Insulated rice cooker

Abstract

To provide a heat insulation cooker which can suitably perform dew condensation in a trap and has excellent maintainability.SOLUTION: A heat insulation cooker 10 according to the present invention comprises: a body container 11 which has an upper surface opening 11a and has heating means 15; an inner pot 17 which can be stored in the body container; a lid body 20 which closes the upper surface opening of the body container; an inner lid 40 which is attached to the lid body and covers the inner pot; an air passage 52 which communicates with the inner pot; decompression means 51 which is connected to the air passage and suctions the air in the inner pot to decompress an inside of the inner pot; and a trap 60 which is provided in the air passage between the inside of the inner pot and the decompression means and liquefies steam included in the air. The lid body includes a lid body side outer shell protrusion part 23 which protrudes to an outer side with respect to the inner pot. The trap is arranged in the lid body side outer shell protrusion part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pot having a heat preservation function such as a heat preservation jar or a rice cooker, and more particularly to a heat preservation pot having an air passage for exhausting air from an inner pot.

Background Art

[0002] In a heat preservation pot such as a jar or a rice cooker having a heat preservation function, an inner pot is housed in a main body container, and the main body container is closed with a lid with an inner lid. The main body container and / or the lid includes a heating heater for heat-preserving the inner pot. In this type of heat preservation pot, when keeping the rice warm, it is required to suppress oxidation, yellowing, drying, and odor of the rice. For this reason, an air passage connected to a vacuum pump is communicated with the inner lid of the heat preservation pot, and during heat preservation, the air in the inner pot is exhausted and maintained in a reduced pressure state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The inside of the inner pot is filled with steam generated from the rice. Therefore, if the pressure is reduced as it is, steam will condense in the air passage and moisture will accumulate. For this reason, a trap for collecting moisture is provided in the air passage, and the steam is liquefied in the trap.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the trap is installed on the side of the inner pot, that is, inside the main container. As a result, the temperature of the trap can become high, and the steam may not condense sufficiently. Consequently, the uncondensed steam may flow into the vacuum pump, reducing the pump's performance. In addition, the trap requires cleaning and other maintenance, but because the trap is located inside the main container, it is difficult to remove and reattach.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a thermos that can suitably perform condensation within the trap and is also easy to clean. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The insulated pot according to the present invention is A main body container having an opening at the top and a heating means, An inner pot that can be housed in the main container, A lid that closes the top opening of the main container, An inner lid that is attached to the lid and covers the inner pot, An air passage communicating with the inner pot, A depressurization means connected to the aforementioned air passage, which sucks air from the inner pot to reduce the pressure, A trap is provided in the air passage between the inner pot and the depressurizing means, which liquefies the vapor contained in the air, A thermos equipped with, The lid has an outer shell projection on the lid side that protrudes outward from the inner pot, The trap is positioned on the outer shell protrusion on the lid side.

[0008] The aforementioned trap is A trap base recessed in the outer shell projection on the lid side, The trap base can be configured to include a detachable collection unit.

[0009] The air passage is branched between the trap and the pressure reducing means, and a pressure sensor capable of detecting the pressure in the space can be placed in the branched air passage.

[0010] The collection unit has a collection section where liquefied water accumulates, The collection unit has an inner pot side port that communicates with the air passage of the inner pot and a pressure reducing means side port that communicates with the air passage of the pressure reducing means, both protruding upward. The port on the pressure reducing means side opens at a higher position than the port on the inner pot side.

[0011] The lid comprises a heat sink positioned above the inner lid and a lid heater for heating the heat sink. The trap can be positioned away from directly above the heat sink and the lid heater.

[0012] The main body container is provided with a hinge portion that connects the lid to a protruding outer shell portion on the main body side that protrudes from the circumferential surface, so that the lid can rotate in an arc. The inner pot side port has an opening at its upper end. The port on the depressurization means side is open on the side opposite to the hinge portion.

[0013] The main body container is provided with a main body-side outer shell projection that protrudes from the circumferential surface below the lid-side outer shell projection, The depressurization means is positioned on the outer shell protrusion on the main body side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the trap is less affected by heat sources such as lid heaters, allowing for efficient condensation. Furthermore, by providing the trap on the lid, the trap can be cooled by the outside air, enabling efficient condensation. In addition, by forming the trap on the outer shell protrusion on the lid side, it can be easily attached and detached, improving ease of maintenance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thermos according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the insulated pot from a different direction. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the heat-insulating rice cooker cut along a plane including the center of the inner lid attachment / detachment mechanism. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heat-insulating rice cooker with the lid open, cut along a plane including the pump-side port of the trap, and an enlarged view of the circled part. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the heat-insulating rice cooker showing the open state of the lid, indicating the state where the inner lid is attached to the lid. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the heat-insulating rice cooker showing the open state of the lid, indicating the state without the inner lid. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the circled part A in Figure 3. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an exploded view of the components attached to the heat dissipation plate. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a view of the heat dissipation plate cross-sectioned along the air passage on the lid side. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows the tip shape of the engaging member on the lid side. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows (a) an explanatory diagram showing the outline of the decompression mechanism, (b) the air passage during decompression, (c) the air passage during vacuum release, and (d) the air passage during manual atmospheric release. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a view showing the removal of the cover of the outer shell protrusion on the lid side and the outer shell protrusion on the main body side, clearly showing the arrangement of the decompression mechanism and the like. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the atmospheric release passage of the three-way solenoid valve and the plug packing. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the collection unit of the trap. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the collection unit cut along a plane including the inner pot side port and the pump side port. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a block diagram including the control device of the heat-insulating rice cooker of the present invention. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a perspective view showing the state where the plug packing is removed from the atmospheric release passage of the three-way solenoid valve.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] A thermos 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For the purposes of this description, the lever 20a side operated by the user when opening the lid 20 (for example, the left side in Figure 3) will be referred to as the front, and the hinge portion 12 side (the right side in Figure 3), which is the pivot point of the lid 20, will be referred to as the rear.

[0017] Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the external appearance of the insulated pot 10, Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the insulated pot 10 with the lid 20 closed, and Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the insulated pot 10 with the lid 20 open. Also, Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the insulated pot 10 with the lid 20 open, with Figure 5 showing the inner lid 40 attached and Figure 7 showing the inner lid 40 removed. Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the circled area A in Figure 3, and Figures 8 and 9 are exploded views and cross-sectional views of the parts attached to the heat sink 25.

[0018] In this invention, the term "thermal pot 10" refers to a thermal jar having at least a heat retention function and a pressure reduction function. The thermal pot 10, of course, includes rice cookers that have a rice cooking function in addition to the heat retention function and pressure reduction function. The thermal pot 10 may be for commercial or household use.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the insulated pot 10 of the present invention comprises a main container 11 and a lid 20 that is attached to the main container 11 so as to be openable and closable.

[0020] As shown in Figure 4, the main container 11 has a top opening 11a and an inner container 14 inside which the inner pot 17 can be housed. The front end of the main container 11 is provided with a lever receiver 11b for locking the lid 20. The rear end of the main container 11 has a main body side outer shell projection 13 that protrudes outward toward the rear. The upper end of the main body side outer shell projection 13 is provided with a hinge shaft 12a (enlarged view) that connects the lid 20 so that it can rotate in an arc. The main body side outer shell projection 13 also houses the control device 70 of the insulated pot 10 and the vacuum pump 51 of the depressurization mechanism 50 (see Figure 11). The inner container 14 is equipped with a shoulder heater 15 (heating means) for raising the temperature of the inner pot 17 during insulation and a temperature sensor 16 for measuring the temperature of the inner pot 17.

[0021] The inner pot 17, housed in the inner container 14, is a bottomed cylindrical container that holds rice for warming. The inner pot 17 has a flange portion 17a that is bent outward on its upper edge. The inner pot 17 shown in the figure is also provided with a handle 17b for removal and carrying.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the lid 20 has a lid-side outer shell projection 23 formed at the rear end, slightly behind the center of the upward-facing concave outer lid 22. As shown in the enlarged view of Figure 4, a hinge bearing 20b is formed on the lid-side outer shell projection 23, which rotatably engages with the hinge shaft 12a of the main container 11 to form the hinge portion 12. In addition, a lever 20a that can be locked to a lever receiver 11b is provided at the front end of the outer lid 22, as shown in Figure 1, etc. The lever 20a constitutes the lid opening and closing operation part. The lid 20 opens and closes by rotating in an arc around the hinge shaft 12a when the lever 20a is pulled and the lid 20 is lifted upward.

[0023] Inside the outer lid 22, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, there is a heat sink 25 and a lid heater 26 for heating the heat sink 25. The lid heater 26 is an example of the lid heating means of the present invention. The heat sink 25 can be made of a thin metal plate made of stainless steel or aluminum that has been anodized, and in Figures 6 and 8, the heat sink 25 is disc-shaped. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the inner lid 40 can be attached to and detached from the heat sink 25 by an inner lid attachment / detachment mechanism 30. In a specific embodiment, the inner lid attachment / detachment mechanism 30 of the heat sink 25 is a lid-side engaging member 31 that protrudes toward the inner lid 40.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5, the inner lid 40 is a disc that can be attached to and detached from the heat sink 25. The inner lid 40 can also be a metal disc made of stainless steel or aluminum that has been anodized. The inner lid 40 has irregularities formed in the radial direction to increase its strength. A lid packing 40b is fitted around the outer circumference of the inner lid 40, and as shown in Figure 3, when the lid 20 is closed, it adheres tightly to the flange portion 17a of the inner pot 17, causing the inner lid 40 to airtightly contact the inner pot 17. The inner lid attachment / detachment mechanism 30 on the inner lid 40 side is the inner lid side engaging member indicated by reference numeral 41.

[0025] The inner lid attachment / detachment mechanism 30 includes a lid-side engaging member 31 provided on the heat sink 25 and an inner lid-side engaging member 41 provided on the inner lid 40, as shown in an enlarged view in Figure 7. Figure 6 shows the inner lid 40 removed from the lid 20, with the lid-side engaging member 31 protruding from the heat sink 25. The inner lid 40 is attached to the heat sink 25 as shown in Figure 5 by engaging the inner lid-side engaging member 41 with the lid-side engaging member 31. In this embodiment, a lid-side air passage 52, which constitutes part of the depressurization mechanism 50 for depressurizing the inner kettle 17, is formed in the lid-side engaging member 31.

[0026] As a specific embodiment, the lid-side engaging member 31, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, comprises a cylindrical portion 32 protruding from the center of the heat sink 25 and a retaining portion 32a that widens at the tip of the cylindrical portion 32. The lid-side engaging member 31 has a lid-side air passage 52 that penetrates the cylindrical portion 32 and the retaining portion 32a.

[0027] When a lid-side air passage 52 is formed in the lid-side engaging member 31, when the depressurization function is performed, air from inside the inner pot 17 is sucked in from the tip of the lid-side air passage 52. At this time, if rice grains or other debris adhere to the retaining portion 32a, the lid-side air passage 52 will become clogged, and depressurization will not be possible. Therefore, as shown in Figures 7 to 10, one or more grooves 32g connected to the lid-side air passage 52 are formed at the tip of the retaining portion 32a. In the illustration, the grooves are formed in a cross shape. As a result, even if rice grains or other debris adhere to the retaining portion 32a, the lid-side air passage 52 can also draw in air from the side, i.e., from the grooves 32g, thus preventing clogging of the lid-side air passage 52.

[0028] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the lid-side engaging member 31 has a flange 32b protruding from the cylindrical portion 32, with a screw 32c engraved directly above the flange 32b. Above the screw 32c, a connecting portion 32d extends, which connects to the air passage 53a of the decompression mechanism 50, which will be described later. The heat sink 25 and the lid heater 26 each have mounting holes 25a and 26a in the center. The lid-side engaging member 31 can be attached to the heat sink 25 by facing the connecting portion 32d upward, passing its tip through the mounting holes 25a and 26a of the heat sink 25 and the lid heater 26, and screwing the screw 32c to a fastening means such as a bolt 32e. As a result, the lid-side engaging member 31 is positioned to protrude downward from the heat sink 25.

[0029] As shown in Figure 7, the inner lid engaging member 41 is a cylindrical sealing member that fits into a mounting hole 40a formed in the center of the inner lid 40. The inner lid engaging member 41 has an engaging hole 41a into which the lid engaging member 31 fits. The inner lid engaging member 41 is made from a flexible material such as rubber or silicone. The engaging hole 41a has an inner diameter such that when the lid engaging member 31 is inserted, it elastically deforms and fits over the retaining portion 32a.

[0030] In this embodiment, the lid-side engaging member 31 also serves as the lid-side air passage 52. Therefore, the lid-side air passage 52 needs to be airtightly connected to the inner lid 40 without air leakage. This is because if there is air leakage between the inner lid 40 and the lid-side engaging member 31, air will enter the inner pot 17 when the depressurization function described later is performed, and the depressurized state cannot be maintained. Therefore, it is conceivable to adjust the dimensions of the cylindrical portion 32 and the engaging hole 41a so that they are in airtight contact. However, when the inner pot 17 is depressurized, the inner lid 40 bends toward the inner pot 17 due to the negative pressure. As a result, the lid-side engaging member 31 is also pulled downward, which may deform the heat sink 25. Therefore, in order to prevent this deformation of the heat sink 25, it is desirable to interpose a packing member 33 that enhances airtightness around the lid-side engaging member 31. As a result, the engagement hole 41a of the inner lid-side engaging member 41 and the cylindrical portion 32 of the lid-side engaging member 31 can be given a slight margin, that is, a dimensional difference sufficient to create a gap that allows air to circulate.

[0031] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the packing member 33 is a dish-shaped component having a disc-shaped upper plate 33b with a mounting hole 33a that fits into the cylindrical portion 32 of the lid-side engaging member 31, and an enlarged diameter portion 33c that widens downward from the upper plate 33b, and is made of a flexible material. The mounting hole 33a of the upper plate 33b is formed to have a smaller inner diameter than the flange 32b of the lid-side engaging member 31. Also, as shown in Figure 7, the enlarged diameter portion 33c has a length such that the periphery of the packing member 33 contacts the inner lid 40 when the inner lid 40 is attached.

[0032] The packing member 33 preferably has an annular rib on the outer circumference of the mounting hole 33a, as indicated by reference numeral 33e in Figure 8, so that it can airtightly contact the heat sink 25. Although not shown, it is also preferable to provide an annular rib on the back side of the annular rib 33e at a position that contacts the flange 32b.

[0033] As described above, when attaching the lid-side engaging member 31 to the heat sink 25, the packing member 33 is fastened with screws while compressing the upper plate 33b between the heat sink 25 and the flange 32b by passing the mounting hole 33a from the connection part 32d side. This ensures an airtight connection between the packing member 33 and the lid-side engaging member 31, blocking air leakage to the heat sink 25. If an annular rib 33e is provided on the packing member 33, the airtightness can be further enhanced by compressing the annular rib 33e. When the inner lid 40 is attached to the heat sink 25 in the manner described above, the packing member 33 makes airtight contact with the inner lid 40 as shown in Figure 7. The space formed by this packing member 33 and the inner lid 40 is referred to as the negative pressure space 33d.

[0034] As described later, when the depressurization function is executed, the negative pressure space 33d becomes negative, and the packing member 33 is attracted to the inner lid 40. However, even when the vacuum release function is executed to return the inside of the inner pot 17 to atmospheric pressure, air only gradually flows into the negative pressure space 33d through the gap between the cylindrical portion 32 and the engagement hole 41a, and it takes time to return to atmospheric pressure. For this reason, while the negative pressure space 33d is negative, even if one tries to remove the inner lid 40 from the lid 20, the packing member 33 remains attracted to the inner lid 40 due to the negative pressure space 33d and cannot be removed. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7 (see also Figure 9), the cylindrical portion 32 is provided with a communication hole 32f that connects the lid-side air passage 52 and the negative pressure space 33d.

[0035] In the above configuration of the insulated pot 10, to attach the inner lid 40 to the heat sink 25, align the engagement hole 41a of the inner lid side engaging member 41 of the inner lid 40 with the retaining portion 32a of the lid side engaging member 31 of the heat sink 25. Then, simply push the inner lid 40 towards the heat sink 25. If the inner lid side engaging member 41 and the lid side engaging member 31 are located at the center of the inner lid 40 and the heat sink 25, respectively, the inner lid 40 only needs to be aligned with the engagement hole 41a and the retaining portion 32a without worrying about the rotational mounting direction.

[0036] When the inner lid 40 is pushed towards the heat sink 25, the inner lid-side engaging member 41 expands in diameter as the engaging hole 41a contacts the retaining portion 32a of the lid-side engaging member 31, allowing the retaining portion 32a to pass through. After the retaining portion 32a has passed through the engaging hole 41a, the restoring force of the inner lid-side engaging member 41 causes the engaging hole 41a to contract in diameter, preventing it from coming out of the retaining portion 32a. As a result, the inner lid 40 can remain attached to the heat sink 25 unless the user pulls on it. At this time, the packing member 33 is in close contact with the inner lid 40, and a negative pressure space 33d is formed between the inner lid 40 and the packing member 33. When the user pulls on the inner lid 40, the inner lid-side engaging member 41 expands in diameter as the retaining portion 32a passes through the engaging hole 41a, allowing the inner lid 40 to be easily removed.

[0037] By attaching the inner lid 40 to the heat sink 25, the lid-side engaging member 31 also ensures that the lid-side air passage 52 penetrates the inner lid 40 and protrudes below the inner lid 40 (see Figure 7).

[0038] The rice cooker 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a pressure reduction mechanism 50 that reduces the pressure inside the inner pot 17 during warming to suppress oxidation, yellowing, drying, and odor of the rice. The pressure reduction mechanism 50 comprises a vacuum pump 51 that communicates with the lid-side air passage 52. The vacuum pump 51 is an example of the pressure reduction means of the present invention, and other means such as a pressure reduction pump or piston may also be used. As shown in Figure 11(a), the lid-side air passage 52 (see also Figures 8 and 9) provided in the lid 20 is connected to the vacuum pump 51 via air passages 53a to 53f. In this embodiment, the lid-side air passage 52 is formed in the lid-side engaging member 31 described above. That is, when attaching the inner lid 40 to the lid 20, as shown in Figure 5, the tip of the lid-side engaging member 31 protrudes into the inner pot 17, so by closing the lid 20, the lid-side air passage 52 can be connected to the inner pot 17.

[0039] In its simplest configuration, the pressure reduction mechanism 50 can be exemplified by connecting a vacuum pump 51 to a lid-side air passage 52. However, in addition to pressure reduction, it is desirable to release the pressure-reduced state (vacuum release) or to open the inner pot 17 in a pressure-reduced state to the atmosphere in the event of a power outage. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11(a), the pressure reduction mechanism 50 can be configured to include a lid-side air passage 52, a three-way solenoid valve 54, a two-way solenoid valve 56, a trap 60, a pressure sensor 57, a vacuum pump 51, and air passages 53a to 53f connecting these. The trap 60 is a device that collects vapor contained in the air exhausted from the inner pot 17 by condensation.

[0040] Figure 12 shows the arrangement of passages and other components clearly with the covers removed from the lid-side outer shell projection 23 and the main body-side outer shell projection 13. In this embodiment, the three-way solenoid valve 54 and the two-way solenoid valve 56 are located on the lid-side outer shell projection 23 as shown in Figure 12. Also, although Figure 12 shows the trap 60 removed, as shown in Figure 3, the trap 60 is located on the rear end side of the lid-side outer shell projection 23. The pressure sensor 57 and the vacuum pump 51 are located on the main body-side outer shell projection 13. By arranging the trap 60, pressure sensor 57 and vacuum pump 51 vertically in this way, space can be saved, contributing to the miniaturization of the insulated pot 10.

[0041] The three-way solenoid valve 54 can be a T-port type solenoid valve. When energized, as shown in Figures 11(b) and 11(c), port A 54a and port R 54r are in communication, and when de-energized, as shown in Figure 11(d), port A 54a and port P 54p are connected. Port A 54a is connected to the inner casing 17 via air passage 53a and lid-side air passage 52, and port R 54r is connected to air passage 53b. Port P 54p is connected to the atmospheric release passage 54b. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the three-way solenoid valve 54 and the atmospheric release passage 54b. As shown in Figure 13 and Figure 17 (described later), the atmospheric release passage 54b is positioned to be exposed from an opening 23a formed in the lid-side outer shell projection 23. The atmospheric release passage 54b is normally closed by a stopper packing 55, which is a manual operation part, and is opened and closed manually by the user. In a specific embodiment, the stopper packing 55 can be configured with a tab 55a that the user can pinch with their fingers, and a stopper portion 55b that closes the atmospheric vent passage 54b, and is pivotably positioned in the opening 23a of the outer shell projection 23 on the lid side. As shown in Figure 2, the stopper packing 55 can be positioned so as to be exposed on the side surface of the outer shell projection 23 on the lid side. It is preferable that the stopper packing 55 be positioned in a location that is difficult for the user to operate under normal circumstances. For example, in Figure 2, it is formed on the side surface of the outer shell projection 23 on the lid side.

[0042] The air passage 53b extending from the R port 54r of the three-way solenoid valve 54 branches into air passages 53c and 53d, as shown in Figure 11(a), with air passage 53c connected to the P port 56p of the two-way solenoid valve 56. The A port 56a of the two-way solenoid valve 56 is open to the atmosphere via the intake passage 56b. The two-way solenoid valve 56 is, for example, a normally closed solenoid valve, which connects the P port 56p and the A port 56a when energized and blocks the P port 56p and the A port 56a when de-energized.

[0043] The air passage 53d, which branches off from the air passage 53b, is connected to the trap 60. The trap 60 collects steam by condensing it from the air containing steam drawn in from the inner pot 17 when the inner pot pressure is reduced. To effectively condense the steam, it is desirable that the trap 60 be kept cool by the heat from the heat radiating plate 25 and the lid heater 26, and that the steam be suitably condensed in the trap 60. For this reason, in this embodiment, the trap 60 is provided on the rear side of the outer shell projection 23 on the lid side, so as not to overlap vertically with heat sources such as the heat radiating plate 25 and the lid heater 26. By providing the trap 60 in this position, it is not only less susceptible to the heat from the heat radiating plate 25 and the like, but the trap 60 can also be placed closer to the outside air, allowing the trap 60 to be cooled by the outside air and allowing condensation to proceed suitably.

[0044] As a specific embodiment, the trap 60 has a trap base 24 formed on the outer shell projection 23 on the lid side as shown in Figure 12, to which the collection unit 61 shown in Figures 14 and 15 can be attached and detached. As shown in Figure 12, the trap base 24 has an inner pot side base 24a that communicates with the air passage 53d and a pump side base 24b that communicates with the air passage 53e. As shown in Figure 15, the trap 60 has an inner pot side connecting port 63 and a pump side connecting port 64 that can be connected to the inner pot side base 24a and the pump side base 24b. Inside the collection unit 61, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, a collection section 62 is formed to collect moisture due to condensation. The inner pot side connecting port 63 has a cylindrical inner pot side port 63a that protrudes above the collection section 62, and the pump side connecting port 64 has a cylindrical pump side port 64a (pressure reducing means side port) that protrudes above the collection section 62.

[0045] If water flows into the air passage 53e side of the trap 60, it can cause malfunctions or failures of the vacuum pump 51 and pressure sensor 57. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent water from entering the pump-side port 64a. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 15, the pump-side port 64a is made taller than the inner pot-side port 63a. This makes it difficult for water to flow into the pump-side port 64a even if water accumulates in the collection section 62 to the extent indicated by the symbol H.

[0046] Furthermore, when the lid 20 is opened and closed, the trap 60 tilts together with the lid 20, as shown in Figure 4. At this time, it is also necessary to prevent water from entering the pump-side port 64a. Therefore, in this embodiment, the upper end of the pump-side port 64a has a flange 64b formed on the upper side, as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 4 and Figure 14, and an air intake hole 64c is formed directly below the flange 64b, opening forward, that is, on the opposite side from the hinge portion 12. The rear side of the intake hole 64c is closed. On the other hand, the upper end of the inner pot-side port 63a is simply an upward-opening hole 63b, as shown in Figure 14. As a result, as shown in Figure 4, when the lid 20 is opened, the suction hole 64c of the pump-side port 64a faces upward. Therefore, even if water accumulates in the collection section 62 to the extent indicated by the symbol H, the water flows into the hole 63b of the inner pot-side port 63a before it flows into the pump-side port 64a, thus preventing water from entering the pump-side port 64a.

[0047] The pump-side connecting port 64, which is downstream of the pump-side port 64a, is connected to the air passage 53e via the pump-side base 24b, and as shown in Figures 11(a) and 12, the air passage 53e is connected to the vacuum pump 51. In this embodiment, the vacuum pump 51 is located on the main body side outer shell projection 13 as shown in Figure 12. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, the air passage 53e extends from the lid side outer shell projection 23 where the trap 60 is located to the main body side outer shell projection 13. In Figure 3, the air passage 53e is located in front of the hinge portion 12.

[0048] Furthermore, the air passage 53e branches into an air passage 53f within the outer shell projection 13 on the main body side. The air passage 53f has a smaller diameter than the air passage 53e, and a pressure sensor 57 capable of detecting the pressure in the space is connected to its tip.

[0049] <Overview of the control device 70> The control device 70 includes a microcontroller, memory, and the like. Various programs for the warming pot 10 are stored in the memory. For example, as shown in Figure 12, the control device 70 can be positioned on the main body side outer shell projection 13 that protrudes from the rear of the main body container 11.

[0050] As shown in Figure 16, the control device 70 is electrically connected to a shoulder heater 15, a temperature sensor 16, and a lid heater 26. Based on the temperature of the inner pot 17 measured by the temperature sensor 16, the control device 70 controls the on / off status of the shoulder heater 15 and the lid heater 26 to perform a warming function that keeps the inner pot 17 at a predetermined temperature.

[0051] Furthermore, the control device 70 is electrically connected to the three-way solenoid valve 54, two-way solenoid valve 56, pressure sensor 57, and vacuum pump 51 of the pressure reduction mechanism 50, as well as the vacuum button 21 (see Figure 1) formed on the outer shell projection 23 on the lid side of the lid 20. When the vacuum button 21 is turned ON during heat retention, the control device 70 executes the pressure reduction function. Conversely, when the vacuum button 21 is turned OFF, the control device 70 turns off the pressure reduction function and executes the vacuum release function.

[0052] The following describes how to use the insulated pot 10 of the present invention and the functions it performs.

[0053] When using the insulated pot 10 with the above configuration, first attach the inner lid 40 and install the inner pot 17. If the collection unit 61 of the trap 60 is not installed, the collection unit 61 should be positioned so that the inner pot side connection port 63 and the pump side connection port 64 are connected to the inner pot side base 24a and the pump side base 24b of the trap base 24 provided on the lid 20 side. At this time, if water has accumulated in the collection section 62, it should be discarded beforehand. After installing the collection unit 61, the trap 60 can be covered with the trap cover 24c as shown in Figure 1, etc. If water accumulates in the collection unit 61, it can be easily removed by removing the trap cover 24c and pulling the collection unit 61 upwards. The collection unit 61 can be washed after removal and reinstalled, making it easy to maintain.

[0054] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the inner lid 40 is attached to the lid body 20 by the inner lid attachment / detachment mechanism 30. Specifically, the engagement hole 41a of the inner lid side engaging member 41 is aligned with the retaining portion 32a of the lid side engaging member 31 that protrudes from the heat sink 25. By making the inner lid 40 disc-shaped and providing the engagement hole 41a in the center of the inner lid 40, the inner lid 40 does not need to be considered in terms of its rotational mounting orientation. By aligning the engagement hole 41a and the retaining portion 32a and pushing the inner lid 40 toward the lid body 20, the engagement hole 41a elastically deforms, overcoming the retaining portion 32a and fitting into the cylindrical portion 32. In this way, the inner lid 40 is attached to the lid body 20 so that it does not fall off. Since the air passage 52 on the lid side of the decompression mechanism 50 opens at the tip of the retaining portion 32a of the lid-side engaging member 31, when the inner lid 40 is attached to the lid 20, the air passage 52 on the lid side protrudes from the inner lid 40. In addition, the packing member 33 of the heat sink 25 abuts against the inner lid 40 to form a negative pressure space 33d.

[0055] Next, the inner pot 17 is filled with cooked rice that needs to be kept warm, and the handle 17b is grasped to place it in the inner container 14. Then, the lid 20 is closed and the warming pot 10 is connected to the commercial power supply. When the lid 20 is closed, as shown in Figure 3, the inner lid 40 has a lid gasket 40b that contacts the flange portion 17a of the inner pot 17, and the inner pot 17 is sealed airtight. Also, when the inner lid 40 seals the inner pot 17, the lid-side air passage 52 communicates with the inside of the inner pot 17.

[0056] <Heat retention function> When the warming pot 10 is connected to commercial power, the control device 70 executes the warming function. The warming function operates the shoulder heater 15 and lid heater 26 as appropriate and maintains the inner pot 17 at a preset temperature based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor 16. The warming function can continue to operate until the warming pot 10 is de-energized.

[0057] <Decompression function> While the heat retention function is running, the control device 70 executes a depressurization function when the user turns on the vacuum button 21. The depressurization function operates the vacuum pump 51 to suck air from inside the inner pot 17 through the lid-side air passage 52 that protrudes into the inner pot 17, thereby maintaining a depressurized state inside the inner pot 17. In the depressurized state, the inner lid 40 is negatively suctioned into the inner pot 17, so the lid 20 cannot be opened even if the lever 20a on the lid 20 is operated.

[0058] In the depressurization mechanism 50 of Figure 11, when the vacuum button 21 is turned ON, the control device 70 energizes the three-way solenoid valve 54 to connect port A 54a and port R 54r, as shown by the thick line in Figure 11(b). The two-way solenoid valve 56 is kept closed and de-energized, and the vacuum pump 51 is connected to the inner pot 17, as shown by the thick line. When the vacuum pump 51 is activated, the air inside the inner pot 17 is guided from the lid-side air passage 52 to the air passage 53a. Since a packing member 33 is placed on the heat sink 25, even if the inner lid 40 flexes due to the depressurization of the inner pot 17, the heat sink 25 will not flex due to the presence of the negative pressure space 33d.

[0059] Air flowing into air passage 53a passes through the three-way solenoid valve 54, air passage 53b, and air passage 53d before reaching trap 60. In trap 60, air flows into the collection section 62 from the inner pot side port 63a via the inner pot side base 24a of the trap base 24 shown in Figure 12 and the inner pot side connecting port 63 of the collection unit 61 shown in Figures 14 and 15 (arrow B in Figure 15). Since trap 60 is positioned in a location less affected by the heat dissipation plate 25 and lid heater 26, it is relatively cold, and as a result, the air flowing into the collection section 62 condenses and accumulates as steam within the collection section 62. The air from which the steam has been removed then passes through the pump side port 64a, the pump side connecting port 64, and the pump side base 24b towards air passage 53e, as shown by arrow C in Figure 15.

[0060] Furthermore, even if water accumulates in the collection section 62, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the pump-side port 64a has a suction hole 64c positioned higher than the inner pot-side port 63a, which delays the inflow of water into the vacuum pump 51. Also, since the suction hole 64c is formed on the front side of the pump-side port 64a, when the lid 20 is opened as shown in Figure 4, the suction hole 64c is on the upper side, preventing moisture from entering the collection section 62.

[0061] Air entering the air passage 53e has its pressure detected by the pressure sensor 57 in the branched air passage 53f, and is then exhausted by the vacuum pump 51. As a result, the pressure in the inner casing 17 can be reduced. Furthermore, since moisture is removed from the air heading towards the vacuum pump 51 and the pressure sensor 57 by the trap 60, the vacuum pump 51 and the pressure sensor 57 are not exposed to steam. In addition, it is possible to prevent the relatively small diameter air passage 53f from becoming clogged with moisture, which could lead to abnormal detection by the pressure sensor 57.

[0062] As a result of the above, the pressure inside the inner pot 17 is reduced during the warming process, which helps to suppress oxidation, yellowing, drying, and odor of the rice.

[0063] <Vacuum release function> When the depressurization function is executed, the inner pot 17 is depressurized, preventing oxidation of the rice. While the depressurization function is in operation, the inner pot 17 is under negative pressure, so the lid 20 will not open even if the lever 20a is operated. Therefore, to open the lid 20, the vacuum button 21 is turned off to stop the depressurization function, and the vacuum release function is executed to release the depressurization of the inner pot 17. To release the vacuum, as shown in Figure 11(c), the operation of the vacuum pump 51 is stopped, the two-way solenoid valve 56 is energized to open it, the P port 56p and the A port 56a are connected, and the intake passage 56b is connected to the air passage 53c. As a result, as shown by the thick lines in Figure 11(c), the inner pot 17 is in communication with the outside air via the intake passage 56b, air passage 53c, air passage 53b, three-way solenoid valve 54, air passage 53a, and lid-side air passage 52. Then, since the inner pot 17 is connected to the outside air, air flows into the inner pot 17, which was under negative pressure, and returns it to normal pressure.

[0064] Furthermore, since the negative pressure space 33d is connected to the lid-side air passage 52 by the communication hole 32f shown in Figure 7, when the vacuum release function is executed and the inside of the inner pot 17 is returned to atmospheric pressure, air flows from the lid-side air passage 52 through the communication hole 32f into the negative pressure space 33d, returning it to atmospheric pressure. If the negative pressure space 33d remains under negative pressure, the packing member 33 is adhering to the inner lid 40, making it difficult to remove the inner lid 40 from the lid 20. However, once the negative pressure space 33d returns to atmospheric pressure, the inner lid 40 can be easily removed from the lid 20.

[0065] <Manual atmospheric release function> While the pressure reduction function shown in Figure 11(b) is in operation, the power supply to the rice cooker 10 may be interrupted due to a power outage or unplugging of the power cord. In this case, the three-way solenoid valve 54 connects port A 54a and port P 54p when power is lost. However, as shown in Figure 13, the atmospheric vent passage 54b to which port P 54p is connected is sealed by the stopper packing 55, so the inner pot 17 can maintain a negative pressure state. However, during this time, the lid 20 cannot be opened, making it inconvenient as the rice cannot be removed. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11(d), with the three-way solenoid valve 54 connecting port A 54a and port P 54p, the user opens the atmospheric vent passage 54b by pinching the tab 55a and removing the stopper packing 55, as shown by arrow D in Figure 17. This allows air to be drawn in from the atmospheric vent passage 54b, communicates with the inner pot 17 through the air passage 53a and the lid-side air passage 52, and connects the inner pot 17 to the outside air. This allows air to be introduced into the inner pot 17, which was under negative pressure, returning the inner pot 17 to atmospheric pressure and allowing the lid 20 to be opened. As shown in Figure 2, the stopper packing 55 is provided on the side of the outer shell protrusion 23 on the lid side, which is difficult for the user to operate, so that the user cannot accidentally remove it. In particular, in this embodiment, the operating direction of the lever 20a (lid opening / closing operation part) for opening the lid 20 is to pull the lever 20a towards the user, and the operating direction of the stopper packing 55 (manual operation part) is to pinch the tab 55a and pull it diagonally downward. By making the operating direction of the lever 20a and the operating direction of the tab 55a different in this way, erroneous operation can be effectively prevented.

[0066] According to the insulated pot 10 of the present invention, the inner lid attachment / detachment mechanism 30 and the depressurization mechanism 50 are configured such that the inner lid 40 can be attached simply by pressing the inner lid 40 against the lid 20, as the lid-side air passage 52 is formed in the lid-side engaging member 31, allowing the inner lid 40 to pass through the inner lid 40. The inner lid 40 can be easily removed by simply pulling it in the opposite direction of pressing, as the engaging hole 41a elastically deforms and overcomes the retaining portion 32a. Furthermore, since the inner lid 40 consists only of the inner lid-side engaging member 41 and the outer periphery lid packing 40b, it is also easy to clean.

[0067] The trap 60 is positioned in a location less susceptible to the heat dissipation plate 25 and lid heater 26, allowing for optimal condensation. Furthermore, the trap 60 is easy to maintain as the collection unit 61 can be easily attached to and detached from the trap base 24 and removed for cleaning. In addition, by defining the height and shape of the pump-side port 64a and the inner pot-side port 63a as described above, the trap 60 effectively prevents moisture from flowing into the air passage 53e on the vacuum pump 51 side and the air passage 53f of the pressure sensor 57.

[0068] In addition, the pressure reducing mechanism 50 is equipped with a stopper packing 55 that allows the user to release the pressure reduction of the inner pot 17 when the power supply to the warming pot 10 is cut off, so the lid 20 can be opened even if a power outage occurs during pressure reduction.

[0069] The above description is for the purpose of explaining the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting or restricting the scope of the invention described in the claims. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways within the technical scope described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 10 Insulated rice cooker 11 Main container 13. Outer shell protrusion on the main body side 20 Lid 23 Outer shell protrusion on the lid side 25 Heat sink 30 Inner lid attachment / detachment mechanism 31 Lid side engaging member 40 Inner lid 41 Inner lid side engaging member 50 Pressure reduction mechanism 51 Vacuum pump (means of reducing pressure) 52 Cover-side air passage 54b Atmospheric vent passage 55. Stopper packing (manual operation part) 60 Traps

Claims

1. A main body container having an opening at the top and a heating means, An inner pot that can be housed in the main container, A lid that closes the top opening of the main container, An inner lid that is attached to the lid and covers the inner pot, An air passage communicating with the inner pot, A depressurization means connected to the aforementioned air passage, which sucks air from the inner pot to reduce the pressure, A trap is provided in the air passage between the inner pot and the depressurizing means, which liquefies the vapor contained in the air, A thermos equipped with, The lid has an outer shell projection on the lid side that protrudes outward from the inner pot, The trap is positioned on the outer shell projection on the lid side. A rice cooker with a thermos.

2. The aforementioned trap is A trap base recessed in the outer shell projection on the lid side, The trap base includes a collection unit that can be attached to or detached from the aforementioned trap base. The insulated pot according to claim 1.

3. The collection unit has a collection section where liquefied water accumulates, The collection unit has an inner pot side port that communicates with the air passage of the inner pot and a pressure reducing means side port that communicates with the air passage of the pressure reducing means, both protruding upward. The port on the pressure reducing means side opens at a higher position than the port on the inner pot side. The insulated pot according to claim 2.

4. The main body container is provided with a hinge portion that connects the lid to a protruding outer shell portion on the main body side that protrudes from the circumferential surface, so that the lid can rotate in an arc. The inner pot side port has an opening at its upper end. The port on the depressurization means side has an opening on the side opposite to the hinge portion. The insulated pot according to claim 3.

5. The lid comprises a heat sink positioned above the inner lid and a lid heater for heating the heat sink. The trap is positioned away from the heat sink and the lid heater. The insulated pot according to claim 1.

6. The air passage is branched between the trap and the pressure reducing means, and a pressure sensor capable of detecting the pressure in the space is placed in the branched air passage. The insulated pot according to claim 1.

7. The main body container is provided with a main body-side outer shell projection that protrudes from the circumferential surface below the lid-side outer shell projection, The depressurization means is arranged on the outer shell protrusion on the main body side, A warming pot according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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