JP2009291267A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cook delicious rice by preventing a scorch of rice when abnormality of detection occurs in a lid temperature detecting means. <P>SOLUTION: A rice cooker comprises a first comparator for detecting that a pot temperature detecting means 4 reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a prescribed temperature, a second comparator for detecting that the lid temperature detecting means 8 reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a prescribed temperature, a means for determining volume of rice to be cooked for determining a volume of the rice to be cooked by measuring time elapsed from the output by the first comparator to the output by the second comparator, a rice cooking electric power deciding means for deciding electric power for subsequent rice cooking from the volume of rice to be cooked which is determined by the means for determining volume of rice to be cooked, and a boiling over detecting means 13 for detecting boiling over and controls the amount of heating of a pot heating means 3 in accordance with the rice cooking electric power determined by the rice cooking electric power deciding means. The rice cooker is designed to reduce the amount of heating of the pot heating means 3 when the number of times of detection by the boiling over detecting means 13 reaches a prescribed number of times before the elapsed time from the output by the first comparator to the output by the second comparator exceeds a prescribed period of time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker that performs appropriate heating control according to the rice cooking capacity.

Conventionally, this type of rice cooker is not only a first temperature detector that detects the temperature of the inner pot, but also a second temperature detector that is located above the inner pot and detects the temperature of the steam generated from the inner pot. The rice cooking capacity is detected according to the elapsed time from when the first temperature detector reaches the predetermined temperature until the second temperature detector reaches the predetermined temperature. Based on this, the subsequent rice cooking power is determined. That is, if the elapsed time from when the first temperature detector reaches the predetermined temperature until the second temperature detector reaches the predetermined temperature is short, it is determined that the rice cooking capacity is small, and thereafter the low power is reduced. If the elapsed time from when the first temperature detector reaches the predetermined temperature until the second temperature detector reaches the predetermined temperature is long, the rice cooking capacity is determined to be large. After that, high power is supplied to the inner pot and cooked.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-155814

  However, in the conventional configuration, detection abnormality of the second temperature detector, for example, rice grains and the like adhere to the heat sensitive part of the second temperature detector, and detection of the boiling of water in the pan may be delayed. When the temperature of the temperature detector itself is detected with a delay even though the temperature has reached the predetermined temperature, the second temperature detector is set to the predetermined temperature after the first temperature detector reaches the predetermined temperature. Elapsed time to reach the temperature is determined to be long, and as a result, it is determined that the rice cooking capacity is larger than the actual one, and despite the small rice cooking capacity, the amount of heating to the inner pot increases and the rice burns There was a problem that delicious rice could not be cooked, and because the heating to the inner pot continued, the rice bowl spilled out of the rice cooker.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and prevents the spilling of the rice cracker even if the detection abnormality of the second temperature detector occurs, reduces the heating amount of the pan heating means, and burns the rice. The purpose is to provide a rice cooker that can cook delicious rice by preventing food.

  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 covering the opening of the pan, and between the lid and the pan. An inner lid provided in the lid, a steam cylinder provided in the lid for discharging steam in the pan to the outside of the main body, a pan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pan, and the pan temperature detecting means are predetermined. A first comparator for detecting that the temperature has become equal to or higher, a lid temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the inner lid, provided on the lid, and the lid temperature detecting means being equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. A rice cooking capacity determination for determining the rice cooking capacity by measuring the elapsed time until the second comparator outputs and the second comparator outputs and the second comparator outputs. Means and the presence or absence of a stick that is generated in the pan and enters the steam cylinder, and the progress of the stick is detected. The rice cooking power determined by the rice cooking power determination means, and the rice cooking power determination means for determining the subsequent rice cooking power based on the rice cooking capacity determined by the rice cooking capacity determination means. Accordingly, the heating amount of the pan heating means is controlled, and the overflow detection means is predetermined within a predetermined time of the elapsed time from the output of the first comparator to the output of the second comparator. When exceeding the number of times the rice balls enter, the heating amount of the pan heating means is reduced.

As a result, the detection error of the lid temperature detection means, for example, rice grains adhere to the heat sensitive part of the lid temperature detection means, the contact with the inner lid becomes worse, and the detection of the boiling of water inside the pot is delayed, and the pot temperature detection means When the elapsed time from the output of the first comparator detected by the second comparator to the output of the second comparator detected by the lid temperature detecting means is within a predetermined time, If it exceeds the number of times (entrance into the steam cylinder of the rice bowl), the amount of heating to the pan heating means is reduced, so that the rice can be cooked with less scorch.

  The rice cooker of the present invention has a detection abnormality of the lid temperature detecting means, for example, even if rice grains adhere to the heat sensitive part of the lid temperature detecting means and the contact with the inner lid becomes worse, and detection of boiling of water in the pan is delayed. You can cook delicious rice without scorching rice.

  1st invention is a pan, the pan heating means which heats the said pan, the cover body which covers the opening part of the said pan, the inner cover provided between the said cover body and the said pan, and the said cover body A steam cylinder for discharging the steam in the pan to the outside of the main body, a pan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pan, and a first for detecting that the pan temperature detecting means has reached a predetermined temperature or more. A comparator, a lid temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the inner lid, and a second comparator for detecting that the lid temperature detecting means has reached a predetermined temperature or more. And a rice cooking capacity determination means for determining a rice cooking capacity by measuring an elapsed time until the first comparator outputs and the second comparator outputs, and the steam generated in the pan A spill detector that detects the presence or absence of a toy entering the cylinder and counts the number of times the toy has entered. And a rice cooking power determination means for determining subsequent rice cooking power based on the rice cooking capacity determined by the rice cooking capacity determination means, and according to the rice cooking power determined by the rice cooking power determination means, The amount of heating is controlled, and the spillage detection means determines the number of times that the stick has entered within a predetermined time of the elapsed time from the output of the first comparator to the output of the second comparator. When exceeding, since the heating amount of the said pan heating means can be made small, the scorch of rice can be prevented and delicious rice can be cooked.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, there is provided an informing means for informing the user of an error, and an elapsed time from the output of the first comparator to the output of the second comparator within a predetermined time. In the case where the spillage detection means exceeds the predetermined number of intrusions, a user is informed that the detection of the lid temperature detection means is abnormal by providing an error notification means for notifying an error. The inspection of the heat sensitive part of the lid temperature detecting means can be enlightened.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the second aspect of the invention, by adding notification canceling means for preventing the operation of the error notification means, for example, when the error notification is notified by a buzzer or a speaker other than the display, Since the user who does not like the message can cancel the notification, it is convenient for the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the spillage detection means of the rice cooker in 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. A pot heating means 3 for heating the pot 2 and a pot temperature detecting means 4 for detecting the temperature of the pot 2 are arranged inside the main body 1. The pot heating means 3 may be a heater, a coil for induction heating the pot 2, or any heating means.

  A lid 5 that covers the upper surface opening of the pan 2 is rotatably supported by a hinge shaft 6 and is opened and closed. An inner lid 7 is provided between the lower surface of the lid 5 and the pan 2, and the thermosensitive portion 9 of the lid temperature detecting means 8 that detects the temperature of the inner lid 7 and detects the boiling of water inside the pan 2 is the inner lid. 7 is provided in contact with 7. The inner lid 7 is detachably attached for easy maintenance. An opening on the upper surface of the pan 2 is provided with a steam cylinder 10 for discharging the steam in the pan out of the main body 1.

  The control means 11 has a microcomputer mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The control means 11 is a rice cooking program stored in the microcomputer in advance based on an operation command input by the user via the operation panel 12 and a signal input from the pan temperature detection means 4 and the lid temperature detection means 8 by software. Thus, the heating control of the pan 2 is performed. The control means 12 controls the heating amount of the pan heating means 3 by the energization rate of each heating means.

  In FIG. 2, the spill detection means 13 includes a magnet 14 provided in the steam cylinder 10 and a reed switch 15 provided in the lid. When the reed switch 15 detects the magnetic force of the magnet 14, the spilling detection means 13 detects the state that the rice ball is not entering the steam cylinder during cooking, and when the magnetic force of the magnet 14 cannot be detected, The sniffer enters the steam cylinder 10 and detects the state of spillage. In other words, a nap in the steam cylinder 10 enters from the advancing entrance 16, the nap accumulates and rises below the magnet 14, the magnet 14 moves due to an increase in internal pressure, and the reed switch 15 moves to the magnet 14. If the magnetic force cannot be detected, it is determined that the spill is over. Also, the spill detector 13 counts the number of spills. In this case, the magnet 14 cannot be moved only by steam, and has a weight and an inclination angle so that the magnet 14 moves as the toy rises.

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

  The user puts rice corresponding to the rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into two pots and sets the main body 1 in a predetermined state. If operation start operation is performed by the control means 11, a rice cooking process will be implemented by the rice cooking program previously memorize | stored in the microcomputer.

  The rice cooking process is roughly divided into each process of water immersion, rice cooking capacity determination, cooking / boiling maintenance, and steaming.

  The soaking process is a process of allowing the rice to absorb water by holding the rice at 55 to 60 ° C. In this submerging process, this temperature is a necessary condition for the rice in the pot to absorb the water sufficiently evenly.

  In the next rice cooking capacity determination step, when the pan 2 containing rice and water is heated by the pan heating means 3 with a constant heating amount, the temperature inside the pan 2 gradually increases. The temperature of the pan 2 is detected by the pan temperature detecting means 4 provided so as to come into contact with the bottom of the pan 2, and whether or not the pan temperature detecting means 4 has become a predetermined temperature or more is compared with the first comparator. When the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, time measurement for determining the rice cooking capacity is started.

  Further, when the pan 2 is heated at a constant heating amount by the pan heating means 3, the temperature inside the pan 2 gradually rises, but until the water inside the pan 3 boils, the steam reaches the inner lid 7. Since it hardly rises, the temperature of the heat sensitive part 9 of the lid temperature detecting means 8 that is in contact with the upper part of the inner lid 7 hardly rises. However, when the water in the pot 3 boils, a large amount of steam hits the inner lid 7, so that the temperature of the heat sensitive part 9 of the lid temperature detecting means 8 rises rapidly.

In this way, the second comparator compares whether or not the temperature of the lid temperature detecting means 8 provided on the lid body 5 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. When the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the time measurement is terminated. .

  And a rice cooking capacity | capacitance detection means detects a rice cooking capacity | capacitance by measuring the elapsed time until a 1st comparator starts an output and a 2nd comparator starts an output.

  That is, the elapsed time (the elapsed time from the output of the first comparator detected by the pan temperature detecting means 4 to the output of the second comparator detected by the lid temperature detecting means 8) has a large heat capacity. Since it becomes so long, rice cooking capacity can be determined from this elapsed time. And the rice cooking power determination means determines rice cooking power according to the rice cooking capacity by the output of the rice cooking capacity determination means. The heating amount of the pot heating means 3 is controlled according to the rice cooking power determined by the rice cooking power determination means.

  Here, rice grains and the like are interposed between the heat sensitive part 9 of the lid temperature detecting means 8 and the inner lid 7, so that the temperature of the lid temperature detecting means 8 is predetermined even though a large amount of steam hits the inner lid 7. Without detecting that the temperature has been exceeded, the elapsed time (from the output of the first comparator detected by the pan temperature detecting means 4 to the output of the second comparator detected by the lid temperature detecting means 8) Within the elapsed time), the pot heating means 3 continues to heat the pot 2 and a stick is generated in the pot 2, and the stick enters the steam cylinder 10 and pushes up the magnet 14 to reed the switch. 15 can not detect the magnetic force of the magnet 14, the spilling detection means 13 detects the spilling state, and the spilling detection means 13 counts the number of spills. Abnormal detection It determines, to reduce the heating amount of the pot heating means 3.

  In the cooking process, heat is applied to the absorbed rice and then cooked. In the boiling maintenance process, the boiling is maintained and the starch of rice is gelatinized to make rice. Also in this cooking and boiling maintaining step, when the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, the heating amount of the pan heating means 3 is reduced to prevent the rice from burning.

  In the unevenness process, the cooked rice is steamed and the inside of the pan is uniformly finished. In this process, the cooking is finished.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the detection of the lid temperature detection means occurs, and the lid temperature detection means 8 detects after the first comparator detected by the pan temperature detection means 4 outputs. In the elapsed time until the second comparator outputs, when the spilling detection means 13 exceeds the predetermined number of spills, the heating amount of the pan heating means is reduced, so that the burning of the rice is prevented. You can cook delicious rice.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rice cooker in the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, about the same part as the rice cooker in the said 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a notification means 17 that operates in response to a signal from the control means is provided inside the main body 1. The notification means 17 may be a buzzer or a speaker.

  Further, it may be displayed on the LCD of the operation panel 12.

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

The user puts rice and water into the pan 2, starts the operation, the rice cooking process is carried out by the rice cooking program, and rice grains are interposed between the heat sensitive part 9 of the lid temperature detecting means 8 and the inner lid 7. Then, it is not detected that the temperature of the lid temperature detecting means 8 has exceeded a predetermined temperature even though a large amount of steam hits the inner lid 7, and the spillage detecting means 13 determines the number of spills determined in advance. In the case of exceeding, it is determined that the lid temperature detection is abnormal, and the process is the same as in the first embodiment until the heating amount of the pan heating means 3 is reduced.

  Here, when the spillage detection means 13 exceeds a predetermined number of spills, the heating amount of the pan heating means 3 is reduced and the notification means 17 such as a buzzer or LCD display is operated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the detection of the lid temperature detection means occurs, and the lid temperature detection means 8 detects after the first comparator detected by the pan temperature detection means 4 outputs. When the elapsed time until the second comparator outputs is within a predetermined time and the spillage detection means 13 exceeds a predetermined number of spillage, the amount of heating to the pan heating means is reduced. In addition, it is possible to inform the user that the detection of the lid temperature detecting means 8 is abnormal and to enlighten the inspection of the heat sensitive part of the lid temperature detecting means 8.

  In addition, by storing voice in the microcomputer, the enlightenment effect can be enhanced by the user in words.

(Embodiment 3)
Since this embodiment is the same as the cross-sectional view of the rice cooker in the second embodiment, the illustration is omitted.

  In this embodiment, the operation panel 12 is provided with a notification cancel key for preventing the operation of the error notification means.

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

  The user performs a selection operation of “no notification” with a notification cancel key that prevents the user from operating the error notification means in advance, and the spillage detection means 13 performs a predetermined number of spills within a predetermined time. If it exceeds, it is determined that the lid temperature detection is abnormal, and the heating amount of the pan heating means 3 is reduced, but no error notification is given by a sound such as a buzzer.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the user who does not like the error notification sound due to the sound of a buzzer or a speaker can cancel the notification, a rice cooker that is easy to use for the user can be provided. .

  As described above, the rice cooker according to the present invention can cook delicious rice by preventing scorching of the rice even if the detection abnormality of the lid temperature detecting means occurs, so that it can be used for other cooking devices, etc. It can also be applied to.

Sectional drawing of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the steam cylinder of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the rice cooker in Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 pan 3 pan heating means 4 pan temperature detection means 5 lid 7 inner lid 8 lid temperature detection means 10 steam cylinder 11 control means 17 notification means

Claims (3)

A pan, a pan heating means for heating the pan, a lid that covers the opening of the pan, an inner lid provided between the lid and the pan, and an inner lid provided on the lid A steam cylinder for discharging the steam out of the main body, a pan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pan, a first comparator for detecting that the pan temperature detecting means has reached a predetermined temperature, and the A lid temperature detecting means provided on the lid for detecting the temperature of the inner lid; a second comparator for detecting that the lid temperature detecting means has reached a predetermined temperature; and the first A rice cooking capacity determination means for determining the rice cooking capacity by measuring an elapsed time until the second comparator outputs the output of the comparator, and a rice cooking capacity determination means that is generated in the pan and enters the steam cylinder. Spill detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a stick and counting the number of times the stick has entered; Rice cooking power determining means for determining the subsequent rice cooking power based on the rice cooking capacity determined by the rice capacity determining means, and controlling the heating amount of the pot heating means according to the rice cooking power determined by the rice cooking power determining means If the overflow detection means exceeds a predetermined number of times of entering the bead within a predetermined time of the elapsed time from the output of the first comparator to the output of the second comparator, A rice cooker that reduces the heating amount of the pot heating means. An informing means for informing the user of an error is provided, and the spillage detecting means determines a predetermined number of times the toy has entered within an elapsed time from the output of the first comparator to the output of the second comparator. The rice cooker of Claim 1 provided with the error alerting | reporting means which alert | reports an error when exceeding. The rice cooker according to claim 2, further comprising notification canceling means for preventing the error notification means from operating.

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