JPH11237052A - Heating-cooking utensil - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely inform the outside that a cooking utensil is in a sales support mode by stopping the action of a heating means for executing operation action and by generating an information sound different from that generated on other operation modes by a control means in the case when the operation mode is set to the sales support mode. SOLUTION: Various input keys 1 that function as a mode-setting means for setting an operation mode are provided on an operation panel 2, and operation action corresponding to each operation mode set by operating the input keys 1 is executed by a microcomputer 5 used as a control means. More specifically, when the operation mode set by operating the input keys 1 is a sales support mode, the microcomputer 5 stops the action of a heating means 4 including a magnetron 3, operating action is executed, and an information sound different from that generated in other operation modes such as a range mode or over mode is given by an informing means 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooking device such as a microwave oven and, more particularly, to a cooking device capable of performing a driving operation in a sales support mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a heating cooker is sold, the cooking cooker is operated for sales support at a store or the like, that is, for a so-called demonstration. In the operation operation, not only is it necessary to prepare food as a heating load, but also dirt and odor may adhere to the heating chamber, resulting in a decrease in commercial value. In addition, if the cooking device is operated with no load, the life of the magnetron constituting the heating means for heating the food may be shortened, which may hinder product quality. May be caused. Furthermore, when a large number of heating cookers displayed at a store are operated at the same time, the power capacity may be insufficient.

In recent years, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 28033 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-17134, an operation mode in which the operation of the heating means can be performed after the operation thereof is stopped, that is, a function called a sales support mode is preliminarily heated. Cookers are equipped with such a function, and when having such a function, the power consumption is low, and the temperature does not rise even when the operation is performed in a no-load state. The advantage that there is no inconvenience is secured. Although not shown, the operation panel of this type of heating cooker is provided with various input keys and a display tube which also function as mode setting means for setting an operation mode. In the tube, a display such as a heating time and a set operation mode, for example, a range mode or an oven mode is to be performed.

That is, when the input keys are operated in a predetermined order, a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) as control means built in the cooking device determines that the sales support mode has been set as the operation mode, This microcomputer executes the operation after stopping the operation of the heating means. And in this case,
A display indicating that the driving operation corresponding to the sales support mode is being executed, for example, a display such as “D” or “demo” is displayed on the display tube. In addition, there is a heating cooker provided with a notification unit that generates a notification sound based on an instruction from the microcomputer. In such a heating cooker, every time a required input key such as a start key is operated, " A notification sound such as "P" is to be generated from the notification means.

[0005]

However, the conventional cooking device has the following disadvantages. In other words, despite the fact that the driving operation corresponding to the sales support mode is being executed, the display is small and difficult to see, so that a store customer who overlooks that the sales support mode has been overlooked. Misleading questions may be raised, such as insufficient heating of food. In addition, since the character display must be checked carefully every time it is necessary even during the test process at the time of production, extra labor and time are required.

In the sales support mode, since the display by characters is generally continued from the start point to the end point, the power consumption is increased by a small amount. Furthermore, despite having the sales support mode, there is a heating cooker having a configuration in which the display indicating that the driving operation corresponding to the sales support mode is being performed is not performed by the display tube. In the case of a heating cooker, the fact that it is the sales support mode itself is not recognized.

The present invention has been made in view of these inconveniences, and has a structure capable of reliably informing the outside that the sales support mode is set without depending on the display tube. The purpose is to provide a cooking device.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating cooker for heating a food, a mode setting means for setting an operation mode, and executing an operation corresponding to each operation mode. And a notifying means for generating a notifying sound based on an instruction from the controlling means. If the set operation mode is the sales support mode, the controlling means stops the operation of the heating means. And a function of causing the notification means to generate a notification sound different from that in the other operation modes.

A heating cooker according to a second aspect of the present invention is the cooking device according to the first aspect, wherein the notification sound generated from the notification means in the sales support mode is a driving operation corresponding to the sales support mode. It is characterized by being a voice or a melody. The heating cooker according to claim 3 of the present invention is claim 1.
Alternatively, the notification sound in the sales support mode is repeatedly generated at predetermined intervals. When such a configuration is adopted, if the cooking device is in operation corresponding to the sales support mode, a unique notification sound different from that in other operation modes is generated to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to easily recognize the sales support mode without visually recognizing the display tube.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified electric configuration of a cooking device according to the present embodiment. Here, the description will be made assuming that the cooking device is a microwave oven. That is,
The heating cooker according to the present embodiment has an operation panel 2 provided with various input keys 1 which also function as mode setting means for setting an operation mode, and a heating cooker for heating food stored in a heating chamber. Based on a heating means 4 including a magnetron 3, a microcomputer 5 which is a control means for executing an operation operation corresponding to each set operation mode by operating the input key 1, and an instruction from the microcomputer 5 It is provided with a notifying unit that generates a predetermined notifying sound, for example, a notifying unit 6 configured using a ceramic vibrator that emits a sound in accordance with the frequency and input time of an input signal given from the microcomputer 5. . Note that the notification means 6 is not limited to one using a ceramic vibrator, but may be a speaker, a buzzer, or the like.

When the operation mode set by operating the input key 1 is the sales support mode, the microcomputer 5 stops the operation of the heating means 4 including the magnetron 3 and stops the operation. In addition to the execution, the notification means 6 generates a notification sound different from those in other operation modes such as the range mode and the oven mode. Has a function of giving input signals of different frequencies over different input times. In the figure, reference numeral 7 denotes a timer (volume) for setting a heating time, 8 denotes a turntable motor, and 9 and 10 denote relays, both of which operate in accordance with instructions from the microcomputer 5. The relay 9 is for driving the heating means 4, and the relay 10 is for driving the turntable motor 8.

In the heating cooker according to the present embodiment, when the predetermined input key 1 is operated in a predetermined order, the microcomputer 5 determines that the sales support mode has been set as the operation mode. In other words, the microcomputer 5 stops the operation of the heating means 4 in accordance with the built-in program, that is, executes the operation while the relay 9 is turned off, and notifies the microcomputer 5 of a notification different from that in the normal operation mode. An input signal for generating a sound is provided to the notification means 6. At this time, the relay 10 is turned on,
The turntable motor 8 performs the same rotation operation as in the normal operation mode. In addition, the timer 7 in the sales support mode may be configured to elapse the time at a high speed that is 5 to 10 times as long as the execution time of the driving operation in the normal driving mode.

That is, in this type of heating cooker, a notification sound "P" is generated from the notification means 6 every time a required input key such as a start key is operated. The notification sound is generated when the microcomputer 5 supplies an input signal at a frequency of 2000 Hz for 0.2 seconds to the notification means 6, for example. On the other hand, for example, an input signal of 0.1 second at a frequency of 3000 Hz is applied three times, and the notification means 6 to which such an input signal having the pulse waveform is applied outputs “pi, pi, pi”. ”Is generated. In addition, the notification sound at this time is "pi,
It is needless to say that the notification sound is not limited to “Pi, Pi”, and may be a notification sound different from that in the other operation modes.

By the way, a mode confirmation key (not shown) for confirming the operation mode being executed may be provided on the operation panel 2. When such a mode confirmation key is provided, the mode Each time the confirmation key is operated, in the case of the sales support mode, the notification means 6 generates a notification sound "Pi, Pi, Pi", that is, a notification sound indicating that the driving operation in the sales support mode is being performed. Will be. In addition, the notification sound in this embodiment is to be generated by an input signal having a single frequency. For example, a sound synthesis IC is used, and the sound signal is digitized and stored in advance. The stored data extracted from the speech synthesis IC by the microcomputer 5 is notified by the notifying means 6.
It is also possible to reproduce with.

When such a configuration is employed, the notification sound generated from the notification means 6 in the sales support mode may be a voice or a melody indicating that the driving operation corresponds to the sales support mode. Since it is possible, the driving operation in the sales support mode can be informed to the outside with a more reliable expression. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the sales support mode is set as the driving mode, the notification sound is to be generated from the notification means 6. It is also possible to generate it repeatedly in each cycle, and if such a configuration is adopted, it is known that the driving sound corresponding to the sales support mode is being executed without missing the notification sound The advantage that it is easy to make is secured.

[0017]

As described above, according to the heating cooker according to the present invention, when the driving operation corresponding to the sales support mode is being performed, a unique notification sound different from that in other driving modes is output to the outside. , It is easy to recognize that the sales support mode is set without visually confirming the display tube. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the character display as in the related art, and it is possible to reliably inform the outside that the cooking operation that does not include the display tube is performing the operation corresponding to the sales support mode. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect that unnecessary labor and time can be reduced, and power consumption can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified electric configuration of a heating cooker according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 input key (mode setting means) 4 heating means 5 microcomputer (control means) 6 notification means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A heating means for heating food, a mode setting means for setting an operation mode, a control means for executing an operation operation corresponding to each operation mode, and a notification sound based on an instruction from the control means. Control means, if the set operation mode is the sales support mode, execute the operation after stopping the operation of the heating means, and, unlike the other operation modes, A heating cooker having a function of generating the notification sound from the notification means. 2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the notification sound generated from the notification means in the sales support mode is:
A cooking device characterized by a voice or a melody indicating a driving operation corresponding to the sales support mode. 3. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the notification sound in the sales support mode is repeatedly generated at predetermined intervals.