Patent Description:
There is an all-in-one cooking apparatus that includes a steam oven having a cooking compartment in which an ingredient to be cooked is put, and a steam generator which is to supply steam to the cooking compartment; and a cooktop placed on the top of the steam oven and heating a cooking container. Further, a drawer is placed under the steam oven so as to support the steam oven and store a cooking utensil or an ingredient to be cooked.

The steam generator receives water from a water tank to generate steam. The water tank may be placed anywhere at an upper, lower, back, left or right side of the steam oven. However, it is difficult to secure a space for placing the water tank in the all-in-one cooking apparatus because the cooktop is provided on the top of the steam oven. Further, in a case where the water tank is placed at the back side of the steam oven, it is difficult to put in or take out the water tank in order to replenish the water tank with water. In a case where the water tank is placed at the left or right sides of the steam oven, not only it is inconvenient to put in or take out the water tank but also a problem arises in that a lateral occupancy space of the cooking apparatus is increased because the all-in-one cooking apparatus is widened sideways.

Taking such problems into account, <CIT> has disclosed a cooking apparatus in which a water tank is placed in a storage space of a drawer. This cooking apparatus has a structure that a water flow path is blocked between the water tank and the steam generator when the drawer is pulled out and the water flow path is connected between the water tank and the steam generator when the drawer is pushed in. Thus, the cooking apparatus, in which the water tank is stationarily mounted to the storage space of the drawer, has problems that interference occurs while the stored containers or utensils needed for cooking are being stored, and water supply to the steam generator is cut off and cooking is stopped whenever the storage space is opened during the cooking.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose a cooking apparatus in which a water tank is placed in a storage space of a drawer.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>, disclose a drawer-type water supply tank. <CIT> discloses a cooking appliance having a steam generator comprising a drawer to be filled with water and to be heated using induction.

Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide a cooking apparatus in which water is supplied to generate steam without being affected by operations of pulling out or pushing in a drawer.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cooking apparatus according to claim <NUM>. Features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

The cooking apparatus may further include a cooktop provided on a top of the cooker body above the cooking compartment.

The storage compartment may include a water tank guide configured to support the sliding of the water tank in and out of the storage compartment.

The connector may be configured to removably couple the water flow path between the water tank and the water supplying pipe based on sliding the water tank into and out of the water tank guide.

The drawer may include an accommodation space partitioned separately from the storage space.

The water tank is provided to be independent from the sliding of the drawer.

The water tank may be provided between the storage compartment and the cooking compartment.

The storage compartment may include a door configured to open or close the region of the storage compartment for the water tank.

The water tank may include a water inlet through which water is injected, and the water inlet may be installed in the storage compartment and exposed to an outside.

The cooking apparatus may further include a water sensor provided in the water supplying pipe and configured to detect presence of water.

The steam generator may include a spray nozzle configured to spray water supplied from the water supplying pipe, a heater configured to heat up the sprayed water to be turned into steam, and a fan configured to circulate the steam in the cooking compartment.

The heater may surround the fan, and the spray nozzle may be disposed toward a rotary shaft of the fan.

The fan may include a water guide for radially guiding the sprayed water.

As described above, a cooking apparatus according to the invention is free from heat because a water tank is provided independently of a drawer of a storage compartment positioned under a cooker body.

In the cooking apparatus according to the invention, the water tank can be replenished with water or cleaned regardless of operations of pushing in or pulling out the drawer, and it is possible to avoid interference with cooking utensils or ingredients to be cooked, which are stored in the drawer.

Further, the steam generator continuously receives water irrespective of the operations of pushing in or pulling out the drawer, and thus generates steam without interruption.

Below, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. If aspects or embodiments set out in the following do not fall within the scope of the appended claims, then they relate to exemplary embodiments of the disclose that are not covered by the claimed invention.

<FIG> and <FIG> are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of a cooking apparatus <NUM> according to a first embodiment of the disclosure, respectively.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the cooking apparatus <NUM> includes a case <NUM> forming an outer appearance, a cooker body <NUM> provided in the case <NUM> and performs cooking for an ingredient to be cooked, a cooktop <NUM> placed on the cooker body <NUM> and allowing food to be put and cooked thereon, a control panel <NUM> provided in the case <NUM>, and a steam supplier <NUM> provided in the cooker body <NUM>. The cooking apparatus <NUM> may further include a controller (not shown) for controlling the steam supplier <NUM> based on a command input through the control panel <NUM> or information received from various sensors.

The case <NUM> forms the outer appearance of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. The case <NUM> accommodates the cooker body <NUM> therein, and the cooktop <NUM> is put on the case <NUM>. The cooktop <NUM> may include an oven heater <NUM> on which a cooking container filled with an ingredient to be cooked is put as a second cooking utensil. The cooktop <NUM> may for example include an induction range, an electric range, a gas range, etc..

The control panel <NUM> may include a display <NUM> for displaying various pieces of cooking information, and a control knob <NUM> for controlling various cooking modes of the cooking apparatus <NUM>.

The cooker body <NUM> includes a cooking compartment <NUM> in which food put in a center region thereof is cooked while being closed, and a storage compartment <NUM> placed under the cooking compartment <NUM>.

The cooking compartment <NUM> includes a cooking space <NUM> approximately shaped like a rectangular box of which a front side is opened. The cooking compartment <NUM> refers to a space in which an ingredient to be cooked is put, and may include a shelf on which an ingredient to be cooked or a cooking container is put. The cooking compartment <NUM> includes a door <NUM> provided in the opened front side.

The door <NUM> is hinged at a lower side to the cooker body <NUM> so as to swing frontward and open the opened front side of the cooking compartment <NUM>. The door <NUM> includes a sight window <NUM> made of glass or the like transparent material through which a process of cooking an ingredient to be cooked in the cooking compartment <NUM> can be seen from the outside.

The storage compartment <NUM> is placed under the cooking compartment <NUM> and supports the cooking compartment <NUM>. The storage compartment <NUM> includes a drawer <NUM> in which cooking utensils, cooking containers, ingredients to be cooked, etc. are stored; a water tank <NUM>; and a water tank guide <NUM> supporting the water tank <NUM> sliding to be pushed in or pulled out. The storage compartment <NUM> may be formed separately from or integrally with the cooking compartment <NUM>.

The drawer <NUM> is provided to slide to be pushed into or pulled out from the storage compartment <NUM>. A user may hold a drawer grip <NUM> and pushes or pulls the drawer <NUM> into or out of the storage compartment <NUM>.

The water tank <NUM> stores water to be supplied to the steam supplier <NUM> for generating steam. The water tank <NUM> is provided in a certain region of the storage compartment <NUM> independent of an occupancy region of the drawer <NUM> so as not to interfere with the sliding of the drawer <NUM> being pushed in or pulled out. The water tank <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is arranged adjacent to the right side of the drawer <NUM>, but not limited thereto and may be placed at the left, upper or lower side of the drawer <NUM>. Like this, the water tank <NUM> is provided independently of the drawer <NUM> of the storage compartment <NUM> placed under the cooking compartment <NUM>, so that the water tank <NUM> can be easily separated to be replenished with water or cleaned regardless of the operations of pushing in or pulling out the drawer <NUM>, and be prevented from interference with cooking utensils or ingredients to be cooked, which are stored in the drawer <NUM>, without being affected by heat. In particular, a steam generator <NUM> continuously receives water regardless of the operations of pushing in or pulling out the drawer <NUM>, thereby generating steam without interruption.

The water tank <NUM> may be installed in a certain region of the storage compartment <NUM> so that its head <NUM> (see <FIG>) can be directly exposed to the front, or the water tank <NUM> may be covered up by a door for opening and closing the certain region.

The water tank guide <NUM> may be stationarily installed at the right side of the drawer <NUM> of the storage compartment <NUM> and support the water tank <NUM> to slide to be pushed in or pulled out.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the steam supplier <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The steam supplier <NUM> includes a water supplying pipe <NUM>, a pump <NUM>, a water sensor <NUM>, and the steam generator <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the water supplying pipe <NUM> refers to a tube for supplying water between the water tank <NUM> and the steam generator <NUM>. The water supplying pipe <NUM> includes a first connection pipe <NUM> for connecting the water tank <NUM> and the pump <NUM>, and a second connection pipe <NUM> connecting the pump <NUM> and the steam generator <NUM>. The first connection pipe <NUM> includes one end portion supported on the water tank guide <NUM>, and is extended backward from the storage compartment <NUM>, extended upward at the back side, and connected to the pump <NUM>. The second connection pipe <NUM> is extended from the pump <NUM> upward along the back of the cooker body <NUM>, extended frontward on a top surface, and connected to the steam generator <NUM> inside the cooking compartment <NUM> via a heat insulator <NUM> surrounding the cooking compartment <NUM>.

The water supplying pipe <NUM> may be generally inclined toward the water tank <NUM> so that water remaining after steam cooking is completed can return to the water tank <NUM>. Alternatively, the water supplying pipe <NUM> may additionally include a water returning path instead of the water supplying path to return the remaining water.

The pump <NUM> is provided between the water tank <NUM> and the steam generator <NUM>, in other words, between the first connection pipe <NUM> and the second connection pipe <NUM> of the water supplying pipe <NUM>. The pump <NUM> pumps up water stored in the water tank <NUM> and supplies the water to the steam generator <NUM>.

The water sensor <NUM> is provided in the second connection pipe <NUM> of the water supplying pipe <NUM> between the pump <NUM> and the steam generator <NUM> and detects whether water is supplied normally or abnormally. For example, when it is detected by the water sensor <NUM> that no water flows in the water supplying pipe <NUM>, the operations of the steam generator <NUM> are stopped and it is warned that malfunction occurs. Therefore, a user may replenish the water tank <NUM> with water after checking whether water is present in the water tank <NUM>. When no water flows in the water supplying pipe <NUM> even through water is present in the water tank <NUM>, it may be identified that the pump <NUM> or the water sensor <NUM> is faulty.

The steam generator <NUM> heats up water supplied through the water supplying pipe <NUM>, thereby generating steam. The steam generator <NUM> may be installed inside or outside the cooking compartment <NUM> (see <FIG>).

<FIG> is a perspective view of the steam generator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the steam generator <NUM> includes a spray nozzle <NUM> for spraying water, a heater <NUM> for turning the sprayed water into steam, and a fan <NUM> for circulating the steam in the cooking compartment <NUM>.

The spray nozzle <NUM> sprays water, which is intermittently received from the water supplying pipe <NUM>, in the form of mist. The spray nozzle <NUM> is positioned around the shaft of the fan <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> surrounding the fan <NUM> turns water into steam.

The heater <NUM> heats up water sprayed out in the form of mist by the spray nozzle <NUM>, thereby instantaneously turning the sprayed water into steam. The heater <NUM> may surround the fan <NUM> circularly many times.

The fan <NUM> disperses water, sprayed out in the form of mist, toward the heater <NUM>, and circulates the steam into the cooking compartment <NUM>. The fan <NUM> may spin based on a motor. The motor may be controlled under control of the controller. The controller may include a heater compensation algorithm to make up for temperature change and thermal loss in the cooking compartment <NUM> due to water supply.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the fan <NUM> in <FIG>. The fan <NUM> may include a plurality of, for example, seven blades <NUM> from the center to the circumference. The blades <NUM> includes first vanes <NUM> radially extended in a horizontal direction, and second vanes <NUM> integrally bent from a radial edge of the first vane <NUM> and extended upward. The first vane <NUM> may include a groove <NUM> radially extended from the center. With such a structure, the blades <NUM> can guide mist of water, which is sprayed from the center by the spray nozzle <NUM>, to move toward the heater <NUM> while spinning.

<FIG> and <FIG> are perspective views of assembled and separated states between the water tank <NUM> and the support guide according to the first embodiment of the disclosure, respectively, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the water tank <NUM> includes a storage main body <NUM> shaped like a quadrangular box opened upward, the head <NUM> provided in the front of the storage main body <NUM>, and a connector <NUM> provided in the back.

The storage main body <NUM> includes at least one partition <NUM> in a lengthwise direction thereof. The storage main body <NUM> includes a plurality of water storage spaces <NUM> formed by the partitions <NUM>. The partition <NUM> is formed with a communicating portion <NUM> through which water flows between the plurality of water storage spaces <NUM>.

The storage main body <NUM> may be variously shaped without being limited to the quadrangular box. Further, the storage main body <NUM> may have a single water storage space <NUM> without the partitions <NUM>. The storage main body <NUM> is not necessarily opened upward, but may include a space to be filled with water, and an inlet through which water is injected into this space.

The head <NUM> is exposed to the front of the storage compartment <NUM> (see <FIG>), and used as a grip of which a user takes hold to push in or pull out the water tank <NUM>. The head <NUM> may be formed to have a cross-section larger than the width of the storage main body <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> includes a vertical portion <NUM> extended upward from the bottom of the water storage space <NUM> of the storage main body <NUM>, and a horizontal portion <NUM> horizontally extended backward. The connector <NUM> transfers water filled in the water storage space <NUM> to the water supplying pipe <NUM>. The connector <NUM> may be stationarily supported on the storage main body <NUM>. Therefore, when the water tank <NUM> slides to be pushed in or pulled out, the connector <NUM> also slides. In result, the end of the horizontal portion <NUM> is fastened to the end of the water supplying pipe <NUM> supported in the water tank guide <NUM> when pushed in, but separated from the end of the water supplying pipe <NUM> when pulled out.

The water tank <NUM> further includes a top cover for covering the opened top. In this case, the connector <NUM> is stationarily supported at the back end of the top cover.

The water tank guide <NUM> includes a guide main body <NUM> having a space for accommodating the water tank <NUM>, a stationary supporter <NUM> stationarily supporting the guide main body <NUM> on the storage compartment <NUM> (see <FIG>), and a water supplying-pipe supporter <NUM> provided in the back of the guide main body <NUM>.

The guide main body <NUM> is opened frontward so that the water tank <NUM> can slide to be pushed in or pulled out. The guide main body <NUM> accommodates only the storage main body <NUM> except the head <NUM>.

The stationary supporter <NUM> is fastened to the ceiling of the space, in which the guide main body <NUM> is installed, by, for example, a screw in the storage compartment <NUM>. Alternatively, the stationary supporter <NUM> may be fastened to the lateral sides or bottom of the space in which the guide main body <NUM> is installed.

The water supplying-pipe supporter <NUM> is shaped like a tub and provided on a path along which the horizontal portion <NUM> of the connector <NUM> moves when the water tank <NUM> is pushed in or pulled out. The end of the water supplying pipe <NUM> is inserted in and fitted to the water supplying-pipe supporter <NUM>. When the water tank <NUM> is pushed in or pulled out, the horizontal portion <NUM> of the connector <NUM> is fastened to or separated from the end of the water supplying pipe <NUM> fitted to the water supplying-pipe supporter <NUM>. In this case, the connector <NUM> and the water supplying pipe <NUM> are tightly fastened and sealed to prevent water leak.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an arranged state of the water tank <NUM> according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the drawer <NUM> includes a storage space <NUM>, and an accommodation space <NUM> in which the water tank <NUM> is put independently. In other words, the water tank <NUM> and the water tank guide <NUM> are installed in the storage compartment <NUM> without being in contact with the accommodation space <NUM> of the drawer <NUM>. The accommodation space <NUM> is formed separately from the storage space <NUM> by a right wall <NUM> of the drawer <NUM> and a partition wall <NUM>. In the accommodation space <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM> of the drawer <NUM> may be removed in order to prevent interference with the water tank guide <NUM> while the drawer <NUM> is sliding to be pushed in or pulled out.

The right wall <NUM> of the drawer <NUM> may be provided with a rail <NUM> on the outer side thereof for sliding movement of the drawer <NUM>. The water tank guide <NUM>, which supports the water tank <NUM> to slide to be pushed in or pulled out, is stationarily supported on the storage compartment <NUM> above the accommodation space <NUM>.

In this way, the water tank <NUM> is independently provided in the drawer <NUM> regardless of the sliding of the drawer <NUM> to be pushed in or pulled out, thereby not only preventing interference with cooking utensils, cooking containers, or ingredients to be cooked stored in the storage space of the drawer <NUM>, but also continuously supplying water to the steam generator <NUM> even when the drawer <NUM> is pushed in or pulled out.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an arranged state of the water tank <NUM> according to a third embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the water tank <NUM> may be arranged between the storage compartment <NUM> provided with the drawer <NUM> and the cooking compartment <NUM>. The water tank <NUM> may be shaped like a box having a space in consideration of an installed position, i.e., taking the height and width of the lower end portion of the cooking compartment <NUM>. A storage insertion portion <NUM> is provided between the cooking compartment <NUM> and the storage compartment <NUM>, so that the water tank <NUM> can be inserted in the storage insertion portion <NUM>. Alternatively, the storage insertion portion <NUM> may be provided at an upper side of the storage compartment <NUM>. The water tank <NUM> may include a grip <NUM> of which a user can take hold to push in or pull out the water tank <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an arranged state of the water tank <NUM> according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure. Unlike the first to third embodiments, the water tank <NUM> according to the fourth embodiment is not separable from the storage compartment <NUM>, and the storage compartment <NUM> includes a water inlet <NUM> through which water is filled.

Referring to <FIG>, the water tank <NUM> may be detachably supported at the right side of the drawer <NUM> of the storage compartment <NUM>. The water tank <NUM> includes the storage main body <NUM> having a space for storing water, and the water inlet <NUM> provided in the front of the storage main body <NUM>. The storage main body <NUM> may include the water supplying pipe <NUM> detachably connected to the back thereof. Alternatively, the storage main body <NUM> and the water supplying pipe <NUM> may be connected by the connector <NUM> (see <FIG>) according to the first embodiment. The water tank <NUM> according to the fourth embodiment may be replenished with water through the water inlet <NUM> without separation. However, the water tank <NUM> may be detachable for other purposes such as cleaning, etc..

Claim 1:
A cooking apparatus comprising:
a cooker body (<NUM>) comprising a cooking compartment (<NUM>) and a storage compartment (<NUM>) below the cooking compartment (<NUM>);
a drawer (<NUM>) comprising a storage space (<NUM>), and sliding the drawer (<NUM>) into and out of the storage compartment (<NUM>) closes and opens the storage space (<NUM>);
a steam supplier (<NUM>) configured to generate steam and supply the generated steam to the cooking compartment (<NUM>); and
a water tank (<NUM>) configured to store water for generating the steam, and provided in a region of the storage compartment (<NUM>) independent from the sliding of the drawer (<NUM>),
wherein the steam supplier (<NUM>) comprises: a steam generator (<NUM>) configured to heat up water to be turned into steam, and a water supplying pipe (<NUM>) provided in the cooker body (<NUM>) to supply water between the water tank (<NUM>) and the steam generator (<NUM>),
wherein the water tank (<NUM>) comprises: a storage main body (<NUM>), and a connector (<NUM>) provided at the back of the storage main body (<NUM>),
wherein the connector (<NUM>) is configured to removably couple to a water flow path between the water tank (<NUM>) and the water supplying pipe (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the connector (<NUM>) comprises a vertical portion (<NUM>) extended upward from the bottom of the storage main body (<NUM>), and a horizontal portion (<NUM>) horizontally extended backward and arranged to be supported on the storage main body (<NUM>) to be stationary, and in that
the water tank (<NUM>) comprises a top cover, and the connector (<NUM>) is provided at the back end of the top cover.