JP4576468B2 - Liquid tank and cooker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid tank used, for example, in a cooking device.

  Conventionally, as a device provided with a liquid tank, there is a heating cooker disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-183098 (Patent Document 1). This cooking device includes a casing, a heating chamber provided in the casing, a water supply tank detachably attached to a lower portion of the casing, and a steam generator to which water in the water supply tank is supplied. There is.

  The water in the water supply tank is heated by a steam generator to become water vapor, and then sent to the heating chamber. At this time, the water in the water supply tank decreases with the supply of water vapor to the heating chamber.

  When the water in the water supply tank runs out, the user removes the water supply tank from the casing and carries it to the place where the water tap is installed. The user opens the water tap, puts water from the water tap into the water supply tank, and then attaches the water supply tank to the lower part of the casing again.

  By the way, from the viewpoint of preventing water leakage during carrying, the water tank is composed of a tank body having an upper end opened and a lid that is detachably attached to the tank body and opens and closes the opening at the upper end of the tank body. Is good.

  However, if the water supply tank is constituted by a tank body and a lid, the user must attach and detach the lid when replenishing water in the water supply tank.

  Therefore, the water supply tank composed of the tank main body and the lid has a problem that it is troublesome for the user to attach and detach the lid, and is inconvenient for the user.

JP 2007-183098 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid tank that is easy to use for a user and a cooking device provided with the same.

In order to solve the above problems, the liquid tank of the present invention is
A tank body for storing liquid;
A concave portion for water injection provided at a substantially central portion of the top surface of the tank body;
Provided on the side surface of the tank body, and an upper limit display portion indicating an upper limit of the liquid allowable amount of the tank body,
The recess for water injection is
A substantially cylindrical peripheral wall,
A bottom continuous with the lower end of the peripheral wall;
A shape comprising
The cross-sectional shape of the bottom portion of the water injection recess is recessed in a substantially arc shape from the top surface to the bottom surface of the bottom portion,
The aforementioned bottom of the water injection recess, a plurality of through holes passing through the bottom portion is provided,
The height of the bottom of the water injection recess relative to the bottom surface of the tank body is characterized in that substantially coincides height and the upper display portion relative to the bottom surface of the tank body.

According to the liquid tank having the above configuration, the user pours the liquid to be replenished into the tank main body into the water injection recess on the top surface of the tank main body. Then, the liquid flows into the tank body through the plurality of through holes at the bottom of the water injection recess.

  Thus, in the operation of replenishing the liquid in the tank main body, it is not necessary to attach and detach the lid as described above. Therefore, the labor of the operation can be reduced, and the convenience for the user is good.

Further, when the tank body is being refilled with liquid, when the replenishment amount of the liquid reaches the upper limit of the liquid allowable amount of the tank body, the bottom of the water injection recess is at substantially the same height as the upper limit display portion indicating the upper limit. Therefore, the surface of the liquid is exposed from a plurality of through holes provided in the bottom of the water injection recess.

  Therefore, the user can easily and reliably confirm from above that the amount of liquid in the tank body has reached the upper limit value of the allowable liquid amount.

The heating cooker of the present invention is
A casing,
The liquid tank of the present invention detachably attached to the casing;
A vapor generator for evaporating the liquid from the liquid tank to generate vapor;
And a heating chamber for heating an object to be cooked using steam generated by the steam generator.

  According to the heating cooker having the above configuration, when a considerable time has elapsed since the previous heating of the cooking object, the cooking object is heated after replacing the liquid in the tank body with a new liquid. preferable.

  Such replacement of the liquid in the tank body increases the number of times the liquid in the tank body is replenished. However, the work of replenishing the liquid in the tank body does not take time and is convenient.

According to the liquid tank of the present invention, it is provided with a water injection recess provided on the top surface of the tank body, and the bottom of the water injection recess is provided with a plurality of through holes penetrating the bottom. The liquid can be replenished to the tank body by pouring the liquid into the water injection recess on the top surface of the tank body. Therefore, since the troublesome work of replenishing the liquid can be reduced, the usability can be improved.

Also, with the upper limit display section that indicates the upper limit of the liquid capacity of the tank body, the height of the bottom of the water injection recess relative to the bottom surface of the tank body, and a height substantially matching the upper display portion relative to the bottom surface of the tank body, the Since a plurality of through holes are provided at the bottom of the water injection recess, the user can easily and reliably confirm from above that the amount of liquid in the tank body has reached the upper limit of the allowable liquid amount.

  According to the cooking device of the present invention, since the liquid tank of the present invention is provided, the usability can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a heating cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cooking device. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a water supply tank according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is another schematic perspective view of the water supply tank. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main part of the water supply tank.

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

  Drawing 1 is a mimetic diagram which looked at cooking-by-heating machine 100 of one embodiment of the present invention from the front side.

  The heating cooker 100 includes a rectangular parallelepiped casing 101, a heating chamber 102 (see FIG. 2) provided in the casing 101, an open / close door 103 rotatably attached to the front side of the casing 101, and a casing. A water supply tank 104 is detachably attached to 101. The water supply tank 104 is an example of a liquid tank.

  The opening / closing door 103 rotates around the lower end portion and opens / closes the opening portion 102 a of the heating chamber 102. A handle 110 is attached to the top of the open / close door 103. In addition, a heat resistant glass 111 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the open / close door 103, and the user can visually recognize the state in the heating chamber 102 through the heat resistant glass 111. Further, a heat-resistant resin packing (not shown) is fixed to the rear surface of the open / close door 103 so as to surround the heat-resistant glass 111. When the opening / closing door 103 is closed, this packing is in close contact with the peripheral edge of the opening 102 a of the heating chamber 102. This prevents water vapor or the like in the heating chamber 102 from leaking from between the opening / closing door 103 and the peripheral portion of the opening 102a of the heating chamber 102.

  An operation panel 105 is provided on the right side of the front surface of the casing 101. The operation panel 105 includes a liquid crystal display unit 106, a dial 107, and a plurality of buttons 108. Further, the front surface of the water supply tank 104 is exposed below the dial 107.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating cooker 100, 114 is a soot receiver, 115 is a water level sensor, 116 is a water supply pump, 117 is a water supply pipe, 118 is an upper heater, 119 is an upper heater cover, 120 is a tray, 121 is a lower heater, 122 is a heat shield, 122 is an exhaust port, 124 is an exhaust port cover, and 125 is an exhaust thermosensor. , 126 is an exhaust duct, 126a is an opening for introducing cold air, 127 is a cold air path, 128 is a dilution exhaust port, and 129 is a steam generating portion. Although not shown, a magnetron that generates microwaves is also installed in the casing 101. The steam generator 129 is an example of a steam generator.

  The water supply pump 116 sucks water in the water supply tank 104 and sends the water to the steam generation unit 129 via the water supply pipe 117. The steam generator 129 may heat the water from the feed water pump 116 to supply steam into the heating chamber 102 or may superheat the steam to supply superheated steam into the heating chamber 102. it can. Here, the said superheated steam means the steam heated to the overheated state of 100 degreeC or more.

  The to-be-cooked item 109 can be heated with water vapor or superheated steam from the steam generation unit 129, and can also be heated with radiant heat from the upper heater 118 and the lower heater 121. In addition, there is a top wall of the heating chamber 102 below the upper heater 118, and a bottom wall of the heating chamber 102 above the lower heater 121, and the upper heater 118 and the lower heater 121 are not exposed in the heating chamber 102. .

  FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the water supply tank 104 as viewed from the front and obliquely above. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the water supply tank 104 as viewed obliquely from the rear.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water supply tank 104 includes a tank main body 130 that stores water, and a decorative board 131 that is attached to the front end of the tank main body 130. The water is an example of a liquid.

  The tank main body 130 includes a water storage portion 132 having an upper end that is open, and a lid portion 133 that is detachably attached to an upper portion of the water storage portion 132.

  A linear full water line L indicating the upper limit of the water allowable amount of the tank main body 130 is provided on one inner side surface of the water accommodating portion 132. The water storage part 132 is made of a transparent resin so that the full water line L can be visually recognized from the outside. In addition, a water supply port 134 for supplying water to the water level sensor 115 is provided at the rear part of the water storage unit 132.

  An opening / closing valve (not shown) is provided in the water supply port 134. When the water supply tank 104 is attached to the casing 101, the on-off valve is opened, and water can flow out from the water supply port 134. On the other hand, when the water supply tank 104 is removed from the casing 101, the on-off valve is closed. The water supply port 134 and the on-off valve are configured so that water cannot flow out from the port 134. As the structure of the water supply port 134 and the on-off valve, for example, there is a known structure that is the same as an oil tank of an oil stove. The full water line L may be a linear protrusion or a linear groove. The full water line L is an example of an upper limit display unit.

  The lid 133 is formed of a transparent resin or an opaque resin. The top surface of the lid 133 is provided with a water injection recess 135 that defines a substantially cylindrical space. The water injection recess 135 includes a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall portion 136 and a bottom portion 137 connected to the lower end portion of the peripheral wall portion 136. The upper end portion of the peripheral wall portion 136 is curved so that the diameter decreases as the diameter approaches the bottom portion 137. The bottom portion 137 has a lattice shape, and has a plurality of substantially rectangular through holes 138 when viewed from above. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the portion other than the peripheral edge portion of the bottom portion 137 of the water injection recess 135 is curved so as to protrude into the water accommodating portion 132. That is, a cross section obtained by cutting the central portion of the bottom portion 137 of the water injection recess 135 with a vertical plane has a substantially arc shape. The water injection recess 135 is an example of a recess.

  A concave portion 139 having a substantially arc shape when viewed from the front is provided at the upper end of the decorative plate 131. Further, when the water supply tank 104 is attached to the casing 101, the lower convex portion of the dial 107 is loosely fitted into the concave portion 139 of the decorative plate 131, and the front surface of the operation panel 105 is substantially flush with the front surface of the decorative plate 131. Thus, the decorative board 131 is formed. Here, the “front surface of the operation panel 105” refers to the surface of the operation panel 105 where the liquid crystal display unit 106 is provided, and the “front surface of the decorative plate 131” is opposite to the tank body 130 side of the decorative plate 131. Refers to the side surface.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main part of the water supply tank 104.

  The height of the lower end portion of the bottom portion 137 of the water injection recess 135 matches the height of the full water line L. Here, “the height of the lower end portion of the bottom portion 137 of the water injection recess 135” and “the height of the full water line L” are heights relative to the bottom surface of the water storage portion 132.

  According to the heating cooker 100 having the above-described configuration, when the user pours water into the water injection recess 135 on the top surface of the lid 133, the water passes through the plurality of through holes 138 in the bottom 137 of the water injection recess 135. Flow into the water storage part 132.

  Therefore, since the user can easily replenish water in the water storage portion 132 without attaching or detaching the lid portion 133, the usability of the water supply tank 104 is good.

  Further, when water is replenished in the water accommodating portion 132, when the water surface reaches the full line L, the water surface exists in the plurality of through holes 138, and the water surface can be visually observed.

  Therefore, the user can easily and reliably confirm that the water surface has reached the full water line L.

  Moreover, even if the water supply tank 104 after water replenishment is carried by closing the opening at the upper end of the water storage part 132 with the lid part 133, the water in the water storage part 132 is difficult to leak to the outside.

  Even if the water surface slightly exceeds the full water line L, water can be retained in the water injection recess 135, so that it is possible to prevent water from leaking out of the water injection recess 135.

  Moreover, since the shape of the cross section obtained by cutting the center portion of the bottom portion 137 of the water injection recess portion 135 with a vertical plane is a substantially arc shape, scattering of water poured into the center portion of the bottom portion 137 of the water injection recess portion 135 is reduced. be able to.

  In the above embodiment, the steam generator 129 having the function of generating superheated steam is mounted on the heating cooker 100. However, the heating cooker 100 has a function of generating superheated steam only by generating steam. A steam generator that does not work may be installed.

  In the embodiment described above, the water injection recess 135 is provided on the top surface of the lid 133 so as to define a substantially cylindrical space. However, for example, a substantially prismatic space is defined on the top surface of the lid 133. Such a recess may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the bottom 137 of the water injection recess 135 provided on the top surface of the lid 133 is formed to have a plurality of substantially rectangular through holes 138 in a top view. It may be formed so as to have a plurality of circular through holes.

  In the above embodiment, instead of the bottom portion 137 made of resin, for example, a bottom portion made of a wire mesh may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the linear full water line L is provided only on one inner surface of the water storage portion 132. However, a linear full water line may also be provided on the other inner surface of the water storage portion 132. In addition, a linear full water line may be provided on at least one outer surface of the water storage portion 132. Alternatively, a full line such as a dotted line shape or an alternate long and short dash line shape may be provided on at least one inner surface of the water storage portion 132 or at least one outer surface of the water storage portion 132. That is, the number and shape of the full water line L are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and are various.

  The liquid tank of the present invention can be applied not only to an oven range that uses superheated steam but also to a cooking device such as an oven that uses superheated steam or an IH cooking heater.

  In the cooking device of the present invention, healthy cooking is performed by using superheated steam or saturated steam in cooking heaters (including those using an electric stove or gas stove such as an IH heater or electric heater) or a microwave oven. Can do. For example, in the cooking device of the present invention, superheated steam or saturated steam having a temperature of 100 ° C. or higher is supplied to the food surface, and the superheated steam or saturated steam adhered to the food surface is condensed to give a large amount of condensation latent heat to the food. So it can efficiently transfer heat to food. Moreover, when condensed water adheres to the food surface and salt and oil are dropped together with condensed water, salt and oil in the food can be reduced. Furthermore, the heating chamber is filled with superheated steam or saturated steam and becomes oxygen-free, thereby enabling cooking with reduced oxidation of food.

  In the said embodiment, although the heating cooker was demonstrated as an example of an apparatus provided with a liquid tank, you may apply the liquid tank of this invention to apparatuses, such as a humidifier and an agrochemical spreader.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Cooking device 101 Casing 102 Heating chamber 104 Water supply tank 129 Steam generation part 130 Tank main body 132 Water accommodating part 133 Cover part 135 Water injection recessed part 137 Bottom part 138 Through hole L Full water line

Claims (2)

A tank body for storing liquid;
A concave portion for water injection provided at a substantially central portion of the top surface of the tank body;
Provided on the side surface of the tank body, and an upper limit display portion indicating an upper limit of the liquid allowable amount of the tank body,
The recess for water injection is
A substantially cylindrical peripheral wall,
A bottom continuous with the lower end of the peripheral wall;
A shape comprising
The cross-sectional shape of the bottom portion of the water injection recess is recessed in a substantially arc shape from the top surface to the bottom surface of the bottom portion,
The aforementioned bottom of the water injection recess, a plurality of through holes passing through the bottom portion is provided,
The height of the bottom of the tank the water injection recess relative to the bottom surface of the body, a liquid tank, characterized by a height substantially matching the upper display portion relative to the bottom surface of the tank body. A casing,
The liquid tank according to claim 1 detachably attached to the casing;
A vapor generator for evaporating the liquid from the liquid tank to generate vapor;
A heating cooker comprising: a heating chamber for heating an object to be cooked using steam generated by the steam generating device.

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