Commercial cooking device and method for operating such a commercial cooking device

Abstract

The invention relates to a commercial cooking device (2) comprising a cooking chamber (4), in particular in the form of a pot; a lid (6) for closing the cooking chamber (4); a cleaning device (16) for cleaning the cooking chamber (4), said cleaning device being designed as a high-pressure device and having a cleaning head (18) with at least one outlet opening (20) for dispensing a cleaning fluid; and a drive device (22) with a motor (24) for rotating the cleaning head (18), wherein the cleaning head (18) is rotatably mounted on the lid (6) about a first rotational axis (D1), and the motor (24) is received in an inner area (12) of the lid (6).

Description

[0001] Commercial cooking appliance and method for operating such a cooking appliance

[0002] The present invention relates to a commercial cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber, particularly in the form of a pan, a lid for closing the cooking chamber, and a cleaning device for cleaning the cooking chamber. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating such a cooking appliance.

[0003] In such cooking appliances, the interior of a pan can form the cooking chamber, as is the case with pan-, pan-, or tub-shaped cooking chambers in cooking appliances designed for preparing liquid, creamy, or pourable foods, such as soups, goulash, stews, pasta, rice, or vegetables such as peas, carrots, or beans, or for frying foods on the bottom of the pan, such as eggs or meat. The cooking chamber can be closed with the lid to prevent unwanted heat dissipation from the cooking chamber. Some appropriately equipped appliances also allow pressure cooking.

[0004] Such cooking appliances are used in commercial kitchens, such as canteens or restaurants, with a high throughput of food and dishes. After each food preparation process in the cooking chamber or pan, it must be thoroughly cleaned, particularly due to hygiene regulations, which is consequently frequently the case with commercial cooking appliances.

[0005] During manual cleaning, the lid of the pan is opened and the user uses a hand-held shower to spray the cooking chamber with a cleaning fluid containing a chemical cleaning agent, which may require heat to be applied for a certain period of time. After a contact time, the user carries out mechanical cleaning, for example using brushes, and removes food residue from the cooking chamber walls. The cooking chamber must then be rinsed to completely remove all residue from the washing solution, and in particular the cleaning fluid, from the cooking chamber. Manual cleaning consumes large quantities of water and cleaning agent and requires a significant amount of time and effort from the user, who is tied up at the cooking appliance during this time.

[0006] Cleaning systems for cooking appliances with a tub-shaped cooking chamber sometimes provide spray nozzles or sprinklers for supplying a cleaning fluid into the cooking chamber and for wetting the cooking chamber walls with the cleaning fluid. Such systems, which, as disclosed in EP 1 275 334 A2, circulate the cleaning fluid or wash liquor, must also include components for filtering the cleaning solution and a reservoir. While this more complex and expensive design can reduce some of the user's workload, it generally does not eliminate the need for the user to mechanically clean the cooking chamber.

[0007] To overcome these disadvantages, EP 2 724 082 A1 discloses a cleaning device for a generic cooking appliance, in which high-pressure water is introduced into the cooking chamber via a cleaning head equipped with nozzles. The high-pressure water jets allow the cooking chamber to be mechanically cleaned with water, and it is generally not necessary to add a chemical cleaning agent and allow it to work. Furthermore, cleaning the cooking chamber can be partially automated, as intensive mechanical cleaning by the user is no longer necessary.

[0008] Nevertheless, the cleaning device described in EP 2 724 082 A1 also has disadvantages. The cleaning head, equipped with nozzles, is arranged, for example, at one end of a lance, which is attached to the rear wall of the pan by means of a corresponding coupling. To cook food in the cooking chamber, the lance must be removed and the coupling covered with a suitable cap. The lance must be stored on or near the cooking appliance, which takes up additional space and can hinder the user when using the cooking appliance. After the cooking process is complete, the cap must be removed with a tool and the lance must be retrieved and installed in the pan. Depending on the user's dexterity, the assembly and disassembly of the lance takes more or less time, during which the user is not available for other activities.Frequent lance changes can also lead to wear, particularly on the coupling, which is subject to high forces due to the high pressure used. To position the cleaning head as centrally as possible in the cooking chamber, the lance extending from the rear wall is relatively long. This can lead to a so-called spray shadow, in which the emitted water jets do not reach the cooking chamber wall or do not reach it with sufficient pressure. This may require manual follow-up cleaning in these areas.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a commercial cooking appliance with a cleaning device and a method for operating such a cooking appliance, which enable increasing automation of the cleaning process and relief for the user with at least the same or better cleaning results and can be implemented simply and cost-effectively.

[0010] This object is achieved by a commercial cooking appliance according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 16. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] A commercial cooking appliance according to the invention comprises a cooking chamber, in particular in the form of a pan, a lid for closing the cooking chamber, and a cleaning device for cleaning the cooking chamber. The lid has a top side, a bottom side, and at least one side wall connecting the top side and the bottom side to one another, wherein the top side, the bottom side, and the at least one side wall define an interior of the lid. When the lid is closed, the cooking chamber is delimited by the bottom side. The cleaning device is designed as a high-pressure device and is configured to supply a cleaning fluid, in particular water, into the cooking chamber under high pressure, wherein the cleaning device comprises a cleaning head having at least one outlet opening for discharging the cleaning fluid. The cooking appliance further comprises a drive device for rotating the cleaning head, which drive device comprises a motor.The cooking appliance according to the invention is characterized in that the cleaning head is mounted on the lid so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation and the motor of the drive device is accommodated in the interior of the lid.

[0012] This provides a cooking appliance in which the motor-driven cleaning head of the high-pressure cleaning device is mounted on the lid. This offers several advantages, as described below.

[0013] The rotary drive of the cleaning head by the motor, combined with the high-pressure supply of the cleaning fluid, particularly water, allows food residues throughout the entire cooking chamber to be mechanically removed, thus at least maintaining the cleaning result. Manual cleaning and the addition of a chemical cleaning agent are not required. Within the scope of the invention, the cleaning fluid is therefore preferably water. In this case, no (cleaning) additives are added to the water. Furthermore, by accommodating the motor in the lid and thus supporting the cleaning head, complex torque transmission devices for transmitting the torque to the cleaning head can be dispensed with.

[0014] Because the cleaning head is positioned on the lid, it is automatically moved out of the cooking chamber and its access opening when the lid is opened, so that it does not hinder the user when adding food to the cooking chamber or removing food from the cooking chamber. When the lid is closed, the cleaning head is automatically positioned in the cooking chamber, e.g. to start a cleaning process. The cleaning head is generally mounted so that it is assigned to the underside of the lid or is arranged on the underside. The cleaning head can be mounted on a component forming the underside, e.g. a trim part of the lid, or a frame of the lid that supports the underside of the lid.

[0015] The cooking appliance can comprise a housing to which the lid is pivotally connected and which contains the cooking chamber. Both the lid and the housing can each have a frame and a panel in a manner known per se. In general, the lid is movable, preferably pivotable about a pivot axis, between a closed state in which it closes the cooking chamber and the underside of the lid borders the cooking chamber on one side, and an open state in which the lid exposes the access opening to the cooking chamber. The shape of the lid depends essentially on the shape of the cooking chamber. In a substantially round cooking chamber, the lid also has a substantially round shape and then generally only has one circumferential side wall. In pan- or tub-shaped cooking chambers, the lid usually has a substantially rectangular shape with four side walls.If the cooking chamber is in the form of a pan, it preferably has a base and four walls, with a rear first wall and a front second wall lying opposite one another and a lateral third wall and a lateral fourth wall lying opposite one another, which delimit the cooking chamber with the exception of the access opening which can be closed by the lid. The cooking chamber can be heatable; in the case of a pan, for example, corresponding heating elements can be provided in the walls and / or the base. By means of a plurality of heating elements integrated into the base, delimited cooking zones can be formed which can be controlled separately, whereby different temperatures can be set in the cooking zones.

[0016] The arrangement of the cleaning head on the lid also means that the cleaning head can be arranged at almost any distance from the walls of the cooking chamber without changing the length of a shaft or lance that carries the cleaning head or making it particularly long. When the lid is closed, the cleaning head is preferably arranged essentially centrally between the first and second walls and essentially centrally between the second and third walls. By arranging the cleaning head as centrally as possible on the lid, all of the walls of the cooking chamber can be cleaned effectively without requiring a relatively long shaft or lance with the disadvantages described at the beginning. “Essentially central” means that the cleaning head is arranged from the exact center between the first and second walls orbetween the third and fourth walls may vary by up to 10%, preferably up to 5% of the distance between the respective walls.

[0017] Rather, the cleaning head can be positioned relatively close to the underside of the lid without negatively affecting the cleaning result, allowing a short shaft or lance to be designed and the resulting spray shadow to be minimized or eliminated. The distance between a center point of the cleaning head and the underside of the lid is preferably only between 15 mm and 50 mm, more preferably between 20 mm and 40 mm, and even more preferably between 25 mm and 30 mm. The cleaning head can have a diameter of between 20 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 30 mm and 40 mm.

[0018] When the lid is closed, the cleaning head is located in the cooking chamber. A maximum fill level can be defined for the cooking chamber, up to which the cooking chamber may be filled with food for cooking. When the lid is closed, the cleaning head is preferably positioned above the maximum fill level in the cooking chamber. This is facilitated by the cleaning head's close positioning on the underside of the lid.

[0019] A particularly advantageous feature is that the cleaning head can remain permanently attached to the lid and does not need to be removed during the cooking process. Above all, this saves the user the time and effort of assembly and disassembly, while eliminating the assembly and disassembly and the necessary coupling mechanism reduces wear and tear on the parts. After removing the food from the cooking chamber, a cleaning process can be started without the user having to take any further precautions. Furthermore, no space is required to store the cleaning head during the cooking process.A particularly thorough cleaning of the entire cooking chamber can be achieved if, according to a preferred embodiment, the at least one outlet opening is mounted in the cleaning head so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation such that a rotational movement of the cleaning head about the first axis of rotation and a rotational movement of the at least one outlet opening about the second axis of rotation overlap, wherein the first and second axes of rotation intersect, preferably at an angle of 90°. In general, the first axis of rotation is preferably aligned perpendicular to the underside of the lid. By superimposing the rotational movements, even with a small number of outlet openings and low water consumption, the at least one escaping jet can sweep over the cooking chamber walls and thoroughly clean the cooking chamber.

[0020] For a uniform distribution of the cleaning fluid and thus a uniform and thorough cleaning, it can also be advantageous if the cleaning head has a plurality of outlet openings, for example, two, three, or four outlet openings, for dispensing the cleaning fluid. The plurality of outlet openings can be evenly distributed around the second axis of rotation, wherein the outlet openings can be oriented in different directions, preferably radially to the second axis of rotation.

[0021] In order to deliver defined jets of cleaning fluid under high pressure, it is preferred that the at least one outlet opening has a diameter of between 0.2 mm and 5 mm, more preferably between 0.4 mm and 2 mm, even more preferably between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all outlet openings of the one outlet opening or the plurality of outlet openings is between 1 mm 2 and 2 mm 2 , more preferably between 1.2 mm 2 and 1.4 mm 2 This ensures that, on the one hand, at least one outlet opening is not blocked by particles in the cleaning fluid, in particular in the water, and, on the other hand, the high pressure can be maintained.

[0022] The volume flow of the cleaning fluid, in particular the water, delivered from the at least one outlet opening or from the plurality of outlet openings is preferably between 10 l / min and 20 l / min, more preferably between 12 l / min and 15 l / min. This allows a good cleaning result to be achieved while maintaining the high pressure and limiting the consumption of cleaning fluid, in particular the water consumption. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a bearing arrangement that is fixedly attached to the cover and includes a rotating shaft that is rotatably mounted, defines the first axis of rotation and on which the cleaning head is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner. By means of the bearing arrangement, the cleaning head is preferably firmly connected to the cover and cannot be detached therefrom, thus reliably avoiding any assembly and disassembly effort for the user and ensuring that the cleaning head is permanently mounted on the cover.In this case, "non-detachable" means that the cleaning head cannot be removed from the cover by the user, especially not without the use of tools, but can be disassembled for maintenance or repair work. The bearing arrangement is preferably housed inside the cover, so that the rotating shaft is rotatably mounted inside the cover, for example, using suitable roller or plain bearings. The cleaning head can be mounted on the rotating shaft using known shaft-hub connections, such as a splined shaft connection.

[0023] The accommodation of the motor in the interior of the lid has the advantage that the cleaning head can be driven by a motor to achieve the desired cleaning result and yet can still be mounted on the movable lid. This eliminates the need to mount the cleaning head on a stationary cooking chamber component and also eliminates the need for a drive movement to be transmitted to the lid, which is difficult or impossible to implement. Within the scope of the invention, it is further preferred if the drive device comprises a torque transmission device for transmitting torque from the motor to the rotary shaft and if the transmission device is also accommodated in the interior of the lid. Thus, the drive device comprising the motor and the transmission device is provided in a space-saving manner in the interior of the lid at the point where the torque is required to drive the rotary shaft.

[0024] The motor is preferably an electric motor, in particular a permanent magnet DC motor. The motor can have a length in the axial direction of an output shaft of the motor that is between 80 mm and 200 mm, more preferably between 100 mm and 150 mm, and a diameter that is between 20 mm and 60 mm, more preferably between 30 mm and 50 mm. The motor is preferably operated with a protective extra-low voltage according to IEC 60449. The nominal voltage of the motor is preferably 24 V DC. A nominal voltage of 12 V DC would also be conceivable. The output shaft of the motor is preferably aligned perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. The transmission device can comprise a bevel gear, wherein a driving bevel gear is preferably mounted on the output shaft of the motor and a driven bevel gear is mounted on the rotating shaft.The driving bevel gear and the driven bevel gear are in mesh with each other.

[0025] The rotary shaft has a first end portion on which the cleaning head is mounted, and a second end portion to which the torque is preferably transmitted. Consequently, the first end portion of the rotary shaft is located outside the lid, and the second end portion is located inside the lid, and the rotary shaft extends through the underside of the lid.

[0026] The bearing assembly preferably comprises a socket surrounding the first end portion of the rotary shaft. The socket can be fixedly attached to the cover or a component of the bearing assembly and have a through-opening through which the rotary shaft extends. The socket is preferably provided at least between the underside of the cover and the cleaning head, but can also extend partially into the cover.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, the nozzle between the underside of the lid and the cleaning head has a substantially conical shape. More precisely, the nozzle has a shape that tapers towards the cleaning head. This means that a radius of the nozzle radially to the first axis of rotation at an end facing the cleaning head is smaller than a radius of the nozzle at an end facing the lid. Preferably, a lateral surface of the nozzle is concavely curved and can end flush with the underside of the lid. The shape of the nozzle ensures that a jet of cleaning fluid emerging from the at least one outlet opening strikes the lateral surface of the nozzle and is deflected by it, so that the nozzle is cleaned and a spray shadow caused by the nozzle or the rotating shaft can be minimized or eliminated.

[0028] If the at least one outlet opening is mounted in the cleaning head so as to be rotatable about the second axis of rotation, as described above, the nozzle can perform a further advantageous function regardless of the substantially conical shape. To generate a rotational movement of the at least one outlet opening about the second axis of rotation, the nozzle can engage with the cleaning head in such a way that the rotational movement of the at least one outlet opening about the second axis of rotation is generated when the cleaning head rotates about the first axis of rotation.

[0029] In this case, the at least one outlet opening is preferably provided in a carrier of the cleaning head, which is mounted in the cleaning head so as to be rotatable about the second axis of rotation. The carrier can have a first bevel gear, which can be formed integrally with the carrier or mounted thereon as a separate component in a rotationally fixed manner. The nozzle has a second bevel gear, which can be formed integrally with the nozzle or mounted thereon as a separate component in a rotationally fixed manner. The first and second bevel gears are in mesh with one another. Preferably, the first bevel gear is arranged coaxially with the second axis of rotation and the second bevel gear is arranged coaxially with the first axis of rotation.

[0030] The superimposed rotary movement of the at least one outlet opening can thus be generated as follows. The rotary shaft is driven in rotation about the first axis of rotation, whereby the cleaning head, which is mounted on the rotary shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, also rotates about the first axis of rotation. The carrier and the first bevel gear also rotate with the cleaning head about the first axis of rotation, with the first bevel gear engaging with the second bevel gear, rolling on it, and thereby being set in rotation about the second axis of rotation. The at least one outlet opening also rotates with the carrier about the second axis of rotation. The same applies to a plurality of outlet openings.

[0031] To supply the cleaning fluid, the cleaning device preferably comprises a fluid line, which is designed as a high-pressure line, in particular as a pressure hose, and is at least partially accommodated in the interior of the lid. This allows the high-pressure cleaning fluid, in particular water, to be guided particularly easily into the lid and toward the cleaning head. The fluid line is in fluid communication with the cleaning head, in particular with the at least one outlet opening.

[0032] The cooking appliance, which comprises the housing in which the cooking chamber is formed, particularly advantageously has a hose feedthrough between the lid and the housing, preferably in the region of the pivot axis of the lid. The fluid line can extend from the bearing arrangement in the interior of the lid to the hose feedthrough and through the hose feedthrough into the housing. Parallel to the fluid line, at least one supply line for supplying the motor with power and control signals can extend from the housing into the lid and to the motor. The cleaning device can comprise a pump, in particular a high-pressure pump, which provides the cleaning fluid under high pressure and to which the fluid line is connected.In general, the cleaning device is preferably designed to provide the cleaning fluid under high pressure, which is between 40 bar and 300 bar, more preferably between 60 bar and 250 bar, even more preferably between 100 bar and 200 bar. Particularly good cleaning results can be achieved with a high pressure of over 100 bar, e.g. at least 120 bar, at least 140 bar or at least 160 bar. High pressure in the previously specified range can ensure that the cleaning fluid emerging from the at least one outlet opening has a sufficiently high pressure for mechanically cleaning the cooking chamber, in order to remove even stubborn residues. Lower pressures, for example in the range of 1 bar to 20 bar, are generally not sufficient to remove all residues from the cooking chamber walls, which means that the desired cleaning result is not achieved.Within the scope of the invention, the specified preferred high-pressure ranges are also intended to include all intermediate values ​​individually, particularly in whole bar values. Above all, the upper and lower limits of the specified values ​​can also be changed independently of one another, e.g., in increments of 5 bar.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the fluid line, particularly in the form of a pressure hose, is connected to the bearing assembly. Despite rotation of the rotary shaft and the cleaning head, the fluid line connection thus remains stationary. The bearing assembly can have a fluid chamber that is in fluid communication with the fluid line. The rotary shaft can be designed in sections as a hollow shaft and have a supply channel that is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the cleaning head. In this way, the high-pressure cleaning fluid can be pumped into the cleaning head without the need for complex and expensive piping and sealing systems.

[0034] For example, the rotary shaft has an axial feed channel which extends from an end face of the rotary shaft facing the cleaning head to the level of the fluid chamber and is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber by means of a radial opening.

[0035] In principle, the bearing assembly can comprise a bearing body in which the rotary shaft is rotatably mounted. For example, the bearing body is sleeve- or bush-shaped and surrounds the rotary shaft, which is mounted in the bearing body by means of suitable bearings, such as roller or plain bearings. Furthermore, the fluid chamber can be formed in the bearing body, and the connection for the fluid line can be provided on the bearing body. It is understood that the mounting of the rotary shaft and the connection of the fluid line can also be implemented using different components.

[0036] To achieve a space-saving arrangement in the cover, the bearing assembly is preferably housed between the motor and the fluid line. The motor and the fluid line are opposite each other with respect to the bearing assembly. This can be the case regardless of the exact design of the bearing assembly and the fluid line. The motor, the bearing assembly, and the fluid line can thus be arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis and preferably perpendicular to the pivot axis.

[0037] This space-saving arrangement is particularly advantageous when the lid comprises a plurality of hollow profiles for stiffening the lid and the motor and preferably the bearing arrangement and at least part of the fluid line are accommodated in a hollow profile of the plurality of hollow profiles. The stiffening of the lid by means of the plurality of hollow profiles enables the cooking appliance to be used for pressure cooking, whereby the cooking time can be shortened. Despite the resulting increased demands on the lid, the motor-driven cleaning head can be provided on the lid. The plurality of hollow profiles preferably extend parallel to one another in a first direction perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, wherein the hollow profiles are arranged at a distance from one another in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first direction is preferably also oriented perpendicular to the pivot axis.

[0038] For pressure cooking, the lid and thus the cooking chamber are tightly closed. For safety reasons, the lid is locked. For pressure cooking, the cooking chamber can be pressurized to between 0.2 bar and 1 bar, preferably between 0.3 bar and 0.9 bar, and more preferably between 0.4 bar and 0.8 bar.

[0039] Each hollow profile of the plurality of hollow profiles has, for example, a substantially rectangular cross-section. The width of each hollow profile can be, independent of the other hollow profiles, between 80 mm and 160 mm, preferably between 100 mm and 140 mm, more preferably between 110 and 120 mm. The height of each hollow profile can be, independent of the other hollow profiles, between 40 mm and 70 mm, preferably between 50 mm and 60 mm. In order to easily assemble and maintain the bearing arrangement and preferably also the drive device, which are arranged in the interior of the cover, the cover can have a closable access opening on its top side, through which at least the bearing arrangement and preferably also the drive device with transmission device and motor are accessible. If these are accommodated in a hollow profile, as described above, the access opening extends through the top side of the cover and the hollow profile.In this way, the bearing assembly with the cleaning head mounted on it can be inserted into the cover from above and removed from the cover.

[0040] Preferably, the access opening can be closed by a cover, such as a cap or flap. To prevent unintentional tampering, the cover is preferably inaccessible to the user. The cover can be made of a material with good heat conduction, allowing heat present in the interior of the lid to be easily dissipated into the top of the lid and the environment. Furthermore, the cover can have a lighting device that, for example, signals the operation of the cleaning device.

[0041] The cooking appliance according to the invention has been described in detail above. It is evident that the cleaning device is particularly advantageous for commercial cooking appliances designed for preparing large quantities and for high throughput. The cooking chamber of such cooking appliances can, for example, have a usable filling capacity (corresponding to the maximum fill level) of at least 50 liters and up to 150 liters or more. Commercial cooking appliances are usually stationary and can be permanently connected to the water and sewage network. Alternatively, the cooking appliances can be provided on casters. To simplify the handling of large quantities, e.g., liquid foods, the cooking chamber, e.g., in the form of a pan in the housing, can be tiltable, in particular motor-tiltable, as is known from tilting frying pans. Furthermore, the lid can be lockable, in particular motor-lockable. This is particularly necessary for pressure cooking.In principle, the cooking appliance according to the invention can be used for roasting, boiling, deep-frying and pressure cooking, among other things.

[0042] A method according to the invention for operating a cooking appliance according to the invention comprises the following steps: cooking a food in the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, wherein the cleaning head of the cleaning device is firmly attached to the lid during cooking and is located in the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance;

[0043] Ending cooking and removing the food when the desired degree of cooking is reached; and

[0044] Automatic cleaning of the cooking chamber using the cleaning device after removing the food.

[0045] In this way, a method for operating the cooking appliance according to the invention is provided, which relieves the user of the cooking appliance and at the same time achieves a very good cleaning result.

[0046] Since the method is carried out using the cooking appliance according to the invention, all of the features and advantages described in this regard also apply to the method. It is worth emphasizing that the cleaning head of the cleaning device can remain on the lid during all process steps, thereby reducing the effort required by the user and enabling automated cleaning.

[0047] In one embodiment, the cooking appliance can signal the end of a cooking program to the user, for example, visually and / or acoustically. Additionally or alternatively, the cooking appliance can detect the degree of doneness of the food using a sensor device, such as a core temperature probe or a camera, and signal the user when a certain degree of doneness has been reached.

[0048] The user can then remove the food from the cooking chamber and start the cleaning process. For example, the user confirms the start of the cleaning process using an operating and display device on the cooking appliance, such as buttons or a touchscreen. The cooking appliance can be configured to display a selection field for starting the cleaning process after a cooking program has ended, after a certain degree of cooking has been reached, and / or after the food has been removed from the cooking chamber. The user simply confirms this by selecting the field. The cleaning process can then be started and completed without any further action on the part of the user.

[0049] The cooking chamber is preferably cleaned exclusively with water as the cleaning fluid, which is introduced into the cooking chamber under high pressure by the cleaning head, which rotates at least about the first axis of rotation. This removes residues from the walls and floor of the cooking chamber and thoroughly cleans the cooking chamber. A chemical cleaning agent is not added. From time to time, it may be desired or necessary to descale the cooking appliance, and in particular the cleaning device. For this purpose, a descaling agent can be added, for example, and flowed through the lines of the cleaning device. During this process, the fluid is generally not pumped under high pressure.

[0050] Further features and advantages of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] Fig. 1 shows schematically a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cooking chamber in the form of a pan and an open lid.

[0052] Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the cooking appliance along the plane EE in Fig. 1 with the lid closed and a schematically indicated cleaning process.

[0053] Fig. 3 shows a perspective sectional view of a section of the lid of the cooking appliance according to Figs. 1 and 2.

[0054] Fig. 4 shows in detail a sectional view of a cleaning device and a drive device of the cooking appliance.

[0055] Fig. 5a shows a sectional view of the cleaning device in a plane perpendicular to that in Fig. 4.

[0056] Fig. 5b shows a perspective view of a nozzle of the cleaning device according to Fig. 5a.

[0057] Fig. 6a shows a sectional view of a section of the cooking appliance in the area of ​​the pivot axis of the lid with the lid closed.

[0058] Fig. 6b shows a sectional view of the section shown in Fig. 6a with the lid open. Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a hose passage between the lid and a housing of the cooking appliance in the area shown in Fig. 6.

[0059] Fig. 8 shows a perspective detailed view of the section according to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 in an alternative embodiment.

[0060] Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a portion of a pivot joint between the lid and the housing of the cooking appliance.

[0061] Fig. 10 shows a perspective detailed view of an element of the hose feedthrough according to Fig. 8

[0062] In the figures, identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0063] 1 and 2 schematically illustrate a commercial cooking appliance 2 according to the invention, wherein FIG. 1 shows a perspective view and FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along the plane EE in FIG. 1. The cooking appliance 2 can comprise a cooking chamber 4 and a lid 6 for closing the cooking chamber 4, which lid can be pivoted about a pivot axis S between an open state (FIGS. 1, 6b) and a closed state (FIGS. 2, 6a). The sectional view according to FIG. 2 shows a section in a plane EE perpendicular to the pivot axis S.

[0064] In the present embodiment, the cooking appliance 2 comprises a housing 8, and the cooking chamber 4 is formed in the form of a pan 4 within the housing 8. The housing 8 can simultaneously form a base of the cooking appliance 2 or, as shown in Fig. 1, can be suspended in a frame or supports 9 so that it can be tilted about an axis parallel to the pivot axis S in order to pour food forward from the cooking chamber 4. Furthermore, the cooking appliance 2 can comprise an operating and display device 11 for operating the cooking appliance 2 and for displaying information, for example, on the cooking process or cooking programs.

[0065] The lid 6 can be pivotably attached to the housing 8 about the pivot axis S by means of a pivot joint 10 (see Fig. 2) in order to open and close the cooking chamber 4. The lid 6 has a top side 6a, a bottom side 6b, and at least one side wall 6c that connects the top side 6a and the bottom side 6b. If the lid 6 is substantially rectangular or cuboid-shaped, as shown, the lid 6 has four side surfaces 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f. The top side 6a, the bottom side 6b, and the at least one side wall 6c, d, e, f define an interior space 12 of the lid 6. When the lid 6 is closed (Fig. 2), the bottom side 6b of the lid 6 defines the cooking chamber 4.

[0066] In the case of the pan- or tub-shaped cooking chamber 4, it has a rear first wall 4a, a front second wall 4b, a lateral third wall 4c, and a lateral fourth wall 4d, wherein the first and second walls 4a, 4b are opposite one another and the third and fourth walls 4c, 4d are opposite one another. The cooking chamber 4 is delimited at the bottom by a floor 5, which can have a drain 14 to remove any dirt or liquid residue from the cooking chamber 4 through the floor 5. The floor 5 can be arranged essentially horizontally, e.g., as a frying plate, or slightly inclined, wherein in the latter case the drain 15 is preferably provided at a lowest point of the floor 5. To heat the cooking chamber 4, corresponding heating elements (not shown) can be provided in the walls 4a, b, c, d and / or the floor 5. The cover 6 is usually attached to the upper edge of the rear first wall 4a by means of the pivot joint 10.

[0067] As an alternative to the tub- or pan-shaped crucible 4 shown here, the cooking chamber 4 can have different shapes, such as hemispherical in the manner of a wok or circular-cylindrical.

[0068] The cooking appliance 2 further comprises a cleaning device 16 for cleaning the cooking chamber 4 after food has been prepared in the cooking chamber 4, in order to prepare it for the next cooking process. The cleaning device 16 is designed as a high-pressure device. Due to the high-pressure supply of the cleaning fluid, food residues can be mechanically removed from the walls 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, the floor 5, and the underside 6b of the lid 6. Pure water can be used as the cleaning fluid without the addition of chemical cleaning agents.

[0069] The cleaning device 16 comprises a cleaning head 18 which has at least one outlet opening 20, preferably a plurality of outlet openings 20 (see Figs. 4, 5a), for discharging the cleaning fluid into the cooking chamber 4. In Fig. 2, jets of cleaning fluid (e.g. water jets) emerging from the at least one outlet opening 20 are indicated by dashed lines, whereby these jets do not emerge simultaneously but at least partially sequentially due to the movement of the cleaning head. The use of water as the cleaning fluid further has the advantage that the wash liquor does not have to be circulated, as would be usual when adding cleaning agents, whereby the at least one outlet opening with a very small diameter could become blocked due to particles in the wash liquor.

[0070] Furthermore, a drive device 22 comprising a motor 24 is provided for rotating the cleaning head 18. According to the invention, the cleaning head 18 is mounted on the lid 6 so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation D1 (see Figs. 3 and 4), and at least the motor 24 of the drive device 22 is accommodated in the interior 12 of the lid 6. The motor-driven rotation of the cleaning head 18 at least about the first axis of rotation D1 enables the most complete and thorough cleaning of the cooking chamber 4 to be achieved. In addition, the mounting of the cleaning head 18 on the lid 6 enables a particularly advantageous arrangement of the cleaning head 18 in the cooking chamber 4.

[0071] Firstly, with the lid 6 closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the cleaning head 18 can be arranged essentially centrally between the rear first wall 4a and the front second wall 4b, and preferably essentially centrally between the side walls 4c, 4d, and thus as centrally as possible in a horizontal plane within the cooking chamber 4. This allows the walls 4a-d of the cooking chamber 4 to be effectively exposed to cleaning fluid without requiring a relatively long lance, as in the prior art described at the outset, which also minimizes or eliminates any potential spray shadow.

[0072] Furthermore, the cleaning head 18 can be arranged at a small distance A from the underside 6b of the lid 6, wherein the distance A between a center point of the cleaning head 18 and the underside 6b of the lid 6 is, for example, less than 50 mm, preferably less than 30 mm. Due to the small distance, any spray shadow that may be caused by the storage of the cleaning head 18 can be further minimized or eliminated. In addition, a maximum fill level Fmax can be defined for the cooking chamber 4, up to which the user may fill the cooking chamber 4 with food for cooking. The small distance between the cleaning head 18 and the underside 6b of the lid 6 enables the cleaning head 18 to be arranged completely above the maximum fill level Fmax when the lid 6 is closed.

[0073] In particular, the mounting of the cleaning head 18 on the lid 6, by which the cleaning head 18 is moved out of the cooking chamber 4 and the user's work area when the lid 6 is opened, and the space-saving arrangement near the underside 6b of the lid 6 advantageously contribute to the fact that the cleaning head 18 can be permanently attached to the lid 6 and does not have to be assembled and disassembled by the user.

[0074] The cleaning device 16 can further comprise a bearing arrangement 26, by means of which the cleaning head 18 is rotatably mounted in the cover 6. In principle, the cleaning head 18 is mounted on the cover 6 such that it is associated with the underside 6b of the cover 6. The drive device 22 preferably comprises a torque transmission device (hereinafter referred to simply as the transmission device) 28 for transmitting a torque from the motor 24 to the bearing arrangement 26. As illustrated, the bearing arrangement 26 and the transmission device 28 are also preferably accommodated in the interior 12 of the cover 6.

[0075] To provide the cleaning fluid under high pressure, the cooking appliance 2 preferably comprises a (high-pressure) pump 30, which can be provided in the housing 8 of the cooking appliance 2. A fluid line 32, in particular in the form of a pressure hose 32, can be provided for supplying the cleaning fluid in the direction of the cleaning head 18. The fluid line 32 is designed as a high-pressure line, preferably connected to the bearing arrangement 26 and partially accommodated in the interior 12 of the cover 6. The fluid line 32 can extend from the bearing arrangement 26 in the cover 6 to a hose feedthrough 34, through which it can run from the cover 6 into the housing 8 and, as described in detail below, can extend from there to the pump 30 to which it is connected.

[0076] The drive device 22 with the motor 24 and the transmission device 28 as well as the cleaning device 16 with the cleaning head 18 and the bearing arrangement 26 are described in detail below with reference to Figures 3 to 5.

[0077] In Fig. 3, a section of the cover 6 is shown in perspective in a sectional view in a sectional plane perpendicular to the pivot axis S. Fig. 4 shows the drive device 22, the bearing arrangement 26 and the cleaning head 18 in a sectional view through the first axis of rotation D1 and perpendicular to the pivot axis S, while Fig. 5a shows the bearing arrangement 26 and the cleaning head 18 in a sectional view through the axis of rotation D1 perpendicular to the view according to Fig. 4.

[0078] As can be seen in Fig. 3, the motor 24 and preferably the transmission device 28 and the bearing arrangement 26 are accommodated in the interior 12 of the cover 6. More precisely, the cover 6 can comprise a covering, for example made of sheet metal, which forms the top 6a and the bottom 6b of the cover 6, as well as a frame 36 as a support structure for the covering. In principle, the cover 6 can comprise a plurality of hollow profiles 38 for stiffening, some of which are indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 3, with a central hollow profile 38 also being shown in section. The hollow profiles 38 can have a rectangular cross-section and a longitudinal direction that is preferably oriented perpendicular to the first axis of rotation D1 and the pivot axis S. In this case, the motor 24 and preferably the transmission device 28 and the bearing arrangement 26 are arranged within the central hollow profile 38. As shown in Fig.3, the fluid line 32 is also arranged in the cover 6 and optionally in the central hollow profile 38 and is guided from the bearing arrangement 26 in the cover 6 to the hose passage 34, through which it extends into the housing 8, as described in more detail with reference to Figs. 6 to 10.

[0079] To allow the components arranged in the cover 6 to be mounted in the cover 6 and to be accessible, for example, for maintenance purposes, the upper side 6a of the cover 6 can have an access opening 40, which, if present, can also extend through the central hollow profile 38. As indicated in Fig. 2, the access opening 40 can be closed by a cover 42 to prevent unwanted manipulation.

[0080] As shown in Fig. 4, the motor 24 can be mounted on a bracket 44 in the interior 12 of the cover 6. For example, the bracket 44 is L-shaped, with a first leg 44a being attached to the inside of the cover 6, for example to a sheet metal forming the underside 6b of the cover 6. The motor 24 can be attached, e.g. screwed, to a second leg 44b of the bracket 44, which projects perpendicular to the first leg 44a into the interior 12 of the cover 6. The bracket 44 can have an opening through which an output shaft 46 of the motor 24 extends.

[0081] The cleaning head 18 is rotatably mounted on the cover 6 by means of the bearing assembly 26, the structure of which is clearly visible in the sectional views of Figs. 4 and 5a. The bearing assembly 26 can be permanently attached to the cover 6, for example, on the inside of the sheet metal forming the underside 6b. For example, threaded bolts can be welded to the inside of this sheet metal, and the bracket 44 and the bearing assembly 26 have receptacles for these threaded bolts and are secured thereto by means of nuts, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0082] The bearing assembly 26 preferably comprises a rotatably mounted rotary shaft 48, which defines the first axis of rotation D1 and on which the cleaning head 18 is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner. For example, the cleaning head 18 is mounted on a first end portion 48a of the rotary shaft 48 by means of a shaft-hub connection, such as a splined shaft connection. The bearing assembly 26 can further comprise a bearing body 50, in which the rotary shaft 48 is rotatably mounted, as here by means of a first plain bearing 52 and a second plain bearing 54. The plain bearing 52 can be received in a bearing insert element 53, which is inserted into the bearing body 50. However, other bearings, such as rolling bearings, can also be used. The bearing body 50 can be sleeve-shaped or bush-shaped and have a flange for attachment to the cover 6.

[0083] The transmission device 28 is provided for transmitting torque from the motor 24 to the rotating shaft 48. The output shaft 46 of the motor 24 has an axis 47, which is preferably oriented perpendicular to the first axis of rotation D1. In this case, the transmission device 28 can comprise a bevel gear transmission. For this purpose, a driving bevel gear 56 is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on the output shaft 46 of the motor 24, and a driven bevel gear 58 is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on the rotating shaft 48, in particular on a second end portion 48b of the rotating shaft 48 opposite the first end portion 48a. The driving bevel gear 56 can further have a shaft stub opposite the output shaft 46, which is rotatably mounted in the bearing body 50, for example by means of a plain bearing. The driving bevel gear 56 and the driven bevel gear 58 are in engagement with one another.A rotational movement of the output shaft 46 is consequently transmitted to the rotary shaft 48 via the bevel gear 56, 58 and consequently results in a rotation of the cleaning head 18 and thus of the at least one outlet opening 20 about the first axis of rotation D1.

[0084] In order to achieve the best possible cleaning result even with a small number of outlet openings 20, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one outlet opening 20 is mounted in the cleaning head 18 so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation D2 such that the rotational movement of the cleaning head 18 about the first axis of rotation D1 and a rotational movement of the at least one outlet opening 20 about the second axis of rotation D2 overlap. The first axis of rotation D1 and the second axis of rotation D2 intersect, here at an angle of 90°.

[0085] A structure of the cleaning head 18, which also enables rotation of the at least one outlet opening 20 about the second axis of rotation D2, is described below with reference to Fig. 5a. The cleaning head 18 can comprise a head part 60, which is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on the rotary shaft 48 and can rotate therewith about the first axis of rotation D1. The head part 60 can have a through-opening coaxial with the second axis of rotation D2, in which through-opening a carrier 62 is mounted in the head part 60 so as to be rotatable about the second axis of rotation D2, for example by means of the plain bearings 64 and 66. The at least one outlet opening 20 is provided in the carrier 62 so that it can rotate therewith about the second axis of rotation D2. The outlet opening 20 can be formed by a nozzle which is attached to the carrier 62, wherein in the illustrated embodiment four nozzles are provided, each offset by 90°.If a plurality of outlet openings 20 are provided, these can be evenly distributed around the second rotation axis D2 and oriented in different directions, in particular radially to the second rotation axis D2. A cap 63 of the cleaning head 18 can be provided on the carrier 62 opposite the outlet openings.

[0086] The bearing arrangement 26 can further comprise a connecting piece 68, which implements a number of advantageous features and is shown in perspective in Fig. 5b in addition to the sectional views in Figs. 4 and 5a. The connecting piece 68 surrounds the first end section 48a of the rotary shaft 48, in particular in the region outside the cover interior 12. The connecting piece 68 can be connected to the bearing body 50 or another (frame) component of the cover 6. For example, the connecting piece 68 is screwed, for which purpose it can have wrench surfaces 69 on its outer surface with which an open-end wrench can engage. For this purpose, the bearing body 50 can have an internal thread section and the connecting piece 68 a corresponding external thread section. Preferably, the nozzle 68 extends from the bearing body 50 to the cleaning head 18, wherein the rotary shaft 48 is received in this region in a through opening 70 which penetrates the nozzle 68 parallel to the first axis of rotation D1.

[0087] In an advantageous embodiment, the nozzle 68 is designed such that it engages with the cleaning head 18 in order to generate the rotational movement of the at least one outlet opening 20 about the second axis of rotation D2 when the cleaning head 18 rotates about the first axis of rotation D1. More precisely, the carrier 62 can have a first bevel gear 72, which is formed integrally with the carrier 62 or is mounted thereon as a separate component in a rotationally fixed manner. The nozzle 68 can have a second bevel gear 74, which can be formed integrally with the nozzle 68 or is mounted thereon as a separate component in a rotationally fixed manner. The first and second bevel gears 72, 74 are in engagement with one another. Preferably, the first bevel gear 72 is arranged coaxially with the second axis of rotation D2 and the second bevel gear 74 is arranged coaxially with the first axis of rotation D1. The nozzle 68 and thus the second bevel gear 74 are stationary.If the rotating shaft 48 is rotated about the first rotational axis D1, the cleaning head 18 and the carrier 62 also rotate about the first rotational axis D1. The first bevel gear 72 of the carrier 62 rolls on the second bevel gear 74 and is thereby set in rotation about the second rotational axis D2, causing the at least one outlet opening 20 to rotate about the second rotational axis D2.

[0088] Particularly advantageously and essentially independent of the previously described engagement with the cleaning head 18, the nozzle 68 between the underside 6b of the cover 6 and the cleaning head 18 has a substantially conical shape that tapers from the underside 6b towards the cleaning head 18. The outer surface 68a of the nozzle 68 can be curved, in particular concavely curved and end flush with the underside 6b of the cover 6. Preferably, a radius of the nozzle 68 about the first axis of rotation D1 at its end facing the cleaning head 18 is smaller than a distance of the at least one outlet opening 20 or a nozzle plane defined by a plurality of outlet openings 20 from the first axis of rotation D1.

[0089] The conical shape of the nozzle 68 is particularly hygienic due to its lack of edges, and is cleaned by the jets from the cleaning head 18 itself. Furthermore, the jets are deflected upon impact with the nozzle 68 and can contribute to cleaning the underside 6b of the lid 6. Any spray shadow is minimized.

[0090] As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the bearing assembly 26 is housed between the motor 24 and the fluid line 32, with the motor 24 and the fluid line 32 facing each other with respect to the bearing assembly 26. The motor 24, the bearing assembly 26, and the fluid line 32 can thus be arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis D1 and preferably perpendicular to the pivot axis S. The output shaft 46 of the motor 24 and the fluid line 32 are then aligned in this direction.

[0091] The routing of the cleaning fluid in the cover 6 to the cleaning head 18 is described below with reference to Figs. 3 to 5a. The routing of the cleaning fluid from the housing 8, in particular from the pump 30, into the cover 6 is described further below with reference to Figs. 1 and 6 to 10.

[0092] As can be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the fluid line 32 is connected to the bearing assembly 26. For this purpose, a corresponding connection 76 can be provided on the bearing body 50, for example in the form of a reducing nipple, onto which a corresponding connection 78 of the fluid line 32 can be plugged. The connection 76 is aligned radially to the first rotational axis D1 here, but it is also conceivable to implement an axial connection of the fluid line 32.

[0093] Furthermore, the bearing assembly 26 has a fluid chamber 80 which is in fluid communication with the fluid line 32. The fluid chamber 80 is preferably formed in the bearing body 50. For assembly reasons, among others, a chamber insert element 82 can be provided for this purpose, which is inserted into the bearing body 50 and has a cavity that forms the fluid chamber 80. The chamber insert element 82 has a first and a second opening through which the rotary shaft 48 extends, as well as a third opening in communication with the connection 76. The rotary shaft 48 extends through the fluid chamber 80, or the fluid chamber 80 surrounds the rotary shaft 48, preferably completely. The fluid chamber 80 is preferably delimited by the bearing body 50 or the chamber insert element 82.

[0094] The rotary shaft 48 can be designed in sections as a hollow shaft and have a supply channel 84 that is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber 80 and the cleaning head 18. The supply channel 84 can be provided in the axial direction, especially in the first end section 48a of the rotary shaft 48, for example through an axial bore that extends from the end face of the rotary shaft 48 facing the cleaning head 18 to the level of the fluid chamber 80. A radial opening in the rotary shaft 48 can establish a connection between the axial bore and the fluid chamber 80. Consequently, cleaning fluid can flow from the fluid line 32 via the connection 76 into the fluid chamber 80 and from the fluid chamber 80 through the supply channel 84 in the rotary shaft 48 into the cleaning head 18.

[0095] In the cleaning head 18, the carrier 62 can have a radial bore 86 that is in fluid communication with the supply channel 84, and an axial bore 88 that is in fluid communication with the radial bore and the at least one outlet opening 20 or nozzle. In this way, a fluid connection is created from the fluid line 32 to the at least one outlet opening 20. The cap 63 of the cleaning head 18 can have a pin that is inserted or screwed into the axial bore 88 of the carrier 62.

[0096] Since the motor 24 and the supply lines required for it (not shown) are accommodated in the cover 6 together with the bearing assembly 26, special sealing measures can be provided to prevent the escaping of cleaning fluid into the interior 12 of the cover 6, despite the high pressure and the routing of the cleaning fluid through several partially moving components of the bearing assembly 26. In one embodiment, the bearing assembly comprises a first sealing element 90 and a second sealing element 92, which are arranged in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 48 with respect to the fluid chamber 80 on a second side of the second end portion 48b of the rotary shaft 48 and surround the rotary shaft 48. The first sealing element 90 and the second sealing element 92 are arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 48. The first sealing element 90 can be further away from the fluid chamber 80 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 48 than the second sealing element 92.The bearing assembly 26 preferably further comprises a third sealing element 94, which is arranged in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 48 with respect to the fluid chamber 80 on a first side of the first end portion 48a of the rotary shaft 48 and surrounds the rotary shaft 48. The first, second, and third sealing elements 90, 92, 94 bear sealingly against the rotary shaft 48 and can be designed as a shaft seal. Due to the double sealing of the bearing assembly 26, in particular of the bearing body 50, along the rotary shaft 48 upwards toward the interior 12 of the cover 6 by means of the first and second sealing elements 90, 92, the escape of cleaning fluid into the interior 12 can be reliably prevented.

[0097] Due to the spaced arrangement of the first and second sealing elements 90, 92, a gap is formed between them. In order to be able to drain away cleaning fluid that might penetrate into the gap despite the first sealing element 90, the bearing assembly 26 can furthermore have a drain opening 96. The drain opening 96 could in principle be connected to a fluid collection device and / or line for draining the cleaning fluid from the lid 6, in particular from the cooking appliance 2. In the present embodiment, however, a fluid connection is provided between the drain opening 96 and the cooking chamber 4, so that the cleaning fluid can be guided from the gap through the drain openings 96 into the cooking chamber 4.It is understood that the second sealing element 92, located closer to the fluid chamber 80, should be designed such that no cleaning fluid enters the intermediate space during operation, and the first sealing element 90 is essentially intended for safety purposes. Therefore, during normal operation, there should be no continuous fluid flow from the drain opening 96 into the cooking chamber 4.

[0098] The drain opening 96 can be formed perpendicular to the first axis of rotation D1, for example, in the bearing body 50. Ease of production is enabled if the bearing assembly 26 comprises a drain insert element 100 having the drain opening 96 and inserted into the bearing body 50. The drain insert element 100 surrounds the rotary shaft 48 and has the drain opening 96 in the form of a bore and / or groove that penetrates the drain insert element 100 in the radial direction. For example, a circumferential groove along the rotary shaft 48 allows cleaning fluid to reach the drain opening 96 around the rotary shaft 48. Preferably, the first and / or second sealing element 90, 92 bears sealingly against the drain insert element 100, for which purpose the drain insert element 100 can have at least one circumferential seat 102 for receiving the first or second sealing element 90, 92.Here, the drain insert element 100 has the seat 102 for the first sealing element 90 and the chamber insert element 82 has a seat 103 for the second sealing element 92 between the insert elements 82, 100.

[0099] The fluid connection between the drain opening 96 and the cooking chamber 4 can, in principle, be implemented in different ways. Preferably, however, the fluid connection runs inside the bearing assembly 26 into the cleaning head 18, from which the cleaning fluid then exits, as described below. This avoids additional coupling points where the cleaning fluid could leak into the interior 12 of the lid 6.

[0100] Preferably, a drain channel 98 is formed in the bearing body 50, which is in fluid communication with the drain opening 96 and with the cleaning head 18. For this purpose, the drain channel 98 can be directly adjacent to the drain opening 96. For example, the drain channel 98 is formed as a bore in the bearing body 50 parallel to the first rotational axis D1 and parallel to and spaced from the through-opening of the bearing body 50 through which the rotary shaft 48 extends. The drain channel 98 thus opens at an underside of the bearing body 50.

[0101] It is preferred that the fluid connection from the drain channel 98 into the cooking chamber 4 leads through the nozzle 68 and the cleaning head 18. For this purpose, the nozzle 68 can have a recess surrounding the passage opening 70, which forms a gap between the bearing body 50 and the nozzle 68 through which cleaning fluid can flow from the outlet of the drain channel 98 to the passage opening 70. The recess therefore has a diameter that is selected depending on the distance of the drain channel 98 from the first rotational axis D1. The drain opening 96 and the drain channel 98 are thus in fluid communication with the passage opening 70.

[0102] As shown, the through-opening 70 of the nozzle 68 can have a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the rotating shaft 48, so that cleaning fluid can flow between the nozzle 68 and the rotating shaft 48 to the cleaning head 18. If a sufficient distance cannot be maintained between the rotating shaft 48 and the nozzle 68, such as in the first end section 48a of the rotating shaft 48, on which the cleaning head 18 is mounted, an inner circumferential surface 70a of the through-opening 70 of the nozzle 68 can have at least one groove 106 that runs parallel to the first axis of rotation D1 and provides a fluid connection along the rotating shaft 48. As can be seen in Fig. 5b, a plurality of grooves 106 can be provided distributed over the circumference of the inner circumferential surface 70a of the through-opening 70.In the axial direction, the at least one groove 106 can be limited to the area in which a sufficient distance cannot be maintained, or it can extend through the entire nozzle 68. Cleaning fluid can thus reach the cleaning head 18 inside the bearing arrangement 26 through the nozzle 68. As can be seen on the left side of the cleaning head 18 in Fig. 5a, the cleaning head 18 has cavities and gaps, for example between the outlet openings 20 and the second bevel gear 74 or the head part 60, through which the cleaning fluid can pass from the cleaning head into the cooking chamber 4. Thus, an overall fluid connection is created between the drain opening 96 and the cooking chamber 4.

[0103] The course of the fluid line 32, which is designed in particular as a pressure hose, from the bearing arrangement 26 through the hose passage 34 to the pump 30, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is described below with reference to Figs. 6 to 10.

[0104] A particularly simple and low-complexity design can be achieved by designing the fluid line 32 as a flexible pressure hose 32 that extends completely from the bearing assembly 26 to the pump 30, which is made possible, among other things, by the hose feedthrough 34 described herein. This eliminates the need for complex sealing and coupling devices that would otherwise be required, especially in the area of ​​the rotary joint 10, to convey the cleaning fluid under high pressure from the pump 30 to the bearing assembly 26. The fluid line 32 is therefore referred to below as the pressure hose 32. In order to provide the cleaning fluid under high pressure, the pressure hose 32 should have a sufficiently high operating and bursting pressure.This is generally accompanied by an increased stiffness of the pressure hose, so that an advantageous arrangement and guidance of the pressure hose 32 in the cover, through the hose feedthrough 34 and in the housing 8 enables the use of a stiffer pressure hose 32 and thus the use of a higher pressure.

[0105] As shown in Fig. 3, 6a and 6b, the pressure hose 32 runs in the interior 12 of the lid 6 to the hose feedthrough 34 and through this into the housing 8 of the cooking appliance 2. While the pressure hose 32 or another fluid line can run in the interior 12 of the lid 6 and in the housing 8 without major restrictions, the design in the area of ​​the swivel joint 10, which connects the movable lid 6 to the stationary housing 8, is associated with difficulties due to the relative movements and necessary sealing measures at high pressure. The hose feedthrough 34 enables the pressure hose 32 to be easily passed through in the area of ​​the pivot axis S, preferably from the rear side wall 6e of the lid 6 facing the pivot axis S to the top side of the housing 8 facing the pivot axis S in the area of ​​the swivel joint 10 or the rear cooking chamber wall 4a.

[0106] In a preferred embodiment, the hose feedthrough 34 comprises a first element 108 and a second element 110, which form a feedthrough for the pressure hose 32 between the cover 6 and the housing 8. The first element 108 is firmly connected to the cover 6, in particular the rear side wall 6e, and the second element 110 is firmly connected to the housing 8. The first element 108 and the second element 110 are arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis S and are rotatable relative to one another about the pivot axis S. Due to the attachment to the cover 6 by means of the first element 108 and to the housing 8 by means of the second element 110, as well as the adjacent arrangement of the two elements 108, 110, the hose feedthrough 34 can be designed without gaps, in particular including the transitions to the cover 6 and the housing 8. For this purpose, the first and second elements 108, 110 can engage with one another.This can prevent the ingress of dirt or water. The first and second elements 108, 110 can be sleeve-shaped and rigid, e.g., made of metal.

[0107] More specifically, the first element 108 can have a first fastening portion 112 and a first axle portion 114. The first axle portion 114 is substantially cylindrical and defines a first cavity 116 around the pivot axis S, i.e., is substantially annular around the pivot axis S. The first fastening portion 112 can form a base portion of the first element 108 and is fastened to the cover 6, in particular to the side wall 6e thereof. The first fastening portion 112 has a first opening 118 through the first fastening portion 112 between the cover 6 and the first cavity 116. The first opening 118 extends substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis S. Analogously, the second element 110 can have a second fastening portion 120 and a second axle portion 122.The second axis portion 122 is substantially cylindrical and defines a second cavity 124 around the pivot axis S, i.e., is substantially annular around the pivot axis S. The second mounting portion 120 may form a base portion of the first element 108 and is secured to the housing 8. The second mounting portion 120 has a second opening 126 through the second mounting portion 120 between the second cavity 124 and the housing 8. The second opening 126 extends substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis S.

[0108] Because the first element 108 and the second element 110 are adjacent to one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis S, the first cavity 116 and the second cavity 124 form a common cavity around the pivot axis S. The first opening 118 and the second opening 126 are offset from one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis S, but only by the wall thickness of the first and second elements 108, 110 in the region of the openings 118, 126. This makes it possible for the pressure hose 32 not to be significantly offset or curved in the axial direction of the pivot axis S, and a pressure hose 32 that is as stiff and thus as pressure-resistant as possible can be used. Furthermore, this arrangement, as well as the straight guidance of the pressure hose 32 from the bearing arrangement 26 to the hose feedthrough 34 essentially perpendicular to the pivot axis S, as described above, ensures that the pressure hose 32 is not exposed to any torsional moments.

[0109] In addition, the first and second openings 118, 126 are offset from one another by an angle which is preferably between 135° and 270° in the open state of the lid 6 (Fig. 6b), more preferably between 160° and 200°, and approximately 90° in the closed state of the lid 6 (Fig. 6a).

[0110] As can be seen in Fig. 6b, the pressure hose 32 undergoes hardly any bending when the cover 6 is open, whereas when the cover 6 is closed, the pressure hose 32 is arranged in a curved state with a predetermined bending radius according to Fig. 6a. The predetermined bending radius when the cover is closed can be between 100 mm and 200 mm, preferably between 130 mm and 170 mm, thereby allowing the use of a sufficiently stiff pressure hose 32. At the same time, an increased service life is achieved when using a pressure hose 32 whose minimum bending radius is smaller than the predetermined bending radius, e.g., between 20 mm and 50 mm, and when subjected to dynamic loading.

[0111] When the cover 6 is opened and closed, the pressure hose 32 is also displaced in its longitudinal direction. To enable this movement as well as the bending of the pressure hose 32, the diameter of the first and second openings 118 and 126 should be larger than the diameter of the pressure hose. Furthermore, it can be seen in Fig. 6b that, due to the desired rigidity and pressure resistance, the curvature of the pressure hose 32 can extend beyond the hose passage 34. Therefore, the sections of the cover 6 and the housing 8 that border the hose passage 34 should allow the pressure hose 32 sufficient space to bend to the predetermined bending radius and freedom of movement in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, it is preferred that the pressure hose 32 is not fixed between its ends in the cover 6, the hose passage 34, and the housing 8 in order to be able to perform corresponding evasive movements.The pressure hose 32 can therefore extend from the interior 12 of the cover 6 through the first opening 118 into the first cavity 116, from the first cavity 116 into the second cavity 124, and from the second cavity 124 through the second opening 126 into the housing 8. This arrangement essentially decouples the pressure hose 32 from the rotational movement between the cover 6 and the housing 8 and, within the scope of its flexibility, only needs to bend between the open and closed states of the cover 6. In particular, the pressure hose 32 can enter and exit the hose passage 34 in the direction in which it runs in the cover 6 and the housing 8, so that, particularly advantageously, no further deflection of the hose or twisting of the hose about its longitudinal axis is required. This allows the use of a stiffer and therefore more pressure-resistant pressure hose 32.

[0112] The hose feedthrough 34 is therefore preferably formed essentially independently of the swivel joint 10 between the cover 6 and the housing 8. Fig. 9 shows the area of ​​the swivel joint 10 and the hose feedthrough 34 without the cover shown in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the swivel joint 10 comprises a first bearing point 128 and a second bearing point 130, which are arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis S. The cover 6 is pivotally mounted at each bearing point 128, 130. For this purpose, the first bearing point 128 can comprise a first axle journal 132 and the second bearing point 130 a second axle journal 134, wherein the first and second axle journals 132, 134 are preferably firmly connected to the cover 6, for example welded.A suitable bearing can be arranged on each axle journal 132, 134, such as the rolling or plain bearing 135 indicated on the axle journal 132, which is housed in a bearing bush (not shown) rigidly connected to the housing 8. Alternative designs of the swivel joint 10 will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0113] An advantageous embodiment of the second element 110 of the hose feedthrough 34 is described below with reference to Figures 8 and 10. Accordingly, the second element 110 can comprise a connecting piece 136 in the second fastening section 120 for connecting a water line 138 and a discharge opening 140 for discharging water into the cooking chamber 4. The connecting piece 136 and the discharge opening 140 are fluidly connected within the second element 110, here through a substantially L-shaped through-opening. The discharge opening 140 is arranged on an outer surface of the second element 110, which, when the lid 6 is open, is directed towards the cooking chamber or pan 4. The water line 138 is preferably connected to the (household) water supply. The pan 4 can thus be filled with water for preparing food, such as soups.

[0114] To operate the cooking appliance 2, appropriate food or ingredients can first be placed in the cooking chamber 4. If the cooking appliance 2 is used for roasting, the lid 6 can remain open; otherwise, the lid 6 is generally closed. The food to be cooked is then cooked in the cooking chamber 4. In the cooking appliance 2 according to the invention, it is possible for the cleaning head 18 of the cleaning device 16 to remain permanently mounted on the lid 6 and to be located in the cooking chamber 4 when the lid 6 is closed. Preferably, the cleaning head 18 is arranged above the predefined maximum fill level Fmax of the cooking appliance 2. Once cooking is complete, the food can be removed by the user. The cooking chamber 4 can then be automatically cleaned using the cleaning device 16, which the user simply needs to start, for example, by operating the operating and display devices 11 of the cooking appliance 2.Without any assembly effort of the cleaning head 18 on the part of the user, a complete cleaning of the cooking chamber 4 can then be carried out, while the user can attend to other kitchen tasks.

[0115] The cooking appliance 2 according to the invention is thus designed such that it can thoroughly clean the cooking chamber 4, significantly reducing the burden on the user, as they do not have to perform any assembly or cleaning work. Further embodiments of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art based on the description of preferred embodiments contained herein.

Claims

Patent claims Commercial cooking appliance (2) comprising: a cooking chamber (4), in particular in the form of a pan; a lid (6) for closing the cooking chamber (4), wherein the lid (6) has an upper side (6a), a lower side (6b) and at least one side wall (6c, 6d, 6e, 6f) which connects the upper side (6a) and the lower side (6b) to one another, wherein the upper side (6a), the lower side (6b) and the at least one side wall (6c, 6d, 6e, 6f) define an interior space (12) of the lid (6), wherein the cooking chamber (4) is delimited by the lower side (6b) when the lid (6) is closed; a cleaning device (16) for cleaning the cooking chamber (4), which is designed as a high-pressure device and is designed to supply a cleaning fluid, in particular water, into the cooking chamber (4) under high pressure, wherein the cleaning device (16) comprises a cleaning head (18) which has at least one outlet opening (20) for discharging the cleaning fluid;and a drive device (22) for rotationally driving the cleaning head (18), which drive device comprises a motor (24); characterized in that the cleaning head (18) is mounted on the lid (6) so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation (D1); and the motor (24) of the drive device (22) is accommodated in the interior (12) of the lid (6). Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one outlet opening (20) is mounted in the cleaning head (18) so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation (D2) in such a way that a rotational movement of the cleaning head (18) about the first axis of rotation (D1) and a rotational movement of the at least one outlet; Opening (20) about the second axis of rotation (D2), wherein the second axis of rotation (D2) intersects the first axis of rotation (D1), preferably at an angle of 90°. Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning device (16) comprises a bearing arrangement (26) which is fixedly attached to the lid (6) and which comprises a rotary shaft (48) which is rotatably mounted, which defines the first axis of rotation (D1) and on which the cleaning head (18) is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner. Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive device (22) comprises a torque transmission device (28) for transmitting a torque from the motor (24) to the rotary shaft (48), wherein the torque transmission device (28) is accommodated in the interior space (12) of the lid (6).Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the bearing arrangement (26) comprises a connecting piece (68) surrounding a first end section (48a) of the rotary shaft (48) on which the cleaning head (18) is mounted, wherein the connecting piece (68) has a substantially conical shape between the underside (6b) of the lid (6) and the cleaning head (18). Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to claim 2 and claim 5, characterized in that the at least one outlet opening (20) is provided in a carrier (62) which is mounted in the cleaning head (18) for rotation about the second axis of rotation (D2) and has a first bevel gear (72), wherein the connecting piece (68) has a second bevel gear (74) which engages with the first bevel gear (72).Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device (16) comprises a fluid line (32) for supplying the cleaning fluid, which is designed as a high-pressure line and is at least partially accommodated in the interior (12) of the lid (6). Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to claim 7 as dependent on one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the fluid line (32) is connected to the bearing arrangement (26), and the bearing arrangement (26) has a fluid chamber (80) which is in fluid communication with the fluid line (32), and in that the rotating shaft (48). is partially designed as a hollow shaft and has a feed channel (84) which is in fluid connection with the fluid chamber (80) and the cleaning head (18).

9. Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the bearing arrangement (26) is accommodated between the motor (24) and the fluid line (32), wherein the motor (24) and the fluid line (32) are opposite one another with respect to the bearing arrangement (26).

10. Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device (16) is designed to provide the cleaning fluid under high pressure, wherein the high pressure is between 40 bar and 300 bar, preferably between 60 bar and 250 bar, more preferably between 100 bar and 200 bar.

11. Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (6) comprises a plurality of hollow profiles (38) for stiffening the lid (6), wherein the motor (24) is accommodated in a hollow profile (38) of the plurality of hollow profiles (38).

12. Cooking appliance (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (6) has a closable access opening (40) on the upper side (6a), through which at least the bearing arrangement (26), and preferably the drive device (22), can be mounted and accessed in the interior (12) of the lid (6).

13. Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooking chamber (4) has a floor (5), a rear first wall (4a), a front second wall (4b), a lateral third wall (4c) and a lateral fourth wall (4d) which delimit the cooking chamber (4) with the exception of an opening which can be closed by the lid (6), wherein the cleaning head (18) is arranged essentially centrally between the first and second walls (4a, 4b) and essentially centrally between the second and third walls (4c, 4d) when the lid (6) is closed. Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance (A) between a center point of the cleaning head (18) and the underside (6b) of the lid (6) is between 15 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 40 mm, more preferably between 25 mm and 30 mm. Commercial cooking appliance (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a maximum fill level (Fmax) is defined for the cooking chamber (4), and the cleaning head (18) is arranged above the maximum fill level (Fmax) when the lid (6) is closed. Method for operating a commercial cooking appliance (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: Cooking a food in the cooking chamber (4) of the cooking appliance (2), wherein the cleaning head (18) of the cleaning device (16) is firmly attached to the lid (6) during cooking and is located in the cooking chamber (4) of the cooking appliance (2); Ending cooking and removing the food when the desired degree of cooking is reached; and Automatic cleaning of the cooking chamber (4) by means of the cleaning device (16) after removing the food.

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