JP2021041299A - Rice washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress deterioration in accuracy of rice amount delivered from a measuring apparatus.SOLUTION: A rice washing device includes: a rice storage (2) for storing rice; a rice washing tank (3) for washing rice with washing water; a measuring apparatus (12) for measuring the rice from the rice storage (2) and delivering the rice to the rice washing tank (3); a discharge valve (22) for discharging the water and rice from the rice washing tank (3); and a blower body (62) for blowing air to a lower part of the measuring apparatus (12). The blower body (62) blows air after the water and the rice are discharged from the rice washing tank (3) via the discharge valve (22).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a rice washing device.

For an automatic rice cooker that automatically cleans and cooks rice, a technique is known in which rice from a rice storage is weighed and sent out to a rice washing tank, and air is supplied from the rice washing tank to wash the rice in a bubble state. (Patent Document 1).

Further, in Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the rice grains moistened with water from entering the measuring drum and to prevent the generation of mold due to the drying in the rice washing tank (3), the rice cooker of the rice washing machine is described. It also describes a technique of operating a blower (62) at regular time intervals during operation or with the power turned on to blow wind on the lower surface of a measuring drum facing the rice washing tank (3).

JP-A-2015-3305 (“0046”)

In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the blower is operated at all times or at regular intervals, when the rice weighed by the measuring instrument falls into the rice washing tank, it may be blown off or blown up by the wind. It's easy to do. Therefore, the amount of rice that does not fall to the bottom of the rice washing tank but adheres to the wall surface and is washed and dropped into the rice cooker is different from the target amount, that is, the measurement accuracy is lowered or the rice is sufficiently washed. There is a risk that unscraped rice will be dropped into the rice cooker.

In addition, when water for washing rice is supplied or drained, water hardly adheres to the measuring instrument arranged above or wet rice does not bounce and adhere, which causes a problem of wasteful ventilation.

An object of the present invention is to suppress a decrease in accuracy of the amount of rice delivered from the measuring instrument.

The above-mentioned problem of the present invention is solved by the following solution means.

That is, the invention according to claim 1 is
Rice storage (2) where rice is stored and
A rice washing tank (3) for washing rice with washing water and
A measuring instrument (12) that weighs the rice in the rice storage (2) and feeds it to the rice washing tank (3).
A discharge valve (22) for discharging water and rice in the rice washing tank (3),
The blower (62) that blows air to the lower part of the measuring instrument (12), and blows air after the rice and water in the rice washing tank (3) are discharged by the discharge valve (22). )When,
It is a rice washing device characterized by being equipped with.

The invention according to claim 2
The rice washing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a step of blowing air before feeding the rice into the rice washing tank (3) by the measuring instrument (12).

The invention according to claim 3
A bubble feeder (27a) that injects air into the rice washing tank (3) at the time of rice washing to wash the rice in a bubble state.
A common pump (61) that supplies air to the blower (62) and the bubble feeder (27a), and
Switching means (66, 67) for switching to supply air from the pump (61) to either or both of the blower (62) and the bubble feeder (27a).
The rice washing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rice washing device is provided with.

According to the invention of claim 1, the rice and water in the rice washing tank (3) are discharged by the discharge valve (22), and then the air is blown by the blower (62). It is possible to suppress the adhesion of water to the lower part of (12), the adhesion of rice to the measuring instrument (12) and the formation of lumps of rice, and the deterioration of the accuracy of the amount of rice delivered from the measuring instrument. Can be done.

According to the invention of claim 2, before the rice is sent out to the rice washing tank (3) by the measuring instrument (12), the air is blown by the blower (62) so that the rice is blown to the lower part of the measuring instrument (12) at the time of weighing. It is possible to suppress the situation where water is attached, prevent rice from adhering to the measuring instrument (12) and forming rice lumps, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the accuracy of the amount of rice delivered from the measuring instrument.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, by using a common pump (61), the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. And running costs and maintenance costs can be reduced.

It is the whole front view (a) and the whole side view (b) of the rice cooker which has a rice washing machine. It is a vertical sectional view of a rice washing tank part. It is a perspective view of the drive system of a rice washing tank. It is explanatory drawing of the water supply system of a rice washing tank. It is explanatory drawing of the part of the measuring instrument of this embodiment, (A) is the sectional view of the main part, (B) is the explanatory view of a blower nozzle. It is a side view of the part of the measuring instrument of Example 1. FIG. It is a block diagram of the control system of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the time chart of one example of this Example. It is a flowchart of this embodiment.

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

FIG. 1 is an overall front view (a) and an overall side view (b) of a rice cooker having a rice washing machine.

The rice washing machine 1 is configured by supporting a rice storage tank 2 as an example of a rice storage and a rice washing machine S provided with a rice washing tank 3 at the upper part and arranging a rice cooking device 5 below the rice washing machine S. The rice washing machine S is configured by providing a rice storage tank 2 above the support machine frame and integrally connecting a rice washing tank 3 with a water supply / drainage portion to the lower part of the rice storage tank 2.

The rice cooker 5 is arranged below the rice washing tank 3 at intervals, and includes a rice cooker 6, a pot heating burner 7, a drawer-type stand 10, and the like. The rice-washing rice cooker 1 performs a series of weighing treatments by the rice storage tank 2 according to the rice-cooking setting, rice washing by the rice-washing tank 3, immersion, water addition, and dropping, and then rice-cooking treatment by the rice-cooking device 5.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the rice washing tank portion.

In FIG. 2, the rice storage tank 2 has a rice input port 18 opened on the upper surface thereof, the rice input port 18 is opened and closed by a charging lid 19, and an operation panel 11 is provided on the front surface of the exterior. The lower half of the rice storage tank 2 is formed in a hopper shape, and a measuring instrument 12 is attached to the lower end of the hopper. The measuring instrument 12 is composed of a fixed quantity feeding valve driven by a motor 12a, and the rice cooking plan is performed by rotating the measuring instrument 12 filled with rice that has flowed down from the rice storage tank 2 by a fixed amount by the number of rotations required for the planned rice cooking amount. A large amount of rice is supplied from the rice storage tank 2 to the rice washing tank 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rice washing tank 3 is provided with a funnel-shaped receiving portion 13 for receiving the rice supplied from the measuring instrument 12 on the ceiling portion, a cylindrical body portion 3b in the middle portion, and a hopper-shaped portion in the lower portion. It has a structure having a part 3c. A jacket portion 31 is connected below the hopper-shaped portion 3c of the rice washing tank 3, and a filter 15 having an opening so as not to leak rice grains is provided at the boundary between the hopper-shaped portion 3c and the jacket portion 31.

A rotating shaft 16 with a hollow shaft in the vertical direction is provided at the center of the rice washing tank 3, and the rice discharging shaft 16a is pierced through the hollow portion. A plurality of stirring rods 17 ... Which are stirring bodies are attached to the rotating shaft 16, and at least one of them adopts a shape along the inner wall of the rice washing tank 3. The rotating shaft 16 is rotated by a rice washing motor 20 attached to a support machine frame in a forward / reverse direction and a rotation speed that can be controlled via a transmission system such as a bevel gear 21.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drive system of the rice washing tank.

In FIG. 3, the stirring rod 17 is formed by bending so as to lift the rice being washed in a counterclockwise operation, thereby shortening the rice washing time and reducing the amount of water used, and dropping the adjusted rice. By controlling the operation in a clockwise direction so as to hold it down, it is possible to drop the remaining rice adhering to the side wall of the rice washing tank 3 as little as possible.

The rice discharging shaft 16a is loosely fitted vertically inside the rotating shaft 16 on the outside, a detachable discharge valve 22 is provided at the lower end of the shaft, and the upper end of the shaft is driven by the discharge valve driving motor 23. The discharge valve 22 is controlled to open and close by moving it up and down by the cam 24. When the discharge valve 22 is opened, the rice in the rice washing tank 3 falls into the rice cooker 5 below.

(Water supply system)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the water supply system of the rice washing tank.

In FIGS. 2 and 4, in the rice washing tank 3, the lower water supply pipe 27 and the air supply pipe 27a as an example of the bubble feeder are arranged close to each other on the jacket portion 31 at the lower end so that water and air can be supplied. It is configured. Further, in FIG. 4, a water pipe 26 is arranged above the rice washing tank 3. The lower water pipe 27 as an example of the lower water supply means is provided by descending from the water distribution pipe 26, and the upper water pipe 29 as an example of the upper water supply means is branched from the water distribution pipe 26 from a plurality of shower nozzles 29a and 29b. It is provided so that water can be supplied to the upper part.

The water distribution pipe 26 is provided with a flow rate sensor 25 for measuring the flow rate, and a solenoid valve (lower water supply valve) 28 that operates according to the measured value of the flow rate sensor 25 is attached to the lower water supply pipe 27, and a similar solenoid valve (upper water supply) is used. A valve) 35 is provided in the upper water supply pipe 29.

The lower water supply pipe 27 having the above configuration supplies water to the jacket portion 31 at the lower part of the rice washing tank 3 at the time of rice washing, and the lower water supply pipe 27 descends from the water distribution pipe 26 at the upper height position of the rice washing tank 3 to the lower part of the rice washing tank 3. Since it communicates, the total amount of water in the lower water supply pipe 27 is drained without remaining.

Therefore, when water is supplied to the rice that has been washed, the total amount of water supplied by the solenoid valve 28, which is controlled according to the measurement based on the flow rate sensor 25, descends from the lower water supply pipe 27 to lower the rice washing tank 3. Since it is supplied to the rice, the required rice cooking conditions can be secured by adjusting the amount of water that enables highly accurate water volume control.

The air supply pipe 27a having the above configuration is provided with an air injection port in the lower jacket portion 31, and air is constantly or intermittently supplied during the rice washing step described later to wash the rice in a bubble state. In addition, the air supply pipe 27a promotes the discharge of rice and water in the rice washing tank 3 by temporarily supplying air for a short time during the rice / water dropping process after the water adjustment process described later.

Since the upper water supply pipe 29 having the above configuration is provided with a solenoid valve 35 that branches from the water distribution pipe 26 at the upper height position of the rice washing tank 3 and operates according to the measured value of the flow sensor 25, the rice has been washed. In addition, it is possible to control the amount of water during the soaking process in which water is intermittently sprinkled in the drained state.

The drainage portion of the rice washing tank 3 will be described. A drainage box 39 is provided on the lower side of the rice washing tank 3, and the drainage box 39 having a drainage port 40 is connected to an overflow pipe 41 whose upper part opens to the upper side surface of the rice washing tank 3 by a connecting pipe 36, and is inside. The portion is connected to a jacket drain pipe 42 communicating with the jacket portion 31. Drainage from the jacket drainage pipe 42 is performed by opening and closing the drainage valve 44 (shown integrally with the water level valve 54 in FIG. 2 for convenience), and the water level valve 54 adjusts the water level in the rice washing tank 3.

The drainage box 39 is always closed by the drainage valve 44 and the water level valve 54, but when draining the water in the rice washing tank 3, the filter 15 of the jacket portion 31, the jacket water distribution pipe 42, the drainage valve 44, and the drainage box 39 are closed. / Or the water is drained through the water level valve 54, the drain box 39, and the drain port 40.

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

5A and 5B are explanatory views of a portion of the measuring instrument of the present embodiment, FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a main part, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory view of a blower nozzle.

In FIG. 5A, the measuring instrument 12 has a measuring drum 12c that rotates about a rotating shaft 12b. The side of the measuring drum 12c is covered with an enclosure plate 60 as an example of the enclosure member. The enclosure plate 60 is supported by the lower end of the rice storage tank 2. The enclosure plate 60 of the present embodiment projects upward from the upper surface 3a of the rice washing tank 3.

A pump 61 is supported above the measuring instrument 12. From the pump 61, a measuring air pipe 62 as an example of the blower extends toward the lower part of the measuring instrument 12. A blower nozzle 63 as an example of a blower guide is connected to the lower end of the measuring blower pipe 62.

In FIG. 5B, the blower nozzle 63 of the present embodiment has a connection port 63a connected to the metering blower pipe 62, a guide portion 63b extending horizontally from the connection port 63a along the rotation shaft 12b, and an end of the guide portion 63b. It has a plurality of spray ports 63c formed in.

Flange portions 63d as an example of the mounting portion are supported at both ends of the guide portion 63b in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the blower nozzle 63 of the present embodiment has a wing bolt as an example of a fastening member at the flange portion 63d in a state where the end portion of the guide portion 63b on the spray port 63c side penetrates the opening formed in the surrounding plate 60. (Thumbscrew) 64 is detachably supported by the enclosure plate 60.

The spray port 63c is arranged at a position where air can be blown under the measuring drum 12c.

Further, the pump 61 of this embodiment is connected to the air supply pipe 27a as an example of the bubble feeder. Therefore, the pump 61 is shared between the air supply pipe 27a and the metering air supply pipe 62.

Solenoid valves 66 and 67 as an example of switching means are connected to the measuring air supply pipe 62 and the air supply pipe 27a, respectively. The solenoid valves 66 and 67 are "open" when air is required to be blown by the metering air pipe 62 and the air air pipe 27a, and are "closed" when air is not required. Therefore, as the solenoid valves 66 and 67 operate, the air blown from the common pump 61 is controlled.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a portion of the measuring instrument of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 6, in the measuring instrument 12 of the first embodiment, the end plate 71 is supported at the end in the axial direction. A handle portion 72 is supported on the end plate 71. The end plate 71 is fixed to the hopper portion 2a at the bottom of the rice storage tank 2 with a wing bolt 73 as an example of the fastening member. Therefore, by loosening the wing bolt 73, the measuring instrument 12 is configured to be detachably attached to and detachable from the hopper portion 2a at the lower part of the rice storage tank 2 by holding the handle portion 72 and pulling it out in the axial direction. Therefore, even if rice is caught in the gap of the measuring drum 12c of the measuring instrument 12 and the measuring drum 12c does not move, the wing bolt 73 is loosened and the handle portion 72 is held and shaken to eliminate the biting of rice. can do.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the control system of the present embodiment.

The control system for the rice-washing rice cooker according to the present embodiment has a control unit C. The control unit C has an input / output interface I / O that inputs / outputs signals to / from the outside. Further, the control unit C has a ROM: read-only memory in which a program, information, and the like for performing necessary processing are stored. Further, the control unit C has a RAM: random access memory for temporarily storing necessary data. Further, the control unit C has a CPU: a central processing unit that performs processing according to a program stored in a ROM or the like. Therefore, the control unit C of the first embodiment is composed of a small information processing device, a so-called microprocessor. Therefore, the control unit C can realize various functions by executing the program stored in the ROM or the like.

In addition to the various operation switches on the operation panel 11, signals are input to the control unit C from signal output elements such as the flow rate sensor 25 and the float sensor 32.

The control unit C includes a motor 12a of a measuring instrument 12 for measuring the amount of cooked rice, a drive motor 23 of a discharge valve 22 for dropping rice and water, a rice washing motor 20 for driving a stirring rod 17, and a solenoid valve communicating with a rice washing tank 3. 35, solenoid valve 28, solenoid of drain valve 44 and water level valve 54 of rice washing tank 3, opening and closing of lid of rice cooking device 5, pump 61, solenoid valves 66 and 67 of pump 61, burner 7 of rice cooking device 5, setting contents and A control signal is output to a control element such as a display screen of the operation panel 11 that displays the operating status.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a time chart of an example of this embodiment.

The control unit C of the present embodiment has a function of executing processing according to an input signal from a signal output element and outputting a control signal to each of the control elements. That is, the control unit C has the following functions (program modules).

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the weighing control means C1 controls the motor 12a of the measuring instrument 12 to weigh the rice in the rice storage tank 2 and supply it to the rice washing tank 3.

The rice washing motor control means C2 controls the rice washing motor 20 in the rice washing step to control the rice washing. Further, the rice washing motor control means C2 of the present embodiment is rotated for a predetermined time in order to prevent rice from remaining in the rice washing tank 3 when the rice after washing is dropped from the rice washing tank 3 to the rice cooking device 5.

The lower water supply control means C3 controls an electromagnetic valve (lower water supply valve) 35 to control water supply to the rice washing tank 3 through the lower water supply pipe 27. The lower water supply control means C3 of this embodiment supplies a predetermined amount of water through the lower water supply pipe 27 when confirming the flow rate (checking the flow of water) before washing the rice. Further, the lower water supply control means C3 of the present embodiment supplies an required amount of water during rice polishing, rough rinsing, and rinsing in the rice washing process. Further, the lower water supply control means C3 of this embodiment supplies water necessary for cooking rice according to the amount of rice in the water adjustment step. Further, the lower water supply control means C3 of the present embodiment supplies a predetermined amount of water when the inside of the rice washing tank 3 is washed after the rice is dropped from the rice washing tank 3 into the rice cooking device 5.

The upper water supply control means C4 controls the solenoid valve (upper water supply valve) 28 to control the water supply to the rice washing tank 3 through the upper water supply pipe 29. The upper water supply control means C4 of this embodiment supplies water required for bran removal, rice polishing, and rough rinsing in the rice washing process. Further, the upper water supply control means C4 of this embodiment supplies water for watering at the time of immersion in a colander. Further, the upper water supply control means C4 of the present embodiment first supplies a predetermined amount of water when the inside of the rice washing tank 3 is washed.

The drain valve control means C5 controls the drain valve 44 to control the drainage from the rice washing tank 3. In the rice washing process, the drain valve control means C5 of the present embodiment closes the drain valve 44 when collecting water during rice polishing, rough rinsing, or rinsing, and opens the drain valve 44 when the rice polishing or the like is completed to drain water. I do. Further, the drain valve control means C5 of this embodiment holds the drain valve 44 in an open state at the time of immersion in a colander. Further, the drain valve control means C5 of the present embodiment closes the drain valve 44 when the necessary water is stored in the water adjustment step. Further, when the rice and the measured water are dropped from the rice washing tank 3 to the rice cooking device 5, the drain valve 44 is held in a closed state. Further, when washing the rice washing tank 3, the drain valve 44 is closed while the water from the upper water supply pipe 29 is first supplied.

The discharge valve control means C6 controls the discharge valve 22 to control the discharge of rice and the weighed water from the rice washing tank 3 to the rice cooking device 5. The drain valve control means C6 of the first embodiment closes the discharge valve 22 at the time of washing rice, soaking in a colander, or adjusting the amount of water, and opens the drain valve 22 after supplying water necessary for cooking rice from the rice washing tank 3. Drop rice and water.

The lid opening / closing control means C7 controls the opening / closing of the lid of the rice cooking device 5. That is, the lid is opened when rice and water are dropped from the rice washing tank 3 to the rice cooking device 5, and the lid is closed otherwise.

The blower control means C8 controls the pump 61 and the solenoid valves 66 and 67 to control the blower to the rice washing tank 3 and the measuring instrument 12. As shown in the period T1 of FIG. 8, the blast control means C8 of the present embodiment is the lower surface of the measuring instrument 12 through the measuring blast pipe 62 in the step of confirming the flow rate before feeding the rice to the rice washing tank 3 by the measuring instrument 12. Blow toward.

Further, as shown in the period T2 of FIG. 8, the blower control means C8 of the present embodiment blows air into the rice washing tank 3 through the air supply pipe 27a at the time of bran removal, polishing, rough rinsing, and rinsing in the rice washing step. Then, the rice is polished in a bubble state.

Further, as shown in the period T3 of FIG. 8, the blower control means C8 of the present embodiment blows air through the metering blower pipe 62 when water is supplied (sprinkled) through the upper water supply pipe 29 at the time of colander immersion. ..

Further, as shown in the period T4 of FIG. 8, the blower control means C8 of the present embodiment blows air through the air supply pipe 27a to the rice washing tank 3 when the rice and the measured water are dropped into the rice cooker 5. Makes it difficult for leftover rice to adhere.

Further, the blower control means C8 of the present embodiment blows air through the metering blower pipe 62 in the washing step after the rice and water are discharged from the rice washing tank 3 as shown in the period T5 of FIG. If you want to continue cooking rice with the rice cooker 5, and you want to complete a relatively time-consuming process such as washing and soaking rice in the rice washing tank 3 while cooking rice with the rice cooker 5, add rice and water. After dropping into the rice cooker 5, the washing step may not be performed and the rice cooking step may be returned immediately. In this case, the air is not blown through the measuring air pipe 62.

Further, as shown in the period T6 of FIG. 8, the blower control means C8 of the present embodiment is measured and blown after the rice and water are discharged from the rice washing tank 3 and during the stoppage after the washing step is completed. Blow through the pipe 62 for a predetermined period.

In the blower control means C8 of the present embodiment, the blower time may be a predetermined time set in advance in each period T1 to T6, but the amount of rice supplied to the rice washing tank 3 Therefore, it is preferable that the larger the amount of rice, the longer the air is blown. If the amount of rice is large, the water level at the time of washing the rice in the rice washing tank 3 becomes high, and water easily adheres to the measuring instrument 12, and the height (bulk) of the top surface of the rice is high at the time of soaking in a colander. Therefore, when sprinkling water, the splashed water easily adheres to the measuring instrument 12. Therefore, it is desirable to lengthen the ventilation time as the amount of rice increases.

It is also possible for the user to input the length of time for blowing air on the operation panel 11. With this configuration, the user can set it according to the usage conditions and usage conditions. Therefore, when the blowing time is unnecessarily long, the user can perform an operation to shorten the blowing time, which also contributes to saving the electricity bill.

The rice cooking control means C9 controls the burner 7 of the rice cooking device 5 to cook rice.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of this embodiment.

The basic processing process in the rice washing tank 3 in this embodiment is shown in the flowchart of FIG. A set amount of rice is supplied from the rice storage tank 2 to the rice washing tank 3 by the first step of the weighing process (hereinafter, abbreviated as “S1”), and in the rice washing tank 3 receiving this, the rice washing step (S2). ), Immersion step (S3), and water adjustment step (S4) to prepare rice for cooking, and then supply rice to the rice cooker 5 by the rice / water dropping step (S5) to wash the rice washing tank 3 (S6). )I do. When the rice is washed continuously, after the rice / water dropping step (S5), the process returns to the weighing step (S1) and the steps S1 to S5 are repeated.

In the rice washing step (S2), while supplying washing water from the upper water supply pipe 29 and the lower water supply pipe 27, air is supplied to the washing water from the air supply pipe 27a, and the stirring rod 17 is rotated to wash the rice. By generating air bubbles in the rice washing tank, the impact at the time of collision between the rice and the stirring rod 17 can be reduced, and the rice can be prevented from cracking.

In the dipping step (S3), the stirring rod 17 is stopped, the washing water is drained, and then the colander is immersed. That is, water is supplied from the upper water supply pipe 29 in a drained state and sprinkled in a shower shape. By controlling the flow rate sensor 25 so as to sprinkle a predetermined amount (for example, 160 cc) of water, the amount of water sprinkled can be stabilized as compared with the case of water supply control for a predetermined time.

At the time of the dipping step (S3), the stirring rod 17 may be operated for a set time (for example, 10 seconds) every set time (for example, every 10 minutes). As a result, it is possible to prevent the rice from adhering to the inner wall of the rice washing tank 3.

The immersion time in the immersion step (S3) differs depending on the store using the rice washing machine. For example, in stores that offer set meals, the soaking time is about 2 hours to serve white rice as it is, and it is cooked plumply, whereas in stores that offer rice balls, sushi, and rice bowls, the soaking time is shortened and the grains are squeezed. Make the cooking method firm and elastic.

In the water adjustment step (S4), the stirring rod 17 is stopped, and the required amount of water for water adjustment is supplied from the lower water supply pipe 27 to store water. The amount of water stored is controlled by a flow rate sensor control method using a flow rate sensor 25 that detects the amount of water supplied to the lower water supply pipe 27 by the flow rate sensor 25 and controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 28, and after the rice washing tank 3 is filled with water. , There is a still water control method that drains water only for a predetermined time. Whether or not the rice washing tank 3 is full is determined by a signal from the float sensor 32.

In the rice / water dropping step (S5), the discharge valve 22 is opened, and the water-treated rice is dropped from the rice washing tank 3 into the rice cooking device 5. At this time, while rotating the stirring rod 17 for a short time, air is ejected from the air supply pipe 27a for a short time, and the rice in the rice washing tank 3 is discharged so as not to remain. In the rice cooking device 5, the rice cooking process is executed after this.

In the washing step (S6), the residual rice adhering to the wall surface of the rice washing tank 3 and the stirring rod 17 is washed away and washed by sending air bubbles from the air supply pipe 27a while collecting water while supplying water from the upper water supply pipe 29.

In the rice washing machine 1 of the present embodiment having the above configuration, air is blown through the measuring air pipe 62 to the lower part of the measuring instrument 12 during the period T3 at the time of soaking in the colander. Here, if the water splashed by the rice adheres to the lower surface of the measuring instrument 12 due to the watering during the soaking in the colander, the rice may adhere to the measuring instrument 12 or the water may be used when the rice is fed out by the measuring instrument 12 next time. It becomes easy for rice to form a mass with rice sticking to each other. If rice adheres to the measuring instrument 12, the amount of rice delivered to the rice washing tank 3 fluctuates, and there is a problem that the accuracy of weighing deteriorates. In the present embodiment, the water is blown by the measuring air pipe 62 at the time of immersion in the colander to dry the adhering water, and it is suppressed that water remains at the time of the next measuring. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the measurement accuracy from being lowered.

Further, unlike the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the air is not always blown, and especially in the measuring step and the rice washing step, the air is not blown. Therefore, useless ventilation is stopped, and the rice is not blown up by the wind when the weighed rice is dropped into the rice washing tank 3, so that the problem of deterioration in weighing accuracy is suppressed.

Further, in the rice washing machine 1 of the embodiment, after the rice in the rice washing tank 3 is discharged to the rice cooking device 5 by the discharge valve 22, air is blown by the measuring air pipe 62 during the washing process period T5. Therefore, even if the water supplied from the upper water supply pipe 29 splashes and adheres to the lower surface of the measuring instrument 12 in the cleaning step, it is dried by blowing air. Therefore, it is prevented that water adheres to the measuring instrument 12 at the time of the next weighing, and the deterioration of the weighing accuracy is suppressed.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the air is blown from the measuring air pipe 62 even after the washing step is completed (period T6) after the rice and water are dropped. Moreover, since it is after the washing process is completed, it does not interfere with the rice cooking process.

It should be noted that the air blow after the cleaning step can be configured to be switched between execution and non-execution according to the input to the operation panel 11 of the user. For example, when the rice-washing rice cooker 1 is installed in a well-ventilated place, if it is set to non-execution or the like, air is not blown, which leads to saving of electricity bill.

Further, in the present embodiment, the measuring instrument 12 is blown to the measuring air pipe 62 in the period T1 before the measuring step. Therefore, even if the bottom of the measuring instrument 12 cannot be completely dried by the blowing air in each of the previous steps, it is possible to dry by the blowing air before the weighing. Therefore, the weighing process is likely to be started when the lower surface of the measuring instrument 12 is dry, and the deterioration of the weighing accuracy is further suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, air is supplied from a common pump 61 to the metering air supply pipe 62 and the air supply pipe 27a. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost, running cost, and maintenance cost can be reproduced as compared with the case where the blower is individually provided.

Further, in the present embodiment, air is blown to the lower surface of the measuring instrument 12 by a horizontally long blower nozzle 63 extending in the axial direction. Therefore, it is possible to blow the wind over the entire lower surface of the measuring instrument 12. Therefore, as compared with the case where the blower nozzle 63 extending in the axial direction is not provided, it is reduced that the wind is not blown to a part of the lower surface of the measuring instrument 12 or the air volume is uneven in the axial direction, and the lower surface is a portion. It is possible to reduce the state of being wet.

Further, in the present embodiment, the blowing periods T1 to T6 are illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the ventilation for drying the measuring instrument 12, the height of the rice washing tank 3 is sufficiently high, or the amount of rice to be washed at one time is set to be sufficiently smaller than the capacity of the rice washing tank 3, and water or rice is set. If the top surface of the rice is sufficiently separated from the measuring instrument 12 or if the rice washing machine 1 is set in a dry area, the air is not blown during all of the periods T1, T3, T5 and T6. , Any one, or any two or three, etc. can be changed. It is also possible to configure these so that they can be changed by input from the operation panel 11. On the contrary, it is possible to increase the period for blowing air. For example, when there is a function of making a reservation so that the food is cooked at a specific time, it is possible to make a configuration in which the air is blown to dry the food at a predetermined time before the reserved time. In the configuration in which the air is blown before the reserved time, it is possible to blow the air during the period when there is no worker, and it is also possible to make the situation where the sound at the time of blowing is not noticeable to the worker.

2 ... Rice storage,
3 ... Rice washing tank,
12 ... Measuring instrument,
12b ... Rotation axis,
12c ... Weighing drum,
22 ... Discharge valve,
27a ... Bubble feeder,
29 ... Water supply means,
44 ... Drain valve,
60 ... Enclosure member,
61 ... Pump,
62 ... Blower,
63 ... Blower guide body,
66, 67 ... Switching means.

Claims (3)

Rice storage (2) where rice is stored and
A rice washing tank (3) for washing rice with washing water and
A measuring instrument (12) that weighs the rice in the rice storage (2) and feeds it to the rice washing tank (3).
A discharge valve (22) for discharging water and rice in the rice washing tank (3),
The blower (62) that blows air to the lower part of the measuring instrument (12), and blows air after the rice and water in the rice washing tank (3) are discharged by the discharge valve (22). )When,
A rice washing device characterized by being equipped with. The rice washing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a step of blowing air before feeding the rice into the rice washing tank (3) by the measuring instrument (12). A bubble feeder (27a) that injects air into the rice washing tank (3) at the time of rice washing to wash the rice in a bubble state.
A common pump (61) that supplies air to the blower (62) and the bubble feeder (27a), and
Switching means (66, 67) for switching to supply air from the pump (61) to either or both of the blower (62) and the bubble feeder (27a).
The rice washing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rice washing apparatus is provided.

Images