JP2013070989A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly safe rice cooker suppressing falling of components and the like in the rice cooker capable of evenly returning Oneba (sticky rice broth) produced in the steps of rice cooking.SOLUTION: The rice cooker 10 includes: a rick cooking pot 20; a rice cooker body 11 for storing the rice cooking pot 20 and having a heating means; a lid body 21; an internal pressure adjusting device PVfor adjusting the internal pressure inside the rice cooking pot 20; and a control device 62 for performing a series of rice cooking steps. The lid body 21 has an inside lid 22 for tightly closing an opening of the rice cooking pot 20; an inner lid 33 on which the inside lid 22 is mounted and which covers the opening of the rice cooker body 11, and an outer lid 58 for covering the upper part of the inner lid 33 and on which an Oneba storage tank 60 is mounted. The inside lid 22 has a recessed portion 22b having a prescribed area and recessed by a prescribed depth, and the recessed portion 22b is formed with a plurality of through-holes 22d. A closing member 23 having a pressure regulating valve 25 and a negative pressure valve 24b is provided on an opening portion 22c of the recessed portion 22b formed on the inside lid 22, so as to tightly close the opening portion 22d.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure-type rice cooker that cooks rice by pressurizing the inside of the pan to atmospheric pressure or more, and more specifically, temporarily storing a rice bowl generated during the rice cooking process, and uniformly returning the stored rice bowl into the pan. It is related with the rice cooker which has the structure which can do.

  In recent years, a pressure-type rice cooker is provided with one or a plurality of pressure valves, and in the boiling maintenance process of the rice cooking process, the pressure inside the pan is increased to a pressure exceeding the atmospheric pressure, and the pressure valve is set in a predetermined unit time unit. Opened one or more times intermittently, and when the pressure valve is opened, a vigorous boiling phenomenon is generated in the pan and the rice is stirred and cooked. It is used.

  In such a rice cooker, a steam port is provided in order to release steam generated during the rice cooking process to the outside, and when the cooked food in the pan boils through the steam port during the rice cooking process, it is blown out. May occur. This spillage is a sticky paste-like juice, and this paste-like juice contains a umami component and is also referred to as “onoba”.

  In this way, if rice balls are released to the outside together with steam during the rice cooking process, the umami component is also discharged to the outside, so that there is a problem that delicious rice cannot be cooked. Therefore, in recent years, as shown in the following Patent Document 1, a rice container that can temporarily store a rice bowl released outside during the rice cooking process is provided, and the rice cooker is requested at a predetermined timing in the rice cooking process. Rice cookers have been developed that are configured to return the rice balls stored in the container back into the pan.

  However, in the rice cooker shown in Patent Document 1 below, since the stored rice balls fall onto freshly cooked rice through the on-off valve, the returned rice balls are concentrated at one place directly below the on-off valve. Therefore, there is a problem that the rice where the rice cracker has fallen has a lot of rice balls and becomes watery, and as a result, it cannot be cooked deliciously.

  In order to solve such a problem, the following Patent Document 2 discloses an invention of a rice cooker having a configuration in which rice balls are dispersed and returned. In the rice cooker of the following patent document 2, a bottomed saucer having a predetermined depth is attached to the inner lid of the lid of the cooker body, and a receiving part and a bottom part formed on the upper surface of the bottom part are attached to the saucer. And dispersion holes formed in a dispersed manner. By adopting such a configuration, according to the rice cooker of Patent Document 2 below, a plurality of dispersions are received after receiving onions and steam droplets that are elements of umami and deliciousness generated in the rice cooking process. It is said that it can be dispersed in a shower shape through the holes and returned to almost the entire surface of the object to be cooked.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-244138 (paragraph [0012], FIG. 1)   Japanese Patent No. 4684329 (paragraph [0019], FIGS. 1 to 3)

  In the rice cooker described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to efficiently return the rice cake to almost the entire area of the surface of the object to be cooked by attaching a saucer that disperses and returns the rice cake. However, this saucer is attached to the pan side of the inner lid, and it can be attached to the inner lid with screws etc. via an attachment part formed on the saucer, or can be attached and detached via an attachment post. It is attached to. Therefore, since there is a pressure fluctuation during the rice cooking process, there is a possibility that the screw or the like may fall depending on the frequency of use of the rice cooker, and there is also a possibility that the saucer itself may fall on the object to be cooked. Moreover, when a rice cooking process is performed with these falling, there exists a possibility that a rice cooker may break down.

  Furthermore, in the rice cooker described in Patent Document 2, since the inner lid and the saucer are configured separately, the lid heater provided on the inner lid in order to remove condensation that has adhered to the inner lid at the time of heat retention or the like. It is difficult for the heat to be transmitted, and there is a risk that a large amount of condensation will adhere to the saucer, and this condensation may fall on the object to be cooked, which may result in a dish that is not delicious.

  This invention was made in order to solve the problem which such a prior art has, and in the rice cooker which has a structure which can return the rice cake which generate | occur | produces during a rice cooking process uniformly in a pan in a predetermined process An object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker with high safety that suppresses falling of parts and the like, and further to provide a rice cooker that can efficiently remove the dew condensation adhering to the inner pot.

  The object of the invention can be achieved by the following configurations. That is, the rice cooker according to the first aspect of the present invention covers the rice cooker main body provided with the rice cooking pot for containing the cooked rice, the heating means for containing the rice cooking pot and heating the rice cooking pot, and the rice cooker main body. And a lid attached so as to be freely opened and closed, an internal pressure adjusting device for adjusting the internal pressure in the rice cooking pan, and a control device for controlling the heating means and the internal pressure adjusting device to execute a series of rice cooking processes. In the rice cooker, the lid body covers an inner lid that seals the opening of the rice cooker, an inner lid that is detachably mounted to cover the opening of the rice cooker body, and an upper portion of the inner lid. And an outer lid on which a rice ball storage tank for storing rice balls generated during the rice cooking process is detachably mounted, and the inner lid has a predetermined area toward the rice cooking pan side. A recessed portion having a predetermined depth is provided, and a plurality of through holes are formed in the recessed portion. In addition, the opening of the recess formed in the inner lid is provided with at least one pressure regulating valve constituting the internal pressure adjusting device and a negative pressure valve through which the rice bowl passes when the inside of the pan becomes negative pressure. The closing member is detachably provided so as to seal the opening of the recess.

  Moreover, in the rice cooker of the 2nd aspect, the said closure member is being fixed to the said inner cover by the fixing means.

  The rice cooker according to the third aspect is characterized in that at least one support member in contact with the inner lid is formed on the inner lid side of the closing member.

  Moreover, in the rice cooker of the 4th aspect, the said obstruction | occlusion member is being fixed to the said inner lid by the fixing means.

  Moreover, in the rice cooker of the 5th aspect, the said through-hole is connected by the groove-shaped conduction path, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the rice cooker according to the sixth aspect, the inner lid is provided with a lid heater.

  In the rice cooker according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the rice cracker generated during the rice cooking process is temporarily stored in a storage tank, and the stored rice basket is returned to the rice cooking pan, the rice cracker is once the inner pot. Can be returned to the rice cooking pot from the plurality of through-holes formed in the recess, so that the rice cake that is an umami ingredient can be returned to the rice cooker evenly. Is obtained. At this time, according to the rice cooker of the 1st aspect of this invention, the recessed part of an inner cover is shape | molded integrally with the inner cover, and it is for attaching a mounting part and attaching like the prior art to the rice cooking pot side of a recessed part. Since there are no parts such as screws, there is no risk that the parts such as screws and the saucer itself will fall on the cooked rice, and there is no risk of the rice cooker failing due to the dropped parts, etc., improving safety be able to. Further, since the closing member is provided so as to be detachable from the recessed portion, the recessed portion of the inner lid and the closing member can be easily cleaned.

  Moreover, according to the rice cooker of the 2nd aspect of this invention, the inside of a rice cooker is cooked during a rice cooking process by fixing the obstruction | occlusion member which obstruct | occludes the recessed part formed in the inner cover to an inner cover using a fixing means. Even if the internal pressure changes, the occlusion member can be prevented from coming off. The fixing means can use a known structure. For example, a groove and a protrusion may be formed in the inner lid and the closing member, and they may be screwed together. You may make it have. By doing in this way, attachment and detachment of a closure member becomes easy.

  Moreover, according to the rice cooker of the 3rd aspect of this invention, since the supporting member is formed in the closure member which obstruct | occludes the recessed part of an inner cover, an obstruction | occlusion member is the internal pressure in the rice cooker in a rice cooking process. It can suppress coming off by the rise. In particular, when the rice cooker becomes large, the internal pressure becomes higher and the amount of steam blown out increases, so it is necessary to withstand higher pressure. By pressing, it will be able to withstand greater pressure.

  Moreover, according to the rice cooker of the 4th aspect of this invention, an internal pressure rises during a rice cooking process by fixing the obstruction | occlusion member which obstruct | occludes the recessed part formed in the inner cover to an inner cover using a fixing means. Even so, since the closing member is fixed to the inner lid, it is possible to withstand high pressure.

  Moreover, according to the rice cooker of the 5th aspect of this invention, the rice bowl returned to the recessed part can be guide | induced to a through-hole by passing along a conduction path, and efficiently put a rice bowl on a to-be-cooked item. It can be returned evenly. At this time, if it is formed so as to incline slightly downward toward the center of the concave portion, the screw becomes easy to move and it is more efficient to guide it to the through hole.

  Further, according to the rice cooker of the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the inner lid and the concave portion are integrally formed, the heat of the lid heater provided in the inner lid can be efficiently transmitted to the concave portion, Condensation adhering to the lid can be efficiently removed.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pressure rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lid body in a state where the decorative cover of the rice cooker of FIG. 1 is removed. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the first internal pressure regulator as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rice cooker of FIG. 1 taken along line IV-IV of FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first internal pressure regulator in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the second internal pressure regulator of FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inner lid. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the inner lid. 10A is a cross-sectional view taken along line XA-XA in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XB-XB in FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the control device. FIG. 12 is a rice cooking flowchart of a plurality of rice cooking menus. FIG. 13 is a rice cooking characteristic curve diagram showing changes in temperature and pressure in the pan in the rice cooking process of the rice cooking menu “white rice / normal”.

  Hereinafter, a pressure-type rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a pressure-type rice cooker for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to identify the present invention as this rice cooker. The invention is equally applicable to other embodiments within the scope of the claims.

  With reference to FIGS. 1-10, the structure of the pressure type rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. 1 is a front view of a pressure-type rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lid body with the decorative cover of the rice cooker of FIG. 1 removed, and FIG. 3 is an arrow in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rice cooker in FIG. 1 cut along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is the first internal pressure adjustment in FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2 as in FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the second internal pressure regulating device in FIG. Is a perspective view of the inner lid, FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the inner lid, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the inner lid.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, a pressure-type rice cooker 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a rice cooker (hereinafter referred to as a pan) 20 that contains a predetermined amount of cooked rice containing rice and water. And a rice cooker main body (hereinafter referred to as a main body) 11 provided with heating means for accommodating the pan and heating the pan, a pan bottom temperature detecting means 15 for detecting the heating temperature of the pan 20, and the opening of the pan and the main body , A pair of first and second internal pressure adjusting devices PV ₁ and PV ₂ for adjusting the internal pressure in the pan provided on the lid, heating means, and first and second internal pressure adjustments such as by controlling the device _PV 1, _{PV 2,} and a control unit 62 for executing a series of cooking process (see FIG. 11). The heating means is a sensor 15 including a bottom heater 14a, side heater 14b, lid heater 14c, and the like, and the pan bottom temperature detecting means is a thermistor. Further, the first and second pressure regulating valves described later are “pressure valves” in the prior art.

Note that the series of rice cooking processes includes, for example, the rice cooking menus “white rice / normal”, “white rice / amamami”, “white rice / lightly”, “sushimeshi”, and the like shown in FIG. For example, in the rice cooking menu “white rice / normal”, a water absorption process in which a predetermined amount of water is absorbed by the rice in the pot, a rising heating process in which the pot is heated and boiled at once after water absorption, and this boiling state is maintained and the rice is maintained. It includes a boiling maintaining step in which the starch is gelatinized and cooked, a steaming step in which excess water is removed from the cooked rice and gelatinization is further promoted. The boiling maintain step, the inner bowl 20 is pressurized to a pressure above atmospheric pressure, intermittently predetermined occlusion lock of the first first pressure regulating valve 25 of the pressure regulator PV ₁ in a predetermined unit time unit The number of times is canceled, and a violent boiling phenomenon, that is, a bumping phenomenon, is caused in the pan 20 to stir and cook the cooked rice.

  Hereinafter, each structure of this rice cooker is explained in full detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the main body 11 has an opening of a predetermined size on the upper side, a deep box-type outer case 12, and an inner case 13 that supports the pot 20 in the outer case 12. And a gap is formed between the outer case 12 and the inner case 13, and the control circuit board 19 constituting the control device 62 (see FIG. 11) is disposed in the gap. The outer case 12 has a substantially elliptical shape in the vicinity of the upper opening, the pivotal support portion 16 that pivotally supports the lid 21 at one end in the longitudinal direction of the upper portion of the elliptical shape, and the lid 21 at the other end. Is provided with a locking claw 17 that is locked and locked so as not to be opened during cooking, and a release button 18 that releases the locking and opens the lid 21. The inner case 13 accommodates a pot 20 made of a deep bottom container. The pan 20 is made of, for example, a clad material made of aluminum and stainless steel. The inner case 13 is provided with a bottom heater 14a and a side heater 14b on the bottom 13a and side 13b, respectively, and a pan bottom temperature sensor 15 comprising a thermistor for detecting the pan bottom temperature is provided on the bottom 13a. . An electromagnetic induction coil wound in an annular shape is used for the bottom heater 14a.

  2, 4, and 6, the lid 21 includes an inner lid 22 that seals the opening of the pan 20, and an inner lid that is detachably attached to cover the opening of the main body 11. 33, and an outer lid 58 on which the storage tank 60 is detachably mounted if a display panel or the like is provided so as to cover the upper portion of the inner lid. The outer lid 58 is a decorative lid. The lid 21 has hinge mechanisms 34 and 35 pivotally supported by the pivot 16 of the main body 11 on one side of the inner lid 33, and lid locking means 36 for locking and locking to the locking claw 17 of the main body 11 on the other side. It is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 8 to 10, the inner lid 22 has a size that seals the opening of the pan 20, and has a predetermined area in a substantially central portion toward the pan 20 side. It consists of a disk-like body provided with a recessed portion 22b that is recessed by a predetermined depth, and an airtight packing 22a is mounted on the outer periphery thereof. A plurality of through holes 22d are formed in the recess 22b, and these through holes 22d are divided into several parts and communicated with each other by a conduction path 22e formed of an annular groove. The opening 22c of the recess 22b provided in the inner lid 22 is covered with a closing member 23 provided detachably. A closing packing 23 a is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the closing member 23 so as to be sealed with the inner lid 22. Further, the recess 22b is formed to be inclined slightly downward toward the center of the recess 22b.

  Further, the closing member 23 is fixed by the inner lid 22 and the fixing means 63. One of the fixing means 63 formed on the inner lid 22 is open and includes an engaging groove 63b having a roof-like engaging portion 63a and an engaging protrusion 63c formed on the closing member 23. Are formed in at least two locations, and by rotating the closing member 23, the engagement protrusion 63c is slid into the engagement groove 63b, and the engagement protrusion 63c is brought into contact with and engaged with the engagement portion 63a. It has a simple structure. At this time, since the engaging groove 63b is configured to gradually narrow, the engaging protrusion 63b can be firmly engaged. The fixing means 63 is not limited to this, and a known one can be used.

In addition, the closing member 23 includes a first and second pressure regulating valves 25 and 29, a safety valve 24a that is opened when the pressure in the pan abnormally increases, and a negative pressure in the pan near the substantially central portion of the top surface. A negative pressure valve 24b is provided for returning the rice balls stored in the storage tank 60 to the inside of the pan if they are opened at the time. As these safety valve 24a and negative pressure valve 24b, existing ones are used, and since these are already known, description thereof will be omitted. The structure of the first and second pressure regulating valves will be described later in relation to the first and second internal pressure adjusting devices PV ₁ and PV ₂ .

  A plurality of protrusions are formed on the upper surface of the closing member 23. This protrusion is formed so as to be in contact with the closing member 23 and an inner lid 33 which will be described later. When the pressure in the pan 20 becomes high during the rice cooking process, the closing member 23 does not come off from the inner lid 22 due to the internal pressure. In order to do so, the supporting member 23b is supported between the closing member 23 and the inner lid 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the inner lid 33 is formed of an elliptical body having a size that closes the opening of the main body 11 and is reinforced with a frame having high mechanical strength. The inner lid 33 is provided with a mounting hole 37 in which the first pressure regulating valve closing lock mechanism 38, the second pressure regulating valve opening mechanism 52, and the pocket storage tank 60 are mounted at a substantially central portion thereof. The inner lid 33 is provided with a lid heater 14c for preventing condensation and a steam temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the steam temperature.

Next, the first and second internal pressure adjustment devices PV ₁ and PV ₂ will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the first internal pressure adjusting device PV ₁ will be described mainly with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 5 shows a first pressure regulator PV _1, Figure 5A is unobstructed locked state of the first control valve, FIG. 5B shows the released state of the closing lock.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first internal pressure adjusting device PV ₁ includes a _first pressure regulating valve 25 having a closing holding pressure for holding the inside of the pan 20 at a predetermined set pressure value exceeding atmospheric pressure, A first pressure regulating valve closing lock mechanism 38 that holds and locks this closed state so that the valve opening of the first pressure regulating valve is closed and does not open even if the closing exceeds the closing holding pressure due to an increase in the internal pressure in the pan. And have. The first pressure regulating valve 25 is provided on the closing member 23 provided on the inner lid 22, and the first pressure regulating valve closing lock mechanism 38 is provided on the mounting substrate 33 </ b> A provided on the inner lid 33. The first pressure regulating valve 25 is made of a metal that is placed on the valve seat 26 so as to close the valve seat 26 in which a valve port 26a having a predetermined diameter 26a ′ is formed and the diameter 26a ′ of the valve port 26a. The pressure adjusting ball 28 and a cover 27 for restricting the pressure adjusting ball 28 from rolling off are provided, and an exhaust hole 27 a is formed in the cover 27. The first pressure regulating valve 25 is set to a closing holding pressure of 1.05 atm (atm) for holding the inside of the pan 20 at a predetermined pressure value exceeding the atmospheric pressure. This setting is made by the size of the valve opening and the weight of the pressure adjusting ball. For example, the first pressure regulating valve 25 has a diameter 26a ′ of 4.6 mm, a diameter of the pressure regulating ball 28 of 12.7 mm, and a weight of 8.505 g (specific gravity 7.93). It is 05 atm (atm). This blockage holding pressure of 1.05 atm (atm) is in the non-blocking lock state, but in the blockage lock state in which the pressure adjusting ball is pressed, a pressing force of 65 g is added and the blockage holding pressure in the locked state is 1.44. Atmospheric pressure (atm).

  The set closing holding pressure of the first pressure regulating valve 25 may be an arbitrary value as long as it is a pressure value exceeding the atmospheric pressure, but if close to the atmospheric pressure (1.0 atm), the first pressure regulating valve closing locking mechanism. Since the pressure in the pan 20 is excessively lowered when the closing lock of the first pressure regulating valve 25 is released at 38, the temperature in the pan may be lowered and the cooked rice may be cooled. The pressure is preferably set within a range of 1.05 atm (atm) to 1.075 atm.

  In addition, the exhaust hole 27a discharges steam and a bowl in the pan 20 when the metal pressure adjusting ball 28 is pushed up by the pressure in the pan 20 and the aperture 26a 'of the valve port 26a is opened. It has become.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the first pressure regulating valve closing lock mechanism 38 locks the closed state of the first pressure regulating valve 25 and releases the locked / unlocked operation member 39, and this lock / release member. And a driving device 46 for operating the operating member. The lock / release operation member 39 includes a pressing rod 40 whose one end portion (lower end) 40b presses the pressure adjusting ball 28 with a predetermined pressing force to prevent (lock) the pressure adjusting ball from lifting, and the pressing rod. And a swing arm 42 for pressing and lowering. The swing arm 42 has a substantially central portion pivotally supported by a support shaft 43 on a fixed frame 45 and can swing freely. One end 42 a of the swing arm 42 contacts the other end (upper end) 40 a of the pressing rod 40. While being in contact with each other, the other end portion 42 b is urged by the spring body 44 so as to be in contact with the slide frame body 50. The spring body 44 is attached to the support shaft 43 and urges the swing arm 42 to rotate in the clockwise direction of FIG. The pressing rod 40 is pressed by rotating the swing arm 42 by the urging force of the spring body 44. That is, the locking force in the locked state is set by the spring body.

  Further, the pressing rod 40 is in the fixed frame 45, and the sealing packing 41 made of an elastic body that urges the lower end portion 40 b of the pressing rod 40 so that the pressing rod 40 is lifted is fixed to the fixing frame 45. Has been. The hermetic packing 41 is made of a disk body having a predetermined diameter of elasticity, has an attachment portion on the outer peripheral edge, and is fixed to the inner lid by this attachment portion. The sealing packing 41 is provided with a protruding portion at the center of the disk body, and the lower end portion 40b of the pressing rod 40 is fixed to the protruding portion. That is, the sealing packing 41 can be pushed upward and pushed downward in the attached state shown in FIG. 5 by utilizing its elasticity, and the opening of the inner lid 33 can be pushed. It serves as a seal. In this embodiment, the closing force in the locked state is set by a spring body that rotates the swing arm 42. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the pressure adjusting ball can be applied with a predetermined pressing force. Any mechanism may be used as long as it is pressed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the drive device 46 includes a cylinder 47 around which an electromagnetic coil is wound, and a plunger 48 that is in the cylinder and is retracted by excitation of the electromagnetic coil. An extension coil spring 49 for pulling out the plunger for a predetermined length is attached to the distal end portion. The end of the extension coil spring 49 is fixed to the slide frame body 50, and the slide frame body 50 is slidably fixed on the mounting substrate 33A. The slide frame 50 includes a slide base 50a that is slidable on the mounting substrate 33A, and a pressing portion 50b that is on one side of the slide base and presses against the lower end 42b of the swing arm 42. Have. The lower end 42b and the pushing portion 50b are formed by providing a pair of opposing arm projections at both ends of the pushing portion 50b, that is, the front and the back in FIG. 3, and elastically bending between these arm projections. A metal wire 51 is suspended, and the thin metal wire 51 is connected so that the lower end 42b of the swing arm 42 is hooked. This connection is a kind of buffer mechanism or buffer means.

  According to this configuration, when the plunger 48 is retracted into the cylinder for exciting the electromagnetic coil, the lower end 42b of the swing arm 42 contacts the thin metal wire 51, and the lower end 42b is pulled in the cylinder direction. It is done. Since the thin metal wire 51 can be elastically bent during this pulling, an excessive force is not applied between the swing arm 42 and a slight allowance is provided, so that the drive device 46 and the lock / release operation member The connection / adjustment with 39 becomes easy. In other words, during this operation, the swing arm 42 is swung (seesaw) with the support shaft 43 as a fulcrum, so that a stroke exceeding the allowable operation range of the forward / backward movement of the drive device 46 can be secured and pressed by the pressing rod 40. It is possible to provide a margin with the pressure ball 28 and allow a margin for the mounting position of the driving device 46. In addition, although the buffer mechanism was comprised using the thin metal wire 51 which can be bent elastically, you may comprise with another buffer mechanism thru | or means.

The first pressure regulator PV ₁ is controlled by the control device, the effect of the following (a) ~ (c).
(A) First pressure regulating valve non-blocking locked state In this non-blocking locked state, the electromagnetic coil of the drive device 46 is in a non-excited state. As shown in FIG. 5A, the cylinder 47 abuts the slide table 50 a against the lower end 42 b of the swing arm 42 of the lock / release operation member 39 and overcomes the spring force of the spring body 44 by the extension force of the extension coil spring 49. Thus, the pressing rod 40 is not pushed downward by the upper portion 42a of the swing arm 42. As a result, the pressing rod 40 is lifted upward by the sealing packing 41, and the valve opening 26 a ′ of the first pressure regulating valve 25 is closed by the weight of the pressure regulating ball 28. If valve opening 26a 'is obstruct | occluded with the pressure regulation ball | bowl 28, the pressure in a pan will not become the obstruction | occlusion force, ie, set value 1.05 atm or less, during rice cooking.
(B) First pressure regulating valve closed lock state In this state, the electromagnetic coil of the drive device 46 is excited. As shown in FIG. 5B, the cylinder 47 is pulled against the extension force of the extension coil spring 49, and the swing arm 42 is rotated in the clockwise direction of FIG. 5B by the biasing force of the spring body 44. By rotating the swing arm 42, the upper end 42a of the swinging arm 42 pushes the pressing bar 40 downward, presses it against the pressure adjusting ball 28, presses the pressure adjusting ball against the valve port 26a ', and closes Hold state, ie lock. As a result, the internal pressure of the pan rises without being opened even if the first pressure regulating valve 25 exceeds the set value (1.05 atm). Even if the pressure in the pan rises, the second pressure regulating valve 29 is closed, so this internal pressure rises to the closing holding pressure of the second pressure regulating valve 29.
(C) Release of the first pressure regulating valve closed lock state When the excitation of the electromagnetic coil of the driving device 46 is lost, the cylinder 47 is applied to the lower end 42b of the swing arm 42 by the extension force of the extension coil spring 49. In contact therewith, the swinging arm 42 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. As a result, the pressing rod 40 is lifted by the restoring force of the sealing packing 41 and is separated from the pressure adjusting ball 28 to be in the non-blocking locked state of (a). As a result, when the pressure in the pan is higher than the set value 1.05 atm, the first pressure regulating valve 25 is opened by this internal pressure. If the pressure in the pan does not exceed the set value of 1.05 atm, the closed state is maintained. This unlocking is performed a predetermined number of times according to the rice cooking menu in the boiling maintenance step. Incidentally, the first pressure regulator PV _1, since the drive unit 46 and the first pressure regulating valve closure lock mechanism 38 is connected through a buffer mechanism, the driving device and the first pressure regulating valve closed locking mechanism Connection and adjustment are facilitated, and the first pressure regulating valve can be opened or closed smoothly.

Referring mainly to FIG. 7, illustrating a second pressure regulator PV _2. Incidentally, FIG. 7 shows a second pressure regulator PV _2, FIG. 7A shows a state where the second control valve is forcibly opened, Figure 7B is a state in which the second adjustment valve is closed Show.

The second internal pressure adjusting device PV2 includes a _second pressure regulating valve 29 having a higher closing holding pressure than the first pressure regulating valve, and a second pressure regulating valve opening mechanism 52 that forcibly opens the second pressure regulating valve. And have. The second pressure regulating valve 29 is provided on the closing member 23 provided on the inner lid 22, and the second pressure regulating valve opening mechanism 52 is provided on the mounting substrate 33 </ b> A provided on the inner lid 33. The second pressure regulating valve 29 includes a valve seat 30 in which a valve opening 30a having a predetermined diameter 30a ′ is formed, and a metal made on the valve seat 30 so as to close the diameter 30a ′ of the valve opening 30a. The pressure adjusting ball 32 has a cover 31 that holds the pressure adjusting ball 32 on the valve seat 30 by restricting the movement of the pressure adjusting ball 32, and an exhaust hole 31 a is formed in the cover 31. The closing holding pressure of the second pressure regulating valve 29 is set by the size of the valve opening and the weight of the pressure regulating ball. For example, the diameter of the pressure adjusting ball is 19.84 mm, the weight of the pressure adjusting ball is 32.445 g (specific gravity 7.93), the valve port (diameter) of the valve seat is 3.7 mm, and the occlusion force is 1.3 atm ( atm). This occlusion holding pressure is higher than the occlusion force 1.05 atm of the first pressure regulating valve. The occlusion holding pressure of the second pressure regulating valve 29 is not limited to 1.3 atm (atm), and may be, for example, 2.0 atm.

  Note that the closing pressure of the second pressure regulating valve 29 is higher than the closing pressure 1.05 atm of the first pressure regulating valve 25, for example,. Although it is set to 1.2 atmospheres (atm) or more, the closing pressure of the second pressure regulating valve 29 may be any value as long as the pressure value exceeds the closing pressure of the first pressure regulating valve 25. However, when the first pressure regulating valve 25 is close to the closed holding pressure of 1.05 to 1.075 atm, the pressure difference between the two decreases, and the bumping that occurs in the pan when the first pressure regulating valve is opened. Since the phenomenon does not increase and stirring of the cooked rice is insufficient, a value higher than this pressure value, for example, a range of 1.2 atmospheres to 2.0 atmospheres is preferable.

  Further, the exhaust hole 31a discharges the steam in the pan 20 when the second pressure regulating valve 29 is forcibly opened. The second pressure regulating valve opening mechanism 52 includes a cylinder 53 around which an electromagnetic coil is wound, a plunger 54 that moves the pressure adjusting ball 32 in and out of the cylinder by excitation of the electromagnetic coil, and a tip of the plunger. The slide frame 56 and an extension spring body 55 between the one end of the cylinder and the slide frame and projecting the tip of the plunger 54 by a predetermined length. The slide frame 56 slides on the mounting substrate 33A. It is fixed so that it can move freely. The slide frame 56 includes a slide base 56a that slides on the mounting substrate 33A, a fixed piece 56b that is located above the slide base and to which the tip of the plunger is fixed, and protrudes forward from the fixed piece to form a pressure adjusting ball. And a protruding rod 56c with which the tip end abuts. The tip of the protruding rod 56 c is fixed to the sealing packing 57. The hermetic packing 57 is made of a disk body having a predetermined diameter of elasticity, and has an attachment portion on the outer peripheral edge, and is fixed to the cover body by this attachment portion. The sealing packing 57 is provided with a projecting portion at the center of the disk body, the tip of the projecting rod 56c is fixed to one end of the projecting portion, and the other end is in contact with the pressure adjusting ball. In other words, the sealing packing 57 can move in the horizontal direction in the attached state by using elasticity, and functions to seal the opening of the cover.

The second internal pressure adjusting device PV ₂ is controlled by the control device 62. That is, the electromagnetic coil is excited based on a command from the control device 62. The plunger 54 is retracted into the cylinder 53 by this excitation. As a result, the pressure adjusting ball 32 rolls by its own weight and closes the valve port 30a ′. Further, from this state, when the electromagnetic coil is de-energized, the cylinder 53 is pulled forward by the extension force of the extension spring body 55 and the pressure adjustment ball 32 is pushed to open the pressure adjustment valve.

  In this embodiment, the first and second pressure regulating valves are pressure-adjusted by the weight of the pressure regulating ball. However, the present invention is not limited to this method. Even if the weight of the ball is the same, different pressures can be set. For example, when a ball having a weight of 11.0 g and a diameter of 14.0 is used for the pressure adjusting balls 28 and 32, a pressure of around 1.05 atm is obtained with a valve diameter of 4 to 5 mm, and the diameter of the valve opening is further increased. Is 2 to 3.0 mm, a pressure around 1.30 atm can be obtained.

  The outer lid 58 covers the inner lid 33 and is configured by a decorative cover. The outer lid 58 is provided with a display operation unit 59, and a storage tank 60 is detachably mounted. As shown in FIG. 1, the display operation unit 59 is provided with a display panel on which various rice cooking selection courses and times are displayed, and a plurality of switch operation buttons around the display panel. These switch operation buttons select a rice cooking / start button (also referred to as a key, hereinafter the same) for operating the rice cooker, a rice cooking reservation button for making a rice cooking reservation, a cancel / heat keeping button for canceling the setting of rice cooking, etc. These include a rice selection button, a menu selection button for selecting a rice cooking menu, a course button for selecting a course, and a shift key for selecting and determining a menu displayed on the display panel. These buttons (keys) are operation buttons or the like constituting a push button type switch, and various operations are performed by pressing these buttons (keys).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the storage tank 60 has a space 60a for temporarily storing therein a steam, a steam port 60c for releasing steam to the outside, a spring return valve 60d, and a hollow cylindrical shape. The hollow cylindrical connecting portion 60b is fitted into the mounting hole 37 and attached thereto. In addition, rice balls are sticky paste-like juice, and this paste-like juice contains a umami component, and if this rice cake is discharged as it is, rice will not be cooked deliciously. Therefore, a storage tank 60 for storing the rice bowl is provided, and the rice basket is temporarily stored in the storage tank. When the heating in the pan 20 is finished and the inside of the pan 20 becomes negative pressure, the storage tank 60 is stored. It can be cooked deliciously by returning to the pan. The details of the process of returning this request will be described later.

  Next, the control device 62 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, FIG. 11 is a block diagram which comprises a control apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 11, the control device 62 includes a CPU that performs various arithmetic processes, a storage unit that includes a ROM and a RAM that store various data, a rice cooking menu detection circuit that detects a selected rice cooking menu, A valve opening / closing timer for setting the opening / closing time of the second pressure regulating valve, a counter for counting the number of opening / closing times of the first and second pressure regulating valves, an amount determining means for determining the amount of rice cooking, and a heating control circuit for controlling the heating means A display panel control circuit for controlling a display screen displayed on the display panel, a pressure regulating valve control means for controlling the first and second pressure regulating valves, and the like. The storage means stores rice cooking programs corresponding to various rice cooking menus. This rice cooking program is common to each rice cooking menu, and includes a water absorption process, a start-up heating process, a boiling maintenance process, a cooking process, and a steaming process. This control device 62 includes a rice cooking start key, a rice cooking menu setting key, a pan bottom temperature sensor, and a steam temperature sensor on the input side, a heater (heating means) on the output side, and a display panel. First and second internal pressure adjusting devices PV ₁ and PV ₁ for controlling the first and second pressure regulating valves are connected. The heater is a pan bottom heater, a side heater, and a lid heater.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 12, FIG. 13, each rice cooking process is demonstrated. In addition, FIG. 12 is the rice cooking flowchart figure of a some rice cooking menu, FIG. 13 is the rice cooking characteristic curve figure which showed the change of the temperature and pressure in the pan in the rice cooking process of the rice cooking menu "white rice and normal".

  In the various rice cooking menus, for example, white rice / usually, white rice / amiami, white rice / lightly, and sushi are displayed on the display panel. The user views the display panel and operates the rice cooking menu setting key 61b to select a desired rice cooking menu.

  First, the rice cooking process when white rice / normal is selected will be described. First, when a predetermined amount of water and white rice are put into the pan 20 and the pan is set in the inner case 13 of the main body 11 (step S101), the rice cooking menu “white rice / normal” is selected (S102 to S103). ), The control device 62 executes a series of rice cooking steps. The control device 62 executes the water absorption process after the first pressure regulating valve 25 is “closed” before the start of the water absorption process. In the water absorption process, the first pressure regulating valve 25 is closed by its own weight, but the first pressure regulating valve closing lock mechanism 38 is not activated. The second pressure regulating valve 29 is also “closed” (S104). In the water absorption step, the heating means (bottom heater 14a) is energized, the temperature in the pan 20 is set to a predetermined water absorption temperature (60 ° C.), and a predetermined amount of water is taken to absorb a predetermined amount of water. (S105). At this time, the pressure in the pan is approximately atmospheric pressure. In the water absorption step, the pressure in the pan may be increased to 1.05 atm to absorb water.

  After the water absorption process is completed, the process proceeds to the rising heating process. In this start-up heating process, the first pressure regulating valve closing lock mechanism 38 is operated to lock the first pressure regulating valve 25 (S106), and the heating means (14a, 14b) is energized at full power so that the inside of the pan 20 is closed. Is brought into a boiling state under a pressurized state (S107). The steam temperature is detected by a steam temperature sensor installed on the lid body 21, and when the steam temperature reaches a predetermined temperature (75 ° C.), the process proceeds to the next boiling maintenance step. In addition, in this start-up heating process, as shown in FIG. 13, the pressure in the pan 20 is pressurized toward 1.3 atmospheres.

  In the boiling maintenance step (S108), the inside of the pan is maintained in a boiling state with a predetermined boiling maintenance power. In this boiling maintenance step, after a predetermined time, for example, 20 seconds elapses after the boiling is detected, the control device 62 operates the first pressure regulating valve closing lock mechanism 38 via the drive device 46, and the first pressure regulating valve. The 25 locks are intermittently released a plurality of times (3 to 5 times or more) in a predetermined unit time, and this release / lock operation is repeated (S109). This releasing / locking operation is performed at different times depending on the pressure in the pan, and is set so that the time at high pressure is longer than that at low pressure. This setting is preferably such that t2 is about 4 to 7 times t1, where t1 is the low pressure time during which the blockage lock of the first pressure regulating valve is released and t2 is the high pressure time during which the blockage lock is executed. By doing in this way, calorie | heat amount can be accumulate | stored in cooked rice at the time of execution of obstruction | occlusion lock, and the pressure of the difference of high pressure and low pressure can be discharge | released at once at the time of cancellation | release of obstruction | occlusion lock. At this time, as the diameter of the valve opening of the first pressure regulating valve is larger, the pressure release can be concentrated in a shorter time, and a larger stirring phenomenon can be caused. Therefore, it is necessary to store the internal pressure energy at the high pressure time t1 with respect to the internal pressure energy released at the low pressure time t2. At this time, the energy amount of the released pressure is determined by the valve diameter of the first pressure regulating valve, the difference between the high pressure and the low pressure, and the closing lock release time, and the accumulated pressure energy amount is the electric power and blocking in the boiling maintenance process. It can be determined by the product of the lock times. That is, the setting time of the closing lock and the release time of the closing lock are set so that the relationship between the energy of the released pressure and the energy of the accumulated pressure is the energy of the released pressure ≦ the energy of the accumulated pressure. If the energy of the released pressure is greater than the energy of the accumulated pressure, the stirring force at the time of releasing the blocking lock gradually weakens. In this embodiment, for example, the high pressure is performed for 52 seconds and the low pressure is performed for 8 seconds.

  Each time this lock / release is performed, the first pressure regulating valve 25 is intermittently opened, and when opened, the state in the pan 20 drops from the pressurized state to near 1.05 atm, causing pressure fluctuations in the pan. This pressure fluctuation is intermittently repeated a plurality of times (see FIG. 13). Due to the intermittent opening of the pressure regulating valve 25, the pressure in the pan 20 fluctuates greatly, and every time a severe boiling phenomenon, so-called bumping phenomenon occurs in the pan, a large amount of foam is generated. The rice grains on the side repeatedly move sideways in the pan or in the opposite direction, so that the rice grains in the pan are efficiently stirred. By this stirring, sufficient heat is applied to the whole rice grains, and uneven heating is eliminated. Further, when the pressure in the pan 20 becomes negative, the rice cake that has been stored in the rice storage tank 60 is disposed on the rice return valve 60d and the closing member 23 of the inner lid 22. The negative pressure valve 24b is then returned to the recess 22b of the inner lid 22. And since this through-hole 22d is formed in this recessed part 22b, a rice ball falls in the pan 20 from these through-holes 22d, and can spread a rice ball uniformly on a rice grain. . The through-hole 22d formed in the recess 22b is communicated by a conduction path 22e formed by an annular groove, so that it is possible to efficiently spread the screw through the entire through-hole 22d (FIG. 4, (See FIG. 6). Further, the stirring mixes the rice balls efficiently and the rice grains are coated around the rice balls. Rice balls contain a lot of umami ingredients, so the cooked rice is coated with this rice cake and becomes more delicious.

  Further, even if the first pressure regulating valve 25 is opened, as shown in FIG. 13, the pressure in the pan 20 may drop to the closing holding pressure of the first pressure regulating valve 25, that is, 1.05 atm or less. Therefore, the temperature drop in the pan due to this internal pressure drop is minimal, that is, the temperature in the pan 20 varies between (101.1 to 101.4 ° C.) and (103.0 to 107.0 ° C.). Therefore, rice cooking unevenness does not occur in the rice that has been cooked by cooling a part of the cooked rice.

  In this boiling maintaining step, after the first pressure regulating valve 25 is opened several times, the boiling maintaining step is continued while maintaining the closed state of the first pressure regulating valve 25 for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the closing lock of the first pressure regulating valve 25 is released, the pressure in the pan is maintained at the set value of 1.05 atm, and the remaining boiling maintaining step is executed (S110). Then, in the latter half of the boiling maintenance process, when the pan bottom temperature sensor 15 detects a predetermined pan bottom temperature (130 ° C.), the control device 62 stops energizing the heating means and shifts to the unevenness one step (S111). After this one steaming process is completed, the second pressure regulating valve 29 is opened (S112), and the process proceeds to the additional cooking process (S113) and reheated by the heating means. When this reheating is completed, the process proceeds to the steaming 2 process (S114), and a series of rice cooking processes of this rice cooking menu is completed.

  From the above, this white rice / normal rice cooker has a clogging holding pressure that holds the first pressure regulating valve at a predetermined pressure exceeding the atmospheric pressure even if the first pressure regulating valve is opened in the boiling maintaining step. Therefore, the internal pressure in the pan does not drop below the pressure value of the closing holding pressure. Therefore, the problem by the rice cooker of a prior art falling to atmospheric pressure vicinity can be eliminated, and rice can be cooked.

  In addition, after the rice cooking process is completed, when the rice in the pan 20 is kept warm and stored, dew condensation occurs in the pan 20, and the condensation falls on the rice, causing problems such as the rice becoming watery. . For this reason, during the heat insulation, the condensation is efficiently evaporated by intermittently operating the heaters 14a to 14c. At this time, in the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment, when the condensation attached to the inner lid 22 is evaporated by the lid heater 14c provided on the inner lid 33, the inner lid 22 and the concave portion 22b formed on the inner lid 22 are used. Are integrally formed, the heat of the lid heater 14c can be transmitted to the entire recess 22b, so that the dew condensation adhering to the inner lid 22 can be efficiently evaporated and removed.

  According to the rice cooker of the present invention, rice balls that are umami ingredients can be returned to the cooked rice evenly, and delicious rice can be cooked. In addition, since the mechanism for returning the rice cake into the pan is integrally formed as a recess in the inner lid, the saucer is not fixed with screws, etc., as in the past, so there is a risk of screws falling off etc. It becomes possible to provide a highly safe rice cooker.

  In the above-described embodiment, the closing member 23 that covers the opening of the concave portion of the inner lid is provided on the inner lid 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the closing member 23 may be provided on the inner lid. That is, the structure of the engagement groove portion in the fixing means provided on the inner lid in the above embodiment is provided on the inner lid, and the engagement protrusion of the closing member is engaged with this engagement groove portion. At this time, the closing packing provided on the closing member seals the opening of the recess of the inner lid as in the embodiment. Even with such a configuration, the effects of the above-described embodiments can be achieved. Further, by providing the closing member on the inner lid, even if the closing member receives pressure, it can be supported by the inner lid, so that it is not necessary to specially form a support member as in the embodiment.

  Further, in the embodiment, the through holes formed in the concave portion of the inner lid are communicated by the conduction path of the annular groove. However, the through hole is not limited to the annular shape, and for example, spreads radially on the basis of the position where the rice bowl falls. You may do it.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Rice cooker 11 Rice cooker main body 12 External case 13 Internal case 14a, 14b Heater 14c Cover heater 15 Pan bottom temperature sensor (pan bottom temperature detection means)
17 Locking claw 18 Release button 21 Lid 22 Inner lid 23 Closure member 24a Safety valve 24b Negative pressure valve 25 First pressure regulating valve 26 Valve seat 26a Valve port 28 Pressure regulating ball 29 Second pressure regulating valve 30 Pressure regulating ball 30a 'valve Mouth 33 Inner lid 38 First pressure regulating valve closing lock mechanism 39 Lock / release operation member 42 Swing arm 46 Drive device 50a Slide base 51 Thin metal wire (buffer device)
56 Slide frame 58 Outer cover 59 Control panel 60 Stick storage tank 60d Stick return valve 62 Control device PV ₁ First internal pressure adjustment device PV ₂ Second internal pressure adjustment device

Claims (6)

A rice cooker for containing rice cooker, a rice cooker main body comprising heating means for containing the rice cooker and heating the rice cooker, a lid attached to be openable and closable so as to cover the rice cooker main body, and the rice cooker In a rice cooker comprising an internal pressure adjusting device for adjusting the internal pressure in the pan, and a control device for controlling the heating means and the internal pressure adjusting device to execute a series of rice cooking steps,
The lid includes an inner lid that seals the opening of the rice cooker, an inner lid that is detachably mounted to cover the opening of the rice cooker body, and covers an upper portion of the inner lid, the rice cooking step An outer lid that is removably mounted with a tomb storage tank for storing the tomb generated therein;
The inner lid is provided with a recess having a predetermined area and recessed by a predetermined depth toward the rice cooker side, and a plurality of through holes are formed in the recess.
The opening of the recess formed in the inner lid is provided with at least one pressure regulating valve constituting the internal pressure adjusting device and a negative pressure valve through which the rice cake passes when the inside of the pan becomes negative pressure. A rice cooker, wherein the member is detachably provided so as to seal the opening of the recess.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the closing member is fixed to the inner lid by a fixing means.   The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one support member in contact with the inner lid is formed on the inner lid side of the closing member.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the closing member is fixed to the inner lid by a fixing means.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the through holes are communicated with each other through a groove-shaped conduction path.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the inner lid is provided with a lid heater.

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