Heating cooker

Abstract

To provide a heating cooker capable of suppressing a temperature rise of a display device even in a configuration where a touch panel type display operation section is provided on a top plate.SOLUTION: An induction heating cooker comprises: a top plate where one or more heating regions on which a metallic pot is placed is provided on a top face; one or more heating coils which are disposed below the heating regions and perform induction heating on the metallic pot; a display operation section which is disposed at a front side of the top plate and in which an operation part and a display part are disposed at upper and lower sides, respectively; temperature sensors which detect a bottom face temperature of the top plate; and a control device which controls the heating coils based on detected temperatures of the temperature sensors. In the induction heating cooker, the temperature sensors are disposed respectively in vicinities of virtual lines each connecting a center of the heating region and the display operation section in a shortest distance and in regions each of which is interposed between an outer edge of a metallic pot of a maximum outer diameter to be placed in the heating region and the display operation section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device having a touch panel type display and operation unit on a top plate. [Background technology]

[0002] The cooking device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a cooking device having a display unit on the top plate. The abstract of the document states that "the present invention aims to prevent the temperature of the display unit such as the display element from rising and to prevent the operation keys from being inadvertently operated by detecting a rise in temperature of the temperature detection unit near the liquid crystal display element and driving the blower or increasing the air volume." As a solution, it states that "When a cooking container is placed in the area of ​​the operation unit provided on the upper surface of the top plate and the temperature of the display unit rises, the blower is driven or the air volume is increased. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the operation unit from becoming high even if a user inadvertently places a cooking container in the area of ​​the operation unit."

[0003] Also, as shown in Figure 2 of Patent Document 1, in the cooking device of the same document, there is a gap between the display unit (top plate) and the liquid crystal display element that functions as a heat insulating layer, so even if a user places a high-temperature cooking container on the display unit, there is no direct heat conduction from the display unit to the liquid crystal display element. Also, in the cooking device of the same document, the upper surface of the liquid crystal display element can be cooled by the wind flowing into the gap between the display unit (top plate) and the liquid crystal display element, so that a rise in temperature of the liquid crystal display element can be easily suppressed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-302632 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Some recent cooking appliances are equipped with a touch panel type display operation unit. In the touch panel type display operation unit, the smaller the distance between the transparent panel equipped with electrostatic induction type touch keys and the display device such as a liquid crystal display element, the smaller the deviation between the touch keys and the corresponding images, improving visibility and operability. Therefore, when providing a touch panel type display operation unit on the top plate of the cooking appliance, it is necessary to closely contact the display device with the touch key area of ​​the top plate.

[0006] However, with a cooking device configured in this manner, when a user places a high-temperature cooking container close to the display operation unit, even if the temperature of the display device rises due to thermal conduction from the high-temperature top plate to the display device, there is a problem that the temperature rise of the display device cannot be suppressed because the structure does not allow the top surface of the display device to be cooled by wind.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance that can suppress a rise in temperature of a display device even when the cooking appliance has a touch panel type display operation unit on a top plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the heating cooker of the present invention is an induction heating cooker comprising a top plate having a heating area on its upper surface for placing a metal pot thereon, a heating coil arranged below the heating area and for inductively heating the metal pot, a display and operation unit arranged on the front side of the top plate and having an operation unit and a display unit arranged one above the other, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the underside of the top plate, and a control device for controlling the heating coil based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is located near an imaginary line connecting the center of the heating area and the display and operation unit at the shortest distance, and in the area sandwiched between the outer edge of a metal pot with the largest outer diameter that is intended to be placed on the heating area and the display and operation unit. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the cooking device of the present invention, even if a touch panel type display operation unit is provided on the top plate, it is possible to suppress a rise in temperature of the display device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the principle of induction heating. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the induction heating cooker of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the induction heating cooker of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view of the induction heating cooker of the first embodiment with the top plate removed. [Diagram 5] Enlarged view of Figure 4. [Figure 6] An extracted view of the right part of Figure 5 . [Figure 7] flowchart. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an induction heating cooker according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] <Principle of induction heating> First, the principle of induction heating used in an induction heating cooker will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of Fig. 1. The induction heating cooker of the present invention is a so-called built-in type IH (Induction Heating) cooking heater that is incorporated into a system kitchen, but it may also be a so-called free-standing IH cooking heater.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, in an induction heating cooker, a heating coil 2 is placed below a plate-shaped top plate 1 made of crystallized glass or the like, and a high-frequency alternating current is supplied to this heating coil 2 from an inverter (not shown), generating strong magnetic field lines m around the heating coil 2. These magnetic field lines m penetrate the top plate 1 and strike the bottom of a metal pot P placed on the top plate 1. As a result, eddy currents I are generated by the magnetic field lines m on the surface of the bottom of the pot. Then, because the metal of the bottom of the pot acts as a resistance to the eddy currents I, the bottom of the pot heats up, heating the metal pot P and its contents. This is the principle by which a metal pot P is induction-heated in an induction heating cooker. EXAMPLES

[0014] Next, the induction heating cooker 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs.

[0015] <Configuration of induction heating cooker 100> First, the configuration of the induction heating cooker 100 of this embodiment will be described using the top view of Fig. 2 and the right side view of Fig. 3. As shown in both figures, in addition to the above-mentioned top plate 1 and heating coil 2, the induction heating cooker 100 includes a heating area 3, a main body 4, a grill 5, an operation unit 11, a display operation unit 12, an intake unit 13, an exhaust unit 14, etc. In the following, the front, back, left, right, top and bottom directions are defined as shown in both figures.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, the heating area 3 is a circular area set on the upper surface of the top plate 1 for placing a metal pot P. The area above the heating coil 2 is surrounded by a line or colored a different color from the other areas to make it easier to identify the placement position of the metal pot P. Since the induction heating cooker 100 of this embodiment has three built-in heating coils 2, a right heating area 3 is provided above each heating coil. R , left heating area 3 L , central heating area 3 M The following three points were set.

[0017] Here, right heating area 3 R and left heating area 3 Lare relatively large circular areas arranged at a certain distance from each other on the left and right sides of the front of the top plate 1. On the other hand, the central heating area 3 M is a relatively small circular area located at the center of the back side of the top plate 1, with a certain distance between the left and right heating areas. Therefore, the right heating area 3 R and left heating area 3 L In this case, the large-diameter pot is mainly used for heating with high heat, and the central heating area 3 M In this case, heating is mainly planned with a small diameter pot and low heat. Although three heating regions 3 are illustrated here, the number of heating regions 3 (i.e., the number of heating coils 2 built into the induction heating cooker 100) is not limited to this example.

[0018] The main body 4 is a part that constitutes the lower part of the induction heating cooker 100, and most of the part except for the upper surface is covered with a metal plate. This main body 4 has, inside a metal casing, the heating coil 2 and the inverter described above, as well as a control device that controls the inverter, the display operation unit 12, the cooling fan, etc.

[0019] The grill 5 is a heating device provided on the left side of the main body 4, and is used for cooking grilled fish, etc.

[0020] 2, the operation unit 11 is a group of operation buttons provided along the front edge of the top plate 1. The operation unit 11 may be a group of electrostatic induction type glass touch buttons that can be operated from the upper surface side of the top plate 1, or a group of mechanical contact type buttons provided in front of the top plate 1.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the display operation unit 12 is a touch panel display provided in the center of the front side of the upper surface of the top plate 1, which is in front of the heating area 3 and behind the operation unit 11. This display operation unit 12 accepts various operations from the user through the touch panel, and displays various messages to the user through the display. The display operation unit 12 is configured by arranging electrostatic induction type touch keys 12a (electrostatic sensors) formed on the lower surface of the top plate 1 and a display 12b that is in close contact with the lower surface of the top plate 1 so as to face the touch keys 12a, one above the other. This display 12b is a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL panel, or the like, and these displays are controlled by a control device provided below the display operation unit 12. Note that the term "close contact" here refers to a state in which the entire surface of the display 12b is in complete contact with the top plate 1 and the distance between them is zero, as well as a state in which the gap between them is so narrow that it prevents the inflow of cooling air.

[0022] The intake unit 13 is provided on the lower right part of the rear surface of the main body 4, and takes in air to cool the heating coil 2, etc. The intake unit 13 may be provided on the front side of the main body 4, or on the rear side of the upper surface of the top plate 1.

[0023] The exhaust section 14 opens at the rear of the upper surface of the main body 4, and exhausts the air that has cooled the heating coil 2 and the like, and smoke from the grill 5. A removable exhaust cover 14a is placed on the exhaust section 14.

[0024] <Temperature sensor installation location> Next, the installation position of the temperature sensor 20 will be described with reference to the top views of Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 is a top view of the induction heating cooker 100 with the top plate 1 removed, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the display operation unit 12 in Fig. 4. As shown in both figures, temperature sensors 20 (20 L , 20 R ) are placed.

[0025] Left Temperature Sensor 20 L is the virtual line L2 shown in Figure 5. L Near the circular dashed line L3 L and circular dashed line L4 L Here, the virtual line L2 L is a virtual line connecting the center of the left heating coil 2 and the left rear end of the display 12b (i.e., the left heating area 3 in the top view of FIG. 2). L The imaginary line L2 is a line connecting the center of the display unit 12 and the display operation unit 12 at the shortest distance. L The vicinity of the virtual line L2 L This means that the area is within a strip of, for example, 20 mm wide, centered on the circular dashed line L3. L The left heating area 3 is φ200mm L The circular dashed line L4 is a concentric circle of φ240mm. L The left heating area 3 L The left heating area 3 is a concentric circle of φ280 mm, which overlaps with the left rear end of the display 12b. L This is an example of the maximum outer diameter of a metal pot P intended for use in

[0026] Similarly, the right temperature sensor 20 R is the virtual line L2 shown in Figure 5. R Near the circular dashed line L3 R and circular dashed line L4 R Here, the virtual line L2 R is a virtual line connecting the center of the right heating coil 2 and the right rear end of the display 12b (i.e., the right heating area 3 in the top view of FIG. 2). R The imaginary line L2 is a line connecting the center of the display unit 12 and the display operation unit 12 at the shortest distance. R The vicinity of the virtual line L2 R This means that the area is within a strip of, for example, 20 mm wide, centered on the circular dashed line L3. R φ200mm right heating area 3 R The circular dashed line L4 is a concentric circle of φ240mm. R Right heating area 3 R The right heating area 3 is a concentric circle of φ280 mm, which overlaps with the right rear end of the display 12b.R This is an example of the maximum outer diameter of a metal pot P intended for use in

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, in the induction heating cooker 100 of this embodiment, a left heating area 3 is provided on the upper surface of the top plate 1. L and right heating area 3 R The area of ​​the left heating area 3 is large, and the distance from the left heating area 3 to the display operation unit 12 is very short. L or right heating area 3 R If heating continues on a metal pot P placed closer to the display operation unit 12 than the original pot placement position, there is a risk that the temperature of the display operation unit 12 will rise excessively due to the large amount of heat transferred from the hot metal pot P (hereinafter referred to as "high-temperature object 30").

[0028] Therefore, in the induction heating cooker 100 of this embodiment, when a high temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 20, the user is prompted to remove the high-temperature object 30 from the vicinity of the display operation unit 12. Furthermore, if the user does not remove the high-temperature object 30 from the vicinity of the display operation unit 12, the heat of the heating coil 2 corresponding to the temperature sensor 20 that detected the high temperature is reduced, suppressing the rise in the temperature of the bottom of the pot, thereby suppressing the rise in temperature of the display operation unit 12.

[0029] <Effects of temperature sensor> Here, using FIG. 6, a metal pot P1 with a bottom diameter of 200 mm is placed in the right heating zone 3 R Temperature sensor 20 when heating with R The function of the pot P1 will be described below. The metal pot P1 having a bottom diameter of 200 mm is an example of a pot that is frequently used and has a size that does not impede visibility or operability of the display / operation unit 12 during normal use.

[0030] First, as an example of normal use, metal pot P1 is placed in right heating zone 3. RThe position of the bottom of the pot when it is placed at the center is indicated by P1 with a two-dot chain line. In this case, the shortest distance from the metal pot P1 (high-temperature object 30) to the display operation unit 12 is approximately 40 mm, which provides a sufficient distance. Therefore, the display operation unit 12 will not become excessively hot due to heat conduction from the metal pot P1 (high-temperature object 30) through the top plate 1.

[0031] Next, as an example of abnormal use, metal pot P1 is placed in right heating zone 3. R The outline of the bottom of the pot when it is placed about 30 mm from the center toward the display operation unit 12 is indicated by the dashed dotted line P1'. In this case, the shortest distance from the metal pot P1 (high-temperature object 30) to the display operation unit 12 is about 10 mm, which is not considered to be a sufficient distance. Therefore, there is a risk that the display operation unit 12 will become excessively hot due to heat conduction from the metal pot P1 (high-temperature object 30) through the top plate 1.

[0032] Therefore, in the induction heating cooker 100 of this embodiment, when the temperature sensor 20 detects a high temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the display operation unit 12 and the speaker are used to notify the user to remove the high-temperature object 30 from the vicinity of the display operation unit 12. R The temperature rise of the display operation unit 12 is also suppressed by lowering the heat and suppressing the rise in the temperature of the bottom of the pot.

[0033] <Control flow> A specific control flow of the above-mentioned process is shown in FIG. 7. Note that FIG. 7 shows the right heating area 3 R or left heating area 3 L It is assumed that heating is being performed.

[0034] First, in step S1, the control device acquires the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 20. Then, if the detected temperature is equal to or greater than a first threshold and the temperature gradient of the detected temperature is equal to or greater than a second threshold, the control device proceeds to step S2; otherwise, the control device repeats step S1.

[0035] In step S2, the control device uses the display operation unit 12 or speaker to visually or audibly notify the user to remove the high-temperature object 30 above the temperature sensor 20 from the vicinity of the display operation unit 12 or to return the metal pot P to the center of the heating area 3.

[0036] In step S3, the control device limits the heating power of the heating region 3 on the side where the high temperature is detected to a limited heating power (for example, 300 W).

[0037] In step S4, the control device judges whether a predetermined judgment time has elapsed since the heating power limit in step S3. If the requirement is met, the process proceeds to step S5, and if the requirement is not met, step S4 is repeated.

[0038] In step S5, the control device acquires the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 20. Then, if the detected temperature is equal to or greater than the third threshold and the temperature gradient of the detected temperature is equal to or greater than the fourth threshold, the control device proceeds to step S6, otherwise the control device returns to step S1.

[0039] In step S6, the control device stops heating in the heating area 3 on the side where the high temperature was detected. This makes it possible to prevent an excessive temperature rise in the display / operation unit 12 even if the user does not remove the high-temperature object 30 from the vicinity of the display / operation unit 12 and the temperature of the bottom of the pot does not drop sufficiently even when the heat is limited.

[0040] It should be noted that the following relationship exists when comparing the thresholds in step S1 and step S5: the third threshold is greater than the first threshold, for example, the third threshold is 70° C., and the first threshold is 50° C. Similarly, the fourth threshold is greater than the second threshold.

[0041] This is because step S1 is a judgment aimed at early notification and early heating power restriction, and therefore it is appropriate to compare the detected temperature with a small threshold value to enable early detection of high-temperature objects 30 near the display operation unit 12, whereas step S5 is a judgment aimed at preventing failure of the touch keys 12a and display abnormalities of the display 12b caused by high-temperature objects 30, and therefore a large threshold value can be set within a range where these problems do not occur.

[0042] According to the induction heating cooker of this embodiment described above, even if the top plate is provided with a touch panel type display operation unit, it is possible to suppress a rise in temperature of the display. EXAMPLES

[0043] Next, a cooking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that a duplicated description of the points common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0044] In Example 1, the right heating area 3 R or left heating area 3 L It is assumed that the right heating area 3 is in use. R or left heating area 3 L Even when the device is not in use, a high-temperature object 30 may be placed near the display / operation unit 12.

[0045] For example, it is conceivable that a cooking container (high-temperature object 30) heated by the grill 5 is placed near the display operation unit 12. In this case, similar to steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 7, the temperature sensor 20 will detect a high temperature and notify the user to remove the high-temperature object 30 from the display operation unit 12, thereby preventing the temperature of the display operation unit 12 from rising. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 100 induction cooker 1 Top Plate 2 Heating coil 3 heating area 4. Main unit 5. Grill 11 Control section 12 Display operation section 12a Touch Key 12b Display 13 Intake section 14 Exhaust section 20 Temperature Sensor 30 Hot objects

Claims

1. A top plate having a heating area on an upper surface thereof for placing a metal pot thereon; a heating coil disposed below the heating region for induction heating the metal pot; a display / operation unit disposed on the front side of the top plate and including an operation unit and a display unit; A temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a lower surface of the top plate; A control device that controls the heating coil based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor; An induction heating cooker comprising: This induction heating cooker is characterized in that the temperature sensor is located near an imaginary line connecting the center of the heating area and the display operation unit at the shortest distance, and in an area sandwiched between the outer edge of a metal pot with the largest outer diameter intended to be placed on the heating area and the display operation unit.

2. In the induction heating cooker according to claim 1, The control device is characterized in that when the detected temperature of the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold and the temperature gradient of the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control device prompts the user via the display operation unit or speaker to return the metal pot to the center of the heating area.

3. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1, The induction heating cooker, wherein the control device limits the power supplied to the heating coil when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

4. In the induction heating cooker according to claim 3, The control device is characterized in that it stops the supply of power to the heating coil when, after a predetermined time has elapsed since limiting the power supplied to the heating coil, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold and the temperature gradient of the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold.

5. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1, The display operation unit includes: an electrostatic induction type touch key formed on a lower surface of the top plate; a display that is in intimate contact with a lower surface of the top plate so as to face the touch keys; A heating cooker characterized in that:

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