JPH0833204B2 - Cooking device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention detects the weight of food by a weight sensor,
The present invention relates to a cooking device that optimally automatically cooks a food by controlling a heating time or the like according to the detected weight.

(Prior Art) In recent years, in microwave ovens (cookers), products that measure the weight of cooked food and automatically set the optimum heating time according to the weight to improve operability are products. It is becoming popular.

Conventionally, in such a microwave oven, a rotary plate is placed on the upper part of the bottom wall of the heating chamber together with a mounting plate (both of which constitute a mounting device), and a weight sensor is installed on the lower part of the bottom wall. A structure is used in which both are detachably connected.

By the way, before using this microwave oven, the user operates the operation unit to store the weights of the rotary plate and the mounting plate (both are accessories and correspond to the mounting unit) in the storage unit of the main body. So-called "zero point adjustment" must be performed. Then, with the stored weight set to 0 g, the weight of food (cooked food) is measured, and the optimum heating time is selected based on this. Specifically, before use, place the rotating pan and mounting plate on the weight sensor, and store these weights in the storage unit from the weight sensor to perform "zero point adjustment".
And then put the food on the rotating dish,
The weight of the food is measured based on the stored weight.

By the way, the operation of "zero-point adjustment" has a drawback that it cannot be successful unless one understands what kind of procedure is necessary.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) Therefore, if the user does not know the procedure, there is the inconvenience that the user has to look at the instruction manual each time, and the operation is easy to make an error. Moreover, even if the user makes an erroneous operation, unless the user knows what is wrong and how to handle it, the user is confused and the operability is not good.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cooker capable of improving the operability of "zero point adjustment".

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means and Actions for Solving Problems) This cooking device includes a placement determination unit 24 that detects whether or not the placement devices 7 and 8 are placed on the weight sensor 9. Notifying means 5 for notifying operation information, and notifying information for prompting the placement of the placing devices 7, 8 from the notifying means 5 when the weight of the placing devices 7, 8 is stored, and placing determining means. A non-placed mounting device is detected at 24 and a control unit 29 for notifying information for prompting a normal operation from the notifying unit 5 when the storage operation is performed is provided to suggest the operation method to the user, Also, when an incorrect operation is performed, the correct operation is suggested to the user.

(Embodiment) The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. 2 shows an external view of a microwave oven (cooker) to which the present invention is applied, 1 is a main body constituted by a cabinet, 2 is a heating chamber arranged in the main body 1, and 3 is a front side of the main body 1. A laterally-opening type door (which opens and closes the heating chamber 2) rotatably and pivotally supported by 4 is an operation panel provided on the front side of the main body 1 adjacent to the door 3.
A display unit, for example, a fluorescent display tube 5 (corresponding to a notification unit) for displaying a dot matrix is provided on the upper stage of the operation panel 4, and operation keys for performing various cooking including automatic cooking are provided on the middle stage. A keyboard 6c having a 0-point adjustment key 6b (corresponding to an operating portion) for operating 6a ... And "zero-point adjustment" is provided.

Above the bottom wall 2a of the heating chamber 2 of such a microwave oven, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a rotary plate 7 is placed together with a mounting plate 8 (both of which constitute a mounting device). Similarly, a weight sensor 9 is provided below the bottom wall 2a. Then, the center of the back surface of the mounting plate 8 is detachably engaged with the end of the shaft 10 incorporated in the weight sensor 9 penetrating from the bottom wall 2a in the vertical direction together with the mounting plate 8. It is movably supported.

Here, the weight sensor 9 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the box-shaped mounting plate 11 (including the bottom cover 11b) is attached to the lower surface of the bottom wall 2a together with the cover 11a.
A spring mechanism 13 (Roberval mechanism) composed of upper and lower leaf springs 12a and 12b is provided inside the spring mechanism.
Mount a rotary disc drive motor 14 (a cylindrical radial bearing movably supports the shaft 10 so that the shaft 10 can move in the axial direction) to the 13 by incorporating the shaft 10 in a vertically movable manner. Is being carried out. Specifically, the left ends of the upper and lower leaf springs 12a and 12b, which are spaced apart from each other and face each other, are attached to the mounting plate 11 via a fixing piece 15.
It is fixed to the left side of (by screwing etc.). A movable piece 16 is provided between the right ends of the remaining leaf springs 12a and 12b. Then, the motor 14 is supported by the movable piece 16 which is the free end. For example, a member such as a motor mounting plate 17 extending directly below the motor 14 is provided on the movable piece 16 so as to support the entire motor. In addition, the lower end of the shaft 10 is formed in a substantially arc shape, and around the upper shaft of the motor 14, a vessel-shaped water receiver for receiving water invading from the inside of the refrigerator and guiding it to the outside of the weight sensor 9. The plate 14a is attached.

Then, the fixed side sensor plate 19a is horizontally attached to the lower end of the fixed piece 15 by using the L-shaped sensor mounting plate 18, and the fixed side sensor plate 19a is attached to the lower end of the movable piece 16.
The movable side sensor plate 19b parallel to a is also the sensor mounting plate.
It is attached using 18 and forms the required gap between both sensor plates 19a and 19b. An insulating material 20 is interposed between the sensor mounting plate 18 and each of the fixed pieces 15 and 16. Each sensor plate 19a, 19b is connected to an oscillator 21 (comprising a printed circuit board and electronic components mounted on the circuit board) fixed to the outer surface of the mounting plate 11, and an oscillation circuit is generated by applying a load. It has a structure in which the oscillation frequency of changes. That is, when a load is applied to the shaft 10, the movable side sensor plate 19b descends, the gap with the fixed side sensor 19a increases, and at that time, the oscillation frequency changes due to the changing capacitance. In this way, a signal corresponding to the weight is output.

On the other hand, a belt-shaped bearing plate 22 having elasticity, for example, is interposed between the rear end of the shaft 10 and the motor mounting plate 17, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the bearing plate 22 is formed in a substantially crank shape. The plate surface portion at one end of the bearing plate 22 is fixed to the tip end side of the projection 23 provided on the motor mounting plate portion near the rear end of the shaft 10. Also, the bent portion of the other end that has floated is extended laterally through the rear end of the shaft 10, and at the point slightly separated from the motor mounting plate 17, the arc portion 10a of the shaft end is formed.
In response to this, the entire shaft is vertically movable. Then, the bearing plate 22 is displaced downward with the fixed portion (projection portion 23) as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. 5, in response to the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8 being mounted on the shaft 10. Has become. A discriminating switch 24 (corresponding to placement discriminating means), which is, for example, a normally-open type micro switch, is installed at a portion of the motor mounting plate 17 corresponding to the extended end 22a of the bearing plate 22. When the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8 are mounted on the plate, the tray is closed. That is, whether or not the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8 are mounted on the weight sensor 9 is detected by opening / closing the determination switch 24. Of course, the bearing plate 22 is set to have a lower elasticity than the leaf springs 12a and 12b, and should be separated from the determination switch 24 when there is no load (the state in which the rotary disc 7 and the mounting plate 8 are not mounted). (To prevent the switch from operating).

On the other hand, a magnetron 25 is installed in the heating chamber 2 as shown in FIG. The magnetron 25 is a high voltage transformer 26 installed in the space inside the main body adjacent to the heating chamber 2.
And a power supply 28 in series via a relay contact 27. The relay contact 27 and the fluorescent display tube 5 of the operation panel 4 together with the microcomputer 29 (corresponding to a control unit)
Connected to the output side of. Further, the input side of the microcomputer 29 is connected to the keyboard 6c, the oscillator 21, and the determination switch 24. And a microcomputer
In 29, when the judgment switch 24 is closed and the circuit is closed after the plug is inserted into the outlet (neither is shown), it is judged that the "0 point adjustment" is possible, and the 0 point after that. By operating the adjustment key 6b, the weight oscillated from the oscillator 21 (the weight of the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8) is detected and stored in a storage unit (not shown) built in the microcomputer 29. On the contrary, when the judgment switch 24 is opened and the circuit is opened, the 0-point adjustment key 6b is erroneously operated,
It is determined that the “zero point adjustment” is not suitable, and even if a signal is output from the oscillator 21, it is not stored.

Further, the microcomputer 29, as an initial setting, turns on the power (plugs in) and, at the same time, displays the placement guide of the rotary plate 7 and the placement plate 8 which is an initial operation for adjusting the zero point, for example, as shown in FIG. Such a picture and characters are displayed on the fluorescent display tube 5. In other words, the rotating pan 7,
The placement plate 8 is urged to be placed. In addition, the microcomputer 29 operates the 0-point adjustment key 6b by mistake (rotating plate).
7, when there is no mounting plate 8 when the push operation is performed), a display prompting a normal operation, for example, the characters as shown in FIG. 7 (b) is displayed on the fluorescent display tube 5. Or 0
When the point adjustment is completed (by normal operation), a display notifying that effect, for example, a character as shown in FIG. 7 (c) is displayed on the fluorescent display tube 5, and the user is given 0 point. Even if you do not know how to operate the adjustment, you can operate it accurately by notifying the operation information.

Of course, after the correct "zero point adjustment" is performed, the microcomputer 29 stores the food (prepared food) placed on the rotary plate 7 in the same manner as described in the "Prior Art" section. The weight is recognized as 0 point, the optimum heating time is set according to the weight, and conduction of the relay contact 27 is controlled (automatic cooking).

Next, the operation of the microwave oven configured as described above will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the plug is inserted into the power supply 28 to turn on the main body of the microwave oven. When the power is turned on, operation information for guiding the placement of the rotary plate 7 and the placing plate 8 as shown in FIG. 7A is displayed on the screen of the fluorescent display tube 5. Seeing this display, the user can rotate the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8
I will put it on 10.

Then, the shaft 10 descends by the weight of the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8, and the bearing plate 22 initially separated from the motor mounting plate 18 as shown in FIG. Axis 10 arc
It is pressed by 10a and contacts the motor mounting plate 17. That is, the bearing plate 22 is displaced downward by the gap with the fixed portion as a fulcrum, and the discrimination switch 24 is closed (ON) at the end portion 22a. This makes the judgment switch
The circuit of 24 becomes a closed circuit, and a required signal indicating that the rotary plate 7 and the mounting 8 are mounted, for example, a voltage of 5V is applied. Then, the microcomputer 29 judges this, and the “zero point adjustment” becomes possible.

Then, if the 0-point adjustment key 6b is operated, the weight of the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8 is detected by the microcomputer 29 from the signal output from the oscillator 21, and a signal corresponding to the weight value is obtained. It is stored (stored) in the storage unit of the microcomputer 29.

As a result, the “zero point adjustment” is performed, and at the same time, the information shown in FIG. 7C indicating that the “zero point adjustment” has been completed is displayed on the fluorescent display tube 5.

On the other hand, at the time of such "zero point adjustment", if the zero point adjustment key 6b is mistakenly operated without placing the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8, the judgment switch 24 is not operated because the shaft 10 does not descend. It is still open. That is, no signal is output because the circuit remains open. Then, in this way, the microcomputer 29 determines that the rotary plate 7 and the mounting plate 8 are not mounted. In addition to such an open circuit, the zero-point adjustment key 6b is erroneously operated, so that the microcomputer 29 causes the fluorescent display tube 5 to display operation information for prompting a normal operation as shown in FIG. 7 (b). Go.

In other words, the user is informed that the "zero point adjustment" is wrong, and the user immediately corrects it. of course,
The weight is not stored in the microcomputer 29 until the normal "zero point adjustment" is performed.

Therefore, the "zero point adjustment" can be performed easily and without error by suggesting the operation method of "zero point adjustment" by the display and the operation method corresponding to the erroneous operation.
Moreover, the fact that the operation of "zero point adjustment" has been completed is also notified, so that "zero point adjustment" is easy to understand.

After the "zero point adjustment" is normally performed, if the food is placed on the rotary plate 7 and the operation key 6a is operated, the weight of the food is measured using the adjusted zero point and automatic cooking is performed. To go. For details, place the food on the bearing plate together with the shaft 10.
The motor mounting plate 17 that comes into contact with 22 descends. As a result, the movable piece 16 moves down together with the movable sensor plate 19b, and the gap with the fixed sensor plate 19a increases.
The capacitance that changes in this gap is the oscillator 21
Is output as a change in the oscillation frequency, and the microcomputer 29 detects the weight of the food with reference to the previous 0 point,
The relay contact 27 is operated by setting the optimum heating time corresponding to the weight. That is, the high voltage generated by the high voltage transformer 26 drives the magnetron 25 to oscillate,
Food will be cooked by microwave.

In the above-described embodiment, the normal operation is prompted by displaying the character information, but as shown in FIG. 8, the 4-digit digital display unit 30 (heating time, weight) set in the fluorescent display tube 5 is used. , Output etc.) "E" indicating "error" is displayed at the last digit part, or "range" and "strength" are displayed in addition to the digital display 30 as shown in FIG. ，
By setting the character display portion 31 that clearly indicates "rotary plate" and "weight", for example, blinking each part of "rotary plate" and "weight" together with the above "E" display, and encourage normal operation. You may do it. Further, the completion of "zero point adjustment" is not character information, and "0" indicating "completion" may be displayed in the last digit portion of the digital display unit 30 as shown in FIG. Of course, the notification including such a display is not limited to the image display (visually), and a buzzer may be sounded or a voice instruction may be given (all are auditory).

Further, in the embodiment, the normally open type micro switch is used as the discrimination switch, but the normally closed type micro switch may be used. Since such a switch does not wear its contacts due to minute movements during heating and cooking, it has high life and reliability, and has an effect that "zero point adjustment" can always be performed reliably.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is easy and erroneous because of the suggestion of the operation method of "zero point adjustment" by notification and the suggestion of the operation method of "zero point adjustment" corresponding to erroneous operation. You will be able to perform "zero point adjustment" without it.

Therefore, the operability of "zero point adjustment" can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the placement determining means and the notifying means together with the surroundings of the heating chamber. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cooking device.
The figures are cross-sectional views around the weight sensor, and FIGS. 4 and 5.
The figure is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the determination switch, FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation transition of “zero point adjustment”, and FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (c) are different operations to be displayed. FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 are views showing information, and FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 are views showing operation information of a display format different from that. 2 ... Heating chamber, 5 ... Fluorescent display tube (informing means), 6b ...
0-point adjustment key (operation part), 7,8 ... Rotating pan, mounting plate (mounting device), 9 ... weight sensor, 10 ... axis, 24 ... discrimination switch (placement discrimination means), 29 ...... Microcomputer (control unit).

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A placing device on which a food item is placed, a weight sensor which detachably receives the placing device and detects the weight of the food item on the placing device, and a weight sensor which detects the weight of the placing device in advance. In the cooker that measures the weight of the food item with the stored weight as the zero point of the weight sensor and cooks according to the weight, Placement determining means for detecting whether or not the placing device is placed, notifying means for notifying operation information, and information for prompting placement of the placing device from the notifying means at the time of storing the weight. And a control unit for notifying the information for prompting a normal operation from the notifying unit when the non-placement of the placing device is detected by the placement determining unit and the storage operation is performed. And cooker. 2. The cooker according to claim 1, wherein the control section notifies the notification means when the memory operation is completed by normal operation.