EP2746673B1 - Cooking device - Google Patents

Description

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular a steam cooking appliance. It relates in particular to a steamer with a steam generator, with a cooking space limiting muffle and having a door glass inner door cooking appliance door for closing a feed opening of the oven, which door glass inner pane on its inside an anti-fog coating to prevent fogging thereof.

State of the art

In general, the operation of ovens with steam generation (steamer, steam ovens, etc.) during heating and optionally during operation naturally due to the high humidity in the cooking chamber to a condensation of water vapor at colder places, especially the door glass inner pane. Due to the high surface tension of the water, many small, isolated droplets form there. Each of these droplets acts like a small lens due to the different refractive index of water / air and thus impedes the viewing through the disk. Thus, for example, the cooking process can not be visually monitored or the level of the water evaporator can not be controlled.

However, due to an anti-fog coating, the transparency through the glass can be ensured by forming an optically homogeneous film of water on the surface of the anti-fog coating. The anti-fog coating is applied to the cooking chamber facing side of the door glass inner pane. According to the anti-fog coating, the surface tension on the surface of the coating is changed so as to cause so-called spreading and coalescence of the water droplets. Spreading is the spreading and areal distribution of liquids on surfaces. The spread of the Water droplet is caused by interaction with the high-energy porous surface and by capillary effects. This is a thin, continuous water film, which can no longer affect the transparency.

At the same time, however, a user can no longer readily recognize, due to the anti-fog coating, whether or not the cooking appliance is in proper operation.

The US 2005/0006382 A1 describes a cooking appliance with a muffle and a steam generator. A feed opening of the muffle can be closed with the aid of a cooking appliance door.

The JP 2002 187737 A shows a method for producing glass sheets and glass sheets produced by such a method. The glass sheets produced in this way have a coating.

The EP 1 182 174 A1 also describes a method of making glass sheets and glass sheets made by such a method. The glass sheets produced in this way have a coating.

The WO 2008/010386 A1 shows a cooking appliance with a muffle and a steam generator. A feed opening of the muffle can be closed with the aid of a cooking appliance door.

US 2004/164075 A1 describes another relevant cooking appliance of the prior art.

The problem underlying the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a comparison with the prior art improved cooking appliance, in which an operation can be displayed. It is another object to display the operation without the use of mechanical and / or electrical components.

Inventive solution

The solution of the problem is achieved by a cooking appliance with the features of claim 1. The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular a Dampfgargerät, with a steam generator, with a Garraum limiting muffle, and with a door glass inner pane having cooking appliance door for closing a feed opening of the oven, which door glass inner pane has on its inside an anti-fog coating. In this case, a display for indicating an operation of the cooking appliance is provided on or on the door glass inner pane. Through this display, the user can be reliably displayed without the use of additional tools, a proper operation of the cooking appliance. It goes without saying that a cooking appliance door can have any number of panes, the anti-fog coating and the display being provided only on the innermost pane with respect to the cooking chamber. It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the cooking appliance or steam cooking appliance is any type of cooking appliance with a steam generator or a steam generating unit or steam generating device can act. For this reason, it does not matter if water vapor is generated by an internal or external steam generating device in the above-mentioned devices. In addition, in the case of an internal steam generating device, all variants such as a device with an evaporator dish mounted in the muffle bottom, etc. are included. In addition, non-limiting examples include all types with respect to an internal or external water supply. Appliances with external water supply are, for example, devices with a fixed water connection, which are connected to a water supply network in a house. As devices with internal water supply apply, for example, devices that have an internal water tank or an evaporator shell in the muffle bottom

According to the present invention, it is provided that the display is formed by at least one uncoated region of the door glass inner pane. That is, the door glass inner pane has at least one coated area provided with the anti-fog coating, by means of which the user can view the food to be cooked in the cooking space, and at least one uncoated area, ie an area without the anti-fog coating, where the steam generated by the steam generator condenses. This makes it possible for the user in a simple manner, on the one hand to visually monitor the cooking process, and on the other hand to recognize proper operation of the device. Thus, with the help of condensed on the uncoated portion of the door glass pane of water vapor with simple means a function display for indicating an operation of the cooking appliance can be created.

It is envisaged that the anti-fog coating is formed by a film and the display is formed by at least one region excluded from the film. Analogous to the previously described embodiment, the user can view the food to be cooked through the area where the anti-fog coating in the form of a foil is applied to the door glass inner pane. By the recessed area of the film, so the area of the door glass inner pane, which has no film with the anti-fog coating, the user can then be reliably displayed the operation of the device.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, it is preferably provided that the display is provided on an edge region of the door glass inner pane, preferably on an edge region of the door glass inner pane surrounding it at least in sections. This makes it possible for the user to view the food to be cooked and optically monitor the cooking process through a middle or central area where the anti-fog coating is applied. The arrangement of the display on an edge region is thus perceived by the user as not disturbing.

Preferably, the display is arranged on an outer circumferential edge region of the door glass inner pane such that the display represents a continuous frame or frame-like area to the area coated with the anti-fog coating. The frame may, for example, have a width of 1 cm to 10 cm, particularly preferably 1 cm to 5 cm. For example, it can be provided that the frame-like region forming the display represents the outermost region of a door glass inner pane. That is, no space is provided between a frame of the cooking appliance door and the uncoated area or the area excluded from a film, or the uncoated area is not spaced from the door frame. It can of course be provided that in the case of a peripheral edge or a circumferential frame-like region of the edge on the respective sides, ie the top and bottom and the left and right sides with respect to the front of the cooking appliance door, a different width.

In particular, it is provided according to the present invention that the display has at least a size of 2 cm ² . This can ensure that sufficient area is provided to indicate proper cooking appliance operation.

According to the present invention, the display is arranged symmetrically with respect to the area of the anti-fog coating. This makes it possible to realize a particularly attractive embodiment of the display.

In another embodiment of the present invention, it is contemplated that the display has a geometry that is, without limitation, selected from the group consisting of an orthogonal shape, a circular shape, a line-like shape, letters, and / or letter combinations. Thus, for example, an advertisement in the form of a logo / company logo can be realized. This makes it possible to achieve particularly attractive visual effects. In the case where the device is not in operation, therefore, the complete door glass inner pane would be transparent due to the lack of water vapor. In the case where the apparatus is in operation and water vapor is generated, then the area coated with the anti-fog coating would remain substantially transparent, so that a user can view the food to be cooked in the cooking space, and at the area without the Coating the water vapor would condense, so that on the one hand the operation can be displayed and on the other hand, for example, the company logo on the door glass inner pane is visible or comes to light.

According to the present invention, the at least one uncoated region is prepared by a process which is non-restrictively selected from the group consisting of a masking process in coating, punching out of the hydrophilic film, and ablation of the hydrophilic coating by, for example, laser. It will be understood that any method suitable for the skilled artisan to make the uncoated area can be used. For example, methods including etching, grinding, and the like may also be considered.

The anti-fog coating can be formed by a hydrophilic coating. The hydrophilic coating causes a strong interaction with water. In this case, the surface of the hydrophilic coating is covered with a nearly invisible water film, which can improve transparency through the inner glass pane. It may be provided that the anti-fog coating comprises a hydrophilic polymer, in particular polyethylene glycol (PEG). By coating with a hydrophilic polymer, large amounts of water can be bound, resulting in a particularly effective spreading of the water droplets.

The anti-fog coating, titanium oxide (TiO _2), in particular TiO ₂ have in the anatase form. Anatase is a common mineral from the mineral class of oxides and hydroxides. It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system with the chemical composition TiO ₂ and usually develops dipyramidal and tabular crystals. Titanium dioxide has a photocatalytic activity. In the case of the anti-fog coating comprising TiO ₂ , irradiation with UV light or visible light may take place. By irradiation, the photocatalytic effect can be activated. The anti-fog coating may include surfactants, especially a surfactant. Surfactants are substances that reduce the surface tension of a liquid or the interfacial tension between two phases and allow or assist the formation of dispersions.

It can be provided on the door glass inner pane mounted film having the anti-fog coating. Thereby, for example, a cooking appliance door of a cooking appliance or a Dampfgargeräts can be prepared in a conventional manner and the film can be mounted in a subsequent assembly process on the inside of the door glass inner pane. The film may comprise a carrier film provided with the anti-fog coating. That is, the carrier sheet is coated with an anti-fog coating which has substantially the same properties as the anti-fog coating applied directly to the glass sheet. The carrier film serves in this context as a substrate to which the corresponding coating is applied. The film or the carrier film may have an adhesive layer, by means of which the respective film is attached to the door glass inner pane. The adhesive layer may comprise any adhesive which has a corresponding temperature resistance and is resistant to water or water vapor.

The anti-fogging coating can be made in a non-limiting manner by a coating process selected from the group consisting of: wet coating, vacuum coating, atmospheric plasma coating and filming.

The present invention is suitable for indicating proper operation of the cooking appliance without the use of other auxiliary means such as mechanical and / or electrical components. For this purpose, a display is provided on or on the door glass inner pane according to the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantageous embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, to which the invention is not limited.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung eines in Betrieb befindlichen erfindungsgemäßen Gargeräts in Form eines Dampfgargeräts mit einer eine Türglasinnenscheibe aufweisenden Gargerätetür.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine Draufsicht der Türglasinnenscheibe gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine Schnittdarstellung der Türglasinnenscheibe gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung aus Fig. 2 entlang der Linie A-A.

They show schematically:

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an operating according to the invention cooking appliance in the form of a Dampfgargeräts with a door glass inner pane having cooking appliance door.
• Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the door glass inner pane according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the door glass inner pane according to the embodiment of the present invention Fig. 2 along the line AA.

Detailed description of the figures

In the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, like reference characters designate the same or similar components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings can be used individually or in any combination for the Realization of the invention in its various embodiments of importance.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features which serve to illustrate the principles of the invention. In particular, the layer thicknesses of coatings for a better explanation of the invention are greatly exaggerated. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including e.g. specific dimensions, orientations, locations and shapes will be determined, in part, by the dedicated enrollment and work environment.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an operating according to the invention cooking appliance in the form of Dampfgargeräts 2 with a door glass inner pane 8 having cooking appliance door 6 for closing a cooking chamber 4. The door glass inner panel 8 of the cooking appliance door 6 has in a central central region an anti-fog coating 10 to prevent a fitting of the same during operation of Dampfgargeräts 2. The area to which the anti-fog coating 10 is applied has a substantially rectangular shape. A user can view a cooking product (not shown) located in the cooking chamber 4 through this coated region and optically monitor a cooking process. At the outer circumferential edge region 16 of the door glass inner pane 8, a display 12 is provided in the form of an uncoated area 14 for indicating an operation of the cooking appliance or formed by this. In the case of the embodiment, the uncoated area 14 is arranged symmetrically with respect to the area coated with the anti-fog coating 10.

When the steam cooking appliance 2 is put into operation, water vapor is generated by a steam generator (not shown) for cooking the cooking product located in the cooking chamber 4 and introduced into the cooking chamber 4. This results in the water vapor condensing at colder places, as in this case on the door glass inner pane 8. The anti-fog coating 10 forms an optically homogeneous water film on the surface of the door glass inner pane 8 coated with the anti-fog coating 10, which flows downwards in the direction of a muffle bottom. As a result, for example, the Cooking process of the food in the cooking chamber 4 are monitored optically. At the uncoated area 14 of the condensed water vapor adheres, so that it remains visible to the user. As a result, the user is informed of the proper operation of the steam cooking appliance 2.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the door glass inner pane 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The door glass inner pane 8 of the cooking appliance door 6 has, as in Fig. 1 In a central central area, an anti-fogging coating 10 for preventing fogging thereof during operation of the steam cooking appliance 2 is shown. The area to which the anti-fog coating 10 is applied has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corner areas. At the outer circumferential edge region 16 of the door glass inner pane 8, a display 12 is provided in the form of an uncoated area 14 for indicating an operation of the cooking appliance or formed by this, at which steam (not shown) is deposited by a steam generator, so that this during operation of the steamer 2 remains visible to the user and indicates the proper functioning of the appliance.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the door glass inner pane 8 according to the embodiment of the present invention Fig. 2 along the line AA. Out Fig. 3 it can be seen that the anti-fog coating 10 is applied only on the central region of the door glass inner pane 8. In contrast, at the edge region 16 of the door glass inner pane 8 no anti-fog coating 10 is applied, so that at this point a condensed water vapor does not expire and thus the user can not consider through this uncoated area 14 located in the cooking Gargut. At the same time, however, the user will be notified that the steamer is operating properly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

Steam cooker

4

oven

6

cooking appliance

8th

Door glass inner pane

10

Anti-fog coating

12

support film

14

uncoated area

16

border area

Claims (6)

1. Cooking appliance, in particular steam cooking appliance (2), having a steam generator, having a muffle delimiting a cooking compartment (4), and having a cooking appliance door (6), having a door glass inner panel (8), for closing a loading opening of the cooking compartment (4), characterised in that the door glass inner panel (8) has on its inner surface an anti-fog coating (10) to prevent a formation of same, wherein a display (12) formed by at least one non-coated area (14) of the door glass inner panel (8) is provided for displaying on the door glass inner panel (8) an operation of the cooking appliance, and wherein the anti-fog coating (10) is formed by a film and the display (12) is formed by at least one area (14) excluded from the film.
2. Cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the display (12) is provided on an edge area (16) of the door glass inner panel (8), preferably on an at least partially circumferential edge area (16).
3. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the display (12) has a size of least 2 cm².
4. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the display (12) is arranged symmetrically relative to the area of the anti-fog coating (10).
5. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the display (12) has a geometry selected from the group comprising an orthogonal shape, a circular shape, a line-type shape, lettering and/or combinations of letters.
6. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one non-coated area (14) is produced using a method selected from the group comprising a masking procedure during coating, a punching-out of the hydrophilic film, and an application of the hydrophilic coating by, for instance, lasering.

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