Heating cooker

Abstract

To improve cleaning performance of an observation window provided on a wall surface of a cooking chamber to image inside of the cooking chamber by using an imaging module provided outside the cooking chamber and prevent forgetting to mounting the observation window in a grill chamber of a built-in type heating cooker.SOLUTION: A heating cooker includes: a body; a pan placement part disposed on an upper surface of the body; a grill part displaced below the pan placement part; a display part that displays an image; and a control unit that controls each part. The grill part includes: a cooking chamber; a heater that heats foods inside the cooking chamber; an observation window mounted on an inner wall surface of the cooking chamber in an attachable / detachable manner; and an imaging unit disposed outside the cooking chamber to image inside of the cooking chamber via the observation window. In the heating cooker, the control unit includes an observation window detection part that detects a mounting state of the observation window.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance equipped with a camera that captures images of the inside of a cooking chamber. [Background technology]

[0002] Typically, the cooking chamber of a cooking appliance is designed to simultaneously heat both sides of food ingredients (food) such as bread or fish using heat sources such as sheath heaters or gas burners arranged above and below the food, allowing cooking to be performed according to a variety of menus. For this reason, the cooking chamber is equipped with a temperature sensor such as a thermistor, and temperature control according to the menu is performed based on the detected value of the temperature sensor. The cooking chamber generally has an opening on the front side of the cooking appliance, with a door covering the opening, and food is loaded and unloaded by opening and closing the door. For heat resistance and design reasons, the door is made of a glass plate on the front side, and the glass plate serves as a viewing window through which the interior of the cooking chamber can be observed.

[0003] The state of food being cooked can be checked through a viewing window, but since the heating cooker installed in a system kitchen is generally less than one meter high, users have to bend forward to check, and due to the physical strain, many users often open the door to look inside the oven. One way to solve this problem is to use a camera to capture the inside of the oven and display the image on another screen for confirmation.

[0004] To capture images of the heating status of food placed inside a cooking chamber, a camera must be placed on the front, back, left, right, or top of the chamber's interior wall. Furthermore, to reduce the risk of malfunction due to camera temperature rise and to prevent the camera lens from becoming dirty due to oil splatter generated during cooking, the camera is not placed directly inside the chamber but is instead placed on the outside of the chamber, capturing images through a transparent window member in the wall of the chamber. However, while this prevents the camera lens from becoming dirty, the window member is at risk of becoming dirty, requiring regular cleaning, making it highly easy to clean.

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes a technology for improving the cleanability of a window member provided in a cooking chamber. Claim 1 of this document describes "a cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber that accommodates an object to be heated, a heating unit that heats the cooking chamber while the object to be heated is accommodated therein, and an imaging unit that images the cooking chamber, wherein a side wall of the cooking chamber is provided with a light-transmitting unit that transmits light, and the imaging unit images the cooking chamber from outside the cooking chamber through the light-transmitting unit, and the imaging unit is provided with two or more cameras for imaging, a first camera that images the cooking chamber from a different imaging direction from a second camera," and claim 3 describes "the cooking appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side wall is provided with a detachable wall panel, and the light-transmitting unit has a first light-transmitting unit that is provided integrally with the wall panel."

[0006] That is, the document states that the first light transmitting portion can be detached from the cooking chamber together with the detachably attached wall panel, and can be easily cleaned when necessary. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-169133 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, the technology described in this document raises the concern that after removing and cleaning the window member (light-transmitting portion), the user may start cooking without putting the window member back on. If cooking is started without the window member, the camera may malfunction or become dirty, and if there is also a fixed window between the detachable window member and the camera, the fixed window may become dirty.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance that can determine the installation state of a detachable window member in front of a camera and detect whether the window member has been left installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the heating cooker of the present invention is a heating cooker having a main body, a pot holder arranged on the top surface of the main body, a grill section arranged below the pot holder, a display section that displays images, and a control unit that controls each section, wherein the grill section has a cooking chamber, a heater that heats food in the cooking chamber, a peephole that is detachably attached to the inner wall surface of the cooking chamber, and an imaging unit that is arranged outside the cooking chamber and takes images of the inside of the cooking chamber through the peephole, and the control unit is a heating cooker having a peephole detection section that detects the attachment state of the peephole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, by detecting the installation status of the detachable viewing window in front of the camera using an installation status detection unit, cooking operations can be prevented without the viewing window attached, thereby preventing equipment failure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cooking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] Schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 1 [Figure 4] Schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 1 [Figure 5] A perspective view of a cooking device installed in a system kitchen [Figure 6] Schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Figure 1 [Figure 7] Schematic diagram of the side cross section of the grill part in Figure 5 [Figure 8] Schematic diagram of the front cross section of the grill section in Figure 5 [Figure 9] Schematic diagram of the observation window in Example 1 [Figure 10] Functional block diagram of a control unit according to the first embodiment [Figure 11]Schematic diagram of a front cross section of the grill part of Example 2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the cooking device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Note that, although a built-in IH cooking heater equipped with a grill unit will be exemplified below as an example of the cooking device, the present invention can also be applied to a built-in gas stove or other cooking device equipped with an imaging unit that captures images of the inside of the cooking chamber. [Example]

[0014] First, the overall configuration of the cooking device Z according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be outlined, and then the detailed structure of the grill section 5 will be described.

[0015] <Overall configuration of the cooking appliance> The cooking appliance Z of this embodiment is a cooking appliance equipped with an IH (Induction Heating) function that generates eddy currents in the bottom of a metal pot placed on the top surface and heats the metal pot itself with Joule heat due to the eddy currents, and a grill function that heats food stored in the cooking chamber with radiant heat from a heater. Note that, as shown in Figure 1 etc., in the following, the front-back, up-down, and left-right directions are defined based on the line of sight of the user facing the cooking appliance Z.

[0016] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cooking device Z, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the cooking device Z taken along line AA shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the cooking device Z taken along line BB shown in Fig. 1.

[0017] As shown in each figure, the heating cooker Z is a cooker that includes a main body 1, a top plate 2, a heating coil 3, a circuit board 7, and a circuit board case 8 that houses the circuit board 7, and further includes a built-in cooking chamber 50 of the grill section 5 in which an imaging unit 44 is arranged.

[0018] The main body 1 is a housing having an outer shell corresponding to the space (predetermined left-right width, front-back width, and height) in which the cooking appliance Z will be installed, and is box-shaped (concave) with an open top. Inside the main body 1, a grill section 5 is disposed on the left side, and a circuit board case 8 is disposed on the right side. In addition, a heating coil 3, a display section 22, etc. are disposed above the grill section 5 and the circuit board case 8, and further, a top plate 2 is disposed so as to cover the top opening of the main body 1.

[0019] The grill section 5 on the left front side of the main body 1 has an opening (not shown) that slides back and forth to place food 57, and a door 6 is provided to cover the opening. Also, on the right front side of the main body 1, a front panel 1a is positioned so that it is approximately flat on the wide surface in front of the door 6, and a power switch 24 for turning the main power on and off is provided. The front panel 1a may be shaped like a kangaroo pocket and used as an operating panel for setting the heat of the grill section 5. The top plate 2 is installed on top of the main body 1 and is made up of a glass plate (not shown) on which a cooking pot is placed and a frame (not shown) that holds the four sides of the glass plate.

[0020] The circuit board case 8 is a case that houses electrical components such as the circuit board 7. A cooling fan unit 9 is provided on the rear side of the circuit board case 8, and is configured to draw in outside air from an intake opening H1 on the rear of the main body 1 and supply cooling air to the multiple circuit boards 7 inside the circuit board case 8 and to the heating coil 3 located downstream. The electronic components on the circuit board 7 include integrated circuits, inverter circuits, capacitors, resistors, etc., that are used to supply high-frequency current to the heating coil 3 and drive the fan unit 9.

[0021] Top plate 2 has three pot mounting sections 21 corresponding to the installation positions of three heating coils 3, an operation section 23 for setting the heating level of a metal pot placed on pot mounting section 21, a display section 22 that mainly displays images of the inside of the cooking chamber captured by imaging unit 44, and an exhaust opening H2. Note that exhaust opening H2 is the outlet for the air path that starts from exhaust duct 59 of grill section 5 (described later) and intake opening H1, and is located at the rear (right or left side) of top plate 2.

[0022] <Configuration of grill section 5> As shown in the drawings, the grill section 5 of this embodiment is equipped with a box-shaped cooking chamber 50 with an opening on the front for putting food in and taking it out. This cooking chamber 50 is made by assembling a plurality of members, each formed into a predetermined shape by pressing aluminum alloy plates, with screws or the like.

[0023] In this cooking chamber 50, food is cooked in a deep-plate-shaped cooking pan 58 placed on a stand 54. The cooking pan 58 is a deep plate made of a material such as aluminum and formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, and the surface is coated with a fluorine coating agent or the like.

[0024] Heaters 51 (upper heater 51a and lower heater 51b) are installed inside cooking chamber 50 so as to sandwich cooking pan 58, and by controlling the on / off of both heaters, it is possible to heat the top and bottom surfaces of food in cooking pan 58 simultaneously or alternately. Heater 51 is a heat source that uses radiant heat, such as a sheath heater or electric heater.

[0025] In this grill section 5, a pair of door rails 56 are provided on the left and right lower sides of the cooking chamber 50, allowing the door 6 for closing the front opening of the cooking chamber 50 to slide back and forth. Note that by providing a rubber gasket (not shown) around the outer periphery of the door 6 on the cooking chamber 50 side, the airtightness of the front opening of the cooking chamber 50 can be further improved. A stand 54 for placing a cooking pan 58 slides back and forth in conjunction with the door 6 using the door rails 56. The door 6 and stand 54 are detachable, and can be removed from the grill section 5 and cleaned if they become dirty.

[0026] An exhaust duct 59 is provided on the upper back side of the cooking chamber 50 to exhaust oil smoke, steam, etc. from within the cooking chamber 50, and is configured to exhaust through an exhaust opening H2 provided at the rear of the top plate 2 (see Figure 4).

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, an imaging unit 44, such as a camera, is provided on the outside of the left wall of the cooking chamber 50, and can capture images of food 57 being cooked in a cooking pan 58 through a removable viewing window 41 provided on the inner wall of the cooking chamber 50. The imaging unit 44 is installed in a storage case 42 that forms an air passage, and the storage case 42 is positioned so that the viewing window 41 is located opposite the imaging unit 44, forming an air passage that communicates with the blower fan 40 provided above the cooking chamber 50. The better the air-blowing characteristics of the blower fan 40, the larger its outer diameter will be. Therefore, it is easier to select a fan with good air-blowing performance by placing it in the space above the cooking chamber 50 where the heating coil 3 is located, rather than in the narrow space between the cooking chamber 50 and the outer casing of the main body 1.

[0028] The blower fan 40 is configured as a blower type, for example a centrifugal fan or multi-blade fan, with its intake side facing the intake port 10 provided on the side of the outer casing of the main body 1 and its discharge side facing the storage case 42, and efficiently guides the air sucked in from the side intake port 10 downward, supplying warm air to the imaging unit 44 inside the storage case 42. Furthermore, when the cooking appliance Z is installed in a kitchen, the intake port 10 will be positioned on the top plate 2 side, and is therefore positioned in a way that makes it easy to suck in relatively hot air even within the kitchen.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, lighting units 43, such as LEDs, are arranged on the same wall side of the kitchen 50 as the imaging units 44. The lighting units 43 are installed to capture clear images from the imaging units 44. Therefore, the installation positions, number of lighting units 43, and light output of the lighting units 43 in the kitchen 50 are determined appropriately depending on the shape of the kitchen 50 and the positions of the imaging units 44. The lighting units 43 may also be arranged inside the storage case 42 together with the imaging units 44 depending on the need for cooling.

[0030] <Configuration incorporated into system kitchen> FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance Z incorporated into the system kitchen 100, and FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance of FIG. 5 taken along line CC shown in FIG. 1 as seen from above.

[0031] In a typical system kitchen, standard dimensions are defined for the installation of a built-in IH cooking heater. For example, when the storage compartment 101 is placed below the cooking appliance Z, it is positioned so that the front is approximately flat, and the outer casing of the main body 1 is designed so that there are no large gaps around the door 6 or front panel 1a on the front side of the cooking appliance Z.

[0032] In a typical system kitchen, the height from the floor to the top plate 2 is about 80 cm, and the height of the center of the door 6 of the grill section 5 is about 70 cm. Therefore, it goes without saying that it is more convenient to be able to check the inside of the cooking chamber using the display section 22 on the top plate 2 rather than through the door window.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 6, when the built-in type cooking appliance Z is installed in the system kitchen 100, a gap 100a is provided between the system kitchen 100 and the main body 1 so that the two do not come into contact with each other. The gap 100a is configured to be inconspicuous when viewed from the front by the door 6, the front panel 1a, or another fitting part (not shown).

[0034] In this embodiment, the gap 100a forms part of the air passage that blows air to the imaging unit 44, and the air in the gap 100a is sucked in by the blower fan 40 via the air intake 10. Furthermore, the temperature of the air in the gap 100a, which forms the air passage upstream of the imaging unit 44, rises due to the exhaust heat from the cooking chamber 50 when the grill section 5 is in use. Therefore, the air sucked in by the blower fan 40 becomes warm air that mixes with the outside air in front of the system kitchen 100, and the gap 100a forms a heat exchange section of the air passage.

[0035] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a side cross section of the grill section of Fig. 5, and Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a front cross section of the grill section of Fig. 5. Cooking device Z incorporated into a system kitchen is configured so that the outer periphery of top plate 2, which is wider than the outer casing of main body 1, forms a flange, and top plate 2 supports main body 1. Therefore, main body 1 has gaps 100a in the left-right, downward, and rearward directions relative to the system kitchen. Therefore, the outer casing surface of main body 1, which has a large area, forms a heat exchange section that exchanges heat with outside air, efficiently raising the outside air temperature and drawing it in by blower fan 40.

[0036] As shown in Figure 8, the imaging unit 44 of this embodiment is a module (built-in camera) consisting of a base portion 44a and a lens portion 44b, and is positioned so that food 57 in a cooking pan 58 can be observed through the viewing window 41 from diagonally above the cooking chamber 50.

[0037] The storage case 42 is positioned such that the downstream opening 42a is narrowed toward the sight window 41 relative to the upstream air passage, and the air supplied from the blower fan 40 flows along the vicinity of the sight window 41. The air that leaves the opening 42a passes through the main body 1 and is exhausted from the exhaust opening H2 on the top plate 2.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the sight glass 41 of this embodiment. As shown here, the sight glass 41 of this embodiment is formed entirely of a transparent portion that transmits light, but has a non-transparent portion 41a at one of the four corners for installation detection. As described above, the sight glass 41 of this embodiment is detachable. Therefore, when an image is taken with the sight glass 41 removed, the fridge interior can be captured in the entire imaging range of the imaging unit 44. However, when an image is taken with the sight glass 41 attached, the non-transparent portion 41a is captured in part of the imaging range of the imaging unit 44. Therefore, if the non-transparent portion 41a is captured in the imaging range of the imaging unit 44, it can be determined that the sight glass 41 is attached in front of the imaging unit 44.

[0039] The viewing window 41 is treated with a stain-resistant surface on the inner surface (the side facing the cooking chamber 50) and a fogging-resistant surface on the outer surface (the side facing the imaging unit 44). For each surface treatment to function properly, the viewing window 41 must be installed correctly. Therefore, in this embodiment, the correct installation orientation of the viewing window 41 is determined based on the position of the non-transparent portion 41a within the imaging range of the imaging unit 44. If the installation orientation is incorrect, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 22, prompting the user to install the viewing window 41 in the correct orientation. The method of notifying the user that the viewing window 41 is not properly installed can be not only a message displayed on the display unit 22, but also an audible message from a speaker. Furthermore, if the cooking appliance has a communication function, the message may be displayed via a smartphone app or the like.

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, by providing the non-transparent portion 41a outside the display range 41b displayed on the display unit 22, the non-transparent portion 41a is prevented from being displayed on the display unit 22, thereby preventing the user from feeling uncomfortable.

[0041] <Control unit> 10 is a functional block diagram of a control unit 60, which is configured to realize the above-described controls. As shown in the diagram, the control unit 60 of this embodiment has a heating control unit 61, a menu recording unit 62, an imaging control unit 63, and an observation window detection unit 64. The operation unit 23, the power switch 24, and the imaging unit 44 are connected to the input side, and the heating coil 3, the heater 51, the illumination unit 43, and the display unit 22 are connected to the output side. Each part of the control unit 60 will be described below in order.

[0042] The heating control unit 61 controls the amount of heat to be applied to the heating coil 3 and the heater 51 by adjusting the input to each of them based on input from the power switch 24 and the operation unit 23. If the operation unit 23 has a setting unit for setting the heating time, the display unit 22 displays the set heating time and the remaining heating time.

[0043] The menu recording unit 62 records the heating patterns of the heating coil 3 and heater 51 according to the cooking menu. Therefore, by operating the operation unit 23 to select a cooking menu, the heating control unit 61 can automatically determine the amount of heat to be applied to the ingredients based on the heating pattern for each menu recorded in the menu recording unit 62.

[0044] The imaging control section 63 controls the imaging by the imaging unit 44 in response to operation of the operation section 23. The imaging control section 63 adjusts the frame rate and brightness when capturing images, selects the range to be displayed on the display section 22, and displays the state of the ingredients being cooked on the display section 22. If the brightness inside the cooking oven is insufficient at this time, the lighting unit 43 can be turned on using the operation section 23, making it possible to more clearly check the state of the ingredients.

[0045] After the power switch 24 is pressed to turn on the power, the sight glass detection unit 64 determines, based on the image captured by the imaging unit 44, whether the sight glass 41 is attached in front of the imaging unit 44 and whether the attachment direction of the sight glass 41 is correct. For example, if the non-transparent portion 41a is captured in an image at a specified position, the sight glass detection unit 64 determines that the sight glass 41 is attached correctly. On the other hand, if the non-transparent portion 41a is not within the imaging range and the sight glass detection unit 64 detects that the sight glass 41 is not attached, the control unit 60 notifies the user by displaying on the display unit 22 that the sight glass 41 is not attached, and prevents operation from starting even if the start button provided on the operation unit 23 is pressed.

[0046] <Grilling operation> Next, the cooking operation in which an image of the inside of the cooking chamber is displayed on the display unit 22 on the top plate 2 when the grill is actually in use will be specifically described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. Here, the explanation will be given taking as an example the case where food 57 placed on a cooking pan 58 in a cooking chamber 50 is cooked in a cooking appliance Z installed in a system kitchen.

[0047] First, the user pulls door 6 forward to open the front opening of cooking chamber 50, places cooking pan 58 with food placed on it into cooking chamber 50, and then sets the cooking temperature and time using operation unit 23 provided on top plate 2. At this time, control unit 60 turns on lighting unit 43 to illuminate the inside of the cooking chamber, causes imaging unit 44 to capture an image of the inside of the cooking chamber, and then uses imaging control unit 63 and sight window detection unit 64 to determine whether sight window 41 is installed.

[0048] If the sight glass 41 is not installed, the control unit 60 will not start operation even if the start button is pressed, and will display on the display unit 22 a message indicating that the sight glass 41 is not installed, prompting the user to install the sight glass 41. On the other hand, if the sight glass 41 is installed correctly, the control unit 60 will start grill cooking when the user presses the start button (not shown) on the operation unit 23.

[0049] When cooking begins, the fan device 9 of the main body 1 is driven, the upper heater 51a or the lower heater 51b is energized, and the food is heated. In addition, the lighting unit 43 in the cooking chamber 50 is turned on, the blower fan 40 is driven, and the imaging unit 44 starts taking images.

[0050] When cooking begins, the temperature of cooking pan 58 in cooking chamber 50 rises, heating the food, and the resulting heat raises the ambient temperature of cooking chamber 50, which also raises the temperature of viewing window 41 provided in the wall of cooking chamber 50. As cooking progresses, heat leaks from gaps in the wall and door 6 of cooking chamber 50, causing the air temperature inside the system kitchen to rise.

[0051] In the configuration of the present invention, the temperature of the sight glass 41 and the lens portion 44b of the imaging unit 44 gradually rises as cooking progresses, thereby reducing the temperature difference between the inside of the cooking chamber and the sight glass 41, between the inside surface of the sight glass 41 and the surface of the storage case 42 side, and between the surface of the sight glass 41 and the lens portion 44b, and it is possible to clearly image food 57 in the cooking chamber 50 while suppressing condensation on the sight glass 41 and the lens portion 44b.

[0052] The state of the cooking chamber 50 during cooking is projected onto the display 22 on the top plate 2, allowing the user to keep track of what's happening inside the cooking chamber 50 while doing other tasks in the kitchen. If there is a discrepancy between the initial heating setting on the operation panel 23 and the food's finished state, the user can easily achieve their desired doneness by adding more heating time, stopping the heating midway, and pulling the door 6 to remove the cooking pan 58. This configuration allows for efficient heating, as there is no need to repeatedly check the doneness of the food while cooking (allowing heat to escape). Also, there is no need to repeatedly check through the door window (while bending over), so cooking can be done with less strain on the body due to posture.

[0053] <Operation when cleaning the grill interior> The interior walls of the grill chamber can become dirty due to oil splashes from food ingredients, and the sight glass 41 installed in the wall of the grill chamber can also become dirty with oil. When cleaning, if the sight glass is fixed to the interior wall of the grill chamber, the user has to reach inside the grill chamber to clean it, which can make it difficult to check the condition of the grill chamber after cleaning. On the other hand, if the sight glass 41 is detachable, the user can slide the sight glass 41 away from the wall of the grill chamber, thereby improving the efficiency of cleaning work.

[0054] However, because the viewing window 41 can now be removed, there is a possibility that the viewing window 41 removed for cleaning may be forgotten to be put back in before the next cooking session. If the cooking appliance is operated without the viewing window 41 attached, the temperature of the imaging unit 44 may easily rise, or the imaging unit 44 may become dirty with oil, which may cause malfunctions. As described above, the cooking appliance of the present invention uses the viewing window detection unit 64 to detect when the viewing window 41 is not attached, and by controlling the cooking appliance not to operate when the viewing window 41 is not attached, it is possible to prevent malfunctions of the imaging unit 44, etc.

[0055] In addition, in this embodiment, the sight glass detection unit 64 makes a determination based on the data captured by the imaging unit 44, but this method does not necessarily have to be used. For example, a mechanical switch may be provided at the position where the sight glass 41 is to be attached, and the determination may be made based on whether the mechanical switch is pressed.

[0056] Alternatively, a detection method using electrical resistance may be used. For example, instead of providing the sight glass 41 with a non-transparent portion 41a for installation detection, a metal portion is provided at a predetermined position, and a pair of electrodes is provided at a position where the metal portion comes into contact when the sight glass 41 is installed. With this configuration, when the sight glass 41 is not installed, there is air between the electrodes, and the electrical resistance increases. On the other hand, when the sight glass 41 is installed, the metal portion of the sight glass comes into contact with the pair of electrodes, and the electrical resistance becomes smaller than when the sight glass 41 is not installed, so the difference in electrical resistance may be used to make a determination.

[0057] <Effects of this Example> As described above, according to this embodiment, by detecting the installation status of the detachable viewing window in front of the camera using the installation status detection unit, cooking operations can be prevented without the viewing window attached, thereby preventing equipment failure. [Example]

[0058] Next, a description will be given of a cooking device according to a second embodiment. Note that a description of commonalities with the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0059] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a front cross section of the grill unit 5 of Example 2. This Example differs from Example 1 in that a fixed viewing window 80 that cannot be removed is provided outside the removable viewing window 41. In Example 1, if the viewing window 41 is removed due to cleaning or other reasons, there is no partition between the cooking chamber 50 and the imaging unit 44, and therefore operation must be disabled. On the other hand, in the cooking appliance of Example 2, even when the viewing window 41 is not installed, the fixed viewing window 80 is provided, so the cooking chamber 50 and the imaging unit 44 are always separated. Therefore, in this Example, even when the removable viewing window 41 is not installed, it is not necessary to prohibit operation, and it is sufficient to simply inform the user that the viewing window 41 is not installed by displaying the display unit 22, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1...main body, 1a...front panel, 2...top plate, 3...heating coil, 4...board cover, 5...grill section, 6...door, 6a...handle, 7...board, 8...board case, 9...fan device, 10...air intake, 21...pot holder section, 22...display section, 24...power switch, 40...blower fan, 41...viewportion, 41a...non-transparent section, 42...storage case, 42a...opening, 43...lighting unit, 44...imaging unit , 44a...board portion, 44b...lens portion, 50...cooking chamber, 51...heater, 51a...upper heater, 51b...lower heater, 54...stand, 56...door rail, 57...food, 58...cooking pan, 59...exhaust duct, 60...control unit, 61...heating control portion, 62...menu recording portion, 63...imaging control portion, 64...sight window detection portion, 80...fixed sight window, 100...system kitchen, 100a...gap, 101...storage portion

Claims

1. The main body and A pot holder disposed on the upper surface of the main body; A grill section disposed below the pot placement section; a display unit that displays an image; A cooking device having a control unit that controls each part, The grill section is The kitchen and a heater for heating food in the cooking chamber; An observation window detachably attached to the inner wall surface of the cooking chamber; an imaging unit disposed outside the cooking chamber and imaging the inside of the cooking chamber through the viewing window; It has The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has a sight glass detection unit that detects whether the sight glass is attached or not.

2. The cooking device according to claim 1, The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit notifies the user that the peep hole is not installed via a notification means when the peep hole detection unit detects that the peep hole is not installed.

3. The cooking device according to claim 2, The heating cooker is characterized in that the notification means is the display unit, a speaker, or a smartphone app.

4. The cooking device according to claim 1, The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the grill section so as not to start cooking when the sight glass detection section detects that the sight glass is not attached.

5. The cooking device according to claim 1, the observation window has a non-transparent portion at a predetermined position, The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the sight hole detection unit detects the attachment state of the sight hole based on the position of the non-transparent portion in an image captured by an imaging unit.

6. The cooking device according to claim 5, The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting state of the sight glass detected by the sight glass detection unit includes the mounting direction of the sight glass.

7. The cooking device according to claim 1, The cooking device is characterized in that the sight hole detection unit detects the installation state of the sight hole based on the depression of a mechanical switch installed at the installation position of the sight hole.

8. The cooking device according to claim 1, The sight glass has a metal portion at a predetermined position, The cooking device is characterized in that the sight hole detection unit detects the installation state of the sight hole based on the electrical resistance between a pair of electrodes installed at the installation position of the sight hole.

Images