JP2000104930A - Heating/cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating/cooking apparatus capable of accurately detecting temperature of foods with the aid of an infrared sensor. SOLUTION: In an infrared sensor unit 1, an infrared sensor 45 is contained in a sensor case 42. The infrared sensor 45 catches infrared raws emitted from foods in a heating chamber 17 through a detection hole and a filter 41 to detect temperature of the foods. The sensor case 42 is formed by applying Ni-Cu plating on molded resin. Once air is sent from a cooling fan 35, air flows from a vent hole 84 in a lower surface of a detection pipe 43 to a vent hole 84 in an upper surface of the same so as to blow through between the filter 41 and the heating chamber 17. Hereby, soot produced from the foods in the beating chamber 17 can be prevented from being deposited on the filter 41.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooking device such as a microwave oven, and more particularly to a cooking device including a heating chamber for storing food and an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature of the food.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional cooking devices have an infrared sensor, which detects the temperature of food in a heating chamber and estimates the degree of cooking. Some infrared sensors provided in such a cooking device include a combination of a thermocouple and an infrared detection element. In such an infrared sensor, the temperature of an infrared detecting element, which rises in temperature when irradiated with infrared light, is measured using a thermocouple, and by detecting the amount of infrared light emitted by the food, the temperature of the food is indirectly measured. I was measuring. In addition, such a cooking device, in order to more accurately perform temperature detection using an infrared sensor, corresponding to the infrared sensor,
Some include a filter that cuts electromagnetic waves other than infrared rays.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional cooking device, the temperature in the cooking device rises with the progress of cooking, and the heat of the air in the cooking device is changed by the infrared detecting element or the thermocouple. Was sometimes transmitted to. As described above, in the infrared sensor, the rising temperature of the infrared detection element is measured using a thermocouple.In a conventional cooking device, in some cases, the thermocouple is heated to air, and the infrared sensor In some cases, the temperature could not be detected accurately.

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional cooking device,
In some cases, oil smoke or the like emitted from the heated food adheres to a filter provided corresponding to the infrared sensor. Then, when the oil smoke or the like adheres to the filter in this manner, the infrared light to be irradiated to the infrared detecting element is cut by the oil smoke or the like of the filter, so that the infrared sensor may not be able to accurately detect the temperature of the food. Was.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heating cooking apparatus in which an infrared sensor can accurately detect the temperature of food.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating and cooking apparatus according to the present invention, which includes a heating chamber for storing food, an infrared sensor for detecting a temperature of the food, and the infrared sensor. Wherein the sensor case is made of resin.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sensor case for housing the infrared sensor is generally made of a resin that hardly conducts heat.

Thus, even when the cooking is performed and the internal temperature of the cooking device rises, the infrared sensor in the sensor case is hardly heated. Therefore, in the heating cooking device, the infrared sensor can more accurately detect the temperature of the food.

A heating cooking apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention further includes a filter provided corresponding to the infrared sensor in addition to the configuration of the heating cooking apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention. The sensor case includes a first member and a second member combined with the first member, and the filter is sandwiched between the first member and the second member. It is characterized by being fixed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the first aspect, in the sensor case, a filter provided for the infrared sensor is provided.
It is fixed by being sandwiched between the first member and the second member.

[0011] This eliminates the need for bonding the filter to the sensor case with an adhesive as in the related art when manufacturing the heating cooking device. Therefore, claim 1
In addition to the effects of the invention described in (1), the cooking device can be manufactured more easily.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating and cooking apparatus according to the present invention, wherein a heating chamber for storing food, an infrared sensor for detecting a temperature of the food, and an infrared sensor corresponding to the infrared sensor. And a filter provided between the filter and the heating chamber, and a fan for sending air so as to blow through between the filter and the heating chamber.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the air is blown between the filter and the heating chamber when the fan sends air.

Thus, even if it is conceivable that oil smoke or the like diverging from food in the heating chamber jumps out of the heating chamber and adheres to the filter, the oil smoke or the like is sent from the fan before reaching the filter. The air blows away from the front of the filter. For this reason, the filter is less likely to become dirty, and the infrared sensor is more reliably irradiated with infrared rays emitted from food in the heating chamber. Therefore, in the heating cooking device, the infrared sensor can more accurately detect the temperature of the food.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking device comprising a heating chamber for storing food, an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature of the food, and a fan for sending air into the heating chamber. The heating chamber includes an intake hole that is an inlet for air sent from the fan, and the infrared sensor is provided at any location from the fan to the intake hole.

According to the present invention, the air sent by the fan is directed to the infrared sensor.

Thus, the infrared sensor can be cooled by using the fan provided for equalizing the temperature in the heating chamber. That is, even if the temperature inside the heating cooking device rises due to the heating cooking, the infrared sensor can be cooled using the fan. Therefore, the infrared sensor can more accurately detect the temperature of the food without any special components in the cooking device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the infrared sensor detects the food through the intake hole. It is characterized by being provided to detect a temperature.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation according to the fourth aspect, the infrared sensor further comprises:
It is arranged to detect the temperature of the food via the air inlet.

[0020] Thus, the infrared sensor is arranged near the intake hole. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, when the infrared sensor is provided at any place from the fan to the air intake hole, the distance from the fan to the air intake hole can be made shorter, so that the size of the cooking device can be reduced. Can be achieved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the cooking device further includes a sensor case for housing the infrared sensor. And the sensor case is made of resin.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the fourth or fifth aspect, the sensor case for housing the infrared sensor is generally made of a resin which is difficult to conduct heat. Is done.

Thus, even when the cooking is performed and the temperature inside the cooking device rises, the infrared sensor in the sensor case is hardly heated. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 4 or claim 5,
In cooking devices, the infrared sensor is more accurate,
The temperature of the food can be detected.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a microwave oven is shown as an example of a cooking device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a cooking device including an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature of food in a heating chamber may be used. It is possible to apply to all.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microwave oven 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the microwave oven 100 shown in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 1, an illustration of an exterior portion that covers the outer periphery of the microwave oven 100 and an upper surface of the heating chamber 17 are omitted to explain the internal structure of the microwave oven 100.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
Reference numeral 00 includes an infrared sensor unit 1 and a magnetron 22 on the right side of the main body 10 surrounding the heating chamber 17.
The infrared sensor unit 1 is disposed so as to catch infrared rays 25 emitted from the food 31 from obliquely upward through the detection holes 19. The magnetron 22 supplies a microwave into the heating chamber 17.

The bottom of the main body 10 is provided with a bottom plate 11. A high-voltage transformer 33 for supplying a high voltage to the magnetron 22 is disposed on the bottom plate 11 and directly below the magnetron 22. The cooling fan 35 provided in the main body 10 is provided to cool peripheral devices (including the infrared sensor unit 1) whose temperature has been increased by the heat of the magnetron 22 or the heating chamber 17.

A door 15 is mounted on the front of the heating chamber 17. An operation panel 34 for the user to set a cooking menu is attached to the side. Further, a control unit 90 that controls each device of the microwave oven 100 is provided on the back of the operation panel 34. The control unit 90 includes a microcomputer. The operation panel 34 includes a display unit 3 that displays information and the like input by the user.

At the bottom of the heating chamber 17, a turntable 18 for mounting the food 31 is provided, and below the bottom of the heating chamber 17, a turntable motor 505 for rotating the turntable 18 is provided. ing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main electrical configuration of microwave oven 100 shown in FIGS.
Referring to FIG. 3, in microwave oven 100, control unit 9
Numeral 0 is connected to the infrared sensor unit 1, the turntable motor 505, the magnetron 22, and the operation panel 34.

In the microwave oven 100, the infrared sensor unit 1 detects infrared rays emitted from the food 31. Then, the control unit 90 determines the temperature of the food 31 based on the infrared rays detected by the infrared sensor unit 1. Then, the control unit 90 controls the operation of the magnetron 22 and the like based on the operation performed on the operation panel 34 and the temperature determined as described above.

Next, the structure of the right side of the main body 10 of the microwave oven 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the main body 10 of the microwave oven 100 of FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the infrared sensor unit 1 on the right side of the main body 10 when viewed from the front. In FIG. 4, the infrared sensor unit 1 is shown as a dashed dotted line so that the structure around the infrared sensor unit 1 can be more easily understood.

First, referring to FIG.
A waveguide 23 is provided between the body and the main body 10.
The microwave emitted from the magnetron 22 passes through the waveguide 23 and is radiated into the heating chamber 17 of the main body 10.

One end of a duct 87 is connected to the side of the magnetron 22. Note that the other end of the duct 87 is connected to an intake hole (not shown) of the heating chamber 17. Then, when air is sent from the cooling fan 35 to the magnetron 22, the air is guided into the heating chamber 17 through the other end of the duct 87 and the intake hole of the heating chamber 17.

Next, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the infrared sensor unit 1 is provided in the main body 10 so as to correspond to an upper portion of the right side surface of the heating chamber 17. A detection tube 83 is provided between the infrared sensor unit 1 and the heating chamber 17. A unit mounting plate 81 is connected to one end of the detection tube 83, and the other end is connected to the heating chamber 17. The infrared sensor unit 1 is mounted on a unit mounting plate 81. The unit mounting plate 81 has a plurality of ventilation holes 82.
This makes it easier for the infrared sensor unit 1 to radiate heat.

The detection tube 83 is provided with a detection hole 19 on the surface facing the infrared sensor unit 1. On the other hand, the infrared sensor unit 1 includes an infrared sensor 45,
A sensor case 42 surrounding the infrared sensor 45 and a filter 41 corresponding to the infrared sensor 45 are provided. Then, in the infrared sensor unit 1, infrared rays emitted by the food in the heating chamber 17 and passing through the detection holes 19 are detected by the infrared sensor 45 via the filter 41.

A plurality of ventilation holes 84 are formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the detection tube 83 so that the cooling fan 3
5, the air is transferred from the lower air hole 84 to the upper air hole 84 by the filter 41 and the heating chamber 1.
It flows so as to blow through between 7. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent oil smoke emitted from food in the heating chamber 17 from adhering to the filter 41 as much as possible.

Next, the configuration of the sensor case 42 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a disassembled state of the sensor case 42. The sensor case 42 mainly includes the case body 4
3 and a case lower body 44. The infrared sensor 45 (see FIG. 4) is mounted on the case lower body 44, but is omitted in FIG. A window 46 is formed in the side surface of the case upper body 43 by making a partial cut. An insertion part 47 for inserting the left and right ends of the filter 41 is formed on the left and right sides of the window 46 and inside the case body 43. On the other hand, inside the case lower body 44, a filter supporting portion 48,
Are formed.

The sensor case 42 is formed by combining the upper filter body 43 with the upper part of the lower filter body 44. When both are combined, the left and right ends of the filter 41 are inserted into the insertion portion 47. This allows the filter 41 to be seen through the window 46 in the sensor case 42, as shown in FIG. In the sensor case 42 shown in FIG. 7, the lower end of the filter 41 is supported by a filter support 48. That is, in the sensor case 42, the filter 41 is sandwiched between the case upper body 43 and the case lower body 44,
It will be fixed. The case upper body 43 and the case lower body 44 form a first member and a second member which are combined with each other to form a sensor case.

The case upper body 43 and the case lower body 44 constituting the sensor case 42 of the present embodiment are manufactured by coating a molded resin with a substance having an effect of shielding electromagnetic waves such as a metal. Can be. As described above, when the sensor case 42 is mainly made of resin,
The detection accuracy of the infrared sensor 45 can be improved as compared with the case where the metal is formed. That is, when the sensor case 42 is mainly made of resin,
The heat conductivity of the sensor case 42 is lower than in the case where the sensor case 42 is formed by molding metal. Therefore, even when the temperature inside microwave oven 100 rises, the heat is less likely to be transmitted to infrared sensor 45 in sensor case 42. On the other hand, as described above, since the infrared sensor 45 includes a thermocouple, when unnecessary heat is applied to the infrared sensor 45, the detection accuracy of the infrared sensor is reduced accordingly. As described above, when the sensor case 42 is mainly made of resin, the detection accuracy of the infrared sensor 45 can be improved. Here, as the coating on the resin, for example, Ni-Cu plating may be mentioned. In addition, examples of the resin forming the sensor case 42 include ABS resin and PC + ABS resin having low thermal conductivity.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case upper body 43 and the case lower body 44 are manufactured by molding a resin having better workability than metal, so that the insertion portion 47 and the filter support portion 48 can be further formed. It is formed in a precise shape. Thereby, when combining the case upper body 43 and the case lower body 44,
If the filter 41 is aligned with the insertion portion 47, the filter 41 can be fixed to the sensor case 42 without using an adhesive. Therefore, when manufacturing the infrared sensor unit 1 of the present embodiment, the step of attaching an adhesive to the filter and fixing the filter to the sensor case, which is conventionally required, is not required. Thus, the infrared sensor unit 1 can be manufactured more easily, and a situation in which the adhesive adheres to a wide area of the filter 41 and adversely affects the temperature detection of the infrared sensor 45 can be avoided.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims. Hereinafter, main modified examples of the present embodiment will be described.

[First Modification] As a first modification of the present embodiment, a filter 41 is attached to the infrared sensor unit 1.
It is conceivable to provide the filter cover 50 so as to correspond to the above. FIG. 8 shows a front view of the infrared sensor unit 1 provided with the filter cover 50. Referring to FIG. 8, filter cover 50 has a shape that covers the front, upper, and rear surfaces of sensor case 42, and is supported by filter support 52 behind sensor case 42. The infrared sensor unit 1 is provided with a filter cover motor 51, and by driving the filter cover motor 51, the filter cover 50 is appropriately rotated in the direction of the double arrow in the drawing. The filter cover 50 can be turned in the direction of the double arrow in the drawing to take a state of covering the filter 41 and a state of opening without covering the filter 41. The filter cover 50 does not cover the filter 41 when the infrared sensor unit 1 detects temperature, and covers the filter 41 when the infrared sensor unit 1 does not detect temperature. Is controlled.

[Second Modification] Next, a second modification of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a right side surface of the main body 10 according to a second modification of the present embodiment. Note that the structure of the microwave oven in this modification is substantially the same as the structure of the microwave oven 100 shown in FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to components common to the microwave oven 100 shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 9, in this modification, a cooling fan 35 is provided at a lower portion of main body 10 so as to send air upward. When the cooling fan 35 is arranged as shown in FIG. 9, the air sent by the cooling fan 35 is sent into the duct 87 through the infrared sensor unit 1 and the magnetron 22, and is guided into the heating chamber 17. That is, in this state, the infrared sensor unit 1
Is located on the air path of the air sent from the cooling fan 35 between the cooling fan 35 and an intake hole (not shown) of the heating chamber 17. Accordingly, even when the temperature inside the microwave oven 100 becomes high, the infrared sensor unit 1 is easily cooled, and the detection accuracy of the infrared sensor 45 can be improved. Further, the air passes through the ventilation holes 84 (see FIG. 5) of the detection tube 83 more reliably, and the attachment of oil smoke or the like to the filter 41 can be avoided more reliably.

[Third Modification] Next, a third modification of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a right side surface of the main body 10 according to a third modification of the present embodiment.
Note that the structure of the microwave oven in this modification is almost the same as the structure of the microwave oven 100 shown in FIG. 4, and thus the components common to the microwave oven 100 shown in FIG.
The same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 10, in this modification, a detection tube 83, a unit mounting plate 81, and an infrared sensor unit 1 are mounted inside a duct 87. Specifically, the opening at the end of the detection tube 83 on the heating chamber 17 side is
A detection pipe 83 is provided so as to constitute a part of the intake hole of the heating chamber 17. Thereby, the air sent from the cooling fan 35 and reaching the magnetron 22 is sent to the infrared sensor unit 1 more reliably. Therefore, the infrared sensor unit 1 can be cooled more efficiently, and air can be passed through the ventilation holes 84 (see FIG. 5).

The infrared sensor unit 1 is connected to the duct 8
7, the detection tube 83 can be omitted. That is, the infrared sensor unit 1 can be mounted inside the duct 87 so that the filter 41 and the infrared sensor 45 face the air inlet of the heating chamber 17. That is, the suction hole of the heating chamber 17 is used as the detection hole 19. FIG. 11 shows the infrared sensor unit 1 thus mounted. Referring to FIG. 11, infrared sensor unit 1 is mounted inside duct 87 so as to face intake hole 20 of heating chamber 17 using a predetermined member (not shown). At this time, the infrared sensor unit 1 detects infrared rays through the air inlet 20 of the heating chamber 17.

[Fourth Modification] Next, a fourth modification of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a main body 10 according to a fourth modification of the present embodiment. Note that the structure of the microwave oven in this modification is almost the same as the structure of the microwave oven 100 shown in FIG. And description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 12,
The door 15 is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 12, in this modification, infrared sensor unit 1 is provided at a position corresponding to the outside of the upper portion of heating chamber 17. Also, at the rear of the main body 10,
A sensor fan 91 is provided separately from the cooling fan 35, and the sensor fan 91 and the infrared sensor unit 1 are connected by a sensor air passage 92. That is, the air sent from the sensor fan 91 is supplied to the sensor ventilation passage 92.
Is sent to the infrared sensor unit 1. Thereby, the infrared sensor unit 1 can be cooled more efficiently and air can be passed through the ventilation holes 84 (see FIG. 5).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microwave oven according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the microwave oven shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main electrical configuration of the microwave oven shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the main body of the microwave oven of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the infrared sensor unit in FIG. 4 when viewed from the front.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a configuration of a sensor case shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a configuration of the sensor case shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an infrared sensor unit in a first modification of the microwave oven according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a second modification of the microwave oven according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a third modification of the microwave oven according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing a third modification of the microwave oven according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a fourth modification of the microwave oven of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Infrared sensor unit 10 Main body 17 Heating room 22 Magnetron 35 Cooling fan 41 Filter 42 Sensor case 43 Upper case 44 Lower case 45 Infrared sensor 47 Insertion part 82, 84 Vent hole 87 Duct

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takumi Kawabata 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Katsutaka Takahashi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Katsu Noda 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 3L087 AA04 AB08 AB09 AC30 BB06 BB12 DA20

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cooking device comprising: a heating chamber for storing food; an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature of the food; and a sensor case for housing the infrared sensor, wherein the sensor case is made of resin. . 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a filter provided corresponding to the infrared sensor, wherein the sensor case includes a first member and a second member combined with the first member. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein is fixed by being sandwiched between the first member and the second member. 3. A heating chamber for storing food, an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature of the food, and a filter provided between the infrared sensor and the heating chamber corresponding to the infrared sensor. A heating cooking device, comprising: a fan for sending air so as to blow through between the filter and the heating chamber. 4. A heating chamber for storing food, an infrared sensor for detecting a temperature of the food, and a fan for sending air into the heating chamber, wherein the heating chamber is configured to receive air from the fan. The heating cooking device further comprising an intake hole serving as an inlet, wherein the infrared sensor is provided anywhere from the fan to the intake hole. 5. The cooking device according to claim 4, wherein the infrared sensor is provided to detect a temperature of the food through the air inlet. 6. The heating and cooking apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a sensor case accommodating the infrared sensor, wherein the sensor case is made of resin.