JPH06125A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve waterproofing property to an electronic parts, etc., and operability of a switch in the switching structure of a rice cooker. CONSTITUTION:By interposing a protective sheet 14 constituted of a waterproof and elastic material between an operating button 16 and an operating switch 11, and holding the protective sheet 14 in pressurized contact with an operating panel 21 and an outer cover 7, the rice cooker improving effectively waterproofing property and operability is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rice cooker mainly used at home.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, rice cookers are required to have many functions, their operability, and excellent design. Therefore, the one in which an operating part such as a switch is provided on the top of the rice cooker has become mainstream. ing.

Conventionally, this type of rice cooker has a known structure as shown in FIG. The configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the heater 51 heats the inner pot 52 installed above, and the heater 51
The energization is controlled by the control board 53. The control board 53 has an operation switch 54, and the outside is a lid 55.
It is surrounded by. The lid 55 is molded of synthetic resin, and the operation hole 5 is provided directly above the operation switch 54.
6 is provided. A flexible film 57 made of a resin film or the like is attached to the surface of the lid body 55, and a button portion 58 pressed into a convex shape is provided directly above the operation switch 54. . The operation switch 5
An actuator 59 is installed between 4 and the button portion 58, and transmits the force applied to the button portion 58 to the operation switch 54.

In the switch structure constructed as described above, when the button portion 58 of the flexible film 57 is pushed when the operation switch 54 is actuated, the convex button portion 58 is inverted and inverted. Dimensional actuator 59
By pressing, the push button of the operation switch 54 is pressed to operate the operation switch.

In order to secure the pressing durability of the button part 58, the flexible film 57 is pressed into a convex shape using a sheet material such as polyester to form the button part 58. The switch is operated by utilizing the reversing force of. Therefore, the operation hole 56 and the button portion 58
The size of can't be too big or small,
This is a limitation in terms of design, which also affects the nodal feeling of the operation switch 54. Further, since the lid 55 is a resin molded product, the positional relationship with the operation switch 54 changes due to warpage or contraction, and a gap is formed between the actuator 59 and the button portion 58, which may affect the operation force.

In addition, due to the product characteristics of the rice cooker, the waterproof property around the switch portion is required. Therefore, the flexible film 57 was attached to the switch portion, but a sticker, which is commonly known as a mixture of starch and water generated during rice cooking, is attached to the flexible film 57 to fix the switch button. There was an occasion.

[0008]

A conventional operation switch provided on a lid of a rice cooker is covered with a flexible film such as polyester to protect the rice cooker in order to improve waterproof and moisture-proof due to the characteristics of the rice cooker. Since the flexible film is attached to the periphery of the hole of the lid, water may enter the operation switch part by washing with water, or a so-called stick should be fixed to the flexible film to prevent this. There has been a problem that the flexibility is changed and the operation pressing force of the operation switch fluctuates.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art. The waterproof and moistureproof performance is better, and the operation pressing force of the operation switch does not change much compared to the conventional case even when foreign matter such as a stick is attached. It is intended to provide a rice cooker having a switch part.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an inner pot for containing rice and water, a heating device for heating the inner pot, and a control device having an operation switch for operating the heating device. An outer shell surrounding the operation switch, and an operation panel mounted on the outer side of the outer shell, and an operation button provided in an opening of the outer shell and the operation panel facing the operation switch. A protective sheet made of a moisture-proof elastic material is interposed between the operation switches, and the peripheral edge of the protective sheet is attached by pressure contact with the outer shell and the operation panel.

Further, according to the present invention, a rib is formed on the outer side of the operation button on the protective sheet made of the moisture-proof elastic material, and a groove portion into which the rib is inserted is formed on the inner wall of the operation panel. The protective sheet can be inserted into the groove and mounted by pressing the peripheral edge of the protective sheet between the outer shell and the operation panel.

Further, according to the present invention, the operation button is not formed separately from the protection sheet, but the protection sheet is formed into a convex shape to integrally form the operation button, and the actuator is interposed between the operation button and the operation switch. However, the protective sheet may be attached by pressure contact between the outer shell and the operation panel, and a protrusion that contacts the operation switch may be formed on the protective sheet without interposing an actuator.

Further, according to the present invention, a protective sheet made of a moisture-proof elastic material is formed in a convex shape, and an actuator is insert-molded on the inner surface of the convex operation button, so that the protective sheet is formed into an outer shell and an operation panel. It can also be attached by pressing it in between.

[0014]

In the present invention, a moisture-proof elastic material such as synthetic rubber or natural rubber is used as a protective sheet between the operation button and the operation switch, and the operation panel and the outer shell are pressed against each other. The electronic components such as the control board can be protected from water, and the operation panel and the operation buttons formed by in-mold molding can have a high-grade structure. Furthermore, since the pressing force of the operation button is transmitted to the operation switch by the elastic force of the protective sheet, the operation feeling is improved.

Further, a rib is provided on the upper surface of the protective sheet at a portion located outside the operation button, a groove is provided on the back surface of the operation panel, and the rib is inserted into the groove to form a peripheral edge of the protective sheet between the operation panel and the outer shell. When it is attached by pressing, it is possible to obtain a more effective waterproofing means against water from the outside.

Further, when the protective sheet is molded into a convex shape to integrally form the operation button portion, the entire operation button portion has an elastic force, and foreign matter enters the gap between the operation panel and the operation button portion. However, the operation button portion can be prevented from sticking.

Further, when the protective sheet is formed in a convex shape and the actuator is insert-molded on the inner surface of the convex portion, the operation button portion can be prevented from sticking and the assembling workability can be improved. In addition, since the number of parts to be assembled is reduced, the dimensional variation at the time of assembling work is reduced, and the operation feeling is improved and stabilized.

[0018]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2, the opening 1 is formed on the upper surface.
Inside the rice cooker body 2 provided with the inner pot 3 and this inner pot 3
Is provided with a heater 4 for heating. The rice cooker body 1
A lid 5 is provided on the upper surface of the so as to cover the opening 1 in an openable and closable manner. The lid 5 accommodates an operation board 6 for controlling energization of the heater 4 and the like inside, and is composed of an outer lid 7 forming an outer surface and an outer lid cover 8 forming an inner surface. Both ends of the operation board 6 are claw-locked by locking claws 9 provided inside the outer lid 7, and a lower portion of the operation board 6 is surrounded by a board cover 10. Further, the operation board 6 is provided with a plurality of operation switches 11. The outer lid 7 has a recess 1 at a position corresponding to the operation board 6.
2 is formed, and the operation switch 11 is formed in the recess 12.
A switch hole 13 is provided at a position corresponding to. A protective sheet 14 formed of synthetic rubber in a sheet shape is attached to the step portion 15 of the concave portion above the switch hole 13 to seal the switch hole 13. Above the operation switch 11, an operation button 16 for operating the operation switch 11 by a pressing action is provided. The operation button 16 has a substantially convex two-step shape, and an upper operation portion 17, a lower brim portion 18, and a substantially cross-shaped pressing portion 19 are integrally formed therein. At 19, the operation switch 11 is pressed via the protective sheet 14 and the actuator 20. The outer lid 7 is provided with an operation panel 21 that covers the recess 12 provided in the outer lid 7, and the operation panel 21 includes the operation button 1
Button hole 22 through which operation portion 17 of 6 and collar portion 18
Has a contact portion 23 that abuts from the back surface, and the concave portion 12 of the outer lid 7 holds the protective sheet 14 in pressure contact.

The operation of the switch portion of the rice cooker configured as described above will be described below. When the operation switch 11 is operated, the operation button 16 located above it is pressed. In this case, the pressing portion 19 of the operation button 16 presses the protective sheet 14 and operates the operation switch 11 via the actuator 20. In this case, since the protective sheet 14 is a synthetic rubber material having elasticity, it is completely sealed by the operation panel 21 and the recess 12 of the outer lid 7 to prevent water from entering. In addition, the elastic force of the switch hole 13 of the outer lid 7 and the protective sheet 14 applies a pressing force to the operation button 16 to the operation switch 11 as it is, so that a smooth operation feeling can be obtained. Further, due to the contraction of the synthetic resin parts such as the outer lid 7, the operation switch 11 and the protective sheet 14 are
Even if the gap between and becomes large, the operation feeling does not suddenly become heavy due to the elastic force of the protective sheet 14.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the protective sheet 14 is formed of a rubbery elastic material such as synthetic rubber and is interposed between the operation switch 11 and the operation button 16. Further, by pressing and mounting the operation panel 21 and the outer lid 7, the feeling of operation is improved and the constraint condition in design is reduced as compared with the conventional one while maintaining the waterproof effect.

The heater 4 may be a resistance wire made of nichrome or a coil for induction heating, and any heating device may be used.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

Operation buttons 16 are provided on the upper surface of the protective sheet 14.
The operation panel 2 is slightly larger than the outer shape of the collar portion 18
The rib portion 24 is integrally formed within the pressure contact holding portion of the outer lid 1 and the outer lid 7, and the operation panel 21 has a groove portion 25 corresponding to the rib portion 24 to which the upper portion of the rib portion 24 adheres. It is provided. The rib portion 24 is tightly inserted into the groove portion 25, and the protective sheet 14 is press-fitted between the operation panel 21 and the outer lid 7. A protrusion 26 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the protective sheet 14 toward the operation switch 11, and the pressing force applied to the operation button 16 is transmitted to the operation switch 11.

In the above structure, the rib portion 24 is formed on the upper surface of the protective sheet 14 and the protrusion portion 26 is integrally formed on the lower surface, and the rib portion 24 is inserted into the groove portion 25 of the operation panel 21 so that the operation panel 21 is formed. Since the outer cover 7 is attached by pressure contact, even when the pressing force of the operation button 16 is large and a gap is opened between the operation panel 21 and the end of the pressure contact portion of the protective sheet 14,
The rib portion 24 can completely prevent the entry of moisture. Further, since the protrusion 26 is also elastic, it is possible to absorb an overload on the operation button 16 and prevent the operation button 16 from being broken.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 4, the same parts as those in Embodiments 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. An operation button portion is integrally formed on the protective sheet 14 and a push button portion 27 is provided. The push button portion 27 is provided on the operation panel 21.
It is inserted in the button hole 22 of. The push button portion 27
The protective sheet 14 integrally formed with is attached by pressure contact with the operation panel 21 and the outer lid 7. The push button portion 27
An actuator 20 that comes into contact with the operation switch 11 is provided below.

In the above structure, the push button portion 27 is formed because the operation button portion is formed integrally with the protective sheet 14.
Since the entire body has rubber elasticity, the actuator 20 can be surely pressed even if a foreign material such as a stick gets stuck in the gap between the button hole 22 of the operation panel 21 and the push button portion 27 and hardens. is there. Also, the push button section 27
Since it is made of rubber, the operability and design can be improved.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those in the first, second and third embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, an operation button portion is integrally formed on the protective sheet 14 and a push button portion 27 is provided. Inside the push button portion 27, the actuator 20 is insert-molded toward the operation switch 11. There is.
The protective sheet 14 is press-fitted by the operation panel 21 and the outer lid 7.

In the above structure, the operation button portion is integrally formed with the protective sheet 14 and the push button portion 27 is provided.
Inside the back surface of the push button portion 27, the operation switch 1
Since the actuator 20 is insert-molded toward 1, the sticking of the switch portion due to foreign matter can be prevented and the assembling workability is improved as in the case of the above-described third embodiment. Furthermore, since the actuator 20 is insert-molded in the push button portion 27, there is no gap between the push button portion 27 and the actuator 20, the operability of the switch portion is improved, and the assembly dimension error can be reduced. is there.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, the present invention is a control provided with an inner pot for containing rice and water, a heater for heating the inner pot, and an operation switch for operating the energization of the heater. A board, and an outer wall surrounding the operation switch,
An operation panel is provided on the outer side of the outer shell, an operation button is provided on the outer shell and the opening of the operation panel facing the operation switch, and a moisture-proof elastic material is provided between the operation button and the operation switch. By mounting the configured protection sheet and press-fitting the protection sheet with the outer shell and the operation panel, the design constraint condition is reduced without impairing the waterproof effect.

A rib slightly larger than the outer shape of the operation button is formed on the protective sheet, a groove portion into which the rib is inserted is formed on the inner wall of the operation panel, and the rib is inserted into the groove portion to form the protective sheet. In addition to the above effect, when the is attached by pressure contact between the outer shell and the operation panel, the waterproof structure becomes more effective, and even when a large pressing force is applied to the operation button,
The waterproof effect can be reliably maintained.

Further, the protective sheet is formed in a convex shape to form an operation button shape, and an actuator interposed between the convex portion and the operation switch is provided, and the protective sheet is provided between the outer shell and the operation panel. When pressure fitted
Elastic force can be applied to the entire operation button, and even if foreign matter adheres to the gap between the operation buttons, the operation buttons can be prevented from sticking,
The operation feeling is also improved.

When the protective sheet is formed in a convex shape, the actuator is insert-molded on the inner surface of the convex portion, and the protective sheet is attached by pressure contact between the outer shell and the operation panel, the operation button portion It is possible to prevent sticking, improve assembly workability, reduce assembly variation, and improve operation stability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a switch portion of a rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Partial vertical cross-sectional view of the rice cooker body

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a switch portion of the rice cooker according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a switch portion of the rice cooker according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a switch portion of the rice cooker according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a switch portion of a conventional rice cooker.

[Figure 7] Partial vertical cross-sectional view of the body of the rice cooker

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Inner pan 4 Heater 5 Lid 6 Operation board 11 Operation switch 14 Protective sheet 16 Operation button 20 Actuator 21 Operation panel 24 Rib section 25 Groove section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An inner pot for containing rice and water, a heating device for heating the inner pot, a control device having an operation switch for operating electricity of the heating device, and an outer shell surrounding the operation switch, An operation panel mounted on the outside of the outer shell, an operation button is provided in an opening of the outer shell and the operation panel facing the operation switch, and a moisture proof is provided between the operation button and the operation switch. A rice cooker in which a protective sheet made of an elastic material is interposed, and the peripheral edge of the protective sheet is pressed against the outer shell and the operation panel to be attached. 2. A protective sheet made of a moisture-proof elastic material, wherein a rib is formed on the outside of the operation button, a groove portion into which the rib is inserted is formed on the inner wall of the operation panel, and the rib is formed on the groove portion. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rice cooker is inserted and fitted with the peripheral edge of the protective sheet in pressure contact between the outer shell and the operation panel. 3. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the protection sheet made of a moisture-proof elastic material is integrally formed with a protrusion that directly contacts an operation button of the operation switch. 4. A protective sheet formed of a moisture-proof elastic material is formed in a convex shape to integrally form an operation button, and an actuator is interposed between the convex operation button and the operation switch, and the protective sheet is formed. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the peripheral edge of the rice cooker is attached by pressure contact between the outer shell and the operation panel. 5. A protective sheet made of a moisture-proof elastic material is formed in a convex shape to integrally form an operation button, and an actuator for pressing the operation switch is insert-molded on the inner surface of the convex operation button, The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the peripheral edge of the protective sheet is attached by pressure contact between the outer shell and the operation panel.