KR20060119445A - Microwave Oven with UV Sterilization Room - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microwave oven having an ultraviolet sterilization chamber which reduces manufacturing costs and increases space utilization by using a UV LED and a photocatalyst.

The present invention, the outer case and the appearance; A cavity for forming a cooking chamber in the out case; An electrical equipment room in which various electronic components are installed; A sterilization chamber coated with a photocatalyst therein; Provided is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber configured to include an ultraviolet light emitting unit for irradiating ultraviolet rays into the sterilization chamber.

Description

Microwave Oven with Microwave Sterilization Room {Microwave Oven having the UV Sterilization Room}

1 is a front view briefly showing a microwave oven according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the main portion of the microwave oven of FIG.

3 is a side sectional view showing a main portion of a microwave oven according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a front view briefly showing a microwave oven according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

10: out case 11: door

12: control panel 13: sterilization chamber door

20: cavity 30: battlefield

31: magnetron 31: high voltage transformer

130: sterilization chamber 131: sterilization chamber case

132: UV LED

The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and more particularly to a microwave oven having an ultraviolet sterilization chamber.

In general, a microwave oven (MWO) is a device that irradiates electromagnetic waves to food and heats them, and electromagnetic waves of high frequency (approximately 2450 MHz per second) generated by applying high voltage power from the magnetron, which is a high frequency oscillation tube, disturb the water molecules inside the food. It is operated on the principle that the outside and inside of the food are rapidly heated at the same time by frictional heat between the water molecules generated by vibrating.

The microwave oven is used only for cooking general foods simply because it operates to apply a high frequency to a cooking object and heats it.

However, in recent years, in order to increase the utilization of space, a product having a complex function capable of performing various functions together, rather than a product that performs only one role of the home appliance, has been researched.

Among them, a microwave oven with a function capable of sterilization / deodorization is proposed by irradiating ultraviolet rays to food using a sterilizing action of ultraviolet rays.

At this time, the microwave oven with the sterilization function is provided with an ultraviolet lamp for emitting ultraviolet rays in the 250 ~ 260nm wavelength strong sterilization effect for the sterilization action.

However, the microwave oven in which the above-described conventional ultraviolet lamp is installed has the following problems.

First, ultraviolet rays of 250 260 nm wavelength emitted from the ultraviolet lamp are harmful to eyes and skin.

Secondly, since the lamp, parts such as a lamp, a light tube, a ballast, a reflector and a lamp cover and a holder must be installed together, the number of parts is complicated, the structure is complicated, and the space constraint is large, so the space utilization is low. However, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost rises.

Third, the amount of power consumed by the ultraviolet lamp is large, a lot of electricity bills, and when the life of the expensive ultraviolet lamp reaches the end of life, there is a problem that a lot of maintenance costs.

Fourth, since the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp is not evenly irradiated to the food and the sterilization effect is lowered as the distance from the ultraviolet lamp to the food is farther away, the sterilization efficiency decreases and the time required for sterilization is long. There is this.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber to increase the sterilization effect and increase the space utilization by irradiating UV LED to the sterilization chamber coated with a photocatalyst. .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, the outer case; A cavity for forming a cooking chamber in the out case; An electrical equipment room in which various electronic components are installed; A sterilization chamber coated with a photocatalyst therein; Provided is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber configured to include an ultraviolet light emitting unit for irradiating ultraviolet rays into the sterilization chamber.

The ultraviolet light emitting unit preferably uses a UV LED that emits ultraviolet light of 380 ~ 400nm wavelength.

In addition, the photocatalyst uses TiO 2 (Anatase crystalline form).

In addition, at least one ultraviolet light emitting unit may be installed on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the sterilization chamber.

In addition, the sterilization chamber forms a separate space separate from the cavity, and in particular, may be installed in the electrical equipment room.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention that can specifically realize the above object will be described.

1 and 2, a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The microwave oven includes an outer case 10 forming an outer appearance, a cavity 20 forming a cooking chamber in the outer case 10, an electrical cabinet 30 in which various electric components are installed, and the cavity 20. ) Is formed as a separate space and consists of a sterilization chamber 130 for sterilization / deodorization of the food.

The front of the outer case 10 is rotatably coupled to the door 11 for opening and closing the cavity 20, and one side of the door 11 for the user to perform various operations for the operation of the microwave oven The control panel 12 is provided.

Various electrical components for generating high frequency are installed in the electric chamber 30, and a magnetron 31 for generating a high frequency and a high voltage transformer 32 for applying a high voltage to the magnetron 31 are typically installed. It is.

The sterilization chamber 130 includes a case 131 which forms a space in which sterilization is performed and has a photocatalyst coated therein, and an ultraviolet light emitting unit 132 irradiating ultraviolet rays into the case 131.

At this time, the sterilization chamber 130 is installed in the front space in the interior of the electrical equipment room 30, is installed so as not to interfere with various components of the electrical equipment room 30, the interior of the electrical equipment room (30) It is preferably formed in the shape of a cuboid to correspond to the shape of the space.

Alternatively, the sterilization chamber case 131 may be understood to be formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter corresponding to the size of the electric chamber 30.

In addition, the front of the outer case 10 is provided with a sterilization chamber door 13 for opening and closing the upper chamber 130.

The ultraviolet light emitting unit is a ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV LED) 132 emitting ultraviolet rays in the wavelength range of 380 to 400 nm.

This is because the photocatalyst coated in the sterilization chamber 130 is coated with a photocatalyst having TiO2 as a main component, because the photocatalyst is actively excited when light of 387.5 nm wavelength is irradiated.

In addition, the UV LED 132 is installed one UV LED 132 in the center of the upper surface of the case 131, so that the UV LED 132 can be evenly irradiated inside the sterilization chamber 130, each of the four corners of the lower surface UV LEDs 132 may be installed.

At this time, in order to prevent the ultraviolet rays emitted from the UV LED 132 at the bottom of the sterilization chamber 130 to interfere with the food as much as possible, a plurality of UV LED 132 is installed below the sterilization chamber 130 desirable.

On the other hand, it is also possible to install one at each of the four corners of the upper surface of the case 131, or to install the UV LED 132 at two corners corresponding to each other.

Alternatively, the UV LED 132 may be installed at a predetermined interval in the middle portion of the side wall surface of the sterilization chamber 130.

Accordingly, when the food to be sterilized is put into the sterilization chamber 130 and power is applied, ultraviolet rays are emitted from the UV LED 132.

At this time, the photocatalyst coated inside the sterilization chamber case 131 absorbs light energy and exhibits functions such as decomposition of harmful organic volatile compounds (VOCs), antibacterial and sterilization, deodorization, and self-cleaning.

Titanium dioxide (TiO ₂ [Anatase crystalline form]) is used as the photocatalyst, which is a positive electron (e-) and a positive (h) positive electron (h +) when subjected to ultraviolet rays. ) Is formed.

In particular, the photocatalyst component exhibits the best photoactivity in the ultraviolet of 387.5 nm wavelength.

Among them, the hole (h +) forms a particularly powerful hydroxide (OH Radical) and has a strong oxidizing power.

In addition, these reactions can completely decompose harmful organic pollutants, which are difficult to be decomposed by chlorine or ozone, to be harmless, and are harmless to organic hormones, water quality, and soil organic pollutants, which have a small amount but have a great effect on the environment. Effective for decomposition and removal into substances.

At this time, the UV LED 132 emits an ultraviolet ray of 380 ~ 400nm, the ultraviolet ray of 380 ~ 400nm is an ultraviolet ray of a harmless wavelength range that does not cause genetic modification or modification of the biological function in the human body.

Referring to FIG. 3, a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above.

However, in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment described above, the turntable 240 and the driving motor 241 are installed at the lower part of the sterilization chamber 230 so as to rotate the food.

The sterilization chamber 230 is installed in the electric field chamber 30 for generating high frequency, and the photocatalyst is coated inside the case 231.

In addition, a UV LED 232 for irradiating ultraviolet rays into the sterilization chamber 230 is installed in the center of the upper surface.

On the other hand, the ultraviolet rays are evenly irradiated to the inside of the sterilization chamber 230 to be installed on the lower surface to facilitate the action of the photocatalyst, but is installed to minimize interference with the turntable 240.

Therefore, when the food is put into the sterilization chamber 230 and operated, the turntable 240 operates and rotates, so that the food is evenly sterilized.

In addition, in the case of irregularly shaped foods, ultraviolet rays are prevented from interfering by the shape of the foods, thereby minimizing the degradation of the sterilization effect.

Referring to FIG. 4, a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The basic configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above.

However, in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment described above, the sterilization chamber 330 is formed on the right side to form a separate space from the cavity 20, the control panel (outside the sterilization chamber 330) 12) is formed.

The microwave oven is formed between an outer case 10 for forming an exterior, a cavity 20 for forming a cooking chamber, an electrical equipment chamber 30 in which various electronic components are installed, and the cavity 20 and the electrical equipment chamber 30. It consists of a sterilization chamber (330).

And, the front of the outer case 10 is provided with a door 11 for opening and closing the cavity 20, the sterilization chamber door 13 that can open and close the sterilization chamber 330 to one side of the door. Is installed, the control panel 12 is installed to the right of the sterilization chamber door (13).

Therefore, as the control panel 12 moves to the outside of the microwave oven, it is possible to secure sufficient space for arranging a button or a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and the like, and there is an aesthetic advantage.

In addition, in order to operate the control panel 12, a printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown) should be installed inside the control panel 12, and various electronic devices installed inside the PCB and the microwave oven. It is easy to exclude interference between and easy to connect with each electrical appliance.

In addition, the space of the sterilization chamber 330 and the space of the cavity 20 may be secured to the maximum.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and as can be seen in the appended claims, modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to the effect of the microwave oven equipped with the sterilization chamber according to the present invention described above are as follows.

First, UV LED is harmless to the human body because it emits ultraviolet rays of 380 ~ 400nm wavelength, and the effect of antibacterial, sterilization, deodorization, self-cleaning effect is high by using a photocatalyst.

Second, the antibacterial and sterilization action is shown throughout the sterilization chamber, rather than the sterilization depending on the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV LED, so that the sterilization efficiency is high and the time required is short.

Third, since the number of parts to be installed is less than the case of using the ultraviolet lamp can minimize the space constraint, the space utilization is high, the capacity of the sterilization chamber can be increased.

Fourth, UV LEDs require fewer parts to install than UV lamps, and are cheaper and have a longer lifespan, thus reducing manufacturing costs. UV LEDs have lower power consumption and are cheaper than UV lamps, resulting in lower maintenance costs. Has the effect of reducing.

Claims (11)

Appearance with out case; A cavity for forming a cooking chamber in the out case; An electrical equipment room in which various electronic components are installed; A sterilization chamber coated with a photocatalyst therein; Ultraviolet light emitting unit for irradiating ultraviolet rays into the sterilization chamber: Microwave oven having a sterilization chamber comprising a. The method of claim 1, The ultraviolet light emitting unit is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that the UV LED (UV LED). The method of claim 2, The UV LED is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that for emitting ultraviolet rays of 380 ~ 400nm wavelength. The method of claim 1, The sterilization chamber is provided with a sterilization chamber, characterized in that at least one ultraviolet light emitting unit is installed on the upper and lower surfaces of the sterilization chamber, respectively. The method of claim 4, wherein The sterilization chamber is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that at least one ultraviolet light emitting unit is installed at each of the center of the upper surface and at least one or more at the corner of the lower surface. The method of claim 1, The sterilization chamber is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that to form a separate space from the cavity, the interior of the electric chamber. The method of claim 1, The sterilization chamber is formed with a separate space from the cavity, the microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that formed on the opposite side to the position where the electric chamber is formed. The method of claim 1, The sterilization chamber is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that formed in a separate space between the cavity and the electrical equipment room. The method of claim 1, The sterilization chamber is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that formed in a square pillar shape. The method of claim 1, The photocatalyst is a microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that using TiO ₂ [Anatase crystalline form]. The method of claim 1, Microwave oven having a sterilization chamber, characterized in that the lower surface of the sterilization chamber is installed on the turntable and driving motor to put the food on the rotation.

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