초록 ▼

A cooking apparatus and a method of controlling the cooking apparatus allow a temperature distribution of hot air to be uniform in a cooking cavity so that food in the cooking cavity is uniformly cooked, and enables initial heating of the air in the cooking cavity to be rapidly accomplished so that

A cooking apparatus and a method of controlling the cooking apparatus allow a temperature distribution of hot air to be uniform in a cooking cavity so that food in the cooking cavity is uniformly cooked, and enables initial heating of the air in the cooking cavity to be rapidly accomplished so that a cooking time is reduced. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity, and first and second convection modules. The cooking cavity cooks food contained therein. The first convection module heats air in the cooking cavity and circulates the heated air. The second convection module is placed to be opposite to the first convection module so as to heat the air and circulate the heated air.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity to cook food contained therein; a first convection module to heat air in the cooking cavity and to circulate the heated air; and a second convection module placed to be substantially opposite to the first convection module so

What is claimed is: 1. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity to cook food contained therein; a first convection module to heat air in the cooking cavity and to circulate the heated air; and a second convection module placed to be substantially opposite to the first convection module so as to heat the air in the cooking cavity and to circulate the heated air. 2. The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the first convection module comprises a centrifugal fan to draw the air in the cooking cavity through a center portion thereof and to discharge the drawn air back into the cooking cavity through an outer portion thereof; and the second convection module comprises an axial-flow fan to draw the air in the cooking cavity through an outer portion thereof and to discharge the drawn air back into the cooking cavity through a center portion thereof. 3. The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a rotating shaft of the centrifugal fan of the first convection module and a rotating shaft of the axial-flow fan of the second convection module, wherein the rotating shafts are substantially aligned with each other. 4. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity to cook food contained therein; a first convection module to heat air in the cooking cavity and to circulate the heated air; and a second convection module opposite to and substantially vertically offset from the first convection module to heat the air and circulate the heated air. 5. The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: the first convection module comprises a first centrifugal fan to draw the air in the cooking cavity through a center portion thereof and to discharge the drawn air back into the cooking cavity through an outer portion thereof; and the second convection module comprises a second centrifugal fan to draw the air in the cooking cavity through an outer portion thereof and to discharge the drawn air back into the cooking cavity through a center portion thereof. 6. The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein a part of the outer portion of the first convection module and a part of the center portion of the second convection module are aligned with each other. 7. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity to cook food contained therein; a first convection module to heat air in the cooking cavity and to circulate the heated air; and a second convection module opposite to and substantially horizontally offset from the first convection module to heat the air and circulate the heated air. 8. The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein: the first convection module comprises a first centrifugal fan to draw the air in the cooking cavity through a center portion thereof and to discharge the drawn air back into the cooking cavity through an outer portion thereof; and the second convection module comprises a second centrifugal fan to draw the air in the cooking cavity through a center portion thereof and to discharge the drawn air back into the cooking cavity through an outer portion thereof. 9. The cooking apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein a part of the outer portion of the first convection module and a part of the center portion of the second convection module are aligned with each other. 10. A method of controlling a cooking apparatus, the cooking apparatus having a cooking cavity to cook food contained therein, a first convection module to heat air in the cooking cavity and to circulate the heated air, and a second convection module placed to be opposite to the first convection module so as to heat the air in the cooking cavity and to circulate the heated air, comprising: heating the air in the cooking cavity, circulating the heated air using the first and second convection modules in a convection-cooking mode; and stopping the first and second convection modules if a predetermined first cooking time has elapsed. 11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the heating comprises continuously operating all the first and second convection modules. 12. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the heating comprises alternately operating the first and second convection modules. 13. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising cooking food using microwaves if the predetermined first cooking time has elapsed. 14. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising stopping one of the first and second convection modules during the cooking using microwaves. 15. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity to cook food contained therein; a first convection module provided at a first side of the cooking cavity to heat air in the cooking cavity and to circulate the heated air; and a second convection module provided at a second side of the cooking cavity to reheat the air, which is heated and circulated by the first convection module, and to re-circulate the reheated air. 16. The cooking apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first convection module comprises: a first convection fan to circulate the air; a first fan motor to operate the first convection fan; and a first heater to heat the air. 17. The cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first convection fan is a centrifugal fan to draw the air in the cooking cavity into the first convection module through a central portion of the first convection fan, and to discharge the heated air through an outer portion of the fan into the cooking cavity. 18. The cooking apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a first cover member between the cooking cavity and the first convection module. 19. The cooking apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: an air inlet to draw the air into the first convection module from the cooking cavity; and an air outlet to discharge the air from the first convection module to the cooking cavity. 20. The cooking apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second convection module comprises: a second convection fan to circulate the air; a second fan motor to operate the second convection fan; and a second heater to heat the air. 21. The cooking apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the second convection fan is an axial flow fan to draw the air in the cooking cavity into the second convection module through an outer portion of the convection fan, and to discharge the heated air through a central portion of the fan into the cooking cavity. 22. The cooking apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a second cover member between the cooking cavity and the second convection module. 23. The cooking apparatus according to claim, 22, further comprising: an air inlet to draw the air into the second convection module from the cooking cavity; and an air outlet to discharge the air from the second convection module to the cooking cavity. 24. The cooking apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first and second convection modules continue to heat and re-circulate the air in the cooking cavity in supplementary draw and discharge processes. 25. The cooking apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the supplementary draw and discharge processes maintain a uniform temperature distribution of the air in the cooking cavity. 26. The cooking apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first and second convection modules are vertically offset from each other. 27. The cooking apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising: an air outlet of the second convection module to discharge the air into the cooking cavity; and an air inlet of the first convection module to draw the air into the first convection module from the cooking cavity, wherein part of the air outlet of the second convection module is aligned with a part of the air inlet of the first convection module. 28. The cooking apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first and second convection modules are horizontally offset from each other. 29. The cooking apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: an air outlet of the second convection module to discharge the air into the cooking cavity; and an air inlet of the first convection module to draw the air into the first convection module from the cooking cavity, wherein a part of the air outlet of the second convection module is aligned with a part of the air inlet of the first convection module. 30. A method of heating a cooking cavity, of which a cooking mode having a predetermined cooking time has been selected, comprising: drawing air from the cooking cavity into a first module provided at a first side of the cooking cavity; heating and discharging the air into the cooking cavity; drawing the heated air from the cooking cavity into a second module provided at a second side of the cooking cavity; reheating and discharging the air into the cooking cavity; subsequently drawing, heating, and discharging the air by the first and second modules; and stopping the subsequent drawing, heating, and discharging the air if the predetermined cooking time is elapsed. 31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising operating a magnetron to cooperate with one of the first and second modules. 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the first and second modules are alternately operated.