JPH06201137A - Cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out a nicely finished automatic cooking by a method wherein a temperature distribution of the food is judged and a cooking means is controlled in response to an output from a food temperature sensing means corresponding to a rotary position of a rotary table. CONSTITUTION:A judgement means 8 stores temperature information of every region transmitted from a food temperature sensing means 7. Once the rotary table 3 is rotated, the judgement means 8 treats it as a two-dimensional heat image information for one screen. Data of second rotation is compared with the data of the first rotation of the rotary table 3, resulting in that in the case of heating and cooking a food 2 with a cooking means 4, a remarkable temperature rise occurs only at a food part in the got heat image and the food 2 is extracted from all the heat images of what position in the rotary table 3 is the food placed and what size does it have and the like. It judges a heating disturbance in the food 2. A control means 6 controls the cooking means 4 in response to an output from the judgement means 8. With such an arrangement as above, it is possible to carry out an automatic cooking wherein there is no sispersion in cooked food concerning the looking.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooking device for measuring food temperature for the purpose of automatic cooking.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, a cooking utensil of this kind (here, a microwave oven) has a turntable 3 for placing a food 2 in a cooking chamber 1, and further cooks the food 1. The cooking means 4, a food temperature detecting means 5 for detecting the temperature of the food 1 without contact, and a control means 6 for controlling the cooking means 4 based on the output of the food temperature detecting means 5 are provided.

The cooking means 4 comprises an oven or a magnetron, and heats and cooks the food 2 in accordance with a control amount given by the control means 6.

In order to reduce uneven heating of the food 2 on the turntable 3, when the cooking means 4 heats the food 2 by radio wave, the food 2 is constantly rotated (for example, one revolution is made in 10 seconds).
It's a turntable.

The food temperature detecting means 5 has a wide field of view.
It is composed of an infrared sensor of pyroelectric type or thermopile type of the element, and it is fixed to the ceiling surface of the cooking chamber 1 and the heat energy radiated from the food 2 placed near the center of the rotary table 3 through the opening window Detects without contact and converts to temperature. When the temperature measuring area of the infrared sensor is circular, the temperature measuring area is shown in FIG.
It corresponds to the vicinity of the center point of the turntable 3 as shown in. In FIG. 8, the arrow indicates the direction of rotation of the turntable 3, but the turntable 3
Does not displace the temperature measurement position even after rotating.

The control means 6 receives the temperature information output from the food temperature detecting means 5 while the food 2 is being cooked by the cooking means 4. When this temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, automatic cooking is realized by terminating the heating or changing the heating pattern for the cooking means 4 according to the menu to be cooked.

Further, as a conventional example, a structure as shown in FIG. 9 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-62975.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 91 is an operating portion of a microwave oven, 92 is a digital display provided in the microwave oven, 93 is a heating chamber of the microwave oven, and food S is placed in the heating chamber 93. A rotating shelf 94 is provided for this purpose.

An opening 95 is formed in the ceiling plate of the heating chamber 93, and an infrared sensor 96 is arranged so as to face the food S through the opening 95.

An opening 97 is formed at a substantially central portion of the ceiling plate of the heating chamber 93, and a CCD type area sensor which is an image pickup device through an optical lens 98 at a position facing the food S through the opening 97. 99 are provided. Further, an optical lens 912 corresponding to the opening 911 is disposed on the side wall of the heating chamber 93 so that a plan view and a side image of the food S are respectively picked up and converted into electric signals.

To explain the operation, the temperature of the food S is detected by using the infrared sensor 96, and the shape of the food is recognized by the change in the detected temperature and the output of the image pickup device 99 which images the food S. There was a microwave oven equipped with means for correcting the set temperature and set output of the cooking program.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the food temperature detecting means can measure only the average surface temperature of the food placed near the center of the rotating table in the field of view of the infrared sensor. It is not possible to grasp the state of uneven heating in each part of food. Even if the shape of the food is recognized by the image pickup device, the temperature of the food cannot be accurately detected if the shape of the food is smaller than the visual field range of the infrared sensor or if the food is placed near the end of the turntable. Therefore, there is a problem that the automatic cooking is incomplete and the cooking results vary.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and by accurately measuring the surface temperature of the food itself without being influenced by the type, shape, number, and placement of the food, there is no variation in the finished product. It is intended to provide a cooking utensil capable of automatic cooking.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the cooking utensil of the present invention according to claim 1 is a cooking means for cooking food, a turntable on which the food is placed, and the temperature of the food without contact. The food temperature detection means for detecting a plurality of points, the determination means for determining the temperature distribution of the food based on the output of the food temperature detection means corresponding to the rotation position of the turntable, and the cooking means is controlled based on the output of this determination means. And a control means.

The cooking utensil of the present invention according to claim 2 is a cooking means for cooking food, a food temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the food at a plurality of positions without contact, and a temperature detecting position of the temperature detecting means. A driving means for changing the temperature, a judging means for judging the temperature distribution of the food based on the output of the food temperature detecting means corresponding to the driving of the driving means, and a controlling means for controlling the cooking means based on the output of the judging means. Be prepared.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking utensil for cooking food, a rotary table on which the food is placed, a food temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the food in a non-contact manner, and this temperature detection. Drive means for changing the temperature detection position of the means, determination means for determining the temperature distribution of the food based on the output of the food temperature detection means corresponding to the rotation position of the rotating table or the drive of the drive means, and the output of this determination means And a control means for controlling the cooking means based on the above.

Further, in the cooking utensil of the present invention according to claim 4, the cooking means is controlled based on the output of the judging means for storing and comparing the output from the food temperature detecting means to judge the temperature distribution of the food. It is configured.

[0018]

According to the present invention, according to the above construction, the food temperature detecting means simultaneously measures the temperature information at a plurality of points across the food product in parallel, and the food product is fed every time the turntable makes one or a half turn.
The surface temperature distribution of the plate, turntable, etc. is obtained as two-dimensional thermal image information.

Alternatively, the food temperature detecting means simultaneously measures the temperature information at a plurality of points across the food in parallel, and the driving means moves the temperature detecting means so as to traverse in another axial direction to perform reciprocal scanning, whereby the food is detected. The surface temperature distribution of the plate, turntable, etc. is obtained as two-dimensional thermal image information.

Alternatively, the temperature detecting means is moved so that the driving means traverses the food, and reciprocal scanning is performed. Further, every time the turntable makes one or a half rotation, the surface temperature distribution of the food, plate, turntable, etc. is two-dimensional thermal image. Obtained as information.

The judging means regards a portion of the two-dimensional thermal image obtained by the food temperature detecting means, which temperature rises remarkably by heating, as a food portion, and judges the temperature unevenness state of the extracted food and the average food temperature. And inform the control means.

The control means adjusts the output of the cooking means in accordance with the temperature state of the food, which changes from moment to moment, so that the automatic cooking can be carried out with no variation in the finished product.

[0023]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a food temperature detecting means in which a plurality of pyroelectric or thermopile type infrared sensors are arranged in a one-dimensional array, and the food temperature detecting means 7 is equally divided so as to cover the radius portion of the rotary table 3 (5 in the figure). (Division) The temperature in each region is measured in parallel at the same time. This food temperature detecting means 7
Is fixed near the ceiling surface of the cooking chamber 1, which is located above the midpoint between the center point and the end point of the rotating table 3, and is radiated from the food 2, the rotating table 3 or the wall surface of the cooking chamber 1 through the opening window. The thermal energy generated by each of the divided areas is independently detected in a non-contact manner and converted into temperature. While the cooking means 4 is heating and cooking the food 2, the turntable 3 continues to rotate in a certain direction at a constant cycle, but the food temperature detecting means is rotated every time the turntable 3 advances by a certain angle (that is, every certain time). 7 detects the temperature for each area.

Reference numeral 8 stores the temperature information for each area transmitted from the food temperature detecting means 7 in correspondence with the rotation position of the rotary table 3, and when the rotary table 3 makes one revolution, two-dimensional thermal image information for one screen. Treat as. Comparing with the data for the second lap on the basis of the data for the first lap of the rotary table 3, when the food 2 is heated and cooked by the cooking means 4, only the food part of the obtained thermal image has a remarkable temperature rise. The food 2 is extracted from the entire thermal image such as the position on the turntable 3 and the size thereof. In addition, uneven heating in the food 2 is also determined. The control means 6 controls the cooking means 4 based on the output of the determination means 8.

If the number of area divisions is 5, that is, if an infrared sensor of 5 elements is used and the temperature measurement area of each infrared sensor is circular, the temperature measurement area is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the arrow indicates the rotation direction of the turntable 3. The temperature of the target food product 2 and its surroundings are sequentially detected in units of five points, and when the rotary table 3 makes one revolution, the entire area is covered and the thermal image information for one screen can be obtained. In FIG. 2, the vicinity of the center of the turntable 3 is dense, and the vicinity of the end points is sparse, but this changes the shape of the field of view that each area handles,
It is sufficient to change the allocation of the dividing angle. Also turntable 3
Instead of covering the radius part of the
It is also possible to obtain the thermal image information for one screen only by making a half turn.

In the above structure, the temperature distribution of the food 2 and its surroundings is two-dimensionally thermal imaged by detecting the temperature of the food temperature detecting means 7 composed of a multi-element infrared sensor in correspondence with the rotation position of the rotary table 3. , The surface temperature of the food itself is accurately measured without being affected by the type, shape, number, and placement of the food 2.
This has the effect of enabling automatic cooking with no variations in workmanship. In particular, since the two-dimensionalization is realized by using the rotary motion of the rotary table 3 which is conventionally used to reduce the heating unevenness of the food 2, it can be realized at a low cost.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The difference from the first embodiment is that the food temperature detecting means 7 is connected to a driving means 9 for changing the temperature detection position, and the temperature is set so that the driving means 9 crosses in the axial direction different from the multi-element infrared sensor arrangement direction. The point is that two-dimensional thermal image information is obtained by moving the detecting means 7 and reciprocatingly scanning.

The food temperature detecting means 7 divides the diameter of the turntable 3 into equal parts (8 parts in the figure) and measures the temperature in each region in parallel at the same time. This food temperature detecting means 7 is attached near the ceiling surface of the cooking chamber 1 located above the center point of the rotating table 3, and is radiated from the food 2, the rotating table 3 or the wall surface of the cooking chamber 1 through the opening window. The thermal energy generated by each of the divided areas is independently detected in a non-contact manner and converted into temperature.

The driving means 9 is composed of, for example, a stepping motor, and the food temperature detecting means 7 is provided via a timing belt.
The two-dimensional thermal image is obtained regardless of the rotation of the turntable 3 by periodically rotating (pivoting) the food temperature detecting means 7 by a fixed angle.

If the number of area divisions is eight, that is, if an infrared sensor having eight elements is used and the temperature measurement area of each infrared sensor is rectangular, the temperature measurement area is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the arrow indicates the temperature detection direction when the food temperature detection means 7 swings. The temperature of the target food 2 and its surroundings are sequentially detected in units of 8 points in correspondence with one swinging operation from one end to the other, and thermal image information for one screen can be obtained.

FIG. 4 shows that a thermal image for completely covering the rotary table 3 is obtained by one swinging operation.

Of course, this operation may be a linear motion instead of a rotary motion, or the same applies even if a reflector or the like is provided and this reflector is moved.

In the above-mentioned structure, the temperature distribution of the food 2 and its surroundings is two-dimensionally detected by sequentially detecting the temperature of the food temperature detecting means 7 composed of a multi-element infrared sensor while moving the temperature detecting position by the driving means 9. Since it works so as to obtain a thermal image in the form, the surface temperature of the food itself can be accurately measured without being influenced by the type, shape, number and placement of the food 2, and automatic cooking with no variations in the finished product can be performed. There is an effect. In particular, since a two-dimensional thermal image can be obtained regardless of the rotation speed of the turntable 3, there is an effect that the surface temperature distribution of the food 2 can be instantly grasped by performing the swinging operation at high speed. Further, in order to eliminate uneven heating of food, it is possible to cook while changing the rotation speed of the turntable 3.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The difference from the first embodiment is that the food temperature detecting means 5 is a one-element infrared sensor having a narrow field of view, and the food temperature detecting means 5 is connected to a driving food 9 for changing the temperature detection position. The point is that two-dimensional thermal image information is obtained by moving the temperature detecting means 5 so that the driving means 9 crosses the food 2 and performing reciprocal scanning.

The driving means 9 is composed of, for example, a stepping motor, and the food temperature detecting means 7 is provided via a timing belt.
It is connected to the.

The food temperature detecting means 5 is mounted near the ceiling surface of the cooking chamber 1 located above the midpoint between the center point and the end point of the rotating table 3, and the temperature detecting position is driven by the driving means 9 at the radial portion of the rotating table 3. The heat energy radiated from the food 2, the turntable 3 or the wall of the cooking chamber 1 entering the field of view through the opening window at regular intervals while periodically reciprocally rotating (swinging) by a certain angle to cover the Non-contact is detected and converted to temperature.

At the same time, while the food 2 is being cooked by the cooking means 4, the rotary table 3 continues to rotate in a constant direction at a constant cycle, so that temperature information at a constant time is associated with the rotational position of the rotary table 3. It is stored and handled as two-dimensional thermal image information for one screen when the turntable 3 makes one revolution.

Assuming that the swing time of the food temperature detecting means 5 is divided into 8 times and the temperature is detected 8 times per round trip, and the temperature measuring area of this infrared sensor is circular, the temperature measuring area is as shown in FIG. As shown. In FIG. 6, the arrow indicates the rotation direction of the turntable 3, and the dotted line indicates the locus of the visual field center point accompanying the swing motion. The temperature of the target food 2 and its surroundings are sequentially detected in accordance with the swing motion or the rotation of the turntable 3, and when the turntable 3 makes one revolution, the whole area is covered and thermal image information for one screen is obtained. It is possible. Here, the radial portion of the rotary table 3 is covered by the swinging motion, but the diameter portion may be covered so that the thermal image information for one screen can be obtained only when the rotary table 3 makes a half turn.

In the above structure, the food temperature detecting means 7 consisting of a one-element infrared sensor is detected by the driving means 9 while the temperature detecting position is sequentially moved and the temperature is detected corresponding to the rotational position of the rotary table 3. Since it acts to obtain the temperature distribution around it in the form of a two-dimensional thermal image,
There is an effect that the surface temperature of the food itself can be accurately measured without being influenced by the type, shape, number, and placement of the food, and automatic cooking can be performed without variations in the finished product. Particularly, the food temperature detecting means 5 is composed of a one-element infrared sensor, and two-dimensionalization is realized by using the rotary motion of the rotary table 3 which is used to reduce the heating unevenness of the conventional food 2 in combination. It can be realized at low cost.

Of course, the information detected by the food temperature detecting means is stored in advance and the determining means for determining the temperature distribution of the food by comparing with the stored information is provided so that the food cooking with less uneven heating is performed. Is something that can be done.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
(1) The temperature detecting means composed of a multi-element infrared sensor detects the temperature distribution of the food corresponding to the rotation position of the turntable (2) or the temperature detecting position of the temperature detecting means composed of a multi-element infrared sensor is changed. (3) or driving means for changing the temperature detection position of the temperature detecting means and detecting the temperature distribution corresponding to the rotating position of the rotating table, so that the two-dimensional thermal image of the entire cooking chamber can be easily obtained. Can be obtained. Therefore, the temperature of the food itself being cooked can be accurately extracted by separating it from the other, regardless of the type, shape, number, and placement of the food. The effect is that automatic cooking with little variation can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cookware according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a temperature measurement region obtained in the same example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a cookware according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a temperature measurement region obtained in the same example.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a cookware according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a temperature measurement region obtained in the same example.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional cooking utensil.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a temperature measurement region obtained by a conventional cooking utensil.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a conventional cooking utensil.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cooking Room 3 Rotating Table 4 Cooking Means 6 Controlling Means 7 Food Temperature Detecting Means 8 Judging Means 9 Driving Means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kimiaki Yamaguchi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Masahiro Nitta 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideki Terasawa 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cooking means for cooking food, a rotary table on which the food is placed, a food temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the food at a plurality of points without contact, and the food corresponding to the rotational position of the rotary table. A cooking utensil comprising: a determination unit that determines the temperature distribution of the food product based on the output of the temperature detection unit; and a control unit that controls the cooking unit based on the output of the determination unit. 2. Cooking means for cooking food, food temperature detection means for non-contact detection of the temperature of the food, and drive means for changing the temperature detection position of the temperature detection means.
Cooking comprising determination means for determining the temperature distribution of the food product based on the output of the food temperature detection means corresponding to the drive position of the drive means, and control means for controlling the cooking means based on the output of the determination means Equipment. 3. Cooking means for cooking food, a rotary table on which the food is placed, food temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the food in a non-contact manner, and driving means for changing the temperature detecting position of the temperature detecting means. And a determination unit that determines the temperature distribution of the food product based on the output of the food temperature detection unit corresponding to the rotation position of the rotary table or the drive of the drive unit, and controls the cooking unit based on the output of the determination unit. Cooker with a control means for controlling. 4. The temperature distribution of the food is stored by comparing the output of the food temperature detecting means with the cooking means for cooking the food, the food temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the food at a plurality of positions without contact, and the temperature distribution of the food. A cooking utensil comprising a determination means for determining and a control means for controlling the cooking means based on the output of the determination means.