JPH11281067A - Electric cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restart cooking of a heated/cooked food easily even after elapse of a specified time by altering the specified cooking start waiting time based on a fact whether a food is present in a heating chamber or not. SOLUTION: When a food is not taken out after ending cooking, the specified cooking start waiting time of a timer 9a is set longer as compared with a case where the food is present based on the detection output from a weight sensor 15. The timer 9a of a microcomputer 9 is then reset temporarily and the waiting time to next cooking start time is measured. If a predetermined waiting time has passed without performing door open/close operation, an automatic cooking key 6b is locked. The key 6b is unlocked by resetting the power supply or performing door open/close operation and heating/cooking can be restarted by depressing the key 6b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric cooker such as a microwave oven and an electric oven.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, this type of electric cooker has been advanced in the automation of cooking operation, the cooked food is stored in a heating chamber, the door is closed and a key for instructing a cooking start is pressed, and a predetermined heating cooking is performed by a control means. Is performed. FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an electric cooker provided with two heating means of a microwave and an electric heater, wherein 1 is a heater main body, 2 is a heating chamber provided in the main body, and 4 is a front face of the heating chamber 2. A door 5 for opening and closing the opening 3 is an operation panel provided on the front surface of the main body 1, and is provided with a display section 6a for selectively displaying time and temperature, an automatic cooking key 6b for performing warm cooking, and a manual cooking key 6c. ing. The display section 6a and each key are connected to a control circuit, not shown, provided on the rear surface of the operation panel 5 or inside the main body 1 and including control components such as a sensor and a microcomputer, which oscillate microwaves. Controls the operation of the magnetron or electric heater. 7 is heating room 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a turntable, which is also provided on the inner wall surface of the heating chamber 2. The electric heaters are arranged on the ceiling surface and the bottom surface of the heating chamber 2, respectively.

[0003] The operation of such a cooker will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When warming cold rice or cooked food, place the food on the turntable 7 and close the door 4 and press the automatic cooking key 6b on the operation panel 5. When the turntable 7 starts rotating, the magnetron oscillates at the same time. Microwaves are supplied into the heating chamber to heat the food. When the heating proceeds, the sensor detects the state and stops the oscillation of the magnetron, and the heating operation automatically ends (S81).

After the cooking is completed, if the door 4 is not opened and closed and the food is not taken out of the heating chamber 2, a timer is started (S82), and after one minute, the automatic cooking key 6b is set in a key lock state ( S84) Even if there is a pressing operation thereafter, the microcomputer ignores the operation and does not operate. Then, when the power is reset or the door 4 is opened and closed (S85), the key lock state of the automatic cooking key 6b is released (S86), and the automatic cooking key 6b is ready to receive a pressing operation. Becomes possible.
Of course, after cooking, 1
If the automatic cooking key 6b is pressed within minutes (S87), the heating cooking is started (S88).

[0005]

As described above, according to the conventional electric cooker, when one minute elapses while the food is left in the heating chamber after completion of cooking, the automatic cooking key is in a key lock state, Unnecessary heating such as reheating is prevented from being performed. Therefore, if you forget to remove the cooked food from the heating chamber and try to reheat the food, reset the power supply or open and close the door once and then press the automatic cooking key. This is extremely troublesome, and when the user does not understand this operation method, there is a problem that the user mistakes the operation method for a failure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When it is desired to start cooking even after a predetermined time has elapsed after heating and cooking, it is easy to operate and easy to operate. The purpose is to obtain an electric cooker with excellent properties.

[0006]

An electric cooker according to the present invention comprises a heating chamber provided with a door which can be opened and closed, a heating means for heating food in the heating chamber, and a key input means for instructing the start of cooking. A food detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber, a control means for controlling the heating means in response to a cooking start instruction signal from the key input means, and a predetermined waiting time until the start of cooking, a predetermined time. Means for not accepting a cooking start instruction from the key input means when the time has elapsed, wherein the predetermined time for waiting for the start of cooking is changed depending on the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber.

The food detecting means is a weight sensor for detecting the weight of the food. Further, the predetermined time for waiting for the start of cooking is changed in proportion to the weight of the food.

Further, the electric cooker according to the present invention has a heating chamber provided with a door which can be opened and closed, heating means for heating food in the heating chamber, key input means for instructing the start of cooking, and Food detection means for detecting the presence or absence of food,
Control means for controlling the heating means in response to a cooking start instruction signal from the key input means, and so as not to receive the cooking start instruction from the key input means when a waiting time until the start of cooking elapses a predetermined time set in advance. Means for setting the waiting time for starting cooking only when it is detected that there is no food in the heating chamber.

Further, the electric cooker according to the present invention has a heating chamber provided with a door which can be opened and closed, a heating means for heating food in the heating chamber, a key input means for instructing a start of cooking, and Food detection means for detecting the presence or absence of food,
Control means for controlling the heating means in response to a cooking start instruction signal from the key input means, and so as not to receive the cooking start instruction from the key input means when a waiting time until the start of cooking elapses a predetermined time set in advance. Means for canceling the reception prohibition state according to the number of times of operation of the key input means.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes a microcomputer including a series of control circuits for controlling the entire cooking device and a timer 9a mounted on a printed circuit board, an automatic cooking key 6b for outputting an instruction to start heating cooking to an input side, and a door opening / closing. Switch 4a, weight sensor 1 for detecting the weight of food placed on turntable 7
5, a display unit 6a, a drive circuit 7a for the turntable 7, a drive circuit 10a for the magnetron 10, an information buzzer 11 for notifying the end of cooking or an erroneous operation at the output side, a lamp 12 illuminated during operation, The drive circuits 13a for the electric heaters 14a and 14b are connected respectively. The cooker main body has substantially the same configuration as the conventional one shown in FIG. 6, and the same applies to other embodiments described below.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The door 4 is opened, food is placed on the turntable 7, and the door 4 is closed. At this time, the weight sensor 15 detects the food weight and outputs a signal corresponding to the weight, and the door open / close switch 4a outputs a signal indicating that the door is closed to the microcomputer 9. The microcomputer 9 measures the time from when the door is closed to when the automatic cooking key 6b is pressed. If the automatic cooking key 6b is pressed before the measured time is set in advance and a predetermined time, for example, one minute has elapsed, the microcomputer detects the weight sensor 15.
And outputs a control signal to the turntable drive circuit 7a and the magnetron drive circuit 10a based on the output of the control circuit to start heating and cooking. At the same time, the microcomputer 9 outputs and displays the elapsed time of the heating and cooking on the display unit 6a.

When the heating time according to the weight of the food has elapsed, the microcomputer 9 stops the operations of the magnetron driving circuit 10a and the turntable driving circuit 7a to end the heating cooking, and sounds the buzzer 11 to notify the user. The conventional heating and cooking operation is not different from the conventional one.

When the cooking is completed and the food is taken out of the heating chamber and the door is closed, there is no output from the weight sensor 15 (S2). Set to 1 minute (S
It is reset once together with 4) to start timing (S
5). When this waiting time has elapsed for one minute (S6), the automatic cooking key 6b is not accepted even if a pressing operation is performed. A so-called key lock state is set (S7). The automatic cooking key is in a state of accepting a pressing operation until a predetermined time of one minute elapses, so that the heating operation is started by the pressing operation (S10) (S11).

If it is desired to start heating cooking in such a key-locked state, the power-lock is reset or once the door is opened and closed (S8), the key-locked state is released (S9). On the other hand, if the food is not taken out after the cooking is completed, the predetermined time corresponding to the cooking start waiting time of the timer 9a is set to, for example, 10 minutes longer than the case where the food is present, based on the detection output of the weight sensor 15. Thereafter, the timer 9a of the microcomputer 9 is reset once, and counts a waiting time until the next cooking starts (S2).
During this time, if the waiting time exceeds a predetermined time of 10 minutes without any operation such as opening and closing the door, the automatic cooking key 6b is in the key lock state. In this case, reset the power or
If the door is opened and closed, the key lock state is released, the automatic cooking key 6b receives the pressing operation, and the heating cooking can be performed again.

As described above, after the cooking is completed, the waiting time until the key for instructing the start of cooking becomes the key lock state is made different depending on the presence or absence of the food in the heating chamber, and the waiting time is different from the case where there is no food. Since the length is made longer, the frequency of resetting the power supply or opening and closing the door when starting heating cooking can be reduced, and an easy-to-use electric cooker with improved operability can be obtained. According to the first embodiment, the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber is detected by the weight sensor. However, the presence or absence of food can be detected by using, for example, an optical sensor. Although a microwave is used as a heating source, an electric heater can also be used. An optical sensor is provided on a shelf receiver provided on the side of the heating chamber. May be directly detected.

Embodiment 2 The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the cooking is completed (S21), the weight sensor detects the total weight Xg of the food (S22) and outputs a signal corresponding to the weight to the microcomputer. The microcomputer calculates the predetermined time Y corresponding to the cooking start waiting time from this weight, by Y = aX + b (a and b are constants).
(S23). Therefore, the predetermined time Y is set to be longer as the weight of the food increases, that is, as the amount of the food to be cooked increases. afterwards,
The timer 9a of the microcomputer 9 is reset once, and starts measuring the waiting time (S24). When the measured actual waiting time elapses a predetermined time Y set in advance by calculation (S25), the automatic cooking key 6b enters a key lock state (S26). If the automatic cooking key 6b is pressed before the waiting time elapses the predetermined time Y (S2), the automatic cooking key 6b is not in the key locked state, so that the pressing operation is accepted and the heating cooking is started ( S30).

In this key locked state, if the power is reset or the door is opened or closed (S2
7) The key lock state can be released (S2
8) If the automatic cooking key is pressed in this state (S2)
9), heating cooking can be started (S30).

In general, the time it takes for a food product after heating and cooking to cool becomes longer as the weight increases. In the second embodiment, the waiting time until the key is locked after the completion of cooking is set according to the weight of the food, so when cooking is started and continued,
The frequency of power resetting and door opening / closing operations when food is heavy is reduced, the operability is good, and an easy-to-use electric cooker can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 The operation of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the cooking is completed (S41), if there is food in the heating chamber, the predetermined time corresponding to the cooking start waiting time is set to infinity. That is, the automatic cooking key is not in the key lock state, but is ready to be received at any time, and the heating cooking can be started by pressing the automatic cooking key. When the cooking is completed and the food is taken out of the heating chamber (S49), there is naturally no food in the heating chamber (S42), so that the timer of the waiting time until the next automatic cooking key is pressed is started. (S4
6) When this waiting time elapses, for example, a predetermined time of one minute (S47), the automatic cooking key is in the key lock state (S47).
48). In this case, the power is first reset or the door is opened and closed (S49), the key lock state is released (S50), and then the automatic cooking key is pressed to start cooking again (S44). ).

As described above, the cooking start waiting time after the completion of cooking is set to infinity when food is present in the heating chamber, so that the key lock state does not substantially occur.
When it is desired to start or continue cooking, it is not necessary to perform a power reset or a door opening / closing operation, so that operability can be improved. In addition, here, whether or not the automatic cooking key is to be in the key lock state is determined based on the presence or absence of the food including the weight of the turntable, but since the weight sensor can detect the weight of the food including the weight of the turntable, the turn sensor is previously turned. If the weight of the table is stored, it is easy to detect the weight of the food itself. For example, the weight of the food is about 150 g for one bowl of rice. You may make it.

Embodiment 4 FIG. The operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When cooking is completed (S61), if there is food in the heating chamber (S62), the weight sensor 15 detects this state,
The predetermined time corresponding to the cooking start waiting time is set to, for example, 10 minutes (S63). Thereafter, the timer is reset once, and starts counting the waiting time until the next heating operation (S
64). When the waiting time has passed the predetermined time of 10 minutes (S6
5), the automatic cooking key is in a key locked state in which even if it is pressed, the operation is substantially not accepted (S66). of course,
If the automatic cooking key is pressed before the predetermined time has elapsed, cooking is started.

In the key lock state, when cooking is continued, the automatic cooking key is pressed once and the automatic cooking key is pressed again within a predetermined time, for example, within 10 seconds. Can be released (S71, 72). With this operation, the automatic cooking key is ready to receive a cooking start instruction, and the cooking can be started by the pressing operation (S).
73). In addition, when the power is reset or the door is opened or closed after the predetermined time has elapsed (S10).
67), the key lock state is released (S68), and then cooking can be started by pressing the automatic cooking key (S69, 73).

After the cooking is completed and the food is taken out of the heating chamber and the door is closed or the power is reset without putting the food in the heating chamber (S67), there is no food in the heating chamber (S62). ), The weight sensor 15 detects this state, and sets a predetermined time corresponding to the waiting time to one minute for the timer 9a (S74). The next operation, for example, the waiting time until the automatic cooking key 6b is pressed is measured (S75).
When the waiting time exceeds a predetermined time of one minute, the automatic cooking key 6b is in the key lock state, and does not accept any subsequent pressing operation (S77). In such a case, if the key lock state is released in advance by performing a power reset or a door opening / closing operation (S79), the automatic cooking key 6b receives a pressing operation and cooking is started (S69, 73).
If the automatic cooking key 6b is pressed before the waiting time has elapsed for one minute, the cooking is naturally started (S70, 73).

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment,
After cooking, after opening / closing the door, after resetting the power supply, after heating, the waiting time until the key lock state is reached is extended when there is food in the heating chamber. Can be easily released by pressing several times within different fixed times, and the operability is excellent.

In each of the above embodiments, the key lock state has been described on the assumption that the automatic cooking key itself does not receive a pressing operation. However, even if the automatic cooking key itself receives a pressing operation, the control circuit does not function. It is also possible to do so. It is also possible to display on the display that the key is locked.

[0026]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

When food is present in the heating chamber, the time until the pressing operation of the key for giving a cooking start instruction is not accepted is longer than when there is no food, so that the operation acceptance prohibited state is released. The frequency of the number of operations can be reduced, the operability can be improved, and an easy-to-use electric cooker can be obtained.

Also, the predetermined time corresponding to the waiting time can be changed in proportion to the weight of the food, so that the heavier the food, the longer the time until the pressing operation of the key for giving a cooking start instruction is no longer accepted. Therefore, the frequency of the number of operations for canceling the operation prohibition state can be reduced, and the operability can be improved and an easy-to-use electric cooker can be obtained.

Furthermore, when there is food in the heating chamber, the time until the pressing operation of the key for giving a cooking start instruction is no longer accepted is not set, so that the cooking is started or the cooking is continued in a state where the food is put in the heating chamber in advance. In this case, there is no need to perform an operation for canceling the operation acceptance prohibition state, so that an operability is improved and an easy-to-use electric cooker is obtained.

Further, a so-called key lock state in which the pressing operation of the key giving the cooking start instruction is no longer accepted,
Since the key is released in accordance with the number of times of operation of the key, another release operation such as opening and closing the door is not required, and operability and usability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electric cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electric cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electric cooker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electric cooker according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electric cooker according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a conventional electric cooker.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional electric cooker.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 heater body, 2 heating chamber, 3 opening, 4 door, 4a door open / close switch, 5 operation panel,
6a display section, 6b automatic cooking key, 6c manual cooking key, 7 turntable, 7a drive circuit, 8
Shelf support, 9 microcomputer, 9a timer, 10 magnetron, 10a drive circuit, 11 buzzer, 12
Display lamp, 13a drive circuit, 14a electric heater, 14b electric heater, 15 weight sensor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A heating chamber provided with a door that can be opened and closed,
Heating means for heating the food in the heating chamber, key input means for instructing the start of cooking, food detection means for detecting the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber, and heating means upon receiving a cooking start instruction signal from the key input means. Control means for controlling, and means for not accepting a cooking start instruction from the key input means when a waiting time until the start of cooking elapses a predetermined time set in advance, wherein the cooking start waiting predetermined time is heated. An electric cooker characterized by being changed according to the presence or absence of indoor food. 2. The electric cooker according to claim 1, wherein the food detecting means is a weight sensor for detecting the weight of the food. 3. The electric cooker according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time for waiting for the start of cooking is changed in proportion to the weight of the food. 4. A heating chamber provided with a door that can be opened and closed,
Heating means for heating the food in the heating chamber, key input means for instructing the start of cooking, food detection means for detecting the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber, and heating means upon receiving a cooking start instruction signal from the key input means. Control means for controlling, and means for not accepting a cooking start instruction from the key input means when a waiting time until the start of cooking elapses a predetermined time set in advance, wherein the cooking start waiting predetermined time is heated. An electric cooker characterized in that it is set only when it is detected that there is no food in the room. 5. A heating chamber provided with an openable and closable door,
Heating means for heating the food in the heating chamber, key input means for instructing the start of cooking, food detection means for detecting the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber, and heating means upon receiving a cooking start instruction signal from the key input means. Control means for controlling, and means for not accepting a cooking start instruction from the key input means when a waiting time until the start of cooking elapses a predetermined time set in advance. An electric cooker characterized in that it is released according to the number of times of operation.