Steam cooker

Abstract

Steam cooking appliance (100), in particular steam cooking drawer (102), with - a device body (110) that surrounds an interior (112) of the steam cooker (100), - a steam cooking area (120) which is designed to be closable in the interior (112), and - a water tank (130) with a tank volume (132) for receiving water (134), which is arranged and designed to be connectable to the steam cooking area (120) in a tank receptacle (114) via a water supply system of the steam cooking appliance (100) and to be removable within a receiving area (115) of the appliance body (110), wherein the water tank (130) has a mounting area (150) projecting laterally from an underside of the water tank (130) with a mounting height (H), through which the water tank (130) is in an inclined position outside the tank receptacle (114) in a mounted state.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a steam cooking appliance, in particular a steam cooking drawer.

[0002] Steam cookers with various designs are generally known. In particular, it is known that steam is introduced into a steam cooking chamber via a water tank within the steam cooker. The water tank is connected to a water supply system within the steam cooker, which, via a heating element, enables steam cooking in the supplied steam.

[0003] Document DE 10 2007 048 200 A1 describes, by way of example, a steam cooking appliance in which access to the water tank is possible via a control panel.

[0004] It is also generally known to provide a steam cooking appliance as a steam cooking drawer, which can be inserted into a furniture unit like a drawer. For example, EP 4293285 A1 describes a cooking device whose water supply system enables a particularly compact design, so that the cooking device can be provided, for example, as a steam cooking drawer.

[0005] Against this background, the invention aims to provide an improved steam cooking appliance, in particular a particularly user-friendly steam cooking appliance.

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a steam cooking appliance with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0007] In particular, a steam cooking appliance, especially a steam cooking drawer, is proposed to solve this problem, with - a device body that surrounds an interior space of the steam cooker, - a steam cooking area that can be closed off in the interior, and - a water tank with a tank volume for receiving water, which is arranged and designed to be connectable to the steam cooking area in a tank receptacle via a water supply system of the steam cooking appliance and to be removable within a receptacle area of ​​the appliance body, wherein the water tank has a mounting area projecting laterally from an underside of the water tank with a mounting height by which the water tank stands in an inclined position outside the tank receptacle in a mounted state.

[0008] Within the scope of the invention, it was recognized that an inclined position when the tank is upright facilitates cleaning after use. In particular, dirt that has settled at the bottom of the water tank can be reached more easily, and residual water collects at an edge of the water tank, making it easier to tip out and / or wipe up.

[0009] The advantages achievable with the invention, besides this particularly easy cleaning, also include the fact that further structures, such as at least one valve, can be provided on the underside of the water tank, and the installation area can enable the water tank to be placed safely despite such structures on the underside of the water tank.

[0010] The installation area is formed by a support structure which, when the water tank is installed, provides at least one support point with an external base used for installation. Preferably, a support surface is formed by a plurality of support points. This allows for particularly stable placement of the water tank.

[0011] The installation area, in particular the base of the installation area, can have a different material than the rest of the water tank, such as a rubber surface, to prevent slipping. Alternatively, the installation area can be made of the same material as the rest of the water tank. For example, the entire water tank can be made of plastic.

[0012] An advantage of the water tank according to the invention is the simple implementation of the inventive structure with the mounting area protruding from the underside. Such a structure can be added to otherwise commercially available steam cooking appliances to provide the water tank according to the invention.

[0013] The steam cooking area is preferably sealable in the sense that an area for cooking is essentially sealed watertight, for example by means of a suitable wall, to ensure that moisture does not escape from the steam cooking appliance during the cooking process and thereby damage, for example, a furniture body or the like.

[0014] The water tank is a water tank in the sense that it provides the tank volume into which water can be added for the cooking process. Alternatively or additionally, other liquids or water additives can obviously also be added to the water tank according to the invention. In particular, a descaling agent can be added to the water tank.

[0015] The inclined position of the water tank is such that the liquid in the tank, particularly residual liquid after use of the steam cooker, flows to the side of the water tank towards which it is tilted. Preferably, the tilting angle is between 1° and 10°, particularly between 2° and 8°. To ensure that the liquid, especially residual liquid, tilts and collects in a designated area of ​​the tank, the lower bottom surface of the tank is preferably flat, allowing the liquid to collect at an edge along the perimeter of this flat surface.

[0016] The installation area according to the invention preferably comprises only a portion of all points where the water tank, in its installed state, contacts a surface. Preferably, at least one further point on the underside of the water tank, located outside the installation area, is in contact with the surface when the water tank is installed. In this sense, the installation area according to the invention can compensate for other areas on the underside of the water tank to ensure secure installation.

[0017] The steam cooking appliance according to the invention is particularly preferably provided as a steam cooking drawer. Such a steam cooking drawer can be cleaned particularly easily thanks to the water tank according to the invention. It follows from the above that the steam cooking appliance according to the invention can also be a different type of kitchen appliance than a steam cooking drawer. In particular, the steam cooking appliance can also be a classic steam cooker and / or a Dialog oven.

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention are described below.

[0019] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the steam cooker according to the invention, the installation area is formed by a support edge running along one side wall of the water tank. This allows the installation area to be provided in a particularly stable and unobtrusive manner. Thus, a user can intuitively place the water tank down without having to think about what or in what position it can be placed. Furthermore, the support edge can provide multiple placement points for the water tank, so that in this embodiment, the water tank can be placed particularly securely on a level surface.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the preceding design, the mounting edge has a width of at least 1.5 mm, and in particular at least 2 mm. Such widths enable particularly secure placement of the water tank on a surface over the mounting edge. In particular, structures with such a width are especially robust, and even over a long service life of the steam cooker, little wear and tear is to be expected on a structure of such width.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment of the preceding design, the mounting edge is formed by extending a corresponding side surface of the water tank. In this embodiment, the mounting edge can be provided particularly easily by means of a pressing, casting and / or printing process through a corresponding extension of the side surfaces.

[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one valve on the underside of the water tank connects the water tank to the water supply system, wherein the height by which the at least one valve projects from this underside is greater than the height by which the mounting area projects from this underside. In this embodiment, the mounting area according to the invention at least partially compensates for the valve height, which could otherwise make stable mounting of the water tank at least difficult. Therefore, the mounting area according to the invention in this embodiment is particularly advantageous for enabling particularly secure mounting of the water tank and preventing accidental tipping of the water tank.Due to the size ratio of the smaller installation area and the greater valve height, the residual water is advantageously directed away from at least one valve when the unit is installed, making it particularly easy to remove the residual water from the water tank.

[0023] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the preceding design, the casing of the at least one valve on the underside of the water tank has a beveled surface corresponding to the inclined position of the water tank in its erected state, thereby forming a support for the water tank. In this embodiment, the casing in the area of ​​the valve enables a particularly secure placement of this area with its beveled surface when the water tank is erected. Preferably, this casing forms a round, and in particular an oval, support surface for the stand.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the preceding design, the at least one valve is arranged on a side of the water tank opposite the side of the installation area, so that any residual water in the tank, when the tank is upright, is tilted to this side. This design ensures a certain distance between any residual liquid in the water tank and the valve when the tank is placed on a base. This allows for particularly easy removal of the residual liquid and thus particularly easy cleaning of the water tank.

[0025] In a further preferred embodiment of the preceding design, the water tank has an inlet valve for discharging water from the water tank into the water supply system and a check valve for returning used water from the water supply system back into the water tank. The inlet valve and the check valve both protrude from the underside of the water tank on the same side, and the heights by which the two valves protrude from this underside are greater than the height by which the mounting area protrudes from this underside. In this embodiment, the mounting area, in particular the mounting edge, allows the water tank to be set down for cleaning purposes, even though two valves protrude from the underside of the water tank.Against this background, the installation area forms at least a third support point in addition to the two support points formed by the valves and / or a structure surrounding the valves. An exemplary implementation of such a water tank is explained in the figure description.

[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the mounting area is manufactured integrally with the side walls of the water tank. In this embodiment, the manufacture of the water tank can be particularly simple. For example, the water tank can be manufactured using a suitable pressing, casting, or printing process, such as a 3D printing process. The water tank according to the invention is particularly preferably made of a plastic.

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment, the installation area has an installation height of at least 5 mm, in particular at least 8 mm, and most preferably at least 10 mm. Such installation heights can advantageously compensate, at least partially, for typical valve structures on the underside of such a water tank in order to enable secure installation of the water tank.

[0028] In a further embodiment, the water tank, in particular a removable lid of the water tank, has at least one handle for removing the water tank from the appliance body. Such a handle also facilitates the transport of the water tank from the steam cooker to a cleaning area. In this respect, such a handle on the water tank complements the particularly simple cleaning process of the water tank according to the invention. The handle can be formed by a pair of handles, in particular by a pair of movable handles.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the installation height of the appliance area is less than 45 cm, and in particular less than 30 cm. Such dimensions allow for particularly easy integration of the steam cooker into commercially available designs of external kitchen cabinetry. Furthermore, such dimensions illustrate that the water tank according to the invention can be provided in a particularly compact manner within the steam cooker, thus enabling even low installation heights for such steam cookers.

[0030] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for operating a steam cooking appliance, in particular a steam cooking drawer, is proposed to solve the aforementioned problem. The method comprises the steps: - Filling the water tank of the steam cooker with water; - Performing a cooking process within a steam cooking area that is connected to the water tank via a water supply system; - Removing the water tank from the steamer and emptying the water tank; - Placing the water tank on a mounting area projecting laterally from the underside of the water tank, with a mounting height by which the water tank stands outside the tank recess in an upright position at an angle; - Cleaning and / or refilling the water tank.

[0031] The method according to the further aspect of the invention is carried out by the steam cooking appliance according to the invention, so that the method has all the advantages mentioned for the steam cooking appliance.

[0032] In particular, the method according to the invention allows the water tank to be reliably placed on a surface by providing a designated support area. This makes emptying the water tank, especially during cleaning, particularly easy. Furthermore, the inclined position allows any residual liquid within the water tank to be collected in a designated area within the tank volume, such as at an edge.

[0033] The steps of the method according to the invention relate to a usage cycle of the water tank, wherein it is first filled, then used for the cooking process, and later removed and set aside. In this respect, the method according to the invention is carried out within the framework of a cooking process.

[0034] In light of the above, the inventive method can also be supplemented by further steps, such as steps that are designed analogously to the embodiments of the steam cooking appliance described above.

[0035] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, placing the water tank comprises placing it on the installation area and placing it on at least one valve and / or on at least one casing structure of the water tank valve.

[0036] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. The drawings show... Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a steam cooking appliance according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a water tank in a tank view of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the water tank of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the underside of the water tank of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention; Fig. 5 a sectional view of the water tank of the exemplary embodiment of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention in a switched-off position; and Fig. 6 a flowchart of an embodiment of a method according to a further aspect of the invention.

[0037] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0038] The steam cooker 100 is in this case a steam cooker drawer 102, with a unit body 110, a steam cooker area 120 and a water tank 130.

[0039] The appliance body 110 surrounds an interior 112 of the steam cooker 100. The steam cooker drawer 102 can be moved like a drawer via a rail system 104 in a retracted position or in the position shown in the original text. Fig. The extended state shown in section 1 is present.

[0040] The steam cooking compartment 120 is designed to be closable within the interior 112. The steam cooking compartment 120 is surrounded by walls 122 of the steam cooking appliance 100, which are intended to prevent steam from escaping. These walls are made, for example, of glass or plastic.

[0041] The water tank 130 is located laterally to the steam cooking area 120 and is housed in a tank receptacle 114 of the appliance body 110. The tank receptacle 114 at least partially surrounds the water tank 130, ensuring its stability when in use. The tank receptacle 114 forms the receiving area 115 of the appliance body 110 for the water tank 130. The water tank 130 comprises a tank volume 132, which is filled with water 134. The water tank 130 is connected to the steam cooking area 120 via a water supply system (not shown) of the steam cooking appliance 100. The water tank 130 includes a removable lid 140 for access to the tank volume 132.

[0042] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a water tank 130 in a tank mount 114 of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0043] Out of Fig. 2. The detailed structure of the water tank 130 results from Fig. 1. Thus, in Fig. 2. It can be seen that the water tank 130 has a removable lid 140 with at least one opening 142, in this case with two openings 142, 144, for emptying and / or filling the water tank 130. A central opening is essentially rectangular for filling the water tank 130, while a second lateral opening 144 is provided for emptying the water tank 130 when the lid 140 is closed.

[0044] Furthermore, in Fig. Figure 2 shows that the removable lid 140 comprises two opposing handles 146, 146' for removing the water tank 130 from the device body 110.

[0045] Finally, the water tank 130 also has a level indicator 136, which is made of a transparent material, such as a transparent plastic, and through which it is possible to see how full the water tank 130 is while the water tank 130 is arranged in the tank holder 114.

[0046] Fig. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the water tank 130 of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0047] Because the water tank 130 is no longer arranged in the tank holder as in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, is in Fig. 3. It can be seen that the water tank 130 has a mounting area 150 projecting laterally from one underside of the water tank 130, with a mounting height H, by means of which the water tank 130 stands in an inclined position outside the tank recess when erected. Such an erected state is exemplified in Fig. 5 shown.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the installation area 150 is formed by an installation edge 152 extending along a side wall 138 of the water tank 130. The installation edge 152 is an extension of the side wall 138 and thus contributes to a compact and robust structure of the water tank 130. The installation edge 152 has a width B of at least 1.5 mm, and in particular at least 2 mm. The installation height H of the installation area 150, which in this case is formed by the installation edge 152, is at least 5 mm, in particular at least 8 mm, and most preferably at least 10 mm.

[0049] The mounting edge 152 is integrally connected to the rest of the water tank 130 and is made of the same material. In this case, the water tank 130 is made of plastic.

[0050] Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the underside of the water tank 130 of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0051] The perspective presented in Fig. Figure 4 shows that the water tank 130 has an inlet valve 160 for draining water from the water tank 130 into the water supply system and a check valve 162 for returning used water from the water supply system back into the water tank 130.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, both the inlet valve 160 and the check valve 162 are designed as non-return valves, with a corresponding pressure, such as overpressure and / or underpressure, being provided to open such a check valve, for example via a pump unit (not shown) of the water supply system of the steam cooker 100. The inlet valve 160 and the check valve 162 are located on a side of the water tank 130 facing away from the mounting edge 152. Fig. Figure 4 shows a casing 165, 165' of the respective valve 160, 162, which surrounds the valve 160, 162 located therein. These two casings 165, 165' form a respective support surface for the water tank 130 when it is in its standby position. This prevents the two valves 160, 162 from being subjected to the weight of the water tank 130 when it is in its standby position.

[0053] In combination with the in the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the tank receptacle 114 shown, the non-return valve 162 and the inlet valve 160 form part of a plug connection 170 for the detachable insertion of the water tank 130 into the device body 110. The two valves 160, 162 with their associated casings 165, 165' are positively inserted into a corresponding receptacle in the device body 110, thereby forming the plug connection 170.

[0054] In addition to the two valves 160, 162 on the underside of the water tank 130, the connection can also be made via another plug-in area. Such an additional plug-in area can be formed by a recess or by a plug protruding from the underside. In this case, the support edge 152 further supports a secure hold of the water tank 130 within the tank receptacle 114, since the structure of the support edge 152 prevents, for example, the water tank 130 from twisting within the tank receptacle and / or during insertion. In this sense, the support edge 152 contributes to the stability of the water tank 130 within the tank receptacle of the device body.

[0055] Fig. Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the water tank 130 of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention in a switched-off position.

[0056] The in Fig. Figure 5, showing the water tank 130 in a tilted position on a base 180, clearly demonstrates the inventive provision of a tilted position by means of a correspondingly selected mounting height H of the mounting edge 152. In this case, the valve height V, by which the casing 165 of the respective valve 160 protrudes from the underside of the water tank, is greater than the mounting height H of the mounting edge 152. This ensures that a Fig. 5. Any residual liquid not shown can be drained from the valves 160 on one side of the water tank and collected at an opposite edge on the opposite side of the water tank 130. This can advantageously simplify the cleaning process after a cooking process.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the difference between the valve height V and the installation height H is less than 5 mm, in particular less than 3 mm. This provides a tilting angle W from a vertical axis of the water tank 130 of between 1° and 10°, in particular between 2° and 8°. This tilting angle W thus facilitates the collection of residual liquid in a suitable area without reducing the stability of the water tank 130 when it is set down.

[0058] Furthermore, in Fig. Figure 5 shows that the respective casing 165 of a valve 160 is inclined compared to the underside of the water tank 130. This allows the contact surface of the casing 165 to be adapted to the tilting angle W of the water tank and supports a large surface area of ​​contact between the water tank and the base 180 when the tank is in the down position.

[0059] It follows directly from what has been written above that the following is in the Fig. The embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5 merely illustrate an exemplary design of the steam cooker 100 according to the invention. Alternatively or additionally, further features of the steam cooker can be added or modified. In particular, the structure of the installation area, such as the installation edge 152 and / or other features of the water tank 130, can be provided differently for a steam cooker according to the invention, as long as the installation area allows the water tank 130 to be tilted according to the invention. Furthermore, instead of the steam cooker drawer shown, other steam cookers can also be designed according to the invention, such as a classic steam cooker and / or a dialog cooker.

[0060] Fig. Figure 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 600 according to a further aspect of the invention.

[0061] Method 600 is designed for operating a steam cooking appliance, in particular a steam cooking drawer. Method 600 comprises the steps described below.

[0062] The first step 610 involves filling the water tank of the steam cooker with water.

[0063] A next step 620 involves carrying out a cooking process within a steam cooking area which is connected to the water tank via a water supply system.

[0064] Another step, 630, involves removing the water tank from the steamer and emptying the water tank.

[0065] A subsequent step 640 comprises placing the water tank on a mounting area projecting laterally from the underside of the water tank, with a mounting height by which the water tank is positioned outside the tank receptacle in an upright state at an inclined position.

[0066] A final step, 650, involves cleaning the water tank.

[0067] Steps 610, 620, 630, 640, and 650 of method 600 describe the sequence of using the water tank according to the invention during a cooking process, including preparation and follow-up of the cooking process by filling the water tank beforehand and then emptying and cleaning it. Therefore, these steps 610, 620, 630, 640, and 650 are preferably carried out in the specified order. The duration of the individual steps varies, and with the exception of the cooking process in step 620, the other steps of the method are preferably carried out manually.

[0068] In principle, it follows from the above that the inventive method 700 can be supplemented by one or more steps according to the embodiments of the invention described above. In particular, in an advantageous embodiment, placing the water tank can comprise placing it on the installation area and placing it on at least one valve and / or on at least one casing structure of the water tank valve. Reference symbol list 100 steam cooker 102 Steam cooking drawer 104 rail system 110 device bodies 112 Interior 114 Tank mounting 115 Recording area 120 steam cooking area 122 wall 130 water tank 132 tank volume 134 Water 136 Level indicator 138 side wall 140 removable lids 142 central opening 144 side opening 146, 146' handle 150 setup area 152 Installation edge 160 Inlet valve 162 Non-return valve 165, 165' casing 170 connector 180 Underground 600 procedures Steps of the procedure: 610, 620, 630, 640, 650 B Width of the installation edge H Installation height V Valve height W tilt angle QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2007 048 200 A1

[0003] EP 4293285 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Steam cooking appliance (100), in particular steam cooking drawer (102), with - a device body (110) that surrounds an interior (112) of the steam cooker (100), - a steam cooking area (120) which is designed to be closable in the interior (112), and - a water tank (130) with a tank volume (132) for receiving water (134), which is arranged and designed to be connectable to the steam cooking area (120) in a tank receptacle (114) via a water supply system of the steam cooking appliance (100) and to be removable within a receiving area (115) of the appliance body (110), wherein the water tank (130) has a mounting area (150) projecting laterally from an underside of the water tank (130) with a mounting height (H), through which the water tank (130) is in an inclined position outside the tank receptacle (114) in a mounted state. [2] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to claim 1, wherein the installation area (150) is formed by an installation edge (152) extending along a side wall (138) of the water tank (130). [3] Steam cooker (100) according to claim 2, wherein the mounting edge (152) has a width (B) of at least 1.5 mm, in particular of at least 2 mm. [4] Steam cooker (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the mounting edge (152) is formed by an extension of a corresponding side surface of the water tank (130). [5] Steam cooker (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one valve (160) on the underside of the water tank (130) connects the water tank (130) to the water supply system, and wherein a valve height (V) by which the at least one valve (V) projects from this underside is greater than the installation height (H) by which the installation area (150) projects from this underside. [6] Steam cooker (100) according to claim 5, wherein a casing (165) of the at least one valve (160) on the underside of the water tank (130) has a beveled casing structure corresponding to the inclined position of the water tank (130) in the erected state, in order to form a support foot for the water tank (130). [7] Steam cooker (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the at least one valve (160) is arranged on a side of the water tank (130) opposite the side of the installation area (150), so that any water remaining in the water tank (130) is tilted to a side of the water tank (130) opposite the valve (160) when the water tank (130) is installed. [8] Steam cooker (100) according to at least one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the water tank (130) has an inlet valve (160) for discharging water from the water tank (130) into the water supply system and a return valve (162) for returning used water from the water supply system back into the water tank (130), and wherein the inlet valve (160) and the return valve (162) both project from the underside of the water tank (130) on the same side, and wherein both valve heights (V) by which the two valves (160, 162) project from this underside are greater than the installation height (H) by which the installation area (150) projects from this underside [9] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the installation area (150) is formed integrally with the side walls (138) of the water tank (130). [10] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the installation area (150) has an installation height (H) of at least 5 mm, in particular of at least 8 mm, particularly preferably of at least 10 mm. [11] Steam cooker (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the water tank (130), in particular a removable lid (140) of the water tank (130), has at least one handle (146) for removing the water tank (130) from the appliance body (110).

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