Heating cooker

By incorporating a valve component and valve opening mechanism into the heating cooker, the pressure difference between the inner pot and the outside is reduced through rotation, thus solving the problem of the inner pot sticking tightly to the lid and improving ease of use.

CN115633888BActive Publication Date: 2026-01-02SIROCA INC
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202210848698.7
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2021-07-20
Filing Date
2022-07-19
Publication Date
2026-01-02
Estimated Expiration
2042-07-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

After cooking in the heated cooker, the inner pot and lid tend to stick together, making it difficult to open the lid and affecting the user experience.

Method used

A heating cooker was designed that uses a valve component and a valve opening mechanism between the main body and the lid to open the communication path by rotating it, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the inner pot and the outside and preventing them from sticking together.

Benefits of technology

This design prevents the inner pot from sticking tightly to the lid after cooking, making it easier to open the lid and improving usability.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present application provides a heating cooker capable of avoiding adhesion between a lid and an inner pot at the time of opening the lid after heating cooking is completed. A heating cooker which heats and cooks food materials in an inner pot, the heating cooker comprising: a main body portion which houses the inner pot; a lid portion which is mounted on the main body portion and covers the inner pot; a valve member which opens and closes a communication path which communicates an inside of the inner pot and an outside; and an open valve mechanism which drives the valve member according to a prescribed operation to thereby open the communication path, the main body portion having a placement surface on which the lid portion is placed, the lid portion being rotatable relative to the main body portion in a rotation direction parallel to the placement surface from a first state in which the lid portion is mounted on the main body portion and is latched with the main body portion to thereby become a second state in which the latching with the main body portion is released and the lid portion can be detached from the main body portion, the prescribed operation including rotation of the lid portion performed to become the second state from the first state.
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Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a heating cooker. BACKGROUND

[0002] For a heating cooker such as a pressure cooker or a rice cooker, there is a structure in which a lid is placed on a main body in which an inner pot is accommodated, and the lid is rotated with respect to the main body in a direction parallel to an overlapping surface of the main body and the lid, thereby performing opening and closing of the lid with respect to the main body.

[0003] Prior art documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-51530 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] For a heating cooker, when heating and cooking of food in an inner pot is completed, the internal pressure of the inner pot gradually decreases, and thus the inner pot is in close contact with a lid. When a user opens the lid of the heating cooker, there is a case in which the inner pot is also lifted together with the lid. Therefore, it is desirable to avoid close contact between the lid and the inner pot when the lid is opened after heating and cooking is completed.

[0008] Therefore, the present application aims to provide a heating cooker capable of avoiding close contact between a lid and an inner pot when the lid is opened after heating and cooking is completed.

[0009] SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a heating cooker according to one aspect of the present application, which heats and cooks food in an inner pot, is characterized by comprising: a main body portion for accommodating the inner pot; a lid portion mounted on the main body portion and covering the inner pot; a valve member that opens and closes a communication path that communicates an inside of the inner pot with an outside; and an opening valve mechanism that drives the valve member to open the communication path in accordance with a prescribed operation, the main body portion having a placement surface on which the lid portion is placed, the lid portion being rotatable with respect to the main body portion in a rotation direction parallel to the placement surface from a first state in which the lid portion is mounted on the main body portion and is latched with the main body portion, to a second state in which the latching with the main body portion is released and the lid portion can be detached from the main body portion, the prescribed operation including rotation of the lid portion performed from the first state to the second state.

[0011] EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0012] According to the present application, for example, a heating cooker can be provided which can avoid close contact between the lid and the inner pot at the time of opening the lid after the end of heating cooking. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the heating cooker of the first embodiment (state in which the lid portion is attached to the main body portion).

[0014] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the heating cooker of the first embodiment (state in which the lid portion is detached from the main body portion).

[0015] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lid portion of the first embodiment as viewed from below.

[0016] Figure 4 is a sectional view of the heating cooker of the first embodiment (state in which the lid portion is attached to the main body portion).

[0017] Figure 5 is a view of a portion (inclined portion) of the main body portion of the first embodiment as viewed obliquely from above.

[0018] Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the rear cross section of the heating cooker of the first embodiment.

[0019] Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the heating cooker of the second embodiment (state in which the lid portion is attached to the main body portion).

[0020] Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the heating cooker of the second embodiment (state in which the lid portion is detached from the main body portion).

[0021] Figure 9 is a view of a portion (inclined portion) of the main body portion of the second embodiment as viewed obliquely from above.

[0022] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the lid portion of the second embodiment as viewed from below.

[0023] Figure 11 is a schematic view showing the rear cross section of the heating cooker of the second embodiment.

[0024] REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0025] 1 main body portion; 2 lid portion; 3 inner pot; 10 housing portion; 11 main body case; 11a placement surface; 11b inclined portion; 14 pin member; 15 actuator; 20 inner lid; 21 lid case; 21a opposing surface; 25 communication pipe; 26 exhaust valve; 27 drive member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Embodiments will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the inventions of the claims, and that not all combinations of features explained in the embodiments are essential to the inventions. Two or more of the features explained in the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. Also, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar structures, and repeated explanation is omitted.

[0027] <1st Embodiment>

[0028] A heating cooker 100 of the 1st embodiment of the present application will be explained. Figures 1-2 is a front perspective view showing one example of the external appearance structure of the heating cooker 100 of the present embodiment as a whole. Figure 1 shows a state in which the lid portion 2 is attached to the main body portion 1, Figure 2 shows a state in which the lid portion 2 is detached from the main body portion 1. Also, in each drawing, the X-axis direction is set as the left-right direction of the heating cooker 100, the Y-axis direction is set as the front-rear direction of the heating cooker 100, and the Z-axis direction is set as the up-down direction of the heating cooker 100. In the following explanation, the case where the "X-axis direction" is described can be defined as a direction including the +X direction and the -X direction. The same applies to the "Y-axis direction" and the "Z-axis direction".

[0029] The heating cooker 100 of the present embodiment is also called a pressure cooker or an electric pressure cooker, and is a device that cooks food in an inner pot 3 by performing heating control of the inner pot 3 into which food as a cooking target has been put. The heating cooker 100 is provided with: a main body portion 1 that performs heating control of the inner pot 3 in accordance with a prescribed heating program; and a lid portion 2 that is attached to an upper portion of the main body portion 1 in a detachable (dismountable) manner. As shown in Figure 2 The heating cooker 100 of the present embodiment is configured in such a manner that the lid portion 2 is completely detachable from the main body portion 1, that is, in such a manner that the main body portion 1 and the lid portion 2 are separable from each other.

[0030] The main body portion 1 has: a housing portion 10 that can house the inner pot 3; and a main body case 11 that surrounds the housing portion 10. The housing portion 10 has a shape of a bottomed cylinder with an upper side open, and is configured so that the inner pot 3 is freely put in and taken out from the upper side open portion in a state in which the lid portion 2 is detached from the main body portion 1. The housing portion 10 is also called an outer pot, and can be formed of, for example, metal or the like. The main body case 11 is formed of, for example, plastic or the like, constitutes the outer package of the main body portion 1, and has a placement surface 11a as an upper surface on which the lid portion 2 is placed. An operation portion 12 that receives an operation by a user is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body case 11. The operation portion 12 is a human-machine interface that is operated by the user in order to set or adjust the contents of the heating process of the inner pot 3 (that is, the cooking contents of the food put in the inner pot 3), and can be configured of, for example, a button, a knob, a display, or the like.

[0031] In addition, although the main body 1 is in Figures 1-2 Not shown, but may include a heating unit for heating the inner pot 3 (heating housing 10) and a control unit for controlling the heating of the inner pot 3. The heating unit may have heaters arranged around the inner pot 3 housed in the housing 10 for heating the inner pot 3. The control unit has a processor such as a CPU and a memory, and controls the power supply to the heating unit (heater) according to a prescribed heating program for cooking the food in the inner pot 3, thereby controlling the heating process (cooking of the food) of the inner pot 3.

[0032] The cover 2 is mounted on the upper part of the main body 1 and opens and closes relative to the receiving part 10 of the main body 1. The cover 2 can also be understood as being mounted, configured, or disposed on the upper part of the main body 1. In this embodiment, the cover 2 has an inner cover 20, a cover outer shell 21, a gasket 22, and a handle portion 23. Figure 3 As shown, the inner cover 20 and the gasket 22 can be confirmed when viewed from below the cover 2 that has been removed from the main body 1. Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the cover 2 as seen from below.

[0033] The inner lid 20 is a lid used to open and close the inner pot 3 (receiving portion 10). The inner lid 20 is configured such that, when the lid portion 2 is mounted on the upper part of the main body 1, it covers the upper opening of the inner pot 3 (receiving portion 10) and seals the inner pot 3. The outer lid shell 21 is formed of, for example, plastic, and surrounds the inner lid 20 to form the outer casing of the lid portion 2. It has a lower surface with a facing surface 21a that faces the mounting surface 11a of the main body 1 (main body shell 11) when the lid portion 2 is mounted on the main body 1. The facing surface 21a can also be understood as the surface that overlaps with the mounting surface 11a of the main body 1.

[0034] The gasket 22 is a component used to seal the receiving part 10 (inner pot 3) and the inner lid 20, and is formed into a ring shape by materials such as silicone rubber, fluororubber, and neoprene rubber. The gasket 22 can be held in place by a ring-shaped retaining member 24 that engages with the inner lid 20, allowing for free assembly and disassembly. The retaining member 24, like the inner lid 20, is made of metal or the like. In addition, the handle part 23 is a part for the user to hold when opening and closing the lid 2, and can be provided on the upper part of the lid 2 in a manner that extends in the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0035] Next, the locking mechanism (fixing mechanism) and the exhaust mechanism of the heating cooker 100 of this embodiment will be described.

[0036] The locking mechanism is used to lock (fix) the cover portion 2 to the main body portion 1. In this embodiment, it can be composed of the flange 10a of the receiving portion 10 at the main body portion 1 and the claw portion 20a of the inner cover 20 at the cover portion 2. Figure 2As shown, the flange 10a of the receiving portion 10 is a portion that protrudes outward (radial direction) from the periphery of the receiving portion 10, and multiple flanges are provided at intervals along the circumferential direction (rotation direction about the Z-axis). Additionally, as... Figure 3 As shown, the claw portion 20a of the inner cover 20 is a portion that protrudes from the periphery of the inner cover 20 in a manner that can engage (fit, hook) with the flange 10a of the receiving portion 10. Multiple claw portions are provided circumferentially at intervals in a manner that correspond to the position of the flange 10a of the receiving portion 10.

[0037] For a heating cooker 100 having such a locking mechanism, while allowing each claw portion 20a of the inner cover 20 to pass between the flanges 10a of the receiving portion 10, the cover portion 2 is positioned on the main body portion 1, and the cover portion 2 is positioned relative to the main body portion 1 in a first rotational direction parallel to the mounting surface 11a. Figures 1-2 Rotating in the direction of arrow A1, thereby engaging each flange 10a of the receiving portion 10 with each claw portion 20a of the inner cover 20, can achieve a locked state (first state) in which the cover 2 and the main body 1 are locked (fixed). Furthermore, from the locked state, the cover 2 is rotated relative to the main body 1 in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction (…). Figures 1-2 By rotating the cover 10 in the direction of arrow A2, the engagement between each flange 10a of the receiving portion 10 and each claw portion 20a of the inner cover 20 is released, thus achieving a released state (second state) where the cover 2 is released from the main body 1. The released state allows the cover 2 to be detached from the main body 1. Furthermore, markings can be made on the main body 1 and the cover 2 so that the user can easily identify whether it is in the locked or released state.

[0038] The exhaust mechanism is used to expel the gas (steam) inside the inner pot 3 to the outside during heating and cooking. Figure 4 As shown, it can include a connecting pipe 25 and an exhaust valve 26. Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a heating cooker 100 with the cover 2 attached to the main body 1. Figure 1 (YZ cross-sectional view at line AA). In addition, the connecting pipe 25 and the exhaust valve 26 can also be understood as constituent elements of the cover 2.

[0039] The connecting pipe 25 is a pipe that defines a communication path between the inside and outside of the inner pot 3 (receiving part 10), and is provided on the inner cover 20. The connecting pipe 25 extends through the inner cover 20 with one end (lower end) disposed inside the inner pot 3 and the other end (upper end) disposed outside the inner pot 3. The exhaust valve 26 is a valve member for opening and closing the flow path (communication path) of the connecting pipe 25, and is disposed at the upper end of the connecting pipe 25. The exhaust valve 26 includes a mass body (counterweight) and is configured to close (block) the flow path of the connecting pipe 25 due to its own weight. Furthermore, if the internal pressure of the inner pot 3 becomes higher than the weight of the exhaust valve 26 during the heating process of the inner pot 3, the exhaust valve 26 is pushed by the internal pressure of the inner pot 3 to open the flow path of the connecting pipe 25, and exhaust the gas (vapor) inside the inner pot 3 to the outside. As a result, the internal pressure of the inner pot 3 is higher than the external pressure, which can shorten the heating and cooking time of the food inside the inner pot 3.

[0040] In a typical heating cooker, once the heating process of the inner pot 3 (i.e., the heating and cooking of the food inside the inner pot 3) based on a predetermined heating program is completed, the internal pressure of the inner pot 3 gradually decreases. At this time, the flow path of the connecting pipe 25 is blocked by the exhaust valve 26. Therefore, the inner pot 3 and the inner lid 20 are tightly pressed together with the gasket 22. When the user opens the lid 2 and lifts it, there is a possibility that the inner pot 3 will also be lifted along with the lid 2. Therefore, the heating cooker 100 of this embodiment has a valve opening mechanism that drives the exhaust valve 26 to open the flow path of the connecting pipe 25 according to a predetermined operation performed by the user, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the inner pot 3. The predetermined operation includes the rotation of the lid 2 relative to the main body 1 for changing from a locked state to a released state. The detailed structure and operation of the valve opening mechanism will be described below.

[0041] like Figure 4 As shown, the valve opening mechanism includes a drive member 27, which moves relative to the main body 1 as the cover 2 rotates from a locked state to a released state, thereby driving the exhaust valve 26 to open the flow path of the connecting pipe 25. The drive member 27 is a member that extends such that one end is the portion exposed by the opening 21b provided on the opposite surface 21a (lower surface) of the cover housing 21 (hereinafter referred to as the first part 27a), and the other end is the portion that abuts against the exhaust valve 26 and acts as abutting the ground (hereinafter referred to as the second part 27b). In this embodiment, the drive member 27 is configured such that the first part 27a protrudes from the opening 21b on the opposite surface 21a of the cover housing 21 relative to the opposite surface 21a. The drive member 27 is supported by a force-applying member 28 such as a spring. Figure 4When the first portion 27a is pushed in the +Z direction by the inclined portion 11b of the main housing 11, the drive member 27 itself also moves in the +Z direction in conjunction therewith, and the second portion 27b abuts against the exhaust valve 26 to push (drive) the exhaust valve 26 in the +Z direction. Thus, the flow path of the communication pipe 25 can be opened.

[0042] Further, the valve opening mechanism includes an inclined portion 11b (inclined surface) provided at the main housing 11 of the main body 1. Also, the drive member 27 is configured so that, during a rotation process of the lid portion 2 relative to the main body 1 for becoming from the locked state to the released state, the first portion 27a abuts against the inclined portion 11b of the main housing 11. As Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 8, the inclined portion 11b of the main housing 11 is configured so that, as it advances in the second rotation direction A2 for rotating the lid portion 2 from the locked state to the released state, the inclined portion 11b inclines toward the lid portion 2 side (+Z direction). Thus, the drive member 27 can lift the exhaust valve 26 by causing the first portion 27a to be pushed in the +Z direction by the inclined portion 11b of the main housing 11 during a rotation process of the lid portion 2 in the second rotation direction A2. That is, the passage of the communication pipe 25 can be opened in correspondence with the rotation of the lid portion 2 for becoming from the locked state to the released state. Further, in the present embodiment, the drive member 27 and the inclined portion 11b are provided at the rear portion of the heating cooker 100, but are not limited thereto and can be provided at any position of the heating cooker 100. Further, Figure 5 FIG. 9 is a view showing a partial (rear portion) of the main body 1 in a state where the lid portion 2 is detached, as viewed obliquely from above, so that the inclined portion 11b of the main housing 11 can be visually recognized.

[0043] Next, the operation of the valve opening mechanism (drive member 27) during a rotation process of the lid portion 2 for becoming from the locked state to the released state will be described. Figure 6 FIG. 10 is a view schematically showing a cross section (XZ cross section) of the rear portion of the heating cooker 100 of the present embodiment. In Figure 6 In FIG. 10, the inclined portion 11b of the main housing 11, the drive member 27 and the biasing member 28 provided inside the lid housing 21, and the exhaust valve 26 provided at the upper portion of the lid housing 21 are illustrated. Further, in FIG. 10, the top end of the communication pipe 25 arranged inside the exhaust valve 26 is indicated by a broken line. Further, as described above, the biasing member 28 is a member that biases the drive member 27 in the -Z direction, and can be constituted by a spring or the like. Figure 6

[0044] Figure 6 (a) of FIG. 13 shows the locked state in which the lid portion 2 is locked with the main body 1. As shown in (a) of FIG. 13, the exhaust valve 26 is arranged at the top end of the communication pipe 25, and the exhaust valve 26 is arranged so as to be capable of being pushed in the +Z direction by the drive member 27. Figure 6 ​As shown in (a), in the locked state, the first part 27a of the drive member 27 is not disposed on the inclined portion 11b of the main body housing 11, and the second part 27b is not in contact with the exhaust valve 26. Therefore, in the locked state, the exhaust valve 26 closes the passage of the connecting pipe 25 due to its own weight.

[0045] Figure 6 (b) to (c) indicate the situation in which the cover 2 is rotated relative to the main body 1 in the second rotation direction A2 so as to change from the locked state to the released state. Figure 6 (b) can also be understood as the state between the locked state and the released state. Figure 6 (c) can also be understood as the state being lifted. For example... Figure 6 As shown in (b) to (c), if the cover 2 is rotated relative to the main body 1 in the second rotation direction A2, during this rotation, the first part 27a of the drive member 27 abuts against the inclined part 11b of the main body shell 11, and the first part 27a is pushed in the +Z direction by the inclined part 11b. As a result, the drive member 27 moves in the +Z direction, so that the second part 27b can abut against the exhaust valve 26 and push (drive) the exhaust valve 26 in the +Z direction, thereby opening the flow path of the connecting pipe 25.

[0046] As described above, the heating cooker 100 of this embodiment has a valve opening mechanism (drive member 27, inclined portion 11b) that drives the exhaust valve 26 to open the flow path of the connecting pipe 25 by rotating the lid 2 to move it from the locked state to the released state. By providing such a valve opening mechanism, the user can open the flow path of the connecting pipe 25 simply by rotating the lid 2 to move it from the locked state to the released state, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the inner pot 3. In other words, it is possible to prevent the inner pot 3 from sticking tightly to the inner lid 20, so that the lid 2 can be easily removed from the main body 1 while the inner pot 3 is still in the main body 1.

[0047] <Second Implementation>

[0048] The heating cooker 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The heating cooker 200 of this embodiment differs from the heating cooker 100 of the first embodiment in that the structures of the valve opening mechanism and the exhaust mechanism are different. Therefore, the structures of the valve opening mechanism and the exhaust mechanism of the heating cooker 200 of this embodiment will be described below. Furthermore, this embodiment is essentially a continuation of the first embodiment, except as described in the first embodiment, except for the contents mentioned below.

[0049] Figures 7-8 This is a front perspective view showing an example of the overall appearance and structure of the heating cooker 200 according to this embodiment. Figure 7 This indicates that the cover 2 is installed on the main body 1.Figure 8 indicates a state in which the lid portion 2 is detached from the main body portion 1. In Figure 8 , a state in which the cover member 29, which will be discussed later, is detached from the lid portion 2 is also shown. In addition, Figure 9 indicates a view of a portion (rear portion) of the main body portion 1 in a state in which the lid portion 2 is detached, as viewed obliquely from above, so that the inclined portion lib of the main body case 11 can be visually recognized.

[0050] The exhaust mechanism of the heating cooker 200 of the present embodiment includes, in addition to the communication pipe 25 and the exhaust valve 26, the cover member 29. The cover member 29 is a member configured to cover the communication pipe 25 and the exhaust valve 26, and is configured to temporarily retain gas (vapor) released from the inside of the inner pot 3 via the communication pipe 25 in a state in which the exhaust valve 26 is open, and discharge the gas from the exhaust hole 29a provided to the upper surface. By providing the cover member 29, it is possible to lower the temperature of the gas (vapor) released from the inside of the inner pot 3 via the communication pipe 25 inside the cover member 29, and then discharge the gas to the outside of the machine via the exhaust hole 29a. Thus, it is possible to lower the temperature of the gas discharged to the outside of the machine from the exhaust hole 29a, and therefore, there is an advantage in terms of safety.

[0051] In addition, as shown in Figures 8-9 , the exhaust mechanism includes a pin member 14 that can protrude to the lid portion side (+Z direction) from the placement surface 11a of the main body case 11, and an actuator 15 (not shown in Figures 7-9 ) that drives the pin member 14 to perform a protruding operation. The pin member 14 is disposed at a position at which the first portion 27a of the drive member 27 can be pushed in the +Z direction when protruding from the placement surface 11a in the latched state. In addition, the actuator 15 drives the pin member 14 to protrude from the placement surface 11a at a prescribed timing in the latched state based on a control instruction of the control portion. Thereby, the drive member 27 is pushed in the +Z direction by the pin member 14 that has protruded from the placement surface 11a, and thus, can be moved in the +Z direction in conjunction therewith, thereby driving the exhaust valve 26 to open the flow path of the communication pipe 25. That is, in the latched state, automatic exhaust of the gas (vapor) inside the inner pot 3 to the outside of the machine from the exhaust hole 29a of the cover member 29 can be performed. Furthermore, the pin member 14 and the actuator 15 can also be understood as a part of the valve opening mechanism.

[0052] Here, the exhaust mechanism can also have a structure in which, when the user presses the Figures 7-8In the case where the exhaust button 30 is provided on the upper surface of the lid portion 2 as shown, gas is forcibly exhausted from the inside of the inner pot 3 to the outside of the machine. For example, a link member (not shown) that links the exhaust button 30 and the drive member 27 is provided to the exhaust mechanism in such a manner that the drive member 27 moves in the +Z direction in correspondence with the depression of the exhaust button 30, so that in the case where the exhaust button 30 is depressed by the user, the flow path of the communication pipe 25 is opened by the drive member 27 driving the exhaust valve 26, so that forced exhaust is performed. Further, the exhaust button 30 and the link member can also be understood as part of the valve opening mechanism, and as a prescribed operation by the user, the depression of the exhaust button 30 by the user can also be included.

[0053] The valve opening mechanism of the heating cooker 200 of the present embodiment can also include the drive member 27 and the inclined portion 1 lb of the main body housing 11 as in the first embodiment. However, as shown in Figures 8-9 the inclined portion 1 lb of the valve opening mechanism of the present embodiment is disposed beside the pin member 14 in the second rotation direction A2, and is configured to protrude toward the lid portion 2 (+Z direction) with respect to the placement surface 1 la of the main body housing 11. Further, as shown in Figure 10 the lid portion 2 has a groove 21c formed in the opposite surface 21a in such a manner that the inclined portion 1 lb of the main body housing 11 is accommodated when the lid portion 2 is mounted on the upper portion of the main body portion 1. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the lid portion 2 as viewed from below.

[0054] The basic structure of the drive member 27 is as explained in the first embodiment, but in the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 10 the first portion 27a is disposed inside the groove 21c. In this case, the drive member 27 is preferably configured such that the first portion 27a does not protrude toward the main body portion 1 with respect to the opposite surface 21a in order to reduce the case where the first portion 27a is in contact with a table or the like and a load is applied thereto when the lid portion 2 is placed on the table or the like.

[0055] With the valve opening mechanism of the present embodiment thus configured, as in the first embodiment, the drive member 27 causes the first portion 27a to be pushed by the inclined portion 1 lb of the main body housing 11 in the +Z direction during the rotation of the lid portion 2 for becoming from the latched state to the released state, so that the first portion 27a can be moved in the +Z direction along the inclined portion 1 lb and lift the exhaust valve 26. That is, the passage of the communication pipe 25 can be opened in correspondence with the rotation of the lid portion 2 for becoming from the latched state to the released state.

[0056] Next, the operation of the drive member 27 of the heating cooker 200 of the present embodiment will be explained. Figure 11 is a view schematically showing a cross section (XZ cross section) of the rear portion of the heating cooker 200 of the present embodiment. InFigure 11 In (b), the inclined portion 11b of the main body case 11, the drive member 27 and the urging member 28 provided inside the lid case 21, the exhaust valve 26 provided at the upper portion of the lid case 21, the pin member 14, and the actuator 15 are illustrated. In addition, in (b), the top end of the communication pipe 25 arranged inside the exhaust valve 26 is indicated by a broken line. Further, the urging member 28 is a member that urges the drive member 27 in the -Z direction, and can be constituted by a spring or the like. Figure 11 In (b), the inclined portion 11b of the main body case 11, the drive member 27 and the urging member 28 provided inside the lid case 21, the exhaust valve 26 provided at the upper portion of the lid case 21, the pin member 14, and the actuator 15 are illustrated. In addition, in (b), the top end of the communication pipe 25 arranged inside the exhaust valve 26 is indicated by a broken line. Further, the urging member 28 is a member that urges the drive member 27 in the -Z direction, and can be constituted by a spring or the like.

[0057] Figure 11 (a) of (a) indicates a state in which automatic exhaust is not performed in the card state in which the lid portion 2 is carded with the main body portion 1, that is, a state in which the actuator 15 does not perform protruding drive on the pin member 14. In the card state, for the first portion 27a of the drive member 27, the first portion 27a of the drive member 27 is arranged above the pin member 14, and is not arranged in the inclined portion 11b of the main body case 11. Also, in the card state, the second portion 27b of the drive member 27 is arranged in the inclined portion 11b of the main body case 11, and is urged in the -Z direction by the urging member 28. Thus, in the card state, the second portion 27b of the drive member 27 is not in abutment with the exhaust valve 26. Figure 11 In the state of (a) of (a), since the actuator 15 does not perform protruding drive on the pin member 14, the drive member 27 is in a state in which it is urged in the -Z direction by the urging member 28, and the second portion 27b of the drive member 27 is not in abutment with the exhaust valve 26. Thus, in this state, the exhaust valve 26 is in a state in which the passage of the communication pipe 25 is closed by its own weight.

[0058] Figure 11 (b) of (a) indicates a state in which automatic exhaust is performed in the card state, that is, a state in which the actuator 15 performs protruding drive on the pin member 14. In this state, the first portion 27a of the drive member 27 is pushed in the +Z direction by the pin member 14, and the drive member 27 moves in the +Z direction in conjunction therewith. Thus, the drive member 27 can bring the second portion 27b into abutment with the exhaust valve 26 and push (drive) the exhaust valve 26 in the +Z direction, thereby opening the flow path of the communication pipe 25.

[0059] Figure 11 (c) of (a) indicates a case in which the lid portion 2 is rotated in the second rotational direction A2 with respect to the main body portion 1 so as to become from the card state to the release state. Figure 6 (c) of (a) is a view corresponding to (b) of the first embodiment, and can also be understood as a state between the card state and the release state. As in (b) of the first embodiment, Figure 11 (b) of (a) indicates a case in which the lid portion 2 is rotated in the second rotational direction A2 with respect to the main body portion 1 so as to become from the card state to the release state. ​As shown in (c), if the lid portion 2 is rotated in the second rotational direction A2 with respect to the main body portion 1, the first portion 27a of the drive member 27 comes into abutment with the inclined portion 11b of the main body housing 11 during the rotation, and the first portion 27a is pushed in the +Z direction by the inclined portion 11b. Thus, the drive member 27 moves in the +Z direction, and therefore, the second portion 27b can come into abutment with the exhaust valve 26 and push (drive) the exhaust valve 26 in the +Z direction, thereby opening the flow path of the communication pipe 25.

[0060] As described above, the heating cooker 200 of the present embodiment is also provided with the valve opening mechanism (the drive member 27 and the inclined portion 11b) like the heating cooker 100 of the first embodiment, and therefore, the user can open the flow path of the communication pipe 25 and reduce the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the inner pot 3 by rotating the lid portion 2 only for the purpose of changing from the latched state to the released state. That is, the user can avoid the close contact between the inner pot 3 and the inner lid 20, and can easily detach the lid portion 2 from the main body portion 1 with the inner pot 3 left in the main body portion 1. In addition, for the heating cooker 200 of the present embodiment, the drive member 27 is used also in the case of performing the automatic exhaust. In other words, the action of opening the flow path of the communication pipe 25 in correspondence with the rotation of the lid portion 2 for the purpose of changing from the latched state to the released state can be performed using the drive member 27 used for the automatic exhaust, and therefore, the number of components can be reduced, and an advantage can be obtained in terms of cost.

[0061] The present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical idea and scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A heating cooker which heats and cooks food materials in an inner pot, characterized by comprising: a main body portion for housing the inner pot; a lid portion which is mounted on the main body portion and covers the inner pot; a valve member which opens and closes a communication path which communicates an inside of the inner pot with an outside thereof; and an open valve mechanism which opens the communication path by driving the valve member in accordance with a prescribed operation, wherein the main body portion has a placement surface on which the lid portion is placed, the lid portion is rotated relative to the main body portion in a rotation direction parallel to the placement surface from a first state in which the lid portion is mounted on the main body portion and is engaged with the main body portion, to a second state in which the engagement with the main body portion is released and the lid portion can be detached from the main body portion, the prescribed operation includes rotation of the lid portion from the first state to the second state, the open valve mechanism includes a drive member which moves in accordance with the rotation of the lid portion from the first state to the second state, thereby driving the valve member to open the communication path, the main body portion has a slope portion which is inclined toward the side of the lid portion as it advances in the rotation direction, the drive member has a portion which abuts against the slope portion during the rotation, and the drive member moves along the slope portion during the rotation, thereby driving the valve member, the main body portion has a pin member which can protrude toward the side of the lid portion, and an actuator which drives the pin member to perform a protruding operation, the drive member is configured to move in accordance with the protruding drive of the pin member by the actuator in the first state, thereby driving the valve member, the slope portion is provided beside the pin member in the rotation direction, the heating cooker further comprises a button which is pressed by a user in order to exhaust gas from the inside of the inner pot to the outside of the heating cooker, the prescribed operation includes pressing of the button, and the drive member moves, thereby driving the valve member, by pressing of the button.

2. The heating cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion of the drive member protrudes toward the side of the main body portion relative to a surface of the lid portion which is opposite to the placement surface of the main body portion.

3. The heating cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that the slope portion is configured to protrude toward the side of the lid portion relative to the placement surface, and the lid portion has a groove which receives the slope portion when the lid portion is mounted on the main body portion.

4. The heating cooker according to claim 3, characterized in that the portion of the drive member is disposed inside the groove.

5. The heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the main body portion has a housing portion which can house the inner pot, the lid portion has an inner lid which covers the housing portion, in the first state, a flange which protrudes outward from a peripheral portion of the housing portion is engaged with a claw portion which protrudes from a peripheral portion of the inner lid, thereby engaging the main body portion with the lid portion, and the slope portion is provided on the flange. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ In the second state, the lid portion is rotated relative to the main body portion in the rotation direction from the first state, thereby releasing the engagement between the flange and the claw portion and releasing the locking between the main body portion and the lid portion.

Citation Information

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