JP4405318B2 - Steam cooker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam cooker.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a steam cooker that performs cooking of an object to be heated such as food using steam, there is one that sends superheated steam into an oven cabinet (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-49854)). . The steam cooker includes a steam generator that generates steam and a steam superheater that generates superheated steam by heating the steam generated by the steam generator, and the superheated steam generated by the steam superheater. Into the oven to cook food.

  In the steam cooker, a circulation path that connects the lower side and the upper side of the oven cabinet is provided outside the oven cabinet, and a steam generator, a steam superheater, and a blower fan are disposed in the circulation path. And the steam is circulated through the circulation path in the oven cabinet by the blower fan.

However, since the dew condensation water produced in the circulation path of the steam cooker stays in the circulation path, there is a problem that it is not preferable in terms of hygiene.
JP-A-8-49854

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a steam cooker capable of reliably draining the dew condensation water in the circulation path for circulating the steam in the heating chamber, preventing the dew condensation water from staying in the circulation path and improving the hygiene. It is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the steam cooker of the present invention provides:
A steam generator for generating steam;
A heating chamber for heating an object to be heated by steam supplied from the steam generator;
A circulation path through which steam circulates through the steam generator and the heating chamber;
A drainage path for draining the condensed water generated in the circulation path to the outside of the circulation path ,
The drainage path has an upper end connected to the circulation path and a lower end connected to the heating chamber,
The condensed water produced in the circulation path is reused for heating the object to be heated by being led into the heating chamber by the drainage path and evaporating again in the heating chamber .

  According to the steam cooker having the above configuration, when the object to be heated in the heating chamber is heated by the steam supplied from the steam generating device, the steam circulates through the circulation path through the steam generating device and the heating chamber. At this time, the condensed water generated in the circulation path is drained out of the circulation path by the drainage path. Therefore, since dew condensation water does not stay in the circulation path, hygiene is improved.

Further , the dew condensation water generated in the circulation path is led into the heating chamber through the drainage path, so that the water returned to the heating chamber is evaporated again and effectively used for cooking with superheated steam. In particular, in a form in which water stored in a water tank or the like is used for steam, limited water resources can be used effectively.

  Moreover, the steam cooker of one Embodiment is characterized by the upper end of the said drainage path being connected to the lowest part of the said circulation path.

  According to the steam cooker of the above embodiment, by connecting the upper end of the drainage path to the lowermost part of the circulation path, all the condensed water generated in the circulation path gathers at the lowermost part of the circulation path, effectively Condensed water can be drained reliably.

  In addition, the steam generator according to an embodiment includes a saucer disposed on the lower side of the heating chamber, and the lower end of the drainage path is heated to prevent the drainage from the lower end of the drainage path from dropping on the saucer. It is connected to the chamber.

  According to the steam generator of the said embodiment, drainage from the lower end of the said drainage channel dripped at the saucer arrange | positioned under the said heating chamber can prevent drainage leak reliably.

  As is clear from the above, according to the steam cooker of the present invention, the dew condensation water in the circulation path for circulating the steam in the heating chamber can be surely drained, and the dew condensation water is prevented from staying in the circulation path. It is providing the steam cooker which can improve a hygiene side.

  Hereinafter, a steam cooker and a steam generator according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a steam cooker 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. An operation panel 11 is provided at the upper part of the front of a rectangular parallelepiped cabinet 10, and the lower side of the operation panel 11 on the front of the cabinet 10 is shown. In addition, a door 12 that rotates around the lower end side is provided. A handle 13 is provided above the door 12, and a heat-resistant glass window 14 is provided on the door 12.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state where the door 12 of the steam cooker 1 is opened, and a rectangular parallelepiped heating chamber 20 is provided in the cabinet 10. The heating chamber 20 has an opening 20a on the front side facing the door 12, and the side, bottom and top surfaces of the heating chamber 20 are formed of stainless steel plates. The door 12 is formed of a stainless steel plate on the side facing the heating chamber 20. A heat insulating material (not shown) is arranged around the heating chamber 20 and inside the door 12 to insulate the inside of the heating chamber 20 from the outside.

  Further, a stainless steel tray 21 is placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber 20, and a stainless steel wire rack 24 (shown in FIG. 3) for placing an object to be heated on the tray 21 is placed. Furthermore, a substantially rectangular side-surface steam outlet 22 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2) is provided on both side surfaces of the heating chamber 20.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a basic configuration of the steam cooker 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the steam cooker 1 includes a heating chamber 20, a water tank 30 for storing steam water, a steam generator 40 for evaporating water supplied from the water tank 30, and the steam. A steam temperature raising device 50 for heating steam from the generator 40 and a control device 80 for controlling the steam generator 40, the steam temperature raising device 50, and the like are provided.

  A grid-like rack 24 is placed on a tray 21 placed in the heating chamber 20, and an object to be heated 90 is placed in the approximate center of the rack 24.

  In addition, a connecting portion 30 a provided on the lower side of the water tank 30 is connected to a funnel-shaped receiving port 31 a provided at one end of the first water supply pipe 31. The suction side of the pump 35 is connected to the other end of the second water supply pipe 32 that branches from the first water supply pipe 31 and extends upward, and one end of the third water supply pipe 33 is connected to the discharge side of the pump 35. . Further, a water tank water level sensor 36 is disposed at the upper end of a water level sensor pipe 38 that branches off from the first water supply pipe 31 and extends upward. Furthermore, the upper end of the air release pipe 37 branched from the first water supply pipe 31 and extending upward is connected to an exhaust duct 65 described later.

  The third water supply pipe 33 has an L shape that is bent substantially horizontally from a vertically arranged portion, and an auxiliary tank 39 is connected to the other end of the third water supply pipe 33. One end of the fourth water supply pipe 34 is connected to the lower end of the auxiliary tank 39, and the other end of the fourth water supply pipe 34 is connected to the lower end of the steam generator 40. Further, one end of a drain valve 70 is connected to the lower end of the steam generator 40 to which the fourth water supply pipe 34 is connected. One end of the drain pipe 71 is connected to the other end of the drain valve 70, and the internal drain port 29 is connected to the other end of the drain pipe 71. The drain pipe 71 is connected to the drain outlet 29 in a state protruding 2 mm or more into the heating chamber 20. Note that the upper portion of the auxiliary tank 39 communicates with the atmosphere via the air release pipe 37 and the exhaust duct 65.

  When the water tank 30 is connected, the water in the water tank 30 rises into the air release pipe 37 until the water level becomes the same as that of the water tank 30. Since the water level sensor pipe 38 connected to the water tank water level sensor 36 is sealed at the tip, the water level does not rise, but the pressure in the sealed space of the water level sensor pipe 38 depends on the water level of the water tank 30. Rise from atmospheric pressure. By detecting this pressure change by a pressure detection element (not shown) in the water tank water level sensor 36, the water level in the water tank 30 is detected. In the measurement of the water level when the pump 35 is stationary, the pipe 37 for opening to the atmosphere is unnecessary, but in order to prevent the suction pressure of the pump 35 from acting directly on the pressure detection element and reducing the accuracy of water level detection of the water tank 30. An open air pipe 37 having an open end is used.

  The steam generator 40 includes a pot 41 having the lower end connected to the other end of the fourth water supply pipe 34, a heater portion 42 disposed in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the pot 41, and a heater in the pot 41. It has a water level sensor 43 disposed in the vicinity of the upper side of the portion 42 and a steam suction ejector 44 attached to the upper side of the pot 41. And the fan casing 26 is arrange | positioned on the outer side of the suction inlet 25 provided in the side surface upper part of the heating chamber 20. As shown in FIG. Steam in the heating chamber 20 is sucked from the suction port 25 by the blower fan 28 disposed in the fan casing 26. The sucked steam is sent to the inlet side of the steam suction ejector 44 of the steam generator 40 through the first pipe 61. The first pipe 61 has one end connected to the fan casing 26 and the other end connected to the inlet side of the inner nozzle 45 of the vapor suction ejector 44.

  The vapor suction ejector 44 includes an outer nozzle 46 that wraps the outside of the inner nozzle 45, and the discharge side of the inner nozzle 45 communicates with the internal space of the pot 41. The discharge side of the outer nozzle 46 of the vapor suction ejector 44 is connected to one end of the second pipe 63, and the vapor temperature raising device 50 is connected to the other end of the second pipe 63.

  The fan casing 26, the first pipe 61, the steam suction ejector 44, the second pipe 63, and the steam temperature raising device 50 form a circulation path 60. One end of the discharge passage 64 is connected to the discharge port 27 provided on the lower side of the side surface of the heating chamber 20, and the other end of the discharge passage 64 is connected to one end of the exhaust duct 65. An exhaust port 66 is provided at the other end of the exhaust duct 65. A radiator 69 is externally fitted on the exhaust duct 65 side of the discharge passage 64. A connection portion with the first pipe 61 that forms the circulation path 60 is connected to the exhaust duct 65 via the exhaust passage 67. A damper 68 that opens and closes the exhaust passage 67 is arranged on the connection side of the exhaust passage 67 with the first pipe 61.

  In addition, the steam temperature raising device 50 includes a dish-shaped case 51 disposed on the ceiling side and substantially in the center of the heating chamber 20 with the opening facing down, and a first steam heating disposed in the dish-shaped case 51. A heater 52 and a second steam heater 53 disposed in the dish-shaped case 51 are provided. The bottom surface of the dish-shaped case 51 is formed by a metal ceiling panel 54 provided on the ceiling surface of the heating chamber 20. A plurality of ceiling steam outlets 55 are formed in the ceiling panel 54. The ceiling panel 54 is finished in a dark color on the upper and lower surfaces by painting or the like. Note that the ceiling panel 54 may be formed of a metal material that changes to a dark color by repeated use or a dark-colored ceramic molded product.

  Further, the steam temperature raising device 50 is connected to one end of each of the steam supply passages 23 (only one is shown in FIG. 3) extending on the left and right sides of the heating chamber 20. The other end of the steam supply passage 23 extends downward along both side surfaces of the heating chamber 20 and is connected to side surface steam outlets 22 provided on both side surfaces and the lower side of the heating chamber 20.

  The control device 80 includes a blower fan 28, a first steam heater 52, a second steam heater 53, a damper 68, a drain valve 70, a steam generator heater 42, and an operation panel 11 (see FIG. 1). A water tank water level sensor 36, a water level sensor 43, a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature in the heating chamber 20 (shown in FIG. 3), and the humidity in the heating chamber 20 are detected. A humidity sensor (not shown) and a pump 35 are connected.

  The control device 80 includes a microcomputer, an input / output circuit, and the like, and based on detection signals from the water tank water level sensor 36, the water level sensor 43, the temperature sensor, and the humidity sensor, the blower fan 28, the first steam heater 52, and the like. The second steam heater 53, the damper 68, the drain valve 70, the steam generating heater 42, the operation panel 11 and the pump 35 are controlled according to a predetermined program.

  In the steam cooker 1 configured as described above, a power switch (not shown) in the operation panel 11 is pressed to turn on the power, and the operation of the operation panel 11 starts the cooking operation. Then, the control device 80 first starts the operation of the pump 35 with the drain valve 70 closed and the exhaust passage 67 closed by the damper 68. Water is supplied into the pot 41 of the steam generator 40 from the water tank 30 through the first to fourth water supply pipes 31 to 34 by the pump 35. And if the water level sensor 43 detects that the water level in the said pot 41 reached the predetermined water level, the pump 35 will be stopped and water supply will be stopped.

  Next, the steam generating heater 42 is energized, and a predetermined amount of water accumulated in the pot 41 is heated by the steam generating heater 42.

  Next, simultaneously with the energization of the steam generating heater 42 or when the temperature of the water in the pot 41 reaches a predetermined temperature, the blower fan 28 is turned on and the first steam heating heater 52 of the steam heating device 50 is energized. To do. Then, the blower fan 28 sucks air (including steam) in the heating chamber 20 from the suction port 25 and sends out air (including steam) to the circulation path 60. Since a centrifugal fan is used as the blower fan 28, a higher pressure can be generated compared to the propeller fan. Furthermore, by rotating the centrifugal fan used for the blower fan 28 at a high speed with a DC motor, the flow velocity of the circulating airflow can be extremely increased.

  Next, when the water in the pot 41 of the steam generator 40 boils, saturated steam is generated, and the generated saturated steam joins the circulating airflow passing through the circulation path 60 at the steam suction ejector 44. The steam discharged from the steam suction ejector 44 flows into the steam temperature raising device 50 through the second pipe 63 at a high speed.

  And the steam which flowed into the said steam temperature rising apparatus 50 is heated by the 1st steam heating heater 52, and turns into a superheated steam of about 300 degreeC (it changes with cooking contents). A part of the superheated steam is ejected downward from the plurality of ceiling steam outlets 55 provided in the lower ceiling panel 54 in the heating chamber 20. Further, another part of the superheated steam is ejected from the side surface steam outlets 22 on both side surfaces of the heating chamber 20 through the steam supply passages 23 provided on both the left and right sides of the steam heating device 50.

  Thereby, the superheated steam ejected from the ceiling side of the heating chamber 20 is vigorously supplied toward the heated object 90 in the center, and the superheated steam ejected from the left and right side surfaces of the heating chamber 20 Then, the product is supplied while being lifted so as to wrap the heated object 90 from below the heated object 90. As a result, convection occurs in the heating chamber 20 in such a manner that it is blown down at the center and rises outside the center. Then, the convection steam is sequentially sucked into the suction port 25 and repeats circulation such that it returns to the heating chamber 20 through the circulation path 60 again.

  By forming convection of superheated steam in the heating chamber 20 in this way, the superheated steam from the steam heating device 50 is sent to the ceiling steam outlet while maintaining the temperature and humidity distribution in the heating chamber 20 uniform. 55 and the side air outlet 22, and can efficiently collide with the heated object 90 placed on the rack 24. Then, the object to be heated 90 is heated by the collision of superheated steam. At this time, the superheated steam in contact with the surface of the object to be heated 90 also heats the object to be heated 90 by releasing latent heat when dew condensation occurs on the surface of the object to be heated 90. As a result, a large amount of heat of the superheated steam can be uniformly and quickly applied to the entire surface of the article 90 to be heated. Therefore, it is possible to realize cooking with no unevenness and good finish.

  Further, in the above cooking operation, when time elapses, the amount of steam in the heating chamber 20 increases, and the surplus amount of steam passes from the discharge port 27 through the discharge passage 64 and the exhaust duct 65. And discharged from the exhaust port 66 to the outside. At this time, the steam 69 passing through the discharge passage 64 is cooled and condensed by the radiator 69 provided in the discharge passage 64, thereby preventing the steam from being discharged to the outside as it is. The water condensed in the discharge passage 64 by the radiator 69 flows down in the discharge passage 64 and is guided to the receiving tray 21, and is processed together with the water generated by cooking after the cooking.

  After the cooking is finished, the control device 80 displays a cooking end message on the operation panel 11 and further sounds a signal by a buzzer (not shown) provided on the operation panel 11. Thereby, when the user who knows the end of cooking opens the door 12, the control device 80 detects that the door 12 has been opened by a sensor (not shown), and instantly opens the damper 68 of the exhaust passage 67. . Thereby, the first pipe 61 of the circulation path 60 communicates with the exhaust duct 65 through the exhaust passage 67, and the steam in the heating chamber 20 is blown by the blower fan 28 through the suction port 25, the first pipe 61, the exhaust passage 67 and The gas is discharged from the exhaust port 66 through the exhaust duct 65. This damper operation is the same even if the user opens the door 12 during cooking. Therefore, the user can safely remove the object to be heated 90 from the heating chamber 20 without being exposed to steam.

  FIG. 4 shows a main part viewed from the back side of the steam cooker, and a fan casing 26 is arranged outside a suction port 25 provided at the upper side of the humidifying chamber 20 (shown in FIG. 3). . A fan part 28a is disposed in the fan casing 26, and the fan part 28a is rotationally driven by a motor part 28b. The fan part 28a and the motor part 28b constitute a blower fan 28. The steam in the heating chamber 20 is sucked from the suction port 25 by the blower fan 28, and the sucked steam passes through the first pipe 61 to the inner side of the steam suction ejector 44 (shown in FIG. 3) of the steam generator 40. It is fed to the inlet side of the nozzle 45. One end of a drain valve 70 is connected to the lower end of the pot 41 of the steam generator 40. Then, the upper end of the drain pipe 71 is connected to the other end of the drain valve 70, and the lower end of the drain pipe 71 is connected to the internal drain port 29. Further, the upper end of the drain pipe 72 is connected to the drain port 26 a provided at the lowermost part of the fan casing 26, and the lower end of the drain pipe 72 is connected to the upper end side of the drain pipe 71. The drainage path is constituted by the drainage pipes 71 and 72.

  Thus, when the steam circulates through the circulation path 60 through the steam generator 40 and the heating chamber 20, the dew condensation water generated in the fan casing 26 and the first pipe 61 is in the lowermost part of the fan casing 26. The accumulated condensed water 62 is drained into the humidification chamber 20 through the drainage pipes 71 and 72 from the internal drainage port 29. Therefore, the condensed water generated in the circulation path 60 is drained out of the circulation path 60 by the drainage paths (drain pipes 71 and 72), thereby preventing the condensation water from staying in the circulation path 60 and improving hygiene. It can be improved.

  Further, the dew condensation water generated in the circulation path 60 is guided into the heating chamber 20 through the drainage path (drainage pipes 71 and 72), so that the water returned to the heating chamber 20 is evaporated again and superheated steam is obtained. It is effectively used for cooking. In particular, in a form in which water stored in a water tank or the like is used for steam, limited water resources can be used effectively.

  Further, by connecting the upper end of the drainage path (drainage pipe 72) to the lowermost part of the circulation path 60, all the dew condensation water generated in the circulation path 60 gathers at the lowermost part of the circulation path 60, which is effective and reliable. Condensed water can be drained.

  Moreover, the drainage from the lower end of the drainage channel (drainage pipe 71) is dropped on the receiving tray 21 disposed on the lower side in the heating chamber 20, so that drainage leakage can be reliably prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the condensed water generated in the circulation path 60 is drained into the heating chamber 20 via the drainage path (drainage pipes 71 and 72). However, a drainage tank is provided separately and the circulation path is provided in the drainage tank. Condensed water generated inside may be drained through a drainage path.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the steam generator 40, the steam temperature rising apparatus 50, and the circulation path 60 were provided and the steam cooker which cooks a to-be-heated material with superheated steam was demonstrated, the steam cooker of this invention Is a steam generator for generating steam, a heating chamber for heating an object to be heated by the steam supplied from the steam generator, and a circulation path through which the steam circulates through the steam generator and the heating chamber It is sufficient if it has.

  In the steam cooker according to the present invention, the dew condensation water generated in the recirculation path is configured to have a recirculation path structure so that the dew condensation water is collected in one place in the recirculation path. It is preferable to drain.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a steam cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the steam cooker with the door opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the steam cooker. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a main part of the steam cooker.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steam cooking apparatus 11 ... Operation panel 12 ... Door 13 ... Handle 14 ... Window 20 ... Heating chamber 21 ... Receptacle 22 ... Side surface steam outlet 23 ... Steam supply passage 24 ... Rack 25 ... Suction port 26 ... Fan casing 27 ... Release Outlet 28 ... Blower fan 28a ... Fan part 28b ... Motor part 29 ... Drain outlet 30 ... Water tank 31 ... First water pipe 32 ... Second water pipe 33 ... Third water pipe 34 ... Four water pipe 35 ... Pump DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 36 ... Water level sensor for water tank 39 ... Auxiliary tank 40 ... Steam generator 41 ... Pot 42 ... Heater part 43 ... Water level sensor 44 ... Steam suction ejector 50 ... Steam temperature rising device 51 ... Dish type case 52 ... First steam heater 53 ... Second steam heater 60 ... Circulation path 61 ... First pipe 63 ... Second pipe 64 ... Release passage 65 ... Exhaust duct 66 ... Exhaust Mouth 67 ... exhaust passage 68 ... damper 69 ... radiator 70 ... water discharge valve 71 ... drain pipe 80 ... controller 90 ... object to be heated

Claims (3)

A steam generator for generating steam;
A heating chamber for heating an object to be heated by steam supplied from the steam generator;
A circulation path through which steam circulates through the steam generator and the heating chamber;
A drainage path for draining the condensed water generated in the circulation path to the outside of the circulation path ,
The drainage path has an upper end connected to the circulation path and a lower end connected to the heating chamber,
Steam condensate produced in the circulation path is reused for heating the object to be heated by being led into the heating chamber by the drainage path and evaporating again in the heating chamber. vessel. The steam cooker according to claim 1, wherein
A steam cooker, wherein an upper end of the drainage path is connected to a lowermost part of the circulation path. The steam cooker according to claim 1 or 2 ,
Comprising a saucer disposed below the heating chamber,
The steam cooker, wherein a lower end of the drainage path is connected to the heating chamber so that drainage from the lower end of the drainage path drops on the tray.

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