Split Rice Cooker Weighing Device for Base-Body Matching Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing split electric rice cookers lack a reliable mechanism to ensure proper matching between the base and cooker body, leading to mismatch issues that affect normal operation, especially with various cooker bodies.
Innovation Solution
A split electric rice cooker design featuring a base with a weighing-device mounting groove, a cooker body that is separable, and a weighing device with a cantilever weighing portion and support leg, which allows the base to accurately weigh the cooker body and ensure proper fitting through a press cover that shields the weighing sensor and supports the cantilever weighing portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a weighing device is added to enable matching recognition between base and cooker body, then the reliability of matching is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical matching recognition mechanisms with a weighing device that uses electrical sensing. The weighing sensor (strain gauge or capacitive sensor) detects the weight of the cooker body to determine proper matching, substituting mechanical interlocking or alignment systems with a simpler weight-based detection system that improves reliability while reducing overall mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base is designed with multi-functionality by integrating both the weighing device for matching recognition and the heating function. The weighing device serves multiple purposes: identifying matched cooker bodies, preventing operation with unmatched bodies, and potentially providing user feedback. This universal approach consolidates multiple functions into a single integrated system rather than adding separate complex mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the weighing sensor is exposed for weighing operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sensor is vulnerable to damage and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The weighing sensor is nested within the base structure, specifically positioned in a weighing cavity or recessed area. The support leg extends from the sensor through an opening in the base surface, allowing the cooker body to rest on the support leg while the sensor remains protected inside the base. This nesting arrangement enables weighing operation while protecting the sensor from external damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The support leg acts as an intermediary between the cooker body and the weighing sensor. Instead of the cooker body directly contacting the sensor, the support leg transmits the weight through the sensor while providing a larger, more durable contact surface. This intermediary structure protects the fragile sensor from direct exposure to the cooker body and external environmental factors.
3Ease of manufacture
If the base structure is opened to accommodate the weighing device, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the appearance and protection are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The base surface is designed with a removable or flexible cover layer that can be opened during assembly to access the weighing sensor and support leg, then closed to protect the internal components. This shell structure allows easy manufacturing access while providing environmental protection when closed, maintaining both ease of manufacture and sensor protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighing sensor and support leg are pre-assembled as a unit or pre-positioned within the base structure before final assembly. This preliminary action simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of separate assembly steps, while the base structure is designed to enclose these pre-assembled components, providing protection without complicating the assembly process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables accurate matching of the base and cooker body, enhances the stability and reliability of the weighing function, and simplifies assembly while protecting the weighing sensor and improving the appearance of the device.
Implementation Method 1
a weighing device provided in the weighing-device mounting groove, and including a weighing sensor and a support leg connected with the weighing sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
A split electric rice cooker includes: a base (100) provided with a weighing-device mounting groove (120) at a bottom thereof; a cooker body apt to rest on the base (100) and separable with respect to the base (100); a weighing device (500) provided in the weighing-device mounting groove (120), and comprising a weighing sensor (510) and a support leg (520); a press cover (600) provided to the bottom of the base (100) and shielding the weighing-device mounting groove (120), the press cover (600) being provided with a press-cover clearance hole (601) for the support leg (520) to pass downwards, and the support leg (520) being connected with the weighing sensor (510); or the support leg (520) being integrally provided to the press cover (600) and able to push the weighing sensor (520) along with deformation of the press cover.