EP0223168B1 - Electrical cooking plate and device for its connection - Google Patents

Abstract

In an electric hotplate (1b), the connecting portions (19b) for the connection of appliance lines (34) provided on the underside thereof can be transferred about articulations, namely bendable or pivotable joints or hinges, e.g. in the form of springs (71) into a transportation and fitting position, in which they are completely countersunk in the underside of the hotplate and also do not project over the outer circumference thereof. The connecting portions (19b) can be transferred from this transportation and fitting position into a connecting position projecting both above the outer circumference and above the underside of hotplate (1b), in which they can be connected in a simple manner with a connecting piece (31) of the appliance lines (34). This ensures both an equiaxial automated stacking of the hotplates and an automated fitting of the hotplate in a hob or the like in simple manner.

Description

The invention relates to an electric hotplate according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the case of electric hot plates there is on the one hand the need for a compact stacking for storage and transport and on the other hand the electric hot plate should be as simple as possible, namely in particular largely automated, attached to a hob and securely connected to the appliance lines. The electric hotplate is inserted into an assembly opening of the hob, supported against the edge of this assembly opening against contact forces and connected to the device lines on the underside of the hob. The width of the mounting opening is usually only slightly larger than the greatest width of the part of the hotplate body engaging in it, which is given in the region of an outer, annular cast flange edge of the hotplate body. For the, in particular automatic, stacking of the hotplate, it is essential that the underside of the hotplate is suitable for stacking, but this usually leads to the connecting sections for connecting the device lines being relatively difficult to access. For the assembly of the hotplate, which is appropriately in the wrong or upside down position, i.e. with the hotplate underneath and the hob above, it is essential how the part of the hob is designed which has to be inserted through the mounting opening into the hob. If this part has protruding members on the outer circumference of the hotplate, in particular connecting sections or flexible connecting lines, it may be necessary for the hotplate to be inclined relative to the hob, which can make assembly difficult, particularly in the case of its automation. If, on the other hand, the connection sections are formed only by short stubs protruding over the insulating piece, simple insertion of the hotplate into the hob is possible, but access to the connection of the device lines can be relatively complicated.

From EP-A2-0 113 923 an electric hotplate of the generic type has become known, in which the connection sections are formed only by short stubs protruding over the insulating piece, which either protrude vertically downwards in the position of use or at a small angle in the direction are angled towards the center of the hotplate body. This makes access to the connection of the device lines relatively complicated, especially if the connection is to be made by a welded connection.

From EP-A2-0 102 015, an electric hotplate with flexible connecting sections has become known, which in particular makes the assembly or insertion of the hotplate in the hob more difficult, for example due to an automated working process. From DE-A1-2 422 717 an electric hotplate has also become known, on the underside of which a connecting piece projecting beyond the outer circumference is fastened, to which the connecting lines of the heating resistors are connected. In this case too, the electric hotplate must be installed with parts protruding over the outer circumference.

The invention has for its object to provide an electric hotplate of the type described, which ensures automatic handling, in particular with regard to the stacking, with a simple structure.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Since the outer sections of the connecting lines in the transport and assembly position extend from the top to at most approximately the underside of the hotplate, the hotplate is suitable for use, for example, with the interposition of a cardboard coated with foam film or a similar flat body with the same type or the same hot plates can be stacked one on top of the other in such a way that hot plates lying one above the other are arranged axially with one another. The hot plates can be alternately supported with their cooking surfaces and their undersides, or they can be stacked in a particularly advantageous manner in the same orientation so that adjacent hot plates with a cooking surface and a bottom face each other, in each case expediently the lowest hot plate with the cooking surface facing downwards. According to the invention, the assembly is considerably simplified in that, in the transport and assembly position, the connection sections of the connecting lines in view of the hotplate body extend at most to its outer circumference, in particular at most to the inner circumference of an outer flange edge of the hotplate body and can be converted into a standing connection position are.

Since the connection sections can be transferred from the transport and assembly position to the connection position in which they protrude beyond the outer circumference and / or the underside of the hotplate after the hotplate has been inserted into the hob, they are very easily accessible for connection. In this connection position, the connection sections expediently form approximately parallel to the outside of the hotplate, intrinsically stiff, but resiliently movable and essentially straight plug or connection pins, which are preferably formed in one piece by at least one joint or by the passage through the insulating piece and via the The outer circumference of the hotplate can protrude relatively far. The non-flexible connecting sections, which can then only be deformed using relatively large bending or kinking forces, can be connected to the appliance lines in their connecting position from the outer circumference of the hotplate, for example in a plug-in movement, whereby they compensate for any slight deviations in position compared to the connecting members due to their resilient mobility.

In particular, if the transport and assembly position of the connection sections is the same position as a connection position, it is expedient if one, in particular, for the part of the connection section lying between the insulating piece and the outer circumference of the hotplate body in the underside of the outer flange edge and / or the cover groove-shaped, receiving recess is provided so that the connection section can protrude beyond the outer circumference of the hotplate, but does not protrude beyond the underside of the hotplate and therefore does not impair the stackability in any way. From the position engaging in the receiving recess, the connection section can be bent away from the underside of the hotplate into an oblique position or into a position perpendicular to the underside of the hotplate and can thereby be transferred into a preferred connection position. The connection sections can also be arranged such that they are pressed back into the receiving recess under the stack pressure and spring out over the underside of the hotplate when the stack pressure is released. The design according to the invention can also advantageously take into account the disadvantages that arise from the fact that during operation of the hotplate in the immediate vicinity of its underside, relatively high temperatures occur, which can impair or damage both the connection connections and the device lines . These degrees of temperature decrease considerably even at relatively short distances from the underside of the hotplate, which is why the connection connections and the device lines can be moved in an area in which no excessive temperatures occur due to the design according to the invention. The connecting lines themselves, however, are designed over their entire length so that they are resistant to the high temperatures.

The object on which the invention is based can also be achieved in an advantageous manner in that a common connecting piece is provided for all connecting sections, the separate connecting elements arranged next to one another on an insulating body and threading guide means for the connecting pins in the region of their front ends has, so that even with automated assembly, a long-lasting connection between the connecting sections and connecting piece or the device lines connected to them is ensured. The connector thus contributes to the correct orientation of the connector sections before the final connection or before reaching its end position. For this purpose, guiding surfaces can be provided on the one hand on the insulating body and on the other hand on the connecting members or on both parts, which are expediently arranged in such a way that they have an alignment effect in at least two coordinate directions.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the connecting piece has connecting or aligning members which are insulated from the connecting members for direct engagement in the hotplate, so that an exact positional alignment and possibly a direct load-bearing connection of the connecting piece with respect to the hotplate can be achieved in a simple manner. In its connected position, the insulating body expediently protrudes with a larger part of its total length over the outer circumference of the hotplate, so that the device lines adjoining its outer end are relatively far away from the hotplate and therefore do not have to be particularly temperature-resistant.

The connection sections can also be aligned with the hotplate by a separate centering member before assembly, this centering member engages the connection sections at a distance from the bushing through the insulating piece and expediently leaves the ends free at least over a short length. The centering member, which can be transferred from a stacking position into an assembly position, is advantageously arranged so that when connecting the connecting piece it gradually releases the connecting sections over the entire length over which they engage in the connecting piece.

The mechanical and securely electrically conductive connection between the connection elements and the connection sections can be made by resistance welding, spot welding, inert gas welding and in particular by non-contact welding, such as laser welding. But it can also be done by squeezing the connecting member, by clamping screws or by pure, if necessary releasable plug connections, which is particularly advantageous when hot plates have to be replaced or replaced. Similarly, the connections mentioned are also suitable for connecting the connecting members to the device lines, any possible combination between the types of connection mentioned being possible with the device lines being conceivable to adapt to the respective requirements.

The risk of the heating resistor connecting lines being torn from their connection to the heating resistors when the hotplate is stacked or during assembly by moving the connecting sections inside the hotplate can be substantially reduced by the fact that the inner sections of the connecting Lines are secured against the hotplate in such a way that movements of the connecting sections are not transmitted to them.

The hotplate according to the invention is particularly suitable for automatic stacking and for automatic assembly using automatic handling machines (robots). For this white Sen expediently both the hotplate and the connecting piece or its insulating body each have at least one positioning member, by means of which the position of the hotplate or the connecting piece can be precisely recognized by the handling machine and this position can be secured.

A device for attaching the connection piece to the electric hotplate is characterized according to the invention in that a gripper is provided which moves the connection piece in three coordinate directions with respect to the connection sections in order to bring them into engagement one after the other with the guide surfaces, so that they can be easily moved results in a precise alignment of the connector sections with respect to the connector. In addition to or instead of this, it can also be advantageous if a gripping and aligning device is provided for the connection sections, preferably two gripping jaws being provided, at least one of which has a comb-like gripping surface with centering cutouts for the connection sections. The centering cutouts can be delimited in a simple manner prismatic, for example V-shaped.

• Fig. 1 eine erfindungsgemäße Elektrokochplatte im Querschnitt,
• Fig. 2 einen Ausschnitt der Kochplatte gemäß Fig. 21 in Ansicht von unten,
• Fig. 3 eine weitere Ausführungsform im Axialschnitt,
• Fig. 4 eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Elektrokochplatte im Axialschnitt,
• Fig. 5 die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 4 in Ansicht von unten,
• Fig. 6 die Kochplatte gemäß Fig. 4, jedoch in angeschlossenem Zustand,
• Fig. 7 die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 6 in Ansicht von unten,
• Fig. 8 zwei weitere Ausführungsbeispiele in Dar- und 9 stellungen entsprechend Fig. 6,
• Fig. 10 eine weitere Ausführungsform in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 3,
• Fig. 11 eine Kochplatte in Montage- und Anschlußstellung mit zugehörigem Anschlußstück,
• Fig. 12 das Anschlußstück gemäß Fig. 11 in Ansicht von oben,
• Fig. 13 einen Ausschnitt des Anschlußstückes in Ansicht auf das Anschlußende gemäß Fig. 11,
• Fig. 14 einen Ausschnitt einer Anschlußleitung in vergrößerter Darstellung und in Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 15 den Ausschnitt gemäß Fig. 14 in Draufsicht,
• Fig. 16 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Anschluß- und 17 stückes in Darstellungen entsprechend den Fig. 11 und 12,
• Fig. 18 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Anschlußstückes in geschnittener Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 19 das Anschlußstück gemäß Fig. 18 in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 12,
• Fig. 20 das Anschlußstück gemäß Fig. 18 in Ansicht auf das Anschlußende,
• Fig. 21 eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Kochplatte mit zugehörigem Anschlußstuck in Ansicht auf die Unterseite,
• Fig. 22 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Anschluß- und 23 stückes in Darstellungen entsprechend den Fig. 11 und 12,
• Fig. 24 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Anschluß- bis 26 stückes in Darstellungen entsprechend den Fig. 18 bis 20,
• Fig. 27 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Anschluß- bis 29 stückes in Darstellungen entsprechend den Fig. 11 bis 13,
• Fig. 30 zwei weitere Ausführungsformen von Anschluß- bis 33 stücken in Darstellungen entsprechend den Fig. 11 und 12,
• Fig. 34 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Anschlußstückes in Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 35 eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Kochplatte mit zugehörigem Anschlußstück in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 11,
• Fig. 36 die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 35 in Ansicht auf die Unterseite der Kochplatte,
• Fig. 37 einen Ausschnitt der Fig. 35 in Längsansicht auf die Anschlußab schnitte,
• Fig 38 ein erfindungsgemäßes Werkzeug zum Positionieren der Anschluß-Abschnitte der Elektrokochplatte bei deren Verbindung mit den Anschluß-Gliedern bzw. mit dem Anschlußstück in Ansicht und geöffneter Stellung,
• Fig. 39 das Werkzeug gemäß Fig. 38 in geschlossenem Zustand,
• Fig. 40 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Werkzeuges in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 38.

These and further features of preferred developments of the invention are also apparent from the description and the drawings, the individual features being able to be implemented individually or in groups in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields. Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

• 1 is an electric hot plate according to the invention in cross section,
• 2 shows a detail of the hotplate according to FIG. 21 in a view from below,
• 3 shows a further embodiment in axial section,
• 4 shows a further embodiment of an electric hotplate in axial section,
• 5 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 4 in a view from below,
• 6 shows the hotplate according to FIG. 4, but in the connected state,
• 7 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 6 in a view from below,
• 8 shows two further exemplary embodiments in representations and 9 positions corresponding to FIG. 6,
• 10 shows a further embodiment in a representation corresponding to FIG. 3,
• 11 is a hotplate in the assembly and connection position with the associated connector,
• 12 the connector according to FIG. 11 in a view from above,
• 13 shows a detail of the connector in view of the connector end according to FIG. 11,
• 14 is a detail of a connecting line in an enlarged view and in side view,
• 15 is a top view of the detail according to FIG. 14,
• 16 shows a further embodiment of a connecting piece and 17 pieces in representations corresponding to FIGS. 11 and 12,
• 18 shows a further embodiment of a connecting piece in a sectional side view,
• 19 shows the connector according to FIG. 18 in a representation corresponding to FIG. 12,
• 20 the connector according to FIG. 18 in view of the connector end,
• 21 shows a further embodiment of a hotplate with associated connector in a view of the underside,
• 22 shows a further embodiment of a connecting piece and 23 pieces in representations corresponding to FIGS. 11 and 12,
• 24 shows a further embodiment of a connection piece to 26 pieces in representations corresponding to FIGS. 18 to 20,
• 27 shows a further embodiment of a connection to 29 pieces in representations corresponding to FIGS. 11 to 13,
• 30 shows two further embodiments of connecting parts to 33 in representations corresponding to FIGS. 11 and 12,
• 34 shows a further embodiment of a connector in side view,
• 35 shows a further embodiment of a hotplate with associated connecting piece in a representation corresponding to FIG. 11,
• 36 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 35 in a view of the underside of the hotplate,
• 37 is a detail of FIG. 35 in longitudinal view of the Anschlussab sections,
• 38 shows a tool according to the invention for positioning the connection sections of the electric hotplate when they are connected to the connection members or to the connection piece in a view and open position,
• 39 shows the tool according to FIG. 38 in the closed state,
• 40 shows a further embodiment of a tool in a representation corresponding to FIG. 38.

The electric hotplate 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 has a one-piece cast-iron body 2, the upper side of which forms a flat cooking surface 3 which is provided with a recess in the center and is therefore ring-shaped, but free of openings. The, for example, circular hotplate body 2 forms a circumferential collar 4 adjoining the cooking surface 3, the outer circumference of which determines the greatest width or the largest diameter of the hotplate body 2 and on the underside of which a jacket-shaped or apron-shaped flange edge 5 which is slightly offset inwards relative to this outer circumference , whose lower end face determines the underside of the hotplate body 2. This outer flange edge 5, which is provided axially symmetrical to the central axis 6 of the electric hotplate 1, projects downward over the part of the underside of the hotplate adjoining it to the central axis 6 body 2 before. In this part, one, two or more heating resistors 7 in the form of heating coils are laid in grooves extending spirally about the central axis 6, which are separated from one another by correspondingly spiraling, rib-shaped intermediate webs of the cast body, which are pressed into a mineral-pressed insulating mass relative to the hotplate body 2 are embedded without contact. In the radially inner region of the field in which the heating resistors 7 are installed, this field is delimited by an inner flange edge 70 of the cast body corresponding to the outer flange edge 5, this flange edge 70 expediently projecting less far downward than the outer flange edge 5. In the center , that is to say possibly with a radial spacing within the inner flange edge 70, the hotplate body 3 has a center pin 8 which projects over its underside approximately as far as the flange edge 5 and is provided with a threaded bore. The underside of the electric hotplate 1 or of the space enclosed by the flange edge 5 is closed with a cover 9 made of sheet metal, which bears under tension with an outer ring edge 10 on the lower end face of the flange edge 5. The cover 9 formed by a lid-like embossed or deep-drawn part, the outer circumference of which is formed by the approximately the same width as the outer circumference of the flange edge 5 having the edge surface of the ring edge 10, is at least one, in particular two or more, lying outside the central axis 6, screws 11 and nuts engaging in eye-shaped widenings of the flange edge 70 against the underside of the hotplate body 2 and thus against the end faces of the central pin 8 and the flange edge 5, the screws 11 being countersunk in depressions in the underside of the cover 9 such that the screws 11 do not protrude beyond the regions of the underside of the cover 9 which lie essentially in one plane, namely in the plane of the ring edge 10. The threaded hole of the center pin 8 is accessible through an opening in the cover and is used to fasten the hotplate in a hob. In addition to the flat underside mentioned, the cover 9 has only areas which form depressions on the underside, that is to say are set back upwards with respect to this underside. These areas are formed, in particular, by an approximately closed annular groove-shaped depression 12, which is immediately adjacent to the ring edge 10, and by an approximately rectangularly delimited depression 13 in the bottom view, which lies symmetrically to an axial plane 14 of the hotplate in the area of the interruption of the annular groove 12. On the underside of the circumferential collar 4 or the lower annular shoulder formed by this, a support ring 15 made of sheet metal is provided, which closely surrounds the outer circumference of the flange edge 5 over a small part of its height and to support the electric hotplate 1 on the edge of the mounting opening in a hob or the like serves. The support ring 15 can be approximately U-shaped in cross-section, its outer ring leg expediently running obliquely in cross-section downwards to the outside.

The heating resistors 7 have end pins 16 fastened at their ends, which protrude downward from the insulating bed and lie completely in the space between the underside of the hotplate body 3 and the cover 9. At these end pins 16, the ends of inner sections 18 of heating resistor connecting lines 19 are fastened, these inner sections 18 between an insulating piece 20 and the associated end pin 16 being substantially straight or parallel to the cooking surface 3 with a distance between the underside of the hotplate body and the cover 9 run. All, in the exemplary embodiment shown four connecting lines 17 are led out through side-by-side through openings 21 at right angles to the cooking surface 3 in the insulating piece 20 downward from the hotplate or through the cover 9, the through openings 21 on both sides of the axial plane 14 in a common to this Lie level and the insulating piece 20 is approximately symmetrical to the axial plane 14. The sections 18 are angled approximately at right angles adjacent to the inside of the insulating piece 20 or to the associated, conically widened end of the respective through opening 21 and can lie with this angled section essentially free of play at least in a narrow outer section of the respective through opening 21. Immediately adjacent to the outside of the insulating piece 20 or following the outer narrow end of the through opening 21, the respective connecting line 17 is in turn provided with a bend 22 such that it forms an outer, straight-line connection section 19 following this bend is parallel to the axial plane 14 and is directed against the area of the flange 5 closest to the insulating piece 20. The connecting lines 17 are thus angled in the area of the passage through the insulating piece 20, in some cases approximately U-shaped or in part Z-shaped. The connecting lines are formed from the direct connection to the heating resistors or their end pins to the ends of the connecting pins by one-piece, curved, temperature-resistant solid wire pieces, in particular made of chromium-nickel alloy, which are preferably directly on the underside. of the insulating piece are angled. The advantageously made of steatite insulating piece 20 passes through a window-like opening 23 that closely surrounds it with its boundary in the bottom of the recess 13 of the cover 9 parallel to the underside and is supported with a shoulder surface on the inside of the edge of the cover 9 surrounding the opening 23. With on both sides of the through openings 21 and the Connecting leads over their inside protrusions 24, the insulating piece 20 is also supported on the underside of the hotplate body 3 in the area in which the heating resistors 7 are located. The outer ends of the through openings 21 lie in a region of the insulating piece 20 which is provided approximately in the plane of the bottom of the recess 13 and is surrounded by a circumferential, projecting edge 26 which, however, does not protrude to the underside of the cover 9. Cutouts 25 are provided in the long sides of this edge 26, the connecting sections 19 crossing the edge 26 at right angles in the region of the associated cutout 25. Following the recess 13, a less deep receiving recess 27 is provided in the underside of the cover 9 between the latter and the ring edge 10, which extends over the ring edge 10 in the area of a corresponding cutout in the flange edge 5 and in which the connection sections 19 lie in this way that they do not protrude beyond the underside of the cover 9 and their ends extend beyond the outer circumference of the flange 5. In the relaxed state, the connection sections 19 lie in a common plane perpendicular to the axial plane 14 or to the central axis 6, which plane can also be inclined to the underside of the cover 9 or to the cooking surface 3 at a few angular degrees such that the connection sections 19 move away from their underside to their free ends and lie with these free ends at a distance from the underside of the rest of the hotplate. All connection sections 19 are of equal length or so long that their free ends flattened transversely to the common plane lie in a common plane perpendicular to the axial plane 14.

The hotplate has on its underside, namely in the lower end face of the flange edge 5, a positioning member (not shown in detail) in the form of a cutout, in which the cover 9 engages with a cam which is shaped out of its ring edge 10. As a result, on the one hand, the position of the cover relative to the hotplate body 2 is precisely defined, and this positioning member is also suitable for the precise alignment of the hotplate with respect to the central axis 6 during assembly.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the bend of the respective connecting line 17 lying directly on the underside of the insulating piece 20 is designed as a predetermined bending point or as a joint 22a in that the associated wire in this area is weakened in cross section by squeezing. The hinge axis is expediently parallel to the underside of the hotplate 1a, such that the connection section 19a can be pivoted from its transport and assembly position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 by about 180 ° into the connection position shown in broken lines, in which it corresponding to the design of FIG. 1. In this case, the receiving recess 27a is provided in the cover 9a so that it receives the connection section 19a in its transport and assembly position directed from the insulating piece 20a to the center of the hotplate 1a, while the connection section 19a in the connection position below the underside of the cover 9a or the flange 5a.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 7, the joint of the respective connection section 19b is provided between its angled portion 22b or the insulating piece 20b and the region of the flange edge 5b or the ring edge 10b of the cover 9b which is closest and by means of a screw torsion -Spring 71 is formed, to which the connecting line 17b, for example made of spring wire, is bent in this area. In the extended position of the connecting section 19b when the spring 71 is relaxed, the spring 71 has a single spring turn of 360 °, connecting tangentially to the rectilinear, aligned parts of the connecting section 19b, that is to say essentially laterally next to the latter the side facing away from the axial plane 14b. The springs 71 are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction at adjacent connecting sections 19b, the two outer springs 71 being in pairs closer to the insulating piece 20b and the two middle springs 71 closer to the flange edge 5b. Under prestress of the associated spring 71, the respective outer or freely ending part of the connecting portion 19b serving as a connecting pin can be pivoted away from the axial plane 14b about an axis perpendicular to the underside or to the cooking surface 3b until its end on the inner surface of a Stop 72 serving serving shoulder of the cover 9b, which forms a transition between the ring edge 10b and the bottom of the receiving recess 27b. In this receiving recess 27b, the springs 71, including the adjoining parts of the connection sections 19b, have enough space so that they do not protrude beyond the underside of the cover 9b in the said transport and assembly position. The springs 71 are wound by the straight parts of the connecting sections 19b coming from the insulating piece 20b in the direction towards the bottom of the receiving recess 27b, so that the free end parts of the connecting sections 19b bear against this floor in the transport and assembly position. By slightly lifting the connection sections 19b from the cover 9b, their free end parts are released from the stop 72, so that they jump into the extended connection position indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 5. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the bends 22b have two bending points lying directly adjacent to one another, namely an approximately right-angled bend directly adjoining the lower end of the through-opening 21b and a hairline that adjoins the center of the hotplate needle-shaped opposite bend, so that there is advantageously a strain relief for the connecting line 17b. One leg of the hairpin-shaped bend merges rectilinearly into the associated part of the connection section 19b, this bend being at least partially recessed in the underside of the insulating piece 20b.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a common connecting piece 31 is provided for connecting all connecting sections 19b, which in an insulating body 32 made of steatite or the like has a number corresponding to the number of connecting sections 19b parallel to one another and immediately adjacent to one another, has electrically conductive connection members 33 which extend only over part of the length of the insulating body 32 and are arranged completely concealed within the latter. At the rear ends of the connecting members 33, device lines 34 are connected via crimped or clamped connections 35, these device lines 34 being flexible, that is to say easily bendable or limp and, in each case, lines such as copper strands surrounded by a separate insulating jacket in the area of their transition into the connecting piece 31 with the front ends of the connecting members 33. The connection members 33 are designed in the region of their front ends in the manner of plug pins which have approximately the same cross section or diameter as the connection sections 19b. The pins of the connecting members 33 are connected to each other in alignment with the connecting sections 19b by a crimp connector designed as a butt connector in the form of a crimp sleeve 36, which is expediently squeezed before being connected to the connecting member 33 or before being inserted into the insulating body 32 is attached to the connection section 19b and forms that as a plug-in sleeve over this projecting part, which abuts the stop 72 in the transport and assembly position. When connecting the connection sections 19b, these are inserted into the insulating body 32, then the connecting members 33 of the device lines 34 formed by wire end sleeves are inserted into the crimp sleeves 36 and then secured by joint crimping with the crimp sleeve 36. For the engagement of the crimping tool, two mutually aligned engagement openings 53 are provided in the insulating body 32 in the region of each crimping point. The connecting members 33 lie in the vicinity of the end of the insulating body 32 remote from the insulating piece 20b and at a distance outside the outer circumference of the hotplate in an area in which only relatively low temperatures prevail during their operation. The springs 71 lie completely recessed within pocket-shaped openings in the insulating body 32, which in turn connects almost directly to the insulating piece 20b and is inclined downward at a few degrees to its outer end, in such a way that it presses under the force of the resiliently upward Connection sections 19b on the underside of the ring edge 10b and the flange edge 5b supports. The side view of the extremely flat, almost plate-shaped insulating body 32 has in the region of its front end on the upper side at least one hook member 56 which is formed in one piece with it and which can be hooked into a corresponding plug-in opening in the bottom of the receiving recess 27b and thereby in the alignment of the connecting piece 31 contributes to the hotplate both in the direction of insertion depth and transversely to the underside of the hotplate and in lateral directions. The associated end of the connector 31 thus engages in the receiving recess 27b.

As shown in FIG. 8, the connecting member 33c can also be formed directly by the crimp sleeve, which is already attached to the associated end of the device line 34c before connection to the hotplate. In this case, the engagement openings 53c for the crimping tool are located in the regions of the connecting piece 31c into which the connecting sections 19c are to be inserted. 8, the connecting piece 31c or the insulating body 32c is at a distance from the insulating piece 20c, its end facing this being provided approximately in the region of the flange edge 5c. 8, a direct connection between the insulating body 32c and the cover 9c is not provided, but the connection piece 31c is carried freely by the connection sections 19c, in the embodiment according to FIG. 9 a plug-in profile 56d is provided, which is provided by the shorter leg of an angled sheet profile is formed. This sheet profile carries on its underside the insulating body 32d of the connector 31d. The plug profile 56d engages in a corresponding opening in the underside of the cover 9d, in particular in the bottom of the receiving recess 27d, and carries the actual connector 31d d together with the connector sections 19d. At the ends of each a connection socket is fastened, which has a connection hole for inserting the device line and a clamping screw for releasably clamping the device line within its section lying in the insulating body 32d. Instead, a corresponding plug-in connection is also conceivable, which can be designed to be detachable or so self-locking that after a single plug-in it is no longer possible to detach the device line or the connection section without destruction. The crimp sleeves, especially in the case of the design according to FIGS. 6 and 7 or according to FIG. 8, are expediently made of corrosion-resistant steel and can be relatively thick-walled; they can also be designed for an overlapping parallel connection.

While in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 the screw 11 is formed by a stud screw, which is exposed with a threaded section in the associated depression of the cover 9 and, if necessary, to prevent the hotplate from rotating 10 can be used so that the corresponding screw in the recess in the cover 9h is relatively low, namely with its bottom wall adjacent to the end face of the eye-like widening not in the plane of the end face of the Flange edge 70h, but lies approximately in the plane of the end face of the flange edge 5h. The depression is sufficient for receiving the head of a cap screw 11h or a nut that counteracts a stud according to the design according to FIG. 1.

In the drawing figures, essentially the same reference numerals are used for corresponding parts, but in the individual different embodiments with different letter indices.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 11 to 13, a connecting piece 31i is provided, the connecting members 33i of which extend over the entire length of the insulating body 32i and protrude freely over the front end thereof. In the area behind the front, freely projecting ends, the connecting members 33i are designed in the manner of plug sockets, in this area they are U-shaped in cross-section approximately up to the connection of the device lines 34i and the opening between the U-legs is provided by an inner surface of the Receiving opening in the insulating piece 32i is covered, so that a closed cross-section over the circumference, partly delimited by the connecting element 33i and partly by the insulating piece 32i, the socket opening 36i is formed, the width of which is less than twice the diameter of the connecting portions 19i. The freely projecting front ends of the connecting members 33i, which are designed in the manner of wire end sleeves, form threading-in guide means and, for this purpose, have a cross-sectional shape which is not completely closed over the circumference. In the illustrated embodiment, this cross-sectional shape is approximately rectangular at an angle with a rounded transition zone between the angle legs, the radius of curvature of which corresponds to the radius of curvature of the semicircular crossbar of the aforementioned U-profile and is flush with it. A shorter angle leg 38 of this angle profile 37 lies in the connected position parallel to the common median plane of the connecting pins 19i, namely on its side facing away from the cover 9i, and is aligned with the associated U-leg of the connecting element 33i, from which it forms a continuous continuation. The other, longer angle leg 39 is at right angles to this and is directed towards the underside of the cover 9i, this angle leg 39 being formed by a correspondingly deformed end section of the other U-profile leg of the connecting member 33i and in this profile leg having a smooth surface on the inside. flat, continuously curved guide section 42 merges. The inner surfaces of the angled legs 38, 39 form two guide surfaces 40, 41 which are at right angles to one another and merge into one another via a concave fillet, of which the guide surface 41 is continuously curved into the inner surface of the guide section 42 and thus, like the guide surface 40, continuously into the associated inner surfaces of the Socket opening 36i merges. The angle leg 38 connects with its outer surface to a shoulder surface 43 of the insulating body 32i which covers the freely projecting ends of the connecting members 33i or the angle profiles 37 over part of their length and which is formed by a corresponding projection which extends over the width of the insulating body 32i is. This projection or the shoulder surface 43 lies on the side of the connecting members 33i or the angle profiles 37 facing away from the cover 9i, the shoulder surface 43 being able to form a continuation of the guide surfaces 40. The angle legs 38 and the guide surfaces 40 of all connecting members 33i protrude in cross-section in the same direction, that is to say that the threading-in guide means are oriented identically in all connecting members. 11, the electric hotplate 1i is shown in its preferred mounting position, namely with the cooking surface 3i underneath, and the hob 44 engaging in the support ring 15i is indicated by dash-dotted lines. After the electric hotplate 1i and the hob 44 have been joined together, the connecting piece 31i is moved toward the connecting sections 19i in parallel or in alignment with the connecting sections 19i using a gripper (not shown). The gripper engages in two positioning members 45 i of the connecting piece 31 provided on the side of the insulating body 32 i, which are formed by lateral cutouts or depressions, so that in addition to a positionally correct mounting of the connecting piece 31, a positive connection in the plug-in direction is also ensured. The connecting piece 31 i is moved towards the connecting sections 19i in such a way that they are still a short distance from the extensions of the guide surfaces 40, 41 which are intended in the plug-in direction, that is to say in any case they lie in the angle or plug-in space enclosed by them come. As soon as the guiding surfaces 40, 41 have overlapped all the connecting sections 19i over a sufficiently large length, the connecting piece 31i is moved in two mutually perpendicular coordinate directions 46, 47 at right angles to the insertion direction arrow 48, these coordinate directions being parallel or at right angles to the planes of the guiding surfaces 40 , 41 and are each directed in the direction perpendicular to the associated guide surface 40 or 41, in which this guide surface points. Appropriately, the connector 31 is first moved in the coordinate direction 47 perpendicular to the guide surface 41 until the connecting portions 19i abut the respectively associated guide surface 41, after which the connector 31 i is moved in the coordinate direction 46 perpendicular to the guide surface 40 until the connection - Also attach sections 19i to this guide surface 40. The connection sections 19i are thus exactly opposite Aligned over the socket openings 46 so that the connector 31 can be plugged completely in the direction of arrow 48 on the connector portions 19i designed as pins, for example until the front ends of the connecting members 33i or the angle profiles 37 lie in the region of the bends 22i come. During the movement in the coordinate directions 46, 47, the movement in the plug-in direction arrow 48 can be interrupted or it can be continued at such a low speed that the threading of the connection sections 19i into the socket openings 36i is guaranteed in any case. The connecting sections 19i are then fixedly connected to the connecting members 33i within the connecting members 33i, that is to say between their front and rear ends or between the front and rear ends of the insulating body 32i. This can be done, for example, in an advantageous manner by contactless welding, for which purpose an access opening 49 is provided on the side of the insulating body 32i facing away from the cover 9i in the region of each connecting member 33i. However, it is also possible to firmly connect the connecting members 33i in the region of their freely projecting ends by welding, for example by resistance welding, to the connecting sections 19i.

The connecting piece 31 i or the insulating body 32i is formed as a flat body of approximately constant thickness when viewed in side view or in the direction of insertion, which is oblong-rectangular in plan view with connecting members 33i lying alongside one another over its width. On its side facing the cover 9i, the insulating body 32i has protruding, knob-shaped latching members 50 near its front end, to which corresponding latching openings or latching depressions 51 in the bottom of the receiving recess 27i are assigned. The two locking recesses 51 lie in a view of the underside of the hotplate on both sides of the group of connection sections 19i. The latching members 50 snap into the latching depressions 51 when the connector 31i is plugged onto the connector sections 19i, so that the insertion depth with which the connector sections 19i engage in the connector 31i is precisely defined. The design can be provided such that the latching members 50 are pressed into the latching depressions 51 by the spring force of the connection sections 19i and are thereby secured in their latched position. In the connected state, the connector 31 i lying obliquely to the underside of the electric hotplate 1i, corresponding to the connecting sections 19i, projects relatively far beyond the outer periphery of the flange rim 5i or the hotplate body 2i, so that the device lines 34i lie at a relatively large distance from the electric hotplate.

The bend 22, 22a, 22b etc. of each connection section also forms an articulation zone in the form of a desired bending point, through which the connection section is in particular about a central axis perpendicular to the axial plane 14 with respect to the rest of the hotplate, preferably at least up to a right angle the underside of the projecting position can be pivoted. As a result, the connector can, if necessary, also lie vertically below the insulating piece 20i, the bending of the connector sections advantageously taking place only after the connection to the connector. 14 and 15, this joint zone 22k of the connecting line 17k is formed by two cross-sectional weakenings 52 lying directly adjacent to one another on both sides of the bend, these cross-sectional weakenings being able to be formed by squeezing the solid piece of wire and having their smaller cross-sectional extent at right angles to the joint axis. The cross-sectional weakenings, which have a stiffening effect in the manner of flat profiles, can also be provided directly adjacent to the bend next to one another at the associated end of the connecting section, so that the bend and the joint zone lie next to one another and do not coincide.

16 and 17, the connecting members 33m are formed by sockets protruding freely over the front end of the insulating body 32m, which are bent from sheet metal strips and are therefore longitudinally slotted. At a distance from the front end of the insulating body 32m, the connecting members 33m have conical extensions 37m as threading and guiding means for the connecting sections. Furthermore, the insulating body 32m has a stop 50m on its associated side, which can abut the outer periphery of the flange edge of the hotplate body and thereby determine the insertion depth for the connection sections. The projecting connecting members 33m are particularly suitable for connection to the connecting sections by spot welding or non-contact welding, such as laser welding. Between its front and rear ends, the insulating body 32m has, in the area of each connecting member 33m passing through it, an engagement opening 53m for a crimping tool, with which the connecting members 33m are deformed by squeezing within the insulating body 32m in such a way that they are secured in the longitudinal direction with respect to the insulating body 32m are. The engagement openings 53m can be provided side by side on the side facing away from the hotplate, on the side facing it or on both sides, preferably in each case in alignment with one another.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 18 to 20, a guide surface 40n, namely the guide surface parallel to the common central plane of the connection sections, is formed by the insulating piece 32n, namely by a shoulder surface similar to the shoulder surface 43 according to FIG . This shoulder surface is only or flag-shaped extensions of the connecting members 33n interrupted, which engage in groove-shaped depressions in the shoulder surface such that the guide surfaces 40n are approximately aligned with the associated inner boundaries of the socket openings 36n, these inner boundaries being formed by the associated U-profile legs of the connecting members 33n. But it is also conceivable to design the connecting members 33n over the entire length to be brought into engagement with the connecting pins, for example up to the connection of the device lines 34n, as flat strip-shaped connecting lugs, so that the socket opening is only on one side of the electrically conductive one Connection member 33n and otherwise limited by the insulating body 31n. Each guide surface 40n passes continuously between two guide and connection lugs 39n, each connection lug 39n forming a guide surface 41n lying at right angles to the guide surface 40n. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the guide surfaces 40n, in contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 11 to 13, point away from the underside of the hotplate, so that the associated coordinate direction 46n is directed in the opposite direction. In addition to the access openings 49n for contactless welding located adjacent to the front end of the insulating body 32n, the insulating body 32n also has at least one engagement opening 53n for a crimping tool or the like for each connecting member 33n. on. The freely projecting ends of the terminal lugs 39n are for the connection to the terminal sections by resistance welding or the like. suitable.

While the distances between adjacent connecting sections or connecting members are the same in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 20, they are asymmetrically unequal in the embodiment according to FIG. 21 such that the connecting piece 31p is connected to them only in a single predetermined position can be and thus connection errors are ruled out by turning the connector 31p. In a preferred embodiment, apart from a distance, in particular between two outer connecting members 33p, all other distances between adjacent connecting members 33p are the same, the differing distance being greater than these distances. For each connection section 19p, a separate, groove-shaped receiving recess 27p is provided in the underside of the cover 9p, which is made between a relatively narrow circumferential groove 54 adjoining the ring edge 10p and the recess 13p for the insulating piece 20p in the cover 9p. As a result, each connection section 19p is secured against lateral movements and thus any corresponding bending even during transport or during stacked storage.

The connecting members 33r of the connecting piece 31r according to FIGS. 22 and 23 form freely over the front end of the insulating body 32r protruding, closed, sleeve-shaped sockets 36r, the inner bore of which is flared at the front end in a funnel shape or at an acute angle. The connecting members 33r are expediently formed by thick-walled tube sections made of corrosion-resistant steel or a similarly high-temperature-resistant, electrically conductive material and can be mechanically firmly connected to the connecting pins by simply squeezing them together.

24 to 26, the connecting members 33s are formed by relatively thick-walled steel sleeves, which are flared at their front ends to form threading and guiding means for the connecting pins by non-cutting deformation. At their rear ends, which lie in the insulating body 32s, they are oval or elongated in such a way that their larger cross-sectional extent lies at right angles to the common central plane of the connecting members 33i or the connecting sections. In these sections, threaded clamping screws 55 are guided in such a way that they engage in the side flanks of the oval cross section of the connecting members 33s in accordance with FIG. 29 and are therefore guided particularly securely. The clamping screws 55 are used to connect the device lines 34s, which are thus releasably attached. The connection members 33s are connected to the connection sections by crimping. The insulating body 32s is fastened to an essentially U-shaped plug body 56 which is bent from sheet metal and which can be designed, for example, to be plugged onto a mating connector of the cover. The plug body 56s, which partially encompasses the insulating body 32s for securing the position, projects in the direction of the arrow 48s from the connecting members 33s and can be provided in the region of its front end with the latching members 50s in the form of features. The plug body 56s lies on the side of the insulating body 32s facing the hotplate, which it covers with respect to the hotplate.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 27 to 29, the connecting members 33t are oval or long round in cross-section throughout their length, so that the connecting sections are also inserted into long-round socket openings, the larger cross-sectional extent of which is perpendicular to the common central plane of the connecting sections . For securing the connection sections, clamping screws 57 are also provided which are exposed in front of the insulating body 32t at the projecting ends of the connection members 33t in such a way that their threads engage in the mutually parallel, flat inner flank surfaces of the socket openings. '

30 and 31 is a very short connecting piece 31 u, the insulating body 32u of which receives the connecting members completely sunk compared to its extension in the direction of insertion has a much larger width and can be designed in the manner of a luster terminal. Expediently, only a single clamping screw 37u is provided on each connecting member 33u, which clamps the end of the associated connecting section 19u, which is expediently widened by squeezing, overlapping against the associated end of the device line 34u and thus directly against it. This end of the device line 34u can be welded or the like. be attached to the connecting member 33u or it can be detachably fixed at the same time as the connecting section 19u by the clamping screw 57u. The clamping screws 57u are also recessed in the insulating body 32u. In particular, this design is suitable for the connection sections 19u to be transferred into a position approximately at right angles from the underside of the hotplate, so that the connection piece 31u and the device line 34u, provided that the space under the hob allows it, are relatively wide are located below the electric hotplate.

As shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the connecting members 33v can also be designed such that they can be connected to the connecting sections via a pure, preferably self-locking plug connection. In the exemplary embodiment shown, each connecting member 33v is formed by an approximately U-shaped sheet metal profile, the leg of which lying towards the front of the connecting piece 31v has a plug-in opening for the respective connecting section. This plug-in opening can be delimited by a barb-like locking member 57v, which hooks in the connecting section in such a way that it no longer releases it in the opposite direction to the plug. In the other, opposite leg of the connecting member 33v, a plug opening is expediently provided for a plug 58 attached to the device line 34v in such a way that it can be inserted releasably. All device lines 34v are attached directly adjacent to their associated ends or plugs 58 in the correct position on a web-shaped connecting piece 5g, so that they can be connected together as a block to the connecting piece 31v.

The embodiment according to FIG. 34 differs from this essentially in that the front ends of the connecting members 33w assigned to the connecting sections are formed by angle profiles 37w lying freely in front of the insulating body 32w or similar threading and guiding means, so that the connecting sections can be connected by welding.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 35 and 36, protruding parts are provided on the hotplate 1y over the underside of the cover 9y, so that these are essentially only for one. Stacking with offset central axes 6y is suitable. To fasten the hotplate 1y in the device, a threaded bolt 11y projecting downward in the central axis 6y is provided, which is screwed into the central pin of the hotplate body 2y and on which a nut for fixing the cover 9y is arranged relative to the hotplate body. The cover 9y lies completely within the flange edge 5y and is cup-shaped with a raised edge within the flange edge 5y against the underside of the hotplate body or the field having the heating resistors 7y. To prevent the hotplate from rotating in the appliance, which in other embodiments can also be provided by a part that can be set up from the transport position over the underside of the hotplate, in the embodiment according to FIGS. 35 and 36 there is at least one anti-rotation pin protruding adjacent to the central pin 11y over the underside 29 provided. Above the connection sections 19y there is a mating connector 30 protruding parallel to them in the form of a sheet metal profile, which is possibly penetrated by the insulating piece 20y and is fastened to the underside of the cover 9y, for example by spot welding. The, in cross section possibly U-shaped or tongue-shaped flat mating connector 30, the free end of which projects outwardly less far than the connecting sections 19y, lies with its plugging section at a distance below the cover 9y, this plugging section being approximately the same plugging direction as the connection - Has 19y sections. The mating connector 30, which can also be used instead of the described positioning member 28 in the flange edge 5y for the correct orientation of the electric hotplate 1y, is used for attaching a connecting piece 31y which at the same time has connecting members 33y for receiving the connecting sections 19y.

35 and 36 show the assignment of the connecting piece 31 to the electric hotplate 1y or to the mating connector 30, the connecting piece 39y essentially corresponding to that according to FIGS. 27 to 29. The plug body 56y can be arranged in such a way that it receives the mating connector 30 between its relatively low legs pointing away from the underside of the hotplate and is thereby secured against lateral displacements. According to FIG. 36, latching members 50y can be provided on the plug-in body 56y, which cooperate with corresponding counter-members in the counter-connector 30, which are not shown in detail. Through the plug body 56y, which can also come into engagement with the mating connector 30 before the connecting members 33y come into engagement with the connecting sections 19y, the connecting members 33y are aligned very precisely with respect to the connecting sections 19y in two mutually perpendicular coordinate directions. At the free end of the mating connector 30, a plate-shaped centering member 60, which is formed in one piece with the mating connector 30, is provided for all the connecting sections 19y, this centering member 60 in the centering position at approximately a right angle to the connecting sections 19y Level stands and protrudes downward from the electric hotplate 1y. The centering member 60, which has a prismatic or V-shaped centering opening 61 on its lower longitudinal edge for each connection section 19y, which in the region of this longitudinal edge forms a further outlet opening 62 relative to the remaining width of the centering opening 61, engages the connection Sections 19y at a short distance behind their free ends. The centering member 60 is integrally connected to the front end of the mating connector 30 in the region of its side facing away from the centering openings 61 via a hinge zone 63 in the form of relatively weakly dimensioned connecting webs, the hinge axis being in the plane of the underside of the mating connector 30, so that the centering member 60 can be folded against this underside. In this case, the connection sections 19y emerge from the centering openings 61 through the execution openings 62. The plug body 56y of the connecting piece 31y can be shortened in relation to the connecting members 33y in such a way that the latter first come into engagement with the connecting sections 19y. In the further course, the connecting members 33y and in particular the plug body 56y abut the centering member 60 so that it is folded against the underside of the mating connector 30 and then lies between this underside and the plug body 56y and cannot electrically bridge the connecting members 33y. In this case, the plug body 56 is located on the underside of the mating connector 30. Also in the embodiment according to FIGS. 35 to 37, the hotplate 1y can, in a transport and assembly state, be designed to be essentially flat on the underside. After the hotplate and hob have been put together, the centering member 60 is then set up, for example, from its position folded against the underside of the mating connector 30, the connecting sections 19y are pivoted out of their transport and assembly position about their joints into the connecting position and precisely aligned in the centering openings 61 . The gripper used for assembly of an automatic handling machine or the like can have a corresponding counter-centering member, which has similar, prism-shaped centering openings for each connection section 19y and in the region of the centering member 60, whose centering openings 61 engage the connection sections 19y opposite, so that these cannot be printed be held in their centering position. The gripper can also have both centering members on two counter-rotating centering jaws, so that the centering member 60 provided on the hotplate can be dispensed with.

The features described on the basis of the respective embodiments can also be provided in all other embodiments, depending on which requirements are to be met in the respective application. In particular in the case of use on a so-called automatic hotplate, in which a temperature sensor is provided in an opening in the center of the hotplate body, two hollow screws with an internal thread corresponding to hollow screw 11 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are provided both for fastening the cover and for fastening and securing the hotplate to the appliance. Instead of the described connection options between the connection members 33 etc. and the device lines 34, flat plug tongues for plug connections, as are common under the trade name AMP, can be provided on the connection members in all embodiments.

Instead of the alignment by the centering members 60 or in addition thereto, an alignment of the connection sections, for example the connection sections 19, 19y or

19 z during assembly also take place in that a separate alignment or. Centering tool 64 is provided, which is expediently provided as a gripper for the separate gripping of the connecting sections 19 z such that they are both aligned parallel to one another and are held at a predetermined distance from one another. The tool has two comb-like gripping jaws 65, 66 which can be brought into engagement with one another and which either lie immediately adjacent to one another and can thereby overlap one another, or of which a thicker gripping jaw on its comb edge has a receiving slot for immersing the other, thinner or has plate-shaped gripping jaw. The gripping jaws 65, 66 have correspondingly formed and arranged the centering member 60, with their open sides facing each other gripping openings 67, which are narrowed like a funnel to their bottom surfaces, for example with convexly curved flanks, the bottom surfaces being about half the cross section of the connecting sections 19 z correspond. The gripping jaws 65, 66 project in the direction in which the gripping openings 67 are provided next to one another, projecting freely from one end from a gripper holder 68, opposite which one or both gripping jaws are movably mounted towards and away from one another. In the illustrated embodiment, only one gripper jaw 65 is slidably mounted to close the tool relative to the gripper holder 68, while the other gripper jaw 66 is rigidly attached to the gripper holder 68. An actuator 70 in the form of, for example, an actuating rod guided on the rod-shaped jaw guide 69 engages on the respectively movable gripping jaw 65. In the open state, the tool 64 moves laterally into the connecting sections 19 z in such a way that they lie between the gripping jaws 65, 66 and between two adjacent connecting sections 19 z the two opposite, essentially tapering, associated comb teeth are provided are each between two gripping openings 67 of the respective gripping jaw 65, 66 and their Form flanks. 39, the connecting portions 19 z slide on the flanks of the gripping openings 67 until they each abut the two opposite bottom surfaces of two opposite gripping openings 67 and are held essentially free of play by clamping. Since the free ends of the connecting sections 19 z protrude beyond the tool 64, these ends can be slightly resiliently adapted to their position or to the position of the connecting members when they are inserted into the connecting piece.

While in the embodiment according to FIGS. 38 and 39 the gripping jaws 65, 66 can be moved in a straight line relative to one another, the gripping jaws 65 z, 66 z in the embodiment according to FIG. 40 can be pivoted like a pair of pliers. For this purpose, the two gripping jaws 65 z, 66 z form extended gripper arms beyond the gripping openings 67 z, which at their ends distant from the gripping openings 67 z are pivotable to one another in a joint 69 z about an axis parallel to the central axes of the gripping openings 67 z, and are mounted on the gripper bracket 68 z. It is also conceivable to provide a separate pair of pliers for each connecting section, so that several pliers lying next to one another can engage in the connecting sections from the underside of the electric hotplate. In this case, the tongs can engage in the connection sections very close to the insulating piece, since they take up very little space between these connection sections and the underside of the electric hotplate.

Claims (25)

1. Electric hotplate (1) with a hotplate body (2) defining an outer circumference on an engagement portion for a hob, a cover (9) on an underside and an insulator (20) in the vicinity of the cover (9) for the passage of heating resistor connecting leads (17), which on the underside suitable for stack support for the connection of appliance lines (34) form exposed, inherently rigid and substantially straight connecting portions (19), which in a transportation and assembly position do not project over the underside of the hotplate (1), characterized in that the connecting portions (19) are mounted so as to be transferable from the transportation and assembly position into at least one connection position, in which they project over the underside and the outer circumference of the hotplate body (2).

2. Electric hotplate according to claim 1, characterized in that in the transportation and fitting position, the connecting portions (19b) of leads (17b), in a view of the hotplate body (2b), extend at the most up to its outer circumference and in particular at the most up to the inner circumference of an outer flange (5b), the connecting portions (19b) being directed outwards in the connection position against the outer circumference area closest to the insulating member (20).

3. Electric hotplate according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that by means of at least one joint (22a) countersunk in the underside and constructed in one piece with the connecting portion (19a), the latter can be transferred from the transportation and fitting position into the connection position and preferably the joint axis of at least one joint is approximately at right angles to the underside of hotplate (1b).

4. Electric hotplate according to claim 3, characterized in that the joint axis of at least one joint formed by a cross-sectionally reduced bending of the connection portion (19a) is located parallel to the underside of the hotplate and approximately at right angles to the associated axial plane of the hotplate (1a).

5. Electric hotplate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particular connecting portion (19b) is applied by means of a spring (71), in the direction of the connecting position, against a stop (72) on the underside of the hotplate keeping it in the transportation and fitting position and which is preferably provided on the cover (9b) and is formed by the inside of a circular edge (10b) of the cover (9b).

6. Electric hotplate according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring (71) forms the joint and the latter is in particular formed by a helically bent part of the connecting portion (19b).

7. Electric hotplate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, adjacent to the insulating member, the connecting portion (19b) has a hinge-like desired bending point, which is formed by two cross-sectionally reduced portions (52) on either side of a bend, in such a way that the connecting portions can be transferred into a position at right angles to the hotplate.

8. Electric hotplate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a part of the connecting portion (19) located between the insulating member (20) and the outer circumference of the hotplate body (2), in the underside is provided at least one of the components formed by an outer flange edge (5), the cover (9) and the insulating member (20) extending approximately up to the underside of the cover (9) is provided a reception depression (27).

9. Electric hotplate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a common connecting piece (31) for all the connecting portions (19b) provided on the insulating member (20) and which has separate connecting members (33) juxtaposed on an insulating body (32) and with which are associated, particularly in the vicinity of their front ends in the connection direction (arrow 48), threading guide means for the connecting portions (19b) and at least one of the two components formed by the connecting members (33i) and the insulating body (32i) constitute sockets for the connecting portions (19i) and in the vicinity of the front end of at least one socket in the connection direction have a cross-sectional shape forming the threading guidance means.

10. Electric hotplate according to claim 9, characterized in that for forming the threading guidance means, the front end of at least one socket opening (36r) is widened in funnel-shaped manner and formed by the tubular or longitudinally slotted, sleevelike connecting member (33r) or at least one socket opening (36t) at right angles to the common plane of the connecting portions in elongated slot form or upstream of at least one socket opening (36i) is provided at least one guidance surface (40, 41, 42) for the connecting end of the connecting portion (19i) roughly parallel to the plugging direction (48) and which is wider than the width of the socket opening (36i) and whereof preferably one guide surface (40) is roughly parallel to the common plane of the connecting portions (19i) remote from the underside of the hotplate and one guide surface (41) is at right angles to the common plane of the connecting portions (19a), so that two guide surfaces (40, 41) at an angle to one another are connected together.

11. Electric hotplate according to claims 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one guide surface (40, 41, 42) is formed by the connecting member (33i) constructed on the front end in particular in flat rod, angular or flat plugging tongue-equipped manner, or at least one guide surface (40n) is formed by the insulating body (32n), particularly by a shoulder surface passing over all the connecting members (33n).

12. Electric hotplate according to one of the claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the insulating body (32, 32i, 32m) of the connecting piece forms at least one orienting member engaging directly in the vicinity of the underside on the hotplate (1 b, 1y), such as a locking member (50), a plugging depth stop (50m), a plugging profile (56y), etc., which is preferably formed by projecting studs for engaging in depressions (51) on either side of the connecting portions (19i) located in the underside of the cover (9i) or by a stop (50m) for engaging on the outer circumference of the outer flange edge of the hotplate body, the insulating member (32m) being supported in the stop position on the underside of the flange edge.

13. Electric hotplate according to one of the claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the connecting piece has a plug body (56y) associated with a mating plug (30) of hotplate (1y) and roughly parallel to the connecting portions (19y) and in particular the plug body (56y) is formed by a sheet metal profile carrying the insulating member (32y) or the mating plug (30) is formed by a plugging tongue fixed to the cover (9y) and positioned above the connecting portions (19y).

14. Electric hotplate according to one of the claims 9 to 13, characterized by a centering member (60) for the connecting portion (19y) engaging in the vicinity of the connecting end and arranged on the hotplate (1y) so as to be movable from a centering position into a connecting position displaced out of the plugging path of the connecting piece (31y) and preferably the centering member (60) can be driven by the connecting piece (31y) roughly in the plugging direction out of the centering position or is located on cover (9y) in pivotably mounted manner about an axis roughly parallel to the common plane of the connecting portions (19y) and is connected by means of desired bending articulation zones (63) to a mating plug (30) of the hotplate.

15. Electric hotplate according to claim 14, characterized in that the centering member (60) has centering openings (61) for the connecting portions (19y), which are edge-open in the vicinity of openings (62) for the connecting portions (19y), the openings (62) being in particular provided on the edge of the plate-like centering member remote from articulation zone (63).

16. Electric hotplate according to one of the claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the connecting piece (31i) has at least one positioning member (45) for the correct-positioned orientation on the gripper of a robot and preferably positioning depressions are provided on both sides of the insulating member (32i).

17. Electric hotplate according to one of the claims 9 to 16, characterized in that the connecting members (33i) are made from steel and are in particular constituted by multicore cable ends for connection to appliance lines (34i).

18. Electric hotplate according to one of the claims 9 to 17, characterized in that at least one of the connecting members (33m) is positionally secured with respect to insulator (32m) by squeezing and has in the vicinity of each connecting member (33m) at least one engagement opening (53) for a squeezing tool located at right angles thereto, that preferably at least one of the connecting members (33i) is constructed for contactless welding to the connecting portion (19i) and in the insulating member (32i) is provided an access opening (49) in the vicinity of the particular weld and that in particular at least one of the connecting members (33m) is constructed for crimped connection to the connecting portion or to the appliance line (34m).

19. Electric hotplate according to one of the claims 9 to 18, characterized in that at least one of the connecting members (33v) is constructed for detachable plug connection to the connection portion or a plug (58) of the appliance line (34v), that at least one of the connecting members (33t) for the connecting portion for the appliance line (34t) has at least one connecting clamping screw (57,55t), whose thread in the case of an oval bush cross-section of connecting member (33t) engages in its cross-sectional flanks, that at least one connecting member (33i), which in particular projects over the insulating member (32i) in the plugging direction (arrow 48), extends approximately up to the bend (22i) of the connecting portion (19i), or that the insulating member (32i) is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the one-part, through connecting members (33i) and engages on the underside of a flange edge of the hotplate body.

20. Electric hotplate according to one of the claims 9 to 19, characterized in that the insulating member (32) is connected at least approximately to the outer lateral face or underside of the insulating piece (20b) and in particular receives the associated joint (71) of the connecting portions (19b) and that the insulating member (32) and the insulating piece (20b) are made from a ceramic material.

21. Electric hotplate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating piece (20) is positionally secured between the cover (9) and a facing underside of the hotplate body (2) receiving heating resistors (7) and engages in centered manner in a window- like opening (23) in cover (9) and preferably the insulating piece (20) is set back with respect to the underside of cover (9) and in narrow passage openings (21) secures the leads against movements of their inner portions (18) connected to the heating resistor (7).

22. Electric hotplate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the underside of the hotplate (1), particularly the cover (9), is constructed as a stacking surface essentially located in one plane and which is substantially free from projecting parts.

23. Electric hotplate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (9) is fixed to the hotplate body (2) by a fixing member, such as a screw bolt (11) set back with respect to its underside, located outside a central axis (6) of hotplate (1) in the vicinity of an inner flange edge (70) of hotplate body (2) and that preferably, when constructed as an automatic hotplate, the hotplate is provided on its underside with two spaced fixing members, particularly hollow screws, suitable for fixing the cover and the hotplate in a hob.

24. Apparatus for fitting an electric connecting piece (31i) to connecting portions (19i) of an electric hotplate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gripper is provided, which moves the connecting piece (31 i) in three coordinate directions (arrows 46, 47, 48) with respect to the connecting portions (19i), in order to successively engage same with guide surfaces (40, 41, 42) or, as a separate tool, is provided a gripping and orienting device for the connecting portions (19).

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the gripping and orienting device has two gripping jaws, whereof at least one has a comb-like gripping surface with centering cutouts for the connecting portions (19).

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