STEAM COOKING APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR TREATING FOOD WITH STEAM

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steam cooking appliance according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a method for treating, in particular defrosting, heating and cooking, foodstuffs with steam, according to the preamble of claim 13. State of the art

[0003] Devices in a drawer format are already known from the prior art. For example, warming drawers, microwave drawers, and vacuum drawers (so-called sous-vide drawers) are already on the market.

[0004] A drawer for warming food is known, for example, from US Patent 2005 274712 A. This warming drawer has a small heated cooking chamber and is unique in that, like a conventional drawer, it can be opened by pulling on its front panel. A heating element is located within the cooking chamber to heat it. This device is primarily used for warming dishes, but it is also possible to cook food in it, particularly using low-temperature cooking methods. Steam cannot be provided by this device.

[0005] A sous-vide drawer is used to vacuum-seal food to extend its shelf life. The food is placed in a vacuum bag, and then oxygen and air are removed from the bag. Sous-vide drawers do not allow for heating food or producing steam.

[0006] Steam cookers allow for a particularly gentle preparation of food using steam at temperatures of approximately 30 to 100 °C. This method preserves the color, aroma, and vitamins of the food exceptionally well.

[0007] Figure 5 Figure 1 shows a state-of-the-art steam oven. A plastic tank 90' stores the water for steam production. A pump 92' transports the water from the tank to an evaporator unit 10'. The evaporator unit 10' heats and evaporates the water. The steam is directed through a steam inlet 42' into a cooking chamber 20'. If the steam oven operates at atmospheric pressure, a steam outlet 46' allows excess pressure to be released from the cooking chamber 20'. This excess steam is mixed with fresh air and directed into the user's kitchen by a fan 94'. A sensor 60' located in the cooking chamber 20' measures the temperature and / or humidity present in the cooking chamber 20' to control steam production.

[0008] A steam cooking appliance according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 3 470 739 A1 (see in particular paragraph

[0018] of EP 3 470 739 A1). The cooking chamber of this steam cooking appliance is designed as a drawer. The steam cooking appliance has a vacuum device operatively connected to the cooking chamber. The steam is supplied via a side wall of the drawer.

[0009] Furthermore, a steam cooking appliance designed as a drawer compartment is known from publication EP 2 775 217 A2. This steam cooking appliance is a drawer compartment of an oven, which is uncovered and open to the oven's cooking chamber. A food container and a water tank can be arranged in the drawer compartment. The water tank is connected to an evaporator unit located outside the steam cooking appliance. The steam generated by the evaporator unit is directed into the oven's cooking chamber via an inlet. Description of the invention: Problem, solution, advantages

[0010] Based on the disadvantages and shortcomings outlined above, and taking into account the prior art described, the present invention aims to further develop a steam cooking appliance of the type mentioned above and a method of the type mentioned above in such a way as to simplify the maintenance, cleaning, and operation of the steam cooking appliance. Specifically, the invention aims to facilitate filling the steam cooking appliance with food, removing the food from the steam cooking appliance, cleaning the cooking chamber, and access to an interior space of the steam cooking appliance that is separate from the cooking chamber.

[0011] This problem is solved by a steam cooking appliance with the features specified in claim 1 and by a method with the features specified in claim 13. Advantageous embodiments and expedient further developments of the present invention are characterized in the respective dependent claims.

[0012] The present invention is therefore based on the steam appliance being designed as a drawer. Since both the cooking chamber and the evaporator unit are arranged in this drawer compartment, the evaporator unit is particularly easily accessible in the present invention. This is advantageous, for example, for repairs and / or maintenance of the evaporator unit.

[0013] In the present steam cooking appliance as well as in the present method, the steam cooking appliance can therefore be moved horizontally between an operating position and a loading position in the manner of a drawer, wherein In the operating position, the steam cooker is completely retracted into a housing body, for example into a furniture carcass, and in the loading position, the drawer compartment of the steam cooker is extended out of the housing body.

[0014] This steamer, designed as a drawer, has four walls, namely a front wall facing the operator side, which is also designed as a housing element, a rear wall facing away from the operator side and two side walls connecting the front wall and the rear wall.

[0015] To guide the drawer during movement from the operating position to the loading position and vice versa, it advantageously has guide elements arranged on the side walls, which are designed to interact with corresponding guide elements of the housing body in such a way that the steam cooker can be moved in the manner of a drawer.

[0016] The area enclosed by the four walls of the drawer can be referred to as the drawer compartment. At least one cooking chamber designed for steaming food can be arranged within the drawer compartment. The cooking chamber is designed for treating food with steam, in particular for defrosting, heating, and / or cooking.

[0017] At the in Figure 5 In the prior art shown, as well as in the steam cooking appliance disclosed in publication EP 3 470 739 A1, the cooking chamber is permanently integrated into the oven.

[0018] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the food container is removable and arranged in the drawer compartment. The food container is positioned in the steam cooker, which is designed as a drawer, in such a way that it defines the cooking chamber used for preparing the food. In other words, the food container is designed to define the cooking chamber in the manner of a muffle.

[0019] A removable cooking chamber divider has the advantage of being easy to clean, for example, in a dishwasher. It can also be used to load food into the steamer. Another advantage is that removing the divider exposes the drawer compartment surrounding the cooking chamber. This allows easy access to the interior of the drawer compartment and any technical components located there, for example, during maintenance of the steamer.

[0020] To make the cooking chamber boundary removable in the steam cooker, the steam cooker may have at least one support surface, in particular at least one support frame, designed to support the cooking chamber boundary. The support surface may be formed by a top surface located on the drawer, which has at least one recess designed to receive the cooking chamber boundary. Furthermore, the top surface may have at least one recess designed to receive a water reservoir, in particular a water tank, and / or at least one recess designed to receive an evaporator unit. The cooking chamber boundary may have at least one bearing surface that can be positioned on the support surface, in particular the support frame, for example, on a section of the top surface.

[0021] In the present invention, the drawer compartment is designed to accommodate the cooking chamber and the evaporator unit, wherein the evaporator unit and the cooking chamber are arranged separately from one another in the drawer compartment. The cooking chamber is thus formed only by the area surrounded by the food container. This has the advantage that the cooking chamber in the steam cooker of the present invention is smaller than the cooking chamber of the [unclear text]. Figure 5 The steam oven shown. In the steam cooking appliance of the present invention, due to the smaller cooking chamber size compared to the prior art, a shorter heating time, less electricity and less water are consumed to bring the food to a defined temperature.

[0022] In the present invention, the cooking chamber boundary is designed as a food container for holding food. The cooking chamber boundary and the food container are thus formed by the same element.

[0023] The food container has at least one base designed for holding food and at least one rim surrounding the base. Advantageously, the food container is free of cutouts or interruptions. In other words, the base and rim of the food container are advantageously designed as closed surfaces. This has the advantage that the food container can, for example, be used as a serving platter.

[0024] In the present invention, the steam inlet is integrated into the cover. This has the advantage that, unlike the prior art, the cooking chamber boundary does not need to have a recess for the steam inlet.

[0025] To provide steam, an evaporator unit is arranged in the drawer compartment. This evaporator unit is located in the drawer compartment outside the cooking chamber and can be configured to heat water, in particular to boil water, and / or to evaporate and / or vaporize it. The evaporator unit is operatively connected to the cooking chamber, which is designed for steaming the food.

[0026] The evaporator unit is designed to supply steam to the cooking chamber via a steam inlet integrated into the cover. This steam inlet can be at least one recess or cavity in the cover connected to both the evaporator unit and the cooking chamber, for example, at least one channel or steam duct in the cover designed to conduct steam. Integrating the steam inlet into the cover has the advantage that the steam inlet follows the movement of the cover when it is opened and closed without causing wear. Compared to an embodiment in which separate lines are provided to conduct the steam from the evaporator unit to the cooking chamber, this embodiment has the advantage of preventing unwanted bending and the resulting wear or damage to the lines.

[0027] To prevent condensate from accumulating in the steam inlet, particularly in the steam duct, it is advantageously inclined at least at an angle to the horizontal. This allows condensing droplets from the steam to drain away.

[0028] The cover can be designed, for example, as a flap that pivots upwards or as a lid that pivots upwards.

[0029] To cover, and in particular to close, the food container when the steamer is in operation, the cover advantageously has at least one surface designed to cover the food container. To allow observation of the food during operation of the steamer, at least one portion of the cover is advantageously transparent. This transparent portion can, for example, be designed like a window. The cover, and in particular the transparent portion of the cover, can be made of glass or transparent plastic, for example.

[0030] To pivotally attach the cover to the steam cooker, the cover can have a hinge mechanism. This hinge mechanism is advantageously arranged at the end of the top of the steam cooker facing away from the operating side. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the steam inlet is integrated into the hinge mechanism. For example, the steam inlet can be a recess or cavity in the hinge mechanism designed as a steam flow path, steam channel, or steam duct. This has the advantage that the steam inlet follows the movement of the hinge mechanism when the cover is opened and closed without wear.

[0031] To pivot the cover, the hinge assembly has at least one joint rotatable about an axis. To attach the cover surface to the rotatable joint, the hinge assembly may further have at least one fastening element. This fastening element may, for example, be manufactured by at least one extrusion process, in particular by extrusion.

[0032] To regulate the temperature of the steam supplied by the evaporator unit, the steam cooker may have at least one sensor for detecting the temperature and / or humidity and / or air pressure present in the cooking chamber, and at least one control unit. The control unit is capable of receiving data acquired by the sensor and is configured to send at least one signal to the evaporator unit, which is designed to regulate the temperature of the steam supplied by the evaporator unit and is generated based on the data acquired by the sensor. Independently of this, or in conjunction with it, the control unit may be configured to regulate the flow rate of the steam flowing through the steam inlet based on the data acquired by the control unit.

[0033] To remove pressure and excess steam from the cooking chamber, an advantageous embodiment of the present invention has at least one steam outlet integrated into the cover, in particular into the hinge device.

[0034] Advantageously, the control unit is designed to regulate the flow rate of the steam flowing through the steam outlet depending on the data acquired by the sensor. In particular, the control unit can be designed to regulate the flow rate of the steam flowing through the steam outlet in such a way that, during operation, the pressure present in the cooking chamber essentially corresponds to atmospheric pressure or is only a few millibars above atmospheric pressure.

[0035] In the operating position of the steam cooker, the cover covers the food container and advantageously seals the cooking chamber surrounded by the food container in a gas-tight manner.

[0036] The present invention further relates to the use of a steam appliance according to at least one of claims 1 to 13 and / or a method according to claim 14 or 15 for preparing, in particular for cooking, heating, keeping warm, and / or defrosting, foodstuffs, in particular cooked food, at a temperature range of about 30 to about 100 degrees with steam, in particular at a relative humidity of about 100 percent. Brief description of the drawings

[0037] As discussed above, there are various ways to advantageously elaborate and further develop the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and claim 14; on the other hand, further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention are described below, inter alia, with reference to the Figures 1 to 4 as well as the two illustrated examples in sections 6 to 14.

[0038] It shows: Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a steam cooking appliance according to the present invention, which operates according to the method of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the cooking chamber of the steam cooking appliance made of Figure 1 in operating position; Fig. 3 schematically shows the cooking chamber of the steam cooker. Figure 1 in loading position; Fig. 4 in schematic representation a cross-section of the cooking chamber of the steam cooker made of Figure 1 in operating position; Fig. 5 in schematic representation of a prior art steam cooking appliance; Fig. 6 in perspective view of a second embodiment of a steam cooking appliance according to the present invention, which operates according to the method of the present invention; Fig. 7 in perspective view of the steam cooking appliance made of Fig. 6 with closed cover; Fig. 8 a top view of the steamer. Fig. 7Fig. 9 in longitudinal section view of the steam cooker made of Fig. 6 Fig. 10 in cross-sectional view, a detailed view of the hinge mechanism of the steam cooker. Fig. 6 ; Fig. 11 in perspective view a detailed view of the hinge mechanism of the steam cooker made of Fig. 6 ; Fig 12 in perspective view the cover of the steam cooker made of Fig. 6 ; Fig. 13 in perspective view the underside of the cover of the steam cooker made of Fig. 6 ; and Fig. 14 a longitudinal section of the cover of the steam cooker made of Fig. 6 .

[0039] Identical or similar designs, elements, or features are found in the Figures 1 to 14 provided with identical reference symbols. Best way to implement the invention

[0040] To avoid unnecessary repetition, the following explanations regarding the embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention (unless otherwise stated) refer both to the one described in Figure 1 The steamer 100 shown, as well as the one in Figure 6 Steam cooker 102 shown.

[0041] Based on the Figures 1 to 4 The illustrated first embodiment of the present invention shows a steam cooking appliance 100 designed as a drawer, which operates according to the method of the present invention. This steam drawer 100 allows food to be cooked, boiled, warmed, and / or defrosted in a temperature range of 30°C to 100°C at 100% relative humidity. Furthermore, it is also possible to proof baked goods in the steam drawer, for example, to allow yeast dough or sourdough to rise.

[0042] As in Figure 1As demonstrated, the steam drawer 100 has a similar functional concept to the one in Figure 5 The steam furnace 100' shown is from the prior art. In contrast, the steam drawer 100 is designed in the manner of a drawer. The steam drawer 100 contains a water intake container designed to provide water for steam production, namely a tank 90, an evaporator unit designed to provide steam, namely a steam generator 10, and a removable food container 50 designed to limit the cooking space and to hold food arranged.

[0043] A pump 92 transports the water from tank 90 to steam generator 10, where it is heated and vaporized. Alternatively, instead of tank 90, a fixed service water connection or an internal tank and an external suction pipe can be provided.

[0044] The steam enters a cooking chamber 20, designed for steaming the food, via a steam inlet 42. The steam inlet 42 is formed by a recess or hole in a cover 40 of the cooking chamber 20. Figure 1 The first embodiment of a steam drawer 100 shown according to the present invention differs from the one described in the Figure 6 The second embodiment of a steam drawer 102 according to the present invention is shown in the illustration by the arrangement of the steam inlet 42. In the Figure 1 In the steam drawer 100 shown, the steam inlet 42 is arranged in a cover surface 48 of the cover 40, which is designed to cover the cooking chamber 20. In the Figure 6 In contrast, the steam inlet 42 of the steam drawer 102 shown is arranged in a hinge 44 of the cover 40 (cf. Figure 9 ).

[0045] The cover 40 is positioned on top of the cooking chamber 20 and is designed to open and close a cooking chamber opening. The cover 40 can be pivoted upwards by means of the hinge 44, in particular by being opened and closed. The cover 40 can, for example, be designed as a pivoting upper cover window.

[0046] With the cover 40 open, the food container 50 can be inserted into the drawer compartment and removed from the drawer compartment.

[0047] A steam outlet 46 allows excess pressure to be drawn off from the cooking chamber 20. The steam outlet 46 leads into an outlet 98 of the steam drawer 100. In the steam drawer outlet 98, the extracted steam is mixed with fresh air and, with the aid of a fan 94 connected to the steam drawer outlet 98, is released into the space in which the steam drawer 100 is located, for example, a kitchen. A temperature sensor 60 located in the steam outlet 46 measures the temperature of the extracted steam in order to regulate steam production.

[0048] Furthermore, a removable temperature probe can be installed in cooking chamber 20.

[0049] To prevent the cover 40 from opening unintentionally during operation of the steam drawer 100 and to ensure that the cover 40 fits tightly on the food container 50, the pressure in the cooking chamber 20 is preferably kept as low as possible.

[0050] To keep the pressure in the cooking chamber 20 as low as possible, the steam inlet 42 is designed so that the steam flows in only at low pressure. For example, the steam inlet can have a diameter of at least approximately 6 millimeters for this purpose.

[0051] The cooking chamber 20 is shown in a schematic representation. in Figure 2 shown in an operational position and in Figure 3 shown in a loading position. After opening the cover 40, a user of the steam drawer 100 can remove the cooking chamber 20 from the device 20.

[0052] Figure 4Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section of the cooking chamber 20 in its operating position. A sealing element 84, arranged between the cover 40 and the food container 50, completely seals the cooking chamber. The steam supplied to the cooking chamber 20 thus remains undiluted. Since the cooking chamber 20 is sealed to the outside, no air can enter. This allows the food to be cooked at 100% humidity.

[0053] All condensate that forms sinks to the bottom 52 of the food container 50. The bottom 52 of the food container 50 is closed. An inner base 55 can be arranged on the bottom 52 (see figure). Figure 6), which has internal base recesses 56. In this way, condensate from the steam can flow through the internal base recesses 56 onto the base 52 of the food container. The food is thus arranged on the internal base 55 free of condensate. The condensate collects in the area between the base 52 and the internal base 55. A special device for draining the condensate is therefore not required.

[0054] At the in Figure 6 In the steam drawer 102 shown, the food container 50 has been removed from the steam drawer 102. The drawer compartment of the steam drawer 102 has an upper cover surface 12 with a cooking chamber recess 14 designed to receive the cooking chamber boundary 50.

[0055] To facilitate the removal of the food container 50, handle openings 15 are arranged on the side of the cooking chamber recess 14. Since the food container 50 is removable, it can be used as a serving platter and is easy to clean. In the Figure 5 In the prior art steam oven 100, the food is arranged on a plate or tray and then inserted into the cooking chamber along with the plate. In the present invention, however, the food container 50 forms the cooking chamber 20. The food container 50 and the cooking chamber boundary are therefore the same element.

[0056] Alternatively to the ones in the Figure 1 and 6 In the illustrated embodiments of a steam drawer 100, 102, a fixed cooking chamber boundary or cooking muffle can be arranged in the steam drawer 100, 102 instead of a removable food container 50.

[0057] The evaporator unit 10 can be arranged in the drawer compartment below the top surface 12 (see Figure 6 and 9 ).

[0058] Independently of or in conjunction with this, the evaporator unit 10 can be at least one heating element arranged below the cooking chamber 20 and designed to heat the cooking chamber 20. In this case, the evaporator unit 10 is therefore not a steam generator but instead at least one heating element arranged below the cooking chamber 20. A heating element arranged below the cooking chamber 20 has the further advantage that condensate droplets falling to the bottom of the cooking chamber evaporate due to the heat.

[0059] Figure 7 shows, in perspective, the steam drawer 102 from Fig. 6 with closed cover 40. The cover surface 48 of the cover 40 is transparent. Figure 8 shows a top view of steam drawer 102. Fig. 7. Due to the cover surface 48 being designed as a transparent window, the inner floor 55 of the food container 50 is visible even when the cover 40 is closed.

[0060] Figure 9 shows a cross-section of steam drawer 102 along the in Figure 8 The steam generator 10 is connected to a steam inlet 42 of a steam duct. This steam inlet 42 is located on a region of a hinge 44 facing the steam generator 42 and extends as a steam duct through a rotatable joint 49 of the hinge 44. The rotatable joint 49 is in Figure 11 shown in detail and can be designed as a symmetrical shaft rotatable around an axis.

[0061] At another hinge 44 of the cover 40, a steam guide channel designed as a steam outlet 46 extends through a rotatable joint 49 of the hinge 44. The rotatable joints 49 of the hinges 44 thus have steam guide channels 42, 46. Alternatively, the steam drawer 102 can also be designed without a steam outlet 46 (not shown).

[0062] The steam inlet 42 and, if present, the steam outlet 46 are inclined at least 5 degrees to the horizontal to prevent the accumulation of condensation droplets.

[0063] The transparent cover surface 48 of the cover 40 is attached to the rotatable joint 49 by means of a fastening element, namely a cover fastening 47. To seal the connection between the cover fastening 47 and the rotatable joint 49 and to ensure the rotatability of the hinge, each hinge 44 has at least one hinge sealing element 45, for example an O-ring.

[0064] On the steam outlet side, the steam outlet 46 of the cooking chamber 20 is connected to an outlet 98 of the steam bath 102. In the steam bath outlet 98, the steam released from the steam outlet 46 of the cooking chamber 20 mixes with air and flows out of the steam bath 102.

[0065] A temperature sensor 60, connected to the steam outlet 46 of the cooking chamber 20, measures the temperature of the steam. The temperature sensor 60 is designed to interact with the steam generator 10 in such a way that the temperature in the cooking chamber 20 is kept below the boiling point of water. The boiling point of water depends on atmospheric pressure and varies, for example, depending on altitude. The boiling point of water can be determined using calibration techniques or pressure measurement techniques known from the prior art.

[0066] In order to determine the temperature prevailing in the cooking chamber as accurately as possible, the steam drawer 102 can also have an additional sensor 62 designed to measure the temperature and / or the prevailing pressure.

[0067] At the in Figure 9In the illustrated embodiment, the temperature sensor 60 and the additional sensor 62 are arranged in the hinge 44. The additional sensor 62 is connected to the steam inlet 42. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 60 and / or the additional sensor 62 can be arranged at another location in the steam drawer 102, for example in the cooking chamber 20, at the window 48, in the rotatable joint 49, or in the steam duct 42, 46.

[0068] Figure 10 The longitudinal section shows the cover fastening 47 and the steam guide channel of the steam inlet 42 of the steam drawer 102 along the in Figure 8 the indicated line BB. The cover fastening 47 can, for example, be made of aluminum and is advantageously an extruded element, for example, a ducted or flow-formed element. The steam duct of the steam inlet 42 and, optionally, the steam outlet 46, can be manufactured particularly easily by means of an extrusion process.

[0069] The cover fastening 47 and at least one element of the rotatable joint 49 are advantageously formed in one piece. This allows, as in Figure 11 The pivot joint is shown to be a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis and to be formed integrally with the cover fastening 47. The cover fastening 47 is connected by the rotatable shaft 49 to at least one element of the hinge 44 attached to the top surface 14 of the drawer compartment in such a way that the cover fastening 47 can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft 49.

[0070] An O-ring 43 ensures a tight seal between the cover fastening 47 and the cover window 48. The one in Figure 10 The marked point A is an intersection point of the Figure 8 line AA is drawn.

[0071] Figure 12 shows a top view of cover 40. In Figure 13 The underside of cover 40 is shown. Cover 40 has several main elements, namely the cover fastening 47, the cover window 48, a handle element 86 and the cover surface sealing element 84 arranged between the cover 40 and the food container 50 for gas-tight sealing of the cooking chamber 20.

[0072] The cover fastening 47 holds the cover window 48 and allows the vapor flow through the hinge 44.

[0073] The cover window 48, which can be, for example, a glass plate, closes the cooking chamber 20. The cover window 48 can be transparent to allow a view into the cooking chamber 20. To conceal the cover surface sealing element 84 located between the cover 40 and the food container 50, the cover window 48 can have at least one screen print.

[0074] The handle element 86 serves as a handle when opening and closing the cover 40. Preferably, the handle element 86 is made of a material that conducts heat only slightly, for example, at least one plastic.

[0075] Figure 14 Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the cover 40 through the holders 41 of the cover window sealing elements 43. The cover window sealing elements 43 are arranged between the cover window 48 and the cover mounting 47, or between the cover window 48 and the handle 86. The cover window sealing elements 43 can be made of extruded rubber, for example, silicone. In the Figures 6 to 14In the illustrated embodiment of the steam drawer 102, four cover window sealing elements 43 are provided. These cover window sealing elements 43 are each clamped between the brackets 41 and the cover window 48. The brackets 41 also serve to connect the cover window 48 to the cover fastening 47 or to the handle 86.

[0076] To enable grilling of food, a grill can be arranged in the area of ​​the cover window 48. Independently of this or in conjunction with it, the cover window 48 can be heated to prevent condensation. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0077] 10. Evaporator unit, in particular steam generator, of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention, designed for providing steam, in particular for heating and / or evaporating and / or vaporizing water; cf. Figure 1 and 610'Steam generator of the steam cooking appliance designed for the provision of steam according to the prior art; cf. Figure 5 12. Cover surface of the drawer compartment of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 and 6 14. Cooking chamber recess 50, designed to accommodate the cooking chamber boundary; 15. Handle opening of the cooking chamber recess 14; 16. Tank recess 90, designed to accommodate the tank; 20. Cooking chamber of the steam cooker 100, 102 of the present invention, designed to steam the food; cf. Figure 1 and 6 20' Cooking chamber of the steam cooking appliance designed for steaming the food 100' from the state of the art, cf. Figure 540 Cover, in particular lid or flap, of the food container 50 41 Holder of the cover window sealing element 43 42 Steam inlet, in particular connection nozzle, for example steam flow path or steam flow channel, of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 , 4 and 9 42'Steam inlet, in particular inlet nozzle, for example pipe, for directing steam from the evaporator unit 10' into a cooking chamber 20', embodiment from the prior art, cf. Fig. 5 43 Cover window sealing element arranged between the cover fastening 47 and the cover window 48 or between the handle element 86 and the cover window 48 44 Hinge device, in particular hinge, of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 6 , 9 , 10, 11 and 945 Hinge sealing element, in particular O-ring, arranged between cover fastening 47 and rotatable joint 49 46 Steam outlet, in particular outlet nozzle, for example steam flow path or steam flow channel, of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 and 9 46'Steam outlet, in particular outlet nozzle, of the steam cooking appliance 100' from the prior art; cf. Figure 547 Fastening element for attaching the cover surface 48 to the joint 49, in particular cover fastening 48 Cover surface, in particular cover window or window, of the cover 40 49 Joint of the hinge device 44 rotatable about an axis, in particular swivel joint 50 Food container or cooking container designed to limit the cooking chamber 52 Bottom of the food container 50 54 Edge of the food container 50 55 Inner bottom of the food container 50 56 Inner bottom recesses of the food container 50 60 Sensor of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention designed to detect the temperature and / or humidity and / or the prevailing air pressure in the cooking chamber 20; cf. Figure 1 and 6 60' sensor of the steam cooking appliance 100' designed to detect the temperature and / or humidity and / or the prevailing air pressure in the cooking chamber 20 from the prior art, cf. Figure 562 a further sensor of the steam cooking appliance 102 of the present invention, designed to detect the temperature and / or humidity and / or the prevailing air pressure in the cooking chamber 20; cf. Figure 9 70 Guide element, in particular guide rail of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 6 72 Support frame of the top surface 12 designed to support the food container 50 74 Front wall or front panel of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 and 6 76Rear wall of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 and 6 78 Side wall of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 and 6 84 Cover surface sealing element of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 and 6 84'Cover surface sealing element of the steam cooking appliance 100' from the prior art, cf. Figure 586 Handle element or handle, in particular carrying handle, of the cover surface 48 90 Water intake container, in particular tank, for example water tank, for example made of plastic; of the steam cooking appliance 100, 102 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 and 6 90' tank, in particular water tank, for example made of plastic, of the steam cooker 100' from the prior art; cf. Figure 5 92Pump of the steam cooking appliance 100 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 92'Pump of the steam cooker 100' from the state of the art; cf. Figure 5 94 Fan or blower of the steam cooking appliance 100 of the present invention; cf. Figure 1 94' Fan or blower of the steam cooking appliance 100' from the prior art; cf. Figure 5 98 Air outlet of the steam cooker 100 or of the steam cooker 102 100 Steam cooker, in particular drawer steam cooker or steam drawer, first embodiment according to the present invention; cf. Figure 1; 102Steam cooker, in particular drawer steam cooker or steam drawer, second embodiment according to the present invention; cf. Figure 6 ; 100' steam furnace from the state of the art; cf. Figure 5 AAin Figure 8 drawn intersection line of the in Figure 9 shown cross-section BBin Figure 8 drawn intersection line of the in Figure 9 longitudinal section shown

Claims

1. Steam cooking appliance (100; 102) for the treatment, in particular for the defrosting, heating and / or cooking, of food by means of steam, wherein the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) has - at least one evaporator unit (10) for providing steam that has been assigned a defined temperature, and - at least one cooking chamber (20) for applying the steam provided by the evaporator unit (10) to the food, wherein the cooking chamber (20) has at least one cooking chamber opening for filling the cooking chamber (20) with food, wherein the cooking chamber (20) has at least one upper-side cover (40) in the operating position of the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) for covering the cooking chamber opening, and wherein the steam cooking chamber (100; 102) has at least one steam inlet (42), which is embodied to conduct the steam provided by the evaporator unit (10) into the cooking chamber (20), characterised in that - the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) is embodied as a drawer and has a drawer compartment embodied for accommodating the cooking chamber (20) as well as the evaporator unit (10), - the evaporator unit (10) and the cooking chamber (20) are arranged separately from one another in the drawer compartment, - the cooking chamber (20) is a food container (50) that can be arranged in the drawer compartment and is embodied for accommodating food, and - the steam inlet (42) is integrated in the cover (40).

2. Steam cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the food container (20) can be arranged in the drawer (100; 102) such that it can be removed.

3. Steam cooking appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cover (40) has at least one hinge facility (44) embodied for pivotably fastening the cover (40) to a top area (12) of the drawer compartment, and the steam inlet (42) is integrated in the hinge facility (44).

4. Steam cooking appliance according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by - at least one steam outlet (46) integrated in the cover (40) for discharging steam out from the cooking chamber (20), - at least one sensor (60, 62) arranged in the steam outlet for capturing the temperature and / or air pressure and - at least one control unit, to which the data captured by the sensor (60, 62) can be applied and which is embodied to regulate the temperature of the steam provided by the evaporator unit (10) as a function of the data captured by the sensor (60), in particular to regulate it in such a manner that the temperature of the steam present in the cooking chamber (20) lies below the boiling point of water.

5. Steam cooking appliance according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterised by laterally arranged guide elements (70), which are embodied to interact with corresponding guide elements of a guiding body in such a manner that the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) can be moved in the manner of a drawer in a horizontal direction between an operating position and a loading position, wherein - in the operating position the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) is fully retracted into the housing body and - in the loading position at least one cooking chamber opening of the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) is moved out from the housing body.

6. Steam cooking appliance according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by a top area (12), which is arranged on the upper side of the drawer and has at least one cooking chamber recess (14) embodied for accommodating the food container (50).

7. Steam cooking appliance according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the steam inlet (42) is formed by at least one recess or cavity of the cover (40) connected to the evaporator unit (10) as well as to the cooking chamber (20), in particular that the steam inlet (42) is at least one steam conduction channel of the cover embodied for conducting steam.

8. Steam cooking appliance according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that in the operating position of the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) the cover (40) covers the food container (50) and closes off, in a gas-tight manner, the cooking chamber (20) surrounded by the food container (50).

9. Steam cooking appliance according to at least one of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that - the cover (40) has at least one cover area (48) embodied for covering the food container (50), - the hinge facility (44) of the cover (40) is arranged on the end of the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) remote from the operating side and - the hinge facility (44) has at least one joint (49) that can rotate about an axis as well as at least one fastening element (47) embodied for fastening the cover area (48) on the joint (49).

10. Steam cooking appliance according to claim 8, characterised in that - the cover area (48) is embodied in a transparent manner and / or - the fastening element (47) is produced by means of an extrusion method, in particular by means of extrusion moulding.

11. Steam cooking appliance according to claim 4, characterised by at least one steam outlet (46) integrated in the cover (40) for discharging steam out from the cooking chamber (20), wherein the steam inlet (42) and the steam outlet (46) are embodied in such a manner that, during operation of the steam cooking appliance (100; 102), the air pressure prevailing in the cooking chamber (20) substantially corresponds to the atmospheric air pressure, in particular lies at most in the millibar range above the atmospheric air pressure.

12. Steam cooking appliance according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the food container (50) has a bottom (52) embodied for the placement of food and an edge (54) that runs around the bottom (52) in a surrounding manner, wherein the bottom (52) and the edge (54) are embodied as closed or uninterrupted or free from recesses.

13. Method for the treatment, in particular for the defrosting, heating and / or cooking, of food using steam, in a steam cooking appliance (100; 102), wherein - a drawer compartment is moved out from the housing body, in order to load the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) with the food, - the food is arranged in a food container (50) through at least one cooking chamber opening of the steam cooking appliance (100; 102), - the drawer compartment is closed, - steam is provided which has been assigned a defined temperature, and - the provided steam is applied to the food arranged in the cooking chamber, characterised in that the filled food container (50) is arranged in the steam cooking appliance (100; 102) embodied as a drawer in such a manner that the food container (50) delimits the regions of a cooking chamber (20) embodied for the treatment of the food, wherein - to fill the food container (50) with food, an upper-side cover (40) for covering the cooking chamber opening is opened, - after filling the food container (50) with food, the cover (40) is closed, and - the provided steam is conducted into the cooking chamber (20) via at least one steam inlet (42) integrated into the cover (40).