JPH07243649A - Steam cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly start a clearing operation after steaming to cook. CONSTITUTION:Water is supplied to a steam generating vessel 15 through a water supply pipe drawn from a water storage tank 13, heated by a heater 17, vaporized, and supplied into a cooking case 12. A branch water supply tube 43 having a cold water supply valve 42 is coupled to a water source, and its end is connected into the vessel 15. After steaming to cook, the valve 42 is opened, cooling water is supplied into the vessel 15 of the state that the heater 17 is interrupted. The vessel 15 is rapidly cooled, and hence can be handled for washing and cleaning. The cooling water supplied into the vessel 15 becomes hot, and the resultant hot water is spouted from a steam injection hole, thereby washing down dirt.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steam cooking apparatus equipped with a steam generating container for heating water by a heater to generate steam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a steam cooking apparatus of this type is shown in FIG. The base 1 is provided with a cup-shaped steam generating container 3 provided with a heater 2, and a water supply pipe 5 for guiding water from a water storage tank 4 is connected thereto via a valve device 5a. On the other hand, a cooking case 6 is provided above the base 1, and a tray 7 containing the food to be steamed and cooked therein is housed therein so that it can be taken in and out, and a large number of steam ejection holes 8 are provided inside the cooking case 6.
A steam supply pipe 8 having a formed therein is arranged. In order to steam-cook food, the heater 2 is energized to heat the steam generating container 3 to a high temperature, and water is supplied from the water storage tank 4 to generate steam, and the steam is supplied to the steam supply pipe 8 It is spouted into the cooking case 6 through.

[0003]

By the way, in this type of steam cooking apparatus for handling foods, it is necessary to carry out sufficient washing / cleaning after cooking so as to always keep it clean. However,
Immediately after cooking, especially around the steam generating container 3 and the cooking case 6 are at a considerably high temperature, and cannot be touched. For this reason, even if the cooking is finished, in order to start cleaning and cleaning, it is necessary to leave it for several hours until the residual heat is cooled, which causes a problem that the post-cleaning work cannot be efficiently performed. It was Further, if the cleaning work is performed after the whole is completely cooled, the dirt will be dried and stuck to various places, which makes it difficult to remove the dirt. For this reason, sometimes it is necessary to separately pour boiling hot water for cleaning, which is also troublesome for cleaning.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems all at once. After steam cooking, the steam cleaning can start the post-cleaning work quickly and efficiently. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a steam cooking apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a steam cooking apparatus in which a cooking chamber containing foodstuffs and water supplied therein are heated by a heater to be vaporized. A steam generator for cooking food in the cooking chamber by supplying steam from the steam generating container to the cooking chamber, and cooling the steam generating container with the heater disconnected after the steam cooking. The feature is that a water supply channel for supplying water is provided.

Further, the steam cooking apparatus according to a second aspect is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, a drainage path for discharging water in the steam generation container is further provided together with a drainage valve.

[0007]

According to the first and second aspects of the invention, water is vaporized by the heater of the steam generating container and supplied into the cooking chamber, and the food material in the cooking chamber is steamed and cooked. After steam cooking, cooling water is supplied from the water supply path into the steam generating container in which the heater is cut off, so that the steam generating container is rapidly cooled and can be handled for cleaning and cleaning. Moreover, immediately after cooking, since the steam generating container has residual heat, the cooling water supplied inside becomes steam and hot water of high temperature and is blown out into the cooking chamber from the steam ejection holes. Therefore, the dirt adhering to the inside of the cooking chamber does not dry and stick to the inside of the cooking chamber, and is washed away by the spouting hot water.

Further, in the structure of claim 2 in which the drainage channel for discharging the water in the steam generating container is provided, when the drainage valve is opened,
The residual water in the steam generating container can be drained through the drainage channel.

[0009]

According to the inventions of claim 1 and claim 2,
Cooling water can be supplied to the steam generation container after cooking, so that the residual heat of the steam generation container, etc. can be quickly removed for immediate cleaning, and dirt can be easily washed off. The effect that the post-cleaning work can be performed efficiently and quickly is obtained. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the above-mentioned effect, it becomes possible to easily drain the water in the steam generation container. Therefore, in particular, by raising and tilting the entire apparatus, the steam generation container Even if it is a large type that cannot spill the wastewater, it is possible to perform the cleaning and cleaning work more efficiently.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a steamer which can be applied to steam cooking of noodles etc. will be described below with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The steamer of this embodiment is roughly divided into a base 11
And a cooking case 12 detachably provided on the upper part of the base 11. A water storage tank 13 is installed on the rear side of the upper surface of the base 11 (on the right side in FIG. 1), and a steam generating container 15 is provided in the center of the base 11. The steam generating container 15 is constructed by embedding a heater 17 in the bottom of a bottomed cylindrical heating pot 16 having an open upper surface, and the upper surface opening is closed by a steam plate 18 in an airtight state via a seal ring 18a. ing. The bottom side of the heating pot 16 is fitted into the mounting hole 11a opened in the upper surface plate of the base 11, and the flange portion 16a on the outer periphery of the upper edge is placed on the opening peripheral edge of the mounting hole 11a via a plurality of spacers 22. It is supported by the floating state. On the upper surface of the steam generating container 15, a case receiving plate 24 in the shape of a square dish having an upward fitting peripheral wall 24a formed on the outer peripheral edge is attached. A drain pipe 24b is attached to the rear portion of the case receiving plate 24, and the drain pipe 2
The tip of 4b faces above the drainage receiving container 25 provided on the base 11, and the drainage flowing out of the cooking case 12 can be discharged to the drainage receiving container 25 through the drain pipe 24b.

The cooking case 12 is in the form of a box with an open lower surface, and the lower end edge of the cooking case 12 is detachably attached to the case receiving plate 24 by fitting it into the fitting peripheral wall 24a. On the front surface (left side surface in FIG. 1) of the cooking case 12, upper and lower entrances 12a are provided, and trays 27 for accommodating foods are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the cooking case 12 from the entrances 12a. (Not shown) can be guided in and out substantially horizontally, and a plurality of steam discharge holes 29 are formed in the rear portion of the upper surface. Cooking case 1
A steam supply pipe 30 is provided in a standing state on the inner side of the accommodation space of the second tray 27. This steam supply pipe 30 is formed by vertically extending a main pipe 31 with three branch pipes 32 positioned so as to sandwich the upper and lower sides of each tray 27 and projecting in a forward branch shape. A cap 33 is removably attached by screwing, and a cap 34 is also removably attached by screwing on the tip of each branch pipe 32.
A plurality of steam ejection holes 36 are formed on the lower surface of the uppermost branch pipe 32, the upper and lower surfaces of the middle branch pipe 32, and the upper surface of the lowermost branch pipe 32. It is designed so that steam can be ejected toward. The lower portion of the steam supply pipe 30 penetrates the case receiving plate 24 described above and is fitted into the through hole 37 formed in the steam plate 18 of the steam generating container 15 so that the space between the through hole 37 and the inner peripheral surface thereof. Seal ring 3
It is sealed at 8.

A water distribution pipe 40 connected to a water source such as a water supply is connected to the upper portion of the water storage tank 13, and water can be supplied into the water storage tank 13 through a valve device 41 provided at the tip of the water distribution pipe 40. ing. This valve device 41 has a float 41a and is opened based on the descent of the float 41a when the water level in the water storage tank 13 drops, whereby the water of a certain water level is automatically stored in the water storage tank 13. You can keep it. Water distribution pipe 40
A branch water supply pipe 43 having a cold water supply valve 42 interposed therein is connected in a branched manner, and the tip of the branch water supply pipe 43 is connected to the heating pot 16 of the steam generation container 15, whereby the water distribution pipe 40 is provided. A water supply path for supplying water from the inside of the steam generating container 15 is configured. Further, a water supply pipe 44 is led out downward from the bottom of the water storage tank 13 and a check valve 45 and a water supply valve 46 are sequentially provided in the middle of the water supply tank 13 so that a tip end of the water supply pipe 44 faces upward. It is connected to the middle part. With this, the water in the water storage tank 13 is supplied to the water supply pipe 44
And, it can be supplied into the steam generation container 15 through a part of the branch water supply pipe 43. Further, the water supply pipe 44
A drain pipe 47 is connected to the portion of the water supply valve 46 closer to the steam generating container 15 in a branched manner, and a drain valve 48 is provided here to connect the tip to a drain passage not shown.

The cold water supply valve 42, the water supply valve 46, and the drainage valve 48 described above are controlled by respective operation switches and relays (not shown), and these electric components are provided in the base 11 in a waterproof manner. It is arranged in the control box 50. The control mode and the configuration therefor will be clarified from the following description. Now, a procedure for steaming and cooking ingredients such as noodles with the steam cooker of the present embodiment will be described. First, the tray 27 containing food ingredients is stored in the cooking case 12, a required steaming time is set in a timer (not shown) provided in the control box 50, and the cooking switch is turned on. Then, first, the heater 17 of the steam generation container 15 is energized to heat the heating pot 16 to a high temperature. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the water supply valve 46 of the water supply pipe 44 is opened next, and the water in the water storage tank 13 is supplied to the heating pot 16 of the steam generation container 15 through the check valve 45 and the water supply valve 46. Will be done. Then, since the heating pot 16 has already been heated to a sufficiently high temperature, water immediately evaporates, and steam passes through the steam supply pipe 30 and spouts from the steam spout holes 36 of each branch pipe 32 into the cooking case 12, As a result, the ingredients are steamed. When water is vaporized in the heating pot 16, the pressure in the steam generation container 15 rises and the water supply pipe 44
Since the check valve 45 is closed, steam does not flow back to the water storage tank 13 side. Also, after the steam used for steam cooking of the food material fills the cooking case 12, the steam discharge hole 29
Is discharged from the aircraft.

When the steam generation as described above is continuously performed to steam the food, and the timer of the control box 50 finishes measuring the set time, the water supply valve 46 is closed and the heater 1 is operated.
7 is cut off. This completes steam cooking,
It suffices to pull out the tray 27 and take out the cooked food. After this, you may want to immediately clean the steamer. However, in the state immediately after cooking, the entire temperature including the steam generation container 15 is still high, and the cooking case 12
The steam supply pipe 30 cannot be touched. Therefore, for example, with the empty tray 27 accommodated in the cooking case 12, the cooling switch provided in the control box 50 is turned on. Then, the cold water supply valve 42 of the branch water supply pipe 43 is opened, so that cold tap water is poured into the steam generation container 15 from the water distribution pipe 40. As a result, the supplied water becomes hot water in the steam generation container 15, flows into the steam supply pipe 30, and is jetted from the steam spout hole 36 into the cooking case 12. Therefore, the steam spout hole 36 of the steam supply pipe 30 is discharged.
Light stains on the periphery of the tray and on the surface of the tray 27 are washed away. At the same time, the steam generation container 15
Since the residual heat is removed from the steam supply pipe 30,
Immediately cool to the touch.

Then, the cooling switch is then turned off to close the cold water supply valve 42 and the main tap of the water, and instead, the drain switch and the water supply switch provided in the control box 50 are also turned on. The drainage valve 48 and the water supply valve 46 of the water supply pipe 44 of the steam generator container 1 are opened.
All the water in 5 and in the water storage tank 13 is discharged to the drainage channel through the drainage pipe 47, and the inside is cleaned. In this state, since the steam generating container 15, the steam supply pipe 30, the cooking case 2 and the like are sufficiently cooled, there is no obstacle in cleaning the inside by removing the cooking case 2, and the cleaning can be started promptly. be able to. Further, since the steam plate 18 portion of the steam generating container 15 is also sufficiently cooled, this is heated by the heating pot 16 to clean the inside.
There is no fear that the seal ring 18a will be cut off when it is removed from. Moreover, as described above, when the cooling switch is turned on, hot water is ejected from the steam ejection holes 36 into the cooking case 12 to wash away light dirt in the surroundings, so that the internal cleaning itself is easy. The post-cleaning work can be completed quickly.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by turning on the cooling switch, the cold water is generated in the steam generating container 15
It can be supplied inside to cool it quickly,
After cooking, there is no need to leave it until it cools down naturally, cleaning can be immediately started, and post-cleaning work can be efficiently performed. Moreover, since the light dirt inside has been washed away by the hot water spouting into the cooking case 2, the cleaning operation itself is easier than the conventional structure where it was necessary to remove the dirt that had dried and stuck.
Cleaning up work becomes more efficient. Further, particularly in the present embodiment, the drain pipe 47 having the drain valve 48 is provided so that the water in the steam generating container 15 or the water storage tank 13 can be drained through the drain pipe 47. There is no water remaining inside and it can always be used hygienically.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This is a steamer of the type that does not use the steam supply pipe 30 as in the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the steam generating container 60, the upper surface opening of the heating pot 61 is covered with a steam plate 62, and the O-rings 63, 6 are provided.
4 is airtightly sealed (heater is provided, but not shown). Steam plate 62
A cylindrical dome-shaped raised portion 65 is provided in the center of the, and a large number of vapor ejection holes 66 are formed in the upper peripheral wall thereof. In addition, a square support plate 67 is provided on the upper surface of the steam plate 62.
Is attached, and the lower edge of the cooking case 69 (shown by the chain double-dashed line) having an open bottom is fitted in the receiving groove 68 formed on the periphery of the receiving groove 68 and is detachably mounted.

A water distribution pipe 71 having a check valve 70 interposed is connected to the heating pot 61, and a cooling water supply passage 73 having a cold water supply valve 72 so as to bypass the check valve 70 is provided. It is provided. This cold water supply valve 7
2 is opened based on the operation of a cooling switch (not shown), and cold water can be supplied into the steam generating container 60 by operating the cooling switch after steam cooking. Therefore, also in this embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the cooling switch can be turned on after cooking to rapidly cool the steam generation container 15, and cleaning can be immediately started. Of course, cooking case 6
Since the light dirt inside can be washed away by the hot water sprayed into the inside 8, the cleaning operation itself can be simplified and the post-cleaning operation becomes more efficient.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that a tray provided in the cooking case can be opened and closed by a damper. It is in. Since the other points are the same as those of the first embodiment, the duplicated description will be omitted and only different points will be described. An entrance / exit 82 is formed on the front surface of the cooking case 81 in two steps, and a peripheral portion of the entrance / exit 82 is bent inward. And the cooking case 81
A hinge 84 is provided above each of the entrances and exits 82 of the inner wall of the door with its rotation axis being horizontal, and a damper 83 slightly larger than the entrance and exit 82 is supported here so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction. . A torsion coil spring (not shown) is attached to the hinge 84, and the damper 83 is attached to the cooking case 8.
The damper 83 is always urged from the inner side of 1 in the closing direction of the inlet / outlet 82 to bring the damper 83 into contact with the peripheral portion of the inlet / outlet 82.

To accommodate the tray 85, the damper 83 may be pushed open by the tip of the tray 85. In this way, the damper 83 is opened against the elastic force of the torsion coil spring, as shown in the upper part of FIG. The tray 85 is accommodated in.
If the tray 85 is pulled out from that state, the damper 8
3 is naturally closed by the elastic force of the torsion coil spring, and the damper 83 closes the entrance / exit 82 as shown in the lower part of the figure. With the configuration of this embodiment, the damper 83 naturally closes the doorway 82 when the tray 85 is pulled out,
Even if hot water is jetted from the steam jet holes 87 of the steam supply pipe 86 by turning on the cooling switch after cooking, there is an advantage that the hot water can be prevented from leaking from the inlet / outlet port 82.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, a timer switch is used to open the cold water supply valve for a predetermined time, or a tray is housed. It is also possible to provide a switch for detecting that the cold water supply valve is opened and to open the cold water supply valve on condition that the tray is not housed. In particular, with the latter configuration, the cold water supply valve may be inadvertently opened when the tray on which the ingredients are placed is stored in the cooking case, and hot water may be sprayed onto the ingredients after cooking. The advantage of being able to reliably prevent such a situation is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Time chart

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a conventional steam cooking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 ... Cooking case (cooking room) 15 ... Steam generating container 1
6 ... Heating pot 17 ... Heater 27 ... Tray 30 ...
Steam supply pipe 36 ... Steam ejection hole 42 ... Cold water supply valve 43 ... Branch water supply pipe (water supply passage) 47 ... Drain pipe (water distribution passage) 48 ... Drain valve

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cooking chamber for accommodating foodstuffs, and a steam generation container for heating water supplied therein by a heater to vaporize the water, and supplying steam from the steam generation container to the cooking chamber. Steam cooking of the foodstuffs in the cooking chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that after the steam cooking, a water supply path for supplying cooling water is provided in the steam generating container in a state where the heater is turned off. apparatus. 2. The steam cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
Furthermore, the steam cooking device is characterized in that a drainage path for discharging the water in the steam generation container is provided together with a drainage valve.