Rice cooker

Abstract

To provide a rice cooker including fall prevention means which allows a shaft to be attached to a bearing part when existing before attaching the shaft.SOLUTION: A rice cooker 100 according to the invention includes a clamp shaft 46 rotatably supported by inserting in hole 53, 54 formed on lid reinforcing plate 51, 52 and a shaft pressing part 57 which is provided at least on one end side of the clamp shaft 46, prevents the clamp shaft 46 from falling from the lid reinforcing plates 51, 52, and is made of a resin. In the shaft pressing part 57, a space 58 where the clamp shaft 46 is inserted is provided, and the space 58 is configured to have a first state in which an interval W1 between ribs 57-1, 57-2 on a side of a clamp 45 is less than a diameter D of the clamp shaft 46 and a second state in which the interval W1 of the space 58 is the diameter D of the clamp shaft 46 or more when external force caused by pressing in the clamp shaft 46 is applied to the shaft pressing part 57.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice cooker provided with a shaft for pivotally supporting a rotating body.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, a rice cooker provided with a shaft used in a clamp that rotates about a shaft axis or a hinge that rotates about a hinge axis when opening and closing a lid is known. For example, the patent applicant of the present application includes a clamp (44) provided on a lid body (31) for locking the main body (1) and the lid body (31), and lid reinforcing plates (411, 412) disposed on the lid body (31). The clamp (44) rotates about a clamp shaft (45), and the lid reinforcing plates (411, 412) are divided within the lid body (31) and are connected to the clamp shaft (45) (for example, Patent Document 1). Holes (414, 414) through which the clamp shaft (45) passes are provided on the front side of the lid reinforcing plates (411, 412), and the respective end portions of the clamp shaft (45) are passed through these holes (414, 414), so that the clamp shaft (45) is connected to the lid reinforcing plates (411, 412).

[0003] Although not described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 7(A), a fixing rib L having a flat portion L1 is provided inside an outer lid 132 which is the outer lid (32) of Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 7(B), when an outer lid cover 135 is attached to the outer lid 132, the fixing rib L is configured such that the flat portion L1 is disposed at a position facing the hole 414, preventing the clamp shaft 145, which is the clamp shaft (45) of Patent Document 1, from coming out of the hole 414.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In a rice cooker with ribs L provided on the appearance parts, sink marks, which are a phenomenon of slightly denting, or differences in color and taste from other places may occur on the outer surface where the fixing ribs L of the outer lid 132 are provided. Since the outer lid 132 is an appearance part, it may affect the appearance of the product. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the anti-disengagement means for preventing the clamp shaft 145 from coming out of the hole 414 of the lid reinforcing plate 412 as a bearing part outside the appearance parts. However, for example, if the fixing rib L exists at the place where the fixing rib L is arranged before the clamp shaft 145 is inserted into the hole 414, there is a problem that the clamp shaft 145 cannot be inserted into the hole 414 because the flat part L1 interferes.

[0006] Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker provided with anti-disengagement means that can attach the shaft to the bearing part even if it exists before the attachment of the shaft.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In the rice cooker of the present invention, a shaft rotatably supported by being inserted through a hole formed in a bearing part, and an anti-disengagement means made of a flexible material provided on at least one end side of the shaft for preventing the shaft from coming out of the bearing part are provided. The anti-disengagement means has a first state in which the shaft cannot pass through and a second state in which an insertion space through which the shaft can pass is formed by receiving an external force.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the shaft can be attached to the bearing part even if the anti-disengagement means exists before the attachment of the shaft.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the cooking appliance in the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In all these drawings, common parts will be given common reference numerals.

[0011] Figs. 1 to 6 show a rice cooker 100 in an embodiment of the present invention. Based on these drawings, the overall configuration of the rice cooker 100 in this embodiment will be described. 1 is the main body, which has a substantially rectangular shape with the front and rear surfaces, and the left and right side surfaces facing each other when viewed from above, and the upper part is open. 2 is a lid that opens and closes the upper surface opening of the main body 1. Similar to the main body 1, it has a substantially rectangular shape with the front and rear surfaces, and the left and right side surfaces facing each other when viewed from above, and the upper surface is configured to be substantially flat. The main body 1 has an outer frame 3 that serves as an exterior part and a pot accommodating part 4 with an open upper part. When the lid 2 is opened, a bottomed pot 5 as a container for accommodating water and rice, which is the object to be cooked, is detachably accommodated in the pot accommodating part 4. The pot accommodating part 4 is configured by combining an upper frame 6 that constitutes its upper part and side surface part, and a bowl-shaped inner frame 7 made of resin, etc., and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape as a whole.

[0012] The pot 5 has a main material 8 made of aluminum with good thermal conductivity, and a heating element 9 made of a magnetic metal plate such as ferritic stainless steel is joined from the lower side part to the bottom of the outer surface of the main material 8. Further, on the outer surface of the inner frame 7 facing the bottom surface from the lower part of the side surface of the pot 5, a heating coil 11 is provided as heating means for electromagnetically inductively heating the heating element 9 of the pot 5. When a high-frequency current is supplied to the heating coil 11, the heating element 9 of the pot 5 generates heat due to the alternating magnetic field generated from the heating coil 11, and the food to be cooked in the pot 5 is heated during rice cooking and heat preservation. Also, at the center of the bottom of the inner frame 7, a pot sensor 12 as pot temperature detection means is disposed so as to elastically contact the bottom of the outer surface of the pot 5.

[0013] On the upper surface of the lid 2, a steam port 14 for discharging steam generated from the food to be cooked in the pot 5 to the outside of the rice cooker 100 is formed. Also, in front of the upper surface of the lid 2, a lid operation body 15 as lid opening means is disposed in an exposed state.

[0014] On the upper surface of the lid 2, in addition to the steam port 14 and the lid operation body 15, a display operation unit 17 is provided. The display operation unit 17 mainly includes a display means 18 composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., for displaying various information related to rice cooking, an operation means 19 composed of a push-type switch, etc., for starting rice cooking or selecting a rice cooking course, and a control PC (Printed Circuit) board 20 on which a control IC (not shown) for controlling each part of these display means 18, operation means 19, and display operation unit 17 is mounted. Also, above the display operation unit 17, an operation panel 21 for protecting these display means 18, operation means 19, and control PC board 20 is arranged.

[0015] The lid body 2 is composed of an outer lid 22 that serves as an exterior component and an outer lid cover 23 that forms below the outer lid 22. The outer lid cover 23 is provided with a heat dissipation plate 24 made of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum anodized. Below the lid body 2, an inner lid assembly 25 is disposed as a lower member of the lid body 2. The inner lid assembly 25 is made of a metal material having a disk shape with substantially the same diameter as the upper opening of the pot 5, and includes an inner lid 26 that covers the upper opening of the pot 5 and a lid packing 27 as an elastic member provided on the entire outer circumference of the inner lid 26 to seal the space between the inner lid 26 and the pot 5. The annularly formed lid packing 27 abuts against the flange 28 that becomes the upper surface portion of the pot 5 and the inner surface of the upper end portion of the pot 5 when the lid is closed with the lid body 2 closed as shown in FIG. 1, closes the gap between the pot 5 and the inner lid 26, and seals the steam generated from the pot 5. The inner lid 26 made of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum anodized is disposed outside the heat dissipation plate 24.

[0016] Inside the lid body 2, a lid heater 31 as a lid heating means for heating the inner lid 26, a thermistor-type lid temperature sensor 32 for controlling the temperature of the inner lid 26 by the lid heater 31, and a pressure regulating section 33 for adjusting the pressure in the space of the pot 5 are respectively provided. And inside the lid body 2, a steam discharge path 34 that communicates the steam port 14 and the pressure regulating section 33 is formed as a path for discharging the steam generated in the pot 5 to the outside.

[0017] The pressure regulating section 33 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 35 that opens and closes a steam discharge path 34 between the interior of the pot 5 and the steam port 14. The pressure regulating valve 35 is interlocked with a solenoid 36 provided inside the lid body 2. When discharging the steam in the pot 5 to the outside, the steam discharge path 34 is opened, and when pressurizing or depressurizing the interior of the pot 5, the solenoid 36 moves the pressure regulating valve 35 up and down so as to block the steam discharge path 34. During pressurization, the food to be cooked in the pot 5 is heated by high-frequency energization of the heating coil 11, the food to be cooked boils to generate steam, and when the internal pressure of the pot 5 reaches a predetermined value as this steam fills the pot 5, the spring 37 provided in the pressure regulating valve 35 contracts upward against the elastic force of the spring 37, the pressure regulating valve 35 moves upward to open the steam discharge path 34, and thus the pressure inside the pot 5 is maintained at atmospheric pressure or higher.

[0018] 38 is a unitized heating substrate assembly disposed inside the main body 1 and including heating control means 39. The heating control means 39 is configured to electrically control each part of the rice cooker 100 in combination with the display operation unit 17, and includes a control IC such as a CPU, a memory capable of reading and writing various information and data, a microcomputer (microcontroller) including a timer capable of measuring the time related to cooking rice, etc., and electrically controls each part of the rice cooker 100. Specifically, the heating substrate assembly 38 is connected to the display operation unit 17, and the heating control means 39 receives each temperature detection signal from the pot sensor 12 and the lid temperature sensor 32, outputs heating control signals to the heating coil 11 and the lid heater 31 respectively, and outputs a drive control signal to the solenoid 36 that moves the pressure regulating valve 35.

[0019] 41 is a hinge part, and has a hinge shaft 42 provided at the lower rear of the lid body 2 and a hinge spring 43 formed of a coil spring or the like and provided at the upper rear of the main body 1. When the lid body operation body 14 provided on the front upper surface of the lid body 2 is pushed and operated, the engagement between the main body 1 and the lid body 2 is released, and the lid body 2 opens with the hinge shaft 42 as the rotation center by the hinge spring 43.

[0020] A hinge cover 44 is attached to the rear of the hinge portion 41, and the hinge cover 44 is configured to be flush with the outer frame 3 and the outer lid 22. Therefore, the outer frame 3, the outer lid 22, and the hinge cover 44 form the outer shape of the rice cooker 100.

[0021] The hinge shaft 42 pivotally supports the main body 1 and the lid body 2 so that they can be opened and closed freely. The hinge spring 43 is locked to the outer lid cover 23 and constantly biases the lid body 2 in the opening direction. A clamp 45 that interlocks with the lid body operating body 14 is disposed substantially on the opposite side of the hinge shaft 42 that is the rotation center of the lid body 2, and this clamp 45 is pivotally supported by the outer lid cover 23 by a clamp shaft 46. And on the outer frame 3, on the side substantially opposite to the hinge portion 31, a clamp receiver 47 (not shown) that engages with the clamp 45 is provided.

[0022] The clamp 45 provided on the lid body 2 rotates about the clamp shaft 46 as the central axis and engages with a clamp receiver 47 (see FIG. 3) provided on the main body 1. By the engagement of this clamp 45 and the clamp receiver 47, the main body 1 and the lid body 2 are held in the closed state. On the other hand, when opening the lid body 2, the lid body operating body 15 is pushed to rotate the clamp 45 in the reverse direction, and the engagement between the clamp 45 and the clamp receiver 47 is released.

[0023] 48 is a pressure reducing means for making the inside of the pot 5 lower than the normal atmospheric pressure when the lid body 2 is closed to the main body 1. The pressure reducing means 48 accommodates the pot 5 in the pot accommodating portion 4, energizes the solenoid 36 after closing the lid body 2 to move the pressure regulating valve 35 downward, and closes the steam discharge path 34, and reduces the internal pressure of the sealed pot 5. Also, when the pressure inside the pot 5 drops below a certain value from the atmospheric pressure, the operation of the pressure reducing pump 49 that is the operation source of the pressure reducing means 48 is stopped, and the inside of the inner pot 1 is kept in a reduced pressure state. Further, when returning the inside of the pot 5 from the reduced pressure state to the same pressure as the outside air, the operation of the pressure reducing pump 49 is stopped, and a path (not shown) that communicates between the pressure reducing pump 49 and the inside of the pot 5 is opened. That is, the pressure reducing means 48 also serves as a pressure returning means for returning the inside of the pot 5 from the reduced pressure state to the same pressure as the outside air.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rice cooker 100 with the outer lid 22 removed. In this figure, lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52, which are a pair divided left and right as lid reinforcing means, are arranged on the outer lid cover 23 that is the base material of the lid body 2. These lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52 are for reinforcing the strength of the lid body 2, and are made of, for example, a metal material having higher rigidity than the synthetic resin outer lid cover 23, and have a linear shape extending in the front-rear direction of the lid body 2 along both side surfaces of the outer lid cover 23. Also, the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52 have a structure fixed to the outer lid cover 35 by fastening members such as screws, for example.

[0025] Holes 53 and 54 through which the clamp shaft 46 penetrates are provided on the front side of the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52. By passing each end of the clamp shaft 46 through these holes 53 and 54, the clamp shaft 46 is connected to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52. Therefore, the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52 also function as a bearing portion for the clamp shaft 46. Also, holes 55 and 56 through which the hinge shaft 42 penetrates are provided on the rear side of the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52. By passing each end of the hinge shaft 42 through these holes 55 and 56, not only the clamp shaft 46 but also the hinge shaft 42 is connected to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52. The hinge shaft 42 and the clamp shaft 46 are both metal members arranged in the left-right direction of the lid body 2 and thus the rice cooker 100. By combining these members with the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52, for example, when the pressure inside the pot 4 becomes higher than atmospheric pressure or lower than atmospheric pressure during rice cooking, the lid body 2 can be effectively reinforced against the pressure increase and pressure decrease. Therefore, with the minimum necessary structure of simply connecting the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52 to the hinge shaft 42 and the clamp shaft 46, it is possible to increase the strength of the lid body 2 and thus the rice cooker 100 as a product, avoid an increase in product size and weight, and improve the adverse effect of cost increase. Also, by using the clamp shaft 46 as a connecting body, effective reinforcement in the clamp 45 is realized with the minimum necessary structure, and by using the hinge shaft 42 as a connecting body, effective reinforcement in the rotation mechanism between the lid body 2 and the main body 1 is realized with the minimum necessary structure.

[0026] 56 is a resin retaining portion formed so as to be able to be abutted at a predetermined position when the clamp shaft 46 is inserted into the holes 53 and 54. The retaining portion 56 is substantially U-shaped in a top view and is formed integrally with the outer lid cover 23 so as to extend vertically from the outer lid cover 23. This retaining portion 56 has a substantially plate-shaped main body 56-1 provided such that a flat surface faces the hole 53, and plate-shaped side plates 56-2 and 56-3 as reinforcing ribs extending perpendicularly from both side edges of the main body 56-1 in the direction of the side surface portion of the outer lid cover 23, respectively. Note that the height of the retaining portion 56 only needs to be at or above the position of the hole 53, and in this embodiment, it is formed at substantially the same height as the upper surface of the lid reinforcing plate 51 provided with the hole 53. By being configured in this way, by inserting the clamp shaft 46 into the holes 53 and 54 until it abuts against the main body 56-1 of the retaining portion 56, the clamp shaft 46 can be arranged at a predetermined position where it is connected to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52, and the clamp shaft 46 can be prevented from moving from the predetermined position and coming out of the holes 53 and 54. Therefore, the retaining portion 56 has a function as a means for preventing the clamp shaft 46 from coming out. Instead of the retaining portion 56, a shaft restraining portion 57 described later may be provided, and the shaft restraining portions 57 may be provided on both end sides of the clamp shaft 46, respectively.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the frame A in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged top view of the main part of the shaft restraining portion 57. For the sake of explanation, the lid reinforcing plate 52 is omitted in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0028] 57 is a resin shaft restraining portion that prevents the clamp shaft 46 from coming out of the holes 53 and 54. The shaft restraining portion 57 has plate-like ribs 57-1 and 57-2 formed to extend vertically from the outer lid cover 23, and a plate-like reinforcing rib 57-3 that connects the lower portions of the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, and is integrally formed with the outer lid cover 23 so as to extend vertically from the outer lid cover 23. As shown in FIG. 4, the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are formed in substantially the same shape, and a space 58 is formed between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2. Also, in the present embodiment, the distance W1 between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 on the clamp 45 side is arranged to be less than the diameter D of the clamp shaft 46, and even if the clamp shaft 46 moves from a predetermined position, it is interfered with by the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, thus preventing the clamp shaft 46 from coming out of the holes 53 and 54.

[0029] The shaft restraining portion 57 of the present embodiment is made of resin. When the clamp shaft 46 is inserted into the space 58, the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are elastically deformed outward under the pressure from the clamp shaft 46, and the clamp shaft 46 is press-fitted between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2. At this time, in a top view, it is preferably configured such that the press-fitted clamp shaft 46 and the axis C extending from the centers of the holes 53 and 54 of the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52 coincide. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are symmetrically arranged with the axis C as the boundary, and since the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are formed in substantially the same shape, the respective elastic forces from the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 to the clamp shaft 46 are substantially the same at the position where the clamp shaft 46 and the axis C coincide in a top view. Therefore, when the clamp shaft 46 is press-fitted, it is configured such that the clamp shaft 46 and the axis C coincide in a top view. In the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, for example, grooves or marks may be formed on the surfaces facing each other or on the opposite surfaces at the height portions of the holes 53 and 54. When the clamp shaft 46 is aligned with these grooves or marks and inserted into the space 58, the height of the clamp shaft 46 becomes substantially the same as that of the holes 53 and 54. Therefore, when the clamp shaft 46 penetrates the shaft restraining portion 57, it is aligned with the position of the hole 54, and the alignment of the clamp shaft 46 with the hole 54 can be facilitated.

[0030] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are formed in a figure-eight shape in a top view with the axis C as the boundary. The narrower side between the two ribs 57-1 and 57-2, that is, the side where the distance between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 is W1, is located on the clamp 45 side, and the wider side between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, that is, the side where the distance between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 is W2, is located on the opposite side of the clamp 45. Here, in this embodiment, the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are arranged such that the distance W1 is less than the diameter D of the clamp shaft 46, and the distance W2 is greater than the diameter D of the clamp shaft 46. In this way, at least one of the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 is arranged to face the insertion direction of the clamp shaft 46 with an inclination, and the narrower side of the distance between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, that is, the distance W1, is arranged to be located on the clamp shaft 46 side. By configuring in this way, it is easier to press-fit the clamp shaft 46 between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 from the side of the distance W2, and after the clamp shaft 46 is arranged at a predetermined position, it is possible to prevent the clamp shaft 46 from coming out of the holes 53 and 54. Also, in this embodiment, the reinforcing rib 57-3 is connected to the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 so that the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 can elastically deform until the distance W1 becomes greater than the diameter D of the clamp shaft 46. In this embodiment, the reinforcing rib 57-3 is connected to the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 from the outer lid cover 23 to a position below the center of the ribs 57-1 and 57-2.

[0031] Next, referring to FIG. 6, the assembly of the clamp 45 will be described. First, the clamp shaft 46 is inserted into the space 58 of the shaft restraining portion 57 in the direction of arrow F from the side where the distance between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 is wide, that is, W2. At this time, since the distance W2 is greater than the diameter D of the clamp shaft 46, the clamp shaft 46 can be easily inserted into the space 58 between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 without widening the shaft restraining portion 57 with the hand or the like.

[0032] Even after the clamping shaft 46 abuts against the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, when the clamping shaft 46 is press-fitted in the direction of arrow F, the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are elastically deformed outward under the external force from the clamping shaft 46, and the distance W1 between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 on the clamping 45 side widens. When W1 becomes a distance equal to or greater than the diameter D of the clamping shaft 46, the clamping shaft 46 penetrates the shaft restraining portion 57 while being sandwiched between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2.

[0033] After that, the tip of the clamping shaft 46 is moved so as to align with the position of the hole 54. Here, in the present embodiment, since the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are symmetrically arranged with the axis C as the boundary and the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are formed in substantially the same shape, when the clamping shaft 46 penetrates the shaft restraining portion 57, the clamping shaft 46 is positioned so as to align with the axis C in a top view. By simply aligning the clamping shaft 46 with the position of the hole 54 in the height direction, the tip of the clamping shaft 46 moves to the position of the hole 54. Then, when the clamping shaft 46 is moved in the direction of arrow F, the clamping shaft 46 is inserted into and penetrates the hole 54, and at the same time, by penetrating the holes 45-1 and 45-1 of the clamp 45, the clamp 45 is attached to the clamping shaft 46 and is inserted into and penetrates the hole 53.

[0034] The clamping shaft 46 moves in the direction of arrow F until it abuts against the main body 56-1 of the retaining portion 56. When the clamping shaft 46 moves to a predetermined position, the other end of the clamping shaft 46 passes through between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, so that the clamping shaft 46 no longer exists between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, and the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 no longer receive the external force from the clamping shaft 46. Then, the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 return to the state when they are elastically deformed and not receiving an external force, that is, the state where the distance W1 on the clamp 45 side is less than the diameter D and the distance on the opposite side of the clamp 45 is W2. Therefore, even if the clamping shaft 46 moves from the predetermined position, it contacts the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 and is interfered with by the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, so the clamping shaft 46 does not come out of the holes 53 and 54.

[0035] Note that the interval W1 between the clamps 45 on the side of the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 is widened to be equal to or greater than the diameter D, and the clamp shaft 46 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow F, so that the clamp shaft 46 can be removed from the clamp 45 and the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52. For example, when replacing the clamp 45, the disassembly of the clamp 45 can be facilitated.

[0036] As described above, the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment includes a clamp shaft 46 as a shaft that is rotatably supported by being inserted into holes 53 and 54 formed in lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52 as bearing portions, and at least one end side of the clamp shaft 46 is provided with a shaft restraining portion 57 made of resin as a flexible material that prevents the clamp shaft 46 from coming out of the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52. The shaft restraining portion 57 has a first state in which the clamp shaft 46 cannot pass through, and a second state in which a space 58 is formed as an insertion space through which the clamp shaft 46 can pass when an external force is applied.

[0037] With this configuration, the shaft restraining portion 57 is provided on the outer lid cover 23, and even if the shaft restraining portion 57 exists before the clamp shaft 46 is attached, the clamp shaft 46 can be attached to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52.

[0038] In addition, the shaft restraining portion 57 of the present embodiment has at least two plate-shaped ribs 57-1 and 57-2. The ribs 57-1 and 57-2 are in a figure-eight shape in a top view, and at least one of the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 is arranged to face with an inclination with respect to the insertion direction of the clamp shaft 46. The narrower interval W1 between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2 is arranged to be located on the side of the clamp shaft 46, and the space 58 is formed in the space between the ribs 57-1 and 57-2. Therefore, even if the clamp shaft 46 moves from a predetermined position, it is interfered with by the ribs 57-1 and 57-2, so that the clamp shaft 46 does not come out of the holes 53 and 54 of the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52.

[0039] In the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, the shaft restraining portion 57 receiving an external force means press-fitting the clamp shaft 46 into the shaft restraining portion 57. By inserting the clamp shaft 46 into the space 58, the interval W1 of the space 58 can be made equal to or greater than the diameter D of the clamp shaft 46. Therefore, for example, the clamp shaft 46 can be attached to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52 without performing operations such as manually spreading the other ribs 57-1 and 57-2, saving the labor of assembling the clamp 45 and improving the efficiency.

[0040] In the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, when the shaft restraining portion 57 stops receiving an external force from the second state where the interval W1 of the space 58 is larger than the diameter D, it is configured to enter the first state where the interval W1 of the space 58 is less than the diameter D. Even if the shaft restraining portion 57 exists before attaching the clamp shaft 46, while the clamp shaft 46 can be attached to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52, when the clamp shaft 46 moves to a predetermined position, it can be configured not to come out of the holes 53 and 54 of the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52, and the efficiency of assembling the clamp 45 can be improved.

[0041] In the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, when the shaft restraining portion 57 is not provided on the other end side of the clamp shaft 46, a retaining portion 56 for preventing the shaft restraining portion 57 from coming out of the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52 is provided on the other end side of the clamp shaft 46. By inserting the clamp shaft 46 into the holes 53 and 54 until it abuts against the main body 56-1 of the retaining portion 56, the clamp shaft 46 can be arranged at a predetermined position where it is connected to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52, and it can be prevented from moving from the predetermined position and coming out of the holes 53 and 54.

[0042] In the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it includes the main body 1 of the rice cooker 100 and a lid 2 that opens and closes the upper surface opening of the main body 1. The clamp shaft 46 is configured to be a clamp shaft 46 provided on the lid 2 and around which a clamp 45 that locks the main body 1 and the lid 2 rotates. Therefore, the clamp shaft 46 can be easily attached to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52, and the efficiency of assembling the clamp 45 can be improved.

[0043] In addition, in the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, the shaft restraining portion 57 and the retaining portion 56 are not provided on the outer lid 22 as an exterior member, so that there is no occurrence of sink marks or color difference from other places on the outer surface of the outer lid 22, and it is possible to prevent the appearance of the product from being affected.

[0044] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the shaft is the clamp shaft 46, and the present invention is adopted for the clamp shaft 46. However, this is only an example. For example, the shaft may be the hinge shaft 42, and the present invention may be adopted for the hinge shaft 42. Even if there is a shaft restraining portion for the hinge shaft 42, the hinge shaft 42 can be attached to the lid reinforcing plates 51 and 52. In addition, the numerical values and the like exemplified in the embodiment are merely examples, and may be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the rice cooker 100 and the like.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 22 Outer lid (exterior member) 46 Clamp shaft (shaft) 51 Lid reinforcing plate (bearing portion) 52 Lid reinforcing plate (bearing portion) 53 Hole 54 Hole 56 Retaining portion (second retaining means) 57 Shaft restraining portion (retaining means) 57-1 Rib 57-2 Rib 58 Space (insertion portion) 100 Rice cooker W1 Interval (width)

Claims

1. A shaft rotatably supported by being inserted into a hole formed in a bearing portion, and a prevention means made of a flexible material provided on at least one end side of the shaft to prevent the shaft from coming out of the bearing portion. The prevention means has a first state in which the shaft cannot pass through, and a second state in which an insertion space through which the shaft can pass is formed when an external force is applied. The rice cooker is characterized by this.

2. The prevention means is arranged such that at least one of two plate-like ribs is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the shaft and faces each other, and is arranged such that the narrower space between the ribs is located on the shaft side. The rice cooker according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

3. Receiving the external force means press-fitting the shaft into the prevention means. The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2 is characterized by this.

4. The prevention means returns to the first state when the external force is no longer applied from the second state. The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2 is characterized by this.

5. When the prevention means is not provided on the other end side of the shaft, a retaining portion for preventing the shaft from coming out of the bearing portion is provided on the other end side of the shaft. The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2 is characterized by this.

6. The rice cooker includes a main body of the rice cooker and a lid that opens and closes an upper surface opening of the main body, and the shaft is a clamp shaft provided on the lid and around which a clamp for locking the main body and the lid rotates. The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2 is characterized by this.

7. The rice cooker according to claim 5, characterized in that the prevention means and the retaining portion are not provided on an exterior member.

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