JP5526046B2 - Imaging apparatus, microwave oven, and imaging method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device, a microwave oven, and an imaging method, and more particularly, to an imaging device and an imaging method for imaging an imaging object in a steam environment, and a microwave oven equipped with the imaging device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in cooking utensils and the like, observation means for observing the state of an object while processing the object in various environments has been developed. For example, in a microwave oven that heats an object to be heated by microwaves, the open / close door disposed on the side of the housing includes a tempered glass shielded by a mesh-like conductor, There is something to observe. By such observation means, it is possible to observe the state of the object to be heated without being affected by the microwave while performing the heat treatment.

  However, in the observation means for directly observing the observation object visually, the observation position is often limited to a position where it is difficult to overlook the entire observation object such as the side surface, and the processing state of the observation object May not be observed in detail. For this reason, there is a need for an observation means that can observe an observation object from a facing position while corresponding to each processing environment.

  Thus, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a microwave oven with a video display that can observe the state of cooking while preventing external leakage of electromagnetic waves.

Utility model registration No. 313489

  In the microwave oven with a video display of Patent Document 1, an optical fiber scope is attached to the ceiling of the microwave oven casing, and the inside of the casing is photographed by an imaging unit connected thereto, so that the object to be heated is not affected by microwaves. It is possible to observe the state of the heat treatment from the position opposite to. However, since steam is released from the object to be heated by the heat treatment, the inside of the housing to which the optical fiber scope is attached becomes a steam environment, and the steam enters the imaging region, making it impossible to observe the state of the object to be heated in detail. There is a risk that vapor may condense on the lens of the optical fiber scope and become cloudy, making observation impossible, or the lens may deteriorate or be damaged by moisture or condensation heat.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem. An imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of imaging an imaging object in a steam environment while suppressing the influence of the steam, and this An object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven equipped with a photographing device.

An imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus for imaging an imaging object placed in a steam environment formed in a housing, the tube-shaped insertion tool penetrating the upper surface of the housing, and the insertion An optical fiber scope that is inserted into the housing via a tool and has a distal end portion disposed opposite to the object to be imaged, an imaging unit connected to a proximal end part of the optical fiber scope, and an imaging region by the optical fiber scope have a steam removing means to blow off the steam photographing region by ejecting air, the vapor removing means, said housing through said insert is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope An air supply path inserted into the body, a jet port disposed at a tip of the air supply path, and an air supply device for supplying air to the air supply path, wherein the air supply path has an outer wall Wherein a gap between the inner wall of the insert, is intended to be tiltably arranged within the insert together with the optical fiber scope. The steam in the present invention refers to so-called steam generated mainly by heating food, but includes those in which the liquid is atomized by molecular vibration or the like, and water vapor condensed in the air.

Here, the steam evacuating means excludes steam that enters the imaging region from the tip of the optical fiber scope to the object to be imaged, and preferably emits steam by blowing air toward the imaging region. It blows away from the imaging area. More preferably, the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope can be accommodated in the air supply path by being disposed closer to the proximal end portion than the jet port . In addition, the optical fiber scope may include an optical fiber and a condensing lens disposed at a distal end portion. Moreover, you may further have a display part which displays the imaging | photography target object imaged by the said imaging part.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a microwave oven including any one of the above-described imaging apparatuses, wherein the imaging object is an object to be heated that is heated by a microwave in a housing.

Here, the outer periphery of the optical fiber scope can be coated with a resin . Also, the insertion tool may also have a major axis of more than three times the length with respect to its inner diameter.

An imaging method according to the present invention is an imaging method for imaging an imaging object placed in a steam environment formed in a housing , and is an air arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope. The supply air is inserted into the housing together with the optical fiber scope via a tube-shaped insertion tool that penetrates the upper surface of the housing, and the air supply is disposed so as to be able to tilt with the optical fiber scope in the insertion tool. By adjusting the inclination of the road, the tip of the optical fiber scope is disposed opposite to the object to be photographed, the object to be photographed is photographed from the tip of the fiber optic scope disposed opposite to the object to be photographed, and the air supply device by supplying air to the air supply passage, to eject air toward the imaging region by the optical fiber scope from the ejection port disposed at the distal end of the air supply passage It is intended to blow off steam photographing region by.

  According to the present invention, since the steam evacuation unit blows off the steam in the imaging region, it is possible to photograph the imaging object in the steam environment while suppressing the influence of the steam.

It is a figure which shows the microwave oven which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the optical fiber scope and air supply path which were inserted in the insertion tool. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the insertion tool in this embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a microwave oven according to an embodiment of the present invention. The microwave oven includes a microwave main body 1 that heats the object to be heated F by microwaves, and a photographing device 2 for photographing the object to be heated F that is heated in the microwave oven main body 1.

The microwave oven main body 1 is configured to supply a microwave to the object F to be heated and heat it to operate, and an operation to operate the supply of the microwave into the heating casing 3. Part 4. The heating casing 3 has a structure in which a microwave is supplied to the inside by a magnetron (not shown) and shielded so that the microwave does not leak to the outside.
The imaging device 2 includes a fiber optic scope 5 having a distal end opposed to the object F to be heated, an imaging unit 6 connected to the proximal end of the optical fiber scope 5, and a display that displays an image captured by the imaging unit 6. A unit 7 and a steam evacuation unit 8 that blows off air in the imaging region by blowing air toward the imaging region of the optical fiber scope 5.
The optical fiber scope 5 passes through the ceiling part of the heating housing part 3 and the tip part thereof is arranged to face the object to be heated F, and transmits the optical information of the imaging region obtained from the tip part to the imaging part 6. The imaging unit 6 converts the optical information transmitted from the optical fiber scope 5 into an electrical signal and generates image information based on the electrical signal. The display unit 7 displays the image of the shooting area based on the image information generated by the imaging unit 6.
The steam evacuation means 8 includes an air supply device 9 that supplies air, and a tube-shaped air supply path 10 that guides the air supplied from the air supply device 9 to the inside of the heating casing 3. The air supply path 10 passes through the ceiling portion of the heating casing 3, and the front end thereof is disposed to face the object to be heated F.
The optical fiber scope 5 and the air supply path 10 are inserted into the heating casing 3 via a tube-shaped insertion tool 11 that penetrates the ceiling of the heating casing 3.

FIG. 2 shows the optical fiber scope 5 and the air supply path 10 inserted into the heating casing 3 via the insertion tool 11.
The insertion tool 11 includes a tubular sleeve 12 that penetrates the ceiling portion of the heating casing 3, an elastic packing 13, and a presser 14 that is fitted into the sleeve 12 together with the packing 13. The insertion tool 11 is fixed to the heating casing 3 by sandwiching the ceiling portion of the heating casing 3 between the flange formed on the bottom of the sleeve 12 and the presser 14. In this way, the insertion tool 11 is fixed to the heating casing 3, whereby the insertion path 15 extending perpendicularly to the ceiling of the heating casing 3 is formed.

The optical fiber scope 5 and the air supply path 10 are inserted into the insertion path 15 of the insertion tool 11. The optical fiber scope 5 includes a condensing lens 16 disposed at a distal end portion, and an optical fiber 17 that transmits optical information of an imaging region collected by the condensing lens 16. The optical fiber scope 5 is coated with a resin so as not to cause discharge or the like due to microwaves, and can be covered with a heat shrinkable tube such as FEP. The condensing lens 16 can be formed of optical glass or resin.
The air supply path 10 is arranged coaxially with the optical fiber scope 5 at the insertion portion to the insertion tool 11 and is fixed integrally with the optical fiber scope 5. The air supply path 10 is a jet that ejects air toward the imaging region at the tip of the air supply path 10. It has an outlet 18. That is, the air supply path 10 is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the optical fiber scope 5, and the air supplied from the air supply device 9 to the air supply path 10 is along the outer periphery of the optical fiber scope 5 in the insertion portion to the insertion tool 11. And is ejected from the ejection port 18 disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope 5 toward the imaging region. If the air supply path 10 is arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the optical fiber scope 5 in this way, a cooling effect can be obtained for high-temperature steam. Further, the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope 5 is accommodated inside the air supply path 10 without projecting from the ejection port 18 so as not to affect the photographing. The air supply path 10 can be formed from a heat-resistant resin. For example, polysulfone (PSF), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether Sulphone (PES), polyarylate (PAR), polyamideimide (PAI), polyetherimide (PEI), polyamide 6 (PA6), polyamide 66 (PA66), polyacetal (POM), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate ( PET), hensei polyphenylene ether (m-PPE), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (U-PE), polyfucavinylidene (PVDF), and the like.

  In FIG. 3, the insertion tool 11 fixed to the heating housing | casing part 3 is shown. The sleeve 12 is disposed so that a flange that penetrates the ceiling portion of the heating casing 3 and expands outwardly contacts the inner surface of the ceiling portion of the heating casing 3. On the other hand, the presser 14 is fitted along the thread groove formed on the outer periphery of the sleeve 12 until the elastic packing 13 contacts the outer surface of the ceiling portion of the heating housing 3. In this way, the insertion tool 11 is fixed to the heating casing 3 by sandwiching the ceiling portion of the heating casing 3 from the inner surface side and the outer surface side. Further, the insertion tool 11 has a length H of the sleeve 12 that is three times or more the inner diameter I of the insertion path 15 and is made of a metal material.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 1, an optical fiber scope is placed through an insertion path 15 of an insertion tool 11 on which an object to be heated F is placed in the heating casing 3 and is fixed to the ceiling of the heating casing 3. 5 and the air supply path 10 are inserted into the heating casing 3. Subsequently, the optical fiber scope 5 is moved in the vertical direction together with the air supply path 10, and the position of the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope 5 is set so that the object F to be heated placed in the heating casing 3 enters the imaging region. Adjust. In this way, the optical fiber scope 5 inserted into the heating casing 3 and the tip of the air supply path 10 are arranged to face the object to be heated F placed in the heating casing 3. . The field of view of the optical fiber scope 5 with respect to the object to be heated F is adjusted by bending the optical fiber 17 in the air supply path 10 or tilting the optical fiber scope 5 together with the air supply path 10 in the insertion path 15 of the insertion tool 11. be able to.
Subsequently, the operation unit 4 of the microwave main body 1 is operated to supply microwaves into the heating housing unit 3 and air is supplied from the air supply device 9, and as shown in FIG. The air is ejected from the ejection port 18 toward the imaging region in the heating casing 3 via the.

  Here, since the optical fiber scope 5 is coated with resin and the air supply path 10 is formed of resin, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of discharge by the microwaves supplied into the heating casing 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the insertion tool 11 protrudes into the heating casing 3 because the height H of the sleeve 12 is three times or more the inner diameter I of the insertion path 15. The occurrence of discharge in the parts of the photographing apparatus 2 is effectively suppressed.

  When the microwave is supplied into the heating casing 3, the water molecules of the heating target F placed in the heating casing 3 are vibrated and the heating target F is heated. By this heat treatment, steam is released upward from the object to be heated F, and the inside of the heating casing 3 becomes a steam environment. The air ejected from the ejection port 18 into the imaging area blows off the steam located in the imaging area out of the vapor in the heating casing 3 thus discharged to the outside of the imaging area. Eliminates steam from Here, the flow rate of the air ejected from the ejection port 18 is adjusted by the air supply device 9 so as not to lower the temperature of the heated object F while excluding steam from the imaging region. For example, the air flow rate can be adjusted in the range of 3 to 6 m / s.

  Thus, by excluding steam from the imaging region, the object to be heated F can be imaged in detail from the opposite position without being blocked by the steam. In addition, since the spout 18 is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope 5, it is possible to suppress the vapor from reaching the lens 16 of the optical fiber scope 5 and to prevent the lens 16 from being clouded, The lens 16 can be cooled with air to suppress deterioration and breakage due to high-temperature steam. This effect can be further enhanced by disposing the tip portion of the optical fiber scope 5 so as to be accommodated inside the ejection port 18.

  In this way, an image of the object to be heated F that is imaged while removing steam from the imaging area is displayed on the display unit 7 of the imaging device 2. The heat treatment is performed while confirming the heating state of the article F displayed on the display unit 7, and when the article F is in a desired heating state, the operation unit 4 of the microwave main body 1 is operated. The supply of microwaves to the heating casing 3 is stopped, and the article to be heated F is taken out from the heating casing 3.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to photograph in detail the object to be photographed placed in the steam environment from the facing position without being affected by steam. In addition, when the photographing apparatus of the present invention is used, it is possible to observe the state of the photographing object in real time, and furthermore, the state and change of the photographing object can be recorded by using recording means such as a recording device. You can also.

In addition, after moving the optical fiber scope 5 with the air supply path 10 in the up-down direction and adjusting the position of the tip of the optical fiber scope 5, the position may be fixed. For example, a tapered fixture can be inserted between the insertion path 15 of the insertion tool 11 and the air supply path 10 to fix the air supply path 10 and to fix the position of the tip of the optical fiber scope 5.
Further, a zoom function can be provided at the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope 5 or the joint portion with the imaging unit 6. Thereby, the angle of view and the magnification can be adjusted without moving the optical fiber scope 5 in the vertical direction and adjusting its position.

The display unit 7 may be configured integrally with the microwave oven main body 1. Moreover, the microwave oven main body 1 may include a discharge port for discharging the air supplied from the jet port 18.
In addition, the photographing apparatus 2 is not limited to photographing the inside of the microwave oven, and can photograph without being affected by steam as long as it has a steam environment. For example, it is possible to take an image of the inside while removing steam by attaching it to a pan or kiln where steam is generated by thermal power.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microwave oven body, 2 Imaging device, 3 Heating housing part, 4 Operation part, 5 Optical fiber scope, 6 Imaging part, 7 Display part, 8 Steam removal means, 9 Air supply apparatus, 10 Air supply path, 11 Insertion tool, 12 sleeve, 13 packing, 14 presser, 15 insertion path, 16 condensing lens, 17 optical fiber, 18 spout.

Claims (8)

A photographing device for photographing a photographing object placed in a steam environment formed in a housing ,
A tubular insert that penetrates the top surface of the housing;
An optical fiber scope that is inserted into the housing via the insertion tool and has a distal end disposed opposite the object to be imaged;
An imaging unit connected to a proximal end of the optical fiber scope;
Have a steam removing means to blow off the steam photographing region by ejecting air toward the imaging region by the optical fiber scope,
The vapor evacuation means is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope, and is inserted into the housing through the insertion tool, and the jet disposed at the distal end of the air supply path. An outlet and an air supply device for supplying air to the air supply path;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air supply path has a gap between an outer wall and an inner wall of the insertion tool, and is disposed so as to be tiltable in the insertion tool together with the optical fiber scope .   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope is disposed closer to a proximal end portion than the ejection port and is accommodated in the air supply path.   The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber scope includes an optical fiber and a condensing lens disposed at a distal end portion.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays an imaging target imaged by the imaging unit.   A microwave oven comprising the imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging target is an object to be heated that is heated by a microwave in a housing.   The microwave oven according to claim 5, wherein an outer periphery of the optical fiber scope is coated with a resin. The microwave oven according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the insertion tool has a major axis that is three or more times as long as its inner diameter. A photographing method for photographing a photographing object placed in a steam environment formed in a housing ,
An air supply path arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope is inserted into the housing together with the optical fiber scope via a tube-shaped insertion tool that penetrates the upper surface of the housing.
By adjusting the inclination of the air supply path arranged to be tiltable together with the optical fiber scope in the insertion tool, the distal end portion of the optical fiber scope is arranged opposite to the object to be imaged,
Take a picture of the subject from the tip of the fiber optic scope placed opposite the subject
Air is supplied from the air supply device to the air supply path, and the air in the imaging area is blown off by ejecting air toward the imaging area by the optical fiber scope from a jet port arranged at the tip of the air supply path. An imaging method characterized by the above.

Images