Heating cooking apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a heating cooking apparatus that can preheat a steam generation unit, in a standby state before the start of heating cooking, while reducing the power consumption of the steam generation unit.　A heating cooking apparatus according to the present disclosure comprises: a heating chamber that accommodates an object to be heated; an in-chamber heating unit that heats the inside of the heating chamber; a steam generation unit that generates steam to be supplied into the heating chamber; and a heat transfer unit that transfers heat generated by the in-chamber heating unit to the steam generation unit.

Description

Cooking heater

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooking heater having a steam generation function.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of a cooking heater having a steam generation function, which includes a preheating mode control unit that preheats and keeps warm the water in the steam generation container in a standby state before the start of cooking.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-96569

[0004] The present disclosure provides a cooking heater capable of reducing the power consumption of the steam generation unit and preheating the steam generation unit in a standby state before starting cooking.

[0005] The cooking heater in the present disclosure includes a heating chamber for accommodating the object to be heated, an in-chamber heating unit for heating the inside of the heating chamber, a steam generation unit for generating steam to be supplied into the heating chamber, and a heat transfer unit for transferring the heat generated by the in-chamber heating unit to the steam generation unit. Note that this specification includes all of Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-018427 filed on February 6, 2025.

[0006] According to the cooking heater of the present disclosure, in a standby state before starting cooking, the power consumption of the steam generation unit can be reduced to preheat the steam generation unit.

[0007] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the cooking heater in the embodiment; FIG. 2 is a front view of the cooking heater with the door removed in the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the front-rear direction of the cooking heater with the door closed in the embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of the heating means of the cooking heater in the embodiment; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the functions of the cooking heater in the embodiment; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the control specifications of the cooking heater in the embodiment; FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the start process of the preheating process of the steam generation unit in the embodiment; FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the effect of providing the heat transfer unit in the embodiment

[0008] (Knowledge and other information forming the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived of this disclosure, there was a technology for a cooking appliance that has a function to supply steam into the heating chamber, and which includes a preheating mode control unit that, in a standby state before cooking is started, supplies water into the steam generating container of the steam generator and heats the steam generating container with a heater to maintain the water in the steam generating container at a preset temperature. This technology makes it possible to shorten the time from the start of cooking until steam is generated, and thus shorten the cooking time using steam. The inventors discovered that with the above technology, in order to maintain the preheating mode in the standby state before cooking is started, the heater of the steam generator is operated, which increases the energy consumption of the steam generator in the standby state. The inventors then came to form the subject of this disclosure in order to solve the above problem. Therefore, this disclosure provides a cooking appliance that can reduce the power consumption of the steam generating unit and preheat the steam generating unit in a standby state before cooking is started.

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings and the following explanation are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] (Embodiment) The embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 8. [1. Configuration of the heating appliance] The heating appliance 1 of this embodiment is a microwave oven that performs heating cooking using microwave heating mode, grill mode, and convection mode, and is used, for example, in stores that sell food such as convenience stores and fast food restaurants.

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the cooking appliance 1, with the door 4 on the front of the cooking appliance 1 closed. Figure 2 is a front view of the cooking appliance 1 with the door 4 removed, and Figure 3 is a front-to-back cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance 1 with the door 4 closed. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of the heating means.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cooking appliance 1 comprises a main body 2, a machine room 3, and a door 4. The machine room 3 is located below the main body 2 and supports it. The door 4 is located on the front of the main body 2 and opens and closes a heating chamber 5 formed inside the main body 2, on which the object to be heated is placed. The cooking appliance 1 is equipped with a door switch 63 (see Figure 6) that detects the open or closed state of the door 4. The door switch 63 corresponds to the door open / closed detection unit of this disclosure.

[0013] In this embodiment, the opening side of the heating chamber 5 is described as the front side of the cooking appliance 1, and the opposite side is described as the rear side of the cooking appliance 1. Also, the right and left sides of the cooking appliance 1 when viewed from the front are described as the right and left sides of the cooking appliance 1, respectively.

[0014] An operation unit 6 is provided on the front right side of the main unit 2. The operation unit 6 has operation keys and a display for setting heating conditions. Behind the operation unit 6 is a control unit 50 (see Figure 6) that controls the operation of the cooking appliance 1. Below the operation unit 6 are a reading unit 61 and a human presence sensor 62. The reading unit 61 is used to capture images of food that show cooking information such as the type of food and heating conditions, such as a QR code (registered trademark) attached to the food. The reading unit 61 may be configured to read characters, QR codes (registered trademark), barcodes, etc. with a camera, or it may be configured as an optical barcode reader. The human presence sensor 62 detects a person in front of the cooking appliance 1.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, a grill heater 10 is provided on the top surface of the heating chamber 5, and a convection heater 11 is provided on the back surface of the heating chamber 5. The convection heater 11 has a heater and a fan, and the operation of the heater and fan circulates hot air inside the heating chamber 5.

[0016] As shown in Figure 3, the machine room 3 is equipped with a magnetron 12 that radiates microwaves into the heating chamber 5. A steam generating unit 20 that supplies steam to the heating chamber 5 is provided on the back of the main body 2. The steam generating unit 20 is connected to the convection heater 11 by a heat transfer unit 30, and when the convection heater 11 is operating, the steam generating unit 20 is heated by the heat generated by the convection heater 11 and transmitted through the heat transfer unit 30. The heat transfer unit 30 is made of a heat-conductive material such as metal.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4, a grill heater 10 is positioned on the top surface of the heating chamber 5, and a convection heater 11 is positioned on the back surface of the heating chamber 5. A steam generating unit 20 is positioned behind the convection heater 11, and the outer periphery of the convection heater 11 and the steam generating unit 20 are connected by a heat transfer unit 30.

[0018] [2. Functions of the Cooking Appliance] The functions of the cooking appliance 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 5. As described above, the cooking appliance 1 is equipped with a grill heater 10, a convection heater 11, and a magnetron 12 as means for heating the object to be heated F placed in the heating chamber 5. The grill heater 10 heats the object to be heated F by radiant heat from the heater, the convection heater 11 heats the object to be heated F by hot air, and the magnetron 12 heats the object to be heated F by microwaves.

[0019] The steam generating unit 20 is connected to the water tank 21 by a water supply and drainage pipe 22 and includes a steam generating container that stores water supplied from the water tank 21, and a steam generating heater that heats the water stored in the steam generating container. The steam generating unit 20 supplies the steam generated by the operation of the steam generating heater into the heating chamber 5.

[0020] The control unit 50 performs cooking operations by individually or in combination by using microwave heating via the magnetron 12, radiant heating via the grill heater 10, and hot air circulation heating via the convection heater 11, according to the cooking operation conditions set by the operation unit 6. The control unit 50 also supplies steam to the heating chamber 5 via the steam generator 20 according to the cooking operation conditions set by the operation unit 6.

[0021] Furthermore, in response to the use of the cooking appliance 1 in the store, the control unit 50 operates the convection heater 11 to preheat the inside of the heating chamber 5 in order to shorten the cooking time before the cooking appliance 1 starts its cooking operation. The preheating operation is started when the cooking appliance 1 is connected to the commercial power supply and a user, such as a store employee, performs a predetermined operation, such as pressing the start button on the operation unit 6. The operation of the convection heater 11 is controlled by the preheating operation so that the temperature inside the heating chamber 5 reaches the temperature specified by the operation unit 6.

[0022] Furthermore, the user can set whether or not to preheat the steam generator 20 when the oven preheating operation starts, by selecting it using the control panel 6. Preheating of the steam generator 20 is performed by turning on the heater of the steam generator 20 and heating the water stored in the steam generating container of the steam generator 20. As a result, when cooking food using a course that uses steam, if the preheating of the steam generator 20 is set to ON, the power consumption will increase due to the preheating of the steam generator 20 in addition to the heat transfer from the preheating operation inside the heating chamber 5, but the steam will be generated faster, thus shortening the time required for cooking. On the other hand, if the preheating of the steam generator 20 is set to OFF, only the heat transfer from the preheating operation inside the heating chamber 5 will occur, so the power consumption can be reduced, but the time required for cooking will be longer because it will take longer to generate steam compared to when the preheating of the steam generator 20 is set to ON. Furthermore, if the preheating of the steam generating unit 20 is set to ON, the start of the internal preheating operation and the start of preheating of the steam generating unit 20 may occur simultaneously, or the preheating of the steam generating unit 20 may start a predetermined time after the start of the internal preheating operation, or the internal preheating operation may start a predetermined time after the start of preheating of the steam generating unit 20.

[0023] Furthermore, preheating of the steam generating unit 20 (preheating by turning on the heater inside the steam generating unit 20) is performed with water in the steam generating container. Details of the preheating process for the steam generating unit 20 will be described later.

[0024] [3. Control Specifications of the Cooking Appliance] The control specifications of the cooking appliance 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 illustrates a situation in which the cooking appliance 1 is used in store B, which sells food. In addition to the configuration described above, the cooking appliance 1 is equipped with a communication unit 60, an internal temperature sensor 64, and a time information acquisition unit 65.

[0025] The communication unit 60 communicates with the store management server 110, the store door sensor, the in-store camera 81, and the POS (Point Of Sale) register 82 installed in store B, via the communication network 100. The internal temperature sensor 64 detects the temperature inside the heating chamber 5. The temperature inside the heating chamber 5 detected by the internal temperature sensor 64 is used to control the heating and cooking operation.

[0026] The time information acquisition unit 65 acquires time information, including at least the current time, via a timing circuit or from an external server such as the store management server 110. In addition to the current time, the time information may also include information to specify the date and time, such as the date and day of the week.

[0027] The store door sensor 80 recognizes the open / closed state of the store door installed in store B and transmits store door open / closed information indicating the recognition result to the store management server 110. The store camera 81 is installed in a designated location in store B to photograph the inside of store B and transmits the captured images to the store management server 110. The POS register 82 processes the payment for the goods purchased by user U and transmits purchase information about the purchased goods to the store management server 110.

[0028] The store management server 110 recognizes the status of user U based on door opening / closing information transmitted from store B, images taken inside store B, and information on purchased items. The store management server 110 then transmits user monitoring information indicating the status of user U to the cooking appliance 1.

[0029] The control unit 50 is connected to the communication unit 60, the operation unit 6, the reading unit 61, the human presence sensor 62, the door switch 63, the internal temperature sensor 64, the time information acquisition unit 65, the grill heater 10, the convection heater 11, the magnetron 12, and the steam generation unit 20.

[0030] The control unit 50 includes a processor 51, memory 52, interface circuitry, etc., and the memory 52 stores a program 53 for controlling the heating cooker 1, cooking operation data 54, etc. The control unit 50 controls the operation of the heating cooker 1 by executing the program 53 using the processor 51, and performs heating and cooking operations using the cooking operation data 54 corresponding to the heating and cooking conditions set by the operation unit 6.

[0031] The control unit 50 receives user monitoring information transmitted from the store management server 110 and recognizes predetermined actions of user U in store B based on the user monitoring information. Predetermined actions include, for example, the following actions (1) to (3): (1) User U entering store B. User U's entry into store B is recognized by the detection signal of the store door sensor 80 or by the image captured by the in-store camera 81. Alternatively, the entry of user U into store B may be recognized by detecting the sound of a chime that sounds in conjunction with the detection signal of the store door sensor 80. (2) User U picking up food sold in store B. User U picking up food is recognized by the image captured by the in-store camera 81. (3) User U purchasing food sold in store B. User U purchasing food is recognized by the execution of a settlement process by the POS register 82 or by the image captured by the in-store camera 81.

[0032] The control unit 50 may also recognize the predetermined actions described in (1) to (3) above by receiving detection information from the store door sensor 80, images captured by the in-store camera 81, and settlement processing information from the POS register 82, rather than user monitoring information transmitted from the store management server 110. In this case, the detection information from the store door sensor 80, images captured by the in-store camera 81, and settlement processing information from the POS register 82 correspond to the user monitoring information described herein.

[0033] [4. Preheating of the Steam Generator] The preheating process of the steam generator 20, performed by the control unit 50, will now be described according to the flowchart shown in Figure 7. As described above, when the cooking appliance 1 is connected to commercial power and the preheating operation inside the oven starts in response to the operation of the control unit 6, the control unit 50 repeatedly performs the process shown in the flowchart in Figure 7 during the waiting period before the cooking operation is performed (the period during which the preheating operation inside the oven is continuing).

[0034] In step S1 of Figure 7, the control unit 50 determines whether the preheating setting for the steam generator 20, as selected by the operation unit 6, is ON (preheating is performed) or OFF (preheating is not performed). If the preheating setting for the steam generator 20 is ON, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, if the preheating setting for the steam generator 20 is OFF, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S7, in which case the steam generator 20 is not preheated.

[0035] In step S2, when the control unit 50 recognizes, based on the time information acquired by the time information acquisition unit 65, that the current time is the pre-set preheating start time for the steam generating unit 20, it proceeds to step S30 and starts preheating the steam generating unit 20. The preheating start time for the steam generating unit 20 is set, for example, to the opening time of store B, or the start time of a period when many customers are expected, such as lunchtime. In addition to time, the preheating start time for the steam generating unit 20 may also be set to include the day of the week and date.

[0036] In step S3, if the control unit 50 detects a person in front of the cooking appliance 1 using the motion sensor 62, it proceeds to step S30 to start preheating the steam generating unit 20. If the motion sensor 62 does not detect a person in front of the cooking appliance 1, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S4.

[0037] In step S4, when the control unit 50 detects from the door switch 63 that the door 4 of the cooking appliance 1 has switched from the closed state to the open state (the door 4 has been opened), it proceeds to step S30 to start preheating the steam generating unit 20. If the control unit 50 does not detect that the door 4 has switched from the closed state to the open state via the door switch 63, it proceeds to step S5.

[0038] In step S5, the control unit 50 determines whether or not an image reading operation has been performed by the reading unit 61. If a reading operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S10; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S10, if the control unit 50 recognizes cooking information from the image captured by the reading unit 61, the process proceeds to step S30 to start preheating the steam generating unit 20; if the control unit 50 does not recognize cooking information from the image captured by the reading unit 61, the process proceeds to step S6.

[0039] In step S6, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S20 if it receives user monitoring information from the store management server 110, and proceeds to step S7 if it does not receive user monitoring information from the store management server 110. In step S20, if the control unit 50 recognizes a predetermined action of user U (any of the actions (1) to (3) above) from the user monitoring information, it proceeds to step S30 to start preheating the steam generating unit 20, and proceeds to step S7 if it does not recognize a predetermined action of user U from the user monitoring information.

[0040] As shown in the flowchart in Figure 7, when the possibility of using the cooking appliance 1 is recognized in steps S2, S3, S4, S10, and S20, preheating of the steam generating unit 20 is started in step S30, allowing the water stored in the steam generating container of the steam generating unit 20 to be preheated. This speeds up the timing at which steam is supplied from the steam generating unit 20 to the heating chamber 5 when the cooking operation is started, thereby shortening the time required for cooking.

[0041] Furthermore, the preheating of the steam generating unit 20, which was started in step S30, may be stopped according to the following stop conditions 1 to 3. Stop condition 1: If the preheating of the steam generating unit 20 was started by branching from step S2 to step S30, the preheating of the steam generating unit 20 is stopped at a predetermined time. The predetermined time may be automatically adjusted based on time information acquired by the time information acquisition unit 65. Stop condition 2: The preheating of the steam generating unit 20 is stopped after a certain period of time has elapsed since the end of the heating and cooking operation. Stop condition 3: The preheating of the steam generating unit 20 is stopped after a certain period of time has elapsed since the motion sensor 62 detected that a person had left the front of the heating and cooking appliance 1, or when the motion of waving a hand is recognized by the image captured by the camera of the reading unit 61.

[0042] [5. Effects of Preheating the Oven and Steam Generator] The effects obtained by preheating the oven and steam generator 20 will be explained with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 shows the change in the outlet temperature of the steam generator 20, with the vertical axis set to the outlet temperature of the steam generator 20 and the horizontal axis set to the elapsed time from the start of operation of the steam generator 20 (normal steam generation operation, not preheating).

[0043] In Figure 8, T1 indicates the case where, in addition to the internal preheating operation, the heater of the steam generating unit 20 is turned ON to raise the temperature of the water in the steam generating container, thus preheating the steam generating unit 20. T2 indicates the case where only the internal preheating operation is performed, and the steam generating unit 20 is not preheated. T3 indicates the case where neither the internal preheating operation nor the preheating of the steam generating unit 20 is performed. t1, t2, and t3 indicate the timing at which the steam supply from the steam generating unit 20 begins.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 8, at T3, the time t3 until the supply of steam by the steam generation unit 20 starts is the longest. At T2 where the preheating operation inside the cabinet is executed, the time until the supply of steam by the steam generation unit 20 starts is shortened from t3 to t2. At T1, in addition to the preheating operation inside the cabinet, by preheating the steam generation unit 20 as well, the time until the supply of steam by the steam generation unit 20 starts can be further shortened from t2 to t1. However, by preheating the steam generation unit 20, power consumption occurs in the steam generation unit 20. However, compared with the case where the preheating operation inside the cabinet is not performed, the power consumption is small.

[0045] Therefore, as shown in T2, without performing the preheating operation of the steam generation unit 20 and only executing the preheating operation inside the cabinet, the process of preheating the steam generation unit 20 before the heating cooking operation is executed can achieve both reduction of power consumption in the steam generation unit 20 and shortening of the time required until the supply of steam from the steam generation unit 20 starts.

[0046] [6. Effects, etc.] As described above, in the present embodiment, the heating cooker 1 has a configuration in which the steam generation unit 20 and the convection heater 11 are connected to the heat transfer unit 30, and before executing the heating cooking operation, the preheating operation inside the heating cabinet 5 is executed by operating the convection heater 11. Thereby, the preheating of the steam generation unit 20 can be performed while reducing the power consumption of the steam generation unit 20.

[0047] (Other Embodiments) As described above, the above embodiments have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and it can also be applied to embodiments with changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc.

[0048] In the above embodiment, as the heat transfer part of the present disclosure, a heat transfer part 30 connecting the convection heater 11 and the steam generation part 20 was shown. As another embodiment, a ventilation path for guiding the hot air generated by the convection heater 11 to the steam generation part 20 may be provided as the heat transfer part. Further, as the heat transfer part, both the heat transfer part 30 connecting the convection heater 11 and the steam generation part 20 and the ventilation path may be provided.

[0049] Also, the convection heater 11 and the steam generation part 20 may be arranged to face each other without an intervening shield. Thereby, the steam generation part 20 is also heated by the radiant heat of the convection heater 11.

[0050] In the above embodiment, as shown in step S1 of FIG. 7, when the preheating operation in the storage is started, whether to preheat the steam generation part 20 is switched by a selection operation by the operation unit 6. As another embodiment, a configuration for selecting whether to preheat the steam generation part 20 may be omitted, and when the preheating operation in the storage is started, the preheating of the steam generation part 20 may always be started. In this case, the preheating of the steam generation part 20 may be started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the preheating operation in the storage.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the convection heater 11 is shown as the in-storage heating part of the present disclosure, but the in-storage heating part of the present disclosure may be a grill heater 10. In this case, a heat transfer part for transmitting the heat generated by the grill heater 10 to the steam generation part 20 is provided, and the grill heater 10 is operated to execute the preheating operation in the storage.

[0052] Further, a heat transfer part for transmitting the heat generated by the convection heater 11 to the steam generation part 20 and a heat transfer part for transmitting the heat generated by the grill heater 10 to the steam generation part 20 may be provided, and the convection heater 11 and the grill heater 10 may be operated to execute the preheating operation in the storage.

[0053] The controller that controls the operation of the cooking appliance in this disclosure only needs to be capable of controlling the cooking appliance in this disclosure. When expressing the subject matter of the invention, the controller of the cooking appliance in this disclosure may be described as a control means, a control unit, or similar terminology in addition to "controller." The controller can be implemented in various forms. For example, a processor may be used as the controller. If a processor is used as the controller, it is possible to load a program from a storage medium containing the program into the processor and execute the program using the processor to perform various processes. Therefore, since the processing content can be changed by changing the program stored in the storage medium, the degree of freedom in changing the control content can be increased. Examples of processors include CPU (Central Processing Unit) and MPU (Micro-Processing Unit). Examples of storage mediums include hard disks, flash memory, and optical discs. Furthermore, a wired logic controller that cannot be rewritten may be used as the controller. Using a wired logic controller is effective in improving processing speed. Examples of wired logic include ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits). Alternatively, a controller may be implemented by combining a processor and wired logic. Implementing the controller by combining a processor and wired logic increases the flexibility of software design while improving processing speed. Furthermore, the controller and a circuit with a different function may be constructed from a single semiconductor element. An example of a circuit with a different function is an A / D / D / A conversion circuit. The controller may also be constructed from a single semiconductor element or from multiple semiconductor elements. When constructed from multiple semiconductor elements, each control described in the claims may be implemented from different semiconductor elements. Additionally, the controller may be configured with a configuration including semiconductor elements and passive components such as resistors or capacitors.

[0054] The communicator (communication unit) in this disclosure only needs to enable communication between the cooking appliance of this disclosure and an external device. When expressing the subject matter of the invention, in addition to the communicator, the device that enables communication between the cooking appliance of this disclosure and an external device may also be referred to as a communication means, communication unit, transmitting / receiving means, transmitting / receiving unit, or similar terminology. The communicator can be implemented in various forms. For example, the communicator may be connected to the external device by a wired connection, or it may be connected to the external device by wireless communication. A communicator that connects the device of this disclosure and an external device by a wired connection is effective in terms of communication security and communication stability. Examples of wired communicators include wired LANs based on the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard, or wired connections using fiber optic cables. Examples of wireless communicators include wireless connections to external devices via base stations, etc., or direct wireless connections to external devices. Examples of wireless connections to external devices via base stations include IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless LANs that wirelessly communicate with Wi-Fi routers, third-generation mobile communication systems (commonly known as 3G), fourth-generation mobile communication systems (commonly known as 4G), IEEE 802.16 compliant WiMax (registered trademark), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). Using a communicator that directly wirelessly connects the device disclosed in this disclosure to external devices is effective in improving the security of communications, and the device disclosed in this disclosure can communicate with external devices even in locations where relay devices such as Wi-Fi routers are not present. Examples of communicators that directly wirelessly connect the device of this disclosure with external devices include Bluetooth® communication, NFC (Near Field Communication) communication via a loop antenna, or infrared communication.

[0055] Since the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes of the technology described herein, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the claims or their equivalents.

[0056] (Note) The above description of embodiments discloses the following technology.

[0057] (Technology 1) A cooking appliance comprising: a heating chamber for containing an object to be heated; an internal heating unit for heating the inside of the heating chamber; a steam generating unit for generating steam to be supplied into the heating chamber; and a heat transfer unit for transferring the heat generated by the internal heating unit to the steam generating unit. With this configuration, when the internal heating unit is operated to preheat the inside of the heating chamber, the heat generated by the internal heating unit is transferred to the steam generating unit via the heat transfer unit, thereby heating the steam generating unit. As a result, the steam generating unit can be preheated without operating its heating unit, or by reducing the amount of heat generated by its heating unit, thus reducing the power consumption of the steam generating unit when preheating it.

[0058] (Technical 2) The heating appliance according to Technical 1, wherein the heat transfer section is a heat transfer member connecting the internal heating section and the steam generating section. With this configuration, the steam generating section can be heated by the heat generated by the internal heating section transmitted via the heat transfer member.

[0059] (Technical 3) The heating unit inside the oven is a convection heater located at the rear of the heating chamber, the steam generating unit is located behind the convection heater, and the heat transfer unit connects the outer periphery of the convection heater to the steam generating unit, as described in Technical 2. With this configuration, by connecting the heat transfer unit to the outer periphery of the convection heater, it is possible to suppress the effect of the heat transfer unit on the intake and exhaust of the convection heater.

[0060] (Technical 4) The heating appliance according to Technical 1, wherein the internal heating section is a convection heater, and the heat transfer section is an air passage that guides the hot air generated by the convection heater to the steam generating section. With this configuration, the steam generating section can be heated by the hot air from the convection heater supplied through the air passage.

[0061] (Technical 5) The heating appliance according to Technical 4, wherein the heat transfer section is a heat-transmitting member connecting the air passage and the convection heater and the steam generating section. With this configuration, the heat generated by the convection heater can be transferred to the steam generating section by both the air passage and the heat-transmitting member, thereby heating the steam generating section.

[0062] (Technical 6) The heating appliance according to Technical 1, wherein the internal heating unit and the steam generating unit are arranged in close proximity without any obstruction. With this configuration, the heat generated by the internal heating unit can be efficiently transferred to the steam generating unit, thereby heating the steam generating unit.

[0063] (Technology 7) A cooking appliance according to any one of the technologies from Technology 1 to Technology 6, comprising a control unit that operates the internal heating unit to preheat the inside of the heating chamber before starting the cooking operation. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated by the heat generated by the internal heating unit while the control unit is performing the internal preheating operation.

[0064] (Technical 8) The heating cooker according to Technical 7, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit at the same time as the start of the oven preheating operation. With this configuration, the time required for the preheating of the steam generating unit to be completed can be shortened.

[0065] (Technical 9) A cooking appliance according to Technical 7 or Technical 8, comprising a time information acquisition unit that acquires time information, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit based on the time information. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated by the heat generated by the internal heating unit in conjunction with the internal preheating operation which is started at least at the internal preheating start time specified by the time.

[0066] (Technology 10) A cooking appliance according to any one of the technologies from Technology 7 to Technology 9, comprising a door opening / closing detection unit for detecting the open / closed state of the door of the heating chamber, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit when the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has switched from a closed state to an open state. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated by the heat generated by the heating unit inside the chamber in conjunction with the preheating operation inside the chamber, which is started at the timing when it is assumed that a user will use the cooking appliance due to the door being opened.

[0067] (Technology 11) A cooking appliance according to any one of the technologies from Technology 7 to Technology 10, comprising a motion sensor for detecting a person in front of the cooking appliance, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit when a person is detected by the motion sensor. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated by the heat generated by the internal heating unit in conjunction with the internal preheating operation, which is started at the timing when the possibility of using the cooking appliance arises due to the detection of a person approaching the cooking appliance by the motion sensor.

[0068] (Technology 12) A cooking appliance according to any one of the technologies from Technology 7 to Technology 11, comprising an image recognition unit, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit when the image recognition unit recognizes an image indicating cooking information for the food to be heated. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated using the heat generated by the internal heating unit in conjunction with the internal preheating operation, which is started at the timing when it is determined that the user has performed a setting operation for the cooking operation by recognizing an image indicating cooking information such as a QR code (registered trademark).

[0069] (Technology 13) A cooking appliance according to any one of the technologies from Technology 7 to Technology 12, wherein the control unit acquires user monitoring information indicating the status of users in a store where the cooking appliance is used, and when it recognizes a predetermined action of the user based on the user monitoring information, it starts preheating the steam generating unit. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated by the heat generated by the internal heating unit in conjunction with the internal preheating operation, which is started at the timing when there is a possibility that the cooking appliance will be used due to the recognition of a predetermined action of a user in the store.

[0070] (Technical 14) The heating appliance described in Technical 13, wherein the predetermined action is the user entering the store. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated by the heat generated in the internal heating unit in conjunction with the internal preheating operation which is started when the user enters the store.

[0071] (Technical 15) The heating appliance according to Technical 13 or Technical 14, wherein the predetermined action is the action of the user picking up food sold in the store. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated by the heat generated in the internal heating unit in conjunction with the internal preheating operation which is started when the user picks up food sold in the store.

[0072] (Technology 16) A heating appliance according to any one of the technologies 13 to 15, wherein the predetermined operation is the action taken by the user to purchase food sold at the store. With this configuration, the steam generating unit can be preheated by the heat generated in the internal heating unit in conjunction with the internal preheating operation which is started when the user completes the purchase procedure for food sold at the store.

[0073] This disclosure is applicable to applications where the power consumption of the steam generating unit is reduced and the steam generating unit is preheated during the standby state before cooking is started.

[0074] 1. Cooking appliance 2. Main unit 3. Machine room 4. Door 5. Cooking chamber 6. Control panel 10. Grill heater 11. Convection heater 12. Magnetron 20. Steam generator 21. Water tank 22. Water supply and drainage pipes 30. Heat transfer unit 50. Control unit 51. Processor 52. Memory 53. Program 54. Cooking operation data 60. Communication unit 61. Reading unit 62. Motion sensor 63. Door sensor 64. Internal temperature sensor 65. Time information acquisition unit 80. Store door sensor 81. Store camera 82. POS register 100. Communication network 110. Store management server B. Store U. User

Claims

1. A cooking appliance comprising: a heating chamber for containing an object to be heated; an internal heating unit for heating the inside of the heating chamber; a steam generating unit for generating steam to be supplied to the heating chamber; and a heat transfer unit for transferring the heat generated by the internal heating unit to the steam generating unit.

2. The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer section is a heat-conducting member that connects the internal heating section and the steam generating section.

3. The heating appliance according to claim 2, wherein the internal heating section is a convection heater located at the rear of the heating chamber, the steam generating section is located behind the convection heater, and the heat transfer section connects the outer periphery of the convection heater to the steam generating section.

4. The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the internal heating section is a convection heater, and the heat transfer section is an air passage that guides the hot air generated by the convection heater to the steam generating section.

5. The heating appliance according to claim 4, wherein the heat transfer section is a heat-conducting member connecting the air passage and the convection heater and the steam generating section.

6. The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the internal heating unit and the steam generating unit are arranged in close proximity without any obstruction.

7. A cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a control unit that operates the internal heating unit to preheat the inside of the heating chamber before starting the cooking operation.

8. The cooking appliance according to claim 7, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit at the same time as the start of the preheating operation inside the oven.

9. A cooking appliance according to claim 7, comprising a time information acquisition unit for acquiring time information, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit based on the time information.

10. The heating appliance according to claim 7, further comprising a door opening / closing detection unit for detecting the open / closed state of the heating chamber door, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit when the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has switched from a closed state to an open state.

11. The cooking appliance according to claim 7, further comprising a motion sensor for detecting a person present in front of the cooking appliance, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit when a person is detected by the motion sensor.

12. The heating appliance according to claim 7, comprising an image recognition unit, wherein the control unit starts preheating the steam generating unit when the image recognition unit recognizes an image indicating cooking information of the object to be heated.

13. The cooking appliance according to claim 7, wherein the control unit acquires user monitoring information indicating the status of users in a store where the cooking appliance is used, and when it recognizes a predetermined action of the user based on the user monitoring information, it starts preheating the steam generating unit.

14. The heating appliance according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined action is the user entering the store.

15. The heating appliance according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined action is the action of the user picking up food sold at the store.

16. The heating appliance according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined action is the action of the user in which he / she proceeds to purchase food sold at the store.

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