JP2005270167A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively reduce a heat-retention odor getting stronger as the heat retention time becomes longer by supplying steam into a pot when reheating rice during the heat retention. <P>SOLUTION: The subject rice cooker is provided with a body 1, the pot 2 detachably stored in the body 1, a lid 3 openably/closably covering the body 2, a pot heating means 4 heating the pot 2, and a steam generating means generating the steam. When the rice during the heat retention is heated by the pot heating means 4, this cooker controls the amount of the steam generated by the steam generating means according to the heat retention time and, when the heat retention time is long, increases the amount of the steam generated by the steam generating means to effectively reduce the heat-retention odor getting stronger as the heat retention time becomes longer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker having a heat retaining function.

  In a general rice cooker for home use, when heating (reheating) cooked rice, the main part of the pot heating means for heating rice and water in the pot is placed at the bottom of the pot. Used as a heating means. By heating the heated rice, it is possible to obtain warm rice that is close to the freshly cooked temperature. However, the rice is kept at a high temperature at the time of heat insulation, which promotes oxidation of the fat component contained in the rice, but the heat insulation odor generated by the oxidation remains in the pan. The rice cooker of the conventional example disclosed by patent document 1 heats the rice in a pot by the heating by a pot heating means. A conventional rice cooker will be described with reference to FIG.

In the main body 21 of the rice cooker shown in FIG. 4 (hereinafter simply referred to as the main body 21), an inner pan 22 for storing rice and water to be cooked is set. At the bottom of the inner pot 22, a heating means 23 composed of an electromagnetic induction heating coil or the like is disposed. In addition, a cooking object temperature detecting means 24 for detecting the temperature of the cooking object is provided in the bottom center of the inner pot 22. Reference numeral 27 denotes energization control means for controlling energization to the heating means 23 using an inverter circuit. Reference numeral 28 denotes drive means for driving the energization control means 27. A lid 30 for preventing heat dissipation is provided on the upper portion of the main body 21 so as to be freely opened and closed.
JP-A-8-228921

  However, in the conventional configuration, when the user operates the switch to instruct reheating during the heat retention, the inner pot 22 is heated by the heating means 23 configured by an electromagnetic induction heating coil or the like. Since only heat was added to the rice, there was a problem that the heat retaining odor remained even after opening the lid 30 after the heating.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the rice cooker which reduces the heat retention odor of rice while heating the heat retention rice.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention provides a main body having an open top surface, a pan that is detachably accommodated in the main body, a lid that covers the main body so as to be opened and closed, and a pan that heats the pan. A heating means, a pan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pan, and a steam generating means for generating steam to be put into the pan, and when the cooked rice is heated by the pan heating means, The rice cooker increases the amount of steam generated by the steam generating means as the time increases.

  As a result, when heating the cooked rice with the pan heating means, steam is introduced into the pan, so that the air containing the warm odor in the pan is expelled by the steam, and the warm odor in the pan is Reduced. Furthermore, if the heat retention time is long, the amount of steam generated by the steam generating means is increased, so that the heat retention odor that becomes stronger as the heat retention time becomes longer can be effectively reduced.

  In the rice cooker of the present invention, when the heated rice is heated by the pan heating means, the warming odor in the pan is reduced. Furthermore, the heat retention odor which becomes strong according to heat retention time can be reduced effectively.

  1st invention is the main body with which the upper surface opened, the pan stored in the said main body so that attachment or detachment is possible, the lid | cover which covers the said main body so that opening and closing is possible, the pan heating means which heats the said pan, and the temperature of the said pan A pot temperature detecting means for detecting the steam and a steam generating means for generating steam to be put into the pot, and when the cooked rice is heated by the pot heating means, the steam generating means becomes longer as the heat retention time becomes longer. It is a rice cooker that increases the amount of steam generated by.

  When the rice cooker of the present invention heats the heat-retaining rice by the pan heating means, steam is introduced into the pan, so the steam containing the heat retaining odor in the pan is expelled by the steam, The warming odor is reduced. Furthermore, when the heat retention time is long, the amount of steam generated by the steam generating means increases, and the heat retention odor that becomes stronger as the heat retention time becomes longer can be effectively reduced.

  2nd invention is the main body with which the upper surface opened, the pan detachably accommodated in the said main body, the lid | cover which covers the said main body so that opening and closing is possible, the pan heating means which heats the said pan, and the temperature of the said pan A pan temperature detecting means for detecting the steam, a steam generating means for generating steam to be put into the pan, and a rice amount detecting means for measuring the amount of rice in the pan, and heating the cooked rice by the pan heating means. In this case, the rice cooker increases the amount of steam generated by the steam generating means as the amount of heat-retaining rice increases.

  When the rice cooker of the present invention heats the heat-retaining rice by the pan heating means, steam is introduced into the pan, so the steam containing the heat retaining odor in the pan is expelled by the steam, The warming odor is reduced. Further, when the amount of rice being kept warm is large, the amount of steam generated by the steam generating means is increased, and the warming odor that becomes stronger as the amount of rice being kept warm can be effectively reduced.

  3rd invention is set to the rice cooker which has time display means in 1st invention or 2nd invention, and displays the remaining time until completion | finish of a heating.

  Since the user can know the remaining time until the end of heating, the rice cooker of the present invention can eat cooked rice with good timing.

  4th invention is set as the rice cooker which has a time switch in 1st invention of 1st-3rd, and can reserve a heating start time.

  Thereby, the user can eat the cooked rice without switching on just before eating by reserving the time when the cooked rice is heated in advance.

  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 a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 shows the main body of a rice cooker, and interiors a detachable pan 2. Further, a lid 3 covering the upper surface of the pan 2 is installed so as to be freely opened and closed. A pan heating means 4 for heating the pan 2 and a pan temperature detecting means 5 for detecting the temperature of the pan 2 are arranged inside the main body 1. The pan heating means 4 and the pan temperature detecting means 5 are held by a protective frame 16. The pot heating means 4 may be a heater, a coil for induction heating the pot 2, or any heating means. A water tank 6 is housed inside the main body 1, and the water tank 6 has a water tank heating means 7, and the water tank 6 and the water tank heating means 7 constitute a steam generating means 19. The steam path 8 guides the steam generated by the steam generating means 19 to the pan 2. A water tank temperature detecting means 9 for detecting the temperature of the water tank 6 of the steam generating means 19 is provided in contact with the water tank 6.

  A steam hole 10 for discharging steam in the pot to the outside of the main body 1 is provided in the opening on the upper surface of the pot 2.

  A lid temperature detecting means 12 for detecting the temperature of the lid 3 is provided in contact with the lid 3, and the lid heating means 11 is controlled based on the detected temperature of the lid temperature detecting means 12.

  The control means 13 has a microcomputer mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The control means 13 is preliminarily controlled by software based on an operation command input by the user via the operation panel 14, a signal input from the pan temperature detection means 5, the water tank temperature detection means 9 and the lid temperature detection means 12. The heating control of the pan 2, the lid 3, and the water tank 6 is performed by the rice cooking program stored in the computer. The control means 13 controls the heating amount of the pot heating means 4, the water tank heating means 7, and the lid heating means 11 according to the energization rate of each heating means.

  About the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 of this invention comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below paying attention to operation | movement of the steam generation means 19. FIG.

  A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2 and decorates the main body 1. Further, a predetermined amount of water is put into the water tank 6 and is internally provided in the main body 1. When the user operates a rice cooking start switch (not shown), the rice cooking process is performed.

  When the rice cooking process is started, heating is performed by the pan heating means 4, the lid heating means 11, the pan side surface heating means 20, and the water tank heating means 7 according to a predetermined program. When the rice cooking process ends, the process automatically shifts to the heat insulation process.

  At the time of heat retention, the pot heating means 4 is controlled by the output of the pot temperature detecting means 5 to heat the bottom and the lower side of the pot 2, and the pot side surface heating means 13 is controlled by the output of the lid temperature detecting means 12 to The lid heating means 11 is controlled by the output of the lid temperature detecting means 12 to heat the lid 3 so that the rice does not dry and the dew does not adhere in large quantities. Hold at about 73 ° C.

  When the user operates the reheating switch 15 at the time of heat retention, the control means 13 heats the pot 2 by the pot heating means 4 to heat the cooked rice in the pot 2. At the same time, the water tank heating means 7 for heating the water tank 6 is increased as the heat retention time is increased, and the water tank according to the reheating program stored in the microcomputer in advance so that the amount of generated steam increases. 6 is heated. The water in the water tank 6 evaporates to become steam, and is put into the pot 2 through the steam path 8. At this time, the lid temperature detecting means 12 provided in contact with the lid 3 detects the temperature of the lid 3 and controls the lid heating means 11 so that the temperature of the lid 3 becomes a constant temperature (for example, 105 ° C.). To do.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the reheating process, when the pot 2 is heated by the pot heating means 4, in addition to the heating of the water tank 6 by the water tank heating means 7, steam is introduced into the pot 2. By this, the air containing the heat retaining odor in the pan 2 before charging is discharged from the steam hole 9, and the heat retaining odor can be reduced.

  Furthermore, since the energization rate of the water tank heating means 7 that heats the water tank 6 is increased and the amount of generated steam is increased as the heat retention time is longer, the heat retention odor that becomes stronger as the heat retention time becomes longer is effective. Can be reduced.

  In the rice cooker of the first embodiment, when the heat retention time is long, the energization rate of the water tank heating means 7 for heating the water tank 6 is increased to increase the amount of steam to be put into the pan 2, but the heat retention time is long. The energizing time of the water tank heating means 7 for heating the water tank 6 may be lengthened to increase the amount of steam to be introduced into the pan 2. According to this, when the heat retention time is short, the time for putting the steam into the pan 2 is shortened, so the time for the reheating process is shortened, and the user operates the reheating switch 15 and then cooks the rice in a short time. I can eat.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only differences are described.

  A pan weight detecting means 17 serving as a rice amount detecting means is provided in the lower part of the inner surface of the protective frame 16. When the pot 2 is installed in the main body 1, the weight of the pot (the weight of the pot and rice) is measured by receiving the bottom of the pot 2. .

  The control means 13 is input by software from an operation command input by the user via the operation panel 14, pan temperature detection means 5, water tank temperature detection means 9, lid temperature detection means 12, and pan weight detection means 17. Based on the signal, heating control of the pan 2, the lid 3, and the water tank 6 is performed by a rice cooking program stored in advance in a microcomputer. The control means 13 controls the heating amount of the pot heating means 4, the water tank heating means 7, and the lid heating means 11 according to the energization rate of each heating means.

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

  A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2, interiors the body 1, puts a predetermined amount of water into the water tank 6, and interiors the body 1. It is the same as Embodiment 1 until the rice cooking process is carried out after the user operates the rice cooking start switch (not shown) and the rice cooking process is carried out, and the rice temperature in the pan 2 is maintained at about 73 ° C. is there.

  When the user operates the reheating switch 15 at the time of heat retention, the control means 13 heats the pot 2 by the pot heating means 4 to heat the cooked rice in the pot 2. At the same time, according to the pan weight measured by the pan weight detection means 17, the energization rate of the water tank heating means 7 for heating the water tank 6 increases as the pot weight increases, that is, as the rice in the pot increases. Then, the water tank 6 is heated according to a reheating program stored in the microcomputer in advance so that the amount of generated steam is increased. The water in the water tank 6 evaporates to become steam, and is put into the pot 2 through the steam path 8. At this time, the lid temperature detecting means 12 provided in contact with the lid 3 detects the temperature of the lid 3 and controls the lid heating means 11 so that the temperature of the lid 3 becomes a constant temperature (for example, 105 ° C.). To do.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the reheating process, when the pot 2 is heated by the pot heating means 4, in addition to the heating of the water tank 6 by the water tank heating means 7, steam is introduced into the pot 2. By this, the air containing the heat retaining odor in the pan 2 before charging is discharged from the steam hole 9, and the heat retaining odor can be reduced.

  Furthermore, since the energization rate of the water tank heating means 7 which heats the water tank 6 is increased and the amount of steam generated is increased as the amount of cooked rice is heavier, the amount of cooked rice is reduced. The warming odor which becomes strong as it increases can be effectively reduced.

  In the rice cooker of the second embodiment, when the amount of heat-retaining rice is heavy, the energization rate of the water tank heating means 7 for heating the water tank 6 is increased, and the amount of steam to be introduced into the pan 2 is increased. Depending on the heat retention time, the energization time of the water tank heating means 7 for heating the water tank 6 may be changed to change the amount of steam introduced into the pan 2. According to this, when the heat retention time is short, the time for putting the steam into the pan 2 is shortened, so the time for the reheating process is shortened, and the user operates the reheating switch 15 and then cooks the rice in a short time. I can eat.

  The rice cooker according to the second embodiment uses the pan weight detection means 12 as the rice amount detection means, and detects the weight of the heated rice by the pan weight detection means 12. It is good also as a rice quantity detection means by detecting the quantity of the rice of heat insulation by the difference of the temperature rise curve of the pan temperature detection means 5 by heating, ie, the difference of the temperature rise per unit time.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only differences are described.

  A time display means 18 counts down the remaining time of the reheating process by a reheating program stored in advance in the microcomputer.

  The operation and action will be described below.

  A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2, interiors the body 1, puts a predetermined amount of water into the water tank 6, and interiors the body 1. It is the same as Embodiment 1 until the rice cooking process is carried out after the user operates the rice cooking start switch (not shown) and the rice cooking process is carried out, and the rice temperature in the pan 2 is maintained at about 73 ° C. is there.

  When the user operates the reheating switch 15 at the time of heat retention, the control means 13 heats the pot 2 by the pot heating means 4 to heat the cooked rice in the pot 2. At the same time, the remaining time of the reheating process is counted down on the time display means 18 in accordance with a reheating program stored in the microcomputer in advance.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the user can know the remaining time until the end of heating, so that the reheating process is completed (about 7 minutes) after the reheating switch 15 is operated. Because you can know, you can eat cooked rice in a timely manner.

(Embodiment 4)
Since the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted, and an operation different from that of the first embodiment will be described. The operation and action will be described below.

  A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2, interiors the body 1, puts a predetermined amount of water into the water tank 6, and interiors the body 1. It is the same as Embodiment 1 until the rice cooking process is carried out after the user operates the rice cooking start switch (not shown) and the rice cooking process is carried out, and the rice temperature in the pan 2 is maintained at about 73 ° C. is there.

  The microcomputer stores a time switch function that starts reheating in advance. If the user sets and reserves the time when the user wants to eat reheated rice in advance, the reheating process starts at the reserved time. To do.

  Thereby, the user can eat the cooked rice when he / she reserves the cooked cooked rice in advance.

  Although the rice cooker of Embodiment 4 reserved the time which a reheating process starts, the user can reserve the reheating end time by having memorize | stored the time which a reheating process requires beforehand in a microcomputer. So you can eat the cooked rice without waiting for the time of the reheating process.

Sectional drawing of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the rice cooker in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the rice cooker in Embodiment 3 of this invention. Cross section of conventional rice cooker

Explanation of symbols

1 Body 2 Pan 3 Lid 4 Pan Heating Means 5 Pan Temperature Detection Means 17 Pan Weight Detection Means
18 Time display means 19 Steam generation means

Claims (4)

A main body with an open top surface, a pan that is detachably stored in the main body, a lid that covers the main body so as to be opened and closed, a pan heating means that heats the pan, and a pan temperature detection that detects the temperature of the pan Means and steam generating means for generating steam to be put into the pan, and when the cooked rice is heated by the pan heating means, the amount of steam generated by the steam generating means becomes longer as the heat retention time becomes longer. More rice cookers. A main body with an open top surface, a pan that is detachably stored in the main body, a lid that covers the main body so as to be opened and closed, a pan heating means that heats the pan, and a pan temperature detection that detects the temperature of the pan Means, steam generating means for generating steam to be put into the pan, and rice amount detecting means for measuring the amount of rice in the pan, and when the heated rice is heated by the pan heating means, A rice cooker that increases the amount of steam generated by the steam generating means as the amount of cooked rice increases. The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a time display means for displaying the remaining time until the end of heating. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rice cooker has a time switch and can reserve a heating start time.

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