JP2010172440A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To always cook tasty rice by preventing wrong determination of abnormal rice-cooking though it is a normal rice-cooking in a rice cooker having an abnormality detecting function for detecting abnormality during the rice-cooking. <P>SOLUTION: A pot 1 is settably/removably housed inside a rice cooker body. The pot 1 is openably/closeably covered by a cover 19 to be heated by pot heating means 2. Control means 3 estimates the amount of rice by a time from detection of a predetermined temperature with pot temperature sensing means 4 to detection of a predetermined temperature with cover temperature sensing means 5 and controls the heating means 2 according to the estimated amount of the rice to cook the rice through a predetermined sequence. When the means 5 senses the second predetermined temperature before the means 4 senses the first predetermined temperature, abnormal rice-cooking determining means 6 determines the rice-cooking abnormality, with shortening of lead-in cooking step made selectable by a lead-in cooking step shortening means 10. The control means 3 is configured, on conditions when the rice is cooked, to reject the selection of shortening of the lead-in cooking step by the lead-in cooking step shortening means 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker having an abnormality detection function for detecting an abnormality during rice cooking.

  Currently, most rice cookers are equipped with an abnormality detection function to prevent an unsafe state when something abnormal occurs during cooking. One of the abnormalities is when rice is cooked in a state in which foreign matter enters between the pan and the sensor that detects the temperature of the pan (hereinafter referred to as sensor foreign matter rice cooking).

  In the conventional rice cooker, the first temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pan detects the first predetermined temperature, and then the second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the lid detects the second predetermined temperature. The amount of cooked rice is determined based on the time until the first temperature detection means detects the second predetermined temperature before the first temperature detection means detects the first predetermined temperature, and the sensor foreign object rice determination is determined. . When such an abnormality is detected, by skipping or stopping the rice cooking process, the resin parts of the rice cooker main body are melted, and an abnormality such as the rice in the pan becomes darkened is prevented (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  Usually, the temperature of the lid rises due to the steam generated in the pan. Therefore, in the pre-cooking process where the water temperature is maintained at around 50 ° C. for a certain period of time immediately after the start of rice cooking and the rice absorbs water, the temperature rise of the lid should not be seen, it should be about the same as room temperature, There is no detection.

In addition, there are not a few usages in which rice is cooked after the rice itself absorbs water. Then, in the conventional rice cooker, there exists what has enabled the user to select the presence or absence of a pre-cooking process and to cook rice (for example, refer patent document 2).
JP 7-177967 A Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-95973

  However, in the conventional configuration, it is not abnormal rice cooking, but in the case of rice cooking where the time from the end of the previous rice cooking, which is one of the usage of the user, to the start of the next rice cooking is short (hereinafter, continuous rice cooking), the temperature of the pan is Although it is cooled by water and rice, rice cooking is started in a state where the temperature of the lid cannot be lowered sufficiently. In such a case, if the pre-cooking process is eliminated or shortened, and the rice is cooked, the process proceeds to a cooking process in which the lid is heated at a high temperature at a high temperature, so the lid temperature is likely to rise. In spite of normal cooking, it was judged as abnormal cooking, and there was a problem that rice with sufficient taste could not be cooked.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems and aims to prevent misjudgment as abnormal rice cooking despite being normal rice cooking so that rice with good taste can always be cooked.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention detachably stores a pan for putting rice and water into the rice cooker body, covers the top of the rice cooker body with a lid so that it can be opened and closed, and heats the pan with a pan heating means. The pan temperature is detected by the pan temperature detecting means, the lid temperature is detected by the lid temperature detecting means, and the lid temperature detecting means detects the first predetermined temperature by the control means, and then the lid temperature detecting means is the second. The amount of rice cooked is determined according to the time until the predetermined temperature is detected, and the pan heating means is controlled according to the determined rice cooking amount to cook in a predetermined sequence, and the pan temperature detecting means detects the first predetermined temperature. When the lid temperature detecting means detects the second predetermined temperature before, it is determined by the abnormal rice determining means that it is abnormal rice cooking, and it is possible to select whether to shorten the pre-cooking process in which the rice is absorbed by the pre-cooking process shortening means. Configure and control Means is configured not to accept the selection of process shortening cooked before by previous cooking step reduction means depending on the conditions at the time of cooking.

  As a result, depending on the conditions at the time of rice cooking, the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process by the pre-cooking process shortening means will not be accepted, so it can be prevented that it is erroneously judged as abnormal rice even though it is normal rice cooking. , You can always cook delicious rice.

  Although the rice cooker of this invention is normal rice cooking, it can prevent misjudging with abnormal rice cooking, and can always cook rice with good taste.

  1st invention is the rice cooker main body which is detachably accommodated, the pan which puts rice and water, the lid | cover which covers the upper part of the said rice cooker main body openably, the pan heating means which heats the said pan, and the said pan The pan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the lid, the lid temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the lid, and the lid temperature detecting means detects the first predetermined temperature and then the lid temperature detecting means is the second predetermined temperature. Control means for determining the amount of rice cooked according to the time until temperature is detected and controlling the pot heating means according to the determined rice cooking amount to cook rice in a predetermined sequence, and the pot temperature detecting means is a first predetermined temperature. Precooking step for selecting whether or not to shorten the precooking step for causing the rice to absorb water, and the abnormal rice cooking determining unit for determining that the rice is abnormally cooked when the lid temperature detecting unit detects the second predetermined temperature. Shortening means, the control means, It is configured not to accept the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process by the pre-cooking process shortening means according to the conditions at the time of cooking, so that the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process by the pre-cooking process shortening means is not accepted depending on the conditions at the time of cooking Therefore, although it is normal cooking, it can prevent misjudging with abnormal cooking, and can always cook delicious rice.

  The second invention is configured such that, in the first invention, the control means is configured not to accept selection of pre-cooking process shortening by the pre-cooking process shortening means when it is determined that the rice is continuous cooking. Even in the case of cooking rice, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination as abnormal cooking, and it is possible to always cook delicious rice.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the control means is continuous rice cooking when the lid temperature detection means detects a temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature at the start of the rice cooking operation or within a certain time from the start of the rice cooking operation. It is made to judge, can determine continuous rice cooking correctly, can prevent misjudging with abnormal rice cooking in the case of continuous rice cooking, and can always cook rice with good taste.

  4th invention is provided with the display means which performs a display operation in any one invention of the above-mentioned 1-3, and when a control means does not accept selection of pre-cooking process shortening by pre-cooking process shortening means, It is configured to display that on the display means, prevents misjudgment as abnormal rice cooking, always cooks tasty rice, and does not accept selection for shortening the pre-cooking process. It is possible to eliminate the anxiety and confusion that is a malfunction.

5th invention is provided with the alerting | reporting means which performs alerting | reporting operation | movement in any one invention of the said 1st-4th, When a control means does not accept selection of pre-cooking process shortening by the pre-cooking process shortening means, It is configured to notify the fact by the notification means, prevents erroneous determination as abnormal rice cooking, always cooks delicious rice, and does not accept selection of shortening the pre-cooking process. It is possible to eliminate the anxiety and confusion about whether or not this is a malfunction.

  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 the block diagram of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention, and FIG. 2 shows sectional drawing of the rice cooker.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rice cooker body 16 has a protective frame 17 for storing the pot 1 therein, and the pot 1 for putting rice and water is detachably stored in the protective frame 17. Yes. The pan 1 is made of a magnetic material such as stainless steel or iron. The heating coil 15 heats the pan 1 and is composed of an inner coil 13 disposed outside the bottom surface of the protective frame 17 and an outer coil 14 disposed on the outer periphery thereof, and is configured on the control board 18. Together with the inverter 12 that supplies a high-frequency current to the heating coil 15, the pan heating means 2 is configured. The heating coil 15 generates an alternating magnetic field by the high-frequency current supplied by the inverter 12 and induction-heats the pan 1 with this alternating magnetic field.

  The lid 19 covers the upper portion of the rice cooker body 16 so as to be openable and closable, and is provided with lid temperature detecting means 5 for detecting the temperature of the lid 19. The pan temperature detecting means 4 is press-fitted to the bottom of the pan 1 so as to detect the temperature of the pan 1.

  The output of the pan temperature detection means 4 and the output of the lid temperature detection means 5 are input to the abnormal rice cooking determination means 6, and the abnormal rice cooking determination means 6 has the first predetermined temperature (for example, 80 ° C.). If the lid temperature detecting means 5 detects the second predetermined temperature (for example, 70 ° C.) before detecting the error, it is determined that the rice is abnormally cooked. The control means 3 is constituted by the microcomputer 9 together with the abnormal rice cooking determination means 6, and the lid temperature detection means 4 detects the first predetermined temperature (80 ° C.) and then the lid temperature detection means detects the second predetermined temperature (70). The amount of cooked rice is determined according to the time until it is detected, and the pan heating means 2 is controlled according to the determined amount of cooked rice to cook rice in a predetermined sequence.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation unit and a display unit at the start of normal rice cooking. The display means 7 comprises an LCD 25 and displays and informs rice cooking information such as the selected course and the remaining rice cooking time, and is controlled by the control means 3. The operation unit includes a plurality of keys such as a rice cooking key 26 for starting rice cooking and a course key for selecting a rice cooking course. The pre-cooking process shortening means 10 selects whether or not to shorten the pre-cooking process of making the rice absorb water, and is configured with the rice cooking key 26 and when the rice cooking key 26 is pressed only once when the rice cooking operation is started. Implements the pre-cooking process as usual, and when the rice cooking key 26 is pressed again within 16 seconds after starting the rice cooking operation, the pre-cooking process is shortened and carried out.

  The notification means 8 is configured by a buzzer (not shown), and notifies the input acceptance of each key, the end of cooking rice, the occurrence of abnormality, and the like, and is controlled by the control means 3. The display means 7 and the notification means 8 will be described later.

  Here, when the lid temperature detection means 5 detects the third predetermined temperature (for example, 70 ° C.) or more at the start of the rice cooking operation, the control means 3 determines that it is continuous rice cooking and determines that it is continuous rice cooking. In this case, it is configured not to accept the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process in which the rice absorbs water.

In the above configuration, the operation will be described first with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a time chart of the rice cooking process during normal rice cooking of the rice cooker of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 (a) is a time chart of the rice cooking process when pre-cooking shortening during normal rice cooking is not selected. 4 (b) is a time chart of the rice cooking process when pre-cooking shortening during normal rice cooking is selected. The solid line in FIG. 4 indicates the pan temperature detected by the pan temperature detecting means 4, and the dotted line indicates the lid temperature detected by the lid temperature detecting means 5.

  First, rice and water are put into the pan 1, and when the pan 1 is stored in the rice cooker body 16 and the operation is started, as shown in FIG. 4, a pre-cooking step, a smoothing step, a determination step, and a boiling maintenance step. Each process, such as a cooking process and an unevenness process, which have the above, is sequentially executed. First, in the pre-cooking process, the energization rate of the pan heating unit 2 is increased and the energization is performed with a strong heating power until the temperature of the pan 1 detected by the pan temperature detection unit 4 reaches a predetermined temperature θ3 (for example, 55 ° C.). After the temperature of the pan 1 reaches the predetermined temperature θ3 (55 ° C.), the heating rate is reduced by lowering the energization rate of the pan heating means 2, and the temperature of the pan 1 is maintained at the predetermined temperature θ3 (55 ° C.). On / off control is performed for a predetermined time (Tm). For example, when pre-cooking shortening is not selected, the pre-cooking process is performed long (for example, 20 minutes) as shown in FIG. 4 (a). As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the pre-cooking process is performed shortly (for example, for 10 minutes) assuming that sufficient water absorption is performed. Rice liquefaction begins at about 55 ° C or higher, but rice can be hydrated in a relatively short period of time by immersing the rice in water at the minimum water temperature at which this lake formation begins.

  When the pre-cooking process is finished, the leveling process constituting the cooking process is started. In the break-in process, the control means 3 raises the energization rate of the pot heating means 2 in order to make a transition to boiling at a stretch with a strong heating power. The temperature of the lid 19 does not increase so much until the pre-cooking step, as indicated by the dotted line. However, when the energization rate of the pot heating means 2 is increased and heated with high heating power in the leveling process, the pot 1 boils and steam is generated, and the temperature of the lid 19 rises due to the heat of the steam.

  In the determination step, the lid temperature detected by the lid temperature detecting means after the pan temperature detected by the pan temperature detecting means 4 reaches the first predetermined temperature θ1 (80 ° C.) is the second predetermined temperature θ2 (70). As shown in (Table 1), the amount of cooked rice in the pan 1 is determined by the determination time T until it reaches [° C.].

  Then, the process proceeds to the boiling maintenance step, the heating output is adjusted according to the amount of cooked rice, and when the predetermined temperature θ4 (for example, 120 ° C.) is reached, the unevenness step is started, and the rice cooking operation is terminated after the set time.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, since operation | movement other than the operation | movement which determines with it being abnormal rice cooking by the abnormal rice determination means 6 is the same as the operation | movement at the time of the said normal rice cooking, description is abbreviate | omitted. Fig.5 (a) is a time chart of the rice cooking process at the time of the continuous rice cooking of the conventional rice cooker, and FIG.5 (b) is a time chart of the rice cooking process at the time of the continuous rice cooking of the rice cooker of this Embodiment. The solid line in FIG. 5 indicates the pan temperature detected by the pan temperature detecting means 4, and the dotted line indicates the lid temperature detected by the lid temperature detecting means 5.

  When performing continuous rice cooking, the time from the end of the previous rice cooking to the start of the next rice cooking is short, the temperature of the pan 1 is cooled by water and rice as shown in FIG. 5, but the temperature of the lid 19 is sufficiently lowered. Cooking rice will be started in a state that does not meet. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), if the time Tm of the pre-cooking process is shortened so as to be short (10 minutes), the temperature of the lid 19 cannot be lowered sufficiently. Therefore, at the time t2 in the leveling process before the time t1 when the pan temperature detecting means 4 detects the first predetermined temperature θ1 (80 ° C.), the lid temperature detecting means 5 becomes the second predetermined temperature. Since θ2 (70 ° C.) is detected, it is determined as abnormal rice cooking.

  For this reason, in this Embodiment, the control means 3 will determine with it being continuous rice cooking, if the cover temperature detection means 5 detects 3rd predetermined temperature (70 degreeC) or more at the time of rice cooking operation start, and it is continuous rice cooking. When it determines with, shortening of a pre-cooking process is not received, but as shown in FIG.5 (b), time Tm of a pre-cooking process is lengthened (20 minutes). Thus, the time t3 when the lid temperature detecting means 5 detects the second temperature (70 ° C.) is before the time t1 when the pan temperature detecting means 4 detects the first predetermined temperature θ1 (80 ° C.). It is possible to prevent the abnormal rice cooking determining means 6 from determining that it is abnormal rice cooking.

  As mentioned above, in this Embodiment, since the control means 3 was comprised so that the selection of the pre-cooking process shortening by the pre-cooking process shortening means might not be received according to the conditions at the time of rice cooking, although it is normal rice cooking, it is. Therefore, it is possible to prevent misjudging as abnormal rice cooking, and it is possible to cook rice with good taste at all times.

  Moreover, since it was comprised so that the control means 3 might not receive shortening of a pre-cooking process and it should not change the time Tm of a pre-cooking process to 10 minutes shorter than the conventional 20 minutes, when it determines with it being continuous rice cooking, it is continuous. Even in the case of cooking rice, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination as abnormal cooking, and it is possible to always cook delicious rice.

  Moreover, since the control means 3 has determined that it is continuous cooking when the cover temperature detection means 5 detects more than 3rd predetermined temperature (70 degreeC) at the time of rice cooking operation start, it determines continuous rice cooking correctly. In the case of continuous cooking, it is possible to prevent misjudgment as abnormal cooking, and it is possible to always cook delicious rice.

  In the present embodiment, the pre-cooking process shortening means 10 allows the pre-cooking process to be shortened more than usual, but this may eliminate the pre-cooking process and obtain the same effect. it can.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the pre-cooking process shortening means 10 is comprised with the rice cooking key 26, this may be comprised with the combination by a some key, and the independent exclusive key, and obtains the same effect. be able to.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the control means 3 is made to determine that it is continuous cooking when the cover temperature detection means 5 detects 3rd predetermined temperature (70 degreeC) or more at the time of rice cooking operation start, If the lid temperature detecting means 5 detects the third predetermined temperature (70 ° C.) or higher within a certain time from the start of the operation, it may be determined that the rice is continuously cooked, and similar effects can be obtained.

(Embodiment 2)
The control means 3 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to display a message to that effect on the display means 7 when the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process by the pre-cooking process shortening means 10 is not accepted. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The operation in the above configuration will be described. In addition, since it is the same as the operation | movement at the time of normal rice cooking in the said Embodiment 1, except the operation | movement when not accepting the selection of pre-cooking process shortening, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  When the lid temperature detecting means 5 detects the third predetermined temperature (70 ° C.) or higher at the start of the rice cooking operation, it is determined to be continuous cooking, and when it is determined to be continuous cooking, the shortening of the pre-cooking process is not accepted. As shown in 5 (b), the time Tm of the pre-cooking process is not changed to 10 minutes shorter than the conventional 20 minutes.

  At this time, if the display similar to that during normal rice cooking is displayed on the LCD 25 as the display means 7, the user does not know why the pre-cooking process shortening selection is not accepted, and feels anxious and confused about not accepting it. End up.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the control means 3 does not accept the selection of shortening the prep cooking process, the display means displays a character “Pre-preparation shortening impossible” on the LCD 25 as shown in FIG. 7 is controlled. By this, it can be surely recognized that the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process is not accepted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 3 is configured to display the fact on the display unit 7 when the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process is not accepted. If you do not accept the choice of shortening the pre-cooking process, the user may be worried or confused by not accepting the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process. Can be eliminated.

(Embodiment 3)
The control means 3 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to notify the notification means 8 of the fact that the selection of shortening the preparation process by the preparation process shortening means 10 is not accepted. Other configurations are the same as those in the first or second embodiment.

  The operation in the above configuration will be described. In addition, since it is the same as the operation | movement at the time of normal rice cooking in the said Embodiment 1, except the operation | movement when not accepting the selection of pre-cooking process shortening, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  When the lid temperature detecting means 5 detects the third predetermined temperature (70 ° C.) or higher at the start of the rice cooking operation, it is determined to be continuous cooking, and when it is determined to be continuous cooking, the shortening of the pre-cooking process is not accepted. As shown in 5 (b), the time Tm of the pre-cooking process is not changed to 10 minutes shorter than the conventional 20 minutes.

  At this time, if the display similar to that during normal rice cooking is displayed on the LCD 25 as the display means 7, the user does not know why the pre-cooking process shortening selection is not accepted, and feels anxious and confused about not accepting it. End up.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the control means 3 does not accept the selection of shortening the prep cooking process, the display means 7 displays the character “Pre-preparation shortening impossible” on the LCD 25 as shown in FIG. And the buzzer as the notification means 8 are controlled so as to notify the fact. Thereby, the user can recognize more reliably that the selection of shortening of a pre-cooking process is not received.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the control unit 3 does not accept the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process, the control unit 3 is configured to notify the fact by the notification unit 8, so that it is erroneously determined as abnormal rice cooking. If you do not accept the choice of shortening the pre-cooking process, the user may be worried or confused by not accepting the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process. Can be eliminated.

  As described above, the rice cooker according to the present invention can prevent misjudgment as abnormal rice cooking despite being normal rice cooking, and can always cook good-tasting rice, so during rice cooking It is useful as a rice cooker having an abnormality detection function for detecting abnormalities.

The block diagram of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Cross section of the rice cooker The figure which shows the display operation part at the time of the normal rice start of the rice cooker (A) The time chart of the rice cooking process when the pre-cooking shortening at the time of normal cooking is not selected for the rice cooker (b) The rice cooking process when the pre-cooking shortening at the time of normal cooking of the rice cooker is selected Time chart (A) Time chart of the rice cooking process at the time of continuous rice cooking of the conventional rice cooker (b) Time chart of the rice cooking process at the time of continuous rice cooking of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The figure which shows the display operation part at the time of the continuous rice cooking start of the rice cooker in Embodiment 2 of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pan 2 Pan heating means 3 Control means 4 Pan temperature detection means 5 Lid temperature detection means 6 Abnormal rice cooking determination means 10 Pre-cooking process shortening means 16 Rice cooker main body 19 Lid

Claims (5)

A pan in which rice and water are detachably stored in the rice cooker body, a lid that covers the top of the rice cooker body so as to be opened and closed, a pan heating means for heating the pan, and a pan for detecting the temperature of the pan The temperature detection means, the lid temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the lid, and the pan temperature detection means until the lid temperature detection means detects the second predetermined temperature after the first predetermined temperature is detected. Control means for determining the amount of rice cooked over time and controlling the pan heating means according to the determined rice cooking amount to cook rice in a predetermined sequence, before the pan temperature detecting means detects the first predetermined temperature, When the lid temperature detecting means detects the second predetermined temperature, the abnormal rice cooking determining means for determining that the rice is abnormal rice cooking, and the pre-cooking process shortening means for selecting whether to shorten the pre-cooking process for causing the rice to absorb water, The control means can be used for cooking conditions. Configuration the cooker so as not to accept the selection of process shortening cooked before by the previous cooking process shortening unit I. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured not to accept selection of shortening of the pre-cooking process by the pre-cooking process shortening means when it is determined that the cooking is continuous rice cooking. The rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein the control means determines that the rice cooking is continuous rice cooking when the lid temperature detection means detects the third predetermined temperature or more when the rice cooking operation is started or within a certain time from the start of the rice cooking operation. The display means which performs a display operation, and when the control means does not accept the selection of shortening the pre-cooking process by the pre-cooking process shortening means, the control means is configured to display that effect on the display means. Or the rice cooker according to item 1. Any of Claims 1-4 provided with the alerting | reporting means which performs alerting | reporting operation | movement, and the control means alert | reports that by the said alerting | reporting means, when the selection of shortening of the pre-cooking process by the pre-cooking process shortening means is not received. Or the rice cooker according to item 1.