Cooker

Abstract

To provide a cooker that is excellent in cooling performance of a detecting part of an infrared sensor.SOLUTION: A microwave oven according to the present invention comprises a cooking chamber 14 for housing an object to be cooked, an infrared sensor 57 for detecting the temperature of the object, a holding member 54 holding a sensor case lower part 55 and a sensor case upper part 56 housing the infrared sensor 57, and a cooling fan 53 for sending air for cooling the infrared sensor 57. A sensor cooling air passage through which the air from the cooling fan 53 flows is formed by a hollow part in a transition part 63 of the holding member 54, a contraction part 67, a groove part 62-3 of a holding part 62, and a lower surface 55-1 of the sensor case lower part 55. The infrared sensor 57 detects the temperature the object via a sensor window 70 opened and formed in a ceiling wall 14a of the cooking chamber 14. The air discharged from an opening part 66 of the sensor cooling air passage formed by the groove part 62-3 and the lower surface 55-1 hits the infrared sensor 57.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device equipped with a cooling mechanism for a temperature detection means that detects the temperature of an object to be cooked. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, cooking appliances that use an infrared sensor as a temperature detection means to detect the temperature of food or other cooked objects are known, and for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an infrared sensor (52) disposed on the top surface (28c) of a heating chamber. In the cooking appliance of Patent Document 1, a fan device (15) disposed on a bottom plate (21) blows air through ducts (16a, 16b) to an infrared unit (50), and cools the area around the infrared sensor (52) by blowing air against the rear of the infrared sensor (52). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-66177 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the cooking device of Patent Document 1, the observation part (44) of the infrared sensor (52) detects the temperature of the food in the heating chamber (28) through an observation window (44a) formed in the heating chamber (28), but the observation part (44) receives heat from the heating chamber (28) through the observation window (44a) and becomes hotter. On the other hand, the wind from the fan unit (15) hits the infrared sensor (52) from behind, so the observation part (44) disposed in front of the infrared sensor (52) cannot be effectively cooled.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device having excellent cooling performance for a temperature detection means. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The heating cooker of the present invention comprises a cooking chamber for accommodating the food to be cooked, a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the food to be cooked, a holding member for holding the temperature detection means, and a blowing means for blowing air for cooling the temperature detection means, and is characterized in that an air path is formed through which air from the blowing means flows, the temperature detection means detects the temperature of the food to be cooked through a sensor window formed in an opening in the wall of the cooking chamber, and the air blown out from an outlet of the air path is configured to hit the temperature detection means. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, air is sent from the outlet of the air passage to the temperature detection means, so that the detection section can be cooled in a concentrated manner. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an oven range showing an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a partially transparent perspective view of the same with the door and cabinet removed. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] This is a view from the front with the cabinet and oven back panel removed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the microwave generating device and its surrounding essential parts as viewed from the side. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the main body of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2A is a partially see-through perspective view of the sensor unit as seen obliquely from the front right, and FIG. 2B is a partially see-through perspective view of the sensor unit as seen obliquely from the rear right. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the upper part of the sensor case. [Figure 10]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the same as above, seen from the bottom left with the door removed. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the state where the cabinet and oven back panel are removed, as viewed from the front, of the same as above, and showing the detection range of the infrared sensor. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the main electrical configuration of the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the air flow in the sensor unit according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the cooking device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, common parts are designated by common reference numerals throughout the drawings.

[0010] Figures 1 to 14 show a configuration in which a cooking device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to an oven range. First, the overall configuration of the oven range will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, and this main body 1 is provided with a metal cabinet 2 as a member that covers the outer shell of the oven range that will be the product. Reference numeral 3 denotes a door provided on the front of the main body 1 that can be opened and closed freely.

[0011] The top of the door 3 is provided with a handle 4 for opening and closing the door 3, which opens vertically, and the side of the door 3 is provided with an operation panel unit 5 for display, notification and operation. The operation panel unit 5 is provided with a display means 6 for displaying cooking settings and progress, as well as operation means 7, such as keys provided on the operation panel unit 5 and a touch panel provided on the surface of the display means 6, which enable various operation inputs related to cooking. Although not shown, an operation panel PC (printed circuit) board is provided inside the door 3 behind the operation panel unit 5 for controlling the display means 6, operation means 7, etc.

[0012] A water supply cassette 8 and a water receiver 9 are disposed at the bottom of the main body 1, which can be attached and detached from the front of the main body 1. The water supply cassette 8 is a bottomed container that holds liquid water as a supply source for the water vapor that is sprayed from the water vapor supply device 43 described below. The water receiver 9 is also a bottomed container that receives food debris, water droplets, steam, etc. from the main body 1.

[0013] The cabinet 2, which forms the left and right side surfaces and the top surface of the main body 1, is provided between the oven front plate 12, which forms the front surface of the main body 1, and the oven rear plate 13, which forms the rear surface of the main body 1, so as to cover the oven bottom plate 11, which forms the bottom surface of the oven range. The main body 1 is also provided with a cooking chamber 14, which contains the food to be cooked, and a thermistor 15, which is a temperature detection element that detects the temperature of the cooking chamber 14. The front of the cooking chamber 14 reaches the oven front plate 12 and is open to allow the food to be put in and taken out, and this opening is configured to be opened and closed by the door 3. The thermistor 15, which is an internal temperature detection means, is disposed inside the cooking chamber 14, near the door 3. A fan intake 10 is provided on the side of the cabinet 2 at a position facing a cooling fan 53, which will be described later.

[0014] The peripheral walls forming the inner surface of the cooking chamber 14 are composed of a ceiling wall 14a, a bottom wall 14b, a left side wall 14c, a right side wall 14d, and a back wall 14e. The back wall 14e of the cooking chamber 14 has an intake port 16 at its center, and a number of outlet ports 17 around the intake port 16. In addition, an upper heater 18 for grilling that radiates heat to the food to be cooked from above the cooking chamber 14 is provided on the upper part of the main body 1, facing the dome-shaped ceiling wall 14a that forms the upper wall surface of the cooking chamber 14, and a microwave generator 19 including a magnetron is provided on the bottom part of the main body 1 to supply microwaves, which are radio waves, into the cooking chamber 14. As a result, the food to be cooked contained in the cooking chamber 14 is grill-heated from above by heat radiation caused by energizing the upper heater 18, and the food to be cooked contained in the cooking chamber 14 is radiated with microwaves by energizing the microwave generator 19, thereby heating the food in the range. The ceiling wall 14a may have a curvature only in a portion thereof, and a sensor window 70, which will be described later, may be provided at a position defined by the curvature of the ceiling wall 14a. The present invention is not limited to a configuration in which the ceiling wall 14a has a curvature, and may have a configuration in which the ceiling wall 14a is formed in a mountain shape having an inclined portion, for example, and the sensor window 70 may be provided at the inclined portion of the ceiling wall 14a.

[0015] A sensor window 70 (see FIG. 10) for the infrared sensor 57 is provided near the right side wall 14d on the top surface, which is the outer surface of the ceiling wall 14a serving as the upper part of the cooking chamber 14, and a detection unit 57-1 of the infrared sensor 57 is provided on the upper part of the main body 1 facing the sensor window 70. The sensor window 70 is preferably formed to be approximately the same size as the detection unit 57-1. The sensor window 70 may also be provided on the side surface, which is the outer surface of the right side wall 14d serving as the side part of the cooking chamber 14, and in this case, the detection unit 57-1 of the infrared sensor 57 is provided on the side of the main body 1 facing the sensor window 70.

[0016] A pair of shelf supports 22 are provided on the left and right walls 14c and 14d of the cooking chamber 14, one above the other, in order to store and hold metal square plates (not shown) in a suspended state inside the cooking chamber 14. In the case of microwave heating using the microwave generator 19 described above, the food to be cooked can be placed in a container (not shown) that can be heated in the microwave and cooked inside the cooking chamber 14 without placing square plates or the like inside the cooking chamber 14.

[0017] Reference numeral 24 denotes a hot air unit for heating the oven, which is provided inside the main body 1 from the rear outside of the cooking chamber 14 downward. This hot air unit 24 is generally composed of a convex casing 26 attached to the back wall 14e as a heating means for the food to be cooked, a hot air heater 27 for heating the air, a hot air fan 28 for sending heated air into the cooking chamber 14 and circulating it, an electric hot air motor 29 for rotating the hot air fan 28 in a predetermined direction, and a transmission mechanism 30 for transmitting the driving force from the hot air motor 29 to the hot air fan 28. The hot air heater 27 and the hot air fan 28 are respectively disposed in a heating chamber 31 formed outside the cooking chamber 14 rearward as an internal space between the back wall 14e and the casing 26, while the hot air motor 29 is disposed in a lower space 32 formed inside the main body 1 between the cooking chamber 14 and the oven bottom plate 11. An oven rear panel 13 is disposed at the rear of the main body 1 so as to cover the entire hot air unit 24 from the outside rear side.

[0018] In this embodiment, hot air fan 28 is provided as a so-called centrifugal fan that takes in air in the axial direction and expels it in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction by centrifugal force during rotation, and tubular hot air heater 27 is arranged surrounding the radial direction of hot air fan 28. Hot air heater 27, which is also a heat generating part, uses, for example, a sheath heater, mica heater, quartz tube heater, halogen heater, etc. The above-mentioned intake port 16 and hot air outlet port 17 function as ventilation parts that communicate between cooking chamber 14 and heating chamber 31.

[0019] In this embodiment, when hot air fan 28 is rotated as a result of energizing hot air motor 29, air sucked from inside cooking chamber 14 through suction port 16 is blown out in the radial direction of hot air fan 28 and heated by energized hot air heater 27, and the hot air passes through outlet 17 and is supplied into cooking chamber 14. This forms a path for circulating hot air inside and outside cooking chamber 14, and the food to be cooked in cooking chamber 14 is heated by hot air convection.

[0020] Next, the microwave generator 19 as a microwave heating means for heating the food to be cooked and its surrounding detailed structure will be described. The bottom wall 14b of the cooking chamber 14 is formed by covering the upper opening of a concave antenna storage section 35 formed in a metal plate 34 with a microwave-transmittable bottom plate 36 such as a ceramic plate. The microwave-impermeable metal plate 34 integrally forms not only the periphery of the bottom wall 14b but also the left side wall 14c, right side wall 14d and rear wall 14e, and the entire inner surface of the cooking chamber 14 except for the bottom plate 36 is made of a material that is impermeable to microwaves.

[0021] In addition to a magnetron (not shown) that serves as a microwave supply source, microwave generator 19 is mainly composed of a waveguide 37 that guides microwaves generated by the magnetron to directly below antenna storage section 35 in lower space 32 inside main body 1, an antenna motor 38 disposed below waveguide 37, an antenna holder 39 whose lower end is disposed inside waveguide 37 and attached and fixed to the rotating shaft of antenna motor 38, a cylindrical cable shaft 40 inserted and fixed into antenna holder 39, and an antenna 41 to which an upper end of cable shaft 40 is attached and fixed at the center and which is rotatably provided inside antenna storage section 35. When the upper opening of antenna storage section 35 is closed with bottom plate 36, antenna 41 faces flat bottom plate 36 that forms bottom wall 14b of cooking chamber 14 and is entirely disposed parallel to bottom plate 36.

[0022] The water vapor supplying device 43 that sends water vapor into the cooking chamber 14 includes, in addition to the water supply cassette 8 described above, a nozzle 45 that turns the water, which is the liquid to be supplied, into a mist, a water supply pipe 46 that connects between the water supply cassette 8 and the nozzle 45, a water supply pump 47 that directs water from the water supply cassette 8 to the nozzle 45, and a plurality of water vapor outlets 44 that communicate with the inside of the nozzle 45. Thus, during operation of the water vapor supplying device 43, water from the water supply cassette 8 is sent to the nozzle 45 by the water supply pump 47, and the water supplied by the nozzle 45 is turned into a mist that is supplied into the cooking chamber 14 from the water vapor outlets 44. At this time, if the temperature inside cooking chamber 14 is higher than 100°C at atmospheric pressure (hereinafter, temperature values ​​are assumed to be temperature values ​​in degrees Celsius at atmospheric pressure), this water vapor instantly vaporizes inside cooking chamber 14 and becomes superheated water vapor, so that the food placed in cooking chamber 14 is heated quickly and evenly with an appropriate amount of water molecules (superheated water vapor).

[0023] Reference numeral 51 denotes a sensor unit including an infrared sensor 57 serving as a means for detecting the temperature of an object to be cooked, and a cooling fan 53. Referring to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the sensor unit 51 is mainly configured to include an infrared sensor assembly 52, a cooling fan 53, and a holding member 54.

[0024] The infrared sensor assembly 52 is mainly composed of a sensor case lower part 55, a sensor case upper part 56, and an infrared sensor 57, and the sensor case lower part 55 and the sensor case upper part 56 cover the outer periphery of the infrared sensor 57. Therefore, the sensor case lower part 55 and the sensor case upper part 56 also function as a housing part for housing the infrared sensor 57. In this embodiment, the sensor case lower part 55 and the sensor case upper part 56 are made of resin, but the present invention is not limited to this. Then, with the infrared sensor 57 housed inside the sensor case upper part 56 and the sensor case lower part 55, the sensor case lower part 55 and the sensor case upper part 56 are connected by a screw 58, so that the infrared sensor 57 is sandwiched between the sensor case lower part 55 and the sensor case upper part 56. Therefore, the sensor case lower part 55 and the sensor case upper part 56 act as a sensor case having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for the infrared sensor 57. The infrared sensor 57 has a detection unit 57-1 that protrudes in an approximately hemispherical shape and a substrate 57-2 on which the detection unit 57-1 is mounted, and the substrate 57-2 is electrically connected to a control means 81 (see Figure 13) via wiring not shown.

[0025] Fig. 9 shows the sensor case lower part 55 and the sensor case upper part 56. The lower surface 55-1 of the sensor case lower part 55 is formed to be substantially flat except for a hole 55-2 in which the detection part 57-1 is housed. The hole 55-2 is formed near one end of the sensor case lower part 55 so that the detection part 57-1 can be placed therein, and is formed in a circular shape in this embodiment. A hole 55-3 is provided in the side part on the opposite side to the holding member 54 (the lower side in Fig. 9) at the other end of the sensor case lower part 55.

[0026] The sensor case upper portion 56 is formed on its upper surface with a screw hole 56-1 for the screw 57, a groove portion 56-2, and a screw hole 56-3 into which the screw 65 is screwed when the infrared sensor assembly 52 is fixed to the holding member 54. A hole portion 56-4 is provided on the side portion opposite the holding member 54 at the other end of the sensor case upper portion 56 (the upper side in FIG. 9), and is configured to form a wiring hole 59 for the board 57-2 together with the hole portion 55-3 of the sensor case lower portion 55. The groove portion 56-2 is formed near one end that is the end opposite to the hole portion 56-4, along the front-rear direction of the upper surface of the sensor case upper portion, i.e., along the insertion direction when the infrared sensor assembly 52 is inserted into the holding portion 62 of the holding member 54, and is formed as a recess corresponding to the shape of the protrusion portion 62-1 formed on the holding member 54 so that the protrusion portion 62-1 can be inserted. Therefore, the groove portion 56-2 as a recess also functions as a mark for mounting the infrared sensor assembly 52 on the holding member 54 in a predetermined orientation so that the infrared sensor assembly 52 is not mounted upside down or front to back.

[0027] The cooling fan 53 as the blowing means in this embodiment is a centrifugal fan, and has a fan 53-1 and a case 53-2. The case 53-2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a hole of substantially the same shape as the diameter of the fan 53-1 on the front side, and one side wall (the upper side wall in Figs. 7 and 8) is open. When the cooling fan 53 is driven, the fan 53-1 rotates, takes in air from the outside of the main body 1 through the fan intake port 10 and the hole on the front side of the case 53-2, and blows the air in the circumferential direction of the fan 53-1. The air blown out from the fan 53-1 flows along the side of the case 53-2 and is blown out of the cooling fan 53 from one of the open sides. The air from the cooling fan 53 passes through the holding member 54 and is blown to the infrared sensor 57 of the infrared sensor assembly 52, and then the air that has cooled the infrared sensor 57 is exhausted to the outside of the machine through the exhaust air duct 76 as described later. Therefore, in this embodiment, the sensor cooling air passage formed between the cooling fan 53 and the infrared sensor 57 does not have any components that require cooling, such as electrical components, i.e., it is configured to have no object to be cooled by the cooling fan 53, and the cooling fan 53 blows air for cooling the infrared sensor 57, and the air blown from the cooling fan 53 cools the infrared sensor exclusively, so that the infrared sensor 57 is efficiently cooled. Also, in this embodiment, the cooling fan 53 is disposed on the side of the cooking chamber 14, and the distance from the infrared sensor 57 located above the top surface of the cooking chamber 14 is shortened, thereby increasing the force and flow rate of the air blown to the infrared sensor 57, and cooling the infrared sensor 57 more efficiently. Note that the sensor cooling air passage, which is the air passage formed between the cooling fan 53 and the infrared sensor 57 of the present invention, is not limited to being partitioned by a duct such as the holding member 54 as in this embodiment, and may have any configuration that does not have an object to be cooled by the cooling fan 53 on the cooling fan 53 side of the infrared sensor 57, i.e., upstream of the sensor cooling air passage.

[0028] The retaining member 54 is made of resin, and is mainly composed of a fan accommodating portion 61, a retaining portion 62, a transition portion 63, and a fixing screw fastening portion 64 formed to extend downward from the fan accommodating portion 61.

[0029] The fan housing 61 holds the cooling fan 53 by housing it therein. In this embodiment, the shape of the inner bottom of the fan housing 61 is formed to be substantially the same as the shape of the bottom 61-1 of the cooling fan 53, and the cooling fan 53 is fixed to this bottom 61-1 with a screw. The fan housing 61 also has a cylindrical portion 61-2 extending laterally from the bottom 61-1, and the end of the cylindrical portion 61-2 extends outward to form a flange portion 61-3. A packing 61-4 made of an elastic material such as sponge and having substantially the same shape as the flange portion 61-3 when viewed from above is attached to the flange portion 61-3. In this embodiment, the packing 61-4 is configured to abut against the inside of the cabinet 2 at the location where the fan intake port 10 is provided, so that the air that has entered the cabinet 2 from the fan intake port 10 does not escape when the cooling fan 53 takes in air. In addition, an opening (not shown) of approximately the same shape as the opening provided in case 53-2 is provided in the side wall (the upper side wall in Figures 7 and 8) of cylindrical portion 61-2 facing the opening provided in one side wall of case 53-2 of cooling fan 53, so that air from cooling fan 53 is guided into transition portion 63 through the opening in case 53-2 and the opening in the side wall of cylindrical portion 61-2.

[0030] The holding portion 62 holds the infrared sensor assembly 52, and in this embodiment, it is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be configured without left and right side walls, for example. A downwardly protruding protrusion 62-1 and a hole 62-2 are formed on the upper surface of the holding portion 62, and a downwardly recessed groove 62-3 is formed on the inside of the lower surface of the holding portion 62. The protrusion 62-1 corresponds to the groove 56-2 of the upper sensor case 56, and the infrared sensor assembly 52 is inserted and fitted into the holding portion 62 so that the protrusion 62-1 as a convex portion is inserted into the groove 56-2 as a concave portion, so that the infrared sensor assembly 52 can be inserted into the holding portion 62 with the top and bottom and the front and back in the correct orientation. For this reason, the protrusion 62-1 in this embodiment is formed near one end of the holding portion 62 in correspondence with the groove 56-2, and the width of the protrusion 62-1 is also formed to be substantially the same as the width of the groove 56-2. On the upper surface of the holding portion 62, the portion corresponding to the protrusion 62-1 is recessed downward to form a concave groove, and by aligning this groove with the position of the groove portion 56-2 of the infrared sensor assembly 52, it is possible to align the position for inserting the protrusion 62-1 into the groove portion 56-2.

[0031] Hole 62-2, through which a screw 65 for fixing infrared sensor assembly 52 is inserted, is drilled at a position corresponding to screw hole 56-3 of sensor case upper portion 56. When infrared sensor assembly 52 is inserted all the way into holding portion 62, screw hole 56-3 of sensor case upper portion 56 and hole 62-2 of holding portion 62 are aligned in a predetermined position. By inserting screw 65 into hole 62-2 and screwing it into screw hole 56-3, holding portion 62 and sensor case upper portion 56 are tightened together, and infrared sensor assembly 52 is fixed to holding member 54.

[0032] The groove 62-3 is formed at a position corresponding to the hole 55-2 of the sensor case lower part 55, that is, at a position corresponding to the position where the detection part 57-1 of the infrared sensor 57 is disposed, and in this embodiment, the groove 62-3 is formed as a groove extending linearly toward the position where the detection part 57-1 is disposed. When the infrared sensor assembly 52 is fixed to the holding part 62 at a predetermined position, the lower surface 55-1 of the sensor case lower part 55 of the infrared sensor assembly 52 blocks most of the open upper part of the groove 62-3, thereby forming an air passage through which air flows. In addition, the place at the upper part of the groove 62-3 that is not blocked by the lower surface 55-1 becomes a communication part that communicates the air passage of the groove 62-3 with the transition part 63, and the air from the transition part 63 flows into the air passage of the groove 62-3 through this communication part. 14(B), in this embodiment, the groove 62-3 is formed to extend not only into the holding portion 62 but also into the transition portion 63, and while the open upper portion of the groove 62-3 on the holding portion 62 side is blocked by the underside 55-1 of the sensor case lower portion 55, the open upper portion of the groove 62-3 on the transition portion 63 side is not blocked and serves as a communication portion with the transition portion 63. Here, since the groove 62-3 extends toward the position of the detection portion 57-1, this air passage is also formed to extend toward the position of the detection portion 57-1, and the air flowing through this air passage flows from the opening 66, which is the outlet of the air passage, toward the detection portion 57-1, and hits the detection portion 57-1 along the underside 55-1 of the sensor case lower portion 55.

[0033] The transition portion 63 connects the fan accommodating portion 61 and the holding portion 62, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a rectangular cross section. The transition portion 63 is bent toward the bottom of the transition portion 63 (in the direction in which the detection portion 57-1 faces downward) at an angle corresponding to the angle formed by the side portion, which is the outer surface of the right side wall 14d, and the top surface portion, which is the outer surface of the ceiling wall 14a curved upward in a dome shape, i.e., in an inverted concave shape, so that the fan accommodating portion 61 is arranged along the side portion and the holding portion 62 is arranged along the top surface. Therefore, the fan accommodating portion 61 of the holding member 54 can be arranged along the side portion and the holding portion 62 of the holding member 54 can be arranged along the top surface, so that the holding member 54 can be reliably fixed to the side portion of the planar cooking chamber 14, and the infrared sensor 57 of the infrared sensor assembly 52 held by the holding portion 62 can be arranged along the top surface curved in an inverted concave shape. The top surface may be configured such that only a part of it has a curvature, similar to the ceiling wall 14a. Furthermore, the top surface is not limited to a configuration having a curvature, and may be configured, for example, so that the top surface is formed in a mountain shape having an inclined portion. In a configuration in which sensor window 70 is drilled in right side wall 14d, transition portion 63 is formed to match the outer surface shape of right side wall 14d, which is the side surface portion, so transition portion 63 may be formed in a straight line without being bent, and fan accommodating portion 61 and holding portion 62 can be configured to be disposed in a straight line along the side surface portion.

[0034] Inside the transition section 63, there are provided air straightening plates 63-1, 63-2 extending vertically from the bottom of the transition section 63 to the ceiling section, and these air straightening plates 63-1, 63-2 are formed so that their ends on the fan accommodating section 61 side abut the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls of the transition section 63, and their ends on the retaining section 62 side are positioned at the left and right sides of the groove section 62-3 on the transition section 63 side. Therefore, in the hollow portion within transition portion 63, an air passage is formed through which air from cooling fan 53 flows toward infrared sensor 57, and the air straightening plates 63-1, 63-2 and the bottom and ceiling plates of transition portion 63 form a reduction portion 67 in which the air passage narrows toward opening 66 of groove portion 62-3, i.e., the cross-sectional area decreases toward the downstream side of the air passage. This prevents the air from cooling fan 53 from flowing anywhere other than the air passage formed by groove portion 62-3 and underside 55-1 of lower portion 55 of sensor case 55 and enables the air from cooling fan 53 to be guided to the air passage more efficiently. In addition, when the infrared sensor assembly 52 is inserted into the holding portion 62 to a predetermined position, the side of the sensor case of the infrared sensor assembly 52 facing the transition portion 63, i.e., the side of the sensor case lower portion 55 and the sensor case upper portion 56 facing the transition portion 63, is configured to abut against the ends of the air rectification plates 63-1, 63-2 facing the holding portion 62, and the air rectification plates 63-1, 63-2 also function as positioning portions and stoppers for positioning the infrared sensor assembly 52 at a predetermined position.

[0035] The fixing screw fastening portion 64 is provided with through holes 72, 72 into which fixing screws 71, 71 can be inserted, and the fixing screw fastening portion 64 and the right side wall 14d are fastened together with the screws 71, 71 to fix the holding member 54, i.e., the sensor unit 51 to the right side wall 14d. In this embodiment, the infrared sensor assembly 52 having the infrared sensor 57, the holding member 54, and the cooling fan 53 are integrated to form the sensor unit 51, and by attaching this sensor unit 51 to the side portion of the cooking chamber 14, the positioning of the infrared sensor 57 and the cooling fan 53 and the formation of an air path through which air flows from the cooling fan 53 toward the infrared sensor 57 can be completed in a uniform manner. Here, when sensor unit 51 is attached to the side portion, it is preferable to configure it so that the underside of holding portion 62, the underside 55-1 of the lower sensor case 55 of infrared sensor assembly 52, and the detection portion 57-1 of infrared sensor 57 do not come into contact with the ceiling portion of cooking chamber 14, thereby preventing heat from the ceiling portion from affecting the underside of holding portion 62, the underside 55-1, and the detection portion 57-1.

[0036] In addition, infrared sensor 57 is positioned so that detection unit 57-1 faces sensor window 70 provided in ceiling wall 14a, i.e., on the top surface, and, as shown in FIG. 11, detection unit 57-1 of infrared sensor 57 is configured to detect the temperature inside cooking chamber 14 from above cooking chamber 14 through sensor window 70. This allows the detection range V of detection unit 57-1 to be wider than in a configuration in which detection unit 57-1 detects the temperature inside cooking chamber 14 from the side of cooking chamber 14. Since the entire bottom of cooking chamber 14, consisting of bottom plate 36 and bottom wall 14b, falls within detection range V, it becomes possible to detect the temperature of the food to be cooked regardless of where the food is placed in cooking chamber 14.

[0037] Returning to Fig. 2, 75 is a heat shield that blocks radiant heat, particularly from the upper heater 18. The heat shield 75 is made of metal, has a horizontal U-shaped cross section, and is provided on the ceiling of the cooking chamber 14 so as to cover the upper part of the upper heater 18 from the vicinity of the oven front plate 12 to the vicinity of the oven rear plate 13.

[0038] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the heat shield 75 from below. The heat shield 75 is made of metal, and is provided with a cutout 75-1 for the sensor unit 51, an exhaust duct 75-2, and air rectification plates 75-3 and 75-4. The cutout 75-1 is recessed at a position corresponding to the sensor unit 51. In this embodiment, the width of the cutout 75-1 is formed to be substantially the same as the width of the transition portion 63 of the holding portion 62, and the height of the cutout 75-1 is formed to be such that, when the heat shield 75 is disposed at the top of the cooking chamber 14, the top surface of the transition portion 63 appropriately abuts against the top edge of the cutout 75-1. As shown in FIG. 2, when the heat shield 75 is disposed at the top of the cooking chamber 14 and the sensor unit 51 is attached to the side portion, the top edge and left and right edges of the cutout 75-1 are configured to appropriately abut against the top surface and left and right surfaces of the transition portion 63. In addition, an elastic member such as urethane may be attached to the upper side and the left and right sides of the cutout portion 75-1, which are the portions that come into contact with the transition portion 63, so as to border the cutout portion.

[0039] The rectifying plates 75-3, 75, and 4 are made of a heat insulating material and are formed to extend vertically downward from the inner surface of the top surface of the heat shield plate 75. One end of each of the rectifying plates 75-3, 75, and 4 is disposed so as to be located near the left and right sides of the notch portion 75-1, and the other end of each of the rectifying plates 75-3 and 75-4 is disposed so as to abut against the left and right side walls of the exhaust duct 75-2. When the heat shield plate 75 is attached to the top surface of the cooking chamber 14, an exhaust air passage 76 that guides the air that has cooled the infrared sensor 57 to the outside of the cooking appliance is formed by the rectifying plates 75-3 and 75-4 between the heat shield plate 75 and the top surface of the cooking chamber 14. Therefore, in this embodiment, at least a part of the exhaust air passage 76 is formed by the rectifying plates 75-3 and 75-4 made of a heat insulating material. By using a heat insulating material for the air straightening plates 75-3, 75-4 in this way, it is possible to prevent, for example, heat from the cooking chamber 14, and in particular, radiant heat from the upper heater 18, from being radiated to the upper surface of the cabinet 2. As a result, for example, in the past, when the temperature of the cabinet 2 rose due to this heat, cracks and bulges could occur in the label affixed to the upper surface of the cabinet 2; however, by suppressing the temperature rise on the upper surface of the cabinet 2, it is possible to prevent cracks and bulges in the label on the upper surface of the cabinet 2, and a place to affix a label to the upper surface of the cabinet 2 can be secured.

[0040] 2, when sensor unit 51 is attached to the side portion, holding portion 62 of holding member 54 and infrared sensor assembly 52 are configured to protrude into heat shield 75, so that sensor window 70 provided at a position opposite detection portion 57-1 of infrared sensor 57 is configured to be formed in exhaust air passage 76 in the top surface of cooking chamber 14. When heat shield 75 is attached to the top surface of cooking chamber 14, the lower ends of rectifying plates 75-3, 75-4 preferably extend close to the top surface but do not come into contact with this top surface, so that rectifying plates 75-3, 75-4 form exhaust air passage 76 while suppressing the effect of heat from the top surface, particularly from upper heater 18, on rectifying plates 75-3, 75-4.

[0041] The exhaust duct 75-2 exhausts the air flowing through the exhaust air passage 76 to the outside of the machine. The exhaust duct 75-2 in this embodiment is made of metal and is formed in a tubular shape with a substantially rectangular cross section. The exhaust duct 75-2 has a closed top surface and an open bottom surface, and the side surface is open at a portion where the side surface is connected to the other ends of the air straightening plates 75-3 and 75-4, and the exhaust air passage 76 and the exhaust duct 75-2 communicate with each other through this connection portion. In this embodiment, the exhaust duct 75-2 is configured to be formed on the rear side of the cooking appliance and near the side surface where the cooling fan 53 is disposed. As shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust duct 75-2 is provided on the side of the rear wall 14e in the heat shield plate 75, which has substantially the same shape as the cooking chamber 14 when viewed from above, and is disposed close to the right side wall 14d so as to be close to the right side wall 14d. In this embodiment, the length of the exhaust air passage 76 is shortened. For example, the rectifying plates 75-3 and 75-4 connected to the exhaust duct 75-2 are described. The rectifying plate 75-3 connects the rear side of the rectifying plate 75-3 at the notch 75-1 to the side of the exhaust duct 75-2 on the side where the cooling fan 53 is arranged at the shortest distance. The rectifying plate 75-4 extends a little from the other side of the notch 75-1 parallel to the rear side of the rectifying plate 75-3, and then extends toward the other side of the exhaust duct 75-2 in a manner that bends once without making an angle, and connects to the other side. Therefore, the exhaust air passage 76 is formed near the side of the cooking chamber 14 on the side where the cooling fan 53 is arranged, as viewed from above. With this configuration, the air dedicated to cooling infrared sensor 57 after cooling infrared sensor 57 can be effectively utilized, while the air that has been warmed up by cooling infrared sensor 57 can be quickly exhausted to the outside of the cooking appliance through exhaust duct 75-2, and since exhaust air duct 76 has a shape that is not significantly bent, the air flowing through exhaust air duct 76 can flow smoothly.As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, an exhaust air duct 76 is formed between the sensor unit 51, i.e., the infrared sensor 57 and the upper heater 18. The exhaust air duct 76 is formed by air straightening plates 75-3, 75-4 made of a heat insulating material. Air flows through the exhaust air duct 76, thereby preventing heat from the top surface of the cooking chamber 14, in particular radiant heat from the upper heater 18, from affecting the infrared sensor 57.

[0042] Fig. 13 shows the main electrical configuration of the microwave oven of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 81 denotes a control means constituted by a microcomputer, and as is well known, this control means 81 includes a CPU as a calculation processing means, a memory as a storage means, a timer as a timekeeping means, an input / output device, etc.

[0043] In addition to the aforementioned key or touch panel operation means 7, infrared sensor 57, and thermistor 15, the input port of the control means 81 is electrically connected to a hot air motor rotation detection means 83 which detects the rotation speed of the hot air fan 28, a door opening / closing detection means 84 which detects the open / closed state of the door 3, and an antenna position detection means 85 which detects the origin position of the antenna 41 of the microwave generator 19.

[0044] In addition to the display means 6 mentioned above, the output port of the control means 81 is electrically connected to microwave heating means 88 including a magnetron and its driving means, heater driving means 89 such as a relay that turns on and off the upper heater 18 for grill heating and the hot air heater 27 for oven heating, antenna driving means 90 for operating the antenna motor 38 that drives and rotates the antenna 41 that radiates microwaves into the cooking chamber 14, hot air motor driving means 91 for driving and rotating the hot air motor 29, pump driving means 93 for operating the water supply pump 47 of the water vapor supply device 43, and cooling fan driving means 94 for operating the fan motor that drives and rotates the fan 53-1 of the cooling fan 53.

[0045] The control means 81 receives operation signals from the operation means 7 and various detection signals from the infrared sensor 57, thermistor 15, hot air motor rotation detection means 83, door opening / closing detection means 84, and antenna position detection means 85, and has the function of outputting drive control signals to the microwave heating means 88, antenna driving means 90, heater driving means 89, hot air motor driving means 91, pump driving means 93, and cooling fan driving means 94 at a predetermined timing based on the timing from the timing means, and also has the function of outputting a display control signal to the display means 6. For example, when the control means 81 receives an operation signal accompanying the operation of the operating means 7, and if it determines that the door 3 is closed based on a detection signal from the door opening / closing detection means 84, it sends control signals to the microwave heating means 88, antenna driving means 90, heater driving means 89, hot air motor driving means 91, sensor motor driving means 82, and pump driving means 93 in response to the operation signal to control various heating and cooking operations for the food to be cooked, and sends a control signal to the cooling fan driving means 94 to control the operation relating to cooling of the infrared sensor 57. Also, for example, the control means 81 controls the operation relating to the display of the display means 6.

[0046] Next, the operation of the oven range configured as above will be described in detail. When food to be cooked is placed in the cooking chamber 14, the door 3 is closed while holding the handle 4, a cooking menu is selected using the operating means 7, and a command is given to start cooking the food to be cooked. A control signal generated according to the selected cooking menu is output from the output port of the control means 81 at a predetermined timing, and the food to be cooked is cooked.

[0047] For example, when a cooking menu for microwave heating is selected, the control means 81 receives detection signals from the infrared sensor 57 and thermistor 15, and sends control signals to the microwave heating means 88, the antenna driving means 90, and the sensor motor driving means 82 so that the food to be cooked is heated to the set temperature. As a result, the microwave generator 19 is energized to supply and radiate microwaves, and the rotational force generated in the antenna motor 38 is transmitted to the antenna 41 to rotate it, and microwaves are radiated into the cooking chamber 14, so that the food to be heated S placed on the bottom wall 14b is heated in the microwave.

[0048] Furthermore, when the oven heating menu is selected, the cooking control unit 85 receives a detection signal from thermistor 15 and sends control signals to the heater driving means 89 and hot air motor driving means 91, respectively, to control the energization and deenergization of the hot air heater 27 and the hot air motor 29 so that the inside of the cooking chamber 14 is heated to the set temperature. As a result, the rotational force generated in the hot air motor 29 is transmitted to the hot air fan 28, which rotates inside the heating chamber 31, and the speed is taken in by the hot air motor rotation detection means 83 to the cooking control unit 85, and air sucked from the cooking chamber 14 into the heating chamber 31 through the suction port 16 is sent to the energized hot air heater 27 side, and the air heated thereby is supplied as hot air to the cooking chamber 14 through the outlet port 17, thereby heating the food in the cooking chamber 14 by hot air convection heating.

[0049] When the grill cooking menu is selected, the heating and cooking control unit 85 receives a detection signal from thermistor 15 and controls the heater driving means 89 to turn on and off the upper heater 18 so that the inside of the cooking chamber 14 is heated to the set temperature, and the food to be cooked in the cooking chamber 14 is grill-heated from above.

[0050] Furthermore, when a menu item for steam cooking using superheated steam is selected, the cooking control unit 85 receives a detection signal from thermistor 15 and controls the heater drive means 89 to turn on and off upper heater 18 so that cooking chamber 14 is heated to the set temperature. When the cooking control unit 85 determines that the temperature inside cooking chamber 14 has reached the set temperature, it sends a control signal to pump drive means 93, which controls the operation of water supply pump 47 incorporated in steam supply device 43 to spray mist-like water from steam nozzles 44 into cooking chamber 14, supplying steam.

[0051] When steam is supplied to the inside of cooking chamber 14, the internal temperature of cooking chamber 14 decreases. Heat cooking control unit 85 judges whether the internal temperature of cooking chamber 14 has reached the set temperature based on a detection signal from thermistor 15, and if heat cooking control unit 85 judges that the internal temperature has not reached the set temperature, heat cooking control unit 85 controls the heater drive means 89 to turn on and off upper heater 18 so that the inside of cooking chamber 14 is heated to the set temperature. If heat cooking control unit 85 judges that the internal temperature of cooking chamber 14 has reached the set temperature, mist-like water is sprayed into cooking chamber 14 as described above to supply steam again. This causes the steam to instantly vaporize into superheated steam, and the food to be cooked in cooking chamber 14 is heated with the appropriate amount of water molecules (superheated steam).

[0052] 14, the air flowing through the sensor cooling air passage and the exhaust air passage 76, which are air passages in the sensor unit 51 and are formed inside the holding member 54, are described below. The air passage is formed by the hollow part in the transition part 63 of the holding member 54, the contraction part 67, the groove part 62-3 of the holding part 62, and the lower surface 55-1 of the sensor case lower part 55. When the cooking menu is selected and the cooking start of the food to be cooked is instructed by the operation means 7 as described above, the control means 81 determines that the inside of the cooking chamber 14 is to be heated, and sends a control signal to the cooling fan driving means 94 to rotate the fan 53-1 of the cooling fan 53. As a result, the fan 53-1 rotates in the case 53-2, and as shown by the air flow F in FIGS. 14(A) and (B), air is sucked through the fan intake port 10 of the cabinet 2 toward the cylindrical part 61-2 of the fan housing part 61 of the sensor unit 51. Here, the cylindrical portion 61-2 abuts against the inside of the cabinet 2 at the location where the fan intake 10 is provided via the flange portion 61-3, preventing the air inside the cylindrical portion 61-2 from leaking out outside the cylindrical portion 61-2.

[0053] Air taken in by cooling fan 53 through a hole on the front surface of case 53-2 from tubular portion 61-2 is sent out in the circumferential direction of fan 53-1 within case 53-2, travels along the side of case 53-2, and is blown out of cooling fan 53 from one of the open sides of case 53-2, and flows into the air passage within transition portion 63 through an opening in the side wall of tubular portion 61-2.

[0054] 14(A) and 14(B), when the air from cooling fan 53 flows into narrowing section 67 of the air passage in transition section 63, this air flows along the bottom plate of transition section 63 in narrowing section 67, the lower surface of the ceiling plate and the infrared sensor assembly, and the air straightening plates 63-1 and 63-2 toward the air passage formed by groove portion 62-3 of holding section 62 and lower surface 55-1 of sensor case lower portion 55. Here, since this air passage has a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet of narrowing section 67, when air flows into this air passage, the speed at which this air flows increases. Since the detection unit 57-1 is disposed beyond the outlet of the reduction unit 67, the air that passes through this air passage and is discharged from the opening 66 flows along the underside 55-1 of the sensor case lower part 55 toward the detection unit 57-1, and when it hits the detection unit 57-1 protruding hemispherically from the hole 55-2 of the sensor case lower part 55 and flows along the outer surface of the detection unit 57-1, it removes heat from the detection unit 57-1, cooling it, and flows downstream of the exhaust air passage 76. Here, the side surface and underside 55-1 on the holding member 54 side of the sensor case accommodated inside the holding member 54 are part of the air passage having the reduction unit 67 and the air passage formed by the groove 62-3 and the underside 55-1, and the air flowing through the air passage removes heat from the sensor case when it flows along the side surface and underside 55-1 of the sensor case, thereby exerting the effect of suppressing an increase in the temperature of the sensor case. As shown in FIG. 14(A), a portion of the infrared sensor 57 is also housed within the holding portion 62 of the holding member 54 via a portion of the sensor case, and this effect is exerted on the portion of the infrared sensor 57, in particular suppressing an increase in the temperature around the infrared sensor 57 housed within the sensor case.

[0055] When the inside of the cooking chamber 14 is heated, heat, steam, and smoke are generated from the food in the cooking chamber 14, and the air in the cooking chamber 14 is also heated and expands, so that the pressure in the cooking chamber 14 becomes higher than the pressure in the exhaust air duct 76. Therefore, part of the air in the cooking chamber 14 flows into the exhaust air duct 76 through the sensor window 70 provided in the ceiling wall 14a, and part of the heat, steam, and smoke in the cooking chamber 14 also flows into the exhaust air duct 76 through the sensor window 70. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the air discharged from the opening 66 flows on the outer surface of the detection unit 57-1, this air flows downstream of the exhaust air duct 76 together with the air, heat, steam, and smoke that flowed in from the sensor window 70, and these air, heat, steam, and smoke do not reach the detection unit 57-1. Therefore, the air discharged from the opening 66 has a function of a so-called air curtain that protects the detection unit 57-1 from the heat, steam, and smoke in the cooking chamber 14.

[0056] The air flows along underside 55-1 of lower sensor case lower portion 55 and the outer surface of detection unit 57-1, and becomes warm after cooling underside 55-1 and detection unit 57-1, and flows into exhaust duct 75-2 through exhaust air duct 76. In this embodiment, since exhaust air duct 76 is formed between infrared sensor 57 and upper heater 18, even if food to be cooked in cooking chamber 14 is being grill-heated by upper heater 18, heat from upper heater 18 and heat from the top surface of cooking chamber 14 heated by heating means such as upper heater 18 are prevented by exhaust air duct 76 and the air passing through exhaust air duct 76, and thus are prevented from being transmitted to the top surface of cabinet 2 and infrared sensor 57.

[0057] The air that flows into the exhaust duct 75-2 is exhausted from the exhaust duct 75-2 to the outside of the cooking appliance. At this time, the air, heat, steam, and smoke that flowed in through the sensor window 70 are also exhausted from the exhaust duct 75-2 to the outside of the cooking appliance together with the air.

[0058] Thereafter, when the control means 81 determines that cooking has ended, it sends a control signal to the cooling fan drive means 94 to stop the rotational drive of fan 53-1 of cooling fan 53. This stops the rotation of fan 53-1, and also stops the air flows in the sensor cooling air duct and exhaust air duct 76. Note that the control means 81 may control the cooling fan drive means 94 to continue the rotational drive of fan 53-1 of cooling fan 53 even after cooking has ended, and control the cooling fan drive means 94 to stop the rotational drive of fan 53-1 of cooling fan 53 when it receives a detection signal from the door open / close detection means 84 that the door 3 has been opened.

[0059] As described above, the oven range as a heating cooker of this embodiment includes cooking chamber 14 for accommodating the food to be cooked, infrared sensor 57 as a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the food to be cooked, holding member 54 for holding sensor case lower part 55 and sensor case upper part 56 which accommodate infrared sensor 57, and cooling fan 53 as an air blowing means for blowing air for cooling infrared sensor 57. A sensor cooling air passage is formed by the hollow portion in transition part 63 of holding member 54, reduced part 67, groove part 62-3 of holding part 62, and underside 55-1 of sensor case lower part 55 as an air passage through which air from cooling fan 53 flows. Infrared sensor 57 detects the temperature of the food to be cooked through sensor window 70 formed in ceiling wall 14a which is a wall part of cooking chamber 14, and air blowing out from opening 66 as an outlet of the sensor cooling air passage formed by groove part 62-3 and underside 55-1 hits infrared sensor 57.

[0060] With this configuration, air from cooling fan 53 is blown to infrared sensor 57 through opening 66, so that infrared sensor 57 can be cooled in a concentrated manner, thereby improving the cooling performance of infrared sensor 57.

[0061] Furthermore, in the oven range of this embodiment, the air passage through which the air flows from cooling fan 53 has a narrowing section 67 that narrows toward opening 66. With this simple configuration, the air from cooling fan 53 can be concentrated and directed toward opening 66, further improving the cooling performance of infrared sensor 57.

[0062] In the oven range of this embodiment, since ceiling wall 14a of cooking chamber 14 is curved in an inverse concave shape, at least a portion of the top surface portion as the upper part of cooking chamber 14 is formed with a curvature and curved in an inverse concave shape, and holding member 54 is provided along the top surface portion of cooking chamber 14 and the side surface portion as the side portion of cooking chamber 14, and holding member 54 is attached to the side surface portion of cooking chamber 14. Therefore, fan accommodating portion 61 of holding member 54 can be disposed along the side surface portion and holding portion 62 of holding member 54 can be disposed along the top surface portion, holding member 54 can be firmly fixed in surface contact to the side surface portion of planar cooking chamber 14, and infrared sensor 57 of infrared sensor assembly 52 held by holding portion 62 can be disposed along the top surface portion curved in an inverse concave shape.

[0063] Furthermore, the cooling fan 53 of this embodiment is configured to blow air specifically for cooling the infrared sensor 57. By blowing all the air from the cooling fan 53 to the infrared sensor 57, the infrared sensor 57 can be cooled in a concentrated manner, and the cooling performance of the infrared sensor 57 and the detection unit 57-1 can be improved.

[0064] Furthermore, in the oven range of this embodiment, cabinet 2 serving as the outer shell is formed with fan intake port 10 as an intake port through which cooling fan 53 takes in air. By providing fan intake port 10 exclusively for cooling fan 53, it becomes easier for cooling fan 53 to draw in air from the outside, and the efficiency of cooling fan 53 can be improved.

[0065] In addition, in this embodiment, the sensor window 70 is formed on the top or side surface, which allows the detection range V of the infrared sensor 57 arranged opposite the sensor window 70 to be expanded, and the temperature of the food to be cooked can be detected regardless of where the food is placed in the cooking chamber 14.

[0066] Furthermore, in the oven range of this embodiment, the infrared sensor 57, holding member 54 and cooling fan 53 are integrated to form sensor unit 51, and by attaching sensor unit 51 to the side portion of cooking chamber 14, the positioning of infrared sensor 57 and cooling fan 53 and the formation of an air path through which air flows from cooling fan 53 to infrared sensor 57 can be completed in a uniform manner, eliminating the need for assembly.

[0067] The microwave oven of this embodiment is also provided with a sensor case lower part 55 and a sensor case upper part 56 as a housing part for housing the infrared sensor 57, and the opening 66 is formed by the groove part 62-3 of the holding part 62 of the holding member 54 and the lower surface 55-1 of the sensor case lower part 55. Therefore, the air for cooling the infrared sensor 57 can be transmitted from the air passage to the lower surface 55-1, and even if this air is discharged from the opening 66, the air can be reliably guided to the detection part 57-1 along the lower surface 55-1 and can be applied to the detection part 57-1, thereby improving the cooling performance of the detection part 57-1. In addition, since this air takes heat from the sensor case lower part 55 while traveling along the lower surface 55-1, the temperature increase of the sensor case formed by the sensor case lower part 55 and the sensor case upper part 56 can be suppressed, and the temperature increase around the infrared sensor 57 housed in the sensor case can also be suppressed.

[0068] Furthermore, in the microwave oven of this embodiment, a sensor cooling air passage is formed inside holding member 54 as an air passage formed by the hollow portion in transition portion 63 of holding member 54, reduced portion 67, groove portion 62-3 of holding portion 62, and underside 55-1 of sensor case lower portion 55. Therefore, the side surface and underside 55-1 of the sensor case on the holding member 54 side housed inside holding member 54 also become part of the formed sensor cooling air passage, and air flowing through the sensor cooling air passage removes heat from the sensor case as it flows along these side surfaces and underside 55-1, thereby suppressing an increase in temperature of the sensor case and also suppressing an increase in temperature around infrared sensor 57 housed in the sensor case.

[0069] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the configurations and shapes of the components of the present embodiment are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and may be modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 2 Cabinet (outer shell) 10 Fan intake (intake) 14 Galley 14a Ceiling wall (wall section) 51 Sensor unit 53 Cooling fan (air blowing means) 54 Retaining member 55 Sensor case lower part (sensor case) 56 Sensor case upper part (sensor case) 57 Infrared Sensor 57-1 Detection unit 66 Opening (air passage outlet) 67 Reduced part (air path) 70 Sensor window

Claims

1. A cooking chamber for accommodating food to be cooked; A temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the food to be cooked; A holding member for holding the temperature detection means; a blowing means for blowing air for cooling the temperature detection means, An air passage is formed through which air from the blowing means flows, The temperature detection means detects the temperature of the food to be cooked through a sensor window formed in a wall of the cooking chamber, A cooking device characterized in that the air blown out from the outlet of the air passage is arranged to hit the temperature detection means.

2. 2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the air passage has a constricting portion that narrows toward the outlet.

3. At least a portion of the upper portion of the cooking chamber is formed with a curvature, The holding member is provided along the upper portion and the side portion of the cooking chamber, 2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is attached to the side portion.

4. 2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the air blowing means blows air exclusively for cooling the temperature detecting means.

5. 2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein an air inlet through which the air blowing means takes in air is formed in an outer shell of the cooking device.

6. 2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor window is formed in an upper portion of the cooking chamber or in a side portion of the cooking chamber.

7. 2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detection means, the holding member and the air blowing means are integrated to form a sensor unit.

8. A housing portion for housing the temperature detection means is provided, The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet is formed by the holding member and the housing portion.

9. 9. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the air passage is formed inside the holding member.

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