Cooking utensil

Abstract

The utility model provides a cooking utensil. The cooking utensil comprises a pot body, a cover body, a communicating port opening and closing assembly and a driving assembly. The cover body is provided with a communication port used for communicating the cooking space with the outside. And at least part of the communicating port opening and closing assembly can move between an opening position and a blocking position relative to the communicating port, and the communicating port opening and closing assembly is used for opening or blocking the communicating port. The driving assembly comprises a gear piece and a driven piece. The driven part comprises a rack part and at least one movable tooth part, the movable tooth part and the rack part are arranged in the first direction and can be close to or away from the rack part in the first direction, one part of the multiple teeth are arranged on the rack part, and the other part of the multiple teeth are arranged on the movable tooth part. The position of the movable tooth part can be automatically adjusted according to the actual rotation condition of the gear piece, meshing deviation caused by low motor precision and installation errors is compensated, then the movement error of the driven piece is reduced, and it is guaranteed that the communication opening opening and closing assembly moves according to a preset rule.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to cooking utensils. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, pressure cooking appliances on the market use spring valves to control the sealing and venting of the pressure valve. Spring valves typically use solenoid valves or stepper motors to drive the control mechanism to control the opening or closing of the pressure valve, thereby precisely regulating the venting.

[0003] When using a solenoid valve to control a spring valve, the requirements for the solenoid valve's stroke and thrust are extremely stringent. During the operation of a pressure cooker, the solenoid valve needs to operate continuously, and due to the high operating temperature, the materials used to manufacture it must possess excellent temperature resistance and insulation properties. This significantly increases the manufacturing cost of the solenoid valve, thereby raising the overall production cost of the pressure cooker and limiting the product's competitiveness in the market.

[0004] While using stepper motors to control spring valves can effectively solve some of the problems existing in solenoid valve control schemes—for example, stepper motors perform better in terms of control accuracy and stability—they are inherently more expensive. The high cost of stepper motors also increases the production cost of pressure cooking appliances, hindering product promotion and widespread adoption.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to provide a cooking appliance that can at least partially solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0006] The utility model description section introduces a series of simplified concepts, which will be further explained in detail in the detailed description section. This utility model description section is not intended to limit the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor is it intended to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0007] To at least partially solve the above problems, this utility model provides a cooking utensil, comprising:

[0008] pot body;

[0009] A lid is foldably disposed on the pot body to form a cooking space between the lid and the pot body, and the lid is provided with a communication port for connecting the cooking space with the outside.

[0010] A port opening / closing assembly, comprising the cover, wherein at least a portion of the port opening / closing assembly is movable relative to the port between an open position and a closed position, for opening or closing the port; and

[0011] A drive assembly, connected to the cover, the drive assembly comprising:

[0012] Rotatable gear components, and

[0013] A driven member includes a plurality of teeth arranged in a first direction that mesh with the gear, such that the driven member can move in the first direction under the drive of the gear to drive at least a portion of the communication port opening / closing assembly to move. The driven member includes a rack portion and at least one movable tooth portion, the movable tooth portion being arranged with the rack portion in the first direction and being able to move closer to or further away from the rack portion in the first direction. A portion of the plurality of teeth is disposed in the rack portion, and another portion of the plurality of teeth is disposed in the movable tooth portion.

[0014] According to this solution, the movable gear and the rack can move relative to each other. The movable gear can automatically adjust its position according to the actual rotation of the gear components, compensating for meshing deviations caused by the low precision of ordinary motors and installation errors. This reduces the movement error of the driven component, ensuring that the opening and closing assembly of the communication port moves according to a predetermined pattern, thus improving the working performance of the cooking appliance. This solution can achieve high positioning accuracy comparable to a stepper motor using only a simple movable gear, even when the precision of ordinary motors is insufficient, significantly reducing the cost of the drive components.

[0015] Optionally, the tooth pitch of the rack portion is p, and the follower satisfies at least one of the following conditions:

[0016] When the movable tooth is located at its extreme position near the rack, the distance d between the tooth of the movable tooth closest to the rack and the tooth of the rack closest to the movable tooth is greater than or equal to p;

[0017] When the movable tooth is located at its extreme position far from the rack, the distance d between the tooth of the movable tooth closest to the rack and the tooth of the rack closest to the movable tooth is less than or equal to 2.95p.

[0018] According to this scheme, a suitable spacing d allows the movable teeth to have sufficient movement space for real-time adjustment during operation, and the gear meshing can smoothly transition between the movable teeth and the rack, ensuring that the movement of the driven part and the rotation of the gear part remain synchronized, improving the accuracy and stability of the transmission, and thus ensuring that the opening and closing state of the connecting port can adapt to changes in the cooking process in a timely manner.

[0019] Optionally, the distance the movable tooth moves along the first direction is greater than or equal to p.

[0020] According to this solution, the movable teeth can provide sufficient displacement compensation to ensure that the gear parts mesh smoothly with the rack parts, avoid jamming or failure to mesh, and ensure that the gear parts and driven parts always maintain relatively accurate meshing.

[0021] Optionally, the number of teeth in the movable tooth section is greater than or equal to 1.

[0022] According to this solution, the movable toothed part has at least one tooth to ensure meshing with the gear component, and adjusts its relative position with the rack part by moving during meshing, thereby realizing the function of automatically adjusting meshing deviation.

[0023] Optionally, the rack portion and the movable tooth portion have a relative degree of freedom of movement along a first direction;

[0024] When the driven member moves to the point where the gear disengages from the teeth of the rack, the rack stops moving in the first direction;

[0025] The gear meshes with the movable tooth, driving the movable tooth to reciprocate relative to the rack in a first direction within the relative degree of freedom of movement between the rack and the movable tooth.

[0026] According to this solution, the relative degree of freedom of movement between the rack and pinion and the movable teeth, as well as the reciprocating motion design of the movable teeth, can improve transmission accuracy, enhance stability, and ensure the reliable operation of cooking appliances.

[0027] Optionally, the driven member further includes at least one first biasing member, which is disposed corresponding to the movable tooth and is used to apply a force away from the rack portion along the first direction to the corresponding movable tooth portion.

[0028] According to this scheme, the first offset component enables the movable teeth to adjust their position in real time according to the rotation of the gear components, thereby reducing meshing deviation and improving the accuracy of the entire transmission system.

[0029] Optionally, the driven member further includes a connecting portion connected to the rack portion, at least a portion of which extends along the first direction; wherein,

[0030] The movable tooth is movably connected to the connecting part; and / or

[0031] The first biasing member is constructed as a spring, which is sleeved onto the connecting portion and is located between the rack portion and the movable tooth portion.

[0032] According to this solution, the connecting part can provide a guide path for the movable tooth and the first biasing member.

[0033] Optionally, the driven member includes two movable teeth, which are respectively disposed on both sides of the rack portion along the first direction.

[0034] According to this solution, the double-sided movable teeth can cover the meshing error in both directions, ensuring that the gear components can smoothly transition regardless of the direction of rotation.

[0035] Optionally, the driven member, driven by the gear member, can move along the first direction between an active position acting on the communication port opening / closing assembly and a deactivation position disengaging from the communication port opening / closing assembly.

[0036] The drive assembly further includes a first limiting member and a second limiting member, wherein...

[0037] The first limiting member is used to abut against the driven member located at the actuating position to prevent the driven member from continuing to move away from the release position; the second limiting member is used to abut against the driven member located at the release position to prevent the driven member from continuing to move away from the actuating position.

[0038] According to this solution, by setting the first and second limiting members, the stroke of the driven member can be limited to avoid collision with surrounding components, thereby reducing mechanical wear and failure rate.

[0039] Optionally, the driven member further includes an actuating part for driving the communication port opening / closing assembly to move.

[0040] The communication port opening / closing assembly is movable along a second direction between the blocked position and the open position, wherein the second direction is not parallel to the first direction.

[0041] At least one of the surfaces of the actuating part for contacting the communication port opening and closing assembly and the surfaces of the communication port opening and closing assembly for contacting the actuating part includes an inclined surface, the inclined surface being inclined relative to both the first direction and the second direction.

[0042] According to this scheme, the inclined surface converts the driving force in the first direction into the driving force in the second direction required by the opening and closing component of the communication port.

[0043] Optionally, the actuating part and the rack part are arranged along the first direction, and the actuating part is located on the side of the driven member away from the rack part.

[0044] According to this solution, by integrating the rack and actuation parts in a single direction, the lateral dimension can be reduced, and interference with other components can be avoided.

[0045] Optionally, the actuating part is configured as a boss protruding toward the communication port opening / closing assembly along the second direction.

[0046] The driven member further includes a recessed portion located between the rack portion and the actuating portion along the first direction, the recessed portion being recessed relative to the rack portion and the actuating portion along the second direction, and the movable tooth portion being located in the cavity formed by the recessed portion.

[0047] According to this solution, the interference between the moving teeth and the actuating part is avoided by setting the recessed part.

[0048] Optionally, the communication port opening / closing component includes:

[0049] A sealing element, movable along the second direction between the open position and the sealed position, for opening or sealing the communication port; and

[0050] A push rod, arranged along the second direction with the sealing member, is driven by the actuating unit to move along the second direction, thereby causing the push rod to drive the sealing member to move along the second direction.

[0051] Wherein, at least one of the surface of the actuating part for contacting the push rod and the surface of the push rod for contacting the actuating part includes the inclined surface.

[0052] According to this solution, the cooperation between the push rod and the sealing component ensures that the sealing component can accurately reach the designated position, thereby achieving effective control of the connection port.

[0053] Optionally, the cover is provided with a second biasing member for applying a force to the sealing member to move toward the open position.

[0054] According to this scheme, the second biasing member can automatically reset the opening and closing component of the communication port. It achieves the active return of the blocking component after the drive is removed by storing elastic potential energy and converting it into mechanical energy.

[0055] Optionally, the push rod extends along the second direction, and the outer periphery of the push rod is connected with an elastic pleated structure, the pleated structure extending along the radial direction of the push rod, and the pleated structure being concave and convex along the second direction.

[0056] According to this solution, the flexible pleated structure allows the push rod to move in the second direction without compromising the seal.

[0057] Optionally, the radial dimension of the sealing element is larger than the radial dimension of the communication port.

[0058] According to this solution, the radial dimension of the sealing component is larger than the radial dimension of the connecting port to ensure the sealing effect of the sealing component on the connecting port.

[0059] Optionally, the cover includes a liner and a removable cover detachably connected to the liner, the push rod is disposed on the liner, and the communication port and the sealing element are disposed on the removable cover.

[0060] According to this solution, the sealing component can be separated from the push rod as the removable cover is removed, facilitating maintenance.

[0061] Optionally, the drive assembly further includes a drive motor for driving the gear component to rotate.

[0062] According to this scheme, the drive motor can provide driving force for the rotation of the gear components.

[0063] Optionally, the cooking appliance further includes a mounting member detachably connected to the cover and having a mounting cavity into which the drive assembly is mounted.

[0064] According to this solution, the mounting components can protect the drive components to a certain extent. At the same time, the drive components can be pre-installed into the mounting cavity, which facilitates the installation of the entire cooking appliance. Attached Figure Description

[0065] The following drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present invention, are incorporated herein as part of the present invention for understanding the invention. The drawings show embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions, serving to explain the principles of the present invention. In the drawings,

[0066] Figure 1 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a cooking utensil according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the driven member is in the released position and the communication port opening and closing component is in the open position.

[0068] Figure 3 This is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the drive assembly of the present invention, in which the driven member is in the disengaged position;

[0069] Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the driven member is located in the active position, and the communication port opening and closing component is located in the blocking position.

[0070] Figure 5 This is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the drive assembly of the present invention, in which the driven member is located at the operating position;

[0071] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a drive assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the driven member is in the disengaged position;

[0072] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a drive assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the driven member is located in the operating position; and

[0073] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the driving component according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0075] 100: Cooking utensils

[0076] 110: Claypot

[0077] 111: Pot Inner Wall

[0078] 112: Cooking Space

[0079] 120: Cover

[0080] 121: Connecting Port

[0081] 122: Liner

[0082] 123: Removable lid

[0083] 130: Connector opening / closing component

[0084] 131: Putter

[0085] 132: Sealing component

[0086] 133: Second bias component

[0087] 134: Folded structure

[0088] 140: Driver Components

[0089] 141: Gear components

[0090] 142: Follower

[0091] 143: Rack section

[0092] 144: Movable teeth

[0093] 145: First bias component

[0094] 146: Connecting part

[0095] 147: Actuator

[0096] 148: Inclined surface

[0097] 149: Depression

[0098] 150: First limiting component

[0099] 151: Second limiting component

[0100] 152: Drive motor

[0101] 153: Shaft

[0102] 160: Installation components

[0103] 161: Installation cavity

[0104] 162: Mounting hole

[0105] D1: First Direction

[0106] D2: Second Direction Detailed Implementation

[0107] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid confusion with embodiments of the present invention.

[0108] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present invention. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of the stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0109] In this document, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" used in this invention are merely identifiers and do not have any other meaning, such as a specific order. Moreover, for example, the term "first component" does not imply the existence of "second component," and the term "second component" does not imply the existence of "first component."

[0110] In this article, terms such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate the relative positional relationship between related parts, rather than to define the absolute position of these related parts.

[0111] In this document, terms such as “equal” and “same” are not strict mathematical and / or geometric limitations, but also include errors that are understandable to those skilled in the art and permissible in manufacturing or use.

[0112] Unless otherwise stated, the numerical ranges in this document include not only the entire range within its two endpoints, but also the subranges contained therein.

[0113] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It should be understood that these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of the present invention is thorough and complete, and that the concept of these exemplary embodiments is fully conveyed to those skilled in the art.

[0114] Reference Figure 1 This application provides a cooking appliance 100. The cooking appliance 100 according to this application can be a rice cooker, electric pressure cooker or other cooking appliances with a heating function, and the cooking appliance 100 can have various functions such as cooking porridge in addition to cooking rice.

[0115] The cooking appliance 100 of this utility model includes a lid 120 and a pot body 110. The pot body 110 is used for cooking food, and the lid 120 is used to cover the pot body 110. When the lid 120 covers the pot body 110, a cooking space 112 is formed between the lid 120 and the pot body 110.

[0116] The pot body 110 is typically a rounded rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a cylindrical inner pot storage section. The pot body 110 includes an inner pot 111, which can be freely inserted into or removed from the inner pot storage section for easy cleaning. The inner pot 111 is typically made of metal and is used to hold materials to be heated, such as rice or soup. The pot body 110 also includes a middle plate and a shell. The middle plate is located at the top of the pot body 110, and the shell is located on the sides and bottom of the pot body 110. The middle plate is fixedly attached to the shell. Optionally, when the lid 120 is closed on the pot body 110, a sealing connection is formed between the lid 120 and the inner pot 111. Through this sealing connection between the lid 120 and the inner pot 111, the cooking appliance 100 can adapt to pressure cooking.

[0117] The cooker body 110 is also equipped with a control device. The control device may be a microcontroller unit (MCU) for example, used to control the cooking of the cooking appliance 100.

[0118] The lid 120 has a shape that substantially corresponds to the pot body 110. The lid 120 is closable on the pot body 110. Specifically, it is pivotally connected to the pot body 110 via a pivot axis and can pivot freely between a closed position and an open position relative to the pot body 110 about the pivot axis, so as to facilitate closing and opening the pot body 110.

[0119] The cover 120 includes a top cover, a liner 122, and a removable cover 123. The top cover is located on the outermost side of the cover 120, forming the outer shell of the cover 120. The liner 122 is located below the top cover and is connected to the top cover. For example, the liner 122 can be connected to the top cover by fasteners or snaps. The top cover and the liner 122 constitute the upper cover assembly. The upper cover assembly is mainly used to centrally install various functional components of the cover 120 that sense and control the working status of the cooking appliance 100, such as sensors. The removable cover 123 is located on the innermost side of the cover 120 and is located below the liner 122. The removable cover 123 is detachably connected to the liner 122, for example by snaps, for easy cleaning and replacement. The removable cover 123 is oriented towards the cooking space 112, that is, when the cover 120 is in the closed position, the removable cover 123 is located directly above the cooking space 112.

[0120] The cover 120 is provided with a communication opening 121 for connecting the cooking space 112 to the outside. Optionally, the communication opening 121 is formed in the removable cover 123.

[0121] To achieve a sealed cooking space 112, the cooking appliance 100 is also equipped with a connection port opening / closing assembly 130. The connection port opening / closing assembly 130 is used to open or close the connection port 121. Specifically, the connection port opening / closing assembly 130 is movable relative to the connection port 121 and is used to open or close the connection port 121. When the connection port opening / closing assembly 130 opens the connection port 121, the cooking space 112 is connected to the outside through the connection port 121, and steam inside the cooking space 112 can be discharged to the outside through the connection port 121. When the connection port opening / closing assembly 130 closes the connection port 121, the cooking space 112 is not connected to the outside, thus preventing air from escaping from the cooking space 112 through the connection port 121, thereby enabling pressure cooking.

[0122] Reference Figures 2 to 8 The cooking appliance 100 also includes a drive assembly 140, which is connected to the lid 120. The drive assembly 140 is used to drive the movement of the communication port opening and closing assembly 130. The opening and closing of the communication port 121 can be controlled by the drive assembly 140 to control the cooking process.

[0123] The drive assembly 140 includes a gear 141 and a driven member 142. The gear 141 is rotatably connected to the cover 120. The driven member 142 is movably connected to the cover 120. The gear 141 can drive the driven member 142 to actuate, and the driven member 142 can drive the communication port opening / closing assembly 130 to actuate. Optionally, the gear 141 meshes with the driven member 142 (such as a rack).

[0124] Gear transmission transmits power and motion through the meshing of gear teeth. To achieve smooth and efficient transmission, the meshing between gear 141 and driven member 142 must be precise. Optionally, gear 141 can be controlled to rotate by a stepper motor or a conventional motor. Stepper motors, due to their inherent characteristics, can achieve very precise angle control during rotation, but they are more expensive. Conventional motors, during operation, are easily affected by load changes, power fluctuations, and other factors, making it difficult to precisely control the rotation angle and speed. Therefore, when a conventional motor controls the rotation of gear 141, the displacement of driven member 142 may exceed the preset travel range, leading to inaccurate exhaust adjustment; furthermore, displacement of driven member 142 exceeding the preset travel range may damage the appliance or cause gear 141 to jam. The internal space of cooking appliance 100 is typically compact, limiting the installation space for drive assembly 140. In such a confined space, errors are easily amplified. Inaccurate control of gear 141 increases the movement error of driven member 142, thereby increasing the risk of drive assembly 140 jamming.

[0125] The follower 142 includes a plurality of teeth arranged along a first direction D1 (e.g., horizontal direction) that mesh with the gear 141, such that the follower 142 can move along the first direction D1 under the drive of the gear 141 to drive at least a portion of the communication port opening / closing assembly 130 to move. The follower 142 includes a rack portion 143 and at least one movable tooth portion 144, the movable tooth portion 144 being arranged along the first direction D1 with the rack portion 143, and the movable tooth portion 144 being able to move closer to or further away from the rack portion 143 along the first direction D1. A portion of the plurality of teeth is disposed on the rack portion 143, and another portion of the plurality of teeth is disposed on the movable tooth portion 144. In this design, the movable gear 144 and the rack 143 are movable relative to each other. The movable gear 144 can automatically adjust its position according to the actual rotation of the gear component 141, avoiding the rack 143 from deviating from the preset position or jamming between the gear component 141 and the rack 143 due to inaccurate control of a conventional motor. This ensures that the opening and closing assembly 130 moves according to a predetermined pattern, improving the working performance of the cooking appliance 100. This design can achieve high positioning accuracy comparable to a stepper motor using only the simple movable gear 144, even when the accuracy of a conventional motor is insufficient, significantly reducing the cost of the drive assembly 140.

[0126] In this design, the tooth pitch of the rack portion 143 is p. Correspondingly, the module m of the gear component 141 is m = p / π. Based on the tooth pitch p, the transmission accuracy between the gear component 141 and the driven component 142 can be precisely controlled.

[0127] Optionally, when the movable tooth 144 is at its extreme position near the rack portion 143, the distance d between the nearest tooth of the movable tooth 144 to the rack portion 143 and the nearest tooth of the rack portion 143 to the movable tooth 144 is greater than or equal to p. If the distance d is less than p at the extreme position of the movable tooth 144 near the rack portion 143, the teeth of the movable tooth 144 and the rack portion 143 may be too close together, potentially causing the gear component 141 to jam and fail to smoothly transition when meshing between the movable tooth 144 and the rack portion 143. In this solution, the extreme position of the movable tooth 144 near the rack portion 143 refers to the position closest to the rack portion 143 that the movable tooth 144 can reach during the movement of the driven member 142.

[0128] Optionally, when the movable tooth 144 is at its extreme position away from the rack portion 143, the distance d between the nearest tooth of the movable tooth 144 to the rack portion 143 and the nearest tooth of the rack portion 143 to the movable tooth 144 is less than or equal to 2.95p. If the distance d is greater than 2.95p at the extreme position of the movable tooth 144 away from the rack portion 143, the distance between the movable tooth 144 and the rack portion 143 is too large, which may cause the gear component 141 to fail to smoothly transition when meshing between the movable tooth 144 and the rack portion 143 due to free rotation. In this solution, the extreme position of the movable tooth 144 away from the rack portion 143 refers to the position furthest from the rack portion 143 that the movable tooth 144 can reach during the movement of the follower 142.

[0129] Based on the above, a suitable spacing d allows the movable tooth 144 to have sufficient movement space for real-time adjustment during operation, and the gear 141 can smoothly transition between the movable tooth 144 and the rack 143, ensuring that the movement of the driven member 142 and the rotation of the gear 141 are synchronized, improving the accuracy and stability of the transmission, and thus ensuring that the opening and closing state of the connecting port 121 can adapt to changes in the cooking process in a timely manner.

[0130] Optionally, the movable tooth 144 moves a distance greater than or equal to p along the first direction D1. The movable tooth 144 can provide sufficient displacement compensation to ensure that the gear 141 meshes smoothly with the rack 143, avoiding jamming or failure to mesh, and ensuring that the gear 141 and the driven member 142 always maintain a relatively accurate mesh.

[0131] Optionally, the number of teeth in the movable gear 144 is greater than or equal to 1. The number of teeth in the movable gear 144 may be, but is not limited to, 1, 2, 3, or 5. The movable gear 144 has at least one tooth to ensure meshing with the gear 141, and adjusts its relative position with the rack 143 by moving during meshing, thereby achieving the function of automatically adjusting meshing deviation.

[0132] The driven member 142 also includes a first biasing member 145. The first biasing member 145 is used to apply a force away from the rack portion 143 to the corresponding movable tooth portion 144. The first biasing member 145 is constructed as a spring, which is disposed between the rack portion 143 and the movable tooth portion 144. The first biasing member 145 enables the movable tooth portion 144 to adjust its position in real time according to the rotation of the gear component 141, reducing meshing deviation and improving the accuracy of the entire transmission system. Through the cooperation between the first biasing member 145 and the movable tooth portion 144, the driven member 142 and the gear component 141 can mesh smoothly and accurately.

[0133] Optionally, the follower 142 is provided with a connecting portion 146. At least a portion of the connecting portion 146 extends along a first direction D1. Optionally, the connecting portion 146 is constructed as a bolt. A movable tooth 144 is movably connected to the connecting portion 146, and the connecting portion 146 provides a guide path for the movement of the movable tooth 144. Optionally, the extreme position of the movable tooth 144 away from the rack portion 143 is defined by the connecting portion 146. A spring is sleeved on the connecting portion 146, and the connecting portion 146 provides a guide path for the extension and contraction of the spring.

[0134] Optionally, the connecting part 146 is disposed on the side of the rack part 143. Therefore, the length of the connecting part 146 and the first biasing member 145 is not limited to the distance between the rack part 143 and the movable tooth part 144. Thus, the length of the first biasing member 145 can be set according to the actual biasing force requirement.

[0135] Optionally, the width of the movable tooth 144 (the dimension extending perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2) is greater than the width of the rack portion 143 (the dimension extending perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2), thereby allowing the movable tooth 144 to connect to the connecting portion 146 located on the side of the rack portion 143. Optionally, two connecting portions 146 are provided on both sides of the same end of the rack portion 143, and the two ends of the movable tooth 144 are connected to the two connecting portions 146 on both sides of the same end of the rack portion 143. The provision of the two connecting portions 146 enables the movable tooth 144 to move stably.

[0136] Optionally, the movable tooth 144 can correspond to one or more first bias members 145.

[0137] The follower 142 includes two movable teeth 144, which are respectively disposed on both sides of the rack portion 143 along the first direction D1. That is, the rack portion 143 has two ends extending along the first direction D1, and the two movable teeth 144 are respectively disposed at both ends. (Refer to...) Figure 6 and Figure 7Two movable teeth 144 are located on the left and right sides of the rack portion 143, respectively. Correspondingly, the first biasing member 145 and the connecting portion 146 are each configured as two sets corresponding to the movable teeth 144. The two sets of first biasing members 145 apply a force away from the rack portion 143 to the corresponding movable teeth 144.

[0138] The dual movable teeth 144 can reduce meshing errors in both directions, ensuring a smooth transition for the gear 141 regardless of its direction of rotation. Specifically, the rotation direction of the gear 141 (forward / reverse) corresponds to the movement direction of the driven member 142 (push / pull). Regardless of the direction of rotation of the gear 141, the movable teeth 144 on both sides can adjust their positions in real time according to meshing requirements. (Refer to...) Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 When gear 141 rotates to the right (clockwise), the movable tooth 144 on the right side actively compensates for meshing deviation; refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 When the gear 141 rotates to the left (counterclockwise), the movable tooth 144 on the left side comes into play.

[0139] Optionally, the drive assembly 140 further includes a drive motor 152 for driving the gear component 141 to rotate. Optionally, the drive motor 152 is electrically connected to a control device. The drive motor 152 is controlled to rotate forward or in reverse by a control signal from the control device.

[0140] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 4Optionally, the drive assembly 140 further includes a first limiting member 150 and a second limiting member 151. The first limiting member 150 abuts against the driven member 142 in the active position to prevent the driven member 142 from moving further away from the release position. The second limiting member 151 abuts against the driven member 142 in the release position to prevent the driven member 142 from moving further away from the active position. By setting the first limiting member 150 and the second limiting member 151, the travel of the driven member 142 is limited, which can prevent it from colliding with surrounding components and reduce mechanical wear and failure rate. The first limiting member 150 is located at the end of the active position of the driven member 142's movement path (on the side closer to the communication port 121); when the driven member 142 moves to this position, its end contacts the first limiting member 150 and cannot move forward. The second limiting member 151 is located at the end of the release position of the follower 142's movement path (on the side away from the communication port 121); when the follower 142 retracts to this point, the structure on the other side (such as the end face of the rack portion 143) abuts against the second limiting member 151, preventing further retraction. In cases where the accuracy of ordinary motors is insufficient, high positioning accuracy comparable to that of stepper motors can be achieved using only simple mechanical limiting members, significantly reducing the cost of the drive assembly 140.

[0141] Optionally, the follower 142 has two phases of reciprocating motion along the first direction D1: a forward motion phase and a reverse motion phase.

[0142] During the forward motion phase, the follower 142 moves from the release position to the action position.

[0143] Reference Figure 6 With the driven member 142 in the disengaged position, the teeth of the gear member 141 mesh with the teeth of the movable toothed part 144 located to the right of the rack part 143 in the figure. The gear member 141 begins to rotate clockwise. Due to the driving force of the gear member 141, the movable toothed part 144 is pushed to move in the positive direction of the first direction D1, thereby causing the driven member 142 as a whole to begin to move in the positive direction of the first direction D1.

[0144] As the driven member 142 continues to move, the gear member 141 gradually meshes with the rack portion 143. Through the elastic force of the first biasing member 145 between the rack portion 143 and the movable tooth portion 144, the distance between the rack portion 143 and the movable tooth portion 144 can be adjusted according to the actual rotation of the gear member 141. The gear member 141 and the rack portion 143 can mesh well, ensuring the continuity of transmission. With the continued movement of the driven member 142, the gear member 141 disengages from the movable tooth portion 144, and the movable tooth portion 144 returns to its extreme position away from the rack portion 143 under the elastic force of the first biasing member 145.

[0145] Gear 141 continues to rotate, pushing rack 143 to move driven member 142 along the first direction D1. As driven member 142 continues to move, gear 141 gradually engages with movable tooth 144 located to the left of rack 143 in the figure. The distance between rack 143 and movable tooth 144 can be adjusted according to the actual rotation of gear 141 by the elastic force of the first biasing member 145 between rack 143 and movable tooth 144. Gear 141 and movable tooth 144 mesh well, gear 141 disengages from rack 143, and driven member 142 is in the active position. At this time, since the rack portion 143 of the gear component 141 disengages, and at the same time, the elastic force of the first biasing member 145 between the rack portion 143 and the movable tooth portion 144 allows the gear component 141 to continue rotating within a certain range without continuing to push the rack portion 143 to move along the first direction D1.

[0146] Reference Figure 7 When the driven member 142 is in the active position, the teeth of the gear member 141 mesh with the teeth of the movable toothed part 144 located on the left side of the rack part 143 in the figure. During the reverse movement phase, the driven member 142 moves from the active position to the disengaged position. During this process, the engagement relationship between the gear member 141 and the driven member 142 is reversed from that during the forward movement phase, which will not be described in detail here.

[0147] In this design, the rack portion 143 and the movable tooth portion 144 have a relative degree of freedom of movement along the first direction D1. Specifically, the movable tooth portion 144 is movably connected to the rack portion 143 via the connecting portion 146, and under the action of the first biasing member 145, the movable tooth portion 144 can move relative to the rack portion 143 within a certain range along the first direction D1.

[0148] When the driven member 142 moves to the point where the gear member 141 disengages from the rack portion 143, since there is no longer a direct transmission relationship between the gear member 141 and the rack portion 143, the rack portion 143 will stop moving in the first direction D1 after losing the driving force of the gear member 141. At this time, the gear member 141 engages with the movable tooth portion 144, driving the movable tooth portion 144 to reciprocate relative to the rack portion 143 along the first direction D1 within the relative degree of freedom of movement between the rack portion 143 and the movable tooth portion 144. The design of the relative degree of freedom of movement between the rack portion 143 and the movable tooth portion 144 and the reciprocating motion of the movable tooth portion 144 can improve transmission accuracy, enhance stability, and ensure the reliable operation of the cooking appliance 10.

[0149] As described above, the drive assembly 140, through the engagement of the gear 141 and the rack portion 143 and movable tooth portion 144 of the driven member 142, converts the rotation of the gear 141 into linear movement of the driven member 142, thereby accurately driving the opening and closing assembly 130 to operate and achieving reliable control. Driven by the gear 141, the driven member 142 can move along the first direction D1 between its active position acting on the opening and closing assembly 130 and its deactivation position.

[0150] By configuring the rack portion 143 and the movable tooth 144 located on the left side of the rack portion 143, excessive movement of the driven member 142 is avoided during the forward movement phase of the driven member 142, thereby precisely limiting the end point of the stroke of the driven member 142 and ensuring that the communication port opening and closing assembly 130 accurately reaches and maintains the blocking position. During the reverse movement phase of the driven member 142, the engagement of the movable tooth 144 located on the left side of the rack portion 143 with the gear member 141 drives the gear member 141 to re-engage with the rack portion 143, providing stable transmission conditions for the subsequent reverse movement of the driven member 142, and ensuring that the drive assembly 140 can accurately control the opening and closing action of the communication port opening and closing assembly 130 according to the preset logic.

[0151] The cooking appliance 100 is configured such that when the driven member 142 is in the active position, the opening and closing component 130 is in the blocked position, the opening 121 is closed, and the cooking space 112 forms a sealed space; when the driven member 142 is in the release position, the opening and closing component 130 is in the open position, the opening 121 is open, and the cooking space 112 can be depressurized through the opening 121.

[0152] Optionally, the follower 142 further includes an actuator 147 for driving the port opening / closing assembly 130 to move. The port opening / closing assembly 130 is movable between a blocked position and an open position along a second direction D2 (e.g., a vertical direction), which is not parallel to the first direction D1. At least one of the surface of the actuator 147 that contacts the port opening / closing assembly 130 and the surface of the port opening / closing assembly 130 that contacts the actuator 147 includes an inclined surface 148, which is inclined relative to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. The inclined surface 148 converts the driving force in the first direction D1 (e.g., a horizontal driving force) into the driving force in the second direction D2 (e.g., a vertical driving force) required by the port opening / closing assembly 130. Optionally, the inclined surface 148 is disposed on the actuating part 147. When the follower 142 moves to the operating position, the inclined surface 148 of the actuating part 147 presses against the corresponding surface of the communication port opening and closing assembly 130, causing the communication port opening and closing assembly 130 to slide to the blocking position along the second direction D2. When the follower 142 returns to the release position, the inclined surface 148 disengages from contact, and the communication port opening and closing assembly 130 returns to the open position.

[0153] The actuating part 147 and the rack part 143 are arranged along the first direction D1. As mentioned above, the rack part 143 extends along the first direction D1. By integrating the rack part 143 and the actuating part 147 in a single direction, the lateral dimension occupied can be reduced, and interference with other components can be avoided. At the same time, the arrangement direction of the actuating part 147 and the rack part 143 is consistent with the direction of force transmission, reducing energy loss; the displacement of the actuating part 147 and the rack part 143 corresponds, simplifying the control logic.

[0154] Optionally, the actuator 147 and the rack 143 are integrally formed.

[0155] Optionally, the actuating part 147 is configured as a boss protruding along the second direction D2 toward the communication port opening / closing assembly 130. The contact surface corresponding to the communication port opening / closing assembly 130 can be a slope or an arc surface.

[0156] As described above, the movable tooth 144 is located at the end of the rack portion 143 along the first direction D1. To avoid interference between the movable tooth 144 and the actuating portion 147, the driven member 142 also includes a recessed portion 149. The recessed portion 149 is located between the rack portion 143 and the actuating portion 147 along the first direction D1, and is recessed relative to the rack portion 143 and the actuating portion 147 along the second direction D2. The movable tooth 144 is located in the cavity formed by the recessed portion 149. Specifically, the recessed portion 149 is located between the rack portion 143 and the actuating portion 147 along the first direction D1, and its depth extends along the second direction D2 (upward), forming a U-shaped or stepped cavity. The extension and retraction movement of the movable tooth 144 can be restricted within the cavity, avoiding interference with the actuating portion 147.

[0157] As described above, the drive component 140 can drive the connection opening / closing component 130 from the open position to the closed position. Optionally, the connection opening / closing component 130 has an automatic reset function. For example, the connection opening / closing component 130 can automatically return to the open or closed position of the connection port 121 under the action of its own gravity, the elastic force of the elastic element, or the magnetic force. In this embodiment, the drive component 140 only needs to complete the unidirectional drive of the connection opening / closing component 130; the movement of the connection opening / closing component 130 in the other direction is achieved by the automatic reset power.

[0158] The cooking appliance 100 of this solution also includes a mounting member 160, which is detachably connected to the cover 120 and has a mounting cavity 161 into which the drive assembly 140 is installed. The mounting member 160 can protect the drive assembly 140 to a certain extent, and the drive assembly 140 can be pre-installed in the mounting cavity 161 to facilitate the installation of the entire cooking appliance 100.

[0159] Optionally, the mounting component 160 is configured as a box-like structure with at least one opening. The opening of the mounting component 160 faces the communication port opening / closing assembly 130. A mounting hole 162 is provided on the side wall of the mounting component 160. Optionally, the gear component 141 is rotatably mounted to the mounting hole 162 via a rotating shaft 153. Optionally, the motor shaft of the drive motor 152 is coaxially arranged with the rotating shaft 153.

[0160] Optionally, the mounting element 160 is detachably mounted to the cover 122.

[0161] Optionally, the first limiting member 150 and the second limiting member 151 are formed in the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 161. Along the first direction D1, the drive assembly 140 is located between the first limiting member 150 and the second limiting member 151. Along the first direction D1, the follower 142 is located between the first limiting member 150 and the second limiting member 151.

[0162] The structure of the communication port opening and closing component 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0163] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 The connection port opening / closing assembly 130 includes a sealing element 132 and a push rod 131. Optionally, the push rod 131 is mounted to the cover 122, and the sealing element 132 is mounted to the removable cover 123. Thus, the sealing element 132 can be separated from the push rod 131 when the removable cover 123 is removed, facilitating maintenance.

[0164] The sealing element 132 is movable along the second direction D2 between an open position and a sealed position, used to open or seal the connection port 121. When the sealing element 132 is in the sealed position, the cooking space 112 is not connected to the outside, forming a sealed environment to achieve the pressure cooking function; when the sealing element 132 is in the open position, the cooking space 112 is connected to the outside through the connection port 121, and the steam in the cooking space 112 can be discharged to the outside through the connection port 121.

[0165] The push rod 131 and the sealing member 132 are arranged along the second direction D2. The actuator 147 drives the push rod 131 to move along the second direction D2, so that the push rod 131 drives the sealing member 132 to move along the second direction D2. This ensures that the sealing member 132 can accurately reach the designated position, achieving effective control of the communication port 121. The push rod 131 is driven by the actuator 147 of the drive assembly 140 to move along the second direction D2, thereby pushing the sealing member 132 to move in the same direction.

[0166] Optionally, the aforementioned inclined surface 148 may be formed on the push rod 131. Alternatively, the end of the push rod 131 facing the drive assembly 140 may be rounded, with a smooth transition between the rounded end and the main body of the push rod 131, ensuring that the entire push rod 131 structure can evenly distribute stress under load and avoid stress concentration. When the driven member 142 moves to the action position, the push rod 131 slides along the second direction D2 due to the pressure of the inclined surface 148, thereby pushing the sealing member 132 to the sealing position; when the driven member 142 returns to the release position, the inclined surface 148 disengages, and the push rod 131 returns to its initial position under the automatic reset force of the sealing member 132, and the sealing member 132 also returns to the open position.

[0167] Optionally, the cover 120 is provided with a second biasing member 133, which applies a force to the sealing member 132 to move it toward the open position. The second biasing member 133 is compressed or stretched when the sealing member 132 is in the sealed position, storing elastic potential energy. When the actuation force of the drive assembly 140 is removed, the elastic potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, pushing the sealing member 132 to automatically return to the open position, and the connection opening / closing assembly 130 automatically resets. Optionally, the second biasing member 133 is a spring.

[0168] In some embodiments, the second biasing member 133 and the blocking member 132 are integrated as a separate module for easy installation and replacement.

[0169] When the push rod 131 reciprocates along the second direction D2, it must form a continuous seal with the cover 120 to prevent high-pressure steam in the cooking cavity from leaking into the drive assembly 140 area, causing short circuits in electronic components due to moisture. Optionally, the push rod 131 extends along the second direction D2, and an elastic corrugated structure 134 is connected to the outer periphery of the push rod 131. The corrugated structure 134 extends radially along the push rod 131 and is concave and convex along the second direction D2. Optionally, the corrugated structure 134 is a rubber component. The corrugated structure 134 conforms to the outer periphery of the push rod 131 through radial elastic expansion, forming a deformable dynamic sealing ring. Its concave and convex design can compensate for radial offset during the movement of the push rod 131, ensuring that the sealing surface is always completely covered.

[0170] Optionally, the radial dimension of the sealing element 132 is larger than the radial dimension of the connecting port 121, thereby ensuring the sealing effect of the sealing element 132 on the connecting port 121.

[0171] Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The terminology used herein is for descriptive purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Terms such as “set” appearing herein can refer to either a component being directly attached to another component or a component being attached to another component via an intermediary. A feature described in one embodiment may be applied, alone or in combination with other features, to another embodiment, unless that feature is not applicable in that other embodiment or is otherwise stated.

[0172] This utility model has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit this utility model to the described embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that many more variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of this utility model, and all such variations and modifications fall within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

Claims

1. A cooking utensil, characterized in that, include: pot body; A lid is foldably disposed on the pot body to form a cooking space between the lid and the pot body, and the lid is provided with a communication port for connecting the cooking space with the outside. A port opening and closing assembly is provided with the cover, at least a portion of the port opening and closing assembly being movable relative to the port between an open position and a closed position for opening or closing the port; and A drive assembly, connected to the cover, the drive assembly comprising: Rotatable gear components, and A driven member includes a plurality of teeth arranged in a first direction that mesh with the gear, such that the driven member can move in the first direction under the drive of the gear to drive at least a portion of the communication port opening / closing assembly to move. The driven member includes a rack portion and at least one movable tooth portion, the movable tooth portion being arranged with the rack portion in the first direction and being able to move closer to or further away from the rack portion in the first direction. A portion of the plurality of teeth is disposed in the rack portion, and another portion of the plurality of teeth is disposed in the movable tooth portion.

2. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tooth pitch of the rack portion is p, and the driven member satisfies at least one of the following conditions: When the movable tooth is located at its extreme position near the rack, the distance d between the tooth of the movable tooth closest to the rack and the tooth of the rack closest to the movable tooth is greater than or equal to p; When the movable tooth is located at its extreme position far from the rack, the distance d between the tooth of the movable tooth closest to the rack and the tooth of the rack closest to the movable tooth is less than or equal to 2.95p; The distance that the movable tooth moves along the first direction is greater than or equal to p; The number of teeth in the movable tooth section is greater than or equal to 1.

3. The cooking utensil according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rack portion and the movable tooth portion have a relative degree of freedom of movement along a first direction; When the driven member moves to the point where the gear disengages from the teeth of the rack, the rack stops moving in the first direction; The gear meshes with the movable tooth, driving the movable tooth to reciprocate relative to the rack in a first direction within the relative degree of freedom of movement between the rack and the movable tooth.

4. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driven member further includes at least one first biasing member, which is disposed corresponding to the movable tooth and is used to apply a force away from the rack portion along the first direction to the corresponding movable tooth portion.

5. The cooking utensil according to claim 4, characterized in that, The driven member further includes a connecting portion connected to the rack portion, at least a portion of which extends along the first direction; wherein... The movable tooth is movably connected to the connecting part; and / or The biasing member is constructed as a spring, which is sleeved onto the connecting portion and is located between the rack portion and the movable tooth portion.

6. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driven member includes two movable teeth, which are respectively disposed on both sides of the rack portion along the first direction.

7. The cooking utensil according to claim 6, characterized in that, Driven by the gear component, the driven member can move along the first direction between an active position acting on the communication port opening / closing assembly and a deactivation position disengaging from the communication port opening / closing assembly. The drive assembly further includes a first limiting member and a second limiting member, wherein... The first limiting member is used to abut against the driven member located at the actuating position to prevent the driven member from continuing to move away from the release position; the second limiting member is used to abut against the driven member located at the release position to prevent the driven member from continuing to move away from the actuating position.

8. The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The driven component further includes an actuating part, which is used to drive the communication port opening / closing assembly to move. The communication port opening / closing assembly is movable along a second direction between the blocked position and the open position, wherein the second direction is not parallel to the first direction. At least one of the surfaces of the actuating part for contacting the communication port opening and closing assembly and the surfaces of the communication port opening and closing assembly for contacting the actuating part includes an inclined surface, the inclined surface being inclined relative to both the first direction and the second direction.

9. The cooking utensil according to claim 8, characterized in that, The actuating part and the rack part are arranged along the first direction, and the actuating part is located on the side of the driven member away from the rack part.

10. The cooking utensil according to claim 9, characterized in that, The actuating part is configured as a boss protruding along the second direction toward the communication port opening / closing assembly. The driven member further includes a recessed portion located between the rack portion and the actuating portion along the first direction, the recessed portion being recessed relative to the rack portion and the actuating portion along the second direction, and the movable tooth portion being located in the cavity formed by the recessed portion.

11. The cooking utensil according to claim 8, characterized in that, The communication port opening / closing component includes: A sealing element, movable along the second direction between the open position and the sealed position, for opening or sealing the communication port; and A push rod, arranged along the second direction with the sealing member, is driven by the actuating unit to move along the second direction, thereby causing the push rod to drive the sealing member to move along the second direction. Wherein, at least one of the surface of the actuating part for contacting the push rod and the surface of the push rod for contacting the actuating part includes the inclined surface.

12. The cooking utensil according to claim 11, characterized in that, The cover is provided with a second biasing member, which is used to apply a force to the sealing member to move toward the open position; And / or The push rod extends along the second direction, and the outer periphery of the push rod is connected with an elastic pleated structure. The pleated structure extends along the radial direction of the push rod and is concave and convex along the second direction.

13. The cooking utensil according to claim 11, characterized in that, The radial dimension of the sealing element is larger than the radial dimension of the communication opening; and / or The cover includes a liner and a removable cover detachably connected to the liner, the push rod is disposed on the liner, and the communication port and the sealing element are disposed on the removable cover.

14. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive assembly further includes a drive motor, which drives the gear component to rotate; and / or The cooking appliance also includes a mounting element detachably connected to the cover and having a mounting cavity into which the drive assembly is mounted.

Images