JP4388181B2 - Automatic rice washer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic rice washing machine, for example, an automatic rice washing machine suitable for washing rice in a kitchen of a rice supplier such as a restaurant or sushi restaurant.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in commercial kitchens such as general hotels, restaurants, sushi restaurants, etc., in order to wash a large amount of rice efficiently and with stable quality without manual labor, Automatic rice preparation equipment, automatic rice cooking equipment, etc. are used. As an example of such an apparatus, as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-53-115866, etc., storage of milled rice, weighing and sorting, feeding into the washing unit, water supply, washing, sharpening, An automatic rice washing device that automatically executes various processes such as separation and drainage of sewage, metered water supply for rice cooking water, and discharge and injection of rice washing water into the rice cooking container is known and is in practical use .
[0003]
In such an automatic rice washing apparatus, it is necessary to accurately manage the amount of rice cooking water supplied into the rice washing container after the rice washing treatment is completed, for example, a water supply electromagnetic valve provided in the water supply channel By controlling the opening time of the rice washing container according to the set amount of water to be supplied into the rice washing container, the amount of water for rice cooking is managed so that the amount of water actually supplied into the rice washing container matches the set amount of water. ing.
[0004]
However, in the automatic rice washing apparatus as described above, since the opening time of the water supply electromagnetic valve does not correspond to the amount of water actually supplied, even if there is a slight time error, the actual amount of supplied water is relative to the set amount of water. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately control the amount of rice cooking water.
[0005]
For this reason, for example, a flow meter is installed in the water supply channel, the flow rate of the flow meter actually flowing through this flow meter is monitored, and when the flow rate signal from the flow meter reaches the target value, the water supply amount control mechanism There has been proposed an automatic rice washing device that controls the amount of water for cooking rice by emitting a signal and closing a water supply electromagnetic valve.
[0006]
However, in such a device, since the water supply electromagnetic valve requires a length of time unique to the water supply electromagnetic valve from when the close command signal is input until the water supply electromagnetic valve is completely closed, the water supply electromagnetic valve is closed. After the water is released, water is supplied until the water supply solenoid valve is completely closed, and the water is supplied in excess of the set amount of water.
Then, the excessive supply amount supplied from when the water supply amount control mechanism issues the closing command signal to when the water supply electromagnetic valve is completely closed is considerably large. For example, the amount of rice to be washed is 1. 00Kg, when the set amount of water cooking water is 1.25 m ^3, up to reach to 0.12 m ^3, therefore, especially when the amount of rice is small to rice washing is greatly affected by the excessive supply amount Therefore, a desired cooking result cannot be obtained.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made based on the circumstances as described above, and its purpose is to control the water supply electromagnetic valve in a state where the difference between the set water amount and the actual supplied water amount is compensated, and accordingly, to the set water amount. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic rice washing machine capable of controlling the amount of water supplied to a rice washing container with high control accuracy.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The automatic rice washer of the present invention includes a water supply channel for supplying water to the rice washing container, a water supply electromagnetic valve provided in the water supply channel, a flow meter provided downstream of the water supply electromagnetic valve, and a water supply electromagnetic valve. A water supply control signal that issues a water supply command signal and issues a closing command signal when the flow rate signal from the flow meter reaches a target value;
In the water supply amount control operation, the water supply amount control mechanism sets, as a target value, a value obtained by subtracting the excess water supply amount after issuing the closing command signal in the previous water supply amount control operation from the set water amount to be supplied to the rice washing container. A closing command signal is issued when the flow rate signal reaches the target value.
[0009]
In the above automatic rice washer, the water supply amount control mechanism generates a closing command signal in the water supply amount control operation of the final rice washing process from the set supply amount to be supplied into the rice washing container in the water supply amount control operation of the rice cooking water. Then, a value obtained by subtracting the excess supply amount is set as a target value, and when the flow rate signal reaches this target value, a closing command signal can be issued.
In the above, it is preferable that the flow meter supplies a number of pulses corresponding to the amount of passing water as a flow signal.
[0010]
[Action]
According to the above configuration, the actual excessive water supply amount in the previous water supply amount control operation is actually measured, and the closing operation of the water supply electromagnetic valve is controlled in a state where the excessive supply amount is compensated. Is consistent with the set water volume with high accuracy.
Therefore, by performing such flow rate control in the rice water supply amount control operation, the amount of rice cooking water supplied to the rice washing container can be matched with the set flow rate with high accuracy.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of an automatic rice washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view showing a configuration example of an automatic rice washing machine. In this automatic rice washer 10, a support substrate (not shown) is supported at the upper end position of the support column 11 extending upward, and the rice washing container 12 is supported on the support substrate in a state of hanging downward therefrom. In addition, a drive mechanism housing portion 14 is provided so as to protrude upward.
Further, the support 11 is provided with a rice storage 13 so as to be positioned below the rice washing container 12.
[0012]
Reference numeral 15 denotes an overflow water discharge part that opens at the upper end of the rice washing container 12. An upper drainage box 16 that communicates with the inside of the rice washing container 12 through the overflow water discharge part 15 is provided on one side of the rice washing container 12. Yes.
[0013]
The rice storage 13 has a rice-washing container receiving portion 13A for placing a rice-washing receiving container on the upper surface thereof, and the bottom of the rice storage 13 is provided with rice from the weighing and sorting means constituted by a rotating cylinder. A rice hopper for receiving rice (not shown) is provided, and a rice washing hose (not shown) in which a suction port is disposed in the rice receiving hopper extends upward through the column 11 to drive the mechanism. The container 14 is connected to the upper part of the rice washing container 12.
[0014]
Further, a suction blower 20 is provided on the side opposite to the side on which the upper drainage box 16 is provided, and this suction blower 20 is disposed in the drive mechanism accommodating portion 14 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. The intake pipe 21 and the upper drainage box 16 communicate with the inside of the rice washing container 12.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, 22 is a rice-washing container detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a rice-washing container on the rice-washing container container 13 </ b> A of the rice storage 13, 23 is a stopper for regulating the position of the rice-washing container, 24 Is a transparent front cover that closes a confirmation window or a cleaning opening for confirming the state in the rice washing container 12.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, a stirring means 27 fixed to a drive sleeve 26 rotatably provided around the drive rod 25 is provided inside the rice washing container 12, and the drive sleeve 26 is driven. It extends into the mechanism housing part 14 and is connected to a stirring motor 36 described later.
Reference numeral 28 denotes rice discharge means provided at the lower end of the rice washing container 12, which has an open / close valve 29 that moves up and down to open and close the lower end opening of the rice washing container 12. The upper end of the drive rod 25 extending in the direction of reaching the drive mechanism accommodating portion 14 is provided.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a lower drainage box provided at the lower end of the rice washing container 12 for separating and discharging the washed sewage from the rice. A drainage pipe 14 </ b> A is connected to the lower end of the lower drainage box 14.
[0017]
In the drive mechanism housing portion 14, a valve opening / closing motor 37 for driving the opening / closing valve 29 of the rice discharging means 28, a connecting mechanism for connecting this to the drive rod 25, a stirring motor 36 for driving the stirring means 25, and A connecting mechanism for connecting this to the drive sleeve 26, a water supply amount control mechanism (not shown) for water supply means, and the like are accommodated.
[0018]
A plurality of water sprinkling portions 34 are provided on the upper part of the rice washing container 12. A water supply electromagnetic valve 32 for opening and closing the water supply passage 30 is provided in a water supply passage 30 having the water sprinkling portion 34 at one end, and the water supply electromagnetic wave. A flow meter 31 is provided at a downstream position of the valve 32, and the other end of the water supply passage 30 is connected to a water supply source (not shown). FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing such a water supply system.
[0019]
The flow meter 31 generates a swirling flow according to the flow rate by, for example, a fixed blade provided in a water flow, and rotates the magnetic ball by the swirling flow, and uses the magnetoresistive element for the movement of the ball. A detector that detects the number of pulses as a flow rate signal with a detector is preferably used.
As the water supply electromagnetic valve 32, for example, a motor valve that controls a ball valve by a motor can be used.
[0020]
In this configuration example of the water supply system, reference numeral 33 denotes a water supply amount control mechanism that issues a water supply command signal to open the water supply electromagnetic valve 32 and closes the command signal when the flow rate signal from the flow meter 31 reaches a target value. Is generated to close the water supply electromagnetic valve 32.
[0021]
In such an automatic rice washing machine 10, a certain amount of rice is weighed by the weighing and sorting means provided in the rice storage 13 in accordance with the instruction input on the operation panel and received in the rice receiving hopper. The Then, when the suction blower 20 is operated, the inside of the rice washing container 12 is depressurized, so that the rice sucked from the suction port via the rice feeding hose passes through the rice feeding hose and the rice in the upper part of the rice washing container 12. It is put into the washing container 12 from the supply port.
[0022]
Then, after the feeding of the rice received by the rice receiving hopper is completed, the rice washing process is performed. That is, the water supply amount control mechanism 33 issues a water supply command signal to the water supply electromagnetic valve 32 to open the water supply electromagnetic valve 32, and the wash water that has passed through the flow meter 31 is supplied from the sprinkling part 34 into the rice washing container 12. In the water supply, the flow rate signal from the flow meter 31 is input as a pulse to the water supply amount control mechanism 33, and the water supply amount control mechanism 33 counts the number of pulses and supplies the water when the count reaches the target value. A close command signal is transmitted to the electromagnetic valve 32 to close the water supply electromagnetic valve 32.
[0023]
Then, when this water supply amount control operation ends, the agitation means 27 provided in the rice washing container 12 is actuated to carry out the rice washing, and when a predetermined rice washing time has elapsed, the washing sewage is discharged into the lower drainage box 17. Is discharged from the drain pipe 17A.
Such a rice washing process is repeated for a preset number of times.
[0024]
After the rice washing process is completed as described above, a rice water metering and supplying process is performed, and a set amount of rice cooking water is supplied into the rice washing container 12. And the rice in the rice washing container 12 is discharged | emitted with the rice cooking water from the rice discharge means 28 in the rice washing receiving container mounted in the rice washing receiving container mounting part 13A of the upper surface of the rice storage 13.
The stirring means 27 continues to operate until the rice is completely discharged.
[0025]
Thus, in the water supply amount control mechanism 33 in the automatic rice washing machine 10, in the water supply amount control operation in the final rice washing process, after the water supply electromagnetic valve 32 is closed, the water supply electromagnetic valve 32 is closed. The number of pulses until the water supply is completely stopped is counted to measure the excess supply amount (α), and the excess supply amount (α) in the final rice washing process is stored, and the rice washing process is performed. Subsequently, in the water supply amount control operation in the metered water supply process for cooking rice water, a value (β−α) obtained by subtracting the excess supply amount (α) from the set water amount (β) is set as a target value, and the flow rate signal is When the target value (β−α) is reached, a closing command signal is issued.
[0026]
As described above, the actual excessive supply amount in the previous water supply amount control operation is actually measured, and the closing operation of the water supply electromagnetic valve 32 is controlled in a state where the excessive supply amount is compensated, so that the inside of the rice washing container 12 The actual supply water amount to be supplied can be matched with the set water amount with high accuracy.
Therefore, in the water supply amount control operation of the rice water metering water supply step, the water amount control operation as described above is executed, so that the amount of rice water supplied into the rice washing container 12 has an error from the set water amount. It will be very small and accurately compensated.
[0027]
Even if the excess supply fluctuates due to various causes such as fluctuations in the feed water pressure of the feed water source, deterioration of the water supply solenoid valve over time, or the installation environment of the device, the actual water supply control operation in the previous operation Since the excessive supply amount is actually measured and compensated for the excessive supply amount, the amount of water supplied into the rice washing container 12 can always be matched with the set water amount with high accuracy.
[0028]
And when the flowmeter 31 supplies the pulse of the number according to the amount of passing water as a flow signal, since the amount of water can be detected by counting the number of pulses, management of the measured water amount Becomes easier.
[0029]
In the above embodiment, for example, when the amount of rice to be washed is 1.00 kg and the set water amount for cooking rice is 1.25 m ³ , the error between the set water amount and the actual supplied water amount is 0.012 m ^3. Thus, it was possible to control the amount of rice cooking water with an error of 1% or less with respect to the set amount of rice cooking water.
[0030]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said aspect. For example, in the illustrated apparatus, there is no rice cooking means, and it is used when the washed rice discharged from the rice discharging means and the weighed rice cooking water are put into a washed rice receiving container and cooked with a separate rice cooking means. However, it can also be configured as an automatic rice cooker equipped with a rice cooker.
[0031]
Further, in the apparatus of the above example, the water supply amount control mechanism 33 performs only the water supply control of the washing water or the rice cooking water supplied into the rice washing container 12, but the stirring means 27 and the suction blower in the rice washing container 12 are used. It may have a function of controlling the operation of 20 or the like.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
According to the automatic rice washer of the present invention, the water supply electromagnetic valve is controlled in a state in which the difference between the set water amount and the actual supply water amount is compensated, so that it is supplied to the rice washing container with high control accuracy with respect to the set water amount. The amount of water can be controlled.
As a result, when such a water supply amount control operation is executed in the water supply amount control operation in the metering water supply process of rice cooking water, the amount of rice cooking water supplied to the rice washing container is matched with the set flow rate with high accuracy. be able to.
[0033]
When the flow meter supplies a number of pulses corresponding to the amount of water passing as a flow rate signal, the amount of water can be detected by counting the number of pulses, so the measured flow rate can be easily managed. It will be a thing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view showing one structural example of an automatic rice washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the main part of the automatic rice washer in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a water supply system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic rice-washing machine 11 Support | pillar 11A Support substrate 12 Rice-washing container 13 Rice storage 13A Rice-washing receiving container mounting part 14 Drive mechanism accommodating part 15 Overflow discharge part 16 Upper drainage box 17 Lower drainage box 17A Drainage pipe 20 Suction blower 21 Intake pipe 22 Rice washing receiving container detection means 23 Stopper 24 Front cover 25 Operation panel 26 Drive sleeve 27 Stirring means 28 Rice discharge means 29 On-off valve 30 Water supply pipe 31 Flow meter 32 Water supply electromagnetic valve 33 Water supply amount control mechanism 34 Water sprinkling part 36 Stirring motor 37 Valve open / close motor

Claims (3)

A water supply channel for supplying water to the washing vessel, a water supply electromagnetic valve provided in the water supply channel, a flow meter provided downstream of the water supply electromagnetic valve, a water supply command signal to the water supply electromagnetic valve, and a flow rate A water supply amount control mechanism that issues a closing command signal when the flow rate signal from the meter reaches the target value,
In the water supply amount control operation, the water supply amount control mechanism sets, as a target value, a value obtained by subtracting the excess water supply amount after issuing the closing command signal in the previous water supply amount control operation from the set water amount to be supplied to the rice washing container. An automatic rice washer that issues a closing command signal when the flow rate signal reaches this target value. The water supply amount control mechanism subtracts the excess supply amount after issuing the closing command signal in the water supply amount control operation of the final rice washing process from the set supply amount to be supplied into the rice washing container in the water supply amount control operation of rice cooking water. The automatic rice washer according to claim 1, wherein when the flow rate signal reaches the target value, a closing command signal is issued. The automatic rice washer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow meter supplies a number of pulses corresponding to the amount of passing water as a flow signal.

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