JP3774840B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a rice cooker, and in particular, a latch mechanism for locking a closed lid to the main body or a hinge mechanism that automatically opens when the lid rotates about a hinge shaft when the latch mechanism is released. Concerning structure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
11 to 14 show a conventional rice cooker. In the figure, 1 is a rice cooker, 2 is a main body of the case, 2a is a frame plate of the main body 2, 3 is a lid, 3a is a lid frame, 3b is The outer lid, 3c is a lid packing, and 3d is a reflector. 4 is an outer pot, 5 is a heat shield, 6 is an inner pot, 6a is a flange portion extending in the horizontal direction of the inner pot 6, 7 is a rice cooking heater, 8 is a temperature sensor, and 9 is a cord reel. 10 is a latch mechanism, 10a is a push button, 10b is a latch, and 10c is a spring. The spring 10c exposes the push button 10 on the side surface of the main body 2 and locks the latch 10b to the lid frame 3a.
[0003]
20 is a hinge mechanism (FIG. 12), 20a is a hinge shaft, 20b is a hollow shaft, 20c is a hinge spring, 20d is a metal backing plate, and 20e is a fixing screw. The receiving plate 20d is bent into a key shape, the horizontal portion is fixed by a fixing screw 20e, and the bottom surface is a spring receiver of the hinge spring 20c. Further, the notch 20f at the tip of the vertical portion engages with the groove 20g of the hollow shaft 20b to restrict movement. 20h is an arc bearing having an arc portion 20i, 20j is a stud bearing, and 20k is four fixed bearings. The arc bearing 20h and the stud bearing 20j are provided on the lid 3 side, and the fixed bearing 20k is formed on the main body 2 side. Reference numeral 30 in FIG. 15 denotes a braking mechanism. 30a is a mounting hole, 30b is a screw hole, 30c is an adjustment screw, 30d is a movable piece, 30e is an adjustment spring, and 30f is a pressing piece.
[0004]
In the rice cooker configured as described above, the inner pot 6 is heated by the heat generated by the rice heater 7. When the inner pot 6 is heated, the internal water boils, and when the water runs out, the temperature rises rapidly and reaches the rice cooking temperature before the rice is cooked. When the rice is cooked and the push button 10a of the latch mechanism 10 is pressed, the latch 10b is released, and the lid 3 is automatically opened by the hinge spring 20c rotating around the hinge shaft 20a. At this time, the arc bearing 20 h rotates in the same direction as the lid 3 rotates, and the arc portion 20 i presses against the adjustment spring 30 e of the braking mechanism 30. The pressing force of the arc portion 20i increases in proportion to the rotation angle, and the sudden opening of the lid 3 is suppressed.
[0005]
Moreover, the expanded sectional view of the principal part is shown by FIG. In FIG. 14, the portions corresponding to FIGS. 11 to 13 perform the same functions as the similar operations, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given and the re-explanation is omitted. 3e is an inner lid.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the hinge mechanism 20 uses a complicated pair of receiving plates 20d obtained by bending a metal plate, a fixing screw 20e for fixing the receiving plate 20d, and the like. Therefore, the entire weight of the lid 3 also becomes heavy, and there is a risk that it is necessary to use the hinge spring 20c having a large spring constant corresponding to the weight. In addition, the number of parts is increased, and the man-hour for manufacturing the rice cooker is increased accordingly, resulting in higher costs.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and aims to realize a rice cooker having a hinge mechanism with a simple structure, easy to assemble, and low in overall production cost. It is.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes a heating means for heating the inner hook, a main body on which the inner hook is detachably mounted, a lid for opening and closing the upper portion of the main body, an upper portion of the main body, and a hinge shaft. A hinge mechanism having a hinge spring for urging the lid body in the opening direction with the rotation axis as a rotation axis, and a latch mechanism for opening and closing the lid body by disengaging the latch by operating means provided on the side facing the hinge mechanism With
A protrusion for locking one end of the hinge spring is provided on the lid, and the protrusion has an L-shaped or spiral insertion groove having an open end, and the opening of the end of the insertion groove is open. The one end of the hinge spring is inserted and locked.
[0009]
[Action]
One end of the hinge spring extending from the hinge shaft is locked to the main body side, the other end is inserted from the opening of the locking portion provided on the lid, and locked to the upper end of the locking groove by the repulsive torque of the hinge spring.
[0010]
【Example】
Example 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments of the present invention, the same parts as those in the conventional rice cooker are denoted by the same reference numerals, but there are also parts that are different in structure and operation.
[0011]
In FIG. 1, 1 is a rice cooker, 2 is a case main body, and 2 a is a frame plate of the main body 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a lid that covers the upper part of the main body 2. The lid 3 includes a lid frame 3a and an outer lid 3b, and the outer lid 3b is attached to the upper part of the lid frame 3a. 3c is a lid packing, 3d is a reflector, 3e is an inner lid, and 3f is a steam cylinder. The lid packing 3c is formed in an annular shape with a heat-resistant elastic body, and is inserted into the groove of the lid frame 3a and pressed against the peripheral edge of the reflecting plate 3d to be fixed to the lid frame 3a. The inner lid 3e is detachably attached to the lower side of the reflecting plate 3d.
[0012]
4 is an outer hook attached to the inside of the main body 2, 5 is a heat shield, and 6 is an inner hook. The upper part of the gap between the outer hook 4 and the main body 2 is covered with a frame plate 2a. The inner hook 6 has a flange portion 6a placed on the frame plate 2a inside the outer hook 4 and is housed in the main body 2 so as to be removable. As shown in FIG. 2, the open end of the inner hook 6 is bent in two stages, and the flange portion 6a at the tip is formed obliquely upward so as to form an inclined surface 6b inclined inwardly. The flange portion 6a of the inner hook 6 is in pressure contact with the lid packing 3c when the lid body 3 is closed so that the steam does not leak. In addition, a standard water level line indicating an appropriate amount of water for the capacity of the rice is engraved in the inner pot 6 and used for stools during cooking. 7 is a rice cooker, 8 is a temperature sensor, and 9 is a cord reel. A latch mechanism 10 opens and closes the lid 3.
[0013]
The structure of the latch mechanism 10 is shown enlarged in FIG. 11 is a latch button of the latch mechanism 10, 12 is a button spring, and 13 is a button shaft. In FIG. 1, the latch button 11 is shown exposed on the side surface of the main body 2, but basically the structure shown in FIG. 3 provided in the recess 2b is adopted. Reference numeral 14 denotes a latch, 15 denotes a protrusion, 16 denotes a latch spring, and 17 denotes a latch shaft. The button spring 12 is suspended between the main body 2 and the button shaft 13 and applies a spring pressure to pull downward to the latch button 11. The latch spring 16 is wound around the latch shaft 17, and both ends of the wound spiral are engaged with the frame plate 2 a and the protrusion 15, and a counterclockwise force is applied to the latch 14 around the latch shaft 17. In the closed state of the lid 3, the hook-shaped portion of the latch 14 is hooked on the bent portion of the lid frame 3 a to lock the lid 3.
[0014]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lid frame 3a, the outer lid 3b, the inner hook 6 and the frame plate 2a of the main body 2 constituting the lid body 3. The frame plate 2a, the lid frame 3a, and the outer lid 3b are all molded of synthetic resin as shown. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge mechanism 20 and the braking mechanism 30 associated with the hinge mechanism 20. As shown in the figure, the structure is a pair structure in which the lid body 3 is supported on the main body 2 at two places as in the above-described FIGS.
[0015]
4 and 5, 21 is a hinge shaft, 22 is a hollow shaft, and 23 is a hinge spring. In the embodiment of the present invention, unlike the above, the metal plate receiving plate 20d bent in a key shape is omitted, and the hollow shaft 20b is not provided with the groove 20g. Reference numeral 24 denotes a spring receiver in place of the receiving plate 20d, which is provided on the back side of the lid frame 3a and locks the hinge spring 23 to the lid frame 3a. Reference numeral 24a denotes two parallel projecting pieces constituting the spring receiver 24, and 24b denotes an L-shaped groove formed on the projecting piece 24a and having an open end.
[0016]
A hollow shaft 22 is inserted into the spiral portion of the left and right hinge springs 23 and set in a mounting portion 20A provided on the frame plate 2a, and the two hinge shafts 21 are inserted from the inside as shown by arrows (FIG. 5). . Then, one end of the hinge spring 23 extending downward is locked to the main body 2 side and the spiral portion is wound, and the other end is inserted into the L-shaped groove 24b from the side. A torque in a direction to always open to the lid 3 is given by the hinge spring 23 that is caught.
[0017]
In the present invention, the braking mechanism 30 is provided on the back side of the lid frame 3a, and the displacement of the arc bearing 31 that rotates integrally with the lid 3 around the hinge shaft 21 is used for the braking action. However, here, the arc portion 31a of the arc bearing 31 is formed in a trapezoidal shape in which the width is initially narrow and the rotation angle of the lid 3 gradually increases with the size (see FIG. 7). Reference numeral 32 denotes two sets of rollers, and 33 denotes a roller shaft. The roller 32 is made of an elastic body and is set on the mounting portion 30A of the frame plate 2a. Both of the rollers 32 are inserted from the side and attached to the frame plate 2a. The two sets of rollers 32 attached to the mounting portion 30A are respectively opposed to the arc bearing 31 on the lid 3 side (see FIG. 7).
[0018]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 40 denotes an operation unit attached to the lid 3, and 41 denotes an operation sheet in the operation unit 40. Reference numeral 43 is a cover, 44 is a printed circuit board, 45 is a circuit element such as a display mounted on the printed circuit board 44, and 46 is a plurality of lead wires led out from the printed circuit board 44. The cover 43 is in pressure contact with the partition formed on the lid 3 and hermetically accommodates the internal printed circuit board 44 and the like.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the rice cooker of the present invention having such a configuration will be described.
Put an appropriate amount of water instructed to sharpen rice into the inner pot 6, cover the inner lid 3e, and close the lid 3. Next, the cord reel 9 is pulled out and the plug is connected to an outlet of a 100V power source. While watching the display of the operation unit 40 on the surface of the lid 3, the operation sheet 41 is operated to reserve and set the meal time. When the rice cooking start time corresponding to the reserved meal time is reached, the microcomputer timer is activated and the switch is turned on to energize the rice cooking heater 7. The rice cooker heater 7 generates heat by energization, and heats the water and rice in the inner pot 6 from below.
[0020]
Cooking of rice begins by heating of the rice cooking heater 7, the temperature of the water in the inner pot 6 rises, and steam is generated. When rice cooking progresses and water boils, the moisture in the inner pot 6 decreases and the temperature rises rapidly, the temperature sensor 8 is activated and the energization of the rice cooking heater 7 is automatically stopped. As a result, the rice is cooked in the inner pot 6, and the rice is cooked at the reserved time and the serving is started.
[0021]
Here, when the latch button 11 provided in the concave portion 2b on the side surface of the main body 2 is pressed against the latch spring 16, the hook-shaped portion of the latch 14 rotates clockwise about the latch shaft 17 and the lid frame 3a Disengage from the bent part. Since the cover body 3 is always provided with the spring pressure of the hinge spring 23, the free cover body 3 rotates upward (clockwise in this case). When the opening of the lid 3 starts and opens to a certain angle, the arc bearing 31 starts to interrupt between the two rollers 32 of the braking mechanism 30.
[0022]
For this reason, a brake is applied to the lid 3 that is opened by receiving the spring pressure of the hinge spring 23, and the lid 3 is slowly rotated. The arc portion 31a of the arc bearing 31 is formed in a trapezoidal shape and the interrupt depth becomes deeper as it rotates, and the opening speed becomes slower as it approaches 95 degrees when the lid 3 is fully opened. Therefore, the shock based on the opening of the lid 3 is relieved, and the main body 2 is prevented from shaking. The relative relationship between the arc bearing 31 and the pair of rollers 32 at this time is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 show the initial stage of interruption of the arc bearing 31, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show the final state of interruption.
[0023]
If the counterclockwise force is applied to the open end of the fully open lid 3 after the arrangement, the lid 3 rotates in the same direction about the hinge shaft 21. Then, the bent portion of the lid frame 3a is locked by the latch 14, and the lid 3 is locked by returning to the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the upper portion of the main body 2 is closed.
[0024]
On the other hand, steam is generated in the inner pot 6 with the boiling of water vapor or water generated during cooking. Most of the generated steam is released from the steam cylinder 3f to the atmosphere. A part of the raised vapor pushes up the inner lid 3e and enters from the gap around the inner lid 3e to the vicinity of the lid packing 3c as shown in FIG. The invading steam adheres to the lid packing 3c and the reflection plate 3d, and drops in the direction of the inner pot 6 as a large amount of water droplets. Then, the dropped water droplets flow down along the inclined surface 6b of the flange portion 6a and flow into the inner hook 6 to prevent outflow to the outside.
[0025]
In the above-described embodiment, the electric heating rice cooker that generates heat by heating the rice cooker and heats the inner pot with radiant heat is described as an example, but induction heating that generates heat by electromagnetic induction of the heating coil is described. The present invention can also be applied to shaped rice cookers. Further, in FIG. 5, have been described in the configuration of inserting the lateral ends of the hinge spring 23 in L-shaped groove 24b, it is provided an insert groove of the spiral to the protruding pieces 24a, an end portion of the hinge spring 23 in the insertion groove In short, it is not necessarily limited to the L shape as long as it is an open locking groove in which the end of the hinge spring 23 is locked.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
The rice cooker according to the present invention is provided with a projecting piece for locking one end of the hinge spring on the lid, and the projecting piece has an L-shaped or spiral-shaped insertion groove having an open end, and the end of the insertion groove Since one end of the hinge spring is inserted and locked from the opening of the part, there is no need for a hinge spring receiving plate , and the hinge spring is easy to attach and detach, reducing the number of parts and reducing the man-hours for producing a rice cooker The production cost is low.
[Brief description of the drawings]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the inner hook in FIG. 1;
3 is a cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a perspective view of the lid body and the like shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge mechanism and the brake mechanism of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of the braking mechanism.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing the operation of the braking mechanism.
FIG. 8 is another side view showing the operation of the braking mechanism.
FIG. 9 is another front view showing the operation of the braking mechanism.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation during rice cooking.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventional rice cooker.
12 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge mechanism of FIG. 11. FIG.
13 is a cross-sectional view of the braking mechanism of FIG.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a conventional rice cooker.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rice cooker 2 Case body 2a Frame plate 3 Lid 3a Lid 3b Outer lid 3c Lid packing 3d Reflector 3e Inner lid 3f Steam cylinder 6 Inner hook 6a Flange part 6b Inclined surface 10 Latch mechanism 11 Latch button 12 Button spring 13 Button shaft 14 Latch 16 Latch spring 17 Latch shaft 18 Dial 20 Hinge mechanism 21 Hinge shaft 22 Hollow shaft 23 Hinge spring 24 Spring bearing 24a Projection piece 24b L-shaped groove 30 Braking mechanism 31 Arc bearing 31a Arc portion 32 Roller 33 Roller shaft 34 Elastic body 34a Protrusion

Claims (1)

Heating means for heating the inner hook is provided inside, a main body on which the inner hook is detachably mounted, a lid body for opening and closing the upper part of the main body, an upper part of the main body, and a hinge shaft as a rotation axis A hinge mechanism having a hinge spring that biases the lid in the opening direction, and a latch mechanism that opens and closes the lid by disengaging the latch by operating means provided on the side facing the hinge mechanism,
A protrusion for locking one end of the hinge spring is provided on the lid, and the protrusion has an L-shaped or spiral insertion groove having an open end, and the opening of the end of the insertion groove is open. The rice cooker is characterized in that one end of the hinge spring is inserted and locked.

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