JP4203995B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker.

  In a general household rice cooker, a pot heating means for heating rice and water in the pot arranged at the bottom of the pot is the main heating means. In order to cook rice deliciously, it is important to fully gelatinize the starch of rice. In particular, starch is gelatinized by heating rice at a high temperature during additional cooking, and the sweetness and aroma of rice are increased. However, since the water is almost gone at the time of the additional cooking, if the heating by the pan heating means is continued, the rice near the bottom of the pan will be burnt, so the heating has to be weakened.

The rice cooker of the conventional example disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2003-144308 inject | pours a vapor | steam in a pan from the pan upper part in addition to the heating by a pan heating means, and heats cooked rice and water. A conventional rice cooker will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional rice cooker. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 901 denotes a rice cooker body, 902 denotes a pan that is detachably mounted on the main body 901, and 903 denotes a lid that covers the upper surface of the pan 902 so as to be freely opened and closed. Reference numeral 904 denotes a pan heating means for heating the pan. Reference numeral 938 denotes a steam generating means built in the book 901, which has a water tank 906 and a water tank heating means 907. Water in the water tank 906 is heated by the water tank heating means 907 to boil. Water vapor generated in the water tank 906 is supplied to the pan 902 from the steam hole 909 through the steam pipe 908. The rice cooker of the conventional example improves the taste of rice throughout the entire pan because the hot steam is cooked in the pan 902 and fed immediately after the cooking is finished without drying the upper layer rice. can do.
JP 2003-144308 A

  When cooking rice using the conventional rice cooker, the user puts the washed rice and the measured water into a pan 902 and sets the pan 902 at a predetermined position of the rice cooker body 901. In addition to the preparatory work, it was necessary to perform a new work of putting a predetermined amount of water into the water tank 902 and setting the water tank 902 at a predetermined position of the main body 901. Furthermore, since the rice cooker of a prior art example has the part which did not exist in the conventional rice cooker called the water tank 906, there were many parts number which a user should clean. That is, the conventional rice cooker has forced the user to perform a new operation in order to achieve high rice cooking performance (cook delicious rice).

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a rice cooker that can inject high-temperature steam into a pan to promote gelatinization without drying rice, and does not impose extra work on the user. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. The invention according to claim 1 is a main body having an open top surface, a pan that is detachably accommodated in the main body, a lid that covers the main body so as to be freely opened and closed, a pan heating means that heats the pan, A first steam hole disposed on the lid for discharging steam generated in the pan; an on-off valve for opening and closing the first steam hole; and water and steam heated in the pan are liquefied. A steam cylinder having a water storage section to be stored, a second steam hole communicating with the pan, and the water storage section is heated when the first steam hole is closed, and steam is generated from the water in the water storage section. It is a rice cooker characterized by having a water storage part heating means.

  In the rice cooker of the present invention, steam generated during rice cooking is stored in a water storage section in a steam cylinder, reheated, and steam is introduced into the pan. With this configuration, steam having a high temperature can be supplied immediately after the completion of cooking, and the gelatinization of the rice can be promoted, and the taste of the rice can be improved throughout the entire pan. The number of parts to be cleaned by the user is the same as that of a general rice cooker having a steam cylinder, and the user does not need to perform a new cleaning operation.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a main body having an open top surface, a pan that is detachably accommodated in the main body, a lid that covers the main body so as to be freely opened and closed, a pan heating means that heats the pan, Any one of a steam pipe disposed on the lid and having a first steam hole for discharging steam generated in the pan, a second steam hole communicating with the pan, and a path communicating from the pan to the outside An on-off valve that opens and closes the path at the position, a water storage part that is disposed on the lid and covers the opening of the pan, and liquefies and stores water and steam heated in the pan, and the pan A heating plate having a third steam hole for introducing steam, and a heating plate heating means for heating the heating plate when the on-off valve is closed, and generating steam from the water in the water reservoir. It is a rice cooker characterized by having.

  In the rice cooker of the present invention, steam generated during rice cooking is stored in a water storage section provided on a heating plate, heated by a heating plate heating means, and steam is put into the pan. With this configuration, steam having a high temperature can be supplied immediately after the completion of cooking, and the gelatinization of the rice can be promoted, and the taste of the rice can be improved throughout the entire pan. Since a water storage part is realizable by providing a hollow in a part of heating plate, the rice cooker of this invention can be manufactured at the substantially same cost as the conventional rice cooker. In the rice cooker of the present invention, the number of parts that the user cares for is the same as that of a general rice cooker having a heating plate and a heating plate heating means, and the user does not need to perform a new maintenance work. The on-off valve only needs to be provided at any position on the path communicating from the pot to the outside of the rice cooker, and can open and close the path. For example, the on-off valve is provided in the first steam hole, the second steam hole, and the steam hole provided on the top surface that partitions the upper space of the heating plate.

  The invention according to claim 3 is a main body having an open top surface, a pan that is detachably accommodated in the main body, a lid that covers the main body so as to be opened and closed, a pan heating means that heats the pan, and A first steam hole disposed in the lid for discharging steam generated in the pan; a water storage section for liquefying and storing water and steam heated in the pan; and water stored in the water storage section A steam cylinder having a path to go out of the unit, a path opening / closing valve for opening and closing the path, and a heating plate disposed on the lid and covering the opening of the pan, the water introduced from the path A heating plate having a steam generating portion for generating steam and generating steam to the pan, and a second steam hole for introducing steam into the pan, and heating the heating plate to generate steam from the water in the water storage portion It is a rice cooker characterized by having a heating plate heating means.

  In the rice cooker of the present invention, steam generated during rice cooking is stored in a water storage part in a steam cylinder, and water (including a rice cake) in the water storage part is evaporated by a heating plate to generate steam and put it into a pan. With this configuration, steam having a high temperature can be supplied immediately after the completion of cooking, and the gelatinization of the rice can be promoted, and the taste of the rice can be improved throughout the entire pan. In the rice cooker of the present invention, the number of parts to be cleaned by the user is the same as that of a general rice cooker having a steam cylinder, a heating plate, and a heating plate heating means, and the user does not need to perform a new cleaning operation. .

The invention according to claim 4 is the rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steam tube is detachably disposed on the lid.
Since the steam tube can be removed from the lid, the user can easily perform maintenance.

Invention of Claim 5 changes the quantity of the vapor | steam thrown in in the said pan according to the property of the rice which cooks rice, The claim in any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. It is a described rice cooker.
The rice cooker of the present invention changes the amount of steam to be put into the pan depending on whether the rice to be cooked is soft rice or hard cooked rice. Yes. The amount of steam can be controlled by the volume of the water storage unit and the time for charging steam.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the water storage section heating means or the heating plate heating means heats until the scoop in the water storage section is burnt. It is a rice cooker as described in a claim.
In the water storage part, water containing rice balls generated during cooking in the pot accumulates. The rice cooker of this invention can cook the rice of a better fragrance.

The invention according to claim 7 is the rice cooker according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that in the steaming step, the rice in the water storage section is put into the pot without heating.
In the water storage part, water containing rice balls generated during cooking in the pot accumulates. According to the rice cooker of this invention, the component of the deliciousness contained in a rice ball is given to rice, and it can cook rice with a glossy taste.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The rice cooker according to the present invention has the effect that high temperature steam can be introduced into the pan and gelatinization can be promoted without drying rice, and the user is not forced to perform extra work.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments that specifically show the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
The rice cooker of Embodiment 1 of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 shows the main body of a rice cooker. The main body 1 includes a detachable pot 2. The main body 1 is provided with a lid 3 covering its upper surface so as to be freely opened and closed. The rice cooker of Embodiment 1 induction-heats the pot 2 by the method mentioned later, and cooks the rice and water in the pot 2 by heating.

  The main body 1 has a pot heating means 4 (which is an induction heating coil) for induction heating the bottom of the pot 2, a pot temperature detection means 5 for detecting the temperature of the pot 2, and a control means 50. The lid 3 further includes a heating plate 6 that covers the opening of the pan 2, a heating plate heating means 18 (which is an induction heating coil) that induction-heats the heating plate 6, and a heating plate temperature detection means 19 that detects the temperature of the heating plate 6. , Steam cylinder 8, water reservoir heating coil 12, steam cylinder temperature detection means 13, and lower magnet 17.

The heating plate 6 is a detachable heating plate with a heating plate seal packing 20 attached to the lower surface of the lid 3. The heating plate 6 has a vapor hole 7 in the center. A steam hole 22 and a lid seal packing 21 are provided at a portion of the lower surface of the lid 3 facing the steam hole 7 at the center. The heating plate temperature detecting means 19 is pressed against the heating plate 6.
The steam cylinder 8 is detachably disposed on the lid 3 and has a steam hole 23 (second steam hole), a water storage unit 9, a heating plate 11, and a steam hole 14 (first steam hole). An opening / closing valve 15 with an upper magnet 16 is provided in the steam hole 14. The steam hole 23 is provided in a portion facing the steam hole 22. The heat generating plate 11 is provided at the bottom of the water storage unit 9. The heat generating plate 11 and the water storage section heating coil 12 constitute a water storage section heating means 10. The water storage portion heating coil 12 induction-heats the heat generating plate 11. The steam cylinder temperature detecting means 13 is provided in pressure contact with the heat generating plate 11. The on-off valve 15 moves up and down according to the polarity of the lower magnet 17 to open and close the steam hole 14.

  The control means 50 has a microcomputer mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The control means 50 (microcomputer) is input from the operation command input by the user via an operation panel (not shown), the pan temperature detection means 5, the hot plate temperature detection means 19, and the steam tube temperature detection means 13 by software. The heating control of the pan 2, the heating plate 6, and the heating plate 11 and the opening / closing control of the on-off valve 15 are performed by a rice cooking program stored in the microcomputer in advance. The control means 50 controls the heating amount of the pan heating means 4, the heating plate heating means 18, and the water storage section heating coil 12 by the energization rate and / or energization amount of each heating means. The control means 50 controls the opening / closing of the opening / closing valve 15 by changing the polarity of the lower magnet 17.

The operation | movement in the rice cooking process of the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 of this invention comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2 and decorates the main body 1. Further, when the user operates a rice cooking start switch (not shown), a rice cooking process is performed.
The rice cooking process is largely divided into pre-cooking, cooking, boiling maintenance, and steaming in order of time. In the pre-cooking process, the pot heating means 4 is controlled so that the temperature of the pot 2 becomes a temperature suitable for water absorption of rice (50 ° C.), and the rice and water in the pot are heated. Next, in the cooking step, the pan 2 is heated with a predetermined amount of heat by the pan heating means 4 until the temperature of the pan 2 reaches a predetermined value (100 ° C.). The amount of cooked rice is determined based on the temperature rise rate at this time. In the boiling maintaining step, the pot heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 are energized to heat the rice and water until the water in the pot 2 runs out and the temperature of the pot 2 reaches a predetermined value exceeding 100 ° C.

  In each step of pre-cooking, cooking, and maintaining boiling, the on-off valve 15 is open and the water storage section heating coil 12 is not energized. Steam and rice balls generated in the pan 2 pass through the steam hole 7 and the steam hole 22 and enter the steam cylinder 8 from the steam hole 23. A part of the steam that has entered the steam cylinder 8 is discharged from the steam hole 14 to the outside of the rice cooker, and the rest is stored in the water storage unit 9 in a liquid state. Therefore, no spillage occurs in the boiling maintenance process.

  Finally, in the steaming step, the heating (cooking) by the pan heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 according to the amount of cooked rice and the heating stop (pause) are repeated a plurality of times during a fixed time. In the steaming step, the control means 50 closes the on-off valve 15, energizes the water storage section heating coil 12, controls the temperature of the heat generating plate 11 to a predetermined temperature, and boiles the water in the water storage section 9. As a result, steam is generated in the water reservoir 9. Steam is supplied into the pan 2 through the steam holes 23, 22, and 7. Since the lid seal packing 21 is provided between the heating plate 6 and the lid 3, the steam is reliably supplied into the pot 2. The water vapor becomes fine particles, passes through the gaps in the rice in the pot 2 and reaches the bottom of the pot 2 and wraps each grain of rice. Accordingly, the temperature of the rice is maintained at a high temperature and gelatinization proceeds, and the sweetness and aroma of the rice increase. The taste of rice can be improved throughout the pan. While the steam is supplied, additional cooking is performed by the pan heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18, so that drying and scorching of the rice can be suppressed. When all the water in the water reservoir 9 evaporates, the temperature of the heat generating plate 11 exceeds a predetermined temperature, and the rice cake begins to burn. The steam tube temperature detecting means 13 detects that the temperature of the heat generating plate 11 exceeds a predetermined temperature. The control means 50 then keeps the temperature of the heat generating plate 11 at a predetermined temperature or higher for a predetermined time (about 1 to 2 minutes), and burns the beard. The burnt scent of rice balls is supplied into the pan 2 through the steam holes 23, 22, and 7, and the scent of rice is further increased.

The user can operate the operation panel (not shown) of the rice cooker and specify the brand of rice to be cooked to the control means 50 before starting the rice cooking. The control means 50 has a designated brand of softly cooked rice (Uonuma Koshihikari, Miyagi Sasanishiki, etc.) or standard quality rice (general Koshihikari, Sasanishiki, summer Uonuma Koshihikari, new rice Kirara 397 Etc.) or hard-cooked rice (Kirara 397, Koshihikari in summer, Sasanishiki, etc.), and the high-temperature steam charging time (ie, high-temperature steam charging amount) in the steaming process is controlled. In the steaming process, the control means 50 supplies the hot steam to the pan 2 for 3 minutes if the rice is softly cooked rice, and supplies the hot steam to the pan 2 for 5 minutes if the rice has standard properties and cooks it hard. In the case of quality rice, hot steam is supplied to the pan 2 for 8 minutes. The rice cooker of Embodiment 1 can perform optimal rice cooking according to the property of rice. After supplying high-temperature steam to the pan 2 for the predetermined time, the control means 50 opens the on-off valve 15 and eliminates all the water in the water storage unit 9. When all the water in the water reservoir 9 evaporates, the temperature of the heat generating plate 11 exceeds a predetermined temperature. When the steam tube temperature detecting means 13 detects this, the control unit 50 closes the opening / closing valve 15 again, and then keeps the temperature of the heat generating plate 11 at a predetermined temperature or more for a predetermined time (about 1 to 2 minutes) to burn the rice cake. .
In addition, it is good also as a structure which replaces with the injection | throwing-in time of steam, and changes the injection | throwing-in amount of steam by changing the volume of the water storage part 9 according to the property of rice.
The “predetermined temperature” is typically the boiling temperature of water.

  The rice cooker of Embodiment 1 puts the washed rice and the weighed water into the pan 2 to the user, and sets the pan 2 at a predetermined position of the rice cooker body 1 other than the general rice cooking preparation work. Without forcing the rice preparation work, steaming can be put into the pan to promote gelatinization without drying the rice. The number of parts to be cleaned by the user is the same as that of a general rice cooker having a steam cylinder, and the user does not need to perform a new cleaning operation. In Embodiment 1, since heating by induction heating is used as the water storage section heating means 10, the steam cylinder 8 can be detachably provided on the lid 3 with a simple configuration.

In addition, if the temperature of the heating plate 6 is heated to 100 ° C. or higher when the steam is put into the pan, the steam temperature can be increased and more delicious rice can be cooked.
When boiling the water in the water storage unit 9 to generate steam, the steam temperature can be increased (for example, 105 ° C.) by closing the on-off valve 15 firmly and setting the interior of the rice cooker to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. .
In Embodiment 1, the inside of the water storage part 9 was burnt. Instead of this, a threshold for separating the side where the heat generating plate 11 is present from the side where the heat generating plate 11 is not provided may be provided inside the water storage unit 9, and an opening / closing valve may be provided at the bottom portion where the heat generating plate 11 is not provided. In this way, if the rice cooker is configured, the opening / closing valve is opened in the steaming process, and the rice cake collected on the side without the heat generating plate 11 is dropped into the pan without scorching, the deliciousness component contained in the rice cooker is It is given to rice and can be cooked with glossy and sticky taste.

<< Embodiment 2 >>
The rice cooker of Embodiment 2 of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rice cooker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the rice cooker of Embodiment 2, the same code | symbol is used for the same part as the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted. The main body 1 includes a detachable pot 2. The main body 1 is provided with a lid 3 covering its upper surface so as to be freely opened and closed. The rice cooker of Embodiment 2 induction-heats the pot 2 with the method mentioned later, and cooks the rice and water in the pot 2 by heating.

  The main body 1 has a pot heating means 4 (which is an induction heating coil) for induction heating the bottom of the pot 2, a pot temperature detection means 5 for detecting the temperature of the pot 2, and a control means 50. The lid 3 further includes a heating plate 30 covering the opening of the pan 2, a heating plate heating means 18 (which is an induction heating coil) for induction heating the heating plate 30, and a heating plate temperature detection means 19 for detecting the temperature of the heating plate 30. And a steam cylinder 34 and a lower magnet 17.

  The heating plate 30 is a detachable heating plate with a heating plate seal packing 20 attached to the lower surface of the lid 3. The heating plate 30 has a steam hole 7 (third steam hole) at the center. A recess for forming a water storage portion 32 is provided in a portion of the heating plate 30 facing the heating plate heating means 18. The water storage part temperature detection means 33 is pressed into the water storage part 32 of the heating plate 30. A steam hole 22 is provided in a portion of the lower surface of the lid 3 facing the steam hole 7 at the center. The lid seal packing 31 is provided on the lower surface of the lid 3 so as to surround the steam hole 22 and the water storage part 32. The heating plate temperature detection means 19 is in pressure contact with the outer portion of the lid seal packing 31 of the heating plate 30.

  The steam cylinder 34 is detachably disposed on the lid 3 and has a steam hole 23 (second steam hole) and a steam hole 14 (first steam hole). An opening / closing valve 15 with an upper magnet 16 is provided in the steam hole 14. The steam cylinder 34 is obtained by removing the water storage unit 9 and the heating plate 11 from the steam cylinder 8 of the rice cooker of the first embodiment.

  The control means 50 has a microcomputer mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The control means 50 (microcomputer) is input from the operation command input by the user via the operation panel (not shown), the pan temperature detection means 5, the heating plate temperature detection means 19, and the water storage section temperature detection means 33 by software. The heating control of the pan 2, the heating plate 30, and the water storage section 32 and the opening / closing control of the opening / closing valve 15 are performed by a rice cooking program stored in advance in the microcomputer. The control means 50 controls the heating amount of the pan heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 according to the energization rate and / or energization amount of each heating means. The control means 50 controls the opening / closing of the opening / closing valve 15 by changing the polarity of the lower magnet 17.

The operation | movement in the rice cooking process of the rice cooker of Embodiment 2 of this invention comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2 and decorates the main body 1. Further, when the user operates a rice cooking start switch (not shown), a rice cooking process is performed.
In each step of pre-cooking and cooking, the rice cooker of the second embodiment heats the rice and water in the pan like the rice cooker of the first embodiment. In the boiling maintaining step, the pot heating means 4 is energized to heat the rice and water until the water in the pot 2 runs out and the temperature of the pot 2 reaches a predetermined value exceeding 100 ° C. (the heating plate heating means 18 includes Not energized). In each process of pre-cooking, cooking, and boiling maintenance, the on-off valve 15 is open. Steam and rice balls generated in the pan 2 pass through the steam hole 7 and the steam hole 22, enter the steam cylinder 34 from the steam hole 23, and enter the water storage unit 32. The steam that has entered the steam cylinder 34 is discharged from the steam hole 14 to the outside of the rice cooker. The steam and rice balls that have entered the water storage section 32 accumulate in the water storage section 9 in a liquid state.

  Finally, in the steaming step, heating (cooking) by the pan heating means 4 according to the amount of cooked rice and stopping of heating (pause) are repeated a plurality of times during a fixed time. In the steaming step, the control means 50 closes the on-off valve 15, energizes the heating plate heating means 18, and controls the temperature of the heating plate 30 to a predetermined temperature (for example, 130 ° C.) based on the output signal of the heating plate temperature detection means 19. To do. The water in the water storage section 32 boils, becomes steam, is heated by the heating plate 30, and is supplied into the pot 2 through the steam hole 7. A lid seal packing 31 is provided between the heating plate 30 and the lid 3, and the on-off valve 15 is closed, so that steam is reliably supplied into the pan 2. The hot steam becomes fine particles, passes through the gaps in the rice in the pot 2 and reaches the bottom of the pot 2 and wraps each grain of rice. Accordingly, the temperature of the rice is maintained at a high temperature and gelatinization proceeds, and the sweetness and aroma of the rice increase. The taste of rice can be improved throughout the pan. While the hot steam is supplied and the pot heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 are additionally cooked and heated, drying and scorching of the rice can be suppressed. When all the water in the water storage part 32 evaporates, the temperature detected by the water storage part temperature detection means 33 exceeds 100 ° C., and the rice cracker begins to burn. The control means 50 keeps the temperature of the heat generating plate 11 at 100 ° C. or higher for a predetermined time (about 1 to 2 minutes) and burns the rice cake. The burnt scent of rice balls is supplied into the pot 2 through the steam hole 7 and the scent of rice is further increased.

The rice cooker according to the second embodiment is a method other than a general rice preparation operation in which the user puts the washed rice and the measured water into the pan 2 and sets the pan 2 at a predetermined position of the rice cooker body 1. Without forcing the rice preparation work, steaming can be put into the pan to promote gelatinization without drying the rice. The number of parts to be cleaned by the user is the same as that of a general rice cooker having a heating plate and a heating plate heating means, and the user does not need to perform a new cleaning operation. There is no need to newly provide heating means for generating steam (for example, the water storage portion heating coil 12 of the rice cooker of Embodiment 1).
Similarly to the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, it is good also as a structure which changes the injection | throwing-in time or input | amount of steam according to the property of rice.
The on-off valve 15 may be provided at any position on the path communicating from the pan 2 to the outside of the rice cooker and can open and close the path. For example, an opening / closing valve may be provided in the steam hole 22 or the steam hole 23 and a means for opening / closing the opening / closing valve may be provided.

<< Embodiment 3 >>
The rice cooker of Embodiment 3 of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rice cooker according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the rice cooker of Embodiment 3, a common code | symbol is used for the same part as the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, and description is abbreviate | omitted. The main body 1 includes a detachable pot 2. The main body 1 is provided with a lid 3 covering its upper surface so as to be freely opened and closed. The rice cooker of Embodiment 2 induction-heats the pot 2 with the method mentioned later, and cooks the rice and water in the pot 2 by heating.

  The main body 1 has a pot heating means 4 (which is an induction heating coil) for induction heating the bottom of the pot 2, a pot temperature detection means 5 for detecting the temperature of the pot 2, and a control means 50. The lid 3 further includes a heating plate 40 covering the opening of the pan 2, a heating plate heating means 18 (which is an induction heating coil) for induction heating the heating plate 40, and a heating plate temperature detection means 19 for detecting the temperature of the heating plate 40. And a steam cylinder 44.

  The heating plate 40 is a detachable heating plate with a heating plate seal packing 20 attached to the lower surface of the lid 3. The heating plate 40 has a vapor hole 7 in the center. A recess for forming the steam generating portion 41 is provided in a portion of the heating plate 40 facing the heating plate heating means 18. A steam input hole 42 (second steam hole) is provided outside the recess. A steam generating part temperature detecting means 49 is pressed into the steam generating part 41 of the heating plate 40. A steam hole 22 is provided in a portion of the lower surface of the lid 3 facing the steam hole 7 at the center. The lid seal packing 21 is provided on the lower surface of the lid 3 so as to surround the steam hole 22 and the water reservoir 9. The heating plate temperature detecting means 19 is in pressure contact with the outer portion of the lid seal packing 21 of the heating plate 40. The steam seal packing 43 is provided so as to surround the steam generator 41 and the steam inlet hole 42.

  The steam cylinder 44 is detachably disposed on the lid 3 and includes a steam hole 23, a water storage unit 9, a steam hole 14 (first steam hole), a path 45, a path on / off valve 46, and a path on / off valve driving means 47. The steam cylinder 44 is obtained by removing the heat generating plate 11 and the opening / closing valve 15 from the steam cylinder 8 of the first embodiment and adding a path 45, a path opening / closing valve 46, and a path opening / closing valve driving means 47. The path 45 is provided at the bottom of the water storage unit 9 so as to communicate with the steam generation unit 41. In the middle of the path 45, a path on / off valve 46 and a path on / off valve driving means 47 for opening and closing the path on / off valve 46 are provided.

  The control means 50 has a microcomputer mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The control means 50 (microcomputer) is input from the operation command input by the user via the operation panel (not shown) by the software, from the pan temperature detecting means 5, the heating plate temperature detecting means 19, and the steam generating part temperature detecting means 49. Based on the received signal, the heating control of the pan 2, the heating plate 40, and the steam generating unit 41 and the opening / closing control of the path opening / closing valve 46 are performed by a rice cooking program stored in advance in the microcomputer. The control means 50 controls the heating amount of the pan heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 according to the energization rate and / or energization amount of each heating means. The control means 50 opens and closes the path opening / closing valve 46 by the path opening / closing valve driving means 47.

The operation | movement in the rice cooking process of the rice cooker of Embodiment 3 of this invention comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2 and decorates the main body 1. Further, when the user operates a rice cooking start switch (not shown), a rice cooking process is performed.
In each step of pre-cooking, cooking, and boiling maintenance, the rice cooker of the third embodiment cooks rice and water in the pan in the same manner as the rice cooker of the twelfth embodiment. In each step of pre-cooking, cooking, and maintaining boiling, the path opening / closing valve 46 is closed. Steam and rice balls generated in the pan 2 pass through the steam holes 7 and 22 and enter the steam cylinder 44 from the steam hole 23. Part of the steam that has entered the steam cylinder 44 is discharged from the steam hole 14 to the outside of the rice cooker. The remaining steam and rice cake accumulate in the water storage section 9 in a liquid state.

  Finally, in the steaming step, heating (cooking) by the pan heating means 4 according to the amount of cooked rice and stopping of heating (pause) are repeated a plurality of times during a fixed time. In the steaming step, the control means 50 energizes the heating plate heating means 18 and controls the temperature of the heating plate 40 to 130 ° C. based on the output signal of the heating plate temperature detection means 19. Further, the control means 50 opens the path opening / closing valve 46. Water and rice cake in the water storage unit 9 flows into the steam generation unit 41 through the path 45 and is heated by the heating plate 40. The steam having a temperature of 100 ° C. or higher generated in the steam generating section 41 is supplied into the pot 2 from the steam inlet hole 42. The rice balls are scorched by the steam generating part 41 and give a scent to the high temperature steam. A steam seal packing 43 is provided between the heating plate 40 and the lid 3, and the on-off valve 15 is closed, so that high-temperature steam is reliably supplied into the pan 2. The hot steam becomes fine particles, passes through the gaps in the rice in the pot 2 and reaches the bottom of the pot 2 and wraps each grain of rice. Accordingly, the temperature of the rice is maintained at a high temperature and gelatinization proceeds, and the sweetness and aroma of the rice increase. The taste of rice can be improved throughout the pan. While the hot steam is supplied and the pot heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 are additionally cooked and heated, drying and scorching of the rice can be suppressed. The burnt scent of rice balls is supplied into the pot 2 through the steam inlet hole 42, and the scent of rice further increases.

The user can operate the operation panel (not shown) of the rice cooker and specify the brand of rice to be cooked to the control means 50 before starting the rice cooking. The control means 50 has a designated brand of softly cooked rice (Uonuma Koshihikari, Miyagi Sasanishiki, etc.) or standard quality rice (general Koshihikari, Sasanishiki, summer Uonuma Koshihikari, new rice Kirara 397 Etc.) or hard-cooked rice (Kirara 397, Koshihikari in summer, Sasanishiki, etc.), and the high-temperature steam charging time (ie, high-temperature steam charging amount) in the steaming process is controlled. In the steaming process, the control means 50 supplies the hot steam to the pan 2 for 3 minutes if the rice is softly cooked rice, and supplies the hot steam to the pan 2 for 5 minutes if the rice has standard properties and cooks it hard. In the case of quality rice, hot steam is supplied to the pan 2 for 8 minutes. The rice cooker of Embodiment 3 can perform optimal rice cooking according to the property of rice.
In addition, it is good also as a structure which replaces with the injection | throwing-in time of steam, and changes the injection | throwing-in amount of steam by changing the volume of the water storage part 9 according to the property of rice.

  The rice cooker according to the third embodiment is a method other than the general rice preparation work in which the user puts the washed rice and the measured water into the pan 2 and sets the pan 2 at a predetermined position of the rice cooker body 1. Without forcing the rice preparation work, steaming can be put into the pan to promote gelatinization without drying the rice. The number of parts to be cleaned by the user is the same as that of a general rice cooker having a heating plate and a heating plate heating means, and the user does not need to perform a new cleaning operation. There is no need to newly provide heating means for generating steam (for example, the water storage portion heating coil 12 of the rice cooker of Embodiment 1).

In the third embodiment, the temperature of the steam generating unit 41 is controlled to 130 ° C., but steam may be generated by boiling the water accumulated in the steam generating unit 41 by controlling it to 100 ° C. In this case, the path opening / closing valve 46 is closed during the generation of steam.
In Embodiment 3, the inside of the steam generation unit 41 is burnt. Instead of this, a threshold for separating the side with the origination path 45 from the side without the origination path 45 may be provided inside the water storage section 9, and an opening / closing valve may be provided at the bottom of the side without the path 45. In this way, if the rice cooker is configured, the open / close valve is opened in the steaming process, and the rice cake collected on the side without the path 45 is dropped into the pan without scorching, the delicious ingredients contained in the rice cake will be the rice You can cook rice with a sticky taste.

<< Embodiment 4 >>
The rice cooker of Embodiment 4 of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the rice cooker of Embodiment 4, a common code | symbol is used for the same part (part which has the same function) as the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted. The main body 1 includes a detachable pot 2. The main body 1 is provided with a lid 3 covering its upper surface so as to be freely opened and closed. The rice cooker of Embodiment 2 induction-heats the pot 2 with the method mentioned later, and cooks the rice and water in the pot 2 by heating.

The main body 1 has a pot heating means 4 (which is an induction heating coil) for induction heating the bottom of the pot 2, a pot temperature detection means 5 for detecting the temperature of the pot 2, and a control means 50. The lid 3 further includes a heating plate 51 covering the opening of the pan 2, a heating plate heating means 18 (which is an induction heating coil) for induction heating the heating plate 51, a steam cylinder 57, and a steam path 54.
The heating plate 51 is a detachable heating plate with a heating plate seal packing 20 attached to the lower surface of the lid 3. The heating plate 51 has a vapor hole 7 in the center. The steam cylinder 57 discharges the steam that has entered from the steam hole 7 to the outside through the steam hole 58.

  The steam path 54 is a pipe provided inside the lid 3. One end of the steam path 54 has a larger cross-sectional area than the other end, and is inserted into the steam inlet hole 53 of the heating plate 51. The other end of the steam path 54 is inserted into the steam inlet hole 54 of the heating plate. A fan 56 for sucking steam from the pan 2 is provided on the steam inlet hole 53 side of the steam path 54. Further, the steam path 54 is provided with a heater 55 (heating element) for heating the steam in the steam path 54.

  The control means 50 has a microcomputer mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The control means 50 (microcomputer) is a rice cooking program stored in the microcomputer in advance based on an operation command input by a user via an operation panel (not shown) and a signal input from the pan temperature detection means 5 by software. Thus, the heating control of the pan 2, the heating plate 51, and the steam path 54 and the ON / OFF control of the fan 56 are performed. The control means 50 controls the heating amount of the pan heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 according to the energization rate and / or energization amount of each heating means.

  The operation | movement in the rice cooking process of the rice cooker of Embodiment 4 of this invention comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2 and decorates the main body 1. Further, when the user operates a rice cooking start switch (not shown), a rice cooking process is performed. In each step of pre-cooking, cooking, and boiling maintenance, the rice cooker of the fourth embodiment cooks rice and water in the pan in the same manner as the rice cooker of the first embodiment.

  Finally, in the steaming step, the heating (cooking) by the pan heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 according to the amount of cooked rice and the heating stop (pause) are repeated a plurality of times during a fixed time. In the steaming step, the control means 50 operates the fan 56 and energizes the heater 55 to keep the temperature of the steam path 54 at 100 ° C. or higher. The atmospheric pressure in the pan 2 is rising due to the generation of steam. The steam in the pot 2 is divided into steam discharged from the steam hole 58 of the steam cylinder 57 through the steam hole 7 and steam entering the steam path 54. Since the steam inlet hole 53 has a larger cross-sectional area than the steam inlet hole 52 and the fan 56 is operating, the steam in the pan 2 enters the steam path 54 from the steam inlet hole 53. The steam is heated to 100 ° C. or higher in the steam path 54 and is introduced into the pot 2 from the steam introduction hole 52. The hot steam becomes fine particles, passes through the gaps in the rice in the pot 2 and reaches the bottom of the pot 2 and wraps each grain of rice. Accordingly, the temperature of the rice is maintained at a high temperature and gelatinization proceeds, and the sweetness and aroma of the rice increase. In particular, rice grains having a lower temperature than the surrounding rice grains are condensed and heated, so that the temperature unevenness of the rice in the pan can be eliminated. The taste of rice can be improved throughout the pan. While the hot steam is supplied and the pot heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 are additionally cooked and heated, drying and scorching of the rice can be suppressed.

  The rice cooker according to the fourth embodiment is a method other than the general rice preparation work in which the user puts the washed rice and the weighed water into the pan 2 and sets the pan 2 at a predetermined position of the rice cooker body 1. Without forcing the rice preparation work, steaming can be put into the pan to promote gelatinization without drying the rice. Furthermore, the number of parts that the user cares for is the same as that of a conventional rice cooker that does not put high-temperature steam into the pan, and there is no need to supply water to the reservoir for generating steam and to clean the reservoir.

In addition, although the steam path 54, the heater 55, and the fan 56 were provided in the lid | cover 3 in the rice cooker of Embodiment 4, you may provide in other places (for example, inside the main body 1) in a rice cooker.
Although the heater 55 is used to heat the steam in the steam path 54, the steam path 54 may be made of a magnetic material, and the steam path 54 may be induction heated by the heating plate heating means 18. With this configuration, the heater 55 is not necessary, and a rice cooker with a simpler configuration can be realized.
In the fourth embodiment, the difference in cross-sectional area between the steam inlet hole 53 side and the steam inlet hole 52 side of the steam path 54 and the fan 56 are used to control the steam flow in the steam path 54. In addition, an opening / closing valve for preventing a backflow may be provided in either of the steam inlet hole 52 and the steam flow in the steam path 54 may be controlled.
High temperature steam may be introduced into the pan 2 by a process other than steaming.

<< Embodiment 5 >>
The rice cooker of Embodiment 5 of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In the rice cooker of the fifth embodiment, the steam path 54, the heater 55, and the fan 56 of the rice cooker of the fourth embodiment are replaced with a steam path 62, a cooling unit 63, a fan 65, a water storage unit 60, and a water storage unit heating means 61. It is a thing. Other configurations are the same as those of the rice cooker of the fourth embodiment. In the rice cooker of Embodiment 5, the same code | symbol is used for the same part as the rice cooker of Embodiment 4, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

The water reservoir 60 is formed integrally with the pot 2 and is stored in the water reservoir cover 67 of the main body 1. A water storage part heating means 61 (which is an induction heating coil) for inductively heating the water storage part 60 is wound around the water storage part cover 67.
The steam path 62 has a steam path 62a (first steam path) and 62b (second steam path). One end of the steam path 62 a is connected to the steam inlet hole 53 of the heating plate 51, and the other end is provided above the opening of the water reservoir 60 and has a water reservoir opening / closing valve 64. The steam path 62 a is provided with a fan 65 that sucks up the steam in the pan 2 and a Peltier cooling unit 63 in order from the steam inflow hole 53. One end of the steam path 62 b has a steam inlet hole opening / closing valve 66 and is connected to the steam inlet hole 52 of the heating plate 51. The other end of the steam path 62b has a packing 68, which seals the opening of the water reservoir 60.

  The control means 50 has a microcomputer mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The control means 50 (microcomputer) is a rice cooking program stored in the microcomputer in advance based on an operation command input by a user via an operation panel (not shown) and a signal input from the pan temperature detection means 5 by software. Thus, the heating control of the pan 2 and the heating plate 51 and the ON / OFF control of the cooling unit 63 and the fan 65 are performed. The control means 50 controls the heating amount of the pan heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 according to the energization rate and / or energization amount of each heating means.

  The operation | movement in the rice cooking process of the rice cooker of Embodiment 5 of this invention comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. A user puts rice to be cooked and water corresponding to the amount of the rice into the pan 2 and decorates the main body 1. Further, when the user operates a rice cooking start switch (not shown), a rice cooking process is performed. In each step of pre-cooking, cooking, and maintaining boiling, the rice cooker of the fifth embodiment cooks rice and water in the pan in the same manner as the rice cooker of the fourth embodiment.

  In each step of pre-cooking, cooking, and maintaining boiling, the cooling unit 63 and the fan 65 are operating. In these steps, steam is generated in the pan 2 and the steam inlet opening / closing valve 66 is closed by the steam pressure. Therefore, the steam generated by the heating is divided into steam discharged to the outside from the steam hole 58 and steam entering the path 62a from the steam inflow hole 53. The steam that has entered the path 62a is cooled and liquefied by the cooling unit 63. With the water generated in the path 62 a, the water reservoir opening / closing valve 64 is opened and water is accumulated in the water reservoir 60.

  Finally, in the steaming step, the heating (cooking) by the pan heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 according to the amount of cooked rice and the heating stop (pause) are repeated a plurality of times during a fixed time. In the steaming step, the control unit 50 stops the operation of the fan 65 and the cooling unit 63 and energizes the water storage unit heating unit 61. Water in the water reservoir 60 boils and steam is generated. The generated steam passes through the steam path 62b, opens the steam input hole opening / closing valve 66, and is input into the pan 2. At this time, since the water reservoir opening / closing valve 64 is closed by the vapor pressure of the steam generated in the water reservoir 60, the steam does not enter the steam path 62a. The hot steam becomes fine particles, passes through the gaps in the rice in the pot 2 and reaches the bottom of the pot 2 and wraps each grain of rice. Accordingly, the temperature of the rice is maintained at a high temperature and gelatinization proceeds, and the sweetness and aroma of the rice increase. The taste of rice can be improved throughout the pan. While the hot steam is supplied and the pot heating means 4 and the heating plate heating means 18 are additionally cooked and heated, drying and scorching of the rice can be suppressed.

  As described above, the rice cooker according to the fifth embodiment cools and liquefies the steam generated during rice cooking, stores the generated water in the water storage unit 60, and reuses it as steam to be put into the pan 2. Therefore, without forcing the user to perform rice preparation work other than general rice preparation work such as putting the washed rice and the measured water into the pan 2 and setting the pan 2 at a predetermined position of the rice cooker body 1. By putting steam into the pan, gelatinization can be promoted without drying the rice.

In the present embodiment, the cooling unit 63 is a Peltier system, but other cooling systems such as a blower system may be used.
Although the induction heating coil is used as the water reservoir heating means 61, other heating methods may be adopted.
The steam path 62 is composed of two steam paths 62a and 62b. However, the steam path 62 is configured as one path having opening / closing valves at both ends, and by controlling the opening / closing valves, water is stored in the water storage section 60 and steam is supplied to the pan 2. May be.
The water storage unit 60 may be provided in the steam path 62 instead of being integrated with the pan 2.
It is good also as a structure which removes the water storage part heating means 61 for heating the water storage part 60, and heats the water storage part 9 with the pan heating means 4. FIG. With this configuration, steam can be generated with a simpler configuration.
Moreover, the heating means of the pan 2 may be other heating means instead of heating using electromagnetic induction.

  The rice cooker of the present invention is useful as a rice cooker for home use or business use.

Sectional drawing of the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the rice cooker of Embodiment 2 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the rice cooker of Embodiment 3 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the rice cooker of Embodiment 4 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the rice cooker of Embodiment 5 of this invention. Cross-sectional view of a conventional rice cooker

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Pan 3 Lid 4 Pan heating means 5 Pan temperature detection means 6, 30, 40, 51 Heating plate 7, 14, 22, 23, 58 Steam hole 8, 34, 44, 57 Steam cylinder 9, 32 Water storage part 10 Reservoir heating means 11 Heating plate 12 Reservoir heating coil 13 Steam cylinder temperature detecting means 15 On-off valve 16 Upper magnet 17 Lower magnet 18 Heating plate heating means 19 Heating plate temperature detecting means 20 Heating plate seal packing 21, 31 Lid seal packing 33 Reservoir temperature detection means 41 Steam generation part 42, 52 Steam inlet hole 43 Steam seal packing 45 Path 46 Path on / off valve 47 Path on / off valve drive means 49 Steam generation part temperature detection means 50 Control means 53 Steam inflow holes 54, 62, 62a 62b Steam path 55 Heater 56, 65 Fan 60 Water storage part 61 Water storage part heating means 63 Cooling part 64 Reservoir opening / closing valve 66 Steam inlet opening / closing valve 67 Reservoir cover 68 Packing

Claims (7)

A main body with an open top;
A pan that is detachably stored in the main body;
A lid that covers the main body so as to be freely opened and closed;
A pan heating means for heating the pan;
A first steam hole disposed on the lid for discharging steam generated in the pan, an on-off valve for opening and closing the first steam hole, and water and steam heated in the pan are liquefied. A steam cylinder having a water storage part to be stored and a second steam hole communicating with the pan;
Reservoir heating means for heating the reservoir when the first steam hole is closed, and generating steam from the water in the reservoir,
The rice cooker characterized by having. A main body with an open top;
A pan that is detachably stored in the main body;
A lid that covers the main body so as to be freely opened and closed;
A pan heating means for heating the pan;
A steam cylinder disposed on the lid and having a first steam hole for discharging steam generated in the pan, and a second steam hole communicating with the pan;
An on-off valve that opens and closes the path at any position on the path communicating from the pan to the outside;
A water storage section that is disposed on the lid and covers the opening of the pan, liquefies and stores water and steam heated in the pan, and a third steam hole for introducing steam into the pan. Having a heating plate;
Heating plate heating means for heating the heating plate when the on-off valve is closed, and generating steam from water in the water reservoir;
The rice cooker characterized by having. A main body with an open top;
A pan that is detachably stored in the main body;
A lid that covers the main body so as to be freely opened and closed;
A pan heating means for heating the pan;
A first steam hole disposed in the lid for discharging steam generated in the pan, a water storage section for liquefying and storing water and steam heated in the pan, and water in the water storage section A steam cylinder having a path to be taken out of the water reservoir, and a path opening / closing valve for opening and closing the path;
A heating plate disposed on the lid and covering the opening of the pan, a steam generating unit for heating the water guided from the path to generate steam, and a second for injecting steam into the pan A heating plate having a vapor hole of
Heating plate heating means for heating the heating plate and generating steam from the water in the water reservoir;
The rice cooker characterized by having.   The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steam cylinder is detachably disposed on the lid. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the amount of steam to be put into the pan is changed according to the nature of the rice to be cooked.   4. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the water storage unit heating unit or the heating plate heating unit heats the rice bowl in the water storage unit until it burns. 5.   The rice cooker according to claim 1 or 3, wherein in the steaming step, the rice bowl in the water storage section is put into the pan without heating.

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