JP2799112B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an insulated rice cooker for keeping cooked rice after cooking, and more particularly to a ceramic heater cooker in which an inner pot is formed of a ceramic heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Insulated rice cookers cook rice by heating the bottom of an aluminum inner pan with a hot plate in which a heater is embedded.
In general, a structure in which heat is kept by a heat heater disposed on the side and / or bottom of the inner pot is used. (For example, actual fairness 2
Further, an electromagnetic rice cooker in which an induction heating coil directly heats the bottom of a magnetic material, for example, an iron inner pot, has been commercialized and attracted attention.

On the other hand, in recent years, the effect of far-infrared rays has been attracting attention in the field of cooking, and in order to cook the whole rice from the inside plumply, the inner pot is formed of a ceramic material having a large amount of far-infrared rays and is made of metal. A rice cooker having an outer surface covered with a protective layer has been proposed. (June 1-5952
(See No. 8)

[0004]

The above-mentioned insulated rice cooker has a structure in which the inner pot is partially heated to cook rice and keep warm, whether it is hot plate heating or electromagnetic induction heating. There was a limit to the improvement of rice cooking and heat retention performance.

[0005] On the other hand, the rice cooker disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-59528 has a heating source of a gas stove, but has a structure in which the inner pot is partially heated to cook and heat the rice. The same can be said for improvement. or,
Both the former and the latter require a heat source device (in the case of electromagnetic induction heating, an electromagnetic induction heating coil is required) separately from the inner pot, and the space in which the heat source device is disposed is a factor that reduces the volumetric efficiency of the rice cooker.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a rice cooker main body, an inner pot accommodated in the rice cooker main body , a lid for opening and closing the rice cooker main body, and a lid therefor To
A rice cooker having an inner lid attached and covering the inner pan.
And forming the inner pan with a ceramic heater,
A power supply circuit for supplying power to the ceramic heater of the inner pot;
A first power receiving terminal formed in the bottom recess of the first power receiving terminal;
A first power supply terminal in contact with the terminal, and a back surface of the inner pot opening edge
A second power receiving terminal formed on the second power receiving terminal, and contact with the second power receiving terminal
And a second power supply terminal .

[0007] In the rice cooker, a lid switch for shutting off a power supply circuit when the lid is opened is provided.

Further, the rice cooker is provided with an inner pot detection switch for shutting off a power supply circuit when the inner pot is taken out.

[0009] Further, in the above rice cooker, the inner pot heat
The heater resistance is measured, and the heater resistance is measured based on the measured heater resistance.
Control means for controlling the energization of the motor.

[0010]

[Action] cell Uchinabe itself formed by Ramikkuhita becomes a heat source by self-heating, a large amount of far infrared rays so as to wrap the hand material (US) in the inner pot from the inner pot is emitted. Further , when the lid is opened, the circuit for supplying power to the ceramic heater is shut off by the lid switch, and the receiving / supplying terminal (exposed energized portion) of the ceramic heater enters a power outage state (inactive state).

Further, when the inner pan is taken out, the circuit for supplying power to the ceramic heater is shut off by the inner pan detecting switch, and a receiving / supplying terminal (exposed conducting section) of the ceramic heater is provided.
Becomes a power failure state (inactive power state).

Further, the temperature of the whole inner pot is detected by measuring the resistance value of the ceramic heater, and the heater energization control of the rice cooking operation and the heat retention operation is performed based on the resistance value (temperature).

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a rice cooker showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a basic electric circuit diagram of the rice cooker. The insulated rice cooker is roughly divided into an outer pan 1, an outer lid 2, an inner lid 3, an inner pan 4, and the like.

The outer pan 1 has an inner wall 1a and an outer wall 1b made of a metal such as stainless steel connected to each other to form a double wall 1a,
The heat insulating material 5 is loaded between 1b. On the inner bottom surface, a protruding support portion 1c for supporting the inner pan 4 at three points is formed by bulging the inner wall 1a, and the inner protruding support portion 1c is in close contact with the inner pan outer bottom surface. A temperature sensor 6 for sensing the temperature at the bottom of the inner pan 4 is built in. In addition, an impact buffer 7 made of a heat-resistant elastic material such as silicon rubber is provided on the protruding support portion 1c to reduce the impact on the temperature sensor 6 and the inner pan 4 that are applied when the inner pan 4 is stored.

On the other hand, a plurality of legs 8 and a cord reel 9 are mounted on the outer bottom surface, and an operation panel 10 is provided on the outer side surface. The operation panel 10 responds to signals from the temperature sensor 6 and various sensors, and
And control components for controlling the energization of the ceramic heater to execute the rice cooking and warming operation, and display components such as light emitting diodes.

The outer lid 2, like the outer pan 1, is formed by connecting an inner wall plate 2a made of a metal such as stainless steel and an outer wall plate 2b and loading a heat insulating material 11 between the two wall plates 2a and 2b. The upper surface has a handle 12. The outer lid 2 having such a structure is rotatably supported by a hinge 13 fixed to the upper end of the side surface of the outer pan 1 with a shaft 14.
The closed state is held by engagement of a latch lever (not shown) and a latch hook,
The latch can be released by releasing the engagement between the latch lever and the latch hook by operating a latch button (not shown). An outer packing 2 having elasticity such as silicone rubber is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the outer lid 2 over the entire circumference. The packing 15 seals the space between the outer lid 1 and the upper end. Further, the outer lid 2 has a hanging rod 16 protruding at the center on the inner surface side, and a through hole 17 is provided at a position deviated from the center.
And an elastic packing 18 such as silicone rubber is provided on the inner periphery thereof.

The inner lid 3 is made of metal such as aluminum, and is removably fitted and supported by the hanging rod 16 with an elastic packing 19 such as silicone rubber. The opening of the pot 4 is closed, and the inner lid 3 and the flange of the inner pot 4 are brought into a heat conducting state. The inner lid 3 has a steam valve 20 on the upper surface, and the steam valve 20 is inserted through the through hole 17 of the outer lid 2. A gap generated between the through hole 17 and the steam valve 20 is a packing 18. Sealed.

The inner pot 4 comprises a ceramic heater which is formed by molding a material obtained by mixing a conductive material with ceramic having a large amount of far-infrared radiation and firing at a required temperature. In this embodiment, the specific resistance is changed by changing the mixing ratio of metallic silicon and silicon carbide (the specific resistance increases when the amount of silicon carbide is small). A ceramic heater was made. In addition, a fluorine resin is applied to the inner surface of the inner pan 4 to insulate the heater and prevent cooked rice from sticking. On the other hand, on the outer surface of the inner pan 4, power receiving terminals (aluminum plates) 4a and 4b of a ceramic heater are provided on the entire periphery of the lower surface of the flange and the center of the lower surface of the bottom, and a power supply terminal ( It is configured to receive heat from the elastic terminals (21a and 21b which are formed by bending a phosphor bronze plate) and generate heat.

When the outer lid 2 is opened and the inner pan 4 is detached from the outer pan 1, power is supplied to the power supply terminals 21a and 21b, and it is dangerous to be in a live state. In order to cut off the power supply to the power supply terminals 21a and 21b, an outer cover switch 22 whose contact is turned off is provided on the flange portion of the inner wall body 1a.
An inner pot detection switch 23 whose contact is turned off in order to cut off the power supply to 1b is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the inner wall 1a.

The rice cooker having the above configuration has a basic electric circuit shown in FIG. 2, and the ceramic heater (inner pot) 4 is energized and controlled by a microcomputer control circuit 24 housed in the operation panel 10 to cook rice and keep warm. I do. The control of the rice cooking and heat keeping operation controls the energization of the ceramic heater 4 based on the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 6 and the temperature information of the entire inner pan 4 detected by measuring the resistance value of the ceramic heater 4. This is done by: The resistance value of the ceramic heater 4 is measured by the control circuit 24 by interrupting the contacts 25a and 25b of the relay 25 at predetermined time intervals, and the measured resistance value is obtained by an experiment in advance and stored in the memory. The temperature is converted into the temperature of the entire inner pan 4 based on the temperature data table, and becomes temperature information.

The outer lid 2 is opened and the outer lid switch 22 is opened.
Is turned off, an OFF signal is output to the relay 25, the contacts 25a and 25b are turned off, and the power supply terminals 21a and 2
1b is lost in an active state and is in an electrically safe state.
When the inner pan 4 is further removed, the inner pan detection switch 23 is turned off.
Since the same operation is performed, double safety measures are taken for the contact failure between the switches 22 and 23. Incidentally, reference numeral 26 shown in FIG. 2 is a current fuse for ensuring safety of the rice cooker.

[0022] By the cooker of the configuration, the heat source Uchinabe 4 itself formed in degrees La <br/> Mikkuhita is self-heated, the material of the inner bowl 4 from the inner pot 4 (US) a large amount of far infrared rays so as to wrap it emitted for the entire rice can be increased plump and evenly cook the inside by the far infrared. In addition, the heat efficiency due to the self-heating of the inner pot 4 and the heating effect from the inside due to the far-infrared rays can reduce the time required for cooking rice and the power consumption associated therewith.

Further, since a space for disposing a heat source is not required, a compact rice cooker can be obtained, and the heat of the inner pan 4 can be effectively transmitted to the inner lid 3. In addition to being unnecessary, cost can be reduced, and heat retention performance is good and a deodorizing effect can be expected. Further, when the outer lid 2 is opened, the circuit for supplying power to the ceramic heater 4 is shut off by the outer lid switch 22, and the receiving / power supply terminal (exposed energized portion) of the ceramic heater 4 is in a power outage state (inactive state). When the inner pan 4 is taken out, the circuit for supplying power to the ceramic heater 4 is cut off by the inner pan detection switch 23, so that electrical safety is ensured. In addition, it is possible to eliminate electricity supply without a pot.

Further, the temperature of the entire inner pan 4 is detected by measuring the resistance value of the ceramic heater 4 and the heater energization control of the rice cooking operation and the warming operation is performed based on the resistance value (temperature).・ Insulation performance is improved.

[0025]

According to the present invention as described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a compact cooker with a reduced installation space of the heat source, it is possible to increase plump and evenly cook the entire rice from the inside, and the inner The heat efficiency due to the self-heating of the pot and the heating effect from the inside due to the far-infrared rays can reduce the time required for cooking rice and the power consumption associated therewith. Vertical direction between the first power receiving terminal and the second power receiving terminal
Of the inner pot is wet
Short between the first power receiving terminal and the second power receiving terminal.
The possibility of entanglement can be reduced, and safety is improved. In addition, inner pot
The first power receiving terminal even if the
Also, the possibility that the second power receiving terminal is damaged is low. Further, when the lid is opened or the inner pot is taken out, the power supply circuit to the ceramic heater is cut off, and the exposed energized portion is in a blackout state, so that an electrically safe rice cooker can be provided.

Furthermore, since the heater energization control for the rice cooking operation and the heat retention operation is performed based on the temperature of the entire inner pot, the rice cooking and heat retention performance is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a basic electric circuit diagram of the rice cooker of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 outer pan (rice cooker main body) 2 outer lid (lid) 3 inner lid 4 inner pan (ceramic heater) 21a, 21b power supply terminal (power supply circuit) 22 outer lid switch (lid switch) 23 inner pan detection switch 24 control Circuit (control means)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rice cooker main body, an inner pot housed in the rice cooker main body, and a lid that covers the rice cooker main body in an openable and closable manner .
An inner lid attached to the lid and covering the inner pan
In a rice cooker, the inner pan is formed with a ceramic heater, and the inner pan is
A power supply circuit for supplying power to the ceramic heater
A first power receiving terminal formed in the recess, and the first power receiving terminal;
A first power supply terminal to contact and formed on the back surface of the inner pot opening edge
And a second power receiving terminal that contacts the second power receiving terminal.
A rice cooker characterized by comprising two power supply terminals . 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising a lid switch for shutting off a power supply circuit when the lid is opened. 3. The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising an inner pot detection switch for shutting off a power supply circuit when the inner pot is taken out. 4. The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising control means for measuring a heater resistance value of the inner pot and controlling heater energization based on the measured heater resistance value. Characterized rice cooker.