JP3576854B2 - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rice cooker capable of performing delicious rice cooking by reliably detecting the temperature in a rice cooker.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a rice cooker that automatically performs measurement of polished rice, washing of rice, adjustment of water addition, and rice cooking.
[0003]
In such a rice cooker, a rice polishing hopper, a rice washer, and a rice cooker are disposed in a machine frame. When a rice cooker is set using a control panel and a start switch is operated, a predetermined amount of rice is supplied from the rice hopper. Polished rice is supplied to a rice washing machine, washed with a predetermined number of times, transferred to a rice cooker along with water, heated for a predetermined time, and further steamed for a predetermined time, so that the process can be automatically performed.
[0004]
Further, in such a conventional rice cooker, the heating time is controlled while detecting the temperature of the rice cooker by a temperature sensor attached to the bottom outside of the rice cooker.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, in the conventional configuration, since the temperature sensor is attached to the bottom of the rice cooker, the temperature inside the rice cooker cannot be directly detected. It could only be done.
[0006]
Therefore, for example, when a portion where heat transfer is reduced due to precipitation of rice starch is generated inside the kettle, or when oil or seasoning is added when cooking so-called mixed rice, the heat is also reduced. If the transmission is not good, the temperature of the pot may rise significantly compared to the inside. Then, the control unit that detects the temperature and controls the heating stops the heating, and as a result, may be in a half-cooked state.
[0007]
That is, in order to cook delicious rice, it is necessary to accurately detect the temperature in the rice cooker, and to detect the temperature in the rice cooker, it is conceivable to detect the steam temperature.
[0008]
However, since it is technically difficult to provide a temperature sensor in the rice cooker, it has been considered to provide a device that operates by steam pressure on the lid as a device that can mechanically detect boiling in the cooker. . However, mechanical components have a complicated structure and often suffer from failures. Therefore, the detection of the temperature at the bottom of the kettle is mainly used in the end, and the above-mentioned problem remains.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.
[0010]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention according to claim 1 , a rice-washing machine is provided by sequentially arranging a rice-milling hopper, a rice-washing machine, and a rice cooker from an upper part to a lower part in a machine frame, and weighing rice from the rice-milling hopper. After adjusting the amount of water according to the rice cooking conditions in the rice washer after washing the rice with the rice washer, automatically open the lid that can be opened and closed on the rice cooker, and then water and rice from the rice washer. A rice cooker that automatically performs a process of starting rice cooking by dropping it into a steam cooker, and attaching a substantially L-shaped sensor arrangement pipe to a steam discharge hole provided at a substantially central position of the lid, A steam temperature sensor is provided so that the sensor tip faces the same pipe, and an electric signal line connecting the steam temperature sensor and the control unit is laid on the top of the lid and the lid is opened and closed. Through the bar pivotally connected to the arm The steam temperature sensor can detect the steam temperature in the rice cooker while opening and closing it freely, so that it is possible to recognize that the rice cooker has boiled. Either the scheduled time and the pot bottom target temperature are set, and either the scheduled heating time elapses or the pot bottom temperature is detected by the pot bottom temperature sensor provided on the pot bottom Until heated .
[0011]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, an operation panel capable of setting various conditions such as time and temperature in the rice cooking process in detail is provided, so that the cooked state can be arbitrarily determined .
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The rice cooker according to the present invention includes a temperature sensor that detects the steam temperature in the rice cooker, and detects the steam temperature to recognize that the inside of the rice cooker has boiled. It is to be set.
[0016]
Further, in addition to the steam temperature sensor for detecting the steam temperature in the rice cooker, a kettle bottom temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooker bottom is provided so that the temperature of the pot bottom can be detected at the same time. Is detected and it is recognized that the inside of the rice cooker has boiled. Then, a target value of the cooker bottom temperature is set, and heating is performed until the temperature sensor for the cooker bottom detects the target temperature.
[0017]
That is, after the steam temperature is detected by the steam temperature sensor to recognize that the inside of the rice cooker has boiled, conditions for ending the heating of the rice cooker include a scheduled heating time thereafter and an empirically known bottom of the cooker. A target temperature is set, and heating is performed until either the scheduled heating time has elapsed or the target temperature at the bottom of the kettle is detected, or one of the conditions is satisfied.
[0018]
In this way, it is possible to reliably detect that the inside of the rice cooker has boiled, and it is optimal to heat the rice cooker to the bottom temperature that is empirically known based on the boiling state. Can be cooked.
[0019]
In other words, simply using only the bottom temperature as a guide, in the rice cooker, there is a portion where rice starch precipitates and heat transfer decreases, or when cooking so-called mixed rice, When a seasoning or the like is added, the conduction of heat may be poor.
[0020]
In such a case, the temperature at the bottom of the pot may increase significantly compared to the actual temperature inside the pot, so that it is erroneously recognized that the bottom temperature of the pot is detected as the target temperature, and the actual temperature inside the pot is detected. This is because the controller may stop heating even though the temperature is low, resulting in a half-cooked state.
[0021]
In addition, since the temperature in the rice cooker can be accurately detected, the detection result does not vary from one cooker to another depending on the contents and the internal state, and a good state in which the finish is stable can be secured.
[0022]
Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and accurately detect the temperature in the pot necessary for cooking delicious rice.
[0023]
By the way, the steam temperature sensor can be provided with a steam discharge hole in the lid of the rice cooker and disposed in the hole. With such a configuration, the sensor can be easily attached and the temperature in the rice cooker can be accurately detected. In addition, in the steaming process after heating is completed, excess moisture can be blown out from the steam discharge holes, so that the finish of the rice is improved.
[0024]
When the rice cooker is arranged below the machine frame, which is the outer shell of the rice cooker, it is convenient to transfer the cooked rice to a container such as a jar. Arranging a hopper, a rice washing machine below it, and a rice cooker below it, you can weigh rice and drop it into the rice cooker, and then drop it into the rice cooker after washing rice Thus, automatic rice cooking can be performed while efficiently moving the rice in the rice polishing hopper, and the completed rice can be easily transferred from the rice cooker to another container or the like.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, when the steam temperature is detected by the steam temperature sensor described above, the boiling temperature is about 97 ° C. if the steam temperature sensor is used in a place other than a special highland. Then, the subsequent heating time is set.
[0026]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a rice cooker A according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 1, the rice cooker A has a rice cooker 2 disposed below a machine frame 1, a rice washer 3 above the rice cooker 2, and a rice hopper 4 above the rice cooker 3. H is an IH heating inverter provided at the bottom of the machine frame 1, and H1 is an inverter cooling fan.
[0029]
A measuring device 5 is attached to the bottom of the rice polishing hopper 4 so that a predetermined amount of rice R can be dropped into the rice washing device 3.
[0030]
For example, if automatic rice cooking is selected by the operation touch panel 6 described in detail after being provided on the front panel 10 of the machine casing 1, a predetermined amount of rice is automatically measured and stored in the rice washing machine 3, and according to the set conditions. It works with washing rice and cooking rice.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 3, a water supply pipe 31 connected to a water source (not shown) is connected to the rice washer 3. Then, a flow path switching valve V composed of an electromagnetic valve is attached in the middle of the water supply pipe 31, and the downstream side of the flow path switching valve V is branched into a main flow path 31a and a sub flow path 31b provided with an orifice 32. The flow path can be selected, and the selected flow paths 31a and 31b are joined again to the water supply pipe 31 to supply water into the rice washing machine 3. Reference numeral 33 denotes a drain pipe, which drains water after washing the rice out of the system according to the siphon principle.
[0032]
S is a control unit that controls the operation of the rice cooker A according to the present embodiment, and is housed and disposed above the machine casing 1 (see FIG. 2). Then, it is electrically connected to the touch panel 6 and outputs a switching signal of the flow path switching valve V and an operation signal to other devices such as the measuring device 5 according to the input condition from the touch panel 6.
[0033]
Reference numeral 34 denotes a rice discharge port provided at a lower portion of the rice washing machine 3, and a valve 35 communicating with the water supply pipe 30 and supplying water to the rice washing machine 3 is attached to the rice discharge port 34 so as to be movable up and down. Can be opened and closed freely. Reference numeral 36 denotes a water supply port provided in the valve body 35 and communicates with the water supply pipe 30.
[0034]
Further, an ultrasonic sensor 7 for monitoring a rise in the water level in the rice washer 3 is provided substantially at the center of the upper portion of the rice washer 3. Then, the ultrasonic sensor 7 supplies water at a relatively large flow rate from the main flow path 31a to the vicinity of the set water level, and thereafter gradually supplies water from the sub flow path 31b until the set water level is reached. .
[0035]
Therefore, it is possible to supply an accurate amount of water even if the pressure or flow rate of the water sent from the water source fluctuates with a simple configuration.
[0036]
That is, after the rice washing is completed, it is necessary to supply water accurately in an amount corresponding to the rice cooking condition input on the touch panel 6, and it is desirable that water can be supplied in a short time. Then, water is supplied at a stroke to the flow switching water level set immediately before the set water level, and thereafter the flow path of the flow switching valve V is switched, and the water level is monitored by the ultrasonic sensor 7 in the sub flow path 31b having a reduced flow rate. Water is gradually supplied to the set water level. Since the water is supplied gradually, there is almost no undulation on the water surface, and the ultrasonic sensor 7 reliably detects the water level.
[0037]
When the water is supplied to the predetermined water level, the valve body 35 of the rice washing machine 3 is lowered, and the water and the rice R are dropped and stored in the rice cooker 2. The opened lid 20 is automatically opened (see FIG. 2).
[0038]
Then, in the rice cooker 2, the rice is heated and cooked for a predetermined time and then steamed to complete the rice cooking. In this embodiment, when the rice cooking is completed, the rice cooker 2 can be tilted forward by driving the motor M provided at the lower portion of the rice cooker 2 via the rice cooker tilting link M1. Easy to take out.
[0039]
The present rice cooker A is characterized by the control of the heating time during rice cooking. As shown in FIG. 4, a steam temperature sensor 8 for detecting the steam temperature in the rice cooker 2 is provided. After detecting the steam temperature and recognizing that the inside of the rice cooker 2 has boiled, the heating time until the end of the rice cooking is set.
[0040]
Further, a temperature sensor 9 for detecting the temperature of the bottom of the rice cooker is provided at the bottom of the rice cooker 2, and after the temperature sensor 8 detects the steam temperature and recognizes that the inside of the rice cooker 2 has boiled, , A target value of the pot bottom temperature is set, and the heating is controlled until the pot bottom temperature sensor 9 detects the target temperature. Reference numeral 90 denotes an electric signal line connecting the temperature sensor 9 for the bottom of the pot and the control unit S.
[0041]
To describe this control more specifically, the steam temperature is detected by the steam temperature sensor 8, the control unit S recognizes that the inside of the rice cooker 2 has boiled, and then the scheduled heating time and the target bottom temperature Is set, and heating is performed until either the scheduled heating time has elapsed or the target temperature of the kettle bottom is detected, or either one of the conditions is satisfied.
[0042]
By providing the steam temperature sensor 8 as described above, it is possible to reliably detect that the inside of the rice cooker 2 has boiled, and to obtain the best cooked food based on the boiling state. Optimum cooking can be realized by heating until the temperature reaches the bottom time or the heating time which is empirically known.
[0043]
Meanwhile, the steam temperature sensor 8 is disposed in a steam discharge hole 21 provided at a substantially central position of the lid 20 of the rice cooker 2, as shown in FIG.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, a substantially L-shaped sensor installation pipe 22 is attached to the steam discharge hole 21, and the sensor installation pipe 22 is provided inside the pipe 22 so that the tip of the sensor faces. They are connected by a line 23. The electric signal line 23 is installed above the lid 20 and is wired so as to pass through a bar 25 pivotally connected to an arm 24 that opens and closes the lid 20, so that it is not visible from the outside.
[0045]
In addition, since the steam outlet 21 is provided, unnecessary moisture can be blown off at the time of steaming.
[0046]
The lid 20 of the rice cooker 2 is formed with a flange portion 20a whose peripheral edge is folded upward to improve the strength of the lid 20 and to be in close contact with the inner upper edge of the pot main body 26. In this way, spills are prevented.
[0047]
In addition, the steam exhaust port 21 does not necessarily need to be provided at the center position of the lid 20, and may be provided at a position slightly offset from the center of the rice cooker 2 as shown in FIG. 5.
[0048]
Here, a case where rice is actually cooked by the rice cooker A according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0049]
The rice cooker A can automatically cook rice from washing to steaming, and the user only needs to select automatic rice cooking on the touch panel 6 shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 6). Further, in the rice cooker A according to the present embodiment, detailed preference setting is possible so that a rice cooking state according to preference can be realized.
[0050]
That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the initial state, the screen of “Menu 1” is displayed on the touch panel 6, and normally “automatic rice cooking” is selected and switched to the confirmation screen. By the way, when the "confirmation button" is pressed and then the "cooking start switch" is pressed, automatic rice cooking is performed under standard conditions. When the "next" button of the "menu 1" is pressed, FIG. As shown in), if the "Menu 2" screen is displayed and "Detailed Settings" on the "Menu 2" screen is selected, it is possible to perform favorite rice cooking, which automatically cooks rice according to preference. . Hereinafter, the detailed setting for performing the desired rice cooking will be described.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 7A, when "Detailed setting" is selected, a screen for selecting the contents of the detailed setting is displayed (FIG. 7B).
[0052]
(A) On the screen for setting the water content in detail, select "water content" (FIG. 7B), and then specify the amount of rice R. For example, in the case of three cells, the button is pressed (FIG. 7C). Then, the cooker is selected from “soft”, “normal”, and “hard” according to his / her preference. If necessary, the amount of water can be further fine-tuned in the selected by the increase / decrease button ( FIG. 7D). When the setting is completed, the user presses "Return" to return to the "Menu 2" screen. Then, if necessary, "detailed setting" is selected again from the "menu 2" screen, and detailed settings for other items can be made from the contents of the detailed setting.
[0053]
(B) To set the heating mode in detail For example, if "heating mode" is selected (FIG. 8 (a)), rice cooking can be divided into a plurality of stages and individually adjusted. It is configured to select from cooking adjustment, cooking adjustment 1, cooking adjustment 2, and steaming adjustment. When "Pre-cooking adjustment" is selected (FIG. 8 (b)), the screen changes to a pre-cooking adjustment screen (FIG. 8 (c)), where "pre-cooking temperature", "pre-cooking output", "pre-cooking time". Is changed from the basic settings stored in advance by the “increase / decrease switch”. If the user presses "return" here, the screen returns to the "white rice adjustment" screen again, and other "cooking adjustment 1", "cooking adjustment 2", and "steaming adjustment" can be newly set.
[0054]
When "Cooking adjustment 1" is selected (FIG. 9 (a)), the screen changes to a cooking 1 adjustment screen (FIG. 9 (b)). Here, "Cooking 1 temperature", "Cooking 1 output", "Cooking 1" The "upper hour" is changed from the basic setting stored in advance by the "increase / decrease switch". If the user presses "Return", the screen returns to the "white rice adjustment" screen again, and "cooking adjustment 2" and "steaming adjustment" can be newly set.
[0055]
When "Cooking adjustment 2" is selected (FIG. 10A), the screen changes to a cooking 2 adjustment screen (FIG. 10B), where "Cooking 2 temperature", "Cooking 2 output", and "Cooking 2 output". "2 hours of cooking" is changed from the basic setting stored in advance by the "increase / decrease switch". Here, if "return" is pressed, the screen returns to the "white rice adjustment" screen again, and "steaming adjustment" can be newly set.
[0056]
When "Steaming adjustment" is selected (FIG. 11 (a)), the screen changes to a steaming and cooking adjustment screen (FIG. 11 (b)), where "steaming temperature" and "steaming and cooking output" are stored in advance. The setting is changed by the “increase / decrease switch”.
[0057]
If "Return" is pressed here, the screen returns to the "Menu 2" screen, and other detailed settings are made as necessary. If not necessary, the user may press the “Back” button displayed on the screen to return to the “Menu 1” screen and select “Automatic rice cooking”.
[0058]
(C) Setting the rice washing adjustment in detail If the user wants to set “rice washing adjustment” in detail, a screen for selecting “detailed setting” and selecting the content of the detailed setting is displayed (FIG. 11C). ), If "Rice washing adjustment" is selected, although omitted here, first, a screen for specifying the amount of rice is displayed as shown in FIG. 7 (c). Then, the screen shifts to a screen where the user can set “rice washing time”, “number of sharpenings”, and “rinsing time” (FIG. 11D).
[0059]
Here, the basic settings stored in advance are appropriately changed to the contents according to the preference by the “increase / decrease switch”.
[0060]
During the setting operation, "return" is always displayed on each screen, so that it is possible to always return to the previous screen at any time and finally return to the "menu 1" screen.
[0061]
In addition to the above, on the menu 1 screen, you can select “reserved rice” for setting the rice cooking start time, “only rice cooking” to start directly from rice cooking, “rice washing only” for only rice washing, and On the “2” screen, in addition to the “detailed settings” described above, it is possible to select contents related to maintenance, contents for troubleshooting, and the like.
[0062]
As described above, in the rice cooker A according to the present embodiment, the steam temperature sensor 8 for detecting the steam temperature in the rice cooker 2 is provided so that the accurate temperature can be detected. Detailed rice cooking conditions can be arbitrarily selected and set, and cooked rice can be obtained at any time according to taste.
[0063]
In this embodiment, the workbench 11 on which the container B for transferring the rice from the rice cooker 2 after the completion of the rice cooking is placed in the machine frame 1 so as to be freely stored and drawn out.
[0064]
That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the rice cooker 2 is supported by the cooker frame 27, the rice cooker tilting link M1 is connected to the cooker frame 27, and the cooker frame 27 is stored in the machine frame 1. It is rotatably attached to a hook machine frame 28 that can be freely pulled out.
[0065]
Then, horizontal rails 12 are provided on both lower sides of the machine frame 1 (see FIG. 2), and the hook machine frame 28 is disposed via the horizontal rail 12 so as to be freely drawn out. A pull-up rail 13 inclined obliquely upward is provided on both lower side surfaces of the work table 11, and the workbench 11 is attached to the pull-up rail 13 so as to be stored and pulled out.
[0066]
As shown in FIG. 13, the workbench 11 includes left and right frames 11a, 11a that slide on the pull-up rail 13, and a beam 11b that connects the left and right frames 11a, 11a. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 14 denotes a horizontal support rod for supporting the work table 11 when it is horizontally lowered.
[0067]
As described above, since the worktable 11 is disposed in the machine frame 1 such that it can be stored and pulled out, a worktable for mounting the container B for transferring the cooked rice is not required separately. Since the place for storing is unnecessary, the kitchen and the like can be widely used.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention is implemented in the above-described embodiment, and has the following effects.
[0069]
(1) From the upper part to the lower part in the machine frame, a rice hopper, a rice washer, and a rice cooker are arranged in order, and the rice is weighed from the rice hopper, transferred to the rice washer, and the rice is washed in the rice washer after the rice is washed by the rice washer. After adjusting the amount of water according to, the lid that can be freely opened and closed on the rice cooker is automatically opened, water and rice are dropped into the rice cooker from the rice washer and stored, and the process of starting rice cooking is automatically performed. A rice cooker, wherein a substantially L-shaped sensor installation pipe is attached to a steam discharge hole provided at a substantially central position of a lid body, and a steam temperature sensor is provided such that a sensor tip faces the pipe. And passing the electric signal line connecting the steam temperature sensor and the control unit through a bar that is erected on the top of the lid and pivotally connected to an arm that opens and closes the lid. Rice cooker with steam temperature sensor while opening and closing freely After detecting the steam temperature of the rice cooker and recognizing that the inside of the rice cooker has boiled, and recognizing that the inside of the rice cooker has boiled, set the scheduled heating time of the rice cooker and the target temperature of the bottom of the cooker, and then heat The rice is cooked by the steam temperature sensor by heating until either the predetermined time elapses or the target temperature of the pot bottom is detected by the pot temperature sensor provided on the pot bottom, or either one of the conditions is satisfied. It is possible to reliably detect that the inside of the kettle has boiled, and to heat the kettle bottom temperature to an empirically known bottom temperature or the optimal heating time based on the boiling state. Optimal cooking can be achieved.
[0070]
(2) Equipped with an operation panel capable of setting various conditions such as time and temperature in the rice cooking process in detail, and by making it possible to arbitrarily determine the state of the rice cooked, it is possible to obtain rice cooked according to taste. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic rice cooker according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the rice cooker.
FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of a rice washer of the rice cooker.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a rice cooker of the rice cooker.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the rice cooker.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a touch panel.
FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the touch panel.
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the touch panel.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the touch panel.
FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the touch panel.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the touch panel.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a shuttle frame.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a work table.
[Explanation of symbols]
A Rice Cooker 1 Machine Frame 2 Rice Cooker 3 Rice Washer 4 Rice Milling Hopper 5 Meter 8 Temperature Sensor for Steam 9 Temperature Sensor 21 for Bottom of Steam 21 Steam Outlet

Claims (2)

From the top to the bottom of the machine frame, a rice hopper, a rice washer, and a rice cooker were arranged in order, and the rice was weighed from the rice hopper and transferred to the rice washer. After adjusting the amount of water, automatically open the lid that can be freely opened and closed on the rice cooker, drop water and rice from the rice washer into the rice cooker, receive the rice, and automatically start the process of cooking rice. A rice cooker,
A substantially L-shaped sensor installation pipe is attached to a steam discharge hole provided at a substantially central position of the lid, and a steam temperature sensor is provided in the pipe so that the sensor tip faces. A temperature sensor for steam while passing the electric signal line connecting the control unit and the control unit through a bar that is installed on the top of the lid and that is pivotally connected to an arm that opens and closes the lid so that the lid can be opened and closed freely. It is possible to detect the steam temperature in the rice cooker and to recognize that the inside of the rice cooker boils,
After recognizing that the inside of the rice cooker has boiled, set the subsequent heating time of the rice cooker and the target temperature of the bottom of the rice cooker. A rice cooker characterized by heating until a target temperature at the bottom of the kettle is detected or at least one of the conditions is satisfied . 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising an operation panel capable of setting various conditions such as time and temperature in the rice cooking process in detail, so that the cooked state can be arbitrarily determined .

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