JP7432826B2 - heating cooker - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a cooking device such as a microwave oven, and particularly relates to a cooking device including an infrared sensor.

Microwave ovens can heat objects from within using microwave heating, and are therefore used for a variety of purposes, such as reheating cooked foods and thawing frozen foods.

In addition to microwave heating, conventional microwave ovens include oven heating, grill heating, and steam heating in addition to these.

Oven heating is a cooking method that heats an object using an internal heater and a convection heater. Grill heating is a cooking method in which a grill plate coated with a material that emits heat when irradiated with microwaves is used to heat an object using the heat generated by the grill plate irradiated with microwaves.

In the field of microwave ovens, an infrared sensor equipped with infrared detection elements arranged in a matrix of multiple rows and columns is used to detect the temperature distribution on the bottom of the heating chamber. There has been proposed a device that detects the placement position and temperature of an object to be heated, such as food, placed on a container (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-013743

In the conventional configuration, an area in which temperature can be detected by an infrared sensor, that is, a temperature detectable area, is limited to the bottom surface of the heating chamber.

Therefore, in a microwave oven capable of grill heating, there is an area on the grill plate installed in the heating chamber where the temperature cannot be detected by the infrared sensor, and as a result, the temperature of the food placed on the grill plate is accurately detected. There is a possibility that it cannot be done.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven that can more accurately detect the temperature of a heated object using an infrared sensor.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the heating cooker of the present invention includes a heating chamber for storing an object to be heated, a support shelf provided inside the heating chamber for installing a cooking plate inside the heating chamber, and a support shelf provided outside the heating chamber. The heating apparatus includes an infrared sensor that detects the temperature inside the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements, and a direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor.

The direction of the infrared sensor can be set to a temperature detection position corresponding to the bottom surface of the heating chamber and a temperature detection position corresponding to the cooking plate installed on the support shelf.

According to this aspect, when the object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber by using an infrared sensor having a plurality of infrared detection elements and setting the direction of the infrared sensor to an appropriate temperature detection position. In addition, even when the object is placed on a cooking plate, the temperature of the object to be heated can be detected more accurately.

The heating cooker of the present invention can more accurately detect the temperature of the heated object not only when the heated object is placed on the bottom of the heating chamber but also when the heated object is placed on the cooking plate. I can do it.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a heating cooker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the heating cooker according to the present embodiment with a grill plate inserted into the heating chamber and the door open. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the heating cooker according to the present embodiment with a grill plate inserted into the heating chamber and the door open. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the heating cooker according to the present embodiment with the door open. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the infrared sensor in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the direction of the infrared sensor 150 and the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150. FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of the heating cooker showing a state in which the direction of the infrared sensor is set at a temperature detection position such that the field of view of the infrared sensor covers the entire bottom surface of the heating chamber. FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view of the heating cooker showing a state in which the direction of the infrared sensor is set at a temperature detection position such that the field of view of the infrared sensor covers the entire bottom surface of the heating chamber. FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway top view of the heating cooker to show the temperature detectable area on the bottom surface of the heating chamber in this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view of the heating cooker showing a state in which the direction of the infrared sensor is set at a temperature detection position such that the field of view of the infrared sensor covers the entire grill plate. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the heating cooker according to the present embodiment with the main body cover removed.

A heating cooker according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a heating chamber that stores an object to be heated, a support shelf provided inside the heating chamber and for installing a cooking plate inside the heating chamber, and a support shelf provided outside the heating chamber, It includes an infrared sensor that detects the temperature inside the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements, and a direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor.

The direction of the infrared sensor can be set to a temperature detection position corresponding to the bottom surface of the heating chamber and a temperature detection position corresponding to the cooking plate installed on the support shelf.

The heating cooker according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, in the first aspect, further includes an operation section that the user operates to select a desired cooking menu, and according to the cooking menu selected by the operation section. Accordingly, the temperature detection position to which the temperature detection position should be moved is determined.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the door 300 side of the heating cooker 100 is the front, the side opposite to the door 300 of the heating cooker 100 is the rear, and the left and right sides in FIG. 3 are respectively the heating cooker 1.
00 to the left and right.

<1> Configuration of heating cooker First, the configuration of heating cooker 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a heating cooker 100 according to the present embodiment. 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, showing the cooking device 100 according to the present embodiment in a state where a grill plate is inserted into the heating chamber 200 and the door is opened.

In the present embodiment, the heating cooker 100 shown in FIG. 1 applies at least one of microwaves, radiant heat, hot air, and steam to an object to be heated housed in a heating chamber 200 having an opening at the front. It is a multi-functional microwave oven that heats the object by supplying it.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a heating chamber 200 is provided in the center of the cooking device 100, and the heating chamber 200 has an opening on the front surface and a flange around the opening. The outer shell of the cooking device 100 is formed by the main body cover 110 that integrally covers both sides and the top surface of the heating chamber 200, the bottom plate 120 that covers the lower part of the heating chamber 200, and the rear plate 130 that covers the back side of the heating chamber 200. configured.

A machine room (not shown) is provided in the space between the heating chamber 200 and the bottom plate 120. This machine room includes a device for realizing the functions of the heating cooker 100, a control unit for controlling the device, a cooling fan unit 600 (see FIG. 11) that generates cooling air to cool them, and the like. be done. The machine room also functions as a heat insulating space.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a door 300 with a window that opens and closes the opening of the heating chamber 200 is installed on the front surface of the cooking device 100. The lower end of the door 300 is pivotally supported by a hinge provided at the lower end of the heating chamber 200, and can be opened and closed by rotating around a rotation axis along the lower end of the heating chamber 200. An operating section 310 is provided on the right side of the front surface of the door 300.

A water supply tank 700 for storing water to be supplied to the steam generation section is removably installed on the lower right side of the door 300. On the left side thereof, a drainage tank 202 for storing dew water condensed in the heating chamber 200 is removably installed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to support the cooking dishes, the right side wall 210 and the left side wall 220 of the heating chamber 200 have a plurality of stages that have a horizontal surface on the upper surface and extend horizontally in the front-rear direction. Support shelves are provided in the vertical direction (three stages (support shelves 201a to 201c) in this embodiment).

The cooking plates include a square plate used for oven cooking and a grill plate 203 used for grill cooking. The cooking plate can be placed at the optimal height for cooking in the heating chamber 200 depending on which of the support shelves 201a to 201c it is placed on.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the heating cooker 100 according to the first embodiment with the door 300 open.

As shown in FIG. 4, a through hole 140 is formed in the upper center of the right side wall 210 of the heating chamber 200. As shown in FIG. An infrared sensor 150 is provided on the outside of the right side wall 210 so as to face the inside of the heating chamber 200 through the through hole 140.

Square-shaped through holes are formed in front of the center of the right side wall of the heating chamber 200 and at the upper and central portions of the heating chamber 200, respectively. An interior light 141 made of an LED and used to illuminate the inside of the heating chamber 200 is installed outside this through hole.

As shown in FIG. 2, an outside air intake port 221 is installed at the front lower part of the left side wall 220 of the heating chamber 200. As shown in FIG. The outside air intake port 221 is composed of a plurality of circular punching holes. Low-temperature, low-humidity air is introduced into the heating chamber 200 from outside the heating chamber 200 through the outside air intake port 221 .

Air from the cooling fan unit 600 is also supplied into the heating chamber 200 through the outside air intake port 221, and cools the inner surface of the door 300 together with the outside air. Thereby, dew condensation on the glass surface inside the door 300 can be suppressed.

A steam outlet (not shown) is disposed at the upper center of the left side wall 220 of the heating chamber 200 for supplying steam generated by the steam generating section into the heating chamber 200.

An upper heater unit 400 is installed on the top surface 230 of the heating chamber 200 (see FIG. 11). The upper heater unit 400 is composed of three tubular heaters extending in the left-right direction. Of the three tubular heaters, one at the front and one at the rear are tubular miracron heaters 410, and the central one is a tubular argon heater 420 (see FIG. 11). These tubular heaters mainly emit infrared rays and heat the object housed in the heating chamber 200 with the radiant heat.

As shown in FIG. 3, a circulation intake port 241 including a plurality of punched holes is formed in the center of the rear wall 240 of the heating chamber 200. A ventilation port 242 including a plurality of punched holes is formed at the peripheral edge of the rear wall 240 .

As shown in FIG. 9, a fan case 510 made of a metal material is arranged behind the rear wall 240. A convection heater unit 500 is installed in the space between the rear wall 240 and the fan case 510 (see FIG. 9).

Air in the heating chamber 200 sucked through the circulation intake port 241 is heated by the convection heater unit 500, and hot air is generated. The generated hot air is supplied into the heating chamber 200 via the air outlet 242.

A microwave generator (not shown) that emits microwaves is installed below the heating chamber 200. The microwave generator includes a magnetron that generates microwaves, a rotating antenna that radiates the microwaves into the heating chamber 200, a waveguide that propagates the microwaves to the rotating antenna, and a motor that rotates the rotating antenna. have

The bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200 is covered with a ceramic plate that can transmit microwaves. The object to be heated placed on the bottom surface 250 is microwave-heated by the microwaves transmitted from the microwave generator into the heating chamber 200 through the bottom surface 250 .

When the grill pan 203 is installed in the heating chamber 200, the ferrite coated on the back side of the grill pan 203 is irradiated with the microwaves supplied into the heating chamber 200 and generates heat. The placed object to be heated is heated.

Since the bottom plate 120 is formed from a galvanized steel plate by press working, it basically has a rectangular parallelepiped box-like shape with an open top and a shallow bottom.

A cooling air intake port 121 for taking in cooling air is provided in a portion of the bottom plate 120 located below the cooling fan unit 600 provided between the heating chamber 200 and the bottom plate 120 (
(See Figure 11).

A glass plate 302 is installed on the front surface of the door 300 to cover almost the entire area. An operating section 310 is provided on the right side of the glass plate 302.

The operation unit 310 includes a touch panel 311 that displays a prompt for operation by the user, accepts the operation by the user, and displays a display corresponding to the accepted operation on a single LCD screen, and a touch panel 311 for returning the operation to one level. It includes a "Back" button 312, a "Cancel" button 313 for performing a cancellation operation, and a "Start" button 314 for starting heating.

The operation unit 310 is operated by the user to input menu selection in the automatic cooking function, heating time, heating temperature, etc. in the manual cooking function.

A handle 304 for opening and closing is installed at the upper front of the door.

<2> Configuration of infrared sensor Next, the configuration of infrared sensor 150 in cooking device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of infrared sensor 150 in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the direction of the infrared sensor 150 and the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150 in this embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the infrared sensor 150 is housed in a box-shaped case 160 provided on the outer surface of the right side wall 210 located outside the through hole 140. The infrared sensor 150 includes a total of 64 infrared detection elements arranged in a matrix of 8 rows and 8 columns. The infrared sensor 150 is installed in the case 160 so that a lens provided on the front surface of the infrared sensor 150 can be seen through an opening 165 provided in the outer shell of the case 160.

As shown in FIG. 6, the field of view 151 is a range in which the infrared sensor 150 can detect infrared rays.

A direction setting motor 170 is installed in the case 160. The case 160 is rotated by a direction setting motor 170 around a rotating shaft 161 provided horizontally and parallel to the right side wall 210 .

When the case 160 rotates around the rotating shaft 161, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 housed in the case 160 is changed upward 154 or downward 155 accordingly. More precisely, as shown in FIG. 6, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is the depression angle 153 of the center of view 152.

When the direction setting motor 170 is stopped in the direction of the predetermined infrared sensor 150 where the opening 165 faces the inside of the heating chamber 200 from the through hole 140, the infrared sensor 150 becomes in a state where it can detect the temperature inside the heating chamber 200.

The direction of the infrared sensor 150 at this time is referred to as a position where the infrared sensor 150 can detect infrared rays from inside the heating chamber 200 through the through hole 140, that is, a temperature detecting position. Cooking device 100 according to this embodiment has a plurality of temperature detection positions. One of them is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Similar to FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view showing the heating cooker 100. Similar to FIG. 3, FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view showing the cooking device 100 with the door 300 open. 7 and 8 show a field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150.

7 and 8, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set at a temperature detection position such that the entire bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200 falls within the field of view 151. Therefore, in this state, no matter where on the bottom surface 250 the object to be heated is placed, the infrared sensor 150 can detect the temperature thereof. That is, in this state, the entire bottom surface 250 becomes a temperature detectable area where temperature can be detected.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the entire bottom surface 250 is virtually divided into compartments C11 to C88 arranged in a matrix of 8 rows and 8 columns.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway top view of the heating cooker showing these 64 compartments. In FIG. 9, the temperature information of sections C11 to C88 of the temperature detectable region 251 can be detected by associating 64 infrared detection elements constituting the infrared sensor 150 with each section.

Similar to FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a front view of the cooking device 100 showing the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150. FIG. 10 shows that when the grill pan 203 is installed on the uppermost support shelf 201a provided on both side walls of the heating chamber 200 (the grill pan 203 is not shown), the temperature of the entire upper surface of the grill pan 203 can be detected. A state in which the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set so as to correspond to a region 251 is shown.

In this case, some of the 64 infrared detection elements included in the infrared sensor 150 face in directions other than the top surface of the grill pan 203, but the remaining infrared detection elements are used to cover the entire top surface of the grill pan 203. This can be a temperature detectable area 251.

<3> Cooling mechanism for infrared sensor The cooling structure for infrared sensor 150 in cooking device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the cooking device 100 according to the first embodiment with the main body cover 110 removed.

When the user operates the operation unit 310 and finally presses the "start" button 314, the heating operation is started. When the heating operation is started, the cooling fan unit 600 in the machine room provided below the heating chamber 200 is activated.

When the cooling fan unit 600 operates, outside air is sucked in from the cooling intake port of the bottom plate 120 and is discharged from the cooling fan unit 600 as cooling air (see the broken line arrow shown in FIG. 11). This cooling air is provided below the heating chamber 200 and cools the inverter that drives the magnetron.

After cooling the inverter, a portion of the cooling air cools a fan drive motor (not shown) that drives a circulation fan (not shown) included in the convection heater unit 500 provided behind the heating chamber 200. .

The other part of the cooling air that has passed through the inverter cools a control board that constitutes a control section provided on the right side of the bottom plate 120. The cooling air that has cooled the control board collides with the lower end of the right side wall 210 and changes its direction upward (see the dotted arrow shown in FIG. 11).

As shown in FIG. 11, a duct 180 is provided in the space between the right side wall 210 and the main body cover 110 from the lower end of the right side wall 210 to the vicinity of the installation position of the infrared sensor 150. A cooling air outlet 181 is provided at the tip of the duct 180.

The cooling air whose direction has been changed upward passes through the duct 180 and reaches the infrared sensor 150 housed in the case 160 (see the solid line arrow shown in FIG. 11). The infrared sensor 150 is thus cooled by the cooling air during the heating operation.

Thereafter, the cooling air is discharged to the outside from the upper part of the back side of the cooking device 100 via the space provided between the top surface 230 of the heating chamber 200 and the main body cover 110.

When temperature detection is completed, direction setting motor 170 moves case 160 from the temperature detection position to the standby position. FIG. 11 shows the infrared sensor 150 waiting at a standby position. As shown in FIG. 11, in this standby position, the case 160 is stopped with the opening 165 facing downward. In this state, the lens of the infrared sensor 150 faces the cooling air outlet 181.

During steam heating, temperature cannot be detected by the infrared sensor 150. In this embodiment, during that time, infrared sensor 150 is configured to stand by at the standby position shown in FIG. 11. While the infrared sensor 150 waits at the standby position, the lens of the infrared sensor 150 continues to be directly cooled by the cooling air from the cooling air outlet 181.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the lens of the infrared sensor 150 from fogging up and the infrared sensor 150 itself from becoming hot due to the steam supplied into the heating chamber 200. Therefore, even immediately after steam heating, the infrared sensor 150 can be maintained in a state in which temperature can be detected.

<4> Operation of infrared sensor Finally, the operation of infrared sensor 150 in cooking device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

After storing the object to be heated in the heating chamber 200, the user operates the operation unit 310 to select a desired cooking menu, and finally presses the "start" button 314 to start the heating operation. When the heating operation is started, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set to a temperature detection position according to the selected cooking menu.

When a cooking menu in which the object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200, for example, a normal warming operation, is selected, the entire bottom surface 250 becomes a temperature detectable region 251, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set at such a temperature detection position.

When a cooking menu that performs grill heating is selected, an infrared sensor is installed on the support shelf 201a at a temperature detection position such that the entire upper surface of the grill plate 203 on which the object to be heated is placed becomes the temperature detection area 251. 150 directions are set.

When the infrared sensor 150 is not activated, as described above, the infrared sensor 150 waits at the standby position where the infrared sensor 150 is directed vertically downward.

As described above, in the heating cooker 100 according to the present embodiment, the infrared sensor 150 includes a plurality of infrared detection elements, and the direction setting motor 170 directs the infrared sensor 150 to the temperature detection position according to the cooking menu. configured to be moved.

According to this embodiment, the temperature of the heated object can be detected more accurately not only when it is placed on the bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200 but also when it is placed on the grill pan 203. can.

In this embodiment, the case where the object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface 250 and the case where the grill pan 203 is installed on the uppermost support shelf 201a have been described. However, even if a cooking plate such as a square plate is installed on the middle support shelf 201b or the lower support shelf 201c, temperature detection such that the entire upper surface of the cooking plate becomes the temperature detectable area 251 may be performed as necessary. The position and direction of the infrared sensor 150 can be set.

Which support shelf to place the cooking plate on and which cooking plate to use are determined according to the cooking menu. The direction of the infrared sensor 150 can be set to a direction suitable for temperature detection depending on the cooking menu.

As described above, in this embodiment, infrared sensor 150 includes 64 infrared detection elements arranged in a matrix of 8 rows and 8 columns, but is not limited thereto. If the entire bottom surface 250 can be made into the temperature detectable region 251 at once using an infrared sensor including a plurality of infrared detection elements, the same effect as this embodiment can be obtained.

Furthermore, even when using an infrared sensor having a plurality of infrared detection elements arranged in a row, the infrared sensor 150 may detect temperature while swinging the direction of the infrared sensor in the vertical direction. .

As described above, according to the heating cooker of the present disclosure, not only the object to be heated placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber but also the object to be heated placed on the cooking plate installed in the heating chamber can be heated. This allows for more accurate temperature detection. Furthermore, even immediately after steam heating, the infrared sensor 150 can be maintained in a state where it can detect temperature. The present disclosure is useful in a microwave oven capable of grill heating or steam heating.

100 Heating cooker 110 Main body cover 120 Bottom plate 121 Cooling air intake port 130 Rear plate 140 Through hole 141 Interior light 150 Infrared sensor 151 Field of view 152 Center of field of view 153 Angle of depression 154 Up direction 155 Down direction 160 Case 161 Rotation axis 165 Opening 170 Direction Setting Motor 180 Duct 181 Cooling Wind Flying Exit 200 Heat Room 201a, 201B, 201C Support Shelf 202 Drainage Tank 203 Grill Captics 210 Right side wall 221 Outside wall 221 outer air intake port 230 Temple 240 rear wall 242 Circulating air exit 242 Winding oste 242 Temperature detectable area 300 Door 302 Glass plate 304 Handle 310 Operation unit 311 Touch panel 312 "Back" button 313 "Cancel" button 314 "Start" button 400 Upper heater unit 410 Milacron heater 420 Argon heater 500 Convection heater unit 510 Fan case 600 Cooling fan unit 700 Water tank

Claims (1)

A heating cooker that heats an object to be heated stored in a heating chamber by supplying at least one of microwaves and steam,
a support shelf provided in the heating chamber for installing a cooking plate in the heating chamber;
an infrared sensor installed outside the heating chamber and housed in a case that detects the temperature inside the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements;
a direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor;
The infrared sensor is provided on the outside of the wall so as to face the inside of the heating chamber through a through hole formed in the wall of the heating chamber, and measures the temperature inside the heating chamber through the through hole and an opening provided in the case. It is possible to detect
The direction setting motor makes it possible to change the direction of the infrared sensor by rotating the infrared sensor together with the case around a rotating shaft located in the case ,
By driving the direction setting motor, the direction of the infrared sensor can be set to a temperature detection position for temperature detection and a standby position, and in the standby position, the portion of the case other than the opening is set to the When facing the through hole and looking at the through hole from the heating chamber, the through hole and the opening of the case do not overlap;
The support shelf is provided in multiple stages in the vertical direction,
In the cooking device, the infrared sensor is provided so that the entire upper surface of the cooking plate installed on the uppermost support shelf becomes a temperature detectable area .