Information code and heating cooker

Abstract

To provide an information code capable of urging a user to remove seasoning from a food container before cooking.SOLUTION: An information code (70) is an information code applied to a food container (41) containing food (40), and includes seasoning information indicating that seasoning (42) is attached to the food container.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information code attached to a container for storing food, and a cooking appliance. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, convenience stores, for example, provide a service in which food such as sold lunch boxes is heated in a heating cooker such as a microwave oven and handed over to customers.

[0003] The optimum heating temperature and heating time for heating food differ depending on the type of food. Therefore, the cooking device shown in Patent Document 1 uses a reading device to read an information code attached to a food container that contains food, and heats the food according to the heating information (heating temperature and heating time) contained in the information code. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-56125 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, food containers may have small pouches attached that contain condiments (such as mayonnaise) for seasoning the food. In particular, when a liquid condiment is attached to a food container, heating the food container in a heating cooker while the condiment is still attached to the food container can cause the pouch to burst, leading to product loss.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an information code and a cooking appliance that can prompt the user to remove seasonings from a food container before cooking. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, an information code according to one embodiment of the present invention is an information code that is attached to a container that holds food, and includes seasoning information that indicates that a seasoning is attached to the container.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, a heating cooker according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a heating chamber, a reading device that reads an information code attached to a container that holds food, and an alarm control unit that, if the information code includes seasoning information indicating that a seasoning is attached to the container, notifies information for removing the seasoning from the container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, the user can be prompted to remove the seasoning from the food container before cooking. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a top view showing a food container according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are a perspective view of a cooking device according to a first embodiment when viewed obliquely from below from the front and an enlarged view of a display portion of the cooking device. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device included in a cooking device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a process of the cooking device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a top view showing a food container according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a process of a cooking device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [Embodiment 1] (Food containers) Prior to describing the cooking device 1, a food container 41 (container) that contains food 40, which is an object to be heated, will be described first. FIG. 1 is a top view showing a food container 41 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an information code 70 is attached to the food container 41. A small bag containing a seasoning (hereinafter simply referred to as seasoning 42) is also attached to the food container 41. The seasoning 42 is not suitable for cooking with the food 40, and includes, for example, a liquid seasoning. The seasoning 42 is attached to the food container 41 by, for example, an attachment material 43 (such as tape). The information code 70 is attached to the food container 41 to which the seasoning 42 is attached.

[0012] 1, the information code 70 is a two-dimensional code (QR code (registered trademark)), but is not limited to this and the information code 70 may also be a one-dimensional barcode. The information code 70 is attached to the food container 41, for example, by printing or by a sticker. The information code 70 is attached to the lid of the food container 41, for example.

[0013] The information code 70 includes information (hereinafter referred to as seasoning information) indicating that a seasoning 42 is attached to the food container 41. The information code 70 may also include information indicating the type of seasoning 42.

[0014] In addition to the seasoning information, the information code 70 may further include heating information for heating the food. In other words, the seasoning information and the heating information for heating the food may be included in the same information code. The heating information includes information indicating the type of food and / or information indicating the conditions for cooking the food. For example, the heating information includes information indicating the type of food, such as whether the food is a bento (or further the type of bento) or whether the food is a rice ball (or further the type of rice ball), as well as heating information including the heating time and the wattage of the high-frequency output according to the indicated food.

[0015] The information code 70 is read by a reading device 16 of the cooking appliance 1, which will be described later. The reading device 16 acquires the seasoning information by reading the information code 70. When the cooking appliance 1 having the reading device 16 acquires the seasoning information, it recognizes that the seasoning 42 is attached to the food container 41, and notifies information for removing the seasoning 42 from the food container 41 (hereinafter also referred to as seasoning removal information). Furthermore, the reading device 16 acquires heating information at the same time as the seasoning information by reading the information code 70. The cooking appliance 1 having the reading device 16 heats and cooks the food 40 placed in the heating chamber 13 in accordance with the heating information.

[0016] (Overview of cooking appliances) Next, features of the cooking appliance 1 for cooking objects to be heated, including the food container 41, will be described. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view (reference numeral 1021) of the cooking appliance 1 seen from diagonally below the front, and an enlarged view (reference numeral 1022) of the display unit 30 of the cooking appliance 1. As shown by reference numeral 1021 in FIG. 2, the cooking appliance 1 is, for example, a microwave oven, and has an operation panel 11 at the top of the front face and a front door 12 (door) below the operation panel 11. The front door 12 opens and closes the heating chamber 13 located behind the front door 12, and covers the front opening 13b of the heating chamber 13 when closed. In the first embodiment, the front door 12 is of a side-opening type that rotates around the end on the left side as viewed from the front, and has a handle 14 near the right end, which is the end opposite the center of rotation.

[0017] As shown by reference numeral 1021 in Fig. 2, a camera 31 for photographing the interior of the heating chamber 13 is provided on the top surface 13a of the chamber. The camera 31 photographs the interior of the heating chamber 13. The cooking device 1 may determine the presence or absence of food based on the image photographed by the camera 31.

[0018] The operation panel 11 is provided on the front surface of the control frame 15. The operation panel 11 is provided so that the front surface of the operation panel 11 is substantially flush with the front surface of the front door 12 in the front-to-rear direction of the cooking appliance 1. The operation panel 11 includes input keys that accept user operations, and display units 20, 30 that display information to the user. The display unit 20 displays information (such as "Open the door and hold the information code over the red light") to guide the user so that the information code of the food item 40 is within the reading area of ​​the reading device 16. The display unit 30 notifies the user of the status inside the heating chamber 13, the status of reading the information code, etc. Furthermore, as shown by reference numeral 1022 in FIG. 2, the display unit 30 displays information (such as "Have you removed the seasoning?") for removing the seasoning 42 from the food container 41.

[0019] Inside the control frame 15, a control board (not shown) is provided that controls the display unit 30 of the operation panel 11 and accepts user operations on the input keys and the like.

[0020] Control frame 15 is provided so as to protrude forward from cooking appliance 1. Reading device 16 is attached to the underside of a reading device board (circuit board), and is provided at the bottom inside control frame 15. Reading device board 17 is equipped with a drive circuit for reading device 16. That is, reading device 16 is installed outside heating chamber 13, above front opening 13b of heating chamber 13, and is installed so as to have a reading area below the installation position.

[0021] The reading device 16 is, for example, a barcode reader, and is configured to read an information code (for example, a barcode) attached to the food to be heated in the cooking appliance 1 or to a container for the food.

[0022] The reading device 16 has a reading area below the reading device 16 , and the control frame 15 has a transparent reading window 18 in the portion of the bottom wall facing the reading device 16 .

[0023] The reading area of ​​the reader 16 is indicated by, for example, red light so that the user can visually recognize the reading area. This red light is emitted by a reading area illumination unit 21 (see FIG. 3). For example, a red LED is used as the reading area illumination unit 21. Note that the light indicating the reading area is not limited to red, and may be other light visible to the user, such as a laser. Furthermore, the number of red LEDs may be one or more.

[0024] The reading device 16 is provided at the center of the front opening 13b of the heating chamber 13 in the width direction (left and right direction).

[0025] The reader 16 may be an imaging device such as a camera, and may read an information code (for example, a barcode) as an image.

[0026] (Control device) 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device provided in the cooking appliance 1. The control device includes a control unit 22 that controls the operation of the cooking appliance 1. The control unit 22 is made up of, for example, a microcomputer, and has a CPU, ROM, and RAM.

[0027] 3, the control unit 22 is connected to the operation panel 11 (operation unit), the heating operation unit 23, the reading device 16, the reading area illumination unit 21, the reading result notification unit 24, the front door open / close detection unit 25 (open / close detection unit), and the memory 52 (storage unit). The front door open / close detection unit 25 is made up of, for example, a switch that is turned on when the front door 12 is closed, and detects whether the front door 12 is open or closed.

[0028] The heating operation unit 23 is an operation unit, such as a microwave output device or a heater, that heats the food placed in the heating chamber 13. The reading result notification unit 24 is a buzzer or a sound generating unit that is controlled by the control unit 22 and notifies the user of the success or failure of the reading of the information code by the reading device 16.

[0029] The control unit 22 can communicate with the server 51, for example, using an internet line. Heating information corresponding to various types of food is registered in the server 51. The control unit 22 acquires the heating information corresponding to the type of food from the server 51, which is acquired by the reading device 16 reading the information code, and controls the heating operation unit 23 so that the food is heated in accordance with the acquired heating information. The heating information corresponding to the type of food may be stored in the cooking appliance 1 itself. In this case, the cooking appliance 1 does not need to communicate with the server 51.

[0030] Control unit 22 includes notification control unit 22a, heating control unit 22b, and reading control unit 22c. When the information code attached to food container 41 includes seasoning information, notification control unit 22a notifies the user of information for removing seasoning 42 from food container 41. When reader 16 reads information code 70 and acquires seasoning information, notification control unit 22a notifies the user of information for removing seasoning 42 from food container 41. Specifically, notification control unit 22a controls operation panel 11 to cause display unit 30 to display information for removing seasoning 42 from food container 41 (such as the text "Have you removed the seasoning?"). This makes it possible to make the user aware that seasoning 42 is attached to food container 41 when the user attempts to heat-cook food 40 with seasoning 42 still attached to food container 41. In other words, it is possible to prompt the user to remove seasoning 42 from food container 41 before heat-cooking.

[0031] Notification control unit 22a may also notify information for removing seasoning 42 from food container 41 by means other than display (for example, by sound). Notification control unit 22a may also continue to notify the seasoning removal information from the time reading device 16 acquires the seasoning information until heating control unit 22b starts cooking, or may continue to notify the seasoning removal information until a predetermined signal is input via operation panel 11.

[0032] Heating control unit 22b heats and cooks food 40 placed in heating chamber 13 according to the heating information included in the information code. Specifically, heating control unit 22b controls the heating operation of heating operation unit 23 so as to heat and cook food 40 placed in heating chamber 13 according to the heating information.

[0033] Furthermore, heating control unit 22b controls the timing to start cooking depending on whether or not the information code contains seasoning information. Specifically, if the information code does not contain seasoning information, heating control unit 22b starts cooking food 40 when front door open / close detection unit 25 detects that front door 12 has been closed. In other words, if reader 16 does not acquire seasoning information, heating control unit 22b determines that no seasoning is attached to food container 41. Then, heating control unit 22b starts cooking food 40 when front door 12 is closed.

[0034] On the other hand, if the information code includes seasoning information, heating control unit 22b does not start cooking food 40 when front door open / close detection unit 25 detects for the first time that front door 12 has been closed after reading device 16 has read the seasoning information. In other words, when reading device 16 acquires seasoning information, heating control unit 22b determines that seasoning is attached to food container 41. Heating control unit 22b then does not start cooking food 40 when front door 12 is closed for the first time after reading device 16 acquires the seasoning information. As a result, even if a user places food container 41 with seasoning 42 in heating chamber 13 and immediately closes front door 12, cooking of food 40 does not start, and heating of seasoning 42 can be prevented.

[0035] If the information code includes seasoning information, heating control unit 22b starts cooking at the following timing, for example. That is, after notification control unit 22a notifies information to remove seasoning 42 from food container 41, heating control unit 22b starts cooking food 40 when a signal to start cooking is input via operation panel 11 (for example, when the start button on operation panel 11 is pressed). This allows the user to check the notification information, remove seasoning 42 from food container 41, and then operate operation panel 11 (press the start button), and cooking of food 40 starts only after the user confirms the notification information, removes seasoning 42 from food container 41, and then operates operation panel 11 (presses the start button). This increases the reliability of removing seasoning 42 from food container 41 before cooking. Note that control unit 22 does not need to accept a signal to start cooking while front door 12 is detected as open by front door open / close detection unit 25. Heating control section 22b starts cooking food 40 when front door open / close detection section 25 detects that front door 12 has been closed and a signal to start cooking is input.

[0036] Furthermore, heating control unit 22b may start cooking food 40 when front door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects that front door 12 has been opened after notification control unit 22a has issued information to remove seasoning 42 from food container 41, and then when front door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects that front door 12 has been closed. This allows the user to open front door 12, which was closed once to remove seasoning 42, remove food container 41 from heating chamber 13, place food container 41 with seasoning 42 removed back into heating chamber 13, and close front door 12, and cooking of food 40 begins only after that. This increases the reliability of removing seasoning 42 from food container 41 before cooking.

[0037] Reading control unit 22c controls the reading operation of reader 16. Reading control unit 22c may stop the reading operation of reader 16 from reading the information code for a predetermined time after reader 16 acquires the seasoning information, or may cancel the information code read by reader 16. This prevents unnecessary reading of the information code by reader 16 when food container 41 is removed from heating chamber 13 to remove seasoning 42 from food container 41, or when food container 41 from which seasoning 42 has been removed is placed back into heating chamber 13.

[0038] (Operation of cooking device 1) Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the cooking device 1. An example of the operation of the cooking device 1 for heating a food container 41 and a food container without seasoning 42 attached thereto will be described below with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the information code given to a food container without seasoning 42 attached thereto does not include seasoning information.

[0039] First, the control unit 22 waits until the front door open / close detection unit 25 detects that the front door 12 has been opened (S1). The user opens the front door 12 in accordance with the display on the display unit 20 (the message "Open the door and hold the information code over the red light"). At this time, the front door open / close detection unit 25 detects that the front door 12 has been opened. When the front door open / close detection unit 25 detects that the front door 12 has been opened (YES in S1), the control unit 22 activates the reading device 16 and the reading area illumination unit 21 (S2).

[0040] Control unit 22 waits until the information code is read by reading device 16 (S3). Following the display on display unit 20, the user moves food container 41 so that the information code is within the reading area of ​​reading device 16. This action causes reading device 16 to read the information code attached to food container 41. When reading device 16 has successfully read the information code, control unit 22 causes reading result notification unit 24 to notify the user that the information code has been successfully read.

[0041] When the information code is read by reader 16 (YES in S3), control unit 22 determines whether the information code includes seasoning information (S4). If the information code does not include seasoning information (NO in S4), control unit 22 waits until front door open / close detection unit 25 detects that front door 12 has been closed (S5). When read result notification unit 24 notifies the user that the information code has been successfully read, the user moves food container 41 to the inside of heating chamber 13 and places it in a predetermined position (on flat plate 13c) within heating chamber 13. The user then closes front door 12. When front door open / close detection unit 25 detects that front door 12 has been closed (YES in S5), control unit 22 starts cooking food 40 according to the heating information included in the information code (S6). In other words, if the information code does not include seasoning information, the control unit 22 recognizes that the food container to be heated is one to which no seasoning 42 is attached, and performs heat cooking of the food 40 without notifying the user of seasoning removal information.

[0042] On the other hand, if the information code includes seasoning information (YES in S4), control unit 22 notifies information for removing seasoning 42 from food container 41 (S7). Specifically, control unit 22 causes display unit 30 to display information for removing seasoning 42 from food container 41 (the text "Have you removed the seasoning?"). In other words, if the information code includes seasoning information, control unit 22 recognizes that food container 41 with seasoning 42 attached is to be heated, and notifies information for removing the seasoning.

[0043] After notifying the user of the information for removing the seasoning 42 from the food container 41, the control unit 22 waits until the front door open / close detection unit 25 detects that the front door 12 has been closed (S8). The user removes the seasoning 42 from the food container 41 in accordance with the display on the display unit 30.

[0044] When control unit 22 detects that front door 12 has been closed by front door open / close detection unit 25 (YES in S5), it waits until it detects that the start button has been pressed by operation panel 11 or until it detects that front door 12 has been opened by front door open / close detection unit 25 (S9, S10). When control unit 22 detects that the start button has been pressed by operation panel 11 (YES in S9), it starts cooking food 40 (S6). Alternatively, when control unit 22 detects that front door 12 has been opened by front door open / close detection unit 25 (YES in S10) and then detects that front door 12 has been closed by front door open / close detection unit 25 (YES in S11), it starts cooking food 40 (S6).

[0045] Incidentally, there are two possible actions that a user can take when removing seasoning 42 from food container 41. That is, one possible action is to remove seasoning 42 from food container 41 while front door 12 is left open, and the other possible action is to remove food container 41 from heating chamber 13, close front door 12, and then remove seasoning 42 from food container 41.

[0046] In the former case, the user removes the seasoning 42 from the food container 41 and then closes the front door 12. Then, the user presses the start button on the operation panel 11. This starts cooking the food 40.

[0047] In the latter case, the user removes the seasoning 42 from the food container 41, then opens the front door 12 and places the food container 41 in the heating chamber 13. The user then closes the front door 12. This starts the cooking of the food 40.

[0048] As described above, if the information code does not include seasoning information, the cooking device 1 starts cooking the food 40 when the front door 12 is closed. On the other hand, if the information code includes seasoning information, the cooking device 1 does not start cooking the food 40 when the front door 12 is closed for the first time after acquiring the seasoning information.

[0049] If the information code includes seasoning information, the cooking appliance 1 starts cooking the food 40 when the start button is pressed after the front door 12 is closed. This allows the user to remove the seasoning 42 from the food container 41 while keeping the front door 12 open, and press the start button on the operation panel 11 to start cooking the food 40.

[0050] Furthermore, if the information code includes seasoning information, the cooking appliance 1 also starts cooking the food 40 when the opening and closing of the front door 12 is detected again after the front door 12 has been closed. This allows the user to start cooking the food 40 by closing the front door 12, removing the seasoning 42 from the food container 41, opening the front door 12 again, placing the food container 41 in the heating chamber 13, and closing the front door 12.

[0051] Cooking appliance 1 may start cooking food 40 either when the start button is pressed or when opening and closing of front door 12 is detected again.

[0052] (Action and effect) According to the above configuration, when the information code includes seasoning information, the cooking appliance 1 can notify the user that it is necessary to remove the seasoning from the food container 41. This makes it possible to make the user aware that the seasoning 42 is attached to the food container 41 when the user attempts to cook the food 40 with the seasoning 42 still attached to the food container 41. In other words, the user can be prompted to remove the seasoning 42 from the food container 41 before cooking. This can prevent product loss due to heating the seasoning.

[0053] Furthermore, the cooking appliance 1 does not start cooking the food 40 when the front door 12 is closed for the first time after acquiring the seasoning information. As a result, even if the user places the food container 41 with the seasoning 42 in the heating chamber 13 and immediately closes the front door 12, cooking of the food 40 does not start, and heating of the seasoning 42 can be prevented.

[0054] Furthermore, cooking appliance 1 starts cooking food 40 when a signal to start cooking is input via operation panel 11 after notification control. Alternatively, cooking appliance 1 starts cooking food 40 when front door 12 is opened and then closed after notification control. This increases the reliability of removing seasoning 42 from food container 41 before cooking.

[0055] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0056] FIG. 5 is a top view of a food container 41A according to embodiment 2. Reference numeral 1051 in FIG. 5 is a top view of the food container 41A with seasoning 42 attached, and reference numeral 1052 in FIG. 5 is a top view of the food container 41A with seasoning 42 removed. As shown in FIG. 5, an information code 70A is provided on the food container 41A according to embodiment 2. Seasoning 42 is also provided on the food container 41A. An information code 70B is provided on the surface of seasoning 42. Seasoning 42 is also provided on the food container 41A so as to cover the information code 70A when viewed from above.

[0057] The information code 70A does not include seasoning information but does include heating information, while the information code 70B includes seasoning information but does not include heating information.

[0058] With this configuration, when food container 41A with seasoning 42 still attached is placed into heating chamber 13 of cooker 1, reader 16 reads information code 70B. That is, reader 16 obtains seasoning information but not heating information. Therefore, cooker 1 does not start cooking and notifies the user of seasoning removal information.

[0059] On the other hand, when seasoning 42 is removed from food container 41A and food container 41A is placed in heating chamber 13 of cooker 1, reader 16 reads information code 70A. That is, reader 16 does not acquire seasoning information but acquires heating information. Therefore, cooker 1 does not notify of seasoning removal information and starts cooking when front door 12 is closed.

[0060] 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the cooking appliance 1. An example of the operation of the cooking appliance 1 that heats the food container 41A will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0061] First, control unit 22 executes S1 to S4 in the same manner as in embodiment 1. If the information code does not include seasoning information (NO in S4), control unit 22 executes S5 and S6 in the same manner as in embodiment 1. That is, if the information code does not include seasoning information, control unit 22 recognizes that seasoning 42 has been removed from food container 41A, and performs heat cooking of food 40 without notifying seasoning removal information.

[0062] On the other hand, if the information code includes seasoning information (YES in S4), control unit 22 notifies information for removing seasoning 42 from food container 41 (S21). Control unit 22 then waits until the information code is read again (return to S3). That is, if the information code includes seasoning information, control unit 22 notifies information for removing seasoning 42 from food container 41, and then performs the operation of reading the information code again.

[0063] When food container 41A is placed into heating chamber 13 with seasoning 42 still attached (i.e., in the state indicated by reference numeral 1051 in FIG. 5), reader 16 reads information code 70B, which does not include heating information but does include seasoning information. After reading the information code, control unit 22 notifies the user of information to remove seasoning 42 from food container 41 and executes the operation of reading the information code. The user removes seasoning 42 from food container 41A, has reader 16 read information code 70A, places food container 41A in heating chamber 13, and closes front door 12. This starts cooking food 40.

[0064] As described above, when food container 41A is placed in heating chamber 13, cooking device 1 does not acquire heating information and therefore does not perform cooking unless seasoning 42 is removed. This increases the reliability of removing seasoning 42 from food container 41A before cooking.

[0065] Furthermore, the information code 70A attached to the food container 41A may be a conventional information code containing only heating information. This eliminates the need to replace the conventional information code attached to the food container with an information code containing seasoning information. In other words, the food container 41A can be provided simply by attaching seasoning 42 to a food container having a conventional information code.

[0066] [Software implementation example] The functions of the cooking device 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "device") can be realized by a program that causes a computer to function as the device, and a program that causes a computer to function as each control block of the device (particularly each part included in the control unit 22).

[0067] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program, thereby realizing the functions described in each of the above embodiments.

[0068] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0069] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control blocks can be realized by logic circuits. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of the control blocks can also be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0070] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may run on the control device or on another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0071] 〔summary〕 The information code according to the first aspect of the present invention is an information code given to a container that contains food, and includes seasoning information that indicates that a seasoning is attached to the container.

[0072] According to the above configuration, the cooking appliance can acquire the seasoning information by having the reading device of the cooking appliance read the information code. Therefore, the cooking appliance can notify the user of information for removing the seasoning from the container in accordance with the seasoning information. That is, the cooking appliance can prompt the user to remove the seasoning from the food container before cooking.

[0073] The information code according to the second aspect of the present invention may be the information code according to the first aspect, further including heating information for heating the food.

[0074] According to the above configuration, the seasoning information and the heating information can be included in the same information code, and therefore the cooking device can read the information code to notify the user of information for removing the seasoning from the container and automatically start cooking at a predetermined timing when it can determine that the seasoning has been removed.

[0075] A heating cooker according to aspect 3 of the present invention comprises a heating chamber, a reading device that reads an information code attached to a container that holds food, and an alarm control unit that, if the information code includes seasoning information indicating that a seasoning is attached to the container, issues information to remove the seasoning from the container.

[0076] According to the above configuration, when the information code includes seasoning information, the cooking appliance can notify the user that the seasoning needs to be removed from the container. This makes it possible to make the user aware that the seasoning is on the container when the user attempts to cook food with the seasoning still on the container. In other words, the user can be prompted to remove the seasoning 42 from the food container 41 before cooking. This prevents product loss due to heating the seasoning.

[0077] A heating cooker according to aspect 4 of the present invention is the same as in aspect 3 above, further comprising an opening / closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the door of the heating chamber, and a heating control unit that heats and cooks the food placed in the heating chamber in accordance with the heating information for heating the food contained in the information code, wherein if the information code does not contain the seasoning information, the heating control unit starts heating and cooking the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has been closed, and if the information code contains the seasoning information, the heating control unit may not start heating and cooking the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has been closed for the first time after the reading device reads the seasoning information.

[0078] According to the above configuration, the cooking appliance does not start cooking food when the door is closed for the first time after acquiring the seasoning information. This prevents the cooking appliance from starting cooking food even if the user places a container with seasonings in the heating chamber and closes the door immediately, thereby preventing the seasonings from heating.

[0079] A heating cooker according to aspect 5 of the present invention, in accordance with aspect 4 above, further includes an operation unit that accepts user operations, and the heating control unit may start heating and cooking the food when a signal to start heating and cooking is input via the operation unit after the notification control unit has notified information for removing the seasoning from the container.

[0080] According to the above configuration, the cooking device starts cooking the food when a signal to start cooking is input via the operation panel after notification control, thereby increasing the reliability of removing the seasoning from the container before cooking.

[0081] In a heating cooker according to aspect 6 of the present invention, in aspect 4 above, the heating control unit may start heating and cooking the food when the notification control unit notifies information for removing the seasoning from the container, the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has been opened, and then the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has been closed.

[0082] According to the above configuration, the cooking appliance starts cooking food when the door is opened after the notification control and then closed, thereby increasing the reliability of removing the seasoning from the container before cooking.

[0083] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 Cooker 11 Operation panel (operation section) 12 Front door (door) 13 Heating storage 16 Reading device 22 Control Unit 22a Notification control section 22b Heating control section 25 Front door open / close detector (open / close detector) 30 Display section 40 Food 41, 41A Food containers (containers) 42 Condiments 70, 70A, 70B Information Code

Claims

1. An information code given to a container that contains food, An information code including condiment information indicating that a condiment is attached to the container.

2. The information code according to claim 1 , further comprising heating information for heating the food.

3. A heating chamber and a reading device for reading an information code attached to a container containing food; A heating cooker comprising: an alarm control unit that, when the information code includes seasoning information indicating that a seasoning is attached to the container, issues information to remove the seasoning from the container.

4. An opening / closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the door of the heating chamber; a heating control unit that heats and cooks the food placed in the heating chamber in accordance with heating information for heating the food contained in the information code, If the information code does not include the seasoning information, the heating control unit starts cooking the food when the open / close detection unit detects that the door is closed, 4. The cooking device according to claim 3, wherein, when the information code includes the seasoning information, the heating control unit does not start cooking the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects for the first time that the door has been closed after the reading device has read the seasoning information.

5. further comprising an operation unit that accepts user operations; 5. The cooking device according to claim 4, wherein the heating control unit starts cooking the food when a signal to start cooking is input via the operation unit after the notification control unit has notified information to remove the seasoning from the container.

6. 5. The cooking device according to claim 4, wherein the heating control unit starts cooking the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has been opened after the notification control unit has notified information to remove the seasoning from the container, and then the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has been closed.

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