JPS5835332A - Cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an easy detection whether food is disposed within a predetermined range on a food stand by a method wherein a small hole is pierced in the civinity of the rotation center of the food stand and a light emitter is arranged above the small hole, the light of which is emitted through the small hole and received by a light receiver arranged below the samll hole. CONSTITUTION:A through-hole 5 of a small diameter is formed at the rotation center of the rotatable food stand 2, the light receiver 6 is arragned below the hole 5, and the light emitter 7 is arranged at the upper part of an oven case at a position opposing the light receiver 6. With this construction, if the food is not disposed within the range 4, the light from the light emitter 3 incides into the light receiver 6. This fact means that the food disposed position is out of the view angle of a photoelectric converter 3 which detects ultrared rays radiated by the food. While the light receiver 6 is receiving the light from the light emitter 3, a controller 8 turns OFF a switching mechanism to prevent the heating operation of the cooker.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a cooking appliance that can detect the temperature of food being cooked.

In open cooking appliances, the intensity of infrared rays emitted from the food is detected using a photoelectric converter in order to measure the temperature of the food being cooked. This method of measuring the temperature of food using infrared radiation intensity has the advantage that it can be measured without contact between the food and the photoelectric converter. Measurement is not possible unless the device is placed within the field of view. In other words, if food is placed outside the limited field of view of the photoelectric converter, the photoelectric converter will receive infrared rays from, for example, a food stand, rather than infrared rays from the food, causing the cooker to There is a problem of malfunction. In order to solve this problem, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a photoelectric converter configured to optically detect whether or not food is placed within the field of view of a photoelectric converter that detects infrared rays. The goal is to provide a cookware that is

Next, the cooking device of the present invention will be explained based on an example. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the cooking device according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an oven case, and a food table 2 that is rotated during cooking is arranged below an open chamber formed by the oven case. In this embodiment, a case where the food table 2 is rotated will be explained as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to a type that does not rotate.

3 is a photoelectric converter for detecting infrared rays emitted from food, and the range indicated by arrow 4 is a measurable field of view, which is within a limited range near the rotation center of food table 2. . A small hole 5 passing through the food table 2 is bored at or near the center of rotation of the food table 2.
A light receiver 6 composed of a phototransistor, a photodiode, etc. is arranged below. A light emitter 7 is provided on the upper surface of the oven interior facing the light receiver 6, and a positional relationship is formed such that the light emitted from the light can be detected by the light receiver 6 through the hole 5 of the food table 2. has been done. Therefore, if no food is placed within the range indicated by arrow 4, the light from light emitter 7 will not be incident on light receiver 6; If food is placed within the area, the light from the light emitter 7 is blocked by the food, so no light enters the receiver 6, and the position where the food is placed is located at the photoelectric converter 3. Whether or not it is within the field of view can be detected by the presence or absence of an output from the light receiver 6.

The output signal from this light receiver 6 is input to the controller 8,
A switch mechanism 9 is operated which supplies power to the open heating device. That is, when light is incident on the light receiver 6, the switch mechanism 9 is activated by a signal from the controller 8.
is maintained open and the heating operation of the cooker is blocked, while when the light to the receiver 6 is blocked by the food, a signal from the receiver 6 causes the switch to be activated via the controller 8. Mechanism 9 is closed and heating operation is enabled.

Next, the operation of the cooker configured in this way will be explained. When the food indicated by the dotted line in the figure is placed on the food table 2 within the range indicated by the arrow 4, the hole 5 of the food table 2 is covered, so that the light is not incident from the light emitter 7 to the light receiver 6. The light that had been on is cut off, allowing the controller 8 to close the switch mechanism 9 and begin energizing the heater 10. In this case, the heating operation may be started at the same time as the light incident on the light receiver 6 is blocked, but it is possible to close the open door and then turn on the heating power switch. It may also be configured to enable the initiation of a certain sequence, such as becoming operational. Further, the switch mechanism 9 may be configured to stop power supply to the light emitter 7 at the same time that the light to the light receiver 6 is cut off and the heating operation is started. In this manner, the heating operation can only be started after the food is placed within the field of view of the photoelectric converter 3 for infrared detection, so the temperature of the food being cooked can be accurately detected by the photoelectric converter 3. Become.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a light receiver is not placed directly below the hole 5 of the food table 2.
The light receiver 6 can be placed at a location where the temperature is relatively low via the optical fiber 11. Therefore, the degree of freedom is given to the installation location of the light receiver 6, and stable operation is guaranteed since the light receiver 6 is kept at a relatively low temperature.

5- As explained above, in the present invention, the food is always placed within the field of view of the photoelectric converter forming the temperature sensor, so the temperature of the food during cooking can be accurately grasped. It becomes possible to perform optimal heating.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of main parts showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 2... Food stand, 3...
・Photoelectric converter, 4... Field of view of photoelectric converter,
5......hole, 6......receiver, 7...emitter, 8...
・Controller, 9...Switch mechanism, l
O... Heater, 11... Optical Fino 10 Patent applicant Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 6-

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A food stand with a small hole near the center of rotation, a light emitter that illuminates the vicinity of the small hole from above, a light receiver placed below the small hole to receive light from the light emitter, and a light receiver that A cooking appliance characterized by having a controller connected thereto, a switch mechanism operated by an output signal of the controller, and a heater whose energization is controlled by the switch mechanism. (2) The cooking appliance according to claim (1), wherein the light emitting device is blinked by the switch mechanism. (3) The cooking appliance according to claim (1) or (2), wherein the small hole is connected to the light receiver by an optical fiber.