JPH0427347A - Vacuum cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an easily operable vacuum cooker capable of deeply impregnating the tissues and cells of a material with pickle by alternately applying negative pressure and positive pressure to the contents in a container by the transfer of a valve in a motor-driven switch valve to enlarge a difference between the pressures. CONSTITUTION:A container 15 containing a material Z and a pickle Q therein is loaded on a receiving portion of a main body 11 and the opening portion of the container 15 is closed with a closing lid 18. A motor-driven vacuum pump 12 is operated and simultaneously a switch valve 40 is switched to a position for communicating the such opening 12a of the motor-driven vacuum pump with the container 15 and for communicating the exhausting opening 12b of the motor-driven vacuum pump, thereby removing air in the container 15 to give a negative pressure. The valve 40 is subsequently switched to a position for communicating the sucking opening 12a with the atmosphere and for communicating the exhausting opening 12b with the container 15, thereby feeding the atmosphere into the container 15 with the vacuum pump 12 to give a positive pressure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The second invention relates to a vacuum cooker for making pickles and the like in a short time.

(Prior Art) A pickle device that uses a vacuum pump to make pickles in a short time has been known.

As shown in FIG. 11, this pickle device includes a pedestal 2 on which a container 1 is placed, a lid 4 that seals the opening of the container 1 placed on the pedestal 2, and a lever 5 that can be moved up and down. It is equipped with a vacuum pump 6 that evacuates the air inside the container 1 in the direction of the arrow by moving the vacuum pump 6, and an on-off valve 8 that sets the inside of the container 1 to atmospheric pressure by operating a knob 7.

When making pickles, first of all, the lever 5 is moved up and down. Then, the inside of the container 1 becomes negative pressure by the vacuum pump 6, and the air trapped between the tissues of the material placed in the container 1 escapes and the cell membrane of the material is destroyed. next,
Operate knob 7 to bring the inside of container 1 to atmospheric pressure. Then,
The pickle juice placed in the container 1 soaks into the spaces between tissues where air has escaped and into cells whose cell membranes have been destroyed.

By repeating these operations, the inside of the container becomes alternately atmospheric pressure and negative pressure, as shown in FIG. 12, and pickles can be prepared in a short time.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in conventional devices, the pressure inside the container does not rise above atmospheric pressure, so there is a problem that the pickle juice does not penetrate deeply into the tissues and cells of the material. However, there were many problems such as the need to operate the lever 5 and the knob 7 manually, which made the operations extremely troublesome.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a vacuum cooker that allows pickle juice to deeply penetrate between the tissues and cells of the material, and that is easy to operate. It's about doing.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a main body having a receiving part on which a container is placed, and an opening of the container placed on the receiving part. The vacuum cooking device is equipped with an airtight lid, and an electric vacuum pump for removing air from the container, the vacuum cooking device having a suction port of the electric vacuum pump communicating with the inside of the container, A switching valve is provided that has a valve that switches between a position where the exhaust port communicates with the atmosphere and a position where the suction port communicates with the atmosphere and the exhaust port communicates with the inside of the container. Features.

(Function) Since the present invention has the above configuration, when the valve is switched to a position where the suction port of the electric vacuum pump communicates with the inside of the container and the exhaust port of the electric vacuum pump communicates with the atmosphere,
The air inside the container is removed by an electric vacuum pump, creating negative pressure. Then, when the valve is switched to a position that communicates the suction port with the atmosphere and also communicates the exhaust port with the inside of the container, the inside of the container is introduced with the atmosphere by a vacuum pump and is pressurized.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the vacuum cooking device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 11 is a main body of a vacuum cooking device, and an electric vacuum pump 12 is installed inside this main body 11. A buffer member 14 for absorbing the water is provided.

12a is a suction port of the electric vacuum pump 12, and 12b is an exhaust port.

A receiving portion 16 on which the container 15 is placed is formed on the upper surface of the main body 11, and a columnar holding portion 17 extending upward is provided from the upper surface adjacent to the receiving portion 16.

One end of a sealing lid 18 is pivotally supported on the upper part of this holding part 17 by a shaft J, and the sealing lid 18 can be rotated around the axis J. By pushing it, the opening 19 of the container 15 placed on the receiving part 16 can be sealed.

The airtight lid 18 consists of a top plate part 21 and a bottom plate part 22. An annular seal holding part 23 is formed on the lower surface of the bottom plate part 22, and a sealing member 24 that abuts the upper end 15a of the container 15 is formed in the seal holding part 23. is retained. The container 15 is sealed by this seal member.

A protrusion 2 is provided at the tip of the bottom plate portion 22 (as shown in Figures 1 and 2).
2a is provided, and by engaging the clamp G provided on the handle 15a of the container 15 with this protrusion 22a, the airtight lid 18 can be fixed with the opening 19 sealed. There is.

Further, a communication hole 25 is provided in the bottom plate portion 22, and one end of a communication pipe 26 is connected to the communication hole 25.

The communication pipe 26 extends into the main body 11 through the inside of the sealing lid 18 and the holding part 17, and the other end is connected to an electric on-off valve 31 provided in the main body II. Electric on-off valve 3
1 is connected to an electric vacuum pump 12 via an electric switching valve (switching valve) 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electric on-off valve 31 includes a bottomed cylindrical body 32 having an opening 33 at the top, a valve body 34 that closes the opening 33, and a solenoid 35 that moves the valve body 34 up and down. It consists of etc.

The valve body 34 is urged upward by a spring 38,
The bottomed cylinder 3 is always located at the chain line position.
2 is kept in communication with the atmosphere.

Further, when the solenoid 35 is activated, the valve body 34 moves downward against the spring 38 and closes the opening 33.

Communication holes 36 and 37 are formed in the lower part of the bottomed cylindrical body 32, respectively, and these communication holes 36 and 37 communicate with the electric switching valve 40 and the inside of the container 15 via the communication pipe 26.

The electric switching valve 40 has a cylindrical body 41 as shown in Fig. 4.5.
, the fsl that moves up and down within the cylinder body 41, and the second valve body 42°4.
3 and a solenoid 45 that moves the valve 44 up and down.

The cylindrical body 41 has an electric on-off valve 31 provided at an intermediate position thereof.
The first boat P1 is connected to the communication hole 36 and the communication pipe 26.
, a second boat P2 provided at a position below the first boat P1 (in FIG. 4.5) and connected to the suction port 12a of the electric vacuum pump 12 through a communication pipe 51, and the first boat P1.
A third boat P3 is provided at a higher position (in FIG. 4.5) and connected to the exhaust port 12b of the electric vacuum pump 12 through a communication pipe 52.

The bottom plate 46 of the cylindrical body 41 is provided with a communication hole 46a for communicating the inside of the cylindrical body 41 with the atmosphere.
A communication hole 41a for communicating the inside of the cylinder body 41 with the atmosphere is provided above the third boat P3.

The valve 44 is always urged downward by the spring S, and when the solenoid 45 is de-energized, the valve 44 is moved downward by the spring S, as shown in FIG.
The first valve body 42 of the valve 44 closes the communication hole 46a of the bottom plate 46. On the other hand, the second valve body 43 is located between the third boat P3 and the first boat P1, and communicates between the first boat P1 and the second boat P2, and communicates the third boat P3 with the communication hole 41a. This allows the third boat P3 to communicate with the atmosphere.

When the solenoid 45 is energized, the valve 44 moves upward against the spring S, and as shown in FIG. 4, the first valve body 42 is located between the first boat P1 and the second boat P2. ,
The second valve body 43 is located between the third boat P3 and the communication hole 41a, and communicates the second boat P2 with the atmosphere, and communicates the first boat P1 with the third boat P3. ing.

In addition, in FIG. 1.2, K is a rubber leg provided at the bottom of the main body 11.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system that operates the electric vacuum motor 12, the electric on-off valve 31, the electric switching valve 40, etc.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 51 denotes a control device consisting of a microcomputer, etc., which operates the electric vacuum pump 12 via the driver 52 when the main switch M is turned on, and operates the output end chain 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, pulses Ut and U2 of a predetermined period are output. Reference numeral 53 is a driver that energizes the solenoid 35 of the electric on-off valve 31 only during the period when the pulse U1 is being received. 54 is a driver that receives the pulse U2 and energizes the solenoid 45 of the electric switching valve 40. Reference numeral 55 is a setting device for setting the pulse Ul, the width of 02, the operating time, etc. Although the main switch M and the setting device 55 are provided in the main body 11, they are omitted in FIG. 1.2.

Next, the operation of the vacuum cooking device of the above embodiment will be explained.

First, the container 15 containing the material Z and the juice Q is set in the receiving part 16 of the main body 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the sealing lid 18 is fixed with the clamp G. F is a weight plate that prevents the material from floating up. Next, the main switch M is turned on (time 10 in FIG. 7). Then, the control device 51 operates the electric vacuum pump 12 via the driver 52 and outputs the pulse U1 from the output end chain 1.

This pulse U1 causes the driver 53 to energize the solenoid 35 of the electric on-off valve 31, the valve body 34 moves downward against the spring 38, and the valve body 34 closes the opening 33 of the bottomed cylinder 32. That is, the electric on-off valve 31 is closed.

Further, since the control device 51 does not output the pulse U2 during the period from time tO to time tl, the valve 45 of the electric switching valve 40 is operated at the fifth
Located in the positions shown in the figure, the first boat P1 and the second boat P2
The third boat P3 is in communication with the atmosphere. That is, the suction port 12a of the electric vacuum pump 12 and the container 15
The inside is connected.

Therefore, the operation of the electric vacuum pump 12 causes the container 15 to
The air inside the container 15 is sucked in through the electric on-off valve 31 and the electric switching valve 40, and the pressure inside the container 15 decreases until it reaches a negative pressure B as shown in FIG.

Then, due to this negative pressure, air escapes between the tissues of the material 2 and the cells of the material are destroyed.

The air sucked by the electric vacuum pump 12 is exhausted from the exhaust port of the electric vacuum pump 12, and the air is exhausted from the exhaust port of the electric vacuum pump 12.
It will be released into the atmosphere via boat P3.

At time t1, the control device 51 stops outputting the pulse U1, so the solenoid 35 of the electric on-off valve 31 stops energizing, the valve body 33 is raised to the chain line position by the spring 38, and the bottomed cylindrical body 32 is raised. The sealing of the opening 33 is released. That is, the electric on-off valve 31 is opened.

Atmospheric air flows from this opening 33 to the container 15 via the communication pipe 26.
is introduced into the container 15, and the inside of the container 15 becomes atmospheric pressure (time point 12)
. As a result, the tsukemono quality permeates between tissues where air has escaped and into cells whose cell membranes have been destroyed.

By the way, since the inside of the container 15 becomes atmospheric pressure in a short period of time between time t1 and t2, a shock is applied to the material 2, and this shock helps the pickling properties to penetrate.

At time t2, the control device 51 triggers the pulse U1. U
2, the solenoid 35 is actuated by the pulse U1, the valve body 34 moves from the chain line position to the solid line position, and the opening 33 of the bottomed cylinder 32 is closed.

On the other hand, the solenoid 4 of the electric switching valve 4o is activated by the pulse U2.
5 is energized, the valve 44 rises against the spring S and moves to the position shown in FIG. As a result, the first boat P
1 and the third boat P3 communicate with each other, and the inside of the container 15 and the exhaust port 12b of the electric vacuum pump 12 communicate with each other. Further, the second boat P2 and the atmosphere communicate with each other.

Therefore, the electric vacuum pump 12 sucks air from the atmosphere via the second boat P2 and discharges the air from the exhaust port 12b. This discharged air is sent into the container 15 via the third boat P3, the first boat pi of the switching valve 40, and the electric on-off valve 31. Therefore, the pressure inside the container 15 increases until it reaches the exhaust pressure A of the electric vacuum pump 12 (A>atmospheric pressure), as shown in FIG. This pressure A causes the tsukemono properties to penetrate deeply into tissues and cells, υ, which is the same state as applying pressure with a pickle stone to infiltrate the tsukemono properties.

In this case, since the sealing lid 18 is fixed by the clamp G, the sealing start 8 will not open even if the pressure inside the container 15 reaches a pressure A higher than atmospheric pressure.

At time t3, the output of the pulse U1 is stopped, the valve body 34 of the electric on-off valve 31 is raised, and the opening 3 of the bottomed cylinder 32 is closed.
3 is opened. As a result, the pressure inside the container 15 decreases to atmospheric pressure.

Then, at time t4, the pulse U1 is output, so the valve body 34 of the electric on-off valve 31 seals the opening 33 of the bottomed cylinder 32. Further, since the control device 51 stops outputting the pulse U2 from time t4, the energization of the solenoid 45 of the electric switching valve 40 is stopped, and the valve 44 is moved by the spring S to the position shown in FIG.

As a result, the first boat PI and the second boat P2 communicate with each other, the third boat P3 communicates with the atmosphere, the air inside the container ls is removed by the electric vacuum pump 12, and the container 15
The pressure inside becomes negative again.

These operations are then repeated to make pickles.

In this way, the air in the container 15 is automatically removed by the electric vacuum pump 12, and the electric on-off valve 31 is opened and closed and the electric switching valve 4o is automatically switched. It is very convenient as there is no need to manually operate the on-off valve. Further, by moving the valve 44 of the electric switching valve 4o, the inside of the container 15 is alternately made negative and positive pressure, so the pressure difference becomes large, and the pickling properties are deeply infiltrated into the tissues and cells of the material Z. This means that you can do it.

In the above embodiment, the electric on-off valve 31 is opened after the electric on-off valve 31 is opened until the inside of the container 15 reaches atmospheric pressure (times t1 to 12).
The electric on-off valve 31 may be opened for a time T2 shorter than t2). In this case, the pressure inside the container 15 changes as shown in FIG. Conversely, the electric on-off valve 31 may be opened for a time T3 that is longer than the time T1.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the pressure inside the container IS changes.

Further, in the above embodiment, the electric on-off valve 31 is used, but it is also possible to simply switch the electric switching valve 40 without using this. In this case, the pressure inside the container 15 will change as shown in FIG. Moreover, although switching of the electric switching valve 40 is automatically performed, the switching may be performed manually.

(Effects) According to this invention, by moving the electric switching valve, the inside of the container is alternately made negative and positive pressure, which increases the pressure difference, causing the pickle juice to spread between the tissues and cells of the material. can be deeply ingrained. Additionally, an electric vacuum pump automatically removes the air inside the container, making it easy to make pickles.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cooking device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the vacuum cooking device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of an electric on-off valve, and FIG. Figure 5 and Figure 5 are cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the electric switching valve, Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric vacuum pump, electric switching valve, and control system that controls the electric switching valve, and Figure 7 is the control system. A time chart showing the relationship between the operation of the device and the pressure inside the container, Figures 8 to 1O are graphs showing pressure changes inside the container in other embodiments, and Figure 11 shows a conventional pickling device. FIG. 12 is a graph showing the pressure change inside the container of the conventional pickling device. 11... Main body 12... Electric vacuum pump 12a... Suction port 12b... Exhaust port 15... Container 16... Receiving portion 18... Sealing lid 19... Opening 31...・Electric on-off valve 40...Electric switching valve 44...Valve

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A main body having a receiving part on which a container is placed, a sealing lid that seals the opening of the container placed on the receiving part, and an electric vacuum for removing air from the container. A vacuum cooking device comprising a pump, the vacuum cooking device comprising: a position where a suction port of the electric vacuum pump communicates with the inside of the container, an exhaust port of the electric vacuum pump and the atmosphere, and a position where the suction port and the atmosphere communicate with each other; A vacuum cooking appliance characterized in that a switching valve is provided, the switching valve having a valve that communicates with the inside of the container and switches the valve to a position that communicates the exhaust port with the inside of the container. (2) The vacuum cooking appliance according to item 1, further comprising an electric on-off valve that communicates the inside of the container with the atmosphere for a predetermined period of time when the position of the switching valve is switched.