COOKING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20070251936A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: NAM, Hyeun Sik, CHO, Seong Ho, NAM, Young Sok, LEE, Yong Soo
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/413
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/166 with integrated heating means

Abstract

A cooking apparatus includes a housing including a cooking chamber, a heating unit detachably mounted in the housing, and a power connection portion for connecting the heating unit to an external power source. The heating unit can heat food when the heating unit is located in the housing, and the heating unit can independently heat food when the heating unit is removed from the housing.

Claims

1. A cooking apparatus comprising:

a housing including a cooking chamber;

a heating unit detachably mounted in the housing; and

a power connection portion for connecting the heating unit to an external power source,

wherein the heating unit can heat food when the heating unit is located in the housing, and the heating unit can independently heat food when the heating unit is removed from the housing.

2. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating unit includes a plurality of electrodes which are not in contact with one another and are configured to be brought into contact with the food.

3. The cooking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the heating unit further includes electrode supporting members that support the plurality of electrodes.

4. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating unit further includes a container configured to hold foreign matter formed during cooking of food.

5. The cooking apparatus of claim 2, wherein each electrode includes electrode pins arranged at predetermined intervals and an electrode body connecting the electrode pins.

6. The cooking apparatus of claim 4, wherein the heating unit further includes a guide that guides foreign matter from the food to the container.

7. The cooking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the heating unit further includes:

fastening projections provided on the electrodes or the electrode supporting members, and

fastening holes provided in the other of the electrodes or the electrode supporting members, and corresponding to the fastening projections.

8. The cooking apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a transformer for varying power to the electrodes according to the type of food to be heated.

9. The cooking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power connection portion includes:

a socket connected to the plurality of electrodes, and

a socket cover for preventing foreign matter from accumulating on the socket.

10. The cooking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power connection portion includes:

an electrode terminal extended from each of the electrodes, and

an intermediate connection member for connecting the electrode terminal to the external power source.

11. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating unit includes;

a heater configured to heat the food, and

a heater support that supports the heater.

12. The cooking apparatus of claim 11, wherein the heating unit further includes a grill provided on the heater support for supporting the food thereon.

13. The cooking apparatus of claim 11, wherein the heating unit further includes a container located under the heater support for holding foreign matter formed during cooking of the food.

14. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rack for supporting the heating unit in the cooking chamber, and a rack supporting member that supports the rack.

15. The cooking apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least some of the plurality of electrodes form an exterior of a cooking container in which the food is placed.

16. The cooking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrodes have one side forming a portion of an inside of the cooking container, and another side forming a portion of an outside of the cooking container.

17. The cooking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electrodes are passed through a container wall from the inside to the outside of the container.

18. The cooking apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a controller that controls a direction of current flow through the food in the cooking container.

19. A cooking apparatus comprising:

a movable heating unit having a plurality of electrodes configured to heat an object to be cooked using the resistance of the object; and

a power connection portion for supplying power from an external power source to the electrodes.

20. A method for controlling a cooking apparatus comprising:

detachably mounting a heating unit in a housing of the cooking apparatus, the heating unit including a plurality of electrodes which are not in contact with one another; and

controlling a direction of current flow through food placed between the electrodes.