JP7734322B2 - heating cooker - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a cooking appliance.

Conventionally, cooking appliances that heat and cook food or other ingredients placed in a pot have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The cooking appliance in Patent Document 1 has a function to automatically operate a pressure release valve to control the pressure inside the pot, and when certain conditions are met, the pressure release valve operates to release the pressure inside the pot to atmospheric pressure.

JP 2016-174703 A

However, in the cooking device of Patent Document 1, if the device is de-energized due to a power outage or other reason, the pressure release valve cannot be operated, and there is a possibility that the lid of the pot cannot be opened, particularly if the pressure inside the pot is reduced below atmospheric pressure. For this reason, it can be said that there is room for improvement in terms of the functionality and convenience of cooking devices.

Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to solve the above problems and improve the functionality of cooking appliances.

To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the cooking device of the present disclosure comprises a pot having a cooking space, a heating unit for heating the pot, and a lid having an inner lid for sealing the cooking space. The inner lid is provided with a pressure release valve that is movable between a sealed position that seals the cooking space and an open position that opens it to atmospheric pressure. The lid is provided with an automatic release unit that operates automatically to move the pressure release valve toward the open position, and a manual release unit that is manually operated by the user.

This disclosure can improve the functionality of cooking appliances.

1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cooking device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to a first embodiment, with an outer lid omitted; 1 is a perspective view of an inner lid according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the peripheral configuration of a safety valve according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the peripheral configuration of a pressure release valve according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the lid of the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a manual opening portion and an automatic opening portion of the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a manual release unit and an automatic release unit according to the first embodiment (when the manual release unit is in operation); FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a manual opening unit and an automatic opening unit according to the first embodiment (when the automatic opening unit is in operation); FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of a manual release portion and a locking member according to the first embodiment (unlocked state); FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of a manual release portion and a locking member according to the first embodiment (locked state); FIG. 10 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing another example of the manual release portion and the locking member of the first embodiment (unlocked state); 10 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing another example of the manual release portion and the locking member of the first embodiment (locked state); FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of a manual opening unit and an automatic opening unit provided in a cooking device according to a second embodiment (connected state); 10 is a schematic front view of a manual opening unit and an automatic opening unit provided in a cooking device according to a second embodiment (unconnected state); FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to a second embodiment;

Below, exemplary embodiments of a cooking device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations of the following embodiments, and configurations based on similar technical concepts are also included in the present disclosure.

(Embodiment 1)
First, a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cooking device 2 according to the first embodiment, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cooking device 2 (cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 1).

The cooking appliance 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a cooking appliance for cooking food or other items (not shown). The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment is an automatic cooking appliance in which an operating sequence for each cooking menu is pre-programmed, and is also referred to as an "auto cooker," "multi cooker," or "slow cooker."

When using the cooking appliance 2, the user places the food (not shown) in the cooking space S of the pot 4 shown in Figure 2, and operates the operation display unit 6 shown in Figure 1 to select a cooking menu and decide to perform cooking. The cooking appliance 2 operates to cook the food in accordance with a predetermined program depending on the dish (stew, curry, etc.) of the selected cooking menu.

The cooking device 2 of this embodiment has a "pressure cooking function" that cooks with the cooking space S pressurized to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and a "vacuum cooking function" that cooks with the cooking space S depressurized to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. When performing vacuum cooking, for example, the air in the cooking space S can be pushed out through a check valve and then the pot 4 can be cooled to create a vacuum, or the air in the cooking space S can be forcibly exhausted using a pump to create a vacuum.

The cooking appliance 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a main body 8 that houses a pot 4 and a lid 10 for opening and closing the main body 8.

The main body 8 is a member that houses the pot 4 and other components. The main body 8 houses various parts for operating the cooking appliance 2, and as shown in Figure 2, it houses a heater 9 for heating the pot 4 and a control unit 11 that controls the operation of the cooking appliance 2. The control unit 11 is illustrated in a simplified form.

As shown in Figure 1, the main body 8 supports the lid 10 rotatably (arrow R1).

The lid 10 is a member for opening and closing the main body 8 and the pot 4 housed in the main body 8. Figures 1 and 2 show the lid 10 in a closed state.

The lid 10 comprises an outer lid 12 and an inner lid 14 (Figure 2). The outer lid 12 is used to open and close the entire main body 8, and the inner lid 14 is used to open and close the pot 4. The inner lid 14 is attached to the inside (underside) of the outer lid 12.

Here, the configuration of the inner lid 14 will be explained using Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the cooking appliance 2 without the outer lid 12, and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the inner lid 14 alone.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the inner lid 14 has an inner lid main body 16 and a gasket 18.

The inner lid main body 16 corresponds to the main body of the inner lid 14 and is roughly disc-shaped. A gasket 18 is attached to the outer periphery of the inner lid main body 16. The gasket 18 is a roughly annular member attached to the underside of the inner lid main body 16. When the lid 10 is closed, the gasket 18 abuts against the flange of the pot 4, sealing the cooking space S.

The inner lid main body 16 is provided with a safety valve 20, a pressure release valve 22, and a locking member 24.

The safety valve 20 is a valve that operates to open the cooking space S to atmospheric pressure when the pressure in the cooking space S rises above a predetermined pressure. The safety valve 20 prevents the cooking space S from becoming overpressurized. The safety valve 20 may also be referred to as a "pressure regulating valve" or a "check valve."

The pressure release valve 22, like the safety valve 20, is a valve that operates to open the cooking space S to atmospheric pressure. Unlike the safety valve 20, the pressure release valve 22 operates automatically under the control of the control unit 11 or manually by user operation. The pressure release valve 22 may also be referred to as a "pressure release valve."

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an operation button 26 is provided on the surface of the lid 10. The operation button 26 is an operation unit (push button) for manually operating the pressure release valve 22 described above, and constitutes the manual release unit 25 shown in Figure 2. The operation button 26 may also be referred to as the "pressure release button."

The configuration of the safety valve 20 and pressure release valve 22 will now be explained using Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the safety valve 20, and Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the pressure release valve 22.

As shown in Figure 5, the safety valve 20 comprises a valve body 28, a gasket 30, and a spring 32.

The valve element 28 is a movable part that moves between a sealed position that seals the cooking space S and an open position, and has a rod-like shape that extends vertically. The valve element 28 is inserted into an opening 34 in a valve receiving portion 33 that is erected on the inner lid main body 16. The valve element 28 is exposed to the cooking space S through the opening 34, and is also exposed to an external space O (the internal space of the lid 10) outside the cooking space S, separated by the opening 34. The external space O is open to atmospheric pressure.

An expanded diameter portion 36 is provided in the center of the valve body 28, and a gasket 30 is attached to the expanded diameter portion 36. The gasket 30 seals the cooking space S when it abuts against the upper surface of the valve receiving portion 33 around the opening 34.

The spring 32 is a biasing member that biases the valve body 28 toward the sealed position. The biasing force F1 of the spring 32 acts in a direction that presses the packing 30 attached to the valve body 28 against the upper surface of the valve receiving portion 33 (i.e., in a direction toward the cooking space S).

The safety valve 20 is biased toward the sealed position by the biasing force F1 of the spring 32, but when the cooking space S becomes pressurized, the pressure force F2 of the cooking space S acts upward on the valve body 28. When the pressure force F2 becomes greater than the biasing force F1, the spring 32 compresses and the safety valve 20 rises to the open position (arrow M1). This unseals the cooking space S, and the cooking space S communicates with the external space O and is open to atmospheric pressure.

As shown in Figure 6, the pressure relief valve 22 includes a valve body 38, a gasket 40, and a spring 42.

The valve element 38 is a movable part that moves between a sealed position that seals the cooking space S and an open position, and has a shape that extends vertically. The valve element 38 is inserted into an opening 44 in a valve receiving portion 43 that is erected on the inner lid main body 16. The valve element 38 is positioned in the cooking space S and the external space O through the opening 44.

A pressed portion 46 is provided at the upper end of the valve body 38 and is positioned in the external space O. The pressed portion 46 is the portion that is pressed downward by the manual release portion 25 shown in Figure 2.

The lower end of the valve body 38 is provided with an expanded diameter portion 48 that is positioned in the cooking space S. The expanded diameter portion 48 is a member for attaching a sealing gasket 40. The gasket 40 seals the cooking space S when it abuts against the underside of the valve receiving portion 43 around the opening 44.

The spring 42 is a biasing member that biases the valve body 38 toward the sealing position. The biasing force F3 of the spring 42 acts in a direction that presses the packing 40 attached to the valve body 38 against the underside of the valve receiving portion 43 (i.e., in a direction toward the external space O).

The pressure release valve 22 is biased toward the sealed position by the spring 42's biasing force F3, but when the manual release part 25 presses the pressed part 46, a downward pressing force F4 is applied. When the pressing force F4 becomes greater than the biasing force F3, the spring 42 compresses, and the pressure release valve 22 moves downward integrally to the open position (arrow M2). This unseals the cooking space S, opening it to atmospheric pressure.

As a configuration for pressing the pressed portion 46 of the pressure release valve 22 shown in Figure 6 to operate the pressure release valve 22, the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment is provided with a manual release portion 25 (Figures 2 and 10) that is manually operated by the user, and an automatic release portion 50 (Figure 10) that operates automatically under the control of the control unit 11. The configurations of the manual release portion 25 and the automatic release portion 50 will be explained using Figures 7, 8, 9A, and 9B.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the lid 10.

As shown in Figure 7, a manual release unit 25 and an automatic release unit 50 are provided inside the lid 10 as components for operating the pressure release valve 22. Both the manual release unit 25 and the automatic release unit 50 are provided on the outer lid 12 of the lid 10 and are positioned so that they are accessible to the pressed portion 46 of the pressure release valve 22 attached to the inner lid 14.

Figure 8 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the manual release unit 25 and the automatic release unit 50. Figure 8 shows the state in which the manual release unit 25 and the automatic release unit 50 are not operating and the pressure release valve 22 is in the closed position.

As shown in Figure 8, the manual release unit 25 includes, in addition to the operation button 26, a spring 52, a spring retainer 54, a movable unit 56, a pressing unit 58, and a support unit 60.

The spring 52 is a biasing member that generates a biasing force F5 that biases the operation button 26 upward. The spring 52 is supported from below by a spring retainer 54, which is fixed to the inner wall of the lid 10.

The movable part 56 is attached to the operation button 26 and moves up and down together with the operation button 26. The movable part 56 is an axial member that extends along the axial direction A and moves up and down in the axial direction A. A pressing part 58 is attached to the tip of the movable part 56.

The pressing portion 58 is a member for pressing the pressed portion 46 of the pressure release valve 22. The pressing portion 58 is positioned above the pressed portion 46 and faces the pressed portion 46. The pressing portion 58 is supported by the support portion 60. The support portion 60 is a member that elastically supports the pressing portion 58 and is fixed to the inner wall of the lid 10.

With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 9A, when a user presses the operation button 26, the movable portion 56 and the pressing portion 58 descend together, and the pressing portion 58 contacts and presses the pressed portion 46 of the pressure release valve 22 downward. This moves the pressure release valve 22 from the closed position to the open position, and the cooking space S is opened to atmospheric pressure.

When the user releases the operation button 26, the spring 52 returns the operation button 26 to its original upward position, the pressing portion 58 retracts from the pressure release valve 22, and the pressure release valve 22 returns to its original sealed position.

When the movable part 56 and the pressing part 58 move up and down, the movable part 68 connected to the pressing part 58 also moves up and down in conjunction with them.

As shown in Figure 8, the automatic opening unit 50 includes a motor 62, a cam member 63, a movable unit 68, a pressing unit 69, and a spring 70.

The motor 62 is a drive unit for driving the automatic opening unit 50, and is driven to rotate in response to a drive signal sent from the control unit 11 (arrow R2). The motor 62 is reversibly rotatable in both forward and reverse directions. The cam member 63 is a member connected between the motor 62 and the movable unit 68, and converts the rotational force of the motor 62 into a drive force along the axial direction A and transmits it to the movable unit 68. The cam member 63 has a motor engagement portion 64 and an inclined portion 66.

The motor engagement portion 64 is a portion that meshes with the gear of the motor 62, and moves in the lateral direction B together with the inclined portion 66 as the motor 62 rotates. The inclined portion 66 is a portion that is inclined relative to the horizontal direction and engages with the push-down portion 69. The push-down portion 69 is disposed around the movable portion 68 and functions to push down the spring 70. While the push-down portion 69 extends horizontally, the inclined portion 66 is inclined relative to the horizontal direction, so the vertical position of the push-down portion 69 changes depending on the contact position between the inclined portion 66 and the push-down portion 69. This changes the push-down force F6 with which the spring 70 pushes down the pressing portion 58.

The movable part 68 is an axial member that extends along the axial direction A, similar to the movable part 56 described above, and its tip is connected to the pressing part 58. The movable part 68 has a cylindrical shape that houses the movable part 56 inside, and is arranged coaxially with the movable part 56. A spring 70 is provided around the movable part 68, and the spring 70 is arranged between the pressing part 69 and the pressing part 58.

With the above configuration, as shown in Figure 9B, when the motor 62 is rotated in the specified rotation direction R3, the cam member 63 moves to the right side of the page, and the inclined portion 66 of the cam member 63 presses down the pressing portion 69. The pressed down pressing portion 69 compresses the spring 70, which presses down the pressing portion 58 and movable portion 68 via the spring 70, causing the pressing portion 58 to press the pressed portion 46 of the pressure release valve 22. As a result, the pressure release valve 22 moves from the sealed position to the open position, and the cooking space S is opened to atmospheric pressure.

When the motor 62 is rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation direction R3, the pressing portion 58 retracts from the pressure release valve 22, and the pressure release valve 22 returns to its original sealed position.

When the movable part 68 and the pressing part 58 move up and down, the movable part 56, which is arranged coaxially with the movable part 68, does not move, and the movable part 68 moves up and down independently of the movable part 56.

As described above, by providing two types of mechanisms (manual release unit 25 and automatic release unit 50) for operating the pressure release valve 22, the cooking space S can be opened to atmospheric pressure either manually by the user or automatically under the control of the control unit 11. The timing and direction of rotation of the motor 62 in the automatic release unit 50 are predetermined according to the cooking course and are stored in the memory unit (not shown) of the control unit 11.

For example, during cooking or reduced pressure cooking, the automatic release unit 50 operates the pressure release valve 22 at a predetermined timing according to a pre-stored program, while the user can manually operate the pressure release valve 22 using the manual release unit 25 when not cooking. It also allows the user to manually operate the pressure release valve 22 to open the lid 10 at any time during cooking. In particular, if the cooker 2 is de-energized due to a power outage or the like, the automatic release unit 50 cannot be operated. Therefore, by being able to operate the pressure release valve 22 using the manual release unit 25, it is possible to provide the function of releasing the cooking space S to atmospheric pressure even in emergencies such as power outages.

In particular, the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment has a reduced-pressure cooking function, and if the cooking appliance 2 is de-energized when the pressure in the cooking space S is lower than atmospheric pressure, there is a risk that the lid 10 will not be able to be opened. By providing a manual opening section 25, it is possible to ensure that the lid 10 can be opened even when the cooking appliance 2 is de-energized due to a reduced-pressure state, thereby improving the functionality and convenience of the cooking appliance 2.

Although not shown in Figures 7 to 9B, the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment is provided with a locking member 24 (Figures 1 and 2) for restricting the operation of the manual release portion 25. Examples of the configuration and operation of the locking member 24 will be described using Figures 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D.

Figures 10A and 10B are simplified vertical cross-sectional views of the manual release section 25 and the locking member 24A (an example of the locking member 24), respectively. Figure 10A corresponds to the unlocked state, and Figure 10B corresponds to the locked state.

As shown in Figures 10A and 10B, the locking member 24A includes a locking pin 72, a base 74, and a locking plate 76.

The lock pin 72 is a movable part that operates in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space S. The lock pin 72 has a rod-like shape and is inserted into a base 74 erected on the inner lid body 16 of the inner lid 14, and is exposed to the cooking space S and the external space O. When the cooking space S is not pressurized, the lock pin 72 is supported at the bottom dead center by the base 74, as shown in Figure 10A.

The locking plate 76 is a plate-shaped member located above the locking pin 72 and is configured to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. The locking plate 76 is attached to the inner wall of the lid 10 with its vertical position fixed.

Although not shown in Figures 7 to 9B, the movable part 56 of the manual release part 25 is provided with a locking protrusion 78.

As shown in Figure 10B, when the pressure in the cooking space S reaches a pressurized state higher than atmospheric pressure, an upward pressure force F7 acts on the lock pin 72 exposed to the cooking space S. This causes the lock pin 72 to rise and engage with the lock plate 76, causing the lock plate 76 to rotate in a horizontal plane. The contact point between the lock pin 72 and lock plate 76 has a cam shape, and movement of the lock pin 72 in the axial direction A is converted into movement of the lock plate 76 in the rotational direction. As shown in Figure 10B, the tip 80 of the lock plate 76 moves directly below the protrusion 78, restricting the descent of the protrusion 78 and the movable part 56. Even if the user presses the operation button 26, it cannot be depressed, restricting the operation of the manual release part 25.

With the above configuration, the lock pin 72 can be raised automatically when the cooking space S becomes pressurized, restricting the operation of the manual release unit 25. This prevents the user from accidentally manually operating the pressure release valve 22 when the cooking space S is pressurized, preventing the contents of the cooking space S from scattering and improving safety.

The weights of the lock pin 72, valve body 28, etc. are set so that the lower limit of the pressure F7 at which the locking member 24A operates is smaller than the lower limit of the pressure F2 (Figure 5) at which the safety valve 20 operates. This allows the locking member 24A to operate when the safety valve 20 is in a pressurized state before opening the cooking space S to atmospheric pressure, thereby restricting the operation of the manual release portion 25.

Figures 10C and 10D are simplified vertical cross-sectional views of the manual release section 25 and the locking member 24B (an example of the locking member 24), respectively. Figure 10C corresponds to the unlocked state, and Figure 10D corresponds to the locked state.

As shown in Figures 10C and 10D, the locking member 24B includes a locking pin 82, a movable base 84, a first arm 86, a second arm 88, and a third arm 90.

The lock pin 82 is a movable part that operates in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space S. The lock pin 82 is inserted into a movable base 84 placed on the inner lid body 16 of the inner lid 14 and is exposed to the cooking space S and the external space O. The movable base 84 integrally supports the lock pin 82 and moves integrally in response to the up and down movement of the lock pin 82.

The first arm 86, second arm 88, and third arm 90 are members configured to perform a predetermined reciprocating motion in response to the up and down movement of the lock pin 82. One end of the first arm 86 is attached to the tip of the lock pin 82, and one end of the second arm 88 is attached to the outer lid 12. The other end of the first arm 86 and the other end of the second arm 88 are rotatably connected, and one end of the third arm 90 is also rotatably connected. The other end of the third arm 90 is located near the operation button 26.

As shown in Figure 10C, when the pressure in the cooking space S is close to atmospheric pressure, the lock pin 82 does not rise, and the tip of the third arm 90 is located away from the operation button 26. In this case, even if the operation button 26 is pressed, it does not interfere with the tip of the third arm 90, so the operation button 26 can be pressed down to the desired pressed position.

As shown in Figure 10D, when the pressure in the cooking space S reaches a pressurized state where it is higher than atmospheric pressure, an upward pressure force F7 acts on the lock pin 82, causing the lock pin 82 and movable base 84 to rise together. As the lock pin 82 rises, arms 86, 88, and 90 rotate, and as shown in Figure 10D, the tip of the third arm 90 moves in a direction approaching the operation button 26. At this time, the tip of the third arm 90 is positioned directly below the outer periphery of the operation button 26. Therefore, even if the user presses the operation button 26, interference with the third arm 90 prevents the operation button 26 from being pressed down, limiting the operation of the manual release part 25.

With the above configuration, the lock pin 82 can be raised automatically when the cooking space S becomes pressurized, restricting the operation of the manual release unit 25. This prevents the user from accidentally manually operating the pressure release valve 22 when the cooking space S is pressurized, preventing the contents of the cooking space S from scattering and improving safety.

In addition to the locking member 24 that operates spontaneously when the cooking space S is pressurized, a locking member that uniformly restricts the operation of the manual release portion 25 when the cooking appliance 2 is cooking (including pressurized cooking and vacuum cooking) may also be provided.

As described above, the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment includes a pot 4 having a cooking space S, a heater 9 (heating unit) for heating the pot 4, and a lid 10 having an inner lid 14 for sealing the cooking space S. The inner lid 14 is provided with a pressure release valve 22 that can move between a sealed position that seals the cooking space S and an open position that opens it to atmospheric pressure. The lid 10 is provided with an automatic release unit 50 that operates automatically to move the pressure release valve 22 toward the open position, and a manual release unit 25 that can be manually operated by the user.

With this type of cooking device 2, the pressure in the cooking space S can be released both automatically and manually, so that even if the automatic release unit 50 does not operate when the device is not powered, the pressure can be released manually using the manual release unit 25. This ensures that the pressure in the cooking space S can be released and the lid 10 can be opened, improving the functionality of the cooking device.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the automatic release unit 50 and the manual release unit 25 share a common pressing unit 58 for pressing the pressure release valve 22 toward the open position. With this cooking appliance 2, the pressing unit 58 can be shared, thereby saving space and reducing costs.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes movable parts 56 and 68 connected to the pressing part 58, with the movable part 56 being driven in the axial direction A by the manual opening part 25 and the movable part 68 being driven in the axial direction A by the automatic opening part 50. This cooking appliance 2 allows the pressing part 58 to be operated with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the movable parts 56, 68 include a movable part 68 (first movable part) that constitutes the automatic opening part 50 and a movable part 56 (second movable part) that constitutes the manual opening part 25, and the movable part 68 and the movable part 56 are each movable in the axial direction A. With this cooking appliance 2, the automatic opening part 50 and the manual opening part 25 can be realized with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, in the cooking device 2 of this embodiment, the movable part 68 and the movable part 56 are arranged coaxially. This cooking device 2 can save space.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the lid 10 is further provided with a locking member 24 for restricting the operation of the manual release portion 25. With this cooking appliance 2, it is possible to restrict manual operation of the pressure release valve 22 when it is not desirable to release the pressure in the cooking space S (for example, when the cooking space S is pressurized).

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the locking member 24 is equipped with a locking pin 72 (movable part) that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, restricting the operation of the manual release part 25. The locking pin 72 is attached to the inner lid 14 so as to be exposed to the cooking space S, and operates to rise from the unlocked position to the locked position in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space S. With this cooking appliance 2, by operating the locking pin 72 when the cooking space S is pressurized, it is possible to restrict manual operation of the pressure release valve 22 when it is not desirable to open the cooking space S, thereby improving safety.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the inner lid 14 is further provided with a spring 42 (biasing member) that biases the pressure release valve 22 toward the sealed position, and the automatic release unit 50 and the manual release unit 25 each operate to press the pressure release valve 22 toward the open position against the biasing force F3 of the spring 42. With this cooking appliance 2, the pressure release valve 22 can be operated only at the desired timing.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the pressure release valve 22 has a packing 40 exposed to the cooking space S and a valve body 38 connected to the packing 40 and inserted into the opening 44 (through-hole) of the inner lid 14, and the automatic release unit 50 and manual release unit 25 each operate to press the valve body 38 down toward the cooking space S. With this cooking appliance 2, the pressure in the cooking space S can be easily released by pressing the valve body 38 down toward the cooking space S.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the inner lid 14 is further provided with a safety valve 20 that operates to open the cooking space S to atmospheric pressure in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space S. With this cooking appliance 2, the safety valve 20 operates when the cooking space S becomes pressurized, preventing the pressure in the cooking space S from becoming excessively high and improving safety.

The cooking device 2 of this embodiment also has a reduced-pressure cooking function. With this cooking device 2, even if the cooking space S becomes decompressed, the pressure in the cooking space S can be automatically or manually released, ensuring that the lid 10 can be opened.

(Embodiment 2)
11A and 11B, a cooking device 102 according to the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the same or similar components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same names and reference numerals. In the second embodiment, descriptions that overlap with those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

Figures 11A and 11B are schematic front views of the manual opening section 125 and the automatic opening section 150 provided in the cooking appliance 102 of embodiment 2.

Embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in that the manual opening section 125 and the automatic opening section 150 can be selectively connected.

As shown in Figures 11A and 11B, the manual release section 125 has an operation button 126, a movable section 156, a connecting section 158, a flange section 160, a spring 162, and a pressing section 164.

The operation button 126 is a manual operation button provided on the surface of the lid 10 and is connected to the movable part 156. The movable part 156 is an axial member that is movable along the axial direction A, and is connected to a connecting part 158. The connecting part 158 is a member having a gear for engaging with the engaging part 168 of the automatic opening part 150, and moves up and down integrally with the movable part 156. A flange part 160, a spring 162, and a pressing part 164 are attached to the tip side of the movable part 156, and the pressing part 164 is positioned opposite the pressed part 46 of the pressure release valve 22 (not shown).

As shown in Figures 11A and 11B, the automatic opening unit 150 has a motor 166 and an engagement unit 168.

The motor 166 has the function of rotating the engagement portion 168. The engagement portion 168 has a gear that can engage with the connecting portion 158.

In this configuration, the automatic opening section 150 is movable between a connected position (Figure 11A) in which the engaging section 168 engages with the connecting section 158, and a disconnected position (Figure 11B) in which the engaging section 168 is disengaged from the connecting section 158.

With the above configuration, when the engaging portion 168 is engaged with the connecting portion 158 as shown in FIG. 11A, the rotational force of the motor 166 is transmitted to the connecting portion 158. As a result, the rotational drive of the engaging portion 168 can press the connecting portion 158 and the movable portion 156 downward, which presses the pressing portion 164 via the spring 162 and presses the pressed portion 46 of the pressure release valve 22 (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 11B, in the disconnected state where the engaging portion 168 is not engaged with the connecting portion 158, the rotational force of the motor 166 is not transmitted to the connecting portion 158, and instead the user can press the operation button 126 of the manual release portion 125. Pressing the operation button 126 presses the movable portion 156 and the connecting portion 158 downward, which in turn presses the pressing portion 164 via the spring 162, thereby pressing the pressed portion 46 of the pressure release valve 22 (not shown).

The cooking appliance 102 of embodiment 2 further allows the user to manually switch the automatic opening unit 150 between the connected and disconnected states. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12 , an operating unit 170 is provided on the surface of the lid 10, for example. The operating unit 170 is slidably provided along an opening 172 formed on the surface of the lid 10, and can be grasped and slid by the user. The operating unit 170 is connected to the automatic opening unit 150 inside the lid 10, and operates to place the automatic opening unit 150 in the connected position ( FIG. 11A ) when in the first sliding position, and to place the automatic opening unit 150 in the disconnected position ( FIG. 11B ) when in the second sliding position.

With the above configuration, the user can manually switch between the connected state shown in Figure 11A and the unconnected state shown in Figure 11B.

In addition, when the device is in the connected state shown in FIG. 11A, even if the user presses the operation button 126 of the manual release unit 125, the engagement portion 168 of the automatic release unit 150 that engages with the connecting portion 158 may limit the downward movement of the connecting portion 158. This allows the device to be designed so that only the automatic release unit 150 operates in the connected state shown in FIG. 11A, and only the manual release unit 125 operates in the unconnected state shown in FIG. 11B.

As described above, in the cooking appliance 102 of embodiment 2, the manual opening unit 125 has a movable unit 156 that is movable along the axial direction A, and a connecting unit 158 that is attached to the movable unit 156 and connected to the automatic opening unit 150. The automatic opening unit 150 moves the connecting unit 158 and the movable unit 156 together by driving the connecting unit 158 along the axial direction A. This configuration allows the manual opening unit 125 and the automatic opening unit 150 to be configured with a simple structure.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 102 of embodiment 2, the automatic opening unit 150 has an engaging unit 168 that engages with the connecting unit 158, and the engaging unit 168 is movable between a connected position where it engages with the connecting unit 158 and a non-connected position where it is spaced apart from the connecting unit 158. This configuration makes it possible to selectively operate the automatic opening unit 150 and the manual opening unit 125.

The cooking appliance 102 of embodiment 2 further includes an operating unit 170 for manually operating the engagement unit 168. This configuration allows the user to switch between the operable state of the automatic opening unit 150 and the operable state of the manual opening unit 125.

The invention of the present disclosure has been described above using the above-mentioned embodiments, but the invention of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, in embodiments 1 and 2, the pressure release valve 22 is described as a spring-type valve, but this is not a limitation and the valve may also be a ball-type valve, for example. However, with a spring-type valve, there is no need to increase the weight of the valve to increase the valve's operating pressure, as with a ball-type valve, and it is easy to adjust the valve's operating pressure without significantly changing the weight or size of the inner lid 14.

While the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they depart therefrom. Furthermore, changes in the combination and order of elements in each embodiment may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Any of the various modifications of the above embodiment can be combined appropriately to achieve the effects of each.

This disclosure is applicable to any cooking appliance that heats and cooks food or other ingredients.

2 Cooking device 4 Pot 9 Heater (heating part)
10 Lid 14 Inner lid 22 Pressure release valve 25 Manual release section 50 Automatic release section S Cooking space

Claims (15)

a pot having a cooking space;
A heating unit that heats the pot;
a lid having an inner lid for sealing the cooking space,
The inner lid is provided with a pressure release valve that is movable between a sealing position that seals the cooking space and an open position that is open to atmospheric pressure,
the lid is provided with an automatic opening portion that operates automatically to move the pressure release valve toward the open position and a manual opening portion that is manually operated by a user;
The lid is further provided with a locking member for restricting the operation of the manual opening portion,
the locking member includes a movable portion movable between a locked position and an unlocked position that restricts the operation of the manual release portion,
The movable part is attached to the inner lid so as to be exposed to the cooking space, and operates to rise from the unlocked position to the locked position in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space. a pot having a cooking space;
A heating unit that heats the pot;
a lid having an inner lid for sealing the cooking space,
The inner lid is provided with a pressure release valve that is movable between a sealing position that seals the cooking space and an open position that is open to atmospheric pressure,
the lid is provided with an automatic opening portion that operates automatically to move the pressure release valve toward the open position and a manual opening portion that is manually operated by a user;
The pressure release valve has a packing exposed to the cooking space and a valve body connected to the packing and inserted into the through-hole of the inner lid,
The cooking device, wherein the automatic opening unit and the manual opening unit each operate to press the valve body downward toward the cooking space. a pot having a cooking space;
A heating unit that heats the pot;
a lid having an inner lid for sealing the cooking space,
The inner lid is provided with a pressure release valve that is movable between a sealing position that seals the cooking space and an open position that is open to atmospheric pressure,
the lid is provided with an automatic opening portion that operates automatically to move the pressure release valve toward the open position and a manual opening portion that is manually operated by a user ;
the automatic release unit and the manual release unit have a common pressing unit for pressing the pressure release valve toward the open position,
Further, a movable part connected to the pressing part is provided,
The cooking device , wherein the movable part is driven in a linear motion in the axial direction by the automatic opening part or the manual opening part . 4. The cooking device according to claim 3, wherein the manual release unit includes an operation button that transmits a downward pressing force from a user to the movable unit and the pressing unit, and the pressing unit presses the pressure release valve downward toward the open position. the movable portion includes a first movable portion constituting the automatic opening portion and a second movable portion constituting the manual opening portion,
The cooking device according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the first movable portion and the second movable portion are each linearly movable in an axial direction. The cooking device according to claim 5 , wherein the first movable portion and the second movable portion are arranged coaxially. the manual opening unit has a movable part that is movable along the axial direction and a connecting part that is attached to the movable part and connected to the automatic opening unit,
The cooking device according to claim 3 , wherein the automatic opening unit drives the connecting unit along the axial direction to move the connecting unit and the movable unit integrally. The cooking device according to claim 7, wherein the automatic opening portion has an engaging portion that engages with the connecting portion, and the engaging portion is movable between a connecting position where it engages with the connecting portion and a non-connecting position where it is spaced apart from the connecting portion . The cooking device according to claim 8 , further comprising an operating part for manually operating the engaging part. The cooking device according to claim 2 , wherein the lid is further provided with a locking member for restricting operation of the manual opening portion. the locking member includes a movable portion movable between a locked position and an unlocked position that restricts the operation of the manual release portion,
The cooking device according to claim 10, wherein the movable part is attached to the inner lid so as to be exposed to the cooking space , and operates to rise from the unlocked position to the locked position in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space. The inner lid is further provided with a biasing member that biases the pressure release valve toward the sealing position,
12. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic opening unit and the manual opening unit each operate to press the pressure release valve toward the open position against the biasing force of the biasing member. The pressure release valve has a packing exposed to the cooking space and a valve body connected to the packing and inserted into the through-hole of the inner lid,
The cooking device according to claim 3 , wherein the automatic opening portion and the manual opening portion each operate to press the valve body downward toward the cooking space. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the inner lid is further provided with a safety valve that operates to release the cooking space to atmospheric pressure in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space. The cooking device according to claim 1 , which has a reduced pressure cooking function.