JP2003010043A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rice cooker controllable of rice cooking corresponding to polished rice or cleaned rice (without any washing). SOLUTION: The rice cooker 1 is provided with a cooking pot 2, a main body 4, an induction heating coil 7 (heating means) heating the cooking pot 2, a lid body 9 openably and closably attached to the main body 4 to close the opening part of the cooking pot 2, a temperature sensor 8 for the cooking pot provided on the bottom outer surface of the cooking pot 2 for detecting a temperature inside the cooking pot 2 and a microcomputer 34 (control means) controlling the induction heating coil 7 and executing a cleaned rice cooking operation for cooking the polished rice. At the time of detecting that the temperature inside the cooking pot 2 is higher than a prescribed value on the basis of signals from the temperature sensor 8 for the cooking pot while executing the polished rice cooking operation, the microcomputer 34 judges that rice inside the cooking pot 2 is the cleaned rice and executes a cleaned rice cooking operation for cooking the cleaned rice.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rice cooker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A rice cooker of this type accommodates a cooking pot in the body of the rice cooker, and the upper opening of the rice cooker is closed by a lid rotatably provided on the body of the rice cooker. Rice is cooked by heating the cooking pot with the heating means (induction heating coil, resistance wire heater, etc.) provided.

[0003] In recent years, there have been provided white rice which requires washing as rice to be cooked at home, and polished rice which can be cooked without washing rice (hereinafter referred to as unwashed rice).

[0004]

However, in the rice cooker, when a user puts non-washed rice in the cooking pot to cook rice, charring occurs on the bottom surface of the cooking pot, or spillage is likely to occur during cooking. There was a problem. Further, there is a problem that the rice cooks harder than the case of cooking ordinary white rice. This is because the starch remaining on the surface of unwashed rice accumulates at the bottom of the cooking pot, and the starch burns, or the starch accumulated at the bottom of the cooking pot makes the temperature of the entire cooking pot more accurate than when cooking rice. This is because it cannot be measured.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rice cooker capable of controlling rice cooking depending on whether it is white rice or unwashed rice.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the rice cooker of the present invention comprises a cooking pot, a main body for accommodating the cooking pan, a heating means for heating the cooking pan, and an opening / closing mechanism for the main body. A lid that is attached so as to close the opening of the cooking pot, a temperature sensor provided on the outer surface of the bottom of the cooking pot for detecting the temperature in the cooking pot, and the heating means to control the white rice. In a rice cooker provided with a control means for performing a white rice cooking operation for cooking rice, the control means, based on a signal from the temperature sensor, while performing the white rice cooking operation, the cooking pot. When it is detected that the temperature inside is higher than a predetermined value, it is determined that the rice in the cooking pot is non-washed rice, and the non-washed rice cooking operation for cooking the non-washed rice is executed.

According to the rice cooker, when the control means detects that the temperature in the cooking pot is higher than a predetermined value based on the signal from the temperature sensor, the cooking pot is performing the rice cooking operation. Since the rice inside is judged to be non-washed rice and the non-washed rice cooking operation is executed, even if you put the non-washed rice in the cooking pot and start normal white rice cooking by mistake, it is suitable for non-washed rice. The operation is executed and rice can be cooked deliciously.

[0008] Specifically, in the rice cooker, it is preferable that the rice cooking operation includes a preheating step, a boiling step, a boiling maintaining step, and a purging step.

At this time, it is preferable that in the non-washed rice cooking operation, the heating time in the boiling maintaining step is set longer than that in the white rice cooking operation. In this way, it is possible to reliably prevent spillage during cooking rice, and it is possible to reduce the temperature in the cooking pot that has risen sharply.

It is preferable that in the non-washed rice cooking operation, the electric power supplied to the heating means in the boiling maintaining step is set to be weaker than that in the white rice cooking operation. In this way, the rice can be cooked in a fluffy state, and spillage can be prevented.

In the non-washed rice cooking operation, the dry-up temperature in the boiling maintaining step is preferably set lower than that of the white rice cooking operation. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent the bottom of the cooking pot from being scorched.

When the temperature in the cooking pot is higher than a predetermined value, the control means stops the energization of the heating means, and if the temperature or the temperature increase rate after a predetermined time is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. The foreign matter mode may be executed, and if the temperature or the temperature increase rate after the predetermined time is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the no-wash rice cooking operation may be executed. Here, the foreign matter mode is to notify the user that the foreign matter is sandwiched between the outer surface of the cooking pot and the temperature sensor, and have the foreign matter removed.

When the temperature in the cooking pot is higher than a predetermined value, the control means stops the energization of the heating means, and determines whether or not the cooking pot in the cooking pot is heated based on the temperature or the temperature increase rate after a predetermined time. The capacity of washing rice may be determined.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a rice cooker 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Indicates. The rice cooker 1 includes a cooking pot 2, a rice cooker body 4 that houses the cooking pot 2, and a lid 9 that is rotatably attached to the rice cooker body 4.

In the cooking pot 2, the outer surface of the pot base material made of aluminum or the like having a high thermal conductivity is coated with a ferromagnetic material which is electromagnetically induction-heated by an eddy current generated when a high frequency current is applied to the induction heating coil 7. It is something that is joined or joined.

The rice cooker body 4 is provided with a protective frame 6 made of a non-conductive material for accommodating the cooking pot 2 inside a body 5 having a cylindrical shape with a bottom. These body 5 and protective frame 6
Between the induction heating coil 7 and the cooking pan temperature sensor 8
Also, the control board 33 on which the microcomputer 34 is mounted is disposed, which is a well-known configuration.

The lid 9 closes the openings of the cooking pot 2 and the rice cooker main body 4 in an openable manner.
A heat radiating plate 10, a lid heater 11 and an inner lid 12 are arranged on the side of. The lid 9 has a well-known configuration in which the lid temperature sensor 13 is disposed.

Also, on the front surface of the rice cooker main body 4, as shown in FIG.
The operation panel 14 shown in FIG. The operation panel 14 is provided with a plurality of switches 24 to 31 for inputting rice cooking conditions around a liquid crystal display type display panel 15 arranged in the center.

The display panel 15 includes the microcomputer 34.
Is a segment display system which is displayed by a built-in driver. In the center of the display panel 15, a numerical value display section 16 capable of displaying time of 24 hours, a time display section 17 showing a unit such as heat retention time, and A minute display unit 18 that indicates a unit such as the remaining cooking time is provided. In addition, on both sides of these, "white rice", "normal", "soft", "hard", "rapid", "rice cooked", "okge", "sushi sushi", which means a cooked rice menu, etc., A menu display section 19 for "porridge", "rice", "separated rice", "brown rice", and "cleaning" is provided. Further, below the numerical value display unit 16, two sets of reservation setting display units 20 are provided.
A, 20B and morning, daytime, and evening marks 21a, 21b, and 21c, which respectively indicate the stored time zones, are provided. Further, above the numerical value display unit 16, there is provided a reheat display unit 23 that indicates that reheating is in progress.

Further, the switches 24 to 31 are required to be pressed when the user wants to finish all the operations including the rice cooking function and the reservation function and put them in a standby state, and directly shifts to the reservation 1 setting state of the reservation function. Reservation 1 switch 25 for pressing at the time, Reservation 2 switch 26 for pressing when it is desired to directly shift to the reservation 2 setting state of the reservation function,
Menu switch 27 for selecting the desired settings for the cooked rice menu or the reserved cooked rice menu, and the △ switch 2 for pressing to increase the current time or the reserved time by 10 minutes.
8, ▽ switch 29 for pressing the current time or reserved time to decrease by 10 minutes, set rice cooking settings including reserved rice cooking function, and press to perform reheat function while heat retention function is being executed The rice cooker switch 30 and the heat retention switch 31 to be pressed when it is desired to sequentially change the heat retention function or the good night heat retention function to execute.
Further, LEDs (not shown) are provided on the back of each of the switches 24 to 31 so that the switches 24 to 31 can be lit or blinked.

The microcomputer 34 mounted on the control board 33
Controls the induction heating coil 7 as shown in FIG. 3 and Table 1 according to the signals output from the temperature sensors 8 and 13 in accordance with the stored program, and performs the preheating step, the boiling step, and the boiling step. The white rice cooking operation including the maintenance step and the muddling step including the double cooking step is executed. Further, in the present embodiment, in the first half of the boiling maintaining step, a low heat step is provided in order to prevent spillage in the cooking pot 2 by supplying weak electric power to the induction heating coil 7.

[0023]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows that the preheat time, the boiling process transition temperature, the low heat time for the low heat process, and the dry time for the normal rice cooked, soft, firm and fast menus when 10 cups of white rice are cooked are cooked. The set values of the up temperature, the boiling maintenance energization rate, the 2nd cooking energization rate, the 2nd cooking time, and the capacity determination are shown. Further, when executing the non-washed rice cooking operation for cooking the non-washed rice, the microcomputer 34 changes the set value according to the signals output from the temperature sensors 8 and 13 according to the stored program. It is like this.

For example, in the low heat step of the boiling maintaining step, when cooking unwashed rice, the heating time is set longer for each menu than when cooking white rice. This makes it possible to prevent spillage when cooking rice. In the present embodiment, the heating time in the low heat process when the non-washed rice cooking operation is performed is set to 2 minutes and 30 seconds, which is uniform for each menu.

Further, in the boiling maintaining step, in the case of cooking unwashed rice, the temperature at which it is determined that the rice has been dried up is set lower than that in the case of cooking white rice. As a result, it is possible to prevent the bottom surface of the cooking pot 2 from being scorched. In the present embodiment, the temperature at which dry-up is determined when the non-washed rice cooking operation is performed is set to 115 ° C., which is uniform for each menu.

Further, in the boiling maintaining step, when cooking unwashed rice, the electric power supplied to the induction heating coil 7 is set weaker for each menu than in the case of cooking white rice. That is, as shown in Table 1, for example,
If you cook white rice on a regular menu, 11 in 15 seconds
Energize (on) for 2 seconds, and turn off (off) for the remaining 4 seconds, the energization rate that represents the ratio of energizing time in a fixed time, in the case of non-washed rice cooked, energize for 8 seconds in 15 seconds,
By stopping the energization for the remaining 7 seconds, the energization time to the induction heating coil 7 is shortened to set the electric power weak. This makes it possible to cook the non-washed rice in a fluffy state and prevent spillage. In the present embodiment, the energization rate during the non-washed rice cooking operation is set to 8/15 seconds, which is uniform for each menu.

Next, the operation of the microcomputer 34 of the rice cooker 1 will be described.

First, the user stores the desired number of cups of rice and the amount of water required to cook the rice in the inner pot 2, sets the inner pot 2 in the main body 3, and then makes the desired amount. The hardness of the cooked rice, the cooking time, etc. are set by operating the switches 24 to 31 of the operation panel 14 shown in FIG.
Press 0.

Then, the microcomputer 34 executes the normal rice cooking operation, and as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4, in step S1, based on the signal output from the cooking pot temperature sensor 8 during the boiling process. Then, it is determined whether the detected temperature T is higher than a predetermined temperature T ₁ (predetermined temperature T ₁ = 100 ° C. in the present embodiment). When the detected temperature T is not higher than the predetermined temperature T ₁ , the normal white rice cooking operation is continued in step S2. on the other hand,
When the detected temperature T is higher than the predetermined temperature T ₁ , in step S3, the operation moves to the no-wash rice cooking operation.

As a result, in the boiling step for cooking rice, the temperature T detected by the cooking pan temperature sensor 8 does not exceed the predetermined temperature T ₁ (100 ° C.), so that the normal rice cooking operation is continued. . On the other hand, in the boiling process when the user puts unwashed rice in the cooking pot 2 and cooks the rice, the starch remaining on the surface of the unwashed rice is stirred and settled in the cooking pot 2, and the temperature near the bottom of the cooking pot 2 is increased. However, the temperature rises to 120 ° C., for example. This is detected by the cooking pan temperature sensor 8,
In step 3, a non-washed rice cooking operation is executed.

In this non-washed rice cooking operation, the heating time in the low heat step after the boiling step is set to 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the temperature at which the boiling maintaining step is determined to have dried up is set to 115 ° C., and the induction heating coil is set. The duty ratio of the power supplied to 7 is set to 8/15 seconds. As a result, the time required for the boiling maintenance step becomes longer, so that the rice can be cooked more fluffier, and it is possible to prevent spillage and sticking to the bottom surface of the cooking pot 2 during rice cooking, and to cook unwashed rice deliciously.

The predetermined temperature T _{1 in the} above embodiment is 10
Although set to 0 ° C., the predetermined temperature T ₁ may be a temperature value of about 105 ° C. as long as it is higher than 100 ° C.

Further, as a modification of the embodiment, the microcomputer 34, in step S1, the detected temperature T is judged it exceeds the predetermined temperature T _1, to stop the current supply to the induction heating coil 7, a predetermined If the temperature or temperature rise rate after the lapse of time is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the foreign matter mode is executed, and if the temperature or temperature rise rate after the predetermined time is less than or equal to the predetermined value, as described above, in step S3, the rice without washing rice You may make it shift to operation | movement.

Here, the foreign matter mode means that foreign matter (for example, rice grains) is sandwiched between the outer surface of the bottom of the cooking pot 2 and the temperature sensor 8 for the cooking pot as shown in FIG. To notify you to remove the foreign matter.
If a foreign object is sandwiched between the outer surface of the bottom of the cooking pot 2 and the temperature sensor 8 for the cooking pot, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8 for the cooking pot will be detected even after the power supply to the induction heating coil 7 is stopped. The heat from the induction heating coil 7 does not significantly reduce the temperature.

As another modification of the above embodiment,
The microcomputer 34, in step S1, the detected temperature T is judged it exceeds the predetermined temperature T _1, to stop the current supply to the induction heating coil 7, the cooking pot based on the temperature or temperature rise rate after the predetermined time period The capacity of the non-washed rice in 2 may be determined. Further, the set value may be changed according to the capacity of the non-washed rice in the cooking pot 2 obtained by the capacity determination.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, in the rice cooker of the present invention, the temperature in the cooking pot is controlled by the control means based on the signal from the temperature sensor when the control means is performing the rice cooking operation. When it detects that the rice in the cooking pot is non-washed rice, it executes the non-washed rice cooking operation, so the user puts the non-washed rice in the cooking pot and cooks normal white rice. Even if the operation is executed, the non-washed rice cooking operation suitable for non-washed rice is executed, and the rice can be cooked deliciously.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a rice cooker of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an operation panel of the rice cooker of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a temperature change of a cooking pot when the rice cooker of FIG. 1 cooks white rice.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a rice cooking operation of the rice cooker of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... rice cooker 2 ... Cooking pot 4 ... Rice cooker body 7 ... Induction heating coil (heating means) 8 ... Temperature sensor for cooking pot 9 ... Lid 34 ... Microcomputer (control means)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4B055 AA05 BA36 BA67 BA71 CA09                       CA21 CA62 CA64 CA71 CD02                       DB14 GB06 GB08 GB12 GC12                       GC24 GC25

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A cooking pot and a main body for accommodating the cooking pot,
Heating means for heating the cooking pot, a lid body that is openably and closably attached to the main body and closes the opening of the cooking pot,
Rice cooker provided with a temperature sensor provided on the outer surface of the bottom of the cooking pot to detect the temperature in the cooking pot, and a control unit that controls the heating unit to perform a white rice cooking operation to cook white rice. In the cooking device, the control means detects that the temperature in the cooking pot is higher than a predetermined value based on the signal from the temperature sensor while executing the white rice cooking operation. A rice cooker characterized by determining that rice is non-washed rice and executing a non-washed rice cooking operation to cook unwashed rice. 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the white rice cooking operation includes a preheating step, a boiling step, a boiling maintaining step, and a purging step. 3. The rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein in the non-washed rice cooking operation, the heating time in the boiling maintaining step is set longer than that in the white rice cooking operation. 4. The non-washed rice cooking operation is one in which the electric power supplied to the heating means in the boiling maintaining step is set to be weaker than that of the polished rice cooking operation. vessel. 5. The non-washed rice cooking operation is performed by setting a dry-up temperature in the boiling maintaining step lower than that of the white rice cooking operation.
Rice cooker described in any of. 6. The control means stops energization to the heating means when the temperature in the cooking pot is higher than a predetermined value, and the temperature or the temperature increase rate after a predetermined time is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a foreign matter mode is executed, and if the temperature or the temperature increase rate after the predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the non-washed rice cooking operation is executed. 7. The control means, when the temperature in the cooking pot is higher than a predetermined value, stops energizing the heating means and, based on the temperature or the rate of temperature rise after a predetermined time, the control means in the cooking pot. 7. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the capacity of the unwashed rice is determined.