EP2747515B1 - Cooking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance with at least one cooking space and at least one microwave source.

Cooking appliances generally have one or more heat sources for preparing food in a cooking space. Some heating sources are often particularly suitable for certain cooking methods. So find thermal heating sources such. B. Top and bottom heat sources, regularly used when baking bread and cakes. Microwave heating sources are often highly energy-efficient, as they also cook the food from the inside. Heating sources for steam cooking methods usually offer a relatively gentle preparation option, as certain vitamins are retained when cooking vegetables, for example. Combinations of different heating sources are also often very useful for an optimal cooking result, such as a combination of a convection heating source with a grill heating source for preparing roasts with particularly tasty crusts.

The combination of different heating sources in a safe and functional cooking device, however, usually poses a technical challenge. Particularly in the case of a cooking device with a combination of a microwave heating source and a steam heating source, special requirements must be placed on the closure of the cooking space. On the one hand, with such a microwave steamer, the escape of microwaves from the cooking space must be effectively and reliably prevented. On the other hand, the cooking space must also be sealed in such a way that the hot steam cannot escape.

In the prior art, microwave steamers have become known which generally reliably meet these requirements and usually have a microwave seal and a moisture seal. For example, there are microwave steam cookers with microwave seals that protrude into the cooking space in a cuboid-like manner. The disadvantage of this, however, is that the volume of the cooking space is considerably reduced by the seal and the seals tend to become soiled quickly.

Furthermore, microwave steam cookers with flat microwave seals have also become known, which do not significantly reduce the volume of the cooking space. However, these cooking devices usually have the disadvantage that a not inconsiderable amount of moisture is regularly deposited in the area of the moisture seal. This so-called water bag then runs off when the oven door is opened, so that the water z. B. can run on kitchen furniture or the kitchen floor or a collecting vessel must be available

document EP 1 923 638 relates to a cooking appliance with the features contained in the preamble of claim 1. US 2005/0205564 relates to a cooking appliance with a microwave source, a microwave seal and a moisture seal being provided in the area of the loading opening.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance with a microwave seal and a moisture seal in which the formation of a water pocket is avoided and the volume of the cooking space is not restricted.

This object is achieved by a cooking appliance with the features of claim 1. Preferred features are the subject matter of the subclaims. Further advantages and features emerge from the general description of the invention and the description of the exemplary embodiment.

The cooking appliance according to the invention has at least one cooking space and at least one microwave source as well as at least one cooking space door for closing and opening a loading opening of the cooking space. At least one microwave seal and at least one moisture seal are provided in the area of the loading opening. The moisture seal is arranged closer to the cooking space than the microwave seal.

The cooking appliance according to the invention has many advantages. A considerable advantage is that the moisture seal is arranged closer to the cooking space than the microwave seal. With such an arrangement, the formation of a water bag is avoided. The microwave seal is also protected from contamination by greasy vapor from the cooking space.

The microwave seal is particularly suitable and designed to prevent microwaves from exiting the cooking appliance. The moisture seal preferably prevents moisture, in particular liquid and / or steam and / or condensate, from escaping from the cooking space.

In particular, the microwave seal and the moisture seal are arranged in two different planes. The loading opening defines an essentially vertically extending first plane. The moisture seal is preferably arranged in a second plane and the microwave seal is arranged in a third plane. All three planes are preferably essentially parallel to one another. From the perspective of the cooking space, the third level is in particular behind the first level and the second level is in particular in front of the third level from the perspective of the cooking space. The second level can be in front of, behind or in the first level. Deviations which relate to the essentially vertical arrangement are possible and can amount to several degrees and up to 30 degrees and more. This is also possible for essentially parallel and essentially right-angled arrangements.

In the case of the microwave seal, the essentially radial distance to an imaginary axis extending essentially through the center of the loading opening and essentially at right angles to the three above-mentioned planes is greater than in the case of the moisture seal. The microwave seal and moisture seal are running in particular along a circumferential and / or circumferential edge region of the loading opening and / or the cooking chamber door.

It is possible and preferred that at least one thermal heating source is provided. The thermal heating source can be designed as an electrical and / or gas-operated heating source or comprise one. At least one bottom heat source, top heat source, convection heat source, grill heat source, radiant heater and / or at least one other heat source known for cooking appliances is also possible. A thermal heating source is particularly advantageous because it can be used as a supplement to the microwave source, for. B. to achieve a crust formation when preparing a roast.

According to the invention, at least one source of steam is provided. The steam source is designed and suitable in particular to generate steam which can be used for a cooking process. The steam is preferably fed into the cooking space. In particular, the cooking device is designed as a microwave steam cooking device or as a combination device for microwave and steam operation. At least one operating mode can be provided which combines the microwave cooking method and the steam cooking method.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the moisture seal is arranged on at least one wall of the cooking space. The moisture seal is arranged in particular in the area of the loading opening. It is also possible that the moisture seal is arranged in the transition area between the cooking space wall and the cooking space front and preferably directly on an edge of the cooking space wall and the cooking space front. The moisture seal can be designed to run around the cooking space or the loading opening and / or the front of the cooking space. Interruptions are possible. It is also possible, however, for a plurality of moisture seals to be at least partially lined up or at least partially arranged parallel to one another. The moisture seal can also be attached to the oven door.

The moisture seal preferably has a substantially dam-like effect with regard to moisture. The moisture seal is designed and arranged in such a way that the condensed water is retained on the walls and in particular on the cooking chamber floor after the cooking chamber door has been opened. This is particularly advantageous because it prevents a water pocket. In addition, the water is prevented from running off after the oven door is opened, for example onto the kitchen floor. A special drainage and collecting device, as previously known from the prior art, can therefore be saved.

According to the invention, the moisture seal has at least one first sealing lip.

The moisture seal lies with the sealing lip at least partially against the closed cooking chamber door. The sealing lip is designed in particular so that the inside of the closed Condensate or liquid running down the oven door is diverted into the oven. It is also possible for the moisture seal to have two or more sealing lips.

The moisture seal also has at least one second sealing lip with which the moisture seal rests at least partially on a wall of the cooking space. The sealing lip rests in particular on the floor of the cooking space. A moisture seal with two sealing lips is particularly preferred. In particular, a sealing lip rests on the cooking chamber door and a sealing lip on the wall of the cooking chamber. As a result, condensate or liquid coming from the cooking chamber door can be diverted to the bottom of the cooking chamber and then towards the inside. Such a configuration is particularly effective in preventing the formation of water sacs.

The moisture seal consists in particular at least partially of an elastic material. Thus, the moisture seal can adapt well to the respective support area, whereby a particularly good sealing effect can be achieved.

It is possible for the moisture seal to be made at least partially from a material that is transparent to microwaves. A microwave-resistant material is also possible. This prevents heating and / or destruction of the moisture seal by the microwaves.

The moisture seal advantageously consists at least partially of a vapor-resistant material. In particular, the moisture seal is resistant to temperatures and vapors that usually occur in a cooking device or microwave steam cooking device.

Particularly preferably, the moisture seal consists at least partially of a silicone-containing and / or silicone-like material. Other suitable materials are also possible. The microwave seal is in particular arranged at least partially on the cooking chamber door. The microwave seal is particularly preferably integrated in the cooking chamber door. The microwave seal is arranged, in particular, in such a way that the moisture or the steam from the cooking space is kept away from the moisture seal before they reach the microwave seal. This is very advantageous because it prevents the microwave seal from being soiled with greasy vapor and the like.

According to the invention, the microwave seal comprises at least one microwave blocking device.

The cooking chamber door has in particular at least one inner pane and at least one outer pane. The microwave barrier device can at least partially between the inner Disc and the outer disc may be provided. The panes are preferably at least partially transparent. This enables the oven to be observed even when the door is closed. In addition, the panes protect the microwave blocking device against influences from inside and outside, e.g. B. against impacts or dirt.

In a preferred development, the microwave blocking device comprises at least one lambda / 4 trap or is designed as such. The lambda / 4 trap is provided in particular as a resonance seal. The width of the lambda / 4 trap is advantageously approximately a quarter of the wavelength of the microwaves to be shielded.

Preferably, at least one metallic plate extending substantially adjacent to the inner disk is provided. The plate is arranged in particular between the inner disk and the outer disk. The plate can have openings and be designed as a perforated plate or as a grid or the like. Such a design with a plate with openings allows a view into the cooking space when the cooking space door is closed. The openings in the plate are in particular smaller and preferably many times smaller than the wavelength of the microwaves generated. This allows the plate to provide good shielding of the environment from the microwaves. It is also possible for part of the metallic plate and in particular an edge area to be provided as part of the lambda / 4 trap.

The lambda / 4 trap on the cooking chamber door can comprise at least one approximately U-shaped structure. The U-shaped structure can also be designed at least partially to accommodate the inner and / or the outer pane. The U-shaped structure can also be provided at least partially as a load-bearing part of the cooking chamber door. For this purpose, further structures and / or profiled areas can also be formed on the U-shaped structure. It is also possible that the U-shaped structure is at least partially covered by the metallic plate.

It is possible for a microwave-permeable gap to be provided between the cooking chamber door and a front frame of the cooking appliance. The gap can also be formed between the front frame and the metallic plate and / or the lambda / 4 trap. At the end of the gap, microwaves can be reflected into the lambda / 4 trap. The end of the gap is formed in particular in that an area of the lambda / 4 trap and / or the U-shaped structure is at least partially in direct or indirect contact with the front frame.

It is also possible for a microwave-absorbing sealant to be provided at a lower end of the inner pane. Such a sealant is advantageous because it makes the shielding against microwaves even more reliable.

Further advantages and features of the present invention emerge from the exemplary embodiment which is explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

Figur 1

eine schematische Frontalansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Gargerätes; und

Figur 2

einen schematisierten Querschnitt durch einen Bereich des Gargerätes entlang der Linie A-A aus Fig. 1.

In the figures show:

Figure 1

a schematic front view of a cooking device according to the invention; and

Figure 2

a schematic cross section through a region of the cooking appliance along the line AA Fig. 1 .

With reference to the enclosed Figures 1 and 2 an exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance 1 according to the invention is described below.

The Figure 1 shows the cooking device 1 in an embodiment as a combination device 100 for microwave and steam operation and for circulating air operation. The cooking appliance 1 here has a microwave source 3 and a steam source 8 as well as a thermal heating source 7 designed as a convection heating source. The various heating sources 3, 7, 8 can be operated individually or combined with one another as desired. Other heat sources are possible. The cooking device 1 can be designed both as a built-in device and as a stand-alone cooking device 1.

The cooking appliance 1 can be operated by a user via an operating device 23. It can e.g. B. the operating modes steam cooking, microwave operation, air circulation and various combination modes can be set. Other operating modes such as bottom / top heat or grilling and / or the like are possible. The power of the heating sources 3, 7, 8 and the cooking duration or at least one cooking program can also be set via the operating device 23.

The cooking appliance has a display 24 here. The display 24 shows the user various operating and device information such as the set operating mode, a selected cooking program and the remaining cooking time. A touch-sensitive touchscreen is also possible. Various automatic functions can also be provided which enable the user to optimize the cooking process for a desired item to be cooked.

Furthermore, the cooking appliance 1 here comprises a cooking space 2 with a loading opening 22, which can be closed by a cooking space door 4. The cooking chamber door 4 is suitable and designed to essentially prevent microwaves and steam from escaping. Furthermore, the cooking chamber door 4 also has a heat-insulating function. The cooking chamber door 4 can be opened by a door opener 25. At least one safety device is provided which prevents microwave operation if the cooking chamber door 4 is not properly closed.

In Figure 2 FIG. 3 is a schematic section through the cooking appliance 1 along the line AA from FIG Fig. 1 shown enlarged. The cooking chamber door 4 here has an inner pane facing the cooking chamber 2 14 and an outer disc 15. The panes 14, 15 are designed as transparent glass panes which are temperature-resistant to the expected cooking space temperatures.

A microwave seal 5 is integrated into the cooking chamber door 4 here. The microwave seal 5 comprises a microwave blocking device 13, which is designed here as a lambda / 4 trap 16. The width of the lambda / 4 trap 16 corresponds approximately to a quarter of the wavelength of the microwaves used. For example, the lambda / 4 trap 16 has a width of approximately 3 cm in the case of microwaves with a wavelength of approximately 12 cm. As a result of such a configuration, the lambda / 4 trap 16 acts as a resonance seal, which can be seen as an essentially infinitely high resistance for the corresponding wavelength.

The lambda / 4 trap 16 is preferably made of a material which reflects the microwaves well and in particular of a metallic material. A part of the lambda / 4 trap 16 is formed here from an essentially U-shaped structure 18. The open area of the U-shaped structure 18 is partially covered by part of a metallic plate 17. In particular, an inlet opening 29 through which the microwaves enter the lambda / 4 trap 16 remains free. The lambda / 4 trap 16 extends in particular around the entire loading opening 22. As a result, an essentially microwave-tight arrangement of the cooking chamber door 4 relative to the cooking chamber 2 is achieved.

A penetration of the microwaves through the area of the cooking chamber door 4 surrounded by the lambda / 4 trap 16 is essentially prevented by the metallic plate 17. The metallic plate 17 is designed here as a perforated plate, as a result of which it is possible to observe the cooking space 2 through the metallic plate 17. The holes are made much smaller than the wavelength of the microwaves used, so that appropriate shielding is ensured. The metallic plate 17 is advantageously arranged between the disks 14, 15 here. This prevents the metallic plate 17 from being soiled, for example by greasy haze from the cooking space. The disks 14, 15 are much less expensive to clean than the metallic plate 17 with the numerous holes.

In order to prevent steam from escaping from the oven 2 when the oven door 4 is closed, e.g. B. in steam cooking or combined operation, a moisture seal 6 is provided. The moisture seal 6 is attached circumferentially to the walls 9 in the area of the loading opening 22. For this purpose, a receiving device 26 is provided in the transition area between the wall 9 of the cooking space 2 and a front frame 19. The moisture seal 6 is designed in such a way that at least a part of the moisture seal 6 can be received by the receiving device 26. The moisture seal 6 here has a nose 28 which latches or is plugged into an undercut 27 of the receiving device 26 becomes. As a result, the moisture seal 6 can be installed quickly and economically.

The moisture seal 6 is arranged here in a particularly advantageous manner closer to the cooking space 2 than the microwave seal 5. This prevents the formation of a water pocket, particularly in the area between the cooking space door 2 and the front frame 19. Thus, when the cooking chamber door 2 is opened, no condensed water flows onto the surface of the cooking appliance or even onto the kitchen floor. Another advantage is that the steam and moisture 2 are retained before they hit the microwave seal 5. The entry of moisture or contamination, for example of the lambda / 4 trap 16, is thus prevented.

Furthermore, the moisture seal 6 here comprises two sealing lips 10, 11. One sealing lip 10 rests against the inner pane 14, while the other sealing lip 11 rests against the wall 9 of the cooking space 2. In the Figure 2 The wall shown is the bottom 12 of the cooking space 2. Such an arrangement of the sealing lips 10, 11 is particularly advantageous since a sealed transition from the inner pane 14 to the walls 9 of the cooking space 2 is created. This allows moisture and condensed water to flow off the cooking chamber door 4 or the inner pane into the cooking chamber. The sealing lips 10, 11 also have a dam-like effect, which prevents the water from running out of the cooking space 2. The cooking chamber door 2 can thus be opened after a cooking process without the water flowing out of the cooking chamber 2.

The receiving device 26 is so far behind the front frame 19 that a design with a resilient sealing lip 10 is possible. The sealing lip 10 is flexible. As a result, unevenness can be leveled out and the sealing lip rests reliably against the inner disk 14 in a sealing manner. The moisture seal 6 and in particular the sealing lips 10, 11 are formed from an elastic material. Furthermore, the material used for the sealing lips 10, 11 or for the moisture seal 6 must be resistant to the high microwave power that occurs in the sealing area. The moisture seal 6 must also be resistant to the expected heat and the hot steam. The moisture seal 6 is therefore preferably made of a silicone material.

A microwave-permeable gap 20 is located between the front frame 19 and the metallic plate 17. Although the inner pane 14 lies partially in this gap 20, the inner pane 14 is essentially permeable to microwaves. The gap 20 is limited at the lower end 30, since the U-shaped structure 18 rests against the front frame 19 there. As a result, microwaves which enter the gap 20 are reflected into the lambda / 4 trap 16. Furthermore, a microwave-absorbing sealant 21 is arranged here at the end 30 of the gap 20, which additionally supports the shielding.

Overall, the present invention offers a cooking appliance 1 with a secure microwave seal 5 and a reliable moisture seal 6, in which the formation of a water pocket is avoided and the volume of the cooking space is not restricted.

List of reference symbols

1

Cooking appliance

2

Cooking space

3

Microwave source

4th

Oven door

5

Microwave seal

6th

Moisture seal

7th

thermal heating source

8th

Steam source

9

Wall

10

Sealing lip

11

Sealing lip

12th

ground

13th

Microwave blocking device

14th

inner disc

15th

outer disc

16

Lambda / 4 trap

17th

metallic plate

18th

U-shaped structure

19th

Front frame

20th

gap

21

sealant

22nd

Loading opening

23

Control device

24

Display

25th

Door opener

26th

Receiving facility

27

Undercut

28

nose

29

Inlet opening

30th

lower end

100

Combination device

Claims (14)

1. Cooking appliance (1) comprising at least one cooking chamber (2), at least one cooking chamber door (4) for closing and opening a loading opening (22) of the cooking chamber (2), at least one microwave source (3), and at least one steam source (8);
   at least one microwave seal (5) and at least one moisture seal (6) being provided in the region of the loading opening (22), the microwave seal (5) comprising at least one microwave-blocking device (13), the moisture seal (6) being arranged closer to the cooking chamber (2) than the microwave seal (5), the microwave seal (5) having a greater radial distance from an imaginary axis than the moisture seal (6), and the imaginary axis extending through the centre of the loading opening (22) and at a right angle to a plane defined by the loading opening (22),
   characterised in that the moisture seal (6) has at least one first sealing lip (11) via which the moisture seal (6) at least partially abuts a wall (9) of the cooking chamber (2), and the moisture seal (6) has at least one second sealing lip (10) via which the moisture seal (6) at least partially abuts the closed cooking chamber door (4) in such a way that condensate or fluid coming from the cooking chamber door (4) is diverted to the bottom (12) of the cooking chamber (2) and then inwards.
2. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one thermal heat source (7) is provided.
3. Cooking appliance (1) according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that the moisture seal (6) is arranged on a wall (9) of the cooking chamber (2).
4. Cooking appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the moisture seal (6) consists at least partially of a resilient material.
5. Cooking appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the moisture seal (6) consists at least partially of a material transparent to microwaves.
6. Cooking appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the moisture seal (6) consists at least partially of a steam-resistant material.
7. Cooking appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the moisture seal (6) consists at least partially of a silicone-containing or silicone-like material.
8. Cooking appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the microwave seal (5) is arranged at least partially on and/or in the cooking chamber door (4).
9. Cooking appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the cooking chamber door (4) comprises at least one inner pane (14) and at least one outer pane (15), between which the microwave-blocking device (13) is at least partially provided.
10. Cooking appliance (1) according to either of the two preceding claims, characterised in that the microwave-blocking device (13) comprises at least one lambda/4 trap (16).
11. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that at least one metal plate (17) that extends substantially adjacently to the inner pane (14) is provided, which plate is in particular arranged between the inner pane (14) and the outer pane (15).
12. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that the lambda/4 trap (16) on the cooking chamber door (4) has an approximately U-shaped structure (18).
13. Cooking appliance (1) according to either claim 10 or claim 12, characterised in that a microwave-permeable gap (20) is provided between the cooking chamber door (4) and a front frame (19), at the end of which gap microwaves are reflected into the lambda/4 trap (16).
14. Cooking appliance (1) according to either claim 9 or claim 11, characterised in that a microwave-absorbing sealing means (21) is provided at a lower end (30) of the inner pane (14).

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