JP2010246658A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the discharge amount of steam by suppressing useless heating than necessary for improving energy saving property and to suppress dew condensation and humidification in the surrounding area for preventing a deterioration in the indoor environment. <P>SOLUTION: The rice cooker comprises: an outer lid 3 covering the top of a body 1 and including: an inner lid 6 which covers a top opening of an inner pot 2; a pressure regulating valve 8 which maintains a predetermined pressure in the inner pot 2; a steam path 9 which discharges the steam generated in the inner pot 2 to the outside through the pressure regulating valve 8; and a steam recovery unit 10 which recovers the steam before it is discharged to the outside from the steam path 9. In this case, the steam recovery unit 10 comprises an upper case 10-1 and a lower case 10-2. The upper case 10-1 is provided with a space which is surrounded by an inner first frame 10-7 and an outer second frame 10-9 which droop from the top surface. A hole 10-12 in communication with an outside air is formed in a space which is formed by the upper case 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 on the outside of the outermost frame 10-9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker, which reduces the amount of steam discharged and suppresses condensation and humidification to the surroundings.

  As this kind of conventional rice cooker, what was described in patent documents 1 to 4 is known.

  In Patent Document 1, an inner pot is provided in a storage case provided in a frame so that the inner pot can be stored freely. On the other hand, a water container is provided on one side of the frame, and steam generated from the inner pot is passed through a steam passage. And introduced into the water container to prevent the vapor from being released into the atmosphere.

  The one described in Patent Document 2 is provided with a steam cooling unit attached to the rice cooker body, and the cooling unit and the steam port of the lid that covers the top surface of the rice cooker body are connected by an induction cylinder, and generated during rice cooking. The steam is guided to the cooling unit through the induction tube to prevent condensation and contamination around the rice cooker body.

  In Patent Document 3, the steam path connected to the pan is opened to a ventilation path provided with a blower, and the steam discharged from the steam path is mixed with the blown air sent from the blower and discharged. This keeps the temperature of the exhaust steam low.

  The one described in Patent Document 4 applies boiling point rise due to pressure, and keeps the temperature in the pan below the boiling point corresponding to a predetermined pressure value, and keeps the temperature at 100 ° C. or higher, while suppressing steam discharge to 100 ° C. or higher. Keep things.

  Moreover, what was described in patent document 5 is known as the objective of improving energy saving property. This is provided with two pressure regulating valves and a pressure relief valve as pressure valve mechanism on the inner lid, and by causing a sudden pressure reduction from the pressurized state, it contributes to energy saving by obtaining a stirring action, and cooked rice According to the menu, the degree of decompression during boiling is adjusted to adjust the stirring state.

JP 10-192134 A JP 2008-253650 A JP 2009-28513 A JP-A-11-206559 JP 2008-48766 A

  In the above-described conventional technology, those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 require a water container and a cooling unit, and the rice cooker becomes large.

  Moreover, it is necessary to clean the water container and the cooling unit and the cooling unit, which is not preferable in terms of the global environment because the load of water use and disposal increases.

  Although what was described in patent document 3 becomes difficult to dew condensation to the rice cooker vicinity by the fall of exhaust steam temperature, there is no change in raising indoor humidity and there exists a problem on an indoor environment.

  What is described in Patent Document 4 performs control to maintain a high temperature of 100 ° C. or higher at a predetermined temperature or lower (below the boiling point at that pressure) with respect to a predetermined pressure value. Therefore, it is in a state where it is not boiling, and there is a problem in finishing the rice deliciously.

  Further, when drying is performed by increasing the heating amount after a certain time, there is a problem that a large amount of steam is released by moisture contained in the rice although there is no excess water inside the inner pot.

  Although what is described in Patent Document 5 contributes to energy saving, a large amount of steam is ejected at a time when sudden decompression occurs, so there is a problem of causing condensation in the vicinity.

In order to solve such a conventional problem, according to claim 1 of the present invention, a main body, an inner hook that is detachably accommodated in the main body, a heating means that heats the inner hook, and an outer portion that covers the upper portion of the main body. A lid, and the outer lid covers an upper surface opening of the inner hook, a pressure regulating valve provided on the inner lid for maintaining the inside of the inner hook at a predetermined pressure, and the inner lid through the pressure regulating valve. In a rice cooker equipped with a steam passage for discharging steam generated in the kettle to the outside, and a steam recovery unit for recovering the steam before being discharged to the outside from the pressure regulating valve through the steam passage,
The steam recovery unit is composed of an upper case and a lower case, and the upper case is provided with a space surrounded by a frame hanging from the upper surface, and a plurality of the frames are provided so as to surround the inner frame with the outer frame. In addition, a hole communicating with outside air is provided in a space formed by the upper case and the lower case outside the outermost frame.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a tube connected to the steam passage is provided in a substantially central portion of the lower case, and an inflow port through which steam flows from the steam passage into the steam recovery unit is provided at an upper portion of the tube. A U-shaped frame is provided so as to be positioned between the innermost frame and the next frame in a state where the upper case and the lower case are coupled.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the steam recovery unit is detachably attached to the outer lid.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to minimize the outflow of steam generated inside the inner pot while maintaining boiling at a high boiling point temperature by the pressure regulating valve, and further recover the steam at the time of boiling to the steam. Since it is collected by the unit, it is possible to prevent a large amount of steam from being released into the room without deteriorating the taste of the rice due to not boiling.

  Moreover, it is possible to prevent the steam from being released into the room without providing a water container or a cooling unit and increasing the size of the rice cooker or deteriorating the cleanability.

  In addition, since the rice is cooked while confining heat and steam, unnecessary water is not released as steam, so the rice absorbs water and less water is added, so the amount of water used is reduced and the environmental load is reduced.

  According to the second aspect, the steam that has flowed into the steam passage from the inner pot condenses while passing through the space formed by the plurality of frames in the steam recovery unit, so that most of the steam is recovered and the steam that goes out Is a trace amount, and the temperature is also invisible so that the amount of steam discharged can be reduced, and condensation in the surrounding area and high humidity can be suppressed to prevent deterioration of the indoor environment.

  According to the third aspect, since the steam recovery unit can be removed from the outer lid and washed, the cleaning property is easy.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rice cooker which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the same steam collection | recovery unit. It is a vertical perspective view which shows the inside of the same steam collection | recovery unit. It is the perspective view which piled up the 1st frame and 2nd frame which hang down from the upper case on the lower case of the same steam recovery unit. It is the same control circuit diagram. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation state at the time of the rice cooking.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the figure, the main body 1 of the rice cooker is provided with a protective frame 14 whose upper surface is opened inside, and the inner pot 2 is detachably accommodated in the protective frame 14.

  The inner hook 2 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper surface, and its upper end is bent substantially horizontally outward so as to be easily attached / detached from the main body 1 and placed on the upper surface of the main body 1.

  A heating means 4 for induction heating the bottom surface of the inner pot 2 is provided on the outer bottom of the protective frame 14, and a control unit 5 is disposed in the front side space between the protective frame 14 and the main body 1. The heating means 4 is controlled by the action of the unit 5.

  An inner lid 6 that covers the upper opening of the inner lid 2 is attached to the outer lid 3, and a packing 7 that is attached to the lower peripheral edge of the inner lid 6 is brought into contact with the entire circumference of the upper end of the inner lid 2. And a space formed by the inner lid 6 are kept in a sealed state.

  A pressure regulating valve 8 is provided at a substantially central portion of the inner lid 6, and when the inner hook 2 is heated by the heating means 4 and the vapor pressure in the inner hook 2 increases, the pressure regulating valve 8 operates and the inner hook 2 The steam is discharged while the inside is adjusted to a predetermined pressure (1.3 atm in this embodiment). The steam discharged from the pressure regulating valve 8 is guided to a steam recovery unit 10 detachably attached to the outer lid 3 through a steam passage 9 provided in the outer lid 3.

  A steam temperature sensor 11 is provided in the steam passage 9 between the steam recovery unit 10 and the pressure regulating valve 8 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the pressure regulating valve 8.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 5 includes the steam temperature sensor 11, the bottom temperature sensor 12 that detects the temperature of the bottom of the inner pot 2, the heating means 4, and the pressure regulating operation of the pressure regulating valve 8. A pressure regulating valve control unit 13 to be performed is connected. Based on information from the steam temperature sensor 11 and the bottom temperature sensor 12, the heating means 4 and the pressure regulating operation for closing the pressure regulating valve 8 and the pressure regulating valve 8 are opened to open the inner pot. 2 is controlled to switch the state in which no pressure is applied.

  Next, the steam recovery unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The steam recovery unit 10 is detachably attached to the outer lid 3 from the upper surface so as to be continuous with the steam passage 9.

  The steam recovery unit 10 is composed of a substantially rectangular upper case 10-1 and a lower case 10-2, which supports one side of the upper case 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 and locks the opposite side. The button 10-3 can be freely opened and closed, and a unit packing 10-4 is provided on the peripheral edge of the upper case 10-1, so that the steam inside does not leak.

  The bottom case 10-2 is provided with a bottomless, dome-like cylinder 10-5 connected to the steam passage 9 at a substantially central portion, and steam discharged from the steam passage 9 on a part of the upper side surface of the cylinder 10-5. Is provided with an inflow port 10-6.

  A substantially rectangular first frame 10-7 is integrally provided in the upper case 10-1 so as to surround the cylinder 10-5 with an appropriate gap, and the open end of the first frame 10-7 is formed at the upper case. 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 are combined with each other and are brought close to the flat portion of the lower case 10-2. A first notch 10-8 is provided at the opening end of the first frame 10-7 so as to be located on the side opposite to the direction of the inlet 10-6.

  The upper case 10-1 outside the first frame 10-7 is integrally provided with a second frame 10-9 having the same height as the substantially quadrangular first frame 10-7, and at the opening end thereof. Is provided with a second notch 10-10 at substantially the same position as the first frame 10-7.

  The U-shaped frame 10-11 is positioned between the first frame 10-7 and the second frame 10-9 with the upper case 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 being joined to the lower case 10-2. The U-shaped frame 10-11 is open on the opposite side to the first notch 10-8 and the second notch 10-10.

  Between the second frame 10-9 and the peripheral portion of the upper case 10-1, a hole 10-12 that communicates with the outside space and the space between the upper case 10-1 and the lower case 10-2 is provided. ing.

  Further, the lower case 10-2 is provided with a water return hole 10-13 so as to be positioned between the tube 10-5 and the U-shaped frame 10-11, and water condensed in the steam recovery unit 10 is provided. Is returned to the steam passage 9.

  This embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the user puts an appropriate amount of rice and water into the inner pot 2 and operates a rice cooking start button (not shown) of the operation unit, the cooking of the rice is started by the function of the control unit 5.

  In accordance with a predetermined rice cooking operation, a soaking step is first performed to promote water absorption into the rice. The heating means 4 heats the inner hook 2 (400 W in this embodiment) according to a predetermined temperature of the bottom temperature sensor 12 (60 ° C. in this embodiment), and the water temperature inside the inner pot 2 becomes 55-60 ° C. Maintain and promote water absorption into rice.

  When a predetermined time (15 minutes in this embodiment) elapses, the heating process is started, and the controller 5 increases the heating amount of the heating means 4 (1000 W in this embodiment) and the pressure regulating valve controller 13 operates. The pressure regulating valve 8 operates to adjust the pressure in the inner hook 2.

  Eventually, when the water temperature inside the inner pot 2 rises, the pressure inside the inner pot 2 rises due to the generation of steam, and when the operating pressure of the pressure regulating valve 8 rises to 1.3 atm, the boiling point of 107 ° C. corresponding to 1.3 atm And the steam released by the operation of the pressure regulating valve 8 is released to the steam passage 9. Since the steam temperature sensor 11 is provided in the vicinity of the pressure regulating valve 8 in the steam passage 9, the inflow of the steam is detected by the temperature rise of the steam temperature sensor 11 heated by the steam, and the control unit 5 exceeds the predetermined temperature. Recognize boiling by becoming.

  The controller 5 reduces the heating amount of the heating means 4 (500 W in this embodiment), but this heating amount maintains 1.3 atm which is the operating pressure of the pressure regulating valve 8 and is 107 ° C. which is the boiling point of this pressure. Is set so as to continue or intermittently continue boiling, and steam flows from the pressure regulating valve 8 into the steam passage 9 by boiling.

  Although it is the quantity of this vapor | steam, in order to maintain the boiling point of 100 degreeC in 1 atmosphere like the non-pressure type rice cooker without the pressure regulation valve 8, it is not necessary to continue supplying big electric power. In order for “rice” to become “rice”, it is necessary to turn β starch into α starch, which requires maintaining at 98 ° C. or higher for 20 minutes. In the non-pressure type rice cooker, in order to maintain 98 ° C. or more to every corner of the inner pot, a portion with poor convection does not rise to 98 ° C. unless large electric power is continuously applied and intense boiling is continued. Therefore, a large amount of steam is generated.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, 107 ° C. is maintained at 1.3 atm. Even if there is a portion at 103 ° C., there is no problem in maintaining 98 ° C. or higher, and a minute boiling state is maintained. Therefore, the temperature only needs to be maintained. For this reason, a very small amount of steam flows from the pressure regulating valve 8 into the steam passage 9.

  The trace amount of steam is kept boiling until water disappears, the temperature at the bottom of the inner pot 2 is raised (drying up) by the bottom temperature sensor 12 (drying up), and until the controller 5 shifts to the steaming process. Continue. During this time, the steam that flows in gradually proceeds to the steam recovery unit 10 through the steam passage 9.

  In order to keep the temperature even in the steaming process, the control unit 5 performs the slight heating with the heating means 4. During this time, the pressure adjustment by the pressure regulating valve 8 is continuously performed after the pressure regulating valve control unit 13 operates 15 minutes after the start of rice cooking. It is in a valid state. Once the pressure regulating operation is disabled by the pressure regulating valve control unit 13, the pressure inside the inner pot 2 decreases, the steam flows out all at once, and the steam recovery unit 10 cannot fully recover the steam and This is because steam is released.

  In the latter half of the steaming process, the control unit 5 prohibits slight heating, and after the time sufficient for the pressure in the inner pot 2 to return to atmospheric pressure has elapsed (for example, 5 minutes), the pressure control valve control unit 13 adjusts the pressure. The pressure valve 8 is disabled. Although it will be in the state connected with air | atmosphere by this, since the pressure inside the inner hook 2 has fallen to atmospheric pressure, a vapor | steam does not flow out vigorously. Then, the control part 5 complete | finishes steaming (rice cooking).

  Next, steam flow and recovery inside the steam recovery unit 10 will be described.

  The steam that flows into the steam passage 9 from the inner pot 2 through the pressure regulating valve 8 flows into the space surrounded by the first frame 10-7 in the steam recovery unit 10 from the inlet 10-6 provided in the cylinder 10-5. To do. The first frame 10-7 is provided so as to hang down from the upper case 10-1, and since steam is lighter than air, it stays in the upper space of the first frame 10-7, and the upper case 10-1 and the first frame 10 Condensation on -7. When the amount of steam increases, the steam fills the space below the first frame 10-7 and flows out from the first notch 10-8.

  Next, the steam is guided to a space surrounded by the first frame 10-7 and the U-shaped frame 10-11, and the U-shaped frame 10-11 provided on the side opposite to the first notch 10-8. Flows along the inner side of the U-shaped frame 10-11 to the opening. Then, the steam is filled in the space surrounded by the U-shaped frame 10-11 and the second frame 10-9, flows along the outside of the U-shaped frame 10-11, and the steam is filled up to the second notch 10-10. Then, it flows into the space enclosed by the outer periphery of the 2nd frame 10-9, the upper case 10-1, and the lower case 10-2 from the 2nd notch part 10-10.

  Finally, it flows into the hole 10-12 provided on the opposite side to the second notch 10-10 and is released to the outside air.

  Since the heating of the heating means 4 is adjusted so that the generation of the vapor becomes a very small amount, most of the vapor is recovered, and the vapor coming out of the hole 10-12 is a very small amount, and the temperature is lowered so as to be invisible. .

  The water condensed in the steam recovery unit 10 is returned to the steam passage 9 from the water return hole 10-13. Although this returned water is not described in detail, it can be humidified by returning it to the inner pot 2 at the time of heat retention or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the steam recovery unit 10 has a substantially rectangular shape, but may be circular or elliptical. Further, although the first case 10-7 and the second frame 10-10 are provided in the upper case 10-1, it is effective to provide more.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to minimize the outflow of steam generated inside the inner pot 2 while maintaining boiling at a high boiling point temperature by the pressure regulating valve 8. Since the steam is recovered by the steam recovery unit 10, it is possible to prevent a large amount of steam from being released into the room without deteriorating the taste of the rice due to not boiling.

  Moreover, it is possible to prevent the release of steam into the room without providing a water container or a cooling unit without increasing the size of the rice cooker or deteriorating the cleanability.

  Furthermore, since the rice is cooked by confining heat and steam, unnecessary water is not released as steam, so the rice absorbs water and less water is added, so water used is reduced and the environmental load is reduced.

  Further, the steam recovery unit 10 focuses on the characteristic that the steam is lighter than air and stagnates upward, and the first frame 10-7 on the inner side and the first frame so as to hang down from the upper surface of the upper case 10-1. An outer second frame 10-9 is provided so as to surround 10-7 so that the steam guided from the steam passage 9 to the steam recovery unit 10 is introduced into the space formed by the first frame 10-7; and The upper case 10-1 is provided with a hole 10-12 communicating with the steam recovery unit 10 and the outside air in a space outside the outermost frame, so that most of the steam is recovered by the steam recovery unit 10, The amount of steam that goes out from 10-12 is very small, and the temperature is so low that it is invisible.

  As a result, unnecessary heating is suppressed more than necessary to reduce the amount of steam discharged, and by reducing the amount of steam discharged, dew condensation and humidification to the surroundings are suppressed to prevent deterioration of the indoor environment.

  Furthermore, since the steam recovery unit 10 can be removed from the outer lid 3 and washed, the cleanability is easy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Inner hook 3 Outer lid 4 Heating means 5 Control part 6 Inner lid 8 Pressure regulating valve 9 Steam passage 10 Steam recovery unit 11 Steam temperature sensor 12 Pot bottom temperature sensor 13 Pressure regulating valve control part

Claims (3)

A main body, an inner hook that is detachably accommodated in the main body, a heating means that heats the inner hook, and an outer lid that covers an upper portion of the main body, and the outer lid has an upper surface opening of the inner hook An inner lid that covers the section, a pressure regulating valve that is provided on the inner lid and maintains the inside of the inner pot at a predetermined pressure, a steam passage that discharges steam generated in the inner pot through the pressure regulating valve, and In a rice cooker equipped with a steam recovery unit that recovers the steam before being discharged from the pressure regulating valve through the steam passage to the outside,
The steam recovery unit is composed of an upper case and a lower case, and the upper case is provided with a space surrounded by a frame hanging from the upper surface, and a plurality of the frames are provided so as to surround the inner frame with the outer frame. The rice cooker is characterized in that a hole communicating with outside air is provided in a space formed by the upper case and the lower case outside the outermost frame.   A tube connected to the steam passage is provided at a substantially central portion of the lower case, and an inlet for allowing steam to flow into the steam recovery unit from the steam passage is provided at an upper portion of the tube. The lower case includes the upper case and the upper case. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein a U-shaped frame is provided so as to be positioned between the innermost frame and the next frame in a state where the lower case is coupled.   The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steam recovery unit is detachably attached to an outer lid.

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