JP3153435B2 - Pot discharge amount notification device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for informing a pot discharge amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a desired amount of hot water is discharged from an electric pot, a user presses an operation switch to drive a discharge pump, and when the user determines that the discharge amount has reached a predetermined amount, the operation switch is turned on. It is common to stop the drive of the discharge pump by letting go of the hand.

However, such a method tends to be inaccurate because the user must visually determine the discharge amount. For example, when cooking instant noodles,
It was inconvenient to put an appropriate amount of hot water in the pot.

In order to solve such inconvenience, a method of detecting the number of revolutions of a discharge pump, the voltage of a motor, the flow rate of hot water, and calculating the discharge amount, and displaying the calculation result on a digital display or the like is known. Proposals have been made (for example, see JP-A-6-2).
No. 17883).

[0005] However, in this case, means for detecting the number of revolutions of the pump and the like, and means for calculating the discharge amount based on the detection result are required, the circuit device becomes complicated, and simple cooking such as cooking of instant noodles is required. There is a problem that the cost is too high as a display device for the amount of hot water used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to automatically notify a user of a simple guideline for determining a discharge amount so that a proper discharge amount can be obtained.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a pot provided with a discharge pump for discharging a liquid in a container during a period in which the discharge of the liquid is continued. In this configuration, a notifying means for sending out a notifying signal at a constant cycle time is provided.

According to the above configuration, since the discharge amount has a fixed relationship with the number of times of notification of the notification signal, the user can know the discharge amount only by counting the number of times of notification of the notification signal. Further, the notification means can be realized by a simple device that only generates a notification signal such as sound or light in a fixed cycle time, and it is not necessary to use expensive components such as a microcomputer.

It is convenient to provide a cycle time changing means for changing the cycle time, since the cycle time can be appropriately changed according to the characteristics of the discharge pump.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, in a pot provided with a discharge pump for discharging liquid in a container, a notifying unit and an arithmetic processing unit, the arithmetic processing unit keeps discharging the liquid. A signal generating means which is operated during a period of time during which the notification means is operated at predetermined time intervals by the signal generating means to execute a notification signal generation cycle for outputting a notification signal. Can be.

This case is different from the above-mentioned one in that a microcomputer is used as the arithmetic processing means, but similarly, the user can know the discharge amount only by counting the number of times of notification of the notification signal.

In the apparatus for informing a discharge amount of a pot having arithmetic processing means as described above, a heating means and a boiling detection means for the liquid in the container are provided, and the arithmetic processing means is provided with a timer for measuring the elapsed time after boiling. While the post-boiling elapsed time measuring means is counting a certain time after boiling, the notification signal generation cycle can be executed with a set time different from the set time after the elapse of the time.

[0013] This is because the discharge amount of the discharge pump is not stable for about 1 to 2 minutes after boiling, and the discharge time at the time of notification is changed by changing the set time within the above time according to the discharge characteristics of the pump. The amount is made uniform.

If the discharge pump is driven during a period in which the discharge amount is not stable as described above, a warning signal may be issued so that the notification is not performed.

In each of the above-described devices using the arithmetic processing means, a configuration may be provided in which a set time changing means for changing a set time of a signal generated by the periodic signal generating means is provided.

It is necessary to change the set time when the discharge characteristic of the discharge pump is not proportional to the time, or when the first notification is performed, the discharge amount is likely to be insufficient. This occurs when it is desired to equalize the ejection.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned devices using the arithmetic processing means, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a method of notifying a specific notification is distinguished from a method of notifying another notification.

In this method, if the signal to be notified each time is the same, an error in the count of the number of times of notification is likely to occur.

A notification method changing means for changing the notification method of the notification signal may be provided.

[0020]

FIG. 1 shows a pot according to a first embodiment. This pot has a container 2 housed in an exterior body 1, and a discharge pump 4 is connected to a communication pipe 3 on the lower surface of the container 2. The outlet side of the pump 4 is connected to a discharge pipe 5 to discharge liquid from a discharge port 6.

A discharge switch 7 is provided on a part of the outer surface of the exterior body 1.
Is provided, whereby the discharge pump 4 is driven / stopped.

A notifying means 8 is provided in parallel with the discharge pump 4, and a cycle time changing means 9 is provided in series with the notifying means 8 as necessary. Notifying means 8
Can be recognized by the user as sound or light, for example, such as a motorized metronome that emits sound at a fixed cycle time, such as a flashing light, and a light that sends light at a fixed cycle time. A notification signal is output at a constant cycle time.

The cycle time changing means 9 is composed of, for example, a variable resistor, and is capable of arbitrarily changing the cycle time of the notification signal sent from the notification means 8 by an external operation.

The first embodiment is as described above. Assuming that the discharge amount of the discharge pump 4 is proportional to or nearly proportional to time, the relationship between the discharge amount and the number of notifications is assumed. Is made into a table and notified to the user, the user can know the discharge amount by counting the number of times of the notification signal and using the number as a guide.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has an arithmetic processing means 10 constituted by a microcomputer or the like provided inside the exterior body 1.

The arithmetic processing means 10 has a judging means 11 constituted by a program, a notification frequency counting means 12, and a signal generating means 13. The notifying means 8 'includes a buzzer, a red lamp, and the like. Also, the discharge pump 4
Is controlled by the arithmetic processing means 10 via the drive circuit 14. The means for inputting the discharge information to the arithmetic processing means 10 may be a means for inputting directly from the discharge switch 7 or from the discharge pump 4, and further from the discharge detection means 15 provided in the discharge pipe 5. .

The program of the arithmetic processing means 10 for controlling the notification means 8 'is configured as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the program starts, the discharge pump 4 is discharging (step 1),
When the number of times of notification n is 0, 1 is added to the count of the number of times of notification (step 5), and the routine returns. Next, when it is determined in step 2 that the number of times of notification n is 1, after the elapse of the set time (step 3), a signal generation is instructed to the notifying means 8 ',
A notification signal is output (step 4).

In the next step 5, one is added to the number of notifications, and the routine returns. Thus, the notification signal generation cycle is repeated. During this time, the discharge switch 7 is kept on, and the driving of the discharge pump 4 is continued. The user counts the number of times of notification of the notification signal, and turns off the discharge switch 7 when the predetermined number of notifications is reached.

In the above flow chart, when the ejection is not being performed, the number of times of notification n is reset to 0 (step 6).

The above description has been made on the assumption that the set time for transmitting the notification signal is constant. However, the set time is determined by a program or an external operation according to the discharge characteristics of the discharge pump 4. It can be arbitrarily changed. The set time changing means 16 in FIG.
It is constituted by a variable resistor or the like, and the user changes the set time by appropriately operating the device from outside.

An example of changing the set time programmatically will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This is one in which the first set time is set to a time obtained by adding a correction to a fixed set time after the second time, and takes into account that the discharge amount is unstable at the start of discharge of the discharge pump 4. It is.

The notification signal transmitted as described above is:
In the case of sound, a short beep is heard, and in the case of light, the light is emitted instantaneously. Number of times) or only a specific notification time can be different from other notification times.

This change of the notification method can be programmed in advance, but can be changed only when the notification method change means 17 provided outside is operated.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the notification 1 (sound "beep") is issued while the number of notifications n is 1 to 4, but the notification 2 (sound "beep") when n reaches 5. Is changed to In this way, the user does not need to count the number of notifications, or can prevent counting errors. In this case, the set time is appropriately determined for each number of notifications (steps 3, 7, 9,
11, 12).

Next, the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the second embodiment in that a heating means 1 such as a heater is used.
8. A boiling detecting means 19 such as a temperature sensor is added, and a post-boiling elapsed time measuring means 21 is added to the program of the arithmetic processing means 10.

Immediately after boiling, since the discharge amount is not stable for about 1 to 2 minutes due to foaming development due to cavitation of the discharge pump 4 or the like, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the boiling is detected (step 2), the arithmetic processing means 10 measures the elapsed time after the boiling (step 3). Before the elapse of a certain time (about 1 to 2 minutes) by the time measurement, a notification cycle set to a set time longer than usual is executed (step 7) and a notification signal is transmitted. After the lapse of the above-mentioned fixed time, a notification cycle based on a normal set time is executed (step 5).

In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the notification cycle (step 7) having a long set time may be stopped and a warning signal may be sent (see "warning signal generating means 22" in FIG. 6). This warning signal causes the notification means 8 'to transmit a sound or light that is different from the notification signal of the notification cycle, thereby informing the user that the notification cycle will not be performed.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is the convenience that the amount of liquid discharged from the pot can be known based on the number of times of notification of the notification signal. In this case, the simplest means is that it is only necessary to provide a notifying means for sending out a notifying signal in a constant cycle during a period in which the liquid is being discharged. Can be applied.

In addition, even when using an arithmetic processing means such as a microcomputer, the central means is only the periodic signal generating means, and there is no need to employ complicated means such as calculating the discharge amount, thereby reducing the cost. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the above.

FIG. 4 is a modified example of the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is another modified example of the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer body 2 Container 3 Communication pipe 4 Discharge pump 5 Discharge pipe 6 Discharge port 7 Discharge switch 8, 8 'Notification means 9, 16 Cycle time change means 10 Arithmetic processing means 11 Judgment means 12 Notification count counting means 13 Period signal generation means DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Drive circuit 15 Discharge detecting means 16 Setting time changing means 17 Notification method changing means 18 Heating means 19 Boiling detecting means 21 Elapsed time measuring means after boiling 22 Warning signal generating means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 27/21 101 A47J 41/00 301 A47J 41/00 303

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A a discharge pump for discharging the liquid in the container,
In the pot provided with the notification means and the arithmetic processing means,
Providing a heating means and a boiling detection means for the liquid in the container, the arithmetic processing means is provided with a signal generating means which is operated during a period in which the liquid is continuously discharged, and a means for measuring the elapsed time after the boiling, A signal generating means for notifying a predetermined time after boiling by the post-boiling elapsed time measuring means, and operating the notifying means for a set time different from after the elapse of the time to output a notification signal. A pot discharge amount notifying device for executing a signal generation cycle. 2. A device for informing a discharge amount of a pot according to claim 1, further comprising means for heating the liquid in the container, means for detecting boiling, and means for measuring the elapsed time after boiling in the arithmetic processing unit. And a warning signal is output from the notification device while the predetermined time after boiling is being measured by the post-boiling elapsed time counting means, and a warning signal is output from the notification device. 3. The pot discharge amount notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising a set time changing means for changing a set time of a signal generated by the signal generating means. Mass notification device. 4. The pot discharge amount notifying device according to claim 1, wherein a method of notifying a specific notification time is distinguished from a method of notifying another notification time. Mass notification device. 5. A pot discharge amount notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying method changing means for changing a notifying method of a notifying signal. .