Door for a cooking appliance

Abstract

Door (10) for a cooking appliance (2), with an outer pane (18), an inner pane (22) and at least one light source (14), the light of which can pass through the inner pane (22) into a cooking chamber (8) of the cooking appliance (2), characterized in that at least one panel (24, 26, 28, 30) is provided which shields reflected light towards the outer pane (18), wherein a central pane (20) is arranged between the inner and outer panes (18, 22) and at least one panel (26, 28) is attached to the central pane (20).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a door for a cooking appliance, comprising an outer pane, an inner pane and at least one light source, the light of which can pass through the inner pane into a cooking chamber of the cooking appliance.

[0002] The door is part of a cooking appliance for professional use, for example, in restaurants, canteens, and large-scale catering. It closes the cooking chamber, where food is cooked in a specific atmosphere. The cooking chamber atmosphere is characterized primarily by the parameters of temperature, humidity, and circulation speed. It is also possible to couple microwave radiation into the cooking chamber.

[0003] The light source in the door serves to illuminate the cooking chamber so that the operator can clearly see the food inside. So-called LED strips can be used as the light source – elongated modules containing a large number of individual LEDs. To illuminate the cooking chamber, vertically extending LED strips can be arranged on opposite sides of the door, i.e., on the hinge side and the handle side.

[0004] As an alternative to LED strips, several LED spots arranged next to each other can also be used.

[0005] To protect the light source from the temperature and humidity in the cooking chamber, it is not located on the inside of the door, but usually at least "behind" the inner pane, as seen from the cooking chamber, and, if a middle pane is used between the outer pane and the inner pane of the door, usually also behind the middle pane. The light generated by the light source must therefore pass through one or more panes to illuminate the cooking chamber. It is unavoidable that some of the light is reflected at every air / pane or pane / air interface. This reflected light creates mirroring and reflections that may be annoying for the operator of the cooking appliance. This is even more true if the operator is not directly in front of the cooking appliance, but is looking at it from a side position.

[0006] Doors for cooking appliances are also known from DE 103 18 861 A1, DE 10 2011 087 811 A1, DE 20 2015 103 887 U1, FR 2 850 532 A1, GB 1 476 724 A and EP 2 868 980 A2.

[0007] The object of the invention is to prevent disturbing reflections and glare that can be perceived by people standing, in particular, to the side of the cooking appliance.

[0008] To achieve this object, according to the invention, a door of the type mentioned at the outset is provided with a panel which shields reflected light towards the outside. Furthermore, a central pane is arranged between the inner and outer panes, with at least one panel being attached to the central pane. The central pane is advantageous for improving the insulation between the inner and outer panes. The panel attached to the central pane prevents the central pane from causing additional reflections and glare. The invention is based on the discovery that, with very little effort, it is possible to prevent light reflected at a boundary layer from being visible on the outside of the cooking appliance door in such a way that it is disruptive. It was discovered that the panel can be effectively positioned so that the operator's view through the door into the cooking chamber is not restricted or at most only insignificantly restricted.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, a diaphragm is integrated into the housing of the light source. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to mount the diaphragm separately.

[0010] Preferably, the aperture extends from the housing to the disc opposite the housing. This increases the aperture's effectiveness.

[0011] According to an alternative embodiment, the aperture can also be formed by an opaque strip arranged on one of the panes. Such a strip can be easily adapted to the prevailing geometric conditions, for example, to different device sizes.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the opaque strip is a print. This can be applied to the corresponding pane with little effort.

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment, the cover is formed by an attachment on one of the panes. It is generally conceivable to integrate two covers into one attachment, i.e., one cover extending in the plane of the pane and one extending perpendicular to it. Preferably, however, the attachment forms only the cover extending perpendicular to the plane of the pane, and it is arranged on the cover, which extends parallel to the plane of the pane, for example, on a print on the pane. This ensures that the attachment is not visible from the outside.

[0014] The cover can, for example, be a sheet metal bracket glued to one of the panes. This creates a particularly robust cover.

[0015] The cover can also be a plastic strip glued to one of the panes. Plastic strips are also available at a reasonable cost in more complex cross-sections, especially hollow cross-sections, allowing for a visually appealing design.

[0016] The plastic strip can be provided with an internal support that is glued to the pane. The support stiffens the plastic strip, especially if it is made of metal, and increases the dimensional stability of the plastic strip.

[0017] Preferably, the attachment part has a bead for receiving an adhesive bead. The adhesive bead forms a comparatively thick adhesive layer between the attachment part and the pane, so that different thermal expansions of the attachment part on the one hand and the pane on the other hand cannot impair the strength of the adhesive bond.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light source is arranged on a frame of the door such that its light passes obliquely through the center pane and the inner pane, wherein a cover is arranged on a housing of the light source and extends as far as the center pane, a cover is arranged on the side of the center pane facing the inner pane, and a cover is arranged on the side of the inner pane facing the center pane. The combination of these three covers reliably prevents mirroring and reflections from being generated despite the presence of the center pane, which reflections are perceived as disturbing outside the cooking appliance. It is particularly advantageous here if the cover arranged on the center pane extends as far as the inner pane.

[0019] Preferably, the apertures are arranged such that, viewed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panes, the aperture provided on the housing overlaps the aperture arranged on the center pane, and the aperture provided on the center pane overlaps the aperture arranged on the inner pane. This design reliably prevents any glare and reflections.

[0020] Preferably, the panel mounted on the center pane is approximately flush with the door frame. This ensures that the panel does not, or only slightly, restrict the view into the cooking chamber through the door.

[0021] The position of the light source (or light sources) can be selected according to requirements. For example, the light source can be positioned between the inner and outer panes. However, it is also possible to position the light source outside the outer pane or to the side of the outer pane.

[0022] The invention is described below with reference to various embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 schematically shows a front view of a cooking appliance with a door according to the invention; - Fig. 2 in a section along the plane II-II of Fig. 1 the operating principle of the door according to the invention; - Fig. 3 in a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2 a door according to a first embodiment; - Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the center pane of the door according to the first embodiment; - Fig. 5 shows a side view of the panel used on the center pane of the door according to the first embodiment; - Fig. 6 in a perspective, broken view the aperture of Fig. 5; - Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a center pane of a door according to a second embodiment; - Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the aperture used on the central pane in the second embodiment; - Fig. 9 in a perspective, broken view the aperture of Fig. 8; - Fig. 10 in a sectional view the aperture of Fig. 8; - Fig. 11 in a view corresponding to that of Fig. 3 a door according to a third embodiment; - Fig. 12 in a view corresponding to that of Fig. 3 a door according to a fourth embodiment; - Fig. 13 in a view corresponding to that of Fig. 3 a door according to a fifth embodiment; and - Fig. 14 in a view corresponding to that of Fig. 3 a door according to a sixth embodiment;.

[0023] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a cooking appliance 2 having a body 4 and equipped with various control elements 6. A cooking chamber 8 is formed in the cooking appliance 2, which can be closed by means of a door 10.

[0024] In the cooking chamber 8 of the cooking appliance 2, food can be cooked in a cooking chamber atmosphere. For this purpose, the cooking chamber atmosphere can be heated, and its humidity can be adjusted to any desired level. It is also possible, in principle, to couple microwave radiation into the cooking chamber 8.

[0025] The cooking appliance 2 is in particular a so-called combi steamer, as used in restaurants, canteens and large-scale catering.

[0026] The door 10 of the cooking appliance 2 is provided with a window 12 through which the cooking chamber can be viewed from the outside. The window 12 typically consists of several transparent (glass) panes, as will be explained later.

[0027] To ensure that an operator can clearly see the food located in the cooking chamber 8, light sources 14 are provided that can illuminate the cooking chamber 8. The light sources 14 extend over essentially the entire height of the cooking chamber 8 and are arranged in the door 10.

[0028] The light sources 14 are designed here in particular as so-called LED strips, i.e. as strip-like components in which a large number of LEDs are arranged next to one another, so that a strip-shaped spotlight is obtained.

[0029] In Fig. 2 schematically shows the door 10 in the closed state, in which it rests against the body 4 via a seal not shown here.

[0030] The door has a schematically indicated frame 16, which supports an outer pane 18, a center pane 20, and an inner pane 22 via components not shown in detail here. The panes 18, 20, and 22 together form the window 12. The inner pane 22 is the pane facing the cooking chamber 8. Terms such as "outside" or "inside" used below refer to the cooking appliance. "Inside" thus faces the cooking chamber, and "outside" faces the area surrounding the cooking appliance.

[0031] The light source 14 is also arranged on the frame 16. It can be seen that the light source is oriented at an angle such that its light radiates obliquely into the cooking chamber 8 from the lateral position of the light source 14.

[0032] The light source 14 is located "behind" the central pane 20 and in front of the outer pane 18, as viewed from the cooking chamber 8. Accordingly, in order to reach the cooking chamber 8 from the light source 14, the light must first pass through the central pane 20 and then the inner pane 22.

[0033] Due to the well-known laws of optics, light rays are refracted and partially reflected whenever they pass between two media with different optical densities. These effects are described in Fig. The ray path shown in Figure 2 can be clearly seen.

[0034] If no countermeasures are taken, the reflected portion of the light rays can be perceived by the cooking appliance operator. Due to the geometric proportions, the reflected light and the resulting reflections are particularly disturbing if a person is standing to the side of the cooking appliance, rather than directly in front of it.

[0035] To prevent reflected light from being visible on the outside of the cooking appliance 2, various panels are provided.

[0036] A diaphragm 24 extends between the frame 16 and the outer side of the center disk 20. This diaphragm serves to shield light that exits strongly from the side of the light source 14 and light that is reflected on the outer side of the center disk 20.

[0037] Another aperture 26 is arranged on the inside of the center pane 20. The aperture 26 extends as a strip in a horizontal direction on the center pane 20, essentially over the entire height of the light source 14 and preferably slightly beyond the light source 14 at the top and bottom. The aperture 26 serves, in particular, to shield light that is reflected on the outside of the inner pane 22.

[0038] Another aperture 28 is arranged between the inside of the center pane 20 and the outside of the inner pane 22. It also serves to shield light reflected on the outside of the inner pane 22.

[0039] Another aperture 30 is arranged on the outer side of the inner pane 20. The aperture 30 extends in the same way as the aperture 26, flat as a strip in the horizontal direction on the inner pane 22.

[0040] The screens 26, 30 are preferably formed by a coating applied to the corresponding side of the panes 20, 22. This coating can be, for example, a film or a print on the pane. In principle, any material and color that can at least largely prevent light penetration is suitable.

[0041] The covers 24, 28 are inherently stable bodies that are attached to another component and extend into the corresponding gap. The cover 24 can be attached either to the frame 16 or to the center pane 20, and the cover 28 can be attached either to the center pane 20 or to the inner pane 22.

[0042] The desired shielding effect depends on how the screens 24, 26, 28, and 30 are arranged relative to one another. In the vertical direction, they ideally extend along the entire length of the corresponding light source 14 and, in particular, slightly beyond it at the top and bottom.

[0043] Viewed in a horizontal plane, such as that shown in Fig. 2, the apertures 24, 26, 28, 30 are arranged such that they overlap one another in a direction parallel to the direction of view into the cooking chamber 8. In general terms, the apertures are arranged along the edge of the light cone of the light source 14, which lies on the side of the center of the cooking chamber 8, i.e. relative to the Fig. The light source 14 shown in Figure 2 is located on the right side of the light cone. Accordingly, the outermost aperture 24 on the door is located further out than aperture 28, and aperture 26 is also located further out than aperture 30. In the broadest sense, apertures 24, 26, 28, and 30 are arranged in a stepped manner.

[0044] The exact arrangement of the diaphragms relative to one another depends on the thickness of the panes 20, 22, the distance between the central pane 20 and the inner pane 22, the arrangement of the light source 14 relative to the diaphragms and the width of the light cone of the light source 14. From these geometric parameters together with the laws of light refraction, the optimal positions for the diaphragms 24, 26, 28, 30 can be derived so that no light or at least as little light as possible can be reflected towards the outer pane 18.

[0045] A further boundary condition is that the panels 24, 26, 28, 30 are arranged as far as possible “behind” the frame 16, i.e. are (almost) not perceptible to an operator of the cooking appliance when he looks through the panes 18, 20, 22 into the cooking chamber 8.

[0046] In the Fig. 3 to 6, an embodiment of the door 10 is shown. For the Fig. 2 known components, the same reference numerals are used and reference is made to the above explanations.

[0047] The cover 24, located between the frame 16 and the outer side of the center panel 20, is integrated into a lamp housing 32, which houses the light source, such as an LED. The lamp housing 32 is firmly attached to the frame 16, for example, by clipping.

[0048] The aperture 26 is formed by a layer printed on the inside of the center pane 20. Since a strip of light sources 14 is used along each vertical edge of the door 10 (see Fig. 1), two apertures 26 also extend vertically along the edges of the central pane 20. They are integrated into an edge printing surrounding the outer edge of the pane, with a window 21 remaining free between the edge printing and the apertures 26, through which the corresponding light source 14 shines.

[0049] The panel 28 is formed here by a leg of an L-shaped attachment 34. This is glued to the inside of the center panel 20, specifically in the area of ​​the panel 26. Thus, it is not visible from the outside of the cooking appliance.

[0050] The leg 36 used to attach the attachment part 34 to the center pane 20 is provided with a bead 38 within which an adhesive bead 40 is located. The adhesive bead 40 ensures that the bond has sufficient flexibility due to the thickness of the adhesive present there, so that even different thermal expansions of the center pane 20 and the attachment part 34 do not impair the strength of the adhesive bond.

[0051] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, two identical attachment parts 34 are used, which are arranged in a mirror image of each other on the two panels 26 of the center plate 20. In this way, the number of identical parts used can be increased.

[0052] The aperture 30 is a print on the disc 22 in the same way as the apertures 26.

[0053] Deviating from the Fig. 3 to 6, the outer pane 18 can also be arranged closer to the central pane 20 by making the outer pane 18 less wide, so that it does not cover the lamp housing 32 (i.e., relative to Fig. 3 ends further to the right). Then the frame 16 can be made thinner, resulting in an overall thinner door construction.

[0054] In the Fig. Figures 7 to 10 schematically show the center pane 20 for a door according to a second embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for the components known from the first embodiment, and reference is made to the above explanations.

[0055] The difference between the first and second embodiments is that, in the second embodiment, a plastic strip 42 is used for the attachment part 34. The illustrated embodiment is a hollow profile. A support 44 is arranged inside the hollow profile, which serves for stiffening and to which the attachment part 34 is glued to the pane 20. Similar to the leg 36 of the attachment part 34 in the first embodiment, the support 44 has a bead 38 in which an adhesive bead 40 is arranged.

[0056] In Fig. Figure 11 shows a section through the edge region of a door 10 according to a third embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for components known from the previous embodiments, and reference is made to the above explanations.

[0057] The difference between the first two embodiments and the third embodiment is that in the third embodiment the light source 14 is not arranged between the panes, but laterally next to the outer panes 18. The light falls obliquely through the middle pane 20 and the inner pane 22 into the cooking chamber.

[0058] The light source 14 can be attached to the frame 16 of the door 10 using fasteners (not shown). These fasteners can also be integrated into the pane seal that holds the outer pane 18 in the frame 16.

[0059] In Fig. 11 also shows a seal 9 which seals between the body 4 and the door 10.

[0060] In Fig. Figure 12 shows a section through the edge region of a door 10 according to a fourth embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for components known from the previous embodiments, and reference is made to the above explanations.

[0061] The difference between the third and fourth embodiments is that in the fourth embodiment, the light source is arranged on the outside of the central pane 20, but its housing extends to the outside of the shortened outer pane 18.

[0062] Due to the special shape of the light source housing, some of the reflections between the outer pane 18 and the center pane 20 are avoided, so that no aperture is necessary between the outer pane 18 and the center pane 20.

[0063] In Fig. Figure 13 shows a section through the edge region of a door 10 according to a fifth embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for components known from the previous embodiments, and reference is made to the above explanations.

[0064] The difference between the fourth and the fifth embodiment is that in the fifth embodiment the light source 14 is arranged on the outside of the outer pane 18.

[0065] Specifically, the light source 14 is designed here as a flat strip that is arranged between the frame 16 and the outer pane 18.

[0066] In Fig. Figure 14 shows a section through the edge region of a door 10 according to a sixth embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for components known from the previous embodiments, and reference is made to the above explanations.

[0067] The difference between the fifth and sixth embodiments is that in the sixth embodiment, only two panes are used, namely the outer pane 18 and the inner pane 22. The light source 14 is arranged between the outside of the outer pane 18 and the frame 16.

[0068] As an alternative to the essentially rigid covers 28, 34 shown, it is also possible to use flexible covers that elastically engage the pane opposite them. For example, the covers can be made of a soft plastic or silicone. It is also conceivable to construct the covers in two parts, for example, in the case of cover 34, the plastic part 42 is made of silicone. It is also conceivable for the cover to have a support strip with, for example, a U-shaped cross-section, which is attached to a pane and accommodates a cover strip made of a flexible material, for example, silicone.

Claims

[1] Door (10) for a cooking appliance (2), with an outer pane (18), an inner pane (22) and at least one light source (14), the light of which can pass through the inner pane (22) into a cooking chamber (8) of the cooking appliance (2), characterized by that at least one diaphragm (24, 26, 28, 30) is provided which shields reflected light towards the outer pane (18), wherein a central pane (20) is arranged between the inner and outer panes (18, 22) and at least one diaphragm (26, 28) is attached to the central pane (20). [2] Door (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that a diaphragm (24) is integrated into a housing (32) of the light source (14). [3] Door (10) according to claim 2, characterized by that the aperture (24) extends from the housing (32) to the disc (20) opposite the housing (32). [4] Door (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the diaphragm (26, 30) is formed by an opaque strip arranged on one of the discs (20, 22). [5] Door (10) according to claim 4, characterized by that the opaque strip is a print. [6] Door (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the aperture (28) is formed by an attachment part (34) on one of the discs (20, 22). [7] Door (10) according to claim 6, characterized by that the cover (28) is a sheet metal angle (34) which is glued to one of the discs (20, 22). [8] Door (10) according to claim 6, characterized by that the cover is a plastic strip (42) which is glued to one of the panes (20, 22). [9] Door (10) according to claim 8, characterized by that the plastic strip (42) is provided with an internal support (44) which is glued to the pane (20). [10] Door (10) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized bythat the attachment part (34) has a bead (38) for receiving an adhesive bead (40). [11] Door (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the light source (14) is arranged on a frame (16) of the door (10) in such a way that its light falls obliquely through the central pane (20) and the inner pane (22), wherein a diaphragm (24) is arranged on a housing (32) of the light source (14) and extends as far as the central pane (20), that a diaphragm (26, 28) is arranged on the side of the central pane (20) facing the inner pane (22), and that a diaphragm (30) is arranged on the side of the inner pane (22) facing the central pane (20). [12] Door (10) according to claim 11, characterized by that the aperture (28) arranged on the central pane (20) extends as far as the inner pane (22). [13] Door (10) according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized bythat, viewed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the discs (18, 20, 22), the aperture (24) provided on the housing (32) overlaps with the aperture (26, 28) arranged on the central disc (20) and the aperture (26, 28) provided on the central disc (20) overlaps with the aperture (30) arranged on the inner disc (22). [14] Door (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the panel (26, 28) arranged on the central pane (20) extends along the edge of a frame (16) of the door (10). [15] Door (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that two diaphragms (28) are provided which are identical and arranged mirror-symmetrically opposite one another. [16] Door (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the light source (14) is arranged between the inner and outer panes (18, 22). [17] Door (10) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized bythat the light source (14) is arranged outside the outer pane (18). [18] Door (10) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by that the light source (14) is arranged laterally of the outer pane (18).

Images