JP2014223140A - Rice cooker and rice-cooking control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute automatically proper warmth retaining processing without bothering a user.SOLUTION: A rice cooker includes selection means capable of selecting some from among a plurality of rice cooking menus, and control means 10 for executing pertinent rice cooking processing based on the cooking menu selected by the selection means. The control means 10 automatically selects warmth retaining processing to be executed corresponding to the cooking menu selected by the selection means.

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventional rice cookers include a rice cooker that can be selected from a plurality of types according to the purpose. Patent Document 1 discloses a rice cooker that prevents deterioration of cooked rice by, for example, prohibiting the transition to low-temperature heat treatment when washing rice without washing.

  However, in the conventional rice cooker, it is necessary for the user to select which heat retention process is executed. In particular, in the rice cooker disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if low temperature heat treatment is selected, it cannot be transferred in the case of washingless rice cooking. For this reason, it is necessary for the user to select the type of the heat retention process again.

JP 2004-81685 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker and a rice cooking control method capable of automatically executing an appropriate heat retaining process without bothering the user.

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides:
A selection means capable of selecting one of a plurality of rice cooking menus;
Control means for executing the corresponding rice cooking process based on the rice cooking menu selected by the selection means;
With
The said control means provides the rice cooker characterized by selecting automatically the heat retention process to perform according to the rice cooking menu selected by the said selection means.

  With this configuration, as long as the rice cooking menu is first selected, an appropriate one is automatically selected and executed for the subsequent heat insulation process. Therefore, troublesome operations for the user are not required, and the heat-retaining state of the cooked rice after cooking is always good.

  The heat retaining process may include two or more different heat retaining processes.

  It is preferable that the heat retaining process includes a first heat retaining process in which a first temperature adjusting process and a heating process in which temperature is adjusted at a first set temperature are alternately performed at least once.

  With this configuration, the cooked rice is not spoiled by passing through the heating step while keeping the first set temperature low and preventing problems such as drying and yellowing of the cooked rice.

  In the heat treatment, the temperature is adjusted at a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature, or the heating step, and the second temperature control step is set at a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature. It is preferable to further include a second heat retention process that is alternately executed at least once.

  With this structure, in the case of cooked rice that is susceptible to spoilage, the rice is heated once without passing through the first heat treatment, and then the temperature of the cooked rice is controlled at a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature by the second temperature control step. be able to.

  When the rice cooking menu selected by the selection means is “white rice” or “brown rice”, the control means may execute the second heat retention process after executing the first heat retention process.

  With this configuration, while the first heat treatment is being performed, the cooked rice can be kept warm at the first set temperature, so that problems due to heat such as drying and yellowing can be prevented. Moreover, if time passes after that, since the 2nd heat retention process which temperature-controls to 2nd preset temperature higher than 1st preset temperature is performed, rotting of cooked rice can be prevented.

Further provided with a lid detecting means for detecting opening and closing of the lid,
Preferably, the control means executes the second heat retaining process when the cover detecting means detects the opening and closing of the cover during the heat retaining process.

  With this configuration, when the lid is opened and closed and surrounding germs and the like are likely to be mixed in, it is possible to prevent the spoilage of the cooked rice by executing the second heat retaining process.

  The said control means should just perform a said 2nd heat retention process, when the rice cooking menu selected by the said selection means is "cooking" or "rice porridge".

  With this configuration, if the type of cooked rice is likely to rot, it is possible to execute the second heat retaining process for adjusting the temperature at the second heat retaining temperature that is higher than the first heat retaining temperature from the beginning.

  When the rice cooking menu selected by the selection means is “eco-cooking” whose total power consumption during cooking is lower than that of “white rice”, the control means controls the temperature at a first set temperature. Or after performing the first temperature adjustment step of adjusting the temperature at the first set temperature and performing the heating step, the temperature is kept for a predetermined time only with the lid heater provided on the lid, or provided on the lid. It is preferable to end the heat retention without passing through the heat retention by the lid heater.

Further, the present invention provides a means for solving the above-described problems,
A rice cooking control method for executing the corresponding rice cooking process based on the selected rice cooking menu,
After the completion of the rice cooking process, a heat retaining process to be executed according to the selected rice cooking menu is automatically selected.

  When the selected rice cooking menu is “white rice” or “brown rice”, the first heat treatment is performed by alternately repeating the first temperature adjusting step and the heating step of adjusting the temperature at the first set temperature, and then the first It is preferable to execute the second heat retention process including the second temperature adjustment step of adjusting the temperature at a temperature higher than the set temperature.

  When the selected rice cooking menu is “cooked” or “rice porridge”, the first heat treatment is performed without repeating the first heat treatment process, in which the first temperature adjustment process and the heating process in which the temperature is adjusted at the first set temperature are alternately performed. It is preferable to execute the second heat retention process including the second temperature adjustment step of adjusting the temperature at a temperature higher than the set temperature.

  According to this invention, if the rice cooking menu is selected, the heat retention process suitable for the selection can be started automatically.

It is a schematic side sectional view of a rice cooker according to the present embodiment. It is a front view of the operation panel of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the heat retention control process which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the heat retention control process which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the heat retention control process which concerns on this embodiment. It is a graph which shows the change of the detected temperature in the heat retention control which concerns on this embodiment. It is a graph which shows the change of the detected temperature in the heat retention control which concerns on other embodiment.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a rice cooker according to the present embodiment. This rice cooker includes an inner pot 1 in which rice and water are accommodated, a rice cooker body 2 that accommodates the inner pot 1 so as to be removable, and a lid 3 that is attached to the rice cooker body 2 so as to be openable and closable.

  The inner pot 1 is formed by forming a clad material made of aluminum having a high thermal conductivity and stainless steel capable of induction heating into a bottomed cylindrical shape.

  The rice cooker body 2 includes an inner trunk 4A that constitutes the side surface of the housing recess in which the inner pot 1 is accommodated, a protective frame 4B that constitutes the bottom surface, an outer cylinder 5 that constitutes the outer peripheral surface, and a bottom member 6 that constitutes the bottom surface. Among the spaces formed between them, between the protective frame 4B and the bottom member 6, an induction heating coil 7 for induction heating the inner pot 1 and a pot temperature sensor 8 are accommodated. A cylinder heater 9 is accommodated between the inner cylinder 4 </ b> A and the outer cylinder 5.

  Further, a control device 10 (displayed outside the rice cooker body 2 in FIG. 1) is accommodated in the space on the back side between the inner cylinder 4A and the outer cylinder 5. Here, a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM and the like is used for the control device 10. In this control device 10, the CPU calls the program stored in the ROM according to the selected menu, and cooks rice by controlling the energization to the induction heating coil 7 and the drive of the pressure regulating device 26. Cooked rice includes regular cooked rice, eco-cooked rice, and cooked rice cooked at home. These rice cookings are performed in a preheating step, a temperature raising step, a boiling maintenance step, a twice cooking step, and an unevenness step (however, the eco-cooking of the present embodiment does not have a preheating step).

  As shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel 11 is provided above the front surface of the rice cooker body 2. The operation panel 11 includes a liquid crystal display unit 12 and a plurality of operation buttons 13. The liquid crystal display unit 12 is a reflective type in which time display, rice cooking state display, and the like are written. The operation buttons 13 include a “cooking / reheating” button 15, a “takeshi” button 16, a “reservation” button 17, a “insulation selection” button 18, a “menu selection” button 19, a “rice selection” button 20, and It is composed of a “my home cooking selection” button 21.

  The lid 3 includes an inner lid 22 that closes the upper opening of the inner pot 1. The temperature of the inner lid 22 is detected by a lid temperature sensor 23. The lid 3 is provided with a lid heater 24 for keeping the inner pot 1 warm via the inner lid 22. Further, the lid 3 is formed with a steam flow path 25 for discharging steam from the internal space formed by closing with the inner lid 22 to the outside. Furthermore, the lid 3 is provided with a pressure regulating device 26 in the middle of the steam flow path 25 so that the control device 10 can adjust the internal pressure within a predetermined range larger than the atmospheric pressure.

  Next, operation | movement of the rice cooker which consists of the said structure is demonstrated.

  When rice and water are accommodated in the inner pot 1 and the lid 3 is closed, first, the operation button 13 of the operation panel 11 is operated to set the rice cooking conditions. For example, the type of rice is selected by operating the “select rice” button 20.

  Here, when the “cooking / reheating” button 15 is operated, a rice cooking process including a preheating process, a temperature raising process including a capacity determination process, a boiling maintenance process, and a spotting process (including a twice cooking process). Execute. And if a rice cooking process is complete | finished, a heat retention process (Utsutsuya heat retention process) will be performed. In addition, as will be described later, the luster and the heat retaining process include a first heat retaining process including the luster and the heat retaining processes 1 to 9 and a second heat retaining process including the wet and the heat retaining processes 10 to 13.

Hereinafter, the control content of the heat retaining process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5 and the graph of FIG. 6.
First, the elapsed time of the heat retention process and the repetition counter are initialized (step S1), and it is determined whether the rice cooking menu “white rice” or “brown rice” is selected in the rice cooking process (step S2).

If the selected cooked rice menu is a menu other than “white rice” or “brown rice” (“rice cooked” or “rice porridge”), it will be described later without executing the luster and heat retention processes 1 to 9 (first heat retention process). The luster and heat retention processes 10 to 13 (second heat retention process) are executed.
On the other hand, if the selected rice cooking menu is “white rice” or “brown rice”, it is determined whether or not the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor 8 exceeds the set temperature (here, 60 ° C.) (step S3). ). If the temperature of the inner pot 1 does not exceed the set temperature, there is a risk of rotting of cooked rice. It moves, and after performing the luster and heat retention processes 1-9 (1st heat retention process), the luster and heat retention processes 10-13 (2nd heat retention process) are performed continuously.

  In this way, the wet rice warming treatments 1 to 9 (first heat treatment) and the wet heat insulation treatments 10 to 13 (second heat treatment) are automatically executed according to the selected rice cooking menu in the setting before the start of rice cooking. Or only the luster and the heat retaining processes 10 to 13 (second warming process) are performed without performing the luster and the warming processes 1 to 9 (first warming process). Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to select a troublesome heat retention mode.

  In the 1st heat retention process, the luster and heat retention processes 1-9 are performed by carrying out duty control etc. of energization to induction heating coil 7.

  In the wet heat retention process 1 (step S4), the energization to the induction heating coil 7 and the body heater 9 is stopped, and only the lid heater 24 is energized. Thereby, the detection temperature in the temperature detection sensor for pots falls gradually. And the time (it is estimated that it will be required for the elapsed time from the start of the 1st heat retention process to be reduced to the heat retention temperature in the wet heat retention process 2 is used here. )), The process proceeds to the moisture and heat treatment 2.

  In the wet warming treatment 2 (step S5), not only the lid heater 24 but also the induction heating coil 7 and the trunk heater 9 are energized, and the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is set to a predetermined temperature (here) Then, the temperature is adjusted to 70 ° C. Then, when the wetness and the elapsed time become a predetermined time, the process proceeds to the wetness and heat retention process 3.

  Even in the luster and heat retention process 3 (step S6), the induction heating coil 7, the body heater 9 and the lid heater 24 are energized. Decreasing the temperature reduces the heat retention temperature. And if the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor falls to a low temperature keeping temperature (first set temperature: 60 ° C. here), the temperature is adjusted at this temperature (first temperature adjustment step). Thereafter, when the wet time and the elapsed time reach a predetermined time, the process proceeds to the wet heat retention process 4 (heating step).

  In the luster and heat retention process 4 (step S7), the ratio of the on-time of duty control when energizing the induction heating coil 7, the body heater 9, and the lid heater 24 is increased, and the temperature of the cooked rice is raised. Then, when the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor rises to the heating temperature (here, 80 ° C.), the process proceeds to the luster and heat retention treatment 5.

  In the wet warming treatment 5 (step S8), only the lid heater 24 is energized again to lower the warming temperature of the cooked rice. Then, when the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is lowered to the low temperature heat retention temperature, the process proceeds to the wet heat retention treatment 6.

  In this way, the temperature of the cooked rice is temporarily raised to the heating temperature during the low temperature heat retention by the luster heat retention treatment 4 and the luster heat retention treatment 5. Thereby, even if it is under low temperature heat retention, rotting of cooked rice can be suppressed.

  In the wet heat insulation process 6 (step S9), as in the wet heat insulation process 3, the induction heating coil 7, the body heater 9, and the lid heater 24 are energized and duty controlled to control the temperature to the low temperature insulation temperature. .

  When the luster and heat retention processing 1 through the luster and heat retention processing 6 are completed, the counter is cleared (step S10), the luster and heat retention processing 7 (step S11), the luster and heat retention processing 8 (step S12), and the luster and heat retention processing 9 (Step S13) is executed. When the luster and heat retention processing 7 to the luster and heat retention processing 9 are executed, 1 is added to the repetition counter (step S14), and the total of the repetition counter C reaches a preset value N (here, 10 times). Then, the luster and heat retention processing 7 to the luster and heat retention processing 9 are repeated (step S15).

  That is, in the luster and heat retention treatment 7 and the luster and heat retention treatment 8, the temperature of the cooked rice is temporarily raised to a predetermined temperature (here, 80 ° C.) in the same manner as the luster and heat retention processing 3 and the luster and heat retention treatment 4. Let Then, in the luster and heat retention treatment 9, the temperature is adjusted to the low temperature heat retention temperature in the same manner as the luster and heat retention treatment 5. Thereby, the spoilage can be prevented while suppressing the rice from being dried or yellowing.

  In addition, in the luster and heat retention treatments 7 and 8, the temperature gradient at the time of heating and cooling may be changed to that of the wet luster and heat retention treatments 4 and 5. For example, the moisture and heat retention treatments 7 and 8 may change more rapidly. Moreover, the temperature gradient at the time of heating and cooling may be changed at the first time, the second time, or after that, as well as the luster and heat retention treatments 7 and 8.

  If the total of the repeat counter reaches the set value, the hot and warm time is initialized (cleared) (step S16), and the second warm process is started. The second heat retention process includes a wet heat retention process 10, a wet heat retention process 11, and a wet heat retention process 12.

  In the wet warming treatment 10 (step S17), duty control is applied to the induction heating coil 7, the trunk heater 9, and the lid heater 24, and the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is the heating temperature (here, , 80 ° C.).

  In the luster and heat retention process 11 (step S18), energization to the induction heating coil 7 and the body heater 9 is stopped, and the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is the high temperature heat retention temperature (second set temperature: 70 ° C. here) Cool down until

  Thus, even if it is a 2nd heat retention process, when it transfers from a 1st heat retention process, it heats so that the temperature detected with the temperature detection sensor for pots may rise from a high temperature heat retention temperature. Thereby, even if it is a case where it shifts from the 1st heat retention process kept warm at low temperature rather than usual, rotting of cooked rice can be prevented certainly.

  In the luster and heat insulation process 12 (step S19), the energization to the induction heating coil 7 and the body heater 9 is resumed, and the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is maintained at a high temperature heat insulation temperature (here, 70 ° C.). Adjust the temperature. The wet and heat retention treatment 12 is performed for a predetermined time.

  About the luster and heat insulation process 12 from the said luster and heat insulation process 10, it repeats until the elapsed time Tk after the heat insulation process start exceeds predetermined time Ts (here 99 hours) (step S20). If the elapsed time Tk from the start of the heat retention process exceeds the predetermined time Ts, the wet heat retention process 13 (step S21) is executed. In the luster and heat retention treatment 13, as in the case of the luster and heat retention treatment 12, the temperature is adjusted so that the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is maintained at a high temperature heat retention temperature (70 ° C. in this case).

By the way, if the “rice cooking / reheating” button 15 is operated during the first heat retaining process, reheating is started. Reheating is performed by the first reheating treatment and the second reheating treatment.
In the first reheating process (step S31), duty control is applied to the induction heating coil 7, the trunk heater 9, and the lid heater 24, and the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is the heating temperature (here, The inner pot 1 is heated until it reaches 90 ° C.
In the second reheating process (step S32), the temperature of the inner pot 1 is adjusted so that the temperature detected by the pot temperature detection sensor is maintained at the heating temperature for a predetermined time (for example, within 10 minutes).
Thereafter, if the second reheating process is performed for a predetermined time, the process returns to step S11 to return to the luster and heat retention process 7.

In addition, if the “heat retention selection” button 18 is operated during the first heat retention process, it is determined whether or not the temperature Td detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is equal to or higher than the low temperature heat retention temperature Tl (here, 60 ° C.). Judgment is made (step S41).
If the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is equal to or higher than the low temperature keeping temperature, the energization to the induction heating coil 7, the body heater 9 and the lid heater 24 is temporarily stopped and the heat keeping process is terminated (step S 42). . Then, the user can select a desired heat retention process by operating the “heat retention selection” button 18. Thereby, the user can switch to the desired heat retention process.
On the other hand, if the temperature detected by the pan temperature detection sensor is lower than the low temperature retention temperature, no change in the temperature retention process is accepted.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure described in the said embodiment, A various change is possible.
In the above-described embodiment, the transition from the luster and the heat retaining process 1 to the luster and the warming process 9 is managed by the elapsed time from the start of the warming process, but this time can be freely changed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the luster and the heat retention process 9 from the luster and the heat retention process 7 were repeatedly performed, you may make it change a setting by the difference in the frequency | count of repetition. For example, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the cooked rice will be spoiled by setting the second time to be shorter than the first repetition.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, if the rice cooking menu was "cooking" or "rice porridge", the 2nd heat retention process was performed without performing the 1st heat retention process, but it may be performed as follows. That is, the time for executing the first heat treatment may be set to “0” so that the first heat treatment is not executed, or the transition temperature from the first heat treatment to the second heat treatment is set low. For example, only the second heat retaining process may be executed.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the embodiment, a lid detection sensor for detecting the open / close state of the lid 3 is provided, and if it is detected that the lid 3 is opened during the first heat retention process, The second heat retention process may be forcibly executed. According to this, it is possible to reliably prevent germs and the like contained in the ambient atmosphere from entering the inner pot 1 by adhering the lid 3 and adhering to the cooked rice and breeding.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it did not mention in particular, the energy-saving mode (eco-cooking rice) was provided by the setting of rice cooking conditions, and when this energy-saving mode was selected, the inner pot 1 was temperature-controlled with the low temperature keeping temperature. Then, you may make it complete | finish a heat retention process. Alternatively, the temperature may be controlled at a low temperature and kept warm for a predetermined time using only the lid heater 24, and then the heat retaining process may be terminated. Furthermore, after adjusting the temperature at the low temperature holding temperature and raising the inner pot 1 to the heating temperature in the heating step, the temperature holding treatment may be accommodated. Furthermore, the temperature may be controlled at a low temperature keeping temperature, and the inner pot 1 may be raised to the heating temperature in the heating step, and after the temperature is kept only with the lid heater 24 for a predetermined time, the heat keeping process may be terminated.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the selected rice cooking menu is a menu other than "white rice" or "brown rice" ("cooking" or "rice porridge"), or the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor 8 is the set temperature. In the case where the temperature does not exceed (here, 60 ° C.), the luster and the heat retention treatment 10 are performed without performing the luster and the heat retention processing 1 to 9. You may make it perform the luster and heat retention process 13 (step S21), without also performing. Thereby, when the selected rice cooking menu is “Okayu”, it can be prevented from drying up, and when it is “cooked”, it can be prevented from being spoiled.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, although the temperature control of the inner pot 1 was performed and the heat retention process was performed, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the temperature control of the inner pot 1 was performed. Then, the heat retaining process may be executed. That is, in the first heat treatment, the temperature may be raised only once to the heating temperature. In the second heat treatment, the temperature may be adjusted at a high temperature, and the temperature may be raised to the heating temperature only once in the middle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inner pan 2 ... Rice cooker main body 3 ... Cover body 4A ... Inner cylinder 4B ... Protection frame 5 ... Outer cylinder 6 ... Bottom member 7 ... Induction heating coil 8 ... Temperature sensor for pots 9 ... Body heater 10 ... Control apparatus (control) means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Operation panel 12 ... Liquid crystal display part 13 ... Operation button (selection means)
14 ... LCD panel 15 ... "Rice cook / reheat" button 16 ... "Takeshi" button 17 ... "Reservation" button 18 ... "Heat selection" button 19 ... "Menu selection" button 20 ... "Rice selection" button 21 ... ""My home cooking selection" button

Claims (11)

A selection means capable of selecting one of a plurality of rice cooking menus;
Control means for executing the corresponding rice cooking process based on the rice cooking menu selected by the selection means;
With
The said control means selects automatically the heat retention process to perform according to the rice cooking menu selected by the said selection means, The rice cooker characterized by the above-mentioned.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the heat retaining process includes two or more different heat retaining processes.   The said heat retention process includes the 1st heat retention process which performs the 1st temperature control process and heating process which temperature-control at 1st preset temperature alternately at least once or more, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Rice cooker.   In the heat treatment, the temperature is adjusted at a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature, or the heating step, and the second temperature control step is set at a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature. The rice cooker according to claim 3, further comprising a second heat retaining process that is alternately executed at least once.   The control means, when the rice cooking menu selected by the selection means is "white rice" or "brown rice", executes the second heat retention process after executing the first heat retention process. Item 4. A rice cooker according to item 4. Further provided with a lid detecting means for detecting opening and closing of the lid,
6. The rice cooker according to claim 5, wherein the controller performs the second heat retaining process when the cover detecting means detects the opening and closing of the cover during the heat retaining process.   The said control means performs the said 2nd heat retention process, when the rice cooking menu selected by the said selection means is "cooking" or "rice porridge", The rice cooker of Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned.   When the rice cooking menu selected by the selection means is “eco-cooking”, the control means performs the first temperature adjustment step of adjusting the temperature at the first set temperature, or adjusts the temperature at the first set temperature. After performing the first temperature control step, the heating step is performed, and the temperature is kept for a predetermined time only with the lid heater provided on the lid, or the heat insulation processing is finished without passing the temperature on the lid heater provided on the lid. The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rice cooker is made. A rice cooking control method for executing the corresponding rice cooking process based on the selected rice cooking menu,
The rice cooking control method characterized by selecting automatically the heat retention process performed according to the selected rice cooking menu.   When the selected rice cooking menu is “white rice” or “brown rice”, the first heat treatment is performed by alternately repeating the first temperature adjusting step and the heating step of adjusting the temperature at the first set temperature, and then the first The method for controlling rice cooking according to claim 9, wherein a second heat retention process including a second temperature adjustment step of adjusting the temperature at a temperature higher than the set temperature is executed.   When the selected rice cooking menu is “cooked” or “rice porridge”, the first heat treatment is performed without repeating the first heat treatment process, in which the first temperature adjustment process and the heating process in which the temperature is adjusted at the first set temperature are alternately performed. The method for controlling rice cooking according to claim 9, wherein a second heat retention process including a second temperature adjustment step of adjusting the temperature at a temperature higher than the set temperature is executed.

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