EP2223565B1 - Ceramic hob - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a hob with a cooking surface designed for positioning a preparation vessel and an electronic circuit carrier arranged below the cooking surface.

From the EP 1 651 022 A2 For example, a holder for a circuit board is known, which may be, for example, a touch-switch unit of a glass-ceramic cooktop. The holder has pins which extend on one side of the holder and which are intended to secure the circuit board arranged on the holder. On the opposite side there are elastic projections that serve to rest the holder on a bottom plate of an electrical appliance.

Furthermore, from the EP 1 139 695 A2 a household appliance in the form of a hob is known, which has a display and / or an actuating device on an underside of the hob plate. In this case, a circuit carrier is fixed in position fixed in a rectangular holding frame by means of locking elements, wherein the holding frame can be adhered to the underside of the hob plate.

Hobs are known from the prior art, which have a cooking surface, which is formed of glass ceramic. On this cooking surface preparation vessels such as pots, pans, etc. can be placed, in this regard cooking zones are provided on the cooking surface, which are heated. In addition, such a well-known hob also has electronics over which operating parameters of the hob can be set and monitored. Such circuit carriers may have light sources which illuminate the cooking surface from below and thereby allow the display of different displays, such as operating parameter values or the like, at the top of the cooking surface.

In these known hobs, a disadvantage is the fact that the displays can often be inaccurate and blurred if the illumination is not guaranteed due to the inaccurate positioning of the circuit substrate to the hob. So far, the electronics or circuit boards are usually positioned indirectly via a separate housing. In this, the circuit carrier are fixed, which due to the positioning tolerance from the sum of all individual components position inaccuracies occur, which can meet the display only very inadequate.

Tolerances can occur in this context by length tolerances of the glass ceramic, adhesion tolerance of the mounting frame to the glass ceramic, centering tolerances of the housing to the mounting frame, length tolerances of the electronics housing, mounting tolerances of the electronics in the housing and the positioning accuracy of the electronic components on the board or the circuit board. In this context, total tolerances can arise in the millimeter range, which makes it can lead to significant inaccuracies in terms of illumination or the display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hob, in which these tolerances can be at least substantially reduced and the display inaccuracies can be improved.

This object is achieved by a hob, which has the features of claim 1.

A cooking hob according to the invention comprises a cooking surface designed for positioning a preparation vessel and an electronic circuit carrier arranged below the cooking surface. At least one positioning element, which engages in a recess in the circuit carrier movably mounted in a housing, is arranged on the underside of the cooking surface. By such a configuration, the position fixation of the circuit substrate and the cooking surface can be made possible and tolerances are compensated. The desired position between the circuit carrier and the cooking surface can also be ensured very precisely with regard to an improved display of information. Not least, this position fixation can be permanently enabled.

In addition, by the circuit carrier is movably mounted in the housing, tolerances can be compensated easily and with little effort. In particular, the possibility of subsequent compensatory movements of the circuit substrate is ensured by the "floating" storage of the circuit substrate in the housing, so that even after the fact tolerances can be easily compensated.

The movable mounting of the circuit carrier in the housing may preferably be possible both in a horizontal plane and in a direction perpendicular to this horizontal plane. This high degree of flexibility with respect to the floating storage allows a particularly accurate position adjustment and permanently guaranteed.

Preferably, the hob comprises at least two positioning elements, which are arranged on the underside of the cooking surface. By this plurality, the position fixation can be further improved because a position fixation can be ensured in a plane.

Preferably, the circuit carrier has at least one display and / or a light source and is arranged under a display surface associated with the cooking surface. The circuit carrier may in this context, for example, include a seven-segment display and the like. By means of transillumination areas formed specifically in the display area, the pattern generated by the circuit carrier or the display and / or the light unit can then be displayed through the display area.

Preferably, the display surface is a separate part, which is connected to the glass ceramic formed second part of the cooking surface, in particular glued, is. The display surface is thus formed of a specific material, which ensures a particularly suitable property with regard to the optical transmission and thus also with regard to a flexible and versatile display of information.

The display surface is formed in particular from a material which is different from the preferably provided glass-ceramic material of the second part of the cooking surface. In particular, the material of the display surface, with regard to its optical properties, can facilitate the transmission of light rays in a spectral range which is not possible by the material of the glass ceramic.

Preferably, the shape of the display surface is adapted to the shape of the circuit substrate and / or the dimensions of the display surface are greater than or equal to the dimensions of the circuit substrate. By means of such a configuration, a separate module can be created, as it were, locally in the hob, which is of compact design and coordinated with one another in terms of space requirement and space requirement. Also in this regard, the appropriate configuration with regard to the indications to be provided can then be made possible. Also, in this context, the Relative positioning of the circuit substrate and the display surface are suitably matched.

Preferably, the positioning element is glued to the underside of the cooking surface, in particular the display surface.

It can also be provided that the cooking surface and the positioning element are integrally formed. As a result, the manufacturing process can be done faster and the attachment of the positioning can be made very accurate. Mounting tolerances of the positioning can be prevented.

The cooking surface and the positioning element may be formed of different materials. Again, suitable material combinations can be selected in view of the requirements of mechanical strength and thermal stability.

Preferably, the cooking surface, in particular the underside of the display surface, is printed with at least one symbol and / or one scale. Especially in such an embodiment, it is particularly advantageous if the exact positioning of the circuit substrate to the cooking surface, in particular to the display surface, can be ensured by the positioning elements and their engagement in the recess. The optically accurate display and illumination of the symbols and / or the scale can be achieved precisely.

Preferably, the recess in the circuit carrier is formed as a continuous hole. As a result, a particularly effective engagement and a particularly suitable position fixation can be ensured. Unwanted slipping out or slipping can be prevented.

Of course, however, a recess may also be formed as a blind hole and thus as a non-continuous hole or as a merely simple indentation or the like.

By the hob according to the invention, the tolerance chain of the individual positions or dimensions can at least be reduced, in particular eliminated, and a direct positioning of electronic components for preferably formed printing of the display surface can be achieved. The positional accuracy can be reduced by this embodiment to a few tenths of a millimeter, whereby it is at least five to ten times more accurate than arrangements which are known from the prior art. Since the housing of the circuit substrate no longer has to ensure positioning in a horizontal plane, it can be optimized for attachment in the vertical direction and / or on its sealing function.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf ein Kochfeld;

Fig. 2

eine Schnittdarstellung des Kochfelds gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Darstellung einer Draufsicht des Einlegers des Kochfelds gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht des Einlegers gemäß Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

eine erste Ansicht des Kochfelds von unten;

Fig. 6

eine zweite Ansicht des Kochfelds von unten.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a plan view of a hob;

Fig. 2

a sectional view of the hob according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

an enlarged view of a top view of the insert of the hob according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4

a side view of the insert according to Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 5

a first view of the hob from below;

Fig. 6

a second view of the hob from below.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 is a cooking field 1 is shown in a plan view, which has a cooking surface 2 of glass ceramic 3. On this glass ceramic 3, a preparation vessel, such as a pot or a pan or the like, can be positioned or placed. The cooking surface 2 comprises at least one cooking zone not shown in detail, which has a heating device.

At the front edge 7 of the glass ceramic 3 and thus also of the hob 1, an edge-side cutout 4 is formed centrally in the glass ceramic 3 in the x-direction. Im in Fig. 1 shown assembled state of the hob 1, a depositor 5 is arranged in this cutout 4, which is formed from a different material compared to the glass ceramic 3. In particular, this diversity of the material is designed with regard to the different optical properties of the glass ceramic 3 and the insert 5. The cutout 4 and the insert 5 are trapezoidal in the embodiment, wherein a front edge 6 of the insert 5 is arranged flush with the front edge 7 of the glass ceramic 3. The insert 5 thus does not extend beyond the front edge 7 of the glass ceramic, whereby a space-saving design of the hob 1 is achieved. By the depositor 5 jedcch as far outside and thus positioned in the marginal cutout 4, the other cooking surface 2 is not limited in their dimensions and the functionality especially with regard to the dimensioning and arrangement of the cooking zones, thus by the position of the insert 5 not impaired.

The insert 5 is formed in the embodiment of gray glass and permeable, inter alia, for light in the blue spectral range, in particular translucent. In addition, the insert 5 is also permeable to light in the red and yellow spectral range. With this configuration, the display of different colors can be made possible, whereby a variety of settings, various operations and various displays can be specified in color. By means of this distinguishing feature, the user of the hob 1 can thus also be made more quickly and more distinguishably able to display a wide variety of information. Since the material of the glass ceramic 3 absorbs light of the blue spectral range, the functionality of the hob and in particular of the display and / or operating region of the hob 1 can be substantially improved by the insert 5. By the insert 5 of the display and / or operating range of the hob 1 is specified. For this purpose, one or more light sources, in particular light-emitting diodes, are arranged below the insert 5. Likewise, a board, which has the control electronics, is arranged below the insert 5.

The insert 5 is spaced and arranged without contact to the glass ceramic 3 in the cutout 4. A formed between the insert 5 and the glass ceramic 3 gap 8 has a width b1, which is about 4 mm in the embodiment.

The insert 5 is connected by two different adhesives with the glass ceramic 3 in the cutout 4. On the one hand, provision is made for fastening to be provided by means of a UV adhesive which is only selectively formed, on the other hand, in addition, a silicone adhesive 10 being provided. This is formed strand-like and extends over the entire length of the cutout 4 between the glass ceramic 3 and the insert 5. The UV adhesive is realized only by the adhesive dots 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d.

In addition, this UV adhesive is also peripherally provided for attachment of a decorative frame 12 with the glass ceramic 3 and the insert 5, wherein in this regard adhesive dots 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h, 9i, 9j, 9k, 9l and 9m are marked. Both the location of these adhesive dots 9e to 9m and the number of adhesive dots on each of the peripheral sides of the perimeter are merely exemplary. Preferably, a plurality of such adhesive dots are formed on each of the peripheral sides on the circumference.

In addition to the circumferentially formed decorative frame 12 and the gap 8 in the cutout 4 by a decorative frame 13 when viewed from above and thus in the plan view according to Fig. 1 covered. Preferably, the decorative frame 12 and the decorative frame 13 is integrally formed, and form the entire decorative frame eleventh

The decorative frame 13 has a width b2, which is 15 mm in the embodiment.

In addition to the decorative frame 11, the hob 1 also comprises a mounting frame 14 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) which is connected to the decorative frame 11 in particular with the peripheral decorative frame 12. Between the decorative frame 11 and the mounting frame 14, the glass ceramic 3 and the insert 5 is arranged or clamped and held positionally stable.

On the back of the insert 5 two centering elements 15 and 16 are arranged in the embodiment, which extend like a pin down. The centering elements 15 and 16 engage in the assembled state of the hob 1 in recesses of the underlying board of the control electronics, whereby an exact positioning between the insert 5 and the display unit and / or the light sources is given. As a result, the light emitted by the light sources and the display unit light can pass in a very precise manner at the desired specific positions through the insert 5 and a position-specific backlighting can be ensured.

In Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the section line II-II of the hob 1 according to Fig. 1 shown. The same as the centering element 16 downwardly tapered centering element 15 is shown. In the illustration according to Fig. 2 is the clarity serving the decorative frame 13 is not shown on the gap 8. As in the illustration according to Fig. 2 can be seen, the insert 5 has the same thickness (expansion in the z-direction) as the glass ceramic 3.

In Fig. 3 is a plan view of the insert 5 shown. On the front of a scale 22 and 23, 24, 25 and 26 areas to recognize symbols can be seen. Both the scale 22 and the areas 23 to 26 are on an in Fig. 4 shown rear side 18 of the insert 5 arranged, in particular imprinted. The scale 22 and the areas 23 to 26 are printed from a white color, which when viewed from the top by the configuration of the insert 5 as gray glass no longer pure white, but appear in a gray tone. In addition, the scale 22 and the areas 23 to 26, the transmission of the light in the blue spectral range is not affected.

In Fig. 4 is a side view of the insert 5 as shown in FIG Fig. 3 shown. On the back 18, in addition to the printing with the scale 22 and the areas 23 to 26 on the remaining surface, a black support 21 is applied, which can be realized as a film or in particular as printing. This overlay 21 does not affect the transmission of the light of the blue spectral range.

The centering element 15 has a splice 19, with the attachment to corresponding components of the hob 1 is made possible. In addition, the tip 20 of the centering element 15 engages in the mentioned recess in the arranged under the insert 5 board. In an analogous manner, the centering element 16 is formed.

For the production of the hob 1 as shown in FIG Fig. 1 First, the decorative frame 12, 13 is turned over and the top is thus turned down on a mounting device. The already provided with the cutout 4 glass ceramic 3 is then also turned around and with their in Fig. 1 shown top turned down in this decorative frame 12, 13 used. In a corresponding manner, the introduction of the insert 5 in the decorative frame 12, 13 method, so that here then the top or front 17 is arranged facing downward. In a subsequent manufacturing step, the UV adhesive is then introduced selectively, as shown by way of example at the corresponding adhesive points 9a to 9m. In particular, several adhesive dots are realized on the peripheral sides per side. After curing of the UV adhesive, the silicone adhesive 10 is then introduced as a strand in the gap 8. The printing of the insert 5 on the back 18 with the areas 23 to 26, the scale 22 and the black support 21 is carried out before the insertion of the insert 5 in the inverted decorative frame 12, 13. By means of the UV adhesive and the silicone adhesive 10, the insert 5 is connected to the decorative frame 12, 13 and the glass ceramic 3.

Subsequently, the mounting frame 14 is then mounted. Further or preceding process steps are of secondary importance to the invention and are not mentioned here in detail since they represent essentially known process steps.

In addition, it should be mentioned that the connection between the insert 5 and the glass ceramic 3 can also be realized otherwise. The adhesive connection can therefore also be replaced by another type of connection or optionally supplemented in addition.

In Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a bottom view of a partial section of the hob 1 is shown. At the bottom of the insert 5 is a housing 27th arranged, which for receiving a circuit substrate 28 ( Fig. 6 ) is trained. The circuit carrier 28 represents the board of the control electronics and comprises at least one display and / or a light source. The housing 27 is preferably made of plastic and may be attached directly to the underside or back 18 of the insert 5. However, it can also be provided that a spaced arrangement is provided to the rear side 18 and the attachment of the housing 27 is provided on other components of the hob.

The housing 27 has in the embodiment according to Fig. 5 a shape which substantially corresponds to the trapezoidal shape of the insert 5. The dimensions of the housing 27 are essentially dimensioned so that they correspond to the dimensions of the insert 5.

In Fig. 6 in a further perspective view of a partial section of the hob 1, the arrangement of the circuit substrate 28 at the bottom or back 18 of the insert 5 is shown. The circuit carrier 28 comprises two through holes 29 and 30 as recesses through which the centering or positioning elements 15 and 16 extend therethrough. In Fig. 6 the clarity of the housing 27 is not shown. The circuit carrier 28 is movably mounted in the housing 27. This means that the circuit carrier 28 can perform compensating movements relative to the housing 27 in order to be able to correct further manufacturing tolerances in this regard. To realize such mobility and thus "floating" storage of the circuit substrate 28 in the housing 27 elastic spring elements or elastic locking elements may be provided, in which corresponding recesses of the circuit substrate 28 engage or engage and thus on the one hand to ensure secure mounting and on the other hand this allow relative mobility.

In the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 6 The circuit carrier 28 has an at least similar shape as the insert 5 and, moreover, is dimensioned in its dimensions such that it virtually does not exceed the dimensions of the insert 5. The insert 5 and the glass ceramic 3 together form the cooking surface 2, wherein the insert 5 is more or less the display surface.

Claims (10)

1. Hob with a cooktop (2) embodied for positioning a preparation vessel and an electronic interconnect device (28) arranged below the cooktop (2), characterised in that at least one positioning element (15, 16) is arranged on the underside (18) of the cooktop (2), said positioning element (15, 16) engaging in a recess (29, 30) in the interconnect device (28) mounted moveably in a housing (27), wherein the at least one positioning element (15, 16) and the housing (27) are separate components.
2. Hob according to claim 1, characterised in that at least two positioning elements (15, 16) are arranged on the underside (18).
3. Hob according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the interconnect device (29) comprises at least one display and/or a light source and is arranged below a display surface (5) assigned to the cooktop (2).
4. Hob according to claim 3, characterised in that the display surface is a separate part (5) which is connected, in particular glued, to the second part (3) of the cooktop (2) embodied from glass ceramic.
5. Hob according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the shaping of the display surface (5) is adjusted to the shaping of the interconnect device (28) and/or the dimensions of the display surface (5) are greater than or equal to the dimensions of the interconnect device (28).
6. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the positioning element (15, 16) is glued to the underside (28).
7. Hob according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the positioning element (15, 16) is embodied in one piece with the cooktop (2).
8. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cooktop (2) and the positioning element (15, 16) are embodied from different materials.
9. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cooktop (2), in particular the underside (18) of the display surface (5) is imprinted with at least one symbol (23 to 26) and/or a scale (22).
10. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the recess (29, 30) is embodied as a continuous hole.

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