Heating Regulator

Abstract

A heating cooker (2) is provided with a pan (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 pan (6) accommodates a food to be cooked. The lid (10) opens and closes freely and covers the pan (6). The heat source (28) heats the pan (6). The rotating shaft (27) is inserted through a through hole (40) provided in the pan (6) or the lid (10) and protrudes out into the pan (6). The stirring blade (8) is attached to the rotating shaft (27). The drive motor (36) rotationally drives the rotating shaft (27). The pressure control unit (24) controls the pressure in the pan (6). The sealing mechanism (50) isolates the space (S) in the pan (6) from the through hole (40).

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, cooking devices for heating and cooking food or other foodstuffs placed in a pot have been known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] In the cooker described in Patent Document 1, a stirring blade is placed on the bottom of the pot, and the food is cooked by rotating the stirring blade. A magnet is used to rotate the stirring blade inside the pot. In the cooker described in Patent Document 2, a motor rotates the stirring blade placed on the lid. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 5345705 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent No. 5824395 Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the magnet is easily affected by heat, and the stirring blade may not rotate stably. In the configuration of Patent Document 2, a through hole must be provided to allow the stirring blade's rotation shaft to protrude into the pot. This makes it difficult to pressure-cook and heat the food to be cooked while maintaining a sealed state inside the pot. Therefore, the present disclosure aims to improve the functionality of a cooking appliance.

[0006] The cooking device of the present disclosure includes a pot, a lid, a heat source, a rotating shaft, a stirring blade, a drive motor, a pressure control unit, and a sealing mechanism. The pot contains food to be cooked. The lid covers the pot in an openable and closable manner.

[0007] The heat source heats the pot. The rotating shaft is inserted into a through-hole in the pot or the lid and protrudes into the pot. The stirring blade is 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 the present disclosure, the functionality of a cooking device can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with its lid closed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooking device according to the embodiment with the lid open. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cooking device according to the embodiment with the lid closed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connector in the cooking device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing mechanism of a cooking device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the sealing mechanism of the cooking device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first seal member of the cooking device according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a bearing of the cooking device according to the embodiment. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a case member of a cooking device according to an embodiment, viewed from below. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the pot of the cooking device according to the embodiment, seen from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a cooking device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] A cooking device 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 cooking device 2 with the lid 10 closed. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cooking device 2 with the lid 10 open. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cooking device 2 with the lid 10 closed.

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

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

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

[0015] Cooker 2 has a "pressure-cooking" function in particular, which applies pressure to food to be cooked while sealing cooking space S of pot 6. Cooker 2 also has a sealing mechanism 50 (FIG. 3) for sealing cooking space S, in order to achieve both the stirring function using stirring blade 8 and the pressure-cooking function. Sealing mechanism 50 will be described later with reference to FIG. 5 and subsequent figures.

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

[0017] The main body 4 accommodates the pot 6 and other components. Various parts for operating the cooking appliance 2 are built into the main body 4 (see FIG. 3). The main body 4 has a recess for placing the pot 6. A lid 10 is pivotally supported on the top of the main body 4.

[0018] Pot 6 can be accommodated in the recess of main body 4, and has a cooking space S for accommodating food to be cooked. A stirring blade 8 is arranged at the bottom of pot 6, and ribs 9 are arranged on the inner surface of pot 6.

[0019] The stirring blade 8 is a member for stirring the food contained in the cooking space S. The stirring blade 8 is rotatable around the central axis of the rotation shaft 27 shown in Figure 3. The rib 9 is a protrusion that assists the stirring blade 8 in stirring the food.

[0020] Lid 10 is capable of freely opening and closing and covers the recess of main body 4 and the top opening of pot 6 accommodated in the recess. Lid 10 and main body 4 have handles 11 that allow a user to hold cooking appliance 2 (see FIG. 1).

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, lid 10 comprises outer lid 12 and inner lid 14. Outer lid 12 covers the top opening of main body 4 in an openable and closable manner, and inner lid 14 is attached to the underside of outer lid 12 and covers the top opening of pot 6 in an openable and closable manner. Gasket 15 is disposed around inner lid 14. Gasket 15 seals the gap between inner lid 14 and pot 6 when lid 10 closes the top opening of 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 that a user grips when opening or closing the lid 10. The user can lock or unlock the lid 10 by twisting the handle 16.

[0024] The operation and display unit 18 functions both as an operation unit for operating the cooking appliance 2 and as a display unit for displaying information. The operation and display unit 18 is disposed on the surface of the outer lid 12. The operation and display unit 18 has a decision button 22 as part of the operation unit. The decision button 22 is used to select a cooking menu and to give a command to start cooking.

[0025] Exhaust outlet 20 is an opening for discharging steam and the like generated in cooking space S of pot 6 to the outside. Exhaust outlet 20 communicates with exhaust inlet 19 shown in FIGS.

[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, 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 disposed in the internal flow path connecting the exhaust inlet 19 and the exhaust outlet 20. The pressure valve 24 controls whether the exhaust inlet 19 is connected to the exhaust outlet 20. The pressure valve 24 is normally closed, keeping the cooking space S sealed. By sealing the cooking space S, food can be cooked under pressure and with heat.

[0028] When the pressure valve 24 is opened, 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 device for controlling the pressure in the cooking space S.

[0029] The cooking device 2 includes a pressure valve drive motor 26 for driving the pressure valve 24. For each cooking menu, the timing at which the pressure valve drive motor 26 opens and closes the pressure valve 24 is set in advance.

[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 above a predetermined pressure (for example, 2 to 3 atmospheres), the pressure valve 24 automatically opens. This prevents the cooking space S from becoming overly pressurized, improving safety.

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

[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 agitating blade 8 to the output shaft 32.

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

[0035] The inner connector 30A includes a disk-shaped member having a through-hole (axial hole) in the center, and two inner connector pins 30C. The two inner connector pins 30C are provided on the outer periphery of the disk-shaped member so as to protrude radially in opposite directions.

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

[0038] The outer connector 30B includes a disk-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 provided on the top surface of the disk-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 a shaft hole of the outer connector 30B, so that the output shaft 32 can always rotate integrally with the outer connector 30B.

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

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

[0042] The output shaft 32 has a central axis extending in the vertical direction and is a member for transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor 36 to the rotary 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 of 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] With this configuration, the rotational force of the drive motor 36 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 27 via the output shaft 32. The stirring blade 8 is driven to rotate around the central axis of the rotary shaft 27.

[0044] With this configuration, the inner connector 30A comes into contact with the outer connector 30B at two contact points, the inner connector pins 30C and the outer connector pins 30D.

[0045] According to the above configuration, when the base end 27A of the rotating shaft 27 is inserted into the axial hole of the inner connector 30A, the inner connector 30A comes into contact with the outer connector 30B at a small number of contact points. At the same time, a gap is generated between the axial hole of the inner connector 30A and the rotating shaft 27.

[0046] Depending on the actual conditions of use, for example, if the food to be cooked in the pot 6 becomes uneven or the pot 6 becomes wobbly, the center of the rotation shaft 27 may become displaced from the extension of the center of the output shaft 32 .

[0047] Unlike this embodiment, in the case of a connector in which there is no gap between the rotating shaft 27 and the connector and the two components of the connector are connected by a plug-in fitting 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 two shafts can rotate smoothly and integrally without placing a load on connector 30. As a result, noise, vibration, and deterioration due to friction can be prevented.

[0049] Furthermore, rattles may occur in the connector 30 depending on the connection state between the inner connector 30A and the outer connector 30B. The connector 30 may also rattle when the two shafts rotate. The above configuration prevents this rattle from being directly transmitted to the shafts, thereby suppressing eccentricity of the shafts. As a result, wear on the lip portion of the oil seal due to eccentricity of the shafts can be reduced.

[0050] The control board 38 is a board on which electronic components are arranged to control each component of the cooking appliance 2. 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 semiconductor memory that stores a program and a CPU (central processing unit) that has 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, pot 6 has a through-hole 40 at its bottom through which rotating shaft 27 is inserted in order to rotate rotating shaft 27 of mixing blade 8 with drive motor 36. In a configuration with through-hole 40, a sealing mechanism 50 is disposed inside mixing blade 8 to seal cooking space S. The configuration of sealing mechanism 50 will be described with reference to Figure 5 and subsequent figures.

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

[0054] 5, sealing mechanism 50 is a mechanism that seals through-hole 40 to keep cooking space S of pot 6 sealed. Sealing mechanism 50 allows rotation around the central axis of rotating shaft 27 and seals the periphery of rotating shaft 27.

[0055] The rotating shaft 27 has a base end 27A and a tip end 27B. The base end 27A is the end of the base end side A1 of the rotating shaft 27. The tip end 27B is the end of the tip side A2 of the rotating shaft 27. The base end side A1 of the rotating shaft 27 is the side closer to the through hole 40, and the tip side A2 of the rotating shaft 27 is the side farther from the through hole 40. The base end 27A is connected to the connector 30. The tip end 27B is engaged with the engagement portion 8A of the agitating blade 8.

[0056] 6, tip 27B of rotating shaft 27 has a D-shaped cross section. Similarly, engagement portion 8A of mixing blade 8 has an opening with a D-shaped cross section. When tip 27B engages with engagement portion 8A, rotating shaft 27 can rotate integrally with mixing blade 8.

[0057] Sealing mechanism 50 includes case member 52, seal case 54, first sealing member 56, second sealing member 58, bearing 60, first washer group 62, and second washer group 64. First sealing member 56 seals between rotating shaft 27 and case member 52. Second sealing member 58 seals between case member 52 and an inner bottom surface 66 of pot 6.

[0058] Case member 52 houses members such as seal case 54 and first seal member 56. Case member 52 is arranged inside agitator blade 8 with a gap between it and agitator blade 8. When agitator blade 8 rotates, case member 52 does not interfere with agitator blade 8. Case member 52 has a cylindrical shape extending in axial direction A of rotating shaft 27 (see Figures 5 and 6), and surrounds through-hole 40 and rotating shaft 27 from the outside.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 5, case member 52 is attached to inner bottom surface 66 of pot 6 by screws or the like. Inner bottom surface 66 may also be referred to as the "attachment surface." A second seal member 58 is disposed between case member 52 and inner bottom surface 66. Second seal member 58 is a member that seals the gap between case member 52 and inner bottom surface 66. In this embodiment, second seal member 58 is a circular rubber packing.

[0060] The seal case 54 is a hollow cylindrical member that houses members such as the first seal member 56 and the dust seal 68 and is attached 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 a side surface of the cylindrical seal case 54 that extends in the circumferential direction R of the rotating shaft 27 so as to surround the outer periphery of the first seal member 56. The second surface 54B is a bottom surface of the cylindrical seal case 54 that is provided at the end of the tip side A2 of the first surface 54A. A through hole 54C, through which the rotating shaft 27 is inserted, is provided in the center of the second surface 54B. 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 side A1 of the rotary shaft 27. When the first surface 54A of the seal case 54 is press-fitted into the tip end portion of the case member 52, the diameter of which has been reduced, the seal case 54 is attached to the inside of the case member 52.

[0063] 5 and 6, a dust seal 68 is disposed between the second surface 54B of the seal case 54 and the first seal member 56. The dust seal 68 is a disk-shaped member having a truncated cone portion 68A that protrudes upward near its center so as to fit the shape of the upper surface of the first seal member 56.

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

[0065] Due to this shape, the dust seal 68 prevents foreign matter, such as food to be cooked, from entering the interior of the sealing mechanism 50. This prevents foreign matter from adhering to the rotating shaft 27. The dust seal may be any member that can prevent foreign matter from entering the interior of the sealing mechanism 50. Therefore, the dust seal does not need to have the truncated cone portion 68A as long as it is a hollow, disc-shaped member that follows the shape of the first sealing member 56.

[0066] The first seal member 56 seals the gap between the rotary shaft 27 and the case member 52. The first seal member 56 abuts against the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 27, and together with the seal case 54, seals the gap between the rotary shaft 27 and the case member 52.

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

[0068] 5, no seal member for sealing the rotating shaft 27 is directly provided in the through hole 40. That is, a gap is formed between the edge of the through hole 40 and the rotating shaft 27. This allows the dimensions of the through hole 40 to be smaller than when the through hole 40 is directly sealed, and also allows the tip side A2 of the rotating shaft 27 to be sealed using the first seal member 56. As a result, foreign matter can be prevented 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 seal member 56.

[0070] Cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment has first oil seal 70 and second oil seal 72, which are pressure-resistant, as first seal member 56. First oil seal 70 and second oil seal 72 can achieve both sealing performance for rotatably sealing rotary shaft 27 and pressure resistance against pressurization. Details will be described later.

[0071] The bearing 60 is disposed around the rotary shaft 27 between the first seal member 56 and the through hole 40, and rotatably supports the rotary shaft 27. The bearing 60 stabilizes the rotation of the rotary shaft 27. In the present embodiment, the bearing 60 is supported by a bearing support portion 74 provided on the inner periphery of the case member 52.

[0072] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first seal member 56. As shown in FIG.

[0073] 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 disposed on the tip side A2 of the rotary shaft 27 relative to the second oil seal 72.

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

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

[0076] A spring 80 is disposed around the seal lip 76 and biases the seal lip 76 toward the rotary shaft 27 .

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

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

[0079] The dust lip 82 abuts against the rotating shaft 27 to form a seal and retains lubricant such as grease that leaks 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 lubricant. As a result, the durability of the first seal member 56 can be improved.

[0080] The spring 84 biases the dust lip 82 toward the rotary shaft 27. The spring 84 improves the sealing performance of the dust lip 82, further improving the lubricant retention function.

[0081] As shown in Figure 7, the portion of the rotating shaft 27 that the first seal member 56 abuts against is an expanded diameter portion 27C that has a larger diameter than the other portions. By abutting the expanded diameter portion 27C against the first seal member 56, the peripheral speed of the rotating shaft 27 is locally increased. This allows an oil film to be stably formed between the rotating shaft 27 and the first seal member 56. As a result, the sealing performance of the first seal member 56 can be improved.

[0082] A first washer group 62 is disposed on the base end side A1 of the rotary shaft 27 of the first seal member 56. The first washer group 62 includes 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 shaft wear and damage due to rotation, the dust seal 86 is preferably made of metal. When foreign matter such as food passes through the first oil seal 70 and the second oil seal 72, the dust seal 86 prevents the foreign matter from entering the base end side A1.

[0084] The E-ring 88 prevents members such as the first seal member 56 from slipping off to the base end side A1 of the rotating shaft 27. The E-ring 88 is placed in a locally recessed recess in 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 rotation of the rotating shaft 27.

[0085] Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of bearing 60. Fig. 9A is a perspective view of case member 52 as seen from below. Fig. 9B is a perspective view of pot 6 on which case member 52 is erected as seen from above.

[0086] 8, the bearing 60 is supported by a bearing support portion 74 (see FIG. 9A) provided on the inner periphery of the case member 52. The bearing 60 has an expanded diameter portion 60A, which has a larger diameter than the other portions, on the tip side A2 of the rotary shaft 27. The bearing 60 is supported by the bearing support portion 74 when the expanded diameter portion 60A abuts against the upper surface of the bearing support portion 74.

[0087] This prevents the bearing 60 from slipping out onto the base end side A1 of the rotating shaft 27. The above-mentioned expanded diameter portion 27C (see FIG. 7) of the rotating shaft 27 is provided on the tip end side A2 of the rotating shaft 27. The expanded diameter portion 27C also prevents the bearing 60 from slipping out onto the tip end side A2 of the rotating shaft 27.

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

[0089] As shown in Figure 9B, through holes 40 are formed in through hole forming surface 67 at the bottom of pot 6. 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 a corresponding one of the plurality of mounting holes 100 shown in Figure 9A.

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

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

[0092] As shown in Figure 9B, through-hole forming surface 67 is formed so as to protrude from inner bottom surface 66 toward the inside of pot 6. This configuration makes it easier to place pot 6 in the recess of main body 4 than if it protruded outward. When pot 6 is removed from main body 4, through-hole forming surface 67 does not get in the way and pot 6 can easily stand up on its own.

[0093] 8, the second washer group 64 is disposed on the base end side A1 of the rotary shaft 27 of the bearing 60. The second washer group 64 includes a bake 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 on the bearing 60 due to rotation of the rotating shaft 27. The spring washer 94 suppresses rattle in the thrust direction along the axial direction A of the rotating shaft 27 in order to reduce noise. The oil receiving washer 96 catches lubricant that leaks from the bearing 60.

[0095] Cooking device 2 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which rotating shaft 27 is inserted into through-hole 40 provided in the bottom of pot 6 to rotate stirring blade 8. In this configuration, sealing mechanism 50 separates cooking space S of pot 6 from through-hole 40. This allows stirring by stirring blade 8 and pressurizing and cooking of the food to be cooked to be compatible.

[0096] In the cooking device 2 of the present 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 a seal 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 cooking device 2 of this embodiment, the first sealing member 56 has 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, thereby improving the durability of the sealing mechanism 50.

[0098] 5, the space inside case member 52 is isolated from cooking space S of pot 6, and the space in which bearing 60, first washer group 62, and second washer group 64 are disposed is maintained at atmospheric pressure. This allows stirring blade 8 to rotate stably around the central axis of rotating shaft 27.

[0099] As described above, the cooking device 2 of this embodiment includes the pot 6, the lid 10, the heater 28, the rotating shaft 27, the stirring blade 8, the drive motor 36, the pressure valve 24, and the 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 as to be able to open and close freely. The heater 28 is a heat source for heating the pot 6. The rotating shaft 27 is inserted into 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 drives the rotating shaft 27 to rotate. 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 pot 6 is provided with through-hole 40 through which rotating shaft 27 is inserted, sealing mechanism 50 can isolate cooking space S of pot 6 from through-hole 40. This allows the food to be cooked in cooking space S while sealing and pressurizing cooking space S. As a result, cooking can be completed in a shorter time than when cooking is simply performed without pressurizing cooking space S.

[0102] By combining the stirring of the food to be cooked by the stirring blades 8 with the pressure and heat cooking, it is possible to realize a function of the heat cooker 2 that has not been available in the past. This makes it possible to improve the function of the heat cooker 2.

[0103] Cooking device 2 of the present embodiment is further provided with a cylindrical case member 52 that is installed upright on pot 6 that forms through hole 40 and surrounds through hole 40 and rotating shaft 27 from the outside. Sealing mechanism 50 is provided with a first seal member 56 that seals between rotating shaft 27 and case member 52.

[0104] According to this embodiment, by sealing a position different from through-hole 40, the portion on the tip side A2 of rotating shaft 27 can be sealed by first sealing member 56 more effectively than when through-hole 40 is directly sealed. This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter from adhering to rotating shaft 27, and also makes it possible to design through-hole 40 so that its dimensions are small.

[0105] In the cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment, the first sealing member 56 has a first oil seal 70 and a second oil seal 72. By sealing the gap between the rotating shaft 27 and the case member 52 with an oil seal, it is possible to achieve both a sealability that rotatably seals the rotating shaft 27 and pressure resistance against pressurization.

[0106] In the cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment, the oil seal includes a first oil seal 70 and a second oil seal 72. The second oil seal 72 is disposed at a position closer to the through hole 40 than the first oil seal 70. By disposing two-stage oil seals (the first oil seal 70 and the second oil seal 72), it becomes more difficult for lubricants such as grease to leak, and the durability of the seal mechanism 50 is improved.

[0107] In the cooking appliance 2 of the present 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, it is possible to make it more difficult for the lubricant to leak, and durability is improved.

[0108] Cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment further includes seal case 54 press-fitted into case member 52. Seal case 54 has first surface 54A and second surface 54B. First surface 54A surrounds the outer periphery of first seal member 56. Second surface 54B faces first seal member 56 in the direction toward through-hole 40 (toward base end side A1 of rotation shaft 27).

[0109] The first seal member 56 can be easily attached by press-fitting the seal case 54 containing the first seal 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 aligned vertically (axial direction A of the rotating shaft 27). By arranging the dust seal 68, the first oil seal 70, and the second oil seal 72 coaxially without any gaps, it is possible to prevent leakage of lubricant and pressure and the intrusion of food ingredients.

[0111] Cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment includes dust seal 68 disposed between second surface 54B of seal case 54 and first seal member 56. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering first seal member 56 and prevent foreign matter from adhering to rotating shaft 27.

[0112] Cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment further includes second sealing member 58 that seals between case member 52 and inner bottom surface 66 of pot 6. According to the present embodiment, case member 52 can be configured to be detachable from pot 6, making it possible to easily replace sealing mechanism 50.

[0113] Cooking device 2 of the present embodiment further includes bearing 60 arranged around rotating shaft 27 between first seal member 56 and through hole 40. In cooking device 2, bearing 60 allows rotating shaft 27 to function stably. The area around bearing 60 is isolated from cooking space S of pot 6, similar to through hole 40, and therefore bearing 60 can function stably.

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

[0115] In cooker 2 of the present embodiment, pot 6 has through-hole forming surface 67 in which through-hole 40 is formed. Through-hole forming surface 67 is arranged so as to protrude into the pot from inner bottom surface 66 (standing surface) on which case member 52 is erected. According to the present embodiment, pot 6 can be easily placed inside main body 4. When pot 6 is removed, it can be easily made to stand on its own without being obstructed by through-hole forming surface 67.

[0116] In the cooking device 2 of the present embodiment, the agitating blade 8 is fitted to the tip 27B of the rotating shaft 27 and is arranged so as to cover the outside of the case member 52. According to the present embodiment, the agitating blade 8 can be easily attached to the rotating shaft 27.

[0117] In cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment, rotating shaft 27 is inserted through through hole 40. Pot 6 has a gap around rotating shaft 27 at through hole 40. According to the present embodiment, there is no need to provide a sealing member that directly seals through hole 40, and through hole 40 can be designed to be smaller. As a result, cooking appliance 2 can be made more compact.

[0118] In the cooking device 2 of the present 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 the stirring blade 8 in the pot 6, the food to be cooked can be stirred from below.

[0119] The cooking device 2 of this embodiment is provided with a pressure valve 24 that opens and closes according to the pressure in the pot 6 as a pressure control unit that controls the pressure in the pot 6. According to this embodiment, the pressure valve 24 automatically opens when the pressure in the cooking space S reaches or exceeds a predetermined pressure, thereby preventing the pressure in the cooking space S from becoming excessively high. As a result, safety can be improved.

[0120] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, rotation shaft 27 is provided in pot 6. However, rotation shaft 27 may be provided in lid 10. That is, rotation shaft 27 may be provided in pot 6 or lid 10.

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

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

[0123] As described above, the present disclosure is applicable to cooking appliances. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 2 Cooker 4 Main body 6. Pot 8 stirring blade 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 inner connector 30B Outer Connector 30C Inner Connector Pin 30D outer connector pin 32 Output shaft 34 Gear Unit 36 Drive motor 37 Motor shaft 38 Control board 40 through holes 50 Sealing mechanism 52 Case material 54 Seal Case 54A 1st page 54B 2nd side 54C through hole 56 First seal member 58 Second seal member 60 bearings 60A expansion section 62 First Washer Group 64 Second Washer Group 66 Inner bottom surface 67 Through hole forming surface 68 Dust seal 68A Cone truncated part 68B through hole 68C through hole 70 No. 1 oil seal 72 No. 2 oil seal 74 Bearing support part 76 Seal lip 78 Dust Trip 80 Spring 82 Dust Trip 84 Spring 86 Dust seal 88 E-ring 90 Bake Washer 92 Bake Washer 94 Spring washer 96 Oil receiving washer 98 Mounting part 100 Mounting hole 102 Mounting hole

Claims

1. a pot configured to contain food to be cooked; a lid that can freely open and close the pot; a heat source configured to heat the pan; a rotating shaft that is inserted into a through hole provided in the pot and protrudes into the pot; A stirring blade attached to the rotating shaft; a drive motor configured to rotate the rotary shaft; a pressure control unit configured to control the pressure within the pot; a sealing mechanism that isolates the space within the pot from the through-hole; A cooking device having a pressure cooking function, wherein the through-hole is provided in a through-hole forming surface formed so as to protrude from the inner bottom surface of the pot toward the inside of the pot.

2. The pot further includes a cylindrical case member that is erected on the pot in which the through hole is formed and surrounds the through hole and the rotary shaft from the outside. the sealing mechanism includes a first sealing member that seals between the rotary shaft and the case member, The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the first seal member is housed in the case member.

3. The cooking device according to claim 2 , wherein the first seal member includes an oil seal.

4. The cooking device according to claim 3 , wherein the oil seal comprises a first oil seal and a second oil seal disposed at a position closer to the through hole than the first oil seal.

5. The cooking device according to claim 4 , wherein the first oil seal includes a seal lip and a dust lip.

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

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

8. a pot configured to contain food to be cooked; a lid that can freely open and close the pot; a heat source configured to heat the pan; a rotating shaft that is inserted into a through hole provided in the pot and protrudes into the pot; A stirring blade attached to the rotating shaft; a drive motor configured to rotate the rotary shaft; a pressure control unit configured to control the pressure within the pot; a sealing mechanism that isolates the space within the pot from the through-hole; a cylindrical case member that is erected on the pot in which the through hole is formed and surrounds the through hole and the rotating shaft from the outside, The sealing mechanism includes a first sealing member that seals a gap between the rotary shaft and the case member; a second seal member that seals the gap between the case member and the standing surface of the pot or the lid, A cooking device in which the through hole is provided in a through hole forming surface that is formed so as to protrude from the inner bottom surface of the pot toward the inside of the pot.

9. The cooking device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, further comprising a bearing disposed around the rotation shaft between the first seal member and the through hole.

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

11. The cooking device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the stirring blade is fitted to a tip of the rotary shaft and covers the case member from the outside.

12. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the pot or the lid has a gap around the rotation shaft in the through-hole.

13. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the pressure control unit includes a pressure valve configured to open and close in response to the pressure in the pot.

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