JP2010266196A - Heating cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating cooker capable of detecting stoppage of a steam generation function including water shortage in a water tank, using a simple constitution having no water level sensor and capable of reducing the cost. <P>SOLUTION: This heating cooker includes the water tank 30 arranged in an inside of a main casing 10; a steam generator 40 for generating steam by heating water supplied from the water tank 30; a heating chamber 20 supplied with the steam from the steam generator 40; an exhaust duct 72 provided inside its body casing 10 and used for exhaust from an inside of the heating chamber 20 to the outside of the main casing 10; an exhaust temperature sensor 74 for detecting an exhaust temperature of an atmosphere in the exhaust duct 72; and a steam generating function determining part for determining whether the steam generation function, including the water shortage in the water tank 30 is stopped, based on the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 74, in cooking in which the steam from the steam generator 40 is supplied to the heating chamber 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooking device.

  Conventionally, as a heating cooker, there is one that heats water supplied from the inside of a water tank by using a steam generator to generate water vapor, and supplies the generated water vapor to a heating chamber (for example, JP 2009-41822 A). Publication (refer patent document 1)).

  The heating cooker includes a water level sensor in which a plurality of electrodes having different lengths are combined, and by detecting which of the detection electrodes of the water level sensor is immersed in water, the water tank The inside water level is detected, and when none of the detection electrodes is immersed in water, it is regarded as waterless.

  However, the above-mentioned cooking device has a problem that the cost is increased because the configuration of the water level sensor is complicated. In the above cooking device, since the space for the water level sensor is required near the water tank, the main body size is increased. On the same condition, the water tank is reduced by the space for the water level sensor. The capacity of will become smaller.

  Also, in the above cooking device, if steam generation from the steam generator stops due to factors other than no water in the water tank (heater failure or pump failure), it cannot be detected even if a water level sensor is provided. .

JP 2009-41822 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device that can detect the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank with a simple configuration without a water level sensor, and can reduce costs.

In order to solve the above problems, the heating cooker of the present invention is:
A body casing;
A water tank disposed in the main body casing;
A steam generator for generating water vapor by heating water supplied from the water tank;
A heating chamber to which water vapor from the steam generator is supplied;
In cooking in which steam from the steam generator is supplied into the heating chamber, steam generation including no water in the water tank is performed based on information on a physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generator. A steam generation function determination unit that determines whether or not the function is stopped;
An exhaust passage which is provided in the main body casing and exhausts from the heating chamber to the outside of the main body casing;
An exhaust passage sensor for detecting the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity of the atmosphere in the exhaust passage,
The physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generator includes at least the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity of the atmosphere in the exhaust passage,
In the cooking in which the steam from the steam generator is supplied into the heating chamber, the steam generation function determination unit is configured to determine whether the steam generation function determination unit is in the water tank based on the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust passage sensor. It is determined whether or not the steam generation function including no water is stopped.

  According to the above configuration, in cooking (for example, oven cooking or steamed cooking) in which water vapor from the steam generating device is supplied into the heating chamber, water vapor from the steam generating device is supplied to the heating chamber. During cooking, the steam from the steam generating device continues to be supplied to the heating chamber, but the steam generating function determining unit determines whether the water in the water tank is based on information on a physical quantity that indirectly indicates the presence or absence of water in the steam generating device. It is determined whether or not the steam generation function including no water is stopped. Here, the information on the physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generator is information on the temperature of the steam generator container of the steam generator and the atmosphere in the exhaust passage exhaust passage provided in the main body casing. Information on exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity).

  Therefore, it is possible to detect the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank with a simple configuration without a water level sensor, and the cost can be reduced. It is also possible to detect the stop of the steam generation function due to factors other than the absence of water in the water tank (heater failure, pump failure, etc.).

  Further, during cooking in which the steam from the steam generator is supplied into the heating chamber, the steam from the steam generator is continuously supplied to the heating chamber, so that the steam is supplied from the heating chamber through the exhaust passage provided in the main body casing. The atmosphere containing is gradually exhausted to the outside of the main casing. At this time, if water in the water tank runs out or the steam generator stops generating steam (heater failure, pump failure, etc.), the steam is no longer supplied to the heating chamber and the exhaust is exhausted. Since there is almost no exhaust through the passage, the fluctuation of the exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity) of the atmosphere in the exhaust passage is reduced. Using such characteristics, the steam generation function determination unit is based on the exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity) detected by the exhaust passage sensor, which is a physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generator. It is determined whether or not the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank is stopped. Thereby, the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank can be easily detected with a simple configuration.

Moreover, in the heating cooker of one embodiment,
The steam generator has a steam generator heater for heating water from the water tank,
A steam generation heater control unit for controlling the steam generation heater;
The steam generating heater control unit turns on and off the steam generating heater in cooking in which steam from the steam generating device is supplied into the heating chamber,
When the steam generation heater is turned on, the steam generation function determination unit determines whether there is no water in the water tank when the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust passage sensor does not change. It is determined that the steam generation function including is stopped.

  According to the above embodiment, when cooking the steam supplied from the steam generator into the heating chamber, when the steam generating heater is turned on / off by the steam generating heater control unit, the steam is supplied to the heating chamber according to the on of the steam generating heater. When the steam is supplied from the generator, the exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity) of the atmosphere in the exhaust passage varies toward higher. Therefore, when the generation of water vapor by the steam generator stops due to the water in the water tank running out or a failure of the steam generator (heater failure, pump failure, etc.), the steam generation function judgment unit turns on the steam generation heater. Accordingly, when the exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity) detected by the exhaust passage sensor does not fluctuate in the higher direction, it can be determined that the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank is stopped. . The stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank can be reliably detected by using the characteristics of the exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity) of the atmosphere in the exhaust passage in conjunction with the turning on of the steam generation heater.

Moreover, in the heating cooker of one embodiment,
The steam generation heater control unit repeatedly turns on and off the steam generation heater in cooking in which steam from the steam generation device is supplied into the heating chamber,
The steam generation function determination unit is configured to switch water in the water tank when the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust passage sensor does not periodically fluctuate depending on whether the steam generation heater is on or off. It is determined that the steam generation function including nothing is stopped.

  According to the above embodiment, when the steam generating heater is repeatedly turned on and off by the steam generating heater controller in the cooking in which the steam from the steam generating device is supplied into the heating chamber, the inside of the exhaust passage is changed according to the on / off of the steam generating heater. The exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity) of the atmosphere periodically fluctuates between high and low. Therefore, when water in the water tank is exhausted or when steam generation by the steam generator stops due to a failure of the steam generator (heater failure, pump failure, etc.), the exhaust passage sensor is turned on and off according to the on / off status of the steam generator heater. Since the exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity) detected by the above does not periodically fluctuate between high and low, the steam generation function determination unit can determine that the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank is stopped. Become. The stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank can be detected more reliably by utilizing the characteristics of the exhaust temperature (or exhaust humidity) of the atmosphere in the exhaust passage linked with the on / off of the steam generation heater.

Moreover, in the heating cooker of one embodiment,
The stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank includes a failure of the steam generation heater of the steam generation device.

  According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to detect the stop of the steam generation function even when the generation of water vapor by the steam generation device stops due to a failure of the steam generation heater of the steam generation device.

Moreover, in the heating cooker of one embodiment,
Stopping the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank includes a failure of a pump for supplying water from the water tank to the steam generator.

  According to the embodiment, it is possible to detect the stop of the steam generation function even when the generation of water vapor by the steam generator stops due to a failure of the pump for supplying water from the water tank to the steam generator.

Moreover, in the heating cooker of one embodiment,
A heater for heating the heating chamber;
The steam generation function determination unit includes information on a physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generation apparatus in cooking in which the heating chamber to which the steam from the steam generation apparatus is supplied is heated by the heater. Based on this, it is determined whether or not the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank is stopped.

  According to the above embodiment, even in cooking in which the heating chamber supplied with water vapor from the steam generator is heated by the heater, the steam generation function determination unit is a physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generator. Based on the information regarding this, it can be determined whether or not the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank is stopped.

  As apparent from the above, according to the heating cooker of the present invention, it is possible to detect the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank with a simple configuration without a water level sensor, and realize a heating cooker that can reduce the cost. can do.

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view seen from the front of the heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of the steam generator of the cooking device. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view seen from the side of the cooking device. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the cooking device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature according to on / off of the steam generating heater during oven cooking using the superheated steam of the heating cooker. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing changes in the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature according to the on / off of the steam generating heater during steam cooking using steam of the heating cooker. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in the number of output bits of the exhaust humidity sensor in accordance with on / off of the steam generating heater during oven cooking using the superheated steam of the heating cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in the number of output bits of the exhaust humidity sensor according to on / off of the steam generating heater during steam cooking using steam of the heating cooker. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing changes in the on-time and off-time of the steam generating heater during steam cooking using steam in the heating cooker according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing data of a specific example of the on time and the off time of the steam generating heater during steam cooking using steam of the heating cooker.

  Hereinafter, the cooking device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1A shows a schematic sectional view seen from the front of the heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, this heating cooker includes a rectangular parallelepiped heating chamber 20 in a rectangular parallelepiped main body casing 10. The heating chamber 20 has an opening on the front side, and a heat shield 14 made of stainless steel is provided on the side, bottom and top surfaces of the heating chamber 20. A heat insulating material (not shown) is arranged around the heating chamber 20 and inside the door 11 (shown in FIG. 2), and the inside of the heating chamber 20 and the outside are insulated. In addition, a stainless steel square dish 21 is installed in the heating chamber 20, and a stainless steel wire grill net 22 for placing the article to be heated 90 is installed on the square dish 21.

  On the inner side of both side surfaces in the heating chamber 20 are provided upper and lower square dish receivers 23 and 24 and lower square dish receivers 25 and 26 having a two-stage structure. In FIG. 1A, the square plate 21 is received by the upper square plate receiving portions 23 and 24.

  In addition, the heating cooker evaporates water supplied from the water tank 30 from the water tank 30, the pump 31, and the pump 31 in the main body casing 10 and on the right side of the heating chamber 20. And a steam generator 40 that generates steam.

  Further, a connecting portion 30b (shown in FIG. 2) provided on the lower side of the water tank 30 can be connected to a receiving port 32a (shown in FIG. 2) provided at one end of the first water supply pipe 32. . The other end of the first water supply pipe 32 is connected to one end of the pump 31. The other end of the pump 31 is connected to one end of the second water supply pipe 33, and the other end of the second water supply pipe 33 is connected to the steam generator 40.

  Further, a circular suction part 20a is provided at the center of the rear surface of the heating chamber 20, and an upper left blowing part 20b and an upper right blowing part 20c are provided in the vicinity of the left and right corners on the upper rear surface of the heating chamber 20. Further, a left middle blowing portion 20d and a right middle blowing portion 20e are provided on the left and right of the suction portion 20a on the rear surface of the heating chamber 20, and a lower upper blowing portion 20f and a lower upper blowing portion are disposed in the vicinity of the left and right corners on the lower rear side of the heating chamber 20. 20 g is provided. An internal temperature sensor 76 that detects the temperature of the atmosphere in the heating chamber 20 is disposed on the upper right side of the heating chamber 20.

  On the lower side of the water tank 30, a soup return bar 34 is arranged. In addition, an electrical component part 50, a cooling fan 53, and a cooling fan motor 54 that drives the cooling fan 53 are disposed below the heating chamber 20 in the main body casing 10. The cooling fan 53 cools the electrical component part 50 and the like in the main body casing 10 by air sucked from the opening 62 on the bottom side. In addition, an air supply fan 55 for supplying air from the outside into the heating chamber 20 through the air inlet 57 is disposed on the right side of the heating chamber 20 in the main body casing 10.

  A rotating antenna 51 and a rotating antenna motor 52 that drives the rotating antenna 51 are disposed below the heating chamber 20. The microwave generated in the magnetron 61 (shown in FIG. 2) is guided to the lower center of the heating chamber 20 by the waveguide 60 and is rotated by the rotating antenna 51 driven by the rotating antenna motor 52 while being heated. The object to be heated 90 is heated by being radiated upward in the interior 20.

  FIG. 1B shows an enlarged view of the steam generator 40 of the cooking device. The steam generator 40 includes a steam generation box 41 as an example of a steam generation container having one end of the second water supply pipe 33 connected to the lower side, and a steam generation heater 42 disposed on the lower side in the steam generation box 41. A steam temperature raising heater 43 disposed on the upper side in the steam generation box 41; a steam temperature raising portion 45 provided in the steam generation box 41 and surrounding the steam temperature raising heater 43; One end is connected to the lower side of the warm part 45, and the steam outlet 44 at the other end has a plurality of steam pipes 46 opened into the heating chamber 20. Further, water supplied via the second water supply pipe 33 is accumulated in the lower side of the steam generation box 41, and the accumulated water is heated by the steam generation heater 42. A steam generation box temperature sensor 47 as an example of a steam generation container temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the steam generation box 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the steam generation heater 42 of the steam generation box 41.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, one end of an exhaust duct 72 as an example of an exhaust passage is connected to an exhaust port 71 (shown in FIG. 2) provided on the right side surface of the heating chamber 20. An external exhaust port 73 is provided at the other end. An exhaust temperature sensor 74 as an example of an exhaust passage sensor in the exhaust duct 72 is arranged, and an exhaust humidity sensor as an example of an exhaust passage sensor on the heating chamber 20 side of the exhaust temperature sensor 74 in the exhaust duct 72. 75 is arranged.

  Moreover, FIG. 2 has shown the cross-sectional schematic diagram seen from the side surface of the said heating cooker. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components of the heating cooker shown in FIG. 1A.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front of the main casing 10 is schematically configured by providing a door 11 that rotates about a side on the lower end side. A handle 12 is provided at the top of the door 11, and a heat-resistant glass window (not shown) is fitted into the door 11.

  Further, a convection fan casing 80 is attached to the rear surface side of the heating chamber 20, and the convection fan 81 is disposed in the convection fan casing 80, and as an example of a heater so as to surround the convection fan 81. A convection heater 82 is disposed. The convection fan 81 is driven by a convection fan motor 83. Air in the heating chamber 20 is sucked by the convection fan 81 through the suction part 20a shown in FIG. 1A and heated by the convection heater 82, and then the upper left outlet part 20b, upper right outlet part 20c, middle left outlet shown in FIG. 1A. It blows out again into the heating chamber 20 from the part 20d, the right middle blowing part 20e, the lower upper blowing part 20f, and the lower upper blowing part 20g.

  A magnetron 61 is disposed below the heating chamber 20. The microwave generated by the magnetron 61 is guided to the lower center of the heating chamber 20 by the waveguide 60.

  FIG. 3 shows a control block diagram of the cooking device. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 100 includes a microcomputer, an input / output circuit, and the like, and is arranged in the electrical component section 50 shown in FIGS. 1A and 2. The control device 100 includes a steam generation function determination unit 100a that determines whether or not the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 is stopped, a steam generation heater 42, a steam temperature raising heater 43, and a convection heater 82. And a heater control unit 100b for controlling. The heater control unit 100b includes a steam generation heater control unit.

  The control device 100 includes a steam generating heater 42, a steam heating heater 43, a magnetron 61, a convection heater 82, a convection fan motor 83, a cooling fan motor 54, a rotating antenna motor 52, and an operation. The panel 13, the exhaust temperature sensor 74, the exhaust humidity sensor 75, the internal temperature sensor 76, the steam generation box temperature sensor 47, the pump 31, and the supply fan motor 56 are connected. The control device 100 then detects the steam generation heater 42, the steam temperature increase heater 43, and the magnetron 61 based on detection signals from the exhaust temperature sensor 74, the exhaust humidity sensor 75, the internal temperature sensor 76, and the steam generation box temperature sensor 47. The convection heater 82, the convection fan motor 83, the cooling fan motor 54, the rotary antenna motor 52, the pump 31, and the air supply fan motor 56 are controlled in accordance with a predetermined program.

  Hereinafter, the steam heating operation of the heating cooker having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A, 2, and 3. When a power switch (not shown) of the operation panel 13 is pressed, the power is turned on, and operation of the oven cooking using superheated steam is started by operating the operation panel 13. Then, first, the control device 100 detects whether or not the water tank 30 is normally attached by a water tank detection unit (not shown), and if the water tank 30 is normally attached, the pump 31. Start driving. Then, water is supplied from the water tank 30 into the steam generation box 41 of the steam generator 40 via the second water supply pipe 33 by the pump 31. Thereafter, when a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the steam generation box 41, the pump 31 is stopped to stop water supply.

  Next, the steam generating heater 42 is energized, and a predetermined amount of water accumulated in the steam generating box 41 is heated by the steam generating heater 42. When the steam generating heater 42 is energized or when the temperature of the steam generating box 41 detected by the steam generating box temperature sensor 47 reaches a predetermined temperature, the convection fan motor 83 is driven by the convection fan motor 83, and The convection heater 82 is energized. Then, the convection fan 81 sucks the gas (including steam) in the heating chamber 20 from the suction portion 20a, and sends the gas (including steam) heated by the convection heater 82 into the heating chamber 20.

  Next, when the water in the steam generation box 41 of the steam generator 40 boils, saturated steam is generated, and the generated saturated steam is heated by the steam temperature raising heater 43 in the steam temperature raising unit 45 and is 100 ° C. or higher ( The superheated steam (which varies depending on the cooking content) is supplied from the steam outlet 44 into the heating chamber 20 via the steam pipe 46.

  The superheated steam is sucked from the suction portion 20a by the convection fan 81 together with the air in the heating chamber 20, and is heated by the convection heater 82, and the upper left blow portion 20b, the upper right blow portion 20c, the left middle blow portion 20d, the right A convection that blows into the heating chamber 20 from the middle blowing portion 20e, the lower upper blowing portion 20f, and the lower upper blowing portion 20g and wraps the article 90 to be heated in the heating chamber 20 is formed. In this way, the convection steam is sequentially sucked into the suction part 20a and repeatedly circulated through the convection fan casing 80 and back into the heating chamber 20 again.

  In this way, by forming a convection of superheated steam in the heating chamber 20, the object to be heated 90 placed on the grill 22 while maintaining a uniform temperature / humidity distribution in the heating chamber 20. The superheated steam can be efficiently collided with the superheated steam, and the heated object 90 is heated by the collision of the superheated steam. In that case, the superheated steam that has contacted the surface of the object to be heated 90 also heats the object to be heated 90 by releasing latent heat when dew condensation occurs on the surface of the object to be heated 90. As a result, a large amount of heat of the superheated steam can be reliably and promptly applied to the entire surface of the article 90 to be heated. Therefore, it is possible to realize heat cooking with no spots and good finish.

  In addition, when the time elapses during the cooking operation, the amount of steam in the heating chamber 20 increases, and the surplus amount of steam flows from the exhaust port 71 via the exhaust duct 72 to the external exhaust port. 73 to the outside.

  After cooking is finished, the control device 100 displays a cooking end message on the operation panel 13 and further sounds a signal by a buzzer (not shown) provided on the operation panel 13.

  The above explanation is the case of oven cooking using superheated steam. In the case of steamed dishes using steam, the convection fan 81 is not driven and the convection heater 82 is not energized, and the same operation as described above is performed.

  On the other hand, in the case of the microwave heating operation, when the operation panel 13 is operated by the user and the start key (not shown) is pressed after the microwave cooking menu is determined, the microwave heating cooking is performed. Operation starts. Then, the control device 100 drives the magnetron 61 to supply the microwave to the object to be heated 90 via the waveguide 60 and the rotating antenna 51, thereby heating the object to be heated 90. In that case, a non-metal receiving tray through which the microwave on which the article to be heated 90 is placed is laid, for example, on the bottom plate of the heating chamber 20.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature according to the on / off of the steam generating heater 42 during oven cooking using the superheated steam of the heating cooker. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents time (minutes), and the vertical axis represents temperature (° C.) and steam generation heater input (kW).

  In the first embodiment, in oven cooking using the superheated steam (internal temperature setting 250 ° C.), as shown in FIG. 4, the steam generating heater 42 is turned on for 10 seconds per minute for 15 minutes from the start. After 15 minutes, the system is turned on for 7 seconds per minute, and the steam generating heater 42 is repeatedly turned on and off.

  At this time, the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor 76 and the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 74 gradually increase to near 250 ° C. When the steam generating heater 42 is turned on, the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature are turned on. Fluctuates in a higher direction, and when the steam generating heater 42 is turned off, the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature fluctuate in a lower direction. That is, the internal temperature and the exhaust gas temperature periodically fluctuate depending on whether the steam generating heater 42 is turned on or off.

  Then, when the water in the water tank 30 is exhausted or the steam generation function is stopped due to the failure of the steam generation heater 42 or the failure of the pump 31, it is detected by the internal temperature sensor 76 as shown in FIG. Both the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 74 have almost no periodic fluctuations.

  FIG. 5 shows a diagram showing changes in the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature according to the on / off of the steam generating heater during steam cooking using the steam of the heating cooker. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents time (minutes), and the vertical axis represents temperature (° C.) and steam generation heater input (kW).

  In steam cooking using steam, as shown in FIG. 5, the steam generating heater 42 is continuously turned on for 4 minutes from the start, and is turned on for 80 seconds per minute after 4 minutes and after 15 minutes, After 15 minutes, it is turned on for 40 seconds per minute, and the steam generating heater 42 is repeatedly turned on and off.

  At this time, the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor 76 and the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 74 rise to near 100 ° C. in several seconds, and when the steam generating heater 42 is turned on, the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature. Fluctuates in a higher direction, and when the steam generating heater 42 is turned off, the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature fluctuate in a lower direction. That is, the internal temperature and the exhaust gas temperature periodically fluctuate depending on whether the steam generating heater 42 is turned on or off.

  Then, when water in the water tank 30 runs out, or when the steam generation function is stopped due to a failure of the steam generation heater 42 or a failure of the pump 31, the internal temperature sensor 76 detects it as shown in FIG. Both the internal temperature and the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 74 have almost no periodic fluctuations.

  According to the cooking device having the above-described configuration, in the cooking in which the steam from the steam generating device 40 is supplied into the heating chamber 20 (for example, oven cooking or steaming cooking), the steam from the steam generating device 40 enters the heating chamber 20. Supplied. During the cooking, the steam containing the steam from the steam generating device 40 is continuously supplied to the heating chamber 20, so that the atmosphere containing the steam gradually from the heating chamber 20 through the exhaust duct 72 provided in the main body casing 10. It is exhausted to the outside of the casing 10. At this time, when the water in the water tank 30 runs out or the steam generator 40 stops generating steam due to a failure of the steam generator 40 (heater failure, pump failure, etc.), the steam is supplied to the heating chamber 20. As a result, there is almost no exhaust through the exhaust duct 72, so the fluctuation in the exhaust temperature of the atmosphere in the exhaust duct 72, which is a physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generation box 41, is reduced. Using such characteristics, the steam generation function determination unit 100a determines whether or not the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 is stopped based on the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 74. Therefore, the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 can be detected with a simple configuration without a water level sensor, and the cost can be reduced. Further, the stop of the steam generation function due to factors other than the absence of water in the water tank 30 (heater failure, pump failure, etc.) can also be detected.

  In the first embodiment, in the cooking in which the steam from the steam generator 40 is supplied into the heating chamber 20, the water in the water tank 30 disappears or the steam generator 40 fails (the steam generator heater 42 fails When the generation of water vapor by the steam generator 40 is stopped due to a failure of the pump 31 or the like, the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 74 is periodically increased or decreased even if the steam generation heater 42 is turned on / off by the heater control unit 100b. When there is no fluctuation, the steam generation function determination unit 100a determines that the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 is stopped. The stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 can be detected more reliably by utilizing the characteristics of the exhaust temperature of the atmosphere in the exhaust duct 72 interlocked with the on / off of the steam generation heater 42.

  It should be noted that when the water in the water tank 30 is exhausted or the steam generating device 40 stops generating steam due to a failure of the steam generating device 40 (failure of the steam generating heater 42 or pump 31), the steam generating function determination When the exhaust gas temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 74 does not fluctuate according to the steam generator heater 42 being turned on by the unit 100a, the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 is stopped. It is also possible to determine. Also in this case, it is possible to reliably detect the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 by utilizing the exhaust temperature characteristic of the atmosphere in the exhaust duct 72 that is interlocked with the ON of the steam generation heater 42. it can.

  In the first embodiment, the stop of the steam generation function can be detected even when the generation of water vapor by the steam generation device 40 stops due to the failure of the steam generation heater 42 of the steam generation device 40. Further, when the generation of water vapor by the steam generator 40 is stopped due to a failure of the pump 31 for supplying water from the water tank 30 to the steam generator 40, it is possible to detect the stop of the steam generation function.

  Thus, according to the heating cooker of the said 1st Embodiment, in the oven cooking which heats the inside of the heating chamber 20 with which the water vapor | steam from the steam generator 40 was supplied with the convection heater 82, or steaming cooking using water vapor | steam, The steam generation function determination unit 100a can determine whether the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 is stopped based on the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 74.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in the number of output bits of the exhaust humidity sensor 75 according to on / off of the steam generating heater 42 during oven cooking using superheated steam of the heating cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention. . The cooking device of the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the cooking device of the first embodiment except for the operation of the control device 100, and uses FIGS. 1A, 1A, and 2.

  In FIG. 6, the horizontal axis represents time (minutes), and the vertical axis represents the number of output bits of the exhaust humidity sensor 75. In the second embodiment, when the number of output bits of the exhaust humidity sensor 75 is zero, it indicates the absolute humidity at the indoor air level. As the number of bits increases, the moisture in the exhaust increases and the absolute humidity increases. Represents that

  In the cooking device of the second embodiment, in oven cooking using superheated steam (internal temperature setting 200 ° C.), as shown in FIG. It is turned on for 12 seconds, turned on for 9 seconds per minute after 15 minutes, and the steam generating heater 42 is turned on and off repeatedly.

  At this time, the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust humidity sensor 75 gradually increases. When the steam generating heater 42 is turned on, the exhaust humidity is increased. When the steam generating heater 42 is turned off, the exhaust humidity is decreased. Fluctuates towards. That is, according to the on / off of the steam generating heater 42, the exhaust humidity periodically varies between high and low.

  When the water in the water tank 30 runs out or the steam generation function is stopped due to the failure of the steam generation heater 42 or the failure of the pump 31, the exhaust detected by the exhaust humidity sensor 75 as shown in FIG. Humidity has almost no periodic fluctuations.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in the number of output bits of the exhaust humidity sensor 75 according to on / off of the steam generating heater during steam cooking using steam of the heating cooker.

  In steam cooking using steam, as shown in FIG. 4, the steam generating heater 42 is continuously turned on for 4 minutes from the start, turned on for 50 seconds per minute from 4 minutes to 15 minutes, and after 15 minutes. The steam generation heater 42 is repeatedly turned on and off at 40 seconds per minute.

  At this time, the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust humidity sensor 75 gradually increases. When the steam generating heater 42 is turned on, the exhaust humidity is increased. When the steam generating heater 42 is turned off, the exhaust humidity is decreased. Fluctuates towards. That is, according to the on / off of the steam generating heater 42, the exhaust humidity periodically varies between high and low.

  When the water in the water tank 30 runs out or the steam generation function is stopped due to the failure of the steam generation heater 42 or the failure of the pump 31, the exhaust detected by the exhaust humidity sensor 75 as shown in FIG. Humidity has almost no periodic fluctuations.

  According to the cooking device having the above-described configuration, the steam generation function determination unit 100a uses water based on the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust humidity sensor 75, which is a physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generation box 41. It is determined whether or not the steam generation function including no water in the tank 30 is stopped. Therefore, the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 can be detected with a simple configuration without a water level sensor, and the cost can be reduced. Further, the stop of the steam generation function due to factors other than the absence of water in the water tank 30 (heater failure, pump failure, etc.) can also be detected.

  In the second embodiment, when the water in the water tank 30 is exhausted or the steam generator 40 stops generating steam due to a failure of the steam generator 40 (failure of the steam generator heater 42, failure of the pump 31, etc.). Even if the steam generation heater 42 is turned on / off by the heater control unit 100b, the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust humidity sensor 75 does not periodically fluctuate between high and low, so that the water in the water tank 30 is detected by the steam generation function determination unit 100a. It is determined that the steam generation function including nothing is stopped. The stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 can be detected more reliably by utilizing the exhaust humidity characteristic of the atmosphere in the exhaust duct 72 that is linked to the on / off of the steam generation heater 42.

  When water in the water tank 30 is exhausted or the steam generator 40 stops generating steam due to a failure of the steam generator 40 (a failure of the steam generator heater 42 or a failure of the pump 31), the steam generator heater 42 is stopped. Since the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust humidity sensor 75 does not fluctuate in response to turning on, the steam generation function determination unit 100a stops the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30. It is also possible to determine. Also in this case, it is possible to reliably detect the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 by utilizing the exhaust humidity characteristic of the atmosphere in the exhaust duct 72 that is interlocked with the ON of the steam generation heater 42. it can.

  Further, when the generation of water vapor by the steam generation device 40 stops due to a failure of the steam generation heater 42 of the steam generation device 40, the stop of the steam generation function can be detected. Further, when the generation of water vapor by the steam generator 40 is stopped due to a failure of the pump 31 for supplying water from the water tank 30 to the steam generator 40, it is possible to detect the stop of the steam generation function.

  Thus, according to the heating cooker of the said 2nd Embodiment, the steam generation function determination part 100a also in the oven cooking which heats the inside of the heating chamber 20 to which the water vapor | steam from the steam generation apparatus 40 was supplied with the convection heater 82. Can determine whether or not the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 is stopped based on the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust humidity sensor 75.

[Third Embodiment]
A cooking device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The cooking device of the third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the cooking device of the first embodiment except for the operation of the control device 100, and uses FIGS. 1A, 1A, and 2.

  In steam cooking using steam of the heating cooker of the third embodiment, the temperature of the steam generation box 41 detected by the steam generation box temperature sensor 47 by the heater control unit 100b of the control device 100 is the upper limit temperature (for example, 120). When the temperature exceeds (° C.), the steam generating heater 42 is turned off. When the temperature of the steam generating box 41 falls below the lower limit temperature (for example, 105 ° C.) from the state where the steam generating heater 42 is turned off, the steam generating heater 42 is turned on. The upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature may be appropriately set according to the configuration of the steam generator.

In addition, the heating cooker is a first operation mode in which the steam generating heater 42 is operated by temperature control based on the temperature of the steam generation box 41 described above for a predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes) from the start of steam cooking using steam. And a second operation mode for controlling the heater output by alternately repeating the on period and the off period of the steam generating heater 42 at a duty ratio corresponding to a desired heater output after the predetermined time has elapsed. In the second operation mode, the steam generation heater 42 is operated by temperature control based on the temperature of the steam generation box 41 described above during the ON-enabled period. In the first operation mode, the pump 31 performs continuous operation, while in the second operation mode, the pump 31 operates only during the on-time period. During steam cooking using such steam, the steam of the control device 100 is used. The generation function determination unit 100a measures the ON time of the steam generation heater 42 after the start of operation and the subsequent OFF time, and determines whether or not ON time> OFF time. That is, it is determined whether or not the ratio of the off time to the on time exceeds 1.

  In the determination by the steam generation function determination unit 100a, if the relationship of ON time> OFF time continues twice, the control device 100 causes the “WATER” message to blink on the operation panel 13. However, even if the pump 31 is operated, water may not be immediately supplied into the steam generation box 41, so the first determination of the on time and the off time is ignored.

  When the relationship of on time> off time continues for 5 consecutive times, the steam generation function determination unit 100a determines that there is no water, and the heater control unit 100b of the control device 100 performs heating by the steam generation heater 42. Stop. Here, the number of determinations is not limited to five, and a changeable set value stored in an EEPROM (electrically erasable / writable read-only memory) or the like may be used.

  In addition, after a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) has elapsed from the start of operation, heating by the steam generating heater 42 is continued without measuring and determining the on time and the off time.

  In addition, in oven cooking or grill cooking using superheated steam, the determination of no water using the ratio of the off time to the on time of the steam generating heater 42 is not performed.

  FIG. 8 shows changes in the on-time and off-time of the steam generating heater 42 during steam cooking using the steam of the heating cooker.

  FIG. 9 shows data of a specific example of the on time and off time of the steam generating heater 42 during steam cooking using steam of the heating cooker.

  In FIG. 9, when the steam generation box 41 is cooled at the start of steam cooking using water vapor and there is no water in the steam generation box 41, steam generation heaters with water supply (1) and without water supply (2) Steam generation heater in the case of no water supply (3) in a state where the steam generation box 41 is warmed at the start of steam cooking using steam and there is water in the steam generation box 41 42 shows an ON time and an OFF time.

  In FIG. 9, the elapsed time from the start of steam cooking using water vapor is shown in units of “minutes” and “seconds”, and the on time and off time of the steam generating heater 42 are shown on the right side. Here, if the relationship of ON time> OFF time continues twice, the control device 100 causes the “WATER” message to blink on the operation panel 13.

  In (1) of FIG. 9, only the second ON / OFF operation is ON time> OFF time, and the first time and the third to fifth times do not become ON time> OFF time. No determination is made. Then, the cooking is finished at the sixth on / off operation. In the sixth on / off operation, since the predetermined time of 5 minutes has elapsed, the steam generation function determination unit 100a does not determine the absence of water.

  Further, in (2) of FIG. 9, the relationship of on time> off time continues twice in the second and third on / off operations, and the message “WATER” is flashed on the operation panel 13 by the control device 100. The In the second to sixth on / off operations, since the relationship of on time> off time continues five times continuously, the steam generation function determination unit 100a determines that there is no water, and the heater control unit of the control device 100 100b stops heating by the steam generating heater 42.

  In (3) of FIG. 9, the temperature of the steam generation box 41 is warmed higher than in (2) of FIG. 9, but since there is water in the steam generation box 41, the first on time of the on / off operation is turned on. Is longer than the first on time in (2) of FIG. 9 (on time 37 seconds in (2)> on time 49 seconds in (3)). In the second and third times of the next on / off operation, the relationship of on time> off time continues continuously twice, and the control device 100 causes the “WATER” message to blink on the operation panel 13. In the second to sixth on / off operations, since the relationship of on time> off time continues five times continuously, the steam generation function determination unit 100a determines that there is no water, and the heater control unit of the control device 100 100b stops heating by the steam generating heater 42.

  According to the cooking device configured as described above, in steam cooking in which steam from the steam generator 40 is supplied into the heating chamber 20, the steam generation function determination unit 100a indirectly determines the presence or absence of water in the steam generator 40. It is determined whether or not the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 is stopped based on the information on the physical quantity expressed in (the ratio of the off time to the on time in the on / off operation of the steam generating heater 42). The stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 can be detected with a simple configuration, and the cost can be reduced. It is also possible to detect the stop of the steam generation function due to factors other than the absence of water in the water tank (heater failure, pump failure, etc.).

  In addition, when the water in the water tank 30 is exhausted or the generation of water vapor by the steam generation device 40 is stopped due to the failure of the steam generation device 40 (heater failure, pump failure, etc.), the water is supplied to the steam generation box 41. Since the ratio of the off time to the on time in the on / off operation of the steam generating heater 42 is increased, the ratio of the off time to the on time is larger than a predetermined value (“1” in the third embodiment). When it becomes larger, the steam generation function determination unit 100a determines that the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 is stopped. Thereby, the stop of the steam generation function including the absence of water in the water tank 30 can be easily detected with a simple configuration.

  In the third embodiment, the predetermined value for determining the ratio of the off time to the on time is set to “1”, but may be set as appropriate according to the configuration of the steam generator.

  Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Main body casing 11 ... Door 12 ... Handle 13 ... Operation panel 14 ... Heat shield 20 ... Heating chamber 20a ... Suction part 20b ... Upper left blowing part 20c ... Upper right blowing part 20d ... Left middle blowing part 20e ... Right middle blowing part 20f ... Lower upper blowout part 20g ... Lower upper blowout part 21 ... Square dish 22 ... Grilling net 23, 24 ... Upper square dish receiving part 25, 26 ... Lower side square dish receiving part 30 ... Water tank 31 ... Pump 32 ... First water supply Pipe 33 ... 2nd water supply pipe 34 ... Soup return rod 40 ... Steam generating device 41 ... Steam generating box 42 ... Steam generating heater 43 ... Steam temperature raising heater 45 ... Steam temperature raising part 44 ... Steam outlet 46 ... Steam pipe 47 ... Steam generation box temperature sensor 50 ... Electrical component part 51 ... Rotating antenna 52 ... Motor for rotating antenna 53 ... Cooling fan 54 ... Motor for cooling fan 55 ... Air supply fan 56 ... Motor for air supply fan 57 ... Air supply port 60 ... Waveguide 61 ... Magnetron 71 ... Exhaust port 72 ... Exhaust duct 73 ... External exhaust port 74 ... Exhaust temperature sensor 75 ... Exhaust humidity sensor 76 ... Internal temperature sensor 80 ... Convection fan casing 81 ... Convection Fan 82 ... Convection heater 83 ... Convection fan motor 90 ... Object to be heated 100 ... Control device 100a ... Steam generation function determination unit 100b ... Heater control unit

Claims (6)

A body casing;
A water tank disposed in the main body casing;
A steam generator for generating water vapor by heating water supplied from the water tank;
A heating chamber to which water vapor from the steam generator is supplied;
In cooking in which steam from the steam generator is supplied into the heating chamber, steam generation including no water in the water tank is performed based on information on a physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generator. A steam generation function determination unit that determines whether or not the function is stopped;
An exhaust passage which is provided in the main body casing and exhausts from the heating chamber to the outside of the main body casing;
An exhaust passage sensor for detecting the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity of the atmosphere in the exhaust passage,
The physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generator includes at least the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity of the atmosphere in the exhaust passage,
In the cooking in which the steam from the steam generator is supplied into the heating chamber, the steam generation function determination unit is configured to determine whether the steam generation function determination unit is in the water tank based on the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust passage sensor. It is determined whether or not the steam generation function including no water is stopped. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein
The steam generator has a steam generator heater for heating water from the water tank,
A steam generation heater control unit for controlling the steam generation heater;
The steam generating heater control unit turns on and off the steam generating heater in cooking in which steam from the steam generating device is supplied into the heating chamber,
When the steam generation heater is turned on, the steam generation function determination unit determines whether there is no water in the water tank when the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust passage sensor does not change. It determines with it being a stop of the steam generation function containing this. The cooking device according to claim 2,
The steam generation heater control unit repeatedly turns on and off the steam generation heater in cooking in which steam from the steam generation device is supplied into the heating chamber,
The steam generation function determination unit is configured to switch water in the water tank when the exhaust temperature or the exhaust humidity detected by the exhaust passage sensor does not periodically fluctuate depending on whether the steam generation heater is on or off. It is determined that the steam generating function including nothing is stopped. In the heating cooker according to claim 2 or 3,
Stopping the steam generating function including no water in the water tank includes a failure of the steam generating heater of the steam generating device. In the heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Stopping the steam generating function including no water in the water tank includes a failure of a pump for supplying water from the water tank to the steam generating device. In the heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A heater for heating the heating chamber;
The steam generation function determination unit includes information on a physical quantity that indirectly represents the presence or absence of water in the steam generation apparatus in cooking in which the heating chamber to which the steam from the steam generation apparatus is supplied is heated by the heater. A cooking device characterized by determining whether or not the steam generation function including no water in the water tank is stopped.

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