JP3106289B2 - Operating temperature measuring device for thermo-sensitive devices - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat-sensitive responsive device comprising a heat-sensitive element for detecting the temperature of a portion to be heated such as a rice cooker or a cooking pot, and an operating mechanism for operating when the heat-sensitive element reaches a set temperature. The present invention relates to a method for measuring an operating temperature and an apparatus for performing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The above-described thermosensitive device is used in a rice cooker as shown in FIG. In this case, the bottom of the rice cooker (10)
The top surface (29) of the cylindrical case (20) is in contact with (11),
A temperature-sensitive soft ferrite whose magnetic permeability changes with temperature is additionally provided as a heat-sensitive element (21) on the top surface (29) of the cylindrical case (20). The lower surface of the heat-sensitive element (21) is covered with a cover made of a non-magnetic material, and an adsorbent (39) made of a permanent magnet is adsorbed on the lower surface of the cover. It is fixed to the upper end of a lifting shaft (30) connected to the tip of a swing lever (41) described later. Further, arms (32) and (32) extending in the horizontal direction project from both sides of the adsorbent (39), and through holes (320) and (3) formed in the arms (32) and (32) are provided.
The guide shafts (35) and (35), each of which incorporates (20) in the cylindrical case (20), are inserted. Thus, the posture of the elevating shaft (30) is appropriately maintained. Further, a tip end of a swing lever (41) connected to the rice cooking operation lever (40) is connected to a lower end of the elevating shaft (30).

The rice cooker main body is provided with a valve device for opening and closing a gas circuit to a gas burner (50), and a gas valve (51) of this valve device is linked with the rice cooking operation lever (40). In addition, the valve shaft (53) of the gas valve (51) has a swing lever (41).
Is in contact with an upright part (45) formed by bending one end of the upper part upward. In this apparatus, when the rice cooker operating lever (40) is depressed, the gas valve (51) is opened against the urging force of the spring (52) and gas is supplied to the gas burner (5). (5) starts to burn. In addition, the above rice cooking operation lever
The swing lever (41) swings upward by the operation of (40) to lift the elevating shaft (30), and the adsorbent disposed at the upper end thereof
(39) is adsorbed to the thermosensitive element (21), and the rice cooking operation proceeds in this state.

[0004] When the rice cooker is in the cooked state and the temperature of the pot bottom (11) rises to the cooked temperature (normally 145 ° C), the magnetic permeability of the heat-sensitive element (21) in a heat conductive state decreases. The adsorbing force of the adsorbent (39) with respect to the thermosensitive element (21) is weakened, and the adsorbent (39) falls with the elevating shaft (30). Then, the elevating shaft (3
The swing lever (41) connected to the lower end of (0) also returns to the initial position and swings, and in conjunction with this, the gas valve (51) is pushed out by the urging force of the spring (52) and is closed. . Thereby, the rice cooking operation is completed.

In this rice cooker, the heat-sensitive element (21), the adsorbent (39), a cylindrical case (20) for accommodating the same, the adsorbent
The combination of the elevating shaft (30) to which (39) is attached functions as a thermosensitive device. The operating temperature of the thermoresponsive device is set to the above-described rice cooking completion temperature, but whether the operating temperature is accurate directly affects the rice cooking performance. The operating temperature is determined by the operating temperature of the thermosensitive element (21) (the temperature at which the magnetic permeability changes suddenly) and the operating characteristics of the operating mechanism associated therewith.

Therefore, in order to accurately know the operating temperature of the thermo-sensitive device, it is necessary to confirm the operation of the thermo-mechanical device in a state where the operating mechanism is combined and to know the temperature at that time. However, conventionally, only the operating temperature of the thermosensitive element (21) itself was measured.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in consideration of the following problems: a cylindrical case having a top surface in contact with a portion to be heated and being open downward; A heat-sensitive device comprising: a heat-sensitive element attached to the top surface of the heat-sensitive element; and an operating mechanism that operates according to a change in the state of the heat-sensitive element when the temperature of the heated portion reaches a set temperature.
It is an object of the present invention to accurately measure an operating temperature when the operating mechanism is operated.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating cylinder enclosing the cylindrical case and opening downward, and a heater built in the heating cylinder. And a temperature detection device that measures the temperature of the top surface of the cylindrical case, and an operation detection unit that detects the operation of the operation mechanism unit, when an operation detection signal from the operation detection unit is input. An output device for outputting the detected temperature of the temperature detecting device in a display state or a recording state is provided. "

In this case, when the heat-sensitive element is heated by a heater built in the heating tube and the temperature of the heat-sensitive element rises to its operating temperature, the operation mechanism is operated. This operation is detected by the operation detecting means, and the temperature at this time is detected by the temperature detecting device, and this temperature is displayed or recorded on the output device. That is, the temperature of the top surface when the operating mechanism is operated is accurately detected.

[0010] When the top surface portion is built into the appliance as a thermosensitive device, it is in contact with the heated portion, and thus the detected temperature is equal to the temperature of the heated portion. The heat-sensitive element may be a disk bimetal, a low melting point alloy that changes from a solid to a liquid at a set temperature, a thermistor, and further, the magnetic permeability changes rapidly at the set temperature as defined in claim 3. So-called temperature-sensitive soft ferrite may be used. Further, as the temperature detecting device, a so-called thermocouple-type temperature detecting device that measures a current generated in the thermocouple and converts the current into a temperature can be adopted. In this case, the heating cylinder is provided with a heat receiving plate that is in contact with the top surface of the cylindrical case, and the temperature detecting device is connected to one end of the thermocouple to the heat receiving plate,
This becomes the hot junction of the thermocouple circuit.

[0011]

The invention of claim 1 has the following unique effects. The operating temperature when the operating mechanism of the thermo-sensitive device operates
Accurate detection is possible without operating the heating source of the rice cooker. Further, since there is no need to perform any processing on the thermosensitive device, it can be conveniently used for sampling inspection and the like in a rice cooker assembly line.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the heating cylinder is covered with the upper end of the cylindrical case projecting from the upper surface of the lower frame of the rice cooker, and the operation detecting means is fitted into the center opening of the lower surface of the lower frame. Since the operating temperature can be measured simply by wearing the device, preparation for temperature measurement can be simplified.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 2, it is a device for measuring the operating temperature of a thermosensitive device provided in a central hole of a gas burner (50) of a rice cooker. The structure inside the cylindrical case (20), that is, the elevating shaft (30), and the connection structure of the elevating shaft (30) and the swing lever (41) are configured in the same manner as the structure of the rice cooker already described. The same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the rice cooker of this example, the central opening of the juice receiving tray (12) constituting the upper surface of the lower frame portion incorporating the automatic fire extinguishing mechanism and the like.
The gas burner (50) and the cylindrical case (20) protrude upward from (13). Although not shown, the lower frame is a rice cooker having a configuration in which an upper frame containing a rice cooker is removably mounted thereon, and this configuration is well known.

In the lower frame portion of the rice cooker of this type, the center of the bottom portion of the lower frame case (14) is provided in order to enable the checking of the mechanism in the tubular case (20) of the thermoresponsive device. Opening (15)
Are formed. The device for measuring the operating temperature of the thermosensitive device, as shown in the figure, the juice tray (12) so as to be covered by a cylindrical case (20) projecting from the juice tray (12).
The heating cylinder (6a) which is open at the lower side and which is placed on the opening (15)
An operation detection tool (6b) mounted on the heating tube (6a), a heat receiving plate (61) connected to a top wall of the heating tube (6a) and in contact with a top surface portion (29) of the cylindrical case (20), A temperature detector (70) for detecting the temperature of the plate (61), the temperature detector (70) and an operation detector (6b)
AND circuit (71) to which the output from
An output device (80) for displaying the output of the circuit (71).

The heating tube (6a) is provided with a heat-sensitive element (2).
While a heater (62) is built in so as to be located on the outer periphery of 1), one contact portion of a thermocouple (72) of the temperature detecting device (70) is connected to the heat receiving plate (61). I have. The temperature detecting device (70) is a device that measures a current value based on a thermoelectromotive force generated in the thermocouple (72) and converts the current value into a temperature signal.The temperature signal is input to an AND circuit (71). Have been.

The output device (80) is provided with display means such as a liquid crystal display screen, on which temperature is displayed. The operation detector (6b) includes operation detection means (63) such as a proximity switch for detecting the lowering operation of the elevating shaft (30), and a rubber cover (64) wrapping the outer circumference and lower part of the operation detection means (63). (64)
Has an outer diameter set so that it can be detachably fitted to the opening (15), and when fitted to the opening (15), the operation detecting means (63) is moved upward and downward by an elevating shaft ( 30) facing the lower end.

The operation detecting means (63) is provided with a rice-cooking operation lever.
The operation of (40) raises the elevating shaft (30) connected to the tip of the swing lever (41), and the permanent magnet (adsorbent (39)) attached to the upper end of the elevating shaft (30) is attached to the thermosensitive element (21). When it is adsorbed, the lift shaft (30) is turned off because the lift shaft (30) separates upward, and conversely, it is turned on when the heat-sensitive responsive device is activated and the lift shaft (30) is lowered. The output signal from the operation detecting means (63) is input to the AND circuit (71).

In order to measure the operating temperature of the rice cooker having the above configuration using the operating temperature measuring device, an operation detecting tool (6b) is attached to the opening (15) as shown in FIG. And the juice tray (1
Place the heating tube (6a) on 2). At this time, this heating cylinder (6a)
Is positioned so that the cylindrical case (20) is accommodated in the space that opens downward in. The depth of this space and the height of the heat receiving plate (61) incorporated therein are determined by the degree of protrusion of the cylindrical case (20), in particular, when the upper frame is placed on the lower frame. The top surface portion (29) of the cylindrical case (20) is adapted to the protrusion height in a state where the top surface portion (29) is pressed against the bottom portion of the rice cooker, and in the above-described mounting state, the top surface portion (29) and the heat receiving plate (61). ), And the height of the top surface portion (29) at this time matches the height of the center of the bottom surface of the rice cooker in a state where the upper frame portion is placed on the lower frame portion.

In a rice cooker, in order to prevent empty cooking, the upper frame containing the rice cooker is usually placed on the rice cooker and the rice cooker operating lever (40) is operated to raise and lower the shaft (30). Is adsorbed to the cover (31) on the lower surface of the thermal element (21). Accordingly, the adsorbent (39) can be set to the adsorbed state when the heating tube (6a) is placed. Accordingly, when the rice cooker operating lever (40) is pushed in with the operation detector (6b) placed on the juice tray (12) as described above, the adsorbent (3
9) is adsorbed to the thermosensitive element (21), and the elevating shaft (30) is held at the ascending position.

When power is supplied to the heater (62) in this state, the heat-sensitive element (21) is heated by the heater (62). The temperature of the thermosensitive element (21) matches the temperature of the top surface (29) and the temperature of the heat receiving plate (61) in contact with the top surface (29), and the temperature of the heat receiving plate (61) is measured by the temperature detecting device (70). The temperature signal is input to the AND circuit (71). Then, when the temperature of the heat-sensitive element (21) reaches the set temperature, the magnetic permeability of the heat-sensitive element (21) decreases rapidly, and the adsorbent (39) and the elevating shaft (30) descend. This descent point is detected by the operation detection means (63), and the output at that time is set to AN
The temperature signal input to the D circuit (71) at this time is output to the output device.
(80).

As described above, the heating cylinder (6a) and the operation detector (6
When the heater (62) is in a heat-generating state by mounting the device (b), the operating temperature of the thermosensitive device can be measured accurately and automatically. Note that, in the above example, the cylindrical case (2
0) is urged in the upward direction by a spring to enhance the adhesion to the rice cooker. Therefore, the weight of the heating cylinder (6a) is set to a weight capable of pushing down the cylindrical case (20) against the urging force of the spring.

In order to prevent the heat from the heater (62) from escaping to the outside, the outer periphery of the heater (62) is surrounded by a heat insulating material (65). Other Embodiments As a thermal response device in which the thermal element (21) is a so-called temperature-sensitive soft ferrite, two thermal elements (21) having different set temperatures are used.
1) As a configuration in which the (212) is provided and the adsorbents (39) are separately adsorbed to the respective devices, there is a heat-sensitive responsive device of a type in which each adsorbent (39) is individually operated at each of the set temperatures. This thermosensitive device is used for a so-called two-stage fire-fighting rice cooker. As a device for measuring each operating temperature of the thermosensitive device,
3 and 4 can be employed.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
In (6a), a first heater (621) generating a large amount of heat and a second heater (622) generating a small amount of heat are incorporated.
A first thermosensitive element (211) for setting a first operating temperature is provided on the lower surface of the top surface (29) of the cylindrical case (20) to realize the two-stage fire extinguishing, and a final second operating A second thermo-sensitive element (212) for setting a temperature is attached to the second thermo-sensitive element (212), and a first permanent magnet as a first adsorbent (391) is provided in correspondence with the first thermo-sensitive element (211). A second permanent magnet as a second adsorbent (392) is provided in correspondence with the second thermosensitive element (212), and the adsorbents (391) and (392) are respectively provided with lifting shafts (301) and (30).
2) are connected in series and are separately connected to the tips of the swing levers (411) and (412). The swinging levers (411) and (412) are configured so that the leading ends thereof are simultaneously lifted upward by the rice cooker, and are operated at respective set temperatures of the first and second thermosensitive elements (211) and (212). The valve power inserted into the gas circuit to the gas burner (50) (not shown) is closed individually to adjust the heating power in accordance with the separation and fall of the respective adsorbents.

The first sensor (631) is provided in the opening (15).
The first sensor (631) is located below the elevating shaft (301), and the second sensor (632) is mounted on the elevating shaft (302). ). The first sensor (631) and the second sensor (631)
2) is the first sensor when the corresponding elevating shaft descends
(631) and the second sensor (632) are turned on separately.
The first sensor (631) when the elevating shaft is at the ascending position
And the second sensor (632) are turned off separately.

The first sensor (631) and the second sensor
(632) are mounted on the rubber cover (64) in an exposed state, and the rubber cover (64) is removably press-fitted into the opening (15). The heating cylinder (6a) is formed with a cylindrical space that opens downward, and the size of the space is set to a diameter that can accommodate the upper end of the cylindrical case (20) in a loosely fitted state. The heat receiving plate (61) is suspended from the top wall (65) of the empty space by a pair of suspension rods so that the heat receiving plate (61) can move up and down within a certain range. A spring (66) for pressing down the heat receiving plate (61) is interposed between the top wall (65) and the heat receiving plate (61). Therefore, in the free state, the heat receiving plate (61) is at the lowest position in a state where the heat receiving plate (61) is locked to the head of the hanging rod.

A thermocouple (72) having a hot junction connected to the heat receiving plate (61) is connected to a temperature detecting device (70), and is connected to a control device (C) comprising a microcomputer. Output is input. Further, the first heater (621) and the second heater (622) are also controlled by the control device (C), and the first sensor (631) and the second
The output from the sensor (632) is input to the control device (C).

The heating cylinder (6a) and the operation detector (6b) are mounted on the lower frame of the rice cooker as shown in FIG. 3, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. At this time, the heating cylinder (6a) is covered with a mode in which the heating cylinder (6a) is externally fitted to the cylindrical case (20) protruding from the lower frame portion. The heat receiving plate (61) is brought into close contact with the heat receiving plate (61) by the urging force of the spring (66) and the urging force of the spring for lifting the cylindrical case (20). The urging force of the spring (66) is set to be weaker than the latter spring.

In this state, the respective operating temperatures are measured, and the operation for the measurement is controlled by the above-mentioned control device (C), and a control operation such as executing the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is performed. Hereinafter, the operation of each unit will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In this example, the output from the control device is output to the printer (81) as shown in FIG.

When power is connected to the control device (C), the heating cylinder (6
The configuration is such that electricity is also supplied to the first heater (621) and the second heater (622) in a) according to the control operation, and also to the printer (81). When the control operation is started, it is checked whether the first sensor (631) and the second sensor (632) are in the "OFF" state before starting the measurement operation. (Steps (ST91, ST92)) If the rice cooking operation is performed, the first sensor (631) and the second sensor
Since the corresponding lifting / lowering shafts (301) and (302) are separated upward from the first sensor (632), the first sensor (631) and the second sensor (632)
Are turned off separately.

When this is checked, it is determined whether or not a measurement start operation has been performed, and the control operation is on standby until this operation is performed. (Step (ST93)) In this example, a measurement start operation is performed by operating a measurement start button (not shown). When this operation is performed, the first and second heaters (621) and (622) are turned on, and the temperature of the heat receiving plate (61) corresponding to the temperature of the thermosensitive element is increased by the heating of the first and second heaters (621) and (622). The detected temperature is 110 ° C. (a constant temperature (for example, 10 ° C.)
° C) low temperature). (Step (ST94)) When the heater is heated to this temperature, the power supply to the first heater (621) is stopped (Step (ST95)).
Heating proceeds by 22).

When the temperature of the first thermosensitive element (211) reaches the set temperature, the adsorbent (391) separates and descends, and the lower end of the elevating shaft (301) comes close to the first sensor (631) and turns on. Become.
(Step (ST96)) Thereby, the first operating temperature is measured and stored. Thereafter, when the heating further proceeds, the temperature finally reaches the set temperature of the second thermosensitive element (212). In this state, the other adsorbent
(392) moves away from the second thermal element (212) and moves up and down the shaft (302).
Descends, the lower end approaches the second sensor (632), and the second sensor (632) is turned on. (Step (ST97)) Thereby, the first operating temperature is measured and stored.

Thereafter, the stored values are output to the printer (81), and the first and second operating temperatures are printed out. In this apparatus, by operating the rice cooker operating lever (40) and performing an operation for starting measurement, two types of operating temperatures of the rice cooker equipped with a so-called two-stage fire extinguishing mechanism can be measured at a time.

If this measured value is within a certain range,
Since the performance of the thermal response device is satisfactory, if the stored value is within the certain range, a step for determining “pass”, and at this time, the printer (81) determines “pass” May be printed.
Further, the above example exemplifies the case where the present invention is implemented for measuring the operating temperature of the thermosensitive device of the rice cooker. However, a cooking pot or the like in which a heating unit such as an electric heater for performing other heating and cooking is incorporated is described. The present invention can also be applied to measurement of the operating temperature of a thermosensitive device or the like.

When the temperature detecting device is a thermocouple type, the heat receiving plate (61) to which the thermocouple is connected is provided on the top surface (29) provided with the thermosensitive element (21) in order to improve the temperature detecting accuracy. It is desirable that the temperature is the same as that of
(61), the periphery of which is freely suspended in the space of the heating cylinder (6a) containing the heater (62). " This is because the heat from the heater (62) does not directly affect the heat receiving plate (61).

Further, "The heating area of the heater (62) is
Configuration that is set at a position below the outer peripheral area of 1)).
The heat from the heater (62) does not directly affect the heat receiving plate (61).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a conventional example.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an overall explanatory diagram of another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the relationship between the heating cylinder (6a), the operating mechanism, and the operation detector (6b) in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a control device (C) of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (29) ・ ・ ・ Top surface (20) ・ ・ ・ Cylinder case (21) ・ ・ ・ Thermal element (6a) ・ ・ ・ Heating cylinder (70) ・ ・ ・ Temperature detector (63) ・ ・ ・ Operation detection means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Akira Yasui, Inventor 4-1-2, Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Kozo Tamura 4-1-2, Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi No. Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. Examiner Takeshi Shinkai (56) References JP-A-7-289425 (JP, A) JP-A 8-75168 (JP, A) JP-A 8-75169 (JP, A) Kaihei 8-219905 (JP, A) Jikken 38-19149 (JP, Y1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 27/00 F24C 3/12 G01K 7/36, 7 / 38,19 / 00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cylindrical case having a top surface in contact with a portion to be heated and open downward, a heat-sensitive element mounted on the top surface in the cylindrical case, and a temperature of the portion to be heated is set to a predetermined temperature. And an operating mechanism that operates in response to a change in the state of the thermosensitive element when the temperature of the thermosensitive element is increased. A heating cylinder to be opened, a heater incorporated in the heating cylinder and a temperature detecting device for measuring a temperature of a top surface of the cylindrical case, and an operation detecting means for detecting an operation of the operation mechanism section; An operating temperature measuring device for a thermoresponsive device, comprising an output device for outputting a detected temperature of a temperature detecting device when a motion detecting signal is input from a motion detecting means to a display state or a recording state. 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the tubular case is in contact with a bottom of the rice cooker, and an operation mechanism is configured to raise and lower an elevating shaft in conjunction with a rice cooker operating lever. A rice cook operation by a lever raises and lowers the elevating shaft to an ascending position to be in a rice cooking operation state and is in a state where it can be responsive to heat, so that the elevating shaft is moved from the ascending position by a change in the state of a thermosensitive element. The operating temperature measuring device for a thermoresponsive device according to claim 1, wherein the operating temperature detecting device is configured to perform a descending operation, and the operation detecting means detects that the elevating shaft is lowered. 3. The heat-sensitive element has a structure in which the magnetic permeability changes rapidly when the temperature reaches a set temperature, and a permanent magnet that is attracted to the heat-sensitive element is provided at an upper end of the elevating shaft of an operation mechanism. Item 3. An operating temperature measuring device for a thermosensitive device according to item 2. 4. The temperature detecting device is a thermocouple type temperature detecting device, wherein the heating cylinder is provided with a heat receiving plate which is in contact with the top surface portion of the cylindrical case, and the heat receiving plate is provided with the heat detecting plate of the temperature detecting device. 4. The thermocouple of claim 1, wherein one end of the thermocouple is connected.
The operating temperature measuring device for a thermosensitive device according to any one of the above. 5. The tubular case projects from an upper surface of a lower frame portion of the rice cooker, and a bottom plate of the lower frame portion is provided below an elevating shaft of an operation mechanism portion housed in the tubular case. An opening is formed, and the heating cylinder is detachably covered with an upper end portion of the cylindrical case, and the operation detection means is detachably fitted to the opening. The operating temperature measuring device for a thermosensitive device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.