CN107411542B

CN107411542B - Rice cooker

Info

Publication number: CN107411542B
Application number: CN201710573567.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 庄野哲人; 小坂俊幸; 梛木隆; 西野大智; 佐藤慎一; 增本悟一; 三村雅代; 冈本大辅
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-03
Filing date: 2015-03-02
Publication date: 2020-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-02
Also published as: CN106061337A; WO2015133115A1; JPWO2015133115A1; CN107411542A; JP6387534B2

Abstract

A rice cooker, comprising: a pot for accommodating cooked rice; a main body having a heating part for heating the pan; a cover body which closes the opening part of the main body; a pressure valve installed on the cover body for adjusting the inner pressure in the cooker; a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism for controlling the pressure valve; an operation unit capable of selecting a specific cooking menu from a plurality of cooking menus including a standard brown rice cooking mode and a sticky brown rice cooking mode; and a control unit for controlling the heating unit and the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism to execute a cooking step including a water absorption step, a temperature rise step, and a boiling maintenance step. When the viscous brown rice cooking mode is selected by the operation unit, the control unit sets the electric power in the boiling maintaining step in the viscous brown rice cooking mode to be greater than the electric power in the boiling maintaining step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, and sets the closing time of the pressure valve in the boiling maintaining step in the viscous brown rice cooking mode to be greater than the closing time of the pressure valve in the boiling maintaining step in the standard brown rice cooking mode.

Description

Rice cooker

This application is a divisional application of an invention patent application (international application No.: PCT/JP2015/001077, application date: 2015, 3, month 2, the title: rice cooker and method for controlling rice cooker) having original application No. 201580009558.9.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rice cooker as an electric cooker.

Background

In recent microcomputers (Micro computer) control type rice cookers, a liquid crystal display unit is provided to appropriately display various kinds of information such as various rice cooking menus such as white rice and wash-free rice, a current time, a set time of cooking at a timing (Timer), a remaining time until completion of cooking, and an elapsed time of a heat-retaining operation, in accordance with an operating state (during standby, during setting, after setting, during cooking, or during a heat-retaining operation) of the rice cooker.

In the conventional rice cooker, is a display method in which a 7-Segment (Segment) liquid crystal display unit is used for displaying numerals such as time and time, and is a display method in which characters are described in advance by printing or the like in the vicinity of the liquid crystal display unit, and a Marker (Marker) corresponding to the characters is lit (see, for example, patent document 1).

In recent years, the following proposals have been made: a Dot matrix (Dot matrix) type liquid crystal display unit capable of displaying characters and patterns is provided, which is different from the above-described liquid crystal display unit of the segment display type, and the characters and patterns can be displayed at arbitrary positions simultaneously with the display of numerals (see, for example, patent document 2).

In this way, when the dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit is combined with the segment display type liquid crystal display unit, it is possible to combine the current time, the timer reservation time, the elapsed heat retention time, various operating states, and the like with characters and patterns, and to provide the user with a large amount of information by using the combination in an easily understandable manner.

Conventionally, in rice cooking, it has been attempted to loosen cooked materials (lose described in english) by opening a lid after cooking, thereby dispersing excess steam in a pot and excess water in the vicinity of the surface of rice grains, preventing rice grains from shrinking due to steam pressure, preventing rice grains from sticking together due to excess water, and preventing rice grains from being excessively softened and whitened, and achieving rice cooking having excellent taste and appearance.

In particular, in a rice cooker, since a pan is made of a material having extremely low air permeability and water absorption such as metal, it is difficult to emit steam and moisture, and therefore, it is important and indispensable to loosen a cooked material in order to cook rice with good taste and appearance, and kinds of rice cookers have been proposed in which the timing of loosening a cooked material is guided by sound (for example, see patent document 3).

Prior art reference

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2002-202499

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2004-222936

Patent document 3: japanese patent No. 4390722

Disclosure of Invention

However, in the conventional technique described in patent document 2, no special idea is added to the display method itself of the dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit, and improvement of operability of the user is not considered particularly.

Although the usage specifications and the like describe the preparation of rice prior to cooking and the processing method after cooking for making rice more delicious, rice cookers have been widely used in households as in , and are often used without the use specifications.

The preliminary preparation of rice cooking includes a rice metering method, a rice washing method, water suitable for rice cooking, a rice selecting method, and a rice preserving method, which are described below.

In the rice measuring method, if a proper amount of rice is not used in the rice cooker, it is difficult to cook rice having a hardness preferred by a user, and therefore, if a measuring cup capable of holding a fixed amount of rice is attached as a subsidiary product, rice can be cooked well.

In the rice washing method, if the rice is washed with force, the rice is strongly contacted with each other to be cracked, which becomes a factor causing stickiness and scorching, and deteriorates the taste of the rice. Therefore, by gently stirring and washing the rice so as not to crack, more delicious cooked rice can be cooked.

As for water suitable for cooking, if alkaline ionized water having a high pH is used, it becomes a factor causing stickiness and yellowing, and the taste of the cooked rice is impaired. On the other hand, if Mineral water (Mineral water) with high hardness is used, it becomes a factor causing dryness and hardness, and deteriorates the texture of the cooked rice. Therefore, by using tap water or a water purifier having a pH near neutral or a hardness of 100 or less, more delicious cooked rice can be cooked.

Regarding the method of selecting rice and the method of storing rice, rice aged as the rice milling date, rice aged hours after opening the rice bag, and rice stored in a warm place are acidified to cause a change in taste and yellowing of rice, and the taste of rice is impaired.

Therefore, by using rice of the new date, eating as soon as possible after opening the package, or storing in a dark cold place such as a refrigerator, it is possible to cook more delicious rice with rice that is not acidified.

The processing method after the completion of cooking includes a loosening method of cooked rice, which is described as follows.

In the method of loosening cooked rice, if the cooked rice is not loosened but kept as it is, excess moisture is not evaporated to cause stickiness, and the texture of the cooked rice is impaired.

Therefore, the rice can be more delicately eaten by first putting a spoon along the surface of the pot, then turning it up and down from the bottom, and finally cutting the rice loose to stir it so as not to break the rice grains.

In the conventional rice cooker which guides the timing of loosening the cooked object by sound, the timing of loosening the cooked object is missed due to the fact that the user is not in the range where the user can hear the sound, the sound from the rice cooker is drowned due to noise or the sound from the rice cooker is missed, and it is difficult to cook rice with good taste and appearance.

In order to solve the conventional problems, the present invention has an object to provide kinds of rice cookers that provide delicious rice to a user by displaying a preparation-before-cooking method or a processing method after cooking on a display unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the -format rice cooker of the present invention includes a main body having an opening on an upper surface thereof, a pot detachably housed in the main body, a heating unit configured to heat the pot provided in the main body, a lid configured to openably and closably cover the main body, an operation panel provided at a portion of the lid, an operation unit provided at a portion of the operation panel, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit, and a display control unit configured to drive and control the liquid crystal display unit.

The display control unit is configured to cause the liquid crystal display unit to display at least of the preliminary preparation of rice cooking or the processing method after the completion of rice cooking.

According to this aspect, the method for eating rice with more delicious taste is displayed on the liquid crystal display section after the operation section is operated, and the user can be made aware of the method for eating rice with more delicious taste before the start of cooking.

Another -type rice cooking device according to the present invention includes a pot for containing an object to be cooked, a main body having a heating portion for heating the pot, a lid for closing an opening of the main body, a pressure valve attached to the lid for adjusting an internal pressure in the pot, and a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism for controlling the pressure valve.

The rice cooker of the present aspect further includes: an operation unit capable of selecting a specific cooking menu from a plurality of cooking menus including a standard brown rice cooking mode and a sticky brown rice cooking mode; and a control unit for controlling the heating unit and the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism to execute a cooking step including a water absorption step, a temperature rise step, and a boiling maintenance step.

When the viscous brown rice cooking mode is selected by the operation unit, the control unit sets the electric quantity Whs in the boiling maintaining step in the viscous brown rice cooking mode to be greater than the electric quantity Whb in the boiling maintaining step in the standard brown rice cooking mode.

The control part sets the closing time tv of the pressure valve in the boiling maintaining process of the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be longer than the closing time of the pressure valve in the boiling maintaining process of the standard brown rice cooking mode, and executes the cooking process.

According to this aspect, cooked rice having different viscosities can be obtained regardless of the amount of cooked rice. Thus, the classified cooking performance of the brown rice can be improved without changing the water amount, and the cooked rice according with the preference of the customer can be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a partially cut side view of a rice cooker according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing an operation panel portion centering on a liquid crystal display portion of the rice cooker of embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a control circuit configuration when a dot matrix type liquid crystal panel of the rice cooker of embodiment 1 is mounted.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the display of the 1 st level of the guidance screen in embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the display of the 2 nd level of the guidance screen in embodiment 1.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the display of the 3 rd level of the guidance screen in embodiment 1.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the display of the 4 th level of the guidance screen in embodiment 1.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the structure of the rice cooker according to embodiments 2 and 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the rice cooker of embodiment 2, with the lid portion viewed from above.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the input portion 106 and the display portion 108 formed in the cover portion in embodiment 2.

Fig. 11A is a diagram showing display contents of the display unit 108 in the standby state.

Fig. 11B is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 in the rice selection state.

Fig. 11C is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 in the rice selection state.

Fig. 11D is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 in the rice cooking method selection state.

Fig. 11E is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 in the rice cooking method selection state.

Fig. 11F is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 in the rice cooking method selection state.

Fig. 11G is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 in the rice cooking method selection state.

Fig. 11H is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 in the rice cooking start waiting state.

Fig. 12A is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 during the rice cooking operation.

Fig. 12B is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 at the end of the rice cooking operation.

Fig. 12C is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 after the rice cooking operation is completed.

Fig. 12D is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 at the end of the rice cooking operation.

Fig. 12E is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 108 during the warm-up operation.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of the rice cooker according to embodiments 4 to 6 of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a front view of the pressure cooker 201 according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the pressure type rice cooker 201 shown in fig. 14 cut longitudinally.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view of the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism portion shown in fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a block diagram of a control device housed in the pressure cooker 201 shown in fig. 14.

Fig. 18 is a timing chart showing the operation of the sticky brown rice cooking mode of the rice cooker according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a timing chart showing the operation of the rice cooker according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a timing chart showing the operation of the rice cooker according to embodiment 9 of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is a timing chart showing the operation of the standard brown rice cooking mode of the rice cooker according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Detailed Description

A rice cooker according to claim 1 of the present invention includes: a pot for receiving the cooked food; a main body having a heating part for heating a pot; a cover body which closes the opening part of the main body; a pressure valve installed on the cover body for adjusting the inner pressure in the cooker; and a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism that controls the pressure valve.

In the rice cooker of claim 2 of the present invention, in the aspect 1, the control unit sets the electric power Ws in the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be smaller than the electric power Wb in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode. The control part sets the process time in the boiling maintaining process in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be longer than the process time in the boiling maintaining process in the standard brown rice cooking mode, and executes the cooking process.

In the rice cooker according to claim 3 of the present invention according to claim 2, the controller sets the current carrying rate P in the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be lower than the current carrying rate P1 in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, and executes the cooking step.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are examples for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and the present invention can be applied to other embodiments included in the claims.

(embodiment mode 1)

Fig. 1 is a partially cut side view of a rice cooker according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. In fig. 1, the main body 70 includes a bottomed cylindrical pot housing portion 70a, and detachably houses a pot 71. The heating portion 72 as a bottom induction heating coil constitutes a pan heating portion, is provided at the bottom of the pan housing portion 70a, and performs cooking/heat preservation by induction heating the pan 71.

The bottom Sensor (Sensor)73 detects the temperature of the pan 71 and sends a signal to the completion control Unit (Unit) 74. The completion control unit 74 is configured to: the amount of current supplied to the heating portion 72, which is a bottom induction heating coil, is controlled based on a signal from the bottom sensor 73, and the amount of heat supplied to the pot 71 is changed, whereby the temperature of the pot 71 is controlled to an appropriate temperature during cooking and keeping warm.

The upper part of the main body 70 is covered with a lid 75 that can be opened and closed, and the lid 75 is supported by a Hinge shaft 80 provided on a Hinge (Hinge)79 provided at the rear part of the main body 70. A lid engaging portion 82 is provided at the front end of the lid 75, and when the lid is closed, the lid engaging portion 82 engages with a Hook (Hook button)83 on the front side of the main body 70 to close the lid.

The structure is as follows: when the hook 83 is pressed, the lid engagement portion 82 and the hook are disengaged, and the lid 75 is opened by the force of the hinge spring 81 provided in the hinge 79 of the lid. An operation panel 76 as shown in fig. 2 is provided on the upper portion of the cover 75.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the operation panel 76 centering on the liquid crystal display part of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 2, the operation panel 76 is provided with a liquid crystal display portion 84 having a sufficiently wide and large display area. The liquid crystal display portion 84 is constituted by a dot matrix type liquid crystal panel 86.

Various operation switches such as a "ok/function" button 85a, a "down cursor" button 85b, an "up cursor" button 85c, a "cancel/off" button 85d, a "reservation" button 85e, a "rice cooking" button 85f, a "rice" button 85g, a "rice cooking method" button 85h, and a steam warm-keeping/reheating switch 85i are disposed around the operation panel 76.

A microcomputer board 87 (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the operation panel 76.

As shown in fig. 3, for example, a microcomputer control unit 88, an EEPROM90, a Back up power supply 91 for the microcomputer control unit 88, and the like are provided as circuit components on the microcomputer substrate 87, and a dot matrix type liquid crystal panel 86 is provided via a liquid crystal Holder (Holder) made of synthetic resin.

A microcomputer control unit 88 on the microcomputer board 87 is provided with a desired recognition unit for determining the contents of the user's instruction inputted via a "ok/function" button 85a to a steam heat-retaining/reheating switch 85i as each operation switch.

The necessary display corresponding to the instruction contents of the user recognized by the recognition unit on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 86, the desired cooking, cooking or warming function corresponding to the instruction contents, the cooking method selectable in accordance with the selection of the desired rice, and the predetermined heating mode corresponding to the cooking method are set, and the cooking control unit or the warming heating control unit is appropriately operated to perform the desired cooking, cooking or warming.

Therefore, the user inputs the selection setting contents of rice cooking, cooking or warming, a timer reservation mode, selection of rice such as white rice or wash-free rice, a cooking method such as normal, hard, soft, etc., and time setting using the "ok/function" button 85a to the steam heat preservation/reheating switch 85i, which are the above-described operation switches.

The corresponding functional contents are inputted to the setting parts such as the rice cooking, cooking and heating modes via the recognition part in the microcomputer control unit 88, and are automatically set, and the corresponding rice cooking, cooking or heating control is appropriately performed in a desired control mode.

Fig. 4 to 7 are diagrams showing the display of the guidance screen in the embodiment of the present invention. When changing the display, it is necessary to operate the respective operation switches shown in fig. 2. In the standby state shown in fig. 2, when the "ok/function" button 85a is operated, the level 1 display in which "calibration current time", "simple guidance", "various settings", and "maintenance function" can be selected is displayed as shown in fig. 4.

When the "ok/function" button 85a is operated in a state where the "simple guide" is selected by operating the "down cursor" button 85b or the "up cursor" button 85c, the display of the level 2 in which "electricity fee redisplay", "item feature display", "the key of delicious rice" and "this time" can be selected is shown in fig. 5.

When the "ok/function" button 85a is operated in a state where the "main part of delicious rice" is selected by operating the "down cursor" button 85b or the "up cursor" button 85c, the level 3 display of "measuring method of rice", "washing method of rice", "water suitable for cooking", "loosening method of rice", "selection method of rice and preservation" can be selected as shown in fig. 6.

When any of the above items shown in fig. 6 is selected by operating the "down cursor" button 85b or the "up cursor" button 85c and the "ok/function" button 85a is operated, information for cooking the delicious rice corresponding to each item shown in fig. 7 is displayed, for example.

With this configuration, the user can recognize the information for eating the delicious rice suitable for the rice cooker of the present embodiment without confirming the instruction manual.

In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display portion 84 is used as the display portion, but an organic EL type display portion or an inorganic EL type display portion may be used. Although the thickness is slightly conspicuous, an LED display portion in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged may be used.

In the present embodiment, the user operates the operation panel 76 shown in fig. 2 to display information for performing preferred cooking on the liquid crystal display portion 84 in accordance with the user's request, but the following method may be used.

That is, the microcomputer control unit 88 recognizes that the automatic mode is set by pressing any switches of the operation panel 76 shown in fig. 2 for a predetermined time, pressing the switches for a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, or pressing a plurality of switches simultaneously.

After the automatic mode is set, the microcomputer control means 88 can display the desired information on the liquid crystal display portion 84 before the rice cooking operation is started, or can display the desired information on the liquid crystal display portion 84 after the rice cooking operation. In addition, in order to improve convenience, preference information before cooking may not be displayed at the time of starting the cooking operation.

When the user performs the rice cooking operation a predetermined number of times to make the displayed information obvious, the automatic mode can be released by long-pressing various switches of the operation panel 76 and the like, and the automatic display of the predetermined information can be stopped, as in the case of setting the automatic mode.

In the present embodiment, although the grain such as rice is described as the cooked material, food other than the grain may be used as the cooked material.

As the information displayed on the liquid crystal display portion 84, a cooking method of rice is taken as an example, and a cooking method of ordinary rice, porridge, and the like is included, but the displayed contents may be changed according to the cooking method and the like. In this way, a plurality of pieces of information can be stored in advance in the EPROM90 shown in fig. 3 in association with the mode of the cooking method and the like.

(embodiment mode 2)

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing a structure of a rice cooker according to embodiment 2 of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the rice cooker of the present embodiment, and is a view of the lid 111 as viewed from above. Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the input unit 106 and the display unit 108 formed on the cover unit 111 in the present embodiment.

As shown in fig. 8, the rice cooker of the present embodiment is provided with a heating portion 103 so as to surround a pot 101 to be accommodated. The heating unit 103 is configured by a plurality of heating units that heat the bottom surface, the upper surface, and the side surfaces of the pan 101.

The heating unit 103 in the present embodiment has a structure in which: a plurality of induction heating coils are disposed around the pan 101 to heat respective portions of the pan 101 to a desired temperature. In the rice cooker of embodiment 1, electric power from commercial ac power supply 102 is supplied to heating unit 103 and power supply circuit 105. The driving power supply that has been converted into a desired voltage in the power supply circuit 105 is supplied to a driving section 104 that performs driving control of the heating section 103 and a control section 110 that is constituted by a microcomputer.

The signal processed by the control unit 110 is output to a Fan motor (Fan motor)107 and a display unit 108. The fan motor 107 is provided to cool an electric/electronic circuit in the rice cooker. The display unit 108 displays the conditions set by the input unit 106 and the state of the rice cooker by using characters, symbols, and the like.

The display unit 108 in this embodiment is formed of a liquid crystal display element. The control unit 110 includes a storage unit for storing display contents (characters and symbols) and a display control unit for causing the liquid crystal display element to display the display contents of the storage unit in accordance with the state of the rice cooker at that time.

In the present embodiment, a liquid crystal display element is used as the display portion 108, but an organic EL display element, an inorganic EL display element, an LED display element, or the like may be used instead. A dot matrix display type display element is basically preferable.

As shown in the plan view of the rice cooker of fig. 9, the input unit 106 and the display unit 108 are arranged in a concentrated manner on the front side of the upper surface of the lid unit 111 of the present embodiment. The lid 111 of the present embodiment is provided with a steam lid 112 for adjusting the steam pressure in the boiler 101. The input unit 106 in the present embodiment is configured by a plurality of push switches, and is disposed so as to be close to 3 adjacent sides of the display unit 108.

As a specific example of the input unit 106 in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 10, there are 9 button switches of a "rice cooking" button 106a, a "cancel/off" button 106b, a "steam keep warm/reheat" button 106c, a "determine/function" button 106d, a "reserve" button 106e, a "downward black triangle" button 106f, an "upward black triangle" button 106g, a "rice" button 106h, and a "rice cooking method" button 106 i.

In the present embodiment, the upper surface of the cover 111 on which the input unit 106 and the display unit 108 are disposed is formed substantially flat. In the present embodiment, the display unit 108 and the input unit 106 are provided on the cover 111, but may be provided on the main body.

As shown in fig. 9, when each of the button switches of the input unit 106 is operated, the display unit 108 displays the contents to be set or the set contents. The display state of the display unit 108 shown in fig. 9 is a state in which all display contents are displayed on the display unit 108 as a display window. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the content displayed on the display unit 108 is set so that only the content desired by the user is displayed.

The display section 108 of the present embodiment is configured to select from a menu patterns of "normal boiled rice", "hard boiled rice", "soft boiled rice", "chewy boiled rice", "sticky glutinous boiled rice", "economy pattern boiled rice", "high speed", "small amount", "cooked rice", "curry", "crispy rice", and "porridge".

The rice to be treated by the rice cooker of the present embodiment includes white rice, non-washed rice, brown rice, coarse cereal rice, and germinated rice/germ rice. In the present embodiment, these rice are selected, and the rice cooking operation is performed on the selected rice in the optimum state.

In the present embodiment, the configuration is such that: a steam generating mechanism is provided in the rice cooker, and generates steam of a predetermined temperature under each operation of cooking and heat preservation.

In the present embodiment, the configuration is such that: a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism is provided in the rice cooker to generate a pressure exceeding 1 atmosphere in the pot 101 during a rice cooking operation.

The control unit 110, which is a microcomputer, processes the conditions set by using the input unit 106 as described above, and then outputs drive signals to the display unit 108, the notification unit (not shown), and the fan motor 107. The fan motor 107 is provided to cool an electric/electronic circuit in the rice cooker.

Hereinafter, the process at the time of setting the rice cooking operation in the present embodiment will be specifically described.

Fig. 11A to 11H are diagrams showing display contents sequentially displayed on the display unit 108 each time the user presses the "downward black triangle" button 106f, the "upward black triangle" button 106g, the "rice" button 106H, and the "rice cooking method" button 106i, which are the button switches of the input unit 106 in the present embodiment.

Fig. 11B to 11C are diagrams illustrating display contents of the display unit 108 in the rice selection state.

Fig. 11D, 11E, 11F, and 11G are views showing the display contents of the display unit 108 in the cooking method selection state.

In the standby state, the cooking method selection state, or the cooking start waiting state, after the "rice" button 106h is pressed, the contents shown in fig. 11B or 11C are displayed in correspondence with the selected rice type. At this time, in the "rice" item, the type of the selected rice is displayed in black and white reversed.

When any of the "black triangle downward" button 106f, the "black triangle upward" button 106g, and the "m" button 106h are pressed, the selected m is changed, and the contents shown in fig. 11B or 11C are displayed in accordance with the m type.

In the standby state, the rice selection state, or the cooking start waiting state, after the "rice" button 106h is pressed, the contents shown in any side in fig. 11D, 11E, 11F, and 11G are displayed in correspondence with the selected cooking method.

Any of the "downward black triangle" button 106F, the "upward black triangle" button 106G, and the "rice" button 106h are pressed, and then the selected cooking method is changed, and the contents shown in any item of fig. 11D, 11E, 11F, and 11G are displayed in correspondence with the cooking method.

After the "ok/function" button 106d is pressed in the standby state, the rice selection state, or the cooking method selection state, the contents shown in fig. 11H are displayed.

After the condition setting is performed as described above, the rice cooking operation is started when the button switch of the "rice cooking" button 106a is pressed.

The following specifically describes the processing of each operation of cooking and keeping warm in the present embodiment.

Fig. 12A to 12E are diagrams showing display contents sequentially displayed on the display unit 108 during each of the rice cooking and the warming operation in the present embodiment.

During the rice cooking operation, the selected rice and the remaining time corresponding to the rice cooking method are displayed on the display unit 108.

The display portion 108 shown in fig. 12A displays "steam". This shows that the rice cooker of the present embodiment is provided with a steam generating mechanism having a container for storing water. Since the water in the container is used by the steam operation, the user is informed of the presence or absence of the use of the water in the selected cooking method.

The display unit 108 shown in fig. 12A displays "pressure". The present embodiment has a function of generating a pressure exceeding 1 atmosphere in the pot 101 by having a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism. The opening of the cap during pressurization involves a risk of ejecting high-temperature contents, and therefore, the user is notified of the presence or absence of pressurization.

When the rice cooking operation is completed, the contents shown in fig. 12B are displayed, and at this time, "please loosen the rice" is displayed in a guidance manner together with a display of the rice to be cooked and the rice cooking method, thereby informing the user of the timing of loosening the cooked material.

The display unit 108 shown in fig. 12B and 12C displays "no steam is supplied". In the present embodiment, a steam generating mechanism having a container for storing water is provided. Since the water in the container is used by the steam operation, the user is informed of the presence or absence of the water.

After the rice cooking operation is completed, when a predetermined time T11 has elapsed, the contents shown in fig. 12E are displayed. In the rice cooker of embodiment 1, the predetermined time T11 is 6 minutes. At this time, the elapsed heat retention time is displayed on the display unit 108. The display of "please loosen rice" is eliminated without disturbing the user.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by accurately guiding the timing of loosening the cooked material, it is possible to cook rice having excellent taste and appearance.

(embodiment mode 3)

Hereinafter, a rice cooker according to embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. This embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the rice cooker of embodiment 2 described above, but differs in the display contents displayed on the display unit 108 after the completion of the rice cooking operation. The display contents of the rice cooker of embodiment 3 are configured as follows: an operation is performed in consideration of the user's use state.

In embodiment 2, guidance urging the user to loosen cooked food is also given to a cooking method such as "sushi" or "porridge" that does not require loosening. As a result, a user's mishandling is caused, and the taste and appearance may be impaired. In the present embodiment, the configuration is such that: according to the selected cooking method, guidance for urging the user to loosen the cooked material is displayed.

In the present embodiment, when any cooking methods selected from "sushi" and "porridge" are selected after the completion of the cooking operation, as shown in fig. 12D, although the rice to be cooked and the cooking method are displayed, the display of "please loosen the rice" is not performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the structure does not cause the user's erroneous operation, it is possible to cook rice that is excellent in both taste and appearance for the user.

(embodiment mode 4)

Hereinafter, a rice cooker according to embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described. Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of the rice cooker of the present embodiment.

The cover state detection unit 109 in the present embodiment is provided to detect the opening and closing of the cover 111, and transmits the opening and closing of the cover to the control unit 110 as an electric signal. The lid state detection unit 109 may be configured to detect opening and closing of the contacts of the mechanical switch, or may be configured to detect temperature increase and decrease of the lid temperature sensor.

As shown in fig. 13, the present embodiment differs from the configuration of embodiment 2 and/or embodiment 3 in points, namely, the presence or absence of the lid state detection unit 109, and in the display contents displayed on the display unit 108 after the end of the cooking operation and the processing after the end of the cooking operation.

The processing and display contents in the present embodiment are configured as follows: an operation is performed in consideration of the user's use state.

In embodiment 2 or embodiment 3, if the guidance display is continued after the user loosens the cooked object, the user may be disturbed and the operation may be mistakenly performed, which may impair the taste and appearance. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the configuration is such that: the user is detected to loosen the cooked food and stop unnecessary guidance.

In the rice cooker of the present embodiment, after the contents shown in fig. 12B are displayed after the rice cooking operation is completed, when the lid state detection unit 109 detects the opening of the lid 111, it is determined that the user has loosened the cooked object based on the opening of the lid 111, and the display of "please loosen the cooked rice" is canceled as shown in fig. 12C.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the configuration is such that: therefore, the rice cooker can provide the user with rice cooking with good taste and appearance.

(embodiment 5)

Hereinafter, a rice cooker according to embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described. This embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the rice cooker of embodiment 4 described above, but differs in the processing after the completion of the rice cooking operation. In the present embodiment, the configuration is such that: an operation is performed in consideration of the user's use state.

If the user mistakenly opens the lid before loosening the cooked object, the display of "please loosen the rice" may be overlooked, and the timing of loosening the cooked object may be missed. Therefore, the present embodiment is configured to: the user is not overlooked to display for urging the user to loosen the cooking material.

That is, in the present embodiment, after the rice cooking operation is completed and the contents shown in fig. 12B are displayed, the display of "please loosen the cooked rice" is maintained at until the lid state detector 109 continuously detects the opening of the lid 111 for the predetermined time T12, and the predetermined time T12 is preferably equal to or less than the predetermined time T11 which is the time after the rice cooking operation described in the description of embodiment 2 is completed.

After the opening of the lid part 111 is continuously detected for the predetermined time period T12, it is determined from the opening of the lid part 111 that the user has loosened the cooked food, and the display of "please loosen the cooked rice" is canceled as shown in fig. 12C.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the timing of loosening the cooked material is not missed, it is possible to provide the user with cooked rice having excellent taste and appearance.

(embodiment mode 6)

Hereinafter, a rice cooker according to embodiment 6 of the present invention will be described. This embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the rice cooker of embodiment 5 described above, but differs in setting conditions and processing. In the present embodiment, the configuration is such that: an operation is performed in consideration of the user's use state.

In embodiment 5, when the user quickly completes the loosening operation of the cooked food and closes the lid part before the predetermined time T12 elapses, the display of "please loosen the cooked rice" is maintained. In this case, the user is disturbed to cause a wrong operation, which may impair the taste and appearance.

Therefore, the rice cooker of embodiment 6 is configured such that: the time required for the user to loosen the cooked food is taken into consideration.

In the present embodiment, as the setting condition that can be input through the input unit 106, an arbitrary value corresponding to the time required for the user to loosen the cooked object can be set for the predetermined time T12.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the structure does not cause the user's erroneous operation, it is possible to provide the user with cooked rice having excellent taste and appearance.

(embodiment 7)

Hereinafter, a pressure type rice cooker according to embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described. Fig. 14 is a front view of the pressure cooker of the present embodiment. Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the pressure rice cooker of fig. 14 cut longitudinally. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism of fig. 15.

The pressure cooker 201 of the present embodiment includes: a pot 210 for receiving the cooked food; a main body 202 having a heating portion that heats the pan 210; a cover 211 that closes the opening 210a of the main body 202; a pressure valve 213 attached to the lid 211 for adjusting the internal pressure of the pot 210; and a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism 219 that controls the pressure valve 213.

The pressure cooker 201 further includes an operation unit 205 and a control unit 225, the operation unit 205 is capable of selecting a specific cooking menu from a plurality of cooking menus including a standard brown rice cooking mode and a sticky brown rice cooking mode, and the control unit 225 controls the heating unit (Heater)233 and the side Heater 234) and the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism 219 to perform a cooking process including a water absorbing process, a temperature raising process, and a boiling maintaining process.

As shown in fig. 14 and 15, the main body 202 includes an outer case 203 having a bottomed box shape, and an inner case 204 received in the outer case 203 and receiving therein a pot 210. A control circuit board and the like (not shown) are disposed in a gap formed between the outer case 203 and the inner case 204.

The inner shell 204 is provided with heating portions (a bottom heater 233 and a side heater 234) at a bottom portion 204a and a side portion 204b thereof, and a bottom temperature sensor 231 such as a Thermistor (Thermistor) for detecting the temperature of the bottom of the pan is provided at the bottom portion 204 a. An electromagnetic induction coil wound in a ring shape is used in the heating portion.

As shown in fig. 15, the pot 210 is composed of a container with a deep bottom into which a predetermined amount of rice to be cooked containing water and rice is put, and is formed of a metal Clad material (Clad material) of aluminum and stainless steel.

The lid body 211 comprises an inner lid 212 for closing the opening of the pot 210, an outer lid 215 for closing the entire opening of the main body 202, etc., the end of the lid body 211 is pivotally supported at the end of the main body 202, and the end is locked by a locking mechanism at the other end of the main body, and the pressure valve 213 and a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism 219 for opening the pressure valve 213 are provided at the upper part of the inner lid 212.

As shown in fig. 16, the pressure valve 213 includes a valve seat 213a in which the pressure valve 213 having a predetermined diameter is formed, a metal ball 214 placed on the valve seat 213a so as to close the pressure valve 213, and a cover 213b which restricts movement of the ball 214 and holds the ball 214 on the valve seat 213 a.

The pressure valve opening/closing mechanism 219 is constituted by a Cylinder (Cylinder)220 around which an electromagnetic coil is wound, a Plunger (Plunger)221 which slides in the Cylinder 220 by excitation of the electromagnetic coil to move the ball 214, and a spring and an operating rod 222 which are attached to the tip end of the Plunger 221.

The pressure valve opening/closing mechanism 219 is controlled by the control unit 225. That is, when the electromagnetic coil is excited in accordance with a command from the control unit 225, the plunger 221 flies out of the cylinder 220 to collide with the ball 214, and pushes the ball 214 out in the lateral direction. By this pressing, the ball 214 moves from above the pressure valve 213, and the pressure valve 213 is forcibly opened.

In this open state, when excitation of the electromagnetic coil is stopped, the plunger 221 is pulled back into the cylinder 220 by the elastic force, and due to this retraction, the force pressing the ball 214 in the lateral direction by the plunger 221 disappears, the ball 214 returns to above the pressure valve 213, and the pressure valve 213 is closed by the ball 214.

The outer cover 215 is provided with a storage tank 224 that communicates the space between the inner cover 212 and the outer cover 215 with the atmosphere. The inner lid 212 is provided with a safety valve for allowing the steam in the cooker 210 to escape to the outside via the storage tank 224 when the pressure in the cooker 210 rises to an abnormal pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. The inner lid 212 is provided with a steam sensor 232 (see fig. 16).

As shown in fig. 15, the storage tank 224 includes a discharge cylinder 224a that discharges steam or the like discharged through the pressure valve 213, an empty chamber 224b that temporarily stores "rice water" that is a delicious component of rice, and a steam discharge port 224c that discharges steam to the outside, and a return valve V2 for returning the stored "rice water" to the pot 210 is provided at the bottom of the empty chamber 224 b.

When the steam is discharged from the pressure valve 213, "rice water" is discharged from the interior of the pot 210 together with the steam through the pressure valve 213 and temporarily stored in the empty chamber 224b of the storage box 224. when the "rice water" stored in the empty chamber 224b reaches a predetermined amount, "rice water" is returned to the interior of the pot 210 by opening the return valve V2. in the storage box 224, the discharge tube 224a of the storage box 224 is press-fitted into the mounting hole 215a provided in the recess portion 224d of the outer lid 215 and fixed thereto.

An operation portion 205 is provided on the front wall of the main body 202, and the operation portion 205 displays various cooking modes and includes a plurality of operation buttons and the like for setting a predetermined mode and the like from the displayed modes.

As shown in fig. 14, the operation unit 205 is provided with a display panel 205b for displaying various rice cooking selection modes, time, and the like, and a plurality of operation buttons on the left, right, and lower sides of the display panel 205 b.

Fig. 17 is a block diagram of the periphery of the control unit 225 in the present embodiment. In fig. 17, the control unit 225 is a microcomputer that controls each circuit. The control unit 225 is connected with: an input unit 300 including a mode key, a start key, a reservation key, and the like, a display panel 205b, a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism 219, a pot bottom temperature sensor 231, a steam temperature sensor 232, a bottom heater 233, a side heater 234, and a lid heater 235.

The control unit 225 operates according to a control program stored in a storage element (not shown) such as a flash memory (not shown), for example.

Here, a flow (Sequence) of cooking brown rice stored in the control unit 225 will be described. The basic cooking method for cooking the rice of the brown rice with more delicious taste is as follows.

In comparison with white rice, brown rice has a characteristic that the surface is covered with seed coats, so that heat is hard to be transferred to the inside and water absorption is difficult.

In the temperature raising step, if the temperature is raised quickly with high electric power, the heat is not sufficiently transferred to the inside, so the electric power is set low. In the boiling maintaining step, if the electric power is high, the water is quickly used, the process time is shortened, and heat cannot be transmitted to the inside. Therefore, the electric power is set to be low and the boiling maintaining step is maintained long, which results in insufficient heating and hard rice.

The operation of cooking rice using brown rice in the above configuration will be described with reference to fig. 18. In particular, the rice cooking operation in the sticky brown rice cooking mode will be described in comparison with the standard brown rice cooking mode shown in fig. 21.

After the cooking is started, a water absorption process is first performed. In the water absorption step, the pressure valve 213 is closed, and power supply to the bottom heater 233 is started, and the process is continued for a predetermined time period T21 at a predetermined temperature θ 1. The predetermined temperature θ 1 is, for example, 70 ℃, and the predetermined time T21 is, for example, 45 minutes.

After a predetermined time T21 has elapsed, the water absorption step is terminated, and the temperature raising step is performed, in which the pressure valve 213 is closed and the bottom heater 233 is used to heat the water, and in this state, the pressure is raised to a level at which the pressure in the pot 210 is raised to a level at which the ball 214 can be pushed up through the valve hole 331.

When the steam temperature K detected by the steam temperature sensor 232 reaches a predetermined temperature θ 2 as a setting reference, it is determined that the rice to be cooked has boiled, and the process proceeds to the next boiling maintenance step, the predetermined temperature θ 2 is 75 ℃, for example, and in fig. 18, a broken line indicating a change in the steam temperature K is drawn only in a portion that spans between the temperature raising step and the boiling maintenance step.

The time from the completion of the water absorption step to the reaching of the predetermined temperature θ 2 is measured by a timer (not shown). The timing time Tf corresponds to the amount of rice cooked, and is short when the amount of rice cooked is small and long when the amount of rice cooked is large. The amount of rice cooked is determined based on the length of the timer time Tf.

The pressure in the cooker at this time is controlled by the pressure valve 213 to be a predetermined pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, for example, about 1.2 atmospheres. The standard brown rice cooking mode and the sticky brown rice cooking mode have the same flow as described above.

In the normal brown rice cooking mode, the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism 219 controls the opening/closing of the pressure valve 213 in the boiling maintaining step, and by this control, the pressure valve 213 is opened a plurality of times in a predetermined time unit set for each cooking mode, and the pressure in the pot 210 is reduced from 1.2 atmospheres to around atmospheric pressure.

More specifically, after the step of maintaining the boiling state, the pressure in the pot 210 is about 1.2 atmospheres equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, and the cooked food boils at a saturation temperature corresponding to the pressure, and in this state, when the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism 219 is operated to move the metal ball 214, the valve hole 331 opens, and the pressure in the pot 210 is reduced to about the atmospheric pressure by forcibly opening the valve hole 331.

When the pressure in the pot 210 is lowered from the predetermined boiling pressure (about 1.2 atmospheres) to around the atmospheric pressure several times in this way, the inside of the pot 210 is brought into a sharp bumping state, bubbles are generated in the pot 210 in the bumping state, and the rice is stirred by the bubbles.

In the experience of the inventor, the longer the pressure is applied, the more α starch in the rice is converted (gelatinized), and the higher the temperature is, the more the rice is boiled, so that the softer, sticky and sweet rice can be cooked.

In the brown rice, since the surface of the brown rice is coated by the seed coat, the brown rice is not boiled even if the pressure is applied for a long time, and the rice with good balance can be boiled.

By setting the electric power Whs of the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be greater than the electric power Whb of the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, or by setting the closing time of the pressure valve 213 in the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be greater than the closing time of the pressure valve 213 in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, a large amount of heat can be supplied to the rice, and as a result, the sticky brown rice can be cooked.

In the boiling maintaining step, the electric power is determined based on the result of the rice cooking amount determination. When heating is performed with this electric power and a predetermined temperature θ 3, for example, 118 ℃, is detected, the predetermined temperature θ 3 is maintained for a predetermined time T23, for example, 6 minutes. When the predetermined time T22 has elapsed after the boiling maintaining step, the boiling maintaining step is ended, and the process proceeds to the steaming step.

In the steaming step, heating (re-cooking) is performed a plurality of times corresponding to the amount of cooked rice during hours, and when a predetermined time T24, for example, 9 minutes has elapsed in the steaming step, the cooking of cooked rice is completed.

According to the above cooking process, cooked rice having different viscosities regardless of the cooking amounts can be obtained. Thus, the classified cooking performance of the brown rice can be improved without changing the water amount, and the cooked rice according with the preference of the customer can be provided.

Here, "classified cooking" means types of cooked rice of high viscosity and cooked rice of low viscosity which are cooked in the same manner as the user's request, and "classified cooking performance" means performance.

The values of T21, T22, T23, T24, θ 1, θ 2, and θ 3 in the present embodiment are examples, and may be set according to a situation.

The rice cooker using the induction heating method as the heating portion for heating the pan 210 can cook rice with particularly high electric power (high heating power) and has excellent thermal response, so that it is possible to realize detailed control. Therefore, if the present embodiment is applied to the rice cooker of the induction heating type, more delicious brown rice can be cooked. Even in a heater type or gas type rice cooker, the present embodiment can be applied without any trouble, although the effect is inferior to that of induction heating type due to poor thermal power and thermal response.

(embodiment mode 8)

Next, embodiment 8 of the present invention will be explained. Since the structure of the main body is the same as that of embodiment 7, the description thereof is omitted.

Hereinafter, the operation of embodiment 8 will be described with reference to fig. 19. Since the cooking step is the same as embodiment 1, the explanation other than the boiling maintaining step is omitted.

When the process shifts to the boiling maintaining step, the electric power Ws in the boiling maintaining step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode is set to be lower than the electric power Wb in the boiling maintaining step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, and the time in the boiling maintaining step is set to be long, so that the electric quantity increases, the time for pressurizing also becomes long, and the sticky brown rice can be cooked.

(embodiment mode 9)

Next, embodiment 9 of the present invention will be explained. Since the structure of the main body is the same as that of embodiment 7, the description thereof is omitted.

Next, the operation of embodiment 9 will be described with reference to fig. 20. Since the configuration of the rice cooking step is the same as that of embodiment 7, descriptions other than the boiling maintaining step are omitted.

When the process proceeds to the boiling maintaining step, the current carrying rate P in the boiling maintaining step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode is set to be lower than the current carrying rate P1 in the boiling maintaining step in the standard brown rice cooking mode. Here, the energization rate is a value representing a ratio of energization time to non-energization time per -bit time. This lengthens the time of the boiling maintaining step and the time of pressurizing, and the brown rice having viscosity can be cooked.

The pressure rice cooker according to embodiments 7, 8, and 9 of the present invention includes: a pot for receiving the cooked food; a main body having a heating part for heating a pot; a cover body which closes the opening part of the main body; a pressure valve installed on the cover body for adjusting the inner pressure in the cooker; and a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism that controls the pressure valve.

The pressure cooker according to embodiments 7, 8, and 9 includes an operation unit capable of selecting a specific cooking menu from a plurality of cooking menus including a standard brown rice cooking mode and a sticky brown rice cooking mode, and a control unit for controlling the heating unit and the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism to execute a cooking process including a water absorption process, a temperature raising process, and a boiling maintaining process.

When the viscous brown rice cooking mode is selected in the operation unit, the control unit sets the electric quantity Whs of the boiling maintaining step in the viscous brown rice cooking mode to be greater than the electric quantity Whb of the boiling maintaining step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, and sets the closing time tv of the pressure valve in the boiling maintaining step in the viscous brown rice cooking mode to be greater than the closing time of the pressure valve in the boiling maintaining step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, thereby performing the cooking step.

The control unit sets the electric power Ws in the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be smaller than the electric power Wb in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, and sets the process time in the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be longer than the process time in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode to perform the cooking step.

The control unit sets the current carrying rate P in the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be lower than the current carrying rate P1 in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode, and executes the cooking step.

Industrial applicability

As described above, the rice cookers according to the present invention can improve the operability of the user by effectively using the dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit and can cook more delicious rice.

Description of the symbols

70: a main body; 70 a: a pan accommodating section; 71: cooking; 72: a heating section; 73: a bottom sensor; 74: a completion control unit; 75: a cover; 76: an operation panel; 79: a hinge; 80: a hinge axis; 81: a hinge spring; 82: a cover engaging portion; 83: buckling; 84: a liquid crystal display unit; 85 a: a "ok/function" button; 85 b: a "cursor down" button; 85 c: an "up cursor" button; 85 d: a "cancel/close" button; 85 e: a "reservation" button; 85 f: a 'cooking' button; 85 g: a "rice" button; 85 h: a cooking method button; 85 i: a steam heat preservation/reheating switch; 86: a liquid crystal panel; 87: a microcomputer substrate; 88: a microcomputer control unit; 90: an EEPROM; 91: a standby power supply; 101: cooking; 102: a commercial alternating current power supply; 103: a heating section; 104: a drive section; 105: a power supply circuit; 106: an input section; 106 a: a 'cooking' button; 106 b: a "cancel/close" button; 106 c: a "steam hold/reheat" button; 106 d: a "ok/function" button; 106 e: a "reservation" button; 106 f: a "black down triangle" button; 106 g: an "up black triangle" button; 106 h: a "rice" button; 106 i: a cooking method button; 107: a fan motor; 108: a display unit; 109: a cover state detection unit; 110: a control unit; 111: a cover portion; 201: a pressure cooker; 202: a main body; 203: a housing; 204: an inner shell; 205: an operation section; 210: cooking; 211: a cover body; 212: an inner cover; 213: a pressure valve; 215: an outer cover; 219: a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism; 225: a control unit; 231: a pan bottom temperature sensor; 232: a steam temperature sensor; 233: a bottom heater; 234: a side heater; 235: a lid heater; 300: an input unit.

Claims

1, A rice cooker, comprising:

a pot for receiving the cooked food;

a main body having a heating part that heats the pan;

a cover body which closes the opening of the main body;

a pressure valve mounted on the cover body for adjusting the inner pressure in the cooker;

a pressure valve opening/closing mechanism that controls the pressure valve;

an operation unit capable of selecting a specific cooking menu from a plurality of cooking menus including a standard brown rice cooking mode and a sticky brown rice cooking mode; and

a control unit for controlling the heating unit and the pressure valve opening/closing mechanism and performing a cooking process including a water absorption process, a temperature rise process, and a boiling maintenance process,

when the viscous brown rice cooking mode is selected by the operation unit, the control unit sets the electric power (Whs) in the boiling maintenance step in the viscous brown rice cooking mode to be greater than the electric power (Whb) in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode,

the control unit sets a closing time (tv) of the pressure valve in the boiling maintaining step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be longer than a closing time of the pressure valve in the boiling maintaining step in the standard brown rice cooking mode.

2. The rice cooker of claim 1,

the control unit sets the electric power (Ws) in the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be smaller than the electric power (Wb) in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode,

the control part sets the process time in the boiling maintaining process in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be longer than the process time in the boiling maintaining process in the standard brown rice cooking mode.

3. The rice cooker of claim 2,

the control unit sets the current carrying rate (P) in the boiling maintenance step in the sticky brown rice cooking mode to be lower than the current carrying rate (P1) in the boiling maintenance step in the standard brown rice cooking mode.