JP2003070638A - Pressure rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pressure rice cooker capable of preventing cooked material from boiling-over to improve safety when the cooker reaches abnormal pressure during cooking. SOLUTION: This pressure rice cooker is provided with an inner pot 2 (cooking pot), a body 3 for storing the inner pot 2, an induction heating coil 6 (heating means) for heating the inner pot 2, a lid 8 for closing an opening part of the inner pot 2, a pressure sensor 13 for detecting the pressure in the inner pot 2, and a microcomputer 18 (control means) for controlling the induction heating coil 6. The microcomputer turns off the induction heating coil 6 to suspend pressure rice cooking on determining that the detected pressure in the inner pot 2 exceeds a limit value according to a signal from a pressure sensor 13 in cooking rice.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pressure rice cooker which cooks at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of pressure rice cooker is desired by controlling a heating means of the cooking pot so as to maintain a constant internal pressure of the cooking pot by a pressure sensor to execute a predetermined cooking flow. The food is cooked. For example,
In the porridge menu that cooks ingredients such as porridge, the internal pressure of the cooking pot is lowered, and the internal pressure of the cooking pot when cooking rice is high.

[0003]

However, in the pressure cooker described above, when the user cooks rice such as turkey porridge and the like, if the user accidentally cooks rice in the rice cooked menu instead of the rice porridge menu, the cooked food and steam will spill out violently. ,
Foreign matter such as seven herbs adheres to the steam holes and the relief valve of the pressure cooker. If heating is continued in this state, the pressure inside the pressure cooker rises to about 1.4 to 1.5 atmospheres, the outer lid of the pressure cooker is opened and the cooked food jumps out vigorously, or inside the heat sink. There was a danger that the packing that seals the pan could not stand and steam spouted violently.

When the pressure rice cooker completes or suspends the pressure rice cooker and opens the steam passage of the pressure rice cooker when the pressure in the cooking pot of the pressure rice cooker is equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, the cooked food pops out vigorously or steams. There is a risk that the user may get burned due to squirting. Further, when the atmospheric pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure, there is a problem that the outer lid becomes difficult to open due to the vacuum effect.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pressure rice cooker in which, when an abnormal pressure is reached during cooking, spouting of cooked food is prevented and safety is improved.

Further, there is provided a pressure rice cooker which allows a user to recognize that it is dangerous to approach the pressure rice cooker when the steam passage of the pressure rice cooker is opened after completion of the pressure rice cooker or interruption of the pressure rice cooker. This is an issue.

[0007]

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides a cooking pot, a main body for accommodating the cooking pan, a heating means for heating the cooking pan, and an opening / closing mechanism for the main body. A pressure cooker comprising a lid body that is attached so as to close the opening of the cooking pot, a pressure sensor that detects the pressure in the cooking pot, and a control unit that controls the heating unit, wherein the control unit When the pressure cooked rice is judged that the detected pressure in the cooking pot exceeds the limit value based on the signal from the pressure sensor, the heating means is turned off to interrupt the pressure cooked rice.

In the above invention, since the heating means is turned off when the pressure detected in the cooking pot exceeds the limit value during pressure cooking, the pressure value in the cooking pot does not rise above the limit value. It is possible to prevent the cooked food or steam from spouting outside the pressure cooker.

A notifying means for notifying the user that the detected pressure is abnormal is provided, and the control means causes the detected pressure in the cooking pot to reach a limit value based on the signal from the pressure sensor during pressure cooking. When it is determined that the pressure has exceeded the limit, it is preferable that the notification means notify that the pressure in the cooking pot is higher than the atmospheric pressure, and call attention to the user.

After the pressure cooking is interrupted, the control means preferably terminates the pressure cooking when it judges that the detected pressure has dropped to atmospheric pressure based on the signal from the pressure sensor.

After the pressure cooking is interrupted, the control means controls the energizing amount to the heating means based on the signal from the pressure sensor so that the detected pressure is within a predetermined range, and the pressure cooking is continued. You may.

When the control means determines that the detected pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure based on the signal from the pressure sensor when the pressure cooking is completed or when the pressure cooking is interrupted, the informing means indicates the internal pressure of the cooking pot. By notifying that the pressure is high with respect to the atmospheric pressure, the user can avoid the risk of burns due to the food in the cooking pot of the pressure rice cooker jumping out vigorously or steam spouting out.

It is preferable that the notifying means gives a voice notification.

The notifying means may display a liquid crystal display to notify the user that the detected pressure is abnormal.

When the control means determines that the detected pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure when the pressure cooked rice is completed or when the pressure cooked rice is interrupted, it is preferable to open the steam passage of the lid body after a predetermined time has elapsed.

The pressure cooker may be provided with voice switching means for switching the voice of the voice notifying means. This allows the user to select a voice according to his or her preference.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a pressure rice cooker 1 according to the present invention. The pressure cooker 1 includes an inner pot 2 which is a cooking pot, a main body 3, an induction heating coil 6 which is a heating unit, an inner pot temperature sensor 7, a lid body 8, a lid body temperature sensor 12, and a pressure sensor 1.
3, pressure regulator 14, and microcomputer 18 as a control means
Consists of.

The inner pot 2 is a ferromagnetic material which is electromagnetically heated on the outer surface of a pot base material made of aluminum or the like having a high thermal conductivity by an eddy current generated when a high frequency current is applied to an induction heating coil 6 which will be described later. Are coated or bonded.

The main body 3 is provided with a protective frame 5 made of a non-conductive material for accommodating the inner pot 2 inside a body 4 having a bottomed cylindrical shape. An induction heating coil 6, an inner pot temperature sensor 7 and a microcomputer 18 are arranged between the body 4 and the protective frame 5.

The induction heating coil 6 is disposed on the lower surface of the protection frame 5 and is adapted to electromagnetically heat the inner pot 2 by applying a high frequency current.

The inner pan temperature sensor 7 detects the temperature of the inner pan 2 and is arranged at the bottom of the protective frame 5, and the detection part at the tip thereof is passed through a through hole provided in the protective frame 5. The temperature of the inner pot 2 is output to the microcomputer 18 by bringing it into contact with the outer surface of the inner pot 2.

The lid 8 closes the openings of the inner pot 2 and the main body 3 in an openable manner, and a radiator plate 9, a lid heater 10 and an inner lid 11 are arranged on the inner pot 2 side. . Inside the lid body 8, a lid body temperature sensor 12, which will be described later,
A pressure sensor 13 and a pressure regulator 14 (pressure mechanism) are arranged.

The lid temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature in the inner pot 2 and outputs the detected temperature to the microcomputer 18.

The pressure sensor 13 detects the pressure in the inner pot 2 and outputs the detected pressure to the microcomputer 18, and its detecting portion is arranged so as to face the inside of the inner pot 2. There is.

The pressure regulator 14 is a steam passage 15 having an opening 15a communicating with the inner pot 2, a pressure regulating ball 16 arranged above the opening 15a, and a driving means for the pressure regulating ball 16. It is composed of a solenoid 17. Before rice cooking, initial rice cooking, and after rice cooking is completed, the pressure regulator 14 presses the pressure regulating ball 16 by the plunger of the solenoid 17 and retracts it from the opening 15a so that the inside of the inner pot 2 and the outside of the lid 8 are separated from each other. It is in a state (off state) in which they are communicated with each other via the steam passage 15. Also, when pressure cooked rice, the opening 1
By closing the 5a by the weight of the ball, while the pressure introduced to increase the internal pressure of the inner pot 2, the internal pressure of the inner pot 2 is, for example, exceeds 0.15 kg / cm ^2, the vapor of the inner pot in the 2 The pressure-adjusting ball 16 is lifted to be discharged to the outside (on state).

The microcomputer 18 preheats, cooks rice (medium pappa and pressure control) according to a stored program,
In addition to carrying out the rice cooking operation by sequentially performing the steps of unevenness and heat retention, the temperature sensors 7 and 12 and the pressure sensor 13 are also provided.
The induction heating coil 6 and the pressure regulator 14 are controlled in the same manner as in the conventional case in accordance with inputs from the like. Further, when the preheating step is shifted to the rice cooking step and pressure control is executed in this rice cooking step, it is detected whether or not the pressure sensor 13 is operating normally, and when it is detected that the pressure sensor 13 is not operating normally, an abnormal state is detected. Is notified to the user.

Next, the rice cooking control by the microcomputer 18 of the pressure rice cooker 1 will be described.

First, the user puts the desired number of cups of rice and the amount of water required to cook the rice into the inner pot 2, sets the inner pot 2 in the main body 3, and then makes a request. The hardness of the cooked rice, the cooking time, etc. are set by operating the switches of the display panel 19 shown in FIG. 2 arranged on the front surface of the main body 3, and the cooked rice switch is pressed.

Then, the microcomputer 18 starts the rice cooking flow. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, first, in step S1, the induction heating coil 6 is energized and the temperature of the inner pot 2 is about 50.degree. Adjust the temperature so that

When a predetermined time has passed, step S
In step 2, after the induction heating coil 6 is energized with 100% (full power) power, in step S3,
Determine the cooking rice capacity. Here, the determination of this rice cooking capacity is
The determination is made based on the rising gradient of the temperature detected via the inner pan temperature sensor 7. Then, in accordance with the determined rice cooking capacity, the temperature at which pressure is applied to the inner pot 2 via the solenoid 17 and the pressure regulator 14, and the time for determining that dry-up has been set.

Next, in step S4, the process waits until the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor reaches the set threshold value. When the temperature reaches the threshold value, the solenoid 17 of the pressure regulator 14 is reached in step S5. Is operated to close the inside of the inner pot 2 and apply pressure.

[0033] Thereafter, in step S6, according to the pressure of Uchinabe in 2 detected via the pressure sensor 13, the pressure in the inner pot 2 is approximately 0.09 kg / cm ² in the range of 0.11 kg / cm ² As described above, the amount of electricity supplied to the induction heating coil 6 is controlled, and pressure rice cooking control is performed.

When the dry-up is detected by a well-known method, the pressure regulator 14 is detected in step S7.
After releasing the pressure input by, in step S8,
Energization of the lid heater 10 arranged on the lid body 8 is started, steaming and dewatering are performed for a predetermined time, and rice cooking is completed. When rice cooking is completed, like the well-known pressure rice cooker 1,
Move to heat retention processing.

The microcomputer 18 starts the rice cooking flow and at the same time starts the pressure detection flow. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the microcomputer 18 detects the pressure in the inner pot 2 and the detected pressure in step S11. Is greater than or equal to the limit value of 1.16 atm, and if not greater than 1.16 atm, step S1
In 3, the rice cooking flow described above is continued. on the other hand,
If it is 1.16 atm or more, in step S12, an abnormal pressure control described below is performed.

In the abnormal pressure control, the microcomputer 18
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, step S2
0, the LED 20 provided on the display panel 19
The (informing means) is turned on to inform the user that the internal pressure exceeds the limit value. Then, in step S21, the power supply to the heating means such as the induction heating coil 6 is stopped. Next, in step S22, the pressure in the inner pot 2 is detected, and it is determined whether or not the detected pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure. If the detected pressure is not equal to the atmospheric pressure, the process returns to step S22 and the detection is performed. If the pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure, then end.

Thus, in the pressure cooker 1 of the present invention,
For example, when the pressure inside the pressure cooker 1 is increased by continuing to heat the inside of the inner pot 2 with foreign matter attached to the opening 15a of the pressure cooker 1, the abnormal pressure control is performed and the induction heating coil 6 or the like is moved to. Since the power supply to the pressure cooker is stopped, the lid 8 of the pressure cooker 1 is opened and the cooked food pops out, and the heat sink 9 and the inner pot 2 are sealed by continuing to heat it like a conventional pressure cooker. It is possible to prevent the steam from spurting violently from the packing part that is being used.

Further, since the LED 20 as the notification means is turned on to notify the user that an abnormality has occurred,
It is possible to avoid the risk that the user accidentally opens the lid 8 of the pressure cooker 1 to get burned.

Although the LED 20 is turned on to inform the user that an abnormality has occurred, the user may be notified by voice using the speaker 21 which is a voice notifying means arranged on the lid 8. Further, some kind of display may be performed by the liquid crystal display plate 22 provided on the display panel 19 to notify that an abnormality has occurred. Further, a display may be displayed on the liquid crystal display plate 22 to urge the user to open the lid 8 to remove foreign matter.

As a modified example of the abnormal pressure control,
The microcomputer 18, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In step S30, the LED 20 is turned on to notify the user that an abnormality has occurred. After that, in step S31, the pressure in the inner pot 2 is detected, and it is compared whether or not the detected pressure is 1.08 atmospheric pressure or less,
If the pressure is not less than 1.08 atm, the process returns to step S31.
At 32, the induction heating coil 6 is energized according to the pressure in the inner pot 2 detected by the pressure sensor 13 so that the pressure in the inner pot 2 is within the range of about 1.08 atm to 1.12 atm. IH heater pressure control for controlling the amount is performed.

Then, in step S33, the built-in timer operated after the start of the IH heater pressure control determines whether 20 minutes have elapsed. When 20 minutes have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, the inner pot 2
The pressure inside is detected, and it is determined whether or not the detected pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure. If the detected pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure, rice cooking is completed.

As a result, the control shifts to the abnormal pressure control to control the energization of the induction heating coil 6 and the like to maintain the pressure in the inner pot 2 within the range of about 1.08 atm to 1.12 atm. The lid 8 of the pressure rice cooker 1 is opened to prevent the food from jumping out vigorously, and the steam that spouts violently from the packing part that seals the heat radiating plate 9 and the inner pan 2 is prevented. Can be completed.

After completing the rice cooking in the rice cooking flow, after stopping the rice cooking in the abnormal pressure control, or after completing the rice cooking in the modified example of the abnormal pressure control,
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the microcomputer 18 of the pressure rice cooker 1 first detects the pressure in the inner pot 2 in step S40 and determines whether or not the detected pressure is equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure. . When it is determined that the detected pressure is equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, in step S41, the user is notified by voice or liquid crystal that the pressure in the inner pot 2 is higher than the atmospheric pressure, and in step S42, the induction heating coil 6 or the like Stop energizing the heating means. Then, in step S43, for example, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time of 5 seconds has elapsed, and after 5 seconds have elapsed, the pressure regulator 14 is turned off in step S44, and the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the detected pressure is not equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, in step S45, the energization of the heating means such as the induction heating coil 6 is stopped and the cancellation / completion notification is given. Then, in step S44, the pressure regulator 14 is turned off, and the process ends.

As a result, when the internal pressure of the inner pot 2 is higher than the atmospheric pressure after the rice cooking is interrupted and completed, it is dangerous for the user to approach the pressure rice cooker 1 as the cooked food vigorously pops out or violently spouts steam. It is possible to let the user recognize that there is and to get away from the pressure cooker 1. Also, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the pressure in the inner pot 2 is equal to the atmospheric pressure,
Since the pressure regulator 14 is turned off, the steam passage is not opened and the cooked material is not vigorously popped out or the steam is spouted unlike the conventional case where the internal pressure is high. Also,
In step S43, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time of 5 seconds has elapsed, but it may be determined whether or not the pressure in the inner pot 2 is equal to the atmospheric pressure.

When the pressure in the cooking pot 2 of the pressure rice cooker 1 is lower than the atmospheric pressure and the lid 8 is hard to open, a voice notification or liquid crystal display is provided to the user to wait until the pressure returns to the atmospheric pressure. You may ask me to do it.

Further, the display panel 19 of the pressure rice cooker 1
The predetermined switch provided in the
The voice of the notification means may be switched to, for example, a female voice, a male voice, or a talent voice by pressing and holding for a second. Also, as shown in FIG.
A voice changeover switch 23 may be provided on the display panel 19, and the voice may be changed over by pressing the switch. In addition, switching the sound of the notification means by a predetermined switch is not limited to the pressure rice cooker, general electric products,
For example, it can be applied to an electric pot or a humidifier.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a drawer type case 24 for accommodating a rice scoop may be detachably provided inside the body 4 or the bottom of the body 3 of the pressure rice cooker 1.
By storing the rice scoop in the drawer type case 24, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the rice scoop and it is hygienic. Further, the drawer type case 24 is detachable, so that it can be detached from the main body 3 and washed entirely with water.

[0048]

As is clear from the above description, in the pressure cooker of the present invention, the cooking pot, the main body, the heating means, the lid for closing the opening of the cooking pot, and the pressure inside the cooking pot. In a pressure rice cooker equipped with a pressure sensor for detecting, and a control means for controlling the heating means, the control means determines that the pressure detected in the cooking pot exceeds the limit value based on the signal from the pressure sensor during pressure rice cooking. If judged, the heating means is turned off and the pressure cooker is interrupted, so the pressure value in the cooking pot does not rise above the limit value, and the cooked food or steam in the cooking pot is prevented from spouting outside the pressure cooker. This has the effect of improving safety.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a pressure rice cooker of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a display panel of the pressure rice cooker of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the pressure detected by the pressure sensor during rice cooking control, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for the inner pot, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for the lid.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a rice cooking flow of the pressure rice cooker.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a pressure detection flow of the pressure rice cooker.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing abnormal pressure control of the pressure rice cooker.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a modified example of abnormal pressure control of the pressure rice cooker.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the pressure rice cooker.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the pressure rice cooker of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Pressure cooker, 2 ... Inner pot (cooking pot), 3 ... Main body, 6 ...
Induction heating coil (heating means), 7 ... temperature sensor for inner pot,
8 ... Lid body, 9 ... Radiating plate, 10 ... Lid heater, 11 ... Inner lid,
12 ... Lid body temperature sensor, 13 ... Pressure sensor, 14 ... Pressure regulator, 18 ... Microcomputer (control means).

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A cooking pot and a main body for accommodating the cooking pot,
Heating means for heating the cooking pot, a lid body that is openably and closably attached to the main body and closes the opening of the cooking pot,
A pressure rice cooker comprising a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the cooking pan and a control means for controlling the heating means, wherein the control means is the cooking pan based on a signal from the pressure sensor during pressure rice cooking. A pressure rice cooker, characterized in that, when it is determined that the detected pressure inside has exceeded a limit value, the heating means is turned off and the pressure rice cooking is interrupted. 2. A notification means for notifying a user that the detected pressure is abnormal is provided, and the control means limits the detected pressure in the cooking pot based on a signal from the pressure sensor during pressure cooking. The pressure cooker according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that the value exceeds the value, the notification means notifies that the pressure in the cooking pot is higher than the atmospheric pressure. 3. The control means, after interrupting pressure rice cooking,
The pressure cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressure cooker is terminated when it is determined that the detected pressure has dropped to the atmospheric pressure based on the signal from the pressure sensor. 4. The control means, after interrupting pressure rice cooking,
The pressure cooked rice according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressure cooked rice is continued by controlling the amount of electricity to the heating means so that the detected pressure is within a predetermined range based on the signal from the pressure sensor. vessel. 5. When the control means determines that the detected pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure based on the signal from the pressure sensor when the pressure cooking is completed or when the pressure cooking is interrupted, the notification means notifies the cooking pan of the cooking pot. The pressure cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which notifies that the internal pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure. 6. The pressure rice cooker according to claim 5, wherein the informing unit informs by voice. 7. The pressure cooker according to claim 5, wherein the notifying unit notifies the user by displaying a liquid crystal. 8. The control means opens the steam passage of the lid after a predetermined time has elapsed, when the control unit determines that the detected pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure when the pressure cooking is completed or when the pressure cooking is interrupted. The pressure cooker according to any one of claims 5 to 7. 9. The pressure rice cooker according to claim 5, wherein the pressure rice cooker is provided with voice switching means for switching the voice of the voice notification means.