JP7496500B2 - Cooking equipment - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a cooking device.

Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, cooking appliances capable of storing an operation unit (operation module) having a user interface surface on which buttons and the like for user operation are provided are known. The cooking appliance described in Patent Document 1 has an operation unit that includes an operation unit case (unit body), a front panel (opening/closing panel) whose lower end is rotatably supported by the unit body and whose upper end is separable from the unit body, and an operation module whose front end is rotatably supported by the upper end of the opening/closing panel. This operation unit is incorporated in the front portion of the housing of the cooking appliance. When the upper end of the opening/closing panel moves forward, the operation module is exposed from the unit body.

Patent No. 4992864

However, in the case of the cooking device described in Patent Document 1, the positioning accuracy of the opening/closing panel relative to the unit body in the operation unit is partially different. That is, the opening/closing panel rotates around a rotation axis arranged on the lower end side. In other words, the lower end of the opening/closing panel is rotatably supported by the unit body. Therefore, the lower end of the opening/closing panel is positioned with high accuracy relative to the unit body. On the other hand, the upper end of the opening/closing panel is not supported by the unit body and moves away from or towards the unit body, so the positioning accuracy relative to the unit body is low.

In this way, if the positioning accuracy of the opening and closing panel relative to the unit body varies in parts, this could, for example, reduce the design quality of the cooking appliance.

For example, in the case of the cooking device described in Patent Document 1, the grill door that opens and closes the grill chamber and the opening and closing panel of the operation unit in the fully closed state are aligned on the left and right to form one design surface of the cooking device. In other words, the grill door and the opening and closing panel also function as design panels.

In this case, due to the low positioning accuracy of the upper end of the opening and closing panel relative to the unit body, a step may occur between the upper part of the opening and closing panel and the grill door. If such a step occurs, the design of the front of the cooking appliance will be reduced.

The present disclosure aims to improve the positioning accuracy of the upper end of the opening/closing panel relative to the unit body in a cooking device having a unit including a unit body and an opening/closing panel whose lower end is rotatably supported by the unit body and whose upper end can be separated from the unit body.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure,
A housing;
an opening/closing unit attached to a front portion of the housing;
The opening and closing unit is
a unit main body attached to the housing;
an opening/closing panel having a lower end supported by the unit body so as to be rotatable about a first rotation center line;
A cooking device is provided that is provided with a push latch mechanism that is positioned outside a circular area centered on the first rotation center line, passing through the center point between the first rotation center line and an upper end of the opening/closing panel when viewed in the extension direction of the first rotation center line, and that connects the upper end of the opening/closing panel and the unit body so that they can be separated or brought close together when the opening/closing panel is in a fully closed state.

According to the present disclosure, in a cooking device having a unit including a unit body and an opening/closing panel whose lower end is rotatably supported by the unit body and whose upper end can be separated from the unit body, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy of the upper end of the opening/closing panel relative to the unit body.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a partial front perspective view of a cooking device with the operating unit removed; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operation unit in a fully open state; FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an operation unit in a fully closed state; FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the operation unit in a fully open state; Right side view of the operation unit in the fully closed state Right side view of the operation unit in the fully open position Left side view of the operating unit in the fully closed state Left side view of the operating unit fully open Front view of the unit body of the operation unit FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the operation unit in a fully closed state taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the operation unit in a fully open state taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 1 is a partial right side view of a cooking appliance with an operating unit attached to a housing; A perspective view of a plurality of spacers. FIG. 1 is a rear view of a unit body with a plurality of spacers arranged thereon; FIG. 13 is a partial rear perspective view showing an adjustment portion of the unit body where the distance from the housing is adjusted by the spacer; FIG. 13 is a partial rear perspective view of a unit body with a plurality of spacers arranged thereon; FIG. 1 is a partial front perspective view of a unit body with a plurality of spacers arranged thereon; 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining a method of adjusting the distance between the operation unit and the housing using a spacer.

A cooking device according to one aspect of the present disclosure has a housing and an opening/closing unit attached to a front portion of the housing, the opening/closing unit comprising: a unit body attached to the housing; an opening/closing panel whose lower end is supported by the unit body so as to be rotatable about a first rotation center line; and a push latch mechanism that passes through a center point between the first rotation center line and the upper end of the opening/closing panel when viewed in the direction in which the first rotation center line extends and is positioned outside a circular area centered on the first rotation center line, and that connects the upper end of the opening/closing panel to the unit body so as to be separated or brought close to each other when the opening/closing panel is in a fully closed state.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, in a cooking device having a unit including a unit body and an opening/closing panel whose lower end is rotatably supported by the unit body and whose upper end is separable from the unit body, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy of the upper end of the opening/closing panel relative to the unit body.

For example, the opening/closing unit may be an operation unit for operating the cooking appliance. In this case, the operation unit includes an operation module having a user interface surface and a front end supported on the upper end of the opening/closing panel so as to be rotatable about a second rotation center line parallel to the first rotation center line, and the operation module rotates as the opening/closing panel rotates, exposing the user interface surface to the outside from the unit body.

For example, the push latch mechanism may be disposed on one side of the operation unit in the direction in which the first rotation center line extends.

When the push latch mechanism is disposed on one side of the operation unit in the extension direction of the first rotation center line, the cooking device may further have, for example, a grill chamber that is disposed on the other side of the operation unit in the extension direction of the first rotation center line and that contains and heats the object to be heated.

For example, a striker of the push latch mechanism is provided on the opening/closing panel, and
When a ventilation hole that communicates between the inside and the outside of the housing is formed in the unit body, the claw portion of the striker may face inward.

When the push latch mechanism is disposed on one side of the operation unit in the direction in which the first rotation center line extends, for example, first and second guide pins that protrude toward one side and the other side in the direction in which the second rotation center line extends are provided at the rear end of the operation module, and first and second guide grooves that guide the first and second guide pins so that the operation module rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the opening/closing panel are provided in the unit body. Then, when the opening/closing panel is in a fully closed state, the second guide groove shifts the second guide pin so that the first rotation center line and the second rotation center line become parallel to each other.

For example, the cooking appliance may further have a design plate attached to the opening and closing panel.

One embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a cooking device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Also, Figure 2 is a partial front perspective view of the cooking device with the operation unit removed.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the cooking device 10 has a top plate 12 on which a cooking container (not shown) containing an object to be heated (e.g., food) is placed, and a housing 14 located below the top plate 12. An induction heating coil (not shown) that inductively heats the cooking container placed on the top plate 12 is stored inside the housing 14. As shown in FIG. 1, an operation unit 20 that allows a user to operate the induction heating coil is built into the front portion of the housing 14.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the cooking device 10 has a grill chamber 30 with a grill space 30a for accommodating and heating the object to be heated (e.g., food). The grill chamber 30 is disposed on the left side of the operation unit 20. The grill chamber 30 also has a grill door 32 for opening and closing the grill space 30a. Note that the grill door 32 is omitted in Fig. 2. The grill door 32 is a rectangular plate, and opens and closes the grill space 30a by moving in the front-to-rear direction of the cooking device 10. The grill door 32 also has a grip 34 that the user can hold.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the operation unit in a fully open state. Also, Figures 4A and 4B are exploded perspective views of the operation unit. Furthermore, Figures 5A and 5B are right side views of the operation unit. And Figures 6A and 6B are left side views of the operation unit. Note that Figures 4A, 5A, and 6A show the operation unit in a fully closed state, and Figures 4B, 5B, and 6B show the operation unit in a fully open state.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4A, and 4B, the operation unit 20 includes a unit body 42 attached to the housing 14, an opening/closing panel 44 supported by the unit body 42, and an operation module 46 supported by the opening/closing panel 44. Also, as shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, a removable design plate 47 is attached to the opening/closing panel 44.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unit body 42 is a member that is attached to the mounting surface 14a provided on the front side of the housing 14. Details of the attachment will be described later. The unit body 42 is generally box-shaped with an opening in the front portion, and has a storage space 42a that stores the operation module 46 when the operation unit 20 is in a fully closed state. The storage space 42a is defined between the right wall portion 42b and the left wall portion 42c of the unit body 42. The right wall portion 42b and the left wall portion 42c are connected by the rear wall portion 42d.

The opening and closing panel 44 comprises a main body 44a that detachably supports the decorative plate 47, and a right wall 44b and a left wall 44c that protrude rearward from both the left and right ends of the main body 44a.

Through holes 44d, 44e through which the support pin 48 passes are formed in the lower parts of the right wall part 44b and the left wall part 44c of the opening and closing panel 44. The support pin 48 that passes through the through holes 44d, 44e respectively engages with engagement holes 42g provided in the support arm parts 42e, 42f that protrude forward from the lower part of the unit main body 42. As a result, the lower end part of the opening and closing panel 44 is supported by the unit main body 42 so as to be rotatable around the rotation center line C1 that extends in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation module 46 has an interface surface 46a that allows the user to operate the cooking device 10. The interface surface 46a has a plurality of operation buttons 46b and a display unit 46c such as a liquid crystal display.

The front end of the operation module 46 is supported on the upper end of the opening/closing panel 44 so as to be rotatable around a rotation center line C2 that is parallel to the rotation center line C1. Specifically, through holes 44f, 44g through which a support pin 50 passes are formed in the upper parts of the right wall portion 44b and the left wall portion 44c of the opening/closing panel 44. The support pin 50 that passes through the through holes 44f, 44g engages with engagement holes (not shown) provided on both the left and right sides of the front end of the operation module 46. As a result, the front end of the operation module 46 is supported on the opening/closing panel 44 so as to be rotatable around the rotation center line C2.

As shown in Figures 2, 4A, 5A, and 6A, when the operation unit 20 is in a fully closed state, the operation module 46 rotates about the rotation center line C2 and approaches the main body 44a of the opening/closing panel 44. In this fully closed state, the operation module 46 is stored in the storage space 42a of the unit main body 42, and its interface surface 46a faces the rear wall portion 42d of the unit main body 42.

On the other hand, as shown in Figures 3, 4B, 5B, and 6B, when the operation unit 20 is in a fully open state, the operation module 46 rotates about the rotation center line C2 and is separated from the main body 44a of the opening/closing panel 44. At this time, the operation module 46 is located outside the storage space 42a of the unit main body 42, and its interface surface 46a faces upward.

This behavior of the operation module 46 occurs in conjunction with the rotation of the opening/closing panel 44 around the rotation center line C1.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, the rear end of the operation module 46 is provided with pins 52, 54 that protrude toward one side and the other side in the extension direction (left-right direction) of the second rotation center line C2. These pins 52, 54 move within grooves 42h, 42i formed in the right wall portion 42b and the left wall portion 42c of the unit body 42, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B, the grooves 42h, 42i have a shape that extends upward and gradually forward.

In addition, a roller 55 is provided at the rear end of the operation module 46, which rotates about a rotation center line extending in the extension direction (left-right direction) of the second rotation center line C2. The roller 55 rolls on a guide rib 42q provided on the rear wall portion 42d of the unit body 42.

With such pins 52, 54 and grooves 42h, 42i, roller 55 and guide rib 42q, when the opening/closing panel 44 starts to rotate around the rotation center line C1 from the fully closed state shown in Figures 5A and 6A, the roller 55 rolls on the guide rib 42q, and the pins 52, 54 start to move upward in the grooves 42h, 42i. In sync with this, the operation module 46 starts to rotate around the rotation center line C2 and starts to move away from the main body part 44a of the opening/closing panel 44.

When the opening/closing panel 44 rotates further, the pins 52, 54 move upward and forward within the grooves 42h, 42i. This causes the operation module 46 to move toward the outside of the unit body 42. Finally, as shown in Figures 5B and 6B, the opening/closing panel 44 is fully open, and the interface surface 46a of the operation module 46 is exposed to the outside from the unit body 42, as shown in Figure 3.

As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the unit body 42 is provided with a leaf spring 56 that biases the opening/closing panel 44 (its pivot member 48) forward so that the opening/closing panel 44 opens automatically.

In addition, as shown in Figures 5A and 6A, the operation unit 20 is provided with a push latch mechanism 58 to keep the opening/closing panel 44 in a fully closed state.

Figure 7 is a front view of the unit body of the operation unit. Also, Figure 8A is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 7 of the operation unit in a fully closed state. And Figure 8B is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 7 of the operation unit in a fully open state.

As shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the push latch mechanism 58 is composed of a striker 60 and a latch 62 that removably clamps the striker 60. When the striker 60 is inserted into the latch 62, the latch 62 clamps the striker 60. When the striker 60 is further pushed into the latch 62 from that state, the latch 62 unclamps the striker 60, and the striker 60 can be released from the latch 62.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the striker 60 of the push latch mechanism 58 is provided on the opening/closing panel 44, and the latch 62 is provided on the unit body 42. As a result, the push latch mechanism 58 connects the opening/closing panel 44 and the unit body 42 so that they can be separated or brought closer together when the operation unit 20 is in the fully closed state.

In addition, in this embodiment, the push latch mechanism 58 is disposed on one side (the right side) of the operation unit 20, not in the center of the extension direction (left-right direction) of the first rotation center line C1. Specifically, the push latch mechanism 58 is provided on the side farther from the grill chamber 30 shown in FIG. 1.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the striker 60 is not provided directly on the opening/closing panel 44, but is provided on one of the side covers 64, 66. As shown in Figs. 4A, 4B, 5B, and 6B, the side covers 64, 66 are provided on the right wall portion 44b and the left wall portion 44c of the opening/closing panel 44, respectively. The operation module 46 rotates around the second rotation center line C2 between the two side covers 64, 66. As shown in Figs. 5B and 6B, the side covers 64, 66 suppress the intrusion of foreign matter below the operation module 46 when the operation unit 20 is in a fully open state. In addition, when the operation unit 20 is in a fully closed state, the side covers 64, 66 protrude rearward of the unit body 42 through the through holes 42j, 42k formed in the rear wall portion 42d of the unit body 42, as shown in Fig. 7.

In this embodiment, the striker 60 of the push latch mechanism 58 is integrally provided on the right side cover 64, which is far from the grill chamber 30. To engage with this striker 60, the latch 62 of the push latch mechanism 58 is disposed on the right side of the storage space 42a of the unit body 42, as shown in FIG. 7. By providing the push latch mechanism 58 in this manner above the operation unit 20, far from the grill chamber 30, damage to the push latch mechanism 58, such as thermal deformation caused by heat generated from the grill chamber 30, is suppressed.

In this embodiment, the claw portion 60a (the claw portion that hooks onto the latch 62) of the striker 60 of the push mechanism 58 faces outward. However, depending on the environment in which the cooking appliance 10 is used, it is preferable that the claw portion 60a faces inward.

To explain, in the present embodiment, in order to take in outside air into the housing 14 of the cooking appliance 10, a plurality of ventilation holes 42m that connect the inside and outside of the housing 14 are formed in the right wall portion 42b of the unit body 42 of the operation unit 20. Outside air enters the storage space 42a of the unit body 42 along the right side cover 64, and then enters the housing 14 through the ventilation holes 42m. At this time, if the claw portion 60a of the striker 60 faces outward, dust and the like contained in the outside air may accumulate on the claw portion 60a. Therefore, when the cooking appliance 10 is used in an environment with a lot of dust, it is preferable that the claw portion 60a of the striker 60 of the push mechanism 58 faces inward.

As shown in FIG. 8B, when viewed in the extension direction (left-right direction) of the first pivot center line C1, the push latch mechanism 58 (its striker 60 and latch 62) is disposed outside a circular region CR centered on the first pivot center line C1, passing through the center point between the first pivot center line C1 and the upper end 44h of the opening/closing panel 44.

This improves the positioning accuracy of the upper end of the opening/closing panel 44 relative to the unit body 42 when the operation unit 20 is in the fully closed state, compared to when the push latch mechanism 58 is located within the circular region CR.

Specifically, the lower end of the opening/closing panel 44 is supported by the support arms 42e, 42f of the unit body 42, so the positioning accuracy with respect to the unit body 42 is relatively high. On the other hand, the upper end of the opening/closing panel 44 is not supported by the unit body 42 and moves away from or toward the unit body 42, so the positioning accuracy with respect to the unit body 42 is relatively low. As a result, the positioning accuracy of the opening/closing panel 44 with respect to the unit body 42 differs in parts. The closer to the upper end 44h, the lower the positioning accuracy. In other words, the opening/closing panel 44 is more likely to wobble the closer to the upper end 44h.

In this way, if the positioning accuracy of the opening/closing panel 44 relative to the unit body 42 varies partially, the design of the cooking appliance 10 may be reduced.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the design plate 47 attached to the opening/closing panel 44 of the operation unit 20 in the fully closed state is aligned in the left-right direction with the grill door 32 of the grill chamber 30, forming one design surface (front surface) of the cooking appliance 10. In other words, the grill door 32 also functions as a design plate.

In this case, due to the low positioning accuracy of the upper end of the opening/closing panel 44 relative to the unit body 42, a step may occur between the upper part of the design plate 47 attached to the opening/closing panel 44 and the grill door 34. If such a step occurs, the design of the front of the cooking appliance 10 will be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 8A, when the operation unit 20 is in the fully closed state, the push latch mechanism 58 connects the upper end of the opening/closing panel 44 to the unit body 42, thereby improving the positioning accuracy of the upper end of the opening/closing panel 44 relative to the unit body 42 (compared to when there is no push latch mechanism 58 or when the push latch mechanism 58 is present within the circular area CR shown in FIG. 8B).

As shown in FIG. 8A, there is another advantage to using the push latch mechanism 58 to connect the upper end of the opening/closing panel 44 to the unit body 42. Because the push latch mechanism 58 is located outside the circular region CR shown in FIG. 8B, the stroke required to engage or disengage the striker 60 and the latch 62 is smaller than if the mechanism were located inside the circular region CR. As a result, the user can easily open and close the opening/closing panel 44 by pushing the design plate 47 with a small stroke.

As described above, in this embodiment, the push latch mechanism 58 is disposed on one side (the right side) of the extension direction (left-right direction) of the first rotation center line C1 in the operation unit 20. Therefore, when the operation unit 20 is in a fully closed state, the left side of the opening/closing panel 44 connected by the push latch mechanism 58 is located forward compared to the right side of the opening/closing panel 44 when viewed from the top-bottom direction of the operation unit 20. This is caused by the opening/closing panel 44 being biased by the leaf spring 56. As a result, the opening/closing panel 44 (the decorative plate 47 attached to it) is slightly twisted so that the first and second rotation center lines C1, C2 are in a twisted positional relationship.

To address this issue, as shown in FIG. 6A, the guide pin 54 on the left side of the operation module 46 is shifted rearward by the guide groove 42i of the unit body 42. Note that in FIG. 6A, the guide pin 54' when the guide groove 42i does not exist is shown by a two-dot chain line. This guide pin 54 and guide groove 42i eliminates twisting of the opening/closing panel 44 when the operation unit 20 is in the fully closed state, so that the first and second rotation center lines C1, C2 become parallel to each other.

From here, we will explain how to attach the operation unit 20 to the housing 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 20 is fixed to the front portion of the housing 14 via multiple fixing screws 70.

Figure 9 is a partial right side view of the cooking device with the operation unit attached to the housing.

As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit 20 is fixed to the mounting surface 14a provided on the front portion of the housing 14 via a number of fixing screws 70. In this embodiment, the operation unit 20 is fixed to the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14 via a number of spacers 72A to 72D.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of multiple spacers. Figure 11 is a rear view of the unit body with multiple spacers arranged. Figure 12 is a partial rear perspective view showing an adjustment portion of the unit body where the distance from the housing is adjusted by the spacers. Figure 13A is a partial rear perspective view of the unit body with multiple spacers arranged. And Figure 13B is a partial front perspective view of the unit body with multiple spacers arranged.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the multiple spacers 72A to 72D are wedge-shaped cam members. Of the four spacers, spacers 72A to 72D, spacers 72A and 72D have the same shape, and spacers 72B and 72C have the same shape. However, since the shapes of spacers 72A and 72D and spacers 72B and 72C are symmetrical, these spacers 72A to 72D are substantially identical in terms of function.

As shown in FIG. 11, each of the four spacers 72A to 72D adjusts the distance between a portion of the outer periphery of the unit body 14 and the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14. In the present embodiment, the spacer 72A is disposed in the upper portion (hereinafter referred to as "adjustment portion 74A") of the flange portion 42n extending outward in the left-right direction from the right wall portion 42b, and adjusts the distance between this portion and the housing 14. The spacer 72B is disposed in the lower portion (hereinafter referred to as "adjustment portion 74B") of the flange portion 42n, and adjusts the distance between this portion and the housing 14. The spacer 72C is disposed in the upper portion (hereinafter referred to as "adjustment portion 74C") of the flange portion 42p extending outward in the left-right direction from the left wall portion 42c, and adjusts the distance between this portion and the housing 14. Spacer 72D is placed on the upper portion of flange 42p (hereinafter referred to as "adjustment portion 74D") and adjusts the distance between this portion and housing 14. Note that adjustment portions 74A to 74D have substantially the same shape.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, each of the spacers 72A-72D has a reference surface 72a that contacts the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14, and a cam surface 72b that is an inclined surface that is inclined in the front-rear direction relative to the reference surface 72a. As shown in Figures 9 and 12, each of the adjustment parts 74A-74D of the unit body 42 has a driven surface 74a that is parallel to and in contact with the cam surface 72b of the corresponding spacer 72A-72D.

In addition, in this embodiment, the cam surface 72b of each of the spacers 72A-72D includes a stepped portion 72c. Meanwhile, the driven surface 74a of each of the adjustment parts 74A-74D of the unit body 42 is provided with a protrusion 74b that engages with the stepped portion 72c. This prevents slippage between the cam surface 72b and the driven surface 74a.

The unit body 42 is made of a harder material than the spacers 72A-72D to suppress wear on the driven surface 74a. The spacers 72A-72D are made of, for example, polyacetal (POM) resin to ensure high sliding properties of the cam surface 72b against the driven surface 74a.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, each of the spacers 72A to 72D has a U-shaped notch 72d through which the fixing screw 70 passes. The notch 72d extends in the shift direction of the spacers 72A to 72D (in this embodiment, the vertical direction). The fixing screw 70 passes through the through hole 74c formed in each of the adjustment parts 74A to 74D of the unit body 42, passes through the notch 72d of each of the spacers 72A to 72D, and engages with the female screw hole 14b formed in the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14 shown in FIG. 2. Note that instead of the notch 72d, a long hole that is long in the shift direction may be provided in the spacers 72A to 72D.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, each of the multiple spacers 72A to 72D is provided with an operating lever 72e for shifting the spacer along the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14. As shown in FIG. 13B, the operating lever 72e is located forward of each of the multiple adjustment parts 74A to 74D of the unit body 42. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, a guide rail portion 74d for guiding the operating lever 72e in the shift direction (up and down) is provided on each of the multiple adjustment parts 74A to 74D. This operating lever 72e makes it easier to shift the spacers 72A to 72D.

In addition, in this embodiment, each of the multiple adjustment parts 74A-74D of the unit body 42 is provided with a protruding marker 74d that indicates the center of the shift range of each of the spacers 72A-72D. When the operating lever 72e is adjacent to the marker 74e, the spacers 72A-72E are located at the center of the shift range. This marker 74e allows the operator to easily know the possible shift amount of the spacers 72A-72E.

Figure 14 is a diagram explaining how to adjust the distance between the operation unit and the housing using a spacer.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the operation unit 20 (its unit body 42) is provisionally fixed to the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14. Specifically, the operation unit 20 is provisionally fixed to the housing 14 via the fixing screws 70 so that multiple spacers 72A to 72D can be shifted in the vertical direction, as shown by the outlined arrows.

Next, by shifting any one of the spacers 72A-72D along the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14, any one of the adjustment points 74A-74D of the unit body 42, which has a driven surface 74a that contacts the cam surface 72b, shifts in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 14a (front-rear direction). This adjusts the distance between the adjustment points 74A-74D of the unit body 42 and the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14. In other words, the distance between the multiple parts on the outer periphery of the design plate 47 to which the operation unit 20 is attached and the mounting surface 14a of the housing 14 is adjusted. As a result, the inclination of the operation unit 20 (i.e., the design plate 47) relative to the housing 14 is adjusted.

After the inclination of the operation unit 20 relative to the housing 14 has been adjusted, the fixing screw 70 is further tightened, thereby permanently fixing the operation unit 20 to the housing 14 at the adjusted inclination.

With these multiple spacers 72A-72D, if a step occurs between the decorative panel 47 attached to the operation unit 20 and the grill door 32 of the grill chamber 30, the step can be easily eliminated.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in a cooking device having an operation unit 20 including a unit body 42 and an opening/closing panel 44 whose lower end is rotatably supported by the unit body 42 and whose upper end is separable from the unit body 42, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy of the upper end of the opening/closing panel 44 relative to the unit body 42.

Although the present disclosure has been described above using the above-mentioned embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the opening/closing panel 44 is provided on the operation unit 20 for operating the cooking appliance 10. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The unit having the opening/closing panel may be, for example, an opening/closing unit for opening and closing the space within the housing to allow access.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the push latch mechanism 58 is a clamp-type push latch mechanism composed of a striker 60 and a latch 62. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The push latch mechanism may be a magnetic type.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the unit body 42 and the housing 14 of the operation unit 20 are separate parts. Alternatively, the unit body and the housing may be configured as a single part.

That is, in a broad sense, a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a housing and an opening/closing unit attached to a front portion of the housing, and the opening/closing unit includes a unit body attached to the housing, an opening/closing panel whose lower end is supported by the unit body so as to be rotatable about a first rotation center line, and a push latch mechanism that passes through the center point between the first rotation center line and the upper end of the opening/closing panel when viewed in the extension direction of the first rotation center line and is positioned outside a circular area centered on the first rotation center line, and that connects the upper end of the opening/closing panel and the unit body so as to be separated or brought close to each other when the opening/closing panel is in a fully closed state.

This disclosure is applicable to any cooking device that has an opening and closing panel.

10 Cooking device 14 Housing 20 Opening/closing unit (operation unit)
42 unit body 44 opening/closing panel 44h upper end 58 push latch mechanism C1 first rotation center line CR circular area

Claims (6)

A housing;
an opening/closing unit attached to a front portion of the housing;
The opening and closing unit is
a unit main body attached to the housing;
an opening/closing panel having a lower end supported by the unit body so as to be rotatable about a first rotation center line;
a push latch mechanism that is disposed outside a circular region centered on the first rotation center line, passing through a center point between the first rotation center line and an upper end of the opening/closing panel as viewed in a direction in which the first rotation center line extends, and that connects the upper end of the opening/closing panel and the unit body so as to be separated from or approach each other when the opening/closing panel is in a fully closed state ;
a striker of the push latch mechanism is provided on the opening/closing panel,
a ventilation hole that communicates between the inside and the outside of the housing is formed in the unit body,
The cooking device , wherein the claw portion of the striker faces away from the vent hole .
The opening/closing unit is an operation unit for operating the cooking appliance,
the operation unit includes an operation module having a user interface surface and a front end portion supported on an upper end portion of the opening/closing panel so as to be rotatable about a second rotation center line parallel to the first rotation center line;
The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the operation module rotates while the opening/closing panel rotates, so that the user interface surface is exposed to the outside from the unit body.
The cooking device according to claim 2 , wherein the push latch mechanism is disposed on one side of the operation unit in a direction in which the first rotation center line extends.
The cooking device according to claim 3 , further comprising a grill chamber arranged on the other side of the operation unit in the extending direction of the first rotation center line, the grill chamber housing and heating an object to be heated.
a first guide pin and a second guide pin protruding toward one side and the other side in a direction in which the second rotation center line extends are provided at a rear end of the operation module;
the unit body is provided with first and second guide grooves for guiding the first and second guide pins so that the operation module rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the opening/closing panel;
5. The cooking device according to claim 3, wherein when the opening/closing panel is in a fully closed state, the second guide groove shifts the second guide pin so that the first pivot center line and the second pivot center line are parallel to each other.
The cooking device according to claim 1 , further comprising a design plate attached to the opening and closing panel.

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