EP2064493B1

EP2064493B1 - Cooking apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2064493B1
Application number: EP06823997.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Su-Hwan Kim; Wan-Soo Kim
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2006-12-07
Publication date: 2017-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-07
Also published as: WO2008032901A1; CN101512230B; KR20080024028A; RU2009113563A; EP2064493A1; RU2419037C2; CN101512230A; MX2009002677A; EP2064493A4

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to a cooking apparatus, more specifically, to a cooking apparatus that is capable of cooling a cooking cavity, a rear space, an upper space, lateral spaces, and a door through a cooling flow generated from the rear space of the cooking apparatus by retaining the cooling flow in the cooking apparatus for a sufficient amount of time before the cooling flow comes out of the cooking apparatus.

Background Art

Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-0083504 discloses a typical example of a cooking apparatus that has major components inclusive of a magnetron, a high voltage transformer, a high voltage capacitor, and a cooling fan provided at one side of a cooking cavity. Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-0037003 discloses a cooking apparatus that has major components inclusive of a magnetron, a high voltage transformer, and a high voltage capacitor installed at the upper side of a cooking cavity and accommodates a convection heater assembly at the rear wall of the cooking cavity. Korean Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 1999-0010444 discloses a cooking apparatus that has major components inclusive of a magnetron, a high voltage transformer, and a cooling fan and an operating panel provided at the lower side of a cooking cavity.
In addition, Korean Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 1998-0016489 discloses a cooking apparatus, which has major components inclusive of a magnetron, a high voltage transformer and a cooling fan installed at a side wall of a cooking cavity and which is provided with a cooling flow path starting from the upper wall of the cooking cavity to a lateral side thereof.
Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1998-0053939 discloses a door of a microwave oven used as a typical example of cooking apparatuses, in which the door is provided with a door frame for blocking microwaves and a choke cover surrounding the door frame.
Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1995-0003729 discloses a cooking apparatus that has a cooking flow path starting from a lateral side of a cooking cavity, going via the bottom side of the cooking cavity, to the door.
Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-0108050 discloses an example of an operating panel for use in a cooking apparatus, in which the operating panel is provided with a glass-touch keyboard using static electricity.
EP 1 640 666 A1 describes a heating cooker capable of being used for built-in application. Herein, an air blowing means is provided on a back surface of a heating cooker. The air blowing means is covered with a chamber having an intake opening in the back surface or the bottom surface thereof. Further, a duct is connected to the chamber, and branches into two channels, one of which is connected to a first cooling air passage, and the other which is a second cooling air passage. The first cooling air passage is covered with a partition wall, a heating operation portion and a face panel provided outside the partition wall. At the downstream end of the first cooling air passage, a first cooling air flow sent from the air blowing means is blown against a third heat flow passage in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a heat flow in the third heat flow passage. The second cooling air passage branched from the duct serves to blow a second cooling air flow, which is outputted from the air blowing means, toward an electronic component mounted in the heating cooker. After cooling an infrared sensor, a third cooling air flow is exhausted from an upper opening hole to an upper heat collecting chamber. A fourth cooling air flow is supplied to parts provided under a heating chamber from the second cooling air passage to thereby cool electronic components, such as the heat-driving component and the control circuit board. Further, the fourth cooling air flow is supplied to parts provided under the heating chamber is exhausted to the outside from an exhaust slot. A part of the fourth cooling air flow supplied to a gap flows into a rear space and is then exhausted from the opening hole to an upper heating collecting chamber.
JP 59044530 A describes a heating cooker. Herein, a cooling air sucked by a fan is past between a kitchen stove part and the ceiling of the oven and blown against the back of a handle arranged at an upper part of a door and then introduced through a ventilation flue in the door via an air intake port arranged at the lower part of an oven main body and a passage into a burner part. Due to this constitution, the ceiling, the handle, and the door are prevented from attaining high temperatures.
DE 72 42 785 U relates to a cooking device, in particular built-in household oven. The known cooking device is provided with a hob at a certain distance above an oven cavity. The known cooking device further comprises cooling air ducts extending upwards at the side and/or rear of the oven cavity. The cooling air ducts include inlet and outlet openings. A cooling air blower is arranged in the cooling air ducts. The blower is arranged between the oven cavity and the cooking hob and is connected via a pressure channel to the outlet opening.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooking apparatus that has a cooling flow path extended from a rear space to a lower space of the cooking apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking apparatus that has a cooling flow path extended from a rear space, through an upper space, and to a lateral space of the cooking apparatus.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking apparatus that has a cooling flow path extended from a rear space, through an upper space and a lateral space, and to a lower space of the cooking apparatus.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking apparatus that is capable of performing an effective cooling operation by retaining the cooling flow in the cooking apparatus for a sufficient amount of time before the cooling flow comes out of the cooking apparatus.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking apparatus that can protect heat-sensitive flooring of a kitchen from an exhausted flow.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking apparatus, in which a flow can travel from a rear space directly to a lateral space and a flow can travel to a side portion of the rear space, thereby the cooling and flowing in the side portion of the rear space can be smoothly performed.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking apparatus that is capable of effectively guiding a flow to a cooking cavity.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking apparatus that is capable of cooling all of spaces including a cooking cavity, a rear space, an upper space, lateral spaces, a lower space and a door, by using a flow generated in the rear space.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects and advantages, there is provided a cooking apparatus, which comprises: a cooking cavity; a rear space located behind the cooking cavity; a lower space located under the cooking cavity; a cooling flow path extended from the rear space to the lower space; an inlet of the cooling flow path provided at the rear space; and an outlet of the cooling flow path provided at the lower space. Through this configuration, a flow can sufficiently remain in the cooking apparatus, and thus the cooking apparatus can effectively be cooled down. Also, a cooking apparatus with a cooling flow path from the rear space to the lower space can be provided.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooking apparatus further comprises: a protective plate located under the outlet and guiding a flow coming out the outlet to a lateral direction. Through this configuration, it is possible to protect the heat-sensitive flooring of a kitchen, where the cooking apparatus is located, from the flow.
In another aspect of the present invention, the outlet is formed in the vicinity of a center of the lower space. Through this configuration, the flow can more sufficiently remain in the cooking apparatus.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooking apparatus further comprises: a cooling fan located at a lower portion of the rear space.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooking apparatus further comprises: an upper space located over the cooking cavity; and a door for opening and closing the cooking cavity, to which the cooling flow path is extended through the upper space and at a lower portion of which an outlet of the cooling flow path is provided.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking apparatus, which comprises: a cooking cavity; a rear space located behind the cooking cavity; an upper space located over the cooking cavity; a lateral space located at at least one side of the cooking cavity; a lower space located below the cooking cavity; and a cooling flow path extended from the rear space to the upper space, in which a flow travels through the lateral space out to the lower space. Through this configuration, a cooking apparatus can be provided in which a flow passes through the rear, lateral, upper and lower spaces thereof.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooking apparatus further comprises a door for opening and closing the cooking cavity, and the cooling flow path is provided with a flow path of the door that communicates with the upper space. Through this configuration, it is possible for a flow to pass through the spaces including the rear, lateral, upper and lower spaces of the cooking apparatus, and the door.
In another aspect of the present invention, the lateral space is formed at both sides of the cooking cavity, the cooking cavity is provided an inlet communicating with the cooling flow path at one side of said both sides and an outlet communicating with the later space at the other side of said both sides, and a flow passing out the outlet of the cooking cavity is guided by a flow in the lateral space to an outlet which is formed at the lower space. Through this configuration, a flow can pass through the spaces including the rear, lateral, upper and lower spaces of the cooking apparatus, and the door.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooking apparatus further comprises: a flow guide located on the cooling flow path for connecting the rear space to the outlet of the cooking cavity. Through this configuration, a flow can be effectively guided to the cooking cavity.
In another aspect of the present invention, wherein the cooling flow path is provided with a lateral flow path extended from the rear space to the lateral space.
In another aspect of the present invention, a convection heater assembly, a magnetron, a high voltage transformer, a high voltage capacitor, and a relay substrate are positioned on the cooling flow path.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity; a rear space located behind the cooking cavity; an upper space located over the cooking cavity; a cooling fan located at a lower portion of the rear space for generating a flow from the rear space to the upper space; and a lateral space located at at least one side of the cooking cavity and having an opening to communicate with the rear space. Through this configuration, a flow can travel from a rear space directly to a lateral space and a flow can travel to a side portion of the rear space, thereby the cooling and flowing in the side portion of the rear space can be smoothly performed.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity; an upper space located over the cooking cavity; a rear space located behind the cooking cavity and having an inlet of a flow; a lower space located below the cooking cavity; and a rear frame installed at a rear surface of the cooking cavity to isolate the rear space from the lower space, and having an opening to communicate the rear space with the upper space.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooking apparatus further comprises: a lateral space located at at least one side of the cooking cavity, and the rear frame has an opening for communicating the rear space with the lateral space.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity; and a cooling flow path passing from a rear surface of the cooking cavity, via an upper surface of the cooking cavity, through a lateral surface of the cooking cavity.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooling flow path passes, via a lateral surface of the cooking cavity, through the lower surface of the cooking cavity.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooling flow path is preferably extended to the inside of the cooking cavity.
In another aspect of the present invention, the cooking apparatus further comprises a door for opening and closing the cooking cavity, and the cooling flow path is extended to the inside of the door.
Additional and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above aspects and features of the present invention will be more apparent by describing certain embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view of the main structure of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of the rear space of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention;
FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically show other examples of the rear space of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention; and
FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically show a cooling flow path according to the present invention.

Mode for the Invention

The present invention will be described in detail herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view of the main structure of a cooking apparatus in accordance with the present invention, showing a cooking cavity 100, a door 200, an upper space 300 located over the cooking cavity 100, a rear space 400 located at the rear of the cooking cavity 100, lateral spaces 500 located on both sides of the cooking cavity 100, and a lower space 600 located under the cooking cavity 100.
The cooking cavity 100 is a space for cooking food, and is defined by an inner case 110. A heater 120 is provided at the upper portion of the inside of the cooking cavity 100, and a plate or a rack 130 is placed inside the cooking cavity 100. The inner case 110 includes an inlet (not shown) and an outlet 111 formed on the sides for forming an air flow path to remove heat and smell inside the cooking cavity 100. An example of the heater 120 is a sheath heater. The use of the plate 130 in replacement of a circular turntable brings change to width and length (depth) of the cooking cavity 100, the modification of which is restricted by the turntable. At one side of the cooking cavity 100 is provided a guide 140 for guiding the plate 130. In addition, at the front and rear sides of the cooking cavity 100 are provided a front frame 150 and a rear frame 160, respectively, and the front frame 150 has an opening 151 for forming a flow path between the upper space 300 and the door 200. The rear frame 160 also has an opening 161 formed at the upper side for communication with the rear space 400.
The lower portion of the door 200 is hinged to the cooking cavity 100 so that the door 200 can open and close the cooking cavity 100. The door 200 is formed to cover the cooking cavity 100 and the upper space 200. The door 200 is composed of a handle 210, a front plate 220, an input sensing unit 230, a door panel 240, a control panel 250, a middle plate 260, a bracket 270, a door frame 280, and a choke cover 290.
The handle 210 is a part that a user uses to open or close the door 200, and can be fixed to the front plate 220 by bolts (not shown). Desirably, the handle 210 has at least one channel (not shown) formed inside along its longitudinal direction in a manner that the channel is communicated with outside, so that the total weight can be reduced and the amount of heat transferred to the user from the cooking cavity 100 during cooking can be minimized.
The front plate 220 is desirably made of a transparent glass for the user to be able to see the inside of the cooking cavity 100, and a display unit (not shown) including buttons may be attached or coated thereto, the buttons being used for the user to select a cooking course or for the indication of an operating status of the cooking apparatus.
The input sensing unit 230 is a part that recognizes which button is selected by the user. In the case that the input sensing unit 230 is located at the rear of the front plate 220 made of glass, it can be composed of a glass touch unit and serve as an electrostatic sensor. The glass touch unit can be attached to the front plate 220 using a tape. The input sensing unit 230 is located at the upper region of the door 200 facing the upper space 300 of the cooking cavity 100, and this structure ensures a broader cooking cavity and helps the user easily see the inside of the cooking cavity 100 without hindrance.
The door panel 240 is a part that fixes other components 220, 250 and the like of the door 200, and has an opening 241 for the user to see the inside of the cooking cavity 100. Moreover, the door panel 240 has in its lower side an outlet (not shown) through which the flow traveling along a cooling flow path extended from a cooling fan 420 (to be described) to the door 200 via the upper space 300 is discharged.
The control panel 250 is a part for controlling the overall operation of the cooking apparatus according to a user input. To this end, it cooperates with the input sensing unit 230 and a relay substrate 350 (to be described), and is fixed to the door panel 240 from the rear side of the input sensing unit 230. Desirably, the control panel 250 is provided with a light-emitting source such as an LED (light emitting diode), and irradiates the light emitted from the light-emitting source to the display unit (not shown).
The middle plate 260 is a part fixed to the door panel 240, while being spaced out from the front plate 220 and the door frame 280, respectively. Its primary function is to block heat transfer from the cooking cavity 100 to the front frame 220 and the handle 210. Desirably, the middle plate 260 is installed at the door panel 240 so that a flow generated from the cooling fan 420 (to be described) enters the door 200 via the rear space 400 and the upper space 300 and then travels between the middle plate 260 and the front plate 220 under the guidance of a bracket 270 (to be described). Such a flow vents through the outlet (not shown) of the door panel 240.
The bracket 270 is fixed to the door panel 240 from the rear side of the control panel 250. It serves to protect the input sensing unit 230 and the control panel 250, each including electronic components, against heat and microwaves from the cooking cavity 100 and against the flow by the cooling fan 420, and guides the flow to travel between the door panel 240 and the front plate 220.
The door frame 280 is accommodated in the door panel 240, and serves to block leakage of microwaves to the outside of the cooking apparatus.
The choke cover 290 is a cover for the door 200 located towards the cooking cavity 100, and has an opening 291 formed on its upper side in correspondence to the opening 151 of the front frame 150. The opening 291 is preferably composed of tiny holes in order to prevent food or foreign substances from getting into the door 200 while the door 200 is being open.
The upper space 300 is a space over the cooking cavity 100 defined by an external case 310, and includes a heater 320, a waveguide 330, an insulating upper plate 340, and a relay substrate 350. Optionally, a lamp (not shown) for lightening the cooking cavity 100 may be provided as well.
The external case 310 has a shape that encompasses the top and both sides of the cooking cavity 100 at a distance away, and is connected to the front frame 150 and the rear frame 160. If necessary, it may have an outlet 311 so that a flow having traveled around the cooking cavity 100 and the heating elements installed in the cooking apparatus can be vented to the outside.
An example of the heater 320 is a halogen heater. Since such a heater 320 is influenced by microwaves, unlike the heater 120 formed of a sheath heater, the heater 320 is installed at the upper side of the inner case 110 so as to provide heat downwardly into the cooking cavity 100 from above.
The waveguide 330 is extended from the rear space 400 to the upper space 300, and serves to provide microwaves generated from a magnetron (not shown) to the cooking cavity 100. To do this, at the upper surface of the cooking cavity 100 is provided a port 331 (see FIG. 2).
The insulating upper plate 340 prevents heat generated by the heater 120 housed in the inner case 110 from transferring to the upper space 300, and has a shape that covers the upper portion of the cooking cavity 100 except for the heater 320 and the waveguide 330.
The relay substrate 350 is mounted on the insulating upper plate 340 from one side of the upper space 300, and interworks with the control panel 250 to operate components inclusive of the magnetron (to be described) placed at the rear space 400.
FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of the rear space of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear space 400 is a space behind the cooking cavity 100 defined by the cover 410, and includes a cooling fan 420, a convection heater assembly 430, and heating elements such as a magnetron 440, a high voltage transformer 450, and a high voltage capacitor 460, together building a component room of the cooking apparatus.
The cover 410 is connected to the rear frame 160 or the outer case 310 so as to cover the upper space 300 and the rear space 400, and its lower portion is connected to a base 610. At the lower portion of the cover 410 or the base 610 is provided an inlet 411 for air inflow to the cooling fan 420.
The cooling fan 420 is located at the lower portion of the rear space 400 along the width direction thereof, and includes flow-generating units 421 and 422 on both sides to cool the components installed at the upper side. As the rear space 400, the upper space 300 and the door 200 are built in a way to be communicated, the entire area of the cooking apparatus can be cooled by means of the cooling fan 420. In addition, the cooling fan 420 is provided with a partition wall 423 for preventing the flow generated by the cooling fan 420 from flowing back to the cooling fan 420. The partition wall 423 has openings 424 and 425 formed on both sides in a manner to make the flow go up to the upper portion of the rear space 400. At the space 426 between the flow-generating units 421 and 422 is provided a motor (not shown) for driving the flow-generating units 421 and 422.
FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically show other application examples of the rear space of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the rear space is provided, in addition to the structure shown in FIG. 2, with a flow guide 441 for guiding air flow to the magnetron 440, and a flow guide 442 for guiding the air flow coming out of the magnetron 440 to the inlet 112 that is formed on the lateral face of the cooking cavity 100. This structure, especially the flow guide 442, makes it possible to guide the air flow generated from the cooling fan 420 into the cooking cavity 100 stably and efficiently, and to effectively cool the magnetron, one of core components.
The convection heater assembly 430 includes a fan 431, a heater 432, an inner heater cover 433, an outer heater cover 434, and a motor 435. Desirably, a heat insulating material (not shown) is placed between the inner heater cover 433 and the outer heater cover 434. Such a convection heater assembly 430 must have the motor 435. Since the motor 435 is installed being protruded backwardly from the rear space 400, the rear space 400 must have a room that is deep enough at least to accommodate the motor 435. Based on the attention to this space, such a large volume component 440, 450, and/or 460 among the major components used in the operation of the cooking apparatus can be placed in the rear space 400. In this way, even though part of the cooking cavity 100 in the longitudinal direction is sacrificed, the cooking cavity 100 is expanded in the lateral and vertical directions. Also, by using a plate instead of a turntable, a cooking apparatus according to the present invention can change the height, width and depth of the cooking cavity 100. Also, by placing the cooling fan 420 at the lower portion of the rear space 400, a cooking apparatus according to the present invention can utilize the rear space 400 and can cool the heating elements 440, 450, and/or 460 as well. Also, by providing the cooling fan 420 at the lower portion of the rear space 400 and building the rear space 400, the upper space 300, the door 200, the cooking cavity 100, and the lateral spaces 500 to be communicated with one another, the whole part of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention can be effectively cooled by the cooling fan 420. Also, as the cooling fan 420 is installed along the width direction of the rear space 400, the heating elements such as the convection heater assembly 430, the magnetron 440, the high voltage transformer 450, and the high voltage capacitor 460, which are provided in the rear space 400, can be cooled effectively, the flow can be traveled to the upper space 300, the lateral spaces 500 and the cooking cavity 100 and be vented through an outlet 611 formed on the base at the lower portion of the cooking cavity 100. Also, by providing the partition wall 423 and the openings 424 and 425, a cooking apparatus according to the present invention can form the flow path and flow and cool the heating elements, effectively and selectively. Also, the rear frame 160 may further comprise an opening 162 for communicating the lateral space 500. The opening 162 enables a direct air flow from the rear space 400 to the lateral space 500 and creates air flow to both sides of the rear space 400, thereby promoting the cooling process and the air flow onto both sides of the rear space 400.
The magnetron 440, the high voltage transformer 450, and the high voltage capacitor 460 are major components used in the operation of the cooking apparatus, each generating a lot of heat. The magnetron 440 is placed above the opening 424, while the high voltage transformer 450 and the high voltage capacitor 460 are placed above the opening 425. The arrangement of these heating elements can be changed.
The lateral spaces 500 are spaces on both sides of the cooking cavity 100 defined by the outer case 100, and they desirably communicate with the upper space 300, the rear space 400, and the lower space 600, and also with the cooking cavity 100 through the inlet 112 and the outlet 111. The flow generated from the cooling fan 420 travels from the rear space 400, the upper space 300, the cooking cavity 100, the lateral spaces 500, and eventually to the lower space 600. At this time, the flow traveling the upper space 300 and heading to the lateral space 500 can guide the flow that came out of the cooking cavity 100 through the outlet 111 to the lower space 600.
The lower space 600 is a space below the cooking cavity 100 defined by the base 610. The base 610 is connected to the front frame 150 and the rear frame 160 to support the cooking apparatus, and includes the outlet 611 so as to exhaust the flow originated from the cooling fan 420 and the smell and heat generated in the cooking cavity 100. Even though the lower space 600 is defined by the rear frame 160 from the rear side, the base 610 is connected to the cover 410 over the rear frame 160. Therefore, the base 610 also functions as a member for limiting the lower portion of the rear space 400. The location of the outlet 611 is not particularly limited, so it can be on the side of the outlet 111, or preferably at the center of the base 610 to give a sufficiently long flow path. Since hot air flow is vented through the outlet 611, the cooking apparatus should not be placed on a kitchen appliance that is sensitive to heat. To protect such a kitchen appliance from any damages due to overheated air, a plate (not shown) may be connected to the base 610 at a distance so that heat may be exhausted in the lateral directions.
FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically show a cooling flow path according to the present invention. As shown in the drawings, flow generated from the rear space 400 travels to the lateral spaces 500 formed on both sides of the cooking cavity 100 via the upper space 300, while part of the flow comes out of the opening 151 and turns towards the door 200. Also, another part of the flow may turn towards the lateral spaces through the opening 162 formed in the rear frame 160. The flow coming to the upper space 400 cools the heater 320 and the relay substrate 350. Desirably, the relay substrate 350 is provided to the insulating upper plate 340 along the direction of the flow, so as to minimize the hindrance to the flow. The flow passing through the lateral spaces 500 turns towards the lower space 600, and is vented through the outlet 611 (refer to FIG. 1) formed at the center of the base 610. Even though there is no particular restriction to the location of the outlet 610, it is preferably located around the center of the base 610 because a sufficient amount of heat exchange is performed as the flow travels or circulates inside the cooking apparatus as long as possible. At this time, to protect a bottom surface where the cooking apparatus is placed, a protective plate 612 may be connected to the base 610 at a distance so that the flow may be exhausted in the lateral directions. In addition, the flow passing by the lateral spaces 500 guides the flow vented through the outlet 111 of the cooking cavity 100 to the lower space 600. Meanwhile, the air flow that comes through the opening 291 of the choke cover 290 travels between the front plate 220 and the middle plate 260 being guided by the bracket 270, and is vented through the outlet 242 formed in the bottom surface of the door panel 240. As such, the input sensing unit 230 (see FIG. 1) and the control panel 250 (see FIG. 1) covered by the bracket 270 can be protected from heat and air flow, one side of the middle plate 260 blocks heat through the air flow (Although the air flow is blocked by the bracket 270, the air flow serves to block heat transfer to the input sensing unit 230 and the control panel 240.), and the other side of the middle plate 260 blocks heat through a stagnant air layer. In result, heat generated from the cooking cavity 100 is blocked and not transferred to the outside of the door 200 or the handle 210 (see FIG. 1).
As explained so far, in accordance with a cooking apparatus of the present invention, there can be provided a cooking apparatus that has a cooling flow path extended from a rear space to a lower space of the cooking apparatus.
Also, in accordance with a cooking apparatus of the present invention, there can be provided a cooking apparatus that has a cooling flow path extended from a rear space, through an upper space, and to a lateral space of the cooking apparatus.
Also, in accordance with a cooking apparatus of the present invention, there can be provided a cooking apparatus that has a cooling flow path extended from a rear space, through an upper space and a lateral space, and to a lower space of the cooking apparatus.
Also, a cooking apparatus of the present invention can perform an effective cooling operation by retaining the cooling flow in the cooking apparatus for a sufficient amount of time before the cooling flow comes out of the cooking apparatus.
Also, a cooking apparatus of the present invention can protect heat-sensitive flooring of a kitchen from an exhausted flow.
Also, in accordance with a cooking apparatus of the present invention, a flow can travel from a rear space directly to a lateral space and a flow can travel to a side portion of the rear space, thereby the cooling and flowing in the side portion of the rear space can be smoothly performed.
Also, a cooking apparatus of the present invention can effectively guide a flow to a cooking cavity.
Also, a cooking apparatus of the present invention can cool all of spaces including a cooking cavity, a rear space, an upper space, lateral spaces, a lower space and a door, by using a flow generated in the rear space.

Claims

A cooking apparatus, comprising:
- an external case (310);

- a cooking cavity (100) positioned within the external case (310);

- a rear space (400) located behind the cooking cavity (100), wherein an inlet (411) is provided at the rear space (400);

- an upper space (300) located over the cooking cavity (100);

- a lateral space (500) located at at least one lateral side of the cooking cavity (100); and

- a lower space (600) located below the cooking cavity (100);

- a cooling flow path in which cooling air flows from the inlet (411) in an upward direction through the rear space (400), from the rear space (400) into the upper space (300) and the lateral space (500) and consecutively in a downward direction in the lower space (600), to an outlet (611) provided at the lower space (600); characterized in that the cooking apparatus further comprises:
- a rear frame (160) coupled to rear surface of the cooking cavity (100) so as to partition the rear space (400) from the lower space (600), the lateral space (500) and the upper space (300), wherein the rear frame (160) includes a first opening (161) that provides for communication between the rear space (400) and the upper space (300), and a second opening (162) that provides for communication between the rear space (400) and the lateral space (500),;

- wherein the cooling flow path extends from the rear space (400) into the upper space (300) through the first opening (161) and extends from the rear space (400) into the lateral space (500) through the second opening (162).
The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
- a protective plate (612) located under the outlet (611) and guiding a flow coming out the outlet (611) to a lateral direction.
The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the outlet (611) is formed in the vicinity of a center of the lower space (600).
The cooking apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
- a door (200) for opening and closing a front face of the external case (310), to which the cooling flow path is extended through the upper space (300) and at a lower portion of which an outlet of the cooling flow path is provided.
The cooking apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
- a cooling fan (420) located at a lower portion of the rear space (400).
The cooking apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:
- a door (200) for opening and closing the cooking cavity (100), and

- wherein a cooling flow path of the door (200) is in communication with a portion of the cooling flow path that extends through the upper space (300).
The cooking apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lateral space (500) is formed at two opposite sides of the cooking cavity (100), wherein the cooking cavity (100) includes an inlet (112) in communication with the cooling flow path at one of two opposite sides and an outlet (111) in communication with the lateral space (500) at the other of the two opposite sides, and wherein a flow passing through the outlet (111) of the cooking cavity (100) is guided by a flow in the lateral space (500) to an outlet which is formed at the lower space (600).
The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:
- a flow guide (412) located on the cooling flow path for connecting the rear space (400) to the outlet (111) of the cooking cavity (100).
The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 7 or 8, wherein a lateral flow path extended from the rear space (400) to the lateral space (500) guides the flow passing through the outlet (111) of the cooking cavity (100) to the outlet (611) at the lower space.
The cooking apparatus as set forth in any one of claim 1 to 9, wherein a convection heater assembly (430), a magnetron (440), a high voltage transformer (450), a high voltage capacitor (460), and a relay substrate (350) are positioned on the cooling flow path.