Induction cooktop and method for its production

An induction cooktop includes: a cover plate with at least one cooking point; a holding plate; at least one inductive heating coil arranged between the cover plate and the holding plate; at least one electronics housing fastened to a side of the holding plate facing away from the at least one inductive heating coil and having electronics for the at least one inductive heating coil; and a lower box closing off the induction cooktop at a bottom of the induction cooktop, the lower box being open at a top thereof. The at least one electronics housing is arranged in the lower box. The holding plate covers the lower box at the top. The holding plate is connected in a force-transmitting manner to the lower box in an assembly state of the induction cooktop.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2020 121 629.7, filed on Aug. 18, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The invention relates to an induction cooktop of the type described herein and to a method for its production.

BACKGROUND

Such induction cooktops and methods for their production are already known from the prior art in a plurality of embodiments. The known induction cooktops comprise a cover plate with at least one cooking point, a holding plate, at least one inductive heating coil arranged between the cover plate and the holding plate, at least one electronics housing attached to a side of the holding plate facing away from the heating coil, with electronics for the heating coil and a lower box closing the induction cooktop downward, wherein the electronics housing with the electronics is arranged in the lower box that opens upwards and the holding plate covers the lower box upwards, and wherein the holding plate is connected to the lower box in an assembled state of the induction cooktop in a force-transmitting manner.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an induction cooktop, comprising: a cover plate with at least one cooking point; a holding plate; at least one inductive heating coil arranged between the cover plate and the holding plate; at least one electronics housing fastened to a side of the holding plate facing away from the at least one inductive heating coil and having electronics for the at least one inductive heating coil; and a lower box closing off the induction cooktop at a bottom of the induction cooktop, the lower box being open at a top thereof, wherein the at least one electronics housing is arranged in the lower box, the holding plate covers the lower box at the top, and the holding plate is connected in a force-transmitting manner to the lower box in an assembly state of the induction cooktop, wherein the lower box is configured such that, in order to transfer the induction cooktop into the assembly state, the at least one electronics housing is positionable and fixable in the lower box along an assembly axis of the induction cooktop in a first production step, and wherein, in a second manufacturing step, the holding plate is snappable onto the at least one electronics housing, which is positioned and fixed only by the lower box, essentially perpendicularly to the assembly axis of the induction cooktop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention addresses the problem of improving the production of an induction cooktop.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by an induction cooktop as described herein, which is wherein the lower box is designed in such a way that, in order to transfer the induction cooktop into its assembled state, in a first manufacturing step the electronics housing with the electronics can be positioned and fixed in the lower box along an assembly axis of the induction cooktop in such a way, in that, in a second manufacturing step, the holding plate can be snapped onto the electronics housing, which is positioned and fixed only by the lower box, essentially perpendicularly to the assembly axis of the induction cooktop. Furthermore, this problem is solved by a method for manufacturing an induction cooktop as described herein. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are described herein.

The advantage achievable with the invention consists in particular in the production of an induction cooktop being improved. Due to the design according to the invention of the induction cooktop and the method for its production, the production of the induction cooktop is significantly simplified and thus can be carried out faster and more cost-effectively. Additional tools, for example the use of mounting gages or the like, and associated workstations for positioning and fixing the electronics housing relative to the lower box for the purpose of connecting the holding plate to the electronics housing are dispensable according to the invention. Instead, a simple construction of the induction cooktop along the structural axis of the induction cooktop is made possible, in which the individual components or assemblies of the induction cooktop can be built one after the other onto the lower box that opens upwards. Accordingly, individual handling of the partially heavy assemblies of the induction cooktop is also omitted, so that the production of the induction cooktop according to the invention is also ergonomically advantageous.

In principle, the induction cooktop according to the invention can be freely selected in the manner, material and dimensioning within widely suitable limits.

An advantageous development of the induction cooktop according to the invention provides that the lower box for positioning and fixing the electronics housing has a separate first retaining bar having at least one first recess and at least one separate second retaining bar having a second recess extending substantially perpendicularly to the first retaining bar, preferably that the first and/or the second retaining bar are/is designed as a holding bracket, particularly preferably that the first and the second retaining bars have notches corresponding to one another, which are designed and arranged in such a way that the first and the second retaining bars can be connected to one another in a positive-locking manner in the manner of a plug-in connection. In this way, the structure of the lower box and thus the structure and assembly of the induction cooktop according to the invention are further simplified. This applies particularly to the preferred embodiment and in particular to the particularly preferred embodiment of this development. The design of the respective retaining bar as a holding bracket ensures an improvement in the stability of the retaining bar. In addition, it is conceivable for the retaining bar designed as a holding bracket to be additionally screwed, riveted, glued or connected in a force-transmitting manner to the rest of the lower box. The preferred and particularly preferred embodiments of this development are independent of one another so that, for example, the retaining bars do not necessarily have to be designed as a retaining bracket in the particularly preferred embodiment.

Accordingly, an advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides, in order to position and fix the electronics housing in the lower box, that a separate first retaining bar of the lower box is connected to at least one first recess and at least one separate second retaining bar of the lower box extending substantially perpendicularly to the first retaining bar are connected to one another to a second recess and inserted into the rest of the lower box, preferably, that the first and second retaining bars have notches corresponding to one another, wherein the first and second retaining bars are connected to one another in a form-fitting manner by means of these notches in the manner of a plug-in connection.

An advantageous development of the aforementioned embodiment of the induction cooktop according to the invention provides that holding projections respectively corresponding to one another for positioning and fixing the first and/or the second retaining bar relative to the rest of the lower box are arranged on at least two mutually opposite side walls of the lower box, preferably, that the holding projections are formed from the respectively corresponding sidewall of the lower box, particularly preferably that the holding projections of each sidewall are formed as a pair of holding tabs spaced apart from each other. As a result, the positioning and fixing of the respective retaining bar relative to the rest of the lower box is realized in a particularly simple and robust manner in terms of design and production technology. This applies particularly to the preferred embodiment and in particular to the particularly preferred embodiment of this development.

Accordingly, an advantageous development of the latter embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that holding projections corresponding to one another are arranged on at least two opposite side walls of the lower box, wherein the first retaining bar and/or the second retaining bar are/are positioned and fixed relative to the rest of the lower box by means of these holding projections, preferably that the holding projections are formed from the respective corresponding sidewall of the lower box, particularly preferably that the holding projections of each sidewall are formed as a pair of holding tabs spaced apart from each other.

An advantageous development of the two latter embodiments of the induction cooktop according to the invention provides that the first and/or the second retaining bar is designed as a substantially airtight partition, wherein the electronics housing is designed and arranged relative to the partition wall in the assembled state of the induction cooktop, that an air stream for cooling the electronics arranged in the electronics housing can be guided through the electronics housing by means of the partition wall in such a way that the air stream can be guided from a suction side of the lower box by means of the electronics housing to a pressure side of the lower box fluidically separated from the suction side by means of the partition wall. In this way, the functionality of the first and/or second retaining bar is increased since the respective retaining bar serves not only for positioning and fixing the electronics housing relative to the lower box but can simultaneously be used as an air guide element for conducting the aforementioned air flow. Accordingly, additional air guide elements are not required, so that the number of components is reduced and the construction of the induction cooktop according to the invention is further simplified. In this context, the wording “substantially airtight” means that the electronics housing and the retaining bar designed as a partition, as well as the retaining bar designed as a partition, and the rest of the lower box, for example a bottom of the lower box, can also rest only blunt against one another. Accordingly, a sufficiently air-tight separation between the suction side and the pressure side of the lower box would be realized by means of the partition wall on the one side and thus the production costs and thus the production effort would be significantly reduced on the other side.

Accordingly, an advantageous development of the method according to the invention as described herein provides that the first and/or the second retaining bar is designed as a substantially airtight partition, wherein the electronics housing is designed in such a way and is arranged relative to the partition wall in the assembled state of the induction cooktop, that an air stream for cooling the electronics arranged in the electronics housing can be guided through the electronics housing by means of the partition wall in such a way that the air stream can be guided from a suction side of the lower box by means of the electronics housing to a pressure side of the lower box fluidically separated from the suction side by means of the partition wall.

A further advantageous development of the induction cooktop according to the invention provides that fresh air openings are formed on at least one side wall of the lower box, preferably on a side wall associated with the suction side and/or the pressure side of the lower box. A targeted supply of fresh air for cooling the electronics arranged in the electronics housing and/or discharging of cooling air heated by means of the electronics is thereby made possible.

Another advantageous development of the induction cooktop according to the invention provides that the lower box is designed as a metal part. In this way, the lower box is designed to be suitable, for example, for the requirements of the US market and the Canadian market. In principle, however, it is also conceivable for the lower box to be designed as a plastic part or from another material or a composite material.

A further advantageous development of the induction cooktop according to the invention provides that the lower box has at least one holding plate on its side facing the holding plate for fastening the holding plate to the lower box. This makes it possible to fasten the holding plate to the lower box in a particularly simple and robust manner.

The induction cooktop2designed as a household device comprises a cover plate4designed as a glass ceramic plate with a total of four cooking points6, a holding plate8designed as an aluminum sheet, a total of four inductive heating coils10assigned to the cooking points6and arranged between the cover plate4and the holding plate8, an electronics housing12fastened to a side of the holding plate8facing away from the heating coils10, said electronics housing having electronics14for the heating coils10and a lower box16closing the induction cooktop2downward and designed as metal housings, wherein the electronics housing12, which is also referred to as a generator housing, is arranged with the electronics14in the lower box16that opens upwards. In an assembly state of the induction cooktop2shown inFIG.1, the holding plate8covers the lower box16at the top, the holding plate8being force-transmitting connected to the lower box16in the assembled state of the induction cooktop2in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The force-transmitting connection can be designed directly or indirectly and in this case comprise screw points and/or threaded pins and/or other suitable and expedient fastening techniques. For this purpose, the lower box16has, on its side facing the holding plate8, a plurality of retaining flanges17for fastening the holding plate8to the lower box16. SeeFIGS.2ato2d.

The lower box16is designed in such a way that, in order to transfer the induction cooktop2into its assembled state, in a first manufacturing step the electronics housing12with the electronics14can be positioned and fixed in the lower box16along an assembly axis of the induction cooktop2symbolized inFIG.1by a dashed line18in such a way that, in a second manufacturing step, the holding plate8can be snapped onto the electronics housing12, which is positioned and fixed only by the lower box16, essentially perpendicularly to the assembly axis18of the induction cooktop2. For the purpose of positioning and fixing the electronics housing12, the lower box16has a separate first retaining bar20having a first recess22and a separate second retaining bar24extending substantially perpendicularly to the first retaining bar20having a second recess26, wherein the first retaining bar20is designed as a holding bracket. The first and second retaining bars20,24have mutually corresponding latches28which are designed and arranged in such a way that the first and second retaining bars20,24can be connected to one another in a positive-locking manner in the manner of a plug-in connection. In this regard, seeFIGS.2ato2d.

Retaining projections32corresponding to each other are disposed on respective opposing side walls30of the lower box16for positioning and securing the first and second retaining bars20,24relative to the remainder of the lower box16, wherein the retaining projections32are formed from the corresponding side wall30of the lower box16, and wherein the retaining projections32on each side wall30are formed as a pair of retaining tabs. In this regard, seeFIGS.2ato2din conjunction withFIGS.3aand3b.FIG.2ashows the lower box16in a top view,FIG.2bshows the lower box16in a first side view,FIG.2cshows the lower box16in a second side view rotated by 90° to the first side view,FIG.2dthe lower box16in a further top view with the electronics housing12inserted in the lower box16,FIG.3athe retaining projections32formed as a pair of mutually spaced retaining tabs in a top view, andFIG.3bone of the aforementioned retaining tabs in a longitudinal section. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first retaining bar20designed as a holding bracket is additionally screwed, riveted, glued, glued, or connected in a force-transmitting manner to the rest of the lower box16, namely to a bottom34of the lower box16. However, this is not essential.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the first retaining bar20is designed as a substantially airtight partition, wherein, in the mounting state of the induction cooktop2, the electronics housing12is designed in such a way and is arranged relative to the first retaining bar20designed as a partition, that an air stream for cooling the electronics14arranged in the electronics housing12can be conducted through the electronics housing12by means of the first retaining bar20designed as a partition wall in such a way, that the air flow can be guided from a suction side35of the lower box16by means of the electronics housing12to a pressure side36of the lower box16, which is fluidically separated from the suction side35by means of the first retaining bar20designed as a partition wall. In this regard, see in particularFIG.4, in which the aforementioned air stream is symbolized by arrows38. The aforementioned air stream38is generated by at least one cooling fan40arranged in the electronics housing12. Fresh air openings42are formed for the purpose of suction of fresh air and discharge of the air stream38heated by the cooling of the electronics14in the electronics housing12on two opposite side walls30of the lower box16, namely on a side wall30assigned to the suction side35and the pressure side36of the lower box16. Furthermore, the electronics housing12has corresponding cooling air openings44for the aforementioned air flow38and corresponding to the fresh air openings42.

In the following, the operation of the induction cooktop according to the invention and the method according to the invention according to the first exemplary embodiment are described with reference toFIGS.1to5.

For the purpose of transferring the induction cooktop2into its assembly state shown inFIG.1, the lower box16is first clamped onto a workpiece carrier. First, the first retaining bar20, as shown inFIGS.2ato2d, are inserted into the lower box16. In this case, the first retaining bar20is inserted between the two retaining tabs of the retaining projections32arranged on the side walls30shown on the left and right in the image plane ofFIG.2aand is connected in a force-transmitting manner to the bottom34of the lower box16, for example, by means of screws. Subsequently, the second retaining bar24is then inserted between each of the two retaining tabs of the retaining projections32arranged on the side walls30shown at the top and bottom in the image plane ofFIG.2a. Due to the mutually formed latches28of the first and second retaining bars20,24, the first and second retaining bars20,24are connected to one another in a positive-locking manner in the manner of a plug-in connection. In this regard, see in particularFIG.2c. The lower box16is now completed.

As shown inFIGS.2band2c, the first and second retaining bars20,24now form a receptacle for the electronics housing12by means of their recesses22,26.

In a first manufacturing step for producing the induction cooktop2, the electronics housing12is then positioned and fixed with the electronics14along the structural axis18of the induction cooktop2in the lower box16in such a way, that in a subsequent second manufacturing step, the holding plate8is snapped essentially perpendicularly to the structural axis18of the induction cooktop2onto the electronics housing12positioned and fixed only by the lower box16. For this purpose, the holding plate8and the electronics housing12have latching means, which correspond to one another. InFIG.2d, the lower box16is shown with the electronics housing12inserted therein. As can be clearly seen therefrom, the electronics housing12is positioned and fixed parallel to the image plane ofFIG.2dand positioned perpendicular to the image plane ofFIG.2dby means of the first and second retaining bars20,24of the lower box16. In the aforementioned second manufacturing step, the holding plate8is now parallel to the image plane inFIG.2dand thus moved relative to the electronics housing12in such a way that the latching means corresponding to one another of the holding plate8and of the electronics housing12latch with one another. The electronics housing12is thus connected to the holding plate8in a force-transmitting manner Only the lower box16and the holding plate8are required for the aforementioned positioning and fixing of the electronics housing12relative to the lower box16and for the fastening of the electronics housing12to the holding plate8. Additional components, tools and devices, such as an assembly gage, and associated workstations can be dispensed with.

In principle, it is conceivable for the holding plate8to be connected directly to the lower box16in a force-transmitting manner known to the person skilled in the art. This can be realized, for example, by means of screw connections or the like. In this regard, seeFIG.5, in which this variant of the first exemplary embodiment is shown purely by way of example.

In the first exemplary embodiment according toFIG.1, however, it is provided that the holding plate8is connected indirectly to the lower box16in a force-transmitting manner in the manner explained below.

After the holding plate8has been locked to the electronics housing12in the manner explained above, the heating coils10for the total of four cooking zones6of the induction cooktop2are arranged on the holding plate8and fixed in a manner known to the skilled person. Finally, the cover plate4is mounted along the structural axis18. In this case, threaded pins46arranged circumferentially on an underside of the cover plate4engage through fastening holes48,50formed on the holding plate8and in the retaining flanges17of the lower box16and are screwed together with fastening nuts to an underside of the retaining flanges17of the lower box16. The induction cooktop2is now in its assembled state as shown inFIG.1.

As already stated above, the first retaining bar20is designed as a substantially airtight partition. Accordingly, in one operation of the induction cooktop2, it is now possible to direct the above-mentioned air flow38for cooling the electronics14arranged in the electronics housing12through the electronics housing12by means of the first retaining bar20, which is designed as a partition wall, in such a way that the air flow38is directed from the suction side35of the lower box16by means of the electronics housing12to a pressure side36of the lower box16, which is fluidically separated from the suction side35by means of the first retaining bar20, which is designed as a partition wall. In this regard, seeFIG.4. Further components for guiding the air stream38are not necessary. The phrase “substantially airtight” means here that the electronics housing12and the first retaining bar20formed as a partition, as well as the first retaining bar20formed as a partition and a remainder of the lower box16, namely the bottom34of the lower box16, are merely butted against each other. Accordingly, a sufficiently air-tight separation between the suction side35and the pressure side36of the lower box16is thus realized on one side by means of the first retaining bar20designed as a partition wall and thus the production costs are significantly reduced on the other side of the production effort.

InFIGS.6ato6e, a second embodiment of the induction cooktop according to the invention is shown purely as an example. Here,FIG.6ashows the lower box16in a top view,FIG.6bshows the lower box16in a first side view,FIG.6cshows the lower box16in a second side view comparable to the first side view,FIG.6dshows the lower box16in another top view with electronics housings12inserted into the lower box16, andFIG.6eshows the lower box16in a perspective view. The second exemplary embodiment is explained below only within the scope of the distinguishing features regarding the first exemplary embodiment. Identical or identically acting components are provided with the same reference numbers as in the first exemplary embodiment. Otherwise, reference is made to the above explanations regarding the first exemplary embodiment.

The second exemplary embodiment substantially corresponds to the first exemplary embodiment so that, in general, reference is made to the explanations relating to the first exemplary embodiment and toFIGS.1to5.

In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the induction cooktop2of the second exemplary embodiment has a total of 6 cooking points. Accordingly, the structure of the induction cooktop2according to the second exemplary embodiment is modified compared to that of the first exemplary embodiment. On the one hand, instead of a second retaining bar, the lower box16of the second exemplary embodiment has two second retaining bars24each having a recess26. Secondly, the first retaining bar20of the second embodiment has two recesses22corresponding to the recesses26instead of one. The connection to the first retaining bar20and the rest of the lower box16corresponds to the first exemplary embodiment. In this regard, seeFIGS.6ato6d. Due to the six instead of four cooking points6, the induction cooktop2according to the second exemplary embodiment requires two electronics housings12with electronics14for controlling the heating coils10of the induction cooktop2. InFIG.6c, the position of the two electronics housings12relative to the lower box16with the retaining bars20,24is symbolized by dashed lines. Analogous toFIG.2d,FIG.6dshows the lower box16with the electronics housings12inserted into the lower box16along the assembly axis18. The assembly axis18shown inFIG.1is perpendicular to the image plane inFIG.6d. InFIG.6e, the lower box16with the retaining bars20,24is shown in a perspective view, from which the two receptacles formed by the recesses22,26of the retaining bars20,24for the two electronics housings12are clearly visible. Analogously to the first embodiment, the first retaining bar20is again designed as a substantially airtight partition separating a suction side35from a pressure side36of the lower box16, so that the air flow38for cooling the electronics14arranged in the electronics housings12can be conveyed from the suction side35of the lower box16via the respective electronics housing12to the pressure side36of the lower box16, which is fluidically separated from the suction side35by means of the first retaining bar20designed as a partition. SeeFIG.4.

The invention is not limited to the present exemplary embodiments. For example, the invention can also be advantageously used in commercial devices, i.e. in induction cooktops for professional use. The structural details of the aforementioned exemplary embodiments are purely exemplary, so that the induction cooktop according to the invention can also be implemented in a different manner. The same applies to the material selection for the respective components of the induction cooktop. Furthermore, the number of cooking points is not limited to four or six cooking points. Any practical number of cooking points is thus conceivable for the induction cooktop according to the invention.