Cooking device with rack for cooking goods

Abstract

A cooking appliance (10) with an inner box (11) in which at least one cooking rack (20) is mounted is described. The cooking rack (20) is electrically and reliably connected to the inner box (11) at at least one contact point and is electrically insulated and slidably mounted in the inner box (11) at at least one guide point. This allows for limited relative movement between the cooking rack (20) and the inner box (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooking appliance with an inner box in which at least one food carrier rack is installed.

[0002] Such cooking racks and associated cooking appliances are known, for example, from CH 592 848, DE 10 2016 125 098 A1 and DE 10 2012 004 653 A1.

[0003] Cooking racks are typically designed for use in professional cooking appliances found in commercial kitchens, restaurants, and chain restaurants. These appliances use two opposing cooking racks, each equipped with horizontal rails. Cooking trays, such as GN containers, baking trays, or griddles, can be inserted into these rails.

[0004] With regard to user-friendliness, it is desirable that the food carrier racks can be easily removed from and reattached to the cooking appliance.

[0005] This is particularly important for cleaning. To allow for thorough cleaning of the cooking appliance and the food racks, these can be completely removed from the appliance. This allows for particularly intensive cleaning of both the food racks and the cooking appliance itself.

[0006] For this reason, a total of four fastening bolts are provided for each cooking rack to attach the cooking tray racks, as shown, for example, in DE 10 2016 125 098 A1, DE 10 2012 004 653 A1, DE 10 2009 049 617 A1 and DE 20 2011 003 726 U1. Two of these bolts are located at the rear edge of the cooking rack rack and two at the front edge. The lower fastening bolts are shorter than the upper ones.

[0007] When installing the cooking rack in the oven, the upper mounting bolts are first positioned in their corresponding upper mounting holes. This is also known as threading the upper mounting bolts. The entire cooking rack is then slightly lifted. Due to the different lengths of the mounting bolts, it is possible in this state to thread the lower mounting bolts into their corresponding lower mounting holes without removing the upper mounting bolts from their respective upper mounting holes. Optionally, the upper mounting holes can be angled to the vertical axis of the inner chamber to minimize their size. Once the lower mounting bolts are also threaded in, the entire cooking rack is lowered and positioned on the bottom of the inner chamber.

[0008] This type of fastening ensures that the food rack does not jam or become strained, even at high temperatures in the cooking chamber, which cause the components of the rack to expand. This also ensures that the food racks can be easily inserted and removed, even at high temperatures.

[0009] With a view to increased performance and additional cooking options, cooking appliances are increasingly being equipped with a microwave source that can generate microwave radiation which can be introduced into the cooking chamber. When the cooking appliance is operated in microwave mode, a challenge arises in preventing the formation of sparks in the cooking chamber. The familiar food racks, also known as hanging racks, are not ideal in this respect.

[0010] The object of the invention is therefore to improve a cooking appliance with a food rack for use with microwave radiation. In particular, a food rack suitable for use during cooking processes in which microwave radiation is introduced into the cooking chamber is to be provided. Furthermore, the food rack should be easy to install in and remove from a cooking appliance. Additionally, the flawless operation of the cooking appliance should be ensured even in the event of thermal expansion of the food rack.

[0011] The problem is solved by a cooking appliance of the type mentioned above, which is electrically well-conducted and firmly connected to the inner box at least at one contact point, and which is electrically insulated and slidably mounted in the inner box at at least one guide point, so that limited relative movement between the cooking rack and the inner box is possible. The invention is based on the fundamental idea of ​​attaching the cooking rack to the cooking chamber using two different fastening methods. It has been found that it is hardly possible to use a "universal" fastening method that can adequately meet all requirements. Instead, different fastening methods with specific functions are used. One fastening method serves to connect the cooking rack to the inner box with excellent electrical conductivity.This ensures that no electrical potential difference can build up between the cooking rack and the inner chamber. This prevents sparking when microwave radiation is introduced into the cooking chamber. Another mounting method allows for relative displacement due to thermal expansion. However, this mounting method is electrically insulated "for safety," so that sparking does not occur with minor electrical charges. The sliding mechanism allows for limited relative movement while simultaneously maintaining a sufficiently large spark gap.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the food carrier rack is connected to the inner housing of the cooking appliance at the contact point by means of a screw connection. The screw connection ensures a secure, electrically conductive connection to the inner housing and therefore prevents sparking. Furthermore, a screw connection allows for easy installation and removal of the food carrier racks.

[0013] In one embodiment, the contact point is formed by a threaded bolt and a nut, in particular a cap nut. The cap nut prevents dirt particles from entering the thread gap between the nut and the bolt.

[0014] Advantageously, the contact point consists of a mounting base with an opening and a threaded bolt extending through the opening. The mounting base is integrally formed with a support beam of the cooking rack and is bent laterally from it. This support beam design has proven to allow for easy installation of the cooking rack inside the cooking appliance. The integral design of the support beam and mounting base ensures a reliable electrical connection, which in turn reduces sparking. The laterally bent mounting base simplifies installation by providing space for the screw head of a cordless screwdriver.

[0015] According to a further development procedure, the cooking tray rack is fixed to the inner housing at the guide point by means of a guide pin and an insulating bushing. The guide pin allows relative movement between the cooking tray rack and the inner housing when the cooking tray rack expands due to the high temperature. The insulating bushing, on the other hand, serves to increase the spark gap in order to prevent sparking, since a rigid, electrically conductive connection is not possible due to heat exchange.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the food carrier rack has two or more guide points, each guide point having a slot in which one of the insulating bushings is received, the slots being aligned parallel to each other. This facilitates the assembly of the food carrier rack, as the guide points can be slid onto the corresponding guide pins in the same direction. Alternatively, the guide points can each have a through-opening in which the insulating bushings are received.

[0017] Preferably, the cooking tray rack has two separate side panels, each consisting of two uprights to which several cooking tray insertion rails are attached. The separate side panels make the trays particularly easy to handle and thus easy to install in the inner box.

[0018] In one design variant, the cooking rack consists of two side panels connected by at least one cross member, with the cross member positioned on the upper side of the side panels or on the rear side facing away from the opening of the cooking chamber. This increases stability and reduces the tendency to vibrate.

[0019] The cooking rack is preferably made of high-alloy stainless steel. High-alloy stainless steel is resistant to corrosion. Should sparks occur despite the spark-prevention measures, the cooking rack will remain undamaged.

[0020] In one embodiment, the cooking rack is integrally formed with a holder for a core temperature probe and / or a core temperature probe cable. The holder prevents the cable from dangling into the cooking chamber. Again, the one-piece design serves to suppress sparking. Furthermore, it eliminates gaps where dirt could accumulate.

[0021] The invention is explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. These show: Figure 1 schematically an inner box of a cooking appliance according to the invention with two food carriers, Figure 2 in a perspective view two food racks located in the inner box of Figure 1 can be used Figure 3 in a side view the upper part of the cooking tray rack and the inner box, Figures 4a and 4bon an enlarged scale, the upper end of a cooking tray rack is mounted in the inner box, wherein Figure 4a a variant with a slot and Figure 4b show a variant with a through-opening, Figure 5 on an enlarged scale, the lower end of the cooking tray rack is mounted in the inner box, and Figure 6 the area of Figure 5 without a nut used for fastening.

[0022] In Figure 1 A schematic representation of a cooking appliance 10 for commercial kitchens is shown, which has a cooking chamber located inside an inner box.

[0023] The inner chamber has a base 12, two side walls 14, a ceiling 16, and a rear wall 18. One of the side walls 14 can be a partition behind which a fan wheel is located. Opposite the rear wall 18, i.e., on the side of the cooking appliance 10 facing the viewer, there is an access opening to the cooking chamber, which can be closed by means of a door (not shown).

[0024] Inside the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance 10, two food carrier racks 20 are arranged opposite each other near the side walls 14 and approximately parallel to them.

[0025] Each cooking tray rack 20 has a front support 22 and a rear support 24, which run approximately vertically. Horizontally extending cooking tray insertion rails 26 are attached to the supports 22 and 24, into which various cooking trays can be inserted.

[0026] To secure the cooking racks 20 in the cooking chamber, four bolts are provided for each cooking rack 20, namely two threaded bolts 28 and two guide bolts 30.

[0027] The two threaded bolts 28 are attached to the bottom 12 of the inner box, and the two guide bolts are attached to the top 16 of the inner box. Figure 2 The cooking tray racks 20 are shown in a perspective view without the cooking appliance 10. More detailed views of the contact and guide points and details of the interaction with the inner box of the cooking appliance are shown in the Figures 3 to 6 to see.

[0028] In summary, the Figures 2 to 4 It can be seen that each of the upper guide bolts 30 interacts with an associated upper mounting opening.

[0029] The upper mounting openings are designed as parallel slots 32, which are located on bent tabs. The tabs are perpendicular to the stiles 22, 24, so that the slots 32 are also perpendicular to the stiles 22, 24.

[0030] The slots 32 accommodate an insulating bushing 34, which extends as a continuation of the cross-section of the spar 22, 24 and surrounds the guide pin 30. The insulating bushing 34 is designed such that it has a guide groove 33, which has a diameter slightly smaller than the width of the slot 32. Furthermore, the width of the guide groove 33 corresponds to the height of the slot 32.

[0031] As a result, the guide slots 32 and the associated insulating bushings 34 are designed such that the insulating bushings 34 are movable horizontally in the slot 32, but do not allow vertical movement.

[0032] The lower contact points are in Figures 5 and 6 shown in detail. Here too, the bolt interacts with a fastening opening 36. The fastening opening 36 is formed on a laterally bent mounting foot 35 of the spar 22, 24.

[0033] The lower mounting openings 36 are designed as through holes. The threaded bolt 38 extends through these holes. To ensure a secure, electrically conductive connection, a lifting nut 38 is fitted onto the threaded bolt 28. This nut is tightened so firmly that the cooking rack 20 effectively has no room to move.

[0034] Furthermore, in Figure 2 to see that in the case where both a holder 42 for a core temperature sensor and a holder 44 for a cable of a core temperature sensor are present, these two holders are preferably provided on the same spar 22, 24.

[0035] The cooking rack 20 is assembled as follows: First, the guide pins 30 are threaded into the insulating bushings 34 in the upper mounting openings of the cooking rack 20. For this purpose, the cooking rack 20 is tilted about a horizontal axis. Such a horizontal axis corresponds, for example, to the line of intersection between the ceiling 16 and the side wall 14.

[0036] The guide bolts 30 are each assigned to one of the insulating bushings 34 in the upper mounting openings and the cooking carrier rack 20 is raised by an essentially vertical upward movement.

[0037] The food carrier rack 20 is raised to such an extent that it comes into contact with and / or into contact with the ceiling 16.

[0038] The cooking tray rack 20 is then tilted back so that the uprights 22, 24 run essentially vertically. Due to the tilting, the lower mounting openings 36 now lie essentially vertically above their respective threaded bolts 28.

[0039] Now the cooking tray rack 20 is moved essentially vertically downwards, so that the threaded bolts 28 are inserted into the respective mounting openings 36.

[0040] The cooking tray rack 20 is then placed on the floor 12.

[0041] The cooking tray rack 20 is fixed in its mounted position by means of the guide groove 33 of the insulating bushings 34 and the slots 32.

[0042] Since the diameter of the guide groove 33 of the insulating bushing 34 is slightly smaller than the width of the slots 32, a limited relative movement between the cooking carrier frame 20 and the guide pins 32 is still possible even in the assembled position. This small relative movement serves for heat compensation.

[0043] To finally secure the cooking rack 20 in its assembled position, a cap nut 38 is screwed onto each threaded bolt 28. This ensures that the cooking rack 20 is electrically conductive and mechanically firmly connected to the base 12 of the cooking chamber.

[0044] In an alternative embodiment, the upper mounting openings are provided by through-holes 132. The insulating bushings 34 can be received in these through-holes. The remaining structure of this embodiment does not differ from the previous one, and the mounting of the cooking tray rack 20 also remains the same.

Claims

1. A cooking device (10) comprising an inner box (11) in which at least one rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked is attached, wherein the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked is mounted in the inner box (11) at at least one guide point so as to be electrically insulated and displaceable, so that a limited relative movement between the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked and the inner box (11) is possible, characterized in that the rack (12, 13) for carriers of food to be cooked is firmly connected with the inner box (11) at at least one contact point so as to be electrically well conducting.

2. The cooking device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked is connected with the inner box (11) at the contact point by means of a screw connection.

3. The cooking device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact point is formed by a threaded bolt (28) and a nut, in particular a cap nut (38).

4. The cooking device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact point is made up of a mounting foot (35) having a fastening opening (36) and the threaded bolt (28), which extends through the fastening opening (36), the mounting foot (35) being constructed in one piece with a pillar (22, 24) of the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked and being bent off laterally therefrom.

5. The cooking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked is fixed in place on the inner box (11) at the guide point by means of a guide pin (30) and an insulating bushing (34).

6. The cooking device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked has two or more guide points, each guide point having a slit (32) or a passage opening (132) in which one of the insulating bushings (34) is received, the slots (32) or passage openings (132) being oriented parallel to one another.

7. The cooking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked has two side parts that are configured separately from one another and are each made up of two pillars (22, 24) to which a plurality of insertion rails (26) for carriers of food to be cooked are attached.

8. The cooking device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked is made up of two side parts which are connected to each other by at least one transverse part, the transverse part being arranged in the region of the upper side of the side parts or on the rear side facing away from the opening of the cooking chamber.

9. The cooking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rack (20) for carriers of food to be cooked is made of high-alloy stainless steel.

10. The cooking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a holder for a core temperature sensor (42) and / or a cable of a core temperature sensor (44) is made in one piece with the rack for carriers of food to be cooked.

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