JP2005046347A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve design property by expressing feeling of material having feeling of transparency and feeling of depth at the outer shell of a rice cooker, to prevent deformation due to the heat of the rice cooker and to improve maintenance property in the case of a fault or an yield in assembling in the rice cooker having a panel at the outer shell of a rice cooker main body or a lid. <P>SOLUTION: A pot is housed in the rice cooker main body in an attachable and detachable manner, the pot is heated by a heating means, and the top surface of the rice cooker main body is covered with the lid 8 in an openable and closable manner. The outer shell of the rice cooker main body or the lid 8 has a panel 15 consisting of three layers obtained by integrally forming a transparent film layer 15a and a transparent material layer 15b decorated partially and integrally forming a colored material layer 15c on the side of the transparent material layer 15b. The transparent material layer 15b or the colored material layer 15c of the panel 15 have a pawl part 15g and a boss part 15h for a screw to be fixed to the rice cooker main body or the lid 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker having a panel on the outside of a rice cooker body or lid.

  Conventionally, the configuration of this type of device is as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the device shell 51 has a panel mounting portion 56 for mounting the panel 55 on its surface. The panel mounting portion 56 is provided with an operation portion operation hole 57 that the actuator 52a of the operation portion 52 faces and a pilot lamp hole 58 through which a pilot lamp 53 that displays corresponding to the operation passes.

The resin panel 55 is preliminarily formed integrally with the waterproof film 59 with a transparent material so that the light of the pilot lamp 53 can pass through. The operation unit 60 has only the waterproof film 59 without the resin of the panel 55. The waterproof film 59 is colored on the transparent material side so that the components inside the main body are not visible. In addition, the panel 55 is water-tightly adhered or adhered to the device shell 51 by the bonding portion 62 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-209849

  However, in such a conventional configuration, even if it is intended to express a transparent and depth-like texture in the device outline 51, only the thickness of the film can be expressed, and a transparent and depth-like texture is expressed in the device outline. It was difficult and the design was limited. Further, the panel 55 is easily deformed by heat during operation of the device. And, when removing the panel 55, it is necessary to remove the adhesive or the adhesive material, the maintainability at the time of failure of the built-in device is poor, and the yield at the time of assembly is also poor.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, improves the design by expressing a transparent and depth-like texture on the outer part of the equipment, prevents deformation of the equipment due to heat, and maintains maintainability and assembly in the event of failure. It aims to improve the yield of time.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention detachably stores a pan in the rice cooker body, heats the pan with heating means, and covers the upper surface of the rice cooker body with a lid so as to be opened and closed. The outer body of the rice cooker body or lid has a three-layer panel in which a transparent film layer and a transparent material layer, which are partially decorated, are integrally formed, and a colored material layer is integrally formed on the transparent material layer side. And the transparent material layer or colored material layer of a panel has a fitting part for fixing to a rice cooker main body or a cover body.

  This makes it possible to improve the design by expressing a transparent and depth-like texture on the outer part of the equipment, and further prevent the equipment from being deformed by heat, as well as improving the maintainability at the time of failure and the yield during assembly. be able to.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the outer body of the rice cooker body or the lid is formed by integrally forming the transparent film layer and the transparent material layer which are partially decorated, Since it has a panel consisting of three layers integrally formed with colored material layers on the layer side, and the transparent material layer or colored material layer of the panel has a fitting part for fixing to the rice cooker body or lid, It is possible to improve the design by expressing the texture with a sense of depth on the outline of the device, and further, it is possible to prevent the device from being deformed due to heat, and to improve the maintainability at the time of failure and the yield at the time of assembly.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the operation unit for operating the heating means is provided, the panel has an embossed part that is partially composed only of the transparent film layer, and the embossed part constitutes the operating part. In addition, since the decoration that covers the embossed part is applied to the transparent film layer, there is no step or groove, it is possible to provide an operation part that is easy to care for, and the operability of the operation part is improved by decoration. Can do.

  Moreover, according to invention of Claim 3, it has the display part which displays the state of a rice cooker main body, a panel has a transparent window comprised in the part without a colored material layer, and makes a display part a transparent window. Since it is provided, it is possible to provide a display portion that has no step or groove, is easy to care for, and has a wide display area.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the surface of the transparent window on the colored material layer side is subjected to minute unevenness processing, a deep lighting state can be expressed by the lighting display portion, and the lamp can be directly seen. Can be prevented, and the design can be improved.

  In addition, according to the invention described in claim 5, since the boundary surface between the transparent material layer and the colored material layer has an uneven portion, the transparency and depth can be expressed more three-dimensionally, and the design can be further improved. Can be improved.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a lid, a rice cooker main body that detachably stores the pan, a heating means that heats the pan, and a lid that covers the top surface of the rice cooker main body so as to be freely opened and closed. The outer body of the rice cooker main body or the lid body is integrally formed with a transparent film layer and a transparent material layer that are partially decorated, and a colored material layer is integrally formed on the transparent material layer side. A transparent material layer or a colored material layer of the panel has a fitting portion for fixing to the rice cooker body or the lid, and has a texture with a sense of transparency and depth. It is possible to improve the design by expressing it on the device outline, and further, it is possible to prevent the device from being deformed by heat, and to improve the maintainability at the time of failure and the yield at the time of assembly.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising an operation part for operating the heating means, wherein the panel has an embossed part partially composed of only a transparent film layer. The operation portion is configured with a portion, and the transparent film layer is decorated to cover the embossed portion, and there is no step or groove, and an operation portion that is easy to care can be provided. The operability of the operation unit can be improved by decoration.

  Invention of Claim 3 is provided with the display part which displays the state of the rice cooker main body in the invention of Claim 1 above-mentioned, and a panel has a transparent window constituted by a portion without a colored material layer, The display unit is provided on the transparent window, and there is no step or groove, and it is easy to care for and can provide a display unit having a wide display area.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the colored material layer side surface of the transparent window is subjected to minute unevenness processing, and a lighting state having a depth in the display portion by lighting is provided. It can be expressed and the lamp can be prevented from being seen directly, and the design can be improved.

  The invention according to claim 5 has a portion in which the boundary surface between the transparent material layer and the colored material layer has an uneven shape in the invention according to claim 1, so that the transparency and the depth are more three-dimensional. The design can be further improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1)
As shown in FIG. 2, the rice cooker main body 1 has a bottomed cylindrical pot storage portion 1a, and stores the pot 2 in a detachable manner. The bottom induction coil 3 constitutes a pot heating means, and is provided at the bottom of the pot storage part 1a, and performs induction heating of the pot 2 to perform rice cooking and heat insulation. The bottom sensor 4 detects the temperature of the pan 2 and sends a signal to the control unit 5. The control unit 5 is configured to control the energization amount of the bottom induction coil 3 from the signal of the bottom sensor 4 and to control the temperature of the pan 2 to an appropriate temperature during rice cooking / warming by changing the heating amount of the pan 2.

  The upper part of the rice cooker body 1 is covered with an openable / closable lid body 8 that is pivotally supported by a hinge shaft 7 provided on the hinge 6 at the rear part of the rice cooker body 1. A lid engaging portion 14 is provided at the tip of the lid body 8 and engages with the hook button 16 in front of the rice cooker body 1 when the lid is closed to prevent the lid body 8 from being opened during rice cooking or heat insulation. Yes. When the hook button 16 is pressed, the lid engaging portion 14 and the hook button 16 are disengaged, and the lid body 8 is opened by the force of the hinge spring 17 provided on the hinge portion 6 of the lid body 8.

  Steam generated from the rice during cooking or heat retention adheres to the pan side of the lid 8, and when the lid 8 is opened, dew drops on the upper edge 1 b of the rice cooker body 1, or during the heat insulation It falls on the top and whitens the rice. Therefore, the lid 8 is provided with a heating plate 9 for heating the internal space of the pan 2, and the heating plate 9 is heated by induction by a lid induction coil 10 which is a lid heating means to generate heat and cover the rice cooking and keeping warm. The exposure to the body 8 is prevented.

  The heating plate 9 is provided with a heating plate steam port 9a, and steam generated during rice cooking / warming passes through the heating plate steam port 9a and flows out from the lid steam port 8c to the outside. The steam port packing 18 prevents the steam from the heating plate steam port 9 a from flowing into the lid 8. Moreover, the pot packing 19 prevents the steam from leaking out from between the heating plate 9 and the flange portion 2a of the pot 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outer surface of the lid 8 has a transparent film layer 15a made of polyethylene terephthalate resin having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.3 mm on the surface, and an ABS resin, a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin under the layer. It has a transparent material layer 15b such as resin, and is covered with a panel 15 in which a colored material layer 15c is integrally formed thereunder. The transparent film layer 15a is partially decorated by printing, painting, vapor deposition or the like on the surface 15f on the transparent material layer side.

  The thickness of the transparent material layer 15b is 1 to 3 mm which is sufficiently thick as compared with the transparent film layer 15a. The colored material layer 15c is made of the same material as the transparent material layer 15b or a colored material having molding adhesion with the transparent material layer 15b. For example, if the transparent material layer 15b is an acrylic resin, the colored material layer 15c is colored acrylic. It is made of resin or ABS resin.

  The colored material layer 15 c of the panel 15 constitutes a fitting portion for fixing the panel 15 to the lid body 8. The fitting portion is composed of a claw portion 15g and a screw boss portion 15h. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a claw portion 15j for fitting and a boss portion 15k for screw can be formed on the transparent material layer 15b. However, in this case, the transparent film layer 15a on the claw portion 15j and the screw boss portion 15k is decorated so that the claw portion 15j and the screw boss portion 15k do not appear on the appearance.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the transparent film layer 15a is formed as a transparent film layer and the colored material layer 15c is integrally formed under the transparent material layer 15b, the colored material layer 15c is seen through the transparent film layer 15a and the transparent material layer 15b. Therefore, it is possible to express the texture with a sense of transparency and depth on the outer shell, and it is possible to create a design with a sense of depth and high quality, thereby improving the design. Here, as the transparent material layer 15b is thicker than the transparent film layer 15a on the surface, the transparent texture is emphasized. For example, when the thickness of the transparent material layer 15b is 1 mm or more, it is possible to express a texture with a considerable transparency.

  In addition, through the transparent material layer 15b of the panel 15, the decorative shadows such as characters and designs of the transparent film layer 15a are reflected on the colored material layer 15c, and the characters and designs can be expressed in three dimensions, making the characters easier to see and design. It can be further enhanced, and the transparent texture and depth of luxury can be further emphasized. In addition, by integrally forming the colored material layer 15c, the colored film layer 15c can be seen through the transparent film layer 15a and the transparent material layer 15b evenly, and can express a texture with a stable quality and a transparent feeling, and a yield during processing. Can also be improved.

  Further, since the transparent film layer 15a, the transparent material layer 15b, and the colored material layer 15c are made of resin, a transparent texture can be expressed at a low cost by using an integral molding method.

  Further, the panel 15 may be excessively heated, or the panel 15 may be deformed or warped when used for many years. Therefore, it is necessary to fix the panel 15 by adhesion, claw fitting, or screwing. If the three-layer structure is used as in the present embodiment, the panel 15 is thick and the rigidity can be improved, so that deformation and warpage are less likely to occur.

  Further, when the claw portions 15g and 15j and screw boss portions 15h and 15k for fitting are formed on the colored material layer 15c or the transparent material layer 15b and fixed to the rice cooker body 1 or the lid body 8 by claw fitting or screwing. The claw portions 15g and 15j and the screw boss portions 15h and 15k are not visible in the appearance portion, and the lid body 8 can be reliably fixed without impairing the appearance transparency.

  In addition, since an adhesive or the like is not required, the panel 15 can be easily attached and detached, and the member can be reused. Therefore, the maintainability at the time of failure of the built-in device can be improved. And since the cover body 8 can be attached in a short time at the time of an assembly, and the defect point at the time of an assembly can be corrected easily, a yield can also be improved.

  In this embodiment, the outer surface of the lid 8 is covered with the panel 15, but the operation unit (not shown) is configured in the rice cooker body 1, and the operation unit is configured to be covered with the similar panel 15. Alternatively, the same effect can be obtained.

Moreover, although the rice cooker was mentioned as an example in the present Example, the effect similar to a present Example can be acquired if it is an apparatus with which heat may be applied, such as a cooking device, a dishwasher, and a water heater. (Example 2)
As shown in FIG. 4, the panel 20 has a transparent film layer 26 made of a polyethylene terephthalate resin or the like having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.3 mm on the surface, and an ABS resin, a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, or the like under the layer. A transparent material layer 27 is provided, and further, a colored material layer 28 is integrally formed thereunder, and an embossed portion 21 that is partially constituted only by the transparent film layer 26 is provided. The embossed portion 21 has a convex shape, a key 23 is attached to face the embossed portion 21, the switch 24 can be operated, and the embossed portion 21 functions as an operating portion 22 as a push button switch. The embossed portion 21 and its surroundings 21a are decorated 25 on the key 23 side. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the operation unit 22 is installed on the lid, it can be operated regardless of the orientation of the rice cooker, and in addition to being easy to use, the installation area of the rice cooker body is reduced and a place for the rice cooker body is secured. Cheap.

  Since the surface of the operation portion 22 is constituted by a single transparent film layer 26 having no step or groove, there is no possibility that foreign matter or dust accumulates in the step or groove, and the maintenance can be facilitated. In addition, even if water is accidentally applied to the operation unit 22, there is no risk of entering the rice cooker body, and there is no risk of malfunction due to water. Further, since the shadow of the boundary surface of the decoration 25 is transmitted through the transparent material layer 27 and reflected on the colored material layer 28, the operation unit 22 appears to be three-dimensionally raised. It is easy and the usability can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the rice cooker has been described as an example. However, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be used as long as the apparatus may have water on the operation unit such as a cooker, a washing machine, a dishwasher, or a water heater. Can be obtained.

(Example 3)
As shown in FIG. 5, the panel 30 has a transparent film layer made of polyethylene terephthalate resin or the like having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.3 mm on the surface, and a transparent layer such as ABS resin, polycarbonate resin, or acrylic resin in the lower layer. It has a material layer, and further, a colored material layer 31 is formed integrally thereunder, and a transparent window 32 that is partially composed of a portion without the colored material layer 31 is provided.

  A display device 33 that displays the operation state of the device is provided inside the device of the transparent window 32, and the display area 35 of the display device 33 is made visible through the transparent window 32, thereby configuring the display unit 35. The colored material layer 31 at the boundary portion 32 b of the transparent window 32 extends to the vicinity of the end portion 34 a of the display region 34 of the display device 33. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described. Since the surface of the display unit 35 is covered with a transparent film layer, there are no steps or grooves, and dirt and dust on the transparent window 32 can be easily wiped off and can be easily maintained. Further, since the boundary portion 32b of the transparent window 32 is composed of the colored material layer 31, a clean boundary can be formed between the display portion 35 and the other portions without any step or gap, and the appearance is neat.

  Then, when the display unit 35 is viewed from an oblique direction, there is no fear that parts other than the display device 33 can be seen from the transparent window 32, and the transparent window 32 is previously arranged so that other parts cannot be seen when viewed from the oblique direction. Since there is no need to keep it small, a large display area can be secured.

  In addition, although the rice cooker was mentioned as an example in a present Example, if it is an apparatus which has a display part, the effect similar to a present Example can be acquired.

(Example 4)
As shown in FIG. 6, the panel 40 has a transparent film layer 41 made of a polyethylene terephthalate resin or the like having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.3 mm on the surface, and an ABS resin, a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, or the like under the layer. A transparent material layer 44 is provided, and further, a colored material layer 45 is integrally formed thereunder, and a lighting window 42 that is partially formed by a portion without the colored material layer 45 is provided. The lighting window 42 is provided with a lamp 43 that is turned on and off depending on the operating state of the device.

  On the surface 42 a on the lamp 43 side of the lighting window 42, minute irregularities 42 b are processed. When the lamp 43 is lit, the light from the lamp 43 is confused by the minute irregularities 42b provided on the lamp-side surface 42a of the lighting window 42. When the lighting window 42 is viewed from the outside, the lighting window 42 seems to be lit. Looks like.

  When the lamp 43 is turned off, when the lighting window 42 is viewed from the outside, the lamp 43 is blurred and directly reflected by the light confusion caused by the minute unevenness 42b provided on the lamp-side surface 42a of the lighting window 42. The structure is invisible. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the lamp 43 is turned on, the lighting window 42 appears to be lit through the transparent film layer 41 and the transparent material layer 44, so that a deep lighting state can be reproduced. Since the lamp-side surface 42a of the lighting window 42 appears to be lit, the surface is in a light-emitting state, and a clean lighting state can be obtained. Further, the lamp 43 is directly visible when the lamp 43 is turned off, and the appearance is not impaired.

(Example 5)
As shown in FIG. 7, the transparent material layer 46 is made of ABS resin, polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, etc., and a colored material layer 47 is integrally formed thereunder, and the boundary between the transparent material layer 46 and the colored material layer 47 is formed. It has a portion 48 with an uneven surface. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the device is visually observed from the outside, the concavo-convex portion 48 is three-dimensionally expressed, and the sense of depth and transparency can be further increased. In addition, it is possible to express characters three-dimensionally in a concavo-convex shape, or to express a pattern, and the design can be further improved.

The principal part expanded sectional view of the rice cooker of 1st Example of this invention. Cross section of the rice cooker The principal part expanded sectional view of other examples of the rice cooker Sectional drawing of the principal part of the rice cooker of 2nd Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of the principal part of the rice cooker of 3rd Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of the principal part of the rice cooker of 4th Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of the principal part of the rice cooker of 5th Example of this invention. Cross-sectional view of the main parts of conventional equipment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rice cooker main body 2 Pan 3 Heating means 8 Lid 15 Panel 15a Transparent film layer 15b Transparent material layer 15c Colored material layer 15g Claw part (fitting part)
15h Screw boss (fitting part)

Claims (5)

A rice cooker body that detachably accommodates the pan, a heating means that heats the pot, and a lid that covers the top surface of the rice cooker body so as to be openable and closable, the rice cooker body or the lid The outer shell has a three-layer panel in which a transparent film layer and a transparent material layer that are partially decorated are integrally formed, and a colored material layer is integrally formed on the transparent material layer side. The material layer or the colored material layer is a rice cooker having a fitting portion for fixing to the rice cooker body or the lid. An operation part for operating the heating means is provided, and the panel has an embossed part partially composed of only a transparent film layer. The embossed part constitutes the operating part, and the embossed part is provided on the transparent film layer. The rice cooker of Claim 1 which gave the decoration which covers. The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying a state of the rice cooker body, the panel having a transparent window formed of a portion without a colored material layer, and the display unit being disposed on the transparent window. The rice cooker of Claim 3 which gave the fine unevenness | corrugation to the colored material layer side surface of a transparent window. The rice cooker of Claim 1 which has the part which made the uneven surface the boundary surface of a transparent material layer and a colored material layer.

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