JP3824458B2 - Automatic rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of an automatic rice cooker used in a cooking facility that cooks a large amount of rice like school lunch, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When cooking a large amount of rice in a cooking facility, etc., the process of cooking and steaming is the main process, and this is combined with sub-processes such as rice pouring, taking out cooked rice, and washing the kettle and lid. (See, for example, JP-A-10-113284 and JP-A-10-43048).
[0003]
However, in these apparatuses, each process is in an independent state and each process is connected through a conveying means such as a conveyor, so that a relatively large installation space is required. Moreover, since the conveyance time between a rice cooking process and a steaming process, or between a steaming process and a rice-rice taking-out process tends to become long, the temperature fall of rice rice becomes large and possibility that it will affect a taste becomes high. Furthermore, when the installation space is limited, the installation position and shape of the transport means for connecting the processes and the processes are complicated, and the work space around the apparatus is reduced. There has been a problem that it becomes difficult to deal with troubles occurring in the inside, for example, taking out a rice cooker in which a problem has occurred, and adjusting the cooking time and steaming time of the subsequent rice cooking pot.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
This invention pays attention to these points, and it is an object of the present invention to obtain an automatic rice cooking apparatus that has a short time for conveyance and the like, does not require a large space for installation, and can easily cope with maintenance and troubles.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the automatic rice cooking apparatus of the present invention, a rice cooking unit in which a plurality of rice cooking units are arranged in a row to accommodate a rice cooking pot and arranged in a row is provided in the upper stage in the frame, and the rice cooking is completed. mounting Rutotomoni, the finished cooking kettle cooking the steaming unit performs steaming while transported toward the the cooking pot in rows side by side terminal end to match the direction of the rows provided under the cooking unit in the frame the starting end side of the steaming portion of steaming start portion for location, respectively at the end side of the steaming portion the end portion steaming taking out finished cooking kettle steaming, steaming the loading unit for placing the further distribution rice water injection has been cooking pot The function of lifting the rice cooker placed on the extension line of the cooking section and placing it in the carry-in section and storing it in the rice cooking unit of the rice cooking section, and taking out the rice cooking pot after the completion of cooking from the rice cooking unit, the steaming start section of the steaming section Place on Ability, lifting transfer means having a city is provided with in the frame, holding the lifting transfer means comprises a height to hold the placed cooking pot to the loading unit and the steaming start portion, the cooking pot In the state where the upper part can be moved above the rice cooking part, and the lifting mechanism that can be stopped at the height that can hold the held rice cooker in the rice cooking unit of the rice cooking part, the carry-in part, each rice cooking unit and the steaming start part And a traveling mechanism capable of stopping the lifting mechanism at corresponding positions.
[0006]
In this way, the rice cooking part and the steaming part, which are the main process, are arranged in two upper and lower stages, so the space is effectively utilized and the whole is compactly compacted, and the rice cooking part is provided by the lifting and lowering transfer means provided in the same frame Can be performed smoothly and reliably in a short time, and the adverse effect on the taste due to the temperature drop of the rice can be eliminated. . In addition, since a certain amount of space is easily secured on the side surface of the apparatus, maintenance and troubles can be easily performed.
[0008]
In addition, each rice cooking unit of the rice cooking unit is provided with a rotating arm with a temperature detector at the tip, and an arm that rotates the rotating arm to a detection position above the rice cooker and a standby position avoided from above the rice cooker. Driving means is provided in the lifting / lowering transferring means. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to provide a drive means for the rotating arm for each rice cooking unit, and the apparatus can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as a whole.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 and 2 are a schematic side view and a schematic plan view showing the basic structure and arrangement of main parts of the automatic rice cooking apparatus of the present invention, wherein 1 is an automatic rice cooking apparatus, 2 is a steaming part, 3 is a rice cooking part, 4 is a rice cooker, and 5 is an up-and-down transfer means.
[0010]
The steaming part 2 is a steaming start part 22 at the left end in the figure and a steaming end part 23 at the right end, and the rice cooker 4 is slowly transported from the steaming start part 22 to the steaming end part 23 by the conveyor 21. Structure. Furthermore, the carry-in part 24 is on the extension line of the conveyor 21 on the right side from the steaming end part 23. Further, the steaming end portion 23 is provided with a conveyor 25 for conveying the rice cooker 4 in the lateral direction, and an intermediate conveyor 26 is provided between the conveyors 21 and 25 to connect both conveyors and change the conveying direction. In the illustrated example, the carry-in part 24 is provided on the steaming end part 23 side. However, the carry-in part 24 may be provided on the steaming start part 22 side.
[0011]
The rice cooking unit 3 is arranged on the upper stage in a state where a plurality of rice cooking units 31 are aligned in a straight line with the longitudinal direction of the steaming unit 2 and overlapped with the steaming unit 2. The rice cooking unit 31 has a box-like shape having a rice cooker accommodating portion, and includes a rotation arm 32, and a temperature detector 32 a is provided at the tip of each rotation arm 32. The rotation arm 32 can be rotated between a detection position where the temperature detector 32 a is located above the rice cooker 4 and a standby position avoided from the rice cooker 4. In addition, although various things can be employ | adopted as a heating means of the rice cooking unit 31, when a heating means is an induction heating type, a heating coil, an inverter, an inverter control apparatus, etc. are provided inside.
[0012]
The lifting / lowering transfer means 5 includes a lifting / lowering mechanism 51 and a traveling mechanism 52, lifts the rice cooking pot 4 placed in the carry-in part 24 and stores it in the rice cooking unit 31 of the rice cooking part 3, or cooked rice after cooking. The kettle 4 is taken out from the rice cooking unit 31 and placed on the steaming start portion 22. In addition, the raising / lowering transfer means 5 is not illustrated in FIG. The raising / lowering mechanism 51 holds at least the rice cooking pot 4 placed in the carry-in section 24, or the lower position when the rice cooking pot 4 is steamed and lowered to the start section 22, and above the rice cooking section 3 while holding the rice cooking pot 4. It is comprised so that it can stop in three steps of the highest position which can be moved, and the intermediate position which can accommodate or lift the rice cooking pot 4 in the rice cooking unit 31. The traveling mechanism 52 is configured to travel on the rail 11 a provided on the frame 11 by the wheels 52 a and to stop at a position corresponding to at least the carry-in unit 24, each rice cooking unit 31, and the steaming start unit 22. Yes.
[0013]
The basic structure of the automatic rice cooker 1 is as described above, and the rice cooker 4 moves three-dimensionally as the process proceeds as indicated by the arrows. That is, the rice cooking pot 4 that has been supplied with water in the adjacent preparatory process (not shown) is placed on the carry-in section 24, lifted by the lifting / lowering transfer means 5, transported to the rice cooking section 3, and accommodated in a predetermined rice cooking unit 31. Cooking rice is done. The rice cooking pot 4 which has finished cooking is again lifted by the lifting / lowering transfer means 5, transported to the steaming start part 22 of the steaming part 2 and lowered there. The steaming is finished when the steam is conveyed at a low speed by the conveyor 21 and reaches the steaming end section 23, and is taken out by the conveyor 25 and sent to a rice rice supply process (not shown).
[0014]
3 to 6 are schematic views showing a specific configuration of the main part centering on the lifting and transferring means 5. Reference numeral 53 denotes an up-and-down transfer frame, and an up-and-down mechanism 51 and a traveling mechanism 52 are integrally incorporated in the frame 53. A drive motor 52b is provided on the upper portion of the frame 53. Sprockets 52f are provided on both ends of a traveling shaft 52e driven via a drive pulley 52c and a driven pulley 52d. The sprocket 52f is provided on the main frame 11. The chain 11b is engaged with the chain 11b.
[0015]
51a is a first elevating cylinder attached to the frame 53 in the horizontal direction, and 51b is a second elevating cylinder attached horizontally to the tip of the piston shaft 51a-1 of the cylinder 51a. A moving pulley 51c is provided at the tip of the piston shaft 51b-1 of the cylinder 51b, and an elevating wire 51e is hung through the pulley 51c and a fixed pulley 51d supported by the frame 53. One end of the wire 51e is a frame. The lift base 51f is connected to the other end. 51g is a guide shaft, 51h is a bearing, and the elevating base 51f is movable up and down along the guide shaft 51g. The height at which the lifting base 51f stops depends on the combination of the operating states of the two cylinders 51a and 51b. For example, at least the cylinder 51a stops at the lowest and highest height, and the cylinder 51b stops at an intermediate height. Have been able to. Reference numeral 51j denotes a coupling plate for coupling the second elevating cylinders 51b and 51b provided in the left and right columns, respectively.
[0016]
The lifting base 51f is provided with an opening / closing mechanism 54 for holding the rice cooker 4. The opening / closing mechanism 54 includes a pair of holding cylinders 54a provided in the horizontal direction and a chuck plate 54b fixed to the piston shaft of the cylinder 54a. A locking portion 54c is formed at the front end of the plate 54b, and the plate 54b opens and closes according to the operation of the cylinder 54a. When the plate 54b is closed, the locking portion 54c engages with the bowl-shaped portion 4c on the periphery of the rice cooker 4. Stop and the rice cooker 4 is held. Reference numeral 31a denotes a positioning projection with which the hook-shaped portion 4c abuts.
[0017]
The lift base 51f is further provided with an arm drive mechanism 55. The rotating arm 32 is attached to a corner portion on the upper surface of the rice cooking unit 31 so as to be able to turn horizontally, and is provided at the center of the lid 4a of the rice cooking pot 4 as shown by a solid line in FIG. The temperature detector 32a is in the detection position where the steam hole 4b is in contact, and when the rice cooker 4 is put in and out, it is in the standby position indicated by a broken line. Correspondingly, an extrusion cylinder 55a is attached to the elevating base 51f in the horizontal direction, and a pair of arm drive cylinders 55b and 55c are attached downward to the piston shaft, and the arm drive mechanism 55 is constituted by these. Yes.
[0018]
When turning the rotary arm 32 to the detection position, the piston shaft of the pushing cylinder 55a is pushed out, and then the piston shaft 55c-1 of the driving cylinder 55c is pushed out, and then the piston shaft of the cylinder 55a is pulled. As a result, the piston shaft 55c-1 engages with the arm 32 and pushes it, so that the arm 32 rotates to the detection position. Conversely, when returning from this position to the standby position, the piston shaft 55b-1 of the drive cylinder 55b is pushed out, and this is locked to the arm 32 to push out the piston shaft of the cylinder 55a. It will turn.
[0019]
The illustrated apparatus has the above configuration, and the operation will be described next. When lifting the rice cooker 4 injected with rice from the carry-in unit 24, the lifting / lowering transfer means 5 is moved over the carry-in unit 24, the holding cylinder 54a of the opening / closing mechanism 54 is operated to open the chuck plate 54b, The elevating cylinders 51a and 51b are operated to lower the elevating base 51f to the minimum height. And the chuck | zipper plate 54b is closed, the rice cooking pot 4 is hold | maintained, and the raising / lowering base 51f is raised.
[0020]
Next, in order to accommodate this rice cooker 4 in the vacant predetermined rice cooking unit 31, after raising the raising / lowering base 51f to the maximum height, the drive motor 52b of the traveling mechanism 52 is operated, The lifting / lowering transfer means 5 is moved to a position reaching the top of the rice cooking unit 31 to be moved. Then, after the elevating base 51f is lowered to the intermediate height and the rice cooker 4 is accommodated in the rice cooking unit 31, the rotating arm 32 is rotated to the detection position by the drive mechanism 55, the chuck plate 54b is opened, and the elevating base 51f is moved. Raise to the highest position. Next, the rice cooking unit is operated to start rice cooking, and the progress of rice cooking is always detected by the temperature detector 32a of the rotating arm 32 or the like.
[0021]
After the rice cooking is completed, the rice cooking pot 4 again operates the lifting / lowering transfer means 5 to lower the lifting mechanism 51 at the position of the corresponding rice cooking unit 31, and the arm 32 is rotated to the standby position by the driving mechanism 55 and then lifted. . And it moves to the steaming start part 22 and lowers the rice cooking pot 4 here, and moves to the steaming process on the conveyor 21.
[0022]
In addition, said operation | movement is controlled by the control apparatus which is not shown in figure according to the procedure set beforehand, the raising / lowering and movement of the rice cooking pot 4, selection of the rice cooking unit 31 which accommodates the rice cooking pot 4, adjustment of the thermal power during rice cooking, the conveyor 21 These speeds are all automatically performed using detection signals from various sensors. The lifting / lowering transfer means 5 may stop at that position until the next operation is started after a series of operations are completed, or may be returned to a preset standby position, for example, just above the carry-in unit 24. You may wait.
[0023]
As a sensor that sends a detection signal to the above-described control device, for example, there is a stop position sensor of the lifting / lowering transfer means 5. This is for stopping the lifting / lowering transfer means 5 at a position where the center of the rice cooker 4 that has been conveyed and the center of the rice cooking unit 31 coincide with each other. As shown in FIG. A detector 56b is provided at each stop position of the main frame 11 correspondingly. That is, when the detector 56b detects the metal plate 56a, a signal is generated, the energization of the drive motor 52b is stopped, the electromagnetic brake is operated, and the rotation of the motor is stopped.
[0024]
In addition, since the stop position becomes inaccurate due to inertia force alone, a positioning cylinder 56c is attached to the frame 53, and a positioning roller 56d is provided at each position of the main frame 11 corresponding thereto, and the piston of the cylinder 56c is provided. A positioning plate 56e having a V-shaped recess 56f is attached to the shaft. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation. When the drive motor 52b is stopped as described above, the cylinder 56c is simultaneously operated to press the plate 56e against the roller 56d. As a result, even when there is a slight deviation E in the stop position of the lifting / lowering transfer means 5 as shown in FIG. 5A, the roller 56d and the V-shaped recess 56f of the plate 56e are engaged with each other so that the centers of the two coincide. The lifting / lowering transfer means 5 moves to the position (2) and stops completely in the state shown in FIG.
[0025]
Although not shown in the drawings, for example, one that detects whether the rice cooker 4 is set in the rice cooking unit 31, one that detects the stop height of the lifting base 51f, one that detects the bottom temperature, etc. Various sensors are provided as appropriate.
[0026]
In addition, although the above-mentioned automatic rice cooking apparatus 1 is provided with the steaming part 2, the rice cooking part 3, etc. arranged in 2 series, of course, this invention is applicable also to the apparatus which provided these only 1 series.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, the automatic rice cooking apparatus of the present invention has a rice cooking unit in which a plurality of rice cooking units are arranged in a row, the rice cooking pots in which rice cooking has been finished arranged in a row and directed toward the terminal side. The steaming part that performs steaming while transporting is arranged in a two-stage configuration at the lower stage, and storage and removal of the rice cooker in the rice cooking unit by the lifting / lowering transfer means provided in the frame where these are arranged , to the steaming part The movement is performed.
[0028]
Therefore, the rice cooking and steaming processes can be performed in one apparatus, and it is possible to move quickly without the need to use a conveyor means such as a conveyor that takes a relatively long time to move between the two processes. The temperature drop of large rice can be eliminated. In addition, since the whole can be three-dimensionally compact, installation is easy when space is limited, the line configuration is simplified, and the equipment cost can be reduced. In addition, it is easy to secure a space on the side surface of the apparatus, and a treatment such as taking out the rice cooker in the middle of the process is relatively easy. Therefore, work at the time of maintenance and trouble is facilitated, and the operating rate can be improved.
[0030]
In addition, a rotating arm having a temperature detector at the tip is provided in each rice cooking unit of the rice cooking unit, and driving means for rotating these rotating arms between the detection position and the standby position is provided in the lifting / lowering transfer means. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a drive means for the rotating arm for each rice cooking unit, and in this respect, the apparatus can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a basic configuration of an automatic rice cooker according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the same.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a specific configuration of lifting / lowering transfer means in the apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the same.
FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing a main part of lifting / lowering transfer means in the apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a positional relationship among a rice cooking unit, a rotating arm, and an arm driving mechanism in the apparatus.
FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the positioning mechanism of the lifting / lowering transfer means in the apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic rice cooker 2 Steaming part 22 Steaming start part 23 Steaming end part 24 Carry-in part 3 Rice cooking part 31 Rice cooking unit 32 Rotating arm 4 Rice cooker 5 Lifting transfer means 51 Lifting mechanism 52 Traveling mechanism 54 Opening / closing mechanism 55 Arm drive mechanism

Claims (2)

A rice cooking unit with a plurality of rice cooking units arranged in a row to accommodate the rice cooking kettle is provided in the upper row in the frame, and the rice cooking vessels that have finished cooking are arranged in a row and steamed while being transferred toward the end side. the steaming unit performed to match the direction of the rows provided under the cooking unit in the frame Rutotomoni, the starting end side of the steaming portion of steaming start portion for placing the finished cooking kettle cooking was finished steaming A rice cooking pot placed on the above-mentioned carry-in section is provided with a steaming end portion for taking out the rice cooker at the end side of the steaming portion, and a loading section for placing the rice-cooked rice poured on the extension line of the steaming section. The above-mentioned frame has a function of lifting the kettle and storing it in the rice cooking unit of the rice cooking unit, and a function of taking out the rice cooking kettle after rice cooking from the rice cooking unit and placing it on the steaming start part of the steaming part. It is provided in The elevating / lowering means has a height capable of holding the rice cooker placed on the carry-in part and the steaming start part, a height capable of moving above the rice cooking part while holding the rice cooker, and a held rice cooker A lifting mechanism that can stop at a height that can be accommodated in the rice cooking unit of the rice cooking unit, and a traveling mechanism that can stop the lifting mechanism at positions corresponding to the carry-in part, each rice cooking unit, and the steaming start part, respectively. automatic rice cooking system, characterized in that there. Each of the rice cooking units of the rice cooking unit is provided with a turning arm having a temperature detector at the tip, and the arm driving means for turning the turning arm to the detection position above the rice cooker and the standby position avoiding from above the rice cooking pot automatic rice cooking system according to claim 1, wherein provided in the lifting transfer means.

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