Timer for microwave oven
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorHeung-Yi Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A timer for a microwave oven includes an actuating lever operating auxiliary power switch when pushed by a power control cam installed in a timer casing. A pushing unit is installed adjacent to the power control cam to move the power control cam up and down and pushes the power control cam so as to disconnect the actuating lever from the power control cam and hold the power switch on when a power level of the microwave oven is set to a maximum using a power control shaft. The pushing unit has a shaft part extending toward an intermediate gear disposed between the power contact shaft and the power cam. A compressing projection is provided on the intermediate gear pushing the shaft part of the pushing unit to move the power control cam.
Claims35
A timer for use in a microwave oven, having a time control shaft setting a cooking time, a timer motor rotating the time control shaft by a plurality of gears, a power control shaft controlling an output power level during the cooking time and controlling an auxiliary power switch to supply electric power to a magnetron in response to the output power level, a control gear shaft spaced apart from the time control shaft having a shaft part and a control gear, at least one intermediate gear disposed between the power control shaft and the control gear of the control gear shaft to connect the power control shaft to the control gear shaft, a power control cam inserted around the shaft part of the control gear shaft to move along the control gear shaft and selectively turn on and off the auxiliary power switch, the power control cam rotating by the timer motor, and an actuating lever contacting the power control cam to rotate to a predetermined rotating angle according to the power control cam and selectively turning on and off the auxiliary power switch, the timer comprising:
- a pushing unit movably installed adjacent to a side of the power control cam and pushing the power control cam to disconnect the actuating lever from the power control cam and keep the auxiliary power switch on when the output power level of the magnetron of the microwave oven is set to a maximum power level using the power control shaft, the pushing unit having an extension extending toward the intermediate gear;
- and
- a compressing projection formed on the intermediate gear to control the extension of the pushing unit to move the power control cam.
A timer in a microwave oven having a magnetron, comprising:
- a main power switch adapted to be coupled to an external power source;
- a timer control unit turning on the main power switch during a predetermined period of time;
- a power control shaft unit enabling a user to set a plurality of power levels of the magnetron during the predetermined period;
- an auxiliary power switch to activate a magnetron in response to one of the power levels;
- a control gear shaft unit intermittently turning on and off the auxiliary power switch in response to the power control shaft unit during the predetermined period;
- and
- a pushing unit disposed between the power control shaft unit and the control gear shaft unit to cause the control gear shaft unit to maintain the auxiliary power switch in an on state when the one of the power levels is a maximum power level set through the power control shaft and when the power control shaft unit contacts the pushing unit.
A timer in a microwave oven having a magnetron, comprising:
- a timer motor;
- a time control shaft to enable a user to set a predetermined period of time;
- a main power switch adapted to be coupled to an external power source;
- a timer control unit rotating by the timer motor and turning on the main power switch during the predetermined period;
- a power control shaft enabling a user to set a plurality of power levels of the magnetron;
- an auxiliary power switch adapted to activate the magnetron in response to one of the power levels;
- a control gear shaft rotating by the power control shaft and disposed at a predetermined position in response to the one of the power levels;
- a power control cam rotating by the timer motor and intermittently turning on and off the auxiliary power switch during the predetermined period when control gear shaft controls the power control cam;
- and
- a pushing unit disposed between the power control gear shaft and the power control cam to control the power control cam to move between a first state and a second state while rotating by the timer motor, the power control cam intermittently turning on and off the auxiliary power switch in the first state while being held to turn on the auxiliary power switch in the second state when the one of the power levels is a maximum power level.
A timer in a microwave oven having a magnetron, comprising:
- a timer casing unit comprising:
- a timer motor,
- a time control shaft disposed within the timer casing unit and extended toward an outside of the timer casing to enable a user to set a predetermined period of time,
- a main power switch adapted to be coupled to an external power source,
- a timer control unit rotating by the timer motor and turning on the main power switch during the predetermined period,
- a power control shaft unit disposed within the timer casing unit to enable the user to set a plurality of power levels of the magnetron,
- an auxiliary power switch adapted to activate the magnetron in response to one of the power levels,
- a control gear shaft rotating by the power control shaft and disposed at a predetermined position in response to the one of the power levels, and
- a power control cam rotating by the timer motor and intermittently turning on and off the auxiliary power switch during the predetermined period when the control gear shaft controls the power control cam;
- and
- a pushing unit disposed within the timer casing unit and between the control gear shaft and the power control cam to control the power control cam to move between a first state and a second state while rotating by the timer motor, the power control cam intermittently turning on and off the auxiliary power switch in the first state while being held to turn on the auxiliary power switch in the second state when the one of the power levels is a maximum power level.
A timer in a microwave oven, comprising:
- a timer casing unit comprising:
- a timer casing,
- a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole formed on the timer casing,
- a main power switch,
- a time control shaft unit disposed within the timer casing to turn on and off the main power switch and having a time control shaft protruding from the timer casing through the first hole to set a predetermined period of time,
- a power control shaft unit disposed outside the timer casing and setting a plurality of power levels,
- an auxiliary power switch, and
- a control gear shaft unit disposed within the timer casing to intermittently turn on and off the auxiliary power switch in response to one of the power levels during the predetermined period and having a control gear shaft protruding from the timer casing through the second hole to set on and off time of the auxiliary power switch;
- and
- a pushing unit disposed within the timer casing and between the control gear shaft unit and the power control shaft unit to control the control gear shaft unit in response to the power control shaft unit to intermittently turn on and off the auxiliary power switch, having an extension protruding from the timer casing through the third hole to communicate with the power control shaft unit, the pushing unit holding the power control shaft unit in response to the power control shaft unit to turn on the auxiliary power switch during the predetermined period when the one of the power level is a maximum power level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.