an oven. If the household cooking appliance has a housing that surrounds both functional components, it can also be called a "multi-chamber" cooking appliance. The additional cooking unit could be, for example, an oven, a microwave oven, or a combination thereof.

[0059] One design approach is to place the steam cooking appliance below another functional unit for handling cooked food, particularly the oven, as this advantageously achieves excellent accessibility and easy operation of the steam handling drawer. Attached Figure Description

[0060] The features, characteristics, and advantages of the invention, as well as the ways and methods of achieving these features, characteristics, and advantages, will become clearer and more readily understood when combined with the illustrative description of one embodiment, which is explained in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0061] 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;

[0062] Figure 2 This is shown from an angled upward. Figure 1 A partial view of a possible variation of a household cooking appliance, wherein a steam handling drawer is pulled out, the steam handling drawer being shown in more detail in an exploded view;

[0063] Figure 3 The steaming tray of the steam treatment drawer, which has a seal for the lid, is shown from an angled above.

[0064] Figure 4 The exploded view, presented from an obliquely upward perspective, shows... Figure 3 The steaming tank; and

[0065] Figure 5 As a sectional view, it is shown in the oblique view from Figure 3 Steaming tank;

[0066] Figure 6 Shown from a slightly lower angle Figure 3 The steaming tank in the middle;

[0067] Figure 7 A partial view of the steam cooking appliance is shown in a side sectional view, in which the steam handling drawer is pulled out and the steaming tray is removed;

[0068] Figure 8 The lid of the steam handling drawer is shown from an angled slightly above.

[0069] Figure 9 The steam cooking appliance is shown from an angled slightly above, with the steam drawer pulled out and the lid partially open; and

[0070] Figure 10 A portion of the steaming tank according to another embodiment is shown from a slightly lower angle. Detailed Implementation

[0071] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a multi-chamber household cooking appliance 1 with an oven 2 is shown in a side view as a sectional view. The loading opening on the front side of the oven can be closed by means of a pivotable oven door 3, as indicated by the curved double arrows. Inside the housing 4 of the household cooking appliance 1, below the oven 2, there are separate steam cooking appliances 5 and 9 with steam handling drawers 5, which can be moved horizontally into or out of the fixed drawer housing 9 manually and / or mechanically assisted, as indicated by the straight double arrows. The steam cooking appliances 5 and 9 have a smaller height than the oven 2 and are arranged below the oven 2.

[0072] A common device control unit 6 is located in the oven door 3, which includes an operation panel for the oven 2 and the steam cooking appliances 5 and 9. The device control unit 6 allows for individual operation of the oven 2 and the steam cooking appliances 5 and 9, enabling independent cooking of the objects within them, such as food or dishes. The oven space 2a of the oven 2 is heated by means of an energy input device, in particular by timing of the corresponding power supply, exemplarily shown as a top heating element 7 and a bottom heating element 8. Control of the heating elements 7 and 8 is achieved through the device control unit 6. The device control unit 6 is also specifically designed to coordinate the processing in the oven space 2a and in the steam processing drawer 5, particularly the end time of the processing, energy input, and / or exhaust control. Alternatively, the steam cooking appliances 5 and 9 may have independent device control units or at least one independent operation panel for the device control unit.

[0073] The household cooking appliance 1 is particularly compact, fitting into a 60cm x 60cm (installation height x installation width) mounting recess. For this purpose, the oven 2 can, for example, have a height of approximately 45cm, and the steam cooking appliances 5 and 9 can have a height of approximately 15cm.

[0074] Now also refer to Figure 2 The steam handling drawer 5 has an evaporator-receiving area 11 located behind a cover 10 on the front side. In this evaporator-receiving area are modularly constructed evaporators 12 and 13, each including a steam generating unit 12 and a water tank 13 connected thereto. The steam generating unit 12 and the water tank 13 can be removed from the evaporator-receiving area 11 or, alternatively, fixedly installed therein. The water tank 13 can be filled with water through a water inlet that can be closed with a lid 14.

[0075] In the front view, a steaming tank placement area 15 is located behind the evaporator-receiving area 11. The evaporator-receiving area 11 and the steaming tank placement area 15 are the front and rear areas of the support frame 30, which allows the steam treatment drawer 5 to be moved horizontally in and out.

[0076] The steaming tank-placement area 15 has a frame shape, with side beams 16, a front wall 17, and a rear wall 18. At least the beams 16 are constructed as hollow profiles with a rectangular cross-section, making them particularly lightweight and allowing wires (not shown) to pass through them safely. These wires include, for example, wires powering the heating element of the steam generating unit 12, wires powering the pump if necessary, and signal lines if required. Furthermore, slide rails (not shown) for, for example, a telescopic pull-out system are installed in the hollow beams 16, connecting the steam handling drawer 5 to the drawer housing 9 in a horizontally movable manner. Another advantage of using hollow profiles is that they allow for the simple construction of a wider upper support surface 19 for supporting the cooking food receiving tank in the form of the steaming tank 20. Here, at least the beams 16 and the rear wall 18 have flat surfaces, which helps to make them easy to clean. The front wall 17 and the rear wall 18 can also be constructed as simple walls with hollow profiles or without hollow profiles. The upper surfaces of the front and rear walls can also be used as support surfaces 19, but this is not necessary.

[0077] The steaming tank 20 has a tank component 20a shaped like a basin or bowl, more specifically, the tank component here has a square, open-top (especially conforming to standard cooking utensils) basic shape, which has a bottom 22 and side walls 31, the side walls having (in the front view) a front wall section 31v, a rear wall section 31h, a left wall section 31l, and a right wall section 31r. The tank component 20a has an upper edge 21 on its upper side surface, the upper edge having a shape (flange-like shape) that laterally protrudes outward beyond the side walls of the tank component. The steaming tank 20 can be placed on the support surface 19 from above via the upper edge 21. At least the upper side surface of the upper edge is covered by a removable (lid) seal 32 (not shown), the seal... Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 A more detailed description will follow.

[0078] Therefore, the steaming tank 20 can be inserted into the steaming tank-insertion area 15 from above. The upper opening of the steaming tank 20 forms a loading opening 20b, which is used to load the food to be steamed, such as cooked food. For this purpose, a matching insert E can be inserted into the steaming tank 20, and the food can be placed on the insert. Using such an insert E facilitates loading and unloading of cooked food, especially when loading into the steaming tank 20.

[0079] The steaming tank placement area 15 is bottomless in the area laterally surrounded by beams 16 and walls 17, 18. When the steaming tank 20 is installed, the bottom 22 of the tank component 20a forms a sub-area where the bottom of the steam treatment drawer 5 is flush with the surface within the frames 16 to 18. Thus, the tank component 20a can 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.

[0080] For ease of operation, the steaming tank 20 also has a laterally protruding gripping part 23, which can fit into the corresponding upper open recess 24 of the side beam 16 when the steaming tank 20 is in the inserted state.

[0081] Furthermore, the steaming tank 20 has a steam inlet adapter 25 made of plastic that extends laterally in a horizontal orientation. The steam inlet adapter is installed on the front side wall section 31v of the side wall 31, and the steam inlet adapter and the steam generating unit 12 form a steam connection when the steaming tank 20 is in the inserted state.

[0082] In addition, the steaming tank 20 has a steam exhaust adapter 26 (see Figure 7The steam exhaust adapter is installed on the rear sidewall section 31h of the sidewall 31, and the steam exhaust adapter is connected to the steam removal unit 27 located behind the steam tank placement area 15 in the front view (see...). Figure 7 A steam technology connection is established with the steaming tank 20 in its inserted state. The steam removal unit 27 is used at least to discharge steam or fumes from the steam treatment drawer 5 during the steam treatment process, for example, to a fume extraction device or back to the water tank 13. Directing the steam or fumes to the water tank 13 achieves the advantage that the steam or fumes are cooled by water in the water tank 13 and then discharged from the water tank 13 in a drier and cooler condition, for example, via a dedicated gas outlet (not shown). This also saves energy and water.

[0083] also, Figure 1 A cover 28 is shown, which can be placed on the upper side of the upper edge 21 and, if necessary, on the support surface 19 to prevent steam from escaping through the gap between the steaming tank 20 and the cover 28, or at least to make it difficult for steam to escape. The steaming tank 20 and the cover 28 form or define a steam processing space 29 in which the processed material present there can be loaded with steam.

[0084] The cover 28 is advantageously a transparent glass cover or has at least one glass plate 41 (see Figure 8 The lid can be a separate component, particularly movably arranged on the support frame 30 and / or the steaming tank 20. However, in principle, the lid 28 can also be pivotally connected to the support frame 30, for example, via a swivel hinge.

[0085] Figure 3 The steaming tank 20 is shown from an angled upward. Figure 4 The steaming tank 20 is shown as an exploded view from an obliquely upward perspective. Figure 5 The steaming tank 20 is shown in oblique view as a sectional view.

[0086] The groove component 20a, gripper 23, and adapters 25 and 26 are integrally manufactured as plastic parts. The seal 32 is a separately manufactured component that can be installed on and removed from the upper edge 21 by the user.

[0087] The seal 32 extends at least beyond the outer surface of the upper edge 21. The seal provides a seal in a manner flush with the inner surface of the sidewall 31 of the groove member 20a.

[0088] The steam inlet adapter 25 is located below the upper edge 21 in the front sidewall section 31v and protrudes beyond the upper edge 21 on the outside. The seal 32 in the region of the steam inlet adapter 25 has a slit 33 such that it is flush with the outer surface of the steam inlet adapter 25. The steam inlet adapter 25 is constructed open on its lower side, forming a mating opening 25b therein. The steam inlet adapter 25 also has a (here: slit-like) steam inlet opening 25a that leads to the tank component 20a or the steam processing space 29, through which steam D is introduced into the steam processing space 29 during the steam processing process.

[0089] Steam exhaust adapter 26 is arranged below edge region 21 in the rear side wall section 31h of tank member 20a. This steam exhaust adapter also has a basic shape of horizontal extension and is located on the underside in the form of a connecting opening 26b (see [link]). Figure 7 It is an open construction. The steam exhaust adapter 26 and the steam inlet adapter 25 can be formed with at least substantial structural similarity. The steam exhaust adapter has a steam exhaust opening 26a (not shown) that converges into the tank component 20a or the steam processing space 29 (here: slit-like), through which steam D is discharged from the steam processing space 29 and delivered to the steam removal unit 27 during the steam processing process.

[0090] The gripping part 23 protrudes laterally from the left and right side wall sections 31l or 31r of the groove member 20a, extends upward from there beyond the upper edge 21 and maintains a lateral free space 34 relative to the upper edge 21, into which the seal 32 is inserted.

[0091] like Figure 5 As shown, the upper edge 21 has a first protruding section 35 that protrudes horizontally or laterally from the sidewall 31 of the groove member 20a in cross-section, and a second protruding section 36 that protrudes horizontally outward is offset outwardly on the first protruding section. The first protruding section 34 and the second protruding section 36 are respectively cuboid in cross-section and are horizontally oriented. Thus, an "inner" step portion 37 is provided on the upper side surface of the edge 21 and an "outer" step portion 38 is provided on the lower side surface of the edge 21.

[0092] The seal 32 is shaped to be fixed to the upper edge and extends from the inner step portion 37 on the upper side through the upper side of the second protruding section 36 and further extends to the outer step portion 38 on the lower side of the upper edge in such a way that it surrounds the second protruding section 36 on the outside.

[0093] In addition, two upwardly protruding ridges 39 are introduced on the upper side of the seal 32, which are parallel to each other and spaced apart, following the orientation of the seal 32.

[0094] Figure 6 The steaming tank 20 is shown from a slightly downward angle. As emphasized by the circles, the engagement opening 25b of the steam inlet adapter 25 is surrounded by a seal (“transfer seal” 40) to prevent lateral straying. Steam exhaust. The adapter seal 40 can be injection molded onto the steam inlet adapter 25 or manufactured together with it using 2K injection molding.

[0095] Figure 7 The steam cooking appliances 5 and 9 are shown as side sectional views of the evaporators 12 to 14, with the steam handling drawer 5 removed and the steaming tray 20 taken out, the upper edge 21 of which is shown simplified. Here, the cover 28 is pushed back and the steaming tray-insertion area 15 is released.

[0096] When the steaming tank 20 is inserted into the steaming tank insertion area 15 from above (as indicated by the broad arrow), the edge of the downward-pointing engagement opening 25b of the steam inlet adapter 25 is placed on or (as shown) inserted into the corresponding shaped, upward-pointing slit-like steam outlet 12a of the steam generating unit 12. The adapter seal 40 here prevents steam from escaping through the gap between the steam outlet 12a and the engagement opening 25b. Therefore, when the steaming tank 20 is inserted, a steam passage is established from the steam outlet 12a through the steam inlet adapter 25 into the tank component 20a of the steaming tank 20, through which the steam D generated by the steam generating unit 12 is guided into the steaming tank 20, as indicated by the left arrow. Thus, the steam outlet 12a and the engagement opening 25b form a steam joint through which steam can pass in the inserted state.

[0097] Furthermore, when the steaming tank 20 is inserted, the downwardly opening joint 26b of the steam exhaust adapter 26a is placed onto the correspondingly shaped open upper portion of the receiving portion 27a of the steam removal unit 27, or (as shown) inserted into it on the edge side, also via an adapter seal. The open upper portion of the receiving portion 27a is configured as a steam inlet 27b that matches the joint opening 26b. Thus, when the steaming tank 20 is inserted, a steam passage is established from the steaming tank 20 through the steam exhaust adapter 26 to the steam removal unit 27, through which steam D, which may contain smoke, flowing through the steaming tank 20, is guided into the steam removal unit 27, as indicated by the arrow on the right. Therefore, when the steaming tank 20 is inserted, the joint opening 26b and the steam inlet 27b form a steam joint through which steam can pass.

[0098] Figure 8 A possible variation of the lid 28 of the steam handling drawer 5 is shown from an obliquely upward perspective. The lid has a glass panel 41, a plastic frame member 42 mounted on the front side of the glass panel, and a plastic frame member 43 mounted on the rear side of the glass panel. The two frame members 42 and 43 are bonded to the glass panel 41, which is inserted into the front frame member 35. The two frame members 42 and 43 extend along the same width as the glass panel 41. The glass panel 41 is made of transparent or opaque glass.

[0099] The front frame member 42 has a gripping area 44 accessible from above and downwardly projecting guide slides 45 on the left and right sides respectively. The cover 28 rests on the side beam 17 of the support frame 30 with its guide slide 45. As the cover 28 moves, the guide slide 45 runs on a guide rail (not shown) constructed in the side beam 16.

[0100] The rear frame member 43 has a pin 46 that stands upright on its upper side and centered in the front view. This pin has a T-shape in the front view and is integrally manufactured with the rear frame member 43. More precisely, the pin 46 here has a vertically erected leg section 47, on the upper end of which a crossbar is mounted. This crossbar has sliding pins 48 protruding on the left and right sides in the front view. The pin 46 is directly adjacent to the rear edge of the rear frame member 43 and therefore to the rear edge of the cover 28.

[0101] Figure 9 The steam treatment drawer 5 is shown from an obliquely upward view, removed from the transparently shown drawer housing 9, with the lid 28 partially open.

[0102] The pin 46 of the cover 28 is inserted into the open, funnel-shaped front section 49 of the guide rail 50. The guide rail 50 has a tubular or profile shape oriented along the pushing direction of the steam handling drawer 5 and thus along the moving direction of the cover 28, and this shape is advantageously closed on its rear end face. The guide rail has a gap on its lower side that separates the left and right sliding surfaces for the sliding pin 48. More precisely, the vertically raised leg section 47 is inserted into the gap, allowing the sliding pin 48 to slide on the corresponding sliding surface. As the cover 28 is opened further, the pin 46 is pushed further into and guided by the guide rail 50. This provides the particular advantage that the cover 28 will not wobble and will not fall or tip over into the drawer housing 9.

[0103] In its closed state, the cover 28 rests on the seal 32 in a vapor-sealed manner due to its weight, while in the open state shown, the cover 31 can be slightly raised at the front by the corresponding shaping of the sliding surface and thus has a slightly tilted position. This achieves the advantage that the cover 28 can be moved with relatively little force.

[0104] In addition, the cover 31 is placed on the rear section of the seal 32 with a relatively large weight. The rear section of the seal serves as a scraping element similar to a windshield wiper, which scrapes away the condensate located on the lower side of the cover 28 and allows it to flow back into the steaming tank 20.

[0105] Figure 10 A portion of a steaming tank 51 according to another embodiment is shown from a slightly downward angle. This steaming tank 51 is constructed similarly to the steaming tank 20, but additionally has sheet-like material bodies 52A inserted into the bottom 22 of a tank component 20a, which is otherwise constructed as a plastic injection molded part, and / or sheet-like material bodies 52B inserted into the right side (or, alternatively, the left side) wall section 31r of the sidewall 31 of the tank component 20a, said material bodies being made of metal, such as stainless steel. The material bodies 52A are exposed on the upper and lower sides, and the material bodies 52B are exposed on the left and right sides. The material bodies 52B are exemplarily arranged here spaced apart from the bottom 22, particularly at the height of the bottom of the insert E.

[0106] The steam treatment drawer 5 can be additionally configured to determine or estimate the temperature in the tank component 20a by measuring the temperature of the material bodies 52A and / or 52B. For this purpose, the steam treatment drawer 5 can be equipped with a corresponding temperature sensor (not shown) that is data-technically coupled to the equipment control unit 6.

[0107] In one variant, the temperature sensor is fixedly mounted, or more specifically, resiliently mounted, on the steam treatment drawer 5, wherein the steaming tank 20 then contacts the temperature sensor when it is inserted. In another variant, the material bodies 52A and / or 52B can be constructed flat on the outer side (as shown), while the associated temperature sensor is constructed in an arched shape in its direction. In yet another variant, the material bodies 52A and / or 52B can be constructed arched on the outer side, while the associated temperature sensor is constructed flat in its direction.

[0108] The equipment control device 6 is also provided, for example, programmed to control the operation of the evaporators 12 to 14 based on the temperature measurement value sensed by means of the temperature sensor, so as to maintain the temperature in the steam processing space 29 at a preset desired temperature, for example.

[0109] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

[0110] Generally speaking, unless explicitly excluded by expressions such as "exactly one", "one" can be understood as singular or plural, especially in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more".

[0111] Similarly, unless explicitly excluded, the numerical description can include exactly the numerical value being described, as well as the usual tolerance range.

[0112] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0113] 1. Household cooking utensils

[0114] 2. Oven

[0115] 2a Oven space

[0116] 3. Oven door

[0117] 4. Housings of household cooking appliances

[0118] 5 Steam treatment drawers

[0119] 6. Equipment control device

[0120] 7. Top heating element

[0121] 8. Bottom heating - heating element

[0122] 9. Drawer shell

[0123] 10 Cover plate

[0124] 11 Evaporator - Reception Area

[0125] 12 Steam generation units

[0126] 12a Steam outlet

[0127] 13 Water Tanks

[0128] 14 Box lid

[0129] 15. Steaming tank - placement area

[0130] 16. Side beams supporting the frame (seitliche Wange)

[0131] 17. Front wall of the supporting frame

[0132] 18. Rear wall of the supporting frame

[0133] 19 Support surface

[0134] 20 Steaming tanks

[0135] 20a slot component

[0136] 20b Loading opening

[0137] 21. Upper edge of the slot component

[0138] 22 Bottom

[0139] 23. Grip section

[0140] 24 recess

[0141] 25 Steam Inlet Adapter

[0142] 25a Steam inlet opening

[0143] 25b Joint opening

[0144] 26 Steam exhaust adapter

[0145] 26a Steam vent opening

[0146] 26b Joint opening

[0147] 27 Steam removal unit

[0148] 27a Reception Department

[0149] 27b Steam Inlet

[0150] 28 lids

[0151] 29 Steam handling space

[0152] 30 Supporting Frame

[0153] 31. Sidewall of the slot component

[0154] The front wall section of the side wall of the 31V slot component

[0155] The rear wall section of the side wall of the 31h slot component

[0156] 31l The left side wall section of the side wall of the groove component

[0157] The right side wall section of the 31r groove component.

[0158] 32 Seals

[0159] 33. Empty portion in the seal

[0160] 34 Free Space

[0161] 35 First Prominent Section

[0162] 36 Second Prominent Section

[0163] 37. Inner Step Section

[0164] 38. Outer step section

[0165] 39. Elevated portion

[0166] 40 Adapter seal

[0167] 41 Glass Plate

[0168] 42. Front border component (Fassungsteil)

[0169] 43 Rear border components

[0170] 44. Grip area

[0171] 45 Guide Sliding Part

[0172] 46 Pins

[0173] 47 outrigger section

[0174] 48 Sliding pin

[0175] 49 Front section of the guide rail

[0176] 50 guide rail

[0177] 51 Steaming tank

[0178] 52A material body

[0179] 52B material body

[0180] D Steam

[0181] E Insertion

Claims

1. A steaming tank (51) for use in a steam treatment drawer (5), the steaming tank (51) having a tank component (20a) with an upper loading opening (20b) and a steam inlet adapter (25) disposed on the outer side of the tank component (20a), wherein, At least one sub-region of the tank component (20a) and / or steam inlet adapter (25) is configured as a plastic injection molded part; and At least one sensor component (52A, 52B) of the sensor is housed in at least one plastic injection molded part, wherein at least one sensor component (52A, 52B) is a thermally conductive material body exposed to the steam-loadable inner wall of the steaming tank (51).

2. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 1, wherein the material body is exposed on the outer side of the steaming tank (51).

3. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the material body is a metallic material body.

4. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 3, wherein the material body is an iron-containing material body.

5. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one sensor component is a sensing element.

6. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tank component (20a) is a plastic injection molded part, and at least one sensor component (52A) is inserted into the bottom (22) of the tank component (20a).

7. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tank component (20a) is a plastic injection molded part, and at least one sensor component (52B) is installed in the side wall (31) of the tank component (20a).

8. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 7, wherein at least one sensor component (52B) is inserted into the side wall (31) of the tank component (20a) at the height of the bottom of the cooking food insert (E).

9. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one sensor component is installed in the wall of the steam passage of the steam inlet adapter (25).

10. The steaming tank (51) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steaming tank (51) has an additional steam exhaust adapter (26) arranged on the outer side of the tank component (20a), and wherein the sensor component is inserted into the wall of the steam passage of the additional steam exhaust adapter (26).

11. A steam cooking appliance with a steam treatment drawer (5), wherein, The steam treatment drawer (5) can be moved horizontally out of the drawer housing (9); The steaming tank (51) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 can be inserted into the steam treatment drawer (5) from above; When the steaming tank (51) is in the inserted state, the tank component (20a) is connected to the evaporator (12-14) arranged in the steam treatment drawer (5) via the steam inlet adapter (25). A cover (28) movable on the tank component (20a) along the moving direction of the steam treatment drawer (5), the cover being used to cover the loading opening (20b) of the steaming tank (51); and A control device (6) is signal-coupled to the sensing element of at least one sensor, the control device being configured to control the operation of the evaporator (12-14) based on sensor measurements sensed by means of at least one sensing element.

12. The steam cooking appliance according to claim 11, wherein, The at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

13. The steam cooking appliance according to claim 11, wherein, The sensing element is a temperature sensor.

14. The steam cooking appliance according to any one of claims 11 to 13, having the steaming tank (51), wherein the steam processing drawer (5) has at least one sensing element that, when the steaming tank (51) is placed, contacts a material body inserted into the bottom (22) or sidewall (31) of the tank component (20a).

15. A household cooking appliance (1) having at least one steam cooking appliance according to any one of claims 11 to 14.

16. The household cooking appliance (1) according to claim 15, wherein the household cooking appliance (1) has, in addition to having the steam cooking appliance, another cooking appliance arranged above the steam cooking appliance.

17. The household cooking appliance (1) according to claim 16, wherein, The other cooking appliance mentioned is an oven (2).

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