JPH08332145A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent water or the grains of rice from being intruded between an inner pan and an outer pan and to facilitate the attachment/detachment of the inner pan by efficiently and uniformly heating the lower side of the inner pan. CONSTITUTION: At an almost intermediate part on the outer side surface of an inner pan 21, a first projecting part 22 is formed over its full circumference. Under the first projecting part 22, a heating space 23 is formed between the inner pan 21 and an outer pan 2. On the outer periphery of the upper end part of the inner pan 21, a second projecting part 26 is formed over its full circumference. This second projecting part 26 covers a gap 27 between the side parts of the outer pan 2 and the inner pan 21 from the upside. Efficient and uniform heating is enabled by the first projecting part 22, and the second projecting part 26 can prevent water or the grains of rice from being intruded and can facilitate the attachment and detachment of the inner pan 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rice cooker such as an electric cooker, and more particularly to the structure of an inner cooker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional rice cooker, for example, JP-A-61-1
As described in Japanese Patent No. 19212, a rice cooker is provided at the bottom of an outer pot in which an inner pot containing rice and water is detachably housed, and the rice cooker cooks rice by radiant heating by the rice cooker. It has been known.

In this type of rice cooker, if a gap is also provided between the side surfaces of the inner pot and the outer pot, the inner pot can be heated as a whole and good rice can be cooked. In the conventional rice cooker, the side surfaces of the inner pot and the outer pot have a smooth shape, and a gap communicating from the lower end to the upper end is formed between the side faces of the inner pot and the outer pot.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, a gap is formed between the lower and upper ends of the side faces of the inner pot and the outer pot. The temperature near the top may become excessively high, and the parts made of synthetic resin such as the case and outer lid may be deformed by heat.

As a solution to this drawback, it is possible to form a flange-shaped protrusion at the middle of the outer side surface of the inner pot, and to form a heating space between the inner and outer pots below this protrusion. Conceivable. As a result, it is possible to prevent the temperature from rising to a high temperature, which is not so important in cooking rice, and to efficiently and uniformly heat the lower side of the inner pot, which is important for cooking rice.

However, when the protrusion is formed at the intermediate portion of the outer surface of the side portion of the inner pot as described above, the gap between the outer pot and the inner pot must be widened by that much, and therefore water and rice grains are required. It becomes easy for the like to enter the gap between the outer hook and the inner hook. As a countermeasure against this, it is conceivable to provide a receiving groove on the brim-shaped protrusion so as to prevent water, rice grains, or the like from entering the heating space on the receiving groove.

[0007]

However, in the structure in which the receiving groove is formed on the protrusion formed on the intermediate portion of the outer surface of the side portion of the inner pot as described above, water and rice grains that have entered along the inner pot are not received in the receiving groove. It is possible to prevent these water and rice grains from entering the heating space below the protrusions, but there is a slight gap between the outer pot and the inner pot protrusions. Therefore, there is a possibility that water or the like that has entered along the outer pot may enter the heating space through the gap between the outer pot and the protrusion of the inner pot. Also, rice grains that have entered along the outer pot may stick to the outer pot, and the outer pot may become dirty. further,
Even if water or rice grains are received in the receiving groove, if the amount of water or rice grains is large, it will overflow from the receiving groove,
There is a risk that it will enter the heating space.

Further, in the structure in which the protrusion is formed only at the intermediate portion of the inner hook, there is also a drawback that it is difficult to attach and detach the inner hook because there is no place to reach with the upper part of the inner hook.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. In a rice cooker in which a protrusion is formed over the entire circumference in the middle of the outer side surface of the inner pot, water, rice grains, etc. Its primary purpose is to prevent invasion between and. A second object is to ensure that even if water, rice grains, etc. spill from the inner pot, these water, rice grains, etc. are smoothly discharged to the outside of the outer pot. A third object is to make it possible to easily attach and detach the inner hook.

[0010]

In order to achieve the first and third objects, the invention according to claim 1 accommodates an inner pot for containing cooked rice and an inner pot which can be inserted and removed. Outer pot,
In a rice cooker having a heating means for heating the inner pot provided on the inner bottom portion of the outer pot, a first protrusion is provided around the entire circumference in a substantially intermediate portion between an upper end and a lower end of a side outer surface of the inner pot. Along with the formation, a second protrusion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the upper opening of the outer pot is formed on the outer periphery of the upper end of the inner pot, and the second protrusion is formed below the first protrusion of the inner pot. A heating space is formed between the outer pot and the inner pot.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the rice cooker according to the first aspect of the invention, in order to achieve the second object, the top surface of the second protrusion is lower than the base. It was formed in.

[0012]

In the rice cooker according to the present invention, the first protrusion is formed over the entire circumference in the middle portion between the upper and lower ends of the side outer surface of the inner pot, and the inner pot below the first protrusion is formed. By forming a heating space between the inner pot and the outer pot, the radiant heat emitted to this heating space wraps the lower part of the inner pot to perform high temperature and uniform heating. At the same time, the first protrusion prevents the upper side of the inner pot and the outer pot from becoming excessively hot.

In the rice cooker according to the first aspect of the invention, the second protrusion formed over the entire circumference of the upper end of the inner pot above the first protrusion is provided between the outer pot and the inner pot. By covering the gap from above, it is possible to prevent water and rice grains from entering between the outer pot and the inner pot. Further, the inner hook can be attached and detached by holding the second protrusion.

Further, in the rice cooker according to the invention of claim 2, water or rice grains spilled from the inner pot are formed by forming the upper surface of the second protrusion so that its tip is lower than the base. Etc. can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the outer pot.

[0015]

[Example] An example of the rice cooker of the present invention will be described below.
Description will be made with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 is a bowl of a rice cooker, and the bowl frame 1 is composed of an outer pot 2, an outer cylinder 3 and a bottom plate 4 which are made of synthetic resin and the like in which the outer pot 2 is built. The bottom plate 4 covers the lower surface opening of the outer cylinder 3 and is fixed. An inward flange 5 is formed around the upper end of the outer cylinder 3. A concave groove 6 is formed on the upper surface of the inward flange portion 5. On the other hand, the outer pot 2 is composed of an outer pot body 7 made of aluminum or the like having high thermal conductivity, and a shoulder frame 8 fixed on the outer pot body 7 made of synthetic resin or the like. The outer pot main body 7 is formed in a bottomed tubular shape, and a short tubular shoulder frame 8 is coaxially fixed by a screw or the like on a flange portion 9 formed around the upper end of the outer pot main body 7. . Further, the shoulder frame 8 is fitted on the inner peripheral side of the inward flange portion 5 of the outer cylinder 3, and the flange portion 10 formed around the upper end is placed on the inward flange portion 5. And shoulder frame 8
Is fixed to the outer cylinder 3 by engaging the concave and convex engaging portions 11, 12, 13, 14 formed on the shoulder frame 8 and the inward flange portion 5 of the outer cylinder 3 with each other. ing. Further, the upper surface of the flange portion 10 of the shoulder frame 8 is an inclined surface 15 that descends radially outward, and this inclined surface 15 is connected to the concave groove 6 of the outer cylinder 3. Further, a horizontal upward step portion 16 is formed over the entire circumference at a position near the side surface of the outer hook main body 7. A bulging portion 17 is formed in the central portion of the lower surface of the outer hook main body 7 so as to bulge upward.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an inner pot, which is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom by aluminum die casting or the like, and accommodates rice to be cooked, such as rice and water, inside the outer pot 2. It is to be inserted and removed freely from above. To describe the shape in more detail, the inner pot 21 has a substantially cylindrical side surface portion 21a whose axial direction is the vertical direction and a horizontal bottom surface portion 21b.
And a curved surface portion 21c between the side surface portion 21a and the bottom surface portion 21b that is smoothly continuous with these and has a substantially spherical shape. Further, on the outer surface of the side portion of the inner hook 21, a first projection 22 is integrally formed over the entire circumference in a substantially intermediate portion between the upper end and the lower end thereof. The lower surface of the first protrusion 22 is horizontal and is placed on the step portion 16 of the outer hook 2. As a result, with the inner pot 21 accommodated in the outer pot 2,
A heating space 23 is formed below the protrusion 22 and between the inner pot 21 and the outer pot 2. Also, the first protrusion
A gap 24 is formed between the outer surface of 22 and the inner surface of the outer hook 2. This is to prevent the first protrusion 22 from coming into close contact with the outer hook 2 due to thermal expansion or the like, and preventing the inner hook 21 from being inserted into or removed from the outer hook 2. A second protrusion 26 is integrally formed on the outer circumference of the upper end of the inner pot 21 over the entire circumference. The second protrusion 26 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the upper opening of the outer hook 2, and the tip of the shoulder frame 8 of the outer hook 2 with the inner hook 21 accommodated in the outer hook 2. Is located above and covers the gap 27 between the side portions of the outer pot 2 and the inner pot 21 from above. In addition, the upper surface of the second protrusion 26,
Its tip is an inclined surface 28 positioned lower than the base. On the other hand, the lower surface of the second protrusion 26 is a horizontal surface, and therefore the thickness of the second protrusion 26 is larger at the base portion than at the tip portion.

A pair of electric heaters 31, which serve as heating means, surround the bulging portion 17 on the inner bottom portion of the outer pot main body 7.
32 are provided. Both heaters 31 and 32 are formed in a substantially annular shape, but one heater 31 is
It has a smaller diameter and is located lower than the other heater 32. In addition, both heaters 31 and 32 are
It is located almost coaxially with the
1, 32 are configured so that the intervals between the outer surface of the inner hook 21 and the outer surface of the inner hook 21 are substantially equal along the proximity of the bottom surface portion 21b and the curved surface portion 21c of the inner hook 21.

On the lower side of the outer pot body 7, a lower plate 34 and a back plate 33 are provided. This lower electrical component 34
In addition to the power circuit, etc.,
Is included. The heat sensitive body 35 is supported in a bottomed tubular support 36 fixed to the central portion of the outer pot main body 7 so as to be vertically movable, and is urged upward by a spring 37. In addition, a front electrical component 38 is provided in front of the outer pot 2 in the device frame 1. The front electrical component section 38 constitutes a control circuit, an operation circuit, and a display circuit. Further, a cord reel device 39 for winding the power cord is provided on the rear side of the bottom plate 4.

Reference numeral 41 is a lid, and the lid 41 is provided on the upper side of the device frame 1 so as to be openable and closable. Then, the lid 41 is
An annular back plate 43 made of synthetic resin or the like is fixed to the lower peripheral portion of the outer lid 42 made of synthetic resin or the like.
An inner lid 44 made of aluminum or the like is fixed to the inside of the. The outer lid 42 has a hinge 45 on the upper rear side of the outer cylinder 3.
Is pivotally attached by means of and is urged in the opening direction by a spring 46 provided on this hinge 45. On the other hand, on the front side of the upper part of the outer cylinder 3, a clamp 47 is provided which is detachably engaged with the outer lid 42 and holds the lid body 41 in a closed state. Further, the inner lid 44 closes the upper opening of the inner pot 21, and the inner pot 21 is provided between the back plate 43 and the inner lid 44.
Packing that fits over the entire circumference on the second protrusion 26 of the
48 are provided. The lid 41 is provided with a steam port 49.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When using the rice cooker of the present invention, the inner pot 21 containing rice, which is rice to be cooked, and water is housed in the outer pot 2 and the lid 41 is closed. In this state, the first protrusion 22 of the inner hook 21 rests on the step portion 16 of the outer hook 2, and the second protrusion 26 causes the gap 27 between the outer hook 2 and the inner hook 21 from above. Covered and located. Further, the lower surface of the inner pot 21 contacts the heat sensitive body 35 and pushes it down. Further, the packing 48 of the lid body 41 comes into close contact with the second protrusion 26 of the inner pot 21. And when cooking rice, electric heater 3
Radiation from 1, 32 heats the inner pot 21. At this time, the temperature of the inner pot 21 is detected by a temperature sensor such as in the heat sensitive body 35, and thereby, the on / off of the electric heaters 31 and 32 is controlled, and a predetermined rice cooking process is performed.

According to the above construction, the first protrusion 22 is formed in the intermediate portion of the outer surface of the side portion of the inner pot 21, and the outer pot 2 and the inner pot 21 are formed below the first protrusion 22. Since the heating space 23 is formed between them, the radiation from the electric heaters 31, 32 is blocked by the first protrusion 22 and the heat generated by this radiation is accumulated in the heating space 23, so that the rice cooked in the inner pot 21 is cooked. It is possible to heat uniformly at high temperature by wrapping the lower side of the above. This makes it possible to cook delicious rice efficiently.

Moreover, there are two electric heaters 31 and 32, and these electric heaters 31 and 32 differ in diameter and height and are arranged along the bottom surface 21b and the curved surface portion 21c of the inner pot 21 in close proximity. Therefore, the lower side of the inner pot 21 for cooking rice is heated more uniformly and quickly.

Further, since the high temperature is maintained by the heat accumulated in the first projection 22 and the heating space 23 when the electric heaters 31, 32 are heated, this heat accumulation particularly energizes the electric heaters 31, 32. Without cooking, it can be steamed well to remove excess water after cooking rice. In addition, the heat storage is effective for keeping heat after steaming. After the rice is cooked, the rice is cooled from the upper side, but the upper side of the rice can be kept at high temperature by the heat accumulated in the first projecting portion 22 and the heating space 23 located in the middle of the upper and lower ends of the inner pot 21. .

To increase the heat storage, it is conceivable to thicken the entire inner pot, but if the whole is thickened,
Due to the large heat capacity, it takes longer for the temperature of the cooked rice to rise. Further, if the whole is made thicker, the inner pot becomes heavier and the material cost becomes higher. In this embodiment, the effects of steaming and heat retention can be enhanced while preventing the harmful effects of thickening the whole.

For good heating, it is not necessary to make the entire inner pot thick as described above, and it is not necessary to use a pressure cooker or an induction heating system having a complicated structure. Can be cheap.

On the contrary, in the vicinity of the upper portion of the inner pot 21 and the outer pot 2, the first protrusion 22 prevents the temperature from becoming excessively high. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the parts made of synthetic resin, such as the shoulder frame 8, the outer cylinder 3, and the back plate 43, which are located near the upper portions of the inner pot 21 and the outer pot 2, from being deformed by heat.

Further, there is a large gap 27 between the inner pot 21 and the outer pot 2, but since the second protrusion 26 at the upper end of the inner pot 21 covers the gap 27 from above, the dew is exposed. Water, rice grains, etc. do not enter the gap 27. Therefore,
Water and rice grains do not enter the heating space 23 between the outer pot 2 and the inner pot 21. And, the water is the electric component part of the lower side of the outer pot 2.
By being surely prevented from invading 34 etc.,
The electrical component 34 and the like are protected, and an accident such as a short circuit can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the inner surface of the outer pot 2 from being soiled.

Moreover, the upper surface of the second projection 26 is an inclined surface 28 whose tip is located lower than the base,
Water, rice grains, etc. spilled from the inner pot 21 such as a spilled bean at the time of rice cooking are smoothly guided to the outside of the outer pot 2 by being guided by the inclined surface 28. That is, spilled water, rice grains, etc. fall from the inclined surface 28 onto the flange portion 10 of the shoulder frame 8, and are guided by the inclined surface 15 on the upper surface of the flange portion 10 to the concave groove 6 of the outer cylinder 3. Is discharged. Thus
Water and rice grains can be more reliably prevented from entering between the outer pot 2 and the inner pot 21.

The second protrusion 26 at the upper end of the inner pot 21 is
Since the inner hook 21 is housed in the outer hook 2 and is positioned upward from the outer hook 2, the inner hook 21 can be attached to and detached from the outer hook 2 by holding the second protrusion 26. Easy to do.

The present invention can be variously modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the shapes of the first protrusion and the second protrusion are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, but can be set in various ways. Further, the material and shape of each component such as the outer pot, or the combined structure of the components is not limited to that of the above embodiment. For example, in the embodiment described above, the outer pot 2 is made up of the outer pot body 7 made of metal and the shoulder frame 8 made of synthetic resin.
However, the outer pot may be integrally formed of metal.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the first protrusion is formed over the entire circumference at substantially the middle portion between the upper end and the lower end of the side outer surface of the inner hook, and the first protrusion is positioned below the first protrusion. Since the heating space is formed between the outer cooker and the inner cooker, the inexpensive structure can heat the lower side of the inner cooker, which is involved in cooking rice, at a high temperature and uniformly by the radiant heat of the heating means. You can cook deliciously. Further, since it is possible to prevent the upper side of the inner pot and the outer pot from becoming excessively hot, it is possible to prevent thermal deformation of the synthetic resin parts on the upper side.

Further, in the invention of claim 1, a second protrusion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the upper opening of the outer pot is provided above the first protrusion of the inner pot and on the outer periphery of the upper end of the inner pot. By forming the portion, it is possible to reliably prevent water, rice grains, and the like from entering between the outer pot and the inner pot, so that the outer pot can be prevented from being soiled and the electric parts can be protected. Moreover, the inner hook can be easily attached and detached.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the upper surface of the second protrusion is formed so that its tip is lower than the base, so that water or rice grains spilled from the inner pot to the outside. Can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the outer pot, and water and rice grains can be more reliably prevented from entering between the outer pot and the inner pot.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the outer pot and inner pot of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Outer pot 21 Inner pot 22 First protrusion 23 Heating space 26 Second protrusion 28 Inclined surface (upper surface of second protrusion) 31, 32 Electric heater (heating means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rice cooker having an inner pot for containing rice to be cooked, an outer pot for accommodating the inner pot so that the inner pot can be inserted and removed, and a heating unit provided at an inner bottom portion of the outer pot for heating the inner pot. In the container, a first protrusion is formed over the entire circumference substantially in the middle between the upper and lower ends of the side outer surface of the inner hook, and the upper opening of the outer hook is formed over the outer circumference of the upper end of the inner hook. A second protrusion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the portion is formed, and a heating space is formed below the first protrusion of the inner pot to form a heating space between the outer pot and the inner pot. Characteristic rice cooker. 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the second protrusion is formed so that its tip is lower than the base.