JP2638507B2 - Rice washing water supply method and equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel water supply method for a rice washing apparatus in a commercial rice cooker and the apparatus, and more particularly to a method for washing rice using a cylindrical rice washing tank, and adding water in the tank after the rice washing. The present invention relates to an improved water supply method and apparatus in a rice washing apparatus for discharging rice in a tank together with outflow of water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art After washing rice using a rice washing tank formed of a cylindrical body having an inverted conical bottom, a predetermined amount of water is stored in the tank and a conical rice discharging valve provided at the bottom is provided. 2. Description of the Related Art An automatic rice cooker provided with a rice washing machine having a structure to open and discharge rice and water is known from, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-137020.

[0003]

By the way, in the rice cooker provided with the above-mentioned rice washing means, the diameter of the outlet (pouring outlet), the opening of the rice discharge valve, and the height of the water level in the tank are appropriately selected and determined. There is a need. In particular, the water level is a factor that determines the flow velocity at the outlet. If a predetermined flow velocity cannot be obtained, a large amount of residual rice is generated in the tank, which is a serious problem in practical use.
In particular, when a small amount of rice is washed, the absolute value of the water storage amount is small, so that the required water level in the tank cannot be obtained, and the rice discharging characteristics deteriorate.

In addition, when rice is stirred using a stirrer arranged in the tank, a large amount of rice grains that have risen due to the rotation of the stirring member adhere to the inner wall of the tank and adhere to the wall surface above the water level at which the water is adjusted. The remaining amount remains in the tank and remains as rice. The remaining rice hinders the opening and closing of the rice discharge valve at the outlet, and furthermore often poses a sanitary problem, so it is necessary to eliminate as much as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful water supply method and apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned problems, clarify washing water, and obtain accurate water adjustment.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rice discharging means 11.
And a drainage unit 10 and the water supply means 9 and, together with and a rice washing tank 12 with a built-in stirring means 8, in the cooking apparatus equipped with a cooker 38 for receiving the bran rice from the exhaust rice means 11, The following technical measures have been taken to achieve the above objectives.

Accordingly, the present invention is, first of all, at discharge rice finished, the supply water means 9 a predetermined time operated to water supply means 9
In rice washing tank 12 the water from the fountain means 20 provided in
The washing is carried out by sending the washing water to a wall surface above the water storage level, and the washing water is supplied to the rice cooker 38. The present invention, in the second, and is characterized in that it comprises a fountain unit 20 on the supply water means 9 to be transmitted to the wash water against the upper wall from the water storage level in the cleaning tank 12 .

[0008]

[Action] The remaining rice final stage i.e. bran rice tank 12 rice top in rice washing tank 12 only performs a water supply predetermined time from the fountain means 20 upon completion of the almost exhausted remaining rice and bottom of the exhaust rice step Wash off instantly. The amount of water used for this washing is constant regardless of the amount of rice, and is added to the amount of water added or subtracted. This means that the amount of water that evaporates during the rice cooking is substantially constant regardless of the amount of the rice cooked.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention and its operation will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a rice storage 1 formed in a hopper shape has a fixed quantity dividing means 2 at a lower bottom thereof, and is disposed above a cubic box 5. The quantitative sorting means 2 shown in the present embodiment has an opening 2 which is partially notched in the circumferential surface.
A is provided, and a fixed-capacity cylindrical body having both ends closed is arranged horizontally, and the shaft of the cylindrical body is rotated in one direction by the electric motor 3 to drop the rice in the rice storage 1 downward. , A pulse output corresponding to a preset number of revolutions is detected, and the motor 3
Is driven to determine a desired amount.
A sensor S for detecting the remaining amount of rice is provided at the bottom of the rice storage 1.
Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, a horizontal slide rail 5A is attached to the upper inner surface of the left and right side plates of the box 5, and a pair of slide shushes 4 fitted to the slide rail 5A are used to store rice. 1 attached to the upper outer surface of the left and right side plates,
By inserting the slide shoe 4 into the slide rail 5A so as to be slidable, the rice storage 1 is inserted into the box 5 as indicated by an arrow A in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the housing is supported so that it can be freely moved in and out, and can be locked as required during operation by a lock means 6 provided in the box 5.

A rice washing device 7 is disposed below the rice storage 1 and has a stirring means 8 and a water supply means 9 and a drain port 10 which can be opened and closed at the bottom as shown in FIG. And a rice washing tank 12 having a cylindrical body having an openable / closable outlet 11. The drainage port 10 is a drainage unit, and the outlet 11 is a rice discharger. The rice-washing tank 12 is formed as a conical portion that is open at the top and that is tapered downward from the lower half, and that extends from the upper pedestal 13 with the cylinder axis extending in the vertical direction. The slide shoes 14 attached to the left and right of the gantry 13 are fitted to the horizontal slide rails 5B attached to the
Here, as shown by the arrow B in FIG. 1, the rice washing device 7 is stored and supported in the box 5 so as to be freely movable in and out of the horizontal direction, and can be locked by the locking means 15 provided in the box 5 in the stored state. ing.

The agitating means 8 extends radially on a horizontal plane and extends downward parallel to the axis to a cylindrical shaft 17 which is driven to rotate by an electric motor 16 provided on a gantry 13. It has a bar 18 formed along the axis, and the cylinder shaft 17 is aligned with the cylinder center line of the cylinder 12. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the stirring means 8 includes a longitudinal component 18A extending downward with the radially extending rods having different rotational radii parallel to the axis and an oblique component 18B extending downward along the conical portion. And the lower end of the oblique direction component 18B approaches the spout 11 and separates upward. The lower end of the oblique direction component 18B approaching the spout 11 is located between the valve stem 29 and the lower end. With the gap T, rice is easily distributed at the time of rice discharge.

The water supply means 9 is, as shown in FIGS.
By disposing above the device water supply pipe communicating with the other end to the constant head tank 22 through the injection water means 20 and solenoid valve 21 having a plurality of fountain nozzles communicated with the pressure water system through a solenoid valve 19 a name Ru water supply means 23 than equal, fountain nozzle is arranged so that it can always washed further wall of the upper than the maximum value of the corresponding Mizukagen to the maximum throughput of polished rice by the injection angle.

As shown in FIG. 6, a drain jacket 24 having a drain port 10 and a spout 11 is disposed at the lower bottom portion of the rice washing tank 12 so as to surround the lower bottom portion in a ring shape. , A funnel-shaped perforated plate 25 is attached, and the drain port 10 communicates with a drain gutter 27 via an on-off valve 26. The spout 11 is openable and closable by a conical rice discharge valve 28, and the rice discharge valve 28 allows a valve rod 29 to pass through the cylinder shaft 17 so as to be movable up and down.
Is moved up and down by a control mechanism (not shown), so that the rice discharge valve 28 can be freely opened and closed.

Here, the rice washing apparatus 7 constructed as described above is used.
Is capable of receiving the milled rice supplied from the fixed quantity sorting means 2 of the rice storage 1 into the cylindrical body 12 via the chute 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the constant water level tank 22 is disposed in the upper portion of the box 5 using the depth space when the rice storage 1 is stored in the box 5. 22
Is connected to an overflow pipe 32 that communicates with a drainage gutter 27 at an overflow port 31, and has a water supply port 35 that communicates with a pressure water system via an upper limit water level detection sensor 33 and an electromagnetic valve 34.

In the constant water level tank 22, the water level detection sensor 33 detects the water level at a point L1 slightly above the overflow level L2 and closes the solenoid valve 34, and the second water supply from the solenoid valve 21 is performed. The flow rate flowing out through the means 23 is determined by the water level L2 in the tank 22. The water supply amount of the solenoid valve 34 is determined by the water level head height H and the flow rate flowing out of the solenoid valve 21 and the overflow rate from the overflow port 31. The flow rate is set equal to or slightly greater than the sum of

At the lower part of the rice washing device 7, a rice cooker 38 is mounted on an L-shaped pedestal 37 having a pair of slide bushings 36 so as to be detachable and positionable. The slide cooker 36 is fitted into the horizontal guide rail 5C attached to the inner surface, so that the rice cooker 38 is housed in the box 5 so as to be freely movable in and out in the horizontal direction as shown by arrow C in FIG. During operation, the lock means 39 is capable of being locked freely, and is housed in the box 5.

Here, the rice storage 1, the rice washing device 7 and the rice cooker 38 are individually housed in the box 5 so as to be freely movable in and out of the horizontal direction.
The locking means 6, 15, 39 have hooks 6 </ b> A, 15 </ b> A, 39 </ b> A which are of an electromagnet type and can be engaged and disengaged in this embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rice cooker 38 includes an outer pot 40 and an inner pot 41. The outer pot 40 has an upper lid 42 that can be freely opened and closed by pivoting in a vertical direction by a pivot portion 43. The upper lid 42 can be hermetically sealed with a hook 44. The upper lid 42 has an inner lid 45, and the upper lid 4 is
When the container 2 is closed, the inner pot 41 is simultaneously closed by the inner lid 45.

Further, the rice cooker 38 includes a heater 46, a rice cooker completion sensor 47, a sensor 48 for detecting the presence or absence of the inner pot 41, and the like.
In addition to the provision of the heat retention control circuit means, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper lid 42 can be opened and only the inner pot 41 can be taken out at the position where the upper lid 42 is pulled out from the box 5.
The rice cooker 38 is detachable from the gantry 37.

When removing from the gantry 37,
The electric connection between the rice cooker 38 and the apparatus main body can be cut off by a power supply mechanism 50 such as a heater 46, while the rice cooker 38 taken out can be kept warm by a separate power supply using a cord reel type plug 51. It is configured as follows. An opening 52 is formed in the upper lid 2 of the rice cooker 38, and the opening 52 is vertically connected to the spout 11 of the rice washing device 7 disposed above when the rice cooker 38 is stored in the box 5. And can be opened and closed by a shutter 53.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a flat U-shaped slide rail frame 54 is provided around the opening 52 of the upper lid 42, and the rail groove 5 of the slide rail frame 54 is provided.
The opening 52 can be freely opened and closed by fitting a shutter 53 having a projection 53A so as to be freely movable in the horizontal direction. A shutter driving mechanism 55 is provided at the rear in the lower half of the box 5.
5 is a motor 56 which can be switched between forward and reverse rotation as shown in FIG.
And a screw shaft 59 supported by bearings 57 and 58 having an axial direction in the depth direction (front-rear direction) of the box 5 below the motor 56, and interlocking the screw shaft 59 with the motor 56. A transmission body 60 represented by a connecting gear, a driving element 61 supported by a screw shaft 59 so as to be capable of feeding a screw, and a mooring hook 63 provided on the driving element so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 62 as a fulcrum; It comprises a spring 64 for urging the hook 63 to the mooring position, and sensors 65 and 66 for controlling the stop and reciprocation switching of the driver 61 reciprocating between the intervals L.

The driving element 61 of the shutter driving mechanism 55 is waiting at the position C in FIG. 3, and at this position C, the upper part of the hook 63 has the spring 57 with the bearing 57 as a stopper.
4 is compressed to hold the hook 63 in the mooring preparation posture.
In this state, when the rice cooker 38 is stored in the box 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3, the projection 53 </ b> A of the shutter 53 is brought into contact with the front surface of the driver 61, and the shutter 53 is moved to the slide rail frame 54. 5 along the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
Is closed in conjunction with the storage operation of the rice cooker 38.

To open the shutter 53, an electric motor 56 is used.
When the driver 61 is moved from the C position to the A position by the screw feed action of the screw shaft 59 by the start of the movement, the hook 63 is turned down on the support shaft 62 by the elastic force of the spring 64 at the movement process B position, The shutter 53 is moored to the projection 53A of the shutter 53, and the shutter 53 opens the opening 52 with the driver 61 as shown by the arrow in FIG.

The closing operation of the shutter 53 after the completion of the supply of the predetermined rice washing is performed by moving the driver 61 in the opposite direction.
Since the projection 53A of the shutter 53 is pushed forward on the front surface of the driver 61, the shutter 53 moves as shown by the arrow in FIG. In addition, in the figure, reference numeral 67 denotes a console panel for inputting data such as a desired amount of cooked rice, water addition, dipping time, steaming time, and cooking time. Reference numeral 68 denotes a top plate, which is detachable on the box 5. 69 is a wheel, 70 is a steam exhaust means.

The device of the present invention is provided with a drainage port, and various hoses (tubes), wires, and the like are connected to allow a drawing stroke. Next, an operation mode of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, when a rice storage 1 storing a predetermined amount of rice is inserted into a predetermined position in a box, a sensor (not shown) detects the rice storage 1 and the presence or absence of rice is detected by the sensor S. . Similarly, when the rice washing device 7 is inserted at a predetermined position, a sensor (not shown) detects this, and when the rice cooker 38 is further inserted at a predetermined position, a sensor (not shown).
Detects this. The presence or absence of the inner pot 41 of the rice cooker 38 is detected by a sensor 48.

As described above, the start-up preparation is completed only when all the sensors operate. On the other hand, after inputting data such as the desired amount of cooked rice, water addition and subtraction, immersion time, steaming time, and cooking time from the console panel 67, when the start button is pressed, the rice storage 1, the rice washing device 7, and the rice cooker 38 are pressed. The lock means 6, 15 and 39 are operated to lock all the mechanisms in the refrigerator. In the above state, the start signal can be received.

After the start signal is input, it is confirmed that the conical rice discharging valve 28 for closing the rice discharging means 11 of the rice washing device 7 is closed. After that, the rice is dropped into the rice washing tank 12 of the rice washing device 7. Upon completion of the measurement, the stirring means 8 rotates, and the electromagnetic valve 19
Water as an arrow示点line 20A in FIG. 6 is started from the first nozzle of the injection water means 20 opens.

The rice-washed wastewater in the rice-washing tank 12 passes through a perforated plate 25 provided in a drainage jacket 24 at the bottom, passes through a drainage port 10 that can be opened and closed, and is drained out of the system through a drainage gutter 27. When the rice washing process for a predetermined time is completed, the water supply in the rice washing tank 12 is temporarily interrupted, and the process proceeds to the rice polishing process in which only the stirring means 8 rotates. During this time, the electromagnetic valve 34 is opened to start supplying water to the constant water level tank 22, and once the water supply is stopped at the water level of the water level sensor 33, water is stored up to the overflow port 31. After repeating the rice washing step and the rice polishing step a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to a rinsing step.

In the rinsing step, after the on-off valve 26 is closed and water is stored in the rice washing tank 12 to a predetermined water level, the on-off valve 26 is opened and drainage is performed at once. The purpose is to clarify. In the embodiment of the present invention, a maximum value of water adjustment corresponding to a preset rice cooking amount, for example, a water amount of 30% increase of equal water adjustment can be used as a water amount for one rinsing step. It has a very high effect on clarification of wastewater and water saving.

That is, in the rinsing step, the electromagnetic valve 21 of the pipe 23 communicating with the bottom of the constant water level tank 22 is opened, and at the same time, the electromagnetic valve 34 is opened to start supplying water into the rice washing tank 12. Since the water level H in the constant water level tank 22 is kept constant by the overflow port 31, the flow rate of water supplied by the solenoid valve 21 is always constant. Therefore, by opening the solenoid valve 21 for a preset time, an accurate water storage amount is secured. The flow rate flowing from the water supply solenoid valve 34 is adjusted to be equal to or slightly larger than the sum of the flow rate flowing out of the solenoid valve 21 and the overflow amount from the overflow port 31. Therefore, the water level H can always be kept stable.

The rinsing process is repeated several times, and when the drainage of the rice washing tank 12 is completed, the process proceeds to the water adding / decreasing process. Drain 1
0, the on-off valve 26 is closed and the solenoid valve 2 is set for a preset time.
1 opens and adjusts water. The shutter 53 is opened by the shutter drive mechanism 55 at the same time as the water addition and removal, and the opening 52 which is an inflow port for rice and water provided on the upper lid 42 is opened. Upon detecting the opening of the shutter 53, the rice discharging valve 28 is opened and the rice and water are discharged into the inner pot 41. The rice and water discharged from the rice washing tank 12 flow down in a hollow radial manner along the slope of the rice discharge valve 28. As a result, the rice deposited in the inner pot 41 exhibits an ideal distribution curve, and the surface of rice is formed. No further measures are required.

On the other hand, when the rice is discharged from the rice washing tank 12, it is desirable to rotate the stirring means 8 for a short time at the same time as opening the rice discharge valve 28 in order to increase the rice discharging efficiency. Here, when the amount of rice to be treated is small, a large amount of rice grains remain particularly at the bottom of the tank,
Further, a large amount of rice grains may adhere to and remain in the portion indicated by the symbol D in FIG. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention,
The remaining rice final stage remaining rice that is rice bran rice tank 12 has risen auction at the top performs predetermined short time watering from the nozzle of the injection water means 20 upon completion of the almost exhausted and the bottom of the exhaust rice step Wash off instantly.

The amount of water used for this washing is constant regardless of the amount of rice, and is added to the amount of water added or subtracted. This means that the amount of water that evaporates during cooking is almost constant regardless of the amount of cooked rice. Can be eliminated. The rice discharging valve 28 that has been opened for a predetermined time for the above-described cleaning, that is, the remaining rice processing, is closed. When the closing of the rice discharging valve 28 is detected, the shutter driving mechanism 55 reverses and the shutter 53 is closed.

With the above, the rice washing process is completed, and the process proceeds to the immersion process. If only the rice washing process is selected and set in advance, the automatic operation ends here, and the locks of all the mechanisms are released, and the rice can be pulled out from the box. When the preset immersion time has elapsed, the power supply to the heater 46 is started, and the process proceeds to the rice cooking process. After a predetermined time elapses after the start of the rice cooking process, the steam exhaust means 70 having a fan is activated to exhaust steam to the outside of the system. Completion of rice cooking is detected by the sensor 47, and then the process proceeds to the steaming step. The rice cooker 38 has a built-in heat retention control circuit, detects a decrease in the temperature of the inner pot 41, and is configured to automatically keep the temperature after the steaming process is completed. At the end of the steaming step, the lock of the rice cooker 38 is released and the rice cooker 38 can be pulled out from the box 5.

Thus, a series of operation steps in the apparatus of the present invention is completed. The rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above-described structure and operation mode eliminates the complexity of the rice cooking operation at all, and allows a user to eat freshly cooked rice at a desired time just by setting a timer. In addition to the epoch-making utility value, it has many advantages as follows.

The rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention is convenient for replenishing rice, since each mechanism is constituted independently of each other and can be freely moved in and out of the box. The top plate can be used as a cooking table or storage space, etc.Especially, it is easy to clean the rice washing mechanism that requires cleaning management.Easy inspection of each part and easy replacement of each mechanism or part in case of failure It has many advantages such as being able to do so.

Further, since the rice cooker having the shutter which can be opened and closed in the horizontal direction is provided on the upper lid, the rice cooker can be set in the apparatus main body with the upper lid closed, so that the overall height of the apparatus is significantly increased. It is possible to realize a highly practical device that can be reduced and can be provided in a compact size that can be stored in a system kitchen in addition to a single unit type.

Further, as for the water supply means, the complexity of the structure and the poor cleanability found in the conventionally proposed float type, moving electrode type or fixed-quantity water storage type, as well as water level detection due to dirt, change in water quality, etc. In view of many problems such as frequent errors, the adoption of a digital control method using a constant water tank completely eliminates the above problems and has the advantage of being able to accurately control the micro water volume range. is there.

Although the embodiment of the present invention is as described above, the following design changes are free. Rice can be replenished each time from the rice washing tank of the rice washing device.In addition, for example, a structure that replenishes rice by opening and closing or sliding the top plate with a fixed rice storage, or a metering device for rice storage , The structure in which only the hopper is provided to supply the pre-measured rice every time, and the design change of the metering machine, etc. all belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0040]

The present invention is as described above. According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the cleanability of the apparatus without causing residual rice even when a small amount of rice is washed, by enabling accurate water adjustment. Further, according to the method of the present invention, since the washing water is discharged, the valve means for opening and closing the rice discharging means, particularly, the closed state can be reliably sealed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing an arrangement of an internal mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the handling of the rice cooker.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the inside of the rice cooker.

FIG. 4 is a plan view when a shutter is closed.

FIG. 5 is a plan view when a shutter is opened.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a water supply means.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 8 Stirring means 9 Water supply means 10 Drainage means 11 Rice discharging means 12 Rice washing tank 20 Fountain means 38 Rice cooker

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A and a discharge rice means (11) and drainage means (10) and water supply means (9), together with and a rice washing tank with a built-in stirring means (8) (12), wherein in rice cooking system comprising rice cooker (38) for receiving the bran rice from exhaust US means (11), at discharge rice ends, the said supply water means (9) operating a predetermined time
The water from the fountain means (20) provided in the water supply means (9) is washed and sent to the wall surface above the water storage level in the rice tank (12) .
Washing and supplying the washing water to a rice cooker (38). 2. A and a discharge rice means (11) and drainage means (10) and water supply means (9), together with and a rice washing tank with a built-in stirring means (8) (12), wherein in rice cooking system comprising rice cooker (38) for receiving the bran rice from exhaust US means (11), the paper water unit to be sent washing water against the upper wall from the water storage level in the washing tub (12) ( 9)
A rice washing water supply device comprising a water means (20) .