JP2003325338A - Automatic rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the load of clean-up work performed by a user after finishing eating the boiled rice in an automatic rice cooker. <P>SOLUTION: Rice and water of quantities necessary for rice cooking are supplied from a rice supplying part and a water supplying part to the pot 34 of a rice cooking part 24 to perform rice cooking. When the boiled rice in the pot 34 is removed, the water supplying part 26 supplies water to the pot 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to an automatic rice cooker that automatically prepares rice to prepare rice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a rice cooker that automatically cuts rice and cooks rice, there is an automatic rice cooker 1 as shown in FIG. Here, the configuration of the automatic rice cooker 1 shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, an automatic rice cooker 1 includes a rice storage unit 2 into which a user inputs rice, a rice weighing unit 3 into which rice is weighed,
Rice sharpening part 4 for cutting rice and rice cooking part 5 for cooking rice
Is equipped with. A water supply unit 6 supplies a predetermined amount of water to the rice cooking unit 5, and has a water supply valve 7 and a water supply path 8.

Reference numeral 9 designates a rice measuring section 3, a rice sharpening section 4, a water supply section 6,
It is a control unit that controls the rice cooking unit 5. The rice storing unit 2, the rice measuring unit 3, and the rice sharpening unit 4 are called a rice supplying unit.

To explain the operation in the above configuration, when the user puts rice in the rice storage unit 2 and inputs the amount of rice to be cooked and then presses the operation start button (not shown), the automatic rice cooker 1 is operated. Driving starts.

When the automatic rice cooker 1 starts to operate, the control unit 9 operates the rice measuring unit 3 to measure the rice stored in the rice storing unit 2 by a predetermined amount inputted by the user. Perform the weighing process. Then, a predetermined amount of rice is supplied to the rice clipper 4.

When a predetermined amount of rice is supplied to the rice sharpening section 4,
The control unit 9 operates the rice-cutting unit 4 to perform the rice-cutting process of removing the aleurone layer (a part of the bran) from the rice.

[0008] After the step of cutting the rice, the rice from which the glue powder layer has been removed is supplied to the rice cooking section 5.

When a predetermined amount of rice is supplied to the rice cooking unit 5, the control unit 9 operates the water supply unit 6 to supply an optimum amount of water to cook the rice supplied to the rice cooking unit 5. Water supply process to supply to.

When a predetermined amount of rice and water are supplied to the rice cooking section 5, a soaking step is carried out in which the rice is soaked in water to absorb the water. Then, a dipping process for a predetermined time is performed, and after the rice absorbs a predetermined amount of water, a rice cooking process for cooking rice is performed.

After the rice has been cooked for a predetermined time, a heat retaining step is performed to keep the cooked rice warm so that the user can take out the rice from the rice cooking section 5 at any time.

In this way, by simply inputting the amount of rice to be cooked and pressing the operation start button, the rice stored in the rice storage unit 2 is automatically metered, sharpened, watered, cooked and kept warm. .

[0013]

The automatic rice cooker 1 having such a conventional structure has the following problems.

When the user finishes eating the rice in the pan 10 of the rice cooking unit 5, the user needs to wash the pan 10. However, the pan 10 may have rice or starch, which is a component of the rice, attached to it. When you open it in a bowl with a rice scoop, the rice will crush the rice and the rice will rub against the pan 10.
When the pot 10 is washed, it is necessary to wash it thoroughly, and the washing of the pot 10 is a troublesome work.

In particular, the pot 10 is made of aluminum,
If the inner surface is not coated with fluorine, the rice will be 10
It is easy to rub against and it takes more time to wash.

On the other hand, the pot 10 whose inner surface is coated with fluorine resin is somewhat easier to clean than the pot 10 whose inner surface is not coated with fluorine, but even in this case, the pot 10 is thoroughly cleaned. In addition, there is a problem that the cost is higher than the case where the fluororesin is not applied because the amount of the fluororesin is applied.

When the rice is immediately taken out of the pan 10 and washed after the completion of the rice cooking process or the heat retention process, the pan 10 is at a high temperature, and therefore the user uses the towel or a towel to remove the pan 10. Since it is necessary to hold the pan 10 or to leave it in the rice cooking unit 5 until the temperature of the pan 10 is lowered, it is more troublesome to wash the pan 10 immediately after the rice cooking process is completed, There is also a problem that it cannot be washed immediately.

Further, since steam generated during the rice cooking process or the heat retention process also enters the water supply path 8, as shown in FIG. Become attached. Therefore, there are problems that the water supply path 8 cannot be kept in a clean state because bacteria or the like propagate in the water supply path 8 or that the user has to remove the water supply path 8 for cleaning.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice and to keep the water supply section clean.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rice cooking section for cooking rice, a rice supplying section for supplying rice to the rice cooking section, and a water supply for supplying water to the rice cooking section. Part, and rice detection means for detecting the presence or absence of rice in the rice cooking part,
The rice supply unit, the water supply unit, and a control unit for controlling the rice cooking unit are provided, and the control unit supplies water to the rice cooking unit if the rice detection unit detects the absence of rice after the completion of rice cooking. Thus, the water supply unit is controlled.

As a result, the water supply path of the water supply section can be washed, the pot can be easily and cleanly washed, and the pot can be washed immediately after the rice is exhausted from the pot.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a rice cooker for cooking rice, a rice supplier for supplying rice to the rice cooker, and a water supplier for supplying water to the rice cooker. And a rice detection unit that detects the presence or absence of rice in the rice cooking unit, and a control unit that controls the rice supply unit, the water supply unit, and the rice cooking unit, and the control unit detects the rice after completion of rice cooking. When the means detects the absence of rice, it is configured to control the water supply unit so as to supply water to the rice cooking unit, and it is possible to swell rice grains and starch components in a pan provided in the rice cooking unit. As well as being able to cool the pot with water, the pot can be easily and cleanly washed, and the pot can be washed immediately after the rice is exhausted from the pot.

At the same time, since the water supply path of the water supply section can be washed, the water supply section can always be kept clean.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice, and to maintain the water supply section in a clean state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the rice cooking section includes a steam discharging section for discharging steam generated during rice cooking or heat retention, and the water supply section passes through the steam discharging section. It is configured to supply water to the rice cooking section, and the water supply route of the steam discharge section and the water supply section can be cleaned, so the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice is further reduced. Therefore, the steam discharge part and the water supply part can be maintained in a clean state.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the water supply section is provided with a water tank for storing water, and the automatic rice cooker can be installed at any place. Not only can it be installed, the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice can be reduced, the water supply route of the steam discharge part and the water supply part can be washed, and the water in the water tank can be cleaned. It can be used effectively.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, a pot presence detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a pot provided in the rice cooking unit is provided, and the rice in the rice cooking unit is After the water has been supplied and the water has been supplied, if the pan presence detection means does not detect the absence of the pan even after a lapse of a predetermined time, it is configured to have a notification means to notify the user, and it is performed after the user finishes eating rice. It is possible to reduce the burden of cleaning up and prevent the user from forgetting to wash the pot.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

Example 1 The automatic rice cooker 20 shown in FIG.
Is a rice storage unit 21 capable of storing at least the amount of rice to be cooked, a rice measurement unit 22 for measuring rice, and a rice measurement unit 2
Rice sharpening part 23, rice sharpening part 23 that sharpens the rice supplied from 2
It is provided with a rice cooker 24 that cooks sharp rice, and a rice transporter 25 that connects the rice sharpener 23 and the rice cooker 24. Also,
A water supply unit 26 supplies a predetermined amount of water to the rice cooking unit 24.

A control unit 27 controls the rice measuring unit 22, the rice sharpening unit 23, the rice conveying unit 25, the water supply unit 26, and the rice cooking unit 24. In addition, the rice storing section 21, the rice measuring section 22, the rice sharpening section 23,
The rice transport unit 25 is called a rice supply unit.

Reference numeral 28 is a rice detecting means for detecting the state of the rice present in the rice cooking section 24.

The rice cutting section 23 drives the rice storage container 29 for storing the rice weighed by the rice weighing unit 22, the rotary blades 30 rotatably arranged in the rice storage container 29, and the rotary blades 30. Means 31 are provided.

The rice transport unit 25 transports rice to the rice cooking unit 24 by the air flow generated by the rice transport fan 32. Further, a rice feeding valve 33 is provided at a connecting portion between the rice transport unit 25 and the rice cooking unit 24. The control unit 27 also controls the operation of the closing valve 33.

The rice cooking section 24 is a pan 3 for storing rice and water.
4, heating unit 35 for heating rice and water through pot 34, inner lid 36 for sealing rice and water in pot 34, pot 3
4 and a steam discharge part 37 for discharging steam generated in the inner lid 36 to the outside of the automatic rice cooker 20.

The water supply section 26 comprises a water supply valve 38 and a water supply path 39. Further, the water supply path 39 is connected to the steam discharge part 37.

Reference numeral 40 is a pan presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not the pan 34 has been attached / detached to / from the rice cooking section 24.

Reference numeral 41 is an informing means which operates according to a command from the control section 27.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. After the user puts rice into the rice storage unit 21, inputs the amount of rice to be cooked, and presses the operation start button (not shown), the operation of the automatic rice cooker 20 starts.

When the operation is started, the control unit 27 first operates the water supply valve 38 to supply an amount of water optimum for the amount of cooked rice set by the user to the water supply route 39 and the steam discharge unit 37.
Is supplied to the pan 34 of the rice cooking unit 24 via.

Next, the control unit 27 operates the rice weighing unit 22. Then, the rice measuring unit 22 supplies a predetermined amount of rice to the rice container 29.

When a predetermined amount of rice is supplied to the rice container 29, the controller 27 operates the driving means 31 according to the rice sharpening process program. When the drive means 31 operates, the rotary blades 30 rotate, and the step of breaking the rice stored in the rice storage container 29 is performed.

When the rice cutting process is completed, the controller 27 operates the rice conveying fan 32 and the rice feeding valve 33 according to the rice conveying process program. Then, the rice scraped by the rice clipper 23 is supplied to the pan 34 of the rice cooker 24 via the rice transporter 25.

In this way, a predetermined amount of water and rice are added to the pot 34.
When supplied to the rice, the control unit 27 operates the rice cooking unit 24 in accordance with the dipping process program and the rice cooking process program that cause the rice to absorb water. When the rice cooker 24 operates, the amount of rice that the user wants to cook is cooked.

When a predetermined amount of rice is cooked, the control unit 27
Goes into the heat retention process to keep the rice warm.

In this way, the rice is cooked.

When the rice is cooked, the rice detecting means 28 detects the presence state of the rice in the pan 34. When the control unit 27 determines that there is no more rice in the pot 34 by the signal of the rice detecting means 28, the control unit 27 operates the water supply valve 38 to supply water into the pot 34.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the user finishes eating all the cooked rice in the pot 34 and there is no more rice in the pot 34, the control unit 27 causes the water supply valve 38.
Is operated to supply water into the pot 34,
It is possible to swell rice grains and starch components adhering to the inside of 4. At the same time, the pot 34 can be cooled with water.

Therefore, the user can easily and cleanly wash the pot 34, wait for the temperature of the pot 34 to drop after the rice in the pot 34 is exhausted, or use a towel or a towel to cook the pot. Easily cook rice 24 without holding 34
It can be removed from and can be washed.

Further, since the water supply path 39 can be washed by supplying water to the water supply path 39 after cooking rice, the water supply path 39 can always be kept clean.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice, and it is possible to maintain the water supply section 26 in a clean state.

The rice detecting means 28 may detect the remaining amount of rice in the pan 34 with a weight sensor, or, as shown in FIG. 1, substantially above the inner lid 36 and the pan 34. Alternatively, the rice detecting means 28 may be attached to detect the remaining amount of rice by measuring the distance between the upper portion of the rice present in the pot 34 and the inner bottom surface of the pot 34 by an optical signal or an infrared signal.

The rice detecting means 28 may detect the remaining amount of rice by photographing the state of the rice in the pan 34.

Further, a water supply button (not shown) is provided on the automatic rice cooker 20. After the rice in the pan 34 is exhausted, when the user presses the water supply button, the control unit 27 operates the water supply valve 38 to supply water. May be supplied into the pot 34. In this case, since the user determines whether or not there is rice in the pan 34, the rice detecting means 28 may be omitted.

The rice storage unit 21 may be capable of storing a large amount of rice (for example, 10 kg), or may be capable of storing only the amount of rice cooked each time (for example, 3 units).

Further, when the non-washed rice that can be cooked without the spices is supplied to the rice storage section 21 for cooking, it is sufficient to discharge the non-washed rice in the rice sharpening section 23 without sharpening.

Further, the rice supplying unit may have a structure for the non-washed rice which does not have the rice sharpening unit 23, but has only the rice storing unit 21, the rice measuring unit 22 and the rice transporting unit 25.

In the description of the operation of the automatic rice cooker 20,
Although the rice is supplied after the water is supplied to the rice cooking unit 24, the rice may be supplied and then the water may be supplied, or the water and the rice may be supplied simultaneously or alternately.

Further, the water supply unit 26 may connect the water supply path 39 to the inner lid 36 to supply water directly into the pot 34.

Further, in the automatic rice cooker 20, as shown in FIG. 2, the rice cooker 24 may be provided at a substantially lower portion of the rice storage section 21 or the rice breaker section 23, or the rice cooker 24 may be the rice storage section 21 or. You may provide in the substantially horizontal part of the rice-cutting part 23.

Further, a check valve (not shown) may be provided in the water supply path 39, the water supply path 39 and the steam discharge part 37, or the water supply valve 38 may be provided in the rice cooking part 24 so that the steam is supplied in the steam path 39. It may be configured so that it does not easily penetrate.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, by connecting the water supply path 39 to the steam discharge part 37, the steam generated in the pan 34 sealed by the inner lid 36 during the rice cooking process or the heat retention process is Although it is discharged to the outside of the automatic rice cooker 20 through the discharge part 37, since the steam generated at this time contains sticky components of rice and the like, when the steam passes, the steam discharge part 37 and the water supply route 39 are discharged. Part of it gets dirty, pan 34
Since the water is supplied into the pot 34 through the water supply path 39 and the steam discharge section 37 after the rice inside is exhausted, the steam discharge section 37 and the water supply path 39 can be washed. At the same time, the inner lid 36 can be cooled.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user of cleaning the steam discharge part 37, maintain the steam discharge part 37 and the water supply path 39 in a clean state, and facilitate the inner lid 36. Can be removed and washed.

Therefore, the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice can be further reduced, and the steam discharge part 37 and the water supply path 39 can be maintained in a clean state.

Then, as shown in FIG.
Is a water tank 42 that stores at least the water necessary for cooking rice.
And a water supply pump 43 for supplying the water in the water tank 42 to the pan 34 of the rice cooking section 24, so that after the user sets the amount of water necessary for rice cooking in the water tank 42, automatic rice cooking The automatic rice cooker 20 can start operation only by pressing the operation button of the rice cooker 20. Therefore, since it is not necessary to connect the water supply unit 26 to a tap, etc., the automatic rice cooker 20 can be installed at any place.

Further, in the case of the structure having the water tank 42 as shown in FIG. 3, the amount of water supplied to the pot 34 is less than the amount required to cook the rice supplied to the pot 34, and it is harder. In order to prevent the rice from being cooked, the amount of water set by the user in the water tank 42 is set to be larger than the amount required to cook the rice supplied to the pan 34. A water level line, a water level sensor, or the like (not shown) may be provided in the water tank 42. At this time, when the rice cooking by the automatic rice cooker 20 is completed, the water tank 42 is left with water.

Therefore, the water tank 4 existing after this rice is cooked
By supplying the water in 2 to the pan 34 after the rice in the pan 34 is exhausted, it can be used for cleaning the pan 34, the steam discharge part 37, and the water supply path 39, so that the user can use the water tank. The water set in 42 can be effectively utilized.

Therefore, the installability of the automatic rice cooker 20 can be improved, and the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice can be reduced, and the steam discharging section 37 can be reduced.
Also, the water supply path 39 can be washed, and the water in the water tank 42 can be effectively used.

When the water supply pump 43 is a self-contained type,
This is better because all the water in the water tank 42 can be supplied to the pan 34.

Then, the pot presence / absence detecting means 40 is operated by the pot 34
By detecting whether or not the rice is removed from the rice cooking unit 24, if the rice in the pan 34 is exhausted and water is supplied to the pan 34, and if the pan 34 is not removed from the rice cooking unit 24 for a predetermined time or longer, the control unit 27 Since it is possible to determine that the pot 34 has not been removed from the rice cooking unit 34 for a predetermined time or longer by the signal of the pot presence / absence detecting means 40, the user is notified via the notifying means 41 and the user cleans the pot 34. You can prevent forgetting to do it.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice, and to prevent the user from forgetting to wash the pan 34.

The notifying means 41 may be one that emits a sound or one that emits a signal by light. Alternatively, the whole or a part of the automatic rice cooker 20 may be vibrated, or the color of a part or the whole of the automatic rice cooker 20 may be changed.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pot can be easily and cleanly washed, and the pot can be washed immediately after the rice is exhausted from the pot. At the same time, the water supply part can be washed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of cleaning up after the user finishes eating rice, and it is possible to always maintain the water supply path of the water supply unit in a clean state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an automatic rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another example of the same automatic rice cooker.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the automatic rice cooker including a water tank.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional automatic rice cooker.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 automatic rice cooker 24 Rice Cooker 26 Water Supply Department 27 Control unit 28 Rice detection means 34 pot 37 Steam outlet 40 Pan presence detection means 41 Notification means 42 water tank

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kuniyuki Nakanishi             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hatsuhiko Matsushita             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihiro Shinabe             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Norio Ikeda             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 4B054 AA16 AB01 AC02 BA10 CH01                       CH19                 4B055 AA07 AA09 BA56 CD41 DA02                       DB14 GA11 GB32

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rice cooker that cooks rice, a rice supplier that supplies rice to the rice cooker, a water supplier that supplies water to the rice cooker, and a rice detector that detects the presence or absence of rice in the rice cooker. Means and
The rice supply unit, the water supply unit, and a control unit for controlling the rice cooking unit are provided, and the control unit supplies water to the rice cooking unit if the rice detection unit detects the absence of rice after the completion of rice cooking. An automatic rice cooker that controls the water supply unit. 2. The rice cooking unit includes a steam discharge unit that discharges steam generated during rice cooking or heat retention, and the water supply unit supplies water to the rice cooking unit via the steam discharge unit. Automatic rice cooker. 3. The automatic rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the water supply unit includes a water tank for storing water. 4. A pot presence detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a pot provided in the rice cooking section is provided, and the rice detecting section detects the absence of rice and supplies water to the rice cooking section, and then a predetermined time elapses. The automatic rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising notifying means for notifying when the pan presence detecting means does not detect the absence of the pan.