JP7788628B2 - 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 mechanism that automatically operates a pressure-relief valve (pressure release valve) to control the pressure inside the pot, and when certain conditions are met, such as during cooking or at the end of cooking, the pressure-relief valve is activated to release the pressure inside the pot to atmospheric pressure.

JP 2016-174703 A

There is a demand for improving the convenience of users when using cooking appliances, including the cooking appliance described in Patent Document 1.

Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to solve the above problems and improve the convenience of using a cooking appliance.

To achieve the above object, the cooking appliance of the present disclosure comprises a pot having a cooking space, a heating unit for heating the pot, a lid having an inner lid for sealing the cooking space, a pressure reducing valve provided in the inner lid and movable between a sealed position that seals the cooking space and an open position that opens the cooking space to atmospheric pressure, a valve drive unit provided in the lid and operable to variably change the position of the pressure reducing valve, a lid locking member provided in the lid and movable between a locked position that restricts the lid from opening and an unlocked position that allows the lid to open, and a lid locking member provided in the lid and having an operating member for manually operating the lid locking member by a user, and the operation of the valve drive unit is linked to the operation of the lid locking member.

This disclosure can improve the convenience of using a cooking appliance.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment (with a lid closed); FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment (with a lid closed); FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment (with the lid open); FIG. 1 is a front view showing the inside of the lid of the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the inside of a main body of an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cooking device according to the embodiment (viewed along the arrows A-A in FIG. 1 ). FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a pressure reducing valve according to an embodiment (when the pressure reducing valve is in a sealed state); FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a pressure reducing valve according to an embodiment (when the pressure reducing valve is in an open state); FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a part of an outer cover of the lid of the embodiment is omitted. FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a part of an outer cover of the lid of the embodiment is omitted. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lock ring and a pot according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the flanges of the pot and lock ring overlap in the embodiment (in an unlocked state where the flanges do not overlap). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the flanges of the pot and lock ring overlap in the embodiment (locked state in which the flanges overlap to the maximum extent); FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the flanges of the pot and lock ring overlap in the embodiment (semi-locked state in which the flanges partially overlap). FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lock ring restriction valve according to an embodiment, showing the surrounding configuration thereof from above; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lock ring restriction valve according to an embodiment, showing the surrounding configuration thereof from above; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lock ring restriction valve according to an embodiment, showing the surrounding configuration thereof from above; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment, showing a state in which a handle is omitted; FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of part A in FIG. 12 . FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of an outer cover of a lid according to an embodiment is omitted; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of an outer lid and a cover member are omitted in the lid of the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a part of an outer lid and a cover member of the lid of the embodiment are omitted. FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view of a valve drive unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the main configuration of a valve drive unit according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the main configuration of a valve drive unit according to an embodiment. 1 is a top view of a valve drive lever according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a bottom view of a valve drive lever according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a top view of a support plate according to an embodiment; 1 is a bottom view of a support plate according to an embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the schematic operation of the valve drive unit of the embodiment (when the pressure reducing valve is in a closed position); FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the general operation of the valve drive unit of the embodiment (when the pressure reducing valve is in an open position); FIG. 24B is an enlarged plan view of the first connection pin and the elongated hole of the embodiment (corresponding to FIG. 24A ). FIG. 24B is an enlarged plan view of the first connection pin and the elongated hole of the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the peripheral configuration of a lid lock drive unit according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a lid lock drive unit according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a base member according to an embodiment; FIG. 29 is an enlarged perspective view showing the periphery of the lid lock detection means in FIG. 28. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a lid lock drive unit excluding a lock ring according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a lid lock drive unit excluding a lock ring according to an embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the lid lock drive unit according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the lid lock drive unit according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the lid lock drive unit according to the embodiment; FIG. 32B is an enlarged plan view of the second connection pin and the elongated hole of the embodiment (corresponding to FIG. 32A ). FIG. 32B is an enlarged plan view of the second connection pin and the elongated hole of the embodiment. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a process for executing a pressure cooking menu according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the relationship in which the operation of the lid lock drive unit is linked to the operation of the valve drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the relationship in which the operation of the lid lock drive unit is linked to the operation of the valve drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the relationship in which the operation of the lid lock drive unit is linked to the operation of the valve drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a relationship in which the operation of the lid lock drive unit is not linked to the operation of the valve drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a relationship in which the operation of the lid lock drive unit is not linked to the operation of the valve drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the relationship in which the operation of the valve drive unit is linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the relationship in which the operation of the valve drive unit is linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the relationship in which the operation of the valve drive unit is linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a relationship in which the operation of the valve drive unit is not linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a relationship in which the operation of the valve drive unit is not linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit in the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a relationship in which the operation of the valve drive unit is not linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit in the embodiment; 1 is a table showing the operation of each member when the handle is manually operated to transition from an open state (unlocked state) to a closed state (locked state) in an embodiment. 1 is a table showing the operation of each member when the pressure reducing valve is shifted from an open state to a closed state during automatic operation of the motor of the embodiment. 1 is a table showing the operation of each member when the handle is manually operated to transition from a closed state (locked state) to an open state (unlocked state) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a table showing the operation of each member when the pressure reducing valve is shifted from a closed state to an open state during automatic operation of the motor of the embodiment.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pot having a cooking space,
A heating unit that heats the pot;
a lid having an inner lid for sealing the cooking space;
a pressure reducing valve provided in the inner lid and movable between a sealing position that seals the cooking space and an open position that opens to atmospheric pressure;
a valve driving unit provided on the lid for variably operating the pressure reducing valve;
a lid locking member provided on the lid and movable between a locked position that restricts the lid from opening and an unlocked position that allows the lid to open;
a lid lock driving unit provided on the lid and having an operating member for manually operating the lid lock member by a user;
The present invention provides a cooking device in which the operation of the lid lock drive unit is linked to the operation of the valve drive unit.

A second aspect of the present invention provides the cooking appliance described in the first aspect, in which, when the valve drive unit operates in a direction to move the pressure reducing valve to the sealed position, the lid lock drive unit operates in conjunction with the valve drive unit in a direction to move the lid lock member to the locked position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking menu selection unit for selecting a cooking menu;
a control unit,
A second aspect of the present invention provides a heating cooker in which the control unit operates the valve drive unit in a direction that moves the pressure reducing valve to the sealed position in response to a pressurized cooking menu being selected in the cooking menu selection unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking device as described in the second or third aspect, further comprising a lid lock detection means for detecting whether the lid lock member is in the locked position.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein when the valve drive unit operates in a direction that moves the pressure reducing valve to the open position, the link between the valve drive unit and the lid lock drive unit is released.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooking device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, in which the valve drive unit and the lid lock drive unit are linked together by an engagement relationship between a long hole and a pin.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the device further includes a control unit,
The present invention provides the cooking device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the valve drive unit includes a drive source controlled by the control unit and an operating unit operated by the drive force of the drive source.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cooking device according to the seventh aspect, wherein the operating part is a rotational operating part that rotates.

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)
First, a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG.

Figures 1 to 3 are each a perspective view of the cooking device 2 according to the embodiment, Figure 4A is a plan view showing the inside of the lid 10, Figure 4B is a plan view showing the inside of the main body 8, and Figure 5 is a view taken along the arrows A-A in Figure 1. Figures 1 and 2 show the lid 10 in a closed state, and Figure 3 shows the lid 10 in an open state.

The cooking appliance 2 shown in Figures 1 to 5 is a cooking appliance for cooking food or other items (not shown). The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment can be used as an automatic cooking appliance with pre-programmed operating sequences for each cooking menu; such cooking appliances are also called "auto cookers," "multi cookers," or "slow cookers." It should be noted that the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment can also be used for manual cooking without using a pre-programmed operating sequence.

When a user uses the cooking appliance 2 as an automatic cooker, they place the food (not shown) in the cooking space S1 of the pot 4 shown in Figure 3, and operate the operation display unit 6 shown in Figures 1 and 2 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.

In the following, this embodiment will be described as using the cooking appliance 2 as an automatic cooking appliance.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment has a "pressure cooking function" that cooks food in a state where the cooking space S1 is pressurized to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. To execute the pressure cooking function, a pressure cooking menu that performs pressure cooking can be selected on the operation display unit 6 shown in FIG. 2. The operation display unit 6 functions as a cooking menu selection unit for selecting a cooking menu. In addition to the pressure cooking function, a "vacuum cooking function" that cooks food in a state where the cooking space S1 is depressurized to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure may also be selectable.

The cooking appliance 2 shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a pot 4 (Figures 3 and 5), a main body 8 that houses the pot 4, and a lid 10.

The pot 4 is a cylindrical container with a bottom and an open top. The pot 4 forms a cooking space S1, and a stirring blade 5 is provided in the cooking space S1.

The main body 8 is a cylindrical member with a bottom and an open top. Various components for operating the cooking appliance 2 are built into the main body 8. As shown in FIG. 4B, a magnet 152 is built into the top end of the main body 8 as a lid opening/closing detection means 150 for detecting whether the lid 10 is open or closed. As shown in FIG. 5, a heater 9 is built into the bottom side of the main body 8 as a heating unit for heating the pot 4.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the main body 8 supports the lid 10 so that it can rotate (arrow R1) from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. This allows the lid 10 to rotate up and down and in the depth direction.

The lid 10 is a member for opening and closing the main body 8 and the pot 4. The lid 10 houses various components for operating the cooking appliance 2, including a control unit 11, as shown in Figure 5, for example. The control unit 11 is illustrated in a simplified form.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4A, the lid 10 comprises an outer lid 12 and an inner lid 14 (Figures 3 and 4A). The outer lid 12 is a lid for opening and closing the top opening of the main body 8, and the inner lid 14 is a lid for sealing the top opening of the pot 4. The inner lid 14 is removably attached to the inside (bottom side) of the outer lid 12. Figure 3 shows the inner lid 14 detached from the outer lid 12, and Figure 4A shows the inner lid 14 attached to the outer lid 12.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer lid 12 has a vent 16 and a handle 201.

The vent 16 is an opening for venting the cooking space S1 of the pot 4 to the outside. The vent 16 is switched between a connected state in which it is connected to the cooking space S1 and a disconnected state in which it is not connected, by a pressure reducing valve 26 (described below). In the connected state, the pressure in the cooking space S1 is atmospheric pressure, and in the disconnected state, the cooking space S1 is sealed by the inner lid 14 and its pressure is independent of atmospheric pressure.

The handle 201 is a member that the user rotates to switch the lid 10 between a locked and unlocked state. The handle 201 is rotated around a rotation axis Ax that extends in the thickness direction of the lid 10 (arrow R2). The thickness direction of the lid 10 is roughly aligned with the vertical direction when the lid 10 is closed (Figures 1 and 2), and roughly aligned with the horizontal direction when the lid 10 is open (Figure 3).

As shown in Figures 3 and 4A, the inner lid 14 has an inner lid main body 20 and a gasket 22.

The inner lid main body 20 corresponds to the main body of the inner lid 14 and has a roughly circular disk shape. A gasket 22 is attached to the outer periphery of the inner lid main body 20. The gasket 22 is a roughly annular member attached to the outer periphery of the inner lid main body 20 and is made of an elastic material such as rubber. When the lid 10 is closed, the gasket 22 abuts against the upper end 4A of the pot 4, sealing the cooking space S1.

The inner lid main body 20 is provided with a safety valve 24, a pressure reducing valve 26, and a lock ring restriction valve 28.

The safety valve 24, pressure reducing valve 26, and lock ring regulation valve 28 are all valves attached to the inner lid main body 20 and positioned so that they are exposed to the cooking space S1. As shown in Figure 5, a ventilation space S2 that communicates with the ventilation port 16 is provided on the upper surface of the inner lid main body 20. The safety valve 24 and pressure reducing valve 26 each operate to switch between a communication state and a non-communication state between the cooking space S1 and the ventilation space S2.

The safety valve 24 is a valve that operates automatically in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space S1. The safety valve 24 is positioned to seal the cooking space S1, and moves from the sealed position to the open position in response to the pressure in the cooking space S1 increasing above a predetermined pressure. The safety valve 24 prevents the cooking space S1 from becoming overpressurized.

The pressure reducing valve 26 is a valve that operates automatically mainly under the control of the control unit 11. In this embodiment, the pressure reducing valve 26 is also configured to operate in conjunction with the handle 201 when the handle 201 is operated in a specific direction. The pressure reducing valve 26 is movable between a sealing position that seals the cooking space S1 and an open position that opens to atmospheric pressure, and the position is controlled by the control unit 11. A valve drive unit 40 is provided above the pressure reducing valve 26, and the control unit 11 drives the valve drive unit 40 to control the position of the pressure reducing valve 26. The pressure reducing valve 26 may also be referred to as a "pressure release valve" or "pressure relief valve."

Like the safety valve 24, the lock ring restriction valve 28 is a valve that operates automatically in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space S1. The lock ring restriction valve 28 is provided to automatically restrict the rotation of the lock ring 216 (lid locking member), which will be described later. The lock ring restriction valve 28 moves from a non-restrictive position, which allows the lock ring 216 to rotate, to a restrictive position, which restricts the rotation of the lock ring 216, in response to the pressure in the cooking space S1 increasing to a predetermined pressure or higher. Here, the non-restrictive position of the lock ring restriction valve 28 is lower in height than the restrictive position. Unlike the safety valve 24 and pressure reducing valve 26, the position of the lock ring restriction valve 28 does not affect the pressure in the cooking space S1.

The detailed configuration of pressure reducing valve 26 will now be described using Figures 6A and 6B. Figures 6A and 6B are vertical cross-sectional views each showing a schematic view of the surrounding configuration of pressure reducing valve 26. Figure 6A shows the sealed state in which cooking space S1 is sealed, and Figure 6B shows the open state in which cooking space S1 is open to atmospheric pressure.

As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the pressure reducing valve 26 includes a valve body 30, a gasket 32, a spring 34, and a valve receiving portion 36.

The valve element 30 is a movable rod-shaped member that moves between a sealed position (Figure 6A) that seals the cooking space S1 and an open position (Figure 6B) and extends vertically. The valve element 30 is inserted into the opening 37 of the valve receiving portion 36 that is erected on the inner lid main body 20.

The valve body 30 has an expanded diameter section 38 in the center, which is positioned in the cooking space S1. The expanded diameter section 38 is a portion for attaching a sealing gasket 32. The gasket 32 seals the cooking space S1 when it abuts against the underside of the valve receiving portion 36 around the opening 37.

The spring 34 is a biasing member that biases the valve body 30 toward the sealed position, exerting a biasing force F3 on the valve body 30 toward the ventilation space S2.

The aforementioned valve drive unit 40 is provided above the valve disc 30. The valve drive unit 40 includes a valve holding member 42, a support member 44, and a valve drive lever 82.

The valve holding member 42 is a member that is positioned above the valve disc 30 and engages to selectively press the valve disc 30, and is elastically supported by a support member 44. The support member 44 is engaged with the valve holding accommodating portion 116 (see Figure 18, etc.), which will be described later. The valve drive lever 82 is a member that is positioned above the valve holding member 42 and is driven along the lateral direction B in the front view of Figures 6A and 6B (the circumferential direction in a plan view) to change the height position of the valve holding member 42. The valve drive lever 82 has a bottom surface 48 that contacts the upper end of the valve holding member 42, and the bottom surface 48 forms an inclined surface 98 that is inclined along the drive direction, thereby changing the height position of the valve holding member 42.

As shown in Figure 6B, when a low portion of the bottom surface 48 comes into contact with the valve retaining member 42, the valve retaining member 42 is pressed downward, pressing the valve body 30 downward (arrow F4). This releases the contact between the packing 32 and the valve receiving portion 36, opening the cooking space S1 and the ventilation space S2 to atmospheric pressure. The detailed mechanism and operation of the valve drive unit 40 will be described later.

Next, the lid locking mechanism for locking the lid 10 open or closed will be explained using Figures 7 to 11.

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged perspective views showing the lid 10 with part of the outer lid 12 omitted. Figures 7 and 8 show the same state viewed from different angles.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment has a dual lid locking mechanism. Specifically, it has a lid hook 214 (first lid locking member) that engages with the main body 8 to lock the lid 10 against opening and closing, and a lock ring 216 (second lid locking member) that engages with the pot 4 to restrict the lid 10 from opening and closing.

The lid hook 214 is a hook-shaped member attached to the lid 10, with its tip bent inward. When the lid 10 is closed, the lid hook 214 hooks onto the hook receiving portion 215 attached to the main body 8. This places the lid 10 in a locked state, restricting its opening.

The lock ring 216 is a ring-shaped member attached to the lid 10. It engages with the flange portion 60 (Figure 9) of the pot 4 (described below) to restrict the opening of the lid 10, more specifically, the movement of the inner lid 14 relative to the pot 4. The lock ring 216 is connected to the handle 201 inside the lid 10 and is rotatable integrally with the handle 201 (arrow R3) when the handle 201 is rotated (arrow R2).

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the pot 4 and lock ring 216.

As shown in Figure 9, multiple flange portions 217 are provided on the underside of the lock ring 216. The flange portions 217 are protrusions that protrude toward the center of the lock ring 216 and are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction (arrow R4).

Similarly, multiple flanges 60 are provided on the upper end 4A of the pot 4. The flanges 60 are protruding portions that protrude toward the outer periphery of the pot 4 and are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction (arrow R4).

Figures 10A to 10C are plan views showing the relative positional relationship between the pot 4 and the locking ring 216. Figure 10A corresponds to the unlocked state, Figure 10B corresponds to the semi-locked state, and Figure 10C corresponds to the locked state. In Figures 10A to 10C, the pot 4 is shown in solid lines, and the locking ring 216 is shown schematically in dotted lines.

When closing the lid 10, as shown in FIG. 10A, the flange portion 217 of the locking ring 216 and the flange portion 60 of the pot 4 are positioned so that they do not overlap in a planar view, and the flange portion 217 passes between adjacent flange portions 60 and is positioned below the flange portions 60. In this state, by rotating the handle 201 and rotating the locking ring 216 relative to the pot 4, it is possible to switch between a locked state in which the flange portions 60 and 217 overlap in a planar view, as shown in FIG. 10C, and an unlocked state in which they do not overlap, as shown in FIG. 10A. As shown in FIG. 10B, a rotation position in which the flange portions 60 and 217 partially overlap is a "half-locked state." In the half-locked state, the lid 10 is not fully locked, and it is preferable to switch to the fully locked state shown in FIG. 10C.

To unlock the lid 10, simply rotate the handle 201 in the opposite direction.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, a lid lock drive unit 200 for operating the lid hook 214 and lock ring 216 is connected to the handle 201. The lid lock drive unit 200 has a slide member 212 that rotates integrally with the handle 201. By sliding the slide member 212, the locked state by the lid hook 214 and the locked state by the lock ring 216 can be released.

As shown in FIG. 8, the slide member 212 has a first end 212A and a second end 212B. The second end 212B of the slide member 212 comes into contact with the upper end 214A of the lid hook 214, disengaging the lower end 214B from the hook receiving portion 215, thereby unlocking the lid hook 214. The slide member 212 and lock ring 216 are connected to each other via a long hole and pin, which will be described later, and as the slide member 212 rotates, the lock ring 216 rotates in the same direction. This allows the lock ring 216 to enter an unlocked state.

As described above, by rotating the handle 201, it is possible to switch between the locked/unlocked state using the lid hook 214 and the locked/unlocked state using the lock ring 216.

Next, the configuration and operation of the lock ring restriction valve 28 will be explained using Figures 11A to 11C. Figures 11A to 11C are perspective views from above showing the peripheral configuration of the lock ring restriction valve 28. Figure 11A shows the state before rotation of the lock ring 216 is restricted, Figure 11B shows the state when the lock ring 216 is rotatable, and Figure 11C shows the state when rotation of the lock ring 216 is restricted.

The lock ring regulation valve 28 shown in Figures 11A to 11C operates to move up and down along the central axis Z of the lock ring regulation valve 28 in response to the pressure in the cooking space S1 (not shown) located below the ventilation space S2. The lock ring regulation valve 28 is biased downward (arrow F5) by a biasing means (not shown).

A restriction pin 70 is provided near the lock ring restriction valve 28. The restriction pin 70 is a rod-shaped member that restricts the rotational movement of the lock ring 216, and is biased by a biasing means 72 in a direction toward the lock ring restriction valve 28 along the axis Y (arrow F6).

The lock ring 216 has a pin receiving portion 74 for receiving the restriction pin 70. When the restriction pin 70 moves toward the pin receiving portion 74, the restriction pin 70 comes into contact with the pin receiving portion 74, restricting the rotation of the lock ring 216.

In the example shown in Figure 11A, the pressure in the cooking space S1 is below a predetermined pressure, and the lock ring restriction valve 28 does not protrude upward along the central axis Z. At this time, the lock ring restriction valve 28 does not press the restriction pin 70 toward the pin receiving portion 74, and the restriction pin 70 is far enough away from the pin receiving portion 74 that it does not come into contact with it. Therefore, the lock ring 216 can rotate (arrow F7) in the circumferential direction (arrow R3) as shown in Figure 11B.

When the pressure in the cooking space S1 rises above a predetermined pressure, the lock ring restriction valve 28 moves upward along the central axis Z (arrow F8), as shown in FIG. 11C. The raised lock ring restriction valve 28 presses the restriction pin 70 toward the pin receiving portion 74 (arrow F9). This causes the restriction pin 70 to protrude to a position where it can contact the pin receiving portion 74. When the lock ring 216 attempts to rotate, the restriction pin 70 comes into contact with the pin receiving portion 74, restricting further rotation (arrow F7 is shown by a dotted line).

According to the above operation, when the cooking space S1 becomes pressurized above a predetermined pressure, the lock ring restriction valve 28 operates spontaneously to restrict the rotation of the lock ring 216. This makes it possible to prevent the user from opening the lid 10 when the cooking space S1 becomes pressurized above a predetermined pressure.

Next, the configuration of the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 will be explained using Figures 12 to 32C.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance 2 without the handle 201, and Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view of part A in Figure 12.

As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the lid 10 incorporates a shaft member 203. The shaft member 203 is an axial member connected to the handle 201 (not shown) and rotates integrally with the handle 201. The shaft member 203 overlaps the rotation axis Ax of the handle 201 and, together with the handle 201, constitutes the lid lock drive unit 200.

Figures 14 to 16 are perspective and plan views showing the lid 10 with part of the outer lid 12 omitted. As shown in Figures 14 to 16, the lid 10 contains a valve drive unit 40 and a lid lock drive unit 200.

The valve drive unit 40 has a cover member 78 as shown in Figure 14, and Figures 15 and 16 show the state in which the cover member 78 is omitted.

The shaft member 203 passes through the center of the valve drive unit 40, including the cover member 78, and is connected to a rotating arm 206 that constitutes the lid lock drive unit 200 at a position below the valve drive unit 40.

As shown in Figures 14 to 16, a circuit board case 80 is provided adjacent to the valve drive unit 40. The circuit board case 80 is a case for arranging a circuit board (not shown), and the circuit board arranged in the circuit board case 80 constitutes the control unit 11 shown in Figure 5.

As shown in FIG. 16, the lid 10 is provided with a board 154 as a lid open/close detection means 150 for detecting the open/close state of the lid 10. The lid open/close detection means 150 of this embodiment is composed of the magnet 152 shown in FIG. 4B and the board 154 shown in FIG. 16. The board 154 of this embodiment is a board on which a Hall element capable of detecting magnetic force is mounted, and is capable of detecting the magnetic force of the magnet 152 built into the main body 8 shown in FIG. 4B. The board 154 transmits the magnetic force detection result obtained by the Hall element to the control unit 11.

The magnetic force detection results from the Hall element change depending on whether the lid 10 is open or closed, so by transmitting these detection results from the circuit board 154 to the control unit 11, the control unit 11 can determine whether the lid 10 is open or closed.

Next, the detailed configuration of the valve drive unit 40 will be described using Figures 17 to 23. Figure 17 is an enlarged plan view of the valve drive unit 40, and Figures 18 and 19 are exploded perspective views showing the main components of the valve drive unit 40. Figures 20 and 21 are top and bottom views, respectively, of the valve drive lever 82, and Figures 22 and 23 are top and bottom views, respectively, of the support plate 84.

As shown in Figures 17 to 19, the valve drive unit 40 includes a valve drive lever 82 and a support plate 84.

The valve drive lever 82 is a member (rotating part) that rotates under the control of the control unit 11 (arrow R5). As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the valve drive lever 82 has the function of variably operating the position of the pressure reducing valve 26, and is supported by a support plate 84. The support plate 84 is a plate-shaped member that supports the valve drive lever 82 from below in a movable state.

The valve drive lever 82 has a shape made up of multiple connected arms. As shown in Figures 18 to 21, the valve drive lever 82 has an arc arm 86, multiple connecting arms 88, and a rotation center 90.

The arc arm 86 extends in an arc shape around the rotation center 90 and is located at the outermost radial position of the valve drive lever 82. The arc arm 86 has a gear portion 92, a push-down portion 94, and an elongated hole 96.

Gear portion 92 has a gear shape for transmitting the rotational driving force of motor 102 shown in FIG. 18 to valve drive lever 82, and is engaged with gear portion 104. In this embodiment, gear portions 92 and 104 are each configured as spur gears. The axial direction C of the teeth of gear portions 92 and 104 is the thickness direction of lid 10, i.e., the vertical direction.

The push-down portion 94 is a member that operates to push down the valve holding member 42 shown in Figure 18. In this embodiment, the push-down portion 94 has an inclined surface 98 on the underside facing the valve holding member 42. The inclined surface 98 is a surface whose height changes along the direction of movement of the valve drive lever 82, and is lower on the side closer to the gear portion 92 (i.e., closer to the valve holding member 42) and higher on the side closer to the elongated hole 96 (i.e., farther from the valve holding member 42).

The elongated hole 96 is a space for inserting the connection pin 208 of the lid lock drive unit 200, which will be described later. The elongated hole 96 extends in an arc in the direction in which the arc arm 86 extends. By inserting the connection pin 208 into the elongated hole 96, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 can be linked together.

The multiple connecting arms 88 extend to connect the arc arms 86 and the rotation center 90. The area surrounded by the arc arms 86 and the connecting arms 88 forms a component placement space 99 in which other components can be placed.

Annular ribs 89 are provided on the upper surfaces of the arc arm 86 and the connecting arm 88. The ribs 89 are protrusions that are provided to come into contact with the cover member 78 (Figure 14) that is positioned above the valve drive lever 82. The ribs 89 come into contact with the cover member 78, reducing friction when the valve drive lever 82 slides relative to the cover member 78 and further stabilizing the operation of the valve drive lever 82. The ribs 89 only come into contact with the cover member 78 when the cooking space S1 is depressurized from a pressurized state higher than atmospheric pressure; otherwise, there is a gap between the ribs 89 and the cover member 78.

The rotation center 90 is the portion located at the center of rotation of the valve drive lever 82. The rotation center 90 has a through hole 100, through which the aforementioned shaft member 203 is inserted. The rotation axis Ax of the valve drive unit 40, including the valve drive lever 82, and the rotation axis Ax of the lid lock drive unit 200, including the shaft member 203, are aligned. In other words, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are configured coaxially. This coaxial configuration helps prevent axial misalignment. Furthermore, this coaxial configuration allows the width of the elongated hole 96 to be smaller than when they are not coaxial, and also has the advantage of enabling space savings by eliminating the moving parts of the valve drive lever 82 and the lid lock drive unit 200.

The valve drive unit 40 further includes a motor 102 and a gear unit 104. The motor 102 is a drive source for rotating the valve drive lever 82, and the gear unit 104 is connected to the tip of the motor 102. The gear unit 104 has a gear shape that is rotated by the motor 102 and meshes with the gear unit 92 of the valve drive lever 82 described above.

Figures 24A and 24B are plan views illustrating the general operation of the valve drive unit 40. Figure 24A corresponds to the sealed state of the pressure reducing valve 26 (not shown), and Figure 24B corresponds to the open state of the pressure reducing valve 26.

As shown in Figure 24A, when the gear portion 104 rotates counterclockwise (arrow R20) due to the rotational drive of the motor 102, the valve drive lever 82 having the gear portion 92 is driven to rotate counterclockwise (arrow R6). When the valve drive lever 82 has rotated to the furthest counterclockwise position, the push-down portion 94 does not contact the valve holding member 42 and does not push the valve holding member 42 downward. At this time, the pressure reducing valve 26 is in the sealing position that seals the cooking space S1 (Figure 6A).

As shown in Figure 24B, when the gear portion 104 rotates clockwise (arrow R21) due to the rotational drive of the motor 102, the valve drive lever 82 is rotated clockwise (arrow R7). As the valve drive lever 82 rotates to its maximum clockwise position, the push-down portion 94 comes into contact with the valve holder 42 and pushes the valve holder 42 downward. At this time, the pressure reducing valve 26 is in the open position, which opens the cooking space S1 to atmospheric pressure (Figure 6B).

According to the above operation, the control unit 11 drives the motor 102 to rotate, thereby moving the valve drive lever 82 toward the closed position (Figure 24A) or the open position (Figure 24B).

The pressure reducing valve 26 and valve holder 42 move up and down depending on the pressure in the cooking space S1. Accordingly, the valve drive lever 82 is also pushed by the valve holder 42, causing it to move up and down. However, as mentioned above, the axial direction C (Figure 18) of the teeth of the gear portions 92 and 104 extends up and down along the direction of movement of the valve holder 42. Therefore, even when a force causing it to move up and down acts on the valve drive lever 82, no force is applied from the gear portion 92 to the gear portion 104, preventing unnecessary force from being applied to the motor 102.

The motor 102 and gear section 104 described above are attached to the support plate 84.

As shown in FIG. 18, the support plate 84 has a lower surface 106 that supports the valve drive lever 82 from below, and multiple wall portions 108, 110, and 112 that surround the outer periphery of the valve drive lever 82.

The walls 108, 110, and 112 all rise upward from the underside 106, forming a space inside for arranging the valve drive lever 82. The wall 108 extends in an arc, while the walls 110 and 112 extend linearly.

Wall portion 108 is provided in a position facing the outer periphery of arc arm 86, and walls 110 and 112 are provided in positions facing one end and the other end of arc arm 86, respectively. Wall portion 110 restricts counterclockwise rotation (arrow R6) of valve drive lever 82, and wall portion 112 restricts clockwise rotation (arrow R7) of valve drive lever 82. Valve drive lever 82 is rotatable in the section surrounded by walls 110 and 112.

The support plate 84 further includes a through hole 114, a valve holder accommodating portion 116, a groove portion 118, an elongated hole 120, a motor mounting portion 122, and at least three screw receiving portions 160, 162, and 164.

The through-hole 114 is a hole for inserting the aforementioned shaft member 203, and overlaps with the through-hole 100 provided in the rotation center 90 of the valve drive lever 82.

The valve holder accommodating portion 116 is a space for accommodating the valve holder member 42. The support member 44 (not shown) shown in Figures 6A and 6B is engaged in the valve holder accommodating portion 116, elastically supporting the valve holder member 42.

The groove 118 is an arc-shaped groove for guiding the rotational movement of the arc arm 86 of the valve drive lever 82. A long hole 120 is formed in the groove 118.

The elongated hole 120 is a through-hole for inserting the connection pin 208 of the lid lock drive unit 200 described above. The elongated hole 120 is formed in an arc shape, similar to the elongated hole 96, and is positioned so that it overlaps with the elongated hole 96.

The motor mounting portion 122 is a portion for mounting and supporting the motor 102 and gear portion 104 described above. The motor mounting portion 122 has a fixing portion 124 for fixing the main body portion 102A of the motor 102, and a through-hole 126 for inserting the rotating shaft 102B of the motor 102. The gear portion 104 is attached to the rotating shaft 102B inserted through the through-hole 126.

The screw receiving portion 160 is a portion (boss portion) for receiving the screw 166 shown in FIG. 17. Similarly, the screw receiving portion 162 is a portion for receiving the screw 168 shown in FIG. 17, and the screw receiving portion 164 is a portion for receiving the screw 170 shown in FIG. 17. The screws 166, 168, and 170 inserted into the screw receiving portions 160, 162, and 164, respectively, are fixed to the block 172 (FIG. 17) that forms the vent hole 16. This allows the support plate 84 to be firmly fixed to the block 172, and thus to the lid 10.

The screw receiving portions 160, 162, and 164 are located near the valve holder housing 116. When the internal pressure of the pot 4 is high, i.e., when the cooking space S1 is pressurized above atmospheric pressure, the valve drive lever 82 presses down on the pressure reducing valve 26, generating a large repulsive force that can easily cause deformation of the valve drive lever 82 and support plate 84. In response to this, by providing multiple screw receiving portions 160, 162, and 164 around the periphery of the valve holder housing 116 and fixing the support plate 84 to the block 172, deformation of the valve drive lever 82 and support plate 84 can be suppressed, contributing to improved sliding of the valve drive lever 82.

In the attached state shown in Figure 17, screw receiving portions 162 and 164 are positioned on the outside of the valve drive lever 82, while screw receiving portion 160 is positioned on the inside of the valve drive lever 82. By providing and fixing screw receiving portions 160 on both the outside and inside of the valve drive lever 82, a cantilevered beam configuration can be achieved, and deformation of the valve drive portion 40 can be suppressed.

As shown in Figures 24A and 24B, the gear portion 104, motor mounting portion 122, and screw receiving portion 160 are arranged in the component arrangement space 99 of the valve drive lever 82. By accommodating multiple components in the component arrangement space 99, the space inside the valve drive lever 82 can be effectively utilized, and the horizontal dimension of the valve drive portion 40 can be prevented from becoming too long in any one direction. This leads to a reduction in the size of the valve drive portion 40 and the lid 10 including the valve drive portion 40.

The size of the component placement space 99 is set so that, within the rotation range of the valve drive lever 82 shown in Figures 24A and 24B, the gear portion 104, motor mounting portion 122, and screw receiving portion 160 do not come into contact with the inner walls of the arms 86 and 88 that make up the component placement space 99. This allows multiple components to be placed in the component placement space 99 without interfering with the operation of the valve drive lever 82.

By placing the screw receiving portion 160 in the component placement space 99, it is possible to fix the support plate 84 at a position closer to the center, further improving its strength.

In the above configuration, as shown in Figures 24A and 24B, by rotating the valve drive unit 40 instead of linearly, the internal space of the lid 10 can be effectively utilized to position the valve drive unit 40. Compared to a configuration in which the valve drive unit moves linearly, the shape of the lid 10, which is circular in plan view, can be effectively utilized to position the valve drive unit 40, which allows the dimensions of the lid 10, mainly in the horizontal and vertical directions, to be reduced, thereby enabling the cooking appliance 2 to be made more compact.

The engagement relationship between the first connection pin 208 and the elongated hole 96 will now be described using Figures 25A and 25B. Figures 25A and 25B are enlarged plan views of the first connection pin 208 and the elongated hole 96, respectively. Figure 25A corresponds to the state shown in Figure 24A, and Figure 25B corresponds to the state shown in Figure 24B.

As shown in Figures 25A and 25B, the inner wall portion of the arc arm 86 that defines the elongated hole 96 has two ends that can engage with the first connection pin 208: a first end 240 and a second end 242. The first end 240 and the second end 242 each correspond to the terminal ends of the elongated hole 96. The first end 240 is the end of the elongated hole 96 in the valve opening direction (arrow R7), and the second end 242 is the end in the valve closing direction (arrow R6).

According to the configuration shown in Figures 25A and 25B, the engagement relationship between the first connection pin 208 and the valve drive lever 82, i.e., the interlocking relationship between the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200, changes depending on (1) whether the main moving element is the first connection pin 208 or the valve drive lever 82, and (2) whether the movement direction is clockwise or counterclockwise.

For example, when the first connection pin 208 or the valve drive lever 82 operates so that the first connection pin 208 remains in contact with one of the ends 240, 242 of the elongated hole 96, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are interlocked. On the other hand, when the first connection pin 208 or the valve drive lever 82 operates so that the first connection pin 208 moves/moves relatively between the ends 240, 242 of the elongated hole 96, the interlocking between the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 is released.

As described above, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are linked by the engagement between the first connection pin 208 and the elongated hole 96, allowing for switching between a linked and unlinked state depending on the moving body and direction of movement. This allows for the desired operation to be achieved, and details of this operation will be described later.

Next, the detailed configuration of the lid lock drive unit 200 will be explained using Figures 26 to 31.

Figure 26 is a perspective view showing the peripheral configuration of the lid lock drive unit 200, Figure 27 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the lid lock drive unit 200, Figure 28 is a perspective view showing the base member 202, Figure 29 is an enlarged perspective view of the periphery of the lid lock detection means 228 in Figure 28, and Figures 30 and 31 are perspective views showing the main parts of the lid lock drive unit 200 excluding the lock ring 216.

As shown in Figures 26 to 31, the lid lock drive unit 200 is supported from below by a base member 202, and the lock ring 216 shown in Figure 27 is rotatably positioned below the base member 202.

The lid lock drive unit 200 includes a rotating arm 206, a first connecting pin 208, a second connecting pin 210, and a sliding member 212.

The rotating arm 206 is a member (arrow R8) that rotates integrally with the shaft member 203 as it rotates (arrow R2), and extends in a radial direction D perpendicular to the rotation axis Ax. A fixed plate 207 is provided above one side of the rotating arm 206 in the radial direction D. The fixed plate 207 is a plate-shaped member fixed to the base member 202, is positioned above the rotating arm 206 with a gap between them, and has the shaft member 203 inserted therethrough.

A first connection pin 208 is erected midway along the radial direction D of the rotating arm 206. The first connection pin 208 is a rod-shaped member that is inserted into the elongated hole 96 (Figures 24A to 25B) of the valve drive lever 82, and links the valve drive lever 82 and the rotating arm 206 together.

A connection portion 220 is provided at the other end of the rotating arm 206 in the radial direction D. The connection portion 220 is connected to the slide member 212 and connects the rotating arm 206 and slide member 212 so that they rotate together. A long hole 224 is formed in the connection portion 220, and the second connection pin 210 is inserted through the long hole 224. The second connection pin 210 is a rod-shaped member erected on the lock ring 216 shown in Figure 27, and protrudes upward from the base member 202 through a long hole 226 in the base member 202 shown in Figure 28.

The slide member 212 slides on the outer periphery of the base member 202 and rotates together with the rotating arm 206 (arrow R8).

As shown in Figures 30 and 31, the first end 212A of the slide member 212 is the end that connects to the connection part 220, and contact is detected by the lid lock detection means 228, which will be described later. The second end 212B of the slide member 212 is the end that engages with the lid hook 214 shown in Figures 26 and 28, and releases the lock on the lid 10 by the lid hook 214.

As shown in Figures 28 and 29, a lid lock detection means 228 is provided near the elongated hole 226. The lid lock detection means 228 is a means for detecting whether the lid 10 is in a locked state. In this embodiment, the lid lock detection means 228 is a microswitch that can detect contact with the first end 212A of the slide member 212.

In Figure 29, the first end 212A of the slide member 212 is indicated schematically by a dotted line. The first end 212A slides in the circumferential direction (arrow R8) between a detection position P1 where it contacts the lid lock detection means 228 and a non-detection position P2 where it does not contact the lid lock detection means 228 (arrow F10). At detection position P1, the first end 212A contacts the lid lock detection means 228 in the radial direction D. Because the contact direction is radial direction D, no vertical force is applied to the slide member 212, lock ring 216, etc., even when the first end 212A contacts the lid lock detection means 228. This minimizes the impact on the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200.

As shown in Figure 26, when the lid lock detection means 228 detects contact of the first end 212A, it is determined that the lid 10 is locked by the lock ring 216. The control unit 11 determines that the lid 10 is in the locked state based on the detection signal transmitted from the lid lock detection means 228.

As shown in FIG. 29, a protrusion 229 is provided near the elongated hole 226. The protrusion 229 is a protrusion provided on the surface of the base member 202 and engages with the first end 212A of the slide member 212. At the rotational position where the first end 212A contacts the protrusion 229 (between the detection position P1 and non-detection position P2 shown in FIG. 29), a clicking sensation is generated when the user rotates the handle 201. The position of the protrusion 229 is set so that it comes into contact with the first end 212A when the first end 212A begins to move from the locked position, where it contacts the lid lock detection means 228, toward the unlocked position. This allows the user to be notified by a clicking sensation that the unlocking operation of the lid 10 has begun.

As shown in Figure 31, the lower end of the shaft member 203 is inserted into the rotating arm 206 at a position below the fixed plate 207. A friction member 230 is provided midway along the rotating arm 206, and a friction member 232 is similarly provided on the underside of the fixed plate 207. Friction members 230 and 232 are each made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, such as rubber. Normally, there is a gap between friction members 230 and 232 in the vertical direction, so that friction members 230 and 232 do not come into contact with each other, allowing the rotating arm 206 to rotate relative to the fixed plate 207 (arrow R8).

If a user were to lift the handle 201, the lock drive unit 200, which includes the shaft member 203 connected to the handle 201, the rotating arm 206, and other components, would rise up as a unit. The friction member 230 attached to the rotating arm 206 would rise up to come into contact with the friction member 232 on the fixed plate 207, and a high frictional force would be generated by the contact between the friction members 230 and 232. This would restrict the rotation of the rotating arm 206, thereby preventing unintended operation of the lid lock drive unit 200 when the user lifts the handle 201.

The operation of the lid lock drive unit 200 having the above-described configuration will be explained using Figures 32A to 32C.

Figures 32A to 32C are plan views illustrating the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200.

Figure 32A shows the lid lock drive unit 200 rotated fully counterclockwise. At this time, the lid 10 is locked by the lid hook 214 and also by the lock ring 216. When the user rotates the handle 201 clockwise, the shaft member 203 rotates clockwise (arrow R2), and the rotating arm 206 and sliding member 212 also rotate clockwise together (arrow R8). Because the second connection pin 210 erected on the lock ring 216 is positioned in the elongated hole 224, the rotating arm 206 and sliding member 212 do not engage with the connecting portion 220 for a certain period after they begin to rotate clockwise, and the lock ring 216 does not rotate.

The engagement relationship between the second connection pin 210 and the elongated hole 224 will now be described using Figures 32D and 32E. Figures 32D and 32E are enlarged plan views of the second connection pin 210 and the elongated hole 224, respectively. Figure 32D corresponds to the state shown in Figure 32A, and Figure 32E corresponds to the state shown in Figure 32B.

As shown in Figures 32D and 32E, the inner wall portion constituting the elongated hole 224 has two ends, a first end 250 and a second end 252, which can engage with the second connection pin 210. The first end 250 and the second end 252 are each the terminal ends of the elongated hole 224 and are formed by the inner wall surrounding the elongated hole 224. The first end 250 is the end of the elongated hole 224 in the unlocking direction (arrow R8), and the second end 252B is the end in the locking direction (arrow R20).

In the state shown in Figure 32D, the second connection pin 210 is engaged with the first end 250 of the elongated hole 224. Therefore, even if the rotating arm 206 moves in the unlocking direction (arrow R8), the second connection pin 210 only moves relatively within the elongated hole 224 from the first end 250 toward the second end 252, and does not engage with the rotating arm 206. As a result, the interlock between the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 is released, and the lock ring 216 connected to the second connection pin 210 does not rotate.

As the shaft member 203 continues to rotate clockwise, as shown in Figure 32B, the second connection pin 210 engages with the connection portion 220 that forms the elongated hole 224, causing the lock ring 216 to begin rotating integrally. In this way, the lock ring 216 begins to rotate after the rotation arm 206 and slide member 212. As the lock ring 216 begins to rotate, the overlapping area between the flange portions 60 and 217 shown in Figures 9 and 10 decreases, causing the lock state to change to a semi-lock state.

As shown in Figure 32E, when the second connection pin 210 engages with the second end 252 of the elongated hole 224, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are interlocked. As the rotating arm 206 rotates in the unlocking direction (arrow R8), the second connection pin 210 is pressed by the second end 252, causing the lock ring 216 to rotate.

As the shaft member 203 continues to rotate clockwise, as shown in Figure 32C, the second end 212B of the slide member 212 engages with the lid hook 214, unlocking the lid 10 from the lid hook 214. At the same time, the overlapping area between the flange portions 60 and 217 shown in Figures 9 and 10 disappears, and the locking of the lid 10 from the lock ring 216 is also released. In this way, the dual locking provided by the lid hook 214 and the lock ring 216 is released.

In the above configuration, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are connected to each other through the engagement of the elongated hole 96 and the connecting pin 208. This allows the operation of one of the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 to be linked to the operation of the other. In the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, this linkage between the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 is used to perform operations that improve the convenience of the cooking appliance 2. Below, operations that utilize the linkage between the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are described using Figures 33 to 37B.

(Pressure cooking menu execution)
33 is a flowchart showing the process for executing the pressure cooking menu. The process shown in FIG. 33 is executed by the control unit 11, for example.

As shown in FIG. 33, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the lid is closed (S1). Specifically, whether or not the lid is closed is determined based on the detection result of the magnetic force of the magnet 152 built into the main body 8 by the lid open/close detection means 150 shown in FIG. 16. If the lid is not closed (NO in S1), the control unit 11 executes the process of step S1 again.

If the controller 11 detects that the lid is closed (YES in S1), it notifies the user that cooking is OK (S2). Specifically, the controller 11 displays a message such as "Cooking OK" on the operation display unit 6 shown in FIG. 2, indicating that cooking can begin.

The control unit 11 accepts the selection of a pressure cooking menu (S3). Specifically, the control unit 11 accepts the selection of a pressure cooking menu when the user selects the pressure cooking menu and presses the cooking start button on the operation display unit 6 shown in FIG. 2.

The control unit 11 determines whether the lid has been locked (S4). Specifically, when the lid lock detection means 228 shown in Figures 28 and 29 detects contact of the first end 212A of the slide member 212, it detects a double lock state between the lid hook 214 and the lock ring 216 (YES in S4). "Lid locked" here refers to the locked state of the lid hook 214 and the lock ring 216, which can be confirmed based on the detection results of the lid lock detection means 228. Because the lock ring 216 can be closed even when the lid 10 is open, by checking not only the detection results of the lid lock detection means 228 (S4) but also the detection results of the lid open/close detection means 150 (S1), it is confirmed that the lid 10 is completely locked, i.e., the lid 10 is closed and both the lid hook 214 and the lock ring 216 are locked.

If the lid lock is detected (YES in S4), the control unit 11 drives the valve drive unit 40 to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the sealing position (S5). Specifically, to seal the cooking space S1 in accordance with the pressure cooking menu, the control unit 11 drives the valve drive unit 40 to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the sealing position.

If lid lock is not detected (NO in S4), the control unit 11 drives the valve drive unit 40 to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the sealed position (S6) and determines whether lid lock is detected (S7). Specifically, in step S6, similar to step S5, the valve drive unit 40 is driven to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the sealed position. When lid lock is not detected, i.e., when the first end 212A of the slide member 212 is not in contact with the lid lock detection means 228 (unlocked or semi-locked), the lid lock drive unit 200 operates in conjunction with the operation of the valve drive unit 40, and the lock ring 216 is moved to the locked position in conjunction with the movement of the pressure reducing valve 26 to the sealed position. As a result, the first end 212A of the slide member 212 also moves to a position where it contacts the lid lock detection means 228. Therefore, lid lock can be confirmed in response to the detection result of the lid lock detection means 228 changing from OFF to ON (YES in S7). The lid is locked by the interlocking operation of the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200, so in addition to the lid being locked, it is also possible to determine that the pressure reducing valve 26 has moved to the sealed position. In this way, even if the user forgets to lock the lid 10 or the lock is insufficient (i.e., it is in a half-locked state), the pressure cooking menu can be transitioned to a state where it can be executed.

If the lid lock cannot be confirmed in step S7 (NO in S7), the control unit 11 notifies the user of an error (S8). Specifically, the control unit 11 displays a message on the operation display unit 6 indicating a malfunction of the valve drive unit 40.

In response to execution of step S5 or a YES determination in step S7, the control unit 11 executes a pressure cooking menu (S9). Specifically, the control unit 11 executes a specified pressure cooking menu by controlling the operation of the heater 9 and other components according to a predetermined sequence in accordance with the pressure cooking menu selected in step S3.

The detailed operation of step S6 will now be described using Figures 34A to 34C. Figures 34A to 34C are plan views illustrating the operation of the valve driver 40 and the lid lock driver 200 in step S6.

Figure 34A shows the valve drive unit 40 and lid lock drive unit 200 rotated fully clockwise. At this time, the pressure reducing valve 26 is in the open position, the lid hook 214 is in the unlocked state, and the lock ring 216 is also in the unlocked state.

From the state shown in Figure 34A, when the control unit 11 drives the motor 102 shown in Figure 18 to rotate the valve drive lever 82 counterclockwise (arrow R9), the state transitions to the state shown in Figure 34B, and then to the state shown in Figure 34C. As shown in Figures 34B and 34C, the position of the depression portion 94 of the valve drive lever 82 changes, the pressure reducing valve 26 moves from the open position to the closed position, and the cooking space S1 is sealed.

At this time, the rotating arm 206 also rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the valve drive lever 82. Specifically, the first connection pin 208 disposed in the elongated hole 96 of the valve drive lever 82 rotates counterclockwise in conjunction with the valve drive lever 82, causing the rotating arm 206 having the first connection pin 208 to rotate counterclockwise (arrow R10). As the rotating arm 206 rotates, the slide member 212 connected to the rotating arm 206 also rotates counterclockwise (arrow R11).

As shown in Figure 34B, when the second end 212B of the slide member 212 moves away from the lid hook 214, the lid hook 214 catches on the hook receiver 215, entering a locked state. Furthermore, the second connection pin 210 inserted through the elongated hole 224 of the rotating arm 206 also rotates counterclockwise in response to the rotation of the rotating arm 206, causing the lock ring 216 to move toward the locked state. The first connection pin 208 and second connection pin 210 are designed to move to the most counterclockwise rotated position, as shown in Figure 34C, when the valve drive lever 82 moves all the way counterclockwise. Therefore, the lock ring 216 can also be transitioned to the locked state in conjunction with the locked state of the lid hook 214.

The above operation allows the lid lock drive unit 200 to be linked with the valve drive unit 40's operation to lock the lid 10, thereby linking the valve drive unit 40's operation to close the pressure reducing valve 26 and the lid lock drive unit 200's operation to lock the lid 10. This allows the lid 10 to automatically transition to a locked state when the pressure reducing valve 26 is moved to the closed position at the start of cooking, making it possible to perform pressure cooking even if the user forgets to lock the lid 10 or if it is only partially locked. This eliminates the need for the user to lock the lid 10, improving convenience when using the cooking appliance 2.

When the state shown in Figure 34A transitions to the state shown in Figure 34C, the lid lock detection means 228 detects contact with the slide member 212. This confirms that the double lock state created by the lid hook 214 and lock ring 216 is in place. Because this locked state is the result of the lid lock drive unit 200 operating in conjunction with the valve drive unit 40, it is also possible to determine that the valve drive lever 82 has moved the pressure reducing valve 26 to the sealed position. This makes it possible to efficiently and accurately confirm that pressure cooking is ready based solely on the detection results of the lid lock detection means 228.

When transitioning from the state of FIG. 34A to the state of FIG. 34B, the first connection pin 208 inserted through the elongated hole 96 is engaged with the first end 240 (FIGS. 25A and 25B), which is the clockwise end of the elongated hole 96, and therefore rotates integrally with the counterclockwise rotation of the valve drive lever 82. On the other hand, the second connection pin 210 inserted through the elongated hole 224 is engaged with the second end 252 (FIGS. 32D and 32E), which is the counterclockwise end of the elongated hole 224, and therefore is not linked to the counterclockwise rotation of the rotating arm 206 and does not move. As a result, the lock ring 216 connected to the second connection pin 210 does not move.

When the state shown in Figure 34B is reached, the second connection pin 210 engages with the first end 250, which is the clockwise end of the elongated hole 224, and rotates integrally with the counterclockwise rotation of the rotating arm 206, transitioning to the state shown in Figure 34C. In this way, the lock ring 216 can be moved to the locked position, even though it operates with a delay relative to the drive of the valve drive lever 82. Furthermore, as will be described later, when the valve drive lever 82 is driven to rotate in the opposite direction, the connection between the elongated hole 224 and the second connection pin 210 makes it possible to release the link between the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200.

When execution of the pressure cooking menu is completed, the control unit 11 drives the valve drive unit 40 to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position (S10). At this time, even if the valve drive unit 40 is driven from the state shown in Figure 34C to move the pressure reducing valve 26 toward the open position, it is designed not to return to the state shown in Figure 34A. Specific design and operation will be explained using Figures 35A and 35B.

Figure 35A shows the same state as that shown in Figure 34B. The pressure reducing valve 26 is in the sealed position, the lid hook 214 is in the locked state, and the lock ring 216 is also in the locked state. From this state, when the control unit 11 drives the motor 102 shown in Figure 18 to rotate the valve drive lever 82 clockwise (arrow R12), the state transitions to that shown in Figure 35B.

As shown in Figure 35B, the valve drive lever 82 has rotated to the fullest extent in the clockwise direction, while the rotating arm 206 has not rotated clockwise and remains in the same state as in Figure 35A. As shown in Figure 35A, the first connection pin 208 disposed in the elongated hole 96 is disposed at the most clockwise rotated position in the elongated hole 96, and even when the valve drive lever 82 including the elongated hole 96 rotates clockwise, the first connection pin 208 does not move and remains disposed halfway within the elongated hole 96.

Due to this engagement between the elongated hole 96 and the first connecting pin 208, when the valve drive unit 40 operates the pressure reducing valve 26 from the closed position (Figure 35A) to the open position (Figure 35B), the lid lock drive unit 200 does not operate in conjunction, and the lid 10 is not unlocked.

The above operation ensures that the lid 10 will not be unlocked even if the pressure reducing valve 26 is moved to the open position when cooking is finished. This means that the user must operate the handle 201 to unlock the lid 10, further improving safety.

The control unit 11 notifies the user that cooking is complete (S11). Specifically, the operation display unit 6 shown in FIG. 2 displays a message indicating that pressure cooking is complete. When the user recognizes that pressure cooking is complete, they can rotate the handle 201 to unlock the lid 10, open the lid 10, and remove the food from the pot 4.

(During power outages, etc.)
While a pressure cooking menu is being executed, the operation of the pressure cooker 2 may stop due to a power outage or other reasons. When the cooking space S1 is at or above a predetermined pressure, the lock ring regulation valve 28 described above operates to regulate the rotation of the lock ring 216. When the pressure drops to a level at which the lock ring regulation valve 28 does not operate, the lid 10 becomes openable. However, if the pressure in the cooking space S1 is at or above atmospheric pressure, the food inside may be scattered.

Furthermore, if a vacuum cooking menu is available in which the pressure in the cooking space S1 drops below atmospheric pressure, and a power outage occurs while a vacuum cooking menu is being executed rather than a pressurized cooking menu, the pressure in the cooking space S1 will be below atmospheric pressure and the lid 10 will not be able to be opened even if you try. You will need to wait for the pressure and temperature of the pot 4 to rise until the lid 10 can be opened.

To solve the above problem, the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment is designed so that the operation of the valve drive unit 40 is linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200, so that the pressure reducing valve 26 is moved from the closed position to the open position in conjunction with the unlocking of the lid 10. Specific operations are described using Figures 36A and 36B.

Figures 36A and 36B are plan views illustrating the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200.

Figure 36A shows the valve driver 40 and lid lock driver 200 rotated fully counterclockwise. At this time, the pressure reducing valve 26 is in the sealed position, the lid hook 214 is locked, and the lock ring 216 is also locked. In this state, when the user rotates the handle 201 and shaft 203 clockwise (arrow R13), the rotating arm 206 and slide member 212 rotate clockwise together (arrow R14). As a result, as shown in Figure 36B, the second connection pin 210 abuts the counterclockwise end of the elongated hole 224 (second end 252 shown in Figures 32D and 32E), and the rotating arm 206 and second connection pin 210 engage and enter a linked state. When the handle 201 and shaft 203 are further rotated, the lock ring 216 with the second connection pin 210 also rotates clockwise with a delay (arrow R14), ultimately transitioning to the state shown in Figure 36C.

In the state shown in Figure 36C, the slide member 212 and lock ring 216 have moved to their most clockwise rotated positions, and the lock state by the lid hook 214 and the lock state by the lock ring 216 are also released.

In the above operation, the valve drive lever 82 also rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating arm 206. Specifically, because the rotating arm 206, which has the elongated hole 96, is engaged with the first connection pin 208, as the first connection pin 208 of the rotating arm 206, which is positioned in the elongated hole 96, rotates, the valve drive lever 82, which forms the elongated hole 96, also rotates clockwise in conjunction with the rotation (arrow R15).

As shown in Figure 36B, when the rotating arm 206 has rotated a predetermined angle, the second end 212B of the sliding member 212 is not engaged with the lid hook 214. The second connecting pin 210 inserted through the elongated hole 224 is not engaged until it reaches the counterclockwise end (second end 252) of the elongated hole 224, and does not rotate in conjunction with the rotating arm 206, so the locking ring 216 is not operating. Meanwhile, in conjunction with the rotation of the first connecting pin 208 inserted through the elongated hole 96, the valve drive lever 82 rotates clockwise by approximately the same angle (arrow R15). In the state shown in Figure 36B, the depression portion 94 of the valve drive lever 82 has begun to contact the valve holding member 42, and the pressure reducing valve 26 has moved toward the open position, beginning to open the cooking space S1 to atmospheric pressure.

Only when the state shown in Figure 36C is reached will the lid 10 be released from its locked state by the lid hook 214 and lock ring 216.

The above operation allows the operation of the valve drive unit 40 to be linked with the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200, so that the operation of unlocking the lid 10 by the lid lock drive unit 200 can be linked with the operation of opening the pressure reducing valve 26 by the valve drive unit 40. As a result, even if the valve drive lever 82 cannot be driven due to a power outage or other reason, the user can manually open the pressure reducing valve 26 and expose the cooking space S1 to atmospheric pressure. This allows the lid 10 to be opened safely and quickly, improving convenience when using the cooking appliance 2.

In addition, the valve drive lever 82 moves the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position, and then the lid hook 214 and lock ring 216 are unlocked. This allows the cooking space S1 to be opened to atmospheric pressure before the lid 10 is unlocked, preventing the food in the pot 4 from scattering if the pot 4 is pressurized, and ensuring that the lid 10 is open first if the pot 4 is depressurized.

The lid 10 is designed so that even if the user rotates the handle 201 counterclockwise from the state shown in Figure 36C in the direction of locking, it will not return to the state shown in Figure 36A. Specific design and operation will be explained using Figures 37A to 37C.

Figure 37A shows the same state as that shown in Figure 36C. The pressure reducing valve 26 is in the open position, the lid hook 214 is in the unlocked state, and the lock ring 216 is also in the unlocked state. From this state, when the user rotates the handle 201 to rotate the shaft member 203 counterclockwise (arrow R16), the rotating arm 206 and the sliding member 212 rotate counterclockwise (arrow R17), resulting in a transition to the state shown in Figure 37B. In the state shown in Figure 37B, the second connecting pin 210 engages with the first end 250 of the elongated hole 224 (Figures 32D and 32E), resulting in an interlocking state, and the second connecting pin 210 and the lock ring 216 also begin to rotate clockwise together (arrow R17). This causes the rotating arm 206, sliding member 212, and lock ring 216 to rotate together, resulting in a transition to the state shown in Figure 37C.

As shown in Figure 37C, the lid lock drive part 200, such as the rotating arm 206, has rotated fully counterclockwise, while the valve drive lever 82 has not rotated counterclockwise and remains in the same state as in Figure 37A.

In the state shown in Figure 37A, the first connection pin 208 arranged in the elongated hole 96 is arranged at the most clockwise rotation position in the elongated hole 96, so even if the first connection pin 208 rotates counterclockwise, the valve drive lever 82 having the elongated hole 96 does not rotate in conjunction with it.

Due to this engagement between the elongated hole 96 and the first connection pin 208, when the lid lock drive unit 200 transitions the lid 10 from the unlocked state (Figure 37A) to the locked state (Figure 37C), the link between the lid lock drive unit 200 and the valve drive unit 40 is released, and the pressure reducing valve 26 remains fixed in the open position.

According to the above operation, in order to seal the cooking space S1 and make it pressurizable, the control unit 11 must drive the valve drive lever 82; the pressure reducing valve 26 cannot be moved to the sealed position by manual operation by the user alone. This prevents dangerous situations caused by manual operation by the user and improves safety.

Here, the operations described in Figures 34A to 37C will be explained in the tables of Figures 38 to 41.

Figures 38 to 41 are tables showing the operation of each component when the handle 201 is operated manually, or when the valve drive lever 82 and pressure reducing valve 26 are operated by automatic operation of the motor 102.

Figure 38 shows the operation when the handle 201 is operated to transition from the open state (unlocked state) to the closed state (locked state), and Figure 39 shows the operation when the pressure reducing valve 26 is transitioned from the open state to the closed state by automatic operation of the motor 102. Figure 40 shows the operation when the handle 201 is operated to transition from the closed state (locked state) to the open state (unlocked state), and Figure 41 shows the operation when the pressure reducing valve 26 is transitioned from the closed state to the open state by automatic operation of the motor 102.

In Figures 38 to 41, "handle movement angle" (Figures 38 and 40) and "valve drive movement angle" (Figures 39 and 41) represent the movement amount (unit: degrees) of the handle 201 and the valve drive lever 82, respectively. "Handle" represents the movement of the handle 201, "lock ring" represents the movement of the lock ring 216, and "valve drive lever" represents the movement of the valve drive lever 82.

<Open ⇒ Close (manual handle)>
38 , when the handle 201 is manually operated to transition from the open state to the closed state, the handle 201 rotates from 0° to A°, and then from A° to C°. The angles A and C may be set appropriately as long as the relationship A<C holds. A is, for example, approximately 10°, and C is, for example, approximately 30°.

As shown in Figure 38, when the handle 201 rotates from 0° to A°, neither the lock ring 216 nor the valve drive lever 82 moves, and the pressure reducing valve 26 remains open. This movement corresponds to the transition from the state shown in Figure 37A to the state shown in Figure 37B.

As shown in Figure 37A, the second connection pin 210 inserted through the elongated hole 224 abuts against the counterclockwise second end 252 of the elongated hole 224 (Figures 35D and 35E). Therefore, even if the rotating arm 206 rotates counterclockwise, the second connection pin 210 does not move in conjunction with it. In other words, the lock ring 216 does not move in conjunction with the movement of the handle 201. The first connection pin 208 inserted through the elongated hole 96 abuts against the clockwise first end 240 of the elongated hole 96 (Figures 25A and 25C). Therefore, even if the first connection pin 208 rotates counterclockwise, the valve drive lever 82 does not move in conjunction with it. In other words, the valve drive lever 82 does not move in conjunction with the movement of the handle 201.

As shown in Figure 38, when the handle 201 rotates from A° to C° (locked position), the lock ring 216 rotates (C-A)° and moves to the locked position, the valve drive lever 82 does not move, and the pressure reducing valve 26 remains open. This operation corresponds to the transition from the state shown in Figure 37B to the state shown in Figure 37C.

In the state shown in Figure 37B, the second connection pin 210 engages with the clockwise first end 250 of the elongated hole 224, and as the rotating arm 206 rotates counterclockwise, the lock ring 216 connected to the second connection pin 210 moves in the same direction in tandem. Meanwhile, the first connection pin 208 inserted through the elongated hole 96 is still in a position intermediate between the first end 240 and the second end 242 of the elongated hole 96 and is not engaged with the valve drive lever 82, so the valve drive lever 82 does not move in tandem.

The positional relationship between the elongated hole 96 and the first connection pin 208 is designed so that the first connection pin 208 does not engage with the second end 242 of the elongated hole 96 until the state shown in Figure 37A changes to the state shown in Figure 37C. This means that when the handle 201 is rotated counterclockwise, the valve drive lever 82 is not linked to the operation of the handle 201, i.e., the link between the lid lock drive unit 200 and the valve drive unit 40 is released.

The above operation allows the lid hook 214 and lock ring 216 to transition to a locked state by operating the handle 201, regardless of whether the cooking space S is pressurized or not. This allows the lid 10 and main body 8 to be locked even when not pressurized, improving safety.

<Open ⇒ Close (motor automatic)>
As shown in Figure 39, when the pressure reducing valve 26 is shifted from an open state to a closed state by automatic operation of the motor 102, the valve drive lever 82 rotates from 0° to A°, and then rotates from A° to C°.

When the valve drive lever 82 rotates from 0° to A°, the handle 201 moves in conjunction with it from 0° to A°, but the lock ring 216 does not. Even when the valve drive lever 82 rotates A°, the pressure reducing valve 26 does not enter a closed state, but remains in an open state. This operation corresponds to the transition from the state shown in Figure 34A to the state shown in Figure 34B.

As shown in Figure 34A, the first connection pin 208 inserted through the elongated hole 96 is engaged with the clockwise first end 240 of the elongated hole 96 (Figures 25A and 25B). Therefore, when the valve drive lever 82 begins to rotate counterclockwise (arrow R9), the first connection pin 208 moves in the same direction (arrow R10). On the other hand, the second connection pin 210 inserted through the elongated hole 224 is engaged with the counterclockwise second end 252 of the elongated hole 224 (Figures 32D and 32E). Therefore, even if the rotating arm 206 rotates counterclockwise, the second connection pin 210 does not move in conjunction with the rotation. Therefore, the lock ring 216 does not move in conjunction with the movement of the valve drive lever 82.

As shown in Figure 39, when the valve drive lever 82 rotates from A° to C°, the pressure reducing valve 26 transitions from a closed state to an open state. Furthermore, the handle 201 also moves in conjunction with the rotation from A° to C°, and the lock ring 216 also moves in conjunction with the rotation from 0° to (C-A)°. As a result, both the handle 201 and the lock ring 216 move to their locked positions. This movement corresponds to the transition from the state shown in Figure 34B to the state shown in Figure 34C.

In the state shown in Figure 34B, the second connection pin 210 inserted through the elongated hole 224 engages with the clockwise first end 250 of the elongated hole 224. As the rotating arm 206 rotates counterclockwise, the lock ring 216 connected to the second connection pin 210 rotates in the same direction, transitioning to the state shown in Figure 34C.

The above operation allows the lock ring 216 to be automatically moved to the locked position when the pressure cooking course is performed. This prevents the pressure reducing valve 26 from being closed when the lock ring 216 has not yet moved to the locked position (including a semi-locked state). The pressure reducing valve 26 can be closed and the lid 10 can be locked simultaneously, improving safety.

<Close ⇒ Open (manual handle)>
As shown in Figure 40, when the handle 201 is manually operated to transition from the closed state to the open state, the handle 201 rotates from C° to B°, and then rotates from B° to 0°. The angles B and C may be set appropriately as long as the relationship B<C holds. B is, for example, approximately 20°. In this embodiment, the relationship B>A holds.

When the handle 201 rotates from C° to B°, the valve drive lever 82 moves in tandem from C° to B°. This causes the pressure reducing valve 26 to transition from a closed state to an open state, opening the cooking space S to atmospheric pressure. The lock ring 216 does not transition in tandem and remains locked. This movement corresponds to the transition from the state shown in Figure 36A to the state shown in Figure 36B.

In the state shown in Figure 36A, the first connection pin 208 inserted through the elongated hole 96 is engaged with the clockwise first end 240 (Figures 25A and 25B) of the elongated hole 96. Therefore, when the rotating arm 206 and the first connection pin 208 are rotated clockwise by operating the handle 201, the valve drive lever 82 engaged with the first connection pin 208 also rotates in the same direction in conjunction with the rotating arm 206. On the other hand, the second connection pin 210 inserted through the elongated hole 224 is engaged with the clockwise first end 250 of the elongated hole 224. Therefore, even if the rotating arm 206 rotates clockwise, the lock ring 216 connected to the second connection pin 210 does not move in conjunction with the rotating arm 206.

As shown in Figure 40, when the handle 201 rotates from B° to 0°, the valve drive lever 82 moves in conjunction with the rotation, moving from B° to 0°, and the lock ring 216 also moves in conjunction with the rotation. As a result, both the handle 201 and the lock ring 216 move to their locked positions. Note that the pressure reducing valve 26 remains open. This operation corresponds to the transition from the state shown in Figure 36B to the state shown in Figure 36C.

When the state shown in Figure 36B is reached, the second connection pin 210 inserted through the elongated hole 224 engages with the counterclockwise second end 252 of the elongated hole 224, and as the rotating arm 206 rotates clockwise, the lock ring 216 connected to the second connection pin 210 also rotates in the same direction, transitioning to the state shown in Figure 36C.

The above operation makes it possible to reduce the pressure in the cooking space S from a pressurized state to atmospheric pressure even in the event of a malfunction of the motor 102 or a power outage, allowing the contents to be removed quickly.

<Close ⇒ Open (motor automatic)>
As shown in FIG. 41, when the pressure reducing valve 26 is shifted from a closed state to an open state by automatic operation of the motor 102, the valve drive lever 82 rotates from C° to B°, and then rotates from B° to 0°.

When the valve drive lever 82 rotates from C° to B°, the handle 201 and lock ring 216 do not move together, and the lock ring 216 remains locked. When the valve drive lever 82 moves to B°, the pressure reducing valve 26 transitions from a closed state to an open state, and the cooking space S is opened to atmospheric pressure. Thereafter, when the valve drive lever 82 rotates from B° to 0°, the handle 201 and lock ring 216 do not move together, and the lock ring 216 remains locked. This operation corresponds to the transition from the state shown in Figure 35A to the state shown in Figure 35B.

In the state shown in Figure 35A, the first connection pin 208 inserted through the elongated hole 96 is engaged with the clockwise first end 240 of the elongated hole 96. Therefore, even if the valve drive lever 82 rotates clockwise, the first connection pin 208 does not move in conjunction with it, and the state transitions to the state shown in Figure 35B.

The positional relationship between the elongated hole 96 and the first connection pin 208 is designed so that the first connection pin 208 does not engage with the second end 242 of the elongated hole 96 until the state shown in Figure 35A changes to the state shown in Figure 35B. This means that when the valve drive lever 82 is rotated clockwise (in the valve opening direction) by automatic operation of the motor 102, the rotating arm 206 connected to the first connection pin 208 is not linked to the operation of the valve drive lever 82, i.e., a state can be created in which the link between the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 is released.

The above operation makes it possible to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open state without releasing the locking state of the locking ring 216. This allows the lid 10 and main body 8 to remain locked, improving safety.

(Action/Effect 1)
As described above, the heating cooker 2 of this embodiment comprises a pot 4 having a cooking space S1, a heater 9 (heating unit) that heats the pot 4, a lid 10 having an inner lid 14 for sealing the cooking space S1, a pressure reducing valve 26 that is provided on the inner lid 14 and is movable between a sealed position that seals the cooking space S1 and an open position that is open to atmospheric pressure, and a valve drive unit 40 that is provided on the lid 10 and variably operates the position of the pressure reducing valve 26, and the valve drive unit 40 comprises a motor 102 (drive source) and a valve drive lever 82 (rotating operation unit) that rotates due to the driving force of the motor 102.

With this type of cooking appliance 2, the valve drive unit 40 rotates, allowing the valve drive unit 40 to be positioned by effectively utilizing the internal space of the lid 10, contributing to a reduction in the product size of the cooking appliance 2. In particular, if the lid 10 has a roughly circular outer shape in a plan view, by rotating the valve drive unit 40 rather than linearly, the internal space of the lid 10 can be effectively utilized to provide the valve drive unit 40 without increasing the horizontal dimension of the lid 10 in any one direction. This allows the horizontal size of the lid 10 to be reduced, leading to a reduction in the size of the cooking appliance 2.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the rotation axis Ax of the valve drive lever 82 (rotational operating part) extends along the thickness direction of the lid 10. With this cooking appliance 2, the internal space of the lid 10 can be effectively utilized to position the valve drive part, and in particular, the height of the lid 10 can be reduced.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive lever 82 (rotating operation part) has a push-down portion 94 for pushing down the pressure reducing valve 26 from the closed position to the open position, and the push-down portion 94 moves in an arc between a first position (FIG. 24B) where it pushes down the pressure reducing valve 26 and a second position (FIG. 24A) that is different from the first position. In this cooking appliance 2, the push-down portion 94 moves in an arc, making it easier to ensure a longer movement distance than if it moved in a straight line. This allows for more precise position adjustment of the push-down portion 94 while making effective use of the internal space of the lid 10, thereby improving the accuracy of pressure adjustment.

Furthermore, in the cooking device 2 of this embodiment, the push-down portion 94 has an inclined surface 98 whose height changes along the arc-shaped movement direction. With this cooking device 2, the push-down portion 94 can be configured with a simple structure.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive lever 82 (rotational operating part) includes an arc arm 86 (first arm) that extends in an arc shape, and a connecting arm 88 (second arm) that connects the arc arm 86 to the rotation axis Ax. With this cooking appliance 2, the valve drive part 40 can be configured with a simple structure.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive lever 82 (rotating operation part) has a component arrangement space 99 in the area surrounded by the arc arm 86 (first arm) and the connecting arm 88 (second arm). With this cooking appliance 2, other components can be arranged in the component arrangement space 99, allowing for effective use of the space.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, a gear portion 104 (first gear) for transmitting the driving force of the motor 102 (driving source) to the valve drive lever 82 (rotating operation portion) is provided in the component arrangement space 99, and a gear portion 92 (second gear) that meshes with the gear portion 104 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the arc arm 86 (first arm). With this cooking appliance 2, the gear portions 92 and 104 can be arranged by utilizing the space in the component arrangement space 99, and the valve drive lever 82 can be operated with a simple configuration.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the gear unit 104 (first gear) and the gear unit 92 (second gear) are each composed of a spur gear, and the pressure reducing valve 26 moves up and down along the axial direction C of the spur gear. With this cooking appliance 2, even when the pressure reducing valve 26 moves up and down and presses the valve drive lever 82 (rotating operation part), a pressing force is applied in the axial direction C of the spur gear, so no driving force is transmitted between the gear units 92 and 104. This makes it possible to realize a configuration in which unnecessary force is not applied to the gear unit 104 or the motor 102.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes a support plate 84 that rotatably supports the valve drive lever 82 (rotational operating portion). This cooking appliance 2 provides more stable operation of the valve drive lever 82.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive lever 82 (rotational movement portion) has an arc arm 86 (first arm) that extends in an arc shape, and the support plate 84 has an arc-shaped groove portion 118 that guides the arc movement of the arc arm 86 (first arm). With this cooking appliance 2, the operation of the valve drive lever 82 can be stabilized.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the support plate 84 includes a wall portion 110 (first restriction wall) that blocks movement of the valve drive lever 82 (rotational operating portion) in a first direction (counterclockwise in plan view), and a wall portion 112 (second restriction wall) that blocks movement of the valve drive lever 82 in a second direction (clockwise in plan view), and the valve drive lever 82 is rotatable in the area between the wall portions 110 and 112. This cooking appliance 2 makes it easy to define the range of movement of the valve drive lever 82. Furthermore, even if an abnormality occurs in the operation of the valve drive lever 82, contact with the walls 110 and 112 can restrict movement, thereby reducing the load on the gear portions 92, 104, etc.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive lever 82 (rotating operation part) has a component arrangement space 99 in the area surrounded by the arc arm 86 (first arm) and the connecting arm 88 (second arm), and the support plate 84 has a screw receiving part 160 (fixing part) for fixing the support plate 84 to the lid 10 (block 172), and the screw receiving part 160 is arranged in the component arrangement space 99. With this cooking appliance 2, it is possible to fix the support plate 84 to the lid 10 at a position close to the center of the support plate 84, thereby improving the strength of the support plate 84.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes a cover member 78 that covers the valve drive lever 82 (rotating portion), and the valve drive lever 82 has a rib 89 at the point where it comes into contact with the cover member 78. This cooking appliance 2 reduces friction between the valve drive lever 82 and the cover member 78 when it slides, thereby stabilizing the operation of the valve drive lever 82.

(Action/Effect 2)
As described above, the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment includes the pot 4 having the cooking space S1, the heater 9 (heating unit) for heating the pot 4, the lid 10 having the inner lid 14 for sealing the cooking space S1, the pressure reducing valve 26 provided on the inner lid 14 and movable between a sealing position that seals the cooking space S1 and an open position that is open to atmospheric pressure, the valve drive unit 40 provided on the lid 10 and variably operating the position of the pressure reducing valve 26, the lock ring 216 (lid lock member) provided on the lid 10 and movable between a locked position that restricts the opening of the lid 10 and an unlocked position that allows the lid 10 to open, and the lid lock drive unit 200 provided on the lid 10 and having a handle 201 (operating member) for manually operating the lock ring 216 by a user, the valve drive unit 40 having an elongated hole 96 (first engaging portion), and the lid lock drive unit 200 having a first connecting pin 208 (second engaging portion) that engages with the elongated hole 96.

With this type of cooking appliance 2, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 can be engaged with each other, allowing their respective operations to be linked. This allows the pressure reducing valve 26 and lock ring 216 to be automatically moved to appropriate positions depending on the situation, eliminating the need for manual operation by the user and improving the convenience of using the cooking appliance 2.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are linked together by the engagement between the elongated hole 96 and the first connecting pin 208. This makes it possible to switch between a linked and unlinked state depending on the operating direction and position of the drive units 40 and 200.

Note that this is not limited to the case where the valve driver 40 has the elongated hole 96 and the lid lock driver 200 has the pin 208; the valve driver 40 may have a pin and the lid lock driver 200 may have an elongated hole. In other words, the first engagement portion of the valve driver 40 may be either the elongated hole or the pin, and the second engagement portion of the lid lock driver 200 may be the other.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the lid lock drive unit 200 has a rotating arm 206 (arm member) extending in the horizontal direction B inside the lid 10 to connect the handle 201 (operating member) and the lock ring 216 (lid lock member), the first connection pin 208 (second engagement portion) is a pin provided on the rotating arm 206, and the elongated hole 96 (first engagement portion) is a elongated hole through which the first connection pin 208 is inserted. With this cooking appliance 2, the pin 208 and elongated hole 96 can be provided while effectively utilizing the internal space of the lid 10, allowing the two drive units 40, 200 to operate in conjunction with each other.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 each rotate. This cooking appliance 2 makes it easier to coordinate the operation of the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200, and also makes effective use of the space in the lateral direction B in the lid 10, thereby enabling a reduction in product size.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the rotation axis Ax of the valve drive unit 40 and the rotation axis Ax of the lock ring 216 (lid locking member) are coaxial. This cooking appliance 2 can suppress axial misalignment while simplifying the configuration and reducing the product size.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the lid 10 is provided with a handle 201 (operating member) that is rotated, and a shaft member 203 that extends in the thickness direction of the lid 10 as the rotation axis Ax of the handle 201, and a through-hole 100 is formed in the rotation center 90 of the valve drive unit 40, through which the shaft member 203 is inserted. With this cooking appliance 2, a coaxial structure can be created with a simple configuration.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the handle 201 (operating member) is rotated around a rotation axis Ax that extends along the thickness direction of the lid 10. This cooking appliance 2 can be easily operated by the user.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes a lock ring restriction valve 28 (movable member) attached to the inner lid 14. The lock ring restriction valve 28 is positioned at a first position when the pressure in the cooking space S1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure, and at a second position when the pressure is less than the predetermined pressure. The lock ring restriction valve 28 selectively engages with the lock ring 216 (lid locking member) so that it restricts movement of the lock ring 216 in the first position (FIG. 11C) and does not restrict movement of the lock ring 216 in the second position (FIGS. 11A and 11B). By providing the lock ring restriction valve 28, the cooking appliance 2 can prevent the lid 10 from being opened when the cooking space S1 is under high pressure, improving safety.

(Action/Effect 3)
As described above, the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment includes a pot 4 having a cooking space S1, a heater 9 (heating unit) for heating the pot 4, a lid 10 having an inner lid 14 for sealing the cooking space S1, a pressure reducing valve 26 provided on the inner lid 14 and movable between a sealed position that seals the cooking space S1 and an open position that is open to atmospheric pressure, a valve drive unit 40 provided on the lid 10 and variably operating the position of the pressure reducing valve 26, a lock ring 216 (lid lock member) provided on the lid 10 and movable between a locked position that restricts the opening of the lid 10 and an unlocked position that allows the lid 10 to open, and a lid lock drive unit 200 provided on the lid 10 and having a handle 201 (operating member) for manually operating the lock ring 216 by a user, and the operation of the valve drive unit 40 is linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200.

With this type of cooking appliance 2, by linking the operation of the valve drive unit 40 with the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200, the lid 10 can be locked/unlocked in conjunction with the opening and closing of the pressure reducing valve 26, replacing manual operation by the user. This improves the convenience of using the cooking appliance 2.

Furthermore, in the cooker 2 of this embodiment, when the valve drive unit 40 operates in a direction to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the sealed position, the lid lock drive unit 200 operates in conjunction with the valve drive unit 40 in a direction to move the lock ring 216 (lid locking member) to the locked position. With this cooker 2, when the pressure cooking menu is selected, even if the user forgets to lock the lid 10 or if it is not locked sufficiently (for example, only partially locked), the lid 10 can be automatically locked, allowing pressure cooking to begin.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes an operation and display unit 6 (cooking menu selection unit) for selecting a cooking menu, and a control unit 11. When the pressure cooking menu is selected on the operation and display unit 6, the control unit 11 operates the valve drive unit 40 in a direction that moves the pressure reducing valve 26 to the sealed position. With this cooking appliance 2, when a pressure cooking menu is performed, the cooking space S1 of the pot 4 can be sealed, allowing pressure cooking to begin.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes a lid lock detection means 228 that detects whether the lock ring 216 (lid locking member) is in the locked position. With this cooking appliance 2, by confirming that the lock ring 216 is in the locked position, it is possible to confirm that the pressure reducing valve 26 is in the sealed position, in addition to the lock ring 216 being in the locked position.

In addition, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, when the valve drive unit 40 operates in a direction that moves the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are disengaged. With this cooking appliance 2, when the pressure reducing valve 26 is moved to the open position to return the pot 4 to atmospheric pressure at the end of cooking, the lid lock drive unit 200 is not engaged and the lid is not unlocked, so that the user must manually unlock the lid. This improves safety.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are linked to each other through the engagement between the elongated hole 96 and the pin 208. With this cooking appliance 2, linking through the engagement between the elongated hole 96 and the pin 208 makes it possible to switch between an interlocked state and a non-interlocked state depending on the operating direction and position of the drive units 40, 200.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes a control unit 11, and the valve drive unit 40 includes a motor 102 (drive source) controlled by the control unit 11 and a valve drive lever 82 (operation unit) operated by the driving force of the motor 102. With this cooking appliance 2, the valve drive unit 40 can be operated automatically.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive lever 82 (operating unit) rotates. With this cooking appliance 2, the internal space of the lid 10 can be effectively utilized to position the valve drive unit 40, contributing to a more compact product.

(Action/Effect 4)
As described above, the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment includes a pot 4 having a cooking space S1, a heater 9 (heating unit) for heating the pot 4, a lid 10 having an inner lid 14 for sealing the cooking space S1, a pressure reducing valve 26 provided on the inner lid 14 and movable between a sealed position that seals the cooking space S1 and an open position that is open to atmospheric pressure, a valve drive unit 40 provided on the lid 10 and variably operating the position of the pressure reducing valve 26, a lock ring 216 (lid lock member) provided on the lid 10 and movable between a locked position that restricts the opening of the lid 10 and an unlocked position that allows the lid 10 to open, and a lid lock drive unit 200 provided on the lid 10 and having a handle 201 (operating member) for manually operating the lock ring 216 by a user, and the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200 is linked to the operation of the valve drive unit 40.

With this type of cooking appliance 2, by linking the operation of the valve drive unit 40 with the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200, the opening and closing of the pressure reducing valve 26 can be performed in conjunction with the locking/unlocking of the lid 10. For example, when unlocking the lid 10, the pressure reducing valve 26 can be moved to the open position to return the pressure in the pot 4 to atmospheric pressure. This allows the pressure in the pot 4 to be returned to atmospheric pressure, allowing the lid 10 to be opened, even when the valve drive unit 40 is not operating due to a power outage or other reason, improving the convenience of using the cooking appliance 2.

Furthermore, in the cooker 2 of this embodiment, when the lid lock drive unit 200 operates in a direction to move the lock ring 216 (lid lock member) to the unlocked position, the valve drive unit 40 operates in conjunction with the lid lock drive unit 200 in a direction to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position. With this cooker 2, even if the valve drive unit 40 does not operate due to a power outage or the like, the pressure in the pot 4 can be returned to atmospheric pressure, allowing the lid 10 to be opened.

Furthermore, in the cooker 2 of this embodiment, when the operation of the valve drive unit 40 is linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit 200, the pressure reducing valve 26 moves to the open position, and then the lock ring 216 (lid lock member) moves to the unlocked position. With this cooker 2, the lid 10 can be opened only after the pressure in the cooking space S1 is released, thereby improving safety and convenience.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes a protrusion 229 that selectively engages with the lid lock driver 200 to provide a clicking sensation when the handle 201 (operating member) is operated. This cooking appliance 2 can prevent erroneous operation by the user.

Furthermore, in the cooker 2 of this embodiment, when the lid lock drive unit 200 operates in a direction that moves the lock ring 216 (lid lock member) to the locked position, the lid lock drive unit 200 and the valve drive unit 40 are disengaged. With this cooker 2, when the user manually closes the lid 10, the pressure reducing valve 26 is prevented from moving to the sealed position, so that the cooking space S1 of the pot 4 cannot be manually sealed and pressurized by the user. This improves safety.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive unit 40 and the lid lock drive unit 200 are linked to each other through the engagement between the elongated hole 96 and the pin 208. With this cooking appliance 2, linking through the engagement between the elongated hole 96 and the pin 208 makes it possible to switch between an interlocked state and a non-interlocked state depending on the operating direction and position of the drive units 40, 200.

The cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment also includes a control unit 11, and the valve drive unit 40 includes a motor 102 (drive source) controlled by the control unit 11 and a valve drive lever 82 (operation unit) operated by the driving force of the motor 102. With this cooking appliance 2, the valve drive unit 40 can be operated automatically.

Furthermore, in the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the valve drive lever 82 rotates. With this cooking appliance 2, the internal space of the lid 10 can be effectively utilized to position the valve drive unit 40, contributing to a more compact product.

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.

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 12 Outer lid 14 Inner lid 26 Pressure reducing valve 40 Valve drive unit 82 Valve drive lever (operating unit, rotating operating unit)
96: Long hole (first engagement portion)
102 Motor (drive source)
200 Lid lock driving unit 201 Handle (operating member)
208 First connecting pin (second engaging portion)
214 Lid hook (first lid lock member)
216 Lock ring (second lid lock member)
S1 cooking space

Claims (8)

a pot having a cooking space;
A heating unit that heats the pot;
a lid having an inner lid for sealing the cooking space;
a pressure reducing valve provided in the inner lid and movable between a sealing position that seals the cooking space and an open position that opens to atmospheric pressure;
a valve driving unit provided on the lid for variably operating the pressure reducing valve;
a lid locking member provided on the lid and movable between a locked position that restricts the lid from opening and an unlocked position that allows the lid to open;
a lid lock driving unit provided on the lid and having an operating member for manually operating the lid lock member by a user;
The cooking device wherein the operation of the valve drive unit is linked to the operation of the lid lock drive unit. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein when the valve drive unit operates in a direction to move the pressure reducing valve to the sealed position, the lid lock drive unit operates in conjunction with the valve drive unit in a direction to move the lid lock member to the locked position. a cooking menu selection section for selecting a cooking menu;
a control unit,
The cooking device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit operates the valve drive unit in a direction to move the pressure reducing valve to the closed position in response to a pressurized cooking menu being selected by the cooking menu selection unit. The cooking appliance of claim 2, further comprising a lid lock detection means for detecting whether the lid lock member is in the locked position. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein when the valve drive unit operates in a direction that moves the pressure reducing valve to the open position, the valve drive unit and the lid lock drive unit are disengaged. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve drive unit and the lid lock drive unit are linked together by an engagement relationship between a long hole and a pin. Further comprising a control unit,
The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve driving unit includes a driving source controlled by the control unit, and an operating unit operated by a driving force of the driving source. The cooking device according to claim 7, wherein the operating unit is a rotating operating unit that rotates.