Heating Regulator

Abstract

To improve the functionality of cooking appliances. [Solution] The cooking appliance (2) comprises a pot (6), a lid (10), a heat source (28), a rotating shaft (27), a stirring blade (8), a drive motor (36), a pressure control unit (24), and a sealing mechanism (50). The pot (6) contains the food to be cooked. The lid (10) covers the pot (6) so that it can be opened and closed. The heat source (28) heats the pot (6). The rotating shaft (27) is inserted through a through hole (40) provided in the pot (6) or the lid (10) and protrudes into the pot (6). The stirring blade (8) is attached to the rotating shaft (27). The drive motor (36) rotates the rotating shaft (27). The pressure control unit (24) controls the pressure inside the pot (6). The sealing mechanism (50) isolates the space (S) inside the pot (6) from the through hole (40).

Description

Technical Field

[0007]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a cooking appliance for accommodating and cooking an object to be cooked, such as food, in a pot has been known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] In the cooking appliance described in Patent Document 1, stirring blades are arranged on the bottom surface of the pot, and the object to be cooked is stirred and cooked by rotating the stirring blades. A magnet is used to rotationally drive the stirring blades in the pot. In the cooking appliance described in Patent Document 2, a motor rotates the stirring blades arranged on the lid.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the magnet is easily affected by heat, and the stirring blades may not rotate stably. In the configuration of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to provide a through-hole for protruding the rotation axis of the stirring blades into the pot. Therefore, it is difficult to perform pressure and heat cooking on the object to be cooked while maintaining the inside of the pot in a sealed state. Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the function of the cooking appliance.

[0006] The cooking appliance of the present disclosure includes a pot, a lid, a heat source, a rotation shaft, stirring blades, a drive motor, a pressure control unit, and a sealing mechanism. The pot accommodates the object to be cooked. The lid covers the pot so as to be openable and closable.

[0007] The heat source heats the pot. The rotating shaft is inserted through a through hole in the pot or lid and protrudes into the pot. The stirring blades are attached to the rotating shaft. The drive motor rotates the rotating shaft. The pressure control unit controls the pressure inside the pot. The sealing mechanism isolates the space inside the pot from the through hole.

[0008] According to this disclosure, the functionality of a cooking appliance can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the heating appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with the lid closed. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the heating appliance according to the embodiment, with the lid open. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the heating appliance according to the embodiment, with the lid closed. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the connector in a heating appliance according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing mechanism of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the sealing mechanism of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first sealing member of the heating cooker according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bearing of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment. [Figure 9A] Figure 9A is a perspective view of the case member of the heating appliance according to the embodiment, viewed from below. [Figure 9B] Figure 9B is a perspective view of the pot of the cooking appliance according to the embodiment, viewed from above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the heating appliance relating to this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0011] A heating appliance 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the heating appliance 2 with the lid 10 closed. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the heating appliance 2 with the lid 10 open. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the heating appliance 2 with the lid 10 closed.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the heating appliance 2 is a home appliance for heating and cooking food or other items to be cooked (not shown). The heating appliance 2 is an automatic cooking appliance with a pre-programmed operation sequence for each cooking menu, and is also called an "auto cooker," "multi cooker," or "slow cooker."

[0013] When using the heating appliance 2, the user first places the food to be cooked (not shown) into the pot 6. Then, the user operates the operation display unit 18 shown in Figures 1 and 3 to select a cooking menu and presses the confirm button 22.

[0014] The cooking appliance 2 heats and cooks the food to be cooked according to a predetermined program corresponding to the selected cooking menu dish (such as stew or curry). The cooking appliance 2 in this embodiment has a function to stir the food to be cooked using the stirring blades 8 shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0015] The cooking appliance 2 has a "pressure cooking" function, which involves pressurizing and cooking the food while sealing the cooking space S of the pot 6. The cooking appliance 2 also has a sealing mechanism 50 (Figure 3) for sealing the cooking space S in order to achieve both a stirring function using a stirring blade 8 and a pressure cooking function. The sealing mechanism 50 will be explained later with reference to Figures 5 and later.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cooking appliance 2 comprises a main body 4, a pot 6, a stirring blade 8, and a lid 10.

[0017] The main body 4 houses the pot 6 and other components. Various components for operating the cooking device 2 are built into the main body 4 (see Fig. 3). The main body 4 has a recess for arranging the pots 6. At the upper part of the main body 4, the lid 10 is pivotally supported.

[0018] The pot 6 can be accommodated in the recess of the main body 4 and has a cooking space S for accommodating the object to be cooked. Stirring blades 8 are arranged at the bottom of the pot 6, and ribs 9 are arranged on the inner surface of the pot 6.

[0019] The stirring blades 8 are members for stirring the object to be cooked accommodated in the cooking space S. The stirring blades 8 can rotate about the central axis of the rotating shaft 27 shown in Fig. 3. The ribs 9 are protrusions for assisting the stirring of the object to be cooked by the stirring blades 8.

[0020] The lid 10 opens and closes the upper surface opening of the recess of the main body 4 and the pot 6 accommodated in the recess. The lid 10 and the main body 4 have a handle 11 for the user to hold the cooking device 2 (see Fig. 1).

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, the lid 10 includes an outer lid 12 and an inner lid 14. The outer lid 12 opens and closes the upper surface opening of the main body 4, and the inner lid 14 is attached to the lower surface of the outer lid 12 and opens and closes the upper surface opening of the pot 6. A packing 15 is arranged around the inner lid 14. The packing 15 seals the space between the inner lid 14 and the pot 6 when the lid 10 closes the upper surface opening of the main body 4.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, the outer lid 12 has a handle 16, an operation display unit 18, and an exhaust outlet 20 arranged on its surface.

[0023] The handle 16 is a member for the user to grasp the lid 10 when opening and closing the lid 10. The user can lock or unlock the lid 10 by twisting the handle 16.

[0024] The operation display unit 18 combines the functions of an operation unit for operating the heating cooker 2 and a display unit for displaying information. The operation display unit 18 is located on the surface of the outer cover 12. The operation display unit 18 has a confirmation button 22 as part of the operation unit. The confirmation button 22 is used to select a cooking menu or to instruct the start of cooking.

[0025] The exhaust outlet 20 is an opening for discharging steam and other vapors generated in the cooking space S of the pot 6 to the outside. The exhaust outlet 20 communicates with the exhaust inlet 19 shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0026] The exhaust inlet 19 is an opening provided in the inner lid 14 and communicates with the exhaust outlet 20 through the internal flow path of the lid 10. As a result, the air in the cooking space S enters the internal flow path of the lid 10 from the exhaust inlet 19 and is discharged to the outside from the exhaust outlet 20.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, a pressure valve 24 is positioned in an internal passage connecting the exhaust inlet 19 and the exhaust outlet 20. The pressure valve 24 controls whether or not the exhaust inlet 19 communicates with the exhaust outlet 20. The pressure valve 24 is normally closed, maintaining a sealed state of the cooking space S. By sealing the cooking space S, pressurized and heated cooking of the food being cooked can be performed.

[0028] When the pressure valve 24 opens, the exhaust inlet 19 communicates with the exhaust outlet 20, and the pressure in the cooking space S drops to atmospheric pressure. The pressure valve 24 functions as a pressure control unit for controlling the pressure in the cooking space S.

[0029] The heating appliance 2 is equipped with a pressure valve drive motor 26 for driving the pressure valve 24. Each cooking menu has pre-set timings for when the pressure valve drive motor 26 opens and closes the pressure valve 24.

[0030] When the pressure valve drive motor 26 is not driving the pressure valve 24, the pressure valve 24 is normally closed. When the pressure in the cooking space S rises to a predetermined pressure (for example, 2 to 3 atmospheres), the pressure valve 24 automatically opens. This prevents the cooking space S from becoming excessively pressurized, thereby improving safety.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, the heating appliance 2 includes a heater 28, a connector 30, an output shaft 32, a gear unit 34, a drive motor 36, and a control board 38 inside the main body 4.

[0032] The heater 28 is a heat source that heats the food to be cooked in the cooking space S. In this embodiment, the heater 28 is a cast-in heater.

[0033] The rotating shaft 27 is a cylindrical member having a central axis extending in the vertical direction. The connector 30 is a member that connects the rotating shaft 27 of the stirring blade 8 to the output shaft 32.

[0034] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of connector 30. As shown in Figure 4, connector 30 includes an inner connector 30A and an outer connector 30B.

[0035] The inner connector 30A comprises a disc-shaped member having a through hole (axial hole) in the center, and two inner connector pins 30C. Each of the two inner connector pins 30C is provided on the outer circumference of the disc-shaped member so as to protrude radially and in opposite directions from one another.

[0036] When the base end 27A of the rotating shaft 27 is inserted into the shaft hole of the inner connector 30A, the base end 27A of the rotating shaft 27 is configured to engage with the shaft hole of the inner connector 30A. This allows the rotating shaft 27 to rotate integrally with the inner connector 30A. The configuration of the rotating shaft 27 will be described later.

[0037] Furthermore, when the base end 27A of the rotating shaft 27 is inserted into the shaft hole of the inner connector 30A, the diameter of the shaft hole of the inner connector 30A is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating shaft 27 so that a gap is created between the edge of the shaft hole of the inner connector 30A and the rotating shaft 27.

[0038] The outer connector 30B comprises a disc-shaped member having a through hole (axial hole) in the center, and two outer connector pins 30D. Each of the two outer connector pins 30D is positioned on the upper surface of the disc-shaped member at a point-symmetrical position with respect to the axial hole, so as to protrude vertically upward.

[0039] The tip of the output shaft 32 is inserted into and connected to the shaft hole of the outer connector 30B. This allows the output shaft 32 to always rotate integrally with the outer connector 30B.

[0040] When the output shaft 32 rotates with the rotating shaft 27 connected to the inner connector 30A and the output shaft 32 connected to the outer connector 30B, the inner connector pin 30C comes into contact with the outer connector pin 30D. This allows the rotating shaft 27 to rotate integrally with the output shaft 32.

[0041] The rotating shaft 27 is provided so as to penetrate the bottom surface of the pot 6. Therefore, the rotating shaft 27 is connected to the inner connector 30A in the space below the pot 6.

[0042] The output shaft 32 has a central axis extending vertically and is a component for transmitting rotational force from the drive motor 36 to the rotating shaft 27. The tip of the output shaft 32 is connected to the outer connector 30B. A gear unit 34 is connected to the output shaft 32, and the rotational force from the drive motor 36 is transmitted to the output shaft 32. The drive motor 36 has a motor shaft 37. The rotational force of the motor shaft 37 is transmitted to the output shaft 32 via the gear unit 34.

[0043] In this configuration, the rotational force of the drive motor 36 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 27 via the output shaft 32. The stirring blade 8 is driven to rotate around the central axis of the rotating shaft 27.

[0044] With this configuration, the inner connector 30A contacts the outer connector 30B at two points of contact, through the inner connector pin 30C and the outer connector pin 30D.

[0045] According to the above configuration, when the base end 27A of the rotating shaft 27 is inserted into the shaft hole of the inner connector 30A, the inner connector 30A makes contact with the outer connector 30B with minimal contact. At the same time, a gap is created between the shaft hole of the inner connector 30A and the rotating shaft 27.

[0046] Depending on the actual usage conditions, for example, if the food being cooked in the pot 6 becomes unevenly distributed or the pot 6 becomes unstable, the center of the rotation axis 27 may shift from the extension of the center of the output axis 32.

[0047] Unlike this embodiment, in the case of a connector where there is no gap between the rotating shaft 27 and the connector, and the two components of the connector are connected by a push-fit method or the like, if the two shafts are misaligned, a load is placed on the connector, causing noise, vibration, etc.

[0048] However, with the above configuration, even if the two shafts are slightly misaligned, the connector 30 is not subjected to any load, and the two shafts can rotate smoothly and integrally. As a result, noise, vibration, and deterioration due to friction can be prevented.

[0049] Furthermore, looseness may occur in the connector 30 depending on the connection between the inner connector 30A and the outer connector 30B. Looseness may also occur in the connector 30 when the two shafts rotate. With the above configuration, this looseness can be prevented from being directly transmitted to the shafts, and shaft eccentricity can be suppressed. As a result, wear on the lip portion of the oil seal due to shaft eccentricity can be reduced.

[0050] The control board 38 is a circuit board on which electronic components for controlling each component of the heating cooker 2 are arranged. The control board 38 is electrically connected to components such as the operation display unit 18, the pressure valve drive motor 26, the drive motor 36, and the heater 28, and controls each component based on a predetermined program.

[0051] The control board 38 includes a CPU (central processing unit) which has a semiconductor memory for storing a program and a processor for executing the program. The control board 38 functions as a control unit configured to control the cooking appliance 2.

[0052] As shown in Figure 3, the pot 6 has a through hole 40 in its bottom through which the rotating shaft 27 of the stirring blade 8 is inserted, in order to rotate the rotating shaft 27 of the stirring blade 8 with a drive motor 36. In the configuration with the through hole 40, a sealing mechanism 50 is arranged inside the stirring blade 8 to seal the cooking space S. The configuration of the sealing mechanism 50 will be explained using the drawings from Figure 5 onward.

[0053] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the stirring blade 8 and the sealing mechanism 50. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the stirring blade 8 and the sealing mechanism 50.

[0054] As shown in Figure 5, the sealing mechanism 50 is a mechanism that seals the through hole 40 in order to maintain a sealed state of the cooking space S of the pot 6. The sealing mechanism 50 is rotatable about the central axis of the rotating shaft 27 and seals the area around the rotating shaft 27.

[0055] The rotating shaft 27 has a base end 27A and a tip end 27B. The base end 27A is the base end A1 of the rotating shaft 27. The tip end 27B is the tip end A2 of the rotating shaft 27. The base end A1 of the rotating shaft 27 is the side closer to the through hole 40, and the tip end A2 of the rotating shaft 27 is the side further from the through hole 40. The base end 27A is connected to the connector 30. The tip end 27B is fitted into the mating portion 8A of the stirring blade 8.

[0056] As shown in Figure 6, the tip portion 27B of the rotating shaft 27 has a D-shaped cross-section. Similarly, the mating portion 8A of the stirring blade 8 has a D-shaped opening. When the tip portion 27B is mated with the mating portion 8A, the rotating shaft 27 can rotate integrally with the stirring blade 8.

[0057] The sealing mechanism 50 comprises a case member 52, a seal case 54, a first sealing member 56, a second sealing member 58, a bearing 60, a first washer group 62, and a second washer group 64. The first sealing member 56 seals the space between the rotating shaft 27 and the case member 52. The second sealing member 58 seals the space between the case member 52 and the inner bottom surface 66 of the pot 6.

[0058] The case member 52 houses components such as the seal case 54 and the first seal member 56. The case member 52 is positioned inside the stirring blade 8, with a gap between it and the stirring blade 8. When the stirring blade 8 rotates, the case member 52 does not obstruct the stirring blade 8. The case member 52 has a cylindrical shape that extends in the axial direction A of the rotation shaft 27 (see Figures 5 and 6), and surrounds the through hole 40 and the rotation shaft 27 from the outside.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5, the case member 52 is erected on the inner bottom surface 66 of the pot 6 by screws or the like. The inner bottom surface 66 may also be called the "erect surface". A second sealing member 58 is placed between the case member 52 and the inner bottom surface 66. The second sealing member 58 is a member that seals the space between the case member 52 and the inner bottom surface 66. In this embodiment, the second sealing member 58 is a circular rubber gasket.

[0060] The seal case 54 is a hollow cylindrical member for housing components such as the first seal member 56 and the dust seal 68 and attaching it to the case member 52. The seal case 54 has a first surface 54A and a second surface 54B.

[0061] The first surface 54A is the side surface of the cylindrical seal case 54, extending in the circumferential direction R of the rotating shaft 27 so as to surround the outer circumference of the first seal member 56. The second surface 54B is the bottom surface of the cylindrical seal case 54, located at the tip end A2 of the first surface 54A. A through hole 54C is provided in the center of the second surface 54B through which the rotating shaft 27 is inserted. A gap is formed between the edge of the through hole 54C and the rotating shaft 27.

[0062] The second surface 54B faces the first seal member 56 toward the base end A1 of the rotating shaft 27. When the first surface 54A of the seal case 54 is press-fitted into the tip of the case member 52 with a smaller diameter, the seal case 54 is attached to the inside of the case member 52.

[0063] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a dust seal 68 is positioned between the second surface 54B of the seal case 54 and the first seal member 56. The dust seal 68 is a disc-shaped member having a frustoconical portion 68A projecting upward from its center, so as to conform to the shape of the upper surface of the first seal member 56.

[0064] A through hole 68B is provided on the top surface of the frustum portion 68A, and a through hole 68C is provided on the bottom surface of the frustum portion 68A. The rotating shaft 27 is inserted through the through holes 68B and 68C. The frustum portion 68A fits into the gap between the rotating shaft 27 and the edge of the through hole 54C provided on the second surface 54B of the seal case 54.

[0065] This shape prevents foreign matter, such as food being cooked, from entering the sealing mechanism 50. This prevents foreign matter from sticking to the rotating shaft 27. The dust seal only needs to be able to prevent foreign matter from entering the sealing mechanism 50. Therefore, the dust seal does not need to have a frustoconical portion 68A as long as it is a hollow disc-shaped member that conforms to the shape of the first sealing member 56.

[0066] The first sealing member 56 seals the space between the rotating shaft 27 and the case member 52. The first sealing member 56 abuts against the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 27 and, together with the sealing case 54, seals the space between the rotating shaft 27 and the case member 52.

[0067] The first sealing member 56 seals the space between the rotating shaft 27 and the case member 52, and the second sealing member 58 seals the space between the case member 52 and the inner bottom surface 66. This allows the rotating shaft 27 and the stirring blade 8 to rotate while isolating the cooking space S of the pot 6 from the through hole 40. As a result, stirring by the stirring blade 8 and pressurized and heated cooking of the food being cooked can be achieved simultaneously.

[0068] As shown in Figure 5, the through hole 40 does not have a sealing member directly provided to seal the rotating shaft 27. That is, a gap is formed between the edge of the through hole 40 and the rotating shaft 27. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the through hole 40 compared to when the through hole 40 is directly sealed, and the tip side A2 portion of the rotating shaft 27 can be sealed using the first sealing member 56. As a result, it is possible to suppress foreign matter from adhering to the rotating shaft 27.

[0069] When the cooking space S is pressurized during cooking, high pressure acts on the components of the sealing mechanism 50 exposed to the cooking space S, such as the case member 52, the seal case 54, and the first sealing member 56.

[0070] The heating cooker 2 of this embodiment has a first oil seal 70 and a second oil seal 72 as the first sealing member 56, which have pressure resistance. The first oil seal 70 and the second oil seal 72 make it possible to achieve both sealing performance that rotatably seals the rotating shaft 27 and pressure resistance against pressurization. Details will be described later.

[0071] The bearing 60 is positioned around the rotating shaft 27 between the first sealing member 56 and the through hole 40, and rotatably supports the rotating shaft 27. The bearing 60 stabilizes the rotation of the rotating shaft 27. In this embodiment, the bearing 60 is supported by a bearing support portion 74 provided on the inner circumference of the case member 52.

[0072] Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first sealing member 56.

[0073] As shown in Figure 7, the first oil seal 70 and the second oil seal 72 are housed in the seal case 54. The first oil seal 70 is positioned on the tip side A2 of the rotating shaft 27 relative to the second oil seal 72.

[0074] The first oil seal 70 has a shape in which the central part protrudes upward and includes a seal lip 76, a dust lip 78, and a spring 80.

[0075] The seal lip 76 and dust lip 78 contact the rotating shaft 27 to form a seal. The seal lip 76 and dust lip 78 have a shape that protrudes toward the rotating shaft 27 and are integrally formed from an elastic material such as rubber.

[0076] The spring 80 is positioned around the seal lip 76 and biases the seal lip 76 toward the rotation axis 27.

[0077] The seal lip 76 is biased by the spring 80 and is the main lip that has stronger sealing properties than the dust lip 78. The dust lip 78 is an auxiliary lip that prevents foreign matter from entering and also holds lubricants such as grease.

[0078] The second oil seal 72 includes a dust lip 82 and a spring 84.

[0079] The dust lip 82 contacts the rotating shaft 27 to form a seal and retains lubricants such as grease that leak from the first oil seal 70. The double dust lip structure formed by the dust lip 78 of the first oil seal 70 and the dust lip 82 of the second oil seal 72 improves the function of retaining lubricants. As a result, the durability of the first sealing member 56 can be improved.

[0080] The spring 84 biases the dust lip 82 toward the rotating shaft 27. The spring 84 improves the sealing performance of the dust lip 82 and further enhances its lubricant retention function.

[0081] As shown in Figure 7, the portion of the rotating shaft 27 that the first sealing member 56 contacts is an enlarged diameter portion 27C having a larger diameter than other portions. By bringing the enlarged diameter portion 27C into contact with the first sealing member 56, the peripheral speed of the rotating shaft 27 is locally increased. This allows for the stable formation of an oil film between the rotating shaft 27 and the first sealing member 56. As a result, the sealing performance of the first sealing member 56 can be improved.

[0082] A first washer group 62 is positioned at the base end A1 of the rotation axis 27 of the first sealing member 56. The first washer group 62 comprises a dust seal 86, an E-ring 88, and a bake washer 90.

[0083] The dust seal 86 is made of metal, thermosetting resin, or the like. Considering wear and breakage of the shaft due to rotation, it is preferable that the dust seal 86 be made of metal. The dust seal 86 prevents foreign matter such as food being cooked from entering the base end A1 if it passes through the first oil seal 70 and the second oil seal 72.

[0084] The E-ring 88 prevents components such as the first sealing member 56 from coming off the base end A1 of the rotating shaft 27. The E-ring 88 is positioned in a locally recessed area of ​​the rotating shaft 27. The bake washer 90 is made of, for example, a thermosetting resin and suppresses wear of the bearing 60 due to the rotation of the rotating shaft 27.

[0085] Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bearing 60. Figure 9A is a perspective view of the case member 52 from below. Figure 9B is a perspective view of the pan 6 on which the case member 52 is erected, from above.

[0086] As shown in Figure 8, the bearing 60 is supported by a bearing support portion 74 (see Figure 9A) provided on the inner circumference of the case member 52. The bearing 60 has an enlarged diameter portion 60A at the tip side A2 of the rotating shaft 27, which has a larger diameter than the rest of the bearing. The bearing 60 is supported by the bearing support portion 74 by the enlarged diameter portion 60A contacting the upper surface of the bearing support portion 74.

[0087] This prevents the bearing 60 from coming out of the base end A1 of the rotating shaft 27. The enlarged diameter portion 27C (see Figure 7) of the rotating shaft 27 is provided at the tip end A2 of the rotating shaft 27. The enlarged diameter portion 27C also prevents the bearing 60 from coming out of the tip end A2 of the rotating shaft 27.

[0088] As shown in Figure 9A, in addition to the bearing support portion 74, a mounting portion 98 is provided on the inner circumference of the case member 52. The mounting portion 98 fixes the case member 52 to the bottom of the pot 6. In this embodiment, a plurality of (in this case, three) mounting portions 98 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction R. Each of the plurality of mounting portions 98 has a mounting hole 100.

[0089] As shown in Figure 9B, a through-hole 40 is formed in the through-hole forming surface 67 at the bottom of the pot 6. The through-hole forming surface 67 has a plurality of mounting holes 102. Each of the plurality of mounting holes 102 is a through-hole provided in the corresponding mounting hole among the plurality of mounting holes 100 shown in Figure 9A.

[0090] When the case member 52 is erected on the inner bottom surface 66 of the pot 6, the mounting portion 98 of the case member 52 faces the through-hole forming surface 67. At the same time, each of the multiple mounting holes 100 faces the corresponding mounting hole of the multiple mounting holes 102.

[0091] By inserting a fixing member such as a screw into the mounting hole 102 from the underside of the pot 6, the case member 52 is fixed to the bottom of the pot 6 via the mounting holes 102 and 100. By removing the fixing member from the bottom of the pot 6, the case member 52 can be removed from the pot 6, and the sealing mechanism 50 including the case member 52 can be easily removed.

[0092] As shown in Figure 9B, the through-hole forming surface 67 is formed to protrude inward from the inner bottom surface 66 of the pot 6. This configuration makes it easier to place the pot 6 in the recess of the main body 4 than if it protruded outward. When the pot 6 is removed from the main body 4, the through-hole forming surface 67 does not obstruct it, allowing the pot 6 to stand upright easily.

[0093] Returning to Figure 8, the second washer group 64 is positioned at the base end A1 of the rotating shaft 27 of the bearing 60. The second washer group 64 comprises a baker washer 92, a spring washer 94, and an oil receiving washer 96.

[0094] The bake washer 92 is made of, for example, a thermosetting resin and suppresses wear of the bearing 60 due to the rotation of the rotating shaft 27. The spring washer 94 suppresses thrust play along the axial direction A of the rotating shaft 27 to reduce noise. The oil receiving washer 96 catches the lubricant that leaks from the bearing 60.

[0095] The heating cooker 2 of this embodiment has a configuration in which a rotating shaft 27 is inserted through a through hole 40 provided in the bottom of the pot 6 to rotate the stirring blade 8. In this configuration, the sealing mechanism 50 isolates the cooking space S of the pot 6 from the through hole 40. This makes it possible to achieve both stirring by the stirring blade 8 and pressurized and heated cooking of the food being cooked.

[0096] In the heating cooker 2 of this embodiment, the sealing mechanism 50 includes a first sealing member 56, and the first sealing member 56 includes a first oil seal 70 and a second oil seal 72. This makes it possible to achieve both sealing performance that rotatably seals the rotating shaft 27 and pressure resistance against pressurization. Since expensive sealing members such as mechanical seals are not used, costs can be reduced.

[0097] In the heating appliance 2 of this embodiment, the first sealing member 56 is provided with two stages of oil seals (first oil seal 70, second oil seal 72), which makes it more difficult for lubricants such as grease to leak, and improves the durability of the sealing mechanism 50.

[0098] As shown in Figure 5, the space inside the case member 52 is isolated from the cooking space S of the pot 6, and the space in which the bearing 60, the first washer group 62, and the second washer group 64 are arranged is maintained at atmospheric pressure. As a result, the stirring blade 8 can rotate stably around the central axis of the rotation shaft 27.

[0099] As described above, the heating cooker 2 of this embodiment comprises a pot 6, a lid 10, a heater 28, a rotating shaft 27, a stirring blade 8, a drive motor 36, a pressure valve 24, and a sealing mechanism 50.

[0100] The pot 6 contains the food to be cooked. The lid 10 covers the top opening of the pot 6 so that it can be opened and closed. The heater 28 is a heat source for heating the pot 6. The rotating shaft 27 is inserted through a through hole 40 provided in the pot 6 and protrudes into the pot 6. The stirring blade 8 is attached to the rotating shaft 27. The drive motor 36 rotates the rotating shaft 27. The pressure valve 24 is a pressure control unit that controls the pressure inside the pot 6. The sealing mechanism 50 isolates the cooking space S inside the pot 6 from the through hole 40.

[0101] According to this embodiment, even if a through-hole 40 through which the rotating shaft 27 is inserted is provided in the pot 6, the sealing mechanism 50 can isolate the cooking space S of the pot 6 from the through-hole 40. This allows the food to be cooked in the cooking space S to be heated while the cooking space S is sealed and pressurized. As a result, cooking can be done in a shorter time than when cooking is simply done without pressurizing the cooking space S.

[0102] By combining stirring of the food being cooked by the stirring blades 8 with pressurized and heated cooking, it is possible to achieve unprecedented functionality in the cooking appliance 2. This improves the functionality of the cooking appliance 2.

[0103] The heating appliance 2 of this embodiment is erected in a pot 6 that forms a through hole 40 and further comprises a cylindrical case member 52 that surrounds the through hole 40 and the rotating shaft 27 from the outside. The sealing mechanism 50 comprises a first sealing member 56 that seals the space between the rotating shaft 27 and the case member 52.

[0104] According to this embodiment, by sealing a position different from the through hole 40, the first sealing member 56 can seal the tip side A2 of the rotating shaft 27 more effectively than when the through hole 40 is directly sealed. This prevents foreign matter from adhering to the rotating shaft 27 and also makes it possible to design the through hole 40 to be smaller.

[0105] In the heating cooker 2 of this embodiment, the first sealing member 56 has a first oil seal 70 and a second oil seal 72. By sealing the space between the rotating shaft 27 and the case member 52 with the oil seals, it is possible to achieve both a sealing performance that rotatably seals the rotating shaft 27 and pressure resistance against pressurization.

[0106] In the heating cooker 2 of this embodiment, the oil seal includes a first oil seal 70 and a second oil seal 72. The second oil seal 72 is positioned closer to the through hole 40 than the first oil seal 70. By arranging two stages of oil seals (first oil seal 70 and second oil seal 72), lubricants such as grease are less likely to leak, and the durability of the sealing mechanism 50 is improved.

[0107] In the heating appliance 2 of this embodiment, the first oil seal 70 includes a seal lip 76 and a dust lip 78. By providing the dust lip 78 to the first oil seal 70, lubricant leakage can be made less likely, and durability is improved.

[0108] The heating appliance 2 of this embodiment further comprises a seal case 54 that is press-fitted into the case member 52. The seal case 54 has a first surface 54A and a second surface 54B. The first surface 54A surrounds the outer circumference of the first seal member 56. The second surface 54B faces the first seal member 56 in the direction toward the through hole 40 (the base end side A1 of the rotation axis 27).

[0109] The first sealing member 56 can be easily attached by press-fitting the sealing case 54 containing the first sealing member 56 into the case member 52.

[0110] In the seal case 54, the dust seal 68, the first oil seal 70, and the second oil seal 72 are arranged in the vertical direction (axial direction A of the rotation axis 27). By arranging the dust seal 68, the first oil seal 70, and the second oil seal 72 coaxially without any gaps, leakage of lubricant and pressure, as well as contamination of food ingredients, can be prevented.

[0111] The heating appliance 2 of this embodiment includes a dust seal 68 positioned between the second surface 54B of the seal case 54 and the first seal member 56. According to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the ingress of foreign matter into the first seal member 56 and to suppress the adhesion of foreign matter to the rotating shaft 27.

[0112] The heating appliance 2 of this embodiment further includes a second sealing member 58 that seals the space between the case member 52 and the inner bottom surface 66 of the pot 6. According to this embodiment, the case member 52 can be configured to be detachably attached to the pot 6, and the sealing mechanism 50 can be easily replaced.

[0113] The heating appliance 2 of this embodiment further includes a bearing 60 positioned around the rotating shaft 27 between the first sealing member 56 and the through hole 40. In the heating appliance 2, the bearing 60 allows the rotating shaft 27 to function stably. Since the area around the bearing 60 is isolated from the cooking space S of the pot 6, similar to the through hole 40, the bearing 60 can function stably.

[0114] In the heating appliance 2 of this embodiment, the case member 52 has a bearing support portion 74 that supports the bearing 60. According to this embodiment, the bearing 60 can be made to function stably.

[0115] In the heating cooker 2 of this embodiment, the pot 6 has a through-hole forming surface 67 in which through-holes 40 are formed. The through-hole forming surface 67 is positioned to protrude into the pot from the inner bottom surface 66 (upright surface) on which the case member 52 is erected. According to this embodiment, the pot 6 can be easily placed inside the main body 4. When the pot 6 is removed, it can be easily made to stand upright without being obstructed by the through-hole forming surface 67.

[0116] In the heating appliance 2 of this embodiment, the stirring blade 8 is fitted to the tip portion 27B of the rotating shaft 27 and is positioned to cover the case member 52 from the outside. According to this embodiment, the stirring blade 8 can be easily attached to the rotating shaft 27.

[0117] In the heating appliance 2 of this embodiment, a rotating shaft 27 is inserted through the through hole 40. The pot 6 has a gap around the rotating shaft 27 in the through hole 40. According to this embodiment, there is no need to provide a sealing member to directly seal the through hole 40, and it is possible to design the through hole 40 to be smaller. As a result, the heating appliance 2 can be made smaller.

[0118] In the heating cooker 2 of this embodiment, the through-hole 40 is formed in the pot 6. By forming the through-hole 40 in the pot 6 and arranging the rotating shaft 27 and stirring blade 8 in the pot 6, the food being cooked can be stirred from below.

[0119] The heating appliance 2 of this embodiment includes a pressure control unit that controls the pressure inside the pot 6, and is equipped with a pressure valve 24 that opens and closes according to the pressure inside the pot 6. According to this embodiment, the pressure valve 24 opens automatically when the pressure in the cooking space S exceeds a predetermined pressure, so it is possible to prevent the pressure in the cooking space S from becoming excessively high. As a result, safety can be improved.

[0120] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in the embodiment, the rotating shaft 27 is provided on the pot 6. However, the rotating shaft 27 may be provided on the lid 10. In other words, the rotating shaft 27 may be provided on either the pot 6 or the lid 10.

[0121] In this embodiment, a heater 28 that heats the bottom of the pot 6 is used as a heat source for heating the food to be cooked. However, any heat source can be used as long as it can heat the food to be cooked indirectly or directly.

[0122] In this embodiment, a pressure valve 24 is used as a pressure control unit to control the pressure inside the pot 6. However, any means can be used as long as the pressure inside the pot 6 can be controlled. [Industrial applicability]

[0123] As stated above, this disclosure is applicable to cooking appliances. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0124] 2 Cooker 4. Main body 6. Pot 8. Agitation blades 8A Engagement part 9 Ribs 10 Lid 11 Handle 12 Outer lid 14 Inner lid 15 Gasket 16 Handle 18 Operation display section 19 Exhaust Inlet 20 Exhaust outlet 22 Confirm button 24 Pressure valve 26 Pressure valve drive motor 27 Rotation axis 27A Proximal end 27B Tip 27C Expanded diameter part 28 Heater 30 connectors 30A internal connector 30B outer connector 30C Inner Connector Pins 30D Outer connector pins 32 Output shaft 34 Gear Unit 36 Drive motor 37 Motor shaft 38 Control board 40 Through holes 50 Seal mechanism 52 Case components 54 Seal Cases 54A 1st page 54B 2nd side 54C through hole 56 First sealing member 58 Second sealing member 60 bearings 60A Enlarged diameter section 62. Group 1 Washers 64. Second Washer Group 66 Inner bottom surface 67 Through hole forming surface 68 Dust seal 68A Truncated cone section 68B through hole 68C through hole 70 First oil seal 72. Second oil seal 74 Bearing support part 76 Seal Lip 78 Dust Trip 80 Spring 82 Dust Trip 84 Spring 86 Dust Seal 88E ring 90 Bake Washers 92 Bake Washer 94 Spring Washer 96 Oil pan washer 98 Mounting part 100 mounting holes 102 Mounting holes

Claims

1. A pot configured to contain food to be cooked, A lid that can be opened and closed to cover the aforementioned pot, A heat source configured to heat the aforementioned pot, A rotating shaft is inserted through a through hole provided in the pot or lid and protrudes into the pot, A stirring blade attached to the aforementioned rotating shaft, A drive motor configured to rotate the aforementioned rotating shaft, A pressure control unit configured to control the pressure inside the pot, A heating appliance comprising a sealing mechanism that isolates the space inside the pot from the through-hole.

2. The pot or lid in which the through hole is formed is erected, and the cylindrical case member further comprises the through hole and the rotating shaft from the outside, The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a first sealing member that seals the space between the rotating shaft and the case member.

3. The heating appliance according to claim 2, wherein the first sealing member has an oil seal.

4. The cooking appliance according to claim 3, wherein the oil seal comprises a first oil seal and a second oil seal positioned closer to the through hole than the first oil seal.

5. The heating appliance according to claim 4, wherein the first oil seal comprises a seal lip and a dust lip.

6. A heating appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a seal case having a first surface surrounding the outer circumference of the first seal member and a second surface facing the first seal member in the direction toward the through hole, and press-fitted into the case member.

7. The heating appliance according to claim 6, further comprising a dust seal disposed between the second surface of the seal case and the first sealing member.

8. A heating appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising a second sealing member that seals the space between the case member and the upright surface of the pot or the lid.

9. A heating appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 8, further comprising a bearing disposed around the rotating shaft between the first sealing member and the through hole.

10. The heating appliance according to claim 9, wherein the case member has a bearing support portion that supports the bearing.

11. The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the pot or the lid has a through-hole forming surface in which the through-hole is formed, and the through-hole forming surface is arranged to protrude into the pot from an upright surface on which the case member is erected.

12. The stirring blade is fitted to the tip of the rotating shaft and covers the case member from the outside, as described in any one of claims 2 to 11.

13. The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the pot or lid has a gap around the rotating shaft in the through hole.

14. The heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the pressure control unit is equipped with a pressure valve configured to open and close in accordance with the pressure inside the pot.

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