Conditioner

Abstract

To provide a cooker capable of preventing viscous liquid from boiling over as much as possible.SOLUTION: A cooker 100 includes: a container 130 opened upward; a lid body 140 disposed on the upper side of the container for covering the opening of the container; and a flow channel forming part 144 having a first communication port LP1a and LP3a disposed inside the lid body for causing the inside to communicate with the inside of the container, and a second communication port UP3a for causing the inside to communicate with the outside of the lid body. The first communication port is formed at a position different from the position of the second communication port in a plane view. The flow channel forming part further includes a first rib UP7 for causing the liquid inflowing from inside the container through the first communication port to be directed to a flow channel R2 extending to a second communication port side in a plane view after allowing the liquid to pass through a flow channel R1 extending on a side opposite to the second communication port side of the first communication port in a plane view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance.

Background Art

[0002] In the past, there has been proposed "a heat radiation plate unit of a rice cooker in which an annular packing for sealing the opening of a rice cooker is attached to the lower surface of the outer peripheral edge of a heat radiation plate, and a steam separation case is detachably attached around a steam hole provided in the heat radiation plate." (For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-238743).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a cooking appliance such as a rice cooker as described above, a guide wall that is arranged between a steam inlet and a steam outlet in a plan view and curves toward the steam inlet side is formed inside the steam separation case. And when a fluid (for example, a gas such as steam, a viscous liquid such as onigiri soup) generated by cooking a consumable (for example, rice, water, etc.) placed in a container flows into the inside of the onigiri separation case through the steam inlet, it is guided to the steam outlet side in a plan view by the guide wall. Here, it is preferable to prevent the viscous liquid from spilling (being discharged from the steam outlet), but in a cooking appliance as described above, if the momentum of the viscous liquid is strong, there is a risk that the viscous liquid will spill.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance that can prevent the viscous liquid from spilling as much as possible.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The cooking appliance according to the present invention is A container that opens upwards, A lid is positioned on the upper side of the container and covers the opening of the container, The lid is positioned on the inside of the lid and comprises a flow path forming section having a first communication opening that connects its interior to the interior of the container, and a second communication opening that connects its interior to the outside of the lid, The first communication opening is formed in a different position from the second communication opening in a plan view. The flow path forming section further includes a first rib that directs the fluid flowing in from inside the container through the first communication port through a flow path extending on the side of the first communication port opposite to the second communication port in a plan view, and then toward a flow path extending toward the side of the second communication port in a plan view.

[0007] The fluid can be, for example, a gas such as steam, or a viscous liquid such as sticky food. With the above configuration, the viscous liquid passes through the channel extending on the opposite side of the second communication port from the first communication port in a plan view, thereby reducing the force of the viscous liquid when it flows through the channel extending towards the second communication port in a plan view. Therefore, this cooker can prevent the viscous liquid from boiling over as much as possible.

[0008] In this invention, The channel forming portion further has a second rib, The second rib is preferably formed between the upper wall and the lower wall of the flow path forming section, and intersects the direction of fluid flow in a plan view.

[0009] Viscous liquids can sometimes form bubbles by incorporating gas as they flow through the channel. With the above configuration, the bubbles can be brought into contact with the second rib and burst before they burst near the second communication port. Therefore, in this cooker, the splashes from bursting bubbles can be prevented from scattering as much as possible outside the lid through the second communication port.

[0010] In this invention, Preferably, the first rib and the second rib extend downward from the upper wall of the flow channel forming portion so as not to contact the lower wall of the flow channel forming portion.

[0011] With the above configuration, the risk of the first and second ribs retaining the viscous liquid that flows into the flow channel forming section can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, in this cooker, the viscous liquid in the flow channel forming section can be easily returned to the inside of the container through the first communication port, and the flow channel forming section can be kept as clean as possible. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that this figure shows the lid in a closed state. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, cut along the front-to-back direction so as to pass through the center in the left-to-right direction. [Figure 3] This is an upper perspective view of the upper case portion of the flow channel forming portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a downward perspective view of the upper case portion of the flow channel forming part according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This figure is a plan view of the lower exterior member and the upper case portion of the flow path forming section of the exterior body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that this figure shows a state in which the reinforcing member is not attached to the upper surface of the lower exterior member of the exterior body. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 5. Note that the front and rear ends of the lower exterior member of the exterior body are omitted from this figure. [Figure 7] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of BB. [Figure 8] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of CC. [Figure 9] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the DD. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view of EE in Figure 5. Note that the front and rear ends of the lower exterior member of the exterior body are omitted from this figure. [Figure 11]It is a plan view showing the flow of fluid in the flow path forming portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the state where the flow path forming portion is cut by a plane that extends in the front-rear, left-right directions and passes between the upper and lower ends of the inverted U-shaped rib, the left and right side ribs, and the rear side rib of the upper case portion of the flow path forming portion is shown.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] <Structure of the rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention> The rice cooker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an induction heating type pressure rice cooker, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it mainly includes a main body 110, an inner pot 130, a lid 140, a hinge mechanism 150, a hinge cover 160, etc. These components will be described in detail below.

[0014] 1. Main body As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 110 mainly includes a housing 111, a heat insulating material (not shown), an induction heating coil 113, a warming heater HT, a ferrite core assembly (not shown), a thermistor 114, a blower fan 115, a heat sink 116, an operation panel 117, a control board 118, a microcomputer board 119, an automatic winding type power cord unit 120, a locked portion (not shown), etc. These components will be described in detail below.

[0015] (1) Housing As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 111 mainly includes a body 111a, a shoulder member 111c, a protective frame 111d, a flange portion Db, a microcomputer board support member 111e, a control board support member 111f, etc. These components will be described in detail below. Note that the housing 111 houses a heat insulating material (not shown), an induction heating coil 113, a ferrite core assembly, a thermistor 114, a blower fan 115, a heat sink 116, a control board 118, a microcomputer board 119, an automatic winding type power cord unit 120, etc.

[0016] (1-1) Body The body 111a is formed from a side wall Aa and a bottom wall Ab, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The side wall Aa is an enclosure wall that is substantially rectangular in shape in plan view and covers the side of the main body 110, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A claw portion (not shown) is formed at the front upper end of the side wall Aa. The microcontroller board support member 111e is locked to the body 111a by this claw portion and the claw receiving portion of the microcontroller board support member 111e. In the rice cooker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the shoulder member 111c is not locked to the body 111a. The bottom wall Ab is a substantially rectangular plate member that extends inward from the lower end of the side wall Aa, as shown in Figure 2, and covers the lower opening of the side wall Aa. The control board support member 111f and the protective frame 111d are fastened to the bottom wall Ab. Furthermore, the bottom wall Ab has an air intake port Ab1 (see Figure 2) for drawing in outside air from the housing 111, and an exhaust port (not shown) for discharging air from inside the housing 111 to the outside. As shown in Figure 2, a blower fan 115 is positioned directly above the air intake port Ab1. When this blower fan 115 is driven, outside air is drawn into the housing 111 through the air intake port Ab1, and the resulting airflow causes the heated air inside to be discharged from the system through the exhaust port.

[0017] (1-2) Shoulder member As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shoulder member 111c is positioned on the upper side of the body 111a, and a portion of it is visible from the outside even when the lid 140 is closed. An operation panel 117 is positioned on the upper front side of the shoulder member 111c (see Figures 1 and 2), and a flange portion Db is attached to the lower surface of the shoulder member 111c (see Figure 2). An opening is formed in the shoulder member 111c to serve as the insertion point for the inner pot 130.

[0018] (1-3) Protective frame The protective frame 111d is a bowl-shaped portion that covers the outer circumference of the inner pot 130 (see Figure 2). As shown in Figure 2, a flange portion Db is positioned above the protective frame 111d, and the protective frame 111d and the flange portion Db are connected to each other. Also, as described above, the protective frame 111d is fastened to the bottom wall Ab of the body 111a. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, an opening is formed in the center of the bottom wall of the protective frame 111d for passing the thermistor 114 through.

[0019] (1-4) Flange section The flange portion Db is formed from an engineering plastic such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). The flange portion Db also plays a role in maintaining the shape of the shoulder member 111c and, as described above, is attached to the lower surface of the shoulder member 111c. Engineering plastics have higher rigidity and superior heat resistance compared to general-purpose resins, making them less susceptible to thermal deformation. An opening is formed in the flange portion Db to serve as the insertion point for the inner pot 130.

[0020] (1-5) Microcontroller board support member The microcontroller board support member 111e is made of a general-purpose resin such as polypropylene (PP) and is responsible for supporting the microcontroller board 119. The microcontroller board support member 111e is positioned inside the shoulder member 111c and below the operation panel 117 (see Figure 2) and is fixed to the shoulder member 111c. The microcontroller board support member 111e has a claw receiving portion, and as described above, the microcontroller board support member 111e is locked to the body 111a by this claw receiving portion and the claw portion of the side wall Aa of the body 111a.

[0021] (1-6) Control board support member The control board support member 111f is made of a general-purpose resin such as polypropylene (PP) and is responsible for supporting the control board 118. The control board support member 111f is positioned inside the fuselage 111a (more specifically, between the fuselage 111a and the protective frame 111d) (see Figure 2) and is fastened to the bottom wall Ab of the fuselage 111a.

[0022] (2) Insulation The insulating material is wrapped around the side walls of the protective frame 111d and the outer circumference of the heat retention heater HT, and plays a role in preventing heat generated from the inner pot 130 during rice cooking from escaping to the outside of the protective frame 111d.

[0023] (3) Induction heating coil The induction heating coil 113 is an induction heating source for induction heating the inner pot 130, and is located outside the bottom wall and the lower end of the side wall of the protective frame 111d, as shown in Figure 2.

[0024] (4) Heating heater The heat retention heater HT is an annular heater used during heat retention operation, and as shown in Figure 2, it is positioned on the outside of the vertically intermediate portion of the side wall of the protective frame 111d.

[0025] (5) Ferrite core assembly The ferrite core assembly is arranged around the induction heating coil 113. The ferrite core assembly contains a ferrite core, which plays a role in suppressing the leakage of electromagnetic waves generated from the induction heating coil 113 to the outside when power is applied.

[0026] (6) Thermistor The thermistor 114 is a temperature sensor and, as shown in Figure 2, protrudes upward through an opening formed in the center of the bottom wall of the protective frame 111d. This thermistor 114 is biased upward by a biasing member such as a coil spring. In other words, this thermistor 114 is in a state where it can extend and retract along the vertical direction. This thermistor 114 is supported by a roughly disc-shaped cover member. This cover member is fixed to the bottom wall of the protective frame 111d.

[0027] (7) Blower fan As described above, the blower fan 115 is positioned directly above the intake port Ab1 on the bottom wall Ab of the housing 111, with its rotation axis aligned approximately vertically (see Figure 2). That is, when the blower fan 115 is driven, outside air is drawn in through the intake port Ab1 and flows into the housing, where it is then blown upwards. The outside air blown upwards passes through the heat sink 116 and is supplied to the control board 118 and microcontroller board 119, etc., to cool these components.

[0028] (8) Heatsink The heatsink 116 is a component that efficiently exchanges heat with the outside air.

[0029] (9) Control panel The control panel 117 is used to determine and execute the operation method of the rice cooker 100, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it mainly consists of the panel body 117a and the push button BT, etc. As described above, the control panel 117 is located on the upper side of the front part of the shoulder member 111c.

[0030] (10) Control board The control board 118 is a circuit board that constitutes the power supply circuit and has several heat-generating components mounted on it. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the control board 118 is housed in the front space of the housing 111 and is supported by the control board support member 111f.

[0031] (11) Microcontroller board The microcontroller board 119 has electronic components such as a microcomputer mounted on it. As shown in Figure 2, the microcontroller board 119 is located inside the shoulder member 111c and below the operation panel 117, and is supported by the microcontroller board support member 111e. The microcomputer on the microcontroller board 119 determines whether or not the inner pot 130 is present in the rice cooker 100 by detecting the change in the inductance of the induction heating coil 113 caused by the presence of the inner pot 130 inside the rice cooker 100.

[0032] (12) Automatic retractable power cord unit The automatic retractable power cord unit 120 consists of a power cord PC (see Figure 1) and an automatic winding mechanism (not shown), and is housed in the rear space of the housing 111 as shown in Figure 2. The power cord PC consists of a plug and an electrical wire (see Figure 1). The plug is located at the end of the electrical wire. The electrical wire is wound around the automatic winding mechanism so as to be extendable.

[0033] (13)Locked part The locking portion is attached to the upper surface of the front part of the shoulder member 111c (the insertion opening for the inner pot 130). When the lid 140 is closed, the claw portion of the lever member 146 of the lid 140 is locked to this locking portion.

[0034] 2. Inner pot As shown in Figure 2, the inner pot 130 is a bowl-shaped pot that opens upward and is inserted through the opening of the shoulder member 111c and the opening of the flange portion Db, and is housed in the protective frame 111d with a predetermined gap. The inner pot 130 is a multilayer (clad material) of various aluminum alloys and stainless steel alloys and can be induction heated by the induction heating coil 113.

[0035] 3. Lid As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lid 140 mainly consists of an outer casing 141, an operating lever 142, a pressure adjustment mechanism 143, a reinforcing member (not shown), a flow path forming section 144, an annular packing PK, a return port packing PL, an inner lid 145, a lever member 146, and a lever stopper (not shown), and is rotatably attached to the main body 110 via a hinge mechanism 150. These components will be described in detail below.

[0036] (1) Exterior As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer casing 141 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member composed of an upper outer casing member 141a and a lower outer casing member 141b, and houses the operating lever 142, reinforcing member, flow path forming section 144, lever member 146, and the like.

[0037] The upper exterior member 141a is a plate member with a substantially rectangular shape in plan view (see Figure 1) and is made of a general-purpose resin such as polypropylene (PP). As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper exterior member 141a covers the upper side of the lower exterior member 141b. Also, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, an opening is formed at the front of the upper exterior member 141a to expose the upper surface of a part of the operating lever 142, and an opening BO is formed at the rear of the upper exterior member 141a to expose the steam port forming part UP3 of the upper case part UP of the flow path forming part 144.

[0038] The lower exterior member 141b is a plate member with a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, and is made of a general-purpose resin such as polypropylene (PP). As shown in Figure 2, an inner lid 145 is detachably disposed on the lower surface of the lower exterior member 141b. A reinforcing member is attached to the upper surface of the lower exterior member 141b. Also as shown in Figure 2, a lower case portion LP, which constitutes the flow path forming portion 144 (described later), is formed on the rear part of the lower exterior member 141b (more specifically, the part of the lower exterior member 141b behind the pressure adjustment mechanism 143). Details of this lower case portion LP will be described later. In addition, the lower exterior member 141b has screw receiving holes formed at positions that overlap with the screw receiving holes UP4a of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 in plan view.

[0039] (2) Operating lever The operating lever 142 is used to open the lid 140 from the closed state, and is located on the upper side of the lever member 146 as shown in Figure 2. The operating lever 142 is rotatable around a pivot shaft SF1 (see Figure 2) fixed to the upper outer casing member 141a of the outer casing 141, and is biased in a clockwise direction around the pivot shaft SF1 in a right side view by an operating lever-side torsion spring (not shown).

[0040] (3) Pressure adjustment mechanism The pressure adjustment mechanism 143 adjusts the internal pressure of the inner pot 130 to 1 atmosphere or more (for example, 1.03 to 1.3 atmospheres) when the lid 140 is closed and pressure cooking is in progress. Furthermore, the pressure adjustment mechanism 143 restricts the rotation of the lever member 146 to prevent the lid 140 from opening during pressure cooking. In this embodiment, the pressure adjustment mechanism is not particularly limited, and conventional mechanisms may be used.

[0041] (4) Reinforcement members The reinforcing member is intended to increase the rigidity of the lower exterior member 141b and is formed from, for example, sheet metal such as hot-dip galvanized steel (SGCC) or engineering plastic such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). The reinforcing member is a member that has a roughly rectangular frame shape and is attached to the lower exterior member 141b of the exterior body 141. A bearing hole for attaching the pivot shaft SF2 (see Figure 2) is formed at the front end of the reinforcing member, and a bearing hole for passing the pivot shaft 151 (see Figure 2) of the hinge mechanism 150 is formed at the rear end of the reinforcing member. In addition, the reinforcing member has screw receiving holes formed at a position that overlaps with the screw receiving holes UP5a of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 in a planar perspective view.

[0042] (5) Flow channel forming section As shown in Figure 2, the flow path forming section 144 is located inside the outer casing 141 and mainly consists of the lower case section LP and the upper case section UP. These components will be described in detail below.

[0043] (5-1) Lower case section LP As described above, the lower case portion LP is formed on the lower exterior member 141b of the outer casing 141. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 to 10, the lower case portion LP is mainly formed from the lower wall portion LP1, the side wall portion LP2, and the cylindrical portion LP3. The lower wall portion LP1 constitutes the lower wall of the lower case portion LP, as shown in Figures 6 to 11. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, return ports LP1a are formed around the cylindrical portion LP3 of the lower wall portion LP1. The return ports LP1a are for returning the viscous liquid in the flow path forming portion 144 back into the inner pot 130, and four of them are formed. Normally, the return ports LP1a are sealed from below by return port packing PL. Also, as shown in Figures 6 to 10, the lower wall portion LP1 slopes downward towards the return ports LP1a. The side wall portion LP2 extends upward from the outer end of the lower wall portion LP1, as shown in Figures 6 to 10. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 to 10, the side wall portion LP2 is fitted between the outer wall portion UP2 and the inner wall portion UP6 of the upper case portion UP, and together with the upper wall portion UP1 of the upper case portion UP, it sandwiches the annular packing PK. The cylindrical portion LP3 extends upward from the front of the lower wall portion LP1, as shown in Figures 6, 8, 10, and 11, and has a substantially cylindrical shape. Also, as shown in Figures 6, 10, and 11, the cylindrical portion LP3 is located in front of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 of the upper case portion UP and behind the semi-cylindrical portion UP10 of the upper case portion UP. Note that, as shown in Figures 6, 8, 10, and 11, an inlet LP3a is formed in the cylindrical portion LP3. The inlet LP3a is for allowing fluids (such as steam or other gases, or viscous liquids such as sticky residue) generated when the consumables (such as rice or water) placed in the inner pot 130 are cooked to flow into the flow path forming section 144.

[0044] (5-2) Upper case section The upper case section UP is positioned above the lower case section LP so as to cover it, as shown in Figures 5 to 10. The upper case section UP is mainly formed from the upper wall section UP1, the outer wall section UP2, the steam vent forming section UP3, the first screw receiving section UP4, the second screw receiving section UP5, the inner wall section UP6, the inverted U-shaped rib UP7, the left and right side ribs UP8, the rear side rib UP9, and the semi-cylindrical section UP10, as shown in Figures 3 to 11. The upper wall section UP1 constitutes the upper wall of the upper case section UP, as shown in Figures 3 to 10. The outer wall section UP2 extends downward from the outer end of the upper wall section UP1, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 6 to 10. The steam vent forming section UP3 is formed in the left-right central part of the upper wall section UP1, as shown in Figures 3, 5 to 9. Furthermore, as described above, the steam vent forming section UP3 is exposed by the opening BO of the upper exterior member 141a of the outer casing 141. In the rice cooker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, of the flow path forming section 144, only the steam vent forming section UP3 is visible from the outside. Also, as shown in Figures 3, 5 to 7, and 9, a steam vent UP3a is formed in the steam vent forming section UP3. The steam vent UP3a is for discharging gases such as steam generated in the inner pot 130 to the outside. The steam vent UP3a is designed to widen from the bottom to the top in the cross-sectional view AA of Figure 5, as shown in Figure 6. The steam vent UP3a is located behind the inverted U-shaped rib UP7. The first screw receiving section UP4 extends forward from the central and left and right sides of the front end of the outer wall section UP2, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, and extends rearward from the left and right sides of the rear end of the outer wall section UP2. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first screw receiving portion UP4 has a screw receiving hole UP4a. The screw receiving hole UP4a and the screw receiving hole in the lower exterior member 141b of the outer casing 141 are connected to form a connecting hole, and when a screw (not shown) is screwed into this connecting hole, the upper case portion UP is fastened to the lower exterior member 141b of the outer casing 141. The second screw receiving portion UP5 extends outward from the left and right ends of the outer wall portion UP2, as shown in Figures 3 to 5 and 8. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second screw receiving portion UP5 has a screw receiving hole UP5a.The upper case portion UP is fastened to the reinforcing member by screwing a screw (not shown) into a connecting hole formed by the screw receiving hole UP5a and the screw receiving hole of the reinforcing member. The inner wall portion UP6 is an enclosure wall that extends downward from the portion of the upper wall portion UP1 that is inward from the outer end, as shown in Figures 4, 6 to 10. As shown in Figures 6 to 10, an annular packing PK is placed between the outer wall portion UP2 and the inner wall portion UP6. The inverted U-shaped rib UP7 extends downward from the portion of the upper wall portion UP1 that is inward from the inner wall portion UP6 in a plan view, so as not to come into contact with the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP, and in a plan view it has a roughly inverted U shape (see Figures 4 and 11). The left and right ribs UP8 extend downward from the portion of the upper wall UP1 that is inside the inner wall UP6 in a plan view, without contacting the lower wall LP1 of the lower case LP. They also extend from the left end of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 toward the left to the inner wall UP6, and from the right end of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 toward the right to the inner wall UP6 (see Figures 4 and 11). The rear rib UP9 extends downward from the portion of the upper wall UP1 that is inside the inner wall UP6 in a plan view, without contacting the lower wall LP1 of the lower case LP. It also extends from the left and right ends of the rear of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 toward the rear to the inner wall UP6 (see Figures 4 and 11). Note that the left and right ribs UP8 and the rear rib UP9 intersect the direction of fluid flow in a plan view, as shown in Figure 11. The semi-cylindrical portion UP10 is a substantially semi-cylindrical part that extends downward from the portion of the upper wall portion UP1 that is inside the inner wall portion UP6 in a plan view, without contacting the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP, and is located in front of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 (see Figures 4, 6, 10, and 11).

[0045] In the rice cooker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the lower end of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 is located below the lower end of the inner wall portion UP6, the lower ends of the left and right side ribs UP8, the lower end of the rear side rib UP9, and the lower end of the semi-cylindrical portion UP10, as shown in Figures 4, 6, 9, and 10. Furthermore, the lower end of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 faces the upper surface of the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP with a small gap (for example, a gap of about 1.5 mm), as shown in Figures 6, 9, and 10. If this gap is absent (i.e., the lower end of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 is in contact with the upper surface of the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP), the viscous liquid in the flow path forming portion 144 will have difficulty returning to the inner pot 130 through the return port LP1a of the lower case portion LP. If this gap is large, there is a risk that the viscous liquid will pass through this gap without going through the first flow path R1 (described later) and head toward the steam port UP3a in a plan view. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, the lower end of the inner wall portion UP6 is located below the lower ends of the left and right side ribs UP8 and the lower end of the rear side rib UP9.

[0046] (6) Ring-shaped packing As described above, the annular packing PK is positioned between the outer wall portion UP2 and the inner wall portion UP6, and is sandwiched between the upper wall portion UP1 of the upper case portion UP and the side wall portion LP2 of the lower case portion LP. This ensures that the upper case portion UP and the lower case portion LP are watertight.

[0047] (7) Return port packing The return port packing PL is a member formed from a flexible material and, as described above, normally closes the return port LP1a of the lower case portion LP from below (see Figures 6, 8, and 10). The return port packing PL ceases to close the return port LP1a of the lower case portion LP when viscous liquid accumulates in the recess formed by the return port LP1a of the lower case portion LP and the upper surface of the return port packing PL, and the weight of the viscous liquid causes the return port packing PL to flex. Note that the return port packing PL does not close the inlet LP3a of the lower case portion LP, as shown in Figures 6, 8, and 10.

[0048] (8) Inner lid The inner lid 145 is a component that covers the top of the inner pot 130 and seals the inner pot 130, as shown in Figure 2. Although not shown, the inner lid 145 has a through-hole. Fluid generated from the consumable material placed in the inner pot 130 passes through this through-hole and then flows into the flow path forming section 144 through the inlet LP3a of the lower case section LP. The viscous liquid in the flow path forming section 144 passes through the return port LP1a of the lower case section LP and then returns to the inner pot 130 through this through-hole.

[0049] (9) Lever member The lever member 146 is a metal plate member formed from a contact plate portion (not shown), a pair of left and right extended plate portions (not shown) extending downward from the front side of the contact plate portion, and claw portions (not shown) extending rearward from the lower part of each extended plate portion. It is pivotally supported by a reinforcing member by a pivot shaft SF2 (see Figure 2) and is biased in a counterclockwise direction around the pivot shaft SF2 in a right side view by a lever member-side torsion spring (not shown). When the user presses downward on the front part of the operating lever 142 (the part exposed on the upper exterior member 141a of the exterior body 141 in Figure 1), the operating lever 142 rotates around the pivot shaft SF1 and comes into contact with the rear part of the contact plate portion of the lever member 146 that is behind the pivot shaft SF2.

[0050] When the user wants to close the lid 140, they do not need to operate the operating lever 142; they simply need to push the lid 140 toward the main body 110. At this time, the claw portion of the lever member 146 moves downward while contacting the inclined surface (not shown) formed on the locking portion of the main body 110. During this time, the lever member 146 rotates forward (more specifically, clockwise around the pivot axis SF2 in a right side view) against the biasing force of the torsion spring on the lever member side. When the claw portion reaches below the locking portion of the main body 110, the claw portion is locked against the locking portion of the main body 110 by the biasing force of the torsion spring on the lever member side. In this way, the lid 140 is closed. On the other hand, when opening the lid 140, the user presses the front portion of the operating lever 142 toward the pivot axis SF1 downward. Then, the operating lever 142 comes into contact with the rear portion of the contact plate of the lever member 146 on the pivot axis SF2, and the lever member 146 rotates forward against the biasing force of the torsion spring on the lever member side. At this time, the state in which the claw portion is locked to the locking portion of the main body 110 is released. Then, the lid 140 is lifted upward by the biasing force of the torsion spring on the hinge mechanism side of the hinge mechanism 150, and the lid 140 opens.

[0051] (10) Lever stopper The lever stopper defines the rotation limit position of the operating lever 142 when the front part of the operating lever 142 on the pivot axis SF1 is pressed downward, and is located below the operating lever 142.

[0052] 4. Hinge mechanism As described above, the hinge mechanism 150 attaches the lid 140 to the main body 110 so that the lid 140 can rotate relative to the main body 110, and consists of a fastening plate (not shown), a pivot shaft 151 (see Figure 2), a hinge mechanism-side torsion spring (not shown), and a damper (not shown). The fastening plate is a member for attaching the hinge mechanism 150 to the flange portion Db of the main body 110. The fastening plate has a bearing hole through which the pivot shaft 151 is inserted. The pivot shaft 151 is for rotating the lid 140 around its axis. The hinge mechanism-side torsion spring biases the lid 140 in the opening direction. One end of the hinge mechanism-side torsion spring is fixed to the fastening plate, and the other end is fixed to a reinforcing member of the lid 140. The damper is attached to the pivot shaft 151 and is responsible for reducing the opening speed of the cover 140.

[0053] 5. Hinge cover The hinge cover 160, as shown in Figure 2, is a component that covers and conceals the hinge mechanism 150 from the rear. The hinge cover 160 is attached to the rear surface of the fastening sheet metal of the hinge mechanism 150.

[0054] <Regarding the fluid flow in the flow path forming section according to an embodiment of the present invention> Here, the fluid flow within the flow channel forming section 144 will be explained with reference to Figure 11. First, the fluid that flows into the flow channel forming section 144 from inside the inner pot 130 through the through-hole of the inner lid 145 and the inlet LP3a of the lower case section LP of the flow channel forming section 144 flows through a first flow channel R1 that extends in front of the inlet LP3a of the lower case section LP of the flow channel forming section 144 in a plan view (in other words, on the opposite side of the steam port UP3a of the inlet LP3a in a plan view), due to the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 of the upper case section UP of the flow channel forming section 144. Next, the fluid flows through a second flow channel R2 that extends to the rear side in a plan view (in other words, on the steam port UP3a side), due to the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 of the upper case section UP of the flow channel forming section 144. Then, if the fluid is a gas such as steam, the gas is discharged to the outside of the lid 140 from the steam port UP3a of the upper case section UP of the flow channel forming section 144. If the fluid is a viscous liquid such as sticky mucus, the viscous liquid will flow towards the return port LP1a of the lower case portion LP of the lower case portion LP of the flow channel forming portion 144 due to the inclination of the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP of the flow channel forming portion 144 while flowing through the first flow channel R1 or the second flow channel R2. The dotted arrow in Figure 11 is an example of this, and the viscous liquid can pass through the gap between the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP of the flow channel forming portion 144 and the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 of the upper case portion UP of the flow channel forming portion 144. Then, when the return port packing PL is bent by the viscous liquid and does not block the return port LP1a of the lower case portion LP of the flow channel forming portion 144, the viscous liquid is returned into the inner pot 130 through the return port LP1a of the lower case portion LP of the flow channel forming portion 144 and the through-hole of the inner lid 145. Note that the viscous liquid may contain gas and form bubbles while flowing through the first flow channel R1 or the second flow channel R2. As these bubbles pass between the lower wall LP1 of the lower case LP of the channel forming section 144 and the left and right side ribs UP8 of the upper case UP of the channel forming section 144, or between the lower wall LP1 of the lower case LP of the channel forming section 144 and the rear side rib UP9 of the upper case UP of the channel forming section 144, they come into contact with the left and right side ribs UP8 or the rear side rib UP9 of the upper case UP of the channel forming section 144 and break.

[0055] <Features of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention> (1) In the rice cooker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, fluid flowing into the flow channel forming section 144 through the inlet LP3a of the lower case section LP of the flow channel forming section 144 flows through a first flow channel R1 that extends to the front of the inlet LP3a of the lower case section LP of the flow channel forming section 144 in a plan view, via the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 of the upper case section UP of the flow channel forming section 144, and then through a second flow channel R2 that extends to the rear in a plan view. Therefore, in this rice cooker 100, the force of the viscous liquid when it flows through the second flow channel R2 can be weakened. Consequently, in this rice cooker 100, spillage of the viscous liquid (discharge to the outside of the lid 140 from the steam vent UP3a of the upper case section UP of the flow channel forming section 144) can be prevented as much as possible.

[0056] (2) In the rice cooker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming section 144 has left and right side ribs UP8 and a rear side rib UP9. The left and right side ribs UP8 and the rear side rib UP9 are formed between the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP and the upper wall portion UP1 of the upper case portion UP, and intersect with the direction of fluid flow in a plan view. Therefore, in this rice cooker 100, bubbles generated in the flow path forming section 144 can be brought into contact with the left and right side ribs UP8 or the rear side rib UP9 and burst before they burst near the steam vent UP3a of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming section 144. Thus, in this rice cooker 100, when bubbles burst, the splashes are prevented from scattering as much as possible outside the lid 140 through the steam vent UP3a of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming section 144.

[0057] (3) In the rice cooker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the inverted U-shaped rib UP7, left and right ribs UP8, and rear rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 extend downward from the portion of the upper wall portion UP1 that is inside the inner wall portion UP6 in a plan view, so as not to come into contact with the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP. Therefore, in this rice cooker 100, the risk of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7, left and right ribs UP8, and rear rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 retaining viscous liquid in the flow path forming portion 144 can be reduced as much as possible. Consequently, in this rice cooker 100, the viscous liquid in the flow path forming portion 144 can be easily returned to the inner pot 130 through the return port LP1a of the lower case portion LP of the flow path forming portion 144, and the flow path forming portion 144 can be kept as clean as possible.

[0058] <Variation> (A) In the rice cooker 100 according to the previous embodiment, left and right ribs UP8 and a rear rib UP9 were formed on the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming section 144. However, the left and right ribs UP8 and the rear rib UP9 on the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming section 144 do not need to be formed, or only one of them may be formed. Also, although not mentioned in the rice cooker 100 according to the previous embodiment, ribs that are aligned with the direction of fluid flow in a plan view, rather than ribs that intersect with the direction of fluid flow in a plan view, such as the left and right ribs UP8 and the rear rib UP9 on the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming section 144, may be formed on the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming section 144.

[0059] (B) In the rice cooker 100 according to the previous embodiment, the inverted U-shaped rib UP7, left and right ribs UP8, and rear rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 extended downward from the portion of the upper wall portion UP1 that was inside the inner wall portion UP6 in a plan view, so as not to contact the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP. However, the inverted U-shaped rib UP7, left and right ribs UP8, and rear rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 may extend downward from the portion of the upper wall portion UP1 that was inside the inner wall portion UP6 in a plan view, so as to contact the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP. In such a case, it is preferable to form holes in the lower part of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7, left and right ribs UP8, and rear rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 in order to prevent fluid from remaining inside the flow path forming portion 144. Alternatively, instead of forming the inverted U-shaped rib UP7, left and right ribs UP8, and rear rib UP9 on the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144, the inverted U-shaped rib, left and right ribs, and rear rib may be formed on the lower case portion LP of the flow path forming portion 144, extending upward from the portion of the lower wall portion LP1 of the lower case portion LP1 that is inside the side wall portion LP2 in a plan view, so as not to contact the upper wall portion UP1 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144. In such a case, it is preferable to form holes in the lower part of the inverted U-shaped rib, left and right ribs, and rear rib to prevent fluid from remaining inside the flow path forming portion 144.

[0060] (C) In the rice cooker 100 according to the previous embodiment, the left and right ribs UP8 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 extended from the left end of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 toward the left to the inner wall portion UP6, and extended from the right end of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 toward the right to the inner wall portion UP6. However, the left and right ribs UP8 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 may be formed so as not to contact at least one of the inner wall portion UP6 and the inverted U-shaped rib UP7. Also, in the rice cooker 100 according to the previous embodiment, the rear rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 extended from the left and right sides of the rear end of the inverted U-shaped rib UP7 toward the rear to the inner wall portion UP6. However, the rear rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 may be formed so as not to contact at least one of the inner wall portion UP6 and the inverted U-shaped rib UP7.

[0061] (D) In the rice cooker 100 according to the previous embodiment, the fluid generated in the inner pot 130 flowed into the flow path forming section 144 through the inlet LP3a of the lower case section LP of the flow path forming section 144. However, the fluid generated in the inner pot 130 may also flow into the flow path forming section 144 through the return port LP1a of the lower case section LP of the flow path forming section 144. In this case, the return port packing PL becomes unnecessary. Also, in the rice cooker 100 according to the previous embodiment, the viscous liquid in the flow path forming section 144 was returned to the inner pot 130 through the return port LP1a of the lower case section LP of the flow path forming section 144. However, the viscous liquid in the flow path forming section 144 may also be returned to the inner pot 130 through the inlet LP3a of the lower case section LP of the flow path forming section 144. In this case, it is preferable to make efforts such as lowering the height of the cylindrical section LP3 of the lower case section LP of the flow path forming section 144.

[0062] (E) In the rice cooker 100 according to the previous embodiment, the lower end of the inner wall portion UP6 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 was located below the lower ends of the left and right side ribs UP8 and the rear side rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144. However, the lower end of the inner wall portion UP6 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144 may be located above the lower ends of the left and right side ribs UP8 and the rear side rib UP9 of the upper case portion UP of the flow path forming portion 144, or it may be located at the same height.

[0063] (F) In the above embodiment, the present invention was applied to a rice cooker 100, but the present invention may also be applied to other cooking appliances, such as an electric pressure cooker.

[0064] The above variations (A) to (F) may be applied individually or in combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 100: Rice cooker (cooking appliance) 130: Inner pot (container) 140: Lid 144: Flow channel forming section LP1: Lower wall section (lower wall section of the flow channel forming section) LP1a: Return port (first communication port) LP3a: Inlet (first series of ports) R1: First channel (the channel extending from the side of the first communication port opposite the second communication port) R2: Second channel (channel extending towards the second communication port) UP1: Upper wall section (upper wall section of the flow channel forming section) UP3a: Steam vent (second communication port) UP7: Inverted U-shaped rib (first rib) UP8: Left and right side ribs (second rib) UP9: Rear rib (second rib)

Claims

1. A container that opens upwards, A lid is positioned on the upper side of the container and covers the opening of the container, The lid is positioned on the inside of the lid and comprises a flow path forming section having a first communication opening that connects the inside to the inside of the container and a second communication opening that connects the inside to the outside of the lid, The first communication opening is formed in a different position from the second communication opening in a plan view. The flow path forming portion further includes a first rib that directs the fluid flowing in from the inside of the container through the first communication port through a flow path extending on the opposite side of the first communication port from the second communication port in a plan view, and then toward a flow path extending toward the second communication port in a plan view, and a second rib formed between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion of the flow path forming portion, which intersects the direction of fluid flow in a plan view. The lower end of the first rib is located below the lower end of the second rib. Cooker.

2. The first rib and the second rib extend downward from the upper wall of the flow channel forming portion so as not to contact the lower wall of the flow channel forming portion. The cooking appliance according to claim 1.

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