Dual-mode water inlet system of cooking equipment and control method of dual-mode water inlet system

Abstract

The dual-mode water inlet system comprises a water box, a steam generator, a water level detection device, a water inlet pipe, a water outlet pipe and a water drainage pipe, the water box is provided with a water supplementing opening, a water inlet, a water outlet and a water drainage opening, the water inlet is connected with external water purification equipment through the water inlet pipe, and the water outlet is connected with the steam generator through the water outlet pipe; the steam generator is communicated with the cooking cavity, the water level detection device is used for detecting the water level of the water box, the water drainage opening is communicated with an external sewage draining opening through the water drainage pipe, and a water pump or a water drainage electromagnetic valve is arranged on the water drainage pipe. When the user selects manual water replenishing, the user adds water into the water box from the water replenishing port; when a user selects automatic water replenishing, water can be directly supplied to the water box through the water purifying equipment, so that multiple water inlet modes of the cooking equipment can be selected, and the user can select the corresponding water inlet mode according to own requirements. Residual aged water in the water box can be directly discharged through the water outlet, so that a user does not need to discharge water manually, and the cooking equipment is more intelligent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliance technology, and more particularly to a dual-mode water inlet system for a cooking device and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] Steam ovens, steam ovens, microwave steam ovens, or steam pots are cooking appliances that provide steam. They heat water into steam through a steam generator, using the steam to perform pure steaming or steam-baking cooking functions to cook food. Traditional cooking appliances have a water tank that supplies water to the steam generator. When the water tank is low, water needs to be manually added. Because adding water is a manual operation, the amount of water added each time can only be judged by the user's sense of smell, making it difficult to accurately meet the water demand for cooking. This results in multiple water additions, leaving residual water in the tank after cooking. If the user forgets to clean the residual water after cooking, prolonged exposure can lead to bacterial growth in the tank, affecting the next cooking session. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a dual-mode water inlet system for cooking equipment and its control method, so as to solve the problem that the water tank of existing cooking equipment can only be manually replenished and drained.

[0004] The present invention solves the above problems through the following technical solution: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a dual-mode water inlet system for a cooking device, comprising a water box, a steam generator, a water level detection device, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a drain pipe. The water box is provided with a water inlet, an outlet, and a drain outlet. The inlet is connected to an external water purification device through the inlet pipe, and the outlet is connected to the steam generator through the outlet pipe. The steam generator is connected to the cooking chamber. The water level detection device is used to detect the water level in the water box. The drain outlet is connected to an external sewage outlet through the drain pipe. The drain pipe is provided with a water pump or a drain solenoid valve.

[0005] In one embodiment, the cooking device is equipped with a controller, the water inlet pipe is equipped with a water inlet solenoid valve, and the water level detection device, the water inlet solenoid valve and the drain solenoid valve are all electrically connected to the controller.

[0006] In one embodiment, a flow meter is connected in series with the water inlet pipe.

[0007] In one embodiment, the water inlet solenoid valve is located on the water purification device, which is communicatively connected to the cooking device, so that the water inlet solenoid valve is electrically connected to the controller.

[0008] Secondly, the present invention provides a control method for a dual-mode water inlet system of a cooking device, applied to the aforementioned dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking device, the method comprising: The system obtains the user-selected water inlet mode and determines the corresponding water supply mode for the cooking device. The water inlet mode includes a manual water replenishment mode and an automatic water replenishment mode. In the manual water replenishment mode, the water purifier cannot supply water to the water box and water needs to be added manually to the water box. In the automatic water replenishment mode, the water purifier can supply water to the water box. The cooking mode of the cooking device is obtained, and the cooking mode includes steam cooking and non-steam cooking; The water level detected by the water level detection device is obtained, and water level information is generated. The water level is provided with a first threshold and a second threshold, and the second threshold is greater than the first threshold. When the water level is less than or equal to the first threshold, the water level information indicates water shortage or no water. When the water level is equal to the second threshold, the water level information indicates full water. When the water level is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold, the water level information indicates water. The corresponding program is executed according to the cooking mode and the water level information; when the cooking device is in the automatic water replenishment mode and the cooking device is in the steam cooking mode, the water purifier is controlled to supply water to the water box according to the water level information; when the cooking device is in the non-steam cooking mode, the water pump is controlled to drain or the drain solenoid valve is controlled to open according to the water level information.

[0009] In one embodiment, when the cooking device performs automatic water replenishment mode and steam cooking mode, if the water level information indicates a lack of water or no water, the water purifier is controlled to supply water to the water box; if the water level information indicates a full water box, the water purifier is controlled not to start.

[0010] In one embodiment, when the cooking device performs the automatic water replenishment mode and the steam cooking mode, it further includes: Obtain the cooking recipes corresponding to the steam cooking mode; Predict water consumption based on the cooking recipe; Based on the comparison between the water level information and the water consumption, the system controls whether the water purification equipment supplies water according to the comparison result. If the water level information indicates a lack of water or no water, the water purification device is controlled to supply water to the water box. When the water supply reaches the water consumption, the water supply is stopped. If the water level information indicates a full water level, and the water volume corresponding to the full water level is less than the water consumption, then the water shortage is calculated; during the cooking process, when the water supply of the water purification equipment reaches the water shortage, the water supply is stopped.

[0011] In one embodiment, when the cooking device is in a non-steam cooking mode, it further includes: The system obtains the time interval between the last use of the cooking device and the last use of the steam cooking mode. If the time interval exceeds the set time interval, the system controls the water pump to pump water or the drain solenoid valve to open.

[0012] In one embodiment, when the cooking device executes the automatic water replenishment mode and the cooking device is in steam cooking mode, the method further includes: If the water level information indicates that there is water or the water is full, the time interval between the last use of the cooking device and the last use of the steam cooking mode is obtained; if the time interval exceeds the preset time interval, the water pump is controlled to pump water or the drain solenoid valve is opened.

[0013] In one embodiment, when the user does not select a water inlet mode, the cooking device executes a manual water replenishment mode; if the cooking device is in steam cooking mode and the water level information indicates a water shortage, a prompt message is issued.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment of this invention has the following advantages: The water tank is equipped with a water inlet and a water supply outlet. The water supply outlet is connected to an external water purification device via a water supply pipe. When the user selects manual water replenishment, the user adds water to the water tank through the water inlet. When the user selects automatic water replenishment, water can be supplied directly to the water tank through the water purification device, thus realizing multiple water inlet modes for the cooking equipment. The user can choose the corresponding water inlet mode according to their own needs. The water tank is also equipped with a drain outlet, which is connected to an external sewage outlet. Residual water in the water tank can be directly discharged, eliminating the need for manual drainage by the user. This makes the cooking equipment more intelligent and greatly improves the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. The following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control module of the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the control method for the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the automatic water replenishment mode control process of the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0021] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0022] Example 1 like Figure 1-2 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a dual-mode water inlet system for a cooking device, comprising a water tank 1, a steam generator 2, a water level detection device, an inlet pipe 5, an outlet pipe 4, and a drain pipe 6. The water tank 1 has a water inlet, an outlet, and a drain outlet, allowing the user to add water through the inlet. The inlet is connected to an external water purifier 20 via the inlet pipe 5, enabling the purifier 20 to supply clean water to the water tank 4. The outlet is connected to the steam generator 2 via the outlet pipe 4. The steam generator 2 is connected to the cooking chamber 3, and the water tank 1 supplies water to the steam generator 2. The steam generator 2 heats the water into steam and delivers it to the cooking chamber 3 to cook the food in the cooking chamber 3. The water level detection device detects the water level in the water tank 1, indicating whether there is water in the water tank 1, including whether it is low or full. The water level detection device can be installed inside the water box 1 or outside the water box 1. For example, when the water level detection device is a float, it is installed inside the water box 1; when the water level detection device is a capacitive patch detector, it is directly attached to the outer wall of the water box 1. The water box 1 is equipped with a minimum water level line and a maximum water level line, which can be located at the bottom of the water box or near the bottom wall. When the water level is at the minimum water level line, the water level detection device detects that the water box is empty or short of water; when the water level is at the maximum water level line, the water level detection device detects that the water box is full. The drain outlet is connected to the external drain outlet 30 through the drain pipe 6. The drain pipe 6 is equipped with a water pump or a drain solenoid valve 61. Water is pumped by the water pump or the drain solenoid valve 61 is opened to allow water in the water box 1 to flow out from the drain outlet. During steam cooking, the water pump is not started, and the drain solenoid valve 61 is also in the closed state. The water in the water box 1 can only flow from the outlet to the steam generator 2.

[0023] When the user selects the manual water replenishment mode, water is added to the water tank 1 through the water inlet during cooking. When the user selects the automatic water replenishment mode, water is supplied directly to the water tank 1 through the water purification device 20 during cooking. The dual-mode water inlet system of this invention can be set to manual and automatic water replenishment, giving the cooking equipment multiple water inlet modes that users can choose according to their preferences and habits, making the cooking equipment more intelligent. When using the manual water replenishment mode, for smaller water tanks, multiple water replenishments are required; in addition, the amount of water replenished each time is uncontrollable. After cooking, there is usually residual water in the water tank, which can be discharged to the external drain outlet 30 through the drain pipe 6, eliminating the need for manual drainage and greatly improving the user experience.

[0024] Specifically, the cooking equipment is equipped with a controller, and an inlet solenoid valve 51 is installed on the water inlet pipe 5. The water level detection device, the inlet solenoid valve 51, and the drain solenoid valve 61 are all electrically connected to the controller. By controlling the opening and closing of the inlet solenoid valve 51, the water purification equipment 20 controls whether to supply water to the water box 1. The water level detection device detects the water level in the water box 1, generates water level information, and transmits it to the controller. After receiving the water level information, the controller controls the inlet solenoid valve 51 and the drain solenoid valve 61 to open or close, thereby controlling the water purification equipment 20 to supply water to the water box 1 and controlling the drainage of water from the water box 1. When the water box 1 is low on water, the controller controls the inlet solenoid valve 51 to open, and the water purification equipment 20 supplies water to the water box 1. When the water box 1 is full, the controller controls the inlet solenoid valve 51 to close, and the water purification equipment 20 stops supplying water to the water box 1. When the cooking equipment is not using steam, such as a microwave-steam-grill combination appliance with multiple cooking modes, the steam generator 2 does not start in the grill or microwave modes, and therefore does not consume water from the water tank 1. However, if the water in the water tank 1 was not completely used up last time, there will be residual water in the water tank 1. If the controller receives information about the water level of residual water in the water tank 1, it will control the water pump to drain or the drain solenoid valve 61 to open, thus draining the residual water from the water tank 1 and preventing bacteria from growing in the water tank 1 over a long period of time.

[0025] When the inlet solenoid valve 51 is opened, the water produced by the water purification device 20 can be delivered to the water box 1 through the inlet pipe 5. In order to monitor the amount of water supplied by the water purification device 20 to the water box 1 and reduce the residual water in the water box 1, a flow meter 52 is connected in series on the inlet pipe 5, so that water can be supplied in a quantitative manner.

[0026] In practical applications, the inlet solenoid valve 51 can also be replaced by a water pump. The controller controls the water pump to operate, and when automatic water supply to the water box 1 is required, the water pump is activated to deliver water to the water box 1. The inlet solenoid valve 51 can also be installed on the water purification device 20. In this case, the water purification device 20 is communicatively connected to the cooking device. The controller sends a signal to the water purification device 20, and the water purification device 20 starts producing or stopping water based on the received signal, controlling the inlet solenoid valve 51 to open or close, thus achieving automatic water supply and shutdown. The communication connection between the cooking device and the water purification device 20 can be wired or wireless. The cooking device and the water purification device 20 can be interconnected via wired communication methods such as Ethernet, RS-232, RS-458, UART, USART, SPI, IIC, CAN, Modbus, USB, and power line communication. Of course, the cooking device and the water purification device 20 can also be interconnected via wireless radio frequency communication.

[0027] Example 2 Based on the water inlet system of the cooking equipment described in Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2 of the present invention also provides a control method for the water inlet system of the cooking equipment, applied to the aforementioned cooking equipment. For example... Figure 3-4 As shown, the control method mainly includes the following steps: Step S1: Obtain the user's selected water inlet mode and determine the corresponding water supply mode for the cooking device. The water inlet mode includes manual water replenishment mode and automatic water replenishment mode. In manual water replenishment mode, the water purifier cannot supply water to the water box and water needs to be added manually to the water box. In automatic water inlet mode, the water purifier can supply water to the water box.

[0028] An inlet solenoid valve or water pump is installed on the inlet pipe. By controlling the opening and closing of the inlet solenoid valve, or controlling whether the water pump is working, the water purifier controls whether water is supplied to the water tank. When the user selects the manual water replenishment mode, the inlet solenoid valve remains closed, or the water pump does not work, and the water purifier does not supply water to the water tank. If water is insufficient during cooking, the user needs to manually replenish water. When the user selects the automatic water replenishment mode, the inlet solenoid valve is initially closed. If water is insufficient during cooking, the inlet solenoid valve is opened or the water pump is activated, at which point the water purifier supplies water to the water tank.

[0029] When a user turns on the cooking appliance but does not select a water inlet mode, the appliance defaults to manual water replenishment mode. This means that if the user hasn't selected a water inlet mode after a certain period of time, the appliance will default to manual water replenishment mode.

[0030] Step S2: Obtain the cooking mode of the cooking equipment, which includes steam cooking mode and non-steam cooking mode.

[0031] The dual-mode water inlet system of this invention can be applied to cooking appliances with steam cooking functions, such as steam ovens, steam ovens, and microwave-steam-grill combos. When the user selects pure baking or microwave cooking, it is determined that the cooking appliance has started a non-steam cooking mode. When the user selects pure steam or steam-bake cooking, it is determined that the cooking appliance has started a steam cooking mode.

[0032] Step S3: Obtain the water level detected by the water level detection device and generate water level information. The water level has a first threshold and a second threshold, with the second threshold being greater than the first threshold. When the water level is less than or equal to the first threshold, the water level information indicates water shortage or no water. When the water level is equal to the second threshold, the water level information indicates full water. When the water level is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold, the water level information indicates water present.

[0033] A water level detection device is installed in the cooking equipment to dynamically monitor the water level in the water tank in real time. The water tank is equipped with a minimum water level line and a maximum water level line. The minimum and maximum water levels can be located at the bottom of the water tank or near the bottom wall. A first threshold corresponds to the minimum water level line, and a second threshold corresponds to the maximum water level line. When the water level is at the minimum water level line, the water level detection device detects that the water tank is empty or lacking water, and the corresponding water level information is "empty" or "lacking water." When the water level is at the maximum water level line, the water level detection device detects that the water tank is full, and the corresponding water level information is "full." The water level detection device transmits the water level information to the controller, and the controller issues a command to execute water supply or drainage in the water tank.

[0034] Step S4: Execute the corresponding program based on the cooking mode and water level information. In steam cooking mode, determine if water is needed; in non-steam cooking mode, determine if water is not needed, and then combine the water level information to execute water supply or drainage. When the cooking device is in automatic water replenishment mode and is in steam cooking mode, control whether the water purifier supplies water to the water tank based on the water level information. When the cooking device is in non-steam cooking mode, control whether the water pump drains or the drain solenoid valve opens based on the water level information.

[0035] Specifically, in automatic water replenishment mode, the water tank is consumed when using the steam cooking mode. The system is set to control the water purifier's water supply to the tank based on the water level information, allowing for flexible water replenishment. If the water level information indicates no water or no water, it means the steam generator cannot produce steam. In this case, the water purifier is controlled to supply water to the tank, enabling the cooking device to maintain steam cooking. If the water level information indicates a full tank, it means there is water in the tank. Continuing to supply water could easily lead to overflow, so the water purifier is not activated. During cooking, the system detects whether the water tank is low or full, and then controls whether the water purifier supplies water. If a low water level is detected, the inlet solenoid valve or water pump is activated to automatically supply water to the tank. When the tank is full, the inlet solenoid valve or water pump is automatically closed, stopping the water supply.

[0036] In automatic water replenishment mode, when steam cooking mode is not used, if there is residual water from the previous cooking, especially if the user previously used manual water replenishment mode, residual water may remain in the water tank. The system uses water level information to determine if there is residual water. If the tank is full or contains water, it is determined that residual water is present. In this case, the drain solenoid valve is opened, or the water pump on the drain pipe drains the water, expelling the residual water from the tank. Therefore, the cooking device of this invention can automatically replenish and drain water, exhibiting a high degree of intelligence.

[0037] In manual water replenishment mode, when the cooking device is using the steam cooking mode, if the water level in the water tank reaches the first threshold, the water tank is in a state of water shortage or no water, and a warning message will be issued to remind the user to replenish water. The warning message can be a beep or a water shortage display on the interface.

[0038] Furthermore, in step S4, when the cooking device executes the automatic water replenishment mode and the steam cooking mode, the following steps are also included: Step S41: Obtain the cooking recipe corresponding to the steam cooking mode. By setting selectable menus on the cooking device, different recipes are set in the menu bar for users to choose from. Obtain whether the user selects a steam-bake or a sub-recipe under the pure steam mode.

[0039] Step S42: Predict water consumption based on the selected cooking recipe. The cooking equipment calculates the water required to cook the recipe based on the water consumption per unit time of the steam generator and the cooking time. For example, if the user selects the steam-bake cooking mode, the steam generator produces steam intermittently. The water consumption per unit time of the steam generator and the total working time can be used to calculate the water required for cooking. When the user selects the pure steam cooking mode, the steam generator continuously provides steam. The cooking time varies depending on the selected recipe, such as steamed fish or steamed ribs. The water required for cooking can be calculated based on the cooking time.

[0040] Step S43: Based on the comparison between water level information and water consumption, determine whether the water level meets the water consumption required for cooking, and control whether the water purification equipment supplies water according to the comparison result.

[0041] In the cooking device of this embodiment, a flow meter is connected in series on the water inlet pipe. The flow meter can monitor the water supply from the water purifier to the water tank. If the water level information indicates a lack of water or no water, the water purifier is controlled to supply water to the water tank. When the water supply reaches the required water usage, the water supply stops. If the water level information indicates a full tank, and the water volume corresponding to the full tank is less than the required water usage, the water shortage is calculated. During the cooking process, the water purifier supplies water to the water tank, and the water supply stops when the water supply reaches the required water shortage.

[0042] When the water level in the water tank is low or empty, it is determined that all water usage will be supplied by the water purification system. The inlet solenoid valve is opened to allow water to flow into the water tank. When the flow meter detects that the water supply has reached the required amount, it indicates that the water supply is sufficient for cooking. At this point, the inlet solenoid valve is closed to stop the water supply, thus achieving precise water delivery. After cooking, there is no residual water in the water tank. This prevents bacterial growth in the water tank and reduces the frequency of drainage needed if the cooking equipment is not used for extended periods.

[0043] When the water tank is full, since the water volume is fixed, the amount of water in a full tank equals the storage capacity. Therefore, the amount of water in a full tank is constant. It's necessary to determine if the full water level is sufficient for cooking. If the water level is sufficient, no water purifier needs to supply water to the tank during cooking. After cooking, some residual water will remain in the tank. The next time the cooking device is started, the system will determine whether to drain the water based on the user-selected water inlet and cooking modes. If the water level is insufficient, the water purifier needs to supply water to the tank during cooking. In this case, the water shortage is calculated. Let the water consumption be V1, the storage capacity be V2, and the water shortage be V3, then V3 = V1 - V2. When a water shortage is detected, the inlet solenoid valve is opened, and the water purifier supplies water to the tank until the flow meter detects that the supply has reached the water shortage threshold, at which point the supply stops. This ensures precise water supply, leaving no residual water in the tank after cooking.

[0044] It should be noted that the highest water level in the water tank corresponds to the second threshold. Water can only be added to the highest water level, and the amount of water corresponding to the highest water level is fixed. When the water level detection device detects that the water level in the tank has reached the second threshold, it sends a signal to the controller, which can then directly determine the amount of water in the tank.

[0045] Furthermore, in step S43, when the water level in the water tank is either present or full, the interval between the last use of the cooking device and the last use of the steam cooking mode is first obtained. Based on the comparison between this interval and a preset interval, it is determined whether the water in the water tank has not been used for a long time, and then whether the water level meets the water requirements for cooking. If the interval exceeds the preset interval, it is determined that the water in the water tank has not been used for a long time, and the water in the tank is considered stagnant. In this case, the water pump is controlled to pump or the drain solenoid valve is opened to drain the water from the water tank, avoiding the use of stagnant water for cooking and ensuring the use of fresh water during the cooking process. After the stagnant water in the water tank is drained, the water purification equipment supplies water. Since the water tank is empty after draining, the water supply can be monitored by a flow meter to achieve precise water supply.

[0046] If the interval does not exceed the preset interval, it is determined that the water in the water tank is still usable. At this point, depending on whether the water tank is full or empty, the corresponding instruction is executed. When there is water, during cooking, when the water level drops to the first threshold, the water purifier is controlled to supply water. When the water tank is full, the water consumption is predicted based on the selected cooking recipe, and then compared with the water consumption in the tank to determine if the water supply meets the cooking requirements. If it does, precise water supply is not executed. If it does not meet the cooking requirements, the water purifier is controlled to supply water to the tank, executing precise water supply.

[0047] In this embodiment, in step S43, after draining the stagnant water from the water tank, the water tank can be rinsed, and then water can be supplied to the water tank again after rinsing. During rinsing, the water pump drains water, or the drain solenoid valve is in the open state, and the water purification equipment supplies water to the water tank to rinse it with clean water. When the water supply time of the water purification equipment reaches the preset water supply time, the water supply stops, and when the water level in the water tank is empty, the water pump or drain solenoid valve is turned off to complete the water tank rinsing. After rinsing, since the water tank is empty, precise water supply can be performed.

[0048] Furthermore, in step S4, when the cooking device is in non-steam cooking mode and the water level information in the water tank indicates that there is water or the tank is full, the interval between the last use of the cooking device and the last use of the steam cooking mode is obtained to determine whether the water in the water tank is stagnant. If the interval exceeds the set interval, the water in the water tank is determined to be stagnant, and the water pump is controlled to pump water or the drain solenoid valve is opened to drain the stagnant water from the water tank, preventing the stagnant water from being stored in the water tank and breeding bacteria. If the interval does not exceed the set interval, the water in the water tank is determined to be usable, and drainage can be avoided to prevent water waste and reduce frequent drainage. The next time the cooking device is used, the interval between the last use of the steam cooking mode is determined. If the interval exceeds the set interval, the water in the water tank is drained; if the interval does not exceed the set interval, the water in the water tank is used preferentially for cooking when using the steam cooking mode.

[0049] The embodiments described above are merely examples of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The protection scope of this patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dual-mode water inlet system for a cooking appliance, characterized in that, The device includes a water tank, a steam generator, a water level detection device, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a drain pipe. The water tank has a water inlet, an outlet, and a drain. The inlet is connected to an external water purification device through the inlet pipe. The outlet is connected to the steam generator through the outlet pipe. The steam generator is connected to the cooking chamber. The water level detection device is used to detect the water level in the water tank. The drain is connected to an external sewage outlet through the drain pipe. The drain pipe is equipped with a water pump or a drain solenoid valve.

2. The dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooking equipment is equipped with a controller, and the water inlet pipe is equipped with a water inlet solenoid valve. The water level detection device, the water inlet solenoid valve, and the drain solenoid valve are all electrically connected to the controller.

3. The dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, A flow meter is connected in series on the water inlet pipe.

4. The dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The water inlet solenoid valve is located on the water purification device, which is communicatively connected to the cooking device, so that the water inlet solenoid valve is electrically connected to the controller.

5. A control method for a dual-mode water inlet system of a cooking apparatus, applied to the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, include: The system obtains the user-selected water inlet mode and determines the corresponding water supply mode for the cooking device. The water inlet mode includes a manual water replenishment mode and an automatic water replenishment mode. In the manual water replenishment mode, the water purifier cannot supply water to the water box and water needs to be added manually to the water box. In the automatic water replenishment mode, the water purifier can supply water to the water box. The cooking mode of the cooking device is obtained, and the cooking mode includes steam cooking and non-steam cooking; The water level detected by the water level detection device is obtained, and water level information is generated. The water level is provided with a first threshold and a second threshold, and the second threshold is greater than the first threshold. When the water level is less than or equal to the first threshold, the water level information indicates water shortage or no water. When the water level is equal to the second threshold, the water level information indicates full water. When the water level is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold, the water level information indicates water. The corresponding program is executed according to the cooking mode and the water level information; when the cooking device is in the automatic water replenishment mode and the cooking device is in the steam cooking mode, the water purifier is controlled to supply water to the water box according to the water level information; when the cooking device is in the non-steam cooking mode, the water pump is controlled to drain or the drain solenoid valve is controlled to open according to the water level information.

6. The control method for the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the cooking device is in automatic water replenishment mode and steam cooking mode, if the water level information indicates a lack of water or no water, the water purifier is controlled to supply water to the water tank; if the water level information indicates a full tank, the water purifier is controlled not to start.

7. The control method for the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, When the cooking device performs automatic water replenishment mode and steam cooking mode, it also includes: Obtain the cooking recipes corresponding to the steam cooking mode; Predict water consumption based on the cooking recipe; Based on the comparison between the water level information and the water consumption, the system controls whether the water purification equipment supplies water according to the comparison result. If the water level information indicates a lack of water or no water, the water purification device is controlled to supply water to the water box. When the water supply reaches the water consumption, the water supply is stopped. If the water level information indicates a full water level, and the water volume corresponding to the full water level is less than the water consumption, then the water shortage is calculated; during the cooking process, when the water supply of the water purification equipment reaches the water shortage, the water supply is stopped.

8. The control method for the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the cooking device is in a non-steam cooking mode, it also includes: The system obtains the time interval between the last use of the cooking device and the last use of the steam cooking mode. If the time interval exceeds the set time interval, the system controls the water pump to pump water or the drain solenoid valve to open.

9. The control method for the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the cooking device executes the automatic water replenishment mode, and the cooking device is in steam cooking mode, it further includes: If the water level information indicates that there is water or the water is full, the time interval between the last use of the cooking device and the last use of the steam cooking mode is obtained; if the time interval exceeds the preset time interval, the water pump is controlled to pump water or the drain solenoid valve is opened.

10. The control method for the dual-mode water inlet system of the cooking equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the user does not select a water inlet mode, the cooking device will execute a manual water replenishment mode; if the cooking device is in steam cooking mode and the water level information indicates a water shortage, a prompt message will be issued.

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