Induction heating cooking device

Abstract

To provide an induction heating cooking device that facilitates introduction of an external air into a housing to ensure a sufficient cooling capacity by an air, and that can prevent malfunction of each component in the housing and prolong the life by appropriate cooling.SOLUTION: When an air intake hole 12a for introducing external air into a housing 10 is provided in a peripheral side part of the housing 10 and a cooling fan provided in the housing 10 is operated, since the external air is sucked in a lateral direction from the air intake hole 12a, a sufficient amount of air is sucked into the housing 10 from the air intake hole 12a provided in a peripheral side part of the housing in a state in which other objects are not normally present in a vicinity and the periphery is widely opened, under a situation in which a suction resistance is small. The air can be sent out from the cooling fan to the space inside the housing 10, a component inside the housing can be efficiently cooled, the device can be continuously used by appropriate heat radiation, and the deterioration of the components can be suppressed to obtain a state in which the failure of the device hardly occurs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an induction heating cooking device that heats an object placed in a metal container by heating the metal container using electromagnetic induction heating, and particularly to an induction heating cooking device that is suitable for use in places where there is no commercial power source.

[0002] In this invention, the term "peripheral part" indicating a specific part of the device housing is used to refer to the entire part existing on the lateral (horizontal) outer periphery of the box-shaped housing, specifically the front, back, left and right surfaces as viewed from the center of the housing. [Background technology]

[0003] Among cooking devices that use heat generated by electricity, those that use heat generated by electromagnetic induction heating tend to generate heat and reach high temperatures due to the induction heating coil, which carries a relatively large current, and the electrical circuitry that controls it.If left unattended, this can cause problems with operation, so they need to be cooled to dissipate the heat.

[0004] To cool each part of these devices, a forced air cooling method is generally used, in which an airflow generated by a fan is directed at the part that generates heat to remove the heat. An example of a conventional induction heating cooking device using such a forced air cooling mechanism is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-6871. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-6871 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The conventional cooking appliance has the configuration shown in the aforementioned patent document, and is structured so that a cooling fan located near the bottom of the housing operates to draw in outside air through an intake hole on the bottom and send this air toward the heating coil, etc., which heats up with use. The air sent out from the cooling fan reaches the heating coil, etc., removes heat, and is then discharged to the outside through an exhaust hole in the side wall of the housing.

[0007] In such conventional cooking appliances, the gap between the bottom of the housing, where the air intake holes are located, and the surface on which the cooking appliance is placed, such as a table top, is small, which increases the resistance to air intake when drawing air into the housing, making it difficult to introduce air into the housing. This difficulty in drawing air leads to insufficient intake of air for cooling, which reduces the efficiency of cooling within the housing due to an insufficient amount of air, resulting in insufficient heat dissipation and causing temperatures within the housing to rise more than expected, potentially adversely affecting the continuous operation of the cooking appliance. In addition, such a rise in temperature inside the housing could accelerate the deterioration of parts such as the heating coil over time, potentially leading to malfunctions.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an induction heating cooking device that can easily introduce outside air into the housing, ensure sufficient cooling capacity by air, and prevent malfunction of each component inside the housing and extend its lifespan through appropriate cooling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention is an induction heating cooking device that uses induction heating to raise the temperature of a metal container containing a specified heated object and heats the heated object, and is equipped with a box-shaped housing that can support the metal container, an induction heating coil that is built into the housing and performs induction heating on the metal container, a control unit that is built into the housing and controls the current of the induction heating coil, and a cooling fan that is arranged inside the housing for ventilation, and the housing is provided with intake holes on the peripheral side of the housing near the cooling fan that allow outside air to flow in and direct it toward the cooling fan.

[0010] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, when intake holes for introducing outside air into the housing are provided on the peripheral side of the housing and a cooling fan provided inside the housing is operated, outside air is sucked in laterally through the intake holes, and a sufficient amount of air can be sucked into the housing through the intake holes provided on the peripheral side of the housing, which is normally free of other objects nearby and has a wide open periphery, under conditions of low intake resistance, and the air can be sent out by the cooling fan into the space inside the housing, allowing efficient cooling of each component inside the housing and allowing continuous use of the device through appropriate heat dissipation, while also suppressing deterioration of the components and making the device less susceptible to malfunctions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the front side of an induction heating cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of the rear side of an induction heating cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, with the induction heating coil omitted. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram of an induction heating cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]1 is a plan view of an induction heating cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention with an upper housing and an upper plate removed; [Figure 8] 1 is a plan view of an induction heating cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with an upper housing, an upper plate, an induction heating coil, and an operation unit removed. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lower housing in the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a perspective view of the upper surface side of an intermediate housing in an induction heating cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower surface side of an intermediate housing in the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an air flow state in the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the battery is first removed from the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the battery is removed from the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a battery is first attached to an induction heating cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the battery and the guide rails start to engage with each other in the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 17] 10 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the battery is separated from the mounting surface due to engagement between the battery and the guide rail in the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where battery installation is completed in the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a battery is first attached to an induction heating cooking device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 20] 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing a state in which air is discharged from an exhaust hole of an upper housing in an induction heating cooking device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An induction heating cooking device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In each of the above figures, the induction heating cooking device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a box-shaped housing 10 capable of supporting from below a metal container 90 containing an object to be heated, an upper plate 20 located at the top of the housing 10 on which the metal container 90 is placed, an induction heating coil 21 built into the housing 10 and performing induction heating on the metal container 90, a control unit 30 built into the housing 10 and controlling the current of the induction heating coil 21, a battery 40 supplying power to the induction heating coil 21 through the control unit 30, a cooling fan 50 arranged in the housing 10 for ventilating the inside of the housing 10, and an operation unit 60 provided at the front of the housing 10 and accepting operations from the user.

[0013] The housing 10 is formed as a rectangular box-like body when viewed from above, has an upper plate 20 attached to the top, and contains an induction heating coil 21, a control unit 30, and a cooling fan 50, and further has a battery 40 arranged in a removable manner.

[0014] In the housing 10, the induction heating coil 21 is disposed inside the housing 10, below the upper plate 20, near the center of the top of the housing 10. The cooling fan 50 is disposed inside the housing 10, near the rear surface of the housing 10. The control unit 30 is disposed in front of the cooling fan 50 inside the housing 10.

[0015] Meanwhile, the location in the housing 10 where the battery 40 is to be placed is provided on the rear side of the housing as a recess 18 for accommodating the battery 40. The width of the rear entrance of the recess 18 where the battery 40 is to be placed is wider than the width of the battery 40, so that the rear of the battery can be pinched and held with fingers from both sides when it is placed in the recess 18. Furthermore, the recess 18 is open not only on the rear side of the housing but also on the bottom side, so that it directly faces the placing surface, such as the top of a table, on which the housing 10 is placed.

[0016] The recess 18 in the housing 10 that houses the battery 40 has a shape that is open on the rear and bottom sides of the housing, but this is not limited to this, and it may be open only on the rear side, with the bottom side closed by the presence of a part that forms the bottom of the housing.

[0017] The battery 40 can be attached to the housing 10 by pushing it from the rear of the housing 10 toward the housing 10 in a recess 18 on the rear side of the housing, and can be removed by pulling out the battery 40 in the opposite direction to the attachment direction.

[0018] When the battery 40 is attached to the housing 10, the rear and bottom sides of the battery 40 are not covered by the housing 10 but are left open, which promotes the release of heat from the battery 40, which may generate heat during charging or discharging, and makes it less likely that malfunction or deterioration will occur due to an abnormal rise in the battery temperature.

[0019] Furthermore, the housing 10 is provided with an intake hole 12a on the rear surface of its peripheral side, which draws in external air and directs it toward the cooling fan 50. That is, the intake hole 12a is provided on the same surface as the surface on which the battery 40 is disposed and on the surface close to the internal cooling fan 50.

[0020] The housing 10 has exhaust holes 11a on the left and right sides of the periphery thereof, through which air ventilated inside the housing by the cooling fan 50 is discharged to the outside of the housing. On the other hand, an operation unit 60 is provided at the front of the housing 10 to receive an operation instruction relating to heating of the metal container 90 from the user.

[0021] Specifically, housing 10 is configured as a combination of an upper housing 11 and a lower housing 12. Housing 10 has exhaust holes 11a provided in the left and right sides of upper housing 11, while intake holes 12a are provided in the rear side of lower housing 12. By providing intake holes 12a on the peripheral sides other than the left and right sides, it is less likely that a short circuit will occur, in which exhausted air is sucked back in.

[0022] The upper housing 11 of the housing 10 has a stepped shape on each side surface that forms the left and right sides, with the outer upper portions of the sides being lower than the inner portions. On both the left and right sides, an exhaust hole 11a is provided on the upper side surface of the upper housing 11, which is shifted inward relatively to the lower side surface.

[0023] An inclined surface that slopes downward toward the front is provided at the front of the housing 10, and the upper housing 11 is formed to have a shape that includes the entire inclined surface. The operating unit 60 is provided on the inclined surface at the front of the housing 10. Inside the housing 10, a substantially plate-shaped intermediate housing 13 is disposed between the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 that constitute the housing 10.

[0024] The housing 10 is provided with a grip portion 10a that can be held at a location away from the battery 40. The grip portion 10a is provided on the housing 10 so as to be located forward of the battery placement location on the rear side of the housing 10 in the direction in which the battery 40 is attached.

[0025] Grip portion 10a is formed as a region that includes the peripheral portion of housing 10, more specifically, the inner surface of grip recess 12d that is provided from the left side surface of the peripheral portion of lower housing 12 of housing 10 toward the inside of the housing, and a part of the outer surface of housing 10 (lower housing 12) that faces this inner surface. By configuring grip portion 10a mainly with grip recess 12d, it is not necessary to provide a convex portion such as a handle for gripping on housing 10, which results in an excellent aesthetic appearance, and since there is no such convex portion, housing 10 can be made more compact, and the space it occupies when placed is reduced.

[0026] The grip recess 12d forming the grip portion 10a is arranged so that the depth (recess depth) from the entrance of the grip recess 12d on the left side surface of the lower housing 12 to the innermost part is the same as the distance from the surface of the housing 10 where the grip recess 12d is located to the farthest part of the battery 40 when attached to the housing 10.

[0027] Grip recess 12d is provided with a width W1 at the recess entrance that is larger than the distance W2 between the inner surface of grip recess 12d that forms grip portion 10a and a portion of the outer surface of lower housing 12 that faces this inner surface. This makes grip portion 10a a size that fits the hand as a whole, and when fingers are inserted into grip recess 12d to grasp grip portion 10a, the fingers can be placed on the inner surface of grip recess 12d and the portion of the outer surface of lower housing 12 that faces this inner surface, making it easy to grip them.

[0028] In addition, the grip recess 12d is open not only to the left side of the lower housing 12, which is the recess entrance, but also to the bottom side of the housing, so that it faces the support surface on which the housing 10 is placed.

[0029] Furthermore, the housing 10 (lower housing 12) is configured so that a guide rail 14 is provided at the location where the battery 40 is installed, which is continuous in the installation and removal directions of the battery 40, i.e., the front-to-back direction of the housing 10, and contacts the battery 40 to guide the battery 40.

[0030] More specifically, the guide rails 14 are provided as protruding ridges that protrude laterally on both the left and right sides of the upper surface of the lower housing 12 near the recess 18 where the battery 40 is disposed, and are detachably engaged with grooves provided on the left and right side surfaces of the battery 40 to support the battery 40.

[0031] The battery 40 is formed with grooves 43 on the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail 14, which is a linear, continuous ridge, on the upper surface of the groove at the midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the groove, so that the groove has a stepped shape in the vertical direction across a slope. When the battery 40 is advanced in the installation direction into the recess 18, which is the battery installation location in the housing 10, and the stepped position of the groove 43 of the battery 40 reaches the guide rail 14, the battery 40 is guided and shifted upward relative to the guide rail 14. When the battery 40 housed in the recess 18 is advanced in the removal direction and the stepped position of the groove 43 of the battery 40 moves out of alignment with the guide rail 14, the battery 40 is guided and shifted downward relative to the guide rail 14.

[0032] Therefore, in the initial stage of attaching battery 40 to housing 10, when battery 40 begins to be inserted into recess 18 of housing 10, battery 40 is placed on and in contact with the mounting surface on which housing 10 is placed. On the other hand, when battery 40 is pushed all the way into recess 18 of housing 10 and completely attached to housing 10, battery 40 is positioned slightly away from the mounting surface.

[0033] In this way, battery 40 is separated from the placement surface when attached to housing 10, so that battery 40 does not reach below the bottom surface of the housing even if there is some shape error in battery 40. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a part of battery 40 attached to housing 10 protrudes below the bottom surface of the housing, causing housing 10 to rattle against the placement surface.

[0034] In addition, instead of the guide rail 14, a groove may be provided on the lower housing side, and a protruding portion that can be engaged with and disengaged from this groove may be provided on the battery side, thereby enabling the same guidance as described above when attaching or detaching the battery.

[0035] Furthermore, the position where the guide rail 14 is provided is not limited to the upper surface side facing the recess 18 of the lower housing 12, but may be provided at a predetermined height position inside the left and right side walls facing the recess 18 of the lower housing 12.

[0036] A contact board 15 having contacts for electrically connecting to the battery 40 is provided in the lower housing 12 of the housing 10 above the location where the battery 40 is disposed. When the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 that make up the housing 10 are combined, this contact board 15 is located in the gap between the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 inside the housing 10, in a gap portion where the middle housing 13 is not present.

[0037] A predetermined area below the contact board 15, including the guide rails 14 above the location where the battery 40 is disposed in the lower housing 12, is formed as a separate part from the rest of the lower housing 12 and then integrated with it. As a result, when forming complex shapes such as the guide rails 14, a manufacturing process that ensures high molding accuracy only needs to be applied to the separate area, rather than to the entire lower housing 12, and the lower housing 12 equipped with high-precision guide rails 14 that can smoothly engage with the battery 40 can be manufactured at lower costs.

[0038] A connector section 16a to which another power source can be connected is provided in the innermost part of the recessed portion of the lower housing 12 of the housing 10 where the battery 40 is disposed. The connector section 16a is provided so as to be exposed from the wall surface that is the innermost part of the recessed portion of the lower housing 12. The connector section 16a can be a USB (female) connector to which a USB power device can be connected directly or via a USB cable, a DC connector to which an AC adapter can be connected, or an AC power connector to which a commercial power source can be connected via an AC cord.

[0039] Inside the lower housing 12, which is in front of the connector portion 16a, there is provided a connector board 16 on which the connector portion 16a and its associated circuits are mounted. By adopting a configuration in which connector portion 16a can only be connected to another power source when battery 40 is removed, power sources other than battery 40 can be connected as needed, ensuring the ability to use the cooking device in a variety of situations, while making it impossible to supply power from other power sources in parallel with the power supply from battery 40, eliminating the risk of cross-wiring.

[0040] The connector board 16 may be configured to have a circuit that, when a power source other than the battery 40 is connected to the connector portion 16a, boosts or lowers the voltage to a voltage equivalent to that of the battery 40 and supplies power to the control unit 30 at an appropriate voltage. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a circuit on the control unit side for detecting the power supply voltage and for boosting or lowering the voltage, which allows for simplification and miniaturization of the control unit.

[0041] In the housing 10, the control unit 30 is positioned in the direction of travel of the air sent out from the cooling fan 50, and a flow dividing wall 12b is provided in front of the control unit 30 in the direction of travel of this air. The flow dividing wall 12b divides the air flow that has passed through the control unit 30 into left and right parts and directs them toward the exhaust holes 11a on the left and right sides, and is provided as part of the lower housing 12.

[0042] This dividing wall portion 12b has a tip 12c that protrudes toward the control unit 30 as a branching point of the air flow path inside the housing, and has an arc-shaped curved surface in a plan view that continues from this tip 12c to the left and right, giving it the shape of a vertical wall that divides the air flow into two, left and right. The tip 12c of the flow dividing wall portion 12b is located on an extension of the fan center line extending from the center of the cooling fan 50 in the air flow direction and the center line of the control portion 30 which is parallel to the air flow direction.

[0043] In the lower housing 12, near the flow dividing wall portion 12b, a convex portion 12f is formed that protrudes toward the inside of the housing, surrounding a grip recess 12d provided for forming the grip portion 10a.

[0044] The convex portion 12f has a shape corresponding to the grip recess 12d, and is a continuously raised portion extending from the left side surface of the lower housing 12 toward the inside of the housing, and the tip of the convex portion 12f inside the housing is positioned along the side wall near the center of the housing, along the location where the battery is installed in the lower housing 12.

[0045] This protrusion 12f has the role of guiding the air flow heading toward the left side of the housing, out of the two air flows split by flow dividing wall 12b, to the upper side of protrusion 12f and guiding it toward exhaust hole 11a on the left side. The height of protrusion 12f allows the air to smoothly flow upward closer to exhaust hole 11a, and the air traveling along this path toward the left side, which is longer than the path of air heading toward the right side, can be guided to exhaust hole 11a without losing momentum.

[0046] It is preferable that the corners of the tip of this protrusion 12f located near the center of the housing have a rounded curved shape, as if they were chamfered, because this allows air to move more smoothly toward the upper side of the protrusion 12f.

[0047] Furthermore, the upper surface of the protrusion 12f may be shaped to have an upward slope that becomes higher as it approaches the left side surface of the housing where the exhaust hole 11a is located, allowing air to flow more smoothly toward the exhaust hole 11a on the left side surface. In this case, the grip recess 12d that is provided in a shape surrounded by the protrusion 12f will have a recess shape that is largest in vertical dimension at the entrance of the recess on the left side surface and that becomes smaller in vertical dimension as it goes deeper into the recess, corresponding to the shape of the protrusion 12f.

[0048] The air flow path from the cooling fan 50 through the control unit 30 to the airflow dividing wall 12b is covered from above by the intermediate housing 13 disposed between the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12. The intermediate housing 13 is formed as a partition wall that separates the space between the lower housing 12 and the intermediate housing 13, where the cooling fan 50 and the control unit 30 are present, and the space between the intermediate housing 13 and the upper housing 11, where the induction heating coil 21 is present. The intermediate housing 13 and the lower housing 12 regulate the direction of travel of the air separated by the flow separating wall portion 12b, and guide the air flow to the left side and right side, respectively.

[0049] The intermediate housing 13 has a slope portion 13c that slopes downward from a portion above the flow dividing wall portion 12b toward the front side away from the cooling fan 50 and the control unit 30. The sloped surface 13c of the intermediate housing 13 is disposed so as to overlap the lower side of the sloped surface at the front of the housing 10, the entire surface of which is included in the upper housing 11. Various switches and circuit boards as essential parts of the operation unit 60 are provided between the inclined surface 13c of the intermediate housing 13 and the inclined surface of the upper housing 11.

[0050] The intermediate housing 13 is provided with ventilation sections 13a, which are holes, at the left and right side ends near the left and right sides of the housing 10, respectively. Air that has circulated between the middle casing 13 and the lower casing 12 travels upward from the middle casing 13 through the ventilation section 13a.

[0051] More specifically, the ventilation section 13a is provided as a hole for passing air in the front-rear direction at a position facing the side end of the sloped section 13c, on the rear side closer to the cooling fan 50 and the control section 30 than the sloped section 13c in the front part of the intermediate housing 13. The ventilation section 13a passes the air to the rear side, which is opposite to the initial traveling direction of the air sent out from the cooling fan 50.

[0052] The ventilation sections may be provided as notches in the left and right side edges of the intermediate housing near the left and right sides of the housing. In this case, the ventilation sections are used in a state where the notches as ventilation sections in the intermediate housing are combined with the upper or lower housing to form closed holes.

[0053] The intermediate housing 13 is provided with a guide slope 13b in a rear area near the ventilation section 13a, which is closer to the cooling fan 50 and the control section 30 than the ventilation section 13a, and which slopes upward toward the side (rear side) closer to the cooling fan 50 and the control section 30.

[0054] The air passes through the ventilation section 13a, passes through the guide slope 13b, and advances to the space above the intermediate housing 13 where the induction heating coil 21 is located, and this air also serves to cool the induction heating coil 21.

[0055] On the other hand, after leaving ventilation section 13a and passing through guide slope 13b, the air finally reaches exhaust hole 11a and is released to the outside, and thus has an upward velocity component. Since the air flow from exhaust hole 11a has an upward velocity component, this compensates for the rising air current that is difficult to generate around the pot in the case of induction heating, unlike a gas stove, and makes it difficult for dirt from oily smoke and the like to adhere to the surroundings of the device.

[0056] Furthermore, intermediate housing 13 is provided with a notch 13d at an end thereof near control unit 30 and closer to the battery location of lower housing 12, through which electrical wiring connected to control unit 30 passes and through which part of the air blown out by cooling fan 50 flows into the space between intermediate housing 13 and upper housing 11. This notch 13d forms a hole that is closed by lower housing 12 when intermediate housing 13 is attached on lower housing 12.

[0057] Furthermore, the intermediate housing 13 has a hole 13f at a predetermined location above the control unit through which wiring electrically connects the induction heating coil 21 and the control unit 30 is passed, and which allows some of the air that has passed through the control unit 30 to enter the space between the intermediate housing 13 and the upper housing 11. The air passing through the notch 13d and the hole 13f and flowing into the space above the intermediate housing 13 contributes to cooling the induction heating coil 21.

[0058] In addition to cooling induction heating coil 21 with air that passes through ventilation section 13a, notch 13d, and hole 13f into the space between intermediate housing 13 and upper housing 11, contact substrate 15 located in the gap between upper housing 11 and lower housing 12 where intermediate housing 13 is not present may be cooled with air circulated from the space between intermediate housing 13 and upper housing 11 that communicates with this gap. In this case, battery 40 can also be cooled through contact substrate 15.

[0059] The upper plate 20 is formed in a flat plate shape from a material such as glass that is magnetically permeable and heat resistant, and is disposed on top of the housing 10 so that the metal container 90 can be placed thereon. The upper plate 20 is preferably fixed to the upper housing 11 with a heat resistant adhesive or double-sided tape. This upper plate 20 is similar to that used in a general induction heating cooking device, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0060] The induction heating coil 21 is disposed inside the housing 10 and attached to the intermediate housing 13 so as to be positioned below the upper plate 20, and when a current flows through it, it heats the metal container 90, such as a pot, that is the heating target, using the principle of induction heating. This induction heating coil 21 has a mechanism similar to that used in general induction heating cooking devices, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The induction heating coil 21 is electrically connected to the control unit 30 by a wire (not shown) that passes through a hole 13f provided in the intermediate housing 13.

[0061] A temperature sensor 22 is provided in the central space of this induction heating coil 21, and is capable of detecting the temperature of the bottom of the metal container 90 placed on the upper plate 20. The temperature sensor 22 is connected to the control unit 30, and enables the control unit 30 to adjust the state of electricity supplied to the induction heating coil 21 related to heating based on information about the detected temperature.

[0062] If the temperature sensor is integrated with the induction heating coil and the induction heating coil is placed and fixed on the upper side of the intermediate housing, the temperature sensor can be arranged along the center of the lower surface of the upper plate, which is preferable as it makes it easier to position the temperature sensor.

[0063] The temperature sensor 22 is not limited to a type such as a thermistor that is in contact with the upper plate 20 to detect the temperature of the upper plate 20, thereby enabling the control unit 30 to acquire the temperature of the bottom of the metal container 90 and the temperature of the object to be heated inside. For example, an infrared sensor that can acquire the temperature by detecting infrared rays from a heat source (the bottom of the metal container) through the upper plate may be used as the temperature sensor. However, when an infrared sensor is used, the upper plate must be made of a material that is transparent to infrared rays.

[0064] The control unit 30 is a circuit board module including an inverter circuit that converts direct current from the battery 40 into alternating current, is electrically connected to the induction heating coil 21, is built into the housing 10, and is capable of outputting high-frequency current to the induction heating coil 21.

[0065] Specifically, the control unit 30 is attached to the lower housing 12 and disposed in the space between the intermediate housing 13 and the lower housing 12. The control unit 30 is connected to the battery 40 via the contact board 15 above the battery 40 to receive power, and energizes the induction heating coil 21 and operates the cooling fan 50 based on instructions input through the operation unit 60.

[0066] The control performed by this control unit 30 to change the current in the induction heating coil 21 and adjust the heat generation state of the metal container 90 due to induction heating is similar to that used in general induction heating cooking devices, and detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0067] In addition, the control unit 30 has a current detection function that detects the current to the induction heating coil 21 and detects abnormal conditions, and a function that adjusts (boosts, reduces, converts frequency, etc.) the voltage of a power source other than the battery 40 (for example, a USB, AC adapter, commercial power source, etc.) to obtain an optimized output voltage.

[0068] In addition, the control unit 30 has a frying mode control function that uses the detection results from the temperature sensor 22 to perform automatic temperature management (heating output control) suitable for deep-fried cooking, as well as safety functions similar to those of known induction heating cooking devices, such as an empty-burn prevention function and a function to stop power supply when nothing is placed on the upper plate 20 or when small metal items are incorrectly placed on it.

[0069] The control unit 30 has semiconductor elements that handle large amounts of power for induction heating, and these semiconductor elements are fitted with heat sinks to promote the dissipation of the generated heat. It is desirable for these heat sinks to have a shape with low ventilation resistance that is optimized for forced air cooling by the cooling fan 50.

[0070] The battery 40 supplies power to the induction heating coil 21 through the control unit 30, and is configured to be detachably mounted on the rear surface of the periphery of the lower housing 12 of the housing 10.

[0071] The battery 40 is disposed relative to the housing 10 so that the entire battery 40 is contained within the smallest imaginary rectangular area that surrounds the housing in a plan view. This gives the housing 10 and battery 40 together a neat and compact appearance with no protruding parts.

[0072] The battery 40 is disposed relative to the housing 10, near the left side of the housing periphery where the grip recess 12d is located, and near the rear left corner of the four corners of the housing 10 in a plan view, so that it is offset from the center of the housing. By positioning the battery 40 significantly away from the center of the housing 10 and on the same side as the grip recess 12d, a large, spacious space can be secured inside the housing 10. It is more preferable that the battery be no more than 1 / 4 of the size of the housing in a plan view, and be positioned near a corner of the housing so that the battery does not overlap with the center line of the housing in the front-to-back or left-to-right directions, as this allows for effective use of the space inside the housing.

[0073] The battery 40 has contacts (not shown) on its upper portion that are arranged so as to be able to come into contact with the contacts of the contact board 15 when attached to the housing 10. The contact between the contacts allows the battery 40 to be electrically connected to the control unit 30 inside the housing 10. The battery 40 is arranged relative to the housing 10 such that the contacts overlap with the area where the housing 10 is present in a plan view.

[0074] The fact that the contacts of the battery 40 overlap with the housing 10 is synonymous with the contacts being isolated from the outside by the housing 10 and not exposed, which makes it less likely that foreign matter from the outside will reach the contacts and come into contact with them, thereby avoiding the adverse effects of deterioration of the contacts due to such contact and the associated poor contact.

[0075] The battery 40 has a locking mechanism 41 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the housing 10, enabling the battery 40 to remain attached to the housing 10. The battery 40 also has release operating units 42 that disengage the locking mechanism 41 from the housing 10, enabling the battery 40 to be removed from the housing 10, provided at predetermined locations on the left and right sides of the rear of the battery 40 facing the widened portion of the entrance section of the housing 10.

[0076] In this way, when the release operation unit 42 is operated, the rear part of the battery 40 can be simultaneously pinched and held with the fingers, so that the operation of the release operation unit 42 to transition the battery 40 to a removable state and the operation of pinching the battery 40 with the fingers and pulling it out of the housing 10 while applying force can be performed consecutively without removing the fingers from the battery 40, allowing the battery 40 to be removed efficiently.

[0077] The cooling fan 50 is configured to be disposed inside the housing 10 near the periphery thereof for ventilation into the housing 10. More specifically, the cooling fan 50 is disposed near the rear surface of the housing 10 where the air intake holes 12a are located.

[0078] The cooling fan 50 itself is a well-known electric axial flow fan, and like those used in general induction heating cooking devices, is electrically connected to the control unit 30 and is controlled to operate while ventilation for cooling is required inside the housing, and it takes in air from one axial direction and sends it out the other axial direction, so a detailed description will be omitted.

[0079] The cooling fan 50 is not limited to an axial fan, and other types of fans such as centrifugal fans may be used as long as the airflow direction can be limited to a specific direction by a housing or the like.

[0080] The operation unit 60 is provided at the front of the housing 10 and accepts operations. In detail, the operation unit 60 is configured to include a circuit board 61 housed between the front inclined surface of the upper housing 11 of the housing 10 and the inclined surface 13c of the intermediate housing 13, an operation input unit 62 provided on the circuit board 61 and having a part exposed to the outside of the housing 10 so as to be operable by the user, and a display unit 63 also provided on the circuit board 61 for displaying each setting and state of the device.

[0081] The operation input unit 62 is provided with a number of general switches that directly receive user operations and allow the control unit 30 to perform controls corresponding to the assigned functions, and specifically includes a power switch, a start switch, a heating level adjustment switch (low, medium, high), a mode selection switch (keep warm mode, deep frying mode (temperature selection)), etc.

[0082] The display unit 63 is controlled by the control unit 30 and switches to a display state visible to the user as needed to indicate various states of the device. The display unit 63 displays, for example, the heating level, remaining battery power, heating mode (in the case of deep frying mode, temperature step display), etc., and specifically, in addition to multiple LEDs, a liquid crystal or organic EL panel can be used.

[0083] This display unit 63 is configured such that the front part of the upper housing 11 containing the operating unit 60 is made of a light-transmitting material, and display elements such as LEDs serving as a display unit on the inner circuit board 61 can be seen through this light-transmitting front part of the upper housing 11.

[0084] The operation input unit 62 is not limited to a configuration in which a part of the switch is exposed to the outside of the housing 10 to directly receive operation from the user, but may also use a touch sensor type switch that is provided on the surface of the circuit board 61 facing the upper housing 11 and can be operated even when it is covered and not exposed by the upper housing 11. When the switch that constitutes the operation input unit is a touch sensor type, the entire switch does not need to be exposed to the outside, so it can be kept unaffected by moisture caused by boiling over or the like, and the front surface of the upper housing 11 on which the operation unit is located can be kept flat, making it easy to clean that part by wiping it down.

[0085] Furthermore, the display unit 63 is configured so that the inner display unit 63 can be seen through the front part of the upper housing 11, which is optically transparent, and can remain unaffected by moisture, but this is not limited to this, and similar to the operation input unit 62, a part of the display element such as an LED can be exposed to the outside of the housing 10 so that the display state can be seen.

[0086] Furthermore, the operation unit 60 is not limited to a configuration having a separate operation input unit 62 and display unit 63, but may also be configured to use a so-called touch panel type operation input unit (display unit) that serves as both an operation input unit and a display unit.

[0087] Next, we will explain how the induction heating cooking device according to this embodiment is used. As a premise, the cooking device 1 has a charged battery 40 already attached to the recess 18 on the rear side of the housing 10, and the control unit 30 receives power from the battery 40 and is ready to energize the induction heating coil 21. Also, it is assumed that the upper plate 20 on the upper part of the housing 10 of the induction heating cooking device 1 is initially in a state where the metal container 90 is not placed thereon.

[0088] First, food ingredients to be cooked as objects to be heated are placed in a metal container 90, which is a pot, and if necessary, a lid is placed on the metal container 90 to close the container. Next, the metal container 90 is placed on the upper plate 20 of the induction heating cooking device 1, and the bottom of the container is brought into close contact with the upper plate 20.

[0089] When the user operates the operation input unit 62 on the operation unit 60 on the front of the housing 10 to turn on the power of the induction heating cooking device 1, and then sets the heating degree corresponding to the object to be heated and starts heating, the control unit 30 starts supplying electricity to the induction heating coil 21.

[0090] At the same time, the control unit 30 activates the cooling fan 50 to start cooling with air. Furthermore, the control unit 30 causes the display unit 63 of the operation unit 60 to display the state in which the induction heating coil 21 is being energized (heating state).

[0091] When current is applied, the induction heating coil 21 enters a state in which it inductively heats the metal container 90, causing the bottom of the metal container 90 to heat up.The heat generated here is transferred to the heated object above and to all parts of the metal container 90 other than the bottom, causing the temperature of the entire metal container 90 to rise.

[0092] The control unit 30 controls the state of current flow to the induction heating coil 21 and continues induction heating of the metal container 90 while no operation to end heating is performed. At the same time, the control unit 30 monitors the temperature of the metal container 90 detected by the temperature sensor 22 to prevent the metal container 90 from becoming abnormally heated.

[0093] The object to be heated inside is heated by heat conduction from the bottom of the metal container 90 that has been heated by induction heating, and the temperature rises. When the object to be heated reaches the desired state, the user operates the operation unit 60 to change the degree of heating as needed, and the control unit 30 controls the state of current flow to the induction heating coil 21 based on this and adjusts the degree of heating of the metal container 90.

[0094] Meanwhile, the cooling fan 50 starts operating together with the heating, and air is sucked into the housing 10 from outside the housing through the intake holes 12a on the rear surface of the lower housing 12. Due to the need to attach and detach battery 40 to and from housing 10, the area around the rear surface where battery 40 is located is left open, which inevitably results in an open area around air intake hole 12a, which is on the same rear surface as battery 40. This makes it difficult for air to be obstructed from being drawn in through air intake hole 12a, allowing air to be drawn into housing 10 smoothly.

[0095] The air drawn into the housing 10 flows into the cooling fan 50, is blown forward from the cooling fan 50, reaches the control unit 30, and cools each part of the control unit 30. By forced air cooling by the cooling fan 50, the temperature of the control unit 30 can be maintained at a temperature (for example, 150° C.) at which elements such as semiconductors can be operated appropriately.

[0096] Intermediate housing 13 separates the space between lower housing 12 and intermediate housing 13, where cooling fan 50 and control unit 30 are located, from the space between intermediate housing 13 and upper housing 11, where induction heating coil 21 is located, and intermediate housing 13 functions as a partition wall separating the upper and lower spaces. This isolates control unit 30 and induction heating coil 21 from each other, preventing them from thermally affecting each other.

[0097] Some of the air that leaves cooling fan 50 passes through cutout 13d in intermediate housing 13 and reaches the space between intermediate housing 13 and upper housing 11, cooling induction heating coil 21. The air that passes through cutout 13d and heads toward the upper space is air that has not yet passed through control unit 30, and therefore induction heating coil 21 can be cooled with lower-temperature air that has not yet warmed up by absorbing heat from control unit 30, allowing for more efficient cooling.

[0098] Furthermore, part of the air that has reached and cooled control unit 30 passes through hole 13f of intermediate housing 13 and reaches the space between intermediate housing 13 and upper housing 11, thereby cooling induction heating coil 21.

[0099] The air that passes through the control unit 30 while cooling it travels through the space between the middle housing 13 and the lower housing 12 and reaches the flow diverting wall 12b. The air flow is divided into left and right flows at the flow diverting wall 12b around the tip 12c, and travels through the space between the middle housing 13 and the lower housing 12 toward the left side and right side, respectively, along the vertical wall that continues to the flow diverting wall 12b and the slope 13c on its upper side.

[0100] After passing through and cooling the control unit 30, the air reaches the flow diverting wall 12b and is divided into left and right parts about the tip 12c, which is located on an extension of the center line of the cooling fan 50 and the center line of the control unit 30, so that the air that flows from the flow diverting wall 12b toward each of the exhaust holes 11a on the left and right sides is divided equally and flows. This makes it possible to discharge air equally from the left and right exhaust holes 11a, and to equalize the effects produced by the discharged air on the left and right sides.

[0101] In addition, by ensuring a path for air to pass through the dividing wall portion 12b and head toward the left and right exhaust holes 11a, a steady and stable air flow (ventilation state) can be maintained within the housing 10 while the cooling fan 50 is operating, contributing to cooling. Of the air separated into left and right by the flow dividing wall 12b, the air heading toward the left side reaches the protrusion 12f of the lower housing 12 and moves along the upper side thereof, and then continues toward the left side.

[0102] When the air that has traveled toward the left and right side of the housing 10 reaches the ventilation section 13a, which is a hole provided at the side end of the intermediate housing 13, it passes through this ventilation section 13a and proceeds above the intermediate housing 13, i.e., into the space between the intermediate housing 13 and the upper housing 11.

[0103] At this time, in detail, the air reaches the ventilation section 13a facing the inclined section 13c while changing its direction of travel rearward along the inclined section 13c, and passes through the ventilation section 13a on the rear side, which is opposite to the initial direction of travel of the air sent out from the cooling fan 50.

[0104] In this way, the air that has passed through ventilation section 13a toward the rear side is directed toward exhaust hole 11a, so that the air coming out of exhaust hole 11a can be given a velocity component that tends to move toward the rear side of the housing.

[0105] The air that has passed through the ventilation section 13a then travels along the guide slope 13b, which is provided in the vicinity of the ventilation section 13a on the rear side of the intermediate housing 13 and has an upward slope toward the rear, and acquires an upward velocity component.

[0106] The air that reaches the space between intermediate housing 13 and upper housing 11 via guide slope 13b flows around induction heating coil 21, cooling it. In this way, induction heating coil 21 is cooled by the air that reaches the space between intermediate housing 13 and upper housing 11 via multiple paths, and although the temperature of induction heating coil 21 rises due to heat transferred from metal container 90 through upper plate 20, it can be maintained at a temperature at which induction heating can continue without problems (for example, 100°C when heating water, or 200°C when the high temperature is set in deep frying mode).

[0107] The air is then finally exhausted to the outside of the housing through exhaust holes 11a provided on the left and right side surfaces of the upper housing 11 of the housing 10. The air leaving the exhaust hole 11a has a velocity component that tends to move toward the rear side of the housing 10 and a velocity component that tends to move diagonally upward from the housing 10, and moves away from the left and right sides of the housing 10 diagonally upward and rearward from the housing 10.

[0108] The air flow from the exhaust hole 11a attracts the oily smoke generated during cooking rearward and diagonally upward, making it difficult for it to flow toward the front of the device where the user is located, preventing the oily smoke from reaching the user and also suppressing the oily smoke from returning to the vicinity of the device, thereby preventing the oil in the oily smoke from adhering to the surface of the housing.

[0109] Since the exhaust holes 11a are provided on the left and right sides of the upper section of the upper housing 11, even if another object higher than the exhaust holes 11a comes into contact with the left and right sides of the device, the exhaust holes 11a located on the side of the upper section shifted inward will not be blocked, ensuring that air can be discharged and maintaining a cooling state through ventilation within the housing without any problems.

[0110] When cooking by heating in the metal container 90 is completed and the user operates the operation unit 60 to end the heating, the control unit 30 stops the supply of electricity to the induction heating coil 21. The control unit 30 also terminates the display on the display unit 63 of the operation unit 60, which indicates that induction heating coil 21 is energized (heated).

[0111] After the power supply is stopped, the control unit 30 continues to operate the cooling fan 50 for a while to quickly cool the control unit 30 and the induction heating coil 21 and prevent them from overheating, thereby maintaining the air-cooled state for the control unit 30 and the induction heating coil 21 for a certain period of time.

[0112] After the display 63 indicating that current is being applied to the induction heating coil 21 stops, the user removes the metal container 90 from the upper plate 20 and removes the heated object from inside, i.e., the cooked food or the heated ingredients that are in the middle of being cooked. If necessary, a metal container 90 containing a new object to be heated may be placed on the upper plate 20 on the top of the housing 10, and the same process may be repeated.

[0113] While the battery 40 is attached to the housing 10 and the induction heating cooking device 1 is in a power-on state, the control unit 30 refers to the voltage of the battery 40, obtains the remaining charge of the battery 40 based on the voltage, and causes the display unit 63 of the operation unit 60 to display the remaining charge of the battery 40. When the display indicating the remaining charge of the battery 40 on the display unit 63 becomes 0 or a value close to 0, that is, when the battery 40 has run out and is unable to supply sufficient power before or during use of the device, the control unit 30 transitions to a state in which induction heating is not performed.

[0114] As the battery 40 cannot be heated for cooking in this state, it is necessary to replace the battery 40 with a fully charged one or to charge the battery 40 by connecting it to a charger. For this purpose, the user must remove the battery 40 from the housing 10.

[0115] However, if the device is in use, the user must first operate the operation input unit 62 of the operation unit 60 to stop heating. When moving on to the task of removing the battery 40, it is desirable to remove the metal container 90 from the upper plate 20, but if the situation allows for safe operation, it is also possible to move on to the task of removing the battery 40 with the metal container 90 left on the upper plate 20.

[0116] When removing the battery 40 from the housing 10, the user first operates the operation input unit 62 of the operation unit 60 to temporarily turn off the power of the induction heating cooking apparatus 1. Then, while holding grip portion 10a with one hand, the user grasps the rear portion of battery 40 exposed on the rear surface of the housing with their fingers on both sides, and at the same time presses release operation portion 42 of battery 40 with their fingers, thereby maintaining the state in which it is released from the fixed state by locking mechanism 41, and pulls out battery 40 held between their fingers to the rear (see Figures 13 and 14).

[0117] When removing the battery 40 from the housing 10, the electrical contacts on the battery 40 side and the housing 10 side are securely engaged to reduce contact resistance, so the battery 40 is difficult to remove from the housing 10, and it is necessary to apply a certain amount of force to the battery 40 to pull it out of the housing 10.

[0118] By holding the grip portion 10a, even if a strong force is applied in the direction of pulling out the battery 40, a sufficient reaction force is applied to the housing 10, and the housing 10 can be prevented from moving in response to the battery 40 being pulled out.

[0119] Furthermore, grip portion 10a is positioned forward of the battery installation location on housing 10 in the direction of battery 40 installation, so that the force applied to housing 10 via battery 40 when removing battery 40 and the force applied to grip portion 10a to prevent housing 10 from moving act as mutually opposite forces on the same line. As a result, the forces applied to housing 10 cancel each other out, and a moment of force that would cause unwanted movement such as rotation of housing 10 and make housing 10 unstable, as would occur if the grip portion were provided on a side other than the battery installation location (the right side), does not occur, and housing 10 can be held and fixed without difficulty.

[0120] In addition, since the user can hold the housing 10 by grasping the grip portion 10a, even if the upper plate 20 or the metal container 90 becomes hot during cooking or immediately after cooking, the user can properly hold and fix the housing 10 without touching the upper plate 20 or the metal container 90, and can safely remove the battery 40.

[0121] Furthermore, in the process of removing the battery 40 from the housing 10, the underside of the battery 40, which moves along the guide rails 14, remains separated from the mounting surface on which the housing 10 is placed while a force is applied to the battery 40 to pull it out of the housing 10, thereby preventing resistance due to friction between the battery 40 and the mounting surface, making it easier for the user to move the battery 40.

[0122] When most of the battery 40 is pulled out from the housing 10, the battery 40 shifts downward based on the groove shape of the battery 40 that contacts the guide rail 14, and the underside of the battery 40 rests on the placement surface, so there is no need to support the battery 40 from below with your hands, and the battery 40 that has completely come off the guide rail 14 can be handled safely and easily without falling.

[0123] After being removed from the housing, the battery 40 is connected to a charger and charged. If you want to use the induction heating cooking device 1 with the battery 40 removed, you can connect another power source via a cable to the connector part 16a at the innermost part of the recess 18 of the housing 10, which is opened by removing the battery 40, and use it in almost the same way as when using the battery 40.

[0124] When attaching a new battery 40 that has been fully charged after removal or another charged battery 40 to the housing 10, the user first grasps the grip portion 10a with one hand and, while holding the housing 10 so that it does not move, inserts the tip of the battery 40 into the recess 18 on the rear surface of the housing 10, thereby starting the engagement between the battery 40 and the guide rail 14.

[0125] When the battery 40 is engaged with the guide rail 14, the battery 40 is placed on the mounting surface, so there is no need to support the battery 40 from below with your hands, and the battery 40 can be moved forward smoothly and brought into engagement with the guide rail 14 (see Figures 15 and 16).

[0126] When the battery 40 and the guide rail 14 start to engage with each other and the battery 40 is guided by the guide rail 14, the rear of the battery 40 is pushed to push the battery 40 into the recess 18 of the housing 10 and advance it to the back of the recess 18.

[0127] As the installation of battery 40 progresses, the groove shape of battery 40 in contact with guide rail 14 guides battery 40 to shift upward relative to guide rail 14, and the bottom surface of battery 40 moves away from the mounting surface on which housing 10 is placed (see FIG. 17). As a result, resistance due to friction between battery 40 being pushed and the mounting surface no longer occurs, and battery 40 can be installed with less force.

[0128] When battery 40 reaches the back of recess 18 in housing 10 and the contacts on the battery and the contacts on the housing securely engage and establish electrical continuity, locking mechanism 41 of battery 40 simultaneously engages with the housing, completing the attachment of battery 40 to housing 10 (see FIG. 18).

[0129] In this way, the induction heating cooking device of this embodiment has intake holes 12a on the rear side of the periphery of casing 10 for introducing outside air into casing 10, and when cooling fan 50 provided inside casing 10 is operated, outside air is sucked in sideways through intake holes 12a. Since the area around the rear side where battery 40 is located is left open in order to attach and detach battery 40 to and from casing 10, a sufficient amount of air can be sucked into casing 10 through intake holes 12a, which are normally free of other objects nearby and are in a wide open state around it, under conditions of low intake resistance, and the air can be sent out by cooling fan 50 into the space inside casing 10, allowing efficient cooling of each component inside casing 10, allowing continuous use of the device through appropriate heat dissipation, and suppressing deterioration of the components, making the device less likely to malfunction.

[0130] The induction heating cooking device according to the above embodiment is configured in the form of a typical tabletop stove-type electromagnetic cooker, which can be used by placing various metal containers such as pots on the upper plate 20 on top of the housing 10. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the cooking device may be of a type in which the housing has an openable and closable lid and the metal container fits between the housing and the lid, such as an induction heating type rice cooker, pressure cooker, automatic cooking pot, etc.

[0131] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device according to the above embodiment, the housing 10 is configured as a box-like body that is rectangular in plan view, but is not limited thereto. The housing may be configured as a shape other than a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, for example, a square or other polygonal shape, or a shape that includes a partial arc. Furthermore, the housing 10 is configured so that the entire battery 40 is superimposed within the rectangular housing in plan view, and the battery 40 does not protrude outside the housing 10. However, the housing may be configured so that the entire battery is contained within the smallest rectangular or square imaginary area that surrounds the housing in plan view, and the battery 40 protrudes outside the housing in plan view. For example, even if the housing has a rectangular or square shape with a missing portion in plan view, by combining the battery 40, the housing 10 and the battery 40 as a whole can have a neat and compact appearance with no protruding parts, as in the above embodiment.

[0132] In the induction cooking device according to the above embodiment, the housing 10 is configured to have the grip recess 12d forming the grip portion 10a and the recess 18 for accommodating the battery 40 on the left side, while the cooling fan 50 and the control unit 30 are provided inside near the right side. However, this is not limiting, and the housing may also be configured to have the grip recess and the recess for accommodating the battery on the right side, leaving a large internal space near the left side where the cooling fan and control unit are located. In this case, a right-handed user can hold the grip portion with their left hand and remove or install the battery with their right hand, improving operability.

[0133] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device according to the above embodiment, the grip portion 10a is formed as a portion including the inner surface of the grip recess 12d provided from the peripheral side of the housing 10 toward the inside of the housing and a part of the outer surface of the housing 10 facing this inner surface, and is configured so as not to have a convex portion such as a handle for gripping on the housing 10. However, this is not limiting, and the grip portion can also be configured as a convex portion protruding from the peripheral side of the housing. By making the grip portion a convex portion in this way, it is possible to make the grip portion easier to grip, and it is not necessary to secure a space equivalent to a concave portion inside the housing as in the case of providing a concave portion, thereby increasing the space that can be effectively used inside the housing.

[0134] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device according to the embodiment described above, a recess 18 for accommodating the battery 40 is provided on the rear side of the lower housing 12, separate from the grip recess 12d that constitutes the grip portion 10a, but it is also possible to configure the recess 18 that houses the battery 40 to communicate with the grip recess 12d. In this case, heat generated from the battery 40 housed in the recess 18 can be released to the grip recess 12d through the recess 18, and further released to the outside from the grip recess 12d, thereby preventing malfunction or deterioration of the battery 40 due to overheating.

[0135] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device according to the above embodiment, groove portions 43 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the battery 40, each having a groove shape with a step in the vertical direction on the groove upper surface. The battery 40 is advanced in the installation direction relative to the recess 19 of the housing 10, and when the step position of the groove portion 43 of the battery 40 reaches the guide rail 14, the battery 40 is guided to shift upward relative to the guide rail 14. Furthermore, the battery 40 housed in the recess 19 is advanced in the removal direction, and when the step position of the groove portion 43 of the battery 40 comes out of the guide rail 14, the battery 40 is guided to shift downward relative to the guide rail 14, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the groove 43 of the battery 40 may be formed in a linear, continuous shape, while a vertical step may be provided on the upper surface of the guide rail 14 that engages with the groove 43, so that the battery 40 is advanced in the attachment direction relative to the recess 18 of the housing 10, and when the groove 43 of the battery 40 reaches the step position of the guide rail 14, the guide rail 14 shifts the battery 40 upward and advances the battery 40 in the removal direction from the recess 18 of the housing 10, and when the groove 43 of the battery 40 disengages from the step position of the guide rail 14, the guide rail 14 shifts the battery 40 downward.

[0136] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device according to the above embodiment, the upper housing 11 of the housing 10 has side portions that form the left and right sides thereof with a stepped shape in which the outer upper portions of the side are lower than the inner portions, and the exhaust hole 11a is provided on the upper side surface that is shifted inward relatively to the lower side surface. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 20, it is also possible to provide a wall-like guide portion 11b that stands above the lower side surface of the upper housing 11 and reaches to the side of the exhaust hole 11a on the upper side surface.

[0137] In this case, the air discharged from exhaust hole 11a is guided by guide section 11b and changes direction to travel more upward, so that even if oily smoke or the like is generated above the housing during cooking, the air from exhaust hole 11b has a greater ability to attract the oily smoke or the like upward, allowing it to be diffused further away from the user positioned in front of the device, thereby preventing the oily smoke from reaching the user and also preventing oil from the oily smoke from adhering to the surface of the housing.

[0138] The induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, as specifically shown in the above embodiment, is expected to contribute to achieving, for example, goal 9, "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation," out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations.

[0139] Possible configurations of the induction heating cooking device according to the present disclosure will be described below. The induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention is an induction heating cooking device that uses induction heating to raise the temperature of a metal container containing a specified heated object and heats the heated object, and is equipped with a box-shaped housing that can support the metal container, an induction heating coil that is built into the housing and performs induction heating on the metal container, a control unit that is built into the housing and controls the current of the induction heating coil, and a cooling fan that is arranged inside the housing for ventilation, and the housing is provided with intake holes on the peripheral side of the housing near the cooling fan that allow outside air to flow in and direct it toward the cooling fan.

[0140] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, when intake holes for introducing outside air into the housing are provided on the peripheral side of the housing and a cooling fan provided inside the housing is operated, outside air is sucked in laterally through the intake holes, and a sufficient amount of air can be sucked into the housing through the intake holes provided on the peripheral side of the housing, which is normally free of other objects nearby and has a wide open periphery, under conditions of low intake resistance, and the air can be sent out by the cooling fan into the space inside the housing, allowing efficient cooling of each component inside the housing and allowing continuous use of the device through appropriate heat dissipation, while also suppressing deterioration of the components and making the device less susceptible to malfunctions.

[0141] In addition, the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention has a housing that is rectangular or square in shape when viewed from above, and exhaust holes that discharge the air circulated inside the housing by the cooling fan to the outside of the housing are provided on the left and right sides of the peripheral side of the housing.

[0142] As disclosed in the present invention, exhaust holes are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the periphery of the housing, and air that has been ventilated inside is discharged from the exhaust holes on the left and right sides. Therefore, even if oily smoke is generated above the housing during cooking, the air discharged from the exhaust holes on the left and right sides attracts the oily smoke, allowing it to be efficiently diffused in both directions without stagnating. This prevents the oily smoke from reaching the user positioned in front of the device unevenly, and also makes it difficult for the oily smoke to return to the vicinity of the device, thereby preventing the oil from the oily smoke from adhering to the surface of the housing.

[0143] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, the housing may be formed as a combined structure of an upper housing and a lower housing, as needed, and the exhaust holes may be provided in the upper housing on the left and right sides, while the intake holes may be provided in the lower housing on the peripheral sides other than the left and right sides.

[0144] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the housing has a combined structure of an upper housing and a lower housing, and air intake holes are provided on the surfaces of the lower housing other than the left and right sides of the peripheral portion, while exhaust holes are provided on the left and right sides of the upper housing, and air is introduced through the lower air intake hole and exhausted through the upper exhaust hole.By this, even if oily smoke is generated above the housing during cooking, the air coming out of the exhaust hole located in the upper housing closest to the oily smoke can be appropriately diffused, reliably preventing the oily smoke from traveling toward the user of the device and oil from adhering to the device.

[0145] In addition, by separating the intake and exhaust vents, it is less likely that a short circuit will occur, in which some of the exhausted air is re-inhaled, and by preventing the temperature of the air drawn in through the intake vent from increasing, the efficiency of cooling by air is improved.

[0146] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, if necessary, the housing may have at least the left and right side portions formed into a stepped shape in which the outer upper portion of the side is lower than the inner portion, and the exhaust hole may be provided on the upper side, which is shifted inward relatively to the lower side.

[0147] According to the disclosure of the present invention, the left and right sides of the housing are formed with a stepped shape in which the outer upper portions of the sides are lower than the inner portions, and exhaust holes are provided on the upper side, which is closer to the inside than the lower side, and air that has passed through the inside of the housing is exhausted through these exhaust holes. Even if another object comes into contact with the left or right side of the device, the exhaust holes on the upper side, which is shifted inward, will not be blocked, ensuring the exhaust of air and maintaining a cooling state through air circulation within the housing. Furthermore, because the upper side of the stepped housing is closer to the inside than the lower side, the area of ​​the top surface of the housing can be reduced, and by relatively reducing the area close to the metal container that is easily soiled during cooking, the degree of dirt adhesion to the device can be reduced and the effort required for cleaning can be reduced.

[0148] Furthermore, the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention is provided with a battery that supplies power to the induction heating coil through the control unit as needed, and the battery is arranged on the peripheral side of the housing so as to be detachable from the housing, and the housing has the air intake hole on the same side of the peripheral side of the housing as the side on which the battery is arranged.

[0149] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the battery for supplying power is removably mounted on the peripheral side of the housing, while the air intake holes for letting air into the housing are provided on the same surface as the battery, and because the area around the side with the battery is left open due to the need to attach and detach the battery, the area around the air intake holes on the same surface as the battery is also inevitably left open, which makes it difficult for air to be obstructed from being sucked in through the air intake holes, allowing air to be smoothly taken into the housing and circulated to cool each part, thereby enabling efficient air cooling.

[0150] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, if necessary, the housing can position the control unit in the direction of travel of the air sent out from the cooling fan, and can be provided with a dividing wall section forward of the control unit in the direction of travel that divides the flow of air that has passed through the control unit into left and right sections and directs them toward the exhaust holes on the left and right sides.

[0151] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the air sent out from the cooling fan passes through the control section to be cooled, and then reaches the diversion wall section where the flow is divided into left and right and directed toward each exhaust port on the left and right sides, thereby defining the air flow path, ensuring that the air flows from the cooling fan through the control section and diversion wall section to the left and right exhaust ports, and while the cooling fan is operating, a steady and stable flow of air exists within the housing, contributing to cooling and improving cooling efficiency.

[0152] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, if necessary, the diverting wall portion of the housing has a pointed end that protrudes toward the control unit as a branch point of the air flow path inside the housing, and has an arc-shaped curved surface in a plan view that continues from the pointed end to the left and right, forming a vertical wall shape that divides the air flow into two halves, left and right, and the pointed end of the diverting wall portion is located on an extension of the fan center line that extends from the center of the cooling fan in the direction of air travel and the center line of the control unit that is parallel to the direction of air travel.

[0153] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the diverting wall portion of the housing is formed in the shape of a standing wall having a pointed end protruding toward the control unit and curved surfaces continuing from this pointed end to the left and right, and the pointed end of the diverting wall portion is positioned on an extension of the center line of the cooling fan and the center line of the control unit, which coincide with the direction of air travel, so that the diverting wall portion can divide the air flow into two equal parts to the left and right.This allows the air traveling through the control unit to be divided evenly toward the exhaust holes on the left and right sides and to be discharged equally from the exhaust holes on the left and right.Even if oily smoke or the like is generated above the housing during cooking, the discharged air can diffuse the oily smoke or the like evenly, making it less likely for the oily smoke to reach the user positioned in front of the device and also reducing the adhesion of oil from the oily smoke to the surface of the housing.

[0154] Furthermore, the induction heating cooking device according to the disclosure of the present invention may, as necessary, have the housing formed as a combined structure of an upper housing and a lower housing, with the exhaust holes provided on the left and right sides of the upper housing, respectively, while the intake holes are provided on the peripheral side of the lower housing on a surface other than the left and right sides, and is provided with an intermediate housing disposed between the upper and lower housings and covering from above the air flow path leading from the cooling fan through the control unit to the diversion wall, and the lower and intermediate housings regulate the direction of travel of the air divided by the diversion wall and direct the air flow to the left and right sides, respectively.

[0155] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, an intermediate housing is disposed between the upper and lower housings, and the air sent out from the cooling fan passes through a flow path between the lower and intermediate housings, passes through a control unit, reaches the diversion wall section, and then heads toward each exhaust hole on the left and right sides. This appropriately limits the air flow path, allowing the air to proceed to each exhaust hole without leakage, and suppresses unintended travel to places other than the exhaust holes. This allows the air flow within the housing to be used for cooling purposes without waste, thereby further improving cooling performance.

[0156] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, if necessary, the lower housing of the housing is provided with a recess that is recessed from the peripheral side of the housing toward the inside of the housing, and also has a protrusion that protrudes toward the inside of the housing and surrounds the recess, and the protrusion of the lower housing serves as a guide means that guides one of the air flows that are split into two by the dividing wall portion to the upper side of the protrusion and guides it toward the exhaust hole side.

[0157] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the lower housing has a recess that is recessed from the periphery of the housing toward the inside of the housing for a specific purpose, and the protrusion that appears on the inside of the lower housing as a shape that surrounds this recess is used as a means for guiding air, and by guiding one of the two air flows that are split by the flow dividing wall portion and guiding it toward the exhaust hole side, the air can be directed smoothly along the protrusion inside the housing toward the exhaust hole on the side where the recess is located.

[0158] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, if necessary, the intermediate housing is provided with ventilation sections which are holes or notches at the left and right side ends near the left and right sides of the housing, and air which has circulated between the intermediate housing and the lower housing proceeds upward from the intermediate housing at least through the ventilation sections.

[0159] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, ventilation sections are provided on the left and right side ends of the intermediate housing, and the air that has passed between the lower housing and the intermediate housing through these ventilation sections is directed to the upper side of the intermediate housing and toward the exhaust holes, allowing the air to reach the left and right exhaust holes without stagnation.

[0160] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, if necessary, the housing has the air intake hole on the rear surface of the peripheral side of the housing, and a cooling fan is arranged near the rear surface, the intermediate housing has a sloped portion that slopes downward from the upper part of the diversion wall portion toward the front side, and the ventilation portion is provided as a hole or notch that allows air to pass to the rear side, at a position on the intermediate housing rearward of the sloped portion and facing the sloped portion.

[0161] As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, an intermediate housing disposed between an upper housing and a lower housing that form a housing is provided with an inclined surface inclined forward from an upper portion of the flow dividing wall, and a ventilation section of the intermediate housing is provided rearward of the inclined surface and facing the inclined surface, so that air traveling from between the lower housing and the intermediate housing passes through the ventilation section to the rear side of the housing. As a result, as the air separated into left and right by the flow dividing wall heads towards the ventilation sections on the left and right of the intermediate housing, due to the positional relationship between the inclined surface and the ventilation holes, the air is guided by the inclined surface, changes direction, and reaches the ventilation section, and the air that has passed through the ventilation section heads towards the exhaust hole, so that the air coming out of the exhaust hole is given a velocity component that tries to travel towards the rear of the housing. Therefore, even if oily smoke or the like is generated above the housing during cooking, the flow of air from the exhaust hole attracts the oily smoke rearward, making it less likely to flow towards the front of the device where the user is located. This prevents the oily smoke from reaching the user and also inhibits the oily smoke from returning to the vicinity of the device, preventing the oil from the oily smoke from adhering to the surface of the housing.

[0162] Furthermore, if necessary, the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention can be provided with a guide slope inclined upward toward the rear in a region of the intermediate housing near the ventilation section on the rear side of the ventilation section.

[0163] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, a guide slope that slopes upward toward the rear is provided in a portion of the intermediate housing near the ventilation section on the rear side of the ventilation section, and due to the positional relationship between the ventilation section and the guide slope, the air leaving the ventilation section is guided by the guide slope and changes direction diagonally upward before heading towards the exhaust hole, giving the air coming out of the exhaust hole a velocity component that tends to move diagonally upward, and even if oily smoke or the like is generated above the housing during cooking, the flow of air from the exhaust hole will attract the oily smoke upward (left and right), making it less likely to flow in front of the device where the user is located, preventing the oily smoke from reaching the user and also suppressing the oily smoke from returning to the vicinity of the device, preventing the oil from the oily smoke from adhering to the surface of the housing.

[0164] Furthermore, in the induction heating cooking device disclosed in the present invention, if necessary, the intermediate housing is formed as a partition wall that separates the space between the lower housing, in which the cooling fan and control unit are located, and the intermediate housing, and the space between the intermediate housing, in which the induction heating coil is located, and the upper housing.

[0165] Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the space between the lower housing and intermediate housing, where the cooling fan and control unit are located, and the space between the intermediate housing and upper housing, where the induction heating coil is located, are separated by the intermediate housing, and the intermediate housing functions as a partition wall separating the upper and lower spaces.This isolates the control unit and induction heating coil, which generate heat when current is applied, from each other by the intermediate housing, preventing them from thermally affecting each other, thereby preventing malfunctions and other problems caused by heat. [Explanation of symbols]

[0166] 1 Induction heating cooking device 10. Cabinet 10a Grip 11 Upper case 11a Exhaust hole 11b Information Department 12 Lower housing 12a Intake hole 12b Diversion wall section 12c Point 12d Grip recess 12f convex part 13 Intermediate housing 13a Ventilation section 13b Guide slope 13c Slope section 13d Notch 13f hole 14 Guide rail 15 Contact board 16 Connector board 16a Connector part 18 Recess 20 Upper Plate 21 Induction heating coil 22 Temperature sensor 30 Control Unit 40 Battery 41 Locking mechanism 42 Release operation section 43 Groove 50 Cooling Fan 60 Control section 61 Circuit Board 62 Operation input section 63 Display section 90 Metal containers

Claims

1. An induction heating cooking device that uses induction heating to increase the temperature of a metal container containing a predetermined object to be heated, thereby heating the object to be heated. a box-shaped housing capable of supporting the metal container; an induction heating coil that is built into the housing and performs induction heating on the metal container; a control unit that is built into the housing and controls the current of the induction heating coil; a cooling fan disposed inside the housing for ventilation; The housing has an intake hole on the periphery of the housing near the cooling fan, through which outside air flows in and is directed toward the cooling fan. An induction heating cooking device.

2. 2. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 1, The housing is rectangular or square in plan view, and exhaust holes for discharging the air circulated inside the housing by the cooling fan to the outside of the housing are provided on the left and right sides of the periphery of the housing. An induction heating cooking device.

3. 3. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 2, The housing is formed as a combined structure of an upper housing and a lower housing, and the exhaust holes are provided in the upper housing on the left side and right side, respectively, while the intake holes are provided in the lower housing on the peripheral side surfaces other than the left side and right side. An induction heating cooking device.

4. 3. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 2, The housing has at least the left and right side surfaces formed in a stepped shape with the outer upper portion of the side surface lowered relative to the inner portion, and the exhaust hole is provided on the upper side surface shifted inward relatively to the lower side surface. An induction heating cooking device.

5. 2. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 1, a battery that supplies power to the induction heating coil through the control unit; the battery is disposed on the peripheral side of the housing so as to be detachable from the housing; The housing has the intake hole provided on the same surface of the housing periphery as the surface on which the battery is disposed. An induction heating cooking device.

6. 3. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 2, The housing is configured so that the control unit is positioned in the direction of travel of the air sent out from the cooling fan, and a dividing wall is provided in front of the control unit in the direction of travel to divide the air flow that has passed through the control unit into left and right parts and direct them toward the exhaust holes on the left and right sides. An induction heating cooking device.

7. 7. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 6, the airflow dividing wall portion of the housing has a pointed end portion that protrudes toward the control unit as a branch point of the air flow path inside the housing, and has an arc-shaped curved surface in a plan view that continues from the pointed end portion to the left and right, and is shaped like a standing wall that divides the air flow into two, left and right, The tip of the flow dividing wall portion is located on an extension of a fan center line extending from the center of the cooling fan in the direction of air flow and a center line of the control portion which is parallel to the direction of air flow. An induction heating cooking device.

8. 7. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 6, the housing is formed as a combined structure of an upper housing and a lower housing, the exhaust holes are provided in the upper housing on the left side surface and the right side surface, respectively, while the intake holes are provided in the lower housing on the peripheral surface other than the left side surface and the right side surface, an intermediate housing disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing and covering from above an air flow path extending from the cooling fan through the control unit to the airflow dividing wall portion; The lower housing and the intermediate housing regulate the direction of travel of the air split by the splitting wall portion and guide the air flow to the left side surface side and the right side surface side, respectively. An induction heating cooking device.

9. 9. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 8, The lower housing of the housing has a recess recessed from a peripheral side portion of the housing toward the inside of the housing, and a protrusion surrounding the recess protruding toward the inside of the housing, The convex portion of the lower housing serves as a guide means for guiding one of the two air flows split by the flow dividing wall portion to the upper side of the convex portion and guiding it to the exhaust hole side. An induction heating cooking device.

10. 9. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 8, the intermediate housing has ventilation sections, which are holes or notches, at left and right side end portions near the left and right sides of the housing, At least the air circulating between the intermediate housing and the lower housing advances upward from the intermediate housing through the ventilation section. An induction heating cooking device.

11. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 10, the housing has the intake hole on a rear surface of a peripheral side portion of the housing, and a cooling fan is disposed near the rear surface; the intermediate housing has a slope portion that slopes downward from an upper portion of the flow dividing wall portion toward the front side, The ventilation section is provided as a hole or a notch for passing air to the rear side at a position on the rear side of the inclined surface section in the intermediate housing and facing the inclined surface section. An induction heating cooking device.

12. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 10, The intermediate housing is provided with a guide slope that slopes upward toward the rear in a region near the ventilation section on the rear side of the ventilation section. An induction heating cooking device.

13. 2. The induction heating cooking device according to claim 1, The intermediate housing is formed as a partition wall that separates a space between the lower housing where the cooling fan and the control unit are present and the intermediate housing, and a space between the upper housing and the intermediate housing where the induction heating coil is present. An induction heating cooking device.

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