JP6978373B2 - Electrical equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to electrical equipment.

There are known electrical devices that include a main body, a lid rotatably attached to the main body, and an operation panel for performing a predetermined process. In this electric device, a circuit board is arranged inside the operation panel, and a spacer unit is further arranged between them.

Patent Document 1 discloses an electric device in which the same spacer unit is arranged in a model having a different required number of switches. The spacer unit includes a plurality of spacers corresponding to the model having the largest number of switches. When the spacer unit is mounted on a model with a small number of switches, dummy parts are arranged on the circuit board instead of the switch elements. This prevents the operation panel from bending when the portion corresponding to the unused spacer of the operation panel is pressed, and prevents erroneous operation of the switch element due to the movement of the spacer in the vicinity.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-358851

In the electrical equipment of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to arrange dummy parts on the control board, which increases the cost. Further, the operation panel is provided on the main body, and no consideration is given to the prevention of erroneous detection when the lid is closed with respect to the main body.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric device capable of preventing an unintended false detection of a switch due to a closing operation of a lid.

One aspect of the present invention includes a main body, a lid rotatably attached to the main body, an operation panel having a plurality of operation buttons and provided on the side opposite to the rotation axis of the lid, and the said. A circuit board having a plurality of switch elements corresponding to a plurality of operation buttons, respectively, and a plurality of spacers for transmitting the operation force of the plurality of operation buttons to the plurality of switch elements. A spacer unit arranged between the operation panel and the circuit board is provided, and between the predetermined spacers adjacent to the spacer unit, a first convex portion that abuts on the circuit board and the above-mentioned Provided is an electric device provided with a second convex portion that abuts on an operation panel.

Here, the fact that the first convex portion is in contact with the circuit board and the second convex portion is in contact with the operation panel means that the first convex portion is in contact with the operation panel without an external force being applied, and the external force is applied to the operation panel. Both tangent configurations are included. In the latter case, the total gap between the first convex portion and the circuit board and between the second convex portion and the operation panel is made smaller than the operation stroke of the switch element.

When closing the lid with respect to the main body, the user often pushes the tip side of the lid, that is, the side opposite to the rotation axis of the lid provided with the operation panel, so this closing operation causes the operation panel to bend. Therefore, erroneous detection of the switch is likely to occur. However, according to this aspect, a first convex portion that abuts on the circuit board and a second convex portion that abuts on the operation panel are provided between adjacent predetermined spacers. Therefore, even if the user presses between the operation buttons, the first convex portion and the second convex portion come into contact with the circuit board and the operation panel, so that the on operation of the switch element can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of an unintended switch. Further, since it is not necessary to arrange dummy parts on the circuit board, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost.

The spacer unit includes a base extending in the same direction as the axis of the rotation axis, and the plurality of spacers are connected to elastic pieces that are elastically deformable and project from the base, and are connected to the first convex portion. The second convex portion projects from the base portion. Here, extending in the same direction includes not only a configuration extending in parallel but also a configuration in which the base is slightly inclined with respect to the axis of the rotation axis. According to this aspect, since the first convex portion and the second convex portion provided on the base do not affect the operation of the spacer, the operating force of the operation button can be reliably transmitted to the switch element during normal use.

The first convex portion and the second convex portion are arranged on the same straight line. According to this aspect, since the base portion does not bend through the second convex portion due to the pressing of the operation panel, it is possible to effectively prevent erroneous detection of an unintended switch.

The plurality of spacers include a first spacer group arranged on the side of the base opposite to the rotation axis, and a second spacer group arranged on the rotation axis side of the base, and the second convex portion. Is between two adjacent spacers of the first spacer group and one spacer of the second spacer group facing between them, or two adjacent spacers of the second spacer group. It is provided between the spacer and one of the spacers of the first spacer group facing between them. According to this aspect, it is possible to surely prevent erroneous detection of the switch while reducing the number of the second convex portions formed on the spacer unit.

In the electric device of the present invention, since the first convex portion that abuts on the circuit board and the second convex portion that abuts on the operation panel are provided between the predetermined spacers, an unintended switch when closing the lid is provided. False detection can be prevented. Further, since it is not necessary to arrange dummy parts on the circuit board, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost of electrical equipment.

The perspective view which shows the electric apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. A perspective view of an electrical device with an open lid. An exploded perspective view of the lid. Sectional drawing of the operation panel part of a lid. A perspective view of a part where a circuit board and a liquid crystal display device are arranged. The plan view which shows the relationship between a circuit board, a spacer unit, and a liquid crystal display device. A perspective view of the circuit board and the spacer unit. Lower perspective view of the spacer unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a rice cooker 10 which is an example of an electric device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The rice cooker 10 includes a rice cooker main body 14 in which the rice cooker 12 is detachably arranged, and a lid 25 attached to the rice cooker main body 14 so as to be openable and closable. The lid 25 is provided with an operation unit 55 for operating the rice cooker 10. In the present embodiment, an unintended error caused by pressing a part other than the operation button 58 in the operation unit 55, that is, the operation panel 57. Effectively prevent detection.

(Overview of rice cooker)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rice cooker main body 14 includes a main body exterior body 15 having an open upper end and a shoulder body 16 closing the opening of the main body exterior body 15. A hinge connecting portion 17 for rotatably attaching the lid 25 is provided on the back of the shoulder body 16. Further, a carrying handle 18 is rotatably attached to the side portion of the shoulder body 16.

The rice cooker main body 14 includes a storage unit 19 for accommodating a bottomed tubular rice cooker pot 12. The accommodating portion 19 has a bottomed tubular shape including a metal inner body 20 formed in a cylindrical shape and a protective frame 21 made of a resin (non-conductive material) formed in a saucer shape, and has a shoulder body 16. It is located at the bottom of the opening. A coil (not shown) that induces and heats the rice cooking pot 12 is arranged on the outside of the protective frame 21. A control unit (not shown) controls an electric component including a coil to execute a process of cooking rice in the rice cooking pot 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid body 25 includes a lid body 26 having a plan view shape that covers the upper surface of the shoulder body 16, and a lid exterior body 30 that covers the upper part of the lid body 26.

A rotating shaft 27 is attached to the back of the lid body 26, and the rotating shaft 27 is rotatably attached to the hinge connecting portion 17. The lid main body 26 is provided with an inner lid 28 that closes the upper end opening of the rice cooking pot 12 so as to be located inside facing the rice cooking pot 12. The inner lid 28 may be detachably arranged with respect to the lid body 25, or may be arranged so as not to be removable.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lid exterior body 30 includes a base member 31 having a lower end opening arranged so as to cover the lid main body 26. A pair of side panels 33, one front panel 34, and one back panel 35 are arranged on the outer periphery of the base member 31 as decorative panels. Further, a top panel 36 is arranged on the outer surface of the top wall 32 that covers the outer periphery of the base member 31.

The top panel 36 is provided with a first exposed hole 37 on the back side where the rotating shaft 27 is located, and a second exposed hole 38 is provided on the side opposite to the rotating shaft 27 (the tip end side of the lid 25). ing. In the first exposed hole 37, an exhaust portion 39 of an exhaust passage for discharging the steam in the rice cooking pot 12 to the outside is arranged. In the second exposed hole 38, an opening operation member 40 for opening the lid 25 is arranged. By operating the opening operation member 40 downward in FIG. 1, the lock claw 42 shown in FIG. 2 rotates in a direction away from the lock hole 43 of the rice cooker main body 14, and the lid 25 is driven by the urging force of a hinge spring (not shown). Opens to the rice cooker body 14. The lock member 41 shown in FIG. 3 in which the lock claw 42 is formed is urged by a spring in a direction in which the lock claw 42 is locked in the lock hole 43.

A display unit 50 and an operation unit 55 are provided between the exposed holes 37 and 38 of the top panel 36.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the display unit 50 includes a window 51 formed on the top panel 36 and a liquid crystal display device 52 arranged inside the window 51. The window 51 is capable of seeing through the display of the liquid crystal display device 52, and is provided in the vicinity of the exhaust portion 39 so as to be located substantially in the center of the lid 25. The liquid crystal display device 52 is controlled by the control unit and displays the operating state of the rice cooker 10 and the operating state of the operating unit 55.

The operation unit 55 is arranged between the operation panel 57 composed of a part of the top panel 36, the operation board (circuit board) 62 arranged inside the operation panel 57, and the operation panel 57 and the operation board 62. The spacer unit 67 is provided. The operation unit 55 is provided in the vicinity of the opening operation member 40 so as to be located on the tip end side of the lid body 25. The operation panel 57 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons 58. Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of switch elements 63 corresponding to the plurality of operation buttons 58 are arranged on the operation board 62. The spacer unit 67 has a plurality of spacers 71 each located between the plurality of operation buttons 58 and the plurality of switch elements 63.

When closing the opened lid 25, the user puts his / her hand on the top panel 36 and pushes the lid 25 downward against the urging force of the hinge spring. Then, when the lock claw 42 is locked in the lock hole 43, it is necessary to apply a larger force in order to rotate the lock member 41 against the urging force of the spring.

At this time, since the operation button 58 is arranged on the tip end side of the lid body 25, the user's finger is located in the vicinity of the operation button 58. Even if the finger does not touch the operation button 58, when the operation panel 57 is bent by the closing operation force of the user, the spacer 71 in the vicinity moves toward the operation board 62, and the corresponding switch element 63 may be turned on. be. The present invention prevents such erroneous detection in the operation unit 55.

(Details of the operation unit)
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation unit 55 includes the operation panel 57, the operation board 62, and the spacer unit 67 described above. The top wall 32 of the base member 31 is formed with a recess 45 in a portion corresponding to the display unit 50 and the operation unit 55.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the recess 45 is provided for arranging the liquid crystal display device 52 including the mounting member 53, the operation board 62, and the spacer unit 67. An insertion hole 46 is provided at the bottom of the recess 45, and the liquid crystal display device 52 and the operation board 62 are electrically connected to the control unit (control board) by a cable (not shown) routed through the insertion hole 46. It is connected.

The top wall 32 of the base member 31 is provided with a fitting groove 47 so as to surround the recess 45. Referring to FIG. 4, the operation panel 57 is provided with a fitting projection 59 arranged in the fitting groove 47. The fitting groove 47 and the fitting protrusion 59 are hermetically and airtightly sealed by a sealing member. Reference numeral 48 in FIG. 5 is a portion for arranging the desiccant that adsorbs the moisture of the air in the recess 45 and the moisture contained in the operation substrate 62.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation button 58 of the operation panel 57 has a configuration in which the outside of the through hole 60 in which the spacer 71 is arranged is covered with a flexible film member 61. Referring to FIG. 3, the plurality of operation buttons 58 include a rice cooking button 58a for starting the rice cooking process, a heat insulating button 58b for starting the heat insulating process, and a pick-up button 58c for ending the rice cooking process and the heat insulating process. Further, the plurality of operation buttons 58 include a menu button 58d for changing the rice cooking menu, a wash-free rice button 58e for selecting that the rice is wash-free rice, a current time displayed on the liquid crystal display device 52, and a rice-cooking reservation time. The up button 58f and the down button 58g for changing the above, and the reservation button 58h for selecting the reserved rice cooking are included.

Since the up button 58f and the down button 58g are a set, they are composed of a right side portion and a left side portion of one through hole 60. The other buttons 58a to 58e, 58h, and 58i are each composed of one through hole 60. Of these, the three operation buttons 58a to 58c are arranged on the tip end side of the lid 25 in consideration of user operability because the operation frequency is high. Further, the operation buttons 58a to 58c are arranged in three through holes 60 provided at equal intervals along the axis A of the rotating shaft 27. Since the operation buttons 58d to 58h are used infrequently, they are arranged on the back side of the operation buttons 58a to 58c. Further, the operation buttons 58d to 58h are arranged in four through holes 60 provided at equal intervals along the axis A of the rotating shaft 27, with the up button 58f and the down button 58g as one set.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation board 62 has a first portion 62a located at the lower part of the operation portion 55 and a pair of second portions 62b located on both sides of the mounting member 53 (display portion 50). Be prepared. Switch elements 63a to 63h are respectively arranged in the first portion 62 so as to be located directly below the operation buttons 58a to 58h. As the switch elements 63a to 63h, for example, a normally open tact switch in which the contact is turned on when the receiving portion protruding upward is moved downward with a predetermined operation stroke can be used.

The operation board 62 is formed with a positioning hole 64a for positioning the spacer unit 67 and a positioning hole 64b for positioning the mounting member 53. These positioning holes 64a and 64b penetrate in a circular shape from the upper surface to the lower surface of the operation board 62. Further, the operation board 62 is provided with a locking hole 65a for locking the spacer unit 67 and a locking hole 65b for locking the mounting member 53. These locking holes 65a and 65b penetrate in a square shape from the upper surface to the lower surface of the operation board 62.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the spacer unit 67 includes a base portion 68 extending in the same direction as the axis A of the rotating shaft 27, and the same number of spacers 71a to 71h as the operation buttons 58a to 58h, which are elastic pieces. It is a resin molded product having an integral structure by 76.

The base portion 68 is arranged in an intermediate portion between the operation panel 57 and the operation board 62 so as to be spaced apart from each other (see FIG. 4). The base portion 68 of the present embodiment is arranged parallel to the axis A of the rotating shaft 27, but may be arranged at a slight inclination. On both sides of the base portion 68, side portions 69 projecting in a direction intersecting the rotation axis 27 and located parallel to the operation board 62 are provided. Further, so as to be located between the spacers 71e and 71f and between 71b and 71c, a protruding portion extending in the intermediate portion of the base portion 68 in a direction intersecting the axis A of the rotating shaft 27 and extending along the operation board 62. 70 are provided respectively.

The spacers 71a to 71h are arranged between the operation buttons 58a to 58h and the switch elements 63a to 63h, respectively, and transmit the operation force of the operation buttons 58a to 58h to the switch elements 63a to 63h, respectively. The spacers 71a to 71h are provided with a bottom plate 72 having substantially the same shape as the operation buttons 58a to 58h, and the switch elements 63a to 63h are turned on by the bottom plate 72.

The bottom plate 72 is provided with a frame plate 73 projecting upward from the outer circumference and a middle plate 74 projecting upward so as to form a + -shaped plan view, and the upper portions thereof are provided in the through hole 60 of the operation panel 57. Have been placed. The bottom plates 72 of the spacers 71a to 71c are formed with a restricting plate 75 protruding downward so as to form an arc. The regulation plate 75 is provided to prevent damage to the switch elements 63a to 63c due to excessive movement of the spacers 71a to 71c by abutting on the operation board 62.

The elastic pieces 76 of the spacers 71a to 71c project forward from the base 68, and the elastic pieces 76 of the spacers 71d to 71h project backward from the base 68. The elastic piece 76 is formed to be thinner than the thickness of the base 68 and elastically deformable in order to allow the spacers 71a to 71h to move in the vertical direction. Two elastic pieces 76 are provided for each of the spacers 71a to 71h.

The base 68 is provided with a cylinder 77 for arranging LEDs (not shown) arranged on the operation board 62 so as to be adjacent to the spacers 71a, 71b, 71h of the rice cooking button 58a, the heat insulating button 58b, and the reservation button 58h. Has been done. The tubular portion 77 of the spacers 71a and 71b is formed so as to bulge from the base portion 68, and is located on the mounting member 53 side of the spacers 71a and 71b. The tubular portion 77 of the spacer 71h is formed at the tip of an arm 78 projecting so as to form an L-shape in a plan view, and is located on the mounting member 53 side of the spacer 71h.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 8, the base portion 68 is provided with a columnar positioning protrusion 79 inserted into the positioning hole 64a and a locking projection 80 to be locked to the locking hole 65a. These are projected downward toward the operation board 62.

A plurality of first convex portions 81 that abut on the upper surface of the operation board 62 are projected downward at a predetermined position of the base portion 68 and the tips of the side portions 69 and the protruding portion 70. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, three second convex portions 82a to 82c that abut on the lower surface of the operation panel 57 are projected upward in the center of the base portion 68. Of the plurality of first convex portions 81, the three one convex portions 81a to 81c located at the center of the base portion 68 are arranged vertically so as to be located on the same straight line with respect to the second convex portions 82a to 82c. Has been done.

When the first convex portions 81a to 81c abut on the operation board 62 and the second convex portions 82a to 82c abut on the operation panel 57, they abut on the operation panel 57 in a state where no external force (downward force) is applied. Both the configuration and the configuration in which external force is applied to abut are included. In the latter case, the total gap between the first convex portion 81a and the operation board 62 and between the second convex portion 82a and the operation panel 57, and between the first convex portion 81b and the operation board 62 and the second convex portion. The total gap between the 82b and the operation panel 57, and the total gap between the first convex portion 81c and the operation board 62 and between the second convex portion 82c and the operation panel 57 are the switch elements 63a, respectively. It is set smaller than the operation stroke of ~ 63h.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 6, the first convex portions 81a to 81c and the second convex portions 82a to 82c are provided so as to be located between adjacent predetermined spacers 71. More specifically, the plurality of spacers 71 are largely divided into the first spacers 71a to 71c groups located on the tip end side of the lid 25 and the second spacers 71d to 71h groups located on the back side of the lid 25. Be separated. The protrusions 81a and 82a are provided so as to be located between the spacers 71b and 71c of the first spacer group and the spacer 71e of the second spacer group facing between them. The protrusions 81b and 82b are provided so as to be located between the spacers 71e and 71f of the second spacer group and the spacer 71b of the first spacer group facing between them. The protrusions 81c and 82c are provided so as to be located between the spacers 71a and 71b of the first spacer group and the spacer 71g of the second spacer group facing between them. In the one spacer facing the two adjacent spacers, a part of the base 68 in the extending direction may overlap with a part of the two spacers.

When the first convex portions 81a to 81c and the second convex portions 82a to 82c are not provided, when a downward force is applied to the operation panel 57 as described above, the concave portions 45 (spaces) are formed inside. , The operation panel 57 can be bent downward. Then, in the operation panel 57, the amount of bending of the central portion in the direction in which the axis A of the rotating shaft 27 extends is the largest.

However, in the present embodiment, the central portion of the spacer unit 67 is provided with first convex portions 81a to 81c that abut on the operation board 62 and second convex portions 82a to 82c that abut on the operation panel 57. Therefore, even if the user presses between the operation buttons 58a and 58b or between 58b and 58c, the second convex portions 82a to 82c abut on the operation panel 57, and the first convex portions 81a to 81c abut on the operation board 62. , The bending of the operation panel 57 is prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unintended false detection that any one of the spacers 71a to 71h moves due to the bending of the operation panel 57 and the corresponding switch elements 63a to 63h are turned on.

Since it is not necessary to arrange dummy parts on the operation board 62, it is possible to suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost of the rice cooker 10. Since the plurality of spacers 71a to 71h are integrally molded with the base portion 68 by the elastic piece 76, the assembly workability at the time of manufacturing can be improved. Further, since the first convex portions 81a to 81c and the second convex portions 82a to 82c are provided on the base portion 68 separated from the spacers 71a to 71h, the first convex portions 81a to 81c and the second convex portions 82a to 82c are provided. Can be prevented from affecting the operation of the spacers 71a to 71h. Therefore, during normal use, the operating force of the operation button 58 can be reliably transmitted to the switch element 63.

Since the first convex portions 81a to 81c and the second convex portions 82a to 82c are formed on the same straight line, the base portion 68 may bend via the second convex portions 82a to 82c due to the pressing of the operation panel 57. No. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent erroneous detection of an unintended switch due to pressing of the operation panel 57. Further, since the second convex portions 82a to 82c are provided between the three spacers 71, the number of the second convex portions 82a to 82c formed on the spacer unit 67 is reduced, and erroneous detection of the switch is surely performed. Can be prevented.

The electric device (rice cooker 10) of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various changes can be made.

For example, the second convex portion may be provided between all adjacent spacers, or the first convex portion may be provided between all adjacent spacers. The first convex portion and the second convex portion may project at different positions of the base in the direction in which the axis of the rotation axis extends.

In the above embodiment, the rice cooker 10 has been described as an example, but the configuration of the present invention in which the spacer unit is provided with the first convex portion and the second convex portion is a main body and a lid rotatably attached to the main body. It is applicable to any electric device having the above and forming an operation panel on the lid, and the same action and effect can be obtained.

10 ... Rice cooker (electrical equipment)
12 ... Rice cooker 14 ... Rice cooker body (main body)
15 ... Main body exterior 16 ... Shoulder body 17 ... Hinge connection 18 ... Handle 19 ... Accommodation 20 ... Inner body 21 ... Protective frame 25 ... Lid 26 ... Lid body 27 ... Rotating shaft 28 ... Inner lid 30 ... Lid exterior 31 ... Base member 32 ... Top wall 33 ... Side panel 34 ... Front panel 35 ... Back panel 36 ... Top panel 37 ... Exposed hole 38 ... Exposed hole 39 ... Exhaust part 40 ... Opening operation member 41 ... Lock member 42 ... Lock claw 43 ... Lock hole 45 ... Recessed hole 46 ... Insertion hole 47 ... Fitting groove 48 ... Arrangement part 50 ... Display part 51 ... Window 52 ... Liquid crystal display device 53 ... Mounting member 55 ... Operation part 57 ... Operation panel 58, 58a to 58h ... Operation button 59 ... Fitting protrusion 60 ... Through hole 61 ... Film member 62 ... Operation board (circuit board)
62a ... 1st part 62b ... 2nd part 63, 63a-63h ... Switch elements 64a, 64b ... Positioning holes 65a, 65b ... Locking holes 67 ... Spacer unit 68 ... Base 69 ... Side 70 ... Protruding parts 71, 71a- 71h ... Spacer 71a-71c ... First spacer group 71d-71h ... Second spacer group 72 ... Bottom plate 73 ... Frame plate 74 ... Middle plate 75 ... Regulation plate 76 ... Elastic piece 77 ... Cylinder 78 ... Arm 79 ... Positioning protrusion 80 ... Locking protrusions 81, 81a to 81c ... First convex portion 82a to 82c ... Second convex portion

Claims (4)

With the main body
A lid rotatably attached to the main body and
An operation panel having a plurality of operation buttons and provided on the side opposite to the rotation axis of the lid body,
A circuit board having a plurality of switch elements corresponding to the plurality of operation buttons and arranged inside the operation panel, and a circuit board.
It has a plurality of spacers for transmitting the operating force of the plurality of operation buttons to the plurality of switch elements, and includes a spacer unit arranged between the operation panel and the circuit board.
An electric device in which a first convex portion that abuts on the circuit board and a second convex portion that abuts on the operation panel are provided between the predetermined spacers adjacent to the spacer unit. The spacer unit comprises a base extending in the same direction as the axis of the axis of rotation.
The plurality of spacers are connected to each elastic piece that is elastically deformable and protrudes from the base.
The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the first convex portion and the second convex portion project from the base portion. The electric device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first convex portion and the second convex portion are arranged on the same straight line. The plurality of spacers include a first spacer group arranged on the side of the base opposite to the rotation axis, and a second spacer group arranged on the rotation axis side of the base.
The second convex portion is between two adjacent spacers of the first spacer group and one spacer of the second spacer group facing between them, or adjacent to the second spacer group. The electric device according to claim 2 or 3, which is provided between the two spacers and one spacer of the first spacer group facing between them.

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