JP2004321684A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a chance that a sticky starchy fluid entering a steam passage adheres to the steam passage, and to remove the sticky starchy fluid attached to the steam passage by easy washing. <P>SOLUTION: The occurrence of the adhesion of the sticky starchy fluid to the steam passage 10 is reduced by providing a lid 11 for a water storage part as a steam guiding means on the water storage part 8 to heat steam to heating steam in the water storage part 8 for eliminating heating in the steam passage 10. Consequently, the occurrence of the decline in the rice cooking performance due to the clogged steam passage 10 is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rice cooker that utilizes steam having a boiling point higher than that of water to improve rice cooking performance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a general household rice cooker, the pot heating means arranged at the bottom of the pot to heat the rice and water in the pot is mainly used, and the heating means in the lid is for the rice in the pot, above the water. As a result of passing through the space, auxiliary heating results. Therefore, the heating amount of rice in the upper layer in the pot was insufficient, and rice and water in the pot could not be heated uniformly.
[0003]
Furthermore, in rice cooking, water is almost completely lost and the fluidity of rice is lost. In the steaming step, which is the final step of rice cooking, heating up to that point is continued to complete the gelatinization of rice starch. Indispensable for cooking rice, if heating is continued in this step, the rice cooked near the bottom of the pot will burn, so heating is often weakened.
[0004]
Means to prevent insufficient gelatinization due to weakening of heating and improve rice cooking performance include heating the rice from above the pot opening by providing an induction heating coil, which is a high heat source, on the lid. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0005]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of Patent Document 1. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 denotes a main body case to which a bottom plate 23 having a support leg 22 is fixed on the lower surface. Reference numeral 24 denotes a protective frame made of heat-resistant plastics, and a flange 25 provided on an upper peripheral portion is fixed to an upper surface of the main body case 21. 26 is a bottom surface heating induction coil mounted on the lower bottom of the protection frame 24, and 27 is a side surface heating induction coil installed on the lower side of the protection frame 24, having a magnetic metal layer housed in the protection frame 24. The pot 28 is heated by the bottom surface heating induction coil 26, and the contents of rice and water in the pot 28 are cooked. Reference numeral 29 denotes a temperature sensor mounted in a through hole provided at the center of the bottom surface of the protection frame 24. Reference numeral 30 denotes a lid having a knob 31, which is removably mounted on the flange 25 at the upper end of the protection frame 24. The inner cover 32 made of plastics having heat resistance is fixed via a heat insulating material 33. Numeral 34 denotes an inner lid detachably mounted on the inner cover 32 by means of pins 40. The inner lid is placed on the brim of the pan 28 and covers the pan 28. Reference numeral 35 denotes a main body side upper induction coil installed on the inner surface of the flange 25 of the protection frame 24, which is connected to a power supply unit (not shown) in the main body case 21.
[0006]
Reference numeral 36 denotes a cover-side induction coil that is excited by the body-side upper induction coil 35 and is mounted on a portion of the cover 30 that faces the main-body-side induction coil 35, and the current excited by the cover-side induction coil 36 is induced. The heating plate 37 formed of a magnetic metal plate flows through the coil 39 and is magnetically heated by the magnetic flux of the induction coil 39, so that the rice cooker or the heater can be heated from the upper portion of the pot 28.
[0007]
The basic configuration of Patent Literature 2 is the same as that of Patent Literature 1, and the details are omitted here.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2988050 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-6-62956
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the rice cooker having the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the rice in the upper layer in the pot is directly heated by the heat radiation of the induction heating coil, so that in the steaming step, the moisture of the rice is evaporated and dried. A phenomenon has occurred. Therefore, if the whole cooked rice in the pot is heated by the induction heating coil from the top of the pot to a temperature at which sufficient rice cooking performance can be ensured, the upper layer of the pot will dry and conversely lose its taste. The taste was not perfect throughout the pot.
[0010]
Furthermore, despite the fact that the higher the amount of cooked rice, the higher the amount of heating, the higher the amount of cooked rice, the higher the rice, the closer to the induction heating coil, the easier it is to dry, so the heating must be reduced. Was inconsistent.
[0011]
The first object is to provide a pot, a pot heating means for heating the pot, a lid covering an opening of the pot, a steam generating means having a water storage section and a water storage section heating means, and one end of the water storage section. Can be solved by providing a rice cooker having a steam path that is connected to the other end and opens to the pot opening at the other end, and steam heating means that heats steam passing through the steam path.
[0012]
That is, by supplying heated steam having a boiling point (100 ° C.) or higher of water under atmospheric pressure to rice, first, steam is supplied, so that drying of rice is not accompanied. Water only adheres to the rice grain surface, but it is steam of 100 ° C or more, so it has the energy required to advance gelatinization of rice, promotes gelatinization, and can improve rice cooking performance It is.
[0013]
Furthermore, the optimum heating amount can be set regardless of the amount of cooked rice.
[0014]
However, in the case of the above configuration, a second problem newly occurs. The steam path is heated so that the steam generated by the steam generating means becomes heated steam of 100 ° C. or more. Is heated by the steam path and adheres to the steam path. If this sticking phenomenon occurs many times, the steam path may be clogged. Even if the steam path is not clogged, the steam path will be in an unsanitary state.
[0015]
Since the steam path is a path through which the heated steam passes, there is an aim to reduce the surface area of the steam path to reduce heat radiation to other parts. For this reason, the steam path is thin and has a structure that is difficult to clean, thereby increasing the possibility that the steam path is clogged or becomes unsanitary.
[0016]
Also, since the area of the opening is large so that the water storage part can be easily cleaned, the effect of the steam generated from the water storage part being heated by the wall surface of the water storage part is small, and the vapor discharged from the water storage part exceeds 100 ° C. Is difficult.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention also solves the second problem described above. By providing steam induction means in the water storage section and heating the steam to a heating steam of 100 ° C. or more in the water storage section, the asbestos enters the steam path. In addition, the risk of sticking to the steam path can be reduced, and the ash attached to the steam path can be removed by simple washing. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rice cooker in which a situation in which a steam path is blocked by rice cake and heating steam cannot be supplied to a pot and rice cooking performance is reduced is reduced.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 is a steam generator having a pot, a pot heating means for heating the pot, a lid covering an opening of the pot, a water storage section and a water storage section heating means, and one end of the water storage section. A steam path communicating with the water storage unit and having the other end open to the pot opening, and a steam induction unit for guiding steam generated from the water storage unit to the water storage unit wall surface heated by the water storage unit heating unit. Since the steam path is not heated by using the rice cooker, even if the tobacco enters the steam path during rice cooking, the risk of the rice sticking to the steam path is reduced. For this reason, it becomes possible to provide a rice cooker in which the risk that the steam path becomes blocked due to the need for steam and the steam cannot be supplied and the rice cooking performance is reduced is reduced. In addition, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the tongue adheres to the steam path to cause an unsanitary state, thereby providing a more sanitary rice cooker.
[0019]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the present invention, the steam guiding means includes a water storage portion cover covering at least a part of an upper opening of the water storage portion, so that the water is stored in a state where the steam is not sufficiently heated. It is possible to provide a rice cooker in which discharge to the outside is reduced, steam heating efficiency is increased, and rice cooking performance is improved.
[0020]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the opening of the water storage unit cover is provided at a substantially upper portion of a part of the water storage unit wall surface, so that the water storage unit lid is sufficiently heated at a location away from the wall surface. No steam is generated easily, and the sufficiently heated steam existing near the wall of the heated water storage section is more likely to flow out of the water storage section. Can be provided.
[0021]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the steam guiding means includes a helical rib inside the water storage portion, so that the steam is supplied to the helical rib. As the steam rises along the way, the steam receives a sufficient amount of heat from the water storage wall and is heated to a predetermined temperature, so the steam heating efficiency is further increased to improve the rice cooking performance. It becomes possible to provide a rice cooker.
[0022]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a part of the middle of the water storage portion is made of a material having low thermal conductivity, thereby heating the steam. The amount of heat used to boil the water in the water storage section reduces the difficulty of heating the steam, and it is possible to provide a rice cooker with improved steaming efficiency by increasing the steam heating efficiency It becomes.
[0023]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the water in the water storage portion is boiled by heating the upper portion of the water storage portion, which is the upper portion of the material having low thermal conductivity, before the generation of steam. When steam is generated, the steam can be immediately heated to a predetermined temperature and heated steam can be supplied to the pan, and a rice cooker with improved steaming efficiency by further increasing the steam heating efficiency can be provided. Become.
[0024]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, by providing a recovery means for recovering the tongue at the water storage section side end of the steam path, steam during rice cooking is provided. Provided is a rice cooker that can reduce the risk of invading the water storage section and causing the water in the water storage section to be in an unsanitary state even if the rice cake that has entered the passage reversely flows through the steam passage, and provides a sanitarily favorable rice cooker. Becomes possible.
[0025]
The invention according to claim 8 is, in particular, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, by providing a collecting means for collecting the waste at the pot side end of the steam path, so that the waste can be cooked during rice cooking. Even if the water tries to flow into the steam passage, the waste is more likely to flow into the recovery means, the waste flowing into the steam passage can be reduced, and the possibility that the steam passage and the water storage section become unsanitary can be reduced. It is possible to provide a more hygienic rice cooker.
[0026]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 1, the rice cooker main body 1 has a pot 2 for storing rice and water, a pot heating means 3 for induction heating the pot 2, a lid 4 for closing an upper opening of the pot 2, and a steam. A steam generating means 5 is provided. The lid 4 is provided with an inner lid 6 for sealing the upper opening of the pot 2, and an inner lid heating means 7 for heating the inner lid 6. The water storage unit 8 is a detachable and substantially bottomed cylindrical container, and is disposed in the lateral direction of the pot 2. The water storage section 8 is heated by the water storage section heating means 9. A steam path 10 for guiding the steam generated from the water storage section 8 into the pot 2 is provided in the lid 4, and the steam path 10 connects the upper opening of the water storage section 8 to the pot 2. The water storage unit 8 is provided with a water storage unit cover 11 that closes a part of the upper opening of the water storage unit 8, and the water storage unit cover 11 is detachable.
[0029]
Further, the water reservoir lid 11 is provided with a substantially columnar projection 11a substantially at the center of the water reservoir 8, and an opening 11b substantially above a part of the wall surface of the water reservoir 8. The steam guiding means includes a water storage unit lid 11. The control means 13 controls the pot heating means 3, the inner lid heating means 7 and the water storage section heating means 9.
[0030]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the user sets rice and water in the pot 2 and a predetermined amount of water in the water storage section 8, turns on the rice cooker, and presses a rice cooking start button (not shown), the rice cooking process is started. When the rice cooking process starts, the pot heating means 3, the inner lid heating means 7, and the water storage section heating means 9 heat according to a predetermined program. During rice cooking, water in the water storage section 8 is evaporated by the water storage section heating means 9 to become steam at about 100 ° C. The generated steam is further heated up to 100 ° C. or higher in the water storage section 8 and becomes heated steam. The heated steam flowing out of the water storage unit 8 flows into the steam path 10 from the water storage unit cover opening 11b. The steam is supplied into the pot 2 through the steam path 10 to provide the rice with necessary heat. When the rice cooking process is completed, the process automatically shifts to the warming process, and the user can always get warm rice.
[0031]
In order to generate steam, the control unit 13 operates the water storage unit heating means 9 to heat the water storage unit 8. The water in the water storage unit 8 evaporates, and the vapor is guided to the vicinity of the wall surface of the water storage unit 8 by the water storage unit cover protrusion 11a. The steam guided near the wall surface of the water storage unit 8 is heated to 100 ° C. or more by the heated wall surface of the water storage unit 8. As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the water storage unit cover projection 11a as the steam guiding means, it becomes possible to heat the steam in the water storage unit 8 to a temperature of 100 ° C. or more, and the steam path 10 Since heating is not performed, it is possible to reduce sticking of the rice to the steam path 10 even when the rice flows into the steam path 10 during rice cooking or heat retention. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the steam path 10 is clogged with the necessity and the state becomes unsanitary.
[0032]
In addition, by providing the water storage section lid 11 and providing the opening 11b in a part thereof, the steam in the water storage section 8 is less likely to flow out to the steam path 10 and is easily heated sufficiently in the water storage section 8. Since the heated steam is more likely to move upward in the water storage section 8, the steam having a higher temperature flows out to the steam path 10. Thus, the heating efficiency of the steam in the water storage section 8 can be improved.
[0033]
Further, by providing the water storage unit cover opening 11b substantially above the wall surface of the water storage unit 8, the steam sufficiently heated by the wall surface of the water storage unit 8 can easily flow out to the steam path 10. And the steam in the water storage section 8 can be efficiently heated.
[0034]
The water reservoir lid projection 11a may have any shape as long as it guides steam to the wall surface of the water reservoir 8, and may have another shape, such as a prism, an inverted cone, or a bottomed cylinder, instead of a cylinder.
[0035]
In addition, although the water reservoir lid projection 11a is not submerged in FIG. 1, it is useful if it is long enough to be submerged because steam can be efficiently guided to the wall surface of the water reservoir 8 even when the water level is low.
[0036]
Further, in the present embodiment, the shape of the water storage section 8 is substantially cylindrical with a bottom, but may be other shapes such as an inverted conical shape, a stepped cylindrical shape, and a prismatic shape.
[0037]
Also, in the warming process, steam is supplied to the pot 22 to supplement the insufficient moisture in the rice and to provide heat, which is useful.
[0038]
Further, if the steam path 10 is detachable, the inside of the steam path 10 can be easily cleaned.
[0039]
Further, the pot heating means 2, the inner lid heating means 7, and the water storage section heating means 9 need not be the induction heating means, but may be other heating means such as a heater wire.
[0040]
(Example 2)
FIG. 2 shows a main configuration of a rice cooker according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different points will be described.
[0041]
In this embodiment, a substantially cylindrical projection 14a is provided inside the water storage section 8 of the water storage section lid 14, and a spiral rib 14b is formed on the projection 14a. In addition, the water reservoir lid 14 is provided with an opening 14 c substantially above the wall surface of a part of the water reservoir 8. The steam guiding means 12 includes a water storage section lid 14. In addition, the water storage section 8 is configured such that a part of the entire periphery of the middle is made of a material such as ceramics or resin, which is generally lower in heat conductivity than metal, and has a water storage lower part 8a and a water storage upper part 8b. Therefore, the heat of the water storage lower part 8a is less likely to be transmitted to the water storage upper part 8b. A heating means 15 for heating the water storage upper portion 8b is provided. Above the water storage section 8 of the steam path 10, a detachable collection means 16 is provided.
[0042]
In the above configuration, when generating steam, the heating means 15 heats the water storage upper part 8b before the heating means 9 heats the water storage lower part 8a. The user cleans the collecting means 16 after cooking the rice, and attaches the collecting means 16 to the rice cooker main body 1 before use for use.
[0043]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the spiral ribs 14b are provided on the water reservoir lid protrusions 14a, the vapor generated by the evaporation of water in the water reservoir 8 rises along the ribs 14b. Therefore, the steam is sufficiently heated close to the wall surface of the water storage section 8, and the heating efficiency of the steam can be further increased.
[0044]
Further, by dividing the water storage section 8 into a lower water storage section 8a and an upper water storage section 8b, the amount of heat in the upper water storage section 8b used for heating the steam moves to the lower water storage section 8a for evaporating water, and the initial evaporation is started. The possibility that the steam is not easily heated can be reduced, and the steam can be heated and the heated steam can be supplied to the pan 2 at the same time as the steam is generated.
[0045]
Further, by heating the upper portion 8b of the water storage before the water in the water storage 8 is evaporated, the steam is immediately heated by the upper portion 8b of the water storage when the water in the water storage 8 starts to evaporate. Can be quickly supplied.
[0046]
Further, by providing the collecting means 16 for collecting the oil flowing backward in the steam path 10, even if the oil flows into the steam path during rice cooking or the like, the oil easily flows into the collecting means 16, and the water storage section 8. Since the tongue does not flow into the inside, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the water in the water storage unit 8 becomes unsanitary, such as the occurrence of bacteria in the water in the water storage unit 8.
[0047]
The material having low thermal conductivity that constitutes a part of the entire circumference of the water storage section 8 may be such that the amount of heat in the upper water storage section 8b for heating the steam does not easily move to the lower water storage section 8a. The same effect may be obtained even if it is partially configured.
[0048]
(Example 3)
FIG. 3 shows a main configuration of a rice cooker according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different points will be described.
[0049]
In this embodiment, a removable collecting means 17 is provided at the end of the steam path 10 on the side of the pot 2 to remove the tongue. The pot-side end 18 of the steam passage 10 is also removable.
[0050]
With the above configuration, the user removes and cleans the collecting means 17 and the steam path end portion 18 after cooking and keeping the temperature, and attaches the collecting means 17 to the rice cooker body 1 before cooking and before keeping the temperature.
[0051]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the tongue flows into the steam path 10, the tongue can easily enter the recovery means 17, and the inflow of the tongue into the steam path 10 can be reduced, and the steam path 10 and the water storage section can be reduced. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of unsanitary conditions due to the adhesion of the tongue on the surface 8.
[0052]
In addition, if it is the collection | recovery means 17 which the dirt by rice cake is reduced, the vapor path end part 18 does not need to be removable.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, the water storage section is provided with the steam guiding means, and the steam is heated to 100 ° C. or more in the water storage section, and the steam path is not heated, so that the steam is cooked or kept warm. Even if the tongue enters the steam path inside, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the tongue sticks to the steam path and causes clogging, thereby lowering the rice cooking performance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configuration of the rice cooker according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a cooker. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional rice cooker.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rice cooker main body 2 Pot 3 Pot heating means 4 Lid 5 Steam generation means 8 Water storage part 9 Water storage part heating means 10 Steam path 11 Water storage part lid (steam induction means)
16, 17 Collection means

Claims (8)

A pot, a pot heating means for heating the pot, a lid covering an opening of the pot, a steam generating means having a water storage section and a water storage section heating means, one end of which is connected to the water storage section and the other end is connected to the water storage section. A rice cooker comprising: a steam path open to the pot opening; and steam guide means for guiding steam generated from the water storage section to the water storage section wall surface heated by the water storage section heating means. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the steam guiding means comprises a water storage unit cover that covers at least a part of an upper opening of the water storage unit. 3. The rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein the opening of the water storage unit cover is provided substantially at an upper portion of a part of the water storage unit wall surface. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steam guiding means includes a spiral rib inside the water storage portion. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a part of the middle of the water storage section is made of a material having low thermal conductivity. The rice cooker according to claim 5, wherein the upper portion of the water storage, which is the upper portion of the material having low thermal conductivity, is heated before the generation of steam. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a collecting means for collecting waste from the water path side end of the steam path. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a collecting means for collecting the tongue at a pot-side end of the steam path.

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