JP2006300486A - Cooker and cooking method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooker and a cooking method having excellent heating efficiency of steam, adjustable in generation amount of steam, and capable of efficiently cooking a cooking object. <P>SOLUTION: This microwave oven is so structured that a hot-air circulation mechanism 60 composed of a hot-air heater 62, a hot-air fan 61 and the like is arranged behind a heating chamber 5 for storing a heating object therein; and a steam generator 40 comprising a steam generation vessel 41 and the like for generating steam to supply the steam into the heating chamber 5 from a steam outlet 49 is arranged outside a left-side wall 5a of the heating chamber 5. The steam generator 40 and the hot-air circulation mechanism 60 are operated at the same time; the hot-air circulation mechanism 60 sucks the steam supplied into the heating chamber 5 from a suction port 67 formed at a height equivalent to that of the steam outlet 49, and superheated steam is spewed out into the heating chamber by heating it by the hot-air heater 62; and the heating object is cooked by circulating the superheated steam. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooking device and a cooking method provided with a steam generator and a hot air circulation mechanism.

In recent years, heating cookers have been provided that use superheated steam in which steam is heated to 100 degrees or more to heat food by condensation heat transfer that excels in heat transfer.

For example, the above-described cooking device is configured to provide a hot air circulation mechanism that generates hot air and circulates it in the heating chamber on the lower wall of the heating chamber, and a steam generator is provided on the side surface of the heating chamber. Heat and generate steam in the heating chamber, and the generated steam is generated by the hot air circulation mechanism.
Heating is performed until overheated steam is circulated in the heating chamber (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, in other cooking devices, a hot air circulation mechanism is provided behind the heating chamber, and a steam generation container is provided in the hot air circulation mechanism, and water is stored in the steam generation container by a heater provided in the hot air circulation mechanism. Water is heated, superheated steam is generated, and circulated in the heating chamber (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-218917 (see page 4, FIG. 1) JP 2004-316999 A (see page 2, FIG. 1)

However, in the cooking device as in Patent Document 1, the steam generator and the hot air circulation mechanism are not operated at the same time, and there is a problem that the heating efficiency of steam is poor.

Further, in the cooking device as disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the steam generation container is provided in the hot air circulation mechanism, the water stored in the steam generation container generates heat from the heater of the hot air circulation mechanism when the hot air circulation mechanism is driven. Therefore, there is a problem that the amount of steam generated cannot be adjusted because steam is always generated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heating cooker that has good steam heating efficiency and can adjust the amount of steam generated.

In order to achieve the above object, a heating cooker according to the present invention includes a heating chamber in which a food item is accommodated, a heating chamber provided in the heating chamber, a hot air heater and a hot air fan, and the air in the heating chamber is A hot air circulation mechanism that is heated by a hot air heater and that heats and circulates the heated air by rotational driving of the hot air fan; A steam generator having a steam generator, a steam heater for heating the steam generator container, a water supply pump for supplying water into the steam generator chamber, and a steam generator for supplying the steam generated in the steam generator chamber to the heating chamber; The hot air circulation mechanism and the steam generator are configured to be operable at the same time.

According to the present invention, since the hot air circulation mechanism and the steam generator can be operated simultaneously, it is possible to provide a heating cooker with high steam heating efficiency and capable of adjusting the amount of steam generated.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 showing an embodiment in which the cooking device of the present invention is applied to a microwave oven.

Among them, a diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration is shown. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a door of a microwave oven is closed. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the door opened. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal front view. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal side view. FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of the heating chamber.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 1 of the microwave oven is formed of an outer box 2 having a rectangular outer shape, and a leg 3 is provided on the bottom lower surface.

An inner box 4 having an open front is provided inside the outer box 2, and the inside of the inner box 4 serves as a heating chamber 5. Further, the front opening 5 d of the heating chamber 5 has a rectangular shape with a size that covers almost the entire width of the front surface of the main body 1.

A door 6 that can open and close the front opening 5 d of the heating chamber 5 is provided on the front surface of the main body 1. The door 6 is pivotally supported by a front lower portion of the main body 1 through a hinge portion (not shown) so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the front portion of the door 6 is provided with a handle 7 at the top,
An operation panel 8 having a plurality of operation units 9 and a display unit 10 is provided in the lower part. The operation unit 9 is for selecting and setting a cooking menu and cooking time for heating cooking, and the display unit 10 is for displaying the selected cooking menu and cooking time.

The door 6 is provided with a door lock switch 11 (see FIG. 10) for locking the door 6. The door lock switch 11 prevents the door 6 from being opened when the heating chamber 5 is hot. It has a lock function to lock.

A space is provided between the outer box 2 and the inner box 4 as shown in FIGS.
A right space 12 is provided on the right side, a left space 13 on the left side, and a lower space 14 on the lower side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a machine room 15 is formed behind the heating chamber 5.
5 is provided with a magnetron 16 and a drive unit 17 for the magnetron 16 at the bottom.

The magnetron 16 generates microwaves, and the generated microwaves are provided from the opening (not shown) through a waveguide 18 provided in the lower space 14 and extending to the center of the lower surface of the heating chamber 5. 5 can be supplied.

Further, a hot air circulation mechanism 60 described later is provided in the central portion in the left-right direction from the central portion to the upper portion of the machine room 15.

Further, a temperature sensor 19 for measuring the temperature in the heating chamber 5 is provided in the upper part of the machine room 15.

On the other hand, in the heating chamber 5, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, protruding step portions 30 are formed on both side walls, an upper step portion 30 a is formed on the upper side, and a lower step portion 30 b is formed on the lower side.

Moreover, it comprises so that the square plate 31 for heat cooking can be mounted on the step part 30, and the upper step square plate 31a and the lower step square plate 31b are each arrange | positioned.

Any of these square dishes 31 can slide on the stepped portion 30, and can be taken out from the heating chamber 5 by sliding the square dish 31 in the direction of the front opening 5d.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a steam generating container 41 is disposed outside the left side wall 5a of the heating chamber 5 in the left side space 13 and between the upper step portion 30a and the lower step portion 30b. .

Next, a specific configuration of the main part is shown. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal front view of the steam generation container 41, and FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view of the steam generation container 41.

As shown in FIG. 6, the steam generation container 41 includes a concave container body 42 that is open on the front side (the right side in the figure) and a container cover 43 that covers the opening, and the container body 42 and the container cover 43. In between, a steam generation chamber 41a having a capacity of about 12 ml is formed.

The container body 42 and the container cover 43 are made of, for example, metal die casting (for example, aluminum die casting).

Two steam heaters 44 made of a rod-like sheathed heater are cast above and below the steam generation chamber 41a of the container body 42. A first steam heater 45 which is the two steam heaters 44.
The second steam heater 46 has terminals at both ends projecting from the container body 42 and electrically connected to the power source 101 (see FIG. 10).

These steam heaters 44 have different rated outputs, the rated output of the first steam heater 45 is 600 W, the rated output of the second steam heater 46 is 300 W, and the power supply 101
The steam generation container 41 is configured to be supplied with a total rated output of 900 W.

Further, a water supply port 47 indicated by a two-dot chain line is formed on the back side (left side in the figure) of the container main body 42, and a pipe 55 described later is attached thereto.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a thermistor 48 for detecting the temperature of the steam generating container 41 is attached to the upper part of the container main body 42.

On the other hand, three cylindrical steam outlets 49 are formed in the upper part of the container cover 43 in the horizontal direction at substantially equal intervals.

The steam outlet 49 penetrates the container cover 43, and the right part thereof protrudes from the right end surface of the container cover 43.

A plurality of heat radiation fins 50 are formed integrally with the container main body 42 on the right surface of the left side of the container main body 42 constituting the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 41a.

The radiating fins 50 are two radiating fins 50 that protrude downward from the upper inner surface of the container body 42.
a, three U-shaped heat dissipating fins 50b located below the respective steam outlets 49, and two T-shaped heat dissipating fins 50c located below the heat dissipating fins 50b. ing.

Further, the right end portions of the radiation fins 50 a to 50 c are configured to substantially contact the inner surface of the container cover 43 when the container cover 43 is attached to the container main body 42.

Therefore, as shown in the front view of FIG. 5, the heat generating fins 50a to 50c allow the steam generation chamber 41a.
Inside, a maze-shaped path is formed.

As shown in FIG. 6, three steam openings 51 corresponding to the steam outlets 49 are formed in the left side wall 5 a of the heating chamber 5. A steam opening 5 is provided inside the left side wall 5a of the heating chamber 5.
A cover member 52 covering the peripheral edge of 1 is attached.

The cover member 52 has three cylindrical steam ports 53 communicating with the steam opening 51.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a water tank 54 is disposed in the lower space 14 of the heating chamber 5. The water tank 54 has a size capable of accommodating about 400 ml of water and is configured to be detachable from the outer box 2.

A water tank 54 attached to the outer box 2 is connected to a water supply port 47 of the steam generating container 41 through a pipe 55.
Connected. A water supply pump 56 is connected in the middle of the pipe 55.
Is driven, the water in the water tank 54 is supplied into the steam generation chamber 41a.

The steam generator 40, the water tank 54, the pipe 55, the feed water pump 56, and the like constitute the steam generator 40.

  On the other hand, a hot air circulation mechanism 60 is disposed on the rear wall side of the heating chamber 5.

As shown in FIG. 7, the hot air circulation mechanism 60 includes a hot air fan 61, a hot air heater 62, a casing 65, and a fan motor 66. Of these, the hot air fan 61 uses a centrifugal fan.

The hot air fan 61 is covered with a casing 65, and a fan motor 66 is attached to the machine room 15 on the rear side of the casing 65.

A rotating shaft of the fan motor 66 is inserted into the casing 65, and a central boss portion of the hot air fan 61 is attached to the rotating shaft, and the hot air fan 61 is rotationally driven.

The hot air heater 62 is composed of two sheathed heaters and is disposed so as to surround the periphery of the hot air fan 61.

The hot air heater 62 composed of the two heaters is a first hot air heater 63 having different rated outputs.
And the second hot air heater 64. The first hot air heater 63 and the second hot air heater 64 are independently connected to the power source 101, and the first hot air heater 63 has a rated output of 1300W. Thus, the second hot air heater 64 is configured with a rated output of 1000 W.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the rear wall 5 c of the heating chamber 5 is formed with a large number of small holes for circulating air suction ports 67 at positions corresponding to the center of the hot air fan 61. The air outlet 68 of the circulating air is also formed by a large number of small holes at a position outside the outer peripheral portion.

  Further, the air outlet 68 is formed in an annular shape so as to correspond to the hot air heater 62.

The upper and lower square plates 31a and 31b are arranged so as to sandwich the suction port 67 from above and below so as to block the suction port 67 and the blower port 68 for circulating air.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a discharge opening 70 is provided in the right side wall 5b in the heating chamber 5, and a steam exhaust mechanism 71 is provided outside the right side wall 5b. And heating chamber 5
An intake opening 90 is provided at the front opening 5d side of the cover member 52 of the left side wall 5a, and a cold air intake mechanism 91 is provided outside the left side wall 5a.

  First, the steam exhaust mechanism 71 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the steam exhaust mechanism in a state where the discharge opening 70 is closed. FIG.
(B) is an enlarged view of the steam exhaust mechanism in a state where the discharge opening 70 is open.

The steam exhaust mechanism 71 includes an exhaust damper 72, a lever 82, a rotating body 80, and a damper motor 7.
8 is configured.

The exhaust damper 72 is formed in a plate shape and pivotally supported via a shaft 74 on a support portion 73 formed in the vicinity of the discharge opening 70 outside the right side wall 5b as shown in FIG. 9A. Thus, the discharge opening 70 can be opened and closed.

In addition, a tension coil spring 75 is connected between the exhaust damper 72 and the right side wall 5 b, and the exhaust damper 72 is urged by the tension coil spring 75 in a direction to close the discharge opening 70.

The shaft 74 is fixed to the exhaust damper 72 and has a crank portion 76 that is bent in a direction perpendicular to the exhaust damper 72 above the exhaust damper 72. A pin 77 is provided at the tip of the crank portion 76.

On the other hand, a damper motor 78 connected to a control device 100 described later is provided between the right side wall 5 b of the heating chamber 5 and the outer box 2, and a disk-shaped rotating body 80 is provided on the damper motor shaft 79 of the damper motor 78. The rotating body 80 rotates about the damper motor shaft 79 in response to the rotational drive of the damper motor 78. A protrusion 81 is provided on the rotating body 80.

Between the exhaust damper 72 and the rotator 80, there is provided a pivotable lever 82 having a central shaft 83 in the center. The lever 82 has a groove 84 formed on the rotating body 80 side from the center shaft 83, and a protrusion 81 on the rotating body 80 is slidably fitted in the groove 84.

Further, the lever 82 has a notch 85 formed at the end on the exhaust damper 72 side from the central shaft 83, and the notch 85 is rotated by the lever 82 so that the pin 77 of the crank portion 76 is rotated.
It is formed in the aspect which can be engaged.

  Next, the operation of the steam exhaust mechanism 71 having the above configuration will be described.

In the steam exhaust mechanism 71, the exhaust damper 72 is normally closed, and the exhaust opening 70 is closed by the biasing force of the coil spring 75.

  When the damper motor 78 is driven during the closing, the rotating body 80 rotates in the direction of the arrow X.

With the rotation, the protrusion 81 rotates and moves in accordance with the rotation of the rotating body 80.

Since the projection 81 is fitted in the groove 84 of the lever 82, the lever 82
Also pivots about the central axis 83 in the Y direction.

Then, the notch 85 formed at the tip of the lever 82 is pushed in the Y direction by hooking the pin 77 of the crank portion 76.

When the pin 77 is pushed, the crank portion 76 is rotated, so that the exhaust damper 72 fixed to the shaft 74 is rotated clockwise as indicated by a broken line arrow in FIG. The opening 70 is opened.

On the other hand, the cold air intake mechanism 91 shown in FIG. 4 is substantially the same as the steam exhaust mechanism 71 in terms of the configuration although the purpose of use described later is different, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the microwave oven will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the microwave oven.

The control device 100 provided in the microwave oven includes an operation unit 9 of the operation panel 8 described above, a temperature sensor 19 that detects the temperature in the heating chamber 5, a thermistor 48 that detects the temperature in the steam generation container 41, and a microwave oven. A power supply 101 is connected to supply power.

  The maximum rated output that can be applied from the power source 101 to the microwave oven is about 1300 W.

In the operation unit 9, a signal for setting a cooking menu or the like is input to the control device 100, and the temperature sensor 19 and the thermistor 48 each input a temperature detection signal.

The display device 10 of the operation panel 8 and the drive device 17 of the magnetron 16 are connected to the control device 100, and the first steam heater 45, which is the steam heater 44 of the steam generation device 40, and the second heater 45. A steam heater 46 and a water supply pump 56 are connected.

Further, the fan motor 66 of the hot air circulation mechanism 60 and the first hot air heater 63 and the second hot air heater 64 which are the hot air heaters 62 are connected.

A door lock switch 11 that locks the opening and closing of the door 6 is connected to a damper motor 78 of the steam exhaust mechanism 71 and the cold air intake mechanism 91.

Here, the relationship between the power supply 101 connected to the control device 100 and the rated outputs of the first hot air heater 63, the second hot air heater 64, the first steam heater 45, and the second steam heater 46 is shown. To state.

The sheathed heater installed in these microwave ovens is the rated output 13 of the first hot air heater 63.
00W, a total rated output of 900 W in which the first steam heater 45 and the second steam heater 46 are combined (hereinafter also referred to as second heating means), the second steam heater 46 and the second steam heater 46 The total rated output 1300 W obtained by combining the hot air heaters 64 (also referred to as the first heating means) is configured to be not more than the maximum rated output 1300 W that can be applied from the power source 101 to the microwave oven.

  Next, the operation of the microwave oven having the above configuration will be described.

The door 6 is opened, and the food not shown is accommodated and placed in the heating chamber 5, and the user determines the heating conditions, and the cooking method such as “range cooking menu” and “superheated steam cooking menu” and the heating time from the operation unit 9. Input the heating temperature.

When the start switch of the operation unit 9 is operated to start heating, the control device 100 causes the magnetron 16, the steam generator 40, hot air according to a preset control program based on the set cooking menu and heating conditions. The circulation mechanism 60 is driven to perform cooking.

Here, first, an operation when a cooking menu (hereinafter referred to as a “steam cooking menu”) for performing cooking while supplying steam to the heating chamber 5 is set will be described.

This is used, for example, for baking cakes and cream puffs, and for cooking such as shumai and meat buns.

When the start of the “steam cooking menu” is instructed, the steam heater 44 is turned on. As a result, the steam generating container 41 and the radiation fins 50 are heated. When the thermistor 48 installed in the steam generation container 41 determines that the temperature of the steam generation chamber 41a has reached 120 degrees or higher, the water supply pump 56 is driven to supply water from the water tank 54 to the steam generation container 41. To start.

When a small amount of water is supplied to the steam generation container 41 by the water supply pump 56, the water falls into the steam generation chamber 41a and instantly evaporates.

The steam generated in the steam generation chamber 41a rises through a passage between the radiation fins 50 as shown by an arrow A in FIG.

At this time, since the temperature of the radiating fin 50 also rises to around 120 degrees together with the steam generating container 41, the steam that has come into contact with the radiating fin 50 during the rise is reheated.

The steam that has reached the steam outlet 49 passes through the steam outlet 49, and the upper plate 31 a and the lower plate 3.
It is discharged into the heating chamber 5 from the steam opening 51 between 1b. At this time, since the steam outlet 49 and the steam outlet 53 are cylindrical, the steam is discharged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the left wall portion of the heating chamber 5 as indicated by an arrow S in FIG.

The steam hits the food placed in the heating chamber 5, and the food is heated by the condensation heat effect.

Next, a cooking menu for performing cooking while circulating hot air in the heating chamber 5 (hereinafter referred to as a cooking menu)
The operation when “Oven Cooking Menu” is set will be described.

  This is used for cooking such as toast and meat roast.

When the start of the “oven cooking menu” is instructed, the fan motor 66 and the hot air heater 62
Is energized.

As a result, the fan motor 66 rotationally drives the hot air fan 61, and the hot air fan 61 sucks the air in the heating chamber 5 from the suction port 67 of the heating chamber rear wall 5c as shown by an arrow M in FIG.

Then, the air is blown in the circumferential direction by the hot air fan 61 and heated by the hot air heater 62.

The heated air is blown out from the outlet 68 of the rear wall 5c of the heating chamber, whereby the heating chamber 5
The air inside is circulated, and the temperature in the heating chamber 5 increases.

By the operation of the hot air circulation mechanism 60, the food is heated by forced convection. At this time, the heating chamber 5 is also heated by heat radiation from the hot air heater 62.

Furthermore, an operation when a cooking menu (hereinafter referred to as “range cooking menu”) for performing cooking by heating microwaves in the heating chamber 5 will be described.

  This is used for cooking, for example, for warming milk or thawing frozen food.

When the cooked food is placed and accommodated directly at the bottom of the heating chamber 5 and the start of the “range cooking menu” is instructed, the magnetron 16 is driven and the microwave passes through the waveguide 18 and rotates from below the heating chamber 5. Microwaves are evenly irradiated into the heating chamber 5 by an antenna (not shown) and cooking is performed.

Further, here, a cooking menu (hereinafter referred to as “superheated steam menu”) is set in which the steam generator 40 and the hot air circulation mechanism 60 are used together to generate superheated steam, and the cooked food is cooked with this superheated steam. The operation in this case will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 11 and a diagram showing control contents in time series based on the flowchart of FIG. 11 shown in FIG.

This FIG. 12 shows the control contents such as the temperature inside the heating chamber 5 based on the command of the control device 100, the temperature of the steam generation chamber 41a, and the total output applied to the microwave oven, from step S1 to step S14.
These are shown by attaching T1 to T6 in time series.

This overheated steam menu is used for cooking such as roasting birds and heating hamburgers.

First, the upper-stage square dish 31a and the lower-stage square dish 31b are set in the upper stage part 30a and the lower stage part 30b in the heating chamber 5, respectively.
And a foodstuff is mounted and accommodated in the upper stage square plate 31a and the lower stage square plate 31b.

Next, when the “superheated steam cooking menu” is selected by the operation unit 9 of the operation panel 8 and the heating time is input and a start instruction is received, the control device 100 issues a command based on a predetermined program.

First, in order to preheat the heating chamber 5, the rated power 1300W is supplied to the first hot air heater 63 of the hot air circulation mechanism 60 and the fan motor 66 is driven (step S1).

By the operation of the hot air fan 61 driven by the fan motor 66, the air in the heating chamber 5 is moved to the arrow M in FIG. 7 from the suction port 67 positioned between the upper square plate 31a and the lower square plate 31b of the rear wall 5c. As shown, it is drawn into the casing 65.

The sucked air is quickly heated by the first hot air heater 63 that generates heat with the rated power of 1300 W (see T1 to T2 in FIG. 12).

The heated air is circulated by being blown into the heating chamber 5 from a hot air outlet 68 positioned around the circumference of the hot air fan 61 as indicated by an arrow N in FIG. The air is quickly heated (in about 20 minutes) until it reaches 100 degrees C.

At this time, since the heated air is blown from the upper side of the upper plate 31a and the lower side of the lower plate 31b of the rear wall 5c, the hot air is uniformly transmitted to the food placed on the plate 31.

When the temperature sensor 19 detects that the temperature in the heating chamber 5 has reached 100 degrees or more (Y in step S2), the power input to the first hot air heater 63 is turned off and only the fan motor 66 is driven. Is done. Furthermore, the door lock switch 11 is turned on, and the door 6 cannot be opened (step S3).

Subsequently, using the second heating means for simultaneously inputting the rated power of 600 W to the first steam heater 45 of the steam generating device 40 and the rated power of 300 W to the second steam heater 46, a total of 900 W is used. Electric power is input to the steam heater 44 to cause the steam heater 44 to generate heat (step S4).

Due to the heat generated by the steam heater 44, the steam generation container 41 and the radiation fins 50 are quickly heated, and the steam generation chamber 41a is preheated (see T2 to T3 in FIG. 12).

When the thermistor 48 detects that the temperature of the steam generation chamber 41a has reached a predetermined temperature of 120 degrees C (Y in step S5), the control device 100 drives the water supply pump 56,
Water supply to the steam generation chamber 41a is started (step S6).

At this time, the control device 100 intermittently receives a predetermined volume of water, for example, every 2 seconds.
The water supply pump 56 is driven so as to be supplied to 1a, and the amount of water supply per time is controlled according to the type of the “superheated steam cooking menu”. For example, when the “superheated steam cooking menu” for baking cakes and cream puffs is set, the amount of water supply per time is 0.5
When “superheated steam cooking menu” such as shumai or meat bun is set in ml, the amount of water supply per one time is set to 1.0 ml.

Then, when a small amount of water is supplied to the steam generating container 41 whose temperature has risen to 120 ° C., the water falls into the steam generating chamber 41a and instantly evaporates.

Then, the steam rises while being heated between the radiation fins 50 as shown by an arrow A in FIG.

The steam reaching the steam outlet 49 passes through the steam outlet 49 and is discharged from the steam port 53 into the heating chamber 5.

At this time, the steam outlet 49 and the steam port 53 are cylindrical, and the steam port 53 is formed in the upper square plate 3.
Since it is located between 1a and the lower square plate 31b, the steam is discharged from the space between the upper and lower square plates 31a and 31b of the left side wall 5a of the heating chamber 5 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the left side wall 5a. Then, the space between the upper plate 31a and the lower plate 31b in the heating chamber 5 is filled.

When the temperature of the steam generation container 41 rises to 120 ° C., the steam generation device 40
The rated output of 600 W to the first steam heater 45 of the power input to is turned off, and only the rated output of 300 W of the second steam heater 46 is maintained (step S7).

The time required for the temperature of the steam generation chamber 41a to reach 120 ° C. after inputting 900 W of electric power to the steam heater 44 is approximately 20 seconds.

When 600 W of electric power input to the first steam heater 45 of the steam generator 40 is turned off, next, 1000 W of electric power, which is a rated output, is input to the second hot air heater 64 of the hot air circulation mechanism 60.

Therefore, here, the rated output of 300 W of the second steam heater 46 of the steam generator 40 and the rated output of 1000 W of the second hot air heater 64 of the hot air circulation mechanism 60 are applied simultaneously, and the first output is also performed. Electric power of about 1300 W is applied to the microwave as a heating means (step S8).

By this operation, the steam filled between the upper and lower square plates 31a and 31b in the heating chamber 5 is sucked into the hot air circulation mechanism 60 from the suction port 67 located in the rear wall 5c of the heating chamber 5, and the hot air circulation mechanism Within 60, the steam is superheated by the second hot air heater 64.

  Then, the steam is overheated and the temperature rises, and becomes superheated steam above the saturation temperature.

Superheated steam having a temperature equal to or higher than the saturation temperature is blown into the heating chamber 5 from the outlet 68 of the rear wall 5c of the heating chamber 5. And since it blows off from the upper side of the upper stage square plate 31a and the lower side of the lower stage square plate 31b, overheating steam spreads over a foodstuff uniformly (refer T3-T4 in FIG. 12).

At this time, the temperature of the superheated steam reaches a high temperature of about 300 ° C. around the outlet 68.

Then, when the inside of the heating chamber 5 is circulated and superheated until the temperature in the heating chamber 5 reaches a predetermined temperature, it is determined that the temperature sensor 19 has reached a predetermined temperature (for example, 250 degrees) (Y in step S9).
The energization heat generation to the second hot air heater 64 of the hot air circulation mechanism 60 is turned off, and the power input to the fan motor 66 of the hot air circulation mechanism 60, the second steam heater 46 of the steam generator 40, and the feed water pump 56 is It is maintained (step S10) (see T4 to T5 in FIG. 12).

Then, when the heating time input by the operation unit 9 has elapsed (Y in step S11), the second steam heater 46, the feed water pump 56, and the hot air motor 66 are turned off, and the damper motor 78 is rotationally driven by the control device 100. (Step S12). As the damper motor 78 is driven to rotate, the exhaust damper 72 rotates and the discharge opening 70 is opened. At this time, the cold air intake mechanism 91 side having the same configuration also operates, and the intake damper rotates to open the intake opening 90.

As a result, the superheated steam in the heating chamber 5 is exhausted from the discharge opening 70 and exhausted out of the inner box 4. And it exhausts out of the outer case 2 from the exhaust port (not shown) provided in the outer case 2 (refer T5-T6 in FIG. 12).

On the other hand, from the intake opening 90, the cooling air outside the outer box 2 is sucked into the heating chamber 5 from an intake port (not shown) provided in the outer box 2, contrary to the discharge opening 70. This is removed so that the superheated steam in 5 is replaced, and the temperature in the heating chamber 5 is lowered.

When the temperature sensor 19 detects that the temperature in the heating chamber 5 has reached 100 ° C. or less (Y in step S13), the door lock switch 11 is released and the door 6 can be opened (step S14). ).

In this way, the heating by superheated steam is such that the sensible heat of the superheated steam is given to the food by heat transfer due to the difference between the temperature of the superheated steam and the temperature of the food, and the superheated steam condenses on the surface of the food. The condensation heat is added to the food.

Therefore, overheated steam has a higher rate of temperature rise of the cooked food than the heating by the hot air circulation mechanism 60 that merely heats the air or the heating by the steam by the steam generator 40.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

By operating the steam generator 40 and the hot-air circulation mechanism 60 with energization control at the same time, it is possible to create superheated steam, and as described above, the temperature of the cooked food can be quickly raised, and the cooking time can be shortened to make cooking efficient. Can be executed well.

Further, since the steam generator 40 is provided at a position different from that of the hot air circulation mechanism 60, it is difficult to be affected by the heat of the hot air circulation mechanism 60, and the amount of generated steam can be adjusted.

In particular, since the steam generator 40 is provided outside the heating chamber 5, the hot air circulation mechanism 60 is further increased.
Unaffected by heat. Furthermore, there is an advantage that the space in the heating chamber 5 can be widened.

Then, by reducing the supply flow rate of water to the steam generation chamber 41a that is maintained at a constant temperature in the steam generator 40, the supplied water is instantaneously converted into steam. Can be charged continuously.

  Therefore, the generation time of steam can be shortened, leading to a shortening of cooking time.

Further, the steam port 53 for discharging into the heating chamber 5 is located between the upper plate 31a and the lower plate 31b, and the suction port 67 of the hot air circulation mechanism 60 is located between the upper plate 31a and the lower plate 31b. Since it is disposed on the rear wall 5c, the steam released into the heating chamber 5 is quickly heated by the hot air circulation mechanism 6.
Since it is sucked into 0, there is little heat loss while moving in the heating chamber 5, and the steam is heated by the hot air circulation mechanism 60 with high heat efficiency.
Still further, the first hot air heater 63 for the sheathed heater installed in the microwave oven.
Rated output, and a first steam heater 45 and a second steam heater 46 as second heating means.
And a total rated output combining the second steam heater 46, which is the first heating means, and the second hot air heater 64, which is a low rated output, are supplied to the microwave oven. 1
It is configured so as to be less than the maximum rated output that can be applied from 01.

The hot air circulation mechanism 60 is provided with a first hot air heater 63 and a second hot air heater 64 having different rated power, and the steam generator 40 similarly has the first steam heater 4 having a different rated power.
5 and the second steam heater 46, in the operation of the “superheated steam cooking menu”, the first hot air heater 63, which has a high output during preheating, can generate heat, and the inside of the heating chamber 5 can be rapidly heated.

At the start of steam generation, the first hot air heater 63 is turned off, and the combination of the first steam heater 45 and the second steam heater 46 (second heating means) generates heat simultaneously, thereby generating a steam generation chamber. The temperature of 41a can be quickly reached to a predetermined temperature.

After the steam generating container 41 reaches a predetermined temperature, the first steam heater 45 having a high rated output is turned off, the second steam heater 46 having a low rated output and the second hot air having a low rated output. Since the combination of the heaters 64 (of the first heating means) generates heat at the same time, superheated steam is continuously supplied into the heating chamber 5, and the rate of temperature rise of the superheated steam can be significantly increased. The temperature of the heating chamber 5 can be quickly reached to a predetermined temperature.

Moreover, since the blower outlet 68 is located in the circumference | surroundings of the suction inlet 67, and since it blows off from the upper side of the upper stage square plate 31a and the lower side of the lower stage square plate 31b, it spreads so that a hot air may be wrapped in a foodstuff, The heat is transmitted uniformly, and there is an effect that uneven baking is reduced.

Further, by providing the steam generator 40 outside the heating chamber 5 and providing the hot air circulation mechanism 60 on the rear side of the heating chamber 5, the space in the heating chamber 5 can be widened, and many cooked items can be placed at once. Can be heated.

Then, by providing the steam exhaust mechanism 71 and the cold air intake mechanism 91, the sealed heating chamber 5 is sealed.
The overheated steam filled in can be exhausted smoothly. Further, when the cooking time has elapsed, the exhaust damper 72 and the intake damper are opened, and the superheated steam is exhausted to the outside of the outer box 2, so that the user opens the door 6 after the cooking is completed, and the superheated steam is jetted to the user. This reduces the risk of

In addition, although the hot-air circulation mechanism 60 of this embodiment was provided in the back outer side of the heating chamber 5, you may provide in the heating chamber 5.

In the present embodiment, the maximum rated output (900 W) of the first steam heater 45 (600 W) and the second steam heater 46 (300 W) can be applied to the microwave oven (
1300W) or less, and the first and second steam heaters 45 and 46 were used simultaneously as the second heating means during the preheating process of the steam generation chamber 41a, but the hot air circulation mechanism 60 and the steam generator 40 were operated simultaneously. In order to achieve this, the second steam heater 46 (300
W) and the total rated output of the second hot air heater (1000 W) may be configured to be equal to or less than the maximum rated output (1300 W) that can be applied to the microwave oven.

Therefore, the rated output (900 W) of the first steam heater 45 is set so that the total rated output of the second heating means is not less than the maximum rated output (1300 W) (for example, the rated output of the first steam heater 45). To 1200 W) during the preheating process of the steam generation chamber 41a.
It is also possible to use only the steam heater (1200 W) and heat it rapidly.

In the steam generator 40 of the present embodiment, the amount of water supplied to the steam generation chamber 41a by the water supply pump 56 is constantly supplied, but the temperature sensor 19 for measuring the temperature in the heating chamber 5 is used.
Depending on the, the supply amount of water may be controlled to change sequentially.

Thereby, it is possible to always generate steam under optimum conditions according to the temperature, or to control the amount of steam in the heating chamber 5 and to perform heating in accordance with the properties of the food.

The front view of the state which closed the door of the microwave oven to which the present invention is applied. The front view which shows the state which opened the door of the microwave oven. The longitudinal front view of a microwave oven. The cross-sectional top view of a microwave oven. The longitudinal section front view of a steam generation container. The vertical side view of a steam generation container. The vertical side view of a microwave oven. The enlarged front view of the heating chamber principal part. The enlarged view which shows the state (a) and (b) from which a vapor | steam exhaust mechanism differs. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement content of a "superheated steam cooking menu". The figure which shows the control content in a time series based on the flowchart of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 is a main body, 2 is an outer box, 3 is a leg, 4 is an inner box, 5 is a heating chamber, 5a is a left side wall, 5b is a right side wall,
5c is a rear wall, 5d is a front opening, 6 is a door, 7 is a handle, 8 is an operation panel, 9 is an operation unit,
10 is a display unit, 11 is a door lock switch, 12 is a right clearance space, 13 is a left clearance space, 1
4 is a lower clearance space, 15 is a machine room, 16 is a magnetron, 17 is a driving device, 18 is a waveguide, 19 is a temperature sensor, 30 is a step, 30a is an upper step, 30b is a lower step, and 31 is a corner. Plate, 31
a is an upper plate, 31b is a lower plate, 40 is a steam generator, 41 is a steam generation container, 41a is a steam generation chamber, 42 is a container body, 43 is a container cover, 44 is a steam heater, and 45 is a first heater. The heater for steam, 46 is a second heater for steam, 47 is a water supply port, 48 is a thermistor, 49 is a steam outlet, 50 is a heat radiation fin, 51 is a steam opening, 52 is a cover member, 53 is a steam port, 54
Is a water tank, 55 is a pipe, 56 is a water supply pump, 60 is a hot air circulation mechanism, 61 is a hot air fan, 62 is a hot air heater, 63 is a first hot air heater, 64 is a second hot air heater, 65 is a casing, 66 Is a fan motor, 67 is an inlet, 68 is an outlet, 70 is a discharge opening, 71 is a steam exhaust mechanism, 72 is an exhaust damper, 73 is a support, 74 is a shaft, 75 is a tension coil spring, and 76 is a crank part , 77 is a pin, 78 is a damper motor, 79 is a damper motor shaft, 80
Is a rotating body, 81 is a protrusion, 82 is a lever, 83 is a central axis, 84 is a groove, 85 is a notch, 90 is an intake opening, 91 is a cold air intake mechanism, 100 is a control device, and 101 is a power source,

Claims (9)

A heating chamber in which the food is stored;
A hot air circulation mechanism provided in the heating chamber, having a hot air heater and a hot air fan, heating the air in the heating chamber by the hot air heater, and heating and circulating the heated air by rotational driving of the hot air fan;
A steam generation container having a steam generation chamber, a steam heater for heating the steam generation container, and a water supply pump for supplying water to the steam generation chamber, the position being different from the position where the hot air circulation mechanism of the heating chamber is provided; A steam generator for supplying the steam generated in the steam generating chamber to the heating chamber;
The heating cooker characterized in that the hot air circulation mechanism and the steam generator are configured to be operable at the same time. A heating chamber in which the food is stored;
A hot air heater and a hot air fan are provided at the rear of the heating chamber, and air in the heating chamber is sucked from an air inlet provided in a rear wall of the heating chamber by the rotational drive of the hot air fan, and the hot air heater A hot air circulation mechanism for blowing out the heated air again into the heating chamber and heating and circulating the air in the heating chamber;
A steam generating container provided outside the side wall of the heating chamber, having a steam generating chamber; a steam heater for heating the steam generating container; and a water supply pump for supplying water into the steam generating chamber; A steam generator for supplying the steam generated in the steam generating chamber from a steam outlet provided toward the side wall of the chamber into the heating chamber;
The heating cooker characterized in that the hot air circulation mechanism and the steam generator are configured to be operable at the same time. The hot air heater is composed of a high-power first hot air heater that has different rated outputs and is controlled independently, and a low-power second hot air heater,
The steam heater has a different rated output and is composed of a high-power first steam heater that is controlled independently and a low-power second steam heater,
The heating control of the first hot air heater, the second hot air heater, the first steam heater, or the second steam heater is performed alone or in combination. 2. The heating cooker according to 2. The total rated output of the first heating means combining the second hot air heater and the second steam heater is configured within the range of the maximum rated output that can be applied to the cooking device,
The heating cooker according to claim 3, wherein the heating is controlled using the first heating means. A total rated output of the first heating means combining the second hot air heater and the second steam heater;
The total rated output of the second heating means combining the first steam heater and the second steam heater is:
It is configured within the range of the maximum rated output that can be applied to the cooking device,
The heating cooker according to claim 3, wherein the heating is controlled by using the first heating means and the second heating means. The cooking device according to claim 4, wherein
Preheating the heating chamber with a first hot air heater;
Preheating the steam generation chamber with a first steam heater;
A cooking method for a heating cooker, characterized in that the cooking of cooking is performed using a step of heating the steam supplied into the heating chamber by the first heating means. The cooking device according to claim 5,
Preheating the heating chamber with a first hot air heater;
Preheating the steam generation chamber with a second heating means;
A cooking method for a heating cooker, characterized in that the cooking of cooking is performed using a step of heating the steam supplied into the heating chamber by the first heating means. The cooking device according to claim 2, wherein the inlet of the hot air circulation device and the steam outlet of the steam generator are provided at substantially the same height. A two-stage square dish that can be attached and detached vertically in the heating chamber is provided.
The cooking device according to claim 2, wherein an inlet of the circulation device and a steam outlet of the steam generator are arranged between the two-stage square dishes.

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