JP2004065537A

JP2004065537A - Automatic rice cooker

Info

Publication number: JP2004065537A
Application number: JP2002228854A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Masaki Yura; 由良　政樹; Takeshi Inada; 稲田　剛士; Kuniyuki Nakanishi; 中西　邦行; Hatsuhiko Matsushita; 松下　初彦; Norio Ikeda; 池田　典生; Akihiro Shinabe; 品部　晃宏
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 2002-08-06
Filing date: 2002-08-06
Publication date: 2004-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-06
Also published as: JP3937971B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic rice cooker requiring only a small installation space and high in stability causing no fall of a body in rice charging work into a rice storage part. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic rice cooker 20 is provided with: a rice cooking part 21 for cooking rice; a rice supply part 22 for supplying rice to the rice cooking part 21; a water supply part 25 for supplying water to the rice cooking part 21; and a control means 26 for controlling the rice supply part 22, the water supply part 25 and the rice cooking part 21. The rice supply part 22 has a rice storage part 23 for storing rice, and a rice conveying means 27 for feeding rice from a rice supply line to the rice cooking part. The rice storage part 23 is provided with a rice storage door 28 for charging rice, at the side face of a body 29 formed of the rice cooking part 21 and the rice supply part 22. The rice can thereby be charged into the rice storage part 23 by opening the rice storage door 28 provided at the side face of the body, in addition to automatic cooking performed by a command of the control means. Further, there is no possibility of the body 29 falling only by applying the load of rice to the body 29 in charging work, which results in providing the automatic rice cooker 20 of high stability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、主に一般家庭で使用される自動炊飯器に係わり、特に貯米部、炊飯部、米搬送手段を備えた自動炊飯器に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
まず、炊飯部、貯米部を備えた自動炊飯器としては、特許第１５７６５１０号公報のようなもので、図５に示す構造のものが従来から知られている。この自動炊飯器１は、炊飯部２が下部にあって、貯米部３はその上方にあり、それぞれを前方に引き出せる構造である。また、貯蔵された精白米を洗米する米とぎ部４が貯米部３と炊飯部２の中間部にある。
【０００３】
この自動炊飯器１の動作を簡単に説明する。上部の蓋を閉じ、炊飯部２を本体に収納して、運転（操作部は図示を省略）を開始すると、貯米部３より必要な精白米が米計量手段５により計量されて、米とぎ部４にて米が研がれる。米排出手段６により米とぎ部４を開放し、研がれた米が米とぎ部４より排出されて、米搬送手段７より炊飯部２に供給される。このように貯米部３と米とぎ部４と米搬送手段７によって炊飯部２に米を供給するので、これらをまとめて、以下では給米部とも呼ぶ。すなわち、特許第１５７６５１０号公報の自動炊飯器１は給米部の下方に炊飯部３がある構成である。
【０００４】
引き続き、炊飯用の水は給水部８により炊飯部２に供給される。なお、米とぎ部４では無水で米とぎが行われて、給水部８は水の計量手段も備えているが、これらの点はすでに公知の技術手段でもあり、説明および図示を省略する。所定量の給米と給水が完了すると、制御手段９により、炊飯部２で炊飯を行う。このように貯蔵された米が計量、洗米、搬送されて、自動的に炊飯できるものである。
【０００５】
また、実開平５−５６０２３号公報のような構成の全自動炊飯装置では、矩形箱形の本体の内部で、上部に貯米部、下部に炊飯部を備え、貯米部に米を収容するときに開放される上蓋が開閉可能に設けられている。この全自動炊飯装置は、洗米部がなく、米と水が別個に炊飯部の鍋に供給されるので、無洗米を使用して炊飯することができる。また、米が供給される前に水を加温して湯炊きをすることができる。これも、炊飯部と給米部の基本的な配置は、上述のものと同様である。
【０００６】
次に、特開平５−３３７０４６号公報のような構成の自動炊飯器では、上述の事例とは逆に、炊飯部が上部にある構造で、給米部はその下方にある。給米部の中で、貯米部は上部にあって、貯蔵された精白米を洗米する米とぎ部は、貯米部より下方にある。
【０００７】
この自動炊飯器の動作を簡単に説明する。運転を開始すると、貯米部より必要な精白米が米計量手段により計量されて、米とぎ部にて米が研がれる。研がれた米は米排出手段により、米とぎ部より排出されて、米搬送手段より炊飯部に供給される。米搬送手段は送風機によって、研がれた米を搬送するものであり、炊飯部の上方に設けた米投入部より供給する。
【０００８】
引き続き、炊飯用の水は給水部により炊飯部に供給される。なお、米とぎ部における無水での米とぎや水の計量手段については、上記従来の自動炊飯器１と同様で、説明を省略する。さらに、制御手段により、炊飯部で炊飯を行うことで、貯蔵された米が計量、洗米、搬送されて、自動的に炊飯できるものである。
【０００９】
また、従来構成の自動炊飯器１においては、米とぎ部４および米計量手段５が操作部により設定された炊飯量を一度で処理するものとすると、機構的には構成要素が大きくなり、機器全体として大型化するので、一般家庭で手軽に設置し、使用できる大きさが実現できない。
【００１０】
そこで、貯米部から供給された米を所定単位量だけ計量する米計量工程、計量された米を所定単位量ずつ洗米する米とぎ工程、研がれた米と水を炊飯部に搬送して投入する米搬送工程の各工程を設定された炊飯量になるまで繰り返すことで、設定された炊飯量に対して１回に計量、洗米する米量を少なくして、構成要素部品を小型化し、自動炊飯器本体の大きさの小型化を図っている。なお、特許第１５７６５１０号公報、特開平５−３３７０４６号公報、実開平５−５６０２３号公報のような構成の自動炊飯器でも同様である。
【００１１】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上述の従来構成より、図５のように給米部の下方に炊飯部があるものでは、自動炊飯器１で炊飯中に炊飯部２で発生した蒸気が米搬送手段７へ進入することや、給米部の貯米部を引出すことによる弊害がいくつか予想される。
【００１２】
まず、炊飯部２が米とぎ部４および貯米部３の下方にあることで、炊飯中に炊飯部２１で発生する蒸気が上昇して、上方の米とぎ部４および貯米部３方向に移動する。そこで、蒸気がこれらに進入しないように、本体前方に排気する蒸気処理機構が必要である。このためには発生した蒸気を排出する送風機を備え、炊飯工程、保温工程などで動作させれば良いものであり、すでに公知の技術手段でもあるので、説明および図示を省略するものの、構成が複雑で安価に制作できないし、一般的には本体の外形も大きくなる。
【００１３】
次に、貯米部３が最上部にあるので、貯米部３を引出した状態では、本体の前方に米の重量を含めて約１０〜２０ｋｇの荷重が加わることとなって、前方に転倒する恐れのあるものである。図６に貯米部３を引出した状態を簡単に示す。
【００１４】
また、現在市販される精白米には、１袋当り、５ｋｇ、１０ｋｇのものが多く、一部には２０ｋｇがある。そのうえに米を貯米部３に収納する作業において、使用者が少しは引出した貯米部３を押さえることも十分に想定される。そのために、本体を安定させるためには、設置場所に固定する金具を設けることが必要で、設置場所が限定され、本体の移動が簡単に行えないなど、使い勝手が良くない機器となる。もちろん、炊飯部２と給米部である貯米部３や米搬送手段７を同一平面に並列して配置し、この問題を回避することもできるが、設置面積が大きくなるという新たな問題が生ずる。
【００１５】
また、貯米部３を引出さずに、本体の上部に米を投入する開口部を設けてもよいが、これを開閉する貯米扉のために本体上部をいろいろな小物の置き場所として有効に使うことができない。あるいは、上方に貯米扉を開放するための空間が必要となり、置き場所も限定される。
【００１６】
すなわち、炊飯中の蒸気処理と、給米部、特に貯米部への米の投入操作に伴う本体の安定性の確保と、設置スペースの確保を両立させるには課題を有する。
【００１７】
さらに、図７のように炊飯部２の下方に給米部があるものでは、貯米部３に米を収納するには、貯米部３を前方に引出す必要があり、設置時にはそのためのスペースを前方に確保しなければならない。また、米を収納した貯米部３を前方に引出すことで、本体が前方に転倒しないように、貯米部３はなるべく低位置に配置する必要がある。その結果、米の収納作業において、腰を屈める必要があり、操作性が良くない。また、貯米部３を少しでも低く配置するには、米搬送手段７の薄型化が必要で、それぞれの部品は小型高性能の部品を使用するので、製造コストが高くなる。
【００１８】
本発明は、以上のような従来構成の自動炊飯器が有している課題を解決するために、貯米部に設けた貯米扉によって、炊飯部と給米部を鉛直方向に重ね、設置スペースが小さく、貯米部への米の投入作業時に転倒しないで、安定性が高い自動炊飯器を提供することを目的としているものである。
【００１９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の自動炊飯器は、炊飯する炊飯部と、前記炊飯部に米を供給する給米部と、前記炊飯部へ水を供給する給水部と、前記給米部、前記給水部および前記炊飯部を制御する制御手段とを備え、前記給米部は炊飯部の下方に配置され米を貯蔵する貯米部と、米を給米経路から炊飯部に送り込む米搬送手段とを有し、前記貯米部は米を投入する開口部を開閉する貯米扉を、前記炊飯部および給米部が形成する本体の側面に設けたものである。
【００２０】
この発明によれば、制御手段の指令により給米部と給水部を作動することで、炊飯部に米と水を供給し、自動的に炊飯することができる。また、貯米部への米の投入は、本体の側面に設けた貯米扉を開放することで行える。且つ、投入作業で米の荷重が本体に加わることだけでは、本体が転倒する恐れがなく、安定性が高い自動炊飯器を提供できる。
【００２１】
【発明の実施の形態】
請求項１記載の発明は、炊飯する炊飯部と、前記炊飯部に米を供給する給米部と、前記炊飯部へ水を供給する給水部と、前記給米部、前記給水部および前記炊飯部を制御する制御手段とを備え、前記給米部は炊飯部の下方に米を貯蔵する貯米部と、米を給米経路から炊飯部に送り込む米搬送手段とを有し、前記貯米部は米を投入する開口部を開閉する貯米扉を、前記炊飯部および給米部が形成する本体の側面に設けたことである。
【００２２】
この発明によれば、制御手段の指令により給米部と給水部を作動することで、炊飯部に米と水を供給し、自動的に炊飯することができる。また、貯米部への米の投入は、本体の側面に設けた貯米扉を開放することで行える。且つ、投入作業で米の荷重が貯米部および本体に加わることだけでは、本体が転倒する恐れが少なく、安定性が高い自動炊飯器を提供できる。
【００２３】
請求項２に記載の発明は、請求項１に記載の発明において、貯米部または本体は略長方形断面を有し、前記貯米部の短辺に貯米扉を設けたことである。
【００２４】
この発明では、米の投入作業などで、貯米扉に加わる荷重により発生するような本体を傾斜させようとするモーメントは貯米扉の大きさ、短辺から長さに比例する。また、本体を安定させるモーメントは、本体の重心の位置によるが、長辺の長さでほぼ決定されるので、本体を傾斜させようとするモーメントより大きく、全体としてより安定性を高めた自動炊飯器を提供できる。
【００２５】
請求項３に記載の発明は、請求項１または２のいずれか１項に記載の発明において、貯米部と米搬送手段とは上下に独立して形成され、少なくとも前記貯米部を前方に移動させる引出手段を設けたことである。
【００２６】
この発明では、給米部のうち米搬送手段を本体の内部に静止させ、引出手段により貯米部のみを前方に移動することで、本体の安定性を維持した状態で、貯米部の内部を手入れできる自動炊飯器を提供できる。
【００２７】
請求項４に記載の発明は、請求項１〜３のいずれか１項に記載の発明において、炊飯部およびその周辺からの漏水を貯蔵する貯水部を備えたことである。
【００２８】
この発明では、炊飯部およびその周辺で発生した漏水が貯水部に貯えられ、貯米扉から貯米部に侵入しない自動炊飯器を提供できる。特に、貯水部に漏水を案内する導水路を設けることで、確実に貯水部に案内されるようにできる。
【００２９】
請求項５に記載の発明は、請求項１〜４のいずれか１項に記載の発明において、貯米扉は貯米部の開口部との間を水密にするシール部材を設けたことである。
【００３０】
この発明では、炊飯部からの漏水あるいは外部から本体に滴下した水滴は、貯米部の開口部と貯米扉の間にあるシール部材によって、貯米扉から貯米部に侵入しない。水滴は、本体の下方や、貯水部に移動して、貯米部の米の保存状態を適正に維持する自動炊飯器を提供できる。
【００３１】
請求項６に記載の発明は、請求項３に記載の発明において、貯米部の米量を検出する貯米検知手段を設け、前記貯米検知手段からの貯米検知信号に基づき、制御手段は貯米部の引出手段の作動を制御する貯米部固定手段を設けたことである。
【００３２】
この発明では、貯米部の米量が貯米検知手段で検出でき、この貯米検知信号に基づいて、制御手段は貯米部固定手段を動作させ、貯米部の引出手段の動作を制御できる。制御手段は、貯米部の米量が大量の場合は、貯米部の引出手段を停止することで、引出すことによる本体の不安定さを防止できる。逆に、米量が少量の場合は、引出手段を動作可能として、引出すことにより、本体の不安定さもなく、貯米部の内部を簡単に手入れすることができる。
【００３３】
請求項７に記載の発明は、請求項３または６のいずれか１項に記載の発明において、貯米部と米搬送手段とをそれぞれ単独で移動する引出手段を設けたことである。
【００３４】
この発明では、貯米部と米搬送手段がそれぞれ単独で引出せるので、それぞれのお手入れにおいて、その操作が小さな力で行え、使い勝手が向上する。また、貯米部の米量の多少に関わらず、米搬送手段のみを単独で引出すことで、本体の安定性能を保持しつつ、米搬送手段のお手入れを簡単に行える。
【００３５】
請求項８に記載の発明は、請求項３または６〜７のいずれか１項に記載の発明において、貯米部の装着状態を検出する貯米部検知手段を設けたことである。
【００３６】
この発明では、制御手段は貯米部検知手段により貯米部の装着状態を検出して、その検知信号に応じて米搬送手段を作動させる。貯米部が所定の位置に装着されている状態でのみ、米搬送手段を動作させるので、給米動作が確実に行える。特に、制御手段は貯米部を引出した状態が長時間であれば、使用者にこれを報知することもできて、貯米部への虫や埃の侵入を防止できる。
【００３７】
請求項９に記載の発明は、請求項３または６〜８のいずれか１項に記載の発明において、貯米部を本体に着脱自在に装着する貯米部装着部材設けたことである。
【００３８】
この発明では、貯米部装着部材を開放し、貯米部を完全に本体から取り外せるので、貯米部および本体の内部の隅々までお手入れすることが簡単に行える。
【００３９】
請求項１０に記載の発明は、請求項１〜９のいずれか１項に記載の発明において、貯米扉を前方に略水平に移動する引出式としたことである。
【００４０】
この発明では、貯米扉が略水平に移動するものであるから、貯米扉を収納する毎に、主として貯米扉の先端部で貯米部に投入されている米の上部を平坦にする。貯米部の上部にまで米を収納でき、米は最大容量まで収納できる。また、米の投入状態が均一化され、貯米部における米の減り方が均一になり、米の貯米検知手段の検知バラツキが少なく、給米部の性能が安定する。
【００４１】
【実施例】
以下、この発明の実施例について、図面を参照しつつ説明する。
【００４２】
（実施例１）
まず基本構成を、図１に基づいて説明する。実施例１の自動炊飯器２０は、米および水を入れて炊飯するための釜およびその加熱手段を備えた炊飯部２１と、炊飯部に米を供給する給米部２２とを有する。
【００４３】
給米部２２は、精白米を貯蔵する貯米部２３と、精白米を洗米するための米とぎ手段２２ａを備えている。なお、炊飯部２１の加熱手段としては、加熱コイル２１ａに供給した高周波電流によって炊飯釜自体を発熱させる電磁誘導加熱を図示しているが、ヒータの発熱で炊飯釜を加熱する方式、都市ガスの燃焼、マイクロ波による誘電加熱、ボイラーの蒸気等々、種々の加熱炊飯方法が可能である。
【００４４】
また給米部２２には、米計量手段２２ｂが貯米部２３の底部に設けられて、枡状の計量部とその回転機構を備えて、米を計量して、その下方の米とぎ手段に米を供給する。米とぎ手段２２ａは、回転ブラシ２２ｃと多数の孔を有する容器２２ｄとを備えて、米に遠心力を与えて、その内部で上昇と落下を繰り返しながら、送風機（図示は省略）の吸引によって、米の糠を除去して分離するものであり、無水で米を研げるものである。これも公知の技術でもあり、詳細の説明は省略する。なお、回転ブラシの形状、配置等はこれに限定するものでない。また、水を使用しての米とぎ方式も可能である。
【００４５】
また給米部２２には、米排出手段２２ｅが設けられて、米とぎ手段２２ａで研いだ米を排出するための排出口を開閉する米排出弁の動作と、回転ブラシの遠心力で、米を排出する。
【００４６】
また給米部２２には、米搬送手段２７として、米排出手段より排出された米を、空気で搬送するために送風機３０、炊飯部２１と給米部２２を接続する管状の給米経路２４が設けられている。米搬送手段２７によって、研いだ米は炊飯部２１の上方に設けられた米投入弁にて開閉される米投入部３１から炊飯部２１に供給される。
【００４７】
また給米部２２には、米搬送手段２７の給米経路２４から分岐した排気経路（図示は省略）が設けられ、搬送用の空気は主にここから排気することで、米が炊飯部２１に投入できるものである。もちろん、炊飯部２１には、炊飯中の蒸気を排出する蒸気穴が設けられているので、そちらからも空気は排出されるが、この蒸気穴は一般的な構成であるので、図示を省略している。
【００４８】
給水部２５は水道に接続された給水経路を開閉する給水弁を備えて、炊飯部２１の上方に設けられた水投入弁にて開閉される水投入部３２から炊飯部２１に給水される。給水部２５の給水弁には水の流量検知手段（図示は省略）を内蔵しており、この流量検知信号に基づいて、水の供給量を測定することができるので、炊飯量に応じた必要な水を供給することができる。
【００４９】
なお、水の計量技術は公知の技術でもあり、給水弁と一体に設けずとも、給水弁の前後に配置された流量検知手段でよいものである。もちろん、炊飯部２１の重量を計量することで、水量を、さらには米量を検出させてもよいものである。
【００５０】
制御手段２６は、米計量手段２２ｂ、米とぎ手段２２ａ、米排出手段２２ｅ、米搬送手段２７、給水部２５、炊飯部２１の構成要素の動作を制御することで、米の計量から炊飯までを自動的に実行するものである。なお、使用者が運転を実行するための操作部として、表示手段、制御基板等を備えており、炊飯量、炊飯時刻、運転開始、運転停止、炊飯コースの選択がこの操作部で行えるが、本発明の主たる構成ではないので、図示を省略している。
【００５１】
この実施例１は、貯米部２３は米を投入する貯米扉２８を、炊飯部２１および給米部２２が形成する本体２９の側面に設けた点で、従来のものとは異なるものである。
【００５２】
この自動炊飯器２０の運転および貯米扉２８の操作について説明する。
【００５３】
まず運転は、使用者が操作部にて炊飯量を指定することから、開始される。制御手段２６の制御に基づいて、米計量手段が炊飯量に必要な米の計量を行い、米を米とぎ手段２２ａに供給して、米が研がれる。研がれた米は米排出手段２２ｅにより排出されて、送風機３０の送風により、炊飯部２１に移送される。引き続き、給水部２５によって炊飯量に応じた適切な水量が炊飯部２１に供給される。そして、炊飯部２１で炊飯が行われることで、自動炊飯されるものである。
【００５４】
次に貯米扉２８は、図２に示すように、炊飯部２１と貯米部２３を備えた本体２９の側面、炊飯部２１の上部を開閉する蓋の前縁と同じ側に、すなわち前面に設けられている。この貯米扉２８を開放して、精白米、無洗米などの米を収納するものである。
【００５５】
以上のように、制御手段２６の指令により給米部２２と給水部２５を作動することで、炊飯部２１に米と水を供給し、自動的に炊飯することができる。また、貯米部２３への米の投入は、本体の側面に設けた貯米扉２８のみを開放することで行える。且つ、投入作業で米の荷重が本体２９に加わることだけでは、本体２９が転倒する恐れがなく、安定性が高い自動炊飯器２０となっている。
【００５６】
なお、実施例１において、貯米部２３および本体２９は略長方形断面を有し、貯米部２３の短辺３５に貯米扉２８を設けたことで、貯米扉２３に加わる荷重によって発生する本体２９を傾斜させようとするモーメントは、長辺３６に貯米扉２８を設けるよりも低減し、より安定性を高めた自動炊飯器２０となっている。単純に米を収納する時の操作性を考えると、長辺３６にも貯米扉２８を設けてもよいものではあるが、一定の荷重が加わることを前提とすれば、本体２９側面のうち短辺３５に設けることで、より安定性を得るものである。
【００５７】
なお、実施例１において、炊飯部２１およびその周辺からの漏水を貯蔵する貯水部３３および貯水部３３に漏水を案内する開口部を有する導水路３４を設けている。これにより、何らかの要因で誤操作、誤動作により炊飯部２１で発生した漏水を貯水部３３に貯えるので、貯米扉２８から貯米部２３に漏水が侵入しない。漏水を原因とする貯米部２３の米の劣化が防止できる自動炊飯器２０となっている。
【００５８】
なお、実施例１において、貯米扉２８は貯米部２３の開口部との間を水密にするシール部材３７を設けたことで、炊飯部２１あるいは外部から滴下した水滴が貯米扉２８から貯米部２３に侵入しないので、貯米部２３の米の保存状態を適正に維持する自動炊飯器２０となっている。
【００５９】
なお、米の糠を除去する米とぎ手段２２ａを備えたことで、炊飯を行う直前に貯米部２３の精白米または玄米から米の糠を除去して、研いだ米を直ちに炊飯部２１に搬送して自動的に炊飯できる自動炊飯器２０となっており、研いだ米が長時間放置されて酸化し、劣化することが抑制されるので、炊飯性能が向上する。
【００６０】
なお、炊飯部２１に水を供給する給水部２５を備えたことで、給水部２５により適切な時刻に炊飯部２１に水が給水されて、自動的に炊飯する自動炊飯器２０となっており、予約炊飯および通常の炊飯において、研いだ米は適切な時間だけ浸漬される。過剰に浸漬されて劣化することがないので、この点でも炊飯性能が向上する。
【００６１】
なお、本実施例で、使用者が操作部（図示は省略）にて、米の種類として、米とぎが必要な精白米であるか、米とぎが不必要な無洗米であるかを指定して、運転開始する自動炊飯器２０とすることもできる。
【００６２】
この場合、制御手段２６の制御に基づいて、米計量手段が炊飯量に必要な米の計量を行い、米とぎが必要な精白米の場合は、米を米とぎ部２２ａに供給して、米が研がれる。研がれた米は米排出手段２２ｅにより排出されて、送風機３０の送風により、炊飯部２１に移送される。引き続き、給水部２５によって炊飯量に適切な量の水が炊飯部２１に供給される。そして、炊飯部２１で炊飯が行われることで、自動炊飯されるものである。また、米とぎが不要な無洗米では、米は米とぎ手段に送り込まれるが、そのまま米排出手段２２ｅにて排出されて、送風機３０の送風により、炊飯部２１に移送される。以後は、同様に給水されて、炊飯を行う。
【００６３】
（実施例２）
実施例２の自動炊飯器２０としての基本構成は、炊飯部２１、給米部２２、貯米部２３、米とぎ手段２２ａ、米計量手段２２ｂ、米搬送手段２７、制御手段２６等を備えて、実施例１と同様であり、基本構成および炊飯運転についての説明は省略する。
【００６４】
第１に、図３、図４に示すように、貯米部２３と米搬送手段２７とは上下に独立して形成され、その中間にて米計量手段２２ｂが米を貯米部２３から米搬送手段２７に供給し、貯米部２３を前方に移動させる引出手段３８を設けた点で異なるものである。すなわち、引出手段３８として、貯米部２３の低部に４個のローラーを配置し、このローラーが移動するためのベースとしてレール部３８ａを設けている。
【００６５】
そこで、引出手段３８があるので、貯米部把手２３ｂを引くことで貯米部２３のみが前方に移動する。本体２９の安定性を維持した状態で、貯米部２３の内部をより簡単に手入れできる自動炊飯器となっている。
【００６６】
第２に、貯米部２３の米量を検出する貯米検知手段２３ａを有しており、貯米検知手段２３ａからの貯米検知信号に基づき、制御手段２６は貯米部２３の引出手段３８の作動を制御するように上下に移動するストッパー３９を貯米部固定手段として設けている点でも異なるものである。
【００６７】
このことで、貯米部２３の米量が貯米検知手段２３ａで検出でき、この検知信号に基づいて、ストッパー３９を上下に移動させ、貯米部２３の引出手段３８の動作を制御できる。制御手段２６は、米量が大量の場合は、引出手段３８を停止することで、引出すことによる本体２９の不安定さを防止できる。さらに、米量が少量の場合は、引出手段３８を動作可能として、貯米部２３を引出すことにより、貯米部２３の内部を簡単に手入れすることができる。
【００６８】
ストッパー３９は歯車、電動機、電磁石等、種々の駆動源で上下に移動させることができる。貯米検知手段２３ａは貯米部２３の一部を透明材料で形成し、外部より検知するものであるが、これに限定するものではない。
【００６９】
また、貯米部２３と米搬送手段２７とをそれぞれ単独で移動するように引出手段３８および第２の引出手段４２を設けたことで、その操作が小さな力で行え、使い勝手が向上する。また、貯米部２３の米量の多少に関わらず、米搬送手段２７のみを引出すことで、本体２９の安定性能を保持しつつ、米搬送手段２７のお手入れを簡単に行える。
【００７０】
第２の引出手段４２は引出手段３８と同様で、米搬送手段２７の下部に４個のローラーで形成されているが、操作もどうようであるので、説明を省略する。もちろん、前後の移動に対して着脱可能なように、給米経路２４の中間部に給米接続部２４ａを設けている。なお、自動運転中には、引出せないような固定手段が設けられているが、このような技術手段も公知であり、図示を省略した。
【００７１】
また、貯米部２３の本体２９への装着状態を検出する磁気センサ４０およびマグネット４０ａにて貯米部検知手段を設けていることで、貯米部２３の装着状態を検出して、米搬送手段２７を作動するので、給米動作を確実に行える。
【００７２】
また、貯米部２３を本体２９に着脱自在に装着するための貯米部カバー４１を貯米部装着部材として設けている。
【００７３】
このことで、貯米部２３を完全に本体２９から取り外せるので、その内部の隅々までお手入れすることが簡単に行える。この場合、貯米検知手段２３ａと連動させ、米の残量が殆どない場合のみ取外せるようにすれば、本体の転倒は殆どなくなる。
【００７４】
また、貯米扉２８が略水平方向に引出せるので、貯米扉２８を収納する毎に、主として貯米扉２８の先端部で貯米部２３に投入されている米の上部を平坦にする。貯米部２３の上部に米を収納する空間を確保し、上部まで米を収納でき、米は最大容量まで収納できる。また、米の投入状態が均一化され、貯米部２３における米の減少の仕方が均一になり、米の貯米検知手段の検知バラツキが少なく、給米部２２の性能が安定する。
【００７５】
なお、実施例２では、貯米部２２には精白米や玄米を収納して、これを米とぎ部２３にて研いでから炊飯部２１に供給する構成としているが、すでに研いだ米、いわゆる無洗米であってもよいこと実施例１と同様である。
【００７６】
なお、上記各実施例で、米搬送手段２７への送風手段に、外気中の雑菌を除去する除菌手段や、米搬送手段２７の内部で発生する恐れの有る雑菌を除去する除菌手段、抗菌手段、防虫手段を付加することもできる。その場合には、より米搬送手段２７の清潔性が高度に維持できて、長期間の使用に対しても湿気に関連して問題の発生しない自動炊飯器とすることができる。
【００７７】
なお、上記各実施例では、米とぎ手段を備えたものとしているが、すでに研いだ米、そのまま炊飯に使用できる米、たとえば無洗米を前提として、米とぎ手段が備わっていない構成とし、ほぼ同様の自動炊飯が可能なこともいうまでもない。この場合には、少なくとも米とぎ手段の機構部の大きさだけ、全体の大きさを小型化でき、設置の自由度が向上する。
【００７８】
なお、上記各実施例では、米とぎ手段は水を使用しない米とぎ機構を備えたものとしているが、水を使用して米とぎを行うものであってもよい。ただし、そのような場合には、米とぎ手段での水の飛散や水漏れの影響が貯米部２３に及ぼさないように、貯米部２３への水滴、湿気の進入を防止するシール機構を備えておく必要がある。そのため、上記各実施例で設けた給水部２５や水投入部３２を米とぎ手段に対しても、設けても良いものである。また、それらを適宜共通化して、単純な構造とすることができるものである。
【００７９】
なお、上記各実施例では、貯米部２３と米とぎ手段とを鉛直方向に積み上げた構成であるが、これらを略同一平面状に配置してもよい。このような構成では、設置面積は大きくなるが、全体の高さが低くなるので、最上部の炊飯部２１からの蒸気処理機構を備えれば、システムキッチンやワゴン等に収納し、一体化することができる。
【００８０】
なお、上記各実施例においては、米の搬送後に水の給水が行われるものとしているが、米搬送と給水の実行方法はこれに限定するものではない。
【００８１】
【発明の効果】
以上のように、本発明によれば、制御手段の指令により給米部と給水部を作動することで、炊飯部に米と水を供給し、自動的に炊飯することができる。また、貯米部への米の投入は、本体の側面に設けた貯米扉を開放することで行える。且つ、投入作業で米の荷重が貯米扉および本体に加わることだけでは、本体が転倒する恐れがなく、安定性が高い、設置場所を自由に設定できて使い勝手のよい自動炊飯器を提供できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施例１における自動炊飯器を示す要部断面図
【図２】同実施例における自動炊飯器の貯米扉の開放状態を示す斜視図
【図３】本発明の実施例２における自動炊飯器を示す要部断面図
【図４】同実施例における自動炊飯器の貯米扉の開放状態を示す斜視図
【図５】従来の自動炊飯器を示す要部断面図
【図６】従来の他の自動炊飯器における貯米部の引出状態を示す斜視図
【図７】従来の他の自動炊飯器における貯米部の引出状態を示す斜視図
【符号の説明】
１　自動炊飯器
２　炊飯部
３　貯米部
４　米とぎ部
５　米計量手段
６　米排出手段
７　米搬送手段
８　給水手段
９　制御手段
２０　自動炊飯器
２１　炊飯部
２２　給米部
２２ａ　米とぎ手段
２２ｂ　米計量手段
２２ｃ　回転ブラシ
２２ｄ　容器
２３　貯米部
２３ａ　貯米検知手段
２４　給米経路
２４ａ　給米接続口
２５　給水部
２６　制御手段
２７　米搬送手段
２８　貯米扉
２９　本体
３０　送風機
３１　米投入部
３２　水投入部
３３　貯水部
３４　導水部
３５　短辺
３６　長辺
３７　シール部材
３８　引出手段
３９　ストッパー（貯米部固定手段）
４０　磁気センサ（貯米部検知手段）
４１　貯米部カバー（貯米部装着部材）
４２　第２の引出手段[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic rice cooker mainly used in ordinary households, and more particularly to an automatic rice cooker provided with a rice storage unit, a rice cooking unit, and a rice transporting unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
First, as an automatic rice cooker provided with a rice cooker and a rice storage unit, one having a structure as shown in Japanese Patent No. 1576510 and having a structure shown in FIG. 5 is conventionally known. The automatic rice cooker 1 has a structure in which a rice cooker 2 is provided at a lower portion, and a rice storage portion 3 is provided above the rice cooker 2, and each rice cooker 3 can be pulled out forward. A rice pad 4 for washing the stored polished rice is located between the rice storage 3 and the rice cooker 2.
[0003]
The operation of the automatic rice cooker 1 will be briefly described. When the upper lid is closed, the rice cooker 2 is stored in the main body, and the operation (the operation unit is not shown) is started, the required polished rice from the rice storage unit 3 is measured by the rice weighing unit 5 and the rice is removed. Rice is sharpened in part 4. The rice cutting unit 4 is opened by the rice discharging unit 6, and the polished rice is discharged from the rice cutting unit 4 and supplied to the rice cooking unit 2 from the rice conveying unit 7. As described above, rice is supplied to the rice cooking section 2 by the rice storage section 3, the rice gap section 4, and the rice transporting means 7, and these are collectively referred to as a rice supply section below. That is, the automatic rice cooker 1 disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 1576510 has a configuration in which the rice cooker 3 is provided below the rice feeder.
[0004]
Subsequently, the water for rice cooking is supplied to the rice cooking unit 2 by the water supply unit 8. In addition, although the rice padding section 4 performs rice padding on a water-free basis and the water supply section 8 is also provided with water measuring means, these points are already known technical means, and description and illustration thereof are omitted. When a predetermined amount of rice supply and water supply are completed, rice is cooked in the rice cooker 2 by the control means 9. The stored rice is weighed, washed, transported, and automatically cooked.
[0005]
In a fully automatic rice cooker having a configuration as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-56023, a rice storage unit is provided at an upper portion and a rice cooker is provided at a lower portion inside a rectangular box-shaped main body, and rice is stored in the rice storage portion. An upper lid that is sometimes opened is provided to be openable and closable. This fully automatic rice cooker does not have a rice washing section, and rice and water are separately supplied to a pot of the rice cooking section, so that rice can be cooked using non-washed rice. In addition, the water can be heated and cooked before the rice is supplied. In this case, the basic arrangement of the rice cooking section and the rice feeding section is the same as that described above.
[0006]
Next, in an automatic rice cooker having a configuration as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-337046, contrary to the above-described case, the rice cooker is located at the upper part, and the rice feeder is located below the rice cooker. In the rice-supplying section, the rice-storage section is located at the top, and the rice-to-rice section for washing the stored milled rice is below the rice storage section.
[0007]
The operation of the automatic rice cooker will be briefly described. When the operation is started, the required polished rice from the rice storage unit is measured by the rice measuring means, and the rice is sharpened at the rice cutting unit. The polished rice is discharged from the rice cutting part by the rice discharging means and supplied to the rice cooking part from the rice transport means. The rice transport means transports the polished rice by a blower and is supplied from a rice input unit provided above the rice cooking unit.
[0008]
Subsequently, the water for rice cooking is supplied to the rice cooking section by the water supply section. Note that the means for measuring the water content of rice and water in the rice towel section in an anhydrous manner is the same as that of the conventional automatic rice cooker 1 described above, and the description is omitted. Further, the stored rice is weighed, washed, transported, and automatically cooked by cooking rice in the rice cooker by the control means.
[0009]
In addition, in the automatic rice cooker 1 having the conventional configuration, if the rice cutting unit 4 and the rice weighing unit 5 process the rice cooking amount set by the operation unit at one time, the components are mechanically large, and the equipment is increased. As the whole becomes large, it cannot be easily installed and used in ordinary households.
[0010]
Therefore, a rice weighing process in which the rice supplied from the rice storage unit is weighed by a predetermined unit amount, a rice toweling process in which the weighed rice is washed by a predetermined unit amount, and the polished rice and water are conveyed to the rice cooking unit. By repeating each step of the rice transport process to be put in until the set amount of cooked rice is reached, the amount of rice to be weighed and washed once at a set amount of cooked rice is reduced, and the component parts are downsized, The size of the automatic rice cooker body has been reduced. The same applies to an automatic rice cooker having a structure as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 1576510, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-337046, and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-56023.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the conventional configuration described above, in the case where the rice cooker is provided below the rice feeder as shown in FIG. 5, the steam generated in the rice cooker 2 during the rice cooking in the automatic rice cooker 1 enters the rice transport means 7, Some drawbacks are expected from withdrawing the rice-saving department from the rice-delivery department.
[0012]
First, since the rice cooker 2 is located below the rice gap 4 and the rice storage 3, the steam generated in the rice cooker 21 during rice cooking rises and moves upward to the rice gap 4 and the rice storage 3. Moving. Therefore, a steam treatment mechanism for exhausting the gas to the front of the main body is required so that the steam does not enter these. For this purpose, a blower for discharging generated steam may be provided, and it may be operated in the rice cooking process, the heat keeping process, and the like. It cannot be produced at low cost, and in general, the outer shape of the main body also becomes large.
[0013]
Next, since the rice storage unit 3 is at the uppermost position, when the rice storage unit 3 is pulled out, a load of about 10 to 20 kg including the weight of rice is applied to the front of the main body, and the unit falls over. It is something that could be done. FIG. 6 schematically shows a state where the rice storage unit 3 is pulled out.
[0014]
In addition, most of the commercially available polished rice currently has 5 kg and 10 kg per bag, and some have 20 kg. In addition, in the operation of storing rice in the rice storage unit 3, it is sufficiently assumed that the user presses the rice storage unit 3 withdrawn a little. Therefore, in order to stabilize the main body, it is necessary to provide a metal fitting for fixing the main body to the installation place. The installation place is limited, and the apparatus cannot be easily moved. Of course, the rice cooking unit 2 and the rice storage unit 3 as the rice feeding unit and the rice transporting unit 7 can be arranged in parallel on the same plane to avoid this problem, but there is a new problem that the installation area becomes large. Occurs.
[0015]
In addition, an opening for putting rice in may be provided at the upper part of the main body without pulling out the rice storage part 3, but the upper part of the main body is effective as a place for storing various small articles for the rice storage door for opening and closing this. Can not be used for Alternatively, a space for opening the rice storage door is required upward, and the place where the rice storage door is placed is also limited.
[0016]
In other words, there is a problem in achieving both steam processing during cooking of rice, securing stability of the main body due to the operation of putting rice into the rice feeding section, particularly the rice storing section, and securing installation space.
[0017]
Further, in the case where there is a rice feeding section below the rice cooking section 2 as shown in FIG. 7, in order to store rice in the rice storage section 3, it is necessary to pull out the rice storage section 3 forward. Must be secured ahead. Further, it is necessary to arrange the rice storage unit 3 as low as possible so that the main body does not fall forward by pulling out the rice storage unit 3 storing the rice forward. As a result, in storing rice, it is necessary to bend down and the operability is not good. Further, in order to arrange the rice storage unit 3 as low as possible, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the rice transport means 7, and since each component uses a small high-performance component, the manufacturing cost increases.
[0018]
The present invention, in order to solve the problems of the automatic rice cooker of the conventional configuration as described above, by the rice storage door provided in the rice storage unit, the rice cooker and rice feeder vertically overlapped, installed It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic rice cooker which has a small space, does not fall down when rice is put into a rice storing section, and has high stability.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The automatic rice cooker of the present invention includes a rice cooker that cooks rice, a rice feeder that supplies rice to the rice cooker, a water feeder that supplies water to the rice cooker, the rice feeder, the water feeder, and the rice cooker. Control means for controlling the rice section, the rice feeding section has a rice storage section disposed below the rice cooking section and stores rice, and rice transport means for sending rice from the rice feeding path to the rice cooking section, The rice storage section is provided with a rice storage door for opening and closing an opening for charging rice on a side surface of a main body formed by the rice cooking section and the rice supply section.
[0020]
According to this invention, rice and water can be supplied to the rice cooker and rice can be cooked automatically by operating the rice supply unit and the water supply unit in accordance with a command from the control means. Also, rice can be put into the rice storing section by opening a rice storing door provided on a side surface of the main body. In addition, merely by applying the load of rice to the main body during the loading operation, there is no possibility of the main body falling over, and an automatic rice cooker with high stability can be provided.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 is a rice cooker for cooking rice, a rice supply unit for supplying rice to the rice cooker, a water supply unit for supplying water to the rice cooker, the rice supply unit, the water supply unit, and the rice cooker. A rice storage unit for storing rice below the rice cooking unit; and a rice conveying unit for feeding rice from the rice supply path to the rice cooking unit. The unit is that a rice storage door for opening and closing an opening for charging rice is provided on a side surface of a main body formed by the rice cooking unit and the rice supply unit.
[0022]
According to this invention, rice and water can be supplied to the rice cooker and rice can be cooked automatically by operating the rice supply unit and the water supply unit in accordance with a command from the control means. Also, rice can be put into the rice storing section by opening a rice storing door provided on a side surface of the main body. In addition, it is possible to provide an automatic rice cooker that is less likely to fall over simply by applying the load of rice to the rice storage unit and the main body during the charging operation, and that has high stability.
[0023]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the rice storage unit or the main body has a substantially rectangular cross section, and a rice storage door is provided on a short side of the rice storage unit.
[0024]
According to the present invention, the moment for tilting the main body caused by the load applied to the rice storage door in the rice charging operation or the like is proportional to the size, short side to length of the rice storage door. In addition, the moment to stabilize the main body depends on the position of the center of gravity of the main body, but it is almost determined by the length of the long side, so it is larger than the moment to tilt the main body, and as a whole the automatic rice cooker with higher stability Vessel can be provided.
[0025]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first or second aspects, the rice storage unit and the rice transporting means are formed vertically independently, and at least the rice storage unit is disposed forward. This is to provide a drawer for moving.
[0026]
According to the present invention, the rice transporting unit of the rice supplying unit is stopped inside the main body, and only the rice storing unit is moved forward by the drawer unit. Can provide an automatic rice cooker that can clean the rice.
[0027]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water storage section for storing water leakage from the rice cooking section and its surroundings.
[0028]
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic rice cooker in which water leakage generated in the rice cooking section and its surroundings is stored in the water storage section and does not enter the rice storage section from the rice storage door. In particular, by providing a water conduit for guiding water leakage in the water storage section, the water can be reliably guided to the water storage section.
[0029]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the rice storage door is provided with a seal member for making water tight between the rice storage door and the opening of the rice storage section. .
[0030]
In the present invention, water leaking from the rice cooker or water drops dropped on the main body from the outside does not enter the rice storage unit from the rice storage door by the seal member between the opening of the rice storage unit and the rice storage door. Water droplets can be provided to an automatic rice cooker that moves to the lower part of the main body or to the water storage unit to appropriately maintain the storage state of rice in the rice storage unit.
[0031]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a rice storage detecting means for detecting the amount of rice in the rice storing section is provided, and the control means is provided based on a rice storage detection signal from the rice storage detecting means. Means that a rice-storing section fixing means for controlling the operation of the withdrawing means of the rice-storing section is provided.
[0032]
According to the present invention, the amount of rice in the rice storage section can be detected by the rice storage detection means, and based on the rice storage detection signal, the control means operates the rice storage section fixing means and controls the operation of the extraction means of the rice storage section. it can. When the amount of rice in the rice storage unit is large, the control unit stops the withdrawal unit in the rice storage unit, thereby preventing instability of the main body caused by withdrawal. Conversely, when the amount of rice is small, the drawer is made operable and pulled out, so that the inside of the rice storage unit can be easily maintained without instability of the main body.
[0033]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the third and sixth aspects, a drawer for independently moving the rice storage unit and the rice transporting unit is provided.
[0034]
According to the present invention, the rice storing section and the rice transporting means can be independently pulled out, so that the operation can be performed with a small force in each maintenance, and the usability is improved. Also, regardless of the amount of rice in the rice storage unit, by simply pulling out the rice transport means alone, the rice transport means can be easily cleaned while maintaining the stability performance of the main body.
[0035]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rice storage unit detecting means for detecting a mounted state of the rice storage unit.
[0036]
In this invention, the control means detects the mounting state of the rice storage unit by the rice storage unit detection means, and activates the rice transport means according to the detection signal. Since the rice transport means is operated only when the rice storage unit is mounted at a predetermined position, the rice feeding operation can be performed reliably. In particular, if the state in which the rice storage unit is pulled out is long, the control unit can also notify the user of this fact and prevent insects and dust from entering the rice storage unit.
[0037]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the third or sixth to eighth aspects, a rice storage portion mounting member for detachably mounting the rice storage portion to the main body is provided.
[0038]
According to the present invention, since the rice-storing portion mounting member is opened and the rice-storing portion can be completely removed from the main body, it is easy to clean the rice storing portion and the inside of the main body to every corner.
[0039]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the rice storage door is of a drawer type that is moved substantially horizontally forward.
[0040]
In the present invention, since the rice storage door moves substantially horizontally, each time the rice storage door is stored, the upper part of the rice put into the rice storage unit is mainly flattened mainly at the tip of the rice storage door. . Rice can be stored up to the top of the rice storage section, and rice can be stored up to the maximum capacity. In addition, the rice input state is made uniform, the method of reducing the amount of rice in the rice storage section becomes uniform, the detection variation of the rice storage detection means is reduced, and the performance of the rice supply section is stabilized.
[0041]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0042]
(Example 1)
First, the basic configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The automatic rice cooker 20 according to the first embodiment includes a rice cooker 21 having a kettle for putting rice and water in and cooking rice and a heating means therefor, and a rice feeder 22 for supplying rice to the rice cooker.
[0043]
The rice supply unit 22 includes a rice storage unit 23 for storing the polished rice, and a rice cutting unit 22a for washing the polished rice. In addition, as the heating means of the rice cooker 21, electromagnetic induction heating in which the rice cooker itself is heated by a high-frequency current supplied to the heating coil 21a is illustrated. Various heating and cooking methods such as combustion, dielectric heating by microwave, boiler steam, etc. are possible.
[0044]
In the rice feeding section 22, a rice measuring means 22b is provided at the bottom of the rice storing section 23, and is provided with a measuring unit having a square shape and a rotating mechanism therefor. Supply rice. The rice cutting means 22a includes a rotating brush 22c and a container 22d having a large number of holes. The centrifugal force is applied to the rice, and the rice is repeatedly moved up and down. It removes rice bran and separates it, and can grind rice anhydrous. This is also a known technique, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The shape, arrangement, and the like of the rotating brush are not limited to those described above. In addition, a rice peeling method using water is also possible.
[0045]
The rice supply unit 22 is provided with a rice discharging means 22e. The rice discharging valve 22 opens and closes a discharge port for discharging the rice polished by the rice cutting means 22a. Discharge.
[0046]
In addition, the rice feeding section 22 includes, as rice transport means 27, a blower 30 for transporting the rice discharged from the rice discharging means by air, and a tubular rice feeding path 24 connecting the rice cooking section 21 and the rice feeding section 22. Is provided. By the rice transport means 27, the ground rice is supplied to the rice cooker 21 from a rice input unit 31 which is opened and closed by a rice input valve provided above the rice cooker 21.
[0047]
Further, the rice feeding section 22 is provided with an exhaust path (not shown) branched from the rice feeding path 24 of the rice transport means 27, and the air for transport is mainly exhausted from here, so that the rice is fed to the rice cooking section 21. Can be put into Of course, the steamer 21 is provided with a steam hole for discharging steam during cooking, so that air is also discharged therefrom. However, since the steam hole has a general configuration, illustration is omitted. ing.
[0048]
The water supply unit 25 includes a water supply valve that opens and closes a water supply path connected to the water supply, and water is supplied to the rice cooker 21 from a water input unit 32 that is opened and closed by a water input valve provided above the rice cooker 21. The water supply valve of the water supply unit 25 has a built-in water flow rate detection means (not shown), and the water supply amount can be measured based on the flow rate detection signal. Water can be supplied.
[0049]
The water measuring technique is also a known technique, and the flow rate detecting means disposed before and after the water supply valve may be used without being provided integrally with the water supply valve. Of course, the amount of water and further the amount of rice may be detected by measuring the weight of the rice cooker 21.
[0050]
The control unit 26 controls the operation of the components of the rice weighing unit 22b, the rice padding unit 22a, the rice discharging unit 22e, the rice transporting unit 27, the water supply unit 25, and the rice cooking unit 21 so that the operation from rice weighing to rice cooking is performed. It runs automatically. As an operation unit for the user to perform driving, a display unit, a control board, and the like are provided, and the amount of rice cooked, rice cooking time, operation start, operation stop, and selection of a rice cooking course can be performed with this operation unit. The illustration is omitted because it is not the main configuration of the present invention.
[0051]
The rice storage unit 23 is different from the conventional rice storage unit 23 in that the rice storage unit 23 has a rice storage door 28 for charging rice on a side surface of a main body 29 formed by the rice cooking unit 21 and the rice supply unit 22. is there.
[0052]
The operation of the automatic rice cooker 20 and the operation of the rice storage door 28 will be described.
[0053]
First, driving is started when the user specifies the amount of cooked rice on the operation unit. Based on the control of the control means 26, the rice measuring means measures the amount of rice required for the amount of cooked rice, supplies the rice to the rice cutting means 22a, and grinds the rice. The polished rice is discharged by the rice discharging means 22e, and is transferred to the rice cooker 21 by the blowing of the blower 30. Subsequently, an appropriate amount of water according to the amount of cooked rice is supplied to the rice cooker 21 by the water supply unit 25. The rice is cooked automatically by the rice cooking section 21 to automatically cook rice.
[0054]
Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the rice storage door 28 is located on the side of the main body 29 having the rice cooker 21 and the rice storage 23, on the same side as the front edge of the lid that opens and closes the upper part of the rice cooker 21, that is, on the front. It is provided in. The rice storage door 28 is opened to store rice such as polished rice and unwashed rice.
[0055]
As described above, rice and water can be supplied to the rice cooker 21 by automatically operating the rice supply unit 22 and the water supply unit 25 in accordance with a command from the control unit 26, and rice can be cooked automatically. Further, the rice can be put into the rice storage unit 23 by opening only the rice storage door 28 provided on the side surface of the main body. In addition, merely by applying the load of rice to the main body 29 during the loading operation, the automatic rice cooker 20 has high stability without the possibility of the main body 29 falling over.
[0056]
In the first embodiment, the rice storage unit 23 and the main body 29 have a substantially rectangular cross section, and the rice storage door 28 is provided on the short side 35 of the rice storage unit 23. The moment for tilting the main body 29 is smaller than that of providing the rice storage door 28 on the long side 36, and the automatic rice cooker 20 has higher stability. Considering the operability when simply storing rice, the rice storage door 28 may be provided also on the long side 36, but assuming that a certain load is applied, By providing the short side 35, more stability is obtained.
[0057]
In the first embodiment, a water storage section 33 for storing water leakage from the rice cooker 21 and its surroundings, and a water conduit 34 having an opening for guiding the water leakage to the water storage section 33 are provided. As a result, water leakage generated in the rice cooker 21 due to an erroneous operation or malfunction due to some factor is stored in the water storage unit 33, so that water leakage does not enter the rice storage unit 23 from the rice storage door 28. The automatic rice cooker 20 can prevent the rice in the rice storage unit 23 from deteriorating due to water leakage.
[0058]
In the first embodiment, the rice storage door 28 is provided with the sealing member 37 for making the space between the rice storage door 23 and the opening of the rice storage section 23 watertight, so that water drops dropped from the rice cooker 21 or the outside can be discharged from the rice storage door 28. The automatic rice cooker 20 does not enter the rice storage unit 23, so that the rice storage state of the rice storage unit 23 is properly maintained.
[0059]
In addition, by providing the rice cutting means 22a for removing rice bran, the rice bran is removed from the polished rice or brown rice in the rice storage unit 23 immediately before cooking rice, and the polished rice is immediately transferred to the rice cooking unit 21. The automatic rice cooker 20 is capable of being transported and automatically cooked rice, so that the sharpened rice is prevented from being oxidized and deteriorated by being left for a long time, thereby improving the rice cooking performance.
[0060]
Since the water supply unit 25 that supplies water to the rice cooker 21 is provided, the water supply unit 25 supplies water to the rice cooker 21 at an appropriate time, thereby providing an automatic rice cooker 20 that automatically cooks rice. In reserved rice cooking and regular rice cooking, the ground rice is soaked for an appropriate time. Since it does not deteriorate due to excessive immersion, rice cooking performance also improves in this regard.
[0061]
In this embodiment, the user specifies on the operation unit (not shown) whether the type of rice is polished rice that requires padding or unwashed rice that does not require padding. Thus, the automatic rice cooker 20 that starts operation can be provided.
[0062]
In this case, based on the control of the control means 26, the rice measuring means measures the amount of rice necessary for the amount of cooked rice. Is sharpened. The polished rice is discharged by the rice discharging means 22e, and is transferred to the rice cooker 21 by the blowing of the blower 30. Subsequently, an appropriate amount of water for the amount of cooked rice is supplied to the rice cooker 21 by the water supply unit 25. The rice is cooked automatically by the rice cooking section 21 to automatically cook rice. In the case of non-washed rice that does not require rice padding, the rice is sent to the rice padding unit, but is discharged as it is by the rice discharging unit 22e, and is transferred to the rice cooker 21 by the air blower 30. After that, water is supplied in the same manner to cook rice.
[0063]
(Example 2)
The basic configuration of the automatic rice cooker 20 according to the second embodiment includes a rice cooker 21, a rice supply unit 22, a rice storage unit 23, a rice padding unit 22a, a rice measuring unit 22b, a rice transport unit 27, a control unit 26, and the like. This is the same as the first embodiment, and a description of the basic configuration and the rice cooking operation is omitted.
[0064]
First, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rice storage unit 23 and the rice transporting unit 27 are formed vertically independently, and the rice weighing unit 22b interposes the rice from the rice storage unit 23 in the middle thereof. The difference is that a drawer 38 is provided to supply the rice to the transporting means 27 and move the rice storage unit 23 forward. That is, four rollers are arranged at the lower part of the rice storage unit 23 as the withdrawing means 38, and the rail 38a is provided as a base for the rollers to move.
[0065]
Then, since there is the withdrawing means 38, only the rice storage unit 23 moves forward by pulling the rice storage unit handle 23b. This is an automatic rice cooker that can more easily maintain the inside of the rice storage unit 23 while maintaining the stability of the main body 29.
[0066]
Secondly, the rice storage unit 23 includes a rice storage detecting unit 23a for detecting the amount of rice, and the control unit 26 controls the withdrawal unit of the rice storage unit 23 based on the rice storage detection signal from the rice storage detecting unit 23a. Another difference is that a stopper 39 that moves up and down so as to control the operation of 38 is provided as a rice storing unit fixing means.
[0067]
Thus, the amount of rice in the rice storage unit 23 can be detected by the rice storage detection unit 23a, and based on the detection signal, the stopper 39 can be moved up and down to control the operation of the extraction unit 38 of the rice storage unit 23. When the amount of rice is large, the control means 26 stops the drawer means 38, thereby preventing instability of the main body 29 due to the withdrawal. Further, when the amount of rice is small, the inside of the rice storage unit 23 can be easily maintained by operating the extraction unit 38 and extracting the rice storage unit 23.
[0068]
The stopper 39 can be moved up and down by various driving sources such as a gear, an electric motor, and an electromagnet. The rice storage detecting means 23a is configured to form a part of the rice storage unit 23 with a transparent material and to detect from outside, but the invention is not limited to this.
[0069]
In addition, since the extraction unit 38 and the second extraction unit 42 are provided so as to move the rice storage unit 23 and the rice transport unit 27 independently, the operation can be performed with a small force, and the usability is improved. Also, regardless of the amount of rice in the rice storage unit 23, by pulling out only the rice transporting means 27, the rice transporting means 27 can be easily cleaned while maintaining the stable performance of the main body 29.
[0070]
The second pulling means 42 is similar to the pulling means 38 and is formed of four rollers below the rice transport means 27, but the operation is also the same, and a description thereof will be omitted. Needless to say, a rice feeding connection portion 24a is provided at an intermediate portion of the rice feeding path 24 so that the rice feeding route 24 can be attached and detached. It should be noted that a fixing means that cannot be pulled out is provided during automatic operation, but such technical means are also publicly known and are not shown.
[0071]
In addition, the magnetic sensor 40 and the magnet 40a for detecting the state of attachment of the rice storage unit 23 to the main body 29 provide the rice storage unit detection means. Since the means 27 is operated, the rice feeding operation can be performed reliably.
[0072]
Further, a rice storage unit cover 41 for detachably mounting the rice storage unit 23 to the main body 29 is provided as a rice storage unit mounting member.
[0073]
As a result, the rice storage unit 23 can be completely removed from the main body 29, so that it is possible to easily clean the inside of the unit. In this case, if linked with the rice storage detecting means 23a so that the rice can be removed only when there is almost no remaining amount of rice, the main body hardly falls down.
[0074]
Further, since the rice storage door 28 can be pulled out in a substantially horizontal direction, each time the rice storage door 28 is stored, the top of the rice put into the rice storage unit 23 is mainly flattened mainly at the tip of the rice storage door 28. . A space for storing rice is secured at the upper part of the rice storage unit 23, the rice can be stored up to the upper part, and the rice can be stored up to the maximum capacity. In addition, the state of rice input is made uniform, the manner in which rice is reduced in the rice storage unit 23 is made uniform, detection variations of rice storage detection means are reduced, and the performance of the rice supply unit 22 is stabilized.
[0075]
In the second embodiment, the rice storage unit 22 stores polished rice or brown rice, and the rice is ground in the rice cutting unit 23 and then supplied to the rice cooking unit 21. It is the same as in Example 1 that unwashed rice may be used.
[0076]
In each of the above embodiments, the air blowing means to the rice transport means 27 includes a bacteria removing means for removing various bacteria in the outside air, a bacteria removing means for removing various bacteria which may be generated inside the rice transport means 27, Antibacterial means and insect repellent means can be added. In this case, it is possible to provide an automatic rice cooker in which the cleanliness of the rice transporting means 27 can be maintained at a high level, and there is no problem related to moisture even for long-term use.
[0077]
In addition, in each of the above embodiments, rice cutting means is provided. Needless to say, automatic rice cooking is possible. In this case, the overall size can be reduced by at least the size of the mechanism of the rice cutting means, and the degree of freedom of installation is improved.
[0078]
In each of the above embodiments, the rice padding means has a rice padding mechanism that does not use water. However, rice padding may be performed using water. However, in such a case, a sealing mechanism for preventing water droplets and moisture from entering the rice storage unit 23 so that the influence of water scattering or water leakage by the rice cutting means does not affect the rice storage unit 23. You need to be prepared. Therefore, the water supply unit 25 and the water input unit 32 provided in each of the above embodiments may be provided also for the rice cutting means. In addition, they can be appropriately shared to have a simple structure.
[0079]
In each of the above embodiments, the rice storage unit 23 and the rice cutting means are stacked vertically, but they may be arranged on substantially the same plane. In such a configuration, the installation area is large, but the overall height is low. Therefore, if a steam processing mechanism from the top rice cooker 21 is provided, it is housed in a system kitchen or a wagon and integrated. be able to.
[0080]
In each of the above embodiments, water is supplied after the rice is transported, but the method of transporting the rice and performing the water supply is not limited to this.
[0081]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, rice and water can be supplied to the rice cooker and rice can be cooked automatically by operating the rice supply unit and the water supply unit in accordance with commands from the control unit. Also, rice can be put into the rice storing section by opening a rice storing door provided on a side surface of the main body. In addition, merely by applying the load of rice to the rice storage door and the main body during the loading operation, the main body does not fall down, and the stability can be increased. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of an automatic rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an open state of a rice storage door of the automatic rice cooker in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a main part of an automatic rice cooker according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an opened state of a rice storage door of the automatic rice cooker in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part showing a conventional automatic rice cooker.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a drawn-out state of a rice storage unit in another conventional automatic rice cooker.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a drawn-out state of a rice storage unit in another conventional automatic rice cooker.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 automatic rice cooker
2 Cooking section
3 Rice Banking Department
4 Rice towel
5 Rice weighing means
6 Rice discharge means
7 Rice transport means
8 Water supply means
9 Control means
20 Automatic rice cooker
21 Cooking section
22 Rice Supply Department
22a Rice padding means
22b Rice weighing means
22c rotating brush
22d container
23 Rice Bank
23a Rice storage detection means
24 Rice supply route
24a rice supply connection
25 Water supply department
26 control means
27 Rice transport means
28 Rice Door
29 body
30 blower
31 Rice Input Department
32 Water input section
33 Reservoir
34 Headrace
35 short side
36 long side
37 Sealing member
38 Withdrawal means
39 Stopper (means for storing rice)
40 Magnetic sensor (means for detecting rice storing part)
41 Rice storage section cover (rice storage section mounting member)
42 Second withdrawal means

Claims

A rice cooker that cooks rice, a rice feeder that supplies rice to the rice cooker, a water feeder that supplies water to the rice cooker, and a control unit that controls the rice feeder, the water feeder, and the rice cooker. The rice feeding unit includes a rice storage unit disposed below the rice cooking unit for storing rice, and rice transporting means for feeding rice from the rice feeding path to the rice cooking unit, and the rice storage unit inputs rice. An automatic rice cooker in which a rice storage door for opening and closing an opening is provided on a side surface of a main body formed by the rice cooker and the rice feeder.

The automatic rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal section of the rice storage unit or the main body is substantially rectangular, and a rice storage door is provided on a short side of the substantially rectangular cross section.

The automatic rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising a drawer for moving the rice storage unit forward.

The automatic rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a water storage unit for storing water leakage from the rice cooker and its surroundings.

The automatic rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a seal member for watertight between an opening of the rice storage unit and the rice storage door is provided on at least one of the rice storage door and the opening.

A rice storage detecting means for detecting the amount of rice in the rice storage section, and a rice storage section fixing means for stopping the withdrawal means of the rice storage section are provided, and the control means is based on the rice storage detection signal from the rice storage detection means, The automatic rice cooker according to claim 3, wherein the rice storing unit fixing means is operated.

7. The automatic rice cooker according to claim 3, wherein the withdrawal unit moves the rice storage unit and the rice transport unit independently forward. 8.

The automatic rice cooker according to any one of claims 3 or 6 to 7, further comprising a rice storage unit detecting means for detecting a mounting state of the rice storage unit.

The automatic rice cooker according to any one of claims 3 to 8, further comprising a rice storage unit mounting member for detachably mounting the rice storage unit to the main body.

The automatic rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the rice cooker door is of a drawer type that is moved substantially horizontally forward.