JP2011050799A - Cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooker which can prevent an operating section and a display section from being short-circuited by the water inside a water tank spatter. <P>SOLUTION: The cooker is provided with a steam leading route 30 which leads the steam to the outside of an inner pan 15, a water tank 20 which retrieves the steam lead by the steam leading route 30 and stores the steam by cooling and condensing the steam, a water tank storing section 21 which is installed on the outer wall of a bottom case body 11 and is equipped with a bottom face on which the water tank 20 can be fitted for installing the water tank 20 in a removable manner, a top cover 12 which covers the top face opening of the bottom case body 11 and the top section of the water tank 20 in an openable/closable manner, and an operating section 17 installed on the top cover 12. In a condition that the water tank 20 is installed in the water tank storing section 21, the top cover 12 covers the top face opening of the bottom case body 11 and the top section of the water tank 20 when the top cover 12 is closed, and the water tank 20 is removable against the water tank storing section 21 when the top cover 12 is open. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heating cooker that condenses and recovers steam generated during cooking.

  In a conventional rice cooker, a water tank-equipped container for collecting steam is detachably incorporated, and this water tank is connected to a steam passage chamber provided with a check valve in the steam passage. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-106532 (2nd page, FIG. 1)

  In the aforementioned rice cooker, it is necessary to install a water tank (hereinafter referred to as a water tank) containing cooling water for condensing steam in the rice cooker body. At this time, since the water tank containing water is attached and detached, the water in the water tank may be spilled and the water may be scattered on the operation unit and the display unit provided in the rice cooker body. In addition, after cooking rice, it is necessary to remove the water tank from the rice cooker body and drain the accumulated water, but the amount of water in the water tank will increase compared to before cooking rice, so when removing it, the display unit and operation unit The possibility of water splashing is further increased. In this way, when water splashes on the display unit or the operation unit, the display unit or the operation unit may be short-circuited and break down.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and avoids short-circuiting of the operation unit and the display unit without the water in the water tank being scattered to the operation unit and the display unit when the water tank is attached or detached. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooking device that can be used.

The heating cooker according to the present invention is
A heating container for storing an object to be heated;
A lower housing for accommodating and supporting the heating container;
A water vapor guide path for guiding the steam generated in the heating container to the outside of the heating container;
A water tank that collects the steam guided by the water vapor guide path, cools the steam with cooling water, condenses it, and stores it;
A water tank storage unit provided on the outer wall of the lower housing, having a bottom surface into which the water tank can be fitted, and the water tank being detachably attached;
An upper lid that opens and closes an upper surface opening of the lower housing and an upper part of the water tank;
An operation unit that is installed on the upper lid and performs input related to cooking;
In a state where the water tank is installed in the water tank housing portion, when the upper lid is in a closed state, the upper lid covers the upper surface opening of the lower housing and the upper portion of the water tank, and the upper lid is When in the opened state, the water tank is configured to be removable from the water tank housing portion.

  In the heating cooker according to the present invention, since the operation unit is installed above the water tank containing the cooling water for condensing steam, the water in the water tank is removed when the water tank is attached to and detached from the heating cooker body. When splashed to the operation unit, the operation unit is not splashed with water. For this reason, it is possible to prevent water from splashing on the operation unit and causing a short circuit.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the rice cooker which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the rice cooker shown in FIG. In the rice cooker which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is an external appearance perspective view at the time of removing a water tank from a lower housing | casing. It is an external appearance perspective view of the rice cooker which shows Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a rice cooker showing Embodiment 3. FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the rice cooker which shows Embodiment 4, and shows the state which removed the water tank.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a heating cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the first embodiment, a case where the heating cooker is the rice cooker 100 will be described as an example. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic internal configuration of the rice cooker 100, and FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a state where the water tank 20 is removed from the lower housing 11. In the drawings described below including FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, since the description will focus on the main part, the size relationship of each component may be partially different from the actual one.

  1 to 3, a rice cooker 100 includes a lower housing 11 and an upper lid 12 provided so as to cover an upper surface opening of the lower housing 11 via a hinge portion 14 so as to be freely opened and closed. Yes. The lower housing 11 accommodates heating means (not shown) such as an inner pot 15 for putting an object to be heated (rice, water, etc.) and an induction heating coil for heating the inner pot 15. An inner lid 13 is installed inside the upper lid 12, and the inner lid 13 serves to close the upper opening of the inner pot 15 when the upper lid 12 is closed. A water tank 20 for collecting the steam generated from the heated object heated by the heating means, condensing and storing the steam is installed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the lower housing 11, and the water tank 20 and the inner pot 15 are connected to each other. A communicating vapor conduit 30 is provided in the upper lid 12.

  When the upper lid 12 is closed, the lower housing 11 and the upper lid 12 are fixed by an engaging portion (not shown), and the upper lid 12 is locked so as not to move upward. When opening the upper lid 12, a lock release button 18 provided on the upper lid 12 is pushed. By doing in this way, engagement with the lower housing | casing 11 and the upper cover 12 is cancelled | released, and the upper cover 12 can be opened.

  FIG. 3 shows a state where the upper lid 12 is opened, and the illustration of the upper lid 12 is omitted. In FIG. 3, a water tank storage portion 21 is provided on the outer peripheral wall surface of the lower housing 11 as a space for installing the water tank 20. The aquarium storage unit 21 has a bottom surface and a side surface in a shape that can fit the aquarium 20, and the water tank 20 is installed on the front surface 101 side of the rice cooker 100 by pushing the water tank 20 into the water tank storage unit 21. It has become a structure. Here, the front surface 101 of the rice cooker 100 is a direction in which the user can easily operate the rice cooker 100 in the side surface of the rice cooker 100, and the side surface of the rice cooker 100 that the user faces when using it. It is. In the first embodiment, on the upper lid 12 on the front surface 101 side of such a rice cooker 100, the user operates the display unit 16 and the rice cooker 100 described later for confirming the operation of the rice cooker 100. A portion 17 is provided. In addition, the release button 18 is provided on the upper lid 12, and the hinge portion 14 is provided on the side surface opposite to the side surface on which the release button 18 is provided, so that the user can open and close the upper lid 12 and cook in the inner pot 15. Since it becomes easy to put in and take out a thing, it is good also considering the side surface side of the lower housing | casing 11 which opposes the side surface of the lower housing | casing 11 which provided the hinge part 14 as the front 101 side of the rice cooker 100. FIG. Moreover, in the case of the rice cooker 100 provided with the display part 16 in the upper cover 12 which is the top | upper surface side of the rice cooker 100, it is good also considering the direction (direction which opposes a character) that the character of the display part 16 is easy to see as the front 101 side.

  The water tank 20 is detachable from the lower housing 11, and when the water tank 20 is installed, the water tank 20 is pushed in the direction of the lower housing 11 and fitted into the water tank housing portion 21. When the water tank 20 is fitted, the water tank 20 and the lower housing 11 are integrated as shown in FIG. When the water tank 20 is pulled out, the water tank 20 can be removed from the lower housing 11.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a steam conduit 30 is provided so as to connect the inner lid 13 and the water tank 20. The steam conduit 30 communicates the inner pot with the water tank 20, and guides the steam generated in the inner pot 15 to the water tank 20. A steam conduit lower end opening 31 is formed at the end of the steam conduit 30 connected to the water tank 20. The steam conduit lower end opening 31 is directed toward the inside of the water tank 20. Therefore, the steam generated from the inner pot 15 is guided by the steam conduit 30 and enters the water tank 20 through the steam conduit lower end opening 31.

  Moreover, in FIG. 1, the display part 16 for displaying the setting content of the rice cooker 100, an operation state, etc. and the operation part 17 for performing the input with respect to the rice cooker 100 are provided in the upper surface of the upper cover 12. As shown in FIG. Yes. The display unit 16 includes an LED (light-emitting diode), a liquid crystal display, a fluorescent tube, electroluminescence, a plasma display, and the like. The operation unit 17 includes various operation switches such as a rice cooking switch and a switch for performing reservation cooking. Note that the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 may be integrally formed. Further, the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 are arranged at positions where most of the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 overlap with the water tank 20 when viewed from the top surface of the rice cooker 100.

Next, operation | movement of the rice cooker 100 which concerns on this Embodiment 1 is demonstrated.
When cooking rice, the water tank 20 is removed from the lower housing 11, and a predetermined amount of cooling water is placed in the water tank 20 and installed in the lower housing 11. At this time, cooling water is introduced so that the steam conduit lower end opening 31 is immersed in the water in the water tank 20. The amount (depth) of cooling water is set so that the speed at which the steam is cooled and returned to the water is faster than the speed at which the bubbles of the steam rise.

  And the rice which is a to-be-heated material and the water according to the quantity of the rice are put into the inner pot 15, and it accommodates in the lower housing | casing 11. FIG. If the rice cooking switch of the operation part 17 is turned ON after closing the upper cover 12, the heating by a heating means (not shown) will be started and a rice cooking process will be started. When a predetermined time elapses after the rice cooking process is started, water in the inner pot 15 boils, and steam is generated in the inner pot 15 by this boiling.

  The generated steam is guided to the water tank 20 through the steam conduit 30. Since the steam conduit lower end opening 31 serving as a steam outlet is immersed in the cooling water in the water tank 20 to a certain depth, the steam is effectively discharged into the cooling water in the water tank 20, and the cooling water is sufficient. Condensation occurs while in contact with water. Therefore, all the steam generated in the inner pot 15 can be collected in the water tank 20, and the steam can be prevented from leaking out of the rice cooker 100. And as the rice cooking progresses, the amount of water in the water tank 20 gradually increases, and the water level gradually rises.

  When rice cooking is completed, the water tank 20 is pulled out and removed from the lower housing 11, and the water in the water tank 20 is discarded. Since there is a possibility that rice balls (a mixture of rice and water) may be mixed in the water tank 20 together with steam generated during the rice cooking process, it is desirable to discard the water in the water tank 20 every time rice is cooked. By doing in this way, the decay of the water in the water tank 20 can be prevented.

  When cooking rice with the rice cooker 100 as described above, a water tank 20 containing cooling water is installed in the lower housing 11 before rice cooking, and the water tank 20 must be removed after rice cooking to discard the accumulated water. I must. Therefore, the water tank 20 containing water must be frequently attached and detached, and there is a high possibility that water in the water tank 20 will be accidentally spilled.

  When the water tank 20 is provided in the lower housing 11, when the water tank 20 is attached, the water tank 20 is pushed in, so that a force is applied in the direction of the lower housing 11. At this time, if the water in the water tank 20 is spilled by pushing it strongly and shaking the water tank 20, there is a high possibility that the water will fly in the direction of the lower housing 11. The water moves downward from the spot (that is, the position near the upper edge of the water tank 20). Therefore, the spilled water is likely to adhere to a position lower than the height position of the water tank 20 in the lower housing 11.

  According to the rice cooker 100 according to the first embodiment, the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 are installed on the upper surface of the upper lid 12 above the position where the water tank 20 is disposed. Even if spillage occurs, it is possible to prevent water from splashing on the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 from being short-circuited by the water in the water tank 20.

Moreover, in many cases, a cooking device such as a rice cooker is often used by being installed at a position lower than the eye level. For this reason, by arranging the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 on the upper surface of the upper lid 12, it is possible to improve visibility and improve usability.
Moreover, since the temperature in the rice cooker 100 rises more easily than the normal rice cooker which discharge | releases steam | vapor outside outside, the display part 16 which uses the component which is comparatively weak to a heat | fever. In addition, the operation unit 17 requires measures such as providing a means for suppressing heat transfer such as a heat insulating material between the inner pot 15 as a heat source (including directly above). Then, in the rice cooker shown in Embodiment 1, the temperature rise of the display part 16 or the operation part 17 is suppressed by providing at least a part of the display part 16 or the operation part 17 directly above the water tank 20 having a relatively low temperature. However, the failure caused by the high temperature is reduced. Thereby, since the quantity of the heat insulating material to be used can be reduced or eliminated, a structure can be made compact and manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of rice cooker 100a according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment described above, an example in which the water tank 20 is disposed on the front surface 101 side of the lower housing 11 has been described. However, in the second embodiment, the water tank 20 is excluded from the front surface 101 side of the lower housing 11. An example of the arrangement on the side surface will be described. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the rice cooker 100 a of FIG. 4, the water tank 20 a is disposed on the right side surface side of the lower housing 11. And like the above-mentioned Embodiment 1, the vapor | steam in the inner pot 15 is guide | induced to the water tank 20a by the steam conduit 30 which is not shown in figure, and it becomes the structure by which steam condenses and is stored in the water tank 20a. The display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 are provided on the upper surface of the upper lid 12.

  Thus, in the rice cooker 100a which concerns on this Embodiment 2, since the display part 16 and the operation part 17 were installed in the upper surface of the upper cover 12 above the position where the water tank 20a is arrange | positioned, attachment / detachment of the water tank 20a Even if water is spilled, the water can be prevented from splashing on the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 from being short-circuited by water in the water tank 20a.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of rice cooker 100b according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a configuration example when the bottom area of the water tank 20b is increased to reduce the height will be described. In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the rice cooker 100b of FIG. 5, the water tank 20b secures a volume capable of storing a predetermined amount of water by increasing its bottom area and reducing its height. The water tank 20 b is configured to be fitted in a water tank housing (not shown) formed in the lower portion of the lower housing 11 and installed in the lower portion of the lower housing 11. The display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 are provided on the outer peripheral wall surface of the side surface of the lower housing 11 and at a position higher than the position where the water tank 20b is installed.

  Thus, in the rice cooker 100b which concerns on this Embodiment 3, the water tank 20b is provided in the lower housing | casing 11, and the side surface of the lower housing | casing 11 above the position where the display part 16 and the operation part 17 are arrange | positioned in the water tank 20b. In the case of after the rice cooking operation (heating operation), even if water is spilled due to the attachment or detachment of the water tank 20b in which the internal water is increasing, the water is prevented from splashing on the display unit 16 or the operation unit 17 Can do. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 from being short-circuited by the water in the water tank 20b.

  Furthermore, since the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 are provided on the outer peripheral wall surface of the side surface of the lower housing 11, even when the rice cooker 100b is installed and used at a slightly higher position, the visibility of the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 is visible. Can be secured, and usability can be improved.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of rice cooker 100c according to the fourth embodiment. In the above-described first to third embodiments, the water tank storage portion 21 for fitting the water tank 20 is formed on the outer peripheral wall surface or bottom surface of the lower housing 11, and the water tank 20 is pushed into the water tank storage portion 21 and installed. It was. In the fourth embodiment, an example in which the water tank 20c is installed by providing a water tank storage portion 21c for inserting and storing the water tank 20 from above in the lower housing 11 will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the rice cooker 100c of FIG. 6, the lower casing 11 is formed with an aquarium storage portion 21c having an upper opening adjacent to the position where the inner pot 15 is installed. The water tank storage portion 21c is formed with a bottom area and a height at which the water tank 20c can be fitted. The water tank 20c is provided with a foldable handle 22 at the top thereof, and the user can attach and detach the water tank 20c by grasping the handle 22 and pushing it downward or pulling it upward. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 are installed on the upper surface of the upper lid 12 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. When the upper lid 12 is closed, both the opening for installing the inner pot 15 and the opening of the water tank housing portion 21c are covered with the upper lid 12.

  When attaching and detaching the water tank 20c in the rice cooker 100c configured as described above, the upper lid 12 is opened, the handle 22 is grasped, and the water tank storage part 21c is pushed or pulled out from above. At this time, for example, if the water tank 20c and the water inside the water tank 20c are greatly shaken by strongly pushing the water tank 20c, the water may jump upward from the upper part of the water tank 20c. If the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 are arranged on the side surface of the lower housing 11 on the front surface 101 side, the water that has jumped out of the water tank 20c scatters to the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 and causes a short circuit. However, in Embodiment 4 of the present invention, when the water tank 20c is attached and detached, the upper lid 12 is in an open state, so the water tank 20c faces the inner lid 13, and the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17 are in contact with each other. The upper surface of the upper lid 12 provided with a shape is located just on the back side with respect to the water tank 20c. For this reason, even when water jumps out by attaching and detaching the water tank 20c, it is possible to avoid the water from splashing on the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17.

  Thus, in the rice cooker 100c which concerns on this Embodiment 4, since the display part 16 and the operation part 17 were installed in the upper surface of the upper cover 12 above the position where the water tank 20c is arrange | positioned, attachment / detachment of the water tank 20c Even if water is spilled, the water can be prevented from splashing on the display unit 16 and the operation unit 17. For this reason, it can avoid that the display part 16 and the operation part 17 short-circuit with the water in the water tank 20c.

  In addition, although the said description demonstrated the example in case a heating cooker is a rice cooker, application of this invention is not restricted to a rice cooker. The present invention can be applied to various cooking devices such as condensing and recovering generated steam, and the same effect can be obtained. In the above description, an example in which the upper lid opens and closes forward and backward has been described. However, the upper lid can also be configured to open to the left and right, and the same effect can be obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Lower housing | casing, 12 Upper lid, 13 Inner lid, 14 Hinge part, 15 Inner pan, 16 Display part, 17 Operation part, 18 Lock release button, 20 Water tank, 21 Water tank storage part, 22 Handle, 30 Steam conduit, 31 Steam conduit lower end opening, 100 rice cooker, 101 front.

Claims (6)

A heating container for storing an object to be heated;
A lower housing for accommodating and supporting the heating container;
A water vapor guide path for guiding the steam generated in the heating container to the outside of the heating container;
A water tank that collects the steam guided by the water vapor guide path, cools the steam with cooling water, condenses it, and stores it;
A water tank storage unit provided on the outer wall of the lower housing, having a bottom surface into which the water tank can be fitted, and the water tank being detachably attached;
An upper lid that opens and closes an upper surface opening of the lower housing and an upper part of the water tank;
An operation unit that is installed on the upper lid and performs input related to cooking;
In a state where the water tank is installed in the water tank housing portion, when the upper lid is in a closed state, the upper lid covers the upper surface opening of the lower housing and the upper portion of the water tank, and the upper lid is The cooking device, wherein the water tank is configured to be detachable from the water tank housing section when the tank is opened. A heating container for storing an object to be heated;
A lower housing for accommodating and supporting the heating container;
A water vapor guide path for guiding the steam generated in the heating container to the outside of the heating container;
A water tank that collects the steam guided by the water vapor guide path, cools the steam with cooling water, condenses it, and stores it;
A water tank storage unit provided on the outer wall of the lower housing, having a bottom surface into which the water tank can be fitted, and the water tank being detachably attached;
An upper lid that opens and closes an upper surface opening of the lower housing and an upper part of the water tank;
A display unit that is installed on the upper lid and displays information related to cooking;
In a state where the water tank is installed in the water tank housing portion, when the upper lid is in a closed state, the upper lid covers the upper surface opening of the lower housing and the upper portion of the water tank, and the upper lid is The cooking device, wherein the water tank is configured to be detachable from the water tank housing section when the tank is opened. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is disposed on a front side of the cooking device of the upper lid. The cooking device according to claim 2, wherein the display unit is arranged on a front side of the cooking device of the upper lid. The cooking device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the operation unit and the water tank are arranged at a position where at least a part thereof is overlapped when viewed from a top surface of the cooking device. The cooking device according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the display unit and the water tank are arranged at a position where at least a part thereof overlaps when viewed from a top surface of the cooking device.

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