Microwave oven

Abstract: There is disclosed a microwave oven including a plurality of partitions 20 detachably provided to a cooking chamber 10 to divide the chamber into a plurality of cooking compartments; a plurality of grooves 21 formed on both inner sidewalls of the cooking chamber into which each partition is slidably inserted; second trays 30 rotatably placed on each upper part of the partitions 20; and a plurality of driving members 40A, 40B formed on the rear wall W of the cooking chamber to be driven by an electric motor 41 in order to make the second trays 30 rotate.

Description: The present invention relates to a microwave oven with an improved cooking chamber structure. More particularly, it relates to such a microwave oven in which the cooking chamber can be divided into separate compartments corresponding to the number of foodstuffs to be cooked simultaneously. Two patent applications disclosing microwave ovens having a plurality of shelves, although having priority dates prior to that of the present application whilst being published after the present application was filed, are WO 97/08497 and FR 273 8054. Microwave ovens are one of the most useful kitchen appliances, and much research and development have been devoted to the fabrication of microwave ovens with good performance and energy-saving design. Common-type microwave ovens have a single cooking chamber with one space in it, and the cooking chamber is designed big enough to contain the maximum amount of food that can be cooked in it at one time. Thus, even in the case of cooking a small amount of food, the high-frequency microwaves are unnecessarily emitted to the entire space of the cooking chamber, which results in energy dissipation. Particularly, when different kinds of food are cooked with a conventional microwave oven, the frequency in use of the microwave oven is inevitably increased according to the number of foodstuffs to be cooked. Accordingly, if the cooking chamber's extra space that is not necessary for cooking a small amount of food can be reduced, the consumption of microwave energy can be decreased in proportion to the extra space which is reduced. Further, in the case that a cooking chamber is divided into a plurality of cooking compartments, more than one kind of foodstuff can be simultaneously cooked in the separate compartments of the cooking chamber. When it comes to dividing the cooking chamber into several spaces, this can be easily applied to a showering-type microwave oven in which a stirrer serves to disperse high-frequency microwaves. The division of the cooking chamber (Figure 6), however, is not adequate to a turntable-type microwave oven with a tray 2 on which foodstuffs are placed for cooking, rotating on its axis to disperse microwaves. In other words, the showering-type microwave oven has a partition provided to a predetermined part of its cooking chamber to make high-frequency microwaves be radiated in different directions inside the cooking chamber. On the contrary, the turntable-type microwave oven requires a secondary device for turning the tray in its cooking chamber in order to allow the dispersion of microwaves. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microwave oven with a cooking chamber whose interior can be divided into a plurality of cooking compartments corresponding to the number of foodstuffs to be cooked at the same time. It is another object of the present invention to provide a microwave oven in which high-frequency microwaves used for fast cooking are dispersed by the rotation of a tray provided to each one of separated cooking compartments. In order to achieve the above objects and advantages in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a microwave oven includes a main body; a cooking chamber provided in the main body; a first tray placed on the bottom of the main body to be turned by an electric motor; and a plurality of partitions detachably provided to the cooking chamber to divide this chamber into a plurality of cooking compartments. The inventive microwave oven also includes second trays rotatably placed on the respective upper parts of the partitions; and a plurality of driving members driven by another electric motor in order to make the second trays rotate. The respective driving members come in rolling contact with each one of said second trays or the second tray is meshed with the driving member. The driving member is formed of a rubber roller to come into contact with an outer circumference of the second tray, and a rubber band is provided on the outer circumference of the second tray. The driving member is formed of a spur gear, and comes into contact with the outer circumference of the second tray. A ball is interposed between each partition and each second tray. Besides, a pair of upper and lower tracks may be respectively formed on the bottom of the second tray and the upper surface of the partition. A plurality of rotating rollers are disposed on each one of the partitions. A plurality of the partitions are horizontally provided in the cooking chamber, maintaining space from each other. The inventive microwave oven further includes a plurality of guide grooves formed on both inner sidewalls of the cooking chamber into which each partition is slidably inserted. Instead of the guide grooves, a plurality of projections may be formed on both inner sidewalls of the cooking chamber over which each partition is slidably mounted, in parallel with the bottom of the cooking chamber. By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a microwave oven with a cooking chamber whose interior is varied in shape according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a microwave oven in which a partition and a tray of Figure I are being disassembled from the chambers; Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the microwave oven of Figure 1 in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4A is an enlarged sectional view of a rotation supporting member of the tray in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4B is an enlarged sectional view of a rotation supporting member of the tray in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5A is an enlarged perspective view of a driving member for turning the tray in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5B is an enlarged perspective view of a driving member for turning the tray in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a microwave oven with a cooking chamber which is designed according to a conventional art. Attention is first invited to Figure 1 which illustrates a perspective view of a microwave oven with a cooking chamber whose interior is varied in shape according to the present invention. A cooking chamber 10 which is opened and closed by a door 11 includes at least one partition 20 which may horizontally divide the interior of the cooking chamber 10 into at most three cooking compartments to be in parallel to a bottom surface 12 of the cooking chamber 10. The partition 20 is held by supporting means formed on both inner sidewalls of the cooking chamber 10. The cooking compartments of the cooking chamber 10 may be varied in size with the position of the partition 20. The supporting means are formed on several spots of the inner sidewalls in order to enlarge the range of choice when it comes to mounting the partition 20. The supporting means are formed on the left and right inner sidewalls to be oppositely disposed respective of each other, and it is preferable that they are guide grooves 21 into which both sides of the partition 20 can be slidably inserted, but it is possible to form projections or rails as supporting means so as to put the partition 20 over the projections or rails. In the case that the partition 20 is a common-type plate, it is adequate for a showering-type microwave oven in which high frequency microwaves are dispersed by the rotation of a stirrer. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a microwave oven in which there is a partition 20 and a tray 30, the partition and the tray being shown separated from each other. As shown in Figure 2, the disk-shaped tray 30 is rotatably placed on the upper surface of the partition 20, and a spindle 31 is formed to pass through the centre of the tray 30 and acts as the centre of rotation of the tray 30, while serving to settle it. A ball bearing 32A is interposed between the tray 30 and the partition 20, as shown in Figure 4A. Driving members 40A and 40B are provided on the rear wall W of the cooking chamber 10 in order to rotate the tray 30, which is depicted in Figures 5A and 5B. A track 32U or an upper concavity is formed on the bottom of the tray 30, and a track 32L, a lower concavity, is formed on the upper surface of the partition 20 in order to prevent the ball bearing 32A from coming out of the space between the tray 30 and the partition 20 when the tray 30 rotates around the spindle 31. Turning to Figure 4B depicting a rotation supporting member of the tray in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a roller 32B is rotatably disposed on the upper surface of the partition 20, and a track 23T, an upper concavity, is formed on the bottom of the tray 30 to correspond to the roller 32B. The driving member 40 of Figure 5A consists of a spur gear 40A connected with a driving shaft 42 so that the tray 30 can rotate as the spur gear 40A turns. The spur gear 40A for increasing frictional force between the outer circumference of the tray 30 and the gear 40A. In the meantime, the driving member 40 of Figure 5B is formed of a rubber roller 40B, and a rubber band 30B is provided on the outer circumference of the tray 30 to come in frictional contact with the rubber roller 40B's outer circumference. The respective driving members 40A and 40B are provided to several parts of the driving shaft 42, and each driving member 40A and 40B is positioned to meet the side walls of the tray 30 turning on the partition 20 inserted into the guide grooves or put over the projections in such a manner that wherever the partition 20 having the tray 30 is mounted, at least one of the driving members 40A and 40B can come in contact with the outer circumference of the tray 30 so as to transmit rotating force to the tray 30. Accordingly, when the partition 20 is not being used in the cooking chamber 10 of the present invention, foodstuffs to be cooked are put on a lower tray 13 which is rotatably placed on the bottom 12 of the cooking chamber 10. In case that the amount of food is small, the partition 20 is installed in the cooking chamber 10 to divide its interior into relatively small compartments prior to cooking, and to cook the food in one of the cooking compartments, which provides the efficient use of the cooking space of the microwave oven, and enhances the efficiency of microwave dispersion. Besides, the installation of the partition 20 within the cooking chamber 10, may secure two cooking compartments for the inventive microwave oven, and therefore, it is possible to cook different kinds of foodstuffs such as meat, fish, vegetables, etc. at the same time by the use of the inventive microwave oven. Accordingly, the inventive microwave oven ensures a decrease in the time required for cooking several dishes. The cooking chamber 10 of the present invention includes a plurality of the supporting means for stably holding the partition 20 on the left and right inner sidewalls, and the size of the cooking space inside the cooking chamber 10 may be varied according to the amount of foodstuffs to be cooked. As discussed above, the microwave oven of the present invention has an advantageous aspect of cooking function by providing the cooking chamber that may be divided into a plurality of cooking compartments or adjustable to the amount of food to be cooked. Thus, the present invention allows a plurality of dishes to be cooked in the separated cooking compartments at the same time so that the time required for cooking can be reduced. In other words, the inventive microwave oven is of time and energy-saving construction. Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Claims: A microwave oven comprising : a main body; a cooking chamber formed in the main body; a first tray placed on the bottom of the main body to be turned by a motor; at least one partition detachably provided in the cooking chamber to divide said chamber into a plurality of cooking compartments; at least one second tray rotatably placed on the upper part of the partition; and driving means driven by a motor in order to make the second tray rotate; characterised by : there being separate electric motors, one to turn the first tray and one to turn the second tray. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 1, wherein respective driving members come in rolling contact with each one of said second trays. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 2, wherein a driving member is formed as a resilient roller to come into contact with an outer circumference of the respective second tray. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 3, wherein an elastic band is provided to the outer circumference of the respective second tray. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 1, wherein each second tray is geared to its respective driving member. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 5, wherein the driving member is formed as a spur gear, and comes into contact with the outer circumference of the respective second tray. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 6, wherein the outer circumference of the respective second tray is provided with a spur gear. A microwave oven as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a ball is interposed between each partition and each second tray. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 8, wherein a pair of tracks are respectively formed on the bottom of the second tray and the upper surface of the partition. A microwave oven as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of rotating rollers are disposed on each one of said partitions. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 10, wherein a track is formed on the bottom of each second tray. A microwave oven as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein a plurality of the partitions are horizontally placed in the cooking chamber, maintaining spacing from each other. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of grooves formed on both inner sidewalls of the cooking chamber into which each partition is slidably inserted. A microwave oven as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of projections formed on both inner sidewalls of the cooking chamber over which each partition is slidably mounted in parallel with the bottom of the cooking chamber.

Inventors: KIM JE MYUNG, KIM, JE MYUNG
Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H05B6
IPC codes: F24C7, H05B6