EP3390917B1 - Cooking appliance comprising a door opening mechanism for automatically moving a door into an intermediate position, and method for opening a door of a cooking appliance - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cooking device with a door for closing a cooking space of the cooking device. The door can be lowered into a storage space in a housing of the cooking appliance. The cooking appliance also comprises a door opening device for automatically moving the door, at least in regions, over an entire path of movement measured between a closed position and an open position of the door. The invention also relates to a method for opening such a door of a cooking appliance.

In the case of cooking appliances, it is known that the actuation of the door and thus a change in position can be provided manually by a user himself, in that the user grips the door directly, in particular by a handle, and uses a pulling force to open the door. It is provided in these designs that the door is brought into the respective positions by the user himself, as it were, over its entire path of movement.

In this context, it is also known that such a door can not only be pivoted about a fixed axis relative to the housing, but that this storage space is also formed in the housing of the cooking device, into which the door can then be pushed.

In such designs with a storage space, the path of movement of the door is relatively complex. The hinges required for this and the corresponding movement control of the door into the storage space are also more complex. Since such a door of a cooking appliance also has a relatively large weight due to thermal requirements and stability requirements, the movement control must be designed here in such a way that no undesirably hard impact occurs.

In order to increase the user-friendliness, it is also known that such a door can be moved via an electric drive independently of the user guidance and thus the manual direct movement of the door by a user. Such a configuration is, for example, from DE 199 06 913 A1 known. There the entire movement path is carried out by an electric drive until the door is completely sunk into the storage space. In this embodiment, however, the electric drive is correspondingly large and designed to be high in terms of its electrical power. Because precisely with a relatively heavy door, forces occur on the path of movement which then have to be practically absorbed by the electric drive in order to be able to guide the movement over this entire path via this drive. Such large-sized electric drives require a lot of space, a lot of energy and are therefore also very cost-intensive.

The EP 2 574 712 A1 discloses a household appliance with a receiving space and with a door, the door being sunk into the household appliance in the open state. The door can be moved from a closed position into an intermediate position by means of an ejector element designed as a spring.

The EP 2 597 378 also discloses a household appliance with a receiving space and with a door, the door being sunk into the household appliance in the open state. The door can be moved from a closed position into an intermediate position by means of an ejector element designed as a spring.

The object of the present invention is to create a cooking device and a method for opening a door of such a cooking device, in which the moving of the door into the storage space is improved with at least regionally automatic movement control of the door.

This object is achieved by a cooking appliance and a method according to the independent claims.

A cooking device according to the invention comprises a door for closing a cooking space of the cooking device. The cooking appliance also includes a housing in which a storage space is formed, into which the door can be lowered when it is opened. The cooking appliance also includes a door opening device for automatically moving the door and thus a user-independent movement guidance of the door. The door opening device is designed for this automatic movement of the door, at least in regions over an entire movement path, measured between a closed position and an open position of the door. An essential idea of the invention is to be seen in the fact that this door opening device has an actuation unit with which the door can automatically only be tilted into an intermediate position, starting from the closed position. The intermediate position is characterized in that the further movement of the door from the intermediate position into the open position retracted into the stowage space is also automatic, but without Support of the actuation unit and thus only takes place through the force of gravity of the door itself. In this embodiment, the movement of the door from the closed position to the open position is in particular completely automatic. This means that this movement of the door takes place without directly attacking the door and thus without generating a tensile force on the door from a user. The door can therefore be moved independently of the user. In the invention, however, the movement control is initiated via a drive motor of the actuating unit only over a very specific partial path of the entire movement path between the closed position and the open position. In this regard, this takes place in the specific movement path section between the closed position and the intermediate position. Due to this relatively short path, the door is then tilted in a very targeted manner by the actuating unit. From the intermediate position, the actuation unit is then no longer effective with regard to a further motor-driven movement of the door or is deactivated in this regard. Since the actuation unit provides motorized movement support up to this characterized intermediate position, this movement path can be traversed continuously, so that the door can also be opened without jolts and jamming up to this intermediate position. A position is then particularly advantageously achieved by this intermediate position in which the weight of the door causes further movement of the door from the intermediate position into the open position due to gravity.

Such a configuration allows the actuation unit to be designed to be small, in particular with its motorized drive. As a result, installation space can be saved and the actuating unit does not have to be designed so strongly with regard to its motorized effect in order to be able to absorb the forces that occur precisely when the door is in larger tilted positions. As a result, there are also lower demands on the actuation unit, so that more energy-efficient operation of this motorized drive concept is achieved.

It is advantageously provided that the entire sequence of movements of the door, in particular from the closed position to the open position, is started by a user actuating an operating element of the cooking appliance, this automatic opening process then taking place as a function of this actuation. The control element can be realized in a variety of designs. It can be a touch-sensitive control element. However, it can also be a push button or a toggle switch or the like. Likewise, for example, the operating element can also be designed to recognize a gesture and can thus be actuated without contact. It can also be provided that the operating element is designed for voice recognition and a corresponding voice command is issued by a user in order to initiate this automatic opening process.

It is provided that the actuation unit has an electromechanical device which is connected to a rocker arm with at least one cable pull. This rocker arm is connected in particular to a hinge arm of a hinge. The hinge enables the door to be pivoted and retracted into the storage space. The rocker arm is mechanically coupled to this hinge arm, whereby the rocker arm can be pivoted about a pivot axis by a tensile force acting on the rocker arm via the cable and, depending on this pivoting movement, the hinge arm can be pivoted in such a way that the door can automatically be tilted from the closed position into the intermediate position is. Such a specific configuration of the actuation unit enables, on the one hand, a robust configuration, so that corresponding movement sequences and force transmissions can also be reliably and permanently enabled. In addition, the movement control and the movement initiation are made possible here very precisely. This avoids undesirable tolerances in the movement of the door. This refinement also prevents undesired tolerances from occurring at the respective coupling points which could then also add up. Within the scope of the electromechanical device, the actuation unit also includes a motor drive or a motor with which the movement of the cable pull is achieved. This configuration then also enables the motor, in particular, to be arranged at a distance from the hinge arm and also from the rocker arm. As a result, space-specific improvements can be achieved. The design is free of large components of the actuation unit precisely at the points at which the hinge is then also arranged. As a result, the entire guide device of the door can be maintained unchanged and is not subject to any structural restrictions. In addition, it is then also possible that the motor of the electromechanical device can be arranged at a location that also has no negative effects on the function of this motor with regard to thermal loads on the cooking appliance during operation.

It is provided that the hinge has a hinge housing to which the hinge arm is rotatably connected and the rocker arm is pivotably arranged on the hinge housing. In particular, the door is directly connected to the hinge arm. Since the rocker arm is then coupled directly to the hinge housing, corresponding forces can also be transmitted in an improved manner here, since the hinge housing is also a more robust and larger component than the hinge arm. In addition, this specific coupling point in turn does not impair the connection concept between the hinge arm and the door and the corresponding relative movements when moving the door between the door and the hinge arm are not impaired. In particular, the rocker arm is also arranged to be pivotable relative to the hinge arm.

In particular, it is provided that the intermediate position is reached at a tilt angle between 15 ° and 30 °, in particular between 18 ° and 22 °, in particular at 20 °, to the closed position of the door. In particular, the closed position of the door is that in which the door is oriented vertically. Due to the relatively small angular interval starting from the closed position, the motor drive power via the actuation unit is significantly reduced. Nevertheless, a position is reached in which the weight of the door acts on the further movement starting from the intermediate position into the open position or initiates further independent movement.

In particular, it is provided that the hinge arm is a one-piece bracket which preferably has a U-shape. On the hinge arm, in particular on one leg of this U-shape, two rollers are arranged at a distance from one another and are rotatable. With these rollers, the hinge arm engages in guide tracks that are formed on the narrow vertical side edges of the door. This results in a mechanically stable guide, while still allowing the possibility of relative movement between the hinge arm and the door without jolting. This has particular advantages when moving the door into the stowage space and the movement paths that occur between the door and the hinge arm.

It is advantageously provided that guide tracks are formed on the housing on the side walls that delimit the storage space, in each of which a guide carriage is guided. The guide carriages formed on opposite sides are preferably connected to a connecting rod so that the position relative to one another can be maintained and no tilting or twisting relative to one another occurs with respect to the movement. This positional coupling between the guide carriages enables jolt-free and uniform movement along the guide tracks in the storage space on walls delimiting opposite sides. The door is advantageously connected at its lower end to this guide carriage, in particular rotatably connected to it. The guide carriages are separate components from the hinge arms. The guide carriages are connected to the door in a stationary and thus non-displaceable manner, with an axis of rotation being formed at the connection point, around which the door can then rotate relative to a guide carriage. In contrast, the hinge arms with the rollers already explained above enable not only a relative movement with respect to a rotation to one another, but also a relative displacement between the door and a hinge arm due to the already mentioned guide grooves or guide tracks in the door, which are also formed on the side edges.

In particular, it is provided that the electromechanical device, as already mentioned, has a motor drive. The electromechanical device also comprises a lifting wheel rotatable by the motor drive and a lifting rod connected to the lifting wheel. The lifting rod can be moved linearly by rotating the lifting wheel, in particular it can be displaced upwards and downwards in the vertical direction. Depending on this movement of the lifting rod, the cable pull coupled to the lifting rod can be actuated. These specific components of the electromechanical device as well as their operative connection also in turn allow a finely adjusted and precise transmission of motion to the cable pull and from this in turn to the rocker arm. As a result, the movement of the rocker arm can be very dosed and finely adjusted, which in turn has a corresponding effect on a correspondingly dosed movement of the door. A sudden opening of the door or a related rebound or wobbling of the door to and fro is avoided.

The force generated by the motor drive is then also transmitted continuously and without jolting precisely through the lifting wheel and the lifting rod.

In particular, a cable lever, to which the at least one cable pull is attached, is connected to the lifting rod. The movement of the lifting rod actuates the cable lever that can be moved with it and thus exerts a corresponding tensile force on the cable pull.

Provision is preferably made for the door to be moved from the closed position into the intermediate position through a complete rotation of the lift wheel through 360 ° by the chain of action between the lift wheel and the hinge arm. In particular, this one single complete revolution of the lifting wheel automatically returns the rocker arm to its starting position. It is precisely through this specific rotary movement of a single complete turn of the lifting wheel that the required maximum travel of the rocker arm starting from its starting position or basic position into a rotary position, in which the hinge arm is then moved so that the door is in the intermediate position, is achieved On the other hand, it is then also achieved that the rocker arm is then automatically returned to this basic position from its maximum position pivoted in this regard. Due to the uniform rotation of the lifting wheel in this regard, very even movements are transmitted to the rocker arm, which in turn can move very evenly away from the basic position into the maximum deflected position and from this maximum deflected position back into the basic position. The starting position is thus automatically reached again and again in the lifting wheel with a single actuation movement by such a complete revolution.

In particular, it is provided that the hinge housing has a main spring with a first spring rate, the main spring being coupled to an additional spring with a second spring rate lower than the first spring rate. The hinge housing of this hinge is on the path of movement between the closed position of the door and the intermediate position of the door relative to a fixed connection point of the Movable additional spring. The hinge is designed to pivot and retract the door into the storage space. This configuration of the additional spring and the main spring allows very specific spring forces to be generated at different sections of the door's path of movement. As a result, on the one hand, the movement path section between the closed position and the intermediate position and, on the other hand, the movement path section between the intermediate position and the open position are individually and advantageously supported. In a particularly advantageous manner, this embodiment also ensures that the main spring is inactive in particular on the first movement path section between the closed position and the intermediate position and thus does not yet act with a spring force, on the other hand, the main spring in a particularly advantageous manner on the Acts second movement path section between the intermediate position and the open position of the door. As a result, it is advantageously carried out on the second movement path section, in which the further tilting of the door is caused by the force of gravity of the door itself, in such a way that the door does not tilt down without braking and thus an undesirably hard impact occurs, but instead counteracting spring force of the main spring, this merely gravity-initiated tilting movement of the door downwards is metered and cushioned. With this configuration, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the entire movement control is achieved. In particular, if the main spring does not act with its spring force on the first movement path section, this motorized drive of the door from the closed position into the intermediate position is not made undesirable. The motor drive is therefore not counteracted by any spring force from the main spring.

It is advantageously provided that the main spring is connected to the auxiliary spring via a coupling rod. This direct connection also creates a direct interaction between the two springs. This means that power transmissions can take place very directly and without distortion. In particular, the coupling rod is inherently rigid, as a result of which these advantages mentioned above are achieved in an even better way.

It is preferably provided that the main spring and the additional spring, in particular via a coupling rod, are connected in such a way that on the movement path section between the closed position of the door and the intermediate position of the door, the auxiliary spring is compressible and the main spring is uncompressed. The advantages already mentioned above in this regard can be achieved here to a particularly high degree. This enables movements of the hinge housing to be sprung and damped to a certain extent by the additional spring, so that here too the movement from the closed position of the door to the intermediate position is damped to a certain extent in a favorable manner. Due to the relatively low spring stiffness of the additional spring, however, no undesirably high force acts against the motor drive of the electromechanical device.

Since the two spring stiffness of the main spring and the additional spring are selected individually and the first spring of the main spring is just greater than the second spring stiffness of the additional spring, the main spring remains virtually unchanged and compressed or expanded during this movement path between the closed position and the intermediate position of the door not doing it.

It is preferably provided that a longitudinal axis of the main spring is arranged parallel to or in a straight extension to a longitudinal axis of the additional spring. The above-explained interplay between the additional spring and the main spring with regard to their respective change in length in very specific movement path sections is thereby further improved and made more precise. This arrangement also avoids bending of a spring out of the respective straight-line alignment and thus avoids undesired falsification of the entire sequence of movements. This also prevents a spring from deflecting to the side.

It is preferably provided that the additional spring is arranged in a spring pot which is positioned in a stationary manner. As a result, the additional spring is also arranged in a protected manner to a certain extent, and bending to the side is prevented even better. In addition, the additional spring is guided by the spring cup with regard to its compression and expansion. In addition, this spring cup then also forms a robust mechanical stop for the main spring if it then rests against the spring cup with the hinge housing when the intermediate position is reached and the main spring then expands on further movement on the second movement path section of the door.

In particular, it is provided that the hinge housing is arranged at a distance from the spring cup in the closed position of the door and that the hinge housing is arranged in contact with the spring cup when the intermediate position is reached. When the door is moved between the closed position and the intermediate position, the hinge housing is then also moved relative to the additional spring and thus to its spring cup and thus moved towards the spring cup, in particular moved in a straight line in this regard. When the intermediate position is reached, the spring cup thus forms a stop for the hinge housing and the main spring arranged therein. The hinge housing is then also held in a secure position for the further movement of the door towards the open position, so that the basic position of the main spring as such does not change as an entire spring on this further path of movement of the door towards the open position, but only the main spring is expanded in itself, whereby the desired spring force is applied to hold the door against an undesirably hard stop when moving into the stowage space. From the intermediate position onwards, the hinge housing is in block with the spring cup.

In particular, the main spring is inactive on the movement path between the closed position and the intermediate position of the door and thus on this first movement path section with respect to a spring force caused by a change in length.

It is advantageously provided that the main spring is expandable on the movement path of the door between the intermediate position and the open position and thus also the above-mentioned second movement path section and a spring force occurring due to the expansion counteracts the gravitational movement of the door. The advantages that can be achieved therefrom have already been explained above.

In a further embodiment it can also be provided that, instead of the electromechanical device, at least one lifting magnet is formed in the actuation unit, which then also enables the automatic movement of the door between the closed position and the intermediate position. In a further embodiment it can also be provided that instead of two separate springs, namely a main spring and an auxiliary spring, which are coupled to each other, only a progressive main spring is formed.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for opening a door of a cooking device, in which the door is sunk into a stowage space in a housing of the cooking device. The door is automatically moved with a door opening device of the cooking appliance, at least in some areas, over an entire movement path measured between a closed position and an open position of the door. An essential idea of the method according to the invention is to be seen in the fact that, starting from the closed position, the door is automatically tilted only to an intermediate position with an actuating unit of the door opening device. The intermediate position is characterized in that the further movement of the door from the intermediate position into the open position retracted into the stowage space is carried out automatically and without the assistance of the actuation unit and thus also without motorized drive only by the force of gravity of the door itself and thus by its weight. The resulting advantages have already been mentioned above for the cooking appliance.

The automatic movement of the door from the closed position into the intermediate position takes place in particular in a motor-driven manner or via a lifting magnet device.

This automatic movement over the entire movement path between the closed and the open position of the door is, however, divided into different concepts that effect the automatism - in particular, motor-driven in sections and only in sections due to gravity or in sections by a lifting magnet device and in sections due to gravity - and these then act in different ways Movement path sections each individually.

Advantageous embodiments of the cooking device are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, with the respective objective components mentioned for the cooking device, alone or in interaction with one another, then enabling the method steps resulting therefrom.

With information "above", "below", "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth direction", "width direction", "height direction" etc. are those with intended use and intended arrangement of the device and with an observer then standing in front of the device and looking in the direction of the device is given positions and orientations.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Gargeräts;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Seitenansicht von Teilbereichen des Gargeräts gemäß Fig. 1 mit einer teilweise geöffneten Tür;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung von Teilkomponenten einer Betätigungseinheit des Gargeräts;

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung der Komponenten gemäß Fig. 3 in einer dazu unterschiedlichen perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht der Komponenten gemäß Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 mit zusätzlicher Darstellung der Tür in der geschlossenen Stellung;

Fig. 6

eine Darstellung von Komponenten einer elektromechanischen Vorrichtung einer Betätigungseinheit in einer ersten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 7

die Darstellung der Komponenten gemäß Fig. 5 mit einer im Unterschied dazu in einer Zwischenstellung angeordneten Tür; und

Fig. 8

die Komponenten der elektromechanischen Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 6 in einem Betriebszustand, wie er zur Anordnung der Tür in der Zwischenstellung gemäß Fig. 7 gehörig ist.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a cooking device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a schematic side view of partial areas of the cooking device according to FIG Fig. 1 with a partially open door;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of sub-components of an operating unit of the cooking device;

Fig. 4

a representation of the components according to Fig. 3 in a different perspective view;

Fig. 5

a side view of the components according to FIG Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 with additional representation of the door in the closed position;

Fig. 6

a representation of components of an electromechanical device of an actuating unit in a first operating position;

Fig. 7

the representation of the components according to Fig. 5 with a door arranged in contrast to this in an intermediate position; and

Fig. 8

the components of the electromechanical device according to Fig. 6 in an operating state according to the arrangement of the door in the intermediate position Fig. 7 is proper.

Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

In Fig. 1 a cooking device 1 designed as a baking oven is shown in a schematic perspective illustration. The cooking appliance 1 comprises a housing 2 in which a cooking space is formed which is delimited by a muffle (not shown). Food can be placed in the cooking space for preparation. The cooking chamber can be closed at the front by a door 3, which is shown in Fig. 1 shown in the closed position. A handle 4 is formed on the front of the door 3.

In addition, the oven comprises an operating device 5, which has a display unit 6 and operating elements 7 and 8 in terms of position and display, only by way of example.

In addition, cooking zones 9, 10, 11 and 12, which are only shown as examples with regard to position and number, are also shown.

The door 3 can be pushed or sunk into the housing 2 in its lower region 13, which is the case when the door 3 is transferred from the FIG Fig. 1 the closed position shown to the fully open position is the case. The door 3 is then arranged sunk in a free space of the housing 2, with this free space forming a storage space 14 arranged under the cooking space and separated from it by a corresponding partition.

The door 3 is connected to door hinges 15 and 16, which are shown and identified by way of example, and can be pivoted via these and can be retracted and extended into the storage space 14 mentioned.

In Fig. 2 the cooking appliance 1 is shown in the lower area with the door 3 partially open in a schematic and only partial side view with regard to the components present. A bearing unit 17 of a hinge 15 or 16 is shown. The hinges 15 and 16 are designed in particular to be structurally identical and functionally identical, so that the following explanation of one of the two hinges 15 and 16 also applies to the other.

The hinges 15 and 16 have a respective hinge housing 25 in addition to a bearing unit 17 provided in each case. These hinges 15 and 16 are in particular also each assigned to a guide device 18 with regard to the components and the functions. The door 3 is movement-guided by means of these guide devices 18, which are also constructed in particular identically, and thereby correspondingly coupled so that it is guided into and out of the storage space 14. The bearing unit 17 comprises a particularly U-shaped bearing bracket or hinge arm 17a. The hinge arm 17a is preferably rotatable about a pivot point which is on an axis of rotation A, which is in Fig. 2 extends perpendicular to the plane of the figure, is arranged. The bearing unit 17 is also connected to the hinge housing 25 and is pivotable relative to the hinge housing 25. The bearing unit 17 comprises two guide elements 19 and 20, which are designed as rollers and are rotatably mounted on the hinge arm 17a.

In Fig. 2 a vertical height h is shown, which represents the extent of a technical part 21 which is associated with the guide device 18. The technical part 21 describes in particular a component which then also has a groove or a guide track 22 in which a respective guide carriage 23 is guided when the door 3 slides into the stowage space 14. The guide carriage 23 is associated with the guide device 18. The door 3 is rotatably connected to the guide carriage 23 at its lower end. The pivot point is stationary on the door 3 and therefore cannot be shifted in position.

In contrast, the hinge arm 17a is both rotatably coupled to the door 3 with respect to the door 3 and is also displaceable and can therefore be changed in its position as an entire component on the door 3. For this purpose, a straight guide track 24 or a groove is formed on each side edge of the door 3, in which the guide elements 19 and 20 are received and slide along depending on the movement of the door 3. Both opposite narrow vertical side edges of the door 3 each have such a guide track 24.

As shown in Fig. 2 It can also be seen that the hinge 15 there also includes a hinge housing 25, which is only shown in sketch form here. The hinge housing 25 is rotatably connected to the hinge arm 17a.

In Fig. 3 a door opening device 26 is shown in a perspective illustration in the exemplary embodiment, with which the door 3 can be automatically brought from its closed position into an open position. This automatic movement, however, is divided into different concepts that bring about the automatism and these then act individually in different movement path sections. This door opening device 26 can be operated via an operating element 27 ( Fig. 1 ) can be started. The position and configuration of the operating element 27 in Fig. 1 is only to be understood as an example. The operating element 27 can, for example, be a push button that is pressed by a user.

In Fig. 3 it is also shown here that the storage space 14 is laterally limited by walls 28 and 29 of the technical part 21. The already mentioned guide tracks 22 are each formed on the inner sides of these walls 28 and 29 facing the storage space.

As beyond that in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the guide carriages 23 coupled into the opposite guide tracks 22 are connected to a rigid connecting rod 30.

The hinge housing 25 is in Fig. 3 Shown in the cut or broken state so that one can look inside.

In Fig. 3 it can be seen that the door opening device 26 in the embodiment shown has an actuating unit 31 with which the door 3 can be moved automatically. This automatic movement thus means that the door 3 can still be opened by a user in a motor-driven manner without any specific action by a user of the door 3 and thus without any force generated, in particular tensile force on the door 3.

This actuation unit 31 is designed to automatically tilt the door 3, starting from the closed position, in particular by means of a motor, only to an intermediate position. This intermediate position is characterized in that, at this point, the further movement of the door 3 from the intermediate position into the open position fully retracted into the stowage space 14 is automatic and without further assistance and thus without a motor drive by the actuation unit 31 solely by the weight of the door 3 itself takes place.

The actuation unit 31 comprises an electromechanical device 32. In the exemplary embodiment, the electromechanical device 32 has a motor drive or a motor 33. In addition, this electromechanical device 32 comprises a lifting wheel 34 which is driven, in particular rotated, by the motor 33. In addition, the electromechanical device 32 comprises an in particular straight lifting rod 35, which is connected to the lifting wheel 34. A cable lever 36 is arranged on a lower end of the lifting rod 35 facing away from the lifting wheel 34. The cable lever 36 is rotatably connected to this lower end of the lifting rod 35. Two separate cables 37 and 38 are connected to this cable lever 36. The cables 37 and 38 each run to rocker arms of the electromechanical device 32. A rocker arm 39 is arranged on the hinge 15. In particular, it is provided here that the rocker arm 39 is rotatable on the Hinge housing 25 is attached, in particular coupled to a coupling element 40, which can be a coupling pin, of the hinge arm 17a. This coupling element 40 is fixedly attached to the hinge arm 17a, whereas the rocker arm 39 is also rotatably attached to the hinge arm 17a. In a corresponding embodiment, a rocker arm is also arranged on the hinge 16 and connected to the cable 37. As shown in the illustration Fig. 3 can be seen, the cable 38 is connected to the rocker arm 39.

In addition, it is also provided that the actuation unit 31 has a main spring 41 in the hinge housing 25. The main spring 41 is connected to the hinge arm 17a via a connection 42. In addition, a spring cup 43 is arranged in particular outside the hinge housing 25 and separately therefrom, which spring cup 43 is arranged in particular in the housing 2. An additional spring 44 ( Fig. 5 ) arranged. The auxiliary spring 44 has a second spring rate which is less than a first spring rate of the main spring 41.

The main spring 41 in the form of its, in particular, spiral spring, is arranged with respect to its longitudinal axis parallel or coaxially in series with the longitudinal axis of the additional spring 44, which is likewise designed in particular as a spiral spring. The main spring 41 is connected to the auxiliary spring 44 via an inherently rigid coupling rod 45. A rear end of the additional spring 44 is fixedly attached to a connection point 46, which is in particular in the spring cup 43.

In a corresponding embodiment, but provided without further reference numerals, the same is provided for the hinge 16.

In Fig. 4 is the component arrangement according to Fig. 3 shown in a different perspective. For further explanation, see below on Fig. 5 referenced. In this illustration, the door 3 is shown in the closed state. In particular, it is thus arranged in a vertically oriented manner here. In this closed state, a rear end 25 a of the hinge housing 25 is spaced apart from a front end 43 a of the spring cup 43 facing the hinge housing 25.

In Fig. 6 the relevant operating position of the lifting wheel 34, the lifting rod 35 and the cable lever 36 is shown.

If it is now desired to open the door 3, a user can actuate the operating element 27. This causes the automatic opening of the door 3 to start. The drive 33 is then started via a control unit. It is then the lifting wheel 34 starting from the in Fig. 6 shown home position rotated. As a result, the lifting rod 35 is raised and the cable lever 36 is brought into an even more horizontal position in this regard. As a result of the movement and the associated change in position of the cable lever 36, the cables 37 and 38 are pulled. This in turn causes a corresponding tightening of the in Fig. 5 Drag levers 39 shown in the basic position. By pivoting the drag levers 39 backwards from the basic position, a tensile force and thus pivoting of the hinge arm 17a of the hinge 15 and the corresponding hinge arm of the hinge 16 is brought about. This will remove the door 3 from the in Fig. 5 closed position shown in FIG Fig. 7 shown intermediate position spent. The intermediate position of the door 3 is at an angle α between in particular 18 ° and 22 °, preferably 20 °, with respect to the vertical and thus in particular to that in FIG Fig. 5 shown closed position of the door 3.

It is provided that this motor-driven, automatically generated movement of the door 3 takes place only up to this intermediate position. The motorized movement is then no longer carried out subsequently from the intermediate position into the fully opened position of the door 3, which is retracted into the storage space 14. Starting from the intermediate position of the door 3, the latter has namely reached a tilting position from which it tilts further downward by its own weight itself and thus also automatically by weight and then moves into the stowage space 14. There is thus a motorized automatic movement of the door 3 only on the short tilting path between the closed position according to FIG Fig. 5 and the intermediate position according to Fig. 7 carried out. On the further tilting path from the intermediate position to the open position of the door 3, the motor 33 is inactive or deactivated.

In particular, it is also provided that on this first movement path section between the closed position of the door 3 and the intermediate position of the door 3, the main spring 41 remains essentially, in particular completely, unchangeable in length and is thus neither compressed nor expanded. By the action of the rocker arm 39, the hinge housing 25 is displaced in the direction of the spring cup 43 until it is in the intermediate position of the door 3 according to FIG Fig. 7 strikes with the rear end 25a on the front end 43a of the spring cup 43. This is also in Fig. 7 shown. Thus, on the first movement path section between the closed position and the intermediate position of the door 3, only the additional spring 44 is compressed, with the main spring 41 being shifted in the direction of the additional spring 44 due to the different spring hardnesses and the compression force generated by this shift via the coupling rod 45 is transferred to the additional spring 44.

Once this intermediate position has been reached and the hinge housing 25 and the spring cup 43 are in direct contact with one another, the main spring 41 is expanded upon further opening movement of the door 3, the hinge housing 25 remaining in contact with the spring cup 43. The expansion of the main spring 41 generates a spring force which acts against the force of gravity of the door 3, so that the door 3 does not tilt further downwards from the intermediate position into the open position without braking. As a result of this expansion of the main spring 41 and the resulting spring force generated, a certain cushioning or damping of the second movement path section of the door 3 from the intermediate position into the open position is achieved.

In Fig. 8 the lifting wheel 34, the lifting rod 35 and the cable lever 36 are shown in the operating state and thus the position in which the door 3 is in the intermediate position.

In particular, it is provided that upon further actuation of the lifting wheel 34, the rocker arms 39 are automatically returned to their basic position. This ensures that the rocker arms 39 from their in Fig. 5 shown basic position in the in Fig. 7 maximum deflection position shown and moved back into the basic position.

List of reference symbols

1

Cooking appliance

2

casing

3

door

4th

Handle

5

Control device

6th

Display unit

7th

Control element

8th

Control element

9

Cooking zone

10

Cooking zone

11

Cooking zone

12th

Cooking zone

13th

Area

14th

Storage space

15th

hinge

16

hinge

17th

Storage unit

17a

Hinge arm

18th

Guide device

19th

Guide element

20th

Guide element

21

Technical part

22nd

Guideway

23

Guide carriage

24

Guideway

25th

Hinge housing

25a

rear end

26th

Door opening device

27

Control element

28

wall

29

wall

30th

Connecting rod

31

Actuation unit

32

contraption

33

engine

34

Lift wheel

35

Lifting rod

36

Rope lever

37

Cable

38

Cable

39

Rocker arm

40

Coupling element

41

Main spring

42

connection

43

Spring pot

43a

front end

44

Additional spring

45

Coupling rod

46

Connection point

Claims (13)

1. Cooking appliance (1) comprising a door (3) for closing a cooking chamber, said door (3) being lowerable into a stowage compartment (14) in a housing (2) of the cooking appliance (1) that further comprises a door opening mechanism (26) for automatically moving the door (3) at least in some sections of an entire movement path extending between a closed position and an open position of the door (3), wherein the door opening mechanism (26) includes an actuation unit (31) by means of which the door (3) can be automatically tilted from the closed position into an intermediate position, wherein the intermediate position is characterised in that the further movement of the door (3) from the intermediate position into the open position, in which the door (3) is retracted in the stowage compartment (14), is performed automatically under the force of gravity of the door (3), characterised in that the actuating unit (31) comprises an electromechanical device (32) which is connected by at least one Bowden cable (37, 38) to a cam follower (39), which is coupled to a hinge arm (17a) of a hinge (15, 16) which is configured for pivoting and retracting the door (3) into the stowage compartment (14), wherein by a pulling force acting on the cam follower (39) via the Bowden cable (37, 38) the cam follower (39) is pivotable about a pivot axis and as a function thereof the hinge arm (17a) is pivotable such that the door (3) is automatically tiltable from the closed position into the intermediate position, wherein the hinge (15, 16) has a hinge housing (25), the hinge arm (17a) being rotatably connected thereto, and the cam follower (17a) is pivotably arranged on the hinge housing (25).
2. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the intermediate position is reached with a tilt angle (α) of between 15° and 30°, in particular between 18° and 22°, relative to the closed position.
3. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electromechanical device (32) comprises a motorised drive (33), a lifting wheel (34) which is rotatable by the motorised drive (33) and a lifting rod (35) which is connected to the lifting wheel (34), wherein the lifting rod (35) is movable in a linear manner by a rotation of the lifting wheel (34) and as a function thereof the Bowden cable (37, 38) which is coupled to the lifting rod (35) is able to be actuated.
4. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that by a complete revolution of the lifting wheel (34) by 360°, by the chain reaction between the lifting wheel (34) and the hinge arm (17a), the door (3) is moved from the closed position into the intermediate position, in particular the cam follower (39) is automatically returned to its basic position.
5. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a hinge housing (25) of the hinge (15, 16) has a main spring (41) with a first spring hardness, wherein the main spring (41) is connected to an auxiliary spring (44) which has a second spring hardness which is lower relative to the first spring hardness, wherein the hinge housing (25) of a hinge (15, 16), which is configured for pivoting and retracting the door (3) into the stowage compartment (14), is movable on the movement path between the closed position and the intermediate position of the door (3) relative to a fixed attachment point (46) of the auxiliary spring (44).
6. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the main spring (41) is connected to the auxiliary spring (44) via a coupling rod (45) which is, in particular, rigid per se.
7. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the main spring (41) and the auxiliary spring (44) are connected, in particular, via a coupling rod (45) such that on the movement path between the closed position and the intermediate position of the door (3) the auxiliary spring (44) is able to be compressed and the main spring (41) remains alterable in terms of length.
8. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that a longitudinal axis of the main spring (41) is arranged in parallel or in a linear extension relative to a longitudinal axis of the auxiliary spring (44).
9. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the auxiliary spring (44) is arranged in a spring cup (43) which is arranged in a fixed manner.
10. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that in the closed position of the door (3) the hinge housing (25) is arranged spaced apart from the spring cup (43) and when the intermediate position is reached the hinge housing (25) is arranged so as to bear against the spring cup (43).
11. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterised in that on the movement path between the closed position and the intermediate position of the door (3) the main spring (41) is inactive relative to a spring force to be effected by an alteration in length.
12. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterised in that on the movement path of the door (3) between the intermediate position and the open position the main spring (41) is able to be expanded and a spring force which is present due to the expansion counteracts the force of gravity of the door (3).
13. Method for opening a door (3) of a cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the door (3) is lowered into a stowage compartment (14) in a housing (2) of the cooking appliance (1), wherein the door (3) is automatically moved by a door opening mechanism (26) of the cooking appliance (1) at least in some sections of an entire movement path extending between a closed position and an open position of the door (3), wherein starting from the closed position the door (3) is automatically tilted into an intermediate position by an actuating unit (31) of the door opening mechanism (26), wherein the intermediate position is characterised in that the further movement of the door (3) from the intermediate position into the open position, in which the door is retracted into the stowage compartment (14), is performed automatically by the force of gravity of the door (3), characterised in that the actuating unit (31) comprises an electromechanical device (32) which is connected by at least one Bowden cable (37, 38) to a cam follower (39), which is coupled to a hinge arm (17a) of a hinge (15, 16), by means of which pivoting and retraction of the door (3) into the stowage compartment (14) is performed, wherein by a pulling force acting on the cam follower (39) via the Bowden cable (37, 38) the cam follower (39) is pivoted about a pivot axis and as a function thereof the hinge arm (17a) is pivoted such that the door (3) is automatically tilted from the closed position into the intermediate position.

Images