ASSEMBLY FOR ARRANGING IN A KITCHEN AND/OR CATERING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly for arrangement in a kitchen and/or catering device, in particular a cooking device, comprising: at least one solids unit with: a receptacle for inserting a bottle filled with solid additive along an inserting direction, a supply line leading to the receptacle for supplying a fluid dissolving the additive, and a discharge line leading from the receptacle for discharging the fluid together with dissolved additive, and at least one operable bottle fixing device, which is formed in a fixed state to fix the at least one bottle into the respective receptacle and in a released state to release the at least one bottle for removing against the inserting direction.

Claims

1. An assembly for arranging in a kitchen and/or catering device, in particular a cooking device, comprising: at least one solids unit with: a receptacle for inserting a bottle filled with solid additive along an inserting direction, a supply line leading to the receptacle for supplying a fluid dissolving the additive, and a discharge line leading from the receptacle for discharging the fluid together with the dissolved additive, and at least one operable bottle fixing, which is designed to fix the at least one bottle in the respective receptacle in a fixed state and to release the at least one bottle for pulling out against the inserting direction in a released state.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottle fixing comprises: a housing, and at least one holding element, which is movably, in particular rotatably, arranged at the housing, wherein the holding element is designed to fix the bottle in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in the fixed state, in particular to abut against the bottle or is designed to operate a further device in the fixed state, which fixes the bottle in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the bottle fixing comprises two of the holding elements for two bottles and a common blocking element for blocking both holding elements.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the bottle fixing comprises a blocking element, which is movably, in particular linear movably, arranged at the housing, wherein the blocking element is designed to block, in particular to block in a form-fitting manner, a movement of the at least one holding element in the fixed state and to release the movement of the at least one holding element in the released state.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one holding element comprises an outer lever portion and an inner lever portion and is rotatably mounted in the housing between the outer lever portion and the inner lever portion, wherein the inner lever portion is in contact with the blocking element in the fixed state.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein an inclined plane arrangement is formed between the blocking element and the inner lever portion for urging the holding element into the state of fixing the bottle.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one holding element in the released state can be urged into the state of releasing the bottle by means of a stop arrangement and/or a return spring and/or a further inclined plane arrangement.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein: the bottle fixing comprises a force accumulator, in particular designed as a spring, and the force accumulator urges the bottle fixing into the fixed state.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the bottle fixing comprises an operating element designed to set the bottle fixing to the released state, preferably, wherein: the operating element is arranged and designed for manual, tool-free operation, and/or the operating element is arranged linear movable in the housing, and/or the operating element is designed to shift the common blocking element, and/or the operating element and the common blocking element are manufactured together as one part, and/or the operating element comprises a head and a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion projects from the head up to the common blocking element, in particular wherein the at least one holding element is arranged between the head and the common blocking element, and/or the common blocking element comprises an extension, at which the force accumulator, designed as a spiral spring, is arranged.

10. The assembly of claim 1, comprising two of the solids units, wherein the bottle fixing is arranged between the two solids units and is designed to simultaneously fix both bottles in the fixed state and/or to simultaneously release both bottles in the released state.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle of the at least one solids unit is designed for threadless inserting of the bottle.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottle fixing comprises a locking element that can be in a locked state and an unlocked state, the locking element is designed to lock an operation of the bottle fixing into the released state, when the locking element is in the locked state, and not to lock an operation of the bottle fixing into the released state, when the locking element is in the unlocked state.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the locking element, namely first locking element, is controllable for operating into the locked state and/or into the unlocked state, in particular is electrically or electronically controllable.

14. A kitchen and/or catering device, in particular cooking device, comprising a food chamber for treating and/or storing food, in particular designed as cooking chamber, a collecting container for storing a liquid washing liquor, a washing liquor line for supplying the washing liquor from the collecting container into the food chamber, an assembly of claim 1, wherein the discharge line leads in particular in direction of the collecting container, and at least one supply line pump for pumping the fluid, preferably the washing liquor, through the at least one supply line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Further details, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with the drawings. It shows in:

[0049] FIG. 1 a perspective front view of an assembly according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0050] FIG. 2 a perspective rear view of the assembly according to the embodiment of the invention,

[0051] FIG. 3 a plan view with partially hidden elements of the assembly according to the embodiment of the invention,

[0052] FIG. 4 a bottle fixing of the assembly according to the embodiment of the invention,

[0053] FIG. 5 the bottle fixing from FIG. 4 in the fixed state with the housing open

[0054] FIG. 6 the bottle fixing from FIG. 4 in a released state with the housing open

[0055] FIG. 7 details of the bottle fixing from FIGS. 4, 5 and 6,

[0056] FIG. 8 an exploded view of the bottle fixing from FIG. 4, and

[0057] FIG. 9 a schematic side view and front view of a kitchen and/or catering device according to the invention with the assembly according to the embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] In the following, an assembly 1 according to the invention is first described on the basis of FIGS. 1 to 8. This is used in a kitchen and/or catering device 100, as shown schematically in FIG. 9. Unless otherwise stated, reference is always made to all figures in the following.

[0059] In the embodiment shown, the assembly 1 comprises two solids units 2, each with a receptacle 3. In the embodiment shown, the two receptacles 3 of the two solids units 2 are formed by a common injection-molded part.

[0060] A bottle 200 filled with solid additive can be inserted along an inserting direction 4 into each receptacle 3.

[0061] At the rear of the assembly 1, in particular as illustrated in FIG. 2, there is a supply line 5 and a discharge line 6 for each solids unit 2, as explained in the general part of the description.

[0062] Furthermore, the assembly 1 comprises a bottle fixing 10 for fixing the two bottles 200 in the two solids units 2. FIG. 1 shows the bottle fixing 10 from the front. In the illustration according to FIG. 3, the receptacles 3 of the solids units 2 are hidden, so that it can be seen that the bottle fixing 10 is arranged between the two bottles 200. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the bottle fixing 10.

[0063] In FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper shell of a housing 11 of the bottle fixing 10 is hidden in order to show the interior of the bottle fixing 10. FIG. 5 shows the bottle fixing from FIG. 4 in the fixed state. FIG. 6 shows the bottle fixing from FIG. 4 in the released state with the operating element 18 pressed in.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a detail of the bottle fixing 10 and FIG. 8 shows an exploded illustration of the bottle fixing 10.

[0065] The bottle fixing 10 comprises two holding elements 12, which are rotatably mounted in the housing 11 via pivot bearings 12.3. Each holding element 12 comprises an outer lever portion 12.1 and an inner lever portion 12.2. The respective pivot bearing 12.3 is arranged between the outer lever portion 12.1 and the inner lever portion 12.2.

[0066] A blocking element 13 is mounted in the interior of the housing 11 linear movably. The blocking element 13 comprises an extension 13.1. A force accumulator 17 in the form of a spiral spring is arranged at this extension 13.1.

[0067] Between the blocking element 13 and the respective inner lever portion 12.2, there is an inclined plane arrangement 14, which leads to the two inner lever portions 12.2 being pushed inwards, when the blocking element 13 moves into the fixed state, causing the outer lever portions 12.1 to pivot outwardly and thereby fix the bottles 200 in a form-fitting manner.

[0068] Furthermore, the bottle fixing 10 comprises an operating element 18, which is composed of a head 18.1 and a connecting portion 18.2. The connecting portion 18.2 extends from the head 18.1 to the blocking element 13.

[0069] A finger can press on the head 18.1 in order to operate the bottle fixing 10. By pressing on the head 18.1, the bottle fixing 10 moves into the released state, wherein the force accumulator 17 is loaded.

[0070] FIG. 7 in particular illustrates that the operating element 18 together with the blocking element 13 forms a common component, in particular a common injection molding component.

[0071] FIGS. 5 and 6 show purely schematically the optional use of a stop arrangement 23 having a first stop surface at the operating element 18 and a second stop surface at the respective holding element 12; in particular, at the respective inner lever portion 12.2. The stop surfaces come into contact, when the operating element 18 is operated (see FIG. 6), causing the outer lever portions 12.1 to pivot inwardly.

[0072] Additively or alternatively, return springs 16, shown purely schematically, can be used in the section of the pivot bearing 12.3. These return springs 16 can also be used to set the holding elements 12 inserted in the released state in such a way that the bottles 20 can be.

[0073] Additively or alternatively, a further inclined plane arrangement 15, shown schematically, can also be used. In this case, a sliding contact is provided between the connecting portion 18.2 and the inner surfaces of the inner lever portions 12.2. In this way, when the operating element 18 is pressed in, it is possible to apply a force on the inner lever portions 12.2 in order to pivot the outer lever portions 12.1 inwards. This also allows the path for inserting a bottle 200 to be released.

[0074] FIGS. 4 and 5 show, purely schematically, the use of at least one optional locking element, as explained in the general part of the description.

[0075] Three different locking elements are described, of which preferably only one is used. However, two or all three of the locking elements can also be used at a bottle fixing 10.

[0076] The first locking element 19.1 is designed in particular to engage in a movement section of the bottle fixing 10 by means of electromotive or electromagnetic drive in order to lock the operation of the bottle fixing 10. In particular, the first locking element 19.1 can be used to lock a movement of the blocking element 13 and/or the operating element 18.

[0077] It is particularly preferred that the first locking element 19.1 is controllable for operating into the locked state and/or into the unlocked state. This is done in particular electrically or electronically. For controlling the first locking element 19.1, preferably a control device of the kitchen and/or catering device 100 is used. FIG. 5 shows this purely schematically.

[0078] The second locking element 19.2 comprises a locking cylinder in the operating element 18. By turning the locking cylinder with a key 24, a locking component can be extended out of the operating element 18 into the housing 11 in order to block a movement of the operating element 18 relative to the housing 11. FIG. 5 shows this purely schematically. FIG. 4 shows purely schematically the accessibility of the lock cylinder via the head 18.1 of the operating element 18.

[0079] The third locking element 19.3shown purely schematically in FIG. 4comprises a padlock that can be hung at the operating element 18 between the head 18.1 and the housing 11, wherein the shackle of the padlock blocks the operating element 18 from being pushed in.

[0080] In FIG. 6, the locking elements are not shown for the sake of lucidity.

[0081] In FIG. 3, the receptacles 3 of the solids units 2 are hidden. It can be seen that a bottle sensor 20 is arranged in the rear section of each solids unit 2. In the lower solids unit 2, the housing of the bottle sensor 20 is arranged so that the internal sensor pin 21 can be seen. This sensor pin 21 is operated by inserting the bottle 200 and by contact with the bottle 200, parallel to the inserting direction 4. It is possible to detect whether the respective bottle 200 is correctly inserted and far enough in by means of the bottle sensor 20.

[0082] Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that a seal 22 is provided in each receptacle 3, through which an opening section of the respective bottle 200 can be pushed.

[0083] FIG. 9 shows, purely schematically, a side view and a front view of a kitchen and/or catering device 100, in which the assembly 1 is used.

[0084] The kitchen and/or catering device 100 is constructed as explained in the general part of the description. Accordingly, the kitchen and/or catering device 100 comprises a food chamber 101 and a collecting container 102 situated there beneath. A washing liquor line 103 leads to the food chamber 101 from the collecting container 102. A pump for pumping the washing liquor into the food chamber 101 can be arranged in this washing liquor line 103.

[0085] From the food chamber 101, the washing liquor can flow back into the collecting container 102 via a recirculation 110. A fresh water supply line 111 is provided to supply fresh water into the collecting container 102.

[0086] A corresponding line leads from the collecting container 102 to a supply line pump 104 and as far as the supply lines 5 of the solids units 2. The discharge lines 6 of the solids units 2 are connected to the collecting container 102 via lines.

[0087] Furthermore, FIG. 9 shows that the food chamber 101 is closed by a door 105. In the upper section of the kitchen and/or catering device 100 is an operating unit 106 for controlling the device.

[0088] A heating/recirculating unit 107 can be arranged in the food chamber 101.

[0089] FIG. 9 shows, purely schematically, that the assembly 1 arranged in the upper section can be closed by a flap 108. A flap element 109 can be formed as a sensor and/or as a closure. If the flap element 109 is formed as a sensor, it can detect whether the flap is closed. If the flap element 109 is formed as a closure, the flap can be closed in a controllable manner in order to allow or deny access to the bottles 200.