JP3858780B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rice cooker.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The structure of the conventional common rice cooker is shown in FIG. A pan 31 is detachably mounted in the main body 30 and an openable / closable lid 32 is provided to cover the top surface of the pan. Further, in order to heat the rice and water in the pan 31, the pan heating means 33 is disposed at the bottom of the pan 31, and the lid heating means 34 is disposed in the lid 32. Furthermore, in order to control the heating state of cooked rice, a pan temperature detecting means 35 for detecting the temperature of the pot 31 and a lid temperature detecting means 34 for detecting the temperature of the upper surface of the pot 31 are arranged at the bottom of the pot 31. The control unit 36 operates the pan heating unit 33 and the lid heating unit 34 in a timely manner based on the detected temperatures of the pan temperature detection unit 35 and the lid temperature detection unit 34.
[0003]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. Put in the pot 31 the amount of rice to be cooked and water suitable for the amount of rice. The rice cooking process of a general rice cooker is classified into watering, cooking, and steaming processes, and rice is cooked through the above processes. When the user starts cooking, the control means 36 is necessary for the above-mentioned immersion, cooking and steaming of the rice and water in the pot 31 based on the detected temperatures of the pot temperature detecting means 35 and the lid temperature detecting means 34. Maintain temperature and time.
[0004]
There is steam rice cooking where rice is cooked while receiving moisture and heat under uniform conditions by placing rice in an atmosphere filled with steam.
[0005]
A rice cooker using steam is as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-283328. The steam rice cooker shown in FIG. 11 is demonstrated. The main body 37 locks the rice cooking tray 33 in the vicinity of the center of the interior, and a partition plate 39 having a large number of holes through which rice grains cannot pass is provided at the bottom. A water supply shower 40 is provided at the upper part, and water is sprayed uniformly on the set rice grains. A steam supply unit 41 is provided in the lower part, and the water supplied from the water supply pump 42 is vaporized and steam is injected from below.
[0006]
In the above configuration, rice is cooked while jetting steam from below and rice from above.
[0007]
As described above, it is common to use a very large apparatus for supplying water and heat to rice grains.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a general household rice cooker, the rice and water in the pot are mainly heated by a pot heating means arranged at the bottom of the pot. The lid heating means in the lid is heated through the space above the rice and water in the pan, so that the state differs from the heating from the bottom of the pan, and it is difficult to achieve an appropriate heating state. If the amount of heating originally required for cooking rice is insufficient, or if the amount of heating is too large, only the upper surface is dried in a state where water is reduced, and the taste is impaired.
[0009]
Further, in the steaming process, the heating amount of the pan heating means must be reduced particularly in order to prevent the cooked rice from being burnt, and sufficient heating cannot be realized from the pan bottom.
[0010]
In addition to the steam for heating rice grains, the steam rice cooking apparatus that solves the above problems requires a water supply person to supplement the rice grains with water that is insufficiently supplied by steam cooking. Accordingly, the steam rice cooker has a very complicated configuration and is difficult to apply as a home-use rice cooker.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pan, pan heating means for heating the pan, a lid for covering the opening of the pan, and steam for liquefying and recovering steam generated from the pan during cooking In the steaming step of steaming the superheated steam from the recovered means, the superheated steam generating means for generating superheated steam from the recovered water, a rice cooker having a steam path leading from above the pan into the pan , In addition to the heating by the pot heating means, the steam generated during rice cooking is utilized to inject steam at an arbitrary temperature from above the pot and to heat the rice and water from above the pot.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 is a pan, a pan heating means for heating the pan, a lid for covering the opening of the pan, and a steam recovery means for liquefying and recovering steam generated from the pan during cooking. And a superheated steam generating means for generating superheated steam from the recovered water, and a steaming path for leading the superheated steam from the top of the pan into the pan in the steaming step. And a steam recovery means for liquefying and recovering the steam generated from the inside of the pan, and a structure having superheated steam generation means for generating superheated steam from the recovered water. With this configuration, steam released to the outside of the main body is recovered, and superheated steam can be radiated to the rice even in the uneven process where the generation of steam is reduced. Therefore, the heating of the pot temperature is uniformly promoted by steam, the rice is heated more uniformly even during the steaming, and the release of excess water staying inside the rice is promoted.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 2 divides the steam recovery means driving part constituting the steam recovery means and the superheated steam generation means driving part constituting the superheated steam generation means in the invention according to claim 1 and arranging them on the lid. In addition, a portion that comes into contact with the steam and the steam circulation path in the steam suction means and the superheated steam generation means are configured to be detachable so that a clean state can always be easily maintained.
[0014]
The invention described in claim 3 has a temperature control means for controlling the operation of the superheated steam generating means and arbitrarily setting the superheated steam temperature in the invention described in claim 1 or 2 in particular. Therefore, it is possible to generate the superheated steam having the optimum temperature corresponding to the total number of cooked rice in each rice cooking process and radiate it to the rice.
[0015]
【Example】
( Reference Example 1)
A first reference example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 shown in FIG. 1 shows the main body of a rice cooker, and is equipped with a detachable pan 2. Further, a lid 3 that covers the top opening of the pan 2 is installed so as to be freely opened and closed.
[0016]
A pan heating means 4 for heating the pan 2 and a pan temperature detecting means 5 for detecting the temperature of the pan 2 are arranged inside the main body 1. The lid 3 has a lid heating means 6 for heating the inside of the pan 2 from the upper surface, an outside air suction means 7 for sucking the outside air of the lid, an outside air heating means 8 for heating the sucked outside air, and the heated outside air for the pot 2 An outdoor air blowing path 9 to be introduced into the upper surface opening of the upper part and a steam cylinder 10 for releasing steam from the inside of the pan 2 to the outside are arranged.
[0017]
Moreover, the backflow prevention means 11 which prevents the vapor | steam in cooking rice from invading into the external air ventilation path | route 9 is installed in the vicinity of the upper-surface opening part front-end | tip of the pan 2 of the external air ventilation path | route 9.
[0018]
Furthermore, it has the outside temperature control means 12 which controls the outside air heating means 7 and adjusts the heating temperature of outside air arbitrarily.
[0019]
The operation in the above configuration will be described. Two pots of water corresponding to the rice to be cooked and the amount of the rice are put into a predetermined state of the main body 1. When the user operates a rice cooking start switch (not shown), the rice cooking process is performed. Generally, the rice cooking process is largely divided into each process of water immersion, cooking, and steaming. In each step, the pot heating means 4 is driven while detecting the output of the pot temperature detecting means 5 in order to maintain the temperature of the water and rice in the pot 2 set at appropriate values and for a predetermined time.
[0020]
In the cooking process, the rice and water in the pan 2 are heated until they reach a boiling state, and the boiling state is maintained until there is no water in the pan 2. During this time, the rice and water directly receive heat energy from the heated pan 2 and reach the boiling point, the rice advances gelatinization while absorbing hot water, and the water continues to change into steam. At this time, the upper space of the rice and water is kept at a high temperature from the opening at the top of the pan 2 by the lid heating means. However, the steam filling this space is heated, and the steam is released from the steam cylinder 10 to the outside of the main body 1 as it is. Therefore, sufficient heating is not performed from the upper part in the cooking process.
[0021]
In order to actively heat from the upper part during the cooking process, the outside air suction means 7 for sucking outside air is operated to send outside air into the outside air blowing path 9 communicating with the pot opening.
[0022]
The outside air sent into the outside air blowing path 9 is heated to a temperature of 100 ° C. or more in the outside air heating means 7 and is discharged into the pot through the opening of the pot 2. The heated outside air is mixed with the steam generated in the pan 2 in the upper space of the rice and water in the pan 2, and becomes steam of 100 ° C or higher.
[0023]
This steam at 100 ° C. or higher serves to heat the rice and water from above by spraying the rice and water from above, which is the pan opening.
[0024]
The outside air temperature control means 11 controls the operating time of the outside air heating means 8 in order to adjust the outside air temperature heated by the total number of rice cooking recognized by the rice cooker in advance. Specifically, the operating time of the outside air heating means 8 corresponding to the total number of rice cooking is set and stored in the outside temperature control means 11 in advance. As the number of cooked rices increases, the operating time of the outside air heating means 8 is set longer, and the temperature of rice and water in the pan 2 is surely increased. The rice cooker starts cooking rice and performs rice cooking according to the total number of rice cooking, and starts the cooking process. In the cooking process, the outside air temperature control means 11 sets the predetermined time stored in accordance with the total number of rice cooking, performs the operation of heating the outside air and putting it into the pan 2 as described above.
[0025]
Furthermore, in order to removably provide a backflow prevention means 11 for preventing the invasion of steam during cooking, near the tip of the outside air blowing path 9 on the opening side of the pot 2, steam generated in the pot 2 during cooking is outside air. It prevents the air from entering the air passage 9 and causing bacterial growth. Further, by making the backflow preventing means 11 in contact with the vapor detachable, the user can be cleaned in a timely manner and can be kept more hygienic.
[0026]
Note that the outside air suction means 7, the outside air heating means 8, the outside air blowing path 9, and the outside air temperature control means 12 can be arranged not in the lid 3 but in the main body 1. However, the configuration within the lid 3 can simplify the configuration.
[0027]
The same effect can be obtained even if the arrangement of the outside air suction means 7 and the outside air heating means 8 is opposite to that shown in FIG.
[0028]
Further, by providing a filter on the suction side of the outside air suction means 7, it is possible to easily prevent foreign matter from being sucked. Further, the outside air heating means 8 is provided with a general temperature detecting means (not shown) for preventing an abnormal heating state of the outside air heating means 8 to ensure safety. Furthermore, by detecting the temperature of the temperature detecting means and controlling the operation of the outside air heating means 8, more accurate outside air can be obtained with respect to the target temperature.
[0029]
In addition, an effect does not change also in the rice cooker of the structure without the cover heating means 6 which heats from the cover 3. FIG. Moreover, as a heating means of the pot 2 of this rice cooker, the same effect is acquired also about what adds the heating means which heats from the pan 2 side in addition to the pot heating means 4, It is the same even if electromagnetic induction heating, heater heating, gas heating, or the like is used in the side of the pan including the heating means 4 and the heating means from the lid.
[0030]
( Reference Example 2)
A second reference example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 shows the main body of the rice cooker like FIG. Further, a lid 3 that covers the top opening of the pan 2 is installed so as to be freely opened and closed. A pan heating means 4 for heating the pan 2 and a pan temperature detecting means 5 for detecting the temperature of the pan 2 are arranged inside the main body 1. The lid 3 has a lid heating means 6 for heating the inside of the pan 2 from the upper surface, a steam suction means 13 for sucking the steam generated from the inside of the pan 2 during cooking, and superheated steam for heating the sucked steam and generating superheated steam. A generating means 14, a steam circulation path 15 for introducing the generated superheated steam into the pot 2 and radiating it to rice and water, and a steam cylinder 10 for releasing the steam from the pot 2 to the outside are arranged.
[0031]
The steam suction means 13 includes a steam suction part 16 that directly contacts steam and a steam suction part driving means 17 that operates the steam suction part 16. The superheated steam generation means 14 includes a steam passage section 18 through which steam passes and a steam passage section heating means 19 that heats the steam passage section 18.
[0032]
Further, the steam suction part 16 constituting the steam suction means 11 is separated from the steam suction part driving means 17, and the steam passage part 18 constituting the superheated steam generation means 14 is separated from the steam passage part heating means 19. The steam suction part driving means 17 and the steam passage part heating means 19 are disposed inside the lid, and the steam suction part 16, the steam passage part 18 and the steam circulation path 15 that directly touch the steam are detachable. is there.
[0033]
Further, the lid 3 has a steam temperature control means 20 for arbitrarily adjusting the temperature of the superheated steam to be generated.
[0034]
The operation in the above configuration will be described. Preparations for starting the cooking process are the same as in Reference Example 1. When the cooking process is started and the rice and water in the pan 2 are heated and steam is generated, the pan temperature detection means 5 detects the boiling state, the steam suction means 11 is operated, the steam is sucked, and superheated steam is generated. The sucked steam is guided to the steam passage portion 14 of the means 12. The steam passage portion 18 has already been heated by the steam passage portion heating means 19 and is heated to a higher temperature and becomes superheated steam while the sucked steam passes through the steam passage portion 18. This superheated steam is discharged toward the rice and water through the steam circulation path 15 to reliably heat the rice and water. Thereafter, the superheated steam is discharged from the steam cylinder 10 to the outside.
[0035]
The steam temperature control means 20 controls the operation time of the superheated steam generation means 14 in order to adjust the steam temperature heated by the total number of rice cooking recognized by the rice cooker in advance. Specifically, the operation time of the superheated steam generation means 14 corresponding to the total number of cooked rice is set and stored in the steam temperature control means 20 in advance. The larger the number of cooked rices, the longer the operation time of the superheated steam generating means 14 is set, and the temperature of the rice and water in the pan 2 is reliably increased. The rice cooker starts cooking rice and performs rice cooking according to the total number of rice cooking, and starts the cooking process. In the cooking step, the steam temperature control means 20 sets the predetermined time stored in accordance with the total number of rice cooking, and performs the operation of heating the outside air and putting it into the pan 2 as described above.
[0036]
The steam suction means 13, the superheated steam generation means 14, the steam circulation path 15, and the steam temperature control means 20 are arranged inside the lid 3 or inside the main body 1 in addition to the case where they are arranged on the lower surface of the lid 3 as shown in FIG. It is also possible to do. However, the configuration in FIG. 3 can be simplified.
[0037]
Further, the steam passage superheating means 19 in the superheated steam generation means 14 is provided with a general temperature detection means (not shown) for preventing an abnormal heating state to ensure safety. Further, by detecting the temperature of the temperature detecting means and controlling the operation of the steam passage portion heating means 19, more accurate outside air can be obtained with respect to the target temperature.
[0038]
In addition, an effect does not change also in the rice cooker of the structure without the cover heating means 6 which heats from the cover 3. FIG. Moreover, as a heating means of the pot 2 of this rice cooker, the same effect is acquired also about what adds the heating means which heats from the pan 2 side in addition to the pot heating means 4, It is the same even if electromagnetic induction heating, heater heating, gas heating, or the like is used in the side of the pan including the heating means 4 and the heating means from the lid.
[0039]
(Example 1 )
4 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 for the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows the main body of the rice cooker like FIG. Further, a lid 3 that covers the top opening of the pan 2 is installed so as to be freely opened and closed.
[0040]
A pan heating means 4 for heating the pan 2 and a pan temperature detecting means 5 for detecting the temperature of the pan 2 are arranged inside the main body 1. The lid 3 has a lid heating means 6 for heating the inside of the pan 2 from the upper surface, a steam recovery means 21 for sucking and liquefying steam generated from the inside of the pan 2 during cooking, and heating the recovered and liquefied water to produce superheated steam. The superheated steam generation means 22 to be generated, the steam path 23 in which the generated superheated steam is put into the pan 2 and radiated to rice and water, and the backflow prevention means 10 are provided at the opening of the steam path 23 on the pan 2 side. In addition, a steam cylinder 10 for further releasing steam from the inside of the pan 2 to the outside is disposed.
[0041]
The steam recovery means 21 includes a steam suction section 24 and a steam cooling section 25 that directly touch steam, and a steam recovery section driving means 26 that operates the steam suction section 24 and the steam cooling section 25. The superheated steam generation means 22 includes a water storage section 27 that collects water liquefied by the steam cooling section 25 and a water storage section heating means 28 that heats the water storage section 27.
[0042]
Further, the steam suction part 24 and the steam cooling part 25 constituting the steam recovery means 21 are separated from the steam recovery part driving means 26, and the water storage part 27 constituting the superheated steam generation means 22 is further connected to the water storage part superheating means 28. Separately, a steam recovery unit driving unit 26 and a water storage unit heating unit 28 are disposed inside the lid, and a steam suction unit 24, a steam cooling unit 25, a water storage unit 27, and a steam path 23 and a backflow prevention unit that directly touch the steam. Reference numeral 10 denotes a detachable structure.
[0043]
Further, the lid 3 has a steam temperature control means 29 for arbitrarily adjusting the temperature of the superheated steam to be generated.
[0044]
The operation in the above configuration will be described. Preparations for starting the cooking process are the same as in Reference Example 1. When the cooking process starts and the rice and water in the pan 2 are heated and steam is generated, the pan temperature detection means 5 detects the boiling state, and the steam recovery means 21 is operated. The steam recovery means 21 operates the steam suction part 24 by the steam recovery drive means 26 to suck the steam and send it to the steam cooling part 25. Steam is liquefied by heat exchange in the steam cooling section 25 and recovered as water. The recovered water is temporarily stored in the water storage section 27 in the superheated steam generation means 22 and is heated in the water storage section heating means 28 as necessary to become superheated steam. The generated superheated steam reliably heats rice and water from the opening on the upper surface of the pan 2 via the steam path 23.
[0045]
Further, even when the cooking process is completed and the steaming process is completed and the generation of steam from the pan is reduced, the water once stored in the water storage unit 27 is heated and superheated steam is put into the pan 2. If superheated steam can be introduced in the steaming step, the heating that is insufficient in the pan heating means and the lid heating means in the steaming step can be sufficiently compensated.
[0046]
The steam temperature control means 29 controls the operating time of the superheated steam generation means 22 in order to adjust the steam temperature heated by the total number of rice cooking recognized by the rice cooker in advance. Specifically, the operation time of the superheated steam generation means 22 corresponding to the total number of cooked rice is set and stored in the steam temperature control means 29 in advance. As the number of cooked rices increases, the operating time of the superheated steam generating means 22 is set longer, and the temperature of the rice and water in the pan 2 is surely increased. The rice cooker starts cooking rice and carries out rice cooking according to the total number of rice cooking, and starts the cooking process. In the cooking process, the steam temperature control means 29 performs the operation of setting the predetermined time stored in accordance with the total number of rice cooking, heating the outside air as described above, and putting it into the pan 2.
[0047]
Further, in the steaming process after the cooking process is completed, the steam temperature suitable for the steaming process for each number of rice cooked is stored in the steam temperature control means 29, and the operation time of the superheated steam generating means 22 is similar to the cooking process. Is to control.
[0048]
Note that the steam recovery means 21, the superheated steam generation means 22, the steam path 23, and the steam temperature control means 29 can be arranged not in the lid 3 but in the main body 1. However, the configuration within the lid 3 can simplify the configuration.
[0049]
Further, the water storage means 28 in the superheated steam generation means 22 is provided with general temperature detection means (not shown) for preventing an abnormal heating state, thereby ensuring safety. Further, by detecting the temperature of the temperature detecting means and controlling the operation of the water storage section heating means 28, more accurate outside air can be obtained with respect to the target temperature.
[0050]
In addition, an effect does not change also in the rice cooker of the structure without the cover heating means 6 which heats from the cover 3. FIG. Moreover, as a heating means of the pot 2 of this rice cooker, the same effect is acquired also about what adds the heating means which heats from the pan 2 side in addition to the pot heating means 4, It is the same even if electromagnetic induction heating, heater heating, gas heating, or the like is used in the side of the pan including the heating means 4 and the heating means from the lid.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by generating superheated steam using steam generated during rice cooking, and radiating it to the rice during cooking, the rice in the pan, from above which is insufficient in the heating of water. Heat. And the rice cooker which improves a taste very much by preventing upward drying and implement | achieves a small steam rice cooker is provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a sectional view of a rice cooker in Reference Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a rice cooker in Reference Example 2 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a rice cooker in Reference Example 2 of the present invention. 4] Cross section of rice cooker in Example 1 of the present invention [Fig. 5] Cross section of conventional rice cooker [Fig. 6] Cross section of conventional steam rice cooker [Explanation of symbols]
2 Pot 3 Lid 4 Pot heating means 5 Pot temperature detection means 7 Outside air suction means 8 Outside air heating means 9 Outside air blowing path 11 Backflow prevention means 12 Outside air temperature control means 13 Steam suction means 14 Superheated steam generation means 15 Steam circulation paths 16, 24 Steam suction part 17 Steam suction part heating means 18 Steam passage part 19 Steam passage part heating means 20, 29 Steam temperature control means 21 Steam recovery means 22 Superheated steam generation means 23 Steam path 25 Steam cooling part 26 Steam recovery part drive means 27 Water storage 28 Reservoir heating means

Claims (3)

A pan, a pan heating means for heating the pan, a lid covering the opening of the pan, a steam recovery means for liquefying and recovering steam generated from the pan during cooking, and superheated steam from the recovered water A rice cooker having superheated steam generating means to be generated and a steam path for guiding the superheated steam from above the pan into the pan in the steaming step . The steam recovery means has a steam recovery section drive means, a steam suction section, and a steam cooling section, and the superheated steam generation means has a water storage section and a water storage section heating means, the steam suction section, It said steam cooling section, cooker according to claim 1, wherein the vapor circulation path and detachable. The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2 , comprising steam temperature control means for controlling the operation of the superheated steam generation means and arbitrarily setting the superheated steam temperature.

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