JPH06133851A - Operating part of cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the operating part of a cooker, which can improve operability of a switch and stability of operating force. CONSTITUTION:This operating part is provided with an operating panel 5 for constituting a shell of a main body operating part and a substrate unit contained in this operating panel 5, and this substrate unit is provided with a control substrate 8 consisting of a microcomputer, a tact switch 9, etc., a substrate base 10 for holding this substrate 8, and a horizontal switch button 11 installed in this substrate base. Also, this switch button 11 is positioned on the tact switch 9, and moreover, provided with a shaft part 11a provided in parallel in its longitudinal direction, this shaft part 11a is supported pivotally so as to be freely turnable in the substrate base 10, and also, the operating panel 5 is provided with a hole part corresponding to the switch button 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating portion of a cooking device provided with an operating portion of a switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in operation switch buttons for home electric appliances and OA equipment, a switch button that is used relatively frequently is differentiated from other switch buttons and is easy to use. The operability was improved by increasing the size and making it slender.

The structure will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, a board unit 42 is mounted in an operation panel 41 that constitutes the outer shell of the main body operation section. The board unit 42 includes a board 44 on which the tact switch 43 and the like are mounted, and a switch button unit 45 and the like for operating the tact switch 43. In addition, the switch button unit 45 includes a switch button 45a which is an operation section and a switch button holding section 45.
b, and a hinge portion 45c that rotatably holds the switch button 45a and the holding portion 45b.

In the above structure, the switch button 45a
When is pressed, the force f is transmitted to the tact switch 43 via the switch button 45a to turn the switch ON and OFF, and the elasticity of the hinge portion 45c restores the normal state.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional switch structure of the operation portion, when the length of the switch button is relatively long (about 20 mm or more), when the end of the switch button is pushed, it is twisted. The force is not transmitted to the tact switch, and the operation force at the end and center of the switch button varies, or the switch is turned on and off.
There was a problem that could not be done smoothly. For this reason, two tact switches have been provided at positions corresponding to both ends of the switch button, and measures have been taken to stabilize the operating force, but the number of parts and the number of assembling steps have increased, thus increasing the cost. It was

Further, in a cooker that handles water, there is a concern that water may enter the board through the gap between the switch hole of the operation panel and the switch button, resulting in electrical failure such as short circuit of the switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide an inexpensive and stable operation force even when an elongated switch button is used. A second purpose is to prevent water from entering the substrate due to external water injection. Further, a third object is to perform the switch operation smoothly and improve the reliability.

[0008]

A first means for achieving the above first object has an operation panel forming an outer shell of a main body operation part and a board unit housed in the operation panel. This board unit includes a control board on which a microcomputer, a tact switch, etc. are mounted, a board base that holds the board, and an elongated switch button that is mounted on the board base. The tact switch is provided with a shaft portion arranged in parallel in a longitudinal direction thereof, the shaft portion is rotatably supported on the substrate base, and the operation panel corresponds to a switch button. A hole is provided.

A second means for achieving the second object is that the substrate base is provided with a seal member made of a flexible material interposed between the tact switch and the switch button.

A third means for achieving the third object is that the switch button and the seal member abutting portion are shaped so as to be in surface contact with each other in accordance with the rotation angle of the switch button when the tact switch is operated. Is.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the shaft means are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the elongated switch button and pivotally supported by the first means, so that the switch button has rigidity and the deflection is minimized. be able to. Therefore, even when the end portion of the long-staying switch button is pressed, the force can be reliably transmitted to the tact switch, thus suppressing the variation in the operating force between the end portion and the central portion of the switch button and stabilizing the operation. The operability can be obtained.

Further, by providing a seal member on the substrate base as in the second means, it is possible to prevent water from entering the substrate through the gap between the switch hole of the operation panel and the switch button, and to switch the switch button. The effect as a damper can be obtained, and the safety and operability can be improved.

Further, as in the third means, the contact portion between the switch button and the seal member is in surface contact with each other, thereby suppressing the rotational displacement (relative to the tact switch) of the seal member due to the rotation of the switch button, and By reliably transmitting the movement of the button to the tact switch, it can be smoothly turned on and off, and reliability can be improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In the figure, 1 is a pot for storing rice and water, 2
Is a lid that covers the upper opening of the pot, and 3 is a body that forms the outer shell of the main body. An operation unit 4 is mounted on the front surface of the body 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes an operation panel that constitutes the outer shell of the operation unit, and is provided with fitting holes 5a for mounting parts. A substrate unit 7 is mounted in the operation panel 5 and is fastened with screws. A substrate 8 is provided with a liquid crystal display (LCD), a microcomputer (not shown), a tact switch 9 and the like. 1
Reference numeral 0 is a board base for holding the board, and is provided with a hook portion 10a for holding the switch button 11. 10b
Is a rib for temporarily fixing the switch button 11.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a switch button, and a shaft portion 11a for holding the switch button 11 is provided side by side in the longitudinal direction of the switch button 11, and the hook portion 10 of the substrate base 10 is provided.
It is rotatably supported by a. Reference numeral 11b is an operating portion for the tact switch.

The operation of the above structure will be described with reference to FIG. When the switch button 11 is pressed, the shaft portion 11a rotates about a fulcrum, and the acting portion 11b comes into contact with the tact switch 9 to perform ON / OFF operations. Since the shaft portion 11a of the switch button 11 is juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction and is pivotally supported,
The switch button 11 has rigidity and can suppress bending. As a result, variations in operating force at the ends and the central portion of the switch button 11 are suppressed, and stable operability can be obtained.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A seal button 21 made of silicone rubber or the like is mounted on the substrate base 22. The contact section 21a of the operating section 23b of the switch button 23, the damper section 21b, the seal section 21c, and the tact switch 24 are in contact with each other. It is composed of the acting portion 21d.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the switch button 23 is pushed, the shaft portion 23a rotates about a fulcrum, the action portion 23b acts, and the contact portion 24a of the seal button 21 comes into contact with the tact switch 24 through the action portion 21d, thereby turning on and off. I do. When there is no load, the damper portion 21b returns to its original position due to its elasticity. Further, the seal portion 21c prevents water from entering through a hole provided in the substrate base 22.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A seal button 31 made of silicone rubber or the like is attached to the substrate base 32. The contact portion 31a of the operating portion 33b of the switch button 33, the damper portion 31b, the seal portion 31c, and the contact portion of the tact switch 34 are contacted with each other. It is composed of the acting portion 31d. Switch button 33
The contact surface of the contact portion 31a of the seal button 31 and the contact portion of the contact portion 33b are set in advance so as to be in planar contact in accordance with the rotation angle of the switch button 33 when the tact switch 34 is operated. The operation of the above configuration will be described.

When the switch button 33 is pressed, it rotates about the shaft 33a as a fulcrum, and the acting portion 33b is actuated via the contact portion 31a and the acting portion 31d of the seal button 31 and the tact switch 3.
4 is contacted, and ON / OFF operation is performed. At this time, the operating portion 33b of the switch button 33 and the seal button 31
Since the contact surface of the contact portion 31a of the contact button 31a is set to have a flat surface contact shape according to the rotation angle of the switch button 33 when the tact switch 34 operates, the seal button 31 does not rotate when the switch button 33 rotates. The operating part 31d of the above-mentioned operates in a near linear manner. Therefore, with respect to the tact switch 34,
The force is transmitted vertically, and as a result, the operation can be stabilized.

[0021]

As described above, according to the operating portion structure of the cooking appliance of the present invention, the elongated switch button is provided with the shaft portion juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction, and the shaft portion is rotatable by the hook portion of the substrate base. By pivotally supporting the switch button, the rigidity of the switch button can be increased, and by suppressing the deflection, it is possible to suppress the variation of the operation force due to the change of the operation position of the switch button and improve the operability.

A seal button (interposed between the switch button and the tact switch) provided on the substrate base prevents water from entering the substrate from the outside of the main body and obtains a switch button damper effect. By
Product safety and operability can be improved.

Further, the contact portion between the switch button and the seal button is formed into a surface contact according to the rotation angle when the switch button is rotated, so that the seal button acts on the rotation of the switch button. It is possible to stabilize the operation by operating the portion in a near-linear shape and applying a force perpendicular to the tact switch.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an operating portion of a rice cooker showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an operating portion of a rice cooker showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an upper sectional view of a rice cooker showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an operating portion of a rice cooker showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an operating portion of a rice cooker showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing an operation unit of a conventional device, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the operation unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Operation panel 7 Substrate unit 8 Substrate 9,24,34 Tact switch 10,22,32 Substrate base 11,23,33 Switch button 11a Shaft 21,31 Seal member (seal button) 31a (seal button) contact part 33b Working part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An operation panel that constitutes an outer shell of a main body operation section, and a board unit housed in the operation panel, the board unit including a microcomputer, a tact switch, and the like. A substrate base for holding the substrate, and an elongated switch button mounted on the substrate base, the switch button being located on the tact switch and being juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction thereof. An operating part of a cooking device, comprising: a shaft part rotatably supported on the substrate base, and the operation panel having a hole corresponding to a switch button. 2. The operating part of the cooker according to claim 1, wherein the substrate base is provided with a seal member made of a flexible material interposed between the tact switch and the switch button. 3. The switch button and the seal member contact portion are
The operating part of the cooker according to claim 1, wherein the operating part has a shape that comes into surface contact with the turning angle of the switch button when the tact switch is operated.