JP4013205B2 - Seed germination and rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[Technical Field] The present invention is a technique related to an apparatus that automatically performs germinated brown rice from germination to cooking.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Plant seeds contain the nutrients necessary for the birth of new life. In the process of germinating the seed, in addition to the nutrient accumulated in the seed, a new necessary nutrient is generated from a part of the nutrient. Therefore, seeds immediately after germination often have higher nutritional value than seeds before germination.
[0003]
At present, “germinated brown rice” is widely used as a germinated seed. The “germinated brown rice” refers to brown rice that has germinated to about 1 mm, in other words, brown rice that has sprouted. However, the optimal sprout length may vary depending on the taste of the eater and the type of brown rice. In addition to the nutrients of brown rice, this germinated brown rice produces many useful nutrients, including the amino acid inositol called gaba, at the time of germination. It is an excellent ingredient that is superior to brown rice in terms of nutritional value and can be cooked as easily as white rice.
[0004]
Until now, various techniques relating to the production of germinated brown rice have been devised and put into practical use. However, there is no simple technology for home use that can achieve the following objectives.
The first is to produce germinated brown rice overnight. In other words, preparation is made to germinate brown rice before going to bed, and germinated brown rice is completed for breakfast the next day.
In conventional brown rice germination devices for home use, it usually took less than 20 hours or more than 20 hours to germinate brown rice, so it was impossible to perform from germination to rice cooking overnight. .
Secondly, the amount of water in which the brown rice is soaked for germination is set to be the same as the amount of water in the case of cooking the germinated brown rice having the amount of water remaining after germination. That is, it is to enable continuous germination of brown rice to rice cooking without adjusting the amount of water on the way.
Conventionally, the amount of water for germinating brown rice is greater than the amount of water used for cooking the germinated brown rice, so it was necessary to adjust the amount of water after germination. Therefore, it was impossible to perform continuously from germination of brown rice to rice cooking without adjusting the amount of water after completion of germination.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to achieve the first object, the temperature of the mixture obtained by immersing brown rice before germination in water may be set to a temperature at which germination speed is high within the range of the temperature at which brown rice germinates. Specifically, if the temperature of the mixture of water and brown rice is moderately higher than that of household brown rice germination devices currently on the market, the speed at which brown rice will germinate is sufficient to be used for germinated brown rice overnight. This is because the faster it germinates. However, while the amount of oxygen consumed by brown rice increases as the growth increases, the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water decreases as the temperature of the water increases. For this reason, brown rice tends to be in an oxygen-deficient state, germination of brown rice is inhibited, and in some cases, brown rice may die.
Moreover, if the amount of water is reduced to a level suitable for cooking rice after germination for the second purpose, the total amount of oxygen in the water relative to the amount of brown rice is reduced. For this reason, in this case as well, brown rice tends to be in an oxygen-deficient state, and germination of brown rice is inhibited, and in some cases, brown rice may die.
[0005]
Therefore, as one solution, a technique for feeding water containing oxygen into a mixture in which brown rice is immersed in water has been considered. By feeding water containing oxygen, oxygen can be sufficiently given to the immersed brown rice regardless of the water temperature and the amount of water in which the brown rice is immersed, and a good germination state can be obtained.
However, in actuality, there is a drawback that the water flow collides with water or the soaked brown rice, and it is difficult to feed water smoothly. In order to feed this water smoothly, a driving device such as a pump that feeds water becomes large, or a structure that immerses brown rice makes it complicated to smoothly flow the fed water. . For example, “Seed immersion / germination method and apparatus” of JP-A-6-169644.
Therefore, the present inventor intends to provide a technique capable of producing germinated seeds such as germinated brown rice so as to achieve the first and second objects described above for commercial use as well as household use. It is aimed.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention, while heating a mixture in which seeds before germination are immersed in water to a predetermined temperature, sends a gas necessary for germination of the seeds to the mixture, and germinates the seeds in a short time and It is possible to germinate with less water for rice. Therefore, germination brown rice automatic rice cooker that can be germinated with water amount suitable for cooking after germination, so that it is automatically performed from germination to rice cooking without trouble of water amount adjustment etc. by cooking after germination Can be developed and manufactured.
Here, the “seed” refers to, for example, a grain that has been threshed like brown rice, or a grain that has seeds exposed from rice husks and does not need to be threshed, such as bare wheat.
The “gas necessary for germination” may be a gas containing a gas necessary for germination. For example, oxygen is required for germination of brown rice. In this case, the gas fed into the water is not limited to oxygen but may be air containing oxygen.
[0007]
According to this invention, the seed germination apparatus increases the speed at which seeds germinate by heating a mixture obtained by immersing seeds before germination in water to a predetermined water temperature. At that time, the gas necessary for germination of seeds is fed into the mixture, so that the gas dissolves in the water, and even if the water temperature rises and the speed of germination increases, the amount of the necessary gas sufficient for germination in the mixture Is supplied.
In addition, by providing a partition plate having punch holes above the gas passage hole of the seed germination apparatus, it is possible to prevent clogging of the seeds that have become soaked due to immersed seeds or seed fragments or rice cooking into the gas passage hole. . This partition plate may be omitted if unnecessary.
By providing the rice germination function in the seed germination device, seed germination and rice cooking can be performed continuously. In addition, by providing a timer function in the seed germination apparatus, it becomes possible to complete germination of seeds at a specified time or to complete cooking of the germinated seeds.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to describe the present invention in more detail, it will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, brown rice is used as seeds for germination. In addition, “completion of germination” of brown rice refers to a state in which brown rice has germinated by a length (about 1 mm) appropriate for cooking rice as germinated brown rice. In the case of other seeds, the shoot length suitable for cooking rice may be different. In addition, the optimal bud length may differ depending on the taste of the person who eats brown rice and the type of brown rice.
[0009]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention. The seed germination apparatus of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present apparatus”) is provided with a pot 10 for germinating brown rice 50 and cooking rice, and air 25 containing oxygen as a gas necessary for germination of the brown rice 50 at the bottom 11 of the pot 10. And a pump 20 for feeding from the gas passage hole 12. Further, the hook 10 is provided with a hook lid 14, and a gas escape hole 15 for releasing the gas in the hook 10 is provided in a part thereof. When the air 25 is fed from the pump 20, the gas in the hook 10 escapes from the gas escape hole 15, and the air 25 can be continuously fed. The gas escape hole 15 may be provided with a backflow prevention valve.
[0010]
First, as a “dipping-only process” of the present apparatus, a mixture 70 is prepared in which a brown rice 50 before germination and water 60 having an amount of water that is just suitable for cooking are prepared in the pot 10 when germination is completed. Then, as the “heating process for germination”, the pot 10 is heated by the heater 80 provided in the apparatus (heating for germination). Then, the temperature of the mixture 70 in the pot 10 rises, and the brown rice 50 starts to germinate actively. The heating for germination in this case is adjusted by the thermistor in this apparatus so that the mixture 70 becomes a temperature suitable for active germination of the brown rice 50. Depending on seed type, dryness of seed and time from start to finish of germination. In the case of the mixture 70 of brown rice 50 and water 60, in the experiment of the inventors of the present invention, when the temperature of the mixture 70 of brown rice 50 and water 60 was set to 35 ° C., germination was completed in 7 to 8 hours.
[0011]
As the speed of germination of the brown rice 50 increases, the consumption rate of oxygen in the mixture 70 also increases. However, in this apparatus, as the pot 10 is heated, the air 25 is fed into the mixture 70 from the gas passage hole 12 provided in the pot bottom 11 by the pump 20, so that the air 25 is dissolved in the water 60 and is mixed into the mixture 70. Sufficient oxygen is supplied for germination. Thus, the germination time of the brown rice 50 can be shortened while compensating for the decrease in the amount of oxygen in the mixture 70 due to the heating for germination and preventing the oxygen deficiency of the brown rice 50.
[0012]
Further, in this case, what is fed into the mixture 70 from the gas through hole 12 provided in the bottom 11 by the pump 20 is air 25 which is a gas, not a liquid. The air 25 is less likely to be blocked by the water 60 or the immersed brown rice 50 than in the case of water, and also becomes foamy and naturally rises in the mixture 70. Therefore, the air 25 easily moves through the mixture 70 of the brown rice 50 and the water 60. I can move. At this time, as the air 25 moves, oxygen dissolves in the surrounding water, and a water flow containing a large amount of oxygen is caused to sufficiently supply oxygen to the entire mixture 70.
[0013]
At the same time, it is not necessary to increase the amount of water 60 in which the brown rice 50 is immersed as much as in the past. That is, when oxygen is not forcibly dissolved in water as in this device, the amount of oxygen that naturally dissolves in water per unit time is less than in the case of using this device. It was necessary to make the amount of oxygen sufficient. Therefore, the amount of water needs to be very large compared to the amount of brown rice 50. However, since the air 25 containing oxygen is sent from the gas passage hole 12 and oxygen is always supplied in a large amount to the mixture 70, the amount of water can be set to some extent freely in this apparatus.
[0014]
When this apparatus is equipped with a rice cooking function and continuously shifts to the rice cooking process after the completion of germination, the amount of water remaining at the time of germination completion is required for the water 60 at the time when the brown rice 50 is immersed in the water 60 during the rice cooking process. By adjusting the amount to such a level, adjustment of the amount of water (discharge of excess water, etc.) becomes unnecessary when shifting to the rice cooking process after germination is completed. For this reason, it is possible to perform continuously from germination of brown rice 50 to rice cooking, without providing a special water amount adjustment function in this device. However, this apparatus may have a function of replacing water or a function of injecting insufficient water. In addition, when a water amount memory for cooking rice corresponding to the amount of brown rice 50 is provided inside the pot 10, it is convenient when putting an appropriate amount of water.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, there is one gas passage hole 12 for sending the air 25 from the pump 20 to the mixture 70, but a plurality of gas passage holes are provided in the pot bottom 11 so that the air 25 can be sent from a plurality of places to the mixture 70. 12, 12, ... may be provided. Particularly, when the area of the bottom 11 is large, it is effective for supplying oxygen sufficiently to the mixture 70. FIG. 2 shows a specific example. In addition, you may provide a separate pump 20 in each of the illustrated gas passage holes 12, 12,. In the experiment of the present inventors, when there was brown rice of about 10 cm above one gas passage hole with a cylindrical germination apparatus having a radius of about 4 cm, the brown rice germinated normally without unevenness. On the other hand, when a brown germination apparatus having a radius of about 10 cm had a brown rice of less than 5 cm above one gas passage hole, the brown rice was rotten at the end of the cylinder away from the gas passage hole. In all cases, the temperature of the mixture was set to 35 ° C.
[0016]
FIG. 2A shows a case where the tip portion of the cylinder 21 to which the air 25 moves from the pump 20 is divided into a plurality of parts. The air 25 is fed into the mixture 70 from the divided parts.
FIG. 2 (b) shows a case where a partition plate 30 is provided on the bottom 11 of the shuttle 10. This partition plate 30 is provided with convex curved portions at a plurality of locations, and punch holes 31, 31,. When the air 25 is sent from the pump 20, the air 25 entering the mixture 70 once accumulates on the lower surface of the partition plate 30. Then, the mixture 70 ascends through a plurality of punch holes 31 provided in the partition plate 30. By having this partition plate, it is possible to prevent the brown rice 50 from being clogged in the gas passage hole 12.
In this way, by providing a plurality of gas passage holes 12 for sending the air 25 to the mixture 70 of the water 60 and the brown rice 50, the air passage holes 12, 12, which have a plurality of water flows containing a large amount of oxygen in the mixture 70. ... occurs on ... The gas through holes 12, 12,... Provided at a plurality of locations are not limited to those shown in FIG.
[0017]
Then, after the germination of the brown rice 50 is completed, the process proceeds to the rice cooking process. At the start of rice cooking, the gas escape hole 15 is closed. In the rice cooking process, since this apparatus uses the rice cooking function of a normal rice cooker, the description thereof is omitted. In addition, this invention does not necessarily perform continuously from germination to cooking rice, and may perform only germination. This is because, after the germination of brown rice is completed, there are cases where it is desired to mix white rice or millet grains with the germinated brown rice and to cook rice or to refrigerate for later cooking.
[0018]
Conventionally, a brown rice germination apparatus is used to germinate brown rice in the home, and the germinated brown rice thus produced is transferred to a normal rice cooker for cooking. At this time, in the conventional germination apparatus, the user has to pay attention to when the germination is completed and transfer the germinated brown rice to the rice cooker immediately after the completion of germination. This is because if left untreated after germination, brown rice will continue to grow and become unsuitable for cooking. For this reason, it was troublesome and troublesome. However, according to the present apparatus, from the soaking of brown rice to the cooking of rice can be performed continuously with one apparatus, there is no need to worry about when the germination is completed without any human hands on the way. Moreover, since brown rice can be germinated in a short time, it can be prepared before going to bed and eat freshly germinated brown rice at breakfast the next day.
[0019]
In the experiment of the present inventor, the water 60 in which the brown rice 50 was completely germinated had a slight odor, but even if the water 60 is directly used for cooking the brown rice 50, the cooked germinated brown rice is usually used. It was indistinguishable from germinated brown rice cooked by replacing it with water (no odor). Therefore, there is no problem even if rice is continuously cooked from germination without replacing the water 60. Moreover, the nutrients of the brown rice 50 are slightly dissolved in the soaked water 60 at the time of germination. By using this water 60 as it is for cooking without replacement, the nutrients once dissolved in the water 60 can also be ingested. Is possible.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a timer function for temporally controlling germination of the brown rice 50 in this apparatus. In this case, the germination completion time of the brown rice 50 is designated, and this apparatus is controlled in accordance with this. Note that the timer function is not limited to this example.
FIG. 3 (a) is to start the germination heating process after calculating the time required for the germination heating process so that the germination of the brown rice 50 is completed at the specified time. .
FIG. 3 (b) is a refinement of FIG. 3 (a), and shows the amount of germination in the only soaking process in which the brown rice 50 is soaked in the water 60 before starting the heating process for germination. Calculate and start the heating process for germination. In this case, since the amount of germination in the immersion only process is also calculated, the time for the germination heating process is shorter than in the case of FIG. 3 (a).
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a timer function for temporally controlling from the immersion of brown rice 50 to the completion of rice cooking in this apparatus. That is, this is an example in which the time for cooking germinated brown rice is specified and the apparatus is controlled accordingly. Note that the timer function is not limited to this example.
Fig. 4 (a) is to start the germination heating process after calculating the time required for the germination heating process and the rice cooking heating process so that the germinated brown rice is just cooked at the specified time. is there.
FIG. 4 (b) is a refinement of FIG. 4 (a), and shows the amount of germination in the only soaking process in which brown rice 50 is soaked in water 60 before starting the heating process for germination. Calculate and start the heating process for germination. In this case, since the amount of germination in the immersion only process is also calculated, the time for the heating process for germination is shorter than in the case of FIG. 4 (a).
FIG. 4 (c) starts the germination heating process with a set of timers, and keeps the germinated brown rice cooked up to a specified time after the heating process for cooking rice is completed.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the seed germination apparatus and the germinated seed production method according to the present invention enable the production of germinated seed foods such as brown rice sprouts in a shorter time and with a smaller proportion of water relative to the seeds. By developing germinated brown rice, which is a highly nutritious food, set a mixture of brown rice and water in the device, and then develop and manufacture a device that automatically cooks in a short amount of time overnight without adjusting the amount of water. enable.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a gas through hole of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a timer function when only germination of the present embodiment is performed.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a timer function when germination and rice cooking of the present embodiment are performed.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pot 11 Pot bottom 12 Gas passage hole 14 Pot lid 15 Gas escape hole 20 Pump 21 Air feed pipe 25 Air 50 Brown rice 60 Water 70 Mixture 80 Heater

Claims (4)

A heater that heats a mixture in which seeds before germination are immersed in water to a predetermined temperature, a pump that feeds gas necessary for germination of seeds into the mixture and circulates seeds in the mixture, and remains at the completion of germination In order to keep the amount of water needed in the cooking process, the inside of the kettle is equipped with a cooking water scale corresponding to the amount of seeds, and the seeds are germinated normally about 1 mm uniformly, A seed germination and rice cooking apparatus characterized by having a rice cooking function for cooking the seeds and continuously performing from germination to cooking without adjusting the amount of water after germination.   The seed germination and rice cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or two or more gas through holes for feeding a gas necessary for germination of seeds are provided in a mixture in which seeds before germination are immersed in water. .   The seed germination and rice cooking apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a partition plate having punch holes above the gas passage hole.   The seed germination and rice cooking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a timer function for temporally controlling seed germination completion or seed germination to rice cooking completion.

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