Induction heating conditioner

Abstract

To provide an induction heating cooker that can improve design aesthetics. [Solution] The induction heating cooker according to the present disclosure comprises a top plate, a side frame disposed on the side of the top plate, and an exhaust frame disposed on the side of the top plate and defining an exhaust port, wherein the side frame is composed of a single component surrounding the side of the top plate, and the side frame and the exhaust frame are not disposed on the upper surface of the top plate.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an induction heating cooker. [Background Art]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a built-in heating cooker including a housing, a top plate provided on an upper surface of the housing, and a first frame member provided on an upper side of the top plate along one side of the top plate. In the heating cooker described in Patent Document 1, an air intake port is formed in the housing at a position that is lower than a kitchen top plate when the housing is stored in a storage portion, and the first frame member has an upper wall extending outward from one side of the top plate and a side wall extending downward from an outer end of the upper wall. The side wall has such a length that a lower end of the side wall does not contact the kitchen top plate when the housing is stored in the storage portion. A first exhaust port is formed in a gap between the lower end of the side wall and the kitchen top plate, and a first exhaust air passage that communicates the first exhaust port with the inside of the housing is provided below the upper wall of the first frame member. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-224387 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] However, the heating cooker described in Patent Document 1 still has room for improvement in terms of improving design properties.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to solve the problem described above and to provide an induction heating cooker capable of improving design properties. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] An induction cooker according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a top plate, a side frame disposed on the side of the top plate, and an exhaust frame disposed on the side of the top plate and defining an exhaust port, wherein the side frame is composed of a single component surrounding the side of the top plate, and neither the side frame nor the exhaust frame is located on the upper surface of the top plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide an induction heating cooker that can improve the aesthetic design. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic front perspective view of an example of an induction cooker according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a schematic rear perspective view of an example of an induction cooker according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a schematic plan view of an example of an induction heating cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the top unit of Embodiment 1 according to this disclosure. [Figure 5] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an induction cooker cut along line AA. [Figure 6A] Figure 5 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing a magnified view of the Z1 portion of the induction cooker shown in Figure 5. [Figure 6B] Figure 5 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing a magnified view of the Z1 portion of the induction cooker shown in Figure 5. [Figure 7] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an induction cooker cut along line BB. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing a magnified view of the Z2 portion of the induction cooker shown in Figure 7. [Figure 9] Figure 7 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing a magnified view of the Z3 portion of the induction cooker shown in Figure 7. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Background leading to this disclosure) In induction cookers, a configuration is known in which exhaust ports are provided on the side of the top unit, which includes a top plate and a frame supporting the top plate. In such a configuration, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a frame member is placed on the top plate to form an exhaust air passage for directing exhaust air to the side.

[0010] However, placing components on the top plate obscures the upper surface of the outer edge of the top plate, reducing its aesthetic appeal. On the other hand, in induction cookers with exhaust vents on the sides of the top unit, it is difficult to construct an exhaust flow path that guides exhaust to the exhaust vent without placing components on the top plate.

[0011] Therefore, the present inventors considered a configuration to improve the design of an induction heating cooker equipped with an exhaust port on the side, and arrived at this disclosure.

[0012] An embodiment of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is essentially illustrative and is not intended to limit this disclosure, its applications, or its uses. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic, and the proportions of the dimensions, etc., do not necessarily correspond to those of reality.

[0013] In this specification, terms such as "First," "Second," etc., are used for illustrative purposes only and should not be understood as expressing or implying relative importance or ranking of technical features. Features designated as "First" or "Second" express or imply that they include one or more such features.

[0014] (Embodiment 1) [Overall structure] FIG. 1 is a schematic front perspective view of an example of the induction heating cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic rear perspective view of an example of the induction heating cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of an example of the induction heating cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the top unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. Note that the X-Y-Z coordinate system shown in the drawings is provided to facilitate understanding of the invention, and does not limit the invention. The X-axis direction indicates the width direction, the Y-axis direction indicates the depth direction, and the Z-axis direction indicates the height direction.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the induction heating cooker 1 is a built-in type induction heating cooker used by being incorporated into a cabinet of a system kitchen, and inductively heats an object to be heated. The object to be heated is a cooking container, for example, a pot. Note that the object to be heated is not limited to a cooking container, and may be any object that is inductively heated.

[0016] The induction heating cooker 1 includes a top unit 2 and a bottom unit 3.

[0017] <トップユニット> The top unit 2 constitutes an upper portion of the induction heating cooker 1, and is a unit placed on a top plate of a system kitchen. An exhaust port 23a is provided on a side surface of the top unit 2. Specifically, the exhaust port 23a is provided on a rear side surface of the top unit 2.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the top unit 2 includes a top plate 21, a side frame 22, an exhaust frame 23, an under frame 24, and a sealing material 25.

[0019] The top plate 21 is a plate on which the object to be heated is placed. The top plate 21 is made of, for example, heat-resistant glass. The heat-resistant glass includes, for example, crystallized glass or borosilicate glass. The top plate 21 has, for example, a rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) in plan view.

[0020] In this specification, "plan view" means viewing from the direction opposite to the height direction, i.e., the Z-axis direction.

[0021] The side frame 22 is a frame positioned on the side of the top plate 21. The side frame 22 consists of a single component that surrounds the side of the top plate 21. The side frame 22 is also positioned on the underside of the top plate 21. Specifically, the side frame 22 is positioned along the outer circumference of the top plate 21 and is constructed by bending a single component. In other words, the side frame 22 is configured to wrap around the outer circumference of the top plate 21.

[0022] The side frames 22 surround the outer perimeter of the top plate 21, except for a portion of its side surface. Specifically, the side frames 22 are arranged continuously along the left, right, and front sides of the top plate 21, but are not located on the rear side of the top plate 21 where the exhaust port 23a is provided.

[0023] The side frame 22 is not positioned on the upper surface of the top plate 21. The upper end of the side frame 22 is positioned lower than the upper surface of the top plate 21. In other words, in a plan view, the side frame 22 does not cover the upper surface of the top plate 21.

[0024] The side frame 22 is made of, for example, metal. Examples of metals include stainless steel (SUS) or aluminum. Aluminum has the advantage of excellent workability and a high degree of freedom in cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, when using aluminum, anodizing may be applied. Anodizing allows for the application of colors such as silver or black, further enhancing the aesthetic appeal.

[0025] The exhaust frame 23 is positioned on the side of the top plate 21 and defines the exhaust port 23a. The exhaust frame 23 is positioned on the rear side of the top plate 21. The exhaust frame 23 is a frame with multiple holes, and the exhaust port 23a is made up of multiple holes. The multiple holes penetrate the induction cooker 1 in the depth direction (Y-axis direction).

[0026] The exhaust frame 23 is inserted and installed in the gap between the top plate 21 and the under frame 24.

[0027] The exhaust frame 23 is made of a different material than the side frame 22. The exhaust frame 23 is made of a material that offers a greater degree of freedom in processing than the side frame 22, that is, a material that is easier to process than the side frame 22. The exhaust frame 23 is made of, for example, resin. An example of the resin is polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0028] The exhaust frame 23 is not located on the upper surface of the top plate 21. The upper end of the exhaust frame 23 is positioned lower than the upper surface of the top plate 21. In other words, in a plan view, the exhaust frame 23 does not cover the upper surface of the top plate 21.

[0029] The underframe 24 is a frame positioned on the underside of the top plate 21. For example, the underframe 24 is glued and fixed to the underside of the top plate 21. The underframe 24 is a frame that connects to the bottom unit 3.

[0030] The sealing material 25 is positioned on the underside of the side frame 22 and, in a plan view, is positioned along the outer circumference of the top unit 2. The sealing material 25 is made of an elastic material such as foamed elastic material or rubber. When the top unit 2 is placed on the countertop of the system kitchen, the sealing material 25 is positioned in the gap between the underside of the top unit 2 and the countertop of the system kitchen. This prevents liquids such as water or oil from flowing into the gap.

[0031] <Bottom Unit> Returning to Figures 1-3, the bottom unit 3 is a unit located below the top unit 2 and is situated within the cabinet of the system kitchen.

[0032] The bottom unit 3 comprises a plurality of heating coils 31, a grill cooking chamber 32, an operating device 33, and a housing 34. The bottom unit 3 also includes a controller that controls the plurality of heating coils 31, the grill cooking chamber 32, and the operating device 33. The bottom unit 3 may also be equipped with a cooling fan.

[0033] Multiple heating coils 31 are positioned below the top plate 21 and induce heating of the object to be heated placed on the top plate 21.

[0034] The grill compartment 32 is a cooking compartment for heating food such as fish. The grill compartment 32 has a heating section for heating food. The grill compartment 32 also has an opening on the front side of the bottom unit 3 and is fitted with an openable and closable grill door.

[0035] The operating device 33 is a device for operating the induction cooker 1. For example, the operating device 33 has the function of an input device for receiving information from the user and an output device for outputting information to the user. The operating device 33 may include an operation panel for the user to operate the induction cooker 1, buttons for the user to change the heat level, and a display and speaker for informing the user of the status of the induction cooker 1.

[0036] The housing 34 is a frame that houses multiple heating coils 31, a grill cooking chamber 32, and an operating device 33. The housing 34 is connected to the underside of the top unit 2.

[0037] The housing 34 constitutes an exhaust passage connected to the exhaust port 23a located on the side of the top unit 2.

[0038] [Regarding the exhaust flow path] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the induction cooker shown in Figure 3, cut along line AA. Figures 6A and 6B are schematic enlarged cross-sectional views showing the Z1 portion of the induction cooker shown in Figure 5. Figures 5, 6A, and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the cross-section of the right side portion of the induction cooker 1 in a plan view. In Figure 6A, the direction of exhaust flow is indicated by an arrow, and in Figure 6B, the direction of liquid flow entering from the exhaust port 23a is indicated by a dashed arrow.

[0039] As shown in Figures 5 and 6A, a first exhaust passage FL1 is provided in the rear portion of the housing 34, through which exhaust gas flows to the exhaust port 23a. The first exhaust passage FL1 is a passage for exhausting air that has passed through the housing 34 for cooling, for example, air that has passed through the multiple heating coils 31.

[0040] The first exhaust passage FL1 is composed of the outer casing of the housing 34 and the underframe 24. The housing 34 is provided with a flange 35 that extends from the top of the outer casing of the housing 34 toward the outside of the induction cooker 1. The flange 35 is located below the underframe 24. A gap is provided between the flange 35 and the underframe 24. The first exhaust passage FL1 is formed by this gap.

[0041] The underframe 24 is attached to the housing 34 of the bottom unit 3. Specifically, the underframe 24 has a wall that extends vertically, and the housing 34 is screwed to this wall. The underframe 24 and the housing 34 may be welded together as separate parts.

[0042] The underframe 24 is bent downwards at the side portion of the top plate 21 on which the exhaust frame 23 is located, and extends toward the outer circumference of the top plate 21, substantially parallel to the lower surface of the top plate 21. This creates a space between the top plate 21 and the underframe 24 into which the exhaust frame 23 is inserted.

[0043] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6B, the underframe 24 is provided with ribs 26 to prevent water overflow. The ribs 26 are walls that extend vertically. The ribs 26 prevent liquid entering from the exhaust port 23a from flowing through the exhaust passage FL1 to the control board and other components inside the housing 34. The control board is located, for example, below the heating coil 31, as indicated by the dashed arrow in Figure 6B. When liquid flows in from the exhaust port 23a, the liquid hits the ribs 26 and flows downward along the side wall of the housing 34. In this way, by placing the ribs 26 in the area where the liquid entering from the exhaust port 23a flows, it is possible to prevent the liquid from flowing to the control board and other components inside the housing 34. The ribs 26 may be integrated with the underframe 24 or may be made of a separate component from the underframe 24.

[0044] Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the induction cooker shown in Figure 3, cut along line BB. Figure 8 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing the Z2 portion of the induction cooker shown in Figure 7. Figures 7 and 8 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the left side portion of the induction cooker 1 in plan view.

[0045] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, a grill cooking chamber 32 is located on the left side of the induction cooker 1, below the top plate 21, within the housing 34. Behind the grill cooking chamber 32, a second exhaust passage FL2 is provided through which exhaust flows from the grill cooking chamber 32 to the exhaust port 23a. The second exhaust passage FL2 is a passage for exhausting the air inside the grill cooking chamber 32. The second exhaust passage FL2 is connected from the grill cooking chamber 32 to the exhaust port 23a located on the rear side of the top unit 2.

[0046] The second exhaust passage FL2 is defined by a duct 36. The duct 36 extends from the rear of the grill cooking chamber 32 toward the exhaust port 23a. The outlet of the duct 36 is connected to a passage formed in the gap between the underframe 24 and the flange 35. That is, the gap between the underframe 24 and the flange 35 constitutes part of the second exhaust passage FL2.

[0047] [Regarding the shape of the side frame] Figure 9 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing a magnified view of the Z3 portion of the induction cooker shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the outer periphery of the top unit 2.

[0048] As shown in Figure 9, the side frame 22 is not located on the upper surface of the top plate 21. Specifically, the upper end 22a of the side frame 22 is located lower than the upper surface of the top plate 21.

[0049] The portion of the side frame 22 located on the side of the top plate 21 is gently curved upwards, moving toward the top plate 21. The side frame 22 has, for example, a roughly hook shape.

[0050] The upper thickness t1 of the side frame 22 is greater than the thickness t2 of other parts of the side frame 22 located on the side of the top plate 21. Thicknesses t1 and t2 are the thicknesses of the side frame 22 in the Y-axis direction.

[0051] The upper end 22a of the side frame 22 is approximately parallel to the upper surface of the top plate 21. Here, "approximately" includes an error of 10% or less, preferably 5% or less.

[0052] [effect] The induction heating cooker 1 according to Embodiment 1 provides the following effects.

[0053] The induction cooker 1 of this disclosure comprises a top plate 21, a side frame 22 positioned on the side of the top plate 21, and an exhaust frame 23 positioned on the side of the top plate 21 and defining an exhaust port 23a. The side frame 22 consists of a single component that surrounds the side of the top plate 21. The side frame 22 and the exhaust frame 23 are not positioned on the top surface of the top plate 21.

[0054] This configuration improves the aesthetic appeal of the induction cooker 1, which has an exhaust port 23a on its side. In the induction cooker 1, the side frame 22 and exhaust frame 23 are not positioned on the top surface of the top plate 21, so the entire top surface of the top plate 21 is exposed. This improves the aesthetic appeal. In addition, since the side frame 22 is made of a single part, there are no seams compared to when it is made of multiple parts, which improves the aesthetic appeal.

[0055] Furthermore, since there are no steps or unevenness caused by other components on the top surface of the top plate 21, cleaning becomes easier, improving ease of maintenance.

[0056] The exhaust frame 23 is made of a different material than the side frame 22. With this configuration, for example, if the side frame 22 is made of metal and the exhaust frame 23 is made of resin, the exhaust port 23a can be manufactured at a low cost. In addition, since resin has a higher degree of freedom in shape compared to metal, there is an advantage in that there are fewer restrictions on the shape and size of the exhaust port 23a. For example, when changing the shape and size of the exhaust port 23a depending on the model of the induction heating cooker 1, the shape and size of the exhaust port 23a can be easily changed by changing the exhaust frame 23 while sharing the side frame 22.

[0057] The exhaust frame 23 is positioned at the rear of the induction cooker 1. This configuration allows exhaust to be released from the rear side of the induction cooker 1. Furthermore, positioning the exhaust frame 23 at the rear makes it less visible to the user, further improving the aesthetic design.

[0058] The induction cooker 1 comprises an underframe 24 positioned below the top plate 21, a heating coil 31 positioned below the top plate 21, and a housing 34 that houses the heating coil 31. The underframe 24 and the housing 34 constitute a first exhaust passage FL1 connected to the exhaust port 23a. With this configuration, the air inside the housing 34 where the heating coil 31 is located can be exhausted through the first exhaust passage FL1 to the exhaust port 23a.

[0059] The housing 34 has a flange 35 extending from the top of the housing 34 toward the outside of the induction cooker 1. The first exhaust passage FL1 is defined by the gap between the flange 35 and the underframe 24. With this configuration, the air inside the housing 34 can be exhausted from the exhaust port 23a through the first exhaust passage FL1 defined between the flange 35 and the underframe 24.

[0060] The induction cooker 1 includes a grill cooking chamber 32 located below the top plate 21, and a second exhaust passage FL2 connected from the grill cooking chamber 32 to the exhaust port 23a. With this configuration, the air inside the grill cooking chamber 32 can be exhausted through the second exhaust passage FL2 to the exhaust port 23a.

[0061] The upper thickness t1 of the side frame 22 is greater than the thickness t2 of other parts of the side frame 22 that are located on the side of the top plate 21. This configuration further improves the aesthetic appearance. Specifically, the appearance of the side frame 22 can be made closer to a straight line by reducing the bending curvature. As a result, the side frame 22 can be made slimmer and highlights are less likely to occur.

[0062] The side frame 22 has an upper end 22a that is substantially parallel to the main surface of the top plate 21. This configuration further improves the aesthetic appearance.

[0063] In this embodiment, an example in which the induction cooker 1 has multiple heating coils 31 has been described, but it is not limited to this. The induction cooker 1 only needs to have one or more heating coils 31.

[0064] In this embodiment, an example in which the induction cooker 1 includes a grill cooking chamber 32 has been described, but it is not limited to this. In the induction cooker 1, the grill cooking chamber 32 is not an essential component.

[0065] In this embodiment, an example in which the induction cooker 1 is equipped with an operating device 33 has been described, but it is not limited to this. The operating device 33 is not an essential component of the induction cooker 1. For example, the induction cooker 1 may be operated by an external device. The external device may be, for example, an information processing terminal such as a smartphone or tablet PC. The operating device 33 may be provided on the top plate 21, or it may be provided at any location on the induction cooker 1.

[0066] As described above, the above embodiments have been explained as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited thereto and can be applied to embodiments that are modified, replaced, added, or omitted as appropriate.

[0067] While this disclosure is adequately described in relation to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various modifications and alterations will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and alterations should be understood to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0068] (Summary of the embodiment) (1) The induction cooker of the present disclosure comprises a top plate, a side frame disposed on the side of the top plate, and an exhaust frame disposed on the side of the top plate and defining an exhaust port, wherein the side frame is composed of a single component surrounding the side of the top plate, and the side frame and the exhaust frame are not disposed on the upper surface of the top plate.

[0069] (2) In the induction heating cooker of (1), the exhaust frame may be made of a different material from the side frame.

[0070] (3) In the induction cooker of (1) or (2), the exhaust frame may be located at the rear of the induction cooker.

[0071] (4) Any one of the induction cookers described in (1) to (3) may further include an underframe positioned below the top plate, a heating coil positioned below the top plate, and a housing that accommodates the heating coil, wherein the underframe and the housing may constitute a first exhaust passage connected to the exhaust port.

[0072] (5)(4) In the induction heating cooker, the housing may have a flange extending from the top of the housing toward the outside of the induction heating cooker, and the first exhaust passage may be defined by the gap between the flange and the underframe.

[0073] (6) Any one of the induction cookers described in (1) to (5) may further include a grill cooking chamber located below the top plate and a second exhaust passage connected from the grill cooking chamber to the exhaust port.

[0074] (7) In any induction cooker according to (1) to (6), the thickness of the upper part of the side frame may be greater than the thickness of other parts of the side frame located on the side of the top plate.

[0075] In the induction cooker of (8)(7), the side frame may have an upper end that is substantially parallel to the main surface of the top plate. [Industrial applicability]

[0076] This disclosure is applicable to induction heating cookers that use induction heating to heat objects such as pots and pans. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] 1 induction cooker 2 Top Unit 3 Bottom Unit 21 Top Plate 22 Side Frames 22a top end 23 Exhaust Frame 23a Exhaust port 24 Underframe 25 sealant 26 Ribs 31 Heating coil 32 Grill Cooking Unit 33 Operating device 34 cabinets 35 Flange FL1 First Exhaust Flow Channel FL2 Second Exhaust Flow Channel

Claims

1. Top plate and A side frame positioned on the side of the top plate, An exhaust frame is positioned on the side of the top plate and defines the exhaust port, Equipped with, The side frame is composed of a single component that surrounds the side of the top plate. The side frame and the exhaust frame are not located on the upper surface of the top plate. Induction heating cooker.

2. The exhaust frame is composed of different materials than the side frame. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1.

3. The exhaust frame is located behind the induction cooker. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1.

4. An underframe positioned below the top plate, A heating coil positioned below the top plate, A housing for the heating coil, Furthermore, The underframe and the housing constitute a first exhaust passage connected to the exhaust port. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1.

5. The housing has a flange extending from the top of the housing toward the outside of the induction cooker, The first exhaust passage is defined by the gap between the flange and the underframe. The induction heating cooker according to claim 4.

6. A grill cooking chamber is located below the top plate, A second exhaust passage is connected from the grill cooking chamber to the exhaust port, Furthermore, The induction heating cooker according to claim 1.

7. The thickness of the upper part of the side frame is greater than the thickness of other parts of the side frame located on the side of the top plate. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1.

8. The side frame has an upper end that is substantially parallel to the main surface of the top plate. The induction heating cooker according to claim 7.

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