JP2006084059A - Heating cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a steam generation time in a heating cooker wherein the steam is supplied to a heating chamber. <P>SOLUTION: A steam generating container 7 having a steam generating chamber 7a is mounted at a left side part of the heating chamber 3 in a cabinet 2. The water is supplied to the steam generating chamber 7a from a water tank 15 mounted at a lower part of the heating chamber 3 through a pipe 16. The steam generating container 7 is composed of a container main body 71 and a container cover 72 formed by aluminum die-casting, and a steam heater 8 is casted inside of the container main body 71. Heat radiation fins 73-75 are integrally formed on an inner face of the container main body 71. When the steam heater 8 is switched on, temperatures of the steam generating container 7 and the radiation fins 73-75 are raised, and the water in the steam generating chamber 7a is heated and evaporated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a heating cooker that performs high-frequency heating or heater heating on an object to be heated contained in a heating chamber, and more particularly to a heating cooker that includes a mechanism for supplying steam into the heating chamber.

For example, some microwave ovens having an oven function include a steam supply device that supplies steam into a heating chamber during cooking. The steam supply device includes, for example, an evaporating dish provided in a heating chamber, a water tank provided outside the heating chamber, a water supply pump that supplies water in the water tank to the evaporating dish, and the like. . And it is comprised so that the water stored in the evaporating dish may be evaporated by heating the evaporating dish.
Japanese Patent No. 3473908 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-444962

However, in the above configuration, steam cannot be generated unless the evaporating dish is sufficiently heated until the total water in the evaporating dish is close to 100 ° C. For this reason, there is a drawback that it takes time from the start of heating of the evaporating dish to the actual generation of steam.
This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, The objective is to provide the heating cooker which aimed at shortening of the generation | occurrence | production time of water vapor | steam in what supplies water vapor | steam in a heating chamber.

A heating cooker according to the present invention includes a heating chamber in which food is stored, a heating means for heating the food, a steam generation container having a steam generation chamber, a heat source for heating the steam generation container, and water supply in the steam generation chamber A steam generating means for supplying the heating chamber with water vapor generated in the steam generating chamber, and a heat radiating portion formed on the inner surface of the steam generating chamber.
When the steam generation container is heated by the heat source, the temperature of the steam generation container and the heat radiating portion rises. For this reason, the water supplied into the steam generation chamber by the water supply device is heated and evaporated in contact with the inner surface of the steam generation chamber and the heat radiating portion, and is supplied into the heating chamber.

In this case, it is preferable to arrange the heat radiating part so that a labyrinth-shaped passage is formed inside the steam generation chamber.
The steam generation chamber is configured by a substantially closed space located inside the steam generation container. The steam generation container is provided outside the heating chamber, and the steam generated in the steam generation chamber is supplied to the heating chamber. It is good to provide the cylindrical steam blower outlet for discharge | emission to.

  According to the present invention, by forming the heat radiating portion on the inner surface of the steam generation chamber, the contact area between the water in the steam generation chamber and the steam generation container is increased, so that the time required to generate water vapor is shortened. Can do. Moreover, since the water vapor temperature rises by increasing the contact area between the water vapor generated in the steam generation chamber and the steam generation container, the water vapor can be supplied vigorously into the heating chamber.

Further, by forming a labyrinth-shaped passage inside the steam generation chamber by the heat radiating portion, when the water supplied to the steam generation chamber boils, the boiling water can be prevented from running up in the steam generation chamber. .
Further, if the steam generation chamber is configured from a substantially closed space located inside the steam generation container and the steam generated in the steam generation chamber is discharged from the steam outlet into the heating chamber, the steam generation chamber It is possible to release the water vapor generated in Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the steam generation container, to reduce the amount of water necessary for generating steam, and to further shorten the steam generation time. Further, by providing the steam generating container outside the heating chamber, a sufficient installation space for the object to be heated in the heating chamber can be secured.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a microwave oven with a heater will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.1 and FIG.2 shows the schematic structure of the microwave oven based on a present Example, FIG. 1 is the front view shown in the state which open | released the door, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal front view. As shown in these drawings, a microwave oven 1 as a heating cooker includes a cabinet 2 and a heating chamber 3 is provided therein. The front opening of the heating chamber 3 is opened and closed by a door 4. The microwave oven 1 according to the present embodiment includes a magnetron 5 and a heater 6 (both see FIG. 5) as heating means, and can perform range cooking and oven cooking. Although not shown, an operation panel is provided at the lower front portion of the door 4. The operation panel has an operation key and operation knob for setting a cooking menu, a heating time, a heating temperature, etc., and instructing the start and stop of heating, and a display 24 for displaying the heating time, the heating temperature, etc. 5).

  In addition, a rectangular box-shaped steam generation container 7 is disposed in the left side of the heating chamber 3 in the cabinet 2. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal front view of the steam generation container 7, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are longitudinal side views of the steam generation container 7. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4A, and 4B, the steam generating container 7 includes a container main body 71 having a concave portion that is largely open at a right portion thereof, and a container cover 72 that closes the entire opening of the container main body 71. It is composed of The container main body 71 and the container cover 72 are both made of metal die casting, for example, aluminum die casting. The container cover 72 is screwed to the container main body 71, whereby a rectangular steam generation chamber 7 a having a capacity of about 12 ml is formed between the container main body 71 and the container cover 72.

A steam heater 8 (corresponding to a heat source) made of a U-shaped sheathed heater or the like is cast in the upper and lower sides and the rear side of the container body 71. Terminal portions at both ends of the steam heater 8 protrude from the front side portion of the container body 71.
A cylindrical water supply port 9 is attached to the front part of the left side of the container body 71. The left end portion of the water supply port 9 protrudes outward from the left end surface of the container body 71. A thermistor 10 for detecting the temperature of the steam generating container 7 is attached to an upper part of the left side of the container main body 71 and a part slightly rearward.

On the other hand, three cylindrical steam outlets 11 are formed in the upper part of the container cover 72 at substantially equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The steam outlet 11 passes through the container cover 72, and the right part thereof protrudes from the right end surface of the container cover 72.
In addition, a plurality of radiating fins (corresponding to a heat radiating portion) are formed integrally with the container main body 71 on the right surface of the left side of the container main body 71 constituting the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 7a. The radiating fin includes two radiating fins 73 projecting downward from the upper inner surface of the container main body 71, three radiating fins 74 positioned below each steam outlet 11, and a lower part than the radiating fins 74. It is comprised from the four radiation fins 75 located in.

  The radiating fin 74 is composed of a flat plate portion 74a extending in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3) and a pair of flat plate portions 74b extending upward from both front and rear end portions. Two radiating fins 75 located on both the front and rear sides of the radiating fins 75 protrude inward from the inner surfaces of the front and rear side portions of the container body 71. In addition, the two heat dissipating fins 75 located in the center of the heat dissipating fins 75 are located in the lower part of the heat dissipating fins 73 and extend downward in the front-rear direction central part and in the flat part 75a extending in the front-rear direction. It has a T-shaped cross section composed of a flat plate portion 75b.

The right side of the left side of the container main body 71 including the surfaces of the radiation fins 73 to 75 and the left side of the container cover 72, that is, the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 7 a among the surfaces of the container main body 71 and the container cover 72 are configured. New water-based paint is given to the part.
Further, the right end portions of the radiation fins 73 to 75 are configured to substantially contact the inner surface of the container cover 72 when the container cover 72 is attached to the container body 71. Therefore, the heat radiating fins 73 to 75 form a maze-like passage inside the steam generation chamber 7a. Further, the inside of the steam generation chamber 7a is connected to each steam outlet 11 by the flat fin portion 74b of the heat dissipating fins 73 and the flat fin portion 74b of the heat dissipating fins 74 and the flat plate portion 75b of the heat dissipating fins 75, that is, the portion extending vertically. Divided into three corresponding chambers.

Three openings 12 corresponding to the steam outlets 11 are formed in the left wall portion of the heating chamber 3. A cover member 13 that covers the opening 12 is attached to the inner surface of the left wall portion of the heating chamber 3. The cover member 13 has three cylindrical steam ports 14 communicating with the opening 12.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a water tank 15 is disposed in the lower portion of the heating chamber 3. The water tank 15 has a size capable of accommodating about 400 ml of water and is configured to be detachable from the cabinet 2. A water tank 15 mounted on the cabinet 2 is connected to an inlet 9 of the steam generating container 7 through a pipe 16. A water supply pump 17 is connected to the middle portion of the pipe 16, and when the pump 17 is driven, the water W in the water tank 15 is supplied into the steam generation chamber 7a. A steam generator 18 (corresponding to steam generating means) is constituted by the steam generating container 7, the water tank 15, the pipe 16, the feed water pump 17, and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the microwave oven 1. A microcomputer 20 (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) as a control means provided in the microwave oven 1 has an operation input circuit 21 for inputting an operation signal in accordance with the operation of the above-described operation keys, operation knobs, and the like. A temperature sensor 22 for detecting temperature and a door sensor 23 for detecting opening / closing of the door 4 are connected. The operation input circuit 21 functions as menu setting means for setting a cooking menu. The temperature sensor 22 and the door sensor 23 receive a temperature detection signal and an open / close detection signal, respectively. The microcomputer 20 is connected to a display 24 and a buzzer 25, and to a magnetron 5 and a heater 6 via drive circuits 26 and 27, respectively.

Further, the steam heater 8 and the water supply pump 17 are connected to the microcomputer 20 via drive circuits 28 and 29 and the thermistor 10 is connected.
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the basic operation of the microwave oven 1 will be described. The food F to be heated (see FIG. 1) is placed in the heating chamber 3 and the door 4 is closed, and then the operation panel is operated to set the cooking conditions, heating temperature, time, and other heating conditions. When the start switch is operated to start heating, the microcomputer 20 drives the magnetron 5 and the heater 6 in accordance with a preset control program based on the set cooking menu and heating conditions, and performs heating cooking. Further, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the food temperature has reached the set heating temperature and whether or not the heating time has been reached, and when the set heating temperature or heating time is reached, the magnetron 5 or the heater 6 is reached. Is stopped, and the heating operation is terminated.

  At this time, if a cooking menu for performing cooking while supplying steam into the heating chamber 3 (hereinafter referred to as “steam cooking menu”) is set, the microcomputer 20 follows the flowchart shown in FIG. 18 is controlled. That is, when the start of cooking is instructed, the steam heater 8 is turned on (step S1). As a result, the steam generation container 7 and the radiation fins 73 to 75 are heated. Then, it is determined whether the set time T1 has elapsed since the start of heating (step S2). The set time T1 is a time required from when the steam heater 8 is turned on until the steam generation container 7 and the heat radiation fins 73 to 75 reach about 120 ° C. The size and material of the steam generation container 7 and the output of the heater 8 It is decided according to etc.

  When the set time T1 elapses from the start of heating (YES), the microcomputer 20 drives the water supply pump 17 to start water supply to the steam generation container 7 (step S3). At this time, the microcomputer 20 drives the pump 17 so that a predetermined volume of water is intermittently supplied to the steam generation chamber 7a, for example, every 2 seconds. The amount of water supply per time is set according to the type of steam cooking menu. For example, when the steam cooking (steam heater cooking) menu for baking cakes and cream puffs is set, the amount of water supply per time is 0.5 ml, and the steam cooking (steam range cooking) menu for shumai, meat buns, etc. The water supply amount per time when set is set to 1.0 ml.

  When a small amount of water is supplied to the steam generation container 7 whose temperature has risen to around 120 ° C., the water falls into the steam generation chamber 7a and instantly evaporates. As shown by an arrow A in FIG. 3, the water vapor rises through between the radiation fins 73 to 75 and reaches the steam outlet 11. At this time, since the temperature of the radiation fins 73 to 75 also rises to around 120 ° C. together with the steam generation container 7, the water vapor in contact with the radiation fins 73 to 75 is reheated.

The water vapor that reaches the steam outlet 11 passes through the steam outlet 11 and is discharged from the steam port 14 into the heating chamber 3. At this time, since the steam outlet 11 and the steam port 14 are cylindrical, water vapor is released in a direction substantially perpendicular to the left wall portion of the heating chamber 3.
Further, even when the water flowing into the steam generation chamber 7a boils and rushes up the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 7a, the steam generation chamber 7a has a labyrinth inside. 11 is not reached. In particular, the boiling water is prevented from reaching the upper part of the steam generation chamber 7 a by the flat plate portion 74 a of the heat radiation fin 74 and the flat plate portion 75 a of the heat radiation fin 75. Furthermore, since the boiling water is heated and evaporated by hitting the radiation fins 73 to 75, it is possible to quickly generate water vapor while preventing the boiling water from being ejected from the steam outlet 11.

  When the water supply operation to the steam generation chamber 7a is started, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the temperature of the steam generation container 7 has reached the set temperature t2 based on the output of the thermistor 10 (step S4). When the steam generating container 7 reaches the set temperature t2 (YES), the steam heater 8 is turned off (step S5). Subsequently, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the steam generating container 7 has fallen below the set temperature t3 (t2> t3) based on the output of the thermistor 10 (step S6). When the temperature falls below the set temperature t3 (YES), the steam heater 8 is turned on again (step S7), and the process returns to step S4.

  The steam generation container 7 is maintained in the temperature range from the temperature t3 to the temperature t2 by the processes of steps S4 to S7. The set temperatures t2 and t3 are set according to the type of cooking menu. For example, in the above-described steam heater cooking menu, t2 and t3 are set to 150 ° C. and 145 ° C., respectively. In the steam range cooking menu, t2 and t3 are set to 130 ° C. and 125 ° C., respectively.

In the steam heater cooking menu, the amount of water supplied to the steam generation chamber 7a is smaller than that in the steam range cooking menu and the set temperatures t2 and t3 are high, so that the amount of water vapor discharged from the steam port 14 is also small. Also, it becomes intermittent. On the other hand, in the steam range cooking menu, a large amount of water vapor is released, and water vapor is released relatively continuously.
However, in any steam cooking menu, the water vapor discharged from the steam port 14 does not strike the right wall surface of the heating chamber 3 vigorously, but an amount of water vapor barely hitting the right wall surface is generated in the steam generation chamber 7a. As described above, the amount of water supplied per time to the steam generation chamber 7a and the set temperatures t2 and t3 are set. By controlling the temperature of the steam generating container 7 in this way, the water vapor released from the steam port 14 is efficiently supplied to the food F in the heating chamber 3.
The above steam supply operation is terminated by the end of the heating operation or by an instruction to stop the steam function.

According to such a present Example, there exist the following effects.
By forming the radiation fins 73 to 75 on the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 7a, the contact area between the water in the steam generation chamber 7a and the steam generation container 7 increases. For this reason, the water in the steam generation chamber 7a can be evaporated in a short time. Moreover, by providing the radiation fins 73 to 75, the water vapor generated in the steam generation chamber 7 a comes into contact with the radiation fins until reaching the steam outlet 11 and is reheated. Therefore, the temperature of the water vapor rises and the product of the water vapor pressure and the volume increases. For this reason, water vapor can be blown out from the steam outlet 11 into the heating chamber 3 vigorously.

  The radiation fins 73 to 75 are arranged so that a labyrinth-shaped passage is formed inside the steam generation chamber 7a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent boiling water from running up from the bottom of the steam generation chamber 7 a and reaching the steam outlet 11. In particular, the flat plate portions 74a and 75a extending in the horizontal direction are provided on the heat radiation fins 73 to 75, and the vertical position and the front-back direction position of the flat plate portions 74a and 75a are made different. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent boiling water from running up.

  The steam generation container 7 was configured in a rectangular box shape, and the steam generation chamber 7 a was configured from a substantially closed space located inside the steam generation container 7. And the steam blower outlet 11 was provided in the right side part of the steam generation container 7. FIG. For this reason, the water vapor generated in the steam generation chamber 7a is ejected from the steam outlet 11 toward the heating chamber 3 after the steam generation chamber 7a is filled. Therefore, even if the steam generation container 7 is made small and a small amount of water is supplied to evaporate, the steam can be jetted into the heating chamber 3 vigorously.

  Further, the steam generation container 8 is provided adjacent to the heating chamber 3 so that the water vapor blown from the steam outlet 11 is directly discharged into the heating chamber 3. Therefore, the water vapor generated in the steam generation chamber 7a reaches the heating chamber 3 with almost no cooling. For this reason, the loss of the heat energy required for generating water vapor | steam can be suppressed. In addition, all the components of the steam generator 18 are provided outside the heating chamber 3. For this reason, the installation space of the to-be-heated object in the heating chamber 3 does not become narrow.

  The inside of the steam generation chamber 7 a was partitioned into small chambers corresponding to the respective steam outlets 11 by the radiation fins 73 to 75. Therefore, the water vapor generated at the lower part of each steam outlet 11 in the steam generation chamber 7 a is blown out from the corresponding steam outlet 11. Moreover, since each small chamber is mutually connected, the pressure of the small chamber corresponding to each steam blower outlet 11 becomes uniform, and the generation amount of water vapor | steam becomes equal. Therefore, the amount of water vapor ejected from the three steam outlets 11 can be made substantially equal.

The steam generation container 7 was made of aluminum die casting, and a steam heater 8 was cast therein. Therefore, the steam generating container 7 can be efficiently heated by the steam heater 8. Moreover, the radiation fins 73 to 75 are provided in the container body 71 in which the steam heater 8 is cast. Therefore, the time from when the heater 8 is turned on to when the container body 71 and the radiation fins 73 to 75 reach the set temperature t2 can be made substantially the same.
A hydrophilic paint was applied to the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 7a. Therefore, the contact area between the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 7a and the water vapor or water adhering to the inner surface increases, and the water vapor or water can be efficiently heated.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and the differences from the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the steam generator 18 when the steam cooking menu is executed. In the present embodiment, the process of step S21 is performed instead of step S2 of the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the start of cooking is instructed and the steam heater 8 is turned on (step S1), the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the temperature of the steam generating container 7 has reached the set temperature t1 based on the output of the thermistor 10. Is determined (step S2). The set temperature t1 is set to 120 ° C., for example.
Even in such a configuration, the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and different points from the first embodiment will be described. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the third embodiment, in addition to the radiation fins 73 to 75, three pairs of radiation fins 76 and three radiation fins 77 are formed on the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 7a.

The heat radiating fins 76 protrude downward from the upper inner surface of the container main body 71 so as to be positioned on both front and rear sides of each steam outlet 11. The heat radiating fins 77 protrude upward from the lower inner surface of the container body 71 and are positioned below the respective steam outlets 11.
According to the above configuration, the following actions and effects can be obtained.
The boiling water generated in the steam generation chamber 7a should run up the inner surface of the steam generation chamber 7a, and between the radiation fins 73 and the radiation fins 74 and between the radiation fins 74 and the front and rear surfaces of the steam generation chamber 7a. Even when passing through the steam outlet 11 through the heat dissipation fin 76, it is possible to prevent the boiling water from reaching the steam outlet 11.

Moreover, the water supplied in the steam generation chamber 7a is stored in the lower part in the steam generation chamber 7a. Since the heat radiating fins 77 are provided in the lower part of the steam generation chamber 7a, the heat radiating fins 77 are immersed in the water stored in the lower part. For this reason, the heat of a radiation fin is efficiently transmitted to the water stored in the lower part in the steam generation chamber 7a, and it evaporates rapidly. Therefore, it is possible to further shorten the time required for generating water vapor.
Since the configuration of the third embodiment other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same operation and effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the following modifications are possible.
In FIG.6 and FIG.7 S3, although the water supply amount per time was varied according to the kind of steam cooking menu, it may replace with this and may make it vary a water supply space | interval. For example, when the steam heater cooking menu is executed, 0.5 ml of water is supplied every 2 seconds, and when the steam range cooking menu is executed, 0.5 ml of water is supplied every second. May be. Even with such a configuration, the same operations and effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

The capacity | capacitance of the steam generation container 7 and the water tank 15 is not limited to an above-described Example, A suitable change is possible.
The steam generating container may have a structure having a steam generating chamber whose upper part is greatly opened. In this case, water vapor generated in the steam generation chamber is released from the upper opening. Therefore, in such a configuration, the steam generation container is preferably installed in the heating chamber.

Further, even when the steam generation chamber is constituted by a substantially closed space located inside the steam generation container, the steam generation container may be disposed in the heating chamber.
The steam generation container 7 is not limited to metal die casting, and may be made of ceramic, for example. A heat source for heating the steam generation container may be disposed on the outer surface of the steam generation container.
By appropriately adjusting the number and size of the heat radiating portions, the discharge pressure of water vapor discharged into the heating chamber can be adjusted as appropriate. Accordingly, the number and size of the heat dissipating units can be appropriately changed according to the size of the heating chamber, the position of the steam generating container relative to the heating chamber, the distance between the steam generating container and the heating chamber, and the like.

The 1st Example of this invention is shown, The schematic front view of the microwave oven of the state which opened the door Schematic longitudinal front view of microwave oven Vertical front view of steam generation container In FIG. 3, a vertical side view of the steam generation container along line 4A-4A In FIG. 3, a vertical side view of the steam generation container along line 4B-4B Block diagram showing electrical configuration of microwave oven Flow chart showing control contents of steam generator FIG. 6 equivalent view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 equivalent view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 1 is a microwave oven (heating cooker), 3 is a heating chamber, 5 is a magnetron (heating means), 6 is a heater (heating means), 7 is a steam generating container, 7a is a steam generating chamber, and 8 is for steam. Heater (heat source), 11 is a steam outlet, 14 is a steam port, 17 is a water supply pump (water supply device), 18 is a steam generator (steam generating means), 71 is a container body, 72 is a container cover, and 73 to 77 are A heat radiation fin (heat radiation part) is shown.

Claims (6)

A heating chamber in which food is stored;
Heating means for heating the food;
A steam generation container having a steam generation chamber, a heat source for heating the steam generation container, a steam generation means for supplying the steam generated in the steam generation chamber to the heating chamber, and having a water supply device for supplying water to the steam generation chamber;
A cooking device comprising a heat radiating portion formed on an inner surface of the steam generation chamber.   2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating part is arranged so that a labyrinth-shaped passage is formed inside the steam generation chamber. The steam generation chamber is composed of a substantially closed space located inside the steam generation container,
The said steam generation container is provided in the exterior of a heating chamber, and is provided with the cylindrical steam blower outlet for discharge | releasing the vapor | steam which generate | occur | produced in the said steam generation chamber in a heating chamber. Cooking device. The heat dissipating part is arranged to divide the steam generating chamber into a plurality of connected small chambers,
The steam cooker according to claim 3, wherein the steam outlet is provided corresponding to each small chamber.   The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the steam generating container is made of metal die casting, and a heat source is embedded in the steam generating container. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a hydrophilic coating is applied to an inner surface of the steam generation chamber.

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