JP3052854B2 - Electric hot water storage container - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric hot water storage container having a heater for heating a content liquid, a water amount detecting means for detecting a water amount of the content liquid, and a water amount display means for electrically displaying the detected water amount. Is used, for example, as a household electric pot.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The above water amount display means displays the water amount by electrically controlling the lighting state of a lamp according to the water amount detected by the water amount detection means. Regardless of the internal structure, the water amount can be displayed on any part of the outer surface, and the lighting of the lamp allows the user to recognize this even in a dark environment. Further, when a large number of lamps are lit and displayed, the amount of water can be realistically displayed in multiple stages by the number of lit lamps, and the increase or decrease in the water amount can be realistically displayed by the increase or decrease in the number of lit lamps.

On the other hand, the electric hot water storage container has an electric pouring function, a timer function for obtaining a boiling liquid at a set time, and a cooking device which measures the completion time of instant noodles or the like using the boiling liquid and informs the user of the time. As the time display function is provided, the number of functions has been increased, and it has become more convenient.

[0004]

However, with the above-mentioned multi-functionality, in addition to the water amount display, a display for selecting each function and a display for distinguishing an operation state of each function. Is required, the display and the configuration for the display are complicated, causing an increase in cost, and an attempt is made to use a large number of lamps to display the water amount display, the set time, and the elapsed time in multiple stages. Then, the display structure becomes more complicated, and it is difficult to apply to a relatively small electric hot water storage container such as a household electric pot because the display space is limited.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric hot water storage container capable of displaying a multifunctional display with a simple structure.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric hot water storage container, comprising: a heater for heating a content liquid; and a water amount detection means for detecting a water amount of the content liquid. , A display means using a lamp, first control means for displaying the detected water amount in a stepwise manner by a lamp of the water amount display means, and an electric pump for discharging the content liquid, comprising an AC power supply and A power supply circuit that has a secondary battery or primary battery that is charged by an AC power supply and has the secondary battery or primary battery as a power supply only when there is no AC power supply connected, and a power supply circuit that supplies power from the secondary battery or the primary battery. 1
And a third control means for stopping the display of the amount of water by the control means, and displaying the amount of water by the lamp of the amount of water display means for a predetermined time only when the electric pump is driven. is there.

In such a configuration, while the content liquid is heated by the heater to store hot water, the detected water amount is displayed stepwise by the water amount display means using a lamp by the first control means. The third control means stops the water amount display by the first control means only when the power is supplied from the secondary battery or the primary battery, and the secondary battery or the primary battery by the display means having a relatively high capacity. The water consumption is displayed for a predetermined time only when the electric pump is driven while suppressing the power consumption of the power supply, so that the change in the remaining amount of the content liquid can be confirmed and the content liquid can be supplied based on the change.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric hot water storage container comprising a heater for heating the content liquid, a water amount detecting means for detecting the amount of water in the content liquid, a display means using a lamp, and a water amount display means for displaying the detected water amount. A first control means for displaying a step by a lamp, an electric pump for discharging the content liquid, and a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the content liquid, comprising an AC power supply and a secondary battery charged by the AC power supply. A power supply circuit that has a secondary battery or primary battery and works as a power source only when there is no AC power supply connection, and a low-temperature area where the liquid content is incompatible with discharge when power is supplied from the secondary or primary battery. In this case, there is provided a fourth control means for stopping the display of the amount of water by the first control means and displaying a discharge incompatibility.

In such a configuration, the amount of water detected is displayed stepwise by means of a water amount display means using a lamp by the first control means while the content liquid is heated by the heater and stored. While confirming the operation, the electric pump is operated appropriately to discharge and use the liquid until it becomes a water-absorbing state.However, the power supply circuit is in a power supply state from the secondary battery or the primary battery, and the temperature of the liquid is unsuitable for discharging. At this time, the fourth control means stops the display of the amount of water by the first control means and indicates that the discharge is incompatible due to the low temperature. Therefore, when the secondary battery or the primary battery is the power supply, It is considered that it is often designed not to keep the content liquid in order to suppress consumption.
The user can judge without difficulty from the difference between the non-stop and the stop of the water amount display, and can cope with it in a timely manner.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second aspect of the present invention, when the content liquid is in a low-temperature region where the discharge is incompatible with the secondary battery or the primary battery during the power supply, the fifth control means is provided. Since the discharge pump is not driven, despite the display of the discharge improper state due to the stoppage of the water amount display,
Even if the user tries to discharge the content liquid by operating the electric pump, the fact that the content liquid cannot be discharged informs the user that the discharge is incompatible, and a low-temperature range that is not suitable for use. Waste of discharging the content liquid as it is can be avoided.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some embodiments of the electric hot water storage container of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 13 show a first embodiment. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the content liquid is heated by the heater 3 to perform water heating and heat retention, and the content liquid can be discharged to the outside of the body 6 through the outlet path 7 by the electric pump 14 and used. 1 shows a case of a household electric pot to be used. The container 6 is formed by housing an inner container 2 made of an aluminum plate or a stainless steel plate in an outer member 1 made of a synthetic resin, and connecting the outer member 1 and the inner container 2 with each other at both mouths. 6
A bearing portion 32 is provided at a rear portion of the synthetic resin shoulder member 8, and the bearing portion 32 pivotally supports the lid 31 of the body 6 so that the lid 31 can be opened and closed by a shaft 33. The lid 31 is urged in the opening direction by a spring (not shown).

The lid 31 is provided with a locking member 36 provided at a free end thereof.
The closed state is maintained by engaging with a. When the lock release member 37 is pulled up so as to rotate the pivot 37a counterclockwise, the lock member 36 is retracted by a cam (not shown) against the spring 36a, and the engagement with the locking portion 8a is stopped. The lid 31 is released, and the lid 31 is immediately opened with the urging of the spring, with the lifting operation of the unlocking member 37. Therefore, even if the user releases his / her hand immediately after the lifting operation of the unlocking member 37, the locking member 36 holds the locking portion 8a. To prevent the lid 31 from being locked in the closed state.

The lid 31 is made of synthetic resin and is formed hollow by combining a surface plate 139 and a lower plate 39. An inner lid 34 made of a stainless steel plate is attached below the lower plate 39, and the lid 31 is in a closed state. This inner lid 34 closes the mouth of the inner container 2. Inner lid 3
4 is provided with a seal packing 35 sandwiched between the inner cover 3 and the inner cover 3.
Seal the space between 4 and the mouth of the inner container 2.

Between the lower plate 39 of the lid 31 and the inner lid 34,
A steam vent passage 239 communicating from the inside of the inner container 2 to the outside of the lid 31 is provided to prevent the internal pressure from being abnormally increased by the steam generated in the inner container 2. Steam vent passage 239
Has a plurality of vents 9a opening into the inner container 2,
A vent 239b to the outside is provided at one position near the rear, and one of the vents 239a is provided so as to be the lowest at the center of the other, and this lowest vent 23
A water stop valve 40 for overturning is provided in the portion 9a to prevent the content liquid from flowing out through the vapor vent passage 239 when the container 6 is turned over.

The electric pump 14 is located in the middle of the outlet path 7 and immediately below the discharge port 2a of the inner container 2 to which the outlet path 7 is connected.
Of the so-called pumping type. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any type of electric pump can be used. For example, it is also possible to supply pressurized air into the inner container 2 by an electric pump to push out the content liquid to the outlet path 7 and discharge it from the discharge port 11.

The lead-out path 7 rises between the inner container 2 and the exterior body 1 and reaches a beak-shaped protruding portion 9 which protrudes in a beak shape to the front surface of the container body 6 provided on the shoulder member 8. The discharge port 11 is opened downward in the section 9, and the liquid discharged from the discharge port 11 flows downward to the outside through a liquid injection port 13 formed at the bottom of the beak-shaped protrusion 9, and is injected. It has become.

Since the rising portion of the lead-out path 7 has the same water level as the water level in the inner container 2, a water amount detecting means 173 for electrically automatically detecting this water level by a photocoupler system is provided. The water amount detecting means 173 is provided with a light projecting device 173a and a light receiving device 173b on both sides of a rising portion 7a which is a transparent tube of the lead-out path 7, and the light from the light transmitting device 173a determines whether or not there is a liquid in the rising portion 7a. The refraction state when traversing the rising portion 7a differs depending on the difference, and the amount of water is determined from the electric signal when the light receiver 173b receives or does not receive light from the light transmitter 173a. ing.

However, in the photocoupler system, a float may be provided in the rising portion 7a, and a height position corresponding to the water amount may be detected to determine the water amount. In addition, a reed switch provided in multiple stages outside the rising portion 7a may or may not respond to the magnet provided in the float for detecting the height position of the float depending on the height position of the float. Can also determine the amount of water. Further, it is also possible to determine the amount of water by detecting the capacitance corresponding to the amount of water in the content liquid.

The amount of water detected by the water amount detecting means 173 is equal to that of the display panel 22 made of synthetic resin provided on the front surface of the container 6.
To be displayed. The display panel 22 has six Ls arranged vertically.
The amount of water determined by the ED lamps 22a to 22f is displayed in stages. However, the number of lamps and the display method can be selected for the transfer. Immediately above the water amount detecting means 173 using the rising portion 7a of the lead-out path 7, a valve chamber 16 accommodating the water stop valve 15 at the time of falling is provided.
When the container 6 rolls over, the content liquid is prevented from flowing out to the outside through the outlet path 7.

An operation panel 122 is provided on the upper surface of the beak-shaped protruding portion 9 for setting various modes, performing operations such as discharging of a liquid content, and displaying related thereto. Inside the operation panel 122, there are provided an operation board 20 having switches to be pressed from the operation panel 122, LED lamps for various displays, and necessary connection patterns. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel 122 has a hot water supply key 70 for discharging the content liquid, a hot water supply lock / unlock key 71 for preventing or releasing the discharge of the content liquid, and cooking of instant noodle cup noodles. Cup noodle timer key 72 for setting time, boiling / descaling key 73 for switching and setting between re-boil and descaling, and keeping temperature at 95 ° C.
Temperature setting key 7 for setting either the temperature or 75 ° C
4. A good night timer key 75 for setting the time until the start of using the content liquid after boiling, an LED lamp 71a for displaying a hot water supply lock state, an LED lamp 72a for displaying a cup noodle mode setting state, a boiling mode and descaling mode. LED lamps 73a and 73b for displaying the temperature and the LED lamp 7 for displaying whether the heat retention temperature is 95 ° C. or 75 ° C.
4a, 74b and an LED lamp 75a for indicating that the sleep timer is set.

In this connection, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation board 20 has a hot water supply key 70, a hot water supply lock / unlock key 71, a cup noodle timer key 72, a boiling / descaling removal key 73, and a heat retention temperature setting key 74. A hot water supply switch 80, a hot water supply lock / unlock switch 81, a cup noodle timer switch 82, a boiling / descaling removal switch 83, and a heat retention temperature setting switch 84, which are turned on by opposing key operations, are mounted on the operation panel. 12
2 are also mounted with various LED lamps 71a to 75a. A discharge switch 21 is provided, and the discharge key 2
By pressing the button 3, the discharge key 23 is turned on so that the electric pump 14 is driven.

A circuit box 1c is integrally formed downward at an opening 1b of a bottom 1a integrally formed at the lower end of the exterior body 1 made of synthetic resin, and a heater 3 is provided in the circuit box 1c.
And a drive control electronic circuit board 5 of a control circuit 19 for controlling the drive of the electric pump 14 in accordance with a setting mode and various operations on the operation panel 122. Bottom 1
A bottom cover 18 made of a synthetic resin is attached to the opening 1b, and a rotary seat 24 is fitted to the bottom cover 18. A temperature sensor 4 is applied to the lower surface of the inner container 2 together with the heater 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 19 includes a power supply circuit 5 using a household AC power supply 51 and a secondary battery 55 in combination.
3, while the AC power supply 51 is connected, and when the power load is small, the secondary battery 55 is charged and the power is supplied from the AC power supply while the AC power supply 51 is not connected. 55 is supplied. In addition, while power is being supplied from the secondary battery 55, the power supply to the heater 3 is stopped to suppress power consumption, and when the temperature of the content liquid drops to a low temperature range where use is not endurable, the discharge of the content liquid is restricted. In this case, it is easy to cope with this, and the wasteful discharge of the content liquid is prevented.

As shown in FIG. 2, the secondary battery 55 is
Is detachably housed in an empty space 8b provided at the lower portion of the bearing portion 32, and when the life has expired, the bottom plate 52 can be removed and replaced. This is because the secondary battery 55 reaches the end of its life when charging is repeated more than a predetermined number of times.

The electric pump 14 is a DC electric pump,
Together with the microcomputer 56, a DC circuit is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply circuit 53 of the control circuit 19 has an AC circuit section that supplies the AC from the AC power supply 51 to the warming heater 3 a, the boiling heater 3 b, and the DC power supply circuit 57 in which the heater 3 is separately provided. doing. The DC power supply circuit 57 converts the AC from the AC power supply 51 to a predetermined DC voltage via the transformer 54 and supplies power to the DC circuit unit.
While the AC power supply 51 is connected and the control circuit 19 is in a state of a small power load, the secondary battery 55 is charged through the charging circuit 58 while the power from the AC power supply 51 to the warming heater 3a and the boiling heater 3b is supplied. When the power load of power supply is large, the power supply is performed without charging the secondary battery 55.

Power is supplied from the DC power supply circuit 51 of the first embodiment to the pump circuit 59 via the booster circuit 60.
Although the necessary voltage is ensured, it is also possible to generate a required type of DC voltage by the DC power supply circuit 57 and supply it to the pump circuit 59 directly.

Whether the AC power supply 51 is connected or not is determined by a signal from a reset circuit 162 connected between the AC circuit section and the microcomputer 56, and it is determined whether the AC power supply 51 is connected or not. The above control difference is automatically switched. The heating heater 3a is energized under control of the microcomputer 56 through the triac 61 so as to achieve the setting mode and the heating mode according to the program, and the boiling heater 3b is controlled by the microcomputer 5 through the relay 62.
Under the control of 6, the energization control is performed so as to achieve water heating in accordance with the setting mode and its program.

In the first embodiment, the boiling heater 3
By utilizing the low capacity of b and supplying power from the secondary battery 55 through the booster circuit 60, the DC power supply circuit 57
Thus, power can be supplied to the boiling heater 3b through a relay 62 controlled by a microcomputer 56. Specifically, from the relation of the equation W = V ² / R, for example, the heat retention heater 3a
w = 100V ² / 150Ω and a resistance value of about 150Ω in order to obtain a heat generation capacity of about 66W.
Is also 100W AC power, 1000W = 10
The resistance value is about 10Ω in order to obtain a heating capacity of about 0W ² / 10Ω and about 1000W. Therefore, the secondary battery 5
Even if the voltage from the power supply 5 is boosted by the booster circuit 60 or the like, the voltage is currently as low as about 10 V, which is a low voltage. The heat generation capacity is 10w = 10V ² / 10Ω, and the heat can be kept with low power consumption.

When the temperature is maintained by supplying power from the secondary battery 55, even if the heating is not sufficient, the temperature drop rate of the content liquid is greatly delayed, and the time required for the content liquid to reach the low-temperature region where the discharge is incompatible is lengthened. Thus, the service life without the AC power supply 51 can be extended. If the voltage guarantee values of the secondary battery 55 and the booster circuit 60 increase, sufficient heat retention can be achieved.

When the hot water supply key 70 is operated, the control circuit 19 operates the pump circuit 59 via the relay 63 by the microcomputer 56 to drive the electric pump 14 to discharge the liquid content.

The microcomputer 56 includes, for various necessary controls, the operation board 20 of the operation panel 122, the projection of the water amount detecting means 173, the light receivers 173a, 173b, and the LE.
Equipped with D lamps 22a to 22f, and an LED lamp 22g that indicates the necessity of water absorption when the amount of incompatible water is discharged,
Or the water amount display board 173 as shown in FIG.
c, and each other. The microcomputer 56 also receives a signal from the temperature sensor 4 and
Based on this, boiling control, heat retention control, and the like are performed, and a buzzer 64 connected to the output side is activated at appropriate times to issue various warnings, and also notifies the progress and state of various operations by sound along with lamp display. It should be noted that a warning or display using pseudo sound can be performed instead of the buzzer.

Next, main operation control by the microcomputer 56 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the main routine, in which initial settings are made first when the power is turned on, and then output processing is performed. After the output processing, water amount display processing, cup noodle timer display processing, set the time until the time when you want to start using the content liquid after boiling, good night timer display processing related to the time display when performing a boiling operation that satisfies this, hot water processing, Call each subroutine of descaling process, heat retention process, pump process, and other necessary processes sequentially,
These subroutines are executed according to initial settings and various operation inputs.

The subroutine of the water amount display process is shown in FIG. 6, and includes a cup noodle key 72 and a good night timer key 75.
In the normal state where is not operated, as shown in FIG.
First, the water amount is determined by the water amount detecting means 173. As a result of this determination, when the content liquid is less than the required water supply amount, further water supply is urged at power-on, but when the power supply is not turned on, the content liquid has decreased to the water supply amount in a normal use state. Therefore, if the use is continued, an empty cooking state may be caused. Therefore, all of the water supply LED lamps 22a to 22f are blinked together with the water supply LED lamp 22g to display the water supply more strongly, and the water supply is performed. Make it easier to recognize that you are in a state. When the water supply amount is equal to or more than the water supply amount, the water amount is displayed in six levels by turning on the LED lamps 22a to 22f for water amount display by priority from the bottom by a number proportional to the detected water amount. LED lamp for water supply 22g
Is displayed in seven levels. LED lamp for water supply 2
2g is slightly conspicuous with the other water amount display LED lamps 22a to 22f, but the point is that the same water amount display as that of the water amount display LED lamps 22a to 22f is performed. It is not indispensable to provide it as a specially different position or thing like this.

FIG. 7 shows a cup noodle processing subroutine, which is executed by operating the cup noodle key 72, and the LED lamp 72a indicates that the cup noodle mode is set.
Is displayed by the lighting of. Next, all the display lamps of the water amount display means 173 are turned off except for the water supply LED lamp 22g. Next, the setting operation of the cup noodle timer is performed until the setting is completed, and when the setting is completed, the set time of the cup noodle timer is set to L for displaying the water amount of the water amount display means 173.
Multi-stage display is performed by the ED lamps 22a to 22f.

As shown in the circle of the block in FIG. 8, a specific cup noodle timer setting operation is performed every time the cup noodle key 72 is operated, from a set time of 1 minute to 12 minutes. The set time is increased by one minute with the sound display of the second time, and when the cup noodle key 72 is operated when the set time is 12 minutes, the timer is displayed with two sound displays of "beep" of the buzzer 64. Is reset, and in this state the cup noodle key 72
Is operated, the set time of the timer is set to one minute with one sound display of "beep" of the buzzer 64, and the same control is repeated thereafter.

The end of the setting of the cup noodle timer is determined by not operating the cup noodle key 72 for a predetermined time, for example, three seconds.

The set time of the cup noodle timer is indicated by a sound depending on the combination of the operation time and the number of times of the buzzer 64 with respect to each set time as shown in Table 1 below.
The pause time between each operation of the buzzer 64 is 100 ms.
ec. The graph in FIG. 9 shows an example of the operating state of the buzzer 64 for 7 minutes.

[0047]

[Table 1] At the same time, the display of the set time using the water amount display LED lamps 22a to 22f of the water amount display means 173 is also performed. This display indicates the time setting of 2 minutes by turning on one of the water amount display LED lamps 22a to 22f as shown in FIG. 10, and indicates the water amount display LED lamps 22a to 22f.
A set time of 12 minutes is displayed by all lighting of 22f. In addition, since instant noodles with cooking time of an odd number of minutes, such as 3 minutes, are commercially available, 1 minute is indicated by the blinking state of each of the water amount display LED lamps 22a to 22f, and the lighting state is indicated. 6 minutes can be displayed by displaying an odd number of minutes such as 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes ...
The set time of up to 12 minutes can be displayed in units of one minute by the lamps 22a to 22f.

After setting and displaying the time of the cup noodle timer, the subtraction of the cup noodle timer and the display of the remaining time by this subtraction are performed.
And the buzzer 64 are used together. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, in the display state of the timer set time by the water amount display LED lamps 22 a to 22 f, the display is blinked until the display time unit of the uppermost lamp is completely subtracted, and the remaining time stage is displayed. It indicates whether or not it is in the subtraction state, and turns off the blinking lamp each time the subtraction of the display time unit is completed. When the subtraction is completed and the remaining time becomes 0, the lowermost lamp is turned off to notify the same, and the buzzer 64 is operated like a charmela melody, and the content liquid is discharged before or at the end of the time setting operation of the cup noodle timer. We announce completion of hot-cup noodles. Therefore, this can be noticed even when the user is not near the container 6. Thereafter, the LED lamp 72a for displaying the cup noodle is turned off and the mode is returned to the normal mode, and the LED lamps 22a to 22f for displaying the water amount of the water amount display means 173 are turned on in the water amount display state.

As shown in FIG. 7, if the cup noodle key 72 is operated during the subtraction operation of the cup noodle timer, it is determined that this is a user's forced stop signal, The same operation as when the subtraction is completed is performed to stop the cup noodle timer mode and return to the normal mode.

The charmel melody operation of the buzzer 64 is, for example, a combination of each time and operating frequency as shown in Table 2 below.

[0051]

[Table 2] FIG. 11 shows a sleep timer processing subroutine, which is executed when the sleep timer key 75 is operated.
The LED timer 75a indicates that the sleep timer mode is set.
Is displayed by the lighting of. Next, all the display lamps of the water amount display means 173 are turned off except for the water supply LED lamp 22g. Next, the operation of setting the good night timer is performed until the setting is completed. When the setting is completed, the set time of the cup noodle timer is set to the LE for displaying the water amount of the water amount display means 173.
Multi-stage display is performed by the D lamps 22a to 22f. Due to the timer display in the water amount display stopped state, the display may be confused even when both are displayed by the above-described step display or by the same display format of numbers, characters, etc. by electric light emission. Easy to see. For example, when the water level is displayed in stages, numbers, or characters by turning on a lamp or liquid crystal, the timer is operating by blinking, or the remaining time of the timer setting is reduced by a change in the blinking cycle. Is displayed, if the display formats are different, they can be visually recognized without confusion even if both are displayed at the same time, and these also belong to the category of the present invention.

A specific sleep timer setting operation is performed by, for example, associating each one of the water level display LED lamps 22a to 22f with one hour and operating the sleep timer key 75 every time the sleep timer key 75 is operated. With one sound display, the set time is increased by one hour, and the set time is 6
When the good night timer key 75 is operated at time,
The set time of the timer is reset with one sound display of "beep" of the buzzer 64, and when the good night timer key 75 is further operated in this state, the "beep" of the buzzer 64 is
The set time of the timer is set to one hour with two sound indications of "beep", and the same control is repeated thereafter.

The end of the time setting of the good night timer key 75 is determined by not operating the good night timer key 75 for a predetermined time, for example, three seconds.

The set time of the good night timer is indicated by a sound depending on the combination of the operating time and the number of times of the buzzer 64 for each set time according to the cup noodle timer.

At the same time, the display of the set time using the water amount display LED lamps 22a to 22f of the water amount display means 173 is also performed. This display is the L for water amount display as described above.
The lighting of one of the ED lamps 22a to 22f indicates the time setting of one hour, and the lighting of all the LED lamps 22a to 22f for displaying the water amount indicates the set time of six hours. When a plurality of times are set by one lamp as in the case of the cup noodle timer, a time setting of 6 hours or more including an odd number of hours can be made.

Of course, in each mode of the cup noodle timer and the good night timer, it is possible to freely increase or decrease the number of LED lamps for displaying the amount of water.

After setting and displaying the time of the sleep timer,
The subtraction of the good night timer and the display of the remaining time by this subtraction are performed, and this display is also performed by using the water amount display means 173 and the buzzer 64 together. Specifically, according to the case of the cup noodle timer, the LED lamps 22a to 22a for displaying the water amount are used.
In the display state of the timer set time according to 2f, the display is flashed until the display time unit of the uppermost lamp has been subtracted to indicate which remaining time step is being subtracted, and the subtraction of the display time unit is completed. Between blinking each time, for example, 3
Judge by not operating for seconds.

The set time of the cup noodle timer is indicated by a sound depending on the combination of the operating time and the number of times of the buzzer 64 with respect to each set time as shown in Table 1 below.
The pause time between each operation of the buzzer 64 is 100 ms.
ec. The end of FIG. 9 is notified. Therefore,
This can be noticed even when the user is not near the vessel 6. After that, LED for good night timer display
The lamp 75a is turned off, and the mode is returned to the normal mode.
22f is returned to the water amount display state.

Similarly, in the case of the above-mentioned cup noodle timer, if the sleep timer key 75 is operated during the subtraction operation in the sleep timer setting state, it is determined that this is a user's forced stop signal, and the subtraction is in progress. However, the sleep timer mode is stopped in the same manner as when the subtraction is completed, and the water level display LED lamps 22a to 22f are returned to the water level display state.

FIG. 12 shows a water heating processing subroutine. This subroutine is executed when the power is turned on or by operating the reboil / descaling key 73. When the content liquid is equal to or less than the water supply amount, the water supply is displayed and the process returns. Therefore, the boiling operation by the water heating process is not performed in a state where the water supply is necessary, and the empty cooking can be prevented and the food is safe.

If the amount is not less than the water supply amount and a good night timer is set, the water heating operation is started after waiting for the water heating start time according to the set time, and if no good night timer is set. Then, when the boiling is detected, the water heating operation is finished and the routine returns.

FIG. 13 shows a pump processing subroutine. This subroutine is executed when the hot water supply key 70 is operated, and in a power supply state from the secondary battery 55, the temperature of the content liquid determined is lower than a low temperature range in which the discharge is not suitable, for example, 80 °
When it is less than or equal to, L for displaying the water amount of the water amount display means 173
All of the ED lamps 22a to 22f are turned off to notify that the liquid content is below the low temperature range where the discharge is incompatible, and the electric pump 14 is kept off to prevent discharge. Note that a primary battery can be used instead of the secondary battery 55, and FIG. 13 illustrates the case where the secondary battery 55 or the primary battery is used.

The electric pump 14 is turned on when the temperature is higher than 80 ° C., not only when the power is not supplied from the secondary battery 55 or the primary battery but also when the power is supplied from the secondary battery 55 or the primary battery. The content liquid is discharged and used.

Thus, when there is a situation in which the temperature of the content liquid is likely to decrease in the state of power supply from the secondary battery 55 or the primary battery, the user can know this at an early stage and can respond, and the content liquid can be wasted. Discharge can be avoided. However, this can be coped with simply by giving a warning by turning off all the LED lamps 22a to 22f for displaying the water level of the liquid level display means 173.
This can be achieved more reliably by keeping the switch off.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 2, a part of the water amount display processing in Embodiment 1 is modified. In the first embodiment, after the determination of the amount of water, the amount of water is displayed when the content liquid exceeds the amount of supplied water. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the power is supplied from the AC power supply. It is determined in advance whether the power is being supplied from the secondary battery 55, and the liquid level display is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, but if the power is being supplied from the secondary battery 55, the water volume display is turned off. In a state, only when the hot water supply key is operated, an internal timer set in advance for a predetermined time, for example, one minute, is started, and the water amount is displayed for a predetermined time until the internal timer ends, After a certain period of time, the liquid level display is turned off again.

Thus, the water amount display is stopped only when the power is supplied from the secondary battery or the primary battery, and the power consumption of the secondary battery or the primary battery by the relatively high capacity water amount display means is suppressed. By displaying the amount of water for a predetermined time only when the electric pump is driven, it is possible to confirm a change in the remaining amount of the content liquid and supply the content liquid based on the change.

(Embodiment 3) Embodiment 3 shows another example of the water amount detecting means 173. As shown in FIG. 15, the electrode 201 wound around the rising portion 7b of the lead-out path 7 made of a non-conductive member.
And the rising portion 7b of the outlet path 7 is connected to the discharge port 2a of the inner container 2.
Between the riser 7b and the metal electrode pipe 7c used for connection to the inner container 2, the amount of water in the rising portion 7b, which is proportional to the amount of water in the inner container 2, is detected.
The amount of water in the inside is determined by a microcomputer. The outside of the electrode 201 is covered with an insulating film.

Since the other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping illustration and description are omitted.

(Embodiment 4) Embodiment 4 shows another example of the water amount detecting means 173. As shown in FIG. 16, the rising portion 7a of the lead-out path 7
In parallel with the above, a water amount detecting tube 202 communicating with the upper and lower sides of the water amount detecting tube 202 is provided, a float 203 is put in the water amount detecting tube 202, and a light emitting device 173a and a light receiving device 173b provided at a plurality of detection positions where the height of the float 203 is preset are combined. Is detected by the photocoupler,
The amount of water is determined based on whether 3 has been detected. Since the photocoupler detects the presence or absence of the float 203, it is possible to more reliably detect the amount of water than in the case of the difference in the refraction state due to the presence or absence of the liquid content.
Since it is located in the water amount detection tube 202 irrelevant to the discharge of the liquid, it does not hinder the discharge of the content liquid.

The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the duplicated illustration and description are omitted.

(Embodiment 5) Embodiment 5 shows another water amount detecting means 173. (B) of FIG. 17 instead of the float of the fourth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 17 (a), the reed switch 204 shown in FIG. 17 is disposed at a plurality of detection positions, and reacts with the magnet 205 built in the float 203 in the water amount detection tube 202 to electrically connect the float 203. It is to be detected. When the reed switch 204 as in the fifth embodiment is used, there is no need to combine and arrange two members unlike a photocoupler, so that the water amount detecting means 173 is compact.

[0072]

According to the electric hot water storage container of the first aspect of the present invention, the first liquid is stored by heating the content liquid with the heater.
Of the detected water amount is displayed in stages by the water amount display means using a lamp, but only when the power supply circuit is in the power supply state from the secondary battery or the primary battery, the third control means By stopping the water amount display by the control means of the above, while suppressing the power consumption of the secondary battery or the primary battery by the display means having a relatively high capacity, by performing the water amount display for a predetermined time only when the electric pump is driven,
It is possible to confirm a change in the remaining amount of the content liquid and supply the content liquid based on the change.

According to the electric hot water storage container of the second aspect of the present invention,
At the same time that the content liquid is heated by the heater to store hot water, the first control means displays the detected water amount in stages by means of a water amount display means using a lamp, and operates the electric pump as appropriate while checking the water amount. The liquid is discharged until it becomes a water-absorbing state so that the liquid can be used.However, when the power supply circuit is in a power supply state from the secondary battery or the primary battery and the content liquid is at a low temperature at which the discharge is incompatible, the fourth control means: Since the display of the amount of water by the first control means is stopped to indicate that the discharge is incompatible due to the low temperature, when the secondary battery or the primary battery is used as a power source, the temperature of the content liquid is kept to suppress power consumption. It is conceivable that it is often designed so as not to perform, but the user is confused by the difference between the non-stop and stop of the water amount display as to whether the temperature drop of the content liquid is inconvenient to discharge. To no decision and timely can be addressed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second aspect of the present invention, when the content liquid is in a low-temperature region where the discharge is incompatible with the secondary battery or the primary battery during the power supply, the fifth control means is provided. Since the discharge pump is not driven, despite the display of the discharge improper state due to the stoppage of the water amount display,
Even if the user tries to discharge the content liquid by operating the electric pump, the fact that the content liquid cannot be discharged informs the user that the discharge is incompatible, and a low-temperature range that is not suitable for use. Waste of discharging the content liquid as it is can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cross section of a part of an electric pot according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the electric pot of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control circuit diagram of the electric pot of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an operation panel of the electric pot of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main routine of main control by the control circuit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a water amount display processing subroutine of the main routine of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a cup noodle processing subroutine of the main routine of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory flowchart of a setting operation of a timer time in a cup noodle processing subroutine of FIG. 7;

9 is a graph showing an operation example of a sound display buzzer when setting 7 minutes in the timer time setting operation of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a lamp lighting state diagram of a water amount detection means showing a setting display state of a timer time in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sleep timer processing subroutine of the main routine of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a water heater processing subroutine of the main routine of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a pump processing subroutine of the main routine of FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a water amount display processing subroutine showing water amount display control according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a water amount display means according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a water amount display means according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a water amount display means according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer body 2 Inner container 3 Heater 4 Temperature sensor 6 Container 7 Outgoing path 7a Rising part 14 Electric pump 19 Control circuit 21 Discharge switch 22 Display panel 22a-22g LED lamp 23 Hot water supply key 51 AC power supply 53 Power supply circuit 55 Secondary battery 56 Microcomputer 57 DC power supply circuit 58 Charging circuit 62, 63 Relay 70 Hot water supply key 72 Cup noodle key 75 Good night timer key 162 Reset circuit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A heater for heating a content liquid, a water amount detection means for detecting a water amount of the content liquid, a display means using a lamp, and a first step of displaying the detected water amount stepwise by a lamp of the water amount display means. An electric hot water storage container provided with a control means and an electric pump for discharging a content liquid, comprising an AC power supply and a secondary battery or a primary battery charged by the AC power supply, and having a secondary battery only when the AC power supply is not connected. A power supply circuit in which the secondary battery or the primary battery functions as a power source, and stopping the display of the amount of water by the first control means at the time of power supply from the secondary battery or the primary battery. An electric hot water storage container, further comprising third control means for displaying a water amount by a lamp of a display means. 2. A heater for heating the content liquid, a water amount detection means for detecting the amount of water in the content liquid, a display means using a lamp, and a first step of displaying the detected water amount stepwise by a lamp of the water amount display means. An electric hot water storage container comprising a control means, an electric pump for discharging a content liquid, and a temperature detection means for detecting a temperature of the content liquid, comprising an AC power supply and a secondary battery or a primary battery charged by the AC power supply. A power supply circuit in which a secondary battery or a primary battery serves as a power supply only when there is no AC power supply connection, and a first control when a content liquid is in a low-temperature range where discharge is incompatible when power is supplied from the secondary battery or the primary battery. An electric hot water storage container provided with fourth control means for stopping the display of the amount of water by the means and displaying the discharge incompatibility. 3. A power supply from a secondary battery or a primary battery, wherein a fifth control means is provided for preventing the electric pump from being driven when the liquid content is in a low-temperature region where discharge is incompatible. An electric hot water storage container according to item 1.