JP7004910B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rice cooker provided with a main body and a lid body that can be opened and closed attached to the main body.

The conventional technique is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. In the rice cooker described in the same document, the operation panel of the lid (“operation panel portion” in the same document) is provided with an operation switch (“switch” in the same document), and the storage chamber inside the lid (the same document). The "panel accommodating portion") is provided with an electronic substrate ("operation substrate" in the same document) and a desiccant arranging portion for arranging the desiccant.

The desiccant is provided to protect the electronic substrate and the like from the humidity by absorbing the moisture in the storage chamber.

Japanese Patent No. 6129782

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, since the desiccant is placed in a place that is easily affected by the heat of the cooked rice during cooking and the heat of the lid heater during heat retention, the desiccant is easily deteriorated by heat and dried. The hygroscopic performance of the agent is likely to deteriorate. Further, since the lower surface side of the desiccant is shielded, air may stay below the desiccant, and sufficient moisture absorption may not be performed on the lower surface portion of the desiccant.

In view of the above circumstances, there has been a demand for a rice cooker capable of suitably absorbing moisture with a desiccant in a storage chamber for accommodating an electronic substrate in a lid.

The rice cooker of the present invention
With the main body
A lid body that can be opened and closed is provided on the main body.
The operation panel of the lid is provided with an operation switch.
An accommodation chamber inside the lid is provided with an electronic board and a switch spacer located above the electronic board to support the operation switch.
The switch spacer is provided with a holding portion for holding the desiccant.
The holding portion is provided so as to penetrate the switch spacer.

In the present invention, the desiccant has an influence of heat because the electronic substrate is interposed between the desiccant and the heat source that generates the heat of the food to be cooked during rice cooking and the heat of the lid heater during heat retention. It becomes difficult to receive. Therefore, deterioration of the desiccant due to heat is unlikely to occur, and deterioration of the hygroscopic performance of the desiccant can be effectively suppressed. Moreover, by utilizing the switch spacer that supports the operation switch and holding the desiccant in the holding portion that penetrates the switch spacer, both the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the desiccant are opened, so that the desiccant Sufficient moisture absorption performance can be exhibited on the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the above.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to configure a rice cooker capable of suitably absorbing moisture with a desiccant in a storage chamber for accommodating an electronic substrate in a lid.

In the above configuration
It is preferable that the holding portion is provided with a positioning rib for positioning the desiccant in a state where a gap space is provided between the holding portion and the vertical wall constituting the holding portion.

According to this configuration, by opening the side surface of the desiccant, moisture absorption can be suitably performed on the side surface portion of the desiccant. That is, by ensuring a large surface area where the desiccant comes into contact with air, the hygroscopic performance inherent in the desiccant can be sufficiently brought out.

In the above configuration
It is preferable that a shelf portion is provided close to the positioning rib to support the desiccant from below.

According to this configuration, the minimum portion of the lower surface of the desiccant is supported by the shelf portion, and the portion other than the portion where the shelf portion is provided is open, so that the area where the lower surface of the desiccant is blocked is minimized. Can be suppressed to.

In the above configuration
The operation panel is provided with a transparent window portion forming a part of the accommodation chamber.
It is preferable that the storage chamber is provided with a display device located directly below the transparent window portion.

According to this configuration, since the display device is provided in a space where moisture absorption is preferably performed by the desiccant, the display device is less likely to have a problem due to moisture. Further, since the desiccant sufficiently absorbs moisture inside the transparent window portion, the inner surface of the transparent window portion is less likely to be fogged due to dew condensation, and the information displayed on the display device through the transparent window portion is less likely to be difficult to see. Become. The term "transparent" here naturally includes translucency.

It is a perspective view which shows the rice cooker. It is an exploded perspective view of a lid body. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, which is a side view schematically showing the inside of the lid. It is a top view schematically showing the periphery of a specific holding part. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the holding part. It is a top view which shows the holding part in a state where a desiccant is installed. It is a top view schematically showing the holding part of another embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the side view which shows typically the holding part of another embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments that are an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the rice cooker includes a main body 9 having an inner pot (not shown) and a lid 10 attached to the main body 9 so as to be openable and closable.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the upper surface of the lid 10 is provided with an operation panel 12 capable of displaying and inputting various information. The operation panel 12 is provided with a transparent window portion 14, a plurality of operation switches 16 capable of performing various operation inputs, and the like. The transparent window portion 14 forms a part of the upper surface of the storage chamber 18.

The storage chamber 18 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is located above an inner lid (not shown) provided with a lid heater. A closed storage chamber 18 is provided inside the lid 10. The peripheral edge 18a of the accommodation chamber 18 is shielded by packing or the like and is maintained in a substantially airtight state with the operation panel 12.

In the accommodation chamber 18 inside the lid 10, information such as an electronic board 20 on which a microcomputer or the like is mounted, a switch spacer 22 located above the electronic board 20 and supporting an operation switch 16, a liquid crystal panel, and the like can be displayed. A display device 13 and the like are provided. The display device 13 is located directly below the transparent window portion 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic substrate 20 is fixed by a support rod 18r provided on the bottom surface 18b of the accommodation chamber 18. That is, the electronic substrate 20 is fixed in a floating state from the bottom surface 18b of the accommodation chamber 18. The electronic board 20 is controlled to execute a command instructed by the operation panel 12 and to display the state and time of the rice cooker through the transparent window portion 14 (not shown) or an operation switch. A push switch 20s or the like that receives the pressure from 16 is mounted.

The switch spacer 22 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and the like is a spacer interposed between the operation panel 12 and the electronic board 20. The operation panel 12 is arranged directly above the switch spacer 22. An operation switch 16 is arranged directly above the switch cover 22s of the switch spacer 22.

The switch spacer 22 also functions as a cover for covering the electronic substrate 20. The surface 22a of the switch spacer 22 is fixed so as to be located above the electronic substrate 20. The surface 22a of the switch spacer 22 is provided with a switch cover 22s to which the tip of the push switch 20s arranged on the electronic substrate 20 is in contact.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch cover 22s is cantileveredly supported by the surface 22a of the switch spacer 22. Therefore, when the switch cover 22s is pressed by the operation of the operation switch 16, the push switch 20s on the electronic board 20 is also pressed in conjunction with it. Further, the display device 13 may be fixed to the switch spacer 22.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the switch spacer 22 is provided with a plurality of holding portions 23 for holding the desiccant 30. Each holding portion 23 is provided so as to penetrate the switch spacer 22. Each holding portion 23 is provided with a plurality of positioning ribs 25 for positioning the desiccant 30 and a plurality of shelves 24 for supporting the desiccant 30 from below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower end portion of the holding portion 23 is separated from the electronic substrate 20 in the height direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the holding portion 23 forms a through hole 22h by combining a plurality of (for example, four) vertical walls 22hp. That is, the through hole 22h has a cylindrical shape covered with a plurality of vertical walls 22hp. In other words, a vertical wall 22hp extends downward from the edge 22ha of each side of the through hole 22h. In the present embodiment, the through hole 22h has a rectangular three-dimensional shape having a square cross section (rectangular cross section) when viewed from above.

As shown in FIG. 6, the through hole 22h is formed larger than the desiccant 30. The through hole 22h has a substantially square shape having a larger cross-sectional area than the desiccant 30. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and the like, the upper surface of the through hole 22h is open. The lower surface of the through hole 22h is open. The through hole 22h has a shape in which the cross-sectional area increases from the upper side to the lower side. The depth 22hd of the through hole 22h may be a depth that can accommodate the desiccant 30.

As shown in FIG. 6, the desiccant 30 has a rectangular three-dimensional shape having a square cross section (rectangular cross section) when viewed from above. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the desiccant 30 is fitted into the holding portion 23 from above and held.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, each positioning rib 25 projects from a corner of the vertical wall 22hp toward the inside of the through hole 22h. Each positioning rib 25 is provided at a portion deviated on one side of the corresponding vertical wall 22hp. As shown in FIG. 6, each positioning rib 25 positions the desiccant 30 in a state where a gap space S is provided between the positioning rib 25 and the vertical wall 22hp constituting the holding portion 23. The positioning rib 25 has a shape in which the cross-sectional area increases from the upper side to the lower side. The desiccant 30 is held by each positioning rib 25 projecting from the vertical wall 22hp in a state where a gap space S is provided between the desiccant 30 and the vertical wall 22hp.

As shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the shelf portion 24 is formed at a position close to the positioning rib 25 and supports the desiccant 30 from below. The shelf 24 is integrally formed with the corresponding positioning rib 25. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the desiccant 30 is supported by a shelf portion 24 having a flat surface portion provided in the lower corner of the vertical wall 22hp of the holding portion 23.

As shown in FIG. 6, the desiccant 30 is held in the holding portion 23 in an inclined posture so that each side is at an angle with the corresponding side of the vertical wall 22hp in the top view. Each lower corner of the desiccant 30 is supported from below by the corresponding shelf 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, the desiccant 30 is arranged away from the bottom surface 18b of the storage chamber 18 in the height direction via the electronic substrate 20. The bottom surface 18b of the storage chamber 18 is located at a position where the back surface faces the inner lid of the rice cooker, and the temperature tends to rise due to heat H during rice cooking or heat retention. However, since the electronic substrate 20 is separated from the bottom surface 18b of the accommodation chamber 18 in the height direction, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the electronic substrate 20 to some extent, and the moisture absorbed by the electronic substrate 20 is released by the heat H. Can be suppressed. Further, since the electronic substrate 20 and the desiccant 30 are also separated in the height direction, the influence of heat H on the desiccant 30 is less likely to be exerted, the temperature rise of the desiccant 30 is suppressed, and the cooked rice being cooked is being cooked. It is possible to prevent the moisture absorption performance from being deteriorated due to deterioration due to heat H such as from the lid heater during heat retention.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the desiccant 30 is supported by the shelf portion 24 provided in the lower corner of the vertical wall 22hp of the holding portion 23. Further, all the sides of the desiccant 30 are exposed to the air in the storage chamber 18. Further, the through hole 22h is open both above and below. That is, all six surfaces of the desiccant 30 are exposed to the air in the storage chamber 18. Therefore, the hygroscopic performance of the desiccant 30 is not suppressed, and the hygroscopic performance inherent in the desiccant 30 can be maximized.

As described above, since the structure is such that the hygroscopic performance of the desiccant 30 is unlikely to deteriorate and the original hygroscopic performance of the desiccant 30 can be maximized, the dehumidification of the storage chamber 18 is preferably performed. As a result, electronic devices such as the electronic substrate 20 and the display device 13 housed in the storage chamber 18 are less likely to be exposed to moisture, and the display device 13 is affected by dew condensation on the inner surface of the transparent window portion 14 which is a part of the storage chamber 18. It is less likely that the displayed information will be difficult to read from the outside.

Hereinafter, other embodiments in which the above embodiments have been modified will be illustrated. Each embodiment can be appropriately combined as long as there is no contradiction. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents shown in each embodiment.

(1) In the above embodiment, the positioning rib 25 is provided at a portion unevenly provided on one side of the side of the vertical wall 22hp forming the through hole 22h having a rectangular cross section, but the present invention is limited to this. I can't. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the positioning rib 25 may be provided on the center side of the side of the vertical wall 22hp forming the through hole 22h having a rectangular cross section.

(2) In the above embodiment, the size of the desiccant 30 is larger than the size of the through hole 22h of the holding portion 23, but the size is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the desiccant 30 whose upper cross section is larger than the cross section of the through hole 22h may be inserted into the through hole 22h of the holding portion 23. Even in this case, the desiccant 30 can be exposed to air on all six surfaces, and the hygroscopic performance of the desiccant 30 can be effectively utilized.

(3) In the above embodiment, the positioning rib 25 and the shelf portion 24 are arranged close to each other, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the positioning rib 25 and the shelf portion 24 may be arranged apart from each other.

(4) In the above embodiment, a gap space S is provided by a positioning rib 25 between the side surface of the desiccant 30 and the vertical wall 22hp constituting the holding portion 23, but the present invention is limited to this. I can't. For example, the positioning rib 25 may not be provided, and the side surface of the desiccant 30 and the vertical wall 22hp may be substantially in close contact with each other.

(5) In the above embodiment, the holding portion 23 is provided with a shelf portion 24 for supporting the desiccant 30 from below, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the shelf portion 24, the holding portion 23 may be provided with a locking portion that hooks and supports the side surface of the desiccant 30.

(6) In the above embodiment, the operation panel 12 of the lid 10 is provided with the transparent window portion 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation panel 12 of the lid 10 may not be provided with the transparent window portion 14.

(7) In the above embodiment, the desiccant 30 is a cube (rectangular solid), but the present invention is not limited to this. Various shapes of the desiccant 30 can be considered. For example, the desiccant 30 may have a disk shape, a triangular cross section, or a polygonal cross section. In this case, the shape of the through hole 22h may be the same as the shape of the desiccant 30. Further, the shape, arrangement mode, and number of the positioning rib 25 and the shelf portion 24 can be appropriately set according to the shape and size of the desiccant 30.

The rice cooker according to the present invention can be suitably used for a rice cooker of a type in which an operation panel is arranged on the upper surface of a lid.

9: Main body 10: Cover body 12: Operation panel 13: Display device 14: Transparent window part 16: Operation switch 18: Storage chamber 20: Electronic board 22: Switch spacer 22hp: Vertical wall 23: Holding part 24: Shelf part 25: Positioning rib 30: Drying agent S: Gap space

Claims (4)

With the main body
A lid body that can be opened and closed is provided on the main body.
The operation panel of the lid is provided with an operation switch.
An accommodation chamber inside the lid is provided with an electronic board and a switch spacer located above the electronic board to support the operation switch.
The switch spacer is provided with a holding portion for holding the desiccant.
A rice cooker in which the holding portion is provided so as to penetrate the switch spacer. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is provided with a positioning rib for positioning the desiccant in a state where a gap space is provided between the holding portion and the vertical wall constituting the holding portion. The rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein a shelf portion is provided that is arranged close to the positioning rib and supports the desiccant from below. The operation panel is provided with a transparent window portion forming a part of the accommodation chamber.
The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage chamber is provided with a display device located directly below the transparent window portion.

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