JP3344127B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rice cooker for controlling a heating means by judging an amount of rice cooked in a pot to cook rice in a predetermined rice cooking sequence.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, diversification of consumer preferences and demand for more delicious rice have become stronger, and rice cookers controlled by microcomputers have become widespread.

Conventionally, a rice cooking sequence of this type of rice cooker is generally as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the temperature of the first temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pan is indicated by a solid line, and the temperature of the second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the lid is indicated by a dotted line. Hereinafter, the rice cooking sequence will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, first, rice is kept at a constant temperature θa in preparation for cooking rice, and for a predetermined time Ta,
A pre-cooking process is performed before immersion in water to absorb water. Next, it enters into a cooking process and is heated until it boils. At this time, the first temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pan is set to the first predetermined temperature θ1.
Is detected, and the amount of rice cooked in the pot is determined based on the time T1 of the rice cooked amount determination step from when the second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the lid detects the second predetermined temperature θ2. Thereafter, the heating output is adjusted according to the amount of cooked rice to maintain the boiling.
When the water in the pot decreases in the boiling maintaining step, the temperature of the pot gradually increases, and when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature θb (for example, 130 ° C.), the cooking step ends. Finally, the rice is uniformly absorbed for a certain period of time Tb, and a steaming process of repeating steaming with a heating output such that the rice at the bottom of the pot does not scorch for a certain period of time is performed, and the rice is finished. Was like that.

[0005]

In such a conventional rice cooker, when the time from the end of the previous rice cooker to the start of the next rice cooker is short, the temperature of the pan is cooled by water and rice. Since the temperature of the part cannot be sufficiently lowered, the temperature of the lid part rises quickly, and the error in the rice cooked amount determination increases. For this reason, there was a problem that heating output in accordance with the amount of cooked rice could not be performed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and detects the continuous rice cooking by means of a temperature detecting means of a lid portion, thereby reducing the error of the rice cooking amount determination and reducing the heating output according to the rice cooking amount. It is intended to be able to do.

[0007]

The first means of the present invention is as described above.
In order to achieve the above purpose, a pot for putting rice and water and the pot
Heating means for heating the pan, a first means for detecting the temperature of the pan
Temperature detection means and second temperature detection for detecting the temperature of the lid
Means for detecting a first predetermined temperature.
And then the second temperature detecting means detects the second predetermined temperature.
The amount of cooked rice is determined based on the time until detection, and the determined cooking
Control the heating means according to the amount of rice and in a predetermined sequence
Control means for cooking rice, wherein the control means
At the start of cropping or within a certain time from the start of rice cooking operation,
The second temperature detecting means detects a temperature equal to or higher than a third predetermined temperature;
When it is determined that it is continuous rice cooking, the determined rice cooking amount
Correcting, controlling the heating means according to the corrected amount of cooked rice.
The rice is cooked in a predetermined sequence .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the control means determines that the continuous cooking is performed by the first means, and the second temperature detecting means determines the fourth temperature within a predetermined time. When the temperature below the predetermined temperature is not detected, the rice is cooked in a predetermined sequence in which the rice temperature determination by the second temperature detecting means is not performed.

[0009]

According to the present invention, according to the above-mentioned first means, the control means makes the second temperature detecting means detect the temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature at the start of the rice cooking operation or within a fixed time from the start in the case of continuous rice cooking. Detect and correct the determination of the amount of cooked rice. With this, even in the case of continuous rice cooking, the error in the rice cooking amount is reduced by correcting the rice cooking amount according to the temperature of the lid without extending the overall rice cooking time, and the heating means is controlled according to the original rice cooking amount The rice can be cooked in a predetermined sequence.

According to the second means, in the case of continuous rice cooking, the control means performs the rice cooking in a predetermined sequence in which the second temperature detection means does not judge the amount of cooked rice, so that rice cannot be cooked for a long time. Can be prevented.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, the pot 1 is filled with rice and water and is heated by a heating means 3 including a heating coil driven by an inverter 2. The first temperature detecting means 4 is for detecting the temperature at the bottom of the pot 1, and the second temperature detecting means 5 is for detecting the temperature of the lid of the rice cooker. The control means 6 includes the first temperature detection means 4
And the output of the second temperature detecting means 5 are input to determine the amount of rice and water in the pot 1, that is, the amount of cooked rice, and the heating means based on the output of the cooked amount determining means 7. 3
And the output of the first temperature detecting means 4 and the output of the second temperature detecting means 5 are inputted to control the inverter 2 based on the rice cooking sequence to control the heating output of the heating means 3. It comprises rice cooking control means 8 and display means 9.

In the cooking step during the rice cooking sequence, the control means 6 sets the second temperature detection means after the first temperature detection means 4 detects the first predetermined temperature θ1 (for example, 80 ° C.). 5 is the second predetermined temperature θ2 (for example, 1
(00 ° C.), the amount of cooked rice in the pot 1 is determined based on the time until the detection, and the heating output of the heating means 3 is controlled in accordance with the determined amount of cooked rice to cook rice in a predetermined rice cooking sequence.

FIG. 2 shows a specific example of this rice cooker. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As can be seen from the figure, the first temperature detecting means 4 is to press the bottom of the pan 1 to detect the temperature of the bottom, and the second temperature detecting means 5 is in contact with the inside of the upper lid of the pan 1. The temperature of the lid is detected by using a thermistor. The control means 6 mainly includes a microcomputer 11 and an LCD 12 mounted on the board 10. The microcomputer 11 receives the output of the first temperature detecting means 4 and the output of the second temperature detecting means 5 and calculates the amount of rice and water in the pot 1, that is, the rice cooking amount determining means 7 for determining the rice cooking amount. The heating output of the heating means 3 is determined by the output of the rice cooking amount determining means 7, and the output of the first temperature detecting means 4 and the output of the second temperature detecting means 5 are inputted to the inverter 2 based on the rice cooking sequence. And rice cooking control means 8 for controlling the heating output of the heating means 3 by controlling the heating means 3.
12 are used.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the control means 6
When the second temperature detecting means 5 detects a temperature equal to or higher than a third predetermined temperature θ3 (for example, 80 ° C.) at the start of rice cooking, it is determined that the rice is to be continuously cooked, and the second temperature detecting means 5 sets a fourth predetermined temperature θ4. Until a temperature lower than (for example, 70 ° C.) is detected, heating for cooking rice is not performed.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG. 10 shows a case of continuous rice cooking in a conventional rice cooker.
The solid line in the figure shows the detected temperature of the first temperature detecting means 4 in a normal case, and the dotted line shows the detected temperature of the second temperature detecting means 5. In the rice cooking amount determination step, the time from when the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means 4 reaches the first predetermined temperature θ1 to when the temperature detected by the second temperature control means 5 reaches the second predetermined temperature θ2 The amount of cooked rice in the pot 1 is determined by T1, and thereafter, the heating output is adjusted in accordance with the amount of cooked rice to maintain the boiling, and when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature θb, the washing process is started. Here, in the case of continuous rice cooking, the temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means 5 rises earlier in time as compared with the normal case as indicated by the dashed line. Therefore, in the rice cooking amount determination step, from the time when the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means 4 reaches the first predetermined temperature θ1 to the time when the temperature detected by the second temperature control means 5 reaches the second predetermined temperature θ2 Pot 1 by time T1
If the amount of cooked rice is determined, the amount of rice cooked is determined to be considerably smaller than the original amount of cooked rice, and it is not possible to cook enough.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, at the start of rice cooking, if the second temperature detecting means 5 detects a temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature θ3, the second temperature detecting means 5 sets a temperature lower than the fourth predetermined temperature θ4. By not heating for rice cooking until the temperature is detected, the temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means 5 is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and there is almost no time difference from the normal case, and more accurate rice cooking is possible. We can judge quantity and can cook enough.

This operation will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In step 20, rice cooking is started, and in step 21, the second rice is cooked.
It is confirmed whether or not the temperature detecting means 5 has detected the third predetermined temperature θ3 or more. If the temperature has been detected, the process proceeds to step 22, and if not, the process proceeds to step 23 to start the pre-cooking process. In step 22, the second temperature detecting means 5
It is determined whether or not the temperature has detected a temperature lower than the fourth predetermined temperature θ4. If the temperature has been detected, the process returns to step 22, and if not, the process proceeds to step 23 to start the pre-cooking process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the second temperature detecting means 5 detects a temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature θ3 (for example, 80 ° C.) at the start of rice cooking, the control means 6 determines that continuous rice cooking is performed. It is determined that the heating for cooking rice is not performed until the second temperature detecting means 5 detects the temperature below the fourth predetermined temperature θ4 (for example, 70 ° C.). Is almost eliminated, the amount of cooked rice can be determined more accurately, and the rice can be cooked sufficiently.

In this embodiment, the second predetermined temperature θ2 is 100 ° C., the third predetermined temperature θ3 is 80 ° C., and the fourth predetermined temperature θ4 is 70 ° C., which are different from each other. It is not necessary that they are different from each other. For example, the same effect can be obtained even at the same temperature.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. When the second temperature detecting means 5 detects a temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature θ3 at the start of rice cooking, the control means 6 controls the second temperature detecting means 5
, The result of the rice cooked amount determination is corrected according to the temperature of the lid part.

The above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 5, the second temperature detecting means 5
When the temperature of the lid is normal, the temperature of the lid at the start of rice cooking in continuous rice cooking is indicated by a dashed line when the temperature of the lid is low, and when the temperature of the lid is high by a two-dot chain line, the temperature of the lid is lower than the normal case. The higher the temperature, the faster it rises. Therefore, in the rice cooking amount determination step, from the time when the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means 4 reaches the first predetermined temperature θ1 to the time when the temperature detected by the second temperature control means 5 reaches the second predetermined temperature θ2 Pot 1 by time T1
When the amount of cooked rice is determined, the higher the temperature of the lid at the start of cooking rice, the shorter the time of T1 becomes, and the amount of cooked rice is determined to be small and it is not possible to cook sufficiently. Therefore, the amount of cooked rice is corrected according to the temperature of the lid at the start of cooking.

When the temperature of the lid is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, a predetermined correction may be made by a menu selected.

This operation will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In step 20, rice cooking is started, and in step 21, the second rice is cooked.
It is confirmed whether or not the temperature detecting means 5 has detected the third predetermined temperature θ3 or more. If detected, the process proceeds to step 24, and if not, the process proceeds to step 23 to start the pre-cooking process. In step 24, the second temperature detecting means 5
Then, the correction value of the amount of cooked rice is determined based on the temperature of the lid portion, and the process proceeds to step 23 to start the pre-cooking process. Step 2
In step 3, the process proceeds to the leveling process in step 25, the rice cooking amount determination process in step 26, and the cooking process in step 27 in accordance with a predetermined sequence. In step 27, the rice cooking amount is corrected and heating is performed according to the rice cooking amount.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the second temperature detecting means 5 detects the third predetermined temperature θ3 or more at the start of rice cooking, the second temperature detecting means 5 responds to the temperature of the lid by the second temperature detecting means 5. Since the result of the rice cooked amount determination is corrected, the rice cooked amount can be determined more accurately without extending the entire rice cooked time, and the rice can be cooked sufficiently.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. When the second temperature detecting means 5 detects a temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature θ3 at the start of rice cooking, rice cooking is stopped.

As described above with reference to FIG. 10, in the case of continuous rice cooking, in the rice cooking amount determination step, after the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means 4 reaches the first predetermined temperature θ 1,
The temperature detected by the second temperature control means 5 is the second predetermined temperature θ2
If the amount of cooked rice in the pot 1 is determined based on the time T1 until the temperature reaches t1, the cooked amount is determined to be considerably smaller than the original amount of cooked rice. Therefore, it is determined that the amount of cooked rice cannot be accurately determined based on the temperature of the lid at the start of the rice cooking, and the rice cooking is stopped. At this time, it may be notified by display, sound, or the like.

This operation will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In step 20, rice cooking is started, and in step 21, the second rice is cooked.
It is confirmed whether or not the temperature detecting means 5 has detected the third predetermined temperature θ3 or more. If detected, the process proceeds to step 28, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step 23 to start the pre-cooking process. In step 28, cooking is stopped.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the second temperature detecting means 5 detects a temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature (θ3) at the start of rice cooking, it is determined that continuous rice cooking is being performed, and rice cooking is stopped. This can reduce the cause of the error in the result of the rice cooking amount determination. In addition, by notifying that the rice is continuously cooked, operations such as opening and closing of the lid are encouraged, and a normal state can be quickly brought closer.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. At the start of rice cooking, when the second temperature detecting means 5 detects the third predetermined temperature θ3 or more, it is determined that the rice is to be continuously cooked, and within a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes), the second temperature detecting means 5 turns on the second rice. When the temperature lower than the predetermined temperature θ4 of 4 is not detected,
Rice is cooked according to a predetermined rice cooking sequence in which the determination of the amount of cooked rice by the second temperature detecting means 5 is not performed.

As described above with reference to FIG. 10, in the case of continuous rice cooking, in the rice cooking amount determination step, the second temperature is detected after the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means reaches the first predetermined temperature. If the amount of rice cooked in the pot is determined based on the time required for the temperature detected by the temperature control means to reach the second predetermined temperature, the amount of rice cooked is determined to be considerably less than the original amount of rice cooked, making it impossible to cook enough. Therefore, at the start of rice cooking, when the second temperature detecting means 5 detects a third predetermined temperature θ3 or more, it is determined that the rice is to be continuously cooked, and a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes) is set.
Minutes), the second temperature detecting means 5 detects the fourth predetermined temperature θ4
When the temperature is not detected, the rice is cooked according to a predetermined rice cooking sequence in which the second temperature detecting means 5 does not perform the determination of the amount of cooked rice.

This operation will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In step 20, rice cooking is started, and in step 21, rice cooking is started.
It is confirmed whether or not the temperature detecting means 5 has detected the third predetermined temperature θ3 or more. If detected, the process proceeds to step 29, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step 23 to start the pre-cooking process. In step 29, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes) has elapsed. If it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 22 if it has not elapsed. In step 22, it is confirmed whether or not the second temperature detecting means 5 has detected a temperature lower than the fourth predetermined temperature θ4. If the temperature has been detected, the process returns to step 29. If not, the process proceeds to step 23. Start. Step 30
Then, rice is cooked in a predetermined rice cooking sequence in which the rice temperature determination by the second temperature detecting means 5 is not performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when rice cooking is started, when the second temperature detecting means 5 detects the temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature θ3, it is determined that the rice is to be continuously cooked, and the rice is cooked for a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes). When the second temperature detecting means 5 does not detect a temperature lower than the fourth predetermined temperature θ4 within minutes, the rice is cooked in a predetermined rice cooking sequence in which the second temperature detecting means 5 does not judge the amount of cooked rice. In addition, it is possible to prevent the entire rice cooking time from being extremely long after waiting for the temperature of the lid portion to drop for a long time, and prevent the rice cooker from judging a small amount of cooked rice and failing to cook sufficiently.

[0033]

As is clear from the above embodiments, the present invention
According to the pot to put rice and water and heating to heat the pot
Means and first temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pan
Second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the lid,
Before the first temperature detecting means detects the first predetermined temperature.
Until the second temperature detecting means detects the second predetermined temperature
The amount of rice cooked by the time of
A system for controlling the heating means to cook rice in a predetermined sequence
Control means, when the rice cooking operation is started,
Or within a certain period of time after the start of the rice cooking operation,
When the temperature detection unit detects the temperature equal to or higher than the third predetermined temperature,
Judging that it is rice cooking, the determined amount of cooked rice is corrected, and the heating means is controlled according to the corrected amount of cooked rice so that the rice is cooked in a predetermined sequence. To correct the rice cooking amount judgment, it is possible to judge the more accurate rice cooking amount without extending the entire rice cooking time,
We can cook enough.

[0034] When the second temperature detecting means does not detect a temperature lower than the fourth predetermined temperature within a predetermined time after determining that the rice is continuously cooked, the control means determines the rice cooking amount by the second temperature detecting means. Rice cooked according to a predetermined rice cooking sequence that is not performed
It is so arranged that, it is possible to prevent the extremely long overall cooking time even when the continuous cooking, can also be prevented to determine or erroneous rice amount.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration and a circuit configuration of a rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the rice cooker.

FIG. 3 is an operation time chart of the rice cooker.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the rice cooker.

FIG. 5 is an operation time chart of the rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the rice cooker.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a rice cooker according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a rice cooker according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation time chart of a conventional rice cooker during normal rice cooking.

FIG. 10 is an operation time chart at the time of abnormal rice cooking of a conventional rice cooker.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pan 3 Heating means 4 1st temperature detection means 5 2nd temperature detection means 6 Control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Koji Niiyama 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Hisakazu Endo 7-6 Tonoshimacho, Kadoma City, Osaka Excel Co., Ltd. Techno (56) References JP-A-6-217877 (JP, A) JP-A-64-22212 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 27/00 109

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pot for putting rice and water, heating means for heating the pot, first temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pot, and second temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the lid. And determining the amount of rice cooked by the time from when the first temperature detecting means detects the first predetermined temperature to when the second temperature detecting means detects the second predetermined temperature, and the determined rice cooked amount Control means for controlling the heating means according to the rice cooking in a predetermined sequence, the control means, at the start of rice cooking operation,
Alternatively, when the second temperature detecting means detects a temperature equal to or higher than a third predetermined temperature within a fixed time from the start of the rice cooking operation, it is determined that the rice is continuous rice cooking, the determined rice cooking amount is corrected, and the corrected rice cooking is corrected. A rice cooker that controls the heating means according to the amount and cooks rice in a predetermined sequence. 2. A pot for putting rice and water, heating means for heating the pot, first temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pot, and second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the lid. And determining the amount of rice cooked by the time from when the first temperature detecting means detects the first predetermined temperature to when the second temperature detecting means detects the second predetermined temperature, and the determined rice cooked amount Control means for controlling the heating means according to the rice cooking in a predetermined sequence, the control means, at the start of rice cooking operation,
Alternatively, when the second temperature detecting means detects a third predetermined temperature or higher within a predetermined time from the start of the rice cooking operation, it is determined that the rice is continuously cooked, and the second temperature detecting means is determined within a predetermined time. Does not detect a temperature lower than the fourth predetermined temperature, the second
Predetermined rice cooker that does not judge the amount of rice cooked by the temperature detection means
A rice cooker that cooks rice in a sequence .