Roaster

Abstract

To provide a heater unit capable of evenly heating a cooking appliance at a fixed temperature, and further facilitating cleaning.SOLUTION: A heater unit 1 comprises: a sheathed heater 11 having a plurality of parallel straight portions, and a semicircular portion connecting two of the straight portions; a terminal part 12 connected to each of both ends of the sheathed heater 11; and a heater casing that surrounds both ends of the sheathed heater 11 and the terminal parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1I

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heater unit equipped with a sheathed heater, a reflector, and a roaster equipped with both a heater unit and a reflector. [Background technology]

[0002] Gas burners are preferably used as a heat source for cooking food ingredients. However, in high-rise buildings, for example, cooking appliances that use electricity as an energy source are sometimes desired from the perspective of disaster prevention.

[0003] A cooking appliance that uses an electric heater as a heat source is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. The most common electric heater used in cooking appliances is a resistance heater that generates heat by passing an electric current through a resistor. In particular, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a sheathed heater in which the heat-generating part is covered by a metal tubular member is preferably used for a roaster that cooks ingredients by grilling them. Sheathed heaters are known as heaters with a low risk of electric leakage and electric shock.

[0004] The inventors also invented a cooking device using a cartridge-type heater, which is disclosed in Patent Document 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-178193 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-110509 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Sheathed heaters can more easily maintain a constant temperature than gas burners, so there is a demand for heater units that can heat the heating surface for cooking more uniformly.

[0007] Furthermore, heaters used in roasters that cook food by grilling it on a grill net become soiled by oil dripping from the food and therefore need to be cleaned regularly. To efficiently clean the heater, it is preferable that the heater unit including the heater can be easily attached and detached from the main body of the roaster. Meanwhile, roasters to which heaters are attached also need to be cleaned regularly. Therefore, there is a demand for heater units and roasters with structures that are easier to clean.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a heater unit that can heat a cooking appliance evenly and is easy to clean. It also aims to provide a reflector that can efficiently utilize heat from the heater unit. It also aims to provide a roaster equipped with the heater unit and the reflector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention provides the following aspects. (Item 1) a sheathed heater having a plurality of straight line portions parallel to each other and a semicircular portion connecting two of the plurality of straight line portions; terminal portions connected to both ends of the sheath heater; a heater casing that surrounds both ends and terminal portions of the sheathed heater; A heater unit comprising:

[0010] (Item 2) 2. The heater unit according to item 1, wherein the sheathed heater is formed in a planar shape.

[0011] (Item 3) 3. The heater unit according to item 1 or 2, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the sheathed heater is circular.

[0012] (Item 4) 3. The heater unit according to item 1 or 2, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the sheathed heater is different between the straight portion and the curved portion.

[0013] (Item 5) The cross-sectional shape of the sheathed heater is The linear portion is circular, 5. The heater unit according to item 4, wherein the curved portion has a shape that is similar to a Reuleaux triangle.

[0014] (Item 6) The heater casing has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, an opening for inserting both ends of the sheathed heater into one of the side walls of the heater casing; 2. The heater unit according to item 1, wherein a fireproof plate is disposed in contact with the side wall portion where the opening is provided.

[0015] (Item 7) 7. The heater unit according to item 6, wherein the fireproof board is formed of a pulp-mixed gypsum board.

[0016] (Item 8) 2. The heater unit according to item 1, which is grounded.

[0017] (Item 9) It has a ground terminal, Item 9. The heater unit according to item 8, wherein the ground terminal extends outwardly longer than the terminal portions connected to both ends of the sheathed heater.

[0018] (Item 10) A roaster reflector disposed below the sheath heater, A reflector for a roaster, characterized in that peaks and valleys are formed alternately.

[0019] (Item 11) The sheath heater of the peak portion has a notch at a position opposite to the tip of the semicircular portion, Item 11. A reflector for a roaster according to item 10, characterized in that the valley portion is formed to extend under the straight portion of the sheathed heater, there are bridge portions at both ends of the valley portion or in the vicinity of both ends, and there are holes between the both ends or in the vicinity of both ends.

[0020] (Item 12) A heater unit according to any one of items 1 to 9, The roaster reflector according to item 10 or 11, A roaster characterized by comprising:

[0021] The heater unit further includes a heater cover that covers at least a portion of the heater casing and the upper portion of the sheathed heater, The heater cover is characterized by having a rib that abuts against a side surface of the heater casing. Item 12. Roaster.

[0022] The heater casing further includes a spring for pressing the heater casing. Item 13. The roaster according to item 12, wherein the spring is grounded. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] The sheathed heater provided in the heater unit of the present invention has a shape that includes multiple straight sections that are parallel to each other and a semicircular section that connects two of the multiple straight sections, allowing a single sheathed heater to uniformly heat a wide area.

[0024] The heater unit of the present invention can adjust its overall length by increasing or decreasing the number of straight and semicircular portions of the sheathed heater. Increasing the overall length of the sheathed heater reduces the number of heater units required for heating. Reducing the number of heater units reduces the work required to remove the heater units from the roaster, and the reduced number of heater unit mounting locations reduces the effort required for cleaning.

[0025] The reflector of the present invention, when placed close to the sheathed heater, reflects the heat from the sheathed heater, enabling efficient heating. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a front view of the heater unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the heater unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 1C] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the heater unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 1D] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the heater unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 1E] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1B. [Figure 1F] FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1B. [Figure 1G] FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 1B. [Figure 1H] FIG. 1H(a) is a cross-sectional view of a linear portion of a sheathed heater, and FIG. 1H(b) is a cross-sectional view of a semicircular portion of the sheathed heater. [Figure 1I] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heater unit. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heater unit with the upper part of the heater casing removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a heater unit according to a modified example. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a heater unit according to a modified example. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reflector according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a reflector according to a modified example. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roaster installed on a table. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inside of a roaster with a heater unit attached. [Figure 11]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified heater unit with the upper part of the heater casing removed. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of a connector unit to which a heater unit according to a modified example is connected. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of a roaster equipped with a spring that connects the outer casing and the heater unit. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a heater cover according to a modified example. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the inside of a roaster according to a modified example. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a roaster equipped with a heater cover according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The configurations of the heater unit 1, the reflector 2, and the roaster 100 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment is an example of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0028] In the following description, descriptions of relative positions and directions such as "up and down," "left and right," and "vertical and horizontal" correspond to the positions and directions on the drawings used in the description. For clarity, hatching may be omitted in cross-sectional views.

[0029] [Heater unit]

[0030] The most preferred embodiment of the heater unit 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 1A is a front view of the heater unit of the embodiment. FIG. 1B is a plan view of the heater unit of the embodiment. FIG. 1C is a left side view of the heater unit of the embodiment. FIG. 1D is a right side view of the heater unit of the embodiment. FIG. 1E is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1B. FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1B. FIG. 1G is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 1B. FIG. 1H(a) is a cross-sectional view of a linear portion of a sheathed heater, and FIG. 1H(b) is a cross-sectional view of a semicircular portion of the sheathed heater. FIG. 1I is a perspective view of the heater unit. The right side view and left side view of the heater unit 1 have the same shape. The heater unit 1 has a symmetrical shape. The top and bottom views of the heater unit 1 are the same as those in the plan view shown in FIG. 1B.

[0031] The heater unit 1 includes a sheathed heater 11, a terminal portion 12, and a heater casing 13. The heater unit 1 of the present invention is suitable for use in cooking appliances, and is particularly suitable for use in roasters for grilling food on a grill.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 1H, the sheathed heater 11 has a structure in which a linear heating element 112 and an insulating material 113 are arranged inside a metal tubular member 111. As the insulating material 113, a known heat-resistant material such as powdered MgO (magnesium oxide) or powdered BN (boron nitrite) can be used. In the sheathed heater 11 of this embodiment, a coiled nichrome wire is used as the heating element 112.

[0033] The shape of the sheathed heater 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1B, the sheathed heater 11 is a single continuous heater that is zigzag-shaped, with multiple parallel straight line segments and semicircular segments alternately formed. In this embodiment, four parallel straight line segments 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d and three semicircular segments 11e, 11f, and 11g alternately formed. In other words, one end of each of two adjacent straight line segments 11a and 11b is connected by the semicircular segment 11e to form a U-shape, one end of each of two adjacent straight line segments 11c and 11d is connected by the semicircular segment 11g to form a U-shape, and the other end of each of the straight line segments 11b and 11c is connected to the semicircular segment 11f.

[0034] 1A to 1G, the sheathed heater 11 is formed in a planar shape. The heating elements 112 inside the sheathed heater 11 are present on approximately the same plane.

[0035] In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of most of the linear portions 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d of the sheathed heater 11 is circular, as shown in Figures 1E, 1G, and 1H(a). The heating element 112 is arranged concentrically with the tubular member 111.

[0036] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 1F, 1G, and 1H(b), the semicircular portions 11e, 11f, and 11g have a shape that approximates a Reuleaux triangle. More specifically, the semicircular portions 11e, 11f, and 11g have a three-sided shape with a straight base and two arc-shaped hypotenuses. The straight line portions 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d have boundary portions where the surface shape smoothly changes near the semicircular portions 11e, 11f, and 11g. In Figure 1I, for the straight line portion 11a and the semicircular portion 11e, the circular cross-sectional shape is indicated by R, the cross-sectional shape that approximates a Reuleaux triangle is indicated by T, and the boundary portion is indicated by S.

[0037] A typical sheathed heater is formed into various shapes by bending a linear heater. In the case of a sheathed heater with a circular cross-section, the outer periphery of the tubular member expands and the inner periphery compresses at locations where large bending deformation occurs, such as the semicircular portions 11e, 11f, and 11g. As a result, the density of the insulating material between the annular member and the heating element decreases at the outer periphery, potentially reducing insulation. Furthermore, during bending, the central heating element 112 may be unevenly distributed further outward, further reducing insulation. Therefore, in the sheathed heater 11 of this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the semicircular portions 11e, 11f, and 11g is shaped like a Reuleaux triangle, thereby reducing the cross-sectional area of the tubular member 111 compared to a circular heater, densely packing the insulating material 113, and preventing insulation degradation.

[0038] The connection between the sheathed heater 11 and the terminal portion 12 will now be described. Of the four straight portions 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d of the sheathed heater 11, the two straight portions 11a and 11d located on the outside are formed longer than the two straight portions 11b and 11c on the inside. The ends of the two straight portions 11a and 11d are bent so that they are close to each other. At the end of the straight portion 11a, a terminal portion 111a is formed, which connects to the terminal portion 12. At the end of the straight portion 11d, a terminal portion 111d is formed, which connects to the terminal portion 12.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the heater unit 1. The terminal portion 12 has terminals 12a and 12b that connect to the end portions 111a and 111d of the sheathed heater 11. In Fig. 2, the top of the heater casing 13 has been removed to show the arrangement of the end portions 111a and 111d of the sheathed heater 11 housed in the heater casing 13 and the terminals 12a and 12b.

[0040] The heater casing 13 is made of a metal, such as a magnetic material like ferritic or martensitic stainless steel, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with walls constituting one bottom surface, four side surfaces, and one top surface. Hereinafter, the side surface into which the terminal ends 111a and 111d of the sheathed heater 11 are inserted will be referred to as the front wall 136, the side surface facing the front wall 136 will be referred to as the rear wall 132, and the two side surfaces connected approximately perpendicularly to the front wall 136 and the rear wall 132 will be referred to as the side walls. The heater casing 13 may have its bottom surface, side surfaces, and top surface formed of separate members, or each surface may be formed by combining two or more members. Furthermore, the heater casing 13 may be formed by assembling members including two or more wall portions. In this embodiment, the heater casing 13 is formed by combining a first member constituting the bottom surface and the lower halves of the four side surfaces with a second member constituting the top surface and the upper halves of the four side surfaces. However, the configuration of the heater casing 13 is not limited to this.

[0041] The arrangement of the terminal ends 111a and 111d of the sheathed heater 11 relative to the heater casing 13 will be described. The terminal ends 111a and 111d of the sheathed heater 11 are inserted into the heater casing 13 through openings provided in the front wall 136. The fixed heater plate 131 is fastened to the front wall 136 with screws, and the terminal end 111a is fixed to the fixed heater plate 131. That is, the terminal end 111a is fixed to the heater casing 13 via the fixed heater plate 131. On the other hand, the terminal end 111d is not fixed to the fixed heater plate 131, but is fixed to a free heater plate 135 arranged inside the heater casing 13. The terminal end 111d has a degree of freedom to move back and forth inside the heater casing 13, but the free heater plate 135 functions as a stopper so that it will not come off the heater casing 13. The configuration in which the terminal end 111d of the sheathed heater 11 is movable inside the heater casing 13 has the effect of absorbing deformation when the sheathed heater 11 heats up and expands due to heat.

[0042] An insulator is fixed to the rear wall 132 of the heater casing 13. The terminals 12a and 12b of the terminal portion 12 are fixed to the insulator which is fixed to the rear wall 132. The ends of the terminals 12a and 12b protrude from the insulator.

[0043] If oil dripping from food ingredients or the like gets into the inside of the heater casing 13, it can cause undesirable phenomena such as fire or deterioration of the terminals. Therefore, to prevent oil and the like from getting into the heater casing 13, a fireproof board 133 is placed in contact with the front wall 136 of the heater casing 13. The fireproof board 133 is made of a gypsum board mixed with pulp.

[0044] During assembly, packings (sealing members) are inserted between the members that make up the bottom, side, and top of the heater casing 13, sealing the gaps between the walls. The packings are made of foamed silicone. In this embodiment, packings 134a and 134b are respectively disposed between the first member that makes up the lower half of the side wall and the second member that makes up the upper half of the side wall. Furthermore, it is preferable that packings also seal the gaps between the terminal ends 111a and 111d of the sheathed heater 11 and the front wall 136 and the fire protection plate 133.

[0045] Within the heater casing 13, the end portion 111a of the sheathed heater 11 and the terminal 12a are connected by a lead wire 14. The end portion 111d of the sheathed heater 11 and the terminal 12b are also connected by a lead wire 14. When the terminal portion 12 is connected to a power source, power is supplied to the sheathed heater 11. The heating element 112 of the sheathed heater 11 generates heat due to the current sent from the power source.

[0046] The above is the most suitable configuration of the heater unit 1, but the heater unit 1 can be modified as appropriate depending on the size, heating area, and heating amount of the applied cooking appliance. Modified examples of the sheathed heater 11 will be described below.

[0047] Figure 3 shows a heater unit 1A equipped with a sheathed heater 15 as a modified heater unit. The cross-sectional shapes of the straight and semicircular portions of the sheathed heater 15 of the heater unit 1A are all circular. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the sheathed heater 11, so a duplicated explanation will be omitted. If the insulation properties of the sheathed heater 15 are sufficiently ensured, the cross-sectional shapes of the straight and semicircular portions may be the same.

[0048] Figure 4 shows a modified heater unit, heater unit 1B, equipped with a sheathed heater 16. The cross-sectional shapes of the straight and semicircular portions of sheathed heater 16 of heater unit 1B are all circular, and the straight portions are longer than those of sheathed heater 11. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of sheathed heater 11, so a duplicated explanation will be omitted.

[0049] The length of the straight portion of the sheathed heater of the heater unit can be changed, as shown in heater unit 1B. It is also possible to increase the number of straight and semicircular portions to provide more U-shaped portions. In this way, by changing the shape of the sheathed heater, the heating area can be changed as needed. Even if the shape of the sheathed heater is changed, only one terminal portion 12 for supplying power is required, making it very easy to attach and detach from the cooking appliance.

[0050] FIG. 11 shows a heater unit 1C equipped with a ground terminal as another modified heater unit. The heater unit 1C includes a sheathed heater 16, a terminal section 12' including a ground terminal 12c, and a heater casing 18. In FIG. 11, the top of the heater casing 18 has been removed to show the arrangement of the terminal section 12'. The terminal section 12' of the heater unit 1C includes three terminals in total: terminals 12a and 12b connected to the end portions 111a and 111d of the sheathed heater 11, and a ground terminal 12c that is grounded. When used in a cooking appliance, the ground terminal 12c is connected to a grounded wiring.

[0051] Ground terminal 12c is fixed to heater casing 18 with a fixing bracket, and ground terminal 12c and heater casing 18 are electrically connected. Furthermore, terminal end 111a of sheathed heater 11 is fixed to a metal fixed heater plate 131, and fixed heater plate 131 is fixed to heater casing 18 with screws, so that sheathed heater 11 is electrically connected to heater casing 18. When ground terminal 12c is connected to grounded wiring, heater casing 18 and the sheath portion of sheathed heater 11 are grounded.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 11 , ground terminal 12c is longer than terminals 12a and 12b, and protrudes longer from the rear wall of heater casing 18 than terminals 12a and 12b. Because ground terminal 12c is longer than terminals 12a and 12b, when heater unit 1C is attached to a cooking appliance, heater casing 18 is grounded before terminals 12a and 12b are connected to the electrical wiring. Similarly, when heater unit 1C is removed from the cooking appliance, heater casing 18 remains grounded even after terminals 12a and 12b are disconnected from the electrical wiring. As a result, heater casing 18 remains grounded from the time heater unit 1C is attached to the cooking appliance until it is removed. This structure of ground terminal 12c eliminates the risk of electric shock in the event of incorrect operation or deterioration of the sheathed heater's insulating function due to aging.

[0053] [Reflector]

[0054] 5, the most preferred embodiment of the reflector 2 will be described. The reflector 2 of this embodiment is used together with the heater unit 1 to reflect the heat radiated from the sheathed heater 11 toward the food. The reflector 2 is made of a metal such as stainless steel.

[0055] Reflector 2 has a shape in which peaks 21 and valleys 22 are alternately formed. Valley 22 is formed by two inclined surfaces that approach each other as they extend downward. Heat radiated downward from sheathed heater 11 is mainly reflected toward the food material by the inclined surfaces formed between peaks 21 and valleys 22. Peaks 21 are provided between valleys 22, and have flat surfaces formed at their tops.

[0056] During use, the reflector 2 is disposed below the heater unit 1. Therefore, the shape of the reflector 2 corresponds to the shape of the sheathed heater 11 of the heater unit 1. The spacing between the valley portions 22 of the reflector 2 is approximately the same as the spacing between the straight line portions 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d of the sheathed heater 11. During use, the valley portions 22 extend below the straight line portions 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d of the sheathed heater 11. The flat surfaces of the peak portions 21 contact the undersides of the tip portions of the semicircular portions 11e, 11f, and 11g of the sheathed heater 11, supporting the sheathed heater 11.

[0057] It is preferable that holes 23 are provided at the bottom of valleys 22. Bridges 24 are provided at or near both ends of valleys 22, and both ends of hole 23 are closed by bridges 24. Holes 23 allow oil and other debris that drips from ingredients during cooking to pass through. The ends of bridges 24 are provided with inclined portions 25 that slope downward, allowing dirt that falls onto reflector 2 to fall as far downward as possible.

[0058] The reflector 2 allows most of the heat from the sheathed heater 11 to radiate upward, enabling efficient cooking. The reflector 2 has a shape in which peaks 21 and valleys 22 are alternately formed, and the sloping surfaces of the valleys 22 allow the heat from the sheathed heater 11 to radiate evenly upward. Furthermore, as described above, the valleys 22 extend below the straight portions 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d of the sheathed heater 11, so the sloping surfaces formed between the peaks 21 and valleys 22 can be brought into close proximity to the straight portions 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d of the sheathed heater 11, and the reflector 2 can efficiently reflect the heat from the sheathed heater 11 toward the food material.

[0059] The above is the most suitable embodiment of the reflector 2 to be used with the heater unit 1. The reflector can be modified as appropriate depending on the shape of the heater unit to be used together. Figure 6 below shows a modified reflector 2A, and its configuration will be described.

[0060] Reflector 2A has a shape in which peaks 21 and valleys 22 are alternately formed, similar to reflector 2. The difference from reflector 2 is the shape of peaks 21. Peaks 21 of reflector 2A have cutouts 26a, 26b, and 26c opened at positions facing the tips of the semicircular portions of the sheathed heater.

[0061] When in use, the semicircular portion of the sheathed heater used with reflector 2A can enter notches 26a, 26b, and 26c. The sheathed heater is used with reflector 2A in closer proximity than when using reflector 2. Reflector 2A can more efficiently reflect the heat from the sheathed heater.

[0062] Although not required, the reflector 2A can be additionally provided with notches 26a', 26b', and 26c'. Notches 26a' and 26a can be formed so that they are equidistant from the edge of the reflector 2A. Similarly, notches 26b' and 26b can be formed so that they are equidistant from the edge of the reflector 2A. Notches 26c' and 26c' can be formed so that they are equidistant from the edge of the reflector 2A. By providing additional notches 26a', 26b', and 26c', the reflector 2A can be positioned even when rotated 180 degrees relative to the sheathed heater, allowing users to install the reflector 2A without having to consider the orientation.

[0063] The modified reflector plate 2A is particularly suitable for use when it is combined with, for example, a small sheathed heater, in which there is no need to support the semicircular portion of the sheathed heater.

[0064] [Roaster]

[0065] 7 to 10, a most preferred embodiment of a roaster 100 equipped with a heater unit 1 and a reflector 2 will be described. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the roaster 100 installed on a table T. The roaster of this embodiment refers to a cooking device that cooks various ingredients such as meat, fish, and vegetables by grilling them on a grill 7.

[0066] Fig. 8 is an assembled perspective view of the roaster 100. Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the roaster 100. Fig. 10 is a partially enlarged view of the inside of the roaster 100 with the heater unit 1 and the reflector 2 attached. As shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the roaster of this embodiment is a roaster with a rectangular heating area.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 9, the roaster 100 of this embodiment includes an outer casing 40, a filter 20, an inner casing 30, a reflector 2, a heater unit 1, a grill 7, a top cover 8, a top plate 9, and a control unit (not shown).

[0068] The outer casing 40 is housed in the space within the table T. The filter 20 and the inner casing 30 are housed within the outer casing 40. The heater unit 1 is detachably fixed within the inner casing 30. The reflector 2 is disposed within the inner casing 30. The top cover 8 and the top plate 9 are disposed on the upper part of the outer casing 40. The connector unit 5 and the control unit, which are electrically connected to the terminal portion 12 of the heater unit 1, are fixed to the outside of the outer casing 40.

[0069] The outer casing 40 has a rectangular bottom wall 41 and four side walls 42A to 42D. An opening penetrating the bottom wall 41 is provided in the center of the bottom wall 41. A filter 20 is installed in the opening. The filter 20 collects oil contained in the smoke generated when food is grilled. A duct D is connected to the bottom of the outer casing 40, and the smoke generated when food is grilled is exhausted from the duct D through the filter 20 by an exhaust device (not shown).

[0070] A support wall 121 and two guide walls 122 for supporting the inner casing 30 are provided on the inner surfaces of the side walls 42A and 42C of the outer casing 40. The inner casing 30 has a rectangular bottom wall 31 and four side walls 32A to 32D. The inner casing 30 is placed inside the outer casing 40. When using the roaster 100, water is poured into the inner casing 30. Oil and other contaminants from ingredients flow over the inclined portion 25 of the reflecting plate 2, pass through the holes 23, and fall into the water inside the inner casing 30, where they are collected.

[0071] A top cover 8 is attached to the upper parts of the side walls 42A to 42D of the outer casing 40. A top plate 9 is placed on the top cover 8. A plurality of through holes 91a are formed in the side wall 91 of the top plate 9, which allow for the intake of smoke generated from ingredients being cooked.

[0072] An opening penetrating the side wall 42A of the outer casing 40 is provided to connect the terminal portion 12 of the heater unit 1 to the terminal of the connector unit 5. As shown in FIG. 9 , an opening 32a is formed in the side wall 32A of the inner casing 30 facing the side wall 42A of the outer casing 40. When the inner casing 30 is housed in the outer casing 40, the opening of the outer casing communicates with the opening 32a of the inner casing. The connector unit 5 for connecting the heater unit 1 is fixed facing the communicating opening of the outer casing 40 and the inner casing 30.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 10 , a structure for arranging the heater unit 1 and the reflector 2 inside the inner casing 30 will be described. A bottom wall 101 and two side walls 102 for supporting the heater unit 1 are provided on the inner surface of the side wall 32A of the inner casing 30. The heater unit 1 can be placed on the bottom wall 101. The side walls 102 restrict horizontal movement of the heater unit 1. Furthermore, a step portion 321 is provided on the inner surface of the side wall 32B of the inner casing 30 and on the inner surface of the side wall 32D opposite to the side wall 32B. The reflector 2 is placed on this step portion 321.

[0074] The connector unit 5 has a pair of terminals into which the terminals 12a, 12b of the heater unit 1 can be inserted. The connector unit 5 also has a plurality of permanent magnets inside a casing.

[0075] When the connector unit 5 is attached to the outer casing 40, a pair of terminals of the connector unit are exposed inside the outer casing 40 and the inner casing 30 through the opening of the outer casing 40 and the opening 32a of the inner casing 30. The heater unit 1 is connected to the connector unit 5 by inserting the terminal portion 12 of the heater unit 1 into the terminal of the connector unit 5 and adhering the heater casing 13 to the permanent magnet of the connector unit 5. When the heater casing 13 is placed on the bottom wall 101, the heater unit 1 is in a horizontal position.

[0076] To make the connection between the heater unit 1 and the connector unit 5 stronger, it is possible to add known means such as providing a clasp or applying pressure with an elastic member in addition to the connection using a permanent magnet.

[0077] The roaster 100 of this embodiment is equipped with a single heater unit 1 as heating means. The heater unit 1 is detachably connected to the connector unit 5, and can be removed from the roaster 100 for easy cleaning.

[0078] Fig. 12 shows a modified connector unit that is preferably used when attaching a heater unit 1C equipped with a ground terminal 12c to a roaster. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a connector unit 5A equipped with a ground terminal 51c. The connector unit 5A is equipped with the ground terminal 51c between a pair of terminals 51a, 51b into which the terminals 12a, 12b of the heater unit 1 are inserted. The ground terminal 51c is connected to a ground wire on the power cord side by a wiring (not shown) and is thus grounded. By connecting the ground terminal 12c to the ground terminal 51c, the heater casing 18 is grounded.

[0079] The connector unit 5A includes a plurality of permanent magnets 52 inside the casing, similar to the connector unit 5. The permanent magnets 52 fix the heater casing 18, which is made of a magnetic material, to the connector unit 5A.

[0080] Below, a modified example of a roaster having a configuration for grounding a heater unit 1 without a ground terminal will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 13 shows a partial enlarged view of a roaster 200 having a spring 60 for grounding the heater unit 1. The spring 60 is fixed by a screw to the side wall of the connector casing 53 attached to the outer casing 40, and is positioned so that its tip descends toward the inner casing 30. The spring 60 is made of a metal material such as SUS304 (stainless steel).

[0081] Before the heater unit 1 is inserted into the connector unit 5, the spring 60 comes into contact with the upper surface of the heater casing 13 and presses against the upper surface of the heater casing 13. When the spring 60 fixed to the connector casing 53 comes into contact with the heater casing 13, the connector casing 53 and the heater casing 13 are electrically connected. Since the connector casing 53 is electrically connected to the ground wire of the power cord (not shown), the heater casing 13 is also grounded.

[0082] When the heater unit 1 is installed in the roaster 200, the spring 60 comes into contact with the upper surface of the heater casing 13 before the terminal portion 12 is connected to the terminal of the connector unit 5, thereby grounding the heater casing 13. Similarly, when the heater unit 1 is removed from the roaster 200, the heater casing 13 remains grounded even after the terminals 12a and 12b are separated from the connector unit 5. As a result, the heater casing 13 is constantly grounded while installed in the roaster 200. By providing such a spring 60 in the roaster 200, the risk of electric shock is eliminated even in the unlikely event of incorrect operation or deterioration of the insulating function of the sheathed heater 11 due to aging.

[0083] As another modification of the roaster, a roaster equipped with a heater cover that covers part of the heater unit will be described below with reference to the drawings. The roaster 300 is a member that covers part of the heater casing 13, including the front wall 136, and part of the terminal ends 111a and 111d of the sheathed heater 11.

[0084] The heater cover 70 is arranged to prevent dirt from adhering to the heater unit 1 and to more reliably connect the heater unit 1 to the connector unit 5. FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the heater cover 70. The heater cover 70 is made up of a wall portion that constitutes a cover top surface 71 with an L-shaped cross section, a pair of opposing cover side surfaces 72a, 72b, and a single cover front surface 73, and the side that contacts the heater unit 1 is open. The inner dimensions of the heater cover 70 approximately match the width and height of the heater casing 13.

[0085] A substantially rectangular cover-side rib 74 is disposed inside the heater cover 70 and perpendicular to the cover front surface 73. The cover-side rib 74 is composed of identically shaped cover-side ribs 74a and 74b. The upper edges of the cover-side ribs 74a and 74b are fixed to the cover upper surface 71. Notches are formed in the lower portions of the sides of the cover-side ribs 74a and 74b that are close to the cover front surface 73, and a space W (shown in FIG. 16) is formed in a portion of the lower side between the cover-side ribs 74a and 74b and the cover front surface 73. Meanwhile, a taper T is formed in the lower portion of the side of the cover-side ribs 74a and 74b that is located on the heater unit 1 side, so that the side is inclined inward. Due to the taper T, the width of the cover-side ribs 74a and 74b narrows downward.

[0086] 15 shows an exploded perspective view of the inside of the roaster 300 into which the heater cover 70 is to be installed. An inner casing side rib 103 is provided on the bottom wall 101 of the inner casing 30. The plate thickness of the inner casing side rib 103 is approximately equal to the width of the space W between the cover front surface 73 of the heater cover 70 and the cover side ribs 74a and 74b. When the heater unit 1 is accurately installed in the roaster 300, the distance between the front wall 136 of the heater unit 1 and the inner casing side rib 103 is approximately equal to the width of the cover side ribs 74a and 74b.

[0087] FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of the roaster 300 with the heater cover 70 attached.

[0088] The function and effect of the heater cover 70 will be explained by explaining the procedure for assembling the heater unit 1 and heater cover 70 into the roaster 300. The heater unit 1 is inserted along the bottom wall 101 of the inner casing 30 and connected to the connector unit 5. Next, the heater cover 70 is inserted from above the heater unit 1 along the front wall 136 of the heater cover 13 and pushed down. The cover-side ribs 74a and 74b are inserted between the heater unit 1 and the inner casing-side rib 103, and the tips of the cover-side ribs 74a and 74b abut against the bottom wall 101 of the inner casing 30, completing the assembling process.

[0089] The provision of the tabers T on the side edges of the cover-side ribs 74a, 74b allows the heater cover 70 to reliably connect the heater unit 1 and the connector unit 50. Even if the connection between the heater unit 1 and the connector unit 5 is incomplete and there is insufficient space between the heater unit 1 and the inner casing-side rib 103, the provision of the tabers T on the cover-side ribs 74a, 74b allows the side edges of the cover-side ribs 74a, 74b to smoothly push the front wall 136 of the heater unit 1 and move it to the correct position at the same time as inserting the heater cover 70. When the heater unit 1 is pushed in by the pressure of the heater cover 70 and moves to a position where the magnetic force of the permanent magnet of the connector unit 50 can reach it, the heater unit 1 is attracted to the permanent magnet and reliably connected to the connector unit 50.

[0090] [Example]

[0091] An embodiment of the roaster 100 of the present invention will be described.

[0092] The sheathed heater 11 has four straight sections and three semicircular sections, with a width of 124 mm, a length of 291 mm, and a diameter of 10 mm for the straight sections. The semicircular sections have a cross-sectional shape similar to a Reuleaux triangle, with a base width of approximately 10.8 mm and a height of approximately 9.1 mm. The thickness of the tubular member 111 of the sheathed heater 11 is 0.7 mm.

[0093] Currently, the most widely used sheathed heater has a diameter of 5 mm and a 0.5 mm thick tubular member 111. In contrast, the sheathed heater 11 of this embodiment is thicker and the tubular member 111 has a certain thickness. This configuration has the effect of being resistant to corrosion by meat juices and the like, particularly when applied to a roaster.

[0094] Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above based on embodiments and examples, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. The present application also provides the inventions of the following aspects.

[0095] (Mode 1) The outer casing, inner casing, and grill are not limited to being rectangular, but may be, for example, round or oval. The heater unit can heat not only rectangular areas, but also circular or oval areas. (Mode 2) The number of straight line portions of the sheathed heater 11 can be made greater than four, thereby making it possible to heat a wider area. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C heater unit 2,2A reflector 5,50 Connector unit 7 Grilling net 11, 15, 16 Sheath heater 12, 12' terminal section 13, 18 Heater casing 30 Inner casing 40 outer casing 53 Connector casing 60 springs 70 Heater cover 100,200,300 Roaster

Claims

[Claim 1] A roaster equipped with a heater unit, the heater unit is a heater unit disposed on a reflector, a sheathed heater having a plurality of straight line portions parallel to each other and a semicircular portion connecting two of the plurality of straight line portions; a pair of terminal portions each connected to an end portion of the sheathed heater; a heater casing that surrounds both ends and terminal portions of the sheathed heater; It is equipped with The heater unit is characterized in that the sheath of the sheathed heater and the heater casing are electrically connected and grounded, The heater casing further includes a spring that presses the heater casing. The spring is grounded; The roaster is characterized in that the spring is disposed at a position where it presses the heater casing before the heater unit is assembled into the roaster.

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