JPH07167447A - Heating and cooking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an irregular cooking state from being occurred even when an automatic cooking with a tubular heater is carried out when a reflecting surface of a reflection plate is stained. CONSTITUTION:A micro-wave oven having a heater is constructed such that there is provided a crystalline pipe heater 5 for use in heating a cooked item within a heating and cooking chamber 2 and a reflecting plate 6 for reflecting heat rays generated from the crystalline pipe heater 5 and reflecting it against the cooked item. There is provided a reflected light sensor 17 as a reflection plate stain sensing means for sue in sensing stain at the reflection surface 6a of the reflection plate 6. The heating time during the heating operation is controlled to a long or short period in response to a result of sensing with the reflection light sensor 17 when a heating and cooking operation is carried out with the crystaline pipe heater 5, for example, when a toast cooking operation is carried out. With such an arrangement as above, even if the automatic cooking operation is carried out with the crystaline pipe heater 5 when a reflection rate of the heat rays is reduced, and then irregular cooking may not be produced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating cooker including a quartz tube heater as a tubular heater for heating food to be cooked, which is provided at the ceiling of a heating chamber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a heating cooker of this type, for example, a microwave oven with a heater is provided with a reflecting plate on the upper side of a quartz tube heater, and the reflecting plate directs the heat rays generated from the quartz tube heater to the food in the cooking chamber. It is configured to reflect. As a result, the heat rays generated from the quartz tube heater are contributed to the heating of the cooked product without waste.

[0003]

In the above conventional structure, when heating and cooking are repeated, oil, smoke, etc. generated from the food during heating and cooking adheres to the reflecting surface of the reflecting plate, and the reflecting surface becomes dirty. come. When the reflecting surface becomes dirty, the reflectance of heat rays decreases, so the amount of heat applied to the food is reduced, and as a result, the heating output (power) of the quartz tube heater decreases. Therefore, when performing the automatic cooking that automatically sets the heating time based on the temperature in the heating cooking chamber and the weight of the food, if the reflector is dirty,
There is a problem that uneven cooking such as uneven baking occurs due to insufficient heating. Further, similarly, when dirt adheres to the surface of the tubular heater, there is a problem that cooking unevenness such as baking unevenness occurs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a heating cooker capable of preventing uneven cooking even when automatic cooking is performed by a tubular heater when the reflecting surface of the reflecting plate is dirty. It is in. Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating cooker capable of preventing uneven cooking even when automatic cooking is performed by the tubular heater when the surface of the tubular heater is dirty. .

[0005]

The cooking device according to the present invention comprises:
The heating device includes a tubular heater for heating food in the heating cooking chamber, a reflector for receiving heat rays generated from the tubular heater and reflecting the heat radiation toward the food, and a reflector for detecting dirt on the reflective surface of the reflector. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a dirt detecting means and an operation control means for controlling a heating operation based on a detection result of the reflector dirt detecting means during heating and cooking by the tubular heater.

In the case of this construction, a notifying means for notifying that the reflector is dirty is provided, and when the dirt degree detected by the reflector dirt detecting means by the operation controlling means is larger than a set value, heating is performed. It is also preferable to control not to execute the operation and to drive the informing means.

A cooking device according to another aspect of the present invention is
A tubular heater that heats the food in the cooking chamber is provided, and a heater contamination detection unit that detects contamination on the surface of the tubular heater is provided, and based on the detection result by the heater contamination detection unit during heating and cooking by the tubular heater. It is characterized in that it is provided with operation control means for controlling the heating operation by heating.

Further, it is conceivable that the heating time of the cooking is set longer as the degree of contamination detected by the reflector stain detecting means or the heater stain detecting means increases. Further, the reflector stain detecting means or the heater stain detecting means is composed of an optical sensor, and when an operation for starting heating and cooking by the tubular heater is performed, the reflecting surface of the reflector is promptly detected by the optical sensor. It is also preferable that the tubular heater is configured to detect dirt on the surface.

[0009]

According to the above-mentioned means, a reflector stain detecting means for detecting stains on the reflecting surface of the reflector is provided, and the heating operation during heating and cooking by the tubular heater is controlled based on the detection result by the reflector stain detecting means. With this configuration, even if automatic cooking is performed when the reflecting surface of the reflector is dirty, it is possible to apply almost the same amount of heat to the food as when it is not dirty, and cooking unevenness hardly occurs. . In this case, when the stain degree detected by the reflector stain detecting means is larger than the set value, the heating operation is controlled not to be executed, and the notifying means is driven to notify that the reflector is dirty. By doing so, it is possible to prevent cooking from being performed and to inform the user that the cleaning of the reflector is necessary when the reflector is so dirty that cooking cannot be performed well.

On the other hand, even when the surface of the tubular heater is soiled, the amount of heat applied to the food to be cooked is reduced in the same manner as when the reflector plate is soiled, so that cooking irregularities may occur. On the other hand, the heater dirt detecting means for detecting dirt on the surface of the tubular heater is provided, and the heating operation during heating and cooking by the tubular heater is controlled based on the detection result by the heater dirt detecting means. Even if automatic cooking is performed when the surface of the heater is dirty, it is possible to apply the same amount of heat to the food as when it is not dirty, and it is possible to prevent uneven cooking.

In this case, more specifically, if the stain degree detected by the reflector stain detecting means or the heater stain detecting means is increased, the cooking time, for example, of the cooking is set to be longer. Will not do. Also,
The reflector stain detecting means or the heater stain detecting means is composed of an optical sensor, and when an operation for starting cooking by the tubular heater is performed, the reflecting surface of the reflector or the surface of the tubular heater is promptly stained by the optical sensor. If it is configured to detect, the optical sensor does not erroneously detect the light generated from the tubular heater, and the dirt can be accurately detected.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a microwave oven with a heater will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a schematic overall structure of a microwave oven with a heater, an inner box 1 is arranged inside the range main body, and the inside of the inner box 1 serves as a cooking chamber 2. . A heater accommodating portion 4 is provided on a ceiling portion 3 of the heating and cooking chamber 2 so as to bulge upward and extend in the left-right direction at a rear side. A tubular heater is provided in the heater accommodating portion 4. For example, a quartz tube heater 5 is provided. In this case, the heater accommodating portion 4 is composed of a reflection plate 6 that reflects heat rays, and the reflection surface 6 of the reflection plate 6 is formed.
The a is configured to reflect the heat ray generated from the quartz tube heater 5 toward the cooking product housed in the heating cooking chamber 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, a magnetron 8 and a drive circuit 9 (see FIG. 3) for the magnetron 8 are provided in the machine room 7 provided on the right side of the cooking chamber 2 and the magnetron 8 and the drive. A cooling fan device 10 for cooling the circuit 9 is provided. The magnetron 8 is configured to microwave-heat (microwave-cook) the food in the cooking chamber 2 by supplying microwaves into the cooking chamber 2 via the waveguide 11. . still,
At the bottom of the cooking chamber 2, a flat heater is arranged as a lower heater.

The left and right side walls of the heating and cooking chamber 2 are provided with support projections for mounting and supporting a grill, an oven plate, or the like. In this case, when cooking (toast cooking, grill cooking, oven cooking, etc.) is performed by the quartz tube heater 5 or the lower heater, the food is placed on the grill or the oven plate. There is. Further, a rotary plate 12 is disposed on the inner bottom portion of the heating / cooking chamber 2, and the rotary plate 12 is rotationally driven by an RT motor 13 via a rotary shaft 14.
In this case, when the cooking (microwave cooking) is performed by the magnetron 8, the food to be cooked is placed on the rotary plate 12.

Further, on the upper part of the left side wall of the heating and cooking chamber 2,
An exhaust duct 15 is provided, and this exhaust duct 15
Through which the air in the cooking chamber 2 is discharged to the outside. In addition, on the left side wall of the cooking chamber 2,
The internal temperature sensor 1 is located below the exhaust duct 15.
6 is provided, and the inside temperature sensor 16 detects the temperature inside the cooking chamber 2 (inside temperature).

On the rear wall of the heating and cooking chamber 2, there is provided, for example, a reflection type optical sensor 17 which is a means for detecting the contamination of the reflection plate and is located slightly above the center of the rear wall. The reflective optical sensor 17 is composed of, for example, a light emitting diode 18 and a phototransistor 19. In this case,
As shown in, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 18 is applied to the reflecting surface 6a of the reflecting plate 6, and
The phototransistor 19 is configured to receive the light reflected by a. As a result, the reflection type optical sensor 17 is configured to be able to detect the reflectance of the reflection surface 6a, that is, the degree of contamination of the reflection surface 6a, based on the magnitude of the output level of the received light signal output from the phototransistor 19. .

Further, in FIG. 3 showing an electrical configuration, the operation control device 20 which is an operation control means is constituted by including a microcomputer, and has a control program for controlling the heating operation of each cooking described above. It is stored in the internal memory. The operation control device 20 is configured to receive various switch signals from a switch input section 21 including various switches provided on the operation panel and a temperature detection signal from the internal temperature sensor 16. There is. The operation control device 20 is configured to drive and control the magnetron 8, the quartz tube heater 5, the RT motor 13, and the fan motor 10a of the cooling fan device 10 via the drive circuits 9, 22, 23, and 24. . Further, the operation control device 20 is configured to drive and control the display device 25 and the buzzer 26 provided on the operation panel via the drive circuits 27 and 28. In this case, the display device 26 and the buzzer 27 respectively constitute the notification means.

Further, the operation control device 20 is configured to drive (emit) the light emitting diode 18 of the reflection type photosensor 17 and receive a light receiving signal given from the phototransistor 19. Specifically, a series circuit including the light emitting diode 18, the transistor 29, and the resistor 30 is connected between the DC power supply terminal 31 that supplies a DC voltage of 20 V and the ground. The transistor 29 is configured to be on / off controlled by a control signal being given to the base from the operation control device 20 via the resistor 32.

On the other hand, a series circuit composed of the phototransistor 19 and the resistor 33 is connected between the DC power supply terminal 34 for supplying a DC voltage of 5 V and the ground. An intermediate connection point between the phototransistor 19 and the resistor 33 is connected to the operation control device 20, and thus the operation control device 20 inputs the detection signal from the phototransistor 19 and outputs the output level (voltage Level) can be detected. In this case, the output level (voltage level) of the detection signal is, for example, 5 V when the reflecting surface 6a of the reflecting plate 6 is almost free from contamination (see FIG. 5A), and the degree of contamination of the reflecting surface 6a is large. As it becomes, it decreases (see FIGS. 5B to 5E).

Next, the operation of the above structure will be described with reference to FIG. The flow chart shown in FIG.
The content of the partial control of the control program stored in 0, specifically, the control for detecting the stain degree of the reflector 6 and setting the heating time of the cooking is shown.

Now, a case will be described in which the quartz tube heater 5 is energized to perform, for example, toast cooking for baking bread.
In this case, a grill is set in the heating and cooking chamber 2, bread is placed on the grill, and then the door is closed. Subsequently, when the start switch is turned on after selecting the toast cooking, first, in step S1 of FIG. 4, the reflection type optical sensor 17 detects the degree of contamination of the reflection surface 6a of the reflection plate 6. Specifically, the operation control device 20 causes the light emitting diode 18 to emit light and causes the light to be reflected by the reflecting surface 6 of the reflecting plate 6.
The phototransistor 19 receives the reflected light reflected on the reflecting surface 6a by irradiating a and receives the light reception signal S0 from the phototransistor 19 and stores the voltage level thereof.

Subsequently, the temperature inside the cooking chamber 2 is detected by the inside temperature sensor 16, and the detected inside temperature T is stored (step S2). After that, the degree of contamination of the reflecting surface 6a of the reflecting plate 6 is determined based on the received light signal S0.
Specifically, it is determined whether or not the voltage level of the received light signal S0 is within the range of 5 V or less and over 4.5 V (step S3). Assuming that the degree of contamination of the reflecting surface 6a is now small, the process proceeds to "YES" in step S3, and the inside temperature T
Is below 70 ° C. (step S
4).

Here, when the internal temperature T is lower than 70 ° C., the process proceeds to “YES” in step S4, and the heating time (cooking time) is set to, for example, 2 minutes and 30 seconds (step S5). Subsequently, the quartz tube heater 5 is energized (step S6) to start heating cooking (toast cooking). After that, when the set heating time elapses, the process proceeds to “YES” in step S7, the quartz tube heater 5 is stopped and the buzzer 27 is sounded to notify the end of cooking (step S8).

When the temperature T in the refrigerator is 70 ° C. or more in step S4, the process proceeds to “NO” in step S4, and the heating time (cooking time) is set to, for example, 1 minute.
It is set to 0 seconds (step S9). Hereinafter, the process of energizing the quartz tube heater 5 for a set heating time is configured to be executed in the same manner as the process described above.

On the other hand, if it is assumed in step S3 that the degree of contamination of the reflecting surface 6a has increased to a certain extent, the process proceeds to "NO" in step S3, and the voltage level of the received light signal S0 is in the range of 4.5 V or less and 2 V or more. It is determined whether or not it is within (step S10). Here, assuming that the degree of contamination of the reflecting surface 6a is medium, the process proceeds to "YES" in step S10, and it is determined whether the internal temperature T is lower than 70 ° C (step S11).

Here, when the internal temperature T is lower than 70 ° C., the process proceeds to “YES” in step S11 and the heating time (cooking time) is set to 2 minutes and 40 seconds (step S12). Hereinafter, the process of energizing the quartz tube heater 5 for the set heating time is configured to be performed in the same manner as the process described above. In addition, the above step S11
When the internal temperature T is 70 ° C. or higher, the process proceeds to “NO” in step S11 and the heating time (cooking time) is set to 2 minutes and 20 seconds (step S1).
3). Hereinafter, the process of energizing the quartz tube heater 5 for the set heating time is executed in the same manner as the process described above.

In step S10, when the degree of contamination of the reflecting surface 6a is extremely large (when the cooking cannot be performed satisfactorily as it is), the voltage level of the received light signal S0 becomes less than 2V. From
In step S10, the process proceeds to "NO". Then, in this case, the heating and cooking are stopped (step S14), a predetermined error display is displayed on the display 25 of the operation panel, and the buzzer 26 is sounded to cause the reflection surface of the reflection plate 6 to ring. The user is informed that the degree of contamination of 6a is severe (step S15). By recognizing this notification, the user cleans the reflecting surface 6a of the reflecting plate 6 by himself or calls a service person to clean it.

According to this embodiment having such a structure, the reflection type optical sensor 17 for detecting the dirt on the reflection surface 6a of the reflection plate 6 is used.
The heating time during heating and cooking by the quartz tube heater 5 is adjusted and set based on the detection result of the reflection type optical sensor 17, that is, the degree of contamination of the reflection surface 6a. Specifically, when cooking the bread,
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the degree of dirt on the reflecting surface 6a is medium, the heating time is set to be about 10 seconds longer than when the degree of dirt on the reflecting surface 6a is small (almost no dirt). Controlled. As a result, even if the reflecting surface 6a is dirty, it is possible to apply almost the same amount of heat to the bread as when the surface is not dirty, so that unlike the conventional configuration, cooking unevenness does not occur and the bread baking condition does not occur. (Burnt color, etc.) will be appropriate. When performing toast cooking to bake bread, the last 5 of the heating time
An appropriate burnt brown color is applied for about 10 seconds to 10 seconds, and the heating time is set to 1 as described above.
A very favorable cooking result can be obtained only by increasing the time for about 0 seconds.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the degree of contamination of the reflection surface 6a of the reflection plate 6 is severe, that is, when the voltage level of the detection signal S0 detected by the phototransistor 19 of the reflection type photosensor 17 is less than 2V. (That is, when the degree of dirt is larger than the set value), the heating operation is controlled not to be performed, the buzzer 26 is sounded, and an error display is displayed on the display 25, so that the reflector 6 is turned on. It is configured to notify the user that it is dirty. For this reason, when the reflecting surface 6a of the reflecting plate 6 is extremely dirty and cooking cannot be performed well, it is possible to prevent the cooking from being performed and to inform the user that the reflecting plate 6 needs to be cleaned. I can inform you.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the heater dirt detecting means is composed of the reflection type optical sensor 17, and when the start operation for starting the heating cooking by the quartz tube heater 5 is performed, the reflection type optical sensor 17 is promptly performed. By reflector 6
Since it is configured to detect the dirt on the reflective surface 6a, the phototransistor 19 of the reflection type photosensor 17 does not erroneously detect the light generated from the quartz tube heater 5, and the dirt can be accurately detected. .

On the other hand, in the above embodiment, the reflection type optical sensor 1
Although the contamination of the reflection surface 6a of the reflection plate 6 is detected by the reference numeral 7, instead of this, the reflection type optical sensor may detect the contamination of the surface of the quartz tube heater 5. In the case of this configuration, the reflection type optical sensor constitutes the heater stain detecting means. Then, in the same manner as in the above embodiment, the quartz tube heater 5 is based on the detection result by the reflection type optical sensor.
The heating operation during heating and cooking, specifically, the heating time is controlled to be adjusted for length. The configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment except the configuration in which the surface of the quartz tube heater 5 is detected by the reflection type optical sensor. In the case of the above modification, even if automatic cooking is performed when the surface of the quartz tube heater 5 is soiled, it is possible to apply substantially the same amount of heat to the food as when the surface is not soiled. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of.

Further, a structure combining the above embodiment and the above modification, that is, the reflection type optical sensor 17 for detecting the dirt on the reflecting surface 6a of the reflecting plate 6 and the dirt on the surface of the quartz tube heater 5 are detected. It is even more preferable to provide both the reflection type optical sensor and control the heating operation based on each detection signal from both optical sensors.

In each of the above embodiments, the reflection type optical sensor 1 is used.
When the heating operation of the quartz tube heater 5 is controlled based on the detection result of 7, the heating time is adjusted to be short or long, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the heating (heating) output of the quartz tube heater 5 May be configured to control the magnitude of the heat, or may be configured to control both the heating time and the heating output. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the reflector stain detecting means or the heater stain detecting means is constituted by the reflection type optical sensor 17, but the invention is not limited to this, and may be constituted by, for example, an infrared sensor.

Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, an optical sensor for emitting and receiving normal light is used as the reflection type optical sensor, but instead of this, light of a special wavelength (generated from the quartz tube heater 5) is used. A light sensor that emits and receives light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the light to be emitted may be used. And
With this configuration, even when the quartz tube heater 5 is being energized and heated, the reflection type optical sensor can accurately detect the stains on the reflecting plate 6 and the quartz tube heater 5.

In each of the above embodiments, the temperature inside the cooking chamber 2 is detected by the inside temperature sensor 16, and the automatic cooking is performed based on the detected temperature. However, instead of this, It goes without saying that a weight sensor for detecting the weight of the food placed on the rotary plate 12 may be provided and the automatic cooking may be performed based on the weight detected by the weight sensor. Furthermore, it is also preferable to provide a gas sensor that detects a gas such as water vapor generated from the cooked food and apply the automatic cooking based on the detection result detected by the gas sensor.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention comprises the reflector stain detecting means for detecting stains on the reflecting surface of the reflector, and the reflector stain detecting means at the time of heating and cooking by the tubular heater. Since the heating operation is controlled based on the detection result, even if automatic cooking is performed when the reflecting surface of the reflector is dirty, it is possible to apply almost the same amount of heat to the food as if it was not dirty. Therefore, it has an excellent effect that uneven cooking can be prevented.

In this case, when the stain degree detected by the reflector stain detecting means is larger than the set value, the heating operation is controlled not to be performed, and the notifying means is driven to notify that the reflector is dirty. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the cooking from being performed when the reflecting plate is extremely dirty and the cooking cannot be performed properly, and
The user can be informed that the reflector needs cleaning.

Further, since the heater dirt detecting means for detecting dirt on the surface of the tubular heater is provided, and the heating operation at the time of heating and cooking by the tubular heater is controlled on the basis of the detection result by the heater dirt detecting means, Even if automatic cooking is performed when the surface of the heater is dirty, it is possible to apply almost the same amount of heat to the food as when it is not dirty,
It is possible to prevent uneven cooking.

Then, the larger the degree of contamination detected by the reflector stain detecting means or the heater stain detecting means, the longer the cooking time, for example, of the heating cooking is set, so that the uneven cooking can be surely prevented. . Further, the reflector stain detecting means or the heater stain detecting means is composed of an optical sensor, and when the operation of starting the heating and cooking by the tubular heater is performed, the reflecting surface of the reflector or the surface of the tubular heater is promptly caused by the optical sensor. Since the stain is detected, the light sensor does not erroneously detect the light generated from the tubular heater, and the stain can be accurately detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of a cooking chamber showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a heating cooking room and a machine room.

[Fig. 3] Electric circuit diagram

[Fig. 4] Flow chart

FIG. 5 is a time chart of detection signals

[Explanation of symbols]

2 is a cooking chamber, 3 is a ceiling part, 4 is a heater accommodating part, 5 is a quartz tube heater (tubular heater), 6 is a reflecting plate, 6a is a reflecting surface, 7 is a machine room, 8 is a magnetron, and 16 is a chamber. A temperature sensor, 17 is a reflection type optical sensor (reflection plate dirt detection means),
18 is a light emitting diode, 19 is a phototransistor, 2
Reference numeral 0 is an operation control device (operation control means), 25 is an indicator (informing means), and 26 is a buzzer (informing means).

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tubular heater for heating food in a cooking chamber, a reflector for receiving heat rays generated from the tubular heater and reflecting the heat toward the food, and detecting dirt on the reflective surface of the reflector. A heating cooker comprising: a reflector stain detecting unit for controlling the heating operation based on the detection result of the reflector stain detecting unit during heating and cooking by the tubular heater. 2. A notification means for notifying that the reflector is dirty is provided, and the operation control means executes a heating operation when the dirt degree detected by the reflector dirt detector is larger than a set value. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein the notifying means is driven and the notifying means is driven. 3. A tubular heater for heating food in a heating cooking chamber, a heater stain detecting means for detecting stains on the surface of the tubular heater, and a detection result by the heater stain detecting means during cooking by the tubular heater. And a driving control means for controlling the heating operation based on the above. 4. The larger the degree of stain detected by the reflector stain detector or the heater stain detector,
The heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating time of the cooking is set to be long. 5. The reflector stain detecting means or the heater stain detecting means is composed of an optical sensor, and when an operation for starting heating and cooking by the tubular heater is performed, the optical sensor promptly detects the reflector stain. The heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein dirt on the reflecting surface or the surface of the tubular heater is detected.