JP5499952B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker. Specifically, an explosive stirring action is obtained by causing a sudden pressure reduction from a pressurized state, and the degree of pressure reduction during boiling is adjusted according to the menu of the cooked rice. It is related with the rice cooker which can adjust a state.

  In order to cook delicious rice, many rice cookers that apply pressure to the inner pot during the rice cooking process have been proposed.

  For example, in the following Patent Document 1 disclosed by the present applicant, a method in which pressurization and decompression are repeatedly performed in the process of cooking rice, that is, heat and moisture are permeated into the rice core by applying high temperature during pressurization, and from that state We have developed a rice cooker of the so-called “dori-style cooking” system that stirs rice by explosive convection caused by a sudden depressurization of rice, and passes the heat evenly. In this rice cooking method, rice is cooked at, for example, 1.2 atm and 105 ° C. at the time of pressurization, and the pressure is rapidly reduced to 1 atm at the time of depressurization. Then, in the case of rice, heat and moisture penetrate to the core of the rice during pressurization to extract sweetness and stickiness, and during decompression, large boiling occurs and the rice is agitated from the bottom of the pan. Is promoted and the rice is turned into α from the core, and it is heated to the center of the pot by stirring to cook the plump rice.

  Thus, in this type of rice cooker, when the water stored in the pan in which the rice is to be cooked is heated at the time of rice cooking and suddenly depressurized from the pressurized state, it boils all at once and causes intense thermal convection, Boiling heat penetrates into rice and can bring out deliciousness. In addition, rice stirred with boiling water is said to be able to promote water absorption and to make α from the core of each grain.

  However, in the rice cooker disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, the pressure reducing mechanism is provided, but the capacity is insufficient, and if the number of times of decompression is small, sufficient stirring effect cannot be obtained and the decompression needs to be repeated many times. Therefore, further improvement was desired.

  In order to solve the problem, the applicant, as shown in Patent Document 2 below, provides two pressure valves, a pressure regulating valve and a pressure relief valve, as pressure valves constituting a pressure reducing mechanism provided on the lid of the pan. Thus, the rice cooker invented a rice cooker that can be sufficiently stirred even at a reduced pressure, can effectively use the heat energy in stirring at the time of bumping, and can provide more delicious rice.

JP 2004-344568 A JP 2008-048766 A JP 2008-048767 A

  However, the rice cooker disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a new problem due to the provision of two pressure valves. The problem is that by providing two pressure valves, the amount of steam released by the released pressure increases from about 1.5 times to about 2 times compared to when the pressure is released. There is a risk of danger to the user if the body is opened and closed.

  Therefore, in a rice cooker equipped with two pressure valves, it is preferable to lock the lid so that the lid cannot be opened when the inside of the rice cooker is in a pressurized state. When the pressure valve is in a closed state, it is more preferable to automatically and forcibly open the lid due to carelessness of the user. At this time, it is expected that the lid can be locked not only when two pressure valves are used but also when only one pressure valve is used.

  In addition, the above-mentioned Patent Document 3 discloses a pressure cooker including a pressure safety mechanism that prevents the lid from opening even when the lock release button of the lid is pressed during cooking. Since this is for one pressure valve, it cannot be applied to two pressure valves. Even if this pressure safety mechanism is applied to each of the two pressure valves, it cannot cope with both when the pressure valve used is one and when it is two.

  Therefore, the inventor of the present application has made various studies to solve the above problems, and as a result, in the rice cooker provided with two pressure valves and two pressure valve opening mechanisms, the two pressure valves and the pressure valve opening mechanism A link mechanism crossed between them is provided, and a lock member is provided between the link mechanisms, so that the lock member locks the lid by the lock member even when both of the link mechanisms are operated or only one of them is operated. As a result, the present invention has been completed.

  That is, the present invention is a rice cooker equipped with two pressure valves and two pressure safety mechanisms. When the inside of the rice cooker is in a pressurized state, the lid is not unlocked. The purpose is to provide a high rice cooker.

In order to achieve the above object, a rice cooker according to claim 1 of the present application comprises a pot for storing a rice to be cooked containing water and rice, an opening for housing the pot, and a rice to be cooked in the pot. A rice cooker body having a heating means for heating and a control means for controlling the heating means, a lid for closing the opening of the pan and the rice cooker body, and locking and unlocking the lid to the rice cooker body A lid locking mechanism that performs, a pressure valve having an opening and closing mechanism that communicates or shuts off the inside of the pan and outside air so that the pressure in the pan is substantially constant, and the pressure valve is forcibly opened. and a pressure valve opening mechanism for, in cooker the pressure valve and the pressure valve opening mechanism is provided two each to the lid body, the two pressure valve opening mechanism, respectively, electrical Or a plunger that can be moved by mechanical means , A link mechanism for transmitting the movement of the plunger, and an actuating member that is moved in accordance with the movement transmitted from the link mechanism, and the lid is unlocked by the lid locking mechanism. One locking member is provided, and the two operating members are each formed with an operating pile for operating the opening / closing mechanism of the pressure valve and an arm portion on which the locking member is pushed, When the pressure valve is closed by movement of at least one of the two operating members, the lock member is moved out of the two operating members along with the movement of at least one of the two operating members . at least one of the arms of which is characterized in that moving the locking member so as to suppress the release of the locking of the lid locking mechanism.

The invention of claim 2 is the rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the link mechanism is formed of a link bar whose central part is pivotally supported by the lid,
A through hole is formed at each end of the link bar, one end of the plunger is connected to the end of the plunger, and the other end of the through hole is connected to the end of the actuating member so as to be freely movable. The link bar is rotated around a substantially central portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the rice cooker according to the second aspect, a moving member capable of following the movement of the plunger is provided at an end of the plunger, and one through-hole of the link bar is The movable member is movably connected to the moving member.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the rice cooker according to the second or third aspect, wherein each of the link mechanisms is installed such that the link bars cross each other.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the rice cooker according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the cross-linked link mechanisms are alternately arranged in height so as not to contact each other.

  The invention of claim 6 is the rice cooker according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the operating member is formed with a hole through which the pivoted portion of the lid and the link bar is inserted. It is characterized by.

  The invention of claim 7 is the rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the lid lock mechanism includes at least one locking claw locked to the rice cooker body at one end and the lock member at the other end. A lock member abutting portion to be abutted is provided, and the lock member abutting portion abuts on the lock member.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the rice cooker according to claim 7, wherein the lock member is formed with a groove portion to be fitted with a protrusion formed on the operating member.

  The invention of claim 9 is the rice cooker according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the lock member is pushed by an arm portion formed in a direction perpendicular to the operation pile of the operation member, and the lid body It is moved to the lock member abutting portion of the lock mechanism.

The invention of claim 10 is the rice cooker according to claim 9, wherein the respective operating members are provided in parallel.
The arm portions formed on the actuating members provided in parallel are alternately formed in height.

The invention of claim 11 is the rice cooker according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the lock member has a return spring connected to the operating member,
The lock member moved by the actuating member returns to a specified position by the return spring and is detached from the lock member abutting portion of the lid lock mechanism.

  The invention of claim 12 is the rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the respective pressure valves have different calibers.

  The invention of claim 13 is the rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the pressure valve opening mechanism opens the respective pressure valves individually or simultaneously.

  By providing the above configuration, the present invention has the following excellent effects. That is, according to the invention of claim 1, the operating member moves so that the inside of the rice cooker is in a pressurized state, and at the same time, the operating member pushes the lock member so that the lock of the lid lock mechanism is not released. Since it can suppress and it can suppress that a cover body is opened when a rice cooker is a pressurization state, a safe rice cooker can be provided. Moreover, since the movement of the plunger and the operating member can be accommodated in a narrow space by using the link mechanism, the width of the design of the rice cooker can be widened, and the pressure valve opening mechanism including the link mechanism can be reduced in size. And miniaturization of the rice cooker are also possible.

  According to invention of Claim 2, while being able to create a link mechanism with a simple structure, while being able to reduce the manufacturing cost of a rice cooker, the breadth of design can be expanded.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the plunger is a precision member that is electrically or mechanically actuated, it is not necessary to form a portion connected to the link mechanism in the plunger itself. Can be easily designed, and failure of the plunger can be suppressed.

  According to the invention of claim 4, by installing the link bar in a crossed manner, the installation space can be reduced, and the link mechanism and the like can be reduced in size.

  According to invention of Claim 5, since it can suppress that each crossed link bar contacts, a rice cooker with few failures can be provided.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the portion that pivotally supports the link mechanism and the lid can be formed through the operating member, the installation space can be further reduced, and the link mechanism and the like can be further reduced in size. Can be planned.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the lock member abutting portion on which the lock member abuts is formed on the lid locking mechanism, the lid member is brought into contact with the lock member by contacting the lock member abutting portion. The opening operation of the lock mechanism itself can be suppressed, and the release of the lock can be suppressed more reliably. Further, by bringing the lock member into contact with the lock member contact portion of the lid lock mechanism, the inner lid of the lid rises as the internal pressure in the rice cooker rises. As the inner lid rises, the lock member also rises, and a force that pushes the lock member abutting portion of the lid lock mechanism upward works, so that the release of the lid lock mechanism is further suppressed, and the safety level is increased. .

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the movement of the lock member is controlled by fitting the protrusion of the operating member and the groove of the lock member, and the lock member is securely attached to the lock member contact portion of the lid lock mechanism. To be able to guide.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the operating member is formed with the arm portion that pushes the lock member in the vertical direction and the operating pile that operates the opening / closing mechanism of the pressure valve, the pressure valve that moves the operating member The lock member can be pushed without arranging the lock member on the same straight line.

  According to the invention of claim 10, even if the actuating members are arranged in parallel, the arm portions do not come into contact with each other, and either one or both of the two actuating members move to push one lock member. Will be able to.

  According to the invention of claim 11, since the moved lock member can return to the prescribed arrangement from the lock member abutting portion of the lid lock mechanism using the elastic force of the return spring, it has a complicated shape. Need not be formed on the actuating member.

  According to invention of Claim 12, the open state of a pressure can be controlled by changing the aperture of each pressure valve, and rice cooking according to the amount of rice cooking can be performed.

  According to the invention of claim 13, it is determined whether the pressure valve to be opened or closed is one or two depending on the amount of rice cooked, and rice cooking according to the amount of rice cooking becomes possible. In addition, since opening of a pressure valve is used when stirring the rice in a rice cooker, if two pressure valves are open | released simultaneously when there are few amounts of rice cooking, stirring will become intense and it is unpreferable.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the rice cooker concerning a present Example. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the cover body of the rice cooker concerning a present Example. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the inner cover of the cover body of the rice cooker concerning a present Example. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the approximate center part of the rice cooker concerning a present Example. 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing only the lid of FIG. 4, FIG. 5B is a diagram showing two pressure valves arranged on the lid, and FIG. 5C shows a modification of the two pressure valves. It is a figure. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the outer cover of the cover body. It is the perspective view which showed the pressure valve opening mechanism provided with the cover body locking mechanism and the link mechanism. It is a disassembled perspective view of the pressure valve opening mechanism provided with the cover body locking mechanism and the link mechanism. It is the perspective view which showed the 1st pressure valve opening mechanism provided with the 1st link mechanism. It is the perspective view which showed the 2nd pressure valve opening mechanism provided with the 2nd link mechanism. It is the perspective view which showed the locking member and the return spring. It is the elements on larger scale of the pressure valve opening mechanism provided with the cover body locking mechanism and link mechanism in the state where both the pressure valve opening mechanisms are not operating. It is the elements on larger scale which show the state which both the pressure valve opening mechanisms in FIG. 12 act | operated. It is the schematic explaining the arrangement | positioning of a 1st and 2nd operation member and a locking member. It is the elements on larger scale which show the state which the 1st pressure valve opening mechanism in FIG. 12 act | operated. It is the elements on larger scale which show the state which the 2nd pressure valve opening mechanism in FIG. 12 act | operated. 17A is a schematic view showing the movement of the first operating member and the locking member in FIG. 15, and FIG. 17B is a schematic view showing the movement of the second operating member and the locking member in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a 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 present invention can be equally applied to the other embodiments included in the scope.

  The rice cooker 1 which concerns on the Example of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS. The rice cooker 1 includes a pan 6 into which a rice to be cooked containing water and rice, a heating unit such as an induction heating coil 18 for heating the cooked rice in the pan, an opening for detachably storing the pan, and heating. There are provided a rice cooker body 2 having control means for controlling the means and performing rice cooking and heat retention control of the cooked rice, and a lid 7 for closing the opening of the pan 6 and the rice cooker body 2. The control means includes a pressure valve 29 having an opening / closing mechanism for communicating or blocking the inside of the pan and the outside air so that the pressure in the pan 6 is substantially constant, and the pressure valve 29 attached to the pressure valve 29 to forcibly open the pressure valve. And a pressure valve opening mechanism 30 for controlling the heating amount of the heating means and controlling the opening operation of the pressure valve 29 by the pressure valve opening mechanism 30. The control means is configured to change the pressure in the pan by opening the pressure valve 29 at least once by the pressure valve opening mechanism 30 during boiling. In this embodiment, two pressure valves 29 and two pressure valve opening mechanisms 30 are provided (see FIG. 5). The control means is executed by executing a program stored in the control board 21 described later.

  The rice cooker main body 2 has a bottomed cylindrical inner case 3 formed of a nonmetallic material that accommodates the pan 6 therein, and an outer case 4 that covers the inner case. 6 is detachably accommodated. The inner case 3 is formed with a flange portion 3a projecting to the outer periphery at the upper end portion thereof. The pan 6 is formed with a flange 6 a projecting outward at the upper end opening thereof, and the pan 6 is placed so as to be hooked on the flange portion 3 a of the inner case 3.

  Further, a notch portion 4a with a part cut away is formed on the opposite side surface side of the flange portion 3a of the inner case 3, and a part of the flange 6a of the pan 6 protrudes from the notch portion 4a. 6 is easily taken out from the inner case 3.

  The inner case 3 is provided with an induction heating coil 18 on the outer periphery near the bottom. The inner case 3 is provided with a side heater 19 between the upper opening and the induction heating coil 18.

  In the rice cooker body 2, a control board 21 that supplies and controls power to the induction heating coil 18, the side heater 19, the lid heater 20, and the like is disposed at a location close to the intake hole 5 a. Electronic components such as an inverter 22 made of semiconductor elements, a switching element, and a timer element are mounted on the power supply control board 21. Among these electronic components, the inverter 22 generates heat during operation and is cooled by a heat sink or a cooling fan 26. The rice cooker body 2 is provided with a temperature detection sensor 6b at the center of the bottom 5 so as to be in contact with the bottom surface of the pan 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom 5 of the rice cooker main body 2 is formed with an intake hole 5a for sucking air and an exhaust hole 5b for discharging the sucked air on the left and right, and the intake hole 5a and the exhaust hole 5b are The bottom 5 is formed with a plurality of narrow grooves having a predetermined width and length, so-called slits. The cooling fan 26 is disposed at a position close to the intake hole 5a. The cooling fan 26 is operated by a motor (not shown), and cools the inverter 22 with the air sucked from the intake hole 5a.

  The rice cooker body 2 is provided with a locking member 71 formed on the upper end of the inner case 3 on the opposite side of the hinge member 15 described later, and two locking claws formed on the locking member 71. The lid 7 can be fixed by being engaged with the engaging portion 2 a formed on the rice cooker body 2 by 72. Further, the locking member 71 is formed with a lock member abutting portion 74 so as to abut against a lock member 80 described later so that the lid 7 cannot be opened and closed during pressurization. Further, the locking portion 2 a is configured to open and close the lid body 7 in conjunction with an opening and closing knob 76 provided on the outer case 4. At this time, a device is installed between the opening / closing knob 76 and the locking portion 2a so that the lid 7 is not opened / closed even when the opening / closing knob 76 is pressed during pressurization. Since this apparatus is well known, detailed description is omitted.

  The lid 7 has an operation plate 23 mounted on the top surface of the outer lid 8. The operation plate 23 is provided with operation buttons such as a rice cooking button, a selection and time adjustment button, a cut button, a heat retention button, a reservation button and a function button, and a display panel 24. The display panel 24 is controlled and selected. The cooked rice menu is displayed.

  The lid body 7 has a configuration in which an outer lid 8 and a lid cover 11 are respectively attached to the upper and lower sides of the frame body 9, and the inner lid 10 is detachably attached to the frame body via the lid cover 11. It is attached so that the upper opening part of the inner case 3 may be covered. The lid body 7 is pivotally supported on the rice cooker body 2 by using the frame member 9 with the hinge member 15 and the pivot pin 16, so that the lid body 7 can be opened and closed to the rice cooker body 2. A lid heater 20 is disposed between the frame body 9 and the inner lid 10 so as to be covered with the lid cover 11, and a lid temperature sensor (not shown) is provided. A sensor for detecting the pressure and temperature of the pan is attached to almost the center of the inner lid 10, and a pressure valve 29 for controlling the steam pressure in the rice cooker body 2 to adjust the pressure to prevent spillage, A safety valve (not shown) that is opened when the pan is abnormally pressurized due to a valve failure or the like is released.

  The outer lid 8 is detachably mounted with a tow storage tank 27 for temporarily storing the toss to be blown out. The inside of the storage tank 27 has a multi-chamber structure provided with a separation structure from above and below to separate the steam and the rice bowl so that only the steam can pass through the steam port 27a. The rice balls accumulate in the storage tank 27 in the start-up heating process and the boiling maintenance process, and when the pressure in the pan 6 decreases in the steaming process, the negative pressure valve 12 returns to the pan 6. Yes.

  Around the outer periphery of the inner lid 10, a pot packing 14 that seals the flange 6 a of the pot 6 and the inner lid 10 is supported and attached to the outer frame 13. When the pan 6 is accommodated in the rice cooker body 2 and covered with the lid 7, the pan packing 14 is pressed against the opening edge of the pan 6 and the pan 6 is closed.

  Further, on the side of the pan 6 of the inner lid 10, a rice bowl diffusion unit 28 is attached for diffusing and supplying the rice basket stored in the rice basket storage tank 27 into the pot 6.

    The lid body 7 has an inner lid 10 formed of a stainless steel material, an aluminum material, or a clad material made of both. The inner lid 10 is formed by pressing a metal plate into a disk shape so that a step is formed between the peripheral portion and the inside, and the peripheral portion is made of hard plastic via a rubber pot packing 14. An outer frame 13 is attached. The outer frame 13 is provided with a locking portion for mounting the inner lid. The pot packing 14 is in close contact with the flange 6 a of the pot 6, and holds the pressure by sealing the pot 6. The pot packing 14 is preferably formed from silicon rubber which is excellent in durability and heat resistance.

  A blocking projection 7a capable of closing the cutout portion 4a is formed at a portion facing the cutout portion 4a formed in the inner case 3 inside the lid.

  The inner lid 10 is provided with two pressure valves that are selectively operable (see FIG. 5). At this time, two pressure valves having the same valve hole can be provided as shown in FIG. 5B, or one having a different valve hole can be provided one by one as shown in FIG. 5C. 6 is a plan view of the inner lid 10 with the outer lid 8 removed from the lid 7, and the frame 9 is assembled in a lattice shape. Two pressure valves are provided side by side in the vicinity of the center of the inner lid 10, and these pressure valves protrude into the outer lid 8 from a hole near the center of the lid cover 11. These pressure valves are driven by solenoids attached to the inside of the outer lid 8, but in this embodiment, link mechanisms are provided between the respective pressure valves and the solenoids, and the solenoids are connected via the link mechanisms. Is transferred to the pressure valve. Details will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the pressure valve 29 includes a valve seat 29b having a valve hole 29a, a metal ball 29c as an opening / closing mechanism for closing the valve hole 29a by its own weight on the valve seat 29b, and the ball 29c. And a cover 29e covering the. The pressure valve 29 is forced by the control of the pressure valve opening mechanism 30 when the ball 29c is moved or separated from the valve hole 29a by the balance between the pressure in the pan 6 and the weight of the ball 29c. The valve hole 29a is opened and closed by moving the ball 29c.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the pressure valve opening mechanism including the link mechanism of the rice cooker 1 according to the embodiment and the lid locking mechanism of the lid accompanying this operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the outer lid 8 of the lid body 7 is removed, the lid locking mechanism 70 is provided in the front direction when FIG. 6 is viewed from the front, and the two first link mechanisms 38 and the second links are located behind the lid locking mechanism 70. A first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 and a second pressure valve opening mechanism 50 each having a mechanism 57 are arranged. The first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 and the second pressure valve opening mechanism 50 are collectively referred to simply as the pressure valve opening mechanism 30. In addition, a substantially central portion of the lid body 7 is provided with a pressure valve storage portion 29C in which two first pressure valves 29A and a second pressure valve 29B are stored. The first pressure valve 29 </ b> A and the second pressure valve 29 </ b> B are collectively referred to simply as the pressure valve 29.

  The lid locking mechanism 70 and the pressure valve opening mechanism 30 are arranged as shown in FIG. The two pressure valve opening mechanisms are a first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 on the left side and a second pressure valve opening mechanism 50 on the right side when FIG. 7 is viewed from the front.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 is moved by the first solenoid cover 33 storing the first solenoid 32 for moving the first plunger 34 and the excitation of the first solenoid 32. The first plunger 34, the first moving member 36 that follows the movement of the first plunger 34, the first link bar 39 connected to the first moving member 36, and the first link bar 39. The first actuating member 43 is used. Similarly, the second pressure valve opening mechanism 50 includes a second solenoid cover 52 in which a second solenoid 51 that moves the second plunger 53 is stored, and a second plan that is moved by excitation of the second solenoid 51. A jar 53, a second moving member 55 following the movement of the second plunger 53, a second link bar 58 connected to the second moving member 55, and a second actuating member connected to the second link bar 58. 62. The first link bar 39 and the second link bar 58 are arranged so as to cross.

  Further, a locking member 80 is disposed between the first operating member 43 and the second operating member 62, and the locking member 80 and the first and second operating members 43 and 62 are locked by a return spring. .

  The lid lock mechanism 70 is formed with a pair of locking claws 72 that are locked to the rice cooker body 2 at one end, and a lock member against which the lock member 80 is abutted on the opposite side. A contact portion 74 is formed. Further, the lid lock mechanism 70 has small diameter holes 75 formed at both ends perpendicular to the lock member abutting portion 74, and the hole 75 and the hole formed in the lid body 7 are the shafts. The support rod 73 is inserted so as to be freely rotatable. Further, the lid locking mechanism 70 is configured to be disposed at a position where the locking claw 72 is locked when an elastic body such as a spring is interposed and no force is applied to release the lid locking mechanism 70. Yes.

  Next, the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The first plunger 34 is disposed at the center of the first solenoid 32 and is moved when the first solenoid 32 is excited. The first solenoid 32 is stored in the first solenoid cover 33, and the first solenoid cover 33 is fixed to the lid body 7 (see FIG. 6). A first washer 35 is attached to the tip of the first plunger 34.

  The first moving member 36 is provided so as to follow the movement of the first plunger 34, and is connected by fitting the first washer 35 attached to the tip of the first plunger 34 into the first moving member 36. Has been. The first moving member 36 is formed with a first loose projection A37 with a turn connected to the first link mechanism 38.

  The first link mechanism 38 is formed by a plate-like first link bar 39 in which a substantially central portion is pivotally supported with the lid body 7 and a rotatable first pivot support portion 40 is formed. A first loosening hole A41 and a first loosening hole B42 that are respectively loosely engaged with the first loosening protrusion A37 of the first moving member 36 and the first loosening protrusion B49 of the first actuating member 43 are formed. These first play holes A41 and first play holes B42 are formed larger than the first play protrusions A37 and first play protrusions B49 to be joined together. In the hole A41 and the first play hole B42, so-called play is provided so that the first play protrusion A37 and the first play protrusion B49 can move. At this time, the first and second protrusions A37 and B49 are formed with the barbs so that the first and second protrusions A37 and B49 are connected to the first and second holes A41 and A49. The release from the hole B42 is suppressed.

  The first actuating member 43 is formed with a first actuating pile 44 for actuating a ball 29c as an opening / closing mechanism of the first pressure valve 29A at one end, and a first return spring engaging with a return spring 84 at the other end. The stopper 48 is formed of a plate-like body. Furthermore, the first arm portion 47 and the lock member 80 that push the lock member 80 at both ends on the vertical direction side with respect to the end portion where the first working pile 44 and the first return spring locking portion 48 are formed. A first protrusion 46 that fits into the groove 82 is formed. In addition, a first loose projection B49 with a turn to which the first link bar 39 is loosely coupled is formed on the surface of the plate-like body of the first actuating member 43, and the second pivot of the second link bar 58 is further formed. A first pivot support through hole 45 through which the support 59 is passed is formed. The first pivot support portion through-hole 45 is also formed to be larger than the second pivot support portion 59 so that the second pivot support portion 59 is movable in the first pivot support portion through-hole 45.

  Next, the second pressure valve opening mechanism 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The second pressure valve opening mechanism 50 has the same configuration as that of the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31, and only the shape and the position of the second link bar are different.

  The second plunger 53 is disposed at the center of the second solenoid 51 and is moved when the second solenoid 51 is excited. The second solenoid 51 is stored in the second solenoid cover 52, and the second solenoid cover 52 is fixed to the lid body 7 (see FIG. 6). A second washer 54 is attached to the tip of the second plunger 53.

  The second moving member 55 is provided so as to follow the movement of the second plunger 53, and is connected by fitting the second washer 54 attached to the tip of the second plunger 53 into the second moving member 55. Has been. The second moving member 55 is formed with a second loose projection A56 that is turned back and connected to the second link mechanism 57.

  The second link mechanism 57 is formed by a plate-like second link bar 58 in which a substantially central portion is pivotally supported by the lid body 7 and a rotatable second pivot support portion 59 is formed. A second loosening hole A60 and a second loosening hole B61 are formed so as to loosely engage with the second loosening protrusion A56 of the second moving member 55 and the second loosening protrusion B68 of the second actuating member 62, respectively. The second play hole A60 and the second play hole B61 are formed larger than the respective second play protrusion A56 and the second play protrusion B68 to be joined together, and the second play hole A60. In addition, a so-called play is provided so that the second loose projection A56 and the second loose projection B68 can move within the second loose hole B61. At this time, the second loose protrusion A56 and the second loose protrusion B68 are formed with the barbs so that the second loose protrusion A56 and the second loose protrusion B68 are connected to the second loose hole A60 and the second loose protrusion. The release from the hole B61 is suppressed.

  The second actuating member 62 is formed with a second actuating pile 63 for actuating a ball 29c as an opening / closing mechanism of the second pressure valve 29B at one end, and a second return spring engaging with a return spring 84 at the other end. It is formed of a plate-like body on which a stop portion 67 is formed. Further, the second arm portion 66 that pushes the lock member 80 and the lock member 80 at both ends on the vertical side with respect to the end portion where the second working pile 63 and the second return spring locking portion 67 are formed. A second protrusion 65 that fits into the groove 82 is formed. Further, a second loose projection B68 with a turn to which the second link bar 58 is loosely coupled is formed on the surface of the plate-like body of the second actuating member 62, and further, the first pivot of the first link bar 39 is A second pivot support part through-hole 64 through which the support part 40 passes is formed. The second pivot support part through-hole 64 is also formed to be larger than the first pivot support part 40, so that the first pivot support part 40 can be moved in the second pivot support part through-hole 64.

  In addition, the shape of each member other than the second link bar is exactly the same (not symmetric), so by forming with the same member, there is no need to manufacture dies of parts with different shapes, This is because the cost can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the lock member 80 has a protrusion 81 formed on a part of the surface that becomes the upper surface 80 a of the block body formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The protrusion 81 is a portion that comes into contact with the lock member contact portion 74 of the lid lock mechanism 70. Further, groove portions 82 are respectively formed on the long side surfaces on the vertical direction side with respect to the surface on which the protrusions of the lock member 80 are formed. Further, a return spring fixing portion 83 to which the return spring 84 is fixed is formed on the surface on which the protrusion 81 is formed. Further, the return spring 84 is a coiled spring in which both ends are elongated and the engaging portion 85 is formed at both ends.

  Next, the operation of the pressure valve opening mechanism 30 provided with the lid lock mechanism 70 and the link mechanism will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 12, when the first and second pressure valve opening mechanisms 31 and 50 are not in operation, the first and second operation piles 44 and 63 of the first and second operation members 43 and 62 are provided. Is a state in which the ball 29c of each second pressure valve 29B is pushed and separated from the valve hole 29a. Therefore, the valve hole 29a is opened, the pressure in the rice cooker 1 is excluded from the valve hole 29a, and the pressure in the rice cooker 1 is substantially the same as the atmospheric pressure.

  In this case, since there is no danger even if the lid body 7 is opened, the lock member 80 is at a position away from the lid body locking mechanism 70 and the lid body 7 can be unlocked.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, the first and second actuating members 43 and 62 are moved, the first and second actuating piles 44 and 63 are separated from the ball 29c of the pressure valve 29, and the ball 29c is separated from the valve hole 29a. When the lid 7 is opened, the inside of the rice cooker 1 is in a pressurized state and is in a dangerous state when the lid 7 is opened. The operation of the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 at this time will be described by taking the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 as an example. First, the first plunger 34 is excited and pulled into the first solenoid 32. The first moving member 36 is moved in accordance with the movement of the first plunger 34, and the first link bar 39 connected to the first loose projection A 37 formed on the first moving member 36 is connected to the first link bar 39. The first pivot 40 rotates around the clockwise direction. At this time, since the first play hole A41 connected to the first play protrusion A37 is formed to be large, the first link bar 39 can be smoothly rotated by utilizing this play portion. . Then, the first engaging protrusion B49 formed on the first operating member 43 connected to the first engaging hole B42 of the first link bar 39 moves the first operating member 43 in accordance with this rotation. it can. This movement is a movement of the first actuating member 43 from the position where the pressure valve is located to the direction where the opposite lid locking mechanism 70 is located.

Then, the movement of the first actuating member 43 causes the first arm portion 47 formed on the first actuating member 43 to push the lock member 80, so that the lock member 80 is brought into contact with the lock member of the lid lock mechanism 70. By moving to the contact part 74 and bringing it into contact with the lock member contact part 74, it is possible to suppress the unlocking of the lid lock mechanism 70. This operation is performed in the same manner in the second pressure valve opening mechanism 50, and the second operating member 62 is moved and the lock member 80 is pushed by the second operating member 62 as shown in FIG. (See FIG. 14).
And since this operation | movement is performed whenever the movement of a plunger is performed, ie, whenever the pressure in the pan 6 rises, when the inside of the rice cooker 1 is a pressurized state, the lock | rock of the cover body locking mechanism 70 is carried out. Will no longer be released.

  In addition, after the lock member 80 and the lock member contact part 74 contact | abut, the rise of the pressure in the rice cooker 1 raises the inner lid 10 of the lid body 7 so that the lock member 80 also rises. Since the force that pushes up the lock member abutting portion 74 by the ascending force works, the release of the lid lock mechanism 70 can be further suppressed.

  The operation of the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 when the pressurization in the rice cooker 1 is stopped and the first pressure valve 29A is opened is such that the excitation of the first plunger 34 is stopped and the first plunger 34 is operated. The first solenoid 32 moves outward from the inside. At this time, in order to take the first plunger 34 out of the first solenoid 32, an elastic body such as a spring may be provided in the first solenoid 32, or a mechanical device may be provided. . As the first plunger 34 moves, the first moving member 36 is moved, and the first link bar 39 connected to the first loose projection A 37 formed on the first moving member 36 is replaced with the first link bar 39. It rotates counterclockwise around the first pivotal support portion 40 of the. At this time, since the first play hole A41 connected to the first play protrusion A37 is formed to be large, the first link bar can be smoothly rotated by utilizing this play portion.

  Then, the first engaging protrusion B49 formed on the first operating member 43 connected to the first engaging hole B42 of the first link bar 39 moves the first operating member 43 in accordance with this rotation. it can. This movement is a movement of the first actuating member 43 in the direction in which the pressure valve 29 on the opposite side is located from the position in which the lid locking mechanism 70 is located. Then, the movement of the first operating member 43 returns the first operating member 43 to the installed position. At this time, the return spring 84 locked to the return spring fixing portion 83 formed on the first actuating member 43 uses the elastic force of the return spring 84 to move the lock member 80 in accordance with the movement of the first actuating member 43. It can be returned to the specified position (see FIG. 12). This operation is performed in the same manner in the second pressure valve opening mechanism 50, the second operating member 62 is moved, and the lock member 80 is returned to the specified position by the return spring locked to the second operating member 62. (See FIG. 14).

  Note that the return spring 84, which is an elastic body, is used to return the lock member 80 to the specified position. If the return spring 84 is connected by a hard member, the pressure in the rice cooker 1 is maintained even if the pressure valve 29 is opened. Since it takes some time to return to the vicinity of the atmospheric pressure, the lock member 80 is defined in a state where the lock member 80 is in contact with the lock member contact portion 74 as the inner lid 10 of the lid body 7 is raised. If the lock member 80 cannot move even when the operating member is moved, the member may be damaged.

  Next, a case where only the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 is operated will be described with reference to FIG. One pressure valve can be used depending on the amount of cooked rice. At this time, when only the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 is used, the operation of the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 is the same as described above. The difference is that only the first actuating member 43 is moved, so that the lock member 80 needs to be pushed by the lock member abutting portion 74 even at this time. In this respect, the first arm portion 47 and the second arm portion 66 that push the lock member 80 formed on the first operating member 43 and the second operating member 62 are formed at the same position (see FIG. 14), these arm portions 47 and 66 are formed so that their heights are staggered, and as shown in FIG. 17A, when the first actuating member 43 moves, only the first arm portion 47 moves, The lock member 80 can be pushed by the first arm portion 47. Therefore, even if only one pressure valve opening mechanism is operated, unlocking of the lid lock mechanism 70 can be suppressed.

  Also, when the lock member 80 is returned to the specified position, the return spring 84 is locked to the first return spring locking portion 48 of the first actuating member 43 as shown in FIG. It can be returned by the elastic force.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17B, only the second pressure valve opening mechanism 50 can be operated, and the operation is the same as that of the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31.

  When the first pressure valve opening mechanism 31 and the second pressure valve opening mechanism 50 are used separately, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the diameters of the valve holes formed in the respective pressure valves 29A ′ and 29B are different. It is effective and more precisely regulates the amount of rice cooked, so that it is possible to cook rice that matches the amount of rice cooked, so that more delicious rice can be cooked.

  1: Rice cooker 2: Rice cooker body 3: Inner case 4: Outer case 6: Pan 7: Lid body 8: Outer lid 10: Inner lid 11: Lid cover 18: Induction heating coil 19: Side heater 20: Lid heater 21 ： Control board 27 ： Piece storage tank 29 ： Pressure valve 29A ： First pressure valve 29B ： Second pressure valve 30 ： Pressure valve release mechanism 31 ： First pressure valve release mechanism 32 ： First solenoid 33 ： First solenoid cover 34: 1st plunger 35: 1st washer 36: 1st moving member 37: 1st idler protrusion A 38: 1st link mechanism 39: 1st link bar 40: 1st pivot part 41: 1st idler hole A 42: 1st idler hole B 43: 1st action | operation member 44: 1st action | operation pile 45: 1st pivot part through-hole 46: 1st projection part 47: 1st arm part 48: 1st return spring latching | locking part 49: First loose projection 50: Second pressure valve opening mechanism 51: Second solenoid 52: Second solenoid cover 53: Second plunger 54: Second washer 55: Second moving member 56: Second loose projection A 57: Second link mechanism 58: 2nd link bar 59: 2nd pivot part 60: 2nd idler hole A 61: 2nd idler hole B 62: 2nd action | operation member 63: 2nd action | operation pile 64: 2nd pivot part through-hole 65: Second protrusion 66: Second arm portion 67: Second return spring locking portion 68: Second loose protrusion B 70: Lid lock mechanism 71: Locking member 72: Locking claw 73: Shaft support rod 74: Lock member contact portion 76: Opening / closing knob 80: Lock member 81: Projection 82: Groove portion 83: Return spring fixing portion 84: Return spring

Claims (13)

A rice cooker body having a pan for containing the rice to be cooked containing water and rice, an opening for housing the pan, a heating means for heating the cooked rice in the pan, and a control means for controlling the heating means, A lid for closing the opening of the pan and the rice cooker body;
A lid locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the lid to the rice cooker body; and
A pressure valve having an opening and closing mechanism for communicating or blocking the inside of the pan and the outside air so that the pressure in the pan is substantially constant;
A pressure valve opening mechanism for forcibly opening the pressure valve;
In the rice cooker provided with two each of the pressure valve and the pressure valve opening mechanism in the lid body,
The two pressure valve opening mechanism, respectively, and electrical or mechanical means can be moved by the plunger, and a link mechanism for transmitting the movement of the plunger, with the movement that is transmission from the link mechanism An actuating member to be moved,
The lid body is provided with one lock member for suppressing unlocking of the lid body lock mechanism,
Wherein the two actuating members, respectively, an arm portion, wherein the locking member and the actuating piles for operating the closing mechanism of the pressure valve is pushed is formed,
When the pressure valve is closed by movement of at least one of the two operating members, the lock member is moved out of the two operating members along with the movement of at least one of the two operating members . At least one of the arms moves the lock member so as to suppress the unlocking of the lid lock mechanism. The link mechanism is formed of a link bar whose central portion is pivotally supported by the lid,
A through hole is formed at each end of the link bar, one end of the plunger is connected to the end of the plunger, and the other end of the through hole is connected to the end of the actuating member so as to be freely movable. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rice cooker is rotated about a substantially central portion of the link bar.   A moving member capable of following the movement of the plunger is provided at an end of the plunger, and one through hole of the link bar is movably connected to the moving member. The rice cooker according to claim 2.   4. The rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein the link mechanisms are installed so that the link bars cross each other. 5. 5. The rice cooker according to claim 4 , wherein the cross-linked link mechanisms are alternately arranged in height so as not to contact each other.   The rice cooker according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the operating member is formed with a hole through which the pivotally supported portion of the lid and the link bar is inserted.   The lid lock mechanism has at least one locking claw locked to the rice cooker body at one end and a lock member abutting portion against which the lock member is abutted at the other end. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein a contact portion is brought into contact with the lock member.   The rice cooker according to claim 7, wherein the lock member is formed with a groove portion that is fitted to a projection portion formed on the operating member.   The lock member is pushed by an arm portion formed in a direction perpendicular to the operation pile of the operation member, and is moved to the lock member contact portion of the lid lock mechanism. Item 9. A rice cooker according to item 7 or 8. The respective operating members are provided in parallel,
The rice cooker according to claim 9, wherein the arm portions formed on the actuating members provided in parallel are alternately formed in height. The locking member has a return spring connected to the actuating member;
11. The lock member moved by the actuating member is returned to a specified position by the return spring and is detached from the lock member abutting portion of the lid lock mechanism. Rice cooker as described in.   Each said pressure valve has a mutually different diameter, The rice cooker in any one of Claims 1-11 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The rice pressure cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the pressure valve opening mechanism opens the pressure valves individually or simultaneously.

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