JP2009142701A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rice cooker in which hermetical sealing between a lid packing and a pot is improved and in which stable tight closure is secured even with excessive decompression inside a pot to be lower than the atmospheric pressure. <P>SOLUTION: A protruded part 59A as a projection is provided in a part facing a second sealing part 57B of a packing base. Between the protruded part 59A and the second sealing part 57B, there is formed a prescribed gap B1 preliminarily with a lid body 31 closed. In addition, the gap B1 is set to be larger than a gap B2 between the pot body 1 and the lid body 31 that is opened/closed with respect to the pot body 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker that seals the inside of a pan and changes pressure.

  In general, a rice cooker in which a main body is provided with a pan so as to be freely housed and a lid is provided so as to cover the pan is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In addition, such rice cookers are also known that include a transformer for transforming the inside of the main body to a predetermined pressure.

JP 2006-350 A

  However, the structure of the conventional rice cooker described above has the following problems.

  In order to seal a pot, the method of sticking a pot with lid packing is generally known. Although there are various close contact structures between the lid packing and the pan, as an example, a seal portion is provided corresponding to the flange portion of the pan, and the lid packing is configured so that the seal portion is in close contact with the pan.

  However, when such a close-contact structure is adopted, if an abnormality occurs in the pressure in the main body, the force on the seal part facing the pan acts strongly, and the seal part facing the flange part of the pan sometimes gets over the flange part. appear.

  If it becomes so, rice cooking will be complete | finished with the to-be-cooked food adhering to a lid | cover depending on the case, and it will be in the state which a to-be-cooked rice adheres to a lid | cover if a lid is opened.

  Moreover, there also existed a problem which a to-be-cooked rice jumped out from the clearance gap between the seal part of lid packing, and the flange part of a pan.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that can improve the sealing performance between the lid packing and the pan and ensure stable sealing performance even when the pressure in the main body is excessively changed. is there.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use rice cooker that smoothly opens and closes a lid.

  In the rice cooker according to claim 1 of the present invention, even if the pressure in the main body changes excessively, the second seal portion of the lid packing on which the force in the predetermined direction acts strongly is the flange portion of the pan and the protrusion The movement between them is restricted. Therefore, the sealing property between the second seal portion of the lid packing and the flange portion of the pan is improved as compared with the conventional one, and the adhesion is continuously secured stably.

  In the rice cooker according to claim 2 of the present invention, since the protrusion provided on the lid does not contact the seal portion of the lid packing before closing the lid, the force at the time of closing the lid increases, the lid does not close, etc. The problem can be avoided and the lid can be opened and closed smoothly.

  In the rice cooker according to claim 3 of the present invention, even when the inside of the main body is excessively depressurized, the sealing property between the lid packing and the pan is improved, and a stable sealing property can be secured.

  According to the rice cooker in claim 1 of the present invention, even when the pressure in the main body changes excessively, the sealing property between the lid packing and the pan can be improved and a stable sealing property can be secured.

  According to the rice cooker in claim 2 of the present invention, an easy-to-use rice cooker in which the opening and closing operation of the lid is smooth can be provided.

  According to the rice cooker in claim 3 of the present invention, even when the inside of the main body is excessively depressurized, the sealing performance between the lid packing and the pan can be improved and a stable sealing performance can be secured.

It is whole sectional drawing of the rice cooker in one Example of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the principal part at the time of pressurization same as the above. It is an enlarged sectional view of the principal part at the time of pressure reduction same as the above. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part at the time of pressurization represented by a cross-section different from FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an electrical structure same as the above. It is a timing chart showing the transition of the temperature and pressure in a pan, and the operation state of each part. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the lid opening button periphery in the 1st modification of this invention. It is a top view of a rice cooker same as the above. It is a perspective view inside a cover body of the state which removed the outer cover same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows a structure of the periphery of a clamp and a pressure regulating solenoid and an opening / closing solenoid. It is a perspective view which shows a solenoid for pressure regulation and its surrounding structure same as the above. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the opening / closing solenoid and the surrounding structure. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part when the open / close solenoid is not energized. It is sectional drawing of the principal part at the time of energization of the solenoid for opening / closing same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows an electrical structure same as the above. It is a timing chart showing the transition of the temperature and pressure in a pan, and the operation state of each part. In this invention, it is a graph which shows the relationship between the rice temperature in a pan, and a pressure when a cover body opens and closes while keeping the inside of a pan in a state lower than atmospheric pressure. In a prior art example, it is a graph which shows the relationship between the rice temperature in a pan, and a pressure when the heat retention in a state lower than atmospheric pressure continues for a long time. In an example of this invention, it is a graph which shows the relationship between the rice temperature in a pan, and a pressure when the heat retention in a state lower than atmospheric pressure continues for a long time. In another example of this invention, it is a graph which shows the relationship between the rice temperature in a pan, and a pressure when the heat retention in the state lower than atmospheric pressure continues for a long time. In another example of this invention, it is a graph which shows the relationship between the rice temperature in a pan, and a pressure when the heat retention in the state lower than atmospheric pressure continues for a long time. In a prior art example, it is principal part sectional drawing of the state which closed the normal cover body. In a prior art example, it is principal part sectional drawing of the state in which the inside of a pan is higher than atmospheric pressure (pressurization). In a prior art example, abnormality arises in a pressure reduction means and it is principal part sectional drawing of the state in which the inside of a pan is extremely lower than atmospheric pressure. In the suitable example of this invention, it is principal part sectional drawing of the state which closed the normal cover body. In the suitable example of this invention, abnormality arises in the pressure reduction means, and it is principal part sectional drawing of the state in which the inside of a pan is extremely lower than atmospheric pressure.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a rice cooker according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, based on FIG. 1, the structure of the rice cooker which is an example of this invention is demonstrated. In the figure, a main body 1 that forms the outline of a rice cooker is formed by an upper frame 2 that constitutes an upper surface and an upper side surface thereof, and a substantially cylindrical outer frame 3 that constitutes a side surface. A covering bottom plate 4 is provided. At that time, the upper frame 2 and the bottom plate 4 are formed of a synthetic resin such as PP (polypropylene), while the outer frame 3 is formed of a metal member such as stainless steel, for example, in order to improve cleanability and appearance quality. The Moreover, it is provided covering the bottom opening of the substantially cylindrical pan accommodating portion 6 formed integrally from the inner peripheral portion of the upper surface of the upper frame 2 and the pan accommodating portion 6, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The inner frame 8 formed of a synthetic resin forms a pan container 9 made of a nonmagnetic material and having a bottomed cylindrical shape for accommodating a pan 11 described later.

  In the pot housing 9, a bottomed cylindrical pot 11 for storing a rice to be cooked such as rice or water is detachably stored. The pan 11 has a pan body 12 mainly made of aluminum having good thermal conductivity, and a heating element 13 made of a magnetic metal plate such as ferritic stainless steel joined from the lower side to the bottom of the outer surface of the pan body 12; Consists of. The reason why the heating element 13 is not provided from the center to the top of the side surface of the pan 11 is to reduce the weight of the pan 11. An annular flange portion 14 is formed around the upper end of the pan 11 so as to extend to the outer periphery thereof. In addition, it has the structure which does not provide a heating means in the outer periphery of the pan accommodating part 6. FIG.

  A heating coil 16 as heating means for electromagnetic induction heating of the bottom of the pan 11 is provided on the lower and bottom sides of the inner frame 8 facing the heating element 13 on the outer surface. When a high frequency current is supplied to the heating coil 16, the heating element 13 of the pan 11 is heated by the alternating magnetic field generated from the heating coil 16, and the cooked rice in the pan 11 and thus the pan 11 is heated. Yes.

  In addition, a temperature sensor 21 serving as a pan temperature detecting means is disposed in the center of the bottom of the inner frame 8 so as to elastically contact the outer surface of the bottom of the pan 11, and detects the temperature of the pan 11. The heating temperature of the bottom of the pan 11 by 16 is mainly controlled.

  A cord heater 26 for heating the upper part of the side surface of the pan 11, particularly the flange portion 14, is arranged in an annular shape at the upper end of the pan container 9. The cord heater 26 is composed of an electric heater, and is held on a heater ring 27 as a heat dissipation suppressing member mounted and mounted on the upper end of the pan container 9 and covers the cord heater 26 from above. A flange heater is configured by including a metal plate 29 which is attached to the heater ring 27 and has both a fixing metal member made of, for example, an aluminum plate, which is excellent in thermal conductivity, and a heat radiating portion. The metal plate 29 is located opposite to the gap between the rice cooker body 1 and the lid 31. Then, the lower surface of the flange portion 14 of the pan 11 is placed on the upper surface of the metal plate 29, whereby the pan 11 is accommodated in the pan accommodating body 9 while being hung on the upper frame 2 of the main body 1. It is like that. Therefore, there is almost no gap between the pan 11 and the upper end of the pan housing 9 in which the pan 11 is housed. Moreover, the flange portion 14 of the pan 11 has an outer shape that is equal to or greater than the size of the cord heater 26, so that the cord heater 26 is covered with the flange portion 14 of the pan 11 from above. . However, although not shown in the drawing, the handle portion (flange portion 14) of the pan 11 is made non-contact, and by partially forming a gap, when cooking rice with water attached to the outer surface of the pan 11, Steam is discharged from the gap.

  The lid 31 is formed by combining the outer lid 32 as an external component forming the outer shell of the upper surface, the heat radiating plate 34 that forms the lower surface that is the inner surface of the lid 31, and the outer lid 32 and the heat radiating plate 34. The main component is an outer lid cover 35 as a lid base material forming the skeleton of the main frame. A lid heater 36 as a lid heating means is provided on the upper surface of the heat radiating plate 34 inside the lid 31. The lid heater 36 may be an electric heating heater such as a cord heater or a heating coil by electromagnetic induction heating.

  A hinge portion 38 connected to the lid 31 is provided behind the upper frame 2. The hinge portion 38 is provided with a pair of holes (not shown) in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, and a hinge spring 40 formed of a torsion coil spring or the like is accommodated therein. On the other hand, an outer lid cover hinge hole (not shown) as a hinge receiving portion is also provided behind the outer lid cover 35 so as to face the hole provided in the hinge portion 38. By inserting a rod-shaped hinge shaft 41 in common with the hinge hole and the hole of the hinge portion 38, the main body 1 and the lid 31 are pivotally supported with the hinge shaft 41 as a fulcrum. Further, one end and the other end of the hinge spring 40 are hooked on the outer cover cover 35 and the outer frame 2, respectively, so that the cover body 31 is always urged in the opening direction.

  On the front upper surface of the lid 31, a lid opening button 46 is disposed in an exposed state. When the lid opening button 46 is pressed, the engagement between the lid 31 and the main body 1 is released and the lid is opened by the hinge spring 40. The body 31 opens automatically.

  Reference numeral 55 denotes an inner lid assembly as a lower member of the lid 31 provided on the outer side, ie, the lower side of the heat radiating plate. The inner lid assembly 55 has a disk shape that is substantially the same diameter as the upper opening of the pan 11 and seals between the pan 11 and the inner lid 56 with a metallic inner lid 56 anodized with stainless steel or aluminum. In order to achieve this, a cover packing 57, which is an inner cover packing made of an elastic member such as silicone rubber or fluororubber, is provided on the entire outer periphery of the inner cover 56, and a pressure adjusting unit 58 that adjusts the internal pressure of the inner pot. I have. When the lid 31 is closed (when the lid is closed), the ring-shaped lid packing 57 abuts against the upper surface of the flange portion 14 of the pan 11 and closes the gap between the pan 11 and the inner lid 56. The steam generated from the pan 11 is sealed.

  The heat radiating plate 34 is provided with a thermistor-type lid temperature sensor 61 for managing the temperature of the inner lid 56 by the lid heater 51 as lid temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the inner lid 56 of the lid 31 in particular. It is. Further, a steam port (not shown) that can be attached and detached from the upper surface side of the lid body 31 is provided in a portion closer to the upper surface of the lid body 31. The steam port and the pressure adjusting unit 58 communicate with each other inside the lid 31, and a steam discharge mechanism for discharging the steam generated in the pan 11 to the outside is formed by the steam port and the pressure adjusting unit 58. Is done.

  Here, the configuration of the pressure adjusting unit 58 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The pressure regulating unit 58 includes a pressure regulating valve 65 for regulating pressure, a pressure regulating valve holder assembly 66 that holds the pressure regulating valve 65, and a dome-shaped pressure regulating valve cover 67 that covers the pressure regulating valve 65. The pressure regulating valve 65 is a material excellent in corrosion resistance and may be a component having a certain weight, and is formed of, for example, a ball made of austenitic stainless steel.

  The pressure regulating valve holder assembly 66 includes a first holder 68, a second holder 69, a first pressure regulating packing 71 corresponding to a pressure reducing support member, a second pressure regulating packing 72, and a pressure from the inside of the pan 11. In order not to directly apply to the 1 pressure regulation packing 71, there is a valve support 73 below the first pressure regulation packing 71, corresponding to a pressure support member, and a valve support on the lower surface of the first pressure regulation packing 71. And a pressure regulating spring 74 as an elastic body that urges the valve support 73 in the direction in which the 73 abuts. The valve support 73 is provided with a communication hole 70 that abuts below the ball-shaped pressure regulating valve 65 when the inside of the pan 11 is pressurized. The communication hole 70 is for communicating the pan 11 and the inner lid 56, and the steam passing through the communication hole 70 is discharged from the steam port to the outside air. The first holder 68 and the second holder 69 are provided with a convex engaging portion 75 and a concave engaged portion 76 for fitting each other. The first holder 68 and the second holder 69 are mounted in a hole 77 provided in the inner lid 56 as a holding member for holding the first pressure regulating packing 71, the valve support 73, and the like. The first holder 68 is entirely formed in a cap shape, and has a through hole 68A at the center thereof. The first holder 68 has a peripheral portion 68B of the through hole 68A and an upper end portion 69A of the second holder 69. The base is clamped. The second holder 69 has a cylindrical shape, and a flange 69B that abuts the lower surface of the inner lid 56 around the hole 77 is formed on the lower side thereof. A concave groove 69 </ b> C for fitting the pressure regulating packing 72 is formed. Furthermore, a projecting piece 69d having an L-shaped cross section is formed on the inner peripheral side of the second holder 69 in order to fit one end of the pressure adjusting spring 74.

  When assembling the pressure regulating valve holder assembly 66, first, the pressure regulating packing 72 fitted into the concave groove 69C of the second holder 69 is inserted into the hole 77 provided in the inner lid 56, and the inner circumference of the second holder 69 is inserted. The valve support 73 is inserted from above the second holder 69 so as to sandwich the pressure adjusting spring 74 on the side. Next, the first pressure regulation packing 71 is placed on the valve support 73 so as to cover the valve support 73 and the upper end 69A of the second holder 69, and the first pressure regulation packing 71 is further sandwiched from this state. In this manner, the first holder 68 is covered from above, the engaging portion 75 and the engaged portion 76 are fitted to each other, and the first holder 68 is attached to the second holder 69. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the pressure regulating valve holder assembly 66 is assembled, the inner surface of the second holder 69 and the lower surface of the valve support 73 are directly opposed to the inside of the pan 11. The first pressure regulating packing 71 arranged on the upper side of the two holders 69 and the valve support 73 has a structure that does not require direct pressure from the inside of the pan 11.

  The pressure regulating valve 65 is held by the pressure regulating valve holder assembly 66 assembled in this manner, and the pressure regulating section 58 is configured by covering the pressure regulating valve cover 67 from above. At this time, the pressure regulating valve holder assembly 66 and the pressure regulating valve cover 67 may be attached by claw fitting or may be stopped using a fastening member such as a screw or a rivet. The pressure regulating valve cover 67 is for restricting the movement range of the pressure regulating valve 65, and is provided with a plurality of holes (not shown) for guiding the steam discharged from the communication hole 70 to the steam port. Further, since the inner lid 56 is held by the pressure regulating valve holder assembly 66 and the pressure regulating valve cover 67, the hole 77 of the inner lid 56 is not exposed.

  The opening area of the communication hole 70 of the valve support 73 is smaller than the area of the surface 80 that receives pressure directly from the pot 11 inside the leg 79 formed on the lower side of the valve support 73. Thereby, the pressure in the pan 11 can be adjusted by the opening area of the communication hole 70 and the weight of the pressure regulating valve 65.

  A solenoid 78 that adjusts the sealing degree of the lid 31, that is, the internal pressure of the pan 11, by moving the pressure regulating valve 65 is provided inside the lid 31. When the solenoid 78 is not energized, its tip is held in the advanced position, and the pressure regulating valve 65 is retracted from the communication hole 70, while when the solenoid 78 is energized, its tip is retracted and the pressure regulating valve 65 is retracted from the communication hole. 70 is caused to roll by its own weight, the communication hole 70 is closed, and pressure is put into the pan 11.

  Both the first pressure regulating packing 71 and the second pressure regulating packing 72 are made of an elastic member such as silicone rubber. Thereby, particularly when the pressure in the pan 11 shown in FIG. 3 is reduced, the pressure regulating valve 65 comes into close contact with the first pressure regulating packing 71 due to the elastic deformation of the first pressure regulating packing 71, and the opening in the first pressure regulating packing 71. That is, the sealing performance of the hole 71A is improved.

  In addition, the inner lid assembly 55 is provided with a safety valve 62 that opens when the pressure in the pan 11 is increased to an abnormal pressure that is equal to or higher than a set value for some reason, and reduces the internal pressure of the pan 11. The pressure adjusting unit 58 and the safety valve 62 are provided facing the inlet side of the steam port when the inner lid 56 is attached to the lower side of the outer lid cover 35. The inner lid 56, the lid packing 57, the pressure adjusting unit 58, and the safety valve 62 are integrated by a packing base 59 provided on the outer periphery of the inner lid assembly 55, and are detachably provided on the inner surface of the outer lid cover 35. The annular packing base 59 is used to mount the inner lid 56 and the lid packing 57. Here, in addition to the mounting portion of the inner lid 56 and the mounting portion of the lid packing 57, the outer lid cover 35 is attached. And a handle portion are formed so that the user can easily attach and detach the inner lid assembly 55.

  81 is a pressure reducing means provided to lower the inside of the pan 11 below the normal atmospheric pressure with the lid 31 closed to the main body 1. The decompression means 81 includes a decompression pump 82 as a decompression drive source provided at the rear portion of the main body 1, and a tubular path from the decompression pump 82 through the main body 1 and the lid 31 to the hole 83 provided in the inner lid 56. 84. In addition, an electromagnetic valve 87 as an opening / closing means for opening and closing the base end portion of the path 84 and a valve accommodating body 88 for accommodating the electromagnetic valve 87 are provided inside the lid 31. Connected to the valve housing 88 is a cylindrical decompression packing 89 protruding downward from the heat radiating plate 34 toward the periphery of the hole 83 of the inner lid 56.

  Then, when the inner lid assembly 55 including the inner lid 56 is attached to the lower surface of the lid body 31, the decompression packing 89 is hermetically abutted against the upper surface of the inner lid 56 while being elastically deformed, whereby the hole 83 and the decompression pump 82 are connected. A communication path 84 is formed. When the lid 31 is closed with the inner lid assembly 55 attached, the lid packing 57 is in close contact with the pan 11 and the pressure regulating valve 65 closes the communication hole 70. 82 is communicated by a path 84. When the decompression pump 82 is started from this state, the solenoid valve 87 and thus the path 84 are opened, and the air in the pan 11 is exhausted to the outside of the main body 1 through the path 84 and the decompression pump 82, and the inside of the sealed pan 11 The pressure drops. In addition, when the pressure in the pan 11 drops below the atmospheric pressure by a certain value, the electromagnetic valve 87 and thus the path 84 are closed to keep the pan 11 in a reduced pressure state. Furthermore, even when the pressure in the pan 11 rises due to the slow leak, the electromagnetic valve 87 and consequently the path 84 are opened, and the decompression pump 82 is activated to maintain the pan 11 in a state lower than the atmospheric pressure. .

  In such a state where the inside of the pan 11 is lower than the atmospheric pressure, the air inside the leg 79 constituting the valve support 73 is sucked into the pan 11 and the pressure regulating valve 65 and this pressure regulating valve 65 are mounted accordingly. The valve support 73 to be installed is lowered against the bias of the pressure adjusting spring 74. However, when the opening 70 of the valve support 73 moves to a position lower than the hole 71A of the first pressure regulating packing 71, the pressure regulating valve 65 is mounted on the first pressure regulating packing 71 in place of the previous valve support 73. And the hole 71A of the first pressure regulating packing 71 is closed, so that the inside of the pan 11 is secured and the pressure reduction can be continued (see FIG. 3).

  On the other hand, when the inside of the pan 11 is pressurized to atmospheric pressure or higher, for example during rice cooking, the inside of the valve support leg 79 receives direct pressure from the inside of the pan 11, so that the valve support 73 resists the weight of the pressure regulating valve 65. Rises. Here, when the opening 70 of the valve support 73 moves to a position higher than the hole 71A of the first pressure regulating packing 71, the pressure regulating valve 65 is replaced by the valve support 73 instead of the first pressure regulating packing 71 so far. The pressure regulating valve 65 that is placed and closes the communication hole 70 and that is placed on the valve support 73 rises in the same manner as the valve support 73. After the valve support 73 is lifted, the valve support 73 comes into contact with the first pressure regulating packing 71, thereby blocking the steam and the like trying to pass through the hole 71 </ b> A of the first pressure regulating packing 71, thereby maintaining the hermetic seal in the pot 11. Yes (see FIG. 2).

  Returning to FIG. 1 again, an operation panel 101 is provided at the front of the main body 1. Inside this operation panel 101 is an LCD 102 for displaying the time and the selected menu, an LED for displaying the current process, and an operation for starting cooking and selecting a menu, although none of them are shown in the figure. In addition to the switch 103 (see FIG. 5), a substrate on which a depressurization selection switch for selecting a depressurization state in the pan 11 is disposed. The operation panel 101 displays button names and the like to prevent dust and water from adhering to the control means that is an electronic component. The operation panel 101 may be provided on the front side of the lid 31.

  111 is a heating control means provided in the front inside the main body 1. The heating control unit 111 includes a heating element (not shown) for driving the heating coil 16, which is a heating unit, on a substrate. The element that drives the heating coil 16 is heated along with the oscillation of the heating coil 16, but has a use condition temperature that guarantees the operating state, and therefore needs to be used at a certain temperature or lower. For this purpose, the element that drives the heating coil 16 is thermally connected to a fin-like radiator 112 made of a material having good thermal conductivity such as aluminum and emits from a cooling fan 113 that is a cooling means. The element is driven within the operating temperature by applying wind to the radiator 112 to remove heat.

  The cooling fan 113 is disposed below or on the side of the radiator 112 attached to the heating control unit 111. In addition, a hole for discharging the air which is emitted from the cooling fan 113 and deprived of heat from the radiator 112 attached to the heating control means 111 to the outside of the main body 1 is formed in the bottom or side of the main body 1. A plurality of (not shown) are provided. The heating control means 111 is housed inside the product, that is, in the main body 1, but may be disposed at any position on the outer periphery of the pan 11. Moreover, you may arrange | position the hole provided in the bottom part or side part of the main body 1 in any position. However, in recent years, there is a demand for miniaturization of products, and the heating control means 111 and the cooling fan 113 and the hole 114 for discharging warm air are arranged at substantially opposite positions across the pan 11. Is preferred. Further, a cord reel 116 for winding a power plug (not shown) is provided inside the main body 1.

  Next, the control system will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 111 is the heating control means described above, which receives each temperature information from the pan temperature sensor 21 and the lid temperature sensor 61, and a heating coil 16 that heats the bottom of the pan 11 during cooking and warming. The cord heater 26 that heats the side portion of the pan 11 and the lid heater 36 that heats the lid 31 are controlled, and the pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are controlled. In particular, the heating control means 111 of the present embodiment mainly controls the heating coil 16 based on the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor 21 to manage the temperature of the bottom of the pan 11 and based on the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 52. Then, the lid heater 26 is controlled so that the temperature of the heat radiating plate 34 and the inner lid 56 is controlled. The heating control means 111 includes, as a function on the control sequence of the program stored in its own storage means (not shown), a rice cooking control means 118 that heats the cooked food in the pan 11 during rice cooking, Insulation control means 119 for maintaining and heating the rice in the pan 11 to a predetermined temperature is provided.

  The heat retention control means 119 here includes a timer means 120. When the heat retention operation starts, the timer means 120 is activated to measure the elapsed heat retention time, and this heat retention elapsed time is set to a preset time (for example, 1 hour). When the temperature reaches, the pressure in the pan 11 returns from the pressurized state to almost the atmospheric pressure, and the temperature in the pan 11 is reduced to the heat retention temperature, so that the so-called heat retention is in a stable state. In addition, the heating control means 11 receives a command for starting reserved rice cooking from the operation switch 103, and the rice cooking control means 118 so that the cooked rice in the pan 11 is cooked at a predetermined time previously stored in the storage means. Reservation rice cooking control means 121 capable of executing a reservation rice cooking course for controlling the cooking is provided. The predetermined time can be changed as appropriate by operating, for example, the hour key or minute key of the operation switch 103.

  Reference numeral 122 denotes a heating coil driving unit that incorporates a high-frequency inverter circuit that receives a control signal from the heating control unit 111 and supplies a predetermined high-frequency current to the heating coil 16. Separately from this, the output side of the heating control means 111 receives a control signal from the heating control means 111 and drives the lid heater 36 so as to heat the radiator plate 34 and the inner lid 56. 123, code heater driving means 124 for turning on the code heater 26, solenoid driving means 125 for turning on or off the solenoid 78, pump driving means 126 for driving the decompression pump 82, and the electromagnetic valve 89 on or off And a display driving means 129 for driving the display means 128 composed of the LCD or LED described above. At the time of cooking by the rice cooking control means 118 and at the time of heat retention by the heat retention control means 119, the heating to the bottom of the pan 11 by the heating coil 16 and the code heater 26 are detected by detecting each temperature from the pan temperature sensor 21 and the lid temperature sensor 61. The heating is performed on the side surface of the pan 11 and the lid 31 is heated by the lid heater 36. In addition, after the rice cooking by the rice cooking control means 118 is finished and the cooked food in the pan 11 is cooked as rice, it automatically shifts to heat insulation by the heat insulation control means 119, and the temperature detected by the pot temperature sensor 21 is reached. Based on this, by adjusting the heating of the pan 11 by the heating coil 16 and the cord heater 26, the rice is kept at a predetermined temperature (about 70 ° C. to 76 ° C.).

  In particular, supplementary explanation about the heating by the cord heater 26, until the temperature of the rice is lowered from about 100 ° C. to about 73 ° C. after the rice cooking, and when the temperature is stable at about 73 ° C., the code heater 26 is heated, Heat is radiated from the metal plate 29 into the space between the lid 31 and the main body 1 to suppress cooling due to intrusion of outside air from the gap, and the flange portion 14 of the pan 11 is heated. In addition, the cord heater 26 also heats the flange portion 14 of the pan 11 during the period when the rice is reheated during heat insulation, so that moisture generated by heating the rice is prevented from condensing on the upper part of the inner surface of the pan 11. ing.

  Furthermore, the heating control means 111 in the present embodiment is a period until the rice cooking at the time of standby of the reserved rice cooking by the reserved rice control means 121 or the time until the rice cooking control means 118 starts substantial rice cooking. Depressurization control to operate the decompression pump 82 and the decompression state maintaining electromagnetic valve 87 so that the inside of the pan 11 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure after the period and the heat insulation control means 119 determine that the above-mentioned heat insulation is stable. A function as means 130 is also provided.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described based on the timing chart of FIG. In FIG. 5, each graph in the uppermost stage and the next stage shows changes in pressure and temperature in the pan 11, and hereinafter, the operation timing of the pressure reducing selection switch and the pressure reducing display lamp of the LCD are shown. The operation timing, the operation timing of the decompression pump 82, and the operation timing of the electromagnetic valve 87 are shown (the painting state is on).

  First, the operation at the time of reserved rice cooking will be described. By operating the hour key and minute key of the operation switch 103, the desired cooking time corresponding to the predetermined time is set, and the cooked rice is in the pan 11. When rice and water are added and then another timer switch, for example, of the operation switch 103 is operated, a reserved rice cooking course is set (set) by the reserved rice control means 121, and the state shifts to a standby state for reserved rice. In this reserved rice cooking course, the rice cooking control means 118 is controlled so that the cooked rice in the pan 11 is cooked at a predetermined time, but the pressure is reduced between the standby state of the reserved rice cooking and the time when rice cooking starts substantially. The pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are controlled so that the control means 130 operates and the pressure in the pan 11 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure (1 atm = 1013 hPa).

  Specifically, when the reserved rice cooking course is set, the decompression control means 130 turns on the decompression selection switch until immediately before the rice cooking starts, and the LCD of the display means 128 indicates that the inside of the pan 11 is being decompressed. Display. Thereby, the user can know that the inside of the pan 11 is being decompressed. Further, the decompression control means 130 outputs a signal for driving the decompression pump 82 to the pump drive means 126 in order to discharge air from the inside of the pan 11, and the electromagnetic valve 87 and the path 84 in synchronization with the decompression pump 82. Is output to the solenoid valve driving means 127. Thereafter, the decompression control means 130 stops driving the decompression pump 82 and closes the electromagnetic valve 87 and consequently the path 84 to maintain the inside of the pan 11 in a decompressed state.

  While waiting for reserved cooking, the heating control means 111 turns the solenoid 78 on (energized), so the pressure regulating valve 65 is rolled to a position that closes the communication hole 70, but is slightly in the pan 11. However, air enters (slow leak), and the pressure in the pan 11 gradually increases from the time when the solenoid valve 87 is closed. The depressurization control means 130 drives the depressurization pump 82 again after a certain period of time and opens the electromagnetic valve 87 and thus the path 84 to discharge air from the pot 11. Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated, and the pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are simultaneously turned on and off, and the pressure in the pan 11 is maintained at a value within a desired range. In addition, since the operation | movement after substantial rice cooking started is common with the normal rice cooking operation mentioned later, it abbreviate | omits here.

  Thus, even when the standby time until the rice cooking is started is set long after the reserved rice cooking course is set, the inside of the pan 11 is kept in a decompressed state. At the time of this pressure reduction, the pressure regulating valve 65 is placed on the first pressure regulating packing 71 and closes the hole 71A of the first pressure regulating packing 71, so that the inside of the pan 11 is secured. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent various germs from growing in the pan 11 and the rot of rice and water as cooked rice. Therefore, finally, delicious rice can be obtained when cooking. Further, in this embodiment, the pressure control means 130 performs control to reduce the pressure in the pan 11 over the whole period of waiting for reserved rice cooking. For example, after the reserved rice cooking course is set, When the time (for example, 2 hours) elapses, the pressure reduction control for the pan 11 may be performed. In this way, by reducing the pressure of the pan 11 below the atmospheric pressure for a certain period of time while waiting for reserved rice cooking, for example, the waiting time until the start of rice cooking is not so long, but decompression control into the pan 11 is Forcibly performed, it is possible to eliminate the concern of consuming unnecessary electric power to operate the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87.

  Next, the operation | movement is demonstrated about the normal rice cooking which does not perform reservation rice cooking. In addition, as above-mentioned, the operation | movement after the substantial rice cooking in a reservation rice cooking course is started is common with the operation | movement of the normal rice cooking demonstrated from now on.

  When rice and water, which are to be cooked, are put into the pan 11 and a rice cooking key of the operation switch 103 is operated, for example, rice cooking by the rice cooking control means 118 is started. Here, the rice cooking control means 118 is based on the temperature detection of the bottom of the pan 11 by the pan temperature sensor 21 in order to promote water absorption of the rice in the pan 11 before starting the substantial rice cooking. Then, the bottom and side portions of the pan 11 are heated by the cord heater 26, respectively, and the water temperature in the pan 11 is kept at about 45 to 60 ° C. for 15 to 20 minutes. During this time, the solenoid 78 is turned on.

  Even at this time, the decompression control means 130 operates to control the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 so that the pressure in the pan 11 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure. Specifically, when the start of the process is started, the decompression control means 130 turns on the decompression selection switch until just before the substantial rice cooking is started, and the LCD of the display means 128 indicates that the inside of the pan 11 is being decompressed. Display. Thereby, the user can know that the inside of the pan 11 is being decompressed. Further, the decompression control means 130 outputs a signal for driving the decompression pump 82 to the pump drive means 126 in order to discharge air from the inside of the pan 11, and the electromagnetic valve 87 and the path 84 in synchronization with the decompression pump 82. Is output to the solenoid valve driving means 127. Thereafter, the decompression control means 130 stops driving the decompression pump 82, closes the solenoid valve 87 and consequently the path 84, maintains the inside of the pan 11 in a decompressed state, and takes into account the pressure increase due to the slow leak, for a predetermined time. After a lapse of time, the decompression control means 130 drives the decompression pump 82 again for a predetermined time and opens the electromagnetic valve 87 and thus the path 84 to discharge air from the pot 11. Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated, and the pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are simultaneously turned on and off, and the pressure in the pan 11 is maintained at a value within a desired range.

  In this manner, the inside of the pan 11 is maintained in a reduced pressure state at the time of time. At the time of this pressure reduction, the pressure regulating valve 65 is placed on the first pressure regulating packing 71 and closes the hole 71A of the first pressure regulating packing 71, so that the inside of the pan 11 is secured. Therefore, the inside of the pan 11 can be depressurized in a sealed state at the time of passing, and the rice can sufficiently absorb water in the pan 11.

  After that, when the predetermined time is over, the rice cooking control means 118 starts a substantial rice cooking operation, the decompression control to the pan 11 by the decompression control means 130 is interrupted, the decompression selection switch is turned off, and the LCD The display indicating that the pressure is reduced is also stopped. At the same time, the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are turned off until the subsequent heat retention becomes stable.

  When shifting to the rice cooking process, the rice cooking control means 118 strongly heats the pan 11 by the heating coil 16 and performs boiling heating to the cooked rice. When the temperature of the bottom of the pan 11 becomes 90 ° C or higher during this boiling heating and the temperature of the lid 31 is stabilized at 90 ° C or higher, it is assumed that the inside of the pan 11 is in a boiling state, and the heating amount is reduced more than before. Shift to continuous boiling heating. During boiling heating, the rice cooking control means 118 turns off the solenoid 78 to retract the pressure regulating valve 65 from the communication port 70. As a result, the pressure adjusting unit 58 is in an open state in which the inside and outside of the pan 11 are communicated without being sealed, and the pan 11 is maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure. Note that the fact that the temperature of the lid 31 described above is stable at 90 ° C. or higher is detected by the rate of temperature increase of the detected temperature from the lid temperature sensor 61. In this boiling detection, the pan temperature sensor 21 and the lid temperature sensor 61 can confirm that both the bottom of the pan 11 and the lid 31 have reached 90 ° C. or more, and the pan 11 has completely boiled. Can be detected accurately.

  Further, when any of the bottom part of the pan 11, the side part of the pan 11 or the lid 31 reaches a detection temperature that is not normally 120 ° C. or higher, the heating control means 111 determines that there is some abnormality and cooks rice. The amount of heating in the heating is reduced so that all operations are stopped, or the operation is shifted to the unevenness described later, or the heat is kept to prevent abnormal heating. Conversely, either the bottom of the pan 11 or the lid 31 has reached 90 ° C. or more and a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) has passed, but either the bottom of the pan 11 or the lid 31 other than that. When the temperature is lower than 90 ° C, the pan temperature sensor 21 or the lid temperature sensor 61 in the low temperature state determines that the temperature detection accuracy has deteriorated for some reason (dirt, tilt, poor contact, etc.). In the same manner, the amount of heating in rice cooking heating is reduced to a state where all operations are stopped, or the operation is shifted to unevenness, or the heat is kept to cope with this.

  When shifting to continuation of boiling, the rice cooking control means 118 starts lid heating by the lid heater 36. The lid heating here is managed by the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 61 so that the temperature of the inner lid 56 becomes 100 to 110 ° C. In addition, when shifting to boiling continuous heating, the rice cooking control means 118 periodically turns the solenoid 78 on and off. In this continuous boiling heating, it is preferable to change the timing for turning on and off the solenoid 78 in accordance with the menu selected by the operation switch 103. Thereby, the sealing degree of the pressure adjusting unit 58 leading to the pan 11 can be changed to an optimum one according to the selected menu.

  And when the bottom of the pan 11 has a predetermined temperature rise, the cooking in the pan 11 is detected, the rice cooking process by the rice cooking control means 118 is terminated, and the heat insulation control means 119 shifts to the heat insulation process. It shifts to nomura. During unevenness, the lid heater 36 is cut off by temperature control based on the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 61 to prevent dew condensation on the inner lid 56, and the temperature is high enough that the rice does not burn (98-100 ° C). The temperature at the bottom of the pan 11 is controlled so that it is maintained. The unevenness is continued for a predetermined time (15 to 20 minutes), and when the unevenness is completed, the operation shifts to heat retention by the heat retention control means 119.

  When the temperature is kept warm, the heating coil 16 heats the bottom and the lower side of the pan 11 and is slightly higher than the temperature of the rice contained in the pan 11, and the lower surface of the lid 31 is heated by the lid heater 36. The temperature of the side of the pan 11 is controlled by the code heater 26 so that the rice does not dry and a large amount of dew does not adhere. The temperature of the rice in the pan 11 is maintained at 70 to 76 ° C. Even when the temperature is kept, the pan temperature sensor 21 and the lid temperature sensor 61 are abnormally high or abnormally low. Detects abnormalities and prevents this abnormal heating.

  In addition, the degree of sealing of the pressure adjusting unit 58 in the above-described unevenness varies depending on the selected rice cooking menu, but when a predetermined time before the end of unevenness has been reached, the solenoid 78 is turned off to increase the degree of sealing of the pressure adjusting unit 58. The pressure is reduced to such an extent that there is no problem in opening the lid 31 at the end of cooking.

  On the other hand, the heat retention control means 119 starts to measure the heat retention elapsed time by the timer means 120 when the rice cooking process is completed. At this time, the decompression control means 130 repeatedly performs decompression display for a short time using the LCD of the display means 128 until the heat retention elapsed time reaches a preset time, that is, until it is determined that the heat retention is stable. Make it. Thereby, the user can understand that the inside of the pan 11 has not yet shifted to the reduced pressure state after cooking.

  Thereafter, when the above-mentioned heat retention elapsed time reaches a preset time, that is, when the heat retention is stable in the pan 11, the pressure is reduced so that the pressure in the pan 11 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure by the pressure reduction control means 130. The pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are controlled. The specific operation of this decompression control is as described above. The decompression control means 130 turns on the decompression selection switch until at least the lid 31 is opened and the decompression selection switch is turned off. Is displayed on the LCD of the display means 128. Thereby, the user can know that the inside of the pan 11 is being decompressed. Further, the decompression control means 130 outputs a signal for driving the decompression pump 82 to the pump drive means 126 in order to discharge air from the inside of the pan 11, and the electromagnetic valve 87 and the path 84 in synchronization with the decompression pump 82. Is output to the solenoid valve driving means 127. Thereafter, the decompression control means 130 stops driving the decompression pump 82, closes the solenoid valve 87 and consequently the path 84, maintains the inside of the pan 11 in a decompressed state, and takes into account the pressure increase due to the slow leak, for a predetermined time. After a lapse of time, the decompression control means 130 drives the decompression pump 82 again for a predetermined time and opens the electromagnetic valve 87 and thus the path 84 to discharge air from the pot 11. Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated, and the pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are simultaneously turned on and off, and the pressure in the pan 11 is maintained at a value within a desired range.

  Thus, when the heat insulation after the completion of cooking is in a stable state, the inside of the pan 11 is maintained in a reduced pressure state. At the time of this pressure reduction, the pressure regulating valve 65 is placed on the first pressure regulating packing 71 and closes the hole 71A of the first pressure regulating packing 71, so that the inside of the pan 11 is secured. Therefore, even if the temperature inside the pan 11 is not lowered or steam is not introduced into the pan 11, if the pressure inside the pan 11 is reduced in a sealed state during the heat insulation, the oxygen concentration in the pan 11 will decrease and the cooked rice It is possible to prevent the evaporation of water and to sufficiently suppress the Maillard reaction and oxidation. Therefore, rice with good taste can be obtained over a long period of time.

  Furthermore, the heating control means 111 can select one cooking menu from a plurality of rice cooking menus (for example, white rice, brown rice, non-washed rice, etc.) in response to an operation signal from the menu selection key of the operation switch 103, for example. Depending on the selected rice cooking menu, the heating coil 16, the lid heater 36, the code heater 26, and the like are independently controlled, and the above-described decompression control method can be applied to a rice cooker that can perform rice cooking and heat retention. In that case, it is preferable that different pressure reduction controls can be performed by changing the pressure in the pan 11 and the time during which pressure reduction control is performed depending on the selected rice cooking menu. For example, due to the difference in the moisture content of the rice to be cooked in the pan 11, in the white rice menu using white rice as the cooked rice, the pressure in the pan 11 is reduced to 0.8 atm (atm), and the brown rice is In the brown rice menu for cooking rice, the pressure in the pan 11 is controlled to be 0.6 atm, which is lower than the white rice menu. If pressure reduction control is performed so that the pressure is 0.7 atm, which is higher than the white rice menu and lower than the brown rice menu, optimum pressure reduction control according to the rice cooking menu can be performed. Note that these are merely examples, and in other rice cooking menus, an optimal decompression control corresponding to that may be adopted. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which does not dare pressure control depending on the selected rice cooking menu.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pan 11, the lid body 31 covering the pan 11, the pressure regulating unit 58 as a pressure regulating device provided in the lid body 31, and the inside of the pan 11 are atmospheric pressure A pressure reducing means 81 for reducing the pressure to less than that, and the pressure adjusting unit 58 includes a movable pressure adjusting valve 65 for opening and closing a communication port (opening 70 and hole 71A) between the inside of the pan 11 and the outside, and a pressure inside the pan 11 A valve support 73 as a pressurizing support member that supports the pressure regulating valve 65 at the time of pressure and a first pressure regulating packing 71 as a pressure reducing support member that supports the pressure regulating valve 65 at the time of pressure reduction are provided.

  In this case, when the inside of the pan 11 is pressurized to atmospheric pressure or higher, the valve support 73 supports the pressure regulating valve 65, and the pressure regulating valve 65 closes the communication hole 70 of the valve support 73, while the inside of the pan 11 When the pressure is reduced to less than atmospheric pressure, another first pressure regulating packing 71 holds the pressure regulating valve. Therefore, in the pressure regulating unit 58, the pressure regulating valve 65 and the valve support 73 or the first pressure regulating packing 71 The inside of the pan 11 can be kept hermetically secured while ensuring the optimum sealing performance according to the pressure in the pan 11. Therefore, the inside of the pan 11 can be depressurized in a sealed state at the time of time, and the rice can sufficiently absorb water in the pan 11. Further, if the inside of the pan 11 is depressurized in a hermetically sealed state at the time of heat retention, the oxygen concentration in the pan 11 is lowered, and moisture evaporation of the cooked rice can be prevented, and Maillard reaction and oxidation can be sufficiently suppressed. Therefore, water absorption in the pan 11 can be promoted, and further, yellowing and oxidation of the cooked rice can be prevented, and delicious rice can be obtained for a long period of time.

  In this embodiment, the pressure support member 73, which is a pressurizing support member, is raised during pressurization in the pan 11, and the valve support 73 is closed by the pressure regulating valve 65 while the valve support 73 is closed. 73 is lowered when the pressure in the pan 11 is reduced, and the hole 71A of the first pressure regulating packing 71 is closed by the pressure regulating valve 65.

  Accordingly, the valve support 73 can be moved up and down reliably as the pan 11 is pressurized or depressurized, so that the sealing performance by the pressure regulating valve 65 and the valve support 73 or the first pressure regulating packing 71 is further improved. It is surely kept and can effectively seal the inside of the pan 11. Therefore, pressurization and depressurization are performed reliably, and the inside of the pan 11 can be kept hermetically in both the pressurization and depressurization.

  In the present embodiment, the first pressure regulating packing 71 is provided so that the pressure from the pan 11 is not directly applied. That is, since the first pressure regulating packing 71 is not affected by the pressure from the pan 11, it is possible to prevent pressure leakage in the pan 11 due to deformation of the first pressure regulating packing 71, and more effectively seal the inside of the pan 11. Can be secured. Therefore, pressurization and decompression are performed more reliably, and the inside of the pan 11 can be kept hermetically in both the pressurization and decompression.

  Further, in the valve support 73 in the present embodiment, the opening area of the opening 70 on the mounting surface of the pressure regulating valve 58 is different from the area of the surface 80 that directly receives the pressure from the pan 11 and is smaller than the area. Yes. Thereby, the pressure in the pan 11 can be adjusted by the opening area of the opening 70 on the mounting surface of the pressure regulating valve 58 and the weight of the pressure regulating valve 58.

  Furthermore, the first pressure regulating packing 71 in the present embodiment is made of an elastic member such as silicone rubber. As a result, when the pressure regulating valve 58 is supported by the first pressure regulating packing 71 during pressure reduction in the pan 11, the first pressure regulating packing 71 comes into contact with the pressure regulating valve 58 in an elastically deformed state. The sealing performance with the 1 pressure regulating packing 71 is improved, and the sealing of the inside of the pan 11 can be secured more effectively. Therefore, pressurization and decompression are performed more reliably, and the inside of the pan 11 can be kept hermetically in both the pressurization and decompression.

  Next, another modified example will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as the said Example, The description of the common location overlaps and it abbreviate | omits as much as possible.

  FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view around the lid opening button 46. First, the opening / closing structure between the lid body 31 and the main body 1 will be described. The lid body 31 is provided with a clamp 44 corresponding to an engaging portion. The clamp 44 is rotatably supported with respect to the outer lid cover 35 around a clamp shaft 45 provided inside the lid body 31. The lid opening button 46 corresponding to the lid opening / closing means is disposed in an exposed state from the front upper surface of the lid 31 so that the user can operate it. Clamp biasing means (not shown) such as a spring for biasing the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44 toward the lid opening button 46 is provided inside the lid 31 so that the lid opening button 46 is always upward. The force to push up is applied.

  In addition to the base end portion 44 </ b> A that contacts the lid opening button 46, the clamp 44 has a drooping portion 44 </ b> B that protrudes downward from a clamping hole 48 on the lower surface of the outer lid cover 35, and a substantial distal end portion of the clamp 44. It corresponds to an engaging portion 44C extending from the lower end of the hanging portion 44B to the inside of the main body 1 as a starting point. The clamp 44 is formed of a metal part such as stainless steel, and the engaging portion 44C is substantially L-shaped. By doing so, it is possible to obtain engagement with the clamp receiver 50 having a higher strength than when the clamp 44 is made of synthetic resin. Further, the engaging portions 44C are provided at substantially equal positions on the left and right sides from the center. The hanging portion 44B and the engaging portion 44C are provided on the lower side of the clamp 44 and are provided in a pair on the left and right. The clamp shaft 45 serving as the rotation center of the clamp 44 is disposed along the upper end of the hanging portion 44B, and the engaging portion 44C swings substantially in the front-rear direction of the main body 1.

  On the other hand, a clamp receiver 50 corresponding to an engagement receiving portion is disposed in front of the upper frame 2 and is located on the substantially opposite side of the hinge portion 38 provided on the upper frame 2. When closing to 1 side, the clamp 44 rotates around the clamp shaft 45 by the biasing force of the clamp biasing means and engages with the clamp receiver 50, thereby closing the lid 31 with respect to the main body 1. It is designed to hold the state. The clamp receiver 50 is formed of a metal part such as stainless steel. By doing so, compared with the case where the clamp receiver 50 is made of a synthetic resin, the engagement with the clamp 44 having a higher strength can be obtained. On the other hand, when opening the lid 31, the lid opening button 46 is pushed, the base end of the clamp 44 is pushed downward, the clamp 44 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the engaging portion 44 </ b> C is moved to the body 1. The engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is released by moving forward. The lower part of the clamp receiver of the upper frame 2 needs to have a depth that does not collide when the clamp 44 rotates about the clamp shaft 45. The clearance between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is set to have a dimensional relationship that is larger than the normal engagement amount of the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50. Further, the dimensional relationship is set to be larger than the gap between the outer lid cover 35 and the upper frame 2.

  Here, the movable clamp 44 on the lid body 31 side is referred to as an engagement portion, and the fixed clamp receiver 50 on the main body 1 side is used as the engagement reception portion. The main body 1 may be provided with a movable engagement receiving portion.

  Reference numeral 141 denotes a substrate attached to the back (inside) side of the lid opening button 46. On this substrate 141, an LED 142 as an alarm means that is turned on when the pressure reducing means 81 operates and a Hall element 143 as a magnetic detection element are mounted. As shown in FIG. 8, the LED 142 is provided opposite to the upper surface of the lid opening button 46, and the Hall element 143 is provided on the outer lid 32 when the lid opening button 46 is not pressed. It is arranged to face the magnet 144 as a magnetic body. When the Hall element 143 tries to release the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50, the Hall element 143 is separated from the magnet 144 to detect its operation and output a detection signal to the heating control means 111. Provided. In addition, you may comprise the detection means which has an equivalent function with another sensor.

  The LED 142 in this example is continuously lit only when the pressure reducing means 81 is activated in the initial stage of rice cooking or the heat retaining process, and the inside of the pan 11 is at atmospheric pressure or less, and the inside of the pan 11 is at atmospheric pressure or less during the heat retaining process. Sometimes, when the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is to be released, it is provided as a display means that receives a detection output from the Hall element 143, blinks for a predetermined time, and then turns off. Instead of the LED 142, other display means such as an LCD may be used, or a notification means such as a buzzer may be provided. In this case, the notification means may be configured in a similar manner or in conjunction with the process. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 146 denotes a steam port not shown in the above embodiment.

  In addition to the lid 32, the radiator plate 34, the outer lid cover 35, and the inner lid assembly 55 described above, the lid 31 has an upper surface of the outer lid 32 in order to improve the appearance quality as the lid 31. A three-dimensional metal cover 33 is provided to cover the part. Here, a decompression pump 82 constituting the decompression means 81 is provided not on the main body 1 but on the rear part of the lid 31 (see FIG. 9). The configuration of each part in the decompression means 81 other than the decompression pump 82 is the same as that in the above embodiment.

  The difference between the internal structure of the lid 31 and the above embodiment will be further described. As described above, the pressure regulating solenoid 78 moves the pressure regulating valve 65 to adjust the sealing degree of the lid 31, that is, the internal pressure of the pan 11. In this configuration, the plunger 151 is moved in and out from the inside by electromagnetic force, and the pressure regulating valve 65 in the pressure regulating unit 58 is moved. In addition, a pressure adjusting frame 152 that moves together with the plunger 151 toward the outer lid cover 35 and a flexible pressure adjusting packing 153 for holding the inside of the lid 31 in a watertight state are provided inside the lid 31. . As shown in FIG. 9, the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 and the pressure adjusting frame 152 are accommodated and arranged in a pressure regulating accommodating portion 154 formed in the lid 31 by the outer lid cover 35.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the pressure adjusting frame 152 includes a pressure adjusting operation portion 161 as an operation portion protruding toward the pressure adjusting valve 65, and a frame portion 162 provided so as to surround the pressure adjusting solenoid 78. And a pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 provided on the substantially opposite side of the pressure adjusting operation part 161.

  Further, in this modification, an opening / closing solenoid 172 is arranged in another opening / closing means accommodating portion 171 formed in the lid 31 by the outer lid cover 35. Similarly to the pressure adjusting solenoid 78, the opening / closing solenoid 172 also has a configuration in which the plunger 173 is moved in and out by an electromagnetic force. Also, inside the lid 31 is movable together with the plunger 173, and the open / close frame 175 accommodated in the pressure regulation accommodating portion 154 together with the open / close solenoid 172, and a flexible for holding the inside of the lid 31 in a watertight state. An open / close packing 176 (see FIGS. 13 and 14) is provided.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the inner lid 56 is provided with an opening / closing hole 181 different from the hole 77 facing the pressure adjusting portion 58, and the upper and lower faces facing the opening / closing hole 181. A valve opening / closing means 183 containing a moving opening / closing valve 182 is mounted on the upper surface side of the inner lid 56. Therefore, in this modified example, the valve opening / closing means 183 is provided on the inner lid 56 in addition to the pressure adjusting unit 58 and the safety valve 62. The valve opening / closing means 183 includes an opening / closing valve 182 above the opening / closing hole 181 and an opening / closing valve spring 184 as an urging means for urging the opening / closing valve 182 in the direction in which the opening / closing hole 181 is opened. I have. Further, the flexible opening / closing packing 176 is disposed on the lid 31 side so as to face the upper part of the opening / closing valve 182 and have a predetermined gap. The flexible opening / closing packing 176 is interlocked with the operation of the opening / closing shaft 186 provided on the outer lid cover 35.

  Between the opening / closing shaft 186 and the plunger 173 of the opening / closing solenoid 172, an arm-shaped opening / closing shaft operating portion 188 provided integrally with the front of the opening / closing frame 175 is disposed. The opening / closing shaft operating portion 188 is formed with a cam surface 188A facing the upper portion of the opening / closing shaft 186. The opening / closing shaft operating portion 188 opens and closes as the opening / closing shaft operating portion 188 interlocked with the plunger 173 appears. By changing the position of the cam surface 188A with which the upper portion of the shaft 186 contacts, the opening / closing shaft 186 and thus the on-off valve 182 move up and down. Specifically, in the non-energized state of the on-off solenoid 172 shown in FIG. 13, the on-off valve spring 184 causes the on-off valve 182 to be separated from the on-off hole 181 so that the on-off valve 182 and the on-off shaft 186 are pushed up. When the plunger 173 and the opening / closing shaft operating portion 188 are moved to the advanced position, and when the opening / closing solenoid 172 shown in FIG. 14 is energized, the opening / closing shaft operating portion is resisted against the bias of the opening / closing valve spring 184. The plunger 173 and the opening / closing shaft operating portion 188 are configured such that the cam surface 188A of the 188 pushes down the opening / closing shaft 186 and thus the opening / closing valve 182 so that the lower portion of the opening / closing valve 182 closes the opening / closing hole 181 of the inner lid 56. Moves to the retracted position. Therefore, in the energized state of the open / close solenoid 172, the open / close valve 182 closes the open / close hole 181 communicating with the steam port 146 so that pressure can be applied into the pan 11.

  As described above, in the vicinity of the pressure adjusting solenoid 78, a pressure adjusting operation part 161 for moving the pressure adjusting valve 65 is provided in front of the pressure adjusting frame 152, while on the rear side of the pressure adjusting frame 152. A protruding pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 is provided. Similarly, an opening / closing shaft operating portion 188 having a cam surface 188A is provided in front of the opening / closing frame 175 around the opening / closing solenoid 172, and a protruding opening / closing frame lock piece is provided behind the opening / closing frame 175. 189 is provided. When the plunger 151 of the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 is in the retracted position, the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 is connected to the base end of the clamp 44 in order to restrict the movement of the clamp 44 in the direction of disengagement from the clamp receiver 50. The opening / closing frame locking piece 189 is arranged so as to sink under the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44 even when the plunger 173 of the opening / closing solenoid 172 is in the retracted position. Is done. Conversely, when the plunger 151 of the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 is in the advanced position, the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 is separated from the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44, and the plunger 173 of the opening / closing solenoid 172 is in the advanced position. In addition, the open / close frame lock piece 189 is separated from the base end portion 44 </ b> A of the clamp 44. That is, when the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 and / or the open / close frame lock piece 189 are located below the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44, the operation of the clamp 44 is restricted, and the clamp 44 is clamped by the clamp receiver 50. However, when both the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 and the opening / closing frame lock piece 189 are separated from the lower side of the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44, the operation of the clamp 44 is not restricted, and the lid opening button 46 When the push operation is performed, the clamp 44 is detached from the clamp receiver 50 and the lid 31 is opened.

  Regarding electrical connection, differences from the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition to the temperature detection signal from the pan temperature sensor 21 and the lid temperature sensor 61 and the operation signal from the operation switch 103, the heating control means 111 opens and closes the hall element 143 provided on the lid opening button 46 and the lid 31 In response to a detection signal from another Hall element 191 for detecting the signal, each part is controlled. Here, the Hall element 191 that is a lid opening / closing detection means will be described. The Hall element 191 faces, for example, a magnet (not shown) that is a magnetic body provided at the rear of the main body 1 so as to face the interior of the lid 31. Attached to. Note that another sensor may be used instead of the Hall element 191 as long as the same function can be exhibited.

  Further, in this modified example, since the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 and the opening / closing solenoid 172 are provided inside the lid 31, these solenoids 78, 172 receive the drive signal from the solenoid driving means 125 and are individually turned on. , Drive off. Further, the above-described LED 142 is also included as the display unit 128.

  Next, the operation of each part performed by the heating control means 111 will be described based on the timing chart of FIG. In FIG. 16, each graph in the uppermost stage and the next stage shows changes in temperature and pressure in the pan 11, and hereinafter, the operation timing of the pressure regulating valve 65 (pressure regulating solenoid 78), and the on-off valve 182. The operation timing of the (opening / closing solenoid 172) is shown (the painting state is on).

  In a cut-off state where rice cooking or heat insulation is not performed, both the pressure regulating solenoid 78 and the opening / closing solenoid 172 are in a non-energized (off) state. At this time, the plunger 151 of the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 is in the advanced position, the pressure adjusting valve 65 is moved so that the communication hole 70 is opened, and the plunger 173 of the opening / closing solenoid 172 is also in the advanced position, The opening / closing valve 96 moves upward so that the opening / closing hole 181 of the lid 56 is opened. Therefore, the inside of the pan 11 communicates with the outside through the communication hole 70 and the opening / closing hole 181 and is maintained at atmospheric pressure. Further, since both the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 and the open / close frame lock piece 189 are located away from the lower side of the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44, the operation of the clamp 44 is not restricted and the lid opening button 46 is pressed. When operated, the clamp 44 is detached from the clamp receiver 50. That is, in the cut state, the lid 31 can be freely opened and closed.

  After that, when rice and water to be cooked are put into the pan 11 and the rice cooker key of the operation switch 103 is operated, for example, the rice cooking process by the rice cooking control means 118 and the heat insulation process by the heat insulation control means 119 as described above are continuous. It is done. At the time of the rice cooking process, the pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 of the pressure reducing means 81 are operated, and when the inside of the pan 11 is below atmospheric pressure, the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 and the opening / closing solenoid 172 are both energized (ON). Thus, the plunger 151 of the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 and the plunger 173 of the opening / closing solenoid 172 move to the retracted positions, respectively. As a result, the pressure regulating valve 65 closes the hole 71A of the first pressure regulating packing 71 and the opening / closing valve 96 closes the opening / closing hole 181 of the inner lid 56, so that the inside of the pan 11 is secured. In addition, since both the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 and the opening / closing frame lock piece 189 sink under the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44, the rotation of the clamp 44 is restricted and the lid opening button 46 is to be pushed. In addition, the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is double-locked, and the lid 31 is prevented from opening.

  Thereafter, when the process ends and the process shifts to boiling heating, the rice cooking control means 118 stops the operation of the pressure reducing means 81, turns off the pressure adjusting solenoid 78, and retracts the pressure adjusting valve 65 from the communication port 70. As a result, the pan 11 is maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure, but the open / close solenoid 172 is still on, and the open / close frame lock piece 189 is positioned below the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44 to open the lid 31. I can't do that.

  When the boiling state in the pan 11 is detected, cooking (continuous boiling heating) and unevenness are performed continuously, but in order to make the inside of the pan 11 above atmospheric pressure until the middle of the unevenness, the rice cooking control means 118 is While the operation of the decompression means 81 is stopped, the pressure regulating solenoid 78 is turned on, and the communication port 70 is closed by the pressure regulating valve 65. Thereby, the communication between the inside of the pan 11 and the outside is blocked. Further, since both the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 and the open / close frame lock piece 189 sink under the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44, the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is double-locked, and the lid body 31 cannot be opened.

  When shifting to the unevenness, the operation of gradually returning the inside of the pan 11 to the atmospheric pressure is performed in consideration of the fact that the lid 31 can be opened immediately after the start of the subsequent heat insulation. The rice cooking control means 118 first switches the pressure regulating solenoid 78 from the on state to the off state in the middle of the unevenness, retracts the pressure regulating valve 65 from the communication port 70, and then opens and closes after a predetermined time has elapsed. The solenoid 172 is switched from the on state to the off state. In this way, at least after the communication port 70 is opened, the lid body 31 cannot be opened until the opening / closing solenoid 172 is turned off, and the pan 11 cannot be returned to the atmospheric pressure before It is possible to prevent the lid 31 from being opened.

  Immediately after the unevenness is completed and the process proceeds to the heat retaining step, the inside of the pan 11 communicates with the outside through the communication hole 70 and the opening / closing hole 181 and is maintained at atmospheric pressure. At the same time, since both the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 and the open / close frame lock piece 189 are located away from the lower side of the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44, the lid 31 can be freely opened and closed.

  Thereafter, as described in the above embodiment, the heat retention control means 119 is configured so that when the heat retention elapsed time reaches a preset time, the pressure reduction pump 130 causes the pressure in the pan 11 to be lower than the atmospheric pressure by the pressure reduction control means 130. 82 and solenoid valve 87 again control the operation. At the same time, the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 and the opening / closing solenoid 172 are simultaneously turned on in order to seal the inside of the pan 11. As a result, both the pressure adjusting frame lock piece 163 and the open / close frame lock piece 189 enter under the base end portion 44A of the clamp 44, and the rotation of the clamp 44 is restricted. Such an operation may be performed when the pan temperature sensor 21 detects that the inside of the pan 11 has reached the predetermined temperature in the heat retaining step, not after the predetermined time of the heat retaining step.

  When the process proceeds to the heat retaining step, the heat retaining control means 119 receives the detection signals from the Hall elements 143 and 191. That is, during the operation control of the pressure reducing means 81 for reducing the pressure inside the pan 11, the user intends to open the lid 31 with the pressure adjusting solenoid 78 and the opening / closing solenoid 172 turned on simultaneously. When the lid opening button 46 is pushed, the clamp 44 is restricted in its rotation, but the lid opening button 46 is pushed slightly downward due to the elasticity of the clamp 44 and the hall element 143 is magnetized. Move away from 144. When the heat retention control means 119 receives the detection signal from the hall element 143 at this time, the pressure regulating solenoid 78 and the opening / closing solenoid 172 are turned off in conjunction with each other, and both plungers 151 and 173 are advanced to communicate with each other. In addition to opening the opening 70 and the opening / closing hole 181, the rotation restriction on the clamp 44 is also released, and the lid 31 can be opened by continuing to press the lid opening button 46.

  After that, when the cooked rice is taken out of the pan 11 and the lid 31 is closed again, another hall element 191 detects the closed state of the lid 31 and sends the signal to the heat retaining control means 119. Send it out. In response to this, the heat retention control means 119 activates the pressure reducing means 81 again after a predetermined time and simultaneously turns on the pressure regulating solenoid 78 and the opening / closing solenoid 172 so that the lid 31 is not opened carelessly.

  Further, during the unevenness and heat retention process, when the pressure reducing means 81 is operated and the inside of the pan 11 is at atmospheric pressure or lower, the heating control means 111 sends a control signal for continuously lighting the LED 142 to the display driving means 129. Thereby, the user can recognize immediately that the lid 31 and the main body 1 are engaged and locked because the inside of the pan 11 is being decompressed. In addition, since there is a slight time lag from when the lid opening button 46 is intended to be pushed to when the lid 31 can actually be opened, the clamp 44 of the lid 31 and the clamp receiver 50 of the main body 1 When the Hall element 143 outputs a detection signal when it is intended to release the engagement of the LED, the LED 142 switches to a blinking operation. After a predetermined time has elapsed, if the LED 142 is automatically turned off, the lid is immediately turned off. The user can understand whether the body 31 does not open.

  Thus, in this example, the main body 1 provided with the pan 11 and the openable / closable lid 31 covering the main body 1 are provided. The lid 31 is a clamp receiver 50 as an engagement receiving portion provided in the main body 1. A state in which the clamp 44 as the engaging portion that can be engaged and disengaged, the pressure adjusting portion 58, and the valve opening / closing means 183 are engaged, the clamp 44 is engaged with the clamp receiver 50, and the lid 31 is closed to the main body 1. Therefore, the pressure adjusting unit 58 is movable to lock the engagement of the clamp 44 with the clamp receiver 50 when a predetermined process (spotting or warming) is performed, and when the valve opening / closing means 183 is not at atmospheric pressure. It is the composition to do.

  That is, if the inside of the pan 11 is other than atmospheric pressure during the process such as unevenness and heat insulation, the pressure regulator 58 and the valve opening / closing means 183 cause the clamp 44 of the lid 31 and the clamp receiver 50 of the main body 1 to The engagement is double locked. Therefore, even when an unintentional operation to open the lid 31 is performed, the lid 31 does not open, preventing the cooking of rice to be cooked in the pan 11, steam, rice balls, etc. The main body 1 and its surroundings can be prevented from becoming dirty.

  Further, in this example, when a predetermined time before the end of the rice cooking process, the pressure adjusting unit 58 and the valve opening / closing means 183 are operated, the engagement lock between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is released, and the lid 31 is opened. It is configured.

  In this way, the engagement lock between the clamp 44 of the lid 31 and the clamp receiver 50 of the main body 1 is released when the inside of the pan 11 becomes atmospheric pressure, particularly before the end of the rice cooking process. The lid 31 is not forcibly opened by pressure, and it is possible to surely prevent the cooked rice, steam, rice balls, etc. in the pan 11 from being scattered, and to prevent the main body 1 and its surroundings from getting dirty. it can.

  In this case, in order to release the engagement lock between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50, it is preferable that the pressure adjusting unit 58 operates first, and then the valve opening / closing means 183 operates. That is, since the engagement between the clamp 44 of the lid 31 and the clamp receiver 50 of the main body 1 is continuously locked by the valve opening / closing means 183 for a while after the pressure adjusting unit 58 is operated, It is possible to prevent the lid 31 from being inadvertently opened before the pressure has returned to atmospheric pressure.

  Further, in this example, the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is locked after reaching a predetermined temperature in the heat retaining process or after a predetermined time of the heat retaining process.

  In this case, since the engagement between the clamp 44 of the lid 31 and the clamp receiver 50 of the main body 1 is locked when a predetermined temperature is reached in the heat retaining process or after a predetermined time after the heat retaining process, the pan is kept in the heat retaining process. It is possible to prevent the lid 31 from being inadvertently opened in a situation other than the atmospheric pressure inside 11.

  Further, in this example, when the Hall element 143 as the detection means provided on the lid opening button 46 which is the lid opening / closing means detects the operation when the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is to be released, the clamp 44 And the clamp receiver 50 are unlocked.

  In this way, even if the inside of the pan 11 is in a state other than atmospheric pressure during the heat retaining process, this engagement is performed only when the engagement between the clamp 44 of the lid 31 and the clamp receiver 50 of the main body 1 is intended to be released. Since the lock is released, the lid 31 can be opened at any time during the heat insulation process, and the cooked rice can be taken out from the pan 11.

  Moreover, in this example, the main body 1 provided with the pan 11, the decompression means 81 for decompressing the inside of the pan 11 to less than atmospheric pressure, the openable / closable lid 31 covering the main body 1, and the alarm that is activated when the decompression means 81 is operated. An LED 142 is provided as a means.

  In this case, if the LED 142 is activated when the lid opening button 46 is pressed, it is possible to recognize a situation in which the pressure reducing operation is performed and the lid 31 does not open immediately. Therefore, operations such as forcibly pushing the lid opening button 46 or pushing the lid opening button 46 many times can be reduced, and the performance degradation of the lid opening button 46 and thus the rice cooker can be improved.

  Further, the lid 31 here is provided with a clamp 44 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the clamp receiver 50 provided in the main body 1, and when the lid 44 is pushed to release the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50. When the hall element 143 as the detecting means detects this operation, the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is released. By doing so, the Hall element 143 detects the operation when the engagement between the clamp 44 and the clamp receiver 50 is to be released, and the lid 31 can be opened.

  Further, here, a lid opening button 46 which is a lid opening / closing means is provided, and the LED 142 is provided on the lid opening button 46. In this way, it is possible to immediately recognize whether or not the pressure reducing operation is being performed based on whether or not the LED 142 provided on the lid opening button 46 is operating.

  The alarm means is preferably a display means such as LED 142 or a notification means such as a buzzer. That is, it is possible to confirm whether or not the pressure reducing operation is performed only by looking at the display means provided on the lid opening button 46, and whether or not the pressure reducing operation is performed only by listening to the sound from the notification means. I can confirm.

  Next, the configuration and operation of each part particularly related to the present invention will be described in more detail. FIGS. 17-21 shows the relationship between the rice temperature in the pan 11 after the unevenness and the pressure in the pan. In each of these drawings, the rice cooking temperature in the pan 11 is maintained at a predetermined temperature when the uneven cooking process is completed and the rice cooking process up to that point is completed and the process proceeds to the heat insulation process. Here, the decompression control means 130 determines whether the temperature of the rice in the pan 11 detected by the pan temperature sensor 21 reaches a predetermined temperature, or the heat retention elapsed time reaches a preset time as described above, or the pan 11 When a predetermined time elapses after the rice temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the pressure reducing control means 130 operates the pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 to reduce the pressure in the pan 11 to less than atmospheric pressure.

  In addition, the decompression control means 130 determines that the predetermined time T2 elapses as shown in FIG. 18 after the decompression pump 82 or the electromagnetic valve 87 is driven, or the pressure in the pan 11 detected by a pressure sensor (not shown) is predetermined. When the pressure value is reached or the pressure in the pan 11 reaches the predetermined pressure value and the predetermined time elapses, the pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are operated again to reduce the pressure in the pan 11 to less than atmospheric pressure. Depressurize to. Here, the predetermined time T2 is set to 3 hours, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 to 21, the decompression control means 130 drives the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 until reaching a fixed predetermined time regardless of the temperature and pressure in the pan 11. The driving time T1 of the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 at this time is set to 2 minutes, for example. The pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 may be driven until the pressure in the pan 11 reaches a predetermined pressure value, or the pressure in the pan 11 reaches a predetermined pressure value and then fixed for a predetermined time. The pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 may be driven until the pressure reaches.

  FIG. 17 shows an example in which the lid 31 is opened and closed in a time shorter than the predetermined time T2. As shown in the figure, the operation of keeping the inside of the pan 11 in a state lower than the atmospheric pressure continues until the Hall element 191 detects the open state of the lid 31. When the lid 31 is opened, the inside of the pan 11 naturally becomes the same atmospheric pressure (atmospheric pressure) as the outside air. At this time, the lid opening detection signal is received from the hall element 191, and the decompression control means 130 consumes unnecessary power. In order to avoid this, the driving of the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 is stopped. Thereafter, when the Hall element 191 detects the closed state of the lid 31, the decompression control means 130 operates the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 to start depressurizing the pressure in the pan 11 to less than atmospheric pressure.

  A period (T1 + T2) from when the decompression pump 82 or the electromagnetic valve 87 starts to drive once to start driving again next time is defined as one cycle. As shown in FIG. 18, when the lid 31 cannot be opened for a long time and the heat retention time in a state lower than the atmospheric pressure becomes longer, the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are repeatedly driven for several cycles. If the state is kept as it is, the pan 11 is in a sealed state, and since there is a slight amount of slow leak, the pressure value in the pan 11 gradually decreases before the decompression pump 82 and the solenoid valve 87 are driven. To do. That is, the pressure in the pan 11 is lower than a predetermined pressure value.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to avoid such a pressure drop more than necessary, when the Hall element 191 does not detect the open state of the lid 31 during a predetermined cycle that is a fixed time, the decompression control means 19, as shown in FIG. 19, the predetermined time until the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 are driven next is extended to the time T2 ′ longer than the previously set time T2, or FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, the driving time of the decompression pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 is changed to a time T1 ′ by making it shorter than the initial setting time T1, or else as shown in FIG. While extending T2 to time T2 ′, the drive time T1 is shortened to change to time T1 ′ to vary the drive cycle. This variable setting of the drive cycle is continued until the Hall element 191 detects the open state of the lid 31 thereafter.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the predetermined time T2 elapses during the heat insulation, the pressure reducing pump 82 constituting the pressure reducing means 81 is operated in the rice cooker provided with the pressure reducing control means 130 that is driven for the set predetermined driving time T1. When the Hall element 191 does not detect the open state of the lid 31 after the decompression pump 82 is driven for a predetermined time, the predetermined time T2 until the next decompression pump 82 is driven, the next drive time T1 of the decompression pump 82, or The decompression control means 130 is configured to vary both the predetermined time T2 and the driving time T1 until the driving.

  By doing so, the pressure reducing pump 82 is driven only for a predetermined driving time T1 when the predetermined time T2 elapses during the heat retention, whereby the main body 1 and thus the inside of the pan 11 is maintained at a state below atmospheric pressure. If the Hall element 191 does not detect the open state of the lid 31 after the 82 has been driven for the drive time T1, the inside of the pan 11 can be maintained at less than atmospheric pressure without frequently driving the decompression pump 82. Thus, the predetermined time T2 until the next time the decompression pump 82 is driven, the next driving time T1 of the decompression pump 82, or both the predetermined time T2 and the driving time T1 until this driving is varied. As a result, while the inside of the pan 11 is maintained at a state below atmospheric pressure, the electric consumption can be reduced, and the operation sound generated when the pressure reducing pump 82 and the electromagnetic valve 87 associated therewith are driven can be reduced. Can reduce the noise of the vessel.

  In the above configuration, the time T2 during which the decompression pump 82 is driven a predetermined number of times including the next time may be varied.

  Next, the sealing structure between the pan 11 and the lid packing 57 will be described with reference to FIGS. In each of these drawings, the lid packing 57 includes a first seal portion 57A for sealing the upper inner surface 11A of the pan 11, a second seal portion 57B for sealing the upper surface 14A of the flange portion 14 of the pan 11, and the packing. An attachment portion 57C attached to the base 59 is formed. The base end portion of the attachment portion 57C is sandwiched and fixed by the inner lid 56 and the packing base 59, while the first seal portion 57A and the second seal portion 57B are provided at the distal end portion of the attachment portion 57C. Connected in different directions. That is, the first seal portion 57A, the second seal portion 57B, and the attachment portion 57C maintain a series of shapes, and are configured as one piece as the lid packing 57. The first seal portion 57A and the second seal portion 57B are easily elastically deformed in order to improve the adhesion with the pan 11.

  Note that the first seal portion 57A and the second seal portion 57B may be configured as separate parts, and an attachment portion with the packing base 59 may be formed. Also in this case, it is preferable to form the first seal portion 57A on the inner side than the second seal portion 57B.

  22-24 has shown the sealing structure of the pan 11 and the lid packing 57 in the conventional rice cooker. When the lid 31 is normally closed, as shown in FIG. 22, the second seal portion 57 </ b> B comes into contact with the upper surface 14 </ b> A of the flange portion 14, and the pan 11 and the lid packing 57 are brought into close contact with each other. Further, when the inside of the pan 11 is higher than the atmospheric pressure, a force from the center of the pan 11 to the periphery acts, as shown in FIG. 23, not only the second seal portion 57B and the flange portion 14, The first seal portion 57A comes into contact with the upper inner surface 11A of the pan 11, and the adhesiveness between the pan 11 and the lid packing 57 is continuously secured.

  On the other hand, when the pressure reducing pump 82 of the pressure reducing means 81 is activated and the inside of the pan 11 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure, a force toward the center acts in the pan 11 and faces the upper inner surface 11A of the pan 11. The first seal portion 57 </ b> A is also drawn into the center of the pan 11. If the pressure reducing means 81 breaks down and the pressure in the pan 11 becomes extremely low, the pulling force of the first seal portion 57A toward the center of the pan 11 acts strongly as shown in FIG. Then, another second seal portion 57B eventually gets over the inside of the flange portion 14 (enters into the pan 11).

  A structure for solving such a problem is shown in FIGS. Here, a convex portion 59A as a protrusion is provided at a portion of the packing base 59 that faces the second seal portion 57B. The convex portion 59A may be disposed on the entire circumference of the inner lid assembly 55 and thus the lid 31, or may be disposed locally. A predetermined gap B1 is previously formed between the convex portion 59A and the second seal portion 57B with the lid 31 closed. The gap B1 is set to be larger than the gap B2 between the main body 1 and the lid 31 that opens and closes with respect to the main body 1.

  If the gap B1 is made larger than the gap B2, there is no influence on the operation of closing the normal lid 31. That is, when closing the lid 31, the lid 31 is pushed downward, and the clamp 44 is engaged with the clamp receiver 50, thereby maintaining the closed state of the lid 31 and the main body 1. In this case, even if the gap B2 between the lid 31 and the main body 1 becomes 0 by pushing the lid 31 from above (that is, the lid 31 and the main body 1 are in contact with each other in the vicinity thereof). The gap 44 is still formed between the convex portion 59A and the second seal portion 57B, so that the convex portion 59A of the packing base 59 does not contact the lid packing 57 and the clamp 44 is clamped. Engage with the receiver 50.

  Incidentally, if the gap B2 is set to be smaller than the gap B1, when the lid body 31 is pushed downward, the convex portion 59A has a gap between the lid body 31 and the main body 1 so that the convex portion 59A is the second seal portion. First hit 57B. In order to engage the clamp 44 with the clamp receiver 50 from there, it is necessary to push the lid 31 further downward, and an extra force is required to close the lid 31, which is not preferable.

  In this preferred example, when the decompression pump 82 of the decompression means 81 is operated and the inside of the pan 11 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure, a force toward the center acts in the pan 11 and the pan 11 The first seal portion 57A facing the upper inner surface 11A is also drawn into the center of the pan 11. Here, even if the pressure reducing means 81 breaks down and the pressure in the pan 11 becomes extremely low, the second seal portion 57B of the lid packing 57 is pulled into the center of the pan 11 as shown in FIG. In the middle, the upper surface 14A of the flange portion 14 of the pan 11 and the convex portion 59A protruding from the packing base 59 toward the second seal portion 57B are sandwiched. In this case, the movement of the second seal portion 57B is restricted, and the second seal portion 57B does not get over the inside of the flange portion 14 (enter into the pan 11).

  As described above, the lid packing 57 provided on the lid 31 seals the first seal portion 57A that seals the upper inner surface 11A, which is the upper side surface of the pan 11, and the second seal that seals the upper surface 14A of the flange portion 14 of the pan 11. When the pressure in the pan 11 gradually decreases below the atmospheric pressure from the packing base 59 provided on the lid 31 toward the second seal portion 57B, the second portion is provided. A convex portion 59A that restricts the movement of the seal portion 57B is provided.

  In this way, even if the main body 1 and thus the inside of the pan 11 is excessively depressurized to less than atmospheric pressure, the second seal portion 57B of the lid packing 57 that is about to be pulled into the center of the pan 11 It is sandwiched between the flange portion 14 and the convex portion 59A, and further movement is restricted. Therefore, the sealing property between the second seal portion 57B of the lid packing 57 and the flange portion 14 of the pan 11 is improved as compared with the conventional one, and the adhesion is continuously secured stably.

  In this case, a gap B1 larger than the gap B2 between the lid 31 and the main body 1 is formed between the convex portion 59A and the seal portion of the lid packing 57, for example, the second seal portion 57B. Therefore, before the lid 31 is completely closed, the convex portion 59A does not come into contact with the second seal portion 57B of the lid packing 57. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly open and close the lid 31 by avoiding problems such as an increase in force when the lid 31 is closed and the lid 31 not closing.

  Furthermore, the rice cooker here is provided with a pressure reducing means 81 for reducing the pressure in the pan 11 to less than atmospheric pressure, and a pressure regulating valve 65 for adjusting the pressure in the pan 11 as a transformer means for transforming the main body 1 to a predetermined pressure. Therefore, for example, even when the inside of the pan 11 is excessively transformed, that is, depressurized to less than atmospheric pressure due to a failure of the decompression means 81, the sealing performance between the lid packing 57 and the pan 11 is improved, and stable sealing is performed. Can be secured.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It can change in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. The set values of the drive time T1 and the predetermined time T2 in the embodiments are merely examples, and may be appropriately changed according to the specifications of each rice cooker. Further, the configuration as the decompression means 81 is not limited to a combination of the decompression pump 82, the path 84, and the electromagnetic valve 87 as in the present embodiment.

11 Pot
31 Lid (lid)
57 Lid packing
57A First seal
57B Second seal
59 Convex (protrusion)
65 Pressure regulating valve (transformer)
81 Pressure reducing means (transforming means)
191 Hall element (detection means)
B1 gap

Claims (3)

A pan, a lid covering the pan, a main body for storing the pan, and a lid packing provided on the lid;
In the rice cooker, the lid packing has a first seal portion that seals other than the flange portion of the pan, and a second seal portion that seals the flange portion of the pan.
The rice cooker characterized in that the lid is provided with a protrusion toward the second seal portion.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the protrusion and the seal portion.   The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising decompression means for decompressing the inside of the main body to less than atmospheric pressure.