JP2509383B2 - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rice cooker for business use, which cooks rice using gas as fuel.

(Prior Art) Some commercial rice cookers are equipped with an exhaust fan that diffuses the steam generated in the rice cooker. With this type of conventional rice cooker, the weighing process, rice washing process, and rice removing process are performed. , The air exhaust fan is operated before starting the rice cooking process in each process such as the rice cooking process, and the exhaust fan is stopped after the rice cooking process is finished, and the air exhaust fan is used only during the rice cooking process. Was doing.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) Therefore, in the conventional case, the exhaust fan is used only for the purpose of diffusing the steam generated in the rice cooker, and the exhaust fan cools each part by circulating air. Despite the cooling function and the dehumidifying function, it has not been fully utilized.

Therefore, the present invention enables not only the discharge of the steam for cooking rice but also the cooling and dehumidification of the metering motor, the rice washing, the rice discharging motor and their circuits by the exhaust fan.

(Means for Solving the Problem) The technical means of the present invention for solving this technical problem includes a rice storage unit 3 for storing rice, and a weighing unit 4 for discharging a predetermined amount of rice from the rice storage unit 3. A rice washing unit 5 for washing the rice discharged from the weighing unit 4, a rice discharging unit 6 for discharging the rice of the rice washing unit 5, and a rice cooking unit 7 for cooking the rice discharged from the rice discharging unit 6. A rice cooker in which the rice storage unit 3 and the weighing unit 4 are provided in a sealed unit together with other devices, and the rice washing unit 5, the rice discharging unit 6, and the rice cooking unit 7 are provided in an exposed state below the sealed unit. In, the exhaust fan 82 is provided near the rear of the bottom surface of the sealed portion so that the air in the sealed portion is discharged from the rear side, and the exhaust fan 82 is operated before the start of the rice cooking process and There is a control means for stopping the process after the process is completed.

(Operation) When the operator presses the rice cook start button 63, the exhaust fan 82 first operates, and then the rice cooking process such as the weighing process, the rice washing process, the rice discharging process, and the rice cooking process is performed, and after the completion of the process. , The exhaust fan 82 stops.

(Example) Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described based on drawing.

2 to 3, the automatic rice cooker has a main body frame 1, a caster 2 is provided below the frame 1, and the automatic rice cooker is movable.

A rice storage unit 3 for storing rice in the frame 1, a measuring unit 4 for discharging a predetermined amount of rice in the rice storage unit 3, a rice washing unit 5 for washing the rice discharged from the measuring unit 4, A rice discharging unit 6 for discharging the rice of the unit 5, a rice cooking unit 7 for cooking the rice discharged from the rice discharging unit 6, and a control unit 8 for controlling the operation of each unit are formed.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 5, the rice storage unit 3 has a funnel-shaped rice storage 9, and the rice storage 9 has a rice storage sensor 10 for detecting the amount of rice in the rice storage. Is provided. Inside the rice storage unit 9, a sieve member 11 for preventing foreign matter from entering is detachably provided. An auxiliary tank 12 for increasing the amount of stored rice can be detachably attached to the upper part of the rice storage 9.

The weighing unit 4 is integrally provided at the bottom of the rice storage 9. The weighing unit 4 has a cutting means 13 for discharging a predetermined amount of rice in one rotation, a weighing motor 14 for rotationally driving the cutting means 13, and a weighing count sensor 15 for detecting the rotation amount of the cutting means 13. .

The rice storage unit 3 and the measuring unit 4 are detachable upward from the frame 1.

The rice washing unit 5 is disposed below the weighing unit 4 and has a rice washing tank 16 for storing the rice discharged from the cutting means 13. A transparent cleaning window 16a is provided on the front of the rice washing tank 16 so as to be openable and closable. In the rice washing tank 16, a stirring means 17 for stirring the rice inside is rotatably provided. This stirring means 17 is rotationally driven by a rice washing motor 18. A rice washing rotation sensor 19 for detecting the rotation of the rice washing motor 18 is provided.

The rice washing unit 5 is provided with a water supply device 20 for supplying water to the rice washing tank 16. The water supply device 20 includes a main pipe 21 connected to a water pipe, and a shower supply pipe for branching from the main pipe 21 and sprinkling water from the upper portion of the rice washing tank 16.
22 and an overflow supply pipe 23 for supplying water from the lower portion of the rice washing tank 16. In the main pipe 21, the main pipe 21
A flow sensor 24 is provided to detect the amount of water flowing inside. The shower supply pipe 22 is provided with a shower solenoid valve 25 for opening and closing the pipe 22, and the overflow supply pipe 23 is provided with an overflow solenoid valve 26 for opening and closing the pipe 23.

The rice washing unit 5 is provided with a drainage device 27 for draining the water in the rice washing tank 16. This drainage device 27
Is a lower water pipe 28 connected to the lower portion of the tank 16 for draining the water in the tank 16 from the lower portion.
And an overflow water distribution pipe 29 connected to the upper part of the rice washing tank 16 in order to drain the water in the tank 16. An opening / closing valve 30 is provided in the lower drain pipe 28, and the opening / closing valve 30 is normally open, and is driven to be closed by a drainage motor 31 composed of a solenoid motor. The opening / closing valve 30 is provided with a confirmation sensor 32 for confirming the opening / closing of the valve 30. Also, in the rice washing tank 16,
Water level limit sensor for detecting the water level in the tank
33 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rice discharging section 6 is the rice washing tank.
Rice discharge valve that can open and close the opening provided at the bottom of 16
34 and an opening / closing device 35 for opening / closing the valve 34.
The opening / closing device 35 includes a rod 36 penetrating the central portion of the stirring means 17, a link 37 that engages with the upper end of the rod 36 and swings, and the link 37 swings. And a rice discharging motor 38, and the rice discharging valve is provided at the lower end of the rod 36.
34 are installed. This opening / closing device 35 has a rice discharge valve 34
A rice discharge home sensor 39 for detecting that the rice is closed and a rice discharge lower sensor 40 for detecting that the rice discharge valve 34 is open are provided.

The rice cooker 7 is disposed below the rice discharge valve 34, and a rice cooker lid device 41 and a rice cooker body device 42 into which the lid device 41 is fitted.
It consists of and.

The rice cooker lid device 41, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is an opening / closing operation lever 43 provided on the body frame 1 so as to be swingable.
And a lid 45 which is connected to the opening / closing operation lever 43 via a link 44 and is vertically movable. As shown in FIG. 7, a shutter 47 having an opening 46 in the central portion of the lid 45 and capable of opening and closing the opening 46 is slidably provided on the upper surface side of the lid 45. There is. The shutter 47 is opened and closed by a pinion 49 driven by a shutter motor 48 and a rack 50 meshing with the pinion 49. The lid 45 has a shutter open sensor for detecting opening / closing of the shutter 47.
A shutter closing sensor 52 and a shutter closing sensor 52 are provided.

The rice cooker main body device 42 includes a mounting table 53 that can be pulled out from the main body frame 1, and an outer pot 54 mounted on the mounting table 53.
And an inner hook 55 which is removably inserted into the outer hook 54. The outer kettle 54 has an ignition lever 56 for igniting the gas burner.
And rice-cooking lever sensor 57 that detects that gas is ignited
And an inner hook confirmation sensor 58 for confirming that the inner hook 55 is inserted. A rail set sensor 59 for detecting that the mounting table 53 is set at the rice cooking position is provided on the main body frame 1 side.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the control section 8 includes an operation panel 60 provided on the entire upper surface of the main body frame 1, a microcomputer device housed in the panel 60, a high-power control device, and the like. It is configured.

FIG. 8 shows details of the operation panel 60. Push buttons 61, 62, 63, 64 of “reserve”, “immediate”, “start”, and “cancel” are provided in a horizontal row on the upper portion of the operation panel 60. Next to the push button row, a time / flow rate / rice cooking amount display section 65 is provided.

Below the push button row, a process position display section 66 for displaying each step is provided. This display
66 is configured to display the process being processed by lighting or blinking a green lamp. Further, next to the display portion 66, a “water addition start” push button 67 is arranged. Above the push button 67, a strainer waiting time display section 68 is provided, and below the push button 67, a steaming time display section 69 is provided.

Below the time / flow rate / rice cooking amount display unit 65, a check position display unit 70 is provided. This display 70
Indicates an error or trouble in each process by lighting or blinking a red lamp.

A graphic display unit 71 is provided between the process position display unit 66 and the check position display unit 70.
In this graphic display unit 71, the whole shape of the rice cooker is drawn, and a lamp is provided at a position corresponding to the process position and the check position.
When the process position display section 66 is operating, the lamp at the corresponding position lights up or blinks green, and when the check position display section 70 is operating, the lamp at the corresponding position lights up or blinks red. Is configured to.

At the bottom of the operation panel 60, "rice cooked" selection button 72,
"Hardness" selection button 73 for adjusting the amount of cooking, "Washing" selection button for selecting the degree of rice washing
74, and select "cooking rice" that performs all steps from weighing to cooking, "preparing rice" that waits until rice is washed and waits until rice is washed, and "washes rice" that is performed before ignition A “mode” selection button 75 is arranged horizontally in an example.

Furthermore, a "timer set" is provided below the selection button row.
Button 76, "Maintenance" button 77, "Time and reservation set"
Button 78 and "total rice cooked" display / clear button
79 are arranged in a line.

From the "rice cooked" selection button 72, select "total rice cooked"
Each button up to the display / clear button 79 is covered with a single cover 80 that can be opened and closed.

The rice cooking unit 7 is exposed to the outside, but the weighing unit 4 includes devices such as a rice washing motor 18, a drainage motor 31, a rice removal motor 38, various sensors, etc., which are housed in a sealed portion above the main body frame 1. There is. Therefore, the steam generated in the rice cooker 7 is unlikely to enter the sealed portion, but if it does, the steam is diffused and various devices are cooled. Are provided (see FIG. 3).
83 is a main switch.

Next, the operation of the automatic rice cooker having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the operator turns on the main switch 83, the microcomputer device of the control unit 8 determines whether or not it is a "test".
This “test” is selected by simultaneously pressing a plurality of buttons on the operation panel 60. In the case of “test”, the process proceeds to the test processing step and various tests are performed.

If it is not "test", the process proceeds to "initial processing" and "maintenance processing" steps. The step of "initial processing" is to set each device to an initial state, and is a step used at the initial stage of use. "Maintenance processing"
Is a step that operates when the maintenance button 77 is pressed. In normal use, the above steps are bypassed.

The operator then clicks the "Reserve" button 61 or "Immediately"
Press any button 62. "Reservation" is used when operating at a predetermined time, and "immediate" is used when operating from the current time.

When any of the push buttons is pressed, the process goes to the "check water amount" step.

In this water volume confirmation step, the shower solenoid valve 25
Is opened, water is supplied to the rice washing tank 16, the remaining rice treatment in the tank 16 is performed, and the flow rate is measured by the flow rate sensor 24, and it is confirmed whether or not there is a predetermined flow rate. The flow rate is stored.

Next, the operator makes a menu selection. This menu selection is made by pressing the selection buttons 72-75 for the amount of cooked rice, hardness, washing method, and mode, and these time settings are made by operating the timer setting button 76 for raising the colander and the murmur. Be seen. If you do not select the menu,
The menu selected last time is adopted.

Next, the operator sets the time. In this time set, the current time is correctly displayed and the reservation time is set by using the time and reservation set button 78. If you want to use the current settings, you don't need to set them.

Next, the operator presses the start button 63. When the reservation button 61 is pressed, the reservation process is started, and at a predetermined set time, the exhaust fan 82 is operated, and then the measurement process is started.

When the reservation button 61 is not operated, that is, when the immediate button 62 is pressed, the start button 63 is pressed to immediately activate the exhaust fan 82 and proceed to the weighing process.

In the weighing process, according to the selected amount of cooked rice, a predetermined amount of rice is washed from the rice storage 9 through the weighing unit 4 to the washing rice tank 16
Is discharged to. In the measuring unit 4, the amount of discharged rice is stored and integrated, and the total amount of cooked rice (total amount of rice for a predetermined period such as one day or one week) can be displayed on the rice cooking amount display unit 65.

After the weighing process, proceed to washing, polishing, and overflowing.

The rice washing step is a step in which a predetermined amount of water is sprayed from the shower supply pipe 22 and the rice in the rice washing tank 16 is stirred and washed by the stirring means 17. At this time, the on-off valve 30 is opened and drained.

The rice polishing process is a process of stopping the water supply and rotating the stirring means 17.

In the overflow process, the on-off valve 30 is closed, while supplying water to the rice washing tank 16 from the shower supply pipe 22 and the overflow supply pipe 23, the stirring means 17 stirs the rice, drains it from the overflow water distribution pipe 29, and finally opens and closes the on-off valve 30. This is the process of opening all of the water and draining all the water in the rice washing tank 16.

The washing process and the polishing process are performed multiple times, and the overflow process is performed once at the end. These steps depend on the selection of the washing method selection button 74, and are controlled depending on whether a predetermined time has elapsed or a predetermined amount of water has been supplied.

When the above steps are completed, it is determined whether or not the washing mode. That is, when “washing rice” is not selected by the mode button 75, the process proceeds to the strainer raising process.

The straining step is a step of holding the rice in the rice washing tank 16 for a predetermined time while the water is drained. The holding time is the time set by the timer set button 76. The display unit 68 displays the remaining time during the waiting for raising the strainer.

When “preparing rice” is selected by the mode selection button 75, the process is temporarily interrupted in this straining process and the next shutter opening process does not proceed unless the operator presses the water addition start button 67.

If the "automatic rice cooking" mode is selected, the process proceeds to the next shutter opening step.

When the mode is “washed rice”, the colander lifting process is skipped and the process proceeds to the shutter opening process.

In the shutter opening process, the shutter 47 is opened to open the lid 45.
It is a process of opening 46.

 When the shutter 47 opens, the process proceeds to the next water addition / reduction process.

The water adjustment process is a process in which the amount of water controlled by the selection of the hardness selection button 73 is supplied from the shower supply pipe 22 to the rice washing tank 16.

Next, the valve opening process is performed. This process is the rice drainage valve of the drainage section
Open 34 and put the rice and water in the washing rice tank 16 into the inner pot of the rice cooking section 7.
It is the process of discharging to 55.

Then, in the next valve opening step, the rice discharge valve 34 is closed, and in the next shutter closing step, the shutter 47 opens the opening portion 46 of the lid 45.
Seal.

Next, proceed to the rice washing completion step. This step is a step of sounding a guide buzzer or the like to notify the operator of the completion of rice washing.

When the rice washing mode is selected, the exhaust fan 82 is stopped in the above process, and then the process ends.

If it is not the rice washing mode, that is, if it is the automatic rice cooking mode, the process proceeds to the soaking step. This step is a step of notifying the operator by sounding a guide buzzer after a lapse of a predetermined time.

Next, the process of waiting for input of the rice cooking lever is started, and the ignition of the ignition lever 56 is awaited. When the operator operates the ignition lever 56 to ignite the gas, the process proceeds to the rice cooking process, the steaming process, and the cooking process, and the exhaust fan 82 is stopped to complete the entire process.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the exhaust fan 82 is provided near the rear of the bottom surface of the sealed portion so that the air in the sealed portion is discharged from the rear side, and the exhaust fan 82 is used in the step of cooking rice. Since a control means is provided which operates before starting and stops after finishing the rice cooking process, the exhaust fan 82 causes warm air or moist air inside the sealed portion to come to the outside from near the bottom rear of the sealed portion. It can be discharged smoothly, and it is possible to effectively measure and dehumidify the motor and other circuits in the hermetically sealed part, and the rice cooking process can be smoothly performed for a long period of time without failure. Moreover, as described above, the exhaust fan
The warm air and moist air in the sealed part are discharged from the rear side of the sealed part by 82, so that the warm air and moist air in the sealed part will not be blown directly on the person's face and so on. Work such as can be performed smoothly. Further, since the conventional exhaust fan 82 can be used as it is for cooling and dehumidifying, there is no need to provide a special fan for cooling and dehumidifying, it is economical, and its practical effect is significant. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

Drawing shows one Example of the present invention, Drawing 1 is a flow chart which shows operation of an automatic rice cooker, Drawing 2 is a front view of an automatic rice cooker, Drawing 3 is the same side view, Drawing 4, and Drawing 5. Is an explanatory view of the structure of the automatic rice cooker, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the structure of the rice discharging unit, and FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the shutter, and FIG. 8 is a front view of the operation panel. 3 ... rice storage section, 4 ... weighing section, 5 ... rice washing section, 6 ... rice discharging section, 7 ... rice cooking section, 8 ... control section, 82 ... exhaust fan.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Nobuhide Yanagawa 64 Ishizukitamachi, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture Kubota Sakai Factory (72) Inventor Mitsuaki Nakajima 90, Mizusawa, Higashi Osaka City, Osaka In-company (72) Inventor Sadao Fukushima 90 Mizusawa, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka Prefecture Yamato Seiko Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-3-90109 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rice storage unit (3) for storing rice, a weighing unit (4) for discharging a predetermined amount of rice from the rice storage unit (3), and washing the rice discharged from the weighing unit (4). A rice washing unit (5), a rice discharging unit (6) that discharges rice from the rice washing unit (5), and a rice cooking unit (7) that cooks the rice discharged from the rice discharging unit (6), The rice storage part (3) and the weighing part (4) are provided in a sealed part together with other devices, and the rice washing part (5), the rice discharging part (6) and the rice cooking part (7) are below the sealed part. In the rice cooker provided in an exposed state, an exhaust fan (82) is provided near the bottom rear of the sealed part so that the air in the sealed part is discharged from the rear side, and the exhaust fan (82) A rice cooker characterized by comprising control means for activating the rice cooker before the rice cooker starts and stopping the rice cooker after the rice cooker finishes.