JPH03118014A - Electric pot - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To electrically bring the prescribed quantity required for a user to hot water pouring with high accuracy by a simple operation by detecting the weight of a container by a weight detecting means, and setting the hot water pouring quantity of the prescribed quantity roughly corresponding to the weight of this container by a hot water pouring setting means. CONSTITUTION:When a user places a container onto a weight detecting stage 10 in order to put in hot water, a weight sensor part 14 detects a variation of weight, and an electric circuit part 16 compares whether said weight coincides with weight of the container stored already in its memory or not. When they coincide with each other, the quantity of hot water which is put into its container in the previous time, stored in the memory is read out, the hot water pouring quantity is always lighted in an electric display means, and by driving a motor-driven pump 17, hot water pouring is started. After hot water pouring is started, whether a value obtained by subtracting the container weight before hot water pouring, and force received by dropping of hot water, from weight detected from the weight sensor part 14 is equal to the prescribed hot water pouring quantity or not is decided successively and at time point when they become equal to each other, the motor-driven pump 17 is stopped. In the case poured hot water is not put into the container but split, it is detected by a hot water spill detecting part 11, and hot water pouring is suspended immediately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an electric kettle for household use that electrically boils and keeps hot water, and dispenses hot water.

(Prior Art) Electric pots are mainly used at home to boil and keep hot water for making beverages such as Japanese tea, coffee, and black tea. The main function of such electric kettles is a hot water tap function.

The conventional method for dispensing hot water in an electric kettle is to use an electric pump that operates only for the length of time the key is pressed.
A method in which the user presses the key as many times as necessary while visually observing the amount of hot water that accumulates in the container. (Problem to be solved by the invention) In order to realize a convenient and highly functional electric kettle, There is a need for something that can electrically dispense a predetermined amount of hot water required by the user with high accuracy through simple operations. However, with conventional electric kettles, the electric pump was operated manually by holding down a key, and the amount of hot water dispensed was visually monitored.
It has been difficult to easily and accurately dispense hot water.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric kettle that can electrically dispense a predetermined amount of hot water with high precision with simple operation.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an electric kettle having an electric hot water dispensing means, which is designed to reduce the weight and weight of a container for receiving hot water to be dispensed. a weight detection means for detecting the weight of the hot water dispensed into the container; a hot water amount setting means for setting the amount of hot water dispensed into the container to a predetermined amount; a predetermined amount set by the hot water amount setting means; The basic gist is to have a control means for comparing the weight of the hot water dispensed into the container detected by the weight detection means and controlling the hot water dispensing means based on the comparison result.

Furthermore, in order to better achieve the above object, it is preferable that the present invention has additional configurations as described in the following second to fifth points.

That is, secondly, in the above-mentioned basic configuration, the electric pot of the present invention has the weight of the container detected by the weight detecting means and the point set by the hot water amount setting means in accordance with the weight of the container. It is configured to have a storage means for storing a quantitative amount, and a comparison means for comparing the predetermined amount stored in the storage means and the weight of hot water dispensed into the container detected by the weight detection means. .

Thirdly, in the electric kettle of the present invention, in the second configuration, the storage means stores the weight detected by the weight detection means before the hot water tapping means starts dispensing hot water, and the comparison means The difference between the weight detected by the weight detecting means after starting the process and the weight detected before the hot water is tapped is compared with the predetermined amount.

Fourthly, in the electric pot of the present invention, in the basic configuration, the second configuration, or the third configuration, a hot water spill that detects hot water dispensed without entering the container is provided in the vicinity of the weight detection means. The detection means is configured to include detection means.

Fifthly, the electric kettle of the present invention has a manual operating means for operating the hot water tapping means with a manual input signal in the basic configuration, second configuration, third configuration, or fourth configuration, The hot water tapping means is configured to be operated in accordance with the time when the manual operation means is operated.

(Function) In the above basic configuration, the weight detection means detects the weight of the container, and the hot water amount setting means sets a predetermined amount of hot water that approximately corresponds to the weight of the container. After setting, when hot water is started by a simple operation such as pressing a button, the control means compares the set predetermined amount with the weight of hot water dispensed into the container, and starts dispensing hot water based on the comparison result. The means is controlled to accurately dispense a predetermined amount of hot water.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 7.

The structure of an electric kettle will be explained from its appearance using FIG. 1. Reference numeral 1 is an outer container, and on the upper side there are a button 2 for manual hot water dispensing as a manual operation means, and an electric display means 3. .4. Cancel button 5 for hot water stop+h during automatic hot water dispensing, Button 6 for automatic hot water dispensing, Memory mode selection button 7 for storing the set amount in the memory (storage means) of the electric circuit unit described later, Hot water dispense amount A button 8.9 is provided as a hot water output setting means for setting the amount of hot water. button 8 is 100
The button 9 is used to set hot water output in units of 10 cc.

Further, on the lower side of the outer container, there is a container for receiving hot water to be dispensed, a weight detection stage 10 for detecting the weight of the hot water dispensed into the container, and a weight detection stage 1 for detecting the weight of the hot water dispensed into the container.
0, a hot water spill detection unit 1 as a hot water spill detection means for detecting hot water spilled outside the container is provided. The details of the boiling water spill detection section 11 will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the electric kettle.

As shown in the figure, the electric kettle has a water tank 12 that stores liquid such as hot water inside, and below this water tank 12, a heat retention heater and a boiling heater 13 are provided. .

At the bottom of the weight detection stage 10, a weight sensor section 14 is provided.
10, 14, etc., constitute a weight detecting means. The weight sensor section 14 has a structure in which the capacitance changes depending on the applied pressure, for example. Note that details of the weight detection circuit including this capacitive weight sensor section 14 will be described in further detail later.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a display section and an input/setting section that constitute the aforementioned operation buttons, display means, and the like. Reference numeral 16 denotes an electric circuit section including various comparison means, judgment means, storage means, control means, etc., which processes the human power information from the input/setting section 15 and the information from the weight sensor section 14, and performs electric hot water discharging. This is to control the electric pump 17 as a means.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a weight detection circuit including the capacitance type weight sensor section 14, and is composed of an oscillation circuit including an inverter, a resistor R, and a capacitor C by the weight sensor section 14. The greater the pressure applied to the weight sensor section 14, the more
The capacitance increases, and the frequency of the oscillation signal output decreases. In other words, ff1ffi applied to the weight sensor section 14 can be detected based on the frequency of the oscillation signal output.

Figure 4 shows the weight sensor section 14 when dispensing hot water with an electric kettle.
The figure shows how the weight detected in the figure changes. When a container is placed on the weight detection stage 10, the container type amount increases instantly. Next, when dispensing starts (point A), the force from the falling hot water is applied, and as the amount of hot water in the container increases, the weight increases (section B), and when dispensing is completed, the weight increases. becomes constant (0 points).

FIG. 5(a) shows a top view of the boiling water spill detection section 11, and FIG. 5(b) shows a sectional view taken along the line X--X of FIG. 5(a).

The boiling water detection part 11 is made of a heat-resistant film 19 having wiring patterns 20 and 21 on a heat-resistant structural member 18, a heat-resistant film 22 having a mesh portion, and a heat-resistant film having a window-like hole 23 in a part. It is constructed by laminating structural members 24 of.

Hot water falls onto the hot water spill detection part 11, and the heat resistant structural member 2
If hot water passes through the mesh portion of the heat-resistant film 22 from the window-shaped hole 23 in No. 4 and fills even a portion of the space between the wiring 20 and the wiring 210 with hot water, conduction will occur between the two wirings 20 and 21, and hot water spillage will be detected. can. In addition, in FIG. 5(a), the description of the heat-resistant film having the mesh portion shown in FIG. 5(b) is omitted.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a circuit for detecting hot water spillage. The wiring 20 connected to the current source and the fixed potential (low potential) of the circuit
There is a wiring 21 which is connected to through a resistor, and as shown in FIG. 5, both are exposed at the window-like hole 23 of the heat-resistant structural member 24. When hot water enters between both wires 20 and 21, the wires 20 and 21 are electrically connected,
A voltage corresponding to the number of current sources connected is generated at point D, point E, or point F. Then, the voltages at points D, E, and F are added by an adding circuit 25, and the result is output. In other words, the larger the area where hot water falls, the higher the output voltage becomes, so it is possible to detect hot water spills based on changes in the output voltage.

Next, the operation of the electric kettle having the above-described structure will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the user places the container on the weight detection stage 10 to pour hot water, the weight sensor section 14 detects a change in weight (step 31), and the electric circuit section 16 detects a change in weight that has already been stored in its memory. A comparison is made to see if the weight matches the weight of the container in question (steps 32 and 33). If they match, the amount of hot water previously poured into the container, which is also stored in the memory, is read out (step 34), and a blinking display is made on the electric display means 4, waiting for the user's confirmation (step 35). Here, when the user presses the automatic key 6 (Yes in step 36)
), the amount of hot water being dispensed is always lit on the electric display means 4, and the electric pump 17 is driven to start dispensing hot water (step 37.).
54). At this time, the amount of hot water can be changed according to the user's preference (steps 38 and 39).

After dispensing hot water, it is necessary to sequentially judge whether the value obtained by subtracting the weight of the container before dispensing hot water and the force received by falling hot water from the weight detected by the weight sensor unit 14 (step 57) is equal to the predetermined amount of dispensing hot water. Steps 58 and 59), when they are equal, stop the electric pump 17 (step 60),
The electrical display of the amount of hot water dispensed is stopped (step 61), and a warning is issued to the user with a buzzer, etc., and the dispensing of hot water is completed (step 62).
).

If the user wishes to cancel hot water taping midway through, he or she can do so by pressing the cancel key 5 (Yes in step 55).

In addition, if the container is not placed in an appropriate position and the hot water spills without entering the container, the hot water spill detection unit 11
This is detected and the hot water supply is immediately stopped (Yes in step 56).

If the weight of the container placed on the weight detection stage 10 does not match the weight of the container already stored in the electric circuit section 16 (NO in step 33, Yes in step 41),
Waits for the user to set the amount of hot water. For settings, press button 8.
9 (Yes in step 42). When you start setting, the setting amount will be displayed blinking on the display means 4 (
Step 43). Button 8 is in 100cc units, button 9
are for setting in units of 1000, and each time you press each button, the numbers shown on the display means 4 will change to 1, 2, 3,
・It is counted up as 9.0.1.

If you keep pressing the button, the above count-up will be automatically performed at appropriate time intervals, and when you stop pressing it, the count-up will stop and the set amount will be read (step 48).
. When the user confirms the set amount by looking at the blinking display and presses the button 6 once (Yes in step 46), the set amount display changes to a constant light and hot water starts to be dispensed automatically. Here, if you press button 7 once before pressing button 6 (Ye in step 45)
s), the memory mode is displayed on the display means 3 (step 49), and the weight of the container and the set amount of hot water are stored in the electric circuit section 16 (steps 51, 52.
53). The hot water supply will automatically stop when the set amount of hot water is dispensed. By the way, if no buttons are pressed for a predetermined period of time during the settings, the settings will be canceled (step 40).
．． 44.47.63).

In this embodiment, if the user wants to add more hot water after the hot water is automatically dispensed, by using the manual button 2, the electric hot water dispenser will operate for the time the button is pressed and adjust the amount of hot water as appropriate. It is also possible to do so.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, there is provided a weight detecting means for detecting the weight of a container for receiving hot water to be dispensed and the amount of electricity of the hot water dispensed into the container; A hot water output amount setting means for setting the amount of hot water to a predetermined amount, and a comparison result between the predetermined amount set by the hot water amount setting means and the weight of the hot water dispensed into the container detected by the weight detection means. Since the device is equipped with a control means for controlling the electric hot water dispensing means based on the amount of hot water, after setting the predetermined amount of hot water approximately corresponding to the weight of the container, the predetermined amount can be increased by simple operations such as pressing a button. You can dispense hot water with precision.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 7 show examples of the electric kettle according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure, and FIG. 3 is a weight sensor. Figure 4 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a weight detection circuit consisting of two parts, Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining the state of weight change detected by the weight sensor part when hot water is dispensed, and Figure 5 is the top surface of the hot water spill detection part. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a hot water spill detection circuit composed of a hot water spill detection section, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation. 8.9: Button for setting the amount of hot water that serves as a means for setting the amount of hot water, 10: Weight detection stage, 11: Hot water spill detection section, 14: Weight sensor section that constitutes the weight detection means together with the weight detection stage, 16: Electric circuit section including comparison means, storage means, control means, etc. 17: Electric pump (hot water supply means). ~L Patent Attorney Hidekazu Miyoshi Figure 4 i54 (a) 1 Figure 5 (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electric kettle having an electric hot water supply means, comprising a weight detection means for detecting the weight of a container for receiving the hot water to be dispensed and the weight of the hot water dispensed into the container, and a weight detection means for detecting the weight of the hot water dispensed into the container, and the amount of hot water dispensed into the container. Comparing the hot water dispensed amount setting means to set a predetermined amount with the predetermined amount set by the hot water dispensed amount setting means and the weight of the hot water dispensed into the container detected by the weight detecting means, and based on the comparison result. and a control means for controlling the hot water tapping means.