JP2010268849A - Rice cooker and method of controlling warming of rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely control temperature at a proper temperature in accordance with the amount of cooked rice under warming. <P>SOLUTION: The rice cooker heats rice and cooked rice in a rice cooking pot 10 housed in a rice cooker body 11 with heating means (induction heating coil 19, body heater 21, and lid heater 36), carrying out rice cooking process with controlling means (microcomputer 72), and successively performing a warming. The rice cooker is equipped with warming amount determining means (microcomputer 72) for determining the amount of cooked rice warmed in the rice cooking pot 10. A temperature control setting temperature, at which the cooked rice is controlled in temperature during warming with the controlling means, is set in a manner being lowered with an increase in the amount of cooked rice warmed determined with the warming amount determining means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker and a heat control method for a rice cooker.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, home-use rice cookers have a rice cooker housed in a rice cooker body, and the upper opening is closed with a lid that is rotatably provided on the rice cooker body. And when a user performs a rice cooking process by operation of an operation panel, a rice cooking process is performed by heating a rice cooking pot with the heating means (induction heating coil etc.) arrange | positioned in the rice cooker main body, and this rice cooking process is carried out. When it is finished, the heat insulation process is executed.

  In the heat insulation treatment, it is necessary to execute heating (temperature control) control to maintain an appropriate temperature in order to prevent the rice in the cooking pot from drying out excessively or causing spoilage bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) to propagate. There is. And since the upper surface position of the cooked rice in a rice cooking pot changes with cooked rice warming amounts, the heating amount required for warming also differs.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 provides a rice cooker that predicts the amount of rice cooked by opening and closing the lid once during the heat treatment, and changes the heating control in the heat treatment when the opening and closing of the lid is detected. ing. This rice cooker monitors the opening and closing of the lid during heat treatment. And the amount of reduction | decrease in one opening / closing is set based on the rice cooking capacity discriminate | determined by the number of times of opening / closing in one heat retention process, and the rice cooking process before the heat retention process. Further, in the subsequent heat retention process, when the lid is opened and closed, the heat retention amount of the cooked rice is predicted by subtracting the set decrease amount, and the heating control by the heating unit is changed according to the heat retention amount of the cooked rice. .

  Specifically, in Patent Document 1, in order to prevent yellowing and whitening of cooked rice due to excessive heating, when the amount of cooked rice is reduced, the temperature control temperature set by the heating means is decreased, and the bottom of the rice cooker The heating ratio of the induction heating coil, the body heater that heats the side surface of the rice cooker, and the lid heater that heats the opened top of the rice cooker are also changed.

  However, there is an error between the temperature adjustment temperature that is adjusted by the heating means and the temperature of the cooked rice that is actually temperature-controlled. That is, when there is little cooked rice warming amount in a rice cooking pan, the space volume formed in the upper part is large compared with the case where there are many cooked rice warming amounts. And when there is much space volume, the heating efficiency in which cooked rice is actually heated with respect to the heating amount by a trunk | drum heater or a lid | cover heater is bad. Moreover, the region of the rice cooker facing the space acts to radiate the internal temperature. As a result, the rice temperature that is actually temperature-regulated differs depending on whether the heat-retaining amount of cooked rice is small or large, even though the same temperature control temperature is set. Specifically, when the cooked rice heat retention amount increases, the actual cooked rice temperature (rice temperature) increases as compared with the case where the cooked rice heat retention amount is small.

JP 2007-195730 A

  This invention makes it a subject to provide the rice cooker which can be reliably temperature-controlled at suitable temperature according to the amount of rice heat insulation during heat retention, and its heat retention control method.

  In order to solve the above problems, a rice cooker of the present invention includes a rice cooker body that houses a rice cooker, a heating means that heats cooked rice and cooked rice in the rice cooker, and is attached to the rice cooker body so as to be opened and closed. A lid for closing the rice cooking pot, a pot temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the rice cooking pot or the rice cooking pot, and controlling the heating means based on the detected value of the pot temperature detecting means to execute the rice cooking process Subsequently, in the rice cooker provided with a control means for performing a heat insulation process, a temperature control for providing a heat insulation amount judgment means for judging the amount of rice cooked in the rice cooking pan, and controlling the temperature of the cooked rice during the heat insulation treatment by the control means. The set temperature is set so as to decrease as the cooked rice warming amount determined by the warming amount judging means increases.

  And the heat retention control method of this rice cooker heats the cooked rice by heating the cooked rice in the cooked pot by controlling the heating means by the control means, and then heats the cooked rice in the cooked pot for heat insulation. A temperature control method for a rice cooker that performs processing, wherein the temperature of the cooked rice in the rice cooker is detected by a heat insulation amount determining means, and the control means adjusts the temperature control setting temperature for adjusting the temperature of the cooked rice during the heat insulation processing. The heating means is controlled by lowering as the cooked rice warming amount determined by the warming amount judging means increases.

  In the rice cooker of the present invention, the temperature control temperature for controlling the temperature of the cooked rice by the control means is set so as to decrease as the cooked rice warming amount increases. The actual temperature of the cooked rice can be maintained at the target temperature without being affected. Therefore, the heat retention effect as set in advance can be obtained.

Specifically, when the cooked rice warming amount determined by the warming amount judging unit is larger than a preset reference capacity, the control means sets the temperature regulation set temperature within a temperature range preset from the reference temperature regulation set temperature. It is preferable to lower.
In addition, the control means can raise the temperature adjustment set temperature within a preset temperature range from the reference temperature adjustment set temperature when the cooked rice insulation quantity determined by the heat insulation quantity judgment means is less than a preset reference capacity. preferable.

In addition, when the control means determines that the amount of cooked rice in the rice cooking pan has decreased by a predetermined amount or more during the heat retention process, the temperature to be controlled based on the detection value of the pan temperature detection means. It is preferable to increase the adjustment set temperature.
That is, the heat insulation amount judgment means monitors the cooked rice heat amount in the rice cooking pan, and determines that the cooked rice heat insulation amount has decreased by a specified capacity or more, the control means adjusts the temperature based on the detection value of the pan temperature detection means. It is preferable to control the heating means by raising the temperature control set temperature.
If it does in this way, since temperature control preset temperature can be changed whenever the amount of rice heat retention in a rice cooking pan decreases, rice can be maintained in the optimal heat retention state.

  In this case, the capacity discriminating means for discriminating the rice cooking capacity at the time of the rice cooking process, the lid state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid body, and the opening of the lid body based on the signal of the lid state detecting means at the time of the heat retention process. A count means that starts counting the opening time when detected and stops counting the opening time when the closure of the lid is detected, and the heat retention amount determining means is the rice cooking determined by the capacity determining means during the rice cooking process Based on the capacity, one opening time counted by the counting means during the heat retention process executed following the rice cooking process, and the set specific capacity extraction time, the rice rice heat retention amount in the rice cooker is determined. It is preferable to do. If it does in this way, the amount of cooked rice heat in a rice cooking pan can be judged substantially correctly. As a result, appropriate heat insulation can be realized, and drying of cooked rice and the growth of spoilage bacteria can be prevented.

In addition, the heating efficiency by a heating means influences not only the amount of cooked rice heat but also the temperature around the rice cooker.
Therefore, an external temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the external atmosphere of the rice cooker is provided, and the control means is based on a temperature detected by the external temperature detection means during a heat retention process and a preset reference temperature. It is preferable to change the temperature adjustment set temperature based on the detected value of the pan temperature detecting means.
Specifically, the control means lowers the temperature adjustment set temperature within a preset temperature range when the temperature detected by the external temperature detection means is lower than a preset reference temperature during the heat retention process, and detects the external temperature detection. When the temperature detected by the means is higher than the reference temperature, it is preferable to raise the temperature adjustment set temperature within a preset temperature range.
In this way, the actual temperature of the cooked rice can be more reliably maintained so as to become the target temperature.

  In the rice cooker of the present invention, since the temperature control temperature for controlling the temperature of the cooked rice is lowered by the control means as the cooked rice warming amount increases, the actual temperature of the cooked rice can be maintained at the target temperature. Therefore, the heat retention effect as set in advance can be obtained. In addition, if it is determined that the amount of cooked rice in the rice cooking pan has decreased during the heat treatment, the temperature control set temperature is increased, so that the cooked rice can be maintained in the optimum heat insulation state.

It is sectional drawing which shows the rice cooker which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of a cover body. It is principal part sectional drawing of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the cover state detection means of FIG. (A), (B), (C), (D) is a side view which shows the relationship between the operation state of a rocking | swiveling member, and the detection state of a cover state detection means. (A), (B) is sectional drawing which shows the operation state of the cover state detection means accompanying opening of a cover body. (A), (B) is sectional drawing which shows the operating state of the cover state detection means accompanying the movement of a moving member. (A) is a block diagram which shows the structure of a rice cooker, (B) is a graph which shows the judgment of the microcomputer by the relationship between the drive state of a solenoid, and the detection state of a photo interrupter. The relationship between rice cooking capacity and room temperature and temperature control setting temperature is shown, (A) is a chart showing the case of high temperature insulation, and (B) is a chart showing the case of low temperature insulation. (A) is a chart showing the relationship between the opening time of the lid and the amount of reduction of cooked rice, and (B) is a chart showing an example of calculation of the amount of reduction. It is a flowchart which shows the rice cooking process by a microcomputer. It is a flowchart which shows the heat retention process by a microcomputer. It is a flowchart which shows the cooked rice heat retention amount determination process of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a pressure rice cooker according to the present invention. This rice cooker includes a rice cooker body 11 that detachably houses a rice cooking pot 10 that is electromagnetically heated, and a lid body 23 that is rotatably attached to the rice cooker body 11. This rice cooker performs the 1st heat retention process continuously, after performing the rice cooking process according to the program set beforehand by the microcomputer 72 which is a control means. And the rice cooker of this embodiment judges the rice heat retention amount in the rice cooking pan 10 during a 1st heat retention process, and is set as the structure which changes heating control (temperature control setting temperature) according to the rice heat retention amount.

  The rice cooker main body 11 includes an exterior body composed of a cylindrical body 12, a bottom body 13 that closes a lower end opening of the body 12, and a shoulder body 14 that is attached so as to cover the upper end opening of the body 12. Yes. This shoulder body 14 is provided with an opening 15 for detachably arranging the rice cooker 10 at its approximate center, and the closed state of the lid 23 is maintained on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the opening 15. An engagement receiving portion 16 made of a hole is provided. In addition, a cylindrical inner cylinder 17 and a saucer-shaped protective frame 18 made of a non-conductive material are disposed in the opening 15 of the shoulder body 14. An induction heating coil 19, which is a first heating means, is disposed on the lower outer peripheral surface of the protective frame 18 via a ferrite core 20. A cylinder heater 21 as a second heating means is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the inner cylinder 17. Further, the protective frame 18 includes a rice cooker temperature sensor 22 (thermistor) that is a first pot temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of cooked rice and cooked rice through the protective frame 18 and through the internal rice cooker 10. ) Is arranged.

  The lid body 23 is attached to a hinge receiving portion formed on the back portion of the shoulder body 14 so as to be able to be opened and closed (turned), and closes the upper end opening of the rice cooker body 11. The lid body 23 is detachably mounted on an upper plate 24 that constitutes an outer surface material together with an exterior body of the rice cooker body 11, a lower plate 29 that closes the bottom of the upper plate 24, and a lower surface of the lower plate 29. And an inner lid 46. An inside of the lid 23 is provided with an exhaust passage that communicates the inside of the rice cooker 10 with the outside, and pressure exhausting means for boosting the inside of the rice cooker 10 to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure in the exhaust passage. A relief valve 49 is provided.

  The upper plate 24 is provided with an operation member 25 for opening the lid 23 at the front portion thereof. The operation member 25 includes a lock release operation portion 26 exposed on the surface of the exterior body, and a pressing portion 27 for rotating a lock member 31 described later in the lock release direction is provided on the inner surface thereof. The operation member 25 is biased upward by a kick spring (not shown). A steam port unit 28 that constitutes an outlet of the exhaust passage is disposed on the back of the upper plate 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower plate 29 has a shape corresponding to the concave depression shape on the upper side of the shoulder body 14. On the back portion of the lower plate 29, there is provided a hinge connecting portion 30 that is pivotally attached to a hinge receiving portion of the shoulder body 14 so as to be rotatable by a shaft. Further, a lock member 31 is rotatably attached to the front portion of the lower plate 29. This lock member 31 is for maintaining the lid 23 in a closed state with respect to the rice cooker body 11, and is formed by bending a metal plate as shown in FIGS. . The lock member 31 is provided with shaft portions 32 for axially attaching to the lower plate 29 on both side surfaces thereof. Further, on both sides of the lower end edge of the lock member 31, a pair of detachably engaged with the engagement receiving portion 16 of the shoulder body 14 and engaged with the flange portion of the rice cooker 10 across the resin wall of the shoulder body 14. The engaging claw portion 33 is provided so as to have an L shape. Furthermore, the lock member 31 is provided with a receiving portion 34 that extends at an angle toward the back surface (hinge connection portion 30) upward at the center of the upper end and contacts the pressing portion 27 of the operation member 25. The lock member 31 is biased to the engagement position shown in FIG. 1 by a kick spring which is a biasing means (not shown).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a lid heater 36 as third heating means is disposed on the bottom of the lower plate 29 via a metal heater cover 35, and at the second pan temperature detecting means. A certain lid temperature sensor 37 (see FIG. 8A) is provided. Further, the lower plate 29 is provided with a first accommodating portion 38 that accommodates a relief valve 49 disposed in the inner lid 46 and constitutes an inlet portion of the exhaust passage. Further, a second accommodating portion 39 that accommodates a pressure regulating valve disposed in the inner lid 46 is provided beside the first accommodating portion 38.

  The lower plate 29 is provided with a first solenoid 40 that is a driving means for the relief valve 49 on the front side of the first accommodating portion 38, and a pressure regulating valve driving means on the front side of the second accommodating portion 39. A second solenoid 41 is provided. These solenoids 40 and 41 are two-position solenoids and are provided with rods that advance and retreat depending on the presence or absence of energization. Further, the solenoids 40 and 41 are configured so that the rod moves backward in the left direction in FIG. 1 when energized, and moves rightward in FIG. 1 by the biasing force of the spring when the energization is interrupted. A pressing member 42 that presses the spherical member 52 of the relief valve 49 located in the first accommodating portion 38 is disposed at the tip of the rod of the first solenoid 40. In addition, a pressing member 43 capable of pressing the pressure regulating valve downward is disposed at the tip of the second solenoid 41.

  The pressing member 42 is provided with a moving member 44 that locks the lid 23 so that it cannot be opened using the driving force of the first solenoid 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving member 44 is formed of a rectangular frame, and when the first solenoid 40 is energized, the rod moves backward to move toward the lock member 31 via the pressing member 42. On the other hand, when the energization to the first solenoid 40 is interrupted, the rod moves and moves away from the lock member 31. The end of the moving member 44 on the side of the lock member 31 constitutes a lock portion 45 that can be moved back and forth in the moving region of the lock member 31. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7A, in this moving member 44, the engagement claw portion 33 of the lock member 31 is engaged with the engagement receiving portion 16 of the rice cooker body 11 with a normal engagement allowance. In the state, the lock member 31 can move to the lock position that has entered the lower portion of the receiving portion 34. Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), there is a possibility that the lid 23 may be opened when the engagement margin between the engagement claw portion 33 and the engagement receiving portion 16 is insufficient and the internal pressure of the inner pot increases. In the engaged state, by abutting against the receiving portion 34 of the lock member 31, the locking member 31 stops at a half-lock position where it cannot enter the lower portion of the receiving portion 34 (see FIG. 5D).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inner lid 46 includes a metal inner lid body 47 and a lid packing 48, and is detachably disposed at the lower portion of the heater cover 35. The inner lid body 47 of the inner lid 46 includes a relief valve 49 disposed in the first housing portion 38 of the lower plate 29 and a pressure regulating valve (not shown) disposed in the second housing portion 39. It is arranged integrally.

  The relief valve 49 includes a valve seat member 50 having a trapezoidal cylindrical shape and a cover 51 that covers the valve seat member 50, and a spherical member 52 is disposed in the inside thereof so as to be able to roll. When the spherical member 52 closes the air hole 53 formed in the valve seat member 50 by rolling, the air in the rice cooker 10 is prevented from being exhausted to the outside, and the pressure in the rice cooker 10 is higher than atmospheric pressure. Can be pressurized. Moreover, the internal pressure of the rice cooking pot 10 is returned to the atmospheric pressure (equilibrium) by being pressed by the pressing member 42 to release (open) the blockage of the exhaust passage. In addition, the spherical member 52 uses the thing of the weight which rolls so that it may leave | separate from the ventilation hole 53 with the pressure, if the pressure in the rice cooker 10 raises to 1.30 atm.

  The pressure regulating valve (not shown) includes a valve body biased downward by a spring, and the vent hole is closed by the valve body. In the pressure regulating valve, the force for closing the vent hole is changed by changing the urging force of the spring by the pressing member 43. Thereby, the pressure which can pressurize the inside of the rice cooking pot 10 in the range of 1.15 atm to 1.20 atm is changeable.

  Note that the lid body 23 to which the inner lid 46 is attached is provided inside the relief valve 49 and the pressure regulating valve, from the gap between them and the accommodating portions 38 and 39, to the gap between the inner lid body 47 and the heater cover 35, and the steam port. The path that passes through the unit 28 constitutes an exhaust passage that allows the inside of the rice cooker 10 to communicate with the outside.

  The lid body 23 of the present embodiment is provided with a rocking member 59 as lid state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid body 23, and the movable position of the rocking member 59 is a non-contact sensor. The detection is performed by the interrupter 65. Further, in the present embodiment, by providing the moving member 44 with the holding portion 54 that is disposed in a state where the swing member 59 can swing, the engagement claw portion of the lock member 31 can be obtained with one photo interrupter 65. It is comprised so that the engagement state of 33 and the engagement receiving part 16 of the rice cooker main body 11 can be detected further.

  The holding part 54 projects from the side part of the moving member 44 and includes a pair of support walls 55A and 55B. A first mounting hole 56 is provided in the upper part of these support walls 55A and 55B, and a swinging member 59 is swingably mounted by penetrating a separate pin 57 therethrough. In addition, a stopper portion 58 that stops the rotation of the swing member 59 is installed on the support walls 55 </ b> A and 55 </ b> B above the first mounting hole 56.

  The swing member 59 includes a rod-shaped detection unit 60 that extends and is positioned below the stopper unit 58 at a predetermined interval. At the tip of the detection unit 60, the detection region in the facing space between the light emitting unit 66 and the light receiving unit 67 of the photo interrupter 65 is removed at the lock position where the moving member 44 has entered the lower part of the receiving unit 34 of the lock member 31. A projecting portion 61 projecting to a position is provided (see FIG. 5B). Further, the swinging member 59 is provided with a balance portion 62 that protrudes downward, and a second mounting hole 63 corresponding to the first mounting hole 56 is provided at an upper portion of the balance portion 62. A separate weight 64 is disposed at the lower end of the balance portion 62 so that the detector 60 is balanced in a state of extending in the horizontal direction. The swinging member 59 maintains a state where a part of the swinging member 59 has entered the position excluding the detection region in the facing space of the photo interrupter 65 in a state where the detection unit 60 is in contact with the stopper unit 58. (See FIG. 5C).

  The photo interrupter 65 detects the proximity and separation of the detecting unit 60 of the swinging member 59 in a non-contact state, and includes a light emitting unit 66 provided with a light emitting element and a light receiving unit 67 provided with a light receiving element. ing. The light emitting portion 66 and the light receiving portion 67 are disposed in the opposing wall portion of the guide frame having a substantially U shape. The guide frame guides the swing member 59 so as to be movable in the facing space. Therefore, a part of the facing space constitutes a detection area. The photo interrupter 65 can receive the light of the light emitting element in a state where the detection unit 60 that is a shielding object does not exist in the detection region, and can detect the light of the light emitting element when the detection unit 60 enters the detection region. The light receiving element cannot receive light. Then, a light receiving state or a non-light receiving state, which means a detection state of the detection unit 60, is output to the microcomputer 72 as a predetermined signal.

  The photo interrupter 65 is mounted on the detection board 68 and is installed at a height corresponding to the detection unit 60 of the swing member 59. Here, the substantial detection part of the light receiving part 67 is located inside the exposure hole 67a provided in the facing surface. Therefore, the same shape area in the axial direction of the exposure hole 67a constitutes a detection area. As shown in FIG. 5B, the exposure hole 67a is positioned above the protruding portion 61 of the swinging member 59 in a state where the moving member 44 is in the locked position. The light receiving path is not cut off. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the exposure hole 67a is located at a second movable position where the detection unit 60 is in contact with the stopper unit 58, and is located below the lower end of the detection unit 60. The light receiving path is not blocked by the detection unit 60 at the position. That is, in the state where the lid 23 is closed and the moving member 44 is moved to the unlock position and the half-lock position, the photo interrupter 65 blocks the light receiving path by the detection unit 60 and moves the moving member 44. Is moved to the locked position, the projecting portion 61 is located below the light receiving path, and is installed at a position where the detecting section 60 does not block the light receiving path. If the moving distance (interval) of the moving member 44 from the unlock position to the half-lock position is L1, and the movement distance from the unlock position to the lock position is L2, these are L1 <L2. For this reason, the region where the moving distance is less than or equal to L1 is set to be a non-detection region of the photo interrupter 65. That is, the non-detection region means a region in which the light receiving unit 67 of the photo interrupter 65 cannot receive light from the light emitting element of the light emitting unit 66 because the detection unit 60 is in a state of blocking the light receiving path. To do. Accordingly, when the swing member 59 moves beyond the distance L1 via the moving member 44, the detection unit 60 deviates from the non-detection region and can detect the state.

  In this rice cooker, an operation panel 69 having a switch for a user to input rice cooking conditions and a liquid crystal display panel for displaying a selection state and an operation state is disposed on the front upper portion of the shoulder body 14. . Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a control board 70 is disposed between the exterior body and the protective frame 18. The control board 70 is provided with an external temperature sensor 71 which is an external temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the external atmosphere of the rice cooker 10. The external temperature sensor 71 is a thermistor having excellent resistance to dust and humidity. In the bottom body 13 of the present embodiment, an intake port (not shown) is provided on the front side where the control board 70 is provided, and an exhaust fan for intake is further provided on the front side. Therefore, the external temperature sensor 71 is configured to be able to detect the temperature of the outside air that is sucked into the exterior body and has not yet cooled the device. Further, a microcomputer 72 is mounted on the control board 70, and control is executed by the microcomputer 72 according to a preset program.

  In the present embodiment, when the operation of the rice cooking switch disposed on the operation panel 69 is detected, the rice is preheated, heated (medium-pump), and maintained in accordance with the rice cooking program based on the rice cooking conditions set by the liquid crystal display panel. After performing the rice cooking process which consists of each process of twice cooking and murame, the 1st heat retention process which heats the cooked cooked rice to predetermined temperature is performed continuously. Moreover, when the heat retention switch of the operation panel 69 is operated in the standby mode in which neither the rice cooking process including the reservation nor the first heat retention process is performed, a second heat retention process different from the first heat retention process is performed.

  In the rice cooking process, the open / close state of the lid 23 is detected (determination) based on a signal from the photo interrupter 65 with the driving of the first solenoid 40 immediately after reception of the rice cooking switch and at the start of the temperature raising process. After that, the lid state inspection process for detecting (determining) the engagement state of the engagement receiving portion 16 of the rice cooker body 11 and the engagement claw portion 33 of the lock member 31 is executed. When it is determined that the lid body 23 is in the closed state and the engagement receiving portion 16 and the engagement claw portion 33 are determined to be in the normal engagement state, the rice cooking process is executed (continued). On the other hand, when it is determined that the lid body 23 is in the open state, and when it is determined that the engagement receiving portion 16 and the engagement claw portion 33 are in the abnormal engagement state, the first solenoid 40 is energized. It stops and the moving member 44 is unlocked to stop the rice cooking process.

  The microcomputer 72 serves as a capacity discriminating means for discriminating the rice cooking capacity during the rice cooking process. Specifically, in the heating process during the rice cooking process, the rice is heated together with water by supplying power to the induction heating coil 19 with full power. At this time, the actual rice cooking capacity is determined based on the actual temperature increase time required for increasing the temperature from the preset first set temperature to the second set temperature and the capacity determination data stored in advance. To do. Note that the capacity determination data includes both an arithmetic expression set based on a rice cooking capacity measured in advance and a capacity determination gradient based on the temperature increase time, and a data table of temperature increase times corresponding to a plurality of rice cooking capacities.

  On the other hand, in the first heat retaining process, the microcomputer 72 serves as a heat retaining amount determining means for determining the heat retaining amount of the cooked rice in the rice cooker 10, sets the temperature control set temperature according to the rice heat retaining amount, and sets the temperature control. Heating (on / off) is controlled to maintain the set temperature. Specifically, in this 1st heat retention process, the rice cooking capacity is divided into two or more capacities (in this embodiment, three sections), and one of the capacity sections is set as a reference capacity. Further, a reference temperature adjustment set temperature is set at which the temperature of the reference capacity of cooked rice can be adjusted at the target temperature. If the determined cooked rice heat retention amount is greater than the reference capacity, the temperature adjustment temperature for actual temperature control is lowered within the preset temperature range from the reference temperature control set temperature, and the determined cooked rice heat retention amount is less than the reference capacity. When the temperature is small, the temperature adjustment set temperature for actually adjusting the temperature is set higher than the reference temperature adjustment temperature within a preset temperature range. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the temperature adjustment set temperature is further changed based on the temperature detected by the external temperature sensor 71 and a preset reference (standard) temperature. Specifically, when the temperature detected by the external temperature sensor 71 is lower than a preset reference temperature, the temperature adjustment set temperature is lowered within a preset temperature range, and the temperature detected by the external temperature sensor 71 is higher than the reference temperature. The temperature control set temperature is increased within a preset temperature range. That is, in the present embodiment, the temperature adjustment set temperature is actually changed within a temperature range set in advance according to the cooked rice warming amount and the outside air temperature so that the preset optimum target temperature adjustment set temperature is obtained. . Here, the temperature adjustment set temperature is the set temperature of the rice cooker temperature sensor 22.

  In the first heat retaining process, the microcomputer 72 detects (monitors) the opening / closing of the lid 23 based on the signal from the photo interrupter 65. The microcomputer 72 serves as a counting means. When the opening of the lid body 23 is detected via the photo interrupter 65, the microcomputer 72 starts counting the opening time t, and when detecting the closing of the lid body 23, the counting of the opening time t is stopped. To do. Thereafter, each time the microcomputer 72 as the heat insulation amount determining means detects the opening / closing of the lid body 23, the rice cooking capacity determined during the rice cooking process before the first heat insulation process and the measured opening time t of the lid body 23 are detected. Then, based on the set specific capacity take-out time ta, the cooked rice warming amount in the rice cooking pan 10 is determined. Specifically, the amount of cooked rice (number of Cups) taken out from a single opening time t and a specific capacity take-out time ta is determined, and the cooked rice heat retention is obtained by subtracting the amount of cooked rice (decrease) from the cooked rice capacity. Determine (monitor) the amount. And the microcomputer 72 is set as the structure which changes the heating control by the induction heating coil 19, the trunk | drum heater 21, and the lid | cover heater 36 as mentioned above according to this estimated rice heat retention.

  In addition, in order to eliminate the uneven taste of the cooked cooked rice and eat delicious rice, the cooked cooked rice is stirred and mixed together to release steam between cooked rice. It is widely known that it is preferable. And it is thought that many users are actually performing this work. Therefore, in this embodiment, the microcomputer 72 as the heat insulation amount determining means determines that the first opening and closing of the lid body 23 after shifting from the rice cooking process to the first heat insulation process is a mixture of rice. Regardless of the opening time t of the lid 23, it is not determined that the cooked rice has been reduced from the rice cooker 10 (the cooked rice is not kept warm).

  Next, the lid state inspection process including the determination of the open / close state of the lid 23 by the microcomputer 72 and the engagement state determination of the engagement receiving portion 16 and the engagement claw portion 33 will be described.

  In this lid state inspection step, the microcomputer 72 determines the open / close state of the lid 23 based on the signal from the photo interrupter 65 in the unlocked operation state where the first solenoid 40 is deenergized. Further, the microcomputer 72 determines the engagement state of the engagement receiving portion 16 and the engagement claw portion 33 based on the signal from the photo interrupter 65 in the lock operation state where the first solenoid 40 is energized.

  Specifically, the lid 23 is closed so as to be positioned substantially in the horizontal direction with respect to the rice cooker body 11, and the movable member 44 is moved to the unlock position via the first solenoid 40. The moving member 59 is in the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 5A. In this state, since the detection unit 60 of the swinging member 59 at the first movable position has entered the detection area of the photo interrupter 65, the photo interrupter 65 is off. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8 (B), the microcomputer 72 closes the lid 23 by detecting a state in which the photo interrupter 65 is turned off while the first solenoid 40 is not driven. The state can be judged.

  Further, when the user performs an opening operation of the lid body 23 on the rice cooker body 11, the lid body 23 extends substantially upward as shown in FIG. 6 (B) through an inclined state shown in FIG. 6 (A). Rotate to position. Then, until the swing member 59 comes into contact with the stopper portion 58 of the holding portion 54, as shown in FIG. 6A, the detection portion 60 of the swing member 59 maintains a state of extending in the horizontal direction. In the open state of the lid 23, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 6B, the detection unit 60 of the swinging member 59 moves away from the detection area of the photo interrupter 65, and the photo interrupter 65 is Outputs an on signal. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the microcomputer 72 detects the state in which the photo interrupter 65 is outputting the on signal in the off state in which the first solenoid 40 is not driven, whereby the lid body 23 is detected. Can be determined.

  Furthermore, when the lid 23 is closed with respect to the rice cooker main body 11 and the engagement claw portion 33 and the engagement receiving portion 16 are in the normal engagement state, when the first solenoid 40 is locked, the moving member The swinging member 59 is positioned in the state shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. In this state, since the detection unit 60 of the swing member 59 is separated from the detection region of the photo interrupter 65, the photo interrupter 65 outputs an on signal. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the microcomputer 72 detects the state in which the photo interrupter 65 is outputting the ON signal in the ON state in which the first solenoid 40 is being driven. It can be determined that the portion 33 and the engagement receiving portion 16 are in a normal engagement state.

  When the lid 23 is closed with respect to the rice cooker body 11 and the engagement claw 33 and the engagement receiver 16 are in the abnormal engagement state, the first solenoid 40 is locked and moved. The swing member 59 is positioned in the state shown in FIG. 5D and FIG. In this state, the detection unit 60 of the swing member 59 has entered the detection area of the photo interrupter 65 (not in a state of being detached from the detection area), and thus the photo interrupter 65 is off. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the microcomputer 72 detects the state in which the photo interrupter 65 is turned off while the first solenoid 40 is being driven. It can be detected that the engagement receiving portion 16 is in an abnormal engagement state.

  Thus, the rice cooker of this embodiment can determine the open / closed state of the lid body 23 and the engaged state between the engagement claw portion 33 and the engagement receiving portion 16 with one sensor 65. Therefore, an increase in product cost can be suppressed and an increase in size can be prevented. Moreover, since the moving member 44 provided with the swing member 59 also serves as the driving means for the first solenoid 40 that opens and closes the relief valve 49, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. .

  Next, temperature control temperature setting according to the rice rice heat retention amount in the rice cooker 10 by the microcomputer 72 will be described. In the following example, a rice cooking capacity of 5 Cup is used, but the same can be set even when the rice cooking capacity is changed.

  First, in this embodiment, the rice cooking capacity is divided into three stages. In the case of a small amount of 0 Cup or more and 1 Cup or less, in the case of a medium amount exceeding 1 Cup and 3 Cup or less, and for each capacity section in the case of a full amount exceeding 3 Cup, in the first heat treatment, the temperature sensor 22 for the rice cooker The temperature control set temperature for temperature control is changed based on the detected value. In addition, the target temperature control setting temperature (rice temperature) of cooked rice at the time of high temperature heat retention is 73 ° C., and the target temperature control setting temperature at the time of low temperature heat retention is 60 ° C.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), when the temperature is kept high at a standard room temperature (20 ° C.), the actual rice temperature is 73.0 ° C., which is equal to the target temperature in the case of a small amount, and in the case of a medium amount Is 73.5 ° C higher than the target temperature, and is 74.0 ° C higher than the target temperature in the case of full capacity. Similarly, when the temperature is kept high at a low room temperature (5 ° C.) and a high room temperature (35 ° C.), the actual rice temperature increases to 73 ° C. based on the detected value of the rice cooker temperature sensor 22 as the cooked rice temperature increases. Despite temperature control (on / off control), high measured values are shown. Note that the same applies to the case where the temperature is kept low as shown in FIG. This is because the space volume formed in the upper part of the rice cooker 10 when the amount of rice cooked in the rice cooker 10 is small is larger than that in the case of a large amount of cooked rice cooked. And when there is much space volume, the heating efficiency in which cooked rice is actually heated with respect to the heating amount by the trunk | drum heater 21 or the lid | cover heater 36 is bad. Moreover, the region of the rice cooker 10 facing the space acts to radiate the internal temperature. As a result, the rice temperature that is actually temperature-regulated differs depending on whether the heat-retaining amount of cooked rice is small or large, even though the same temperature control temperature is set.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to set the actual temperature of the cooked rice to the target 73 ° C or 60 ° C regardless of the amount of the cooked rice in the rice cooking pot 10, the reference capacity is set to a small amount, and the reference temperature control set temperature Is set to 73 ° C. in the case of high temperature insulation and 60 ° C. in the case of low temperature insulation. And it sets so that temperature control setting temperature may become lower than reference | standard temperature control setting temperature as the amount of rice heat retention increases. Specifically, when maintaining a high temperature at a standard room temperature (20 ° C.), the temperature adjustment temperature that is controlled based on the detection value of the temperature sensor 22 for rice cooker is 73.0 ° C. for a small amount, In this case, the temperature is set to 72.5 ° C, and in the case of the full amount, it is set to 72.0 ° C. When the temperature is kept low at a standard room temperature (20 ° C.), the temperature adjustment set temperature is 60.0 ° C. for a small amount, 59.5 ° C. for a medium amount, and 59.0 ° C. for a full amount. That is, in the present embodiment, the reference capacity and the corresponding reference temperature adjustment set temperature are set so as to obtain the optimum target temperature adjustment set temperature, and within a temperature range (± 1 ° C.) set in advance according to the cooked rice warming amount. Thus, the temperature control set temperature is actually changed.

  Here, in the present embodiment, since the target temperature is the same as the actual rice temperature when the temperature is kept small, the reference capacity is set to a small amount and the reference temperature adjustment set temperature is set to the target temperature. For this reason, the temperature adjustment set temperature to be changed according to the cooked rice warming amount is only in the direction of lowering. However, the reference capacity and the reference temperature control set temperature may be medium amounts. In this case, the temperature control set temperature that is changed according to the cooked rice warming amount is both increased and decreased. Of course, the reference capacity and the reference temperature adjustment set temperature may be full, and in this case, the temperature adjustment set temperature to be changed according to the cooked rice warming amount is only increased. Moreover, in this embodiment, although the rice cooking capacity was divided into three stages of small and medium, it may be divided so as to be further subdivided. Furthermore, in this embodiment, although the temperature range to change is set to ± 1 ° C., the energization rate of the induction heating coil 19, the trunk heater 21 and the lid heater 36 which are heating means and the rice cooking capacity of the rice cooker (of the rice cooking pot 10 The changeable temperature range varies depending on the capacity.

  In addition, the rice temperature during heat insulation changes with not only the amount of rice heat insulation in the rice cooking pot 10, but also ambient room temperature. That is, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), in a state where the temperature is kept high at a standard room temperature (20 ° C.), in the case of a small amount, the actual rice temperature is 73 ° C., which is the same as the target temperature. The actual rice temperature at a low room temperature (5 ° C.) is as high as 74 ° C., and the actual rice temperature at a high room temperature (35 ° C.) is as low as 72 ° C. Similarly, when the medium and full amounts are kept at a high temperature, the actual rice temperature shows a higher actual measurement value as the room temperature is lower, and shows a lower actual measurement value as the room temperature is higher. Note that the same applies to the case where the temperature is kept low as shown in FIG. In this way, the lower the room temperature, the higher the actual measured value of the rice temperature is because the detection value of the temperature sensor 22 for the rice cooker is lowered by cooling the metal rice cooker 10 at room temperature. This is because it is in an overheated state.

  So, in this embodiment, in order to set the heat retention temperature of the cooked rice in the rice cooker 10 to the target 73 ° C. regardless of the room temperature, the room temperature (external temperature of the rice cooker 10) is lower than the reference (standard) temperature. The temperature control set temperature is set to be lower than the reference temperature, and when the temperature control temperature is higher than the reference temperature, the temperature control set temperature is set to be higher than the reference temperature. Specifically, when a small amount is kept at a high temperature, the temperature adjustment temperature that is adjusted based on the detected value of the temperature sensor 22 for the rice cooker is 73.0 ° C. in the case of a standard room temperature, and in the case of a low room temperature. 72.0 ° C and 74.0 ° C for high room temperature. When a small amount of heat is kept at a low temperature, the temperature setting temperature is 60.0 ° C. for standard room temperature, 59.0 ° C. for low room temperature, and 61.0 ° C. for high room temperature. Similarly, in the case of medium and full amounts, the temperature adjustment set temperature is set to be low when the room temperature is low and the temperature adjustment set temperature is set to be high when the room temperature is high. . That is, in the present embodiment, the temperature adjustment set temperature that is actually adjusted within the variable temperature range (± 1 ° C.) set in advance according to the room temperature is further changed so that the optimum target temperature adjustment set temperature is obtained. It is said.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the temperature zone to be changed based on the room temperature is divided into three stages of low temperature, reference, and high temperature, but may be divided so as to be further subdivided. Moreover, although the temperature range to change is set to ± 1 degreeC, like the above, the energization rate of the induction heating coil 19 which is a heating means, the trunk heater 21, and the lid heater 36, the rice cooking capacity of the rice cooker (of the rice cooking pot 10) The changeable temperature range varies depending on the capacity.

  Next, the determination of the amount of rice cooked in the rice cooker 10 by the microcomputer 72 will be described.

  The microcomputer 72 stores a specific capacity extraction time ta for determining whether or not a specific capacity has been extracted in a RAM (not shown) which is a readable / writable storage means. Then, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the opening time t of the lid 23 is less than the specific capacity extraction time ta, it is determined that there is no decrease in cooked rice. When the opening time t of the lid 23 is not less than the specific capacity take-out time ta and less than 2 ta, it is determined that the reduction of cooked rice is 0.5 cup. When t is 2 ta or more and less than 3 ta, the reduction amount is 1.0 cup, when t is 3 ta or more and less than 4 ta, the reduction amount is 1.5 cup, and when t is 4 ta or more and less than 5 ta, the reduction amount is 2.0 cup. When cup and t are 5ta or more and less than 6ta, the reduction amount is 2.5cup, when t is 6ta or more and less than 7ta, the reduction amount is 3.0cup, and when t is 7ta or more and less than 8ta, the reduction amount is If 3.5 cup, t is 8 ta or more and less than 9 ta, the decrease is 4.0 cup, if t is 9 ta or more but less than 10 ta, the decrease is 4.5 cup, if t is 10 ta or more but less than 11 ta, the decrease is Is determined to be 5.0cup.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10 (B), if the set time ta of the specific capacity take-out time is 9 seconds, the first opening time t of the lid 23 may be 30 seconds exceeding the set time ta. Because the rice is agitated, the heat retention amount of the rice is not subtracted. In addition, when the opening time t of the second lid 23 is 15 seconds, it is determined that 0.5Cup has been reduced, and when the opening time t of the third lid 23 is 8 seconds, there is no decrease. In the case where the fourth opening time t of the lid body 23 is 28 seconds, it is determined that 1.5Cup (2.0Cup in total) has been reduced, and the fifth opening time t of the lid body 23 is 9 seconds. In this case, it is judged that the number has decreased by 0.5Cup (2.5Cup in total). Thus, based on the opening time t and the specific capacity extraction time ta, the reduction amount of cooked rice in the rice cooker 10 due to the opening and closing of the lid body 23 after the second time is determined. And the present rice heat retention amount is judged (predicted) by subtracting the amount of reduction | decrease for every opening / closing of the cover body 23 from the rice cooking capacity judged at the time of a rice cooking process.

  And in this embodiment, when it is judged that the cooked rice in the rice cooking pan 10 has decreased more than a specific capacity, it is judged which capacity section shown in FIG. 9 corresponds, and the temperature adjustment set temperature is changed to the variable temperature range again. It is configured to raise within.

  Next, the control by the microcomputer 72 will be specifically described.

  First, in a state where the user has purchased a rice cooker, the microcomputer 72 is operating in a backup mode using a voltage of 3 V by a primary battery (not shown). In this state, when the commercial power supply is turned on by connecting the power cord, a zero cross pulse is input through the power supply circuit, and the operation starts with the voltage from the commercial power supply. And it waits until the switch of the operation panel 69 is operated, and when any operation is detected, the input process is performed.

  And if operation of a rice cooking switch is detected, as shown in FIG. 11, the microcomputer 72 will perform a 1st cover state test | inspection process first by step S1. In the first lid state inspection step, as described above, the open / close state of the lid body 23 is determined based on a signal from the photo interrupter 65 in the unlocked operation state where the first solenoid 40 is deenergized. When it is determined that the lid body 23 is in the open state, a flag for ending the rice cooking process is set, and when it is determined that the lid body 23 is in the closed state, the engagement receiving unit 16 is engaged. The engagement state of the pawl portion 33 is determined. In this engagement state determination, the engagement state between the engagement receiving portion 16 and the engagement claw portion 33 is determined based on a signal from the photo interrupter 65 as a lock operation state in which the first solenoid 40 is energized (ON). To do. And when it is judged that it is an abnormal engagement state, the flag for complete | finishing a rice cooking process is set, and when it judges that it is a normal engagement state, the flag for continuing a rice cooking process is set.

  When the first lid state inspection process is completed, in step S2, it is determined from the flag whether or not the state of the lid body 23 is normal. If the lid 23 is closed and the engagement receiving portion 16 and the engagement claw portion 33 are in the normal engagement state, the process proceeds to step S3. Further, when the lid body 23 is opened, or when the engagement receiving portion 16 and the engagement claw portion 33 are in an abnormal engagement state, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S3, energization of the induction heating coil 19 is started, and a preheating process is performed in which the temperature is adjusted so that the temperature of the rice cooker 10 becomes about 50 ° C.

  Then, when the preheating process is finished by elapse of a preset time, the second lid state inspection process is executed in step S4. This second lid state inspection step is substantially the same as the first lid state inspection step, and when it is determined that the lid state is normal, that is, when the lid body 23 is closed and is in a normal engagement state. When the process proceeds to step S5 without interrupting the power supply to the first solenoid 40 and it is determined that the lid state is abnormal, that is, when the lid body 23 is opened or is in an abnormal engagement state, The only difference is that the power supply to the first solenoid 40 is cut off and the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, if the lid state is normal due to the flag, the process proceeds to steps S6 and S7, and if the lid state is abnormal, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In steps S6 and S7, the temperature raising process and the capacity determination process are performed in parallel. In the temperature raising step of step S6, the induction heating coil 19 is energized with 100% (full power) to boil the water containing the rice in the rice cooker 10. In this temperature raising step, the first solenoid 40 is maintained in an energized state, and the spherical member 52 rolls on the vent hole 53 to close the vent hole 53. As a result, the inside of the rice cooker 10 is gradually increased in pressure to be higher than atmospheric pressure. The capacity | capacitance discrimination | determination process of step S7 discriminate | determines the rice cooking capacity accommodated in the rice cooking pot 10 with the rising gradient of the temperature of the rice cooking pot 10 during heating.

  When the temperature raising process is completed, in step S8, the boiling control process is executed by controlling the induction heating coil 19 based on the input value of the lid temperature sensor 37. And if the preset time passes based on the discriminating rice cooking capacity and a boiling maintenance process is complete | finished, the energizing amount with respect to the induction heating coil 19 will be raised in step S9, and a cooking process will be performed.

  If the dry-up in the rice cooker 10 is detected based on the detected temperature in the cooking process, the unevenness process is executed in step S10. In this unevenness process, the energization to the first solenoid 40 is cut off, and the pressure input into the rice cooker 10 is released. Then, energization of the body heater 21 and the lid heater 36 is started, while the energization of the induction heating coil 19 is interrupted.

  When the preset time elapses, the rice cooking process is terminated when the unevenness process ends, and then the process proceeds to the first heat retaining process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in the first and second lid state inspection steps that the state of the lid 23 is abnormal, in step S11, the rice cooking process is terminated, and in step S12, the piezoelectric buzzer is activated. Alternatively, a notification process for informing the user through the liquid crystal display panel is executed.

  Next, the 1st heat retention process performed following this rice cooking process is demonstrated. In addition, the 1st heat retention process and the 2nd heat retention process are the medium amount heat insulation state shown to FIG. 9 (A) and (B), without performing the judgment of the rice rice heat retention in the rice cooking pot 10, and the heating control accompanying it. The only difference is that the temperature is adjusted at.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the first heat retaining process of the present embodiment performs the temperature adjustment setting process shown in steps S20 to S23 until the take-off switch of the operation panel 69 is operated, and then the temperature adjustment process according to the setting. Is performed, and the cooked rice heat insulation amount determining step is performed.

  Specifically, the microcomputer 72 first reads the cooked rice heat retention rank in step S20. This cooked rice heat retention rank is determined based on the cooked rice heat capacity determined according to the cooked rice processing immediately after the transition to the cooked heat treatment, based on the cooked rice warmed amount according to the amount of decrease after executing the cooked rice cooked heat amount determining step described later. Is done.

  Next, after detecting the external temperature by the external temperature sensor 71 in step S21, in step S22, the temperature adjustment set temperature is read and set based on the cooked rice warming amount in the rice cooker 10 and the external temperature as shown in FIG. . In step S23, 0 (setting completed) is input to the flag fa indicating whether or not the temperature adjustment set temperature is set (changed), and the process proceeds to steps S24 and S25.

  In steps S24 and S25, the temperature adjustment process and the cooked rice heat amount determination process are performed in parallel. In the temperature adjustment step of step S24, the induction heating coil 19, the body heater 21 and the lid heater 36 are on / off controlled using the set sensor temperature as a threshold value, so that the heating control is performed so that the temperature adjustment set temperature is reached. Is. In addition, the cooked rice heat amount determination process of step S25 is demonstrated in detail later.

  When the temperature adjustment process and the cooked rice heat amount determination process in step S24 are completed, it is detected in step S26 whether or not the tear-off switch of the operation panel 69 has been operated. If the operation of the switch is not detected, the process proceeds to step S27, and it is determined whether or not the temperature adjustment set temperature needs to be changed based on whether 1 (reset required) is input to fa. If fa is 1, the process proceeds to step S20. If fa is 0, the process proceeds to steps S24 and S25. Further, when the operation of the tear switch is detected, the heating by the induction heating coil 19, the body heater 21 and the lid heater 36 is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S28. 0 is input (reset) to the flag fb indicating whether it is open or not, and a transition is made to the standby mode.

  Next, the cooked rice warming amount determination step in step S25 will be specifically described.

  In this cooked rice warming amount determination step, as shown in FIG. 13, the microcomputer 72 first detects whether or not the lid body 23 has been opened based on a signal from the photo interrupter 65 in step S25-1. If the opening of the lid body 23 is detected, the process proceeds to step S25-2. If the opening of the lid body 23 is not detected, the process directly returns. In this state, energization to the first solenoid 40 is interrupted (step S10).

  When the opening of the lid body 23 is detected, it is determined in step S25-2 whether or not the lid body 23 is opened for the first time after the transition to the heat retaining process, based on whether 1 is input to fb. To do. If fb is 0, that is, if it is the first release after the transition, the process proceeds to step S25-3, 1 is input to fb, and the process returns. If fb is 1, that is, if it is the second or more opening after the transition, the process proceeds to step S25-4.

  In step S25-4, a counter for measuring the opening time t is reset and started, and then in step S25-5, the process waits until it is detected that the lid body 23 is closed by a signal from the photo interrupter 65. .

  And if blockade of lid 23 is detected, after stopping measurement of open time t at Step S25-6, it will judge the amount of decrease of cooked rice in rice cooking pot 10 at Step S25-7 like FIG. To do. Thereafter, in step S25-8, the cooked rice warming amount is calculated based on the rice cooking capacity and the decrease amount, and it is determined whether or not the cooked rice warming amount rank needs to be changed as shown in FIG. to decide. If it is necessary to change the cooked rice heat retention rank, the process proceeds to step S25-9, and 1 (reset required) is input to fa in order to change the temperature adjustment set temperature, and the process returns. As a result, the temperature adjustment setting process is executed through steps S27 to S20. On the other hand, if it is not necessary to change the cooked rice heat insulation rank, the process returns as it is.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the cooked rice heat retention amount in the rice cooking pot 10 is judged, and the heating control which controls temperature according to the cooked rice heat retention amount is changed. Specifically, when the cooked rice warming amount is higher than the standard capacity, the temperature adjustment set temperature is lowered, so the actual temperature of the cooked rice is targeted without being affected by the space volume and heat dissipation formed at the top of the cooked rice. Can be maintained at temperature. Therefore, the heat retention effect as set in advance, that is, the drying of cooked rice and the growth of spoilage bacteria can be prevented.

  Moreover, it is set as the structure which judges the rice rice heat retention in the rice cooking pot 10 based on the rice cooking capacity discriminate | determined by the rice cooking process, the open time t of the cover body 23, and the specific capacity extraction time set beforehand. And when a user tries to cook rice in a bowl, the amount and time are substantially proportional. Therefore, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the amount of cooked rice heat in the rice cooker 10 can be determined substantially accurately. And every time the cooked rice in the rice cooking pan 10 decreases, the temperature adjustment set temperature is raised according to the predicted cooked rice heat retention amount, so that the cooked rice can be maintained in an optimum heat insulation state.

  In addition, the rice cooker of this invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, A various change is possible.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the temperature of the cooked rice in the rice cooker 10 is monitored during the heat treatment, and if it is determined that the temperature has been reduced, the temperature adjustment set temperature is increased. However, the temperature of the cooked rice in the rice cooker 10 is determined. It is good also as a structure which temperature-controls all the 1st heat retention processes by the same temperature control setting temperature based on only the rice cooking capacity discriminate | determined at the time of a rice cooking process. That is, in this case, the capacity discriminating means for discriminating the rice cooking capacity during the rice cooking process becomes the heat insulation amount judging means.

  In the above embodiment, the lid state detecting means for detecting opening / closing of the lid body 23 is configured by the swing member 59 and the photo interrupter 65, but may be configured by a magnet and a reed switch, or may be configured by a micro switch. Also good. In other words, any configuration can be applied as long as the opening and closing of the lid 23 can be distinguished and detected.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it was set as the structure which a heat insulation amount judgment means judges the rice rice heat insulation amount in the rice cooking pan 10 based on the rice cooking capacity | capacitance, the once open time t of the cover body 23, and specific capacity extraction time ta. However, it is good also as a structure which arrange | positions the weight sensor which measures the weight of the rice cooking pot 10, and judges the rice rice heat retention based on the weight. In this case, the lid state detecting means is unnecessary.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Rice cooker, 11 ... Rice cooker main body, 19 ... Induction heating coil (heating means), 21 ... Body heater (heating means), 22 ... Temperature sensor for rice cooking pot (pan temperature detecting means), 23 ... Lid, 36 ... lid heater (heating means), 37 ... lid temperature sensor (pan temperature detecting means), 44 ... moving member, 54 ... holding part, 59 ... swinging member (lid state detecting means), 65 ... photo interrupter (lid) (State detection means), 69 ... operation panel, 71 ... external temperature sensor (external temperature detection means), 72 ... microcomputer (control means, capacity determination means, count means, heat insulation amount determination means, stirring determination means, set time change means) .

Claims (11)

A rice cooker body that accommodates the rice cooker, heating means for heating the rice and cooked rice in the rice cooker, a lid that is attached to the rice cooker body so as to be openable and closable, and closes the rice cooker, and the rice cooker or rice cooker Rice cooker provided with a pan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the pan, and a control means for controlling the heating means based on the detection value of the pan temperature detecting means to execute the rice cooking process and subsequently executing the heat retaining process In the vessel
A heat insulation amount judging means for judging the rice rice heat insulation amount in the rice cooking pan is provided,
A rice cooker characterized in that a temperature control temperature for controlling the temperature of the cooked rice during the heat treatment by the control means is set so as to decrease as the cooked rice heat amount determined by the heat insulation amount determining means increases.   The control means lowers the temperature adjustment set temperature from a reference temperature adjustment set temperature within a preset temperature range when the cooked rice insulation quantity determined by the heat insulation quantity judgment means is greater than a preset reference capacity. The rice cooker according to claim 1.   The control means raises the temperature adjustment set temperature within a preset temperature range from the reference temperature adjustment set temperature when the cooked rice insulation quantity determined by the heat insulation quantity judgment means is less than a preset reference capacity. The rice cooker of Claim 1 or Claim 2 to do.   When the control means determines that the heat-keeping amount judgment means has reduced the cooked rice in the rice cooking pan by a predetermined capacity or more during the heat-retaining process, the temperature control setting is performed based on the detection value of the pot temperature detection means. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature is increased. Capacity discriminating means for discriminating rice cooking capacity during the rice cooking process;
Lid state detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid;
During the heat retention process, provided is a counting unit that starts counting the opening time when detecting the opening of the lid based on the signal of the lid state detecting unit, and stops counting the opening time when detecting the closure of the lid,
The heat insulation amount determination means is set with the rice cooking capacity determined by the capacity determination means during the rice cooking process, and the one opening time counted by the counting means during the heat retention process executed following the rice cooking process. The cooked rice cooker according to claim 4, wherein the amount of rice cooked in the rice cooker is determined based on the specific capacity extraction time. An external temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the external atmosphere of the rice cooker is provided,
The control means changes the temperature adjustment set temperature based on the detected value of the pan temperature detecting means based on the detected temperature by the external temperature detecting means and a preset reference temperature during the heat retention process. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The control means lowers the temperature adjustment set temperature within a preset temperature range when the temperature detected by the external temperature detection means is lower than a preset reference temperature during the heat retention process, and the temperature detected by the external temperature detection means The rice cooker according to claim 6, wherein when the temperature is higher than the reference temperature, the temperature adjustment set temperature is raised within a preset temperature range. By heating the cooked rice in the rice cooking pot by controlling the heating means by the control means, and then performing the rice cooking process, followed by heating the cooked rice in the rice cooker and executing the heat treatment, There,
Detecting the amount of rice cooked in the rice cooker by means of a warmed amount judging means,
The control means controls the heating means by lowering the temperature control set temperature for controlling the temperature of the cooked rice during the heat treatment, as the cooked rice heat quantity determined by the heat quantity judging means increases. Insulation control method.   The control means compares the cooked rice warmed amount detected by the warmed amount judging means with a reference capacity, and when the cooked rice warmed amount is larger than the reference capacity, the temperature control set temperature is set in advance from the reference temperature control set temperature. The temperature control method for a rice cooker according to claim 8, wherein the heating means is controlled by lowering the temperature within a temperature range.   The control means compares the cooked rice warming amount detected by the warmed amount judging means with a reference capacity, and when the cooked rice warmth is less than the reference capacity, the temperature control set temperature is preset from the reference temperature control set temperature. The temperature control method for a rice cooker according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the heating means is controlled by raising the temperature within a temperature range.   The temperature control for controlling the temperature of the cooked rice in the rice cooking pan by the heat insulation amount determining means, and determining that the cooked rice heat retention amount has decreased by a specified capacity or more, based on the detected value of the pot temperature detecting means. The temperature control method for a rice cooker according to claim 8, wherein the heating means is controlled by raising a set temperature.

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