JP2009082755A - Pressure rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rice cooker enabling multistep adjustment of pressure at a low cost. <P>SOLUTION: The rice cooker includes: a rice cooker body 11 for housing a rice cooking pot 10; a lid body 26 attached to the rice cooker body 11 so as to be opened and closed; first and second exhaust paths which make the inside and outside of the rice cooking pot 10 communicate with each other; a first pressure regulating valve 67 provided with a first valve body (spherical member 76) for closing a first vent hole 70 and capable of pressurizing the inside of the rice cooking pot 10; a second pressure regulating valves 77 and 107 provided with the second valve body (member 84 to be energized and spherical member 115) for closing the second vent holes 80 and 110 and capable of pressurizing the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 with a pressure lower than that of the first pressure regulating valve 67; and the first and second driving means (solenoids 49, 53) for operating the first and second valve bodies respectively by on/off control. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure rice cooker.

  Conventionally, a rice cooker includes a rice cooker body that accommodates a rice cooker and a lid that is attached to the rice cooker body so as to be openable and closable, and the rice cooker is heated by heating means disposed inside the rice cooker body. By doing this, the rice set in the rice cooker is cooked. Among them, the pressure rice cooker is provided with a pressure regulating valve having a valve body that closes the vent hole in the exhaust passage provided in the lid body, and by controlling the amount of heating by the heating means, It is set as the structure controlled to the predetermined pressure more than atmospheric pressure.

  However, in the case of adjusting the pressure by controlling the heating means, the heating power is reduced when cooking at a low pressure, so the cooked state is not preferable. That is, in a rice cooker that can boost the inside of the rice cooker up to the vicinity of 1.20 atm, when the inside of the rice cooker is maintained at an internal pressure of 1.15 atm, the heating amount is reduced by changing the energization rate. If it does so, since a thermal power will fall in connection with it, there exists a problem of having a big influence on the cooking state of cooked rice.

  Therefore, recent pressure rice cookers have been provided that enable pressurization according to rice cooking conditions by making it possible to adjust the pressure in the rice cooker in multiple stages, and are related to the pressure rice cooker Prior art documents include Patent Documents 1 to 3.

  Patent Document 1 describes a pressure rice cooker equipped with a pressure regulating valve in which a valve body made of a rollable spherical member is arranged in a pair of upper and lower sides inside a case. In this pressure rice cooker, the upper and lower spherical members can be sequentially moved by one solenoid, the vent hole is opened, the vent hole is closed by the load of one spherical member, and the vent hole is divided into two spherical shapes. Three stages of pressure control can be performed in a state of being blocked by the load of the member.

  However, in the rice cooker described in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to stack and arrange spherical members in the vertical direction, there is a problem that the pressure regulating valve is enlarged, and the entire rice cooker is enlarged as well as the lid. Further, moving the laminated spherical member has a disadvantage that its operation is unstable.

  Patent Document 2 describes a pressure rice cooker equipped with a pressure regulating valve having a valve body made of a single spherical member that can roll. This pressure rice cooker allows the spherical member to be moved by a solenoid, and an electromagnetic coil is disposed above the valve body, and the pressing force (blocking) force to the vent hole by the spherical member is adjusted by the magnetic force of the electromagnetic coil. By doing so, multi-stage pressure control can be performed.

  The rice cooker described in Patent Document 2 has an advantage that the pressure in the rice cooker can be finely adjusted by the combination with the pressure sensor, but it is also necessary to dispose the electromagnetic coil above the pressure regulating valve. In addition to the problem that the body becomes large and the whole rice cooker becomes large, there is a problem that the cost increases.

  In Patent Document 3, a first pressure regulating valve having a first valve body made of a rollable spherical member and a second valve body made of a biased member having a valve packing disposed at the tip are biased by a spring. A pressure rice cooker equipped with a second pressure regulating valve is described. In this pressure rice cooker, the urging force by the spring of the second pressure regulating valve can be adjusted by a motor through an arm so that multi-stage pressure control can be performed.

  The rice cooker described in Patent Document 3 has the advantage that the pressure in the rice cooker can be finely adjusted by the combination with the pressure sensor, but since the complicated link mechanism needs to be mounted, the entire rice cooker is expensive. There is a problem of becoming.

JP-A-11-262444 JP 2000-93294 A JP 2003-174963 A

  This invention is made | formed in view of the conventional problem, and makes it a subject to provide the pressure rice cooker which can perform multistage pressure adjustment cheaply.

  In order to solve the above problems, a pressure rice cooker according to the present invention includes a rice cooker body that houses a rice cooker, a lid that is attached to the rice cooker body so as to be openable and closable, and closes an opening of the rice cooker, and the lid. 1st and 2nd exhaust passage which is provided in the body and communicates the inside of the rice cooker and the outside, and a first valve body which closes the first vent hole provided in the first exhaust passage, A first pressure regulating valve capable of pressurizing the inside of the rice cooker by shutting off the inside of the pan and the outside; and a second valve body for closing the second vent hole provided in the second exhaust passage, and the rice cooker A second pressure regulating valve capable of pressurizing the inside of the rice cooker at a pressure lower than the first pressure regulating valve by shutting off the inside and the outside, and a first for operating the first and second valve bodies by on / off control, respectively. And a second driving means, and the first and second exhaust passages are provided with a common exhaust portion that merges with each other. It is set to.

  In the pressure rice cooker, the air holes in the first and second exhaust passages are closed so as to be opened and closed by the first and second pressure regulating valves having different pressurizable pressures, so that the pressure in the rice cooker is multistage. Can be adjusted. In addition, since these pressure regulating valves are operated by driving means that operate by on / off control, the operation can be stabilized. In addition, since complicated operation and control by the combination with the pressure sensor is unnecessary, the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, this pressure rice cooker is good also as a structure provided with the one drive means which has the rod which can advance in two steps, and operates the said 1st valve body or the 2nd valve body in each position.

  In this way, since the pressure regulating valve is operated by one driving means, the operation can be stabilized.

  Further, the first valve body is formed of a spherical member that closes the first vent hole by rolling, and the first vent hole is opened in the non-operating state by the driving means, and the first vent hole is in the operating state. Is preferably closed.

The second valve body includes a biased member that closes the second vent hole by biasing, and closes the second vent hole with a larger biasing force in the operating state by the driving means than in the non-operating state. It is preferable.
Alternatively, the second valve body is made of a spherical member that closes the second vent hole by rolling, and the second vent hole is an opening capable of boosting the inside of the rice cooker by exhaust resistance in an open state by the spherical member. An area is preferred.

  In the pressure rice cooker of the present invention, the air holes in the first and second exhaust passages are closed by the first and second pressure regulating valves having different pressurizable pressures, so that the pressure in the rice cooker is multistage. Can be adjusted. In addition, the driving means for these pressure regulating valves does not require complicated operation and control in combination with the pressure sensor, so that the cost can be reduced.

It is a fragmentary sectional view showing the pressure rice cooker concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the state which cut | disconnected the other part. It is a perspective view which shows the cover body which removed the upper board. (A), (B) is sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of a 1st pressure regulation valve. (A), (B) is sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of a 2nd pressure regulation valve. It is an upper perspective view of an inner lid. (A) is an expanded sectional view which shows a 1st pressure regulation valve, (B) is an expanded sectional view which shows a 2nd pressure regulation valve. It is a top view which shows the cover body of the pressure rice cooker of 2nd Embodiment. The operation state of each pressure regulation valve is shown, (A) is a non-pressurized state, (B) is a low pressure state, (C) is a cross-sectional view of a high pressure state. It is a top view which shows the cover body of the pressure rice cooker of 3rd Embodiment. The operation state of each pressure regulation valve is shown, (A) is a non-pressurization state, (B) is a high pressurization state, (C) is sectional drawing of a low pressurization state.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show a pressure rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This pressure rice cooker includes a rice cooker body 11 that detachably houses a rice cooking pot 10 that is electromagnetically heated, and a lid body 26 that is rotatably attached to the rice cooker body 11. An inner lid 61 is detachably attached to the inner surface.

  The rice cooker body 11 includes an exterior body including a cylindrical body 12, a bottom body 13 that closes a lower end opening of the body 12, and a shoulder body 14 that is attached to cover the upper end opening of the body 12. ing. The shoulder body 14 includes a circular opening 15 for detachably disposing the rice cooking pot 10 at the center thereof, and a cylindrical inner body 16 and a non-conductive body are formed below the opening 15. A saucer-shaped protective frame 17 made of a material is provided. An induction heating coil 18 is disposed on the lower outer peripheral surface of the protective frame 17 via a ferrite core 19. Further, a rice cooker temperature sensor 20 for detecting the temperature of the rice cooker 10 is disposed through the protective frame 17. Further, the shoulder body 14 is provided with a hinge receiving portion 21 for attaching the lid body 26 so that the lid body 26 can be opened and closed on the back side, and a lock hole 22 for locking the lock portion of the lid body 26 on the front side. . Furthermore, an operation unit including an operation board 23, a menu sheet 24, and a surface member 25 is provided on the upper front side of the shoulder body 14.

  The lid body 26 is attached to the hinge receiving portion 21 of the shoulder body 14 so as to be openable and closable, and closes the opening 15 of the rice cooker body 11, and constitutes an outer surface material together with the exterior body of the rice cooker body 11. A plate 27, a lower plate 31 that closes the bottom of the upper plate 27, and an inner lid 61 that is detachably attached to the lower surface of the lower plate 31 are provided. And the inside of this cover body 26 is provided with the 1st and 2nd exhaust passage which connects the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 and the exterior, and each raises the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 in steps in steps beyond atmospheric pressure. First and second pressure regulating valves 67 and 77 are provided. Each exhaust passage merges into one on the exhaust (atmosphere) side, and a steam port unit 97 is detachably disposed at the exit portion.

  The upper plate 27 is provided with a mounting hole 29 for rotatably mounting an operation member 28 for opening the lid 26 at the front portion thereof. In addition, an arrangement recess 30 of a steam port unit 97 having a connection port formed at the center is provided on the back of the upper plate 27.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the lower plate 31 has a shape corresponding to the concave depression shape on the upper side of the shoulder body 14. A hinge connection portion 32 that is pivotally attached to the hinge receiving portion 21 of the shoulder body 14 is provided on the back portion of the lower plate 31. The hinge connection portion 32 is provided with a shaft 33 penetrating the hinge receiving portion 21 and a hinge spring 34 for urging the lid body 26 in the opening direction. In addition, a lock member 35 that can be unlocked and locked to the lock hole 22 of the shoulder body 14 is rotatably attached to the front portion of the lower plate 31. The lock member 35 is urged in the lock direction by a spring (not shown). Further, at the center of the upper portion of the lock member 35, an unlocking locking piece 36 for preventing the lid 26 from being opened at the time of pressurization by operating a first solenoid 49 described later is provided.

  A lid heater 38 is disposed on the bottom of the lower plate 31 via a metal heater cover 37, and a lid temperature sensor (not shown) is disposed. A packing 39 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the heater cover 37 for hermetically sealing the space between the heater cover 37 and the inner lid 61. Further, a metal reinforcing member 40 is disposed on the upper side of the lower plate 31 in order to prevent deformation due to heat and pressure during rice cooking.

  In the lower plate 31 of the present embodiment, first and second accommodating portions 41 that accommodate first and second pressure regulating valves 67 and 77 provided in an inner lid 61 described later adjacent to each other in the width direction. , 45, first and second solenoids 49, 53 which are driving means for the pressure regulating valves 67, 77, and a common exhaust part 58 where the first and second exhaust passages are joined.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first accommodating portion 41 constitutes a part of the first exhaust passage, and a lower end opening that accommodates a first pressure regulating valve 67 described later. The dome shape. A first driving opening 42 is provided in the front portion of the side wall of the first housing portion 41, and a packing 43 is disposed in the first driving opening 42. Further, in the heater cover 37, a position corresponding to the lower end opening of the first accommodating portion 41 is similarly opened, and the space between them is sealed by the packing 44.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5A and 5B, the second accommodating portion 45 constitutes a part of the second exhaust passage, and upper and lower ends for accommodating a second pressure regulating valve 77 described later. It has a cylindrical shape with an opening. The upper end of the second accommodating portion 45 is a second driving opening 46, and a packing 47 is disposed in the second driving opening 46. Further, in the heater cover 37, a position corresponding to the lower end opening of the second housing portion 45 is similarly opened, and a gap therebetween is sealed by a packing 48.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (A) and 4 (B), the first solenoid 49 as the first driving means is a two-position solenoid. A first pressing member 51 that presses the spherical member 76 through 43 is disposed. In the operating state, the first rod 50 is retracted by energization (ON), and the spherical member 76 of the first pressure regulating valve 67 is rolled by its own weight via the packing 43 to be in a pressurized (closed) state. In the operating state, the first rod 50 is advanced by interruption (off), and the spherical member 76 is rolled to be in a non-pressurized (open) state. The first pressing member 51 has a link member 52 that enters the lower portion of the lock member 36 for preventing the lock member 35 from being opened in the ON state and prevents the lid body 26 from being opened by the rotation of the lock member 35. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5A and 5B, the second solenoid 53 as the second drive means is a two-position solenoid similar to the first solenoid 49, and advances and retreats depending on the presence or absence of energization. A second pressing member 55 is disposed at the tip of the rod 54. The second pressing member 55 includes a trapezoidal protrusion 56 for converting a horizontal operation by energization into a vertical operation (pressing force). Then, the second rod 54 is retracted by energization (ON), and the spring receiving member 93 of the second pressure regulating valve 77 is lowered through the packing 47 and the vertical pressing member 57 to be in a high pressure state, while being shut off (OFF). ), The second rod 54 is advanced and the spring receiving member is raised to a low pressure state.

  The common exhaust part 58 has a cylindrical shape with upper and lower end openings provided at a position corresponding to the connection port of the arrangement recess 30 of the upper plate 27. A packing 59 for sealing between the upper plate 27 and a connection part 99 of a steam port unit 97 to be described later is disposed at the upper end opening of the common exhaust part 58. Further, in the heater cover 37, a position corresponding to the lower end opening of the common exhaust part 58 is similarly opened, and the space between them is sealed by the packing 60.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inner lid 61 includes a metal inner lid main body 62, a lid packing 65, and a resin frame 66, and the first pressure regulating valve 67 and the second pressure regulating valve are provided in the inner lid main body 62. 77 is integrally attached.

  The inner lid main body 62 serves as a heat radiating plate, and a first opening 63 and a second opening 64 communicating with the inside of the rice cooker 10 are provided at positions corresponding to the housing parts 41 and 45. Yes. The lid packing 65 seals in close contact with the inner periphery of the opening of the rice cooker 10. The resin frame 66 is attached to the inner lid main body 62 so that the lid packing 65 cannot be detached by being sandwiched between the outer peripheral portions of the inner lid main body 62.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 7A, the first pressure regulating valve 67 includes a first valve seat member 68 and a first cover 72 that covers the first valve seat member 68. These are composed of a spherical member 76 which is a first valve body housed in these, and is housed in the first housing portion 41 by mounting the inner lid 61.

  The first valve seat member 68 has a trapezoidal cylindrical shape with the upper end closed at the lower end opening. The first valve seat member 68 is provided at its lower end with a first flange portion 69 that fits on the side of the rice cooking pot 10 with respect to the first opening 63 of the inner lid body 62. Moreover, the 1st ventilation hole 70 of the opening area which can be exhausted is provided in the center of the flat upper end obstruction | occlusion surface so that the inside pressure of the rice cooking pot 10 may be boiled, and the internal pressure of this rice cooking pot 10 may become equivalent to atmospheric pressure. Yes. Further, a locking groove 71 for fixing the first cover 72 is provided on the outer peripheral portion.

  The first cover 72 covers the first valve seat member 68 in a state in which a later-described spherical member 76 is accommodated, and includes a locking projection 73 that is locked to the locking groove 71. The first cover 72 has an insertion hole 74 corresponding to the first drive opening 42 of the first housing portion 41 and through which the first pressing member 51 of the first solenoid 49 is inserted and retracted via the packing 43. Is provided. Further, exhaust holes 75 are provided in the upper portion of the first cover 72 with a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction.

  The spherical member 76 prevents the air in the rice cooking pot 10 from being exhausted outside by closing the first vent hole 70 by rolling, and increases the pressure in the rice cooking pot 10. is there. In the present embodiment, when the pressure in the rice cooker 10 is increased from 1.20 to 1.25 atm, a material having a weight that rolls away from the first vent hole 70 at that pressure is used.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 (A), 5 (B) and 7 (B), the second pressure regulating valve 77 includes a second valve seat member 78, a second cover 81, and a second housed therein. It consists of a biased member 84 that is a valve body and a spring receiving member 93, and is housed in the second housing portion 45 by mounting the inner lid 61.

  The second valve seat member 78 has a cylindrical shape with the lower end closed by an upper end opening. The second valve seat member 78 has a second flange portion 79 protruding from the lower end of the second valve seat member 78 that fits on the side of the rice cooker 10 with respect to the second opening 64 of the inner lid body 62. A second ventilation hole 80 is provided on the lower end closing surface. Here, the upper end edge of the second vent hole 80 is a portion to which a valve packing 90 of a biased member 84 to be described later is pressed, and any chamfer is formed at the ridge portion between the inner peripheral surface and the upper surface of the closing surface. Without being processed (non-chamfered state), the angle formed between the upper surface and the inner peripheral surface is approximately 90 degrees.

  The second cover 81 covers the second valve seat member 78 in a state where a biased member 84 and a spring receiving member 93 described later are accommodated, and is a second valve seat member inserted into the inner lid body 62. 78 is engaged. The second cover 81 is formed with an upper exhaust hole 82 corresponding to the second driving opening 46 of the second housing part 45 and a side exhaust hole 83 provided in the side wall part.

  The biased member 84 is provided with an end receiving portion 87 of a spring 86 as biasing means and a packing mounting portion 89 for mounting the valve packing 90 at the lower end of a shaft portion 85 extending in the vertical direction. is there. The end receiving portion 87 protrudes in a disc shape from the shaft portion 85, and a regulating convex portion 88 that regulates the outer circumferential portion of the spring 86 projects upward on the outer circumferential portion thereof. The packing mounting part 89 projects in an inverted T-shaped cross section so that an annular locking groove is formed between the packing receiving part 89 and the end receiving part 87.

  The valve packing 90 has a substantially conical shape that projects toward the tip (lower) end along the axis of the biased member 84, and the packing is attached to the upper end that is the base of the cone 91. A mounted portion 92 for mounting on the portion 89 is provided. The conical portion 91 is fitted into the second vent hole 80 of the second valve seat member 78 and is closed by line contact between the outer peripheral surface and the upper end edge of the second vent hole 80. The diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the second ventilation hole 80, and the diameter of the upper end thereof is larger than the inner diameter of the second ventilation hole 80. Here, in the central section 91, the angle α at which the pair of straight lines positioned symmetrically with respect to the axis intersects in the central section is in the range of about 40 degrees to about 130 degrees, and in this embodiment, 60 degrees. . Here, when the angle is less than 40 degrees, the conical portion 91 protrudes at an acute angle, so that a phenomenon occurs in which the pressure cannot be released by being completely fitted in the second air hole 80. On the other hand, when the angle is greater than 130 degrees, the conical portion 91 protrudes at an obtuse angle, so that the second valve seat member 78 having the second vent hole 80 is close to surface contact and the second vent hole 80. Since the steam that has passed through impinges on the inner peripheral surface of the second valve seat member 78 at an obtuse angle, noise is generated and the stability of the sealing performance decreases, which is not preferable. The mounted portion 92 has a horizontal concave cross section that protrudes in the horizontal direction from the upper end of the conical portion 91. The lower end portion of the mounted portion 92 serves as a stopper portion that protrudes in a flange shape in the horizontal direction, and prevents the conical portion 91 from completely fitting into the second vent hole 80 to the upper end. .

  The spring receiving member 93 is for positioning the upper end of the spring 86 as an urging member and urging the urged member 84 downward, and a cylindrical portion 94 for restricting the moving direction of the shaft portion 85. The end receiving portion 95 of the spring 86 is provided on the outer periphery of the spring 86. The cylindrical portion 94 is closed at the upper end with a lower end opening, and is arranged so that the upper end protrudes upward from the upper end exhaust hole 82 of the second cover 81. The end receiving portion 95 protrudes downward from above the cylindrical portion 94, and has an outer shape that is the same shape as the upper end exhaust hole 82. The end receiving portion 95 regulates the spring 86 between the end receiving portion 95 and the cylindrical portion 94. The end receiving portion 95 is provided with a stopper portion 96 protruding outward in the radial direction in order to prevent the spring receiving portion from being detached from the second cover 81 by the urging force of the spring 86.

  When the second solenoid 53 is driven (operated), the second pressure regulating valve 77 configured in this manner is pressed downward via the packing 47 and the vertical pressing member 57, and the second cover 81. It moves downward against the biasing force of the spring 86. As a result, the biasing force for closing the second vent hole 80 of the biased member 84 located at the lower end of the spring 86 is changed via the valve packing 90. In the present embodiment, in the non-operating state of the second solenoid 53 (FIG. 5A), when the pressure in the rice cooker 10 is increased to 1.15 atm, the biased member 84 becomes the biasing force of the spring 86 by the pressure. When the pressure in the rice cooker 10 is increased to 1.20 atm in the operating state (FIG. 5B), the urged member 84 resists the urging force of the spring 86. Then, it is configured to exhaust by rising. That is, the second vent hole 80 is configured to be closed with a larger urging force in the operation state by the second solenoid 53 than in the non-operation state.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steam port unit 97 includes a tray-like lower case 98, an upper case 100 that is detachably attached to the lower case 98, and a steam port packing 102 that seals between the cases. And is detachably connected to the common exhaust part 58 located at the back of the arrangement recess 30 via a packing 59. The lower case 98 is provided with a connecting portion 99 for connecting to the common exhaust portion 58 at a substantially central portion of the bottom wall. The upper case 100 has an upper end closing surface that forms a curved surface integral with the upper plate 27 so as to match the surface shape of the lid body 26 and is detachably assembled to the lower case 98. is there. The upper case 100 is provided with a packing accommodating portion 101 that matches the shape of the side wall of the lower case 98, and a steam port packing 102 that seals between the cases 98, 100 is disposed in the packing accommodating portion 101.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the lid body 26 includes a first valve seat member 68 having a first vent hole 70, a first cover 72 having an exhaust hole 75, and a first cover 72. From the gap between the first housing 41 and the gap between the inner lid main body 62 and the heater cover 37, the path through the common exhaust 58, and the steam outlet unit 97 having an exhaust outlet, A first exhaust passage that communicates with the outside is configured.

  5A and 5B, the second valve seat member 78 having the second ventilation hole 80, the second cover 81 having the upper exhaust hole 82 and the side exhaust hole 83, the second 2 The path from the gap between the cover 81 and the second housing part 45 to the gap between the inner lid main body 62 and the heater cover 37, the common exhaust part 58, and the steam port unit 97 having an exhaust port is a rice cooker. A second exhaust passage that communicates the inside and the outside is formed.

  In the pressure rice cooker having the above-described configuration, rice cooking control and heat retention control are executed according to a preset program by a microcomputer mounted on a control board (not shown). And in rice cooking control, the non-pressurized state which made both the solenoids 49 and 53 into a non-operation state, the low pressurization state which made only the 1st solenoid 49 an operation state, and both solenoids 49 and 53 are made into an operation state. It is executed while performing three-stage pressure control in the high pressure state. Here, in this embodiment, when the solenoids 49 and 53 are in a non-operating state, the inside of the rice cooker 10 is caused by a malfunction of the solenoids 49 and 53 or a malfunction of the rods 50 and 54. This prevents the pressure state from remaining.

  Specifically, in the non-pressurized state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 is in an open state with the spherical member 76 being separated from the first vent hole 70 by the first solenoid 49. Further, the second pressure regulating valve 77 has the spring receiving member 93 raised by the second solenoid 53, and the biased member 84 closes the second vent hole 80 with a biasing force capable of boosting the inside of the rice cooker 10 to 1.15 atm. is doing. And the inside of the rice cooker 10 will be in the non-pressurized state which cannot be pressure | voltage-risen by opening | releasing the 1st ventilation hole 70 which has the opening area which can be exhausted so that it may become equivalent to atmospheric pressure.

  In the low pressure state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 is in a closed state in which the spherical member 76 rolls on the first vent hole 70 by the first solenoid 49 and the inside of the rice cooker 10 can be boosted from 1.20 to 1.25 atm. It has become. Similarly to the non-pressurized state, the second pressure regulating valve 77 has the spring receiving member 93 raised by the second solenoid 53, and the biased member 84 has a biasing force capable of boosting the inside of the rice cooker 10 to 1.15 atm. Closes the second vent hole 80. Therefore, the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 is in a low pressurization state capable of increasing the pressure up to 1.15 atm where the second pressure regulating valve 77 operates.

  Further, in the high pressure state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 causes the spherical member 76 to roll on the first vent hole 70 by the first solenoid 49 in the same manner as in the low pressure state, so that the inside of the rice cooker 10 starts from 1.20. It is in the closed state that can be boosted up to 1.25atm. Further, the second pressure regulating valve 77 has the spring receiving member 93 lowered by the second solenoid 53, and the biased member 84 closes the second vent hole 80 with a biasing force capable of boosting the inside of the rice cooker 10 to 1.20 atm. is doing. Therefore, the inside of the rice cooker 10 is in a highly pressurized state capable of increasing the pressure up to 1.20 atm where the pressure regulating valves 67 and 77 operate. The first pressure regulating valve 67 also serves as a relief valve when the second pressure regulating valve 77 becomes inoperable for some reason.

  Thus, in the pressure rice cooker of this embodiment, the vent holes 70 and 80 of the first and second exhaust passages can be opened and closed by the first and second pressure regulating valves 67 and 77 having different pressurizable pressures. Therefore, the pressure in the rice cooker 10 can be adjusted in multiple stages. In addition, since the pressure regulating valves 67 and 77 are operated by solenoids 49 and 53 that are operated by on / off control, the operation can be stabilized. In addition, since complicated operation and control by the combination with the pressure sensor is unnecessary, the cost can be reduced. As a result, the cooked state of cooked rice according to the user's preference can be realized at low cost without depending on the heating power adjustment by the induction heating coil 18 which is a heating means.

  The first valve body of the first pressure regulating valve 67 is composed of a spherical member 76 that closes the first vent hole 70 by rolling, and the first vent hole 70 is opened in the non-operating state. When an abnormality occurs in the first solenoid 49, the first vent hole 70 is opened. Furthermore, the second valve body of the second pressure regulating valve 77 includes a biased member 84 that closes the second vent hole 80 by biasing, and is in a low pressure state in a non-operating state. When an abnormality occurs in the solenoid 53, the second ventilation hole 80 is closed with a low urging force. Therefore, the inconvenience that the pressure in the rice cooker 10 is stopped in a high pressure state can be prevented, and safety can be improved.

  Next, the depressurization action by the pressure regulating valves 67 and 77 will be specifically described.

  In the first pressure regulating valve 67, as shown in FIG. 4A, the spherical member 76 is separated from the first vent hole 70 and is in contact with the inner wall of the first cover 72. A lower end portion contacting the member 68 is positioned around the first vent hole 70. Therefore, when the first solenoid 49 is operated, the pressurized state shown in FIG. In this state, when the pressure in the rice cooker 10 rises, the steam is exhausted from the gap between the spherical member 76 and the first vent hole 70 so as to push up the spherical member 76 against the weight.

  In the second pressure regulating valve 77, when the first pressure regulating valve 67 is closed and the inside of the rice cooker 10 is boosted to 1.15 atm or more in the state shown in FIG. 5A, the state shown in FIG. When the inside of the rice cooker 10 is increased to 1.20 atm or more, the biased member 84 is pushed up against the biasing force of the spring 86 so that the valve packing 90 of the biased member 84 and the second vent hole 80 Steam is exhausted from the gap.

  At this time, since the second pressure regulating valve 77 is configured to fit the conical portion 91 of the valve packing 90 into the second vent hole 80 and seal them in a line contact state, the closing accuracy can be improved. Moreover, when the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 is pressurized and the biased member 84 moves backward against the biasing force, the vibration (movement) to the left and right is restricted by the edge of the second vent hole 80. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise during the operation of the pressure regulating valve and improve the stability related to pressure adjustment. Further, since the second pressure regulating valve 77 is configured such that the operating pressure can be changed by the second solenoid 53, the conical portion 91 is in the second vent hole in a state where the second pressure regulating valve 77 is closed with a strong biasing force by the spring 86. There is a possibility that it will reach the state where it is fitted into 80 and cannot be removed. However, in this embodiment, since the mounted portion 92 that serves as a stopper is provided at the base portion of the conical portion 91 of the valve packing 90, the valve packing 90 is excessively press-fitted into the second vent hole 80. Can be reliably prevented.

  8 and 9A, 9B and 9C show a pressure rice cooker according to the second embodiment. This pressure rice cooker is the first in that the second vent hole 110 of the second pressure regulating valve 107 constituting the second exhaust passage is constituted by a spherical member 115 similar to the first pressure regulating valve 67 of the first embodiment. This is very different from the embodiment.

  Specifically, the first accommodating portion 41 of the second embodiment formed on the lower plate 31 is the same as that of the first embodiment, has a dome shape at the lower end opening, and the first driving opening at the front portion of the side wall. A portion 42 is provided, and a packing 43 is disposed in the first driving opening 42. Further, in the heater cover 37, a position corresponding to the lower end opening of the first accommodating portion 41 is similarly opened, and the space between them is sealed by the packing 44.

  Similarly to the first housing portion 41, the second housing portion 103 constitutes a part of the second exhaust passage, and has a dome shape with a lower end opening for housing a second pressure regulating valve 107 described later. . A second driving opening 104 is provided in the rear portion of the side wall of the second housing portion 103, and a packing 105 is disposed in the second driving opening 104. Further, the heater cover 37 is opened at a position corresponding to the lower end opening of the second housing portion 103, and the space between them is sealed by the packing 106.

  Further, as in the first embodiment, the inner lid 61 includes a metal inner lid main body 62, a lid packing 65, and a resin frame 66. The inner lid main body 62 includes a first pressure regulating valve 67 and a second pressure regulating valve 67. The pressure regulating valve 107 is integrally attached.

  The first pressure regulating valve 67 includes a first valve seat member 68, a first cover 72 that covers the first valve seat member 68, and a spherical member 76 that is a first valve body housed in the first cover 72. The first embodiment is the same as the first embodiment accommodated in the first accommodating portion 41 by mounting the inner lid 61.

  In addition, the second pressure regulating valve 107 of the second embodiment includes a second valve seat member 108, a second cover 112 that covers the second valve seat member 108, and the inside thereof, like the first pressure regulating valve 67. It consists of a spherical member 115 which is a second valve body to be accommodated, and is accommodated in the second accommodating portion 103 when the inner lid 61 is attached.

The second valve seat member 108 has a trapezoidal cylindrical shape with the upper end closed at the lower end opening. The second valve seat member 108 has a second flange portion 109 protruding from the lower end of the second valve seat member 108 that fits on the rice cooker 10 side with respect to the second opening 64 of the inner lid main body 62. In addition, in the center of the flat top closed surface, the inside of the rice cooker 10 is in a boiling state, the internal pressure of the rice cooker 10 is not balanced with the atmospheric pressure due to exhaust resistance, and the diameter (opening area) can be increased to about 1.15 atm. The second ventilation hole 110 is provided. In addition, the volume of the rice cooker of this embodiment is 2600-4800 cm < ³ >, and the diameter of the said 2nd vent hole 110 is set to 1.7-2.0 mm. Reference numeral 111 denotes a guide for guiding the spherical member 115 onto the second ventilation hole 110. This guide may be provided in the first pressure regulating valve 67 in the same manner.

  The second cover 112 covers the second valve seat member 108 in a state where a spherical member 115 described later is accommodated. The second cover 112 has an insertion hole 113 corresponding to the second driving opening 104 of the second housing portion 103 and through which the second pressing member 55 of the second solenoid 53 is inserted and retracted via the packing 105. Is provided. In addition, exhaust holes 114 are provided in the upper portion of the second cover 112 with a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction.

  The spherical member 115 is for increasing the pressure in the rice cooking pot 10 by blocking the second vent hole 110 by rolling to prevent the air in the rice cooking pot 10 from being exhausted to the outside. is there. In the present embodiment, when the pressure in the rice cooker 10 is increased to 1.20 atm, a material having a weight that rolls away from the second vent hole 110 at that pressure is used.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the pressure rice cooker having the above-described configuration is a non-pressurized state in which both solenoids 49 and 53 are in a non-operating state, and as shown in FIG. It is executed while performing three-stage pressure control, that is, a low pressure state in which 53 is in an operating state, and a high pressure state in which only the first solenoid 49 is in an operating state, as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the second solenoid 53 closes the second vent hole 110 by the spherical member 115 in the non-operating state, but may be configured to close in the operating state.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), in the non-pressurized state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 has the spherical member 76 separated from the first vent hole 70 by the first solenoid 49, and is in the open state. It has become. Further, the second pressure regulating valve 107 is in a closed state in which the spherical member 115 is rolled onto the second vent hole 110 by the second solenoid 53 and the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 can be boosted to 1.20 atm. And the inside of the rice cooker 10 will be in the non-pressurized state which cannot be pressure | voltage-risen by opening | releasing the 1st ventilation hole 70 which has the opening area which can be exhausted so that it may become equivalent to atmospheric pressure. When the second vent hole 110 is opened by the spherical member 115 when the second solenoid 53 is not in operation, the second solenoid 53 is still in the non-operation state in this non-pressurized state. Is preferably open.

  9B, in the low pressure state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 causes the spherical member 76 to roll on the first vent hole 70 by the first solenoid 49, and the inside of the rice cooker 10 is moved. It is in a closed state that can boost the pressure from 1.20 to 1.25 atm. The second pressure regulating valve 107 is in an open state with the spherical member 115 being separated from the second vent hole 110 by the second solenoid 53. And the inside of the rice cooker 10 will be in the low pressurization state which can be pressure | voltage-risen to 1.15 atm by the 2nd ventilation hole 110 of the opening area which enabled pressure | voltage rise inside the rice cooker 10 by exhaust resistance.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9C, in the high pressure state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 causes the spherical member 76 to roll on the first vent hole 70 by the first solenoid 49, and the inside of the rice cooker 10 is moved. It is in a closed state that can boost the pressure from 1.20 to 1.25 atm. Further, the second pressure regulating valve 107 is in a closed state in which the spherical member 115 is rolled onto the second vent hole 110 by the second solenoid 53 and the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 can be boosted to 1.20 atm. Therefore, the inside of the rice cooker 10 is in a highly pressurized state capable of increasing the pressure up to 1.20 atm where the pressure regulating valves 67 and 107 operate.

  Thus, in the pressure rice cooker of the second embodiment, the pressure in the rice cooker 10 is increased by the first and second pressure regulating valves 67 and 107 having different pressurizable pressures, as in the first embodiment. Can be adjusted in stages. In addition, since the pressure regulating valves 67 and 107 are operated by solenoids 49 and 53 that are operated by on / off control, the same operations and effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  10 and 11 show a pressure rice cooker according to the third embodiment. This pressure rice cooker uses a single solenoid 116 having a rod 117 that can be advanced in two stages instead of the solenoids 49 and 53 arranged as driving means for the pressure regulating valves 67 and 107, respectively. This is greatly different from the second embodiment.

  Specifically, the solenoid 116 that is a driving unit for both the pressure regulating valves 67 and 107 is in three states: a non-energized state, a first energized state, and a second energized state that energizes a higher current than the first energized state. Each of the rods 117 is composed of a three-position solenoid in which the advancement position is variable, and the spherical member 76 or the spherical member 115 as each valve body is operated at each position to open and close the vent holes 70 and 110. A first pressing member 118 that presses the spherical member 76 via the packing 43 is disposed at the tip of the rod 117. As in the above-described embodiments, the first pressing member 118 enters the lower portion of the unlocking locking piece 36 of the locking member 35 in the ON state, and opens the lid body 26 by the rotation of the locking member 35. A link member 119 for preventing this is provided. The link member 119 is provided with a rod member 120 having a substantially J-shape so as to bypass the packing 105 side of the second housing portion 103. A second pressing member 121 that moves the spherical member 115 through the packing 105 is disposed at the tip of the rod member 120.

  The pressure rice cooker having the above-described configuration has a non-pressurized state in which the solenoid 116 is in a non-operating state as shown in FIG. 11A, and the solenoid 116 is in a first operation (energized) as shown in FIG. It is executed while performing the three-stage pressure control of the high pressurization state in the state and the low pressurization state in which the solenoid 116 is in the second operation (energization) state as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11A, in the non-pressurized state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 is in an open state with the spherical member 76 being separated from the first vent hole 70 by the solenoid 116. Yes. Further, the second pressure regulating valve 107 is in a closed state in which the spherical member 115 is rolled onto the second vent hole 110 by the solenoid 116 and the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 can be boosted to 1.20 atm. And the inside of the rice cooker 10 will be in the non-pressurized state which cannot be pressure | voltage-risen by opening | releasing the 1st ventilation hole 70 which has the opening area which can be exhausted so that it may become equivalent to atmospheric pressure.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 11C, in the low pressure state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 causes the spherical member 76 to roll on the first vent hole 70 by the solenoid 116, and the inside of the rice cooker 10 starts from 1.20. It is in the closed state that can be boosted up to 1.25atm. The second pressure regulating valve 107 is in an open state with the spherical member 115 being separated from the second vent hole 110 by the solenoid 116. And the inside of the rice cooker 10 will be in the low pressurization state which can be pressure | voltage-risen to 1.15 atm by the 2nd ventilation hole 110 of the opening area which enabled pressure | voltage rise inside the rice cooker 10 by exhaust resistance.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11 (B), in the high pressure state, the first pressure regulating valve 67 causes the spherical member 76 to roll on the first vent hole 70 by the solenoid 116, and the inside of the rice cooker 10 starts from 1.20. It is in the closed state that can be boosted up to 1.25atm. Further, the second pressure regulating valve 107 is in a closed state in which the spherical member 115 is rolled onto the second vent hole 110 by the solenoid 116 and the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 can be boosted to 1.20 atm. Therefore, the inside of the rice cooker 10 is in a highly pressurized state capable of increasing the pressure up to 1.20 atm where the pressure regulating valves 67 and 107 operate.

  As described above, in the pressure rice cooker of the third embodiment, the pressure in the rice cooker 10 is increased by the first and second pressure regulating valves 67 and 107 having different pressurizable pressures as in the above embodiments. Can be adjusted in stages. In addition, in the present embodiment, the pressure regulating valves 67 and 107 are operated by one solenoid 116 having a rod 117 that can be advanced in two stages. It can be greatly stabilized. In addition, since complicated operation and control by the combination with the pressure sensor is unnecessary, the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the rice cooker of this invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, A various change is possible.

  For example, in the pressure rice cooker of the third embodiment using one solenoid 116 as the driving means, the first pressure regulating valve 67 and the second pressure regulating valve 107 are closed by the spherical members 76 and 115, respectively, with the vent holes 70 and 110. Although the same configuration as that of the second embodiment is used, the combination of the first pressure regulating valve 67 shown in the first embodiment and the second pressure regulating valve 77 using the biased member 84 is also applicable, Similar actions and effects can be obtained.

10 ... Rice cooker 11 ... Rice cooker body 18 ... Induction heating coil (heating means)
26 ... Lid 49 ... First solenoid (first driving means)
50 ... 1st rod 53 ... 2nd solenoid (2nd drive means)
54 ... 2nd rod 58 ... Common exhaust part 61 ... Inner lid 62 ... Inner lid body 65 ... Lid packing 66 ... Resin frame 67 ... First pressure regulating valve 70 ... First vent hole 76, 115 ... Spherical member 77, 107 ... First 2 pressure regulating valves 80, 110 ... second vent hole 84 ... biased member 90 ... valve packing 93 ... spring receiving member 97 ... steam port unit 116 ... solenoid 117 ... rod

Claims (1)

A rice cooker body containing a rice cooker;
A lid that is attached to the rice cooker body so as to be openable and closable, and closes the opening of the rice cooker;
First and second exhaust passages provided in the lid body and communicating between the inside of the rice cooker and the outside;
A first pressure regulating valve that has a first valve body that closes the first vent provided in the first exhaust passage, and that can shut off the inside of the rice cooking pot and pressurize the inside of the rice cooking pot;
A second valve body that closes the second vent hole provided in the second exhaust passage is provided, the inside of the rice cooking pot is shut off from the outside, and the inside of the rice cooking pot is pressurized with a pressure lower than that of the first pressure regulating valve. A possible second pressure regulating valve;
First and second driving means for operating the first and second valve bodies by on and off control, respectively,
A pressure rice cooker characterized in that a common exhaust part that merges with each other is provided in the first and second exhaust passages.

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