Heating Regulator

Abstract

To detect the temperature of a heated object more accurately using an infrared sensor. [Solution] The heating cooker 100 includes an infrared sensor 150 located outside the heating chamber that detects the temperature inside the heating chamber using multiple infrared detection elements, and a direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor 150. When temperature detection is performed, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 moves to the temperature detection position, and when temperature detection is not performed, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 moves to the standby position. This prevents the lens of the infrared sensor 150 from fogging up or the infrared sensor 150 itself from becoming overheated. Therefore, for example, even immediately after steam heating, the infrared sensor 150 can be kept in a state where temperature detection is possible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance such as a microwave oven, and more particularly to a cooking appliance provided with an infrared sensor.

Background Art

[0002] A microwave oven can heat an object to be heated from the inside by microwave heating, and thus is used in various applications such as reheating cooked food and thawing frozen food.

[0003] In a conventional microwave oven, in addition to microwave heating, there are those that perform oven heating, grill heating, and in addition to these, steam heating.

[0004] Oven heating is a cooking method in which an object to be heated is heated using an in-cabinet heater and a convection heater. Grill heating is a cooking method in which a grill plate coated with a material that generates heat when irradiated with microwaves is used, and the object to be heated is heated by the heat generated by the grill plate irradiated with microwaves.

[0005] In the field of such microwave ovens, there has been proposed a device that detects the temperature distribution on the bottom surface of a heating chamber using an infrared sensor provided with infrared detection elements arranged in a matrix of multiple rows and multiple columns, thereby detecting the placement position and temperature of an object to be heated such as food placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In conventional configurations, the main body of the infrared sensor is installed outside the heating chamber, but the lens at the tip of the infrared sensor is installed inside the heating chamber.

[0008] Therefore, in microwave ovens capable of steam heating, the lens of the infrared sensor may fog up due to the steam supplied to the heating chamber. As a result, it may not be possible to accurately detect the temperature of the food using the infrared sensor immediately after steam heating.

[0009] This disclosure aims to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a microwave oven that can more accurately detect the temperature of an object being heated using an infrared sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the aforementioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a heating cooker that heats an object to be heated placed inside a heating chamber by supplying at least one of microwaves, radiant heat, and steam, comprising: an infrared sensor housed in a case provided outside the heating chamber and which detects the temperature inside the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements; an opening provided in the case; and a direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor, wherein the infrared sensor is provided on the outside of the wall of the heating chamber so as to face into the heating chamber through a through hole formed in the wall of the heating chamber, and the temperature inside the heating chamber can be detected through the through hole and the opening provided in the case, and the control unit, when performing temperature detection, changes the direction of the infrared sensor The infrared sensor is configured to move to a temperature detection position, and if temperature detection is not performed, it moves to a standby position. The infrared sensor is configured to wait in the standby position once temperature detection is complete.

[0011] According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the lens of the infrared sensor from fogging up or the infrared sensor itself from becoming overheated. Therefore, for example, even immediately after steam heating, the infrared sensor can be kept in a state where it can detect temperature. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The heating appliance of the present invention can prevent the lens of the infrared sensor from fogging up or the infrared sensor itself from becoming overheated. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a heating appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the heating appliance according to this embodiment with the grill plate inserted into the heating chamber and the door open. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a front view of the heating appliance according to this embodiment, showing the grill plate inserted into the heating chamber and the door open. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the heating appliance according to this embodiment, with the door open. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the infrared sensor in this embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the direction of the infrared sensor 150 and the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a partially cutaway side view of a cooking appliance, showing the infrared sensor's orientation set to a temperature detection position where its field of view covers the entire bottom surface of the heating chamber. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a partially cutaway front view of a cooking appliance, showing the infrared sensor's orientation set to a temperature detection position where its field of view covers the entire bottom surface of the heating chamber. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a partially cutaway top view of the cooking appliance showing the temperature-detectable area on the bottom surface of the heating chamber in this embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a front view of a cooking appliance showing the infrared sensor's orientation set to a temperature detection position where the infrared sensor's field of view covers the entire grill pan. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a side view showing the cooking appliance according to the present embodiment with the main body cover removed.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] The cooking appliance according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a heating chamber for storing an object to be heated, an infrared sensor provided outside the heating chamber for detecting the temperature inside the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements, and a direction setting motor for changing the direction of the infrared sensor.

[0015] When performing temperature detection, the direction of the infrared sensor moves to the temperature detection position, and when not performing temperature detection, the direction of the infrared sensor is configured to move to the standby position. The cooking appliance further includes a cooling fan provided outside the heating chamber, and a duct provided with a cooling air outlet at the tip for guiding the cooling air from the cooling fan to the space between the heating chamber and the main body cover. The duct is arranged such that the cooling air outlet is in the vicinity of the installation position of the infrared sensor. The infrared sensor waits at the standby position during the heating operation after the temperature detection is completed, and the lens of the infrared sensor is configured to be directly cooled by the cooling air from the cooling air outlet of the duct.

[0016] The cooking appliance according to the second aspect of the present disclosure is, in the first aspect, one of the temperature detection positions is set such that the entire bottom surface of the heating chamber is within the field of view of the infrared sensor.

[0017] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] In the present embodiment, the door 300 side of the cooking appliance 100 is defined as the front, the side opposite to the door 300 of the cooking appliance 100 is defined as the rear, and the left and right sides in FIG. 3 are defined as the left and right sides of the cooking appliance 100, respectively.

[0019] <1>Configuration of the cooking appliance First, the configuration of the cooking appliance 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0020] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the cooking appliance 100 according to this embodiment. Figures 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, of the cooking appliance 100 according to this embodiment, with the grill plate inserted into the heating chamber 200 and the door open.

[0021] In this embodiment, the heating appliance 100 shown in Figure 1 is a multi-functional microwave oven that heats an object to be heated by supplying at least one of microwaves, radiant heat, hot air, and steam to an object to be heated housed in a heating chamber 200 having an opening at the front.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a heating chamber 200 is provided in the center of the heating appliance 100, which has an opening on its front and a flange around that opening. The outer casing of the heating appliance 100 is formed by a main body cover 110 that integrally covers both sides and the top of the heating chamber 200, a bottom plate 120 that covers the bottom of the heating chamber 200, and a rear plate 130 that covers the back of the heating chamber 200.

[0023] A machine room (not shown) is provided in the space between the heating chamber 200 and the bottom plate 120. This machine room houses the equipment for realizing the functions of the heating cooker 100, a control unit for controlling that equipment, and a cooling fan unit 600 (see Figure 11) that generates cooling air to cool them. The machine room also functions as an insulated space.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a door 300 with a window for opening and closing the heating chamber 200 is installed on the front of the heating appliance 100. The lower end of the door 300 is pivotally supported by a hinge provided at the lower end of the heating chamber 200, and it can be opened and closed by rotating around a pivot axis along the lower end of the heating chamber 200. An operating section 310 is provided on the right side of the front of the door 300.

[0025] A water supply tank 700 for storing water supplied to the steam generation unit is detachably installed on the lower right side of the door 300. To its left, a drainage tank 202 for storing condensation water that has accumulated in the heating chamber 200 is detachably installed.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in order to support the cooking plate, multiple support shelves are provided vertically on the right wall 210 and left wall 220 of the heating chamber 200, each having a horizontal surface on its upper surface and extending horizontally in the front-to-back direction (in this embodiment, there are three shelves (support shelves 201a to 201c)).

[0027] The cooking trays include a rectangular tray for oven cooking and a grill tray 203 for grill cooking. Depending on which of the support shelves 201a to 201c the cooking trays are placed on, they can be positioned at the optimal height for cooking within the heating chamber 200.

[0028] Figure 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the heating appliance 100 according to Embodiment 1 with the door 300 open.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, a through-hole 140 is formed in the upper center of the right side wall 210 of the heating chamber 200. Infrared rays are directed outwards from the outside of the right side wall 210 so as to be seen into the heating chamber 200 through the through-hole 140. A sensor 150 is provided.

[0030] Rectangular through-holes are formed in front of the center of the right wall of the heating chamber 200, and at the top and center of the heating chamber 200. An interior light 141, consisting of LEDs, is installed outside these through-holes to illuminate the inside of the heating chamber 200.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, an outside air intake 221 is installed at the lower front of the left side wall 220 of the heating chamber 200. The outside air intake 221 is composed of multiple circular punching holes. Low temperature, low humidity air is introduced into the heating chamber 200 from outside through the outside air intake 221.

[0032] Air from the cooling fan unit 600 is also supplied into the heating chamber 200 via the outside air intake 221, cooling the inner surface of the door 300 together with the outside air. This suppresses condensation on the glass surface on the inside of the door 300.

[0033] A steam outlet (not shown) is located at the upper center of the left side wall 220 of the heating chamber 200 for supplying steam generated in the steam generation unit into the heating chamber 200.

[0034] An upper heater unit 400 is installed on the top surface 230 of the heating chamber 200 (see Figure 11). The upper heater unit 400 consists of three tubular heaters extending in the left-right direction. Of the three tubular heaters, the front one and the rear one are tubular miraclon heaters 410, and the central one is a tubular argon heater 420 (see Figure 11). These tubular heaters mainly emit infrared rays, and the radiant heat heats the object to be heated contained in the heating chamber 200.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, a circulation intake port 241, composed of multiple punched holes, is formed in the center of the rear wall 240 of the heating chamber 200. An air outlet 242, composed of multiple punched holes, is formed on the periphery of the rear wall 240.

[0036] As shown in Figure 9, a fan case 510 made of metal material is positioned behind the rear wall 240. A convection heater unit 500 is installed in the space between the rear wall 240 and the fan case 510 (see Figure 9).

[0037] Air from the heating chamber 200, drawn in through the circulation intake port 241, is heated by the convection heater unit 500, generating hot air. The generated hot air is supplied into the heating chamber 200 through the air outlet 242.

[0038] Below the heating chamber 200, a microwave generator (not shown) that emits microwaves is installed. The microwave generator includes a magnetron that generates microwaves, a rotating antenna that radiates microwaves into the heating chamber 200, a waveguide that propagates the microwaves to the rotating antenna, and a motor that rotates the rotating antenna.

[0039] The bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200 is covered with a ceramic plate that can transmit microwaves. Microwaves supplied from the microwave generator through the bottom surface 250 into the heating chamber 200 heat the object to be heated placed on the bottom surface 250.

[0040] When the grill plate 203 is placed inside the heating chamber 200, the ferrite coated on the back surface of the grill plate 203 is irradiated by microwaves supplied into the heating chamber 200 and generates heat, thereby heating the object to be heated placed on the grill plate 203.

[0041] Since the base plate 120 is formed from a galvanized steel sheet by press working, it basically has a rectangular box shape with an open top and a shallow bottom.

[0042] A cooling air intake 121 is provided in the portion of the bottom plate 120 located below the cooling fan unit 600, which is installed between the heating chamber 200 and the bottom plate 120, to take in cooling air (see Figure 11).

[0043] A glass panel 302 is installed on the front of the door 300, covering almost its entire surface. An operating section 310 is provided on the right side of the glass panel 302.

[0044] The control unit 310 includes a touch panel 311 that displays prompts for user operation, accepts user operation, and displays corresponding to the accepted operation on a single LCD screen, a "back" button 312 for going back one step in the operation, a "cancel" button 313 for canceling an operation, and a "start" button 314 for starting heating.

[0045] The control unit 310 is operated by the user to input menu selection in the automatic cooking function, heating time, heating temperature, etc. in the manual cooking function.

[0046] A handle 304 for opening and closing the door is installed on the upper front of the door.

[0047] <2> Configuration of an infrared sensor Next, the configuration of the infrared sensor 150 in the heating cooker 100 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0048] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the infrared sensor 150 in this embodiment. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the direction of the infrared sensor 150 and the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150 in this embodiment.

[0049] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the infrared sensor 150 is housed in a box-shaped case 160 provided on the outer surface of the right side wall 210 located outside the through-hole 140. The infrared sensor 150 comprises a total of 64 infrared detection elements arranged in an 8x8 matrix. The infrared sensor 150 is installed inside the case 160 such that the lens on its front surface is visible through an opening 165 provided in the outer shell of the case 160.

[0050] As shown in Figure 6, the field of view 151 is the range in which the infrared sensor 150 can detect infrared rays.

[0051] A direction setting motor 170 is installed in case 160. Case 160 rotates around a rotation axis 161, which is provided parallel and horizontally to the right side wall 210, by the direction setting motor 170.

[0052] As the case 160 rotates around the rotation axis 161, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 housed in the case 160 is accordingly varied to either the upward direction 154 or the downward direction 155. More precisely, as shown in Figure 6, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is the downward angle 153 of the field of view center 152.

[0053] When the direction setting motor 170 stops in a predetermined direction for the infrared sensor 150, with the opening 165 facing into the heating chamber 200 from the through hole 140, the infrared sensor 150 becomes capable of detecting the temperature inside the heating chamber 200.

[0054] The direction of the infrared sensor 150 at this time is called the temperature detecting position, which is the position in which the infrared sensor 150 can detect infrared radiation from inside the heating chamber 200 through the through hole 140. The heating cooker 100 according to this embodiment has multiple temperature detecting positions. One of them is shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0055] Figure 7 is a partially cutaway side view showing the cooking appliance 100, similar to Figure 4. Figure 8 is a partially cutaway front view showing the cooking appliance 100 with the door 300 open, similar to Figure 3. Figures 7 and 8 show the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150.

[0056] In Figures 7 and 8, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set to a temperature detection position where the entire bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200 is within the field of view 151. Therefore, in this state, the infrared sensor 150 can detect the temperature regardless of where the object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface 250. In other words, in this state, the entire bottom surface 250 becomes a temperature-detectable area where temperature can be detected.

[0057] In this case, as shown in Figure 9, the entire base surface 250 is virtually divided into compartments C11 to C88 arranged in an 8x8 matrix.

[0058] Figure 9 is a partially cutaway top view of the cooking appliance showing these 64 compartments. In Figure 9, the temperature information of compartments C11 to C88 of the temperature-detectable region 251 can be detected by associating each of the 64 infrared detection elements constituting the infrared sensor 150 with each compartment.

[0059] Figure 10 is a front view of the cooking appliance 100, similar to Figure 8, showing the field of view 151 of the infrared sensor 150. Figure 10 shows the state in which the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set so that the entire upper surface of the grill plate 203 becomes the temperature-detectable area 251 when the grill plate 203 is installed on the uppermost support shelves 201a provided on both side walls of the heating chamber 200 (grill plate 203 is not shown).

[0060] In this case, some of the 64 infrared detection elements included in the infrared sensor 150 will be oriented in directions other than the top surface of the grill pan 203, but the remaining infrared detection elements can be used to make the entire top surface of the grill pan 203 a temperature-detectable area 251.

[0061] <3> Cooling mechanism for infrared sensors The following describes the cooling structure for the infrared sensor 150 in the cooking appliance 100 according to this embodiment.

[0062] Figure 11 is a side view showing the heating appliance 100 according to Embodiment 1 with the main body cover 110 removed.

[0063] When the user operates the control unit 310 and finally presses the "start" button 314, the heating operation begins. Once the heating operation begins, the cooling fan unit 600 located in the machine room below the heating chamber 200 starts to operate.

[0064] When the cooling fan unit 600 is activated, outside air is drawn in through the cooling air intake on the bottom plate 120 and discharged from the cooling fan unit 600 as cooling air (see the dashed arrow in Figure 11). This cooling air is located below the heating chamber 200 and cools the inverter that drives the magnetron.

[0065] After the inverter has cooled, a portion of the cooling air cools a fan drive motor (not shown) that drives a circulation fan (not shown) included in a convection heater unit 500 located behind the heating chamber 200.

[0066] Another portion of the cooling air that has passed through the inverter cools the control board that constitutes the control unit located on the right side of the bottom plate 120. The cooling air that has cooled the control board collides with the lower end of the right side wall 210 and changes direction upward (see the dotted arrow in Figure 11).

[0067] As shown in Figure 11, a duct 180 is provided in the space between the right side wall 210 and the main body cover 110, extending from the lower end of the right side wall 210 to the vicinity of the installation position of the infrared sensor 150. A cooling air outlet 181 is provided at the tip of the duct 180.

[0068] The cooling air, redirected upwards, passes through the duct 180 and reaches the infrared sensor 150 housed in the case 160 (see the solid arrow in Figure 11). In this way, the infrared sensor 150 is cooled by the cooling air during heating operation.

[0069] Subsequently, the cooling air is released to the outside from the upper rear of the cooking appliance 100, via the space provided between the top surface 230 of the heating chamber 200 and the main body cover 110.

[0070] Once temperature detection is complete, the direction setting motor 170 moves the case 160 from the temperature detection position to the standby position. Figure 11 shows the infrared sensor 150 in standby position. As shown in Figure 11, in this standby position, the case 160 stops with the opening 165 facing downwards. In this state, the lens of the infrared sensor 150 faces the cooling air outlet 181.

[0071] During steam heating, temperature detection by the infrared sensor 150 is not possible. In this embodiment, the infrared sensor 150 is configured to remain in the standby position shown in Figure 11 during this time. While the infrared sensor 150 is in the standby position, its lens is continuously cooled directly by the cooling air from the cooling air outlet 181.

[0072] According to this embodiment, the steam supplied into the heating chamber 200 prevents the lens of the infrared sensor 150 from fogging up and the infrared sensor 150 itself from becoming overheated. Therefore, even immediately after steam heating, the infrared sensor 150 can be kept in a state where it can detect temperature.

[0073] <4> Operation of infrared sensor Finally, the operation of the infrared sensor 150 in the heating cooker 100 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0074] After placing the item to be heated into the heating chamber 200, the user operates the control unit 310 to select the desired cooking menu, and finally presses the "Start" button 314 to begin the heating operation. Once the heating operation begins, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set to the temperature detection position corresponding to the selected cooking menu.

[0075] When a cooking menu is selected in which the object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200, for example, a normal heating operation, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set to a temperature detection position such that the entire bottom surface 250 becomes a temperature-detectable area 251, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0076] When a cooking menu that involves grilling is selected, a temperature sensor is installed on the support shelf 201a, and the entire upper surface of the grill plate 203 on which the food to be heated is placed becomes a temperature-detectable area 251. The direction of the infrared sensor 150 is set at the exit position.

[0077] If the infrared sensor 150 is not activated, as described above, the infrared sensor 150 will remain in a standby position with its direction pointed vertically downwards.

[0078] As described above, the heating cooker 100 according to this embodiment is configured such that the infrared sensor 150 is equipped with multiple infrared detection elements, and the direction setting motor 170 moves the direction of the infrared sensor 150 to a temperature detection position according to the cooking menu.

[0079] According to this embodiment, the temperature of the object being heated can be detected more accurately not only when it is placed on the bottom surface 250 of the heating chamber 200, but also when it is placed on the grill plate 203.

[0080] In this embodiment, the cases described were those where the object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface 250 and those where the grill plate 203 is installed on the uppermost support shelf 201a. However, even when a cooking plate such as a rectangular plate is installed on the middle support shelf 201b or the lower support shelf 201c, the direction of the infrared sensor 150 can be set to a temperature detection position such that the entire upper surface of the cooking plate becomes a temperature-detectable area 251, as needed.

[0081] The placement of the cooking tray on the support shelf and the type of cooking tray used are determined according to the cooking menu. The direction of the infrared sensor 150 can be set to a direction suitable for temperature detection according to the cooking menu.

[0082] As described above, in this embodiment, the infrared sensor 150 is equipped with 64 infrared detection elements arranged in an 8x8 matrix, but it is not limited to this. If an infrared sensor equipped with multiple infrared detection elements can make the entire bottom surface 250 a temperature-detectable area 251 at once, the same effects as in this embodiment can be obtained.

[0083] Furthermore, even when using an infrared sensor equipped with multiple infrared detection elements arranged in a line, the infrared sensor 150 can detect temperature by oscillating its direction in the vertical direction.

[0084] (Note) (Note 1) A cooking appliance that heats an object to be heated inside a heating chamber by supplying at least one of microwaves, radiant heat, and steam, An infrared sensor housed in a case that is provided outside the heating chamber and detects the temperature inside the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements, An opening provided in the case, A direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor, It comprises a control unit and, The infrared sensor is mounted on the outside of the wall so as to face into the heating chamber through a through-hole formed in the wall of the heating chamber, and is capable of detecting the temperature inside the heating chamber through the through-hole and an opening provided in the case. The direction setting motor rotates the infrared sensor together with the case around a rotation axis located inside the case, thereby moving the direction of the infrared sensor to the temperature detection position and the standby position. In the aforementioned standby position, the portion of the case other than the opening faces the through-hole, and when the through-hole is viewed from inside the heating chamber, the through-hole and the opening of the case do not overlap. When temperature detection is performed, the control unit controls the direction setting motor and the infrared The sensor is configured to move to the temperature detection position, and if temperature detection is not performed, the direction setting motor is controlled to move the infrared sensor to the standby position. The aforementioned infrared sensor is a heating appliance that waits in the standby position once temperature detection is complete.

[0085] (Note 2) The heating appliance described in (Appendix 1) is configured such that one of the temperature detection positions is oriented so that the entire bottom surface of the heating chamber is within its field of view.

[0086] (Note 3) The heating appliance according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the direction setting motor rotates the case to change the direction of the infrared sensor.

[0087] (Note 4) The aforementioned rotating shaft is provided parallel and horizontally to the right side wall of the heating chamber. A cooking appliance as described in any one of the following (Appendix 1-3).

[0088] (Note 5) The infrared sensor is positioned such that, when viewed from the center of the infrared sensor's field of view, the lens aligns with the axis of rotation. A cooking appliance as described in any one of the following (Appendix 1-4).

[0089] (Note 6) When temperature detection is performed, the direction of the infrared sensor includes at least a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. A cooking appliance as described in any one of the following (Appendix 1-5).

[0090] (Note 7) A cooking appliance that heats an object to be heated inside a heating chamber by supplying at least one of microwaves, radiant heat, and steam, An infrared sensor housed in a case that is provided outside the heating chamber and detects the temperature inside the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements, An opening provided in the case, A direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor, A cooling fan unit that generates cooling air, It comprises a control unit and, The infrared sensor is mounted on the outside of the wall so as to face into the heating chamber through a through-hole formed in the wall of the heating chamber, and is capable of detecting the temperature inside the heating chamber through the through-hole and an opening provided in the case. The direction setting motor rotates the infrared sensor together with the case around a rotation axis located inside the case, thereby moving the direction of the infrared sensor to the temperature detection position and the standby position. In the aforementioned standby position, the portion of the case other than the opening faces the through-hole, and when the through-hole is viewed from inside the heating chamber, the through-hole and the opening of the case do not overlap. The control unit is configured to control the direction setting motor to move the direction of the infrared sensor to the temperature detection position when temperature detection is performed, and to control the direction setting motor to move the direction of the infrared sensor to the standby position when temperature detection is not performed. The infrared sensor is a cooking appliance that is cooled by the cooling air from the cooling fan unit in the standby position. [Industrial applicability]

[0091] As described above, the heating appliance of this disclosure enables more accurate temperature detection not only for objects placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber, but also for objects placed on a cooking plate installed inside the heating chamber. Furthermore, the infrared sensor can be maintained in a state where temperature detection is possible even immediately after steam heating. This disclosure is useful in microwave ovens capable of grill heating and steam heating. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 100 Cooker 110 Main unit cover 120 Bottom plate 121 Cooling air intake 130 Rear plate 140 through holes 141 Interior light 150 Infrared Sensors 151 Field of view 152 Center of visual field 153 Depression angle 154 Up direction 155 Downward 160 cases 161 Rotation axis 165 Opening 170 Direction Setting Motor 180 duct 181 Cooling air outlet 200 heating chamber 201a, 201b, 201c Support shelf 202 Drainage Tank 203 Grill Plate 210 Right side wall 220 Left side wall 221 Outside air intake 230 Top surface 240 Back wall 241 Circulation Intake 242 Air vent 250 base 251 temperature detectable area 300 doors 302 Glass plate 304 Handle 310 Operation unit 311 Touch Panel 312 "Back" button 313 "Cancel" button 314 "Start" button 400 Upper heater unit 410 Miracron Heater 420 Argon Heater 500 Convection Heater Unit 510 Fan Case 600 Cooling Fan Unit 700 water tank

Claims

[Claim 1] A cooking appliance that heats an object to be heated, housed in a heating chamber having an opening at the front, by supplying at least one of microwaves, radiant heat, and steam, An infrared sensor housed in a case that is provided outside the heating chamber and detects the temperature inside the heating chamber using a plurality of infrared detection elements, An opening provided in the case, A direction setting motor that changes the direction of the infrared sensor, A door for opening and closing the opening of the heating chamber, It comprises a control unit and, The infrared sensor is mounted on the outside of the wall so as to face into the heating chamber through a through-hole formed in the wall of the heating chamber, and is capable of detecting the temperature inside the heating chamber through the through-hole and an opening provided in the case. The direction setting motor rotates the infrared sensor together with the case around a rotation axis located inside the case, thereby moving the direction of the infrared sensor to the temperature detection position and the standby position. At the temperature detection position, the opening of the case faces the through hole, In the aforementioned standby position, when the through-hole is viewed from the heating chamber, the through-hole and the opening of the case do not overlap. The control unit is configured to control the direction setting motor to move the direction of the infrared sensor to the temperature detection position when temperature detection is performed, and to control the direction setting motor to move the direction of the infrared sensor to the standby position when temperature detection is not performed. Heating cooker.

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