JP3757954B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rice cooker that uses steam for heating rice cooking to improve rice cooking performance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a general household rice cooker, by using a pot heating means arranged at the bottom of the pot and a lid heating means arranged in the lid, by uniformly heating the rice and water in the pot from above and below, It promotes gelatinization of rice and improves rice cooking performance (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
By the way, in this conventional rice cooker, heating is continued in the steaming process, which is the final process of rice cooking, and completing the conversion of rice starch into a lake is an indispensable requirement for improving rice cooking performance. If the heating is continued by heating, the cooked rice near the bottom of the pot will be burnt, so that the heating is weakened. In order to prevent insufficient gelatinization associated with weakening the heating and improve rice cooking performance, the lid heating means heats the rice from above the pan opening with a high heat source.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 988050 gazette
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the rice cooker having the above-described conventional configuration, in particular, the rice in the upper layer in the pan is directly heated by the heat radiation of the lid heating means, which is a high heat source. The phenomenon of evaporation and drying occurs. Therefore, the upper layer of the pan is dried and loses its taste. This is because the higher the amount of cooked rice, the greater the amount of heating, but the greater the amount of cooked rice, the closer the upper rice approaches the lid heating means.
[0006]
The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a rice cooker in which the rice in the upper layer of the pan does not dry regardless of the amount of rice cooking, and further promotes the gelatinization of the rice and improves the rice cooking performance. It is the purpose.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the rice cooker of the present invention efficiently generates high-temperature steam in the rice cooking process and supplies the steam into the pot to cook rice.
[0008]
Thereby, since high-temperature steam is efficiently obtained and rice cooking is performed, the rice in the upper layer of the pan is not dried regardless of the amount of rice cooking, and gelatinization of the rice is promoted, and the rice cooking performance is improved.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that the pan, the main body that detachably accommodates the pan from the upper surface opening, and the upper surface opening of the main body that is pivotally supported by a hinge portion at the rear of the main body can be opened and closed. A lid for covering, a pan heating means for heating the pan, a steam generating means having a water tank and a water tank heating means, and a steam for heating the steam generated from the steam generating means to a high temperature steam higher than the boiling point of water A steam path connecting the heating means, the steam generation means and the steam heating means; and in the unevenness step, the water is generated from above the pan to the internal space by the steam generation means and the steam heating means. By using a rice cooker that feeds high-temperature steam above the boiling point, rice is cooked by efficiently obtaining high-temperature steam, so the rice in the upper layer of the pan does not dry regardless of the amount of rice cooked, and the gelatinization of the rice is promoted And improved rice cooking performance It is intended.
[0010]
Invention according to claim 2, particularly in the invention of請Motomeko 1, arranged steam heating means and steam path to the lid, by the steam path and steam generator during closing is communicating, at the time of cooking Although it is necessary to reliably realize the communication state between the steam path and the steam generation means, this communication state can be easily realized.
[0011]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
Example 1
The rice cooker in Example 1 of this invention is demonstrated based on FIG.1, FIG.2, FIG.3.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, the rice cooker main body 1 has a bottomed cylindrical pot storage part 1a, and stores the pot 2 in a detachable manner. A bottom induction coil 3 serving as a pot heating means is provided at the bottom of the pot storage portion 1a. Reference numeral 4 denotes a bottom sensor configured to come into contact with the bottom surface 2 a of the pan 2. The control unit 5 controls the operation of the rice cooker.
[0014]
The upper surface of the rice cooker body 1 is covered with an openable / closable lid 8 that is supported by a hinge shaft 7 provided on the hinge 6 at the rear of the rice cooker body 1 and that includes an outer lid 8a and an outer lid cover 8b. Yes.
[0015]
The lid 8 is provided with a heating plate 9 facing the opening of the pan 2. On the surface of the heating plate 9 facing the pan 2, a lid induction coil 10 that is a lid heating means is provided. The heating plate 9 has a heating plate steam port 9a, and the lid top surface 8c is provided with a lid steam port 8d communicating with the heating plate steam port 9a. The steam port packing 11 is sandwiched between the heating plate 9 and the lid 8, and the pan packing 12 is sandwiched between the heating plate 9 and the pan flange portion 2 b on the upper edge outer peripheral portion of the pan 2 when the lid is closed. .
[0016]
The steam heating means 13 comprising a heating pipe is disposed inside the lid 8, one end communicating with the steam generating means 15 via the steam path 14, and the other end serving as a high temperature steam port 13 a. It faces the upper part of the inside. Moreover, the steam generation means 15 is provided in the outer side of the rice cooker main body 1, and is comprised so that isolation | separation into the water tank 15a and the water tank heating means 15b is possible like FIG. A water supply lid 15d is provided at the water supply port 15c of the water tank 15a.
[0017]
Next, the operation in the above configuration will be described.
[0018]
The rice to be cooked and the water corresponding to the amount of the rice are put in the pan 2 and equipped in the rice cooker body 1. Further, it is confirmed whether or not there is a predetermined amount or more of water in the steam generating means 15, and if not, water is supplied to the water tank 15a of the steam generating means 15 from the water supply port 15c, and the water tank 15a is set in the water tank heating means 15b. . Here, since the water tank 15a can be separated from the water tank heating means 15b as shown in FIG. 3, for example, it is possible to remove the water tank 15a and supply water directly from the tap to the water tank 15a. And if a user operates the rice cooking start switch (not shown), the control part 5 will receive the input from a rice cooking start switch, and a rice cooking process will be implemented. The bottom sensor 4 detects the temperature of the bottom surface 2 a of the pan 2 and sends a signal to the control unit 5. In response to the signal from the bottom sensor 4, the control unit 5 can control the temperature of the water and rice in the pot 2 as appropriate values in each of the rice cooking processes, which are largely divided into the water immersion, cooking, and steaming processes. The energization amount of the bottom induction coil 3, the lid induction coil 10, the steam generation means 15 and the steam heating means 13 is controlled as an output so as to be maintained for a predetermined time.
[0019]
The bottom induction coil 3 heats the bottom surface 2a of the pan 2 by induction heating with a current supplied from the control unit 5. The lid induction coil 10 also causes the heating plate 9 to generate heat by induction heating with a current supplied from the control unit 5.
[0020]
The steam generation means 15 converts the current supplied from the control unit 5 by the water tank heating means 15b into heat, and the water in the water tank 15a is boiled to generate steam. Here, the water tank heating method of the water tank heating means 15b includes a method in which the water tank 15a is heated by a heater, and a method in which the water tank 15a is made of a magnetic metal and the water tank 15a is heated by an induction heating method. If the induction heating method is used, the water in the water tank 15a can be boiled earlier than the heater, and the amount of power consumption can be reduced.
[0021]
Further, since the heater is a heat transfer by contact, the temperature rise of the water tank 15a differs depending on the contact state, and the temperature rise tends to vary. However, the induction heating method can stably raise the water temperature of the water tank 15a. . The generated steam flows to the steam heating means 13 via the steam path 14. The vapor | steam heating means 13 converts the electric current supplied from the control part 5 into heat, and supplies it in the pan 2 as high temperature vapor | steam (refer FIG. 2). Here, in the steam generation means 15b, bubbles are generated when water boils. Since the latent heat of vaporization of water is much larger than the amount of heat required to heat the steam to a high temperature, if the bubbles at the time of boiling reach the steam heating means 13, the heat of the steam heating means 13 is taken away by the bubbles. In this embodiment, the steam path 14 is provided, and bubbles at the time of boiling disappear in the steam path 14, so that the bubbles reach the steam heating means 13. And stable generation of high-temperature steam.
[0022]
Next, operation | movement of the rice cooker in each process is demonstrated. First, in the water immersion process, the bottom induction coil 3 is energized to heat the pan 2 so that the temperature of the rice and water rises to a temperature at which rice gelatinization does not start. In addition, steam is generated from the steam generating means 15, and heat is also applied to the internal space 2 c of the pan 2. In the inundation process, it is necessary to keep the whole rice in the pan 2 uniformly at the target temperature and keep the water absorption conditions of the rice in the pan 2 uniform in order to cook delicious rice. Since rice and water are heated from both the bottom surface 2a and the inner space 2c of the pan 2, the temperature of the entire pan 2 can be increased uniformly in a shorter time than the heating of the bottom induction coil 3 alone. Further, by introducing steam into the internal space 2 c of the pan 2, the temperature of the entire pan 2 can be efficiently increased in a much shorter time than when the heating plate 9 is heated by the lid induction coil 10.
[0023]
Next, in the cooking step, the bottom induction coil 3 causes the bottom surface 2a of the pan 2 to generate heat, and the lid induction coil 10 causes the heating plate 9 to generate heat so that the entire pan 2 is wrapped. In addition, the steam generating means 15 and the steam heating means 13 are energized to send high temperature steam into the internal space 2c of the pan 2. The water in the pot 2 can reach the boiling point in a shorter time, and furthermore, the temperature of the entire pot 2 can be raised uniformly by the high-temperature steam fed into the internal space 2 c of the pot 2. This can heat the whole pan 2 quickly and uniformly regardless of the amount of cooked rice, and can promote gelatinization of rice starch evenly.
[0024]
Finally, in the unevenness process, the bottom induction coil 3 generates heat on the bottom surface 2a of the pan 2 to such an extent that the rice on the bottom surface 2a of the pan 2 does not dry or burn, and the lid induction coil 10 causes dew on the heating plate 9. The heating plate 9 generates heat to the extent that it does not. Then, the high temperature steam is sent into the internal space 2 c of the pan 2 by the steam generating means 15 and the steam heating means 13. In the spotting process, it is important to keep the entire pan 2 at a high temperature at a temperature at which the rice does not dry or burn so that the rice is gelatinized up to the core. By supplying high-temperature steam having a boiling point of water (100 ° C.) or higher to atmospheric pressure in the internal space 2c, first, the steam is supplied, so that the rice is not dried, and secondly In the steam supply at 100 ° C. or lower, water stays attached to the surface of the rice grain, but since it is steam at 100 ° C. or higher, it has the energy necessary to advance gelatinization of rice starch and promotes gelatinization, Rice cooking performance can be improved.
[0025]
Furthermore, the arrangement of the steam heating means 13 on the lid 8 is because the lid 8 receives the heat of the pan 2 and the lid 8 has a higher temperature than the rice cooker body 1 and is preheated in advance. It can be obtained and has good responsiveness and energy saving.
[0026]
In addition, although the induction coil was used as a pan heating means and a lid pan heating means, it is not restricted to this, Other heating means, such as a sheathed heater, may be used. The steam heating means 13 and the steam generation means 15 actually have heating coils, respectively, and are heated by the heating coils when energized.
[0027]
(Example 2)
Next, FIG. 4 demonstrates the rice cooker in Example 2 of this invention.
[0028]
In FIG. 4, the steam generation means 15 is installed on the upper surface 1b of the rice cooker body. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0029]
According to the present embodiment, since the water tank 15a is installed in the vicinity of the pan, it is easy to check whether the water tank 15a is set at the time of cooking, and forgetting to set the water tank can be prevented. Moreover, since the steam generating means does not protrude from the outer shell of the rice cooker main body 1, the appearance of the rice cooker main body 1 is clean and has good design, and the unevenness of the outer shell is eliminated, so that the rice cooker can be easily installed.
[0030]
Example 3
Next, the rice cooker in Example 3 of this invention is demonstrated with FIG. 5, FIG.
[0031]
In FIG. 5, the steam path 14 and the water tank 15a communicate with each other when the lid is closed. As shown in FIG. 6, the steam path 14 and the water tank 15a are separated when the lid is opened. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.
[0032]
According to the present embodiment, the state of communication between the steam path and the steam generating means can be realized by simply closing the lid, so that the steam path and the steam generating means can be easily brought into communication in preparation for cooking rice. Moreover, since the lid is always closed when cooking rice, it is possible to reliably prevent forgetting to connect the steam path and the steam generating means.
[0033]
(Example 4)
Next, the rice cooker in Example 4 of this invention is demonstrated with FIG.
[0034]
7 and 8, the water tank 15a has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper surface, and has a flange portion 15e on the outer periphery of the upper end. The steam path 14 has a flange portion 14b on the connection side 14a to the water tank 15a. When the lid is closed, the flange portion 15e of the water tank 15a abuts on the entire circumference of the flange portion, and the steam path 14 and the steam generating means 15 are connected. Set the communication state. Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.
[0035]
According to this embodiment, since the upper surface of the water tank 15a is open over the entire surface, the amount of water in the water tank 15a can be confirmed at a glance, and forgetting to supply water to the water tank 15a can be prevented. In addition, it is easy to supply water to the water tank 15a and is easy to use.
[0036]
(Example 5)
Next, FIG. 9 demonstrates the rice cooker in Example 5 of this invention.
[0037]
In FIG. 9, the water tank 15 a is disposed on the hinge portion 6 side of the rice cooker body 1 from the pot 2. Other configurations are the same as those in the fourth embodiment.
[0038]
According to this embodiment, when a foreign substance such as a rice grain enters the water tank 15a, the rice tank may be rotted if the rice grain is left in the water tank 15a for a long time. Since 15a is behind the pan 2, the rice grains and the like are not easily dropped into the water tank 15a. Moreover, the water tank 15a does not get in the way when the pan 2 is attached or detached, and it is easy to use. Furthermore, even if the lid 8 is accidentally opened during cooking, the water tank 15a is on the back side of the pan 2, so there is no fear that the water tank 15a will be exposed to steam.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, high-temperature steam is efficiently generated in the rice-cooking process, and this is supplied into the pan to cook rice. Therefore, regardless of the amount of cooked rice, the rice in the upper layer of the pan does not dry, and gelatinization of the rice is promoted, and the rice cooking performance is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of the rice cooker. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of the rice cooker. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the rice cooker in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the rice cooker in Example 3 of the present invention. Cross section of the main part of the rice cooker in Example 4 [FIG. 8] Cross section of the main part when the rice cooker is opened [FIG. 9] View from above showing the top surface of the rice cooker body in Example 5 of the present invention [ Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rice cooker main body 1b Top surface of rice cooker main body 2 Pan 3 Bottom induction coil (pan heating means)
6 Hinge part 8 Lid 13 Steam heating means 14 Steam path 15 Steam generating means 15a Water tank 15b Water tank heating means 15e Flange part

Claims (2)

A pan, a main body that stores the pan detachably from the upper surface opening, a lid that is pivotally supported by a hinge portion at the rear of the main body and covers the upper surface opening of the main body, and a pan heating means that heats the pan Steam generating means having a water tank and water tank heating means, steam heating means for heating the steam generated from the steam generating means to a high-temperature steam having a boiling point of water or higher, the steam generating means, and the steam heating A rice cooker comprising a steam path connecting to the means, and in the unevenness step, the steam generating means and the steam heating means feed high-temperature steam having a boiling point higher than the boiling point of water into the internal space from above the pan . The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein a steam heating means and a steam path are arranged on the lid, and the steam path and the steam generating means are in communication when the lid is closed.

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