Rice container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rice container, comprising: a main body having therein an operating chamber that can be opened / closed by an upper cover; a storage portion which is provided in the operating chamber and has a rice storage chamber opened upward and a lower discharge hole formed therethrough in the vertical direction; an opening / closing portion which is provided at the lower portion of the storage portion and allows rice to fall through the discharge hole when being opened; an outlet portion which is provided under the storage portion to be withdrawn to the front direction of the main body, and accommodates the rice falling through the discharge hole; and a sterilization lighting portion which is provided to be lightable in the storage chamber and radiates UV rays to the outside when turned on.

Description

rice container

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice container, and more specifically, to a rice container capable of storing rice in an optimal condition for a long period of time.

[0002] In general, to store rice for a long period, it should be kept in a cool, shaded, and well-ventilated place. Special care is required because rice can easily spoil if stored improperly.

[0003] To this end, households and workplaces use rice containers made of synthetic resin or ceramics, and conventional rice containers have a structure capable of creating a sealed and vacuum to prevent the spoilage of the rice stored inside.

[0004] A conventional rice container may be composed of a main body having a storage space formed therein to accommodate rice, a lid provided on the upper part of the main body so as to be openable and closable, and a vacuum pump provided on the lid or the main body to create a vacuum inside the storage space.

[0005] However, in conventional rice containers, there was a risk of bacterial growth due to the influence of moisture if the storage space was not completely sealed, and there was also a risk of the rice spoiling easily because the storage space was exposed to the external environment when the lid was opened.

[0006] In addition, since the lid of the conventional rice container had to be opened to scoop out the rice to the desired volume, the process of taking out the rice was cumbersome, and there was no function to select the amount of rice to be discharged, so there was the inconvenience of having to check the volume of rice every time.

[0007] The objective of the present invention is to provide a hair styling device capable of storing rice in an optimal state for a long period of time.

[0008] A rice container according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a main body in which an internal operating chamber can be opened and closed by an upper cover; a storage section provided in the operating chamber, in which an internal rice storage chamber is opened upward and a lower discharge hole penetrates vertically; an opening / closing section provided in the lower part of the storage section to be openable and capable of dropping rice through the discharge hole when opened; a withdrawal section provided in the lower part of the storage section to be pulled out toward the front of the main body and capable of receiving rice falling through the discharge hole; and a sterilization lighting section provided in the interior of the storage chamber to be illuminated and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light to the outside when illuminated.

[0009] In addition, the sterilization lighting unit may include a circuit board having a vertical length provided on the inner wall of the storage room, and a plurality of ultraviolet lamps mounted along the vertical direction of the circuit board and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light to the outside when lit.

[0010] In addition, the circuit boards may be arranged in a spaced-apart manner along the inner wall of the storage room.

[0011] In addition, it may further include a vacuum pump provided in the main body and which discharges the internal air of the storage chamber to the outside to create a vacuum state, and a control unit provided in the main body that controls the operation of the vacuum pump, the opening / closing unit, and the sterilization lighting unit.

[0012] Additionally, it may further include a hopper connected to the bottom of the storage section and having a width that gradually decreases toward the bottom, and a discharge pipe extending vertically from the bottom of the hopper and having the discharge hole formed therein.

[0013] Additionally, the opening and closing part may further include a rotating member having axial sides rotatably coupled to both sides of the discharge hole and a discharge groove formed concavely along the radial direction, a discharge motor coupled to one side of the discharge pipe and having a drive shaft protruding to one side mechanically connected to one side of the rotating member in the axial direction, and a shutter configured to be rotatable and open / closed based on a horizontal rotation center on one side at the bottom of the storage part and which comes into close horizontal contact with the bottom of the discharge pipe when rotated in the closing direction.

[0014] The present invention has the effect of continuously sterilizing bacteria harmful to the human body by irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light, while simultaneously preventing bacterial proliferation by maintaining the storage chamber in a constant vacuum state, thereby allowing rice to be stored in an optimal condition for a long period, and eliminating the inconvenience of having to check the volume during cooking since the desired amount of rice is dispensed.

[0015] In addition, since the rice is discharged with the lid closed, the contact between the rice and the external environment can be minimized, and since the rice is discharged sequentially starting from the rice first introduced into the storage chamber, the rice does not remain in the storage chamber for a long period of time.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view for showing a rice container according to the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a rice container according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view for showing a rice container according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view to show a rice container according to the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view to show a rice container according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the lid and the withdrawal part of the rice container according to the present invention are separated.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing the open state of the shutter of the rice container according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view to show the state in which the shutter of the rice container according to the present invention is opened and the rotating member is rotated.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing an auxiliary lighting unit, a first connection terminal, and a second connection terminal in a rice container according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which a metal fitting is applied to a rice container according to the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which a weight sensing unit is applied to a rice container according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which a vibration generating part is applied to a rice container according to the present invention.

[0028] A preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0029] The advantages and features of the present invention and the method for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings.

[0030] However, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed below but may be implemented in various different forms, and these embodiments are provided merely to make the disclosure of the present invention complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims.

[0031] In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that related known technologies, etc., may obscure the essence of the present invention, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a rice container according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a rice container according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view showing a rice container according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing a rice container according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a rice container according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the lid and the extraction part of the rice container according to the present invention separated.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the shutter of a rice container according to the present invention is open, FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the shutter of a rice container according to the present invention is open and the rotating member is rotated, FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing the auxiliary lighting unit, the first connection terminal, and the second connection terminal of the rice container according to the present invention, FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which a locking member is applied to the rice container according to the present invention, FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which a weight sensing unit is applied to the rice container according to the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which a vibration generating unit is applied to the rice container according to the present invention.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 12, the rice container according to the present invention includes a main body (100), a storage unit (200), an opening / closing unit (300), a withdrawal unit (400), and a sterilization lighting unit (500).

[0035] The main body (100) may be installed in a position where it is seated at the installation location, but the installation state of the main body (100) can be applied in various ways, and wheels (not shown) for movement may be rotatably installed on the lower part of the main body (100), or a plurality of support members (rubber, etc.) that are seated on the installation surface may be attached. Here, an outlet (120) may be penetrated forward and backward through the front of the main body (100) so that the outlet part (400), which will be described later, can be pulled out forward.

[0036] Additionally, an operating chamber (101) is formed inside the main body (100), and a cover (110) for opening and closing can be seated on the upper part of the main body (100), and an insertion end protruding from the lower part of the cover (110) can be inserted into the upper part of the operating chamber (101) in a male-female manner. That is, the insertion end is inserted into the operating chamber (101), and the lower edge end of the cover (110) can be seated on the upper part of the main body (100).

[0037] Additionally, a ring-shaped sealing member may be further attached to the edge of the insertion end, and the sealing member may be made of an elastic material such as rubber. When the insertion end is inserted into the operating chamber (101), the sealing member may be closely attached to the inner wall of the operating chamber (101).

[0038] The storage unit (200) is configured to store rice (10), and a storage room (201) for receiving rice (10) is formed inside the storage unit (200). The storage room (201) is open upward so that rice (10) can be introduced, and a discharge hole (202) can penetrate vertically through the bottom of the storage unit (200) so that rice (10) can be discharged.

[0039] Additionally, the rice container according to the present invention may further include a hopper (210) connected to the bottom of the storage portion (200) and having a width that gradually decreases toward the bottom, and a discharge pipe (220) that extends vertically from the bottom of the hopper (210) and has a discharge hole (202) formed inside.

[0040] Inside the hopper (210), an inclined surface (211) may be formed that is connected to the inner wall of the storage room (201) and forms a downward sloping angle toward the discharge pipe (220) as it extends downward, and rice (10) contained in the storage room (201) falls along the inclined surface (211) into the discharge pipe (220) by its own weight.

[0041] The opening / closing unit (300) is configured to drop rice (10) contained in the storage room (201) into the receiving groove (410) of the withdrawal unit (400), and is provided to be openable and closable at the bottom of the storage unit (200), and drops the rice (10) through the discharge hole (220) when opened.

[0042] To explain in more detail, the opening / closing unit (300) may include a rotating member (310) in which both axial sides are rotatably coupled to both sides of the discharge hole (202) and a discharge groove (311) is formed concavely along the radial direction, a discharge motor (320) coupled to one side of the discharge pipe (220) and having a drive shaft protruding to one side mechanically connected to one axial side of the rotating member (310), a shutter (330) configured to be rotatable and open / closed based on a horizontal rotation center on one side at the bottom of the storage unit (200) and horizontally close to the bottom of the discharge pipe (220) when rotated in the closing direction, and an opening / closing motor (332) installed in the operating room (101) and transmitting rotational force to the horizontal rotation center of the shutter (330).

[0043] The rotating member (310) may have a rotating shaft protruding axially on both sides that can be rotatably coupled to both sides of the discharge hole (202), and the radial sides of the rotating member (310) may be positioned in close contact with or near the sides of the discharge hole (202) so as not to cause the rice (10) contained in the storage chamber (201) to fall, and a plurality of discharge grooves (311) may be formed at equal intervals along the radial direction of the rotating member (310). At this time, the discharge hole (202) may be divided into an upper region and a lower region by the rotating member (310).

[0044] That is, when the rotating member (310) rotates in one direction, the rice (10) located in the upper region of the discharge hole (202) is reversed to the lower region of the discharge hole (202) and falls due to its own weight, and the falling rice (10) falls in an amount equal to the capacity accommodated in the discharge groove (311).

[0045] The discharge motor (320) can be driven by a control unit (700) to be described later, and its front end can be horizontally connected to one side of the discharge pipe (220), and the drive shaft protruding from the front end of the discharge motor (320) can be directly or indirectly connected to one side of the rotational member (310) in the axial direction by a separate member.

[0046] The shutter (330) has a structure in which one side is connected to the drive shaft of the opening / closing motor (332) and the other side rotates eccentrically, and when rotated horizontally to the closed position, the upper surface is in close contact horizontally with the lower end of the discharge pipe (220) to close the lower end of the discharge hole (202).

[0047] On the other hand, when the shutter (330) is rotated to an open position, the upper surface moves away from the bottom of the discharge pipe (220) to open the lower part of the discharge hole (202), and when the shutter (330) is opened, the vacuum of the storage chamber (201) can be released, and after the shutter (330) is opened, the rotating member (310) rotates at a set angle or a set number of times, and a selected amount of rice (10) can be dropped to the lower part of the discharge hole (202).

[0048] The opening / closing motor (332) can be fixedly installed inside the operating room (101) and its operation can be controlled by a control unit (700) to be described later, and when the drive shaft of the opening / closing motor (332) rotates, the shutter (330) rotates together so that the opening / closing state varies.

[0049] The extraction section (400) is provided at the bottom of the storage section (200) and can be extracted to the front of the main body (100), and receives rice (10) falling through the discharge hole (220). Here, the extraction section (400) has a receiving groove (410) formed concavely on its upper surface, and the front surface of the extraction section (400) can be exposed to the front surface of the main body (100), and a handle (420) can be provided on the front surface of the extraction section (400) so that a user can grasp it with their hand.

[0050] A rice container according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a locking member (430) that is fixedly installed on one side wall of an operating chamber (101) as in FIG. 10 and allows a rod (431) to extend downward. In this case, the locking member (430) may be positioned on the upper edge side of the extraction portion (400), and the rod (431) may be positioned on the upper side of the receiving groove (410).

[0051] For example, when the extraction part (400) is inserted through the extraction port (120) and positioned inside the operating chamber (101), the rod (431) may descend and be positioned on the inner surface of the receiving groove (410), and when the execution of the discharge mode is completed through the operation of the control unit (700), the rod (431) may rise and be removed to the upper part of the receiving groove (410).

[0052] In addition, the lifting or lowering of the load (431) can be selected through the operation of the control unit (700). That is, when rice (10) is discharged while the shutter (330) is open, the locking member (430) is driven in a locking mode, so the detachment of the extraction unit (400) can be prevented during the process of discharging rice (10).

[0053] The sterilization lighting unit (500) is configured to sterilize the interior of the storage room (210) and is provided to be able to light up inside the storage room (210) by power delivered from the outside, and sterilizes the interior of the storage room (201) by irradiating ultraviolet rays (UV) to the outside when lit.

[0054] A sterilization lighting unit (500) for this purpose may include a circuit board (510) having a vertical length provided on the inner wall of a storage room (210), and a plurality of ultraviolet lamps (520) mounted along the vertical direction of the circuit board (510) and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light to the outside when lit.

[0055] A number of circuit boards (510) may be arranged spaced apart along the inner wall of the storage room (210) and may be electrically connected to a control unit (700) to be described later, and a separate cover member (not shown) for covering an ultraviolet lamp (520) may be attached to the front of the circuit board (510).

[0056] The ultraviolet lamp (520) may use a UV LED (Light Emitting Diode) to irradiate ultraviolet (UV) light. In this case, the ultraviolet lamp (520) can be applied in various numbers as needed, and the position and number of circuit boards (510) can also be applied in various ways.

[0057] That is, in the rice container according to the present invention, since the ultraviolet (UV) light of the ultraviolet lamp (520) is irradiated onto the rice (10) in the storage room (201), it is possible to continuously sterilize bacteria harmful to the human body and prevent the proliferation of bacteria, thereby allowing the rice (10) to be maintained in an optimal state for a long time.

[0058] Additionally, the rice container according to the present invention may further include a vacuum pump (610) provided in the main body (100) and which discharges internal air of the storage chamber (210) to the outside to create a vacuum state, and a control unit (700) provided in the main body (100) and which controls the operation of the vacuum pump (600), the opening / closing unit (300), and the sterilization lighting unit (500).

[0059] A rice container according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include an auxiliary lighting unit (530) for irradiating ultraviolet (UV) rays downward when the lid (110) is connected to the lower surface of the lid (110) as in FIG. 9, a first connection terminal (531) provided on one side of the upper part of the main body (100) and electrically connected to a control unit (700), and a second connection terminal (532) provided on the lower edge side of the lid (110) and electrically connected to the auxiliary lighting unit (530), and electrically connected to the first connection terminal (531) when the lid (110) is placed on the upper part of the main body (100) to supply driving power to the auxiliary lighting unit (530).

[0060] The auxiliary lighting unit (530) may use a UV LED (Light Emitting Diode) to irradiate ultraviolet (UV) light. That is, when the cover (110) is placed on the top of the main body (100) to close the upper part of the storage room (201), additional ultraviolet (UV) light is irradiated toward the rice (10) from the top of the storage room (201), thereby further improving the sterilization performance.

[0061] A vacuum pump (610) may be installed on the upper or side of the main body (100), and an exhaust port (130) may be formed on the inner surface of the storage chamber (210) and on the outer surface of the main body (110), respectively, which communicates with the inlet and outlet of the vacuum pump (610), and the vacuum pump (610) may be driven by a control unit (700).

[0062] The control unit (700) may be installed inside the operating room (101) and electrically connected to an external power supply unit (not shown) via a cable, and an operating member (710) electrically connected to the control unit (700) may be installed in a state exposed on the outer surface (front, etc.) of the main body (100), and the user may use the operating member (710) to select various functions (rice capacity selection, discharge, etc.) or visually check various information (operation status, etc.) displayed through the operating member (710).

[0063] For example, when operating in the rice (10) storage mode, the lid (110) is attached to the upper part of the main body (100), and the aforementioned shutter (330) is rotated to the closed position to close the lower part of the discharge hole (202), and then the vacuum pump (610) is operated to make the storage chamber (201) a vacuum.

[0064] On the other hand, when operating in the rice (10) discharge mode, the vacuum pump (600) can be stopped and the shutter (330) can be opened. In this state, the rotating member (310) rotates to match the volume desired by the user, causing the rice (10) introduced into the discharge groove (311) to fall downward into the discharge hole (202).

[0065] At this time, the rice (10) that has fallen to the bottom of the discharge hole (202) is received in the receiving groove (410) of the extraction part (40), and when the user grasps the handle (420) and pulls it forward, the extraction part (400) can protrude forward from the main body (100), and the user can detach the extraction part (400) or scoop the rice (10) in the receiving groove (410) with a separate tool and move it to a desired location.

[0066] Meanwhile, a rice container according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a weight detection unit (800) that detects the weight of the withdrawal unit (400) as in FIG. 11 and transmits a weight detection signal to a control unit (700), and when a weight detection signal is transmitted from the weight detection unit (800) to the control unit (700), it can be determined that the withdrawal unit (400) is installed.

[0067] To explain in more detail, the weight detection unit (800) may include a contact plate (800) on which the extraction unit (400) is seated and which is provided on the bottom surface of the operating room (101), and a weight sensor (820) which is installed on the bottom surface of the operating room (101), is coupled to the lower surface of the contact plate (800), and transmits a weight detection signal to the control unit (700) when weight is transmitted from the contact plate (800).

[0068] The weight sensor (820) may selectively use a type of sensor capable of measuring weight, and the weight sensor (820) may be installed in a state embedded in the floor surface of the operating room (101), and the detection information of the weight sensor (820) may be transmitted to the control unit (700) in real time.

[0069] For example, the control unit (700) can stop the operation of the opening / closing unit (300) when a weight detection signal is not transmitted from the weight detection unit (800). That is, since the rice (10) is discharged only when the extraction unit (400) is located at the bottom of the storage unit (200), the rice (10) does not fall onto the floor surface of the operating room (101).

[0070] In addition, a rice container according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a vibration generating part (900) which is coupled to the lower surface of the hopper (210) described above as in FIG. 12 and in which a driving shaft (910) protruding to one side rotates when driven, and a weight (920) which is coupled to the driving shaft (910) of the vibration generating part (900) and rotates together and protrudes eccentrically to one side in the direction of rotation.

[0071] The weight (920) can generate vibration while rotating eccentrically when the drive shaft (910) rotates, and the vibration generating unit (900) can use a motor whose ON / OFF state is variable by the drive control of the control unit (700), and the vibration generating unit (900) can be driven together when driven in the rice discharge mode.

[0072] For example, the vibration generating unit (900) can be driven together with the rotating member (310) as it rotates and drops the rice (10), and the vibration generated when the vibration generating unit (900) is driven can be transmitted to the hopper (210), and the rice (10) can be discharged smoothly without sticking to the inclined surface (211) due to the vibration transmitted to the hopper (210).

[0073] Consequently, the present invention continuously sterilizes bacteria harmful to the human body by irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light and prevents bacterial proliferation by maintaining the storage chamber in a constant vacuum state, thereby allowing rice to be stored in an optimal condition for a long period, and eliminates the inconvenience of having to check the capacity during cooking since the desired amount of rice is dispensed.

[0074] In addition, since the rice (10) is discharged while the cover (110) is closed, contact between the rice (10) and the external environment can be minimized, and since the rice (10) is discharged sequentially starting from the rice first introduced into the storage room (201), the rice does not remain in the storage room (201) for a long period of time.

[0075] Although specific embodiments of the rice container according to the present invention have been described so far, it is obvious that various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0076] Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims set forth below as well as equivalents thereof.

[0077] That is, the aforementioned embodiments should be understood as exemplary in all respects and not limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the claims set forth below rather than by the detailed description, and all modifications or variations derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts thereof should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the invention.

[0078] The modes for carrying out the invention are described together in the best mode for carrying out the invention above.

[0079] The present invention has industrial applicability as it allows for the long-term storage of rice in an optimal state.

Claims

1. A main body in which an internal operating chamber can be opened and closed by an upper cover; A storage section provided in the above operating chamber, wherein the internal rice storage chamber is open to the top and the discharge hole at the bottom penetrates vertically; An opening / closing part provided at the lower part of the storage section so as to be openable and closable, which drops rice through the discharge hole when opened; A withdrawal part provided at the lower part of the storage part and capable of being withdrawn to the front of the main body, and receiving rice falling through the discharge hole; and A sterilization lighting unit configured to be light-activated inside the storage room and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) rays to the outside when lit; comprising The above sterilization lighting unit is, A circuit board having a vertical length and provided on the inner wall of the storage room, and It includes a plurality of ultraviolet lamps mounted along the vertical direction of the above circuit board and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light outward when lit, and The above circuit board is, A number of them are arranged spaced apart along the inner wall of the storage room, and A vacuum pump provided in the above main body and which discharges internal air from the storage chamber to the outside to create a vacuum state, and, It further includes a control unit provided in the main body above for controlling the operation of the vacuum pump, the opening / closing unit, and the sterilization lighting unit, and A rice container further comprising: an auxiliary lighting unit coupled to the lower surface of the above-mentioned cover and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) rays downward when lit; a first connection terminal provided on the upper side of the main body and electrically connected to the control unit; and a second connection terminal provided on the lower edge side of the above-mentioned cover and electrically connected to the auxiliary lighting unit, and electrically connected to the first connection terminal when the above-mentioned cover is placed on the upper side of the main body to supply driving power to the auxiliary lighting unit.

2. In Paragraph 1, A hopper connected to the bottom of the storage section above, with a width that gradually decreases toward the bottom, and It further includes a discharge pipe that extends vertically from the bottom of the hopper and has the discharge hole formed therein, The above opening and closing part is, A rotating member having axial sides rotatably coupled to both sides of the discharge hole and a discharge groove formed concavely along the radial direction, and A discharge motor coupled to one side of the discharge pipe and having a drive shaft protruding to one side that is mechanically connected to one side in the axial direction of the rotating member, and A rice container characterized by further including a shutter that is rotatably opened and closed based on a horizontal rotation center on one side at the bottom of the storage section and is horizontally in close contact with the bottom of the discharge pipe when rotated in the closing direction.

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