JP5629656B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker having a structure that improves cleanability.

  Conventionally, what was described in patent document 1 as this kind of rice cooker is known.

  In Patent Document 1, the pressure in the inner hook is adjusted by a pressure regulating valve, and the steam is discharged from the pressure valve to be attached to and detached from the outer lid through a steam passage provided in the outer lid. It is led to a vapor recovery unit (exhaust cap) that is freely attached and discharged.

  The steam recovery unit has a flat finish on the upper surface of the outer lid and the steam recovery unit without any irregularities due to the design and cleanability of the upper surface of the outer lid.

  Therefore, when removing the steam recovery unit for cleaning, the steam recovery unit is easily lifted and removed from the steam passage by lifting it by placing the hand on the hinge side (rear side) of the steam recovery unit.

JP 2010-246657 A (particularly FIG. 1)

  When the connection between the steam recovery unit and the steam passage is moved closer to the position where the hand is to be removed when removing the steam recovery unit, the steam recovery unit will be lifted up due to changes in the configuration of the parts stored in the outer lid. When this occurs, the surface of the steam recovery unit and the surface of the outer lid facing each other hit, making it difficult to disconnect the connection portion with the steam passage, causing a problem that requires force to remove the steam recovery unit.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and includes an inner hook that is detachably accommodated in a main body, a heating means that heats the inner hook, and a control that controls the heating means. An outer lid that covers an upper portion of the main body, and an outer lid that covers an upper surface opening of the inner hook, and a steam passage that discharges steam generated in the inner hook to the outside, An exhaust cap that is detachably connected to the steam passage and is provided with an exhaust cap that discharges the steam to the outside is provided, and the outer lid has an inclined portion at a position where the surfaces of the outer cap and the exhaust cap face each other. The exhaust cap includes an exhaust recess that accommodates the inclined rib, and an exhaust projection that has a top end that overlaps the inclined portion on an upper surface side . When the exhaust cap is removed, the exhaust projection becomes the inclined portion. The exhaust cap serves as a fulcrum and rides on the exhaust cap. It is those that deviate.

  The exhaust cap includes an exhaust recess for storing the inclined rib.

  According to the present invention, the detachability of the steam recovery unit is greatly improved, and the usability is improved.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rice cooker of one Example. It is an enlarged view of one Example. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the same steam collection | recovery unit. It is a vertical perspective view which shows the inside of the same steam collection | recovery unit. It is the perspective view which piled up the 1st frame and 2nd frame which hang down from the upper case on the lower case of the same steam recovery unit. It is the same control circuit diagram. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation state at the time of the rice cooking.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the figure, the main body 1 of the rice cooker is provided with a protective frame 14 whose upper surface is opened inside, and the inner pot 2 is detachably accommodated in the protective frame 14.

  The inner hook 2 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper surface, and its upper end is bent substantially horizontally outward so as to be easily attached / detached from the main body 1 and placed on the upper surface of the main body 1.

  A heating means 4 for induction heating the bottom surface of the inner pot 2 is provided on the outer bottom of the protective frame 14, and a control unit 5 is disposed in the front side space between the protective frame 14 and the main body 1. The heating means 4 is controlled by the action of the unit 5.

  An inner lid 6 that covers the upper opening of the inner lid 2 is attached to the outer lid 3, and a packing 7 that is attached to the lower peripheral edge of the inner lid 6 is brought into contact with the entire circumference of the upper end of the inner lid 2. And a space formed by the inner lid 6 are kept in a sealed state.

  A pressure regulating valve 8 is provided at a substantially central portion of the inner lid 6, and when the inner hook 2 is heated by the heating means 4 and the vapor pressure in the inner hook 2 increases, the pressure regulating valve 8 operates and the inner hook 2 The steam is discharged while the inside is adjusted to a predetermined pressure (1.3 atm in this embodiment). The steam discharged from the pressure regulating valve 8 is guided to the exhaust cap 10 detachably attached to the outer cover 3 through the steam passage 9 provided in the outer cover 3 and discharged.

  A steam temperature sensor 11 is provided in the steam passage 9 between the exhaust cap 10 and the pressure regulating valve 8 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the pressure regulating valve 8.

  An inclined portion 100 a connected from the upper surface of the outer lid 3 is formed on the side of the outer lid 3 on the line connecting the approximate center of the position where the hand of the exhaust cap 10 is placed and the approximate center of the connecting portion between the exhaust cap 10 and the steam passage 9. The exhaust rib 10 having the inclined rib 100 is provided, and on the opposite side of the exhaust cap 10, the exhaust convex portion 10 a provided with the same surface as the upper surface of the exhaust cap 10 at the position facing the inclined portion 100 a and the exhaust concave portion accommodating the inclined rib 100. 10b. The exhaust recess 10b may be formed by providing the exhaust projection 10a or newly provided.

  Since the inclined rib 100 is accommodated in the exhaust recess 10b, there is no need to increase the gap between the outer lid 3 and the exhaust cap 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 5 includes the steam temperature sensor 11, the bottom temperature sensor 12 that detects the temperature of the bottom of the inner pot 2, the heating means 4, and the pressure regulating operation of the pressure regulating valve 8. A pressure regulating valve control unit 13 to be performed is connected. Based on information from the steam temperature sensor 11 and the bottom temperature sensor 12, the heating means 4 and the pressure regulating operation for closing the pressure regulating valve 8 and the pressure regulating valve 8 are opened to open the inner pot. 2 is controlled to switch the state in which no pressure is applied.

  Next, the exhaust cap 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

  The exhaust cap 10 is detachably attached to the outer lid 3 so as to be continuous with the steam passage 9 from the upper surface.

  The exhaust cap 10 is composed of an upper case 10-1 and a lower case 10-2, each of which has a substantially rectangular shape. The exhaust cap 10 pivotally supports one side of the upper case 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 and has a lock button on the opposite side. The unit packing 10-4 is provided at the periphery of the upper case 10-1 so that the steam inside does not leak.

  The bottom case 10-2 is provided with a bottomless, dome-like cylinder 10-5 connected to the steam passage 9 at a substantially central portion, and steam discharged from the steam passage 9 on a part of the upper side surface of the cylinder 10-5. Is provided with an inflow port 10-6.

  A substantially rectangular first frame 10-7 is integrally provided in the upper case 10-1 so as to surround the cylinder 10-5 with an appropriate gap, and the open end of the first frame 10-7 is formed at the upper case. 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 are combined with each other and are brought close to the flat portion of the lower case 10-2. A first notch 10-8 is provided at the opening end of the first frame 10-7 so as to be located on the side opposite to the direction of the inlet 10-6. The open end of the first frame 10-7 is brought close to the flat portion of the lower case 10-2 in a state where the upper case 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 are joined together, due to thermal expansion. 1 and the lower case 10-2 are taken into consideration.

  The upper case 10-1 outside the first frame 10-7 is integrally provided with a second frame 10-9 having the same height as the substantially quadrangular first frame 10-7, and at the opening end thereof. Is provided with a second notch 10-10 at substantially the same position as the first frame 10-7.

  The U-shaped frame 10-11 is positioned between the first frame 10-7 and the second frame 10-9 with the upper case 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 being joined to the lower case 10-2. The U-shaped frame 10-11 is open on the opposite side to the first notch 10-8 and the second notch 10-10.

  Between the second frame 10-9 and the peripheral portion of the upper case 10-1, a hole 10-12 that communicates with the outside space and the space between the upper case 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 is provided. ing.

  Further, the lower case 10-2 is provided with a water return hole 10-13 so as to be positioned between the tube 10-5 and the U-shaped frame 10-11. It is made to return to the steam passage 9.

  Next, operation | movement of a rice cooker is demonstrated with reference to FIG.

  When the user puts an appropriate amount of rice and water into the inner pot 2 and operates a rice cooking start button (not shown) of the operation unit, the cooking of the rice is started by the function of the control unit 5.

  In accordance with a predetermined rice cooking operation, a soaking step is first performed to promote water absorption into the rice. The heating means 4 heats the inner hook 2 (400 W in this embodiment) according to a predetermined temperature of the bottom temperature sensor 12 (60 ° C. in this embodiment), and the water temperature inside the inner pot 2 becomes 55-60 ° C. Maintain and promote water absorption into rice.

  When a predetermined time (15 minutes in this embodiment) elapses, the heating process is started, and the controller 5 increases the heating amount of the heating means 4 (1000 W in this embodiment) and the pressure regulating valve controller 13 operates. The pressure regulating valve 8 operates to adjust the pressure in the inner hook 2.

  Eventually, when the water temperature inside the inner pot 2 rises, the pressure inside the inner pot 2 rises due to the generation of steam, and when the operating pressure of the pressure regulating valve 8 rises to 1.3 atm, the boiling point of 107 ° C. corresponding to 1.3 atm And the steam released by the operation of the pressure regulating valve 8 is released to the steam passage 9. Since the steam temperature sensor 11 is provided in the vicinity of the pressure regulating valve 8 in the steam passage 9, the inflow of the steam is detected by the temperature rise of the steam temperature sensor 11 heated by the steam, and the control unit 5 exceeds the predetermined temperature. Recognize boiling by becoming.

  The controller 5 reduces the heating amount of the heating means 4 (500 W in this embodiment), but this heating amount maintains 1.3 atm which is the operating pressure of the pressure regulating valve 8 and is 107 ° C. which is the boiling point of this pressure. Is set so as to continue or intermittently continue boiling, and steam flows from the pressure regulating valve 8 into the steam passage 9 by boiling.

  Although it is the quantity of this vapor | steam, in order to maintain the boiling point of 100 degreeC in 1 atmosphere like the non-pressure type rice cooker without the pressure regulation valve 8, it is not necessary to continue supplying big electric power. In order for “rice” to become “rice”, it is necessary to turn β starch into α starch, which requires maintaining at 98 ° C. or higher for 20 minutes. In the non-pressure type rice cooker, in order to maintain 98 ° C. or more to every corner of the inner pot, a portion with poor convection does not rise to 98 ° C. unless large electric power is continuously applied and intense boiling is continued. Therefore, a large amount of steam is generated.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, 107 ° C. is maintained at 1.3 atm. Even if there is a portion at 103 ° C., there is no problem in maintaining 98 ° C. or higher, and a minute boiling state is maintained. Therefore, the temperature only needs to be maintained. For this reason, a very small amount of steam flows from the pressure regulating valve 8 into the steam passage 9.

  The trace amount of steam is kept boiling until water disappears, the temperature at the bottom of the inner pot 2 is raised (drying up) by the bottom temperature sensor 12 (drying up), and until the controller 5 shifts to the steaming process. Continue. During this time, the steam that flows in gradually proceeds to the exhaust cap 10 through the steam passage 9.

  In order to keep the temperature even in the steaming process, the control unit 5 performs the slight heating with the heating means 4. During this time, the pressure adjustment by the pressure regulating valve 8 is continuously performed after the pressure regulating valve control unit 13 operates 15 minutes after the start of rice cooking. It is in a valid state. Once the pressure regulating operation is disabled by the pressure regulating valve control unit 13, the pressure in the inner hook 2 decreases, the steam flows out all at once, the steam cannot be recovered by the exhaust cap 10, and the steam is discharged into the outside air. It is because it releases.

  In the latter half of the steaming process, the control unit 5 prohibits slight heating, and after the time sufficient for the pressure in the inner pot 2 to return to atmospheric pressure has elapsed (for example, 5 minutes), the pressure control valve control unit 13 adjusts the pressure. The pressure valve 8 is disabled. Although it will be in the state connected with air | atmosphere by this, since the pressure inside the inner hook 2 has fallen to atmospheric pressure, a vapor | steam does not flow out vigorously. Then, the control part 5 complete | finishes steaming (rice cooking).

  Next, the flow and recovery of steam inside the exhaust cap 10 will be described.

  The steam that has flowed from the inner pot 2 through the pressure regulating valve 8 into the steam passage 9 flows into the space surrounded by the first frame 10-7 in the exhaust cap 10 from the inlet 10-6 provided in the cylinder 10-5. . The first frame 10-7 is provided so as to hang down from the upper case 10-1, and since steam is lighter than air, it stays in the upper space of the first frame 10-7, and the upper case 10-1 and the first frame 10 Condensation on -7. When the amount of steam increases, the steam fills the space below the first frame 10-7 and flows out from the first notch 10-8.

  Next, the steam is guided to a space surrounded by the first frame 10-7 and the U-shaped frame 10-11, and the U-shaped frame 10-11 provided on the side opposite to the first notch 10-8. Flows along the inner side of the U-shaped frame 10-11 to the opening. Then, the steam is filled in the space surrounded by the U-shaped frame 10-11 and the second frame 10-9, flows along the outside of the U-shaped frame 10-11, and the steam is filled up to the second notch 10-10. Then, it flows into the space enclosed by the outer periphery of the 2nd frame 10-9, the upper case 10-1, and the lower case 10-2 from the 2nd notch part 10-10.

  Finally, it flows into the hole 10-12 provided on the opposite side to the second notch 10-10 and is released to the outside air.

  Since the heating of the heating means 4 is adjusted so that the generation of the vapor becomes a very small amount, most of the vapor is recovered, and the vapor coming out of the hole 10-12 is a very small amount, and the temperature is lowered so as to be invisible. .

  The water condensed in the steam recovery unit 10 is returned to the steam passage 9 from the water return hole 10-13. Although this returned water is not described in detail, it can be humidified by returning it to the inner pot 2 at the time of heat retention or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the exhaust cap 10 has a substantially rectangular shape, but may be circular or elliptical. Further, although the first case 10-7 and the second frame 10-10 are provided in the upper case 10-1, it is effective to provide more.

  After cooking rice, the inner pot 2, the inner lid 6, and the exhaust cap 10 are removed for cleaning. Next, the operation when the exhaust cap 10 is removed will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the exhaust cap 10 is removed, if the B portion at the rear of the exhaust cap 10 is held by hand and lifted up in the P direction, the exhaust cap 10 is inclined, and the inclined rib 100 provided on the outer lid 3 is provided with the exhaust convex portion 10a. When the exhaust cap 10 is raised in the P direction, the exhaust convex portion 10a is raised as a fulcrum and the connection with the steam passage 9 is released.

  Since the exhaust projection 10a rides on the inclined portion 100a of the inclined rib 100 included in the outer lid 3 and becomes a fulcrum, the connection portion is not broken because the connection with the steam passage 9 is always released stably in a fixed direction. Further, since the connecting portion is disengaged using the lever principle, it is easy to remove.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the detachability of the steam recovery unit is greatly improved and the usability is improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Inner hook 3 Outer cover 4 Heating means 5 Control part 6 Inner cover 8 Pressure regulating valve 9 Steam passage 10 Steam recovery unit 10a Exhaust convex part 10b Exhaust concave part 11 Steam temperature sensor 13 Pressure regulating valve control part 100 Inclined rib 100a Inclined part

Claims (1)

An inner pot that is detachably stored in the main body, a heating unit that heats the inner pot, a control unit that controls the heating unit, an outer lid that covers an upper portion of the main body, and an outer lid Includes an inner lid that covers the upper surface opening of the inner hook, a steam passage that discharges steam generated in the inner pot to the outside, and an exhaust cap that is detachably connected to the steam passage and discharges the steam to the outside. An inclined rib having an inclined portion above the outer lid, and an exhaust concave portion in which the inclined rib is accommodated in the exhaust cap, at positions where the surfaces of the outer lid and the exhaust cap face each other. An exhaust convex portion whose tip overlaps with the inclined portion on the upper surface side, and when the exhaust cap is removed, the exhaust convex portion rides on the inclined portion, and the exhaust convex portion serves as a fulcrum to remove the exhaust cap. A featured rice cooker.