JPH03264824A - Hand-held measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform measurement simply and accurately on a direct weight base with a compact, tightly closed structure by arranging a pressure sensor at the inner bottom part of a spoon formed at one end part of a handle. CONSTITUTION:A cantilver type pressure sensor 4 having, e.g. a diaphragm 2, is arranged at the inner bottom surface of a spoon 1 formed at one end part of a handle 5. A chamber 3 is provided at the lower surface of the diaphragm 2 and around the sensor 4. A path P which is communicated with the chamber is communicated to the outside at an opening part O through the inside of the handle 5. When a material to be measured is inputted in the spoon 1, the diaphragm 2 is deflected by the temperature change and the weight of the material. The weight is detected as pressure with the sensor 4. At this time, the change in internal pressure at the surrounding part is dissipated to the outside through the chamber 3 and the path P by depressing a pressure leak valve 6. At the same time, a switch 7 is operated. The circuit of the sensor 4 and an electronic circuit 9 are connected through a battery 13, and the measured weight is displayed 10.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention is applicable to food products such as wheat flour and rice flour, sugar, soy sauce,
This invention relates to a handheld measuring device for easily measuring small amounts of daily necessities such as salt and other seasonings.

(Conventional technology) Until now, food products and seasonings that were usually powdered or liquid were
Measuring devices such as measuring spoons and measuring cups are used to measure amounts, and the amount to be measured is mainly based on volume, such as ``how many times the standard volume'', or ``how many grams''.
When weighing had to be done on a weight basis, a small scale for cooking was used to measure food items and containers containing seasonings. Furthermore, there is a well-known measuring spoon (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 77315/1983) that allows easy measurement.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, when using conventional measuring instruments such as measuring cups and measuring spoons, it is impossible to perform weight-based measurements. It is troublesome to have to measure the amount.

In addition, measuring using a small scale is cumbersome because it requires setting the scale at a designated location and transferring the object to be measured into a container, and if there is something you want to measure while cooking, , it was very inconvenient. In addition, conventional small scales require a large space for installation and storage.
When these measuring instruments are not used for a long time, they tend to become a nuisance.

On the other hand, there is a known measuring spoon as a space-saving compact weight-based measuring device (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 77315/1983).
, in this measuring spoon.

A spoon and a handle are connected and fixed with flexible Yuzen, a semiconductor distortion element is pasted to the Yuzen, and a detection circuit and a display for detecting and displaying changes in the distortion element are housed in the handle. Yes, and when cleaning this measuring spoon,
A gasket or the like is used to prevent liquid from entering from outside.

In the measuring spoon mentioned above, the weight detection part is placed on the support rod between the spoon and the handle, so it detects vibrations during measurement due to camera shake etc. during use, so the net weight to be measured is sufficient. There were problems such as the inability to measure the In addition, a gasket or the like is used on the strain element that is the weight sensor to prevent liquids from entering from the outside.
The overall structure is not completely sealed, and when you want to quickly wash the handle and spoon, there is a possibility that liquid may enter the sensor part from the outside, making it impractical.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and means for achieving the purpose will be disclosed below.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Means for solving the problems described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 shown in the embodiments of the present invention.

A spoon 1 is formed at one end of the handle 5, and a spoon L is formed at one end of the handle 5.
A pressure sensor 4 is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the handle, a chamber 3 is provided around the pressure sensor 4, a passage P communicating with the chamber 3 is opened on one side of the handle 5, and the opening of the passage P can be freely opened and closed. A pressure leak valve 6, a switch 7 that is turned on and off by operating this valve, an electronic circuit 9 that can be freely connected to the pressure sensor 4 via this switch, and a digital display 10 that is connected to this are housed in the handle 5. This is a hand-held measuring instrument with an O-ring 8 interposed between the leak valve 6 and the passage P, and a power supply storage part 11 attached to the end of the handle 5 with a sealing member 12. be.

Furthermore, the pressure sensor 4 can also adopt a cantilever type having a diaphragm 2.

(Function) When an object to be measured is placed in the spoon 1, the pressure sensor 4 provided at the bottom detects the weight as pressure due to temperature changes and weight of the object. At this time, an internal pressure change is caused around the pressure sensor 4, and a pressure leak valve 6 is used to release this internal pressure change to the outside air through the chamber 3 and its passage P.
is pressed down, and at the same time the switch 7 disposed below the pressure leak valve 6 is activated. When the switch 7 is operated, the circuit of the pressure sensor 4 and the electronic circuit 9 housed in the handle 5 are connected via the battery 13, and the measured weight is displayed on the display 10.

(Example) An example of a hand-held measuring instrument according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A spoon l is formed at one end of the handle 5.

A pressure sensor 4 is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the spoon 1. For example, a cantilever type pressure sensor equipped with a diaphragm 2 may be used as the pressure sensor 4.

In this case, a chamber 3 is provided around the lower surface of the diaphragm 2 and the pressure sensor 4, and a passage P communicating with the chamber 3 passes through the interior of the handle 5 and opens at one side of the handle 5. Pressure leak valve 6 that can move up and down at opening O
An O-ring 8 is interposed in the gap between the opening O and the pressure leak valve 6, so that the chamber passage P and the outside air can be freely sealed. A switch 7 is disposed below the pressure leak valve 6, and this switch 7 is turned ON and OFF by operating the pressure leak valve 6 up and down.

A storage part 11 for a battery 13 is attached to the other end of the handle 5 opposite to the end where the spoon l is provided using a sealing member 12. An electronic circuit 9 equipped with a display 10 is embedded in the handle 5 between the pressure leak valve 6 and the battery storage part 11, and the sensor 4 switch 7, the electronic circuit 9, the display 1
0. Electrically connect the battery 13.

When an object to be measured is placed in the spoon 1, the weight is detected as pressure by a pressure sensor provided at the bottom of the spoon 1 based on temperature changes and weight of the object.

At this time, an internal pressure change is caused around the pressure sensor 4, and in order to release this internal pressure change to the outside air through the chamber 3 and its passage P, the pressure leak valve 6 is pushed down, and at the same time, a pressure leak valve 6 is disposed below the pressure leak valve 6. Activate switch 7. When the switch 7 is operated, the circuit of the pressure sensor 4 and the electronic circuit 9 housed in the handle 5 are connected via the battery 13, and the measured weight is displayed on the display 10.

In addition, in a cantilever type pressure sensor 4 equipped with a diaphragm 2, the diaphragm 2 is deflected due to temperature changes or weight of the object to be measured, and the pressure sensor 4 provided at the bottom of the spoon 1 is bent.
is detected as weight.

At this time, the internal pressure change generated around the lower surface pressure sensor 4 of the diaphragm 2 is released to the outside through the chamber 3 and the passage P by operating the pressure leak valve 6.

(Effects) In the measurement method used in the present invention, measurement can be performed directly on a weight basis, so it is not as troublesome as in the past, and since the switch and display are placed on the handle, it is compact and can be installed anywhere. It is space-saving and does not require storage space.

Since the sensor is placed at the bottom of the spoon, it is less affected by vibrations caused by hand shake, unlike the known measuring spoon (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-77315). By communicating with the outside air through help, changes in the internal pressure inside the chamber due to changes in the weight of the object to be measured and changes in temperature are canceled, so weight can always be detected as a pressure relative to a constant standard (in this case atmospheric pressure). can. Additionally, since O-rings and sealing rubber are used, the overall structure is airtight, withstands washing, and prevents water from entering.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1; l...Spoon, 2...Diaphragm, 3...Chamber, 4...Sensor, 5...Handle, 6...
Pressure leak valve, 7... Switch, 8... O-ring, 9... Electronic circuit, 10... Display, 11...
Battery storage section, 12... Sealing member, 1-3...
Battery, P...Passway Figure 1 Applicant: Copal Electronics Co., Ltd. Sony Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A spoon is formed at one end of the handle, a pressure sensor is provided on the inner bottom surface of the spoon, a chamber is provided around the pressure sensor, and a passage communicating with the chamber is provided on one side of the handle. A handle includes a pressure leak valve that can open and close the opening of the passage, a switch that is turned on and off by operating the valve, an electronic circuit that can be freely connected to the pressure sensor via this switch, and a display connected to the pressure leak valve. A handheld measuring device that is stored inside. 2. The handheld measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein an O-ring is interposed between the leak valve and the passage, and the power supply storage section is attached to the end of the handle with a sealing member. 3. The handheld scale of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a diaphragm and a cantilever.