Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
114947z
The present invention relates to a cooking apparatus
which includes a cassette tape player system for audibly an-
nouncing cooking instructions.
Recently, a microwave oven has been developed which
includes a microcomputer control system for controlling a cook-
ing operation in a digital fashion. In such a system, a key-
board panel is provided for selecting a desired cooking mode,
a preferred cooking period, a preferred microwave output level,
etc.
However, the above-mentioned digital control micro-
wave oven is not easy to handle, because the operator is re-
quired to actuate many switches before initiating the cooking
operation. To facilitate the data introduction, a magnetic card
controlled microwave oven has been developed, wherein a typical
cooking program is recorded on a magnetic card and the actual
cooking operation is conducted in accordance with the data re-
corded on the magnetic card. In such a system, the operator
is required only to select the corresponding magnetic card and
insert it into a reader system employed in the microwave oven.
Even with such a magnetic card controlled microwave
oven, the preparation of materials and cooking ware, and season-
ing, stirring and turning-over during the cooking operation must
be conducted by the operator. Such instructions or explanations
are printed on a cooking instruction book. Therefore, the
operator must read the cooking instruction book to conduct the
actual cooking operation.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
to provide a cooking apparatus including means for audibly an-
nouncing the cooking instructions.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there
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is provided a cooking apparatus comprising a heat source for
performing a cooking operation; a reproduction system for repro-
ducing heat source control data and audio information recorded
on a recording medium and containing cooking instructions; an
audio system for emitting as audible cooking instructions the
audio information reproduced by the reproduction system; and a
control system for controlling the operation of the heat source
in accordance with the heat source control data.
According to another aspect of the invention, there
is provided a microwave oven comprising an oven cavity; micro-
wave generating means for supplying microwave energy to the oven
cavity for cooking purposes; a cassette tape player system for
reproducing information recorded on a cassette tape, the in-
i formation comprising audio information for providing audible
cooking in6tructions and digital data for controlling the opera-
tion of the microwave generating means; an audio system for emit-
tlng the audible cooking instructions in accordance with the
audio information reproduced by the cassette tape player system;
and a digital control system for controlling the operation of
the microwave generating means in accordance with the digital
data reproduced by the cassette tape player system.
According to another aspect of the invention an automatic
and manual microwave oven for conducting a cooking operation and
i providing audible cooking instructions comprising: a housing
including an oven cavity and a cavity closure door; microwave
generating means for supplying microwave energy to the oven
cavity for performing a cooking operation; a cassette tape player
system for reproducing information recorded on a cassette tape,
the cassette tape carrying audio information for providing an
audible cooking explanation and digital data for controlling the
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operation of the microwave generating means; an audio system for
generating the audible cooking explanation in accordance with the
audio information reproduced by the cassette tape player system;
a digital control system for controlling the operation of the
microwave generating means in accordance with the digital data
reproduced by the cassette tape player system to be operable for
predetermined time intervals; and tape drive means for inter-
mittently imparting correlated rotation to the cassette tape for
initially explaining a cooking operation by actuating the audio
system for generating an audible cooking explanation and subse-
quently imparting correlated rotation to the cassette tape for
controlling a cooking operation by actuating the digital control
system for controlling the operation of the microwave generating
means.
In a preferred embodiment, the cassette tape player
system is of the dual track type, and the cassette tape includes
four tracks, two of them being for reverse operation. The audio
information is recorded on the first and fourth tracks, and the
digital data related to the cooking program is recorded on the
second and third tracks. The audio information and the digital
data recorded on the cassette tape are correlated with each other
so that appropriate audible instructions are emitted at desired
timings during the cooking sequence.
The present invention will be better understood from
the detailed description of an embodiment thereof given herein-
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below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of
illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present
invention and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of
a combination microwave and electric heater oven of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the combination micro-
wave and electric heater oven of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a block diagram of a control system in-
cluded in the combination microwave and electric heater ovenof Figure l;
Figure 4 is a schematic chart for explaining a re-
cording condition on a cassette tape which is loaded on a cas-
sette tape player system included in the combined microwave and
- electric heater oven of Figure l; and
Figure 5 is a schematic chart for explaining audio
information and a digital data recorded on the cassette tape
of Figure 4.
The combination microwave and electric heater oven
shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprise a housing 1 and an oven cavity
2 surroun~ed by oven walls. A sheath heater 3 is disposed in
the oven cavity 2 for grilling foodstuff, and a magnetron 4 is
secured to the oven wall for microwave cooking purposes. The
microwave energy generated by the magnetron 4 is supplied to
the oven cavity 2 through a waveguide 5. A power supply circuit
comprising a high voltage transformer 6 and a condenser 7 is
secured to the housing 1 for supplying the power to the magne-
: tron 4. A blower fan motor 8 is associated with a blower fan
9 which functions to cool the magnetron 4.
An oven door 10 and a control panel 11 are disposed
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at the front face of the housing 1. The control panel 11 in-
cludes a keyboard panel 12, a digital display unit 13, a cas-
sette tape inlet 14 for accommodating a cassette tape 15 and
a heater position control knob 40 for adjusting the heater loca-
tion in the oven cavity 2. The keyboard panel 12 serves for
the introduction of numeral information such as a set temperature
and a set cook time period and cooking commands. That is, the
keybolrd panel 12 is an input unit for performing a digitally
controlled cooking operation. The heater position control knob
40 enables selection of "High",l "Middle" and "Low" heater heights.
Behind the control panel 11, a cassette tape player
system 18 is disposed opposite the cassette tape inlet 14. The
cassette tape player system 18 comprises a tape drive motor 16
and two magnetic reproduction heads 17aand 17b. A printed cir-
cuit board 19 is disposed behind the keyboard panel 12 for sup-
porting the control circuit of the combination microwave and
electric heater oven. First and second relays 20 and 21 are
connected to the control circuit for controlling the operation
of the magnetron 4 and the sheath heater 3, respectively. A
speaker system 24 is associated with the cassette tape player
system 18 for providing an audible explanation derived from the
cassette tape player system 18. More specifically, cooking in-
structions are recorded on the cassette tape 15, and the tape
drive motor 16 drives the cassette tape 15 at a desired timing
for generating audible instructions.
Figure 3 schematically shows a control system of the
above-described combination microwave and electric heater oven.
Like elements corresponding to those of Figures 1 and 2 are in-
dicated in Figure 3 by like numerals.
~ capstan 25 is connected to the tape drive motor 16.
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When a pinch roller 26 is depressed toward the capstan 25, a
magnetic tape 15a is driven to travel in the direction shown
by arrows in Figure 3 for reproduction purposes. The two
magnetic reproduction heads 17a and 17b make contact with two
tracks recorded on the magnetic tape 15a, respectively, for re-
producing recorded information.
Figure 4 shows recording tracks on the magnetic tape
15a. A first track 151 and a second track 152 are assigned to
the forward direction drive, and a third track 153 and a fourth
track 154 are assigned to the reverse direction drive. On the
first and fourth tracks 151 and 154, audio information is re-
corded through the use of analog recording techniques for pro-
viding an audible cooking instruction. On the second and third
tracks 152 and 153, digital information is recorded through the
use of a saturation recording technique such as the phase en-
coding technique for providing a digital data which controls
the cooking operation performed by the combination microwave
and electric heater oven.
The magnetic reproduction head 17a makes contact with
the first track 151 or the fourth track 154. The audio informa-
tion output reproduced by the magnetic reproduction head 17a
is applied to an audio amplifier 27 for activating the speaker
system 24. The magnetic reproduction head 17b makes contact
with the second track 152 or the third track 153. The digital
information output derived from the magnetic reproduction head
17b is introduced into a read-out amplifier 28, whereby the
digital information output is converted into a binary code
signal and applied to a digital control system 29.
The digital control system 29 comprises a central pro-
cessor unit 291, a read only memory 292 and a random access
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memory 293. The binary code signal applied to the digital con-
trol system 29 is processed in the digital control system 29,
thereby providing a control signal for controlling the operation
of the combination microwave and electric heater oven in ac-
cordance with a preselected program sequence. A motor driver
circuit 30 is associated with the digital control system 29 for
driving the tape drive motor 16 at a desired timing. More
specifically, the digital control system 29 develops a start
signal for initiating the rotation of the tape drive motor 16,
and a stop signal for terminating the rotation of the tape drive
motor 16. A display driver circuit 31 is associated with the
digital control system 29 for driving the digital display unit
13 in accordance with the digital display data derived from the
magnetic reproduction head 17a. More specifically, the digital
display unit 13 is adopted to display the programmed cooking
period or the programmed cooking condition in a digital fashion.
A buzzer driver circuit 32 and a buzzer 33 are associated with
the digital control system 29.
A tape start button 34 is disposed on the control panel
11 for controlling the cassette tape drive. When the tape start
button 34 is actuated, the start signal is developed from the
digital control system 29. The first relay 20 is associated
with a first control switch 35 which is disposed between the
high voltage transformer 6 and an AC power source 37. The high
voltage transformer 6 functions, in combination with the con-
denser 7 and a diode 37, to energize the magnetron 4. The
second relay 21 is associated with a second control switch 36
which is disposed between the sheath heater 3 and the AC power
source 37. The relays 20 and 21 are controlled by control sig-
nals developed from the digital control system 29.
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One operational mode of the above-described combination
microwave and electric heater oven will now be described with
reference to an example, wherein "MITARASHI DANGO" (a kind of
dumpling) is cooked by the combination microwave and electric
heater oven. Figure 5 schematically shows the first and second
tracks 151 and 152 on which are recorded data for the cooking
of "MITARASHI DANGO". In Figure 5, empty sections show non-
recorded sections and a cassette tape drive is stopped at a posi-
tion marked by a symbol "~". Each of recorded sections A, B,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, a, b, c, d, e, and f stores audio
information or digital information as shown in the following
table.
TABLE (MITARASHI DANGO)
First Second Recorded Information
Track Track
A "The following are instructions for
MITARASHI DANGO cooking. Please open
the COOK BOOK at page 111."
(nonrecorded section of 15 second
period)
B "Are you ready? Well, prepare in-
gredients with reference to the in-
gredients column. Please be careful
that the amount is for eight sticks
of MITARASHI DANGO. In addition to
the ingredients, please have ready a
heat-resisting bowl, an earthenware
mortar, a wooden pestle, eight bamboo
skewers and the toasting rack. The
tape drive will be stopped and the
audio instructions will not occur
while you are preparing. When the
preparation is completed, please
actuate the tape start button posi-
tioned under the cassette tape inlet."
a motor rotation stop instruction signal
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1149~72
First Second Recorded Information
Track Track
C "First of all, put the rice flour and
sugar into the earthenware mortar.
Pour in the boiling water gradually,
mix them sufficiently, and then put
on the lid.
The rice flour becomes smooth when
completely mixed with the boiling
water. You may add a little starch
to make the dumpling firm. The tape
drive will be stopped till you finish
the kneading. When you have finished,
place the earthenware mortar in the
oven cavity, close the oven door, and
actuate the tape start button posi-
tioned under the cassette tape inlet."
b motor rotation stop instruction signal
D "Now, high power microwave cooking
will be conducted for five minutes.
Please prepare the bamboo skewers
while the microwave cooking is being
performed. When the microwave cook-
ing is completed, please take out the
earthenware mortar from the oven
cavity, and actuate the tape start
button.
The microwave cooking has started."
c instruction command data for perform-
ing the high power microwave cooking
for five minutes; and mortar rotation
stop instruction signal motor
E "Please grind the heated body with the
wooden pestle to smooth it. Dip your
hand into water, round the heated body
to a desired size, and thrust the
bamboo skewer into the rounded body.
Then make the soy soup. Put the soy,
sugar and water into the heat-resist-
ing bowl and mix them up."
(nonxecorded section of 30 second
period)
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First Second Recorded Information
Track Track
F "Have you mixed them up? Then, put
the bowl into the oven cavity and
close the oven door. High power micro-
wave cooking will be conducted for two
minutes. While the microwave cooking
is performed, prepare the same amount
of starch and water. When the micro-
wave cooking is completed, please
take out the bowl from the oven cavity
and actuate the tape start button.
The microwave cooking has been started."
d instruction command data for perform-
ing high power microwave cooking for
two minutes; and
motor rotation stop instruction signal.
G "Please add the starch and water to
the heated soy soup and mix them up.
Additional high power microwave cook-
ing will be conducted for one minute
to provide the sticky soy soup. Put
the bowl into the oven cavity and
close the oven door. When the micro-
wave cooking is finished, please take
out the bowl, and actuate the tape
start button."
e instruction command data for perform-
ing the high power microwave cooking
for one minute; and
motor rotation stop instruction signal
H "Please dip the dumplings supported
by the bamboo skewer into the soy
soup. "
~nonrecorded section of 20 second
period)
-
I "Coat the toasting rack with the salad
oil, and put the dumplings on the
toasting rack."
.
J "Put the dumplings supported by the
toasting rack on the tray in the oven
cavity and adjust the heater position
to the Low position through the use of
the heater position control knob."
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First Second Recorded Information
Track Track
(nonrecorded section of 20 second
period)
K "Now, please shut the door. High
power microwave cooking will be con-
ducted for two minutes and then grill
oven heating will be conducted for
seven minutes. When the cooking is
completed, a buzzer sound will in-
dicate the completion of the MITARASHI
DANGO cooking. When you remove the
MITARASHI DANGO from the oven cavity,
please remember that the oven cavity
is at a high temperature. The sheath
heater should be shifted to the High
position through the use of the heater
position control knob and a wet cloth
should be used for removing the toast-
ing net.
The final cooking will now be con-
ducted.
Please wait for the buzzer sound."
f instruction command data for perform-
ing the high power microwave cooking
for two minutes; instruction command
data for performing the grill oven
heating for seven minutes; and
motor rotation stop instruction signal
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As shown in the above table, the cooking instructions
are recorded on the first track 151 as audio sound signals, and
the cooking program is recorded on the second track 152 as
digital data signals. Accordingly, the cooking instructions
are given automatically from the combination microwave and
electric heater oven and the microwave and electric heater cook-
ing is automatically conducted when the cassette tape 15 is
loaded into the cassette tape player system 18 and the tape start
button 34 is actuated.
When the tape start button 34 is actuated, the digital
control system 29 develops the start signal to rotate the tape
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drive motor 16 via the motor driver circuit 30. First, the audio
information of the block A recorded on the first track 151 is
reproduced by the first magnetic reproduction head 17a and, there-
fore, the cooking instructions "The following are instructions
for MITARASHI DANGO cooking. Please open the COOK BOOK at page
111" is emitted from the speaker system 24. The next-appearing
nonrecorded section of 15 seconds is provided for allowing the
operator to open the indicated page of the cook book. Subse-
quently, the audio information of the block B is reproduced,
10 and the cooking explanation, "Are you ready? Well, prepare in-
gredients...", is generated from the speaker system 24. There-
after, the motor rotation stop instruction signal recorded in
the block a on the second track 152 is reproduced by the second
magnetic reproduction head 17b and applied to the digital con-
trol system 29 via the read-out amplifier 28. The digital con-
trol system 29 develops the stop signal to terminate the rota-
tion of the tape drive motor 16. That is, the tape drive is
interrupted while the operator is preparing the ingredients in
accordance with the previously emitted cooking in-
20 structions. When this step has been completed, the operatoractuates the tape start button 34 to receive the next cooking
instruction.
In this way, the cooking instructions are provided
at appropriate intervals. When the digital data recorded in
the block d on the second track 152 is reproduced by the second
magnetic reproduction head 17a after the cooking instructions
recorded in the block F on the first track 151, the digital con-
trol system 29 develops control signals for performing the high
power microwave cooking for two minutes and for stopping the
30 tape drive. The first control switch 35 is closed through the
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first relay 20 and the tape drive is terminated. The A.C. power
is supplied to the magnetron power supply circuit to activate
the magnetron 4. The soy soup is heated for two minutes by the
microwave energy. When the two minute microwave cooking is com-
pleted, the digital control system 29 develops a control signal
for activating the buzzer 33 via the buzzer driver circuit 32,
thereby informing the operator of the completion of the soy soup
heating. In response to the buzzer sound, the operator removes
the bowl from the oven cavity and actuates the tape start button
34 to receive the next cooking instructions recorded in the block
G on the first track 151.
When the operation is conducted to the last block f,
the two minute microwave cooking instruction and the seven minute
grill oven heating instruction are introduced into the digital
control system 29. The first control switch 35 is closed to
conduct the high power microwave cooking for two minutes, and
then the second control switch 36 is closed via the second relay
21 to energize the sheath heater 3 for seven minutes. That is,
the dumplings supported by the bamboo skewers and coated with
the soy soup are heated by the microwave energy for two minutes
and, thereafter, heated and browned for seven minutes through
the use of the radiating heat energy generated by the sheath
heater 3. When the seven minute grill oven heating is completed,
the digital control system 29 develops a control signal for
activating the buzzer 33 through the buzzer driver circuit 32,
thereby announcing the completion of the MITARASHI DANGO cooking.
An embodiment of the invention being thus described,
it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are
intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
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