Electronic cooking apparatus having steam supply device

An electronic cooking apparatus, comprising:

• a main body;
• a cooking chamber provided in the main body;
• a steam generator configured to generate steam and supply the steam to the cooking chamber, the steam generator comprising a steam supply chamber, a steam heater, a steam supply flow path, and at least one water level sensor configured to detect a water level inside of the steam supply chamber;
• a water supply pump configured to supply water from a water tank to the steam supply chamber;
• a drain pump configured to recover condensed water from the steam supply flow path to the water tank;
• and
• a controller configured to control on/off operations of the water supply pump or the drain pump according to changes in water level in the steam supply chamber detected by the at least one water level sensor, wherein the at least one water level sensor comprises:
• a common electrode;
• a low water level sensor configured to detect a low level of water in the steam supply chamber;
• and
• a high water level sensor configured to detect a high level of water in the steam supply chamber, wherein the steam supply flow path extends from the steam supply chamber to the cooking chamber, wherein the steam supply flow path comprises:
• a first flow path including an upward portion extending upward from the steam supply chamber, an extension portion extending in a lateral direction from the upward portion, and a downward portion extending downward from the extension portion to an inside of a condensed water storage chamber;
• and
• a second flow path branched from the downward portion and extending to the cooking chamber, wherein the steam generator further comprises:
• the condensed water storage chamber, wherein an end of the downward portion of the steam supply flow path extends into the inside of the condensed water storage chamber to recover and store the condensed water from the steam supply flow path;
• a water supply flow path configured to supply the water from the water supply pump to the steam supply chamber;
• and
• a recovery flow path that connects the condensed water storage chamber to the water supply flow path, and wherein the common electrode is disposed to extend downward from a first lateral upper surface of the condensed water storage chamber, with respect to the downward portion, and operation electrodes, corresponding to the low water level sensor and the high water level sensor, are disposed to extend downward from a second lateral upper surface opposite to the first lateral upper surface, such that the common electrode and the operation electrodes are spatially separated with the downward portion positioned therebetween, thereby reducing a likelihood of malfunction and noise caused by water flow and electrode interference.

An electronic cooking apparatus, comprising:

• a main body;
• a cooking chamber provided in the main body;
• a steam generator configured to generate steam and supply the steam to the cooking chamber, the steam generator comprising a water supply flow path, a steam supply chamber, a steam heater, a steam supply flow path, a condensed water storage chamber connected to the steam supply flow path, a recovery flow path that connects the condensed water storage chamber to the water supply flow path, and at least one water level sensor configured to detect a water level inside of the steam supply chamber based on a level of water in the condensed water storage chamber;
• a water supply pump configured to supply water from a water tank to the steam supply chamber;
• a drain pump configured to recover condensed water from the steam supply flow path to the water tank;
• and
• a controller configured to control on/off operations of the water supply pump or the drain pump according to changes in water level in the steam supply chamber detected by the at least one water level sensor, wherein the steam supply flow path comprises:
• a first flow path including an upward portion extending upward from the steam supply chamber, an extension portion extending in a lateral direction from the upward portion, and a downward portion extending downward from the extension portion to an inside of the condensed water storage chamber;
• and
• a second flow path branched from the downward portion and extending to the cooking chamber, wherein the at least one water level sensor comprises:
• a common electrode;
• a low water level sensor configured to detect a low level of water in the steam supply chamber;
• and
• a high water level sensor configured to detect a high level of water in the steam supply chamber, wherein an end of the downward portion of the steam supply flow path extends into the inside of the condensed water storage chamber to recover and store the condensed water from the steam supply flow path, and wherein the common electrode is disposed to extend downward from a first lateral upper surface of the condensed water storage chamber, with respect to the downward portion, and operation electrodes, corresponding to the low water level sensor and the high water level sensor, are disposed to extend downward from a second lateral upper surface opposite to the first lateral upper surface, such that the common electrode and the operation electrodes are spatially separated with the downward portion positioned therebetween, thereby reducing a likelihood of malfunction and noise caused by water flow and electrode interference.