A cooking appliance with automatic water discharge

Abstract

The application discloses an automatic drainage cooking utensil, which comprises a pot body, a pot cover, a water tank and an inner container. The water tank supplies water to the inner container through a water pipe. The bottom of the inner container is provided with a drainage valve. The pot body comprises a middle ring and a mounting seat. The mounting seat is internally provided with a containing cavity which covers the bottom wall of the inner container in the front-rear direction of the pot body. A water receiving box which is matched with the containing cavity is arranged in the containing cavity. A heating device is arranged above the mounting seat to heat the inner container. A supporting column is integrally formed on the top wall edge or the side wall of the containing cavity. The supporting column is fixedly connected with the middle ring to form a support. The mounting seat is provided with the supporting column in the form, so that the mounting seat can contain the water receiving box and can be reliably installed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of kitchen appliance technology, and specifically relates to a cooking appliance with automatic drainage. Background Technology

[0002] Existing cooking appliances, such as rice cookers, are equipped with a drainage function to accommodate various needs, allowing water to drain from the inner pot when necessary. Simultaneously, a water collection tray is installed at the bottom of the inner pot to catch the drained water. This water collection tray requires a certain amount of space under the inner pot. If this space is accommodated in the existing base structure, it would affect the base's strength, making it difficult to securely connect it to other components.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies designate the water receiving box and the pot body as independent components, allowing for separation without considering the aforementioned technical problems. Another approach, as disclosed in CN202322898543.7, involves a drainage partition on the base, which is connected to the outside. During drainage, the rice-washing water flowing from the drainage chamber enters the drainage partition through a drainage channel and then flows out to the outside. In other words, its drainage layer merely serves as a drainage channel, thus avoiding the aforementioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an automatic drainage cooking appliance, which solves the problem that the existence of the receiving cavity causes unreliable pressure bearing when fixed to other components. The appliance is equipped with a support column on the mounting base with a water receiving box cavity.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0006] An automatic drainage cooking appliance includes a pot body, a pot lid, a water tank, and an inner pot. The water tank supplies water to the inner pot through a water pipe. The bottom of the inner pot is provided with a drain valve. The pot body includes a middle ring and a mounting base. The mounting base has a receiving cavity and a water collection box inside the receiving cavity. A heating device is provided above the mounting base to heat the inner pot. A support column is integrally formed on the top edge or side wall of the receiving cavity of the mounting base. The support column is connected and fixed to the middle ring to form a support.

[0007] Furthermore, the support column is provided with reinforcing ribs, which are connected to the mounting base and arranged around the support column.

[0008] Furthermore, at least a portion of the reinforcing rib extends to the sidewall of the mounting base.

[0009] Furthermore, the middle ring extends downward to have a fixed column corresponding to the support column, and the support column and the fixed column are fixedly connected.

[0010] Furthermore, the heating device is provided with mounting holes in the circumference, and the support column or fixing column passes through the mounting holes.

[0011] Furthermore, the mounting base is provided with a drain hole, which corresponds to a drain valve.

[0012] Furthermore, the support columns are provided in 3-6 units.

[0013] Furthermore, the pot body also includes a base, which is located below the mounting base.

[0014] Furthermore, the pot body also includes an outer shell, which is located outside the mounting base.

[0015] Furthermore, a first screw post is provided on the outer side wall of the mounting base, and a second screw post is provided on the inner side wall of the middle ring. The first screw post and the second screw post are connected by screws.

[0016] This application has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] 1. By setting support columns on the mounting base to connect and fix with the central ring, a support is formed. The mounting base accommodates the water box, resulting in a compact overall structure and reliable installation. Specifically, because of the water box, it is difficult for the mounting base to be supported and fixed with other components. However, this application has support columns integrally formed on the top edge or side wall of the receiving cavity, enabling the mounting base to achieve two functions: accommodating the water box and supporting and fixing with the central ring. Since the receiving cavity covers the bottom wall of the inner pot in the front-back direction, the bottom of the pot has a large unsupported area. After food is placed in the inner pot, the pressure is mainly concentrated above the receiving cavity. By connecting and fixing with the support columns, the possible supporting force on the receiving cavity can be distributed to the side wall of the receiving cavity, preventing the receiving cavity from being damaged and improving its service life.

[0018] 2. The support column is equipped with reinforcing ribs, which connect to the mounting base and surround the support column. These reinforcing ribs connect the mounting base and the support column, ensuring a reliable connection and reducing the risk of breakage.

[0019] 3. At least some of the reinforcing ribs extend to the side wall of the support column to achieve better reinforcement. For the mounting base, since there is a cavity in the middle to accommodate the water receiving box, the strength of the mounting base in the middle is relatively low. However, by using support columns on or near the side wall, the strength of the support column can be increased, ensuring reliable support and reducing the impact on subsequent support fixation when the cavity deforms. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pot lid of a cooking appliance in Embodiment 1 of this application being closed;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cooking utensil lid being opened according to Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0023] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the pot lid of the cooking utensil according to Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0024] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the cooking utensil (without a lid) according to Embodiment 1 of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the cooking utensil (without a lid) according to Embodiment 1 of this application. Figure 2 ;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting base according to Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the middle ring in Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the heating device according to Embodiment 1 of this application.

[0029] in:

[0030] 1. Pot body; 11. Hinge structure; 12. Lid opening button; 13. Support platform; 14. Middle ring; 141. Fixing post; 142. Second screw post; 15. Mounting base; 151. Drain hole; 152. First screw post; 153. Reinforcing rib; 154. Heating device; 16. Mounting hole; 161. Base; 17. Outer shell; 18.

[0031] 2. Pot lid; 21. Water inlet;

[0032] Inner liner 3; Drain valve 31;

[0033] Water tank 4;

[0034] Water pipe 5;

[0035] Water collection box 6. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] This application discloses an automatic drainage cooking appliance, including a pot body, a lid, a water tank, and an inner pot. The water tank supplies water to the inner pot through a water pipe. A drain valve is located at the bottom of the inner pot. The pot body includes a central ring and a mounting base. The mounting base has a receiving cavity containing a water collection box. A heating device is located above the mounting base, heating the inner pot. A support column is integrally formed on the top edge or side wall of the receiving cavity of the mounting base, and the support column is fixedly connected to the central ring to form a support. This application achieves reliable installation while accommodating the water collection box in the mounting base by setting a support column. Specific embodiments will be described below.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] Reference Figures 1-3 The cooking appliance of this embodiment includes a pot body 1, a pot lid 2, and an inner pot 3. The pot lid 2 is rotatably connected to one end of the pot body 1 via a hinge structure 11, and the other end is fastened via a lid-opening button 12. The lid-opening button 12 can be located on the pot lid or the pot body as needed. The hinge structure 11 is equipped with a torsion spring to provide the opening force. The lower part of the pot body 1 located at one end of the hinge structure extends outward to a support platform 13 with a width greater than that of the hinge structure. The lower surface of the support platform 13 contacts the work surface. When the pot lid is open, the vertical projection of the pot lid 2 is located within the support platform 13.

[0040] With this design, the lid 2 has a certain degree of elasticity during opening, causing the machine to bounce. However, the support platform 13 reduces this bouncing. Specifically, because the projection of the lid 2 in the open state is located within the support platform 13, the platform provides effective support, preventing the lid from causing the machine to bounce. Since the lid 2 has a certain thickness, part of its vertical projection extends beyond the pivot point after opening. However, in this embodiment, the support platform ensures that the vertical projection of the lid 2 does not exceed the area outside the support platform 13, thus providing effective support during the opening process. It is conceivable that without the outwardly extending support platform 13 (larger than the hinge structure), the lid 2 would cause the machine to bounce backward during opening, potentially leading to rotation around the point of contact between the lower rear of the machine and the worktable. However, the support platform 13 in this application significantly shifts the fulcrum backward, greatly reducing the risk of machine bouncing.

[0041] The structure of both the torsion spring and the lid-opening button 12 can refer to the structure of existing rice cookers. For example, one end of the torsion spring is fixed to the pot body, and the other end is fixed to the lid, allowing the lid to rotate. When the lid-opening button 12 is pressed, the latch between the lid and the pot body will disengage, allowing the lid to rotate and open.

[0042] In this embodiment, a water tank 4 is provided on the upper surface of the support platform 13. The water tank 4 supplies water to the cooking cavity through a water pipe 5. During operation, food is placed in the cooking cavity of the inner pot. When water is needed for cooking, water from the water tank 4 is supplied to the cooking cavity through the water pipe 5. Specific usage scenarios include cooking rice or low-sugar rice, supplying water at specific stages to meet diverse cooking needs. The presence of the water tank 4 increases the weight of the machine, but placing the water tank 4 on the support platform 13, which extends outward from the pot body, strengthens the weight of the machine at the support platform 13, making the lid 2 relatively stable during opening and closing, preventing it from easily tipping over to one side.

[0043] To achieve automatic water supply, a water pump can be installed inside the pot. One end of the water pump is connected to the water tank 4, and the other end is connected to a water pipe to automatically inject water into the cooking cavity.

[0044] As a cooking appliance in this embodiment, during cooking, the ingredients to be cooked can be placed in the inner pot 3 first. The water tank 4 stores purified water for cooking. Taking the cooking of low-sugar rice as an example, an appropriate amount of rice and water can be placed in the inner pot first (water can also be omitted if necessary). When cooking reaches a certain stage, water can be supplied to the cooking cavity through the water tank 4. For example, during the cooking process, the water containing dissolved sugar in the inner pot can be drained, and then water can be supplied again to achieve the final goal of forming low-sugar rice. The draining method can be through a drain valve set at the bottom of the inner pot. A water collection box 6 can also be set up to collect the drained wastewater if needed. Since automatic water supply can be realized, water can be supplied and drained multiple times as needed to reduce the sugar content of the rice. If a drain valve is set, the drain valve has a filter structure to prevent rice from being discharged during drainage.

[0045] In this embodiment, refer to Figure 2 or Figure 3 The water tank 4 is positioned lower than the pot lid 2. Although the water tank 4 is located behind the pot lid, its lower height ensures that the opening and closing of the pot lid 2 will not interfere with the water tank 4. This also facilitates the removal and placement of the water tank, as the pot lid 2 will not interfere with its operation.

[0046] In this embodiment, the water tank 4 is detachable, and the hinge structure 11 is located inside the water tank. The detachable water tank allows for convenient water addition and cleaning by the user. When placed on the support platform, the water tank can connect to the machine's piping to supply water to the machine.

[0047] In this embodiment, the pot lid 2 is provided with a water inlet 21, which is connected to the water tank 4. The water tank injects water into the inner pot through a pipe. The water inlet 21 can be in the form of a water pipe connector on the pot lid 2 that connects to the water pipe and passes through the inner lid, or it can be a water pipe connector on the pot lid, with the upper end of the connector used to connect to the water pipe 5 and the lower end passing through the inner lid to supply water to the cooking cavity.

[0048] In this embodiment, a water collection box 6 is provided below the inner tank 3. The installation of the water collection box may increase the height of the machine and the center of gravity, making it more prone to tipping over when opening and closing the lid. However, the installation of the support platform 13 greatly reduces this risk of tipping over.

[0049] In this embodiment, a drain valve 31 is provided at the bottom of the inner pot, and a water receiving box 6 is provided corresponding to the drain valve 31. Water discharged from the inner pot through the drain valve 31 can be collected by the water receiving box 6. By providing the drain valve 31, the drain valve 31 can be opened to drain the water in the inner pot when drainage is required. Because the cooking appliance in this embodiment can automatically fill the cooking cavity with water, the water in the cooking cavity will increase. By providing the drain valve, some water can be discharged as needed to achieve a specific cooking purpose, such as draining rice water containing sugar. Specifically, the drain valve 31 can be opened or blocked by a movable seal, or by a movable push rod or magnetic drive.

[0050] In this embodiment, the water receiving box 6 is detachable, allowing users to easily disassemble it for cleaning and wastewater disposal.

[0051] In this embodiment, the opening angle of the lid 2 is less than 90°. This design avoids interference between the lid 2 and the water tank during opening and reduces the risk of the machine tipping over. If the opening angle of the lid 2 is too large, the risk of the machine tipping over also increases. Therefore, this application limits the opening angle of the lid to less than 90°, with a maximum opening angle between 80° and 88°. This ensures normal use by the user while also reducing the risk of the machine tipping over.

[0052] In this embodiment, the lid 2 is equipped with an opening damping component to slow down the opening speed of the lid. The damping component also reduces the risk of the machine tipping over. Specifically, it can be structured with a silicone component at the rear end of the lid, which interferes with the pot body during opening, slowing down the lid's opening speed. With the opening speed reduced, the backward force on the machine is also significantly reduced, thus lowering the risk of the machine tipping over.

[0053] In this embodiment, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3The lid 2 is hinged to the pot body 1, and the water inlet 21 is located on the inner lid near the hinge. Because the lid 2 is hinged to the pot body 1, the water pipe can extend from the pot body to the lid 2 through the rear hinge. The location of the water inlet 21 on the inner lid near the hinge reduces the extension length of the water pipe on the lid, avoiding excessive space occupation. The lid 2 is rotatably connected to the pot body 1 via the hinge. During the opening and closing of the lid, the lid 2 rotates continuously, and the water pipe 5 rotates along with the lid 2. The water inlet 21 is located on the lid near the hinge, and the water pipe 5 is also mainly distributed on the lid 2 near the hinge, reducing the impact on the lifespan of the water pipe during opening and closing.

[0054] Low-sugar rice cooking is just one example in this embodiment. Depending on actual cooking needs, other diverse cooking requirements can also be met by adding water. For example, adding a certain amount of water during the cooking of porridge or soup can prevent overflow.

[0055] The cooking appliance in this embodiment includes a pot body and a pot lid. For the specific internal installation structure of the pot body, please refer to... Figures 4-7 The pot body 1 includes a central ring 14 and a mounting base 15. The mounting base 15 has a cavity that covers the bottom wall of the inner liner in the front-to-back direction. A water collection box 6 adapted to this cavity is located within the cavity. A heating device 16 is positioned above the mounting base 15 to heat the inner liner. A support column 151 is integrally formed on the top edge or side wall of the cavity on the mounting base 15. The support column 151 is connected and fixed to the central ring 14 to form a support. The cavity covers the bottom wall of the inner liner in the front-to-back direction, and the water collection box 6 is adapted to the cavity, ensuring sufficient volume to accommodate water discharged from the inner liner.

[0056] By setting a support column 151 on the mounting base 15 to connect and fix it to the middle ring to form a support, and accommodating the water box 6 inside the mounting base, the overall structure is compact and the installation is reliable. Specifically, because of the setting of the water box 6, it is difficult for the mounting base 15 to cooperate with other components for support and fixation. However, this application has an integrally formed support column 151 on the top edge or side wall of the receiving cavity, so that the mounting base 15 can realize the two functions of accommodating the water box 6 and cooperating with the middle ring for support and fixation.

[0057] Because the containment cavity covers the bottom wall of the inner pot in the front-back direction of the pot body, the bottom of the pot body has a large unsupported area. After food is placed in the inner pot, the pressure is mainly concentrated above the containment cavity. By fixing the support columns together, the possible supporting force on the containment cavity can be distributed to the side wall of the containment cavity, avoiding damage to the containment cavity and improving its service life.

[0058] There are two possible locations for the support column: one is at the top edge of the receiving cavity, and the other is on the side wall of the receiving cavity. The top edge, which is close to the side wall of the receiving cavity, can be positioned as needed. For example, if the distance between the center of the support column and the side wall of the receiving cavity is less than 30 mm, it can be considered as the top edge. The main advantage is that the presence of the mounting cavity inevitably creates a certain degree of hollowness in the center of the mounting base. If a one-piece molded support column is placed on the top wall, it is prone to floating up and down under stress, affecting the support and coordination with other components and failing to achieve the desired support and fixation. This application limits the position of the support column to the side wall or near the side wall, significantly reducing the probability of deformation and thus minimizing the impact on subsequent support and fixation. Furthermore, even if deformation occurs, the central area of ​​the receiving cavity is more prone to deformation, while the side wall or area near the side wall has a lower probability of deformation due to the support provided by the side wall.

[0059] To facilitate the removal and placement of the water receiving box 6, the mounting base 15 has an opening on the side wall, through which the water receiving box 6 can be removed and placed.

[0060] In this embodiment, the middle ring 14 extends downward to a fixing post 141 corresponding to the support post, and the support post 151 is fixedly connected to the fixing post 141. Specifically, the fixing method can be to achieve the connection and fixation by passing screws through the two.

[0061] In this embodiment, the heating device 16 has mounting holes 161 circumferentially, and the support column 151 or the fixing column 141 passes through the mounting holes. The support column 151 can pass through the mounting hole and be fixed to the fixing column 141, or the fixing column 141 can pass through the mounting hole and be fixed to the support column 151. The heating device 16 can be an electromagnetic coil or a heating plate.

[0062] In this embodiment, the mounting base 15 is provided with a drain hole 152, which corresponds to the drain valve 31. When the drain valve 31 in the inner liner is opened to drain water, the water will eventually leak into the water collection box 6 through the drain hole 152.

[0063] In this embodiment, 3-6 support columns are provided. By setting multiple support columns, the circumferential installation and fixation of the mounting base can be achieved. When the number is less than 3, the circumferential fixation effect is poor; when the number of support columns is more than 6, the structure becomes complex. Preferably, 4 support columns are provided, which balances manufacturing cost and fixation effect.

[0064] In this embodiment, refer to Figure 6The support column 151 is provided with reinforcing ribs 154, which are connected to the mounting base 15 and surround the support column 151. By providing reinforcing ribs 154, the strength of the support column 151 can be improved, ensuring a reliable connection between the support column 151 and the mounting base 15, and reducing the risk of breakage. Specifically, at least a portion of the reinforcing ribs 154 extend to the sidewall of the support column 151 for better reinforcement. For the mounting base 15, since it has a central cavity to accommodate a water receiving box, the strength of the mounting base in the central part is relatively low. The support column 151 on or near the sidewall can improve the strength of the support column 151, ensuring reliable support.

[0065] In this embodiment, the pot body further includes a base 17, which is located below the mounting base 15. Since the mounting base 15 has a receiving cavity to accommodate the water receiving box 6, the base 17 allows the bottom of the mounting base to be completely open, and then the opening at the bottom of the mounting base 15 is closed by the base 17 alone. Therefore, the mounting base 15 is simply formed and can cooperate with the base to form a receiving cavity with an open side wall for placing and removing the water receiving box 6.

[0066] In this embodiment, the pot body further includes an outer shell 18, which is located outside the mounting base 15. The outer shell 18 is provided to cover the mounting base 15 from the outside.

[0067] In this embodiment, the outer shell 18 and the middle ring 14 are integrally formed. The outer shell 18 is mainly the side wall of the pot body, while the middle ring 14 is mainly the top wall of the pot body and the fixing column 141 extending downward from the top wall. The two can be integrally formed together as needed.

[0068] In this embodiment, refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The mounting base 15 has a first screw post 153 on its outer side wall and a second screw post 142 on its inner side wall. The first screw post 153 and the second screw post 142 are connected by screws, so that the mounting base 15 and the middle ring 14 can be fixed on the side wall.

[0069] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0070] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

[0071] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance with automatic drainage, comprising a pot body, a pot lid, a water tank, and an inner pot, wherein the water tank supplies water to the inner pot via a water pipe, and the inner pot is provided with a drain valve at its bottom, characterized in that, The pot body includes a middle ring and a mounting base. The mounting base has a receiving cavity that covers the bottom wall of the inner liner in the front-back direction of the pot body. A water receiving box adapted to it is provided in the receiving cavity. A heating device is provided above the mounting base to heat the inner liner. A support column is integrally formed on the top edge or side wall of the receiving cavity of the mounting base. The support column is connected and fixed to the middle ring to form a support.

2. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The support column is provided with reinforcing ribs, which are connected to the mounting base and arranged around the support column.

3. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 2, characterized in that, At least a portion of the reinforcing rib extends to the side wall of the mounting base.

4. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The middle ring extends downwards to have a fixed column corresponding to the support column, and the support column and the fixed column are fixedly connected.

5. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The heating device is provided with mounting holes in the circumference, and the support column or fixing column passes through the mounting holes.

6. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting base is provided with a water leakage hole, which is set with a corresponding drain valve.

7. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, There are 3-6 support columns.

8. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pot body also includes a base, which is located below the mounting base.

9. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pot body also includes an outer shell, which is located outside the mounting base.

10. The cooking appliance with automatic drainage as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The outer side wall of the mounting base is provided with a first screw post, and the inner side wall of the middle ring is provided with a second screw post. The first screw post and the second screw post are connected by screws.

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