WO2008044831A1

WO2008044831A1 - Automated rice cooking system

Info

Publication number: WO2008044831A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/004723
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tae-Soon Son
Original assignee: Vaper Tech Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-10-11
Filing date: 2007-09-27
Publication date: 2008-04-17
Also published as: JP2010505583A; CN101522079A; KR100777117B1

Abstract

Disclosed therein is an automated rice cooking system, which includes a rice-supplying means having a conveyer belt and a conveying screw to continuously and quickly supply rice from a rice bin to a wash bowl, a moisture backflow preventing means mounted between the rice-supplying means and the wash bowl to prevent a backflow of moisture of the wash bowl, a rice-washing means to wash the rice more effectively and prevent overload of a driving motor, an elevation adjuster of a pot lid to elevate the pot lid more easily, and a pot holding part configured in such a way that the rice pot is not exposed to the outside and is automatically slid on the lower portion of a main body by a forward and backward driving motor to maximize safety and convenience in use, thereby automatically carrying out all processes of supplying, washing, transferring and cooking rice so as to allow anybody to cook rice and save time and labor required for cooking rice.

Description

Description AUTOMATED RICE COOKING SYSTEM

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an automated rice cooking system for heating and cooking rice with water, and more particularly, to an automated rice cooking system, which can automatically carry out a series of processes of supplying, washing, transferring and cooking rice without a user's trouble, thereby allowing anybody to cook rice and saving time and labor required for cooking rice. Background Art

[2] In general, to cook rice, a person directly has to draw out rice from a rice bin, put it in a vessel, wash it in water several times, transfer the washed rice to an electric rice cooker or a pressure rice cooker, and heat and cook it using a heating means.

[3] Conventional rice cooking methods have a problem in that it is difficult for two- paycheck couples, single persons, old and feeble persons or children to cook and eat rice at a good time since they have to directly conduct a series of the processes of drawing out rice from the rice bin, putting it in the vessel and washing it excepting a process of cooking rice conducted by the electric rice cooker. So, to solve the above problem, various technologies that the rice bin and the rice cooker are combined have been disclosed. Recently, a number of automated rice cooking systems, each of which can carry out a series of processes of supplying rice of a fixed quantity from a rice bin, washing the supplied rice by a washing means, and transferring the washed rice and water into a heating means to cook, have been developed or are under development.

[4] However, the conventional automated rice cooking systems have several problems in that their structures are complicated, nutrients are destroyed due to a damage of embryo buds when the washing means, such as a moving blade, washes rice, in that it is difficult to put it on a sink or a table since it is formed long vertically to downwardly supply rice from the rice bin to the washing means and downwardly supply rice from the washing means to a rice pot located below the washing means after washing the rice, and in that its lifespan is reduced since a coupling portion between the rice pot and a main body is easy to break if the rice pot is continuously couple to and detach from the main body. So, most of the conventional automated rice cooking systems are not commercialized. Since commercialized rice cooking systems cannot be mass- produced because of a problem of A/S due to frequent troubles and a supply of products cannot come up to a demand, they are not commonly used.

[5] To solve the problems of the conventional automated rice cooking system, Korean

Utility Model Registration No. 389,585 discloses an automated rice cooking system, which has been invented by the same inventor as the present invention. However, the automated rice cooking system according to the prior art has several problems in that it takes much time to completely supply washed rice to a rice pot since a washing means is formed horizontally, in that water may be supplied unintentionally since a supply hose connected to a wash bowl cannot endure water pressure, in that it is difficult to grasp a pot lid since an opening and closing plate mounted on a hand-grip slides and protrudes long to a side, and in that an elastic support elastically supported by a spring at an end of a feed pipe, which is a connection portion between the main body and the rice pot, generates a noise when the rice pot is coupled with the main body. So, to solve the above problems, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 402,213 discloses an automated rice cooking system, which has been also invented by the same inventor as the present invention. However, the automated rice cooking system disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 402,213 also has several problems in that rice is dried and stuck on the wall surface of the wash bowl when rice is washed after wash water supplied from a supply hose is supplied to a side of the wash bowl, in that accuracy in controlling an amount of water supplied into the wash bowl by a water level sensor is deteriorated, and in that rice is located in an unstable position since rice is loaded only at the central portion of the rice pot when rice is supplied to the rice pot through a discharge hole and a feed pipe.

[6] Both of the two Korean Utility Model Registrations invented by the same inventor as the present invention have several problems in that they are unsanitary since worms or harmful bacteria are generated from rice when a predetermined period passes after rice is stored in the rice bin, in that the rice pot is caught to a pot insertion part or a user may be wound by a hot rice pot when the user seats the rice pot into the pot insertion part of the main body or lifts the rice pot from the pot insertion part, and in that it takes much time to supply rice into the wash bowl since a supply means rotated by a motor has a number of fixed quantity supply holes radially formed on a round plate at fixed intervals and it is impossible to continuously supply rice from the rice bin to the wash bowl, and in that rice may be stuck on the rims of the fixed quantity supply holes or harmful bacteria and bad smell may be generated in the rice bin since moisture of the wash bowl flows backwardly. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior arts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an automated rice cooking system, which provides an improved rice- supplying means having a conveyer belt and a conveying screw to continuously and quickly supply rice from a rice bin to a wash bowl, which provides a moisture backflow preventing means mounted between the rice- supplying means and the wash bowl to prevent moisture of the wash bowl from backwardly flowing to the rice- supplying means or the rice bin, which provides an improved rice-washing means to wash the rice more effectively and prevent overload of a driving motor, which provides an improved an elevation adjuster of a pot lid to elevate the pot lid more easily, and which a pot holding part is configured in such a way that the rice pot is not exposed to the outside and automatically slides on the lower portion of a main body by a forward and backward driving motor to maximize safety and convenience in use, thereby automatically carrying out all processes of storing the rice in the rice bin, washing the rice in the wash bowl, inputting the washed rice to the rice pot, coupling the rice pot to the pot holding part and separating the rice pot from the pot holding part, cooking rice, and keeping temperature and moisture of the cooked rice when the cooked rice is kept warm after cooking. Technical Solution [8] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an automated rice cooking system for automatically carrying out all processes of supplying, transferring, washing and cooking rice, which includes a main body having a control panel formed at a side thereof, a rice bin disposed at a side of the main body and having a supply hole formed on the lower front portion of an inclined type hopper, a rice-supplying means for supplying rice contained in the rice bin in a fixed quantity, a wash bowl having a rice- washing means for washing the supplied rice with water supplied from a wash water storage by a supply hose; a cutoff plate having through-holes of the same shape as that of a water drain hole and a discharge hole formed on the inner lower portion of the wash bowl, the cutoff plate controlling opening and closing of the water drain hole and the discharge hole by a motor, a rice pot for receiving the rice washed by the rice- washing means and clean water from the wash bowl, the rice pot having a pot body and a pot lid, the pot body having hand-grips protrudingly formed at both sides of the upper portion thereof, the pot lid including a protrusion formed integrally with the pot lid, a packing formed on the lower end portion thereof, and a safety valve mounted at a side of the upper portion thereof and having a vapor discharge piece and a pressure weight, the protrusion having a slide hole formed on the upper portion thereof for allowing the pot lid to be slidably elevated on the feed pipe communicating with the discharge hole by an elevator adjuster, a heating means for heating the rice and water contained in the rice pot to cook rice; and a pot holding part, in which the rice pot is seated, the pot holding part having the heating means mounted therein, the pot holding part slidably going in and out at a side of the lower portion of the main body, the automated rice cooking system comprising:

[9] an inclined opening opened and closed at a side of the upper portion of the rice bin by a lid and communicated with a rice charge hole formed on the front upper portion of the main body;

[10] the rice- supplying means including, a casing having a discharge hole formed on the front upper portion thereof and an input hole formed on the rear lower portion thereof, a motor mounted on the lower portion of the casing; a conveyer belt elastically mounted between a belt pulley fixed on a driving shaft of the motor and a belt pulley fixed on a slave shaft passing through elongated holes formed at both sides of the upper portion of the casing, a number of inclined support plates formed integrally with the conveyer belt at regular intervals, tension-adjusting bolts mounted on fixed pieces fixed at upper ends of both sides of the casing in such a way as to be rotated freely, the tension-adjusting bolts being screw-coupled with both ends of the slave shaft, a rotating plate fixed on the driving shaft and having a number of sensing holes radially formed thereon, a rotation sensor fixed on the rotating plate and the casing to sense the sensing holes, and a pair of support protrusions protrudingly formed at both sides of the inside of the casing for supporting the conveyer belt;

[11] a moisture backflow preventing means including a fixed plate fixed on the rice charge pipe mounted on the upper portion of the wash bowl, a support plate formed on a side of the upper portion of the fixed plate, the support plate having a round type hinge portion formed at an end portion of the support plate, an opening and closing plate coupled to the hinge portion and having a magnetic substance to perform an angular motion with the hinge portion as its starting point; a spring mounted on the upper portion of the support plate in such a way as to tense the upper end portion of the fixed plate and the upper end portion of the opening and closing plate, and a solenoid formed on the fixed plate below the support plate, whereby it can be prevented that moisture of the wash bowl flows backwardly by the angular motion of the opening and closing plate;

[12] an air blower mounted at a side of the upper portion of the housing of the wash bowl, the air blower being communicated with the inside of the housing via a hot air supply pipe, the air blower having a hot wire portion mounted on the lower portion thereof;

[13] the rice- washing means including a first supporter, a second supporter and a third supporter radially fixed on a driving shaft of the driving motor at regular intervals, which are different from one another in their lengths, the driving motor being fixed at the outer center of the upper portion of the housing, inner, middle and outer blades formed integrally with end portions of the first to third supporters, the inner, middle and outer blades being formed obliquely when they is viewed on a plane, and scrapers attached on a side portion of the outer blade, which is in contact with the wall surface of the housing, and on the lower portions of the inner blade, the middle blade and the outer blade, which are in contact with the bottom surface of the housing;

[14] a Teflon packing partially inwardly protruding from the inner upper portion of the slide hole of the pot lid;

[15] a number of spout holes formed on the upper edge of a pressure weight of a safety valve mounted at a side of the pot lid;

[16] a vapor discharge hole vertically formed on the main body located above the safety valve having a number of the spout holes;

[17] the pot holding part of a box type including, a pair of guide bars connected to the right and left of the lower portion of the main body through a support plate and protruding forwardly, guide recesses connected to the guide bars and formed at right and left sides of the lower portion thereof in such a way as to move forwardly and backwardly, a pair of front rollers being in contact with the upper surfaces of the guide recesses and connected to the front of the guide bars in such a way as to be rotated freely, a pair rear rollers respectively coupled to the guide grooves of the guide bars and inwardly mounted on the inner rear portions of the guide recesses in such a way as to be rotated freely, a rack gear fixed on the lower rear portion of the pot holding part, a forward and backward driving motor fixed on the inner front portion of a sliding alcove formed on the main body, the rack gear going in and out of the sliding alcove, a pinion gear mounted on a shaft of the forward and backward driving motor and gear- coupled to the rack gear, and a pot accommodation detecting sensor mounted on the rear portion of the sliding alcove for sensing the rack gear;

[18] a pot accommodating receptacle formed at the upper center of the pot holding part for receiving the entire pot body to prevent the rice pot from being exposed to the outside, the pot accommodating receptacle having the heating means fixed at the center of the lower bottom surface of the pot accommodating receptacle;

[19] an interval-keeping protrusion formed on the upper edge of the pot accommodating receptacle for keeping a predetermined interval between the pot body and the pot holding part;

[20] a grasping groove formed at both sides of the upper portion of the pot holding part for allowing a user to more easily take the rice pot in and out after grasping hand-grips protruding from the pot body;

[21] the wash water storage disposed below the outside of the inclined type hopper of the rice bin, the wash water storage including a glass pipe standing at a side thereof and communicating with the inside of the wash water storage at the lower portion thereof, the glass pipe having a small float inserted therein, a water level sensor mounted at the outer lower portion of the glass pipe for sensing the small float; a water volume control means mounted on a side of the inside thereof, and an air discharge hole formed on the upper portion of the wash water storage; and

[22] the elevation adjuster including a fixing member integrally formed on a side of the upper end of the protruding portion of the pot lid, a slider outwardly protruding from the upper portion of the fixing member, a guider formed integrally with the main body and having a vertical guide groove formed on the upper portion thereof in such a way that the slider is vertically slidably elevated along the guide groove, a cam mounted on a shaft of a motor fixed on the main body, the cam being in contact with the slider; and position sensors mounted at portions corresponding to the highest point and the lowest point of the slider.

Advantageous Effects

[23] As described above, the automated rice cooking system according to the present invention can continuously and quickly supply rice from the rice bin to the wash bowl since it provides the improved rice- supplying means having the conveyer belt and the conveying screw. Moreover, the automated rice cooking system can prevent moisture of the wash bowl from backwardly flowing to the rice- supplying means or the rice bin since it provides the moisture backflow preventing means mounted between the rice- supplying means and the wash bowl.

[24] Furthermore, the automated rice cooking system can wash the rice more effectively and prevent overload of the driving motor since it provides the improved rice- washing means.

[25] Additionally, the automated rice cooking system can elevate the pot lid more easily since it provides the improved an elevation adjuster of the pot lid.

[26] In addition, the automated rice cooking system can maximize safety and convenience in use since the pot holding part is configured in such a way that the rice pot is not exposed to the outside and automatically slides on the lower portion of the main body by the forward and backward driving motor.

[27] So, the automated rice cooking system can automatically carry out all processes of storing the rice in the rice bin, washing the rice in the wash bowl, inputting the washed rice to the rice pot, coupling the rice pot to the pot holding part and separating the rice pot from the pot holding part, cooking rice, and keeping temperature and moisture of the cooked rice when the cooked rice is kept warm after cooking.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[28] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automated rice cooking system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [29] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the inside configuration of the present invention. [30] FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the front side configuration of the present invention. [31] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a rice feeding part located at the rear of the present invention.

[32] FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view of the present invention.

[33] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the present invention.

[34] FIG. 7 is a separated perspective view of a rice- supplying means of the present invention. [35] FIG. 8 is a partially perspective view showing another example of the rice- supplying means of the present invention. [36] FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a rice- washing means and a wash bowl of the present invention. [37] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a moisture backflow preventing means mounted between the rice-supplying means and the wash bowl of the present invention. [38] FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing another example of the moisture backflow preventing means of the present invention.

[39] FIG. 12 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a structure that the rice- washing means, the wash bowl, a water drain hole, a discharge hole, and an opening and closing plate for opening and closing the water drain hole and the discharge hole are aligned. [40] FIG. 13 is a plan sectional view showing an action of the rice- washing means inside the wash bowl of the present invention. [41] FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state where the water drain hole and the discharge hole located in the lower portion of the wash bowl are opened. [42] FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a state where the water drain hole and the discharge hole located in the lower portion of the wash bowl are closed. [43] FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view showing a structure of a wash water storage according to the present invention. [44] FIG. 17 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a feed pipe connected to the discharge hole, a pot lid mounted on the feed pipe in such a way as to be elevated, and an elevating means.

[45] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of FIG. 17 showing a state where the pot lid is ascended.

[46] FIG. 19 is a sectional view of FIG. 17 showing a state where the pot lid is descended and coupled to a rice pot. [47] FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing anther example of the elevating means of the pot lid according to the present invention. [48] FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a pot holding part having a heating means according to the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[49] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automated rice cooking system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are sectional views of essential parts of the automated rice cooking system of the present invention. Reference will be now made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

[50] The automated rice cooking system 1 according to the present invention is to automatically carry out all processes of supplying, transferring, washing and cooking rice without a user's labor, and includes: a control panel 3 mounted on a side of a main body 2 and having a manipulation button and a display window for displaying a state of the rice cooking system 1; a rice bin 10 mounted inside the main body 2 and having an openable lid 11 mounted on the top thereof; a rice- supplying means 20 for supplying rice contained in the rice bin 10 in a fixed quantity; a wash bowl 30 having a rice- washing means 40 for washing the supplied rice with water supplied by a supply hose 4; a rice pot 50 seated inside the main body 2 after receiving the rice washed by the rice- washing means 40 and water; and a heating means 60 for heating the rice and water contained inside the rice pot 50 to cook rice.

[51] The rice bin 10 includes: an inclined type hopper 12 of a gradually downwardly narrowed form mounted at a side of the inside of the main body 2; an inclined opening 1 Ib communicated with a rice charge hole 11a opened and closed by the lid 11 formed at the top of the main body 2; a supply hole 13 formed at the bottom thereof toward the rice- supplying means 20; an ultraviolet lamp 14 electrically arranged at the upper portion of the inside of the rice bin 10 and fixed to the main body 2 to provide a sterilization effect; and a porous container 16 mounted on the upper portion of the inside of the rice bin 10 and fixed to the main body 2, the porous container 16 containing charcoal made from an oak or a bamboo. It is preferable that the porous container 16 is downwardly fixed on the ceiling of the rice bin 10.

[52] As shown in FIG. 7, the rice-supplying means 20 includes: a casing 21; a motor 22 fixed on a side of the lower portion thereof, the motor 22 having a driving shaft 23 and a slave shaft 24a perforating elongated holes 21a formed at both sides of the upper portion of the casing 21, the driving shaft 23 having a belt pulley 23a fixed thereon, the slaving shaft 24 having another belt pulley 24a fixed thereon; a conveyer belt 26 elastically mounted between the belt pulleys 23 a and 24a and having a number of inclined support plates 25 outwardly formed in integration with the conveyer belt 26 at regular intervals; tension-adjusting bolts 28 screw-coupled at both ends of the slave shaft 24 and freely rotated on fixed piece 27 fixed at the upper ends of the both sides of the casing 21 in such a way that the slave shaft 24 goes up and down along the elongated hole 21a according to the rotation of the tension-adjusting bolts 28; a rotating plate 29 fixed on the driving shaft 23 at the other side of the lower portion of the casing 21, on which the motor 22 is fixed, the rotating plate 29 having a number of sensing holes 29a formed radially; and a rotation sensor 29a fixed on the casing 21 in such a way as to correspond with the sensing holes 29a at the highest point. In this instance, it is preferable that an interval between the sensing holes 29a is equal to a distance between two support plates 25 advancing by the rotation of the driving shaft 23. According to circumstances, the interval between the sensing holes 29a may be equal to a distance between three or four plates 25.

[53] The casing 21 includes: a discharge hole 21b downwardly inclined on the upper portion of the front thereof and directed toward the wash bowl 30; an input hole 21c formed on the lower portion of the rear thereof and communicating with the supply hole 13 of the rice bin 10; and a pair of support protrusions 21d protrudingly formed on both sides of the inside thereof for supporting the front and rear of the conveyer belt 26 inside the casing 21.

[54] As shown in FIG. 8, according to circumstances, the rice- supplying means 20 may include: a casing 21 standing in a vertical cylinder type, the casing 21 having a discharge hole 21b formed on the upper portion of the front thereof and an input hole 21c formed on the lower portion of the rear thereof; a motor fixed at the center of the lower portion thereof; a conveying screw 26' fixed on the driving shaft 23 of the motor 22 passing through the center of the casing 21 in such a way as to be rotated when the motor 22 is rotated, the conveying screw 26' being connected with the inside of the casing 21; a rotating plate 29 fixed at the upper end of the driving shaft 23 protruding upwardly from the casing 21, the rotating plate 29 having a number of sensing holes 29a formed radially; and a rotation sensor 29' fixed on a side of the upper portion of the casing 21 in such a way as to corresponding to one sensing hole 29a of the rotating plate 29.

[55] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 to 15, the wash bowl 30 includes: a hollow cylinder type housing 30a standing vertically; an rice charge pipe 31 integrally formed on a side of the upper portion of the housing 30a and communicating with the discharge hole 21b of the rice supply means 20, which supplies a fixed quantity of rice by the support plates 25 according to the rotation of the conveyer belt 26; a moisture backflow preventing means 100 mounted on the rice charge pipe 31 for preventing moisture of the wash bowl 30 from flowing backward toward the rice supply means 20; a hot air supply pipe 30' formed integrally with the other side of the upper portion of the housing 30a; an air blower 110 mounted on the upper end portion of the hot air supply pipe 30' and having a hot wire portion 111 mounted on the bottom thereof; a supply hose 4 connected and mounted adjacent to the center of the upper portion of the housing 30a for supplying water by a pump 4a; and a flow control valve 32 mounted at an end portion of the supply hose 4 and electrically connected with an electronic control unit (not shown) of the rice cooking system 1 in such a way as to supply water of a fixed amount to the inside of the wash bowl 30 according to the rotational frequency (a supply amount of rice) of the rotating plate 29 mounted on the driving shaft 23 of the rice supply means 20.

[56] As shown in FIG. 9 and 10, the moisture backflow preventing means 100 includes: a substantially '?' shaped fixed plate 101 fixed on the upper portion of the rice charge pipe 31 ; a support plate 102 formed on a side of the upper portion of the fixed plate 101 and having a round type hinge portion 102a formed at an end portion of the support plate 102; an opening and closing plate 103 having a magnetic substance and performing an angular motion with the round type hinge portion 102a as its starting point in such a way as to open and close the discharge hole 21b of the rice supply means 20 by the angular motion of the opening and closing plate 103; a spring 104 mounted on the upper portion of the support plate 102 to tense the upper end portion of the fixed plate 101 and the upper end portion of the opening and closing plate 103; and a solenoid 105 formed on the fixed plate 101 below the support plate 102 for preventing a backflow of moisture since the opening and closing plate 103 usually closes the discharge hole 21b by the spring 104 and for supplying rice to the rice charge pipe 31 by opening the discharge hole 21b since electricity is applied to the solenoid 105 to magnetize a core 105a of the solenoid 105 and the opening and closing plate 103 is stuck to the magnetized core 105a and performs the angular motion when a fixed quantity of rice is supplied by the conveyer belt 26 of the rice supply means 20. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the moisture backflow preventing means 100 includes: the fixed plate 101; a forward and backward driving motor 106 fixed on the fixed plate 101 and having a decelerator 106a; a pinion gear 107 mounted on a driving shaft 106b of the forward and backward driving motor 106; and a rack gear 108 gear- coupled to the pinion gear 107 and fixed on a side of the opening and closing plate 103, so that the opening and closing plate 103 is vertically elevated by forward and backward rotations of the forward and backward driving motor 106 to open and close the discharge hole 21b.

[57] On the bottom of the housing 30a of the wash bowl 30, formed are a water drain hole

33 having a filter net 34 for draining only water after washing the rice, a discharge hole 35 formed in such a way as to communicate with the inside of the wash bowl 30 for discharging the washed rice and water necessary for cooking rice to the rice bin 50, and an inclined surface portion 30b formed at the center of the bottom of the housing 30a in such a way as to protrude at the center, so that the rice and water can be drained and discharged through the water drain hole 33 and the discharge hole 35 more smoothly. The wash bowl 30 further includes cutoff plates 37 respectively mounted below the water drain hole 33 and the discharge hole 35 and respectively connected to cams 36' mounted on shafts 36a of motors 36 for opening and closing the water drain hole 33 and the discharge hole 35 by sliding forward and backward and performing a straight reciprocating motion when the motors 36 are rotated. Each cutoff plates 37 is an approximately rectangular form, and includes: a through-hole 38 formed on a side thereof in the same form as the water drain hole 33 or the discharge hole 35; and an opening and closing sensor 37a fixed at a position, where an end portion of the corresponding cam 36' is located, for sending an opening and closing signal to the electronic control unit to sense opening and closing of the water drain hole 33 or the discharge hole 35 when the slidable cutoff plate 37 is located at the highest point or the lowest point. In this instance, the cutoff plate 37 is slidably seated on a guide groove 30c formed on the lower portion of the housing 30a, and a packing 30d is mounted in contact with the cutoff plate 37 below the guide groove 30c for preventing a water leakage from the water drain hole 33 or the discharge hole 35. The motor 36 is fixed below the housing 30a, and a base frame 39 is fixed below the housing 30a and has extended fixing portions 39a and 39b formed downwardly for extending the water drain hole 33 and the discharge hole 35 downwardly.

[58] The rice-washing means 40, which is rotated by a driving motor 41 fixed at the outer center of the upper portion of the housing 30a, is mounted inside the wash bowl 30. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 to 13, the rice- washing means 40 includes a first supporter 43, a second supporter 44 and a third supporter 45 fixed on a driving shaft 42 of the driving motor 41 radially at an angle of about 120°, which are different from one another in length from the center of the driving shaft 42. The first supporter 43 has an inner blade 43 a formed integrally with an end portion thereof and formed obliquely when it is viewed on a plane for outwardly sweeping the rice at the central portion of the inner lower portion of the wash bowl 30. The second supporter 44 has a middle blade 44a formed integrally with an end portion thereof and formed obliquely when it is viewed on a plane for sweeping the rice located at the middle portion of the inner lower portion of the wash bowl 30 to supply the rice to the discharge hole 35. The third supporter 45 has an outer blade 45 a formed integrally with an end portion thereof and formed obliquely when it is viewed on a plane for sweeping the rice located at the edge of the inner lower portion of the wash bowl 30 and rice stuck on the inner wall surface of the housing 30a. In addition, a wash water jetting means 46 is disposed on the driving shaft 42, on which the supporters 43, 44 and 45 are fixed. The wash water jetting means 46 is opened at the upper portion thereof to evenly jet water supplied from the flow control valve 32 formed at the end portion of the supply hose 4 to the inside of the wash bowl 30 and to the rice- washing means 40, and has a number of jet holes 46a formed on the bottom surface and the wall surface thereof. Scrapers 47 made of silicon or rubber are respectively attached on a side portion of the outer blade 45 a, which is in contact with the wall surface of the housing 30a, and on the lower portions of the inner blade 43 a, the middle blade 44a and the outer blade 45 a, which are in contact with the bottom surface of the housing 30a, for keeping air-tightness, minimizing friction and preventing the rice from being stuck among the housing 30a and the blades 43a, 44a and 45a of the rice- washing means 40. The inner blade 43a and the middle blade 44a are formed low to minimize a damage of embryo buds of rice when the rice is washed, but a height of the outer blade 45a ranges from the bottom surface of the wash bowl 30 to the third supporter 45 to scrape the rice stuck on the wall surface of the wash bowl 30 more effectively and discharge the scraped rice to the discharge hole 35. Out of the three supporters 43, 44 and 45, the third supporter 45 is the longest and the first supporter 43 is the shortest. It is preferable that adding-up of widths of the three blades 43a, 44a and 45a is larger than a radius of the wash bowl 30 so that tracks of the three blades drawn when the driving motor 41 is rotated are partially overlapped with one another.

[59] The other end of the supply hose 4 for supplying water to the wash bowl 30, in which the rice- washing means 40 is mounted, is connected to the lower portion of a wash water storage 70, and the wash water storage 70 is disposed below the inclined type hopper 12 of the rice bin 10. As shown in FIG. 16, the wash water storage 70 includes: a glass pipe 71 standing at a side thereof and communicating with the inside of the wash water storage 70 at the lower portion thereof and having a small float 71a inserted therein; a water level sensor 71b mounted at the outer lower portion of the glass pipe 71 for sensing a drop of the small float 71a (when wash water contained in the wash water storage 70 is dried up), so that the water level sensor 71b is electrically connected with the electronic control unit of the rice cooking system 1 and actuates an automatic valve 73 mounted on a supply hose 72 for supplying wash water from the outside to the wash water storage 70 to thereby automatically supply wash water to the wash water storage 70. The wash water storage 70 further includes a water volume control means 74, , such as a float, which has a buoy 74a and a needle valve 74b, or an electronic controller (not shown since it is a well-known technology), which has a level switch, a relay and an electronic valve, mounted on a side of the inside of the wash water storage 70 for prevent water from being supplied from the outside after the wash water storage 70 is filled with water of a fixed quantity through the supply hose 72. The wash water storage 70 further includes an air discharge hole 75 formed on the upper portion of the wash water storage 70 for discharge the inside air when wash water is supplied. The wash water contained inside the wash water storage 70 is supplied to the inside of the wash bowl 30 by the pump 4a mounted on the supply hose 4 connected to the wash bowl 30.

[60] The rice pot 50 is inserted into a pot insertion part 8 formed at a side of the main body 2, and includes: a pot body 51 having hand- grips 51a protrudingly formed at both sides thereof; and a pot lid 52 coupled to the upper portion of the pot body 51.

[61] As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the pot lid 52 includes a circular slide hole 54 formed at the center thereof, and a protruding portion 53 formed integrally with the inside upper portion of the slide hole 54 and having a Teflon packing 55 partially inwardly fixed thereon. The pot lid 52 is communicated with the discharge hole 35, screw-coupled with the extended fixing portion 39b of the base frame 39, and slides on an erect feed pipe 9 formed above the pot insertion part 8. The feed pipe 9 includes an annular jaw 9a formed at an end portion thereof and having an annular packing 9b fixed on a portion, which is in contact with the pot lid 52, the annular jaw 9a being supported on the top of the pot lid 52. A conical spreading means 90 is fixed on the lower end of the annular jaw 9a for evenly spreading the rice on the bottom of the pot body 51 when the washed rice and necessary water are inputted into the rice pot 50. In this instance, the pot lid 52 is formed thick to have a fixed weight, and includes: a sealable packing 52' fixed at an end portion of the lower edge, which is in contact with the pot body 51 ; and a safety valve 56 mounted on a side thereof as shown in FIG. 2 for safely discharge vapor when the inside vapor pressure of the rice pot 50 reaches a predetermined pressure. The safety valve 56 is fixed on a side of the pot lid 52, and includes: a vapor discharge piece 57 having a vapor discharge hole 57a formed therein; and a pressure weight 58 mounted in such a way as to elevate on the vapor discharge piece 57 for intercepting the vapor discharge hole 57a of the vapor exhaust piece 57 by self-weight, the pressure weight 58 having a number of spout holes 58a formed on the upper edge thereof. In addition, a vapor discharge opening 91 is formed on the main body 2 located above the safety valve in such a way as to vertically perforate the main body 2.

[62] An elevation adjuster 80 is mounted between the main body 2 located above the pot insertion part 8 and the pot lid 52 for elevating the pot lid 52 along the feed pipe 9. The elevation adjuster 80 includes: a fixing member 81 integrally formed on a side of the upper end of the protruding portion 53 of the pot lid 52; a slider 82 outwardly protruding from the upper portion of the fixing member 81; a guider 83 integrally formed on the main body 2 and having a vertical guide groove 83a formed on the upper portion thereof, wherein the slider 82 is vertically slidably elevated along the guide groove 83a on the guider 83; a cam 84 mounted on a shaft 85 of a motor 86 fixed on the main body 2, the cam 84 being in contact with the slider 82; and position sensors 87 mounted at portions corresponding to the highest point and the lowest point of the vertically sliding slider 82 for sensing the position of the slider 82 and sending an electric signal of an elevated state of the pot lid 52, which is elevated by the elevation adjuster 80, to the electronic control unit. According to circumstances, as shown in FIG. 20, the elevation adjuster 80 may include a pinion gear 88 mounted on the shaft 85 of the motor 86 instead of the cam 84, and a rack gear 89 gear-coupled to the pinion gear 88 and fixed on the slider 82 in such a way that the pot lid 52 is elevated by the rotation of the motor 86.

[63] The pot body 51 is inserted into a pot holding part 61 having the heating means 60 mounted on the lower portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 21, the pot holding part 61 is formed of a box type and operated in a drawer type below the main body 2. The pot holding part 61 includes: guide recesses 62 formed at right and left sides of the lower portion thereof, the guide recesses 62 being seated on guide bars 63 forwardly protruding at the right and left sides of the lower portion of the main body 2 in such a way that the pot holding part 61 goes in and out along the guide bars 63 in the seated state; rear rollers 62b coupled to the inner rear portions of the guide recesses 62, the rear rollers 62b being coupled to guide grooves 63a respectively formed on the outer portions of the guide bars 63 and freely rotated; front rollers 62a being in contact with the upper surfaces of the guide recesses 62 and freely rotated at the front of the guide bars 63; stopper protrusions 63b integrally formed at the front of the guide grooves 63a for preventing the rear rollers 62b from being separated from the guide grooves 63a when the pot holding part 61 slides on the guide bars 63; and a support plate 63' for firmly supporting the guide bars 63.

[64] The pot holding part 61 has a rack gear 64 fixed on the lower rear portion thereof, and the main body 2 has a sliding alcove 64' formed thereon for making the rack gear 64 go in and out. Additionally, a forward and backward driving motor 66 is fixed at the inner front portion of the sliding alcove 64' and a pinion gear 65 gear-coupled to the rack gear 64 is mounted on a shaft 66a of the motor 66, so that the pot holding part 6 lean be automatically go in and out below the main body 2 by the pinion gear 65, which is forwardly and backwardly rotated according to the rotation of the forward and backward driving motor 66. Moreover, a pot accommodation detecting sensor 64a is mounted on the rear portion of the sliding alcove 64' for sensing whether or not the rack gear 64 completely goes out and sending an electric signal to the electronic control unit to thereby inform whether or not the pot holding part 61 is completely coupled to the pot insertion part 8.

[65] The pot holding part 61 includes a pot accommodating receptacle 67 formed at the upper center of the pot holding part 61 for receiving the entire pot body 51 to prevent the rice pot 50 from being exposed to the outside; an interval-keeping protrusion 67a formed on the upper edge of the pot accommodating receptacle 67 in a ring shape for keeping a predetermined interval between the pot body 51 and the pot holding part 61; and a grasping groove 68 formed at both sides of the upper portion of the pot holding part 61 for allowing a user to more easily take the rice pot 50 in and out after grasping the hand- grips 51a protruding from the pot body 51. The heating means 60 is fixed at the center of the bottom surface of the pot accommodating receptacle 67.

[66] The heating means 60 has a protruding type pot sensing means 69 formed at the center thereof. The pot sensing means 69 includes a protrusion 69a upwardly elastically supported by a spring, and a sensor 69b mounted below the protrusion 69a for sending a signal to the electronic control unit since an electric current is applied thereto when the protrusion 69a is pressurized by the rice pot 50.

[67] Meanwhile, the control panel 3 formed on a side of the main body 2 is electrically connected with the electronic control unit (not shown since it is a general technology, from which just program is changed, and does not belong to the scope of the present invention) connected to various sensors, motors and valves of the rice cooking system 1 to control the supply of a fixed quantity of rice, the supply of water to the wash bowl 30, washing of the rice, the drain of water and the transfer of the rice after washing, and heating of the rice pot according to time, the number of persons, kinds of rice, volume of water, and whether or not the rice pot is seated on the pot holding part.

[68] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it would be appreciated that a first space portion 92, through which the supply hose 4 for supplying wash water from the wash water storage 70 to the wash bowl 30 passes, is formed on one side of the rice bin 10 inside the main body 2, and a second space portion 93, through which a water drain pipe 33a for draining water drained through the water drain hole 33 to the outside of the rice cooking system 1 after the rice is washed by the rice-washing means 40, is formed on the other side of the rice bin 10.

[69] The unexplained reference numeral 51b designates a vapor stay groove formed on the upper portion of the pot body 51.

[70] The rice cooking system 1 according to the present invention having the above configuration is operated through the processes of: supplying a fixed quantity of rice from the rice bin 10 to the wash bowl 30 through the rice charge pipe 31 by the rice- supplying means 20 just when the user makes a reservation of the control panel 3 or directly pushes a cooking button according to the user's tastes, such as the number of persons, kinds of rice, volume of water, and so on; supplying wash water contained in the wash water storage 70 to the wash bowl 30 in a fixed volume (volume fixed according to a supply amount of rice) by the supply hose 4, the pump 4a and the flow control valve 32 connected to the upper portion of the housing 30a of the wash bowl 30; washing the rice by the rice- washing means 40; draining wash water to the outside through the water drain hole 33 and the drain pipe 33a after washing; repeating the above washing and draining processes several times; re-supplying clean water; transferring the rice and water to the inside of the rice pot 50 through the discharge hole 35 and the feed pipe 9 by the scrapers 47 of the inner, middle and outer blades 43a, 44a and 45a of the rotating rice-washing means 40; and heating the rice pot 50 by means of the heating means 60 to automatically cook rice. So, the automated rice cooking system 1 according to the present invention can automatically cook rice of a wanted amount at a wanted time just when the user pushes the button of the control panel 3 without needing to perform troublesome work to transfer and wash the rice several times, whereby the user can take meals regularly even in a busy everyday life.

[71] Hereinafter, actions of components of the automated rice cooking system 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail as follows.

[72] First, since the rice bin 10 contains the ultraviolet lamp 14 and charcoal 15 for providing the sterilizing effect by emitting ultraviolet rays and far infrared rays, worms such as rice weevils, or harmful bacteria cannot inhabit the rice bin 10 even though the rice is stored in the rice bin 10 for a long time, whereby the rice cooking system 1 is more safe and sanitary. The part to supply the rice to the wash bowl 30 will be described. When the rice contained in the rice bin 10 is inputted to the input hole 21c of the casing 21 of the rice- supplying means 20 through the supply hole 13 along the inner surface of the inclined type hopper 12, the rice is supplied to spaces partitioned by the support plates 25 of the conveyer belt 26 and to the lower portion of the conveying screw 26'. When the conveyer belt 26 or the conveying screw 26' is rotated by the motor 22 and the rice advances to the discharge hole 21b, the rice is charged to the wash bowl 30 through the rice charge pipe 31. So, the rice can be continuously supplied by the conveyer belt 26 and the conveying screw 26', and can be supplied more rapidly.

[73] In this instance, when the driving shaft 23 of the motor 22 or the rotating plate 29 fixed on the driving shaft 23 is rotated, since the sensing holes 29a radially positioned on the rotating plate 29 sense the rotated position, the rice of an exact amount suitable for the number of persons set on the control panel 3 is supplied to the wash bowl 30. In this instance, the conveyer belt 26 is supported by the support protrusions 2 Id formed at both sides of the inside of the casing 21, and the tension-adjusting bolts 28 mounted on the fixed pieces 27 is manipulated in such a way as to lift the slave shaft 24 upwardly along the elongated hole 21a to adjust tension, whereby a droop of the conveyer belt 26 can be prevented.

[74] As soon as the rice is supplied toward the rice charge pipe 31 by the rice- supplying means 20, the opening and closing plate 103, which closes the discharge hole 21b, is, by the spring 104, stuck toward the solenoid 105 having the core 105a magnetized by electricity applied thereto at the same time with the operation of the rice- supplying means 20. Then, the discharge hole 21b is opened, and so, the rice is charged to the wash bowl 30 through the rice charge pipe 31. At the same with completion of the supply of the rice by the rice-supplying means 20, the solenoid 105 loses a magnetic force, and performs the angular motion with the round type hinge portion 102a of the support plate 102 as its starting point by a restoring force of the spring 104, so that the discharge hole 21b is closed to prevent a backflow of moisture of the wash bowl 30 toward the rice-supplying means 20.

[75] Water of a fixed volume is supplied from the outside to the wash water storage 70, which is disposed below the outside of the inclined type hopper 12 of the rice bin 10, through the supply hose 72 by the flow control means 74 and stored in the wash water storage 70, and the stored wash water is supplied to the wash bowl 30, in which the rice supplied through the supply hose 4 by the rice-supplying means 20, by the pump 4a operated for a predetermined period by the flow control valve 32. After that, while the driving motor 41 of the rice- washing means 40 fixed on the upper portion of the housing 30a of the cylindrical wash bowl 30 is rotated and the driving shaft 42 and the supporters 43, 44 and 45 fixed on the driving shaft 42 are rotated, the inclined inner blade 43a of the first supporter 43 sweeps the rice outwardly from the center of the wash bowl 30, the outer blade 45a inclinedly formed in integration with the third supporter 45 sweeps the rice inwardly toward the middle supporter 43, and the middle blade 44a of the second supporter 44 sweeps the rice located on the middle portion of the bottom of the wash bowl 30 while rotating, so that the rice is scrubbed and washed by the inner, middle and outer blades 43a, 44a and 45a. By repeatedly performing the above operation, the rice cooking system according to the present invention can wash the rice without destruction of nutrients, such as embryo buds. In this instance, the inner and middle blades 43a and 44a reduce destruction of the embryo buds and also remarkably reduce overload of the driving motor 41 since they are formed very low. One washing is completed when the blades 43a, 44a and 45a are rotated five to eight times. After that, when the cutoff plate 37 located at the water drain hole 33 is slid by the motor 36 and the through-hole 38 of the cutoff plate 37 is coincided with the water drain hole 33, water is drained to the outside through the drain pipe 33a, and in this instance, the rice is filtered and only water is drained since the filter net 34 is mounted on the water drain hole 33.

[76] After the washing is carried out twice or three times by the rice- washing means 40, the water drain hole 33 is cut off by the cutoff plate 37, and clean water is re-supplied to the wash bowl 30 through the supply hose 4. In this instance, water of an amount suitable for cooking rice is supplied according to the amount of rice set on the control panel 3. After water of the fixed volume is completely supplied, water is supplied no more by the flow control valve 32. After water is supplied, when the cutoff plate 37 of the discharge hole 35 is slid by the motor 36 and the through-hole 38 of the cutoff plate 37 is coincided with the discharge hole 35, the washed rice and clean water is transferred into the rice pot 50 through the feed pipe 9, and in this instance, the rice can be spread evenly on the bottom of the pot body 51 by the spreading means 90 mounted on the lower end of the feed pipe 9.

[77] In this instance, since there is no space between the wall surface and the bottom surface of the housing 30a by the scrapers 47 formed on the inner, middle and outer blades 43a, 44a and 45a rotating for entirely discharging the washed rice and water of the wash bowl 30 to the discharge hole 35, it is prevented that grains of rice get in between the space. The scrapers 47 sweep the rice stuck on the wall surface and the bottom surface of the wash bowl 30 toward the discharge hole 35 to thereby more rapidly and exactly discharge the rice to the discharge hole 35. Moreover, since water supplied from the supply hose 4 is evenly sprayed onto the wall surface of the housing 30a and the wall surfaces of the blades 43a, 44a and 45a by the wash water jetting means 46, all of the grains of rice can be discharged to the discharge hole 35. Also, it is preferable that water is slowly jet through the jet holes 46a of the wash water jetting means 46 while the rice is discharged into the rice pot 50 and the supply of water is finished around when the rice is completely discharged. The inclined surface portion 30b is formed at the center of the bottom surface of the wash bowl 30, so that the rice and water flow toward the edges where the water drain hole 33 and the discharge hole 35 are formed.

[78] The cutoff plates 37 for controlling the opening and closing of the water drain hole

33 and the discharge hole 35 are slid by eccentric rotation of the cams 36', to which the other sides of the connection bars 37' connected to the cutoff plates 37 are connected. When the motor is rotated, the cams 36' are rotated eccentrically, and the cutoff plates 37 are slid on the guide grooves 30c by the connection bars 37'. The opening and closing motions of the cutoff plates 37 of the water drain hole 33 and the discharge hole 35 are carried out in order according to a fixed order after the opening and closing sensor 37a senses the movement of the cams 36'.

[79] After the rice contained in the wash bowl 30 is completely washed by the rice- washing means 40 and the supply of the rice and water to the rice pot 50 is completely finished, the air blower 110 mounted at a side of the upper portion of the housing 30a of the wash bowl 30 is operated to supply wind to the inside of the wash bowl 30. In this instance, hot air is supplied through the hot air supply pipe 30' by the hot wire portion 111 located below the air blower 110 to thereby dry the inside of the wash bowl 30, whereby the present invention can prevent inhabitation of bacteria and molds by moisture.

[80] When the rice and water is completely transferred to the rice pot 50 through the feed pipe 9 and the slide hole 54 of the protrusion 53 of the pot lid 52, the cutoff plate 37 of the discharge hole 35 performs the angular motion. So, in a state where the discharge hole 35 is closed, electricity is applied to the heating means 60 located on the lower portion of the pot accommodating receptacle 67 of the pot holding part 61, in which the rice pot 50 is seated, so that the heating means 60 generates heat by the electricity to complete cook rice. When the pot body 51 is seated on the heating means 60, the protrusion 69a is pressurized downwardly and the sensor 69b senses it to supply electricity to the heating means 60. So, the automated rice cooking system 1 according to the present invention provides excellent safety since the rice cooking system 1 does not perform any operations in a state where the pot body 51 is not seated on the heating means 60.

[81] In addition, when vapor is generated from the inside of the rice pot 50 heated by the heating means 60, vapor is first not discharged to the outside by self- weight of the pot lid 52. However, as time goes, vapor is generated greatly and the inside pressure of the rice pot 50 is increased. So, when the pressure becomes higher than weight of the pot lid 52, the pressure weight 58 of the safety valve 56 rises and the vapor discharge hole 57a of the vapor discharge piece 57 is opened, so that vapor is exhaust to the outside of the rice pot 50 through the spout holes 58a of the pressure weight 58. In this instance, vapor discharged through the safety valve 56 is discharged from the rice cooking system 1 to the air through the vapor discharge hole 91 mounted in the main body 2 above the pot insertion part 8. Some of vapor, which is not discharged through the safety valve 56, is stayed on the vapor stay groove 51b formed on the upper portion of the pot body 51, whereby the automated rice cooking system can provide a well- cooked delicious rice by a proper vapor pressure.

[82] When cooking rice is finished through the above cooking method, the user can eat rice after separating the pot body 51 from the rice cooking system 1. As shown in FIG. 21, when the pot body 51 is separated from the rice cooking system 1, the pinion gear 65 is rotated by the forward and backward motor 66 fixed on the front of the sliding alcove 64' formed on the lower portion of the main body 2. When the pinion gear 65 is rotated, the pot holding part 61, on which the rack gear 64 gear-coupled to the pinion gear 65 is fixed, is slid along the right and left guide bars 63 coupled to the guide recesses 62, and so, automatically drawn out. In this instance, since the front rollers 62a are in contact with the upper surfaces of the guide recesses 62 and coupled to the front of the right and left guide bars 63 in such a way as to rotate freely and the rear rollers 62b are coupled to the guide grooves 63a and mounted at the rear of the guide recesses 62 in such a way as to rotate freely, the pot holding part 61 can be more easily drawn in and out without deviating to the right or left. Since the rear rollers 62b are not completely separated from the main body 2 by the front stopper protrusions 63b of the guide grooves 63a, the pot holding part 61 can automatically go in and out on the guide bars 63, and the guide bars 63 are more firmly fixed on the main body 2 by the support plate 63'.

[83] When the user first pushes a warmth-keeping or cooking cancel button of the control panel 3 after the pot holding part 61 is drawn out, the pot lid 52 is automatically lifted by the elevation adjuster 80. After that, the pot holding part 61 is slidably drawn out along the guide bars 63 by the forward and backward rotation of the pinion gear 65 of the forward and backward driving motor 66. After the pot body 51 is seated on the pot accommodating receptacle 67, when the user pushes the cooking button, the forward and backward driving motor 66 is automatically rotated in the backward direction and the pot holding part 61 is completely coupled to the pot insertion part 8. Then the pot accommodation detecting sensor 64a senses the coupling between the pot holding part 61 and the pot insertion part 8, and the next operations are performed. So, the automated rice cooking system 1 according to the present invention provides convenience in use to the user and maximizes safety since the user does not directly take out the hot rice pot 50 from the pot insertion part 8.

[84] As shown in FIG. 18, while the pot lid 52 goes upwardly, the cam84 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 86 and the slider 82, whose an end is in contact with the cam 84, slides upwardly on the guide groove 83a of the guider 83, and then, the entire pot lid 52 is lifted upwardly along the feed pipe 9 due to the rising of the fixing member 81, on which the slider 84 is fixed. When the pot lid 52 goes down, on the contrary to the above lifting action, as shown in FIG. 19, when the cam 84 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 86, the slider 82 slides downwardly on the guide groove 83a of the guider 83, and the pot lid 52 drops downwardly by self-weight thereof. When the pot lid 52 goes up and down, the position sensors 87 respectively mounted at the highest point and the lowest point of the slider 82, which slides vertically, sense going up and down of the pot lid 52 and send the signal to the electronic control unit to thereby manipulate the control panel 3. The Teflon packing 55 fixed on the inner upper portion of the slide hole 54 of the pot lid 52 restrains a generation of noise and prevent vapor leakage from the inside of the rice pot 50 when the slider 82 slides along the feed pipe 9. Alternatively, the pot lid 52 can go up and down by an interaction between the pinion gear 88 mounted on the shaft 85 of the motor 86 instead of the cam 84 and the rack gear 89 mounted on the slider 82 and gear-coupled with the pinion gear 88.

[85] In the meantime, cereals such as beans, barleys, grains of kaoliang, millet, and so on or cereals mixed with rice may be used instead of rice. For this, if a button for boiling rice and cereals or a button for adding the number of water supply or the number of washing is additionally mounted on the control panel 3 and a program for boiling rice and cereals is set on the control panel 3, the automated rice cooking system according to the present invention can be used to cook cereals of various kinds. Industrial Applicability

[86] As described above, the automated rice cooking system 1 according to the present invention can continuously supply rice and supply rice quickly since the rice-supplying means 20 for supplying rice form the rice bin 10 to the wash bowl 30 includes the conveyer belt 26 and the vertical conveying screw 26'. Moreover, the automated rice cooking system 1 can prevent rice from being stuck on the inside of the rice-supplying means 20 and prevent propagation of harmful bacteria and generation of a bad smell inside the rice bin 10 since the moisture backflow preventing means 100 is mounted between the rice-supplying means 20 and the wash bowl 30 to prevent moisture of the wash bowl 30 from flowing backwardly to the rice-supplying means 20 or the rice bin 10. Furthermore, the automated rice cooking system can prevent inhabitation of bacteria or molds inside the was bowl 30 since the air blower 110 having the hot wire portion 111 is mounted at a side of the upper portion of the wash bowl 30 to supply hot air to the inside of the wash bowl 30 and dry the wash bowl 30. Additionally, compared with the prior arts, which wash rice in a forcibly striking type, the automated rice cooking system can minimize destruction of nutrients, such as embryo buds of rice, prevent an overload of the driving motor 41, wash rice more effectively, and prevent that rice is stuck on the wall surface of the wash bowl 30 since the rice- washing means 40 mounted in the wash bowl 30 includes the first to third supporters 43, 44 and 45 radially fixed on the driving shaft 42 at regular intervals and having different lengths from one another and the supporters 43, 44 and 45 respectively have the inner, middle and outer blades 43a, 44a and 45a formed integrally with the end portions thereof and inclined at the predetermined angle to provide a rice scrubbing effect while they are rotated. In addition, the automated rice cooking system according to the present invention can provide the user with convenience and maximize safety in work to seat the rice pot 50 into the main body or take out the rice pot 50 from the main body since the improved pot holding part 61 having the heating means 60 is provided not to expose the rice pot 50 to the outside and automatically sides in and out at the lower portion of the main body 2.

[87] Furthermore, the automated rice cooking system according to the present invention can provide additional effects by the entire configuration and actions thereof.

[88] A. The automated rice cooking system is automated in all operations to supply, wash, transfer and cook rice, thereby allowing all consumers to use it without distinction of age or sex, reducing time and labor necessary for cooking rice, and especially inducing the users, such as two-paycheck couples who are too busy to eat, unmarried persons and salaried men, to eat regularly.

[89] B. The automated rice cooking system simplifies the general structure of the system, for instance, the washing and transferring processes are performed at a time, thereby reducing manufacturing expenses.

[90] C. The automated rice cooking system has the ultraviolet lamp 15 and charcoal 15 contained in the rice bin 10, thereby removing worms or harmful bacteria generated from rice.

[91] D. The automated rice cooking system provides the improved feed pipe 9 and means for opening and closing the water drain hole 33 and the discharge hole 35, thereby improving reliability in operation.

[92] E. The automated rice cooking system improves easiness in coupling, removes a noise, and reduces a damage of the coupled portion when the rice pot 50 is coupled to the main body 2, thereby enlarging the lifespan thereof permanently.

[93] F. The automated rice cooking system has the wash water storage 70 mounted inside the main body 2 to always store wash water therein without regard to pressure of water supplied from the outside, thereby providing a fixed quantity of wash water at any time.

[94] G. The automated rice cooking system has the conical spreading means 90 mounted at the lower end of the feed pipe 9, thereby spreading the rice on the pot body 51 evenly.

[95] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiment, it is not to be restricted by the embodiment but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[96]

[97]

Claims

[1] An automated rice cooking system for automatically carrying out all processes of supplying, transferring, washing and cooking rice, which includes a main body (2) having a control panel (3) formed at a side thereof, a rice bin (10) disposed at a side of the main body (2) and having a supply hole (13) formed on the lower front portion of an inclined type hopper (12), a rice- supplying means (20) for supplying rice contained in the rice bin (10) in a fixed quantity, a wash bowl (30) having a rice- washing means (40) for washing the supplied rice with water supplied from a wash water storage (70) by a supply hose (4), a cutoff plate (37) having through-holes (38) of the same shape as that of a water drain hole (33) and a discharge hole (35) formed on the inner lower portion of the wash bowl (30), the cutoff plate (37) controlling opening and closing of the water drain hole (33) and the discharge hole (35) by a motor (36), a rice pot (50) for receiving the rice washed by the rice- washing means (40) and clean water from the wash bowl (30), the rice pot (50) having a pot body (51) and a pot lid (52), the pot body (51) having hand- grips (51a) protrudingly formed at both sides of the upper portion thereof, the pot lid (52) including a protrusion (53) formed integrally with the pot lid (52), a packing (52') formed on the lower end portion thereof, and a safety valve (56) mounted at a side of the upper portion thereof and having a vapor discharge piece (57) and a pressure weight (58), the protrusion (53) having a slide hole (54) formed on the upper portion thereof for allowing the pot lid (52) to be slidably elevated on the feed pipe (9) communicating with the discharge hole (35) by an elevator adjuster (80), a heating means (60) for heating the rice and water contained in the rice pot (50) to cook rice, and a pot holding part (61), in which the rice pot (50) is seated, the pot holding part (61) having the heating means (60) mounted therein, the pot holding part (61) slidably going in and out at a side of the lower portion of the main body 2, the automated rice cooking system comprising: an inclined opening (1 Ib) opened and closed at a side of the upper portion of the rice bin (10) by a lid (11) and communicated with a rice charge hole (1 Ia) formed on the front upper portion of the main body (2); the rice-supplying means (20) including a casing (21) having a discharge hole (21b) formed on the front upper portion thereof and an input hole (21c) formed on the rear lower portion thereof; a motor (22) mounted on the lower portion of the casing (21), a conveyer belt (26) elastically mounted between a belt pulley (23 a) fixed on a driving shaft (23) of the motor (22) and a belt pulley (24a) fixed on a slave shaft (24) passing through elongated holes (21a) formed at both sides of the upper portion of the casing (21), a number of inclined support plates (25) formed integrally with the conveyer belt (26) at regular intervals, tension- adjusting bolts (28) mounted on fixed pieces (27) fixed at upper ends of both sides of the casing (21) in such a way as to be rotated freely, the tension- adjusting bolts (28) being screw-coupled with both ends of the slave shaft (24), a rotating plate (29) fixed on the driving shaft (23) and having a number of sensing holes (29a) radially formed thereon, a rotation sensor (29a) fixed on the rotating plate (29) and the casing (21) to sense the sensing holes (29a), and a pair of support protrusions (2Id) protrudingly formed at both sides of the inside of the casing (21) for supporting the conveyer belt (26), a moisture backflow preventing means (100) including a fixed plate (101) fixed on the rice charge pipe (31) mounted on the upper portion of the wash bowl (30), a support plate (102) formed on a side of the upper portion of the fixed plate (101), the support plate (102) having a round type hinge portion (102a) formed at an end portion of the support plate (102), an opening and closing plate (103) coupled to the hinge portion (102a) and having a magnetic substance to perform an angular motion with the hinge portion (102a) as its starting point, a spring (104) mounted on the upper portion of the support plate (102) in such a way as to tense the upper end portion of the fixed plate (101) and the upper end portion of the opening and closing plate (103), and a solenoid (105) formed on the fixed plate (101) below the support plate (102), whereby it can be prevented that moisture of the wash bowl (30) flows backwardly by the angular motion of the opening and closing plate (103); an air blower (110) mounted at a side of the upper portion of the housing (30a) of the wash bowl (30), the air blower (110) being communicated with the inside of the housing (30a) via a hot air supply pipe (30'), the air blower (110) having a hot wire portion (111) mounted on the lower portion thereof; the rice- washing means (40) including a first supporter (43), a second supporter (44) and a third supporter (45) radially fixed on a driving shaft (42) of the driving motor (41) at regular intervals, which are different from one another in their lengths, the driving motor (41) being fixed at the outer center of the upper portion of the housing (30a), inner, middle and outer blades (43a, 44a, 45a) formed integrally with end portions of the first to third supporters (43, 44, 45), the inner, middle and outer blades (43 a, 44a, 45 a) being formed obliquely when they is viewed on a plane, and scrapers (47) attached on a side portion of the outer blade (45a), which is in contact with the wall surface of the housing (30a), and on the lower portions of the inner blade (43 a), the middle blade (44a) and the outer blade (45a), which are in contact with the bottom surface of the housing (30a); a Teflon packing (55) partially inwardly protruding from the inner upper portion of the slide hole (54) of the pot lid (52); a number of spout holes (58a) formed on the upper edge of a pressure weight (58) of a safety valve (56) mounted at a side of the pot lid (52); a vapor discharge hole (91) vertically formed on the main body (2) located above the safety valve (56) having a number of the spout holes (58a); the pot holding part (61) of a box type including, a pair of guide bars (63) connected to the right and left of the lower portion of the main body (2) through a support plate (63') and protruding forwardly, guide recesses 62 connected to the guide bars (63) and formed at right and left sides of the lower portion thereof in such a way as to move forwardly and backwardly; a pair of front rollers (62a) being in contact with the upper surfaces of the guide recesses (62) and connected to the front of the guide bars (63) in such a way as to be rotated freely; a pair rear rollers (62b) respectively coupled to the guide grooves (63a) of the guide bars (63) and inwardly mounted on the inner rear portions of the guide recesses 62 in such a way as to be rotated freely, a rack gear (64) fixed on the lower rear portion of the pot holding part (61), a forward and backward driving motor (66) fixed on the inner front portion of a sliding alcove (64') formed on the main body (2), the rack gear going in and out of the sliding alcove (64'), a pinion gear (65) mounted on a shaft (66a) of the forward and backward driving motor (66) and gear-coupled to the rack gear (64), and a pot accommodation detecting sensor 64a mounted on the rear portion of the sliding alcove (64') for sensing the rack gear (64); a pot accommodating receptacle (67) formed at the upper center of the pot holding part (61) for receiving the entire pot body (51) to prevent the rice pot (50) from being exposed to the outside, the pot accommodating receptacle (67) having the heating means (60) fixed at the center of the lower bottom surface of the pot accommodating receptacle (67); an interval-keeping protrusion (67 a) formed on the upper edge of the pot accommodating receptacle (67) for keeping a predetermined interval between the pot body (51) and the pot holding part (61); a grasping groove (68) formed at both sides of the upper portion of the pot holding part (61) for allowing a user to more easily take the rice pot (50) in and out after grasping hand- grips (51a) protruding from the pot body (51); the wash water storage (70) disposed below the outside of the inclined type hopper (12) of the rice bin (10), the wash water storage (70) including a glass pipe (71) standing at a side thereof and communicating with the inside of the wash water storage (70) at the lower portion thereof, the glass pipe (71) having a small float (71a) inserted therein, a water level sensor (71b) mounted at the outer lower portion of the glass pipe (71) for sensing the small float (71a), a water volume control means (74) mounted on a side of the inside thereof; and an air discharge hole (75) formed on the upper portion of the wash water storage (70); and the elevation adjuster (80) including, a fixing member (81) integrally formed on a side of the upper end of the protruding portion (53) of the pot lid (52); a slider (82) outwardly protruding from the upper portion of the fixing member (81), a guider (83) formed integrally with the main body (2) and having a vertical guide groove (83a) formed on the upper portion thereof in such a way that the slider (82) is vertically slidably elevated along the guide groove (83a), a cam (84) mounted on a shaft (85) of a motor (86) fixed on the main body (2), the cam (84) being in contact with the slider (82), and position sensors (87) mounted at portions corresponding to the highest point and the lowest point of the slider (82).

[2] The automated rice cooking system according to claim 1, wherein in the rice- supplying means (20), the casing (21) having the discharge hole (21b) formed on the front upper portion thereof and the input hole (21c) formed on the rear lower portion thereof is constructed of a vertical cylinder type, the motor (22) is fixed at the lower center of the rice- supplying means (20), a conveying screw (26') is fixed on the driving shaft (23) of the motor (22) passing through the center of the casing (21) and is in contact with the inside of the casing (21), the rotating plate (29) having a number of the sensing holes (29a) radially formed is fixed on the upper end of the driving shaft (23) protruding from the upper portion of the casing (21), and the rotation sensor (29') is fixed at a side of the upper portion of the casing (21) in such a way as to correspond with the sensing hole (29a) of the rotating plate (29).

[3] The automated rice cooking system according to claim 1, wherein the moisture backflow preventing means (100) includes: a forward and backward driving motor (106) fixed on the fixing plate (101) and having a decelerator (106a); a pinion gear (107) mounted on a driving shaft (106b) of the forward and backward driving motor (106); and a rack gear (108) fixed on a side of the opening and closing plate (103) and gear-coupled to the pinion gear (107).

[4] The automated rice cooking system according to claim 1, wherein the elevation adjuster (80) includes: a pinion gear (88) mounted on the shaft (85) of the motor (86); and rack gear (89) fixed on the slider (82) and gear-coupled to the pinion gear (88).