JP2014090788A - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable determination of the number of rice measuring cups in an initial stage of the beginning of cooking rice.SOLUTION: In an electric rice cooker which includes an inner pot for accommodating rice or the like, an inner pot heating means for heating the inner pot, and an inner pot heating control means for controlling a heating condition of the inner pot by the inner pot heating means and carries out the control of cooking of rice or cooking/heating, a stirring means for stirring the rice inside the inner pot is provided to detect a load in stirring the rice by the rice stirring means. Since the electric rice cooker is configured in such a manner that the stirring means for stirring the rice inside the inner pot is provided to detect a drive load in stirring the rice by the rice stirring means, the amount of rice inside the inner pot which is the number of rice measuring cups at the beginning step of cooking rice can be determined in accordance with a difference in a rank of the drive load.

Description

  The invention of this application relates to a configuration of an electric rice cooker having a stirring means for stirring the rice in the inner pot, and capable of detecting a driving load amount during rice stirring by the rice stirring means. .

  Conventionally, various improvements have been made to electric rice cookers, and the usability and rice cooking performance of recent electric rice cookers have been considerably improved.

  However, it is still the same to wash the rice stored in the inner pot, add a certain amount of water according to the amount of rice and cook rice, and the rice washing operation to wash the rice in the inner pot is a relatively complicated operation There is a need for improvement.

  On the other hand, in the conventional electric rice cooker, by devising the arrangement of the heating means such as the work coil with respect to the inner pot or by changing the heating pattern, the convection state in the inner pot at the time of cooking is improved, Efforts are also made to improve the rice cooking performance by making the heating state uniform.

  However, there is a limit to improving the rice cooking performance by improving the heating method and the convection state, and it is difficult to obtain a sufficient convection effect especially when the amount of rice cooking is large.

  From such circumstances, for example, by using a folding blade or a stirring arm of a folding structure that can be stored in the lower surface of the lid of the electric rice cooker, automatic rice washing without manual operation is possible, while cooking rice as necessary The thing which is trying to implement | achieve a favorable uniform stirring blade compared with natural convection by stirring the rice of this is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1 and patent document 2).

JP-A-7-289424 JP 2012-135605 A

  If the rice stirring means in the inner pot as described above is provided, it is easy to wash the rice, and better compulsory stirring is possible as compared with natural convection.

  However, in the above-described conventional electric rice cooker, the stirring means composed of the blades or arms is merely used for washing rice or stirring rice, and its application is limited. For that, expensive parts such as a motor are required, the structure of the lid is complicated, and the cost is high.

  Moreover, in any of those cases, the determination of the total number (rice amount of rice cooked) is performed in the temperature rising process as usual, and the total number is unknown in the water absorption process before the temperature rising process. Appropriate water absorption control according to the total number is not performed. The same applies to the initial stage of the temperature raising process in which the combined number is determined.

  In order to realize better water absorption control and temperature rise control and to cook truly delicious rice, it is preferable to perform appropriate heating control according to the total number from the stage of the water absorption process if possible.

  The invention of this application has been made to solve the above-described problems. The invention includes an agitation means for agitating rice in the inner pot, and is based on the magnitude of the driving load acting on the drive means during rice agitation. It is intended to provide an electric rice cooker that can determine the presence or absence of rice in the inner pot and the amount of rice, and that can perform appropriate rice cooking according to the number of water from the initial stage of rice cooking It is.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured with the following problem solving means.

(1) Invention of Claim 1 The problem-solving means of this invention is the inside which controls the heating state of the inner pot by the inner pot which accommodates rice etc., the inner pot heating means which heats an inner pot, and an inner pot heating means. An electric rice cooker comprising a pot heating control means and configured to execute rice cooking or cooking heating control, provided with stirring means for stirring the rice in the inner pot, and driving load during rice stirring by the rice stirring means The quantity is detected.

  Thus, in the electric rice cooker, when the stirring means for stirring the rice in the inner pot is provided and the drive load amount at the time of rice stirring by the rice stirring means is detected, the rank difference of the drive load amount For example, the amount of rice in the inner pot, that is, the total number can be determined.

(2) Invention of Claim 2 The problem-solving means of this invention is the structure of the problem-solving means of the invention of the said Claim 1, and determines the total number of the rice in an inner pot based on the detected drive load amount. It is characterized by doing so.

  Thus, the stirring means for stirring the rice in the inner pot is provided, and the driving load amount at the time of stirring the rice by the rice stirring means is detected. Based on the detected driving load amount, the inner pot is specifically described. By determining the total number of rice in the inside, it becomes possible to determine the amount of rice in the inner pot from the predetermined rank difference of the driving load amount, that is, the total number in a predetermined rank, and at the beginning of rice cooking For example, from the stage of the water absorption process, it becomes possible to control the heating amount, the stirring speed, etc. according to the amount of rice in the inner pot, and the rice cooking performance is greatly improved.

(3) Invention of Claim 3 The problem-solving means of the present invention is characterized in that, in the structure of the problem-solving means of the invention of Claim 1 or 2, the total number is determined at the beginning of cooking rice. It is said.

  Thus, when the total number mentioned above is performed at the beginning of rice cooking, control of the heating amount, the stirring speed, etc. according to the amount of rice in the inner pot is performed from the initial stage of rice cooking, for example, from the stage of the water absorption process. Can cook rice cooking performance greatly.

  When water is absorbed, it is better to raise the temperature, but only the bottom tends to warm first, and the heated rice grains stick to the bottom (this phenomenon occurs in both earthenware pots and metal pots, but it is noticeable in earthenware pots). And if you stick, it will lead to uneven cooking without convection. On the other hand, when stirring is performed at the time of water absorption, the rice is floated and water is evenly absorbed, so that uneven cooking is reduced.

  Further, when the stirring means is rotated, heat is generated by friction slightly. Water can be slightly warmed by this heat, and the water can be absorbed more efficiently by raising the temperature.

  Therefore, even in the case of quick cooking, water can be absorbed more quickly by increasing the number of revolutions of the stirring means.

(4) Invention of Claim 4 The problem-solving means of this invention has the rice washing process using the stirring means in the structure of the problem-solving means of the invention of the said Claim 1, 2, or 3, In this rice washing process, It is characterized in that the rice is washed by the rice washing method according to the determined number.

  Thus, it has a rice washing process using a stirring means, and in this rice washing process, it is possible to perform automatic rice washing without soiling the hands by washing with a rice washing method according to the determined number. At the same time, the washing method itself is appropriate according to the amount of rice in the inner pot.

  For example, when the amount of rice is large, the rotation speed is increased and the rice is washed properly, and when the amount is small, the rotation speed is reduced and the rice is gently washed. Or, the number of revolutions is changed finely according to the amount. Thus, even when the amount is small, the rice grains are not crushed, and good washing can be performed.

(5) Invention of Claim 5 The problem-solving means of the present invention is the construction of the problem-solving means of the invention of Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein water is absorbed and raised by the rice cooking method according to the determined number. It is characterized in that each process of temperature, cooking, and spotty is executed.

  In this way, in each rice cooking process of water absorption, temperature rise, cooked, and spotter, when each step of water absorption, temperature rise, cooked, and spotter is executed by the rice cooking method according to the determined number In addition, rice cooking with an appropriate rice cooking pattern corresponding to the total number is possible, and rice cooking performance is improved.

(6) Invention of Claim 6 The problem-solving means of this invention is the structure of the problem-solving means of the said invention of Claim 3, 4 or 5, and stirs rice also in the required rice cooking process after a total number determination. In this process, the number of revolutions is made variable in accordance with the determined total number.

  In this way, rice is agitated also in the required rice cooking process after the total number determination, and the number of rotations can be varied according to the determined total number in the same process. For example, when the amount of cooked rice is large, the number of revolutions is high, and when the amount of cooked rice is small, the number of revolutions is relatively low, and an appropriate stirring state according to the amount of rice can be realized. Rice cooking performance in the required rice cooking process is improved.

  For example, when the number of revolutions is changed by the total number at the time of temperature rise, if the amount of rice cooking is large, the amount of heating is not enough, so uneven cooking of the upper and lower sides occurs, but it is possible to cook rice evenly by rotating it It becomes possible. On the other hand, in the case of a small amount, since there is a sufficient amount of heating, cooking unevenness does not occur. On the other hand, if you rotate it quickly, the grains may be crushed and sticky.

  Therefore, by changing the number of rotations according to the total number, an appropriate rice cooking method suitable for the total number is realized.

  Moreover, it is effective to perform similar control if possible not only at the time of temperature rise but also in other processes such as boiling maintenance.

(7) Invention of Claim 7 The problem-solving means of the present invention is the configuration of the problem-solving means of the invention of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, based on the detected drive load amount. It is characterized in that it detects empty cooking.

  As described above, when the stirring means for stirring the rice in the inner pot is provided and the driving load at the time of stirring the rice is detected by the rice stirring means, detection of empty cooking is also performed depending on the magnitude of the driving load. It becomes possible to detect empty cooking before cooking rice is heated.

  As a result, safer cooking can be detected without wasteful heating.

(8) Invention of Claim 8 The problem-solving means of this invention is provided with a canceling means for canceling the rice-washing step in the configuration of the problem-solving means of the invention of Claim 4 when rice washing is unnecessary. It is characterized by that.

  Thus, when the cancellation means which cancels a rice washing process is provided, in the case of the rice cooking menu which does not require rice washing, such as non-washing rice, it can pass a rice washing process appropriately and can be made to shift to a rice cooking process.

  As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric rice cooker that can perform appropriate rice cooking performance from the initial stage of rice cooking such as a water absorption process.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cut surface in the left-right direction by cutting a central portion in the left-right direction showing the configuration of the electric rice cooker of the present invention common to each embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the electric rice cooker. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the cover main part of the electric rice cooker. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control circuit part of the electric rice cooker. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the rice cooking control which concerns on embodiment of this invention using the electric rice cooker of FIGS. 1-4. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the content of the water absorption control in the rice cooking control of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the rice cooking control which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention using the electric rice cooker of FIGS. 1-4.

  1-3 and FIG. 4 have the stirring means which stirs the rice in an inner pot, The drive load amount at the time of rice stirring by this rice stirring means was detected later, this invention mentioned later The structure of the rice cooker main-body part and control circuit part of the electric rice cooker common to each embodiment of each is shown.

(Overview of the entire rice cooker)
As for this electric rice cooker 1, for example, an inner pot (rice cooker) 3 made of a metal plate having a clad structure capable of high-efficiency electromagnetic induction heating is employed. As the inner side (protective frame) 4 made of synthetic resin, the central part side and the side part side of the bottom part 3a of the inner pot 3 so as to wrap substantially the entire side part 3b from the bottom part 3a of the inner pot 3 ( The first and second sets of work coils C1 and C2 corresponding to the entire peripheral surface of the two places on the corner portion side) are provided, and as a heating means for keeping the inner pan 3 warm, A heat retaining heater H1 corresponding to the entire circumference of the side portion 3b is provided. And by appropriately driving and controlling them with a microcomputer control unit, an appropriate rice cooking function and a heat retaining function can be realized.

  On the other hand, timer reservation for each of these functions, selection of rice cooking and heat retention menu, operation settings such as heating amount, heating pattern, heat retention temperature, heat retention time etc. corresponding to each menu, selection setting for rice washing course, no washing rice course, It is performed by the user via various input switch groups (22a to 22g) provided on the front side operation panel 20 of the electric rice cooker 1, and finally, by the microcomputer control unit 40 of FIG. The first and second work coils C1, C2, the heat retaining heater H1, the lid heater H2, and the like are controlled.

  In addition, in the central portion of the operation panel 20, rice cooking, heat retention, non-washed rice, washed rice and other menus, courses, set warming temperature, set warming time, current time and remaining time until the completion of cooking, and other rice cooking A transparent display window 21 corresponding to the liquid crystal panel 21a for displaying various items necessary for heat insulation is provided.

(Detailed configuration of the rice cooker body)
The rice cooker body of the electric rice cooker 1 has a clad (multi-layer plate) structure including a magnetic metal plate such as a stainless steel plate capable of self-heating by the eddy current induced inside as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. An inner pot 3, a synthetic resin bottomed cylindrical inner case (protective frame) 4 formed so that the inner pot 3 can be arbitrarily set, and an outer casing for holding the inner case 4. A bottomed cylindrical outer case 5, and a lid 2 that can be opened and closed at the upper part of the opening surface of the rice cooker body formed by integrating the outer case 5 and the inner case 4. Yes.

  A coil base 7 is provided on the lower side of the bottom 4a of the inner case 4, and an upper portion of a center portion and a side portion (corner portion) of the bottom portion 3a of the inner pot 3 is provided via a ferrite core (not shown). The first and second sets of work coils C1 and C2 in which litz wires are wound concentrically corresponding to the respective positions are respectively approximated from the center of the bottom 3a of the inner pot 3 to the side. It is provided so as to envelop the whole, thereby inducing an eddy current at the bottom of the inner pot 3 when energized to heat the whole substantially uniformly.

  One end of each of the first and second work coils C1, C2 is, for example, a power line via the IH circuit 37 and the rectifying / smoothing circuit 35a of FIG. 4, and the other end is an IGBT drive circuit (power transistor) 42. Each is connected to the collector side.

  In addition, the side case 4b of the inner case 4 is provided with a heat retaining heater H1 that functions as a heating means at the time of heat retention, so that the entire inner pot 3 is effectively and uniformly heated at the time of heat retention. Yes.

  In addition, on the front side of the inner case 4, for example, the IGBT drive circuit 42 and the heat insulation heater for driving and controlling the first and second work coils C1 and C2, the heat insulation heater H1, the lid heater H2 to be described later, and the like. A control circuit board P2 including a drive circuit 33, a lid heater drive circuit 34, a rectifying / smoothing circuit 35a including a diode bridge for power supply voltage rectification, and the like is provided upright in the vertical direction.

  Under the control circuit board P2, for example, a heat sink 9 for heat dissipation is provided in contact with the power transistor of the IGBT drive circuit 42, and a cooling fan 11 is provided under the heat sink. The cooling fan 11 causes the air sucked from the air suction grille 6a formed at the bottom of the outer case 1 to flow to the outer periphery of the inner case 4 via the heat sink 9 and the control board P2, thereby cooling the necessary heat generating part. I do.

  The outer case 5 includes, for example, a vertical cover member 5a formed of a synthetic resin material, a synthetic resin shoulder member 10 coupled to the upper end of the cover member 5a, and the cover member 5a. And a bottom member 6 made of a synthetic resin integrated with a lower end of the inner casing 4 and having a predetermined size of heat insulation and ventilation space between the bottom 4a of the inner case 4 as a whole and a bottomed tube It is configured in the shape.

  Above the front surface of the outer case 5, a substantially half-moon shaped operation panel 20 as shown in FIG. A transparent display window 21 having a sufficiently large display area, a timer rice cooking reservation switch 22a, a rice cooking start switch 22b, a cancel switch 22d, a heat retention switch 22c, a menu switch 22e, a rice washing switch 22f, a timer are provided on the operation panel 20. Various input switches such as an hour / minute setting switch 22g are provided. On the back side of the operation panel 20, a microcomputer board P1 including a switch mechanism and a microcomputer control unit 40 is provided.

  Further, a center sensor storage space portion that is concentrically penetrated in the vertical direction is formed in the central portion of the coil base 7 below the inner case 4 and can be moved up and down in the center sensor storage space portion. In this state, a center sensor S composed of an inner pan temperature detection sensor is provided in a state where it is constantly urged upward by a coil spring.

  On the other hand, reference numeral 2 denotes a lid, and the lid 2 constitutes a central portion of the vessel body and has a steam cap installation groove 2g for adjusting pressure (a recess for installing the pressure adjustment steam cap) 2g and a steam pipe fitting hole 2h. A synthetic resin cover member 2a, a synthetic resin inner frame 2b provided below the outer peripheral edge of the cover member 2a, and a steam pipe fitting hole 2h provided inside the inner frame 2b. And a heat sink 2c made of metal. An inner lid 2d is detachably provided below the heat radiating plate 2c. A packing 2e corresponding to the inner peripheral surface of the upper edge portion of the inner lid 2d is provided between the inner peripheral edge portion of the inner frame 2b and the outer peripheral edge portion of the heat radiating plate 2c. A packing 2f corresponding to the opening edge 3c of the inner pot 3 is provided. Further, a lid heater H2 for heating the upper side of the inner pot 3 is provided on the upper surface of the heat radiating plate 2c.

  The lid 2 is rotatably attached to the shoulder member 10 on the upper part of the outer case 5 via a hinge mechanism 12 and is engaged with a predetermined position of the lid 2 on the open end side. A lid opening / closing lever 13 for opening and closing the lid unit 2 in the vertical direction is provided.

  Therefore, in this structure, at the time of rice cooking, the inner pot 3 generates heat from the bottom 3a to the side 3b side by eddy current generated by driving the first and second sets of work coils C1 and C2. For example, a water absorption process in which rice rice soaked in water in the inner pot 3 acts as a heat insulating portion (in the case of the present invention, as will be described later, since the rice stirring means is provided, the heat insulating action is actually eliminated. In addition, the upper side of the inner pot 3 can be heated evenly to enable uniform water absorption performance, and even when the amount of cooked rice is large, the inner pot 3 can be heated substantially evenly to prevent uneven heating. Cook efficiently.

  Moreover, at the time of heat retention, by driving the heat retaining heater H1 provided corresponding to the side 3b of the inner pot 3 and the lid heater H2 provided above the opening, the side 3b from the bottom 3a of the inner pot 3 and The entire upper part is uniformly heated with an appropriate heating amount, and heat insulation without heating unevenness is realized.

(Configuration of stirring blade drive unit)
Further, in the central portion of the lid body 2, for example, a groove for installing a pressure regulating steam cap (a recessed portion for installing a tuning pressure steam cap) 2 g as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-284401, which is an application of the present applicant, is provided. Is provided. The steam cap installation groove 2g is formed by recessing a part of the synthetic resin cover member 2a substantially to the position of the heat radiating plate 2c to form a steam cap installation recess having a pressure adjusting mechanism. A steam pipe fitting hole 2h that extends through the overlapping portion of the cover member 2a and the heat radiating plate 2c in an overlapped state and extends toward the inner lid 2d is provided in the center of the bottom surface.

  In this steam pipe fitting hole 2h portion, the synthetic resin cover member 2a and the metal heat sink 2c form a circular opening extending in the vertical direction in a coaxial state. A rubber packing 2i for sealing is interposed between the two.

  In addition, a circular opening 2k having the same diameter as the steam pipe fitting hole 2h or a smaller diameter than the steam pipe fitting hole 2h is also provided in the central portion of the inner lid 2d located on the lower side coaxially with the steam pipe fitting hole 2h. Is provided.

  And in the case of this electric rice cooker, two stirring blades 18a and 18b are utilized using the steam cap installation groove 2g, the steam pipe fitting hole 2h, and the opening 2k of the lid 2 as shown in FIG. 3, for example. And the stirring blade rotation unit 14 provided with the stirring blade drive motor 16 is mounted in a detachable state.

  That is, in this case, the stirring blades 18a and 18b are vertically fixed at the lower ends of both the left and right sides of the disk-shaped stirring blade holding rotating body 17 having a predetermined outer diameter, which are 180 ° shifted from each other. The rotating blade coupling body 15 is connected and fixed to the motor driving shaft 16b of the stirring blade driving motor 16 through a connecting engagement shaft 17a having a predetermined length provided at the center on the upper surface side of the rotating body 17. And is removably connected and held.

  The rotary blade coupling body 15 is formed as a whole by a small-diameter columnar body (or cylindrical body) that can penetrate the steam pipe fitting hole 2h portion from the upper side to the lower side, and its upper end side coupling hole 15a. The portion is connected to the drive shaft 16b of the stirring blade drive motor 16, and a connecting shaft engaging hole 15b for attaching the stirring blades 18a, 18b is formed on the lower end side. Then, by inserting and engaging the connecting shaft 17a portion on the upper end side of the stirring blade holding rotator 17 in the connecting shaft engaging hole 15b, the stirring blades 18a and 18b are placed in the inner pot 3 as shown in the figure. It is supported so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction in a state where it has penetrated to a predetermined depth position.

  The stirring blade rotating unit 14 portion in which the stirring blade drive motor 16 is housed has a shape and dimensions substantially the same as the external shape and external dimensions of the pressure regulating steam cap installed in the steam cap installation groove 2g described above. It has a motor cover 14a and a motor case 14b that are fitted to each other, and a cylindrical stirring blade drive motor 16 is housed in a motor housing space formed between them. It is configured to be fixed to a vertical axis state in which the rotation shaft extends in the vertical direction and the drive shaft 16b is located on the lower side via a bowl-shaped motor fixing member 14c having a cylindrical portion 14d.

  The motor cover 14a has the same size and shape as the cap cover of the above-described conventional pressure regulating steam cap, and has a vertical wall structure that extends upward at a predetermined height on the outer periphery of the funnel-shaped motor case 14b. An engagement edge portion 14g extending in a reverse U-shape with a predetermined length downward is provided to fit the outer peripheral edge portion 14e portion of the outer periphery portion 14e via a seal member 14f such as a rubber material. Further, the motor fixing member 14c has an engaging step portion that engages the cylindrical peripheral edge portion 14i of the upper end side of the motor fixing member 14c on the lower surface side of the central axis side of the predetermined dimension from the engaging edge portion 14g. A combined cylindrical portion 14j is provided, and the motor fixing member 14c is engaged by engaging its upper end side cylindrical peripheral portion 14i with an engaging step portion inside the cylindrical portion 14j. While being fixed to the motor cover 14a, the agitating blade drive motor 16 is fixed in a form of being fitted and fixed in a lower cylindrical portion 14d through a thin packing member, for example.

  On the other hand, the lower end side of the funnel-shaped motor case 14b is larger in diameter than the cylindrical portion 14d of the motor fixing member 14c, has a short length in the vertical direction, and has a U-shaped cross section on the outer peripheral surface thereof. It is formed in the cylindrical part 14k which has a mounting groove, The seal ring 141 for fitting is fitted by the seal ring mounting groove of the outer periphery both sides. And, through the seal ring 141, the steam pipe fitting hole 2h is detachably fitted and fixed.

  Therefore, in the case of the same configuration, the stirring blade rotating unit 14 in the state of FIG. 3 in which only the rotating blade coupling body 15 is connected and integrated with the motor drive shaft 16b without connecting the stirring blades 18a and 18b is necessary. Accordingly, in place of the conventional pressure regulating steam cap, the lid 2 can be installed in a detachable state in the steam pipe fitting hole 2h portion. After the installation, the lid 2 is opened, The stirring blades 18 a and 18 b can be attached to the rotating blade connector 15.

  After that, when the lid 2 is closed and, for example, the rice washing switch 22f in the operation panel 20 portion of FIG. 2 is turned on (the rice washing course is selected), the stirring blades 18a and 18b rotate at a predetermined speed, for example, a desired water level. The water and rice in the inner pot 3 accommodated up to the ML portion are stirred.

  As a result, the rice in the inner pot 3 is automatically washed by the stirring blades 18a and 18b. And after the washed rice, the dirty water is thrown away and fresh water is added to make rice cooking possible.

  In the case of the present invention, as shown in the first embodiment below, after the rice washing is completed, when the rice cooking start switch 22b is pressed in a state where water is newly added, the water absorption process starts. (Again) the stirring blades 18a and 18b are rotated for a certain time, and the amount of rice in the inner pot 3, ie, the total number, is determined based on the magnitude of the driving load (rotational load) acting on the stirring blade drive motor 16 at that time. judge.

  And after that, according to the total number determined here, if necessary, the water absorption, temperature rise, boiling maintenance, cooking, and steaming are controlled, and the rice is cooked deliciously. .

  In addition, the stirring blades 18a and 18b are rotated at a rotational speed and a rotational speed according to the total number and the process in the water absorption process and the temperature rising process, if necessary, and the rice is placed at the bottom of the inner pot 3 as much as possible. It enables truly uniform heating in a floating state where it does not stay, improving water absorption performance and temperature rise performance as much as possible. In that case, the control is made more effective according to the rice cooking menu.

  Further, the same control as this is not limited to the case of the rice washing course, but is also adopted in the case of the no washing rice course.

  Further, even when washing the rice with the stirring blades 18a and 18b, a method is also adopted in which the total number is determined by the first rotation, and thereafter the rice is efficiently washed at the optimum rotation number and rotation speed according to the determined number. The

  When the motor case 14b is fitted to the steam pipe fitting hole 2h portion, the power supply terminal and the control terminal from the required portion in the lid 2 are fitted to the power supply terminal 16a portion at the upper end of the stirring blade drive motor 16 described above. It is connected via a desired connector (pin plug or the like), and power and control signals are input and output.

  The above-described stirring blades 18a and 18b are preferably coated with an antibacterial material or an antibacterial agent, for example. If it does so, the anti-corrosion function of the rice after cooking can be improved.

  Further, in the case of the embodiment of the present invention, in the case of using the stirring blades 18a and 18b in the water absorption step, the temperature raising step, the boiling maintenance step, etc. other than the rice washing step, for example, the stirring blade rotation described above is used. The unit 14 is provided with a pressure control mechanism that is substantially the same as that in the past, or a pressure control steam cap that is provided in the marginal space at the rear part of the lid 2.

  Hereinafter, after explaining the structure of the control circuit which employ | adopted the above-mentioned rice stirring system, the content of the rice cooking control which concerns on Embodiment 1, 2 which presupposes it is demonstrated concretely.

(Configuration of control circuit part)
Next, FIG. 4 shows the structure of the control circuit part which performs rice cooking and heat retention control of the rice cooker main body comprised as mentioned above.

  The control circuit includes a microcomputer control unit 40 for output control that controls the outputs of the first and second work coils C1, C2, the heat retaining heater H1, the lid heater H2, and the like from the AC power source 30 side. A temperature detecting circuit 38 using a rectifying / smoothing circuit 35a, first and second work coils C1, C2, IGBT, choke coil, resonance circuit, etc., a DC20V power source 36, and a center sensor S in the power source circuit section. , Input voltage detection circuit 39, microcomputer power supply circuit 41, IGBT drive circuit 42, input current detection circuit 43, power supply voltage zero cross detection circuit 44, reset circuit 48, heat insulation heater drive circuit 33, lid heater drive circuit 34, stirring blade 18a , 18b, a drive circuit 26A for the drive motor 16, and a load detection circuit 26 for detecting the drive load of the stirring blade drive motor 16. , The fan motor drive circuit 26B of the blower fan 11, the main clock signal generating circuit 45, EEPROM 46 or the like are provided respectively, which are respectively connected to the microcomputer control unit 40 as shown.

  The microcomputer control unit 40 further includes a liquid crystal panel 21a on the microcomputer board P1, a rice cooking reservation switch 22a for timer rice cooking, a rice cooking start switch 22b, a heat retention switch 22c, a cancel switch 22d, and a menu switch 22e for selecting a rice cooking menu. The rice washing switch 22f for selecting an automatic rice washing course using the rotation of the stirring blades and the timer / hour setting hour / minute setting switch 22g are also connected to the microcomputer control unit 40, respectively.

  Then, the microcomputer control unit 40 determines the driving state and the driving speed of the stirring blades 18a and 18b based on the detection values of the detection circuits and the like, the operation of the operation switch, and the setting input. The drive state and drive output of the heating means such as the work coils C1 and C2, the heat retention heater H1 and the lid heater H2 and the drive state and drive speed of the cooling fan 11 drive motor are controlled as desired according to the rice cooking process and the heat retention process. .

  Hereinafter, the suitable embodiment of the rice cooking control in the electric rice cooker of this invention which employ | adopted the above structures is described.

<Embodiment 1>
In the rice cooking control of the configuration of this embodiment, in order to solve the conventional problems described above, the stirring blades 18a and 18b that stir the rice in the inner pot 3 are used, and the stirring blade drive motor is used during the rice stirring. The presence or absence of rice in the inner pot 3 and the amount of rice (total number) can be determined based on the magnitude of the driving load acting on the rice, and appropriate rice cooking performance according to the total number from the initial stage of rice cooking It is characterized by being able to cook rice in

  In this control, as an example, assuming that rice washing is completed and rice and water are contained in the inner pot 3, the rice cooking start switch 22b is turned on when the power supply circuit is turned on. (Step S1), when the rice cooking start switch 22b is turned ON, the stirring blade drive motor 16 is driven (Step S2), and the stirring blades 18a and 18b are rotated to start water absorption. The rice in the inner pot 3 in a state is stirred at a predetermined rotation speed.

  At the same time, the motor load detection circuit 26C is operated to detect the magnitude of the drive load acting on the stirring blade drive motor 16 (step S3). The magnitude of this driving load is proportional to the amount of rice in the inner pot 3, and detecting the magnitude of this driving load ultimately results in detecting the quantity of rice in the inner pot 3, that is, the total number. Become.

  In that case, if there is a certain amount of rice that can be cooked in the inner pot 3, a driving load of a predetermined value or more is always generated. Therefore, it is next determined whether or not the magnitude of the detected load is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S4).

  As a result, in the case of YES, since an appropriate amount of rice exists in the inner pot 3 and can be properly cooked, first, the total number is determined according to the size of the detected driving load. (Step S5). After that, for each rice cooking process of water absorption (step S6), temperature rise (step S7), boil maintenance (step S8), cooking (step S9), and steaming (step S10), the combined number determined here. The heating control is performed with the rice cooking method (heating time, heating pattern) according to the above, and after the completion of cooking detection and steaming, the process proceeds to the heat retaining step (step S11).

  As described above, the stirring blades 18a and 18b for stirring the rice in the inner pot 3 are used to detect the driving load amount during the rice stirring by the rice stirring blades 18a and 18b, and based on the detected load amount. When the total number of rice in the inner pot 3 is determined, the amount of rice in the inner pot 3, that is, the total number can be appropriately determined with a predetermined rank from the predetermined rank difference of the driving load amount. For example, rice stirring control at an appropriate heating amount according to the amount of rice in the inner pot 3 from the stage of, for example, the water absorption step (step S6) at the beginning of rice cooking (uniform in a state where the rice is suspended in water) Heating, uniform water absorption), and rice cooking performance is greatly improved.

  The rice agitation control in this water absorption step (step S6) is, for example, as an example, as shown in the subroutine of FIG. 6, according to the detected load magnitude, for example, three ranks of large, medium, and small amount In step S61 to step S63, the rank is sequentially determined, and according to the determination result, high-speed rotation (step S62) when the amount is large, medium-speed rotation (step S62) when the amount is medium In step S64), when the amount is small, stirring control is performed in three patterns with low speed rotation (step S65).

  In this case, the high speed, medium speed, and low speed are expressions at a relative level to the last, and even though the speed is high, the rice is mutually in water at a temperature of about 40 ° C. to 50 ° C. in the water absorption process. It means a relatively slow rotational speed that floats uniformly without colliding and realizes a uniform water absorption action throughout.

  In this way, the total number is determined at the start of water absorption in the water absorption step, and each rice grain floats in the water with the heating amount corresponding to the total number from the initial stage of water absorption without remaining on the inner bottom of the inner pot 3. If the heating is performed uniformly in the state, the heating state becomes uniform, and it becomes possible to cause each of the rice grains to absorb water evenly, so that the water absorption performance is greatly improved.

  Therefore, the cooked rice is also good.

  On the other hand, in the determination of the amount of drive load in step S4, if the drive load greater than the predetermined value is not detected, the drive of the stirring blades 18a and 18b is temporarily stopped (step S12), and the inner pot 3 itself If there is no rice or there is an inner pot 3 but rice and water are not contained in the inner pot 3, information such as voice is notified to the user (step S13).

  Then, it is determined whether or not a predetermined waiting time has elapsed after waiting for the inner pot 3 containing the same rice to be newly set or the rice and water being put into the inner pot 3 within a predetermined time. (Step S14).

  As a result, when the predetermined time has elapsed and the answer is YES, the stirring blades 18a and 18b are driven again (step S15), and the driving load is detected by the motor load detection circuit 26C (step S16).

  Then, similarly to the case of step S4, it is determined whether or not the magnitude of the drive load detected by the motor load detection circuit 26C is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (step S17).

  As a result, in the case of YES, since an appropriate amount of rice and water is present in the inner pot 3 and the rice can be properly cooked, the detected driving load is the same as described above. The total number is determined accordingly (step S5). After that, for each rice cooking process of water absorption (step S6), temperature rise (step S7), boil maintenance (step S8), cooking (step S9), and steaming (step S10), the combined number determined here. The heating control is performed with the rice cooking method (heating time, heating pattern) according to the above, and after the completion of cooking detection and steaming, the process proceeds to the heat retaining step (step S11).

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S17 is NO, it is determined that the cooking is complete, and “empty cooking notification” is performed (step S18), and the cooking process is completed by performing the cooking process.

  In this way, if the empty cooking is detected according to the magnitude of the driving load during rotation of the stirring blades 18a and 18b, it becomes possible to detect empty cooking at an early stage before cooking rice heating, and power consumption is not wasted. .

  Then, when water absorption, temperature rise, boiling maintenance, cooking, and soaking are performed by the rice cooking method according to the determined number, water absorption, temperature elevation, boiling maintenance, cooking are performed. In each rice cooking process of Murashi, rice cooking with an appropriate rice cooking pattern according to the total number becomes possible, and rice cooking performance is further improved.

(Modification)
In the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the water absorption control in the water absorption process is not related to the rice cooking menu, but the water absorption control simply according to the determined total number (for example, the stirring rotation speed of the stirring blade, the variable rotation speed). However, this can be made more detailed according to the rice cooking menu as shown below (the rotational speed or the rotational speed is changed by the menu).

  White rice menu: Prevents uneven cooking at an appropriate rotation speed or rotation speed.

  Eco menu: To avoid wasting power consumption due to rotation, rotate it lower than, equal to, or intermittently than white rice.

  Quick-cooking menu: In order to cook quickly, increase the rotation speed or the number of rotations to promote water absorption more.

  Cooking menu: Since seasonings are likely to settle, mix seasonings evenly by increasing the rotation speed or increasing the number of rotations per unit time.

  If white rice has the same rotation speed or number of rotations as rice cooking, rice grains may be crushed.

  Brown rice menu: The rice grains are hard, so in order to absorb water better, the rotating speed or rotation speed is increased more than white rice and the bran part is intentionally damaged to absorb water.

  Okowa Menu: Okowamo is also boiled with azuki-boiled soup, so boiled soup is easy to settle.

  Rice porridge menu: Since there is a lot of water, increase the rotation speed or rotation speed to absorb water. In addition, it aims at the effect of promoting water absorption to cook more gently.

  By these, the optimal cooking method for every menu is realizable.

  Also, for example, when the number of revolutions is changed depending on the total number at the time of temperature rise, for example, when the amount of rice cooking is large, the amount of heating is insufficient, and thus cooking unevenness on the upper and lower sides occurs. It becomes possible.

  On the other hand, in the case of a small amount, there is a sufficient amount of heating, so that excessive cooking unevenness does not occur, and the rice grains are crushed by rotating in reverse, which may cause stickiness.

  Therefore, the rice cooking method suitable for the total number is realized by changing the number of rotations finely depending on the total number in the temperature raising step.

  In addition, it is effective to control similarly not only at the time of temperature rise but also in other processes such as boiling maintenance.

<Embodiment 2>
In the rice cooking control of the configuration of this embodiment, after starting rice cooking, the stirring blades 18a and 18b are driven to determine the driving load as in the first embodiment (steps S1 to S4 and S21). It does not necessarily assume that the rice-washing course is selected and the rice-washing has been completed, and has a selection function between the no-wash rice menu and the rice-washing menu (step S5). The total number is determined according to the magnitude of the load (step S6), and the water absorption process control (step S7) is performed according to the determined total number without performing the washing with the stirring blades 18a and 18b as described above. ), Temperature rising process control (step S8), boiling maintaining process control (step S9), cooking process control (step S10), and steaming process control (step S11), and the heat retaining process (step S11). Proceed to the flop S12).

  On the other hand, when the rice washing menu is selected in the determination in step S5, a predetermined number of rotations, a rotation speed, and the like according to the total number of rice determined by the same method as in the first embodiment is predetermined. After washing the rice with an efficient rice washing method, the water absorption process control (step S7), the temperature rising process control (step S8), the boiling maintenance process control (step S9), and the cooking process control are performed by the rice cooking method according to the total number. (Step S10), steaming process control (Step S11) is performed, and the process proceeds to the heat retaining process (Step S12).

  Thus, the rice washing effect and the rice washing efficiency are improved by controlling the number of rotations according to the total number even during the rice washing using the stirring blades 18a and 18b.

(Modification)
In addition, in the above case, it is not the case of non-washing rice as described above, but for example, when the user has washed the rice by himself, the rice washing process in the rice cooker is unnecessary, so after the start of rice cooking, by voice Controls such as notifications and liquid crystal displays that allow the user to once confirm that the rice washing operation is unnecessary, and if unnecessary, cancel the rice washing process with the specified canceling means, and control to immediately start the water absorption process without washing. can do.

  If it does in this way, it will become unnecessary to provide rice washing switch 22f.

  1: electric rice cooker, 2: lid, 2a: cover member, 2b: inner frame, 2c: heat sink, 2d: inner lid, 2e: packing, 2f: packing, 2g: steam cap unit installation groove, 2h: steam Cap unit fitting hole, 3: inner pot, 3a: inner pot bottom, 3b: inner pot side, 4: inner case, 4a: inner case bottom, 4b: inner case side, 5: outer case, 5a: outer Case cylindrical member, 6: bottom member, 6a: air suction grille, 13: lid opening / closing lever, 14: stirring blade drive unit, 14a: motor cap, 14b: motor case, 14c: motor fixing component, 14d: motor holding 15: rotating blade connecting body, 15a: upper end side connecting hole, 15b: lower end side connecting hole, 16: stirring blade drive motor, 16a: power terminal, 16b: motor driving shaft, 17: holding blade holding Rotating body, 17a: Connection engagement shaft, 18a, 18b: stirring blade, 20: operation panel, 21: display window, 21a: liquid crystal panel, 22a: rice cooking reservation switch, 22b: rice cooking start switch, 22c: heat retention switch, 22d: cancel switch, 22e : Menu switch, 22f: Rice washing switch, 22g: Hour / minute switch for timer reservation time setting, P1: Microcomputer board, P2: Control board, S: Center sensor, C1, C2: First and second work coils .

Claims (8)

  An inner pot for storing rice, etc., an inner pot heating means for heating the inner pot, and an inner pot heating control means for controlling the heating state of the inner pot by the inner pot heating means, and performing rice cooking or cooking heating control In the electric rice cooker thus configured, a rice stirring means for stirring the rice in the inner pot is provided, and a driving load at the time of rice stirring by the rice stirring means is detected.   2. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the total number of rice in the inner pot is determined based on the detected magnitude of the driving load.   The electric rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein the judgment of the total number is performed at the beginning of rice cooking.   The electric rice cooker according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a rice washing step using a rice stirring means, wherein the rice washing step is carried out by a rice washing method corresponding to the determined number.   5. The electric rice cooker according to claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein each of the steps of water absorption, temperature increase, cooking, and unevenness is performed by a rice cooking method corresponding to the determined number.   In the required rice cooking process after the total number judgment, rice is stirred by the rice stirring means, and in the same rice cooking process, the number of rotations during stirring is varied according to the judged total number. The electric rice cooker according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein   7. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein an empty cooking detection is performed based on the detected driving load.   5. The electric rice cooker according to claim 4, further comprising canceling means for canceling the rice washing process when the rice washing is unnecessary.

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