Title: Mounting structures for a high-frequency heating apparatus
Abstract: A high-frequency heating apparatus includes a magnetron (1), a magnetron holding plate (2), a waveguide (3), a heating chamber (4), and screws (5), and the magnetron (1) is attached to the magnetron holding plate (2) with two screws. Hereby, attachment of the magnetron is facilitated, speed-up of the manufacturing process of the high-frequency heating apparatus can be realized, and production efficiency can be improved. Further, in the breakdown repair requiring exchange of the magnetron, working time can be also reduced, so that service to customers can be also improved.
Patent Number: 6,906,301 Issued on 06/14/2005 to Yamaguchi
| Inventors:
|
Yamaguchi; Takahide (Kashiba, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Ltd. (Osaka, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
354701 |
| Filed:
|
January 30, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Jan 31, 2002[JP] | P. 2002-023034 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
219/761; 219/756 |
| Intern'l Class: |
H05B 006/80 |
| Field of Search: |
219/761,756,746,748
315/395.1
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4701586 | Oct., 1987 | Hagberg.
| |
| 5391964 | Feb., 1995 | Lim.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 9-145062 | Jun., 1997 | JP.
| |
| 2001-0057061 | Jul., 2001 | KR.
| |
| 2002-0007545 | Jan., 2002 | KR.
| |
Primary Examiner: Leung; Philip H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pearne & Gordon LLP
Claims
1. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit including a first attachment flange, a second
attachment flange, and a third attachment flange;
a heating chamber;
at most two screws;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate including a first side, a second side, and a first hole and
a second hole both through said first side to said second side,
wherein said high-frequency generating unit is attached to the first side of
said holding plate and wherein said first attachment flange engages said holding
plate through said first hole, said third attachment flange engages said holding
plate through said second hole, and further wherein said second attachment flange
is attached to said first side of said holding plate using at least one of said
at most two screws.
2. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit including a first attachment flange and a second
attachment flange;
a heating chamber;
at most two screws;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate including a first side, a second side, and a first hole and
a second hole both through said first side to said second side, wherein
said high-frequency generating unit is attached to the first side of said holding
plate and wherein said first attachment flange engages said holding plate through
said first hole, and further wherein said second attachment flange is attached
to said first side of said holding plate using at least one of said at most two
screws, wherein said holding plate comprises a rotary guide which allows said high-frequency
generating unit to turn the high-frequency generating unit with a predetermined
locus.
3. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said high-frequency
generating unit is turned about a point on said first attachment flange.
4. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit including a first attachment flange and a second
attachment flange;
a heating chamber;
at most two screws;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate including a first side, a second side, and a first hole and
a second hole both through said first side to said second side, wherein
said holding plate comprises a claw provided in the vicinity of the hole into
which the first attachment flange is inserted to hold the high-frequency generating
unit.
5. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit including a first attachment flange and a second
attachment flange;
a heating chamber;
at most two screws;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate including a first side, a second side, and a first hole and
a second hole both through said first side to said second side, wherein
the holding plate comprises a drawn portion larger than the area of the first
attachment flange, and the depth of the drawn portion is smaller than the thickness
of the first attachment flange.
6. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit including a first attachment flange and a second
attachment flange;
a heating chamber;
at most two screws;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate including a first side, a second side, and a first hole and
a second hole both through said first side to said second side, wherein
said holding plate further includes a second hole, and wherein
said high-frequency generating unit further includes a second attachment flange,
a third attachment flange, and a fourth attachment flange, and
wherein said third attachment flange engages said second hole such that said
third attachment flange is substantially adjacent to said second side of said holding
plate, and wherein
said second and fourth attachment flanges are each attached to the holding plate
with one of the at most two screws.
7. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said holding
plate comprises a rotary guide provided between the holes and projecting from the
holding plate to allow said high-frequency generating unit to turn the high-frequency
generating unit with a predetermined locus.
8. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein a flange hole is provided in each of said first and third attachment
flanges, and
wherein said holding plate comprises claws provided in the vicinity of the first
and second holes of the holding plate respectively, and the claws are respectively
inserted into the first and second holes.
9. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the claws
are provided on a surface of the holding plate at a side of the holes, the surface
is opposite to a surface where the high-frequency generating unit is provided,
and claws project from the surface.
10. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the holding
plate comprises a drawn portion larger than the area of the first and third attachment
flanges, and the depth of the drawn portion is smaller than the thickness of the
first and third attachment flanges.
11. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the drawn
portion is provided to include an area where a part of one or both of the holes
is provided.
12. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit including a first attachment flange having a
first flange hole, a second attachment flange, and a third attachment flange having
a third flange hole;
a heating chamber;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to said waveguide,
said holding plate having a first hole, a second hole, a first claw associated
with said first hole, and a second claw associated with said second hole, wherein
said high-frequency generating unit is attached to said holding plate with said
first attachment flange engaging said first hole and said first claw engaging said
first flange hole and said third attachment flange engaging said second hole and
said second claw engaging said third flange hole, and further wherein
said second attachment flange is attached to said holding plate using a connecting
component.
13. The high-frequency heating apparatus of claim 12, wherein said connecting
component is a screw.
14. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said
holding plate further includes a rotary guide which allows said high-frequency
generating unit to turn the high-frequency generating unit with a predetermined locus.
15. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said
holding plate further includes a drawn portion larger than the area of the first
and third attachment flanges, and wherein the depth of the drawn portion is smaller
than the thickness of the first and third attachment flanges, and further wherein
said claws are integrated with said drawn portion.
16. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit having an attachment flange;
a heating chamber;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate having a hole and a rotary guide in the vicinity of the hole
which allows said high-frequency generating unit to turn the high-frequency generating
unit about a predetermined locus,
wherein said high-frequency generating unit is attached to the holding plate
with at most two screws and with said attachment flange engaging through said first
hole.
17. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit having an attachment flange;
a heating chamber;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate having a hole and a rotary guide in the vicinity of the hole
which allows said high-frequency generating unit to turn the high-frequency generating
unit about a predetermined locus, wherein
said high-frequency generating unit is attached to the holding plate with at
most two screws and with said attachment flange engaging said first hole, and
wherein said holding plate includes a claw provided in the vicinity of the hole
with which a flange hole in said attachment flange is engaged to hold the high-frequency
generating unit.
18. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit having an attachment flange;
a heating chamber;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber; and
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate having a hole and a rotary guide in the vicinity of the hole
which allows said high-frequency generating unit to turn the high-frequency generating
unit about a predetermined locus, wherein
said high-frequency generating unit is attached to the holding plate with at
most two screws and with said attachment flange engaging said first hole, and wherein
the holding plate includes a drawn portion larger than the area of the attachment
flange, and the depth of the drawn portion is smaller than the thickness of the
attachment flange.
19. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit having first, second, third and fourth attachment
flanges;
a heating chamber;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber;
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate including a first side and a second side, and also including
a first hole through said holding plate from said first side to said second side,
a second hole through said holding plate from said first side to said second side;
and
exactly two screws for attaching said waveguide to said first side of said holding
plate, wherein
said first flange engages said holding plate through said first hole to said
second side, and said third flange engages said holding plate through said second
hole to said second side, and wherein
each of said second and fourth attachment flanges are attached to said first
side by using one of said exactly two screws, respectively.
20. The high-frequency heating apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said
holding plate includes a first claw provided in the vicinity of the first hole
and a second claw provided the vicinity of the second hole, and wherein said first
and third attachment flanges each have a flange hole for engaging said first and
second claws, respectively.
21. A high-frequency heating apparatus comprising:
a high-frequency generating unit including:
first attachment flange having a first flange hole;
a second attachment flange having a second flange hole;
a third attachment flange having a third flange hole, and
a fourth attachment flange having a fourth flange hole;
a heating chamber;
a waveguide which guides high-frequency waves generating from said high-frequency
generating unit to said heating chamber;
a holding plate for fixing said high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
said holding plate including a first hole through said holding plate and a second
hole through said holding plate, and also including a drawn portion forming a first
claw in the vicinity of said first hole and a second claw in the vicinity of said
second hole; and
exactly two screws for attaching said waveguide to said holding plate, wherein
said first flange engages said first hole with said first claw engaging said
first flange hole, and said third flange engages said second hole with said second
claw engaging said third flange hole, and wherein
each of said second and fourth attachment flanges are attached to said first
side by using one of said exactly two screws through said second and fourth flange
holes, respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a high-frequency heating apparatus capable of rationalizing
magnetron-attaching work in a manufacturing process of a high-frequency heating
apparatus so that a high-speed manufacturing line of the high-frequency heating
apparatus is made possible, and capable of readily performing magnetron-exchanging
work at an end user's home, so that a repairing time is reduced and improvement
of service to customers can be performed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to prevent leakage of high-frequency waves from a joint between a magnetron
and a magnetron holding plate or a joint between a magnetron and a waveguide, in
a high-frequency heating apparatus, the magnetron is attached onto the magnetron
holding plate with three or four screws so that the magnetron can stand against
vibration and shock produced at the goods conveying time.
A general high-frequency heating apparatus is shown in FIG.
6.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral
1 indicates a magnetron,
2 indicates
a magnetron holding plate,
3 indicates a waveguide,
4 indicates a
heating chamber wall, and
5 indicates a screw. The waveguide
3 and
the magnetron holding plate
2, and the waveguide
3 and the heating
chamber wall
4 are joined by welding or caulking. An antenna la of the magnetron
1 is inserted into a hole
3a of the waveguide
3 horizontally
and thereafter four or three screws
5 are tighten to attach the magnetron
1.
However, under the above apparatus, in a manufacturing process of the high-frequency
heating apparatus, it is necessary for a worker attaching the magnetron
1
to continuously perform the steps of inserting the antenna
1a of
the magnetron
1 into the hole
3a of the waveguide
3
horizontally and attaching the magnetron
1 with four or three screws
5
while holding the magnetron
1 so that the magnetron
1 does not slip
from the magnetron holding plate
2. This work must be performed by one worker
in order to prevent positional slippage of the magnetron
1 and to prevent
the slippage between the magnetron
1 and screw holes of the magnetron holding
plate
2 when the screws
5 are tightened, so that its work cannot
correspond to rationalization and speed-up of a manufacturing process. Further,
the work of inserting the antenna
1a of the magnetron
1 into
the hole
3a of the waveguide
3 horizontally requires concentration
power of the worker. Further, if the worker erroneously hits the antenna
1a
of the magnetron
1 on the surroundings of the hole
3a of
the waveguide
3 when he inserts it, oscillation frequency of the magnetron
1 varies, so that the magnetron
1 becomes bad.
When the apparatus breaks down, a service man visits a home of a customer who
is an end user to repair the apparatus. However, the number of customers who have
limited at-home time such as a worker in double harness and a worker apart from
his family is recently increasing. Therefore, though the repair at customer's home
requires the short repairing time, the exchange or repair of the magnetron cannot
be performed in the short time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, an object of the invention is to provide
a high-frequency heating apparatus which rationalizes an attachment method of a
magnetron, performs speed-up of a manufacturing process and reduction of repair
and exchange time of the magnetron, and realizes error reduction of the magnetron
in the manufacturing process.
According to the first aspect of the invention, a high-frequency heating
apparatus of the invention includes a high-frequency generating unit, a heating
chamber into which food is stored, a waveguide that guides high-frequency waves
generating from the high-frequency generating unit to the heating chamber, and
a holding plate for fixing the high-frequency generating unit to the waveguide,
and further is so constituted that the high-frequency generating unit is attached
to the holding plate with at most two screws. Hereby, attachment of the high-frequency
generating unit is facilitated, speed-up of the manufacturing process of the high-frequency
heating apparatus can be realized, and production efficiency can be improved. Further,
in the breakdown repair, working time can be also reduced, so that service can
be improved.
According to the second aspect of the invention, one side of attachment
flanges of the high-frequency generating unit according to the first aspect is
inserted into holes provided for the holding plate, and the other side thereof
is attached to the holding plate with the at most two screws. Hereby, the relative
position between the screws becomes close, and operation of work necessary to tighten
the screws becomes small. Therefore, the time is reduced and simultaneously physical
load on the worker can be reduced. Further, since the attachment flanges of the
high-frequency generating unit are inserted to and held by the holding plate, the
high-frequency generating unit can be fixed to the holding plate more strongly
than a case where the high-frequency generating unit is attached to the holding
plate with four screws. Therefore, there can be allowances of strength in relation
to vibration and shock produced at the goods conveying time. In result, packing
material including foaming polystyrol and corrugated cardboards can be miniaturized
or thinned, and saving of resources and cost-reduction can be attempted.
According to the third aspect of the invention, a rotary guide is provided
for the holding plate according to the second aspect. When the high-frequency generating
unit is turned about the attachment flanges of the high-frequency generating unit
inserted into the holding plate along the rotary guide, the high-frequency generating
unit can be positioned to the holding plate with a regular locus. Hereby, without
fear that the antenna is damaged erroneously, the high-frequency generating unit
can be attached, and error reduction of the high-frequency generating unit and
stabilization of quality of the high-frequency heating apparatus can be realized.
Further, since there is no fear that the antenna is damaged, the speed of the work
of positioning the high-frequency generating unit is improved, and the speed-up
of the manufacturing process can be realized.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, claws for holding the
high-frequency generating unit are provided in the vicinity of the holes of the
holding plate into which the attachment flanges of the high-frequency generating
unit are inserted, whereby even if a worker releases his hold of the high-frequency
generating unit before tightening the screw during the attachment work of the high-frequency
generating unit, the high-frequency generating unit does not fall down but is held.
Therefore, the worker can perform the screw tightening work with his both hands,
so that it is possible to reduce the time necessary to attach the high-frequency
generating unit. Further, since the high-frequency generating unit does not fall
down if the screw is not tightened, the attachment work of the high-frequency generating
unit may be performed by a worker who positions the high-frequency generating unit
to the holding plate and a worker who performs the screw-tightening work. Hereby,
since the amount of work per person can be reduced, speed-up of the manufacturing
process can be realized.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the holding plate according
to the second aspect has a drawn portion larger than the area of the attachment
flanges of the high-frequency generating unit inserted into the holding plate,
and the depth of the drawn portion is smaller than the thickness of the inserted
attachment flange of the high-frequency generating unit. Hereby, a joint between
the high-frequency generating unit and the holding plate or a joint between the
high-frequency generating unit and the waveguide becomes strong, and leakage of
high-frequency waves from the joint can be prevented equivalently to or more than
the case of the attachment of the related art by only screw tightening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an assembly diagram for magnetron attachment in a first embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the magnetron in the first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a magnetron holding plate in a second embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a locus diagram of a magnetron attaching operation in the second embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view of a magnetron holding plate in a third
embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 6 is an assembly diagram for magnetron attachment in a general high-frequency
heating apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an assembly diagram for attaching a high-frequency generating unit
of a high-frequency heating apparatus in a first embodiment of the invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral
4 indicates a heating chamber wall onto which
a waveguide
3 indicates attached by welding or caulking, and further a magnetron
holding plate
2 indicates attached to the waveguide
3 similarly by
welding or caulking. For the magnetron holding plate
2, holes
2a
for inserting attachment flanges
1b of the magnetron
1
provided as a high-frequency generating unit are provided.
Regarding the thus constituted magnetron holding plate, its operation and
working will be described below.
Firstly, the attachment flanges
1b of the magnetron
1
are inserted into the holes
2 of the magnetron holding plate
2, and
the magnetron
1 is turned up and down about the inserted attachment flanges
1b to insert an antenna
1a of the magnetron
1
into a hole
3a of the waveguide
3. Thereafter, two screws
5 are tightened to the flanges on the opposite side to the inserted attachment
flanges
1b of the magnetron
1.
As described above, in this embodiment, the number of the screws
5 used
for attaching the magnetron
1 is reduced from the conventional three or
four screws to two screws, whereby the working time necessary to attach the magnetron
1 is reduced, physical load onto a worker can be reduced by speed-up of
a manufacturing process and reduction of the working amount, and service to customers
can be improved by reduction of the magnetron exchanging time in the breakdown repair.
Further, in the embodiment, two holes
2a are provided for
the magnetron holding plate
2. Since the attachment flanges
1b
of the magnetron
1 are inserted to their holes
2a, the
magnetron can be fixed to the magnetron holding plate more strongly than a case
where the magnetron is attached to the magnetron holding plate with four screws.
Therefore, there can be allowances of strength in relation to vibration and shock.
In result, packing material including foaming polystyrol and corrugated cardboards
can be miniaturized or thinned, and saving of resources and cost-reduction can
be attempted.
Further, positions at which the screws
5 are tightened may be sides
of the attachment flanges
1b of the magnetron
1 adjoining
to each other one by one as shown in FIG. 2, not on the opposite side to the inserted
side of the attachment flanges
1b of the magnetron
1 as shown
in FIG.
1. In this case, the similar effect to that in the foregoing can
be obtained.
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a magnetron holding plate
2 in a second
embodiment of the invention, and this embodiment is different from the first embodiment
in that a rotary guide
2b is provided for the magnetron holding plate
2. Since the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have
the same structure, their explanation are omitted.
Firstly, attachment flanges
1b of a magnetron
1 are
inserted into holes
2a of the magnetron holding plate
2. Thereafter,
when the magnetron
1 is pushed against the rotary guide
2b and
turned along the shape of the rotary guide
2b, it is positioned to
the magnetron holding plate
2 with a regular locus.
As described above, in the embodiment, since the rotary guide
2b is
provided for the magnetron holding plate
2, the magnetron
1 draws
a regular locus as shown in FIG. 4 when it is attached. Therefore, without fear
that an antenna la of the magnetron
1 is erroneously hit against the waveguide
3 and damaged, error reduction of the magnetron and stabilization of quality
of the high-frequency heating apparatus can be realized. Further, in FIG. 3 showing
this embodiment, the number of the rotary guide
2b is one. However,
even if plural guides are provided, the similar effect can be obtained.
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view of a magnetron holding plate
2
in a third embodiment of the invention.
In FIG. 5, this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that claws
2d holding a magnetron
1 are provided for upper sides of holes
2a of the magnetron holding plate
2. Since the same reference
numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same structure, their explanation
are omitted.
Firstly, attachment flanges
1b of the magnetron
1 are
inserted into the holes
2a of the magnetron holding plate
2.
For the attachment flanges
1b of the magnetron
1, holes
1c
such as screw holes used for tightening screws in the conventional constitution
are provided. Their holes
1c are passed through the claws
2d
of the magnetron holding plate
2, whereby even if a worker releases
his hold of the magnetron
1 before tightening the screws
5 during
the magnetron attachment work, the magnetron
1 does not fall down but is
held. Therefore, the worker can perform the screw tightening work with his both
hands, so that it is possible to reduce the time necessary to attach the magnetron
1. Further, since the magnetron
1 does not fall down even if the
crew is not tightened, the magnetron attachment work may be performed by a worker
who positions the magnetron
1 to the magnetron holding plate
2 and
a worker who performs the screw tightening work. Hereby, since the amount of work
per person can be reduced, speed-up of the manufacturing process can be realized.
Further, in this embodiment, there is provided a drawn portion
2c
larger than the area of the attachment flanges
1b of the magnetron
1 inserted into the magnetron holding plate
2, and the depth of the
drawn portion
2c is smaller than the thickness of the inserted attachment
flange
1b of the magnetron
1. Hereby, a joint between the
magnetron
1 and the magnetron holding plate
2 or a joint between
the magnetron
1 and the waveguide
3 becomes strong, and leakage of
high-frequency waves from the joint can be prevented equivalently to or more than
the case of the conventional magnetron attachment by only screw tightening.
As described above, according to the invention, by rationalizing the attachment
method of the magnetron, speed-up of the manufacturing process and reduction of
repair and exchange time of the magnetron can be performed, and further error reduction
of the magnetron in the manufacturing process can be realized.
*
