JP2002238751A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep the warmness and moisture feeling of rice just after cooking by preventing the cooked rice from being crumbling and yellowed. SOLUTION: A rice cooker 1 is provided with a rice-cooking pot 2, a rice- cooking pot body 3 for housing the pot 2, a heating means (induction heating coil 6) for heating the pot 2, a lid 8 fitted to the main body 3 in an openable and closable manner to cover the opening part of the pot 2 and having an exhaust path for communicating the inside of the pot 2 with the outside, and a control means (microcomputer 33) for carrying out a warming process after carrying out a rice cooking process by controlling the heating means. A sealing means (pressure governor 24) for sealing the inside of the pot 2 by disconnecting the inside of the pot 2 and the outside is provided at the exhaust path of the lid 8, and a moisture keeping process for keeping moisture in the pot 2 by sealing the inside of the pot 2 by the sealing means is provided between the rice cooking process and the warming process. After carrying out the moisture keeping process, the cooker is shifted to the warming process in the state of keeping the moisture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice cooker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a rice cooker for home use has a rice cooker housed in a rice cooker body, and an upper opening thereof is closed by a lid rotatably provided in the rice cooker body. Rice is cooked by heating the rice cooker by a heating means (such as an induction heating coil or a resistance wire heater) provided in the body. Also,
When the rice cooking process is completed, a warming process is performed. In addition,
In the heat-retention process, when the heat-retention temperature is low, there is a possibility that germs may grow. Conversely, when the temperature is kept at a high temperature, the rice becomes yellowish. I am trying to do it.

[0003]

However, in the rice cooker, the moisture of the rice cooked during the heat retention control is converted into steam from an exhaust passage communicating between a rice cooker provided on the lid and the outside to the outside. Is discharged. Therefore, there is a problem that rice is dry. Further, there is a problem that since the outside oxygen flows freely through the exhaust passage into the rice cooker, the fat content of the rice is oxidized and deteriorated, and yellowing is promoted.

In order to solve this problem, an exhaust port opening / closing device for opening / closing the exhaust port of the lid is provided, and the exhaust port opening / closing device is driven during a warming process to keep moisture in the rice cooker. A rice cooker is provided (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-164071). However, in this rice cooker,
Although it can maintain a certain level of moisturizing, it does not maintain the warmness and moist feeling of the rice immediately after cooking.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a rice cooker that prevents the cooked rice from sticking and yellowing and can maintain the warmness and moist feeling of the rice immediately after cooking.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, a rice cooker according to the present invention comprises a rice cooker, a rice cooker main body containing the rice cooker, a heating means for heating the rice cooker, and the rice cooker. A lid which is openably and closably attached to the main body of the rice cooker, which closes an opening of the rice cooker and has an exhaust passage communicating the inside of the rice cooker with the outside, and a heat retaining step after controlling the heating means and performing the rice cooking step. In the exhaust passage of the lid, sealing means for shutting off the inside of the rice cooker and sealing the inside of the rice cooker, wherein the control means comprises: Between the process and the heat retention process,
A moisturizing step is provided in which the inside of the rice cooker is sealed by the sealing means to maintain the humidity in the rice cooker, and after the moisturizing step is performed, the process shifts to the heat retaining step in a state where the moisturizing state is maintained.

[0007] According to the rice cooker, when the rice cooking process is completed, the inside of the rice cooker is sealed by the sealing means and the moisturizing process is executed, so that the moist feeling immediately after cooking can be reliably maintained. In addition, since the process proceeds to the heat retaining step in a state where the moisturizing state is maintained, the inside of the rice cooker is closed even during the heat retaining. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fat content of the rice from being oxidized and degraded due to external oxygen entering the rice cooker, thereby preventing the yellowing from being promoted.

[0008] In the rice cooker, the lid is provided with humidity detecting means for detecting humidity in the rice cooker, and the control means determines that the inside of the rice cooker reaches a predetermined humidity after executing the rice cooking process. Preferably, the moisturizing step is performed. In this way, the desired moisturizing control can be performed.

[0009] In the warming step by the control means, the heating means is controlled so that the inside of the rice cooker is maintained at a temperature of about 80 ° C.
The heating means is controlled so as to maintain the temperature in the rice cooker at about 100 ° C. so that the optimum humidity is obtained at 0 ° C., and when the humidity detecting means detects that a predetermined humidity has been reached, the rice cooking is performed by the sealing means. It is preferable to seal the inside of the pot.
In this way, the warmness can be maintained in addition to the moist feeling of the rice immediately after cooking.

Further, it is preferable that a cooling means for forcibly cooling the inside of the rice cooker is provided in the rice cooker body, and the cooling means is operated after the moisturizing step is performed. With this configuration, after the moisturizing step is performed, the inside of the rice cooker can be quickly and forcibly cooled to the heat retaining temperature. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent yellowing of cooked rice.

Further, a steam supply means for supplying steam to the lid is provided in the rice cooker main body or the lid, and an opening communicating with the rice cooker is provided in the lid, and the opening is closed. Preferably, a gas permeable membrane is provided, and in the moisturizing step, water vapor in the lid is supplied into the rice cooker, and oxygen in the rice cooker is discharged into the lid. In this way, the oxygen in the rice cooker can be replaced with water vapor, so that the cooked rice can be prevented from being oxidized and degraded. Further, since the evaporation of steam in the rice cooker can be prevented, the moist feeling of the rice immediately after cooking can be maintained.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a rice cooker 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The rice cooker 1 includes a rice cooker 2, a rice cooker main body 3 that houses the rice cooker 2, and a lid 8 that is hingedly connected to the rice cooker main body 3 so as to be openable and closable. This is a pressure cooker system equipped with a pressure regulator 24 as pressure input means. In the present embodiment, the pressure regulator 24 is also used as a sealing means for closing the rice cooker 2 by shutting off an exhaust passage during a moisturizing step described later.

The rice cooker 2 is a ferromagnetic material which is electromagnetically heated by an eddy current generated when a high-frequency current is applied to an induction heating coil 6 described below, on the outer surface of a pot base material made of aluminum or the like having a high thermal conductivity. Is subjected to coating or bonding.

The rice cooker main body 3 includes a protective frame 5 made of a non-conductive material for accommodating the rice cooker 2 inside a body 4 having a bottomed cylindrical shape. These fuselage 4 and protective frame 5
Between them, an induction heating coil 6 as a heating means, a rice cooker temperature sensor 7, and a control board on which a microcomputer 33 is mounted are arranged. Also, on the front of the rice cooker body 3,
An operation panel (not shown) provided with a liquid crystal display and operation units for a plurality of switches is provided.

The induction heating coil 6 is disposed on the lower surface of the protection frame 5 and is supplied with a high-frequency current,
The rice cooking pot 2 is heated by electromagnetic induction.

The rice cooker temperature sensor 7 is disposed at the bottom of the protective frame 5 and detects the tip of the temperature sensor 7 with the protective frame 5.
Through the through holes provided in the cooking pot 2 to output the temperature of the cooking pot 2 to the microcomputer 33.
The position of the rice cooker temperature sensor 7 is not limited to the bottom of the protective frame 5 but may be provided on the side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 8 closes the opening of the rice cooker main body 3, and includes an upper plate 9, a lower plate 11 and a bottom plate of the lower plate 11. An inner lid 19 is attached detachably and seals the opening of the rice cooker 2. The lid temperature sensor 2 is provided inside the lid 8.
2, a humidity sensor 23, and a pressure regulator 24 which also serves as a pressure input unit and a sealing unit.

The upper plate 9 is provided with an exhaust port 10 for exhausting steam to the outside (atmosphere) together with the pressure when the pressure in the rice cooker 2 exceeds a set peak pressure at the time of cooking rice.
A duct 17 that constitutes a part of an exhaust passage described later is provided so as to surround the lower edge of the exhaust port 10.

On the lower surface of the lower plate 11, a radiator plate 12 is provided, and between the radiator plate 12 and the lower plate 11, a lid heater 13 is provided. The lower plate 11 has an opening for a pressure regulator 24 to be described later, and a case 14 for accommodating the pressurizing mechanism 25 of the pressure regulator 24 and forming a part of an exhaust passage is attached so as to surround the opening. Have been. The case 14 is provided with an insertion port 15 through which a plunger is inserted on the side where a solenoid 32, which is a drive mechanism described later, is provided, and a sealing member 16 that prevents leakage of steam from the rice cooker 2 into the insertion port 15. Are arranged. Further, a duct 17 for communicating the inside of the case 14 with the exhaust port 10 of the upper plate 9 is provided integrally with a lower portion of the case 14. A packing 18 that is pressed against the lower surface of the upper plate 9 is provided at an upper edge of the duct 17.

The inner lid 19 is provided with a packing 20 for pressing the upper end edge of the rice cooker 2 to seal the inside of the rice cooker 2 all around. A position corresponding to the opening of the lower plate 11 is opened in the inner lid 19, and a pressure mechanism 25 constituting a pressure regulator 24 is integrally attached to the opening. An opening 21 is provided so as to face the inside of the rice cooker 2 at a position where a humidity sensor 23 to be described later is provided, and a packing (not shown) is provided at an edge of the opening 21.

The lid temperature sensor 22 detects the temperature of the rice to be cooked (rice temperature) by detecting the temperature of the upper portion of the rice cooker 2 and outputs the detected temperature to control means described later. is there.

The humidity sensor 23 detects the humidity in the rice cooker 2 and is disposed so as to face the rice cooker 2 from the opening 21 with the inner lid 19 attached.

The pressure regulator 24 is disposed around an opening on the upper surface of the inner lid 19, and is disposed on the lower plate 11 of the lid 8, and a pressure mechanism 25 for applying pressure into the rice cooker 2. , A solenoid 32 which is a drive mechanism for driving the pressure mechanism 25
Consists of

The pressurizing mechanism 25 comprises a check valve 26, a pedestal member 28, a pressure regulating ball 30 for closing the opening, and a cap 31, and maintains the inside of the rice cooker 2 at atmospheric pressure or higher. It is. The check valve 26 is fixed to the opening of the inner lid 19, and has an inlet 27 communicating with the rice cooker 2 at the center thereof. The pedestal member 28 has a dome shape having a size surrounding the inflow port 27 and has an opening 29 at the top. The pressure regulating ball 30 is mounted on the pedestal member 28 communicating with the rice cooker 2 by its own weight and closes the opening 29. Is about 1.1
When the pressure exceeds 5 atm, a material that weighs up at that pressure is used. The cap 31 is detachably attached to the pedestal member 28 in a state where the pressure regulating ball 30 is accommodated therein. A mouth is provided.

The solenoid 32, which is the driving mechanism, is disposed on the lower plate 11 on the side of the case 14. The solenoid 32 of the present embodiment maintains the plunger in the advanced position in the non-energized state and opens the pressure regulating ball 30 in the opening 29.
While retracting from above, the plunger is retracted in an energized state, the pressure adjusting ball 30 is rolled over the opening 29 by its own weight, and pressure is injected into the rice cooker 2.

The microcomputer 33 mounted on the control board
According to the stored program, preheating,
It executes a rice cooking process including power control, cooking and spotting processes, and a warming process. And in this embodiment, a moisture retention process is provided between the rice cooking process and the heat retention process.

In the moisturizing step, the pressure regulator 24 is used as a sealing means for shutting off an exhaust passage and sealing the inside of the rice cooker 2, and when the rice cooker step is completed, the inside of the rice cooker 2 is sealed to a predetermined humidity. Keep. Then, the heat retention step is performed in a state where the moisture retention state is maintained.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the heat retaining step is configured to maintain a temperature of about 80 ° C., which is higher than the conventional temperature. Then, in the moisturizing step, which is a pretreatment, first, the temperature sensor 22 for the lid is controlled so that the temperature in the rice cooker 2 is maintained at about 100 ° C. so that the relative humidity becomes 100% in the high-temperature keeping state. The electric power of the induction heating coil 6 is controlled via the power supply. Then, when a predetermined humidity is reached at 100 ° C., the inside of the rice cooker 2 is sealed by the pressure regulator 24 and the heating of the rice cooker 2 by the induction heating coil 6 is stopped.

Next, the microcomputer 3 mounted on the rice cooker 1
3 will be described. The rice cooker 1
When the user connects the connection cord to the commercial power supply, the microcomputer 33 waits until the operation unit of the switch disposed on the operation panel is operated in a main routine (routine).
When one of the operation units is operated, a detection process corresponding to the switch is executed. Then, when the operation unit of the rice cooker switch on the operation panel is operated, a rice cooker switch detection process is executed.

In the rice cooker switch detection process, as shown in FIG. 3, the microcomputer 33 first detects a rice cooker menu set by the user in step S1, and then proceeds to step S1.
In step 2, the induction heating coil 6 is turned on to start the pre-heat treatment. Then, in step S3, the temperature of the rice cooker 2 is 50 ° C.
Until the temperature reaches 50 ° C., at step S4,
The temperature adjustment process is executed for a time set in advance by the rice cooking menu.

Next, at step S5, it is detected whether or not the set preheating time has elapsed. When the preheating time has elapsed, at step S6, 100 times is applied to the induction heating coil 6.
% (Full power).

Thereafter, in step S7, the actual rice cooking capacity determination processing is executed. This capacity determination processing is the same as the conventional method, and is performed by heating the induction heating coil 6 to determine the temperature of the rice cooker based on a gradient of a rise in temperature.

Then, in step S8, the process waits until the pressure is applied to the rice cooker 2 by the pressure regulator 24. When the temperature reaches the pressure input start temperature, the power supply to the solenoid 32 is started in step S9. By retracting the plunger and rolling the pressure adjusting ball 30 over the opening 29, pressure is introduced into the rice cooker 2.

Then, in step S10, a well-known power control process is performed so that the inside of the rice cooker 2 maintains a predetermined pressure, as in the prior art. . If no dry-up is detected, the process returns to step S10, and if dry-up is detected, the process proceeds to step S12. That is, the power control process is performed until a dry-up is detected.

In step S12, 100% power supply to the induction heating coil 6 is started to perform cooking, and then, in step S13, spots are executed. Thereby, the pressure in the rice cooker 2 is reduced.

Then, when the spotting is completed, step S
At 14, the energization of the solenoid 32 is interrupted, and the pressure regulating ball 30 is rolled by causing the plunger to advance,
After releasing the pressure input into the rice cooker 2 by opening the opening 29, in step S15, the lid heater 13 is energized to perform dew-exposure. Note that the rice cooking process is the same as the conventional rice cooking process up to the dew-exposure process.

When the above-mentioned dew-exposure processing is completed,
After performing a moisture retention process described later in step S16, a temperature retention process is performed in step S17. In addition, this heat retention process is different from the conventional one in that the temperature inside the rice cooker 2 is maintained at about 72 ° C. to 73 ° C., but in the present embodiment, the temperature is kept at about 80 ° C.

Next, in step S18, it is detected whether or not the operation section of the switch arranged on the operation panel has been operated. When the operation is detected, the process returns to the main routine. When the operation is not detected, the process returns to step S17. That is, the warming process is continued until the user operates any operation unit.

Next, the moisturizing process by the microcomputer 33 will be described. In this moisturizing process, as shown in FIG. 4, first, in step S16-1, the lid temperature sensor 22
After the temperature T in the cooking pot 2 is detected by the
At 16-2, it is detected whether the detected temperature T is 100 ° C. or higher. If the detected temperature T is equal to or higher than 100 ° C., the process proceeds to step S16-3, in which the power supply to the induction heating coil 6 is turned off, and the process proceeds to step S16-5. On the other hand, if the detected temperature T is not higher than 100 ° C., step S16
The process proceeds to -4, and the power supply to the induction heating coil 6 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S16-5. As a result, the cooking pot 2 is about 1
Maintain a temperature of 00 ° C.

In step S16-5, the humidity sensor 23
After detecting the humidity in the rice cooker 2 by the step S1
In 6-6, it is detected whether or not a predetermined humidity has been reached. Then, if the predetermined humidity has been reached, the process proceeds to step S16-7, and if the predetermined humidity has not been reached, step S16-
Return to 1. That is, while the temperature in the rice cooker 2 is maintained at 100 ° C., the process waits until the inside of the rice cooker 2 reaches a predetermined humidity.

When the inside of the rice cooker 2 reaches a predetermined humidity, in step S16-7, energization of the solenoid 32 of the pressure regulator 24 serving as a sealing means is started, and the plunger is retracted to adjust the pressure of the pressure regulating ball. After the roller 30 is rolled over the opening 29, in step S16-8, the power supply to the induction heating coil 6 is turned off, and the process returns. Thereby, the inside of the rice cooker 2 is naturally cooled in a sealed state.

Thus, in the rice cooker 1 of the present embodiment,
When the rice cooking process is completed, the inside of the rice cooker 2 is sealed by the pressure regulator 24 as a sealing means, and the moisturizing process is executed, so that the moist feeling immediately after cooking can be reliably maintained. In addition, since the process proceeds to the heat retaining step in a state where the moisturizing state is maintained, the inside of the rice cooker 2 is sealed even during the heat retaining. for that reason,
When the outside oxygen enters the cooking pot 2, the fat content of the rice is prevented from being oxidized and deteriorated, and the yellowing can be prevented from being promoted.

Further, since the rice cooker 1 has a moisturizing function, even when the rice is cooked at a high temperature during the warming step, the moisture of the rice is not discharged as steam from the exhaust passage to the outside. Absent. Therefore, it is possible to keep the heat at a high temperature, and it is possible to maintain the warmness in addition to the moist feeling of the rice immediately after cooking. Furthermore, since the humidity sensor 23 executes the moisturizing step when the humidity reaches a predetermined level, the execution condition is changed as desired, so that the cooked state as desired by the user can be maintained.

Moreover, as in the present embodiment, if the existing pressure cooker 1 is used, the pressure regulator 24 can also be used as a sealing means, so that it is not necessary to separately mount a sealing means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of parts, and to avoid an increase in cost.

FIG. 5 shows a rice cooker 1 according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the rice cooker body 3 includes a protective frame 5
The first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a duct portion 34 communicating with the accommodation portion of the rice cooker 2 is provided at an upper portion thereof, and a fan 35 is disposed in the duct portion 34 as a cooling means for forcibly cooling the rice cooker 2. are doing.

The microcomputer 33 of the second embodiment
Corresponds to step S16-8 in the moisturizing process shown in FIG.
After turning off the power supply to the induction heating coil 6, the fan 35 is operated. And in the later heat retention process,
When the inside of the rice cooker 2 is cooled down to 80 ° C., the fan 35
After stopping, the rice cooker 2 is kept warm so as to maintain 80 ° C.

In the rice cooker 1 of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the moist feeling and warmness of the rice immediately after cooking can be maintained, and the high temperature (100 ° C.) after the execution of the rice cooking process. The inside of the rice cooker 2 can be quickly and forcibly cooled from the state to a predetermined temperature (80 ° C.). As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent yellowing of the cooked rice.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a rice cooker 1 according to a third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the steaming means 36 and the gas permeable membrane 45 allow the rice cooker 2
In addition to supplying steam to the inside, the oxygen in the rice cooker 2 is discharged. In the third embodiment,
The difference from the first embodiment is that the humidity sensor 23 is not provided.

Specifically, the steam supply means 36
As shown in FIG. 6, a water storage tank 37 provided in the rice cooker main body 3 and a heater 38 for heating water in the water storage tank 37
And The water storage tank 37 is connected to a supply pipe 39 whose end is piped into the lid 8.
The supply pipe 39 is provided with a circulation fan 40. Further, an exhaust pipe 41 branched into two branches is connected to the water storage tank 37. The first branch pipe 42 of the exhaust pipe 41 is piped inside the lid 8, and the second branch pipe 43 is piped so as to communicate with the exhaust passage. Air flows from the side of the water storage tank 37 are passed through the branch portions of the branch pipes 42 and 43, and the water storage tank 37
A check valve 44 for preventing the passage of the air flow to the air is provided.

The gas permeable membrane 45 discharges oxygen in the rice cooker 2 into the lid 8 by the pressure difference between the pressure in the rice cooker 2 and the pressure (atmospheric pressure) in the lid 8, The steam in the body 8 is supplied into the rice cooker 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the gas permeable film 45 includes a lower plate 11 and a radiator plate 12.
Is provided on a case 46 that is disposed so as to penetrate through the case. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner lid 19 is provided with an opening 47 communicating with the rice cooker 2 at a position facing the gas permeable membrane 45.

Next, the microcomputer 3 mounted on the rice cooker 1
3 will be described. The detection process (rice cooking process) by detecting the operation of the rice cook switch is the same as in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the moisturizing process by the microcomputer 33 of the third embodiment is performed first in step S16'-1.
Then, energization is started to the solenoid 32 of the pressure regulator 24 which is a sealing means, and the plunger is retracted so that the pressure regulating ball 3 is released.
0 is rolled over the opening 29, and then the process proceeds to step S16'-2.
Then, the power supply to the induction heating coil 6 is turned off.

Thereafter, in step S16'-3, the power supply to the heater 38 is turned on, and then in step S16'-4.
Then, the circulation fan 40 is turned on.

As a result, the inside of the rice cooker 2 is naturally cooled in a sealed state. In the steam supply means 36, the water in the water storage tank 37 is heated, and the generated steam is supplied into the lid 8 by the recirculation fan 40. As a result, the steam from the steam supply means 36 is filled in the lid 8. The steam filled in the lid 8 is supplied to the second fan of the discharge pipe by the supply of the steam by the recirculation fan 40.
The gas is discharged from the branch pipe 43 to the outside through the exhaust passage via the first branch pipe 42.

In this state, the partial pressure of oxygen and the partial pressure of water vapor are different between rice cooker 2 and lid 8. Therefore, due to the pressure difference, oxygen in the rice cooker 2 is discharged from the gas permeable membrane 45 into the lid 8, and steam in the lid 8 is supplied into the rice cooker 2. Then, in this state, the inside of the rice cooker 2 is naturally cooled to a predetermined heat retaining temperature, so that the process shifts to the heat retaining step while the balance between the rice cooker 2 and the lid 8 is maintained. .

As described above, in the third embodiment, when the rice cooking process is completed, the moisturizing process is performed, so that the rice cooker 2
Since the oxygen and water vapor in the inside are replaced, it is possible to prevent the oxidized deterioration of the cooked rice. In addition, since the evaporation of the steam in the rice cooker 2 can be prevented, the moist feeling and the warmth of the rice immediately after cooking can be maintained as in the first embodiment.

In the third embodiment, the fan 35 for forced cooling shown in the second embodiment may be added so that the cooling can be quickly performed to the heat retaining temperature. Further, similarly to the above embodiments, a moisture retention sensor may be provided, and the operation of the water vapor supply means 36 may be controlled to be on or off according to the humidity in the rice cooker 2. Further, the steam supply means 36 may be of an ultrasonic heating type, or may be provided in the lid 8.

[0058]

As is clear from the above description, in the rice cooker of the present invention, when the rice cooking process is completed, the inside of the rice cooking pot is sealed by the sealing means and the moisturizing process is executed, so that the moist feeling immediately after cooking is obtained. Can be reliably maintained. In addition, since the process proceeds to the heat retaining step in a state where the moisturizing state is maintained, the generation of yellowing due to external oxygen entering the rice cooker and oxidation degradation of the fat content of rice can be prevented.

Further, in the rice cooker, even when the rice cooker is kept at a high temperature during the warming step by the moisturizing function, the moisture of the rice is not discharged as steam from the exhaust passage to the outside.
Therefore, it is possible to keep the heat at a high temperature, and it is possible to maintain the warmness in addition to the moist feeling of the rice immediately after cooking.

Further, a steam supply means for supplying steam to the lid is provided in the rice cooker main body or the lid, and an opening communicating with the rice cooker is provided in the lid, and the opening is provided. By providing the gas permeable membrane to be closed, oxygen and water vapor in the rice cooker can be replaced. Therefore, the oxidized deterioration of the cooked rice can be more reliably prevented, and the evaporation of steam in the rice cooker can be prevented, so that the moist feeling of the cooked rice can be maintained.

Moreover, in the known rice cooker, the pressure input means can be used also as the sealing means. for that reason,
It is not necessary to separately mount a sealing means, and it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of parts, and to increase the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a pressure input unit which is a sealing unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control by a microcomputer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the moisturizing process of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a rice cooker according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a rice cooker according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a portion where a gas permeable membrane is provided.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an inner lid.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a moisturizing process according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Rice cooker, 2 ... Rice cooker, 3 ... Rice cooker main body, 6 ... Induction heating coil, 7 ... Temperature sensor for rice cooker, 8 ... Lid, 10 ...
Exhaust port, 12: heat sink, 13: lid heater, 19: inner lid,
Reference numeral 22: temperature sensor for lid, 23: humidity sensor, 24: pressure regulator (sealing means), 32: solenoid, 33: microcomputer (control means) 35: fan (cooling means), 36: water vapor supply means, 37: water storage tank , 38 ... heater, 45 ... gas permeable membrane, 47 ... opening.

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Nakagawa 1-20-5 Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Elephant In-House Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4B055 AA05 BA23 BA62 BA80 CA17 CA24 CA64 CC17 CC18 CD10 CD64 GA13 GB05 GB09 GB21 GB45 GC06 GC40 GD02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A rice cooker, a rice cooker main body accommodating the rice cooker, a heating means for heating the rice cooker, and an opening of the rice cooker attached to the rice cooker openable and closable. A rice cooker comprising: a lid having an exhaust passage communicating between the inside of the rice cooker and the outside; and a control means for controlling the heating means and executing a heat retaining step after execution of the rice cooking step. In the passage, sealing means is provided to seal the inside of the rice cooker by shutting off the inside of the rice cooker and the outside, and the control means seals the inside of the rice cooker by the sealing means between the rice cooking step and the heat retaining step. A rice cooker characterized by providing a moisturizing step for keeping the humidity in the rice cooker, and after executing the moisturizing step, proceeding to the heat retaining step with the moisturizing state maintained. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said lid is provided with humidity detecting means for detecting humidity in said rice cooker, and said control means controls said moisture retaining step when said rice cooker reaches a predetermined humidity after execution of said rice cooking step. 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the step (c) is performed. 3. The heat keeping step by the control means controls the heating means so that the inside of the rice cooker maintains a temperature of about 80 ° C. In the moisturizing step, the inside of the rice cooker is optimally at about 80 ° C. The heating means is controlled so as to maintain the temperature of the rice cooker at about 100 ° C. so that the humidity is maintained, and when the humidity detection means detects that a predetermined humidity has been reached, the inside of the rice cooker is sealed by the sealing means. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein
The rice cooker according to the above. 4. The rice cooker main body is provided with cooling means for forcibly cooling the inside of the rice cooker, and the cooling means is operated after execution of the moisturizing step. 3. The rice cooker according to any one of 3. 5. A steam supply means for supplying steam to the lid inside the rice cooker main body or the lid, an opening communicating with the rice cooker is provided in the lid, and the opening is closed. A gas permeable membrane which is provided to supply water vapor in the lid into the rice cooker and discharge oxygen in the rice cooker into the lid in the moisturizing step. The rice cooker according to claim 4.