JP7300587B2 - heating cooker - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a heating cooker such as a microwave oven, and more particularly to a heating cooker provided with an infrared sensor.

A microwave oven can heat an object to be heated from the inside by microwave heating, so that it is used for various purposes such as reheating cooked food and defrosting frozen food.

In addition to microwave heating, conventional microwave ovens include oven heating, grill heating, and steam heating in addition to these.

Oven heating is a cooking method in which an object to be heated is heated using an internal heater and a convection heater. Grilling is a cooking method that uses a grill plate coated with a material that emits heat when irradiated with microwaves, and heats an object to be heated by the heat generated by the microwave-irradiated grill plate.

In the field of such microwave ovens, an infrared sensor equipped with infrared detection elements arranged in a matrix of multiple rows and multiple columns is used to detect the temperature distribution on the bottom surface of the heating chamber. There has been proposed a device for detecting the placement position and temperature of an object to be heated such as food placed in a heat sink (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-013743

In the conventional configuration, an area where temperature can be detected by an infrared sensor, that is, a temperature detectable area is limited on the bottom surface of the heating chamber.

Therefore, in a microwave oven capable of grill heating, there is an area on the grill plate installed in the heating chamber where the temperature cannot be detected by the infrared sensor, and as a result, the temperature of the food placed on the grill plate is accurately detected. may not be possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven capable of detecting the temperature of an object to be heated more accurately using an infrared sensor.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the heating cooker of the present invention includes a heating chamber for storing an object to be heated, a support shelf provided in the heating chamber for placing a cooking dish in the heating chamber, and a shelf outside the heating chamber. provided with an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature in the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements; and a direction setting motor for varying the direction of the infrared sensor.

The direction of the infrared sensor can be set to a temperature detection position corresponding to the bottom surface of the heating chamber and a temperature detection position corresponding to the cooking plate installed on the support shelf.

According to this aspect, when the object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber, an infrared sensor having a plurality of infrared detection elements is used, and the direction of the infrared sensor is set to an appropriate temperature detection position. Moreover, even when placed on a cooking plate, the temperature of the object to be heated can be detected more accurately.

The heating cooker of the present invention can more accurately detect the temperature of the object to be heated not only when the object is placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber, but also when the object is placed on the cooking plate. can be done.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a heating cooker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the heating cooker according to the present embodiment with the grill pan inserted into the heating chamber and the door opened. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the heating cooker according to the present embodiment with the grill pan inserted into the heating chamber and the door opened. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the heating cooker according to the present embodiment with the door opened. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the infrared sensor according to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the direction of the infrared sensor 150 and the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150 FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of the heating cooker showing a state in which the direction of the infrared sensor is set at a temperature detection position where the field of view of the infrared sensor covers the entire bottom surface of the heating chamber. FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view of the heating cooker showing a state in which the direction of the infrared sensor is set at a temperature detection position where the field of view of the infrared sensor covers the entire bottom surface of the heating chamber. FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway top view of the heating cooker for showing the temperature detectable area on the bottom surface of the heating chamber in the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view of the heating cooker showing a state in which the direction of the infrared sensor is set at a temperature detection position where the field of view of the infrared sensor covers the entire grill pan. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the heating cooker according to the present embodiment with the main body cover removed.

A heating cooker according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a heating chamber for storing an object to be heated, a support shelf provided in the heating chamber for installing a cooking plate in the heating chamber, and provided outside the heating chamber, An infrared sensor that detects the temperature in the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements, and a direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor.

The direction of the infrared sensor can be set to a temperature detection position corresponding to the bottom surface of the heating chamber and a temperature detection position corresponding to the cooking plate installed on the support shelf.

In the first aspect, the heat cooker according to the second aspect of the present disclosure further includes an operation unit operated by the user to select a desired cooking menu, and according to the cooking menu selected by the operation unit to determine the temperature detection position to be moved.

(Embodiment 1)
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the door 300 side of the heating cooker 100 is the front side, the side opposite to the door 300 of the heating cooker 100 is the rear side, and the left side and the right side in FIG.
Left and right of 00.

<1> Configuration of Heating Cooker First, the configuration of the heating cooker 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a heating cooker 100 according to this embodiment. FIGS. 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, showing the heating cooker 100 according to the present embodiment with the grill pan inserted into the heating chamber 200 and the door opened.

In this embodiment, the heating cooker 100 shown in FIG. 1 applies at least one of microwaves, radiant heat, hot air, and steam to an object to be heated contained in a heating chamber 200 having an opening on the front surface. It is a multifunctional microwave oven that heats the object to be heated by supplying.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a heating chamber 200 having an opening and a flange around the opening is provided in the center of the heating cooker 100 . A main body cover 110 that integrally covers both side surfaces and an upper surface of the heating chamber 200, a bottom plate 120 that covers the lower side of the heating chamber 200, and a rear plate 130 that covers the back surface of the heating chamber 200 form an outer shell of the heating cooker 100. Configured.

A machine room (not shown) is provided in the space between the heating chamber 200 and the bottom plate 120 . In this machine room, a device for realizing the functions of the heating cooker 100, a control section for controlling the device, a cooling fan unit 600 (see FIG. 11) for generating cooling air for cooling them, etc. are arranged. be done. The machine room also functions as a heat insulating space.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a door 300 with a window that opens and closes the opening of the heating chamber 200 is installed on the front surface of the heating cooker 100 . The lower end of the door 300 is pivotally supported by a hinge provided at the lower end of the heating chamber 200 , and the door 300 can be opened and closed by rotating about a rotation axis along the lower end of the heating chamber 200 . An operation unit 310 is provided on the right side of the front surface of the door 300 .

A water supply tank 700 for storing water to be supplied to the steam generator is detachably installed on the right side below the door 300 . A drain tank 202 for storing dew condensation water condensed in the heating chamber 200 is detachably installed on the left side thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to support the cooking plate, the right side wall 210 and the left side wall 220 of the heating chamber 200 have a horizontal surface on the top surface and extend horizontally in the front-rear direction. Support shelves are provided in the vertical direction (three stages (support shelves 201a to 201c) in this embodiment).

The cooking plates include a square plate used for oven cooking and a grill plate 203 used for grill cooking. The cooking plate can be placed at the optimum height for cooking in the heating chamber 200 depending on which of the support shelves 201a to 201c it is placed on.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing cooker 100 according to Embodiment 1 with door 300 open.

As shown in FIG. 4 , a through hole 140 is formed in the upper center of the right side wall 210 of the heating chamber 200 . An infrared sensor 150 is provided outside the right side wall 210 so as to face the inside of the heating chamber 200 through the through hole 140 .

Square-shaped through-holes are formed in front of the center of the right side wall of the heating chamber 200 and at the upper and central portions of the heating chamber 200, respectively. Outside the through-hole, an interior light 141 composed of LEDs for illuminating the interior of the heating chamber 200 is installed.

As shown in FIG. 2 , an outside air intake port 221 is installed at the lower front portion of the left side wall 220 of the heating chamber 200 . The outside air intake port 221 is composed of a plurality of circular punching holes. Low-temperature, low-humidity air is introduced into heating chamber 200 from the outside of heating chamber 200 via outside air intake port 221 .

The air blown from the cooling fan unit 600 is also supplied into the heating chamber 200 through the outside air intake port 221 to cool the inner surface of the door 300 together with the outside air. As a result, dew condensation on the inner glass surface of the door 300 can be suppressed.

A steam ejection port (not shown) for supplying steam generated in the steam generator into the heating chamber 200 is arranged at the upper center of the left side wall 220 of the heating chamber 200 .

An upper heater unit 400 is installed on the top surface 230 of the heating chamber 200 (see FIG. 11). The upper heater unit 400 is composed of three tubular heaters extending in the left-right direction. Of the three tubular heaters, one at the front and one at the rear are tubular Milacron heaters 410, and one at the center is a tubular argon heater 420 (see FIG. 11). These tubular heaters mainly radiate infrared rays, and the radiant heat heats the object to be heated housed in the heating chamber 200 .

As shown in FIG. 3, a circulation intake port 241 is formed at the center of the rear wall 240 of the heating chamber 200 and is composed of a plurality of punched holes. A peripheral edge of the rear wall 240 is formed with an air blowing port 242 composed of a plurality of punched holes.

As shown in FIG. 9, a fan case 510 made of a metal material is arranged behind the rear wall 240 . A convection heater unit 500 is installed in the space between the rear wall 240 and the fan case 510 (see FIG. 9).

The convection heater unit 500 heats the air in the heating chamber 200 sucked through the circulation intake port 241 to generate hot air. The generated hot air is supplied into the heating chamber 200 via the blower port 242 .

A microwave generator (not shown) for emitting microwaves is installed below the heating chamber 200 . The microwave generator includes a magnetron that generates microwaves, a rotating antenna that radiates microwaves into the heating chamber 200, a waveguide that propagates the microwaves to the rotating antenna, and a motor that rotates the rotating antenna. have.

A bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200 is covered with a ceramic plate that is permeable to microwaves. An object to be heated placed on the bottom surface 250 is microwave-heated by microwaves supplied from the microwave generator to the heating chamber 200 through the bottom surface 250 .

When the grill pan 203 is installed in the heating chamber 200 , the ferrite coated on the back surface of the grill pan 203 is irradiated with the microwaves supplied into the heating chamber 200 to generate heat. The placed object to be heated is heated.

Since the bottom plate 120 is formed by pressing a galvanized steel plate, it basically has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape with an open top and a shallow bottom.

A cooling air intake port 121 for taking in air for cooling is provided in the portion of the bottom plate 120 located below the cooling fan unit 600 provided between the heating chamber 200 and the bottom plate 120 (
See Figure 11).

A glass plate 302 is installed in front of the door 300 to cover almost the entire area thereof. An operation unit 310 is provided on the right side of the glass plate 302 .

The operation unit 310 includes a touch panel 311 that performs display prompting a user's operation, acceptance of the user's operation, and display corresponding to the accepted operation on a single liquid crystal screen. It includes a "return" button 312, a "cancel" button 313 for performing a cancel operation, and a "start" button 314 for starting heating.

The operation unit 310 is operated by the user to input menu selection in the automatic cooking function, heating time, heating temperature in the manual cooking function, and the like.

A handle 304 for opening and closing is installed on the front upper portion of the door.

<2> Configuration of Infrared Sensor Next, the configuration of infrared sensor 150 in cooking device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of infrared sensor 150 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the direction of infrared sensor 150 and field of view 151 of infrared sensor 150 in this embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the infrared sensor 150 is housed in a box-shaped case 160 provided on the outer surface of the right side wall 210 located outside the through hole 140 . The infrared sensor 150 has a total of 64 infrared detection elements arranged in a matrix of 8 rows and 8 columns. The infrared sensor 150 is installed inside the case 160 so that the lens provided on the front surface thereof can be seen through an opening 165 provided in the outer shell of the case 160 .

As shown in FIG. 6, the field of view 151 is the range within which the infrared sensor 150 can detect infrared rays.

A direction setting motor 170 is installed in the case 160 . The case 160 is rotated by a direction setting motor 170 about a rotation axis 161 provided horizontally and parallel to the right side wall 210 .

When the case 160 rotates around the rotating shaft 161 , the direction of the infrared sensor 150 accommodated in the case 160 is changed upward 154 or downward 155 accordingly. More precisely, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is the depression angle 153 of the field of view center 152, as shown in FIG.

When the direction setting motor 170 stops in a predetermined direction of the infrared sensor 150 where the opening 165 faces the inside of the heating chamber 200 through the through hole 140 , the infrared sensor 150 becomes capable of detecting the temperature inside the heating chamber 200 .

The direction of infrared sensor 150 at this time is called a position where infrared sensor 150 can detect infrared rays from inside heating chamber 200 through through-hole 140, that is, a temperature detecting position. Cooking device 100 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of temperature detection positions. One of them is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7, like FIG. 4, is a partially cutaway side view showing the heating cooker 100. FIG. FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view of the cooker 100 with the door 300 open, similar to FIG. 7 and 8 show the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150. FIG.

7 and 8, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set at a temperature detection position where the entire bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200 is within the field of view 151. FIG. Therefore, in this state, the infrared sensor 150 can detect the temperature of the object to be heated wherever it is placed on the bottom surface 250 . That is, in this state, the entire bottom surface 250 becomes a temperature detectable area where temperature can be detected.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the entire bottom surface 250 is virtually partitioned into compartments C11 to C88 arranged in a matrix of 8 rows and 8 columns.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway top view of the cooker showing these 64 compartments. In FIG. 9, the temperature information of sections C11 to C88 of temperature detectable area 251 can be detected by associating 64 infrared detection elements constituting infrared sensor 150 with each section.

FIG. 10 is a front view of cooker 100 showing field of view 151 of infrared sensor 150, similar to FIG. FIG. 10 shows that when the grill pan 203 is installed on the uppermost support shelf 201a provided on both side walls of the heating chamber 200 (the grill pan 203 is not shown), the temperature of the entire upper surface of the grill pan 203 can be detected. A state in which the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set so as to be an area 251 is shown.

In this case, some of the 64 infrared detection elements included in the infrared sensor 150 are directed in a direction other than the top surface of the grill pan 203, but the remaining infrared detection elements are used to cover the entire top surface of the grill pan 203. It can be a temperature detectable area 251 .

<3> Cooling Mechanism for Infrared Sensor Hereinafter, a cooling structure for infrared sensor 150 in cooking device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing cooker 100 according to Embodiment 1 with body cover 110 removed.

When the user operates the operation unit 310 and finally presses the "start" button 314, the heating operation is started. When the heating operation is started, the cooling fan unit 600 in the machine room provided below the heating chamber 200 operates.

When the cooling fan unit 600 operates, outside air is sucked through the cooling air inlet of the bottom plate 120 and is discharged from the cooling fan unit 600 as cooling air (see the dashed arrow in FIG. 11). This cooling air is provided below the heating chamber 200 and cools the inverter that drives the magnetron.

After cooling the inverter, part of the cooling air cools a fan drive motor (not shown) that drives a circulation fan (not shown) included in the convection heater unit 500 provided behind the heating chamber 200. .

Another part of the cooling air that has passed through the inverter cools the control board that constitutes the control section provided on the right side of the bottom plate 120 . The cooling air that has cooled the control board collides with the lower end of the right side wall 210 and changes its direction upward (see the dotted arrow in FIG. 11).

As shown in FIG. 11 , a duct 180 is provided in the space between the right side wall 210 and the body cover 110 from the lower end of the right side wall 210 to the vicinity of the installation position of the infrared sensor 150 . A cooling air outlet 181 is provided at the tip of the duct 180 .

The cooling air whose direction is changed upward passes through the duct 180 and reaches the infrared sensor 150 housed in the case 160 (see the solid line arrow shown in FIG. 11). The infrared sensor 150 is thus cooled by the cooling air during the heating operation.

After that, the cooling air passes through the space provided between the top surface 230 of the heating chamber 200 and the main body cover 110 and is discharged from the upper part of the back surface of the heating cooker 100 to the outside.

When the temperature detection ends, the direction setting motor 170 moves the case 160 from the temperature detection position to the standby position. FIG. 11 shows the infrared sensor 150 waiting at the waiting position. As shown in FIG. 11, at this standby position, the case 160 stops with the opening 165 directed downward. In this state, the lens of infrared sensor 150 faces cooling air outlet 181 .

The infrared sensor 150 cannot detect temperature during steam heating. In this embodiment, the infrared sensor 150 is configured to wait at the standby position shown in FIG. 11 during that time. While infrared sensor 150 waits at the standby position, the lens of infrared sensor 150 continues to be directly cooled by cooling air from cooling air outlet 181 .

According to the present embodiment, steam supplied into heating chamber 200 can prevent the lens of infrared sensor 150 from fogging and infrared sensor 150 itself from becoming hot. Therefore, even immediately after steam heating, the infrared sensor 150 can be maintained in a state in which temperature detection is possible.

<4> Operation of Infrared Sensor Finally, the operation of infrared sensor 150 in cooking device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

After the object to be heated is stored in the heating chamber 200, the user operates the operation unit 310 to select a desired cooking menu, and finally presses the "start" button 314 to start the heating operation. When the heating operation is started, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set to the temperature detection position according to the selected cooking menu.

When a cooking menu in which an object to be heated is to be placed on the bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200, for example, a normal warming operation is selected, the entire bottom surface 250 becomes a temperature detectable area 251 as shown in FIGS. The direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set to such a temperature detection position.

When a cooking menu that performs grill heating is selected, the infrared sensor is placed at a temperature detection position such that the entire upper surface of the grill pan 203, which is installed on the support shelf 201a and on which the object to be heated is placed, becomes the temperature detectable area 251. 150 directions are set.

When the infrared sensor 150 is not activated, the infrared sensor 150 waits at the standby position in which the direction of the infrared sensor 150 faces vertically downward as described above.

As described above, in heating cooker 100 according to the present embodiment, infrared sensor 150 includes a plurality of infrared detection elements, and direction setting motor 170 directs infrared sensor 150 to a temperature detection position corresponding to a cooking menu. configured to move.

According to this embodiment, the temperature of the object to be heated can be detected more accurately not only when it is placed on the bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200 but also when it is placed on the grill pan 203 . can.

In this embodiment, the case where the object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface 250 and the case where the grill pan 203 is installed on the uppermost support shelf 201a have been described. However, even when a cooking plate such as a square plate is installed on the middle support shelf 201b or the lower support shelf 201c, temperature detection is performed so that the entire upper surface of the cooking plate becomes the temperature detectable region 251 as necessary. In the position, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 can be set.

Which support shelf to place the cooking plate on and which cooking plate to use are determined according to the cooking menu. The direction of the infrared sensor 150 can be set to a direction suitable for temperature detection according to the cooking menu.

As described above, in the present embodiment, infrared sensor 150 includes 64 infrared detection elements arranged in a matrix of 8 rows and 8 columns, but is not limited to this. If the entire bottom surface 250 can be made the temperature detectable area 251 at once by an infrared sensor having a plurality of infrared detection elements, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

Further, even when an infrared sensor having a plurality of infrared detection elements arranged in a line is used, the infrared sensor 150 may detect the temperature while vertically swinging the direction of the infrared sensor. .

As described above, according to the heating cooker of the present disclosure, not only the object to be heated placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber, but also the object to be heated placed on the cooking plate installed in the heating chamber more accurate temperature detection is possible. In addition, even immediately after steam heating, the infrared sensor 150 can be maintained in a state in which temperature detection is possible. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present disclosure is useful in microwave ovens capable of grill heating and steam heating.

100 heating cooker 110 body cover 120 bottom plate 121 cooling air inlet 130 rear plate 140 through hole 141 interior light 150 infrared sensor 151 field of view 152 field of view center 153 angle of depression 154 upward direction 155 downward direction 160 case 161 rotating shaft 165 opening 170 direction Setting motor 180 Duct 181 Cooling air outlet 200 Heating chamber 201a, 201b, 201c Support shelf 202 Drainage tank 203 Grill pan 210 Right side wall 220 Left side wall 221 Outside air intake 230 Top surface 240 Rear wall 241 Circulation intake 242 Air blower 250 Bottom 251 Temperature detectable area 300 Door 302 Glass plate 304 Handle 310 Operation unit 311 Touch panel 312 "Return" button 313 "Cancel" button 314 "Start" button 400 Upper heater unit 410 Milacron heater 420 Argon heater 500 Convection heater unit 510 Fan case 600 Cooling fan unit 700 Water supply tank

Claims (1)

A heating cooker that heats an object to be heated housed in a heating chamber by supplying at least one of microwaves and steam,
a support shelf provided in the heating chamber for placing a cooking dish in the heating chamber;
an infrared sensor provided outside the heating chamber and accommodated in a case that detects the temperature in the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements;
a direction setting motor for varying the direction of the infrared sensor;
and an operation unit operated by the user to select a desired cooking menu,
The infrared sensor is provided outside the wall so as to face the inside of the heating chamber through a through hole formed in the wall of the heating chamber, and measures the temperature inside the heating chamber through the through hole and an opening provided in the case. is detectable and
The direction setting motor can change the direction of the infrared sensor by rotating the infrared sensor together with the case about a rotation shaft located in the case ,
By driving the direction setting motor, the direction of the infrared sensor can be set to a temperature detection position for detecting temperature and a standby position. When facing the through hole and viewing the through hole from the heating chamber, the through hole and the opening of the case do not overlap,
A heating cooker configured to move a direction of the infrared sensor to the standby position when a cooking menu for steam heating is selected by the operation unit.

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