JP2022012292A - rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a rice cooker capable of easily achieving low calorie of rice, without a special configuration.SOLUTION: A rice cooker 10 comprises: an inner pot 50; a heating part 24 for heating the inner pot 50; and a control part 30 for performing output control of the heating part 24. The rice cooker 10 can select, as an operation mode, a normal operation mode for performing rice cooking of rice and water which are prepared in the inner pot 50 at a standard blending ratio, through a plurality of steps including a temperature rising step and a cooking step, and a low carbohydrate operation mode for performing rice cooking of rice and water which are prepared in the inner pot 50 at a blending ratio in which a large amount of water is included relative to the water amount in the standard blending ratio, through the plurality of steps including the temperature rising step and the cooking step. The rice cooker 10 restricts output of the heating part 24 during the cooking step in the low carbohydrate operation mode, in an output restriction period, relative to the cooking step in the normal operation mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a rice cooker.

Conventionally, there has been provided something like a cooking cooker disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. This rice cooker controls an inner pot that is detachably stored in the main body, a heating part that heats the inner pot, a discharge part that discharges the solution in the inner pot to the outside of the inner pot, and a heating part and a discharge part. It is supposed to be equipped with a control means. This cooker is designed to reduce the starch concentration of cooked rice and reduce the calories of cooked rice by removing starch and sugar dissolved from the rice in the solution during cooking by the discharge part. ing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-217503

Here, in the above-mentioned conventional cooking device, in order to realize low calorie reduction of cooked rice, in order to remove excess starch, sugar, etc. eluted from rice grains during cooking, a discharge unit, a pump, etc. A special mechanism such as a liquid tank and a program for controlling the operation of these are required. Therefore, the above-mentioned conventional cooking cooker has no choice but to have a complicated configuration in both the apparatus configuration and the operation control. In addition, in the case of the above-mentioned configuration, the size of the main body of the cooking cooker (rice cooker) becomes larger due to the various configurations, and the extra portion that is eluted from the rice during cooking at the discharge section. There is a problem that cleaning for removing starch and sugar and maintenance when a problem such as clogging occurs are required. Further, in the case of the above-mentioned configuration, since the discharging portion is inserted into the rice grain or water used for cooking rice, there is a problem that sufficient consideration is required in terms of hygiene. In addition, the above-mentioned conventional cooking cooker does not have a structure in which the discharge part can be attached to and detached from the upper lid, which is an obstacle when cooking cooked rice is disguised as a bowl or the like from an inner pot. Problems can also arise.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that can easily adjust the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice per unit weight without adding a special configuration.

(1) The rice cooker of the present invention provided to solve the above-mentioned problems has an inner pot that is detachably stored with respect to the main body, a heating unit that heats the inner pot, and output control of the heating unit. A first operation mode in which rice grains and water prepared in the inner pot at a standard mixing ratio are cooked through a plurality of steps including a temperature raising step and a cooking step. A plurality of modes including a second operation mode in which rice grains and water prepared in a mixing ratio containing more water than the standard mixing ratio in the inner pot are cooked through a plurality of steps including a temperature raising step and a cooking step. It is possible to carry out a rice cooking operation in which rice is cooked in one operation mode selected from the operation modes of the above, and during the cooking process in the second operation mode, the heating is higher than in the cooking process in the first operation mode. It is characterized by having an output limiting period that limits the output of the unit.

In addition to the rice cooking operation in the first operation mode, the rice cooker of the present invention performs a rice cooking operation in the second operation mode in which rice grains and water prepared in a mixing ratio containing more water than in the first operation mode are cooked. It can be carried out. Further, the rice cooker of the present invention is supposed to perform rice cooking operation by providing an output limiting period during the cooking process in the second operation mode. In this way, by setting the output restriction period and performing the rice cooking operation, it is possible to infiltrate the rice grains with water. As a result, while suppressing the amount of sugar contained in the cooked rice per unit weight, the cooked rice can be cooked so as to have a taste comparable to that in the case of the cooked rice cooking operation in the first operation mode. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rice cooker in which the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice per unit weight can be easily adjusted without adding a special configuration.

(2) The above-mentioned rice cooker is characterized in that the output restriction period is started at a predetermined timing based on the timing when the temperature of the inner pot is expected to reach the boiling point of water. Is good.

According to such a configuration, when the rice cooking operation is performed in the second operation mode, it is possible to infiltrate the rice grains with water while suppressing the occurrence of spillage during the output limiting period.

(3) The rice cooker described above can cook rice in the second operation mode by changing the mixing ratio of water to the rice grains prepared in the inner pot within a predetermined range, and the mixing amount of water to the rice grains can be different. It is preferable that the output limitation period is adjusted according to the increase.

In the rice cooker of the present invention, when the rice cooking operation is performed in the second operation mode, the output restriction period is adjusted according to the mixing ratio of water to the rice grain. As a result, the length of the output restriction period can be adjusted to a length suitable for cooking rice by infiltrating water into rice grains. Therefore, the rice cooker of the present invention can adjust the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice per unit weight by changing the mixing ratio of water to cooked grain. Therefore, according to the rice cooker of the present invention, it is possible to provide a rice cooker in which the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice per unit weight can be easily adjusted according to the wishes of the user.

(4) In the rice cooker described above, in the rice cooking in the second operation mode, the heating unit is used so that the temperature of the inner pot rises with time in a temperature region lower than the boiling point of water during the output limiting period. It is preferable that the output is controlled.

According to such a configuration, when the rice cooking operation is performed in the second operation mode, it is possible to infiltrate the rice grains with water while suppressing the occurrence of spillage during the output limiting period. As a result, while suppressing the amount of sugar contained in the cooked rice per unit weight, the cooked rice can be cooked so as to have a taste comparable to that in the case of the cooked rice cooking operation in the first operation mode.

(5) In the rice cooker described above, the output of the heating unit is controlled so that the temperature of the inner pot changes in a temperature region lower than the boiling point of water during the output limiting period, and the output limiting period ends. After that, it is preferable to control the output of the heating unit so that the temperature of the inner pot becomes higher than the boiling point of water for a predetermined time.

In the above-mentioned rice cooker, the output of the heating unit is controlled so that the temperature of the inner pot is higher than that at the start of the output limiting period and is in the temperature range lower than the boiling point of water during the output limiting period. .. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned rice cooker, it is possible to sufficiently infiltrate the rice grain with water while suppressing the occurrence of spillage during the output limitation period. Further, in the above-mentioned rice cooker, the temperature of the inner pot is higher than the boiling point of water for a predetermined time in a state where the amount of water remaining without penetrating into rice grains is reduced due to the end of the output restriction period. The output of the heating unit is controlled so that it becomes higher. In the rice cooker described above, since such temperature control is performed, rice grains can be cooked firmly. Therefore, according to the rice cooker of the present invention, it is possible to cook cooked rice with good taste while suppressing the sugar mass.

(6) The above-mentioned rice cooker can instruct the operating conditions of the rice cooking operation based on the sugar mass, and is based on the mixing ratio of rice grains and water for realizing the rice cooking operation under the instructed operating conditions. It is preferable that the output limit period is set.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a rice cooker capable of cooking rice so that the sugar mass contained in the cooked rice per unit weight becomes the sugar mass set as the operating condition of the cooked rice operation.

(7) The above-mentioned rice cooker is assumed to be included in cooked rice when the rice cooking operation is performed in the first operation mode, provided that the operating conditions of the rice cooking operation are instructed based on the sugar mass. It is preferable that the amount of decrease in the sugar mass assumed to be contained in the cooked rice obtained under the instructed operating conditions can be notified to the sugar mass.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to inform the user how much the sugar mass can be reduced by performing the rice cooking operation in the second operation mode.

Here, when the rice cooking operation is performed in the second operation mode described above, the amount of sugar contained in the cooked rice obtained after cooking varies depending on the amount of water to be mixed with the rice grains. Therefore, in order to accurately adjust the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice, it is desirable to be able to accurately derive the amount of water required to cook the prepared rice grains.

(8) Based on such knowledge, the above-mentioned rice cooker is based on the amount of rice grains used for cooking rice and the amount of sugar expected to be contained in the cooked rice after cooking, and the amount of water required for cooking rice in the second operation mode. It is good that can be derived.

According to this configuration, the optimum amount of water for cooking rice can be derived by using the amount of rice grains used for cooking rice and the mass of sugar contained in the cooked rice as indicators.

(9) The above-mentioned rice cooker is preferably characterized in that it can record information on the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice after cooking.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a rice cooker capable of recording the amount of sugar that the user would have ingested from cooked rice.

(10) The above-mentioned rice cooker is preferably characterized in that information regarding the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice can be transmitted to an external terminal.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a rice cooker capable of grasping and managing the sugar mass using an external terminal.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rice cooker in which the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice per unit weight can be easily adjusted without adding a special configuration.

It is a perspective view which shows the rice cooker which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the rice cooker of FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation unit of the rice cooker of FIG. 1 in an enlarged view. It is a block diagram which showed the structure of the control part in the rice cooker of FIG. 1, and the relationship between the control part and other configurations which make up a rice cooker. FIG. 1 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between the temperature of the heating unit and the temperature of the inner pot of the rice cooker in FIG. This is the case when the rice is cooked in. It is a flowchart which showed the operation flow at the time of performing the setting operation by the low-carbohydrate operation mode in the rice cooker of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display device at the time of operation in the low-carbohydrate operation mode in the rice cooker of FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the operation state in the modification which provided the communication part in the rice cooker of FIG.

Hereinafter, the rice cooker 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, after the configuration of the rice cooker 10 is outlined, the configuration of the control unit 30 and the characteristic operation control of the rice cooker 10 performed by the control unit 30 will be described in detail. In the following description, terms indicating the positional relationship of top, bottom, left, right, front, back, side, top, bottom, etc. are assumed to be normal usage as shown in FIG. 1 unless otherwise specified. The description will be made on the assumption that the rice cooker 10 is installed in a posture.

<< About the outline configuration of rice cooker 10 >>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rice cooker 10 includes a rice cooker main body 20, a lid portion 40, an inner pot 50, and the like. The rice cooker 10 employs a heating method that heats the inner pot 50, such as an IH (Induction Heating) type or a pressure IH type.

The rice cooker main body 20 includes an inner pot accommodating unit 22, a heating unit 24, a power supply unit 26, a temperature sensor 28, a control unit 30, and the like. The inner pot accommodating portion 22 is a portion provided for accommodating the inner pot 50. The inner pot accommodating portion 22 is open in a substantially circular shape in a plan view, and has a concave shape that is open upward. Therefore, the rice cooker main body 20 can move the inner pot 50 in and out of the inner pot accommodating portion 22 from above.

The heating unit 24 is for heating the inner pot 50. The heating unit 24 has a bottom side heating unit 24a and a lid side heating unit 24b. The bottom side heating portion 24a is provided on the lower side of the inner pot accommodating portion 22, and the inner pot 50 can be heated from the bottom side. Further, the lid side heating portion 24b is provided on the lid portion 40 side, which will be described in detail later. The lid side heating unit 24b is designed so that the inner pot 50 can be heated from the lid portion 40 side.

The power supply unit 26 is provided at a position on the back side with respect to the heating unit 24. The power supply unit 26 is for supplying electric power to a portion of the rice cooker 10 that consumes electric power, such as a heating unit 24 and a control unit 30. The power supply unit 26 is capable of applying a high frequency current to the induction coil forming the heating unit 24. Therefore, the rice cooker 10 applies a high-frequency current to the induction coil forming the heating unit 24 by the power supply unit 26 to generate an eddy current in the inner pot 50, and heats the inner pot 50 by the electric resistance in the inner pot 50. be able to.

The temperature sensor 28 is provided below the inner pot accommodating portion 22 and at a position corresponding to the central portion of the inner pot accommodating portion 22. The temperature sensor 28 is for measuring the temperature at the bottom of the inner pot 50 housed in the inner pot accommodating portion 22.

The control unit 30 is arranged in a space on the front side of the rice cooker main body 20 with respect to the inner pot accommodating unit 22. The control unit 30 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 26, the temperature sensor 28, the operation unit 44 provided on the lid unit 40 described later, and the like. The control unit 30 is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and can control the operation of the rice cooker 10 by the cooperation of hardware such as a CPU and software (program). That is, the control unit 30 receives the operation setting signal of the rice cooker 10 via the operation unit 44, or controls the output of the power supply unit 26 based on the output signal from the temperature sensor 28, so that the rice cooker 10 has. Operation control can be performed.

The lid portion 40 is rotatably connected to the upper part of the rice cooker main body 20 by a hinge mechanism 42. By closing the lid portion 40, the opening portion of the inner pot accommodating portion 22 can be covered and closed. Further, when the lid portion 40 is opened, the lid portion 40 is rotated by the hinge mechanism 42, and the opening portion of the inner pot accommodating portion 22 is opened. The lid portion 40 includes an operation unit 44, a display device 46, and a steam exhaust unit 48 in addition to the lid-side heating unit 24b constituting the heating unit 24 described above.

The operation unit 44 is for operating the rice cooker 10, and is provided on the top surface side of the lid unit 40. The operation unit 44 includes a plurality of buttons provided so as to be exposed on the top surface of the lid unit 40. Specifically, the operation unit 44 includes an operation mode selection operation unit 44a, a low-carbohydrate rice cooking operation unit 44b, a rice cooking operation unit 44c, a reservation operation unit 44d, a heat retention / cancellation operation unit 44e, a healthy menu operation unit 44f, and the like. Equipped with operation buttons. By operating these operation buttons, the operation unit 44 selects an operation mode of the rice cooker 10, a setting operation for carrying out low-sugar rice cooking described in detail later, a setting operation for starting the rice cooking operation, and a setting related to the reserved operation. It is possible to perform operations, setting operations related to heat retention operation, setting operations related to rice cooking operation such as wheat rice, brown rice, and millet rice. Further, the operation unit 44 is provided with a display such as an LED, and can display an operation mode or an operation reservation selected by an operation button.

The display device 46 displays the operating state of the rice cooker 10 and displays associated with the operation of the operation unit 44. The display device 46 is provided at a position adjacent to each operation unit (operation button) or the like constituting the operation unit 44.

The steam exhaust unit 48 is for discharging steam generated when cooking rice with the lid portion 40 closed. The steam exhaust section 48 is provided at a position above the inner pot accommodating portion 22 and the inner pot 50 housed therein when the lid portion 40 is closed. The steam exhaust portion 48 has an opening opened toward the top surface side and the bottom surface side (inner pot accommodating portion 22 side) of the lid portion 40, and an exhaust path including a passage connecting both openings, via the opening. It is said that steam can be discharged from the inside to the outside of the rice cooker 10.

The inner pot 50 is a rice cooking pot that can be taken in and out of the inner pot accommodating portion 22 described above. The inner pot 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom that is open to the upper side, and can accommodate rice grains, water, and the like for cooking rice inside.

<< Configuration of control unit 30 >>
Subsequently, the configuration of the control unit 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 30 is electrically connected to the heating unit 24, the power supply unit 26, the temperature sensor 28, the operation unit 44, the display device 46, the measuring unit 60, the communication unit 70, and the like described above. Has been done. The control unit 30 includes an energization control unit 100, a calorific value setting unit 102, a total number determination unit 104, a data storage unit 106, a calculation unit 108, a notification control unit 110, a timer 112, and the like.

The energization control unit 100 is for controlling the energization of the heating unit 24. The calorific value setting unit 102 sets the calorific value (electric power) to be applied to the inner pot 50 and the rice grains, water, etc. prepared in the inner pot 50 by the heating unit 24 in each step of the rice cooking operation performed by the rice cooker 10. .. Further, the total number determination unit 104 is for determining the amount (total number) of rice grains to be cooked.

The data storage unit 106 is provided with a storage medium such as a ROM or a flash memory. The data storage unit 106 stores an execution program for performing rice cooking operation, calculation of the amount of decrease in sugar mass, calculation of the amount of water required for rice cooking, etc., and data and the like related to each process in the rice cooking operation are used as the data table 106a. It is stored in advance. The calculation unit 108 calculates the amount of water required for cooking rice grains, and multiplies the amount of change in the weight of cooked rice, etc. by the sugar mass and calorie content per unit weight of the cooked rice, so that the user can use it. It is possible to perform arithmetic processing such as calculating the amount of sugar and the amount of calories that are considered to have been ingested.

The notification control unit 110 controls notification by displaying on the display device 46, notification by sound using a speaker, buzzer, or the like (not shown). The timer 112 is for adjusting the duration and switching timing of each process in the rice cooking operation.

<< Operation control by control unit 30 >>
Hereinafter, the characteristic operation control performed by the control unit 30 in the rice cooker 10 will be described. The rice cooker 10 is operated to cook rice according to an operation mode selected by the user from a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode (first operation mode) and a low-carbohydrate operation mode (second operation mode) by operation control by the control unit 30. It can be performed.

In the normal operation mode, rice cooked rice prepared in the inner pot 50 at a standard mixing ratio (hereinafter, also referred to as “standard mixing ratio”) is cooked through a plurality of steps including a temperature raising step and a cooking step. It is for driving. In the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment, in the normal operation mode, the rice cooking operation is performed by a sequence in which the pre-cooking step, the temperature raising step, the cooking step, the first steaming step, the additional cooking step, and the second steaming step are performed in this order. It is said to be a mode to carry out.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the pre-cooking step is a step of raising the temperature of the inner pot 50 to a predetermined temperature by the heating unit 24 at the initial stage of the rice cooking operation. Further, the temperature raising step is a step performed following the pre-cooking step, and is a step of increasing the output by the heating unit 24 to raise the temperature of the inner pot 50 to a predetermined temperature. Further, the cooking step is a step of operating the heating unit 24 following the temperature raising step to raise the temperature of the inner pot 50 to a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point of water to cook rice grains. The first steaming step is a step of stopping or suppressing the output of the heating unit 24 and steaming the cooked rice in the cooking step. The re-cooking step is a step of operating the lid-side heating section 24b of the heating section 24 to re-cook the cooked rice in the inner pot 50. The second steaming step is a step of steaming cooked rice with the lid-side heating unit 24b operated.

The low sugar operation mode is a rice cooking operation in which rice grains and water prepared in the inner pot 50 at a mixing ratio containing more water than the above-mentioned standard mixing ratio are cooked through a plurality of steps including a temperature raising step and a cooking step. Is to do. By adjusting the mixing ratio of water to the rice grain in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the amount of sugar contained in the rice per unit weight after cooking can be adjusted. Therefore, in the low sugar operation mode, the rice cooker 10 reduces the amount of sugar contained in the unit weight of cooked rice after cooking based on the amount of sugar contained in the unit weight of cooked rice cooked in the normal operation mode. It is possible to appropriately set the amount of sugar to be cooked (hereinafter, also referred to as “sugar reduction amount”) and perform the rice cooking operation. The rice cooker 10 can change the amount of sugar reduced by the low-carbohydrate operation mode steplessly within a predetermined range, or can change it in multiple stages.

In the present embodiment, when the rice cooking operation is performed in the low sugar operation mode, the sugar reduction amount can be switched between two stages of 10% and 20%. In the rice cooker 10, the sugar reduction amount can be switched between two stages of 10% and 20% by operating the low-carbohydrate rice cooking operation unit 44b provided in the operation unit 44. Specifically, in the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment, the set value of the sugar reduction amount can be switched between 10% and 20% each time the operation button forming the low-carbohydrate rice cooking operation unit 44b is pressed. Has been done. More specifically, in the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment, the setting operation in the low-carbohydrate operation mode can be performed according to the flow shown in FIG.

That is, when performing the setting operation in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, it is first confirmed in step 1 whether or not any button operation (key operation) has been performed in the operation unit 44. When the button operation is confirmed, the process proceeds to step 2, and it is confirmed whether or not the operated button is an operation button forming the low-carbohydrate rice cooking operation unit 44b. Here, if it is confirmed that the operation is the operation of the low-carbohydrate rice cooking operation unit 44b, the control flow shifts to step 3, and if the operation is not the operation of the low-carbohydrate rice cooking operation unit 44b, the control flow shifts to step 6. ..

When the control flow proceeds to step 3, it is confirmed whether or not the sugar reduction amount currently selected is 20%. Here, when the current set value of the sugar reduction amount is 20%, the control flow proceeds to step 4, and the set value of the sugar reduction amount is switched to 10%. On the other hand, in step 3, when the current setting value of the sugar reduction amount is not 20%, that is, when the current setting value of the sugar reduction amount is 10%, the control flow proceeds to step 5 and the sugar The set value of the reduction amount is switched to 20%.

Further, if it is determined in step 2 described above that the operation is other than the operation buttons forming the low-carbohydrate rice cooking operation unit 44b, the control flow proceeds to step 6. In step 6, it is confirmed whether or not the operation button detected in step 1 constitutes the operation mode selection operation unit 44a or the healthy menu operation unit 44f. Here, when it is determined that the operation is an operation of the operation buttons constituting the operation mode selection operation unit 44a or the healthy menu operation unit 44f, the selection of the low-carbohydrate operation mode is canceled. On the other hand, if it is determined that neither the operation mode selection operation unit 44a nor the healthy menu operation unit 44f is used, the process proceeds to step 8 and the operation control corresponding to the operation button for which the operation is detected is performed. In the rice cooker 10, the process related to the setting operation in the low-carbohydrate operation mode is carried out in this way.

In the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the rice cooking operation is performed in the same sequence as the above-mentioned normal operation mode, but the operation in some steps is different. Specifically, as in the normal operation mode, the rice cooking operation is carried out by a sequence in which the pre-cooking process, the temperature raising process, the cooking process, the first steaming process, the additional cooking process, and the second steaming process are performed in this order. .. Here, the low-carbohydrate operation mode is different from the above-mentioned normal operation mode in that an output limiting period is provided during the cooking process.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), when the rice cooking operation is performed in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the control unit 30 is the heating unit 24 in the output limiting period rather than during the cooking process in the normal operation mode. Limit output. More specifically, in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the timing at which the temperature of the inner pot is expected to reach the boiling point of water after the rice cooking operation shifts from the temperature raising process to the cooking process, or slightly less than this timing. At the previous timing, the output restriction period starts. During the output restriction period, the control unit 30 controls the output of the heating unit 24 so that the temperature of the inner pot 50 changes over time in a temperature region lower than the boiling point of water. In the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment, the output restriction period is started when the temperature at the bottom of the inner pot 50 reaches 92 ° C. During the output limiting period, the control unit 30 controls the output of the heating unit 24 so that the temperature rises over time in a temperature region lower than the boiling point of water, 100 ° C. By controlling the output in this way, even if the rice is cooked with a larger amount of water in the rice than the standard mixing ratio, the rice will not be boiled over and the water will be firmly infiltrated into the rice. You can cook rice.

Here, when the rice cooking operation is performed in the low sugar operation mode, the amount of sugar reduction increases or decreases depending on the amount of water mixed with the rice grain. In addition, when the amount of water mixed with rice grains is large (that is, when the amount of sugar reduction is large), the amount of water mixed with rice grains is small (that is, when the amount of sugar reduction is small) is larger. Water needs to penetrate the rice grains. Further, depending on the amount of water blended, the possibility of spilling or impairing the taste in the cooking process also varies. Therefore, in order to suppress problems such as spillage and deterioration of taste while cooking rice with the sugar reduction amount set by the user, the sugar reduction amount set by the user and the amount of rice grains prepared in the inner pot 50 , And the amount of water blended therein is desired to be adjusted accurately.

More specifically, in the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment, the ratio of the amount of water to the amount of rice grains (standard mixing ratio = water amount / amount of rice grains) when operating in the normal operation mode is 1 when the rice grains are 1 go. It is specified as .70 times, 1.6 times in the case of 2 go, and 1.47 times in the case of 3 go. On the other hand, the standard mixing ratio when the rice is cooked in the low-carbohydrate operation mode with the sugar reduction amount set to 20% is 2.20 times when the rice grain is 1 go and 2.17 times when the rice grain is 2 go. In the case of 3 go, it is specified as 1.90 times. In addition, the standard mixing ratio when rice is cooked in the low-carbohydrate operation mode with the sugar reduction amount set to 10% is 2.00 times when the rice grains are 1 go, 1.85 times when the rice grains are 2 go, and 3 go. In the case of, it is specified as 1.75 times. In the present embodiment, the inner wall surface of the inner pot 50 is provided with a scale that serves as an index of the water level so that the optimum amount of water can be found according to the amount of reduced sugar and the amount of rice grains used for cooking rice (total number). .. In the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment, it is premised that an appropriate amount of water is prepared according to the amount of sugar reduction and the amount of rice grains by using the scale attached to the inner pot 50 as an index. The control unit 30 performs the above-mentioned operation control. As a result, the rice cooker 10 can cook cooked rice that satisfies the sugar reduction amount set by the user while suppressing spillage and deterioration of taste.

The control unit 30 has a length of the output restriction period based on the amount of rice grains prepared in the inner pot 50 and the amount of sugar reduction (in other words, the amount of sugar assumed to be contained in the cooked rice after cooking). , The amount of heat (output of the heating unit 24) to be applied to the inner pot 50 and the rice grains, water, etc. prepared in the inner pot 50 during the output limitation period is derived. The control unit 30 controls the operation related to the rice cooking operation so as to satisfy the length of the output limiting period derived in this way and the output of the heating unit 24.

When the rice cooking operation is performed in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the control unit 30 controls the output of the heating unit 24 so that the temperature of the inner pot becomes higher than the boiling point of water for a predetermined time after the end of the output restriction period. conduct. As a result, the water remaining in the inner pot 50 is evaporated, and the rice grains are cooked firmly.

As described above, the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment is prepared with a mixing ratio containing more water than in the case of the normal operation mode by selecting the low-carbohydrate operation mode provided separately from the normal operation mode. The rice cooking operation can be performed using the rice grains and water. Further, the rice cooker 10 is supposed to perform the rice cooking operation by providing an output limiting period during the cooking process in the low-carbohydrate operation mode. In this way, by setting the output restriction period and performing the rice cooking operation, it is possible to infiltrate the rice grains with water. As a result, while suppressing the amount of sugar contained in the cooked rice per unit weight, the cooked rice can be cooked so as to have a taste comparable to that when the cooked rice is cooked in the normal operation mode. Therefore, according to the rice cooker 10 described above, the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice per unit weight can be easily adjusted without adding a special configuration.

Further, as described above, in the rice cooker 10, the output limiting period is started at the timing when the temperature of the inner pot 50 is assumed to reach the boiling point of water, or at a timing slightly earlier than this. By starting the output limiting period at such a timing and limiting the output of the heating unit 24, the rice is infiltrated with water while suppressing the occurrence of spillage during the rice cooking operation in the low-carbohydrate operation mode. be able to.

In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the output limiting period is started based on the timing at which the temperature of the inner pot 50 is assumed to reach the boiling point of water is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the output limiting period may be started at another timing based on the temperature of the inner pot 50, or the start timing of the output limiting period may be specified based on the transition of the internal pressure of the inner pot 50. ..

As described above, the rice cooker 10 can cook rice in the low sugar operation mode by changing the mixing ratio of water to the rice grains prepared in the inner pot 50 within a predetermined range, and the mixing amount of water to the rice grains can be different. The length of the output restriction period is supposed to be adjusted according to the increase. Specifically, the rice cooker 10 can be implemented by changing the mixing ratio of water to the rice grains prepared in the inner pot 50 according to the amount of sugar reduction within a predetermined range, and depending on the amount of water mixed. The length of the output restriction period is adjusted based on the amount of sugar restriction that changes. Thereby, the length of the output restriction period can be adjusted so as to be suitable for cooking rice by infiltrating water into the rice grain.

As described above, in the rice cooker 10 in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the heating unit 24 raises the temperature of the inner pot 50 over time in a temperature region lower than the boiling point of water during the output limiting period. It is supposed to control the output. Therefore, in the rice cooker 10, when the rice cooking operation is performed in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, it is possible to infiltrate the rice grains with water while suppressing the occurrence of spillage during the output limiting period. As a result, while suppressing the amount of sugar contained in the cooked rice per unit weight, the cooked rice can be cooked so as to have a taste comparable to that when the cooked rice is cooked in the normal operation mode.

Further, as described above, in the rice cooker 10 in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the heating unit 24 is set so that the temperature of the inner pot 50 becomes higher than the boiling point of water for a predetermined time after the end of the output restriction period. Output control is to be performed. As a result, the rice grain can be cooked firmly by vaporizing the remaining excess water that does not permeate the rice grain at the end of the output restriction period. As a result, it is possible to cook cooked rice with good taste while suppressing the sugar mass. In the present embodiment, the output of the heating unit 24 is controlled so that the temperature of the inner pot 50 becomes higher than the boiling point of water after the end of the output limiting period, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the rice cooker 10 does not control the output of the heating unit 24 after the end of the output limitation period as described above, for example, when it is not necessary to vaporize the excess water after the end of the output limitation period. It is good to do so.

As described above, in the rice cooker 10, it is possible to select the operating condition of the rice cooking operation based on the sugar mass (sugar limit amount), and the rice grain and the rice grain for realizing the rice cooking operation under the selected operating condition. The output limit period is set based on the mixing ratio of water. Therefore, according to the rice cooker 10 described above, the rice cooking operation can be performed so that the sugar mass contained in the cooked rice per unit weight becomes the sugar mass set as the operating condition of the rice cooking operation. Since the rice cooker 10 of the present embodiment selects the sugar limit amount from two types, 10% and 20%, the output limit period should be derived and set in advance at the manufacturing stage or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, for example, the amount of rice grains and the amount of sugar (sugar limit amount) can be set steplessly or in multiple stages, for example, the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice (sugar limit amount). When it is difficult to determine in advance the optimum rice grain and water mixing ratio and output restriction period according to the rice grain, water to be added to the inner pot 50 according to the amount of rice grain prepared for cooking rice. It is preferable that the control unit 30 derives conditions such as the amount of rice grains and the length of the output restriction period so that they can be notified. As a result, the amount of rice grains used for cooking rice and the amount of sugar (restricted amount of sugar) can be changed to any value without being limited to a predetermined value such as a predetermined amount of sugar (restricted amount of sugar). In addition, it is possible to obtain cooked rice having a sugar mass (sugar limit amount) that meets the user's wishes.

As described above, when the rice cooking operation is performed in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the amount of sugar contained in the cooked rice obtained after cooking varies depending on the amount of water to be mixed with the rice grains. In the rice cooker 10 exemplified in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the amount of water can be adjusted according to the amount of rice grains for cooking by using the scale attached to the inner pot 50 as an index. Is not limited to this. That is, in order to accurately adjust the amount of sugar contained in the cooked rice obtained by the rice cooking operation in the low sugar operation mode, the amount of rice grains prepared in the inner pot 50 is measured, the amount of water required for cooking the rice is derived, and the inner pot is used. It is preferable to be able to notify the amount of water added after preparing rice grains in 50.

Specifically, when the rice cooker 10 is configured as such, for example, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 4, the object to be weighed is the one existing in the inner pot 50 set in the inner pot accommodating portion 22. It is preferable to provide a weighing unit 60 capable of outputting data related to the weighing result. By providing the measuring unit 60, it is possible to measure the amount of rice grains and water prepared in the inner pot 50 set in the inner pot accommodating unit 22. The weighing unit 60 can be a device that can directly measure the weight, such as a conventionally known weight sensor, or a device that indirectly derives the weight by measuring a physical quantity other than the weight. According to such a configuration, it is possible to accurately measure the amount of rice grains and water used for cooking rice and cook the rice. Therefore, the rice cooking operation in which the mixing ratio of the rice grains and water is important as in the low sugar operation mode is performed. Even in that case, you can get the cooked rice as you expected. Further, when the measuring unit 60 is provided, for example, a configuration capable of notifying by a notifying means such as a display device 46, a speaker, or a buzzer is provided to further improve the convenience of the user.

Specifically, at the stage of preparing rice grains and water in the inner pot 50 for cooking rice in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the user should use the display device 46 to prepare and prepare. It is advisable to display the amount of water to be discharged in order. More specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 7, when cooking rice in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the inner pot 50 is first notified to urge the rice grains to be prepared (see FIG. 7A). When the rice grain is put in, the weight is weighed by the measuring unit 60, and the amount of water required for cooking rice in the low-carbohydrate operation mode is calculated by the control unit 30 based on the weight of the rice grain, and the result is displayed by the display device 46. (See FIG. 7 (b)). In the illustrated example, it is notified to put 600 cc of water into the inner pot 50 after washing the rice. When water is charged into the inner pot 50 in such a state, the amount of water charged is measured by the measuring unit 60, and the amount of water to be prepared in the inner pot 50 according to the amount of water charged. A process for reducing the display is performed (see FIG. 7 (c)). When the amount of water to be prepared in the inner pot 50 is prepared, the amount of water to be put in the inner pot 50 is displayed as zero as shown in FIG. 7 (d), and a buzzer sound (for example, a beep sound once) is displayed. To that effect. Further, when excessive water is poured into the inner pot 50, the amount of water to be reduced is displayed as shown in FIG. 7 (e), and a buzzer sound different from the previous one (for example, "pip," It makes a beep twice) to notify that fact. According to such a configuration, the user can easily and accurately adjust the mixing ratio of rice grain and water even in the case of rice cooking operation in which the mixing ratio of rice grain and water is important as in the low-carbohydrate operation mode. You can get the rice you expected.

Further, it is preferable that the rice cooker 10 described above can notify the amount of decrease in the sugar mass when the rice is cooked in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, as compared with the case where the rice-cooking operation is performed in the normal operation mode. With such a configuration, by cooking rice in the low-carbohydrate operation mode, the user can easily grasp how much the intake of sugar mass can be restricted, and it becomes possible to utilize it for health management and the like.

The rice cooker 10 described above may be capable of recording information on the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice after cooking, for example, by providing a storage medium in the control unit 30. With such a configuration, it is possible to record the amount of sugar that the user would have ingested from cooked rice and utilize it for health management and the like.

The rice cooker 10 described above may be capable of transmitting information regarding the amount of sugar contained in cooked rice to an external terminal. Specifically, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 4, a communication function is added to the rice cooker 10 by providing a communication unit 70, etc., and communication between an external device different from the rice cooker 10 and the control unit 30. It is good to be able to do. As shown in the example shown in FIG. 8, the communication unit 70 enables wireless communication with a client terminal 72 such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a PC owned by a user of the rice cooker 10, a LAN line, or the like. It is preferable to enable communication with a server 74 installed in a local environment, a cloud server, or the like through an internet line. According to such a configuration, for example, information such as a carbohydrate limit amount and calorie intake can be periodically transmitted and received between the rice cooker 10 and the client terminal 72 and the server 74, and the rice cooker 10 can be sent to the server 74. The uploaded information can be referred to on the client terminal 72.

The present invention is not limited to those shown as the above-described embodiments, modifications, and the like, and there may be other embodiments from the teaching and spirit within the scope of the claims. The components of the above-described embodiment may be arbitrarily selected and combined to form a component. Further, any component of the embodiment and any component described in the means for solving the invention or a component embodying any component described in the means for solving the invention are arbitrarily combined. May be configured. We also intend to acquire the rights to these in the amendment or divisional application of the present application.

The rice cooker of the present invention can be suitably used in all rice cookers that cook rice for limiting sugar.

10: Rice cooker 20: Rice cooker body 24: Heating unit 30: Control unit 50: Inner pot

Claims (7)

An inner pot that can be detachably stored with respect to the main body, and
The heating part that heats the inner pot and
It has a control unit that controls the output of the heating unit.
The first operation mode in which rice grains and water prepared in the inner pot at a standard mixing ratio are cooked through a plurality of steps including a temperature raising step and a cooking step.
The inner pot includes a second operation mode in which rice grains and water prepared at a mixing ratio containing more water than the standard mixing ratio are cooked through a plurality of steps including a temperature raising step and a cooking step. It is possible to carry out rice cooking operation in which rice is cooked in one operation mode selected from multiple operation modes.
The rice cooker is characterized by having an output limiting period during the cooking process in the second operation mode, which limits the output of the heating unit more than during the cooking process in the first operation mode. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the output limiting period is started at a predetermined timing based on a timing at which the temperature of the inner pot is assumed to reach the boiling point of water. It is possible to cook rice in the second operation mode by changing the mixing ratio of water to the rice grains prepared in the inner pot within a predetermined range.
The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output restriction period is adjusted according to an increase in the amount of water blended with respect to rice grains. The rice cooker in the second operation mode is characterized in that the output of the heating unit is controlled so that the temperature of the inner pot rises with time in a temperature region lower than the boiling point of water during the output limitation period. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3. During the output limitation period, the output of the heating unit is controlled so that the temperature of the inner pot changes in a temperature region lower than the boiling point of water.
Any of claims 1 to 4, wherein after the end of the output limiting period, the output of the heating unit is controlled so that the temperature of the inner pot becomes higher than the boiling point of water for a predetermined time. Rice cooker described in the crab. It is possible to instruct the operating conditions of the rice cooking operation based on the sugar mass.
The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the output restriction period is set based on the mixing ratio of rice grains and water for realizing the rice cooker operation under the instructed operating conditions. vessel. On condition that the operating condition of the rice cooking operation is instructed based on the sugar mass, the instructed operation is performed with respect to the sugar mass assumed to be contained in the cooked rice when the rice cooking operation is performed in the first operation mode. The rice cooker according to claim 6, wherein the amount of decrease in sugar mass assumed to be contained in cooked rice obtained under the conditions can be notified.

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