WO2011115000A1 - Bread ingredient storing container and automatic bread maker provided with same - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosed bread ingredient storing container (110), which is for an automatic bread maker, and which is used to automatically put in bread ingredients, is provided with: a container body (111) having an opening section (111a); a container lid (112) which is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the container body (111), and which opens and closes the opening section (111a); a seal member (113) which, during a closed state when the opening section (111a) has been closed by the container lid (112), seals the part between the container body (111) and the container lid (112); a lock member (115) which, during the closed state, can switch between a first position, which presses down the container lid (112), and a second position, which does not press down the container lid (112); and a minute air passage (SP) which connects the inside and the outside of the container body (111) during the closed state.

Description

Bread ingredient storage container and automatic bread maker equipped with the same

The present invention relates to an automatic bread maker mainly used in general households, and in particular, to a configuration of a bread ingredient storage container used for automatically feeding bread ingredients.

In a conventional commercial automatic bread maker for home use, bread is manufactured in the following procedure (for example, see Patent Document 1). First, a bread container containing bread ingredients is placed in a baking chamber in the main body, and the bread ingredients in the bread container are kneaded by a kneading blade and kneaded into a dough (kneading step). Then, the obtained dough is fermented in a bread container (fermentation process), and the bread container is used as it is as a baking mold to bake bread (baking process).

When bread is manufactured using such an automatic bread maker, so far, flour (wheat flour, rice flour, etc.) or flour such as wheat or rice is used as the raw material for bread. It was necessary to have a mixed powder in which various auxiliary materials were mixed.

However, in general households, as represented by rice grains, grains are sometimes held in the form of grains instead of in the form of flour. For this reason, it is very convenient if the automatic bread maker is configured to produce bread directly from grain. With this in mind, the present applicants have developed a bread production method for producing bread using cereal grains as a starting material (see Patent Document 2).

In this bread manufacturing method, first, cereal grains and liquid are mixed, and the crushed blade is rotated in this mixture to pulverize the cereal grains (grinding step). And the bread raw material containing the paste-form ground powder obtained through the grinding process is kneaded into bread dough using a kneading blade (kneading process). Thereafter, a fermentation process for fermenting the kneaded bread dough is performed, followed by a baking process for baking the bread.

JP 2000-116526 A JP 2010-35476 A Japanese Patent No. 3191645 JP 2006-255071 A

Applicants have been developing an automatic bread maker that has a new mechanism so that bread can be baked using grain grains as a starting material, and the above-described bread manufacturing method can be performed automatically. As part of this effort, the present applicants made an automatic bread making system that can automatically feed powder bread ingredients such as dry yeast and gluten after pulverizing grains mixed with liquid in a bread container. We are examining the vessel.

When the powder bread raw material is automatically charged, it is conceivable to use a material container for automatically charging raisins, nuts and the like as shown in Patent Documents 3 and 4, for example. However, it has been found that conventional ingredient containers are not convenient for storing powder bread ingredients and have room for improvement. It has also been found that the conventional ingredient container has problems such as the powder bread raw material easily remaining in the container after automatic charging.

The following points can be cited as the reason why the powder bread raw material tends to remain in the ingredient container after automatic charging. That is, the pulverization step performed when bread is produced using cereal grains as a starting material is performed in a state where the cereal grains and the liquid are mixed. For this reason, water vapor is easily generated in the pulverization step. In the conventional ingredient container, moisture enters the container and the bread ingredient tends to be damp. This causes the ingredient to remain in the ingredient container. If bread ingredients remain in the ingredient container, the amount of bread ingredients that are automatically charged becomes inaccurate, and poorly produced bread may be produced.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the convenience of a bread raw material storage container for automatic charging provided in an automatic bread maker. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a bread ingredient storage container suitable for automatically charging powder bread ingredients. Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use automatic bread maker provided with such a bread ingredient storage container. In particular, another object of the present invention is to provide a technique suitable for an automatic bread maker capable of producing bread using cereal grains as a starting material.

In order to achieve the above object, the bread ingredient storage container of the present invention is a bread ingredient storage container for an automatic bread maker used for automatically charging bread ingredients, the container body having an opening, A container lid that is rotatably provided with respect to the container body and opens and closes the opening; and a seal that seals between the container body and the container lid in a closed state in which the opening is closed by the container lid A member, a lock member that can be switched between a first position that holds the container lid in the closed state and a second position that does not hold the container lid, and an inside and an outside of the container body in the closed state And a micro air passage that communicates with each other.

The bread raw material storage container of this configuration is configured such that the container body and the container lid are sealed (sealed) by the seal member (sealing member) in the closed state where the opening of the container body is closed by the container lid. ing. For this reason, for example, water vapor generated in the pulverization step of pulverizing the grains can be made difficult to enter the bread raw material storage container. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the bread material tends to remain in the container due to moisture, the amount when the bread material such as gluten is automatically charged becomes accurate, and the production of good bread becomes possible.

Further, when a sealing member for sealing between the container main body and the container lid is provided as in this configuration, the support (pressing) of the container lid by the lock member is released if the sealing degree by the seal member is too good. Later, the container lid may not rotate immediately. In this case, the timing at which the bread ingredients are introduced from the bread ingredient storage container into the bread container may be delayed, resulting in a situation in which the bread is deteriorated. In this regard, the bread raw material storage container of the present configuration has a configuration in which a fine ventilation path that communicates the inside and the outside of the container body is provided in the closed state in which the opening is closed by the container lid. For this reason, in the bread raw material storage container of this structure, the sealing degree inside the container in a closed state can be reduced. As a result, when the support of the container lid by the lock member is released, the container lid can be smoothly and immediately rotated. In addition, it is preferable that the minute ventilation path is made as small as possible so that entry of water vapor or the like into the container is suppressed as much as possible.

In the bread raw material storage container having the above-described configuration, the seal member is fixed to the container body, and the minute ventilation path is a minute gap formed between the container lid and the seal member in the closed state. Is preferred.

According to this configuration, since the seal member is fixed to the container main body, it is difficult to generate a situation in which bread ingredients such as gluten are caught in the seal member and remain in the bread ingredient storage container during automatic charging. it can. Further, since the minute ventilation path is configured as a minute gap formed between the container lid and the seal member, the ventilation path can be easily formed.

In the bread raw material storage container having the above-described configuration, a concave portion for obtaining the minute gap may be formed on a surface that is inside the container lid in the closed state. According to this configuration, for example, a minute gap that functions as a minute ventilation path can be obtained by a simple operation such as pressing the container lid, which is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost.

In the bread raw material storage container having the above configuration, it is preferable that the concave portion has an inclined structure in which the depth gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side of the container lid toward the inside. According to this structure, when a container lid is made into an open state, possibility that a bread raw material will remain in a recessed part can be reduced.

In the bread raw material storage container configured as described above, the minute gap is obtained by forming a protrusion on at least one of the sealing member and a surface that is the inner side of the container lid in the closed state. It is good to be. In addition, it is preferable to provide the protrusion in a minimum range so that the container lid can be smoothly (swiftly) rotated when the support of the container lid by the lock member is released. Specifically, the number of protrusions may be plural, but one is preferable, and the size is preferably as small as possible. With this configuration, although the sealing degree of the bread raw material storage container is slightly reduced, the effect (the effect of suppressing the entry of moisture and the like into the bread raw material storage container) obtained by providing the above-described sealing member can be obtained. It is possible to produce a well-made bread by appropriately automatically feeding bread ingredients such as.

In the bread raw material storage container having the above-described configuration, the container lid may be provided with a protrusion that assists the user in opening the lid. According to this configuration, when the bread raw material is charged into the bread raw material storage container, the user can easily open the container lid using the protrusion and can input the bread raw material.

In this configuration, the container body has a flange that protrudes outward from the side edge of the opening, and the seal member is fixed to the container body, and the opening is closed by the container lid. In the closed state, it is preferable to seal between the flange and the container lid. According to this, since the sealing member is provided on the container body side, when the bread ingredients are automatically charged from the bread ingredient storage container, the situation that the bread ingredients are caught in the container lid and remain in the bread ingredient accommodation container is reduced. it can. Therefore, the input amount of bread ingredients at the time of automatic input can be made more appropriate. Moreover, in this structure, it is preferable that the inner surface of the said container main body and the said container lid is covered with the coating layer. This coating layer is preferably, for example, a silicon-based or fluorine-based coating layer. Thereby, adhesion to the container inner wall of the powder bread raw material accommodated in a bread raw material storage container can be reduced.

In the bread raw material storage container having the above-described configuration, the container lid is pivotally supported at one end by a support shaft fixed to the container body, and the other end facing the one end is at the opening. The locking member is fixed to the container body, and the first position and the second position are provided on the other end side of the container lid. It is preferable that the protrusion is provided on the one end side of the container lid so that a protruding position from the container lid is located on the outer peripheral side of the support shaft. According to this configuration, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the container lid can be opened simply by pressing the protrusion, which is very convenient for the user. As a preferable configuration of this configuration, a configuration in which the protruding portion protrudes from the end portion of the container lid can be mentioned. In this case, the protruding portion can be formed integrally with the container lid.

In the bread raw material storage container having the above-described configuration, the protrusion may be provided so as to regulate an opening amount of the container lid. In addition, the restriction of the opening amount of the container lid by the protruding portion is specifically that the protruding portion collides with the container body or a member attached to the container body when the container lid rotates from the closed state. Can be obtained. When it is assumed that the bread raw material storage container having the above configuration is attached to the automatic bread maker with the container main body facing up and the container lid facing down, there are the following problems. That is, in the configuration in which the opening is opened and closed by rotating the container lid with respect to the container body, the container lid that rotates due to gravity is opened too much, and the bread ingredients are placed in the target container during automatic charging. It can happen that it spills without falling. In this configuration, such a situation can be prevented.

In the bread raw material storage container configured as described above, when the container main body is placed on the stand so that the container main body is at the bottom and the container lid is at the top, the container lid can be kept open without being supported by hand. It is preferable that the restriction position of the opening amount of the container lid by the protrusion is adjusted. Thereby, it becomes easy to put the bread ingredients into the bread ingredient storage container, which is convenient.

In the bread raw material storage container having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the lock member has a placement portion for placing a finger. In this case, it is preferable that the placement surface of the placement portion is substantially L-shaped in a side view. With this configuration, the user performs an operation of operating the mounting portion with one hand to release the locked state by the lock member and opening the container lid by pressing the protrusion with the other hand. Is possible. That is, it is possible to provide a bread ingredient storage container that is very convenient for the user.

In the bread raw material storage container having the above configuration, a bent portion formed by bending an end portion of the container lid in a direction away from the opening portion is formed on the one end side of the container lid with reference to the closed state. The protruding portion may protrude from the tip of the bent portion. By providing the bent portion as in this configuration, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the container lid is caught by the container body or the seal member when the container lid rotates.

In the bread ingredient storage container having the above-described configuration, a cover member may be covered on the protrusion. This cover member preferably has elasticity. The protrusion is operated by the user, and this configuration can be expected to prevent the user from being injured. Further, in the case where the protruding portion is configured to restrict the opening amount of the container lid, an effect of reducing a collision sound when the protruding portion collides with the container main body or the like can be expected by covering the protruding portion with a cover member.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the automatic bread maker of the present invention is characterized by including the bread raw material storage container having the above configuration. As described above, the bread ingredient storage container of this configuration is excellent in usability. For this reason, according to this structure, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use automatic bread maker.

The automatic bread maker having the above-described configuration preferably includes a pulverization unit for pulverizing cereal grains, and is preferably provided so that bread can be produced using cereal grains as a starting material. The storage container is preferably used for storing a powder bread raw material to be introduced after the grain is pulverized by the pulverization unit. The bread raw material storage container having the above structure is considered to be excellent in the function of appropriately feeding the powder bread raw material in addition to being easy to use.

In the automatic bread maker configured as described above, in the closed state, the bread raw material storage container is rotated by gravity by switching the lock member at the first position to the second position. The opening is preferably provided so as to be opened. And the automatic bread maker of this structure is provided with the main-body part which has a accommodating part which accommodates the bread container into which a bread raw material is thrown in, and the cover part which opens and closes the opening of the said accommodating part, The said bread raw material storage container Is preferably detachably attached to the lid.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience of a bread raw material storage container for automatic charging provided in an automatic bread maker. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bread raw material storage container suitable for automatically charging powder bread raw materials. And the bread raw material container of this invention is suitable for the automatic bread maker which can bake bread by using a grain grain as a starting raw material. That is, according to the present invention, it is expected that home bread making will become popular by making home bread manufacturing more familiar.

The outline perspective view showing the appearance composition of the automatic bread maker of this embodiment, and the figure showing the state where the lid was closed The figure which shows the state by which the cover was opened by the schematic perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the automatic bread maker of this embodiment. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the structure inside the main body of the automatic bread maker of this embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the clutch contained in the 1st power transmission part with which the automatic bread maker of this embodiment is provided, and the figure which shows the state in which a clutch cuts off power The figure for demonstrating the clutch contained in the 1st power transmission part with which the automatic bread maker of this embodiment is provided, and the figure which shows the state in which a clutch transmits power The figure which shows typically the structure of the baking chamber in which the bread container was accommodated, and its periphery in the automatic bread maker of this embodiment. The schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the blade unit with which the automatic bread maker of this embodiment is provided. Schematic exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a blade unit provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment The schematic side view which shows the structure of the blade unit with which the automatic bread maker of this embodiment is provided. Schematic sectional view showing the configuration of the blade unit provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the blade unit included in the automatic bread maker according to the present embodiment when viewed from below (a view when the guard is removed), and is a view when the kneading blade is in a folded posture. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the blade unit included in the automatic bread maker according to the present embodiment when viewed from below (a view when the guard is removed), and is a view when the kneading blade is in an open posture. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the blade unit with which the automatic bread maker of this embodiment is provided, and is the figure which looked at the bread container from the top when the kneading blade is in a folding posture. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the blade unit with which the automatic bread maker of this embodiment is provided, and is the figure which looked at the bread container from the top when the kneading blade is in an open posture. The block diagram which shows the structure of the automatic bread maker of this embodiment The schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the bread raw material storage container of 1st Embodiment, and the figure at the time of seeing from the front side The schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the bread raw material storage container with which the automatic bread maker of 1st Embodiment is equipped, The figure at the time of seeing from the back side The schematic diagram for demonstrating the state by which the container cover of the bread raw material storage container of 1st Embodiment was closed. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the lid | cover with which the automatic bread maker of this embodiment is provided, The perspective view seen from diagonally downward Schematic showing the configuration of the lid provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment, a plan view seen from below Sectional view at the BB position in FIG. 11B It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment, and is a figure which mainly shows the front side. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment, and is a figure which mainly shows the back side. Schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment. The schematic side view which shows the state which the container lid of the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment opened. The schematic side view for demonstrating the opening angle of the container lid of the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment It is the schematic which shows the structure of the container lid with which the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment is equipped, and the top view at the time of seeing a container lid from the inner surface side Sectional drawing in the DD position of FIG. 19A In the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment, it is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the relationship between a container lid and packing, and partial sectional drawing in the position where the recessed part was provided In the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment, it is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the relationship between a container lid and packing, and a partial cross section figure in a position without a recessed part The schematic diagram which shows the state at the time of the container lid of the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment rotating about 90 degrees from the closed state. The schematic diagram which shows the state when the container lid of the bread raw material storage container which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment rotates about 90 degrees from the closed state. The schematic diagram which shows the flow of the bread-making course for rice grains performed with the automatic bread maker of this embodiment

Hereinafter, embodiments of a bread ingredient storage container and an automatic bread maker provided with the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the specific time, temperature, etc. which appear in this specification are illustrations to the last, and do not limit the content of this invention.

(Configuration of automatic bread maker)
1A and 1B are schematic perspective views showing the external configuration of the automatic bread maker according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1A shows a state where the lid is closed, and FIG. 1B shows a state where the lid is opened. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the main body 10 of the automatic bread maker 1 (the outer shell is formed of, for example, metal or synthetic resin) has an upper surface on which an operation unit 20 is provided. The operation unit 20 includes an operation key group and a display unit that displays time, contents set by the operation key group, errors, and the like. The operation key group includes a start key, a cancel key, a timer key, a reservation key, a bread manufacturing course (a course for manufacturing bread using rice grains as a starting material, a course for manufacturing bread using rice flour as a starting material, A selection key for selecting a course for producing bread using wheat flour as a starting material. Further, the display unit is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display panel.

Further, the main body 10 is provided with a baking chamber 30 (an embodiment of the storage portion of the present invention) in which a bread container 80, which will be described later in detail, is stored. The firing chamber 30 is composed of, for example, a bottom wall 30a made of sheet metal and four side walls 30b (see also FIG. 4 described later). The baking chamber 30 has a substantially rectangular box shape in plan view, and its upper surface is open. The firing chamber 30 can be opened and closed by a lid (an embodiment of the lid portion of the present invention) 40. One end of the lid 40 is pivotally supported on the back side of the main body 10 and is displaceable between a closed position covering the opening of the baking chamber 30 and an open position rotated by a predetermined angle from the closed position. It has become. In other words, the lid 40 opens the opening of the baking chamber 30 by rotating from the front side to the back side of the main body 10, and opens the opening of the baking chamber 30 by rotating from the back side of the main body 10 to the front side. Is provided to close.

The lid 40 is provided with a viewing window 41 made of heat-resistant glass, for example, so that the user can look inside the bread container 80 accommodated in the baking chamber 30 from the outside. In addition, a bread raw material storage container 110 (or a bread raw material storage container 210) provided so that a part of the bread raw materials can be automatically charged during the production of bread is detachably attached to the lid 40. Details of the bread raw material storage containers 110 and 210 and details of a structure for attaching the bread raw material storage containers 110 and 210 to the lid 40 will be described later. FIG. 1B shows a state in which the container lids of the bread ingredient storage containers 110 and 210 are opened.

The lid 40 has an inclined surface in which substantially the entire upper surface of the lid 40 becomes higher from the front side to the back side of the main body 10 when the lid 40 is closed. For this reason, in a state where the lid 40 is closed, the user can easily observe the inside of the bread container 80 accommodated in the baking chamber 30 from the observation window 10 disposed near the front surface of the main body 10. Moreover, since the bread raw material storage containers 110 and 210 attached to the back side of the main body 10 in the state where the lid 40 is closed are disposed in a portion where the thickness of the lid 40 is thick, the height of the bread raw material storage containers 110 and 210 is increased. Earn volume.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the main body of the automatic bread maker according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 assumes a case where the automatic bread maker 1 is viewed from above, and the lower side of the figure is the front side of the automatic bread maker 1 and the upper side of the figure is the back side. As shown in FIG. 2, in the automatic bread maker 1, a low-speed / high-torque type kneading motor 50 used in the kneading process is fixedly disposed on the right side of the baking chamber 30, and the grinding process is performed behind the baking chamber 30. The high-speed rotation type crushing motor 60 used in the above is fixedly arranged. The kneading motor 50 and the crushing motor 60 are both shafts.

The first pulley 52 is fixed to the output shaft 51 protruding from the upper surface of the kneading motor 50. The first pulley 52 is connected to the second pulley 55 by a first belt 53. The diameter of the second pulley 55 is larger than that of the first pulley 52 and is fixed to the upper side of the first rotating shaft 54. A second rotating shaft 57 is provided on the lower side of the first rotating shaft 54 so that the center of rotation thereof is substantially the same as the first rotating shaft 54. The first rotating shaft 54 and the second rotating shaft 57 are rotatably supported inside the main body 10. A clutch 56 is provided between the first rotating shaft 54 and the second rotating shaft 57 to perform power transmission and power interruption. The configuration of the clutch 56 will be described later.

A third pulley 58 is fixed to the lower side of the second rotating shaft 57. The third pulley 58 is connected to the first driving shaft pulley 12 (having substantially the same diameter as the third pulley 58) by the second belt 59. The first driving shaft pulley 12 is fixed to the driving shaft 11 provided on the lower side of the firing chamber 30. The kneading motor 50 itself is a low speed / high torque type, and the rotation of the first pulley 52 is decelerated and rotated by the second pulley 55 (for example, decelerated to 1/5 speed). For this reason, when the kneading motor 50 is driven in a state where the clutch 56 transmits power, the driving shaft 11 rotates at a low speed.

The first pulley 52, the first belt 53, the first rotating shaft 54, the second pulley 55, the clutch 56, the second rotating shaft 57, the third pulley 58, the second belt 59, and Hereinafter, the power transmission unit configured by the first driving shaft pulley 12 may be expressed as a first power transmission unit.

A fourth pulley 62 is fixed to the output shaft 61 protruding from the lower surface of the grinding motor 60. The fourth pulley 62 is coupled to a second driving shaft pulley 13 (fixed below the first driving shaft pulley 12) fixed to the driving shaft 11 by a third belt 63. ing. The second driving shaft pulley 13 has substantially the same diameter as the fourth pulley 62. A high-speed rotating motor is selected as the grinding motor 60, and the rotation of the fourth pulley 62 is maintained at substantially the same speed in the second driving shaft pulley 13. For this purpose, when the grinding motor 60 is driven, the driving shaft 11 rotates at a high speed (for example, 7000 to 8000 rpm).

In addition, the power transmission unit configured by the fourth pulley 62, the third belt 63, and the second driving shaft pulley 13 may be expressed as a second power transmission unit below. The second power transmission unit is configured not to have a clutch, and connects the output shaft 61 of the crushing motor 60 and the driving shaft 11 so that power can be transmitted at all times.

3A and 3B are views for explaining a clutch included in the first power transmission unit provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment. 3A and 3B are diagrams assuming a case of viewing along the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 3A shows a state where the clutch 56 performs power cut-off, and FIG. 3B shows a state where the clutch 56 performs power transmission.

3A and 3B, the clutch 56 includes a first clutch member 561 and a second clutch member 562. Then, when the claw 561a provided on the first clutch member 561 and the claw 562a provided on the second clutch member 562 are engaged with each other (the state shown in FIG. 3B), the clutch 56 transmits power. Further, when the two claws 561a and 562b are not engaged with each other (the state shown in FIG. 3A), the clutch 56 cuts off the power. That is, the clutch 56 is a meshing clutch.

In the present embodiment, each of the two clutch members 561 and 562 is provided with six claws 561a and 562a arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction, but the number of claws may be changed as appropriate. Good. Here, the circumferential direction is an expression assuming a case where the first clutch member 561 is viewed in plan from below, or a case where the second clutch member 562 is viewed in plan from above. Moreover, what is necessary is just to select a preferable shape suitably for the shape of nail | claw 561a and 562a.

The first clutch member 561 is slidable in the axial direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 3A and 3B) on the first rotating shaft 54 with a measure against slipping off, and is not relatively rotatable. Is attached. A spring 71 is loosely fitted on the upper side of the first clutch member 561 in the first rotating shaft 54. The spring 71 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between a stopper portion 54a provided on the first rotating shaft 54 and the first clutch member 561, and biases the first clutch member 561 downward. ing. On the other hand, the second clutch member 562 is fixed to the upper end of the second rotating shaft 57.

Switching of the clutch 56 (switching between the power transmission state and the power cut-off state) is provided below the first clutch member 561 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (the axial direction of the first rotating shaft 54). This is performed using the arm portion 72 and a self-holding solenoid 73 in which a permanent magnet 73a is built. The plunger 73 b of the solenoid 73 is in a state where the tip end portion (the lower side corresponds to FIGS. 3A and 3B) is fixed to an attachment portion 72 a provided on the arm portion 72. Since the arm portion 72 (including the attachment portion 72a) is made of metal, it can be attracted to the permanent magnet 73a.

3A, when a voltage is applied to the solenoid 73 so as to cancel the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 73a, the force with which the permanent magnet 73a attracts the arm portion 72 (more precisely, the mounting portion 72a) decreases. Then, the first clutch member 561 is pushed down by the biasing force of the spring 71. As a result, meshing between the claw 561a of the first clutch member 561 and the claw 562a of the second clutch member 562 is obtained, and the clutch 56 transmits power (becomes the state shown in FIG. 3B). Since this engagement is maintained by the urging force of the spring 71, the solenoid 73 is turned off after the drive to lower the first clutch member 561 is performed. Further, in the state in which this engagement is obtained, the arm portion 72 is lowered, so that the plunger 73b of the solenoid 73 is in a state in which the amount of protrusion from the housing 73c (the amount of protrusion downward) is increased.

On the other hand, when a voltage in the direction in which the plunger 73b is pulled up (a voltage in the direction opposite to the direction canceling the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 73a) is applied to the solenoid 73 from the state of FIG. The first clutch member 561 is pulled up together with the arm portion 72. As a result, the engagement between the claw 561a of the first clutch member 561 and the claw 562a of the second clutch member 562 is released, and the clutch 56 performs power shut-off (the state shown in FIG. 3A). In the state where the meshing is released, the permanent magnet 73a built in the solenoid 73 attracts the arm portion 72 (more precisely, the mounting portion 72a). For this reason, after the driving for pulling up the first clutch member 561 is performed, the disengaged state can be maintained even if the solenoid 73 is turned off, and the solenoid 73 is turned off.

When driving the grinding motor 60, if the clutch 56 is in a state where power is transmitted (state shown in FIG. 3B), rotational power for rotating the driving shaft 11 at high speed is transmitted to the output shaft 51 of the kneading motor 50. In this case, if the crushing motor 60 is rotated at, for example, 8000 rpm, the output shaft 51 of the kneading motor 50 is rotated at 40000 rpm depending on the radius ratio (for example, 1: 5) between the first pulley 52 and the second pulley 55. The power to make it necessary. As a result, a very large load is applied to the pulverization motor 60, and the pulverization motor 60 may be damaged. For this reason, when driving the grinding motor 60, it is necessary to prevent the rotational power for rotating the driving shaft 11 from being transmitted to the output shaft 51 of the kneading motor 50. Therefore, the automatic bread maker 1 includes a clutch 56 that performs power transmission and power interruption in the first power transmission unit.

Note that, as described above, the automatic bread maker 1 has a configuration in which no clutch is provided in the second power transmission unit. However, even in this configuration, the motor damage as described above does not occur. This is because even if the kneading motor 50 is driven, the driving shaft 11 is only rotated at a low speed (for example, 180 rpm). Even if the rotational power for rotating the driving shaft 11 is transmitted to the output shaft of the grinding motor 60, the kneading motor 50 is kneaded. This is because a large load is not applied to the motor 50. And the manufacturing cost of an automatic bread maker is suppressed by setting it as the structure which does not dare provide a clutch in the 2nd power transmission part in this way. However, of course, a configuration in which a clutch is provided in the second power transmission unit may be adopted.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a baking chamber in which a bread container is accommodated and its surroundings in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 assumes a configuration when the automatic bread maker 1 is viewed from the front side, and the configurations of the baking chamber 30 and the bread container 80 are generally shown in cross-sectional views. In addition, the bread container 80 used as a baking mold while the bread raw material is input can be taken in and out of the baking chamber 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, a sheathed heater 31 (an example of a heating unit) is disposed inside the baking chamber 30 so as to surround a bread container 80 accommodated in the baking chamber 31. By using this sheathed heater 31, the bread ingredients in the bread container 80 (this expression may include bread dough) can be heated.

Further, a bread container support portion 14 (for example, made of an aluminum alloy die-cast product) that supports the bread container 80 is fixed to a location that is substantially at the center of the bottom wall 30a of the baking chamber 30. The bread container support portion 14 is formed so as to be recessed from the bottom wall 30a of the baking chamber 30, and the recess is substantially circular when viewed from above. At the center of the bread container support portion 14, the above-described driving shaft 11 is supported so as to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 30a.

The bread container 80 is, for example, an aluminum alloy die-cast molded product (others may be made of sheet metal or the like), and has a bucket-like shape. A hand handle (not shown) is attached to the flange 80a provided on the side edge of the opening. The horizontal cross section of the bread container 80 is a rectangle with rounded corners. Further, a concave portion 81 having a substantially circular shape in a plan view is formed on the bottom of the bread container 80 so as to accommodate a part of a blade unit 90 which will be described in detail later.

At the center of the bottom of the bread container 80, a blade rotation shaft 82 extending in the vertical direction is rotatably supported in a state where a countermeasure against sealing is taken. A container side coupling member 82 a is fixed to the lower end of the blade rotation shaft 82 (the lower end protrudes from the bottom of the bread container 80). In addition, a cylindrical pedestal 83 is provided on the bottom outer surface side of the bread container 80, and the bread container 80 is accommodated in the baking chamber 30 in a state where the pedestal 83 is received by the bread container support part 14. It has become so. The pedestal 83 may be formed separately from the bread container 80 or may be formed integrally with the bread container 80.

Protrusions (not shown) are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bread container support portion 14 and the outer peripheral surface of the pedestal 83, respectively, and these protrusions constitute a known bayonet connection. That is, when the bread container 80 is attached to the bread container support part 14, the bread container 80 is lowered such that the protrusion of the base 83 does not interfere with the protrusion of the bread container support part 14. Then, after the pedestal 83 is fitted into the bread container support 14, when the bread container 80 is twisted horizontally, the protrusion of the pedestal 83 is engaged with the lower surface of the protrusion of the bread container support 14. Thereby, the bread container 80 cannot be pulled out upward.

By this operation, the connection (coupling) between the container side coupling member 82a provided at the lower end of the blade rotating shaft 82 and the driving shaft side coupling member 11a fixed to the upper end of the driving shaft 11 is also performed simultaneously. Achieved. By this coupling, the blade rotating shaft 82 can transmit rotational power from the driving shaft 11.

The blade unit 90 is detachably attached to a portion of the blade rotating shaft 82 protruding into the bread container 80 from above. The configuration of the blade unit 90 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, and 9B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the blade unit provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a blade unit provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment. FIG. 7A is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a blade unit provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment. FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the blade unit provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment, and is a cross-section at the position AA in FIG. 7A. 8A and 8B are schematic plan views of the blade unit included in the automatic bread maker according to the present embodiment when viewed from below, FIG. 8A is a view when the kneading blade is in a folded position, and FIG. 8B is a kneading blade. It is a figure when is in an open posture. 8A and 8B show a state in which a guard to be described later is removed. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the blade unit provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment, and are diagrams when the bread container is viewed from above. FIG. 9A is a view when the kneading blade is in a folded position, and FIG. 9B is a view when the kneading blade is in an open position.

The blade unit 90 is roughly attached to the unit shaft 91, the crushing blade 92 that is relatively non-rotatable and detachably attached to the unit shaft 91, and the unit shaft 91 that is relatively rotatable and covers the crushing blade 92. And a dome-shaped cover 93 having a substantially circular shape in plan view (see, for example, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7B). In a state where the blade unit 90 is attached to the blade rotation shaft 82, the crushing blade 92 is positioned slightly above the bottom surface of the recess 81 of the bread container 80. Further, almost the entire grinding blade 90 and the dome-shaped cover 93 are accommodated in the recess 81.

The unit shaft 91 is a substantially columnar member formed of a metal such as a stainless steel plate, for example, and has an opening at one end (the lower end in FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B), and the inside is hollow. ing. Further, a groove 91a that crosses the unit shaft 91 in the diameter direction is formed on the lower side of the unit shaft 91 (see, for example, FIG. 6). When the unit shaft 91 is put on the blade rotation shaft 82 from above, a pin (not shown) that penetrates the blade rotation shaft 82 horizontally engages with the groove 91a. As a result, the unit shaft 91 is connected to the blade rotation shaft 82 so as not to be relatively rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the upper inner surface of the unit shaft 91 is engaged with a convex portion 82a provided at the center of the upper surface (substantially circular) of the blade rotation shaft 82 (shown by a broken line). A recess 91b is formed at the center. Accordingly, the blade unit 90 can be easily attached to the blade rotation shaft 82 in a state where the centers of the unit shaft 91 and the blade rotation shaft 82 are aligned. For this reason, when the blade rotation shaft 82 is rotated, occurrence of unnecessary rattling or the like is suppressed. In this embodiment, the convex portion 82a is provided on the blade rotating shaft 82 side and the concave portion 91b is provided on the unit shaft 91 side. On the contrary, the concave portion is provided on the blade rotating shaft 82 side and the unit shaft 91 side is provided. It does not matter as a structure which provides a convex part.

The pulverizing blade 92 for pulverizing grains (embodiment of the pulverizing part of the present invention) is formed of, for example, a stainless steel plate, and the shape thereof is, for example, an airplane propeller. As shown in FIG. 6, an opening 92 a having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is formed at the center of the grinding blade 92. The crushing blade 92 is attached from the lower side of the unit shaft 91 so that the unit shaft 91 is fitted into the opening 92a.

The lower side of the unit shaft 91 is shaped like a side surface of a cylinder, and when viewed from below, is substantially the same shape (substantially rectangular shape) as the opening 92a of the grinding blade 92. Further, the size of the substantially rectangular portion (the lower side portion of the unit shaft 91) is slightly smaller than the opening 92a. Since such a shape is adopted, the grinding blade 92 is attached to the unit shaft 91 so as not to be relatively rotatable. Since the stopper member 94 for retaining is fitted into the lower part of the unit shaft 91 from the pulverizing blade 92, the pulverizing blade 92 does not fall off the unit shaft 91.

The dome-shaped cover 93 disposed so as to surround and cover the crushing blade 92 is made of, for example, a die-cast aluminum alloy product, and has a concave accommodating portion 931 for accommodating the bearing 95 on the inner surface side (see FIG. 7B). ) Is formed. In other words, in order to form the accommodating portion 931, the dome-shaped cover 93 has a configuration in which a substantially cylindrical convex portion 93a is formed at the center when viewed from the outer surface. In addition, the bearing 95 of this embodiment is a rolling bearing. Further, no opening is formed in the convex portion 93 a, and the bearing 95 accommodated in the accommodating portion 931 is in a state in which the side surface and the upper surface thereof are surrounded by the wall surface of the accommodating portion 931.

The inner ring 95a is attached to the unit shaft 91 so as not to rotate relative to the bearing 95 with the retaining rings 96a and 96b arranged on the upper and lower sides (the unit shaft 91 is press-fitted into a through hole inside the inner ring 95a. ing). The bearing 95 is press-fitted into the housing portion 931 so that the outer wall of the outer ring 95b is fixed to the side wall of the housing portion 931. The dome-shaped cover 93 is attached to the unit shaft 91 so as to be rotatable relative to the bearing 95 (the inner ring 95a rotates relative to the outer ring 95b).

In addition, the housing portion 931 of the dome-shaped cover 93 holds a sealing material 97 made of, for example, a silicon-based material or a fluorine-based material and the sealing material 97 so that foreign matter does not enter the bearing 95 from the outside. A metal seal cover 98 is press-fitted from the lower side of the bearing 95. Examples of the foreign material include a liquid such as water that is put into the bread container 80 as a bread material, and a paste-like material obtained by pulverization. The seal cover 98 is fixed to the dome-shaped cover 93 with a rivet 99 so that the fixing to the dome-shaped cover 93 is ensured. Although fixing with the rivet 99 may not be performed, it is preferable to configure as in the present embodiment in order to obtain reliable fixing.

On the outer surface of the dome-shaped cover 93, a kneading blade 101 having a square shape “<” is used by using a support shaft 100 (see FIG. 6) disposed so as to extend in a vertical direction at a location adjacent to the convex portion 93 a. For example, an aluminum alloy die cast product is attached. The kneading blade 101 is attached to the support shaft 100 so as not to be relatively rotatable, and moves together with the support shaft 100 attached to the dome-shaped cover 93 so as to be relatively rotatable. In other words, the kneading blade 101 is attached to the dome-shaped cover 93 so as to be relatively rotatable.

Further, in this embodiment, the complementary kneading blade 102 (for example, made of an aluminum alloy die cast product) is fixedly arranged on the outer surface of the dome-shaped cover 93 so as to be aligned with the kneading blade 101. The complementary kneading blade 102 is not necessarily provided, but is preferably provided in order to increase the kneading efficiency in the kneading process of kneading the bread dough.

Here, the operation of the kneading blade 101 will be described. The kneading blade 101 rotates about the axis of the support shaft 100 together with the support shaft 100, and has two postures, a folded posture shown in FIGS. 5, 7A, 8A and 9A, and an open posture shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B. Take. In the folded position, the protrusion 101a (see FIGS. 5 and 6) hanging from the lower edge of the kneading blade 101 contacts the first stopper portion 93b provided on the upper surface of the dome-shaped cover 93. For this reason, in the folded position, the kneading blade 101 can no longer rotate counterclockwise (assuming when viewed from above) with respect to the dome-shaped cover 93. In this folded position, the tip of the kneading blade 101 protrudes slightly from the dome-shaped cover 93.

When the kneading blade 101 is rotated clockwise (assumed when viewed from above) with respect to the dome-shaped cover 93 from this posture (the state shown in FIG. 9A), the tip of the kneading blade 101 is moved to the open posture shown in FIG. Protrudes greatly from the dome-shaped cover 93. The opening angle of the kneading blade 101 in this opening posture is limited by the second stopper portion 93 c (see FIGS. 8A and 8B) provided on the inner surface of the dome-shaped cover 93. For details, the kneading blade 101 reaches the maximum opening angle when a second engagement body 103b (fixed to the support shaft 100), which will be described later, hits the second stopper portion 93c and cannot rotate.

When the kneading blade 101 is in the folded position, the complementary kneading blade 102 is aligned with the kneading blade 101 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7A, for example. The size becomes larger.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 6, a first engagement body 103 a constituting the cover clutch 103 is attached to the unit shaft 91 between the pulverization blade 92 and the seal cover 98. For example, a substantially rectangular opening 103aa is formed in the first engagement body 103a made of, for example, zinc die casting, and the first rectangular body 103 in the lower side of the unit shaft 91 is fitted into the opening 103aa so that the first The engaging body 103a is attached to the unit shaft 91 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The first engaging body 103a is fitted from the lower side of the unit shaft 91 prior to the crushing blade 92, and the stopper member 94 prevents the unit shaft 91 from dropping off together with the crushing blade 92. In this embodiment, the washer 104 is arranged between the first engagement body 103a and the seal cover 93 in consideration of prevention of deterioration of the first engagement body 103a. 104 is not necessarily provided.

Further, a second engagement body 103b constituting the cover clutch 103 is attached to the lower side of the support shaft 100 to which the kneading blade 101 is attached. For example, a substantially rectangular opening 103ba is formed in the second engaging body 103b made of zinc die casting, and the second engaging member is fitted into the opening 103ba by fitting a substantially rectangular portion in plan view on the lower side of the support shaft 100. The united body 103b is attached to the support shaft 100 so as not to be relatively rotatable. In this embodiment, the washer 105 is arranged on the upper side of the second engagement body 103b in consideration of prevention of deterioration of the second engagement body 103b. However, the washer 105 is not necessarily provided. Also good.

The cover clutch 103 composed of the first engagement body 103a and the second engagement body 103b functions as a clutch for switching whether or not to transmit the rotational power of the blade rotation shaft 82 to the dome-shaped cover 93. The cover clutch 103 is a rotation direction of the blade rotation shaft 82 when the kneading motor 50 rotates the driving shaft 11 (this rotation direction is referred to as “forward rotation”. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the rotation is counterclockwise. 9A and 9B, the blade rotation shaft 82 and the dome-shaped cover 93 are connected. That is, the cover clutch 103 transmits the rotational power of the blade rotation shaft 82 to the dome-shaped cover 93. Conversely, the rotation direction of the blade rotation shaft 82 when the crushing motor 60 rotates the drive shaft 11 (this rotation direction is referred to as “reverse rotation”. FIGS. 8A and 8B rotate clockwise, and FIGS. 9A and 9B show rotation directions). Then, the cover clutch 103 disconnects the blade rotation shaft 82 and the dome-shaped cover 93 from each other. That is, the cover clutch 103 does not transmit the rotational power of the blade rotation shaft 82 to the dome-shaped cover 93. Hereinafter, the operation of the cover clutch 103 will be described in more detail.

When the kneading blade 101 is in the folded position (for example, the state shown in FIGS. 8A and 9A), the engagement portion 103bb of the second engagement body 103b is the engagement portion 103ab of the first engagement body 103a (two in this embodiment). Is an angle that interferes with the rotation trajectory (see the broken line in FIG. 8A). Therefore, when the blade rotation shaft 82 rotates in the forward direction, the first engagement body 103 a and the second engagement body 103 b are engaged, and the rotational power of the blade rotation shaft 82 is transmitted to the dome-shaped cover 93.

On the other hand, when the kneading blade 101 is in the open posture (for example, the state shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B), the engagement portion 103bb of the second engagement body 103b deviates from the rotation trajectory of the engagement portion 103ab of the first engagement body 103a. (See the broken line in FIG. 8B). For this reason, even if the blade rotation shaft 82 rotates, the first engagement body 103a and the second engagement body 103b are not engaged. Accordingly, the rotational power of the blade rotation shaft 82 is not transmitted to the dome-shaped cover 93.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the dome-shaped cover 93 is formed with a window 93d that communicates the space inside the cover and the space outside the cover. The window 93d is arranged at a height equal to or higher than the grinding blade 92. In the present embodiment, a total of four windows 93d are arranged at intervals of 90 °, but other numbers and arrangement intervals may be selected.

Further, a total of four ribs 93e are formed on the inner surface of the dome-shaped cover 93 so as to correspond to the windows 93d. Each rib 93e extends obliquely from the vicinity of the center of the dome-shaped cover 93 to the outer peripheral annular wall with respect to the radial direction, and the four ribs 93e form a kind of bowl shape. Moreover, each rib 93e is curving so that the side which faces the bread raw material pressed toward it may become convex.

Further, a removable guard 106 is attached to the lower surface of the dome-shaped cover 93. The guard 106 covers the lower surface of the dome-shaped cover 93 and prevents the user's finger from approaching the grinding blade 92. The guard 106 is formed of, for example, an engineering plastic having heat resistance, and can be a molded product such as PPS (polyphenylene sulfide). The guard 106 need not be provided, but is preferably provided so that the user can use it with peace of mind.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, at the center of the guard 106, there is a ring-shaped hub 106a through which a stopper member 94 fixed to the unit shaft 91 is passed. Further, a ring-shaped rim 106b is provided at the periphery of the guard 106. The hub 106a and the rim 106b are connected by a plurality of spokes 106c. Between the spokes 106c is an opening 106d through which the rice grains crushed by the pulverizing blade 92 are passed. The opening 106d has a size that prevents a finger from passing through.

The spoke 106c of the guard 106 is in the proximity of the grinding blade 92 when the guard 106 is attached to the dome-shaped cover 93. The guard 106 is shaped like an outer blade of a rotary electric razor, and the grinding blade 92 is shaped like an inner blade.

A total of four columns 106e (not limited to this configuration) are integrally formed at the periphery of the rim 106b at intervals of 90 °. A horizontal groove 106ea having one end dead end is formed on a side surface of the pillar 106e facing the center side of the guard 106. The guard 106 is attached to the dome-shaped cover 106 by engaging the grooves 106 ea with the projections 93 f formed on the outer periphery of the dome-shaped cover 93 (four are also arranged at intervals of 90 °). The groove 106ea and the protrusion 93f are provided so as to constitute a bayonet connection.

In the automatic bread maker 1, the crushing blade 92 and the kneading blade 101 are provided in one unit (blade unit 90), so that the handling thereof is convenient. The user can easily pull out the blade unit 90 from the blade rotating shaft 82, and can easily clean the blade after the bread making operation. Further, the pulverizing blade 92 provided in the blade unit 90 is detachably attached to the unit shaft 91, and is easily mass-produced and has excellent maintainability such as blade replacement.

Further, in the automatic bread maker 1, since a liquid such as water is put in the bread container 80, the liquid does not enter the bearing 95 that allows the dome-shaped cover 93 to rotate relative to the unit shaft 91. The bearing 95 needs to be sealed. In this respect, in the automatic bread maker 1, since the bearing 95 is accommodated in the concave accommodating portion 931 provided in the dome-shaped cover 93, the sealing means (the sealing material 97 and the seal cover only on the inner surface side of the dome-shaped cover 93). 98), the bearing 95 can be sealed. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide sealing means above and below the bearing 95, and the seal structure of the bearing 95 can be downsized. Therefore, the automatic bread maker 1 can suppress adverse effects on the shape of the baked bread (for example, the bottom surface of the bread is greatly recessed).

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the automatic bread maker according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the control operation in the automatic bread maker 1 is performed by the control device 130. The control device 130 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an I / O (input / output) circuit unit, and the like. . The control device 130 is preferably disposed at a position that is not easily affected by the heat of the baking chamber 30. In addition, the control device 130 is provided with a time measuring function, and temporal control in the bread manufacturing process is possible.

The control device 130 includes the operation unit 20 described above, the temperature sensor 15 that detects the temperature of the baking chamber 30, a kneading motor drive circuit 131, a pulverization motor drive circuit 132, a heater drive circuit 133, and a first solenoid. The drive circuit 134 and the second solenoid drive circuit 135 are electrically connected.

The kneading motor driving circuit 131 is a circuit for controlling the driving of the kneading motor 50 under a command from the control device 130. The grinding motor drive circuit 132 is a circuit for controlling the driving of the grinding motor 60 under a command from the control device 130. The heater drive circuit 133 is a circuit for controlling the operation of the sheathed heater 31 under a command from the control device 130. The first solenoid drive circuit 134 drives the automatic charging solenoid 16, which is driven when a part of the bread ingredients are automatically input during the bread manufacturing process, under the command from the control device 130. It is a circuit for controlling. The second solenoid drive circuit 135 controls the drive of the clutch solenoid 73 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) that switches the state of the clutch 56 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) under a command from the control device 130. Circuit.

The control device 130 reads a program related to a bread manufacturing course (breadmaking course) stored in a ROM or the like based on an input signal from the operation unit 20, and controls each unit via each drive circuit 131-135. The automatic bread maker 1 executes the bread manufacturing process.

(Bread ingredients storage container configuration)
Next, the structure of the bread raw material storage container provided in the automatic bread maker 1 will be described in detail.

1. FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are schematic perspective views showing the configuration of the bread ingredient storage container of the first embodiment, FIG. 11A is a view when viewed from the front side, and FIG. It is a figure at the time of seeing from the side. When the lid 40 to which the bread ingredient storage container 110 is attached is closed, the front side of the main body 10 is the front side of the bread ingredient storage container 110 and the rear side of the main body 10 is the rear side of the bread ingredient storage container 110. The back side (the same applies hereinafter). Moreover, in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, the container lid | cover 112 of the bread raw material storage container 110 is the open state. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state in which the container lid of the bread ingredient storage container of the first embodiment is closed. 13A and 13B are schematic views showing the configuration of a lid provided in the automatic bread maker of the present embodiment, FIG. 13A is a diagram when the lid is seen from obliquely below, and FIG. 13B is a diagram when the lid is seen from below. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 13B. 13A, 13B, and 14 show a state where the bread ingredient storage container 110 of the first embodiment is attached to the lid 40. FIG.

The bread material storage container 110 of the first embodiment is roughly provided with a container body 111 and a container lid 112 that is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the container body 111 and opens and closes the opening 111a of the container body 111. ing.

The container body 111 is a box-shaped member having a substantially rectangular cross section (see FIGS. 12 and 14). The container body 111 is made of a metal such as aluminum or iron, which is not easily charged with static electricity so that powder bread raw materials (for example, gluten and dry yeast) are prevented from adhering to the inside of the container body 111. In order to suppress the powder bread raw material from adhering to the inside of the container as much as possible, it is preferable to provide a coating layer made of silicon or fluorine on the inner surface of the container body 111. Further, it is preferable that protrusions (unevenness) such as rivets and screws are not formed on the inner surface of the container body 111 and the inner surface of the container body 111 is a smooth surface.

The container main body 111 is formed with a flange portion (flange portion) 111b that protrudes outward from the side edge of the opening 111a (see FIGS. 12 and 14). The flange 111b is formed on the entire circumference of the container body 111. For example, a silicon packing 113 is fixed to the flange 111b. The silicon packing 113 is an embodiment of the sealing member of the present invention.

The appearance of the packing 113 has a substantially frame shape in a planar shape, and the packing 113 is fixed to the entire circumference of the flange 111b. More specifically, the packing 113 has a substantially U-shaped section 113a attached so as to sandwich the flange 111b from above and below, and protrudes from the substantially U-shaped section (downward in FIGS. 12 and 14). And a thin-walled elastic portion 113b that is folded back so that the tip side is directed in the direction opposite to the direction toward the opening 111a.

If the packing 113 protrudes from the opening 111a of the container main body 111, the bread raw material stored in the container main body 111 is easily caught by the packing 113, which causes the bread raw material to remain in the container. In order to avoid such a situation, in the present embodiment, the packing 113 is attached to the container main body 111 so as not to protrude into the opening 111a. Further, when the packing 113 is fixed to the container lid 112 side, when the bread ingredients are put into the bread container 80 from the bread ingredient storage container 110, the bread ingredients are caught on the packing 113, and the amount of the bread ingredients to be charged becomes inappropriate. The packing 110 is fixed to the container body 111 side.

The packing 113 is fixed to the container main body 111 (the flange 111b) by a container cover 114 attached to the container main body 111 so as to sandwich the substantially U-shaped portion 113a. That is, the container cover 114 functions as a fixing member that fixes the packing 113 to the container body 111. Specifically, the container cover 114 is composed of two parts. The two parts are arranged so as to sandwich the flange 111b together with the packing 113, and then screwed, whereby the packing 113 is fixed by the container cover 114. The container cover member 114 is not particularly limited, and is formed of, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin in which a glass filler is dispersed.

The container lid 112 is made of a substantially rectangular metal plate having a slightly larger area than the opening 111a of the container body 111. The container lid 112 is made of metal for the same reason as the container main body 111 (suppression of adhesion of the powder bread material). Further, for the same reason as in the case of the container body 111, it is preferable that a silicon-based coating layer is provided on the inner surface side (assuming a state in which the container lid 112 is closed).

The container lid 112 is supported by pivotally attaching attachment portions 112a provided at both ends on the back side thereof to lid support portions 114a (see FIGS. 11A and 11B) provided at both ends on the back side of the container cover 114. The support cover 114 is rotatably supported. Specifically, the container lid 112 is rotatable about a rotation axis C2 extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body container 111 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 12 and 14). Yes. On the back side of the container lid 112, a part of the end of the container lid 112 is bent in a direction away from the opening 111a to form a bent portion 112b. The bent portion 112b may not be formed, but is provided to prevent the end surface of the container lid 112 from being caught by the packing 113 or damaging the packing 113 when the container lid 112 is opened. Is preferred.

A movable lock member (support member) 115 is attached to the container cover 114 on the front side of the bread ingredient storage container 110. The lock member 115 is provided with a hook shape at the tip side so that the container lid 112 can be supported from the outer surface (lower surface) side, and is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container body 111 from the lock hook portion 115a. And an arm portion 115b extending in the direction.

The arm portion 115b is pivotally supported by the container cover 114 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis C1 (see FIG. 11A) substantially parallel to the depth direction of the container body 111. The arm portion 115b is urged by an urging member (not shown) so that the locking hook portion 115a faces the container body 111 side. For this reason, the locked state (the state in which the container lid 112 has closed the opening 111a of the container main body 111 (closed state)) is obtained by the following procedure.

First, a force against the urging direction is applied to the arm portion 115b urged by the urging member so that the locking hook portion 115a contacts the container lid 112 rotated in a direction covering the opening 111a. Do not. Then, the container lid 112 opened in this state is rotated to a position where it can be supported (pressed) from the outer surface side by the locking hook portion 115a, and the force applied to the arm portion 115b is released. Then, the arm portion 115a is rotated by the urging force of the urging member, and moved to a position (corresponding to the first position of the present invention) where the locking hook portion 115a supports (presses) the container lid 112 from the outer surface side. Thus, a locked state (a state in which the closed state is maintained) by the lock member 115 is obtained.

In the locked state, as shown in FIG. 12, the inner peripheral side of the container lid 112 is in contact with the elastic portion 13b of the packing 113 and overlaps with the flange 111b, so that the opening 111a is completely covered. In this locked state, since the gap between the flange 111b and the container lid 112 is sealed by the packing 113, it is difficult for moisture, dust, or the like to enter the container main body 111 from the outside.

When the locked state is released and the opening 111a of the container body 111 is opened, the arm portion 115b rotates (rotates about the rotation axis C1) against the biasing force. Giving power from. Then, the lock member 115 may be moved to a position (corresponding to the second position of the present invention) where the lock hook portion 115a does not support (press) the container lid 112. Thereby, the container lid 112 is rotated by gravity, and a state where the opening 111a is opened (open state) is obtained.

In the automatic bread maker 1 of the present embodiment, an automatic charging solenoid (not shown) is provided in the main body 10 on the lower side of the operation unit 20 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). When this solenoid is driven, the plunger protrudes from the opening 10b (see FIG. 1B) provided in the main body wall surface 10a adjacent to the lid 40. Then, the protruding plunger presses the movable member 46 (see FIG. 13A) provided on the side wall 40a of the lid 40. The arm portion 115b of the lock member 115 is pressed by the movement of the pressed movable member 46, and the arm portion 115b rotates against the urging force of the urging member (not shown). As a result, the support of the container lid 112 by the locking hook portion 115a is released, the container lid 112 is rotated by gravity, and the opening 111a is opened.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, a rib 113c (embodiment of the protruding portion of the present invention) having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is formed in a substantially central portion on the back side of the packing 113. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the rib 113 c is provided on the surface of the elastic portion 113 b of the packing 113 that faces the container lid 112. The rib 113c comes into contact with the container lid 112 when the container lid 112 closes the opening 111a of the container body 111 (locked state). The shape of the rib 113c and the position where the rib 113c is provided are not particularly limited, and they may be appropriately changed from the configuration of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the rib 113c is provided integrally with the packing 113, but may be configured to be affixed to the packing 113 as a separate body from the packing 113.

If the rib 113c is provided in the packing 113 in this way, a minute gap SP (minute air passage) is obtained, and air easily enters the container body 111 from the outside. As a result, the sealing degree in the state in which the container lid 112 closes the opening 111a of the container main body 111 is lowered. The packing 113 is provided to make it difficult for moisture or the like to enter the container body 111 as described above. For this reason, it seems that providing the rib 113c which reduces a sealing degree in the packing 113 is contrary to the reason which provided the packing 113 in the bread raw material storage container 110. FIG. Nevertheless, the rib 113c is formed on the packing 113 for the following reason.

That is, if the sealing degree by the packing 113 is too good, the container lid 112 is released from the support by the lock member 115 (after the lock member 115 is moved from the first position to the second position), and then immediately The lid 112 may not rotate. In this case, the timing at which the bread ingredients are put into the bread container 80 from the bread ingredient storage container 110 may be delayed, and a good bread may not be obtained. In order to avoid such a phenomenon, when the rib 113c is provided in a part of the packing 113 to reduce the sealing degree and the support of the container lid 112 by the lock member 115 is released, the container lid 112 is smoothly (immediately). Is designed to rotate.

The rib 113 is preferably provided in a minimum range so as to achieve the purpose of “the container lid 112 smoothly rotates when the support of the container lid 112 by the lock member 115 is released”. . That is, the number of ribs 113 may be plural, but one is preferable. In addition, the size of the rib 113 is preferably as small as possible within the range in which the above object can be achieved. With this configuration, the effect of providing the packing 113 that makes it difficult for moisture and the like to enter the container main body 111 can be sufficiently obtained, and the bread raw material storage container 110 can automatically input the bread raw material appropriately.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the container cover 114 has a first engagement portion 116 provided on the back side so that the bread ingredient storage container 110 can be held by the lid 40 of the automatic bread maker 1. And a second engaging portion 117 provided on the front side. The first engagement portion 116 and the second engagement portion 117 constitute an attachment mechanism for attaching the bread ingredient storage container 110 to the lid 40.

The first engagement portion 116 has a first engagement inclined surface 116a that protrudes outward from the side surface of the container cover 114 (projects obliquely upward in FIG. 14). A total of four first engaging portions 116 are provided in the vicinity of both end portions on the back side, two in close proximity to each other. However, the number and arrangement of the engaging portions 116 are examples, and may be changed as appropriate.

The second engaging portion 117 includes a housing portion 117a and a mounting hook portion (movable hook portion) 117b in which a part of the housing portion 117a is accommodated. The mounting hook portion 117b is urged outward (in the left direction in FIG. 14) by a biasing member 117c (see FIG. 14) provided inside the housing portion 117a in a direction substantially parallel to the lateral direction of the container body 111. Yes. Further, when a force is applied in the direction against the urging force of the urging member 117c (toward the right in FIG. 14), the mounting hook portion 117b can move in that direction, and the amount of protrusion from the housing portion 117a can be reduced. It is variable.

A frame member 42 (for example, made of an aluminum alloy die-cast product) is accommodated inside the lid 40 of the automatic bread maker 1, and the frame member 42 is formed on the inner cover 43 (for example, made of sheet metal) from the back side of the lid 40. ). A portion of the frame member 42 that is close to the front surface of the main body 10 when the lid 40 is in a closed state has a substantially rectangular shape (assuming that the lid 40 is viewed from the back surface side) surrounded by the wall portion 42a. A hole 44 is provided. The wall portion 42 a abuts on the observation window 41 disposed on the upper surface side of the lid 40 and supports the observation window 41.

In this case, when the state inside the bread container 80 accommodated in the baking chamber 30 is viewed from the observation window 41, the structure inside the lid 40 cannot be seen by the wall portion 42a. You can see the situation in a clean state. In the present embodiment, the viewing window 41 is considerably larger than the size of the through hole 44 in consideration of the design. Of course, the purpose is not limited to this configuration. For example, the through hole 44 and the observation window 41 may be substantially the same size. In the case of the configuration of the present embodiment, the internal structure of the lid 40 can be seen outside the wall portion 42a, but the internal structure of the lid 40 can be made invisible by, for example, a printing process on the upper surface of the viewing window 41.

Further, the frame member 42 is formed with a recessed space 45 formed by a dome-shaped wall 42b in a portion close to the back surface of the main body 10 when the lid 40 is closed. The recessed space 45 is a holding portion that holds the bread ingredient storage container 110. On the front surface (left side in FIG. 14) of the holding portion 45, when the bread ingredient storage container 110 is held by the holding portion 45, the engagement with the mounting hook portion 117b of the second engaging portion 117 is engaged. A joint groove 45a is formed. Further, on the back surface (right side in FIG. 14) of the holding portion 45, when the bread ingredient storage container 110 is held, a second engagement that comes into contact with the first engagement inclined surface 116a substantially in parallel. A combined inclined surface 45b is formed.

When the bread ingredient storage container 110 is stored in the holding portion 45, the user can apply a force in the direction in which the mounting hook portion 117b of the second engagement portion 117 is retracted into the housing portion 117a (the biasing force of the biasing member 117c). Force in the direction opposite to the above). Then, in a state where the protruding amount of the mounting hook portion 117b from the housing portion 117a is reduced, the first engaging inclined surface 116a does not collide with the second engaging inclined surface 45b in the bread raw material storage container 110. Inclined and pushed into the holding part 45. Thereafter, the force applied to the attachment hook portion 117b is removed, the attachment hook portion 117b is projected, and the attachment hook portion 117b and the engagement groove 45a are engaged.

Thus, when the bread raw material storage container 110 is fitted into the holding portion 45, when the lid 40 is in the closed state (the state of FIG. 14 is applicable), the first engagement inclined surface 116a and the second It will be in the state which contacted the engagement inclined surface 45b. And the bread raw material storage container 110 is a direction in which the upward force in the vertical direction (upward in FIG. 14) from the second engagement inclined surface 45b and the engagement with the engagement groove 45a of the mounting hook portion 117b are released. And a force in the opposite direction (a leftward force in FIG. 14). For this reason, in the holding part 45, the bread raw material storage container 110 has an engagement groove 45a that engages with the hook part 117b for attachment, and a second engagement inclined surface 45b that contacts the first engagement inclined surface 116a. And is held by the holding portion 45.

When removing the bread ingredient storage container 110 from the holding portion 45, the user presses the attachment hook portion 117b in the direction of retracting the housing portion 117a, and the engagement between the attachment hook portion 117b and the engagement groove 45a. Release the match. And the bread raw material storage container 110 should just be pulled out diagonally so that the 1st engagement inclined surface 116a may not be disturbed by the 2nd engagement inclined surface 45b. That is, the user can easily attach and remove the bread ingredient storage container 110 to / from the lid 40 by simply pressing a part of the attachment hook portion 117b.

For example, when the second engagement portion 117 having the mounting hook portion 117b, the lock member 115, and the like are provided on the container main body 111 instead of the container cover 114, the container main body is used for fixing (fixing using a rivet or the like). Irregularities may be formed in 111. In this case, the bread material tends to remain in the container body 111 in which the powder bread material is stored, which is not preferable. The automatic bread maker 1 of the present embodiment is preferable because the container cover 114 is provided with the second engagement portion 117, the lock member 115, and the like, so that such problems can be avoided.

2. Bread raw material storage container of the second embodiment A bread raw material storage container 210 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 15A and 15B are schematic perspective views showing the configuration of the bread ingredient storage container according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15A is a view mainly showing the front side, and FIG. 15B is a view showing mainly the back side. FIG. 16: is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the bread raw material storage container of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 17 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the container lid of the bread ingredient storage container of the second embodiment is opened. FIG. 18 is a schematic side view for explaining the opening angle of the container lid of the bread ingredient storage container according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 15A, 15B and 16, for example, the bread ingredient storage container 210 provided in the automatic bread maker 1 is roughly provided with a container main body 211 and a container main body 211 so as to be rotatable. A container lid 212 that opens and closes an opening 211a of 211.

The container main body 211 is a box-shaped member whose cross-sectional shape is substantially rectangular as shown in FIG. The container body 211 is made of a metal such as aluminum or iron, which is hard to be charged with static electricity so that powder bread materials (for example, gluten and dry yeast) can be prevented from adhering to the container body 211. Further, in order to suppress the powder bread raw material from adhering in the container as much as possible, the inner surface of the container body 211 is covered with a silicon-based or fluorine-based coating layer CL. In addition, it is preferable that protrusions (unevenness) such as rivets and screws are not formed on the inner surface of the container body 211, and the inner surface of the container body 211 is a smooth surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the container main body 211 is formed with a flange portion (flange portion) 211b protruding outward from the side edge of the opening 111a. The flange portion 211b is formed on the entire circumference of the container body 211. For example, a silicon packing 213 is fixed to the flange 211b. The silicon packing 213 is an embodiment of the sealing member of the present invention.

The appearance of the packing 213 has a substantially frame shape, and the packing 213 is fixed to the entire circumference of the flange 211b. More specifically, the packing 213 protrudes from a substantially U-shaped section 213a attached so as to sandwich the flange portion 211b from above and below, and protrudes from the approximately U-shaped section (projecting upward in FIG. 16). And a thin elastic portion 213b that is folded back so that the tip side is directed in the direction opposite to the direction toward the opening 211a.

If the packing 213 protrudes from the opening 211a of the container main body 211, the bread raw material stored in the container main body 211 is easily caught by the packing 213, which causes the bread raw material to remain in the container. In order to avoid such a situation, in this embodiment, the packing 213 is attached to the container body 211 so as not to protrude into the opening 211a. Further, if the packing 213 is fixed to the container lid 212 side, when the bread ingredients are put into the bread container 80 from the bread ingredient storage container 210, the bread ingredients are easily caught on the packing 213, and the amount of the bread ingredients to be charged is inappropriate. Therefore, the packing 210 is fixed to the container body 211 side.

The packing 213 is fixed to the container body 211 (the flange 211b) by a container cover 214 attached to the container body 211 so as to sandwich the substantially U-shaped portion 213a. That is, the container cover 214 functions as a fixing member that fixes the packing 113 to the container body 211. Specifically, the container cover 214 is composed of two parts. The two parts are arranged so as to sandwich the flange 211b together with the packing 213, and then screwed, whereby the packing 213 is fixed by the container cover 214. The container cover member 214 is not particularly limited, and is formed of, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin in which a glass filler is dispersed.

The container lid 212 is made of a substantially rectangular metal plate having a slightly larger area than the opening 211a of the container body 211. The container lid 212 is formed of a metal such as aluminum for the same reason as the container main body 211 (suppression of adhesion of the powder bread raw material). Further, for the same reason as in the case of the container main body 211, the inner surface thereof (which is an expression assuming that the container lid 212 is closed) is covered with a silicon-based coating layer CL.

As shown in FIG. 15B, the container lid 212 is provided with attachment portions 212a having engagement holes at both end portions on the back side (corresponding to one end side of the present invention). The attachment portion 212a is formed by bending a part of the container lid 212. A support shaft 215 (provided at both end portions on the back side) fixed to the container main body 211 is fitted into the engagement hole of the attachment portion 212a. As a result, the container lid 212 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 215 whose rear side (one end side) is fixed to the container body 211, and the front side (the other end side facing the one end side) is opened. It is designed to rotate in a direction in which it comes into contact with or separates from the portion 211a.

On the back side of the container lid 212, a part of the end of the container lid 212 is bent away from the opening 211a (bent approximately 90 ° in the present embodiment) to form a bent portion 212b. ing. The bent portion 212b may not be formed, but is provided to prevent the end surface of the container lid 212 from being caught by the packing 213 or damaging the packing 213 when the container lid 212 is opened. Is preferred.

A projection portion 216 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view and projecting obliquely upward (external direction) is provided at a substantially central portion of the bent portion 212b of the container lid 212. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 216 is formed integrally with the container lid 212, but not limited to this, the container lid 212 and the protrusion 216 may be separate members.

The protruding portion 216 has a protruding position from the container lid 212 at a position on the outer peripheral side (a position on the right side of the supporting shaft 215 in FIG. 17) with respect to the supporting shaft 215 (the rotation center of the container lid 212). Is provided. For this reason, the container lid 212 can be easily rotated and opened by pressing the front surface 216a (see FIG. 15B) of the protrusion 216. That is, the protrusion 216 has a function of assisting an operation (by the user) to open the container lid 212. Of course, the size and shape of the protrusion 217 may be changed as appropriate.

Further, the protrusion 216 is provided so as to exhibit the following stopper function. When the automatic bread maker 1 is used, the bread ingredient storage container 210 is in a posture as shown in FIG. That is, the bread raw material storage container 210 is used in a posture in which the container lid 212 is below the container body 211. For this reason, when the container lid 212 changes from the closed state to the opened state (the state shown in FIG. 17), the container lid 212 rotates about the support shaft 215 by its own weight. When the container lid 212 is opened, if the opening angle becomes too large, there is a problem in that the amount of bread ingredients that spill outside the bread container 80 is not charged. In order to prevent this problem, the protruding portion 216 is not opened (rotated) beyond a certain angle (in this embodiment, 95 ° with respect to the opening surface of the container body 211), and the protrusion 216 is formed in the container body 211 (details). Is configured to collide with a part of the container cover 214. That is, the protrusion 216 functions as a stopper that regulates the opening angle (amount) of the container lid 212.

By the way, if the opening angle of the container lid 212 becomes too small due to the restriction by the protruding portion 216, there are the following problems. As shown in FIG. 18, when bread ingredients are stored in the bread ingredient storage container 210, it is assumed that the bread ingredient storage container 210 is placed on the table 2 in such a posture that the container body 211 is at the bottom and the container lid 212 is at the top. Is done. If the opening angle of the container lid 112 becomes too small due to the restriction of the opening angle by the protrusion 216, the container lid 212 closes and the bread raw material is put into the container body 211 unless the user holds the container lid 212 by hand. Can not be.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, as described above, the restriction on the opening amount of the container lid 212 by the protrusion 216 is adjusted so that the maximum value of the opening angle of the container lid 212 is 95 ° which is larger than 90 °. ing. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 18, the open state can be maintained without supporting the container lid 212 by hand. That is, it becomes easy to put the bread ingredients into the container body 211.

It should be noted that the limit value of the opening angle is an example, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made. In short, the configuration of the protrusions 216 is adjusted so that the amount of bread spilled out of the bread container 80 is reduced as much as possible and the workability when the bread ingredients are put into the bread raw material storage container 210 is ensured. That's fine. Moreover, the structure which maintains the open state without supporting the container lid 212 is also possible, for example, by making the bottom surface of the container body 211 (assuming the case where it is arranged as shown in FIG. 18) an inclined structure. By adopting such a configuration, the opening amount of the container lid 112 may be adjusted.

The projection 216 is covered with an elastic cover member 217 formed using, for example, silicon. The cover member 217 may not be provided, but is preferably provided to protect the user's finger and the like. Further, as described above, the protruding portion 216 collides with the container main body 211 (more specifically, a part of the container cover 214) to regulate the opening amount of the container lid 212. By providing the elastic cover member 217 on the protrusion 216, the impact at the time of the collision can be reduced (the collision sound can be suppressed). Also from this point, it is preferable that a cover member 217 is provided on the protrusion 216.

Note that the cover member 217 may be configured as a hollow member having one end opened so as to simply cover the protrusion 216. However, in this embodiment, it has the structure which has the engagement protrusion 217a fitted in the engagement hole provided in the protrusion part 216 so that the cover member 217 may not remove easily (refer FIG. 15B). Then, the engagement protrusion 217a fitted in the engagement hole provided in the protrusion 216 is for the container attached to the container body 211 when the container lid 212 is opened at a certain angle (95 ° in this embodiment). The cover 214 is in contact with a part of the cover 214.

A movable lock member 218 is attached to the container cover 214 on the front side of the bread ingredient storage container 210. The lock member 218 has a mounting portion 218a having a mounting surface (see FIGS. 17 and 18) that is substantially L-shaped in side view, and projects from the mounting portion 218a toward the opening 211a of the container body 211. The hook portion 218b is provided so that the container lid 212 can be pressed from the outer surface side, and the arm portion 218c extends from the placement portion 218a in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container body 211.

The arm portion 218c is pivotally supported by the container cover 214 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis C1 (see FIG. 15A) substantially parallel to the depth direction of the container body 211. The arm portion 218c is biased at one end side by a biasing member (not shown), and the placing portion 218a and the hook portion 218b provided on the other end side of the arm portion 218c are subjected to the biasing force by the container body 211. Is directed toward the opening 211a.

The hook portion 218b is provided in a substantially triangular shape in sectional view. For this reason, when a downward force is applied with the container lid 212 placed on the hook portion 218b (an expression based on the postures of FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 18), the urging force is applied to urge the arm portion 218c. A force against the biasing force of the member is generated. Therefore, when the container lid 212 is placed on the hook portion 218b and a downward force is applied, the arm portion 218c is rotated by a force against the urging force of the urging member when the container lid 212 is placed on the hook portion 218b. The hook part 218b moves away from the container lid 212. When the container lid 212 is not placed on the hook portion 218b, the hook portion 218b moves to the container lid 212 side because the arm portion 218c is rotated by the biasing force of the biasing member, and the container lid 212 is moved to the outer surface. It reaches the position to be pressed from the side (corresponding to the first position of the present invention). Thereby, the locked state (state in which the closed state of the container lid 212 is maintained) is obtained.

In the locked state, as shown in FIG. 16, the outer peripheral side of the inner surface of the container lid 212 is in contact with the elastic portion 213b of the packing 213 and overlaps with the flange portion 211b, so that the opening 211a is completely covered. In this locked state, since the gap between the flange portion 211 b and the container lid 212 is sealed by the packing 213, it is difficult for moisture, dust, or the like to enter the container main body 211 from the outside.

When the locked state is released and the opening 211a of the container body 211 is opened, the arm 218c rotates outside (rotates about the rotation axis C1) against the urging force. Giving power from. And what is necessary is just to make it move to the position (it corresponds to the 2nd position of this invention) where the hook part 218b does not hold down the container lid 212 from the outer surface side. Thereby, the container lid 212 is rotated by gravity (expression based on the state shown in FIG. 17), and a state where the opening 211a is opened (open state) is obtained.

As described above, in the automatic bread maker 1 of the present embodiment, an automatic charging solenoid (not shown) is provided in the main body 10 on the lower side of the operation unit 20 (see FIG. 1). And also in the bread raw material storage container 210 of 2nd Embodiment, the state which the container lid | cover 212 opened using this automatic charging solenoid is obtained like the case of the bread raw material storage container 110 of 1st Embodiment.

When the user opens the container lid 212 of the bread ingredient storage container 210, the user places a finger (for example, the left thumb) on the placement surface of the placement portion 218a and applies outward force (leftward in FIG. 18). Add Thereby, the arm part 218c of the lock member 218 is rotated, and the hook part 218b moves to a position (second position) where the outer surface of the container lid 212 is not pressed. In this state, the container lid 212 is opened by pressing the protrusion 216 outward with a finger (for example, the right thumb) (rightward in FIG. 18). That is, the user can easily open the container lid 212 by providing the mounting portion 218a and the protruding portion 216. As described above, since the placement surface on which the finger is placed is substantially L-shaped in the side view, the placement portion 218a has good finger engagement.

As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the container cover 214 has a first engaging portion 219 provided on the back side so that the bread ingredient storage container 210 can be held by the lid 40 of the automatic bread maker 1. And a second engagement portion 220 provided on the front surface side. The first engagement portion 219 and the second engagement portion 220 constitute an attachment mechanism for attaching the bread ingredient storage container 210 to the lid 40.

The configuration of the first engagement portion 219 having the first engagement inclined surface 219a is the same as the configuration of the first engagement portion 116 provided in the bread ingredient storage container 110 of the first embodiment. In addition, the configuration of the second engaging portion 220 having the housing portion 220a and a mounting hook portion (movable hook portion) 220b partially accommodated in the housing 220a is the same as that of the first embodiment. The configuration is the same as that of the second engaging portion 117 provided in the raw material storage container 110. And the attachment method of the bread raw material storage container 210 to the lid | cover 40 of the automatic bread maker 1 using the attachment mechanism which consists of these is the same as that of the case of the bread raw material storage container 110 of 1st Embodiment. For this reason, description of these details is omitted.

By the way, in the bread ingredient storage container 210 of the second embodiment, the container lid 212 is immediately after the support (pressing) of the container lid 212 by the lock member 218 is released, like the bread ingredient storage container 110 of the first embodiment. Is provided with a minute air passage (minute gap SP). Hereinafter, the minute ventilation path (minute gap) provided in the bread ingredient storage container 210 of the second embodiment will be described.

19A and 19B are schematic views showing the configuration of the container lid provided in the bread ingredient storage container of the second embodiment, FIG. 19A is a plan view when the container lid is viewed from the inner surface side, and FIG. 19B is FIG. It is sectional drawing in the DD position. The inner surface of the container lid 212 is an expression when assuming a state (closed state) in which the opening 211a is closed by the container lid 212 (the same applies hereinafter).

As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the inner surface IS of the container lid 212 is formed with a concave portion CP extending inwardly from the outer periphery at a substantially central portion on the back side (one end side pivotally supported). Has been. The concave portion CP has an inclined structure in which the depth gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side to the inner side of the container lid 212 (the left direction in FIG. 19B corresponds). Such a concave portion CP is obtained, for example, by pressing near the bending position of the bent portion 212b provided in the container lid 212. Since the concave portion CP is provided on the inner surface IS of the container lid 212, a convex portion PP (see FIG. 15A) is formed on the outer surface OS of the container lid 212.

20A and 20B are schematic views for explaining the relationship between the container lid and the packing in the bread raw material storage container of the second embodiment, and FIG. 20A is a partial cross-sectional view at a position where a recess is provided. 20B is a partial cross-sectional view at a position where there is no recess. 20A and 20B assume a case where the container lid 212 of the bread ingredient storage container 210 is in a closed state.

As described above, the packing 213 is provided to seal between the container main body 211 and the container lid 212, and in a position where the recess CP is not provided, as shown in FIG. 20B, the elastic portion of the packing 213 is provided. 213b is in contact with the inner surface IS of the container lid 212. On the other hand, at the position where the concave portion CP is provided, as shown in FIG. 20A, the elastic portion 213b of the packing 213 does not contact the inner surface IS of the container lid 213, and a minute gap SP is provided. .

The minute gap SP functions as a minute ventilation path that communicates the inside and outside of the bread ingredient storage container 210. For this reason, the sealing degree in the container in a state where the container lid 212 closes the opening 211a of the container main body 211 is lower than that in the case where the minute ventilation path is not provided. As a result, when the support of the container lid 212 by the lock member 215 is released, the container lid 212 rotates smoothly (immediately).

The packing 213 is provided in order to prevent moisture and the like from entering the container main body 211. In order not to impair the significance of providing the packing 213, the concave portion CP provided on the inner surface IS of the container lid 212 is made as small as possible, and the size of the minute gap SP that communicates the inside and outside of the bread ingredient storage container 210 is also made as small as possible. It is preferable to do this. Further, the concave portion CP may be provided so as to obtain a minute gap SP between the container lid 212 and the packing 213, and the position and shape of the concave portion CP may be appropriately changed.

Further, it is preferable that the concave portion CP provided on the inner surface IS of the container lid 212 is configured with attention to the following points. FIG. 21A is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the container lid of the bread ingredient storage container according to the second embodiment is rotated by approximately 90 ° from the closed state. FIG. 21B is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the container lid of the bread ingredient storage container according to the modification of the second embodiment is rotated by approximately 90 ° from the closed state. In FIG. 21B, the container lid in the closed state is indicated by a broken line.

The concave portion CP provided on the inner surface IS of the container lid 212 is not an inclined structure (configuration of the second embodiment) in which the depth gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side to the inner side of the container lid 212, for example, as shown in FIG. 21B. Moreover, a structure in which the depth is substantially constant from the outer peripheral side toward the inner side may be used. However, when the container lid 212 is changed from the closed state to the open state, the bread raw material M stored in the bread raw material storage container 210 remains in the concave portion CP of the container lid 212 in the configuration shown in FIG. Is more likely to do. On the other hand, in the case of the configuration of the second embodiment, due to the inclined structure of the concave portion CP, as shown in FIG. 21A, the bread raw material M in the concave portion CP is easily slipped down with the container lid 212 opened. The possibility of remaining in the inside becomes low. Therefore, the concave portion CP provided on the inner surface IS of the container lid 212 preferably has an inclined structure in which the depth gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side of the container lid 212 toward the inner side, as in the configuration of the second embodiment. .

(Operation of automatic bread machine)
Next, the bread is made by the automatic bread maker 1 having the bread raw material storage container 110 (or the bread raw material storage container 210; hereinafter, the same replacement may be performed unless otherwise specified) configured as described above. The operation of the automatic bread maker 1 when manufacturing the bread will be described. Here, the operation of the automatic bread maker 1 will be described using the automatic bread maker 1 as an example in the case of producing bread using rice grains as a starting material.

When the rice grain is used as a starting material, a bread-making course for rice grain is executed. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of the bread making course for rice grains executed by the automatic bread maker 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, in the bread making course for rice grains, the dipping process, the pulverizing process, the kneading (kneading) process, the fermentation process, and the baking process are sequentially performed in this order.

In starting the bread making course for rice grains, the user attaches the blade unit 90 to the blade rotation shaft 82 by covering the blade rotation shaft 82 of the bread container 80 with the unit shaft 91. Then, the user weighs rice grains, water, and seasonings (eg, salt, sugar, shortening, etc.) by a predetermined amount and puts them into the bread container 80.

Also, the user weighs the bread ingredients that are automatically input during the bread manufacturing process and puts them in the container body 111 of the bread ingredient storage container 110. When the bread raw material to be stored is stored in the container main body 111, the user obtains the locked state by the lock member 115 with the container lid 112 closing the opening 111 a of the container main body 111.

In addition, as a bread raw material accommodated in the bread raw material storage container 110, gluten and dry yeast are mentioned, for example. However, instead of gluten, for example, at least one of flour, thickener (eg, guar gum), and fresh powder may be stored in the bread raw material storage container 110. Further, for example, only dry yeast may be stored in the bread raw material storage container 110 without using gluten, wheat flour, thickener, super fresh powder or the like. Further, in some cases, seasonings such as salt, sugar, and shortening may be stored in the bread ingredient storage container 110 together with, for example, gluten and dry yeast so that they are automatically added during the bread manufacturing process. Good. In this case, the bread raw material previously put into the bread container 80 is rice grains and water (in place of mere water, for example, a liquid having a taste component such as soup stock, a liquid containing fruit juice or alcohol, etc.) Become.

Thereafter, the user puts the bread container 80 into the baking chamber 30 and further fits the bread material storage container 110 into the holding portion 45 of the lid 40. Then, the user closes the lid 40, selects the rice grain breadmaking course using the operation unit 20, and presses the start key. Thereby, the bread-making course for rice grain which manufactures bread using the rice grain as a starting material by the control apparatus 130 is started.

When the bread making course for rice grains is started, the dipping process is started by a command from the control device 130. In the dipping process, the bread raw material charged in advance into the bread container 80 is left in a stationary state, and this stationary state is maintained for a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 50 minutes). This dipping process is a process aimed at making the rice grains easy to be pulverized to the core in the subsequent pulverization process by adding water to the rice grains.

In addition, the water absorption speed of rice grains varies depending on the temperature of the water. If the water temperature is high, the water absorption speed increases, and if the water temperature is low, the water absorption speed decreases. For this reason, you may make it fluctuate the time of an immersion process with the environmental temperature etc. in which the automatic bread maker 1 is used, for example. Thereby, the dispersion | variation in the water absorption degree of a rice grain can be suppressed. Moreover, you may make it raise the temperature of the baking chamber 30 by supplying with electricity to the sheathed heater 31 at the time of an immersion process so that immersion time may become short.

Further, in the dipping process, the pulverizing blade 92 may be rotated at the initial stage, and thereafter, the pulverizing blade 92 may be intermittently rotated. If it does in this way, the surface of a rice grain can be damaged, and the liquid absorption efficiency of a rice grain will be improved.

When the predetermined time elapses, the dipping process is terminated by a command from the control device 130, and the crushing process for crushing the rice grains is started. In this pulverization step, the pulverization blade 92 is rotated at high speed in a mixture containing rice grains and water. Specifically, the control device 130 controls the crushing motor 60 to rotate the blade rotation shaft 82 in the reverse direction, thereby causing the crushing blade 92 to rotate at a high speed in a mixture containing rice grains and water.

When rotating the grinding blade 92 using the grinding motor 60, the control device 130 drives the clutch solenoid 73 so that the clutch 56 shuts off the power (the state shown in FIG. 3A). This is because, as described above, there is a possibility that the motor is damaged unless it is controlled in this way.

When the blade rotation shaft 82 is rotated in the reverse direction to rotate the grinding blade 92, the dome-shaped cover 93 also starts to rotate following the rotation of the blade rotation shaft 82. The rotation of the cover 93 is immediately prevented. The rotation direction of the dome-shaped cover 93 accompanying the rotation of the blade rotation shaft 82 for rotating the crushing blade 92 is counterclockwise in FIGS. 9A and 9B. If the kneading blade 101 has been in the folded position (position shown in FIG. 9A), the kneading blade 101 turns to the open position (position shown in FIG. 9B) due to the resistance received from the mixture containing rice grains and water. When the kneading blade 101 is in the open position, the cover clutch 103 causes the engagement portion 103bb of the second engagement body 103b to deviate from the rotation track of the engagement portion 103ab of the first engagement body 103a (see the broken line in FIG. 8B). In addition, the connection between the blade rotation shaft 82 and the dome-shaped cover 93 is disconnected. Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the kneading blade 101 in the open position abuts against the inner wall of the bread container 80, so that the rotation of the dome-shaped cover 93 is prevented.

The pulverization of the rice grains in the pulverization step is performed in a state in which water is soaked in the rice grains by the previously performed immersion step, so that the rice grains can be easily pulverized to the core. In the present embodiment, the rotation of the pulverizing blade 92 in the pulverization step is intermittent. This intermittent rotation is performed, for example, in a cycle of rotating for 30 seconds and stopping for 5 minutes, and this cycle is repeated 10 times. In the last cycle, the stop for 5 minutes is not performed. The rotation of the crushing blade 92 may be continuous rotation, but for the purpose of, for example, preventing the temperature of the raw material in the bread container 80 from becoming too high, it is preferable to perform intermittent rotation.

In the pulverization process, since the pulverization is performed in the dome-shaped cover 93, there is a low possibility that the rice grains are scattered outside the bread container 80. Further, the rice grains entering the dome-shaped cover 93 from the opening 106d of the guard 106 in the rotation stopped state are sheared between the stationary spoke 106c and the rotating pulverizing blade 92, so that they can be efficiently pulverized. Also, the rib 93e provided on the dome-shaped cover 93 suppresses the flow of the mixture containing the rice grains and water (the flow in the same direction as the rotation of the grinding blade 92), so that the rice grains can be efficiently crushed. .

Further, the mixture containing the pulverized rice grains and water is guided in the direction of the window 93d by the ribs 93e, and discharged from the window 93d to the outside of the dome-shaped cover 93. Since the rib 93e is curved so that the side facing the mixture pressing toward it is convex, the mixture hardly stays on the surface of the rib 93e and flows smoothly toward the window 93d. Further, instead of the mixture being discharged from the inside of the dome-shaped cover 93, the mixture existing in the space above the concave portion 81 enters the concave portion 81 and passes through the opening portion 106d of the guard 106 from the concave portion 81. Enter the cover 93. Since the pulverization by the pulverization blade 92 is performed while being circulated as described above, efficient pulverization can be realized.

In the automatic bread maker 1, the crushing process is completed in a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 50 minutes). However, the grain size of the pulverized powder may vary depending on the hardness of the rice grains and the environmental conditions. For this reason, as a configuration of the automatic bread maker 1, a configuration in which the end of the crushing process is determined based on the magnitude of the load of the crushing motor 60 at the time of crushing (for example, the control current of the motor can be determined) It doesn't matter. Further, due to the effect of providing the packing 113, the water vapor generated in this crushing process is difficult to enter the container of the bread ingredient storage container 110.

When the pulverization process is completed, the kneading process is started by a command from the control device 130. In addition, this kneading process needs to be performed at a temperature (for example, around 30 ° C.) at which the yeast actively works. For this reason, you may make it a kneading process start when it becomes a predetermined temperature range.

At the start of the kneading process, the control device 130 drives the clutch solenoid 73 so that the clutch 56 transmits power (state shown in FIG. 3B). Then, the control device 130 controls the kneading motor 50 to rotate the blade rotation shaft 82 in the forward direction. When the blade rotation shaft 82 is rotated in the forward direction, the grinding blade 92 is also rotated in the forward direction, and the bread ingredients around the grinding blade 92 flow in the forward direction. Accordingly, when the dome-shaped cover 93 moves in the forward direction (clockwise in FIGS. 9A and 9B), the kneading blade 101 receives resistance from the non-flowing bread ingredients and folds from the open position (see FIG. 9B). The angle is changed to the posture (see FIG. 9A). Thereby, the engaging portion 103bb of the second engaging body 103b has an angle that interferes with the rotation trajectory (see the broken line in FIG. 8A) of the engaging portion 103ab of the first engaging body 103a. Then, the cover clutch 103 connects the blade rotation shaft 82 and the dome-shaped cover 93, and the dome-shaped cover 93 enters a state of being driven in earnest by the blade rotation shaft 82. The dome-shaped cover 93 and the kneading blade 101 in the folded position rotate together with the blade rotation shaft 82 in the forward direction.

In order to surely connect the cover clutch 103 described above, the rotation of the blade rotation shaft 82 at the initial stage of the kneading process is preferably intermittent rotation or low speed rotation. Further, as described above, when the kneading blade 101 is in the folded position, the complementary kneading blade 102 is arranged on the extension of the kneading blade 101, so that the kneading blade 101 is enlarged and the bread raw material is pressed strongly. It is. For this reason, the dough can be kneaded firmly.

The rotation of the kneading blade 101 is very slow at the initial stage of the kneading process, and is controlled by the control device 130 so that the speed is increased stepwise. In the initial stage of the kneading process in which the kneading blade 101 rotates very slowly, the control device 130 drives the automatic charging solenoid 16 to rotate the arm portion 115b of the lock member 115 of the bread ingredient storage container 110. As a result, the state in which the locking hook portion 115a supports the container lid 112 is released, and the container lid 112 is rotated by gravity. That is, the opening 111a of the container body 111 is opened, and for example, bread ingredients such as gluten and dry-ice are automatically charged into the bread container 80.

When the state in which the container lid 112 is supported by the locking hook portion 115a is released due to the effect of providing the rib 113c on a part of the packing 113 (the effect of obtaining the minute air passage (minute gap SP)), The container lid 112 starts to rotate immediately.

As described above, since the bread raw material storage container 110 is devised so that the bread raw material does not easily remain inside, the bread raw material storage container 110 can be completely charged without any bread raw material remaining. When the lid 40 is closed, the viewing window 41 is on the front side, and the bread ingredient storage container 110 is on the rear side. The container lid 112 of the bread ingredient storage container 110 faces the rear side. And the plate-like surface becomes substantially parallel to the vertical direction (state shown in FIG. 14). For this reason, even after the automatic feeding using the bread raw material storage container 110 is performed, it is not difficult to observe the state in the bread container 80 using the observation window 41.

In the present embodiment, the bread ingredients stored in the bread ingredient storage container 110 are charged while the kneading blade 101 is rotating. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may make it throw in in the stop state. However, as in this embodiment, it is preferable to add the bread ingredients while the kneading blade 101 is rotated because the bread ingredients can be uniformly dispersed.

After the bread ingredients stored in the bread ingredient storage container 110 are put into the bread container 80, the dough (dough connected to the dough (dough) having the predetermined elasticity is obtained by the rotation of the kneading blade 101 and the complementary kneading blade 102. ) When the kneading blade 101 and the complementary kneading blade 102 shake the dough and knock it against the inner wall of the bread container 80, an element of “kneading” is added to the kneading. The dome-shaped cover 93 is also rotated by the rotation of the kneading blade 101 and the complementary kneading blade 102. When the dome-shaped cover 93 rotates, the rib 93e formed on the dome-shaped cover 93 also rotates, so that the bread material in the dome-shaped cover 93 is quickly discharged from the window 93d. The discharged bread ingredients are assimilated into a lump (dough) of bread ingredients kneaded by the kneading blade 101 and the complementary kneading blade 102.

In the kneading process, the guard 106 also rotates in the forward direction together with the dome-shaped cover 93. The spoke 106c of the guard 106 has a shape in which the center side of the guard 106 precedes and the outer peripheral side of the guard 106 follows when rotating in the forward direction. For this purpose, the guard 106 rotates in the forward direction to push the bread ingredients inside and outside the dome-shaped cover 93 outward with the spokes 106c. Thereby, the ratio of the raw material used as a waste after baking bread can be reduced.

Also, the pillar 106e of the guard 106 has a side surface 106eb (see FIG. 6) that is the front surface in the rotation direction when the guard 106 rotates in the forward direction and is inclined upward. For this reason, at the time of kneading | mixing, the bread raw material around the dome-shaped cover 93 is flipped up on the front surface of the column 106e. As a result, it is possible to reduce the ratio of raw materials that are discarded after baking bread.

In the automatic bread maker 1, the kneading process is configured to employ a predetermined time (10 minutes in the present embodiment) obtained experimentally as a time for obtaining bread dough having a desired elasticity. However, if the time of the kneading process is constant, the degree of bread dough may vary depending on the environmental temperature or the like. For this reason, for example, a configuration in which the end point of the kneading process is determined based on the magnitude of the load of the kneading motor 50 (for example, it can be determined by the control current of the motor) may be used.

In addition, when baking bread containing ingredients (for example, raisins, nuts, cheese, etc.), the ingredients may be introduced during the kneading process.

When the kneading process is completed, the fermentation process is started by a command from the control device 130. In this fermentation process, the control device 130 controls the sheathed heater 31 to maintain the temperature of the baking chamber 30 at a temperature at which fermentation proceeds (for example, 38 ° C.). Then, under the environment where fermentation proceeds, the bread dough is left for a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 60 minutes).

In some cases, in the middle of this fermentation process, the kneading blade 101 and the complementary kneading blade 102 may be rotated to perform degassing or dough rounding.

When the fermentation process is completed, the firing process is started by a command from the control device 130. The control device 130 controls the sheathed heater 31 to raise the temperature of the baking chamber 30 to a temperature suitable for baking (for example, 125 ° C.). Then, the control device 130 performs control so that the bread is baked for a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 50 minutes) in the baking environment. The end of the firing step is notified to the user by, for example, a display on the liquid crystal display panel of the operation unit 20 or a notification sound. When the user detects the completion of bread making, the user opens the lid 40 and takes out the bread container 80 to complete the bread production.

(Other)
The embodiment described above is an exemplification of the present invention, and the configuration of the automatic bread maker to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the embodiment described above.

For example, in the above, in order to reduce the sealing degree in the bread raw material storage container (in order to obtain the minute gap SP), the configuration in which the rib 113c is provided in the packing 113 (configuration in the first embodiment), or the container lid 212 The concave portion CP is formed on the inner surface IS (configuration of the second embodiment). However, the configuration for obtaining the minute gap SP is not limited to these.

That is, when ribs (projections) are provided to obtain the minute gap SP as in the former case, the packing 113 is not provided with ribs, and the packing is formed on a part of the inner surface of the container lid 112 (for example, the upper surface in FIG. 12). It is also possible to provide a rib (protruding portion) that abuts against the elastic portion 113b of 113. The above description is based on the premise that the container lid 112 is in a state where the opening 111a of the container body 111 is closed. The rib provided on the container lid 112 may be provided integrally with the container lid 112, or may be configured to be affixed to the container lid 112 as a separate body from the container lid 112. The shape and installation position of the rib provided on the container lid 112 can be changed as appropriate. However, similarly to the case where the rib 113c is provided on the packing 113, the shape may be, for example, a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and the installation position may be, for example, the substantially central portion on the back side. The rib provided on the container lid 112 may be plural, but one is preferable. In addition, the size is preferably as small as possible within the range in which the purpose of providing the rib described above (the container lid 112 can be smoothly rotated when the support of the container lid 112 by the lock member 115 is released) can be achieved. . In some cases, ribs may be provided on both the packing 113 and the container lid 112.

Further, when the concave portion is provided to obtain the minute gap SP as in the latter case, for example, the concave portion may be provided on the packing 213 side instead of the container lid 212 to obtain the minute gap SP. A concave portion may be provided on both sides 213 to obtain the minute gap SP.

In addition, the minute gap SP described above causes the container lid 112 (or the container lid 212) to be immediately applied when the support of the container lid 112 (or the container lid 212) by the lock member 115 (or the lock member 218) is released. It is provided to rotate. In general, such a function is a minute communication between the inside and the outside of the container main body 111 (or 211) when the container lid 112 (or 212) of the bread ingredient storage container 110 (or 210) is closed. It is obtained by providing an air passage. The minute ventilation path is not limited to a minute gap formed between the container lid 112 (or 212) and the packing 113 (or 213), and for example, a ventilation hole (small minute) provided in the container body 111 (or 211). A through-hole) or a minute gap formed between the container body 111 (or 211) and the packing 113 (or 213).

Moreover, in embodiment shown above, it was set as the structure by which the bread raw material storage container 110 (or 210) was attached to the lid | cover 40 of the automatic bread maker 1, but depending on the case, the bread raw material storage container 110 (or 210) It may be attached to the main body 10.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the protrusion 216 provided on the container lid 212 of the bread ingredient storage container 210 is configured to be provided on the outer peripheral side of the container lid 212. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration, and the protruding portion 216 may be provided near the center of the container lid 212, for example. In this case, the container lid 212 can be easily opened by pulling the protrusion 216, which is convenient for the user. In short, as long as the user can assist in opening the container lid 212, the position of the projection provided on the container lid 212 may be changed as appropriate.

In the above, the case where bread is produced by the automatic bread maker 1 using rice grains as a starting material has been shown. However, the automatic bread maker 1 described above may be capable of producing bread even when, for example, wheat flour or rice flour is used as a starting material. And when bread is manufactured using wheat flour or rice flour as a starting material, the bread material storage container 110 (or 210) is used to contain ingredients for producing bread with ingredients such as raisins and nuts. It is also possible to use it. In addition, when bread is produced using wheat flour or rice flour as a starting material, the grinding blade 92 is not necessary, so a bread container different from those shown above (only the kneading blade is attached to the blade rotation shaft). Conventional bread containers) may be used (bread containers may be used differently). The present invention can also be applied to an automatic bread maker that can only produce bread using rice grains as a starting material.

In the embodiment described above, the configuration and operation of the automatic bread maker have been described by taking the case of using rice grains as a starting material. However, the automatic bread maker of the present invention is also applicable when grain grains other than rice grains such as wheat, barley, straw, buckwheat, buckwheat, corn, and soybean are used as starting materials.

In addition, the production flow of the rice grain bread course shown above is an example, and other production flow may be used. As an example, after the pulverization step, the pulverized powder may have a configuration in which the kneading step is performed after the immersion step is performed again in order to absorb water.

In the embodiment shown above, the automatic bread maker 1 uses a separate motor for the case where the grain is pulverized by the pulverizing blade 92 and the case where the kneading blade 102 is rotated to knead the dough. did. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, for example, a configuration in which only one motor is provided, and a configuration in which the same motor is used for pulverizing the grain by the pulverizing blade 92 and rotating the kneading blade 102 to knead the bread dough may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the pulverization blade 92 and the kneading blade 101 are unitized and attached. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these blades may be separately attached to the blade rotation shaft 82. In some cases, the pulverizing blade and the kneading blade may not be separately provided, and only one blade that exhibits the pulverizing function and the kneading function may be provided.

The present invention is suitable for an automatic bread maker for home use.

1 Automatic bread machine 2 units 10 Main body 30 Baking chamber (container)
40 Lid (lid)
80 Bread container 92 Grinding blade (grinding part)
110, 210 Bread raw material storage container 111, 211 Container main body 111a, 211a Opening part 111b Saddle part 112, 212 Container lid 113, 213 Packing (seal member)
113c rib (protruding part)
115, 218 Lock member 212b Bending portion 215 Support shaft 216 Protruding portion 217 Cover member 218a Placement portion CP Recessed portion IS Inner surface of container lid OS Outer surface of container lid SP Small gap (minute air passage)

Claims (17)

A bread raw material storage container for an automatic bread maker, used to automatically feed bread raw materials,
A container body having an opening;
A container lid that is rotatably provided with respect to the container body and opens and closes the opening;
A seal member that seals between the container body and the container lid in a closed state in which the opening is closed by the container lid;
In the closed state, a lock member that can be switched between a first position for pressing the container lid and a second position for not pressing the container lid;
A micro-ventilation passage communicating the inside and the outside of the container body in the closed state;
A bread ingredient storage container. The seal member is fixed to the container body;
The bread raw material storage container according to claim 1, wherein the minute ventilation path is a minute gap formed between the container lid and the seal member in the closed state. The bread ingredient storage container according to claim 2, wherein a recess for obtaining the minute gap is formed on a surface which is inside the container lid in the closed state. The bread ingredient storage container according to claim 3, wherein the recess has an inclined structure in which the depth gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side to the inner side of the container lid. 3. The pan according to claim 2, wherein the minute gap is obtained by forming a protruding portion on at least one of the sealing member and a surface that is an inner side of the container lid in the closed state. Raw material storage container. 2. The bread ingredient storage container according to claim 1, wherein the container lid is provided with a protrusion for assisting a user to open the lid. The container lid is pivoted in a direction in which one end side is pivotally supported by a support shaft fixed to the container main body and the other end side facing the one end side is in contact with or separated from the opening. Provided as
The lock member is fixed to the container body, and is provided on the other end side of the container lid so as to be switchable between the first position and the second position,
The bread raw material storage container according to claim 6, wherein the protruding portion is provided on the one end side of the container lid such that a protruding position from the container lid is positioned on the outer peripheral side of the support shaft. The bread raw material storage container according to claim 7, wherein the protrusion is provided so as to regulate an opening amount of the container lid. When the container body is placed on the table so that the container body is at the bottom and the container lid is at the top, the container lid is held by the protrusion so that the container lid can be maintained without being supported by hand. The bread raw material storage container according to claim 8, wherein the restriction position of the opening amount is adjusted. The bread raw material storage container according to claim 7, wherein the lock member has a placement portion for placing a finger. The bread raw material storage container according to claim 10, wherein the placement surface of the placement part is substantially L-shaped in a side view. On the one end side of the container lid, a bent portion is formed by bending the end portion of the container lid in a direction away from the opening with the closed state as a reference,
The bread raw material storage container according to claim 7, wherein the protrusion protrudes from a tip of the bent portion. The bread ingredient storage container according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein a cover member is covered on the protrusion. An automatic bread maker comprising the bread ingredient storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 12. A crushing unit for crushing cereal grains is provided, and bread can be produced using the cereal grains as starting materials, and the bread raw material storage container is used to store powder bread raw materials to be charged after the cereal grains are crushed by the crushing unit The automatic bread maker according to claim 14, which is used. In the closed state, the bread raw material storage container is configured such that the container lid is rotated by gravity and the opening is opened by switching the lock member at the first position to the second position. The automatic bread maker according to claim 14, wherein the automatic bread maker is provided. A main body having an accommodating portion for accommodating a bread container into which bread ingredients are charged;
A lid that opens and closes the opening of the housing;
With
The automatic bread maker according to claim 16, wherein the bread raw material storage container is detachably attached to the lid portion.

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