WO2022184434A1

WO2022184434A1 - Steam treatment drawer for a domestic cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2022184434A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/053744
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Helminger; Philipp Kleinlein; Christian Clauss; Ludovic Ball
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-01
Filing date: 2022-02-16
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Also published as: DE102021201954A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a steam treatment drawer (51) for a domestic cooking appliance (50), having a steamer pan (20) with an open upper face (20a) for receiving treatment products to be steam treated and having a cover (28) which can be moved between a closed end position and an open end position, wherein the cover (28) is designed as a two-part cover with a first rear cover section (28a) and a second front cover section (28b); the second cover section (28b) has a handle region (52) which protrudes upwards, and the second cover section can be rotated about the front edge thereof when the handle region (52) is actuated; and the second cover section (28b) can be rotated when the handle region (52) is actuated such that a gap (S) is formed between the first cover section (28a) and the second cover section (28b), said gap being provided in order to discharge steam (D) out of the steamer pan (20).

Description

Steam treatment drawer for a household cooking appliance

The invention relates to a steam treatment drawer for a household cooking appliance, comprising a steamer pan for receiving items to be steamed and a lid which, in its closed end position, covers an open upper side of the steamer pan in a steam-tight manner. The invention also relates to a method for creating a gap for steam exit from a steam treatment drawer.

Oven/steaming drawer combinations are known in which a steaming drawer is located below an oven. It is known that a loading opening on the upper side of the damper pan permanently installed in the drawer can be covered by means of a cover that can be placed and removed from above. The disadvantage here is that when the lid is removed, any hot steam that is still present can escape in an uncontrolled manner, which can be uncomfortable for the user and or even pose a risk of burns. It is also known that the damper pan can be covered by means of a pivotable cover that can be folded up manually. A disadvantage in this case is that when the lid is opened after a steam treatment process, it is difficult to release the steam that is still present in a controlled manner.

It is the object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is solved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments can be found in particular in the dependent claims and/or the description.

The object is achieved by a steam treatment drawer for a household cooking appliance, having a steamer tray for receiving items to be treated with steam, and a cover that can be displaced between a closed end position and an open end position, the cover being a two-part cover with a first (in front view) , Rear cover section or part and a second, front cover section or part is formed, the second cover section after a has a handle area protruding at the top and can be rotated about its front edge when the handle area is actuated, and the second cover section can be rotated by actuation of the handle area in such a way that a gap is formed between the first cover section and the second cover section, which allows steam to escape from the damper pan is provided.

This has the advantage that the second cover section is rotated in response to a simple manual user actuation in such a way that a defined gap is formed automatically from the grip area and thus from a hand of the user to the depth of the second cover section controlled steam can escape from the damper pan into the environment. The steam escapes mainly to the rear, so that it is directed away from the user and a hand gripping the grip area is practically not wetted by the steam. Consequently, a user is not disturbed or only slightly disturbed by the escaping steam. In addition, this steam treatment drawer is particularly easy and inexpensive to implement, e.g. because there is no need for a power-assisted lid actuation device.

The steam treatment drawer can be extended horizontally forwards from a drawer housing (e.g. manually, power-assisted or motorized) and retracted horizontally backwards into the drawer housing. The lid can be slid backwards or forwards when the steam treatment drawer is extended. The cover or the cover sections can rest freely on the steam treatment drawer, in particular on a support frame thereof, or be guided in longitudinal guides, e.g. in the form of running rails.

If the steam treatment drawer is extended and the lid is open, in a further development the lid can be automatically closed again when the steam treatment drawer is retracted.

If the lid is in its closed end position, at which it is moved forward as far as possible or positioned at the maximum front of the steam treatment drawer, and the steam treatment drawer is not turned open or not opened (which is also referred to as "folded in" in the following), the lid covers the top of the damper pan, which also serves as the loading opening, is steam-tight. This can be between There must be a gasket between the damper pan and the lid, which can be attached to the damper pan or to the lid.

The gripping area serves as a lever arm for rotating the second lid section. It can be shaped, for example, in the manner of an upstanding plate or an upstanding beam. In particular, it acts on a cover plate of the second cover section that is horizontal in the folded state and rotates this cover plate when actuated. The grip area can be actuated, for example, by pressing the grip area forwards or backwards.

To fold the second cover section by thus re-applying the rear ren edge to the front edge of the first cover section, the second cover section is rotated in the reverse direction.

After a steam treatment process, the steam treatment drawer can be extended horizontally forward from a drawer housing. The steam treatment drawer is now exposed with the lid in its closed end position and the second lid section folded in (which may also be referred to as the "closed state" of the lid). Steam-treated food is located in the steamer trough, and the steamer trough is also typically filled with steam, in particular hot steam. When a user actuates the handle area, the second cover section is rotated in such a way that a gap is formed between the damper pan and the environment, through which the steam can safely escape into the environment.

In a further development, the steam treatment drawer has a support frame into which the damper pan can be inserted and on which the cover can be placed in a displaceable manner and/or in which the cover is guided in a displaceable manner. The cover can, for example, rest directly and/or over a bent support edge of the damper pan on the support frame and be moved from front to back and vice versa.

It is a further development that the steam treatment drawer has an evaporator. This can be in particular in an evaporator recess of the steam treatment Drawer be removably housed. Steam generated by the evaporator is conducted into the steamer trough in order to steam treat items to be steamed, in particular items to be cooked, that are accommodated there.

It is an advantageous development for a compact structure that the evaporator has a steam generation unit and a water tank as components.

It is an advantageous development for easy emptying and cleaning, in particular decalcification, that the steam generation unit and/or the water tank are designed to be removable individually and/or together from the evaporator receiving area.

It is particularly advantageous if the user can insert the water tank into a recess on the top side of the steam generating unit and remove it therefrom. Alternatively, the water tank is arranged and can be handled separately from the steam generation unit.

The steam generating unit is set up to boil water supplied from the water tank and thereby generate steam. For this purpose, the steam generating unit has at least one heating element--advantageously arranged on the bottom side. The steam produced during boiling escapes through the steam outlet opening of the evaporator or the steam generation unit.

In one development, the at least one heating element is an electrically operated heating element. It is a particularly advantageous development for removing the steam generation unit that the heating element can be heated, for example, by externally supplied thermal radiation and/or contact heat or induction. In this case, the heating element is not directly operated electrically. In the case of heating by thermal radiation and/or contact heat, it is an advantageous further development that it is (indirectly) heated by a heating unit permanently installed in the steam treatment drawer, such as a resistance heater. In a further development, in the case of inductive heating, at least one induction coil is permanently installed in the steam treatment drawer. In one configuration, the second cover section is articulated by at least one rotary joint arranged on a front edge. In this way, particularly simple rotatability and the formation of a particularly large gap are advantageously made possible. The at least one swivel joint can be formed, for example, by means of two pins protruding laterally at the front edge or a continuous axis of rotation.

In a further development, the first, rear cover section and the second, front cover section are applied to a common base of the cover. The base therefore bears in particular the first cover section and the second cover section and can be placed on the steam treatment drawer or its support frame in a displaceable manner. This achieves the advantage that rotation and displacement of the second cover section can be implemented in a structurally simple manner. In addition, the cover can thus be easily handled as a whole by a user. A further advantage is that a relative position of the two cover sections to one another is reliably maintained in the direction of displacement. The base is in particular mechanically rigid or stiff.

In particular, this development can be implemented in such a way that the first cover section is firmly placed on the base, e.g. glued in place, and the base extends forwards at least to the hinge point or the rotary joints of the second cover section and has them. The second cover section can therefore be rotated against the base at the rotary joints and, in the folded-in state, rests on the base, in particular in a vapour-tight manner. Consequently, both cover sections can be pushed forwards or backwards at the same time and can also be removed together for cleaning.

For example, the support may be in the form of a closed frame, such as a rectangular frame or a U-shaped frame. In another development, the support can be in the form of two support rails on the left and right (in the front view). The first cover section then rests in a firmly connected manner on a rear section of the support rails, while the support rails have the rotary joints on a front section thereof.

In one embodiment, the handle area, when actuated, moves into a rearward (in the front direction) or inside recess of a front panel of the steam treatment drawer. loading is depressible. In this way, the advantage of ergonomically favorable handling of the grip area is achieved with a compact structure. In the folded state, a recessed grip protected against the cover can advantageously be formed in a further development between the handle area and the wall of the recess, into which the groove can engage in order to pull the steam treatment drawer out of the drawer housing. It is a further development that the handle area in the closed end position when folded in is flush with the front panel on the top and rear or on the inside, in particular flush with the surface, or is aligned.

In one configuration, the second cover section is assigned a means ("security means") which is set up to

- When the lid is in its closed end position, prevent it from being pushed open if the second lid section has not been opened beforehand, or

- If the lid is pushed open without first opening the second lid section, an acoustic and/or visual warning is issued to the user.

In this way, the advantage is achieved that unintentional pushing open of the lid with steam escaping at the front edge is prevented or at least a warning is given, so that the steam does not rise directly to a user's hand.

For example, the security means can have electrical contacts or other sensors that can detect an opened state of the second cover section. The steam treatment drawer can also be set up to detect when the lid is pushed open. For example, the security means for preventing override may actuate an unlocked locking mechanism or not unlock a locking locking mechanism.

In a further development, the safety means has at least one electrical contact which is arranged on the underside in the area of the rear edge on the second cover section and which makes contact with a corresponding counter-contact when the second cover section is folded in. The mating contact can, for example, on the first cover section a support of the cover or on the support frame, in particular on one or the lateral cheek(s).

In one embodiment, the steam treatment drawer is set up to enable steam to be generated only when the second cover section is folded in, in particular if the cover is in its closed end position at the same time. This has the advantage that steam can be prevented from being generated when the steamer pan is open, and thus larger quantities of steam can be prevented from escaping.

In one embodiment, the steam treatment drawer has a support frame into which the steamer pan can be inserted, which supports the cover and in which the second cover section is rotatably mounted. For example, the lid can be rotatably mounted and guided linearly in a direction of displacement or from front to back running guide rail.

The object is also achieved by a household cooking appliance that has at least one steam treatment drawer as described above. The domestic cooking appliance can be designed analogously to the steam treatment drawer and vice versa, and has the same advantages.

In a further development, as a functional unit for treating the food to be cooked, the domestic cooking appliance can only have at least one steam treatment drawer ("stand-alone appliance")

In a further development, the household cooking appliance has at least one further functional unit of a different type for treating food, in addition to the at least one steam treatment drawer, with its own cooking chamber separate from the steam treatment drawer, e.g. an oven. The oven can be, for example, an oven, a microwave oven or a combination thereof. This can also be referred to as a "multi-cavity" cooking appliance.

It is a further development that the steam treatment drawer is arranged below the further functional unit treating the food to be cooked, in particular the oven, since particularly good accessibility and easy handling of the steam treatment drawer is advantageously achieved in this way. In one embodiment, the domestic cooking appliance has a fan which is arranged in the rear area of the steam treatment drawer or in the drawer housing and is designed to be operated when the second cover section is opened. In this way, the steam escaping from the gap when the second lid section is opened can also be sucked off to the rear, which further supports a safe and user-friendly steam outlet. The fact that the second cover section has been folded open can be determined, for example, by the safety means.

The object is also achieved by a method for creating a gap for steam to escape from a steam treatment drawer. The method can be made analogous to the steam treatment drawer or the domestic cooking appliance and vice versa, and has the same advantages.

In one configuration, a gripping area of the second cover section is actuated so that the second cover section rotates about its pivots and is thereby moved from a position in contact with the edge of the first cover section to a position lifted off from the first cover section. This creates a gap between the first cover section and the second cover section through which steam can escape into the environment.

The properties, features and advantages of this invention described above, and the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment, which will be explained in more detail in connection with the drawings.

1 shows a sectional side view of a sketch of a domestic cooking appliance with a steam treatment drawer according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows, in a view obliquely from above, a section of a possible variant of the domestic cooking appliance from FIG. 1 with the steam treatment drawer pulled out, which is shown in more detail in an exploded view;

FIG. 3 shows a damper trough of the steam treatment drawer from FIG. 2 in a view at an angle from above; FIG. FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of the steam treatment drawer from FIG. 2 with the damper pan removed;

5 shows an exploded view of an evaporator of the steam treatment drawer in an oblique view from above;

6 shows a section of the steam treatment drawer with the steam generation unit of the evaporator removed in a view at an angle from above; and FIG. 7 shows an oblique view from above of a section of a domestic cooking appliance drawn sketchily with an extended steam treatment drawer according to a third exemplary embodiment with a lid of the steam treatment drawer in its closed state without a gap;

FIG. 8 shows, in a view analogous to FIG. 7, the steam treatment drawer with the lid in its closed end position with a gap; and Figure 9 shows, in a view analogous to Figure 7, the steam treatment drawer with the lid in an open position.

1 shows a sectional side view of a sketch of a "multi-cavity"- household cooking appliance 1 with an oven 2, the stationary oven chamber 2a of which can be closed at the front by means of a pivoting oven door 3, as indicated by the curved double arrow. Inside a housing 4 of the household cooking appliance 1 below the oven 2 there is a steam treatment drawer 5 which is arranged separately from the oven 2 and which can be manually and/or mechanically supported horizontally moved in and out of a stationary drawer housing 9, as by the straight line indicated by a double arrow. The steam treatment drawer 5 has a lower height than the oven 2 and is located below the oven 2 .

In the oven door 3 there is a common appliance control 6 including a control panel for the oven 2 and the steam treatment drawer 5. The appliance control 6 can be used to control the oven 2 and the steam treatment drawer 5 individually, so that items to be treated, for example items to be cooked such as food, Have meals etc. prepared independently. The furnace chamber 2a can be heated by means of energy supply devices in the form of an upper heating element 7 shown as an example and a lower heating element 8, in particular by clocking the respective power supply. The radiators 7 and 8 are controlled by the Device control 6. The device control 6 is also set up in particular to coordinate treatment processes taking place in the oven space 2a and in the steam treatment drawer 5, in particular the end times of the treatment processes, energy inputs and/or an exhaust air control.

The household cooking appliance 1 is in particular so compact that it fits into a built-in niche of 60 cm x 60 cm (built-in height x built-in width).

Referring now also to FIG. 2, the steam treatment drawer 5 has an evaporator receiving area 11 arranged behind a front cover plate 10, in which a modularly constructed evaporator 12, 13, comprising a steam generation unit 12 and a water tank 13 connected thereto, are present . The steam generating unit 12 and the water tank 13 can be removed from the evaporator receiving area 11 or, alternatively, are permanently installed therein. The water tank 13 can be filled with water via a closable water filling opening 14 .

In a front view behind the evaporator receiving area 11 there is a damper pan insertion area 15. The evaporator receiving area 11 and the damper pan inserting area 15 are areas of a horizontally extendable support frame 30 arranged one behind the other.

The damper pan insertion area 15 has the shape of a border with lateral cheeks 16, a front wall 17 and a rear wall 18. At least the cheeks 16 are designed as hollow profiles - here with a rectangular cross-section - which makes them particularly light and allow electrical lines (not shown) to be passed through in a protected manner, e.g. electrical lines for the power supply of heating elements for the steam generation unit 12, possibly a pump and, if necessary, signal lines. In the hollow cheeks 16 are also running rails (o. Fig.), For example, a Tele skopauszugssystems, the steam treatment drawer 5 accommodated. A further advantage of using hollow profiles is that they allow a broad upper bearing surface 19 to be formed in a simple manner for bearing a damper trough 20 . At least the cheeks 16 and the rear wall 18 have flat surfaces here, which supports their easy cleaning. The front wall 17 and the rear wall 18 can also be designed as hollow sections or as simple walls without hollow sections. be trained. Their tops can also serve as a bearing surface 19, but do not need it.

The damper pan 20 is trough-shaped or shell-shaped, in this case with a cuboid basic shape that is open at the top. On its upper side, the damper pan 20 has a flange or edge region 21 which is bent laterally outwards and is closed all the way round, via which it can be placed onto the bearing surface 19 from above. The damper pan 20 can be replaced from above into the damper pan insertion area 15 bar. The upper opening of the steamer trough 20 forms a loading opening 20a for the use of items to be steamed, e.g. For this purpose, suitable inserts E can be used or placed in the damper trough 20, onto which the items to be treated can be placed. The use of such inserts E makes it easier to load and remove food, especially when the steamer pan 20 is used.

In the area bordered laterally by the cheeks 16 and the walls 17, 18, the damper pan insertion area 15 has no bottom. When the damper pan 20 is used, its bottom 22 forms a flush portion of the bottom of the steam treatment drawer 5 within the border 16 to 18. As a result, the damper pan 20 can be designed to be particularly deep and consequently large in volume. Furthermore, there is no bottom of the supporting frame 30, which advantageously results in a saving of material.

The damper trough 20 also has laterally protruding handles 23 for easy handling, which, when the damper trough 20 is inserted, can be fitted into a respective recess in the lateral cheeks 16 that is open at the top in the form of respective depressions 24 .

The damper trough 20 also has a steam inlet duct 25 made of plastic that is elongated laterally in a horizontal orientation and is attached to the front wall 17 and, when the damper trough 20 is inserted, forms a section of a steam-technical connection with the steam generation unit 12 . The damper pan 20 also has a steam outlet duct 26 (see Fig. 4), which connects to the rear wall 18 and which, when the damper pan 20 is inserted, has a steam connection to a steam removal unit 27 (see Fig. 4 ) manufactures. The steam removing unit 27 serves at least to divert steam discharged from the steamer tray 20 during a steam treatment process from the steam treatment drawer 5, for example to a fume hood.

1 also shows a cover 28 which can be placed on the upper side of the edge region 21 of the damper pan 20 and/or on the upper side of the support frame 30, preferably via a seal (not shown) in order to allow steam to escape in the closed state. struggling through gaps between the damper pan 20 and / or the support frame 30 on the one hand and the cover 28 on the other hand to prevent or at least make it more difficult. The damper trough 20 and the cover 28 form or delimit a steam treatment chamber 29 in which the material to be treated there can be subjected to steam. When the steam treatment drawer 5 is open, the cover 28, which is advantageously at least partially a transparent glass cover, can be moved backwards or forwards on the support frame 30 between a closed end position and a fully open end position.

3 shows the damper pan 20 in an oblique view from above. An adapter-like steam inlet channel 25 is arranged on the front wall 17 facing the front 31 of the damper pan 20 below the edge area 21 . It is open on the underside and forms a coupling opening 25b there. It also has a rear steam inlet opening 25a, which opens into the damper pan 20 or the steam treatment chamber 29 and is slot-shaped here, through which steam D is introduced into the damper pan 20 during a steam treatment process.

The steam outlet channel 26 in the form of an adapter (see FIG. 4) is arranged on the rear side 32 below the edge area 21 . Also has a horizontally stretched basic shape and is open on the underside in the form of a coupling opening 26b (see FIG. 4). The steam outlet duct 26 can be shaped at least largely identically to the steam inlet duct 25 . It also has a front-side steam outlet opening 26a (not shown) that opens into the steamer pan 20 or the steam treatment chamber 29, in this case a slit, through which steam D is discharged from the steamer pan 20 during a steam treatment process and fed to the steam removal unit 27 . FIG. 4 shows the steam treatment drawer 5 with the steamer trough 20 removed as a sectional view through the steam generation unit 12 to 13 in a side view. The cover 28 is pushed backwards here and therefore releases the area 15 for inserting the damper pan.

When the damper pan 20 is inserted into the damper pan insertion area 15 from above, as indicated by the wide arrow, an edge of the downward-pointing coupling opening 25b of the steam inlet channel 25 is pushed onto or into a correspondingly shaped, upward-pointing, slit-shaped steam outlet opening 12a of the Steam generating unit 12 placed or, as shown, inserted at the edge, possibly via a seal. As a result, when the damper pan 20 is inserted, a steam channel is created from the steam outlet opening 12a through the steam inlet channel 25 into the damper pan 20, through which steam D generated by the steam generating unit 12 is conducted into the damper pan 20, as indicated by the arrows on the left. The vapor outlet opening 12a and the coupling opening 25b thus form a vapor-permeable vapor coupling in the plugged-in state.

When inserting the damper pan 20, the downwardly open coupling opening 26b of the steam outlet channel 26a is also placed on or in a correspondingly shaped open upper side of a receptacle 27a of the steam removal unit 27 or, as shown, inserted at the edge, possibly via a seal. The open top of the receptacle 27a is designed as a steam inlet opening 27b shaped to match the coupling opening 26b. As a result, when the damper pan 20 is inserted, a steam channel is created from the damper pan 20 through the steam outlet channel 26 into the steam removal unit 27, through which steam D that has flowed through the damper pan 20 and possibly contains vapor is conducted into the steam removal unit 27, as indicated by the arrows on the right. The coupling opening 26b and the vapor inlet opening 27b thus form a vapor-permeable vapor coupling when the damper pan 20 is inserted.

5 shows an exploded view of the evaporator 12 to 14 with the steam generation unit 12 and the water tank 13 that can be used on the top side therein. The water tank 13 can be made of transparent plastic and is therefore shown semi-transparent here. A tank cap 14 can be placed on the water tank 13 which is open at the top. The water tank 13 has here, for example, a bottom-side gene, tubular or stub-shaped inwardly projecting water outlet 40 for discharging water into the evaporator shell. The water outlet 40 has a locking mechanism (not illustrated) which blocks the water outlet 40 when the water tank 13 is removed and releases it when the water tank 13 is inserted.

The steam generation unit 12 is here, for example, in the form of a heatable evaporator shell 41 with a rectangular basic shape that is open at the top and an adapter plate 42 that can be placed on the open top of the evaporator shell 41 by the user. The adapter plate 42 thus serves as a cover for the evaporator shell 41 . The internal volume of the evaporator shell 41 corresponds at least to the filling volume of the water tank 13.

The adapter plate 42 has a receiving recess 45 with a water passage opening (o. Fig.) For user-side, form-fitting insertion of the water tank 13 and (in front view) behind the receiving recess 45 existing slotted Dampfaus outlet opening 12a. In the bottom of the receiving recess 45 there can be a connecting piece 46 or pipe (see Fig. 5) that is able to be inserted into the water outlet 40 and slides into the receiving recess 45 and into the water outlet 40 when the water tank 13 is used Closing mechanism (e.g. a spring-loaded check valve) opens. When the locking mechanism is open, water can flow out of the water tank through the water outlet 40 and the socket 46 inserted into it into the evaporator shell 41 if a shut-off valve (not shown) of the evaporator is open at the same time, which is set up for this purpose depending on a water level in the evaporator shell either to open or to close, for example a valve ("SchwimmerventN"), which is actuated by a float located in the evaporator shell 41 in the water floating. This makes it possible to also fill only a small amount of water into the evaporator bowl 41 in a controlled manner, which is distributed over the large heatable base area of the evaporator bowl 41 at a comparatively low fill level, so that particularly short reaction times and/or large amounts of steam can be achieved when steam is generated . In one variant, the water tank 13 can be removed from the receiving recess 45 by means of at least one handle arranged thereon (not illustrated) and/or by means of an automatic lifting mechanism (not illustrated).

At least one heating element is also assigned to the evaporator dish 41 (not shown). The evaporator shell 41 advantageously consists at least partially of metal or ceramic, while the adapter plate 42 advantageously consists of plastic.

The steam generating unit 12 can have a filter holder (not shown) in its steam chamber, which can be arranged above a nominal filling level of the evaporator shell. The portafilter can thus be wetted by the steam in the vapor space without being immersed in the water in the evaporator bowl 41 . As a result, the steam emerging from the steam outlet opening 12a can be aromatized if corresponding aromatic substances such as spices, herbs or the like are placed in the portafilter.

6 shows a section of the steam treatment drawer 5 with the steam generation unit 12 of the evaporator 12 to 13 removed, viewed from an angle from above. The water tank 13 is not shown and may have already been removed, for example.

As indicated by the wide arrow, the steam generation unit 12 or the evaporator shell 41 can be removed by the user from a corresponding evaporator recess 47 of the support frame 30 when the damper pan 20 is removed, for example to the rear. The evaporator shell 41 can then be emptied by the user after removing the adapter plate and, if necessary together with the adapter plate 42 and/or the water tank 13, can be cleaned, in particular decalcified, e.g. in a dishwasher.

At the bottom of the evaporator recess 47 there is a contact thermocouple (not shown) which, when the evaporator dish 41 is inserted, makes contact with its bottom and thereby measures the outside temperature of this bottom. The sensor readings can be fed to a control device for controlling the evaporator 12, 13, for example for steam regulation (activation and deactivation of the at least one heating element) and for detecting a lack of water (eg running empty). The controller can be a component of the steam treatment drawer 5 or all be common to the household cooking appliance 1 . The control device can in particular correspond to the device control 6 .

When the lid 28 is closed, there is a wiping lip 33 on the rear wall 18 of the support frame 30 which is upstanding and which contacts the lid 28 on the underside. When the cover 28 is pushed into the drawer housing 9, the underside of the cover 28 is wiped off by the wiping lip 33 and as a result any condensate located there is wiped off. In particular, the stripped off condensate can be routed back into the damper pan 20 .

7 shows an oblique view from above of a section of a household cooking appliance 50 drawn in as a sketch with an extended steam treatment drawer 51. The steam treatment drawer 51 has a similar basic structure to the steam treatment drawer 5 and can be used instead of the steam treatment drawer 5.

The cover 28 is specially designed as a two-part cover with a first, rear cover section 28a and a second, front cover section 28b--in a front view or view from the front. In particular, the first cover section 28a is larger than the second cover section 28b.

Both cover sections 28a, 28b can be designed as glass panes or have a respective glass pane, e.g. a glass pane surrounded by a plastic frame. Alternatively, for example, only the first cover section 28a can be designed as a glass pane or have a glass pane, while the second cover section 28b can consist of, for example, transparent or opaque plastic.

The first cover section 28a can be firmly attached to a rigid base (not shown) which extends forwards beyond the first cover section 28a, so that the second cover section 28b also rests on the base.

The second cover section 28b is equipped with a handle area 52 projecting upwards at its front edge and is rotatably connected to the base by means of two swivel joints 53 arranged laterally at its front edge. In particular, can the second cover portion 28b have laterally protruding bolts which are rotatably articulated in corresponding holes or bores in the base.

To actuate the handle area 52, it is pressed into a recess 54 made in the front wall of the support frame 30 or, as shown in FIG. As a result, the second cover section 28b rotates in such a way that a gap S is formed between the first cover section 28a and the second cover section 28b, which is raised relative to the first cover section 28a, and serves for steam D to escape from the damper pan 20. The steam escapes primarily to the rear, so that the steam D is guided away from the user and a hand gripping the grip area 52 is practically not wetted by the steam D.

In the folded-in state of the second cover section 28b in the closed end position shown in FIG.

Optionally, the second cover section 28b can be assigned a safety device 55 which, when the second cover section 28b is closed, prevents the second cover section 28b or the cover 28 from being moved backwards out of the closed end position and only allows and/or after the second cover section 28b has been opened detects a displacement of the cover 28 from the closed end position when the second cover section 28b is folded in and then issues an acoustic and/or visual warning to a user. The warning can optionally be time-bound, e.g. only within a specified period of time after the steam treatment drawer has been extended after a steam treatment process.

For this purpose, the safety means 55 can have, for example, two electrical contacts 56 (shown here as pin-like as an example) which are arranged on the underside in the region of the rear edge on the second cover section 28b and which, when the second cover section 28b is folded in, are correspondingly integrated into the base or the supporting frame 30 on the upper side. brought electrical counter-contacts 57 (illustrated here as a hole-like manner) into contact. The contacts 56 and counter-contacts 57 can thus be used to determine whether the second cover section 28b is or has been opened. In general, a pair of NEM contact 56 and a counter-contact 57 may be present, or there may be several such pairs.

The contacts 56 and counter-contacts 57 can, for example, be connected to a controller (o. Fig.) Which, when it detects that the cover 28 has been pushed out of the steam treatment drawer 51 from its closed end position, without the second Cover section 28b is opened or has been opened for a sufficiently long period of time, preventing the cover 28 from being pushed open (e.g. by actuating a locking mechanism--not shown)--and/or issuing the warning.

The second cover section 28b is advantageously tilt-resistant with regard to its tilted position, i.e. it does not automatically close again after it has been opened and the end of a handle operation, but remains in an opened position in which at least the gap S remains open and advantageously also the contacts 56 , 57 of the security means 55 remain open. This generally results in the advantage that a user does not have to constantly grip or actuate the second cover section 28b for evaporating, but rather only has to open it initially.

The safety means 55 can also have the function of preventing operation of the evaporator 12, 13 when the second cover section 28b is opened. For this purpose, the safety means 55 can be designed, for example, in such a way that a circuit for operating or activating the heating element 12 that heats the steam generation unit runs via a pair of contacts 56 and mating contacts 57 .

The evaporation process can also be supported by a fan (not shown) arranged in the rear area of the damper pan 20 or in the drawer housing 9, which is activated, for example, by means of a position switch assigned to the second cover section 28b or the safety means 55 when the second cover is removed section 28b is opened.

FIG. 9 shows, in a view analogous to FIG. 7, the steam treatment drawer 51, the cover 28 of which has been pushed backwards into a partially open position, as indicated by the arrow. For this purpose, the folded-out handle area 52 is pushed horizontally backwards by a user, as a result of which the second cover section 28b is folded in again and the cover 28 is pushed backwards.

To close the lid 28, the steam treatment drawer 51 only needs to be moved into the drawer housing 9. As a result, the first cover section 28a, which then stands or comes into contact with the drawer housing 9, is moved forward and in the process moves the second cover section 28b forward as well, until the cover 28 is in its closed end position . In this case, the second cover section 28b can also be automatically folded in again.

For manual folding, the user may rotate the unfolded handle portion 52 generally forward, i.e., in the opposite direction to unfolding, possibly with a slight application of force in a forward direction.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the game shown Ausführungsbei.

In general, "a", "an" etc. can be understood as singular or plural, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more" etc., as long as this is not explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression " exactly one" etc.

A numerical specification can also include exactly the specified number as well as a customary tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

Reference List

1 household cooking appliance

2 oven room

3 oven door

4 housing

5 steam treatment drawer

6 device control

7 top heat radiators

8 bottom heating elements

9 drawer cabinets

10 cover plate

11 Evaporator receiving area

12 steam generating unit

12a steam outlet opening

13 water tank

14 fuel cap

15 Damper Pan Insertion Area

16 lateral cheek

17 Front Wall

18 Rear Wall

19 bearing surface

20 damper pan

20a loading opening

21 edge area

22 floor

23 handle

24 deepening

25 steam inlet channel

25a steam inlet port

25b clutch opening

26 steam outlet channel

26a steam outlet port

26b clutch opening 27 vapor removal unit

27a recording

27b steam inlet opening

28 cover

28a First lid section

28b Second lid section

29 steam treatment room

30 support frames

31 Front of Damper Pan

32 Rear of the shock tray

33 wiper lip

40 water outlet

41 evaporator dish

42 adapter plate

43 Edge area of the adapter plate

44 Top edge of the evaporator dish

45 recording well

46 socks

47 evaporator recess

49 pane of glass

50 household cooking appliance

51 steam treatment drawer

52 grip area

53 pivot

54 recess

55 security funds

E insert

D steam

S gap

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

A steam treatment drawer (51) for a household cooking appliance (50), comprising

- a steamer trough (20) with an open top (20a) for receiving material to be steamed and

- A sliding cover (28) between a closed end position and an open end position

- The cover (28) is designed as a two-part cover with a first, rear cover section (28a) and a second, front cover section (28b),

- the second cover section (28b) has an upwardly projecting handle area (52) and can be rotated about its front edge when the handle area (52) is actuated, and

- The second cover section (28b) can be rotated by actuating the handle area (52) in such a way that a gap (S) is formed between the first cover section (28a) and the second cover section (28b) which allows steam (D) to escape. is provided from the damper pan (20).

2. Steam treatment drawer (51) according to claim 1, wherein the second cover section (28b) is articulated by at least one arranged at a front edge rotary joint (53) on the steam treatment drawer (51).

3. Steam treatment drawer (51) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle area (52) can be pressed into a rear recess (54) of a front panel (10) of the steam treatment drawer (51) when actuated.

4. Steam treatment drawer (51) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cover section (28b) is associated with a safety means (55) which is designed to

- When the lid (28) is in its closed end position, to prevent it from sliding open if the second lid section (28b) has not been folded open beforehand, or - If the cover (28) is slid open without first opening the second cover section (28b), an acoustic and/or visual warning is issued to the user.

5. steam treatment drawer (51) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steam treatment drawer (51) is set up to enable steam generation only when the second cover section (28b) is folded in.

6. Steam treatment drawer (51) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the steam treatment drawer (51) has a support frame (30) into which the steamer pan (20) can be inserted, which supports the cover (28) and in which the second cover section (28b ) is rotatably mounted.

7. Household cooking appliance (50) having at least one steam treatment drawer de (51) according to one of the preceding claims.

8. Household cooking appliance (50) according to claim 7, comprising a fan arranged in the rear region of the steam treatment drawer (51) or in the drawer housing (9), which is adapted to be operated when the second cover section (28b) is opened.

9. A method for generating a gap (S) for steam to escape from a steam treatment drawer (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the handle area (52) of the second cover section (28b) is actuated so that the second cover section (28b) rotates and is thereby moved at its rear edge from a position resting against the edge of the first cover section (28a) into a position lifted off from the first cover section (28a), as a result of which there is a gap between the first cover section (28a) and the second cover section ( 28b) forms the gap (S).