KR20230004389A - Water dispenser and steam generating device and cooking appliance therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a water supply device, a steam supply device and a cooking utensil including the same. The disclosed present invention comprises: a housing installed on the main body of the cooking utensil, having an accommodation space formed therein and having one side in an anteroposterior direction opened toward the outside of the main body; a water tank having a storage space formed therein to store water, having an inlet arranged on a front side to form a path for inputting water into the storage space, and installed on the housing to be able to change the position thereof between an insertion position where the inlet is placed inside the accommodation space, and a withdrawal position where the inlet is exposed outside accommodation space; and a connector installed on the housing to be able to move in an anteroposterior direction inside the accommodation space and changing the position of the water tank to the insertion position or the withdrawal position by moving in an anteroposterior direction. Therefore, provided are a door with an improved structure and a cooking utensil including the same, wherein electromagnetic waves can be shielded stably even if a space where a choke can be installed is small.

Description

Water supply device and steam supply device and cooking device having the same {WATER DISPENSER AND STEAM GENERATING DEVICE AND COOKING APPLIANCE THEREWITH

The present invention relates to a water supply device, a steam supply device having the same, and a cooking appliance, and more particularly, to a water supply device provided to supply water necessary for supplying steam to a cooking chamber such as an oven, and a steam supply having the same. It relates to equipment and cooking appliances.

A cooking appliance is one of home appliances for cooking food and is installed in a kitchen space to cook food according to a user's intention. These cooking appliances can be classified in various ways according to the type of heat source or type used, and the type of fuel.

When cooking appliances are classified according to the type of cooking food, they can be classified into open type and closed type cooking appliances according to the type of space in which food is placed. Closed cooking appliances include ovens and microwave ovens, and open cooking appliances include cooktops and hobs.

An enclosed cooking appliance is a cooking appliance that shields a space where food is located and cooks food by heating the shielded space. The closed type cooking appliance includes a cooking chamber, which is a space in which food is placed and shielded when cooking food. Such a cooking chamber becomes a space in which food is actually cooked.

The closed type cooking appliance is roughly divided into a gas oven and an electric oven according to the type of heat source. The gas oven uses gas as a fuel, and by supplying and igniting the gas to a plurality of burners, the gas is burned and the food is cooked by the flame generated. Unlike the gas oven, the electric oven uses an electric oven. While a plurality of heaters are operated using as a heat source, food is cooked by the heat emitted from the heaters.

The use of electric ovens is increasing because of their faster cooking speed, higher thermal efficiency, and better stability than gas ovens.

In addition, such an electric oven adds an electric component that emits high frequency, such as a magnetron, to enable cooking of various foods, so that food is cooked using high frequency, or heat emitted from a heater and high frequency emitted from an electric component such as a magnetron are added. It is also used together to additionally provide a function of cooking food.

Recently, a steam oven for cooking food using high-temperature steam has been released. The steam oven is an oven equipped with a function of spraying steam into the cooking chamber using high-temperature steam and adjusting the humidity according to the amount of steam. It provides a complex function that maintains the taste and aroma of food by blocking the evaporation of fruit and fragrance.

In general, the steam oven includes a cabinet forming an exterior, a housing disposed inside the cabinet to form a cooking chamber, a door opening and closing a front opening of the cooking chamber, and a steam supply unit supplying steam to the inside of the cooking chamber. provided in the form

In addition, the steam supply unit includes a steam generator for generating steam and a water tank for supplying water to the steam generator. A water supply pipe is connected between the water tank and the steam generator so that water in the water tank can be moved to the steam generator. The steam generator includes a water storage unit accommodating water supplied from the water tank therein, and a heater generating steam by heating water inside the water storage unit.

In the steam oven as described above, water injected through the water tank flows into the water storage unit through the water supply pipe, and the water flowing into the water storage unit is heated by a heater to generate steam, and the generated steam flows into the cooking chamber. Cooking is performed using steam in the form of circulation inside the cooking chamber.

In the steam oven as described above, the water tank is provided in the form of a simple container for storing water. That is, in the conventional steam oven, the water tank simply provides a function of storing and supplying water, but does not provide other functions for improving user convenience.

An object of the present invention is to provide a door having an improved structure and a cooking appliance having the same to provide stable electromagnetic wave shielding performance even when a space in which a choke can be installed is narrow.

A water supply device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a housing installed in a main body of a cooking appliance, having an accommodation space formed therein, and having one side in a front-back direction open to the outside of the main body; A storage space for storing water is formed inside, an inlet is provided to form a passage for injecting water into the storage space, and an insertion position at which the inlet is located inside the accommodating space and the inlet is located in the accommodating space. a water tank installed in the housing so that its position can be changed to a withdrawal position exposed to the outside; and a connector installed on the housing so as to be movable in the front and rear directions within the accommodation space and changing the position of the water tank to an insertion position or a withdrawal position by moving in the forward and backward directions, wherein the connector comprises: A rear frame disposed facing the rear surface of the rear frame and a pair of side frames extending from both ends of the rear frame and disposed facing the side surface of the water tank, wherein movement of the water tank and movement of the connector The coupling between the water tank and the connector is made so as to be interlocked, and the coupling between the water tank and the connector is made in such a way that the rear frame and the pair of side frames surround the rear surface and both sides of the water tank. And, when the position of the water tank is the insertion position, the entire connector is located inside the accommodation space.

In addition, a water supply device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a housing installed in a main body of a cooking appliance, having an accommodation space formed therein, and having a front side open to the outside of the main body; a water tank having a storage space for storing water formed therein and located inside the accommodation space so as to be drawn out of the housing and the main body through the open front side of the housing; and a connector installed on the housing to be movable in the front and rear directions within the accommodation space and changing the position of the water tank by moving in the front and rear directions, wherein the connector is disposed to face the rear surface of the water tank. a rear frame, and a pair of side frames extending from both ends of the rear frame and arranged to face the side surfaces of the water tank, so that the movement of the water tank and the movement of the connector are interlocked. The connection between the tank and the connector is made, and the connection between the water tank and the connector is made in such a way that the rear frame and the pair of side frames surround the rear surface and both sides of the water tank, and the water tank When positioned inside the accommodation space, the connector is provided so as not to be exposed to the outside of the main body.

In addition, a steam supply device according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a steam generator configured to generate steam by heating water; a water supply device supplying water supplied to the steam generator; and a connection pipe connecting the water supply device and the steam generator so that a passage through which water supplied from the water supply device moves to the steam generator is formed, wherein the water supply device is installed in the main body of the cooking appliance. a housing having an accommodation space formed therein and having one side in the front-back direction open to the outside of the main body; A storage space for storing water is formed inside, an inlet is provided to form a passage for injecting water into the storage space, and an insertion position at which the inlet is located inside the accommodating space and the inlet is located in the accommodating space. a water tank installed in the housing so that its position can be changed to a withdrawal position exposed to the outside; and a connector installed on the housing so as to be movable in the front and rear directions within the accommodation space and changing the position of the water tank to an insertion position or a withdrawal position by moving in the forward and backward directions, wherein the connector comprises: A rear frame disposed facing the rear surface of the rear frame and a pair of side frames extending from both ends of the rear frame and disposed facing the side surface of the water tank, wherein movement of the water tank and movement of the connector The coupling between the water tank and the connector is made so as to be interlocked, and the coupling between the water tank and the connector is made in such a way that the rear frame and the pair of side frames surround the rear surface and both sides of the water tank. And, when the position of the water tank is the insertion position, the entire connector is located inside the accommodation space.

In addition, a cooking appliance according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a main body having a cooking chamber therein; and a steam supply device installed in the main body to supply steam to the inside of the cooking chamber, wherein the steam supply device includes: a steam generator configured to generate steam by heating water; a water supply device supplying water supplied to the steam generator; and a connection pipe connecting the water supply device and the steam generator so that a passage through which water supplied from the water supply device moves to the steam generator is formed, wherein the water supply device is installed in the main body of the cooking appliance. a housing having an accommodation space formed therein and having one side in the front-back direction open to the outside of the main body; A storage space for storing water is formed inside, an inlet for forming a passage for injecting water into the storage space is provided on the front side, and an insertion position where the inlet is located inside the accommodation space and the inlet a water tank installed in the housing so that its position can be changed to a withdrawal position exposed to the outside of the accommodation space; and a connector installed on the housing so as to be movable in the front and rear directions within the accommodation space and changing the position of the water tank to an insertion position or a withdrawal position by moving in the forward and backward directions, wherein the connector comprises: A rear frame disposed facing the rear surface of the rear frame and a pair of side frames extending from both ends of the rear frame and disposed facing the side surface of the water tank, wherein movement of the water tank and movement of the connector The coupling between the water tank and the connector is made so as to be interlocked, and the coupling between the water tank and the connector is made in such a way that the rear frame and the pair of side frames surround the rear surface and both sides of the water tank. And, when the position of the water tank is the insertion position, the entire connector is located inside the accommodation space.

Through the configuration as described above, the function to fix or withdraw the water tank inside the main body with a simple press operation, effectively block the inflow of foreign substances into the water tank, and easily and conveniently dispense water without additional manipulation to open and close the inlet. Various functions, such as the function to inject into the tank, the function to control the operation of the steam supply device according to the location of the water tank, and the sensitivity function to ensure smooth withdrawal of the water tank, can be combined into one water supply device. This can be implemented through, thereby providing improved usability to the user.

In addition, a water supply device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a housing installed in a main body of a cooking appliance, having an accommodation space formed therein, and having one side in a front-back direction open to the outside of the main body; A storage space for storing water is formed inside, an inlet for forming a passage for injecting water into the storage space is provided on the front side, and an insertion position where the inlet is located inside the accommodation space and the inlet a water tank installed in the housing so that its position can be changed to a withdrawal position exposed to the outside of the accommodation space; a connector installed on the housing so as to be movable in the front and rear directions within the accommodation space and moving in the front and rear directions to change the position of the water tank to an insertion position or a withdrawal position; and a power generating unit configured to provide power for moving the water tank toward the withdrawal position, wherein the housing is coupled to the connector when the water tank is positioned at the insertion position, and the connector and the water tank A fixing unit is installed to fix the position of the power generator, and the power generating unit is installed so that one side is coupled to the housing and the other side is coupled to the connector, and when the connector moves backward, the distance between one side and the other side increases while moving the connector forward. and an elastic member that generates an elastic force in a direction moving in a direction, and the connector includes a structure for movably coupling the water tank to the housing and a structure for connecting the other side of the elastic member to the connector. and a fixing protrusion coupled to the fixing part so that the connector and the water tank are fixed in position when the water tank is positioned at the insertion position, wherein the water tank is configured to prevent the movement of the water tank and the connector It is coupled to the connector so that the movement is interlocked, and is detachably coupled to the connector so that the connector and the housing can be separated.

Preferably, the water tank is detachably coupled to the connector so that the connector and the housing can be separated from each other.

Accordingly, manufacturability can be improved while manufacturing cost is lowered, difficulty and repair cost of repair work can be lowered, and removal of the water tank for cleaning or repair can be performed easily and quickly.

In addition, the present invention further includes an insertion detection unit for detecting whether the position of the water tank is the insertion position, wherein the water tank forms a passage for the water stored in the storage space to move to the outside of the water tank, A water tank nozzle protrudes from the rear side of the water tank, and a tube supporter is installed in the housing to connect the water tank nozzle to the connection pipe by being detachably coupled to the water tank nozzle, and the water tank The nozzle is coupled to the tube supporter when the water tank is located at the insertion position, the insertion detection unit is in contact with the water tank to detect that the water tank is located at the insertion position, and the steam generator unit, Preferably, the insertion detection unit operates only when it detects that the water tank is located at the insertion position.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent unnecessary operation of the steam heater in a state in which water is not supplied, and thus, waste of power due to unnecessary operation of the steam heater and safety accidents due to overheating of the steam heater can be prevented in advance.

According to the water supply device of the present invention, the steam supply device and the cooking appliance including the same, the function of fixing or withdrawing the water tank inside the main body with a simple pressing operation, and opening and closing the inlet while effectively blocking the inflow of foreign substances into the water tank Function to easily and conveniently inject water into the water tank without additional manipulation for water tank, function to control the operation of the steam supply device according to the location of the water tank, sensitivity to smoothly withdraw the water tank By enabling various functions, such as functions, to be implemented through one water supply device, there is an advantage in providing improved usability to the user.

In addition, the present invention is provided as a separate part that can be detachably coupled to the water tank and the connector, and the water tank is movably installed in the housing through the connector, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while improving manufacturability and repair Not only can the difficulty of work and repair cost be lowered, but also the water tank removal work for cleaning or repair can be performed easily and quickly.

In addition, since the present invention can block unnecessary operation of the steam heater in a state in which water is not supplied, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of safety accidents due to waste of power and overheating of the steam heater due to unnecessary operation of the steam heater in advance. provides the effect of

1 is a side cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing a water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a water tank withdrawal state of the water supply device shown in FIG. 2;
4 is an exploded perspective view showing an exploded state of the water supply device shown in FIG. 2;
5 is a perspective view of the water tank shown in FIG. 2;
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line “AA” of FIG. 5 .
FIG. 7 is a view showing an open state of an inlet of the opening/closing holder shown in FIG. 6 .
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line “BB” of FIG. 5 .
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line “CC” of FIG. 5 .
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure between a water tank and a connector shown in FIG. 9 .
11 is a side view showing the internal structure of the water supply device shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of part "D" of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of part "E" of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of part "F" of FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of part "G" of FIG. 11;
FIG. 16 is a side view showing a water tank withdrawal state of the water supply device shown in FIG. 11;

Hereinafter, embodiments of a door and a cooking appliance including the door according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of description, thicknesses of lines or sizes of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or custom of a user or operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms will have to be made based on the content throughout this specification.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a water supply device according to the present invention, a steam supply device including the same, and a cooking appliance will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of description, thicknesses of lines or sizes of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or custom of a user or operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms will have to be made based on the content throughout this specification.

[Structure of cooking equipment]

1 is a side cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, and 2 is a perspective view showing a water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention has an exterior formed by a body 10 . Hereinafter, a case in which the main body 10 is an enclosed cooking appliance such as an oven will be described as an example.

The main body 10 may be provided in a shape including a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is formed of a material having a predetermined strength in order to protect a plurality of parts installed in the internal space. In the inner space of the main body 10, a cooking chamber 11 providing a space for cooking food is located.

The cooking chamber 11 is formed in the shape of a hexahedron with a front surface open, and in a state where the cooking chamber 11 is shielded, the inner space of the cooking chamber 11 is heated to cook food. That is, in the cooking appliance of this embodiment, the inner space of the cooking chamber 11 is a space in which food is actually cooked.

A convection unit 15 for heating the inner space of the cooking chamber 11 by convection of hot air may be provided at the rear of the cooking chamber 11, and the inner space of the cooking chamber 11 may be provided on the upper side of the cooking chamber 11 from the upper side. An upper heater for heating may be provided. In addition, a lower heater for heating the inner space of the cooking chamber 11 from the lower side may be further provided on the lower side of the cooking chamber 11 .

A door 12 for selectively opening and closing the cooking chamber 11 is rotatably provided in the main body 10 . As an example, the door 12 may open and close the cooking chamber 11 in a pull-down manner in which an upper end of the door 12 rotates up and down around the lower end. The door 12 is formed in the shape of a hexahedron having a predetermined thickness as a whole, and a handle 13 may be installed on the front surface thereof to hold the door 12 when the user wants to rotate it.

A steam supply device 20 may be further provided inside the main body 10 . The steam supply device 20 is installed inside the main body 10 to supply steam to the inside of the cooking chamber 11, and includes a steam generator 21, a water supply device 200, and a connection pipe 25 ) can be made including.

The steam generating unit 21 is configured to generate steam by heating water, and in this embodiment, the steam generating unit 21 is located on the lower side of the main body 10 so as to be located at the lower part of the cooking chamber 11. It is exemplified by being installed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the installation position of the steam generating unit 21 is any position optimized in consideration of the detailed configuration of the steam generating unit 21, the structure of the cooking chamber 11, and the resulting steam supply efficiency. can also be selected.

The steam generator 21 generates steam by heating the water storage tank 22 that receives water supplied from the water supply device 200 through the connection pipe 25 and the water stored in the water storage tank 22. It may be configured to include a steam heater 23 that generates.

And the water supply device 200 is provided to store and supply water to be supplied to the steam generator 21 . In this embodiment, the water supply device 200 is illustrated as being installed on the upper side of the main body 10 so as to be located on the upper side of the cooking chamber 11 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the installation position of the water supply device 200 is less affected by heat inside the cooking chamber 11 in a high temperature state, and the withdrawal of the water tank 220 to be described later is easy, and the steam generator Any location selected so that the water supply to (21) can be made smoothly.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the water supply device 200 includes a housing 210 installed in the main body 10, a water tank 220 installed in the housing 210, and a water tank 220. It may be made including a connector 230 for coupling to the housing 210 to be retractable. A detailed description of components constituting the water supply device 200 will be described later.

The connection pipe 25 connects the water supply device 200 and the steam generator 21 so that a passage through which water supplied from the water supply device 200 moves to the steam generator 21 is formed. The connection pipe 25 may be provided in the form of a flexible tube or a pipe made of metal. In addition, the connection pipe 25 is connected to the steam generator 21 by bypassing the cooking chamber 11 from the water supply device 200, and the steam generator 21 is connected to the steam generator 21 through a path bypassing the rear side of the cooking chamber 11. It may be connected to, or it may be connected to the steam generator 21 through a bypass path to the side of the cooking chamber 11.

In the cooking appliance of the present embodiment having the configuration described above, water supplied from the water supply device 200 flows into the water storage tank 22 through the connection pipe 25, and the water flowing into the water storage tank 22 Steam is generated by being heated by the steam heater 23, and the steam generated in this way is introduced into the cooking chamber 11 and circulated inside the cooking chamber 11, so that cooking is performed using steam.

At this time, the supply of water from the water supply device 200 may be performed by a force due to a difference in height or pressure between the water supply device 200 and the water storage tank 22, or the water storage tank 22 or the connection pipe 25 ) may be made by the power of a pump (not shown) installed on the side.

[Overall configuration of water supply device]

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a water tank withdrawal state of the water supply device shown in FIG. 2 , and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an exploded state of the water supply device shown in FIG. 2 .

2 to 4, the water supply device 200 of this embodiment may include a housing 210, a water tank 220, and a connector 230.

The housing 210 is installed on the main body 10 of the cooking appliance and is provided in a box shape with an accommodation space formed therein. The housing 210 serves as a coupling medium for coupling the water supply device 200 to the main body 10, while forming a skeleton for accommodating and installing various components constituting the water supply device 200.

In this embodiment, the housing 210 is illustrated as being formed in the shape of a hexahedral box having an accommodation space therein. One side of the housing 210 in the front and rear direction, that is, the front side of the housing 210, is formed to be open so that the accommodation space formed therein can be opened to the outside of the main body 10. The accommodation space inside the housing 210 is formed as a space for accommodating a water tank 220, which will be described later, and the open front side of the housing 210 has a water tank 220 installed inside the housing 210, and the main body 10 ) becomes a passage for withdrawal to the outside.

An upper surface of the housing 210 in which the water tank 220 is accommodated may be provided with a mounting portion 213 capable of mounting a predetermined configuration. Although not shown, for example, since the mounting part 213 is disposed adjacent to the water tank at the top of the water tank, a predetermined part related to the water tank may be installed on the mounting part 213.

The water tank 220 is provided to store water and supply the stored water to the steam generator 21 (see FIG. 1), and a storage space for storing water is formed inside the water tank 220. .

In this embodiment, the water tank 220 is illustrated as being formed in the shape of a hexahedral box corresponding to the shape of the accommodation space inside the housing 210 . An inlet 221 forming a passage for injecting water into the storage space from the outside of the water tank 220 is provided at the upper part of the water tank 220, and the inlet 221 is the upper surface of the water tank 220. It is formed to pass through, and is disposed so as to be located on the front side of the water tank 220.

The water tank 220 is installed inside the housing 210 and is movable in the forward and backward directions. The water tank 220 is installed inside the water tank 220 so that the entire area of the water tank 220 can be located in the accommodation space inside the housing 210, and the front side of the housing 210 is opened. It may be drawn out of the housing 210 and the main body 10 through.

That is, the water tank 220 is installed in the housing 210 so that the position can be changed between an insertion position and a withdrawal position. In this embodiment, the insertion position is such that the entire area of the water tank 220 is accommodated inside the housing 210 so that the inlet 221 formed on the front side of the water tank 220 is located inside the accommodation space of the housing 210. It is defined as a position inserted into the space, and a withdrawal position is defined as a position where the water tank 220 is moved to the front side so that the inlet 221 is exposed to the accommodation space of the housing 210 and the outside of the main body 10. .

The connector 230 is provided to movably couple the water tank 220 to the housing 210 . The connector 230 is installed in the housing 210 so as to be movable in the forward and backward directions within the accommodation space, and moves in the forward and backward directions to change the position of the water tank 220 to an insertion position or a withdrawal position. . As shown in FIG. 4, both sides of the bottom of the housing 210 are provided with curved shapes extending in the forward and backward directions. can be a guide

The connector 230 includes a structure for movably coupling the water tank 220 to the housing 210, a part that provides power to move the water tank 220, and a location of the water tank 220 into the housing. A structure for connecting parts and the like for fixing in 210 is provided.

That is, the water supply device 200 of the present embodiment includes a structure for movably coupling the water tank 220 to the housing 210 (for example, the sliding protrusion 233), and power for moving the water tank 220. Structures for connecting parts (for example, the power generator 250), parts for fixing the position of the water tank 220 in the housing 210 (for example, the fixing part 270), etc. are connected to the water tank. It is not provided in a form directly provided to the water tank 220, and these structures are provided on the connector 230 provided as a separate part from the water tank 220, and the water tank 220 is coupled to the connector 230 so that water The tank 220 is provided in such a way that it indirectly includes the above structures through the connector 230 .

When the structures as described above are directly provided on the water tank 220, the shape and structure of the water tank 220 become too complicated, which makes manufacturing difficult and increases manufacturing cost. In addition, the water tank 220 If the connection part between the part and other parts is damaged, an unreasonable situation arises in which not only the corresponding part but also the water tank 220 must be replaced.

In addition, when the water tank 220 provided in the form of directly including the above structures is installed in the housing 210, the water tank 220 and other parts are complicatedly connected to each other for cleaning or repairing. There is a problem that it is very difficult to remove the 220 from the housing 210.

In order to solve this problem, in the present embodiment, a configuration for storing water like the water tank 220 and a configuration for movably installing the water tank 220 to the housing 210 like the connector 230 are provided. The water tanks 220 are separately provided, and the water tanks 220 are movably installed in the housing 210 through coupling with the connector 230 movably installed in the housing 210, and the water tanks 220 are provided in separate configurations. ) And a configuration in which the connector 230 is detachably coupled to each other is provided.

According to this, it is possible to improve manufacturability and lower manufacturing cost by separately manufacturing the two components, which may have excessively complex shapes and structures when formed integrally, and by separating components with a high risk of structural damage, such as the connector 230, Not only can the difficulty and cost of repair work be reduced, but also the work of removing the water tank 220 from the housing 210 for cleaning or repair can be performed very easily and quickly.

In addition, the water supply device 200 of this embodiment may further include a power generating unit 250, a damper 260, a fixing unit 270, and an insertion detection unit 280.

The power generator 250 is connected to the connector 230 and is provided to provide power for moving the water tank 220 toward the insertion position, and the damper 260 is the connector 230 for moving the water tank 220 It is provided to prevent the movement of In addition, the fixing part 270 is provided to fix the positions of the connector 230 and the water tank 220 by being coupled with the connector 230 when the water tank 220 is positioned at the insertion position, and the insertion detection unit 280 ) is provided to detect whether the position of the water tank 220 is an insertion position.

A detailed description of the configuration and operation of the power generator 250, the damper 260, the fixing unit 270, and the insertion detection unit 280 will be described later.

[Structure of water tank]

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the water tank shown in FIG. 2 , and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line “A-A” of FIG. 5 . In addition, FIG. 7 is a view showing an opening state of the inlet of the opening/closing holder shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line “B-B” in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the water tank 220 of this embodiment includes a lower tank part 220a and an upper tank part 220b.

The lower tank portion 220a is formed in a box shape with an open top, and the upper tank portion 220b is coupled to the upper portion of the lower tank portion 220a to cover the open upper portion of the lower tank portion 220a. . A storage space for storing water is formed inside the lower tank 220a constituting the lower part of the water tank 220, and the upper tank 220b covering the open top of the lower tank 220a is It forms the upper surface of the tank 220. In addition, a packing part 220c made of a silicon rubber material formed in a square shape is interposed between the lower tank part 220a and the upper tank part 220b, and the lower tank part 220a and the upper tank part 220b are coupled. seal the

According to the present embodiment, the water tank 220 formed by combining the lower tank part 220a and the upper tank part 220b as described above is provided in the form of a hexahedral box, and the rear surface and Edges connecting the sides are formed in a curved shape.

Further, protruding coupling portions 225 are formed on the lower surface of the lower tank portion 220a and the upper surface of the upper tank portion 220b, respectively. These protruding coupling portions 225 connect the rear and side surfaces of the water tank 220. It is formed to protrude in the direction of a plane from the edge of the curved shape to be connected.

The protruding coupling portion 225 formed as described above is provided for coupling between the water tank 220 and the connector 230, and the water tank 220 connects to the connector 230 through the protruding coupling portion 225. As a result, the water tank 220 and the connector 230 are coupled so that the movement of the water tank 220 and the movement of the connector 230 are interlocked. In addition, the coupling between the water tank 220 and the connector 230 is made so that the water tank 220 can be separated from the connector 230 and the housing 210 as needed, which will be described in detail later. do.

The water tank 220 formed as described above is movably installed in the housing 210 and is installed in the main body 10 through this, and is installed so that it can be drawn out of the main body 10 as needed. The water tank 220 may be installed so that its front surface is exposed not only to the outside of the housing 210 but also to the outside of the main body 10, and in this way, the water tank ( A decorative panel 227 may be attached to the front surface of 220. Preferably, the decorative panel 227 is made of a material and color capable of providing a sense of unity with the outer case constituting the exterior of the main body 10, thereby contributing to maintaining the aesthetics of the entire product.

In addition, a water level display window w may be provided on the front side of the water tank 220 and on a part of the decorative panel 227 attached thereto. The water level display window (w) is provided so that the user can check the water level stored in the water tank 220 from the outside of the water tank 220 and the main body 10, and the front surface and decorative panel of the water tank 220 After forming a through hole in a part of 227, it may be formed in the form of attaching a transparent cover.

On the upper surface of the water tank 220 provided by the upper tank portion 220b, an inlet 221, which is a passage for injecting water from the outside of the water tank 220 into the storage space, is formed to pass through. An opening/closing holder 223 for opening/closing the inlet 221 is installed in the water tank 220 where 221 is formed.

4 to 6, the opening/closing holder 223 is installed in the water tank 220 so as to be located at the bottom of the inlet 221, and is rotatably installed in the water tank 220 so that the inlet 221 It is provided in the form of opening and closing. In this embodiment, the opening/closing holder 223 is exemplified as comprising a cover portion 223a, an extension portion 223c, and a hinge portion 223b.

The cover portion 223a is provided to cover the lower portion of the inlet 221, is formed in the form of a plate having an area capable of covering the inlet 221, and is disposed below the inlet 221.

In addition, the extension part 223c is a part extending from the cover part 223a, and the hinge part 223b, which is a coupling part between the opening and closing holder 223 and the water tank 220, is interposed between the cover part 223a and the inlet. It is a part extending to the part facing the outside of (221). Further, the hinge part 223b corresponds to a part that rotatably couples the open/close holder 223 to the water tank 220 between the cover part 223a and the extension part 223c.

According to the present embodiment, the extension part 223c is arranged to be positioned at the lower part of the upper tank part 220b in which the inlet 221 is formed, like the cover part 223a, and the extension part 223c has an opening and closing holder ( 223) is formed with a weight portion providing weight such that the center of gravity is biased toward the extension portion 223c.

That is, the opening/closing holder 223 is rotated in the “closing direction” in which the cover part 223a rises and the extension part 223c descends (hereinafter referred to as “closing direction”) or vice versa, the cover part 223a descends and the extension part 223c moves down. It is installed on the water tank 220 so that it can be rotated in an upward direction (hereinafter referred to as "open direction"), and its center of gravity is biased toward the extension part 223c.

According to the present embodiment, the inlet 221 is formed to be positioned below the upper surface of the water tank 220 formed by the upper tank portion 220b, and the upper portion of the water tank 220 is located around the inlet 221. An inclined surface 222 connecting the surface and the inlet 221 at an angle is formed. The inclined surface 222 is formed in the form of an inclined partition wall surrounding the inlet 221, and water introduced from the outside of the water tank 220 to the inlet 221 flows into the inlet 221 along the inclined surface 222. It can be. In addition, an accommodation space is formed at the bottom of the inclined surface 222 to provide a space for the extension part 223c and the weight part to move upward when the opening/closing holder 223 is rotated in the opening direction.

The opening/closing holder 223 is installed to be disposed lower than the inclined surface 222, and since its center of gravity is biased towards the extension part 223c, it always receives a force to rotate in the closing direction. Further, the opening/closing holder 223 rotated in the closing direction interferes with the lower end of the inclined surface 222 located thereon to close the inlet 221 while further rotation is restricted.

When the user wants to replenish water in the water tank 220 by pouring water into the inlet 221, as shown in FIG. The cover portion 223a of 223 is pressed, and a force for rotating the opening/closing holder 223 in the opening direction by the weight of water pressing the cover portion 223a is acted upon by the opening/closing holder 223. Accordingly, the inlet 221 is opened as the opening/closing holder 223 rotates in the opening direction, and water can be injected into the storage space of the water tank 220 through the inlet 221 opened in this way.

And when the replenishment of water is completed and the water input is stopped, as shown in FIG. 6, the opening/closing holder 223 rotates again in the closing direction to close the inlet 221, so that water is stored in the water tank 220. While in the water tank 220, the inflow of foreign substances into the water tank 220 is blocked.

The weight of the weight portion provided in the opening/closing holder 223 operating as described above can induce rotation of the opening/closing holder 223 in the closing direction to the extent that the opening/closing holder 223 can stably close the inlet 221. It is preferable that the weight be such that the opening/closing holder 223 can smoothly rotate in the opening direction by the weight of the water injected into the inlet 221 when water is injected into the inlet 221.

8 illustrates the configuration of the water tank nozzle 224, which is a configuration for moving the water stored inside the water tank 220 to the outside as described above.

The water tank nozzle 224 forms a passage for the water stored in the storage space inside the water tank 220 to move to the outside of the water tank 220, and at least a portion protrudes toward the rear of the water tank 220. formed to be

In this embodiment, the water tank nozzle 224 is formed in the form of a hard tube in which a portion inserted into the water tank 220 and a portion protruding outward of the water tank 220 form a """ shape and are connected. exemplified by being That is, a hollow is formed inside the water tank nozzle 224 to form a passage for the water stored in the storage space inside the water tank 220 to move to the outside of the water tank 220, and the lower side of the water tank nozzle 224 The end is open so that the hollow of the water tank nozzle 224 communicates with the outside of the water tank nozzle 224 .

The lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 inserted into the water tank 220 is installed adjacent to the bottom surface of the water tank 220, and the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 and the water tank 220 The interval between the bottom surfaces of the water tank nozzle 224 is preferably formed as narrow as possible within a range in which water can be introduced through the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 .

A gap between the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 and the bottom surface of the water tank 220 may be set and maintained by a protrusion 224a protruding from the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 . According to this, the protrusion 224a is formed to protrude from the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 toward the bottom surface of the water tank 220, and the protrusion 224a formed in this way is formed to protrude from the bottom surface of the water tank 220. Interference serves to separate the opened lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 from the bottom surface of the water tank 220 . Accordingly, the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 can maintain a distance from the bottom surface of the water tank 220 corresponding to the height of the protrusion 224a protruding from the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224. In addition, in the area where the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 is located on the bottom surface of the water tank 220, that is, in a part of the area that interferes with the protrusion 224a, the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224 is the water tank 220. ), it may be formed to be more concave downward than other areas of the bottom surface of the water tank 220 so that it can be installed to be positioned at a lower portion of the inside of the water tank 220. As a result, the lower end of the water tank nozzle 224, through which water flows into the water tank nozzle 224, can be located at a height close to the bottom surface of the water tank 220, so that the water through the water tank nozzle 224 Movement can be made more smoothly.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 , the outer protruding portion of the water tank nozzle 224 is formed to protrude toward the rear side of the water tank 220 toward the rear side of the housing 210 . Further, a tube supporter 240 for detachably coupled with the water tank nozzle 224 is installed on the rear side of the housing 210 .

The tube supporter 240 is installed on the rear side of the housing 210 and is formed so that one side facing the water tank 220 penetrates the housing 210 and is exposed to the water tank 220 side. One side of the tube supporter 240 is detachably coupled to the water tank nozzle 224, and the other side of the tube supporter 240 is connected to the connection pipe 25, and the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 ) are connected to each other via a connection with the tube supporter 240.

In addition, a packing gasket 245 may be further provided in the tube supporter 240, and the packing gasket 245 seals between the water tank nozzle 224 and the tube supporter 240 so that the water tank nozzle 224 and It is provided with a configuration for preventing leakage between the tube supporters 240.

The water tank nozzle 224 is coupled to the tube supporter 240 when the water tank 220 is positioned at the insertion position, and when the water tank nozzle 224 is coupled to the tube supporter 240, the water tank nozzle 224 ) and the connection pipe 25 are connected to each other, and water can be supplied to the steam generator 21.

When the water tank 220 is moved to the withdrawal position, the coupling between the water tank nozzle 224 and the tube supporter 240 is released, and accordingly, the connection between the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 is released, and steam is released. Water supply to the generator 21 is stopped.

An opening 215 may be formed in the housing 210 in which the water tank 220 configured as described above is installed. As shown, the opening 215 is formed to pass through the upper surface of the housing 210, and the accommodation space inside the housing 210 and a part of the water tank 220 inserted into the housing 210 pass through the opening 215. It is exposed to the top of the housing 210 through. As shown, the opening 215 is disposed biased toward the other side of the housing 210 in the front-back direction, that is, the rear side of the housing 210. Components disposed on the rear side of the housing 210, for example, components such as the external protruding part of the water tank nozzle 224, the tube supporter 240, the packing gasket 245, and the fixing part 270 are also described above. It is obvious that it is exposed to the top of the housing 210 through the opening 215 .

Since the components or the water tank are exposed through the opening 215, it is checked whether the components are properly installed and whether the connection between the water tank nozzle 224 and the tube supporter 240 is properly made. , In case of wear or damage of components such as the fixing part 270, it is possible to more easily repair or replace them.

Meanwhile, as shown, in the embodiment of the present invention, a structure in which a part of the side of the housing is opened is exemplified, but the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the side of the housing does not necessarily have to be open.

[Connection structure of water tank and connector]

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line “C-C” of FIG. 5, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure between a water tank and a connector shown in FIG.

4 and 9, as described above, protruding coupling portions 225 are formed on the lower surface of the lower tank portion 220a and the upper surface of the upper tank portion 220b, respectively. These protruding coupling portions ( 225 is formed to protrude in a plane direction from a corner of a curved shape connecting the rear and side surfaces of the water tank 220 .

The connector 230 is provided to movably couple the water tank 220 to the housing 210 and includes a rear frame 230a and a side frame 230b. Among them, the rear frame 230a is a frame disposed to face the rear surface of the water tank 220, and the side frame 230b extends from both ends of the rear frame 230a to face the side surface of the water tank 220. It corresponds to the frame in which it is placed. In this embodiment, the connector 230 is illustrated as being formed in a form in which a rear frame 230a and a pair of side frames 230b form a "c" shape and are connected. In addition, when the connector 230 is coupled with the water tank 220, the rear frame 230a is in close contact with the rear surface of the water tank 220 and each side frame 230b is in close contact with the side surface of the water tank 220. It is desirable to be formed in a form that can be.

According to this embodiment, the water tank 220 is coupled to the connector 230 so that the movement of the water tank 220 and the movement of the connector 230 are interlocked, and the connector 230 and the housing 210 It is detachably coupled to the connector 230 to enable separation of the. Hereinafter, a detachable coupling structure between the water tank 220 and the connector 230 will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 9, and 10, at the inner edge of the connector 230 to which the rear frame 230a and the side frame 230b are connected, a support rib 231 protruding inward of the connector 230. ) is formed. On the upper and lower surfaces of the support rib 231, the rib coupling portion 231a provides a coupling surface with the water tank 220, more specifically, the protruding coupling portion 225 formed to protrude from the water tank 220. ) are formed, respectively.

Meanwhile, the protruding coupling part 225 formed on the lower and upper surfaces of the water tank 220, that is, the protruding coupling part 225 formed on the lower surface of the lower tank part 220a and the upper surface of the upper tank part 220b The protruding coupling portion 225 formed in is formed at an interval corresponding to the interval between the rib coupling portion 231a formed on the lower surface of the support rib 231 and the rib coupling portion 231a formed on the upper surface of the support rib 231. are placed apart from each other.

In addition, on the surface facing the rib coupling portion 231a of the protruding coupling portion 225, a coupling protrusion 226 is formed to protrude. In addition, a fitting groove 231b into which the coupling protrusion 226 is fitted is concavely formed on the surface facing the protruding coupling portion 225 of the support rib 231, that is, the rib coupling portion 231a.

The coupling between the water tank 220 having the above configuration and the connector 230 may be performed as follows.

To insert the water tank 220 into the inner space of the connector 230 surrounded by the rear frame 230a and the side frame 230b, the water tank 220 is inserted into the connector 230 through the open front side of the connector 230. When pushed into the inner space of the water tank 220, the water tank 220 and the connector 230 are coupled in a form in which the connector 230 surrounds the rear and both sides of the water tank 220 in a “c” shape.

At this time, when the water tank 220 is pushed into the inner space of the connector 230 until the rear surface of the water tank 220 touches the rear frame 230a, the coupling between the protruding coupling part 225 and the support rib 231 occurs. this is done The coupling between the protruding coupling portion 225 and the support rib 231 is in the form of the support rib 231 being inserted into the space between the protruding coupling portion 225 provided on the lower and upper surfaces of the water tank 220, respectively. At this time, the protruding coupling portion 225 and the rib coupling portion 231a are in close contact with each other so that surface contact is made, and the coupling protrusion 226 is fitted into the fitting groove 231b and coupled to the protruding coupling portion 225 and Detachable coupling between the support ribs 231 is achieved.

According to this, the detachable coupling between the protruding coupling portion 225 and the support rib 231 is made by fitting coupling between the coupling protrusion 226 and the fitting groove 231b. At this time, it is preferable that the contact surface of the coupling protrusion 226 in contact with the support rib 231 is rounded so that sliding on the protruding coupling portion 225 and separation from the fitting groove 231b can be made smoothly. .

Through the detachable coupling between the protruding coupling portion 225 and the support rib 231 as described above, a detachable coupling structure between the water tank 220 and the connector 230 can be provided. In addition, due to the detachable coupling structure between the water tank 220 and the connector 230 provided as described above, the water tank 220 can be easily and quickly detached from the connector 230 and the housing 210 when necessary, and thus cleaning. The operation of removing the water tank 220 from the housing 210 for repair or the like can be performed very easily and quickly.

[Movement structure of water tank and connector]

11 is a side view showing the internal structure of the water supply device shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an enlarged portion “D” of FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is an enlarged portion “E” of FIG. It is a perspective view shown.

4 and 11 , sliding protrusions 233 are provided on each side frame 230b of the connector 230, and sliding rails 211 are formed on each side of the housing 210, respectively.

Each sliding protrusion 233 is provided on the side frame 230b, and is formed to protrude toward the side of the housing 210 facing the side frame 230b, and a sliding rail formed on the side of the housing 210 ( 211) is formed to protrude enough to be inserted into.

In addition, each sliding rail 211 is formed to extend in the front-back direction on each side of the housing 210 facing the side frame 230b, and the sliding protrusion 233 slides on each sliding rail 211, respectively. possibly combined

By the sliding coupling between the sliding protrusion 233 and the sliding rail 211, the connector 230 can be slidably coupled to the housing 210 in the forward and backward directions, and the water tank 220 coupled to the connector 230 ) may be installed in the housing 210 so that its position can be changed in the forward and backward directions along the connector 230.

As described above, the connector 230 is provided in a form in which the support rib 231 protrudes from its inner corner and the sliding protrusion 233 protrudes from the side. The support ribs 231 and sliding protrusions 233 formed on the connector 230 as described above are structures for detachable coupling between the connector 230 and the water tank 220 and between the connector 230 and the housing 210. At the same time as serving as a structure for sliding coupling, the role of a rib structure for reinforcing the rigidity of the connector 230 is also provided.

That is, the connector 230 can stably combine with the housing 210 and the water tank 220 through structures formed to protrude from the corners and side surfaces of the connector 230, such as the support rib 231 and the sliding protrusion 233. At the same time, it can be provided in the form of a thin, light and high rigidity.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 4, 11, and 12 , the water supply device 200 of this embodiment may further include a power generator 250.

The power generating unit 250 is provided to provide power to move the water tank 220 to the withdrawal position. The power generator 250 may include an elastic member that generates an elastic force in a direction in which the connector 230 moves forward. As shown in FIG. 12 , fixing grooves 219 open toward the front are provided at the top and bottom of the front of both sides of the housing 210, respectively. The upper fixing groove 219 defines a space protruding upward, and the lower fixing groove 219 defines a space protruding downward. The power generator 250 has an upwardly protruding shaft portion and a downwardly protruding shaft portion, the upwardly protruding shaft portion is in the upper fixing groove, and the downwardly protruding shaft portion is in the lower fixing groove. While being fitted in, it can be fitted from the front to the rear of the housing 210.

In this embodiment, the power generator 250, as shown in FIG. 12, is installed to be wound around a cylindrical member 251 rotatably installed in the housing 210 with respect to a vertical axis and this cylindrical member It is illustrated as being made including an elastic member 252 . The elastic member provided in the power generating unit is provided in the form of a strip having a length extending in the forward and backward directions, one side of which is coupled to a cylindrical member rotatably installed in the housing 210 and the other side of the connector 230. It is installed so as to be hooked and coupled to the hook 239 provided on the side frame 230b.

This elastic member is wrapped around the cylindrical member when the connector 230 and the water tank 220 are in the withdrawal position, and is released from the cylindrical member when the connector 230 moves backward toward the insertion position. As the distance between one side and the other side increases, an elastic force is generated in the direction of moving the connector 230 forward again.

That is, the connector 230 and the water tank 220 coupled thereto may be slidably installed in the housing 210 in the forward and backward directions by a sliding coupling between the sliding protrusion 233 and the sliding rail 211, as described above. When the installed connector 230 and the water tank 220 move backward, an elastic force for moving them forward again is generated by the power generator 250 . In addition, when the fixed state of the connector 230 and the water tank 220, which were fixed at the insertion position by coupling with the fixing part 270 to be described later, is released, the elastic force generated by the power generating part 250 is applied to the connector ( 230, the connector 230 and the water tank 220 move forward toward the withdrawal position again. The power generator 250 acts on both sides of the connector 230 together. Accordingly, in the large-capacity water tank, where left-right alignment is important during entry and exit processes due to its wide width as in the present embodiment, the elasticity of the power generator 250 does not work biasedly to the left or right, so that the water tank is drawn in and out. The process can be made more smoothly and smoothly.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 4, 11, and 13, a configuration for adjusting the moving speed of the connector 230 and the water tank 220 coupled thereto may be provided between the housing 210 and the connector 230. there is.

According to this, rack members 235 are provided on the side frame 230b to protrude toward the side of the housing 210, respectively, and the damper 260 is installed on the side of the housing 210.

The rack member 235 is formed to have a length extending in the front-back direction, and a plurality of teeth are formed in the rack member 235 along its longitudinal direction.

The damper 260 is installed on the side of the housing 210 facing the rack member 235, and prevents movement of the connector 230 while rotating in engagement with the rack member 235. According to this embodiment, the damper 260 is provided in a form capable of selectively applying resistance only to the forward movement of the connector 230 .

As an example, the damper 260 is filled with a highly viscous working fluid inside a case constituting the exterior of the damper 260, and a plurality of rotating members are rotatably installed inside the case filled with the working fluid, It may be provided in a form including a shaft coupled to the rotating member to rotate with the rotating member and protruding to the outside of the case, and a pinion installed on the shaft to rotate with the shaft and engaged with the rack member 235 .

According to the damper 260, when the rotary member is rotated in one direction along the shaft, it is formed to have a shape that receives relatively greater resistance from the working fluid, and accordingly, even when the same rotational force is input to the shaft, in one direction of the shaft Since the rotation of is performed at a slower speed than the rotation in the opposite direction, the damper 260 acts as a resistance against the forward movement of the connector 230.

Therefore, the connector 230 and the water tank 220 coupled thereto may be installed on the housing 210 so as to be movable in the forward and backward directions, and may be installed such that the forward movement speed toward the withdrawal position is reduced, whereby the water tank ( 220), when moving forward, the moving speed is reduced and can be smoothly withdrawn.

[Fixing structure of connector and water tank]

FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of part "F" of FIG. 11;

Referring to FIGS. 4, 11, and 14, a configuration for fixing positions of the connector 230 and the water tank 220 at the insertion position may be provided between the housing 210 and the connector 230. In this embodiment, as a configuration for fixing the positions of the connector 230 and the water tank 220 at the insertion position, the connector 230 is provided with a fixing protrusion 237 and the housing 210 is provided with a fixing part 270 It is illustrated that is provided.

The fixing protrusion 237 is provided on the connector 230, more specifically, on the rear frame 230a, and protrudes toward the rear side of the connector 230. In this embodiment, the fixing protrusion 237 is illustrated as being formed in a hook shape.

The fixing part 270 is installed in the central part of the rear side of the housing 210 facing the fixing protrusion 237 . The fixing part 270 is provided to fix the position of the connector 230 and the water tank 220 coupled thereto by being coupled with the fixing protrusion 237 when the water tank 220 is positioned at the insertion position.

The fixing part 270 is provided to selectively fix the position of the connector 230 and the water tank 220 coupled thereto by being detachably coupled to the fixing protrusion 237 in the form of a hook. In this embodiment, coupling and disengagement between the fixing protrusion 237 and the latch mechanism are sequentially performed by repeatedly pressing the front surface of the water tank 220 connected to the fixing protrusion 237 via the connector 230. A mechanism configured to be made is exemplified as being applied as a latch mechanism. In addition, since the fixing part 270 is provided in the central part, when it is coupled to or released from the fixing protrusion 237, as in the present embodiment, in a large-capacity water tank in which left-right alignment is important during entry and exit, the fixing force is to the left or the right. Thus, the water tank 220 is movably installed in the housing 210 through the connector 230 and is inserted into the housing 210 or the inlet 221 is externally installed. On the other hand, it can be drawn out to be exposed, while it can be stably maintained in the insertion position through the detachable coupling between the fixing protrusion 237 and the fixing part 270, and can be easily and conveniently withdrawn to the withdrawal position as needed. there will be When the coupling between the fixing protrusion 237 and the fixing part 270 is released, the power for moving the connector 230 and the water tank 220 to the withdrawal position is provided by the power generator 250 described above, and at this time, the damper The moving speed of the connector 230 and the water tank 220 is reduced by the action of 260, so that the water tank 220 can be drawn out smoothly and naturally.

[Water tank location detection structure]

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of part "G" of FIG. 11;

Referring to FIGS. 4, 11, and 15, a configuration for detecting the position of the water tank 220 may be further provided between the housing 210 and the water tank 220. According to this, an insertion detection unit 280 is installed in the housing 210 to detect whether the position of the water tank 220 is an insertion position.

In this embodiment, the insertion detection unit 280 is exemplified as including a contact switch that detects the position of the water tank 220 by contacting the water tank 220 when the water tank 220 is in the insertion position. do. In this case, the insertion detection unit 280 is a protruding coupling part 225 formed to protrude from the rearmost side of the water tank 220, for example, the water tank 220 when the water tank 220 is in the insertion position. It is preferable to be provided to sense that the water tank 220 is in the insertion position by contacting with.

As another example, the insertion detection unit 280 may contact the connector 230 instead of the water tank 220 to indirectly sense the position of the water tank 220 . However, considering that the possibility that the connector 230 is moved in a state in which the water tank 220 is somewhat or completely out of the original position coupled to the connector 230 according to circumstances cannot be ruled out, the insertion detection rather than this form It would be more desirable for the unit 280 to directly contact the water tank 220 to sense the position of the water tank 220 .

According to the present embodiment, when the water tank 220 is positioned at the insertion position, the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 are connected to each other, and water can be supplied to the steam generator 21 (see FIG. 1). When the water tank 220 is moved to the withdrawal position and out of the insertion position, the connection between the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 is released, and the water supply to the steam generator 21 is stopped.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1, 11, and 15, when the water tank 220 is out of the insertion position, water cannot be supplied to the steam generator 21, and the water tank 220 When is in the insertion position, water can be supplied to the steam generating unit 21, and whether or not water can be supplied to the steam generating unit 21 depends on the position of the water tank 220 at the insertion position. It can be determined by the insertion detection unit 280 detects whether or not.

On the other hand, the steam generator 21 connected to the water tank 220 via the connection between the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 indicates that the water tank 220 is located at the insertion position, and the insertion detection unit ( 280), it operates only when detected.

According to this, when the insertion detection unit 280 detects that the water tank 220 is located at the insertion position, that is, the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 are connected to each other, so that the steam generator 21 Only when water can be supplied to the furnace, the steam heater 23 is operated to heat the water stored in the water storage tank 22, and the connection between the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 is disconnected, so that the steam generator ( When the water supply to 21) fails, the power supply to the steam heater 23 is cut off so that the steam heater 23 cannot operate.

As a result, even if the steam heater 23 is operated when water is not supplied to the steam generator 21, it is possible to prevent the steam heater 23 from being unnecessarily operated in a state in which it is difficult to generate steam. Waste of power due to unnecessary operation and occurrence of safety accidents due to overheating of the steam heater 23 can be prevented in advance.

[Operation and effect of steam supply device]

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a water tank withdrawal state of the water supply device shown in FIG. 11;

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the steam supply device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16.

Referring to FIG. 1, the steam supply device 20 of this embodiment is installed inside the main body 10 of the cooking appliance, and among them, the steam generator 21 is installed on the lower side of the cooking chamber 11 and supplies water. The device 200 may be installed to be located on the front side of the main body 10 .

The water supply device 200 is provided to store and supply water to be supplied to the steam generator 21, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the housing 210 installed in the main body 10 It is provided in a form in which the water tank 220 is installed in a withdrawable manner.

The water tank 220 is installed in the housing 210 so that the position can be changed between the insertion position and the withdrawal position, and when the water tank 220 is fixed at the insertion position, the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 ) are connected to each other to be in a state in which water can be supplied to the steam generator 21, and when the water tank 220 is withdrawn to the withdrawal position, the user enters the inlet 221 exposed to the outside of the main body 10 Through this, it becomes a state in which water can be injected into the water tank 220.

In the water supply device 200 of the present embodiment, the water tank 220 and the water tank 220, which are components for receiving and storing water to be supplied to the steam generator 21, are movable to the housing 210. The connector 230, which is a configuration for coupling, is provided separately and is provided in a form in which they are detachably coupled to each other.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4, 9, and 10, a connection between the water tank 220 and the connector 230 is achieved through a detachable coupling between the protruding coupling part 225 and the support rib 231. A detachable coupling structure is provided. Also, due to the detachable coupling structure between the water tank 220 and the connector 230 provided as described above, the water tank 220 can be easily and quickly detached from the connector 230 and the housing 210 when necessary.

As described above, since the water tank 220 and the connector 230 are provided separately, it is possible to improve manufacturability and lower manufacturing cost by separately manufacturing the two components, which may have excessively complicated shapes and structures when integrally formed, , It is possible to reduce the difficulty and repair cost of repair work by separating parts with a high risk of structural damage, such as the connector 230, and to remove the water tank 220 from the housing 210 for cleaning or repair. It is possible to provide an effect that allows the work to be done very easily and quickly.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the user pours water toward the inlet 221 while the water tank 220 is withdrawn to the withdrawal position, as shown in FIG. 7, the amount of water poured into the inlet 221 The opening/closing holder 223 is rotated by the weight to open the inlet 221, and the water poured into the inlet 221 is injected into the water tank 220 through the opened inlet 221 and is then put into the water tank. (220) can be stored in the internal storage space.

And, when replenishment of water is completed and water input is stopped, as shown in FIG. 6 , the opening/closing holder 223 rotates again in the closing direction to automatically close the inlet 221, so that water is supplied to the water tank 220. While stored, foreign substances are prevented from being introduced into the water tank 220 .

After the supply of water to the water tank 220 is completed, when the user pushes the water tank 220 toward the rear side, the water tank 220 and the connector 230 move toward the rear side. When the water tank 220 and the connector 230 are moved until the water tank 220 reaches the insertion position, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 14 , the connector 230 protrudes from the rear side. The water tank 220 is placed on the housing 210 so that the water tank 220 is maintained at the insertion position while the coupling between the fixing protrusion 237 and the fixing part 270 installed on the housing 210 is made. fixed on

In this way, when the water tank 220 is in the insertion position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 15, the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 are connected to each other so that the steam generator 21 Water can be supplied to the furnace, which can be detected by the insertion detection unit 280 provided to detect whether the position of the water tank 220 is the insertion position.

According to the present embodiment, when the insertion detection unit 280 detects that the water tank 220 is located at the insertion position, that is, the water tank nozzle 224 and the connection pipe 25 are connected to each other to generate steam. Only when water can be supplied to (21), the steam heater (23) is operated to heat the water stored in the water storage tank (22), and the connection between the water tank nozzle (224) and the connection pipe (25) is disconnected to generate steam. When the supply of water to the generating unit 21 is not made, the supply of power to the steam heater 23 is cut off so that the operation of the steam heater 23 is not made.

As a result, even if the steam heater 23 is operated when water is not supplied to the steam generator 21, it is possible to prevent the steam heater 23 from being unnecessarily operated in a state in which it is difficult to generate steam. Waste of power due to unnecessary operation and occurrence of safety accidents due to overheating of the steam heater 23 can be prevented in advance.

As described above, in a state where the water supply device 200 and the steam generator 21 are connected to each other so that water can be supplied to the steam generator 21, when the user operates the cooking appliance to perform an operation related to steam cooking. , The water introduced into the water storage tank 22 from the water supply device 200 is heated by the steam heater 23 to generate steam, and the generated steam flows into the cooking chamber 11 to Cooking using steam is performed in the form of circulating.

Meanwhile, in order to replenish water, wash the water tank 220, or clean or repair the water supply device 200, the water tank 220 must be drawn out. In this embodiment, the water tank 220 is drawn out. It is exemplified as being able to be made by a pressing operation on the front of (220).

According to this, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 14 , when the user performs a pressing operation on the front surface of the water tank 220 in a state where the fixing protrusion 237 is coupled to the fixing part 270, the fixing protrusion ( 237) and the fixing part 270 are released.

And when the coupling state between the fixing protrusion 237 and the fixing part 270 is released, as shown in FIG. ) acts as a power to move the connector 230 and the water tank 220 coupled thereto forward, and as shown in FIG. 16, the connector 230 and the water tank 220 The tank 220 moves forward toward the withdrawal position.

The connector 230 and the water tank 220 moving in this way are affected by the damper 260 that provides resistance to the forward movement of the connector 230, and as a result, the water tank 220 moves forward. When moving to , the moving speed is reduced and it can be smoothly withdrawn.

As described above, according to the water supply device of the present embodiment, and the steam supply device and cooking appliance including the same, the function of fixing or withdrawing the water tank from the inside of the main body with a simple pressing operation, and effectively preventing the inflow of foreign substances into the water tank Function to easily and conveniently inject water into the water tank without additional manipulation for opening and closing the inlet while blocking, function to control the operation of the steam supply device according to the location of the water tank, and smooth withdrawal of the water tank There is an advantage in providing improved usability to the user by enabling various functions such as a sensibility function to be implemented through a single water supply device.

In addition, according to the water supply device of the present embodiment, and the steam supply device and cooking appliance including the same, the water tank and the connector are provided as separate parts that can be detachably coupled, and the water tank is movably installed in the housing through the connector. By doing so, it is possible to improve manufacturability while lowering manufacturing cost, lower the difficulty and repair cost of repair work, and have the advantage of enabling easy and quick removal of the water tank for cleaning or repair.

In addition, according to the water supply device of the present embodiment, and the steam supply device and cooking appliance having the same, it is possible to block unnecessary operation of the steam heater in a state in which water is not supplied. Safety accidents due to overheating of the steam heater can be prevented in advance.

The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but this is only exemplary, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications and equivalent other embodiments. will understand Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the claims below.

10: body
11: cooking room
12: door
13: handle
15: Convection part
20: steam supply device
21: steam generator
22: water storage tank
23: Steam heater
25: connector
200: water supply device
210: housing
211: sliding rail
219: fixed groove
220: water tank
220a: lower tank part
220b: upper tank part
220c: packing part
221: inlet
222: slope
223: opening and closing holder
223a: cover part
223b: extension
223c: hinge part
224: water tank nozzle
224a: protrusion
225: protruding coupling
226: coupling protrusion
227: decorative panel
230: connector
230a: rear frame
230b: side frame
231: support rib
231a: rib coupling part
231b: fitting groove
233: sliding protrusion
235: rack member
237: fixed protrusion
239: hanging part
240: tube supporter
250: power generator
251: cylindrical member
252: elastic member (band)
260: damper
270: fixed part
280: insertion detection unit

Claims (17)

a housing installed in the main body of the cooking appliance, having an accommodation space therein, and having one side open to the outside of the main body;
a water tank having a storage space for storing water formed therein and being inserted/taken out through an open portion of the housing;
It is disposed in the accommodating space, the water tank is mounted/removed, moves from a first position inside the accommodating space to a second position closer to the opening than the first position, or moves from the second position to the first position. connector moving into position; and
a fixing part provided in the housing and maintaining a state in which the water tank is disposed at the insertion position; including,
The water supply device, wherein a mounting/removing direction of the water tank with respect to the connector and a moving direction of the connector in the accommodation space correspond to each other.
a housing installed in the main body of the cooking appliance, having an accommodation space therein, and having one side open to the outside of the main body;
a water tank having a storage space for storing water formed therein and being inserted/taken out through an open portion of the housing;
It is disposed in the accommodating space, the water tank is mounted/removed, moves from a first position inside the accommodating space to a second position closer to the opening than the first position, or moves from the second position to the first position. connector moving into position; and
A fixing part provided in the housing and maintaining a state in which the water tank is disposed at the insertion position;
The water supply device, wherein a mounting/removing direction of the water tank with respect to the connector and an insertion/removal direction of the water tank with respect to the housing correspond to each other.
According to claim 1 or claim 2,
The water tank includes a water tank nozzle forming a passage for the water stored in the storage space to move to the outside of the water tank,
The water tank nozzle extends in a direction corresponding to the mounting direction of the water tank with respect to the connector,
A tube supporter detachably coupled to the water tank nozzle is installed in the housing,
The tube supporter extends in a direction corresponding to the movement direction of the connector with respect to the housing, water supply device.
According to claim 1 or claim 2,
The water tank has an inlet that forms a passage through which water is introduced into the storage space, and when the water tank is located at a withdrawal position, the inlet is located outside the accommodation space and is located outside the water tank at an insertion position. When positioned, the inlet is located inside the receiving space.
According to claim 1 or claim 2,
The water tank includes a lower tank portion formed in a box shape with an open top, and an upper tank portion coupled to an upper portion of the lower tank portion and covering the open upper portion of the lower tank portion,
The water tank has an inlet forming a passage for injecting water into the storage space,
The inlet is a water supply device provided in the upper tank portion.
According to claim 1 or claim 2,
The water tank has an inlet forming a passage for introducing water into the storage space and an opening/closing holder rotatably installed in the water tank to open and close the inlet,
The opening/closing holder includes a hinge portion rotatably connecting the opening/closing holder to the water tank, a cover portion connected to one side of the hinge portion, and an extension portion connected to the other side of the hinge portion;
The weight of the extension part acts in a direction in which the cover part rotates in a direction of closing the inlet around the hinge part.
According to claim 1 or claim 2,
A water supply device further comprising: a power generator connected to the housing and the connector and providing power for the connector to move in the accommodation space.
The method of claim 7,
The power generating unit includes an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the connector in a direction in which the connector moves from the first position toward the second position.
The method of claim 7,
A damper installed between the housing and the connector to provide a damping force to prevent movement of the connector with respect to the housing; further comprising a water supply device.
The method of claim 9,
The damper is installed on one side of the connector and the housing,
On the other side of the connector and the housing, a rack member engaged with the damper and moved relative to the damper as the connector moves with respect to the housing is installed.
According to claim 1 or claim 2,
The connector includes a pair of first frames extending in a direction parallel to the mounting/removing direction of the water tank with respect to the connector, and the water tank with respect to the housing to block the insertion direction of the water tank with respect to the housing. A second frame extending in a direction crossing the insertion direction of and connecting the pair of first frames,
The water supply device, wherein the second frame blocks an insertion direction of the water tank to the connector.
The method of claim 11,
A support rib is provided at a connection portion between the first frame and the second frame,
One of the water tank and the support rib is provided with a fitting groove recessed in a direction crossing the mounting/removing direction of the water tank with respect to the connector, and the other side corresponds to the recessed direction of the fitting groove. The water supply device is provided with a coupling protrusion protruding in a direction to be inserted into the fitting groove in a state in which the water tank is mounted on the connector.
The method of claim 11,
A fixing protrusion extending in a direction parallel to a moving direction of the connector with respect to the housing is provided on one side of the second frame and the housing,
A water supply device having a fixing part provided on the other side of the second frame and the housing to fix the position of the connector with respect to the housing in a state of being coupled with the fixing protrusion.
a steam generating unit that is operated to generate steam by heating water;
The water supply device of claim 1 or 2 for supplying the water supplied to the steam generator; and
A steam supply device comprising: a connection pipe connecting the water supply device and the steam generator so that a passage through which water supplied from the water supply device moves to the steam generator is formed.
The method of claim 14,
The steam supply device further comprising an insertion detection unit for detecting whether the position of the water tank is an insertion position.
The method of claim 15
The steam generator is operated only when the insertion detection unit detects that the water tank is located at the insertion position.
A main body in which a cooking chamber is provided; and
A cooking appliance comprising the steam supply device of claim 14 installed in the main body to supply steam to the inside of the cooking chamber.

Images