Cooking appliance and assembly

Abstract

A cooking appliance (10) is described, comprising a cooking chamber (14) formed in a housing (12) which has a loading opening (16) and a cooking chamber door (18) for closing the loading opening (16), wherein a seal (20) surrounding the loading opening (16) made of an elastomeric material and a contact surface (22) for the seal (20) are provided between the cooking chamber door (18) and the housing (12), and wherein at least one spacer (30) is arranged between the cooking chamber door (18) and the housing (12) which limits compression of the seal (20) to a defined extent.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooking appliance and an assembly comprising a cooking appliance.

[0002] Cooking appliances typically have a cooking chamber formed in a housing, which has a loading opening, and a cooking chamber door for closing the loading opening, wherein between the cooking chamber door and the housing there is a seal surrounding the loading opening made of an elastomeric material and a contact surface for the seal.

[0003] A disadvantage of this design is that the seal is compressed uncontrollably when the door is closed, sometimes even to the point of plastic deformation. Grease deposits and high temperatures also contribute to damage to the seal, thus reducing its lifespan.

[0004] This problem is exacerbated if a rack trolley is arranged in the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, whereby a sealing plate of the rack trolley rests against the seal and compresses it in certain areas.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to extend the service life of a cooking chamber seal.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by a cooking device with a cooking chamber formed in a housing, which has a loading opening, and a cooking chamber door for closing the loading opening, wherein a seal surrounding the loading opening made of an elastomeric material and a contact surface for the seal are provided between the cooking chamber door and the housing, and wherein at least one spacer is arranged between the cooking chamber door and the housing, which limits compression of the seal to a defined extent.

[0007] The spacer reduces the deformation of the seal and ensures it occurs only within a defined range. Excessive, uncontrolled deformation due to high closing forces, which could potentially cause plastic deformation of the seal, is prevented. This increases the service life of the seal.

[0008] The spacer acts as a mechanical stop for the oven door, holding it in a closed position defined by the spacer. The spacer prevents the seal from being compressed beyond a defined limit, or, to put it simply, from being flattened.

[0009] The inclusion of at least one spacer makes it possible to use a particularly soft oven seal that can compensate well for unevenness.

[0010] For example, on one side of the oven door where a door hinge is located, the position of the oven door in the vertical direction can be adjusted.

[0011] On the side opposite the hinge, the oven door can be pulled onto a block by a door latch. At least one spacer ensures even pressure on the oven door. This spacer also minimizes door warping by holding the oven door in a defined position.

[0012] The mounting surface is located, for example, on the inside of the oven door, and the seal is located on the housing. This is advantageous because there is already a flat surface on the inside of the oven door, in the area of ​​the inner glass pane, which can serve as a mounting surface. Fasteners for attaching the seal can then be easily integrated into the housing.

[0013] The length of the spacer can be adjusted. This allows the spacer to be used as a standard part for different cooking appliances and different types of oven seals, especially for seals with different heights of sealing profiles.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the spacer comprises two elements coupled to each other by means of a thread, such that the length of the spacer can be adjusted by rotating the two elements relative to each other. In this way, the length of the spacer can be adjusted particularly easily, even when the spacer is already attached to the cooking appliance.

[0015] A compressible damping element can be arranged at one free end of the spacer. This damping element absorbs shocks when the oven door is slammed shut, thus protecting the spacer from damage.

[0016] The seal is, for example, a hollow chamber seal. Due to the improved deformability resulting from the hollow chamber, only a low contact pressure is required to achieve an effective seal. This reduces wear on the seal's contact surface, which also has a positive effect on the seal's service life. Furthermore, the hollow chamber seal's good deformability compensates for tolerances and unevenness. High deformability is also advantageous when embedding a sealing plate in a pallet truck.

[0017] The problem is further solved according to the invention by an assembly comprising a cooking appliance designed as described above and a rack trolley arranged in the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, wherein a sealing plate of the rack trolley rests against the seal and compresses it in certain areas, and wherein at least one spacer is present in an area adjacent to the sealing plate. For example, the spacer is arranged at a distance of up to 10 cm from the sealing plate.

[0018] This ensures a perfectly coordinated dimensional chain of seal, sealing plate, and inner washer. In particular, further compression of the seal is prevented in the especially critical area where it is already compressed by the sealing plate of the rack trolley.

[0019] For example, at least one spacer, and in particular exactly one spacer, is present on one side of the sealing plate. This means that no further spacers are provided along the circumference of the oven opening. As mentioned previously, the spacer is located in the area adjacent to the sealing plate, i.e., at a maximum distance of 10 cm. This reliably prevents the seal from being deformed beyond a defined extent by the sealing plate of the rack trolley when the oven door is closed.

[0020] For example, there is exactly one spacer on each side of the sealing plate.

[0021] The oven door features an inner pane, with a combined inner pane and rack trolley seal located adjacent to the lower edge of the inner pane. This inner pane and rack trolley seal ensures a reliable seal in the area of ​​the rack trolley's sealing plate.

[0022] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. The drawings show: - Fig. 1 a cross-section through a cooking appliance according to the invention in the area of ​​a cooking chamber opening, - Fig. 2 schematically a cross-section through an assembly according to the invention with a cooking device according to the invention and a rack trolley.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a cooking device 10. The cooking device 10 comprises a housing 12 in which a cooking chamber 14 is formed.

[0024] The cooking chamber 14 has a loading opening 16.

[0025] The cooking appliance 10 also has a cooking chamber door 18 for closing the loading opening 16.

[0026] Between the oven door 18 and the housing 12, a seal 20 made of an elastomeric material surrounds the loading opening 16. Furthermore, a contact surface 22 is provided for the seal 20.

[0027] Specifically, the contact surface 22 is arranged on an inner side of the oven door 18 and the seal 20 is arranged on the housing, whereby the contact surface 22 can be arranged at least partially on an inner pane 24 of the oven door 18.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment, a groove 26 is provided on the housing 12, circumferential around the feed opening 16, in which the seal 20 is arranged and held with a fastening section 28.

[0029] Seal 20 is a hollow chamber seal.

[0030] According to an exemplary embodiment, the seal 20 is made of a silicone material.

[0031] At least one spacer 30 is arranged between the oven door 18 and the housing 12. More precisely, the spacer 30 is arranged on the housing 12. The distance of the spacer 30 to the loading opening 16 is greater than the distance of the seal 20 to the loading opening 16.

[0032] The spacer 30 limits the compression of the seal 20 when closing the oven door 18 to a defined degree.

[0033] When the oven door 18 is closed, the spacer 30 rests against a door frame 32 of the oven door 18. Thus, the spacer 30 forms a stop for the oven door 18.

[0034] However, it is also conceivable that the spacer 30 rests against the inner pane 24 of the oven door 18, as is the case, for example, in Fig. 2 is illustrated.

[0035] A compressible damping element 33 is arranged at a free end of the spacer 30.

[0036] The length of the spacer 30 can be adjusted.

[0037] For this purpose, the spacer 30 has, for example, two elements 34, 36 (see Fig. 2), which are coupled to each other by means of a thread, such that the length of the spacer 30 can be adjusted by rotating the two elements relative to each other.

[0038] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a subassembly 38. The subassembly 38 comprises a cooking appliance 10, which, in particular, as described in connection with Fig. 1 is described as being equipped, as well as a rack trolley. In Fig. 2 shows only a sealing plate 40 of the rack wagon.

[0039] When the rack trolley is arranged in the cooking chamber 14 of the cooking appliance 10, a sealing plate 40 of the rack trolley lies as shown in Fig. Figure 2 illustrates this at the seal 20. As a result, the seal 20 is more compressed in the area of ​​the sealing plate 40 than in the rest of the area, at least when the oven door 18 is closed.

[0040] As already mentioned in connection with Fig. As described in 1, the compression of the seal 20 is limited by at least one spacer 30.

[0041] For this purpose, at least one spacer 30 is provided in an area adjacent to the sealing plate 40. In a specific embodiment, at least one spacer 30, and in particular exactly one spacer 30, is provided on each side of the sealing plate 40.

[0042] The spacers 30 are each arranged at a distance of less than 10 cm from the sealing plate 40.

[0043] Adjacent to a lower edge of the inner disc 24 is a combined inner disc and rack carriage seal 42.

Claims

[1] Cooking appliance (10) with a cooking chamber (14) formed in a housing (12) which has a loading opening (16) and a cooking chamber door (18) for closing the loading opening (16), wherein a seal (20) surrounding the loading opening (16) made of an elastomeric material and a contact surface (22) for the seal (20) are provided between the cooking chamber door (18) and the housing (12), and wherein at least one spacer (30) is arranged between the cooking chamber door (18) and the housing (12) which limits compression of the seal (20) to a defined extent. [2] Cooking appliance (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the mounting surface (22) is arranged on an inside of the oven door (18) and the seal (20) is arranged on the housing (12). [3] Cooking appliance (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the length of the spacer (30) is adjustable. [4] Cooking appliance (10) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the spacer (30) comprises two elements (34, 36) which are coupled to each other by means of a thread, such that the length of the spacer (30) can be adjusted by rotating the two elements (34, 36) relative to each other. [5] Cooking appliance (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a compressible damping element (33) is arranged at a free end of the spacer (30). [6] Cooking appliance (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the seal (20) is a hollow chamber seal. [7] Assembly (38) comprising a cooking appliance (12) according to one of the preceding claims and a tray trolley arranged in the cooking chamber (14) of the cooking appliance (10), wherein a sealing plate (40) of the tray trolley rests against the seal (20) and compresses it in certain areas, wherein at least one spacer (30) is present in an area adjacent to the sealing plate (40). [8] Assembly (38) according to claim 7, characterized by , that at least one spacer (30), in particular exactly one spacer (30), is present on one side of the sealing plate (40). [9] Assembly (38) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by , that the oven door (18) has an inner pane (24), wherein a combined inner pane and rack trolley seal (42) is arranged adjacent to a lower edge of the inner pane (24).

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