Cooking appliance, preferably a steam cooking appliance

Abstract

Cooking appliance (1), preferably a steam cooking appliance , with a first component (16) having at least one pin (16a) and having at least one connecting element receptacle (16b) as well as with a second component (11) with at least one pin receptacle (11d) and with at least one connecting element receptacle (11e), wherein the pin receptacle (11d) of the second component (11) is designed to receive the pin (16a) of the first component (16) in a form-fitting manner along a first axis (Z) at least perpendicular to the first axis (Z), and wherein the connecting element receptacle (16b) of the first component (16) and the connecting element receptacle (11e) of the second component (11) are designed to overlap each other along the first axis (Z) and to jointly accommodate a connecting element (18) passing through them, wherein the pin (16a) and the connecting element receptacle (16b) of the first component (16) and the pin receptacle (11d) and the connecting element receptacle (11e) of the second component (11) are arranged perpendicular to the first axis (Z) immediately next to each other and the pin (16a) is formed integrally with the first component (16), wherein the first component (16) is a first housing part and the second component (11) is a second housing part and wherein the first housing part (16) is an air duct top part and the second housing part (11) is an inner housing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooking appliance, preferably a steam cooking appliance.

[0002] Various kitchen appliances, also known as cooking appliances, are used to prepare food, which can also be referred to as items to be cooked or prepared for cooking. These include cooktops, on which food can be cooked in a cooking vessel such as a saucepan (with or without a lid), a frying pan, and the like, by boiling, frying, and other methods. The cooking vessel is placed on a cooking zone of the cooktop, and the base of the vessel is heated electrically, inductively, or similarly by the cooking zone. The cooking vessel can also be referred to as a cooking container, a food carrier, or a cooking receptacle. In this case, the cooking vessel provides a cooking space for the food, which, in the case of pans and pots, can be open or closed with a lid.

[0003] Cooking appliances are also known which have a stationary cooking chamber integrated with the appliance, in which the food is arranged in or on a cooking vessel and cooked with the cooking chamber of the appliance closed. Such a cooking appliance can be, for example, an oven, a steam cooker, or a combination oven and steam cooker.

[0004] Such cooking appliances with a fixed cooking chamber have in common that they feature an outer casing, which essentially encloses the cooking appliance and protects its individual components and elements, while also making them easily accessible. Inside the cooking appliance, an interior space is formed, which constitutes the cooking chamber and is essentially enclosed by an inner casing, also known as the cooking chamber muffle or muffle. A cavity is formed between the inner and outer casings, in which functional elements of the cooking appliance, such as a control unit, an electrical power supply, and other components necessary for the intended use of the cooking appliance, can be located. From the front, i.e., viewed from the user's perspective, the outer casing...A cover in the form of furniture material or in the form of a control panel and the like, together with the inner housing, closes off the housing space, so that the housing space is not accessible to the user.

[0005] The interior of the cooking appliance features a front-facing access opening through which the user can enter and arrange cooking utensils within the cooking chamber, and remove them after cooking. This access opening can be opened by the user with a locking element, such as a side-hinged door, a downward-hinged flap, or similar device. This allows access to the interior of the cooking appliance, as described above, or it can be closed to complete the cooking process. Such a locking element can be solid or have a viewing window to allow the user to see inside the closed interior of the cooking appliance.

[0006] Such cooking appliances with a fixed cooking chamber are usually designed as built-in appliances or kitchen appliances in order to be space-saving and at a height easily accessible to the user, being fixed vertically in kitchen furniture such as built-in kitchen cabinets with their outer casing and with their closing element, possibly also with their cover, see above, flush with the surfaces of the other cooking appliances, drawers, doors and the like of the kitchen furniture towards the user, which can improve the visual impression for the user.

[0007] In these types of cooking appliances, individual parts of the housing and other components are typically screwed together. Due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances, this can lead to deviations from the ideal or desired positioning of the connecting parts. These deviations can accumulate across multiple connection points between different components, from the first to the last, and thus increase accordingly.

[0008] Document DE 10 2021 124 652 A1 discloses a cooking appliance with a housing and a hinge arrangement for pivoting an appliance door. The hinge arrangement has three parts, with a first retaining part being fixed to the housing. An intermediate element is attached to this retaining part, which is positioned so that it can be moved only in two directions and can be fixed in an end position. The hinge element with the pivot axis for the appliance door is in turn attached to the intermediate element, and this hinge element is positioned so that it can be moved transversely to the first-mentioned directions and can be fixed when it reaches the preferred end position.

[0009] In a steam cooking appliance, this can affect, for example, the cooking chamber front or frame and the lower part of the air duct, which are currently screwed together in a relatively undefined manner. In every such connection along the tolerance chain from the cooking chamber front to, for example, electromechanical components positioned on the upper part of the air duct, these deviations can accumulate, so that the positioning of, for example, a door sensor unit relative to the cooking chamber front can be subject to significant dimensional variations.

[0010] This applies similarly to other household appliances.

[0011] The invention thus addresses the problem of improving the positioning accuracy of components of cooking appliances, preferably steam cookers, relative to one another. This is to be made possible particularly for housing parts. This should be achieved as simply, intuitively, easily assembled, and / or in a space-saving manner as possible. At the very least, an alternative to known methods should be created.

[0012] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a cooking appliance with the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0013] The invention thus relates to a cooking device, particularly preferably a steam cooking device, comprising a first component with at least one pin and at least one connecting element receptacle, and a second component with at least one pin receptacle and at least one connecting element receptacle, wherein the pin receptacle of the second component is configured to receive the pin of the first component in a form-fitting manner along a first axis at least perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the connecting element receptacle of the first component and the connecting element receptacle of the second component are configured to overlap each other along the first axis and to receive a connecting element together through each other.

[0014] According to the invention, the pin of the first component enables a positive-locking and thus predetermined or defined pre-positioning of the first component relative to the second component. The pin can therefore be considered a centering pin or a centering mandrel.

[0015] The first component can then be permanently joined to the second component by means of at least one connecting element. This can preferably be achieved in a non-destructive manner, for example by means of a screw connection, to facilitate repair. In any case, this can be accomplished by suitable mechanical means, at least by positive locking and preferably also by friction locking, to further improve the connection.

[0016] In any case, this can improve the pre-assembly and positioning of the components. Adjusting with a pin reduces or minimizes the assembly tolerance at this connection point, which, overall, can reduce the tolerance chain across multiple components. This can also shorten assembly time. This can be intuitive for the assembler. Thanks to the use of a pin connection, this can be implemented very compactly.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the pin of the first component and the pin receptacle of the second component are further configured to center the second component perpendicular to the first axis relative to the first component. This can represent one way of concretely implementing the aspects of the invention described above.

[0018] According to a further aspect of the invention, the pin of the first component and the pin receptacle of the second component are further configured to hold the pin of the first component in a force-fit manner along the first axis. This can represent one way of concretely implementing the aspects of the invention described above.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance further comprises a third component with at least one pin receptacle and with at least one connecting element receptacle, wherein the third component is configured to be arranged along the first axis between the first component and the second component, wherein the pin receptacle of the third component is configured to receive the pin of the first component also along the first axis in a form-fitting manner perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the connecting element receptacle of the third component is configured to overlap with the connecting element receptacle of the first component and the connecting element receptacle of the second component along the first axis and to receive the connecting element together through itself.

[0020] This allows the previously described properties and advantages to also be applied to the combination of three components of the household appliance.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the invention, the pin of the first component and the pin receptacle of the third component are further configured to center the third component perpendicular to the first axis relative to the first component and the second component. This allows the corresponding properties and advantages previously described with respect to the second component to be applied to the third component.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the invention, the pin of the first component and the pin receptacle of the third component are further configured to hold the pin of the first component securely along the first axis. This allows the corresponding properties and advantages previously described with regard to the second component to be applied to the third component.

[0023] According to the invention, the pin and the fastener receptacle of the first component and the pin receptacle and the fastener receptacle of the second component, preferably and the pin receptacle and the fastener receptacle of the third component, are arranged perpendicular to the first axis and directly adjacent to one another. This can improve the centering effect of the pin and the pin receptacle on the two fastener receptacles.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the invention, the first component has several pins, the second component has several pin receptacles, and preferably the third component has several pin receptacles, spaced apart from each other perpendicular to the first axis. This allows the corresponding properties and advantages described above to be implemented and utilized multiple times or at multiple locations within the household appliance.

[0025] According to a further aspect of the invention, at least one of the pin receptacles of the second component, and preferably the corresponding pin receptacle of the third component, is designed as an elongated slot to receive the pin of the first component perpendicular to the first axis along a second axis without play and perpendicular to both axes along a third axis with play. This prevents the components from jamming along the axis with play, since a certain degree of mobility is provided along the third axis to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, the first component has several connecting element receptacles, the second component has several corresponding connecting element receptacles, preferably, and the third component has several connecting element receptacles spaced apart from each other perpendicular to the axis. This allows the corresponding properties and advantages described above to be implemented and utilized multiple times or at multiple locations within the household appliance.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the invention, the connecting element is a screw, wherein the connecting element receptacle of the first component of the second component has a screw head bearing surface, preferably recessed, facing away from the first axis, and wherein the connecting element receptacle of the second component has an internal thread, wherein the connecting element receptacle of the third component is preferably designed as a through hole. This can represent a concrete implementation possibility.

[0028] According to the invention, the first component is a first housing part and the second component is a second housing part. According to a further aspect of the invention, the third component is a third housing part. This could represent a concrete implementation possibility.

[0029] According to the invention, the first housing part is an upper part of the air duct and the second housing part is an inner housing. According to a further aspect of the invention, the third housing part is a lower part of the air duct. This could represent a concrete implementation possibility.

[0030] According to the invention, the pin is formed integrally with the first component. An integral design means that the first component and the pin are formed from a single piece, i.e., as a single unit. This eliminates the need for a connection between the pin and the first component, thereby avoiding tolerances at this point and shortening or simplifying assembly.

[0031] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Fig. 1 a perspective view of a household appliance according to the invention using the example of a cooking appliance in the form of a steam cooking appliance without an outer casing from a slanted front top view; Fig. 2 a schematic top view of the front, upper area of ​​the interior of the steam cooker; Fig. 3 a schematic cross-section through the front, upper area of ​​the interior of the steam cooker in the area of ​​a pin; and Fig. 4 the representation of the Fig. 3 in the area of ​​a connecting element.

[0032] The figures above are viewed in Cartesian coordinates. A longitudinal axis X extends, which can also be called depth X or length X. Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X extends a transverse axis Y, which can also be called width Y. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y extends a vertical axis Z, which can also be called height Z and corresponds to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y together form the horizontal X,Y, which can also be called the horizontal plane X,Y.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a household appliance 1 according to the invention, using the example of a cooking appliance in the form of a steam cooking appliance without an outer housing 10, from a slanting front top view. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of the front, upper area of ​​the interior of the steam cooker 1. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-section through the front, upper area of ​​the interior of the steam cooker 1 in the area of ​​a pin 16a. Fig. 4 shows the representation of the Fig. 3 in the area of ​​a connecting element 18.

[0034] In the exemplary embodiment considered, the vertical axis Z represents a first axis Z, the longitudinal axis X a second axis X, and the transverse axis Y a third axis Y.

[0035] The steam cooking appliance 1 according to the invention is essentially enclosed externally by an outer housing 10. Inside the steam cooking appliance 1, an inner housing 11 is arranged, which essentially encloses a cooking chamber 13 and has a housing space 12 or an intermediate space between itself and the outer housing 10. The cooking chamber 13 is open along the longitudinal axis X from the front on the side of the inner housing 11 and can be closed there by means of a downwardly pivoting cooking chamber door 14, cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 3.

[0036] In the upper area of ​​the steam cooking appliance 1, the inner housing 11 forms a cooking chamber ceiling 11a and then folds upwards forwards along the vertical axis Z to form a front frame 11b or a housing front 11b with a section there, which transitions into a housing chamber floor 11c by a further fold along the longitudinal axis X to the rear, cf. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. In the front area of ​​the housing space floor 11c, two pin receptacles 11d and five connecting element receptacles 11e in the form of screw receptacles with internal threads in the inner housing 11 are provided, cf. Fig. 2.

[0037] Extending upwards along the vertical axis Z, an air duct base 15 is arranged flat on the section of the housing chamber floor 11c of the inner housing 11. The air duct base 15 has corresponding pin receptacles 15a and screw receptacles 15b in the form of screw receptacles precisely where the housing chamber floor 11c of the inner housing 11 has pin receptacles 11d and screw receptacles 11e, which are designed as through holes.

[0038] Further up, an upper air duct section 16 is arranged, which is located between the lower air duct section 15 and the outer housing 10. The lower air duct section 15 and the upper air duct section 16 thus form an air duct 17 along the longitudinal axis X. A vertical section of the upper air duct section 16 has several through-openings 16c along the longitudinal axis X, so that the air of the air duct 17 can flow through the upper air duct section 16 along the longitudinal axis X. The upper air duct section 16 also has corresponding connecting element receptacles 16b in the form of screw receptacles precisely where the base 11c of the inner housing 11 has screw receptacles 11e and the lower air duct section 15 has screw receptacles 15b. These screw receptacles are designed as screw head supports extending upwards along the vertical axis Z.

[0039] The upper air duct section 16 further comprises, where the lower air duct section 15 has a pin receptacle 15a and the inner housing 11 or its housing space floor 11c has a pin receptacle 11d, a pin 16a pointing downwards along the vertical axis Z and formed integrally with the upper air duct section 16 in the same manner, i.e., integrally, which, in the assembled state, projects downwards along the vertical axis Z through the superimposed pin receptacle 15a of the lower air duct section 15 and the pin receptacle 11d of the inner housing 11, cf. Fig. 3.

[0040] The right of the two pairs of pin holders 15a, 11d, cf. Fig. 2, is designed to fit precisely and without play in the horizontal X, Y planes with the corresponding pin 16a of the upper air duct section 16, so that adjustment of the upper air duct section 16 and the lower air duct section 15 relative to the inner housing 11 or its housing base 11c can be made at this point. The other, left-hand pin receptacle pair 15a, 11d, see below. Fig. 2, is designed to be free of play only along the longitudinal axis X relative to the corresponding other pin 16a of the upper part of the air duct 16 and exhibits a certain amount of play along the transverse axis Y, cf. Fig. 2. This prevents jamming along the transverse axis Y.

[0041] If the upper air duct part 16 and the lower air duct part 15 are now adjusted or pre-positioned in this way relative to the inner housing 11, the five connection points of the three superimposed screw receptacles 11e, 15b, 16b of the three components 11, 15, 16 can each be penetrated from above by a screw 18 acting as a connecting element 18, and thus the upper air duct part 16 and the lower air duct part 15 can be fixedly attached to the inner housing 11.

[0042] The upper air duct part 16 can also be referred to or considered as the first component or housing part, the inner housing 11 as the second component or housing part, and the lower air duct part 15 as the third component or housing part. Reference numeral list (part of the description) X second axis; longitudinal axis; depth; length Y third axis; transverse axis; width Z first axis; vertical axis; height X, Y Horizontal; horizontal plane 1 Household appliance; cooking appliance; steamer 10 outer casings 11 second component; second housing part; inner housing 11a Oven ceiling 11b Front frame; front of housing 11c Case floor 11d Pin receptacles of the second component 11 or its housing space floor 11c 11e Connecting element receptacles or screw receptacles of the second component 11 or its housing space floor 11c 12 Housing space; Intermediate space 13 Cooking chamber 14 Oven door 15 third component; third housing part; lower air duct part 15a Pin sockets of the third component 15 15b Fastener receptacles or screw receptacles of the third component 15 16 first component; first housing part; air duct top 16a Pins of the first component 16 16b Fastener receptacles or screw receptacles of the first component 16 16c Through openings of the first component 16 17 Air duct 18 fasteners; screws

Claims

[1] Cooking appliance (1), preferably a steam cooking appliance , with a first component (16) having at least one pin (16a) and having at least one connecting element receptacle (16b) as well as with a second component (11) with at least one pin receptacle (11d) and with at least one connecting element receptacle (11e), wherein the pin receptacle (11d) of the second component (11) is designed to receive the pin (16a) of the first component (16) in a form-fitting manner along a first axis (Z) at least perpendicular to the first axis (Z), and wherein the connecting element receptacle (16b) of the first component (16) and the connecting element receptacle (11e) of the second component (11) are designed to overlap each other along the first axis (Z) and to jointly accommodate a connecting element (18) passing through them, wherein the pin (16a) and the connecting element receptacle (16b) of the first component (16) and the pin receptacle (11d) and the connecting element receptacle (11e) of the second component (11) are arranged perpendicular to the first axis (Z) immediately next to each other and the pin (16a) is formed integrally with the first component (16), wherein the first component (16) is a first housing part and the second component (11) is a second housing part and wherein the first housing part (16) is an air duct top part and the second housing part (11) is an inner housing. [2] Cooking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pin (16a) of the first component (16) and the pin receptacle (11d) of the second component (11) are further configured to center the second component (11) perpendicular to the first axis (Z) relative to the first component (16). [3] Cooking device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pin (16a) of the first component (16) and the pin receptacle (11d) of the second component (11) are further configured to receive the pin (16a) of the first component (16) in a force-fit manner along the first axis (Z). [4] Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, furthermore with a third component (15) having at least one pin receptacle (15a) and at least one connecting element receptacle (15b), wherein the third component (15) is designed to be arranged along the first axis (Z) between the first component (16) and the second component (11), wherein the pin receptacle (15a) of the third component (15) is designed to also receive the pin (16a) of the first component (16) along the first axis (Z) at least in a form-fitting manner perpendicular to the first axis (Z), and wherein the connecting element receptacle (15b) of the third component (15) is designed to overlap with the connecting element receptacle (16b) of the first component (16) and the connecting element receptacle (11e) of the second component (11) along the first axis (Z) and to jointly accommodate the connecting element (18) through itself. [5] Cooking device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pin (16a) of the first component (16) and the pin receptacle (15a) of the third component (15) are further configured to center the third component (15) perpendicular to the first axis (Z) relative to the first component (16) and the second component (16). [6] Cooking device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the pin (16a) of the first component (16) and the pin receptacle (15a) of the third component (15) are further configured to receive the pin (16a) of the first component (16) in a force-fit manner along the first axis (Z). [7] Cooking device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the pin (16a) and the connecting element receptacle (16b) of the first component (16) and the pin receptacle (11d) of the second component (11) and the pin receptacle (15a) and the connecting element receptacle (15b) of the third component (15) are arranged perpendicular to the first axis (Z) directly next to each other. [8] Cooking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first component (16) has several pins (16a) and the second component (11) has several pin receptacles (11d), and preferably the third component (15) has several pin receptacles (15a) spaced apart from each other perpendicular to the first axis (Z). [9] Cooking device (1) according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the pin receptacles (11d) of the second component (11), and preferably the corresponding pin receptacle (15a) of the third component (15), is designed as an elongated hole to receive the pin (16a) of the first component (16) perpendicular to the first axis (Z) along a second axis (X) without play and perpendicular to both axes (X, Z) along a third axis (Y) with play. [10] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first component (16) has several connecting element receptacles (16b) and the second component (11) has several corresponding connecting element receptacles (11e), and preferably the third component (15) has several connecting element receptacles (15b) spaced apart perpendicular to the axis (Z). [11] Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting element (18) is a screw, wherein the connecting element receptacle (16b) of the first component (16) of the second component (11) has a screw head support, preferably recessed, facing away from the first axis (Z), and wherein the connecting element receptacle (11e) of the second component (11) has an internal thread, wherein preferably the connecting element receptacle (15b) of the third component (15) is designed as a through hole. [12] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the third component (15) is a third housing part. [13] Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 12, wherein the third housing part (15) is an air duct lower part.

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