JP2012102917A - Steam cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cook an object to be heated by steam in a short time.SOLUTION: A connection part 22 is attached to a sidewall 2a of a heating chamber 2. The connection part 22 makes a superheated steam generating part 15 and a cooking pot 6 communicated with each other when the cooking pot 6 is placed in the heating chamber 2 and a steam supply pipe 56 is attached to the connection part 22, thereby introducing the superheated steam to the cooking pot 6. On the other hand, when the cooking pot 6 is taken out from the heating chamber 2 and the steam supply pipe 56 is detached from the connection part 22, it shuts off communication between the superheated steam generating part 15 and the cooking pot 6, thereby introducing the superheated steam to a steam tube 25 side. Thus, cooking for grilling by the superheated steam can be performed to the object to be heated in the cooking pot 6. On this occasion, the superheated steam from the superheated steam generating part 15 is supplied only into the cooking pot 6 with a volume smaller than that of the heating chamber 2, and the object to be heated small enough to be put in the cooking pot 6 can be speedily cooked in a short time with a small quantity of the superheated steam.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam cooker that performs cooking by steam.

  As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-68313 (Patent Document 1), as an appliance for cooking an object to be heated while applying pressure, water and a cooked product are placed in a pressure cooker and heated with a microwave. There are cooking utensils.

  In the cooking utensil disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, water is put below the mounting portion in the pressure pan of the cooking utensil main body composed of the pressure pan and the sealing lid, and the food is placed on the mounting portion. Put the sealing lid on. And this cooking appliance main body is accommodated in the cooking part of a microwave oven, and the switch of a microwave oven is turned on. Then, the microwave irradiated from the outside of the pressure cooker penetrates into the pressure cooker formed of a microwave permeable material with almost no absorption loss, and the cooked food in the pressure cooker is removed. Heat from inside.

  At the same time, the water in the pressure cooker is boiled and evaporated by the microwave that has penetrated into the pressure cooker, the steam that has boiled and evaporated fills the pressure cooker and the cooking utensil body is pressurized, It is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the internal pressure control valve to prevent evaporation of moisture from the cooked food. In this way, the occurrence of wrinkles in the skin of the cooked product is prevented, and the loss of appearance and beauty is eliminated. Moreover, the cooking time can be shortened by using the microwave.

  However, in the conventional cooking utensil disclosed in Patent Document 1, the heat source for heating the cooked food is microwave until the tiredness, and the steam obtained by boiling and evaporating the water in the pressure cooker is from the cooked food. It is for preventing the evaporation of moisture, and has only an auxiliary function in the cooking of the cooked food. Therefore, there is a problem that steam cooking and stewed cooking cannot be performed with steam obtained by evaporating water in the pressure-resistant pan.

  Furthermore, the steam used auxiliary during cooking is generated by indirectly heating the water put in the pressure-resistant pan of the cooking utensil body by microwaves. Therefore, although the boiling and evaporated steam fills the pressure-resistant pan, it is not heated further and cannot be superheated steam. Therefore, there is a problem that the cooking utensil cannot obtain a moist finish while baking the cooked food with superheated steam.

  In addition, in the cooking utensil disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in order to generate superheated steam, the amount of heat is insufficient with only the microwave, and the steam in the cooking utensil body is heated in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven. It is necessary to install a heater for heating the cooking utensil body from outside the cooking utensil body. However, in that case, the heater indirectly heats the water and steam in the cooking utensil body, and in order to secure a large amount of water for obtaining superheated steam and to obtain a large heat capacity There is a problem that it is necessary to increase the capacity of the cooking utensil body. Moreover, there is also a problem that the cooking time becomes longer than when the food is directly heated by the microwave.

  Furthermore, since water is contained in the cooking utensil body in advance, there is a problem that it is impossible to control the amount of water and the intake / exhaust operation according to the contents of cooking during cooking.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-68313

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the steam cooker which can heat-cook a to-be-heated material with a steam for a short time.

In order to solve the above problems, the steam cooker of the present invention is:
A heating chamber for cooking,
A cooking container for performing steaming cooking with steam, wherein steam is supplied from the outside of the heating chamber and arranged so as to be able to be taken in and out of the heating chamber,
A steam generator installed outside the heating chamber and generating steam;
The steam generator is connected to the heating chamber and attached to the heating chamber, and the connecting member of the cooking vessel disposed in the heating chamber is detachable. When the connecting member is attached, the steam generating device And the cooking container, and a connecting portion that shuts off the steam generation device and the cooking container when the connecting member is detached.

  Here, the “steam” refers to all steam including saturated steam, unsaturated steam, supersaturated steam, saturated superheated steam, unsaturated superheated steam, and supersaturated superheated steam.

  According to the above configuration, when the cooking container containing an object to be heated is disposed in the heating chamber, and the connection member of the cooking container is attached to the connection portion attached to the heating chamber, the connection is performed. The steam generator and the cooking container are communicated with each other by the unit. Therefore, the steam generated by the steam generator is supplied into the cooking container. Thus, the steam from the steam generator is supplied only to the cooking container having a volume smaller than that of the heating chamber. Therefore, compared with the case where the object to be heated, which is small enough to enter the cooking container, is cooked with steam from the steam generator in the heating chamber having a volume larger than that of the cooking container, the amount of steam is short. You can cook with speed cooking on time.

  In particular, when the steam is superheated steam, it can be baked and cooked in a short amount of superheated steam in the cooking container in a short time, and it has a delicious baked color and a moist finish. Obtainable. Therefore, in the case of the conventional cooking utensil disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, which prevents the evaporation of moisture from the cooked food by using the steam generated in the water in the pressure-resistant pan at the time of cooking by microwave. Unlikely, a more preferable finished state can be obtained.

In the steam cooker of one embodiment,
A connection path having one end connected to the steam supply port of the steam generator;
A first path connected to the connection path for supplying steam from the steam generator to the cooking vessel;
A second path that communicates with the connection path and supplies the steam from the steam generator to the heating chamber;
The connection part is connected in common to the other end of the connection path, one end of the first path, and one end of the second path, and when the connection member of the cooking container is mounted, the connection While the path is switched and connected to the first path, the path switching unit is configured to switch and connect the connection path to the second path when the connecting member of the cooking container is detached.

  According to this embodiment, when the cooking container is not arranged in the heating chamber, the connection path connected to the steam generation device is connected to the steam generation device by the path switching unit of the connection unit. Is switched and connected to the second path for supplying steam from the heating chamber to the heating chamber. Therefore, when the object to be heated that is large enough not to enter the cooking container is cooked by steam, the object to be heated is heated by steam from the steam generator by placing the object to be heated in the heating chamber as it is. You can cook things.

In the steam cooker of one embodiment,
A steam ejection part is connected to the other end of the second path,
The steam ejection part is attached to the upper side of the attachment position of the connection part in the heating chamber.

  The position of the connecting member with respect to the cooking container is set on the lower side so that steam can be effectively applied to the object to be heated in the cooking container. Therefore, the position of the connecting portion with respect to the heating chamber is also set to be equal to or lower than the intermediate position in the vertical direction according to the position of the connecting member. According to this embodiment, the steam ejection part connected to the other end of the second path is attached above the attachment position of the connection part in the heating chamber. Therefore, even when the object to be heated placed on the upper tray in the heating chamber is cooked, steam is applied to the object to be heated from the steam ejection part attached above the connection part. Direct cooking and efficient cooking.

In the steam cooker of one embodiment,
The cooking container detection part which detects that the said connection member of the said cooking container arrange | positioned in the said heating chamber was mounted | worn with the said connection part, and outputs a detection signal is provided.

  According to this embodiment, when the user selects a cooking container use menu that uses the cooking container, the cooking container is placed in the heating chamber based on a detection signal from the cooking container detection unit. It is arrange | positioned and it can be confirmed whether the said connection member of the said cooking container is reliably mounted | worn with the said connection part. Therefore, forgetting to arrange the cooking container in the heating chamber can be prevented.

In the steam cooker of one embodiment,
A display unit for displaying display information including a selection menu selected by the user;
Based on the detection signal from the cooking container detection unit, even if the cooking container use menu is selected by the user, the connection member of the cooking container is not attached to the connection unit, The display unit includes a display control unit that displays that the cooking container is not disposed in the heating chamber.

  According to this embodiment, even when the cooking container use menu is selected by the user, when the connection member of the cooking container is not attached to the connection part, the display control part Since the display unit displays that the cooking container is not disposed in the heating chamber, the user is notified that the cooking container is forgotten to be disposed in the heating chamber, and the cooking container is moved into the heating chamber. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent forgetting the placement of the.

In the steam cooker of one embodiment,
The cooking container is composed of a main body and a lid,
When the cooking container is disposed at approximately the center between both side walls of the heating chamber at two positions facing each other in the main body, a handle whose tip is located in the vicinity of the both side walls of the heating chamber is provided. And
Each of the both side walls in the heating chamber is composed of two projecting portions that are provided side by side in the vertical direction and extend in the horizontal direction, and slidably sandwich the tip of the handle in the cooking container. A guide part is provided for guiding the cooking container so as to be able to advance and retreat toward the connection part.

  According to this embodiment, when the cooking container is advanced and retracted toward the connection portion of the heating chamber, the tip end portion of the handle provided on the main body portion of the cooking container is in the heating chamber. The cooking container is guided by being slidably held by the guide portions provided on the both side walls. Therefore, when the user attaches the connecting member of the cooking container to the connecting portion, the cooking container is guided to the guiding portion via the handle and can be smoothly and easily attached. On the other hand, after the cooking is completed, when the cooking container is taken out from the heating chamber, the cooking container is guided by the guide portion through the handle and can be taken out smoothly. Thus, the hot cooking container can be safely taken out of the heating chamber.

  Furthermore, even after the connection member of the cooking container is mounted on the connection part, the handle of the cooking container is gripped by the guide part, and the connection between the connection member and the connection part is ensured.

In the steam cooker of one embodiment,
The cooking vessel is a pressure vessel provided with a pressure valve,
The connecting portion has a structure capable of sealing between the steam generator and the cooking container,
The steam generator is configured to generate pressurized steam.

  According to this embodiment, when the cooking container containing the object to be heated is arranged in the heating chamber, and the connecting member of the cooking container is attached to the connecting portion, the pressure generated by the steam generator Steam is supplied to the cooking vessel. Therefore, in the cooking container, heating cooking with pressurized steam can be performed on the object to be heated. In that case, when the moisture content of the object to be heated is reduced, a texture different from cooking under normal pressure can be obtained, and effects such as softening of the food can be achieved.

  As is clear from the above, in the steam cooker according to the present invention, the cooking container containing the object to be heated is disposed in the heating chamber, and the connecting member of the cooking container is attached to the connection portion attached to the heating chamber. Then, since the steam generating device and the cooking container are communicated with each other by the connecting portion, the steam generated by the steam generating device is supplied into the cooking container. Thus, the steam from the steam generator is supplied only to the cooking container having a volume smaller than that of the heating chamber. Therefore, compared with the case where the object to be heated, which is small enough to enter the cooking container, is cooked with steam from the steam generator in the heating chamber having a larger volume than the cooking container, the amount of steam is short. You can cook with speed cooking on time.

It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view seen from the front side at the time of the cooking pot in the steam cooker of this invention being installed. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in case the cooking pan in FIG. 1 is not installed. It is AA 'arrow sectional drawing in FIG. It is BB 'arrow sectional drawing in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the connection part in the state in which the cooking pan was installed. It is a figure which shows the structure of the connection part in the state from which the cooking pan was taken out. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view seen from the front side in the steam cooker different from FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

-1st Embodiment This Embodiment is related with the steam cooker which heat-cooks with the superheated steam as an example of the said "steam".

  1 and 2 are longitudinal sectional views as seen from the front side showing a schematic configuration of the steam cooker of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views as seen from the side. However, FIG. 1 shows the case where the cooking container is installed in the heating chamber, and FIG. 2 shows the case where the cooking container is not installed in the heating chamber. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the steam cooker includes a main body casing 1, a heating chamber 2 provided in the main body casing 1, a steam generator 3 that generates superheated steam, and a heating chamber 2. It includes a convection fan 4 that takes in and circulates air, and a control device 5 that controls the operation of the steam generator 3 and the convection fan 4.

  The heating chamber 2 has an opening on the front side, and the side plate, the bottom plate, and the top plate are made of stainless steel plates. The user puts an object to be heated (not shown) or the cooking pot 6 as the cooking container into the heating chamber 2 through the opening, or takes out the object to be heated or the cooking pot 6 from the heating chamber 2. . Further, a heat insulating material (not shown) is arranged around the heating chamber 2 to insulate the inside of the heating chamber 2 from the outside.

  Further, a stainless steel tray 7 is placed in the heating chamber 2 at a predetermined interval from the bottom plate of the heating chamber 2. The tray 7 is supported by upper receiving shelves 8 provided on the left and right side plates (side walls) in the heating chamber 2. A grid-like cooking net 9 made of stainless steel wire is placed on the tray 7, and the object to be heated is placed in the approximate center of the cooking net 9. Thus, the object to be heated is accommodated in the heating chamber 2 in a state of being spaced from the bottom plate of the heating chamber 2. When the cooking pan 6 is installed in the heating chamber 2, the tray 7 and the cooking net 9 are removed as shown in FIG.

  In addition, lower receiving shelves 10 positioned below the upper receiving racks 8 are provided on the left and right side walls of the heating chamber 2. The lower receiving shelf 10 can also support the tray 7 in the same manner as the upper receiving shelf 8. Thus, the user can change the vertical position of the object to be heated in the heating chamber 2 by changing the support of the tray 7 from the upper receiving shelf 8 to the lower receiving shelf 10.

  The steam generator 3 is installed beside the heating chamber 2 together with the water tank 11 and the pump 12.

  The said steam generator 3 is comprised by metal die castings, such as aluminum die casting. And it has the step part 13 extended in a horizontal direction in the intermediate part of an up-down direction, the lower side from the step part 13 is the steam generation part 14, and the upper side from the step part 13 is the superheated steam generation part 15 It has become. In addition, the width of the superheated steam generator 15 measured in the direction perpendicular to the side wall 2a on the side where the steam generator 3 is installed in the heating chamber 2 is wider than the width of the steam generator 14. The steam generation unit 14 is provided with a saturated steam generation heater 16, and the superheated steam generation unit 15 is provided with a superheated steam generation heater 17. The steam generation unit 14 is provided with a water supply port 18, and the superheated steam generation unit 15 is provided with a steam supply port 19.

  The pump 12 supplies the water in the water tank 11 from the water supply port 18 to the steam generation unit 14. The steam generation unit 14 is provided with a water level sensor (not shown). The pump 12 is turned on / off according to the detection value of the water level sensor, and steam is generated to such an extent that the saturated steam generation heater 16 is not exposed. The water level in the part 14 is controlled. The saturated steam generating heater 16 is obtained by bending a sheathed heater into a “U” shape. The pump 12 is preferably a tube pump that has excellent pressure resistance and is difficult to reverse flow.

  Thus, the saturated steam generated in the steam generator 14 rises and enters the superheated steam generator 15 provided on the upper side of the steam generator 14. Then, it is heated by the superheated steam generating heater 17 to become superheated steam. The superheated steam generating heater 17 is a sheathed heater wound in a racetrack once.

  The water tank 11 is detachably connected to the water level detection tank 20. Moreover, the water tank 11 can be taken out of the main body casing 1 from the front side. A water level detection electrode 21 is installed in the water level detection tank 20 to detect the water level in the water level detection tank 20, that is, the water level in the water tank 11. In addition, the means for detecting the water level in the water level detection tank 20 is not limited to the water level detection electrode 21, and may be any means that converts the water level into an electrical signal representing this water level.

  On the outer surface of the side wall 2a in the heating chamber 2, a connecting portion 22 for connecting and communicating the superheated steam generating portion 15 of the steam generating device 3 and the cooking pan 6 is installed. This connection part 22 is installed beside the heating chamber 2 when the door 23 is opened and the cooking pan 6 is arranged in the heating chamber 2 and attached to the connection part 22 as shown in FIG. When the superheated steam generator 15 of the steam generator 3 is connected to the cooking pan 6 to guide the superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 15 to the cooking pan 6, while the cooking pan 6 is taken out from the heating chamber 2. Cuts off between the superheated steam generator 15 and the cooking pan 6 so that the superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 15 is not guided to the cooking pan 6.

  A supply port 22 a for supplying superheated steam from the superheated steam generating unit 15 is provided on the side opposite to the heating chamber 2 side in the connection part 22. On the other hand, on the outer surface of the side wall 2 a of the heating chamber 2, a box-shaped steam ejection portion 24 for blowing superheated steam supplied from the connection portion 22 into the heating chamber 2 is installed. And the supply port 22a of the connection part 22 and the vapor | steam ejection part 24 are connected by the vapor | steam tube 25. FIG. Further, the attachment portion of the steam jetting part 24 on the side wall 2a of the heating chamber 2 communicates the inside of the heating chamber 2 and the steam jetting part 24, and the superheated steam in the steam jetting part 24 is directed into the heating chamber 2. Four spray nozzles 24a for spraying are provided. The number of spray nozzles 24a is not limited to four.

  Therefore, when the cooking pan 6 is taken out from the heating chamber 2, the superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam generation unit 15 to the connection unit 22 passes through the steam tube 25 and the steam ejection unit 24 as shown in FIG. Thus, the fuel is jetted from the jet nozzle 24a into the heating chamber 2. Therefore, by placing the object to be heated 26 on the tray 7 in the heating chamber 2, cooking such as baking the object 26 to be heated with superheated steam becomes possible.

  The rear portion of the heating chamber 2 is partitioned by a partition plate 27 to form a convection fan chamber 28. The partition plate 27 has an air intake vent 29 for intake air from the heating chamber 2 side to the convection fan chamber 28 side, and an air supply vent port 30 for supplying air from the convection fan chamber 28 side to the heating chamber 2 side. , Provided. Note that the intake vent hole 29 and the blower vent hole 30 are formed by a set of a large number of punch holes.

  The convection fan 4 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the rectangular partition plate 27. In the convection fan chamber 28, a convection heater 31 functioning as the heater in the claims is installed so as to surround the convection fan 4. Here, the intake vent 29 provided in the partition plate 27 is disposed in front of the convection fan 4, and the blower vent 30 is disposed along the convection heater 31. When the convection fan 4 is rotated, the air or steam in the heating chamber 2 is sucked into the convection fan chamber 28 from the intake vent 29 and passes through the convection heater 31 from the blower vent 30 to the heating chamber 2. It is blown out inside. Thus, the air and steam in the heating chamber 2 are circulated through the convection fan chamber 28 while being stirred.

  At that time, by turning on the convection heater 31, the steam circulating in the heating chamber 2 (superheated steam) can be heated. Here, the said superheated steam means the steam heated to the overheated state of 120 degreeC or more.

  Further, an exhaust port 32 is provided between the upper receiving shelf 8 and the lower receiving shelf 10 in one side wall 2 a of the heating chamber 2. Then, excess steam in the heating chamber 2 flows out of the heating chamber 2 from the exhaust port 32. One end of an exhaust path 33 is connected to the exhaust port 32, and the other end of the exhaust path 33 is connected to a dilution air path 34.

  The dilution air path 34 has one end inserted into the dilution duct 35 and the other end connected to the fan casing 36. Air is sent from the exhaust dilution fan 37 in the fan casing 36 to the dilution duct 35. A blowing duct 38 is connected to the tip of the dilution duct 35, and the steam discharged from the exhaust passage 33 to the outside of the main casing 1 is outside air taken in from the intake port 39 a of the intake duct 39 and inside the dilution duct 35. Mix and dilute. One end of a drainage tube 40 extending downward is connected to the bottom of the dilution duct 35, and condensed water generated in the dilution duct 35 is discharged downward by the drainage tube 40.

  Further, an air supply port 41 is provided on the upper side of the lower shelf 10 in the side wall 2 a of the heating chamber 2. An air supply fan 42 is installed in the vicinity of the air supply port 41, and the air taken in by the air supply fan 42 is supplied into the heating chamber 2 from the air supply port 41.

  Condensed water discharged from the drain tube 40, water leaked when the water tank 11 is attached to or detached from the water level detection tank 20, and the like are placed in a drain tray (not shown) installed in the lower portion of the heating chamber 2. It is collected and collected together with condensed water adhering to the door 23 in a dew receiving tray 43 installed at the position of the door 23 in the lower part of the main casing 1.

  A magnetron 44 is disposed below the heating chamber 2. Then, the microwave generated in the magnetron 44 is guided to the lower center of the heating chamber 2 by the waveguide 45 and is radiated upward in the heating chamber 2 while being rotated by the rotating antenna 47 driven by the antenna motor 46. Thus, the heated object 26 on the tray 7 is heated.

  In addition, a cooling fan 48 is installed in the lower part of the heating chamber 2, and the outside air taken in by the cooling fan 48 is used as an electrical component including the antenna motor 46 and the control device 5, the supply fan 42, and the exhaust dilution fan 37. Etc., supplied to cool these.

  The control device 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. Then, the CPU refers to the reference data stored in the RAM and the input data input from each device according to the cooking program stored in the ROM, and the cooking process of the menu selected by the user Then, arithmetic processing such as binary addition, logical operation increase / decrease and comparison for various data is executed. In the heating cooking process, the control device 5 controls the steam generator 3, the convection fan 4, the convection heater 31, the magnetron 44, the operation unit, the liquid crystal display unit, and the like.

  Next, the connection part 22 in the present embodiment will be described in detail. 5 and 6 show the configuration of the connecting portion 22. However, FIG. 5 shows a state where the cooking pan 6 is installed in the heating chamber 2, and FIG. 6 shows a state where the cooking pan 6 is taken out from the heating chamber 2.

  The connecting portion 22 is generally configured by a connecting portion main body 51 and a valve cylinder 61. In the steam generator 3, the steam supply port 19 of the superheated steam generator 15 and the steam inlet 52 of the connection body 51 are connected by a connection path 53. The connection body 51 and the valve cylinder 61 have an elastic body 54 contracted in a direction perpendicular to the side wall 2a of the heating chamber 2, and a conical shape is formed at the tip of the elastic body 54 on the heating chamber 2 side. A valve body 55 having a valve seat is attached.

  Then, when the steam supply pipe 56 as the connecting member provided protruding from the side surface of the cooking pan 6 is inserted into the connecting portion main body 51, the valve body 55 is pushed into close contact with the first steam supply port 57. To do. In this way, the superheated steam generator 15 and the cooking pan 6 are communicated, and the superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 15 is supplied only into the cooking pan 6. In this way, a path through which the superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 15 is supplied into the cooking pan 6 via the connection path 53 is referred to as a first path.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is pulled out from the connection portion main body 51, the valve body 55 is pushed back by the elastic body 54 and closely contacts the second steam supply port 58. Thus, the superheated steam generation unit 15 and the heating chamber 2 are communicated with each other via the steam tube 25 and the steam ejection unit 24, and the superheated steam from the superheated steam generation unit 15 is supplied only into the heating chamber 2. In this way, a path through which the superheated steam from the superheated steam generation unit 15 is supplied into the heating chamber 2 via the connection path 53 is referred to as a second path.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the valve switching unit in the claims is configured by the valve body 55 and the elastic body 54 and the valve shaft 62 inserted through the elastic body 54. However, the path switching unit is not limited to this, and is connected to the connection path 53 by detecting that the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is inserted into the connection part main body 51 of the connection part 22. An electric three-way valve that switches and connects the supply port to the first discharge port connected to the first steam supply port 57 and the second discharge port connected to the second steam supply port 58 may be used.

  In addition, packings 59 and 60 are provided at the edges of the first steam supply port 57 and the second steam supply port 58, and the valve body 55 is in close contact with the first steam supply port 57 and the second steam supply port 58. At this time, the space between the valve body 55 and the first steam supply port 57 and the second steam supply port 58 is sealed.

  In addition, one end of a cylindrical valve cylinder 61 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the side wall 2 a of the heating chamber 2 and constitutes the connection portion 22 is connected to the first steam supply port 57 in the connection portion main body 51. ing. Further, a supply port 22a is provided at the other end of the valve cylinder 61, and one end of the steam tube 25 is connected thereto. A base end opposite to the tip end of the elastic body 54 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the valve cylinder 61. A valve body 55 is attached to one end of the valve cylinder 61, and a valve shaft 62 inserted through the elastic body 54 is disposed. The other end of the valve shaft 62 is provided with a magnet 63 serving as the cooking container detection unit. The valve shaft 62 and the magnet 63 are moved in the valve cylinder 61 as the valve body 55 advances and retreats. It is designed to move forward and backward in the same direction as Further, on the outer wall surface of the valve cylinder 61, it is detected that the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is inserted into the connection portion main body 51 and the magnet 63 is in the rearmost position while maintaining the confidentiality of the connection portion 22. In addition, a reed switch 64 is installed as the cooking container detection unit that outputs a detection signal to the control device 5.

  Then, the reed switch 64 detects that the magnet 63 is in the rearmost position, that is, detects that the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 has been inserted into the connecting portion 22 and sends a detection signal to the control device 5. The control device 5 compares the information on the cooking menu selected by the user with the information on whether or not the steam supply pipe 56 is inserted into the connecting portion 22 based on the detection signal, and sets the cooking pan 6 In the case where the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is not inserted into the connecting portion 22 in spite of the selection of the cooking pan use menu to be used, the above-mentioned liquid crystal display portion and the like are controlled so that the cooking pan 6 The user is notified by displaying that it is not arranged in the heating chamber 2. Alternatively, when the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is inserted through the connection portion 22, the user may be notified by displaying that the cooking pan use menu has been selected.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to install the cooking pan 6 in the heating chamber 2. When the superheated steam cooking menu that requires the cooking pan 6 is selected and the cooking pan 6 is not used, the superheated steam is sprayed from the spray nozzle 24a to the entire heating chamber 2, so that a short amount of superheated steam is required. The heated object cannot be cooked in time, and energy and time are wasted. According to the present embodiment, this can be prevented beforehand.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the cooking container detection unit is configured by the magnet 63 and the reed switch 64. In that case, in order to ensure the heat resistance of the magnet 63 and the reed switch 64, the steam supplied from the steam generator 3 into the heating chamber 2 through the second path is saturated steam lower than 120 ° C. There must be. On the other hand, when superheated steam is required in the heating chamber 2, the superheated steam may be generated by rotating the convection fan 4 and turning on the convection heater 31. Of course, when the cooking vessel detection unit is composed of heat-resistant parts such as limit switches, the steam supplied into the heating chamber 2 through the second path is superheated steam of 120 ° C. or higher. There is no problem.

  By the way, the position of the steam supply pipe 56 with respect to the cooking pan 6 is set as low as possible so that the superheated steam can be effectively applied to the heated object in the cooking pan 6. The position of the connecting portion 22 installed on the side wall 2a of the inevitably becomes a position slightly lower than the upper receiving shelf 8. And when the said connection part has only the function to attach or detach the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6, and does not have the switching function of a steam path, the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pot 6 is made to detach | leave from the said connection part. Then, the superheated steam from the superheated steam generation unit 15 is jetted into the heating chamber 2 from the above-described connecting portion, that is, from a position slightly lower than the upper receiving shelf 8 and higher than the lower receiving shelf 10. Become.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the heated object 26 placed on the tray 7 supported by the upper receiving shelf 8 or the lower receiving shelf 10 is cooked by the superheated steam from the superheated steam generating unit 15. In some cases, the superheated steam cannot be directly injected onto the article 26 to be heated. Therefore, in order to apply superheated steam to the object to be heated 26, it is necessary to drive the convection fan 4 to circulate the steam in the heating chamber 2. Therefore, in that case, the heating efficiency of the object to be heated 26 is lowered as compared with the case where the superheated steam is blown directly onto the object to be heated 26. This is particularly noticeable when steaming cooking is performed by turning off the superheated steam generating heater 17 and supplying saturated steam from the steam generating device 3 to the object 26 to be heated.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the second path for supplying the steam from the steam generating device 3 only into the heating chamber 2 is constituted by the steam tube 25, and at the tip of the second path. As shown in FIG. 2, the installation position of the provided steam ejection part 24 is a position higher than the installation position of the connection part 22, more specifically, a position slightly above the upper receiving shelf 8. By carrying out like this, steam from the steam generator 3 can be directly sprayed with respect to the to-be-heated material 26 mounted in the tray 7 supported by the upper receiving shelf 8, and steam cooking can be performed efficiently. It is.

  However, the installation position of the steam ejection part 24 is not limited to a position slightly above the upper receiving shelf 8 described above. In other words, the object to be heated 26 placed on the tray 7 supported by the upper receiving shelf 8 or the lower receiving shelf 10 is heated by baking or steaming with superheated steam or saturated steam from the steam generating device 3. Any position can be used as long as it is suitable for cooking.

  As mentioned above, in this Embodiment, the connection part 22 is attached to the side wall 2a by the side of the steam generator 3 in the said heating chamber 2. As shown in FIG. When the connecting pot 22 is installed in the heating chamber 2 and the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pot 6 is attached to the connecting section main body 51 of the connecting section 22, the superheated steam generator 15 and the cooking pot 6 are connected. The superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 15 is guided to the cooking pan 6 in communication. On the other hand, when the cooking pan 6 is taken out of the heating chamber 2 and the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is detached from the connecting portion main body 51 of the connecting portion 22, the superheated steam generating portion 15 and the cooking pan 6 are disconnected. The superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 15 is guided to the steam tube 25 side.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, if the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 in which the object to be heated is placed is attached to the connection part main body 51 of the connection part 22, the cooking with overheated steam with respect to the object to be heated is performed. It can be performed. In that case, the superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 15 is supplied only to the cooking pot 6 having a volume smaller than that of the heating chamber 2. Furthermore, the cooking pan 6 itself can be heated from the outside by driving the convection heater 31 and the convection fan 4. Therefore, the said to-be-heated object small enough to enter the cooking pan 6 is mounted on the tray 7 in the heating chamber 2 whose volume is larger than the cooking pan 6, and is supplied into the heating chamber 2 from the steam ejection part 24. Compared to cooking with superheated steam, it is possible to cook at high speed in a short time with a small amount of superheated steam.

  However, since the object to be heated is baked and cooked with superheated steam, it is possible to obtain a moist finish while adding a baked color during baking. Therefore, in the case of the conventional cooking utensil disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, which prevents the evaporation of moisture from the cooked food by using the steam generated in the water in the pressure-resistant pan at the time of cooking by microwave. Unlikely, a more preferable finished state can be obtained.

  Moreover, if the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is detached from the connection portion main body 51 of the connection portion 22, the large heated object 26 in the heating chamber 2 can be baked with superheated steam. is there.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the cooking pan 6 is taken out from the heating chamber 2, if the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is detached from the connection portion 22, the second steam supply port 58 is sealed by the valve body 55. Like to do. Therefore, when a user takes out the cooking pan 6 from the heating chamber 2 at the end of cooking, the steam from the superheated steam generator 15 can be prevented from being blown into the heating chamber 2, and the cooking pan 6 is connected to the heating chamber 2. Can be safely put in and out.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the installation position of the steam ejection part 24 provided at the tip of the second path for supplying the steam from the steam generating device 3 only into the heating chamber 2 is set to be higher than that of the upper receiving shelf 8. It is set to a position higher than the installation position of the connecting portion 22 on the lower side. Therefore, when the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is detached from the connection portion main body 51 of the connection portion 22 and the object to be heated 26 in the heating chamber 2 is baked by superheated steam, the upper receiving shelf 8 The superheated steam from the steam generating device 3 is directly sprayed on the object to be heated 26 placed on the tray 7 supported by the above, so that cooking can be performed efficiently.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a magnet 63 is installed at the other end of the valve shaft 62 having the valve body 55 attached to one end thereof while moving forward and backward in the valve cylinder 61 at the connecting portion 22. On the other hand, a reed switch 64 is installed on the outer wall surface of the valve cylinder 61. The reed switch 64 detects the magnet 63 at the rearmost position when the steam supply pipe 56 of the cooking pan 6 is inserted into the connecting portion 22, and outputs a detection signal to the control device 5. . Therefore, although the said liquid crystal display part etc. are controlled by the control apparatus 5, and the cooking pan use menu which uses the cooking pan 6 is selected, the cooking pan 6 is not arrange | positioned in the heating chamber 2. By displaying, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to place the cooking pan 6 in the heating chamber 2.

  In the above, the case where baking cooking is performed with superheated steam in the cooking pan 6 or the heating chamber 2 has been described as an example. However, when steam cooking is performed using saturated steam, the heater 17 for generating superheated steam may be turned off.

  However, the heat source of the steam cooker of the present invention is not limited to the above “superheated steam” and the above “saturated steam”, but saturated steam, unsaturated steam, supersaturated steam, saturated superheated steam, unsaturated superheated steam and It is possible to use all steam, including supersaturated superheated steam.

  When the amount of heat is insufficient only with the superheated steam supplied into the cooking pan 6, it is desirable to assist the insufficient amount of heat by turning on the convection heater 31 and driving the convection fan 4.

  In the present embodiment, the convection fan 4 is installed in the convection fan chamber 28 in which the rear portion of the heating chamber 2 is partitioned by the partition plate 27, and the convection fan 4 is rotated so that the air and steam in the heating chamber 2 are rotated. Is trying to circulate. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A steam outlet and a steam inlet are provided in the heating chamber 2, and the steam outlet and the steam inlet are connected by a circulation duct having a built-in circulation fan. A circulation path may be formed, and the superheated steam generation unit 15 and the circulation path may be communicated with each other via the connection unit 22 and the steam tube 25. In that case, the second path is a path through which the steam from the superheated steam generator 15 is supplied into the circulation path via the connection path 53.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the said connection part 22 has a highly sensitive switching joint structure. Therefore, the steam generation unit 14, the superheated steam generation unit 15, the connection unit 22, and the connection path are integrally configured by welding or the like. Furthermore, the pump 12 is a tube pump that is strong against pressure and difficult to reverse flow, and the cooking pan 6 is a pressure-resistant pressure cooker. Then, the saturated steam generated in the steam generator 14 is pressurized by filling the steam generator 14, and the high-pressure saturated steam is heated by the superheated steam generator 15 to generate high-pressure superheated steam. It becomes possible to supply to the cooking pan 6, and heating cooking with pressurized superheated steam becomes possible. In that case, a pressure valve 6a is attached to the cooking pan 6 so that the internal pressure of the cooking pan 6 does not exceed a certain pressure.

  Here, when baking is performed with the above-described high-pressure superheated steam, baking is performed with a small amount of moisture, so that a texture different from that obtained when baking with normal-pressure superheated steam is obtained. There are features. In addition, the food is soft and the temperature rising rate inside the food is increased.

  In addition, when steamed cooking or stewed cooking is performed with high-pressure saturated steam, the boiling point of the object to be heated is increased by pressurization, so that cooking is completed in a short time and the ingredients become soft.

-2nd Embodiment In the said 1st Embodiment, when installing the said cooking pan 6 in the heating chamber 2, it is always fixed and installed in the predetermined position in the heating chamber 2 in a cooking pan. It is desirable to ensure the connection between the steam supply pipe 56 and the connecting portion 22. Moreover, it is also desirable for enhancing safety when the cooking pan 6 is taken out from the heating chamber 2.

  FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view seen from the front side showing a schematic configuration in the steam cooker of the present embodiment. However, in FIG. 7, only the heating chamber is described as the steam cooker, and the others are omitted and schematically illustrated.

  In FIG. 7, 71 is a heating chamber and 72 is a circulation unit. The circulation unit 72 has a circulation fan 73 and circulates the gas in the heating chamber 71 through a circulation duct 74 installed in the upper portion of the heating chamber 71. In the steam cooker according to the present embodiment, superheated steam is generated by heating saturated steam generated by a steam generator (not shown) with an overheated steam generator (not shown).

  A cooking pot 75 as the cooking container is installed in the heating chamber 71. The cooking pan 75 is provided with a steam supply pipe 76 as the connection member, and the steam supply pipe 76 is attached to a connection portion 77 provided on the rear wall of the heating chamber 71, so that the generation is performed. The heated superheated steam is supplied into the cooking pan 6 from the connecting portion 77, and the object to be heated in the cooking pan 75 is heated and cooked. On the other hand, when the steam supply pipe 76 of the cooking pan 75 is pulled out from the connection portion 77, the generated superheated steam is supplied to the circulation path including the circulation unit 72 and the circulation duct 74. In this case, the steam path switching mechanism by the connecting portion 77 is as described in the first embodiment.

  The cooking pan 75 includes a main body 78 and a lid 79. And the handle 80,81 used when putting in and out the cooking pan 75 with respect to the heating chamber 71 is provided in two places which mutually oppose in the upper end part of the main-body part 78. As shown in FIG. The handles 80 and 81 are formed so that the tips thereof reach the vicinity of both side walls 71 a and 71 b of the heating chamber 71 when the cooking pan 75 is installed in the approximate center of the heating chamber 71.

  On the other hand, on one side wall 71a of the heating chamber 71, two protrusions 82a and 82b that are provided in the vertical direction and extend in the front-rear direction are formed by drawing or the like. Similarly, the other side wall 71b in the heating chamber 71 is also formed with two protrusions 83a and 83b that are provided in the vertical direction. At that time, when the cooking pan 75 is placed on the flat ceramic 84 provided at the bottom of the heating chamber 71, the tip of the handle 80 of the cooking pan 75 is in close contact between the protrusions 82 a and 82 b. Thus, a gap that can slide in the front-rear direction is formed. Similarly, a gap is formed between the protrusions 83a and 83b so that the tip of the handle 81 is in close contact and can slide in the front-rear direction.

  In the above configuration, when cooking with superheated steam using the cooking pan 75, the operator opens the door of the heating chamber 71 and holds the handles 80, 81 of the cooking pan 75 containing the object to be heated. The pan 75 is placed on the flat ceramic 84 in the heating chamber 71. Further, the distal end portion of the handle 80 is pushed backward from the near side between the two projecting portions 82 a and 82 b provided on the one side wall 71 a of the heating chamber 71. At the same time, the front end portion of the handle 81 is pushed rearward from the front between the two protruding portions 83 a and 83 b provided on the other side wall 71 b of the heating chamber 71.

  Thus, the tips of the handles 80, 81 of the cooking pan 75 are slidably sandwiched and guided by the projecting portions 82a, 82b and the projecting portions 83a, 83b, and the cooking pan 75 moves backward on the flat ceramic 84 in the heating chamber 71. When it is pushed in, the tip of the steam supply pipe 76 reaches the connection portion 77, and the steam supply pipe 76 is attached to the connection portion 77 as it is. That is, in the present embodiment, the projecting portions 82a and 82b and the projecting portions 83a and 83b constitute the guide portion in the claims.

  Therefore, when the user attaches the steam supply pipe 76 of the cooking pan 75 to the connecting portion 77 of the heating chamber 71, the handles 80, 81 are guided by the projecting portions 82a, 82b and the projecting portions 83a, 83b to be smooth. And can be easily mounted. On the other hand, when the cooking pan 75 is taken out from the heating chamber 71 after the cooking is finished, the handles 80 and 81 are guided by the projecting portions 82a and 82b and the projecting portions 83a and 83b and can be taken out smoothly. Thus, the high-temperature and high-pressure cooking pan 75 can be safely taken out from the heating chamber 71. Further, even after the steam supply pipe 76 of the cooking pan 75 is attached to the connecting portion 77, the handles 80, 81 of the cooking pan 75 are gripped by the projecting portions 82a, 82b and the projecting portions 83a, 83b, and the steam supply pipe. The connection between 76 and the connecting portion 77 is ensured.

  In the above description, the case where cooking is performed with superheated steam in the cooking pot 75 or the heating chamber 71 has been described as an example. However, the same applies to the case where steaming cooking is performed with saturated steam by turning off a heater for generating superheated steam (not shown).

  However, the heat source of the steam cooker of the present invention is not limited to the above “superheated steam” and the above “saturated steam”, but saturated steam, unsaturated steam, supersaturated steam, saturated superheated steam, unsaturated superheated steam and It is possible to use all steam, including supersaturated superheated steam.

1 ... body casing,
2,71 ... heating chamber,
3 ... Steam generator,
4 ... Convection fans,
5. Control device,
6,75 ... cooking pot,
6a ... Pressure valve 7 ... Tray,
11 ... Water tank,
12 ... pump,
14 ... steam generating part,
15 ... Superheated steam generator,
16 ... heater for generating saturated steam,
17 ... Superheated steam generating heater,
22, 77 ... connection part,
23 ... door,
24 ... Vapor ejection part,
24a: injection nozzle,
25 ... Steam tube,
26 ... object to be heated,
28 ... Convection fan room,
29. Ventilation opening for intake,
30: Ventilation vent
31 ... Convection heater,
51 ... connection body,
52. Steam inlet,
53. Connection path,
54 ... an elastic body,
55… Valve,
56,76 ... steam supply pipe,
57. First steam supply port,
58 ... second steam supply port,
59,60 ... packing,
61 ... valve cylinder,
62 ... valve stem,
63: Magnet,
64: Reed switch 72: Circulation unit,
73 ... circulation fan,
74 ... circulation duct,
78 ... the main body of the cooking pan,
79 ... the lid of the cooking pan,
80, 81 ... handle,
82a, 82b, 83a, 83b ... projecting portion,
84: Flat ceramic.

Claims (7)

A heating chamber for cooking,
A cooking container for performing steaming cooking with steam, wherein steam is supplied from the outside of the heating chamber and arranged so as to be able to be taken in and out of the heating chamber,
A steam generator installed outside the heating chamber and generating steam;
The steam generator is connected to the heating chamber and attached to the heating chamber, and the connecting member of the cooking vessel disposed in the heating chamber is detachable. When the connecting member is attached, the steam generating device A steam cooker comprising: a connecting portion that connects the steam generating device and the cooking container when the connecting member is detached, while communicating with the cooking container. The steam cooker according to claim 1, wherein
A connection path having one end connected to the steam supply port of the steam generator;
A first path connected to the connection path for supplying steam from the steam generator to the cooking vessel;
A second path that communicates with the connection path and supplies the steam from the steam generator to the heating chamber;
The connection part is connected in common to the other end of the connection path, one end of the first path, and one end of the second path, and when the connection member of the cooking container is mounted, the connection A steam cooker having a path switching unit for switching and connecting the connection path to the second path when the connecting member of the cooking container is disconnected while switching the path to the first path. . The steam cooker according to claim 2,
A steam ejection part is connected to the other end of the second path,
The steam cooker, wherein the steam ejection part is attached above the attachment position of the connection part in the heating chamber. In the steam cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A steam cooker, comprising: a cooking container detection unit that detects that the connection member of the cooking container disposed in the heating chamber is attached to the connection part and outputs a detection signal. The steam cooker according to claim 4,
A display unit for displaying display information including a selection menu selected by the user;
Based on the detection signal from the cooking container detection unit, even if the cooking container use menu is selected by the user, the connection member of the cooking container is not attached to the connection unit, A steam cooker, comprising: a display control unit configured to display on the display unit that the cooking container is not disposed in the heating chamber. In the steam cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The cooking container is composed of a main body and a lid,
When the cooking container is disposed at approximately the center between both side walls of the heating chamber at two positions facing each other in the main body, a handle whose tip is located in the vicinity of the both side walls of the heating chamber is provided. And
Each of the both side walls in the heating chamber is composed of two projecting portions that are provided side by side in the vertical direction and extend in the horizontal direction, and slidably sandwich the tip of the handle in the cooking container. A steam cooker, characterized in that a guide portion is provided for guiding the cooking container toward the connection portion so as to advance and retreat. The steam cooker according to claim 1, wherein
The cooking vessel is a pressure vessel provided with a pressure valve,
The connecting portion has a structure capable of sealing between the steam generator and the cooking container,
A steam cooker, wherein the steam generator is configured to generate pressurized steam.

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