JP2022172863A - rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a rice cooker capable of grasping and controlling the pressure inside an inner pot and executing a prescribed pressure rice cooking process, without providing dedicated measurement means for measuring the pressure inside the inner pot.SOLUTION: A rice cooker comprises an inner pot 30 for containing rice to be cooked, a rice cooker main body 20 having an inner pot housing portion 20a for detachably housing the inner pot, a lid body 10 openably covering the inner pot housing portion, heating means for heating the inner pot, a pump unit 40 capable of introducing outside air into the space inside the inner pot, and control means for controlling the operations of the heating means and the pump unit to execute rice cooking processes at least including a cooking process, an additional cooking process, and a steaming process. The control means uses the pump unit to execute a pressure rice cooking process to control the pressure inside the inner pot to a predetermined value of 1 atmosphere or more in the rice cooking process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a rice cooker, and in particular, in a rice cooking process from a temperature rising process to a rice cooking process, rice is cooked by setting the pressure inside the inner pot to 1 atm or more. It is about vessels.

At present, the rice cooker uses a microcomputer to control the current applied to the IH coil and heater, which are heating means, based on the temperature of the inner pot detected by a temperature sensor arranged around the inner pot. By finely adjusting the temperature of the inner pot in each of the rice cooking processes such as the warming process, the boiling process (boiling process), the re-cooking process, and the steaming process, delicious rice can be produced without being affected by changes in the amount of rice cooked or the environmental temperature. You can cook.

In addition, in order to cook more delicious rice, the lid is equipped with a pressure valve that can adjust the pressure inside the inner pot. By maintaining the internal pressure at a high pressure state of 1 atm or more, a pressure rice cooker having a pressure cooking process that maintains a boiling state at a higher temperature has been realized.

In the pressure cooking rice cooker, as a method for maintaining the pressure inside the inner pot at a predetermined pressure according to the rice cooking process, a spherical valve for opening and closing the passage is installed in the steam escape passage for releasing the steam inside the inner pot, and this spherical valve is installed. Two systems of pressure regulating mechanisms arranged with electromagnetic plungers to be controlled are provided, the two systems of pressure regulating mechanisms are adjusted, and when both pressure regulating mechanisms are closed, the inside of the inner pot is kept at a high pressure (eg, 1.25 atmospheres). ) state, when one pressure regulating mechanism is closed and the other pressure regulating mechanism is open, both of the two pressure regulating mechanisms are open in a medium pressure (eg, 1.05 atm) state. In some cases, a method of setting the pressure to normal pressure (1 atm) has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In addition, a steam discharge hole that connects the inside and outside of the inner pot, a pressure valve that can adjust the steam discharge hole between a closed position and an open position, and a pressure sensor unit that detects the pressure inside the inner pot. A method has been proposed for controlling the degree of opening and closing of a pressure valve so that the pressure inside the inner pot measured by a pressure sensor unit becomes a predetermined pressure determined as a rice cooking program (see Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, in recent years, a pump unit that can introduce outside air into the space inside the inner pot has been installed to take in outside air into the inner pot during the steaming process at the end of the rice cooking process and during the heat retention after cooking, to remove excess heat and steam. A rice cooker capable of imparting firmness and elasticity to the cooked rice by releasing it and maintaining the firmness and elasticity of the rice even when the rice is kept warm has been realized.

JP 2016-221160 A JP-A-2019-37591

The technique described in Patent Document 1 can switch the pressure inside the inner pot in three steps only by controlling the pressure adjustment mechanism with a simple configuration and the electromagnetic plunger, so that the pressure inside the inner pot can be changed in three stages at a low cost and stably. It is possible to regulate the pressure inside the pot. However, the pressure adjustment stage is limited, and when the layout position of the IH heater in the rice cooker, the material of the inner pot, and the shape of the inner pot are changed, the pressure adjustment mechanism is finally changed after the actual rice cooking process. It was necessary to adjust the opening timing of the, and there was a part that could not be said to be versatile. On the other hand, in the conventional technology described in Patent Document 2, a pressure sensor unit for measuring the pressure inside the inner pot must be separately provided, and the pressure inside the inner pot measured by the pressure sensor unit is used to measure the pressure inside the rice cooker. A feedback control mechanism is required to match the predetermined pressure determined by the program, which tends to lead to high costs.

The present invention is intended to solve the problem of such pressure cooking rice cookers. An object of the present invention is to obtain a rice cooker capable of controlling and executing a predetermined pressure rice cooking process.

In order to solve the above problems, the rice cooker of the present invention is a rice cooker main body having an inner pot for containing food to be cooked, an inner pot accommodating portion for removably accommodating the inner pot, and opening and closing the inner pot accommodating portion. heating means for heating the inner pot; a pump unit capable of introducing outside air into the space inside the inner pot; a control means for executing a rice cooking process including a raising process, a re-cooking process, and a steaming process, wherein the control means uses the pump unit to increase the pressure inside the inner pot to 1 atm or more in the rice cooking process. It is characterized by executing a pressure rice cooking process in which the rice is controlled to a predetermined value.

In the rice cooker of the present invention, the control means uses a pump unit that introduces outside air into the inner pot and discharges excess steam in the inner pot interior space, thereby increasing the pressure inside the inner pot to a predetermined level of 1 atm or more. Execute the pressure cooking process to set the value. Therefore, even if a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure inside the inner pot is not provided, the pressure rice cooking process can be executed according to the pressure inside the inner pot.

It is a perspective view showing the appearance of the rice cooker according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the rice cooker according to the present embodiment with the lid opened. FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration inside the lid when using the second form of pressure control inside the inner pot in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control mechanism of a first form of pressure control inside the inner pot in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the current value of the electric pump of the pump unit and the pressure value inside the inner pot in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration inside the lid when using the second form of pressure control inside the inner pot in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control mechanism of a second form of pressure control inside the inner pot in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment.

The rice cooker of the present invention includes an inner pot for containing food to be cooked, a rice cooker main body having an inner pot housing portion for removably housing the inner pot, a lid body that covers the inner pot housing portion so as to be openable and closable, A heating means for heating the inner pot, a pump unit capable of introducing outside air into the space inside the inner pot, and controlling the operations of the heating means and the pump unit to perform at least a cooking step, a re-cooking step, a control means for executing a rice cooking process including a steaming process, wherein the control means uses the pump unit to control the pressure inside the inner pot to a predetermined value of 1 atm or more in the rice cooking process. Execute the rice cooking process.

In the rice cooker of the present invention, as described above, the control means uses a pump unit that introduces outside air into the inner pot and discharges excess steam, so that the pressure inside the inner pot is 1 atm or more. to run. Therefore, the pressure rice cooking process according to the pressure inside the inner pot can be executed without using a dedicated pressure sensor for grasping the pressure inside the inner pot.

In the rice cooker according to the present invention, the control means detects the pressure inside the inner pot based on the operating current value of the pump unit, and the detected pressure value inside the inner pot becomes a predetermined pressure. It is preferable to control the output of the heating means as follows. By doing so, the inside of the inner pot can be maintained at a predetermined pressure value determined for the pressure rice cooking process.

Further, the pressure adjusting means is capable of adjusting the pressure inside the inner pot, and the control means detects the pressure inside the inner pot based on the operating current value of the pump unit, and detects the pressure inside the inner pot. It is preferable to operate the pressure adjusting means so that the internal pressure value becomes a predetermined pressure determined for the rice cooking process. By doing so, it is possible to perform the pressure cooking process in which the pressure inside the inner pot is maintained at a predetermined value using the pressure adjusting means without using a dedicated pressure sensor for measuring the pressure value inside the inner pot. can be done.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the control means operates the pump unit to supply outside air to the inside of the inner pot to further increase the pressure inside the inner pot. By doing so, the pressure value inside the inner pot can be quickly increased, and the pressure rice cooking process can be executed in accordance with the rice cooking program.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the control means grasp the pressure value inside the inner pot based on reference table data storing the relationship between the operating current value of the pump unit and the pressure inside the inner pot. By doing so, the pressure value inside the inner pot can be easily grasped from the operating current value of the pump unit.

(Embodiment)
EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of the rice cooker concerning this invention is described with reference to drawings.

1 and 2 are perspective views showing the appearance of the rice cooker of this embodiment. 1 shows a state in which the lid is closed, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the lid is opened.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rice cooker of this embodiment includes an inner pot for containing rice, water, and various ingredients such as vegetables, beans, and meat in the rice cooking mode with ingredients. 30, a rice cooker main body 20 capable of accommodating the inner pot 30 in the inner pot accommodating portion 20a, and a lid body 10 covering the inner pot accommodating portion 20a of the rice cooker main body 20 so as to be openable and closable.

The cover 10 has various operation buttons 11 for the user to give various settings to the rice cooker, and an image display panel such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying the operation status of the operation buttons 11 and the operation status of the rice cooker. A formed display unit 12 is arranged. The operation buttons 11 include buttons for instructing operations such as a rice cook button and a keep warm button, and menu buttons for selecting a cooking menu such as a white rice cooking mode and a rice cooking mode with ingredients, and setting a keep warm time and a timer. Including various switches.

A steam discharge port 13 is arranged in the central portion of the rear side of the lid 10 for discharging the steam inside the inner pot to the outside. An open valve 16 arranged on the lid 10 is controlled by a control unit to be described later, so that the space inside the inner pot can communicate with the steam discharge port 13, and the steam discharge port 13 and the steam discharge port 13 are opened at a predetermined timing. By communicating with the space inside the inner pot, water vapor existing inside the inner pot is released to the outside, and the pressure inside the inner pot can be lowered to approach the atmospheric pressure (1 atm).

A lock lever button 21 for unlocking the lid 10 is provided at the top of the front side of the main body 20. When the lock lever 21 is pushed down with the lid 10 shown in FIG. is released, and the entire lid body 10 is rotated rearward (toward the back) around the hinge mechanism 22 by a spring mechanism (not shown) or the like, so that the lid body shown in FIG. 2 is opened.

Although illustration is omitted, an operation circuit connected to various operation buttons 11 and a drive circuit for outputting an image displayed on the display unit 12 are provided in a portion located below the display unit 12 inside the lid 10 . etc. are arranged. In addition, in the rice cooker of the present embodiment, a control circuit (not shown) including a microcomputer as control means for controlling the rice cooking program according to the rice cooking mode set by the user is also mounted on the circuit board constituting the circuit section. It is

In the rice cooker of the present embodiment, the control circuit arranged in the circuit portion is based on the output from the temperature sensor (not shown) arranged in the center of the bottom surface of the inner pot housing portion 20a inside the rice cooker main body 20. By grasping the temperature of the inner pot 30 and controlling the energization of an IH heater (not shown) which is a heating means arranged so as to surround the inner pot accommodating portion 20a, the rice cooking menu and the amount of rice to be cooked are controlled. Various rice cooking processes are performed by controlling the temperature of the inner pot 30 in accordance with the set predetermined rice cooking program.

It should be noted that the arrangement of the control circuit including the microcomputer for controlling the amount of power supplied to the heating means in the circuit section below the display section 12 is merely an example. The adjustment of the heating means may be performed by a control circuit arranged on a circuit board different from the circuit board that controls the display content on the display unit 12, and the control circuit may control the display inside the lid 10. It may be formed on a circuit board disposed inside the rice cooker main body 20 instead of the lower portion of the portion 12 in some cases.

As described above, the lid body 10 can open and close the inner pot accommodating portion 20a by rotating with respect to the rice cooker body 20 by means of the hinge mechanism 22 arranged on the upper back side of the rice cooker body 20. When the lid body 10 is closed, the lid body 10 is firmly pressed against the upper surface of the rice cooker main body 20 and fixed by a lock mechanism (not shown) interlocking with the lock lever 21 .

When the lid body 10 and the rice cooker main body 20 are firmly pressed together and fixed, the packing material 15 attached to the inner lid 14 arranged on the inner surface of the lid body 10 is pressed against the inner surface of the inner pot 30. 30a and a flange portion 30b at the upper end of the inner pot 30, a space formed inside the inner lid 14 and the inner pot 30 arranged on the lid body 10 (hereinafter appropriately referred to as "inner pot interior space”) is closed in an airtight manner. In the rice cooker of the present embodiment, the inner pot 30 is biased toward the lid body 10 by an elastic support mechanism (not shown) disposed at the bottom of the inner pot accommodating portion 20a, so that the space inside the inner pot is reduced. An airtight state can be reliably maintained. As a result, the inside of the inner pot 30 can be brought into a predetermined high pressure state such as 1.25 atmospheric pressure.

In the inner pot accommodating portion 20a of the rice cooker main body 20, a first work coil, a second work coil, and a side heater as heating means are arranged so as to face from the bottom surface to the side surface of the inner pot 30 ( not shown).

The first work coil is arranged on the bottom surface of the inner pot accommodating portion 20 a so as to face the bottom surface of the inner pot 30 . At the center of the bottom surface of the inner pot accommodating portion 20a, a center sensor (not shown), which is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature at the center portion of the bottom surface of the inner pot 30, is arranged. It is shaped like a ring (doughnut) with a hole.

The second work coil is arranged so as to face the inclined portion located at the boundary between the bottom surface and the side surface of the inner pot 30 . The second work coil also has an annular shape like the first work coil.

The first work coil and the second work coil are so-called IH coils (high frequency coils), and the inner pot 30 is made of a non-metallic material so that an eddy current is generated by the current flowing in the coil and induction heating occurs. If so, a heating element (not shown) is arranged on the outer surface side of the portion of the inner pot 30 facing the first work coil and the second work coil. The heating element is coated with a metal thin film such as silver or stainless steel, or is formed on the surface of the non-metallic inner pot 30 by transferring a metal foil. Then, the heating element generates heat by applying current to the first work coil and the second work coil, and the heat generated by this heating element raises the temperature of the non-metallic inner pot 30 as a whole.

In this embodiment, the heating element is formed on the outer surface of the inner pot 30 at a portion facing the first and second work coils. It can be placed in any position where it can generate heat to raise the temperature of the non-metallic inner pot 30 .

A side heater is arranged on a side wall portion of the inner pot accommodating portion 20a facing the side surface of the inner pot 30. As shown in FIG. This side heater generates heat when an electric current flows and heats the inner pot with its radiant heat, and is used to keep the inner pot 30 warm in the heat retaining step after the rice cooking step. Also, the side heater can be used to heat the inner pot 30 together with the first work coil and the second work coil when cooking rice.

In the rice cooker of the present embodiment, the first work coil, the second work coil, and the side heater constitute heating means. By controlling the amount, the heating means is turned on and off, and the amount of heat generated when it is on is controlled. In addition to the above-described first work coil, second work coil, and side heater, as heating means, other parts around the inner pot housing portion 20a and inside the lid body 10 may be used for heating. It is also possible to arrange coils, heaters, and the like.

Although illustration is omitted, a power cord connected to a power plug connected to a commercial power supply for supplying power to the rice cooker and a power cord connected to a power plug connected to a commercial power supply are provided below the hinge mechanism 22 arranged on the back side of the rice cooker main body 20 . A power supply circuit board connected to the power supply, a cord reel for storing the power supply cord, and the like are arranged.

The inner pot 30 used in the rice cooker of the present embodiment is a so-called earthenware pot whose base is non-metallic pottery _. contains. A lithia-based glaze is applied to both surfaces of the base portion, and the outer surface is coated with a silver paste as a heating element. In addition, the inner surface is coated with fluorine via an aluminum sprayed film. The configuration of the inner pot 30 is an example, and non-metallic inner pots used as the rice cooker of the present embodiment include non-metallic pots such as ceramic and glass materials, and metal layers such as aluminum and stainless steel. An inner pot or the like coated with a layer of a non-metallic member such as ceramic or hollow glass beads can be preferably used. Furthermore, as the inner pot, a conventionally well-known metal inner pot formed of metal layers such as copper, aluminum, and stainless steel can be used.

Further, in the rice cooker of the present embodiment, in addition to the center sensor that measures the temperature at the center of the bottom of the inner pot 30, for example, the portion facing the inner pot accommodating portion 20a of the lid body 10 and the inner pot of the rice cooker main body 20 One or two or more temperature sensors can be arranged in a portion facing the side surface of 30 or the like. For each temperature sensor including the center sensor used in the rice cooker of the present embodiment, a conventionally well-known temperature sensor configured using a thermal electric element typified by, for example, a thermistor can be used as it is.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the lid of the rice cooker according to this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is the perspective view of FIG. 1 with the upper housing of the lid 10 removed so that the internal structure of the lid 10 can be seen.

In the rice cooker according to the present embodiment, an electric pump 41 and an air supply pipe 42 connecting the discharge port of the electric pump 41 and the air inlet 17 penetrating the lid 10 in the thickness direction are provided inside the lid 10. and an intake pipe 43 connecting an intake port of the electric pump 41 and an intake port (not shown) behind the cover body. Further, inside the lid 10, an open valve 16 is arranged for communicating the space inside the inner pot with the above-described steam discharge port 13. As shown in FIG. In the rice cooker according to this embodiment, a diaphragm pump is used as the electric pump 41 of the pump unit 40 and a solenoid valve is used as the open valve 16 .

In the rice cooker according to the present embodiment, in the steaming process at a high temperature performed at the final stage of the rice cooking process, the pump unit 40 and the open valve 16 are operated to introduce outside air into the space inside the inner pot and exhaust heat and excess steam to the outside. In this way, by controlling the amount of water in the space inside the inner pot, it is possible to give tension and elasticity to the cooked rice. In addition, in the heat retention process that is appropriately performed after the rice cooking process is completed, the pump unit 40 is operated to release excess heat and steam in the inner space of the inner pot, which has taken in outside air, to the outside. By doing so, the moisture content in the internal space of the inner pot can be maintained at an appropriate level even during heat retention, and the luster and aroma of the rice can be maintained even after heat retention.

It should be noted that the overall shape of the rice cooker of the present embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and the specific configuration and arrangement of each member are merely examples. Various configurations different from the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be employed.

<Pressure control form inside the inner pot>
Hereinafter, control of the pressure inside the inner pot in the pressure cooking process in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment will be described.

In the rice cooker according to this embodiment, using the pump unit 40 capable of introducing the outside air into the inner pot as described with reference to FIG. 3, the control means controls the pressure in the space inside the inner pot during the pressure cooking process. It is characterized by

[First pressure control mode]
First, as a first form of pressure control, the electric pump of the pump unit 40 is used to detect the pressure inside the inner pot, and based on the detection result, the amount of power input to the IH coil, which is the heating means, is adjusted to control the inner pot. A control method for setting the pressure in the internal space to a predetermined value will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the mutual relationship of control mechanisms for controlling the pressure inside the inner pot in this first pressure control mode. In addition, in FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to the constituent members of the rice cooker described with reference to FIGS.

As described above, the control circuit, which is the control means, operates the pump unit 40 during, for example, the rice cooking process to suck air from the outside of the rice cooker and introduce it into the inner pot. At this time, when the pump unit 40 is operated with the open valve 16 closed, the value of the operating current for operating the electric pump 41 of the pump unit 40 changes to the pressure value inside the inner pot to which the air is introduced. It was found to have a strong correlation with

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the pressure rise value in the space inside the inner pot and the current value for operating the electric pump, measured in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment.

From FIG. 5, as the pressure increase value inside the inner pot shown on the horizontal axis, that is, the pressure value (kPa) pressurized from 1 atm increases, the power supplied to the electric pump shown on the vertical axis In the rice cooker according to the present embodiment, the current value (mA) of the current value increases, and it can be seen that the relationship between the two changes substantially linearly and is in a substantially proportional relationship. This is because when the motor of the electric pump 41 to which the operating voltage is applied is driven and the diaphragm performs expansion/compression pulsation, the higher the pressure in the space inside the inner pot, the more the mechanical load for operating the diaphragm. increased, and the height (=magnitude) of the pressure inside the inner pot from 1 atmosphere appeared in the increase in the current value as the magnitude of the load applied to the motor of the electric pump.

For example, in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. The current A1 is 47 mA when the pressure is 5 kPa higher than the atmospheric pressure. Further, when the inner pot is pressurized by 25 kPa compared to the atmospheric pressure, the current value A2 is 58 mA.

In this way, if the relationship between the magnitude of the pressurized pressure (kPa) inside the inner pot and the current value (mA) in the electric pump at that time is known, the pump unit 40 can be operated during the rice cooking process. , the pressurized state of the space inside the inner pot can be known from the drive current value (mA) of the electric pump at that time.

As shown in FIG. 5, at this time, the control circuit grasps the pressurized pressure value (kPa) inside the inner pot based on the current value (mA) of the electric pump, and puts it into the IH coil, which is the heating means. Increase or decrease the amount of power. For example, when the pressurized pressure value inside the inner pot is lower than the predetermined pressure set for the pressure rice cooking process, the amount of electric power supplied to the IH coil is increased to raise the temperature of the space inside the inner pot. By doing so, the internal pressure is increased. Conversely, when the pressurized pressure inside the inner pot is higher than the predetermined value, the amount of electric power supplied to the IH coil is lowered to lower the temperature of the space inside the inner pot, thereby reducing the pressurized pressure. In this manner, the amount of pressurized pressure is controlled by increasing or decreasing the amount of electric power supplied to the IH coil, which is the heating means, based on the grasped magnitude of the pressurized pressure inside the inner pot.

As described above, in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment, the pressure inside the inner pot can be grasped from the current value of the electric pump of the pump unit provided for introducing the outside air into the inner pot. There is no need to separately provide a pressure sensor for measuring the internal pressure. Moreover, since a mechanical pressure adjusting mechanism that operates according to the pressure state inside the inner pot is not required, the mechanism for executing the pressure cooking process can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, since the pressure value inside the inner pot is grasped and the electric power input to the heating means is changed, the pressurization pressure can be adjusted accurately. Furthermore, since the pressure adjusting mechanism disposed on the inner lid is no longer necessary, the rice cooker can be easily maintained by the user.

It should be noted that, as described above, simply increasing the amount of power supplied to the IH coil, which is the heating means, may not sufficiently increase the pressurized pressure value inside the inner pot to a predetermined value. In such a case, the pressure of the air inside the inner pot can be increased by operating the pump unit 40 to introduce outside air into the inner pot.

In addition, when the heat and steam inside the inner pot are released to the outside after the pressure cooking process is completed, the control circuit operates the pump unit 40 with the open valve 16 open to allow the outside air to enter the inner pot. While the steam is being introduced, the excess steam inside the inner pot is discharged from the steam outlet 13 to the outside.

[Second pressure control mode]
Next, as a second form of pressure control in the rice cooker according to the present embodiment, the pressure inside the inner pot is detected using the electric pump of the pump unit 40, and the pressure control mechanism is controlled based on the detection result. A control method for setting the pressure in the space inside the inner pot to a predetermined pressure value will be described.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration inside the lid of the rice cooker adopting the second pressure control mode.

6 also shows the internal structure of the lid 10 by removing the upper housing of the lid 10 from the perspective view shown in FIG. 1, as in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, even in the rice cooker adopting the second pressure control mode, the electric pump 41 and the electric pump 41 are provided inside the lid body 10 in the same manner as the rice cooker employing the first pressure control mode shown in FIG. A pump unit 40 comprising an air supply pipe 42 and an intake pipe 43 is arranged. Furthermore, in the rice cooker of the second pressure control mode, a pressure control mechanism 18 capable of performing multistage opening/closing operations is arranged for controlling the pressure in the inner space of the inner pot.

The pressure adjustment mechanism 18 can open and close a pressure valve separating the space inside the inner pot from the outside space in multiple stages according to a control signal from a control circuit, which is a control means. The pressure inside the inner pot is adjusted to a predetermined level by adjusting the opening/closing degree and opening/closing time of the pressure valve, such as reducing the pressure from a high pressure state to the same level as the atmospheric pressure at once, or gradually reducing the pressure. It can be a pressure value.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the control relationships of various components that implement the second form of pressure control.

Even in the second pressure control state shown in FIG. 7, similarly to the first pressure control state described with reference to FIG. 40 is operated, and based on the operating current value (mA) of the electric motor 41 of the pump unit 40, the pressure value (kPa) of the space inside the inner pot is detected. For this reason, even in the second pressure control mode, the control circuit is controlled by the correlation between the operating current value (mA) of the electric motor 41 and the pressure value (kPa) inside the inner pot shown in Understand the pressurized state inside the pot.

Here, the control circuit controls the degree of opening of the pressure valve of the pressure adjustment mechanism 18 so that the pressurized pressure in the space inside the inner pot satisfies the pressure conditions defined for the pressurized rice cooking process. In this second pressure control mode as well, the control circuit controls the amount of current supplied to the IH coil, which is the heating means, to adjust the output of the IH coil. , the output of the IH coil is controlled only from the viewpoint of supplying the amount of heat in the rice cooking process set in the rice cooking program.

Thus, in the case of the second pressure control mode, the pressurized pressure value (kPa) of the space inside the inner pot is grasped from the current value (mA) of the electric motor 41 of the pump unit 40, and the pressurized pressure value The pressure adjustment mechanism 18 is used to adjust the pressure value to a predetermined pressure determined in the pressure cooking step in the rice cooking program. Therefore, even in the case of the second pressure control mode, there is no need to separately provide a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure inside the inner pot.

In addition, compared with the first pressure control mode, the second pressure control mode does not use the output of the IH coil, which is the heating means, for adjusting the pressurization pressure inside the inner pot. control is simplified. However, since it is necessary to arrange a member corresponding to the pressure adjustment mechanism 18 on the inner lid 14, there are disadvantages that the structure of the rice cooker is somewhat complicated and that the pressure adjustment mechanism 18 requires maintenance. do.

Even in the second pressure control mode, the pressurized pressure value inside the inner pot may not be sufficiently increased to a predetermined value only by controlling the pressure regulating mechanism 18 . In such a case, the pressure of the air inside the inner pot can be increased by operating the pump unit 40 to introduce outside air into the inner pot.

Also in the case of the second pressure control mode, when the heat and steam inside the inner pot are released to the outside after the pressure cooking process is completed, the control circuit operates the pump unit 40 with the open valve 16 open. is operated to introduce outside air into the inner pot and discharge excessive steam inside the inner pot from the steam outlet 13 to the outside.

As described above, the rice cooker according to the present embodiment includes a pump unit that introduces outside air to adjust the temperature and amount of steam inside the inner pot in order to give tension and elasticity to the rice when it is cooked or when it is kept warm. In addition, the pressure inside the inner pot can be grasped from the operating current value detected when the pump unit is operated during pressurized rice cooking, and feedback can be applied so as to achieve a predetermined pressure value. Therefore, appropriate pressure adjustment can be performed according to the actual pressurized pressure value inside the inner pot without using a dedicated pressure sensor for detecting the pressure inside the inner pot.

In particular, if the pressure inside the inner pot is adjusted by adjusting the amount of electric power supplied to the heating means and controlling its output, as described as the first pressure control mode, the pressure inside the inner pot is adjusted. Since no pressure adjusting means is required, it is possible to greatly reduce the number of mechanisms required for proper pressure cooking, thereby achieving cost reduction and realizing a rice cooker that is easy to clean.

Regarding the correlation between the operating current value of the pump unit and the pressurization pressure inside the inner pot, the current value and the pressurization pressure value shown in FIG. By storing a graph showing the correlation of or a relational expression showing the relationship, the control means can easily grasp the applied pressure value. In addition, by storing a reference table for the correspondence between the operating current value and the applied pressure value of a typical pump unit in the storage means accessible by the control means, the control means can be will be able to grasp the applied pressure value.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example of using a diaphragm pump as the electric pump of the pump unit was shown, but the electric pump of the pump unit is not limited to the diaphragm pump, and can suck outside air and send it into the rice cooker. Various existing electric pumps can be used as long as the current value changes during operation due to the high air pressure inside the inner pot as a load. Further, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which a solenoid valve was used as an open valve for communicating the space inside the inner pot and the steam discharge port when the outside air was introduced into the inner pot by the pump unit. It is not limited to a solenoid valve, and various types of motor-operated valve mechanisms can be used that can open or close communication between the inside of the inner pot and the steam outlet under the control of the control circuit.

In the rice cooker of the present invention, the control means can grasp the pressure inside the inner pot during the pressure cooking process without using a dedicated sensor means, and can control the pressure to a predetermined pressure value. , is useful as a rice cooker capable of cooking delicious rice at a low cost and with a simple configuration.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Lid 20 Rice Cooker Main Body 20a Inner Pot Housing 30 Inner Pot 40 Pump Unit

Claims (5)

an inner pot into which the food to be cooked is placed;
a rice cooker main body having an inner pot accommodating portion that removably accommodates the inner pot;
a lid body that openably and closably covers the inner pot accommodating portion;
heating means for heating the inner pot;
a pump unit capable of introducing outside air into the space inside the inner pot;
Control means for controlling the operation of the heating means and the pump unit to perform at least a rice cooking process including a cooking process, a recooking process, and a steaming process,
A rice cooker, wherein the control means uses the pump unit to perform a pressure rice cooking process in which the pressure inside the inner pot is controlled to a predetermined value of 1 atm or more in the rice cooking process. The control means detects the pressure inside the inner pot based on the operating current value of the pump unit, and controls the output of the heating means so that the detected pressure value inside the inner pot becomes a predetermined pressure. The rice cooker according to claim 1. Further comprising a pressure adjusting means capable of adjusting the pressure inside the inner pot,
The control means detects the pressure inside the inner pot based on the operating current value of the pump unit, and adjusts the detected pressure value inside the inner pot to a predetermined pressure set for the rice cooking process. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the pressure adjusting means is operated. 4. The rice cooker according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said control means operates said pump unit to supply outside air to said inner pot, thereby increasing the pressure inside said inner pot. 5. The control means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means grasps the pressure value inside the inner pot based on reference table data storing the relationship between the operating current value of the pump unit and the pressure inside the inner pot. The rice cooker described in Crab.

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