Microwave oven with bar code scanner

• US 7,404,519 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Sei Ill
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US11/131,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/462.43, 235/462.45, 235/472.01, 219/714, 219/506
• US Class Current: 235/462.13
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6441 allowing the input of coded operation instructions, e.g. bar code reader

Abstract

A microwave oven including: a control panel; a scanner guide in the control panel; a scanner drawable into the scanner guide and pushable out of the scanner guide; and a driving section drawing the scanner into and pushing the scanner out of the scanner guide. The bar code scanner reads a bar code when in the scanner guide and when out of the scanner guide.

Claims

1. A microwave oven comprising:

a body;

a control panel;

a bar code scanner removably installed in the body and reading a bar code; and

a driving section moving the bar code scanner forward and rearward a specified distance so as to respectively draw out and draw in the bar code scanner with respect to the control panel.

2. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein the driving section includes:

a forwardly and reversely rotating motor including a driving shaft; and

a driving gear rotated by the driving shaft, and

wherein the bar code scanner includes a gear member engaging the driving gear.

3. The microwave oven according to claim 2, wherein the gear member engages an electric wire cover connected to an end of the bar code scanner and connecting the bar code scanner to the body.

4. A microwave oven comprising:

a body;

a control panel; and

a bar code scanner removably installed in the body and reading a bar code,

wherein the bar code scanner includes;

a body of bar code scanner in which the light emitting device and a light receiving device are installed; and

a head coupled to a front end of the body of bar code scanner, and

wherein the head is obliquely coupled to the body, and an angle of the head is changed by rotation so as to change the scanning angle of the light by rotating about a central axis of the body of bar code scanner.

5. The microwave oven according to claim 4, wherein the bar code scanner includes a reflective mirror installed in the bar code scanner and changing the scanning angle of the light by changing the angle of the reflective mirror by rotating the head.

6. The microwave oven according to claim 5, wherein the reflective mirror is hinged to an inside of the head.

7. A microwave oven comprising:

a control panel;

a scanner guide in the control panel;

a scanner drawable into the scanner guide and pushable out of the scanner guide; and

a driving section drawing the scanner into and pushing the scanner out of the scanner guide,

wherein the bar code scanner reads a bar code when in the scanner guide and when out of the scanner guide.

8. The microwave oven of claim 7, wherein the scanner guide extends toward a rear of the control panel, and includes a blocking jaw at a rear thereof restricting travel of the scanner when the scanner is drawn into the scanner guide.

9. The microwave oven of claim 7, wherein the driving section includes:

a forwardly and reversibly rotating motor having a driving shaft; and

a driving gear coupled to the motor and rotated by the driving shaft.

10. The microwave oven of claim 9, wherein the scanner includes a wire cover extending from a rear thereof, the wire cover having external threads which engage the driving gear.

11. The microwave oven of claim 10, wherein, when the driving gear is rotated in a first direction, the electric wire cover moves forwardly so as to push the scanner out of the scanner guide a specified distance, and, when the driving gear is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the electric wire cover moves rearward so as to draw the scanner into the scanner guide.