Stacked Combi-Steamer Display Layout for Clear Unit Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combi-steamer cooking appliances with two units stacked one above the other face challenges in ergonomic display and operation, leading to potential incorrect readings and entries due to the placement of the display and operating device, which complicates handling and increases the risk of incorrect cooking results. Additionally, these appliances are prone to damage during transport and require complex final assembly.
Innovation Solution
The display and operating device sections of the upper and lower units are combined into a single, easily readable and operable interface positioned at a height of 1.5 m ± 0.25 m above the ground, eliminating the need for switching between units and reducing the overall height of the appliance, while a continuous housing design minimizes corners and edges for improved ergonomics and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If two separate individual devices are combined by stacking, then large capacity is achieved, but the overall height increases and assembly becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control functions of both cooking appliance units are merged into a single integrated display and operating device located on the upper unit. This eliminates the need for separate controls on each unit, reduces the overall height compared to fully independent devices, and simplifies the assembly structure while maintaining the cooking capacity of both units.
2Ease of operation
If the display and operating device is placed on the lower unit, then the controls are within easy reach, but the assignment of controls to cooking chambers becomes confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The display and operating device is positioned on the upper cooking appliance unit, creating a clear spatial relationship where the controls are locally associated with the upper unit's cooking chamber. This local quality principle ensures unambiguous assignment of controls to the corresponding cooking chamber, eliminating confusion about which controls affect which unit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If individual devices are assembled at the installation site, then customization is possible, but the assembly process becomes significantly more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The display and operating device is pre-integrated into the upper cooking appliance unit during manufacturing, rather than being assembled at the installation site. This preliminary action simplifies the final assembly process while maintaining the versatility of combining different unit configurations, as the control integration is already completed at the factory.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cooking appliance (1) for cooking food, in particular to a combined steamer-type large-kitchen appliance, comprising two cooking appliance units (5, 7) which are arranged on top of one another and each of which includes a cooking chamber that can be closed by a cooking chamber door (7, 9), a heater for heating the atmosphere in the cooking chamber, a water connection, a waste water connection, and a cooking appliance controller that is connected to a display and operating device (15), in particular a touch screen. The disclosed cooking appliance is characterized in that the display and operating device (15) is subdivided into two display and operating device sections (17, 19) that are arranged on top of one another in the region of the upper cooking appliance unit (5) such that an unambiguous permanent allocation of the upper and lower display and operating device sections (17, 19) is created, the two display and operating device sections (17, 19) being in a position in which they are easy to read and operate, namely essentially at the user's eye level.