Patent ID: 12259142

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.FIGS.1and2are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of a cooking apparatus1according to a first embodiment of the disclosure, respectively.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, the cooking apparatus1includes a case10forming an outer appearance, a cooker body20provided in the case10and performs cooking for an ingredient to be cooked, a cooktop30placed on the cooker body20and allowing food to be put and cooked thereon, a control panel40provided in the case10, and a steam supplier50provided in the cooker body20. The cooking apparatus1may further include a controller (not shown) for controlling the steam supplier50based on a command input through the control panel40or information received from various sensors.

The case10forms the outer appearance of the cooking apparatus1. The case10accommodates the cooker body20therein, and the cooktop30is put on the case10. The cooktop30may include an oven heater32on which a cooking container filled with an ingredient to be cooked is put as a second cooking utensil. The cooktop30may for example include an induction range, an electric range, a gas range, etc.

The control panel40may include a display42for displaying various pieces of cooking information, and a control knob44for controlling various cooking modes of the cooking apparatus1.

The cooker body20includes a cooking compartment22in which food put in a center region thereof is cooked while being closed, and a storage compartment24placed under the cooking compartment22.

The cooking compartment22includes a cooking space224approximately shaped like a rectangular box of which a front side is opened. The cooking compartment22refers 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 compartment22includes a door222provided in the opened front side.

The door222is hinged at a lower side to the cooker body20so as to swing frontward and open the opened front side of the cooking compartment22. The door222includes a sight window226made of glass or the like transparent material through which a process of cooking an ingredient to be cooked in the cooking compartment22can be seen from the outside.

The storage compartment24is placed under the cooking compartment22and supports the cooking compartment22. The storage compartment24includes a drawer242in which cooking utensils, cooking containers, ingredients to be cooked, etc. are stored; a water tank244; and a water tank guide246supporting the water tank244sliding to be pushed in or pulled out. The storage compartment24may be formed separately from or integrally with the cooking compartment22.

The drawer242may be provided to slide to be pushed into or pulled out from the storage compartment24. A user may hold a drawer grip248and pushes or pulls the drawer242into or out of the storage compartment24.

The water tank244stores water to be supplied to the steam supplier50for generating steam. The water tank244is provided in a certain region of the storage compartment24independent of an occupancy region of the drawer242not to interfere with the sliding of the drawer242being pushed in or pulled out. The water tank244shown inFIGS.1and2is arranged adjacent to the right side of the drawer242, but not limited thereto and may be placed at the left, upper or lower side of the drawer242. Like this, the water tank244is provided independently of the drawer242of the storage compartment24placed under the cooking compartment22, so that the water tank244can be easily separated to be replenished with water or cleaned regardless of the operations of pushing in or pulling out the drawer242, and be prevented from interference with cooking utensils or ingredients to be cooked, which are stored in the drawer242, without being affected by heat. In particular, a steam generator58continuously receives water regardless of the operations of pushing in or pulling out the drawer242, thereby generating steam without interruption.

The water tank244may be installed in a certain region of the storage compartment24so that its head2443(seeFIG.6) can be directly exposed to the front, or the water tank244may be covered up by a door for opening and closing the certain region.

The water tank guide246may be stationarily installed at the right side of the drawer242of the storage compartment24and support the water tank244to slide to be pushed in or pulled out.

FIG.3is a perspective view of the steam supplier50according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The steam supplier50includes a water supplying pipe52, a pump54, a water sensor56, and the steam generator58.

Referring toFIGS.2and3, the water supplying pipe52refers to a tube for supplying water between the water tank244and the steam generator58. The water supplying pipe52includes a first connection pipe522for connecting the water tank244and the pump54, and a second connection pipe524connecting the pump54and the steam generator58. The first connection pipe522includes one end portion supported on the water tank guide246, and is extended backward from the storage compartment24, extended upward at the back side, and connected to the pump54. The second connection pipe524is extended from the pump54upward along the back of the cooker body20, extended frontward on a top surface, and connected to the steam generator58inside the cooking compartment22via a heat insulator228surrounding the cooking compartment22.

The water supplying pipe52may be generally inclined toward the water tank244so that water remaining after steam cooking is completed can return to the water tank244. Alternatively, the water supplying pipe52may additionally include a water returning path instead of the water supplying path to return the remaining water.

The pump54is provided between the water tank244and the steam generator58, in other words, between the first connection pipe522and the second connection pipe524of the water supplying pipe52. The pump54pumps up water stored in the water tank244and supplies the water to the steam generator58.

The water sensor56is provided in the second connection pipe524of the water supplying pipe52between the pump54and the steam generator58and detects whether water is supplied normally or abnormally. For example, when it is detected by the water sensor56that no water flows in the water supplying pipe52, the operations of the steam generator58are stopped and it is warned that malfunction occurs. Therefore, a user may replenish the water tank244with water after checking whether water is present in the water tank244. When no water flows in the water supplying pipe52even through water is present in the water tank244, it may be identified that the pump54or the water sensor56is faulty.

The steam generator58heats up water supplied through the water supplying pipe52, thereby generating steam. The steam generator58may be installed inside or outside the cooking compartment22(seeFIG.2).

FIG.4is a perspective view of the steam generator58according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.4, the steam generator58includes a spray nozzle582for spraying water, a heater584for turning the sprayed water into steam, and a fan586for circulating the steam in the cooking compartment22.

The spray nozzle582sprays water, which is intermittently received from the water supplying pipe52, in the form of mist. The spray nozzle582is positioned around the shaft of the fan586, and the heater584surrounding the fan586turns water into steam.

The heater584heats up water sprayed out in the form of mist by the spray nozzle582, thereby instantaneously turning the sprayed water into steam. The heater584may surround the fan586circularly many times.

The fan586disperses water, sprayed out in the form of mist, toward the heater584, and circulates the steam into the cooking compartment22. The fan586may 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 compartment22due to water supply.

FIG.5is a perspective view of the fan586inFIG.4. The fan586may include a plurality of, for example, seven blades5866from the center to the circumference. The blades5866includes first vanes5862radially extended in a horizontal direction, and second vanes5864integrally bent from a radial edge of the first vane5862and extended upward. The first vane5862may include a groove5868radially extended from the center. With such a structure, the blades5866can guide mist of water, which is sprayed from the center by the spray nozzle582, to move toward the heater584while spinning.

FIGS.6and7are perspective views of assembled and separated states between the water tank244and the support guide according to the first embodiment of the disclosure, respectively, andFIG.8is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG.6.

Referring toFIGS.6to8, the water tank244includes a storage main body2441shaped like a quadrangular box opened upward, the head2443provided in the front of the storage main body2441, and a connector2445provided in the back.

The storage main body2441includes at least one partition2442in a lengthwise direction thereof. The storage main body2441includes a plurality of water storage spaces2444formed by the partitions2442. The partition2442is formed with a communicating portion2446through which water flows between the plurality of water storage spaces2444.

The storage main body2441may be variously shaped without being limited to the quadrangular box. Further, the storage main body2441may have a single water storage space2444without the partitions2442. The storage main body2441is 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 head2443is exposed to the front of the storage compartment24(seeFIG.2), and used as a grip of which a user takes hold to push in or pull out the water tank244. The head2443may be formed to have a cross-section larger than the width of the storage main body2441.

The connector2445includes a vertical portion2447extended upward from the bottom of the water storage space2444of the storage main body2441, and a horizontal portion2449horizontally extended backward. The connector2445transfers water filled in the water storage space2444to the water supplying pipe52. The connector2445may be stationarily supported on the storage main body2441. Therefore, when the water tank244slides to be pushed in or pulled out, the connector2445also slides. In result, the end of the horizontal portion2449is fastened to the end of the water supplying pipe52supported in the water tank guide246when pushed in, but separated from the end of the water supplying pipe52when pulled out.

The water tank244may further include a top cover for covering the opened top. In this case, the connector2445may be stationarily supported at the back end of the top cover.

The water tank guide246includes a guide main body2462having a space for accommodating the water tank244, a stationary supporter2464stationarily supporting the guide main body2462on the storage compartment24(seeFIG.2), and a water supplying-pipe supporter2466provided in the back of the guide main body2462.

The guide main body2462is opened frontward so that the water tank244can slide to be pushed in or pulled out. The guide main body2462accommodates only the storage main body2441except the head2443.

The stationary supporter2464is fastened to the ceiling of the space, in which the guide main body2462is installed, by, for example, a screw in the storage compartment24. Alternatively, the stationary supporter2464may be fastened to the lateral sides or bottom of the space in which the guide main body2462is installed.

The water supplying-pipe supporter2466is shaped like a tub and provided on a path along which the horizontal portion2449of the connector2445moves when the water tank244is pushed in or pulled out. The end of the water supplying pipe52is inserted in and fitted to the water supplying-pipe supporter2466. When the water tank244is pushed in or pulled out, the horizontal portion2449of the connector2445is fastened to or separated from the end of the water supplying pipe52fitted to the water supplying-pipe supporter2466. In this case, the connector2445and the water supplying pipe52are tightly fastened and sealed to prevent water leak.

FIG.9is a perspective view showing an arranged state of the water tank244according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.9, the drawer242includes a storage space2422, and a accommodation space2426in which the water tank244is put independently. In other words, the water tank244and the water tank guide246are installed in the storage compartment24without being in contact with the accommodation space2426of the drawer242. The accommodation space2426is formed separately from the storage space2422by a right wall2427of the drawer242and a partition wall2424. In the accommodation space2426, a real wall2428of the drawer242may be removed in order to prevent interference with the water tank guide246while the drawer242is sliding to be pushed in or pulled out.

The right wall2427of the drawer242may be provided with a rail2429on the outer side thereof for sliding movement of the drawer242. The water tank guide246, which supports the water tank244to slide to be pushed in or pulled out, is stationarily supported on the storage compartment24above the accommodation space2426.

In this way, the water tank244is independently provided in the drawer242regardless of the sliding of the drawer242to 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 drawer242, but also continuously supplying water to the steam generator58even when the drawer242is pushed in or pulled out.

FIG.10is a perspective view showing an arranged state of the water tank244according to a third embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.10, the water tank244may be arranged between the storage compartment24provided with the drawer242and the cooking compartment22. The water tank244may 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 compartment22. A storage insertion portion229is provided between the cooking compartment22and the storage compartment24, so that the water tank244can be inserted in the storage insertion portion229. Alternatively, the storage insertion portion229may be provided at an upper side of the storage compartment24. The water tank244may include a grip2448of which a user can take hold to push in or pull out the water tank244.

FIG.11is a perspective view showing an arranged state of the water tank244according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure. Unlike the first to third embodiments, the water tank244according to the fourth embodiment is not separable from the storage compartment24, and the storage compartment24includes a water inlet2450through which water is filled.

Referring toFIG.11, the water tank244may be detachably supported at the right side of the drawer242of the storage compartment24. The water tank244includes the storage main body2441having a space for storing water, and the water inlet2450provided in the front of the storage main body2441. The storage main body2441may include the water supplying pipe52detachably connected to the back thereof. Alternatively, the storage main body2441and the water supplying pipe52may be connected by the connector2445(seeFIG.6) according to the first embodiment. The water tank244according to the fourth embodiment may be replenished with water through the water inlet2450without separation. However, the water tank244may be detachable for other purposes such as cleaning, etc.

Although technical concept of the disclosure has been described by specific embodiments as described above, the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Therefore, it will be appreciated that various embodiments modified or changed by a person having an ordinary skill in the art without departing from the gist of the technical concept defined in the appended claims pertain to the scope of the disclosure.