JP2017169729A - rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rice cooker in which a user can keep the rice cooker clean easily, perform maintenance work easily, and cook rice with good taste using the rice cooker by displaying a maintenance method after rice cooking is finished or after cooking is finished.SOLUTION: A rice cooker includes a rice cooker body, a pot, heating means for heating the pot, a lid for covering the upper part of the pot openably and closably, an operation panel, an operation part, a dot matrix liquid crystal display part, and a display control part. The display control part includes a function to display a maintenance reminder display for notifying a user that maintenance work needs to be performed for the rice cooker in the liquid crystal display part. By performing a predetermined operation in the operation part while the maintenance reminder display is being displayed, the display control part displays a maintenance method display indicating a maintenance method for the rice cooker in the liquid crystal display part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker, and more particularly to a method for controlling a rice cooker.

  Conventionally, this type of rice cooker has a liquid crystal display, various menus such as white rice, non-washed rice, current time, timer rice set time, remaining time until completion of rice cooking, remaining time until completion of cooking, heat retention operation Are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit in accordance with various information such as the elapsed time of the image and its operating state (standby, setting, after setting, during cooking, or during the heat-retaining operation). In the conventional rice cooker, a 7-segment segment type liquid crystal display unit is used to display numbers such as time and time, and characters fixed in advance by printing or the like in the vicinity of the liquid crystal display unit. The structure which has the method of alert | reporting a corresponding character to a user by lighting up a marker corresponding to this character is proposed (for example, refer to patent documents 1).

  In recent years, in addition to the segment type liquid crystal display unit as described above, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit capable of displaying characters is provided, so that characters and pictures can be displayed at arbitrary positions simultaneously with numbers. (See, for example, Patent Document 2).

  As described above, in the conventional rice cooker, the dot time matrix type liquid crystal display unit is combined with the segment type liquid crystal display unit, so that the current time, timer reserved time, heat retention elapsed time, various operation states, etc. It is configured to display abundant information in combination with pictures and drawings in an easy-to-understand manner for the user.

  In addition, since oneva, etc. generated by the use of rice cookers adhere to inner pots, pot lids, pot packings, etc., it is necessary to care for each part constituting the rice cooker after the completion of cooking and after cooking. Recommended. In particular, in the rice cooker, it is possible to prevent propagation of germs and odor residue by performing maintenance after cooking, so to keep the rice cooker clean and to carry out good cooking and cooking, Caring for after cooking is an important act.

JP 2002-202499 A JP 2004-222936 A

  However, in the conventional rice cooker, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit is used to provide a wealth of information to the user and improve the usability of the rice cooker. No special idea has been added to the display method itself displayed in, and no special consideration has been given to improving the operability of the user.

Further, in the conventional rice cooker, a care method after completion of cooking and after cooking is described in an instruction manual provided separately from the rice cooker. Rice cookers are widespread in ordinary households and are often used without looking at the instruction manual, but the parts that require care differ depending on the rice cooker. How to care for and the need for it is not widely recognized. Therefore, when the user cares after the end of cooking and after the end of cooking, the user needs to care for the rice cooker while referring to the instruction manual and the like, which may be inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the user can display the cleaning method after the completion of cooking and after the completion of cooking on the liquid crystal display unit disposed in the rice cooker. There is no need to care while referring to the instruction manual, etc., the rice cooker can be easily kept clean, the rice cooker can be easily maintained, it is easy to use, and the cooking is good. An object is to provide a rice cooker that can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is housed in a rice cooker body, a rice cooker body, a pan in which a cooked rice containing rice and water is housed, and a rice cooker body, The heating means for heating the pan and the rice cooker main body are attached to the rice cooker body. An operation unit that selects cooking conditions for the cooked rice contained in the pan, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit that is disposed on the lid and displays the operation status of the operation unit, and a display that controls the liquid crystal display unit A control unit, and the display control unit displays a maintenance alert display on the liquid crystal display unit to notify the user that it is necessary to perform maintenance after cooking the cooked food. When a user performs a specified operation by operating the operation unit while , The display control unit displays the Caring for display illustrating a method for care after cooking of the rice product in a liquid crystal display unit, in which a rice cooker.

  With this configuration, the user can be encouraged to care after the completion of cooking, so the rice cooker can be kept clean and cooking with good taste can be performed. In addition, when the user performs maintenance after cooking is completed in order to display the cleaning method on the liquid crystal display by performing a predetermined operation while the maintenance display is displayed after the cooking is completed by the user The user can perform maintenance while looking at the cleaning method displayed on the liquid crystal display. Therefore, the user does not have to perform care while referring to an instruction manual provided separately from the rice cooker, and can improve the usability of the rice cooker.

  According to the rice cooker of the present invention, since the user can easily keep the rice cooker clean and can be easily cleaned, the usability of the rice cooker can be improved, and the rice cooker It is possible to carry out cooking with good taste using

Schematic cross-sectional view of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the operation panel part centering on the liquid crystal display part of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the control circuit structure at the time of mounting the liquid crystal panel of the dot matrix system of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the display of the 1st hierarchy of the guide screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the display of the 2nd hierarchy of the guide screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the display of the cleaning method screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the display of the care alert screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention

1st invention is accommodated in the rice cooker main body and the rice cooker main body, it is arrange | positioned at the pan in which the to-be-cooked object containing rice and water is accommodated, and the rice cooker main body, The heating which heats a pan Means and a rice cooker body that is attached to the rice cooker body. An operation unit that selects cooking conditions of the cooked rice, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit that is disposed on the lid and displays the operation status of the operation unit, and a display control unit that controls the liquid crystal display unit. The display control unit displays a maintenance alert display on the liquid crystal display to notify the user that it is necessary to perform maintenance after cooking the cooked rice, and during the maintenance alert display, When the user operates the operation unit to perform a predetermined operation, the display control unit The Caring for display showing the care of after cooking the rice was displayed on the liquid crystal display unit, in which a rice cooker.

  This configuration allows the user to recognize the need for care after the end of cooking and can encourage care after the end of cooking, so keep the rice cooker clean and perform delicious cooking be able to. In addition, when the user performs maintenance after cooking is completed in order to display the cleaning method on the liquid crystal display by performing a predetermined operation while the maintenance display is displayed after the cooking is completed by the user The user can perform maintenance while looking at the cleaning method displayed on the liquid crystal display. Therefore, the user does not have to perform care while referring to an instruction manual provided separately from the rice cooker, and can improve the usability of the rice cooker.

  In a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the display control unit is configured to display a liquid crystal when the user operates the operation unit and performs a predetermined operation within a predetermined time after cooking the cooked rice. The display unit is configured to display a care method display.

  As a result, when there is no need to see the maintenance method display, the operation by the predetermined operation in the operation unit can be assigned to a function different from the above when the predetermined time elapses, thereby improving the usability. Can do.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the display control unit is configured such that the user operates the operation unit to complete the cooking operation or cancel the cooking operation. When at least one of them is performed, the liquid crystal display unit is configured to perform maintenance alert display.

  As a result, after the end of rice cooking that requires care and after the end of cooking, the maintenance alert display is displayed immediately after the user's operation, so the maintenance alert display is not missed, and the user can Recognize the need to care for parts.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the rice cooker of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Moreover, the rice cooker of this invention is not limited by embodiment of this invention.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiment 1 of the rice cooker of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS.

  1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 2 is a figure which shows the operation panel part centering on the liquid crystal display part of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Furthermore, FIG. 3 is a figure which shows the control circuit structure at the time of mounting the liquid crystal panel of the dot matrix system of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Moreover, FIG. 4 is a figure which shows the display of the 1st hierarchy of the guide screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Furthermore, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display of the second hierarchy of the guide screen in the first embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 6 is a figure which shows the display of the cleaning method screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Furthermore, FIG. 7 is a figure which shows the display of the maintenance alerting screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rice cooker (not shown) in the present embodiment has a pot storage portion 1a inside.
The rice cooker main body 1 having a substantially bottomed shape and the pot 2 that is stored in the pot storage portion 1a and that contains rice and water, or the pot 2 into which the food is to be put, is provided.

  A lid 3 having a hollow structure capable of opening and closing the upper opening of the rice cooker body 1 is attached to the top of the rice cooker body 1. A substantially disk-shaped inner lid 4 capable of sealing the upper opening of the pan 2 is detachably attached to the inside of the lid 3 (the side covering the upper opening of the pan 2). In the present embodiment, the lid 3 and the inner lid 4 constitute a lid that can open and close the upper opening of the pan 2.

  The pot storage part 1a of the rice cooker body 1 is composed of an upper frame 1b and a coil base 1c. The upper frame 1b has a cylindrical portion 1ba arranged so as to open a predetermined gap with respect to the side wall of the stored pan 2, and an upper opening of the rice cooker body 1 protruding outward from the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 1ba. And a flange portion 1bb fitted to the inner peripheral portion.

  The coil base 1c is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the lower portion of the pan 2, and the upper portion is attached to the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 1ba of the upper frame 1b. A pan bottom heating unit 5 which is an example of a heating means for heating (induction heating) the pan 2 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the coil base 1c. The pan bottom heating unit 5 is composed of a bottom heating coil 5a and a bottom outside heating coil 5b. The in-bottom heating coil 5a is disposed so as to face the periphery of the center of the bottom of the pan 2 via the coil base 1c. Outer bottom heating coil 5b is arranged to face the corner portion of the bottom of pan 2 via coil base 1c.

  An opening (not shown) is provided at the center of the bottom of the coil base 1c. In the opening, a pan temperature sensor 6, which is an example of a pan temperature detection unit for measuring the temperature of the pan 2, is disposed so as to be able to contact the bottom of the pan 2 stored in the pan storage unit 1 a. . Since the temperature of the pot 2 is substantially the same as the temperature of the object to be heated in the pot 2, the pot temperature sensor 6 can detect the temperature of the object to be heated in the pot 2 by detecting the temperature of the pot 2. it can.

  The lid 3 includes an upper outer member 3 a and a lower outer member 3 b that constitute the outer shell of the lid 3. The lid 3 includes a hinge shaft 3A. The hinge shaft 3A is an opening / closing shaft for the lid 3, and both ends of the hinge shaft 3A are rotatably fixed to the upper frame 1b of the rice cooker body 1. A torsion coil spring 7 is attached around the hinge shaft 3A. The torsion coil spring 7 urges the lid 3 in a direction (opening direction) away from the upper opening of the pan 2 around the hinge shaft 3A.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 3 is provided with an operation panel 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 13 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 15 having a sufficiently large and large display area. The liquid crystal display unit 15 includes a dot matrix type liquid crystal panel 16.

  Around the operation panel 13, an operation unit 17 is arranged for the user to select cooking conditions for the cooked rice housed in the pan. The operation unit 17 includes a “decision / function” button 17a, a “down cursor” button 17b, an “up cursor” button 17c, a “cancel / off” button 17d, a “reservation” button 17e, a “rice cooking” button 17f, and a “rice” "Button 17g", "how to cook" button 17h, and various operation switches such as a steam heat / reheat switch 17i.

As shown in FIG. 3, a microcomputer board 18 serving as a display control unit is provided on the back surface of the operation panel 13. On the microcomputer substrate 18, for example, a microcomputer control unit 19 and an EEPROM 20 as electric circuit components, a backup power source 21 for the microcomputer control unit 19, an LCD drive circuit 22, and the like are provided, and a dot matrix is provided via a synthetic resin liquid crystal holder. A liquid crystal panel 16 of the type is installed.

  The microcomputer control unit 19 on the microcomputer board 18 has a desired recognition unit that determines the contents of the user's instructions input through the “decision / function” buttons 17a to the steam heat / reheat switch 17i, which are operation switches. Is provided.

  Necessary display on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 16 according to the user's instruction content recognized by the recognition unit, desired rice cooking, cooking or heat retaining function according to the instruction content, and desired rice selection Correspondingly selectable cooking methods and a predetermined heating pattern corresponding to the cooking method are set, and the rice cooking control unit or the heat insulation heating control unit is appropriately operated to perform desired rice cooking, cooking or heat insulation.

  Accordingly, the user can select rice such as rice cooking, cooking or heat retention, timer reservation mode, white rice or no-washed rice using the “determine / function” button 17a to the steam heat / reheat switch 17i, which are the operation switches. Usually, the selection setting contents of how to cook, such as caulking and soft, time setting are input.

  The corresponding function contents are automatically set and input to the setting unit such as rice cooking, cooking, and heat insulation heating pattern through the recognition unit in the microcomputer control unit 19, and the corresponding rice cooking, cooking or heat insulation heating control is controlled as desired. Properly done with patterns.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when changing the display of the guide screen in the first embodiment of the present invention, the user can change the display by operating each operation switch shown in FIG. When the “Enter / Function” button 17a is operated in the standby state as shown in FIG. 2, the “current time adjustment”, “easy guide”, “various settings”, and “care function” shown in FIG. 4 can be selected. It becomes the display of the first hierarchy.

  Then, when the user operates the “down cursor” button 17b or the “upward cursor” button 17c to select “easy guide” and operates the “decision / function” button 17a in this state, FIG. 5 shows. , “Redisplay electricity bill”, “Display brand feature”, “Tips to cook deliciously”, “At this time”, “Cleaning points” are displayed in the second hierarchy.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the user operates the “down cursor” button 17 b or the “up cursor” button 17 c in the second level display in which the guide screen shown in FIG. In this state, when the “Enter / Function” button 17a is operated, a maintenance method screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

  With such a configuration, the user can be made to recognize the care method suitable for the rice cooker after the completion of rice cooking without the user confirming the instruction manual.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, when the user cancels the warming operation by operating the “Cancel / Cut” button 17d while performing the warming based on the user's instruction content, FIG. A maintenance alert screen like this is displayed.

  When the “decision / function” button 17a is operated on the maintenance alert screen, a maintenance method screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

Such a configuration allows the user to recognize that maintenance is necessary, and also allows the user to easily check the maintenance procedure, so that the user can use the instruction manual. It is possible to carry out care according to a care method suitable for a rice cooker without confirming the above. Therefore, the rice cooker can be kept clean and the usability of the rice cooker can be improved.

  Further, the display of the maintenance alert screen transitions to a standby state as shown in FIG. 2 after about 10 seconds have elapsed since the display.

  With such a configuration, when there is no need to look at the maintenance method screen, a transition to the waiting state is automatically made after a predetermined time has elapsed, so the function by the operation of the “decision / function” button 17a is automatically The user operability can be improved.

  In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the liquid crystal display unit 15 is used as the display unit. However, an organic EL display unit or an inorganic EL display unit may be used. Furthermore, although the roughness is somewhat conspicuous, an LED display unit in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged may be used.

  As described above, the rice cooker of the present invention can easily keep the rice cooker clean and easily care by using the dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit effectively. It is possible to improve the usability of the rice cooker, and it is possible to carry out cooking with good taste using the rice cooker, so it is applied to the field and use of domestic and commercial rice cookers be able to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rice cooker main body 1a Pan storage part 1b Upper frame 1ba Tubular part 1bb Flange part 1c Coil base 2 Pan 3 Lid 3A Hinge shaft 3a Upper outer member 3b Lower outer member 4 Inner lid 5 Pan bottom heating unit (pan heating device)
5a Heating coil in the bottom 5b Heating coil outside the bottom 6 Pan temperature sensor (pan temperature detection part)
7 Torsion coil spring 13 Operation panel 15 Liquid crystal display unit 16 Liquid crystal panel 17 Operation unit 17a “Enter / function” button 17b “Down cursor” button 17c “Up cursor” button 17d “Cancel / Cut” button 17e “Reserve” button 17f “ “Cooking” button 17g “Rice” button 17h “How to cook” button 17i Steam insulation / reheating switch 18 Microcomputer board 19 Microcomputer control unit 20 EEPROM
21 Backup power supply 22 LCD drive circuit

Claims (3)

The rice cooker body,
A pot in which the cooked rice containing rice and water is stored in the rice cooker body;
Disposed in the rice cooker body, and heating means for heating the pan;
A lid that is attached to the rice cooker body and covers the upper part of the pan so as to be freely opened and closed in a state where the pot is accommodated in the rice cooker body;
An operation unit that is disposed on the lid and allows the user to select cooking conditions for the cooked rice housed in the pan,
A dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit disposed on the lid and displaying an operation status of the operation unit;
A display control unit for controlling the liquid crystal display unit;
With
The said display control part is displaying the alerting alert display which alert | reports to a user that it is necessary to care after cooking the said to-be-cooked rice in the said liquid crystal display part, The display of the said alerting alert display In addition, when the user performs a predetermined operation by operating the operation unit, the display control unit displays a maintenance method display indicating a method of cleaning the cooked rice after cooking. Rice cooker to display.   The display control unit displays the care method display on the liquid crystal display unit when the user performs the predetermined operation by operating the operation unit within a predetermined time after cooking the cooked rice. The rice cooker according to claim 1 to be displayed.   When the user operates the operation unit to perform at least one of completion of the rice cooking operation or execution of cancellation of the rice cooking operation, the display control unit is provided on the liquid crystal display unit. The rice cooker of Claim 1 or 2 which performs a maintenance alerting display.

Images