JP2005087004A - Device for producing germinated brown rice and cooking device having germinated brown rice-producing function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive and user-friendly device for producing germinated brown rice enabling easy and smooth operation while reducing generation of bad odor and improving a germination rate. <P>SOLUTION: The device for producing germinated brown rice comprises a material container 3 where brown rice and water can be stored, a case 1 where the material container 3 can be detachably housed, and a boiler 4 heating the brown rice in the material container 3 with steam; a drain part 8 where only water can be drained in a condition that the brown rice and the water are stored in the material container 3. The device is applicable to the following courses: a "soaking" course where the brown rice absorbs water in a condition that a predetermined amount of the brown rice and the water at a level of soaking the brown rice are stored; and a "germination" course where the water is drained from the material container 3 and steam is made act on the brown rice to aim at germination of the brown rice. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a germinated brown rice by holding a material container containing brown rice and water under conditions suitable for germination, and absorbing and germinating the brown rice.

  In recent years, germinated brown rice has attracted attention as one of the health foods, and various devices for easily producing this germinated brown rice at home have been proposed. As an apparatus of this type, as shown in Japanese Patent No. 3165380, an inner pot filled with brown rice and water is accommodated in a heating kettle equipped with a heater at the bottom and the outer periphery of the side, and kept warm for a predetermined time by heating with the heater. Devices of the type that germinate brown rice are known. Since this apparatus is a system in which brown rice is immersed in water kept at about 30 ° C. for about 24 hours to germinate, there is a problem in that miscellaneous bacteria easily propagate in water and a bad odor is generated. In addition, when brown rice is immersed in water, the amount of oxygen intake of brown rice decreases, so there is a problem that sufficient oxygen for germination cannot be obtained and the germination rate decreases.

In order to solve this problem, in the Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-99690, the present applicant supplies moisture, temperature and oxygen necessary for germination by immersing the brown rice in water by supplying steam to the brown rice. A germination brown rice production system with a germination method was proposed. This method clearly reduces malodor and improves the germination rate compared to the method of immersing in water, but from the viewpoint that it takes time for water to absorb brown rice, before performing germination with steam It is possible to perform the work of absorbing water by submerging in warm water for a predetermined time. However, since the application process and the germination process are performed in separate containers in this application, the work of transferring brown rice is troublesome, the number of parts of the device increases, and there is a risk of losing the container. There were bad effects such as being.
Japanese Patent No. 3165380 Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-99690

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and easy-to-use germinated brown rice production apparatus that can easily and smoothly work while reducing the generation of malodor and improving the germination rate.

  The present invention includes a material container that can store brown rice and water, a case in which the material container is detachably stored, and a heating unit that heats the brown rice in the material container with steam. A drainage means capable of discharging only water in a state where brown rice and water are contained, and a step of absorbing the brown rice in a state where a predetermined amount of brown rice and water enough to soak the brown rice are contained in a material container; It is possible to perform a germination process in which water is discharged from the material container and steam is applied to the brown rice to germinate the brown rice.

  The drainage means is composed of a drainage opening that opens at the bottom of the container and a cap that is detachably attached to the drainage opening, and a plurality of holes that do not allow brown rice to pass through the drainage opening. In addition, a vent plate with a plurality of holes that do not allow brown rice to pass through is attached with a gap at the inner bottom of the material container, and a small amount of water is accommodated in the gap at the bottom of the material container formed by the vent plate The fermentation process is carried out.

  A cooking apparatus comprising a material container capable of storing cooking materials and a steam generating means for generating steam, and performing cooking such as steaming and fermentation on the material stored in the material container by the steam from the steam generating means. The material container is provided with a drainage means, and after the brown rice and water are stored in the material container to absorb the brown rice so that it can germinate, the water in the material container is discharged by the drainage means, Cooking for germinating brown rice with steam may be executable.

  According to such a germinated brown rice production apparatus, it is possible to carry out from the castor process of absorbing brown rice to the germination process of germinating with steam in the same material container, each of which does not require a dedicated container, making the apparatus inexpensive. can do. In addition, since the drainage means is composed of a drain opening that opens to the bottom of the container and a cap that covers this drain outlet, the water in the container can be reliably discharged without removing the cap and tilting the container. In addition, if necessary, the operation of washing the brown rice after running with running water can be performed, which can greatly improve usability.

  Furthermore, a ventilation plate is attached in the container to form a space at the bottom of the container, and by executing a germination process in a state where a small amount of water is put in this space, this water is warmed by steam and the inside of the container is kept warm, In addition, drying of brown rice near the bottom is prevented, brown rice in the container can be germinated uniformly, and the germination rate can be greatly improved.

  A material container having a drain function at the bottom with the top opened, a main body case attached and detached with the material container having a gap, and a steam boiler provided below the mounting position of the material container in the main body case A germination brown rice production apparatus in which the material container is heated by steam generated in the boiler, and a part of the steam is introduced into the container from the upper opening, and a cooking apparatus provided with this form.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an internal cross-sectional view showing an apparatus for producing germinated brown rice according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body case, in which a body portion and a top portion are integrally formed, and a bottom plate with legs is attached to a bottom surface to form a box shape, and a container housing portion 2 is recessed in the top portion. A material container 3 is attached to and detached from the container housing portion 2 and is attached in a state where a gap s <b> 1 is provided with the inner peripheral surface of the container housing portion 2. A boiler 4 is a steam generating means, which is provided on the bottom plate of the main body 1 and has an upper surface opened to the container housing portion 2. Reference numeral 5 denotes a lid that covers the upper surface of the container housing portion 2, and is attached to the rear portion of the main body 1 through a hinge member 6 so as to be freely opened and closed. In addition, it is desirable that the lid 5 is configured to be detachable in consideration of cleaning, drainage, and the like in the container housing portion 2 and the boiler 4.

  The container housing part 2 has an opening 2a where the upper surface opening of the boiler 4 faces the bottom surface and a through hole 2b to which a temperature sensor 7 for detecting the temperature of the material container 3 is attached, and the material container 3 is fixed to the inner surface. A plurality of tapered fixing portions 2c are provided in a protruding manner. In the temperature sensor 7, the casing side is fixed to the outer surface of the container housing portion 2, and the detection terminal side is projected from the through hole 2 b of the container housing portion 2 to the inner surface of the container housing portion 2. The detection terminal has a spring property so as to be in close contact with the outer bottom surface of the material container 3 attached to the container accommodating portion 2, and is sealed by a seal member attached to the through hole 2b.

  The material container 3 has a cylindrical shape with an open top surface, a drain portion 8 is formed at the bottom, a ventilation plate 9 is detachably attached to the inner bottom, and a handle 10 that is hung in an inverted U shape on the outer periphery. Is provided. The drain portion 8 includes a drainage port 8b having a plurality of water passage holes 8a that do not allow brown rice to pass through, and a cap 8c that is screwed to the drainage port 8b, and functions as a drainage unit for the container. The ventilation plate 9 has a plurality of ventilation holes 9a large enough not to pass brown rice on the surface, a handle 9b for removal on the upper surface, and a leg portion 9c installed on the inner bottom surface of the material container on the back surface. In the attached state of the ventilation plate 9, a space A in which brown rice does not enter is formed on the bottom surface of the material container.

  The boiler 4 includes an aluminum water tank 4a that can store a predetermined amount of water, a sheathed heater 4b that is attached to the lower surface of the water tank 4a and heats the water in the water tank, and the water tank 4a reaches a predetermined temperature. Then, it is comprised from the bimetal type temperature switch 4c which interrupts | blocks electricity supply of the heater 4b. The boiler 4 is fixed to the opening 2 a of the container housing part 2 via a heat insulating packing 11 and supplies steam directly into the container housing part 2. A part of the steam supplied from the boiler 4 is introduced into the material container 3, and the other is exhausted to the outside through an exhaust port 5 a opened on the upper surface of the lid 5. In addition, 5b is a handle for opening and closing the lid provided on the upper surface of the lid 5, and 12 is a handle for carrying the main body case 1 attached to the side surface of the main body case 1.

  An operation panel 14 having a controller panel 13 on the back surface is provided on the front surface of the main body case 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller panel 13 includes a buzzer 15 and a timer circuit 16, and a boiler 4, a temperature sensor 6, and an operation panel 14 are connected to the controller panel 13. Thus, an input operation from the operation panel 14 is accepted, heater energization control of the boiler 4 is performed based on a signal from the temperature sensor 6, and timer control of the heating time is performed by the timer circuit 16. The operation panel 14 includes a diamond key 17 for selecting a “Hitoshi” course, a germination key 18 for selecting a “germination” course, a time setting key 19 for setting an operation time of the germination course, and start / stop of the selected course. A start / stop key 20 for performing the above and a 7-segment display unit 21 for displaying the elapsed time in a countdown manner.

  In the present apparatus configured as described above, a method for producing germinated brown rice will be described. In the case of producing germinated brown rice with this apparatus, it is carried out by executing the “sprouting” course after executing the “Hitashi” course. FIG. 3 shows a state where the “Hitashi” course is executed, and FIG. 5 shows a state where the “germination” course is executed. As a preparatory preparation, a predetermined amount of water is put into the water storage tank 4a of the boiler 4, a vent plate 9 is attached in the material container 3 with the cap 8c, and then a predetermined amount of washed brown rice and water enough to soak the brown rice are soaked. Accommodate and set in the container accommodating part 2. When the start key 17 is input on the operation panel 14 and then the start / stop key 20 is input, the operation is started.

  The “Hitashi” course is a process in which the material container 3 is warmed by the steam generated in the boiler 4 and water is absorbed so that the stored brown rice can be germinated. When started, the heater of the boiler 4 is energized and displayed on the operation panel 14. The time (for example, 60 minutes) required for the time is displayed on the part 21. The controller panel 13 recognizes the temperature of the material container 3 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7 and sets the temperature of the water in the container to a temperature (for example, 45 ° C.) to keep the heater 4 b of the boiler 4. In addition to the control, the timer circuit 16 counts the elapsed time from the start of operation and counts down the time displayed on the display unit 21.

  In this way, when the operation time of the “Hitashi” course has elapsed and the display on the display unit 21 becomes “0”, the buzzer 16 is sounded to notify the end. At the end of the “Hitashi” course, the brown rice is sufficiently absorbed and ready to germinate. Thus, the material container 3 is once taken out from the main body 1, and the cap 8c of the drain portion 8 is removed as shown in FIG. , Drain the water in the container. At this time, if the brown rice after rinsing is washed with running water or the like, the generation of odor can be further reduced.

  Water is added to the water storage tank 4 a of the boiler 4, and a small amount of water that does not touch the brown rice is put into the material container 3, and then the material container 3 is set in the main body case 1 again. At this time, since the space A in which the brown rice does not enter the bottom surface of the container is formed by the ventilation plate 9, the water can be set without touching the brown rice by putting a small amount of water into this space. After the germination key 18 is input on the operation panel 14, the desired germination time (for example, 20 hours) is set with the time setting key 19 and when the start / stop key 20 is input, the display unit 21 of the operation panel 14 is set. The germination time is displayed and the “germination” course is started.

  When the “germination” course is started, steam generated in the boiler 4 is introduced from the opening 2a of the container housing portion 2 and supplied to the upper portion of the container from the gap s1 with the material container 3 to warm the material container 3 from the surroundings. A part of the steam supplied above the container flows into the container and gives moisture and temperature to the brown rice in the container. At the same time, the water placed in the bottom of the container is warmed to become steam, and moisture and temperature are given to the brown rice in the vicinity of the bottom of the brown rice stored in the material container 3. In this way, the optimum humidity, temperature and oxygen for germination and growth are supplied to the whole brown rice contained in the container.

  During execution of the “germination” course, the controller 15 recognizes the temperature of the container based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7 in the same manner as the above-mentioned “seed” course, and is suitable for germinating brown rice (for example, The heater 4b is controlled so as to be maintained at 32 ° C., and the elapsed time from the start of the operation is counted by the timer circuit 16 and the time displayed on the display unit 21 is counted down. The remaining time is displayed in hour units until less than 1 hour, and after less than 1 hour, it is displayed in minutes.

  When the set time of the germination course elapses and the display on the display unit 21 becomes “0”, the buzzer 16 is sounded to notify the end. When the “germination” course ends, germinated brown rice is obtained. The end notification by the buzzer 16 operates for 5 minutes every other minute until the start / stop key 20 is input.

  The germinated brown rice thus obtained showed almost no malodor due to various germs and rice bran as compared with the germinated brown rice obtained by a conventional production method in which water is kept warm in water for a long time. In addition, the germination rate was greatly improved and the time required for germination could be shortened.

  Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the same thing as the said Example, the description is abbreviate | omitted using the same symbol. This apparatus includes a fermentation key 22 for selecting the “fermentation” course and a steaming key 23 for selecting the “steaming” course, in addition to the “Hitashi” course and the “germination” course.

  The “fermentation” course will be described. In the “fermentation” course, yogurt, natto, amazake and the like can be produced. When producing yogurt, as shown in FIG. 6, a small amount of water is put into the bottom of the material container 3 in the same manner as the germination course, and the milk remains in the pack (two 500 ml packs can be put here). Accommodate. Boiler 4 is not filled with water. After inputting the fermentation key 22 on the operation panel 14, the operation starts when the start / stop key 20 is input. After the operation is started, the heater 4b of the boiler 4 is energized, the water storage tank 4a is heated in an empty state, and the milk in the container is indirectly warmed. The controller 13 controls the heater so as to keep the milk in the container at the fermentation temperature based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7 and counts the elapsed time from the start of the operation by a timer. In addition, when producing natto and amazake in the “fermentation” course, it is carried out without putting water in the material container so as to suppress the stickiness of soybeans and rice.

  In the “Steaming” course, you can cook steamed rice bowls, steamed rice, shumai, and so on. In the case of making tea-boiled steam, water is put into the water storage tank 4a of the boiler 4, the ventilation plate 9 is directly set in the container housing part 2 where the material container 3 is not set, and the tea-boiled steam is placed on the ventilation plate 9. After the steam key 23 is input on the operation panel 13 and the start / stop key 20 is input, the operation starts. After the start of operation, the steamed rice cake is steamed by the steam generated in the boiler 4. The controller 13 monitors the elapsed time by the timer and ends when a predetermined time has elapsed. In the case of rustling, it is preferable to carry out a state in which a commercially available air-permeable net is laid in the material container and the cap of the material container is removed in consideration of prevention of stickiness due to steam and ease of setting the material.

  At home, germinated brown rice can be easily produced. In particular, the generation of malodor can be suppressed as much as possible as compared with a conventional apparatus for germinating brown rice immersed in lukewarm water for about one day.

1 is an internal cross-sectional view showing a germinated brown rice production apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is a block diagram in the same apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which is performing the "Hitoshi" course with the same apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the waste_water | drain in the material container. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which is performing the "germination" course with the same apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which is performing the "fermentation" course with the cooking apparatus with the germinated brown rice manufacturing function of Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which is performing the "steaming" course with the same apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 2 Container accommodating part 3 Material container 4 Boiler (steam generation means)
5 Lid 7 Temperature sensor 8 Drain (drainage means)
9 Ventilation plate 13 Controller panel 14 Operation panel

Claims (4)

A material container capable of accommodating brown rice and water, a case in which the material container is detachably accommodated, and heating means for heating the brown rice in the material container with steam, wherein the material container has brown rice and water A draining means capable of discharging only water in a state where the rice is contained, and a step of absorbing the brown rice in a state where the material container contains a predetermined amount of brown rice and water to the extent that the brown rice is immersed, and the material container The germination brown rice production apparatus characterized by enabling to perform the germination process which drains water from the rice and causes steam to act on the brown rice to germinate the brown rice. 4. The drainage means according to claim 3, wherein the drainage means is composed of a drainage opening opened at the bottom of the container and a cap that is detachably attached to the drainage opening, and a plurality of holes that do not allow brown rice to pass through the drainage opening. Germination brown rice production equipment. A state in which a vent plate having a plurality of holes that do not allow brown rice to pass through is attached with a gap in the inner bottom portion of the material container, and a small amount of water is accommodated in the gap in the bottom portion of the material container formed by the vent plate The apparatus for producing germinated brown rice according to claim 1, wherein the fermentation step is performed. A cooking apparatus comprising a material container capable of storing cooking materials and steam generating means for generating steam, and performing cooking such as steaming and fermentation on the material stored in the material container by the steam from the steam generating means. ,
The material container is provided with a drainage means, and after the brown rice and water are accommodated in the material container and absorbed so as to germinate the brown rice, the water in the material container is discharged by the drainage means, and the steam generation means A cooking apparatus having a germinating brown rice production function, characterized in that it is feasible to germinate brown rice with the steam of.

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