CN116172388A

CN116172388A - Rice cooker

Info

Publication number: CN116172388A
Application number: CN202211081301.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 两角英树; 仁井雄介; 今村泰; 高雅菲; 绀野说三; 冈本大辅; 北木宏; 梛木隆
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-29
Filing date: 2022-09-05
Publication date: 2023-05-30
Also published as: JP2023079749A

Abstract

The invention provides a rice cooker capable of preventing the situation that rice cannot be cooked according to the intention of a user. The rice cooker comprises a housing, a pot, a rice container, a water container, a rice feeding part, a water feeding part, a heating part for heating the pot, a control part and a communication part. The control part is used for cooking and heat-preserving, wherein the cooking comprises a rice feeding part, a water feeding part and a heating part, the rice feeding part, the water feeding part and the heating part are controlled to supply rice and water into the pot and heat the pot, and the heat-preserving is used for controlling the heating part to preserve heat of the pot. The communication unit wirelessly receives an operation instruction signal including a cooking start instruction instructing start of a cooking operation and/or an instruction to suspend a cooking operation or a thermal insulation operation from the terminal. After the cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation is suspended in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit, the control unit does not receive the cooking start instruction from the terminal via the communication unit as long as the predetermined cooking start condition is not satisfied.

Description

Rice cooker

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rice cooker.

Background

As a conventional rice cooker, a full-automatic rice cooker is known which has a rice cooking unit and a storage unit for storing rice and integrates a series of steps of rice storage and cooking (see patent document 1).

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 5-220047

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Conventional rice cookers are equipped with a mechanism for transferring rice from a storage unit to a rice cooking unit. In addition, a mechanism for supplying water to a cooking section is considered to be provided in a conventional rice cooker. Thus, rice and water can be supplied to the rice cooking unit without visually observing the inside of the rice cooking unit. In such a rice cooker, although the rice remains in the rice cooking unit while the rice cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation is stopped during or after the rice cooking, the rice and water may be supplied to the rice cooking unit for the next rice cooking and further rice cooking may be started, against the intention of the user. The cooked material cooked in this way may have a lower taste than the cooked material cooked by supplying rice and water to an empty cooking section.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker capable of preventing a situation in which rice cannot be cooked according to the intention of a user.

Means for solving the problems

The rice cooker according to an aspect of the present invention includes:

a housing;

a pot;

a rice container for containing rice;

a water container for containing water;

a rice feeding unit for feeding rice in the rice container into the pot;

A water supply unit for supplying water in the water container into the pan;

a heating unit for heating the pan;

a control unit that performs a rice cooking operation including controlling the rice feeding unit, the water feeding unit, and the heating unit to supply rice and water into the pot and heat the rice and water, and a heat-insulating operation controlling the heating unit to insulate the pot; and

a communication unit that wirelessly receives, from a terminal, an operation instruction signal including a cooking start instruction for instructing start of the cooking operation and/or an instruction for suspending the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation,

the control unit is configured to receive the instruction to start cooking from the terminal via the communication unit, when a predetermined condition to start cooking is not satisfied after the cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation is suspended in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit.

Effects of the invention

According to the rice cooker of the invention, the situation that rice cannot be cooked according to the intention of a user can be prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rice cooker of fig. 1 showing the cover in an opened state.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rice cooker of fig. 1, and is a view showing a state in which a cover is in an opened state and a water container is removed.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of the rice cooker of FIG. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rice cooker of fig. 1, and is a view showing a state in which a cover, a water container, and an upper wall of a rice container are removed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rice cooker of fig. 1, and is a view showing a state in which an upper wall of a cover and an operation substrate are removed.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the rice cooker of fig. 1, and is a view showing a state in which a bottom wall of a casing is removed.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the rice cooker of FIG. 1 taken along line A2-A2.

Fig. 9 is a partial enlarged view of an area surrounded by the two-dot chain line in fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a structural example of the rice washing apparatus of fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the control section of fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a structural example of a remote control system of the rice cooker of fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the entire flow of the cooking operation performed by the rice cooker of fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a suspension operation performed by the rice cooker of fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a cooking reservation operation performed by the rice cooker of fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing a modification of the cooking reservation operation of fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a timing chart showing an example of exclusive control of the rice cooker of fig. 1.

Description of the reference numerals

1, a shell; 1a one side; 2, a cover body; 2a rotating the front end; 2b cover side connection parts; 3 a water container; a 4 meter container; 5 pot; 5a opening portions; 6, a rice washing device; 7, a drainage box; 10 a remote control system; 11a main body portion; 11 a; 11b a pot accommodating part; 11c front surface; 12 base parts; 13 a heating part; a 14 temperature sensor; 15 a control part; 16 input means; 17 output means; an 18 network; 21 shows an operation section; a 21A display; 21B input buttons; 22 allows switching; 31 step parts; 31a liner; a 32 water container sensor; 33 water level sensor; 41 step parts; 42 selecting part; a 44 meter container sensor; 45 meter storage quantity sensor; a 51 arithmetic circuit; 52 storage means; 53 input interface; 54 an output interface; 55 communication interfaces; 56 opening and closing the sensor; a 57 pan sensor; 58 cover sensors; 61 wash Mi Mada; 61a output shaft; 62 rice washing leaves; 63 rice washing grooves; 64 on-off valve; 71 a drain pipe; 72 a drainage pump; 81 cover side water supply pipe; 81a at one end; 82 container side water feed pipes; 82 a; 83 water pump; 84 a drainage pump; 91 rice feeding pipe; 91 a; 92 rice feeding fans; 93 rice feeding device; 100 rice cooker; a 200 terminal; 300 server means; a 301 operation circuit; 302 storage means; 303 communication interface.

Detailed Description

The rice cooker according to an aspect of the present invention includes:

a housing;

a pot;

a rice container for containing rice;

a water container for containing water;

a rice feeding unit for feeding rice in the rice container into the pot;

a water supply unit for supplying water in the water container into the pan;

a heating unit for heating the pan;

a communication unit that wirelessly receives an operation instruction signal including a cooking start instruction for instructing start of the cooking operation and/or an instruction for suspending the cooking operation or the thermal insulation operation from a terminal,

According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the rice from being cooked by stopping the rice cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in a state where the rice remains in the pot, and then remotely operating the terminal, and further supplying the rice, water, and the like from above the rice remaining in the pot, so that the rice cannot be cooked according to the user's intention.

The rice cooker may further include an operation unit for inputting the instruction to start cooking to the control unit. The control unit is configured to not receive the instruction to start cooking from the operation unit, if the cooking start condition is not satisfied, after the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation is suspended in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit.

According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the operation unit of the rice cooker from being operated by a person other than the operator of the terminal such as a child and receiving a rice cooking start instruction after the rice cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation is stopped by the remote operation from the terminal. This prevents rice and water from being further supplied from above the rice remaining in the pot, and prevents the rice from being cooked as intended by the user.

The rice cooker may further include a lid that openably and closably covers the opening of the pot, and an opening/closing sensor that detects opening/closing of the lid. In this case, the control unit may receive the instruction to start cooking when the open/close sensor detects that the lid is closed after opening after the control unit has stopped the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit.

In the case where the lid is closed after opening, it is possible to envisage that rice and water remaining in the pot are removed by the person opening the lid. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further thrown from above the rice remaining in the pot, and the rice and water from being unable to be cooked according to the intention of the user.

The rice cooker may further include: a cover body detachably attached to the housing and configured to cover the opening of the pan in a freely openable and closable manner when attached to the housing; and a cover sensor that detects whether the cover is attached to the housing. In this case, the control unit may receive the instruction to start cooking when the cover sensor detects that the cover is in a state of being attached to the casing from a state of not being attached to the casing after the control unit has suspended the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit.

When the lid is mounted to the housing from a state in which the lid is not mounted to the housing, it is conceivable that rice and water remaining in the pot are removed by a person who removes the lid from the housing or mounts the lid to the housing. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further thrown from above the rice remaining in the pot, and the rice and water from being unable to be cooked according to the intention of the user.

The pan may be removably accommodated in the housing. The rice cooker may further include a pot sensor that detects that the pot is accommodated in the housing and that the pot is detached from the housing. In this case, the control unit may receive the instruction to start cooking when the pot sensor detects that the pot is stored in the housing after being detached from the housing after the control unit has stopped the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit, and the control unit may receive the instruction to start cooking.

When the pot is housed in the housing after being detached from the housing, it is possible to assume that rice and water remaining in the pot are removed by the user. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent rice and water from being further thrown from above the rice and water remaining in the pot, and it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being cooked as intended by the user.

The rice cooker may further include an enable switch that enables the control unit to receive a rice start instruction from the terminal by being turned on. In this case, the control unit may receive the instruction to start cooking when the cooking start condition is satisfied after the control unit has stopped the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit and the permission switch is in the on state.

When the user presses the permission switch to turn on, it is possible to assume that rice and water remaining in the pot are removed by the user. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent rice and water from being further thrown from above the rice and water remaining in the pot, and it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being cooked as intended by the user.

The rice cooker may further include a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the pot. In this case, the control unit may receive the instruction to start cooking when the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the pot is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value after the completion of the cooking operation after the control unit has suspended the cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit.

When the temperature of the pot is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value, it is conceivable that the heat retaining operation is completed or interrupted, and that the rice and water remaining in the pot are removed by the user. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent rice and water from being further thrown from above the rice and water remaining in the pot, and it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being cooked as intended by the user.

The control unit may be configured to receive the instruction to start cooking when a predetermined time has elapsed from a time point at which the control unit received the suspension instruction after the control unit suspended the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit, and the cooking start condition may be satisfied.

When a certain amount of time has elapsed from the time point when the suspension instruction is received, it is expected that the rice and water remaining in the pot are removed by the user. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent rice and water from being further thrown from above the rice and water remaining in the pot, and it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being cooked as intended by the user.

After the start of the rice cooking operation, the control unit may not receive the suspension instruction from the terminal via the communication unit as long as a predetermined suspension condition is not satisfied.

According to this configuration, the remote stop instruction from the terminal is not received as long as the stop condition is not satisfied, and thus the rice cooking operation can be prevented from being accidentally stopped during the rice cooking operation. Further, if the suspension condition is not satisfied, a remote suspension instruction from the terminal is not received, and thus it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice, water, and the like are further supplied from above the rice remaining in the pot after the suspension is instructed to start cooking, and cooking cannot be performed as intended by the user.

The control unit may be configured to receive the suspension instruction from the terminal via the communication unit when the suspension condition is satisfied after the control unit starts the rice cooking operation and when the rice cooking operation is completed.

According to this configuration, the control unit does not receive a remote stop instruction from the terminal as long as the cooking operation is not completed, and thus it is possible to prevent the cooking operation from being accidentally stopped during the cooking operation.

In the case where the control unit detects an abnormality in a cooking schedule state in which the cooking operation is started at a cooking start time corresponding to the set time, the control unit may notify the terminal of the abnormality.

According to this configuration, the user can be notified that an abnormality exists, and thus an opportunity to eliminate the abnormality can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the situation that the rice cooking is performed in a state where there is an abnormality and the rice cooking cannot be performed according to the intention of the user.

The control unit may start the cooking operation at the time of the start of the cooking only when a reservation continuation instruction to continue the cooking reservation state is received from the terminal before the time of the start of the cooking when the notification is made.

According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the situation where the rice cooking is performed in a state where there is an abnormality and the rice cooking cannot be performed according to the intention of the user.

The rice cooker may further include a lid that openably and closably covers the opening of the pot, and an opening/closing sensor that detects opening/closing of the lid, wherein the control unit detects the abnormality and notifies the terminal when the opening/closing sensor detects that the lid is opened.

When the lid is opened, the rice cannot be cooked normally, but according to this structure, it is possible to prevent the rice from being cooked in a state where the lid is opened, and the rice cannot be cooked as intended by the user.

The water container may be detachably attached to a predetermined water container position of the rice cooker, and the rice cooker may further include a water container sensor that detects whether the water container is attached to the water container position. In the cooking reservation state, when the water container sensor detects that the water container is not attached to the water container position, the control unit may detect the abnormality and notify the terminal of the abnormality.

When the water container is not installed at the water container position, the rice cooker cannot supply water into the pot, so that rice cooking cannot be performed normally. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a situation in which cooking is performed in a state in which the water container is not mounted at the water container position, and cooking cannot be performed as intended by the user.

The rice container may be detachably attached to a predetermined rice container position of the rice cooker, and the rice cooker may further include a rice container sensor that detects whether the rice container is attached to the rice container position. In the rice cooking reservation state, the control unit may detect the abnormality and notify the terminal when the rice container sensor detects that the rice container is not attached to the rice container position.

When the rice container is not mounted at the rice container position, the rice cooker cannot supply rice into the pot, and thus rice cooking cannot be performed normally. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the rice from being cooked in a state where the rice container is not attached to the rice container position, and the rice cannot be cooked according to the intention of the user.

The rice cooker may further include: a cover body detachably attached to the housing and configured to cover the opening of the pan in a freely openable and closable manner when attached to the housing; and a cover sensor that detects whether the cover is attached to the housing. In the cooking reservation state, the control unit may detect the abnormality and notify the terminal when the cover sensor detects that the cover is not attached to the casing.

When the cover is not attached to the case, normal cooking is not performed, but according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a situation in which cooking is performed in a state in which the cover is not attached to the case, and cooking cannot be performed as intended by the user.

The terminal may also include a first terminal and a second terminal. The control unit may be configured to, after receiving the instruction to start cooking from the first terminal via the communication unit, not to receive the operation instruction signal from the second terminal via the communication unit until the cooking operation is completed.

According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the cooking setting by the user of the first terminal that starts cooking from being changed by the person using the second terminal.

The terminal may also include a first terminal and a second terminal. The control unit may be configured to receive the instruction to start cooking and the instruction to change the setting related to the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation from the first terminal via the communication unit, and then, not to receive the instruction to start cooking and the instruction to change the setting from the second terminal via the communication unit until the cooking operation is completed.

According to this structure, it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice and water are further thrown in from above the rice remaining in the pot of the rice cooker, while a user of the first terminal has started cooking, but a start instruction of cooking by a person using the second terminal is given.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the above detailed description may be omitted. For example, a detailed description of well-known matters and a repeated description of substantially the same structure may be omitted. This is to avoid that the following description becomes unnecessarily lengthy and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The drawings and the following description are provided to fully understand the present invention and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the technical scheme.

In some of the drawings, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are shown orthogonal to each other for ease of illustration. In the present specification, the X-axis direction is also referred to as a lateral direction or a width direction, the Y-axis direction is referred to as a front-rear direction or a depth direction, the positive direction of the Z-axis is referred to as an up direction, and the negative direction of the Z-axis is referred to as a down direction. In the present specification, terms indicating directions such as "up", "down", "front", "rear" and the like are used assuming a state in normal use. However, the above-described terms are not intended to limit the use state of the rice cooker of the present invention.

Structure

The overall structure of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rice cooker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rice cooker 100 of fig. 1 showing the cover 2 in an opened state. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rice cooker 100 of fig. 1, and is a view showing a state in which the cover 2 is in an opened state and the water container 3 is removed. The rice cooker 100 is a so-called full-automatic rice cooker capable of automatically supplying rice and water to the empty pot 5 and performing heating cooking.

As shown in fig. 1, the rice cooker 100 includes a casing 1, a lid 2 covering an upper portion of the casing 1, a water container 3, and a rice container 4. The water tank 3 and the rice tank 4 have a rectangular parallelepiped or substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and are provided along one side surface 1a of the housing 1.

The housing 1 includes a rectangular or substantially rectangular main body 11 having sides of an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis, and a rectangular or substantially rectangular base 12 on which the water tank 3 and the rice tank 4 are placed. The length in the front-rear direction (Y direction) of the main body 11 and the base 12 is identical, and the main body 11 and the base 12 are connected so that one side surface thereof is spatially communicated. The case 1, the main body 11, and the base 12 each have a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape in plan view.

The base portion 12 is provided so as to extend laterally (-X direction, left direction in fig. 2) from a lower portion of one side surface 11a of the main body portion 11. The length in the Z direction, i.e., the height of the base portion 12 is set lower than the height of the main body portion 11. Thereby, one side surface 11a of the main body 11 is exposed to the outside. In the present embodiment, one side 11a of the main body 11 corresponds to one side 1a of the housing 1.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the main body 11 includes a pot accommodating portion 11b for accommodating the pot 5. A rotation shaft TA extending in the lateral direction is provided at the rear upper portion of the main body 11. The cover 2 is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft TA. The lid 2 is configured to cover the opening 5a of the pan 5 so as to be openable and closable by rotating about the rotation axis TA. In the present embodiment, the cover 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped or substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

The cover 2 may be detachably attached to the housing 1. For example, the cover 2 may be detachably attached to the rotation shaft TA and may be detached from the rotation shaft TA. Alternatively, the rotation shaft TA may be detachably attached to the main body 11, and the cover 2 attached to the rotation shaft TA may be detached from the main body 11 in response to the operation of detaching the rotation shaft TA.

As shown in fig. 1, in a closed state in which the lid 2 covers the opening 5a of the pan 5, the depth of the lid 2 coincides with the depth of the body 11. In the closed state of the lid 2, the sum of the height of the main body 11 of the housing 1 and the height of the lid 2 is equal to the sum of the height of the base 12 of the housing 1 and the height of the water container 3 or the rice container 4. In the closed state of the lid 2, the sum of the width of the main body 11 and the width of the base 12 of the housing 1 corresponds to the sum of the width of the lid 2 and the width of the water container 3 or the rice container 4. That is, in the closed state of the lid 2, the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment has a rectangular parallelepiped or substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

The water container 3 is a container for containing water. The rice container 4 is a container for storing rice. The water tank 3 and the rice tank 4 are arranged in-line from the front side to the rear side of the rice cooker 100. As shown in fig. 3, at least one of the water container 3 and the rice container 4 is detachable. In the present embodiment, the water container 3 is disposed on the front side of the rice cooker 100 than the rice container 4. In the present embodiment, the capacity of the water tank 3 is 1.0 to 1.5 times the capacity of the rice tank 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the rice cooker 100 of fig. 1 taken along line A1-A1. The sectional view taken along line A1-A1 is a sectional view taken through the line A1-A1 and parallel to the YZ plane as viewed in the direction of the arrow of line A1-A1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rice cooker 100 of fig. 1, and is a view showing a state in which the cover 2, the water container 3, and the upper wall of the rice container 4 are removed. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rice cooker 100 of fig. 1, and is a view showing a state in which the upper wall of the lid 2 and the operation substrate are removed. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the rice cooker 100 of fig. 1, and is a view showing a state in which the bottom wall of the casing 1 is removed. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the rice cooker 100 of fig. 1 taken along line A2-A2. Fig. 9 is a partial enlarged view of an area surrounded by the two-dot chain line in fig. 8.

As shown in fig. 4 to 6, a rice washing device 6 is disposed in the cover 2. The rice washing apparatus 6 washes rice supplied from the rice container 4 to the rice washing apparatus 6 by using water in the water container 3. The rice washing apparatus 6 is disposed above the opening 5a of the pot 5 in the closed state of the lid 2. In the present embodiment, the rice washing apparatus 6 is provided with an opening/closing valve 64 (see fig. 10) at a position corresponding to the opening 5a of the pot 5. The rice washed by the rice washing means 6 falls down into the pot 5 by opening the on-off valve. The water used for washing rice in the rice washing apparatus 6 is stored in the drain box 7 stored below the main body 11 of the casing 1. The detailed structure of the rice washing apparatus 6 will be described later.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, the rice washing apparatus 6 and the drain box 7 are connected via a drain pipe 71. The drain pipe 71 extends through a rotation shaft housing portion TA1 housing the rotation shaft TA. As shown in fig. 7, a drain pump 72 is provided in the drain pipe 71. In the present embodiment, the drain pump 72 is attached to connect the two drain pipes 71. By driving the drain pump 72, water used for washing rice in the rice washing apparatus 6 is stored in the drain tank 7.

The drain tank 7 is provided so that a part thereof is exposed from a side surface of the casing 1 different from the side surface 1a of the casing 1. For example, as shown in fig. 5, the drain tank 7 is provided so that a part thereof is exposed from the front surface 11c of the main body 11. The drain tank 7 is detachably provided. In the present embodiment, the drain tank 7 is configured to be drawn, and as shown in fig. 3, the drain tank 7 can be removed from the main body 11 by being drawn forward.

As shown in fig. 4 to 6 and fig. 8 to 9, the rice washing device 6 and the water container 3 are connected by a lid-side water pipe 81 and a container-side water pipe 82. The lid-side water pipe 81 is a pipe that passes through the inside of the lid 2 to communicate the outside of the lid 2 with the inside of the pot 5. In the present embodiment, the lid-side water pipe 81 communicates with the inside of the pot 5 via the rice washing device 6. The container-side water pipe 82 is a pipe that communicates the inside of the water container 3 with the outside of the water container 3. In the present embodiment, the tank-side water pipe 82 is detachably attached to the water tank 3. In the present embodiment, the rice washing device 6, the lid-side water pipe 81, and the container-side water pipe 82 constitute a water supply path for supplying water in the water container 3 into the pan 5.

The lid-side water pipe 81 is provided with a water pump 83 as an example of the water feeding portion of the present invention, and a drain pump 84 for the water feeding pipe. The water feed pump 83 is an example of a first pump that feeds fluid (including water and gas) only in a direction from the water tank 3 to the pan 5. The water feed pump 83 is a volumetric pump such as a diaphragm pump. In the present embodiment, the water pump 83 is attached to connect the two cover-side water pipes 81. The drain pump 84 is disposed closer to the water container 3 than the water feed pump 83, and is an example of a second pump that feeds gas (e.g., air) into the lid-side water feed pipe 81. In the present embodiment, the drain pump 84 is connected to a branch pipe branched from the cover-side water supply pipe 81.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, one end 81a of the lid-side water pipe 81 is provided on a surface facing the stepped portion 31 that is a part of the water container 3. In the present embodiment, one end 81a of the lid-side water pipe 81 is exposed at a position facing the stepped portion 31. The stepped portion 31 of the water container 3 protrudes toward the side surface 11a of the main body 11, and has a short length in the Z direction with respect to the upper surface of the water container 3, thereby generating a step. The cover 2 is provided so as to cover the stepped portion 31 of the water container 3 when the cover 2 is in the closed state. That is, the width of the lid 2 is set to be longer than the width of the body 11. In the present embodiment, the one end 81a of the cover-side water pipe 81 is disposed on the side of the rotating front end 2a of the cover 2 away from the rotation axis TA.

One end 82a of the container-side water pipe 82 is provided in the stepped portion 31 of the water container 3. In the present embodiment, the one end 82a of the container-side water pipe 82 is disposed on the side of the rotating front end 2a of the cover 2 away from the rotation axis TA, similarly to the one end 81a of the cover-side water pipe 81. When the lid 2 is in a closed state in which the opening 5a of the pan 5 is covered, the lid-side water pipe 81 and the container-side water pipe 82 are connected in fluid communication with each other. When the lid 2 is rotated to open the opening 5a of the pan 5, the lid-side water pipe 81 and the container-side water pipe 82 are disconnected from each other.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 8 and 9, one end 81a of the lid-side water pipe 81 is fitted around a cylindrical lid-side connecting portion 2b protruding inward in the thickness direction of the lid 2. Further, one end 82a of the container-side water pipe 82 is provided so as to protrude toward the lid-side connecting portion 2b, and a tubular gasket 31a is attached around the end. When the lid 2 is rotated to cover the opening 5a of the pan 5, as shown in fig. 8 and 9, the one end 82a of the container-side water pipe 82 and the one end 81a of the lid-side water pipe 81 are connected in fluid communication with each other.

As shown in fig. 4 to 8, the rice washing device 6 is connected to the rice container 4 via a rice feeding pipe 91. In the present embodiment, the rice feeding pipe 91 extends through a rotation shaft housing portion TA1 housing the rotation shaft TA. As shown in fig. 4 and 7 to 8, a rice-feeding fan 92 is provided at one end 91a of the rice-feeding pipe 91. By driving the rice-feeding fan 92, the rice in the rice-feeding duct 91 is fed to the rice-washing means 6. In the present embodiment, the rice washing device 6 and the rice feeding pipe 91 form a rice feeding path for feeding the rice in the rice container 4 into the pot 5.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, a rice feeding device 93 as an example of the rice feeding section of the present invention is attached to the rice container 4. The bottom of the rice container 4 is formed to have a tapered cross section protruding downward. The rice feeding means 93 is connected to the lowermost portion of the rice container 4 and is disposed to extend in the lateral direction. The rice feeding device 93 is communicated with the rice feeding pipe 91. The rice feeding device 93 is configured to take in and feed out the rice in the rice container 4 to the rice feeding pipe 91.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the rice container 4 is provided with a stepped portion 41 at a position facing a part of the lid 2. The stepped portion 41 of the rice container 4 protrudes toward the side surface 11a of the main body 11, and has a short length in the Z direction with respect to the upper surface of the rice container 4, thereby generating a stepped portion. When the water tank 3 and the rice tank 4 are placed on the base 12, the stepped portion 41 of the rice tank 4 is configured to be coplanar with the stepped portion 31 of the water tank 3. The lid 2 is provided so as to cover the step 31 of the water container 3 and the step 41 of the rice container 4 when the lid 2 is in the closed state.

As shown in fig. 1, a display operation unit 21 is provided on the upper surface of the lid body 2, and the display operation unit 21 is capable of displaying various pieces of cooking information such as a cooking amount and a cooking package (a package of white rice, a package of brown rice, etc.), and selecting specific pieces of cooking information from among the various pieces of cooking information. The display operation unit 21 includes a display 21A for displaying various kinds of cooking information; and a plurality of input buttons 21B for inputting operation instructions indicating execution of various processes, in addition to the cooking amount, selection of a cooking package. The input button 21B is an example of the "operation unit" of the present invention. Such an operation instruction includes, for example, a cooking start instruction to instruct start of a series of cooking operations, a cooking reservation instruction to start or finish cooking at a set time, a suspension instruction to instruct suspension of cooking or a thermal insulation operation, a setting change instruction, and the like. The setting change instruction is configured to be capable of changing settings related to a cooking operation or a thermal insulation operation, such as a cooking package, a thermal insulation temperature, a thermal insulation time, and a cooking completion time at the time of a cooking reservation.

The display 21A includes, for example, a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display. The user can input an operation instruction through the plurality of input buttons 21B while referring to various kinds of cooking information displayed on the display 21A.

As shown in fig. 1, the rice container 4 is provided with a selecting unit 42 for selecting whether or not to set the rice cooking operation to the wash-free rice mode. For example, when the user stores the wash-free rice in the rice container 4, the user operates the selection unit 42 to set the wash-free rice mode. In the present embodiment, the selecting unit 42 is a button provided on the upper surface of the rice container 4. The control unit 15 is configured not to perform the rice washing step, the water draining step, and the water filling step when the no-wash rice mode is selected by the selection unit 42 or the terminal 200 (see fig. 13).

As shown in fig. 1, a permission switch 22 for permitting the rice cooker 100 to receive a remote operation instruction described later is further provided on the upper surface of the lid 2. For example, the rice cooker 100 receives a remote operation instruction when the permission switch 22 is in the on state, and does not receive a remote operation instruction when the permission switch 22 is in the off state.

In the illustrated example, the plurality of input buttons 21B and the permission switch 22 that instruct execution of various processes are illustrated as an example of the operation section, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the display operation unit 21 may be configured to include a touch panel integrally provided with the display 21A instead of the plurality of input buttons 21B, and to instruct execution of various processes by operation of the touch panel. The permission switch 22 may be configured to be capable of switching an on state and an off state by an operation of the touch panel. The plurality of input buttons 21B and the permission switch 22 may be provided as software switches without being provided as hardware switches as in the illustrated example.

As shown in fig. 4, a heating portion 13 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pan accommodating portion 11b of the housing 1 at a position facing the pan 5. The heating unit 13 includes, for example, a coil for inductively heating the pan 5 by energizing. A through hole is provided in the center bottom of the pot accommodating portion 11b of the case 1, and a temperature sensor 14 is provided so as to be in contact with the center bottom of the pot 5 through the through hole. The temperature sensor 14 detects the temperature of the pan 5, in particular the bottom of the pan 5.

The rice cooker 100 further includes an open/close sensor 56 (see fig. 11) for detecting the opening/closing of the lid 2. The open/close sensor 56 may detect whether the cover 2 is in a closed state or not, thereby detecting the opening/closing of the cover 2. The open/close sensor 56 is, for example, a mechanically opened/closed sensor that is pressed down by the cover 2 when the cover 2 is in the closed state, and is turned on.

The rice cooker 100 further includes a pot sensor 57 (see fig. 11) for detecting the presence or absence of the pot 5 in the casing 1. The pan sensor 57 detects a case where the pan 5 is accommodated in the pan accommodating portion 11b of the housing 1 and a case where the pan 5 is detached from the pan accommodating portion 11b of the housing 1. The pan sensor 57 is, for example, a mechanically opened and closed sensor protruding upward from the bottom of the pan housing portion 11b, and being pressed down by the pan 5 when the pan 5 is housed therein. The pan sensor 57 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a capacitive sensor such as an electrostatic touch sensor, a weight sensor, an infrared sensor, or the like.

The rice cooker 100 further includes a water container sensor 32 (see fig. 11) that detects whether or not the water container 3 is attached to a predetermined water container position. The water container position is, for example, a predetermined position of the base portion 12 of the housing 1. The water container sensor 32 is, for example, a mechanically opened and closed sensor that is pressed down by the water container 3 and is turned on when the water container 3 is placed at the water container position. The water container sensor 32 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a capacitive sensor such as an electrostatic touch sensor, a weight sensor, or an infrared sensor.

The rice cooker 100 may further include a water level sensor 33 (see fig. 11) for detecting the water level in the water container 3. The water level sensor 33 is, for example, an electrostatic capacity sensor such as an electrostatic touch sensor, and/or a pressure sensor mounted in the water tank 3. The water level sensor 33 may be a sensor such as a weight sensor or an infrared sensor. The water level sensor 33 is not an essential component of the rice cooker 100. Even in the case where the water level sensor 33 is not provided, the rice cooker 100 can achieve the object of the present invention. In the case where the water level sensor 33 is not provided, the cost of the rice cooker 100 can be reduced and the size of the rice cooker 100 can be reduced as compared with the case where the water level sensor 33 is provided.

The rice cooker 100 may further include a rice container sensor 44 (see fig. 11) that detects whether or not the rice container 4 is attached to a predetermined rice container position. That is, when the rice container 4 is detachable, the rice container sensor 44 detects a rice container position that is a predetermined position where the rice container 4 is attached to the housing 1. The rice container sensor 44 is, for example, a mechanically opened and closed sensor that is pressed down by the rice container 4 and put into an on state when the rice container 4 is placed at the rice container position. The rice container sensor 44 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a capacitive sensor such as an electrostatic touch sensor, a weight sensor, or an infrared sensor.

The rice cooker 100 may further include a rice storage amount sensor 45 (see fig. 11) for detecting a rice storage amount, which is an amount of rice stored in the rice container 4. For example, the rice storage sensor 45 detects whether or not rice reaching a predetermined height is present in the rice container 4. The rice storage sensor 45 is, for example, a capacitive sensor such as an electrostatic touch sensor attached to the outer surface of the rice container 4. The rice storage amount sensor 45 is not limited to the capacitance type sensor, and may be, for example, a weight sensor, a mechanical switch type sensor provided in the rice container 4, an infrared sensor, or the like. The rice storage amount sensor 45 is not an essential component of the rice cooker 100. The rice cooker 100 can achieve the object of the present invention without the rice storage sensor 45. In the case where the rice storage sensor 45 is not provided, the cost of the rice cooker 100 can be reduced and the size of the rice cooker 100 can be reduced as compared with the case where the rice storage sensor 45 is provided.

The rice cooker 100 may further include a lid sensor 58 (see fig. 11) for detecting whether or not the lid 2 is attached to the casing 1 when the lid 2 is detachably attached to the casing 1. The cover sensor 58 is, for example, a mechanically opened and closed sensor that is pressed down by the cover 2 when the cover 2 is placed at a predetermined position. The cover sensor 58 is not limited to this, and may be a sensor such as a weight sensor, an infrared sensor, or a photosensor.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view schematically showing a structural example of the rice washing apparatus 6 of fig. 4. The rice washing apparatus 6 includes a rice washing unit Mi Mada, a rice washing blade 62, a rice washing tub 63, and an opening/closing valve 64.

The rice washing motor 61 is a driving source that generates power to rotate the rice washing blades 62. The rice washing blade 62 is mounted to the output shaft 61a of the rice washing motor 61, and is configured to rotate around the axis of the output shaft 61 a. The rice washing tank 63 is a portion for storing rice and water fed into the rice washing apparatus 6, and is formed in a tapered shape so that the diameter thereof decreases downward. The rice washing blade 62 is configured to rotate along the tapered inner wall surface of the rice washing tub 63 to wash rice and water in the rice washing tub 63. A drain pipe 71 is connected to the rice washing tub 63. The water used in washing rice in the rice washing tub 63 is supplied to the drain box 7 through the drain pipe 71. The opening/closing valve 64 is configured to be capable of opening/closing the bottom of the rice washing tub 63. Since the on-off valve 64 is opened, the rice washed in the rice washing tub 63 falls down into the pan 5.

As shown in fig. 7, the rice cooker 100 includes a control unit 15 inside the main body 11 of the casing 1. The control unit 15 controls the operation of the entire rice cooker 100.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the control section 15. The control unit 15 includes an arithmetic circuit 51, a storage device 52, an input interface (I/F) 53, an output interface 54, and a communication interface 55.

The arithmetic circuit 51 is configured by a circuit such as CPU, MPU, FPGA, for example, and performs information processing to realize the function of the control unit 15. Such information processing is realized by, for example, the arithmetic circuit 51 executing a program stored in the storage device 52.

The storage device 52 is a recording medium that records information such as a program, an interruption flag, and a loading completion flag necessary for realizing the functions of the control unit 15. The storage device 52 is implemented by using, for example, a flash memory, a ROM, a RAM, other recording media, alone or in combination. The storage device 52 may include a semiconductor storage device such as a Solid State Disk (SSD), and a magnetic storage device such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD).

The input interface 53 is an interface circuit for connecting the control unit 15 to the input device 16 in order to receive information from the input device 16. The input interface 53 may be a communication circuit for communicating data with the input device 16 according to an existing wired communication standard or a wireless communication standard. The input device 16 includes, for example, a temperature sensor 14, an input button 21B, an enable switch 22, a water tank sensor 32, a water level sensor 33, a rice tank sensor 44, a rice storage sensor 45, an open/close sensor 56, a pan sensor 57, and the like.

The output interface 54 is an interface circuit for connecting the control unit 15 to the output device 17 in order to output information to the output device 17. The output interface 54 may be a communication circuit for performing data communication with the output device 17 according to an existing wired communication standard or a wireless communication standard. The output device 17 includes, for example, the heating unit 13, the display 21A, the wash Mi Mada 61, the on-off valve 64, the drain pump 72, the drain pump 84, the rice-feeding fan 92, and the like.

The communication interface 55 is a communication circuit for performing data communication according to an existing wired communication standard or wireless communication standard. The arithmetic circuit 51 is configured to be capable of communicating with a terminal 200 and a server apparatus 300 (see fig. 12) described later via the communication interface 55 and the network 18.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of the remote control system 10 of the rice cooker 100 according to the present embodiment. The remote control system 10 includes a

rice cooker

100, 1 or more terminals 200, and a server apparatus 300. The terminal 200 includes information processing devices such as a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a desktop PC, a notebook PC, and the like. The rice cooker 100, the terminal 200, and the server device 300 are connected to the network 18, for example.

The server apparatus 300 is an information processing apparatus including an arithmetic circuit 301, a storage apparatus 302, and a communication interface 303.

The arithmetic circuit 301 is configured by a circuit such as CPU, MPU, FPGA, for example, and performs information processing to realize the functions of the server apparatus 300. Such information processing is realized by, for example, the arithmetic circuit 301 executing a program stored in the storage device 302.

The storage device 302 is a recording medium that records various information including programs and data necessary for realizing the functions of the server device 300. The storage device 302 is implemented by using, for example, a semiconductor storage device such as a Solid State Disk (SSD), a magnetic storage device such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a flash memory, a ROM, a RAM, other recording medium, or a combination thereof, alone.

The communication interface 303 is a communication circuit that performs data communication according to an existing wired communication standard or wireless communication standard. The arithmetic circuit 301 is configured to be able to communicate with the rice cooker 100 and the terminal 200 via the communication interface 303 and the network 18.

The server apparatus 300 may be implemented by 1 computer or by cooperation of a plurality of computers. The server apparatus 300 may be a cloud server.

The terminal 200 can download and install application software for remotely controlling the rice cooker 100 from the server apparatus 300 or another computer, for example. The user of the terminal 200 can start the application software and confirm the state of the rice cooker 100. In addition, the user of the terminal 200 can operate the application software on the terminal 200, thereby remotely controlling the rice cooker 100. For example, the user of the terminal 200 transmits a remote operation input regarding the rice cooker 100 to the server apparatus 300 by operating the application software using the terminal 200. The server apparatus 300 transmits a remote operation instruction to the rice cooker 100 based on the remote operation input received from the terminal 200. The control unit 15 of the rice cooker 100 operates in accordance with the received remote operation instruction.

Such a remote operation instruction is an instruction based on a remote operation input, and includes a cooking start instruction for instructing the start of a series of cooking operations, a cooking reservation instruction for starting or completing cooking at a set time, an instruction for suspending the cooking or the heat-insulating operation, a setting change instruction, and the like.

Further, the information of the rice cooker 100 may be transmitted to the terminal 200 via the server apparatus 300, and the transmitted information may be notified to the user of the terminal 200. For example, the remaining amount of water in the water tank 3 calculated based on the detection result of the water level sensor 33, the stored rice amount detected by the stored rice amount sensor 45, and the like are displayed on the display of the terminal 200. Thus, the user can determine whether or not cooking is possible.

As described above, the rice cooker 100 is configured to be remotely operable by the terminal 200.

[ Rice cooking action ]

The operation of the rice cooker 100 will be described below. Fig. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the entire flow of the cooking operation performed by the rice cooker 100. The processing of fig. 13 is performed by the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control unit 15.

First, in step S1, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not a cooking start instruction is received. The cooking start instruction includes an instruction realized by a local operation and an instruction realized by a remote operation. The instruction to start cooking by the local operation is an instruction input to the arithmetic circuit 51 via the input interface 53 by the user operating the input button 21B (see fig. 1, 11, and the like). The instruction to start cooking by remote operation is an instruction input to the arithmetic circuit 51 via the network 18 and the communication interface 55 by the user operating the terminal 200 (see fig. 12). The instruction to start cooking may include a spontaneous instruction issued by the arithmetic circuit 51 itself. For example, when the arithmetic circuit 51 is in a cooking reservation state, the spontaneous instruction is issued when the time is reached at which cooking should be started according to the reservation setting.

When the instruction to start cooking is received (yes in S1), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S2, and when the instruction to start cooking is not received (no in S1), the routine returns to step S1.

In step S2, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not the centering flag (see step S23 of fig. 14 described later) is in the on state. The stop flag is a flag that is turned off in an initial state and is turned on when the cooking or the heat-insulating operation is stopped based on a stop instruction. The suspension flag is reset to the off state, for example, between steps S2 and S4 and between steps S3 and S4. When determining that the suspension flag is on (yes in S2), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S3. When it is determined that the suspension flag is not in the on state (no in S2), for example, when it is determined that the suspension flag is in the off state, the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S4.

In step S3, a series of processes (S4 to S11) of the rice cooking operation are described, and then the description is made.

In step S4, the arithmetic circuit 51 performs a rice feeding step and a water feeding step. The rice feeding step is a step of feeding the rice in the rice container 4 into the rice washing device 6. In the rice feeding step, the arithmetic circuit 51 drives the rice feeding device 93 for a predetermined time period based on the cooking information to move the rice in the rice container 4 into the rice feeding duct 91, and drives the rice feeding fan 92 for a predetermined time period based on the cooking information to feed the rice in the rice feeding duct 91 into the rice washing device 6. The water feeding step is a step of feeding water in the water container 3 into the rice washing device 6. In the water feeding step, the arithmetic circuit 51 drives the water feeding pump 83 for a predetermined time based on the cooking information, and feeds the water in the water tank 3 into the rice washing apparatus 6 through the tank-side water feeding pipe 82 and the lid-side water feeding pipe 81. The rice feeding step and the water feeding step may be performed sequentially or simultaneously. The amount of rice fed to the rice washing apparatus 6 in the rice feeding step may be the entire amount corresponding to the amount of cooked rice (hereinafter, referred to as "predetermined amount of cooked rice") selected by the user using the display operation unit 21, or may be an amount obtained by dividing the set amount of cooked rice into a plurality of portions.

In the next step S5, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not the wash-free rice mode is selected by the selecting unit 42 or the terminal 200. If it is determined that the no-wash rice mode is not selected (no in S5), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S9 after sequentially performing the rice washing step S6, the water draining step S7, and the water filling step S8. When it is determined in step S5 that the wash-free rice mode is selected (yes in S5), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S9 without performing steps S6 to S8.

The rice washing step S6 is a step of washing rice supplied into the rice washing apparatus 6 with water supplied into the rice washing apparatus 6. The arithmetic circuit 51 drives the rice-washing device 6 for a predetermined time based on the cooking information, and washes the rice with the rice and water in the rice-washing device 6.

The water discharge step S7 is a step of discharging the water after washing the rice to the outside of the rice washing apparatus 6. The arithmetic circuit 51 drives the drain pump 72 for a predetermined time based on the cooking information, and discharges the water after washing the rice from the rice washing apparatus 6 to the drain tank 7 through the drain pipe 71.

The water filling step S8 is a step of feeding water in the water container 3 to the rice washing apparatus 6 in order to prevent the washed rice from adhering to the inner wall of the rice washing apparatus 6 and from falling into the pot 5. In the water filling step S8, the arithmetic circuit 51 drives the water feed pump 83 for a predetermined time based on the cooking information, and feeds the water in the water tank 3 into the rice washing apparatus 6 through the tank-side water feed pipe 82 and the lid-side water feed pipe 81.

In step S9, the arithmetic circuit 51 opens the on-off valve 64 of the rice washing apparatus 6, and inputs the rice and water in the rice washing apparatus 6 into the pot 5. In the next step S10, the arithmetic circuit 51 turns on an input completion flag indicating that the input of rice and water into the pot 5 is completed. The input completion flag is a flag whose initial state is in an off state, and is reset to be in an off state after completion of the cooking step S11 after completion of the heat-insulating operation or when the heat-insulating operation is not performed.

In the next step S11, the arithmetic circuit 51 performs a rice cooking process. For example, in the cooking process, a cooking sequence is performed. The term "cooking sequence" as used herein refers to a step of cooking in which, when four steps including preheating, heating, boiling maintenance, and steaming are sequentially performed, the energization time, heating temperature, heating time, heating output, and the like are determined in advance in each step. A plurality of cooking times corresponding to the plurality of cooking packages may be prepared. A program for executing a cooking sequence is stored in the storage device 302, for example. In the present embodiment, the arithmetic circuit 51 controls the heating unit 13 based on the cooking information selected by the user using the display operation unit 21 or the terminal 200 and the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 14, thereby performing the cooking process.

After the cooking step S11 is completed, a heat-retaining operation of retaining the temperature of the pot 5 at the set heat-retaining temperature may be performed.

As described above, the rice cooker of the present embodiment can automatically wash rice to cook rice. Step S3 will be described below.

In step S3, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not a predetermined cooking start condition is satisfied, and if yes, the process proceeds to step S4, and if no, the process returns to step S1. That is, when the cooking start condition is not satisfied, the arithmetic circuit 51 does not execute the cooking operation of steps S4 to S11. In the present specification, even if a cooking start instruction by a remote operation is transmitted to the rice cooker 100 based on the user operation of the terminal 200, the case where the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control unit 15 does not perform the cooking operation may be expressed as "the control unit 15 does not receive the cooking start instruction from the terminal 200". The "control unit 15 does not accept a cooking start instruction from the terminal 200" also includes a case where the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control unit 15 does not execute a cooking operation even if a cooking start instruction by a local operation such as an operation of the input button 21B is input to the control unit 15.

An example of the cooking start condition is that the open/close sensor 56 detects that the lid 2 is closed after being opened (hereinafter referred to as "cooking start condition 1"). The opening/closing sensor 56 may detect opening/closing of the lid 2, and the arithmetic circuit 51 may detect a front-back relationship of opening/closing time based on a detection result of the opening/closing sensor 56.

For example, in the case where the lid 2 is kept closed after the last cooking or warming operation is stopped, rice may remain in the pot 5. In such a case, if step S9 is performed in which rice and water are input in accordance with a command to start cooking by a remote operation of the user, rice may leak out of the pot 5, or rice may not be burned and cooking may not be performed in accordance with the user' S intention. The cooked material thus cooked may have a lower taste than the material properly cooked by supplying rice and water to an empty cooking section. When the cooking start condition 1 is satisfied and the lid 2 is closed after being opened, it is conceivable that rice and water remaining in the pot 5 are removed by a person who opens the lid 2. By setting the cooking start condition 1 in this way, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further poured from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the like, from being unable to cook according to the user's intention.

Another example of the cooking start condition is that the lid sensor 58 detects that the lid 2 is mounted to the casing 1 from a state of not being mounted to the casing 1 (hereinafter, referred to as "cooking start condition 2"). The lid sensor 58 may detect whether the lid 2 is not attached to the case 1 or the lid 2 is attached to the case 1, and the arithmetic circuit 51 may detect the time relationship between the two states based on the detection result of the lid sensor 58. When the cooking start condition 2 is satisfied and the lid 2 is in a state of being attached to the case 1 from a state of not being attached to the case 1, it is conceivable that rice and water remaining in the pot 5 are removed by a person who removes the lid 2 from the case 1 or attaches the lid 2 to the case 1. By setting the cooking start condition 2 in this way, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further poured from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the like, from being unable to cook according to the user's intention.

Another example of the cooking start condition is that the pot sensor 57 detects that the pot 5 is detached from the casing 1 and then accommodated in the casing 1 (hereinafter referred to as "cooking start condition 3"). The pot sensor 57 may detect the presence or absence of the pot 5 in the housing 1, and the arithmetic circuit 51 may detect that the pot 5 is housed in the housing 1 after being detached from the housing 1 based on the detection result of the pot sensor 57. When the cooking start condition 3 is satisfied, the rice and water remaining in the rice pot 5 can be removed by the user when the rice pot 5 is detached from the casing 1 and stored in the casing 1. By setting the cooking start condition 3 in this way, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further poured from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the like, from being unable to cook according to the user's intention.

Other examples of the cooking start condition are that the permission switch 22 is in an on state (hereinafter, referred to as "cooking start condition 4"). When the user presses the permission switch 22 to turn it on, it is conceivable that the rice and water remaining in the pot 5 are removed by the user. By setting the cooking start condition 4 in this way, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further poured from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the like, from being unable to cook according to the user's intention.

Another example of the cooking start condition is that the temperature sensor 14 detects that the temperature of the pot 5 is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value after the completion of the cooking step S11 (hereinafter, referred to as "cooking start condition 5"). The threshold value is set to a relative value of several to 10 ℃ lower than the holding temperature, for example. Alternatively, the threshold value is set to an absolute value such as normal temperature, 25℃to 75 ℃. When the cooking start condition 5 is satisfied, it is conceivable that the heat-retaining operation is completed or interrupted, and that the rice and water remaining in the pot 5 are removed by the user. By setting the cooking start condition 5 in this way, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further poured from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the like, from being unable to cook according to the user's intention.

Another example of the cooking start condition is a case where a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the arithmetic circuit 51 receives or accepts the instruction to stop cooking, for example, the time when the stop flag is turned on (hereinafter, referred to as "cooking start condition 6"). When a certain amount of time has elapsed since the time at which the middle flag is turned on, that is, when the cooking or the heat-insulating operation is stopped based on the stop instruction, it is expected that rice and water remaining in the pot 5 will be removed by the user. By setting the cooking start condition 6 in this way, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further poured from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the like, from being unable to cook according to the user's intention.

[ suspension action ]

Hereinafter, the centering stopper will be described. The suspension operation is an operation for suspending various operations of the rice cooker 100. An example of the suspension operation is an operation of suspending the operation in execution based on the received suspension instruction after the arithmetic circuit 51 starts the rice cooking operation or the heat preservation operation of fig. 13. Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the suspension operation. The suspension operation in fig. 14 is performed by the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control unit 15. The suspension operation in fig. 14 may be performed in parallel with the cooking operation in fig. 13 or may be performed while the cooking operation in fig. 13 is being performed.

First, in step S20 of fig. 14, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not an instruction to suspend is received. The suspension instruction includes an instruction realized by a local operation and an instruction realized by a remote operation, similarly to the cooking start instruction of step S1 of fig. 13.

When the suspension instruction is received (yes in S20), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S21, and when the suspension instruction is not received (no in S20), returns to step S20. That is, the arithmetic circuit 51 does not perform the processing after step S21 as long as it does not receive the suspension instruction.

In step S21, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not the input completion flag is in the on state. The arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S24 when it determines that the input completion flag is in the on state (yes in S21), and proceeds to step S22 when it determines that the input completion flag is not in the on state (no in S21), for example, when it determines that the input completion flag is in the off state.

The arithmetic circuit 51 stops the rice cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation being performed in step S22, and turns on the stop flag in step S23.

In step S24, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not the suspension instruction received in step S20 is an instruction realized by a remote operation. The arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S25 when it is determined that the received suspension instruction is an instruction realized by a remote operation (yes in S24), and proceeds to step S22 when it is determined that the received suspension instruction is not an instruction realized by a remote operation (no in S24), for example, when it is determined that the received suspension instruction is an instruction realized by a local operation.

In step S25, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not a predetermined suspension condition is satisfied. The suspension condition is a condition for the arithmetic circuit 51 to accept a suspension instruction realized by a remote operation. When it is determined that the suspension condition is satisfied (yes in S25), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to a suspension step S22 and terminates the rice cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation in execution. On the other hand, when it is determined that the suspension condition is not satisfied (no in S25), the arithmetic circuit 51 does not execute the suspension step S22.

In the present specification, even if a suspension instruction by a remote operation is transmitted to the rice cooker 100 based on a user operation of the terminal 200, the case where the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control unit 15 does not perform the rice cooking operation may be expressed as "the control unit 15 does not accept the suspension instruction from the terminal 200".

When it is determined that the suspension condition is not satisfied (no in S25), the arithmetic circuit 51 may execute step S26. In step S26, the arithmetic circuit 51 transmits a signal to the server apparatus 300, and the server apparatus 300 that has received the signal performs a notification operation indicating that the suspension instruction is not accepted, or the like, at the terminal 200 that has transmitted the suspension instruction by the application software. This can notify the user to whom the suspension instruction is transmitted to the user terminal 200 that the suspension instruction is not accepted. The notification method may be a sound-based notification, in addition to display on a display or the like of the terminal 200.

An example of the above-described suspension condition is that the cooking step S11 is completed. Even if the input of rice and water into the pot 5 is completed and the input completion flag is turned on, if 1 or more terminals 200 can freely stop the cooking operation, it is impossible to perform cooking intended by the user of the terminal 200 that transmitted the cooking start instruction. If 1 or more terminals 200 can freely send a cooking start instruction to rice cooker 100 via server apparatus 300 after the suspension, rice and water may be thrown in again (S9) and the rice may leak out of pot 5 or the rice may not be overheated, and the cooking may fail. If the cooking is not completed, the control unit 15 does not receive an instruction to stop the cooking operation from the terminal 200 or another terminal 200 that has transmitted an instruction to start the cooking to the rice cooker 100 via the server device 300, and thus can prevent the cooking operation from being accidentally stopped during the cooking operation. Further, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further thrown from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5 after the stop, and the rice and water cannot be cooked according to the user's intention.

[ Rice cooking reservation action ]

The following describes a rice cooking reservation operation. The cooking reservation action is an action for causing cooking to start or finish at a time set by a user. Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a cooking reservation action. The cooking reservation operation in fig. 15 is performed by the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control unit 15.

First, in step S30, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not a cooking reservation instruction is received. The instruction to reserve cooking includes an instruction by a local operation and an instruction by a remote operation, similarly to the instruction to start cooking and the instruction to stop cooking. The instruction for reservation of cooking includes, for example, a cooking completion time. For example, when the user wants to complete the cooking at 17 points, the cooking completion time is set to 17 points. The instruction to schedule cooking may include a start time of cooking instead of a finish time of cooking.

When the instruction to reserve cooking is received (yes in S30), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S31, and when the instruction to suspend is not received (no in S30), it returns to step S30. That is, the arithmetic circuit 51 does not perform the processing after step S31 as long as it does not receive the instruction to reserve cooking.

In step S31, the operation circuit 51 sets the operation mode of the rice cooker 100 to the rice cooking reservation state, and the flow proceeds to step S32.

In step S32, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not an abnormality of the rice cooker 100 in the rice cooking reservation state is detected. When there is an abnormality in the rice cooker 100 in the rice cooking reservation state, the rice cooking cannot be performed normally. When determining that no abnormality is detected (no in S32), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S33.

In step S33, the arithmetic circuit 51 waits for the arrival of the cooking start time corresponding to the cooking completion time, and proceeds to step S34 if it arrives. For example, when the time required for the cooking operation (see fig. 13) is 1 hour at 17 points at the time of the completion of the cooking, the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S34 at 16 points.

In step S34, the arithmetic circuit 51 receives a cooking start instruction. The cooking start instruction of step S34 is an instruction for starting the cooking operation of fig. 13. When the instruction to start cooking in step S34 is given, the arithmetic circuit 51 performs the same operation as when the instruction to start cooking is received in step S1 in fig. 13. Alternatively, in step S34, the arithmetic circuit 51 may actually transmit a cooking start instruction to the arithmetic circuit 51 itself.

In step S32, when it is determined that an abnormality is detected (yes in S32), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S35. As such an abnormality, for example, an abnormality of the rice cooker 100 due to an erroneous operation of a person at home, a miscreant of a child, or the like is assumed.

An example of the abnormality is that the cover 2 is opened when the rice cooker 100 is in a rice cooking reservation state. When the cover 2 is opened, cooking cannot be performed normally. For example, when the opening/closing sensor 56 detects that the cover 2 is opened, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines that an abnormality is detected.

Another example of the abnormality is that the cover 2 is detached from the casing 1 when the rice cooker 100 is in a rice cooking reservation state. When the cover 2 is detached from the casing 1, cooking cannot be performed normally. For example, when the cover sensor 58 detects that the cover 2 is not attached to the casing 1, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines that an abnormality is detected.

Another example of the abnormality is that when the rice cooker 100 is in a rice cooking reservation state, the water container 3 is not attached to a predetermined position of the base 12 of the casing 1 or the rice container 4 is not attached to a predetermined position of the casing 1. When the rice container 4 or the water container 3 is not mounted at a predetermined position, the rice cooker 100 cannot supply rice or water into the pot 5, and thus normal rice cooking cannot be performed. For example, when the water container sensor 32 detects that the water container 3 is not mounted at a predetermined position of the base portion 12 of the housing 1, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines that an abnormality is detected. For example, when the rice container sensor 44 detects that the rice container 4 is not mounted at the predetermined position of the housing 1, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines that an abnormality is detected.

Other examples of the abnormality are that when the rice cooker 100 is in a rice cooking reservation state, the water level in the water container 3 does not reach a water level threshold corresponding to the amount of water required for cooking or the stored rice amount does not reach the amount required for cooking. When such an abnormality occurs, water or rice is insufficient, and the rice cooker 100 cannot normally cook rice. For example, when the water level sensor 33 detects that the water level in the water tank 3 has not reached the water level threshold, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines that an abnormality has been detected. For example, when the stored-rice amount sensor 45 detects that the stored-rice amount does not reach the amount required for cooking, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines that an abnormality is detected.

When an abnormality is detected, in step S35, the arithmetic circuit 51 notifies the user of the presence of the abnormality. For example, the arithmetic circuit 51 notifies the user of the presence of an abnormality by displaying the presence of an abnormality on the display 21A and/or by causing the speaker to output a warning sound indicating the presence of an abnormality.

In addition, the notification of step S35 also includes remote notification. For example, the arithmetic circuit 51 transmits an abnormality detection signal indicating that an abnormality is detected to the server apparatus 300. Upon receiving the abnormality detection signal, the server apparatus 300 transmits information for confirming whether or not the cooking schedule state of the rice cooker 100 should be continued to the terminal 200. The transmission of the information includes transmission of information in which the server apparatus 300 causes the display of the terminal 200 to display a text for confirming whether or not the cooking reservation state should be continued through the application software.

In the next step S36, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not a reservation continuation instruction is received before the cooking start time. The reservation continuation instruction includes an instruction realized by a local operation and an instruction realized by a remote operation, similarly to the cooking start instruction, the suspension instruction, and the cooking reservation instruction. For example, when the user of the terminal 200 operates the application software and selects a reservation state in which the cooking should be continued, the server apparatus 300 transmits a reservation continuation instruction to the rice cooker 100. In the present specification, the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control unit 15 may represent that the reception server apparatus 300 receives the reservation continuation instruction transmitted to the rice cooker 100 based on the operation of the terminal 200 by the user, as described above, as "the control unit 15 receives the reservation continuation instruction from the terminal 200".

When a reservation continuation instruction is received before the cooking start time (yes in S36), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S33. When the reservation continuation instruction is not received before the cooking start time (no in S36), the arithmetic circuit 51 ends the flow of fig. 15 without executing step S34, and does not perform cooking.

In this way, when an abnormality of the rice cooker 100 in the rice cooking reservation state is detected, it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice cooking is performed in a state in which an abnormality exists and the rice cooking cannot be performed as intended by the user by confirming to the user whether or not the rice cooking reservation state should be continued.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing a modification of the cooking reservation operation of fig. 15. The modification of the cooking reservation action of fig. 16 includes step S37 instead of step S36 of fig. 15.

In step S37, the arithmetic circuit 51 determines whether or not the abnormality detected in step S32 before the cooking start time has been removed, and whether or not a reservation continuation instruction has been received before the cooking start time. When the abnormality has been removed before the cooking start time or when the reservation continuation instruction is received before the cooking start time (yes in S37), the arithmetic circuit 51 proceeds to step S33. In the modification of the cooking reservation operation in fig. 16, unlike in fig. 15, when the abnormality has been eliminated, cooking can be started even if a reservation continuation instruction is not received before the cooking start time.

[ exclusive control ]

The remote control system 10 may implement exclusive control such that, after the control unit 15 of the rice cooker 100 receives a rice start instruction or a setting change instruction from the terminal 200, the control unit 15 of the rice cooker 100 does not receive an operation instruction from another terminal until the rice cooking is completed. Fig. 17 is a timing chart showing an example of such exclusive control.

In fig. 17, the terminal 200a transmits a remote operation input including a cooking start instruction to the server apparatus 300 based on a user operation (S40), and the server apparatus 300 transmits a cooking start instruction to the rice cooker 100 in response thereto (S60). The arithmetic circuit 51 of the rice cooker 100 that receives the rice start instruction executes the rice cooking operations S4 to S11 when predetermined conditions are satisfied (see fig. 13).

When the other terminal 200b transmits a remote operation input including a cooking stop instruction to the server apparatus 300 during the cooking operation of the rice cooker 100 (S50), the server apparatus 300 does not transmit the cooking stop instruction to the rice cooker 100. In this case, the server apparatus 300 may transmit a rejection acceptance message such as "no instruction is accepted because the other user is cooking" to the terminal 200b (S51). Such a rejection acceptance message may be transmitted by the server apparatus 300 causing the terminal 200b to display a notification operation such as a rejection acceptance message by the application software.

The server apparatus 300 uses, for example, a login ID of the application software in order to determine which of the

terminals

200a, 200b has transmitted the remote operation input. The login ID is associated with the rice cooker 100 as an operation target. Since there is a way in which a plurality of people such as family members remotely operate the rice cooker 100, a plurality of login IDs may be associated with one rice cooker 100. Alternatively, the server apparatus 300 may use device identification information unique to the

terminals

200a and 200b, such as a MAC address, in order to determine which of the

terminals

200a and 200b has transmitted the remote operation input.

The above description has been given of an example in which the terminal 200b transmits a cooking suspension instruction, but the same applies to other operation instructions such as a cooking start instruction, a cooking reservation instruction, and a setting change instruction. That is, in the cooking operation of the rice cooker 100, even if the other terminal 200b intends to transmit a certain operation instruction to the rice cooker 100, the server apparatus 300 does not transmit the operation instruction to the rice cooker 100. After the completion of the cooking, the control unit 15 of the rice cooker 100 can receive a cooking start instruction from the terminal 200b (S52, S62).

In the above description, the example of transmitting the instruction to start cooking by the terminal 200a has been described, but the same applies to the instruction to change the setting and the instruction to reserve cooking. For example, when the terminal 200a transmits a remote operation input including a setting change instruction to the server apparatus 300 based on a user operation and the server apparatus 300 transmits a setting change instruction to the rice cooker 100 in response thereto, the control unit 15 of the rice cooker 100 does not receive an operation instruction from the terminal 200b as long as the rice cooking is not completed.

By providing the exclusive control in this way, it is possible to prevent rice and water from being further thrown in from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5 of the rice cooker 100 by a rice start instruction by a person other than the user who starts cooking. Further, by providing the exclusive control, it is possible to prevent the cooking setting by the user who starts cooking from being changed by a person other than the user.

In the above, the example in which the server apparatus 300 does not transmit the instruction to stop cooking to the rice cooker 100 has been described in the case where the other terminal 200b transmits the remote operation input including the instruction to stop cooking to the server apparatus 300 during the operation to stop cooking of the rice cooker 100, but the exclusive control is not limited to this. For example, in the above case, the server apparatus 300 may transmit the instruction to stop cooking to the rice cooker 100 as usual, but the control unit 15 of the rice cooker 100 may not receive the instruction to stop cooking from the terminal 200b in such a manner that the instruction to stop cooking is not received.

[ Effect etc. ]

As described above, the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment includes the casing 1, the pot 5, the rice container 4 for storing rice, the water container 3 for storing water, the rice feeding device 93, the water feeding pump 83, the heating unit 13 for heating the pot 5, the control unit 15, and the communication interface 55. The rice feeding device 93 feeds the rice in the rice container 4 into the pot 5. The water pump 83 supplies water in the water tank 3 into the pan 5. The control unit 15 performs at least a cooking operation including controlling the rice feeding device 93, the water feeding pump 83, and the heating unit 13 to supply rice and water into the pot 5 and heat the rice and water, and a heat-insulating operation controlling the heating unit 13 to insulate the pot 5. The communication interface 55 receives an operation instruction signal including a cooking start instruction instructing the start of a cooking operation and/or an instruction to suspend a cooking operation or a thermal insulation operation from the terminal 200 by wireless. After the cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation is suspended in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication interface 55, the control unit 15 does not receive the cooking start instruction from the terminal 200 via the communication interface 55 as long as the predetermined cooking start condition is not satisfied.

According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice cooking operation or a thermal insulation operation is stopped in a state where rice remains in the pot 5, and then remote operation is performed from the terminal 200, and rice, water, and the like are further supplied from above the rice remaining in the pot 5, and rice cooking cannot be performed as intended by the user.

The rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment may further include an input button 21B for inputting a cooking start instruction to the control unit 15. In this case, the control unit 15 does not receive the instruction to start cooking from the input button 21B, as long as the cooking start condition is not satisfied, after the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation is suspended in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication interface 55.

According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the input button 21B from being operated by a miscreant other than the operator of the terminal 200 such as a child and receiving a rice start instruction after the rice cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation is stopped by the remote operation from the terminal 200. This prevents rice and water from being further supplied from above the rice remaining in the pot 5, and thus prevents the rice from being cooked as intended by the user.

The rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment may further include a lid 2 for openably and closably covering the opening 5a of the pot 5, and an open/close sensor 56 for detecting the opening/closing of the lid 2. In this case, when the control unit 15 stops the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in response to the stop instruction received by the communication interface 55 and the opening/closing sensor 56 detects that the lid 2 is closed after being opened, the control unit 15 can receive the cooking start instruction.

In the case where the lid 2 is closed after opening, it is possible to envisage a case where rice and water remaining in the pot 5 are removed by a person who opens the lid 2. Therefore, according to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice, water, and the like are further thrown from above the rice remaining in the pot, and rice cannot be cooked according to the intention of the user.

The rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment may further include: a cover 2 detachably attached to the housing 1 and configured to cover the opening 5a of the pan 5 in a freely openable and closable manner when attached to the housing 1; and a cover sensor 58 that detects whether the cover 2 is attached to the housing 1. In this case, when the lid sensor 58 detects that the lid 2 is mounted to the casing 1 from a state where the lid is not mounted to the casing 1 after the control unit 15 has stopped the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the stop instruction received by the communication interface 55, the control unit 15 can receive the cooking start instruction.

When the lid 2 is not attached to the housing 1 but is attached to the housing 1, it is conceivable that the rice and water remaining in the pan 5 are removed by a person who removes the lid 2 from the housing 1 or attaches the lid 2 to the housing 1. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further thrown from above the rice remaining in the pot 5, and the rice and water from being not cooked according to the user's intention.

The pan 5 may be removably accommodated in the housing 1. The rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment may further include a pot sensor 57, and the pot sensor 57 may detect that the pot 5 is accommodated in the housing 1 and that the pot 5 is detached from the housing 1. In this case, when the control unit 15 stops the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the stop instruction received by the communication interface 55 and the pot sensor 57 detects that the pot 5 is stored in the casing 1 after being detached from the casing 1, the cooking start condition is satisfied. When the cooking start condition is satisfied, the control unit 15 can receive a cooking start instruction.

When the pot 5 is detached from the housing 1 and then stored in the housing 1, it is conceivable that the rice and water remaining in the pot 5 are removed by the user. Therefore, according to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further thrown in from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the rice and water cannot be cooked according to the user's intention.

The rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment may further include a permission switch 22, and the permission switch 22 may be turned on to permit the control unit 15 to receive a rice cooking start instruction from the terminal 200. In this case, when the control unit 15 stops the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in response to the stop instruction received by the communication interface 55 and the permission switch 22 is in the on state, the cooking start condition is satisfied, and the control unit 15 can receive the cooking start instruction.

When the user presses the permission switch 22 to turn it on, it is conceivable that the rice and water remaining in the pot 5 are removed by the user. Therefore, according to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further thrown in from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the rice and water cannot be cooked according to the user's intention.

The rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment may further include a temperature sensor 14 for detecting the temperature of the pot 5. In this case, when the temperature sensor 14 detects that the temperature of the pot 5 is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value after the completion of the cooking operation after the control unit 15 has suspended the cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication interface 55, the cooking start condition is satisfied. When the cooking start condition is satisfied, the control unit 15 can receive a cooking start instruction.

When the temperature of the pan 5 is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value, it is conceivable that the heat retaining operation is completed or interrupted, and that the rice and water remaining in the pan 5 are removed by the user. Therefore, according to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further thrown in from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the rice and water cannot be cooked according to the user's intention.

When a predetermined time has elapsed from the time point at which the control unit 15 received the suspension instruction after the control unit 15 suspended the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication interface 55, the cooking start condition may be satisfied. When the cooking start condition is satisfied, the control unit 15 can receive a cooking start instruction.

When a certain amount of time has elapsed from the time point when the suspension instruction is received, it is expected that the rice and water remaining in the pot 5 are removed by the user. Therefore, according to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rice and water from being further thrown in from above the rice and water remaining in the pot 5, and the rice and water cannot be cooked according to the user's intention.

After the start of the rice cooking operation, the control unit 15 may not receive the suspension instruction from the terminal 200 via the communication interface 55 as long as the predetermined suspension condition is not satisfied.

According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, by not receiving the remote stop instruction from the terminal 200 as long as the stop condition is not satisfied, it is possible to prevent the rice cooking operation from being accidentally stopped in the middle of the rice cooking operation. Further, by not receiving the remote stop instruction from the terminal 200 if the stop condition is not satisfied, it is possible to prevent the rice from being further supplied from above the rice remaining in the pot 5 after the stop, and the water from being unable to cook according to the user's intention, by receiving the rice cooking start instruction.

After the control unit 15 starts the cooking operation, the stop condition may be satisfied when the cooking operation is completed. When the suspension condition is satisfied, the control unit 15 can receive a suspension instruction from the terminal 200 via the communication interface 55.

According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, the control unit 15 does not receive a remote stop instruction from the terminal 200 as long as the rice cooking operation is not completed, and thus can prevent the rice cooking operation from being accidentally stopped during the rice cooking operation.

In the cooking schedule state in which the cooking operation is started at the cooking start time corresponding to the set time, the control unit 15 may notify the terminal 200 when an abnormality is detected.

According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, the user can obtain an opportunity to eliminate the abnormality by notifying that the abnormality exists. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the situation that the rice cooking is performed in a state where there is an abnormality and the rice cooking cannot be performed according to the intention of the user.

When notified, the control unit 15 may start the cooking operation at the time of the start of the cooking only when a reservation continuation instruction to continue the cooking reservation state is received from the terminal 200 before the time of the start of the cooking.

According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice is cooked in a state in which there is an abnormality and the rice cannot be cooked according to the intention of the user.

The rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment may further include a lid 2 for openably and closably covering the opening 5a of the pot 5, and an open/close sensor 56 for detecting the opening/closing of the lid 2. In this case, when the opening/closing sensor 56 detects that the cover 2 is opened, the control unit 15 detects an abnormality and notifies the terminal 200 of the abnormality.

When the lid 2 is opened, the rice cooker 100 according to the present embodiment cannot normally cook, but notifies the lid 2 when it is opened, so that it is possible to prevent a situation in which the rice is cooked in a state in which the lid 2 is opened, and the rice cannot be cooked as intended by the user.

The water container 3 may be detachably attached to a predetermined water container position of the rice cooker 100, and the rice cooker 100 may further include a water container sensor that detects whether the water container 3 is attached to the water container position. In this case, when the water container sensor detects that the water container 3 is not mounted at the water container position in the rice cooking reservation state, the control unit 15 detects an abnormality and notifies the terminal 200 of the abnormality.

When the water container 3 is not installed at the water container position, the rice cooker cannot supply water into the pot 5, and thus rice cooking cannot be performed normally. According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, since notification is made when the water container 3 is not attached to the water container position, it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice is cooked in a state in which the water container 3 is not attached to the water container position and rice cannot be cooked according to the user's intention.

The rice container 4 may be detachably attached to a predetermined rice container position of the rice cooker 100, and the rice cooker 100 may further include a rice container sensor that detects whether the rice container 4 is attached to the rice container position. In this case, when the rice container sensor detects that the rice container 4 is not mounted at the rice container position in the rice cooking reservation state, the control unit 15 detects an abnormality and notifies the terminal 200 of the abnormality.

When the rice container is not mounted to the rice container 4, the rice cooker cannot supply rice into the pot 5, and thus rice cooking cannot be performed normally. According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, since notification is made when the rice container 4 is not attached to the rice container position, it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice is cooked in a state in which the rice container 4 is not attached to the rice container position and rice cannot be cooked as intended by the user.

The rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment may further include: a cover 2 detachably attached to the housing 1 and configured to cover the opening 5a of the pan 5 in a freely openable and closable manner when attached to the housing 1; and a cover sensor 58 that detects whether the cover 2 is attached to the housing 1. In this case, when the cover sensor 58 detects that the cover 2 is not attached to the casing 1 in the cooking reservation state, the control unit 15 detects an abnormality and notifies the terminal 200 of the abnormality.

When the cover 2 is not attached to the casing 1, normal cooking cannot be performed, but according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a situation in which cooking is performed in a state in which the cover 2 is not attached to the casing 1, and cooking cannot be performed as intended by the user.

The number of terminals 200 may be plural. For example, the terminal 200 may also include a first terminal 200a and a second terminal 200b. In this case, the control unit 15 may not receive the operation instruction signal from the second terminal 200b via the communication interface 55 until the cooking operation is completed after receiving the instruction to start cooking from the first terminal 200a via the communication interface 55.

According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the cooking setting by the user of the first terminal 200a that starts cooking from being changed by the person using the second terminal 200b.

After receiving a setting change instruction to change the setting related to the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation from the first terminal 200a via the communication interface 55, the control unit 15 may not receive a cooking start instruction and a setting change instruction from the second terminal 200b via the communication interface 55 until the cooking operation is completed.

According to the rice cooker 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a situation in which rice and water are further input from above the rice remaining in the pot 5 by a rice start instruction by a person using the second terminal 200b, although the user of the first terminal 200a has already started cooking.

(modification)

As described above, the embodiments are described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technique of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like are made. In addition, the components described in the above embodiments may be combined to form a new embodiment. Therefore, a modification of the embodiment will be described below.

(first modification)

In the above embodiment, the following cases are explained: even in the case where a cooking start instruction by a remote operation is transmitted to the rice cooker 100 based on a user operation of the terminal 200, the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control section 15 does not perform a cooking operation when the cooking start condition is not satisfied. In the above embodiment, the description has been given of the case as an example of "the control unit 15 does not receive the instruction to start cooking from the terminal 200". However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the structure may be as follows: when the cooking start condition is not satisfied, an operation input by the user for the start of cooking cannot be performed in the application software on the terminal 200. Such an operation lock on the application software is also included in the "control section 15 does not accept the instruction to start cooking from the terminal 200" of the present invention.

(second modification)

In the above embodiment, the following cases are explained: even when a suspension instruction by a remote operation is transmitted to the rice cooker 100 based on a user operation of the terminal 200, the arithmetic circuit 51 of the control unit 15 does not perform a rice cooking operation when the suspension condition is not satisfied. In the above embodiment, the case has been described as an example of "the control unit 15 does not receive the suspension instruction from the terminal 200". However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the structure may be as follows: if the suspension condition is not satisfied, the application software on the terminal 200 cannot perform an operation input by the user for suspension. Such an operation lock on the application software is also included in "the control section 15 does not accept the suspension instruction from the terminal 200" of the present invention.

(third modification)

In the above embodiment, the remote control system 10 in which the terminal 200 remotely controls the rice cooker 100 via the server apparatus 300 has been described, but the remote control of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the remote control system of the present invention may be configured such that the terminal 200 can remotely control the rice cooker 100 by directly communicating with the rice cooker 100 through the terminal 200.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be applied to a rice cooker.

Claims

1. A rice cooker is provided with:

a housing;

a pot;

a rice container for containing rice;

a water container for containing water;

a rice feeding unit for feeding rice in the rice container into the pot;

a water supply unit for supplying water in the water container into the pan;

a heating unit for heating the pan;

2. The rice cooker as recited in claim 1, wherein,

the rice cooker further comprises an operation part for inputting the rice cooking start instruction to the control part,

the control unit is configured to not receive the instruction to start cooking from the operation unit, if the cooking start condition is not satisfied, after the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation is suspended in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit.

3. The rice cooker as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the rice cooker further comprises a cover body capable of freely opening and closing the opening of the pot and an opening and closing sensor for detecting the opening and closing of the cover body,

the control unit may be configured to receive the instruction to start cooking when the open/close sensor detects that the lid is closed after the lid is opened after the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation is suspended in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit.

4. The rice cooker as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein,

the rice cooker further comprises:

a cover body detachably attached to the housing and configured to cover the opening of the pan in a freely openable and closable manner when attached to the housing; and

A cover sensor for detecting whether the cover is mounted on the housing,

when the control unit stops the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in response to the stop instruction received by the communication unit, and the lid sensor detects that the lid is in a state of being attached to the casing from a state of not being attached to the casing, the control unit can receive the cooking start instruction.

5. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein,

the pot is detachably accommodated in the shell,

the rice cooker further comprises a pot sensor for detecting that the pot is accommodated in the housing and that the pot is detached from the housing,

the control unit may receive the instruction to start cooking when the pot sensor detects that the pot is stored in the casing after being detached from the casing after the control unit terminates the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the termination instruction received by the communication unit.

6. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein,

The rice cooker further includes an enable switch which is turned on to enable the control unit to receive a rice cooking start instruction from the terminal,

the control unit may receive the instruction to start cooking when the permission switch is in an on state after the control unit has suspended the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit, and the control unit may satisfy the cooking start condition.

7. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein,

the rice cooker is also provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooker,

the control unit may be configured to receive the instruction to start cooking when the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the pot is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value after the completion of the cooking operation after the cooking operation is suspended in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit.

8. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein,

the control unit may be configured to receive the instruction to start cooking when a predetermined time elapses from a time point at which the control unit receives the suspension instruction after the control unit suspended the cooking operation or the heat-insulating operation in accordance with the suspension instruction received by the communication unit, and the control unit may be configured to receive the instruction to start cooking.

9. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein,

after the start of the cooking operation, the control unit receives the suspension instruction from the terminal without via the communication unit as long as a predetermined suspension condition is not satisfied.

10. The rice cooker as recited in claim 9, wherein,

when the control unit starts the cooking operation and the cooking operation is completed, the control unit can receive the suspension instruction from the terminal via the communication unit.

11. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein,

when the control unit detects an abnormality in a cooking schedule state in which the cooking operation is started at a cooking start time corresponding to the set time, the control unit notifies the terminal of the abnormality.

12. The rice cooker as recited in claim 11, wherein,

the control unit starts the cooking operation at the time of the start of the cooking operation only when a reservation continuation instruction to continue the cooking reservation state is received from the terminal before the time of the start of the cooking when the notification is made.

13. The rice cooker as recited in claim 11 or 12, wherein,

when the opening/closing sensor detects that the cover is opened, the control unit detects the abnormality and notifies the terminal of the abnormality.

14. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein,

the water container is detachably mounted at a predetermined water container position of the rice cooker,

the rice cooker is also provided with a water container sensor for detecting whether the water container is mounted at the position of the water container,

in the rice cooking reservation state, when the water container sensor detects that the water container is not mounted at the water container position, the control unit detects the abnormality and notifies the terminal of the abnormality.

15. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein,

the rice container is detachably installed at a predetermined rice container position of the rice cooker,

the rice cooker further comprises a rice container sensor for detecting whether the rice container is mounted at the rice container position,

in the rice cooking reservation state, when the rice container sensor detects that the rice container is not mounted at the rice container position, the control unit detects the abnormality and notifies the terminal of the abnormality.

16. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein,

the rice cooker further comprises:

a cover sensor for detecting whether the cover is mounted on the housing,

in the cooking reservation state, when the cover sensor detects that the cover is not attached to the casing, the control unit detects the abnormality and notifies the terminal of the abnormality.

17. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein,

the terminals include a first terminal and a second terminal,

the control unit receives the instruction to start cooking from the first terminal via the communication unit, and then receives the operation instruction signal from the second terminal via the communication unit until the cooking operation is completed.

18. The rice cooker as recited in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein,

the terminals include a first terminal and a second terminal,

the control unit receives a setting change instruction for changing a setting related to the cooking operation or the heat-retaining operation from the first terminal via the communication unit, and then receives the cooking start instruction and the setting change instruction from the second terminal without via the communication unit until the cooking operation is completed.