JPH04324034A - Microwave oven - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to prevent hot water from remaining longer than required in an upper vessel and extract delicious coffee liquid constantly when extracting the coffee liquid, using a siphon type coffee extractor. CONSTITUTION:A coffee extractor 1 is housed in a heating chamber 12 and the water stored in a lower vessel 4 is heated by means of microwaves from a magnetron 14. A temperature sensor 15 detects the hot water fed to an upper vessel by heating. The oscillation of the magnetron 14 is suspended based on this detection signal. A fan device 17 is driven so as to cool the lower vessel 4 forcibly. The pressure in the lower vessel 4 is reduced by cooling. Accompanied by the drop in the pressure, the coffee liquid extracted in the upper vessel 5 is returned to the lower vessel 4.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Object of the invention]

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microwave oven capable of extracting coffee liquid using a siphon type coffee extractor.

0003

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when attempting to extract coffee liquid using a siphon type coffee extractor in a microwave oven, it is generally done as follows. First, water or hot water is poured into the lower container of the coffee extractor, coffee powder is poured into the upper container, and both containers are stored in the heating chamber of the microwave oven. Then, the magnetron is driven by a switch operation, and the water stored in the lower container is heated by microwaves. As the pressure in the lower container increases, the heated water is sent to the upper container through a water pipe, where the coffee grounds are soaked in the hot water.

[0004] The user visually confirms that the hot water has been sent to the upper container, and then operates a switch to stop the oscillation of the magnetron and thereby stop heating. As the pressure on the lower container side decreases due to the stoppage of heating, the coffee liquid extracted in the upper container is returned to the lower container through the water pipe. By doing so, coffee liquid can be extracted in a microwave oven.

However, in this case, the user visually confirms that the hot water has been sent to the upper container, and then operates a switch to stop the magnetron and transfer the coffee liquid extracted in the upper container to the lower container. There is a problem in that you have to be persistent because you have to go back.

To deal with this problem, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-78129 discloses that a temperature sensor is installed at the bottom of the heating chamber of the microwave oven to detect the temperature of the lower container of the coffee extractor. In this example, the oscillation of the magnetron is stopped based on the detection signal from the temperature detector.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned publication, when the hot water is sent to the upper container and the oscillation of the magnetron is stopped, the coffee liquid extracted in the upper container is transferred to the lower container side. Due to the pressure drop caused by natural cooling, it is returned to the lower container side. As a result, the hot water sent into the upper container may remain there for a longer time than necessary, resulting in the extracted coffee liquid becoming too concentrated.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent hot water from remaining in the upper container for an unnecessarily long time when extracting coffee liquid using a siphon-type coffee extractor, and to maintain delicious coffee at all times. There is a microwave oven that can brew coffee liquid.

[Configuration of the invention]

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides the following features:
A siphon-type coffee extractor is housed, which includes a lower container capable of storing water and an upper container that communicates with the lower container through a water pipe and stores coffee powder therein, and receives microwave power from a microwave oscillator. In a microwave oven, the water stored in the lower container is heated by waves, the hot water in the lower container is sent to the upper container, and the hot water is used to extract coffee liquid from the coffee grounds. a detection means for detecting that hot water is sent to the upper container by heating; a control means for stopping oscillation of the microwave oscillation device based on a detection result by the detection means;
The present invention is characterized in that it includes a fan device provided to cool the lower container.

In this case, it is preferable to use a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the lower container or the upper container as the detection means.

0012

[Operation] According to the above-mentioned means, when hot water is sent from the lower container to the upper container side by heating water using microwaves, this is detected by the detection means, and based on this detection result, the microwave oscillation device oscillates. is stopped and heating is stopped. By forcibly cooling the lower container with the fan device, the coffee liquid in the upper container can be quickly returned to the lower container side.

[0013] When a temperature sensor is used as the detection means, it is possible to easily and reliably detect that hot water has been sent to the upper container.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 3 shows a siphon-type coffee brewer 1, the support body 2 of which has a holding part 3 at the top, and a lower container 4 made of heat-resistant glass, for example, can be attached and detached to this holding part 3. It is now held in place. An upper container 5 is detachably attached to the lower container 4, and a water pipe 6 provided in the upper container 5 is inserted into the lower container 4, and the lower container 4 and the upper part are connected through the water pipe 6. It communicates with the container 5.

A filter 7 is provided inside the upper container 5.
This filter 7 is fixed by a spring 8 whose lower end is engaged with the lower end of the water pipe 6 . Note that a lid 9 is attached to the upper container 5, and the water pipe 6 and the lower container 4 are connected to each other.
Although not shown, a packing is provided between the two.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1, a heating chamber 12 formed in the main body 11 of the microwave oven 10 is opened and closed by a door 13, and the coffee brewer 1 can be taken in and out of the heating chamber 12. It is possible to store it. Further, the main body 11 is provided with a magnetron 14 as a microwave oscillation device.

A temperature sensor 15 made of a thermistor is provided in the heating chamber 12 as a detection means for detecting the temperature of the upper container 5 by coming into contact with the outer surface of the upper container 5 of the housed coffee extractor 1. . Further, on the back side of the heating chamber 12, an air outlet 16 formed on the back side of the heating chamber 12 is provided.
The fan device 1 is configured to blow air from the container toward the lower container 4.
7 is provided.

An operation panel 18 having a display section and operation keys (not shown) is provided on the front side of the main body 11. Inside the operation panel 18, as shown in FIG. A printed wiring board 20 on which electronic components are arranged is provided.

The microcomputer 19 is supplied with power from a commercial power source 21 via a constant voltage circuit 22, and also receives a detection signal from the temperature sensor 15 and a signal from the cooking start switch 23. It is now entered. Also, this microcomputer 19
As will be described later, controls the microwave oscillation circuit 25 (magnetron 14) via the magnetron control relay 24, and controls the fan motor 17a of the fan device 17 via the fan motor control relay 26,
Furthermore, it has a function of controlling a buzzer 27 as a notification means. Note that 28 is a door switch that responds to the opening and closing of the door 13.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to the time chart of FIG. When extracting coffee liquid, first a predetermined amount of water is placed in the lower container 4 of the coffee extractor 1, and a predetermined amount of coffee powder is placed in the upper container 5, which are supported by the support 2. In this state, the support 2 is stored in the heating chamber 12 of the microwave oven 10. At this time, the upper container 5 is set so that the outer surface thereof comes into contact with the temperature sensor 15.

In this state, the door 13 is closed and the cooking start switch 23 is turned on. Then, the magnetron 14 is energized via the magnetron control relay 24, and the water in the lower container 4 is heated by the microwaves oscillated from the magnetron 14. The hot water boiled by this heating is sent to the upper container 5 through the water pipe 6 due to an increase in the pressure in the lower container 4, where coffee powder is soaked in the hot water and coffee liquid is extracted.

[0022] When the hot water is sent into the upper container 5 in this way, the temperature of the upper container 5 rises rapidly, and accordingly, the temperature of the temperature sensor 15 also rises rapidly. As the temperature rises, the output voltage (detection signal) of the temperature sensor 15 decreases as shown in FIG.
4, while the fan motor 17 of the fan device 17
energize a.

[0023] As the magnetron 14 is cut off, heating by the microwave is stopped, and the fan motor 17a
As the current is applied to the lower container 4, wind from the fan device 17 is blown onto the lower container 4. The lower container 4 is cooled by the wind,
As the pressure in the lower container 4 decreases, the coffee liquid extracted in the upper container 5 is returned to the lower container 4 through the water pipe 6.

As the coffee liquid is returned to the lower container 4 side, the temperature of the upper container 5 decreases, and the temperature of the temperature sensor 15 also decreases. As the temperature decreases, the output voltage of the temperature sensor 15 increases, and when the output voltage rises to V2, the microcomputer 19 turns off the fan motor 17a while turning on the buzzer 27. When the buzzer 27 is energized, it sounds, indicating that extraction of the coffee liquid has been completed.

According to this embodiment, the temperature sensor 15 detects that heated hot water is sent from the lower container 4 to the upper container 5, and based on this detection, the microcomputer 19 shuts off the magnetron 14. Since heating is automatically stopped when the coffee is turned on, there is no need to worry about having to wait until the coffee is brewed. In this case, since the fact that the heated hot water is sent from the lower container 4 to the upper container 5 is detected by the temperature on the upper container 5 side, reliable detection is possible.

After the hot water is sent to the upper container 5, the lower container 4 is forcibly cooled by the fan device 17, so compared to the case of natural cooling, the lower container 4 is
Therefore, the hot water can be prevented from staying in the upper container 5 for an unnecessarily long time, so that delicious coffee liquid can always be extracted. Furthermore, in this case, by adjusting the timing of energizing the fan device 17 or the air flow rate, the time that the hot water remains in the upper container 5 can be adjusted, so the strength of the coffee liquid can also be adjusted.

Furthermore, since the buzzer 27 notifies that the extraction of the coffee liquid has been completed, it is possible to prevent the extracted coffee liquid from being left unattended, making it even more convenient.

In the above embodiment, a temperature sensor 15 made of a thermistor is used as a detection means for detecting that hot water is sent from the lower container 4 to the upper container 5. Although the temperature is detected, the temperature of the lower container 4 may also be detected, and a meat probe for detecting the temperature of meat or the like may be used as the temperature sensor.

Further, the detection means may be an infrared sensor or a photoelectric switch as long as it can detect that hot water is sent to the upper container 5; , 5 can be detected without contact.

[0030]

According to the microwave oven according to claim 1, in which the coffee liquid is extracted using a siphon-type coffee extractor, hot water is sent to the upper container by heating the water with the microwave. By providing a control means that detects this with a detection means and stops the oscillation of the microwave oscillation device based on this detection result, coffee liquid can be extracted automatically and the lower container can be cooled. The provision of a fan device to prevent the hot water sent to the upper container from remaining in the upper container for an unnecessarily long period of time can be prevented, making it possible to always extract delicious coffee liquid. It has a great effect.

Further, according to the microwave oven according to the second aspect, by using a temperature sensor as the detection means, it is possible to easily and reliably detect that hot water is sent to the upper container.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[Figure 2] Electrical configuration diagram

[Figure 3] Perspective view of siphon coffee extractor

[Figure 4] Time chart showing control details of the microcomputer

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a coffee extractor, 4 is a lower container, 5 is an upper container, 6
10 is a water pipe, 10 is a microwave oven, 12 is a heating chamber, 14 is a magnetron (microwave oscillation device), 15 is a temperature sensor (detection means), 17 is a fan device, 19 is a microcomputer (control means), 27 is a buzzer show.

Claims (2)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A lower container capable of storing water in the cooking chamber;
A siphon-type coffee brewer is housed, and includes an upper container that communicates with the lower container through a water pipe and contains coffee grounds therein, and the coffee is extracted into the lower container by microwaves from a microwave oscillator. The stored water is heated and the hot water in the lower container is sent to the upper container, and the coffee liquid is extracted from the coffee powder using the hot water,
a detection means for detecting that hot water is sent to the upper container by heating water by the microwave; a control means for stopping oscillation of the microwave oscillation device based on a detection result by the detection means; A microwave oven characterized by comprising a fan device provided to cool the microwave oven. 2. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the lower container or the upper container.