JPH01150721A - Device for heating, cooking and cleaning table-ware in combination - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a small-sized title device to be obtained by a method wherein a spacing which may be used for both cooking operation and kitchen-ware cleaning operation is constructed and then the same spacing is used as a cooking space and at the same time this spacing is used as kitchen-ware cleaning space in combination in a different time. CONSTITUTION:Detergent is supplied to a detergent cleaning part during use as a kitchen-ware cleaning machine, a kitchen-ware cage 21 and a kitchen-ware 22 are stored in a cleaning and cooking chamber 4. A controlling part may select a kitchen- ware cleaning operation and then each of cleaning rinsing drying steps advances and completed. At this time, detergent liquid is injected from an injection nozzle 8 of an injection table also acting as a rotary table 7 rotated by an injection pump 6 in combination. In case that this unit is used for a cooking operation, the cleansing chamber also acting as the cooking chamber 4 is used as a cooking chamber, the injection table also acting as the rotary table 7 is used as a rotary table. Each of a magnetron 16, a reflection rotary plate 18, a blower 20 and the rotary table 7 is operated to perform a cooking of a foodstuff 27 and then a cooking operation is finished under an automatic control through a timer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention relates to apparatus used for domestic or commercial cooking and dishwashing.

Conventional technology Cooking machines that use microwaves as a heating source are generally called microwave ovens, and have a basic configuration that supplies microwaves oscillated by a hemagnetron or the like within a space in which cooked food is stored.
It is used for general cooking, including defrosting frozen foods, and is widely used in Japan and around the world. On the other hand, dishwashers have already been in practical use for a long time, and have a basic configuration that sprays a cleaning solution consisting of detergent and water to the dishes, and are said to be quite popular in Europe and the United States, but in Japan. Although it is used in some parts of Japan, its popularity is far behind that of microwave ovens.

Microwave ovens make it possible to automate cooking by taking advantage of the controllability of microwaves.
No. 030), bread baking, which was considered a weakness of microwave ovens.
In order to expand the cooking function for oven cooking, etc., there are known devices equipped with an electric heater in addition to the magnetron (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-35730).

On the other hand, most conventional dishwashers clean dishes by spraying a cleaning solution consisting of water and detergent onto the dishes, but this alone lacks the cleaning ability, so the spray nozzle is moved to change the direction of the spray. For example, an example of adding a preliminary process of soaking tableware in a cleaning solution (for example, JP-A No. 62
16736) have been proposed or put to practical use, and there are some that perform processes such as washing, rinsing, and drying.

As mentioned above, devices that can perform both cooking and dishwashing functions using microwaves have been used for a long time, but no dual-purpose device has been found that can perform both cooking and dishwashing functions in the same space. Ta.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The first problem is that in many homes and small businesses in Japan and elsewhere, there is already almost no extra space in the kitchen and its surroundings. Despite the strong latent need for dishwashers in particular, in many cases it is impossible to actually purchase and install them.

The second problem is that in order to implement the functions of a microwave oven and a dishwasher, there is no other way than to purchase one microwave oven and one dishwasher, and the purchase cost is quite high and many The amount was far beyond what could be easily purchased at that level.

The third problem is that in dishwashers, cleaning tends to be incomplete, particularly in areas where cooked rice has adhered to dishes over time, leaving problems with cleaning performance.

The fourth problem is that when cleaning using a cleaning solution made by adding detergent to hot water, the above-mentioned cleaning performance is improved compared to cold water, but it requires a water heater in addition to a dishwasher.
It also requires a larger installation space and is inevitably more expensive.

The fifth problem is that in conventional dishwashers, drying after washing is insufficient, and water that collects on the bottom of the thread is often left undried, and it takes a long time to dry completely.

Means for solving the problem The system is partitioned from the outside by a partition wall or a door, and at least when the door is closed, microwaves or a cleaning solution consisting of water and detergent or water leakage to the outside is almost prevented. A space that is shut off and contains cooked food during cooking and washed dishes when washing dishes; a microwave supply unit that supplies microwaves to this space; a liquid sending section for supplying a cleaning liquid; a draining section for discharging water or washing liquid from the space; a cooking function for operating the microwave supply section to heat and cook food in the space;
A function selection means is provided for selecting both a dishwashing function and a dishwashing function of operating the α part to wash the dishes in the space.

Effect: With the above configuration, a dedicated space that conventionally had only a single function of either cooking or dishwashing becomes a dual-purpose space that has both cooking and dishwashing functions. That is, the space mentioned above can be used as a cooking space, and the same space can be used as a dishwashing space at different times.

For this reason, the space can be downsized to approximately half the volume of a simple combination of both cooking and dishwashing functions, and the cost of configuring this space as well as the transportation and storage of this product can be reduced. Both costs can be reduced significantly. However, as a result of this, the ability to cook and wash dishes at the same time, or the ability to cook and wash dishes in different locations, was lost, but cooking is something that occurs before a meal, and washing dishes occurs before a meal. Since it is of a nature to be carried out later, the time of use is naturally separate, and there is no practical obstacle to carrying out cooking and dishwashing in the same place. In addition, although cooking and dishwashing are both directly related to food hygiene and must be based on cleanliness, there are no practical or emotional hygiene issues associated with doing both in the same space.

Embodiment In order to solve the first and second problems mentioned above, in the present invention, the same space is shared for cooking and dishwashing, and the use of separate spaces for each is avoided. .

In addition, in order to solve problems 1 to 5, microwaves, which had previously been used only for cooking, were now used not only for cooking but also for washing and drying dishes.
HP and drying function have been significantly improved, eliminating the need for a separate heat source such as a water heater.

The microwave used in the dual-purpose machine of the present invention is 2450
MHz is the most preferable, and the microwaves are used as heating energy during cooking, and during washing, the microwaves are used as energy to improve the cleaning effect by irradiating the cleaning liquid supplied to the dishes in the space. This microwave acts on the electric dipoles of the water molecules in the cleaning liquid, is absorbed, and is converted into rotational vibration energy of the molecules, thereby enhancing the cleaning ability of the cleaning liquid. Originally, in Japan, boiled rice is often used due to ancient eating habits, and cooked rice is mostly alpha starch and has the property of being easily dispersed in water, but rice that sticks to the tableware loses alpha starch over time. It changes into beta starch, which is difficult to disperse in water and is not susceptible to the action of starch-degrading enzymes, making it difficult to achieve a complete cleaning effect. In this respect, microwave irradiation during cleaning heats the cleaning solution and starch, converting beta starch into alpha starch that is easy to clean, so the thermal cleaning action of microwaves complements the chemical cleaning action of detergent. This creates a mechanism that achieves a complete cleaning effect in a short period of time.

In addition, microwaves have the property of being particularly strongly absorbed by moisture and difficult to absorb by other substances, so they have a leveling effect in which the amount of energy is supplied according to the distribution of moisture content, and this is used for drying dishes. In this case, the leveling effect works from the beginning of the drying process, and especially if some undried parts are left on the bottom of the tableware after the drying process,
Microwaves act intensively on the moisture in this undried area and have the effect of accelerating the drying of this area, thereby achieving the effect of automatically and completely drying the area in a short period of time.

It is well known that microwaves have traditionally been used as cooking energy in microwave ovens. In the present invention, in addition to using microwaves as cooking energy, the cleaning function is improved by using microwaves as new cleaning energy, and furthermore, by using microwaves as energy to accelerate drying, parts that tend to be insufficiently dried, such as water accumulated at the bottom of threads. It also became possible to dry in a sufficiently short time.

At the same time, it has achieved miniaturization and improved cost performance through advanced sharing.

Example I Embodiment 2, which is being used for washing dishes, will be explained with reference to FIG.

1 is the outer case, 2 is the door, 3 is the handle of the RF12, '4 is the cleaning chamber/cooking chamber, 5 is the liquid collecting part configured at the bottom of the cleaning chamber/cooking chamber 4, 6 is the injection pump, and 7 is the large number of An injection table/rotary table equipped with an injection nozzle 8; 9 is a number of magnets provided around the injection table/rotary table 7;
10 is a small wheel that makes the rotation of the injection table/rotary table 7 smooth; 11 is a sliding part that makes the injection table/rotary table 7 rotatable; 12 is a power ring that transmits rotational power to the injection table/rotary table 7. The injection table/rotary table 7 has a magnet [3] corresponding to the magnet 9 and a flat tooth 14, and the flat tooth 14
is meshed with a rotating gear 15 driven by a motor. 16 is a magnetron that oscillates microwaves, 17
18 is a reflecting rotating plate for uniformizing microwave distribution; 19 is a material that efficiently transmits microwaves but does not allow water to pass through, such as polystyrene. 20 is a blower that sucks in outside air, and connects the motor of the injection pump 6, the rotation motor of the injection table/rotary table 7, and the magnetron 1.
6 and ventilation of the cleaning room 4. 21 is a tableware basket,
22 is the tableware in the tableware basket 21, 23 is a water supply pipe, 24 is a water supply solenoid valve, 25 is a water distribution pipe, and 26 is a drainage solenoid valve.

A control section, a detergent supply section, etc., which are not shown, are provided.Next, the operation status of Embodiment I shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

This example is Example (2) in use as a dishwasher. First, detergent is supplied to a detergent supply unit (not shown), the dish basket 21 and tableware 22 are placed in the washing room/cooking room 4, the door 2 is closed, the control unit (not shown) selects dishwashing, and the start button is turned on. Then, the operation starts, and the automatic timer progresses and completes each process of cleaning, rinsing, and drying. Next, to explain the operation status of each process in order, first, in the cleaning process, the water supply solenoid valve 24 opens and the water supply pipe 23 opens.
A fixed amount of water is supplied to the liquid collecting part 5 from the water, and the detergent is dissolved in this water to become a cleaning liquid. It is sprayed onto the tableware 22, and then it collects again in the liquid collecting section 5, and then circulates in the order of liquid collecting section -> tableware -> falling -> liquid collecting part.

After the above-mentioned washing step continues for a while, a rinsing step is started. In the rinsing process, the cleaning liquid is discharged, and the rinsing liquid is injected onto the water-filled tableware 22 supplied from the water supply pipe 23, thereby proceeding with rinsing. Next, when the drying process begins, the water supply, the injection pump 6 and the injection table 7 are stopped, and air drying is performed using an air blower while the drain is left open, and all operations are stopped to complete the washing of the dishes.

Next, the case where Example 2 of FIG. 1 is used for cooking will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. In this case, the cleaning chamber/cooking chamber 4 is used as a cooking chamber, and the injection table/rotary table 7 is used as a rotary table. The tableware basket 21 and the tableware 22 are not present, and the injection pump 6, water supply solenoid valve 24, and drainage solenoid valve 26 are not used. First, place the cooked food 27 on the injection table/rotary table 7, close the door 2, select cooking with the control unit, set the timer, and press the start button.
At N, the magnetron 16, reflective rotary plate 18, blower 20, and rotary table 7 are operated, and the cooked food 27 is cooked in the same way as in a normal microwave oven, and the cooking operation is automatically controlled by a timer. Note that components not numbered in FIG. 2 are the same as in FIG. 1.

In Example I above, the cleaning action is performed only by spraying the cleaning liquid that does not rise in temperature, so it is sufficient when the dishes are lightly soiled, but the cleaning action is not effective when the dishes are left for a long time. It is enough.

Example (2) Example (2) is similar to Example I in FIGS. 1 and 2, but differs from Example R in that in the cleaning step, microwaves are irradiated together with the jet of cleaning liquid. That is, by microwave irradiation in the cleaning process, the water molecules of the cleaning liquid on the surface of the tableware are accelerated in rotational vibration motion, and the temperature is raised to about 60° C., thereby rapidly increasing the cleaning ability. As a result, a sufficient cleaning effect can be exerted even on rice that is difficult to clean, such as cooked rice that has been left for a long time and has changed from alpha starch to beta starch. The rinsing step and drying step in Example (2) are the same as those in Example (2) above. Further, the operating situation when Example 2 is used for cooking is the same as that of Example 1.

Example 2 Example 2 is the same as Example I in FIGS. 1 and 2, but differs from Example I and Example 2 in that in the drying process, forced air drying is performed using a blower and microwave irradiation is performed. That is, in addition to air drying using a blower in the drying process, the water on the surface of the dishes is heated by microwave irradiation.
The drying process is completed in a very short time.

The effects of the above embodiment are as follows.

The first effect is a high function/volume ratio.

If the function/volume ratio of a conventional microwave oven is 1/1 and the same ratio of a conventional dishwasher is 1/1, it would conventionally require 2 volumes to perform both the functions of a microwave oven and a dishwasher. but,
The ratio in the dual-purpose machine of the present invention is approximately 2/L 2, and the volume required to perform both of the above functions is 1. It's only 2. Therefore, it has become possible to implement both functions in many homes where only one of a microwave oven and a dishwasher could be installed due to limited kitchen space.

The second effect is a high function/cost ratio. If the function/cost ratio of a conventional microwave oven and a dishwasher is 1/1, the ratio of the dual-purpose machine of the present invention is approximately 2/1.
It is 1.4. In other words, conventionally, purchasing one microwave oven and one dishwasher required a price of 2.00 yen, but with the dual-purpose machine of the present invention, only 1.40 yen is required.

The first and second effects mentioned above are that the dual-purpose machine of the present invention has much higher volumetric efficiency and cost efficiency than conventional microwave ovens and dishwashers compared to a simple combination of a conventional microwave oven and a dishwasher. This is an eloquent testimony to the fact that it has achieved multiple functions at the same time.

The third effect is an improvement in the dishwashing effect. In other words, in the dual-purpose machine of the present invention, microwaves are irradiated to the cleaning liquid that forms a thin layer that scratches an extremely large surface area on the tableware surface during the cleaning process, so that the microwave energy is efficiently absorbed in the areas most necessary for the cleaning function. The water imparts strong rotational energy to the water molecules in the cleaning solution, so this energy acts efficiently as cleaning energy, and even starchy deposits such as cooked rice that have been left for a long time, which previously tended to be insufficient, can be removed by the water. It cleans by converting it into alpha starch, which is easily dispersed and easily acted on by starch-degrading enzymes, and the chemical cleaning function of the detergent is further enhanced to remove dirt from other protein and fat stains. It is less likely to be left adhering to the surface of the body, and provides extremely good cleaning effects in a short period of time.

The fourth effect is that even in the drying process after washing and rinsing, drying is performed under microwave irradiation, so the absorption of microwave energy is automatically concentrated on the undried areas and absorbed, promoting drying. Efficient and rapid drying is achieved, and moisture accumulated in hard-to-dry areas such as the bottoms of tableware can be completely dried.

The cooking function of the dual-purpose machine of the present invention is required before a meal, and the dishwashing function is required after a meal. Therefore, the dual-purpose machine of the present invention can perform both functions at the same time. Although it can be said that there are some properties that do not exist, this does not cause any disadvantage in practice.

In addition, although the above embodiment describes the case where only microwave is used as the cooking heat source and the control is controlled by timer control, it is also possible to combine other heat sources such as electric heaters as described in the conventional example, or use sensors etc. It is also possible to implement automatic control using the present invention without detracting from the essence of the present invention. Note that Example I, Example ■, and Example ■ can be carried out separately, but they can be carried out as the same body in which normal washing, strong washing, normal drying and rapid drying can be selected in free combinations. It is also possible to implement.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, a dual-purpose space with both cooking and dishwashing functions is configured, and the same space is used as a cooking space and used as a dishwashing space at different times, thereby allowing both cooking and dishwashing to be performed. The space can be reduced to approximately half the volume of a simple combination of both functions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows heating cooking and 4... in one embodiment of the present invention.
Washing room/cooking room, 6... Injection pump, 7... Injection table/rotary table, 8... Injection nozzle, 16...
・Magnetron, 17...Waveguide, 19...Transmission plate, 20...Blower, 23...Water pipe, 25...
・Drainage pipe. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao (1 person) Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) It is partitioned off from the outside by a partition wall or a door, and at least when the door is closed, the leakage of microwaves, cleaning liquid consisting of water and detergent, or water to the outside is almost blocked, and when cooking, A space for accommodating cooked food and for accommodating washed dishes when washing dishes; a microwave supply unit that supplies microwaves to this space; and a cleaning solution consisting of water or water and detergent to the washed dishes accommodated in the space. a liquid feeding section, a liquid draining section that discharges water or cleaning liquid from the space, a cooking function that operates the microwave supply section to heat and cook food in the space, and a cooking function that operates the liquid feeding section to cook the food in the space. A device for both heating cooking and dishwashing, which is equipped with a dishwashing function for washing the dishes inside, and a function selection means for selecting both functions. (2) The cooking and dishwashing device according to claim 1, wherein the dishwashing function is performed by operating at least a liquid feeding section and a microwave supply section. (3) Microwaves or a cleaning solution consisting of water and detergent that is partitioned off from the outside by a partition wall or door, and is supplied inside at least with the door closed, or the leakage of water to the outside is almost completely blocked and cooked food is not heated. A space for accommodating the washed dishes and a microwave supply section for supplying microwaves to this space, and a liquid feeding section for supplying water or a cleaning solution consisting of water and detergent to the washed dishes accommodated in the space. a drain unit that discharges water or cleaning liquid from the space; a blower that ventilates the space; a cooking function that operates at least the microwave supply unit to heat and cook food in the space; and at least the liquid supply unit. and function selection means for selecting both the dishwashing function of operating the microwave supply section to wash the dishes in the space, rinsing, and then operating the microwave supply section and the blower to dry the dishes. A device for both cooking and dishwashing.