Cooking control method of pressure cooker

Abstract

The invention discloses a cooking control method of a pressure cooker, and the pressure cooker comprises a cooker body which is used for containing cooking food materials; the pot cover is used for covering the pot body to form a cooking cavity; the pot cover comprises a locking ring which is used for being meshed with locking teeth arranged on the pot body to form a locking mechanism so as to lock the pot body and the pot cover. The non-pressure valve is used for controlling opening and closing of the non-pressure channel, the non-pressure valve moves up and down to enable an air vent formed in the lower end of the non-pressure channel to be communicated with or seal the cooking cavity and the outside, and the diameter of the non-pressure channel is larger than that of the exhaust pipe; the method comprises the steps that after the pressure cooker is powered on, a non-pressure channel is controlled to be opened through a non-pressure valve, the locking state of a locking mechanism is detected according to a preset sequence, a user is prompted to select a cooking function, opening and closing of the non-pressure channel and locking operation of the locking mechanism are controlled respectively, and the pressure working state of the pressure cooker meets the cooking function selected by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of pressure cooker cooking control technology, specifically relating to a cooking control method for a pressure cooker. Background Technology

[0002] A pressure cooker generally consists of a pot body and a lid. When cooking food, the user places the food to be cooked in the pot body, closes the lid, and the pot body and lid form a cooking cavity. The heating device inside the pot body heats the pot body, allowing the pressure cooker to cook the food.

[0003] Currently, pressure cookers capable of both pressurized and unpressurized cooking have emerged. These cookers utilize a pressure conversion device linked to the opening and closing mechanism, allowing the cooking chamber to switch between pressurized and unpressurized states. However, the pressure cooker's opening and closing mechanism itself controls the rotation of a locking ring on the lid. This means that one structure controls both the locking ring and the pressure conversion device; rotating the opening and closing mechanism activates both, preventing independent control of the two. Therefore, current pressure cookers suffer from the following problems:

[0004] 1) The process of achieving pressureless cooking is cumbersome: When cooking food without pressure, the cooking cavity is under normal pressure, and it is not required that the lid and the pot body be locked. Only the lid needs to be fastened. However, the current pressure cooker with linkage control pressure conversion device and locking ring requires the opening and closing device to be rotated to switch the pressure conversion device to a pressureless state when performing pressureless cooking. That is, when performing pressureless cooking with this type of pressure cooker, it is not as simple as fastening the lid. Instead, the user needs to perform the rotation operation that is used when pressure cooking to ensure that the pressure conversion device is in a pressureless state in order to achieve pressureless cooking.

[0005] 2) Inability to automatically control pressure conversion: For some foods that require mixed cooking, such as meat soup, it is necessary to cook without pressure to fully dissolve the nutrients in the ingredients, and to cook under pressure to ensure the ingredients are tender. Currently, this type of pressure cooker with linkage control requires the user to manually turn the opening and closing device to change the pressure state when the pressure conversion device is activated. On the one hand, it cannot achieve automatic control of pressure conversion, and on the other hand, it requires the user to operate manually, which increases the user's psychological burden by bringing the user close to the pressure cooker during the cooking process and reduces the product experience.

[0006] 3) Locking ring structure affects pressureless cooking: Currently, for this type of pressure cooker with linkage control, whether cooking under pressure or without pressure, the user needs to manually rotate the opening and closing device to drive the pressure conversion device to switch the pressure. However, if there is a problem with the locking ring structure, affecting the rotation of the opening and closing device, the linkage between the opening and closing device and the pressure conversion switch will be affected, making it impossible for the pressure conversion device to switch to the pressureless state for pressureless cooking. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This application provides a cooking control method for a pressure cooker to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0008] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0009] A cooking control method for a pressure cooker, the pressure cooker comprising: a pot body for holding cooking ingredients; a lid for closing with the pot body to form a cooking cavity; the lid further comprising: a locking ring for engaging with locking teeth on the pot body to form a locking mechanism, locking the pot body and the lid; a pressure-free channel; and a pressure-free valve for controlling the opening and closing of the pressure-free channel, the pressure-free valve moving up and down to allow a vent at the lower end of the pressure-free channel to connect or seal the cooking cavity to the outside, wherein the diameter of the pressure-free channel is larger than the diameter of the exhaust pipe; the method comprising: after the pressure cooker is powered on, controlling the opening of the pressure-free channel through the pressure-free valve, detecting the locking status of the locking mechanism in a preset sequence and prompting the user to select a cooking function, and controlling the opening and closing of the pressure-free channel and the locking operation of the locking mechanism respectively, so that the pressure working state of the pressure cooker meets the cooking function selected by the user.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the pressure cooker is equipped with a locking detection mechanism; the preset sequence includes: prompting the user to select a cooking function through the interactive panel; if the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user is a pressurized working state, then: closing the pressureless channel by controlling the pressureless valve; and detecting whether the locking mechanism is in a locked state through the locking detection mechanism; if not, prompting the user to manually or automatically perform the locking operation of the locking mechanism.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the pressure cooker is equipped with a locking detection mechanism; the preset sequence includes: detecting whether the locking mechanism is in a locked state through the locking detection mechanism; if not, prompting the user to manually or automatically perform the locking operation of the locking mechanism; then prompting the user to select a cooking function through the interactive panel; if the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user is a pressurized working state, then closing the pressureless channel by controlling the pressureless valve.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the automatic execution of the locking mechanism's locking operation includes: automatically controlling the locking mechanism to lock the pot body and pot lid into place.

[0013] In one possible implementation, if the cooking function selected by the user corresponds to a pressure-free working state, the cooking program is started directly.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the pressure cooker is further provided with a pressure-free valve detection mechanism; before the pressure cooker starts to enter the cooking program, the pressure-free valve detection mechanism detects whether the opening and closing state of the pressure-free channel meets the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user.

[0015] In one possible implementation, if the opening and closing state of the pressureless channel does not meet the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user, the operation of opening and closing the pressureless channel is performed by controlling the pressureless valve.

[0016] In one possible implementation, if the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user is a mixed working state, then when the mixed working state switches from pressure to no pressure, the pressure cooker is vented by controlling the exhaust valve to open the exhaust pipe. When the cooking pressure in the pressure cooker reaches the preset pressure, the pressureless channel is opened by controlling the pressureless valve to allow the pressure cooker to enter the pressureless working state.

[0017] In one possible implementation, if the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user is a mixed working state, then the mixed working state is executed when the pressure is changed from no pressure to pressure: the no pressure channel is closed by controlling the no pressure valve, the exhaust pipe is closed by controlling the exhaust valve, and the locking detection mechanism is used to detect whether the locking mechanism is in a locked state. If not, the user is prompted to manually or automatically perform the locking operation of the locking mechanism so that the pressure cooker enters the pressure working state.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the opening and closing of the pressureless channel is controlled by a pressureless valve, including: a motor is installed inside the pressure cooker, and the motor drives a lever in contact with the pressureless valve to move the pressureless valve up and down, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the pressureless channel.

[0019] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects achieved by this application are as follows:

[0020] 1. The pressure cooker of this application features a pressure-free channel on the lid with a diameter larger than the vent pipe. This channel is controlled by a pressure-free valve. When pressure-free cooking is required, simply opening the pressure-free channel by controlling the valve connects the cooking chamber to the outside environment, enabling pressure-free cooking. The operation is simple and straightforward, and the pressure-free valve can be automatically controlled without user intervention, enhancing the user experience. Furthermore, the pressure-free channel is controlled solely by the valve and is not linked to other structures. This ensures that pressure-free cooking is unaffected by other structures such as locking rings. Even if the locking ring is damaged and the pressure cooker cannot perform pressurized cooking, the pressure-free cooking process remains unaffected. Additionally, the lid of this application features a locking ring that engages with locking teeth on the pot body to form a locking mechanism, locking the pot body and lid together. During pressurized cooking, the user is prompted to manually or automatically perform the locking operation to secure the lid and pot body, bearing the pressure within the cooking chamber and preventing the lid from bursting open when the pressure cooker is pressurized. Furthermore, in this application, the opening and closing control of the pressureless channel and the locking operation of the locking mechanism are performed independently. When the locking mechanism is controlled to perform the locking operation, it will not affect the opening and closing state of the pressureless channel. By controlling the opening and closing of the pressureless channel and the locking operation of the locking mechanism separately, this application can realize the pressure cooker's pressure cooking and pressureless cooking separately or in combination. In the case of combined operation, the pressureless valve can be automatically controlled to open and close the pressureless channel without user intervention, realizing automated cooking and ensuring user safety.

[0021] 2. This application includes a pressure-free valve detection mechanism for the pressure-free channel and a locking detection mechanism for the locking mechanism. These two mechanisms are independent of each other and can detect the pressure-free valve and the locking mechanism separately. When the user selects a cooking function, if pressure-free cooking is selected, only the pressure-free valve detection needs to be performed to confirm that the pressure-free channel is in the open state before the cooking program can begin. However, if pressure cooking is selected, both the pressure-free valve detection and the locking mechanism detection need to be performed to confirm that the pressure-free channel is in the closed state and the locking mechanism is in the locked state, so that the pressure cooker can safely pressurize.

[0022] 3. The pressureless channel in this application is open before cooking begins. It is only closed when the user selects pressure cooking as the cooking function, which ensures the safety of the pressure cooker. Furthermore, the pressureless channel remains open after cooking is finished. This is because there will be residual heat in the heating device or inside the pot after cooking. If the pressureless channel is closed, the residual heat inside the pot will cause a brief increase in pressure. Even if the increase is small, it may still pose a risk of the lid breaking.

[0023] 4. The pressure cooker in this application has a pressureless channel, which can realize the mixed cooking function of pressure-no-pressure and no-pressure-pressure. For some foods that are not easy to cook, such as meat and ribs, the pressureless to pressure mode can cook them more tender and give users a better food texture. The problem of rice being too wet and soft can also be greatly improved by switching from pressure to no pressure mode. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of a pressure cooker provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a cooking control method for a pressure cooker provided in this application embodiment;

[0027] Figure 3 A pressure cooker cooking process flowchart provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the cooking process of a pressure cooker, provided as an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this application. However, this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0031] Furthermore, it should be understood in the description of this application that the terms "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0032] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the "above" or "below" of the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "implementation," "example," "a particular embodiment," "example," or "specific example," etc., indicate that the specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0034] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, explains the scheme of this application.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of a pressure cooker provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown, the pressure cooker in this application includes a lid 1 and an inner pot or inner pan 2. The lid 1 covers the inner pan 2, which holds the food being cooked, forming the cooking chamber of the pressure cooker. An exhaust pipe 3 is provided on the lid 1, and the opening and closing of the exhaust pipe 3 is controlled by an exhaust valve.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the lid 1 also includes a locking ring 4 and a pressureless channel 5. The locking ring 4 and the locking teeth on the pot body engage to form a locking mechanism, locking the pot body and the lid. The pressureless channel 5 has a vent at its lower end. By controlling the up and down movement of the pressureless valve, the vent can connect or seal the cooking chamber and the outside. Specifically, when the pressureless valve moves downward, the vent at the lower end of the pressureless channel 5 connects the cooking chamber and the outside. At this time, the pressureless channel 5 is in the open state, allowing the pressure cooker to achieve pressureless cooking. When the pressureless valve moves upward, the vent at its lower end is sealed, and the lower port of the pressureless channel is also sealed by a sealing element. At this time, the pressureless channel 5 is in the closed state, unable to connect the cooking chamber and the outside. In conjunction with other components of the pressure cooker, it can achieve pressurized cooking.

[0037] Furthermore, when controlling the opening and closing of the pressureless channel through the pressureless valve, the lever driven by the motor installed inside the pressure cooker can move the pressureless valve in contact with it up and down, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the pressureless channel.

[0038] In one example of this application, the pot lid has a relatively large-diameter hole, inside which is an exhaust pipe with a vent at the lower end. This exhaust pipe can be considered as the aforementioned pressureless channel. Ribs are provided on both sides of the hole that contact the lever; these ribs can be considered as the aforementioned pressureless valves. A sealing element is provided at the lower end of the hole; this sealing element can also be considered as the aforementioned pressureless valve. Specifically, when the motor drives the lever to move downwards, the lever, through the ribs, moves the sealing element and the exhaust pipe downwards. At this time, the vent at the lower end of the exhaust pipe can connect the cooking chamber to the outside, enabling the pressure cooker to achieve pressureless cooking. When the motor drives the lever to move upwards, the lever, through the ribs, moves the sealing element and the exhaust pipe upwards. At this time, the vent at the lower end of the exhaust pipe cannot connect the cooking chamber to the outside, and the sealing element blocks and seals the lower end of the hole, keeping the cooking chamber in a sealed state, enabling the pressure cooker to achieve pressurized cooking.

[0039] In other words, the pressureless channel in this application can be automatically and independently controlled by a motor-controlled pressureless valve. On the one hand, when performing pressureless cooking, it is only necessary to automatically control the pressureless valve to open the pressureless channel. The operation process is simple and not cumbersome. Moreover, when performing pressure conversion from pressurized to pressureless, it can also be automatically converted without the need for manual intervention by the user, reducing the user's psychological burden. On the other hand, the pressureless channel or pressureless valve is not linked with the locking mechanism. The two are controlled independently. When the mechanism malfunctions and affects pressurized cooking, it will not affect the control of the pressureless valve, and thus will not affect the pressureless cooking function of the pressure cooker.

[0040] This application is as follows Figure 1 Taking the pressure cooker shown as an example, the cooking control method is explained as follows.

[0041] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a cooking control method for a pressure cooker, as provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 As shown, the cooking control method in this application includes the following execution steps:

[0042] Step 201: After the pressure cooker is powered on, the pressureless channel is opened by controlling the pressureless valve, and the locking status of the locking mechanism is detected in a preset sequence and the user is prompted to select the cooking function.

[0043] In one example, after the pressure cooker is powered on, the pressure-free channel is opened via the pressure-free valve. That is, before the pressure cooker enters the cooking program, the pressure-free channel is always open, thus ensuring that the pressure cooker is always in a pressure-free state before cooking and guaranteeing the safety of pressure cooker cooking.

[0044] Furthermore, after the pressure cooker is powered on, it checks the locking status of the locking mechanism and prompts the user to select a cooking function according to a preset sequence. Specifically, there are two sequences:

[0045] Step 1: First, prompt the user to select the cooking function, then check the locking status of the locking mechanism.

[0046] The pressure cooker prompts the user to select a cooking function via an interactive panel. In one example, this prompt may be a light indicator (e.g., flashing light), a voice prompt, or a combination of both. After the user selects any cooking function, if the selected function is pressurized cooking, it will proceed by controlling the pressure-free valve to close the pressure-free channel. Furthermore, the pressure cooker's built-in locking detection mechanism checks whether the locking mechanism is in a locked state. If not, the user is prompted to manually or automatically lock the mechanism. In one example, this prompt may be a light indicator (e.g., flashing light), a voice prompt, or a combination of both. It should be noted that this application does not limit the execution order of the two operations: controlling the pressure-free valve to close the pressure-free channel and detecting the locking status of the locking mechanism. They can be executed sequentially or simultaneously, and even if executed sequentially, the order is not specified. If the user selects a pressure-free cooking function, the cooking program can proceed directly.

[0047] The cooking process for the pressure cooker corresponding to this sequence is as follows: Figure 3 As shown.

[0048] exist Figure 3 During operation, after the pressure cooker is powered on, it performs a pressure relief valve test and a lid-closing test. The lid-closing test checks if the user has closed the lid properly. If so, proceed to the next step; otherwise, the user is prompted to close the lid via voice / light. After the user closes the lid, proceed to the next step. The pressure relief valve test checks whether the pressure relief valve is open or closed, thus determining if the pressure relief channel is open. If the pressure relief valve is open, the pressure relief channel is open, and proceed to the next step. If the pressure relief valve is closed, it is opened, allowing the pressure relief channel to open. Afterward, the user is prompted via voice / light on the interactive panel to select a cooking function, and the pressure cooker's cooking mode is determined based on the selected function.

[0049] If the pressure cooker is in pressurized cooking mode, the pressure relief valve is closed, and the locking mechanism is checked. If not, the user is prompted via voice / light or the locking operation is performed automatically to ensure the locking mechanism is in place, thus preventing the lid from bursting when the pressure cooker is pressurized. The vent pipe is closed by default, and the entire pot is sealed. The control unit works in conjunction with various modules, controlling one or more modules, including the heating unit and vent valve. Pressurized cooking ends after a preset target is reached. This preset target can be a combination of one or more parameters such as time and temperature. Before opening the lid, a sensor determines whether the pressure inside the pot meets the opening standard, i.e., whether there is pressure inside the pot. If there is no pressure, the user is prompted via voice / light to open the lid directly. If there is pressure, the user can manually or automatically open the vent valve to release pressure through the vent pipe. After pressure release, the user is prompted again via voice / light to open the lid.

[0050] If the pressure cooker is in pressure-free cooking mode, it can be started directly to enter the cooking program. The control unit works in conjunction with each module to control one or more modules, including the heating unit. Pressure-free cooking ends after the preset target is reached. The preset target can be a combination of one or more parameters such as time and temperature. After the cooking is finished, the user will be prompted to open the lid via voice / light.

[0051] Step 2: First, check the locking status of the locking mechanism, then prompt the user to select the cooking function.

[0052] The locking mechanism detects whether it is in the locked state. If not, the user is prompted to manually or automatically lock the mechanism. This prompt can be a light indicator (e.g., flashing light), a voice prompt, or a combination of both. After the locking mechanism is in the locked state, the user is prompted to select a cooking function via the interactive panel. This prompt can also be a light indicator (e.g., flashing light), a voice prompt, or a combination of both. If the user selects pressurized cooking, the pressureless valve closes the pressureless channel, and the pressurized cooking program begins. If the user selects unpressurized cooking, the cooking program begins directly.

[0053] The cooking process for the pressure cooker corresponding to this sequence is as follows: Figure 4 As shown.

[0054] exist Figure 4During operation, after the pressure cooker is powered on, it performs three checks: pressure relief valve detection, lid closure detection, and locking mechanism detection. The lid closure detection checks if the user has closed the lid properly. If so, proceed to the next step; otherwise, a voice / light prompt indicates the user should close the lid. The pressure relief valve detection checks if the valve is open or closed to determine if the pressure relief channel is open. If the valve is open, the pressure relief channel is open, and proceed to the next step. If the valve is closed, it is opened to open the pressure relief channel. The locking mechanism detection checks if the locking mechanism is locked. If so, proceed to the next step; otherwise, a voice / light prompt indicates the user should manually or automatically lock the mechanism. Afterward, the user is prompted to select a cooking function, and the pressure cooker's cooking mode is determined based on the selected function.

[0055] If the pressure cooker is in pressurized cooking mode, the pressure relief valve is closed, and the exhaust pipe is closed by default. At this time, the entire pot is sealed. The control unit works in conjunction with various modules, controlling one or more modules, including the heating unit and exhaust valve. Pressurized cooking ends after a preset target is reached. This preset target can be a combination of one or more parameters such as time and temperature. Before opening the lid, a sensor determines whether the pressure inside the pot meets the opening standard. If there is no pressure, a voice / light prompt indicates to the user that the lid can be opened directly. If there is pressure, the exhaust valve is opened manually or automatically by the user to release pressure through the exhaust pipe. After pressure release, a voice / light prompt indicates to the user to open the lid again.

[0056] If the pressure cooker is in pressure-free cooking mode, it can be started directly to enter the cooking program. The control unit works in conjunction with each module to control one or more modules, including the heating unit. Pressure-free cooking ends after the preset target is reached. The preset target can be a combination of one or more parameters such as time and temperature. After the cooking is finished, the user will be prompted to open the lid via voice / light.

[0057] Step 202: Control the opening and closing of the pressureless channel and the locking operation of the locking mechanism respectively, so that the pressure working state of the pressure cooker meets the cooking function selected by the user.

[0058] Based on the foregoing description, regardless of the order in which the locking mechanism is detected and the user is prompted to select a cooking function, this application will control the opening and closing of the pressureless channel and the locking operation of the locking mechanism to ensure that the pressure working state of the pressure cooker meets the cooking function selected by the user. The pressure working state here includes a pressurized working state and a pressureless working state. For example, if the cooking function selected by the user is a pressurized cooking function, then the pressure cooker needs to cook under pressurized conditions.

[0059] In one possible implementation of this application, a locking detection mechanism is involved in both of the aforementioned sequences. This mechanism can be implemented in the form of a sensor to detect whether the locking ring and locking teeth are engaged in place, that is, to detect whether the locking mechanism is in a locked state. If not, the user is prompted by light / voice to manually or automatically control the locking ring and locking teeth to engage in place, thereby locking the pot body and pot lid in place, thus realizing automatic locking operation. Meanwhile, both of the above sequences also involve the detection of the pressureless valve, i.e., the detection of the pressureless channel. This detection can also be achieved through sensors. For the detection of the pressureless valve or pressureless channel, one method is to detect it after the pressure cooker is powered on to ensure that the pressure cooker is in a pressureless state before cooking. The other method is to detect it before the pressure cooker enters the cooking program to determine whether the current opening and closing state of the pressureless valve or pressureless channel corresponds to the cooking function selected by the user. For example, if the cooking function selected by the user is pressurized cooking, it is necessary to detect whether the pressureless valve or pressureless channel is in the closed state to ensure that the pressure cooker can pressurize normally. If the two do not correspond, the pressureless valve controls the opening and closing of the pressureless channel to adjust the opening and closing state of the pressureless channel to the state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user.

[0060] In this application, the sensor for detecting the pressureless channel and the sensor for detecting the locking mechanism are two independent sensors, enabling independent detection. Furthermore, the opening and closing of the pressureless channel is controlled solely by the pressureless valve, while the locking operation of the locking mechanism is either manually executed by the user or automatically controlled by the pressure cooker's built-in program. There is no correlation between the two; that is, this application allows for independent / separate control of the opening and closing of the pressureless channel and the locking operation of the locking mechanism. Both the pressureless channel and the locking mechanism can be controlled independently without any linkage. Therefore, when the user selects the pressureless cooking function on the pressure cooker, they only need to check whether the pressureless valve or the pressureless channel is open to directly enter the cooking program, without necessarily needing to check the status of the locking mechanism. The operation is simple and uncluttered. Moreover, if the locking mechanism malfunctions, preventing the pressure cooker from performing pressurized cooking, as long as the pressureless valve or the pressureless channel is functioning normally, the pressure cooker can still perform pressureless cooking normally. In other words, the pressure cooker in this application can perform pressureless cooking without being affected by the locking mechanism.

[0061] In one possible implementation of this application, in order to achieve better cooking results for the food, the pressure cooker of this application also adds a mixed cooking function. The so-called mixed cooking function means that the pressure cooker includes both a pressure cooking stage and a pressureless cooking stage during the food cooking process. That is, there may be a pressure conversion between pressure and pressureless, or a pressure conversion between pressureless and pressured.

[0062] Specifically, if the user selects the mixed cooking function via the interactive panel, which corresponds to the transition from pressure cooking to pressureless cooking, the pressure cooker will first release pressure by controlling the exhaust valve to open the exhaust pipe. During this process, due to the high cooking pressure inside the pressure cooker, a significant pressure difference exists between the inside and outside of the pot when the exhaust pipe is opened, causing the food inside to boil violently. To prevent overflow or spillage of broth onto the lid, making cleaning difficult, the exhaust pipe can be opened intermittently. Furthermore, as the pressure inside the pressure cooker decreases more rapidly, the opening time of the exhaust pipe can be appropriately increased in the later stages of pressure release. For example, initially, the exhaust pipe can be opened for 1 second and closed for 10 seconds, while in the later stages, it can be adjusted to open for 5 seconds and close for 10 seconds, allowing the pressure cooker to reach the preset pressure more quickly. This preset pressure can be atmospheric pressure P0 or a slight pressure state of atmospheric pressure P0 + P1 kPa. Once the pressure cooker reaches the preset pressure, the pressureless valve opens the pressureless channel, putting the pressure cooker into a pressureless working state. It's important to note that the pressure-free channel should only be opened when the pressure cooker reaches the preset pressure, not when the pressure release begins. This is because the pressure-free channel has a larger diameter than the exhaust pipe. Opening it at the start of pressure release would cause the food inside the pot to boil violently due to the large pressure difference, leading to overflow. This would cause food to stick to the lid and pot walls, making cleaning difficult and affecting the user experience. Furthermore, the food and broth might overflow through the pressure-free channel under high pressure, increasing the risk of burns. Opening the pressure-free channel when the pressure inside the pot drops to normal or slightly lower pressure prevents overflow and allows the pressure to drop quickly to normal, enabling pressure-free cooking.

[0063] If the user selects the mixed cooking function via the interactive panel, which corresponds to the transition from pressureless cooking to pressure cooking, the following steps are required during the transition: controlling the pressureless valve to close the pressureless channel, controlling the exhaust valve to close the exhaust pipe, and using a locking detection mechanism to check the locking status of the locking mechanism. If the locking mechanism is not in the locked state, the user will be prompted by light / voice to manually or automatically perform the locking operation to lock the lid and pot body. After completing the above three operations, the pressure cooker's internal environment is sealed, allowing pressure to build up and achieve pressure cooking. It should be noted that the order of execution of the above three operations is not limited, as long as all three operations are completed.

[0064] The locking operation performed by the aforementioned control locking mechanism in this application can be executed automatically, and the operation of controlling the pressureless valve to close the pressureless channel can also be executed automatically. In this way, when the pressure cooker needs to change pressure for the mixed cooking function, it does not require manual intervention from the user, which greatly reduces the user's psychological burden and prevents the user from having any worries or fears when approaching or operating the pressure cooker during the cooking process.

[0065] The mixed cooking function in this application, which involves pressure cooking followed by depressurization, allows for thorough cooking or boiling of food, resulting in better cooking effects and nutritional value. For example, when cooking rice, pressure cooking first allows the rice to cook faster and prevents it from being undercooked. Then, depressurization evaporates any moisture trapped in the rice, improving its softness. Conversely, pressure cooking followed by depressurization can make harder-to-cook foods more tender. For instance, when stewing meat or soup, depressurization first cooks the meat or ribs, but they may not be tender enough. Pressure cooking then uses high pressure to cook the meat or ribs, solving this problem and making them more tender. At the same time, the pressure cooking stage also allows the nutrients in the meat or ribs to dissolve fully, increasing the nutritional value of the soup.

[0066] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0067] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

[0068] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A cooking control method for a pressure cooker, the pressure cooker comprising: The pot body is used to hold cooking ingredients; A lid, used to fit together with the pot body to form a cooking cavity; The pot lid is characterized by further comprising: The locking ring is used to engage with the locking teeth provided on the pot body to form a locking mechanism, locking the pot body and the pot lid together; The pressureless channel and the pressureless valve that controls the opening and closing of the pressureless channel, wherein the pressureless valve moves up and down to connect or seal the vent at the lower end of the pressureless channel with or seal the cooking cavity and the outside, wherein the diameter of the pressureless channel is larger than the diameter of the exhaust pipe. The method includes: after the pressure cooker is powered on, controlling the opening of the pressureless channel through the pressureless valve, detecting the locking status of the locking mechanism in a preset sequence and prompting the user to select a cooking function, and controlling the opening and closing of the pressureless channel and the locking operation of the locking mechanism respectively, so that the pressure working state of the pressure cooker meets the cooking function selected by the user.

2. The cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure cooker is equipped with a locking detection mechanism; the preset sequence includes: The user is prompted to select a cooking function via the interactive panel. If the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user is a pressurized working state, the following actions are taken: the pressureless channel is closed by controlling the pressureless valve, and the locking detection mechanism is used to detect whether the locking mechanism is in a locked state. If not, the user is prompted to manually or automatically perform the locking operation of the locking mechanism.

3. The cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure cooker is equipped with a locking detection mechanism; the preset sequence includes: The locking detection mechanism detects whether the locking mechanism is in a locked state. If not, the user is prompted to manually or automatically perform the locking operation of the locking mechanism. Then, the user is prompted to select a cooking function through the interactive panel. If the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user is a pressurized working state, the pressureless channel is closed by controlling the pressureless valve.

4. A cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The automatic execution of the locking operation of the locking mechanism includes: The automatic locking mechanism locks the pot body and lid into place.

5. The cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that, If the cooking function selected by the user corresponds to a pressure-free working state, the cooking program will start directly.

6. The cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure cooker is also equipped with a pressure-free valve detection mechanism. Before the pressure cooker starts and enters the cooking program, the pressureless valve detection mechanism detects whether the opening and closing state of the pressureless channel meets the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user.

7. The cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 6, characterized in that, If the opening and closing state of the pressureless channel does not meet the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user, the pressureless valve is controlled to open and close the pressureless channel.

8. The cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that, If the cooking function selected by the user corresponds to a mixed working state, then when the mixed working state switches from pressurized to unpressurized, the pressure cooker is vented by controlling the exhaust valve to open the exhaust pipe. When the cooking pressure in the pressure cooker reaches the preset pressure, the unpressurized channel is opened by controlling the unpressurized valve to allow the pressure cooker to enter the unpressurized working state.

9. The cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that, If the pressure working state corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user is the mixed working state, then the mixed working state will be executed when the pressure is changed from no pressure to pressure: the no pressure channel will be closed by controlling the no pressure valve, the exhaust pipe will be closed by controlling the exhaust valve, and the locking detection mechanism will detect whether the locking mechanism is in the locked state. If not, the user will be prompted to manually or automatically perform the locking operation of the locking mechanism so that the pressure cooker enters the pressure working state.

10. The cooking control method for a pressure cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that, Controlling the opening and closing of the pressureless channel via a pressureless valve includes: The pressure cooker is equipped with a motor, which drives a lever that is in contact with the pressureless valve to move the pressureless valve up and down, thereby opening and closing the pressureless channel.

Images