Heating Regulator

Abstract

Prevent detergent foam from flowing out from the upper opening of the overflow pipe installed vertically inside the tank. [Solution] The heating cooker 10 is configured such that by operating the pump 42, cleaning water in the tank 16 is ejected from the cleaning nozzle 40 into the cooking chamber 20, the ejected cleaning water is returned to the tank 16 from the drain port 20c at the bottom of the cooking chamber 20, and the inside of the cooking chamber 20 is cleaned by circulating the cleaning water between the tank 16 and the cooking chamber 20. An overflow pipe 51 is erected in the tank 16 to allow cleaning water above the upper limit level to be discharged from the upper end opening 51a. Above the overflow pipe 51, a covering cylindrical portion 53 is provided that extends to a position lower than the upper end opening 51a and covers the upper outer surface of the overflow pipe 51 with a gap in between. A through hole 53a is formed in the circumferential surface of the covering cylindrical portion 53 at a position higher than the upper end opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance that can clean the inside of a cooking chamber by ejecting washing water in a tank from a washing nozzle into the cooking chamber, returning the ejected washing water from a drain port at the bottom of the cooking chamber to the tank, and circulating the washing water between the tank and the cooking chamber.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cooking appliance that cooks food by hot air. This cooking appliance includes a cooking chamber provided in a housing, a heater that heats the inside of the cooking chamber, a convection fan that causes air in the cooking chamber to convection, and a steam generator that supplies steam into the cooking chamber. When a cooking program is executed in this cooking appliance, the air in the cooking chamber becomes hot air and convects by the operation of the heater and the convection fan, and the convecting hot air contains steam supplied from the steam generator. The food in the cooking chamber is cooked by the hot air containing steam.

[0003] When cooking food in the cooking chamber, the oil contained in the food scatters together with the hot air in the cooking chamber, and the oil that scatters together with the hot air adheres to the peripheral wall in the cooking chamber. In this cooking appliance, in order to keep the inside of the cooking chamber clean, a washing nozzle is provided at the ceiling portion in the cooking chamber. The washing nozzle is connected to a drain port provided at the bottom of the cooking chamber by a washing water passage, and the washing water passage is provided with a tank for storing washing water and a pump for sending the washing water in the tank to the washing nozzle. By operating the pump, the washing water in the tank is ejected from the washing nozzle into the cooking chamber, the ejected washing water returns from the drain port at the bottom of the cooking chamber to the tank, and the washing water circulates between the tank and the cooking chamber. The inside of the cooking chamber is cleaned by the washing water ejected from the washing nozzle while circulating between the tank and the cooking chamber. Further, since the dirt adhering to the inside of the cooking chamber contains oil, when cleaning the inside of the cooking chamber, a detergent is dissolved in the washing water. The inside of the cooking chamber is cleaned of the dirt containing oil by the washing water containing the detergent ejected from the washing nozzle while circulating between the tank and the cooking chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-041793 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] In the heating cooker described in Patent Document 1, an overflow pipe is provided on the upper side of the tank, and cleaning water exceeding the upper limit water level in the tank is discharged through the overflow pipe. An opening is formed on the upper side of the tank at a position that defines the upper limit water level, and the overflow pipe is connected to this opening. In this heating cooker, depending on the installation space in the machine room where the tank is installed, it may not be possible to place the overflow pipe on the side of the tank, but the problem of installation space is solved by installing the overflow pipe vertically inside the tank.

[0006] Furthermore, when cleaning water containing detergent is sprayed into the cooking area from a cleaning nozzle, the detergent in the cleaning water may foam up inside the cooking area. The detergent foam flows from the drain of the cooking area into the tank and accumulates above the water level of the cleaning water in the tank. In the case where an overflow pipe is erected inside the tank as described above, the detergent foam that accumulates above the water level of the cleaning water in the tank flows into the overflow pipe from the upper opening, and the detergent foam flows out of the overflow pipe to the outside of the housing, potentially making the drainage area for the cleaning water unsanitary due to the spilled detergent foam. The present invention aims to prevent detergent foam from flowing out from the upper opening of an overflow pipe erected inside a tank. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a cooking appliance comprising: a cooking chamber for heating and cooking food; a cleaning nozzle provided on the ceiling of the cooking chamber for spraying cleaning water; a cleaning water passage connecting the drain at the bottom of the cooking chamber to the cleaning nozzle; a tank interposed in the cleaning water passage for storing cleaning water; and a pump interposed in the cleaning water passage for sending the cleaning water in the tank to the cleaning nozzle. By operating the pump, the cleaning water in the tank is sprayed into the cooking chamber from the cleaning nozzle, and the sprayed cleaning water is returned to the tank from the drain at the bottom of the cooking chamber, thereby circulating the cleaning water between the tank and the cooking chamber to clean the inside of the cooking chamber. The present invention provides a cooking appliance characterized by having an overflow pipe erected in the tank to allow cleaning water above the upper water level to be discharged from the upper end opening, a covering cylindrical portion extending to a position lower than the upper end opening and covering at least the upper outer surface of the overflow pipe with a gap above it, and a through hole formed in the circumferential surface of the covering cylindrical portion at a position higher than the upper end opening.

[0008] In the cooking appliance configured as described above, an overflow pipe is erected in the tank to allow cleaning water above the upper water level to be discharged from the upper opening. Above the overflow pipe, a covering cylindrical section is provided that extends to a position lower than the upper opening and covers at least the upper outer surface of the overflow pipe with a gap in between. A through hole is formed in the circumferential surface of the covering cylindrical section at a position higher than the upper opening. When cleaning is performed in the cooking appliance by spraying cleaning water containing detergent from the cleaning nozzle, the detergent contained in the cleaning water may foam. Even if detergent foam accumulates above the water level in the tank, the covering cylindrical section extends from above the overflow pipe to a position lower than the upper opening and covers at least the upper outer surface of the overflow pipe with a gap in between. Therefore, the detergent foam is prevented from flowing inward from the upper opening of the overflow pipe by the covering cylindrical section, and detergent foam does not flow out of the tank from the overflow pipe. Furthermore, since through holes are formed on the circumferential surface of the covered cylinder at a position higher than the upper opening of the overflow pipe, the inside of the covered cylinder is open to the atmosphere just like the outside, and the water level inside the covered cylinder is the same as the outside, so any cleaning water exceeding the upper limit water level in the tank is discharged through the overflow pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a front view of one embodiment of the heating appliance of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the central part in the front-to-back direction. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of AA. [Figure 4] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view AA with the partition plate and support frame removed. [Figure 5] This is a left side view showing the machine room with the left panel of the housing removed. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning water path between the tank and the cleaning nozzle. [Figure 7] This is a cross-section of the BB. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of CC. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of the DD position. [Figure 10] This is a block diagram of the control device. [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0010] An embodiment of the cooking appliance of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The cooking appliance of the present invention is called a steam convection oven, and it cooks food by circulating hot air or hot air containing steam inside the cooking chamber, and furthermore, the inside of the cooking chamber can be cleaned with cleaning water. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cooking appliance 10 is equipped with a machine room 12 on the left side of the housing 11 and a cooking chamber 20 for cooking food in the part of the housing 11 excluding the machine room 12. As shown in Figure 3, an opening 20a for putting food in and taking it out is provided on the front of the cooking chamber 20, and a door 13 for opening and closing the opening 20a is provided.

[0011] As shown in Figure 2, the cooking chamber 20 is for storing and heating food ingredients. The portion of the cooking chamber 20 excluding the left side is designated as a food storage chamber 21 for storing ingredients, while the left side of the cooking chamber 20 is designated as a hot air generation chamber 22 for generating hot air to be sent to the food storage chamber 21. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a partition plate 23 is provided to the left of the center of the cooking chamber 20 in the left-right direction. The partition plate 23 divides the inside of the cooking chamber 20 into the food storage chamber 21 and the hot air generation chamber 22, allowing for ventilation. As shown in Figure 3, an intake port 23a, consisting of multiple openings, is formed in the center of the partition plate 23 to draw air from the food storage chamber 21 into the hot air generation chamber 22. In addition, the partition plate 23 is provided with an outlet port 23b around the intake port 23a to blow air from the hot air generation chamber 22 into the food storage chamber 21. Furthermore, the partition plate 23 is attached to the cooking cabinet 20 such that an air passage 23c is formed between it and the ceiling wall, bottom wall, front wall, and rear wall of the cooking cabinet 20, and the air from the hot air generation chamber 22 is sent to the food storage chamber 21 through the outlet 23b and the air passage 23c. The food storage chamber 21 of the cooking cabinet 20 is provided with a pair of left and right support frames 24 that support trays called hotel pans in a multi-tiered arrangement.

[0012] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, a heater 25 and a convection fan 26 are provided on the left side of the cooking chamber 20. The heater 25 heats the cooking chamber 20 and is wound in a ring shape around the left wall of the cooking chamber 20. The convection fan 26 circulates the air inside the cooking chamber 20 and is positioned inside the ring-shaped heater 25. When the heater 25 and convection fan 26 are activated, the air from the food storage chamber 21 is sent to the hot air generation chamber 22 through the intake port 23a. The air blown outwards centrifugally from the convection fan 26 is heated by the heater 25 inside the hot air generation chamber 22 to become hot air, and the heated hot air is sent to the food storage chamber 21 through the outlet port 23b and the ventilation passage 23c. As shown in Figure 4, a temperature sensor 27 is provided on the left wall of the cooking chamber 20, and the temperature sensor 27 detects the temperature inside the cooking chamber 20.

[0013] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a tank 16 is provided at the rear of the machine room 12 of the housing 11, and a steam generator 30 that supplies steam into the cooking chamber 20 is mounted upright above the tank 16. The steam generator 30 generates steam by heating water using induction heating, and comprises a cylindrical steam generating container 31 that stores water at a predetermined level, a heating element 32 that heats the water in the steam generating container 31, an induction heating coil 33 that is wound around the outer circumference of the steam generating container 31 to heat the heating element, and a steam outlet pipe 34 that sends the steam generated in the steam generating container 31 to the cooking chamber 20 (the internal structure of the steam generator 30 is shown in Figure 9). The steam outlet pipe 34 is connected to the steam inlet 20b of the cooking chamber 20 shown in Figure 4, and the steam generated in the steam generating container 31 is sent into the cooking chamber 20 from the steam inlet 20b through the steam outlet pipe 34.

[0014] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6, a cleaning nozzle 40 is provided on the ceiling of the cooking chamber 20, and the cleaning nozzle 40 sprays cleaning water into the cooking chamber 20. As shown in Figure 6, a drain port 20c is formed in the bottom wall of the cooking chamber 20, and the drain port 20c is connected to the tank 16 by a first drain pipe 17. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a second drain pipe 18 is connected to the tank 16, and the second drain pipe 18 is connected to an overflow pipe 51, which will be described later (shown in Figure 8). The water in the tank 16, including the cleaning water, can be discharged to the outside of the housing 11 through the second drain pipe 18 and the overflow pipe 51. A drain valve 19 is interposed in the second drain pipe 18, and the water in the tank 16 is discharged to the outside of the housing 11 through the second drain pipe 18 and the overflow pipe 51 by opening the drain valve 19. When cleaning the inside of the cooking chamber 20, the drain valve 19 is closed in order to store cleaning water in the tank 16.

[0015] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the inlet end of the cleaning water supply pipe 41 is connected to the second drain pipe 18 upstream of the drain valve 19, and the outlet end of the cleaning water supply pipe 41 is connected to a cleaning nozzle 40 installed on the ceiling of the kitchen cabinet 20. A pump 42 is interposed in the cleaning water supply pipe 41, and the cleaning water in the tank 16 is sent to the cleaning nozzle 40 by the pump 42. The cleaning water passage described in the claims of this patent application is formed by the first drain pipe 17, a part of the second drain pipe 18, and the cleaning water supply pipe 41. A water supply pipe 43 for supplying cleaning water (cleaning water) is connected to the tank 16, and a flow meter 44 and a water supply valve 45 are interposed in the water supply pipe 43. When the water supply valve 45 is opened to clean the inside of the kitchen cabinet 20, cleaning water is supplied from the water supply pipe 43 into the tank 16. The flow meter 44 is used to measure the flow rate of water passing through the water supply pipe 43 when supplying cleaning water into the tank 16.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tank 16 includes a container portion 16a with an open upper surface capable of storing water such as washing water, and a lid portion 16b that opens and closes the opening on the upper surface of the container portion 16a to form the ceiling portion (upper wall portion) of the tank 16. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, an exhaust pipe 50 is provided in the tank 16, and the exhaust pipe 50 extends from inside the tank 16 through the lid portion 16b to the upper side of the housing 11. The lower end of the exhaust pipe 50 extends to a position close to the bottom wall of the tank 16 so that the pressure inside the cooking chamber 20 does not increase during the heating cooking process. The hot air inside the cooking chamber 20 when the heating cooking program described later is being executed flows into the tank 16 through the first drain pipe 17, and the hot air inside the tank 16 is discharged to the outside of the housing 11 through the exhaust pipe 50. Also, as described above, when cleaning the inside of the cooking chamber 20, the water such as washing water inside the cooking chamber 20 is sent into the tank 16 through the first drain pipe 17, and the water such as washing water inside the tank 16 is sent to the cooking chamber 20 through the second drain pipe 18 and the washing water supply pipe 41 when cleaning the inside of the cooking chamber 20, and is discharged to the outside of the housing 11 through the second drain pipe 18 when draining. In this way, the tank 16 is configured to discharge the exhaust air inside the cooking chamber 20 from the exhaust pipe 50 and to send the washing water inside the cooking chamber 20 to the drain pipe 18, and has a function of separating the air and water discharged from the cooking chamber 20.

[0017] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the tank 16 is provided with an overflow pipe 51 that allows for the discharge of cleaning water (water) above the upper limit level, and the overflow pipe 51 is erected in a substantially vertical direction inside the tank 16. The upper end opening 51a of the overflow pipe 51 opens upward at a position that defines the upper limit level inside the tank 16, and the upper end opening 51a of the overflow pipe 51 serves as an inlet for cleaning water above the upper limit level to flow in. Water such as cleaning water above the upper limit level inside the tank 16 is drained through the overflow pipe 51. As shown in Figure 8, the overflow pipe 51 extends downward from the bottom wall of the tank 16, and the lower part of the overflow pipe 51 extends further rearward, with a drain port 51b located outside the housing 11. In this embodiment, a drain hose 52 is connected to the drain port 51b of the overflow pipe 51, and the water flowing through the overflow pipe 51 is discharged to a drain at the installation site by the drain hose 52. Furthermore, a second drain pipe 18 is connected to the overflow pipe 51 at the bottom of the tank 16, and water such as cleaning water discharged through the second drain pipe 18 is discharged to the drainage location through the overflow pipe 51 and the drain hose 52.

[0018] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a covering cylindrical portion 53 is provided inside the tank 16 above the overflow pipe 51, and the covering cylindrical portion 53 has the function of preventing detergent foam from flowing into the overflow pipe 51. The covering cylindrical portion 53 is integrally provided on the lower surface of the lid portion 16b and extends from the lower surface of the lid portion 16b above the overflow pipe 51 to a position lower than the upper end opening 51a of the overflow pipe 51. In this embodiment, the covering cylindrical portion 53 covers the lower outer surface of the overflow pipe 51, including the upper outer surface, with a gap in between, and the lower end of the covering cylindrical portion 53 is positioned slightly higher than the bottom wall of the tank 16 and lower than the upper end of the inlet 18a of the second drain pipe 18 (the outlet of the washing water from the tank 16).

[0019] When the cleaning water in the tank 16 is circulated between the inside of the cooking chamber 20, the water level of the cleaning water in the tank 16 decreases. The lower end of the covering cylinder portion 53 is at a height position where it is difficult for the detergent foam to flow into the inside of the covering cylinder portion 53 even if the detergent foam is generated above the cleaning water whose level has dropped at the bottom of the tank 16. Since the lower end of the covering cylinder portion 53 is arranged at a position above the bottom wall of the tank 16 and lower than the water level when the cleaning water is circulated between the tank 16 and the cooking chamber 20, even if the cleaning water in the tank 16 decreases when circulated between the tank 16 and the cooking chamber 20, it is difficult for the detergent foam to flow into the inside of the covering cylinder portion 53. Thus, since the covering cylinder portion 53 covers up to the lower outer peripheral surface including the upper outer peripheral surface of the overflow pipe 51 via a gap, even if the detergent foam rises from the water surface of the cleaning water stored in the tank 16, the detergent foam is blocked by the covering cylinder portion 53 and does not flow into the overflow pipe 51 from the upper end opening portion 51a. Thereby, the detergent foam generated in the tank 16 is not discharged through the overflow pipe 51 and the drain hose 52 by the covering cylinder portion 53.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 8, a through hole 53a formed of a through hole is formed in the peripheral surface of the covering cylinder portion 53 at a height position higher than the upper end opening portion 51a of the overflow pipe 51. The inside of the covering cylinder portion 53 is communicated with the outside by the through hole 53a, and the inside of the covering cylinder portion 53 is in an open state to the atmosphere by the through hole 53a. When the cleaning water is stored in the tank 16, the water level inside the covering cylinder portion 53 becomes the same as the water level outside by the through hole 53a. Since the through hole 53a is a small hole through which it is difficult for the detergent foam to flow in, the detergent foam generated in the tank 16 is difficult to flow into the inside of the covering cylinder portion 53.

[0021] As shown in Figure 10, the cooking appliance 10 is equipped with a control device 60, which is connected to a drain valve 19, a heater 25, a convection fan 26, a temperature sensor 27, a steam generator 30, a pump 42, a flow meter 44, and a water supply valve 45. The control device 60 has a microcomputer (not shown), which comprises a CPU, RAM, ROM, and timer (all not shown) connected via a bus. The control device 60 has a cooking program in its ROM for heating and cooking food in the cooking chamber 20, and a cleaning program for cleaning the inside of the cooking chamber 20. The cooking program includes three types of cooking programs: a hot air mode cooking program that uses a heater 25 and a convection fan 26 to heat and cook food with circulating hot air; a steam mode cooking program that uses a convection fan 26 and a steam generator 30 to heat and cook food with circulating hot air containing steam; and a combi mode cooking program that uses a heater 25, a convection fan 26, and a steam generator 30 to heat and cook food with high-temperature hot air containing circulating steam. Each of the above cooking programs, with the set temperature inside the cooking chamber 20, steam volume, and cooking time corresponding to the food being cooked, is pre-set in the ROM, and each cooking program can be set with the set temperature inside the cooking chamber 20, steam volume, and cooking time according to the user's needs. The cleaning program performs a single cleaning mode in which cleaning water containing detergent is sprayed and circulated, and three (multiple) rinsing modes in which cleaning water without detergent is sprayed and circulated.

[0022] When the cooking program, for example, the combi mode cooking program, is executed, the heater 25 and the convection fan 26 operate, causing the air inside the cooking chamber 20 to circulate as hot air, and steam is supplied to the cooking chamber 20 from the steam generator 30. As a result, the food placed inside the cooking chamber 20 is heated and cooked by the hot air containing steam. At this time, the oil contained in the food is scattered inside the cooking chamber 20 along with the circulating hot air, and the oil adheres to the surrounding walls, partition plates 23 and support frames 24 of the cooking chamber 20. In this type of heating cooker 10, it is desirable to maintain the cooking chamber 20 in a hygienic manner at all times, and it is preferable to clean the cooking chamber 20, for example, after each day of use. For this reason, this heating cooker 10 has a cleaning program that automatically cleans the inside of the cooking chamber 20.

[0023] When cleaning the inside of the cooking cabinet 20, place a tablet-shaped detergent on top of the drain strainer 20d located at the drain port 20c of the cooking cabinet 20, and then run the cleaning program. The cleaning program consists of a cleaning mode that uses cleaning water containing detergent, and three rinsing modes that use cleaning water without detergent. It is preferable to activate the steam generator 30 before running the cleaning mode to supply steam into the cooking cabinet 20, thereby loosening any oil or other dirt adhering to the walls of the cooking cabinet 20.

[0024] When the cleaning mode is started, the drain valve 19 is closed and the water supply valve 45 is opened for a time corresponding to the flow rate measured by the flow meter 44, so that cleaning water is stored in the tank 16. After the tank 16 is filled with cleaning water, the pump 42 is activated. When the pump 42 is running, the cleaning water stored in the tank 16 is expelled from the cleaning nozzle 40 through the cleaning water supply pipe 41. Also, because the heater 25 and convection fan 26 are running when the pump 42 is running, the cleaning water expelled from the cleaning nozzle 40 is heated by the warm air circulating inside the cooking cabinet 20 and is scattered over a wide area of ​​the cooking cabinet 20. In addition, the cleaning water expelled from the cleaning nozzle 40 flows down along the ceiling walls and side walls inside the cooking cabinet 20. At this time, as the cleaning water circulating inside the tank 16 and cooking cabinet 20 passes through the drain port 20c, the detergent placed on top of the drain strainer 20d dissolves, and the cooking cabinet 20 is cleaned with the detergent-containing cleaning water. Furthermore, by rotating the convection fan 26 alternately in the forward and reverse directions to change the airflow circulating inside the cooking chamber 20, the cleaning water sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 40 will be sprayed even further into the corners of the cooking chamber 20 due to the change in airflow depending on whether the convection fan 26 is rotating in the forward or reverse direction. After the cleaning mode of the cleaning program has been executed for a predetermined time, the operation of the heater 25, convection fan 26, and pump 42 is stopped, and the drain valve 19 is opened to drain the cleaning water containing detergent from the tank 16.

[0025] When the cleaning mode of the cleaning program is completed, the rinsing mode is executed next. In rinsing mode, the drain valve 19 is closed and the water supply valve 45 is opened for a time corresponding to the flow rate measured by the flow meter 44, so that cleaning water for rinsing is stored in the tank 16. Then, when the pump 42 is activated, the cleaning water stored in the tank 16 is sent to the cleaning nozzle 40 through the cleaning water supply pipe 41, and, as in the cleaning mode described above, the cleaning water sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 40 is sprayed to every corner of the surrounding walls, partition plates 23 and support frames 24 of the kitchen cabinet 20, so that the cleaning water containing detergent that was sprayed when the cleaning mode was executed is washed away. In this rinsing mode as well, the heater 25 and convection fan 26 are operated, and the convection fan 26 is rotated alternately in the forward and reverse directions. When the rinsing mode of the cleaning program is executed for a predetermined time, the operation of the heater 25, convection fan 26, and pump 42 is stopped, and the drain valve 19 is opened to drain the cleaning water used for rinsing from the tank 16. In this embodiment, the rinsing mode is executed multiple times, for example, three times, before the cleaning program ends.

[0026] The cooking appliance 10 configured as described above includes a cooking chamber 20 for cooking food, a cleaning nozzle 40 provided on the ceiling of the cooking chamber 20 for spraying cleaning water, a cleaning water passage consisting of a first drain pipe 17, a part of a second drain pipe 18, and a cleaning water supply pipe 41 connecting the drain port 20c at the bottom of the cooking chamber 20 to the cleaning nozzle 40, a tank 16 interposed between the first drain pipe 17 and the second drain pipe 18 of the cleaning water passage for storing cleaning water, and a pump 42 interposed in the cleaning water supply pipe 41 of the cleaning water passage for sending the cleaning water in the tank 16 to the cleaning nozzle 40. In this cooking appliance 10, by operating the pump 42, the cleaning water in the tank 16 is sprayed into the cooking chamber 20 from the cleaning nozzle 40, the sprayed cleaning water is returned to the tank 16 from the drain port 20c at the bottom of the cooking chamber 20, and the inside of the cooking chamber 20 can be cleaned by circulating the cleaning water between the tank 16 and the inside of the cooking chamber 20.

[0027] When a tablet-shaped detergent is placed on top of the drain strainer 20d installed in the drain port 20c of the cooking cabinet 20, and cleaning water is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 40 inside the cooking cabinet 20 and circulated between the tank 16 and the cooking cabinet 20, the detergent dissolves in the cleaning water. As the cleaning water is pressurized when it is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 40, the detergent contained in the cleaning water foams up and detergent bubbles are generated. The detergent bubbles flow into the tank 16 from the drain port 20c, and detergent bubbles accumulate above the water surface in the tank 16. If a large amount of detergent bubbles are generated above the water surface in the tank 16, there is a risk that the detergent bubbles will be discharged to the outside of the housing 11 from the overflow pipe 51, and the drain area of ​​the cleaning water outside the housing 11 may become contaminated with detergent bubbles.

[0028] In this heating cooker 10, an overflow pipe 51 is installed upright inside the tank 16, allowing cleaning water above the upper water level to be discharged from the upper end opening 51a. A covering cylindrical portion 53 is provided on the lower surface of the lid portion 16b of the tank 16, which is above the overflow pipe 51, extending to a position lower than the upper end opening 51a and covering at least the upper outer surface of the overflow pipe 51 up to the lower outer surface with a gap in between. Therefore, even if a large amount of detergent foam is generated above the water surface in the tank 16, the detergent foam will not flow in from the upper end opening 51a of the overflow pipe 51 due to the covering cylindrical portion 53. As a result, even if a large amount of detergent foam is generated in the tank 16, the drainage area of ​​the cleaning water outside the housing 11 will not be contaminated with detergent foam.

[0029] In particular, in this embodiment, the covering cylindrical portion 53 covers the lower outer surface of the overflow pipe 51 with a gap between it and the bottom wall of the tank 16 at a height position where a gap is created between it and the tank 16. When the cleaning water in the tank 16 is circulated between it and the cooking chamber 20, the water level in the tank 16 decreases. The covering cylindrical portion 53 extends to a height position that covers the lower outer surface of the overflow pipe 51, and the lower end of the covering cylindrical portion 53 is lower than the cleaning water in the tank 16, which decreases when the cleaning water is circulating. As a result, even when the cleaning water in the tank 16 is circulating between it and the cooking chamber 20, detergent foam is less likely to flow into the inside of the covering cylindrical portion 53, and detergent foam is prevented from flowing in from the upper end opening 51a of the overflow pipe 51 by the covering cylindrical portion 53.

[0030] In this embodiment, the covering cylindrical portion 53 covers the lower outer surface of the overflow pipe 51 with a gap in between, but it is not limited to this. The covering cylindrical portion 53 may cover only the upper outer surface of the overflow pipe 51, or the outer surface of the intermediate portion in the vertical direction from the top with a gap in between. Furthermore, since a through hole 53a is formed in the circumferential surface of the covering cylindrical portion 53 at a position higher than the upper end opening 51a of the overflow pipe 51, the inside of the covering cylindrical portion 53 is open to the atmosphere just like the outside, and the water level inside the covering cylindrical portion 53 is the same as the outside, so that cleaning water above the upper limit water level in the tank 16 is discharged from the overflow pipe 51. In this way, even if the upper outer surface of the overflow pipe 51 is covered by the covering cylindrical portion 53, cleaning water above the upper limit water level in the tank 16 can be discharged from the overflow pipe 51. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 10...Cooking appliance, 16...Tank, 17...Washing water passage (first drain pipe), 18...Washing water passage (second drain pipe), 20...Cooking cabinet, 20c...Drain outlet, 40...Washing nozzle, 41...Washing water passage (Washing water supply pipe), 42...Pump, 51...Overflow pipe, 51a...Upper end opening, 53...Covered cylindrical section, 53a...Through hole.

Claims

[Claim 1] A cooking area for heating and cooking ingredients, A cleaning nozzle is provided on the ceiling of the aforementioned cooking cabinet to spray cleaning water, A water passage for washing connects the drain at the bottom of the cooking cabinet to the washing nozzle, A tank interposed in the aforementioned cleaning water passage for storing the cleaning water, The system includes a pump interposed in the cleaning water passage for sending cleaning water from the tank to the cleaning nozzle, A cooking appliance that, by operating the pump, sprays cleaning water from the tank into the cooking chamber from the cleaning nozzle, returns the sprayed cleaning water to the tank through a drain at the bottom of the cooking chamber, and circulates the cleaning water between the tank and the cooking chamber, thereby cleaning the inside of the cooking chamber. A cooking appliance characterized in that an overflow pipe is erected inside the tank to allow cleaning water above the upper water level to be discharged from the upper end opening, a covering cylindrical portion is provided above the overflow pipe, extending to a position lower than the upper end opening and covering at least the upper outer surface of the overflow pipe with a gap, and a through hole is formed in the circumferential surface of the covering cylindrical portion at a position higher than the upper end opening.

Images