JP7686445B2 - Cooking device and method for controlling cooking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking device that heats food placed inside a heating chamber, and a control method thereof.

Conventionally, convenience stores, for example, offer a service in which food such as boxed lunches is heated in a cooking device such as a microwave oven and handed over to the customer. In order to shorten the customer's waiting time and to efficiently use the limited number of cooking devices, it is important to heat the food as quickly as possible. For this reason, convenience stores and the like use commercial cooking devices with a higher maximum output than those for home use (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-29287 A

However, in the manual mode of conventional cooking devices, including the cooking device described in Patent Document 1, the heating start key is operated after at least the heating time is set by operating a key or the like. In other words, before heating can start, at least the heating time must be set, and heating can start once the heating time has been set.

Therefore, there is room for improvement in conventional cooking devices, such as starting heating earlier. By starting heating earlier, the time until the product is served can be shortened and the efficiency of using the cooking device can be improved.

One aspect of the present invention was developed in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide a cooking device that can start heating more quickly.

In order to solve the above problems, a heating cooker according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a heating chamber, a heating unit that heats an object to be heated in the heating chamber, a plurality of operation units each having its own original function, a heating control unit that controls the heating operation by the heating unit in response to an input from the operation unit, and a function addition/modification unit that adds or modifies the function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the predetermined at least one operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started , and the predetermined at least one operation unit is a plurality of heating time setting keys to which different times are assigned and which set the heating time by a combination of the number of times the operation is performed and the assigned time, and the function addition/modification unit adds a function of starting heating to the original functions of the plurality of heating time setting keys in addition to the original functions of the plurality of heating time setting keys for a period until heating is started, and returns to the original function when heating is started, and the heating control unit accepts the settings of the heating time using the plurality of heating time setting keys even after heating is started, and sets the heating time by adding up the values obtained by multiplying the assigned time and the number of times the operation is performed for each of the operated heating time setting keys .
In order to solve the above problems, a heating cooker according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a heating chamber, a heating unit that heats an object to be heated in the heating chamber, a plurality of operation units each having its own original function, a heating control unit that controls the heating operation by the heating unit in accordance with an input from the operation units, and a function addition/modification unit that adds or changes the function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operation units is an output change key that gradually changes the heating output of the heating unit each time it is operated, and the function addition/modification unit changes the original function of the output change key to a function that allows a predetermined heating output that is reached by multiple operations to be reached by a single operation, and after the predetermined heating output is reached, returns the output change key to its original function.

In order to solve the above problems, a control method for a heating cooker according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method for a heating cooker including a heating chamber, a heating unit that heats an object to be heated in the heating chamber, and a plurality of operation units each having an original function, the control method including: a function addition/change step of adding or changing a function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started; and a heating control step of controlling a heating operation by the heating unit in response to an input from the operation unit , the at least one predetermined operation unit being a plurality of heating time setting keys to which different times are assigned, the heating time being set by a combination of the number of times the operation is performed and the assigned time, the function addition/change step adding a function of starting heating in addition to the original function of the plurality of heating time setting keys for a period until heating is started, and returning to the original function when heating is started, and the heating control step accepting the setting of the heating time by the plurality of heating time setting keys even after heating is started, and setting the heating time by adding up the value obtained by multiplying the assigned time by the number of times the operation is performed for each operated heating time setting key .
In order to solve the above problems, a control method for a heating cooker according to one embodiment of the present invention is a control method for a heating cooker having a heating chamber, a heating unit that heats a heated object in the heating chamber, and a plurality of operating units each having their own original functions, and includes a function addition/change step of adding or changing a function of at least one of the plurality of operating units so that the operating unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operating units before heating is started, and a heating control step of controlling the heating operation by the heating unit in accordance with an input from the operating unit, wherein the at least one of the predetermined operating units is an output change key that gradually changes the heating output of the heating unit each time it is operated, and in the function addition/change step, the original function of the output change key is changed to a function that allows a predetermined heating output that is reached by multiple operations to be reached by a single operation, and after the predetermined heating output is reached, the original function is returned to.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a cooking device that can start heating more quickly can be provided.

1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a front door closed, viewed obliquely from above and on the front side. FIG. 2 is a front view of the cooking device shown in FIG. 1 with a front door open. FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation panel of the cooking device shown in FIG. 1 . 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device provided in the cooking appliance shown in FIG. 1 . 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a display unit in an operation panel of the cooking device shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure of a heating operation of the cooking device shown in FIG. 1 . 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure of a heating operation of a cooking device in another embodiment of the present invention.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device 1 in this embodiment with a front door 2 closed, as viewed from diagonally above the front. Fig. 2 is a front view of the cooking device 1 with the front door 2 open.

(1. Overview of Cooking Device 1)
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cooking device 1 in this embodiment is a commercial cooking device used in convenience stores and the like, and has an operation panel 10 at the top of the front surface (front face) of a rectangular parallelepiped cabinet 6, and a front door 2 below the operation panel 10.

The front door 2 is a door that opens and closes the heating chamber 3 located behind the front door 2, and when closed, covers the front opening 3a of the heating chamber 3. In this embodiment, the front door 2 is a side-opening type that rotates around the end on the left side facing the door, and has a handle 4 near the right end.

The operation panel 10 is provided on the front of the control frame (board housing section) 5, and in the front-to-rear direction of the cooking appliance 1, the front position of the operation panel 10 is approximately aligned with the front position of the front door 2.

Inside the control frame 5 is a control board (not shown) that controls the display section of the operation panel 10 and accepts user operations on the input keys, etc.

The cooking device 1 heats the object to be heated (food, ingredients) by using microwaves generated by, for example, a magnetron. The structure for heating the object to be heated by the microwaves is the same as that of a conventional cooking device using microwaves. That is, for example, microwaves generated by a magnetron placed at the bottom of the heating chamber 3 are guided to the center of the bottom of the heating chamber 3 by a waveguide, and are radiated upwards within the heating chamber 3 while being rotated by a rotating antenna driven by a motor.

The structure of the heating section of the cooking device 1 is not particularly specified. Instead of heating with microwaves, the heating section may be configured to heat the object to be heated with a heater or superheated steam, etc.

The cooking device 1 is for commercial use and can perform heating at a heating output of more than 1000 W. In this embodiment, it can perform heating at a high output, such as a maximum output of 1900 W, and can perform heating in a shorter time than a typical cooking device used at home, which has a maximum output of 1000 W or less.

(2. Operation Panel 10)
Fig. 3 is a front view of the operation panel 10 of the cooking device 1. The operation panel 10 is configured as a horizontally long bar-shaped body with multiple keys (operation units) arranged horizontally. In the example of Fig. 3, from the right end as viewed from the front, a heating start key 11, a stop/cancel key 12, multiple heating time setting keys 13, an output UP key 14, an output DOWN key 15, a setting key 16, etc. are arranged in this order. A display unit 17 is arranged at the left end of the operation panel 10 as viewed from the front.

The heating start key 11 is a key that restarts heating when it is stopped midway. The stop/cancel key 12 is a key that stops heating when it is operated during heating. The stop/cancel key 12 is also a key that cancels the heating conditions that were set before heating started. The heating conditions are the heating time and the heating output.

The multiple heating time setting keys 13 are used to set the heating time. A different heating time is assigned to each of the multiple heating time setting keys 13, and the heating time is set by combining the number of times the key is operated with the assigned time. In the example of FIG. 3, 12 heating time setting keys 13a to 13l are provided as the multiple heating time setting keys 13.

The heating time setting key 13a is assigned a time of "10 seconds." When the heating time setting key 13a is operated once, "10 seconds" is added to the heating time, and when the heating time setting key 13a is operated twice, "20 seconds" is added to the heating time. In other words, "10 seconds" is added to the heating time every time the heating time setting key 13a is operated.

The heating time setting key 13b is assigned the time "20 seconds." As with the heating time setting key 13a, when the heating time setting key 13b is operated once, "20 seconds" is added to the heating time, and each time it is operated, "20 seconds" is added to the heating time.

The heating time setting key 13c is assigned "30 seconds", the heating time setting key 13d "40 seconds", the heating time setting key 13e "50 seconds", and the heating time setting key 13f "5 seconds". The heating time setting key 13g is assigned "1 minute", the heating time setting key 13h "1 minute 10 seconds", and the heating time setting key 13i "1 minute 20 seconds". The heating time setting key 13j is assigned "1 minute 30 seconds", the heating time setting key 1k "1 minute 40 seconds", and the heating time setting key 13l "1 minute 50 seconds". Similarly, the assigned time is added to the heating time each time these heating time setting keys 13c to 13l are operated.

For convenience, in the following, the heating time setting keys 13 will be referred to by the assigned time, such as the heating time setting key 13a being the 10 second key 13a and the heating time setting key 13g being the 1 minute key 13g.

The output UP key (output increase key) 14 and the output DOWN key (output decrease key) 15 are output change keys that change the heating output stepwise each time they are operated. The output UP key 14 changes the heating output stepwise in the direction of increasing it each time it is operated. The output DOWN key 15 changes the heating output stepwise in the direction of decreasing it each time it is operated.

In the cooking device 1 of this embodiment, the heating output is set to 10 levels, for example. Specifically, the maximum output is set to 1900W, 1700W, 1500W, 1300W, 1000W, 800W, 600W, 500W, 300W, and the minimum output is set to 200W.

For example, if the default heating output is 1900 W, operating the output down key 15 once will change the heating output one level down to 1700 W, and operating the output down key 15 twice will change the heating output two levels down to 1500 W. In other words, each time the output down key 15 is operated (each time it is operated, for each operation), the heating output is changed in stages down to the minimum output of 200 W.

When the heating output has been changed to, for example, 800 W, operating the output UP key 14 once will change the heating output to 1000 W, which is one level higher, and operating the output UP key 14 twice will change the heating output to 1300 W, which is two levels higher. In other words, each time the output UP key 14 is operated (each time it is operated, for each operation), the heating output is changed in stages up to the maximum output of 1900 W. Note that if the default is set to the maximum output, operating the output UP key 14 before operating the output DOWN key 15 will have no effect.

In addition, if the default heating output is 1500 W, operating the output DOWN key 15 once will change the heating output one step lower to 1300 W, and operating the output DOWN key 15 twice will change the heating output two steps lower to 1000 W. If the default heating output is 1500 W, operating the output UP key 14 once will change the heating output one step higher to 1700 W, and operating the output UP key 14 twice will change the heating output two steps lower to 1900 W.

The setting key 16 is a key used for various settings in the cooking device 1. For example, it can be used to change the default setting of the heating output.

The display unit 17 displays the contents according to the operation of the keys on the operation panel 10. For example, the heating output and heating time of the heating conditions are displayed on the display unit 17.

The cooking device 1 in this embodiment is characterized in that the multiple heating time setting keys 13 (13a to 13l) have a function to start heating in addition to a function to set the assigned time as the heating time. The function to start heating possessed by the multiple heating time setting keys 13 is enabled when the keys are operated when heating has not started. In other words, heating starts when any of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 is operated when heating has not started. The control unit 20 determines whether such a function to start heating is enabled or disabled.

(3. CONTROL DEVICE)
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device provided in the cooking appliance 1. The control device includes a control unit 20 that controls the operation of the cooking appliance 1. The control unit 20 is formed of, for example, a microcomputer, and has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 20 is connected to the operation panel 10, the heating unit 21, and the front door opening/closing detection unit 22. The front door opening/closing detection unit 22 is composed of a switch that is turned on when the front door 2 is closed, for example, and detects whether the front door 2 is open or closed. The detection signal of the front door opening/closing detection unit 22 is input to the control unit 20. Based on the detection signal from the front door opening/closing detection unit 22, the control unit 20 determines that the front door 2 has been opened or closed, and that food (object to be heated) has been placed in the heating chamber 3.

The heating unit 21 is an operating unit that heats the food stored in the heating chamber 3, and in this embodiment is a magnetron driving unit that drives a magnetron. The control unit 20 controls the heating operation by the heating unit 21 in response to input from a plurality of keys (operation unit) provided on the operation panel 10. In other words, the control unit 20 is configured with a heating control unit 24 that controls the heating operation by the heating unit 21 in response to input from the keys.

When a key on the operation panel 10 is operated, the control unit 20 executes the original function set for that key, as described above. For example, when the stop/cancel key 12 is operated during heating, the control unit 20 stops the heating unit 21 and interrupts the heating. Also, when the heating start key 11 is operated while heating is interrupted, the control unit 20 operates the heating unit 21 to resume heating. When the stop/cancel key 12 is operated while the heating conditions are being set (before heating starts), the control unit 20 cancels the heating conditions that were being set. The heating time is reset to zero, and the heating output is reset to the default.

The control unit 20 adds a function to start heating to the heating time setting keys 13 in addition to the original function of setting the assigned time as the heating time as described above. In other words, the control unit 20 is configured with a function addition/change unit 25 that adds or changes the function of at least one of the multiple keys so that it has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the multiple keys before heating starts.

The control unit 20 adds a function to start heating to the original functions of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 during the period until heating starts, and returns to the original functions when heating starts. Furthermore, the control unit 20 accepts the setting of the heating time using the multiple heating time setting keys 13 even after heating starts (function of the function addition/change unit 25).

In other words, when any of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 is operated, the control unit 20 operates the heating unit 21 and starts heating, setting the time assigned to the operated heating time setting key 13 as the heating time. Then, after heating starts, when any of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 is operated, the control unit 20 adds (adds) the number of times the key was operated and the time assigned to the operated heating time setting key 13 to the heating time set when heating started (function of the heating control unit 24).

For example, after detecting the opening and closing of the front door 2, when the 40-second key 13d of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 is operated, the control unit 20 sets the heating time to 40 seconds and operates the heating unit 21 to start heating. If the 40-second key 13d is then operated again, the heating time is set (additionally set) to 1 minute 20 seconds, which is 40 seconds added to the input 40 seconds. If the 1 minute 40 second key 13k is operated instead of the 40 second key 13d, the heating time is set to 2 minutes 20 seconds, which is 1 minute 40 seconds added to the input 40 seconds. If the 30 second key 13c is then operated again, the heating time is set to 1 minute 50 seconds or 2 minutes 50 seconds, which is 30 seconds added to the input 1 minute 20 seconds or 2 minutes 20 seconds.

Such additional heating time settings may be made possible for a predetermined period of time from the time when heating is started by operating any of the heating time setting keys 13. In this embodiment, the control unit 20 accepts additional heating time settings for, for example, 5 seconds after heating is started (a function of the heating control unit 24).

In addition, taking into consideration the durability of the cooking device 1, it is preferable that the total heating time accepted in the additional settings has an upper limit set according to the heating output. In this embodiment, the control unit 20 can set it up to, for example, 15 minutes at a heating output of 1300 W or more, and up to, for example, 60 minutes at a heating output of less than 1300 W.

The control unit 20 also controls the display of the display unit 17 provided on the operation panel 10, and when a key on the operation panel 10 is operated, the display unit 17 displays the content corresponding to the key operation. For example, the heating output and the time until the end of heating are displayed on the display unit 17 as heating conditions. If the output UP key 14 or output DOWN key 15 is not operated, the default heating output time is displayed, and if it is operated, the changed heating output is displayed.

The heating time that was set when heating started is displayed as the time until heating ends, and a countdown display is performed in which the value decreases every second. If additional heating time is set while the countdown display is being performed, the time obtained by adding the additional heating time to the remaining time is displayed, and the countdown display starts from that time.

In other words, when the 40-second key 13d is operated, a countdown display is performed with "40 seconds" as the initial heating time. If the 40-second key 13d is then operated again after 2 seconds have passed, "38 seconds + 40 seconds" is displayed, which is "1 minute 18 seconds," and the countdown display starts from "1 minute 18 seconds."

As for the heating time, in addition to displaying the time until the end of heating, the total heating time set by operating the heating time setting key 13 may be separately displayed as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the display unit 17 on the operation panel 10 of the heating cooker 1. This allows the heating time that has already been input to be recognized at a glance. Therefore, when inputting additional time after starting heating by operating any heating time setting key 13, the total heating time can be easily grasped.

(4. Operation of Cooking Appliance 1)
6 is a flow chart for explaining the processing procedure of the heating operation of the cooking device 1. The control unit 20 repeatedly judges whether the front door 2 is opened or closed by the front door opening/closing detection unit 22 (S1). When the control unit 20 judges that the front door 2 is opened or closed (S1: YES), it then judges whether the output UP key 14 or the output DOWN key 15 is operated (S2). When the control unit 20 judges that the output UP key 14 or the output DOWN key 15 is operated (S2: YES), it proceeds to S3 to change the heating output from the default, and then returns to the process of S2.

On the other hand, if the control unit 20 determines in S2 that the output UP key 14 or the output DOWN key 15 has not been operated (S2: NO), it then determines whether any of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 has been operated (S4). If the control unit 20 determines in S4 that none of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 have been operated (S4: NO), it returns the process to S2. The determination processes of S2 and S4 are repeated until it is determined in S4 that any of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 has been operated.

When the control unit 20 determines in S4 that one of the heating time setting keys 13 has been operated (S4: YES), it then determines the heating output and heating time (S5, S6) and controls the heating unit 21 to start heating at the determined heating output and heating time (S7).

If the heating output is changed in S3, the changed heating output is set in S5. If the process does not proceed to S3, the default heating output is set in S5. Also, in S6, the time assigned to the heating time setting key 13 operated in S4 is set. For example, if the 1 minute key 13g is operated, the heating time is set to "1 minute." Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the heating output is confirmed before the heating time is confirmed, but the heating time may be confirmed before the heating output.

The control unit 20 determines whether any of the heating time setting keys 13 has been operated even after heating has started (S8). If the control unit 20 determines in S8 that any of the heating time setting keys 13 has been operated (S8: YES), it then determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since heating started (S9). If the control unit 20 determines in S9 that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S9: NO), it adds the time assigned to the heating time setting key 13 operated in S8 to the heating time that has been set up to that point (S10).

For example, if the heating time set up until that point is "1 minute," when the 40-second key 13d is operated in S8, the heating time (total) is set to "1 minute 40 seconds." The display on the display unit 17 changes the heating time (total) from "1 minute" to "1 minute 40 seconds," and if 10 seconds have passed since the start of cooking, the remaining time changes from "50 seconds" to "1 minute 30 seconds."

After adding the heating time in S10, the control unit 20 next determines whether the heating time (total) has elapsed since the start of heating (S11). Similarly, if the control unit 20 determines in S8 that none of the heating time setting keys 13 have been operated (S10: NO), or if the control unit 20 determines in S9 that a predetermined time has elapsed (S9: YES), it also transitions to S11.

When the control unit 20 determines in S11 that the heating time (total) has elapsed since the start of heating (S11: YES), it controls the heating unit 21 to end heating (S12) and returns the process to S1. On the other hand, when the control unit 20 determines in S11 that the heating time (total) has not elapsed (S11: NO), it returns the process to S8. The determination processes of S8, S9, and S11 are repeated until it is determined in S11 that the heating time (total) has elapsed.

(5. Advantages of Cooking Device 1)
In the cooking device of this embodiment, the multiple heating time setting keys 13 (13a to 13l) have an additional function of starting heating in addition to their original functions. Therefore, if heating is performed using the default heating output, heating can be started by opening and closing the front door 2, placing the object to be heated in the heating chamber 3, and then operating any one of the heating time setting keys 13. Then, after heating has started, additional heating times can be set by operating the multiple heating time setting keys 13.

In other words, one of the heating time setting keys 13 is operated first to start heating for the time being, and then it is possible to set the heating time appropriate for the food (product). This makes it possible to start heating as soon as possible. By using such a cooking device 1 in convenience stores and the like, it is possible to shorten the waiting time of customers and to make efficient use of the limited number of cooking devices 1.

[Embodiment 2]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

The cooking device 1A in this embodiment has the functions of the output change keys, the output UP key 14 and the output DOWN key 15, changed so that they have a different function that can reduce the number of operations performed on multiple keys (operation units) before heating begins. This differs from the cooking device 1 in embodiment 1 in that in addition to the multiple heating time setting keys 13, the functions of the output UP key 14 and the output DOWN key 15 are also changed.

Cooking device 1A is designed to reduce the number of operations required to start heating, allowing heating to start as quickly as possible, even when heating products that are intended to be heated in a general household cooking device (for example, retort products that are microwave-compatible).

As described above, in the cooking device 1 of the first embodiment, when the default is 1900 W, each time the output DOWN key 15 is operated, the output can be reduced in stages, for example, from 1900 W to 1700 W, from 1700 to 1500 W, and from 1500 W to 1300 W, down to the minimum output of 200 W. Similarly, when the output UP key 14 is operated, for example, when the output is reduced to the minimum output of 200 W, the output UP key 14 can be increased in stages, for example, from 200 W to 300 W, from 300 to 500 W, and from 500 W to 600 W, up to the maximum output of 1900 W.

Therefore, to reduce the output from the default high output to, for example, 600W or 500W, which is suitable for products intended for use in general household cooking appliances, it is necessary to operate the output DOWN key 15 multiple times, which delays the start of heating.

In consideration of these problems, in the cooking device 1A of this embodiment, the control unit 20 changes the functions of the output change keys, the output UP key 14 and the output DOWN key 15, to a function that allows the predetermined heating output, which is reached by multiple operations, to be reached with a single operation from the default. After the predetermined heating output is reached, the control unit 20 returns the functions of the output UP key 14 and the output DOWN key 15 to their original functions (function of the function addition/change unit 25).

Specifically, the function of the power UP key 14 is changed from its original function of gradually increasing the heating output with each operation to a function of reaching a first predetermined heating output with multiple operations from the default with a single operation. The function of the power DOWN key 15 is changed from its original function of gradually decreasing the heating output with each operation to a function of reaching a second heating output, smaller than the first predetermined output, with multiple operations from the default with a single operation. Here, the first predetermined heating output is, for example, 600 W, and the second predetermined heating output is, for example, 500 W.

In this way, by changing the function of the power up key 14, it becomes possible to change the heating output to 600 W by simply operating the power up key 14 once. Similarly, by changing the function of the power down key 15, it becomes possible to change the heating output to 500 W by simply operating the power down key 15 once.

This allows products designed to be heated using a regular household cooking appliance to start heating quickly even when the default heating output is set to high output.

After the heating output has been changed to 600W or 500W, the control unit 20 returns the functions of the output UP key 14 and the output DOWN key 15 to their original functions (functions of the function addition/change unit 25). Therefore, after operating the output UP key 14 once to set it to 600W, operating the output UP key 14 again changes the heating output to 800W, one step higher. The same is true for the output DOWN key 15; after operating it once to set it to 500W, operating the output DOWN key 15 again changes the heating output to 300W, one step lower.

Figure 7 is a flow chart for explaining the processing procedure of the heating operation of the cooking device 1A in embodiment 2. The control unit 20 repeatedly judges whether the opening and closing of the front door 2 has been detected by the front door opening and closing detection unit 22 (S1). When the control unit 20 judges that the opening and closing of the front door 2 has been detected (S1: YES), it then judges whether the output UP key 14 has been operated (S21). When the control unit 20 judges that the output UP key has been operated (S21: YES), it proceeds to S22 to change the heating output from the default to 600 W, which is the first predetermined output, and then proceeds to S25.

On the other hand, if the control unit 20 determines that the power up key 14 has not been operated (S21: NO), it then determines whether the power down key 15 has been operated (S23). If the control unit 20 determines that the power down key has been operated (S23: YES), it proceeds to S24 and changes the heating power from the default to the second predetermined power of 500 W, and then proceeds to S25. If the control unit 20 determines that the power down key 15 has not been operated (S23: NO), it proceeds to S25 without going through S24.

In S25, it is determined whether an additional operation of the output UP key 14 or the output DOWN key 15 has been performed. After going through S22 or S24, if the output UP key 14 or the output DOWN key 15 has been operated, the control unit 20 determines that an additional operation has been performed. If the control unit 20 determines that an additional operation has been performed (S25: YES), it proceeds to S26 and gradually changes the heating output from the default to 600W or 500W (original function) that was changed in S22 or S24, and then returns the process to S25.

In S25, if the control unit 20 determines that no additional operation has been performed (S25: NO), it then determines whether any of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 has been operated (S4). If the control unit 20 determines that none of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 have been operated in S4 (S4: NO), it then determines whether at least any of the output UP key 14 or the output DOWN key 15 have been operated (S26). If the control unit 20 determines that at least any of them have been operated (S26: YES), it returns the process to S25. On the other hand, if the control unit 20 determines that neither the output UP key 14 nor the output DOWN key 15 have been operated (S26: NO), it returns the process to S21.

After determining in S4 that one of the multiple heating time setting keys 13 has been operated, the process from S5 to S12 is the same as in the flowchart of FIG. 6, so a description thereof will be omitted. Also, in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the process determines whether the output UP key 14 has been operated before determining whether the output DOWN key 15 has been operated, but the process may determine whether the output DOWN key 15 has been operated first.

[Embodiment 3]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

The cooking device 1B of this embodiment has switchable use modes, a commercial use mode and a general use mode in which the functions of the cooking device 1B are more limited than those in the commercial use mode. The commercial use mode is a mode that is normally used by employees at convenience stores and the like. The cooking device 1B set in the commercial use mode is the same as the cooking device 1 and cooking device 1A described above, and the default heating output is set higher than that of a home cooking device.

On the other hand, the general use mode is a mode that is set when the cooking device is installed next to a cash register or in a booth where food and drink are available, and the purchaser operates the cooking device to heat the purchased items. In the general use mode, some of the functions of the cooking device are locked so that the settings of the cooking device cannot be changed without permission, and so that even purchasers who are unfamiliar with operating high-output commercial cooking devices can use them safely. Cooking device 1B in this embodiment 3 differs from cooking device 1 in embodiment 1 and cooking device 1A in embodiment 2 in that it has a general use mode in this way.

In the commercial use mode, the heating start key 11 (see FIG. 3) on the operation panel 10 is a key for restarting interrupted heating, as in the heating cookers 1 and 1A. In contrast, in the general use mode, the heating start key 11 is used as a key for starting heating. In other words, in the general use mode, when changing the heating output from the default, the output is changed using the output UP key 14 and the output DOWN key 15, and then the heating time is set using one of the multiple heating time setting keys 13, and then the heating start key 11 is operated. This starts heating.

Such switching of the usage mode is performed using the setting key 16 (see FIG. 3) on the operation panel 10. The set usage mode may be displayed on the display unit 17.

In the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, a cooking device for commercial use (commercial use mode) is configured to have a different function that can reduce the number of key operations performed before heating starts, by adding or changing a different function to the original function of the key. However, the present invention can also be applied to general cooking devices for home use.

In the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, twelve heating time setting keys 13a to 13l to which times are finely allocated are exemplified as the multiple heating time setting keys 13. However, for example, there may be two types of keys: a "1 minute" key that adds one minute to the heating time each time it is operated, and a "10 seconds" key that adds ten seconds to the heating time each time it is operated. In such a case, the number of operations required to set the heating time will naturally increase, and the effect of the present invention can be obtained more significantly.

[Software implementation example]
The functions of the heating cookers 1, 1A, 1B (hereinafter referred to as the "devices") can be realized by a program for causing a computer to function as the device, and a program for causing a computer to function as each control block of the device (particularly each part included in the control unit 20).

In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program, thereby realizing each of the functions described in each of the above embodiments.

The program may be stored in one or more computer-readable storage media, not temporarily. The storage media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be provided to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

In addition, some or all of the functions of each of the above control blocks can be realized by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the above control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, it is also possible to realize the functions of each of the above control blocks by, for example, a quantum computer.

〔summary〕
The heating cooker 1 according to aspect 1 of the present invention comprises a heating chamber 3, a heating unit 21 for heating an object to be heated in the heating chamber 3, a plurality of operation units (a plurality of keys on an operation panel 10) each having its own original function, a heating control unit (control unit 20) for controlling the heating operation by the heating unit 21 in response to an input from the operation unit, and a function addition/change unit (control unit 20) for adding or changing a function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started.

The heating cooker 1 according to aspect 2 of the present invention may be configured as in aspect 1 above, where the at least one predetermined operation unit is a plurality of heating time setting keys 13 to which different times are assigned and which set the heating time by a combination of the number of times the keys are operated and the assigned time, the function addition/change unit adds a function to start heating in addition to the original functions of the plurality of heating time setting keys 13 during the period until heating is started, and returns the function to the original function when heating is started, and the heating control unit accepts the setting of the heating time by the plurality of heating time setting keys 13 even after heating is started.

The heating cooker 1 according to aspect 3 of the present invention may be configured in the above aspect 2 such that the heating control unit accepts the setting of the heating time using the multiple heating time setting keys only for a predetermined period after the start of heating.

The cooking device 1 according to aspect 4 of the present invention may be configured as in aspect 2 or 3 above, with a display unit 17, which displays the time until the end of heating and the total heating time set using the multiple heating time setting keys 13.

The cooking device 1 (1A) according to aspect 5 of the present invention may be configured in any one of aspects 1 to 4 above, such that the at least one predetermined operation unit is an output change key that gradually changes the heating output of the heating unit 21 each time it is operated, and the function addition/change unit changes the original function of the output change key to a function that allows a predetermined heating output that is reached by multiple operations to be reached by a single operation, and returns the function to the original function after the predetermined heating output is reached.

The cooking device 1 (1A) according to aspect 6 of the present invention may be configured in the above aspect 5 to include, as the output change keys, an output increase key (output UP key 14) that changes the heating output in a stepwise increasing direction each time it is operated, and an output decrease key (output DOWN key 15) that changes the heating output in a stepwise decreasing direction each time it is operated, and the function addition/change unit changes the original function of the output increase key to a function of reaching a first predetermined heating output, which is reached by multiple operations, with a single operation from the default, and changes the original function of the output decrease key to a function of reaching a second predetermined heating output, which is smaller than the first predetermined heating output, with a single operation from the default.

The cooking device 1 (1A) according to aspect 7 of the present invention may be configured in any one of aspects 1 to 6 above, such that the heating section is capable of heating with a heating output of more than 1000 W.

The cooking device 1B according to aspect 8 of the present invention may be configured in any one of aspects 1 to 6 above, with a switchable use mode including a commercial use mode and a general use mode in which the functions of the cooking device are more limited than those of the commercial use mode.

The control method for a cooking device according to aspect 9 of the present invention is a control method for a cooking device 1 (1A, 1B) that includes a heating chamber 3, a heating unit 21 that heats an object to be heated in the heating chamber 3, and a plurality of operation units each having its own original function, and includes a function addition/change step of adding or changing a function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started, and a heating control step of controlling the heating operation by the heating unit in response to an input from the operation unit.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments.

1, 1A, 1B Cooking device 2 Front door 3 Heating chamber 3a Front opening 4 Handle 5 Control frame 6 Cabinet 10 Operation panel 11 Heating start key (operation unit)
12 Stop/Cancel key (operation section)
13 Heating time setting key (operation part)
14 Output UP key (operation part, output change key, output increase key)
15 Output DOWN key (operation part, output change key, output increase key)
16 Setting key 17 Display unit 20 Control unit 21 Heating unit 22 Front door opening/closing detection unit 24 Heating control unit 25 Function addition/changing unit

Claims (9)

A heating chamber and
A heating unit that heats the object to be heated in the heating chamber;
A plurality of operation units each having its own original function;
a heating control unit that controls a heating operation by the heating unit in response to an input from the operation unit;
a function addition/change unit that adds or changes a function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started; and
Equipped with
the at least one predetermined operation unit is a plurality of heating time setting keys to which different times are assigned, and which set the heating time in accordance with a combination of the number of times the operation is performed and the assigned time,
the function addition/change unit adds a function of starting heating to the original functions of the plurality of heating time setting keys during a period until heating is started, and returns the function to the original functions when heating is started;
The heating control unit, even after heating has started, accepts settings of heating times made using the multiple heating time setting keys, and sets the heating time by adding up the value obtained by multiplying the assigned time for each operated heating time setting key by the number of times the key has been operated . 2. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the heating control unit accepts settings of the heating time by the plurality of heating time setting keys only for a predetermined period after the start of heating. A display unit is provided,
3. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit displays a time remaining until the end of heating and a total heating time set using the plurality of heating time setting keys. A heating chamber and
A heating unit that heats the object to be heated in the heating chamber;
A plurality of operation units each having its own original function;
a heating control unit that controls a heating operation by the heating unit in response to an input from the operation unit;
a function addition/change unit that adds or changes a function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started; and
Equipped with
The at least one predetermined operation unit is an output change key that changes the heating output of the heating unit stepwise each time the key is operated,
The function addition/modification unit changes the original function of the output change key to a function that allows a specified heating output to be reached with a single operation, which is normally achieved with multiple operations, and returns the function to the original function after the specified heating output has been reached. As the output change key,
An output increase key that gradually increases the heating output each time it is operated;
and an output reduction key for gradually decreasing the heating output each time the key is operated.
The function addition and modification unit includes:
The original function of the power increase key is changed to a function of increasing the heating output from the default to a first predetermined heating output that is reached by multiple operations in a single operation;
The heating cooker according to claim 4, characterized in that the original function of the output decrease key is changed to a function of achieving a second predetermined heating output, which is smaller than the first predetermined heating output that is reached by multiple operations, from the default with a single operation. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the heating unit is capable of heating with a heating output of more than 1000 W. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the switchable usage modes include a commercial use mode and a general use mode in which the functions of the cooking device are more limited than those of the commercial use mode. A heating chamber and
A heating unit that heats the object to be heated in the heating chamber;
A method for controlling a cooking device having a plurality of operation units each having an inherent function,
a function addition/change step of adding or changing a function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started;
a heating control step of controlling a heating operation by the heating unit in response to an input from the operation unit;
Including,
the at least one predetermined operation unit is a plurality of heating time setting keys to which different times are assigned, and which set the heating time in accordance with a combination of the number of times the operation is performed and the assigned time,
In the function addition/change step, a function of starting heating is added to the original functions of the plurality of heating time setting keys during a period until heating is started, and when heating is started, the original functions are restored;
In the heating control step, even after heating has started, the heating time settings made using the plurality of heating time setting keys are accepted, and the heating time is set by adding up the value obtained by multiplying the assigned time for each of the operated heating time setting keys by the number of times the key has been operated . A heating chamber and
A heating unit that heats the object to be heated in the heating chamber;
A method for controlling a cooking device having a plurality of operation units each having an inherent function,
a function addition/change step of adding or changing a function of at least one of the plurality of operation units so that the operation unit has another function that can reduce the number of operations performed on the plurality of operation units before heating is started;
a heating control step of controlling a heating operation by the heating unit in response to an input from the operation unit;
Including,
The at least one predetermined operation unit is an output change key that changes the heating output of the heating unit stepwise each time the key is operated,
A method for controlling a cooking device, characterized in that in the function addition/change step, the original function of the output change key is changed to a function that allows a predetermined heating output that is normally reached by multiple operations to be reached with a single operation, and after the predetermined heating output has been reached, the original function is returned to .

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