JPH0158419B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in food heating devices.

In recent years, high-frequency heating devices such as microwave ovens have become increasingly complex due to demands for expanding the cooking repertoire and effectively utilizing space. In other words, it is a composite food heating device that incorporates multiple heating functions such as an oven function, grill function, and steam function in addition to a high-frequency heating function. In addition to being able to use each of the functions of such a complex food heating device independently, the high frequency heating function and other functions can be used consecutively, simultaneously or alternately, and in that case, the heating time It is characterized by its shortening of time and energy saving effects.

However, if it is possible to use several types of functions individually or in combination, operations such as selecting and setting the heating function become more complicated than before, and it may become difficult to associate the heating function with the object to be heated. As a result, the user is confused and the usability is considerably deteriorated.

To solve this problem, for example, the main body of the food heating device is equipped with a control device using a microcomputer, and the control device can be operated by selectively operating multiple switches provided on the operation panel using a cooking card with appropriate holes. Food heating devices that automatically select the heating method, heating temperature, and heating time suitable for the menu selected by the user are becoming popular.

On the other hand, for things that are often used on a daily basis, such as reheating cold food or cooking vegetables, a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, or gas sensor is installed at the ventilation air outlet of the heating chamber, and the information from these sensors is measured. The signal is processed by the control device,
Food heating devices that automatically control different heating times depending on the type and quantity of the object to be heated, the temperature before heating, etc. are also becoming popular.

Products that use these cooking cards to automatically set the heating method, heating time, and heating temperature, and convenient products that combine automatic cooking functions using sensors and control devices into one food heating device have also been commercialized. However, the disadvantage was that the control panel had a large number of buttons, making it difficult to use.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and
The purpose of this is to combine the function of automatically setting the heating method, heating time, heating temperature, etc. using a perforated card, and the automatic cooking function using a sensor and control device into one device, but the operation buttons etc. The object of the present invention is to provide a food heating device with less noise and good operability.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic import key for importing information on a perforated card into a control circuit in response to a pressing operation on a card holder loaded with a perforated card. When only this key is pressed, it becomes a key for selecting the sensor automatic cooking function that automatically adjusts the heating time.

The present invention will be explained below along with examples.

In the figure, 1 is a cooking card that records heating cooking conditions by combination of perforation positions, and is a sheet-like card made by laminating printed synthetic paper or waterproof paper and hard vinyl chloride sheet. As shown in FIG. 3, two rows of holes are drilled in the upper part of the card. The positions of these holes are in positions facing each of the select keys 2 provided on the panel side when the card 1 is loaded into the card holder 3, and the pressing operation of the select keys 2 is selected depending on the presence or absence of the holes. Manipulate. The upper row of holes 1-1 is for selecting a heating function such as high frequency heating, grill heating, oven heating, etc. and setting the heating temperature. Lower hole row 1
-2 is for setting the heating time. 1
-3 is a color-coded section classified by food group, 1-4 is a column showing each name of the dish, 1-5 is a column for a photo of the dish, and 1-6 is a column for displaying the heating time, and each quantity of the dish is displayed. The mark and quantity are displayed. The four times enclosed by a line frame are times that are automatically set depending on the presence or absence of a hole in the card. Other quantity marks are not automatically set and must be adjusted manually. 1-6
A is a temperature display field, and the temperature is displayed here for menus that require temperature display.

A C-cut 1-7 is formed at the bottom corner of the card 1, and a notch 1-8 is formed at the center.
It faces the inclined part 3-6 and the convex part 3-7 provided at the lower corresponding position of the card holder 3 shown in the figure. These structures are to prevent loading the card 1 upside down or loading a card other than a regular card, and to prevent erroneous operation of the select key.
The back of card 1 includes information on how to prepare the dish, ingredients, containers, etc.
Information on cooking methods, such as how to use accessories, is described. (Not shown) The card holder 3 into which the card 1 is loaded is shown in FIG.
It has a structure as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, including a frame 3-1 made of opaque plastic material, a viewfinder 3-2 made of transparent plastic material, and a frame 3-1 made of opaque plastic material, and a It consists of a push handle 3-8. Card holder 3
When card 1 is loaded into the , the dish name of card 1 is 1-
4. Photos of food 1-5, time display for each portion 1-
6 and temperature display 1-6a are visible through the viewfinder. The back side of frame 3-1 has a structure that allows card 1 to be easily loaded and unloaded.
3 is a card loading guide composed of an inclined surface;
3-4 is a mounting portion for the hinge device 4 attached to the back of the main body panel, and 4-1 is a hinge fulcrum. The through hole 3-5 is in the viewfinder 3-2 of the card holder 3.
is provided so that the manual select button 6 provided on the panel can be operated in a state where no card is loaded.

At the top of card holder 3, 2 of card 1
Recesses 3-9 and 3-10 are formed on the back side of the parts corresponding to the row holes 1-1 and 1-2, and when the card holder 3 is pressed against the panel, the opposing select key 2 heads are is designed to fit into this recess.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a switch group including a select key group 2 and a switch group.This switch group 5 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a front view of the switch assembly, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A-A' in FIG. The switch set consists of a total of 16 key groups 2 and switches that are opened and closed via coil springs 5-2 in accordance with the individual operations of the key groups 2. Each switch is attached to a printed circuit board 5-1, and a contact rubber 5-3
and its cover 5-4. Five of the nine keys on the upper row are integrated with the manual select button 6 and operate around the fulcrum 5-5, and the two keys on the left and right sides do not have a manual select button and are connected to the card 1. Or it is operated only by the card holder 3. The remaining two keys on the top row and seven keys on the bottom row are cylindrical with flanges. 5-6 is a casing. Key group 2 is a function key for selecting a single function from among high-frequency heating, steam heating, grill heating, and oven heating, or selecting an appropriate combination of these functions, as well as setting the heating temperature in some cases. 2
-f1, 2-f2, 2-f3, 2-f4, 2-f
5, and time key 2-t for setting the heating time.
1, 2-t2, 2-t3, 2-t4, 2-t5
and card detection keys 2-c1, 2-c2 that detect the presence or absence of the card 1 when the card holder 3 is pressed.
Then, the timing for importing the information held by the card 1 to the control circuit is given, or the automatic cooking selection is instructed by a signal from a sensor (not shown) installed at the heating chamber exhaust port without using the card 1. automatic import key 2-s1, 2 for giving the control circuit
-s2 and parity key 2-p for preventing malfunction
1,2-p2.

In this embodiment, function keys 2-f1 are for selecting strong microwave heating, 2-f2 are for selecting weak micro-heating, 2-f3 are for selecting steam heating, 2-f4 are for selecting grill heating, and 2-f5 are for selecting grill heating. These are for oven heating selection, and all of these work together with a select button for manual operation. Note that when oven heating is selected by card 1, 2-f2,
The three keys 2-f3 and 2-f4 are programmed into the built-in microcomputer to operate as 3-bit heating temperature setting keys. The card detection keys 2-c1 and 2-c2 are electrically configured in parallel, and the automatic capture keys 2-s1 and 2-s2
are electrically connected in series. Even if the card holder 3 is twisted and pressed, either the card detection key 2-c1 or 2-c2 described above will quickly detect the presence or absence of the card 1, and the automatic capture keys 2-s1 and 2-c2 will quickly detect the presence or absence of the card 1. Normal operation is not possible unless both s2 are connected.
These card detection keys 2-c1, 2-c2 and automatic import keys 2-s1, 2-s2 are distributed on both sides of the switch set 5, so that even if the card holder 3 is twisted and pressed, The keys are arranged so that they can be operated reliably. The parity keys 2-p1 and 2-p2 are used to check the number of select keys that operate when key input is performed using the card 1, and operate them appropriately to avoid erroneous heating operations. The parts of the card holder 3 that face the automatic capture keys 2-s1 and 2-s2 do not form recesses, contrary to the parts that face other select keys, and are not necessarily operated when the card holder is pressed. It is becoming more and more like this. This structure also serves to provide restoring force to the card holder 3 and prevent the switches from remaining pressed when the pressure is stopped. A play of dimension L (approximately 1 mm) is provided between the coil spring 5-2 for operating the switch of the automatic retrieval key and its operating section.

Next, to explain the protrusion height of each key, the height from the reference plane F shown in FIG.
Next, card detection keys 2-c1 and 2-c2 are 4.3
mm, and the other keys are 4.0mm.
Regarding the operating force of the switch, the card detection keys 2-c1 and 2-c2 are lighter than other keys, and the automatic import keys 2-s1 and 2-s2 are heavier than other keys. . Due to the interaction of the above-mentioned difference in key protrusion height and difference in switch operating force, the switch operations are clearly ordered, and the card detection key 2-c operates first, followed by the function key. 2-f, a time key 2-t, a parity key 2-p, and finally an automatic import key are activated. All coil springs have the same specifications.

In addition, 7 is a display window that displays the selected heating function, heating time, heating temperature, etc., 8 is a cooking start button, 9 is a cooking lamp that displays the start of cooking, and 10 is when reselecting a heating function. or a cancel button used to stop the cooking process, 11
is a 5-bit code switch, which is used as a timer in manual cooking, and in the case of sensor automatic cooking function, it is a sensor automatic cooking adjustment that adjusts the finish according to the type of food to be heated and the user's preference. used as 12 is a 5-bit code switch, which is a temperature regulator for manual cooking. Also, 11-1 is a timer pointer lamp;
1-2 is a sensor automatic cooking adjustment scale, 11-3 is a sensor automatic adjustment scale illumination lamp, 12-1 is a temperature adjustment scale, and 12-2 is a lamp for illuminating the temperature adjustment scale, and these are selected and displayed as appropriate. . 13
is a control device with a built-in microcomputer, and FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of part of its operation.

The operation of the control device will be explained using Fig. 7.
Insert the card 1 into the card holder 3 and press the push handle 3-8, then the card detection key 2-c
Either 1 or 2-c2 operates, then function key 2-f, time key 2-t, parity key 2-
p operates, and finally the automatic import keys 2-s1 and 2-
s2 both operate. Here, a parity check is performed by the microcomputer in the control device, and if it is defective, an error message (E) is displayed on the display window 7, and from now on, only the cancel button 10 will be accepted. When the parity check is OK, the display window 7 shows the heating function operated by the card,
When the temperature and time are displayed and the start button 8 is pressed, heating can be performed. When heating is to be performed manually without using the card 1, the card detection keys 2-c1 and 2-c2 are not operated, and the function key 2-f is operated by operating the select button. Next, the control device checks whether the oven function requires temperature adjustment, and if it is the oven function, it is necessary to operate the timer 11 and temperature regulator 12.
-1 lights up, and the temperature adjustment scale 12-1 lights up. When the oven function is not used, there is no need to operate the temperature controller, and only the timer needs to be operated, so only the timer indicator lamp 11-1 is lit. Also, if the push handle 3-8 is pressed without putting the card 1 into the card holder 3, the card detection keys 2-c1, 2-c2, function key 2-5, time key 2-t, parity key 2-
p is not operated, automatic import keys 2-s1, 2-s
Only 2 is operated. In this case, the sensor automatic cooking function is activated, and the sensor automatic cooking adjustment scale 11-
2 is illuminated by the illumination lamp 11-3, and a display indicating that the sensor automatic cooking function has been selected is displayed on the display window 7.

Next, the operation when cooking using card 1 will be explained. The card used is a combination of microwave heating and grill heating. When the card 1 shown in Fig. 3 is inserted into the card holder 3 and the push handle 3-8 on the top of the card holder is pressed, the card detection keys 2-c1 and 2-c2 are operated at the same time or in sequence. , followed by the function keys 2-f1, 2-f4 and the time key 2-, which correspond to the holes 1-1, 1-2 of the card 1 that do not have holes.
t2, 2-t3 turn on, and finally automatic import key 2
-s1, 2-s2 turns on. In response to this, the control device 13 displays the heating function and heating time on the display window 7. When the start button 8 is pressed, the cooking lamp 9 lights up and cooking is performed as instructed on the card 1. That is, after rapid heating is performed using strong microwave heating, the food is charred using strong grill heating over high heat, and cooking is completed after a predetermined period of time.

An explanation will be given of the operation when the finished temperature of the heated object is detected by a sensor without using the card 1 and the food is automatically cooked. When the push handle 3-8 is pressed without inserting a card into the card holder 3, the automatic capture keys 2-s1 and 2-s2 are turned on, the sensor automatic cooking adjustment scale 11-2 is lit up, and the display window 7 is lit up. Displays that the sensor automatic cooking function has been selected. Next, the sensor automatic cooking regulator 11
match the menu. For example, a sake can is marked on the 1 scale, warming rice and side dishes is on the 3 scale, and cooking leafy vegetables such as spinach is on the 4 scale.
Root vegetables such as potatoes and other vegetables should be adjusted to a scale of 5. When the start button 8 is pressed, the heating time is automatically controlled by the action of the sensor and the control device, and the food to be heated is automatically cooked.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the switch set is provided with a card detection key and an automatic import key, and when a card is placed in the card holder 3 and the push handle 3-8 is pressed, automatic cooking is performed using the card. , and if the push button handle 3-8 is pressed without the card being inserted into the card holder, automatic cooking can be performed using the sensor, so there is no need to increase the number of operation knobs on the operation panel, and the range of applications is wide. The food heating device can be made easy to use. In addition, since the automatic import key is used to prevent malfunctions when using a card, and to select functions when using sensor automatic cooking, there is an advantage that the space is small, the number of parts can be reduced, and costs are low.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the operation panel of the food heating device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG.
4 is a detailed view of the card holder, FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the switch set, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of part of the operation of the control device. 1...Card, 2-f...Card detection key, 2
-s...Automatic import key, 5...Switch group, 3...
...Card holder, 7...Control device, 11...Timer and sensor automatic cooking regulator, 11-2...
Sensor automatic cooking adjustment scale.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a product equipped with an automatic cooking function that automatically adjusts the heating time and heating temperature using a perforated card, and a sensor automatic cooking function that automatically adjusts the heating of food using sensors such as a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, gas sensor, etc., the perforated card Equipped with a switch set consisting of a group of select keys that are pressed as appropriate to select one or more of a plurality of heating functions, as well as select heating time and heating temperature, and a group of switches that respond to these select keys.
This set of switches further provides a timing for importing the information of the perforated card selected by the select key group into the control circuit when a perforated card is loaded into the card holder and the card holder is pressed. A food product comprising an automatic import key that instructs the control circuit to select the sensor automatic cooking function when the card holder is pressed without loading a card, and a switch that responds to the automatic import key. heating device.