JP2001145564A - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric rice cooker that facilitates the clearing of cooked rice sticking to the inside of the internal pot. SOLUTION: The electric rice cooker is provided with a cleaning switch 18, a timer circuit that starts timing when the cleaning switch 18 is turned on and drives a lamp heater 11 for a prescribed time, a heat source control circuit that controls the lamp heater 11 so as to heat the internal pot 6 at a fixed temperature during the timing of the timer circuit, and dries and separates cooked rice sticking to the internal pot 6 by heating the internal pot 6 at a fixed temperature during the prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an improvement in an electric rice cooker using a lamp heater or the like as a heat source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG.
A halogen heater 33 is provided below the inner pot 32 provided inside the rice cooker main body 31, and the halogen heater 33 and the inner pot 3 are provided.
When the inner pot 32 is removed between the two, the halogen heater 33
Is provided with a protective plate 34 made of crystallized heat-resistant glass for protecting the glass.

[0003]

However, this conventional electric rice cooker has a drawback that the rice cooked on the inner surface of the inner pot cannot be easily removed and the inner pot cannot be easily cleaned. .

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional electric rice cooker.
The electric rice cooker of the invention of the invention,
In an electric rice cooker that is heated by a lamp heater or the like installed at a lower portion of the inner pot, a cleaning switch and a timekeeping operation are started with the ON of the cleaning switch, and the lamp heater and the like are driven for a predetermined time. And a heat source control circuit for controlling the lamp heater and the like so as to heat the inner pot to a constant temperature during the time counting operation of the timer circuit, and keeps the inner pot at the constant temperature for the predetermined time. It is characterized in that cooked rice adhered to the inner pot is dried and peeled off by heating at.

According to this configuration, the cleaning mode is set by turning on the cleaning switch, and the lamp heater or the like is driven for a predetermined time set in the timer circuit to keep the inner pot at a constant temperature. It will be heated. as a result,
If the above-mentioned constant temperature is set to a temperature suitable for drying the rice cooked on the inner surface of the inner pot, the rice is dried appropriately,
It can be easily wiped off with a cloth or the like, and the inner pot can be easily cleaned.

[0006] An electric rice cooker according to a second aspect of the present invention is an electric rice cooker in which an inner cooker provided in a rice cooker main body is heated by a lamp heater or the like provided below the inner cooker. A switch, a timer circuit for starting a timekeeping operation with the ON of the cleaning switch and driving the lamp heater or the like for a predetermined time, and heating the inner pot to a first temperature during the timekeeping operation of the timer circuit. And a heat source control circuit for controlling the lamp heater or the like so as to heat the lamp to a second temperature lower than the first temperature when a predetermined time elapses, and heating the inner pot with the first temperature as the predetermined time elapses And an informing means for informing that the cooking has been completed, wherein the rice cooker adhered to the inner cooker is dried and peeled by heating the inner cooker at the first temperature for the predetermined time.

According to this configuration, when the cleaning switch is turned on, the cleaning mode is set, and the lamp heater or the like is driven for a predetermined first temperature by driving the lamp heater or the like for the time set in the timer circuit. When the heating at the first temperature is completed, this is reported by the reporting means, and the inner pot is heated and kept at the second temperature. Therefore, if the first temperature is set to a temperature suitable for drying the cooked rice adhered to the inner surface of the inner pot, the cooked rice can be appropriately dried and easily wiped off with a cloth or the like. Easy to do. In addition, when the heating of the inner pot at the first temperature is completed, this is notified, so that the user can be notified of the end of the cleaning mode. Also, if the second temperature is set to a temperature at which a fire does not occur, even if the user forgets to turn off the power switch,
Does not cause fire.

[0008] In the electric rice cooker according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electric rice cooker according to the second aspect, the first temperature is about 80 ° C and the second temperature is about 60 ° C. Features.

According to this structure, the cleaning mode is set by turning on the cleaning switch, and the lamp heater or the like is driven to heat the inner pot to about 80 ° C. for the time set in the timer circuit. When the heating at about 80.degree. C. is completed, this is notified by the notifying means, and
Heat and keep at ℃. Therefore, the above 80 ° C
By drying the cooked rice adhered to the inner surface of the inner pot, the cooked rice can be appropriately dried and easily wiped off with a cloth or the like, and the inner pot can be easily cleaned. When the heating of the inner pot at about 80 ° C. is completed, this is notified, so that the user can be notified of the end of the cleaning mode. Moreover, after heating at about 80 ° C.,
By shifting to heating at 60 ° C., even if the user forgets to turn off the power switch, the occurrence of a fire or the like can be prevented.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of an electric rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a rice cooker main body, and 2 denotes an open / close upper surface of the rice cooker main body 1. An inner lid 3 is attached to an inner surface of the lid 2 with screws 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a sealing material sandwiched between the lid 2 and the inner lid 3, and is formed of a material having heat resistance and elasticity.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an inner pot which is mounted in the rice cooker main body 1 by being placed on a table 7 fixedly provided on the bottom of the rice cooker main body 1 with its bottom surface. An attached portion 9 formed by bending outward in an inverted L-shape is screwed with a screw 10 to an attachment portion 8 provided to protrude from the inner wall of the rice cooker main body 1. The inner pot 6 is made of aluminum, and its outer surface (heat source side) is subjected to blackening treatment (coating) using a selective absorption film or heat-resistant paint which is anodized with black nickel, thereby absorbing electromagnetic waves. Is increasing. The inner surface of the inner pot 6 is subjected to Teflon (registered trademark) processing so that cooked rice does not adhere.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a lamp heater provided as a heat source, which comprises a racket-shaped halogen heater or the like as shown in FIG. 2, and is arranged below the inner pot 6 so as to surround the mounting table 7. This lamp heater can immediately emit electromagnetic waves of about 0.5 to 5 μm when energized. Quartz is used as the material of the heater tube because of its good electromagnetic wave transmittance and workability. ing.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a reflector plate formed in a container shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the inner kettle and having a depth greater than that of the inner kettle. Has a bright alumite treatment to increase the reflectance. Then, the reflector plate 12 is positioned below the inner pot 6 and the lamp heater 11 so that the rice cooker main body 1 is disposed.
The mounting portion 13 provided at the upper end periphery of the inner pot 6 is tightly fitted between the mounting portion 8 and the mounting portion 9 via a spacer 14 made of a heat insulating material. The inner pot 6 is received in close contact with the inner pot. The reflecting plate 12 penetrates the table 7 with a through hole 15 provided in the center of the bottom.

In the above-described configuration, a part of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the lamp heater 11 reaches the inner pot 6 directly and is efficiently absorbed without being disturbed by the protection plate as in the related art. In addition, about 95% of the electromagnetic wave traveling toward the reflector 12 is reflected by the reflector and travels toward the inner pot 6. On the other hand, about 5% of the electromagnetic wave is absorbed by the reflector plate 12 and raises the temperature of the reflector plate. However, the heat of the reflector plate causes the inner pot 6 and the reflector plate 12 to come into close contact with each other as described above. Is transmitted to the inner pot 6 to be used for heating the inner pot 6. If the temperature of the reflector increases, the heat loss due to the radiation of the lamp heater increases, so that the temperature of the reflector needs to be lowered. However, the heat of the reflector is transferred to the inner pot 6 as described above. Since it is kept low, the amount of heat loss is reduced and the thermal efficiency is improved.

Further, in the present invention, in the electric rice cooker shown in the above embodiment, a cleaning mode is provided in consideration of the cleanability of the inner pot 6 so as to facilitate the peeling of cooked rice. That is, when the remaining amount of cooked rice is low, if the inner pot 6 is heated, the phenomenon that the cooked rice peels from the inner pot 6 is used.

FIG. 3 shows a control circuit provided to execute the cleaning mode. In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes a microcomputer (CPU) as a central control circuit, and 17 detects the temperature of the bottom surface of the inner pot 6. Temperature sensor, 18 is a cleaning switch for setting a cleaning mode, 19 is a power switch, 20 is various detecting means other than the temperature sensor, 21
Is an alarm comprising a liquid crystal, an LED, a buzzer, etc., 22 is an alarm driving circuit for driving the alarm 21, 23 is a control circuit for the lamp heater 11, 25 is a device for driving other controlled devices 24 such as a heat heater. Drive circuit. Reference numeral 26 denotes a drive power supply for the CPU.

The operation of the above circuit will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Cleaning switch 1
8 is turned on (step # 5), the lamp heater 11 is turned on (step # 10) and the inner pot 6 is heated. As a result, when the temperature of the inner pot 6 rises and the temperature sensor 17 detects 80 ° C. (Step # 15), the lamp heater control circuit 23 turns off the power supply to the lamp heater 11 (Step # 20). When the power supply to the lamp heater 11 is turned off, the time is counted by a timer circuit (not shown) in the CPU 16 (step # 25), and until the timer circuit counts a predetermined time, the temperature sensor is operated. 1
7, the temperature of the inner pot 6 is detected.
N and OFF are repeated (Steps # 30, # 35, # 4
0, and # 45).

When the timer circuit reaches a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step # 50, where the lamp heater 11 is turned off and the annunciator 21 is turned on (step # 55). Next, at step # 60, the power switch 1
It is determined whether or not 9 has been turned on. If it is determined that it has not been turned on, the temperature of the
It is detected whether the temperature is 0 ° C. or higher (step # 65). If the temperature is lower than 60 ° C., the process proceeds to step # 70, and the lamp heater 11 is energized again. If it is determined in step # 65 that the temperature is equal to or higher than 60 ° C., the power supply to the lamp heater 11 is turned off in step # 75. As a result, the temperature of the inner pot 6 is maintained at 60 ° C. In such a cycle in which the inner pot 6 is maintained at 60 ° C., when the power switch 19 is turned off, the lamp heater 11 is turned off, and the cleaning mode ends (step # 80).

In the above, once the temperature of the inner pot 6 is 80 ° C.
The reason for this is that the remaining cooked rice is heated so as to be quickly separated from the inner pot 6 that has been processed with Teflon, and then the remaining rice is heated.
The maintenance at 0 ° C. is for maintaining the temperature at which there is no fear of fire or the like even if the user forgets to turn off the power switch.

[0021]

As described above, the electric rice cooker according to the first invention is an electric rice cooker in which an inner pot provided inside a rice cooker main body is heated by a lamp heater or the like provided below the inner pot. In a rice cooker, a cleaning switch, a timer circuit that starts a timekeeping operation with the ON of the cleaning switch and drives the lamp heater or the like for a predetermined time, and the inner pot is kept constant during the timekeeping operation of the timer circuit. A heat source control circuit for controlling the lamp heater or the like so as to heat to a temperature, wherein the rice cooker adhered to the inner cooker is dried and peeled by heating the inner cooker at a constant temperature for the predetermined time. is there.

According to this configuration, when the cleaning switch is turned on, the cleaning mode is set, and the lamp heater and the like are driven for a predetermined time set in the timer circuit to heat the inner pot at a constant temperature. Will do. Therefore, if the above-mentioned constant temperature is set to a temperature suitable for drying the cooked rice adhered to the inner surface of the inner pot, the cooked rice can be dried appropriately, easily wiped off with a cloth or the like, and the inner pot can be easily cleaned. Can be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric rice cooker in which an inner pot provided in a rice cooker body is heated by a lamp heater or the like provided below the inner pot. A switch, a timer circuit for starting a timekeeping operation with the ON of the cleaning switch and driving the lamp heater or the like for a predetermined time, and heating the inner pot to a first temperature during the timekeeping operation of the timer circuit. And a heat source control circuit for controlling the lamp heater or the like so as to heat the lamp to a second temperature lower than the first temperature when a predetermined time elapses, and heating the inner pot with the first temperature as the predetermined time elapses And an informing means for informing that the cooking has been completed, wherein the rice cooker adhered to the inner cooker is dried and peeled by heating the inner cooker at the first temperature for the predetermined time.

According to this configuration, if the first temperature is set to a temperature suitable for drying the rice cooked on the inner surface of the inner pot, the rice can be dried appropriately and easily wiped off with a cloth or the like. Yes, the inner pot can be easily cleaned. In addition, when the heating of the inner pot at the first temperature is completed, this is notified, so that the user can be notified of the end of the cleaning mode. In addition, if the second temperature is set to a temperature at which a fire does not occur, a fire does not occur even if the user forgets to turn off the power switch.

Further, the electric rice cooker according to a third invention is the electric rice cooker according to the second invention, wherein the first temperature is set to about 80 ° C. and the second temperature is set to about 60 ° C. It is.

Therefore, according to this configuration, if the rice cooked on the inner surface of the inner kettle is dried at about 80 ° C., the cooked rice can be appropriately dried and easily wiped off with a cloth or the like. Can be easily done. In addition, when the heating of the inner pot at about 80 ° C. is completed, this is notified, so that the user can be notified of the end of the cleaning mode. Moreover, after the heating at about 80 ° C. is completed, by shifting to heating at about 60 ° C., it is possible to prevent a fire or the like from occurring even if the user forgets to turn off the power switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of a configuration of an electric rice cooker according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lamp heater provided in the electric rice cooker according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing a control circuit for executing a cleaning mode in the electric rice cooker according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the electric rice cooker according to the present invention in a cleaning mode.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a conventional electric rice cooker.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rice cooker main body 2 Lid 6 Inner pot 8 Attachment part 9 Attachment part 11 Lamp heater 12 Reflector plate 13 Attachment part 16 Microcomputer 18 Cleaning switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] An electric rice cooker in which an inner pot provided in a rice cooker main body is heated by a lamp heater or the like provided below the inner pot, wherein a cleaning switch and an ON of the cleaning switch are provided. A timer circuit for starting the timekeeping operation and driving the lamp heater or the like for a predetermined time; and a heat source control circuit for controlling the lamp heater or the like so as to heat the inner pot to a constant temperature during the timekeeping operation of the timer circuit. An electric rice cooker comprising: heating the inner pot at the predetermined temperature for the predetermined time to dry and peel off the cooked rice adhered to the inner pot. 2. An electric rice cooker in which an inner pot provided in a rice cooker main body is heated by a lamp heater or the like provided at a lower portion of the inner pot, wherein a cleaning switch and an ON of the cleaning switch are provided. A timer circuit for starting the timekeeping operation and driving the lamp heater or the like for a predetermined time; heating the inner pot to a first temperature during the timekeeping operation of the timer circuit; A heat source control circuit for controlling the lamp heater or the like so as to heat to a lower second temperature; and a notifying unit for notifying that the heating of the inner pot by the first temperature has been completed with the lapse of the predetermined time. An electric rice cooker comprising: heating the inner pot at the first temperature for the predetermined time to dry and exfoliate the cooked rice adhered to the inner pot. 3. The electric rice cooker according to claim 4, wherein the first temperature is about 80 ° C. and the second temperature is about 60 ° C.