JP5992361B2 - Rice cooker and rice cooking control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker and a rice cooking control method.

  Conventionally, as a rice cooker, if the cooked state (stickiness, hardness, etc.) of the rice desired by the user is input, the temperature, time, etc. controlled by the microcomputer in each rice cooking process are changed based on the settings. What is controlled is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, as another rice cooker, after the completion of rice cooking, an evaluation screen is displayed, and the evaluation result of rice eaten by the user (an index indicating how hard the rice is cooked) can be input, and rice cooking control from the next time Are known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, any of the rice cookers can set an index indicating the cooked state of cooked rice only within a preset range. Some users may wish to change the setting beyond these ranges, but the above configuration cannot answer the request.

JP 2006-325705 A JP 2000-342444 A

  The present inventors, for example, pay attention to the indicators related to each other such as the hardness and stickiness of the cooked cooked rice, for example, if you want to make the “hardness” even harder, by reducing the “stickiness”, eat the cooked rice In that case, it was found that it feels “hard” sensuously, and rice cooking control was made possible to cope with cases where a change beyond the setting range is desired.

  That is, the present invention provides a rice cooker and a rice cooking control method that can cope with the setting of the cooked state of cooked rice even when an operation is attempted to change beyond the set range. Let it be an issue.

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides:
In order to adjust any of the indicators indicating the cooked state of the cooked rice, an operation unit for setting the rice cooking conditions,
A control unit for cooking rice under the rice cooking conditions set by operation of the operation unit;
With
When the operation unit is operated to change the upper limit value or lower limit value that is a set limit value of a setting range, the control unit sets the one index as a set limit value, Provided is a rice cooker characterized in that rice cooking is performed under rice cooking conditions in which another index related to the index is changed to an upper limit value side or a lower limit value side.

  With this configuration, even when one index is changed beyond the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the setting range, which cannot be set in the past, the other index related to the one index is changed to the upper limit side. Or by changing to the lower limit side, the cooked state of cooked rice according to the user's preference can be obtained.

  The index may be “hardness” and “stickiness”.

  When the “hardness” is set to be harder than the limit set value by the operation of the operation unit, the control unit reduces the “stickiness” to the upper limit value side or the lower limit value side. When the “hardness” is set to be softer than the limit set value, the “stickiness” may be adjusted to the lower limit value side or the upper limit value side to increase the stickiness.

  With this configuration, even if the “hardness” of the cooked rice is changed beyond the set value, if the user eats the cooked rice by changing the “stickiness”, it will be more “hard” or “softer”. “It ’s possible to cook it up to feel.

  When the “stickiness” is set to be stronger than the limit set value by operating the operation unit, the control unit softens the hardness of the “hardness” on the upper limit value side or the lower limit value side. In the case where the “stickiness” is set to be weaker than the limit set value, the “hardness” may be adjusted to the side that hardens the lower limit value side or the upper limit value side.

  With this configuration, even when the “stickiness” of the cooked rice is changed beyond the set value, if the user eats the cooked rice by changing the “hardness”, the “stickiness” is more, or more It is possible to cook the food so that it can be felt that the stickiness is weak.

  The operation unit can select a reference setting corresponding to a reference value of the index, an upper limit value setting on the upper limit side of the reference value, and a lower limit value setting on the lower limit side of the reference value. I just need it.

  With this configuration, the operation unit can be set only in three stages, so that it is easy to operate and a simple configuration can be achieved.

  The control unit may adjust the rice cooking condition so that the change width of the index set by the current operation by the operation unit is smaller than the change width set by the previous operation.

  With this configuration, a desired cooked state can be approached with a small number of settings.

  It is preferable to provide a reset means for resetting the change of the rice cooking conditions set by the operation of the operation unit.

  With this configuration, when the preconditions for cooking such as changing the type of cooked rice are changed, the initial state can be easily restored by operating the resetting means.

  It is preferable to provide a display unit that displays an operation screen for performing rice cooking under the rice cooking conditions set by the operation of the operation unit.

  With this configuration, the user can easily set or grasp the cooked state of cooked rice.

The control unit calculates the remaining time until rice cooking according to the difference in the rice cooking conditions set by the operation of the operation unit is completed,
It is preferable to provide a display unit for displaying the remaining time.

  With this configuration, when the rice cooking conditions set by operation of the operation unit are changed, the remaining time until rice cooking is finished can be corrected to an appropriate value, and the user can accurately set the time until cooking It becomes possible to grasp.

  In the case where the other index is changed beyond the upper limit value or the lower limit value, it is preferable to include a notification unit that notifies an error.

  With this configuration, even when one index is changed beyond the set range and the rice cooking condition related to another index is changed, the limit value can be recognized by the user.

Further, the present invention provides a means for solving the above-described problems,
In order to adjust any of the indicators that indicate the cooked state of cooked rice, set the cooking conditions,
A rice cooking control method for cooking rice under set rice cooking conditions,
When the operation unit is operated by an operation of the operation unit so as to change one index exceeding an upper limit value or a lower limit value that is a setting limit value of the setting range, the one index is set as a setting limit value, and the one index Rice cooking is performed under the rice cooking conditions in which another index related to the above index is changed to the upper limit value side or the lower limit value side.

  According to the present invention, when one index is operated to change beyond the upper limit value or lower limit value of the setting range, another index related to the one index is changed to the upper limit value side or the lower limit value side. Since the rice cooking is performed under the rice cooking conditions to be performed, it is possible to cope with a setting change exceeding the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the setting range, which has been impossible in the past.

It is a schematic side sectional view of a rice cooker according to the present embodiment. It is a front view which shows the operation panel of FIG. It is a front view which shows the other screen displayed on the liquid crystal display part of the operation panel of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows house cooking control among the rice cooking controls which concern on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship of hardness and stickiness used by my home cooking control of FIG.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic side sectional view of a rice cooker according to the present embodiment. This rice cooker includes an inner pot 1 in which rice and water are accommodated, a rice cooker body 2 that accommodates the inner pot 1 so as to be removable, and a lid 3 that is attached to the rice cooker body 2 so as to be openable and closable.

  The inner pot 1 is formed by forming a clad material made of aluminum having a high thermal conductivity and stainless steel capable of induction heating into a bottomed cylindrical shape.

  The rice cooker main body 2 includes an inner trunk 4A constituting the side surface of the housing recess in which the inner pot 1 is accommodated, a protective frame 4B constituting the bottom surface, an outer trunk 5 constituting the outer peripheral surface, and a bottom member 6 constituting the bottom surface. Among the spaces formed between them, between the protective frame 4B and the bottom member 6, an induction heating coil 7 for induction heating the inner pot 1 and a pot temperature sensor 8 are accommodated. A cylinder heater 9 is accommodated between the inner cylinder 4 </ b> A and the outer cylinder 5.

  A control device 10 is accommodated in the space on the back side between the inner cylinder 4 </ b> A and the outer cylinder 5. Here, a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM and the like is used for the control device 10. In this control device 10, the CPU calls the program stored in the ROM according to the selected menu, and cooks rice by controlling the energization to the induction heating coil 7 and the drive of the pressure regulating device 26. In addition, input information and the like in my home-cooked rice, which will be described later, are stored in the RAM. Cooked rice includes regular cooked rice, eco-cooked rice, and cooked rice cooked at home. These rice cooking is performed in a preheating process, a temperature raising process, a boiling maintenance process, a two-time cooking process, and a steaming process (however, eco-cooking does not have a steaming process).

  In my home cooking rice which is a characteristic part of the present invention, control values are stored in the ROM so as to adjust the following 10 items as the rice cooking conditions for adjusting “hardness”. That is, (1) preheating time in the preheating step and (2) preheating temperature, (3) energization rate to the induction heating coil 7 in the heating step, (4) transition temperature from the heating step to the boiling maintenance step, (5) Energization ratio to induction heating coil 7 in boiling maintenance process, (6) Transition temperature from boiling maintenance process to steaming process, (7) Steaming time, (8) Twice cooking just before the end of steaming process The energization rate to the induction heating coil 7 at the time, (9) the time of cooking twice, and (10) the internal pressure maintained by the pressure regulator 26 are stored.

  Moreover, the control value is memorize | stored in ROM so that the following three items may be adjusted as rice cooking conditions for adjusting "stickiness". That is, (1) the internal pressure maintained by the pressure regulator 26, (2) the energization rate to the induction heating coil 7 when cooked twice, and (3) the time of cooking twice are stored.

  The set range of the cooked state of cooked rice is “hardness” and “stickiness”, and is stored in the ROM in a total of 10 stages with 5 reference levels. In other words, “hardness” can be set so that the cooked rice becomes harder in five stages on the harder side than the reference value. For example, when “soft” is selected by an evaluation input on the operation panel 11 to be described later, the “hardness” of the cooked rice is changed to hard.

  Further, when one of “hardness” and “stickiness” is operated to change beyond the set range, the other (“stickiness” or “hardness”) is set to be changed. For example, when an operation is performed to change the hardness of the harder than the hardest (+5), the harder is set to (+5), and the “stickiness” is one level weaker than the current value. (-1). Conversely, if the “hardness” exceeds the softest (−5) and is operated to change to a softer one, “hardness” is set to (−5), and “stickiness” is one level from that value. Change to stronger (+1). On the other hand, if the “stickiness” exceeds the strongest (+5) and is changed to a stronger one, “stickiness” is changed to (+5), and “hardness” is changed from the current value to a softer one step. (-1). On the other hand, if the “stickiness” exceeds the weakest (−5) and is changed to a weaker one, “stickiness” is set to (−5), and “hardness” is set to one level from the value at that time. Change to harder (+1).

  As shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel 11 is provided above the front surface of the rice cooker body 2. The operation panel 11 includes a liquid crystal display unit 12 and a plurality of operation buttons 13.

  The liquid crystal display unit 12 is a stack of two liquid crystal panels 14a and 14b. As the back side liquid crystal panel 14a, a reflective type in which time display, rice cooking state display, and the like are written is used. As shown in FIG. 2, the display on the back side liquid crystal panel 14a includes the type of cooked rice, the type of cooked rice, the time, and the like. The front side liquid crystal panel 14b is a transmissive type in which a display relating to “my home cooked rice” to be described later is written. As shown in FIG. 2B, the display on the front surface side liquid crystal panel 14b includes information related to user evaluation after the completion of cooking. Specifically, regarding “hardness”, selectable three-level evaluations of “soft”, “good”, and “hard” are displayed. In addition, regarding “stickiness”, selectable three-level evaluations of “weak”, “good”, and “strong” are displayed.

  The operation buttons 13 include a “cooking / reheating” button 15, a “takeshi” button 16, a “reservation” button 17, a “insulation selection” button 18, a “menu selection” button 19, a “rice selection” button 20, and It is composed of a “my home cooking selection” button 21. When the “home cooked selection” button 21 is operated, the contents related to “home cooked rice” on the front side liquid crystal panel 14b are displayed. With this display in place, by operating either the left or right arrow button of the “menu selection” button 19, “soft”, “good”, or “hard” is selected for “hardness” In “stickiness”, one of “weak”, “good”, and “strong” can be selected. For example, first, select “hardness” and operate “my home cooking selection” button 21 to confirm “hardness”, switch to “stickiness”, select “stickiness”, and “home cooking again” The selection may be confirmed by operating the “select” button 21.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 3 includes an inner lid 22 that closes the upper opening of the inner pot 1. The temperature of the inner lid 22 is detected by a lid temperature sensor 23. The lid 3 is provided with a lid heater 24 for keeping the inner pot 1 warm via the inner lid 22. Further, the lid 3 is formed with a steam flow path 25 for discharging steam from the internal space formed by closing with the inner lid 22 to the outside. Furthermore, the lid 3 is provided with a pressure regulating device 26 in the middle of the steam flow path 25 so that the control device 10 can adjust the internal pressure within a predetermined range larger than the atmospheric pressure.

  Next, operation | movement of the rice cooker which consists of the said structure is demonstrated.

  If rice and water are accommodated in the inner pot 1 and the lid 3 is closed, first, the operation button 13 of the operation panel 11 is operated to set the rice cooking conditions. As shown in FIG. 2A, the “rice selection” button 20 is operated to select the type of rice. In addition, the “my home cooking selection” button 21 is operated to display the contents related to “my home cooking” on the liquid crystal display unit 12. Then, “hardness” and “stickiness” are selected by operating the “menu selection” button 19 and the “home cooking selection” button 21.

  Here, when the “cooking / reheating” button 15 is operated, as shown in FIG. 3, a preheating process (step S1), a temperature raising process including a capacity determination process (step S2), and a boiling maintenance process (step S3). ) And the steaming step (step S4). In “home cooked rice”, each control in the preheating step, the temperature raising step, the boiling maintenance step, and the steaming step (including twice-cooking) is performed according to Tables 1 and 2.

  In the preheating step, based on the set “hardness”, the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor 8 is applied to the induction heating coil 7 and the lid heater 24 so that the detected temperature is maintained at a preset temperature. By controlling the energization for a preset time, the cooked rice is allowed to absorb water. As described above, the preheating temperature and the preheating time in the preheating step are determined according to the rice cooking conditions according to the difference in the “hardness” setting. The preheating temperature is adjusted between the first preheating temperature (A + a) ° C. that is the softest relative to the reference temperature (A) ° C. and the second preheating temperature (A−a) ° C. that is the hardest. The preheating time is adjusted from the first preheating time (B + b) that becomes the softest to the second preheating time (B−b) that becomes the hardest with respect to the reference time (B).

  In the temperature raising step, based on the set “hardness”, the induction heating coil 7 is energized at a preset energization rate to raise the temperature in the inner pot 1 to a temperature just before boiling. And if it heats up to the preset transition temperature, it will transfer to a boiling maintenance process. Moreover, the rice cooking capacity in the inner pot 1 is discriminated by the temperature rise gradient when the detected value of the lid temperature sensor 23 is raised from the first set temperature to the second set temperature during the temperature raising process. The heating rate to the induction heating coil 7 is the softest second heating rate (C + c) from the first heating rate (C−c)%, which is the softest with respect to the reference heating rate (C)%. Adjust between%. The transition temperature to the boiling maintenance step is from the first temperature rise temperature (D−d) ° C. that is the softest to the reference temperature (D ° C., usually 100 ° C.), and the second temperature rise temperature (D + d that is the hardest). ) Adjust between ° C.

  In the boiling maintenance step, the induction heating coil 7, the trunk heater 9 and the lid heater 24 are energized based on the set “hardness”, and the inside pan 1 is maintained at the boiling temperature to cook the cooked rice. At this time, duty control is performed on the induction heating coil 7, the trunk heater 9 and the lid heater 24 at a lower energization rate than in the temperature raising step. And if it heats up to the preset transition temperature, it will transfer to a steaming process. The induction heating coil 7 is energized with respect to the reference energization rate (E)%, from the first boiling maintenance energization rate (Ee)% that becomes the softest to the second boiling maintenance energization rate (E + e)% that becomes the softest. Adjust between. The transition temperature to the twice cooking step is between the first boiling maintenance temperature (F−f) ° C. that becomes the softest relative to the reference temperature (F) ° C. and the second boiling maintenance temperature (F + f) ° C. that becomes the hardest. Adjust with. Further, in the boiling maintenance step, the pressure adjusting device 26 is driven and controlled based on the set “stickiness”, and the first boiling maintenance pressure (J + j) where the internal pressure is the strongest with respect to the reference pressure (J) Pa. ) From Pa, it adjusts between 2nd boiling maintenance pressure (Jj) Pa where viscosity becomes the weakest.

  In the steaming step, duty is applied to the induction heating coil 7, the body heater 9 and the lid heater 24 at a lower current rate than in the boiling maintenance step, and the cooked rice in the inner pot 1 is steamed for a preset time. The steaming time is adjusted from the first steaming time (G-g) minutes that are the softest to the second steaming time (G + g) that is the hardest with respect to the reference time (G).

  The twice cooking process is performed during the steaming process. In this twice-cooking step, based on the set “hardness”, duty control is performed on the induction heating coil 7, the trunk heater 9 and the lid heater 24 at a preset energization rate for a preset time. The energization rate for adjusting the hardness of the twice-cooking process is the hardest from the second-cooking energization rate (H + h)% for the first hardness adjustment, which is the softest with respect to the standard energization rate for adjusting the hardness (H)% It adjusts between 2 degree boiled electricity consumption rate (Hh)% for 2nd hardness adjustment. Twice cooking time is 2nd cooking time for 2nd hardness adjustment which is hardest from 2nd cooking time (I + i) for 1st hardness adjustment which becomes the softest with respect to standard time (I) for hardness adjustment. Adjust between (I-i) minutes. Moreover, in a twice cooking process, the electricity supply rate and twice cooking time of a twice cooking process are adjusted based on the set "stickiness". That is, the energization rate for adjusting the stickiness in the twice-cooking step is the first stickiness-adjusting twice-heating power supply rate (K−k) for which the stickiness is the weakest with respect to the stickiness adjusting reference energization rate (K)%. %, The second tenacity adjustment for the second tenacity adjustment, where the tenacity is the strongest, is adjusted between energization rates (K + k)%. The second cooking time is for the second stickiness adjustment, which is the strongest from the second cooking time (L-1) for the first stickiness adjustment where the stickiness is the weakest with respect to the stickiness adjustment reference time (L). Adjust between cooking times (L + l) minutes.

  If rice cooking is complete | finished as mentioned above, the display of the liquid crystal display part 12 will switch from the back surface side liquid crystal panel 14a to the surface side liquid crystal panel 14b. Since the evaluation screen (an example of an operation screen) of my home cooking rice is displayed on the surface side liquid crystal panel 14b, the user can input the evaluation after eating the cooked rice obtained by this rice cooking. Hereinafter, this evaluation control will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, first, “hardness” is displayed in a selectable state on the evaluation screen. Then, the arrow indicating the right or left of the “menu selection” button 19 is operated to select whether the cooked rice is “hard”, “good”, or “soft”. When selection of “hardness” is completed, a “home cooking selection” button 21 is operated. As a result, the selected “hardness” is confirmed and “stickiness” can be selected. Thus, in the same manner as described above, the arrow indicating the right or left of the “menu selection” button 19 is operated, and “strong” is selected. , “Good” or “Weak” is selected. And the selected content is confirmed by operating the "my home cooking selection" button 21 (step S11).

  If the evaluation results for “hardness” and “stickiness” are confirmed in this way, “hardness” is the upper limit of the setting range based on the “hardness” set up to the previous time and the “hardness” set this time. It is determined whether or not the value (+5) has been set to be hard (step S12). If “hardness” exceeds the limit value (+5) of the setting range and is set to “hard”, the setting for “hardness” is left as it is, and the setting for “stickiness” is one step from the setting at that time. Change to weaker one (-1) (step S13).

  For example, when “soft” is operated five times as the evaluation of cooked rice after cooking up to the previous time, the setting of the cooked state of cooked rice is hardness (+5). Therefore, when “soft” is selected as the evaluation result this time, it cannot be changed to a setting for cooking rice harder than this. Therefore, according to FIG. 5, “stickiness” is changed to one weaker (−1). As a result, the cooked cooked rice can be felt even harder as it is no longer sticky.

  Conversely, based on the “hardness” set up to the previous time and the “hardness” set this time, whether or not “hardness” is softly set exceeding the lower limit (−5) of the setting range. Is determined (step S14). If “hardness” exceeds the lower limit (−5) of the setting range and is set to “soft”, the setting for “hardness” is left as it is, and the setting for “stickiness” is set to 1 from the setting at that time. The step is changed to the stronger one (+1) (step S15).

  For example, when “Katai” is operated five times as the evaluation of cooked rice after the previous cooking, the setting of the cooked state of cooked rice is soft (−5). Therefore, when “Kaitai” is selected this time, it cannot be changed to a setting for cooking rice more gently. Therefore, according to FIG. 5, “stickiness” is changed to a stronger one level (+1). As a result, the cooked cooked rice can be made softer as much as it becomes sticky.

  If “hardness” is within the set range, it is determined whether “stickiness” exceeds the upper limit (+5) of the set range and is set to “strong” (step S16). If “stickiness” exceeds the upper limit (+5) of the setting range and is set to “strong”, the setting for “stickiness” is left as it is, and the setting for “hardness” is set to 1 from the setting at that time. The level is changed to the softer one (-1) (step S17).

  For example, when “weak” is operated five times as stickiness as the evaluation of cooked rice after the previous cooking, the setting of the cooked state of cooked rice is (+5). Therefore, when “weak” is selected this time, it is not possible to change the setting to cook rice so that it becomes more sticky. Therefore, according to FIG. 5, “hardness” is changed to a softer one step (−1). Thereby, it becomes possible to feel that the cooked cooked rice has become more sticky as it is cooked softly.

  If “hardness” is within the setting range, it is determined whether “stickiness” exceeds the lower limit (−5) of the setting range and is set to “weak” (step S18). If “stickiness” exceeds the limit value (−5) of the setting range and is set to “weak”, the setting for “stickiness” is left as it is, and the setting for “hardness” is changed from the setting at that time. The level is changed to one (+1) that is higher (step S19).

  For example, when “strong” is operated as stickiness five times as the evaluation of cooked rice after cooking up to the previous time, the setting of the cooked state of cooked rice is (−5). Therefore, when “weak” is selected this time, it is not possible to change the setting to cook rice so that it becomes more sticky. Therefore, according to FIG. 5, “hardness” is changed to one that is desired to be one level (+1). As a result, the cooked cooked rice can be perceived as having become less viscous as much as it is cooked.

  As described above, even if either “hardness” or “stickiness” is set beyond the limit value of the setting range, it cannot be handled by changing the remaining setting. The cooked state of cooked rice can be adjusted beyond the limit value.

  Further, since the remaining other setting change cannot be changed any more if the limit value is reached, an error is notified by voice or display. In FIG. 5, when “A” is set, that is, in a state where “hardness” is set to “+5”, which is the hardest, “soft” is continuously selected for evaluation. In the case of “5”, “+5”, which is the hardest “hardness” as a result of continuing to select “strong” in the evaluation with “-5” being the weakest “stickiness”. In such a case, an error is reported because it is not possible to cope with the evaluation of “soft” or “strong” beyond that. In addition, in the case of point B in FIG. 5, that is, in a state where “hardness” is set to “−5”, which is the softest, “hard” is continuously selected as a result of evaluation, so that “stickiness” is the highest. When “+5” is strong, “−5” is set to “+5” where “stickiness” is the strongest. As a result, “weak” is continuously selected as a result of evaluation. ”, An error is reported because it is not possible to deal with an evaluation of“ hard ”or“ weak ”beyond that.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure described in the said embodiment, A various change is possible.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the preheating temperature, the preheating time, and the like are set equally (from five levels) from the reference value to the upper limit value and from the reference value to the lower limit value. Alternatively, it may be set unevenly as necessary. Moreover, the setting does not need to be 5 steps, and can be set freely such as 10 steps.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it used about only the combination of "hardness" and "stickiness" as an evaluation parameter | index of a cooked state, However, Not only this but another evaluation parameter | index can be used. For example, “sweetness” may be used as an evaluation index. Preheating time, preheating temperature, and steaming time correspond to the rice cooking conditions for adjusting the “sweetness”. In the same manner as described above, an upper limit value and a lower limit value may be set with respect to the reference value and adjusted within the range. For example, the combination of “sweetness” and “hardness” may be as follows. In other words, when an operation is performed to change the sweetness beyond the sweetest (+5) to a sweeter one, the sweetness is changed to (+5), and the “hardness” is changed to a softer one step. On the other hand, if an operation is attempted to change the sweetness beyond the least sweet (−5) to a less sweet one, the “sweetness” is set to (−5) and the “hardness” is set to one level. Change it to the one you want. The combination of “sweetness” and “stickiness” may be as follows. That is, when an operation is performed to change the sweetness beyond the sweetest (+5) to a sweeter one, “sweetness” is set to (+5), and “stickiness” is changed to one weaker. On the other hand, when an operation is performed to change the sweetness beyond the least sweet (−5) to a less sweet one, the sweetness is set to (−5) and the “stickiness” is increased by one step. Change to When the evaluation index is 3 or more, the rice cooking control can be adjusted by any combination of 2 or more. For example, it can be a combination of “hardness” and “sweetness”, “stickiness” and “sweetness”, or a combination of “hardness”, “stickiness” and “sweetness”. In the case of a combination of three or more, if any one reaches the limit value, the priority order of the index to be changed may be set. For example, when “hardness” is “+5”, “stickiness” is first adjusted to “weak”, and then “sweet” is adjusted to “(sweetness) weak”.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the setting range of the cooked state of cooked rice was changed, indicators, such as "hardness" and "stickiness", were changed one step at a time. You may make it adjust so that a change width may become small by subsequent change. For example, when an operation is attempted to change the “hardness” to a harder one, the hardest (+5) is set first, and then, when an operation is attempted to change the “hardness” to a softer one, (−4) What is necessary is just to do. Further, when the operation is made to change the “hardness” to a harder one, (+3) is set, and when the operation is made to change the “hardness” to a harder one, (+2) may be set. According to this, it becomes possible to gradually obtain a desired cooked state by making the change width smaller and finely adjusting as the number of operations increases.
For the index to be changed, for example, the change width may be increased by long-pressing “→” (or “←”) of the menu selection switch 19. In this case, you may make it display how many step indicators are changed according to the time pressed long.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the embodiment, a reset button may be provided, and the setting of each index may be reset (returned to the reference value) by operating the reset button. In this case, you may make it reset by continuing the state which does not select "my home cooking" by the menu selection 19. FIG.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it did not mention in particular, each time (steaming time etc.) adjusted by changing the parameter | index as above-mentioned remaining time until the completion of rice cooking displayed on the liquid crystal display part 12. ).

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although each parameter | index was changed by evaluation after completion of rice cooking, it is not restricted to this, For example, you may enable it to change each said parameter | index before a rice cooking start. And you may enable it to change each parameter | index by evaluating the cooked rice cooked based on the setting before the rice cooking start with an evaluation screen like the above.

  In the embodiment, the upper limit (+) side of “hardness” is “hard” and the lower limit (−) side is “soft”, but the upper limit (+) side is “soft” and the lower limit value. The (−) side may be “hard”. Similarly, the upper limit (+) side of “stickiness” is “strong” and the lower limit (−) side is “weak”, but the upper limit (+) side is “weak” and the lower limit (−) side. May be “strong”. The same applies to “sweetness”.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inner pan 2 ... Rice cooker main body 3 ... Cover body 4A ... Inner cylinder 4B ... Protective frame 5 ... Outer cylinder 6 ... Bottom member 7 ... Induction heating coil 8 ... Temperature sensor for pots 9 ... Body heater 10 ... Control apparatus 11 ... Operation panel 12 ... Liquid crystal display 13 ... Operation buttons 14 ... Liquid crystal panel 15 ... "Cooking / Reheating" button 16 ... "Takeshi" button 17 ... "Reservation" button 18 ... "Insulation selection" button 19 ... "Menu selection" button DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... "Select rice" button 21 ... "Home cooking selection" button 22 ... Inner lid 23 ... Lid temperature sensor 24 ... Lid heater 25 ... Steam flow path 26 ... Pressure regulator

Claims (11)

In order to adjust any of the indicators indicating the cooked state of the cooked rice, an operation unit for setting the rice cooking conditions,
A control unit for cooking rice under the rice cooking conditions set by operation of the operation unit;
With
When the operation unit is operated to change the upper limit value or lower limit value that is a set limit value of a setting range, the control unit sets the one index as a set limit value, A rice cooker characterized by causing rice cooking to be performed under rice cooking conditions in which another index related to the index is changed to the upper limit value side or the lower limit value side.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the indices are "hardness" and "stickiness".   When the “hardness” is set to be harder than the limit set value by the operation of the operation unit, the control unit reduces the “stickiness” to the upper limit value side or the lower limit value side. When the “hardness” is set to be softer than the limit set value, the “stickiness” is adjusted to the lower limit value side or the upper limit value side to increase the stickiness. The rice cooker according to claim 2.   When the “stickiness” is set to be stronger than the limit set value by operating the operation unit, the control unit softens the hardness of the “hardness” on the upper limit value side or the lower limit value side. When the “stickiness” is set to be weaker than the limit set value, the “hardness” is adjusted to the side that hardens the lower limit value side or the upper limit value side. The rice cooker according to claim 2.   The operation unit can select a reference setting corresponding to a reference value of the index, an upper limit value setting on the upper limit side of the reference value, and a lower limit value setting on the lower limit side of the reference value. It exists, The rice cooker of any one of Claim 1 to 4 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The said control part adjusts rice cooking conditions so that the change width of the said index set by this operation by the above-mentioned operation part may become smaller than the change width set by last operation. The rice cooker according to any one of 1 to 5.   The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising reset means for resetting a change in rice cooking conditions set by operation of the operation unit.   The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a display unit that displays an operation screen for causing rice cooking to be performed under the rice cooking conditions set by the operation of the operation unit. The control unit calculates the remaining time until rice cooking according to the difference in the rice cooking conditions set by the operation of the operation unit is completed,
The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a display unit that displays the remaining time.   The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a notification unit that notifies an error when the other index is changed beyond an upper limit value or a lower limit value. In order to adjust any of the indicators that indicate the cooked state of cooked rice, set the cooking conditions,
A rice cooking control method for cooking rice under set rice cooking conditions,
When the operation unit is operated by an operation of the operation unit so as to change one index exceeding an upper limit value or a lower limit value that is a setting limit value of the setting range, the one index is set as a setting limit value, and the one index The rice cooking control method characterized by making rice cooking be performed on the rice cooking conditions which change the other parameter | index relevant to this parameter | index to the upper limit side or the lower limit side.

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