DE9201725U1 - Device for heating food - Google Patents

Description

Device for heating food

The invention relates to a device for heating food or the like, consisting of several cooking points, in particular electric hotplates or gas-heated cooking surfaces, for setting up cooking pots or the like, as well as a control panel with switches assigned to the cooking points.

Such devices are widely known in the state of the art.

In such devices, the arrangement is primarily such that several hotplates are arranged next to one another and one behind the other on one level, which can be operated via a common control panel, which is primarily arranged on the front of the device carrying the hotplates or on its front surface.

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Due to this arrangement, the arrangement of several cooking areas is only possible, for example in confined spaces, if a corresponding area is available.

If the area is only large enough to accommodate two hotplates, for example, only one cooking area with two such electric hotplates or gas-heated cooking surfaces should be provided.

Especially in the catering industry, there is a need to provide a large number of cooking areas while taking up little space.

Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating a device of the generic type which enables the arrangement of several cooking zones while requiring little floor space.

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This means that the only floor space required is the area required for one cooking zone. All other cooking zones are essentially arranged above this level, so that no or only a slightly larger space is required for the other cooking zones. It is therefore possible to arrange a large number of cooking zones with a small floor space requirement.

It is particularly preferred that four cooking zones are arranged vertically one above the other.

With this design, where it is also advantageous if all cooking areas have the same surface area, the smallest possible area requirement for such cooking areas is achieved. Depending on the reasonable operating height and the distance between the cooking areas required for use,

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For example, it is possible to arrange three or six cooking zones one above the other.

However, the preferred arrangement is four cooking zones, which provides an excellent solution with reasonable ease of use and sufficient distance between the cooking zones.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that several cooking zones are arranged one above the other in parallel rows, with one cooking zone in one vertical row being arranged next to an open space in the other vertical row.

The cooking zones can be arranged laterally offset from one another in stages, so that several cooking zones, for example five or six cooking zones, can be arranged one above the other in two rows.

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Furthermore, it can be advantageous for the cooking zones to be arranged one above the other in a stepped manner, with each relatively lower cooking zone being arranged to project towards the operating side relative to the next cooking zone arranged at a distance above it, preferably projecting by half the depth of the cooking zone.

Although this requires a larger floor space, this arrangement is also conducive to handling.

It is also particularly preferred that all cooking zones are held on a bracket that extends from a base frame behind the cooking zones to above the level of the top cooking zone, whereby the base frame has - preferably height-adjustable - feet.

In this way, the cooking area is

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is freely accessible from the front and sides, since the bracket connecting the cooking zones to the housing is only arranged on a rear surface of the cooking zones and thus only obstructs access to the cooking zone at a point that is not available for operation anyway, since this rear surface is usually arranged close to the wall.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the control panel is arranged below the lowest cooking zone.

In this way, the overall height of the device is positively influenced, since the additional control panel is only arranged on the lowest hotplate, while in the area of the other hotplates, only the dimensions of the hotplate itself must be available for the required space.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the electrical

Neumark 10501-^92*

Connecting lines or the gas supply lines from the power or gas distribution device arranged in the housing of the control panel are led through the hollow bracket to the individual cooking zones.

This allows a protected arrangement of the connecting lines or gas supply lines, while also allowing the installation lines to be laid in a visually appealing manner.

The bracket can, for example, consist of a bent hollow tubular body.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the bracket is U-shaped, with each cooking zone being attached to its two legs, the free leg ends merging into the base frame and being held thereon, and the base of the bracket protruding over the top cooking zone forming a carrying handle.

Neumärker 10501'7W

With this design, the bracket can also be used as a carrying handle for the entire device, whereby the parallel legs of the bracket in the area of each cooking zone form a double holder for each cooking zone.

In addition, the base frame can also be provided with castors.

Finally, the bracket can be provided with plug-in connection parts into which a cooking zone can be plugged in a positionally secured and cable-connected manner.

In this way, it is possible to remove individual cooking zones if necessary in order to be able to place larger cooking vessels on the cooking zone below. For electrically heated cooking zones, the plug connection can be made in the usual way.

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be designed as a plug-socket, while for gas-operated cooking areas the plug connection must contain a self-closing valve, which automatically closes the corresponding gas supply line when the cooking area is removed.

The invention is explained below using an embodiment.

It shows :

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention in view;

Fig. 2 the same in side view; Fig. 3 the same in top view;

Fig. 4 also seen in section IV-IV of Figure 1.

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The device for heating food or the like consists of several cooking zones 1, for example electric hotplates, and a control panel 2 with switches 3 assigned to the individual cooking zones 1. All elements are held on a common frame, with the cooking zones 1 being arranged one above the other at a distance. The distance between the cooking zones 1 is chosen so that a cooking vessel of a normal size can be placed on each cooking zone 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the cooking zones 1 are arranged one above the other in a vertical alignment. All cooking zones 1 are held on a bracket 4, which extends behind the cooking zones 1 from a base frame 5 to above the level of the top cooking zone 1. The base frame 5 has height-adjustable feet 6. The control panel 2 is arranged below the lowest cooking zone 1, with this control panel 2 having the operating elements for all cooking zones 1. The

Neumärker 1050&Ggr;/92"

The required electrical connecting cables between the control panel 2 and the individual cooking zones 1 are led through the hollow bracket 4 to the individual cooking zones. The corresponding connecting cables are thus both visually obscured and laid in a way that is mechanically protected. The bracket 4 is U-shaped. Each cooking zone 1 is attached to its two legs 7, with the free leg ends merging into the base frame 5 and being held there, and the base 8 of the bracket 4, which protrudes over the top cooking zone 1, forming a carrying handle. The central supply line is also indicated at 9, which in the case of electrical equipment can be equipped with a plug in order to be able to connect the device to the power grid via a socket.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments, but is variable in many ways within the scope of the disclosure.

All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are considered essential to the invention.

Claims (10)

Neumärker 10501/92 Protection claims: 1. Device for heating food or the like, consisting of several cooking zones, in particular electric hotplates or gas-heated cooking surfaces, for setting up cooking pots or the like, and a control panel with switches assigned to the cooking zones, characterized in that the cooking zones (1) held on a common frame (5) are arranged one above the other at a distance. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that several, preferably four cooking zones are arranged vertically one above the other. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that several cooking zones are arranged in parallel rows one above the other, in particular Neumarker 10501792 in particular, one cooking zone (1) of one vertical row is arranged next to a free space of the other vertical row. 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooking zones are arranged one above the other in a stepped manner, with each relatively lower cooking zone (1) being arranged to project towards the operating side relative to the next cooking zone (1) arranged at a distance above it, preferably being arranged to project by half the depth of the cooking zone (1). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that all cooking zones (1) are held on a bracket (4) which extends behind the cooking zones (1) from a base frame (5) to above the level of the uppermost cooking zone (1), the base frame (5) having - preferably height-adjustable - feet (6). Neumärker 1050l/92 ^: -IA- 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control panel (2) is arranged below the lowest cooking area (1). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electrical connecting lines or the gas supply lines from the power or gas distribution device arranged in the housing (5) of the control panel (2) are led through the hollow bracket (4) to the individual cooking zones (1). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bracket (4) is U-shaped, each cooking zone (1) being fastened to its two legs (7), the free leg ends merging into the base frame (5) and being held thereon, and the base (8) of the bracket (4) projecting over the uppermost cooking zone (1) forming a carrying handle. Neumärker 10501/92 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the base frame (5) is provided with rollers. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bracket (4) has plug-in connection parts, into each of which a cooking area (1) is secured in position and can be plugged in with a cable connection. DlPL-ING. CCT ¹ RA^-J^ * &Ggr;"^&Igr;&Mgr; KÖCHLING