JPH05240445A - Heat cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a switch for directing a kind of a substance to be heated for cooking by automatically identifying a kind of the substance to be heated for cooking. CONSTITUTION:The number of placing plates being the reference of an amount of a substance to be heated for cooking is detected by photo sensors 6 and 7, a control circuit 36 selects a reference value according to a detected number, and a reference value is compared with an amount of detected alcohol. A control circuit 36 identifies a kind of the substance to be heated for cooking by means of heights detected by photo sensors 8 and 9 and an alcohol detected amount compared result.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating cooker equipped with an alcohol sensor so that the type of cooked food can be determined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a heating cooker having an oven function, a cooking mode (for example, heating temperature or cooking time) is appropriately set according to the kind of the cooked food, and thus the cooked food. I am trying to be able to cook properly in accordance with. For example, breads and sweets such as butter rolls, pizza pies, roll cakes, madeleines, cream puffs (skins), and cookies are well known as those to be cooked in the oven. Thus, this type of cooking device is provided with a designating switch for individually designating each of the above-mentioned cooked foods, and the user selects and operates each designating switch. A cooking mode suitable for the food to be heated is automatically set.

[0003]

By the way, in the recent heating cooker of this kind, there are many items (menus) that can be cooked, and accordingly, the number of various switches is also large. With regard to switches, there is also a strong desire to move them away. In addition, if there are a large number of designated switches in this way, the user may mistakenly operate the switches, which may lead to cooking failure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is a heating cooker capable of automatically determining the type of food to be heated and eliminating the switch for designating the type of food to be heated. To provide.

[0005]

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the following points. That is, the food to be heated is
An alcohol component is generated depending on the material, and the amount of the alcohol varies depending on the food to be heated. Therefore, it is possible to determine the type of food to be cooked by detecting the amount of alcohol by the alcohol sensor and comparing the detected amount with a predetermined standard.

However, even with the same cooked food,
Since the amount of alcohol generated differs depending on whether the amount of cooked food is large or small, it is difficult to determine the type of cooked food only with an alcohol sensor.

In consideration of these points, the heating cooker according to the present invention has a number detecting means for detecting the number of placing plates arranged in the heating cooking chamber, and the cooked food placed on the placing plates. Height detection means for detecting the height of the, the alcohol sensor for outputting a signal according to the amount of alcohol generated in the heating cooking chamber, a reference for selecting a reference value according to the detection result from the number detection means Value selection means, comparison means for comparing the detected amount from the alcohol sensor with the selected reference value, and the comparison result by this comparison means and the height detected by the height detection means based on the cooking target. And a cooked food determination means for determining the type.

[0008]

The object to be cooked is accommodated and placed in the cooking chamber while being placed on the placing plate. Therefore, when the amount of cooked food to be cooked is small, the number of mounting plates used is small, and when the amount of cooked food to be cooked is large, the number of mounting plates used. There are also many.

Therefore, according to the above means, it is possible to determine the quantity of the food to be heated by detecting the number of placing plates by the number detecting means. Further, according to the above means, the reference value is selected according to the amount of the cooked food, that is, the number of detections. Therefore, by comparing the reference value with the detected alcohol amount, the amount of the cooked food is not affected. Therefore, it is possible to determine the type of cooked food.

In this case, among the cooked foods, the amount of alcohol generated may differ even for different cooked foods. However, in the above means, the height detected by the height detection means and the alcohol detected quantity are compared. Since the type of cooked food is determined based on the result, it is possible to determine the cooked food in terms of height as well, and the determination error is small.

Since the type of cooked food can be automatically determined in this manner, the switch for designating the cooked food can be eliminated.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG.
Is a main body case 2 and an inner case 2a disposed inside the main body case 2.
The interior of the inner case 2a is a heating and cooking chamber 3.

On both side walls of the heating / cooking chamber 3, rib-shaped mounting plate receivers 4a, 4c and 4b, 4 are provided in upper and lower two steps, respectively.
d is provided. In this embodiment, the mounting plate 5 is set to 2
I have one.

Further, the light emitting elements 6a and 7a are respectively disposed slightly above the mounting plate receivers 4a and 4c, and the respective light emitting elements are slightly disposed above the opposing mounting plate receivers 4b and 4d. Light receiving elements 6b and 7 paired with 6a and 7a
b is provided. Thus, the light emitting element 6a and the light receiving element 6b constitute the optical sensor 6, and the light emitting element 7a and the light receiving element 7b constitute the optical sensor 7. These optical sensors 6 and 7 are number detecting means for detecting the number of the mounting plates 5 arranged in the cooking chamber 3 by detecting the presence or absence of the mounting plates 5, respectively.

Further, a light emitting element 8a and a light receiving element 8b forming the optical sensor 8 are arranged above the light emitting element 6a and the light receiving element 6b of the optical sensor 6, respectively, and the light emitting element of the optical sensor 7 is provided. 7a and the light receiving element 7b are provided above the light emitting element 9a and the light receiving element 9b forming the optical sensor 9.
And are respectively provided. The optical sensors 8 and 9 are height detecting means for detecting the height of the food to be heated placed on the placing plate 5, and in this case, the optical sensors 8 and 9 are respectively to be heated. When the height of the food to be cooked is, for example, 35 mm or more, the food to be heated is shielded from light and a detection signal is output.

Further, a rotary plate 10 attached to a rotary shaft 32a, which will be described later, is arranged at the bottom of the heating and cooking chamber 3. In addition, in the upper part of the heating and cooking chamber 3, a concave reflecting portion 2b,
2b is provided, and the grill heaters 11, 11 are provided on the reflecting portions 2b, 2b, respectively.

A partition plate 3a having a ventilation hole is arranged on the back wall of the heating and cooking chamber 3, and the partition plate 3 is provided.
An oven heater 12 and an oven fan 13 are provided on the back side of a. The oven fan 13 includes a hot air fan motor 14 and a centrifugal blade 15.

An exhaust port 16 is formed on the side wall of the heating and cooking chamber 3, and the exhaust passage 1 leading from the exhaust port 16 to the outside of the device.
7, an alcohol sensor 18, a vapor sensor 19, a catalyst heater 20 and a catalyst 21 are provided. The alcohol sensor 18 outputs a signal (voltage signal) corresponding to the amount of alcohol generated in the cooking chamber 3.

Further, an oven temperature sensor 22 is provided on the left side wall of the heating and cooking chamber 3, and a grill temperature sensor 23 is provided on the right side wall.

A door 24 for opening and closing the heating and cooking chamber 3 is provided on the front surface of the main body 1, and an operation panel 25 is provided. A machine room 26 is provided behind the operation panel 25, and a magnetron 27 and a cooling fan 28 are provided in the machine room 26. The cooling fan 28 includes a cooling fan motor 29 and blades 30. Also, magnetron 27
Supplies microwaves to the cooking chamber 3. An environmental temperature sensor 31 is arranged in the machine room 26.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a rotary shaft 32a is supported in a penetrating state at the bottom of the cooking chamber 5,
The rotary shaft 32a is rotatably driven by a turntable motor 32 attached to the outer surface of the bottom. The above-mentioned rotary plate 10 is attached to the upper end of the rotary shaft.

The lower end of the rotary shaft 32a is supported by the weight sensor 33.
The weight applied to 2a is detected by the weight sensor 33. The operation panel 25 is provided with various switches 34 and a display 35.

FIG. 1 shows the electrical configuration. The control circuit 36 is configured to include an A / D converter and a microcomputer, which is according to an operation program stored therein, which includes the grill heater 11 and the oven heater 1.
2. The oven fan motor 14, the catalyst heater 20, the magnetron 27, the cooling fan motor 29, and the turntable motor 32 are drive-controlled via the drive circuit 37, and the display 35 is drive-controlled. The control circuit 36 also functions as a reference value selection means, a comparison means, and a cooked food determination means.

Now, the operation of the above configuration will be described together with each function of the control circuit 36. The control circuit 3 is shown in FIG.
6 shows the control contents of 6, and this control uses various switches 3
It starts when the oven switch of 4 is operated.

When the oven switch is operated, the control circuit 36 controls the steps P1 and P2.
As shown in, the signal from the light receiving element 6b is read and the signal from the light receiving element 7b is read.

Next, it is judged whether or not the number of the mounting plates 5 is one on the basis of the signals from the light receiving elements 6b and 7b (step P3). The value K is set to 1.3V (step P4), and if it is two sheets (determined in step P5), the reference value K is set to 1.5V (step P6).

The purpose of selecting the reference value K in this way is as follows. That is, in FIG. 6, butter roll, pizza pie,
Roll plate, madeleine, cream puff (skin) and cookie, one or two plates 5
The amount of alcohol generated in the case of being arranged in the above position is indicated by the detected amount (voltage level) of the alcohol sensor 18.

As can be seen from FIG. 6, the mounting plate 5 is
In the case of one sheet, the amount of alcohol generated in butter roll and pizza pie is in the range Ha of approximately 1.4 to 3.2 V, and the amount of alcohol generated in roll cake, madeleine, cream puff (skin) and cookies is approximately 0.8. ~ 1.2V
Is in the range Hb.

When there are two mounting plates 5, the amount of alcohol generated from butter roll and pizza pie is 1.8 to 3.5V.
Is in the range Hc, and the amount of alcohol generated in the roll cake, madeleine, cream puff and cookie is in the range Hd of approximately 1.0 to 1.3V.

Now, when distinguishing between cooked foods such as butter rolls and pizza pie and cooked foods such as roll cake, madeleine, cream puff (skin) and cookies, a reference value is set, The food to be cooked is discriminated depending on whether or not the amount of alcohol generated is more than this. However, if the reference value is uniquely set to 1.5 V, for example, when the number of the mounting plates 5 is 2, an error occurs. Although it can be determined without, the alcohol production amount range of the pizza pie is in the range Ha of 1.4 to 3.2 V when the placing plate 5 is one, so when the cooked food is a pizza pie, There is a risk of misidentification as cooked foods such as cakes, madeleines, cream puffs and cookies.

However, if the reference value is selected and set according to the number of the mounting plates 5 to be used, it is possible to prevent the above-described erroneous determination from occurring. In view of such circumstances, the reference value K is set to "1.3 V" when the number of the mounting plates 5 is one and "1.5 V" when the number of the mounting plates 5 is two.

When the reference value K is selected and set in steps P5 and P6, the alcohol detection amount X is read from the alcohol sensor 18 (step P7 or step P8).

Now, assuming that the number of the mounting plate 5 is one, the detected alcohol amount X and the reference value K (in this case, 1.
3V) (step P9), and when the alcohol detection amount X is the reference value K (1.3V) or more, it is determined that the cooked food is butter roll or pizza pie (step P10), and alcohol detection. The quantity X is the reference value K (1.3
When it falls below V), it is determined that the food to be heated is roll cake, madeleine, cream puff or cookie (step P11).

If there are two mounting plates 5,
The alcohol detection amount X and the reference value K (1.5V in this case) are compared (step P12), and if the alcohol detection amount X is equal to or greater than the reference value K (1.5V), the cooked food is similar to the above. It is determined to be butter roll or pizza pie (step P10), and the alcohol detection amount X is the reference value K.
When the voltage falls below (1.5 V), it is determined that the food to be heated is a roll cake, madeleine, cream puff or cookie as described above (step P11).

If it is determined that the food to be heated is butter roll or pizza pie, the light receiving element 8
The detection signals from b and 9b are read (step P1
3) If there is a detection signal input, that is, if the height H of the cooked food is "35 mm" or more (determined in step P14), it is determined that the cooked food is butter roll (step P15). ).

If no detection signal is input, that is, if the height H of the food to be heated is less than "35 mm",
It is determined that the cooked food is a pizza pie (step P
16).

On the other hand, as shown in step P11, after it is determined that the food to be heated is roll cake, madeleine, cream puff or cookie, the oven heater 12 and the oven fan motor 14 are energized for a predetermined time. Preheat for time (step P1
7). Thereafter, the detection signals from the light receiving elements 8b and 9b are read (step P18), and if the detection signal is input, that is, if the height H of the cooked food is "35 mm" or more (determined in step P19). It is determined that the food to be heated is cream puff (step P20). If no detection signal is input, that is, if the height H of the food to be heated is less than "35 mm", it is determined that the food to be heated is a roll cake, a madeleine, or a cookie (step P21).

The purpose of performing preheating for a predetermined time in the above step P17 is that there is no difference in height between the cream puff, the roll cake, the madeleine and the cookie because the cream puff is in a thin skin state at the time of step P11. In order to make the difference, preliminary heating is performed for a predetermined time. This causes the cream puffs to swell, making a difference in height.

After the food to be heated is determined in this way, cooking is executed for the heating time or the heating temperature corresponding to each food to be heated (step P22). in this case,
When the food to be heated is a roll cake, a madeleine or a cookie, it cannot be specified which one, but since these are usually cooked under the same cooking conditions, no trouble occurs in cooking.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the number (the number) of the mounting plates 5 serving as a standard of the amount of the food to be heated is detected by the optical sensors 6 and 7 which are the number detecting means, and the detected number is detected. Select the reference value K according to
And the detected alcohol amount X are compared with each other, it is possible to determine the type of the food to be heated regardless of the amount of the food to be heated.

In this case, some cooked foods have similar amounts of alcohol generated. However, in the above-described embodiment, the height H detected by the optical sensors 8 and 9 as height detecting means is equal to the height H. Since the type of cooked food is determined based on the alcohol detection amount comparison result, it is possible to determine the cooked food in terms of height as well, and the determination error can be reduced.

Since the type of cooked food can be automatically determined in this way, the switch for designating the cooked food can be eliminated.

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a number detecting means for detecting the number of mounting plates arranged in the heating cooking chamber, and the food to be cooked mounted on the mounting plates. Height detecting means for detecting the height of the alcohol, an alcohol sensor for outputting a signal corresponding to the amount of alcohol generated in the cooking chamber, and a reference for selecting a reference value according to the detection result from the number detecting means. Value selection means, comparison means for comparing the detected amount from the alcohol sensor with the selected reference value, and the comparison result by this comparison means and the height detected by the height detection means based on the cooking target. It is provided with means for determining the type of food to be cooked, which can automatically determine the type of food to be cooked, which is excellent in that the switch for designating the food to be cooked can be eliminated. The effect To.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view

FIG. 3 is an overall cross-sectional plan view

[Fig. 4] Overall vertical cross-sectional view

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control contents.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an alcohol generation state of each cooked food in the case of one plate and two plates.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 is a cooking chamber, 5 is a mounting plate, 6 and 7 are optical sensors (number detecting means), 8 and 9 are optical sensors (height detecting means), 18 is an alcohol sensor, 36 is a control circuit (reference value selection). Means, comparing means, and cooked food determination means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A number detecting means for detecting the number of placing plates arranged in the heating cooking chamber, and a height detecting means for detecting the height of the cooked food placed on the placing plates, An alcohol sensor that outputs a signal according to the amount of alcohol generated in the cooking chamber, a reference value selection unit that selects a reference value according to the detection result from the number detection unit, and an amount detected from the alcohol sensor. A comparison means for comparing the selected reference value with the selected reference value, and a cooked food determination means for determining the type of the cooked food based on the comparison result by the comparison means and the height detected by the height detection means. A cooking device provided.