JP7292223B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rice cooker, and more particularly to a rice cooker provided with a lid panel having a transparent window through which a display can be seen.

A rice cooker uses a heating unit to heat an inner pot containing food to be cooked. A display section is provided to display operation information operated by an operator, information related to rice cooking, and the like, and generally, this display section can be visually recognized through a transparent window section. There is a problem that a temperature difference occurs between the inside and outside of the transparent window part due to the temperature rise during cooking, causing condensation on the transparent window part.

In order to prevent the dew condensation, as shown in Patent Document 1, a moisture absorbing material is incorporated into the recess provided in the outer lid from the outside of the outer lid, and the recess is made to be a sealed space. It is known to attach a blank covering panel last and absorb the moisture in the sealed space with a moisture absorbing material.

Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, by providing a second transparent window that forms an independent air layer on the sealing space side of the transparent window, the air formed in the second transparent window outside the transparent window is Layers are known to reduce the temperature difference between the inside of the transparent window to prevent condensation. In addition, there is also a type in which a third transparent window is further provided to add an air layer to further prevent dew condensation.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-201812 JP 2016-168197 A

In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, while the inner surface of the display portion is used as a sealed space, a hygroscopic material is required. , there is a problem that dew condensation occurs when the capacity of the moisture absorbent is exceeded.

Moreover, the prior art shown in the above Patent Document 2 has a problem that the addition of the second and third transparent windows reduces the transmittance and reduces the visibility of the display section.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and includes an inner pot housed in a main body, a heating coil disposed outside the inner pot for induction-heating the inner pot, and a heating coil comprising: It has a heating control unit that supplies electric power, a lid that can be freely opened and closed with respect to the inner pot, and a display unit that displays information related to rice cooking . and a recess is provided under the panel, and a storage chamber is provided to store the display unit in the space formed by the panel and the recess so that the display on the display unit can be seen through the transparent window. and has an air passage connecting the storage chamber and the outside of the lid, the air passage comprising an intake/exhaust port provided in the panel and a duct connecting the storage chamber and the intake/exhaust port. The duct is formed by covering a concave groove provided in the lid with the panel, and has a bottom surface or a wall at a position higher than the intake/exhaust port.

Therefore, according to the present invention, dew condensation does not occur in the transparent window portion, and the visibility of the display portion can be improved.

1 is an overall cross-sectional view of a rice cooker in one embodiment; FIG. It is a front view of the same rice cooker. It is the perspective view which looked at the same rice cooker from the diagonally downward direction. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3; 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3; FIG. It is the whole front sectional drawing of the same rice cooker. It is a horizontal partial sectional view of the same rice cooker. It is the perspective view which looked at the rice cooker from diagonally behind. FIG. 9 is a view taken from the panel of FIG. 8; It is a cross-sectional view of the control unit air intake and exhaust duct of the rice cooker.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, an inner pot 32 having an open top is detachably inserted into an inner container 41 inside a main body 31 of the rice cooker.

A lid 53 having an inner lid 58 on the lower surface is attached to the upper surface of the main body 31 so as to be openable and closable. blocks the top opening of the

A heating coil 34 for induction-heating the inner pot 32 is provided at the bottom of the main body 31 and on the outer bottom surface of the inner pot 32 .

Further, a temperature sensor unit 47 is provided at the bottom of the main body 31 and contacts the central part of the outer bottom surface of the inner pot 32 to detect the temperature of the inner pot 32. The temperature information is input to the control unit 35, Heating of the heating coil 34 is controlled via the heating controller 35b.

The controller 35 is arranged in a low-temperature space within the main body 31 .

A cooling fan 36 is provided at the front lower portion of the main body 31 to cool the inside of the main body 31 including the heating control section 35b and the heating coil 34 .

The temperature sensor unit 47 has an upper lid 38a above the cylinder 38, the temperature sensor 37 is fixed so as to abut on the upper lid 38a, and the lower part of the cylinder 38 has an opening 38b.

A cylindrical body holding portion 41 a for supporting the outer circumference (cylindrical body 38 ) of the temperature sensor unit 47 is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the inner container 41 that houses the inner pot 32 . The lower end of the cylindrical body holding portion 41a is positioned lower than the heating coil 34. As shown in FIG.

In a state in which the temperature sensor unit 47 is incorporated in the cylindrical body holding portion 41a, the outer circumference of the temperature sensor unit 47 and the cylindrical body holding portion 41a form a water passage. This water passage is for allowing water droplets adhering to the outer bottom surface of the inner pot 32 to flow out to the bottom case 39 of the main body 31 so that even if they drip onto the bottom of the inner container 41, they will not accumulate in the inner container 41. is.

The bottom case 39 has an exhaust port 39g on the front side, an air intake port 39f on the rear side, and a circular protrusion 39d approximately in the middle.

Inside the bottom case 39, a disk-shaped aluminum van 43 having a hole in the center is fixed to a boss with screws. The aluminum band 43 is provided in the lower part of the main body 31 as a magnetic flux leakage prevention by the heating coil 34 .

Approximately in the center of the bottom case 39, a cylinder with an open top is located on the outer peripheral side of a cylinder holding portion 41a that supports the outer periphery (cylindrical body 38) of the temperature sensor unit 47 provided at the center of the bottom surface of the inner container 41. A shaped rib 39a is provided. The cylindrical rib 39a is higher than the rib 39d and forms an upper end with a substantially uniform height.

A drainage hole is provided inside the cylindrical rib 39a surrounded by reinforcing ribs. The water droplets adhering to the outer bottom surface of the inner pot 32 drip onto the bottom surface of the inner container 41, and the water droplets dripping from the water passage formed by the outer circumference of the cylindrical body 38 and the cylindrical body holding portion 41a are drained into the main body. 31 to flow out.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower left and right sides of the bottom case 39 are chamfered 39e, and even when the right and left sides of the main body are close to the wall, the distance between the wall and the installation surface prevents the wind from blowing. Space is secured for flow without resistance.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rice cooker as seen obliquely from below. The cooling air that has entered along the chamfered shape 39e passes through a handle 39h (handle portion) provided at the left-right central portion of the bottom surface of the bottom case 39 and enters the main body 31 from an air guide portion 39j through an air inlet 39f.

4 and 5 are sectional views of the air guide portion 39j. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. Loss when cooling air is taken in by making the intake port 39f higher than the other surface of the bottom case 39 along the circular convex portion 39d behind the circular convex portion 39d where the gap with the installation surface is small. is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the handles 39h provided on the left and right sides of the bottom case 39 are tilted about 10 degrees in a direction in which the handle 39h is raised toward the inside of the main body, so that the rice cooker can be moved while holding the handles 39h with both hands. It has improved finger hookability when doing. Also, the handle 39h may be tilted at an angle within the range of 5° to 20°.

The height of the handle 39h from the surface on which the main body is placed is set to a height at which a normal adult finger can be inserted. That is, the height of the handle 39h from the surface on which the main body is placed is greater than 15 mm, preferably within the range of 15 to 35 mm.

In addition, the length of the handle 39h is set so that three fingers from the index finger to the ring finger of a normal adult can be accommodated. That is, the length of this handle 39h is greater than 60 mm, preferably in the range of 60-200 mm.

In addition, by setting the width of the chamfered shape 39e (chamfered shape portion) between the handle 39h and the side surface 39m of the bottom case 39 to about 10 to 20 mm, it fits between the first joint and the second joint of the finger. By naturally holding the side 39m of the bottom case 39 with the palm from the second joint, it is possible to move stably.

In addition, the handle 39h, the chamfered shape 39e, and the side 39m of the bottom case 39, which are touched by the user's hand when carrying the rice cooker, are textured to improve finger grip when holding the rice cooker, thereby preventing the rice cooker from slipping and falling. can be reduced. A similar effect can be obtained by roughening the surface of the relevant portion or adding a hairline instead of embossing.

If the handle portion 39h and the chamfered shape 39e each have a length of one finger joint, the sides can be easily held with the palm, and the rice cooker can be stably held.

As shown in FIG. 7, which is a horizontal partial cross-sectional view of the rice cooker, the handle 39h of the bottom case 39 is provided so that the center line 31a of the main body is substantially centered, and at the same time, the center line 32a of the inner pot is also the handle. Passing 39h. The center of gravity of the rice cooker is in the vicinity of the center line 31a of the main body when the inner pot 32 has no food to be cooked, and the center of gravity moves to the center line 32a of the inner pot as the weight of the food to be cooked increases.

Therefore, the center line 31a of the main body and the center line 32a of the inner pot pass through the handle 39h at the same time, so that regardless of the amount of food in the inner pot 32, the rice cooker can be held stably when it is moved. can do.

By securing the above-mentioned air intake path and making the handle 39h of the bottom case 39 easy to hold, there is no need to increase the gap between the handle 48 and the wall, and the width and depth of the main body can be eliminated. It becomes possible to make it smaller, and a more space-saving rice cooker becomes possible.

In addition, the exhaust port 39g is positioned at the center of the bottom surface of the bottom case 39, and a circular convex portion 39d is provided between the bottom case 39 and the intake port 39f. there is Furthermore, when the hot air that has passed through the steam recovery unit 50 is discharged from the steam outlet 50a, the ambient temperature on the upper surface of the main body rises. is provided with a rear wall 39k larger than the width of the intake port 39g.

As a result, even if the rice is cooked in a state where the left and right rear portions are surrounded by walls, the cooling air at the same temperature as the room temperature stably enters the air intake port, and the heating control section can be cooled efficiently.

As described above, even when the right and left rear of the rice cooker are surrounded by walls, cooling air enters between the chamfered shape provided below the bottom case of the main body and the wall, It enters the air intake through the air guide part connecting between the part and the air intake.

The cooling air entering the air inlet cools the heating control unit and the IH coil, and is discharged from the air outlet provided in front of the bottom case.

In many cases, the front of the rice cooker is open, and the center of the bottom case has a large circular protrusion, so the warm exhaust air is not taken in again.

A lid heater 42 such as a cord heater of about 50 W is provided on the upper surface of the inner lid 58 arranged on the lower surface of the lid 53 to evaporate condensation on the inner lid 58 .

The inner lid 58 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 59 and the lid 53 is provided with a pressure regulating valve control unit 51. The pressure regulating valve 59 is spherical and opens when the pressure inside the inner pot 32 exceeds 1.3 atm. It is a structure to maintain.
The pressure regulating valve control unit 51 moves the ball by a solenoid to control the pressure regulating valve 59 between the pressure regulating operation state and the open state.

The lid 53 is provided with a steam recovery unit 50 that converts steam into condensed water with a labyrinth structure. The steam coming out of the pressure regulating valve 59 flows into the steam recovery unit 50 and the condensed water is returned to the inner lid 58 .

A control unit 35 having a display unit 35a is arranged in a recessed portion 53c of the upper surface of the lid 53. As shown in FIG. It is covered with a panel 54 having a transparent window 54a at a position where the display section 35 can be visually observed. That is, the lid recessed portion 53c is hermetically covered with the panel 54. As shown in FIG.

The panel 54 is provided with a control unit intake/exhaust port 54b. Control part intake/exhaust ducts 53a connecting air inlet/outlet 53e and control part intake/exhaust ports 54b are provided as concave grooves on both sides of the vapor recovery unit 50, and the control part intake/exhaust ducts 53a are covered with panels 54.

In the vicinity of the transparent window 54 a of the panel 54 , an operation unit 52 for operating menus such as the type of rice and cooking method, “cook rice”, “off”, etc. is provided and connected to the control unit 35 .

A recessed portion 53c on the upper surface of the lid 53 in which the control portion 35 is arranged serves as a control portion storage chamber 53d sealed from the inside of the lid 53, and the inside of the lid 53 is filled with steam when the lid 53 is opened and closed. Water vapor does not condense on the control unit 35 even when the water vapor is dewed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the same rice cooker as seen obliquely from behind. A control unit intake/exhaust port 54b is provided behind a panel 54 attached to the top of the lid 53 . FIG. 9 is a view of FIG. 8 with the panel 54 removed.

In FIG. 8, on the front side of the transparent display portion 54a on the panel 54, as the operation portion 52, there are a OFF/CANCEL button for stopping rice cooking and keeping warm, a reservation button for selecting reserved rice cooking, and a button for starting rice cooking. Cooking/reheating buttons are lined up. On the left side of the transparent display portion 54a, a superb button for selecting the best course, a small amount button for selecting a small amount of cooked rice, and a steam heat retaining button for selecting steam heating are arranged. On the right side of the transparent display portion 54a, there are a rice button for selecting the type of rice, a course button for selecting a cooking course, and a selection/time button for inputting a reserved rice cooking time.

As shown in FIG. 9, below each of the OFF/CANCEL button, the reservation button, and the rice cooking/reheating button, there are switches for detecting that they have been pressed as part of the control unit 35. Below each of the steam keep warm buttons is a switch for detecting that it has been pressed, and below each of the rice button, the course button and the selection/time button is a switch that detects that it has been pressed. There is a switch as part.

The contents displayed on the display section 35a can be viewed through the transparent window section 54a. The display unit 35a displays an operation command input from the operation unit 52, displays the rice cooking operation according to the operation command, and displays the rice cooking status.

Specifically, the display unit 35a displays the selected cooking method, displays the setting for small-volume rice cooking, displays the selected heat retention setting, displays whether or not the course requires pressure, and displays the selected method. Show rice, show time to cook, show reheat reservation, show selected reservation.

The control calculation unit (CPU) of the control unit 35 operates the OFF/CANCEL button, reservation button, rice cooking/reheating button, best button, small amount button, steam keep warm button, rice button, course button, and selection/time button. Based on this, the display on the display section 35a is operated, and the heating of the heating coil 34 is controlled via the heating control section 35b.

The air in the recessed lid portion 53c passes through the air inlet/outlet port 53e and the air intake/exhaust duct 53a of the control unit to easily enter/exit the control unit intake/exhaust port 54b. There is no dew condensation on the portion 54a or the display portion 35a. Also, even if the ambient humidity is very high and dew condensation occurs, the air inside the recessed lid portion 53c and the outside air naturally circulate and release the humidity, so that the transparent window portion 54a does not continue to be cloudy.

The above duct is composed of two or more parts. For example, a channel is provided in which the lid 53 is provided with a recessed groove and the panel 54 forms an upper portion. Alternatively, it may be a cylindrical pipe that forms a hollow with one part. In the present invention, it serves as an air passage connecting the control unit storage chamber 53d and the outside of the main body.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the control unit intake/exhaust duct 53a. Since the lid 53 opens and closes by rotating around the hinge shaft 55, water entering from the control unit intake/exhaust port 54b due to the opening/closing operation of the lid 53 is prevented from flowing into the lid recess 53c where the control unit 35 is arranged. , the control unit intake/exhaust port 54b is provided at the rear of the main body from the lid recessed portion 53c.

When the lid 53 is closed, even if a large amount of water is splashed on the control unit intake/exhaust port 54b and water enters the control unit intake/exhaust duct 53a, the water will not enter the control unit 35 of the lid recess 53c. A portion 53f higher than the control unit air intake/exhaust port is provided in the control unit air intake/exhaust duct 53a in order to prevent this from occurring. Alternatively, a water intrusion prevention wall 53b may be provided.

In FIG. 10, the lid 53 is provided with a recessed structure and covered with the panel 54 from above to form the control unit intake/exhaust port 54b. be able to. The duct-like separate part may be a tube.

In FIG. 8, the control unit intake/exhaust port 54b is provided on the panel 54, but it may be provided on the lid 53 as well. Also, air may escape from between parts such as the panel 54 and the lid 53 .

Although two control unit intake/exhaust ducts 53a are provided in FIG. 9, the number may be one or three or more.

31 main body 32 inner pot 33 heat insulating material 34 heating coil 35 control unit 35a display unit 35b heating control unit 36 cooling fan 37 temperature sensor 38 cylindrical body 39 bottom case 39d circular projection 39e chamfered shape 39f intake port 39g exhaust port 39h handle 39j Air guiding portion 39m Side 41 Inner container 47 Temperature sensor unit 53 Lid 53 a Control unit intake/exhaust duct 54 Panel 54a Transparent window 54b Control unit intake/exhaust port

Claims (2)

an inner pot housed in a main body, a heating coil arranged outside the inner pot to induction-heat the inner pot, a heating control section supplying electric power to the heating coil, and an openable/closable inner pot. The rice cooker comprises a lid and a display section for displaying information related to rice cooking, wherein a panel having a transparent window is arranged so as to cover the top surface of the lid , a recess is provided under the panel, and the display is displayed on the display section. constitutes a storage chamber for storing the display unit in the space formed by the panel and the recess so that can be seen through the transparent window, and has an air passage connecting the storage chamber and the outside of the lid. ,
The air passage is composed of an intake/exhaust port provided in the panel and a duct connecting the storage room and the intake/exhaust port,
The rice cooker, wherein the duct is formed by covering a concave groove provided in the lid with the panel, and has a bottom surface or a wall at a position higher than the intake/exhaust port. 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein said intake/exhaust port is provided at a position behind said storage chamber .

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