Heating Regulator

Abstract

To provide a heating cooker that can improve the switching accuracy of ON / OFF of a switch.SOLUTION: A heating cooker of the present invention includes: a main body 1 that can accommodate a bottomed cylindrical pot 4 for storing food to be cooked; a lid 2 that covers an upper surface opening of the main body 1; and a lid operation body 14 that performs an opening operation of the lid 2. The lid operation body 14 has: a clamp button 14-1 that is pressed and operated; and a switch 14-2 that is provided at a position in a direction other than a direction in which an upper surface area of the clamp button 14-1 that can be pressed and operated among the clamp buttons 14-1 operates. The clamp button 14-1 directly operates the switch 14-2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device having a lid operating body that releases the engagement between a main body and a lid. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of this type of cooking device in which, when a switch under a seat is pressed via a seat that serves as an operating body, a plunger is operated, causing a hook lever to rotate and release the engagement with the claw, electrically releasing the engagement between the main body and the lid.

[0003] Furthermore, some conventional cooking appliances have a lid operating body that is exposed, but because the lid operating body is a movable part, a gap is formed between the lid operating body and the main body or lid on which the lid operating body is attached. Therefore, if measures such as covering the gap with a sheet are not taken, when liquid or the like adheres to the main body or lid, the liquid may get inside through the gap and drip onto the switch located below the lid operating body.

[0004] As a countermeasure to such a problem, a configuration has been proposed in which the switch is positioned off-center from below the lid operating body and operated by a dedicated part, as shown in Figures 10 to 12. Explaining with reference to these figures, cooking appliance 100 is configured to include, in addition to clamp button 101 and switch 102, switch holder 103 to which switch 102 is attached, stopper 104 for pushing switch button 102-1 of switch 102, and spring 105 for biasing clamp button 101 upward, and switch holder 103 has holder main body 103-1 to which switch 102 is placed, hook portion 103-2 to be hooked onto protrusion 101-1 of clamp button 101, and shaft 103-3 to which it is rotatably fixed. 11, before the clamp button 101 is operated, the clamp button 101 is urged upward by the spring 105, the protrusion 101-1 of the clamp button 101 moves the hook portion 103-2 upward, the switch holder 103 rotates upward about the shaft 103-3, the switch 102 abuts against the stopper 104 together with the switch button 102-1, the switch holder 103 stops, and the switch 102 is in the ON state. When the clamp button 101 is pressed downward, the protrusion 101-1 also moves downward, so the switch holder 103 is interlocked, and the switch holder 103 rotates downward about the shaft 103-3 due to gravity, the switch button 102-1 moves away from the stopper 104, and the switch 102 is in the OFF state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-57012 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in such a cooking appliance 100, when the clamp button 101 is pressed, the hook portion 103-2 of the switch holder 103 may interfere with the clamp button 101, as shown in FIG. 12. In this case, the hook portion 103-2 moves away from the protrusion 101-1, shortening the distance that the switch holder 103 moves downward, thereby shortening the distance that the switch button 102-1 moves away from the stopper 104, and the switch 102 does not turn off.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cooking device that can improve the accuracy of ON / OFF switching of a switch. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The cooking device of the present invention comprises a main body capable of accommodating a cylindrical container with a bottom for accommodating food to be cooked, a lid body for covering an upper opening of the main body, and a lid body operating body for performing an opening operation of the lid body, the lid body operating body having an operating body main body to be operated by pushing, and a switch provided in a position other than the direction in which the region of the operating body main body that can be operated by pushing operates, and the operating body main body directly operates the switch. The operating body has a hook-shaped portion that is provided on the outer periphery of the lower part of the operating body and operates the switch. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the cooking device of the present invention, the ON / OFF switching of the switch is performed by the operating body main body, and there is no risk of the operating body main body interfering with other parts of the lid operating body, thereby improving the accuracy of the ON / OFF switching of the switch. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the rice cooker. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the clamp button and the switch. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the clamp button and its surrounding essential parts in the standby position. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the clamp button and its surrounding essential parts in the operating position. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the main electrical configuration of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the inflow path in the clamp button of liquid that has flowed into the gap between the outer lid and the clamp button. FIG. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing the inflow path in the hook-shaped portion of the liquid that has flowed into the gap between the outer lid and the clamp button. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between a clamp button and a switch of a conventional rice cooker. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a clamp button and its surrounding essential parts in a conventional rice cooker in a standby position. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a clamp button and its surrounding essential parts in the operating position of a conventional rice cooker. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the cooking device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that common parts are designated by common reference numerals throughout the drawings.

[0012] Figures 1 to 9 show one embodiment of a rice cooker as a cooking appliance according to the present invention. First, the overall configuration of the rice cooker will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body, which, when viewed from above, is generally rectangular with a front, rear, left, and right sides facing each other, and has an open top. Reference numeral 2 denotes a lid that can be opened and closed to cover the top opening of main body 1. Similar to main body 1, lid 2 also has a generally rectangular shape with a front, rear, left, and right sides facing each other, and has a generally flat top. Main body 1 has a pot housing 3 with an open top. When lid 2 is opened, a bottomed pot 4, which serves as a container for holding water and rice to be cooked, is removably housed in pot housing 3. Pot housing 3 is constructed by combining a bowl-shaped resin inner frame 5 and other components, and the overall shape is cylindrical with a bottom.

[0013] Pot 4 has a main material 7 made of aluminum, which has good thermal conductivity, and a heating element 8 made of a magnetic metal plate such as ferritic stainless steel, bonded to the outer surface of main material 7 from the lower side to the bottom. Additionally, on the outer surface of inner frame 5, which faces the lower side of pot 4 toward the bottom, a heating coil 9 is provided as a heating means for electromagnetic induction heating of heating element 8 of pot 4. When high-frequency current is supplied to heating coil 9, the alternating magnetic field generated by heating coil 9 causes heating element 8 of pot 4 to heat the food being cooked in pot 4 during cooking and keeping warm. Additionally, pot sensor 10, which serves as a pot temperature detection means, is disposed in the center of the bottom of inner frame 5 so that it comes into elastic contact with the outer bottom surface of pot 4.

[0014] The exterior shape of the lid 2 is generally formed by an outer lid 11 and an outer lid cover 12 attached to cover the lower opening of the outer lid 11. A hinge portion 13 is provided at the rear of the lid 2, which connects it to the main body 1. A clamp button 14-1 of the lid operating member 14 is disposed in an exposed state on the front upper surface of the lid 2, and a gap G is formed between the outer lid 11 and the clamp button 14-1. When the clamp button 14-1 is pressed, the main body 1 and the lid 2 are disengaged, and a hinge spring (not shown) provided at the upper rear of the main body 1 opens the lid 2, rotating around the hinge axis of the hinge portion 13. The lid operating member 14 and its peripheral components will be described in detail later.

[0015] A steam vent 15 is provided on the upper rear surface of the lid 2, which exhausts steam generated from the food being cooked in the pot 4 to the outside of the rice cooker. In addition to the steam vent 15 and the lid operating mechanism 14, the top surface of the lid 2 is also provided with a display means 18 consisting of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 16 as a screen display unit for displaying various information related to rice cooking, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display unit 17 as a status display unit, and other components, and an operating means 19 consisting of a touch sensor and located above the LCD 16 for starting rice cooking and selecting the time, cooking course, etc. The display means 18 and operating means 19 are mounted on a control PC (Printed Circuit) board 21 located below the display means 18 and operating means 19.

[0016] The LCD 16 displays various information related to rice cooking, and the LED display 17 displays the actual status of the rice cooker. In this embodiment, the "Reservation" LED indicator lights when a timer is set, the "Keep Warm" LED indicator lights when the rice cooker is in the Keep Warm state, the "Vacuum" LED indicator lights when the pressure inside the pot 4 is reduced below atmospheric pressure by the pressure reducing means 38 (described later), and the "Pressure" LED indicator lights when the pressure inside the pot 4 is increased from the time pressure inside the pot 4 begins to build up during cooking until the rice is cooked. Therefore, even when the backlight of the LCD 16 is dimmed, the user can check the LED display 17 to understand the current status of the rice cooker at a glance. The LED display 17 may be illuminated in different colors when each LED indicator lights up, allowing the current status of the rice cooker to be understood at a glance. In this embodiment, the LED display 17 is located directly in front of the LCD 16, but it may also be located away from the LCD 16. Alternatively, the LED display unit 17 may be omitted and the display contents of the LED display unit 17 may be displayed on the LCD 16.

[0017] The operating means 19, which is composed of a touch sensor, is configured such that a plurality of components are arranged as touch keys, each of which is connected by pattern wiring between a transparent electrode section made of a conductive polymer and a contact section connected to the control PC board 21, and by performing a touch operation on one of a plurality of button display sections displayed on the LCD 16, the touch key arranged above that button display section and corresponding to that button display section is touched and that button display section is selected.

[0018] In this way, taking user operability and safety into consideration, lid operating member 14 is located on the front of the top surface of the rice cooker, closer to the user, and steam vent 15 is located on the rear of the top surface, farther from the user. This allows for ample space on the top surface of lid 2 between lid operating member 14 and steam vent 15 for display means 18. This allows for larger display means 18 and operating means 19 located above it, improving the visibility of display means 18 and the operability of operating means 19. Furthermore, apart from operating means 19 above LCD 16, the top surface of lid 2 does not contain any operating means, such as physical keys and buttons like a rice cooker key or an off key, as found on conventional rice cookers. This eliminates the need to search for buttons when operating the rice cooker, thereby improving operability. It also allows for a very sleek appearance and allows for a compact space for display means 18 and operating means 19, which are precision components. In addition, by removing the physical keys and buttons, the top surface of the cover 2 can be made approximately flat, making it easier to wipe and clean, improving cleanability.

[0019] An inner lid assembly 23 serving as the lower component of the lid 2 is disposed below the outer lid cover 12 of the lid 2. The inner lid assembly 23 is made of a metal material and has a disk shape with approximately the same diameter as the upper opening of the pot 4. The inner lid assembly 23 includes an inner lid 24 that covers the upper opening of the pot 4, a lid gasket 25 as an elastic member provided around the entire outer periphery of the inner lid 24 to seal the gap between the inner lid 24 and the pot 4, and a pressure regulator 26 that adjusts the internal pressure of the pot 4. The annular lid gasket 25 abuts against the top surface, which is the opening of the pot 4, when the lid 2 is closed as shown in FIG. 2, to close the gap between the pot 4 and the inner lid 24 and seal in steam generated from the pot 4.

[0020] Inside lid body 2, surrounded by outer lid 11 and outer lid cover 12, are provided lid heater 31 as a lid heating means for heating inner lid 24, and a thermistor-type lid temperature sensor 32 for controlling the temperature of inner lid 24 using lid heater 31. Inside lid body 2, a steam exhaust path 33 is formed that connects steam vent 15 and pressure adjustment part 26 and serves as a passage for releasing steam generated in pot 4 to the outside.

[0021] Pressure adjustment unit 26 is provided with a pressure adjustment valve 34 that opens and closes steam exhaust path 33 between the inside of pot 4 and steam vent 15. Pressure adjustment valve 34 is ball-shaped and operates in conjunction with a solenoid 35 provided inside lid 2. Solenoid 35 rotates pressure adjustment valve 34 to open steam exhaust path 33 when steam inside pot 4 is to be released to the outside and to close steam exhaust path 33 when the pressure inside pot 4 is to be pressurized or reduced. When pressurizing, high-frequency current is applied to heating coil 9 to heat the food inside pot 4, causing the food to boil and generate steam. This steam fills pot 4, and when the internal pressure of pot 4 reaches a predetermined value, pressure adjustment valve 34 opens steam exhaust path 33 against its own weight, thereby maintaining the pressure inside pot 4 at or above atmospheric pressure. A pressure sensor 36 (see FIG. 7) is provided inside lid 2 facing pressure adjustment unit 26 to detect the pressure inside pot 4.

[0022] Reference numeral 38 denotes a pressure reducing means for lowering the pressure inside the pot 4 below normal atmospheric pressure when the lid 2 is closed on the main body 1. The pressure reducing means 38 reduces the internal pressure of the sealed pot 4 by placing the pot 4 in the pot holder 3, closing the lid 2, and then energizing the solenoid 35 to cause the pressure regulating valve 34 to close the steam exhaust path 33. When the pressure inside the pot 4 drops below atmospheric pressure by a certain value, the operation of the pressure reducing pump 39, which is the power source for the pressure reducing means 38, is stopped, maintaining the inside of the pot 4 at a reduced pressure. Furthermore, when the inside of the pot 4 is to be returned from the reduced pressure state to atmospheric pressure, which is the same pressure as the outside air, the operation of the pressure reducing pump 39 is stopped and a path (not shown) connecting the pressure reducing pump 39 to the inside of the pot 4 is opened. In other words, the pressure reducing means 38 also serves as a pressure return means for returning the inside of the pot 4 from the reduced pressure state to the same pressure as the outside air.

[0023] Additionally, a unitized heating board assembly 42 including control means 41 (see Figure 7) is disposed inside main body 1. Control means 41 is configured to control the temperature of the bottom of pot 4 by mainly controlling heating coil 9 based on the temperature detected by pot sensor 10, and to control the temperature of inner lid 24 facing the food to be cooked by mainly controlling lid heater 31 based on the temperature detected by lid temperature sensor 32.

[0024] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 1. The lid body operating body 14 is generally composed of a clamp button 14-1 as an operating body main body that is pressed, and a switch 14-2 that detects the pressing of the clamp button 14-1. 27 is a clamp that engages and disengages with a clamp receiving portion (not shown) on the main body 1, and is generally composed of a clamp main body 27-1, a protrusion 27-2 provided on the top of the clamp main body 27-1 so as to protrude upward from the top, a support portion 27-3 provided at the tip of the protrusion 27-2 and supporting the lower part of the clamp button 14-1, a spring 27-4 provided around the protrusion 27-2 and between the top of the clamp main body 27-1 and the support portion 27-3 and biasing the support portion 27-3 so as to horizontally position it, and a clamp shaft 27-4 (see Figure 2) rotatably fixed to the outer lid cover 12.

[0025] The support portion 27-3 has a hole in its center, and the hemispherical tip of the protrusion 27-2 abuts against the lower side of this hole. As shown in FIG. 3 , the tip of the protrusion 27-2 extends to the bottom of the clamp button 14-1. When the clamp button 14-1 is in the standby position, the upper surface of the support portion 27-3 and the tip of the protrusion 27-2 contact the bottom of the clamp button 14-1, supporting it upward. Therefore, when the clamp button 14-1 is pressed while in the standby position, the clamp button 14-1 moves downward. This moves the upper part of the clamp body 27-1 downward together with the protrusion 27-2 and the support portion 27-3, which are in contact with the clamp button 14-1. This causes the clamp body 27-1 to rotate about the clamp shaft 27-4. When the clamp button 14-1 is further pressed and moved to the operating position, the clamp body 27-1 further rotates about the clamp shaft 27-4, and the engagement with the clamp receiving portion is released.

[0026] Furthermore, clamp body 27-1 is biased in the direction of engaging with the clamp receiving portion by a clamp spring (not shown) provided around clamp shaft 27-4, so that when the pressing operation is stopped while clamp button 14-1 is in the operating position, clamp body 27-1 rotates around clamp shaft 27-4 in the opposite direction to the previous rotation and returns to its original position, and the upper part of clamp body 27-1 moves upward. Then, protrusion 27-2 and support portion 27-3 move clamp button 14-1 upward, and clamp button 14-1 returns to the standby position it was in before the pressing operation.

[0027] 4 to 6 show the positional relationship between the clamp button 14-1 and the switch 14-2. Referring to these figures, the switch 14-2 of this embodiment is configured as, for example, a tactile switch. The switch 14-2 of this embodiment is disposed to the side of the clamp button 14-1 with the switch button 41, which is turned on and off, facing downward, to prevent water from adhering to the switch 14-2, and in particular, to prevent water from adhering to the switch button 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a different type of switch may be used for the switch 14-2.

[0028] The clamp button 14-1 has a U-shaped hook-shaped portion 43 and a plurality of hook portions 44 provided on its lower outer peripheral portion 42, and these hook-shaped portion 43 and hook portions 44 are formed integrally with the clamp button 14-1. The hook-shaped portion 43 is provided to match the location of the switch 14-2, and the hook portions 44 are configured to be provided in locations where no hook-shaped portion 43 is provided. In this embodiment, the hook-shaped portion 43 is provided on the right side of the rectangular lower outer peripheral portion 42, and the hook portions 44 are provided on the other three sides of the lower outer peripheral portion 42 where no hook-shaped portion 43 is provided, but this is just one example.

[0029] The hook portion 44 abuts against the outer lid 11 from below when the clamp button 14-1 is in the standby position, thereby preventing the clamp button 14-1 from moving further upward, and also functions as a positioning portion for the clamp button 14-1. The hook portion 44 is formed so as to protrude downward from the lower outer peripheral portion 42.

[0030] The hook-shaped portion 43 is composed of an extension portion 43-1 extending downward from the lower outer peripheral portion 42 of the clamp button 14-1, a contact portion 43-2 extending upward from the lower portion, and a connecting portion 43-3 connecting the extension portion 43-1 and the contact portion 43-2. ​​Forming the hook-shaped portion 43 in a U-shape improves the strength of the hook-shaped portion 43. The connecting portion 43-3 also has a convex rib 45 (see FIG. 8 ), which has a generally triangular cross section and is formed on the upper portion of the connecting portion 43-3 to connect the extension portion 43-1 and the contact portion 43-2. ​​This improves the strength of the hook-shaped portion 43 and also makes it easier for water that flows over the upper portion of the connecting portion 43-3 to drip onto the outer lid cover 12 below the hook-shaped portion 43. The shape of the hook-shaped portion 43 is an example, and any shape is acceptable as long as it allows the switch button 41 to be operated from below in an upward direction, and for example, it may be V-shaped and have no connecting portion 43-3. The shape of the rib 45 is an example, and any shape is acceptable as long as it allows water flowing from above to be directed to the front and rear side surfaces of the hook-shaped portion 43.

[0031] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, when the clamp button 14-1 is in the standby position, the tip of the contact portion 43-2 comes into contact with the switch button 41 of the switch 14-2, and the switch 14-2 is turned on when the switch button 41 is operated from below upward, and the length of the contact portion 43-2 and the installation position of the switch 14-2 are configured so that, when the clamp button 14-1 is in the operating position, the contact portion 43-2 is separated from the switch button 41, and the switch button 41 is not operated, so the switch 14-2 is turned off. Therefore, the switch 14-2 functions as a cover-opening operation detection means that detects that the clamp button 14-1 has been operated.

[0032] It is preferable that the tip of contact portion 43-2 has a flat portion on the surface that comes into contact with switch button 41 to make it easier to operate switch button 41. Furthermore, even if switch 14-2 is disposed in a recess surrounded by walls as shown in Figures 5 and 6, it is preferable that the tip of contact portion 43-2 has an R-shaped peripheral portion on the surface that comes into contact with switch button 41 so that it can be easily inserted into this recess and moved to switch 14-2.

[0033] 3, in this embodiment, the clamp 27 is disposed below the upper surface region of the clamp button 14-1, which is the region of the clamp button 14-1 that can be pressed, while no other components of the clamp 27, or in particular electronic components such as switches, are disposed in the space in the direction in which the upper surface region of the clamp button 14-1 operates, i.e., the space below the upper surface region of the clamp button, between the clamp button 14-1 and the outer cover 12. It is also preferable that no other components are disposed below the key-shaped portion 43 or the hook portion 44 up to the outer cover 12, so that when water drips from the key-shaped portion 43 or the hook portion 44, the outer cover 12 can directly receive the water.

[0034] Figure 7 shows the electrical configuration of the rice cooker of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes control means, which includes a control IC constituting a microcomputer, storage means such as a readable / writable memory for storing various information and data, timing means such as a timer, and drive elements for various components. The input port of control means 41 is electrically connected to operation means 19, pot sensor 10, lid temperature sensor 32, pressure sensor 36, and switch 14-2. The output port of control means 41 is electrically connected to display means 18, heating coil 9, lid heater 31, solenoid 35, and pressure reduction pump 39.

[0035] Control means 41 receives operation signals from operation means 19 and detection signals from pot sensor 10, lid temperature sensor 32, pressure sensor 36, and switch 14-2, and outputs a display control signal to display means 18 at a predetermined timing based on the timing of the built-in timer, and also outputs heating control signals to heating coil 9 and lid heater 31, and output drive control signals to solenoid 35 and pressure reduction pump 39. These functions are realized by control means 41 reading a program pre-recorded in storage means serving as a storage medium, and this control means 41 performs a rice cooking process that sequentially executes, for example, a soaking process to promote the water absorption of rice placed in pot 4, a boiling heating process to raise the temperature of the food to a boil in a short period of time, a boiling continuing process to keep the food boiling, and a steaming process to keep the rice at a high temperature so as not to burn the rice, thereby cooking the rice in pot 4 at the desired pressure. Furthermore, the control means 41 controls the warming process for keeping the rice in the pot 4 at a predetermined warming temperature during warming.

[0036] Next, the operation of the rice cooker configured as described above will be described. When the upper surface area of ​​clamp button 14-1 is pressed while the rice cooker is powered on, clamp button 14-1 moves downward from its standby position. Accordingly, hook-shaped portion 43 of clamp button 14-1 also moves downward, and the tip of contact portion 43-2 separates from switch button 41, turning switch 14-2 to the OFF state. Furthermore, the upper portion of clamp body 27-1 moves downward together with protrusion 27-2 and support portion 27-3, which are in contact with the lower portion of clamp button 14-1, and clamp body 27-1 rotates about clamp shaft 27-4. The rice cooker may also be configured to include a locking mechanism that secures clamp button 14-1 and clamp 27 so that pressing clamp button 14-1 will not move clamp button 14-1 from its standby position during a specific process, such as rice cooking.

[0037] When control means 41 receives a detection signal from switch 14-2 that has turned OFF, it determines whether the pressure inside pot 4 is atmospheric pressure based on the detection signal from pressure sensor 36. If control means 41 determines that the pressure inside pot 4 is atmospheric pressure, it controls the pressure to maintain the current state. If control means 41 determines that the pressure inside pot 4 is reduced, it controls the pressure reduction pump 39 to stop operating and to open the path connecting the pressure reduction pump 39 to the inside of pot 4. If control means 41 determines that the pressure inside pot 4 is increased, it controls solenoid 35 to open steam exhaust path 33.

[0038] When the clamp button 14-1 is pressed further, it moves further downward to the operating position, causing the clamp body 27-1 to rotate further about the clamp shaft 27-4, disengaging the clamp body 27-1 from the clamp receiving portion, and the hinge spring opens the lid body 2 with the hinge shaft of the hinge portion 13 as the rotation center.

[0039] In this way, because switch 14-2 is turned OFF before clamp button 14-1 moves to the operating position, the pressure inside pot 4 can be returned to near atmospheric pressure when clamp 27 is disengaged from the clamp receiving portion, preventing lid 2 from being difficult to open when the inside of pot 4 is under reduced pressure, or preventing lid 2 from suddenly opening when the inside of pot 4 is under pressure. Note that when control means 41 receives a detection signal from switch 14-2 that indicates that switch 14-2 has been turned OFF, it may control solenoid 35 to open steam exhaust path 33, eliminating the need to determine the pressure inside pot 4 from the detection signal from pressure sensor 36 and simplifying control.

[0040] Next, referring to Figures 8 and 9, a case where liquid has flowed into the gap G between the outer lid 11 and the clamp button 14-1 will be described. When a liquid such as water is spilled on the top surface of the lid body 2 or when the liquid adheres near the clamp button 14-1, the liquid may flow from the gap G into the lid body 2 due to capillary action or the like. In this case, as shown by the dotted arrow I in Figure 8, if the liquid flows into the side surface S on which the hook-shaped portion 43 of the clamp button 14-1 is provided, the liquid will move due to gravity and capillary action along the side surface S to the lower outer peripheral portion 42 and then move further downward along the hook-shaped portion 43.

[0041] As shown by dotted arrow I in Figure 9, when this liquid trickles down the inside of the hook-shaped portion 43, it moves to the connecting portion 43-3 of the hook-shaped portion 43 and changes direction along the rib 45 to either the front or rear of the connecting portion 43-3. The liquid then trickles down the front or rear side of the connecting portion 43-3 and drips from the bottom of the connecting portion 43-3 onto the outer lid cover 12 below the hook-shaped portion 43. The liquid is then configured to trickle down the outer lid cover 12 and be discharged outside the machine.

[0042] In this embodiment, because the hook-shaped portion 43 is U-shaped, water tends to collect on the connecting portion 43-3, and when the clamp button 14-1 moves to the standby position with water on the connecting portion 43-3, this water may move by capillary action into the recess in which the switch 14-2 is disposed, and may further move to and adhere to the switch 14-2. However, in this embodiment, by providing a rib 45 on the upper part of the connecting portion 43-3, the direction of movement of the water that has moved to the hook-shaped portion 43 as described above is changed, making it easier for the water to drip onto the outer lid cover 12 below the hook-shaped portion 43.

[0043] Furthermore, when the liquid that has flowed onto the side surface S flows down anywhere other than the inside of the hook-shaped portion 43, the liquid flows down the side surface and bottom of the connecting portion 43-3 and drips from the bottom of the connecting portion 43-3 onto the outer lid cover 12 below the hook-shaped portion 43.

[0044] Furthermore, if liquid flows into a side surface other than side surface S of clamp button 14-1, the liquid will move along side surface S due to gravity and capillary action to the lower outer peripheral portion 42, then travel along the lower outer peripheral portion 42 to the nearby hook portion 44, and drip from the bottom of hook portion 44 onto the outer lid cover 12 below said hook portion 44.

[0045] In this manner, in this embodiment, the liquid that flows in from the gap G drips from the hook-shaped portion 43 or the hook portion 44 that protrudes downward from the lower outer peripheral portion 42. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is preferable that no other components, particularly electronic components such as switches, are arranged below the hook-shaped portion 43 or the hook portion 44 up to the outer lid cover 12, and the liquid that drips from the hook-shaped portion 43 or the hook portion 44 drips directly onto the outer lid cover 12 without adhering to other components, thereby preventing the liquid from adhering to components other than the outer lid cover 12.

[0046] As described above, the rice cooker as a heating cooker of this embodiment comprises a main body 1 capable of accommodating a pot 4 as a bottomed cylindrical container for accommodating the food to be cooked, a lid body 2 that covers the top opening of the main body 1, and a lid body operating body 14 that operates to open the lid body 2. The lid body operating body 14 has a clamp button 14-1 as the operating body main body that is operated by pushing, and a switch 14-2 that is provided approximately to the side of the top surface area of ​​the clamp button 14-1, at a position other than downward of the top surface area of ​​the clamp button 14-1, as the direction in which the top surface area of ​​the clamp button 14-1 that can be pushed operates, and the contact portion 43-2 of the hook-shaped portion 43 of the clamp button 14-1 is configured to directly operate the switch 14-2.

[0047] By configuring it in this manner, the clamp button 14-1 switches the switch 14-2 ON / OFF, and there is no risk of the clamp button 14-1 interfering with other parts of the lid body operating body 14, thereby improving the accuracy of the ON / OFF switching of the switch 14-2.

[0048] In addition, the clamp button 14-1 of this embodiment is configured to have a hook-shaped portion 43 that is provided on the lower outer periphery 42, which is the outer periphery of the lower part of the clamp button 14-1, and operates the switch 14-2.Therefore, liquid that flows into the clamp button 14-1 can be made to drip downward along the hook-shaped portion 43.

[0049] In addition, the hook-shaped portion 43 in this embodiment has an extension portion 43-1 extending downward from the clamp button 14-1, a contact portion 43-2 extending upward to operate the switch 14-2, and a connecting portion 43-3 connecting the extension portion 43-1 and the contact portion 43-2, and the connecting portion 43-3 is configured to have a convex rib 45 on the top, so that liquid flowing down the inside of the hook-shaped portion 43 can drip downward without accumulating on the connecting portion 43-3.

[0050] In addition, the switch 14-2 in this embodiment is a tactile switch, and the switch button 41 to be operated is provided on the underside, and the contact portion 43-2 is configured to operate the switch button 41 from the bottom upward.As a result, it is possible to prevent water from adhering to the switch 14-2, and in particular, it is possible to prevent water from adhering to the switch button 41.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, although a rice cooker has been described as an example of the present embodiment, other cooking appliances may also be used. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the clamp button 14-1 is pressed, the clamp body 27-1 and the clamp receiving portion are mechanically disengaged. However, the control means 41 may be configured to electrically control the engagement mechanism that engages the body 1 and the lid 2, and the control means 41 may be configured to engage or disengage the body 1 and the lid 2 using the engagement mechanism based on a signal from the switch 14-2. The numerical values ​​exemplified in the embodiments are merely examples and may be changed as appropriate depending on the specifications of the rice cooker. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 Main unit 2 Lid 4 pots (containers) 14 Lid operating body 14-1 Clamp button (operating body) 14-2 Switch 41 Switch Button 42 Lower outer periphery (lower outer periphery) 43 Hook-shaped part 43-1 Extension section 43-2 Contact area 43-3 Connection part 45 Ribs

Claims

1. A main body capable of accommodating a cylindrical container with a bottom for accommodating food to be cooked; a lid for covering an upper opening of the main body; a lid operating body for performing an opening operation of the lid body, The cover operation body includes an operation body main body that is operated by pushing, and a switch that is provided at a position other than a direction in which a region of the operation body that can be operated by pushing operates, The operating body directly operates the switch, The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the operating body has a hook-shaped portion provided on the outer periphery of the lower part of the operating body for operating the switch.

2. the hook-shaped portion has an extending portion extending downward from the operation body main body, a contact portion extending upward to operate the switch, and a connecting portion connecting the extending portion and the contact portion, The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion has a convex shape on an upper portion thereof.

3. The switch is a tactile switch, and a switch button to be operated is provided on the lower surface thereof. The cooking device according to claim 2, wherein the contact portion operates the switch button from below upward.

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