JP2001137113A - Pressure cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust pressure applied into a cooker at a low cost and with accuracy. SOLUTION: Relating to a pressure cooker (a rice cooker 1) comprising a cooker (an inner cooker 2), a body 3 to store the cooker, a heating means (an induction heating coil 6) to heat the cooker, a cover body 8 which is installed on the body in such way it can open and close and closes an opening of the cooker and a pressure applying means which comprises a valve body (a pressure adjusting ball 28) which is disposed on the cover body and closes an opening 27 communicating with the inside of the cooker and a driving mechanism (solenoid 30) which drives the valve body to close the opening, an opening means (solenoid 30) is provided, which intermittently opens the opening by operating the valve body when pressure is applied into the cooker by the pressure applying means and a duty ratio of opening time (t1) to closing time (t2) of the opening by the opening means is set to adjust the pressure inside the cooker.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressure cooker for cooking by applying pressure to a cooking pot such as a steamer or a rice cooker, and more particularly to a pressure cooker capable of adjusting the pressure to be charged into the cooking pot. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of pressure cooker maintains the internal pressure of a cooking pot constant by using a pressure sensor, or keeps the internal pressure of the cooking pot constant by a correlation between a temperature sensor and the internal pressure of the cooking pot. The desired food is cooked by controlling the heating means of the cooking pot in accordance with the detected value of the pressure sensor or the temperature sensor and executing a predetermined cooking flow while maintaining.

As a means for applying pressure to the inside of the cooking pot, a pressure regulator comprising a pressure regulating ball having a predetermined weight and a solenoid for moving the pressure regulating ball is suitably used. The pressure regulator is disposed inside a lid that closes an upper end opening of the cooking pot, and moves the pressure regulating ball over an opening of the lid that communicates with the cooking pot, thereby opening the opening by its own weight. It is closed and the inside of the cooking pot can be pressurized above atmospheric pressure.

However, in the pressure regulator, only on / off control of whether or not pressure is applied to the inside of the cooking pot is provided, and there is no means for adjusting the internal pressure of the cooking pot.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-328022 provides an electric rice cooker as a pressure cooker which can regulate the pressure in an inner pot in a plurality of stages. Specifically, in this electric rice cooker, a valve body that closes an opening provided in a lid body by its own weight is formed of a magnetic material, and the valve body is sucked in a valve closing direction by a magnetic force generator to provide two types of valve bodies. Pressure regulation function. An electromagnet is applied as the magnetic force generator,
By controlling the current supplied to the electromagnet, the pressure can be adjusted in a plurality of stages.

[0006]

However, in the electric rice cooker, when controlling the internal pressure of the inner pot, power must be continuously supplied to the electromagnet, and the temperature of the coil constituting the electromagnet rises. In addition, a coil cooling mechanism is required. Moreover, even if the cooling mechanism is mounted, it may be difficult to maintain the magnetic force if the temperature rise is large. Similarly, the circuit for energizing the electromagnet rises in temperature when electric power is continuously applied, and therefore requires a circuit board cooling mechanism. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the total cost is increased.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pressure cooker capable of reliably and inexpensively adjusting the pressure applied to a cooking pot.

[0008]

To solve the above-mentioned problems, a pressure cooker according to the present invention comprises a cooking pot, a main body for housing the cooking pot, heating means for heating the cooking pot, and A lid that is openably attached and closes the opening of the cooking pot, a valve that is provided on the lid and closes an opening that communicates with the inside of the cooking pot, and drives the valve to close the opening. A pressure cooker provided with a pressure input means comprising a drive mechanism, wherein when the pressure input into the cooking pot by the pressure input means, opening means for operating the valve element to open the opening intermittently, The pressure in the cooking pot is adjusted by setting the duty ratio of the opening time (t1) and the closing time (t2) of the opening by the opening means.

According to the pressure cooker, when the opening communicating with the cooking pot is opened by the opening means, the pressure in the cooking pot flows out to the atmosphere due to pressure equilibrium, so that the pressure in the cooking pot can be reduced. Therefore, this opening time (t
By setting the duty ratio between 1) and the closing time (t2), the internal pressure of the cooking pot can be adjusted to a desired pressure. Further, by changing the setting of the duty ratio, the set pressure in the cooking pot can be changed during the pressure cooking process.

[0010] In the pressure cooker, it is preferable that the drive mechanism is used as the opening means, and the pressure in the cooking pot can be adjusted only by changing the setting of the program by using a known configuration of the pressure cooker. .

In this case, it is preferable that a spherical pressure regulating ball is used as the valve body and a solenoid is used as the driving mechanism. Alternatively, a spherical pressure regulating ball may be used as the valve body, and a motor may be used as the drive mechanism.

It is preferable that a pressure regulating ball at least partially made of a magnetic material is used as the valve body, and an electromagnetic force generating mechanism is used as the opening means. Alternatively, a spherical pressure adjusting ball may be used as the valve body, and a vibration imparting mechanism for finely moving the pressure adjusting ball may be used as the opening means. In this case, the opening and closing of the opening by the opening means can be quickly performed.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a pressure cooker 1 as a pressure cooker according to the present invention. The rice cooker 1 according to the first embodiment includes an inner pot 2, a main body 3 accommodating the inner pot 2, and a lid 8 rotatably attached to the main body 3.

The inner pan 2 is a ferromagnetic material which is electromagnetically heated by an eddy current generated when a high-frequency current is applied to an induction heating coil 6 described later on an outer surface of a pan base material made of aluminum or the like having a high thermal conductivity. Is subjected to coating or bonding.

The body 3 has a protective frame 5 made of a non-conductive material for accommodating the inner pot 2 inside a body 4 having a bottomed cylindrical shape. Between the body 4 and the protective frame 5, an induction heating coil 6 as a heating means, an inner pot temperature sensor 7, and a control board 32 on which a microcomputer 33 is mounted are arranged.

The induction heating coil 6 is disposed on the lower surface of the protection frame 5 and is supplied with a high-frequency current,
The inner pot 2 is subjected to electromagnetic induction heating.

The inner pan temperature sensor 7 is connected to the protective frame 5.
The detection portion at the tip is brought into contact with the side surface of the inner pot 2 through a through hole provided in the protective frame 5, and the temperature of the inner pot 2 is output to the microcomputer 33.

The lid 8 closes the opening of the main body 3, and is detachably attached to the upper plate 9, the lower plate 11, and the bottom surface of the lower plate 11 to cover the opening of the inner pan 2. And an inner lid 19 to be hermetically closed. Inside the lid 8, a lid temperature sensor (not shown), a safety valve 21, and a pressure regulator 22 as pressure input means are provided.

The upper plate 9 is provided with an exhaust port 10 for exhausting steam to the outside (atmosphere) together with the pressure when the pressure in the inner pan 2 exceeds a set pressure during rice cooking. A duct 17 described later is provided so as to surround the side edge.

A heat radiating plate 12 is provided on the lower surface of the lower plate 11 in the same manner as in the prior art.
1 is provided with a lid heater 13. This lower plate 1
1 is provided with an opening for a pressure regulator 22 to be described later, and a case 14 for accommodating a pressure mechanism 23 of the pressure regulator 22 is attached so as to surround this opening. This case 14
Is provided with an insertion port 15 through which a plunger is inserted on a side where a solenoid 30 which is a driving mechanism described later is disposed,
A seal member 16 for preventing leakage of steam from the inner pot 2 is provided at the insertion port 15. This case 14
In the lower part of the case 14, the inside of the case 14 and the exhaust port 10
A duct 17 is provided integrally with the duct 17. A packing 18 that is pressed against the lower surface of the upper plate 9 is provided at the upper edge of the duct 17.

The inner lid 19 is provided with a packing 20 over the entire periphery thereof, which is pressed against the upper edge of the inner pot 2 to seal the inside of the inner pot 2. The inner cover 19 has the lower plate 1 attached thereto.
A position corresponding to one opening is opened, and a pressure mechanism 23 constituting the pressure regulator 22 is integrally attached to this opening.

The temperature sensor for the lid detects the temperature of the upper portion of the inner pot 2 to detect the temperature of the rice to be cooked (rice temperature).
And outputs the detected temperature to the control means described later.

The safety valve 21 prevents the internal pressure of the inner pan 2 from rising to an abnormal pressure which is equal to or higher than a set value due to some factors. 19.

The pressure regulator 22 is disposed at an opening of the inner lid 19 and pressurizes a pressure into the inner pan 2.
A solenoid 30 is disposed on the lower plate 11 of the lid 8 and is a driving mechanism for driving the pressure mechanism 23.

The pressurizing mechanism 23 comprises a check valve 24, a pedestal member 26, a pressure regulating ball 28 which is a valve for closing the opening 27, and a cap 29. The above is maintained. The check valve 24 is fixed to the opening of the inner lid 19, and has an inlet 25 communicating with the inner pot 2 at the center thereof. The base member 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a cylindrical body having an upper and lower opening having a size surrounding the inflow port 25. The upper end opening 27 of the pedestal member 26 is reduced in diameter so as to reduce the opening area. The pressure regulating ball 2
8 closes the opening 27 communicating with the inner pot 2 by its own weight. In the present embodiment, when the pressure in the inner pot 2 exceeds about 1.25 atm, the one that rises by that pressure is used. I'm using The cap 29 is detachably attached to the pedestal member 26 in a state where the pressure adjusting ball 28 is housed therein.
And a large number of vents communicating with the duct 17 are provided.

The solenoid 30 as the driving mechanism is disposed on the lower plate 11 on the side of the case 14. The solenoid 30 rolls the pressure adjusting ball 28 over the opening 27 by applying the plunger to the retracted position to apply pressure into the inner pan 2. In addition, the solenoid 30 of the present embodiment includes
By setting the plunger intermittently at the advanced position, the pressure regulating ball 28 is retracted from above the opening 27 and plays a role of an opening means for opening the opening 27 intermittently.

The microcomputer 33 serving as the control means is mounted on a control board 32 provided in the main body 3 and preheats, heats, power controls, cooks, flies, and keeps warm according to a stored program. The rice cooking operation is performed by sequentially executing the respective steps of the above, and the temperature sensor 7 for the inner pot,
Further, the heating amount of the inner pot 2 by the heating means is adjusted based on the output from the lid temperature sensor.

The microcomputer 33 of this embodiment drives the solenoid 30 for a predetermined time in the pressure cooking step of applying pressure into the inner pot 2 in the rice cooking step, and opens the opening 27 (t1). And the duty ratio of the closing time (t2) allows the inside of the inner pan 2 to be adjusted to a desired pressure.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner pressure of the inner pot 2 is set to about 1.03a slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure (1.00 atm).
tm, the duty ratio of the solenoid 30 is about 50%, and the ON / OFF cycle is 2%.
Every second. When it is desired to increase the internal pressure of the inner pan 2, the duty ratio is set so that the opening time (t1) is shortened and the closing time (t2) is lengthened. Conversely, when it is desired to decrease the internal pressure of the inner pan 2, the duty ratio is set so that the opening time (t1) is lengthened and the closing time (t2) is shortened.

As described above, in the present embodiment, by setting the duty ratio at which the opening 27 is opened by the pressure regulating ball 28, the pressure in the inner pan 2 is caused to flow out to the atmosphere by pressure equilibrium when the opening 27 is opened. The inside of the inner pan 2 is depressurized to increase the pressure inside the inner pan 2 when the opening 27 is closed. And
The desired pressure is maintained by adjusting the average pressure per unit time.

Next, the microcomputer 33 of the rice cooker 1 having the above configuration will be described.
An example of the rice cooking operation that can be controlled by the following will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the rice cooker switch is operated, the induction heating coil 6 is turned on in step S1, as in the related art.
, The temperature is adjusted so that the temperature of the inner pot 2 is maintained at about 50 ° C., and the preheating step is performed.

When the time set in advance by the rice cooking menu has elapsed, in step S2, energization of the induction heating coil 6 with 100% (full power) power is started. The rice cooking capacity is determined based on the temperature rise gradient detected via the temperature sensor 7.

Next, in step S4, the process waits until the temperature detected via the lid temperature sensor reaches a set threshold value. When the temperature reaches the threshold value, in step S5, the solenoid 30 of the pressure regulator 22 is controlled in step S5. , The pressure regulating ball 28 is rolled over the opening 27 to seal the inside of the inner pot 2, and the pressure cooking step is executed.

Then, in step S6, a timer is started for 3 minutes as the processing 1 of the pressure rice cooking process, and then in step S7, the duty ratio is set so as to control the internal pressure of the inner pot 2 to 1.16 atm. Then, step S8
After the driving of the solenoid 30 is started, step S9 is performed.
Then, according to the set duty ratio, the solenoid 30 is intermittently turned on and off to execute the pressure adjustment process (1).

Thereafter, in step S10, it is detected whether or not the 3-minute timer has counted up. If the count has been counted up, the flow proceeds to step S11, and if not, the flow returns to step S9. The execution time of the pressure adjustment process (1) and the inner pot 2 to be maintained
Can be set as desired. Further, in the pressure adjustment process, a known power control for the induction heating coil 6 is executed in parallel.

Next, in step S11, as the processing 2 of the pressure rice cooking process, the duty ratio is changed so as to control the internal pressure of the inner pot 2 to 1.06 atm. Next, in step S12, the pressure adjustment process (2) is executed by intermittently controlling the solenoid 30 to be turned on and off according to the duty ratio that has been changed.

Thereafter, in step S13, it is detected by a known method whether or not the inside of the inner pot 2 has dried up. If dry-up is detected, the process proceeds to step S14. If dry-up is not detected, step S14 is performed. It returns to S12. That is, the internal pressure of the inner pot 2 is 1.
The pressure is controlled so as to maintain 06 atm. The execution time of the pressure adjustment process (2) and the internal pressure of the inner pan 2 to be maintained can be set as desired similarly to the above (1).

Then, in step S14, after the driving of the solenoid 30 is stopped, in step S15, electric power is supplied to the induction heating coil 6 at full power, and a cooking process is executed.

Next, in step S16, while the power supply to the induction heating coil 6 is reduced to execute the unevenness step, the internal pressure of the inner pan 2 is made equal to the atmospheric pressure after the unevenness step is completed. Then, the setting of the duty ratio is gradually changed so as to gradually increase the ratio of the opening time (t1), and the pressure reduction control process is executed.

When these processes are completed, in step S17, the solenoid 30 is driven to release the pressure input state by maintaining the state in which the pressure regulating ball 28 is completely retracted from above the opening 27. Step S18
Then, when the dew dropping step is performed, the rice cooking operation ends.

As described above, in the rice cooker 1 of the present invention, the solenoid 30 constituting the opening means of the pressure regulating ball 28 as the valve is intermittently driven in accordance with the set duty ratio, so that the inner pot 2 Can be adjusted to the desired pressure. Further, the pressure to be charged into the inner pan 2 can be set as desired on a program, and can be changed during the pressure cooking process as described above. That is, the desired (optimal) pressure can be applied to the rice to be cooked at a desired timing, so that it is possible to cook more delicious rice and to eliminate the loss in the rice cooking operation and shorten the rice cooking time. You can also plan.

Further, in the first embodiment, since a well-known pressure input means composed of a pressure regulating ball 28 and a solenoid 30 is applied, a cooling mechanism of a coil constituting an electromagnet, an electromagnet No cooling mechanism of the circuit for energizing the circuit is required, and the total cost does not increase. In addition, the existing rice cooker 1 can be easily executed only by changing the program controlled by the microcomputer 33 by a known method.

FIG. 5 shows a rice cooker 1 according to a second embodiment.
The rice cooker 1 includes a motor 35 such as a stepping motor or an induction motor instead of the solenoid 30.
Is different from the first embodiment only in that the pressure adjusting ball 28 is used as a driving mechanism and an opening means of the pressure adjusting ball 28.

The rotary shaft 36 of the motor 35 is provided with a thread groove. A guide member 37 having a nut portion screwed into the screw groove is provided on the rotating shaft 36, and the guide member 37 is moved forward and backward by driving of the motor 35. The guide member 37 is provided with a pressing member 38 that presses and operates the pressure adjusting ball 28 via the seal member 16 in accordance with the operation of the motor 35 so as to be slidable in the same direction as the axis of the rotating shaft 36. Have been.

In the rice cooker 1 of the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, when the microcomputer 33 executes the pressure rice cooking operation in the rice cooking operation, the microcomputer 33 supplies electric power to the motor 35 to cause the pressure regulating ball 28 to move. Rolling over the opening 27
7 is closed. When adjusting the pressure inside the inner pan 2 to a desired pressure, the motor 35 is rotated forward or backward according to the set duty ratio. Thereby, similarly to the first embodiment, the opening 27 is opened for a predetermined time (t1) and then closed for a predetermined time (t2), so that the inside of the inner pan 2 is adjusted and maintained at a desired internal pressure. .

FIG. 6 shows a rice cooker 1 according to a third embodiment.
The rice cooker 1 differs from the first and second embodiments in that the pressure regulating ball 40 as a valve can be opened by an electromagnetic force generating mechanism.

Specifically, the pressure adjusting ball 40 of the present embodiment
Uses a spherical member made of a magnetic material whose outer periphery is covered with a resin. In the present embodiment, an electromagnetic coil 41, which is an electromagnetic force generating mechanism that generates an electromagnetic force according to the magnitude of a current to be supplied, is used as the opening means. This electromagnetic coil 41 is disposed on the upper part of the case 14.

In the rice cooker 1 according to the third embodiment, when the microcomputer 33 executes the pressure rice cooking operation in the rice cooking operation, the microcomputer 33 supplies electric power to the solenoid 30 to roll the pressure regulating ball 40 on the opening 27, and The opening 27 is closed.

When adjusting the pressure in the inner pan 2 to a desired pressure, the supply and cutoff of electric power to the electromagnetic coil 41 are repeated according to the set duty ratio. Then, an electromagnetic force is generated in the electromagnetic coil 41 when energized, and the pressure regulating ball 40 is attracted upward by the electromagnetic force.
The opening 27 is opened for a predetermined time (t1) by energizing the electromagnetic coil 41, and then closed for a predetermined time (t2) by interruption. As a result, in the inner pot 2, the internal pressure is adjusted and maintained at a desired value as in the above-described embodiment.

In the third embodiment, a pressure adjusting ball 40 partially formed of a magnetic material is operated by applying an electromagnetic coil 41.
-328022. However, in the third embodiment, since the energization and the cutoff are repeated according to the setting of the duty ratio instead of continuing to energize the electromagnetic coil 41, a cooling mechanism for the electromagnetic coil 41 is not required. Similarly, there is no need for a circuit cooling mechanism for energizing the electromagnet. Therefore, an increase in total cost can be prevented.

FIG. 7 shows a rice cooker 1 according to a fourth embodiment.
The rice cooker 1 is different from the rice cooker 1 in that an electromagnetic force generating mechanism is used as a driving mechanism of the pressure regulating ball 40 and an opening means instead of the solenoid 30 shown in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, since the electromagnetic force generating mechanism is applied as the driving mechanism and the opening means, the case 14 includes:
The insertion port 15 is not formed.

The electromagnetic force generating mechanism according to the fourth embodiment includes a coil 45 for generating an electromagnetic force according to the magnitude of a current supplied similarly to the third embodiment. This coil 4
5 is provided with metal members 46 extending at predetermined intervals on both sides of the case 14 so as to be located at the center of gravity of the pressure regulating ball 40 as shown by a broken line in the figure.

In the rice cooker 1 of the fourth embodiment, the microcomputer 33 continues to supply power to the coil 45 when starting the rice cooking operation. As a result, a magnetic circuit returning from the coil 45 to the coil 45 via the metal member 46 and the pressure adjusting ball 25 is formed. As a result, the pressure regulating ball 40 is attracted to the left side in the figure by the electromagnetic force, and the opening 27 communicating with the inside of the inner pot 2 is maintained in an open state.

Then, when performing the pressure rice cooking operation,
By stopping the supply of current to the coil 45 and stopping the generation of the electromagnetic force, the pressure regulating ball 40 rolls over the opening 27 and closes the opening 27.

Further, when the inside of the inner pan 2 is adjusted to a desired pressure, the supply and cutoff of electric power to the electromagnetic coil 45 are repeated according to the set duty ratio. As a result, the opening 27 is opened for a predetermined time (t1) by energizing the electromagnetic coil 45, and thereafter is cut off for a predetermined time (t
2) It is closed, and the pressure in the inner pan 2 is adjusted and maintained at a desired internal pressure as in the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a rice cooker 1 according to a fifth embodiment.
This rice cooker 1 is different from the above-described embodiments in that a solenoid 30 is applied as a drive mechanism as in the first embodiment, and a vibrator 50 as a vibration imparting mechanism is applied as an opening means.

The vibrator 50 as the opening means is provided with a cap 29 containing the pressure regulating ball 28 as in the first embodiment.
Is applied to the pressure regulating ball 28 to open the opening 27. Specifically, the vibrator 50 has an opening 51 at an upper position corresponding to the cap 29 in the case 14 and
1, a seal member 52 is provided, and is provided so as to come into contact with the cap 29 via the seal member 52.

In the rice cooker 1 according to the fifth embodiment, when the microcomputer 33 executes the pressure cooking operation in the rice cooking operation, the microcomputer 33 supplies electric power to the solenoid 30 to roll the pressure regulating ball 40 on the opening 27, and The opening 27 is closed. When the inside of the inner pan 2 is adjusted to a desired pressure, the energization and cutoff of electric power to the vibrator 50 are repeated according to the set duty ratio. As a result, the opening 27 is opened for a predetermined time (t1) by energizing the vibrator 50, and then closed for a predetermined time (t2) by shutting off. Adjusted and maintained at internal pressure.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the fifth embodiment, the vibration is applied to the cap 29 accommodating the pressure regulating ball 28 by the vibrator 50 as the vibration applying means.
As shown in FIG.
Vibration may be applied to the pressure adjusting ball 28 via the pressure regulating ball 9.

Further, as shown in the above embodiments, the drive mechanism of the pressure adjusting balls 28 and 40 and the opening means can be variously modified.

The valve body for closing the opening 27 communicating with the inside of the inner pot 2 is not limited to the pressure regulating balls 28 and 40,
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, an opening 55 for communicating the inside of the case 14 and the inside of the inner pot 2 is provided on the side of the solenoid 30 of the cap 29, and a valve body 56 for closing the opening 55 is integrated with the seal member 16. And the valve body 56
May be moved forward and backward by the plunger of the solenoid 30. Even in such a case, similar operations and effects can be obtained by driving the solenoid 30 in accordance with the set duty ratio as in the first embodiment.

That is, the pressurizing mechanism 23 into the inner pan 2, the driving mechanism of the valve element constituting the pressurizing mechanism, and the opening means for opening the opening 27 by operating the valve element can be variously modified. It is possible to control the internal pressure of the inner pan 2 by opening the opening 27 communicating with the inside of the inner pan 2 by opening means and controlling the opening time (t1) and the closing time (t2) according to the duty ratio. it can.

In the above-described embodiment, the pressure cooker is applied to the rice cooker 1, but the same operation and effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to a steamer, a pressure cooker or the like.

[0064]

As is apparent from the above description, in the pressure cooker of the present invention, the internal pressure of the cooking pot is adjusted by opening and closing the opening communicating with the cooking pot by the opening means according to the set duty ratio. can do.
Therefore, the opening time (t1) and the closing time (t
By setting the duty ratio of 2) as desired and changing the setting during cooking, the desired pressure can be applied to the food to be cooked at a desired time in the cooking pot. . As a result, more delicious cooking can be performed, and a loss in the cooking operation can be eliminated, and the cooking time can be shortened.

Further, the present invention can be executed only by changing a program for operating a microcomputer serving as control means in a known configuration of a cooking device. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, a cooling mechanism for the coil constituting the electromagnet and a cooling mechanism for the circuit for supplying electricity to the electromagnet are unnecessary, and the total cost does not increase. In the present invention, an electromagnetic force generating mechanism such as a coil can be used as the driving means or the opening means. However, in the present invention, the coil is not intermittently energized, but is intermittently energized, and thus does not require a cooling mechanism as described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a rice cooker as a pressure cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of controlling the internal pressure of an inner pot by the rice cooker of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of a rice cooking flow executable by the rice cooker according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control flow of a microcomputer that executes the rice cooking flow of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a rice cooker according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a rice cooker according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a rice cooker according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a rice cooker according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a modification of the rice cooker according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing another modification of the rice cooker.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... rice cooker (pressure cooker) 2 ... inner pot (cooking pot) 3 ...
Main body, 6: induction heating coil, 7: temperature sensor for inner pan, 8
... lid, 13 ... lid heater, 14 ... case, 16 ... sealing member, 17 ... duct, 19 ... inner lid, 20 ... packing, 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Safety valve, 22 ... Pressure regulator, 23 ... Pressurizing mechanism, 27 ... Opening, 28 ... Pressure regulating ball (valve element), 29 ... Cap, 30
... solenoid (drive mechanism and opening means), 32 ... control board, 33 ... microcomputer.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cooking pot, and a main body accommodating the cooking pot,
Heating means for heating the cooking pot, a lid attached to the main body so as to be openable and closable, and closing an opening of the cooking pot,
A pressure cooker comprising: a valve body provided in the lid body for closing an opening communicating with the inside of the cooking pot; and a pressure input means comprising a drive mechanism for driving the valve body to close the opening. Opening means is provided for operating the valve element to open the opening intermittently when the pressure is injected into the cooking pot by the charging means. The opening time (t1) and the closing time (t2) of the opening by the opening means are provided. A pressure cooker wherein the pressure in the cooking pot is adjusted by setting a duty ratio. 2. The pressure cooker according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is used as the opening means. 3. The pressure cooker according to claim 2, wherein a spherical pressure regulating ball is used as the valve body, and a solenoid is used as the driving mechanism. 4. The pressure cooker according to claim 2, wherein a spherical pressure regulating ball is used as the valve body, and a motor is used as the driving mechanism. 5. The pressure cooker according to claim 1, wherein a pressure regulating ball at least partially made of a magnetic material is used as the valve body, and an electromagnetic force generating mechanism is used as the opening means. 6. The pressure cooker according to claim 1, wherein a spherical pressure regulating ball is used as the valve body, and a vibration imparting mechanism for finely moving the pressure regulating ball is used as the opening means.