WO2013118369A1

WO2013118369A1 - Weight detection device and heating cooker provided therewith

Info

Publication number: WO2013118369A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/080128
Authority: WO
Inventors: 栄治小暮; 利弘齋藤; 優安藤
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社; 三菱電機ホーム機器株式会社
Priority date: 2012-02-06
Filing date: 2012-11-21
Publication date: 2013-08-15
Also published as: JPWO2013118369A1; JP5826296B2

Abstract

A weight detection device is provided with: a rice cooker main body (2) for setting an object the weight of which is required to be measured; a weight detection element (121) which is disposed at the bottom of the rice cooker main body (2); a leg body (130) which is vertically movable; a load transmission member (140) which is vertically movable integrally with the leg body (130), and has a substantially inverted C-shape in the vertical direction with the upper part thereof extending above the weight detection element (121) and the lower surface of the upper part facing the upper surface of the weight detection element (121); a spring (160) which biases the load transmission member (140) downward such that the lower end thereof is brought into contact with the lower part side of the load transmission member (140), the upper end thereof is brought into contact with the lower surface side of the weight detection element (121), and thereby the lower surface of the upper part of the load transmission member (140) and the upper surface of the weight detection element (121) are brought into contact with each other; and a holding member (180) which holds the load transmission member (140) and the spring (160) simultaneously.

Description

Weight detector and cooking device equipped with the same

The present invention relates to a weight detection device and a cooking device provided with the same.

The cooking device is provided with weight detection means. A weight sensor is provided in the weight detection means. In the conventional weight detection device, if the weight of an object requiring weight measurement increases, the load applied to the weight sensor also increases. Based on this load, the weight of the object is detected (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-5020 (page 3, FIG. 1)

However, if the cooking device is accidentally dropped, an excessive load is applied to the weight sensor, and the weight sensor can break down. In addition, since a plurality of parts constituting the weight sensor use separate holding members for each part, the number of parts increases and the structure of the weight sensor becomes complicated, making it difficult to reduce the size.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and prevents a weight sensor from being overloaded even when it is accidentally dropped, and a small weight detection device and An object is to provide a heating cooker provided.

A weight detection device according to the present invention is an integral body with a main body for setting an object that requires weight measurement, a weight detection element disposed at the bottom of the main body, a leg that is movable in the vertical direction, and a leg. The load transmitting member is movable in the vertical direction, has a substantially U-shape in the vertical direction, the upper part extends above the weight detection element, and the lower surface of the upper part faces the upper surface of the weight detection element, and the lower end is Lower the load transmission member so that it contacts the lower side of the load transmission member, the upper end contacts the lower surface side of the weight detection element, and the lower surface side of the upper part of the load transmission member contacts the upper surface side of the weight detection element And a holding member that holds the load transmitting member and the spring at the same time.

The weight detection device according to the present invention can prevent an excessive load from being applied to the weight sensor and obtain a small weight detection device even when the weight detection device is accidentally dropped.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which open | released the cover body of the heating cooker provided with the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view of the heating cooker provided with the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a right view of the heating cooker provided with the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a bottom view of the heating cooker provided with the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the heating cooker provided with the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view including the weight detection apparatus of the heating cooker provided with the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view containing the weight detection apparatus of the heating cooker provided with the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining operation | movement of the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the heating cooker provided with the weight detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining a rice cooking process.

A rice cooker will be described as an example of a heating cooker provided with a weight detection device.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lid of a heating cooker provided with the weight detection device in Embodiment 1 is opened. FIG. 2 is a front view of the cooking device provided with the weight detection device in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the cooking device provided with the weight detection device in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cooking device provided with the weight detection device in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cooking device provided with the weight detection device in the first embodiment. FIG.
) Is a cross-sectional view including the weight detection device of the cooking device provided with the weight detection device in the first embodiment. FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. FIG. 7A is a longitudinal sectional view including the weight detection device of the cooking device provided with the weight detection device in the first embodiment. FIG.7 (b) is the B section enlarged view of Fig.7 (a). FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the weight detection apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the weight detection apparatus according to Embodiment 1, and shows a normal detection state in which the weight detection apparatus can detect the weight. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the weight detection device according to the first embodiment, and shows an overload state in which the weight detection device is overloaded and the weight cannot be detected. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the weight detection apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a cooking device provided with the weight detection device in the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the rice cooking process. In the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS.
The rice cooker 1 includes a rice cooker body 2, a lid 4 that covers the upper surface of the rice cooker body 2 so as to be openable and closable, and a steam recovery device 10 attached to the front surface of the rice cooker body 2.
The rice cooker 1 is a main body for setting an object requiring weight measurement, and the object requiring weight measurement is a cooked rice (for example, rice and water) accommodated in an inner pot 3 described later.

(Rice cooker body)
In the rice cooker body 2, an inner pot 3 having an open upper surface is detachably accommodated. As shown in FIG. 11, the inner pot 3 is heated by the heating means 2b comprised of an induction heating coil. The heating means 2b is controlled by the control means 2c to turn on / off the heating and output. On the control board as the control means, a power supply circuit, a microcomputer, an inverter circuit for supplying a high-frequency current to the heating coil based on the control of the microcomputer, a memory, and the like are mounted. The memory stores a control program for operating the microcomputer in response to an operation of an operation means 4d described later. The heating means 2b is not limited to the induction heating coil, but may be a heating wire heater that generates heat.
A temperature sensor 2h such as a thermistor is provided in contact with the outer surface of the inner hook 3, and is connected to the control means 2c.
The control means 2c includes cooking information input by the operation means 4d described later, temperature information output by the temperature sensor 2h, weight information of the cooked food detected by the weight detection apparatus 100 described later, and time measuring means (not shown). ) To control the heating power of the heating means 2b.
The weight detection device 100 is disposed on the bottom plate 2g constituting the bottom of the rice cooker body 2. Above the bottom plate 2g, a strain sensor 121, which is a weight detection element constituting the weight detection device 100 described later, is installed. Moreover, 2 g of baseplates are extended in the rice cooker main body 2 front part, and the vapor | steam collection | recovery apparatus 10 is mounted detachably.

As shown in FIG. 5, a power supply board 2d is vertically placed on the back side of the rice cooker body 2, and a cooling fan 2e is disposed at a position below the power supply board 2d. . The fan 2e is cooled by taking in external air from a vent formed in the bottom plate 2g of the rice cooker body 2 and sending air to the power supply board, the heating means 2b, and the like. In addition, a part of the cooling air passes through the lower surface of the steam recovery device 10 disposed in front of the rice cooker body 2, and the outside of the rice cooker body 2 from the vent hole 2 f formed in the front surface of the steam recovery device 10. Is released.

As shown in FIG. 4, three fixed legs 30a to 30c and two movable legs (leg bodies) 130a and 130b are disposed on the bottom surface of the rice cooker body 2. The fixed legs 30a to 30c are disposed in front of the center of gravity of the rice cooker body 2 in a state where the lid 4 is closed, and are substantially bilaterally symmetrical with respect to the approximate center in the width direction of the bottom plate 2g. The central fixed leg 30b is about 0.5 mm longer than the left and right

fixed legs

30a and 30c, and the left and right

fixed legs

30a and 30c have substantially the same length difference as the central fixed leg 30b. Elastic rubber is attached so as to protrude. Further, behind the rice cooker main body 2, below the control board, movable legs (legs) 130a and 130b that form a part of the weight detection device 100 protrude downward from the bottom plate 2g so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The The

movable legs

130a and 130b are arranged in the width direction of the bottom plate 2g behind the center of gravity of the rice cooker body 2 with the lid 4 closed, and are movably attached in the vertical direction.

(Lid)
The lid 4 is supported by a hinge mechanism 4 a located at one side edge of the rice cooker body 2. The lid body 4 has a removable inner lid 5. The inner lid 5 is composed of a plurality of small holes, and a steam discharge port 7 for discharging the steam generated in the inner pot 3 is formed. An inner lid sealing member 6 made of silicon rubber or the like is provided on the outer periphery of the inner lid 5 to seal the upper edge of the inner hook 3. Therefore, the steam generated in the inner pot 3 is not released from other than the steam outlet 7.

Also, a detachable steam conduit 20 is installed on the lid 4 and one end thereof is connected to the steam outlet 7 via a steam conduit inlet seal member (not shown). A steam conduit outlet 8 is provided at the other end of the steam conduit. A steam conduit seal member 9 is provided around the steam conduit outlet 8. In the middle of the steam conduit 20, a tap (not shown) is formed to dampen outflows (spills) other than steam and return them to the inner pot 3. The lower surface on the inner side of the steam conduit is inclined toward the both ends of the steam conduit, each having a twist as a vertex. Even if effluent other than steam is discharged from the steam discharge port 7 by this reversal, it is completely dammed and prevented from flowing out from the steam conduit to the steam recovery device 10 side.

The upper surface of the lid 4 is configured to be flat, a rice cooking start button (not shown), a cooking information selection button (not shown) such as rice seeds and cooking menu, and a timer button (not shown) for setting the rice cooking end time. 4 d is disposed on the upper surface of the lid 4. The operation means 4d is constituted by a mechanical switch, an electrostatic switch, or the like.
In addition, a display unit 4e for displaying setting information input from the operation unit 4d, cooking state such as a cooking process during rice cooking, and information such as an abnormal state is disposed on the upper surface of the lid 4 adjacent to the operation unit 4d. The The display means 4e is constituted by an LED lamp, a liquid crystal display or the like.

A pair of movable locking pieces 4 b are provided on the front lower surface of the lid 4. A pair of locked portions 2 a that are locked to the movable locking piece 4 b when the lid 4 is closed are provided in front of the rice cooker body 2. When the movable locking piece 4b is provided with a spring (not shown) that urges it to rotate in the locking direction with the locked portion 2a, and the lid 4 covers the upper surface of the rice cooker body 2. The closed state of the lid 4 is maintained by this spring. A release button 4c is provided on the front surface of the lid 4 and when the release button 4c is pressed, the movable locking piece 4b releases the locked state with the locked portion 2a against the elastic force of the spring. To turn. That is, the lid 4 covering the upper surface of the rice cooker body 2 can be opened by pressing the release button 4c.

As shown in FIG. 5, by closing the lid 4, the steam conduit outlet 8 is sealed by a steam conduit seal member 9 and connected to a steam conduit receiving port 14 provided in a steam recovery device 10 to be described later. . As described above, the steam conduit is attached to the inside of the lid 4 of the rice cooker 1, and the steam conduit and the steam recovery device 10 can be separated and connected in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the lid 4. Thus, when the steam recovery apparatus 10 is detachably installed in the rice cooker main body 2, when cleaning the rice cooker 1, it is possible to easily reach the dirt of each part after rice cooking and improve the cleanability. Can do.

(Steam recovery device)
The steam recovery apparatus 10 includes a water tank 11 that stores cooling water W for condensing steam.
The water tank 11 has a capacity (for example, about 1 liter) such that the water in the water tank 11 after condensing does not burn the user even if the water tank 11 is spilled during handling, for example, 55 degrees or less. ) And can be stored sufficiently without overflowing even if the water in the water tank 11 increases after condensate. Note that the amount of steam generated by one-time cooking of rice as water is about 50 to 100 ml, depending on the amount of cooking.

In addition, the upper part of the water tank 11 covers the opening by fitting a water tank lid 13 into the upper opening of the water tank 11. On one side of the water tank lid 13, a steam conduit receiving port 14 is provided and opened. The steam conduit receiving port 14 is connected to face the steam conduit outlet 8 when the lid 4 closes the upper surface of the rice cooker body 2. A vent hole 14 a is provided in the vicinity of the steam conduit receiving port 14.

Also, the water tank lid 13 is formed with a communication pipe 15 that hangs downward from the steam conduit receiving port 14 in a tapered shape. A silencer member (not shown) that extends downward in a trumpet shape is fixed to the lower end portion of the communication pipe 15 by a fitting mechanism.

When the upper opening of the water tank 11 is closed by the water tank lid 13, the communication pipe 15 is configured such that the lower end opening (not shown) of the muffler member fixed to the lower end of the communication pipe 15 is the water surface in the water tank 11. In contrast, the water tank lid 13 is integrally formed so as to be submerged at a predetermined depth (for example, about 80 to 90 mm). Here, the fixed submergence depth is set so that all of the steam discharged from the steam outlet 7 can be condensed, and specifically, the speed at which the steam bubbles blow up and the steam cools down to form water. It is determined from the speed to return to. If the submerged depth of the lower end opening of the silencer member relative to the water surface W1 of the water tank 11 is not appropriately set and is shallower than the required depth, the steam discharged from the lower end opening 19 is stored in the water tank 11. It cannot be sufficiently brought into contact with the cooling water, resulting in poor steam treatment.

(Weight detector)
The weight detection device 100 includes a strain sensor (weight detection element) 121 which is a weight detection element, a movable leg (leg body) 130 which is a leg movable in the vertical direction, and a vertical movement integrally with the movable leg 130. A load transmission member 140 that is movable, has a substantially U-shape in the vertical direction, has an upper portion that extends above the strain sensor 121, an upper lower surface that faces the upper surface of the strain sensor 121, and a lower end that is a load transmission member. 140, the lower end side of the load sensor 140 is in contact with the lower surface side of the strain sensor 121, and the lower surface side of the upper portion of the load transmission member 140 is in contact with the upper surface side of the strain sensor 121. And a lower spring holding member (holding member) 180 that holds the load transmission member 140 and the spring 160 at the same time. As shown in FIG. 4, the weight detection device 100 having the same configuration is provided for each of the two

movable legs

130a and 130b. In the following description, one weight detection device will be described.

The strain sensor 121 is provided on the load detection board 120. Three holes 120 a to 120 c are formed in the load detection substrate 120. The resistance value of the strain sensor changes due to the strain caused by the applied load. For example, a resistor is connected in series with the strain sensor, and a constant DC voltage is applied across the series circuit of the strain sensor and the resistor. A voltage value at both ends of the resistor is detected to detect a current value flowing through the series circuit, and a change in the resistance value of the strain sensor is detected. Thus, a change in the resistance value of the strain sensor can be detected from a change in the voltage value at both ends of the resistor, and a load applied to the strain sensor can be detected. The load detection board 120 is provided with a signal amplifying unit 122 that amplifies a voltage output in proportion to the load applied to the strain sensor 121. The output signal of the signal amplification means 122 is input to the control means 2c.

The load detection board 120 is fixed on the fixing plate 110 via the insulating sheet 112. The insulating sheet 112 is used to electrically insulate the fixing plate 110 and the load detection substrate 120 that fixes the strain sensor 121.
The insulating sheet 112 has four holes 112a to 112d.
The fixed plate 110 is installed on the opening 40 formed in the bottom plate 2 g at the bottom of the rice cooker body 2. The fixing plate 110 is formed with twelve holes 110a to 110l. Here, the holes 110a to 110d are formed at positions corresponding to the holes 112a to 112d of the insulating sheet 112, respectively.

On the strain sensor 121, a protective plate 123 that faces the lower surface of an upper plate 141 of a load transmission member 140 described later is installed on the fixed plate 110 via an insulating sheet 112, a load detection substrate 120, and a spacer 124. The Two holes 123 a and 123 b are formed in the protective plate 123. The

holes

123a and 123b are formed at positions corresponding to the holes 120a and 120b of the load detection substrate 120, respectively.

The spacer 124 includes an upper cylindrical portion 124a and a lower flange portion 124b, and the height of the flange portion 124b is the same as the height from the upper surface of the load detection substrate 120 to the upper surface of the strain sensor 121. The center is hollow, and the inner diameter is formed larger than the diameter of the screw portion of the screw 191 inserted as will be described later.

As will be described later, since the hole 123a side is fixed by a screw 191 and the hole 123b side is a free end, the protective plate 123 receives a load from the upper plate 141 of the load transmission member 140 via the protective plate 123. Can be transmitted to the strain sensor 121.
The fixing plate 110 is formed with an elongated rectangular hole 110e. A side plate guide 111 that guides a side plate 142 of a load transmission member 140 (described later) in the vertical direction is fixed to the hole 110e. A claw portion (not shown) protruding outward is provided on the side surface of the side plate guide 111 so as to elastically retreat inward. By pushing the side plate guide 111 into the hole 110e from above the fixed plate 110, the claw portions on the side surfaces of the side plate guide 111 engage and fix the fixed plate 110.
In addition, a waterproof cover 125 is provided above the load detection board 120 and an upper plate 141 of a load transmission member 140 to be described later, and prevents water or the like from being applied to the load detection board 120. The waterproof cover has a substantially box shape with an open bottom surface, and three

claw portions

125j, 125k, and 125l (not shown) are formed on the lower edge.

The movable leg 130 has a box shape with a bottom. The upper side is open, the bottom wall 131 is formed below, and the outer side of the side wall 132 is tapered so as to sag downward. The opening and inner cross-sectional dimensions of the movable leg 130 are set so that the outer periphery of a lower plate 143 of a load transmission member 140 described later can be accommodated. A flange portion 133 is formed on the upper edge of the movable leg 130. Four protrusions 134a to 134d (the protrusion 134b is not shown) protruding downward are formed on the lower surface of the four corners of the flange 133. Further, a claw portion 135 that protrudes inside the side wall 132 of the movable leg 130 is formed. A pair of cut portions 136 are formed on the walls on both sides of the claw portion 135, and the claw portion 135 can be elastically deformed so as to recede from the inside to the outside of the side wall 132 of the movable leg 130. The movable leg 130 is detachably mounted on the reinforcing plate 150 from above.

The load transmitting member 140 is substantially U-shaped in the vertical direction, and includes an upper plate 141, a side plate 142, and a lower plate 143. The U-shape is the shape of “U”, which is a Japanese katakana character.

The upper plate 141 projects to the strain sensor 121 side in parallel with the lower plate 143. As will be described later, when the load transmitting member 140 is inserted into the fixed plate 110 and set in a state where weight detection is possible, the upper plate 141 is set in parallel with the fixed plate 110 and the load detection substrate 120. Then, the lower surface of the front end portion 141 a of the upper plate 141 faces the upper surface side of the strain sensor 121, and a load is applied to the strain sensor 121 through the protective plate 123. As described above, the upper portion of the load transmission member 140 extends above the strain sensor 121.

The side plate 142 extends in the vertical direction and connects the upper plate 141 and the lower plate 143. The side plate 142 passes through the side plate guide 111 fitted in the hole 110e of the fixed plate 110 and moves in the vertical direction. The side plate guide 111 has a rectangular box shape that is open at the top and bottom, the width in the longitudinal direction of the opening is slightly larger than the width dimension of the side plate 142, and the width of the opening in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is the thickness dimension of the side plate 142. Is slightly larger than. Therefore, the side plate guide 111 can guide the side plate 142 of the load transmitting member 140 without friction.

The lower plate 143 has a square shape and projects in parallel to the same side as the upper plate 141. A substantially circular hole 143 a is formed at the center of the lower plate 143. The diameter of the hole 143a is larger than the outer diameter of a coiled spring 160 described later. A pair of recesses 143b cut outward are formed at both ends facing the center of the hole 143a.

The reinforcing plate 150 has a substantially square shape, and is screwed to the bottom plate 2g of the rice cooker body 2 by four screw bosses 153f to 153i formed at four corners and having screws inside. The reinforcing plate 150 is formed with a leg guide 151 that is a substantially square opening. The inner wall of the leg guide 151 is formed in a tapered shape having a wide upper portion and a narrow lower portion. The leg body guide 151 guides the movement of the movable leg 130 in the vertical direction, and is formed so that a gap is formed between the outer wall of the movable leg 130 and the inner wall surface of the leg body guide 151. Therefore, the movable leg 130 can move up and down without friction with respect to the reinforcing plate 150.

Four holes 152a to 152d are formed at the four outer corners of the leg guide 151. The protrusions 134a to 134d of the movable leg 130 are inserted into the holes 152a to 152d through the holes (not shown) formed in the bottom plate 2g of the rice cooker main body 2, respectively. Even when a load is applied from the direction, the movable leg 130 is stably guided by the leg guide 151 in the vertical direction. In addition, the movable leg 130 is prevented from falling off the reinforcing plate 150 by the flange portion 133 and the protrusions 134a to 134d.

Below the fixed plate 110, a coil-shaped spring 160 is sandwiched and held by two members, an upper spring holding member 170 and a lower spring holding member (holding member) 180.
The upper spring holding member 170 is provided with a cylindrical portion 172 standing below the plate portion 171. The central axis of the cylindrical portion 172 is parallel to the expansion / contraction axis (vertical axis) of the spring 160. When the upper end of the spring 160 comes into contact with the upper wall of the cylindrical portion 172, the upper end of the spring 160 is held by the upper spring holding member 170.

Also, the upper spring holding member 170 is formed with a screw boss 170a having a screw hole inside, a pin boss 170b having a pin portion 170b2 at the tip, a hole 170c having a screw hole inside, and a pin boss 170d. The pin boss 170b is formed of a cylindrical boss 170b1 and a pin 170b2 having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the boss 170b1.

The height of the screw boss 170a is the same as the sum of the thickness of the fixing plate 110, the thickness of the insulating sheet 112, and the thickness of the load detection substrate 120. On the other hand, the height of the cylindrical boss portion 170b1 is set slightly lower than the height of the screw boss 170a. Thereby, the hole 123b side of the protection plate 123 becomes a free end. Further, the height of the pin boss 170d is the same as the thickness of the fixed plate 110.
As will be described later, the upper spring holding member 170 is fixed to the fixing plate 110 so that the upper surface of the plate portion 171 and the lower surface of the fixing plate 110 abut.

The lower spring holding member 180 is formed to be connected to a bottomed cylindrical portion 181 having a central axis parallel to the expansion and contraction axis of the spring 160 and a lower portion of the cylindrical portion 181, and has a circular shape having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 181. The collar part 182 is provided. When the lower end of the spring 160 abuts on the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 181, the lower end of the spring 160 is held by the lower spring holding member 180.

A convex portion 183 is formed to protrude from the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 181. A gap 184 is formed between the lower end of the convex portion 183 and the upper surface of the flange portion 182. The size of the gap is the same as or slightly larger than the thickness of the lower plate 143 of the load transmitting member 140. Further, the projecting dimension of the convex part 183 is smaller than the notch dimension of the concave part 143 b of the hole part 143 a formed in the lower plate 143 of the load transmitting member 140.

Next, a method for assembling the weight detection apparatus 100 will be described.
First, the insulating sheet 112 and the load detection substrate 120 are overlaid on the fixed plate 110. Here, the holes 110a to 110d of the fixing plate 110 are overlapped with the holes 112a to 112d of the insulating sheet 112, respectively. Further, the holes 110a to 110c of the fixing plate 110 are overlapped with the holes 120a to 120c of the load detection substrate 120, respectively.

Next, the upper spring holding member 170 is attached from below the fixing plate 110. Here, the screw boss 170a, the pin boss 170b, and the pin boss 170d of the upper spring holding member 170 are aligned with the holes 110a, 110b, and 11d of the fixing plate 110, respectively, and the upper surface of the upper spring holding member 170 contacts the lower surface of the fixing plate 110. Until then, the upper spring holding member 170 is pressed against the fixing plate 110. Then, the spacer 124 is arranged in accordance with the position of the hole 120 a of the load detection substrate 120, and the cylindrical portion 124 a of the spacer 124 is inserted into the hole 123 a of the protection plate 123. In this state, the screw 190 is inserted through the hole 123a, the spacer 124, the load detection substrate 120, the insulating sheet 112, and the fixing plate 110 from above the protective plate 123, and the upper spring holding member 170 is sandwiched therebetween. The screw boss 170a is screwed and fixed. Here, the hole 123 b of the protection plate 123 is aligned with the position of the pin portion 170 b 2 of the pin boss 170 b of the upper spring holding member 170. Then, the screws 191 are inserted through the hole 120c of the load detection board 120, the hole 112c of the insulating sheet 112, the hole 110c of the fixing plate 110, and the hole 170c of the upper spring holding member 170, respectively. Then, in a state where the insulating sheet 112 and the fixing plate 110 are sandwiched, the screw is fixed to the screw hole inside the hole 170c.

Next, the side plate guide 111 is pushed and fixed into the hole 110e from above the fixing plate 110. Then, the front end portion 141 a of the upper plate 141 of the load transmission member 140 is inserted from below the side plate guide 111, and the load transmission member 140 is rotated to insert the side plate 142 into the side plate guide 111. Thereby, the load transmission member 140 can move freely up and down.

Next, the spring 160 is inserted from below the hole 143 a formed in the lower plate 143 of the load transmission member 140 and positioned in the cylindrical portion 172 of the upper spring holding member 170. Next, in a state where the positions of the convex portion 183 formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 181 of the lower spring holding member 180 and the concave portion 143b of the hole portion 143a formed in the lower plate 143 of the load transmitting member 140 are matched, The cylindrical portion 181 of the lower spring holding member 180 is inserted from under the lower plate 143 of the load transmitting member 140. At this time, the lower end of the spring 160 is positioned so as to be accommodated in the cylindrical portion 181. Then, with the upper surface of the flange portion 182 of the lower spring holding member 180 in contact with the lower surface of the lower plate 143 of the load transmitting member 140, the lower spring holding member (holding member) 180 is moved around the central axis of the cylindrical portion 181. The lower spring holding member 180 holds the load transmitting member 140 by rotating and sandwiching the lower plate 143 (plate portion) in the gap 184. At the same time, the lower spring holding member 180 holds the spring 160.
Further, the three claw portions 125j to 125l formed on the lower edge of the waterproof cover 125 are respectively engaged with the holes 110j to 110l provided on the fixing plate 110, and the waterproof cover 125 is fixed to the fixing plate 110. To do.

Here, the spring 160 is sandwiched between the upper spring holding member 170 and the lower spring holding member 180 in a state where the spring 160 is contracted more than in the case of no load, that is, in a state where an elastic force is exerted in a direction extending vertically. That is, the lower end of the spring 160 abuts on the cylindrical portion 181 of the lower spring holding member 180 fixed to the lower plate 143 on the lower side of the load transmitting member 140, and the upper end of the spring 160 is fixed on the lower surface side of the strain sensor 121. The load is applied so that the lower surface side of the upper plate 141 which is the upper portion of the load transmitting member 140 and the upper surface side of the strain sensor 121 are in contact with the cylindrical portion 172 of the upper spring holding member 170 fixed to the lower surface of the plate 110. The transmission member 140 is urged downward. At this time, a load is applied to the spring so that the elastic force is 2 kgf to 5 kgf. This elastic force is defined as an initial elastic force.

Next, the movable leg 130 which is a leg is attached from below the lower plate 143 of the load transmission member 140. When the lower plate 143 is inserted into the movable leg 130, the outer edge of the lower plate 143 elastically pushes the claw part 135 protruding inside the side wall 132 of the movable leg 130 outward, and the outer edge of the lower plate 143 is the claw part 135. The claw part 135 returns to the inside, the lower plate 143 is sandwiched between the lower end of the claw part 135 and the bottom wall 131, and the movable leg 130 is fixed to the load transmission member 140. As a result, the movable leg 130 is movable in the vertical direction integrally with the load transmission member 140.

Finally, the reinforcing plate 150 is fixed to the bottom surface of the fixed plate 110 while inserting the movable leg 130. The movable leg 130 is inserted through the leg body guide 151 of the reinforcing plate 150. The four protrusions 134a to 134d formed on the lower surface of the flange 133 of the movable leg 130 are inserted into the four holes 152a to 152d formed in the reinforcement plate 150, respectively. Is brought into contact with the bottom plate 2g of the rice cooker body 2. In the bottom plate 2g, four holes (not shown) are formed in accordance with the positions of the four screw bosses 153f to 153i formed in the reinforcing plate 150. The bottom surface of the fixed plate 110 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the bottom plate 2g. Then, the positions of the four screw bosses 153f to 153i formed on the reinforcing plate 150 and the four holes 110f to 110i formed on the fixing plate 110 are aligned and fixed with screws. Thereby, the attachment to the rice cooker main body 2 of the weight detection apparatus 100 is completed.

As shown in FIG. 9A, in the normal detection state, the distance A between the upper end of the movable leg 130 and the lower surface of the fixed plate 110 is such that the lower end of the upper spring holding member 170 and the lower spring holding member facing this lower end. It is set to be smaller than the distance B of the gap with the 180 portion.

Next, the operation will be described.
When starting rice cooking, the steam recovery apparatus 10 is first removed from the rice cooker body 2. Next, the water tank lid 13 is removed from the water tank 11 and water is poured into the water tank 11 from the outside. Next, the water tank lid 13 is attached to the water tank 11, and the steam recovery device 10 is attached to the bottom plate 2 g of the rice cooker body 2. Then, a predetermined amount of water and rice are put into the inner pot 3, the upper surface opening of the inner pot 3 is closed with the lid 4, and the rice cooking start button is pressed.

At this time, in a state in which the rice cooker 1 is normally placed on a placement surface such as a kitchen, the balance is achieved at the three points of the fixed leg 30b at the front substantially central portion and the two

movable legs

130a and 130b at the rear side. A load is always applied to the two rear movable legs. When the front side is tilted left and right by a key operation or the like, the left and right

fixed legs

30a or 30c serve as a support to prevent the rice cooker body 2 from wobbling. The left and right

movable legs

130 a and 130 b are used as a weight detection device 100 that detects the total weight of the rice cooker 1 and the weight applied to the rice cooker 1.
The weight of the rice cooker 1 is the weight of the rice cooker 1 with the fixed leg 30 as a fulcrum, and includes the weight of the lid 4 and the weight of the inner pot 3. The weight applied to the rice cooker 1 is the weight applied to the rice cooker 1 with the fixed leg 30 as a fulcrum, the weight of the cooked rice (rice and water) stored in the inner pot 3, and the steam recovery into which water has been injected. This is the total weight of the device 10. Memory that forms a part of the control means 2c using the total weight of the rice cooker 1 and the weight applied to the rice cooker 1 (excluding the weight of the cooked rice), that is, the weight of the cooker itself excluding the weight of the cooked rice as data. Stored in

The strain sensor 121 which is a weight detection element of the weight detection apparatus 100 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the fixed plate 110 and a load transmission member 140 formed in a U shape. The strain sensor 121 is disposed between the back surface side of the fixed plate 110 provided on the upper surface and the lower plate 143 below the load transmission member 140 in a contracted state with the spring 160 as an elastic body. The reaction force of the force due to the spring 160 contracting is applied.

The force of the contracted spring 160 is set so that the amount of contraction does not change even if the total weight of the rice cooker 1 and the weight applied to the rice cooker 1 is added. In the case of the two movable legs 130, the force is set so as not to contract even when the total weight of the main body and the weight applied to the main body is added to only one side. That is, the rice cooker 1 is placed on the placement surface, and the urging force of the spring 160 is applied from the load applied to the movable leg 130 in a state where the lower surface side of the upper portion of the load transmitting member 140 and the upper surface side of the strain sensor 121 are in contact. Also set larger.

When the load applied to the movable leg 130 exceeds the elastic force due to the contraction of the spring 160 in the initial state, the spring 160 contracts more than the initial length, and the rice cooker body 2 sinks by the movable leg 130. When the rice cooker body 2 sinks, the upper surface of the protective plate 123 that contacts the upper surface of the strain sensor 121 and the lower surface of the tip portion 141a of the upper plate 141 of the load transmitting member 140 are separated from each other. No load is applied, and destruction due to overload can be prevented. The same applies to impact loads such as dropping the main body.

When the upper end of the movable leg 130 moves to a position where it contacts the lower surface of the fixed plate 110, the movement of the movable leg 130 is restricted by the fixed plate 110. The moving range of the movable leg 130 is set within 1 mm (distance A, see FIG. 9A). Thereby, even if the rice cooker 1 falls, the weight detection apparatus 100 is not damaged by the reaction of the spring 160. The clearance (distance B, see FIG. 9A) of the other components is set to be larger than the clearance (distance A) between the movable leg 130 and the fixed plate 110.

Since a measurement load error occurs depending on the position of the load applied to the strain sensor 121, a guide (a leg guide 151, a protrusion 134, and a hole 152) for restricting the operation of the movable leg 130 in the vertical direction, and a load transmission member By providing two operation restriction guides, guides for restricting 140 in the vertical direction (side plate guide 111), the load prevents the load transmission member 140 from shifting the position of the load to the strain sensor 121.

The resistance value of the strain sensor 121 changes due to the strain caused by the applied load. By reading the change in the output voltage value when a certain voltage is applied, the change in the resistance value can be converted into a weight.

The strain sensor 121 is applied with the force subtracted by the weight of the rice cooker 1 and the weight applied to the rice cooker 1 from the reaction force caused by the elastic force of the spring 160 in the initial state. From the initial state (the state where no load is applied to the movable leg 130), the load of two states, for example, the output of the strain sensor 121 when only the weight of the rice cooker 1 is applied to the movable leg 130 and the weight of the rice cooker 1 is 2 kg. The output of the strain sensor 121 when the voltage is applied is stored in a memory, and a value of a certain voltage change can be converted into a weight based on the voltage change amount for 2 kg. If the voltage value when only the own weight of the rice cooker 1 is applied corresponds to a load of 0 g, the weight of the cooked rice can be calculated by the voltage change due to the added weight.

FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the weight of the cooked rice and the output voltage of the strain sensor 121. As the weight of the cooked rice increases, the output voltage decreases. When the sum of the weight of the cooked rice and the weight of the rice cooker 1 exceeds the elastic force of the spring 160 in the initial state, no load is applied to the strain sensor 121, and the output voltage becomes zero.

When the rice cooking start button is pressed, the strain sensor 121 generates a signal corresponding to the load applied to the movable leg 130, that is, a signal corresponding to the total weight of the current rice cooker 1, and inputs the signal to the microcomputer of the control board. The weight of the cooked rice in the inner pot 3 is calculated. Calculation of the weight of the cooked rice is converted into the current total weight of the rice cooker 1 based on the aforementioned signal, and the weight of the cooker 1 itself stored as data in the memory (the weight of the cooked rice) from the converted total weight It is obtained by subtracting.
By adding the respective weights obtained by the two strain sensors 121 (the strain sensors 121 provided on the

movable legs

130a and 130b, respectively), the added value of the weights becomes the current weight of the rice cooker.

By pressing the rice cooking start button, electric power is supplied from the power supply board 2d to the heating means 2b, the inner pot 3 is heated, and rice cooking is started. When rice cooking is started, the fan 2e rotates and blows to cool the power supply board 2d and the heating means 2b. A part of the air blown from the fan 2e passes around the lower part of the inner pot 3 and reaches the lower part of the steam recovery device 10, and cools the water tank 11 and the water tank cover 12.

A typical process of cooking rice is shown in FIG.
Conventionally, the temperature sensor 2h detects the temperature rise of the inner pot and determines the amount of rice cooking, but in the preheating step, the water temperature rise is small and it is difficult to determine the amount of rice cooking by temperature. In the preheating step, the amount of cooked rice has already been detected, and the heating power of the heating means can be appropriately set according to the amount of cooked rice. As a result, the rice can be properly absorbed regardless of the amount of rice cooked. In the preheating fixation, almost no steam is generated and no steam recovery process is performed.

Next, when the rice cooking process is started, the heating power of the heating means 2b becomes stronger, and the water temperature in the inner pot 3 gradually rises to boil. Also in a rice cooking process, a thermal power is set according to the amount of rice cooking by a weight detection means. The temperature sensor 2h may detect a rise in water temperature, detect the amount of rice cooking, and set the heating power. When the boiling becomes intense and the amount of steam increases, the pressure in the inner pot 3 rises from the atmospheric pressure, and the steam generated in the inner pot 3 is pushed out by the pressure and is sent from the steam discharge port 7 to the steam conduit 20. Flows in. At this time, the steam outlet 7 and the steam conduit 20 are sealed by the steam conduit inlet seal member, and the steam conduit outlet 8 of the steam conduit 20 and the water tank lid 13 are sealed by the steam conduit seal member 9. Therefore, the steam does not leak to the outside.

The steam that has flowed into the steam recovery apparatus 10 enters the communication pipe 15, passes through the silencer member, and is jetted from the lower end opening into the water in the water tank 11. Then, the jetted steam comes into contact with the cooling water W in the water tank 11 to condense, and is condensed into water. And as rice cooking advances, the amount of water in the water tank 11 gradually increases, and the water level gradually rises. Here, since the water tank lid 13 is provided with a vent hole 14a, air corresponding to the volume of water increased in response to the rise in the water level is discharged to the outside from the vent hole 14a, and steam is recovered during the steam treatment. Steam treatment can be performed without increasing the pressure in the apparatus 10.

And when the rice cooking process proceeds from the rice cooking process and the rice cooking progresses, the amount of steam generated gradually decreases, and when the rice cooking is finished, the inside of the inner pot 3 cools and the pressure decreases.

The amount of steam generated during cooking is different depending on the type of rice, how to cook (hardness, stickiness), menu (rice porridge), etc. In any case, the water temperature in the water tank 11 after cooking is also burned. Since the water capacity in the water tank 11 is set so as not to be, for example, 55 degrees or less, steam treatment can be performed safely. In this way, by treating the steam, it is possible to prevent the steam generated from the inner pot 3 from leaking to the outside, and to prevent an unpleasant increase in humidity during cooking.

As described above, according to the weight detection device of the first embodiment, the main body for setting an object that requires weight measurement, the weight detection element disposed on the bottom of the main body, and the leg that is movable in the vertical direction. And can move up and down integrally with the leg body, has a substantially U-shape in the up and down direction, the upper part extends above the weight detection element, and the lower surface of the upper part faces the upper surface of the weight detection element. The load transmitting member and the lower end are in contact with the lower side of the load transmitting member, the upper end is in contact with the lower surface side of the weight detecting element, and the lower surface side of the upper portion of the load transmitting member is in contact with the upper surface side of the weight detecting element. Provided with a spring for urging the load transmitting member downward and a holding member for simultaneously holding the load transmitting member and the spring, so there is no need for a member for holding the load transmitting member and the spring, and the number of parts is reduced. Therefore, a small weight detection device can be obtained.

Further, the lower spring holding member is formed with a bottomed cylindrical portion having a central axis parallel to the expansion and contraction axis of the spring, a lower portion of the cylindrical portion, and a flange portion having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion, Protruding to the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, and having a convex portion formed with a gap between the lower end and the upper surface of the flange portion, the lower portion of the load transmitting member has a concave portion having a cut size larger than the protruding size of the convex portion. It is a plate part in which a substantially circular hole is provided, with the cylindrical part inserted from below the plate part with the convex part passing through the concave part, and with the lower surface of the plate part in contact with the upper surface of the collar part The holding member holds the load transmitting member by rotating the holding member around the central axis of the cylindrical portion and sandwiching the plate portion in the gap, and the holding member holds the spring by contacting the bottom of the cylindrical portion. As a result, there is no need for a member that holds the load transmission member and the spring, reducing the number of parts. In a small weight sensing device is obtained. Further, the load transmitting member and the spring can be easily held by the holding member while applying a load to the spring.

Moreover, according to the heating cooker of Embodiment 1, since it has a weight detection apparatus and it was made to control heating conditions based on the detection result of the weight of the object set to the main body, according to the amount of rice cooking Appropriate heating conditions can be set to improve cooking performance.

Furthermore, since the heating cooker is a rice cooker and the biasing force of the spring in the initial state is in the range of 2 kgf to 5 kgf, it can be applied to a rice cooker cooked from 3.5 to 5.5 go.

In this embodiment, two movable legs 130 and two strain sensors 121 are used, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, all four legs may be movable legs having a weight detection function.

Further, the fixed leg 30 may be arranged near the approximate center of gravity of the steam recovery device 10 so that the weight measurement of the cooked rice is not affected by the change in the amount of water in the steam recovery device 10.

In this embodiment, the weight of the cooked rice is measured using the strain sensor 121, but a pressure sensor or a capacitance sensor may be used instead.

Moreover, although it described that this invention was applied to the rice cooker provided with the steam recovery tank, you may apply to the normal rice cooker which is not provided with the steam recovery tank.

1 rice cooker, 2 rice cooker body, 2a locked part, 2b heating means, 2c control means, 2d power board, 2e fan, 2f vent, 2g bottom plate, 2h temperature sensor, 3 inner pot, 4 lid, 4a Hinge mechanism, 4b movable locking piece, 4c release button, 4d operation means, 4e display means, 5 inner lid, 6 inner lid seal member, 7 steam outlet, 8 steam conduit outlet, 9 steam conduit seal member, 10 steam recovery Equipment, 11 water tank, 13 water tank lid, 14 steam conduit receptacle, 14a vent, 15 communication tube, 19 lower end opening, 20 steam conduit, W cooling water, W1 water surface, 30, 30a-30c fixed leg, 40 opening , 100 weight detection device, 110 fixing plate, 110a to 110l holes, 111 side plate guide, 112 insulation sheet, 112a to 12d hole, 120 load detection substrate, 120a, 120b, 120c hole, 121 strain sensor (weight detection element), 122 signal amplification means, 123 protective plate, 123a, 123b hole, 124 spacer, 124a cylinder, 124b Part, 125 waterproof cover, 125j to 125l claw part, 130, 130a, 130b movable leg (leg), 131 bottom wall, 132 side wall, 133 flange part, 134, 134a to 134d protrusion part, 135 claw part, 136 notch part , 140 load transmission member, 141 upper plate, 141a tip, 142 side plate, 143 lower plate (plate portion), 143a hole, 143b recess, 150 reinforcement plate, 151 leg guide, 152, 152a-152d hole, 153f ~ 153i Screw boss, 160 170, upper spring holding member, 170a screw boss, 170b pin boss, 170b1 boss, 170b2 pin, 170c hole, 170d pin boss, 171 plate, 172 cylinder, 180 lower spring holding member (holding member), 181 cylinder , 182 collar, 183 convex, 184 gap, 190, 191 screws.

Claims

A body for setting an object requiring weight measurement;
A weight detection element disposed at the bottom of the main body;
Legs that can move up and down,
It is movable in the vertical direction integrally with the leg body, is substantially U-shaped in the vertical direction, the upper part extends above the weight detection element, and the lower surface of the upper part faces the upper surface of the weight detection element A load transmitting member to perform,
The lower end is in contact with the lower side of the load transmission member, the upper end is in contact with the lower surface side of the weight detection element, and the lower surface side of the upper portion of the load transmission member is in contact with the upper surface side of the weight detection element. A spring for urging the load transmitting member downward;
A weight detection apparatus comprising: a holding member that simultaneously holds the load transmission member and the spring.
The holding member is
A bottomed tube portion having a central axis parallel to the expansion and contraction axis of the spring;
A flange part formed continuously to the lower part of the cylinder part, having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cylinder part,
Projecting to the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, and having a convex portion formed with a gap between the lower end and the upper surface of the flange portion,
The lower part of the load transmitting member is a plate part in which a substantially circular hole having a recess having a cut size larger than the protruding dimension of the convex part is formed,
The cylindrical portion is inserted from below the plate portion with the convex portion passing through the concave portion, and the holding member is placed in the center of the cylindrical portion with the lower surface of the plate portion in contact with the upper surface of the flange portion. The holding member holds the load transmitting member by rotating around the shaft and sandwiching the plate portion in the gap,
The weight detection device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member holds the spring when the spring comes into contact with a bottom portion of the cylindrical portion.
A heating cooker having the weight detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating condition is controlled based on a detection result of the weight of an object set in the main body.
The cooking device according to claim 3, wherein the cooking device is a rice cooker having an urging force of the spring in a range of 2 kgf to 5 kgf.