Heating cooker

Abstract

To facilitate wipe-off cleaning of an inner surface of a housing in a cooker whose heater is arranged in the housing.SOLUTION: A cooker includes: a housing 42 having an opening 42a in the front; a grill plate 44 that is put into / taken out of the housing 42 through the opening 42a; a linear heater 62 for heating the grill plate 44 arranged in the housing 42 so as to face the grill plate 44 in a vertical direction; a heater support member 70 provided on the inner surface of the housing 42 for supporting the heater 62. The heater support member 70 includes a support part 70a extending from the inner surface of the housing 42, and first and second support arm parts 70b and 70c extending in mutually different directions from the support part 70a for supporting mutually different first and second parts in the heater 62. The heater 62 extends so as to surround the support part 70a of the heater support member 70 with a distance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooking heater.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a heating cabinet including a housing in which an upper heater and a lower heater are disposed. Each of the upper heater and the lower heater is a linear heater, which extends from the rear wall portion of the housing forward and then turns back to return to the rear wall portion. Each of the upper heater and the lower heater is fixed to the housing via two fixing brackets.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the case of the heating cabinet of Patent Document 1, since there are a plurality of fixing brackets for fixing one heater, it is difficult to wipe and clean the inner surface of the housing.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to facilitate wiping and cleaning of the inner surface of a housing in a cooking heater in which a heater is disposed in the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a housing having an opening at the front, a grill tray that is inserted into and removed from the housing through the opening, a linear heater that is disposed in the housing so as to face the grill tray in the vertical direction and heats the grill tray, It has a heater support member provided on the inner surface of the housing for supporting the heater. The heater support member includes a support column portion extending from the inner surface of the housing, and first and second support arm portions respectively extending from the support column portion in different directions to support different first and second portions of the heater. There is provided a cooking heater in which the heater extends so as to surround the support column portion of the heater support member at a distance.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, in a cooking heater in which a heater is disposed in a housing, it becomes easy to wipe and clean the inner surface of the housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 17

[0009] A heating cooker according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing having an opening at the front, a grill plate that is inserted into and removed from the housing through the opening, a linear heater that is disposed in the housing so as to face the grill plate in the vertical direction and heats the grill plate, and a heater support member that is provided on an inner surface of the housing and supports the heater. The heater support member includes a support column portion that extends from the inner surface of the housing, and first and second support arm portions that respectively extend from the support column portion in different directions and support different first and second portions of the heater. The heater extends so as to surround the support column portion of the heater support member with a distance therebetween.

[0010] According to such an aspect, in a heating cooker in which a heater is disposed in a housing, it becomes easy to wipe and clean the inner surface of the housing.

[0011] For example, the heater may extend in a gourd shape when viewed from above.

[0012] For example, the heater may be disposed below the grill plate. In this case, the column portion of the heater support member extends upward from the bottom surface in the housing, the first support arm portion extends in one of the left - right directions to support the first portion of the heater, and the second support arm portion extends in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the first support arm portion to support the second portion of the heater.

[0013] For example, each of the first and second support arm portions of the heater support member may include first and second heater gripping portions that grip the first and second portions of the heater.

[0014] For example, the first and second support arm portions may be in the form of leaf springs that are deformable by bending in the front - rear direction of the housing, and bias the heater toward the rear wall portion of the housing.

[0015] For example, elongated holes extending from the column portion toward the tip may be formed in each of the first and second support arm portions.

[0016] For example, a convex portion may be provided on the bottom surface of the housing, and the column portion of the heater support member may extend from the convex portion.

[0017] For example, the housing may include a first slope surface extending from the bottom surface in the left and upward directions, and a second slope surface extending from the bottom surface in the right and upward directions. In this case, the heater is disposed between the first slope surface and the second slope surface.

[0018] For example, the housing may include a first support surface extending from the first slope surface to support the grill plate, and a second support surface extending from the second slope surface to support the grill plate. In this case, recesses may be formed in the first and second support surfaces, and recesses may also be formed in the portion of the bottom surface in front of the column portion of the heater support member.

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cooking appliance. Further, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an induction heating unit in the cooking appliance. Furthermore, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a grill unit in the cooking appliance. Note that the X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinate system shown in the figures is for facilitating the understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure and does not limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. The X-axis direction indicates the front-rear direction of the cooking appliance, the Y-axis direction indicates the left-right direction, and the Z-axis direction indicates the height direction.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the case of this embodiment, the cooking appliance 10 has an induction heating unit 20 and a grill unit 40. The grill unit 40 is attached below the induction heating unit 20.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the induction heating unit 20 of the cooking appliance 10 has a housing 22 and a top plate unit 24 disposed above the housing 22.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 22 of the induction heating unit 20 is a metal housing open at the top. The housing 22 is disposed below the top plate unit 24 and supports the top plate unit 24 from below.

[0024] The top plate unit 24 includes a top plate 26 on which a cooking container containing an object to be heated is placed, and a top frame 28 that supports the top plate 26. The top plate 26 is, for example, a plate-like member made of heat-resistant glass. The top frame 28 is a frame-like member that supports the top plate 26 and is supported by the housing 22. An operation unit 30 is provided at the front portion of the top frame 28.

[0025] Further, the induction heating unit 20 has a plurality of heating coil units 32A, 32B, and 32C that inductively heat a cooking container placed on the top plate 26 of the top plate unit 24.

[0026] The heating coil units 32A, 32B, and 32C are arranged inside the housing 22. Each of the heating coil units 32A, 32B, and 32C inductively heats a cooking container placed on a portion of the top plate 26 above it. The heating output of the heating coil units 32A, 32B, and 32C is adjusted by the user via the operation unit 30.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the grill unit 40 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 42 provided with an opening 42a on the front side, and a grill plate 44 that is inserted into and removed from the inside of the housing 42 through the opening 42a.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, in the case of this embodiment, the housing 42 is a double structure provided with an opening 42a facing forward. Specifically, the housing 42 includes an outer case 46 that opens forward and upward, an inner case 48 that is arranged inside the outer case 46 and opens forward and upward, a top cover 50 attached to the upper end of the inner case 48, and a front cover 52 that has the opening 42a and is attached to the front ends of the outer case 46 and the inner case 48.

[0029] The grill plate 44 is a heat-resistant plate on which an object to be heated such as food is placed. Although details will be described later, the grill plate 44 is configured to be insertable into and removable from the internal space of the housing 42, specifically, the space defined by the inner case 48 and the top cover 50. In the case of the present embodiment, an attachment 56 to which the front panel 54 is detachably attached is provided at the front end of the grill plate 44. A grip portion 54a for the user to hold is provided at the lower portion of the front panel 54. By the user moving the front panel 54 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), the grill plate 44 is inserted into and removed from the housing 42. When the grill plate 44 is stored in the housing 42, as shown in FIG. 1, the front panel 54 closes the opening 42a of the housing 42 (i.e., the front cover 52).

[0030] An upper heater 60 and a lower heater 62 for heating the object to be heated on the grill plate 44 are provided in the housing 42.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inner case provided with the upper heater and the lower heater as viewed obliquely from above in the front. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inner case with the grill plate disposed between the upper heater and the lower heater. Further, FIG. 7 is a top view of the inner case with the grill plate disposed between the upper heater and the lower heater.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the upper heater 60 and the lower heater 62 are linear heaters extending in a loop shape from one end to the other end. In the case of the present embodiment, for example, they are sheathed heaters. In the case of the present embodiment, the upper heater 60 and the lower heater 62 extend forward while meandering from the rear wall portion 48a of the inner case 48, then turn back, and extend toward the rear wall portion 48a while meandering. Further, the upper heater 60 and the lower heater 62 are arranged at intervals in the height direction (Z-axis direction). Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the grill plate 44 is stored in the housing 42, the upper heater 60 is positioned above the grill plate 44, and the lower heater 62 is positioned below the grill plate 44. The object to be heated placed on the grill plate 44 is directly heated by the upper heater 60 and indirectly heated by the grill plate 44 heated by the lower heater 62. Note that the heating outputs of the upper heater 60 and the lower heater 62 are adjusted by the user via an operation unit 30 provided in the top plate unit 24 of the induction heating unit 20.

[0033] Note that an exhaust duct 48b is provided in the rear wall portion 48a of the inner case 48. As shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust duct 48b communicates with an exhaust port 28a formed in the top frame 28 via an intermediate duct 34 provided in the housing 22 of the induction heating unit 20. By means of this exhaust duct 48b, steam and the like generated by heating the object to be heated on the grill plate 44 by the upper heater 60 and the lower heater 62 are discharged to the outside of the grill unit 40.

[0034] In the case of this embodiment, the upper heater 60 extends while meandering forward from one end 60a, then turns back, and extends while meandering rearward. Further, the upper heater 60 is supported by the rear wall portion 48a of the inner case 48 and by two heater support members 64, 66 so as to follow the top cover 50 of the housing 42. A through hole (not shown) through which one end 60a and the other end 60b of the upper heater 60 pass is formed in the rear wall portion 48a. Further, the upper heater 60 includes a holding plate 68 that holds one end 60a and the other end 60b. By fixing this holding plate 68 to the rear wall portion 48a, the upper heater 60 is fixed to the rear wall portion 48a.

[0035] One heater support member 64 extends obliquely forward from the upper portion of the left wall portion 48c of the inner case 48. The other heater support member 66 extends obliquely forward from the upper portion of the right wall portion 48d of the inner case 48. Each of the heater support members 64, 66 is provided at its tip with hook portions 64a, 66a that hook and support the upper heater 60.

[0036] In the case of this embodiment, the lower heater 62 extends while meandering forward from one end 62a, then turns back and extends while meandering rearward. In particular, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, when viewed from above (in the Z-axis direction), the lower heater 62 extends in a gourd shape. Due to this gourd shape, the lower heater 62 can uniformly heat the entire grill plate 44, that is, heat the central portion and the outer portion in the same manner. Further, in the central region (region A10 shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 10) where the lower heater 62 meanders so as to protrude inward, the lower heater 62 extends obliquely inward while going from the rear to the center and then extends obliquely outward while going from the center to the front. Therefore, compared with the case where it meanders with multiple right-angle bends in region A10, the stress load is easily dispersed. Also, since the linearly extending portions 62c and 62d that extend obliquely can be supported by the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c described later, assembly is easy. Further, the lower heater 62 is supported by the rear wall portion 48a along the bottom surface 48e of the inner case 48 and is also supported by one heater support member 70. A through hole (not shown) through which one end 62a and the other end 62b of the lower heater 62 pass is formed in the rear wall portion 48a. A holding plate 72 that holds one end 62a and the other end 62b is fixed to the rear wall portion 48a.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the heater support member for the lower heater. FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the heater support member for the lower heater. Further, FIG. 10 is a top view of the heater support member in a state of supporting the lower heater. And FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the inner case in a state where the lower heater is removed, viewed obliquely from the front upper side.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the heater support member 70 for the lower heater 62 includes a support column portion 70a extending from the inner surface inside the housing 42, and first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c respectively extending from the support column portion 70a in different directions. In the case of this embodiment, the heater support member 70 is made of an elastically deformable material, for example, a thin metal plate.

[0039] In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the column portion 70a of the heater support member 70 is fixed to the bottom surface 48e of the inner case 48 by screws 74. The first support arm portion 70b extends leftward from the column portion 70a, and the second support arm portion 70c extends rightward from the column portion 70a.

[0040] Also, in the case of this embodiment, each of the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c is provided with heater gripping portions 70d and 70e at their tips for gripping the lower heater 62. In the case of this embodiment, each of the heater gripping portions 70d and 70e is a concave notch portion that clamps the portions 62c and 62d of the lower heater 62 to be gripped in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) so as to be movable outward. The notched portions of the heater gripping portions 70d and 70e are tapered with widened tips. In addition, in order to be supported at two locations by such a heater support member 70, as shown in FIG. 10, the lower heater 62 extends so as to surround the column portion 70a of the heater support member 70 at a distance.

[0041] Furthermore, in the case of this embodiment, the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c are in the form of leaf springs that can be elastically deformed in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 42. Thereby, the lower heater 62 is biased and clamped toward the rear wall portion 48a by the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c, so that the rubbing noise generated when the lower heater 62 vibrates on the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c is suppressed. Also, when the lower heater 62 thermally expands, the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c flex to absorb the amount of thermal expansion. For this purpose, each of the portions 62c and 62d of the lower heater 62 supported by the heater support member 70 extends in a direction away from the column portion 70a while facing forward. As a result, the forward movement of the lower heater 62 supported by the heater support member 70 is restricted.

[0042] Furthermore, elongated holes 70f and 70g extending from the support column portion 70a toward the tip are formed in the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c, respectively. The elongated holes 70f and 70g penetrate in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 42. Through these elongated holes 70f and 70g, the user can visually recognize the portion of the housing 42 behind the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c. Thereby, it becomes easier for the user to wipe and clean the portion of the housing 42 behind the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c.

[0043] In the case of the present embodiment, the width of each of the elongated holes 70f and 70g increases as it moves away from the support column portion 70a. Thereby, compared with the case where the elongated holes 70f and 70g extend in a state where the width is constant, the stress generated in the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c is dispersed. As a result, the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c are bent and deformed as a whole without being locally bent.

[0044] Regarding the ease of wiping and cleaning by the user, in the case of the present embodiment, the support column portion 70a of the heater support member 70 extends from a convex portion 48f provided on the bottom surface 48e of the inner case 48 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11. Thereby, the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c are separated from the bottom surface 48e, and it becomes easier for the user to wipe and clean the bottom surface 48e located below the first and second support arm portions 70b and 70c. In addition, a female screw hole 48g and an engagement hole 48h necessary for attaching the heater support member 70 to the inner case 48 are formed on the convex portion 48f. As a result, the outflow of liquid such as oil to the outside of the inner case 48 through the female screw hole 48g and the engagement hole 48h is suppressed.

[0045] Hereinafter, details of the grill plate 44 that is disposed and heated between the upper heater 60 and the lower heater 62 will be described.

[0046] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the upper surface of the grill plate. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the grill plate. Further, FIG. 14 is a top view of the grill plate. Furthermore, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the grill plate taken along line A-A shown in FIG. 14. And FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the grill plate taken along line B-B shown in FIG. 14.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, the grill plate 44 is made of a material mainly composed of iron, has a thickness t between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm, and a fluorine coating layer is provided on its surface. The material mainly composed of iron is a material containing 90% or more of iron, such as steel. For example, the grill plate 44 has a uniform thickness between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm, and is formed by press molding and bending a steel plate (so-called pre-coated steel plate) with a fluorine coating on its surface. When manufacturing the grill plate 44 from a pre-coated steel plate, a grill plate 44 with different coating layers on the upper and lower surfaces can be manufactured by forming different coating layers on its two surfaces. Further, due to the fluorine coating layer, the grill plate 44 has wear resistance and antifouling properties.

[0048] Also, the grill plate 44 is made of a material mainly composed of iron and has a thickness t between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm, so that it has thermal conductivity with respect to the object to be heated on the grill plate 44 and is lightweight. When the grill plate 44 is made of a material mainly composed of iron, if the thickness is large, the thermal conductivity from the grill plate 44 heated by the lower heater 62 to the object to be heated on the grill plate 44 increases, but the weight increases. When the weight increases, the friction between the grill plate 44 and the inner surface of the housing 42 with which the grill plate 44 slides (the inner surface of the inner case 48 in this embodiment) increases.

[0049] Specifically, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the grill plate 44 is placed on the support surfaces 48i and 48j of the inner case 48 and slides on the support surfaces 48i and 48j. When the grill plate 44 is a heavy object, the friction between the grill plate 44 and the support surfaces 48i and 48j increases, and at least one of the grill plate 44 and the support surfaces 48i and 48j wears out. Therefore, the grill plate 44 made of a material mainly composed of iron has a wall thickness between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm for weight reduction.

[0050] In addition, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the grill plate 44 includes legs 44b and 44c that protrude downward from its bottom 44a. These legs 44b and 44c contact the support surfaces 48i and 48j of the inner case 48. As a result, the size of the contact surface of the grill plate 44 that contacts the support surfaces 48i and 48j becomes smaller, and the frictional force generated between the support surfaces 48i and 48j and the grill plate 44 becomes smaller. Convex stopper portions 48k that contact the legs 44b and 44c are provided on the front side portions of the support surfaces 48i and 48j to prevent the grill plate 44 from falling off the housing 42.

[0051] Also, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, in the inner case 48, the support surfaces 48i and 48j that support the grill plate 44 are arranged on both sides in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) with respect to the bottom surface 48e, and are arranged at a position higher than the bottom surface 48e where the lower heater 62 is provided (that is, a position closer to the top cover 50). Thereby, the lower heater 62 can be arranged below the grill plate 44.

[0052] Furthermore, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, in the inner case 48, a slope surface 48m is provided between the bottom surface 48e and the support surface 48i, and a slope surface 48n is provided between the bottom surface 48e and the support surface 48j. The slope surface 48m extends from the bottom surface 48e toward the support surface 48i in the leftward and upward directions. The slope surface 48n extends from the bottom surface 48e toward the support surface 48j in the rightward and upward directions. A lower heater 62 is disposed between these slope surfaces 48m and 48n. Therefore, the heat radiated from the lower heater 62 in the left - right direction is reflected by the slope surfaces 48m and 48n and reaches the lower heater 62. As a result, the heating efficiency of the lower heater 62 with respect to the grill plate 44 is improved.

[0053] Although the heating efficiency of the lower heater 62 is improved by these slope surfaces 48m and 48n, liquids such as oil spilled from the grill plate 44 onto the support surfaces 48i and 48j tend to flow toward the bottom surface 48e, that is, the heater support member 70. As a countermeasure, recesses 48p for storing the spilled liquid are formed in the support surfaces 48i and 48j, respectively. In the case of this embodiment, each of the recesses 48p is a groove extending in the front - rear direction (X - axis direction). In the case of this embodiment, for the same reason, a recess 48q is also formed in the portion of the bottom surface 48e in front of the column portion 70a of the heater support member 70.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the grill plate 44 is substantially rectangular in a top view (viewed in the Z - axis direction). The grill plate 44 includes an annular side wall portion 44d erected from the outer peripheral edge of its bottom portion 44a. The bottom portion 44a of the grill plate 44 protrudes upward at an interval from the side wall portion 44d and includes a raised portion 44e on which a heating object is placed. Liquids such as oil flowing out from the heating object accumulate in the annular valley portion 44f between the side wall portion 44d and the raised portion 44e.

[0055] Some of the liquid such as oil accumulated in the trough portion 44f between the side wall portion 44d and the raised portion 44e is heated by the lower heater 62 and vaporized. The vaporized liquid adheres to the inner surface of the housing 42, and as a result, the inner surface of the housing 42 becomes dirty. As a countermeasure against this, as shown in FIG. 15, the width W1 of the front portion 44i of the trough portion 44f between the front end of the raised portion 44e and the front portion of the side wall portion 44d is larger than the width W2 of the front portion 44j of the trough portion 44f between the rear end of the raised portion 44e and the rear portion of the side wall portion 44d. As a result, the liquid such as oil accumulated in the trough portion 44f accumulates more in the front portion 44i of the trough portion 44f. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in a top view (viewed in the Z-axis direction), the front portion 44i of the trough portion 44f is away from the lower heater 62. Due to such a trough portion 44f, the vaporization of the liquid such as oil accumulated in the trough portion 44f is suppressed. Further, since the width W1 of the front portion 44i of the trough portion 44f between the front end of the raised portion 44e and the front portion of the side wall portion 44d is larger than the width W2 of the front portion 44j of the trough portion 44f between the rear end of the raised portion 44e and the rear portion of the side wall portion 44d, the portion where the heating object is placed (that is, the raised portion 44e) is located in the rear portion of the grill plate 44, so that when the user takes out the grill plate 44, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally touching the hot heating object.

[0056] When the grill plate 44 is stored in the housing 42 (that is, when the front panel 54 closes the opening 42a of the housing 42), as shown in FIG. 7, the raised portion 44e is located above the lower heater 62. Further, in a top view (viewed in the Z-axis direction), the lower heater 62 is disposed within the contour of the raised portion 44e. Therefore, a temperature difference occurs between the central portion of the raised portion 44e close to the lower heater 62 and the outer portion far from the lower heater 62. In particular, since the thickness t of the grill plate 44 is thin, the heat capacity is low, and therefore a large temperature difference is likely to occur (that is, heat is more likely to move outside the raised portion 44e than to spread throughout the inside of the raised portion 44e). When such a temperature difference occurs, uneven baking of the heating object occurs.

[0057] In order to reduce the temperature difference within the raised portion 44e of the grill plate 44 on which the object to be heated is placed, the top surface 44g of the raised portion 44e is inclined downward at least partially from the central portion toward the outer portion. That is, at least a part of the outer portion of the top surface 44g is close to the lower heater 62 located below the raised portion 44e.

[0058] In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the top surface 44g of the raised portion 44e of the grill plate 44 is planar. Therefore, in order to reduce the temperature difference within the raised portion 44e, as shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of grooves 44h are formed in the planar top surface 44g.

[0059] Each of the plurality of grooves 44h is formed in the top surface 44g of the raised portion 44e of the grill plate 44 in a state of being arranged parallel to each other. Also, as shown in FIG. 16, each of the plurality of grooves 44h is formed such that the depth D increases from the central portion toward the outer portion of the top surface 44g. Due to such grooves 44h, at least a part of the outer portion of the top surface 44g is close to the lower heater 62 located below the raised portion 44e. As a result, the temperature difference within the raised portion 44e of the grill plate 44 is reduced.

[0060] Also, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, each of the plurality of grooves 44h is formed such that its width W3 increases from the central portion toward the outer portion of the top surface 44g. Thereby, more portions of the outer portion of the top surface 44g of the raised portion 44e are close to the lower heater 62 located below the raised portion 44e. As a result, the temperature difference within the raised portion 44e of the grill plate 44 is further reduced.

[0061] Note that, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the plurality of grooves 44h extend in the diagonal direction of the substantially rectangular top surface 44g. However, the extending direction of the plurality of grooves 44h is not limited to this, and various directions are possible.

[0062] FIG. 17 is a top view of a grill plate in a cooking heater according to another embodiment.

[0063] In the grill plate 144 of the cooking heater according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the plurality of grooves 144h extend in the short side direction (Y-axis direction) of the rectangular top surface 144g of the raised portion 144e on the top surface 114g.

[0064] Thus, the extending direction of the plurality of grooves formed on the top surface of the raised portion of the grill plate is not limited. Also, the extending directions of the plurality of grooves may be different from each other. For example, the plurality of grooves may extend radially from the central portion of the top surface toward the outer portion.

[0065] In the case of this embodiment, the grill plate 44 slides on the inner surface of the housing 42 of the grill unit 40 and is inserted into and removed from the housing 42. Also, the grill plate 44 is made of a material mainly composed of iron. Instead of sliding, the grill plate may be supported by slidable rails provided on the housing and be inserted into and removed from the housing by sliding of the rails. In this case, the grill plate can be inserted into and removed from the housing with a light force by the rails. Also, the grill plate may be made of aluminum. When the grill plate is aluminum, the grill plate has high thermal conductivity, whereby the heating time of the object to be heated can be shortened.

[0066] According to the present embodiment as described above, in a cooking heater in which a heater is disposed in a housing, wiping and cleaning of the inner surface of the housing becomes easy. That is, since the heater is supported by one heater support member, wiping and cleaning becomes easier than in the case where the heater is supported by a plurality of heater support members.

[0067] As described above, the present disclosure has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0068] For example, in the case of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the lower heater 62 extends in the shape of a gourd, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The shape of the linear lower heater supported by the first and second support arm portions of one heater support member may include a portion that extends so as to surround the support column portion of the heater support member with a distance therebetween.

[0069] Also, in the case of the above-described embodiment, the lower heater 62 supported by the first and second support arm portions of one heater support member is disposed below the grill plate 44 as shown in FIG. 7. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. In addition to or instead of this, the upper heater may be supported by the first and second support arm portions of one heater support member.

[0070] Furthermore, in the case of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the cooking heater 10 is composed of an induction heating unit 20 and a grill unit 40. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The cooking heater may be composed of the grill unit alone.

[0071] That is, the cooking heater according to the embodiments of the present disclosure broadly includes a housing having an opening at the front, a grill plate that is inserted into and removed from the housing through the opening, a linear heater that is disposed in the housing so as to face the grill plate in the vertical direction and heats the grill plate, and a heater support member that is provided on the inner surface of the housing and supports the heater. The heater support member includes a support column portion that extends from the inner surface of the housing, and first and second support arm portions that extend from the support column portion in different directions and support different first and second portions of the heater. The heater extends so as to surround the support column portion of the heater support member with a distance therebetween.

Industrial Applicability

[0072] The present disclosure is applicable to a cooking heater that houses a grill plate with a heating target such as food placed thereon in a housing and heats the grill plate with a heater disposed in the housing.

Explanation of Signs

[0073] 42 Housing 42a Opening 44 Grill plate 62 Heater 70 Heater support member 70a Support column portion 70b First support arm portion 70c Second support arm portion

Claims

1. A housing having an opening at the front, A grill tray that is inserted into and removed from the housing through the opening, A linear heater that is disposed in the housing so as to face the grill tray in the vertical direction and heats the grill tray, A heater support member provided on the inner surface of the housing and supporting the heater, The heater support member includes a support column portion extending from the inner surface of the housing, and first and second support arm portions respectively extending from the support column portion in different directions to support different first and second portions of the heater, A cooking heater, wherein the heater extends so as to surround the support column portion of the heater support member with a distance therebetween.

2. The cooking heater according to claim 1, wherein the heater extends in a gourd shape when viewed from above.

3. The heater is disposed below the grill tray, The support column portion of the heater support member extends upward from the bottom surface of the housing, the first support arm portion extends in one of the left and right directions to support the first portion of the heater, and the second support arm portion extends in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the first support arm portion to support the second portion of the heater. The cooking heater according to claim 2.

4. The cooking heater according to claim 3, wherein each of the first and second support arm portions of the heater support member includes first and second heater gripping portions that grip the first and second portions of the heater.

5. The first and second support arm portions are in the form of leaf springs that can be elastically deformed in the front-rear direction of the housing, and bias the heater toward the rear wall portion of the housing. The cooking heater according to claim 4.

6. The cooking heater according to claim 5, wherein elongated holes are formed in each of the first and second support arm portions, extending from the support column portion toward the tip.

7. A convex portion is provided on the bottom surface of the housing, The support column portion of the heater support member extends from the convex portion. The cooking heater according to claim 3.

8. The housing includes a first slope surface extending from the bottom surface in the left and upward directions, and a second slope surface extending from the bottom surface in the right and upward directions, The cooking heater according to claim 3, wherein the heater is disposed between the first slope surface and the second slope surface.

9. The housing includes a first support surface that extends from the first slope surface and supports the grill plate, and a second support surface that extends from the second slope surface and supports the grill plate. Recesses are formed in the first and second support surfaces. The cooking heater according to claim 8, wherein a recess is formed in a portion of the bottom surface in front of the support column portion of the heater support member.

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