Patent ID: 6878914

Claim:
A timer for use in a microwave oven, having a time control shaft setting a cooking time, a timer motor rotating the time control shaft by a plurality of gears, a power control shaft controlling an output power level during the cooking time and controlling an auxiliary power switch to supply electric power to a magnetron in response to the output power level, a control gear shaft spaced apart from the time control shaft having a shaft part and a control gear, at least one intermediate gear disposed between the power control shaft and the control gear of the control gear shaft to connect the power control shaft to the control gear shaft, a power control cam inserted around the shaft part of the control gear shaft to move along the control gear shaft and selectively turn on and off the auxiliary power switch, the power control cam rotating by the timer motor, and an actuating lever contacting the power control cam to rotate to a predetermined rotating angle according to the power control cam and selectively turning on and off the auxiliary power switch, the timer comprising: a pushing unit movably installed adjacent to a side of the power control cam and pushing the power control cam to disconnect the actuating lever from the power control cam and keep the auxiliary power switch on when the output power level of the magnetron of the microwave oven is set to a maximum power level using the power control shaft, the pushing unit having an extension extending toward the intermediate gear; and a compressing projection formed on the intermediate gear to control the extension of the pushing unit to move the power control cam.