HEATING COOKER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a heating cooker.

The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-186347, filed on Oct. 31, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

2. Description of the Related Art

JP 2014-31948 A discloses a heating cooker. The heating cooker disclosed in JP 2014-31948 A includes an input operation unit, a display panel, a steam generating part, a grill heater, a magnetron, a convection heater, a circulation fan, a thermistor, and the like, and transmits and receives signals to and from a controller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When a thermistor is used for the purpose of protecting both a grill heater and a convection heater during abnormal operation, it is necessary to dispose the thermistor at a position close to both the grill heater and the convection heater in a heating compartment as in the heating cooker disclosed in JP 2014-31948 A. A problem arises in the case of disposing the thermistor at a position close to both the grill heater and the convection heater in the heating compartment to control the grill heater and the convection heater.

In view of the above problem, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a heating cooker that can be appropriately controlled according to a target temperature in a case of controlling a grill heater or a convection heater by using a thermistor disposed at a position close to both the grill heater and the convection heater.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a heating cooker includes a heating cooking compartment, a detector, a first heater unit, a supply unit, and a controller. The detector detects a temperature inside the heating cooking compartment. The first heater unit is disposed above the heating cooking compartment. The supply unit supplies hot air into the heating cooking compartment. The controller controls the first heater unit and the supply unit. The first heater unit includes a first heater. The supply unit includes a heater for hot air and a fan. The controller controls the first heater and the heater for hot air based on a detection result of the detector in a predetermined temperature zone.

According to the heating cooker of the present disclosure, appropriate control can be performed according to a target temperature in a case where a grill heater or a convection heater is controlled using a thermistor disposed at a position close to both the grill heater and the convection heater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a heating cooker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the heating cooker in a state where a housing is removed according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the heating cooker in a state where the housing is removed according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a door according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a schematic cross section of the heating cooker according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a schematic cross section of an air blower according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the heating cooker according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a table illustrating a heater control method of the heating cooker according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a heating cooker according to the present disclosure will be described. Note that, in the drawings, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

With reference to FIG. 1, a heating cooker 100 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the heating cooker 100. In addition, FIG. 1 illustrates the external appearance of the heating cooker 100 when viewed diagonally from the upper right front. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heating cooker 100 heats and cooks a heating-target object. The heating-target object is, for example, a food item. Examples of the food include meat dishes, fish dishes, bread dough, and confectionery dough.

The heating cooker 100 includes a housing 10, a door 20, and an operation panel 30. The operation panel 30 is an example of an “operation unit”.

The operation panel 30 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member. The operation panel 30 receives an operation from a user. The operation includes, for example, an operation for temperature information indicating a target temperature for heating and cooking a heating-target object, or an operation for food name information indicating a cooking method for heating and cooking a heating-target object. Specifically, the operation panel 30 includes a display unit. The display unit displays various items of information. Specifically, the display unit includes a liquid crystal panel.

In the embodiment, a side of the heating cooker 100 on which the operation panel 30 is disposed is defined as a front side of the heating cooker 100, and a side (back surface side) opposite to the front side is defined as a rear side of the heating cooker 100. In addition, when the heating cooker 100 is viewed from the front side, a right side is defined as a right side of the heating cooker 100, and a side opposite to the right side is defined as a left side of the heating cooker 100. In addition, in a direction orthogonal to a front-rear direction and a left-right direction of the heating cooker 100, a side on which the operation panel 30 is disposed is defined as an upper side of the heating cooker 100, and a side (bottom side) opposite to the upper side is defined as a lower side of the heating cooker 100. Note that, these directions and sides are not intended to limit directions and sides when the heating cooker 100 of the present disclosure is used. In the embodiment, a first direction D1 is an upward direction. A second direction D2 is a forward direction. A third direction D3 is a left direction.

The housing 10 is a box-shaped member. Specifically, the housing 10 has a right outer wall 11, a left outer wall 12, an upper outer wall 13, a lower outer wall 14, and a rear outer wall 15. The rear outer wall 15 intersects the second direction D2. The right outer wall 11 and the left outer wall 12 face each other in the third direction D3. The upper outer wall 13 and the lower outer wall 14 face each other in the first direction D1.

Continuing, a heating cooking compartment 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating the heating cooker 100 from which the housing 10 has been removed. FIG. 2 illustrates the external appearance of the heating cooker 100 when viewed diagonally from the upper right front. FIG. 3 illustrates the external appearance of the heating cooker 100 when viewed diagonally from the lower right front. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the heating cooker 100 further includes the heating cooking compartment 50, a front wall 60, and a placement portion 70.

The heating cooking compartment 50 is accommodated in the housing 10. The heating cooking compartment 50 allows a heating-target object to be accommodated therein. The heating cooking compartment 50 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Specifically, the heating cooking compartment 50 has a right wall 51, a left wall 52, an upper wall 53, a lower wall 54, and a rear wall 55. The rear wall 55 intersects the second direction D2. The right wall 51 and the left wall 52 face each other in the third direction D3. The upper wall 53 and the lower wall 54 face each other in the first direction D1. Examples of a material of each of the right wall 51, the left wall 52, the upper wall 53, the lower wall 54, and the rear wall 55 are metals.

The placement portion 70 is a dish-shaped member. The placement portion 70 is accommodated in the heating cooking compartment 50. The placement portion 70 is configured to allow the heating-target object to be placed. To be specific, the placement portion 70 is rotatable about a rotation axis in the first direction D1.

The heating cooker 100 further includes a first space R1, a second space R2, a third space R3, a fourth space R4, and a fifth space R5. The first space R1 is disposed between the upper outer wall 13 and the upper wall 53. The second space R2 is disposed between the lower outer wall 14 and the lower wall 54. The third space R3 is disposed between the rear outer wall 15 and the rear wall 55. The fourth space R4 is disposed between the right outer wall 11 and the right wall 51. The fifth space R5 is disposed between the left outer wall 12 and the left wall 52.

The front wall 60 is a plate-shaped member having a quadrangular ring shape. The front wall 60 faces the rear wall 55. In addition, the front wall 60 faces the rear outer wall 15. The front wall 60 has an opening 61 and a plurality of through-hole portions 62. The opening 61 allows an inside and an outside of the heating cooking compartment 50 to communicate with each other.

The plurality of through-hole portions 62 are positioned above the opening 61. Each of the plurality of through-hole portions 62 allows an inside and an outside of the first space R1 to communicate with each other. The plurality of through-hole portions 62 form eight columns. In each of the eight columns of the through-hole portions 62, three through-holes are arranged in a column in an up-down direction.

Continuing, the door 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the door 20. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the door 20 includes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member 21 and a rotary shaft unit 22.

The rotary shaft unit 22 is positioned below the plate-shaped member 21. The plate-shaped member 21 opens and closes the opening 61. Specifically, the plate-shaped member 21 rotates about a rotation axis in the third direction D3. The plate-shaped member 21 opens the opening 61 in a state of being orthogonal to the first direction D1. On the other hand, the plate-shaped member 21 closes the opening 61 in a state of being orthogonal to the second direction D2.

To be specific, the door 20 includes a first connection member 23 and a second connection member 24. Both the first connection member 23 and the second connection member 24 connect the heating cooking compartment 50 and the door 20 when the door 20 is positioned at a closed position.

The first connection member 23 and the second connection member 24 are attached to the plate-shaped member 21. The first connection member 23 and the second connection member 24 face each other in the left-right direction. The first connection member 23 is attached to a left edge portion of a rear surface of the plate-shaped member 21. The second connection member 24 is attached to a right edge portion of the rear surface of the plate-shaped member 21.

For example, each of the first connection member 23 and the second connection member 24 has a hook member. The hook member is a plate-shaped member having a longitudinal direction thereof in the front-rear direction. The hook member includes a claw portion and a rotation pin portion. The rotation pin portion is positioned at one end portion of the hook member. The rotation pin portion rotates about a rotation axis extending in the third direction D3. On the other hand, the claw portion has a projecting portion projecting downward. The claw portion is positioned at the other end portion of the hook member. As a result, the claw portion is rotatable around the rotation pin portion.

Next, the heating cooker 100 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a schematic cross section of the heating cooker 100. To be specific, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the heating cooker 100 cut along a plane orthogonal to the third direction D3. FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a schematic cross section of an air blower according to the embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6, the heating cooker 100 includes a microwave supply unit 110, a first heater unit 120, a second heater unit 130, an air blower 140, and a detector 150. Each of the microwave supply unit 110, the first heater unit 120, the second heater unit 130, and the air blower 140 heats the heating-target object.

First, the microwave supply unit 110 will be described. The microwave supply unit 110 supplies microwaves into the heating cooking compartment 50.

The microwave supply unit 110 is disposed on the upper wall 53 of the heating cooking compartment 50. Specifically, the microwave supply unit 110 is positioned above the heating cooking compartment 50 with the upper wall 53 interposed therebetween. The microwave supply unit 110 includes a partition member 111, a radiation chamber, a magnetron 113, and a waveguide.

The magnetron 113 is disposed closer to the front wall 60 than the first heater unit 120. The magnetron 113 generates microwaves. The waveguide propagates the microwaves generated by the magnetron to the radiation chamber, and supplies the microwaves to the inside of the heating cooking compartment 50.

The partition member 111 is disposed between the radiation chamber and the upper wall 53 of the heating cooking compartment 50. Examples of a material of the partition member 111 are non-metals, and include a ceramic or mica. As a result, since the material of the partition member 111 includes a ceramic or mica, the partition member 111 transmits microwaves. On the other hand, materials of the radiation chamber and the waveguide include metals.

Next, the first heater unit 120 will be described. The first heater unit 120 is disposed above the heating cooking compartment 50. Specifically, the first heater unit 120 is disposed on the upper wall 53 of the heating cooking compartment 50. The first heater unit 120 includes a first heater 121 and a thermal shield plate 122. The first heater 121 is, for example, a carbon heater. As a result, since the temperature rises quickly, the heating-target object can be cooked in a short time. The thermal shield plate 122 covers an upper side, a front side, and a rear side of the first heater 121. The thermal shield plate 122 is made of a material including metal. The first heater 121 in the state of power application generates heat.

Next, the second heater unit 130 will be described. The second heater unit 130 is disposed below the heating cooking compartment 50. Specifically, the second heater unit 130 is disposed on the lower wall 54 of the heating cooking compartment 50. The second heater unit 130 includes a second heater 131 and a second heater case 132. The second heater 131 is, for example, a nichrome wire. The second heater 131 in the state of power application generates heat. An output of the second heater 131 is lower than an output of the first heater 121. The second heater case 132 covers a lower side, a front side, and a rear side of the second heater 131. The second heater case 132 is made of a material including metal. The second heater 131 in the state of power application generates heat.

Next, the air blower 140 will be described. The air blower 140 is configured to supply hot air into the heating cooking compartment 50. The air blower 140 is disposed on the rear wall 55. Specifically, the air blower 140 is positioned behind the heating cooking compartment 50 with the rear wall 55 interposed therebetween.

Specifically, the air blower 140 includes an air blowing chamber 141, a third heater 142, a centrifugal fan 143, a drive unit 144, a partition member 145, and a heat shield plate 146. The third heater 142 is an example of a “heater for hot air”. The air blowing chamber 141 is, for example, a box-shaped member made of metal. The centrifugal fan 143 has a plurality of blades.

The third heater 142 is, for example, a sheathed heater. The third heater 142 and the centrifugal fan 143 are accommodated in the air blowing chamber 141. The third heater 142 heats air inside the air blowing chamber 141 to generate hot air. Specifically, the third heater 142 has an annular shape when viewed from the front side toward the rear side. The third heater 142 is disposed along an outer circumference of the centrifugal fan 143.

The rear wall 55 has a suction hole portion and a blow-out hole portion. To be specific, the suction hole portion is, for example, a group of a plurality of punched holes. Similarly, the blow-out hole portion is also, for example, a group of a plurality of punched holes. A punched hole has, for example, a circular shape. A diameter of a punched hole of each of the suction hole portion and the blow-out hole portion is, for example, 3.4 mm in order to prevent microwaves from leaking.

The partition member 145 is, for example, a plate-shaped member made of metal. The partition member 145 has, for example, an oblong shape when viewed from the front side toward the rear side. The partition member 145 is disposed on substantially the entire surface of the rear wall 55. Specifically, the partition member 145 is positioned on the outward side from the rear wall 55.

The heat shield plate 146 is, for example, a plate-shaped member made of metal. The heat shield plate 146 is, for example, a plate-shaped member having a quadrangular ring shape when viewed from the front side toward the rear side. The heat shield plate 146 is positioned on the outward side from the partition member 145.

The drive unit 144 is positioned an outward side from the air blowing chamber 141. Specifically, the drive unit 144 is positioned on an outward side from the heat shield plate 146, and a shaft portion of the drive unit 144 penetrates the partition member 145 and the heat shield plate 146 and is connected to the centrifugal fan 143. The drive unit 144 drives the centrifugal fan 143. The drive unit 144 includes, for example, a motor.

The air blower 140 draws in hot air in the heating cooking compartment 50 through the suction hole portion, and blows hot air into the heating cooking compartment 50 through the blow-out hole portion. To be more specific, the air blower 140 draws in hot air from a central portion inside the heating cooking compartment 50 and blows the hot air to a peripheral border portion inside the heating cooking compartment 50. As a result, the entire inside of the heating cooking compartment 50 can be heated by driving the air blower 140.

The detector 150 detects a temperature inside the heating cooking compartment 50. The detector 150 is, for example, a thermistor. To be specific, the detector 150 is disposed between the first heater unit 120 and the air blower 140. To be more specific, the detector 150 is disposed at a center between the first heater unit 120 and the air blower 140. Specifically, the detector 150 is disposed below the first heater unit 120 and in front of the blow-out hole portion of the air blower 140. More specifically, the detector 150 is disposed at a position on the left wall 52 close to the upper wall 53 and the rear wall 55. Note that the detector 150 may be disposed at a position on the right wall 51 close to the upper wall 53 and the rear wall 55. The thermistor is disposed at a position close to both the first heater 121 and the third heater 142. Therefore, in a case where temperatures of the first heater 121 or the third heater 142 become high due to an abnormal operation, the high temperatures can be immediately detected, and the abnormal operation can be immediately stopped.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the control board 300 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the heating cooker 100. FIG. 8 is a table illustrating a heater control method of the heating cooker 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the heating cooker 100 further includes a control board 300.

The control board 300 includes a storage 310, a controller 320, and a measurement unit 330. The measurement unit 330 measures time. The measurement unit 330 outputs a measurement result indicating time to the controller 320. The measurement unit 330 is, for example, a timer.

The storage 310 includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM). The storage 310 stores control programs for controlling an operation of each component of the heating cooker 100.

The controller 320 is a hardware circuit including a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). The controller 320 executes the control programs stored in the storage 310.

In the embodiment, the controller 320 executes different heater control methods in a “low temperature zone”, a “predetermined temperature zone”, and a “high temperature zone”, respectively. The “high temperature zone” is a high temperature zone higher than the predetermined temperature zone, and is, for example, a temperature exceeding 210° C. The “high temperature zone” includes a zone in which a target temperature is 218.33° C. and a zone in which the target temperature is 232.22° C. To be specific, in the “high temperature zone”, a meat dish or a fish dish is cooked.

The “predetermined temperature zone” is, for example, a zone of 70° C. or higher and 210° C. or lower. The “predetermined temperature zone” includes a zone in which a target temperature is 71.1° C., a zone in which a target temperature is 135° C., a zone in which a target temperature is 148.89° C., a zone in which a target temperature is 162.78° C., a zone in which a target temperature is 176.67° C., a zone in which a target temperature is 190.56° C., and a zone in which a target temperature is 204.44° C. In other words, since the “high temperature zone” is excluded from the “predetermined temperature zone”, it is possible to curb a detection result of the detector 150 being too much affected by the temperature of the first heater 121. To be specific, in the “predetermined temperature zone”, bread dough is baked.

The “low temperature zone” is a low temperature zone lower than the predetermined temperature zone, and is, for example, lower than 70° C. The “low temperature zone” includes a zone in which a target temperature is 37.78° C. and a zone in which a target temperature is 65.56° C. To be specific, in the “low temperature zone”, bread dough ferments.

The controller 320 controls the operation panel 30, the magnetron 113, the first heater 121, the second heater 131, the third heater 142, the drive unit 144, and the detector 150.

Specifically, detection results of the detector 150 are input to the controller 320 at predetermined time intervals. As a result, the controller 320 can recognize the temperature inside the heating cooking compartment 50. In addition, measurement results of the measurement unit 330 are input to the controller 320 at predetermined time intervals. The controller 320 can recognize, for example, lengths of a period during which the first heater 121 is turned on and a period during which the first heater 121 is turned off. Further, when the operation panel 30 receives an operation from a user, an operation result of the operation panel 30 is input to the controller 320. As a result, the controller 320 determines a target temperature for heating and cooking a heating-target object, for example.

The controller 320 determines a heater control method based on the operation result of the operation panel 30.

In the high temperature zone in which the target temperature falls within the high temperature zone, the controller 320 controls the first heater 121 based on the measurement result of the measurement unit 330 and controls the third heater 142 based on the detection result of the detector 150. More specifically, the controller 320 turns on the first heater 121 in a first period. In addition, the controller 320 turns off the first heater 121 in a second period. In other words, the controller 320 executes time-based intermittent control of ON and OFF. In addition, in a case where the detection result of the detector 150 is lower than a set low temperature, the controller 320 turns on the third heater 142. The set low temperature indicates, for example, a temperature lower than the target temperature by a predetermined value. On the other hand, in a case where the detection result of the detector 150 is higher than a set high temperature, the third heater 142 is turned off. The set high temperature indicates, for example, a temperature higher than the target temperature by a predetermined value. The controller 320 turns on the drive unit 144, regardless of the detection result of the detector 150.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, in the high temperature zone, there is a period in which the first heater 121 is turned on during the period in which the third heater 142 is turned off; however, since the target temperature is high, a temperature detected by the detector 150 is lowered to a set low temperature at which the third heater 142 is turned on. Hence, by controlling the first heater 121 based on the measurement result of the measurement unit 330 and controlling the third heater 142 based on the detection result of detector 150, the heating-target object can be appropriately heated and cooked.

Next, in the predetermined temperature zone in which the target temperature falls within the predetermined temperature zone, the controller 320 controls the first heater 121 and the third heater 142 based on the detection result of the detector 150. More specifically, in a case where the detection result of the detector 150 is lower than the set low temperature, the controller 320 turns on the first heater 121 and the third heater 142. On the other hand, in the case where the detection result of the detector 150 is higher than the set high temperature, the first heater 121 and the third heater 142 are turned off. The controller 320 turns on the drive unit 144, regardless of the detection result of the detector 150.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, in the “predetermined temperature zone”, the controller 320 controls the first heater 121 and the third heater 142 based on the detection result of the detector 150. In other words, in the “predetermined temperature zone”, the controller 320 controls the first heater 121 and the third heater 142 based on the detection result of the detector 150, so that the heating-target object can be appropriately heated and cooked.

Here, when the first heater 121 is controlled based on the measurement result of the measurement unit 330 in the predetermined temperature zone, a period in which the first heater 121 is turned on occurs in a period in which the third heater 142 is turned off. Since the target temperature in the predetermined temperature zone is lower than the target temperature in the high temperature zone, a temperature detected by the detector 150 is less likely or not likely to decrease to the set low temperature, at which the third heater 142 is turned on, due to an effect of the period in which the first heater 121 is turned on. In this case, the third heater 142 is unlikely to be turned on or is not turned on, and only the first heater 121 and the drive unit 144 (centrifugal fan 143) are unevenly controlled, and thus it is difficult to appropriately heat and cook the heating-target object.

Next, in the low temperature zone in which the target temperature falls within the low temperature zone, the controller 320 controls the third heater 142 based on the detection result of the detector 150. More specifically, in the case where the detection result of the detector 150 is lower than the set low temperature, the controller 320 turns on the third heater 142. On the other hand, in a case where the detection result of the detector 150 is higher than a set high temperature, the third heater 142 is turned off. The controller 320 turns on the drive unit 144, regardless of the detection result of the detector 150.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, in the “low temperature zone” in which the detection result of the detector 150 is not affected by the temperature of the first heater 121, the controller 320 controls the third heater 142 based on the detection result of the detector 150, and thus the heating-target object can be appropriately heated and cooked.

The embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist thereof. For easy understanding, the drawings schematically illustrate the individual components mainly, and the thicknesses, lengths, number, and the like of the individual components illustrated in the drawings are different from actual ones for convenience of preparation of the drawings. In addition, the materials, shapes, dimensions, and the like of the individual components illustrated in the above embodiment are merely examples, and are not particularly limited, and various modifications can be made without substantially departing from the effects of the present disclosure.

As described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, in the embodiment, the controller 320 controls the first heater 121 and the third heater 142, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The controller 320 may control the second heater 131, similarly to the first heater 121. Specifically, in the high temperature zone, the controller 320 controls the first heater 121 and the second heater 131 based on the measurement result of the measurement unit 330 and controls the third heater 142 based on the detection result of the detector 150. In addition, in the predetermined temperature zone, the controller 320 controls the first heater 121, the second heater 131, and the third heater 142 based on the detection result of the detector 150. The present disclosure provides a heating cooker, and has industrial applicability.

HEATING COOKER

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CPC

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Priority Claims (1)