Patent ID: 8285128

Claim:
A steam generator for a household appliance, the steam generator comprising: an evaporation chamber including a substantially planar evaporation surface with first and second sections; a water supply line in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber; a steam discharge line in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber; a heat accumulator configured to heat the evaporation surface; at least one of a valve and a pump associated with the water supply line and operable to control an introduction of water into the evaporation chamber; and an electric controller operable to control a heating of the heat accumulator with a heater and to control an introduction of water into the evaporation chamber using the at least one of a valve and a pump; wherein the first section is a starter section that is thermally conductively coupled to the heat accumulator such that heat flow from the heat accumulator to the starter section is limited compared to the second section.