JPH03211321A - Electric cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent cooking from being discontinued during operation due to interruption of power supply even in the case of simmering and improve the using handiness by a method wherein when a value of output setting level is not more than a designated value, the clock motion time is extended by a designated period of time, and after the completion of the clock motion time, power connection is stopped. CONSTITUTION:Under a condition in which power source is connected, each time when operation input takes place, a clock unit 22 newly starts a clock motion, and when the clock motion time is completed, i.e., after the title cooker is let alone for a designated period of time after the last input operation, the control unit 22 stops power connection to an electric heater 3. In this case, if a value for output setting level of the electric heater 3 is not more than a designated value, i.e., when cooking for a long period of time such as simmering etc., is performed by setting the electric heater 3 at a low output, the clock motion time is extended. By this method, the electric heater 3 is not discontinued during cooking, and the using handiness is improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides an electric cooker that uses an electric heater as a heat source and controls the output of the electric heater according to the value of the output setting level. Regarding.

(Prior Art) As an example of this type of electric cooking device, there is one in which the electric heater as a heat source is controlled to be energized by a control unit configured with a microcomputer or the like. At this time, the output of the electric heater is adjusted by the control section according to the value of the output setting level.

In recent years, this type of electric cooker has been equipped with a so-called automatic system that determines that the user is absent and stops the power supply if no operation input such as the output setting level is made for a certain period of time while power is being supplied to the electric heater. Some have a power-off function. By providing such a function, even if the electric heater is left energized, the power to the electric heater will be automatically stopped after a predetermined period of time has passed, ensuring fire safety and This eliminates unnecessary power consumption.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, with the conventional configuration as described above, when heating at low output for a long time, such as in stewing cooking, the heating process will continue for a certain period of time unless some operation input is performed during the cooking process. When this period has elapsed, the auto power-off function described above is activated and stewing is interrupted, resulting in a problem that it is not easy to use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a configuration that has an auto power-off function, but
To provide an easy-to-use electric cooker that does not interrupt cooking inadvertently when heating is performed at low output for a long time such as in stewing cooking.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is directed to an electric cooker that uses an electric heater as a heat source and controls the output of the electric heater in accordance with the value of an output setting level. The basic configuration includes a timekeeping means for starting a new timekeeping operation for a predetermined time each time there is an input, and a control means for stopping energization to the electric heater when the timekeeping operation by this timekeeping means is completed, The present invention is characterized in that the means is configured to extend the clocking operation time by a predetermined time when the value of the output setting level is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

Further, in addition to the above-mentioned basic configuration, a configuration may be provided in which canceling means is provided for disabling the function of stopping energization of the electric heater by the control means when the value of the output setting level is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

(Function) According to the electric cooker according to claim 1, when the power is turned on, the timer starts a new timekeeping operation every time there is an operation input, and when the timekeeping operation time ends, that is,
When the electric heater is operated for a certain period of time since the last operation input, the control means stops energizing the electric heater. At this time, when the value of the output setting level of the electric heater is below a predetermined value, that is, when setting the output to low and performing long-term cooking such as stewing cooking,
Since the timer operation time is extended, the electric heater will not be cut off in the middle of cooking.

According to the electric cooker according to claim 2, when the output setting level of the electric heater is below a predetermined value, the canceling means disables the energization stop function by the control means, so that low output cooking such as stewing can be performed. When the electric heater needs to be energized for a long time, the electric heater will not be cut off halfway.

(Example) Hereinafter, a first example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

First, in FIG. 2 showing the overall appearance, an outer frame 1 has a flat rectangular box shape, and inside thereof, for example, three heating units 2 are arranged. The heating unit 2 is configured such that four halogen lamps 3, which are electric heaters, for example, are held by an oval heat insulator 4, and each is fixed to the inner bottom surface of the outer frame 1.

The upper surface portion of the heat insulator 4 of each heating unit 2 is -
It is covered with a translucent top plate 5 made of a sheet of heat-resistant glass or the like, and the top plate 5 is in close contact with the heat insulator 4 to seal the inside of the heating unit 2 . The temperature inside this sealed heating unit 2, that is, the ambient temperature of the halogen lamp 3, is detected by a thermostat 6. In this case, the thermostat 6 is configured to switch from the on state to the off state when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. Outer frame 1
A roaster 7 is provided inside the roaster 7 on which an object to be heated is placed from the front side, and a sheathed heater 8 serving as an electric heater is provided above the roaster 7 .

A high temperature warning lamp 9 is provided on the upper surface of the outer frame 1, and is made of, for example, a light emitting diode, and is turned on to indicate the high temperature state of the top plate 5.

An operation panel 10 is provided on the front surface of the outer frame 1, divided into left and right sections, and a group of switches for operating the three heating units 2 and the roaster 7, respectively, are provided on this panel. As shown in a partially enlarged view in FIG. 3, the operation panel 1o has the following functions:
Each operation switch 11, 12, 13.14 of r input upJ
A display section 15 including a group of light emitting diodes 15a is also provided. In this case, the output setting level by the operation switch 13 or 14 can be set in eight steps, and high output can be obtained in a normal short time at an output setting level of 6 or higher. A power switch 16 for turning on the power and a power lamp 17 for indicating the on state are provided on the upper part of the operation panel 1o.

Next, the electrical configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Incidentally, in FIG. 1, only one heating unit 2 is shown for convenience of explanation.

In FIG. 1, an output line 19 is connected to one end of an AC power source 18 via a power switch 16, and an output line 20 is connected to the other end. The heating unit 2-4 mentioned above
The halogen lamps 3 are connected in parallel, with one terminal connected to the output line 19, and the other terminal connected to the output line 2o via a triac 21 for energization control.

The microcomputer 22, which has the functions of a timer and an iIi1gg means, has a program installed in a built-in memory in advance to control the heating unit 2, roaster 7, etc.

The constant voltage circuit 23 is for supplying a predetermined operating power to the microcomputer 22, and its input terminals are connected to the output lines 19 and 2o.

The initialization circuit 24 has an output line 19 at its input terminal.
and 20 are connected so that an initialization signal is given to the microcomputer 22 when the power switch 16 is turned on. The zero-cross circuit 25 is configured to give a zero-cross signal to the microcomputer 22 when the voltage of the AC voltage from the AC source 18 appearing on the output line 19 becomes zero. The drive circuit 26 provides a drive signal to the triac 21 in response to a control signal provided from the microcomputer 22. The operation switches 11 to 14 of the operation panel 10 and the light emitting diode group 15a of the display section 15 are connected to the microcomputer 2, respectively.
2 input and output ports.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Now, when the power switch 16 is turned on to perform cooking, when the operation switch 11 of the operation panel 10 is turned on, the microcomputer 22 controls the drive circuit 26.
By controlling the triac 21 on and off via the AC power supply 1 to the halogen lamp 3 of the heating unit 2,
Power is supplied from 8. At this time, the microcomputer 22
energizes and lights up the light emitting diode group 15a of the display section 15 to indicate the current output state. In this case, the setting of the output size can be changed using the operation switch 13 or 14 of the input downJ or input upJ, and based on these inputs, the microcomputer 22 controls the power supply to the halogen lamp 3. The amount is controlled and displayed on the display unit 15.

Now, when the operation switches 11 to 14 are operated as described above, the microcomputer 22 starts a new timing operation for a predetermined time each time, and also executes an auto power-off program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Execute. In this case, the output level setting is variable in eight steps as described above, and settings below 5 are low output setting levels such as those used when stewing or the like. The following explanation will be divided into the following four cases corresponding to the value of the output setting level and its changing state, and will also be explained in conjunction with the time chart shown in FIG. That is, when the value of the output setting level is left in its initial state, there are two cases: (a) the output setting level remains 6 or more, and (b) the output setting level remains 5 or less. Also, when changing the output setting level midway through (c
) When changing the output setting level to 5 or lower midway through, (
d) This is a case where the output setting level is changed to 6 or higher during the process.

Ca) The microcomputer 22 whose output setting level remains 6 or higher turns on the halogen lamp 3 according to the operation input.
After starting energization, rYES is first determined in step S1.
J is determined, and in the subsequent step S2, it is determined whether or not there is an operation input using the operation switches 11 to 14. and,
If there is an operation input at this time, "
If YESJ is determined, the timekeeping operation is started anew and the process returns to step S1. In this case, since there is no change in the output setting level, the process proceeds to step S2 again. Further, if there is no operation input in step S2, step S
3, it is determined whether the measured time has reached time T1. Here, if the clocked time T1 has not yet been reached, it is determined that rNOJ has occurred and the process returns to step S2, and thereafter steps S2 and S3 are repeated. In this case, the clock time T
1 is set to be the normal auto power off time. Then, when this clocked time T1 has elapsed, the microcomputer 22 selects rYESJ in step S3.
After determining this, the program proceeds to step S4, where the energization of the halogen lamp 3 is stopped and the program is terminated (see FIG. 5(a)). As a result, when the output setting level is high output level 6 or higher, even if the user accidentally forgets to turn off the power, the halogen lamp 3 energization is stopped,
Fire safety is ensured.

(b) If the output setting level remains 5 or less, the microcomputer 22 determines rNOJ in step S1 and proceeds to step S5. If there is an operation input here, the microcomputer 22 selects "Y" in step S5.
ES'' and starts a new timing operation in the same manner as in (a) above, returns to step S1, and then proceeds to step S5 again. Also, if there is no operation input, "NO
” and proceeds to step S6. The microcomputer 22 determines whether the clocked time has reached the time T1+T2 in step S6, and then proceeds to step S6.
Steps S5 and S6 until rYEsJ is determined.
repeat. As a result, the microcomputer 22 determines rYESJ in step S6 when the time equal to the clocked time T1 plus the additional 12 hours has elapsed, moves to step S4, stops energizing the halogen lamp 3, and programs the program. (See FIG. 5(b)). As a result,
When the output level is set to a low output level such as for simmering cooking, unlike in (a) above, the simmering cooking is not interrupted because the time T2 is extended until the power is automatically turned off.

(C) Changing the output setting level to 5 or lower midway.In this case, the output setting level is initially 6 or higher, and while repeating steps S2 and S3 via step S1, the operation input This is a case where the output setting level is changed to 5 or less.

In this case, the microcomputer 22 performs step S2.
, it is determined that rYEsJ, and the process returns to step S1, where r
It is determined as NOJ and the process moves to step S5. Thereafter, the microcomputer 22, when the time obtained by adding the extended time T2 to the clocked time T1 based on the point in time when the output setting level was changed in the same way as in the case of (b) above has elapsed (step S6). The energization to the halogen lamp 3 is stopped (step S4) and the program is terminated (see Fig. 5 (C).
)reference).

(d) Changing the output setting level to 6 or higher midway.In this case, the situation is the opposite of the above (C), with the output setting level initially being 5 or lower, passing through step S1 and then steps S5 and S6. This is a case where the output setting level is changed to 6 or higher by an operation input while repeating the above steps. The microcomputer 22 determines rYESJ in step S5 and returns to step S1, and here determines rYESJ and proceeds to step S2. Based on this point, the microcomputer 22 calculates the measured time T1 in the same manner as in (a) above. When the time has elapsed, the program goes to step S3 and then to step S4, where the energization of the halogen lamp 3 is stopped and the program is ended (see FIG. 5(d)).

According to this embodiment, the last operation input is -
) The power is turned off when a predetermined time T1 has elapsed from the time T1
Since the setting is set to T2, cooking is not interrupted when cooking is performed at a low output level for a long time, such as in simmering cooking, while ensuring fire safety, making it easier to use.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention, and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

The microcomputer 22 in this example also has the function of canceling means, and the auto power off program in this case is as shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, when the determination in step S1 is "NO", the process proceeds to steps S5 and S6, but in this embodiment, step S1 is simply repeated. That is, as a result, when the output setting level is 5 or higher, the function of stopping the energization of the halogen lamp 3 in step S4 is canceled regardless of the elapse of the clock operation time T1, and the energization state of the halogen lamp 3 is set to a low output. It is something that continues at the same level.

In this case, the halogen lamp 3 is energized in the same manner as in the first embodiment in accordance with the progress of the program (
The timing charts are shown in FIG. 7 for cases a) to (d). Even in such a second embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In each of the above embodiments, a case has been described in which the halogen lamp 3 is used as the electric heater, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a nichrome wire or other electric heater may be used.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, in step S1, the low output setting level for stewing, etc. is set to 5 or less out of 8 levels, but the value of the output setting level and the predetermined output setting level is not limited to this. Various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as setting the value to a value of .

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the electric cooker according to claim 1, when the value of the output setting level is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the timer causes the timer to extend the timer operation time for a certain period of time, and after the end of the timer operation time, the control device causes the control unit to control the electric heater. Since the power supply is stopped, unlike conventional methods, even when heating for a long time with a low output setting, such as when cooking with stew, the power supply to the electric heater is stopped midway through, and cooking is interrupted. This has the excellent effect of ensuring sufficient time until the end of simmering without being overcooked, and improving usability for the user.

According to the electric cooker according to claim 2, the canceling means disables the function of stopping the energization of the electric heater by the control means when the value of the output setting level is less than or equal to a predetermined value. Effects can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an electrical configuration diagram, Figure 2 is a partially cutaway external perspective view of the overall configuration, Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the operating section, Figure 4 is a flowchart diagram showing the auto power off program,
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation according to the setting state, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure equivalent figure. In the drawings, 2 is a heating unit, 3 is a halogen lamp (electric heater), 8 is a heater (electric heater), 10 is an operation panel, 11 to 14 are operation switches, and 22 is a microcomputer (control means time measurement means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an electric cooker that uses an electric heater as a heat source and controls the output of the electric heater according to a value of an output setting level, each time an operation input is made while the power is turned on, the electric cooker and a control means that stops energizing the electric heater when the timekeeping operation by the timekeeping means is completed, and the timekeeping means is configured to control the value of the output setting level. 1. An electric cooking device characterized by being configured to extend a clocking operation time by a predetermined amount of time when is less than a predetermined value. 2. In an electric cooker that uses an electric heater as a heat source and controls the output of the electric heater according to the value of the output setting level, a new timing operation for a predetermined time is performed every time there is an operation input while the power is turned on. a control means for stopping energization of the electric heater when the time measurement operation by the time measurement means is completed; An electric cooker comprising a canceling means for disabling the energization stop function of the electric cooker.