JP2005291510A - Cookstove - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cookstove for preventing a heating quantity of a heating means from continuously increasing against the will of a user, while maintaining easiness of operation by the user. <P>SOLUTION: This cookstove has an operation part 6 arranged on a glass top plate 2 for covering an upper surface of a cookstove body 1 for storing burners 4a and 4b for the user to indicate the operation of the burners 4a and 4b and having a touch switch for detecting a contact object or an approaching object to an upper surface of the glass top plate 2, and a heating control means for controlling the operation of the burners 4a and 4b in response to a grasping result, by grasping whether the touch switch is an on state (a detecting state) or an off state (an undetected state). The heating control means increases only one state of heating power of the burner 4a when a heating power UP switch for the burner 4a of the operation part 6 is maintained in the on state, and continuously reduces a plurality of stages of the heating power of the burner 4a when a heating power DOWN switch for the burner 4a of the operation part 4 is maintained in the on state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a stove provided with heating means, and more particularly to a stove provided with an operation unit for instructing the operation of the heating means on the top surface of the top plate.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, in a drop-in type stove in which a stove body 101 is embedded in an opening prepared in a countertop of a system kitchen, the upper surface of the stove body 101 in which the gas burners 100a and 100b are accommodated is covered. A glass top plate 102 provided with operation knobs 103a and 103b for igniting / extinguishing the gas burners 100a and 100b and adjusting the thermal power is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

According to such a stove, there is no need to provide an opening for allowing the operation unit to face the front surface of the countertop, as in the case of installing a stove having an operation unit on the front surface, and the stove can be easily installed on the countertop. be able to. In addition, since the gas burner can be ignited / extinguished and the heating power adjusted by the operation knobs 103a and 103b provided on the top plate 102 and having good visibility, the operability for the user is improved.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-186302

  However, according to the stove shown in FIG. 6, since the operation knobs 103a and 103b are arranged so as to protrude from the upper surface of the glass top plate 102, it may become an obstacle when cooking. Therefore, as an operation means of the gas burners 100a and 100b, for example, a touch switch including a detection unit of a capacitance type sensor provided on the back surface of the glass top plate 102 and having an operation unit on the surface of the glass top plate 102 is configured. It is conceivable to make the upper surface of the glass top plate 102 flat.

  In order to increase / decrease the thermal power of the gas burners 100a and 100b in a plurality of stages, the user is provided with a thermal power UP switch for instructing an increase in thermal power and a thermal power DOWN switch for instructing a decrease in thermal power for each burner. When the thermal power UP switch is maintained in the ON state while continuously touching the thermal power UP switch, the operation of increasing the thermal power can be facilitated by continuously increasing the thermal power of the gas burner over a plurality of stages.

  Similarly, when the user continues to touch the thermal power DOWN switch and the thermal power DOWN switch is maintained in the on state, the operation of reducing the thermal power is facilitated by decreasing the thermal power of the gas burner over a plurality of stages. Can do.

  However, when the thermal power UP switch is used as a touch switch in this way, during the cooking, the thermal power is increased due to spilled food from the pan placed on the virtues 104a and 104b or falling objects on the glass top plate 102. It may happen that the switch is covered and the fire-up switch is kept in the on state.

  For example, when cooking is performed using the right burner 100b, the heating power UP switch of the right burner 100b is maintained in the on state due to factors other than the user's operation as described above, and the heating power of the right burner 100b is reduced. If it increases continuously against the user's will, there is an inconvenience that cooking fails due to excessive heating.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a stove that eliminates such inconvenience and prevents the heating amount of the heating means from increasing continuously against the user's will while maintaining ease of operation by the user. With the goal.

  The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and is provided on a top plate covering the upper surface of a stove main body that accommodates the heating means so that a user can instruct the operation of the heating means. When a touch switch for detecting an object or an approaching object to the upper surface of the plate, a heating amount changing means for changing the heating amount of the heating means in a plurality of preset stages, and the heating means are in operation, When the heating amount UP switch that instructs to increase the heating amount of the heating means among the touch switches is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state, the heating amount of the heating means is increased by one step by the heating amount changing means. When the heating DOWN switch for instructing a decrease in the heating amount of the heating means among the touch switches is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state, the heating amount changing means causes the heating hand to change. The amount of heat about the cooking stove and a heating control means for reducing one step.

  The heating control means is configured such that when the heating means is in an operating state, the heating amount UP switch is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state and then the heating amount is maintained when the detection state is maintained. After the heating amount DOWN switch is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state after the heating amount DOWN switch is changed from the non-detection state to the detection state, the heating amount of the heating means is The heating amount is changed by a plurality of steps continuously by the heating amount changing means.

  According to this invention, the heating control means maintains the heating means in a state increased by one step when the heating amount UP switch is maintained in the detection state. Therefore, when the heating amount UP switch is maintained in the detection state due to factors other than the user's operation such as cooking of the food, the heating amount of the heating means does not increase in multiple steps. The heating amount of the heating means can be prevented from increasing excessively against the user's will.

  On the other hand, when the heating amount DOWN switch is maintained in the detection state, the heating control means continuously reduces the heating amount of the heating means in a plurality of stages. Therefore, for example, when the spilled food is generated, the user can quickly decrease the heating amount of the heating means by continuously operating the heating amount DOWN switch and maintaining the detection state. Thus, the ease of operation by the user can be maintained.

  In addition, it is characterized in that a heating amount display means for displaying which of the plurality of stages the heating amount of the heating means is provided when the heating means is in an operating state.

  According to the present invention, even if the user continues to operate the heating amount UP switch, the heating amount of the heating means increases only by one step, whereas the user continues to operate the heating amount DOWN switch. And the heating amount of the heating means is decreased by a plurality of stages. When the operation for increasing the heating amount is performed in this way and when the operation for decreasing the heating amount is performed, whether the continuous change of the heating amount is changed or not, There is a risk of feeling uncomfortable. Therefore, by displaying the heating amount of the heating means by the heating amount display means, and allowing the user to visually recognize that the heating amount of the heating means only increases by one step even if the heating amount UP switch is operated continuously. It is possible to suppress the user from feeling uncomfortable as described above.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external view of a stove according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the operation unit shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the stove, and FIGS.

  FIG. 1 shows a drop-in type stove in which a glass top plate 2 made of crystallized glass having excellent heat resistance is mounted on the upper surface of a stove body 1. The glass top plate 2 is provided with a pair of left and right stove openings 3a and 3b. The stove body 1 is provided with a left burner 4a and a right burner 4b (corresponding to heating means of the present invention) facing the stove openings 3a and 3b. In addition, five virtues 5a and 5b for placing the cooking containers are disposed in the stove openings 3a and 3b, and an operation for instructing the operation of the left burner 4a and the right burner 4b on the front side of the upper surface of the glass top plate 2 is performed. Part 6 is provided.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the operation unit 6 has a “driving state” in which the operation instruction of the left burner 4 a and the right burner 4 b can be instructed and a “standby state” in which the operation instruction cannot be performed in a state where power is supplied to the stove. The operation switch 10 to be switched to is provided. Further, in order to instruct the operation of the left burner 4a, an ignition preparation switch 11a for setting the left burner 4a in an ignition ready state, and a thermal power DOWN switch 12a (main 1) for switching the heating power of the left burner 4a to five levels (level 1 to level 5) The heating amount DOWN switch of the invention) and the heating power UP switch 13a (corresponding to the heating amount UP switch of the present invention), the ignition preparation that lights up when the left burner 4a is in the ignition preparation state and during the operation of the left burner 4a. A display 14a and a thermal power level display 15a (corresponding to the heating amount display means of the present invention) for displaying the thermal power setting of the left burner 4a are provided.

  When the left power burner 4a is operated while the left burner 4a is in the ignition ready state, the left burner 4a is ignited. Further, when the ignition preparation switch 11a or the operation switch 10 is operated during the combustion of the left burner 4a, the fire extinguishing process of the left burner 4a is executed.

  Similarly, in order to instruct the operation of the right burner 4b, an ignition preparation switch 11b which sets the right burner 4b in an ignition preparation state, and a thermal power DOWN switch 12b which switches the heating power of the right burner 4b to five stages (level 1 to level 5) ( (Corresponding to the heating amount DOWN switch of the present invention), a heating power UP switch 13b (corresponding to the heating amount UP switch of the present invention), and an ignition that is lit when the right burner 4b is in an ignition ready state and during the operation of the right burner 4b. A preparation display unit 14b and a thermal power level display unit 15b (corresponding to the heating amount display means of the present invention) for displaying the thermal power setting of the right burner 4b are provided.

  Note that when the heating burner UP switch 13b is operated while the right burner 4b is in the ignition preparation state, the ignition process of the right burner 4b is executed. When the ignition preparation switch 11b is operated by the operation switch 10 during the combustion of the right burner 4b, the right burner 4b is extinguished.

  In addition, the operation unit 6 is operated in such a manner that the unlock display unit 16 that is lit when in the “driving state” and the operation switch 10 are continuously operated for a predetermined time (for example, 4 seconds) or more. There is provided a lock display portion 17 that is turned on when an impossible so-called child lock state is reached.

  Here, each switch of the operation unit 6 is printed on the capacitance sensor provided on the back surface of the glass top plate 2 and the surface portion of the glass top plate 2 facing the capacitance sensor. It is a non-contact type touch switch composed of a print portion indicating a point. When the electrostatic body is placed on the printed portion (the surface portion of the glass top plate 2 facing the electrostatic capacity sensor), the electrostatic body is detected by the electrostatic capacity sensor and the touch switch is turned on. State (corresponding to the detection state of the present invention). On the other hand, when no electrostatic body is placed on the print portion, the electrostatic body is not detected by the capacitance sensor, and the touch switch is in the off state (corresponding to the non-detection state of the present invention).

  Moreover, each display part of the operation part 6 is comprised by LED provided in the back surface of the glass top plate 2, and the printed part printed on the surface part of the glass top plate 2 facing this LED. When the LED is turned on, the display unit is turned on, and when the LED is turned off, the display unit is turned off.

  Further, the thermal power level display unit 15a displays the thermal power level (level 1 to level 5) of the left burner 4a by the number of lighting portions from the left side of the bar display including the five lighting portions illustrated. For example, when the thermal power level of the left burner 4a is 1, only the lighting part at the left end of the bar display is lit, and when the thermal power level of the left burner 4a is 5, all five lighting parts of the bar display are lit. . Similarly, the thermal power level display unit 15b displays the thermal power level (level 1 to level 5) of the right burner 4b by the number of lighting parts from the left side of the bar display including the five lighting parts shown in the figure.

  Next, referring to FIG. 3, the stove body 1 is provided with a controller 30 for controlling the overall operation of the stove, and each switch (operation switch 10, ignition preparation switches 11 a, 11 b, An operation signal (on / off) detection signal of the thermal power DOWN switches 12 a and 12 b and the thermal power UP switches 13 a and 13 b is input to the controller 30.

  Further, a gas source valve 40 that switches between supply and cutoff of the fuel gas to the stove body 1 and a left burner on / off valve that switches between supply and cutoff of the fuel gas to the left burner 4a according to a control signal output from the controller 30. 41a, a left burner heating power control valve 42a (which corresponds to the heating amount changing means of the present invention) for changing the fuel gas supply flow rate to the left burner 4a, and a high voltage applied to the ignition electrode (not shown) of the left burner 4a The left burner igniter 43a that generates spark discharge, the right burner on / off valve 41b that switches between supply and shutoff of the fuel gas to the right burner 4b, and the right burner that changes the supply flow rate of the fuel gas to the right burner 4b A right burner that generates a spark discharge by applying a high voltage to a heating power control valve 42b (corresponding to the heating amount changing means of the present invention) and an ignition electrode (not shown) of the right burner 4b. Actuation of the igniter 43b is controlled.

  Further, each display unit (ignition preparation display units 14a and 14b, thermal power level display units 15a and 15b, unlock display unit 16 and lock display unit 17) provided in the operation unit 6 is turned on by a control signal from the controller 30. / Off and on / off of the buzzer 18 are controlled.

  Further, the controller 30 includes a heating control means 31 for controlling the operation of the left burner 4a and the right burner 4b, and a lighting control for performing lighting / extinguishing control of each display unit provided in the operation unit 6 and notification by the buzzer 18. Means 32 are provided.

  Here, as described above, the touch switch provided in the operation unit 6 detects the presence or absence of an electrostatic body located on the upper surface of the glass top plate 2. Therefore, in addition to the case where the user touches the touch switch with his / her finger, as shown in FIG. 1B, cooking is performed when the food in the pan 20 is heated using the left burner 4a. A spilled object 21 may occur, and the spilled object 21 may reach the operation unit 6 and any of the touch switches may be turned on.

  Alternatively, when the operation unit 6 is covered with a fallen object (cloth cloth, food, etc.) on the glass top plate 2 and the touch switch is turned on, or an insect or the like moves onto the operation unit 6 and the touch switch is turned on. It can also happen.

  As described above, when the heating power UP switch 13 for the left burner 4a is maintained in the on state during the combustion of the left burner 4a due to factors other than the user's operation, the heating power of the left burner 4a is continuously increased. If it is increased, the food is excessively heated against the user's will and cooking fails. The same applies when the thermal power switch 13b for the right burner 4b is maintained in the on state during the combustion of the right burner 4b.

  Thus, the heating control means 31 provided in the controller 30 thus determines the amount of combustion of the left burner 4a when the left burner heating power switch 13a is maintained in the on state during the combustion of the left burner 4a. Processing is performed so as not to increase continuously. Similarly, the heating control unit 31 prevents the combustion amount of the right burner 4b from continuously increasing when the right burner heating power switch 13b is maintained in the on state during the combustion of the right burner 4b. Process to do.

  Hereinafter, this process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Although the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 5 are processing for the left burner 4a, the processing for the right burner 4b is the same.

  The heating control means 31 repeatedly executes the loop of STEP 1 in FIG. 1 to STEP 4 in FIG. 5 when the left burner 4a is burning. When the ignition preparation switch 11a is turned on in STEP1, the process branches to STEP 10, and the heating control means 31 closes the left burner on-off valve 41a to extinguish the left burner 4a.

  STEP 11 to STEP 12 are processes by the lighting control means 32. The lighting control means 32 turns off the ignition preparation display section 14a in STEP 11, turns off the thermal power level display section 15a in STEP 12, and sounds the buzzer 18 in STEP 13. Then, the user is notified of the fire extinguishing of the left burner 4a.

  Next, when the thermal power DOWN switch 12a is turned on in STEP2, the process branches to STEP20. STEP20 to STEP22 are processes for reducing the heating power of the left burner 4a by one step, and the lighting control means 32 sounds the buzzer 18 at STEP20, and at STEP21 the bar display of the heating power level display unit 15a is displayed in one step-direction (FIG. 2). In the left direction), the user is notified of the decrease in the thermal power of the left burner 4a. In subsequent STEP 22, the heating control means 31 decreases the opening degree of the left burner heating power control valve 42a by one step and decreases the heating power of the left burner 4a by one step.

  When the thermal power DOWN switch 12a returns to the off state in the next STEP23, the process proceeds to STEP3 in FIG. 5, and when the thermal power DOWN switch 12a remains in the on state, the process branches to STEP30. When the thermal power DOWN switch 12a is in the “continuous on state” in which the thermal power DOWN switch 12a is maintained in the on state continuously for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) in STEP 30, the process proceeds to STEP 31. STEP30 to STEP33 are the same processing as STEP20 to STEP22 described above, and the heating power of the left burner 4a is reduced by one step.

  Then, the process returns from STEP 33 to STEP 23. When the thermal power DOWN switch 12a is in the “continuous on state”, the process proceeds from STEP 30 to STEP 31, and the processes of STEP 31 to STEP 33 are repeatedly executed. Therefore, the user can continuously and rapidly reduce the thermal power of the left burner 4a to the minimum level (level 1) by continuing to touch the thermal power DOWN switch 12a.

  Next, when the thermal power switch 13a is turned on in STEP3 of FIG. 5, the process branches to STEP40. Then, the lighting control means 32 sounds the buzzer 18 in STEP 40, and increases the bar display of the thermal power level display unit 15a in one step + direction (right direction in FIG. 2) in STEP 42, and informs the user of the left burner 4a. Announce the increase in firepower. Further, in subsequent STEP 41, the heating control means 31 increases the opening degree of the left burner heating power adjustment valve 42a by one step and increases the heating power of the left burner 4a by one step.

  Then, when the heating power UP switch 13a returns to the OFF state in the next STEP43, the process proceeds to STEP4. When the heating power UP switch 13a remains in the ON state, the process branches to STEP50. When the thermal power switch 13a is in the “continuous on state” in STEP50, the process proceeds to STEP51.

  STEP51 to STEP53 are the same processing as STEP20 to STEP22 described above, and the heating power of the left burner 4a is reduced by one step. Then, in step 54, the process proceeds to step 4 after waiting for the thermal power switch 13a to be in the off state. As a result, when the heating power UP switch 13a is in the “continuous on state”, the heating power of the left burner 4a once increased by one step in STEP42 is decreased by one step in STEP53 and returned to the original. Therefore, even if the operation unit 6 is covered by boiling or the like and the heating power UP switch 13a is in the “continuous on state”, the heating power of the left burner 4a does not continuously increase.

  Next, when an abnormality such as a misfire of the left burner 4a is detected in STEP 4, the process branches to STEP 60, and the lighting control means 32 sounds the buzzer 18 in STEP 60, and blinks the ignition preparation display unit 14a in STEP 61. Inform the user of the occurrence of an abnormality. Moreover, the lighting control means 32 turns off the thermal power level display part 15a in the next STEP62. In subsequent STEP 63, the heating control means 31 closes the left burner on-off valve 41a to cut off the supply of fuel gas to the left burner 4a, and proceeds to STEP 64 to set an error stop state.

  In this embodiment, when the heating power switch 13a is in the “continuous on state” in STEP50 of FIG. 5, the heating power of the left burner 4a is decreased by one step in STEP53. You may make it maintain the thermal power of the left burner 4a to a present value, without performing a process.

  In this embodiment, the stove provided with the gas burners 4a and 4b is shown as the heating means of the present invention. However, the present invention can be applied to a stove equipped with other types of heating means such as an electric heater. Is possible.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the stove provided with the glass top plate 2 using heat-resistant glass as the top plate of the present invention is shown, but the present also applies to the stove provided with a top plate made of other materials such as stainless steel. The invention can be applied.

  In this embodiment, a stove using a capacitive touch switch as the touch switch of the present invention is shown. However, the type of the touch switch is not limited to this, and an infrared emitting / receiving unit is provided. The present invention can be applied even to a stove that employs a mechanical contact type touch switch such as a photo switch or a tact switch.

The external view of the stove of this invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an operation unit illustrated in FIG. 1. The control block diagram of a stove. The flowchart of the thermal power change process of a burner. The flowchart of the thermal power change process of a burner. External view of a conventional stove.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Stove body, 2 ... Glass top plate, 4a ... Left burner, 4b ... Right burner, 6 ... Operation part, 10 ... Operation switch, 11a, 11b ... Ignition preparation switch, 12a, 12b ... Thermal power DOWN switch, 13a, 13b ... thermal power UP switch, 14a, 14b ... ignition preparation display section, 15a, 15b ... thermal power level display section, 16 ... unlock display section, 17 ... lock display section, 31 ... heating control means, 32 ... lighting control means

Claims (2)

A touch switch provided on a top plate covering the upper surface of the stove main body that accommodates the heating means, for the user to instruct the operation of the heating means, and detecting a contact or approaching object to the upper surface of the top plate; ,
A heating amount changing means for changing the heating amount of the heating means in a plurality of preset stages;
When the heating means is in operation and the heating amount UP switch that instructs to increase the heating amount of the heating means among the touch switches is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state, the heating amount change means When the heating amount DOWN switch for instructing a decrease in the heating amount of the heating means in the touch switch is changed from the non-detection state to the detection state, the heating amount is changed. A stove comprising heating control means for reducing the heating amount of the heating means by one step by means,
The heating control means is configured to change the heating amount changing means when the heating state is maintained after the heating amount UP switch is switched from the non-detecting state to the detecting state when the heating unit is in an operating state. When the detection state is maintained after the heating amount DOWN switch is changed from the non-detection state to the detection state, the heating amount of the heating unit is changed to the heating amount. A stove characterized in that it is continuously reduced by a plurality of steps by changing means.   The stove according to claim 1, further comprising a heating amount display means for displaying which of the plurality of stages the heating amount of the heating means is when the heating means is in an operating state.

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