JP2011125606A - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric rice cooker in which the temperature of high temperature steam generated during cooking can be lowered and safely discharged to the outside of the rice cooker. <P>SOLUTION: The rice cooker includes a blowing means communicating with an indoor space, a blowing channel coupled to the blowing channel, a mixing chamber of which one end is coupled to the blowing channel and of which the other end communicates with the outside of the outer lid, a heating means for heating the inner lid, a control means for controlling the heating means and the blowing means, and a steam channel for guiding the steam generated inside of the inner pot in the rice cooking step executed by the control means to the mixing chamber in an outer lid body for openably/closably covering an opening part of a rice cooker body having an inner pot therein, the mixing chamber is formed inside of a dew recovering tool detachably installed in the concave part formed in the rear part of the outer lid body. The dew recovering tool includes a blowing out opening for discharging dispersed mixed air of the steam guided from the steam channel and air of indoor space guided from the blowing channel to an outdoor space and has an opening where at least a part of an upper face of the mixing space is automatically opened with the dew recovering tool removed from the concave part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric rice cooker having a heat retaining function for holding cooked rice at a predetermined temperature and suppressing discharge of high-temperature steam generated from a pan during rice cooking.

  Conventionally, an electric rice cooker has been proposed in which air is blown into steam discharged during rice cooking, and the concentration of the steam is lowered and discharged as a mixture (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Such a rice cooker has a cylindrical discharge pipe with openings in the front and rear in the lid body, one end opening in the middle of the discharge pipe, and the other end opening in the inner space of the inner pot that contains rice. And a communication pipe that communicates.
Then, air introduced from the outside of the lid body is mixed with the high-temperature steam discharged from the communication pipe into the internal space of the discharge pipe, and discharged from the end (downstream side) opening of the discharge pipe into the indoor space. Reduce vapor concentration. That is, the temperature of the steam discharged from the inside of the electric rice cooker to the outside is lowered.

However, in such a rice cooker configuration, the downstream end of the discharge pipe is open toward the outside of the lid body of the electric rice cooker, that is, toward the indoor space. The structure was such that it was difficult to sufficiently mix cold air.
Moreover, since the downstream end of the steam pipe is installed toward the downstream side of the discharge pipe, the flow of steam from the steam pipe and the flow of wind that flows from the outside and flows through the inside of the discharge pipe The high-temperature steam and the air from outside are discharged without being mixed well, and the original purpose of suppressing the discharge of high-temperature steam is not sufficiently obtained. It was.

  Therefore, in order to improve the degree of mixing of air and steam from the outside, the opening of the rice cooker body is connected to the blower that communicates with the outside air inside the lid body that can be opened and closed from above, and this blower. And a steam path that communicates the air path with the inside of the inner pot, and the steam path opens the steam path outlet to the path wall of the air path, and the steam path outlet. An electric rice cooker has been proposed in which the steam path inlet communicating with the inside of the inner pot is shifted in the horizontal direction (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In such a rice cooker, the positions of the steam path outlet and the steam path inlet are shifted in the horizontal direction, so that the steam from the steam path reaches the blowing path without being directed, Although the turbulent flow generated by the friction uniformly mixes with the blown air, the discharged steam can be further cooled, but there are the following problems in the actual use environment.

For example, blowing steam discharged during cooking in a diagonally upward direction from a discharge port provided on the top surface of the lid means flowing warm air toward the user's face, which may be uncomfortable for some users There is concern to have.
In addition, sucking indoor air from the left side with a blower fan and blowing it out from the outlet on the right side of the opposite side also causes warm air to flow toward the user. This may cause discomfort for some users.

Japanese Patent No. 3682252 JP 2009-28513 A (FIGS. 1 and 3)

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a rice cooker that can comfortably cook delicious rice and can reduce the temperature of discharged steam by sufficiently mixing steam and air. And

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the electric rice cooker of the present invention has, as a basic configuration, a steam path outlet of the steam path provided on the back side of the rice cooker lid, and steam that has been lowered in temperature by mixing air. Is discharged to the rear space of the electric rice cooker body.

  By comprising in this way, the vapor | steam which mixed the air inside the cover body and lowered temperature can be discharged | emitted to the back side of an electric rice cooker main body.

  The rice cooker according to the present invention is capable of making both deliciously cooked delicious rice comfortably and lowering the temperature of discharged steam.

Sectional drawing of the electric rice cooker in Embodiment 1 Top view of the electric rice cooker Perspective view of dew recovery tool of the same electric rice cooker Cross section of the rear of the electric rice cooker Longitudinal sectional view showing the inner lid through-hole and its periphery of the electric rice cooker Electric circuit diagram of the same electric rice cooker The flowchart which shows the rice cooking operation of the same electric rice cooker Explanatory drawing of inner pot temperature and energized state showing rice cooking operation of the electric rice cooker The perspective view of the dew recovery tool of the electric rice cooker in Embodiment 2 The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the dew recovery tool of the electric rice cooker in Embodiment 3, and its peripheral part The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the dew collection tool of the electric rice cooker in Embodiment 4, and its peripheral part

In the first invention, in the outer lid body that covers the opening of the rice cooker body incorporating the inner pot so as to be freely opened and closed, the blowing means communicating with the indoor space, the blowing path connected to the blowing means, and the blowing path A mixing chamber having one end connected to the outside and the other end communicating with the outside of the outer lid, a heating means for heating the inner pot, a control means for controlling the heating means and the blowing means, and rice cooking executed by the control means A steam path for guiding the steam generated in the inner pot in the process to the mixing chamber,
The mixing chamber is formed inside a dew collection tool that is detachably attached to a recess formed in a rear portion of the outer lid body.
This dew recovery tool has a blow-out port for discharging a diffusion mixed gas of the steam guided from the steam path and the air in the indoor space guided from the blower path into the indoor space, and is removed from the recess. In the state, at least a part of the upper surface of the mixing space is provided with an opening that is automatically opened.

  Thereby, the high-temperature steam from the inner pot can be discharged to the rear of the outer lid main body after being mixed with room temperature air sent from the blowing means. In addition, the dew recovery tool having a mixing space of steam and room air is detachable from the outer lid body, and the dew recovery tool is configured to open the mixing chamber with the dew recovery tool removed. This can also be possible if the tool is to be cleaned or replaced with a new one.

  2nd invention is the outer cover main body which covers the opening part of the rice cooker main body which incorporates an inner pot so that opening and closing is possible, the ventilation means connected with indoor space, the ventilation path connected with this ventilation means, and this ventilation path A mixing chamber having one end connected to the outside and the other end communicating with the outside of the outer lid, a heating means for heating the inner pot, a control means for controlling the heating means and the blowing means, and rice cooking executed by the control means A steam path that guides the steam generated in the inner pot in the process to the mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber is detachably attached to a recess formed in a rear portion of the outer lid body. The dew recovery tool has a blowout port for discharging a diffusion mixed gas of the steam guided from the steam path and the air of the indoor space guided from the blower path into the indoor space, And a lid that can be opened only when it is removed from the recess. If you open the lid, it is obtained by the configuration in which the mixing space is opened to the outside.

  Thereby, the high-temperature steam from the inner pot can be discharged to the rear of the outer lid main body after being mixed with room temperature air sent from the blowing means. Moreover, the dew recovery tool having a mixing space for steam and room air is detachable from the outer lid body, and the dew collection tool is opened to the outside if the cover is opened with the dew recovery tool removed. It is. Thereby, since it is easy to put a hand and a cleaning tool in the inside of a dew collection | recovery tool, it is the structure which is easier to clean. Further, when it is desired to replace the dew collecting tool with a new one, it can be made possible.

  3rd invention was supported by the said main body rear part via the hinge axis | shaft so that rotation was possible through the rice cooker main body, the inner pot accommodated in this main body, and the upper surface opening part of this inner pot so that opening and closing was possible. The outer lid main body, the air blowing means housed in the outer lid main body and communicated with the indoor space, the air blowing path connected to the air blowing means, one end connected to the air blowing path, and the other end communicated to the outside of the outer lid. Mixing chamber, heating means for heating the inner pot, control means for controlling the heating means and the blowing means, and steam generated inside the inner pot in the rice cooking process executed by the control means A steam path that leads to a chamber, and the mixing chamber is formed inside a dew collection tool that is detachably attached to a recess formed in a rear portion of the outer lid body. The steam introduced from the steam passage and the space in the indoor space led from the blower passage When the outer lid body is opened rearward around the hinge axis, a structure that forms the outer shell of the outer lid body is provided. The rotation trajectory is configured to pass behind the rotation trajectory of the dew collection tool.

  According to this configuration, when the outer lid body is opened by rotating around the hinge axis, the rearmost part of the outer lid body moves behind the dew collecting tool, so that it approaches the back of the rice cooker. Even if there is a hard structure such as furniture or a wall, it is possible to avoid collision between the object and the dew collecting tool, and it is possible to avoid damage or deformation due to collision of the dew collecting tool.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1-7 has shown the electric rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the electric rice cooker in the present embodiment has magnetism stored in a substantially bottomed cylindrical rice cooker body 1 and a pot storage portion 1 a inside the rice cooker body 1. An inner pot 2 integrally formed from a metal material, an outer lid body 3 rotatably attached to the rice cooker body 1 via a hinge shaft 3a so that the opening of the rice cooker body 1 can be opened and closed, and an outer lid body 3, a substantially disc-shaped inner lid 4 that is detachably attached to the inner side of 3 (the side that covers the opening of the inner pot 2) and that can seal the opening of the pot 2, and a heating means 5 that induction-heats the inner pot 2 And have.
The inner lid 4 is made of a material having good thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper, or a material suitable for induction heating such as stainless steel.

Even if the inner lid 4 is in a state where the outer lid body 3 is opened up to a vertical state or in a state where its upper surface opening is closed so as to overlap the inner pot 2, there are at least three places around the inner lid 4. These are supported by a plurality of hooks and hook-shaped receiving portions (not shown) having elasticity provided on a lower plate 44 described later.
Further, when the engagement with the hook is released, the inner lid 4 can be removed from the outer lid body 3 and washed.

  The pan storage part 1a of the rice cooker body 1 is fitted to the inner peripheral part of the upper opening of the rice cooker body 1, and is formed with a substantially annular upper frame 1b integrally formed from a heat-resistant plastic material, and the shape of the inner pot 2 And a coil base 1c that is integrally connected to the upper frame 1b at the upper opening side end. The coil base 1c is also integrally formed from a heat resistant plastic material.

A bottom inner (for induction heating) coil 5a and a bottom outer (for induction heating) coil 5b constituting the heating means 5 are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the coil base 1c.
The bottom inner coil 5a is disposed so as to face the periphery of the center of the bottom of the inner pot 2 via the coil base 1c. Moreover, the bottom part outer side coil 5b is arrange | positioned so as to oppose the corner-shaped part of the bottom part of the inner pot 2 via the coil base 1c.

An opening 1d is formed in the central portion of the bottom of the coil base 1c, and a bottom temperature sensor 6 serving as a temperature detecting means for the inner pot 2 for measuring the temperature of the inner pot 2 is disposed in the opening 1d. Has been. The bottom temperature sensor 6 can come into contact with the bottom of the inner pot when the inner pot 2 is stored in the pot storage portion 1a.
Here, “can contact” means that the temperature sensor 6 is pushed up by a spring (not shown) from below so that the temperature sensor 6 always protrudes upward from the opening 1d by a certain dimension. When correctly set in the storage portion 1a, it is in contact with the outer bottom surface of the inner pot 2.
In addition, the straight line of CL in FIG. 1 has shown the centerline of the inner pot 2, and X of FIG. 2 shows the center point position of the inner pot 2 on the centerline.

In the rice cooker main body 1, control means 7 for performing rice cooking operation by driving and controlling each part and each device is installed.
For example, the control means 7 is operated by a user on an operation means 24 having a push button 20 (may be a touch key or the like) disposed on an operation panel (not shown) provided on the outer lid body 3. Based on the signal generated by doing so, drive control of each part and each apparatus is performed.

The upper part of the front wall surface 30a (the upper left part in FIG. 1) that becomes the front wall of the main body case 30 that forms the outer shell of the rice cooker main body 1 can be engaged with the outer cover hook 8 provided on the front side of the outer cover main body 3. A hook 49 is provided. A spring (not shown) is provided in a compressed state between the hook 49 and the upper frame 1b. Therefore, the hook 49 is always biased forward (left side in FIG. 1) by the spring.
The body case 30 is provided with a release button 31 for releasing the engagement between the outer lid hook 8 and the hook 49. The hook 49 can be retracted backward by pressing the release button 31, and the engagement between the outer lid hook 8 and the hook 49 is thereby released.

Inside the outer lid body 3, there is an inner lid temperature sensor 9, which is an inner lid temperature detector, an inner lid heating means 10, a blower means 11, and a suction air passage 11b for communicating the intake side of the blower means 11 with the outside air. And an exhaust port 11d for leading the wind from the blower means 11 to a mixing chamber 45 defined in the rear part of the outer lid body 3 to be described later, and an air passage connecting the exhaust side of the air blower 11 and the exhaust port 11d. 11c and the steam path 15 which connects the internal space of the inner pot 2 and the exit side (near the exit) of the air flow path 11c are provided.
The exhaust port 11d communicates with an exhaust hole 45e that opens in a left wall surface 45a that forms a mixing chamber 45 described later.
Further, as an example of the air blowing means 11, a centrifugal multiblade fan such as a sirocco fan is used.
Further, the bottom temperature sensor 6 and the inner lid temperature sensor 9 are, for example, a thermistor type temperature sensor, but may be an infrared type temperature sensor that detects a temperature by detecting an emitted infrared ray.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the steam path 15 is a heat-resistant resin-like cylindrical collecting body that covers the outside of one or more small through holes 4 a formed in the inner lid 4 in a sealed state. 40 and a duct 42 made of heat-resistant resin that covers the outside of the collectable body 40 via an annular packing 41 having heat resistance and elasticity. Note that the inlet 15a of the steam path (the inlet of the recovery body 40) communicates with the through hole 4a.
In addition, a plurality of protrusions 43 are formed inside the recovery body 40, and the internal space is a steam discharge path SR. The collecting body 40 is fixed to the upper surface of the inner lid 4 by means such as adhesion or screwing.

Next, the upper case 25 is a case that constitutes the upper side of the outer lid body 3 whose entire lower surface is open, and is integrally molded with a heat resistant resin or the like. The lower plate 44 is a flat plate fixed to the upper case 25 so as to close the lower surface opening of the upper case 25, and is integrally molded with a heat resistant resin or the like.
For this reason, when the inner lid 4 is disengaged from the lower plate 44 and removed from the outer lid main body 3, the recovery body 40 can also be removed together if it is removed together. Can do.
The back frame 25A of the upper case 25 is integrally molded with a heat-resistant resin or the like in the same manner as the upper case 25, is in close contact with the lower surface (back surface) of the upper case 25, and forms a hollow portion 55 described later. is doing.

  An inner lid heating coil, which is an example of the heating means 10 of the inner lid 4, is installed on the upper surface of the lower plate 44 in the outer lid body 3 and is configured to inductively heat the inner lid 4 under the control of the control means 7. Yes. The hinge shaft 3a is a central axis when the outer lid body 3 is opened and closed, and both end portions are fixed to the upper frame of the rice cooker body 1 so as to be rotatable. A similar induction heating coil may be installed at a position corresponding to the upper part of the side surface of the inner pot 4 so as to heat from the upper part of the side surface of the inner pot 4 during the heat retaining step.

The outer lid body 3 is always urged to rotate about the hinge shaft 3a in the opening direction by a rotation spring (not shown) such as a string spring provided near the hinge shaft 3a.
Accordingly, by operating the release button 31 to engage the hook 49 on the front wall 30a of the main body case 30 of the rice cooker body 1 (upper left side in FIG. 1) and the hook 8 of the outer lid body 3. When removed, the outer lid main body 3 is rotated in the opening direction by the urging force of the rotating spring (not shown), and automatically stops while being opened to a position slightly beyond the vertical state.
That is, the outer lid body 3 itself maintains an open state at a position slightly exceeding 90 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the air blowing means 11, the rotation center axis of the fan is at the M position. A suction air passage 11 b communicating with a suction port of a fan case 11 a installed so as to surround the fan is partitioned in the outer lid main body 3. The suction air passage 11b may be installed with a dedicated pipe or duct.
Next, the suction port that becomes the upstream end of the suction air passage 11 b opens at a position that approaches and opposes the window 3 g that opens on the left side surface of the outer lid body 3. That is, the suction port and the window portion 3 g that become the upstream end of the suction air passage 11 b communicate with the external space of the outer lid body 3.
On the other hand, the exhaust port which becomes the downstream end of the suction air passage 11b is connected to the suction port of the fan case 11a.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the air passage 11 c is an air passage through which the air from the fan, which is the air blowing means, flows, and the exhaust port 11 d which is the downstream end of the air passage 11 c is partitioned in the rear portion of the outer lid body 3. It is connected to the hole edge portion of the exhaust hole 45e provided on the left wall surface of the formed mixing chamber 45. That is, the exhaust port 11d and the exhaust hole 45e communicate with each other, and the wind flowing down the total air passage 11c can flow out from the exhaust port 11d to the mixing chamber 45 through the exhaust hole 45e.
And the inlet used as the upstream edge part of the ventilation path 11c is connected to the blower outlet (not shown) of the said fan case 11a.

45a is the left side wall of the recess 55 formed in the upper case 25 to form the mixing chamber 45, and the back side is opened, and 45b is formed in the back frame 25A that is tightly coupled to the lower side of the upper case 25. This is the right side wall of the recess 55.
The lateral width of the hollow portion 55, that is, the facing distance S between the right side wall 45b and the left side wall 45a is set to be slightly larger than the lateral width dimension of the dew collection tool 16 described later. The exhaust hole 45e has vertical and horizontal dimensions of about 20 to 30 mm each.

  The steam path 15 communicates the steam path inlet 15a at one end of the duct 42 with the steam port 4a of the inner lid 4 so that the steam generated and flowing down in the inner pot 2 can be discharged to the mixing chamber 45, and the other end. The steam passage outlet 15b is connected so as to be in close contact with the mouth edge portion of the jet outlet 47 opened on the front wall surface of the mixing chamber 45 at the rear of the outer lid body 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the dew collection tool 16 has a container shape having a window 16a with the upper part and the front part opened by half or more, and the whole is integrally formed of heat resistant plastic.
The dew collection tool 16 includes a right side wall 16b, a left side wall 16c, an upper surface wall 16d, a back wall 16e, a rectangular bottom wall surface 16f, and a front wall 16g in plan view. Further, the rear wall 16e is provided with a knob 16h integrally projecting about 2 to 3 cm on the rear side so that the user can securely grasp the dew collection tool 16 when pulling it back.

As described above, the width of the recess 55, that is, the facing distance S between the right side wall 45b and the left side wall 45a is set slightly larger than the width of the dew collection tool 16, so that the user can The dew collection tool 16 can be easily inserted from the opening and set at a predetermined position.
That is, in a state where the dew collection tool 16 is set in the hollow portion 55, each portion is configured so that the exhaust hole 45a and the ejection port 47 face the window 16a.

Next, since the mixing chamber 45 does not introduce or discharge a high-pressure gas inside, the mixing chamber 45 is slightly between the periphery of the dew collection tool 16 and the inner wall surface of the recess 55 facing it. Even if there is a gap, the function of the mixing chamber 45 is not hindered.
That is, it is expected as a function of the dew recovery tool 16 until all of the air from the exhaust hole 45e and the vapor from the outlet 47 are mixed and the mixed gas is completely discharged from the rear outlet 17 described later. Not.
Therefore, a part of the mixed gas is allowed to slightly leak from the gap between the dew recovery tool 16 and the wall surface around the depression 55.

  In this embodiment, the maximum gap between the periphery of the dew collecting tool 16 and the inner wall surface of the recess 55 is 1 mm. In the dew collecting tool, the right side wall 16b, the left side wall 16c, the top wall 16d, the bottom wall surface 16f, and the like face the inner wall surface of the recess portion 55 with a predetermined length. Even if there is a gap, there is an effect of suppressing gas leakage and there is no practical problem.

Next, the blower outlet 17 is an opening formed in two steps on the back wall 16e. In the present embodiment, about ten pieces having a diameter of about several millimeters are formed. Two or three rectangles or ellipses having a vertical dimension of about 5 mm and a horizontal width of about several tens of mm may be provided.
The total area of all the outlets 17 is set to be larger than the total area of the exhaust holes 45e and the area of the outlet 47 provided on the front wall surface of the mixing chamber 45. The air and steam supplied from the air can be discharged smoothly.
In other words, the internal space of the dew collecting tool 16 is a space for mixing the indoor air outside the rice cooker body 1 and the high-temperature steam from the internal space of the inner pot 2. The air is continuously discharged from the air outlet 17 toward the room air.

  Further, since the exhaust hole 45e is oriented so as to intersect from the side just on the left side on an extension line passing through the outlet center of the jet outlet 47, air is directly blown from the side to the high-temperature steam jetted rearward from the jet outlet 47. It is configured to increase the degree of mixing of air with steam and to lower the temperature of steam in a short time.

Furthermore, although the height of the mixing chamber 45 is about 30 mm, the outlet 17 is distributed in the lower half of the back wall 16e of the dew collection tool. This is to prevent the air and steam that have merged inside the mixing chamber 45 from being discharged from the outlet 17 in a short time after merging.
In addition, on the extension line passing through the outlet center of the jet outlet 47, as shown in FIG. 4, the length of the discharge path can be lengthened by shifting the outlet 17 sideways without being positioned. The degree of mixing in the chamber 45 can be improved.

  Moreover, since the width of the mixing chamber 45 is about 150 mm and the depth is about 100 mm, the mixing chamber 45 has a flat shape as a whole. Mixing in such a wide space so that the high-temperature steam ejected from the outlet of the ejection port 47 and the air ejected from the exhaust hole 45e having a low temperature compared with it are sufficiently mixed and then released into the room. A chamber 45 is required.

  Further, a permanent magnet 56 is embedded so that the surface is exposed on the right side wall 16 b of the dew collection tool 16. This magnet 56 operates a magnetic sensing switch 61 of a mounting detection means 60 described later.

Next, on the outer surface of the upper case 25 of the outer lid main body 3, display means 18 for displaying various information such as a rice cooking menu and time on a display unit 19 such as a liquid crystal screen with characters and symbols, and the start of cooking Operation buttons 20 for executing cancellation, reservation, etc. are mounted.
By operating the operation button 19, the rice cooking program built in the control means 7 built in the rice cooker body 1 is executed, and the heating means 5 and the inner lid heating device 10 are operated in accordance with the progress of the rice cooking program. While stopping and implementing rice cooking, also about the ventilation means 11, operation | movement and a stop will be controlled by the control means 7 in conjunction with a rice cooking process.
These will be described in detail later.

The display circuit board 21 is a circuit board for driving the display unit 19, and the display unit case 22 is a sealing case that covers the entire lower part of the circuit board 21, and is made of a heat-resistant resin.
The display unit case 23 is formed of a heat-resistant resin, forms a space to be sealed with the upper case 25, and houses the above-described electronic components in the space, so that these components can be heated by the inner lid heating means 10. It is configured not to be adversely affected by heat.

The main body case 30 constitutes the outline of the rice cooker main body 1, and the whole is integrally formed of resin. The release button 31 is a button that releases the locked state of the outer lid. When the release button 31 is pushed in, a spring (not shown) that pushes the hook 1d that can be engaged with the hook 8 of the outer lid body 3 from behind. ), The hook 1d is retracted, the outer lid body 3 is opened, and is in a state of standing slightly behind the vertical (90 degrees) position.
The air intake holes 32 are a plurality of openings formed in the bottom surface of the rear portion of the main body case 30, for taking outside air from the outside of the main body case 30 and cooling the control means provided inside the main body case 30. is there.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a handle receiver that is integrally projected from the back wall of the main body case 30 and protrudes from the back surface of the main body case 30 by a predetermined dimension F. The actual dimension F is about 30 mm. Reference numeral 34 denotes a plurality of legs attached to or integrally formed on the bottom surface of the main body case 30.
Reference numeral 50 denotes an annular packing made of silicon rubber that is placed in a compressed state between the upper flange portion of the inner pot 2 and the inner lid 4 and maintains the airtightness of the inner space of the inner pot 2, and is attached to the inner lid 4. It has been.

  Reference numeral 51 denotes a closed space formed between the substantially annular upper frame 1b, the coil base 1c formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the back wall of the main body case 30. A heat insulating plate that divides into front and rear (divides into two), and is formed of a flame-retardant or non-flammable resin or a metal plate that does not easily rust.

52 is a small fan such as an axial fan, which sucks and introduces air from the outside of the rice cooker into the space 53 defined behind the heat insulating plate 51. It is installed right above.
Reference numeral 54 denotes a power supply board on which a power semiconductor element such as an IGBT for controlling high frequency power for induction heating or an electronic component for an inverter resonance circuit is mounted on the surface.
55 is a heat dissipating fin made of aluminum that is installed to cool electronic / electrical components that generate heat when energized, such as power semiconductor elements such as IGBTs and choke coils that constitute the control means 7, Electronic / electrical components that generate

  The power supply board 54 is installed vertically as shown in FIG. 1, a space 53 in which the wind from the small blower 52 flows in front thereof, and a space in which the wind from the small blower 52 flows also in the rear (rear side). 56 is formed. Reference numeral 57 denotes an exhaust hole through which the cooling air passing through the periphery of the power supply board 54 is discharged, and a plurality of exhaust holes 57 are formed at positions directly above the handle receiver 33.

Reference numeral 62 denotes a handle used for carrying the entire electric rice cooker, and a grip portion 62A is placed on the handle receiver 33 when not used as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 62 has a U shape in a plan view in a state where the handle 62 is tilted on the handle receiver 33, and the right side portion 62 </ b> R supported by the right wall surface of the main body case 30. The left portion 62L supported by the left wall surface and the grip portion 62A are integrally formed. The entire handle is integrally molded of resin or metal.

63R is a support shaft that is fixed so as to penetrate the right wall surface of the main body case 30, and 63L is a support shaft that is also fixed so as to penetrate the left wall surface of the main body case 30, and these two support shafts are the main body case 30. It is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the outer side and not to the outside.
As a result, the entire handle 62 can be freely rotated by the user from the vertical state around the two support shafts 63R and 63L to the rearward or lower position.

In FIG. 1, Y indicates the position of the rotation center of the handle 62 and is on the center line of the two support shafts 63R and 63L. L1 indicates the locus of the inner surface of the grip portion 62A when the handle 62 is tilted backward about the center position Y, and the upper case 25 of the outer lid body 3 and the dew collection tool 16 are shown. It does not cross the knob part 16h.
That is, when the handle 62 is tilted, it is configured not to collide with the upper case 25 or the dew collection tool 16 in the middle.

The dimension E indicates a projecting dimension from the rear wall surface of the main body case 30 when the handle 62 is supported by the handle receiver 33. Since this protruding dimension E is larger than the protruding dimension F of the handle receiver 33, the rice cooker is placed close to the wall K of the installation part such as a kitchen or a cupboard as shown in FIG. In such a case, a space corresponding to the protrusion dimension E of the handle 62 is secured behind the rice cooker.
For this reason, the exhaust hole 57 through which the cooling air is discharged and the outlet side of the outlet 17 are not blocked by the wall K.

  The locus L2 indicates the locus of the uppermost portion of the upper case 25 when the outer lid body 3 is opened by rotating around the hinge shaft 3a. A locus L3 indicates a turning locus of the knob 16h when the outer lid body 3 is opened. U represents an installation surface such as a cupboard.

  In FIG. 6, the control means 7 is mainly composed of one or a plurality of microcomputers. The microcomputer is composed of four parts: an input part, an output part, a storage part, and a CPU (arithmetic control part), and is connected to a direct current through a power supply part 65 and a constant voltage circuit part 66 connected to an AC 100V power supply. Power is supplied to play a central role in controlling the heating means 5, the inner lid heating means 10, the display means 18, the blower means 11, and the like.

In the control means 7, the operating conditions of the heating means 5 include a correlation table between the temperature of the bottom surface of the inner pot 2 and the temperature of cooked rice, each rice cooking menu (selection of white rice, no-wash rice, cooking “regular”, “hard” ”And“ Okayu ”, which is different from normal cooking rice, are stored.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, a control program for sequentially executing the four steps of “preheating step A”, “rice cooking step B”, “spotting step C”, and “heat retention step D” as a step of cooking rice is performed. It is remembered.
The rice cooking process B is comprised from the strong thermal power process B1 and the weak thermal power process B2.

One of the “operation conditions” in this embodiment is an energization condition. The energization conditions refer to the electrical and physical conditions of the heating means 5 and collectively refer to the energization time, energization amount, energization pattern (continuous energization, intermittent energization, energization rate, etc.) of the heating means 5.
Similarly, the control means 7 stores a control program for determining the energization start and energization stop timing, the energization amount, etc. of the inner lid heating means 10 so as to execute the “warming process”.

  Reference numeral 67 is a time measuring means composed of a timer or the like. A time signal output from the time measuring means is input to the control means 7 and the current time and installation time information are output to the display means 18. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display screen of the display means 18.

Reference numeral 68 denotes a drive unit including a drive circuit for the blower unit 11.
Reference numeral 69 denotes a high-frequency circuit unit for supplying a high-frequency current of about 20 to 40 KHz to the heating means 5. Then, a circuit having a resonance capacitor (not shown) is connected to the switching circuit element IGBT or the like, and on / off control is performed at a driving frequency of about 20 to 40 KHz, and a current of about 20 to 40 KHz is supplied. .
In addition, when the object to be heated is made of a material having high electrical conductivity such as aluminum or copper, in order to obtain a desired heating output, the driving frequency is further increased and turned on / off at a driving frequency of 60 to 70 KHz. It is necessary to control.
Although the inner lid heating means 10 is not shown in FIG. 6, the driving is similarly controlled by the high frequency driving unit 69.

  70 is a blowing operation sensor that physically detects the flow rate or wind pressure of the air flow flowing through the blowing passage 14 or the suction air passage 11b of the blowing means 11 or electrically detects the operating state of the blowing means. The detection output is input to the control means 7 to detect the operating state of the blower means 11. It is also possible to detect a state in which the inlet side of the suction air passage 11b is blocked by some object and a sufficient amount of air cannot be secured.

  71 detects whether a filter (not shown) for preventing intrusion of dust and foreign matter covering the inlet portion of the suction air passage 11b, that is, the inlet portion opened in the left side surface portion of the outer lid body 3, is detected. This is a filter sensor that is installed at the inlet of the suction air passage 11b. The detection output of the filter sensor is input to the control means 7.

  A magnetic sensing switch 61 emits a predetermined signal when facing the permanent magnet 56 embedded so that the surface is exposed on the right side wall 16b of the dew collecting tool 16, and this detection signal output is the control means 7 Is input. Thereby, the state in which the dew collection | recovery tool 16 is not mounted | worn at all in the hollow part 55, and the state in which mounting | wearing is incomplete can be detected.

About the electric rice cooker comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.
First, a predetermined rice and water are set in the inner pot 2, the rice cooking menu is selected with the operation button 20, and the rice cooking start button is operated to start the rice cooking process. The rice cooking process is a preheating process in which water is kept at a constant temperature and the rice absorbs water, and the inner pot 2 is heated at once by the heating means 5 to bring the water in the inner pot 2 to a boiling state, in the inner pot 2 In the state where almost no water is left, the process proceeds with an uneven process to suppress heating.
The control means 7 controls the heating means 5 optimally according to the temperature of the inner pot 2 by the temperature detection means 6, and cooks rice according to a predetermined rice cooking program. When the rice cooking process is completed, the process automatically shifts to the heat retaining process so that the temperature of the cooked rice does not decrease.

Next, the detail of the operation | movement by rice cooking program execution is demonstrated below.
Referring to FIG. 8, when cooking rice is started, preheating step A is first started. In the preheating process A, energization is started in a continuous energization pattern so that the heating means 5 initially has a strong heating power (for example, 1000 W), but the temperature inside the inner pot 2 is a predetermined temperature (less than 60 ° C. 55 in this embodiment). When the bottom temperature sensor 6 serving as the temperature detecting means detects that the temperature has reached, the information is input to the control means 7, the energization amount is suppressed to maintain 55 ° C., and the energization is intermittent. So almost no steam is generated.
Therefore, in this state, the steam mixing process (cooling process) is not performed.

The time measuring means 67 measures the elapsed time from the time when the 55 ° C. maintaining state is continued for a predetermined time or more, and the time measuring signal is input to the control means 7 to control the end time of the preheating process.
In the preheating step A, the inner pot 2 is heated, and the temperature of the water in the inner pot 2 is raised to a temperature at which rice gelatinization does not start (less than about 60 ° C.) and maintained for a predetermined time. This process is necessary to promote water absorption.

  In the next rice cooking process B, water and heat are added to rice and gelatinization is advanced. The control means 7 operates the heating means 5 to rapidly heat the inner pot 2 to bring the water in the inner pot 2 to a boiling state. Specifically, when entering the rice cooking process B, the heating power of the heating means 5 becomes strong (for example, 1100 W or 1000 W), and this is continued for a predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes or more).

Then, since the water temperature in the inner pot 2 gradually rises and the water in the inner pot 2 reaches a boiling state, high-temperature steam is continuously generated. When boiling becomes intense and the amount of steam increases, the pressure in the inner pot 2 rises above the atmospheric pressure, and the steam generated in the inner pot 2 is pushed out by the pressure and passes through the narrow through-hole 4a, and the steam path The steam enters the steam discharge path SR from the inlet 15a.
The steam that has entered the discharge path SR is separated from the effluent (mushroom), which is called an umami component, in the process of passing through the internal space of the recovery body 40, and the steam further reaches the steam path outlet 15b. And it spouts from the steam path exit 15b to the mixing chamber 45 which is a large space at once.
The term “oneba” refers to a fluid having a high viscosity in which a component such as starch in rice is dissolved in water to form a film.

As described above, the high-temperature steam that has entered the recovery body 40 through the through-hole 4a is returned to the steam flow space at the initial stage of entering the steam discharge path SR. Since it passes through the spiral passage formed by the alternately facing projections 43 or the passage formed with the narrowed portion of the curved passage, the jetted steam suddenly expands and the temperature decreases, and the torch is discharged from the through hole 4a. Even if it is done, it is dammed in front of the narrowed portion and is naturally returned from there to the through hole 4a with its own weight.
Thereby, it is suppressing that effluents other than a vapor | steam flow out from the inside of the inner pot 2 to the mixing chamber 45 side.

On the other hand, the control means 7 issues a command to the drive unit 68 from the middle of the rice cooking process to drive the blower means 11. Then, the air blowing means 11 sucks indoor air from the suction air passage 11b, pushes it out to the air blowing passage 11c, and supplies the air into the mixing chamber 45 from the exhaust hole 45e.
That is, the cold air in the room that has come via the air passage 14 is caused to collide with the steam ejected from the steam path 15 into the mixing chamber 45 from the left side.

The steam guided from the steam path 15 to the mixing chamber 45 is mixed with air at room temperature, and the air / steam mixture is discharged from the outlet 17 to the outside of the outer lid body 3. Since the vapor concentration can be reduced by mixing with air, the temperature of the discharged mixed gas is lowered.
In addition, the steam path 15 has a relationship in which the direction of the jet outlet 47 serving as the steam outlet intersects with the direction of the exhaust hole 45e communicating with the exhaust port 11d at the end of the blower path 11c at a right angle. Yes. As a result, the steam discharged from the steam path 15 is well mixed with the air, and is lightened by mixing and naturally moves to the upper side of the mixing chamber 45. It becomes easy to mix with air uniformly inside.

Furthermore, as described above, the outlet 17 is distributed in the lower half of the back wall 16e of the dew collection tool 16 in the mixing chamber 45 having an effective height of about 30 mm inside. The air and steam that have merged inside 45 are not discharged from the outlet 17 in a short time after merging, and the time for staying in the mixing chamber 45 becomes longer.
Thereby, air and a vapor | steam can be mixed more and the temperature of the exhaust_gas | exhaustion with which the vapor | steam discharged | emitted from the rice cooker main body was mixed can be reduced.

  Next, during the rice cooking step B1, the control means 7 needs to adjust the heating power in accordance with the number of rice cooking in order to set the rising speed of the water temperature to the optimum speed for cooking delicious rice. In addition, it is necessary to keep the rice at a high temperature for a certain period of time in order to make the rice sufficiently soft even after boiling, and for that reason, the first predetermined time (for example, at least 15 minutes) is the maximum heating power (for example, 1100 W). Although heating is performed by continuous energization, it is necessary to adjust the heating power in the middle to limit it.

In order to limit the heating power, the heating means 5 adjusts the heating power by heating the inner pot 2 intermittently.
That is, from the time in the middle of the rice cooking process B (this is realized by the control means 7 seeing the elapsed time from the time when it reached the boiling state), the process moves to the low-cooking rice cooking process B2, and the heating source 4 Therefore, while the heating means 5 is operating with a strong heating power, steam was continuously generated in the inner pot 2, but after the heating power was reduced, the inner pot 2 The generation of steam is reduced and may temporarily stop.
When steam is continuously generated in the inner pot 2, there is no place for the steam to move other than the steam path 15, so when the inner pot 2 is filled with steam, the pressure of the steam increases, and the steam path 15 and jetted into the mixing chamber 45.

  And at the end of the rice cooking process B2, the water inside the inner pot 2 is reduced because it has been vaporized and released so far, and the internal temperature of the inner pot 2 has been a little over 100 degrees until then. It soars to about 130 degrees. Then, since the temperature detection means (bottom temperature sensor) 6 detects such a rapid temperature rise and inputs temperature detection information to the control means 7, the control means 7 determines that rice cooking is complete.

  Then, from this stage, when rice enters the uneven process C and rice cooking proceeds, the amount of steam generated gradually decreases with time, and when cooking is completed, the inner pot 2 cools and the pressure decreases. Thereby, the pressure in the inner hook 2 returns to a state close to the original atmospheric pressure.

  In addition, the amount of steam generated during cooking varies depending on the type of rice (white rice, non-washed rice, etc.), how to cook (hardness, stickiness), and the menu (normal rice cooking and rice porridge). However, the steam generated in the process until the cooking menu is surely finished is subjected to the mixing process by the blowing means 11 as described above, and the temperature is lowered so as not to burn, for example, 55 degrees or less. Then, it is discharged from the rear part of the outer lid body 3.

  In addition, in the heat retaining step D after the unevenness process C is finished, the rice is cooled by energizing a dedicated heat retaining electric heater (small maximum heating capacity) provided separately from the heating source 5 and the inner lid heating means 10. In order to give a certain amount of heat, nothing is shown as the energization pattern of the heating source 5 in the rice cooking process diagram of FIG.

  In addition, since the outer peripheral part of the inner pot 2 and the inside of the outer lid main body 3 form a heat insulating material and a sealed space for providing heat insulation, the rice inside the inner pot 2 does not rapidly cool at room temperature. The inner lid heating means 10 that is an electric heater for heat insulation can be kept warm for a long time.

Further, in the rice cooking process, components such as starch are dissolved from water in the rice, and a thick rice cake having a film shape may pass through the projection 43 together with the steam and flow out to the downstream area. Such a rice cake moves to the outside of the mixing chamber pan 2 while being pushed by the steam flow, but bursts when a gas having a temperature sufficiently lower than the steam is applied to the rice cake.
Further, the cooling air from the blowing unit 11 continuously enters the mixing chamber 45 in accordance with the operation of the heating unit 5, and cools the ambient temperature in the mixing chamber 45 and the wall surface of the mixing chamber 45. For this reason, even if a small sprout enters, immediately after entering the mixing chamber 45, it is cooled by the wind from the blowing means 11 in the vicinity of the spout 47 and is ruptured.

  Next, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Such an operation program is stored in the operation program of the microcomputer of the control means 7. Yes.

When predetermined rice and water are set in the inner pot 2, the rice cooking menu is selected with the operation button 20, and the rice cooking start button is pressed. Done.
This pre-heating operation check is to confirm at least the following matters.
(1) Whether or not the dew collection tool 16 is set to the back of the recess 55 (in the correct position) by the magnetic sensing switch 61 of the mounting detection means 60.
(2) A filter (not shown) for preventing intrusion of dust and foreign matter covering the inlet portion of the suction air passage 11b, that is, the inlet portion opened to the left side surface portion of the outer lid body 3 is correctly installed by the filter sensor 71. Whether it has been.
(3) Whether the temperature of the inner pot is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature by the bottom temperature sensor 6.

  If there is an abnormality as a result of the check before the heating operation in ST2, processing in ST14 to ST16 is performed. If normal, the display unit 18 displays the heating operation in ST3. For example, a display “start cooking rice” is indicated by characters, symbols, figures, or the like. At the same time, a buzzer or a voice guide device (not shown) may be driven to notify the start of cooking with synthetic voice or the like.

(If there is no abnormality as a result of the pre-heating operation check in ST2)
In ST4, the preheating step A is started. After a predetermined time from the start of the preheating step A, the temperature change of the inner pot 2 is detected by the bottom temperature sensor 6, and in ST5, the temperature increase rate is detected from the relationship between the predetermined time and the increased temperature, and the amount of rice cooked and rice Species are determined (ST6). For example, if the amount of rice and water is large, it is determined that the amount of cooked rice is large.

Next, the amount of cooked rice and the rice type are determined in ST6, an optimal energization pattern is selected according to the result, and the preheating process is started (ST7).
Next, it is determined whether or not a certain time has elapsed since the temperature of the inner pot 2 has reached a predetermined temperature (55 ° C.) (ST8), and when the set time has elapsed, the rice cooking process B is started. (ST9).

  Next, in the rice cooking process B, the high thermal power process B1 and the weak thermal power process B2 are performed, and when the amount of water in the inner pot 2 decreases, the temperature rises rapidly, so the temperature of the inner pot 2 is detected by the bottom temperature sensor 6. Then, it is determined whether or not the predetermined rice cooking end temperature has been reached (ST10), and when the predetermined temperature is exceeded, the process proceeds to the unevenness process C (ST11).

Next, the unevenness process C is performed for a predetermined time, and it is determined whether or not the time has elapsed (ST12). When the unevenness time is over, the display means 18 displays and informs the end of the rice cooking operation. Perform (ST13). For example, the indication “cooked rice is finished” is displayed with characters, symbols, figures, and the like. At the same time, a buzzer or a voice guide device (not shown) may be driven to notify the end of rice cooking with synthesized voice or the like.
In addition, after ST13, rice cooking is complete | finished and it transfers to a heat retention process automatically.

(If there is an abnormality as a result of the pre-heating check in ST2)
If there is an abnormality as a result of the check before the heating operation in ST2, the display means 18 displays and notifies that there is an abnormality (ST14). For example, an explanation of an abnormality content such as “The dew collection tool is not set correctly” and a display indicating a correction method are displayed with characters, symbols, figures, and the like. At the same time, a voice guide device (not shown) may be driven to notify the contents of the abnormality and the correction method thereof by synthetic voice or the like.

After this display / notification process, an abnormality is checked again after a certain time, for example, 1 minute later (ST15). If no abnormality is found, the process proceeds to ST4 and the preheating step A is started.
If an abnormality is detected again, it is determined that it is dangerous to perform the rice cooking operation, and an abnormal stop process (ST16) is performed.
The abnormal stop process is, for example, displaying and notifying that an abnormality has been detected again on the display means 18, and even if the user operates a rice cooking start button or the like, Without being effective, the control means 7 prohibits the start of the rice cooking operation.

Although not shown in FIG. 7, in the rice cooking process B, the flow rate or the wind pressure of the air flow flowing through the air passage 14 of the air blowing means 11 or the suction air passage 11 b is measured by the air blowing operation sensor 70. It is physically detected or the operating state of the air blowing means is electrically detected.
If it is detected that the air blowing amount of the air blowing means 11 is reduced, the control means 7 suppresses the heating amount of the heating means 5, that is, the heating power, and the steam generated from the inner pot 2 is continuously large. A correction order is issued so as not to occur.
If it is detected that the operation of the air blowing means 11 is not performed, the rice cooking process B does not stop halfway, but the user may be discharged with high-temperature steam to the rear part of the outer lid body 3. Call attention.

As described above, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when the handle 62 is tilted backward, the grip portion 62 </ b> A does not contact the upper case 25 of the outer lid body 3 and the dew collection tool 16. .
In other words, when the handle 62 is rotated backward about the rotation center Y, the outer lid body 3 is completely closed, and the dew collection tool 16 is set in the correct position. Will not collide.
In other words, if the dew collection tool 16 is not set at the correct position, the handle 62 hits the dew collection tool 16 in the middle. It is possible to know whether the installation status of 16 is correct.
There is no need to bother to check the insertion position of the dew collecting tool 16 around the rear wall surface of the main body case 30 and to turn the rear surface of the rice cooker main body 1 toward you.

Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when the outer lid body 3 is opened by rotating around the hinge shaft 3a by removing the hook 49, the uppermost portion of the upper surface of the upper case 25 is opened. The locus L2 is outside the rotation locus L3 of the knob portion 16h when the outer lid body 3 is opened.
For this reason, even if there is the handle receiver 33, there is some hard projection or furniture (hereinafter referred to as “rear object”) behind the installation portion of the electric rice cooker, and the rear portion of the outer lid body 3 collides with it. Even in such a case, it is possible to avoid the dew collecting tool 16 from colliding with an object behind.

In general, the outer lid body 3 has an outer case formed of a hard structure including the upper case 25 for the purpose of protecting the built-in structure and securely sealing the upper portion of the inner pot 2. On the other hand, since the dew collecting tool 16 secures the mixing space 45, it may be formed in a box or container shape with a thin resin or the like, so that when the outer lid body 3 is opened vigorously. When it collides with a rear object, a strong external force that can be lifted from behind is applied, which may cause cracking or deformation.
However, in the first embodiment, as described above, there is an effect that the upper case 25 collides with the rear structure, so that damage or deformation due to the collision of the dew collection tool 16 can be avoided.

  Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the exhaust hole 45 e through which the indoor air is introduced from the air blowing means 11 is located on the extension line passing through the outlet center of the jet outlet 47 from the side of the left side. Because of the crossing direction, air is blown directly from the side to the high-temperature steam jetted backward from the jet outlet 47, and the effect of increasing the mixing degree of air to the steam and lowering the steam temperature in a short time is there.

  Furthermore, in this Embodiment 1, since the said blower outlet 17 which discharges | emits the vapor | steam which finally mixed air and lowered temperature is distributed only in the lower half of the back wall 16e of the dew collection | recovery tool 16. There is an effect that the air and steam that have joined together inside the mixing chamber 45 become lighter and rise after joining and can be prevented from being discharged from the outlet 17 in a short time.

  Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the blower outlet 17 is not positioned on the extension line passing through the outlet center of the jet outlet 47 from which the steam is jetted, and the right side in FIG. Since the length of the discharge path is lengthened by shifting, the degree of mixing of air and steam in the mixing chamber 45 can be similarly improved.

Further, in the first embodiment, the lower surface opening of the outer lid body 3 is closed with a flat lower plate 44, and an inner lid 4 is provided below the lower plate so as to be removable from the lower plate. If the inner lid 4 is removed from the lower plate 44, that is, the outer lid body 3, the collected body 40 can be removed integrally.
Therefore, these two parts are convenient to wash at the same time. Further, there is an advantage that there is no possibility of losing the recovered body, which is a small part compared to the inner lid 4.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the form of the dew collecting tool 16 has a window 16 a that is open at least half on the upper side and the front side. In addition, the cleaning brush, fingers and the like reach, and the dew collection tool 16 can be cleaned and washed to keep it clean.
Further, when the outer lid main body 3 is completely opened, the outer lid main body 3 remains in a position inclined slightly backward from the vertical state with the hinge shaft 3a as a fulcrum. For this reason, at the time of such opening, the dew collection tool 16 is slightly tilted backwards slightly beyond the vertical state, but there is very little condensation that accumulates in the inside of the dew collection tool 16 with a single rice cook, The amount of water does not become as large as several tens of CC, and the position of the blowout port 17 is located at a certain distance from the surface of the bottom wall surface 16f and is formed on the back wall 16e away from the front wall 16g. Therefore, condensation does not drop from the outlet 17.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 shows a rice cooker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 9, the dew collection tool 16 of the electric rice cooker in this Embodiment 2 is formed from a pair of upper and lower parts having the same planar shape. That is, the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U are formed by integral molding of resin, and they are connected face to face.

At the end portions of the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U facing each other on the facing surface BL side, notches are respectively formed symmetrically with respect to the mating surface BL. Then, the air outlet 17, the air introduction hole 16 j, and the steam introduction hole 16 h are formed by mating at the facing surface BL of the upper case 16 T and the lower case 16 U.
When molding the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U as described above, for example, the mold can be formed by using a mold composed of an upper mold and a lower mold, so that the mold can have a simple configuration.
That is, for example, it is possible to mold the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U without using a complicated mechanism such as a slide mechanism used for forming a molded product having a through hole.

Here, in the present embodiment, the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U are formed of different molding dies so as to have a symmetrical shape, but are formed of the same mold. You may comprise the dew collection | recovery tool 16 by couple | bonding a case by the mating surface BL.
In this case, since the upper case and the lower case have exactly the same shape, two air introduction holes 16j and two steam introduction holes 16h are formed in the dew collection tool 16, but the dew collection tool 16 is formed in the recess 55. There is no problem if the unnecessary air introduction hole 16j and the steam introduction hole 16h are configured to be covered by the wall surface constituting the depression 55 when the is attached.
Further, the air introduction hole 16j and the steam introduction hole 16h that are formed excessively may be used by being covered with a cover or the like.

Moreover, you may comprise the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U so that attachment or detachment is possible. By comprising in this way, a cleaning brush, fingers, etc. reach the inside of the dew collection | recovery tool 16, and the dew collection | recovery tool 16 can be cleaned and wash | cleaned and can be kept clean.
In addition, when the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U are configured to be detachable, each may be connected by an opening / closing tool such as a hinge, or may be fitted and connected to each other. With this configuration, even if the dew collection tool 16 is disassembled, the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U, which are the respective parts, do not fall apart and are easy to manage. Further, by allowing the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U to be fitted and coupled, it becomes easy to correctly assemble the dew collection tool 16.

As in the first embodiment, the introduction hole 16j formed as described above is formed at a position facing the exhaust hole 45e, and the introduction hole 16h is located at a position facing the ejection port 47. Is formed.
Accordingly, the indoor air is introduced into the mixing chamber 45 from the air introduction hole 16j, and the steam from the inside of the inner pot 2 is introduced into the mixing chamber 45 from the steam introduction hole 16h.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 10 shows a rice cooker according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 10, the dew collection tool 16 of the electric rice cooker according to the third embodiment is provided with a flange portion 16 m that protrudes by a predetermined dimension J on the upper portion, and a user grasps it below the outlet 17. An easy-to-use knob portion 16p and a concave groove 16n are integrally formed in front of the knob portion.

The concave groove 16n can receive dew condensation in the event of dripping from the air outlet 17, thereby avoiding wetting or soiling the back surface of the main body case 30. .
In addition, all the blower outlets 17 are diagonally downward so that it may go down as it goes outside. Further, the overhanging portion 16m is provided with the role of the knob portion 16h in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the role of the handle receiver 33 (that is, the handle receiver 33 is omitted).

  Furthermore, in this third embodiment, a protrusion (bank) 16s having a predetermined height extending over the entire width of the back wall 16e is integrally formed at a distance from the surface of the bottom wall surface 16f by a certain dimension. A dew stop 16t is provided below the ridge.

Because of such a configuration, in addition to obtaining the effect as in the first embodiment, even if dew condensation occurs in the mixing chamber 45 due to the mixing of steam and room air, the dew is surely exposed. It can be stored in the collection tool 16.
That is, when the outer lid body 3 is completely opened, the outer lid body 3 remains in a position slightly tilted backward from the vertical state with the hinge shaft 3a as a fulcrum. It will be slightly tilted back slightly beyond the vertical state.
At this time, even if dew condensation on the bottom wall surface 16f of the dew collecting tool 16 is accumulated, the dew collecting tool 16 rotates integrally when the outer lid body 3 is opened. It collects in the dew stopper 16t that becomes a groove. Therefore, the condensed water does not reach the outlet 17 and drop from there.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 11 shows a rice cooker according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 11, the dew collection tool 16 of the electric rice cooker according to the fourth embodiment has a double wall at the rear part of the upper case 25, and a rear surface (rear surface) of a recess 55 formed below the wall. ) Side opening and stably placed in the recess 55.
An air layer AS for heat insulation is formed in the middle of the double wall. This air layer may or may not communicate with the outside of the outer lid main body 3.

The dew collecting tool 16 is formed of a pair of upper and lower parts having the same planar shape as the dew collecting tool 16 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, and the upper case 16T and the lower case 16U are made of resin. These are formed by integral molding, and they are detachably coupled facing each other.
Although not shown as a means for detachably coupling, for example, a resilient claw is formed on the peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the upper case 16T, and on the other hand, a hook that engages with the claw is provided at a position facing the claw. A configuration in which a (鉤) -shaped latch is integrally formed or attached to another part and this latch is engaged and disengaged from the claw is one proposal.

And the blower outlet 17 is formed in the ceiling wall surface (upper surface wall) 16d of the upper case 16T.
The ceiling wall surface (upper surface wall) 16d of the upper case 16T is close to the lower surface of the rear double wall of the upper case 25 from the side close to the steam outlet 47 to a predetermined range, but the rear part is lowered one step from the middle. Therefore, a predetermined space BS is formed between the double walls, and this space becomes an exhaust passage for the mixed gas from the air outlet 17.

  Reference numeral 16p denotes a knob similar to the knob 16p in the third embodiment shown in FIG. The surface side of the blowout port 17 of the dew recovery tool is covered with a fine filter (not shown) for preventing invasion of insects including dust and scum. The filter is bonded to the ceiling wall surface (upper surface wall) 16d of the upper case 16T so that it does not fall off even if the entire dew collecting tool 16 is washed with water or the like.

  Because of such a configuration, in addition to obtaining the effect as in the first embodiment, even if the temperature in the mixing chamber 45 rises due to mixing of steam and room air, it corresponds to the mixing chamber 45. Since the upper case 25 in the position has a double wall structure, it is difficult for the temperature to be transmitted to the upper surface of the outer lid body 3, and the user feels uneasy when the temperature of the outer lid body 3 rises and the user touches it. There is nothing.

In addition, the recessed portion 55 is formed below a predetermined dimension from the upper surface position of the structure (outer case 25) that constitutes the outline of the outer lid main body, and in the state where the dew collection tool 16 is attached to the outer lid main body 3, The dew collection tool 16 does not appear on the surface of the outer lid body 3 when the outer lid body 3 is viewed obliquely from above and forward.
Therefore, there is an effect that the design image is not impaired by the visibility of the dew collection tool 16. Specifically, in Embodiment 4 of FIG. 11, when the depression angle Θ is viewed at least 30 degrees, the dew collection tool 16 is not visible, but the user is near the rice cooker body 30 from above. Assuming the case of viewing, it is more preferable that the depression angle Θ is not visible even at 60 degrees.

  As other embodiments, the surface of the filter and the dew collecting device 16 of the fourth embodiment, particularly the surface of the rim portion of the blowout port 17 and the surface of the inlet portion of the suction air passage 11b of the blowing means 11 are used. You may apply a cockroach repellent. As repellents used for electric and electronic component materials, for example, those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-31971 are known.

  Further, as another embodiment, if the suction air passage 1b and the exhaust air passage 1c as shown in the embodiment 1 are formed in a downward slope as they approach the mixing chamber 45, the suction air passage 1b and the exhaust air passage The effect that dew does not flow out to the side surface of the rice cooker can be obtained even if condensation occurs in the middle of 1c.

  In each embodiment, the bottom wall surface 16f of the dew collecting tool 16 is not described in detail. However, the bottom wall surface 16f is not necessarily flat and may be inclined toward a specific part. Moreover, a drainage hole is formed in a part of the bottom wall surface of the dew collecting tool 16, and the drainage hole is guided to the inside of the rice cooker body 1, for example, the outer peripheral part of the inner pot 2, and another dew receiving container is provided as a guide destination. Alternatively, a dent may be provided, and the dew may be evaporated or cleaned.

  As described above, the rice cooker according to the present invention is capable of making both deliciously cooked rice and sufficiently mixing steam and air to lower the temperature of discharged steam. Applicable to.

1 Rice cooker body, 1a Pan storage part, 2 Pan, 3 Outer lid body, 3a Hinge shaft,
3b outer lid body top surface, 4 inner lid, 4a through hole, 5 inner pot heating means,
5a bottom inner coil, 5b bottom outer coil, 6 bottom temperature sensor, 7 control means,
9 Lid temperature sensor, 10 Inner lid heating means, 11 Blower means, 11b Suction air passage,
11c air passage, 11d exhaust hole, 15 steam passage, 15a steam passage inlet,
15b Steam channel outlet, 16 Dew recovery tool, 16b Right side wall, 16c Left side wall,
16d top wall, 16e back wall, 16f bottom wall, 16g front wall, 16s ridge,
16t dew stopper, 17 outlet, 18 display means, 19 display, 20 operation buttons,
21 display circuit board, 22 display case, 23 heat insulation case, 24 operation means,
25 upper case, 25A back frame, 30 body case, 30a front wall,
31 Release button, 32 Air intake hole, 33 Handle receiver, 34 legs,
35, 40 Please collect, 41 Packing, 42 Duct, 43 Projection, 44 Lower plate,
45 mixing chamber, 47 spout, 49 hook, 50 packing, 51 heat insulating plate,
52 axial fan, 53 space, 54 power supply board, 55 recess, 56 permanent magnet,
57 exhaust hole, 60 mounting detection means, 61 magnetic sensing switch, 62 handle,
63R right support shaft, 63L left support shaft, 65 power supply unit, 66 constant voltage circuit unit 66,
68 driving means for air blowing means, 69 high frequency circuit section, 70 air blowing operation sensor,
71 sensor for filter, A preheating process, B rice cooking process, C uneven process,
D heat retention process, E protrusion dimension, F protrusion dimension, AS air layer, BS space,
CL center line, L1 locus, L2 locus, L3 locus, S facing distance, U installation surface,
X Center point position, SR Steam discharge path.

Claims (11)

In the outer lid body that covers the opening of the rice cooker body containing the inner pot so as to be freely opened and closed, a blowing means communicating with the indoor space,
An air passage connected to the air blowing means;
A mixing chamber in which one end is connected to the air passage and the other end communicates with the outside of the outer lid;
Heating means for heating the inner pot;
Control means for controlling the heating means and the blowing means;
A steam path that guides the steam generated in the inner pot in the rice cooking process executed by the control means to the mixing chamber;
With
The mixing chamber is formed inside a dew collection tool that is detachably attached to a recess formed in a rear portion of the outer lid body.
This dew recovery tool has a blowout port that discharges the mixed gas of the steam guided from the steam path and the air of the indoor space guided from the blower path to the indoor space, and is removed from the recess An electric rice cooker comprising an opening that automatically opens at least a part of the upper surface of the mixing space. In the outer lid body that covers the opening of the rice cooker body containing the inner pot so as to be freely opened and closed, a blowing means communicating with the indoor space,
An air passage connected to the air blowing means;
A mixing chamber in which one end is connected to the air passage and the other end communicates with the outside of the outer lid;
Heating means for heating the inner pot;
Control means for controlling the heating means and the blowing means;
A steam path that guides the steam generated in the inner pot in the rice cooking process executed by the control means to the mixing chamber;
With
The mixing chamber is formed inside a dew collection tool that is detachably attached to a recess formed in a rear portion of the outer lid body.
This dew recovery tool has a blow-out port for discharging a mixed gas of the steam guided from the steam path and the air of the indoor space guided from the blower path into the indoor space, and is removed from the recess The electric rice cooker is characterized in that it has a lid that can be opened only in the case, and when the lid is opened, the mixed space is opened to the outside.   The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outlet of the dew recovery tool is covered with a filter for preventing intrusion of dust, dust, and the like.   The air flow path is arranged so that the flow of air introduced into the mixing chamber intersects the flow of the steam flow immediately after being jetted from the steam path into the mixing chamber. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2.   The steam path is configured to eject steam from the front to the rear with respect to the mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber has a rear surface having the outlet with respect to a height from a bottom surface to a ceiling surface. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the depth to the wall is twice or more.   The rice cooker main body includes a handle having a grip portion that is rotatably supported on both side surfaces of the rice cooker and can be gripped by a user. When the handle is rotated backward, the grip portion The electric rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rice cooker is configured to extend to the rear of the rice cooker body with a predetermined distance from the rearmost part of the outer lid body.   When the handle is rotated backward in a state where the dew collecting tool is mounted on the rear part of the outer lid body, the grip part is spaced apart from the rearmost part of the outer lid body and the dew collecting tool by a predetermined distance. When the handle is turned rearward when the dew collecting tool is in a state of protruding backward without being attached to a predetermined position, the grip portion 7. The electric rice cooker according to claim 6, wherein the abutment comes into contact with the dew collecting tool.   The said control means performs the operation | movement which starts the driving | operation of the said ventilation means based on the information of the temperature sensor which detects whether the temperature inside the said inner pot exceeded predetermined temperature. Electric rice cooker.   The said control means does not start a rice cooking process, when it is detected that it is not mounted | worn based on the information of the mounting sensor which detects whether the said dew collection | recovery tool was mounted | worn with the outer cover main body. Claim | item 1 or 2 electric rice cookers.   When the dew collecting tool is attached to the outer lid body, when the outer lid body is viewed from the front at an angle of depression of 30 degrees or less, the outer cover body has an outer contour so that no contour appears on the surface of the outer lid body. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric rice cooker is installed at a lower position from an upper surface position of a structure that constitutes. The rice cooker body,
An inner pot stored in the main body,
An outer lid main body rotatably supported via a hinge shaft at the rear of the main body to cover the upper surface opening of the inner pot so as to be freely opened and closed;
Blower means housed in the outer lid body and communicated with the indoor space;
An air passage connected to the air blowing means;
A mixing chamber in which one end is connected to the air passage and the other end communicates with the outside of the outer lid;
Heating means for heating the inner pot;
Control means for controlling the heating means and the blowing means;
A steam path that guides the steam generated in the inner pot in the rice cooking process executed by the control means to the mixing chamber;
With
The mixing chamber is formed inside a dew collection tool that is detachably attached to a recess formed in a rear portion of the outer lid body.
This dew recovery tool is provided with a blow-out port on the back wall that can discharge a mixed gas of the steam guided from the steam path and the air of the indoor space guided from the blower path to the indoor space,
When the outer lid main body is opened rearward around the hinge axis, the rotation trajectory of the structure constituting the outer lid main body passes behind the rotation trajectory of the dew collection tool. An electric rice cooker characterized by being configured as described above.

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