JP2005160917A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rice cooker improving rice cooking performance while retaining the similar dimension and usability of the cooker to the conventional one. <P>SOLUTION: This rice cooker is provided with a pot 2, a pot heating means 3, a lid 7, a lid heating plate 8, and a lid heating means 9; also provided with a steam generation part 10 evaporating water supplied to the lid heating plate 8 and heated by the lid heating means 9; and supplies the heated high-temperature steam to the interior of the pot 2 without lowering the steam temperature. A thermal energy necessary for progressing gelatinization of rice starch is supplied to the rice by the pot heating means 3 and the high-temperature steam, accelerates the gelatinization and improves the cooking performance. The steam is generated by the lid heating means 9 in the steam generation part 10 of the lid heating plate 8, so that the dimension of the whole body of the rice cooker 1 is similar to the conventional one to prevent the lowering of the installation performance and retain the usability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker using steam.

  Conventionally, in a general household rice cooker, heating by a pot heating means arranged at the bottom of the pot in order to heat the rice and water in the pot is mainly performed, and heating by the heating means in the lid is performed in the pot. It was auxiliary heating because it passed through the space above the rice and water. As a result, the rice in the upper layer in the pan was insufficient in heating amount, and the rice and water in the pan could not be heated uniformly.

  In addition, in rice cooking, the water in the pan is almost gone, and in the steaming process, which is the final process of cooking rice, the rice starch is gelatinized. , Essential for cooking delicious rice. However, if the heating is continued in this step, the rice near the bottom of the pan will burn, so the heating is often weakened.

  As a means to solve this, prevent insufficient gelatinization of rice due to weakening of heating, and improve rice cooking performance, an induction heating coil that is a high heat source is provided on the lid, and the rice from above the pan opening There are rice cookers that heat the rice (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  FIG. 15 shows the configuration of Patent Document 1. In FIG. 15, 51 is a main body case, and a bottom plate 53 having support legs 52 is fixed to the lower surface. Reference numeral 54 denotes a protective frame made of heat-resistant plastic, and a collar portion 55 provided on the upper peripheral edge is fixed to the upper surface of the main body case 51. 56 is a bottom surface heating induction coil mounted on the lower bottom portion of the protective frame 54, and 57 is a side surface heating induction coil installed on the lower side of the protective frame 54, which has a magnetic metal layer accommodated in the protective frame 54. The pan 58 is heated by the bottom heating coil 56, and the contents of rice and water in the pan 58 are cooked. 59 is a temperature sensor mounted in a through hole provided in the center of the bottom surface of the protective frame 54, and 60 is a lid having a knob 61, which is detachably mounted on the flange portion 55 at the upper end of the protective frame 54. The inner cover 62 made of heat-resistant plastic is fixed via a heat insulating material 63. An inner lid 64 is detachably attached to the inner cover 62 by a pin 70, and its peripheral portion is placed on the collar portion of the pan 58 to cover the pan 58. Reference numeral 65 denotes a main body-side upper induction coil installed on the inner surface of the flange portion 55 of the protective frame 54 and is connected to a power source (not shown) in the main body case 51.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes a lid-side induction coil that is excited by the main body-side upper induction coil 65 and is attached to a portion of the lid 60 that faces the main body-side induction coil 65. The current excited by the lid-side induction coil 66 flows to the induction coil 69, the heating plate 67 formed of a magnetic metal plate is induction-heated by the magnetic flux of the induction coil 69, and rice cooking heating or heat insulation from the upper part in the pan 58 is performed. It can be heated.

  Since the basic configuration of Patent Document 2 is the same as that of Patent Document 1, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  However, in the conventional configuration, the rice in the upper layer in the pan is directly heated by convection heat transfer (heat transfer) and radiant heat transfer of the heating plate by the operation of the induction coil. The phenomenon that water of rice evaporates and dries occurs. In other words, if heating is continued from above the pan to a temperature at which the entire rice in the pan can ensure sufficient rice cooking performance, the upper layer of rice in the pan will dry and conversely lose its taste. For this reason, after all, sufficient heating could not be performed and the taste was not perfect in the whole rice in the pan.

  Moreover, in order to promote gelatinization of rice and improve rice cooking performance, the amount of heating must be increased as the amount of cooked rice increases. However, as the amount of cooked rice increases, the upper layer of rice gets closer to the heating plate and the rice becomes easier to dry. Therefore, there is a problem that a contradiction arises in that heating must be weakened.

Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 3, in addition to a pan, a pan heating means for heating the pan, and a lid that covers the opening of the pan, a steam generator and a rice cooker provided with the steam heating means are disclosed. Yes. Thereby, high-temperature steam having a boiling point (100 ° C.) or higher of water at atmospheric pressure is supplied to the rice. Hereinafter, unless specifically limited, such steam at 100 ° C. or higher is referred to as high-temperature steam. When the high temperature steam adheres to the rice having a temperature lower than 100 ° C., it condenses and generates heat to heat the rice. That is, the heat energy required to advance gelatinization of rice starch is supplied to the rice by a pan heating means and high-temperature steam to promote gelatinization. In addition, high-temperature steam condenses on the surface of rice having a temperature lower than 100 ° C. and becomes moisture, giving large heat energy, but the heat energy given to rice having a temperature of 100 ° C. or higher is small, so the rice is not dried.
Japanese Patent No. 2988050 Japanese Patent No. 2812086 JP 2003-144308 A

  However, in the said conventional structure, since it has a dedicated water tank and a water tank heating means as a steam generation part, it becomes large as the whole rice cooker, and an installation place is limited. Moreover, cleaning the water tank and related parts every day increases the number of parts to be cleaned, and it takes time to clean up. That is, it takes time and effort as compared with the prior art, and the usability is reduced.

  In addition, as a water tank heating means for generating steam and a means for steam heating, for example, a heating means for heating a steam passage for sending steam to a pan is required, so an extra heating means is required, Including the security device for each heating means has a problem that the number of parts is large and the manufacturing cost is high.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the rice cooker which improved rice cooking performance, without reducing installation property and usability.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a rice cooker of the present invention includes a pan, a pan heating means for heating the pan, a lid for covering the opening of the pan, and a lid for heating the inside of the pan from above. A heating plate, a lid heating means for heating the lid heating plate, and a steam cylinder for discharging steam in the pan, the lid heating plate stores water in advance and generates steam from the water And a steam inlet for introducing the steam generated by the steam generating part into the pan.

  As a result, the water stored by the steam generator on the lid heating plate is heated by the heat energy by heating the rice and water in the pot as the rice cooking process proceeds. Further, the water is further heated and evaporated at a predetermined timing in a short time by heating by the lid heating means. Further, the steam generated by the lid heating means is supplied to the inside of the pan without lowering the temperature or as further heated high-temperature steam. In particular, if it is high-temperature steam at 100 ° C. or higher, it will condense when it adheres to rice at a temperature lower than 100 ° C., generating heat and heating the rice. That is, the heat energy required to advance gelatinization of rice starch is supplied to the rice by a pan heating means and high-temperature steam to promote gelatinization.

  Moreover, although high temperature steam gives large heat energy to rice at a temperature lower than 100 ° C., it condenses on the surface to become moisture, and since the heat energy given to rice at 100 ° C. or higher is small, the rice does not dry.

  In addition, since steam is generated by the lid heating means at the steam generator located on the lid heating plate, the overall size of the rice cooker, especially the installation area, is about the same as the conventional one, and the ease of installation is not reduced, making it easy to use. Can be maintained. The number of parts can be manufactured at low cost with almost no increase.

  Moreover, the rice cooker of this invention provides the water supply container which supplies water to a steam generation part integrally with the steam pipe | tube.

  As a result, the number of parts to be cleaned and cleaned becomes almost the same as the conventional one, and the rice cooking performance is improved without deteriorating usability.

  The rice cooker of this invention can improve rice cooking performance by accelerating gelatinization of rice without drying rice, maintaining the installation property, usability, and price of the equipment.

  1st invention is a pan, a pan heating means for heating the pan, a lid for covering the opening of the pan, a lid heating plate for heating the inside of the pan from above, and a lid for heating the lid heating plate Heating means and a steam cylinder for discharging steam in the pan, and the lid heating plate stores water in advance and generates steam from the water, and steam generated by the steam generating part. The lid heating plate is heated to a high temperature by the lid heating means, and the water stored in the steam generating section disposed on the lid heating plate is heated, and evaporates when the temperature exceeds 100 ° C. To do. Vaporized and expanded steam moves on the upper surface of the lid heating plate and gradually reaches a high temperature. Steam at a high temperature is put into the pan and gives heat energy to the rice, so that the rice cooking performance is improved by promoting the gelatinization of the rice without drying the rice. Further, the steam generation unit is disposed on the lid heating plate, and does not increase the external dimensions and installation space of the device.

  In the second invention, in particular, the steam generating part of the first invention is provided so as to be detachable from the lid heating plate, so that the water is supplied with the steam generating unit removed from the lid heating plate and attached to the lid heating plate. Therefore, it is possible to easily store and secure a necessary amount of water without providing a dedicated water supply means, and it is easy to use in addition to the ease of installation. Moreover, the temperature and steam quantity of the required high temperature steam can be obtained, and rice cooking performance can be improved.

  The third invention provides water to the steam generating part by providing a water supply container as the means for supplying water to the steam generating part of the first or second invention, and easily secures the necessary amount of water. Since an appropriate amount of steam can be thrown into the pan at a predetermined timing, the necessary high-temperature steam can be thrown in and the rice cooking performance is improved.

  In particular, the fourth invention is a water supply container according to the third invention, in which a lid is provided with a detachable water supply container, water is stored with the water supply container removed from the cover, and the water supply container is attached to the cover. The water is supplied to the steam generator, and the drive source for the water supply operation is based on the user's wearing operation. With a simple configuration, the required amount of water can be ensured in the steam generating section, and since there is no dedicated drive part, the weight of the lid is only slightly increased and the operability is not lowered.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the steam generator of the second or third aspect of the invention is provided integrally with a steam cylinder that controls the discharge of high-temperature steam generated in the pan, so that the user can clean up the water supply container. Can be performed at the same time as the conventional steam cylinder, and the increase in labor is slight and simple.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, the steam generation part according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is formed of a porous body that retains water, so that the water stored in the steam generation part is opened and closed by opening and closing the lid. It flows out to the upper surface of the lid heating plate and does not drip into the pan, evaporates at a predetermined timing, and throws it into the pan as high-temperature steam, so that the rice cooking performance is stabilized. Although the viscosity of water falls with the temperature of a steam generation part, a moderate outflow rate is obtained in a rice cooking process, and the amount of steam is stabilized. That is, water is held in advance inside the porous body of the steam generating portion, and water hardly flows out to the lid heating plate or dripped into the pan when the lid is opened or closed. Steam is generated only in the required amount, and rice cooking performance is stabilized. In addition, the remaining water does not drip at the time of heat insulation, and the heat insulation performance is stabilized.

  In the seventh invention, in particular, the water supplied to the steam generating section of any one of the first to sixth inventions is preheated by the steam generated in the pan, and the water is short in the rice cooking process. Since it becomes high temperature and evaporates with time, a predetermined amount of steam and high temperature steam can be put into the pan at an appropriate timing, and rice cooking performance is improved. That is, the steam generating part and its water are preliminarily heated as the rice cooking process proceeds, and can be heated to a high temperature in a short time by heating with the lid heating means. Therefore, it is possible to evaporate water in a short time and to increase the temperature to 100 ° C. or higher with the lid heating means, and energy saving and rice cooking time can be reduced.

  In addition to the pan heating means of any one of the first to seventh inventions, the eighth invention is provided with a pan side heating means for heating the side of the pan, so that the lid heating means and the pan side heating means By using both of these, the upper space of the pan is maintained at a high temperature, the temperature of the high temperature steam is maintained, and high temperature energy can be supplied to the rice. That is, the temperature of the steam thrown into the upper space of the pan is maintained, and further high-temperature steam is generated. Large heat energy is supplied to the rice, and the rice cooking performance is improved.

  In the ninth aspect of the invention, in particular, a steam valve for opening and closing the steam inlet of any one of the first to eighth aspects is provided, and the steam generated in the steam generating section is closed by the lid heating plate and its vicinity. It stays in the space created and reaches a high temperature. The steam thrown into the pan is at a high temperature or uniform, improving the rice cooking performance, and having little variation.

  In the tenth aspect of the invention, in particular, the steam inlet of any one of the first to ninth aspects is provided in a steam cylinder, and the cooked rice water that has entered the steam cylinder in each step of cooking rice is heated with high-temperature steam. While returning to the pan, the rice cooking performance is improved and the maintenance of the steam cylinder is simplified.

  In the eleventh aspect of the invention, in particular, the steam generating part of any one of the first to tenth aspects of the invention is heated by the heat generated by the lid heating plate and does not require any other heat source, so the structure is simple and reliable. In addition to high performance, the entire lid heating plate is at a high temperature when steam is generated and put into the pan, maintaining the temperature of the steam thrown into the pan and improving rice cooking performance.

  In the twelfth invention, in particular, the lid heating means of any one of the first to eleventh inventions heats the lid heating plate or the steam generating part by induction heating, and steam is generated by a single heating means. Both the lid and the lid heating plate can be heated. In addition, since it is an induction heating method, the heating amount for each part of the lid heating plate, that is, the temperature can be controlled by changing the distance between the lid heating plate, the lid heating coil for induction heating, and the lid heating plate. , The effect of the input steam can be maximized.

  In a thirteenth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the steam pipe of any one of the first to twelfth inventions, a steam pipe valve for controlling the discharge of steam is provided. The steam pressure, that is, the steam temperature is controlled, and the rice temperature and steam temperature during cooking can be changed to a high temperature. The high temperature steam above and below the lid heating plate keeps the rice at a high temperature, and further, the steam in the steam generating part is heated and charged, so that the texture of the rice is widely adjusted and the rice cooking performance is improved.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, in particular, the lid heating means of any one of the first to thirteenth aspects is a temperature control means for maintaining the steam passage from the steam generating portion of the lid heating plate to the steam inlet at a temperature higher than 100 ° C. By providing, only the high temperature steam exceeding 100 degreeC can be thrown in, and rice cooking performance improves. Further, by using the steam valve or the steam cylinder valve in combination, the steam temperature is reliably increased. Rice cooking performance is stable for cooking rice with various textures.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1: shows sectional drawing of the rice cooker in the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  In FIG. 1, the rice cooker 1 has a bottomed cylindrical pot storage portion in order to detachably store the pot 2. A pan heating coil for inductively heating the pan 2 as a pan heating means 3 is provided at the bottom of the pan storage portion. Reference numeral 4 denotes a bottom temperature sensor configured to come into contact with the bottom surface of the pan 2. A pan side heating means 5 is provided with a pan side heating coil for induction heating the side surface of the pan 2. The control means 6 controls the operation of the rice cooker 1.

  In addition, a lid 7 that is pivotally supported by a hinge shaft (not shown) provided at the hinge portion at the rear of the rice cooker 1 and opens and closes the upper portion of the pan 2 is provided. The lid 7 is provided with a lid heating plate 8, and a lid heating coil for inductively heating the lid heating plate 8 is provided as the lid heating means 9. The lid heating plate 8 has a lid heating plate steam port 11, a lid steam port 12 is provided on the top surface of the lid 7, and the inside of the pan 2 communicates with the outside of the machine and is at atmospheric pressure. The steam opening packing 13 is sandwiched between the lid heating plate 8 and the lid 7, and the pan packing 14 is sandwiched between the lid heating plate 8 and the flange portion on the outer periphery of the upper edge of the pan 2 when the lid 7 is closed. ing.

  Further, on the lid heating plate 8, water is stored and the steam generator 10 that generates steam by being supplied with heat from the lid heating plate 8 by heating the lid heating means 9 includes the lid heating plate 8 and the lid heating plate 8. 7. A water supply container 15 that stores water that generates steam and a water supply container lid 16 that opens and closes the upper portion of the water supply container 15 are disposed above the lid heating plate 8, particularly the steam generator 10.

  The water supply container 15 is formed to be detachable from the lid 7, and water can be stored by removing the water supply container cover 16. By opening and closing the water supply valve 17 provided at the lower part of the water supply container 16, water drops on the steam generation unit 10.

  In Embodiment 1, by attaching the water supply container 15 to the lid 7, the water supply valve spring 17 a is compressed, the bottom of the water supply valve 17 is pushed up, and water moves from the water supply container 15 to the steam generation unit 10 ( (See FIG. 4).

  Here, as the valve opening / closing mechanism for moving the water supply valve 17 up and down, a mechanism formed by an electric motor, a solenoid or the like is unnecessary, but these may be provided. In addition, these are general well-known techniques and are not shown.

  In addition, if the operation | movement of the water supply valve 17 is controlled, since the amount of water dripped at the steam generation part 10 can be controlled, this can also be called water supply control means.

  In addition, the steam generation unit 10 is made of a metal material having a heat resistance of 100 ° C. or higher and less corrosion by water, and a plurality of slits are formed, and an appropriate amount of water supplied by operating the water supply valve 17 is obtained. Has water retention. In addition, it is not a simple box shape in order to ensure the heat exchange area to water and to perform the heat transfer from the lid | cover heating plate 8 efficiently.

  Moreover, the steam generation part 10 can contact | abut the steam generation part upper surface 10c and the cover lower surface 7a, and can hold | maintain water in the inside. By forming a gap between the steam generating unit upper surface 10c and the lid lower surface 7a, a steam outlet 10d for blowing out the steam generated by the steam generating unit 10 is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the steam generated in the steam generation unit 10 moves on the surface of the lid heating plate 8 to a space area surrounded by the steam packing 10 a to the steam inlet 10 b, It is thrown into. The entire lid heating plate 8 is maintained at a predetermined high temperature. In particular, the steam temperature is maintained at 100 ° C. by generating a high temperature in the steam passage portion, and further, high-temperature steam of 100 ° C. or higher is generated. Can do.

  Further, in order to prevent the water droplets boiling around or near the steam outlet 10d of the steam generating unit 10 from being ejected, a net-like or porous filter that suppresses the passage of water is provided. It may be. Further, a similar filter may be provided around or in the vicinity of the steam inlet 10b.

  The water storage container 15 according to the first embodiment is detachably formed on the lid 7, and can be handled as a single item by attaching it as shown in FIG. 3 and removing it as shown in FIG. The water supply container lid 16 is removed from the water supply container 15 to store water, and the water supply container cover 16 is attached and attached to the cover 7. Simultaneously with the mounting, the water supply valve 17 closed by the water supply valve spring 17a is opened, and water drops by its own weight. A predetermined amount of water is supplied to the steam generator 10.

  With the lid 7 closed in FIGS. 1 and 7, the water storage container 15 can be attached and detached. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, when the lid 7 is rotated in the vertical direction and the lid 7 is opened, the water moves in the steam generator 10 but flows out to the lid heating plate 8 in a large amount. do not do. A stopper may be provided so that the water storage container 15 cannot be removed when the lid 7 is opened.

  Further, depending on the opening / closing speed of the lid 7, even if a small amount of water flows out to the lid heating plate 8, the lid 7 is held by the lid heating plate 8 and the steam packing 10 a and the outflow from the lid heating plate 8 Does not happen. This allows steam to be generated at the timing required in the rice cooking process. Further, by disposing the steam generation unit 10 near the hinge portion of the lid 7 as in the first embodiment, the influence of the opening / closing speed of the lid 7 is small.

  Further, in order to prevent dripping from the steam inlet 10, the lid heating plate 8 may be provided with irregularities as appropriate around the steam inlet 10 or in the steam passage from the steam derivation means 10 to the steam inlet 10 b. It is clear that it is good.

  During cooking rice, steam is discharged from the lid heating plate steam port 11 through the lid steam port 12 to the outside of the machine, but there is little entry from the steam inlet 10b to the steam generator 10. Because it is a closed space formed by the steam packing 10a, the lid heating plate 8 and the lid 7, the amount of intrusion of steam and cooked water is small, and the internal space is clogged with deposits, which hinders the introduction of high temperature steam. It will never be. Of course, the lid heating plate 8 is basically cleaned each time it is used, as in the prior art.

  About the rice cooker comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, the operation in the above configuration will be described focusing on how to use the device and the generation of steam. Rice for cooking rice and water corresponding to the amount of the rice are put in the pan 2 and stored in the rice cooker 1. Further, a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water supply container 15 and attached. When the user operates a rice cooking start switch (not shown) of the operation unit 18, the control means 6 receives an input from the rice cooking start switch and executes the rice cooking process.

  The bottom temperature sensor 4 detects the temperature of the bottom surface of the pan 2 and sends a signal to the control means 6. Based on the signal from the bottom sensor 4, the control means 5 is a temperature at which the water and rice conditions in the pot 2 are set as appropriate values in each of the rice cooking processes roughly divided into water immersion, cooking, and steaming processes. Or the energization amount to each heating coil of the pan heating means 3, the pan side heating means 5, and the lid heating means 8 is controlled so as to be maintained for a predetermined time. That is, the pot heating means 3 and the pot side surface heating means 5 generate heat at the bottom and side surfaces of the pot 2 by induction heating with the current supplied from the control means 6. Similarly, the lid heating means 8 also causes the lid heating plate 8 to generate heat by induction heating with a current supplied from the controller 5.

  Moreover, in the steam generation part 10, the predetermined amount of water supplied from the water supply container 15 becomes high temperature by heating the lid heating plate 8 by induction heating. In addition, the water boils and generates steam. The generated steam is gradually heated while moving on the surface of the lid heating plate 8, and is introduced into the pan 2 as high-temperature steam from the steam inlet 10b. By securing an appropriate amount of water according to the amount of water supplied from the water supply container 15, high-temperature steam can be stably generated.

  In the first embodiment, the lid heating plate 8 is configured to generate heat. However, in addition to the lid heating plate 8 at the steam inlet 10b from the steam generating unit 10, another heat source is arranged to generate high-temperature steam. The structure to do may be sufficient.

  2ndly, operation | movement of the rice cooker 1 in each process is demonstrated.

  First, in the soaking process, the pot heating coil which is the pot heating means 3 and the pot side heating coil which is the pot side heating means 5 are energized so that the temperature of the rice and water rises to a temperature at which the gelatinization of the rice does not start. The bottom and side surfaces of 2 are heated. In addition, steam is generated from the steam generator 10 and heat is also applied to the upper space 2 a of the pan 2. Below, in the pan 2, the space between the rice and water or the rice and the lid heating plate 8 is referred to as the upper space 2a of the pan 2.

  In the inundation process, it is necessary to keep the whole rice in the pan 2 uniform at the target temperature and to keep the water absorption conditions of the rice in the pan 2 uniform in order to cook delicious rice. Since rice and water are heated from both sides and the upper space 2a of the pan 2, the temperature of the entire pan 2 can be increased uniformly in a shorter time than the conventional heating of the pan heating means 3 and the pan side heating means 5 alone. Can do. Also, by introducing steam into the upper space 2a of the pan 2, the temperature of the entire pan 2 can be increased efficiently in a much shorter time than when the lid heating plate 8 is heated by the lid heating means 9. .

  Next, in the cooking step, the bottom of the pan 2 is heated by the pan heating coil 4 and the lid heating plate 8 is heated by the lid heating coil 10 and heated so as to wrap the entire pan 2. At the same time, the steam generation unit 10 is heated, and high-temperature steam is sent into the internal space 2 b of the pan 2. The water in the pot 2 can reach the boiling point in a shorter time than before, and the temperature of the entire pot 2 can be raised uniformly by the high-temperature steam fed into the internal space 2b of the pot 2. This heats the whole pan 2 quickly and uniformly regardless of the amount of cooked rice, and promotes gelatinization of rice starch evenly.

  Finally, in the unevenness process, the pan heating means 3 generates heat at the bottom of the pan 2 to such an extent that the rice on the bottom of the pan 2 does not dry or burn, and the lid heating means 9 does not dew on the lid heating plate 8. The lid heating plate 8 is heated to an extent. At the same time, high-temperature steam is sent into the upper space 2 a of the pan 2 by the steam generation unit 10. In the unevenness process, it is important to keep the whole pan 2, that is, the rice in a high temperature at a temperature at which the rice does not dry or burn so that the rice gelatinizes to the core.

  According to the present embodiment, by supplying high temperature steam to the upper space 2a of the pan 2, the high temperature steam adheres and condenses on the rice of 100 ° C. or less, and heat is applied to the rice to increase the temperature and gelatinize. Facilitate. At the same time, condensed moisture adheres to the surface. Further, the temperature difference between the high-temperature steam and the rice is 50 to 60 ° C. or less, the flow rate of the high-temperature steam is small, and the charging time is short. Therefore, the rice is not dried to the extent that excess moisture on the surface of the rice grains is dried. That is, without drying the rice, heat energy for promoting gelatinization of the rice starch is supplied, the gelatinization of the rice is promoted, and the rice cooking performance is improved.

  Further, the operation will be supplementarily described.

  Since the steam generation unit 10 is disposed on the lid 7 and receives heat radiation from the pan 2 and the cooked rice, when the steam generation unit 10 generates steam, the water in the steam generation unit 10 is preheated in advance. It has become. In each step, steam and high-temperature steam can be obtained in a short time, and the responsiveness is good, thus saving energy.

  Moreover, although high temperature steam is thrown in at all processes, depending on the operation method of the pan heating means 3, the pan side heating means 5, and the lid heating means 9, the kind of rice, the degree of deterioration, the taste of the cooked rice, etc. Thus, it may be introduced only in a part of the process. Further, in this case, the amount of water used for generating steam is reduced, the size of the water supply container 15 can be reduced, and the overall size of the rice cooker 1 is also reduced.

  In the first embodiment, rice and water are heated in the water immersion process. However, when the rice is cooked after being immersed in water at room temperature for about 60 minutes in advance, this water immersion process may be omitted or the temperature may be reduced. Needless to say, the control means 6 is generally provided with such an operation method, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the steam cylinder 20 of the rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The steam cylinder 20 and the water supply container 21 are integrally formed, have a steam cylinder handle (not shown), and can be attached by removing the whole from the lid 7 (see FIG. 11).

  The water supply container 21 is provided with a water supply valve 23 for controlling the dripping of water, and the upper part can be opened and closed by a water supply container lid 22. When the water supply container 21 is attached to the lid 7, the water supply valve 23 is pushed up to be in an open state, and water drops downward. This water is stored in the steam generator 25 that is in close contact with the lid heating plate 8. The steam generating unit 25 is formed of a porous body and can store water droplets therein.

  In addition, a steam passage communicating with the lid heating plate steam port 11 is disposed outside the water supply container 21, and steam is discharged from the steam passage to the outside of the apparatus. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The operation of the steam cylinder 20 and the water supply container 21 will be mainly described.

  In the rice cooking process, steam generated in the pan 2 is discharged from the lid heating plate steam port 11 and is discharged outside the apparatus while moving through the steam passage. Since the steam moving at this time and the lid heating plate 8 disposed on the top of the pan 2 are at a high temperature, the steam generating unit 25 and its vicinity become a high temperature, and the steam generating unit 25 and the water stored therein are also heated. The Therefore, since the water of the steam generation part 25 becomes still higher temperature and evaporates in a short time, a predetermined amount of high temperature steam can be put into the pan 2 at an appropriate timing, and rice cooking performance is improved.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 12: is sectional drawing of the rice cooker of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  The water supply container 21 is provided integrally with a steam cylinder 20 that controls discharge of steam generated in the pot 2 in the rice cooking process. A steam cylinder valve 32 that controls the discharge of steam from the steam cylinder 20 and a steam valve 30 that opens and closes the steam inlet 27 are provided. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  First, the operation and action by the integration of the steam cylinder 20 and the water supply container 21 will be mainly described.

  Before the rice cooking operation, the user removes the steam cylinder 20 from the lid 7 and removes the water supply container cover 22 of the water supply container 21 to store water. Of course, in a state where the steam cylinder 20 is attached to the lid 7, the water supply container lid 22 can be opened to store water.

  In addition, after the rice cooking operation and the heat insulation are completed, the user can remove the water supply container 21 at the same time by removing the steam cylinder 20, so that there is little time for cleaning up and cleaning parts and checking the presence or absence of water. Except for the point, there is almost no difference with the conventional rice cooker.

  Next, the operation and action of the steam cylinder valve 32 and the steam valve 30 will be described.

  By opening and closing the steam cylinder valve 32, the steam pressure and the steam temperature in the pan 2 by the steam generated in the pan 2 or the steam generating unit 25 are controlled not only in the cooking process of rice cooking but also in the steaming process, It can be cooked in rice with various textures.

  By opening and closing the steam valve 30, the steam generated by the steam generating unit 25 can be kept at a high temperature in the upper space of the lid heating plate 8, and the timing of steam introduction into the pan 2 and the steam temperature can be controlled. , Use less steam. Energy is saved and the rice cooking performance is improved at the same time by generating steam at the steam generating section 25 and reducing the amount of electric power for making it into high temperature steam.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 14: is sectional drawing which shows the rice cooker of the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  This is different from the above embodiment in that the steam inlet 45 is arranged in the steam cylinder 41, and this point will be mainly described. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The steam inlet 45 is arranged to communicate with the lid steam port 43 of the lid heating plate 8 communicating with the steam cylinder 41. The steam cylinder 41 is provided with a steam cylinder valve 44 that controls the discharge of steam and a steam cylinder valve spring that controls the position of the steam cylinder valve 44.

  The action of steam in the rice cooking process will be described.

  In the cooking process, rice steam or steam enters the steam cylinder 41, and an appropriate amount is maintained by opening and closing the steam cylinder valve 44. In the steaming process, steam is generated by the steam generating unit 25 of the lid heating plate 8, and the rice cooking water and the umami of the rice adhering to the inside of the steam cylinder 41 can be returned to the pan 2 with steam. The rice cooking performance is improved. As a result, the steam cylinder 41 can be easily maintained.

  The steam cylinder 41 and the water supply container are integrally formed, and the whole can be removed from the lid 7 by a steam cylinder handle (not shown).

  In the above embodiment, the steam generation unit 10 is provided on the upper surface of the substantially flat lid heating plate 8, but a part of the lid heating plate 8 may be formed in a convex shape. As a result, the distance between the lid heating means 9 and the steam generation unit 10 can be reduced, the steam generation unit 8a can be heated to a higher temperature in a shorter time and with a smaller heating amount, and the evaporation of water can be promoted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the steam generating unit 10 may be formed by making a part of the lid heating plate 8 concave. As a result, the water dripped from the water supply container 15 is concentrated in one place, and not only the lid heating means 9 but also the steam generating part 10 of the lid heating plate 8 is concentrated and heated, thereby efficiently evaporating water. Can be executed.

  In the above embodiment, the lid heating means 9 is a lid heating plate heating coil for induction heating the lid heating plate 8, and the pan side heating means 5 is a pan side heating coil for induction heating the side surface of the pan 2. However, the heating means is not limited to induction heating. What is necessary is just a means which can supply the calorie | heat amount required by a rice cooking process with respect to each site | part. Needless to say, in addition to the conventionally known heaters, hot air, high temperature steam, gas combustion, and the like may be combined.

  In the above-described embodiment, the steam generation units 10 and 25 that are detachably disposed on the lid heating plate 8 can be porous or crumpled metal materials, but are not limited thereto. . A resin material having heat resistance may be used.

  In addition, in said embodiment, you may provide the means to heat the steam generation parts 10 and 25 for exclusive use. Thus, the steam generating units 10 and 25 can be heated to a high temperature or a low temperature different from the heating temperature of the lid heating plate 8 by the lid heating means 9, and the cooked rice and the heat insulation are more appropriately controlled. In addition, the texture of rice can be controlled.

  In addition, in said embodiment, although the water supply container 15 is not provided, you may provide the water supply means which injects a predetermined amount of water to the steam generation parts 10 and 25. FIG. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a water inlet is provided in the lid 7 and a user directly inputs water into the steam generation units 10 and 25. This eliminates the need for cleaning the water supply container 15 and improves usability.

  As mentioned above, the rice cooker concerning this invention can improve rice cooking performance by accelerating the gelatinization of rice without drying rice, maintaining the installation nature of equipment, usability, and price. Therefore, it can be applied to uses such as commercial rice cookers and cookers that require space saving and easy operation.

Sectional drawing of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the cover open state of Embodiment 1 Sectional drawing which shows the water supply container with which Embodiment 1 was mounted | worn Sectional drawing which shows the water supply container removed from the Embodiment 1 The top view which shows the steam generation part of the Embodiment 1 Sectional drawing which shows the flow of the vapor | steam of Embodiment 1 External view showing the lid closed state of the first embodiment External view showing the lid open state of the first embodiment Temperature chart showing pan temperature during operation of the first embodiment Sectional drawing of the rice cooker in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the steam cylinder with which Embodiment 2 is mounted | worn Sectional drawing of the rice cooker in Embodiment 3 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the steam cylinder in Embodiment 3 Sectional drawing which shows the steam cylinder of the rice cooker in Embodiment 4 of this invention. Cross section of conventional rice cooker Temperature chart showing pan temperature during operation of the conventional rice cooker

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rice cooker 2 Pan 3 Pan heating means 4 Bottom temperature sensor 5 Pan side surface heating means 6 Control means 7 Lid 8 Lid heating plate 9 Lid heating means 10 Steam generation part 11 Lid heating plate steam port 12 Lid steam port 13 Steam port packing 14 Pot packing 15, 21 Water supply container 20 Steam cylinder 30 Steam valve 32 Steam cylinder valve

Claims (14)

A pan, a pan heating means for heating the pan, a lid for covering the opening of the pan, a lid heating plate for heating the inside of the pan from above, a lid heating means for heating the lid heating plate, and a pan A steam cylinder that discharges the steam inside, the lid heating plate storing water in advance and generating steam from the water, and steam for charging the steam generated by the steam generating section Rice cooker with a slot. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the steam generating unit is detachably attached to the lid heating plate. The rice cooker of Claim 1 or 2 which provided the water supply container which performs water supply to a steam generation part. The rice cooker according to claim 3, wherein the water supply container is detachably attached to the lid, and water is supplied to the steam generation unit when the water supply container is attached to the lid. The steam cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the steam generation unit is provided integrally with the steam cylinder. The steam cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the steam generating part is formed of a porous body that retains water. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the steam generating part is heated by steam in the pan. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pot heating means has a pot side heating means for heating the side of the pot. The rice cooker of any one of Claims 1-8 provided with the steam valve which opens and closes a steam inlet. The rice cooker of Claim 9 which provided the steam inlet in the steam cylinder. The steam generator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the steam generator is heated by the heat generated by the lid heating plate. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the lid heating means heats the lid heating plate or the steam generator by induction heating. The rice cooker of any one of Claims 1-12 which provided the steam cylinder valve which controls discharge | emission of the vapor | steam from a steam cylinder. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the lid heating means is provided with a temperature control means for maintaining the steam passage from the steam generating portion of the lid heating plate to the steam inlet at a temperature higher than 100 ° C.

Images