Heating Regulator

Abstract

The disclosed heating regulator includes a body, a door, and a water-collecting plate. The body has a heating chamber with an opening, and a front frame disposed around the opening of the heating chamber. The door is mounted on the body and covers the opening of the heating chamber. The water-collecting plate is disposed below the heating chamber and behind the front frame, and receives water from the front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber. The water-collecting plate has a first drain hole for guiding the water from the front side of the water-collecting plate to the rear side; and a guide portion for guiding the water to the first drain hole.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to a heating regulator. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various types of heating cookers have been known to address the problem of condensation dripping onto the outside during the heating and cooking of food. For example, conventional heating cookers include a water-holding section and a tray, wherein the water-holding section receives water dripping from the gap between the opening and the door of the heating chamber of the main body, and the tray receives and stores the water dripping from the water-holding section (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-287815 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-148399). [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] However, from the perspective of efficiently collecting the water generated in the heating chamber, conventional heating conditioners still have room for improvement.

[0004] Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a heating conditioner that can efficiently recover water generated in the heating chamber.

[0005] The disclosed heating regulator includes a body, a door, and a water-holding plate. The body has a heating chamber with an opening and a front frame disposed around the opening of the heating chamber. The door is mounted on the body and covers the opening of the heating chamber. The water-holding plate is disposed below the heating chamber and behind the front frame, and receives water from the front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber. The water-holding plate has a first drain hole for guiding the water from the front side of the water-holding plate to the back side; and a guide portion for guiding the water to the first drain hole.

[0006] According to the heating conditioner disclosed herein, water generated in the heating chamber can be efficiently recovered.

Implementation Method

[0018] The form of implementing the invention (knowledge insights that form the basis of this disclosure) The inventors of this case conducted a thorough review in order to efficiently recover water in the heating chamber, and as a result obtained the following knowledge insights.

[0019] In conventional heating regulators, a water-holding section is provided below the junction of the front frame and the back of the door around the opening of the heating chamber. A water-holding tray is disposed below this water-holding section. The water-holding section is fixed to the bottom surface of the front frame, which extends rearward from the lower edge of the front frame.

[0020] In conventional heat conditioners, multiple steel plates are bonded together to form the heating chamber and its front frame. In this configuration, if a gap appears at the front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber, water generated inside the heating chamber can leak through this gap to the bottom. To prevent this leakage, in conventional heat conditioners, silica paste is used to seal the gap at the front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber from the back side of the steel plates.

[0021] The inventors of this case have discovered a configuration that, instead of sealing the gap at the front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber, can efficiently recover water generated within the heating chamber from that gap. According to this configuration, water flowing between the door and the front frame can be reduced. As a result, when the user opens the door, the amount of water adhering to the front frame can be reduced.

[0022] Based on this novel knowledge and insight, the inventors of this case have finally completed the following invention.

[0023] The heating regulator of the first aspect disclosed herein includes a body, a door, and a water-holding plate. The body has: a heating chamber having an opening; and a front frame disposed around the opening of the heating chamber. The door is mounted on the body and covers the opening of the heating chamber. The water-holding section is disposed below the heating chamber and behind the front frame, and receives water from the front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber. The water-holding plate has: a first drain hole for guiding the water from the front side of the water-holding plate to the back side; and a guide for guiding the water to the first drain hole.

[0024] According to the first state sample, water generated in the heating chamber can be efficiently recycled. Therefore, when the user opens the door, the amount of water adhering to the front of the front frame and the back of the door can be reduced. As a result, less effort is required for the user to clean the front of the front frame and the back of the door.

[0025] In the second state of the disclosed heating regulator, while following the first state, a through hole is provided at the aforementioned front corner. According to the second state, the amount of water flowing down from the front corner can be increased, thereby reducing the amount of water flowing down from the gap between the door and the front frame.

[0026] In the third-state sample of the heating regulator disclosed herein, while conforming to the first-state sample or the second-state sample, the water holding plate includes: a water holding plate body disposed at the rear of the front frame; a first drain hole provided on the water holding plate body; and a guide portion disposed at the front of the water holding plate body and inclined downward from the end of the water holding plate body toward the first drain hole.

[0027] According to the third state, water flowing out from the front corner of the bottom of the heating chamber can be guided to the first drain hole.

[0028] In the fourth state of the heating regulator disclosed herein, while following any one of the first to third states, the water-holding plate has a water-holding portion disposed below the first drain hole and behind the water-holding plate. The water-holding portion is a part of the water-holding plate integrally formed with the water-holding plate and protruding rearward.

[0029] According to the fourth state, the water flowing from the water-holding plate through the first drain hole to the back of the water-holding plate can be temporarily collected in the water-holding part, and then the water-holding part can guide the water to other places.

[0030] In the fifth state of the heating regulator disclosed herein, while following any one of the states from the first to the fourth state, the guide portion is constructed of a component that is elastic and waterproof.

[0031] According to the fifth state, water flowing from the front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber can be prevented from leaking between the front frame and the water-collecting plate. As a result, water flowing from the front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber can be guided from the upper surface of the guide to the first drain hole.

[0032] The heating regulator of the sixth state disclosed herein, while following the fifth state, further includes: a base plate disposed below the heating chamber to receive water from the water holding section, and having a drain hole.

[0033] According to the sixth state, water flowing from the water-holding plate to the back of the water-holding plate through the first drain hole can be temporarily collected in the water-holding part, and then guided to the bottom plate through the water-holding part. The water can be guided to another location through the second drain hole provided on the bottom plate.

[0034] By integrating the water-holding part with the water-holding plate, it is not necessary to install the water-holding part as a separate component onto the water-holding plate. This reduces manufacturing costs.

[0035] In the heating regulator of the seventh state disclosed herein, while following the sixth state, the bottom plate has: a groove formed below the front end of the water-holding part, the groove having a second drain hole.

[0036] According to the seventh state, after the water is temporarily stored in the trench of the bottom plate, the water can be guided to other places through the second drainage hole.

[0037] The heating regulator of the eighth state disclosed herein, while following the sixth or seventh state, further includes: a water tray disposed below the base plate for receiving water from the second drain hole.

[0038] According to the seventh state, the water flowing out from the second drain hole of the base plate can be recycled back to the water tray. In the case of a water tray that is detachably installed on the main body, the user can easily pour out the water that has accumulated in the water tray.

[0039] Hereinafter, the heating conditioner 1 of the disclosed embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis shown in the following drawings respectively show the horizontal direction (left-right direction), the depth direction (front-back direction) and the height direction (vertical direction) of the heating conditioner 1.

[0040] In these figures, the front and back sides of the heating conditioner 1 correspond to the front and rear sides of the heating conditioner 1, respectively. That is, the front side of the heating conditioner 1 is in the negative direction of the Y-axis, and the rear side of the heating conditioner 1 is in the positive direction of the Y-axis.

[0041] In these figures, the left and right sides of the heating conditioner 1 are respectively aligned when viewed from the front. That is, the right side of the heating conditioner 1 is the positive direction of the X-axis, and the left side of the heating conditioner 1 is the negative direction of the X-axis.

[0042] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the heating regulator 1. Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the heating regulator 1 with the door 9 open.

[0043] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the heating regulator 1 includes: a body 3; a water tray 7 for containing water generated inside the body 3; and a door 9 installed on the body 3.

[0044] The main body 3 includes a heating chamber 31, a front frame 33, and a base plate 6 (see Figures 7 and 8). The heating chamber 31 is disposed inside the main body 3 and is configured to hold food, beverages, or other items to be heated. The front frame 33 is disposed at the front of the main body 3. The base plate 6 is disposed below the heating chamber 31. The base plate 6 will be described later.

[0045] A mechanical chamber (not shown) is provided in the internal space of the main body 3 to the right of the heating chamber 31. A magnetron, a drive power supply, and a control unit are arranged in the mechanical chamber. The magnetron generates microwaves, the drive power supply supplies power to the magnetron, and the control unit controls the various elements of the heating conditioner 1.

[0046] A radiating antenna (not shown) for radiating microwaves is disposed below the heating chamber 31. The object to be heated, contained in the heating chamber 31, is dielectrically heated by the microwaves emitted from the radiating antenna.

[0047] A steam generation unit is also provided in the machine room. An outlet is provided on the side wall of the heating chamber 31 on the machine room side, and the aforementioned outlet is used to supply steam generated by the steam generation unit into the heating chamber 31. An opening 31a is provided at the front of the heating chamber 31. A front frame 33 is provided around the opening 31a of the heating chamber 31. The opening 31a and the front frame 33 are covered by a door 9 that can be opened and closed.

[0048] The water tray 7 can also be configured below the front frame 33 (in the negative direction of the Z-axis) and can be detachably installed on the body 3. The water tray 7 will eventually contain the water flowing out between the front frame 33 and the door 9, as well as the water flowing out from the previously described corner hole 33a1 (see Figure 4B).

[0049] Door 9 can be opened and closed to cover the opening 31a of heating chamber 31. The portion of the front frame 33 of door 9 below the opening 31a is pivotally supported so that it can be opened and closed about a horizontal axis of rotation. When the handle 91 mounted on door 9 is pulled out to open door 9, the opening 31a of heating chamber 31 is opened. When door 9 is closed so that door 9 is in an upright position, the opening 31a of heating chamber 31 is closed.

[0050] The main body 3 includes an operation display panel 90, which is located on the right side of the door 9. The operation display panel 90 includes a display unit 93 and an operation unit 95. The display unit 93 is, for example, an LCD screen used to display menu screens. The operation unit 95 includes buttons and dials. The user can use the operation unit 95 to issue various adjustment instructions to the heating regulator 1.

[0051] A rack is provided on each of the two side walls 31b of the heating chamber 31 (see Figures 4A and 4B). The rack is used to position the baking tray and the iron plate at any of a plurality of heights. Usually, the food to be heated is placed on the platform 31d of the heating chamber 31 (see Figures 4A and 4B) for preparation, but depending on the preparation method, the food to be heated may also be placed on the baking tray and the iron plate for preparation.

[0052] Figure 3 is a front view of the heater 1 with the door 9 and operation display panel 90 removed. Figures 4A and 4B are perspective views of the front frame 33 of the main body 3 with the door 9 and other components removed, and enlarged views of a portion thereof.

[0053] As shown in Figures 3, 4A, and 4B, the heating chamber 31 has a side wall 31b, a bottom surface 31c, and a top surface (not shown). The side wall 31b and the bottom surface 31c are made of steel plates such as galvanized steel plates. A platform 31d for placing the object to be heated is formed on the bottom surface 31c.

[0054] As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the front frame 33 of the main body 3 is formed from a single steel plate and has a lower front frame 33b, a side front frame 33c, and an upper front frame (not shown).

[0055] In this embodiment, the lower front frame 33b, the side front frame 33c, the side wall 31b of the heating chamber 31, and the bottom surface 31c of the heating chamber 31 are in contact with each other at two front corner portions 33a on the bottom surface of the heating chamber 31. That is, the front corner portions 33a correspond to the joints of the steel plates of the lower front frame 33b, the side front frame 33c, the side wall 31b, and the bottom surface 31c. The front corner hole 33a1 is a through hole formed in the front corner portion 33a.

[0056] When the object to be heated in the heating chamber 31 is heated for conditioning, steam is generated from the object to be heated and the steam generation unit. The steam fills the heating chamber 31 and condenses on the side wall 31b and the top surface.

[0057] Water droplets generated by condensation will flow from the side wall 31b, the top surface and the back of the door 9 through the bottom surface 31c to the vicinity of the lower part 33b of the front frame. The water will flow down from the gap between the door 9 and the lower part 33b of the front frame and be collected into the water tray 7.

[0058] As shown by arrow P1 in Figure 4A, the water tray 7 protrudes forward (in the negative direction of the Y-axis) beyond the front frame 33 by at least the thickness of the door 9. With this configuration, water flowing downward from the gap between the door 9 and the lower part 33b of the front frame can be collected back into the water tray 7.

[0059] Furthermore, when there is a gap in the front corner 33a, water that reaches the vicinity of the lower part 33b of the front frame from the side wall 31b, bottom surface 31c, or top surface will also flow down from the front corner 33a. By increasing the amount of water flowing down from the front corner 33a, the amount of water flowing down from the gap between the door 9 and the lower part 33b of the front frame can be reduced.

[0060] Conventionally, in order to prevent gaps from appearing in the front corner 33a, silica filler is applied to the front corner 33a from the inside of the heating chamber 31 to seal the front corner 33a. In the heating conditioner 1 of this embodiment, a front corner hole 33a1 is provided in the front corner 33a to drain water that reaches the vicinity of the front corner 33a.

[0061] Figure 5A is a partial front view of the heater 1 with the door removed. Figure 5B is a view showing the front frame 33 through a perspective view in order to visualize the rear of the lower part 33b of the front frame in Figure 5A. Figures 6A and 6B are respectively a front view and a rear view of the water-holding plate 5 of the heater 1.

[0062] As shown in FIG5B, the water-holding plate 5 is disposed below the heating chamber 31 and behind the lower part 33b of the front frame, and is configured to receive water flowing out from the front corner hole 33a1.

[0063] As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the water-holding plate 5 has a water-holding plate body 5d and a guide portion 5a. The water-holding plate body 5d is disposed behind the lower part 33b of the front frame. The guide portion 5a is disposed in front of the water-holding plate body 5d and has a dam-like shape protruding forward from the water-holding plate body 5d.

[0064] The guide portion 5a has: a lowermost portion 5a1, which is located near the center in the left-right direction of the water-holding plate 5, or more precisely, located slightly to the left of the center of the water-holding plate 5. The guide portion 5a has: two inclined surfaces 5a2, each extending obliquely downward from one of the corresponding ends of the two ends of the water-holding plate 5.

[0065] The water-holding plate body 5d of the water-holding section 5c has a drain hole 5b, which is located near the lowermost part 5a1 of the guide section 5a, or more precisely, above the lowermost part 5a1 of the guide section 5a. In this embodiment, the drain hole 5b corresponds to the first drain hole.

[0066] The guide portion 5a is installed on the back side of the lower part 33b of the front frame by screwing or welding, so that its front end is pressed against the back side of the lower part 33b of the front frame. As a result, the guide portion 5a seals the gap between the water-holding plate 5 and the lower part 33b of the front frame. Therefore, the guide portion 5a is preferably made of a component with elasticity and waterproofness, such as rubber.

[0067] With this configuration, the water flowing down from the front corner hole 33a1 will flow towards the bottom 5a1 on the upper surface of the inclined surface 5a2, and will be guided from the front side of the water-holding plate 5 to the back side through the drain hole 5b (see arrow P2 in Figures 5B and 6A).

[0068] In this embodiment, the two front corner holes 33a1 are each disposed on one of the corresponding left and right front corners 33a of the heating chamber 31. However, a front corner hole 33a1 may also be disposed on only one of the left and right front corners 33a.

[0069] For example, in FIG6A, when the front corner hole 33a1 is only provided on the right side of the heating chamber 31, the guide portion 5a only needs to have a lowermost part 5a1, a right-side inclined surface 5a2, and a shorter left-side inclined surface 5a2. The so-called shorter left-side inclined surface 5a2 refers to the inclined surface of the left front corner portion 33a that, although in contact with the lowermost part 5a1, does not contact the bottom surface 31c of the heating chamber 31.

[0070] Furthermore, as shown in FIG6B, the water-holding plate 5 has a water-holding portion 5c, which is disposed below the drain hole 5b and at the lower part of the water-holding plate body 5d of the water-holding plate 5. The water-holding portion 5c is a component formed by cutting a portion of the water-holding plate body 5d backward or obliquely backward, and has a generally inverted triangular shape. That is, the water-holding portion 5c is integrally formed with the water-holding plate body 5d and is a portion of the water-holding plate body 5d that protrudes backward.

[0071] In this embodiment, cutting off a portion of the water-holding plate body 5d means making two cuts at the lower edge of the water-holding plate body 5d and bending a portion of the water-holding plate body 5d enclosed by the two cuts. Alternatively, one cut may be made at the lower edge of the water-holding plate body 5d, and a portion of the water-holding plate body 5d on either side of the cut may be bent.

[0072] The water-holding part 5c has two side walls 5c1 formed by bending its edges upward. Since the water-holding part 5c has a roughly inverted triangular shape, the two side walls 5c1 are closest to each other at the front end 5c2 of the water-holding part 5c.

[0073] By means of this shape, the water-holding part 5c can guide the water flowing on its upper surface to the front end 5c2. When the water flowing out from the drain hole 5b is collected by the water-holding part 5c, it will be gathered to the front end 5c2 by the two side walls 5c1 and flow down from the front end 5c2.

[0074] That is, the water-holding plate 5 functions as a drainage ditch, which guides the water flowing out of the front corner hole 33a1 through the guide part 5a, the drain hole 5b, and the water-holding part 5c to the bottom plate 6 of the main body 3 (described later).

[0075] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the front frame 33 and base plate 6 of the body 3 of the heating regulator 1 from a rearward oblique view. As shown in Figure 7, the base plate 6 of the body 3 has a groove 6a, which is provided below the front end 5c2 of the water-holding part 5c, for receiving water flowing out from the front end 5c2. The water collected in the groove 6a is discharged from the drain hole 6b provided in the groove 6a (see arrow P3 in Figure 7). In this embodiment, the drain hole 6b is equivalent to the second drain hole.

[0076] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the body 3 of the heating regulator 1 viewed from the front. As shown in Figure 8, the water tray 7 has a water storage section 7a, which is located below the drain hole 6b. Water generated in the heating chamber 31 is drained through the drain hole 6b and finally returned to the water storage section 7a.

[0077] In addition, the water storage section 7a may also be configured to collect water flowing out from the gap between the door 9 and the lower part 33b of the front frame, in addition to the water discharged from the drain hole 6b. In addition to the water tray 7, other trays for collecting the water may also be provided below the heating chamber 31.

[0078] According to this disclosure, water generated in the heating chamber 31 can be collected efficiently. This disclosure is applicable to microwave ovens with steam generators, etc. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0007] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the heating regulator of the embodiment disclosed herein.

[0008] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the heating regulator in the state after the implementation mode gate is opened.

[0009] Figure 3 is a front view of the heating regulator with the implementation mode door and operation display panel removed.

[0010] Figure 4A is a perspective view of the front frame of the main body after the door has been removed.

[0011] Figure 4B is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 4A.

[0012] Figure 5A is a partial front view of the heating conditioner in the embodiment with the door removed.

[0013] Figure 5B is a diagram showing the perspective of the front frame in order to visualize the rear of the lower part of the front frame in Figure 5A.

[0014] Figure 6A is a front view of the water-filled plate of the heating regulator in the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 6B is a rear view of the water-filled plate of the heating regulator in the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the body of the heating regulator in the embodiment from a rearward angle.

[0017] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the body of the heating regulator in the embodiment from a frontal view.

Claims

1. A heating regulator comprising: a body having a heating chamber and a front frame, the heating chamber having an opening, the front frame being disposed around the opening of the heating chamber; a door mounted on the body and covering the opening; and a water-holding plate disposed below the heating chamber and behind the front frame, configured to receive water from a front corner of the bottom surface of the heating chamber; the water-holding plate comprising: a first drain hole configured to guide the water from the front side of the water-holding plate to the back side; and a guide portion configured to guide the water to the first drain hole, the guide portion being configured to seal between the water-holding plate and the back side of the front frame.

2. The heating regulator as described in claim 1 has a through hole at the aforementioned front corner.

3. The heating regulator of claim 1, wherein the aforementioned water plate comprises: a water plate body disposed at the rear of the aforementioned front frame, the aforementioned first drain hole disposed at the aforementioned water plate body, and the aforementioned guide portion disposed at the front of the aforementioned water plate body and inclined downward from the end of the aforementioned water plate toward the aforementioned first drain hole.

4. The heating regulator of claim 2, wherein the aforementioned water plate comprises: a water plate body disposed at the rear of the aforementioned front frame, the aforementioned first drain hole disposed at the aforementioned water plate body, and the aforementioned guide portion disposed at the front of the aforementioned water plate body and inclined downward from the end of the aforementioned water plate toward the aforementioned first drain hole.

5. The heating regulator of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the aforementioned water plate has: a water-holding portion disposed below the aforementioned first drain hole and behind the aforementioned water plate, the aforementioned water-holding portion being integrally formed with the aforementioned water plate and being a portion of the aforementioned water plate that protrudes rearward.

6. The heating regulator of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the aforementioned guide portion is made of a component that is elastic and waterproof.

7. The heating regulator of claim 5 further comprises: a base plate disposed below the aforementioned heating chamber to receive water from the aforementioned water-holding section, and having a second drain hole.

8. The heating regulator of claim 7, wherein the aforementioned base plate has: a groove formed below the front end of the aforementioned water-holding section, the aforementioned groove having the aforementioned second drain hole.

9. The heating regulator of claim 7 further comprises: a water tray disposed below the aforementioned base plate and configured to receive water from the aforementioned second drain hole.

10. The heating regulator of claim 8 further comprises: a water tray disposed below the aforementioned base plate and configured to receive water from the aforementioned second drain hole.

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