JPH0574365B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention relates to an electric rice cooker.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional electric rice cooker, there was one shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a fragmented sectional view showing the outline of the configuration of a conventional electric rice cooker. In the figure, 1 is a handle 2 is a lid, 3 is a partition plate, 4 is a heat-insulating lid, 5 is an inner pot,
6 is an outer pot, 7 is a heater installed between the inner pot 5 and the outer pot 6, 8 is a heat shield cylinder, 9 is a sensor, 10 is a support frame ring, 11 is an outer case, 12 is a control panel, 13 14 is a code reel, 14 is a menu key, 15 and 16 are timer buttons, 17 is a start button, 18 is a timer display section, and 19 is a lock release button.

The detailed structure of the electric rice cooker is not directly related to this invention, so it will be omitted here, but an eccentrically formed support frame ring 10 is installed on the top surface of the main body, and an outer pot 6 is installed near the inner periphery of the support frame ring 10. and a heat shield cylinder 8 are fixed, and the outer periphery is continuous with the upper end of the outer case 11. Further, a control panel 12 is provided on an eccentric thick wall portion of the support frame ring 10.

Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining the opening/closing operation of the lid 2 when loading and unloading the inner pot 5 and when serving cooked rice in a bowl in a conventional electric rice cooker, as shown in Figure A. Like unlock button 19
Press with your hand to release the lock that fixed the lid 2 and the main body, and open the lid 2 by pulling up the handle 1 around the hinge part 20 to the stopping position.
Furthermore, the opened lid 2 is balanced by its own weight, which is about to fall down, and comes to rest at the position shown in Figure B.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Since the conventional electric rice cooker as described above is configured and operates as described above, there is a problem in that it is difficult to open the lid during use. In other words, when serving the cooked rice in a bowl, one must hold the Yamoji in the right hand and the bowl in the left, so both hands are occupied and the lid must be opened first before serving. Must be. Also, with the lid open,
The lid only remains stationary due to the balance of gravity, so if you accidentally touch the lid while serving food, the balance will be lost and the lid will slam shut, posing the risk of getting your fingers caught and causing injury.

This invention was made to solve this problem, and even if both hands are occupied, the lid can be opened smoothly and automatically by simply pressing the lock release button. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electric rice cooker in which the lid does not suddenly close even if the lid is touched.

[Means to solve the problem]

The electric rice cooker according to the present invention includes a locking mechanism for locking the lid to the main body, and a hinge portion connecting the lid and the main body, and when the lock is released, the lid is automatically rotated by a biasing force. The lid is provided with a biasing member for opening, a braking mechanism for braking the rotation of the lid, and an adjusting member for adjusting the elastic force of the braking mechanism.

[Effect]

This invention includes a locking mechanism for locking the lid to the main body, and a mechanism for automatically rotating and opening the lid by an urging force when the lock is released on the hinge connecting the lid and the main body. Since the lid is equipped with a braking member, a braking mechanism for braking the rotation of the lid, and an adjusting member for adjusting the elastic force of the braking mechanism, the lid can be opened while applying appropriate braking by pressing the lock release button. It can be opened automatically, and even if you accidentally touch an open lid, the lid will not close suddenly.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the general structure of the entire electric rice cooker according to the present invention. Hinge part 2 shown in
0 differs in configuration from the conventional electric rice cooker, and the other parts are the same as the conventional electric rice cooker, so they are omitted in the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 5 indicate the same or equivalent parts. 21 is a spring A built into the lock release button 19; 22 is a latch; an engaging portion integrally formed on the support frame ring 10; A hole is provided in which 10a engages. 23 is a spring B for biasing the latch 22, 24 is a stopper, and 25 is a spring C. The stopper 24 is attached to the support frame ring 10 and is pushed up from below by a spring C25.
The end of the latch 22 is pushed upward to securely fix the hole provided in the latch 22 and the engaging part 10a. Reference numeral 26 denotes a holding plate for the stopper 24, which constitutes a locking mechanism.

Also, 27 is a lid bearing, 28 is a twist spring D, 29
2 is a reinforcing plate A, 32 is a rotary cylinder, and 34 is a compression spring E, which constitute the hinge portion 20. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing in detail the structure of the lock mechanism shown in FIG. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate the same parts, and the broken line 22' indicates the position to which the latch 22 moves.

Further, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of each part assembling the hinge part 20 shown in FIG. 1, where the same reference numerals as in FIG. fixed part,
30 is a reinforcing plate B, 31 is a detent hole 33 into which the fixed part 28b provided on the support frame ring 10 is fitted, is a support frame bearing, 35 is a sliding head provided on a compression spring E34, and 36 is a sliding head provided on a compression spring E34. A cylindrical hole on the support frame ring 10 into which the compression spring E34 is inserted, 38 a sliding surface provided on the lid bearing 27, 39 a rotating shaft, and 40 a cover. 42 is a washer and compression spring E
It is located below 34. Reference numeral 43 is used to change the elastic force of the compression spring E34 inserted into the cylindrical hole 38 by changing the length of the compression spring E34 using an adjustment screw, thereby adjusting the elastic force to an appropriate value.

The lid bearing 27 is provided on the hinge portion 20 inside the lid 2, and twist springs D28 are attached to both sides thereof. This twisting spring D28 has an arm portion 28a that lifts up the lid 2 with its elastic force, and a hole 3 for preventing rotation.
1, and a fixed part 28b inserted into the arm part 28a of the twisting spring D28 and the fixed part 28.
A reinforcing plate A and a support frame ring 10 are installed inside the lid 2 to prevent the material b from directly contacting the resin and causing deformation.
A reinforcing plate B30 is attached to. The rotating cylinder 32 is mounted inside the torsion spring D28, and a supporting frame bearing 33 is formed integrally with the supporting frame ring 10, and a rotating shaft 39 passes through the center thereof. The compression spring E34 has a sliding head 35 molded from plastic on its upper part, and is inserted into a cylindrical hole 36 formed on the support frame ring 10. It is in contact with an involute-shaped sliding surface 38 formed on the surface. Further, the cover 40 is attached after the assembly is completed to prevent the rotary shaft 39 from coming off.

Next, the operation will be explained. When rice is cooked and served in a bowl in the electric rice cooker configured as described above, by pressing the lock release button 19, the latch 22 rotates as shown in FIG. Engaging portion 10 that was engaged
a is released and the latch 22 moves to the position indicated by the broken line 22'. When this latch 22 rotates, the spring C
The stopper 24 is pushed up by the elastic force of 25, fixing the latch 22 at the position indicated by the broken line 22', and even if you release your finger from the lock release button 19, the latch 22 remains
The lock is released without returning to the original position.

When the lock is released, the lid 2 rotates about the rotating shaft 39 and opens due to the elastic force of the twisting spring D28, and stops at a position where the opening angle is 90° to 95°.

The opening speed of the lid 2 is determined by the sliding head 35 pushed up by the compression spring E34 and the sliding surface 3 so that there is no danger.
Brake is applied and adjusted by friction with 8. That is, if the lid 2 is rotated as it is by the elastic force of the torsion spring D28, the opening speed of the lid 2 will increase in terms of acceleration, so this is adjusted to ensure smooth movement. Furthermore, since the elastic force of the compression spring E can be appropriately adjusted using the adjustment screw 43, the lid 2 can be opened automatically and smoothly.

FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining the operation for adjusting the opening speed of the lid 2. In the figure, A indicates the opening speed of the lid 2.
C indicates the position of the sliding surface 38 of the lid bearing 27 and the sliding head 35 when the lid 2 has started to open, and B indicates the position of the sliding head 35 of the lid bearing 27 when the lid 2 has almost finished opening. 3 is a diagram showing the positions of a moving surface 38 and a sliding head 35. FIG. As shown in the figure, the sliding head 35 is moved against the sliding surface 3 of the lid bearing 27 by the elastic force of the compression spring E34.
8 to apply a brake to the rotation of the lid bearing 27, but this braking force is applied to the surface of the support frame ring 10 and the sliding force when the lid 2 starts to open, that is, in the state shown in Figure C. It is weak because there is a distance H between it and the surface 38, and as the lid 2 is opened, this distance gradually becomes smaller, so the braking force gradually becomes stronger, and the brake force increases as the opening speed of the lid 2 accelerates. I am trying to erase it so that the opening/closing operation is smooth.

If this is shown by the force relationship of each spring, when the lid 2 starts to open, the twisting spring D28>the compression spring E3
4, and when the lid 2 is fully opened, the twisting spring D28<compression spring E34. Even if this relationship were to be disrupted due to manufacturing variations in the springs, this balance would be maintained because the adjustment screw 43 that changes the length of the compression spring E34 is provided. Even if you accidentally touch the lid 2 while the lid is open, it will no longer close suddenly, and when you want to close the lid 2, just press the lid 2 with your hand and return it to its original position, and it will lock automatically. Become.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, this invention allows you to automatically open the lid while applying proper braking by pressing the lock release button, and also prevents the lid from suddenly closing even if you accidentally touch the open lid. effective.

In addition, an adjustment means is provided to adjust the elastic force of the braking mechanism, so if the elastic force of the spring of the braking mechanism becomes weak due to lid opening/closing operations, or after setting the braking mechanism, fine adjustment of the elastic force is necessary. You can obtain elasticity as needed when the material becomes worn out.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the general structure of the entire electric rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing the detailed structure of the lock mechanism, and Fig. 3 shows the structure of the hinge part. Exploded perspective view, Figure 4 A, B,
C and D are diagrams explaining the operation for adjusting the opening speed of the lid, Figure 5 is a broken cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional electric rice cooker, and Figures 6 A and B are the lid of a conventional electric rice cooker. It is a figure for explaining the opening and closing operation of. In the figure, 2 is a lid, 5 is an inner pot, 7 is a heater,
10 is a support frame ring, 11 is an outer case, 19 is a lock release button, 20 is a hinge portion, 28 is a torsion spring, 32 is a rotary cylinder, 34 is a braking mechanism, and 43 is an adjustment member. Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A main body including an outer case in which a heater for heating an inner pot is provided and a storage section for accommodating the inner pot; a support frame connected to the outer case and near the inner periphery to which the outer pot is fixed; a lid that covers the opening of the inner pot by engaging with the support frame; a lid formed on the lid that responds to opening and closing of the lid; a locking mechanism for locking the lid in a closed state; a lock release operation section for releasing the locking mechanism; a hinge part that rotatably supports the lid; a biasing member that biases the lid in the opening direction; In response to changes,
An electric rice cooker comprising: a braking mechanism that uses elastic force to control the biasing force of the biasing member in the lid-opening direction; and an adjusting means that makes it possible to adjust the elastic force of the braking mechanism. 2. The braking mechanism includes a sliding surface formed on the circumferential surface of the lid bearing, and a sliding head formed with a friction surface that comes into contact with the sliding surface and exerts a frictional force against rotation of the lid; The friction surface of the sliding head is provided with a compression spring that contacts the sliding surface, and the change in the contact portion between the sliding surface and the sliding head based on the rotation of the lid bearing is controlled by the rotation of the lid. Claim 1, characterized in that the amount of compression of the compression spring increases as the rotation angle increases when the rotation angle is within a range of 0° to 90°. electric rice cooker.