JP6982826B2 - Rice cooker and rice cooker control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rice cooker and a method for controlling the rice cooker.

Conventionally, a pressure rice cooker that seals the inside of a rice cooker and cooks rice while heating at a predetermined pressure is known. In the pressure rice cooker, the rice and water to be cooked are heated in the sealed rice cooker, so when rice cooking is started, the temperature inside the rice cooker rises and the water in the cooked rice evaporates to cook rice. The pressure in the pot increases. When the pressure inside the rice cooker reaches the set value, the heating power of the heating part (heater) that heats the rice cooker is controlled to heat the rice to be cooked while maintaining the pressure inside the rice cooker at the set value. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the rice cooker described in Patent Document 1, the internal pressure of the rice cooker is adjusted between the first pressure and the second pressure higher than the first pressure to execute the rice cooking process.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-176568

However, in the rice cooker according to the prior art, since the pressure in the rice cooker is adjusted by two values, the accuracy of controlling the cooked state of the cooked rice is low, and the good taste of the cooked rice may not be obtained. There is a problem.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker capable of accurately controlling the rice cooking operation and improving the taste of the cooked rice.

The rice cooker according to one aspect of the present invention has a pot for accommodating a rice to be cooked, a heating unit for heating the pot, and a pressure valve for discharging gas from the pot, and the pressure valve has a pressure valve. A pressure adjusting unit that adjusts the pressure in the pot by adjusting the open / closed state, and a control unit that controls the heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit are provided, and the control unit is housed in the pot. A rice cooking step including a boiling step of boiling the rice to be cooked and a boiling maintenance step of maintaining the boiling state of the rice to be cooked contained in the pot is executed, and in the boiling maintenance step, the control unit is used. , The heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit are controlled to increase the pressure in the pot to a first pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, and after the pressure in the pot reaches the first pressure, the above. The pressure in the pot is reduced to a second pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the first pressure, and after the pressure in the pot reaches the second pressure, the pressure in the pot is reduced to the second pressure. rather higher than the second pressure, and is boosted to the third pressure have lower than said first pressure.

The rice cooker according to the present invention can accurately control the rice cooking operation and improve the taste of the cooked rice.

It is external perspective view of the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is an exploded perspective view of the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the rice cooking process of the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 1. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process and the steaming process of the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 3. FIG. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 4. FIG. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 5. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process and the steaming process of the rice cooker which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 6. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 7. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 8. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 9. FIG. It is a time chart which shows the pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance process which concerns on Example 10.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that all of the embodiments described below are comprehensive or specific examples. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions of components, connection modes, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Further, among the components in the following embodiments, the components not described in the independent claim indicating the highest level concept are described as arbitrary components.

It should be noted that each figure is a schematic view and is not necessarily exactly shown. Further, in each figure, the same reference numerals may be given to substantially the same configurations, and duplicate explanations may be omitted or simplified.

(Embodiment 1)
In the present embodiment, as the rice cooker 1, an induction heating type rice cooker that heats a pot to cook rice by supplying a high frequency current to a heating coil will be described as an example. The rice cooker 1 does not have to be an induction heating type rice cooker, and may be, for example, a heater type rice cooker that heats a pot with an electric heater.

[1-1. Rice cooker configuration]
FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1B, (a) shows a steam discharge unit 4, (b) shows an outer lid 3, (c) shows an inner lid 6, (d) shows a pot 5, and (e) shows a rice cooker main body 2.

The rice cooker 1 includes a rice cooker main body 2 and an outer lid 3 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B (a) to (e). The outer lid 3 is attached to the upper part of the rice cooker main body 2 so as to be openable and closable. When the outer lid 3 is closed, as shown in FIG. 1A, the rice cooker 1 can see the housing 2a and the outer lid 3 of the rice cooker main body 2. Further, a handle 2b for carrying the rice cooker 1 is attached to the rice cooker main body 2.

As shown in FIG. 1B (e), the rice cooker main body 2 has a housing 2a and a pot accommodating portion 10 for accommodating a pot 5 described later. The pot accommodating portion 10 has a recessed shape that follows the shape of the pot 5. In the pot accommodating portion 10, the bottom surface of the accommodating portion that contacts the bottom surface of the pan 5 and the side surface of the accommodating portion that contacts the side surface of the pan 5 are formed of, for example, a highly heat-resistant resin material. A heating coil 11, which will be described later, is arranged on the inner side of the rice cooker main body 2 of the pot accommodating portion 10. In the present embodiment, the heating coil 11 is a heating unit.

The outer lid 3 is arranged above the rice cooker main body 2 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B (b). The outer lid 3 is attached to the rice cooker main body 2 so as to be openable and closable by the outer lid attaching portion 2c provided on the rice cooker main body 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, the outer lid 3 is provided with an operation unit 3a and an open / close button 3b.

The operation unit 3a is a part that performs operations and displays such as starting rice cooking and selecting a rice cooking course. The operation unit 3a is provided with a display unit 15 and a plurality of operation buttons 16. The display unit 15 displays the operation content, the rice cooking state, and the like. The operation button 16 is a button for operating the rice cooker 1 by changing the display of the display unit 15 and selecting and determining the display content displayed on the display unit 15. For example, the user operates the operation button 16 of the operation unit 3a while looking at the display unit 15, and the rice cooking course according to the desired state of the cooked rice such as texture and taste such as hardness, stickiness and firmness. Can be selected. The operation unit 3a may be a touch panel type operation unit 3a that also serves as a display unit 15.

The open / close button 3b is a button for opening the outer lid 3. By pressing the open / close button 3b, the outer lid 3 rotates about the outer lid mounting portion 2c and opens from the rice cooker main body 2. When closing the outer lid 3, the outer lid 3 can be closed by pressing the outer lid 3 toward the rice cooker main body 2.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a steam release unit 4 is provided on a part of the outer lid 3. The steam discharge unit 4 is provided with a steam port 4a that functions as a pressure valve, and the gas (steam) in the pot 5 is discharged from the steam port 4a during rice cooking. Further, the steam discharge unit 4 can be removed from the outer lid 3.

Further, the rice cooker 1 includes a pot 5 and an inner lid 6 inside the rice cooker surrounded by the rice cooker main body 2 and the outer lid 3.

The pot 5 is a container for accommodating rice to be cooked containing rice and water and cooking rice by heating. The pot 5 is made of, for example, metal, metal-coated ceramics, or the like. A water level line for notifying the user of the amount of water in the pot 5 is provided on the inner side surface of the pot 5. The water amount line is provided for each rice cooking course, for example, and the amount of water suitable for each rice cooking course is indicated by a scale for each capacity of rice. The pot 5 is housed in a pot accommodating portion 10 provided in the rice cooker main body 2.

The inner lid 6 is arranged on the surface of the outer lid 3 on the side of the rice cooker main body 2, and seals the pot 5 by covering the upper part of the pot 5 housed in the pot accommodating portion 10. The inner lid 6 is provided with a pressure adjusting unit 13 for adjusting the pressure inside the pot 5. The pressure adjusting unit 13 adjusts the pressure by opening and closing the steam port 4a of the steam discharging unit 4. The steam release unit 4 described above is a part of the pressure adjusting unit 13.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the rice cooker 1 has an induction heating type rice cooker such as a heating coil 11, an inverter circuit 12, a power supply board (not shown), and a power cord (not shown) inside the rice cooker main body 2. It has the necessary electronic parts as a rice cooker. Further, the rice cooker 1 has a control unit 20 for controlling rice cooking, a pot temperature detection unit 21, a pressure detection unit 22, a power supply voltage detection unit 23, and a time measurement unit 24 inside the rice cooker main body 2. ing.

The control unit 20 adjusts the heating power to the pot 5 by the heating coil 11 via the inverter circuit 12, and controls the temperature in the pot 5. Further, the control unit 20 is based on the temperature in the pot 5, the pressure in the pot 5, the power supply voltage, and the time transmitted from the pot temperature detection unit 21, the pressure detection unit 22, the power supply voltage detection unit 23, and the time measurement unit 24. The operation of the pressure adjusting unit 13, the steam unit 14, and the display unit 15 is controlled. For example, the control unit 20 controls so that the temperature, pressure, and power supply voltage detected by the pot temperature detection unit 21, pressure detection unit 22, and power supply voltage detection unit 23 become predetermined temperatures, pressures, and power supply voltages. .. Further, the control unit 20 changes the above-mentioned predetermined temperature, pressure, and power supply voltage when the time measured by the time measuring unit 24 reaches a predetermined time. As a result, the control unit 20 manages a plurality of processes in the rice cooking process (rice cooking process) performed by the rice cooker 1. The rice cooking step includes a water absorption step, a boiling step, a boiling maintenance step, a steaming step and the like, as will be described later.

The control unit 20 has a memory 20a as a storage unit, and controls based on the control pattern stored in the memory 20a. Further, the control unit 20 may perform control based on an operation input from the outside by the operation unit 3a. The memory 20a may not be provided in the control unit 20, or may be provided outside the control unit 20.

The memory 20a is a storage unit in which a control pattern for cooking rice and other control parameters are stored. The memory 20a includes a rice cooking course, a control pattern corresponding to each rice cooking course, a heating temperature and time in each process, electric power supplied to the heating coil 11 (for example, energization rate), pressure and time during pressurization and depressurization, and the like. The adjustment parameters, the water content of the cooked rice corresponding to each rice cooking course, etc. are stored. The water content means the ratio of water contained in the cooked rice after cooking (moisture content). In addition, the rice cooking course includes a plurality of rice cooking courses according to the hardness of the cooked rice after cooking, the type of rice, the rice cooking time, and the like. The control unit 20 executes a plurality of rice cooking processes corresponding to each course.

The heating coil 11 is an electromagnetic coil for heating the pot 5, and causes electromagnetic induction by a high frequency current supplied from a power source. As a result, the pot 5 is induced and heated by the heating coil 11, and the pot 5 is heated. The pot 5 may be heated by a heater type heating instead of an induction heating type.

The heating coil 11 has a bottom surface heating coil 11a for heating the bottom surface of the pot 5 and a side surface heating coil 11b for heating the side surface of the pot 5. The bottom surface heating coil 11a is wound in an annular shape and is arranged on the bottom surface of the accommodating portion of the pot accommodating portion 10. The side heating coil 11b is wound around a part of the side surface of the accommodating portion of the pan accommodating portion 10. For example, the side heating coil 11b is wound around the side surface of the accommodating portion at a position close to the bottom surface of the accommodating portion. By heating the pot 5 with the bottom heating coil 11a, internal convection occurs inside the pot 5, in which heat rises from the center of the pot 5 and convection toward the outside. Further, by heating the pot 5 with the side heating coil 11b, external convection occurs inside the pot 5 in which heat rises from the outside of the pot 5 and convection toward the center. By switching the bottom heating coil 11a and the side heating coil 11b at high speed by the control unit 20 and repeating internal convection and external convection, the rice to be cooked inside the pot 5 is convected and the heat is uniformly distributed to the entire pot 5. Can be conducted to.

The heating coil 11 is not limited to the bottom surface heating coil 11a and the side surface heating coil 11b, and may be provided with coils in other parts such as the inner lid 6.

The inverter circuit 12 controls the high frequency current supplied to the bottom surface heating coil 11a and the side surface heating coil 11b, and switches between the bottom surface heating coil 11a and the side surface heating coil 11b at high speed. The inverter circuit 12 adjusts the thermal power of the pan 5 by changing the energization rates of the bottom surface heating coil 11a and the side surface heating coil 11b under the control of the control unit 20. The current applied to the bottom surface heating coil 11a and the side surface heating coil 11b is supplied to the bottom surface heating coil 11a and the side surface heating coil 11b from a power supply board that obtains a predetermined electric power from a commercial power source to generate a high frequency current. Further, the inverter circuit 12 switches the opening and closing of the steam port 4a of the steam discharge unit 4 of the pressure adjusting unit 13. The inverter circuit 12 may be arranged on the power supply board.

The pressure adjusting unit 13 adjusts the pressure inside the pot 5 by adjusting the amount of water vapor inside the pot 5. As described above, the pressure adjusting unit 13 has a steam discharging unit 4. The pressure adjusting unit 13 opens and closes the steam discharging unit 4 based on the control signal from the control unit 20. By adjusting the pressure in the pot 5 when the internal convection and the external convection are repeated in the pot 5, a bumping phenomenon occurs in the pot 5. As a result, the cooked rice is agitated in the pot 5. The steam port 4a is a pressure valve. The steam port 4a may be, for example, a valve that is mechanically opened or closed and discharges water vapor at a constant release amount when the steam port 4a is open, or an elastic body such as a spring is attached to the steam port 4a. The valve may be a valve in which the size of the opening is adjusted by changing the stress of the elastic body, thereby adjusting the amount of water vapor released.

Specifically, the pressure adjusting unit 13 raises the temperature inside the pot 5 to, for example, 105 ° C. by closing the steam port 4a of the steam discharging unit 4 and pressurizing the inside of the pot 5 to, for example, 1.2 atm. Let me. As a result, heat and water can permeate to the core of the cooked rice. After that, the pressure adjusting unit 13 opens the steam port 4a of the steam discharging unit 4 and discharges steam to the outside of the rice cooker 1. As a result, the pressure inside the pot 5 is reduced to 1.0 atm at once, so that the boiling point of the water in the pot 5 drops to, for example, 100 ° C. As a result, bumping occurs in the pot 5, and the cooked rice is agitated and heated evenly.

The steam unit 14 is a portion that supplies steam into the pot 5 in the steaming step described later. The steam unit 14 includes, for example, a water container (not shown) and a heater (not shown). The steam unit 14 heats the water previously stored in the water container with a heater to make steam at, for example, 220 ° C., and injects it into the pot 5 at high speed. As a result, the cooked rice in the pot 5 can be coated with steam to improve the firmness of the cooked rice.

The pot temperature detection unit 21 is a temperature sensor arranged at the bottom of the pot 5, detects the temperature of the cooked rice in the pot 5, and transmits it to the control unit 20.

The pressure detection unit 22 is a pressure sensor arranged on the pot 5 side of the inner lid 6, detects the pressure in the pot 5, and transmits the pressure to the control unit 20. The rice cooker 1 may not be provided with the pressure detecting unit 22, and may be configured such that the pressure stored in the memory 20a is only applied to the inside of the pot 5.

The power supply voltage detection unit 23 is a voltmeter that detects the power supply voltage applied to the heating coil 11 from the power supply board, and transmits the detected voltage to the control unit 20.

The time measuring unit 24 is a timer that measures the time in each process during rice cooking. The time measuring unit 24 measures, for example, a pressurizing time, a depressurizing time, a heating time, and the like. The time measuring unit 24 transmits the measured time to the control unit 20.

[1-2. Rice cooker operation]
Hereinafter, the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a rice cooking process of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rice cooking operation is performed in the order of a water absorption step (step S10), a boiling step (step S20), a boiling maintenance step (step S30), and a steaming step (step S40).

The water absorption step is a step of maintaining the inside of the pot 5 at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time in order to sufficiently infiltrate the cooked rice with water. At this time, the steam port 4a is in an open state. Therefore, the pressure in the pot 5 is atmospheric pressure (1.0 atm). The temperature in the pot 5 may be, for example, room temperature, or may be a preheating temperature (for example, 40 to 60 ° C.) higher than room temperature and lower than the boiling point of the cooked rice.

The boiling step is a step of raising the temperature and pressure in the pot 5 until the cooked rice in the pot 5 is boiled. By heating the pot 5 with the heating coil 11, the temperature inside the pot 5 rises and reaches the boiling temperature of the cooked rice. The boiling temperature of the cooked rice is, for example, 100 ° C. At this time, the steam port 4a may be open or closed. Further, by heating the pot 5 with the heating coil 11, the water in the pot 5 gradually evaporates.

The boiling maintenance step is a step of heating the rice to be cooked in the pot 5 while pressurizing or reducing the pressure to maintain the boiling state for a predetermined period and then heating the rice to be cooked in the pot 5 to the dry-up temperature. .. The dry-up temperature is a temperature at which excess water in the pot 5 disappears. The dry-up temperature is, for example, 117 ° C. The pressure in the pot 5 in the boiling maintenance step is, for example, 1.0 atm to 1.2 atm.

The steaming step is a step of lowering the temperature in the pot 5 from the dry-up temperature to a temperature equal to or lower than the boiling temperature of the rice to be cooked and maintaining the temperature for a predetermined time. The temperature in the pot 5 is, for example, a steaming temperature (for example, 72 to 76 ° C.) lower than the boiling temperature (for example, 100 ° C.) of the cooked rice and higher than the heat retention temperature (for example, 72 to 76 ° C.) when keeping the cooked rice warm after cooking. For example, 90 to 95 ° C.) may be used. In the steaming step, as will be described later, the temperature inside the pot 5 may be lowered while applying pressure to the inside of the pot 5. Further, when the cooked rice is not sufficiently cooked, the cooked rice may be additionally cooked in the steaming step.

Here, the pressure control in the pot 5 in the boiling maintenance step and the steaming step will be described. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step and the steaming step of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the boiling maintenance step, the control unit 20 controls to close the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13, and the pressure in the pot 5 is changed from the pressure P10 which is the atmospheric pressure (1.0 atm). The pressure is increased to P11. In this embodiment, the pressure P11 is the first pressure. The pressure P11 is, for example, 1.5 atm. By increasing the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P11, the boiling temperature of the cooked rice can be raised. As a result, in the rice cooker 1, heat and water permeate to the core of the cooked rice, and the rice can be cooked softly in a short time. The magnitude of the pressure P11 is not limited to 1.5 atm, and may be higher or lower than 1.5 atm. The pressure P11 may be, for example, 2.0 atm.

Next, the control unit 20 controls to open the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13, and reduces the pressure in the pot 5 to a pressure P12 higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the pressure P11 (first pressure). Adjustment process). In this embodiment, the pressure P12 is the second pressure. The pressure P12 is, for example, 1.2 atm. The control unit 20 may adjust the time for opening the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13 and the size of the opening of the steam port 4a. As a result, as described above, a bumping phenomenon occurs in the pot 5, and the cooked rice in the pot 5 can be agitated.

The control unit 20 may alternately adjust the pressure in the pan 5 to the pressure P11 and the pressure P12 for a predetermined period. That is, the above-mentioned first pressure adjusting step may be repeated a plurality of times.

After that, the control unit 20 controls the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13 to increase the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P13. In this embodiment, the pressure P13 is a third pressure. The pressure P13 is lower than the pressure P11. Further, the pressure P13 is higher than the pressure P12. The pressure P13 is, for example, 1.3 atm. Further, the control unit 20 maintains the pressure in the pan 5 at the pressure P13 for a predetermined period. As a result, it is possible to cook rice in a short time while suppressing the surface shape of the cooked rice from being deformed during cooking.

The time for maintaining the inside of the pan 5 at the pressure P13 may be longer or shorter than the time for repeating the pressure P11 and the pressure P12. By lengthening the time for maintaining the pressure in the pot 5 at the pressure P13, the cooked rice can be cooked so as to have a sticky and elastic texture.

Further, after maintaining the pressure in the pot 5 at the pressure P13, the control unit 20 controls to open the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13 to reduce the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P14 (second). Pressure adjustment process). In this embodiment, the pressure P14 is the fourth pressure. The pressure P14 is, for example, 1.0 atm, which is an atmospheric pressure. As a result, the pressure applied to the cooked rice in the pot 5 is reduced, so that the cooked rice is lifted in the pot 5 and the cooked rice can be cooked plumply. The pressure P14 is not limited to the atmospheric pressure, and may be any pressure above the atmospheric pressure and below the pressure P12.

Subsequently, the control unit 20 controls to close the steam port 4a of the pressure adjustment unit 13 to increase the pressure in the pot 5 from the pressure P14 to the pressure P15 (third pressure adjustment step). In this embodiment, the pressure P15 is the fifth pressure. The pressure P15 is higher than the pressure P12 and lower than the pressure P11 or the pressure P13. The pressure P15 is, for example, 1.3 atm. In the third pressure adjusting step, most of the water in the pot 5 is vaporized and the amount of water remaining in the pot 5 is small. Therefore, even if the pressure P15 is lower than the pressure P11 and the pressure P13, the pot is used. The temperature in 5 hardly drops. Therefore, even if the pressure inside the pot 5 is reduced, the damage to the cooked rice can be kept small.

The control unit 20 maintains the pressure in the pot 5 at the pressure P15 for a predetermined period of time, and then controls to open the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13 again to reduce the pressure in the pot 5 to the atmospheric pressure. After that, when the temperature in the pot 5 reaches the dry-up temperature, the boiling maintenance step is completed. The time for maintaining the pressure P15 may be longer or shorter than the time for maintaining the pressure P13.

Subsequently, in the steaming step, the control unit 20 controls to close the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13 and raises the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P16. In this embodiment, the pressure P16 is the sixth pressure. The pressure P16, like the pressure P15, is higher than the pressure P12 and lower than the pressure P11 or the pressure P13. The pressure P16 is, for example, 1.3 atm. Further, the control unit 20 maintains the pressure in the pot 5 at the pressure P16 for a predetermined period. At this time, the control unit 20 may heat the pot 5 again in the heating coil 11. By maintaining the pressure in the pot 5 at the pressure P16 in the steaming step, the sweetness of the cooked rice can be increased.

After that, the control unit 20 controls to open the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13 again, and reduces the pressure in the pot 5 to the atmospheric pressure.

As described above, according to the configuration of the rice cooker 1 and the rice cooking operation according to the present embodiment, the rice cooking operation can be accurately controlled, the taste of the cooked rice can be improved, and the rice can be cooked in a short time. can.

Further, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at a pressure P13 lower than the pressure P11 for a certain period of time, so that the surface condition of the rice is suppressed from being deformed by the rice cooking operation, and the rice is covered with a good texture. You can get cooked rice in a short time.

In the rice cooker 1 described above, the pressure in the pot 5 is increased to the pressure P11 and then immediately reduced to the pressure P12. However, after the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P11, the pressure P11 May be maintained.

Further, in the rice cooker 1 described above, the control unit 20 repeats the pressure P11 and the pressure P12 twice, and then raises the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P13, but repeats the pressure P11 and the pressure P12. Is not limited to two times, but may be three or more times, or may be only once.

Further, in the rice cooker 1 described above, the control unit 20 keeps the pressure P13 for a predetermined period after increasing the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P13, but the pressure in the pot 5 is not limited to this. After increasing the pressure to the pressure P13, the pressure in the pan 5 may be reduced to the pressure P14 without maintaining the pressure P13.

Further, in the rice cooker 1 described above, the control unit 20 reduces the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P14 and then raises the pressure to the pressure P15 without adjusting to another pressure value, but the present invention is not limited to this. After reducing the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P14, the pressure may be adjusted to another pressure value before the pressure is increased to the pressure P15.

[1-3. Example]
Hereinafter, an example of pressure control in the pot 5 in the boiling maintenance step of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. In FIGS. 5 to 9, the start time of the boiling maintenance step is shown as time 0 minutes.

[1-3-1. Example 1]
FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P11 = 1.5 atm is reached. Then, after the pressure P11 = 1.5 atm is maintained until the time 3 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P12 = 1.2 atm in the time 4 minutes. Then, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started again, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P11 = 1.5 atm in 5 minutes. Then, after the pressure P11 = 1.5 atm is maintained until the time 6 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P12 = 1.2 atm at the time 7 minutes.

Next, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 7 minutes, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P13 = 1.4 atm at 8 minutes. Then, after the pressure P13 = 1.4 atm was maintained until the time 9 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 was started, and the pressure in the pot 5 became the pressure P14 = 1.0 atm (atmospheric pressure) in the time 10 minutes. Reach. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at the pressure P14 = 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, the pressure in the pot 5 may be maintained at the pressure P11 for a predetermined period in the first pressure adjusting step.

After the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P14 = 1.0 atm, a third pressure adjusting step may be performed in which the pressure in the pot 5 is increased to the pressure P15 and maintained.

[1-3-2. Example 2]
FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P11 = 1.5 atm is reached. After that, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P12 = 1.2 atm in 3 minutes.

Next, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P13 = 1.4 atm in 4 minutes. Then, after the pressure P13 = 1.4 atm is maintained until the time 8 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P14 = 1.0 atm at the time 9 minutes. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at the pressure P14 = 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, the number of times the pressure in the pot 5 is increased to the pressure P11 for a predetermined period may be once in the first pressure adjusting step.

After the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P14 = 1.0 atm, a third pressure adjusting step may be performed in which the pressure in the pot 5 is increased to the pressure P15 and maintained.

[1-3-3. Example 3]
FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P11 = 1.5 atm is reached.

Then, in the second pressure adjusting step, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P12 = 1.2 atm in 3 minutes. Then, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started again, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P13 = 1.4 atm in 4 minutes. After that, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P14 = 1.2 atm in 5 minutes.

Then, before the third pressure adjusting step, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.5 atm in 6 minutes. After that, decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 7 minutes. Further, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.5 atm again in 8 minutes. After that, decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 9 minutes.

Subsequently, in the third pressure adjusting step, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P15 = 1.3 atm in 10 minutes. Then, after the pressure P15 = 1.3 atm is maintained until 11 minutes, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 12 minutes. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, a step of adjusting to another pressure value may be provided after the second pressure adjusting step and before performing the third pressure adjusting step.

[1-3-4. Example 4]
FIG. 8 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P11 = 1.5 atm is reached. Then, after the pressure P11 = 1.5 atm is maintained until the time 3 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P12 = 1.2 atm in the time 4 minutes.

After that, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is started to be increased, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P13 = 1.4 atm in 5 minutes. Then, after the pressure P13 = 1.4 atm is maintained until the time 6 minutes, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P14 = 1.2 atm at the time 7 minutes.

Subsequently, before the third pressure adjusting step, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.5 atm in 8 minutes. Then, after 1.5 atm is maintained until 9 minutes, decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 10 minutes.

Further, in the third pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is started to be increased, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P15 = 1.3 atm in 11 minutes. Then, after the pressure P15 = 1.3 atm is maintained until 12 minutes, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 13 minutes. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, the pressure in the pot 5 may be maintained at the pressure P11 for a predetermined period in the first pressure adjusting step. In the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, a step of boosting and maintaining the pressure to another pressure value may be provided after the second pressure adjusting step and before performing the third pressure adjusting step. Further, the pressure P14 does not have to be atmospheric pressure, and may be a value lower than the pressure P11 and the pressure P13. For example, the pressure P14 may have the same value as P12 as described above.

[1-3-5. Example 5]
FIG. 9 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the fifth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P11 = 2.0 atm is reached. After that, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P12 = 1.2 atm in 3 minutes.

After that, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is started to be increased, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P13 = 1.5 atm in 4 minutes. After that, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P14 = 1.2 atm in 5 minutes.

After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is not reduced to the atmospheric pressure, and the pressure increase is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.3 atm in 6 minutes. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, the values of the pressure P11 and the pressure P13 may be changed in any way as long as the pressure P11 is higher than the pressure P13. Further, by increasing the pressure values of the pressure P11 and the pressure P13, the rice cooking time can be shortened. Further, the pressure P14 does not have to be atmospheric pressure, and may be a value lower than the pressure P11 and the pressure P13. For example, the pressure P14 may have the same value as P12 as described above. After increasing the pressure in the pan 5 from the pressure P14 to 1.3 atm, the pressure may be maintained and the third pressure adjusting step may not be performed.

[1-4. Effect, etc.]
As described above, according to the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment, in the boiling maintenance step, the pressure P11 in the first pressure adjusting step is set to a temperature higher than the pressure P13 in the second pressure adjusting step. The cooked rice can be heated to the core at an early time in the boiling maintenance step, and the sweetness of the cooked rice can be increased during the subsequent pressure P13 period. This makes it possible to improve the taste of the cooked rice.

Further, since the pressure P13 is set to a pressure lower than the pressure P11, it is possible to suppress the surface condition of the rice from collapsing during the rice cooking operation and to obtain a cooked rice with a good texture.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, the rice cooker 1 according to the second embodiment will be described.

The difference between the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment and the rice cooker 1 according to the first embodiment is that in the boiling maintenance step, the third pressure in the second pressure adjusting step is different from that in the first pressure adjusting step. This is a point where the pressure value is higher than the first pressure. Hereinafter, the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment will be described as being different from the rice cooker 1 according to the first embodiment.

The configuration of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the rice cooker 1 according to the first embodiment.

[2-1. Rice cooker operation]
FIG. 10 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step and the steaming step of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the boiling maintenance step, the control unit 20 controls to close the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13, and the pressure in the pot 5 is changed from the pressure P20 which is the atmospheric pressure (1.0 atm). The pressure is increased to P21. In this embodiment, the pressure P21 is the first pressure. The pressure P21 is, for example, 1.4 atm. By boosting the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P21, the boiling temperature of the cooked rice can be raised. As a result, in the rice cooker 1, heat and water can be permeated to the core of the cooked rice, and the rice can be cooked softly. The magnitude of the pressure P21 is not limited to 1.4 atm, and may be higher or lower than 1.4 atm as long as it is lower than the pressure P23 described later.

Next, the control unit 20 controls to open the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13, and reduces the pressure in the pot 5 to a pressure P22 higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the pressure P21 (first pressure). Adjustment process). In this embodiment, the pressure P22 is the second pressure. The pressure P22 is, for example, 1.2 atm. As a result, as described above, a bumping phenomenon occurs in the pot 5, and the cooked rice in the pot 5 can be agitated. Further, the control unit 20 may alternately adjust the pressure in the pan 5 to the pressure P21 and the pressure P22 for a predetermined period a plurality of times. That is, the above-mentioned first pressure adjusting step may be repeated a plurality of times.

After that, the control unit 20 controls the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13 to increase the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P23. In this embodiment, the pressure P23 is the third pressure. The pressure P23 is higher than the pressure P21. Further, the pressure P23 is higher than the pressure P22. The pressure P23 is, for example, 1.5 atm. Further, the control unit 20 maintains the pressure in the pan 5 at the pressure P23 for a predetermined period. As a result, the rice cooking time can be shortened.

Further, after maintaining the pressure in the pot 5 at the pressure P23, the control unit 20 controls to open the steam port 4a of the pressure adjusting unit 13 to reduce the pressure in the pot 5 to the pressure P24 (second). Pressure adjustment process). In this embodiment, the pressure P24 is the fourth pressure. The pressure P24 is, for example, 1.0 atm, which is atmospheric pressure. The pressure P24 is not limited to the atmospheric pressure, and may be any pressure above the atmospheric pressure and below the pressure P22.

Subsequently, the control unit 20 controls to close the steam port 4a of the pressure adjustment unit 13 to increase the pressure in the pot 5 from the pressure P24 to the pressure P25 (third pressure adjustment step). In this embodiment, the pressure P25 is the fifth pressure. Since the third pressure adjusting step is the same as the third pressure adjusting step shown in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

Further, when the temperature in the pot 5 reaches the dry-up temperature after the third pressure adjusting step, the boiling maintenance step is completed. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 20 starts the steaming step. Since the steaming step is the same as the steaming step shown in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, the pressure P26 in the steaming step is the sixth pressure, which is the same as the pressure P16 shown in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at the pressure P23 higher than the pressure P21, so that the rice cooker according to the first embodiment is maintained. Compared with the bowl 1, the rice cooking time can be shortened.

[2-2. Example]
Hereinafter, an example of pressure control in the pot 5 in the boiling maintenance step of the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15.

The pressure control in the boiling maintenance step in Examples 6 to 10 is almost the same as the pressure control in Examples 1 to 5 described above, but the pressure P23 in the second pressure adjusting step is the pressure in the first pressure adjusting step. The point higher than P21 is different from the pressure P11 in the first pressure adjusting step and the pressure P13 in the second pressure adjusting step shown in Examples 1 to 5.

[2-2-1. Example 6]
FIG. 11 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the sixth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P21 = 1.4 atm is reached. Then, after the pressure P21 = 1.4 atm is maintained until the time 3 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P22 = 1.2 atm in the time 4 minutes. Then, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started again, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P21 = 1.4 atm in 5 minutes. Then, after the pressure P21 = 1.4 atm is maintained until the time 6 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P22 = 1.2 atm at the time 7 minutes.

Next, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 7 minutes, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P23 = 1.5 atm at 8 minutes. Then, after the pressure P23 = 1.5 atm was maintained until the time 9 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 was started, and the pressure in the pot 5 became the pressure P24 = 1.0 atm (atmospheric pressure) in the time 10 minutes. Reach. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at a pressure P24 = 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, the pressure in the pot 5 may be maintained at the pressure P21 for a predetermined period in the first pressure adjusting step.

After the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P24 = 1.0 atm, a third pressure adjusting step may be performed in which the pressure in the pot 5 is increased and maintained.

[2-2-2. Example 7]
FIG. 12 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the seventh embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P21 = 1.3 atm is reached. After that, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P22 = 1.2 atm in 3 minutes.

Next, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P23 = 1.4 atm in 4 minutes. Then, after the pressure P23 = 1.4 atm is maintained until 8 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P24 = 1.0 atm in 9 minutes. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at a pressure P24 = 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, the number of times the pressure in the pot 5 is increased to the pressure P21 for a predetermined period may be once in the first pressure adjusting step.

After the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P24 = 1.0 atm, a third pressure adjusting step may be performed in which the pressure in the pot 5 is increased and maintained.

[2-2-3. Example 8]
FIG. 13 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the eighth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 13, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P21 = 1.4 atm is reached.

After that, in the second pressure adjusting step, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P22 = 1.2 atm in 3 minutes. Then, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started again, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P23 = 1.5 atm in 4 minutes. After that, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P24 = 1.2 atm in 5 minutes.

Then, before the third pressure adjusting step, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.5 atm in 6 minutes. After that, decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 7 minutes. Further, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.5 atm again in 8 minutes. After that, decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 9 minutes.

Subsequently, in the third pressure adjusting step, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P25 = 1.3 atm in 10 minutes. Then, after the pressure P25 = 1.3 atm is maintained until 11 minutes, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 12 minutes. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, a step of adjusting to another pressure value may be provided after the second pressure adjusting step and before performing the third pressure adjusting step.

[2-2-4. Example 9]
FIG. 14 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the ninth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 14, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P21 = 1.4 atm is reached. Then, after the pressure P21 = 1.4 atm is maintained until the time 3 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P22 = 1.2 atm in the time 4 minutes.

After that, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is started to be increased, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P23 = 1.5 atm in 5 minutes. Then, after the pressure P23 = 1.5 atm is maintained until the time 6 minutes, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P24 = 1.2 atm at the time 7 minutes.

Subsequently, before the third pressure adjusting step, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.5 atm in 8 minutes. Then, after 1.5 atm is maintained until 9 minutes, decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 10 minutes.

Further, in the third pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is started to be increased, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P25 = 1.3 atm in 11 minutes. Then, after the pressure P25 = 1.3 atm is maintained until 12 minutes, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.0 atm in 13 minutes. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at 1.0 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, the pressure in the pot 5 may be maintained at the pressure P21 for a predetermined period in the first pressure adjusting step. In the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, a step of boosting and maintaining the pressure to another pressure value may be provided after the second pressure adjusting step and before performing the third pressure adjusting step. Further, the pressure P24 does not have to be atmospheric pressure, and may be a value lower than the pressure P21 and the pressure P23. For example, the pressure P24 may have the same value as P22 as described above.

[2-2-5. Example 10]
FIG. 15 is a time chart showing a pressure control pattern in the boiling maintenance step according to the tenth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 15, the boiling maintenance step is started at 0 minutes, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started at 1 minute in the first pressure adjustment step, and the pressure in the pot 5 is pressured at 2 minutes. P21 = reaches 1.5 atm. After that, the decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P22 = 1.3 atm in 3 minutes.

After that, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is started to be increased, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P23 = 2.0 atm in 4 minutes. After that, the depressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches the pressure P24 = 1.2 atm in 5 minutes.

Further, the pressurization in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.5 atm in 6 minutes. After that, decompression in the pot 5 is started, and the pressure in the pot 5 reaches 1.3 atm in 7 minutes. After that, the pressure in the pot 5 is maintained at 1.3 atm.

As described above, in the pressure control in the boiling maintenance step, the values of the pressure P21 and the pressure P23 may be changed in any way as long as the pressure P21 is higher than the pressure P23. Further, by increasing the pressure values of the pressure P21 and the pressure P23, the rice cooking time can be shortened. Further, the pressure P24 does not have to be atmospheric pressure, and may be a value lower than the pressure P21 and the pressure P23. For example, the pressure P24 may have the same value as P22. After increasing the pressure in the pan 5 from the pressure P24 to 1.3 atm, the pressure may be maintained and the third pressure adjusting step may not be performed.

[2-3. Effect, etc.]
As described above, according to the rice cooker 1 according to the present embodiment, in the second pressure adjusting step, the pressure in the pot 5 is set to the pressure P23 higher than the pressure P21, so that the taste of the cooked rice is improved. At the same time, the rice cooking time can be shortened as compared with the rice cooker 1 according to the first embodiment.

(Other embodiments, etc.)
Although the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

For example, the first pressure and the third pressure in the boiling maintenance step may be increased depending on the taste of the cooked rice and the cooking time.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the pressure in the pot is increased to the first pressure and then immediately reduced to the second pressure, but after the pressure in the pot reaches the first pressure, it is predetermined. The first pressure may be maintained for a period of time.

Further, in the rice cooker 1 described above, the control unit repeats the first pressure and the second pressure twice, and then boosts the pressure in the pot to the third pressure, but the first pressure. The repetition of the second pressure is not limited to two times, and may be three or more times, or may be repeated only once.

Further, in the rice cooker 1 described above, the control unit raises the pressure in the pot to the third pressure and then maintains the third pressure for a predetermined period, but the pressure in the pot is not limited to this. May be increased to a third pressure and then the pressure in the pan may be reduced to a fourth pressure without maintaining the third pressure.

Further, in the rice cooker 1 described above, the control unit reduces the pressure in the pot to the fourth pressure and then raises the pressure to the fifth pressure without adjusting to another pressure value. Not limited to this, the pressure in the pot may be reduced to a fourth pressure and then adjusted to another pressure value before the pressure is increased to the fifth pressure.

Further, the values such as pressure, temperature, and time shown in the above-described embodiment are examples, and may be changed as appropriate.

Further, the steam port provided in the pressure adjusting unit may be a valve that is mechanically opened or closed and discharges water vapor at a constant release amount when the pressure is adjusted, such as a spring. It may be a valve to which the elastic body of the above is attached, and the size of the opening is adjusted by changing the stress of the elastic body, whereby the amount of water vapor released is adjusted.

Further, the rice cooker according to the above-described embodiment may be provided with a pressure detection unit and have a configuration in which the detected pressure is feedback-controlled, or the rice cooker is not provided with the pressure detection unit and the pressure stored in the memory can be used as a pan. It may be a configuration given only within.

In addition, the display unit may display the rice cooking course, the capacity of rice, the process being executed, the rice cooking end time, and the like.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rice cooker main body is provided with two heating coils, a bottom heating coil and a side heating coil, but the rice cooker may have one heating coil or three or more heating coils. There may be. Further, the position where the heating coil is arranged may be any position on the bottom surface side or the side surface side of the pan.

Further, the rice cooker may be an induction heating type rice cooker that heats by applying a high frequency current to the heating coil as described above, a heater type rice cooker that heats with an electric heater, and other rice cookers. It may be a rice cooker of the type.

In addition, the numerical values, shapes, and materials used in the above-described embodiments are all exemplified for the purpose of specifically explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the exemplified numerical values, shapes, and materials.

As described above, the present embodiment also includes a form obtained by applying various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, and a form realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Included in the invention.

The rice cooker according to the present invention is useful in induction heating type and heater type rice cookers and the like.

1 Rice cooker 2 Rice cooker body 2a Housing 2b Handle 2c Outer lid mounting part 3 Outer lid 3a Operation part 3b Open / close button 4 Steam discharge part 4a Steam port 5 Pot 6 Inner lid 10 Pot accommodating part 11 Heating coil 11a Bottom heating coil ( Heating coil)
11b Side heating coil (heating coil)
12 Inverter circuit 13 Pressure adjustment unit 14 Steam unit 15 Display unit 16 Operation button 20 Control unit 20a Memory 21 Pot temperature detection unit 22 Pressure detection unit 23 Power supply voltage detection unit 24-hour measurement unit

Claims (13)

A pot that houses rice to be cooked and
The heating part that heats the pot and
A pressure adjusting unit having a pressure valve for discharging gas from the pot and adjusting the pressure in the pot by adjusting the open / closed state of the pressure valve.
A control unit for controlling the heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit is provided.
The control unit executes a rice cooking step including a boiling step of boiling the cooked rice contained in the pot and a boiling maintenance step of maintaining the boiling state of the cooked rice contained in the pot. death,
In the boiling maintenance step, the control unit controls the heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit to increase the pressure in the pot to a first pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, and the pressure in the pot becomes the pressure. After reaching the first pressure, the pressure in the pot was reduced to a second pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the first pressure, and the pressure in the pot reached the second pressure. after the pressure of high rather than the second pressure in the pot, and rice cooker boosting the third pressure have lower than said first pressure. The control unit controls the heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit so that the pressure in the pot is alternately adjusted to the first pressure and the second pressure a plurality of times. The listed rice cooker. Claim 1 or 2 that the control unit controls the heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit so as to maintain the third pressure for a predetermined period after boosting the pressure in the pot to the third pressure. The rice cooker described in. The control unit increases the pressure in the pot to the third pressure, and then reduces the pressure in the pot to a fourth pressure which is equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the second pressure. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which controls the heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit. Wherein, after the pressure in the pot was reduced to the fourth pressure lower than the pressure or the third pressure is high the first and the second pressure the pressure in the pot the The rice cooker according to claim 4, wherein the heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit are controlled so as to increase the pressure to the pressure of 5. The rice cooking step includes a steaming step of steaming the cooked rice after the boiling maintenance step.
In the steaming step, the control unit boosts the pressure in the pot to a sixth pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the first pressure or the third pressure, and then reduces the pressure to the atmospheric pressure. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which controls the pressure adjusting unit so as to cause the pressure adjustment. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the third pressure is larger than the first pressure. It is a control method of a rice cooker that cooks rice to be cooked in a pot.
A boiling step in which the cooked rice contained in the pot is heated and boiled by the heating unit.
Including a boiling maintenance step of maintaining the boiling state of the cooked rice contained in the pot, and the like.
The boiling maintenance step is
The heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit increase the pressure in the pot to a first pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, and then reduce the pressure to a second pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the first pressure. The first pressure adjustment step to make
After the first pressure adjusting step, by the heating section and the pressure regulator, the rather high than the second pressure the pressure in the pot, and third pressure have lower than said first pressure The pressure is increased to a fourth pressure, which is equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the second pressure.
How to control the rice cooker. The control method for a rice cooker according to claim 8 , wherein the first pressure adjusting step is repeated a plurality of times before the second pressure adjusting step. Claim 8 or 9 in which in the second pressure adjusting step, the third pressure is maintained by the heating unit and the pressure adjusting unit for a predetermined period after the pressure in the pot reaches the third pressure. The control method of the rice cooker described in. After the second pressure adjusting step, a third pressure adjusting step of increasing the pressure in the pot to a fifth pressure higher than the fourth pressure and lower than the first pressure or the third pressure. The method for controlling a rice cooker according to any one of claims 8 to 10. After the boiling maintenance step, the steaming step of steaming the cooked rice is included.
In the steaming step, the pressure adjusting unit raises the pressure in the pot to a sixth pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the first pressure or the third pressure, and then to the atmospheric pressure. The method for controlling a rice cooker according to any one of claims 8 to 11. The method for controlling a rice cooker according to any one of claims 8 to 12 , wherein the first pressure is larger than the third pressure.

Images