Cooking appliance

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a lamp module that includes a double insulation structure and a cooling structure, thus being usable even in a high temperature condition, and a cooking appliance including the same. The cooking appliance includes a cooking compartment, a cooling fan disposed at an upper portion of the cooking compartment to suction outside air, and a lamp module configured to illuminate an inside of the cooking compartment and disposed adjacent to the cooling fan to exchange heat with the outside air suctioned by the cooling fan.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance comprising: a cooking compartment; a plurality of cooling fans disposed at an upper part of the cooking compartment and configured to suction outside air into the cooking appliance and discharge the suctioned air out of the cooking appliance to thereby form a plurality of air flow paths including an airflow path formed between the plurality of cooling fans; and a lamp assembly configured to illuminate an inside of the cooking compartment, and the lamp assembly disposed on one or more of the plurality of air flow paths so that the lamp assembly exchanges heat generated by the lamp assembly with the suctioned air, wherein the lamp assembly including: a case having: an opening disposed at a bottom part of the case; an air suction hole disposed at both side parts of the case, respectively, and configured to suction the outside air into the case by the plurality of cooling fans; and an air exhaust hole disposed at a rear part of the case and configured to discharge the suctioned air suctioned through the air suction hole by the plurality of cooling fans; and a light emitting diode (LED) lamp coupled to the case, configured to illuminate the inside of the cooking compartment by radiating light toward the cooking compartment, and being cooled by exchanging the heat with the suctioned air.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the lamp assembly further includes a plurality of glasses configured to insulate the LED lamp in multiple layers from hot air inside the cooking compartment.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein: the plurality of glasses include a first glass, and a second glass that is placed above the first glass; and the first glass includes an etching glass configured to disperse light radiated from the LED lamp.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 3, wherein the second glass is disposed to cover the opening of the case.

5. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the lamp assembly further includes a sealing member couplable to the second glass and the case to thereby couple the second glass to the case and seal a space between the opening of the case and the second glass.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the LED lamp is disposed at a front of the case to prevent light radiated from the LED lamp from exiting through the air exhaust hole.

7. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the case further includes at least one bracket so that the case is couplable to an upper surface of the cooking compartment.

8. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cooling fans respectively includes: a suction hole disposed at both side surfaces of the cooling fan to suction the air; and a discharge hole disposed at a rear surface of the cooling fan to discharge the suctioned air.

9. The cooking appliance of claim 8, wherein the lamp assembly is disposed in front of the plurality of cooling fans so that the outside air suctioned by the plurality of cooling fans to pass through the lamp assembly and then be suctioned into the discharge holes of the plurality of cooling fans.

10. The cooking appliance of claim 1, further comprising a heater disposed at an upper surface of the cooking compartment to heat an object to be cooked inside the cooking compartment.

11. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the lamp assembly is above and in front of the heater to reduce hot air being transferred to the lamp assembly.

12. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the cooking compartment includes a first cooking compartment and a second cooking compartment that is placed above the first cooking compartment.

13. A cooking appliance comprising: a cooking compartment; a heater disposed inside the cooking compartment to heat an object to be cooked; and a lamp assembly including: a case having: an opening disposed at a bottom part thereof; an air suction hole disposed at both side parts of the case, respectively, and configured to suction outside air into the case; and an air exhaust hole disposed at a rear part of the case and configured to discharge the suctioned air suctioned through the air suction hole; a light emitting diode (LED) lamp coupled to the case, configured to illuminate an inside of the cooking compartment by radiating light toward the opening of the case, and the LED lamp being cooled by exchanging heat with the suctioned air; and a plurality of glasses configured to insulate the LED lamp in multiple layers from hot air inside the cooking compartment, wherein the LED lamp includes one or more engaging holes and the case further includes a LED lamp insertion opening disposed at a side part of the case so that the LED lamp is inserted into the LED lamp insertion opening to align the one or more engaging holes with the one or more coupling holes to couple the LED lamp to the case.

14. The cooking appliance of claim 13, wherein: the plurality of glasses include a first glass and a second glass that is placed above the first glass; and the first glass includes an etching glass configured to disperse light radiated from the LED lamp.

15. The cooking appliance of claim 13, wherein the case is configured to accommodate the LED lamp therein.

16. The cooking appliance of claim 15, wherein the LED lamp is disposed at a front of the case to prevent light radiated from the LED lamp from exiting through the air exhaust hole.

17. A lamp assembly comprising: a case having an opening disposed at a bottom part thereof, an air suction hole disposed at both side parts of the case, respectively, one or more coupling holes, and configured to suction outside air into the case, and an air exhaust hole disposed at a rear part of the case and configured to discharge the air suctioned through the air suction hole; a light emitting diode (LED) lamp coupled to the case, configured to radiate light toward the opening of the case, the LED lamp being cooled by exchanging heat with the suctioned air; and a plurality of glasses configured to cover the opening and insulate the LED lamp in multiple layers, wherein the LED lamp includes one or more engaging holes and the case further includes a LED lamp insertion opening disposed at one of the side part of the case so that the LED lamp is inserted into the LED lamp insertion opening to align the one or more engaging holes with the one or more coupling holes to couple the LED lamp to the case.

18. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the LED lamp includes one or more engaging holes and the case further includes a LED lamp insertion opening disposed at one of the side part of the case so that the LED lamp is inserted into the LED lamp insertion opening to align the one or more engaging holes with the one or more coupling holes to couple the LED lamp to the case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view illustrating dispositions of a cooling fan and a lamp module in the cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4 is a view illustrating dispositions of a heater and the lamp module in the cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an upper surface of the cooking compartment at which a lamp mounting portion including a plurality of holes is disposed in the cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

(7) FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an exterior of the lamp module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

(8) FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lamp module illustrated in FIG. 6; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the lamp module illustrated in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(11) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

(12) FIG. 3 is a view illustrating dispositions of a cooling fan and a lamp module in the cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 4 is a view illustrating dispositions of a heater and the lamp module in the cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an upper surface of the cooking compartment at which a lamp mounting portion including a plurality of holes is disposed in the cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

(13) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cooking appliance 1 may be installed inside a wall or a cabinet C to have a sense of integration with a kitchen space.

(14) For example, the cabinet C for the cooking appliance 1 to be installed therein may have an open front surface, and the cooking appliance 1 may be accommodated in an inner seating portion S of the cabinet C through the open portion.

(15) The cooking appliance 1 may include a first cavity 10 and a second cavity 20 provided for cooking food and a control panel 30 in which various electric components are installed.

(16) The first cavity 10 and the second cavity 20 may be vertically stacked and disposed. Although a case in which the first cavity 10 is disposed at an upper portion of the second cavity 20 is illustrated as an example in the embodiment of the present disclosure, dispositions of the first cavity 10 and the second cavity 20 are not limited thereto.

(17) The first cavity 10 may include a first cooking compartment 12, and the second cavity 20 may include a second cooking compartment 22.

(18) A heater 60 (see FIG. 4) may be disposed at an upper portion of the first cooking compartment 12. The heater 60 may be configured to heat an inside of the first cooking compartment 12 using radiant heat. The heater 60 may be an electric heater using electricity.

(19) A convection device (not illustrated) may be disposed in the second cavity 20. The convection device is disposed to heat and circulate air inside the cooking compartment to cook food inside the cooking compartment separate from the heater. Preferably, at least one or more convection devices are installed at a rear surface of the second cavity 20. The convection device may be installed in the first cavity as well as the second cavity.

(20) Each of the first cavity 10 and the second cavity 20 may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an open front surface. The first cavity 10 and the second cavity 20 may respectively include doors 11 and 21 configured to selectively open and close the open front surfaces thereof. The doors 11 and 21 may include a first door 11 configured to open and close the first cavity 10 and a second door 21 configured to open and close the second cavity 20. The doors 11 and 21 may respectively include handles 11a and 21a for a user to grasp the handles 11a and 21a and easily open and close the doors 11 and 21.

(21) The control panel 30 may be placed above and in front of the first cavity 10 to receive an operation signal for operations of the first cavity 10 and the second cavity 20. The control panel 30 may be configured to display information related to the operations of the first cavity 10 and the second cavity 20. An electronic component room (not illustrated) for a plurality of electronic components to be installed therein may be disposed behind the control panel 30.

(22) A suction hole 41 configured to suction outside air may be formed between the control panel 30 and the first cavity 10. The suction hole 41 may be formed at a front portion between the control panel 30 and the first cavity 10.

(23) Although not illustrated, a magnetron configured to supply high frequency waves to an inside of the first cavity 10 or the second cavity 20, and a high-pressure transformer, a high-pressure condenser, a high-pressure diode, and the like constituting a driver circuit configured to drive the magnetron may be installed inside the electronic component room (not illustrated) of the cavities 10 and 20 at which the control panel 30 is installed. According to the present embodiment, although the above-mentioned elements for supplying high frequency waves are configured to provide high frequency waves to the inside of the first cooking compartment 12, embodiments are not limited thereto, and the elements may also supply high frequency waves to an inside of the second cooking compartment 22.

(24) The electronic component room (not illustrated) may be disposed at an upper portion of the first cavity 10. At least one or more cooling fans 50 may be disposed in the electronic component room (not illustrated). As illustrated in FIG. 3, two cooling fans 50 disposed in parallel to each other may be disposed in the electronic component room.

(25) The cooling fan 50 may suction outside air through a first suction hole 51 and a second suction hole 52 disposed at both side surfaces thereof. Here, the outside air suctioned through the suction holes 51 and 52 may cool various electronic components inside the electronic component room.

(26) The cooling fan 50 may include a discharge hole 53 disposed at a rear surface thereof. When a cooling motor (not illustrated) of the cooling fan 50 is operated, outside air may be suctioned through the suction holes 51 and 52 as described above and then discharged through the discharge hole 53.

(27) A lamp module 100 may be disposed on an air flow path formed by the cooling fan 50. In this way, the lamp module 100 may be cooled by outside air suctioned by the cooling fan 50.

(28) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lamp module 100 may be disposed in front of the cooling fan 50. More specifically, the lamp module 100 may be disposed adjacent to the second suction hole 52 to be cooled by outside air suctioned by the cooling fan 50. In this way, outside air passes through the lamp module 100 before being suctioned into the second suction hole 52, and the lamp module 100 is cooled by the outside air. Consequently, temperature of the lamp module 100 is decreased. As will be described below, the lamp module 100 includes an LED 111 as a light source thereof, and the LED 111 has advantages in terms of superior power consumption, service life, and illuminance in comparison to a halogen lamp. However, because the LED 111 is able to operate only in a lower temperature condition in comparison to a halogen lamp, there may be difficulty in applying the LED 111 to a space in a high temperature condition such as an upper portion of the cooking compartment. According to the idea of the present disclosure, the lamp module 100 including the LED 111 may be disposed adjacent to the cooling fan 50 and be effectively cooled by outside air. Accordingly, the temperature of the lamp module 100 may be lowered, and the lamp module 100 including the LED 111 may be installed even in a space in a high temperature condition such as the upper portion of the cooking compartment.

(29) Although the lamp module 100 is disposed beside the second suction hole 52 in the present embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, embodiments are not limited thereto. That is, the lamp module 100 may also be disposed in front of the first suction hole 51, in front of the second suction hole 52, and beside the first suction hole 51.

(30) The lamp module 100 may also be disposed behind the cooling fan 50. Although an example in which the lamp module 100 is disposed in front of the cooling fan 50 is illustrated in FIG. 3, unlike this, the lamp module 100 may be disposed behind the discharge hole 53. In this way, the lamp module 100 may be cooled by outside air discharged from the discharge hole 53. Because outside air suctioned through the first suction hole 51 and outside air suctioned through the second suction hole 52 are combined and discharged through the discharge hole 53, the lamp module 100 may be more effectively cooled in comparison to a case in which the lamp module 100 is cooled by any one of the first suction hole 51 and the second suction hole 52. This is because, due to the amount of outside air discharged through the discharge hole 53 being larger than the amount of outside air suctioned into any one of the first suction hole 51 and the second suction hole 52, the amount of heat exchange between the lamp module 100 and outside air is increased.

(31) As illustrated in FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater 60 may be disposed at an upper portion of the first cooking compartment 12. As described above, the heater 60 may transfer radiant heat and heat the inside of the first cooking compartment 12. The radiant heat radiated from the heater 60 may also be transferred to the lamp module 100 disposed adjacent to the heater 60 in addition to the first cooking compartment 12.

(32) The lamp module 100 may include the LED 111 that is relatively vulnerable to high temperature, and the lamp module 100 may be disposed outside and above the first cooking compartment 12. The heater 60 may be disposed inside and above the first cooking compartment 12. That is, the lamp module 100 and the heater 60 may be placed above and below each other with an upper surface of the first cooking compartment 12 disposed therebetween.

(33) The lamp module 100 may be disposed in front of an area 61 in which the heater 60 is disposed. In this way, the amount of radiant heat transferred to the lamp module 100 may be reduced in comparison to a case in which the lamp module 100 is disposed on the area 61 in which the heater 60 is disposed. In other words, the amount of radiant heat transferred to the lamp module 100 when the lamp module 100 is disposed on the area 61 heated by the heater 60 is extremely larger than the amount of radiant heat transferred to the lamp module 100 when the lamp module 100 is not disposed on the area 61 heated by the heater 60. Consequently, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the lamp module 100 may not be disposed in the area 61 in which the heater is disposed. The lamp module 100 may be disposed in front of the area 61 in which the heater is disposed. By such a disposition, the lamp module 100 may be relatively prevented from being heated by the heater 60, and the maximum temperature of the lamp module 100 may be lowered. That is, a temperature condition at which the LED 111 is usable may be satisfied.

(34) As illustrated in FIG. 5, a lamp mounting portion 13 may be disposed at the upper surface of the first cooking compartment 12. The lamp mounting portion 13 may include a plurality of holes having a small size. The plurality of holes having a small size are disposed to allow light radiated from the lamp module 100 to pass therethrough while preventing high frequency waves inside the first cooking compartment 12 from passing therethrough.

(35) However, when light radiated from the LED 111 passes through the lamp mounting portion 13, because light radiated from the LED 111 has high linearity due to a characteristic of the LED 111, a shadow may be formed inside the first cooking compartment 12. That is, shadows corresponding to the plurality of holes disposed in the lamp mounting portion may be formed inside the first cooking compartment 12. When the shadow is formed in this way, the inside of the cooking compartment may not be evenly illuminated, and user convenience may be lowered. Also, emotional quality of the cooking appliance may be degraded.

(36) To solve this, the lamp module 100 according to the idea of the present disclosure may include an etching glass 120 (see FIG. 6). The etching glass 120 may be configured to disperse light radiated from the LED 111. The light radiated from the LED 111 may be dispersed through the etching glass 120, and in this way, a shadow may be prevented from being formed inside the first cooking compartment 12 even when the light passes through the lamp mounting portion 13. The disposition of the etching glass 120 will be described below.

(37) FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an exterior of the lamp module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lamp module illustrated in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the lamp module illustrated in FIG. 6.

(38) Hereinafter, the lamp module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

(39) The lamp module 100 may include a case 140, an LED lamp 110 including a plurality of LEDs 111, and a plurality of glasses configured to insulate the LED lamp 110 from hot air outside the case 140 in multiple layers.

(40) The case 140 may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having one open surface. The case 140 may include an air suction hole 141 configured to suction outside air and an air exhaust hole 142 configured to discharge the outside air suctioned through the air suction hole 141.

(41) The air suction hole 141 may be disposed at both side surfaces (141a and 141b) of the case 140, and the air exhaust hole 142 may be disposed at a rear surface of the case 140.

(42) Because the case 140 does not include a separate configuration such as a motor configured to suction outside air, the air suction hole 141 and the air exhaust hole 142 may serve as a movement path of outside air suctioned by the cooling fan 50. Specifically, outside air to be suctioned by the cooling fan 50 may pass through the lamp module 100 disposed in front of the cooling fan 50 and then be suctioned into the cooling fan 50. Here, outside air may be introduced into the case 140 through the air suction hole 141 and be discharged to the outside of the case 140 through the air exhaust hole 142. The LED 111 disposed inside the case 140 may be efficiently cooled by such an air flow. By cooling the LED 111, a temperature condition for the LED 111 may be satisfied.

(43) The LED lamp 110 may include a plurality of LEDs 111 spaced apart from each other. The LED lamp 110 may include an engaging hole 112 disposed to correspond to a coupling hole 145 of the case 140. According to the present embodiment, the LED lamp 110 may be formed in a stick shape and include six LEDs 111 disposed in a longitudinal direction of the LED lamp 110. A first engaging hole 112a and a second engaging hole 112b may be disposed between the LEDs 111. However, the shape of the LED lamp 110 and the number of LEDs 111 are not limited and may be changed depending on the design specifications.

(44) As illustrated in FIG. 6, the LED lamp 110 may be disposed in front of the case 140. This is to prevent light radiated from the LED 111 from exiting through the air exhaust hole 142 disposed behind the case 140. That is, by decreasing the amount of light exiting through the air exhaust hole 142, the illuminance inside the first cooking compartment 12 may be increased.

(45) The lamp module 100 may include the plurality of glasses configured to insulate the LED lamp 110 from hot air outside the case 140 in multiple layers.

(46) The plurality of glasses may include a first glass 120 and a second glass 130. The first glass and the second glass, i.e., the two glasses, are merely an example, and the plurality of glasses may include three or more glasses.

(47) The first glass 120 and the second glass 130 may be placed above and below each other. Hereinafter, a glass placed below the other glass will be referred to as the first glass, and the glass placed above the first glass will be referred to as a second glass.

(48) The first glass 120 may be configured to disperse light emitted from the LED 111. As described above, because light emitted from the LED 111 has high linearity, such a characteristic may be mitigated by the light passing through the first glass 120. The first glass 120 may be an etching glass that is appropriate for dispersing light. The etching glass may refer to a glass that is etched using various methods.

(49) The first glass 120 may be disposed at an upper portion of the lamp mounting portion 13. That is, the first glass 120 may be disposed at an upper portion of the plurality of holes formed in the lamp mounting portion 13 and cover the plurality of holes. In this way, light that passed through the first glass 120, which is an etching glass, may pass through the plurality of holes formed in the lamp mounting portion 13. Also, because light radiated from the LED 111 passes through the etching glass, a shadow is not formed inside the first cooking compartment 12 even when the light passes through the lamp mounting portion 13.

(50) The second glass 130 may be disposed to cover the open surface of the case 140. The second glass 130 may be smaller than the open surface of the case 140. Consequently, the open surface of the case 140 may not be completely covered by the second glass 130.

(51) The lamp module 100 may include a sealing member 150 coupled to the second glass 130 and configured to seal the open surface of the case 140.

(52) The sealing member 150 may be coupled to the second glass 130. The sealing member 150 may include an opening 151, a rib protruding upward from the opening 151, and a glass insertion groove 152 formed at the rib.

(53) An edge of the second glass 130 may be inserted into the glass insertion groove 152. The second glass 130 may be inserted into the glass insertion groove 152 and cover the opening 151 of the sealing member 150.

(54) The sealing member 150 coupled to the second glass 130 may be coupled to the open surface of the case 140. The sealing member 150 may seal a space between the second glass 130 and the open surface of the case 140. In this way, hot air outside the case 140 may be prevented from being introduced into the case 140 through the open surface of the case 140. The temperature inside the case 140 may be lowered, and the temperature condition for the LED 111 disposed inside the case 140 may be satisfied.

(55) The case 140 in which the second glass 130 and the sealing member 150 are coupled may be disposed at an upper portion of the first glass 120. In this way, the second glass 130 may be disposed at an upper portion of the first glass 120 with a predetermined space therebetween. By the first glass 120 and the second glass 130 being placed above and below each other, hot air generated from below the case 140 may be insulated in double layers. By including such a double insulation structure, the lamp module 100 of the present disclosure may satisfy the temperature condition for the LED 111.

(56) According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the lamp module 100 may include a single glass. In this case, the lamp module 100 may include a single tempered glass instead of the plurality of glasses. Here, the tempered glass may be etched to disperse light radiated from the LED 111. That is, according to the present embodiment, the lamp module 100 may include a single sheet of tempered glass that is etched.

(57) The sealing member 150 may be formed of a flexible material. For example, the sealing member 150 may be formed of a rubber material. As the sealing member 150 is formed of a flexible material, the second glass 130, which is highly brittle, may be easily fitted and coupled to the glass insertion groove 152 of the sealing member 150. The sealing member 150 may be easily fitted and coupled to the case 140.

(58) The case 140 may further include a bracket unit 143 configured to be coupled to the upper surface of the first cooking compartment 12. The bracket unit 143 may be disposed at both side surfaces (143a and 143b) of the case 140. According to the present embodiment, the bracket unit 143 may be formed by bending the both side surfaces of the case 140 in a process of forming the air suction hole 141. The bracket unit 143 may include a bracket hole 144 (144a and 144b). An engaging member (not illustrated) may be engaged to the bracket hole 144, and the case 140 may be coupled to the first cooking compartment 12.

(59) The case 140 may further include the coupling hole 145 disposed in an upper surface thereof. The coupling hole 145 may be disposed to correspond to the engaging hole 112 disposed in the LED lamp 110. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the engaging hole 112 and the coupling hole 145 (145a and 145b) may be disposed at positions corresponding to each other. Although not illustrated in the drawings, the engaging member may be inserted into the engaging hole 112 and the coupling hole 145 to couple the LED lamp 110 to the case 140.

(60) As is apparent from the above description, according to the idea of the present disclosure, a lamp module including a light emitting diode (LED) lamp and a cooking appliance including the same can be provided.

(61) According to the idea of the present disclosure, a lamp module that satisfies a temperature condition for an LED to operate and a cooking appliance including the same can be provided.

(62) According to the idea of the present disclosure, a lamp module, which uses an LED but does not cause a shadow to be formed inside a cooking compartment, and a cooking appliance including the same can be provided.

(63) Particular embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments, and one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains should be able to modify and practice the present disclosure in various other ways without departing from the gist of the technical idea of the disclosure defined in the claims below.