JP7265385B2 - Cooker for making chocolate solution - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cooker for producing chocolate solutions.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided an apparatus for raising the temperature of an emulsion obtained by mixing milk and air to a predetermined temperature using steam or the like (for example, Patent Document 1). The apparatus shown in Patent Document 1 measures the characteristics of the emulsion after heating and feeds back the heating conditions.

JP 2017-225821 A

However, the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not perform control to keep the temperature and pressure of the steam constant. Therefore, there is no choice but to adjust the heating conditions based only on the properties of the emulsion after heating, and it is difficult to set the desired heating conditions.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a cooker capable of producing a chocolate solution that can control the amount of steam supplied based on the opening time of a valve by keeping the temperature and pressure of the steam constant. It is in.

In order to achieve the above object, a cooker for producing a chocolate solution according to one aspect of the present invention includes a steam generator that heats water to generate steam, and controls the supply of water to the steam generator. a control unit, a relay pipe for relaying the steam generated by the steam generating unit to a container containing the liquid and the chocolate, and a third pipe disposed in the middle of the relay pipe for controlling the amount of steam relayed to the container. 1 valve, the steam generation unit includes a detection unit that detects the amount of water, and the control unit causes water to be supplied to the steam generation unit according to the amount of water detected by the detection unit. wherein the relay pipe includes a second valve disposed downstream of the first valve, the second valve disposed at the downstream end of the relay pipe, It is configured to be opened when the first valve is controlled to an open state and steam is introduced, and to be closed when the first valve is controlled to a closed state.

According to the present invention, the temperature and pressure of steam in the steam generator can be made constant, and the amount of steam supplied can be controlled based on the opening time of the first valve.

It is a figure showing the whole cooker in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the cooker in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the steam generation part in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the steam generator in the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of water injection and heating in the steam generating section in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the cooker in embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional view showing an example of the 1st valve etc. in the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an example of an exploded view of a stirring unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the 2nd valve in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing an example of functional composition in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flow chart which shows an example of a processing procedure in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the first valve in the embodiment of the invention;

The present inventors have found that the amount of heat supplied to the workpiece can be controlled by controlling the opening time of the valve by fixing conditions such as steam temperature, steam pressure, and steam flow rate (supply amount). I got the knowledge of Based on such knowledge, the present inventors have arrived at the following invention.

A cooking device for producing a chocolate solution according to one aspect of the present invention includes a steam generating section that generates steam by heating water, a control section that controls the supply of water to the steam generating section, and the steam generating section. a relay pipe for relaying the steam generated by to a container containing the liquid and chocolate; and a first valve disposed in the middle of the relay pipe for controlling the amount of steam relayed to the container, The steam generator includes a detector that detects the amount of water, and the controller is configured to supply water to the steam generator in accordance with the amount of water detected by the detector.

With such a configuration, by adjusting the amount of water in the steam generating section, it is possible to adjust the volume of steam held in the steam generating section, which is the remaining space. This vapor volume functions as a "pressure accumulator" that compresses and stores the gas comprising the vapor, and stabilizes the pressure of the vapor generated within the vapor generator.

In the cooker, the detector may be configured to detect a water level within the steam generator.

With such a configuration, the water level in the steam generator can be controlled to a desired water level. As a result, it is possible to secure a space capable of holding steam above the steam generator.

The cooker may further include a water injection pump that supplies water from the bottom side of the steam generator into the steam generator under the control of the controller.

With such a configuration, since water is injected into the steam generator from the bottom side, it is possible to suppress the temperature drop in the upper part of the steam generator. As a result, a high temperature state can be maintained without lowering the temperature above the steam generator. By doing so, the temperature and pressure of the steam can be stabilized at desired values.

In the cooker, the steam generation unit further includes a heater for heating water in the steam generation unit, and a water inlet for introducing water supplied by the water injection pump into the steam generation unit, wherein the water inlet is It may be arranged in the vicinity of the heater.

In this manner, the water inlet is arranged near the heater or at a position facing the heater, so that the water that is injected hits the heater. As a result, the water that has entered the steam generator through the water inlet hits the heater, so that the water can be efficiently heated.

In addition, with such a configuration, the relatively low-temperature water flow that has passed through the water inlet is suppressed from going directly above the steam generator. As a result, it is possible to prevent the generation of steam in the upper part of the steam generating section from being hindered. As a result, it is possible to stabilize the temperature of the upper water portion and the space holding the steam at a desired value.

The cooker may include a restrictor for adjusting a flow rate of steam guided through the relay pipe.

With such a configuration, the restrictor acts as flow resistance for the steam guided through the relay pipe. As a result, if the steam pressure in the steam generator is maintained at a constant value, the amount of steam ejected into the container per hour is made constant. Then, since the amount of steam ejected into the container can be controlled based on the opening time of the first valve, by supplying the amount of steam into the container according to the characteristics of the chocolate and the liquid, the production area and blending of chocolate can be controlled. It is possible to provide a sequence and cooking method according to such as, and to make the aroma, sourness, sweetness, etc. more attractive.

In the cooker, the throttle section may be arranged near the first valve.

According to such a configuration, by arranging the restrictor in the vicinity of the first valve, when the first valve is closed, in the relay pipe, there is a gap between the first valve and the restrictor. The amount of residual steam will be relatively small. That is, when the first valve is closed, the steam remaining downstream from the throttle is jetted into the container, and then the steam remaining between the throttle and the first valve is jetted into the container. It will be done. Since the amount of remaining steam is reduced by arranging the throttle portion near the first valve, the time during which the steam is ejected into the container after the first valve is closed is shortened. can do. As a result, the time from the closing of the first valve to the end of steam jetting can be shortened, and the amount of steam supplied can be controlled satisfactorily.

In the cooker, the relay pipe includes a second valve disposed downstream of the first valve, and the second valve is controlled to open the first valve to release steam. is guided, and closed when the first valve is controlled to a closed state.

With such a configuration, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the steam remaining in the relay pipe after the first valve is closed from condensing and dripping to the downstream side of the relay pipe.

In the cooker, the second valve may be arranged at a downstream end of the relay pipe.

With such a configuration, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the steam remaining in the relay pipe after the first valve is closed from being condensed and dripping into the container through the downstream side of the relay pipe. In addition, it is possible to prevent the liquid in the container from flowing back through the relay pipe.

The cooker further comprises a stirring unit having a stirring shaft attached with stirring blades for stirring the chocolate and the liquid, wherein the stirring unit includes a part of the relay pipe including the downstream end of the relay pipe. It may be configured to accommodate.

With such a configuration, steam can be jetted into the container and the chocolate and liquid can be agitated. As a result, it is possible to stir the portions of the chocolate and the liquid that are likely to have a high temperature, and to reduce variations in the temperature distribution.

An embodiment showing an example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each drawing referred to below, the same reference numerals are given to the members that are common to each other, and overlapping descriptions thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a cooker 1 for producing a chocolate solution according to one embodiment of the invention. The cooker 1 includes a main body 2 , a water tank 4 containing water, a container 100 containing chocolate and liquid, and a stirring unit 3 for stirring the inside of the container 100 .

Water stored in the water tank 4 is supplied to the main body 2 and steam is generated in the main body 2 . The generated steam is supplied from the main body 2 through the stirring unit 3 into the container 100 . The stirring unit 3 has a relay pipe 7 that relays steam. The stirring unit 3 supplies steam into the container 100 and stirs the liquid in the container 100 . This produces a chocolate solution.

In this embodiment, the liquid contained in the container 100 is, for example, milk, soy milk, black tea, coconut milk, coffee, green tea, water, or the like. The liquid may further contain, for example, cinnamon, berries, cashew nuts, almonds, etc., and various combinations are selected according to the user's preference. Chocolate solutions produced by the cooker 1 are, for example, chocolate drinks, chocolate sauces, chocolate pastes, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of the cooker 1 according to this embodiment. The main body 2 is generated by a steam generator 5 that heats water supplied from the water tank 4 to generate steam, a water injection pump 9 that supplies water from the water tank 4 to the steam generator 5, and the steam generator 5. and a relay pipe 7 for relaying the steam.

In this embodiment, the steam generator 5 is a boiler. The steam generator 5 heats the water supplied by the water injection pump 9 to generate steam. The steam generator 5 heats water to 100 degrees or more to generate steam. More preferably, the steam generator 5 heats water to about 130 degrees to generate superheated steam. By supplying the container 100 with superheated steam having a larger heat quantity and higher energy than saturated steam having a boiling point temperature, the chocolate in the container 100 can be melted more easily.

The steam generator 5 includes a detector 13 that detects the amount of water. In this embodiment, the detection unit 13 is configured by a water level sensor. The detector 13 is arranged above the steam generator 5 . In this embodiment, the detector 13 detects the water level inside the steam generator 5 .

The control unit 19 is a processing unit that controls water supply to the steam generation unit 5 . When the detection unit 13 detects the amount of water in the steam generation unit 5, the control unit 19 supplies water to the steam generation unit 5 according to the detected amount of water. As an example, the control unit 19 causes the water injection pump 9 to supply water to the steam generation unit 5 until the detection unit 13 detects a predetermined amount of water. When the detection unit 13 detects a predetermined amount of water, the control unit 19 stops the water injection pump 9 to stop supplying water to the steam generation unit 5 .

For example, when the water level L0 detected by the detection unit 13 is equal to or lower than the predetermined water level L1, the control unit 19 controls the water injection pump 9 to supply water. The control unit 19 controls to stop the water supply by the water injection pump 9 when the water level L0 detected by the detection unit 13 is equal to or higher than the predetermined water level L1.

The stirring unit 3 is detachably attached to the main body 2 . The stirring unit 3 includes a stirring shaft 17 for stirring chocolate and liquid, a relay pipe 7 , and a cylindrical member 15 housing the stirring shaft 17 and the relay pipe 7 .

The stirring unit 3 is mounted vertically on the main body 2 , and the lower end is located below the upper end of the container 100 . The stirring shaft 17 has a stirring blade 18 at its lower end.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the steam generation unit 5. As shown in FIG. The steam generator 5 includes a heating tank 20 that stores and heats water, a heater 22 that is disposed in the heating tank 20 , and a detector 13 that is disposed on the upper surface of the heating tank 20 . The steam generator 5 has a steam outlet 24 on the upper surface of the heating bath 20 .

The steam generator 5 has a water inlet 25 on the bottom surface of the heating bath 20 . The water injection port 25 is connected to the water injection pipe 11 . The water that has passed through the water injection pipe 11 flows into the heating bath 20 from the water injection port 25 . When the water level L0 detected by the detection unit 13 is equal to or higher than the predetermined water level L1, the control unit 19 stops the water injection pump 9 to stop water injection into the heating bath 20 .

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the steam generator 5. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the water inlet 25 is arranged near the heater 22 . Alternatively, the water inlet 25 is arranged at a position facing the heater 22 . Low-temperature water supplied into the heating bath 20 by the water injection pump 9 hits the heater 22 through the water injection port 25 . As a result, the low-temperature water that has passed through the water inlet 25 is efficiently heated by the heater 22 .

In addition, since the low-temperature water flow supplied into the heating bath 20 through the water inlet 25 hits the heater 22 , it is possible to prevent the water from flowing directly upwards of the heating bath 20 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the flow of water with a low temperature from interfering with the generation of steam above the heating bath 20 .

Furthermore, the low-temperature water flow supplied into the heating bath 20 through the water inlet 25 hits the heater 22 and is dampened. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the detection unit 13 provided above the heating bath 20 from being hit by the water flow, thereby preventing the detection unit 13 from erroneously detecting the water level.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of water injection and heating in the steam generator 5. As shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the control unit 19 drives the water injection pump 9 to inject water into the heating tank 20 of the steam generation unit 5 when detecting the operation of the operation switch (not shown) by the user. The water pressurized by the water injection pump 9 enters the heating bath 20 through the water injection port 25 through the water injection pipe 11 .

As described above, the steam generator 5 includes the detector 13 on the upper surface of the heating bath 20 . In this embodiment, the detection unit 13 is, for example, a bar-shaped water level sensor with a predetermined length extending downward from the lower end of the top plate of the heating vessel 20 .

The length of the detector 13 is preferably greater than the height above the waterline of the boiling bubbles generated by the boiling of the water in the heating vessel 20 . When the waterline reaches the lower end of the detector 13, the controller 19 can stop water injection. Therefore, the waterline is set at the lower end of the detector 13 . As a result, it is possible to prevent boiling bubbles from reaching the steam outlet 24 and prevent water from being mixed with the steam jetted into the container 100 .

The steam outlet 24 is arranged through the top plate of the heating vessel 20 . In this embodiment, the steam outlet 24 has a lead-in portion 24a above the lower end of the top plate. Even if the boiling foam reaches the lower end of the top plate, the retracting portion 24a is positioned higher than the lower end of the top plate, so it is possible to prevent the boiling foam from reaching the retracting portion 24a. Accordingly, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent water from being discharged from the steam outlet 24 together with the steam.

The detection unit 13 detects that the water level in the heating bath 20 has reached a predetermined water level L1. When the detection unit 13 detects that the water level in the heating bath 20 has reached the predetermined water level L1, the control unit 19 causes the steam generation unit 5 to heat water and generate steam. Specifically, the controller 19 activates the heater 22 to start heating the water in the heating bath 20 .

The predetermined water level L1 is set, for example, above the upper end of the heater 22 in the horizontal direction. That is, the controller 19 does not activate the heater 22 unless it is detected that the water reaches the predetermined water level L1. As a result, it is avoided that the heater 22 is partly or wholly exposed above the water, and the wear of the heater 22 is prevented.

Until the water in the heating bath 20 is heated by the heater 22 and the temperature sensor 14 detects 100 degrees Celsius, the control unit 19 keeps the solenoid valve 26 (corresponding to the "first valve" in the claims. , the same.) to the open state. As will be described later, the opening/closing operation of the solenoid valve 26 is controlled by the controller 19 .

When the water in the heating bath 20 is heated while the water temperature is below 100 degrees Celsius, the air in the heating bath 20 also increases in temperature and expands due to the heat transferred from the water. Since the solenoid valve 26 is open, the expanded air is discharged outside the heating bath 20 .

When the water temperature in the heating bath 20 reaches 100 degrees Celsius or higher, saturated steam is generated. The generated saturated steam pushes the air in the heating bath 20 out of the heating bath 20 , so that water and saturated steam stay in the heating bath 20 .

The controller 19 closes the electromagnetic valve 26 when it is detected that the water temperature in the heating bath 20 is 100 degrees Celsius or higher. As a result, water and saturated steam are accumulated in the steam generator 5 . If the solenoid valve 26 is closed while air is present in the heating vessel 20, the air expanded by heating will cause the inside of the heating vessel 20 to become high pressure, which may cause deformation or damage to the steam generator 5. Therefore, the control unit 19 prevents the solenoid valve 26 from closing when air is present in the heating bath 20 .

The controller 19 operates the heater 22 to heat the water in the heating bath 20 . As an example, the controller 19 heats the water in the heating bath 20 to about 130 degrees Celsius. The steam generated by evaporating the water in the heating bath 20 is retained in the upper part of the heating bath 20 . By controlling the water level in the heating bath 20 to a predetermined height by the control unit 19, a space capable of holding steam is secured above the water surface.

When the water in the heating bath 20 evaporates and the water level L0 falls below the predetermined water level L1, the controller 19 may drive the water injection pump 9 to start pouring water into the heating bath 20 . Water flows into the heating bath 20 from the water inlet 25 via the water inlet pipe 11 .

The steam generator 5 can generate superheated steam by heating the water in the heating bath 20 to about 130 degrees. By arranging the water injection port 25 on the bottom surface of the heating vessel 20 , it is possible to suppress a decrease in the steam temperature in the heating vessel 20 due to the injection of water into the heating vessel 20 .

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of the cooker 1 in this embodiment. A relay pipe 7 is connected to a steam outlet 24 provided on the upper surface of the steam generator 5 to relay the steam to the container containing the liquid and the chocolate. A solenoid valve 26 is arranged in the middle of the relay pipe 7 . The solenoid valve 26 is controlled to be opened and closed by the controller 19 .

The relay pipe 7 is divided into a plurality of sections from the viewpoint of ensuring durability against steam pressure and improving the efficiency of the assembly process. The relay pipe 7 a ( 7 ) relays steam between the steam generator 5 and the electromagnetic valve 26 . The solenoid valve 26 includes a connection plug 28a (28) that connects the solenoid valve 26 and the relay pipe 7a (7). In this embodiment, a relay plug 29 is provided between the solenoid valve 26 and the stirring unit 3 . The electromagnetic valve 26 to the relay plug 29 is relayed by the relay pipe 7b (7), and the relay plug 29 to the stirring unit 3 is relayed by the relay pipe 7c (7).

In this embodiment, comparing the inner diameters of the relay pipe 7a(7), the relay pipe 7b(7), and the relay pipe 7c(7), the relay pipe 7a(7), the relay pipe 7b(7), and the relay pipe 7c It becomes larger in the order of (7). That is, the inner diameter of the relay pipe 7 arranged on the downstream side is configured to be larger than the inner diameter of the relay pipe 7 arranged on the upstream side.

Since the connection plug 28 and the relay plug 29 are inserted into the relay pipe 7 , a narrow portion narrower than the inner diameter of the relay pipe 7 is formed in the path of the steam generated in the steam generator 5 . These narrow portions increase the flow resistance of the steam, resulting in a delay in the ejection timing of the ejection port 30 .

Further, when the steam pressure in the relay pipe 7 becomes excessively high, measures such as increasing the wall thickness of the relay pipe 7 are required in order to increase the strength of the relay pipe 7 .

Since the inner diameter of the relay pipe 7 is larger on the downstream side than on the upstream side, the flow path resistance of the relay pipe 7 is gradually reduced, and the steam can be efficiently guided to the jet port 30 . As a result, it is possible to suppress the delay in the ejection timing from the ejection port 30 and the generation of excessive steam pressure in the relay pipe 7 .

Moreover, it is preferable that the inner diameter of the connection plug 28 and/or the relay plug 29 is larger than the inner diameter of the electromagnetic valve 26 when the valve port is open. As a result, when the electromagnetic valve 26 is controlled to be open, the cross-sectional area of the flow path increases as the steam progresses downstream, so the steam can be efficiently guided to the jet port 30 .

More preferably, the inner diameter of the narrowed portion formed by the connection plug 28 and/or the relay plug 29 is configured to be larger than the inner diameter when the valve port of the electromagnetic valve 26 is open. Thereby, the steam can be efficiently guided to the ejection port 30 .

In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the narrow portion formed in the relay plug 29 is configured to be larger than the inner diameter of the connection plug 28 . Since the inner diameter of the relay plug 29 disposed on the downstream side of the connection plug 28 is larger than the inner diameter of the connection plug 28, the cross-sectional area of the flow passage increases as it proceeds downstream, so that the steam can be efficiently ejected. I can guide you to 30.

FIG. 7 is an example of an enlarged view of the solenoid valve 26 and the connection plug 28b (28) arranged on the downstream side of the solenoid valve 26. As shown in FIG. The connection plug 28b (28) is inserted into the relay pipe 7b (7).

In this embodiment, the connection plug 28b (28) has a narrowed portion 31 with a reduced inner diameter. As an example, the narrowed portion 31 has an inner diameter that is approximately half the inner diameter of the relay pipe 7b(7). The restrictor 31 can control the flow rate of steam on the downstream side to a constant amount. Thereby, the amount of steam ejected from the ejection port 30 can be made constant. As a result, it is possible to provide a sequence and cooking method according to the production area and composition of the chocolate, and to make the aroma, sourness, sweetness, etc. more attractive.

The throttle portion 31 is arranged at a position close to the solenoid valve 26 in the connection plug 28b (28). When the electromagnetic valve 26 is opened, steam is guided to the relay pipe 7b (7) side via the connection plug 28b (28). The throttle portion 31 controls the steam to a constant amount and guides it to the downstream side. In this case, steam stays between the solenoid valve 26 and the throttle portion 31 .

When the solenoid valve 26 is closed, the steam passing through the relay pipe 7 is continuously guided through the relay pipe 7 without losing momentum, and is jetted out when it reaches the jet port 30 . The steam remaining between the electromagnetic valve 26 and the throttle portion 31 passes through the throttle portion 31 over a predetermined time, enters the relay pipe 7 , is guided through the relay pipe 7 , and is ejected from the jet port 30 .

By arranging the throttle portion 31 in the vicinity of the electromagnetic valve 26, the amount of steam staying between the electromagnetic valve 26 and the throttle portion 31 can be reduced. As a result, the time from when the solenoid valve 26 is closed to when the jet of steam from the jet port 30 ends can be reduced, and the jetting and stopping of the steam by the solenoid valve 26 can be well controlled.

The control unit 19 controls water injection to the steam generation unit 5 according to the water content of the steam to be discharged when the solenoid valve 26 is in the open state. As an example, the control unit 19 stores in advance the water content of steam discharged per predetermined time period, and supplies the same amount of water to the steam generation unit 5 every predetermined time period.

That is, the control unit 19 can approximately balance the amount of water lost due to evaporation and the amount of water supplied in a predetermined time. As a result, the water level in the heating tank 20 can be kept substantially constant, so that it is possible to prevent the heating tank 20 from being boiled dry and the heater 22 from being exposed above the waterline.

Furthermore, the control unit 19 may alternately drive and stop the water injection pump 9 during the above-described predetermined time. As a result, the speed at which the water in the heating bath 20 is lost due to evaporation and the water injection speed can be balanced, and the water injection can prevent the water from exceeding the predetermined water level L1.

Returning to FIG. 6 , the steam generated in the steam generating section 5 is retained in the space formed above the heating tank 20 and the relay pipe 7 a ( 7 ) to the electromagnetic valve 26 . When the electromagnetic valve 26 is closed by the control unit 19, the steam generated in the steam generating unit 5 is suppressed from leaking to the downstream side of the electromagnetic valve 26, so that the steam can be retained satisfactorily.

When the control unit 19 opens the solenoid valve 26 in response to the user's operation, the retained steam passes through the relay pipe 7 on the downstream side of the solenoid valve 26 and is ejected from the ejection port 30 . The controller 19 drives the stirring unit 3 when opening the electromagnetic valve 26 .

The controller 19 drives the stirring unit 3 after opening the electromagnetic valve 26 . As a result, since steam is supplied to the container 100 to warm the chocolate and the liquid and then the mixture is stirred, the chocolate solution can be produced efficiently.

Alternatively, the control section 19 may drive the stirring unit 3 prior to opening the electromagnetic valve 26 or substantially simultaneously with opening the electromagnetic valve 26 . As a result, since convection is generated in the liquid in the container 100 and then the vapor is supplied to heat the liquid, the heat can be efficiently transferred to the entire liquid.

FIG. 8 is an example of an exploded view of the stirring unit 3. As shown in FIG. The stirring unit 3 includes a stirring shaft 17 , stirring blades 18 and a cylindrical member 15 . The stirring blade 18 is attached to the front end of the stirring shaft 17 .

The stirring shaft 17 , the stirring blade 18 and the relay pipe 7 are housed inside the cylindrical member 15 . A jet port 30 is formed at the downstream end of the relay pipe 7 . A ball 32 is inserted from the ejection port 30 side and functions as a second valve.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section near the ejection port 30. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9(a), the ejection port 30 includes a ball 32 slightly upstream of the opening and a spring 33 that biases the ball 32 upstream.

When the electromagnetic valve 26 is closed by the controller 19 , the ball 32 is biased toward the upstream side of the relay pipe 7 by the spring 33 . As a result, the relay pipe 7 is closed at the location where it abuts against the ball 32 .

When the electromagnetic valve 26 is opened by the controller 19 , steam is supplied from the steam generator 5 through the relay pipe 7 . When the steam reaches the position where the ball 32 is arranged, the steam presses the ball 32 toward the ejection port 30 . Then, the state in which the relay pipe 7 is blocked by the ball 32 changes to the state in which the relay pipe 7 is opened as shown in FIG.

When the controller 19 controls the solenoid valve 26 from the open state to the closed state, the supply of steam is stopped. Since the pressure pushing down the ball 32 in the direction of the ejection port 30 is reduced, the ball 32 closes the relay pipe 7 again by the force of the spring 33 as shown in FIG. 9(a).

After the supply of steam from the steam generation unit 5 is stopped, the temperature of the steam remaining in the relay pipe 7 is lowered, condensed, and stays in the relay pipe 7 . The water staying in the relay pipe 7 moves toward the spout 30 through the relay pipe 7 due to gravity. Since the relay pipe 7 is blocked by the ball 32 , dripping of water from the spout 30 can be suppressed satisfactorily.

In addition, in a state where the relay pipe 7 is blocked by the ball 32, it is possible to prevent the liquid in the container 100 from flowing backward through the relay pipe 7 in the upstream direction. Ball 32 also functions as a check valve.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the control section 19 in this embodiment. The control unit 19 includes a water injection control unit 19a (19), a heating control unit 19b (19), a valve control unit 19c (19), and an agitation control unit 19d (19).

The water injection control unit 19 a ( 19 ) is a processing unit that controls driving of the water injection pump 9 . The driving and stopping of the water injection pump 9 described above is controlled by the function of the water injection control unit 19a (19).

The heating control unit 19 b ( 19 ) is a processing unit that controls the operation of the heater 22 . The operation and stop of the heater 22 described above are controlled by the function of the heating control section 19b (19).

The valve control unit 19c (19) is a processing unit that controls the opening/closing operation of the electromagnetic valve 26. As shown in FIG. The opening/closing operation of the electromagnetic valve 26 described above is controlled by the function of the valve control section 19c (19).

The stirring control section 19 d ( 19 ) is a processing section that controls driving of the stirring unit 3 . The driving and stopping of the stirring unit 3 described above is controlled by the function of the stirring control section 19d (19).

In addition to those described above, the control unit 19 can operate each processing unit to clean the heating bath 20 .

The water injection control unit 19 a ( 19 ) drives the water injection pump 9 to inject a cleaning liquid such as a citric acid solution into the heating bath 20 . In this embodiment, the water injection control unit 19a (19) fills the water tank 4 with a predetermined volume of citric acid solution to inject the cleaning liquid. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be injected by filling a separate container with the citric acid solution and placing it in place of the water tank 4 . Then, for example, when a predetermined time elapses after the injection of the cleaning liquid, the water injection control unit 19 a ( 19 ) drives the water injection pump 9 to inject water into the heating bath 20 . As a result, the cleaning liquid in the heating bath 20 is diluted.

The water injection control unit 19a (19) continues to drive the water injection pump 9 even after the detection unit 13 detects that the water level has reached the predetermined water level L1. When water injection by the water injection control unit 19a (19) is started, the valve control unit 19c (19) controls the solenoid valve 26 to open. The mixed liquid of water and cleaning liquid that has reached the upper surface of the heating vessel 20 is guided from the steam outlet 24 to the relay pipe 7 and discharged to the outside of the cooker 1 .

When the water injection control unit 19a (19) injects water, the heating control unit 19b (19) operates the heater 22 to heat the liquid. As a result, the liquid is guided as steam from the steam outlet 24 to the relay pipe 7 and discharged to the outside of the cooker 1 .

The heating control unit 19b (19) continues to operate the heater 22 to heat the liquid even when the detection unit 13 detects that the liquid level is equal to or lower than the predetermined level L1. As a result, the mixture of water and cleaning liquid can be efficiently discharged out of the heating tank 20 .

As described above, the water injection control unit 19a (19) drives the water injection pump 9 to perform water injection when the temperature sensor 14 detects that the temperature in the heating bath 20 is 100 degrees Celsius or higher. . As a result, the amount of water lost due to evaporation and the amount of injected water are roughly balanced, and the predetermined water level L1 is maintained.

However, if the detection unit 13 detects that the water line is below the predetermined water level L1 in spite of the fact that the water injection pump 9 is being driven by the water injection control unit 19a (19), the valve control unit 19c ( 19) controls the electromagnetic valve 26 from the closed state to the open state to discharge the steam.

In such a case, it is conceivable that air or the like enters the water injection pump 9 and the pushing pressure of the water injection pump 9 is lowered and is lower than the pressure inside the heating bath 20 . Therefore, the valve control unit 19c (19) opens the electromagnetic valve 26, thereby reducing the pressure in the heating bath 20 to approximately atmospheric pressure.

When the water injection control unit 19a (19) continues to drive the water injection pump 9 while the electromagnetic valve 26 is controlled to be open, and the detection unit 13 detects that the water level has reached the predetermined water level L1, , the valve control unit 19c (19) controls the electromagnetic valve 26 from the open state to the closed state. As a result, steam is accumulated in the heating bath 20 again.

On the other hand, in the state where the solenoid valve 26 is controlled to be open, although the water injection pump 9 is continuously driven, the time from when the solenoid valve 26 is controlled to the open state until the predetermined time elapses For example, if the detection unit 13 does not detect that the water has reached the predetermined water level L1 during this period, the control unit 19 may display a message on the display screen indicating that the water injection pump 9 is not operating normally.

Furthermore, the cooker 1 may include a flow rate sensor (not shown) that detects the flow rate of water from the water tank 4 to the water injection pump 9 . When the water level in the heating bath 20 falls below the predetermined water level L1 even though the flow rate of water detected by the flow rate sensor is a normal value, the valve control section 19c (19) controls the electromagnetic valve 26 to open. You may

Next, a method for producing a chocolate solution will be described. FIG. 11 is an example of a flow chart of a method for producing a chocolate solution.

The chocolate solution manufacturing method includes a water pouring step ST10 of pouring water into the steam generating unit 5, a steam generating step ST20 of generating steam by the steam generating unit 5, a steam supplying step ST30 of supplying steam to the container 100, and and a stirring step ST40 for stirring the liquid.

The water injection step ST10 is a step of supplying water to the steam generator 5 . In the water injection step ST10, the control section 19 drives the water injection pump 9 to cause the steam generation section 5 to inject water. When the detection unit 13 detects that the water level L0 has reached the predetermined water level L1, the control unit 19 stops the pump 6 . Thereby, a space capable of holding the generated steam can be secured in the upper part of the heating bath 20 .

The steam generation step ST20 is a step of heating water to generate steam. In the steam generating step ST20, the steam generating section 5 heats the water supplied by the water injection pump 9 to generate steam. The generated steam is held in the steam generating section 5 .

The steam supply step ST30 is a step of supplying the generated steam into the container 100 . In the steam supply step ST30 , when the controller 19 opens the electromagnetic valve 26 , the steam held in the steam generator 5 is jetted out from the jet port 30 through the relay pipe 7 .

The stirring step ST40 is a step of stirring the liquid inside the container 100 . When the container 100 contains chocolate and liquid, the controller 19 drives the stirring unit 3 to stir the chocolate and liquid in the container 100 with the stirring blades 18 in the stirring step ST40.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be applied.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the water injection port 25 is provided on the bottom surface of the heating bath 20 has been described, but the water injection port 25 may be provided on the side surface of the heating bath 20 . As an example, the water inlet 25 may be provided below the side surface of the heating bath 20 .

In the embodiment described above, the case where the cooking device 1 executes the stirring step ST40 for stirring the liquid in the container 100 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cooking device 1 does not have to execute the stirring step ST40.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the detection unit 13 is a water level sensor has been described, but the detection unit 13 is not limited to this and may be a mass sensor, for example, detecting the mass of water in the steam generation unit 5. By doing so, the amount of water in the steam generator 5 may be detected.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the throttle portion 31 is disposed downstream of the electromagnetic valve 26 has been described, but the throttle portion 31 may be disposed upstream of the electromagnetic valve 26 without being limited thereto . Since the throttle portion 31 is arranged upstream of the electromagnetic valve 26, the flow rate is restricted by the throttle portion 31 and steam is not supplied to the relay pipe 7 when the electromagnetic valve 26 is controlled from the open state to the closed state. It can prevent staying.

The throttle portion 31 may be arranged in the electromagnetic valve 26 . FIG. 12 shows an example of the internal structure of the solenoid valve 26. As shown in FIG. The valve body 26a is provided with an inflow port 26b and a discharge port 25c, which are connected to a connection plug 28a (28) and a connection plug 28b (28), respectively.

The plunger 26d is urged by a spring 26e and is brought into close contact with the inflow port 26b via a diaphragm 26f to prevent the inflow of fluid. On the other hand, a coil 26g is arranged on the outer peripheral portion isolated from the plunger 26d. When the coil 26g is energized, the plunger 26d and the diaphragm 26f move to a predetermined position in the opposite direction to the inlet 26b.

Then, a gap is generated between the inlet 26b and the diaphragm 26f, and the inlet 26b and the outlet 26c are communicated with each other. As a result, the fluid blocked on the inflow port 26b side flows into the discharge port 26c side.

Conversely, when the current is cut off, the plunger 26d and the diaphragm 26f move to a position where the inlet 26b and the diaphragm 26f are in close contact with each other due to the biasing force of the spring 26e. This current intermittence is performed by a signal from the control section 19 .

Here, the inner diameter portion of the inlet 26b, the gap between the inlet 26b and the diaphragm 26f, and the inner diameter portion of the discharge port 26c serve as fluid paths. The electromagnetic valve 26 functions as a throttle portion 31 by adjusting the inner diameter of the inlet 26b, the distance between the inlet 26b and the diaphragm 26f, and the inner diameter of the discharge port 26c. That is, the electromagnetic valve 26 may have the throttle portion 31 .

In the above-described embodiment, the steam generator 5 includes the temperature sensor 14 that detects the temperature inside the heating bath 20 . A pressure sensor may be provided for detection. The steam generator 5 may control the opening/closing operation of the solenoid valve 26 according to the pressure inside the heating bath 20 detected by the pressure sensor. Also, the steam generator 5 may control the operation of the heater 22 according to the pressure inside the heating bath 20 detected by the pressure sensor.

1 cooker 2 main body 3 stirring unit 4 water tank 5 steam generator 7 relay pipe 9 water injection pump 13 detector 14 temperature sensor 15 cylindrical member 17 stirring shaft 18 stirring blade 19 control unit 24 steam outlet 25 water inlet 26 solenoid valve ( first valve)
28 Connection plug 29 Relay plug 30 Jet port 31 Throttle 32 Ball (second valve)
100 Container ST10 Water injection process ST20 Steam generation process ST30 Steam supply process ST40 Stirring process L0 Water level L1 Predetermined water level

Claims (6)

a steam generator that generates steam by heating water;
a control unit that controls the supply of water to the steam generating unit;
a relay pipe that relays the steam generated by the steam generating unit to a container containing liquid and chocolate;
a first valve disposed in the middle of the relay pipe for controlling the amount of steam relayed into the vessel;
with
The steam generation unit includes a detection unit that detects the amount of water,
The control unit is configured to supply water to the steam generation unit according to the amount of water detected by the detection unit,
The relay pipe includes a second valve arranged downstream of the first valve,
The second valve is
disposed at the downstream end of the relay pipe,
Cooking to produce a chocolate solution configured to be opened when said first valve is controlled to an open state and steam is introduced, and closed when said first valve is controlled to a closed state. vessel. a steam generator that generates steam by heating water;
a control unit that controls the supply of water to the steam generating unit;
a relay pipe that relays the steam generated by the steam generating unit to a container containing liquid and chocolate;
a first valve disposed in the middle of the relay pipe for controlling the amount of steam relayed into the vessel;
a stirring unit having a stirring shaft attached with stirring blades for stirring the chocolate and the liquid;
with
The steam generation unit includes a detection unit that detects the amount of water,
The control unit is configured to supply water to the steam generation unit according to the amount of water detected by the detection unit,
The cooking device, wherein the stirring unit is configured to accommodate a portion of the relay pipe including the downstream end of the relay pipe, for producing a chocolate solution. 3. The cooker for producing chocolate solution according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detector is configured to detect a water level within the steam generator. The chocolate solution according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a water injection pump that supplies water from the bottom side of the steam generator into the steam generator under the control of the controller. Cooking device. 5. The cooker for producing a chocolate solution according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a restrictor for adjusting the flow rate of steam guided through the relay pipe. 6. The cooking device for producing chocolate solution according to claim 5, wherein the restrictor is arranged in the vicinity of the first valve.

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