JP2014000518A - Rice washer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem by the present invention, by providing a rice washer for solving this problem, since there is the problem of being unable to remove residual rice sticking to the inside of a rice washing tank by rotational operation of an agitation bar and air jetting of a short time, when a soaking time in rice cooking preparation processing becomes long at this time, when inputting rice and water being the content in the rice washing tank to a rice cooker, after the rice washer performs the rice cooking preparation processing, in a rice washer-cooker for providing a plurality of rice cookers under the rice washer.SOLUTION: In the rice washer, respective processes of rice cooking preparation such as a rice washing process (S2) are performed by a control part (C), and the agitation bar (17) is rotated just before inputting by a rice-water input process (S6), and when setting the soaking time long in a soaking process (S3), the control part (C) solves the problem by the rice washer for lengthening a rotation time of the agitation bar (17) just before inputting.

Description

The present invention relates to a rice washing apparatus that constitutes a rice washing rice cooker, and relates to a rice washing apparatus that drops contents to a rice cooking apparatus after rice rice preparation preparation processing.

  The rice-washing rice cooker is configured by arranging a rice-washing apparatus including a rice storage tank and a rice-washing tank, and a plurality of rice-cooking apparatuses below the rice washing apparatus. The rice washing device measures the amount of rice stored in the rice storage tank and supplies it to the rice washing tank. Then, the rice washing device performs rice preparation preparations such as washing, soaking, and adding water to the rice washing tank. Is dropped on the rice cooker (Patent Document 1). At the time of dropping, the stirring rod in the rice washing tank is rotated for a short time immediately before dropping and air is ejected from the air supply pipe so that no rice remains in the washing rice tank.

JP-A-2004-725

  When the soaking time in the rice cooking preparation process becomes longer, the rice absorbs moisture sufficiently, so that the adhesion to the inner wall etc. increases, and as a result, the remaining rice adhering to the inside of the rice washing tank will rotate the stirring rod for a short time or blow out air Then there was a problem that it could not be removed.

The present invention has taken the following technical means to solve the above problems.
That is, the invention of claim 1 has a rice washing tank (3), a stirring bar (17) along the inner wall of the rice washing tank (3), and a control unit (C). The rice washing step (S2), the dipping step (S3), the water adding / decreasing step (S5), the rice / water dropping step (S6) in the rice washing tank (3), and the rice / water dropping step (S6) are performed. In the rice washing apparatus that rotates the stirring rod (17) immediately before dropping and promotes the discharge of the remaining rice, if the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is set long, the control unit (C) can control the stirring rod (17). This is a rice washing device that lengthens the rotation time just before dropping.

  The invention according to claim 2 further includes an air supply pipe (27a) for supplying air to the rice washing tank (3), and the control section (C) performs air immediately before dropping in the rice / water dropping step (S6). The rice washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (C) increases the air supply time immediately before dropping when the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is set to be long, while promoting the discharge of residual rice by supplying is there.

  The invention according to claim 3 is such that the rotational speed of the stirring rod (17) in the rice / water dropping step (S6) is higher than the rotational speed of the stirring rod (17) set in the rice washing step (S2). The rice-washing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus is large.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 4, the control unit (C) has a flow rate sensor control means by a flow rate sensor (25) as the water storage amount control means in the water addition / reduction step (S5), and the rice washing tank ( 3) Still water control means for draining for a predetermined time after the water is full, and when the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is within the set time, the flow rate sensor control means is longer than the set time. In the case, it is the rice washing apparatus of Claims 1-3 which controls a water storage amount using a still water control means.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, when the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is set to be long, the control unit (C) performs control to increase the rotation time immediately before dropping of the stirring rod (17), Even when the soaking time is increased, the discharge of rice can be promoted, and the remaining rice is hardly generated on the inner wall of the rice washing tank (3).

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, when the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is set long, the control unit (C) increases the air supply time immediately before dropping. By performing the control, the discharge of rice can be further promoted even when the soaking time is lengthened, and the remaining rice is hardly generated on the inner wall of the rice washing tank (3).

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or claim 2, the rotational speed of the stirring rod (17) in the rice / water dropping process (S6) By setting the rotation speed higher than the rotation speed of the stirring bar (17) in S2), in the rice washing process (S2), the rotation speed is suppressed so that the rice is not broken by the stirring bar (17), while the rice / water dropping process (S6). ) Can increase the rotation speed and promote rice discharge.

  According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effects of the inventions of claims 1 to 3, the flow sensor control means is immersed when the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is less than the set time. When the time is longer than the set time, the amount of stored water is controlled by using the static water control means. When the adhesion force is increased, the discharge of rice can be promoted by using the static water control means, and the inner wall of the rice washing tank (3) The remaining rice is less likely to occur.

It is a front view of the rice-washing rice cooker which has the rice-washing machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the rice washing rice cooker of FIG. It is a vertical side view of the rice washing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a perspective view around the stirring rod of this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the control system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of a rice washing rice cooking process. It is a flowchart which shows the determination method of stirring rod rotation time. It is a flowchart which shows the determination method of the control means of the stored water amount in a water addition / subtraction process. It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of selecting a still water control means. An operation panel provided with a water-saving mode.

  Embodiments specifically configured based on the above technical idea will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG.1 and FIG.2 is the whole rice cooker front view and whole side view which respectively have the rice washer based on 1st embodiment. This rice-washing rice cooker is configured by movably supporting a rice-washing machine comprising a rice storage tank 2 and a rice washing tank 3, and arranging a plurality of rice cookers 5, 5 below it. The rice washing machine is provided with a rice storage tank 2 above the support machine frame 1, and a rice washing tank 3 with a water supply / drainage portion is connected to the lower part of the rice storage tank 2 so as to be laterally movable. A plurality of rice cookers 5 are arranged below the rice washing tank 3 at intervals, and are composed of a rice cooker 6, a kettle heating burner 7, a drawer-type gantry 10, and the like. The rice-washing rice cooker performs a series of processes from the weighing process by the rice storage tank 2 to the rice-washing process by the rice-washing tank 3, the washing process, the water addition and subtraction, and the dropping process in accordance with the rice-cooking setting.

  The configuration of the rice storage tank 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The rice storage tank 2 has a rice inlet 18 opened on the upper surface thereof, and the rice inlet 18 is opened and closed by an inlet lid 19. The lower half of the rice storage tank 2 is formed in a hopper shape, and a measuring instrument 12 is attached to the lower end of the hopper. The meter 12 is composed of a metering feed valve driven by a motor 12a, and rotates the meter 12 filled with rice that has flowed from the storage tank 2 by a certain amount by the number of revolutions required for the planned amount of rice cooking. An amount of rice is supplied from the rice storage tank 2 to the rice washing tank 3.

  As shown in the vertical sectional side view of the rice washing tank section in FIG. 3, the rice washing tank 3 is provided with a funnel-shaped receiving section 13 for receiving the rice supplied from the measuring instrument 12 on the ceiling section, and a cylindrical body in the middle section. It is the structure which has the part 3b and the hopper-like part 3c in the lower part. A jacket portion 31 is connected to the lower part of the hopper-like portion 3c of the rice washing tank 3, and a filter 15 having an opening that does not leak rice grains is provided at the boundary between the hopper-like portion 3c and the jacket portion 31.

  A rotary shaft 16 having a vertical hollow shaft is provided at the center of the rice washing tank 3, and a rice draining shaft 16a is disposed through the hollow portion. A plurality of stirring rods 17, which are stirring bodies, are attached to the rotating shaft 16, and at least one of them employs a shape along the inner wall of the rice washing tank 3. The rotating shaft 16 is rotated by a rice washing motor 20 attached to the support machine frame 1 through a transmission system such as a bevel gear 21 so that the forward and reverse directions and the rotation speed can be controlled.

  As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, the stirrer 17 is bent and formed so as to lift the rice being washed in a counterclockwise operation, thereby reducing the time for washing the rice and reducing the amount of water used. By controlling the operation to rotate clockwise so as to press down the wet rice, the remaining rice adhering to the side wall of the rice washing tank 3 can be dropped as much as possible.

  The rice draining shaft 16a is loosely fitted in the outer rotary shaft 16 so as to be freely slidable up and down. A removable rice draining valve 22 is provided at the lower end of the shaft, and the upper end of the shaft is a motor 23 for driving the rice draining valve. The opening / closing control of the rice draining valve 22 is performed by the cam 24 driven by When the rice removal valve 22 is opened, the rice in the rice washing tank 3 falls into the lower rice cooker 5.

  The water supply part of the rice washing tank 3 will be described. Water and air are supplied to the rice washing tank 3 by bringing the lower water supply pipe 27 and the air supply pipe 27a close to the jacket portion 31 at the lower end, and the lower water supply pipe 27 is a water distribution pipe arranged at the upper part of the rice washing tank 3. On the other hand, an upper water supply pipe 29 branched from the switching valve 35 and supplied from the plurality of nozzles 29a is provided. The water distribution pipe 26 is provided with a flow rate sensor 25 for measuring the flow rate. The open / close valve 28 that operates in accordance with the measured value of the flow rate sensor 25 is provided in the lower water supply pipe 27, and a similar open / close valve (not shown) is provided in the upper water supply pipe. 29.

  The lower water supply pipe 27 configured as described above supplies water to the jacket portion 31 at the lower part of the rice washing tank 3 during the rice washing, and the lower water supply pipe 27 descends from the water distribution pipe 26 at the upper height position of the rice washing tank 3 to the lower part of the rice washing tank 3. Since it communicates, the total amount of water in the lower water supply pipe 27 is drained without remaining. Therefore, when supplying water to the rice subjected to the water washing treatment, the entire amount of water supplied by the on-off valve 28 controlled to measure based on the flow sensor 25 descends the lower water supply pipe 27 and the lower part of the rice washing tank 3 Therefore, the required cooking conditions can be ensured by adjusting the amount of water that can be controlled with high accuracy.

  The air supply pipe 27a having the above-described structure has an air inlet provided in the lower jacket portion 31 and supplies air constantly or intermittently during the later-described rice washing process, and the rice / water dropping process after the later-described water addition / reduction process ( S6) Sometimes air is temporarily supplied for a short time, thereby promoting the discharge of rice and water in the rice washing tank 3.

  The upper water supply pipe 29 configured as described above is provided with an open / close valve (not shown) which branches from the water distribution pipe 26 by the switching valve 35 at the upper height position of the rice washing tank 3 and operates according to the measurement value of the flow sensor 25. For this reason, it becomes possible to manage the amount of water during the soaking process in which water is intermittently sprinkled on the washed rice.

  The drainage part of the rice washing tank 3 will be described. A drainage box 39 is provided on the lower side of the rice washing tank 3, and the drainage box 39 having a drainage port 40 is connected to an overflow pipe 41 opened at the upper side surface of the rice washing tank 3 by a connecting pipe 36. The portion is connected to a jacket drain pipe 42 communicating with the jacket portion 31. Drainage from the jacket drain pipe 42 is performed by opening and closing a drain valve 44 (shown integrally with the water level valve 54 in FIG. 3 for convenience), and the water level in the rice washing tank 3 is adjusted by the water level valve 54.

  Although the drainage box 39 is always closed by the drainage valve 44 and the water level valve 54, when draining the water in the rice washing tank 3, the jacket water distribution pipe 42, the drainage valve 44, and the Drained through the water level valve 54, the drain box 39 and the drain port 40.

  The drain valve 44 and the water level valve 54 are opened and closed by control wires 45 and 55 provided in connection with respective solenoids (not shown) fixed to the ceiling of the rice washing tank 3. Moreover, the float sensor 32 with an electrical contact which detects the amount of water in the rice washing tank 3 is provided in the upper part in the rice washing tank 3.

  FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the control system of the first embodiment. The control system of the rice-washing rice cooker according to the present embodiment inputs the flow sensor 25 and the float sensor 32 signal to the control unit C in addition to the various operation switches of the operation panel 11, and measures the amount of cooked rice on the output side. The motor 12 a of the meter 12, the drive motor 23 of the rice discharge valve 22 that drops rice and water, the rice washing motor 20 that drives the stirring rod 17, the switching valve 35 that communicates with the rice washing tank 3, the on-off valve 28, and the rice washing tank 3 The solenoid of the drain valve 44 and the water level valve 54, the burner 7 of the rice cooker 5, the display screen of the operation panel 11 for displaying the setting contents and the operation status, etc. are connected, and the control unit C controls these devices according to the input signal. Configure as possible.

  The process of washing rice is shown in the flowchart of FIG. (A) The figure shows the control processing of normal rice-washed rice, (b) The figure shows the control processing of rice-washed rice in the water-saving mode. In the first step of the weighing process (hereinafter abbreviated as “S1”), a set amount of rice is supplied from the rice storage tank 2 to the rice washing tank 3, and in the rice washing tank 3 receiving this, the first rice washing process. (S2-1), second rice washing step (S2-2), dipping step (S3), draining step (S4), and water adding / subtracting step (S5) after preparing rice cooking, rice and water dropping step ( Rice is supplied to the rice cooker 5 by S6), and the rice cooking process (S7) by the burner 7 is then performed in the rice cooker 5.

  In the first and second rice washing steps (S2-1, S2-2), while supplying wash water from the lower water supply pipe 27, air is supplied to the wash water from the air supply pipe 27a, and the stirring rod 17 is always rotated. And wash the rice. By generating bubbles in the rice washing tank, the impact at the time of collision between the rice and the stirring rod 17 can be reduced, and the rice can be prevented from cracking.

  In the dipping step (S3), after the stirring rod 17 is stopped and the washing water is drained, water is supplied from the upper water supply pipe 29 and sprinkled every set time. By controlling the flow rate sensor 25 to apply a predetermined amount (for example, 160 cc) of water, the amount of water spray can be stabilized compared to the case of water supply control for a predetermined time.

  The immersion time in the immersion step (S3) varies depending on the store using the rice-washing rice cooker. For example, in a store that offers set meals, take about 2 hours of soaking time to provide white rice as it is, and cook it plumply, whereas in stores that provide rice balls, sushi, and rice bowls, the soaking time is shortened and the grains are reduced. Make the cooking method firm and resilient.

  In the draining step (S4), the water is drained and the stirring rod 17 is rotated for a short time.

  In the water addition / reduction step (S5), the stirring rod 17 is stopped, and the required amount of water for water addition / reduction is supplied from the lower water supply pipe 27 and stored. The amount of water stored is controlled by detecting the amount of water supplied to the lower water supply pipe with the flow sensor 25 and controlling the flow sensor 25 to open and close the on-off valve 28, and after the rice washing tank 3 is filled with water. There is a hydrostatic control system that drains for a predetermined time. Whether the rice washing tank 3 is full of water is determined by a signal from the float sensor 32.

  In the rice / water dropping step (S6), the drain valve 22 is opened, and the water subjected to water addition / reduction is dropped from the rice washing tank 3 to the rice cooker 5. At this time, while rotating the stirring rod 17 for a short time, air is ejected from the air supply pipe 27a for a short time and discharged so that the rice in the rice washing tank 3 does not remain.

  In the rice washing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the user of the rice washing rice cooker lengthens the soaking time in the soaking step (S3), the control unit (C) accordingly follows immediately before dropping in the rice / water dropping step (S6). The rotation time of the stirring rod 17 is lengthened. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for determining the stirring rod rotation time. Before the second rice washing step (S2-2) is completed, the user sets the immersion time in the immersion step (S3). When the second rice washing step (S2-2) is completed, the control unit (C) determines the rotation time of the stirring rod (17) immediately before dropping according to the set immersion time, and after the water addition / subtraction step (S4) In the rice / water dropping step (S6), the stirring rod (17) is rotated for a predetermined time immediately before dropping the rice and water in the rice washing tank 3. Condition 1 is a case where the immersion time is set within 15 minutes, and the stirring time immediately before dropping is 10 seconds. Condition 4 is a case where the immersion time is set to be longer than 45 minutes and within 60 minutes, and the stirring time immediately before dropping is 40 seconds.

  When the soaking time in the soaking step (S3) is set to be long, the control unit (C) performs control to lengthen the rotation time immediately before dropping of the stirring rod (17), so that the soaking time is lengthened and the rice has an adhesive force. Even if it increases, the discharge | release of rice can be accelerated | stimulated and it becomes difficult to produce residual rice on the inner wall of the rice washing tank (3).

  Moreover, if the user of the rice-washing rice cooker lengthens the immersion time in the immersion step (S3), the control unit (C) increases the air supply time immediately before dropping in the rice / water dropping step (S6) accordingly. The method for determining the air supply time is the same as the method for determining the stirring rod rotation time. In this embodiment, the stirring rod rotation time and the air supply time are the same.

  When the soaking time in the soaking step (S3) is set to be long, the control unit (C) performs control to lengthen the air supply time immediately before dropping the stirring rod (17), so that the soaking time is lengthened and rice is attached. Even when the landing force is increased, the discharge of rice can be more reliably promoted, and the remaining rice is hardly generated on the inner wall of the rice washing tank (3).

  In the rice washing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the stirring bar (17) in the rice / water dropping process (S6) is made larger than the rotation speed of the stirring bar set in the rice washing process (S2). The rotational speed is set by the control unit (C) when the user sets each separately on the operation panel 11, when the user sets only one, or when the user sets one. There is a case. Explaining the last case, when the user sets the rotation speed of the stirring rod in the rice washing step (S2), the control unit (C) does not exceed the upper limit of the rotation speed in the rice / water dropping step (S6). The rotation speed of the stirring bar (17) is set to a speed larger than the rotation speed of the stirring bar set in the rice washing step (S2).

  By setting the rotation speed of the stirring bar (17) in the rice / water dropping process (S6) to be larger than the rotation speed of the stirring bar (17) in the rice washing process (S2), stirring is performed in the rice washing process (S2). While suppressing the rotation speed so that the rice is not broken by the rod (17), in the rice / water dropping step (S6), the rotation speed can be increased to facilitate the discharge of rice.

  Moreover, in FIG. 8, the flowchart which shows the determination method of the control means of the water storage amount in a water addition / subtraction process (S5) is shown. In the rice washing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the user of the rice washing rice cooker lengthens the soaking time in the soaking process (S3), the control unit (C) accordingly controls the amount of stored water in the water adding and subtracting process (S5). To change. Before the second rice washing step (S2-2) is completed, the user sets the immersion time in the immersion step (S3). When the second rice washing step (S2-2) is completed, the control unit (C) changes the storage amount control means in the water adjustment step (S5) according to the set immersion time. Condition 1 is when the immersion time is set to be within 60 minutes, in which case the flow rate sensor control means is used, and condition 2 is the case where the immersion time is longer than 60 minutes, in which case the still water control means is used.

  FIG. 9 shows a control flowchart when the still water control means is selected. After the second rice washing step (S2-2), the time set in the dipping step (S3) elapses. In this case, the set time is larger than the control means change threshold. When that time elapses, the water is stored in the rice washing tank 3 until the float sensor 32 is turned on, and stirring by the stirring rod 17 and air supply are performed. Thereafter, by draining for a predetermined time in the draining step (S4), water is left in the amount required in the water adding / subtracting step (S5). Then, immediately before the rice and water are put into the kettle, stirring by the stirring rod (17) and supply of air are performed so that the rice does not adhere to the side wall of the rice washing tank 3. Once the rice washing tank 3 is filled with water, the amount of residual rice attached to the inner wall of the rice washing tank 3 is less than when the flow sensor control means is used.

  When the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is less than the set time, the flow rate sensor control means is used, and when the immersion time is longer than the set time, the water storage amount is controlled by using the static water control means, thereby increasing the adhesion. In this case, it is possible to promote the discharge of rice by using the hydrostatic control means, and it becomes difficult for residual rice to be generated on the inner wall of the rice washing tank 3.

  FIG. 10 shows the operation panel 11 provided with a water-saving (eco-washing) mode. A water-saving mode changeover switch 60 is provided on the operation panel 11, and the changeover switch 60 displays “eco-washing rice” or the like. By pressing this switch, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the rice washing step (S2) is combined into one and it is easy to select a simple mode that suppresses the amount of water required for rice washing. When this mode is selected, the mode indicator lamp 61 displays “Eco-washed rice”. In addition, the static water control means cannot be used as the water storage amount control means in the water addition / subtraction step (S5). Moreover, in the case of a rice-washing rice cooker having a plurality of rice washing modes (standard, rapid, careful, non-washed rice, etc.), a mode (for example, rapid) that can suppress the amount of water most is selected.

3 Rice Washing Tank 17 Stir Bar 25 Flow Sensor 27a Air Pipe C Control Unit S2 Rice Washing Process S3 Immersion Process S5 Water Addition / Decrease Process S6 Rice / Water Dropping Process

Claims (4)

A rice washing tank (3), a stirring bar (17) along the inner wall of the rice washing tank (3), and a control unit (C);
With this control unit (C), the rice washing step (S2), the dipping step (S3), the water adding / decreasing step (S5), the rice / water dropping step (S6) in the rice washing tank (3),
In this rice / water dropping process (S6), in the rice washing apparatus that rotates the stirring rod (17) immediately before dropping to promote the discharge of residual rice,
When the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is set long,
A rice washing apparatus in which the control unit (C) lengthens the rotation time immediately before dropping of the stirring rod (17). An air pipe (27a) for supplying air to the rice washing tank (3),
In the rice / water dropping step (S6), the control unit (C) supplies air immediately before dropping to promote the discharge of residual rice,
When the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is set long,
The rice washing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (C) lengthens the air supply time immediately before dropping. The rotational speed of the stirring rod (17) in the rice / water dropping step (S6),
The rice-washing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rice-washing apparatus is larger than the rotation speed of the stirring rod (17) set in the rice washing step (S2). The control unit (C)
As a means for controlling the amount of water stored in the water adding / decreasing step (S5),
A flow sensor control means by a flow sensor (25);
Still water control means for draining only for a predetermined time after the rice washing tank (3) is filled with water,
When the immersion time in the immersion step (S3) is within a set time, the flow sensor control means is
The rice washing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the immersion time is longer than the set time, the amount of stored water is controlled using a hydrostatic control means.

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