JP2020099515A - Heating cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce operation costs by generating superheated steam when necessary.SOLUTION: A heating cooker includes an oil storage tank 10 installed in a cooking chamber 4 and an induction heating coil 20 heating the same by induction heating. A tube pipe conduit 31 composed of a non-magnetic material communicating with the cooking chamber 4 is provided with: a superheated steam generation part 30 which is laid out by curving into a flat shape without contacting each other in a lower area of the induction heating coil 20; and a control part 60 which forms a loop circuit by short-circuitting a part of the tube pipe conduit 31, generating heat in the tube pipe conduit 31 by Joule heat by using conduction of the induction heating coil 20 according to the transformer principle and flowing current in the loop circuit, heating water flowing in the tube pipe conduit 31 to generate superheated steam and supplying it for the cooking chamber 4 in the case that temperature of oil in the oil storage tank 10 becomes threshold or higher, and regulates water supply for the cooking chamber 4 without forming a loop circuit in the case that the temperature of the oil is below threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a heating and cooking device.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as a heating cooking device that heats and cooks foods such as potatoes and croquettes in heated oil, there is known a heating device including an oil storage tank, an induction heating coil, a superheated steam generating unit, and a supply unit. Has been.

The oil storage tank is installed in the cooking chamber of the apparatus body and stores edible oil. The induction heating coil is installed in the lower area of the cooking chamber. The induction heating coil is configured to be wound around a central axis extending in the vertical direction. The induction heating coil heats the oil storage tank by induction heating when it is energized. As a result, the oil stored in the oil storage tank is heated.

The superheated steam generator is installed in a region below the induction heating coil in a manner separated from the induction heating coil. This superheated steam generation unit has a flow path through which the supplied water flows, and is heated by induction heating when the induction heating coil is in an energized state, thereby generating superheated steam from the water flowing through the flow path. To generate.

The supply means includes an air supply line and a switching valve. The air supply line is a pipe line for supplying the superheated steam generated by the superheated steam generator to the cooking chamber. The switching valve is provided in the middle of the air supply line. This switching valve is a valve element that switches between a first delivery state and a second delivery state. When the switching valve is in the first delivery state, the switching valve allows the superheated steam generated by the superheated steam generator to be supplied to the cooking chamber through the air supply line, while being in the second delivery state. In this case, the superheated steam generated by the superheated steam generator is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body through a discharge line connected to itself.

In such a heating and cooking device, the induction heating coil is energized to heat the oil in the oil storage tank and generate superheated steam in the superheated steam generator. Then, when the oil temperature is lower than 100° C., the switching valve is set to the second delivery state to discharge the superheated steam to the outside of the apparatus main body, and when the oil temperature becomes 100° C. or higher, the switching valve is turned on. The superheated steam is supplied to the cooking chamber in the first delivery state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2018-183471, A

In the above-described heating and cooking apparatus, when the induction heating coil is energized, the oil is heated and superheated steam is generated. Therefore, when the temperature of the oil is lower than 100°C, the generated superheated steam is discharged to the outside. As a result, the water used as the source of the superheated steam is wasted, resulting in an increase in operating costs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a heating and cooking apparatus capable of reducing operating costs by generating superheated steam when necessary.

In order to achieve the above object, the heating and cooking device according to the present invention is installed in a cooking chamber, and is installed in an oil storage tank in which oil is stored, and in the lower region of the cooking chamber, and the oil storage tank is heated by induction heating. An induction heating coil for heating, in a heating cooking device for cooking food using the oil, a tubular conduit made of a non-magnetic material in communication with the cooking chamber, in the lower region of the induction heating coil, In a case where the superheated steam generating section configured by being laid while curving in a plane without contacting each other and the temperature of the oil in the oil storage tank being equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, in the superheated steam generating section A part of the tubular conduit is electrically short-circuited to form a loop circuit, and a current is passed through the loop circuit by utilizing the current flowing through the induction heating coil according to the principle of a transformer, and the tubular conduit is connected to When heat is generated by heat, water flowing through the tubular conduit is heated to generate superheated steam and supplied to the cooking chamber, while the temperature of the oil is lower than the threshold value, the loop circuit is set. And a control unit that controls the supply of water to the cooking chamber without being formed.

Further, in the above heating and cooking device, the present invention supplies water to the tubular conduit that constitutes the superheated steam generator when driven, while water is supplied to the tubular conduit when driving is stopped. Water supply means for stopping the supply, the superheated steam generator, while forming the loop circuit when closed, comprises a switch element that regulates the formation of the loop circuit when open, When the temperature of the oil in the oil storage tank is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the control unit closes the switch element while driving the water supply unit, while the temperature of the oil is lower than the threshold value. In the above, the switch element is opened while the water supply means is stopped.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the heating and cooking apparatus, the superheated steam generating section is configured by spirally winding the tubular conduit around a central axis.

In the present invention, the superheated steam generator is constructed such that the tubular conduit made of a non-magnetic material that communicates with the cooking chamber is laid in the lower region of the induction heating coil while curving in a plane without contacting each other. It is configured. Then, when the temperature of the oil in the oil storage tank becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit electrically short-circuits at least a part of the tubular conduit in the superheated steam generating unit to form a loop circuit. , A current is passed through the loop circuit by utilizing the current flowing through the induction heating coil according to the principle of a transformer to heat the tubular conduit by Joule heat, and the water flowing through the tubular conduit is heated to generate superheated steam. Generate and supply to the kitchen. On the other hand, when the temperature of the oil is lower than the threshold value, the control unit controls the supply of water to the cooking chamber without forming the loop circuit. That is, superheated steam can be generated according to the temperature of the oil storage tank. Therefore, according to the present invention, the operation cost can be reduced by generating the superheated steam when necessary.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a heating and cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the superheated steam generator shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the superheated steam generation control processing executed by the control unit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the superheated steam generator which constitutes the heating and cooking apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a heating and cooking device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a heating and cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The heating and cooking device illustrated here includes a device main body 1, an oil storage tank 10, an induction heating coil 20, an overheated steam generator 30, an exhaust fan 40, an oil temperature sensor 50, and a controller 60. Configured.

The apparatus main body 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has an opening (hereinafter, also referred to as an upper surface opening) 2 formed on the upper surface. The apparatus main body 1 is provided with a lid 3 and a cooking chamber 4.

The lid 3 has a size large enough to close the upper surface opening 2, and is provided in a manner that it can swing around the axis of the shaft portion 3 a at the rear edge of the upper surface opening 2. .. The lid 3 closes the upper surface opening 2 when swinging downward, and opens the upper surface opening 2 when swinging upward. The lid 3 is made of a heat insulating material, and has a window portion (not shown) for visually recognizing the inside of the apparatus body 1 even when the upper surface opening 2 is closed.

The cooking chamber 4 is provided in the apparatus main body 1 so as to face the upper surface opening 2. The cooking chamber 4 is a chamber that forms a closed space inside the apparatus body 1 when the upper surface opening 2 is closed by the lid 3. The bottom portion 4a of the cooking chamber 4 is made of, for example, a glass material.

The oil storage tank 10 is placed on the bottom portion 4 a of the cooking chamber 4. The oil storage tank 10 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel (for example, SUS430) and has an opening on the upper surface. Edible oil is stored in the oil storage tank 10. Such an oil storage tank 10 is placed in a substantially central portion of the bottom portion 4a of the cooking chamber 4 such that the side wall portion is separated from the inner wall portion of the cooking chamber 4.

The induction heating coil 20 is installed in the lower area of the cooking chamber 4. The induction heating coil 20 is configured to be wound around a central axis extending in the vertical direction. The induction heating coil 20 is energized when a voltage of a specific frequency is applied from an electrically connected inverter 21, and heats the oil storage tank 10 by induction heating. The inverter 21 has a built-in so-called inverter circuit and is driven by a command given from the control unit 60 to give an alternating current given from a commercial power source (not shown) to the induction heating coil 20 as an alternating current having a specific frequency. It is a thing.

The superheated steam generator 30 is installed in a region below the induction heating coil 20 so as to be separated from the induction heating coil 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the superheated steam generator 30 has a tubular conduit 31 made of a non-magnetic material, which is curved in a plane without contacting each other and spirals around a central axis common to the induction heating coil 20. It is configured by being wound into a shape and laid.

In such a superheated steam generator 30, the end of the portion projecting downward in the central portion constitutes the inlet 30a, and the end of the portion projecting upward in the edge portion constitutes the outlet 30b. doing.

The inlet 30a of the superheated steam generator 30 is connected to the water supply line 71. The water supply line 71 is a pipeline for supplying water to the superheated steam from a reservoir tank 70 that stores water such as tap water. The water supply line 71 is provided with a pump 72. The pump 72 is driven according to a command given from the control unit 60, and is a water supply unit that supplies the water in the reservoir tank 70 to the superheated steam generating unit 30 through the water supply line 71 when driven. The outlet 30b of the superheated steam generator 30 is connected to the air supply line 73. The air supply line 73 is a pipe line connected to the cooking chamber 4. That is, the tubular conduit 31 that constitutes the superheated steam generator 30 communicates with the cooking chamber 4, and the water supplied through the water supply line 71 flows inside.

A switch element 32 is provided in the superheated steam generator 30. The switch element 32 opens and closes according to a command given from the control unit 60. When the switch element 32 is closed, the switch element 32 electrically short-circuits the vicinity of the inlet 30a and the vicinity of the outlet 30b of the superheated steam generator 30 to form a loop circuit. On the other hand, when the switch element 32 opens, it releases an electrical short circuit between the inlet 30a and the outlet 30b of the superheated steam generator 30 to regulate the formation of a loop circuit.

The exhaust fan 40 is installed in the vicinity of the exhaust port 5 formed in the apparatus main body 1 and communicating with the cooking chamber 4 through the exhaust line 74. The exhaust fan 40 is driven according to a command given from the control unit 60, and when driven, discharges the internal atmosphere of the cooking chamber 4 to the outside through the exhaust line 74 and the exhaust port 5.

The oil temperature sensor 50 detects the temperature of the oil in the oil storage tank 10. The oil temperature sensor 50 sends the detection result (oil temperature) to the control unit 60 as a signal. The control unit 60 comprehensively controls the operation of the heating and cooking device in accordance with programs and data stored in a storage unit (not shown).

The control unit 60 may be implemented, for example, by causing a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program, that is, by software, or by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit). It may be realized by using both software and hardware.

In the heating and cooking device having the above-described configuration, the control unit 60 drives the inverter 21 to apply the alternating current supplied from the commercial power source to the induction heating coil 20 as the alternating current having the specific frequency, and the induction heating coil 20 is operated. It is energized. When the induction heating coil 20 is thus energized, the oil storage tank 10 is heated by induction heating. In such a case, the control unit 60 executes the following superheated steam generation control process.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the superheated steam generation control processing executed by the control unit 60 shown in FIG.

In the superheated steam generation control process, the control unit 60 waits for the input of the oil temperature from the oil temperature sensor 50 (step S101). Then, when the oil temperature is input from the oil temperature sensor 50 (step S101: Yes), the control unit 60 reads a threshold value (for example, 120° C.) from the storage unit and determines whether the oil temperature is 120° C. or higher. It is determined (step S102).

When the oil temperature is not 120° C. or higher (step S102: No), that is, when the oil temperature is lower than 120° C., the control unit 60 gives a command to the switch element 32 to open it (step S103), and the pump 72. To stop the drive (step S104), further give a command to the fan to stop the drive (step S105), and then return the procedure to end the current process.

By thus opening the switch element 32, an electrical short circuit does not occur in the superheated steam generator 30, and a loop circuit is not formed. Even in this case, when the induction heating coil 20 is energized, an eddy current flows through the tubular conduit 31, but since the tubular conduit 31 is made of a non-magnetic material, the amount of heat generated by the tubular conduit 31 is reduced. Small enough.

On the other hand, when the oil temperature is 120° C. or higher (step S102: Yes), the control unit 60 gives a command to the switch element 32 to close it (step S106). By thus closing the switch element 32, in the superheated steam generator 30, the vicinity of the inlet 30a and the vicinity of the outlet 30b are electrically short-circuited to form a loop circuit. Since the induction heating coil 20 is in the energized state, the number of turns of the induction heating coil 20 is different from the current value flowing in the induction heating coil 20 in the tubular conduit 31 forming the loop circuit by the principle of the transformer. A current having a value obtained by multiplying the size of the ratio of the number of turns of the loop circuit to the current flows, and the Joule heat causes sufficient heat generation.

Then, the control unit 60 gives a command to the pump 72 to drive it (step S107), whereby water flows through the tubular conduit 31, the water flowing through the tubular conduit 31 is heated, and superheated steam is generated. To be done.

After that, the control unit 60 gives a command to the fan to drive it (step S108), and then returns the procedure to end the process of this time.

According to this, the superheated steam generated in the superheated steam generation unit 30 is supplied to the cooking chamber 4 through the air supply line 73, passes along the oil level of the oil storage tank 10, and then flows through the exhaust line 74 to the outside. Oxygen concentration in the vicinity of the oil surface of the oil in the oil storage tank 10 can be reduced. Then, after the food is put into the oil storage tank 10, the food can be cooked.

As described above, in the heating and cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the tubular conduits 31 made of a non-magnetic material and communicating with the cooking chamber 4 are in contact with each other in the lower region of the induction heating coil 20. Instead, the superheated steam generator 30 is configured by being wound in a plane and spirally wound around a common central axis with the induction heating coil 20. Then, when the temperature of the oil in the oil storage tank 10 is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the control unit 60 closes the switch element 32 forming the superheated steam generating unit 30 to form a loop circuit, and the induction heating coil 20 has Since electric current is applied to the loop circuit to generate heat in the tubular conduit 31, the pump 72 is driven to heat the water flowing through the superheated steam generator 30 to generate superheated steam. The superheated steam can be supplied to the cooking chamber 4. On the other hand, when the temperature of the oil in the oil storage tank 10 is lower than the threshold value, the control unit 60 does not open the switch element 32 to form the loop circuit, so that the tubular conduit 31 is not sufficiently heated, Moreover, by stopping the driving of the pump 72, water is not supplied to the cooking chamber 4. That is, unlike the conventional case, the superheated steam is not uniquely generated by energizing the induction heating coil, but the heating cooking device generates the superheated steam according to the temperature of the oil storage tank 10. You can Therefore, the operation cost can be reduced by generating the superheated steam when necessary.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

In the above-described embodiment, in the superheated steam generator 30, the tubular conduit 31 made of a non-magnetic material and communicating with the cooking chamber 4 has a common center with the induction heating coil 20 while curving in a plane without contacting each other. Although it is configured by being wound and laid around the axis in a spiral shape, the present invention may have the following configuration.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in the superheated steam generator 30', the tubular conduits 31' made of a non-magnetic material and communicating with the cooking chamber 4 are laid while being curved in a planar shape without being in contact with each other. It may be constituted by.

In such a configuration, the superheated steam generator 30' is provided with a plurality of switch elements 32' capable of electrically short-circuiting portions of the tubular conduit 31' that are close to each other. preferable. Then, by closing the plurality of switch elements 32', a loop circuit can be formed. By forming the loop circuit in this way, the current of the induction heating coil can be used to flow a current through the loop circuit by the principle of the transformer, and the tubular conduit 31' is heated by Joule heat. Superheated steam can be produced.

In the above-described embodiment, the pump 72 is driven or stopped to supply the superheated steam to the cooking chamber 4. However, in the present invention, the superheated steam generator is connected to the cooking chamber. A valve may be provided on the line and the superheated steam may be supplied to the cooking chamber by opening and closing the valve.

In the above-described embodiment, the superheated steam supplied to the cooking chamber 4 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust line 74 by driving the exhaust fan 40. However, in the present invention, the superheated steam supplied to the cooking chamber is overheated. The steam may be introduced into the superheated steam generator to be reused.

1 Device Main Body 2 Top Opening 4 Cooking Room 10 Oil Storage Tank 20 Induction Heating Coil 30 Superheated Steam Generation Section 31 Tubular Pipeline 32 Switch Element 40 Exhaust Fan 50 Oil Temperature Sensor 60 Control Section 70 Reservoir Tank 71 Water Supply Line 72 Pump 73 Air Supply Line 74 exhaust line

Claims (3)

An oil storage tank installed in the cooking chamber and storing oil,
An induction heating coil installed in the lower region of the cooking chamber for heating the oil storage tank by induction heating, and a heating and cooking device for cooking food using the oil,
A tubular conduit made of a non-magnetic material that communicates with the cooking chamber, in the lower region of the induction heating coil, an overheated steam generator configured by being laid while being curved in a planar shape without contacting each other,
When the temperature of the oil in the oil storage tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, a part of the tubular conduit in the superheated steam generator is electrically short-circuited to form a loop circuit, and the principle of the transformer is used. The current flowing in the loop circuit by using the conduction of the induction heating coil to heat the tubular conduit by Joule heat, thereby heating the water flowing through the tubular conduit to generate superheated steam. While supplying the oil to the cooking chamber, when the temperature of the oil is lower than the threshold value, a control unit that regulates the supply of water to the cooking chamber without forming the loop circuit. Cooking equipment to do. When driving, while supplying water to the tubular conduit constituting the superheated steam generating section, when driving is stopped, water supply means for stopping the supply of water to the tubular conduit is provided,
The superheated steam generator includes a switch element that forms the loop circuit when closed, while restricting the formation of the loop circuit when opened.
When the temperature of the oil in the oil storage tank is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the control unit closes the switch element while driving the water supply unit, while the temperature of the oil is lower than the threshold value. The heating and cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch element is opened while the water supply means is stopped. The heating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the superheated steam generator is configured by spirally winding the tubular conduit around a central axis.

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