JP3392720B2 - Cooking device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating cooker capable of performing an inspection process for diagnosing whether a heating control system normally operates.

[0002]

In recent years, in a microcomputer-controlled heating cooker such as a microwave oven with an oven function, a relay for driving a magnetron or a heater, or a sensor such as a gas sensor or a weight sensor operates normally. A microcomputer stores an inspection program for executing the inspection process for diagnosing whether or not to perform the inspection process by executing the inspection program during product inspection or maintenance on the production line. It is considered to be possible (eg, fairness 6-
(See Japanese Patent No. 50035).

In this case, if a dedicated key is provided to instruct the execution of the inspection process (execution of the inspection program), the number of keys will increase and the cost will increase. Therefore, the inspection program is executed by specially operating a plurality of keys for cooking setting provided on the operation panel, that is, operating in a predetermined order that the user does not normally operate. Is being considered.

By the way, when the inspection program is executed by such a special operation of the key, it is necessary to surely prevent the inspection program from being executed when the user performs an erroneous key operation during normal use. , That special operation has to be complicated enough.

However, in the case where the inspection program is executed by such a sufficiently complicated special operation, it is possible to prevent the inspection program from being accidentally executed by the user's key operation, but on the other hand, the production line, etc. In this case, since the key operation when the inspection operator tries to perform the inspection becomes complicated, there is a disadvantage that the operation of the operator at the time of product inspection is considerably troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to make it possible to carry out an inspection process, and to eliminate the need for a dedicated key for carrying out the inspection process, while inspecting a product. A heating cooker that can simplify the operation for instructing the execution of the inspection step at the time and can prevent the inspection step from being accidentally executed by the user's key operation during normal use. To provide.

[0007]

A cooking device according to claim 1 of the present invention has an operation panel having a plurality of keys for instructing setting, execution, cancellation, etc. of cooking, and a key operation of the operation panel. It is equipped with a heating control system that performs heating and cooking based on the above, and an inspection execution unit that executes an inspection process for diagnosing whether this heating control system operates normally. When the operation is performed, any one of the keys on the operation panel is operated to enter the simple operation mode in which the inspection process by the inspection execution means is performed.

According to this, when the power is turned on at the same time as the operation of a predetermined key on the operation panel, the simple operation mode is set. In this simple operation mode, the inspection process by the inspection execution means is performed only by operating any key. Is performed, it becomes possible to instruct execution of the inspection process with a simple operation. In addition, in this simple operation mode, the inspection process can be performed any number of times by a simple operation. By independently operating the keys on the operation panel after turning on the power, it is possible to instruct cooking setting, execution, cancellation, etc., and the inspection process is not performed at that time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating cooker having an operation panel having a plurality of keys for instructing the setting, execution, cancellation, etc. of cooking, and the heating cooking is executed based on the key operation of the operation panel. The heating control system and the inspection performing means for performing the inspection step for diagnosing whether the heating control system operates normally, and the instruction for performing the inspection step by the inspection performing means is predetermined on the operation panel. Of the first key operation and a second key operation of a pattern having a more complicated pattern than the first key operation of the
The feature is that it is effective only for the execution of the second inspection process.

According to this, for example, when the inspection process is performed for the first time, such as when inspecting the product on the production line, the inspection process is performed by the inspection execution means by the relatively simple first key operation on the operation panel. Can be instructed. In addition, since the inspection process is performed by the second key operation of a relatively complicated pattern for the second and subsequent times, the inspection process is erroneously performed by the user's instruction such as setting, execution, and cancellation of normal cooking. It will not be implemented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating cooker having an operation panel having a plurality of keys for instructing setting, execution, cancellation and the like of cooking, and heating cooking is executed based on the key operation of the operation panel. The heating control system and the inspection performing means for performing the inspection step for diagnosing whether the heating control system operates normally, and the instruction for performing the inspection step by the inspection performing means is predetermined on the operation panel. Of the first key operation and a second key operation of a pattern that is more complicated than the first key operation, and the first key operation is performed in the production line. It is characterized in that it is effective only at the time of inspection.

According to this, at the time of performing the inspection of the product on the production line, the execution of the inspection process by the inspection executing means can be instructed by the relatively simple first key operation on the operation panel. Further, after the product is shipped, the inspection process is performed by the second key operation having a relatively complicated pattern. Therefore, the inspection process is erroneously performed by the user's instruction such as setting, execution, and cancellation of normal cooking. Will never be implemented.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment (corresponding to claim 1) in which the present invention is applied to a microwave oven with an oven function will be described below with reference to the drawings. First of all,
The external appearance of the main body 1 of the microwave oven with the oven function which is a heating cooker which concerns on a present Example is shown.

In the main body 1 of the microwave oven, there is provided a heating and cooking chamber (not shown) for accommodating food (food), and a machine chamber is provided on the right side thereof. The food to be cooked is placed on a turntable provided at the bottom of the cooking chamber. The heating and cooking chamber is opened and closed by a door 2 provided on the front surface of the main body 1. Although not shown in detail in the drawing, the heating cooking chamber has a heater 3 for oven cooking.
(See FIG. 4), and a magnetron 4 (see FIG. 4) for range cooking for supplying microwaves to the heating chamber via a waveguide and a drive circuit thereof in the machine chamber. Etc. are provided.

Further, as shown only in FIG. 4, in the main body 1, a capacitance type weight sensor 5 which constitutes a weight detection means for detecting the weight of the food item placed on the turntable. Also, a gas sensor 6 for detecting the concentration of gas or water vapor in the heating and cooking chamber is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, on the front surface of the main body 1, an operation panel 7 is provided on the right side of the door 2.

The operation panel 7 is provided with a display portion 8 located at the upper portion for displaying the setting contents and cooking time, and at the lower portion thereof, instructions for setting, executing, canceling cooking and the like are given. Various keys are provided for. In this embodiment, as various keys, a start key 9 for instructing cooking execution and a range key 1 for setting cooking are used.
0, an oven key 11, a temperature adjustment key 12, a cancel key 13 and the like are provided, and a dial type time setting knob 14 is further provided. It should be noted that the display section 8 can display a 4-digit number.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation signals of the various keys 9 to 14 are input to the control unit 15. The control unit 15 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and controls the magnetron 4 and the heater 3 according to a cooking program previously stored in a ROM or the like based on a key operation of the operation panel 7 by a user, It is designed to carry out cooking. At this time, the control unit 15 controls heating and cooking based on the detection signals of the weight sensor 5 and the gas sensor 6.

Therefore, the heater 3, the magnetron 4, the weight sensor 5, and the gas sensor 6 are centered on the controller 15.
The heating control system is composed of the above. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 15 controls not only the display of the display unit 8 but also the buzzer 16 for notifying the user.

The control unit 15 determines the weight of the food by comparing the detection signal of the weight sensor 5 with reference data at the start of cooking, and determines the cooking time. The data is stored in a rewritable nonvolatile memory 17 such as an EEPROM. At this time, the reference data is written in the non-volatile memory 17 in the step of adjusting the reference data (so-called zero-point adjustment) that is executed at the time of factory shipment, because there is a situation in which there is an individual difference for each product. Then, even after that, the reference data in the nonvolatile memory 17 is rewritten, for example, at the time of maintenance by performing the same adjustment as needed.

The ROM of the control unit 15 stores an inspection program for diagnosing whether the heating control system operates normally. The control unit 15 functions as an inspection execution means by executing this inspection program, and as described later in the description of the operation, the relay for driving the magnetron 4 and the heater 3, the weight sensor 5, and the gas sensor 6 are provided. An inspection process for diagnosing whether or not the device normally operates is performed.

Further, the non-volatile memory 17 stores whether or not this inspection step has been carried out. Therefore, the non-volatile memory 17 functions as a storage means and also serves as a means for storing the reference data of the weight sensor 5. At this time, in the present embodiment, the control unit 15 causes the nonvolatile memory 17 to store that the inspection process has been performed when it is diagnosed that the heating control system operates normally due to the inspection process. Has become. On the other hand, as a result of the inspection process being performed,
When it is diagnosed that there is an abnormality somewhere, the data of the abnormal portion is stored in the non-volatile memory 17.

As will be described in detail later in the description of the operation, the control section 15 has the following software configuration.
When the power is turned on at the same time as the operation of a predetermined key on the operation panel 7, a simple operation mode is set. In this simple operation mode, one of the keys on the operation panel 7 (for example, the range key 10) is turned on. Thus, the inspection program is executed to perform the inspection process.

In the present embodiment, when the non-volatile memory 17 does not store the information indicating that the inspection process has been completed (in the past, 1
If the inspection process has not been performed once or if there is an abnormality as a result of the previous inspection process execution), the display unit 8
Can be displayed (for example, "1EEE" is displayed on the numerical display portion), and if the non-volatile memory 17 stores the completion of the inspection process, the display portion 8
It is possible to display that effect (for example, "1000") on the number display section of. Further, when there is an abnormality as a result of the previous inspection process, the abnormal portion is stored in the non-volatile memory 17, and the data (code) of the abnormal portion is displayed on the display unit 8 by a predetermined key operation. It can be displayed.

Next, the operation of the above structure will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the flowchart of FIG. 1 shows a procedure of processing relating to the execution of the inspection process executed by the control unit 15 when the power is turned on. Further, the flowchart of FIG. 2 shows the procedure of the adjustment process of the reference data of the weight sensor 5 and the inspection process performed subsequently (the specific contents of step S10 of the flowchart of FIG. 1).

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, first, in step S1, the control unit 15 determines whether or not a predetermined key operation of the operation panel 7 is performed at the same time when the power is turned on. When a predetermined key is not turned on and normal power is turned on (No in step S1), a normal operation is performed thereafter, that is, the user sets cooking of the operation panel 7, Cooking is performed based on a key operation such as execution (step S2).

On the other hand, when a predetermined key operation on the operation panel 7 is performed at the same time when the power is turned on (step S
1), and in step S3, the simple operation mode is set. In this simple operation mode, the operation panel 7
When a predetermined key (for example, range key 10) is turned on (Yes in step S4), step S10
Then, the process of adjusting the reference data of the weight sensor 8 and the inspection process are performed (step S10).
Although details of this step will be described later, when it is diagnosed that the heating control system operates normally by the execution of the inspection step, it is stored in the nonvolatile memory 17 that the inspection step has been performed, and there is an abnormality. When diagnosed, the data of the abnormal part will be stored.

Thus, at the time of product inspection on the production line, the inspection operator can first enter the simple operation mode by performing a predetermined key operation at the same time when the power is turned on, and then the operation panel 7 is operated. It is possible to cause the control unit 15 to carry out the inspection process by an extremely simple operation of only turning on the range key 10 of. On the other hand, even after the product that has undergone the inspection is shipped and is used by the user, it may be necessary to perform the inspection process, for example, at the time of maintenance, but similarly, the simple operation mode is set. As a result, the inspection process can be performed with a simple operation.

However, at this time, the user does not carry out the inspection process only by turning on the range key 10, and a predetermined key operation is performed at the same time when the power is turned on. Since it is possible to perform the inspection process only after performing a special operation that is not performed, the inspection process will not be erroneously executed by the user's operation. Further, in the simple operation mode, it becomes possible to carry out the inspection process as many times as possible with a simple operation.

Next, the specific contents of the above step S10 (the adjustment process of the reference data of the weight sensor 5 and the inspection process) will be described. Step S in the flowchart of FIG.
Reference numerals 21 to 24 show the procedure for adjusting the reference data of the weight sensor 5, and the processing after step S25 shows the inspection procedure for the weight sensor 5 and the gas sensor 6.

That is, in order to adjust the reference data of the weight sensor 5, the inspection worker first puts a weight having a reference weight on the turntable of the heating and cooking chamber, and then turns on the start key 9. Operate (Step S2
1). Then, in the next step S22, the detection data output from the weight sensor 5 at that time is stored as reference weight data. Next, the inspection operator places another weight having a predetermined weight for the weight change inspection on the turntable, and turns on the start key 9 again (step S2).
3). Then, in the next step S24, the detection data output from the weight sensor 5 at that time is stored as the weight change data.

With this, the adjustment of the reference data of the weight sensor 5 is completed, and the reference weight data and the weight change data are the reference data, and the cooking product output from the weight sensor 5 when the actual cooking is performed. From the weight detection data, the weight of the cooked product can be measured (determined) based on the reference data.

Next, from step S25, the inspection process of the weight sensor 5 is started. Here, first, the inspection operator also puts a weight (sample) having a known weight on the turntable. Then, the start key 9 is turned on (step S25). Next step S
At 26, weight measurement is performed using the reference data from the weight detection data output from the weight sensor 5. Then, in step S27, it is determined whether or not the weight measurement result is within the predetermined range, and if it is within the predetermined range (Y
es), assuming that the weight sensor 5 is normal, step S
The reference data is stored in the non-volatile memory 17 at 28.

On the other hand, when the weight measurement result is out of the predetermined range (No in step S27), the weight sensor 5
It is diagnosed that there is an abnormality, and the fact is stored in the non-volatile memory (step S29). At the same time, for example, the display of the display unit 8 and the buzzer 26 sound to inform that there is an error. (Step S30).

When the weight sensor 5 is diagnosed to be normal, the gas sensor 6 is continuously inspected from step S31. Here, first, the gas sensor 6 is inspected in the heating cooking chamber in which nothing such as food is contained. The operator turns on the start key 9 (step S31). Then, step S3
In step 2, the detection data of the gas sensor 6 is read, and in the next step S33, the detection data is within a preset normal range (a range that is considered to be normally obtained when the heating and cooking chamber is in the atmosphere). Value) is determined.

If the detection data of the gas sensor 6 is within the normal range, the gas sensor 6 is also diagnosed as normal, and in the next step S34, the fact that the result of the inspection process is normal is non-volatile. It is stored in the memory 17. On the other hand, when the detection data of the gas sensor 6 is out of the normal range, it is diagnosed that the gas sensor 6 is abnormal, and the fact is also stored in the non-volatile memory (step S35). The display of the section 8 and the ringing of the buzzer 26 inform that there is an error (step S36).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a predetermined key operation of the operation panel 7 is performed at the same time when the power is turned on, whereby the simple operation mode is set. In the simple operation mode,
The inspection process can be performed only by operating the range key 10 on the operation panel 7. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the operation for instructing the execution of the inspection process during product inspection and maintenance, while eliminating the need for a dedicated key for performing the inspection process. It is possible to prevent the inspection process from being erroneously performed by the key operation.

In order to achieve the same purpose as in the above embodiment, the present invention may have the following configurations. That is, the instruction to perform the inspection process by the inspection performing means is two kinds of key operations, that is, a predetermined first key operation on the operation panel and a second key operation having a pattern more complicated than the first key operation. It is possible by
Of these, the first key operation is valid only for performing the first inspection step (corresponding to claim 2), or the first key operation is valid only for performing the inspection on the production line (claim 3). (Corresponding to)) can be configured. As a result, after all, the operation for instructing the execution of the inspection process at the time of product inspection can be simplified, and furthermore, the inspection process can be prevented from being accidentally executed by the user's key operation during normal use. It is possible to achieve the intended purpose such as being able to.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be applied not only to a microwave oven with an oven function but also to various heating cookers, and the contents of the inspection process. Furthermore, various modifications can be made to the configuration of the operation panel, the display content of the display unit, and the like, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the cooking device of the present invention, it is possible to carry out the inspection process, and the dedicated key for carrying out the inspection process is unnecessary. However, it is possible to simplify the operation for instructing the execution of the inspection process during product inspection, and prevent the inspection process from being accidentally executed by the user's key operation during normal use. It has an excellent practical effect of being able to do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing a control procedure for carrying out an inspection process.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a weight sensor adjustment and inspection process.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a microwave oven.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration centered on a control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 1 is a main body, 3 is a heater, 4 is a magnetron, and 5
Is a weight sensor, 6 is a gas sensor, 7 is an operation panel, 8 is a display unit, 9 to 14 are keys, 15 is a control unit (inspection means), and 17 is a non-volatile memory.

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24C 7/02 355 F24C 7/02 301 G05B 23/02 G06F 11/22 330 H05B 6/68 330

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An operation panel having a plurality of keys for instructing setting, execution, cancellation, etc. of cooking, a heating control system for executing heating cooking based on a key operation of the operation panel, and the heating control system. it is is immediately <br/> Bei and inspection execution means for implementing the inspection process to diagnose whether it works, a predetermined key operation at the same time as power-on of the operation panel
When any of the keys on the operation panel is operated,
As a result, the inspection process by the inspection execution means is performed.
A cooking device characterized by a simple operation mode . 2. Instructions for setting, executing, canceling cooking, etc.
Operation panel with multiple keys for
The heating control system that performs cooking based on the key operation
System and whether this heating control system works properly
And an inspection execution means for executing an inspection process for diagnosing whether or not
And Bei, instruction exemplary inspection process by the inspection execution means, wherein
Predetermined first key operation on the operation panel and its first
With the second key operation of a more complicated pattern than the key operation of
It is possible by two kinds of key operation, and the first key operation among them is for performing the first inspection process.
A cooker characterized by being effective only . 3. Instructions for setting, executing, canceling cooking, etc.
Operation panel with multiple keys for
The heating control system that performs cooking based on the key operation
System and whether this heating control system works properly
And an inspection execution means for executing an inspection process for diagnosing whether or not
And Bei, instruction exemplary inspection process by the inspection execution means, wherein
Predetermined first key operation on the operation panel and its first
With the second key operation of a more complicated pattern than the key operation of
It is possible by two kinds of key operation, and the first key operation among them is the inspection on the production line.
A cooking device characterized by being effective only at times .