JP2533756B2 - Automatic rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention makes it possible to incorporate rice cooker elements such as a rice storage, a weighing device, a rice washing device, and a rice cooker in a box body, and each rice cooker. The present invention relates to an automatic rice cooker capable of controlling rice by controlling the elements and automatically controlling the process of rice cooker control, and in particular, the rice cooker can be used alone as a normal rice cooker, and The present invention relates to a technology that can be easily taken out or loaded into an automatic rice cooker even when used in.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, an automatic machine equipped with a storage device for rice polished, a weighing device, and a rice washing device, which automatically processes a process related to the preparation of rice before weighing, washing rice, and cooking rice with water by a predetermined program Being developed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-
The "Automatic rice preparation device" described in the 276520 publication is
It is a technology related to an automatic machine that automatically performs a series of tasks to make stored rice ready for cooking.

In addition, many technologies have been developed in the past regarding the technology related to the automatic rice cooker that controls the rice cooked after the washed rice has been placed in the rice cooker. This is a typical example.

Furthermore, the field of technology development related to such rice cookers is
In addition to the technical development of the rice cooker itself, it has also been expanded to the peripheral field of rice cookers, and around the same time as the development of the automatic machine as described above, the automatic rice cooker can be used by incorporating it into the kitchen set There has also been proposed an overall rice cooker. For example, the "rice cooker" described in JP-A-59-181112 is a rice storage device, a rice weighing device, and a rice washing device of each rice cooker element so that an automatic rice cooker can be used by incorporating it in a kitchen set. It is a proposal to unitize individual rice cooker elements such as.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, the individual rice cooker elements such as the rice storage device, the rice weighing device, the rice washing device, and the rice cooker of each rice cooker element described above are unitized so that the automatic rice cooker can be used by incorporating it into a kitchen set. The "rice cooker" did not have a configuration in which only the rice cooker that constitutes the rice cooker was easily detached and used alone.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to incorporate rice cooker elements such as a rice storage, a weighing device, a rice washing device, and a rice cooker in a box body, and control each rice cooker element to automatically perform a process for rice cook control. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic rice-cooking device that can be controlled to cook rice.

Another object of the present invention is that the rice cooker can be used alone as an ordinary rice cooker, and even when used alone, it can be easily taken out or loaded into an automatic rice cooker. It is to provide an automatic rice cooker equipped with various mechanisms.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Means for solving the problem]

The outline of the typical inventions among the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.

(1) The box body is equipped with a rice storage, a rice cooker, and a control device for controlling each of the above devices, and a rice preparation step of setting rice from the rice storage to the rice cooker, and a rice cook start instruction to the rice cooker It is an automatic rice cooking device that controls each process of the rice cooking process that controls the rice cooking by giving it and the heat insulating process that controls the heat retention state after rice cooking. A power outlet of the rice cooker is provided at a predetermined position on a trolley on which the rice cooker is placed, and a power plug of the rice cooker can be connected to the power outlet.

(2) The box body is equipped with a rice storage, a rice cooker, and a control device for controlling each of the above devices, and a rice preparation process for setting rice from the rice storage to the rice cooker and a rice cook start instruction to the rice cooker What is claimed is: 1. An automatic rice cooker for controlling each step of a rice cooking process for controlling and controlling rice cooking, and a warming process for controlling a heat insulating state after rice cooking, wherein the rice cooker is mounted on a trolley, and the rice cooker is mounted on the rice cooker. A side light transmitter / receiver is provided, and when the rice cooker is placed on a dolly, at a position facing the rice cooker side light transmitter / receiver of the dolly,
An optical transmitter / receiver on the main body of the automatic rice cooker is provided, and an optical communication path for communication of control data is formed between the optical transmitter / receiver on the main body of the automatic rice cooker and the optical transmitter / receiver on the rice cooker side.

(3) In the automatic rice cooker of (2) above, when the rice is inserted into the rice cooker, the lid of the rice cooker is automatically opened, and when the insertion of rice is completed, the lid is automatically opened and closed. It is equipped with means.

[Action]

According to the above-mentioned means, in the automatic rice cooker, the control device takes out the rice to be cooked from the rice storage and polishes the rice, a measuring process for measuring the polished rice, and a washing process for washing the measured rice (storing rice). This step is not necessary if rice that does not need to be washed is stored in the rice bowl), the rice preparation process in which washed rice is inserted (set) in the rice cooker to adjust the water content, and the rice cooker is instructed to start cooking rice. The process of controlling the cooking of rice is controlled in sequence, and the process of controlling the temperature of the rice cooker is controlled in order to automatically control the process of cooking rice.

In addition, since a power outlet of the rice cooker is provided at a predetermined position on the trolley where the rice cooker is placed at a fixed position, and the power plug of the rice cooker can be connected to the power outlet, the rice cooker is set on the trolley. When you do, you can use the power outlet on the dolly, and when you unload it, you can use the normal power outlet.

Further, since the power outlet is attached to the trolley to be pulled out, the electric wire layout determined at the design stage is maintained as it is, and the electric wire is not entangled even when the trolley is taken in and out. In addition, the rice cooker and the power outlet are always in a fixed position, and the electric wire connecting them can be passed through a place where the influence of cooking water or steam is small by design.

Further, the rice cooker is provided with an optical transceiver on the rice cooker side, and when the rice cooker is placed on a trolley, the optical transceiver on the main body of the automatic rice cooker is installed at a position facing the optical transceiver on the rice cooker side of the trolley. Provided, by forming an optical communication path for communication of control data between this optical rice cooker body side optical transceiver and the rice cooker side optical transceiver, set the rice cooker to the automatic rice cooker body, If you connect the power plug to the power outlet, you can automatically cook rice with the automatic rice cooker, and if the main body of the automatic rice cooker takes out the rice cooker, it can be used as a normal rice cooker by itself and when it is used on the car body. However, it is convenient because it can be easily taken out and loaded into the automatic rice cooker.

In addition, when the rice is inserted into the rice cooker, the lid of the rice cooker is automatically opened, and when the rice insertion is completed, the lid opening / closing means is automatically closed, so that preparation for rice cooking is surely performed. be able to.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an automatic rice cooking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an automatic rice cooker body, 2 is a rice storage weighing unit, 3 is a rice washing unit, 4 is a rice cooking unit, 5 is an operation display panel, 6 is an exhaust fan unit, 7 is an automatic rice cooker (normal rice cooker). rice cooker),
8 is a main power switch with a power-on indicator lamp, and 9 is a rice polishing unit. The automatic rice cooker body 1 is provided with each rice cooker element including a rice storage, a weighing device, a rice washing device, and a rice cooker in the box body, and a control device for controlling each rice cooker element. Each rice cooker element provided in the automatic rice cooker main body 1 is separately provided in each unit of a rice storage weighing unit 2, a rice washing unit 3, and a rice cooker unit 4.
The rice polishing unit 9 installed as an option is provided above the rice storage weighing unit 2. The rice storage weighing unit 2 is provided with a rice storage and a rice cooker element of a weighing device inside, and a control device is provided inside the box of the rice storage weighing unit 2. A rice washing device having a rice washing tank is provided inside the rice washing unit 3, and an automatic rice cooker 7 is detachably provided inside the rice cooking unit 4. The automatic rice cooker 7 provided inside the rice cooking unit 4 is a jar type automatic rice cooker that is also taken out as it is and is also used as a rice heating jar. That is, a rice cooker having the same shape as a commercially available microcomputer automatic rice cooker is mounted on the rice cooker unit 4 and used as the automatic rice cooker 7. In addition, inside the rice cooking unit 4, a lid opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the lid of the automatic rice cooker 7, and between the automatic rice cooker 7 and the control device of the automatic rice cooker main body 1 when the automatic rice cooker 7 is mounted. An optical transceiver serving as an optical communication path for communicating control data is provided.

On the front side of the main body of the box of the rice washing unit 3, an exhaust fan unit 6 and a main power switch 8 with a power-on display lamp are provided. Further, an exhaust duct for exhausting water vapor, one end of which is connected to the exhaust fan unit 6, is provided from the inside of the rice washing unit 3 to the front. The other end of the exhaust duct has the automatic rice cooker 7 attached to the rice cooker unit 4 and the automatic rice cooker 7 in the state where the rice cooker unit 4 is set in the box body of the automatic rice cooker body 1.
Is disposed in a positional relationship so as to face the water vapor discharge port at the upper part of.

The box body of each unit of the rice storage weighing unit 2, the rice washing unit 3, and the rice cooking unit 4 is housed in the box body of the automatic rice cooking device body 1 in a three-tiered manner, and each unit has the automatic rice cooking device body. It can be freely pulled out to the box body of No. 1 and can be pulled out to check the inspection set. In order to save the installation space, the rice polishing unit is installed on top of the rice storage weighing unit.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the automatic rice cooker according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the front view of FIG. 2, a part of the internal configuration of the automatic rice cooking device is seen through and is drawn as shown by a virtual line (two-dot chain line). In FIG. 2, 1 is an automatic rice cooker body, 2 is a rice storage weighing unit, 3 is a rice washing unit, 4 is a rice cooking unit, 5 is an operation display panel, 6 is an exhaust fan unit, 7 is an automatic rice cooker, and 8 is Main power switch,
9 is a rice polishing unit. These are described with reference to FIG. Further, 6a is an exhaust fan, 20 is a rice storage, 21 is a weighing device, 30 is a rice washing device, and 39 is an exhaust duct. 46 is a slide motor and 47 is a slide rail. Reference numeral 48 is an optical transmitter / receiver on the side of the automatic rice cooker body 1 for optical communication, and 49 is an optical transmitter / receiver on the side of the automatic rice cooker 7. These face each other and form an optical signal communication path for communication of control data between the automatic rice cooker body 1 and the automatic rice cooker 7.

When the rice-polishing unit 9 is provided, brown rice is stored in the rice-polishing unit 9, the rice-polishing process is performed from the brown-rice, and the rice-milling unit 2 at the bottom is dropped. The rice storage weighing unit 2 is provided with a quadrangular pyramid-shaped rice storage 20 and a cylindrical weighing device 21 integrally attached to the lower part of the rice storage 20. The amount of rice used for cooking rice is measured by the device 21. For weighing rice, a weighing drum whose cylindrical side surface is partially open, and a motor for rotationally driving the weighing drum,
In the weighing device 21 composed of an encoder that detects the amount of rotation of the weighing drum, by rotating the weighing drum, when a part of the open side of the cylindrical side surface of the weighing drum faces the upper rice storage, When a certain amount (measuring drum capacity) of rice is received from the rice storage 20, and when the measuring drum rotates and the open portion faces downward, the rice received by the measuring drum is dropped onto the rice washing device 30 at the bottom. Repeat the operation to measure the amount of rice. A fixed amount of rice drops into the rice washing device 30 of the rice washing unit 3 every one rotation of the measuring drum, and a predetermined amount of rice is weighed.

A discharge port of the rice storage 20 is provided inside the rice washing unit 3, and a rice washing device 30 having a facing rice supply port is provided at the discharge port. An exhaust fan unit 6 is provided on the front side of the box body of the rice washing unit 3, and an exhaust duct 39 having one end connected to the exhaust fan unit 6 is provided. The other end of the exhaust duct 39 is located at the steam outlet of the lid upper part of the automatic rice cooker 7 attached to the rice cooking unit 4, and when the automatic rice cooker 7 performs the rice cooking operation, The exhaust fan 6a is driven to discharge the steam released from the steam outlet on the upper part of the automatic rice cooker 7. Further, when the automatic rice cooker 7 is in the heat retaining operation, the exhaust fan unit is intermittently driven to discharge the water vapor slightly released during the heat retaining operation.

In the rice cooking unit 4, the lid of the automatic rice cooker 7 attached to the rice cooking unit 4 is opened by a lid opening / closing mechanism,
The washed rice from the rice washing device 30 is put into a rice cooker of the automatic rice cooker 7, a predetermined amount of water is added, and then the lid is closed to start rice cooking. The rice cooking unit 4 is provided with a slide motor 46 and a slide rail 47, which are part of the lid opening / closing mechanism for this purpose. The lid opening / closing mechanism provided here will be described later.

In addition, an optical transceiver (optical transceiver on the rice cooker side) 49 for performing optical communication is provided on the back side of the bottom of the automatic rice cooker 7. Corresponding to this, the slide rail 47 of the main body 1 of the automatic rice cooker is installed. An optical transceiver (optical transceiver on the main body of the automatic rice cooker) 48 is provided at a predetermined position of the moving carriage. Control data is communicated between the automatic rice cooker body 1 and the automatic rice cooker 7 via the optical transceivers 48 and 49.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the operation display panel provided on the front side of the box body of the automatic rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation display unit panel 5 includes a display unit including a plurality of operation switches for giving instructions for controlling the rice cooking process and a plurality of light emitting diodes for displaying the state of the automatic rice cooking device. Is provided. Further, a liquid crystal display unit for displaying 7-segment numbers for time display is provided. These operation switches, the operation display section of each display section, the time set display section 11, the rice cooking menu setting section 12, the rice cooking amount setting section 13, the rice polishing degree setting section 14, the hardness (boiled water control) setting section 15, the rice washing Setting unit 16, rice cooking operation mode display instruction setting unit 17, and rice cooking element device set confirmation display unit 18
Are divided into respective zones and arranged so that the control data may be sequentially set from the left side to the right side.

In this way, control data for controlling the rice cooking process can be individually set in each zone of the operation display unit, the set contents are displayed, and the rice cooking operation mode instruction setting unit 16 displays the operation mode during the rice cooking operation. . Further, in the rice cooking element device set confirmation display section 18, the set state of each device unit can be schematically confirmed by the position reaction of each device unit.

That is, the rice cooking element device set confirmation display unit 18 displays the symbols of the respective rice cooking element devices, and displays the set abnormality of the corresponding rice cooking element device corresponding to the notation position of the symbol of each rice cooking device element. Light emitting diode 18a, 18
b, 18c, 18d are provided. Further, when the optional rice-polishing unit is installed, the light emitting diode 18e that indicates a normal set state of the rice-polishing unit is turned on.
The light emitting diode 18a indicates a set abnormality of the rice storage weighing unit, the light emitting diode 18b indicates a set abnormality of the rice washing unit, the light emitting diode 18c indicates an abnormality of the automatic rice cooker set, and the light emitting diode 18d indicates a slide rail ( Display the setting error of the rice cooker rail) setting position.

Therefore, the user uses the operation display panel 5 to input the control data for each step of rice cooking control, and then the light emitting diodes 18a to 18e of the rice cooking element device set confirmation display section 18 on the operation display panel 5 are input. It is possible to easily confirm the display state of and the set of the rice cooking element device. When there is an abnormality, the light emitting diode provided corresponding to the position of the symbol of each rice cooking element device emits light, so that it is possible to easily determine the rice cooking element device unit having the setting abnormality from the symbol notation. Thus, the rice cooker element unit for which the setting abnormality has been determined may be further inspected.

In addition to the operation display section, the operation display section panel 5 is provided with a valve opening processing switch, a shower water supply switch, and a rice storage processing switch for performing maintenance of the mechanical section of the automatic rice cooker. Operate the switch to operate the automatic rice cooker body 1 during maintenance,
Check the mechanical parts of the water supply system, valve opening / closing system, and metered rice discharging system.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a mechanical portion of each unit of the automatic rice cooking device. Referring to FIG. 4, rice polishing unit
9, the mechanical portion of each unit of the rice storage weighing unit 2, the rice washing unit 3, and the rice cooking unit 4 will be described.

As mentioned above, rice storage weighing unit 2, rice washing unit 3,
Each unit of the rice cooking unit 4 and the rice cooking unit 4 are housed in the box body of the automatic rice cooking device main body 1 in three stages in the front-back direction (left and right direction in FIG. 4) so as to be freely drawn out.
Is provided on the upper portion of the rice storage weighing unit 2.

The rice-polishing unit 9 is provided with a rice-polishing mechanism 10 having a screw portion, and when brown rice passes through the rice-polishing mechanism 10, rice-polishing treatment is performed. This is a conventionally known rice-polishing mechanism unit, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

A rice storage 20 provided in the rice storage weighing unit 2 is provided with a first sensor 20a on the upper side and a second sensor 20b on the lower side, which are vertically spaced apart from each other on the lower side surface of the box body of the main body of the rice storage. First
The sensor 20a and the second sensor 20b constitute a rice detecting device for detecting the remaining amount of rice in the rice storage 20, and the first sensor 20a and the second sensor 20b are in an ON state for detecting rice, respectively. It turns off when it no longer detects it. When the rice cooking operation is started, the operation is started after the rice detection device detects the remaining amount of rice. Below the rice storage 20, a measuring device 21 for discharging a predetermined amount of rice in the rice storage 20 is directly connected and installed. The measuring device 21 includes a measuring drum, a motor 22 for driving the measuring drum to rotate, and an encoder 23 for detecting a rotation amount of the measuring drum. The movement of the mechanism for weighing rice by the weighing device 21 is as described in the explanation with reference to FIG. 2, and the rotation amount of the weighing drum driven by the motor 22 is controlled by the encoder 23 and set by a predetermined rotation amount. The predetermined amount of rice thus prepared is weighed and put into the rice washing device 30 in the lower rice washing unit 3.

The rice washing unit 3 includes a measuring device of the rice storage measuring unit 2.
Rice washing equipment at the lower position to receive the weighed rice discharged from 21
30 are provided. The rice washing device 30 includes a rice washing tank having a double structure of an outer rice washing tank 31 and an inner rice washing tank 32, and a stirring mechanism of a stirring blade 33 and a rice washing motor 34. The weighed rice is stored in the rice washing inner tank 32, and water is further put into the rice washing inner tank 32. The rice washing is performed by rotating the stirring blades 33 by the rice washing motor 34. The rice washing outer tub 31 forms a drainage system for receiving overflow water when the rice is washed by overflowing the water and draining the overflowed water. The water supply channel system for washing rice, which is only partially shown, is constituted by a water supply valve 24, a water supply pipe 25, and a water supply nozzle 26. The water supply control is performed by comparing the amount of water passing through the flow rate sensor located immediately before the water supply valve with a preset amount of water supply, and the final water amount control is performed by the water level sensor 27 for preventing abnormalities. .

A rice discharge port 35 is provided below the rice washing inner tank 32 and the rice washing outer tank 31. The rice discharge port 35 is opened and closed by a rice discharge valve 36.
A mechanism for opening and closing the rice discharge port 35 by the rice discharge valve 36 is configured by a vertically moving mechanism of a valve rod that is integrally connected to the rice discharge valve 36 and protrudes upward. This vertical movement mechanism is a mechanism in which the upper end of the valve rod is engaged with the arm through the hollow portion of the center rod of the stirring blade 33 and further engaged with the discharge valve cam mechanism 37. The rice discharge valve 36 is moved up and down via a valve rod by the motor drive of a rice discharge valve cam mechanism 37 to open and close the rice discharge port 35.

A drain port 38 is provided at the bottom of the rice washing inner tank 32, and the drain port 38
Is covered with a mesh of a predetermined mesh. The outlet 38 is connected to a drainage channel (not shown), and the drainage channel is provided with a drainage valve (not shown). Here drain valve and water supply valve 24
By controlling the above, water is supplied to the rice washing device, the rice is washed, and the dirty water is drained. Note that the drainage system of overflow water formed by the outer washing basin 31 is similarly connected to the drainage channel connected to the drainage port 38. As a result, overflow water is drained.

Further, the rice washing unit 3 is provided with an exhaust duct 39, one end of which is located under the rice washing device 30 and the other end of which is located in the exhaust fan unit 6. The intake port 39a of the exhaust duct 39 is installed at substantially the same position as the rice discharge port 35 of the rice washing device 30, and the exhaust port 39b is at the front of the rice washing unit 3. The exhaust fan unit 6 is provided in the middle of the exhaust duct 39. The exhaust fan unit 6 controls the drive of the exhaust fan, and the automatic rice cooker 7
Exhaust water vapor generated from

The rice cooking unit 4 is provided with a lid opening / closing mechanism 40 at the rear of the box body as a mechanism for opening and closing the lid 7a of the automatic rice cooker 7 so that the rice washed by the rice washing device 30 is charged into the automatic rice cooker 7. The lid opening / closing mechanism 40 includes an opening / closing motor 41, a first link 42,
It is composed of the second link 43, the 38th link 44, and the lifting motor 45. Using the link mechanism, the notch for the lid 7a on the upper front surface of the automatic rice cooker 7 is pressed to open the lid 7a of the automatic rice cooker 7. open.

In addition, the automatic rice cooker 7 includes an inner pot and an outer pot,
It is a microcomputer automatic rice cooker that performs preheating control, rice cooking control, and heat retention control by microcomputer control. The automatic rice cooker 7 has a main body and an openable / closable lid 7a by a hinge containing a spring. The lid 7a is locked by a notch, and when the notch is pressed to unlock, the lid 7a is automatically opened by a spring incorporated therein. A pressure discharge port 7b is provided in the center of the lid 7a for discharging steam generated during rice cooking and heat retention, and the steam inside can be discharged from the pressure discharge port 7b.

Further, the rice cooking unit 4 is provided with a slide motor 46 and a slide rail 47 for moving the automatic rice cooker 7 in the front-rear direction in relation to the operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 40.
The automatic rice cooker 7 is mounted on a carriage that moves on a slide rail 47 and moves in the front-rear direction in relation to the operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 40.

That is, the automatic rice cooker 7 first moves to the rear position where the lid opening / closing mechanism 40 is installed to open the lid 7a, and the lid 7a is opened. Next, in order to receive and prepare the rice washed from the rice washing device 30 from the rice discharge port 35, the rice is moved to the front of the lower position of the rice washing device 30. After storing rice and a predetermined amount of rice in the rice cooker at this front position, the lid opening / closing mechanism 40 then opens the lid 7a.
Move back again to close.

Then, after the lid 7a is closed by the lid opening / closing mechanism 40 at the rear part, the lid 7a is moved forward again, and the preparation for the rice cooking operation is completed. When performing a rice cooking operation, move the automatic rice cooker 7 forward,
The reason why it is located at the front is that the pressure discharge port 7b at the center of the lid 7a of the automatic rice cooker 7 is at the same position as the intake port 39a of the exhaust duct 39. As a result, the automatic rice cooker 7 is located in the front, and the steam generated during the rice cooking operation and the heat retention is discharged to the outside through the exhaust duct 39.

The trolley that travels on the slide rail 47 is provided with a power supply circuit outlet to which the power supply plug of the automatic rice cooker 7 is connected. When the automatic rice cooker 7 is placed on the dolly, the power plug is inserted into the outlet on the dolly.

Further, when the automatic rice cooker 7 is placed on the dolly and set at the fixed position of the dolly, the optical transmitter / receiver (rice cooker side optical transmitter / receiver) 49 provided on the back side of the lower portion of the automatic rice cooker 7 is mounted on the dolly side. Optical transmitter / receiver (optical transmitter / receiver on the main unit side of the rice cooker) provided in
An optical communication path for communication of control data is formed between the automatic rice cooker 7 and the control device 29 of the automatic rice cooker main body 1 so as to face the position opposed to.

The control device 29 for controlling each rice cooker element in the automatic rice cooker body 1 is installed in a space (upper right part here) after the upper part of the box body of the automatic rice cooker body 1.

When the automatic rice cooker 7 is placed and set at a predetermined position of the rice cooking unit 3 of the automatic rice cooker main body 1, the control device 29 has a control data signal transmission path via the optical transceivers 48 and 49 of each other. Combined to control the whole rice cooking process of the automatic rice cooking device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a control device that controls each rice cooker element in the main body of the automatic rice cooker.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 50 indicates a control circuit of the control device 29 on the side of the main body of the automatic rice cooker (hereinafter, referred to as main body control circuit), and 60 indicates a control circuit on the side of the automatic rice cooker 7 (hereinafter, rice cooker control circuit). Referred to as). 51 is a main body control unit, 52 is a voice output unit, 53 is a display input unit, 54 is a sensor input unit, 55 is a drive output unit, and 56 is a photocoupler that serves as an optical transceiver.
Reference numeral 57 is a commercial AC power supply, and 58 is a breaker for preventing the inflow of excessive current. Reference numeral 59 is an outlet for the electric circuit of the automatic rice cooker 7. 61 is a rice cooker control unit, 62 is a photo coupler, 63
Is a temperature sensor, 64 is a rice cooking heater, 65 is a warming heater, and 66 is a display input unit.

Main unit control circuit 50 of control unit 29 on the side of the automatic rice cooker main unit
Is composed of a main body control unit 51 which is composed of a microcomputer and which performs overall control processing, and a main body control unit 51 and each peripheral circuit which inputs and outputs control data. That is, a voice output unit 52 that outputs voice guidance to the user, a display input unit 53 that processes display input to the operation display panel, and inputs from a plurality of sensors for detecting the operation of each mechanical unit. A sensor input unit 54 for receiving and a drive output unit 55 for driving and controlling a mechanism unit such as a control motor and an actuator are connected to respective input / output ports of the microcomputer of the main body control unit 51.

Further, the main body control unit 51 has an input / output port for data communication, and the photocoupler (optical transceiver 48, 49) 5
It is connected to the rice cooking control circuit 60 of the automatic rice cooker 7 via 6,62, and communication for exchanging control data is performed between the main body control circuit 50 and the rice cooker control circuit 60.

The rice cooking control circuit 60 is configured such that a temperature sensor 63, a rice cooking heater 64, a warming heater 65, and a display input unit 66 are connected to input / output ports of a rice cooking control unit 61 composed of a microcomputer, respectively. In the rice cooking control unit 61,
Although the display input unit 66 is connected, this is a display input used when the automatic rice cooker 7 including the rice cooking control circuit 60 operates independently without being incorporated in the automatic rice cooker body 1. It is an operation unit. The automatic rice cooker 7 is not used when the automatic rice cooker 7 is incorporated in the automatic rice cooker main body 1 and automatically performs a series of rice cooking steps such as weighing rice, washing rice, and cooking rice.

In such a rice cooker control circuit 60 of the automatic rice cooker 7,
A microcomputer constituting the rice cooking control unit 61, a thermistor of the temperature sensor 63, a rice cooking heater 64, and a heat retaining heater 65
The hardware configuration such as a triac circuit and its drive circuit for controlling the same is the same as that conventionally developed and used, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The display input unit 66 is, for example, an operation display panel including a 7-segment character display, an operation key switch, a light emitting diode for displaying a status, and the like provided on a front surface of the main body of the automatic rice cooker 7.

First, the operation of the rice cooking control circuit 60 of the automatic rice cooker 7 configured as described above will be described. In the operation of the control circuit 60, the automatic rice cooker 7 is not incorporated in the automatic rice cooker main body 1 and the rice cooker is controlled independently, and the automatic rice cooker 7 operates the automatic rice cooker main body 1 The rice cooking control is included in the second rice cooking control mode when the rice cooking control is performed.

In the first rice cooking control mode, rice and water that have been washed in advance are put into a pot rice pan, and a rice cooking operation is started by an instruction input of a rice cooking start switch from the display input unit 66. In this case, in the course of rice cooking control, the sum of the rice cooking capacities is determined from the degree of temperature increase, and the heating power of the rice cooking heater is controlled according to the determined rice cooking capacity.

In the second rice cooking control mode, the automatic rice cooking device body 1
By the control of the mechanism part of the rice, the rice to be cooked is weighed, and the washed rice and a predetermined amount of water are automatically put in the rice cooker, and between the automatic rice cooker body 1 and the automatic rice cooker 7. The data communication is performed, and the control data for starting rice cooking is input together with the input of the control data for the measured amount of rice, and the rice cooking operation is started. In this case, the summation determination during the rice cooking control is not performed, but the energization control of the heating power of the rice cooking heater is performed according to the rice cooking amount according to the control data received from the automatic rice cooking device main body 1 side through the data communication.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of the flow of rice cooking control of the rice cooking control circuit 60. This will be described with reference to FIG.

When the rice cooker control circuit 60 of the automatic rice cooker 7 is powered on, the microcomputer of the rice cooker control unit 61 of the rice cooker control circuit 60 performs initialization processing such as initial reset, and in step 70, it is determined whether or not fully automatic. judge. That is, it is determined whether the above-mentioned rice cooking control in the first rice cooking control mode (non-automatic) or rice cooking control in the second rice cooking control mode (fully automatic). Step 70 is a display input part of the rice cooking control circuit 60 in the automatic rice cooker 7 unless it is determined that the rice is fully automatic.
Since it waits for the rice cooking start instruction from the rice cooking start switch from 66, the routine proceeds to step 71, where it is determined whether or not the rice cooking start switch is turned on. If it is not determined in step 71 that the rice cooking start switch is turned on, the process returns to step 70 and the processing from step 70 is repeated.

If it is determined to be fully automatic in step 70, the process proceeds to step 72, data is stored for the control data received by the data communication from the main body control circuit 50 of the automatic rice cooker main body 1, and the next step 73 In, the fully automatic memory indicating the above-mentioned second rice cooking control mode is set, and the process proceeds to the next step 74. Note that step 70
In the above, it is determined to be fully automatic when the control data is received from the main body control circuit 50 of the automatic rice cooker main body 1, and it is determined to be fully automatic when the control data is received.

In the next step 74, the water absorption process is performed. The water absorption process is a process of warming the water in the rice cooker so that the rice absorbs water sufficiently. Next, in step 75, it is determined whether or not 500 seconds have elapsed to determine the end of the water absorption process. In step 75, the process returns to step 74 and the process of the water absorption step of step 74 is repeated until 500 seconds is determined.

When the water absorption process is completed after 500 seconds have passed, the process proceeds to the next step 76, the rice cooking heater is turned on, and the temperature is raised to T0 ° C. which is a reference temperature for determining the rice cooking capacity. It is determined in step 77 whether or not the temperature reaches T0 ° C. When it is determined in step 77 that the temperature is T0 ° C. or lower, the process returns to step 76 and the rice cooking heater is continuously turned on.

If it can be determined in step 77 that the temperature exceeds T0 ° C., in step 78 it is determined whether or not the memory is a fully automatic memory (set). If it is not the fully automatic memory, it is the first rice cooking control mode, and the rice cooking capacity is determined by this automatic rice cooker 7. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 80, and the processing for the sum number determination is performed to obtain the rice cooking capacity data. After that, cook up to 100 ℃. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 82, and in the process from step 82, the heating power is determined according to the rice cooking capacity, and the process is performed to continue boiling with the optimum heating power.

In addition, when it is determined in step 77 that the temperature exceeds T0 ° C, and when it is determined in step 78 that the memory is fully automatic, this is the second cooked rice that controls rice cooking according to an instruction from the automatic cooker device body 1. Since it is in control mode, in this case,
There is no need to determine the cooking capacity. Therefore, step 79
Then, the standard temperature for temperature determination is set to 100 ° C., and the rice is cooked without making a total number determination. That is, in step 79, if the temperature is 100 ° C., the process returns to step 76 and the rice cooking heater is turned on. In this case, step 76 → step 77 → step 78 → step 79 → step
In the loop of 76, keep the rice cooking heater on. Step 79
In, when it is determined that the temperature has exceeded 100 ° C.,
Proceeding to step 81, fully automatic memory data conversion processing is performed. This converts the control data transmitted from the main body 1 of the automatic rice cooker into the data having the same format as the data indicating the rice cooking capacity (for example, the temperature rise time data corresponding to the heat capacity) obtained in the summation determination process. . And
Proceeding to the next step 82, in the process from step 82, the heating power is determined according to the rice cooking capacity, and the process is performed to continue boiling with the optimum heating power. That is, by the determination processing of step 82, step 83, step 84, the range of the rice cooking capacity data determined in each sum is determined by a, b, c, d, the determined range a, b, c, Depending on d, in step 85, step 86, step 87, and step 88, energization control of the rice cooking heater is performed by the heating power of the corresponding rice cooking heater A, rice cooking heater B, rice cooking heater C, and rice cooking heater D, respectively. The heating control for maintaining boiling is performed.

The heating control that maintains the boiling continues the boiling, the boiling state of the rice cooker continues, the rice absorbs enough water, the bottom of the rice cooker loses water, and the temperature of the rice cooker rises rapidly The process is continued until it is determined that the temperature has reached 130 ° C. That is, in step 89
It is determined whether the temperature is 0 ° C. or lower, and if it is determined that the temperature is 130 ° C. or lower, the process returns to step 82 and the process from step 82 is repeated. For example, if the rice cooking capacity is determined to be the range b in the process of the summation determination or the process of fully automatic memory data conversion, this is determined in step 83, and in step 86, the rice heating heater with the heating power of the rice heating heater B is used. Then, in step 89, it is determined whether or not the temperature is 130 ° C. or lower, and heating control for maintaining boiling is performed. In step 89
Until it is determined that the temperature exceeds 130 ° C, step 89 →
The processing loop of step 82 → step 83 → step 86 → step 89 is repeated. If it is determined in step 89 that the temperature exceeds 130 ° C., then in step 90,
The purging process is performed, and in the next step 91, the heat retaining process is performed and the process ends. In the step 90, the first stripping step, the first stripping step, the second stripping step, the second stripping step, and the like are performed during a predetermined time. Then, the next step 91, the heat retention step, is reached. Normal,
The process of the heat retention process is continuously performed until the operation switch is instructed to cancel the heat retention.

Next, the operation of the main body control circuit 50 on the side of the automatic rice cooker main body 1 will be described.

7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, and
FIG. 7f is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of the rice cooking control of the main body control circuit 50.

First, refer to FIG. 7A. When the power is turned on in step 101, the current time is displayed in the next step 102. Next, in step 103, an initial reset is performed to reset work registers and the like, and an initialization process is performed. Next, in step 104,
Menu switch (menu SW), rice cooker switch (rice cooker)
SW) at the same time. The determination process of step 104 is a determination process of whether or not to perform the maintenance test program process. If the menu SW and the rice cooking SW are turned on at the same time, the process proceeds to the test program process (105). Since the test program processing is not directly related to the present invention, the description is omitted here.

If it is determined in step 104 that the menu switch and the rice cooker switch are not simultaneously turned on, the process proceeds to step 106 to determine whether or not there is an error bit. If there are error bits, step 10
In step 7, error processing is performed according to the content of the error bit, and the process returns to step 106 to determine whether there is an error bit. If it is determined that there is an error bit again, error processing corresponding to the error bit is performed in step 107 again. In this manner, the existence of an error bit indicating the content of the error that has occurred here is determined (step 106), and the error processing (step 10) is performed accordingly.
Do 7).

When it is confirmed in step 106 that there is no error bit, the process proceeds to step 108 and it is determined whether or not the process counter is cleared. If the process counter has not been cleared, the process proceeds to step 109, where a process counter search is performed. This process counter destination search process is for compensating for power failure. After checking for power failure, set failure, etc., the rice is cooked according to the content of the process count that progresses according to the overall progress of rice cooking process control. Performs processing for continuing process control or error processing. When the return is completed in the subroutine of the process counter destination search process in step 109, the process is performed from step 106. If it is confirmed in step 108 that the process counter has been cleared, then the process proceeds to step 110 in FIG. 7b.

Refer to FIG. 7b. Next, in step 110, process initial processing is performed. Process initial process,
This is a process for confirming whether or not moving members such as a control motor and an actuator are located at an initial position (home position) in each mechanical portion of the automatic rice cooker body 1. If each of the moving members is not located at the initial position, in the process of this process initializing, driving for moving each of the moving members to the initial position is performed. When the process initials of step 110 are completed, then step 1
Proceeding to 11, a process for determining whether there is an abnormality in the process initials is performed. If it is determined in step 111 that there is an abnormality in the process initial, the process returns to step 106. If there is no abnormality in the process initials, the process proceeds to the next step 112, the process of checking the state of the rice cooker is performed, then in step 113, it is determined whether the clock switch is turned on, and the clock switch is turned on. Only when it is determined, in step 114, the process of setting the current time is performed. Next, in step 115, it is determined whether the reservation switch is on. If the reservation switch is not on, then it is determined in step 116 whether the menu switch is on. If the menu switch is not on, it is further determined in step 117 whether the heat retention switch is on. . If the heat retention switch is not turned on, next, a power outage confirmation process in step 122 is performed, the process returns to step 110, and the process is repeated from the process initial process in step 110.

If it is determined in step 115 that the reservation switch is on, then in the next step 120, it is determined whether or not the pan has been set as a memory set. If the pan is removed and the memory is set, the process proceeds to step 121, where an error is notified. At the next step 122, a power failure confirmation process is performed, and the process returns to step 110. If you remove the pan in step 120 and the memory is not set, you can confirm that the rice cooking pan is removed once and the rice cooking pan is washed normally.
The amount of stored rice is checked in step 3, the amount of water is checked in step 124, and it is determined in step 125 whether or not there is an error. If there is an error, the flow returns to step 106 (FIG. 7a), and the processing from step 106 is performed again. If there is no error in step 125, the blinking process of the previous course is performed in step 126, and the process proceeds to step 146 (Fig. 7d),
The process in the reserved rice cooking mode from step 146 is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step 117 that the heat retention switch is ON, the temperature is being kept warm (118;
(See Fig.).

If it is determined in step 116 that the reservation switch is not on and the menu switch is on, the process proceeds to step 119, where automatic rice cooking control in the immediate operation mode is performed instead of the reservation mode. In order to perform the process, the process proceeds to the process for menu selection described later. That is, in step 119, it is determined whether or not the pan is set to the memory set. If the pan is set to the memory, the process proceeds to step 121, an error is notified, and the process of confirming the power failure is performed in the next step 122. Then, the process returns to step 110.
In addition, if the pan is removed in step 119 and the memory is not set, it can be confirmed that the rice cooking pan has been removed once and the rice cooking pan is washed normally.After confirming this, in step 127 the amount of rice stored Check, and then step 128
In, check the amount of water. Next, in step 129, it is determined whether or not there is an error. If there is an error, the flow returns to step 106 (FIG. 7a), and the processing from step 106 is performed again. If there is no error in step 129, the process proceeds to the next step 130 (FIG. 7c).

Next, refer to FIG. 7c. When performing the processing of the automatic rice cooking control mode of the immediate operation mode, the processing from step 130 is performed. In step 130, the process of blinking the previous course is performed, and in the next step 131, a power failure check is performed. In step 132, the process of selecting a course is performed. This course selection process is a process for selecting the course of the operation of each rice cooking process in the automatic rice control.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3, the course selection process includes five types of rice selection: rice, precooked rice, cooked rice, rice porridge 1 rice porridge, rice porridge 2 rice cooked rice. In selecting the amount, select the amount of cooked rice per cup from 2 to 10 cups. In addition, if an optional rice-polishing unit is installed and rice is cooked from brown rice, the degree of rice-polishing is set from 5 stages of white rice, 7 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes, and brown rice. Make a selection. Select the degree of "hardness" of cooked rice from "hard" to "soft" in 10 steps. The selection instruction of “hardness” gives instruction data of the amount of water addition / decrease when cooking rice. Furthermore, the degree of washing rice is set in three stages.

Returning to FIG. 7c, the explanation will be continued.
When the course selection process is completed, a process for confirming the set failure in step 133 is performed. The processing of the set failure confirmation is a rice storage metering unit, a rice washing unit, a rice cooking unit,
This is a process for checking whether or not the automatic rice cooker of the rice cooking unit is set at a normal position. In step 133, when the processing of the set defect confirmation is completed, the process proceeds to step 134, where it is determined whether or not the cancel switch is turned on. If it is determined that the cancel switch is ON, the process proceeds to step 135, where the course LED on the operation display panel is displayed.
(Course display light emitting diode) off, then step
In step 136, the process counter is set to (00), and the process is restarted from the beginning. If it is not determined in step 136 that the cancel switch is ON, the process proceeds to step 137, where it is determined whether there is a setting failure. If there is a setting failure, the process returns to step 131, and the process from the power failure check in step 131 is performed. Also, if there is no defective set,
In step 136, it is determined whether the reservation switch is turned on. Here, if it is determined that the reservation switch is ON, the operation is switched to the operation of the reserved rice cooking mode, so that the process proceeds to step 146 to perform the process of fully automatic rice cooking control in the reserved rice cooking mode.

If the reservation switch is not determined to be ON in the determination processing of step 138, the process proceeds to step 139.
It is determined whether the start switch has been turned on. If the start switch is not determined to be on, step 131
Then, the processing from step 131 to step 139 is repeated to wait until the start switch is turned on. If it is determined in step 139 that the start switch has been turned on, the process proceeds to next step 140, where rice cooker communication processing is performed. The rice cooker communication process here is a process for confirming that the automatic rice cooker 7 is set in the rice cooker unit 4. Next, in step 141, the gantry is locked, and in the next step 142, it is determined whether or not there is a lock abnormality. When it is determined in this determination that the gantry lock is abnormal, in step 143, the course LED on the operation display panel is turned off, and the process returns to step 106 to perform the process from the beginning. If the lock abnormality is not determined in step 142, the process proceeds to step 144, where the course data is stored, and in the next step 145, the course LED is turned on. Then, after step 145, the process proceeds to step 172 of FIG. 7e, and the processing from step 172 such as the rice polishing process, the rice measuring process, and the rice washing process is continued.

On the other hand, following step 126 in FIG.
Processing branches in the reserved rice cooking mode from step 146 in FIG. 7d, branching from the determination step in step 138 in the figure.

Referring to FIG. 7d, first, in step 146, the reservation 1 or 2 is blinked, and then in step 147, the reservation time and the cooked display are blinked. Subsequently, at step 148, a power failure check is performed, at step 149, time is set, and at step 150, course selection processing is performed. Next, in step 151, a setting failure is confirmed, and in the next step 152, a reservation switching process is performed. Next, in step 153, it is determined whether or not the cancel switch has been turned on due to an error in the reservation setting, etc., and if the cancel switch has been turned on,
Proceeding to step 154, the blinking display is turned off, then the process counter is set to (00) in step 155, and the process from the beginning from the error check is performed.
Return to 106.

If the cancel switch is not determined to be ON in step 153 and the reservation time, course selection, and the like are set, it is next determined in step 156 whether there is a setting failure, and the set contents are not inconsistent. After confirming the validity, it is determined in step 157 whether or not the start switch for starting the operation of the reserved rice cooking mode has been turned on. When the start switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step 158, and the reserved time is compared with the current time to check whether the set reserved times are consistent. If the reservation times are inconsistent, proceed to step 159,
The voice of "cannot be reserved" is output, the process returns to step 148, and the setting process of the reserved rice cooking mode from step 148 is performed again. Such a reset rice cook mode resetting process returning to step 148 is performed in the same manner as in step 156, when it is determined that there is a setting failure, and when the start switch is not determined to be on, the process returns to step 148 and the reservation The rice cooking mode is reset.

If the reservation time is determined to be OK (accurate) in the determination of the reservation time in step 158, the process proceeds to step 160, where rice cooker communication processing is performed. The rice cooker communication process here is a process for confirming that the automatic rice cooker 7 is set in the rice cooker unit 4. Next, in step 161, the gantry lock process is performed, and in the next step 162, it is determined whether or not there is a lock abnormality. When it is determined in this determination that the gantry lock is abnormal, in step 163, the blinking display is turned off, and the process returns to step 106 to perform the process from the beginning of the error check process.
If the lock abnormality is not determined in step 162, the process proceeds to step 164, where the course data is stored. In the next step 165, the display of the reservation time and the cooking time is turned on. Next, in step 166, the reserved LED and the course L
Turn on ED. Then, in the next step 167, processing during a reservation timer (subroutine processing) is performed.

In the subroutine of the process in the reservation timer, the content of the process counter is set to (02) which indicates that the reservation timer is in progress, and while confirming the power failure, it is monitored whether or not the current time is the reservation time, and it becomes the reservation time. Return when

When the processing in the reservation timer is completed and the reservation time comes, next, in step 168, the reservation LED, the reservation time, and the cooking completion display are turned off. Next, in step 169, it is determined whether or not the end of the reservation is due to the cancellation switch being turned on, and if it is the end of the reservation due to the cancellation switch being turned on, step 170
Then, the course LED is turned off, the process counter is set to (00) in step 171, and the process returns to step 106 to perform the process from the beginning from the error check.

If it is confirmed in step 169 that the reservation is not completed due to the cancellation switch being turned on, then the process proceeds to step 172 in Fig. 7e, and the rice polishing process, the rice weighing process, the rice washing process, etc. from step 172 are performed. Continue to cooking preparation process.

With reference to FIG. 7e, the subsequent rice cooking preparation processing before the start of the rice cooking operation will be described.

First, in step 172, the "Washing rice" LED that indicates the rice preparation process is turned on in the display, then in step 173, the slide reverse (03) process is performed, and in the next step 174, the error occurs in the previous slide reverse process. It is determined whether or not there is. Next, the lock cam operation (04) is performed in step 175, and it is determined in step 176 whether there is an error in the lock cam operation process. Next, in step 177, the lid opening process (0
The process of 5) is performed, and in the next step 178, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the process of the lid opening process. Then Step 179
The lock cam storage (06) is carried out with, and the next step 18
At 0, it is determined based on the detection output of the lid opening sensor whether the lid opening is normally performed. If the lid opening operation is not normally performed, the process proceeds to step 181, and in step 181, it is determined by the operation counter whether or not the lid opening operation is checked for the third time. If it is the third time or less, the process returns to step 175, and the process from step 175 is performed again to open the lid. Further, in the check of the opening operation of the lid in step 181, if the third check is exceeded, it is determined that the lid opening / closing mechanism is abnormal, so the flow proceeds to step 182.
Set the error bit (08) and proceed to step 21 below.
Proceed to step 9 (Fig. 7f), turn off the "Washing rice" LED, and end the process of washing rice with an error. Also, this step 182
Similar to the process flow from step 1, if the process of the rice washing process ends in error, step 174, step 176, step 17
Sometimes it was determined that there was an error in 8.
Also in this case, similarly, the process proceeds to step 219, the “during rice washing” LED is turned off, and the processing of the rice washing process is ended in error.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 180 that the lid opening operation is normally performed, the process proceeds to step 183, and it is determined whether or not the rice polishing unit is installed. If it is determined that the freely installable rice-polishing unit is installed, in this case, since control is performed from the rice-polishing process, the process proceeds to step 184, and the process of the rice-polishing process (06) is performed at step 184. If it is determined in step 183 that the rice-polishing unit is not installed, it is not necessary to perform the processing of the rice-polishing process, and therefore the process directly proceeds to the next step 192.

In step 192, make sure there are no errors,
In the next step 193, slide forward (07) processing is performed. In step 194, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the slide forward processing. Next, in step 195, the processing of the weighing step (08) of weighing the amount of rice to be cooked is performed, and in step 196 it is determined whether or not there is an error in the processing of the weighing step. If it is determined in step 192, step 194, or step 196 of these error determinations that there is an error, the "during rice washing" LED is turned off in the same manner as described above, and the processing in the rice washing step is ended in error (step 219 ( Proceed to Fig. 7f).

As a result, in the rice cooker unit 4, the automatic rice cooker 7 placed on the carriage on the slide rail moves backward, the lid opening / closing mechanism 40 opens the lid of the automatic rice cooker 7, moves forward again, and weighs and rinses rice. It will be in a position to receive the rice that has been cooked. Next, the rice to be cooked is weighed by the rice storage weighing unit 2, and the rice is put in the rice washing device 30 of the rice washing unit 3. Subsequently, rice is washed by controlling the rice washing device 30.

To control the rice washing apparatus 30, first, in step 197, one rice washing process (09) is performed, in step 198, one rice polishing process (0A) is performed, then in step 199, two rice washing processes (0B) are performed, and then step 200 is performed. Perform 2 steps (0C) of polishing rice. Next, in step 201, three rice washing processes (09) are performed. Then, in step 202, the overflow (0E) process is performed, and when the rice washing process is completed, the drainage process (0F) process is performed in the next step 203. When the washing process is completed with this series of treatments, next,
Proceed to the processing of the rice discharging process in step 204 of FIG. 7f.

Continuing with the description with reference to FIG.
At the rice removal process (10), the next step
At 205, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the process of the backward movement of the previous slide. Next, in step 206, the water addition / reduction process (11) is processed, and in step 207, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the water addition / reduction process. Next, in step 208, tank cleaning (12) processing is performed, and in the next step 209, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the tank cleaning processing. Further, in the next step 210, the slide backward (13) process is performed, and in step 211, it is determined whether or not there is an error. Subsequently, in step 212, the lid closing step (14) is performed, and then in step 213, the lid sensor detects the state of the automatic rice cooker to determine whether or not the lid is closed. If the lid is not in the closed state, the process proceeds to step 214, and in step 214, the action counter determines whether or not the closing action of the lid is checked for the third time. If it is the third time or less, the process returns to step 212, and step 212 is performed again.
The lid closing step is performed, and the lid closing state is checked in the next step 213. If the lid closed state check in step 213 exceeds the third check, step 214
Judgment in step 215, the process proceeds to step 215, the error bit (11) indicating the error in this case is set, and step
Proceed to step 219, turn off the "Unwashed rice" LED, and terminate the processing of the in-rice washing process with an error. Then, in order to perform the process from the beginning from the error check, the process returns to step 106.

If the lid closed state can be determined in the determination in step 213, the process proceeds to step 216, where it is again determined whether or not there is an error. Then, in step 217, the process of sliding forward (15) is performed. Then, in the next step 218, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the slide advance processing. Step 218
If it is determined that there is an error, the process proceeds to step 219, where the "washing rice" LED is turned off, the process of the washing rice process is terminated with an error, and the process from the beginning of the error check is performed. Therefore, the process returns to step 106. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 218 that there is no error, the process proceeds to step 220, the “during rice washing” LED is turned off, the series of processes during the rice washing process here is finished, and the next rice is cooked. Perform intermediate process.

By such control processing, after the rice is washed by the rice washing device 30, the washed rice is stored in the automatic rice cooker 7 which is located at the lower portion of the rice washing device 30 and whose lid is opened.
Add the specified amount of water. Next, the automatic rice cooker 7 is moved backward, the lid of the automatic rice cooker 7 is closed by the lid opening / closing mechanism 40, and the automatic rice cooker 7 is moved forward again to a predetermined position where rice is cooked so that water vapor generated during rice cooking can be discharged. Then, the rice cooking preparation process ends.

When the rice cooking preparation process is completed by the control processes up to step 220, the process during the rice cooking process from step 221 is performed next.

In the subsequent processing of the rice cooking process, first, step 22
In 1, it is determined whether or not the menu is cooked rice. When it is cooked rice, the operation to put the cooker in the rice cooker of the automatic rice cooker 7 is performed, so that the rice cooking control operation is temporarily interrupted. For this reason, the process of blinking the "cooking" LED is performed in step 222, and the process of waiting for restart (16) is performed in the next step 223.

In the restart waiting process subroutine, the contents of the process counter are set to (16) indicating that the restart waiting process is in progress, and while confirming the power failure and the set failure, the user is instructed to the user at predetermined time intervals. Performs processing to generate a buzzer sound that draws attention. During this process, it is monitored whether or not the start switch is turned on. When the start switch is turned on, the defective set is checked again and the process returns.

Perform the process of waiting for restart (16) in step 223,
In this process, the rice cooking control operation is temporarily interrupted, and while waiting for the start switch to be turned on again, the user operates the rice cooker to cook the rice with the cooked rice.
When the start switch is turned on, the restart waiting process of step 223 is exited and the process proceeds to step 224. Also, in the processing for determining cooked rice in the previous step 221,
If it is not determined that the rice is cooked, the process proceeds to step 224.

In the process of step 224, the “cooking” LED is turned on to indicate that the process of cooking rice has been started, and the process of cooking rice (17) is performed in step 225.

Although the processing during cooking rice (17) will be described later, rice cooker communication is performed and an instruction to start cooking rice is transmitted to the automatic rice cooker 7,
The rice cooking operation is started, the exhaust fan is controlled during this time to exhaust the steam generated from the automatic rice cooker 7 during the rice cooking operation, and the time is monitored so that the rice cooking operation is completed and the rice can be eaten. The time until is displayed.

When the process of cooking rice in step 225 is completed, in the process of step 226, the “cooking rice” LED is turned off to indicate that the process of cooking rice is completed, and in the next process of cooking rice in step 227. It is determined whether there is an error. If it is determined that there is an error, the process returns to step 106 to perform processing from the beginning from the error check. Also,
If it is not determined that there is an error, the next step 228
The process of (18) is performed during the heat retention.

The process of keeping warm (18) in step 228 will be described later,
While the automatic rice cooker 7 is kept warm, the automatic rice cooker 7 continues to control the exhaust fan intermittently during this period. When the process of keeping warm is completed by turning on the cancel switch, an error, etc.,
Since the process is performed from the beginning, the process returns to step 106.

In the main routine of the control processing flow of the automatic rice cooker body, a typical subroutine processing for control processing for each mechanical unit and individual processing of each step will be described below.

8a and 8b are flowcharts showing the processing of a subroutine of the processing for confirming the setting failure. This processing for confirming the setting failure is frequently performed in the main routine of the control processing flow of the main body of the automatic rice cooker to confirm the set state of each unit of the mechanical unit in the main body 1 of the automatic rice cooker. As a result of the confirmation processing performed in the processing for confirming the setting failure, the automatic rice cooking device body and each symbol of each device unit are displayed on the rice cooking element device set display portion 18 of the display zone of one section on the operation display panel 5. It is displayed schematically, and is displayed by each set confirmation display LED provided corresponding to the set position of the symbol of each device unit of the display section. From this, it is easy to determine what each of the device units has a set failure.

With reference to FIGS. 8a and 8b, the process for checking the set defect will be described. In this process, each set defect of the automatic rice cooker set, the rice cooker rail set position, and the rice storage set position is confirmed.

First, in order to confirm the setting state of the automatic rice cooker, it is determined in step 301 whether or not the rice cooker communication is normally performed. When it is determined in step 301 that the rice cooker communication is normally performed between the automatic rice cooker body and the automatic rice cooker, the automatic rice cooker 7 is set in the rice cooker unit 4, and the automatic rice cooker 7 is further set. It is determined that the power plug of is plugged into the outlet and is electrically operable. If rice cooker communication is OK in step 301,
Since the setting state of the inner pot can be determined by the sensor of the automatic rice cooker 7 according to the contents of the rice cooker communication, next, in step 302, it is determined whether or not the inner pot is present. If there is an inner pot, it can be determined that the automatic rice cooker 7 of the rice cooker unit 4 is set normally, so in step 305, the "set defect position display" LED corresponding to the display position of the automatic rice cooker is displayed. Turn off the light. If it is not determined in step 302 that the inner pot is present, the process proceeds to step 303, in which the "set failure" LED blinks, and then in step 304, the "set failure position" corresponding to the display position of the automatic rice cooker. Flashing display "LED.

Next, the setting failure of the rice cooker rail setting position is confirmed. Therefore, in step 306, it is determined whether the rice cooker rail set position is OK (normal position). If the rice cooker rail set position is OK, the process proceeds to step 309, and the "set defective position display" LED corresponding to the display position of the rice cooker rail set position is turned off. Step 306
If the rice cooker rail set position is not determined to be OK in the determination of step 307, the process proceeds to step 307, the "set failure" LED blinks, and then in step 308, the "set corresponding to the rice cooker rail set position display position" Defective position display "LED blinks.

Then, the setting failure of the rice storage setting position is confirmed. Therefore, in step 310, it is determined whether the rice storage set position is OK (normal position). If the rice storage set position is OK, the process proceeds to step 313, and the "set defect position display" L corresponding to the display position of the rice storage set position is displayed.
Turn off the ED. If it is not determined in step 310 that the rice storage setting position is OK, the process proceeds to step 311.
Go to and flash the “Faulty set” LED, then step 312
The "set defective position display" LED corresponding to the display position of the rice storage setting position blinks.

As a result, it was possible to confirm the set defect of each position of the automatic rice cooker set, the rice cooker rail set position, and the rice storage set position, so set the "set defect" flag in the overall sense. Therefore, in step 314, it is determined whether or not all the “set defect position display” LEDs are turned off. All "set defect position display" LEDs
If is not turned off, proceed to step 315,
The "set failure" flag is set and the process returns to the main routine. If all the "set defect position display" LEDs are off, proceed to step 316, reset the "set defect" flag, and in the next step 317, turn off the "set defect" LED. , Return to the main routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing of a subroutine of the cooking rice processing. In the process of cooking rice performed on the side of the main body of the automatic rice cooker, rice cooker communication is performed, an instruction to start cooking rice is transmitted to the automatic rice cooker 7, and the rice cook operation is started.
During this time, the exhaust fan is controlled to exhaust the steam generated from the automatic rice cooker 7 during the rice cooking operation, and the time is monitored to display the time until the rice cooking operation is completed and the rice can be eaten. To do.

First, in this process, the process counter is set to (17) in step 401 to indicate that the process is in the process of cooking rice. Next, in step 402, gantry lock processing is performed, and then in step 403, it is determined whether or not there is gantry lock abnormality. If there is an error in the gantry lock, the routine immediately returns to the main routine. In this case, since it is not a normal return but an abnormal return, this causes the main routine to end the process during the rice cooking process as described above, so the "cooking rice" LED indicating the end of the process during the rice cooking process is turned off ( (Step 226) Then, it is determined that there is an error (step 227), and the process from the beginning, starting from the error check process, is performed (return to step 106).

If it is determined in step 403 that there is no gantry lock abnormality, rice cook start communication is performed in the next step 404 to start the rice cook operation in the automatic rice cooker 7. As a result, the automatic rice cooker 7 starts the processing of rice cooking control according to the processing flow of rice cooking control shown in FIG. In the automatic rice cooker, after performing the rice cook start communication in step 404, after performing the power failure confirmation process in the next step 405, whether the rice cooker communication of the rice cook start communication performed in step 406 is OK or not. judge. If there is no reception response in the rice cooker communication and the rice cooker communication is not OK, it is determined in the next step 407 whether or not the time is up. If it is not, the process returns to step 405 to perform the power failure confirmation process, Repeat the determination process for confirmation of rice cooker communication. Even if the predetermined time-up time has elapsed, there is no reception response of rice cooker communication, rice cooker communication is not judged as OK,
When the time is up in step 407, next step 408
Go to and set the error bit (E12) to indicate the error condition here. Then, the "remaining minutes" display is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine. In this case as well, since it is not a normal return but an abnormal return, this causes the main routine to end the process during the rice cooking process as described above, so the "cooking rice" LED indicating the process completion during the rice cooking process is turned off. (Step 226) Then, it is determined that there is an error (step 227), and the process from the beginning starting from the error check process is performed (step 106).
Return to).

Also, in step 406, within a predetermined time-up time, a response to the rice cooker communication is received, and the rice cooker communication is
When it is determined to be OK, the automatic rice cooker 7 has started a normal rice cooking control operation.
The exhaust motor is turned on, and the exhaust fan unit is driven to start exhausting water vapor generated from the automatic rice cooker 7.

Next, in step 411, a power failure confirmation process is performed, and in the next step 412, it is determined whether or not the cooked rice time display section indicates "00 minutes left" in order to determine the cooked rice. "00 after" when the rice is cooked
If "minutes" is not displayed, the process proceeds to step 413 to determine whether the rice cooking menu is cooked, and if it is cooked, it is further determined in step 414 whether it is a mulling process. To do. If the rice-cooking menu is cooked and you have entered the Murashi process, proceed to step 415,
The "remaining minutes" display is turned on, the process then returns to step 411, and the processing from step 411 is repeated. In addition, when it is not determined in step 413 that cooking is in progress, or when it is not determined in step 414 that it is a nonuniformity process, the process returns to step 411 and the processing from step 411 is repeated.

When the cooked rice is cooked and it is judged in step 412 that the cooked time display section shows "00 minutes left", the process proceeds to step 416 and the "minutes left" display is turned off. Next, in step 417, the process of buzzer notification 3 is performed. Then, in step 418, it is determined whether or not the loop counter is 8 times. If it is not 8, the power failure is confirmed in step 419. The process of returning to step 417 is repeated. As a result, the process of the buzzer notification 3 is repeated eight times, and after the notification of the completion of cooking, the process returns to the main routine. In this case, the return is normal.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a subroutine of processing during warming. The heat-insulating process performed on the side of the main body of the automatic rice cooker is performed in response to the normal process of cooking rice, the completion of the rice cooking operation of the automatic rice cooker 7, and the start of the heat insulating operation of the automatic rice cooker 7. Processing. The process during the heat retention is continued while the automatic rice cooker 7 is keeping the temperature, and control such as intermittent driving of the exhaust fan is performed during this time. When the process during the heat retention is terminated by turning on the cancel switch, occurrence of an error, or the like, the subroutine of the process during the heat retention is returned. In addition, during the warming process, when the rice is cooked with porridge, the warming lamp is turned on and off, and when the rice is cooked with ordinary rice, the warming lamp is continuously lit to indicate the state of the rice being warmed. Display separately.

This will be described with reference to FIG. In this heat retention process,
First, in step 501, the process counter is set to (18) to indicate that the process during the heat retention is started. Next, in step 502, data set during heat retention is performed. Next, the unit lock motor is turned off (OFF). Next, in step 504, the exhaust motor is turned on, the exhaust fan unit is driven, and the exhaust of steam generated from the automatic rice cooker 7 is started.

Next, in step 505, it is determined whether the rice cooking menu is rice porridge. If it is porridge cooked rice,
Proceeding to step 517, the heat retention lamp is flashed. And
In the next step 518, it is determined whether or not the cancel switch has been turned on. If the cancel switch is not turned on, the warming is continued, so the process proceeds to step 521, where it is determined whether or not the rice cooker is initial, and in the next step 522, it is determined whether or not there is a rice cooker. If it is determined in step 521 that the rice cooker initials, step 522 is performed again.
If the presence of the rice cooker cannot be confirmed in step, the process proceeds to step 515 to end the process during the heat retention.

In these judgment steps, not the rice cooker initials,
If there is a rice cooker, since it is OK to continue the heat retention, the process proceeds to step 523, performs the process of intermittent drive of the fan in step 523, performs the process of confirming the power failure in the next step 524, and proceeds to step 518. Return. Then, the processing from step 518 is repeatedly performed, and the processing during the heat retention in this case is continued.

If it is determined in step 518 that the cancel switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step 519 to interrupt the process during the heat retention and terminates the process, and performs the process of canceling the heat retention for the automatic rice cooker. Perform the processing of
Proceed to step 515. Then, at step 515, the heat keeping lamp is turned off, and at step 516, the content of the process counter is set to (0
Set to 0) and return to the main routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 505 that it is not rice porridge, then in step 506, the automatic rice cooker 7
It is determined whether or not is kept warm. If it is not determined that the rice cooker is kept warm in this determination, an error (E
12) Display is made, and then, in step 507, the heat retention lamp is turned on. In this case, since the rice is kept warm, the heating lamp is lit continuously.

Then, in the next step 508, it is determined whether or not the cancel switch has been turned on. If the cancel switch is not turned on, the process of continuing the warming operation is performed, so the process proceeds to step 511, and it is determined whether or not the rice cooker is initial in step 511, and whether or not the rice cooker is present in the next step 512. judge. If it is determined in step 511 that the rice cooker is initial, or if the presence of the rice cooker cannot be confirmed in step 512, the process proceeds to step 515 to end the process during the heat retention.

Also, in the determination steps of step 511 and step 512, if there is a rice cooker instead of the rice cooker initial,
Since the heat retention can be continued as it is, the process proceeds to step 513, and the processing of the fan intermittent drive is performed in step 513. Next, the power failure confirmation processing of step 514 is performed, and step 508
Return to Then, the process from step 508 is repeated, and the process during the heat retention in this case is continued. Step 50
When it is determined in step 8 that the cancel switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step 509 to interrupt the process during the warming and terminates the process, and performs the process of canceling the warming for the automatic rice cooker. The process proceeds to step 515. Then, at step 515, the heat keeping lamp is turned off. At step 516, the content of the process counter is set to (00), and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of intermittent fan drive performed in a subroutine of heat retention processing. The processing of the fan intermittent drive is a control routine of drive control for the exhaust fan unit. In this process, in step 601, the process (1
8) Determine whether it is 10 minutes after entering, and
If not, return immediately. Also,
If 10 minutes have elapsed after the step (18), the process proceeds to step 602, where the exhaust fan is driven in an intermittent drive pattern in which the drive time is turned on for 10 seconds and turned off for 1 minute.

As described above, the intermittent drive of the exhaust fan performed during the heat retention process is started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the control of the process during the heat retention was started. The driving period for driving is shorter than the rest period for stopping driving of the exhaust fan.

Therefore, in such a process during heat retention, the exhaust noise is lowered by operating the exhaust fan intermittently, and the drive noise is reduced, and the exhaust performance of the exhaust fan is reduced. .

As described above, the automatic rice cooker includes a rice storage weighing unit in which a rice storage and a weighing device are incorporated in the box body, a rice washing unit in which a rice washing device is incorporated, and an automatic rice cooker. A rice cooker unit is provided, and a main body control circuit, which is a control device for controlling the devices of each unit, is provided. The control unit main body control unit takes out the rice to be cooked from the rice storage and weighs it, the washing process to wash the weighed rice, the rice preparation process to set the washed rice on the automatic rice cooker and adjust the water content, Controls each step of the in-cooking process that gives instructions to start cooking to the automatic rice cooker to monitor the rice cooking operation, and the warming process that monitors the heat retention state of the automatic rice cooker after rice is cooked. The rice cooker is an automatic machine that performs such control. When controlling the whole rice cooking process, such a main body control circuit checks each drive unit and performs data communication of control data with the automatic rice cooker to detect the state of the automatic rice cooker. However, sequence control for all rice cooking processes is performed. In that case, the communication path for data communication is to install the optical transceiver installed on the side of the automatic rice cooker and the optical transceiver installed on the side of the automatic rice cooker in positions close to each other and face each other. Form a signal communication path.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining an optical signal communication path for control data communication between the main body of the automatic rice cooker and the automatic rice cooker.

Referring to FIG. 12, an optical transmitter / receiver (optical transmitter / receiver side optical transmitter / receiver) 49 is provided on the back side of the base of the automatic rice cooker 7, and a slide rail is mounted on the automatic rice cooker body side. An optical transmitter / receiver (an optical rice cooker main body side optical transmitter / receiver) 48 is provided in a case 48a having a shape protruding into a space behind the base of the automatic rice cooker 7 on the carriage 47a.

Optical transmitter / receiver (optical transmitter / receiver side optical transmitter / receiver) 48 and optical transmitter / receiver (automatic rice cooker side optical transmitter / receiver) when the automatic rice cooker 7 is set at a predetermined position in the rice cooker unit
49 and face each other in close proximity to each other to form an optical signal communication path 68 between the main body of the automatic rice cooker and the automatic rice cooker 7. The optical signal communication path 68 is a communication path for performing control data communication. The optical signal communication path 68 has a short distance, and since the space behind the base of the automatic rice cooker 7 is in a state in which outside light does not enter from the surroundings, it is highly resistant to noise and communicates with an optical signal. Therefore, it is sufficiently strong against dielectric noise and radio wave noise from the power supply circuit that controls the energization of the rice cooking heater.

As mentioned above, although the present invention was explained concretely based on an example, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example.
It goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, when rice that does not need to be washed is stored in the rice storage, it goes without saying that the rice washing device and the rice washing process are unnecessary.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the automatic rice cooker of the present invention, when the rice cooker is set on the dolly, the outlet on the dolly can be used, and when it is unloaded, the normal outlet can be used.

In addition, since the outlet is attached to the trolley to be pulled out, the electric wire layout decided at the design stage is maintained as it is, and the electric wire is not entangled even when the trolley is taken in and out.

In addition, the rice cooker and the power outlet are always in a fixed position, and the electric wire connecting them can be passed through a place where the influence of cooking water or steam is small by design.

Also, when rice is inserted (set) in the rice cooker, the lid of the rice cooker is automatically opened, and when rice is inserted (set),
Since the lid opening / closing means for automatically closing the lid is provided, it is possible to reliably prepare rice.

Further, the rice cooker is provided with an optical transceiver on the rice cooker side, and when the rice cooker is placed on a trolley, the optical transceiver on the main body of the automatic rice cooker is installed at a position facing the optical transceiver on the rice cooker side of the trolley Provided, by forming an optical communication path for communication of control data between this optical rice cooker body side optical transceiver and the rice cooker side optical transceiver, set the rice cooker to the automatic rice cooker body, If you connect the power plug to the outlet of the power supply circuit, you can automatically cook rice with the automatic rice cooker, and if you take out the automatic rice cooker body or the rice cooker, you can use it alone as a normal rice cooker, and when using it alone Even if there is, it is convenient because it can be easily taken out or loaded into the automatic rice cooker.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an automatic rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the automatic rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. The front view which shows an example of the operation display panel provided in the front side of the box main body of the automatic rice cooking device concerning one Example, FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the mechanism part of each unit of an automatic rice cooking device. 5, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a control device for controlling each rice cooker element in the main body of the automatic rice cooker, and FIG. 6 shows an outline of a rice cook control of the rice cook control circuit 60. Flowcharts, Figures 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, and 7f.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the outline of the rice cooking control flow of the main body control circuit 50. FIGS. 8a and 8b are flowcharts showing the subroutine processing of the processing for confirming the setting failure. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine process of cooking rice, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a subroutine of warming process, and FIG. 11 is an intermittent fan drive performed in a subroutine of warming process. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing flow, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts for explaining an optical signal communication path for control data communication between the main body of the automatic rice cooker and the automatic rice cooker. In the figure, 1 ... Automatic rice cooker body, 2 ... Rice storage unit, 3 ... Rice washing unit, 4 ... Rice cooking unit, 5 ...
Operation display panel, 6 ... Exhaust fan unit, 7 ...
Automatic rice cooker, 8 ... Main power switch, 9 ... Rice polishing unit, 10 ... Rice polishing mechanism section, 11 ... Time set display section,
12 …… rice cooking menu setting part, 13 …… rice cooking amount setting part, 14…
… Hardness (adjusting cooking water) setting part, 15 …… Washing setting part, 16
...... Rice cooking operation mode instruction setting unit, 17 …… Rice cooking element device set confirmation display unit, 20 …… Shelves, 21 …… Weighing device, 22…
… Measuring drum motor, 23 …… Encoder, 24 …… Water supply valve, 30 …… Rice washing device, 31 …… Rice washing outer tank, 32 …… Rice washing inner tank, 33 …… Stirring blade, 34 …… Rice washing motor, 35… ... rice discharge port, 36 ... rice discharge valve, 37 ... rice discharge valve cam mechanism, 38 ... drain port, 39 ... exhaust duct, 40 ... lid opening / closing mechanism, 41 ... opening / closing motor, 42 ... second 1st link, 43 …… Second link, 44 ……
3rd link, 45 …… elevation motor, 46 …… slide motor, 47 …… slide rail, 48 …… optical transmitter / receiver (optical transmitter / receiver side optical transmitter / receiver), 49 …… optical transmitter / receiver (automatic rice cooker side) Optical transmitter / receiver), 50 ... Main body control circuit, 51 ... Main body control section, 52 ... Voice output section, 53 ... Display input section, 54 ...
Sensor input section, 55 …… Drive output section, 56 …… Photo coupler (optical transceiver), 57 …… Commercial AC power supply, 58 …… Breaker, 59 …… Outlet, 60 …… Rice cooker control circuit, 61…
… Rice cooker control unit, 62 …… Photo coupler, 63 …… Temperature sensor, 64 …… Rice cooker heater, 65 …… Insulation heater, 66 …… Display input unit.

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-2-111320 (JP, A) JP-A-62-102715 (JP, A) JP-A-2-99011 (JP, A) JP-A-1-313015 (JP , A) JP-A-2-119807 (JP, A) JP-A-1-313013 (JP, A) JP-A-2-126814 (JP, A)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rice box, a rice cooker, and a control device for controlling each of the above devices are provided in a box body, and a rice preparation process for setting rice from the rice cooker to the rice cooker, and starting rice cooking in the rice cooker It is an automatic rice cooker that controls each step of the rice cooking process that gives instructions and controls rice cooking and the heat retention process that controls the heat retention state after rice cooking. An automatic rice cooker characterized in that a power outlet of the rice cooker is provided at a predetermined position on a cart on which the rice cooker is placed, and a power plug of the rice cooker can be connected to the power outlet. 2. A box body is provided with a rice storage, a rice cooker, and a control device for controlling each of the above devices, and a rice preparation step of setting rice from the rice storage into the rice cooker, and starting rice cooking in the rice cooker An automatic rice cooker for controlling each step of a rice cooking process for giving instructions and controlling rice cooking, and a heat insulating process for controlling a heat insulating state after rice cooking, wherein the rice cooker is mounted on a trolley and is attached to the rice cooker. The rice cooker side optical transceiver is provided, and the automatic rice cooker main body side optical transceiver is provided at a position of the cart facing the rice cooker side optical transceiver when the rice cooker is placed on a dolly. An automatic rice cooker characterized by forming an optical communication path for communication of control data between the main body side optical transceiver and the rice cooker side optical transceiver. 3. The automatic rice cooker according to claim 2,
An automatic rice cooker comprising a lid opening / closing means for automatically opening a lid of the rice cooker when inserting the rice into the rice cooker and automatically closing the lid when the rice is completely inserted.