Cooking device

A cooking device has a casing 1, a heating chamber 8 provided in the casing 1, an exhaust tube 18 for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber 8 through an electric component chamber 9 in the casing 1 to front face side, and a dew receiving container 4 that is provided on front face side of the casing 1 and that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust tube 18 to outside of the casing 1.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cooking device.

BACKGROUND ART

There has been a conventional cooking device that performs heat cooking with use of steam (see JP 2008-116094 A (Patent Literature 1), for instance).

In the cooking device having the above configuration, exhaust from a heating chamber is diluted by being mixed with air in a room so that a temperature of the exhaust is decreased, and is then discharged from rear face side and top side toward front face side of a device body. On condition that there are wall surfaces in vicinity of the rear face side of the cooking device body, shelves just thereover, and/or the like, corrosion, dense growth of mold and/or the like are thereby prevented that may be caused on the wall surfaces, shelves and/or the like by contact therewith of highly heated exhaust containing steam.

There has been a demand that such a cooking device be placed and used in a rack, shelf or the like that requires further restrictions on the height, width and depth of the device, while there is difficulty in placement in a narrow space of the structure in which exhaust in the chamber is discharged from the rear face side toward the front face side of the device body, in particular, for the cooking device that performs cooking with use of steam.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PATENT LITERATURE 1: JP 2008-116094 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

An object of the invention is to provide a cooking device that is capable of disposing of exhaust from a heating chamber without discharging the exhaust from rear face side thereof even when being placed in a narrow space.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the object, a cooking device of the invention comprises:

a casing,

a heating chamber that is provided in the casing and that has an opening on a front face thereof,

an exhaust path for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber through inside of the casing to front face side of the casing, and

a dew receiving container that is placed under the opening of the heating chamber, that receives the exhaust from an exhaust exit of the exhaust path, and that diffuses the exhaust to outside of the casing.

When the heating chamber is increased in temperature and is filled with steam, smoke and/or the like produced from heated food in heat cooking of the food put in the heating chamber, according to the configuration, the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber is guided by the exhaust path through the inside of the casing to the front face side. By the dew receiving container that is placed under the opening of the heating chamber, the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path is received and diffused to outside of the casing. Then the highly heated exhaust containing steam from the inside of the heating chamber has been cooled when passing through the inside of the casing, so that the cooled exhaust having a decreased temperature can be received by the dew receiving container on the front face side and can be diffused to vast outside space on the front face side of the casing.

On condition that there are wall surfaces in vicinity of the rear face side of the cooking device body, shelves just thereover, and/or the like, corrosion, dense growth of mold and/or the like are thereby prevented that may be caused on the wall surfaces, shelves and/or the like by contact therewith of the highly heated exhaust containing steam, because exhaust in the chamber is not discharged from the rear face side of the body. Under condition of the placement in a narrow space, accordingly, the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber can be disposed without being discharged from the rear face side.

Means for heating and cooking an object to be heated in the heating chamber is not limited to heating by a heater and may be heat cooking including steam cooking with use of steam and the like or may be heat cooking with use of superheated steam having a temperature not lower than 100° C.

A cooking device in accordance with an embodiment further comprises:

a cooling fan for cooling at least electric components in the casing, wherein

cooling air blow-off openings through which a portion of cooling air from the cooling fan is blown off toward a region in the dew receiving container that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path are provided on bottom part and the front face side of the casing.

According to the embodiment, the portion of the cooling air from the cooling fan for cooling at least the electric components in the casing is blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings provided on the bottom part and the front face side of the casing toward the region in the dew receiving container that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path, and the exhaust blown off from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path into the dew receiving container that is placed under the opening of the heating chamber is thereby diluted with the portion of the cooling air while diffusion thereof is promoted, so that the exhaust can efficiently be diffused to the vast outside space on the front face side of the casing.

In the cooking device in accordance with an embodiment,

cooling air guiding parts for guiding the cooling air, blown off from the cooling air blow-off openings provided on the bottom part and the front face side on the casing, toward the region in the dew receiving container that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path are provided in the cooling air blow-off openings.

According to the embodiment, the cooling air blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings provided on the bottom part and the front face side of the casing is guided by the cooling air guiding parts provided in the cooling air blow-off openings toward the region in the dew receiving container that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path, so that the exhaust blown off from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path into the dew receiving container can efficiently be diluted and diffused.

A cooking device in accordance with an embodiment further comprises:

a door that is provided on the front face side of the casing and that opens or closes the opening of the heating chamber by pivoting on either one of left and right side end parts of the casing, wherein

the dew receiving container receives the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path on either one of left and right sides of the casing where a pivoting center of the door exists, and wherein

the cooling air blown off from the cooling air blow-off openings provided on the bottom part and the front face side on the casing is blown off toward either one of the left and right sides of the casing where the pivoting center of the door exists.

According to the embodiment, the cooling air blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings provided on the bottom part and the front face side of the casing is blown off toward either one of the left and right sides of the casing where the pivoting center of the door exists, while the dew receiving container receives the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path on either one of the left and right sides of the casing where the center of pivoting of the door exists, and thus a hand that grasps the door being opened is opposed to the center of pivoting of the door, so that the hand that grasps the door is prevented from being exposed to the exhaust diffused by the dew receiving container.

In the cooking device in accordance with an embodiment,

a cooling air guiding wall for guiding the cooling air, blown off from the cooling air blow-off openings provided on the bottom part and the front face side of the casing, toward the region in the dew receiving container that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path is provided in the dew receiving container.

According to the embodiment, the cooling air from blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings provided on the bottom part and the front face side of the casing is guided by the cooling air guiding wall provided in the dew receiving container toward the region in the dew receiving container that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path, and thus the exhaust blown off from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path into the dew receiving container can efficiently be diluted with and diffused by the portion of the cooling air.

A the cooking device in accordance with an embodiment further comprises:

an exhaust duct that is provided on an exhaust exit side in the exhaust path in the casing and that mixes the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber with the portion of the cooling air from the cooling fan and discharges the exhaust into the dew receiving container.

According to the embodiment, the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber is mixed with the other portion of the cooling air from the cooling fan and is discharged into the dew receiving container by the exhaust duct that is provided on the exhaust exit side in the exhaust path in the casing, and thus the dilution of the exhaust and the decrease in the temperature of the exhaust can efficiently be attained with the utilization of the cooling air from the cooling fan for cooling the electric components.

In the cooking device in accordance with an embodiment,

the exhaust path guides the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber through a cooling space in the casing to the front face side.

According to the embodiment, the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber is guided by the exhaust path through the cooling space in the casing to the front face side, and thus a path length of the exhaust path can be increased, so that cooling efficiency can be increased by the extension of the path running through the cooling space.

In the cooking device in accordance with an embodiment,

the exhaust path guides the exhaust from rear part of the heating chamber to the front face side.

Herein, “rear side” of the heating chamber refers to part of the heating chamber that is at rear of a center thereof with respect to frontward and rearward directions.

According to the embodiment, the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber is guided by the exhaust path from the rear part of the heating chamber to the front face side, and thus the path length of the exhaust path can be increased, so that the cooling efficiency can be increased by the extension of the path running through the cooling space. Thus the temperature of the exhaust diffused to the outside of the casing by the dew receiving container can further be decreased.

In the cooking device in accordance with an embodiment,

the exhaust path is inclined from the rear part toward the front face side of the casing and from upper side of the rear part toward lower side of the front face side of the casing.

By the inclination of the exhaust path from the rear part of the heating chamber toward the front face side and from the upper side of the rear part toward the lower side of the front face side of the heating chamber, according to the embodiment, increase in the length of the path running through the cooling space and improvement in the cooling efficiency are attained and condensate water that may be produced by cooling of the highly heated exhaust containing steam in the cooling space may be made to flow down through the exhaust path toward downstream side. This prevents stagnation of the condensate water in the exhaust path, impediment against flow of the exhaust, and unsanitary condition in the exhaust path.

In the cooking device in accordance with an embodiment,

the cooling space is provided so as to extend from a lateral side and the rear face side of the heating chamber to the front face side in the casing, and wherein

the exhaust path guides the exhaust from vicinity of the rear part of the heating chamber toward the front face side and the outside in the cooling space.

According to the embodiment, the exhaust path guides the exhaust from the vicinity of the rear part of the heating chamber toward the front face side and the outside in the cooling space that is provided so as to extend from the lateral side and the rear face side of the heating chamber to the front face side thereof in the casing, and thus the path length of the exhaust path can be increased, so that the cooling efficiency can be increased by the extension of the path running through the cooling space, and so that the temperature of the exhaust diffused to the outside of the casing by the dew receiving container can further be decreased.

A cooking device in accordance with an embodiment further comprises:

an exhaust duct provided in the casing and on a front face side in a cooling space, and

a cooling fan for cooling at least electric components in the cooling space, wherein

the exhaust duct comprises a blow-in opening, provided on upstream side thereof, into which a portion of cooling air from the cooling fan is blown, and a discharge port, provided on downstream side thereof, through which the cooling air blown in through the blow-in opening is discharged, wherein the exhaust exit of the exhaust path is provided in an air path between the blow-in opening and the discharge port, and wherein

the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path is received by the dew receiving container through the discharge port of the exhaust duct.

According to the embodiment, the portion of the cooling air from the cooling fan for cooling the electric components is blown into the blow-in opening provided on the upstream side in the exhaust duct provided in the casing and on the front face side in the cooling space. The cooling air blown in through the blow-in opening of the exhaust duct is discharged through the discharge port provided on the downstream side in the exhaust duct. Then the exhaust flows into the exhaust duct through the exhaust exit of the exhaust path placed in the air path between the blow-in opening and the discharge ports in the exhaust duct and is mixed with the cooling air, so that the exhaust diluted by mixing with the cooling air is discharged through the discharge ports of the exhaust duct. With such utilization of the cooling air from the cooling fan for cooling the electric components, the temperature of the exhaust can be decreased by the dilution of the exhaust, and the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber can efficiently be discharged by smoothing of the exhaust flow by way of the exhaust duct.

A cooking device in accordance with an embodiment comprises:

a door that is openably and closably provided on a front face of the casing and that opens or closes the opening of the heating chamber, wherein

the dew receiving container receives waterdrops dropping from the front face of the casing.

According to the embodiment, the dew receiving container has both a function of receiving dew and a function of receiving and diffusing the exhaust and thereby makes it possible to simplify a structure of the device and to reduce manufacturing cost, cost of components and the like therefor.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the cooking device of the invention, as apparent from the above, the cooking device can be provided that is capable of disposing the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber without discharging the exhaust from the rear face side thereof even when being placed in a narrow space.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinbelow, a cooking device of the invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a front view of a cooking device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, the cooking device has a casing1, and a door2with handle, as an example of a door of slide opening/closing type, that is mounted on front face side of the casing1. An operation panel3is provided on the front face side of the casing1so as to adjoin the door2with handle that is closed. A dew receiving container4as an example of an exhaust receiving part is provided under the door2with handle and the operation panel3.

A generally cylindrical dial5is rotatably mounted on the operation panel3. The operation panel3has a liquid crystal display part7, which provides displays according to operations of the dial5.

The dew receiving container4is a container that is attachable to and detachable from two front legs6,6provided on front side on bottom part of the casing1. Once the dew receiving container4is inserted to underside of the casing1from front side toward rear side and is mounted on the front legs6,6, a portion of the dew receiving container4is positioned under a rear face (back face) of the door2with handle that is closed. Thus condensate water deposited on the rear face of the door2with handle drops into the dew receiving container4placed under an opening8a(shown inFIG. 2B) of the heating chamber8(shown inFIG. 2B) when the door2with handle is opened.

FIG. 2Ashows a perspective view of the cooking device, from which a top part and both side parts of the casing1are removed, as seen looking from front and diagonal upper side, andFIG. 2Bshows a perspective view of the cooking device having the door2with handle opened.FIG. 3is a perspective view of the cooking device ofFIG. 2Aas seen looking from rear and diagonal upper side. InFIGS. 2A,2B and3, the same components are provided with the same reference numerals.

As shown inFIGS. 2A,2B and3, the heating chamber8for heating an object to be cooked is provided in the casing1(seeFIG. 2B). In the casing1, an electric component chamber9as an example of a cooling space is provided on a lateral side of the heating chamber8and on rear side of the operation panel3, and an air intake space10is provided on rear side of the heating chamber8and on rear side of the electric component chamber9.

The heating chamber8has the opening8a(shown inFIG. 2B) on the front face side, and the door2with handle opens and closes the opening8aby being slid forward and rearward by a pair of rail units31. The rail units31each have a movable rail that has one end fixed to the door2with handle and a fixed rail that is fixed to the casing1and that slidably supports the movable rail. A tray32is drawn out with the door2with handle. By opening and closing of the door2with handle, an object to be cooked that is placed on the tray32is taken out of and put into the heating chamber8. Heat shield plates11,11, . . . are provided on top, bottom, rear side, and both lateral sides of the heating chamber8. That is, the heat shield plates11,11, . . . are provided around the heating chamber8except on the opening8a. Spaces between the heat shield plates11and the heating chamber8are filled with heat insulating material (not shown).

In the electric component chamber9are a steam producing device13for producing steam that is supplied into the heating chamber8, a water supply pump14connected to the steam producing device13through a water supply tube20, and a tank housing part15placed in front of the water supply pump14. When the object to be cooked is heated, cooling air from a cooling fan16flows through the electric component chamber9so that electric components such as the water supply pump14can be cooled.

With drive of the cooling fan16, air outside the casing1flows through four air intakes17,17,17,17into the air intake space10. The air in the air intake space10is delivered into the electric component chamber9by the cooling fan16. The air intakes17are each composed of a plurality of slits provided on rear part of the casing1.

An upstream end of the exhaust tube18as an example of an exhaust path is connected to an exhaust opening, provided on the rear part of the heating chamber8, through a catalyst unit (not shown) provided above the rear part of the heating chamber8. A downstream end (exhaust exit) of the exhaust tube18is connected to an exhaust duct19that is provided on a lateral side of the tank housing part15and that is made of synthetic resin. The exhaust tube18is composed of synthetic resin having flexibility and is provided so as to extend from upper part of the rear face side to lower part of the front face side of the electric component chamber9.

Gas in the heating chamber8is discharged out of the casing1by being guided from the rear part to the front face side of the casing1by the exhaust tube18and the exhaust duct19.

InFIGS. 2A,2B and3, reference numeral21denotes a partition wall that serves as a partition between the electric component chamber9and the air intake space10. The cooling fan16is mounted on the partition wall21. As shown inFIG. 3, an upper heater housing part25is provided on upper side in the heating chamber8, and an upper heater26is provided in the upper heater housing part25. A steam temperature increasing device is composed of the upper heater housing part25and the upper heater26. A lower heater housing part (not shown) is provided on lower side in the heating chamber8, and a lower heater (not shown) is provided in the lower heater housing part.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of the cooking device ofFIG. 2Aas seen looking from a lateral side thereof.

The tank housing part15houses a water supply tank23. Once the door2with handle is opened, a front face of the water supply tank23is exposed so that the water supply tank23can be drawn out of and inserted into the tank housing part15(seeFIG. 2B). Water in the water supply tank23is supplied through the water supply tube20into the steam producing device13by drive of the water supply pump14. The steam producing device13heats the water from the water supply pump14by a steam producing heater24and thereby produces steam.

FIG. 5shows a schematic representation of an enlarged section of an important part of the cooking device, as seen looking from the lateral side thereof. As shown inFIG. 5, a discharge port22is provided on front bottom part of the exhaust duct19. The discharge port22extends through the bottom part of the casing1and faces the dew receiving container4. A nozzle part61to which the downstream end (exhaust exit) of the exhaust tube18is connected is inserted into the exhaust duct19, and an opening61aon an extremity of the nozzle part61is directed toward the discharge port22.

FIG. 6Ashows a top face of the exhaust duct19, andFIG. 6Bshows a sectional view of the exhaust duct19taken along a line VIB-VIB ofFIG. 6A.

As shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B, the exhaust duct19is shaped so as to taper from a blow-in opening60toward the discharge port22and has a top wall19a, a bottom wall19b, a side wall19cthat is provided so as to enclose a space between an outer edge of the top wall19aand an outer edge of the bottom wall19bexcept the blow-in opening60, a cylinder part19dthat protrudes downward from outer circumference of the discharge port22, a first fixed part19ethat is provided so as to protrude frontward from vicinity of the cylinder part19d, and a second fixed part19fthat is provided in vicinity of a lower edge of the blow-in opening60of the bottom wall19b. In the exhaust duct19, a cutout19gis formed on a top edge of the blow-in opening60on the top wall19a.

The nozzle part61generally shaped like a letter L is attached into the cutout19gon the exhaust duct19, from a side of the blow-in opening60. The nozzle part61is fixed to the top wall19aof the exhaust duct19with use of a mounting flange62fixed to an upper end of the nozzle part61. The downstream end of the exhaust tube18is connected to the upper end of the nozzle part61.

The cylinder part19dof the exhaust duct19is inserted into a hole65aprovided on a bottom plate65, and the exhaust duct19is fixed to the bottom plate65by screws (not shown) with use of the first fixed part19eand the second fixed part19f. In this state, an upper surface of the bottom wall19bof the exhaust duct19is inclined with respect to a plane of the bottom plate65so that front side thereof is lowered. In the first embodiment, an angle between the upper surface of the bottom wall19bof the exhaust duct19and the plane of the bottom plate65is set between 2 and 3 degrees. Thus water in the exhaust duct19flows toward the discharge port22and falls therefrom without flowing out from the blow-in opening60.

The exhaust duct19is shaped so as to taper off from the blow-in opening60on upstream side thereof toward the discharge port22on downstream side thereof. The tapered shape smoothes air flow in the exhaust duct19and causes exhaust from the opening61aon the extremity of the nozzle part61to be drawn and guided toward the discharge port22.

FIG. 7shows a plan view of the dew receiving container4, andFIG. 8shows a sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII ofFIG. 7. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the dew receiving container4has a first dew receiving recess41in shape of a laterally long rectangle and a second dew receiving recess42provided in front of the first dew receiving recess41with a rib43therebetween. Fitting recesses45A,45B that open on rear face side (upper side inFIG. 7) thereof are provided at both ends of the first dew receiving recess41, and curved arm parts46A,46B that extend toward the rear face side are provided in the fitting recesses45A,45B, respectively. Guide parts47A,47B are provided on sides facing the first dew receiving recess41in the fitting recesses45A,45B, respectively.

When the dew receiving container4is attached to the two front legs6,6(shown inFIG. 1) provided on the front side on the bottom part of the casing1, fitting protruding parts (not shown) of the front legs6,6are fitted into the fitting recesses45A,45B while being guided by the guide parts47A,47B of the dew receiving container4. Then the curved arm parts46A,46B of the dew receiving container4undergo elastic deformation and thereby cooperate with the guide parts47A,47B to nip the fitting protruding parts (not shown) of the front legs6,6, so that the dew receiving container4is held by the front legs6,6.

A region S1on right side on a bottom surface of the first dew receiving recess41in the dew receiving container4faces an opening of the discharge port22of the exhaust duct19that resides thereover. Exhaust from the discharge port22of the exhaust duct19is received by the region S1in the first dew receiving recess41in the dew receiving container4that resides thereunder and is diffused to outside of the casing1. Then the exhaust diffuses from inside of the first dew receiving recess41in the dew receiving container4through a gap between the dew receiving container4and the door2with handle, a gap between the dew receiving container4and the casing1and/or the like into a vast outside space on the front face side of the casing1.

Waterdrops dropping from the discharge port22of the exhaust duct19are received by the first dew receiving recess41in the dew receiving container4, and waterdrops dropping along the rear face of the door2with handle and the front face of the casing1are received by the first dew receiving recess41and the second dew receiving recess42in the dew receiving container4.

In the cooking device having the above configuration, the water supply tank23containing a required quantity of water is housed in the tank housing part15with the door2with handle drawn out as shown inFIG. 2B, and heat cooking with use of steam is thereafter started by an operation on the operation panel3. Then the upper heater26and the lower heater that are provided on the upper and lower sides of the heating chamber8are turned on, the water supply pump14is activated so as to supply water in the water supply tank23into the steam producing device13, and steam is produced by heating of the water supplied into the steam producing device13by the steam producing heater24. The steam produced by the steam producing device13blows out into the upper heater housing part25on the upper side in the heating chamber8, and becomes superheated steam having a temperature not lower than 100° C. by being heated by the upper heater26. The superheated steam is supplied into the heating chamber8through a plurality of holes provided on an upper cover not shown on a ceiling surface of the heating chamber8. Thus food placed on the tray32in the heating chamber8is heated and cooked by radiant heat from the upper cover on the ceiling surface side of the heating chamber8, radiant heat from the lower cover on bottom side thereof, and superheated steam that is blown out through the plurality of holes on the upper cover and that has the temperature not lower than 100° C. Then the superheated steam supplied to and deposited on surfaces of the food condenses on the surfaces of the food and gives the food a great quantity of latent heat of condensation and therefore heat can efficiently be transmitted to the food.

In the cooking device, oven cooking may be performed with use of only the upper heater26and the lower heater and without use of steam, and steam cooking or the like may be performed with use of only steam produced by the steam producing device13and without use of the upper heater26and the lower heater.

When the heating chamber8is increased in temperature and is filled with steam, smoke and/or the like produced from heated food in the heat cooking of the food put in the heating chamber8, in the cooking device having the configuration, exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber8is guided by the exhaust tube18through the electric component chamber9that is the cooling space in the casing1to the front face side. By the dew receiving container4that is the exhaust receiving part provided on the front face side of the casing1, the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust tube18is received and diffused to the outside of the casing1. Therefore, highly heated exhaust containing steam from the inside of the heating chamber8is cooled when passing through the electric component chamber9in the casing1by way of the exhaust tube18, so that the cooled exhaust having a decreased temperature can be received by the dew receiving container4on the front face side and can be diffused to the vast outside space in front of the casing1.

On condition that there are wall surfaces in vicinity of the rear face side of a cooking device body, shelves just thereover, and/or the like, corrosion, dense growth of mold and/or the like are thereby prevented that might be caused on the wall surfaces, shelves and/or the like by contact therewith of the highly heated exhaust containing steam, because the exhaust from the heating chamber is not discharged from the rear face side of the body. Even under condition of the placement in a narrow space, accordingly, the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber8can be disposed without being discharged from the rear face side.

Steam contained in the exhaust from the heating chamber condenses in the exhaust tube18, the nozzle part61, and the exhaust duct19before the discharge to the front face side of the casing1, and thus the dehumidified exhaust can be discharged into the outside space. The condensate water produced in the exhaust tube18, the nozzle part61, and the exhaust duct19can be collected by the dew receiving container4. The cooking device saves trouble of discarding water in the dew receiving container4because the condensate water collected in the dew receiving container4is small in quantity and is dried naturally. Direct blow of the exhaust onto a user is prevented and comfortableness is improved because the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber8is once received by the dew receiving recess41and is then diffused to the outside of the casing1.

Though the cooking device that performs cooking with use of superheated steam having a temperature not lower than 100° C. has been described for the first embodiment, cooking including cooking with use of only the heaters or steam cooking with use of steam or the like may be performed as cooking in which an object to be heated is heated in the heating chamber8.

The exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber8is guided by the exhaust tube18from the rear part to the front face side of the heating chamber8, and thus a path length of the exhaust tube18can be increased, so that cooling efficiency can be increased by the extension of the path running through the electric component chamber9. Thus the temperature of the exhaust diffused to the outside of the casing1by the dew receiving container4can further be decreased.

By inclination of the exhaust tube18from the rear part toward the front face side of the heating chamber8and from upper side of the rear part toward lower side of the front face side of the heating chamber8, as shown inFIG. 9, the path running through the electric component chamber9that is the cooling space can be extended so that the cooling efficiency can be improved, and condensate water that may be produced by cooling of highly heated exhaust containing steam in the electric component chamber9is made to flow down through the exhaust tube18toward the downstream side. This prevents stagnation of the condensate water in the exhaust tube18, impediment against flow of the exhaust, and unsanitary condition in the exhaust tube18.

As shown inFIG. 10, the exhaust tube18guides the exhaust from vicinity of the rear part of the heating chamber8toward the front face side and the outside, in the electric component chamber9that is the cooling space provided from the lateral side and the rear face side of the heating chamber8to the front face side in the casing1, and thus the path length of the exhaust tube18can be increased, so that the cooling efficiency can be increased by the extension of the path running through the electric component chamber9, and so that the temperature of the exhaust diffused to the outside of the casing1by the dew receiving container4that is the exhaust receiving part can further be decreased.

A portion of cooling air from the cooling fan16for cooling the electric components is blown into the blow-in opening60provided on the upstream side in the exhaust duct19provided in the casing1and on the front face side in the electric component chamber9that is the cooling space. The cooling air blown in through the blow-in opening60of the exhaust duct19is guided by the top wall19a, the bottom wall19b, and the side wall19cof the exhaust duct19and is discharged through the discharge port22provided on the downstream side. Then the exhaust flows into the exhaust duct19through the opening61aof the nozzle part61provided in an air path between the blow-in opening60and the discharge port22in the exhaust duct19and is mixed with the cooling air, so that the exhaust diluted by mixing with the cooling air is discharged through the discharge port22of the exhaust duct19. With such utilization of the cooling air from the cooling fan16for cooling the electric components, the temperature of the exhaust can be decreased by the dilution of the exhaust, and the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber8can efficiently be discharged by smoothing of flow of the exhaust by way of the exhaust duct19.

The dew receiving container4, having both a function of receiving dew and a function of receiving and diffusing exhaust, makes it possible to simplify a structure of the device and to reduce manufacturing cost, cost of components and the like therefor.

FIG. 11shows a schematic representation of a cooking device in accordance with another embodiment, as seen looking from front side thereof, andFIG. 12shows a schematic representation of the cooking device, as seen looking from a lateral side thereof. The cooking device of the embodiment has the same configuration as the cooking device shown inFIGS. 1 through 8has, except for shield plates.

In the electric component chamber9in which the steam producing device13is placed at right of the heating chamber8, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, a shield member40is mounted so as to cover underside and rear face side (right direction inFIG. 12) of the steam producing device13. The shield member40includes a bottom part41having a cylinder part41aprotruding downward on front face side (left direction inFIG. 12) thereof and a side wall part42extending upward from rear edge side of the bottom part41. The bottom part41has a recessed part41bformed of a sloped surface sloping down toward the cylinder part41aon the front face side. A drain opening43on the cylinder part41aon lower side of the shield member40is connected to a drain path (not shown).

By provision around the steam producing device13of the shield member40that blocks off cooling air from the cooling fan16, the steam producing device13can be prevented from being cooled by the cooling air and thus efficiency of evaporation can be improved by reduction in heat loss in the steam producing device13. In event that water leak from the steam producing device13occurs, leaking water is guided through the recessed part41band the cylinder part41ainto the drain path by the bottom part41of the shield member40that covers the underside of the steam producing device13. Thus the leaking water can be prevented from dropping onto other electric components and the like and leaking out of the body, in the event of water leak that may be caused by faulty sealing between a heat source cast part and a cover part, cracks in water supply parts and/or the like in the steam producing device13.

Though the shield member40covers the underside and the rear face side of the steam producing device13without covering front face side, top side or lateral sides thereof, the cooling air scarcely goes around from those directions. There may be used, however, the shield member that further covers at least either of the front face side, the top side and the lateral sides of the steam producing device13.

The cooking device using the dew receiving container4that diffuses exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path has been described for the first embodiment, whereas a form of the dew receiving container is not limited thereto and the dew receiving container has only to receive exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path and to diffuse the exhaust to the outside of the casing.

The cooking device that discharges the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber8through the exhaust tube18and the exhaust duct19that are the exhaust path into the dew receiving container4has been described for the first embodiment, whereas the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber may be discharged through an exhaust path into the dew receiving container without use of the exhaust duct.

Though the opening8aof the heating chamber8is opened and closed by the door2with handle that slides in the frontward and rearward directions with respect to the casing1in the first embodiment, whereas the opening of the heating chamber may be opened and closed by a door of pivoting type, for instance. That is, the door the cooking device of the invention includes may be of slide type or pivoting type.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 13is a front view of a cooking device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

As shown inFIG. 13, the cooking device has a casing101, and a door102with handle, as an example of the door, that is mounted on front face side of the casing101. Heat resistant glass105is mounted at general center of the door102with handle. An operation panel103is provided on the front face side of the casing101so as to adjoin the door102with handle that is closed. A dew receiving container104as an example of the exhaust receiving part is provided under the door102with handle and the operation panel103.

A plurality of push buttons and the like are mounted on the operation panel103. The operation panel103has a liquid crystal display part107, and the liquid crystal display part107provides displays according to operations.

The dew receiving container104is a container that is attachable to and detachable from two front legs106,106provided on front side on bottom part of the casing101. Once the dew receiving container104is inserted to underside of the casing101from front side toward rear side and is mounted on the front legs106,106, a portion of the dew receiving container104is positioned under a rear face (back face) of the door102with handle that is closed. Thus condensate water deposited on the rear face of the door102with handle drops into the dew receiving container104placed under an opening108c(shown inFIG. 19) of the heating chamber108(shown inFIG. 19) when the door102with handle is opened.

FIG. 14shows a top plan view of the cooking device. As shown inFIG. 14, the door102with handle that is provided on the front face side of the casing101pivots in left and right directions on left side end part of the casing101and opens and closes the opening108c(shown inFIG. 19) on the front face of the heating chamber108(shown inFIG. 15).

FIG. 15shows a schematic section of the cooking device. In the cooking device, as shown inFIG. 15, a portion of air taken in by a cooling fan116from outside through an air intake117passes through an electric component chamber109as an example of the cooling space and thereafter flows into the heating chamber108through an air supply opening108athat is in open state with opening of an air supply damper150. On the other hand, the other portion of the air taken in from the outside passes through the electric component chamber109and thereafter flows to bottom part side of the casing101and then through an air path under the heating chamber108into a cooling air inlet202(shown inFIGS. 19 and 23) of an exhaust duct200.

A portion of air in the heating chamber108is discharged into the exhaust duct200through an exhaust opening108band an exhaust tube118as an example of the exhaust path and is mixed with air, having flowed from the cooling air inlet202, in the exhaust duct200. Then the exhaust diluted in the exhaust duct200is blown downward through four discharge ports204into the dew receiving container104.

A portion of the air that flows to the bottom part side of the casing101and that then flows through the air path under the heating chamber108is blown through a plurality of cooling air blow-off openings170, provided on front face side on a bottom plate130(shown inFIG. 20A) of the casing101, toward a region S2(FIG. 27) in the dew receiving container104that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the discharge ports204.

FIG. 16shows a perspective view of the cooking device from which the casing101has been removed, as seen looking from rear and diagonal upper side.

As shown inFIG. 16, the heating chamber108for heating an object123to be heated (shown inFIG. 15) is provided in the casing101. In the casing101, the electric component chamber109as an example of the cooling space is provided on a lateral side of the heating chamber108and on rear side of the operation panel103, and an air intake space110is provided on rear side of the heating chamber108and on rear side of the electric component chamber109.

The heating chamber108has an opening108c(shown inFIG. 19) on the front face side thereof, and the door102with handle opens and closes the opening108cby pivoting in the left and right directions. Heat shield plates111,111, . . . are provided on top, bottom, rear side, and both lateral sides of the heating chamber108. That is, the heat shield plates111,111, . . . are provided around the heating chamber108except on the opening108c. Spaces between the heat shield plates111and the heating chamber108are filled with heat insulating material (not shown).

The steam producing device113for producing steam that is supplied into the heating chamber108is provided on the rear face side of the heating chamber108, and a water supply pump (not shown) connected to the steam producing device113through a water supply tube is provided under the heating chamber108. A tank housing part115in which a water supply tank (not shown) is housed, a magnetron151, a power supply transformer152and the like are provided in the electric component chamber109in the casing101. When the object123to be heated is heated, cooling air from the cooling fan116flows through the electric component chamber109so that electric components such as the magnetron151can be cooled.

With drive of the cooling fan116, air outside the casing101flows through a plurality of air intakes (not shown) into the air intake space110. The air in the air intake space110is delivered into the electric component chamber109by the cooling fan116. The air intakes are each composed of a plurality of slits provided in rear part of the casing101.

InFIG. 16, reference numeral121denotes a partition wall that serves as a partition between the electric component chamber109and the air intake space110. The cooling fan116is mounted on the partition wall121. A heater126is provided on upper side in the heating chamber108. Microwaves produced by the magnetron151are guided through a waveguide (not shown) to center of lower part of the heating chamber108, are radiated toward upside in the heating chamber108while being stirred by a rotating antenna (not shown), and thereby heat the object to be heated123(shown inFIG. 15).

Water in the water supply tank housed in the housing part115is supplied through the water supply tube (not shown) into the steam producing device113by drive of the water supply pump. The steam producing device113heats the water from the water supply pump by a steam producing heater124and thereby produces steam.

FIG. 17shows a perspective view of the cooking device from which the casing101has been removed, as seen looking from front and diagonal upper side thereof, andFIG. 18shows a left side view of the cooking device from which the casing101has been removed. As shown inFIGS. 17 and 18, an upstream end of the exhaust tube118is connected to the exhaust opening108b(shown inFIG. 15) provided on a left side wall of the heating chamber108, and a downstream end (exhaust exit) of the exhaust tube118is connected to the exhaust duct200made of synthetic resin and provided on lower left and the front face side in the casing101. The exhaust tube118is composed of synthetic resin having flexibility.

Gas in the heating chamber108is discharged out of the casing101by being guided from the side part to the front face side of the casing101by the exhaust tube118and the exhaust duct200.

Extremity part of a drain groove210is connected to a drain receiving part211on rear face side of the exhaust duct200. The drain groove210receives condensate water having dropped along side faces of the heat shield plates111that cover the heating chamber108.

FIG. 19shows a perspective view of the cooking device from which the casing101and the bottom plate130have been removed, as seen looking from front and diagonal lower side thereof, and the exhaust duct200shaped like a letter L is placed in a corner part on the front left and lower side of the casing101. The cooling air inlet202is provided on the rear face side and lower side of the exhaust duct200so that an opening thereof faces downward, the four discharge ports204are provided at specified intervals along the left and right directions on front face side and lower side of the exhaust duct200, and a drain opening205is provided at right of the discharge ports204.

FIG. 20Ashows a perspective view of the cooking device which is shown inFIG. 19and on which the bottom plate130is mounted, as seen looking from the front and diagonal lower side. As shown inFIG. 20A, five circular holes160corresponding to the four discharge ports204and the drain opening205on the front face side and lower side of the exhaust duct200(shown inFIG. 19) are provided on the front face side on the bottom plate130of the casing101.

On the front face side on the bottom plate130of the casing101and on the rear face side of the circular holes160are provided the plurality of cooling air blow-off openings170through which the portion of the cooling air from the cooling fan (shown inFIG. 16) is blown off toward the region S2in the dew receiving container104(shown inFIGS. 21,22, and27) that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the discharge ports204.

As shown inFIG. 20B, the cooling air blow-off openings170have a plurality of slit parts170aarranged at specified intervals along the left and right direction and cut and raised parts170bas an example of cooling air guiding parts that are provided on longitudinal edges on one side (downwind side for the cooling air) of the slit parts170a. A longitudinal direction of the slit parts170ais inclined from left rear face side toward right front face side with respect to the left and right direction along a bottom edge of the front face of the casing101. The cut and raised parts170bof the cooling air blow-off openings170are formed by cutting and raising of the casing101toward inside (upside inFIG. 20B).

The cut and raised parts170bare provided as the cooling air guiding parts in the cooling air blow-off openings170in the second embodiment, whereas the cooling air guiding parts are not limited thereto and flow of the cooling air may be controlled by other members.

By the cut and raised parts170bof the cooling air blow-off openings170, the portion of the cooling air that flows from the electric component chamber109(shown inFIG. 16) on right side through between a bottom face of the heating chamber108and the bottom plate130toward left side where the exhaust duct200(shown inFIG. 19) exists is blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings170toward the region S2facing the discharge ports204in the dew receiving container104(shown inFIGS. 21,22, and27).

FIG. 21shows a perspective view of the cooking device which is shown inFIG. 20Aand on which the dew receiving container104is mounted, as seen looking from the front and diagonal lower side. InFIG. 21, the casing101, the door102with handle, and the operation panel103are also mounted.

FIG. 22is a left side view of the cooking device shown inFIG. 21.

FIG. 23shows a top plan view of the exhaust duct200of the cooking device,FIG. 24shows a sectional view taken along a line XXIV-XXIV ofFIG. 23,FIG. 25shows a bottom view of the exhaust duct200, andFIG. 26shows a front view of the exhaust duct200.

As shown inFIG. 23, the exhaust duct200has a merging part200aon which the exhaust inlet201and the cooling air inlet202(shown inFIGS. 24,25) are provided and a stirring discharge part200bwhich extends rightward at right angles from front face side (lower side in a page ofFIG. 22) of the merging part200a. A cylindrical connection part220having the exhaust inlet201at an extremity thereof is provided on top side of the merging part200aof the exhaust duct200so as to stand thereon. A shield wall203having a section shaped like a letter U is provided in the exhaust duct200so as to surround a region to which the connection part220is extended into the exhaust duct200. The shield wall203opens on the front face side (lower side in the page ofFIG. 22) thereof.

The four discharge ports204are formed at the specified intervals on bottom side of the stirring discharge part200bof the exhaust duct200.

The drain receiving part211to which the extremity part of the drain groove210is connected is provided on the rear face side (upper side in a page ofFIG. 24) of the merging part200aof the exhaust duct200. The cooling air inlet202is provided on the bottom side (left side in the page ofFIG. 24) between the drain receiving part211and the exhaust inlet201. Grooves212,213, and214are formed on a right side face of the merging part200a, the rear face side and a right side face of the stirring discharge part200b, respectively, on the exhaust duct200, and the drain opening205is formed in the groove214. Water received by the drain receiving part211is guided to the drain opening205by the grooves212,213, and214, and is drained through the drain opening205into the dew receiving container104on underside thereof.

In the merging part200aof the exhaust duct200, as shown inFIG. 24, an opening part221is provided between the cooling air inlet202and the connection part220, and an inclined surface222that gradually lowers toward the stirring discharge part200bis provided between the opening part221and the stirring discharge part200b. In the bottom part in the stirring discharge part200balso, there is provided an inclined surface that gradually lowers from a side of the merging part200atoward a right end thereof (seeFIG. 26). In event that condensate water flows in through the exhaust inlet201, the condensate water can be guided to the stirring discharge part200band can be drained through the four discharge ports204by the inclined surface222in the merging part200aand the inclined surface in the stirring discharge part200b.

In the exhaust duct200shown inFIGS. 23 through 26, the exhaust flows from the inside of the heating chamber108(shown inFIG. 17) through the exhaust tube118(shown inFIG. 17) and the exhaust inlet201into the merging part200aof the exhaust duct200, and a portion of the cooling air that flows from the electric component chamber109(shown inFIG. 16) on the right side through between the bottom face of the heating chamber108and the bottom plate130toward the left side where the exhaust duct200(shown inFIG. 19) exists flows through the cooling air inlet202into the merging part200aof the exhaust duct200. Then the cooling air and the exhaust flow to the stirring discharge part200bwhile being mixed on downstream side (lower side in a page ofFIG. 23) of the shield wall203in the merging part200aof the exhaust duct200, are stirred and diluted in the stirring discharge part200b, and are thereafter discharged through the four discharge ports204into the dew receiving container104below.

FIG. 27shows a top plan view of the dew receiving container104of the cooking device, andFIG. 28shows a perspective view of the dew receiving container104, as seen looking from rear and diagonal upper side thereof.

As shown inFIGS. 27 and 28, the dew receiving container104has a first dew receiving recess141in shape of a laterally long rectangle and a second dew receiving recess142provided in front of the first dew receiving recess141, the first dew receiving recess141and the second dew receiving recess142separated by a rib143as an example of a cooling air guiding wall that is provided in the dew receiving container104. The rib143includes a first rib143aand a second rib143bhaving a height smaller than the first rib143ahas. The first rib143aoccupies two-thirds on right side (left side inFIG. 28) in general of the rib143.

The rib143is provided as the cooling air guiding wall in the dew receiving container104in the second embodiment, whereas the cooling air guiding part is not limited thereto and the cooling air may be guided by other members.

Fitting recesses145A,145B that open on the rear face side (upper side inFIG. 27) are provided at both ends of the first dew receiving recess141, and curved arm parts146A,146B that extend toward the rear face side are provided in the fitting recesses145A,145B, respectively. Guide parts147A,147B are provided on sides facing the first dew receiving recess141in the fitting recesses145A,145B, respectively.

When the dew receiving container104is attached to the two front legs106,106(shown inFIG. 13) provided on the front side on the bottom part of the casing101, fitting protruding parts (not shown) of the front legs106,106are fitted into the fitting recesses145A,145B while being guided by the guide parts147A,147B of the dew receiving container104. Then the curved arm parts146A,146B of the dew receiving container104undergo elastic deformation and thereby cooperate with the guide parts147A,147B to nip the fitting protruding parts (not shown) of the front legs106,106, so that the dew receiving container104is held by the front legs106,106.

The region S2on the left side in the second dew receiving recess142of the dew receiving container104faces openings of the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200(shown inFIGS. 23 through 26) that resides thereover. Exhaust from the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200is received by the region S2in the second dew receiving recess142in the dew receiving container104that resides thereunder and is diffused to the outside of the casing101. Then the exhaust diffuses from inside of the second dew receiving recess142in the dew receiving container104through a gap between the dew receiving container104and the door102with handle, a gap between the dew receiving container104and the casing101and/or the like into a vast outside space on the front face side of the casing101.

Waterdrops dropping from the drain opening205of the exhaust duct200are received by the second dew receiving recess142in the dew receiving container104.

The cooling air blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings170provided on the bottom part and the front face side of the casing101is guided toward the region S2in the dew receiving container104by the rib143as the example of the cooling air guiding wall.

In the cooking device having the above configuration, the water supply tank containing a required quantity of water is housed in the tank housing part115, and heat cooking with use of steam is thereafter started by an operation on the operation panel103. Then the heater126provided on the upper side in the heating chamber108is turned on, the water supply pump is activated so as to supply the water in the water supply tank into the steam producing device113, and steam is produced by heating of the water supplied into the steam producing device113by the steam producing heater124. The steam produced by the steam producing device113blows into the heating chamber108, and becomes superheated steam having a temperature not lower than 100° C. by being heated in the heating chamber108by the heater126. Thus food in the heating chamber108is heated and cooked by radiant heat from the heater126on the upper side in the heating chamber108and by the superheated steam having the temperature not lower than 100° C. Then the superheated steam supplied to and deposited on surfaces of the food condenses on the surfaces of the food and gives the food a great quantity of latent heat of condensation and therefore heat can efficiently be transmitted to the food.

In the cooking device, oven cooking may be performed with use of only the heater126and without use of steam, and steam cooking or the like may be performed with use of only steam produced by the steam producing device113and without use of the heater126.

FIG. 29shows a front view of the cooking device, with the door102with handle opened, in heat cooking with use of microwaves. In the heat cooking with use of microwaves, an object to be heated is placed on bottom part of the heating chamber108. InFIG. 29, numeral180denotes steam blow-off openings through which steam is blown from the steam producing device113(shown in FIG.16) into the heating chamber108.

FIG. 30shows a front view of the cooking device in heat cooking of a small piece of food by the heater126. In the heat cooking by the heater126(shown inFIGS. 15,16), a tray132having a grill133placed thereon is inserted into a lower level in the heating chamber108, and the object123to be heated is placed on the grill133. Thus the object123to be heated is heated by the heater126placed on the upper side in the heating chamber108.

FIG. 31shows a front view of the cooking device in heat cooking of a large piece of food by the heater126. In the heat cooking by the heater126(shown inFIGS. 15,16), the tray132having the grill133placed thereon is placed on the bottom part in the heating chamber108, and the object123to be heated is placed on the grill133. Thus the object123to be heated is heated by the heater126placed on the upper side in the heating chamber108.

FIG. 32shows a schematic representation for illustrating air flow on the front face side and the lower side of the cooking device.FIG. 32is the schematic representation as seen looking from above, black arrows denoting the cooling air flowing from the electric component chamber109(shown inFIG. 16) on the right side through between the bottom face of the heating chamber108and the bottom plate130toward the left side where the exhaust duct200(shown inFIG. 19) exists, a white arrow defined by solid lines denoting the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber108, white arrows defined by dashed lines denoting mixed air. The drain opening205is omitted inFIG. 32.

As shown inFIG. 32, the exhaust flows from the inside of the heating chamber108(shown inFIG. 17) through the exhaust inlet201(shown inFIG. 23) of the exhaust duct200into the exhaust duct200, and the portion of the cooling air that flows from the electric component chamber109(shown inFIG. 16) on the right side through between the bottom face of the heating chamber108and the bottom plate130toward the left side where the exhaust duct200(shown inFIG. 19) exists flows through the cooling air inlet202(shown inFIG. 23) of the exhaust duct200into the exhaust duct200. The cooling air and the exhaust are mixed in the exhaust duct200and are thereafter discharged through the four discharge ports204toward the dew receiving container104below.

When the heating chamber108is increased in temperature and is filled with steam, smoke and/or the like produced from heated food in the heat cooking of the food put in the heating chamber108, in the cooking device having the configuration, the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber108is guided by the exhaust path (the exhaust tube118and the exhaust duct200) through the inside of the casing101to the front face side. The exhaust from the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200is received by the dew receiving container104provided on the front face side of the casing101and is diffused to the outside of the casing101. Then the highly heated exhaust containing steam from the inside of the heating chamber108is cooled when passing through the inside of the casing101, so that the cooled exhaust having a decreased temperature can be received by the dew receiving container104on the front face side and can be diffused to the vast outside space in front of the casing101.

On condition that there are wall surfaces in vicinity of the rear face side of the cooking device body, shelves just thereover, and/or the like, corrosion, dense growth of mold and/or the like are thereby prevented that might be caused on the wall surfaces, shelves and/or the like by contact therewith of the highly heated exhaust containing steam, because the exhaust in the chamber is not discharged from the rear face side of the body. Under condition of the placement in a narrow space, accordingly, the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber108can be disposed without being discharged from the rear face side.

Means for heating and cooking the object to be heated in the heating chamber108is not limited to heating by the heater and may be heat cooking including steam cooking with use of steam and the like or may be heat cooking with use of superheated steam having a temperature not lower than 100° C.

The portion of the cooling air from the cooling fan116for cooling at least the electric components in the casing101is blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings170provided on the bottom part and the front face side of the casing101toward the region in the dew receiving container104that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200, and the exhaust blown off from the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200into the dew receiving container104is thereby diluted with the portion of the cooling air while diffusion thereof is promoted, so that the exhaust can efficiently be diffused to the vast outside space on the front face side of the casing101.

The cooling air blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings170provided on the bottom part and front face side of the casing101is guided toward the region S2in the dew receiving container104that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200, by the cut and raised parts170b(the cooling air guiding parts) provided in the cooling air blow-off openings170, and thus the exhaust blown off through the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200into the dew receiving container104can efficiently be diluted and diffused.

With the cooling air blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings170provided on the bottom part and the front face side of the casing101, the dew receiving container104receives the exhaust from the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200, on the side at left side end of the casing101where a center of pivoting of the door102with handle exists, and thus a hand that grasps the door102with handle being opened is opposed to the center of pivoting of the door102with handle, so that the hand that grasps the door102with handle is prevented from being exposed to the exhaust diffused by the dew receiving container104.

The cooling air blown off through the cooling air blow-off openings170provided on the bottom part and front face side of the casing101is guided toward the region S2in the dew receiving container104that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200, by the rib143(cooling air guiding wall) that is provided in the dew receiving container104, and thus the exhaust blown off through the discharge ports204of the exhaust duct200into the dew receiving container104can efficiently be diluted and diffused.

The exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber108is mixed with the other portion of the cooling air from the cooling fan116and is discharged into the dew receiving container104by the exhaust duct200in the casing101, and thus the dilution of the exhaust and the decrease in the temperature of the exhaust can efficiently be attained with the utilization of the cooling air from the cooling fan116for cooling the electric components.

The exhaust tube118that is the exhaust path may be extended through the electric component chamber109(cooling space) in the casing101so as to guide the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber108to the front face side. Thus the path length of the exhaust path can be increased, so that the cooling efficiency can be increased by the extension of the path running through the electric component chamber109(cooling space).

The cooking device using the dew receiving container104that diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path has been described for the second embodiment, whereas a form of the dew receiving container is not limited thereto and the dew receiving container has only to receive the exhaust from the exhaust exit of the exhaust path and to diffuse the exhaust to the outside of the casing.

The cooking device that discharges the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber108through the exhaust tube118and the exhaust duct200that are the exhaust path into the dew receiving container104that is the exhaust receiving part has been described for the second embodiment, whereas the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber may be discharged through an exhaust path into the exhaust receiving part without use of the exhaust duct.

Though the opening108cof the heating chamber108is opened and closed by the door102with handle that pivots in lateral directions with respect to the casing101in the second embodiment, whereas the door which the cooking device of the invention includes may be of slide type or pivoting type.

As the cooking device of the invention, there may be used not only a microwave oven using superheated steam but an oven using superheated steam, a microwave oven not using superheated steam, an oven not using superheated steam or the like, for instance.

In the cooking device of the invention, healthy cooking can be performed by use of superheated steam or saturated steam in a microwave oven or the like. In the cooking device of the invention, for instance, superheated steam or saturated steam having a temperature not lower than 100° C. is supplied onto surfaces of food, the superheated steam or saturated steam deposited onto the surfaces of the food condenses and gives the food a great quantity of latent heat of condensation, and therefore heat can efficiently be transmitted to the food. The condensate water is deposited on the surfaces of the food, and salt content, oil content and the like drop with the condensate water, so that salt content, oil content and the like in the food can be reduced. Furthermore, the heating chamber is filled with the superheated steam or saturated steam so as to be poor in oxygen, and thus cooking by which oxidation of the food is suppressed can be performed. Herein, a condition poor in oxygen refers to a condition in which volume percentage of oxygen is not more than 10% (e.g., between 2 and 3%) in the heating chamber.

Though the specific embodiments of the invention have been described, the invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above and can be embodied with modification in various ways within the scope of the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST