JP7733562B2 - heating cooker - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a cooking device equipped with a stirring unit that stirs ingredients. The stirring unit stirs the ingredients being cooked. By stirring the ingredients, the cooking device of Patent Document 1 prevents the heated ingredients from boiling over to the outside.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-226203

The food stirring function of the cooking device described above is intended to prevent food from boiling over outside the cooking device, but it also contributes to evenly heating the food stored in the cooking device. The cooking device described in Patent Document 1 is able to evenly stir the food to heat it evenly, but there is room for improvement in the structure to stir the food with even less unevenness.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a cooking device that can mix ingredients evenly.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a cooking appliance comprises a cooking appliance body, an inner pot, a lid, and a stirring unit. The cooking appliance body has a first opening that leads to a first interior. The inner pot is housed in the cooking appliance body through the first opening. The lid covers the inner pot. The stirring unit is rotatably supported on the lid on the inner pot side. The stirring unit stirs ingredients. The stirring unit rotates around a central axis that extends in a direction intersecting with the lid. The inner pot has a second opening that leads to a second interior. The inner pot is configured to be able to move ingredients in and out through the second opening. The stirring unit comprises a unit body, a first arm, and a second arm. When the lid is on the inner pot, the unit body rotates around a central axis that extends in a direction intersecting with the lid. The first arm is supported by the unit body so that a portion of it is submerged in the ingredients contained in the inner pot. The first arm stirs the ingredients as the unit body rotates. The second arm is partially submerged in the ingredients contained in the inner pot and is supported by the unit body at a second angle different from the first angle of the first arm relative to the unit body. The second arm stirs the ingredients as the unit body rotates.

In the cooking device of the present invention, the second arm stirs the ingredients along a different trajectory from the first arm, which reduces uneven stirring of the ingredients compared to when the first and second arms stir the ingredients along the same trajectory.

1 is a perspective view showing a cooking device according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a side view showing the lid body and the stirring unit of the cooking device according to the embodiment, and is a view showing a cross section of the lid body. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the stirring unit of the cooking device according to the embodiment, and is a view partially showing the inside of the stirring unit. 2 is a diagram showing a lid and a stirring unit of the cooking device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a first arm in a state where it is arranged in a first storage position and a second arm in a state where it is arranged in a second storage position in the cooking device according to the embodiment; 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a first arm in the middle of moving from a first storage position to a first stirring position, and a second arm in the middle of moving from a second storage position to a second stirring position in the cooking device according to the embodiment; 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a first arm positioned at a first stirring position and a second arm positioned at a second stirring position stir ingredients in a cooking device according to an embodiment. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Note that identical or equivalent parts in the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described repeatedly.

A cooking appliance 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the cooking appliance 1 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a side view showing the lid body 4 and the stirring unit 5 of the cooking appliance 1 according to an embodiment, and is a diagram showing a cross section of the lid body 41. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the stirring unit 5 of the cooking appliance 1 according to an embodiment, and is a diagram showing a portion of the interior of the stirring unit 5. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the lid body 4 and the stirring unit 5 of the cooking appliance 1 according to an embodiment.

The cooking appliance 1 has a heating function and a stirring function. The heating function is a function for heating food F placed inside. The stirring function is a function for stirring food F placed inside the cooking appliance 1. The cooking appliance 1, which combines a heating function and a stirring function, can stir food F while heating it. As a result, the cooking appliance 1 can heat food F evenly. The cooking appliance 1 is, for example, an electric pot or rice cooker equipped with a unit that can stir food F.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cooking appliance 1 comprises a cooking appliance main body 2, an inner pot 3, a lid 4, and a stirring unit 5. The inner pot 3 is housed in the cooking appliance main body 2. The lid 4 is attached to the cooking appliance main body 2 so as to cover the cooking appliance main body 2 including the inner pot 3. The stirring unit 5 is attached to the inner pot 3 side of the lid 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cooker body 2 has a wide-mouthed, deep-bottomed container shape. The cooker body 2 has a cooker body top surface 23 that faces the lid 4 when the lid is closed. The cooker body top surface 23 has a first opening 2B that leads to the first interior 2A of the cooker body 2. The first opening 2B is, for example, approximately circular. The first interior 2A is, for example, approximately cylindrical in shape with its axis passing through the center of the first opening 2B. The first interior 2A is a space for accommodating the inner pot 3. A heating unit (not shown) that heats the inner pot 3 is provided in the first interior 2A.

As described above, the inner pot 3 is a pot housed in the first interior 2A of the cooking appliance body 2. The inner pot 3 is shaped to fit the wall surface (not shown) that contacts the first interior 2A of the cooking appliance body 2. The inner pot 3 has a second opening 3B that leads to the second interior 3A. The second interior 3A is, for example, approximately circular. The second interior 3A is, for example, approximately cylindrical in shape with its axis passing through the center of the second opening 3B. The second interior 3A is a space for storing food F to be heated. Food F is moved in and out of the inner pot 3 through the second opening 3B.

The inner pot 3 also has a flange 31 that extends outward from the edge that contacts the second opening 3B. The operator (user) of the cooking appliance 1 can move the inner pot 3 inside and outside the cooking appliance body 2 by holding the edge of the flange 31. The inner pot 3 held by the user is housed in the cooking appliance body 2 through the first opening 2B so that the body portion of the inner pot 3 is positioned in the first interior 2A and the flange 31 is exposed to the outside of the cooking appliance body 2 and is held by the edge of the first opening 2B while being hooked onto the edge. The second opening 3B of the inner pot 3 housed in the cooking appliance body 2 communicates with the outside of the cooking appliance body 2.

When viewed from the outside, the lid body 4 has a lid main body 41 and a hinge 42. The lid main body 41 has a lid bottom 411. The lid main body 41 is rotatably supported on the cooker main body top 23 via the hinge 42. When the lid main body 41 rotates around the hinge 42, the lid bottom 411 covers the first opening 2B of the cooker main body 2, the second opening 3B of the inner pot 3 housed in the cooker main body 2, and the cooker main body top 23 from the outside of the cooker main body 2. Therefore, the lid main body 41 covers the cooker main body 2, including the inner pot 3.

The lid 4 will be further described with reference to Figure 2. The lid 4 includes a motor (not shown) and a drive shaft 43 in the third interior 4A of the lid main body 41. The motor is connected to the drive shaft 43 so as to rotate the drive shaft 43. The lid 4 also includes a regulating device 44. The regulating device 44 is attached to the lid bottom 411.

The drive shaft 43 is a shaft that rotates around its axis. The drive shaft 43 is supported inside the lid body 41 in an orientation that intersects with the lid body 41 and is rotatable around the axis of the drive shaft 43.

The regulating device 44 has a rod-shaped regulating rod 441. The regulating rod 441 is provided on the lid bottom 411 along a direction intersecting with the lid main body 41. The regulating rod 441 can move back and forth along its longitudinal direction. The regulating rod 441 moves back and forth using, for example, a solenoid (not shown).

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the agitation unit 5 has a unit body 52, a main rotation shaft 51, a rotation transmission mechanism 6 (see Figures 3 and 4), a first arm 7, a second arm 8, and an arm restriction unit 9. The main rotation shaft 51 is attached to the unit body 52. The unit body 52 houses the rotation transmission mechanism 6 that connects to the main rotation shaft 51. The first arm 7 and the second arm 8 are connected to the rotation transmission mechanism 6 and are supported by the unit body 52. The arm restriction unit 9 is provided on the unit body 52.

The main rotation shaft 51 is a shaft that rotates around its central axis. The main rotation shaft 51 is arranged to pass through the lid bottom 411. One end of the main rotation shaft 51 is connected to the drive shaft 43 so that it rotates in the same direction as the drive shaft 43. The main rotation shaft 51 connected to the drive shaft 43 is held by the drive shaft 43 and transmits the rotation of the drive shaft 43. The other end of the main rotation shaft 51 supports the unit main body 52 so that the unit main body 52 can rotate around the central axis of the main rotation shaft 51.

As shown in Figure 3, the unit body 52 is box-shaped. The unit body 52 has a bottom surface 521 (see Figures 2 and 4), a first side surface 522, a second side surface 523, and a top surface 524 (see Figure 2). The bottom surface 521 is positioned opposite the top surface 524. The first side surface 522 and the second side surface 523 are positioned between the bottom surface 521 and the top surface 524.

The main rotation shaft 51 is positioned to penetrate the top surface 524 of the unit body 52. Therefore, the other end of the main rotation shaft 51 is positioned inside the unit body 52 and supports the unit body 52 rotatably in the direction described above. By supporting the unit body 52 with the main rotation shaft 51, the unit body 52 is suspended from the lid body 41 with the lid bottom 411 and the top surface 524 of the unit body 52 facing each other. In other words, the unit body 52 is supported by the lid body 4 so as to be rotatable around a central axis extending in a direction intersecting the lid body 4. Furthermore, the top surface 524 of the unit body 52 has a recessed or hole-shaped hook portion 525 (see Figure 2) that hooks onto the restricting rod 441 at a position facing the restricting rod 441 when the unit body 52 is suspended from the lid body 41.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation transmission mechanism 6 has a rotary shaft gear 61, a first transmission gear train 62, a first driven gear 63, a first rotary shaft 64, a second transmission gear train 65, a second driven gear 66, and a second rotary shaft 67. The rotary shaft gear 61 transmits rotation to the first transmission gear train 62 and the second transmission gear train 65. The first transmission gear train 62 and the second transmission gear train 65 transmit rotation to the first driven gear 63 and the second driven gear 66, respectively. The first driven gear 63 and the second driven gear 66 are connected to the first rotary shaft 64 and the second rotary shaft 67, respectively, so as to rotate together with the first rotary shaft 64 and the second rotary shaft 67, respectively.

The rotary shaft gear 61 is a bevel gear. The rotary shaft gear 61 is connected to the main rotary shaft 51 so that the teeth of the rotary shaft gear 61 face the bottom surface 521 of the unit body 52 and rotate together with the main rotary shaft 51.

The first transmission gear train 62 has a first intermediate gear 621 and a first intermediate rotating shaft 622. The first transmission gear train 62 has two first intermediate gears 621. The first intermediate gears 621 are bevel gears. The first intermediate rotating shaft 622 is a shaft that rotates around its axis. A first intermediate gear 621 is connected to each end of the first intermediate rotating shaft 622 so that the teeth of the first intermediate gear 621 face outward from the first intermediate rotating shaft 622 and rotate together with the first intermediate rotating shaft 622. The first intermediate rotating shaft 622 is supported by the unit main body 52 so that one first intermediate gear 621 meshes with the rotating shaft gear 61 and is rotatable around the axis of the first intermediate rotating shaft 622. The other first intermediate gear 621 meshes with the first driven gear 63, which is a bevel gear. Therefore, the first transmission gear train 62 can transmit the rotation of the rotary shaft gear 61 to the first driven gear 63. As a result, the first transmission gear train 62 can rotate the first driven gear 63 in a direction different from the rotation direction of the drive shaft 43 connected via the main rotary shaft 51. Note that the first transmission gear train 62 may have any gear structure as long as it can transmit the rotation of the main rotary shaft 51 to the first driven gear 63. Alternatively, a structure in which the rotary shaft gear 61 and the first driven gear 63 directly mesh with each other may be used without providing the first transmission gear train 62.

The first rotating shaft 64 is a shaft that rotates around its axis. The first rotating shaft 64 is disposed inside and outside the unit body 52, penetrating the first side surface 522. One end of the first rotating shaft 64 is disposed inside the unit body 52. The first driven gear 63 is connected to one end of the first rotating shaft 64 so that the first rotating shaft 64 rotates together with the first driven gear 63. The other end of the first rotating shaft 64 is disposed outside the unit body 52. As described above, the first driven gear 63 meshes with the first intermediate gear 621, and the first rotating shaft 64 is supported by the unit body 52 so that it can rotate around its axis. With this structure, the rotation of the rotating shaft gear 61 is transmitted to the first driven gear 63 via the gear structure. As a result, when the rotating shaft gear 61 rotates, the first driven gear 63 also rotates.

The first arm 7 is rod-shaped. One end of the first arm 7 is attached to the end of the first rotation shaft 64, which is positioned outside the unit body 52 as described above, in a position intersecting the first rotation shaft 64. As a result, the first arm 7 is supported by the unit body 52 via the first rotation shaft 64. Therefore, the rotation of the rotation shaft gear 61 is transmitted to the first arm 7. In other words, as the rotation shaft gear 61 rotates, the first arm 7 rotates around the axis of the first rotation shaft 64. As a result, the first angle A1 of the first arm 7 relative to the unit body 52 shown in Figure 2 changes. The definition of the first angle A1 will be described later.

When the lid 4 is placed over the inner pot 3 containing food ingredients F, the first arm 7 is supported by the unit body 52 so that a portion of the first arm 7, including the first tip 71, is submerged in the food ingredients F. When the first arm 7 is partially submerged in the food ingredients F, the unit body 52 can rotate to stir the food ingredients F contained in the inner pot 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second transmission gear train 65 has a second intermediate rotating shaft 652 and a second intermediate gear 651. The second transmission gear train 65 has two second intermediate gears 651. The second intermediate gear 651 is a bevel gear having the same number of teeth as the first intermediate gear 621. The second intermediate rotating shaft 652 is a shaft that rotates around its axis. A second intermediate gear 651 is connected to each end of the second intermediate rotating shaft 652 so that the teeth of the second intermediate gear 651 face outward from the second intermediate rotating shaft 652 and the second intermediate gear 651 rotates together with the second intermediate rotating shaft 652. The second intermediate rotating shaft 652 is supported by the unit main body 52 so that one second intermediate gear 651 meshes with the rotating shaft gear 61 and is rotatable around the axis of the second intermediate rotating shaft 652. When the first transmission gear train 62 rotates, the second transmission gear train 65 rotates at the same rotational speed as the first transmission gear train 62. Meanwhile, the other second intermediate gear 651 meshes with the second driven gear 66, which is a bevel gear. Therefore, the second transmission gear train 65 can transmit the rotation of the rotary shaft gear 61 to the second driven gear 66. As a result, the second transmission gear train 65 can rotate the second driven gear 66 in a direction different from the rotation direction of the drive shaft 43 connected to the main rotary shaft 51. The second transmission gear train 65 may have any gear structure as long as it can transmit the rotation of the main rotary shaft 51 to the second driven gear 66. Alternatively, the second transmission gear train 65 may be omitted, and the rotary shaft gear 61 and the second driven gear 66 may mesh directly.

The second rotation shaft 67 is a shaft that rotates around its axis. The second rotation shaft 67 is disposed inside and outside the unit body 52, penetrating the second side surface 523. One end of the second rotation shaft 67 is disposed inside the unit body 52. The second driven gear 66 is connected to one end of the second rotation shaft 67 so that the second rotation shaft 67 rotates together with the second driven gear 66. The other end of the second rotation shaft 67 is disposed outside the unit body 52. As described above, the second rotation shaft 67 is supported by the unit body 52 so that the second driven gear 66 meshes with the second intermediate gear 651 and is rotatable around its axis. With this structure, the rotation of the rotation shaft gear 61 is transmitted to the second driven gear 66 via the gear structure. As a result, when the rotation shaft gear 61 rotates, the second driven gear 66 also rotates.

The second arm 8 is rod-shaped. One end of the second arm 8 is attached to the end of the second rotation shaft 67, which is positioned outside the unit body 52 as described above, in a position intersecting the second rotation shaft 67. As a result, the second arm 8 is supported by the unit body 52 via the second rotation shaft 67. Therefore, the rotation of the rotation shaft gear 61 is transmitted to the second arm 8. In other words, as the rotation shaft gear 61 rotates, the second arm 8 rotates around the axis of the second rotation shaft 67. As a result, the second angle A2 of the second arm 8 relative to the unit body 52 shown in Figure 2 changes. The definition of the second angle A2 will be described later.

When the lid 4 is placed over the inner pot 3 containing food ingredients F, the second arm 8 is supported by the unit body 52 so that a portion of the second arm 8, including the second tip 81, is submerged in the food ingredients F and is at a second angle A2, which is different from the first angle A1 of the first arm 7 relative to the unit body 52. Here, the first angle A1 of the first arm 7 relative to the unit body 52 is the angle between the horizontal plane HP and the first arm plane AP1. The first angle A1 is an angle defined in the range from 0 to 90 degrees. The horizontal plane HP is an imaginary plane that is parallel to the top surface 524 of the unit body 52 and passes through the first rotation axis 64 and the second rotation axis 67. The first arm plane AP1 is an imaginary plane that runs in the direction from the first side surface 522 to the second side surface 523 and passes through the longitudinal center of the first arm 7. The second angle A2 of the second arm 8 relative to the unit main body 52 is the angle between the horizontal plane HP and the second arm plane AP2. Like the first angle A1, the second angle A2 is also an angle defined in the range of 0 to 90 degrees. The second arm plane AP2 is an imaginary plane that runs along the direction from the first side surface 522 to the second side surface 523 and passes through the center of the second arm 8 in the longitudinal direction.

As described above, because the first angle A1 and the second angle A2 of the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 relative to the unit body 52 are different, when the unit body 52 rotates, the second arm 8 traces a different trajectory from the first arm 7, allowing it to stir the ingredients F contained in the inner pot 3. As a result, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 can stir the ingredients F over a wider area compared to when the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 stir the ingredients F by tracing the same trajectory. Therefore, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 can stir the ingredients F evenly.

As shown in FIG. 2, preferably, the first angle A1 is greater than the second angle A2. The second arm 8 is longer than the first arm 7. The first length L1 of the first arm 7 is defined as the length from the intersection of the first arm 7 and the horizontal plane HP to the first tip 71. The second length L2 of the second arm 8 is defined as the length from the intersection of the second arm 8 and the horizontal plane HP to the second tip 81. Because the second length L2 is greater than the first length L1, the length from the bottom surface 521 of the unit body 52 to the second tip 81 of the second arm 8 is approximately the same as the length from the bottom surface 521 of the unit body 52 to the first tip 71 of the first arm 7. As a result, when the unit body 52 is rotated, not only the first arm 7 but also the second arm 8 can stir the ingredients F near the bottom of the inner pot 3.

Although the above description has been given of the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 both having a rod shape, the shape of the second arm 8 may be different from the shape of the first arm 7. If the shape of the second arm 8 is different from the shape of the first arm 7, when the unit body 52 rotates, the second arm 8 will trace a different trajectory from the first arm 7, allowing it to stir the ingredients F contained in the inner pot 3. As a result, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 can stir the ingredients F over a wider area compared to when the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 stir the ingredients F by tracing the same trajectory. Therefore, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 can stir the ingredients F evenly.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the arm restricting portion 9 protrudes from the end of the first side surface 522 near the first arm 7. The arm restricting portion 9 has a thickness extending from the top surface 524 toward the bottom surface 521. The arm restricting portion 9 provided on the unit main body 52 abuts against the first arm 7, thereby restricting rotation of the first arm 7 about the axis of the first rotating shaft 64. Furthermore, because the second arm 8 is connected to the first arm 7 via the rotation transmission mechanism 6 having a gear structure, restricting rotation of the first arm 7 about the axis of the first rotating shaft 64 also restricts rotation of the second arm 8 about the axis of the second rotating shaft 67. As a result, the angular change of the first arm 7 relative to the unit main body 52 and the angular change of the second arm 8 relative to the unit main body 52 are simultaneously restricted. Meanwhile, rotation of the drive shaft 43 connected to the main rotating shaft 51 is not restricted, so the unit main body 52 rotates together with the drive shaft 43. That is, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 rotate around the axis of the drive shaft 43.

While the arm restricting portion 9 has been described as protruding from the first side surface 522 of the unit main body 52, any structure capable of restricting the rotation of the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 may be used. For example, the arm restricting portion 9 may be composed of a convex first gear protrusion (not shown) provided on the back surface of the first driven gear 63 where no teeth are provided, and a main body-side protrusion (not shown) protruding from the inside of the unit main body 52 toward the first gear protrusion. With this structure, the first gear protrusion provided on the rotating first driven gear 63 catches on the unit main body protrusion, thereby restricting the rotation of the first driven gear 63. Therefore, the rotation of the first arm 7 connected to the first driven gear 63 and the second arm 8 connected to the first driven gear 63 via a gear structure is restricted.

The arm restricting portion 9 may also be configured to protrude from the second side surface 523 and restrict rotation of the second arm 8 about the axis of the second rotation shaft 67. With this configuration, when rotation of the second arm 8 about the second rotation shaft 67 is restricted, rotation of the first arm 7 connected to the second arm 8 via a gear structure about the axis of the first rotation shaft 64 is also restricted. The arm restricting portion 9 may also be configured to restrict rotation of both the first arm 7 and the second arm 8. Specifically, two arm restricting portions 9 may be provided, one of which restricts rotation of the first arm 7 about the axis of the first rotation shaft 64, and the other of which restricts rotation of the second arm 8 about the axis of the second rotation shaft 67.

With reference to Figures 5A to 5C, the process of the cooking appliance 1 stirring ingredients F placed in the inner pot 3 will be described. Figure 5A is a diagram showing the first arm 7 positioned in the first storage position and the second arm 8 positioned in the second storage position in the cooking appliance 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 5B is a diagram showing the first arm 7 moving from the first storage position to the first stirring position and the second arm 8 moving from the second storage position to the second stirring position in the cooking appliance 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 5C is a diagram showing the first arm 7 positioned in the first stirring position and the second arm 8 positioned in the second stirring position stirring ingredients F in the cooking appliance 1 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5A, in the cooking appliance 1, food material F is first placed in the second interior 3A of the inner pot 3. The amount of food material F placed in the second interior 3A of the inner pot 3 is such that the stirring unit 5 suspended from the lid body 41 does not come into contact with the food material F when the lid body 4 is closed over the inner pot 3. Meanwhile, the stirring unit 5 suspended from the lid body 41 is positioned such that the first tip 71 of the first arm 7 and the second tip 81 of the second arm 8 face the first side surface 522 and the second side surface 523 of the unit body 52, respectively. That is, the first arm 7 is positioned in the first storage position, where the stirring unit 5 is stored. Similarly, the second arm 8 is positioned in the second storage position, where the stirring unit 5 is stored. Furthermore, the restricting rod 441 is hooked onto the hook portion 525 of the unit body 52. Therefore, rotation of the unit body 52 is restricted. The inner pot 3, with food ingredients F stored in the second interior 3A, is covered with the lid body 41. By covering the inner pot 3, the stirring unit 5 suspended from the lid body 41 is positioned in the second interior 3A of the inner pot 3.

As shown in Figure 5B, after the lid 4 closes the inner pot 3, the drive shaft 43 rotates. The rotation of the drive shaft 43 is transmitted to the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 via a gear structure (see Figures 3 and 4) provided on the main rotation shaft 51 and the unit body 52. The first arm 7 and the second arm 8 rotate around the axes of the first rotation shaft 64 and the second rotation shaft 67, respectively. Therefore, the first tip 71 of the first arm 7 and the second tip 81 of the second arm 8 move toward the food material F placed in the second interior 3A of the inner pot 3.

As shown in FIG. 5C , a portion of the first arm 7, including the first tip 71, is submerged in the food material F. Rotating around the axis of the first rotation shaft 64, the first arm 7 eventually abuts the arm restricting portion 9. The first arm 7 is positioned so that its rotation around the axis of the first rotation shaft 64 is restricted, enabling it to stir the food material F. That is, the first arm 7 is positioned at the first stirring position. Furthermore, when the rotation of the first arm 7 around the axis of the first rotation shaft 64 is restricted, the rotation of the second arm 8, which is connected to the first arm 7 via a gear structure, around the axis of the second rotation shaft 67, is also restricted. Similarly to the first arm 7, the second arm 8 is positioned so that its rotation around the axis of the second rotation shaft 67 is restricted, enabling it to stir the food material F. That is, the second arm 8 is positioned at the second stirring position.

After the rotation of the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 around the axis of the first rotation shaft 64 and the second rotation shaft 67, respectively, is restricted, the restricting rod 441 separates from the hook portion 525, and the restriction on rotation relative to the unit body 52 is released. Therefore, the unit body 52 rotates together with the drive shaft 43. As a result, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 agitate the ingredients F contained in the second interior portion 3A of the inner pot 3.

In the cooking device 1 that stirs the food material F contained in the second interior portion 3A of the inner pot 3 through the above-described processes, the number of teeth of the second driven gear 66 shown in FIG. 3 is different from the number of teeth of the first driven gear 63. Therefore, the rotation speed of the second arm 8 about the axis of the second rotation shaft 67 is different from the rotation speed of the first arm 7 about the axis of the first rotation shaft 64. Therefore, when the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 rotate about the axes of the first rotation shaft 64 and the second rotation shaft 67, respectively, and the rotation of the first arm 7 about the first rotation shaft 64 is eventually restricted as shown in FIG. 5C, the second angle A2 is different from the first angle A1. In other words, the second arm 8 is supported by the unit body 52 at a second angle A2 that is different from the first arm 7 relative to the unit body 52. As a result, when the rotation of the first arm 7 is restricted, the second arm 8 is supported by the unit body 52 at a second angle A2 that is different from the first arm 7 relative to the unit body 52. As a result, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 can mix the food material F evenly.

After stirring the ingredients F is complete, the drive shaft 43 stops rotating. Even after the drive shaft 43 stops rotating, the unit body 52 continues to rotate due to inertia. Therefore, to stop the rotation of the unit body 52, the restricting rod 441 engages with the hook portion 525, restricting the rotation of the unit body 52. The first arm 7 and the second arm 8 then move from the first stirring position and the second stirring position to the first storage position and the second storage position, respectively, through the reverse process described above. Therefore, when the user opens the lid 4, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 are positioned in the first storage position and the second storage position, respectively. As a result, after opening the lid 4, the user can remove the ingredients F or the inner pot 3 without being obstructed by the first arm 7 and the second arm 8.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The drawings mainly show each component in a schematic manner to facilitate understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown may differ from the actual components due to the convenience of creating the drawings. Furthermore, the materials, shapes, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible without substantially departing from the configuration of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the number of teeth of the second driven gear 66 is described as being different from the number of teeth of the first driven gear 63. However, the number of teeth of the first driven gear 63 and the number of teeth of the second driven gear 66 may be the same. If the number of teeth of the first driven gear 63 and the number of teeth of the second driven gear 66 are the same, the angle of the first arm 7 relative to the unit main body 52 in the first storage position shown in FIG. 5A will be different from the angle of the second arm 8 relative to the unit main body 52 in the second storage position. Here, as described above, the first transmission gear train 62 rotates at the same rotational speed as the second transmission gear train 65. When the main rotation shaft 51 rotates, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 rotate about the axes of the first rotation shaft 64 and the second rotation shaft 67, respectively, and eventually the rotation of the first arm 7 is restricted as shown in FIG. 5C. When the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 are restricted from rotating about the axes of the first and second rotation shafts 64 and 67, respectively, the first angle A1 and the second angle A2 are different. That is, the second arm 8 is supported by the unit body 52 at a different angle from the first arm 7 relative to the unit body 52. Therefore, when the unit body 52 rotates with the first angle A1 and the second angle A2 different, the trajectory traced by one end of the first arm 7 and the trajectory traced by one end of the second arm 8 are different. That is, the second arm 8 stirs a different position from the first arm 7. As a result, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 can stir the food F over a wider area than when the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 stir the food F along the same trajectory. Therefore, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 can stir the food F evenly.

In this embodiment of the present invention, one motor is used to rotate the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 around the axis of the first rotation shaft 64 and the axis of the second rotation shaft 67, respectively. However, the number of motors does not have to be one. For example, two motors may be provided, with one motor rotating the first arm 7 around the axis of the first rotation shaft 64 and the other motor rotating the second arm 8 around the axis of the second rotation shaft 67. With this configuration, the rotation speed of one motor can be controlled to be different from the rotation speed of the other motor. Therefore, the rotation speed of the first arm 7 around the axis of the first rotation shaft 64 is different from the rotation speed of the second arm 8 around the axis of the second rotation shaft 67. As a result, when the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 are positioned at the first stirring position and the second stirring position, respectively, the first angle A1 and the second angle A2 are different.

The present invention provides a cooking device and has industrial applicability.

1: Cooking device 2: Cooking device body 3: Inner pot 4: Lid body 5: Stirring unit 6: Rotation transmission mechanism 7: First arm 8: Second arm 9: Arm restricting portion 2A: First interior 2B: First opening 3A: Second interior 3B: Second opening 41: Lid 51: Main rotating shaft 52: Unit body 61: Rotating shaft gear 62: First transmission gear train 63: First driven gear 64: First rotating shaft 65: Second transmission gear train 66: Second rotating shaft 67: Second driven gear 522: First side surface 523: Second side surface A1: First angle A2: Second angle F: Food material

Claims (6)

a cooking appliance body having a first opening communicating with a first interior;
an inner pot accommodated in the cooker body through the first opening;
A lid body that covers the inner pot;
a stirring unit rotatably supported on the inner pot side of the lid body and stirring the ingredients;
the stirring unit rotates about a central axis extending in a direction intersecting the lid body,
The inner pot has a second opening communicating with a second interior, and is configured to allow the ingredients to move inside and outside through the second opening,
The stirring unit comprises:
A unit main body that rotates around the central axis when the lid is placed on the inner pot;
a first arm that is supported by the unit body so that a portion of the first arm is immersed in the food ingredients contained in the inner pot, and that mixes the food ingredients by rotating the unit body;
a second arm that is partially submerged in the food ingredients contained in the inner pot, is supported by the unit body at a second angle different from the first angle of the first arm relative to the unit body, and mixes the food ingredients as the unit body rotates ;
The unit body has a first side surface and a second side surface,
the first arm is supported by the unit body via a first rotation shaft that projects from the first side surface and extends in a direction intersecting the first side surface,
the second arm is supported by the unit body via a second rotation shaft that projects from the second side surface and extends in a direction intersecting the second side surface,
When the lid body is placed on the inner pot, the first arm rotates about the first rotation axis at a first rotation speed, and a first tip of the first arm moves from a first storage position facing the first side surface to a first stirring position where the first tip is immersed in the ingredients,
When the lid body is placed on the inner pot, the second arm rotates about the second rotation axis at a second rotation speed, and a second tip of the second arm moves from a second storage position where it faces the second side surface to a second stirring position where it is immersed in the food ingredients,
The cooking device , wherein the first rotation speed and the second rotation speed are different . The stirring unit comprises:
a rotary shaft gear to which rotation is transmitted;
a first driven gear to which rotation of the rotary shaft gear is transmitted via a rotation transmission mechanism having a gear structure, and which rotates together with the first rotary shaft;
The cooking device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second driven gear to which rotation of the rotary shaft gear is transmitted via the rotation transmission mechanism and which rotates together with the second rotary shaft. a cooking appliance body having a first opening communicating with a first interior;
an inner pot accommodated in the cooker body through the first opening;
A lid body that covers the inner pot;
a stirring unit rotatably supported on the inner pot side of the lid body to stir ingredients;
Equipped with
the stirring unit rotates about a central axis extending in a direction intersecting the lid body,
The inner pot has a second opening communicating with a second interior, and is configured to allow the ingredients to move inside and outside through the second opening,
The stirring unit comprises:
A unit main body that rotates around the central axis when the lid is placed on the inner pot;
a first arm that is supported by the unit body so that a portion of the first arm is immersed in the food ingredients contained in the inner pot, and that mixes the food ingredients by rotating the unit body;
a second arm that is partially immersed in the ingredients contained in the inner pot, is supported by the unit body at a second angle different from the first angle of the first arm relative to the unit body, and mixes the ingredients as the unit body rotates;
and
The unit body has a first side surface and a second side surface,
the first arm is supported by the unit body via a first rotation shaft that projects from the first side surface and extends in a direction intersecting the first side surface,
the second arm is supported by the unit body via a second rotation shaft that projects from the second side surface and extends in a direction intersecting the second side surface,
When the lid body is closed on the inner pot, the first arm moves about the first rotation axis from a first storage position where a first tip of the first arm faces the first side surface of the unit body to a first stirring position where the first tip of the first arm is immersed in the ingredients,
When the lid body is closed on the inner pot, the second arm moves about the second rotation axis from a second storage position where a second tip of the second arm faces the second side surface of the unit body to a second stirring position where the second tip is immersed in the food ingredients,
The stirring unit comprises:
a rotary shaft gear to which rotation is transmitted;
a first driven gear to which rotation of the rotary shaft gear is transmitted via a rotation transmission mechanism having a gear structure, and which rotates together with the first rotary shaft;
a second driven gear to which rotation of the rotary shaft gear is transmitted via the rotation transmission mechanism and which rotates together with the second rotary shaft,
A cooking device, wherein the number of teeth of the second driven gear is different from the number of teeth of the first driven gear. The rotation transmission mechanism includes:
a first transmission gear train that transmits rotation of the rotary shaft gear to the first driven gear;
4. The cooking device according to claim 2 , further comprising: a second transmission gear train that transmits the rotation of the rotary shaft gear to the second driven gear. a cooking appliance body having a first opening communicating with a first interior;
an inner pot accommodated in the cooker body through the first opening;
A lid body that covers the inner pot;
a stirring unit rotatably supported on the inner pot side of the lid body to stir ingredients;
Equipped with
the stirring unit rotates about a central axis extending in a direction intersecting the lid body,
The inner pot has a second opening communicating with a second interior, and is configured to allow the ingredients to move inside and outside through the second opening,
The stirring unit comprises:
A unit main body that rotates around the central axis when the lid is placed on the inner pot;
a first arm that is supported by the unit body so that a portion of the first arm is immersed in the food ingredients contained in the inner pot, and that mixes the food ingredients by rotating the unit body;
a second arm that is partially immersed in the ingredients contained in the inner pot, is supported by the unit body at a second angle different from the first angle of the first arm relative to the unit body, and mixes the ingredients as the unit body rotates;
and
The unit body has a first side surface and a second side surface,
the first arm projects from the first side surface and is supported by the unit body,
the second arm projects from the second side surface and is supported by the unit body,
A cooking device, wherein the first arm and the second arm have different shapes. a cooking appliance body having a first opening communicating with a first interior;
an inner pot accommodated in the cooker body through the first opening;
A lid body that covers the inner pot;
a stirring unit rotatably supported on the inner pot side of the lid body to stir ingredients;
Equipped with
the stirring unit rotates about a central axis extending in a direction intersecting the lid body,
The inner pot has a second opening communicating with a second interior, and is configured to allow the ingredients to move inside and outside through the second opening,
The stirring unit comprises:
A unit main body that rotates around the central axis when the lid is placed on the inner pot;
a first arm that is supported by the unit body so that a portion of the first arm is immersed in the food ingredients contained in the inner pot, and that mixes the food ingredients by rotating the unit body;
a second arm that is partially immersed in the ingredients contained in the inner pot, is supported by the unit body at a second angle different from the first angle of the first arm relative to the unit body, and mixes the ingredients as the unit body rotates;
and
The unit body has a first side surface and a second side surface,
the first arm is supported by the unit body via a first rotation shaft that projects from the first side surface and extends in a direction intersecting the first side surface,
the second arm is supported by the unit body via a second rotation shaft that projects from the second side surface and extends in a direction intersecting the second side surface,
When the lid body is closed on the inner pot, the first arm moves around the first rotation axis from a first storage position where a first tip of the first arm faces the first side surface to a first stirring position where the first tip of the first arm is immersed in the ingredients,
When the lid body is closed on the inner pot, the second arm moves about the second rotation axis from a second storage position where a second tip of the second arm faces the second side surface to a second stirring position where the second tip is immersed in the ingredients,
A cooking appliance, wherein an angle of the first arm relative to the unit body in the first storage position is different from an angle of the second arm relative to the unit body in the second storage position.