JP5743843B2 - Steam recovery tank and rice cooker equipped with the steam recovery tank - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a steam recovery tank that condenses steam introduced into previously stored water, and a rice cooker including the steam recovery tank.

Conventionally, a steam recovery tank that stores water in advance is installed in the rice cooker, the steam generated from the inner pot of the rice cooker is guided into the steam recovery tank, cooled by water, and condensed, and the steam is transferred from the rice cooker to the outside. There are things that are not discharged.
In the steam recovery tank, an opening on the discharge side of a steam conduit communicating with the inside of the inner pot that is a source of steam is inserted in water. And the vapor | steam which generate | occur | produces in an inner pot at the time of use of a rice cooker is guide | induced to the vapor | steam conduit | pipe, it is discharged directly in the water in a vapor | steam collection tank, and is condensed. The steam recovery tank has an opening at the top, and a stepped portion protruding inward from the inside of the side surface is provided. The height of the upper surface of the stepped portion is set so as to be an appropriate level of water stored in the tank (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-115318 A (Abstract, FIG. 5)

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, when the recovered water in the steam recovery tank is discharged and water is newly stored, the steam recovery tank is removed from the rice cooker body, and the tank alone is the water supply source. Carried to a sink, etc., but the side of the steam recovery tank was almost vertical and smooth, so it was slippery and difficult to hold. In addition, after water is stored in the steam recovery tank, if the hand holding the steam recovery tank is wet, it becomes more slippery and there is a possibility that the steam recovery tank is accidentally dropped.

  In addition, the step provided in the steam recovery tank is designed so that the amount of water stored in the steam recovery tank can be confirmed visually, but only in order to ensure visibility, The thickness was thicker than the thickness on the side of the tank, and extra material was used.

  Further, if the handle is provided on the upper part of the steam recovery tank to make it easier to hold, the number of components of the steam recovery tank increases, which may complicate the structure and complicate maintenance.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is a vapor recovery tank that is easy to carry and highly safe, and can easily and accurately measure the amount of water to be stored without using steps. And it aims at providing the rice cooker provided with the steam recovery tank.

  The steam recovery apparatus according to the present invention has an opening in the upper part, a container for condensing steam introduced into pre-stored water, and a side of the container that protrudes inward of the container The handle is provided on the side of the container so that the upper part is at the upper limit water level of the water stored in the container and the lower part is at the lower limit water level of the water.

According to the present invention, since the handle portion formed to protrude inward of the container is provided on the side surface of the container, the container can be easily carried and the safety is improved.
Moreover, the upper part of the handle is the upper limit water level of the stored water, and the lower part of the handle is the lower limit water level of the stored water. As a result, when water is poured from the upper opening of the container, it can be easily confirmed from above the container whether the water has reached between the upper part and the lower part of the handle part. In doing so, it is not necessary to change the line of sight, it is possible to store an appropriate amount of water, and it is possible to provide a steam recovery tank with very good workability.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. The perspective view which shows the steam recovery apparatus in the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. The perspective view of a rice cooker when the cover body shown in FIG. 1 is open | released. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a steam recovery tank, a tank lid, and a tank cover of the steam recovery apparatus of FIG. 2. The perspective view which shows typically the vapor | steam collection | recovery tank of FIG. Sectional drawing of the handle part which cut | disconnects and shows the side of the steam recovery tank of FIG. The perspective view which shows typically the vapor | steam collection | recovery tank in the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. Sectional drawing of the handle part which cut | disconnects and shows the side of the steam recovery tank in the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a steam recovery tank of the present invention and a rice cooker provided with the steam recovery tank will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a rice cooker according to Embodiment 1, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a steam recovery device in the rice cooker according to Embodiment 1, and FIG. 3 is an opening of the lid shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a steam recovery tank, a tank lid, and a tank cover of the steam recovery apparatus of FIG.
The rice cooker 100 according to the present embodiment includes a rice cooker body 11, a lid 12 provided on the top of the rice cooker body 11 so as to be freely opened and closed, and steam generated during cooking such as rice cooking is cooled by water and condensed. And a steam recovery device 20 that recovers the steam.

  The rice cooker main body 11 has an inner pot 10 for putting an object to be cooked and heating means (not shown) for heating the inner pot 10 inside. Moreover, the rice cooker main body 11 is provided with the tank receiving part 11a which supports the vapor | steam collection | recovery tank 21 of the vapor | steam collection | recovery apparatus 20 in the front lower part detachably. The lid 12 is attached so as to be openable and closable by a hinge portion 14 provided at the rear upper part of the rice cooker body 11. The lid 12 is provided with an inner lid 13 that closes the upper opening 10a of the inner pot 10 during cooking, and a main body side steam conduit 25 that introduces steam generated in the inner pot 10 into the inside.

  The aforementioned steam recovery apparatus 20 is detachably attached to a main body side steam conduit 25, a steam recovery tank 21 formed of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped container having an opening (hereinafter referred to as "upper opening") at the top, and an upper opening. The tank lid 22 having a tank side steam conduit 22b for condensing the steam from the main body side steam conduit 25 to the water in the steam recovery tank 21 and the front surface of the steam recovery tank 21 are detachably covered to form an external part. And a tank cover 23.

  One end of the main body side steam conduit 25 is detachably connected to a small hole opening (not shown) provided in the inner lid 13. When the lid 12 is closed, the lid 12 is locked to the rice cooker main body 11 and the other end of the main body side steam conduit 25 is detachably connected to an opening 22 a provided in the tank lid 22. . In addition, when the lid 12 is locked to the rice cooker body 11, the upward movement (opening) of the lid 12 is restricted. When releasing the lock (lock) between the lid body 12 and the rice cooker body 11, the lid body 12 and the rice cooker body are operated by operating the lock release button 18 provided on the front surface (front surface) of the lid body 12. 11 is released.

  The vapor recovery tank 21 is made of a synthetic resin that can transmit light, and includes a handle portion formed on the side surface so as to protrude inward of the tank. As described above, the tank lid 22 has an opening 22a that is detachably connected to the opening (the other end) of the main body side steam conduit 25 when the lid 12 is closed, and the center of the opening 22a. A tank side steam conduit 22b serving as an axis is provided. The tank side steam conduit 22b extends to a depth necessary for condensing the steam from the inner pot 10 side with the water in the tank 21.

Next, the configuration of the handle portion provided in the tank 21 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
5 is a perspective view schematically showing the steam recovery tank of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the handle portion shown by cutting the side of the steam recovery tank of FIG.
When the rice cooker body 11 is viewed from the front, a side portion 21a that protrudes inward of the tank is provided on the front side surface of the steam recovery tank 21. The handle portion 21a is formed in a box shape having a rectangular opening portion 21d extending in the left-right direction with the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the side surface of the tank 21 as the center.

  The depth 21u of the handle 21a is, for example, 30 mm from the inner surface of the side surface, and the width 21v of the opening 21d of the handle 21a is, for example, 60 mm. The depth 21u (30 mm) of the handle portion 21a can be sufficiently visually confirmed from the upper opening of the steam recovery tank 21, and is the minimum necessary depth for finger-handling. The width 21v (60 mm) of the opening 21d is large enough to accommodate at least three fingers. In addition, when the vapor | steam collection | recovery tank 21 is mounted in the tank receiving part 11a of the rice cooker main body 11, the handle part 21a becomes a near side.

  Further, the handle portion 21a is provided at a height that provides an appropriate amount of water for condensing steam. The handle portion 21a is provided on the side surface of the steam recovery tank 21 so that the upper portion 21b is positioned at the upper limit water level of the water stored in the steam recovery tank 21 and the lower portion 21c is positioned at the lower limit water level of the stored water. That is, when water is stored inside the steam recovery tank 21, an appropriate amount of water can be obtained by putting water so that the water surface is positioned between the upper portion 21b (upper limit water level) and the lower portion 21c (lower limit water level) of the handle portion 21a. Can be stored in the steam recovery tank 21. In addition, the upper part 21b and the lower part 21c of the handle part 21a are substantially parallel. The above-mentioned lower limit water level is a height for obtaining a minimum amount of water necessary for condensing steam.

  Further, as described above, since the handle portion 21a is disposed at a substantially central position on the side surface of the steam recovery tank 21, the water is poured while the steam recovery tank 21 is tilted to either the left or right in the longitudinal direction. If water injection is stopped when the water surface intersects the approximate center of the opening 21d of the handle 21a, it is possible to store appropriate water.

In the rice cooker 100 configured as described above, the use of the steam recovery tank 21 will be described.
Water is poured into the steam recovery tank 21 from the upper opening of the steam recovery tank 21, and when the water in the steam recovery tank 21 reaches a position below the upper portion 21b of the handle portion 21a and higher than the lower portion 21c of the handle portion 21a. To stop. The water injection may be stopped when the water in the steam recovery tank 21 reaches the upper portion 21b of the handle portion 21a or when the water reaches the lower portion 21c of the handle portion 21a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, a tank side steam conduit 22 b attached to the tank cover 22 is inserted into the steam recovery tank 21 storing water, and the upper opening of the steam recovery tank 21 is opened by the tank cover 22. Cover the front surface of the steam recovery tank 21 with the tank cover 23, mount it on the tank receiver 11 a of the rice cooker body 11, and cover and lock the upper part of the rice cooker body 11 with the lid 12. At this time, the steam recovery tank 21 is sandwiched between the lid 12 and the tank receiving portion 11a.

  At this time, the main body side steam conduit 25 and the tank side steam conduit 22 b are connected via the opening 22 a of the tank lid 22. By this connection, the steam generated in the inner pot 10 during cooking can be introduced into the water stored in the steam recovery tank 21.

  That is, when rice is cooked in such a state, the steam generated in the inner pot 10 is moved from the opening of the small hole provided in the inner lid 13 to the outside of the inner pot 10 as shown by the arrow in FIG. It is discharged and flows into the main body side steam conduit 25. The steam that has flowed into the main body side steam conduit 25 flows down the tank side steam conduit 22b, is introduced into the steam recovery tank 21, is cooled by the water stored in the steam recovery tank 21, is condensed, and is recovered. It is stored in the steam recovery tank 21 as water.

  When the user removes the steam recovery tank 21 from the rice cooker body 11 and carries it to the sink, or when carrying the steam recovery tank 21 poured with water from the sink, the second finger enters the opening 21d of the handle 21a from the second finger. Put any three fingers of five fingers, hold the steam recovery tank 21 with the thumb as the first finger on the opposite side of the steam recovery tank 21, and carry the steam recovery tank 21 in that state .

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the handle portion 21a into which a plurality of fingers can be inserted is provided on the side surface of the steam recovery tank 21, the steam recovery tank 21 can be easily carried and safety is improved. To do. Further, since it is not necessary to newly provide a handle for preventing the vapor recovery tank 21 from falling, the structure can be simplified and the maintenance is easy.

  Moreover, the upper part 21b of the handle part 21a is the upper limit water level of the stored water, and the lower part 21c of the handle part 21a is the lower limit water level of the stored water. Thereby, when water is poured from the upper opening of the steam recovery tank 21, it can be easily confirmed from above the steam recovery tank 21 whether water has reached between the upper portion 21b and the lower portion 21c of the handle portion 21a. be able to. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the line of sight when checking the amount of water, it becomes possible to store an appropriate amount of water, and workability is improved and convenience is improved.

  Further, by using the steam recovery tank 21 configured as described above for a rice cooker, an appropriate amount of water can be stored. Therefore, even if steam is recovered in the steam recovery tank 21 and the amount of stored water increases, the steam recovery tank 21 It is possible to prevent water from overflowing from the inside.

  Although the steam recovery tank 21 in the first embodiment has been described as being made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin, the material of the steam recovery tank 21 may be made of a low-light-transmitting synthetic resin. good. This is because when water is poured into the steam recovery tank 21, it is not necessary to check the amount of water over the wall of the steam recovery tank 21 because an appropriate amount of water can be confirmed from the upper opening. In other words, the vapor recovery tank 21 can be made of a synthetic resin having a color tone in which dirt attached to the vapor recovery tank 21 is not noticeable.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a modified example of the steam recovery tank described in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a steam recovery tank in the rice cooker according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, only the steam recovery tank different from the first embodiment will be described.

  The steam recovery tank 31 in the present embodiment has an opening (upper opening) to which the tank lid 22 is detachably attached. On the front side surface of the steam recovery tank 31, two handle portions 31a and 31e are provided that protrude inward of the tank. In addition, an upper limit water level scale 31 i that indicates the upper limit water level and a lower limit water level scale 31 j that indicates the lower limit water level are displayed on the side surface between the two handle portions 31 a and 31 e among the side surfaces of the steam recovery tank 31.

  The two handle portions 31a and 31e are provided on the left and right with the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the side surface of the steam recovery tank 31 as the center, and are formed in a box shape having rectangular openings 31d and 31h, respectively. The depths of the two handle portions 31a and 31e and the widths of the openings 31d and 31h are the same as those in the first embodiment. The two handle portions 31a and 31e are provided at a height that provides an appropriate amount of water for condensing steam.

  Each of the handle portions 31a and 31e has an upper portion 31b and 31f of the steam recovery tank 31 so that each upper portion 31b and 31f has the same height as the upper limit water level scale 31i and each lower portion 31c and 31g has the same height as the lower limit water level scale 31j. It is provided on the side. The upper part 31b and the lower part 31c of the handle part 31a and the upper part 31f and the lower part 31g of the handle part 31e are substantially parallel to each other.

Next, the use of the steam recovery tank 31 will be described.
Water is poured into the steam recovery tank 31 from the upper opening of the steam recovery tank 31. Water injection is stopped when a position higher than 31 g is reached. The water injection is stopped when the water in each steam recovery tank 31 reaches the upper portions 31b and 31f of the handle portions 31a and 31e, or when the water reaches the lower portions 31c and 31g of the handle portions 31a and 31e. May be.

  In addition, after stopping the water injection into the steam recovery tank 31, when checking the position of the water level, it can be performed through the upper limit water level scale 31i and the lower limit water level scale 31j.

  Further, when water is poured from the upper opening while viewing the inside of the steam recovery tank 31 from above, if the steam recovery tank 31 is inclined obliquely in the longitudinal direction, for example, the handle portion 31a side is lowered and the lower portion When 31c is covered with water and the water does not reach the lower portion 31g on the other handle 31e side, the user can easily determine that the steam recovery tank 31 is tilted. In that case, the steam recovery tank 31 is leveled and water injection is continued. The water injection is stopped when the lower portion 31c on the handle portion 31a side and the lower portion 31g on the handle portion 31e side are covered with water almost simultaneously.

  When removing the steam recovery tank 31 from the rice cooker body 11 and transporting it to the sink, or when transporting the steam recovery tank 31 poured with the sink, there are three in each of the openings 31d and 31h of the handle portions 31a and 31e. And hold the steam recovery tank 31 with the thumb placed on the opposite side surface of the steam recovery tank 31, and carry the steam recovery tank 31 in that state.

As described above, in the second embodiment, since the two handle portions 31a and 31e are provided in the lateral direction of the side surface of the steam recovery tank 31, the steam recovery tank 31 can be handled with both hands. The steam recovery tank 31 can be safely moved to the water supply source.
Further, it becomes possible to easily determine the inclination of the steam recovery tank 31 by the upper portions 31b and 31f and the lower portions 31c and 31g of the two handle portions 31a and 31e, and an appropriate amount of water can be confirmed.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Next, a modified example of the steam recovery tank described in the first and second embodiments will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the handle portion shown by cutting the side of the steam recovery tank in the rice cooker according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, only the steam recovery tank different from the first and second embodiments will be described.

  Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the steam recovery tank 41 in the present embodiment has an opening (upper opening) into which the tank lid 22 is detachably fitted. On the front side surface of the steam recovery tank 41, a handle portion 41a that protrudes inward of the tank is provided. The handle 41a is formed, for example, in a modified box shape having a rectangular opening 41d extending in the left-right direction with the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the side surface of the steam recovery tank 41 as the center.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the cross-sectional shape of the handle portion 41a is a lower portion 41c that is bent at a right angle from the lower end portion of the opening portion 41d and extends inward from the tank, and after being bent at a right angle upward from the lower portion 41c. The inclined portion 41d is inclined upward toward the upper end of the opening 41d. The depth of the handle 41a, that is, the depth from the opening 41d to the corner of the lower portion 41c and the width of the opening 41d are the same as in the first embodiment.

  The handle portion 41a is configured to recover steam so that the upper end portion 41e of the inclined portion 41d is at the upper limit water level position stored in the steam recovery tank 41 and the lower end portion 41f of the inclined portion 41d is at the lower limit water level position. While being provided on the side surface of the tank 41, the inclination angle and length of the inclined portion 41d are set. Further, for example, a hydrophilic paint 42 that changes color when water adheres is applied to the upper surface of the inclined portion 41b.

  In this way, by configuring the steam recovery tank 41, the user poured water from the upper opening of the steam recovery tank 41, and the hydrophilic paint 42 on the lower end portion 41f side of the inclined portion 41b of the handle portion 41a was discolored. In that case, it is determined that an appropriate amount of water has been stored with reference to the color change of the inclined portion, and water injection is stopped.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, since the handle portion 41a into which a plurality of fingers can be inserted is provided on the side surface of the steam recovery tank 41, the steam recovery tank 41 can be easily carried and safety is improved. To do. Moreover, since it is not necessary to newly provide a handle for preventing the steam recovery tank 41 from falling, the structure can be simplified and the maintenance is easy.
Further, when water is poured into the steam recovery tank 41 and the hydrophilic paint 42 applied to the upper surface of the inclined portion 41b of the handle portion 41a is discolored, it can be determined that an appropriate amount of water has been stored. Therefore, there is no need to change the line of sight when checking the amount of water, and the water pouring work becomes easy and convenience is improved.

  In the present embodiment, it has been described that the handle portion 41a is provided at substantially the center in the longitudinal direction of the side surface of the steam recovery tank 41. However, as in the second embodiment, the handle portion 41a is provided in the steam recovery tank 41. You may make it provide two on the left and right centering on the approximate center of the longitudinal direction of 41 side surfaces.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the depth of the handle portions 21a, 31a, 31e, and 41a is 30 mm, and the width of the openings 21d, 31d, 31h, and 41d of the handle portions 21a, 31a, 31e, and 41a is 60 mm. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  Moreover, although Embodiment 1 thru | or 3 demonstrated using the steam recovery tanks 21, 31, and 41 for the rice cooker 100 for general households, the steam recovery tank 21 was added to the business rice cooker provided with the steam recovery apparatus 20. , 31, 41 may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Rice cooker, 10 Inner pan, 10a Upper opening of inner pan 10, 11 Rice cooker main body, 11a Tank receiving part, 12 Cover body, 13 Inner lid, 14 Hinge part, 18 Unlock button, 20 Steam recovery apparatus, 21 Steam Recovery tank, 21a handle part, 21b upper part of the handle part 21a, 21c lower part of the handle part 21a, 21d opening part of the handle part 21a, 21u depth of the handle part 21a, 21v width of the handle part 21a, 22 tank lid, 22a tank lid 22 opening, 22b tank side steam conduit, 23 tank cover, 25 main body side steam conduit, 31 steam recovery tank, 31a handle portion, 31b upper portion of handle portion 31a, 31c lower portion of handle portion 31a, 31d opening of handle portion 31a Part, 31e handle part, 31f upper part of the handle part 31e, 31g handle part 31 , 31h Opening portion of the handle portion 31e, 31i Upper limit water level scale, 31j Lower limit water level scale, 41 Steam recovery tank, 41a Handle portion, 41b Inclined portion of the handle portion 41a, 41c Lower portion of the handle portion 41a, 41d of the handle portion 41a Opening, 41e Upper end of inclined part 41b, 41f Lower end of inclined part 41b, 42 Hydrophilic paint.

Claims (5)

A container having an opening at the top and for condensing steam introduced into pre-stored water;
A handle portion formed on the side surface of the container so as to protrude inward of the container;
The handle is provided on a side surface of the container such that the upper part is provided at a position of an upper limit water level of water stored in the container and a lower part thereof is provided at a position of a lower limit water level of the water. tank. A container having an opening at the top and for condensing steam introduced into pre-stored water;
A handle portion formed on the side surface of the container so as to protrude inward of the container;
The handle portion has an inclined portion inclined downward from the side surface, the upper end portion of the inclined portion is at the upper limit water level of the water stored in the container, and the lower end portion of the inclined portion is the lower limit water level of the water. Provided on the side of the container so that
A steam recovery tank, wherein a coating that changes color when water contacts is applied to an upper surface of the inclined portion.   The steam recovery tank according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion is provided at a substantially center in a lateral direction of a side surface of the container.   3. The steam recovery tank according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the handle portions are provided on the left and right sides with a substantially center in a left and right direction of a side surface of the container as a center. A rice cooker body having an inner pot and a heating means for heating the inner pot stored in a removable manner;
A lid provided on the top of the rice cooker main body so as to be freely opened and closed;
A steam recovery tank according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A rice cooker characterized in that the steam generated in the inner pot by the heating means is led to the water in the steam recovery tank to be condensed.

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