Heating cooker

Abstract

To provide a heating cooker which can suppress the deterioration in design performance of an external appearance of an apparatus, and can secure the visibility of operation information.SOLUTION: One example of a heating cooker comprises at least a range cooking function for irradiating a product to be heated with a microwave to perform heating cooking. The heating cooker comprises a main body part, a door part, and an operation part. The main body part comprises a heating chamber which can accommodate the product to be heated and has an opening part at a front face side therein. The door part can be opened and closed with respect to the opening part. The operation part sets an operation state of the range cooking function. Then, the door part has an electromagnetic seal structure with a punch metal sandwiched between a chamber inside and a surface side, and the operation information to be inputted into the operation part is formed on a door inner face of the door part at the chamber inside by heat resistance paint.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a cooking appliance.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a cooking appliance that stores an object to be heated, such as food, in a heating chamber (cooking chamber) and performs cooking by heating is known. As cooking functions, there are an oven cooking function for heating an object to be heated with hot air, a grill cooking function for heating an object to be heated with the heat of a heater, a range cooking function for irradiating an object to be heated with microwaves and performing cooking by heating, a steam heating cooking function for heating an object to be heated with superheated steam, and the like. There are cooking appliances that have these functions alone or have a plurality of functions. In such a cooking appliance, a cooking program such as a heating method for the object to be heated and a heating time may be prepared in advance as operation information (operation menu, cooking menu, etc.). The operation information may be displayed (noted) on, for example, the surface of the door of the cooking appliance or the bottom surface of the heating chamber. The user of the cooking appliance selects the operation information according to the purpose of cooking and inputs the operation information to the operation unit to execute cooking by the cooking appliance.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when the display (notation) of operation information is arranged on the surface of the door as in the prior art, it may become one of the causes of the reduction in design property and may not be preferable. Also, when the display (notation) of operation information is arranged on the bottom surface of the heating chamber, although the influence on the design property of the appearance of the cooking heater can be avoided, the visibility of the operation information may be reduced. For example, foods, ingredients, etc. which are objects to be heated may be arranged in the heating chamber in a state of being placed on an individual dish. Also, in the heating chamber, a plate-shaped square dish (grill dish) may be arranged. The square dish is used by directly placing ingredients, etc. thereon or placing an individual dish on which ingredients are placed. Therefore, the operation information displayed (notated) on the bottom surface in the heating chamber may be covered with an individual dish or a square dish, which may cause a reduction in visibility. Also, in the heating chamber, dirt often occurs due to spillage of ingredients during cooking. In this case, when the operation information is displayed (notated) on the bottom surface of the heating chamber, it may be hidden by the dirt, which may become one of the causes of the reduction in visibility.

[0005] An example of the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cooking heater that can suppress a reduction in the design property of the appearance of the device and ensure the visibility of operation information.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] A cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least a range cooking function of irradiating an object to be heated with microwaves for cooking. The cooking appliance also includes a main body portion, a door portion, and an operation portion. The main body portion includes a heating chamber inside that can accommodate the object to be heated and has an opening on the front side. The door portion is pivotable with respect to the opening about a width direction axis at a lower part of the opening. The operation portion sets an operating state of the range cooking function. The inner surface of the door inside the cabinet of the door portion is formed of heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet, and the surface-side member of the door portion is formed of surface-side glass. The door portion has a light-transmitting region portion that allows visual recognition of the inside of the heating chamber, and the light-transmitting region portion has a light-shielding portion. The door portion has an electromagnetic shielding structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the inner side of the cabinet and the surface side. On the inner surface of the door inside the cabinet of the door portion, as operation information input to the operation portion, a food ingredient or cooking name that is the object to be heated and a menu number associated therewith are formed on the light-shielding portion such that the pivot axis side is on the upper side in terms of notation, and the operation portion accepts the operating state by input of the menu number. A cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least a range cooking function of irradiating an object to be heated with microwaves for cooking. The cooking appliance also includes a main body portion, a door portion, and an operation portion. The main body portion includes a heating chamber inside that can accommodate the object to be heated and has an opening on the front side. The door portion is pivotable with respect to the opening about a width direction axis at a lower part of the opening. The operation portion sets an operating state of the range cooking function. The door portion has a light-transmitting region portion that allows visual recognition of the inside of the heating chamber, and the operation portion is disposed on the outer surface of the door portion. The door portion has an electromagnetic shielding structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the inner side of the cabinet and the surface side. On the inner surface of the door inside the cabinet of the door portion, as operation information input to the operation portion, a food ingredient or cooking name that is the object to be heated and a menu number associated therewith are formed on an operation portion corresponding position on the inner surface of the door that corresponds to the back surface position of the operation portion by means of a heat-resistant paint such that the pivot axis side is on the upper side in terms of notation, and the operation portion accepts the operating state by input of the menu number. Note that the menu number may be a two - digit number. Also, the menu numbers may be formed on the inner surface of the door in ascending order starting from 1.

[0010] A cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least a range cooking function of irradiating a food to be heated with microwaves for cooking. The cooking appliance also includes a main body, a door, and an operation unit. The main body includes a heating chamber inside that can accommodate the food to be heated and has an opening on the front side. The door is openable and closable with respect to the opening. The operation unit sets the operating state of the range cooking function. The door has an electromagnetic shielding structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the inside of the cabinet and the surface side, and a non-opening region is provided in the punching metal, and operation information input to the operation unit is formed in the non-opening region on the inside of the cabinet.

[0011] According to the above cooking appliance, for example, since the operation information (operation menu, cooking menu, etc.) is provided on the inner surface of the door, it is easy to suppress a decrease in the design property of the appearance. Further, since the operation information is provided on the inner surface of the door, it is easy to avoid being covered by a dish or the like disposed in the heating chamber or being covered by dirt such as splashing, and it is easy to maintain the visibility of the operation information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the components according to the embodiments and the descriptions of the components may be described in a plurality of expressions. The components and their descriptions are examples and are not limited by the expressions in this specification. The components may be specified by names different from those in this specification. Also, the components may be described by expressions different from those in this specification.

[0014] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an exemplary and schematic diagram showing a cooking appliance 10A according to the first embodiment, and is a perspective view showing a case where the door portion 12A is in a closed state. Further, FIG. 2 is an exemplary and schematic diagram showing the cooking appliance 10A, and is a perspective view showing a state where the door portion 12A is in an open state and the display area portion 14 is visible. The cooking appliance 10A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is, as an example, a multi-functional oven range capable of realizing various cooking operations. The details of the display area portion 14 will be described later.

[0015] The cooking heater 10A is composed of a rectangular box-shaped main body 16 and a door 12A that can be opened and closed with respect to an opening 18 formed on the front side of the main body 16 (the front side of the heating chamber described later). In the case of the cooking heater 10A, the door 12A is supported by a hinge at the lower part of the opening 18 and can be opened and closed with respect to the opening 18 with the width direction (the direction of arrow X in the figure) at the lower part of the opening 18 as the rotation axis. The main body 16 includes a heating chamber 20 (also referred to as a cooking chamber) inside which foods, ingredients, etc. as objects to be heated can be accommodated. The object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface 22 of the heating chamber 20 in a state of being placed on an individual dish. Further, the object to be heated is directly placed on a square dish (not shown) whose both end portions in the X direction are supported by a pair of left and right square dish receivers 26a, 26b and square dish receivers 26c, 26d that extend in the depth direction (the direction of arrow Y in the figure) on the side wall portions 24a, 24b of the heating chamber 20, or is placed in a state of being placed on an individual dish or the like. In the case of FIG. 2, the square dish receivers 26a and 26b are upper square dish receivers, and the square dish receivers 26c and 26d are lower square dish receivers. The number of stages of the square dish receivers may be, for example, 1 stage or 3 or more stages.

[0016] The cooking heater 10A is provided with a heating device that realizes a plurality of cooking functions. Examples of the cooking functions include an oven cooking function for heating an object to be heated by hot air, a grill cooking function for heating an object to be heated by the heat of a heater, a range cooking function for irradiating an object to be heated with microwaves for cooking, a steam cooking function for heating an object to be heated by superheated steam, and the like.

[0017] The oven heating and cooking function is realized by hot air discharged from a circulation fan heater 30, which is an example of a heating device provided on the rear wall portion 28 of the heating chamber 20. The grill heating and cooking function is realized by heat generated by an upper heater (not shown), which is an example of a heating device provided on the ceiling wall portion 32 of the heating chamber 20. The range cooking function is realized by microwaves, which are radio waves irradiated from a microwave generator (not shown), which is an example of a heating device arranged inside the bottom surface portion 22 of the heating chamber 20. The steam heating and cooking function is realized by steam generated by a steam supply device (not shown), which is an example of a heating device, supplied from a steam ejection hole 34 provided in the side wall portion 24a.

[0018] Each cooking function of the cooking appliance 10A configured in this way is realized by executing a pre-stored cooking program. The cooking program is executed, for example, by selecting food ingredients, cooking names, numbers (menu numbers) previously associated with them, etc., and inputting them using an operation unit 36 arranged at the lower part of the door surface 12Aa of the door portion 12A.

[0019] The operation unit 36 sets the operating state of the heating device. The operation unit 36 is composed of, for example, a dial-type menu selection and cooking start switch 36a, an operation cancellation switch 36b, a function setting switch 36c, a display device 36d, etc. The display device 36d can display at least one of operation information such as operation content and cooking progress state, and can be composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Note that the display device 36d may be covered with a transparent operation input unit such as a touch panel. In this case, various switches may be displayed on the display device 36d, and various operations may be executed according to the display content. By using an operation input unit such as a touch panel, some or all of the menu selection and cooking start switch 36a, the operation cancellation switch 36b, the function setting switch 36c, etc. can be omitted, which can contribute to the simplification of the door portion 12A and the improvement of the degree of freedom of the design.

[0020] In the door portion 12A, a light transmission region portion 38 (also referred to as a viewing window) is formed above the operation portion 36 so that the inside of the heating chamber 20 can be visually recognized through the closed door portion 12A. That is, the light transmission region portion 38 can transmit visible light to the inside of the heating chamber 20.

[0021] The door portion 12A includes the operation portion 36 as described above at the lower part of a substantially rectangular frame 40, and the light transmission region portion 38 is provided in a region above the operation portion 36. Further, a handle 42 for opening and closing the door portion 12A extends in the width direction (X direction) at the upper part of the door portion 12A.

[0022] In the case of the cooking heater 10A having a range cooking function, it is designed so that the leakage of microwaves is within the regulated value. For example, the door portion 12A has an electromagnetic shielding structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet facing the heating chamber 20 side and the surface-side glass (which may be heat-resistant glass) of the door surface 12Aa of the door portion 12A. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an illumination portion 44 for illuminating an illumination region E including the inner surface 12Ab of the door portion 12A when the inside of the heating chamber 20 and the door portion 12A are in an open state is provided at a substantially central portion of the ceiling wall portion 32 of the heating chamber 20. The illumination portion 44 lights up when the door portion 12A is in an open state and during a heating operation (such as during cooking and during cleaning inside the cabinet by heating). Note that the position where the illumination portion 44 is installed is not limited to the substantially central portion of the ceiling wall portion 32, and it is sufficient if at least the inside of the heating chamber 20 and the illumination region E can be illuminated, and the installation position may be changed as appropriate.

[0023] The punching metal incorporated in the above-described door portion 12A is, for example, a mesh-like plate member in which a large number of circular openings are formed. For example, when the illumination portion 44 is lit, the state inside the heating chamber 20 (such as the progress state of cooking) can be easily visually recognized through the mesh. Further, when the illumination portion 44 is turned off in a standby state other than the heating operation, the inside of the heating chamber 20 is difficult to visually recognize due to the presence of portions other than the openings of the punching metal. That is, it contributes to improving the designability when the cooking heater 10A is not in use.

[0024] In the cooking appliance 10A configured as described above, the above-described display area portion 14 is disposed on a part of the inner surface 12Ab of the door portion 12A, for example, on the rear side in the Y direction of the inner surface 12Ab when the door portion 12A is in the open state. And operation information (for example, operation menu, cooking menu, etc.) input via the operation unit 36 is displayed (noted) in this display area portion 14.

[0025] FIG. 3 is an example of operation information 46 displayed (noted) in the display area portion 14 of the cooking appliance 10A. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 3, foods and cooking names are associated with numbers and displayed as "heating menu" or "cooking menu". Also, the types of cleaning are associated with numbers and displayed as "maintenance menu". By specifying a number (menu number) from the operation unit 36 to operate the cooking appliance 10A, it operates under operating conditions corresponding to the menu number. Note that the operation information 46 shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and a menu for realizing the functions of the cooking appliance 10A is displayed. Also, display of information for specifying the heating time for each menu, display of information for specifying the heating quantity, heating temperature, etc. may be performed.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, when the user faces the cooking appliance 10A with the door portion 12A in the open state, the operation information 46 is arranged to be directly displayed on the inner cabinet heat-resistant glass constituting the inner surface 12Ab of the door so that the upper side of the display (notation) is on the rear side (Y direction) of the inner surface 12Ab of the door, so that the displayed characters and the like can be easily recognized. In this case, it is possible to easily form the operation information 46 in which distortion of characters and numbers due to thermal deformation or the like hardly occurs, and since distortion is easily suppressed, it is easy to maintain visibility. Also, in another example, the operation information 46 printed on a sheet-like base may be disposed in the display area portion 14. In this case, the sheet-like base can also serve as a light shielding member described later. Also, in another example, the operation information 46 may be disposed on the back surface of the inner cabinet heat-resistant glass, that is, between the punching metal and the inner cabinet heat-resistant glass. In this case, it is preferable that the inner cabinet heat-resistant glass is a glass with a high light transmittance (for example, transparent glass).

[0027] The user of the cooking appliance 10A first opens the door portion 12A and places the food to be cooked in a state suitable for cooking, for example, in an individual dish or on a square dish, at a predetermined position (for example, the central part) inside the heating chamber 20. Then, the user finds the number corresponding to the food to be cooked or the dish name from the operation information 46 displayed in the display area portion 14. In this case, since the display area portion 14 is arranged on the inner surface 12Ab of the door of the door portion 12A, even when the food, individual dishes, square dishes, etc. are already placed in the heating chamber 20, the operation information 46 can be easily visually recognized without being hidden by these foods, individual dishes, square dishes, etc. Also, even if spillage or the like occurred inside the heating chamber 20 during past cooking, the possibility of the spilled liquid or the like adhering to the inner surface 12Ab of the door portion 12A, which is in a substantially upright position in the closed state, is low. As a result, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the visibility of the operation information 46 displayed in the display area portion 14.

[0028] Also, when the door portion 12A is in the open state, the display area portion 14 exists on the inner surface 12Ab of the door portion 12A that has been opened and is closer to the user side than the main body portion 16 at a position where the user can look down. Therefore, compared to the case where the operation information 46 is displayed on other parts of the cooking appliance 10A, it is easier to recognize.

[0029] Furthermore, when the door portion 12A is in the open state, as described above, the lighting portion 44 lights up and the display area portion 14 is illuminated. Therefore, even when the ambient environment around the cooking appliance 10A is dark, the visibility of the operation information 46 displayed in the display area portion 14 can be sufficiently ensured.

[0030] In addition, since the display area section 14 (operation information 46) is arranged on the inner door surface 12Ab of the door section 12A, the appearance of the cooking heater 10A can be easily simplified. For example, when the operation information 46 is arranged on the door surface 12Aa of the door section 12A (for example, the area above the operation section 36), miscellaneous characters and symbols will be displayed on the door surface 12Aa, which may lead to a decline in the design property of the appearance (door section 12A) of the cooking heater 10A. On the other hand, by arranging the display area section 14 (operation information 46) on the inner door surface 12Ab of the door section 12A, it is possible to avoid a decline in the design property of the appearance of the cooking heater 10A.

[0031] Also, as described above, in the door section 12A, a punching metal exists between the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet and the glass on the surface side. Therefore, the operation information 46 displayed in the display area section 14 on the inner door surface 12Ab is difficult to be visually recognized from the door surface 12Aa side (outer surface side). In this regard, it also contributes to avoiding a decline in the design property of the appearance of the cooking heater 10A.

[0032] Note that, in the light transmission area section 38, a light shielding member 48 (light non-transmissive member) may be arranged in the area overlapping with the display area section 14 provided on the inner door surface 12Ab. That is, the light shielding member 48 may be arranged on the display area section 14, and the operation information 46 may be displayed thereon. The material constituting the light shielding member 48 can be appropriately selected as long as it can shield light. For example, it may be formed of a colored (for example, black) heat-resistant paint, or a heat-resistant plate member (resin, metal, mirror member, etc.). Also, a non-opening area may be provided in the punching metal (mesh-shaped plate member) interposed between the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet and the glass on the surface side, and this area may be used as the light shielding member 48. By using the light shielding member 48, it is possible to make the operation information 46 completely unrecognizable from the door surface 12Aa side, which can contribute to the improvement of the design property of the door surface 12Aa.

[0033] Note that, in the example of FIG. 2, the display area portion 14 is shown as being disposed in the light transmission area portion 38 of the inner surface 12Ab of the door. In other embodiments, the display area portion 14 may be provided in a part of the light transmission area portion 38 of the inner surface 12Ab of the door. For example, the display area portion 14 may be disposed across the frame 40 around the light transmission area portion 38. As shown in FIG. 1, when the operation portion 36 is provided in a part of the door surface 12Aa, the display area portion 14 may be provided at an operation portion corresponding position corresponding to at least the back surface position of the operation portion 36 on the inner surface 12Ab of the door. In this case, since the area of the light transmission area portion 38 where the operation information 46 does not exist can be expanded, the visibility (visibility through the viewing window) inside the heating chamber 20 using the light transmission area portion 38 can be improved. Further, when there is sufficient width of the arrangement corresponding area of the operation portion 36 and the frame 40 including the arrangement corresponding area, the display area portion 14 may be formed only on the arrangement corresponding area and the frame 40. In this case, the operation information 46 displayed on the display area portion 14 is arranged at a position where it cannot be completely seen from the door surface 12Aa side, that is, at a position other than the light transmission area portion 38. Therefore, without using the above-described light shielding member 48, the display of the operation information 46 can be completely hidden from the door surface 12Aa side, and it is possible to easily secure an area that can be used for viewing the inside of the heating chamber 20, which is the original purpose of the light transmission area portion 38.

[0034] Note that the display area portion 14 (operation information 46) may be provided on the back side of the door portion 12A where the handle 42 is formed, that is, at the arrangement corresponding position of the handle 42 on the inner surface 12Ab of the door. Also in this case, the same effects as those when the display area portion 14 (operation information 46) is arranged at other positions on the inner surface 12Ab of the door can be obtained.

[0035] (Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is an exemplary and schematic diagram showing the cooking heater 10B according to the second embodiment, and is a perspective view showing the case where the door portion 12B is in a closed state. Further, FIG. 5 is an exemplary and schematic diagram showing the cooking heater 10B, and is a perspective view showing a state where the door portion 12B is in an open state and the display area portion 14 is visible. The cooking heater 10B shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is, as an example, a multifunctional oven range capable of realizing various cooking operations.

[0036] Note that the cooking heater 10B of the second embodiment has the same basic configuration as the cooking heater 10A shown in the first embodiment, except that the operation unit 36 is arranged in the vertical direction (Z direction) at the corner on the right side (X direction) of the door portion 12B. Therefore, in the cooking heater 10B, the same components as those in the cooking heater 10A will be described with the same reference numerals.

[0037] The cooking heater 10B includes a rectangular box-shaped main body portion 16 and a door portion 12B that can be opened and closed with respect to the opening 18 on the front side of the main body portion 16. Also in the case of the cooking heater 10B, the door portion 12B is supported by a hinge at the lower part of the opening 18 and can be opened and closed with respect to the opening 18 with the width direction (arrow X direction in the figure) at the lower part of the opening 18 as a rotation axis. The main body portion 16 includes a heating chamber 20 inside that can accommodate food or the like as an object to be heated. The object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface portion 22 of the heating chamber 20 in a state of being placed in an individual dish. Further, the object to be heated may be placed directly on a square dish (not shown) whose both ends in the X direction are supported by a pair of left and right square dish receivers 26a, 26b and square dish receivers 26c, 26d that extend in the depth direction (arrow Y direction in the figure) on the side wall portions 24a, 24b of the heating chamber 20, or may be placed in a state of being placed in an individual dish or the like. In the case of FIG. 5, the square dish receivers 26a and 26b are the upper square dish receivers, and the square dish receivers 26c and 26d are the lower square dish receivers. The number of stages of the square dish receivers may be, for example, one stage or three or more stages.

[0038] The cooking heater 10B also includes a heating device that realizes a plurality of cooking functions. Examples of the cooking functions include an oven cooking function, a grill cooking function, a range cooking function, a steam cooking function, and the like.

[0039] Each cooking function of the cooking appliance 10B configured as described above is realized by executing a pre-stored cooking program. The cooking program is realized, for example, by selecting ingredients, cooking names, etc. and inputting them using an operation unit 36 disposed on the right side (end portion in the X direction) of the door surface 12Ba of the door portion 12B.

[0040] In the case of the cooking appliance 10B, the operation unit 36 is composed of, for example, a menu selection and cooking start switch 36a, a push-type operation cancellation switch 36b, a display device 36d, and the like.

[0041] In the door portion 12B, on the left side (opposite to the X direction) of the operation unit 36, a light transmission region portion 38 (also referred to as a viewing window) is formed so as to be visible through the closed door portion 12B inside the heating chamber 20.

[0042] At the upper part of the door portion 12B, a handle 42 for opening and closing the door portion 12B extends in the width direction (X direction).

[0043] Even in the case of the cooking appliance 10B having a range cooking function, it is designed so that the leakage of microwaves is within the regulated value. Therefore, the door portion 12B has an electromagnetic shield structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet facing the heating chamber 20 side and the surface-side glass (which may be heat-resistant glass) of the door surface 12Ba of the door portion 12B. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in a substantially central portion of the ceiling wall portion 32 of the heating chamber 20, a lighting unit 44 for lighting a lighting region E including the inner surface 12Bb of the door portion 12B when the inside of the heating chamber 20 and the door portion 12B are in an open state is provided. Note that the position where the lighting unit 44 is installed is not limited to the substantially central portion of the ceiling wall portion 32, and it is sufficient if at least the inside of the heating chamber 20 and the lighting region E can be illuminated, and the installation position may be changed as appropriate.

[0044] The punching metal incorporated in the above-described door portion 12B is, for example, a mesh-shaped plate member in which a large number of circular openings are formed. For example, when the lighting unit 44 is lit, the state inside the heating chamber 20 (such as the progress of cooking) can be easily visually recognized through the mesh. Further, when the lighting unit 44 is turned off in a standby state other than the heating operation, the presence of portions other than the openings of the punching metal makes it difficult to visually recognize the inside of the heating chamber 20. That is, it contributes to improving the design property when the heating cooker 10B is not in use.

[0045] In the case of the heating cooker 10B configured as described above, the above-described display area portion 14 is disposed at an operation portion corresponding position 50 corresponding to the back surface position of the operation portion 36 provided at the right end of the door surface 12Ba of the door portion 12B on the inner surface 12Bb of the door. That is, different from the first embodiment, the display area portion 14 is disposed outside the area of the light transmission area portion 38. Operation information 46 (for example, an operation menu, a cooking menu, etc.) input via the operation portion 36 is displayed (noted) in the display area portion 14 formed at the operation portion corresponding position 50. The operation information 46 can have the same content as that in FIG. 3, but since the display area portion 14 has a long shape in the Y direction, the arrangement of the operation information 46 is appropriately changed.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the operation information 46 displayed in the display area portion 14 disposed at the operation portion corresponding position 50 is also arranged such that the upper side of the display (notation) is on the back side (Y direction) of the inner surface 12Bb of the door so that the user can easily recognize the displayed characters and the like when facing the heating cooker 10B with the door portion 12B in an open state. Since the portion corresponding to the operation portion corresponding position 50 is made of a metal plate or a resin plate, the operation information 46 may be directly displayed using a heat-resistant paint or the like, or the operation information 46 printed on a sheet-like base may be disposed at the operation portion corresponding position 50 (display area portion 14). When the operation information 46 to be displayed does not fit in the operation portion corresponding position 50, similar to the first embodiment, an additional display area portion 14 may be formed on the light transmission area portion 38 for display. For the display area portion 14 disposed in the light transmission area portion 38, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0047] The user of the cooking appliance 10B first opens the door portion 12B and places the food to be cooked in a state suitable for cooking, for example, in an individual dish or on a square dish, at a predetermined position (e.g., the central part) inside the heating chamber 20. Then, the user finds the number corresponding to the food to be cooked or the name of the dish from the operation information 46 displayed in the display area 14. In this case, since the display area 14 is arranged on the inner door surface 12Bb of the door portion 12B, even when the heating chamber 20 already contains food, individual dishes, square dishes, etc., the operation information 46 can be easily visually recognized without being hidden by these foods, individual dishes, square dishes, etc. Also, even if splashing occurred inside the heating chamber 20 during past cooking, the possibility of the splashed liquid, etc. adhering to the inner door surface 12Bb of the door portion 12B, which is in a substantially upright position in the closed state, is low. As a result, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the visibility of the operation information 46 displayed in the display area 14.

[0048] Also, when the door portion 12B is in the open state, the display area 14 exists on the inner door surface 12Bb of the door portion 12B that has been opened to a position closer to the user side than the main body portion 16 and at a position where the user can look down, so the operation information 46 is easier to recognize compared to the case where it is displayed on other parts of the cooking appliance 10B.

[0049] Furthermore, when the door portion 12B is in the open state, as described above, the lighting unit 44 lights up and the display area 14 is illuminated. Therefore, even when the surrounding environment of the cooking appliance 10A is dark, the visibility of the operation information 46 displayed in the display area 14 can be sufficiently ensured. In the case of the cooking appliance 10B, since the display area 14 is arranged at the right end of the door portion 12B, the irradiation angle of the lighting unit 44 may be adjusted toward the display area 14 so that there is no sense of incongruity in the lighting inside the heating chamber 20 and the display area 14 is well irradiated.

[0050] In addition, since the display area unit 14 (operation information 46) is disposed on the inner door surface 12Bb of the door unit 12B, the appearance of the cooking heater 10B can be easily simplified. For example, when the operation information 46 is disposed on the door surface 12Ba of the door unit 12B (for example, a region below the light transmission region unit 38), miscellaneous characters and symbols will be displayed on the door surface 12Ba, which may lead to a decrease in the design quality of the appearance (door unit 12B) of the cooking heater 10B. On the other hand, by disposing the display area unit 14 (operation information 46) on the inner door surface 12Bb of the door unit 12B, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the design quality of the appearance of the cooking heater 10B.

[0051] In addition, in the case of the cooking heater 10B, the operation unit corresponding position 50 on the inner door surface 12Bb can be effectively used as the arrangement area of the display area unit 14 (operation information 46). As a result, since there is no need to display the operation information 46 on the frame 40 portion or the light transmission region unit 38 on the door surface 12Ba side, it is possible to easily secure a region that can be used for viewing the inside of the heating chamber 20, which is the original purpose of the light transmission region unit 38, without being hindered by the operation information 46.

[0052] (Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 is an exemplary and schematic diagram showing a cooking heater 10C according to the third embodiment, and is a perspective view showing a case where the door unit 12C is in a closed state. FIG. 7 is an exemplary and schematic diagram showing the cooking heater 10C, and is a perspective view showing a state where the door unit 12C is in an open state and the display area unit 14 is visible. The cooking heater 10C shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is, as an example, a multi-functional oven range capable of realizing various cooking operations.

[0053] Note that in the cooking heater 10C of the third embodiment, the operation unit 36 is disposed integrally with the main body unit 16 side in a separated state on the right side (X direction) of the door unit 12C. That is, regardless of the open / closed state of the door unit 12C, the position of the operation unit 36 is constant. The basic configuration other than the fact that the operation unit 36 and the door unit 12C are separated is the same as that of the cooking heater 10A shown in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the cooking heater 10C, the same components as those in the cooking heater 10A having substantially the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals and described.

[0054] The cooking appliance 10C includes a rectangular box-shaped main body 16, a door 12C that can be opened and closed with respect to an opening 18 on the front side of the main body 16, and an operation unit 36 integrated with the main body 16. Similarly, in the case of the cooking appliance 10B, the door 12B is supported by a hinge at the lower part of the opening 18 and can be opened and closed with respect to the opening 18 with the width direction (the direction of arrow X in the figure) at the lower part of the opening 18 as the rotation axis. The main body 16 has a heating chamber 20 inside that can accommodate foods, ingredients, etc. as objects to be heated. The object to be heated is placed on the bottom surface 22 of the heating chamber 20 in a state of being placed on an individual dish. Also, the object to be heated can be directly placed on a square dish (not shown) whose both ends in the X direction are supported by a pair of left and right square-dish receivers 26a, 26b and square-dish receivers 26c, 26d that extend in the depth direction (the direction of arrow Y in the figure) on the side walls 24a, 24b of the heating chamber 20, or can be placed in a state of being placed on an individual dish or the like. In the case of FIG. 7, the square-dish receivers 26a and 26b are the upper-stage square-dish receivers, and the square-dish receivers 26c and 26d are the lower-stage square-dish receivers. The number of stages of the square-dish receivers may be, for example, 1 stage or 3 or more stages.

[0055] The cooking appliance 10C also includes a heating device that realizes a plurality of cooking functions. Examples of the cooking functions include an oven cooking function, a grill cooking function, a range cooking function, a steam cooking function, etc.

[0056] Each cooking function of the cooking appliance 10C configured in this way is realized by executing a pre-stored cooking program. The cooking program is executed, for example, by selecting ingredients, cooking names, numbers (menu numbers) associated with them in advance, etc., and inputting them using an operation unit 36 provided in an independent state with respect to the door 12C on the right side (X direction) of the door 12C as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0057] In the case of the cooking appliance 10C, the operation unit 36 is composed of, for example, a menu selection and cooking start switch 36a, an operation cancellation switch 36b, a display device 36d, etc.

[0058] In the case of the cooking appliance 10C, the door portion 12C is provided with a light transmission region portion 38 (also referred to as a viewing window) that allows the interior of the heating chamber 20 to be visible through the door portion 12C in a closed state over substantially the entire surface thereof.

[0059] At the upper part of the door portion 12C, a handle 42 for opening and closing the door portion 12C extends in the width direction (X direction).

[0060] Even in the case of the cooking appliance 10C having a range cooking function, it is designed so that the leakage of microwaves is within the regulated value. Therefore, the door portion 12C has an electromagnetic shielding structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet facing the heating chamber 20 side and the surface-side glass (which may be heat-resistant glass) of the door surface 12Ca of the door portion 12C. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, at a substantially central portion of the ceiling wall portion 32 of the heating chamber 20, a lighting portion 44 for lighting an illumination region E including the inner surface 12Cb of the door portion 12C when the interior of the heating chamber 20 and the door portion 12C are in an open state is provided. Note that the position where the lighting portion 44 is installed is not limited to the substantially central portion of the ceiling wall portion 32, and it is sufficient that at least the interior of the heating chamber 20 and the illumination region E can be illuminated, and the installation position may be changed as appropriate.

[0061] The punching metal incorporated in the above-described door portion 12C is, for example, a mesh-shaped plate member in which a large number of circular openings are formed. For example, when the lighting portion 44 is lit, the state inside the heating chamber 20 (such as the progress of cooking) can be easily visually recognized through the mesh. Further, when the lighting portion 44 is turned off in a standby state other than the heating operation, the interior of the heating chamber 20 is difficult to visually recognize due to the presence of portions other than the openings of the punching metal. That is, it contributes to improving the designability when the cooking appliance 10C is not in use.

[0062] In the cooking appliance 10C configured as described above, operation information (for example, operation menus, cooking menus, etc.) input via the operation portion 36 is displayed (noted) on the above-described display region portion 14.

[0063] In the case of the cooking appliance 10C, the above-described display area portion 14 (operation information 46) is arranged in a part of the inner surface 12Cb of the door portion 12C, for example, on the back side in the Y direction of the inner surface 12Cb when the door portion 12C is in the open state, in the same manner as the cooking appliance 10A of the first embodiment. And operation information (for example, operation menu, cooking menu, etc.) input via the operation unit 36 is displayed (notated) in this display area portion 14. That is, it is arranged within the area of the light transmission area portion 38, similar to the first embodiment.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 7, the operation information 46 is arranged to be directly displayed using a heat-resistant paint or the like on the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet constituting the inner surface 12Cb of the door so that the upper side of the display (notation) is on the back side (Y direction) of the inner surface 12Cb when the user faces the cooking appliance 10C with the door portion 12C in the open state, so that the displayed characters and the like can be easily recognized. In another example, the operation information 46 printed on the sheet-like base may be arranged in the display area portion 14. In this case, the sheet-like base can also serve as the light shielding member 48, similar to the first embodiment. In yet another example, the operation information 46 may be arranged between the back surface of the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet, that is, between the punching metal and the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet. In this case, it is preferable that the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet is a glass with a high light transmittance (for example, transparent glass).

[0065] The user of the cooking appliance 10C first opens the door 12C and places the food to be cooked in a state suitable for cooking, for example, in an individual dish or on a square dish, at a predetermined position (for example, the central part) inside the heating chamber 20. Then, the user finds the number corresponding to the food to be cooked or the dish name from the operation information 46 displayed in the display area 14. In this case, since the display area 14 is arranged on the inner surface 12Cb of the door 12C of the door 12C, even when food, individual dishes, square dishes, etc. are already placed in the heating chamber 20, the operation information 46 can be easily visually recognized without being hidden by these foods, individual dishes, square dishes, etc. Also, even if splashing occurred inside the heating chamber 20 during past cooking, the possibility of liquid or the like splashed adhering to the inner surface 12Cb of the door 12C, which is in a substantially upright position in the closed state, is low. As a result, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the visibility of the operation information 46 displayed in the display area 14.

[0066] Also, when the door 12C is in the open state, the display area 14 exists on the inner surface 12Cb of the door 12C of the door 12C that has been opened and is closer to the user side than the main body 16 at a position where the user can look down, so the operation information 46 is easier to recognize compared to the case where it is displayed on other parts of the cooking appliance 10C.

[0067] Furthermore, when the door 12C is in the open state, the lighting unit 44 lights up and the display area 14 is illuminated. Therefore, even when the surrounding environment of the cooking appliance 10C is dark, the visibility of the operation information 46 displayed in the display area 14 can be sufficiently ensured.

[0068] Also, since the display area 14 (operation information 46) is arranged on the inner surface 12Cb of the door 12C of the door 12C, the appearance of the cooking appliance 10C can be easily simplified. For example, when the operation information 46 is arranged on the door surface 12Ca of the door 12C, miscellaneous characters and symbols will be displayed on the door surface 12Ca, which may lead to a decrease in the design quality of the appearance (door 12C) of the cooking appliance 10C. On the other hand, by arranging the display area 14 (operation information 46) on the inner surface 12Cb of the door 12C of the door 12C, a decrease in the design quality of the appearance of the cooking appliance 10C can be avoided.

[0069] Also, as described above, in the door portion 12C, punching metal exists between the heat-resistant glass on the inner side of the cabinet and the glass on the surface side. Therefore, the operation information 46 displayed in the display area portion 14 on the inner surface 12Cb of the door is difficult to visually recognize from the door surface 12Ca side (outer surface side). This also contributes to avoiding a decrease in the design quality of the appearance of the cooking heater 10C in this regard.

[0070] In addition, a light shielding member 48 may be disposed in a region of the light transmission region portion 38 that overlaps with the display region portion 14 provided on the inner surface 12Cb of the door. That is, the light shielding member 48 may be disposed in the display region portion 14, and the operation information 46 may be displayed thereon. By using the light shielding member 48, it is possible to make the operation information 46 completely invisible from the door surface 12Ca side, which can contribute to improving the design quality of the door surface 12Ca.

[0071] In the example of FIG. 7, the display region portion 14 shows a case where it is disposed in the light transmission region portion 38 of the inner surface 12Cb of the door. In other embodiments, the display region portion 14 may be provided in a part of the light transmission region portion 38 of the inner surface 12Cb of the door. For example, the display region portion 14 may be disposed across the frame 40 around the light transmission region portion 38. In this case, since the region of the light transmission region portion 38 where the operation information 46 does not exist can be widened, the visibility inside the heating chamber 20 (visibility using the viewing window) using the light transmission region portion 38 can be improved. Also, when the width of the frame 40 is sufficient, the display region portion 14 may be formed only on the frame 40. In this case, the operation information 46 displayed in the display region portion 14 is disposed at a position where it cannot be completely seen from the door surface 12Ca side, that is, at a position outside the light transmission region portion 38. Therefore, without using the above-described light shielding member 48, it is possible to completely hide the display of the operation information 46 from the door surface 12Ca side, and it is possible to easily secure a region that can be used for viewing the inside of the heating chamber 20, which is the original purpose of the light transmission region portion 38.

[0072] Note that the display area section 14 (operation information 46) may be provided on the back side of the door section 12C where the handle 42 is formed, that is, at the position corresponding to the arrangement of the handle 42 on the inner surface 12Cb of the door. Also in this case, the same effect as when the display area section 14 (operation information 46) is arranged at other positions on the inner surface 12Cb of the door can be obtained.

[0073] In the case of the cooking heater 10C, since the door section 12C and the operation section 36 are separated, for example, even when the door section 12C is kept open, the operation information 46 displayed on the inner surface 12Cb of the door can be visually recognized, and the operation section 36 can be operated in that state. As a result, the visibility of the operation information 46 can be improved, and it can contribute to the improvement of the usability of the operability.

[0074] (Modification example) In each of the above-described embodiments, a combined cooking heater having a plurality of cooking functions has been shown. In the modification example, a cooking heater having any one or a combination of some of the functions of an oven cooking function, a grill cooking function, a range cooking function, and a steam cooking function may be used. In any case where any cooking function is provided, the arrangement configuration of the display area section 14 (operation information 46) of the above-described embodiment is applicable, and the same effect can be obtained.

[0075] Also, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example has been shown in which the door section 12A (12B, 12C) rotates forward to the user facing the front of the cooking heater 10A (10B, 10C) to be in an open state. In the modification example, the door section may be configured to rotate, for example, in the lateral direction (-X direction or X direction) with respect to the main body section 16 to be in an open state. Even in a configuration in which such a door section opens laterally, the arrangement configuration of the display area section 14 (operation information 46) of the above-described embodiment is applicable, and the same effect can be obtained.

[0076] In addition, in the above-described first and third embodiments, an example in which the display area section 14 (operation information 46) is arranged on the back side in the Y direction of the inner surface 12Ab (12Ca) of the door section 12A (12C) was shown. In a modified example, the arrangement position of the display area section 14 (operation information 46) may be any position as long as it is on the inner surface 12Ab (12Ca) of the door. For example, it may be arranged along the Y direction (depth direction) on the right side, left side, central part, etc. of the inner surface 12Ab (12Ca) of the door, and the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

[0077] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The above embodiments are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0078] 10A, 10B, 10C... Heating cookers, 12A, 12B, 12C... Door sections, 12Aa, 12Ba, 12Ca... Door surfaces, 12Ab, 12Bb, 12Cb... Inner surfaces of the door, 14... Display area section, 16... Main body section, 18... Opening, 20... Heating chamber, 36... Operation section, 36d... Display device, 38... Light transmission area section, 44... Lighting section, 46... Operation information, 48... Light shielding member, 50... Operation section corresponding position.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance having a range cooking function for heating and cooking by irradiating at least microwave to an object to be heated, comprising a main body portion having a heating chamber capable of accommodating the object to be heated and having an opening on the front side therein, a door portion that can be opened and closed with respect to the opening, with the width direction as a rotation axis at a lower portion of the opening, and an operation portion for setting an operation state of the range cooking function, wherein an inner surface of the door in the cabinet is formed of heat-resistant glass inside the cabinet, a surface-side member of the door portion is formed of surface-side glass, the door portion has a light transmission region portion that enables visual recognition of the inside of the heating chamber, the light transmission region portion has a light shielding portion, the door portion has an electromagnetic shielding structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the inside of the cabinet and the surface side, on the inner surface of the door on the inside of the cabinet of the door portion, with a heat-resistant paint, as operation information input to the operation portion, on the light shielding portion, the food or cooking name that is the object to be heated and the menu number associated therewith are formed such that the rotation axis side is the upper side in notation, the operation portion accepts the operation state by input of the menu number, a cooking appliance.

2. A cooking appliance having a range cooking function for heating and cooking by irradiating at least microwave to an object to be heated, comprising a main body portion having a heating chamber capable of accommodating the object to be heated and having an opening on the front side therein, a door portion that can be opened and closed with respect to the opening, with the width direction as a rotation axis at a lower portion of the opening, and an operation portion for setting an operation state of the range cooking function, wherein the door portion has a light transmission region portion that enables visual recognition of the inside of the heating chamber, the operation portion is disposed on an outer surface of the door portion, the door portion has an electromagnetic shielding structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the inside of the cabinet and the surface side, on the inner surface of the door on the inside of the cabinet of the door portion, with a heat-resistant paint, as operation information input to the operation portion, at an operation portion corresponding position corresponding to the back surface position of the operation portion on the inner surface of the door, the food or cooking name that is the object to be heated and the menu number associated therewith are formed such that the rotation axis side is the upper side in notation, the operation portion accepts the operation state by input of the menu number, a cooking appliance.

3. The menu number is a number up to two digits, The cooking appliance according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The menu number is formed on the inner surface of the door in ascending order from 1, The cooking appliance according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. A heater equipped with a range cooking function for heating and cooking by irradiating at least microwaves onto an object to be heated which is a cooker, comprising a main body portion having a heating chamber inside which the object to be heated can be accommodated and having an opening on the front side, a door portion that can be opened and closed with respect to the opening, and an operation portion for setting an operating state of the range cooking function, and comprising, wherein the door portion has an electromagnetic shielding structure in which a punching metal is sandwiched between the inside of the cabinet and the surface side, and a non-opening region is provided in the punching metal, and operation information input to the operation portion is formed in the non-opening region on the inside of the cabinet. A cooker.

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