JPH04208114A - Method and device for automatic rice boiling - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To boil fine milled rice with the optimum amount of water by measuring the amount of rice and its water content, rinsing the rice after measurement, and using water in an amount determined on the basis of the measurements. CONSTITUTION:The amount of unmilled rice and the degree of milling are read in from a memory, and the unmilled rice is fed to a hopper 14 of a rice milling machine 18, and milling is made so that the read degree of milling is attained. The milled rice is sampled and fed to a water content measuring machine 20, where the water content of the rice is measured. When milling is finished, the weight of fine milled rice fed to a hopper 22 is measured, and the optimum water amount is calculated on the basis of the obtained water content and weight of milled rice. The milled rice in this hopper 22 is supplied to a rice rinsing machine 28, and the rice therefrom is supplied to a rice boiling apparatus 44. After a solenoid valve 34 is opened, another 36 is closed, and the water amount outflowing from a pipeline 28A is measured by a flow meter 32 so that the calculated optimum amount is obtained, and this rate of flow is taken in.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic rice cooking method and an automatic rice cooking device, and particularly to an automatic rice cooking method and an automatic rice cooking device that can cook rice with the optimum amount of water depending on the rice.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic rice cooking devices are known that calculate the amount of water used for cooking rice based on the volume of polished rice, and supply the calculated amount of water to a rice cooker to cook the rice.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional automatic rice cooking device, as mentioned above,
Only the volume of white rice is considered. By the way, the moisture content of water differs depending on the place where rice is produced, humidity, etc. Therefore, it is difficult to cook rice with the optimum moisture content for all types of rice produced in different regions. Therefore, there is a problem that the original taste of rice cannot be brought out.

The present invention takes the above-mentioned facts into consideration and aims to provide an automatic rice cooking method and an automatic rice cooking device that can cook rice with the optimum amount of water depending on the rice.

[Means to solve the problem]

The automatic rice cooking method according to the invention of claim (1) measures the moisture content of polished rice and the amount of the polished rice, washes the polished rice with water after the measurement, and determines the method based on the measured moisture content and the amount of the polished rice. The feature is that the rice is cooked using a large amount of water.

The automatic rice cooking method according to the invention of claim (2) measures the moisture content of polished rice and the amount of the polished rice, washes the polished rice after the measurement with water, and extracts the measured moisture content, amount of polished rice, and white rice. The feature is that the rice is cooked using a predetermined amount of water based on the region where the rice is produced.

The automatic rice cooking device according to the invention of claim (3) includes a moisture content measuring device that measures the moisture content of polished rice, a weighing machine that measures the amount of polished rice, a rice washing machine that washes the polished rice, and a rice cooker. The rice cooker includes a water supply machine that supplies water to the rice cooker, and a control means that controls the water supply machine so that a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the rice cooker based on the moisture content of polished rice and the amount of polished rice. It is characterized by

The automatic rice cooking device according to the invention of claim (4) includes a moisture content measuring device that measures the moisture content of polished rice, a weighing machine that measures the amount of polished rice, a rice washing machine that washes the polished rice, and a rice cooker that cooks the polished rice. A rice cooker, a water supply machine that supplies water to the rice cooker, a production area designation device, etc., and an amount of water determined based on the moisture content of polished rice, the amount of polished rice, and the production area of the rice that is considered to be polished rice, is supplied to the rice cooker. and a control means for controlling the water supply machine so that the water is supplied to the water supply machine.

[Effect]

In the invention of claim (1), the moisture content and moisture content of polished rice are measured, and the rice is cooked with a predetermined amount of water based on the respective values.

In the present invention, since the amount of water used for cooking rice is determined by considering the moisture content of polished rice, rice can be cooked with an appropriate amount of water depending on the rice, regardless of humidity and the like.

In the invention of claim (2), the moisture content and amount of polished rice is measured, and the rice is cooked with a determined amount of water based on each value and the region where the rice is produced. In the present invention, in addition to the value of claim (1), the production area of rice is also taken into consideration, so that rice can be cooked with the optimum amount of water depending on the rice.

In the invention of claim (3), the moisture content of polished rice is measured by a moisture content measuring device. Additionally, the amount of polished rice is measured using a weighing machine. Furthermore, the control means determines the amount of water used for cooking rice based on the amount of water and the amount of polished rice, and controls the water supply machine so that the determined water is supplied to the rice cooker. Therefore, in the present invention, the amount of water used for cooking rice is determined by considering the moisture content of polished rice, so that rice can be cooked with an appropriate amount of water according to the amount of rice, regardless of humidity and the like.

In the invention of claim (4), the moisture content of polished rice is measured by a moisture content measuring device. Additionally, the amount of polished rice is measured using a weighing machine. Furthermore, the control means determines the amount of water to be used for cooking rice, taking into account the rice production area in addition to the amount of water and polished rice, and controls the water supply machine so that the determined water is supplied to the rice cooker. do. Therefore, according to the present invention, rice can be cooked using the optimum amount of water depending on the amount of rice.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic cooking device according to the present invention.

The automatic rice cooking device 10 according to this embodiment includes a brown rice storage device 11. At one end of the brown rice storage container 11, an inlet portion 11A is formed which serves as an inlet for brown rice. The other end of the brown rice reservoir 11 is constricted into a funnel shape, and a delivery valve 12 is provided at the tip. The delivery valve 12 is controlled by the control means 4
It is opened and closed by 8. The brown rice storage device 11 has an inflow section 11A.
is placed with the screen facing vertically upward.

Below the brown rice storage device 11, there is a feeding valve 1 for the brown rice storage device 11.
A hopper 14 is arranged to which brown rice flowing down through the hopper 2 is supplied. Below the hopper 14 is a load cell 1.
6 is provided. The load cell 16 converts the weight of brown rice into an electrical signal and outputs this electrical signal to the control means 48.

Further, the automatic rice cooking device 10 is equipped with a transporter 37.

The conveyor 37 transfers the weighed brown rice in the hopper 14 to the rice polishing machine 1.
Transfer to 8. The rice milling machine 18 is provided with an inflow part 18A at the upper end into which the weighed brown rice flows in, and an outflow part 18B into which the brown rice flows out after milling is provided at the lower end. A water content measuring device 20 is provided below this outflow portion 18B.

The outflow section 18B and the water content measuring device 20 are connected by a pipe (not shown), and a portion of the milled brown rice is supplied to the moisture content measuring device 20 from the outflow section 18B.

A load cell 24 that measures the weight of the polished rice directly supplied from the moisture content measuring machine 20 and the polished rice supplied from the moisture content measuring machine 20 is arranged below the moisture content measuring machine 20. The load cell 24 includes a hopper 22. The load cell 24 converts the weight of the polished rice into an electrical signal and supplies this electrical signal to the control means 48 .

The automatic rice cooking device 10 also includes a conveyor 38. The conveyor 38 conveys the weighed white rice in the hopper 22 to the rice washer 28. The rice washing machine 28 includes a motor 26, and a rotary shaft of the motor 26 is provided with a propeller 30 for stirring polished rice. A pipe line 28A for supplying water is provided at the upper end of the side surface of the rice washer 28. A solenoid valve 34 is provided in the conduit 28A. The solenoid valve 34 is opened and closed by a control means 48. Water stored in a tank (not shown) is supplied into the rice washing chamber 31 of the rice washing machine 28 when the solenoid valve 34 is opened. The pipe line 28Δ has a flow rate M]3
2 is provided to control the amount of water supplied to the rice washing chamber 31. A pipe line 28B is provided at the lower end of the side surface of the rice washer 28 for discharging water after washing the rice. Further, the rice washer 28 is equipped with a shutter 40 operated by a motor 51 at the lower end, and when the shutter 40 is opened, the water in the rice washing chamber 31 and the washed rice are discharged.

A solenoid valve 36 is provided in the conduit 28B.

The solenoid valve 36 is opened and closed by a control means 48.

Below the rice washer 28 is a rice cooker 44 equipped with an opening/closing lid 45.
The opening/closing lid 45 is connected to the main body by a rotating member 46 that rotates around an axis.The rotating member 46 is controlled in rotation by a control means 48. The rice cooking device 10 includes an operation panel 50.
By operating 0, you can set the polishing level, rice weight, rice production area, etc.

In addition to the water content and weight of the polished rice, the control circuit 48 stores a table indicating the amount of supply depending on the rice production area, as necessary. Below, a table of water supply amounts determined according to rice production area data and the moisture content of polished rice will be explained using FIG. 4 as an example.

Figure 4 shows the relationship between the moisture content of polished rice and the amount of water supplied (optimum water). The vertical axis of the graph represents the amount of water supplied, and the horizontal axis represents the water content. This graph is based on the amount of white rice being 600g.
The relationship between water content and water supply amount is shown.

In the graph, straight line A indicates the relationship between the water content of rice, which is a reference amount, so-called hard mass, and the amount of water supplied. Further, straight line B shows the relationship between the water content and water supply amount (optimal water amount) of rice, which is called soft water rice produced in the Tohoku, Hokuriku, and San'in regions.

Further, straight line C shows the relationship between the water content and the amount of water supplied in rice produced in Hokkaido, Bonyo, Shikoku, etc., which is called super hard rice.

This graph is created by cooking rice from each production area and determining the amount of water to be supplied according to the moisture content of various rice so that the rice can be cooked well to bring out the original flavor of the rice.

The case where the amount of water to be supplied is determined based on the moisture content of polished rice and the amount of polished rice will be explained first by taking hard rice as an example. Based on the case where the moisture content of hard rice is 13.5% (standard moisture content),
When the water content is at this standard amount, the amount of water supplied is 798 g (standard amount of water supplied) as shown in the graph. Then, the water content of the hard rice is increased or decreased by 16 g from the standard water content so that the water content increases or decreases by 1.0% from the standard water content.

In the case of soft rice, as shown in the graph, the standard water content is the same as that of hard rice, and the standard water supply amount is 786 g. Then, the water content of the soft rice is increased or decreased by 12 g with respect to the standard water content so that the water content of the soft rice increases or decreases by 1°0% from the standard water content.

In addition, in the case of carbide floors, as shown in the graph, the standard water content is the same as that of hard rice and soft rice, and the standard water supply amount is 810.
Make it g. Then, the moisture content of the carbide floor is 1
．． Increase or decrease 12g from the standard water amount by [)%.

The control routine of the present invention will be explained below using the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Brown rice is supplied to the brown rice storage device 11 with the feeding valve 12 closed. When cooking rice, the amount of brown rice and the degree of polishing are input by operating the keyboard of the operation panel 50. The amount of brown rice and the degree of polishing manually input are stored in the memory of the control means 48.

At step 100, the brown rice amount and polishing level are retrieved from memory. Next, in step 102, the feed valve 12 is opened, thereby supplying brown rice to the hopper 14. Step 104 determines whether a predetermined amount of brown rice has been supplied, i.e.
Based on the output of the load cell 16, it is determined whether the desired amount of brown rice to be cooked has been supplied to the hopper 14. If it is determined that the predetermined amount of brown rice has not been supplied, the brown rice is continuously supplied to the hopper 14, and if it is determined that the predetermined amount has been supplied, the feed valve 12 is closed in step 106, and the brown rice is continuously supplied to the hopper 14.
The supply of brown rice has been stopped.

Next, in step 106, the conveyor 37 is operated, and the brown rice in the hopper 14 is supplied to the rice polisher 18. Step 1
At step 10, the rice polishing degree adjusting section of the rice polishing machine 18 is adjusted and the rice polishing machine 18 is driven.

The brown rice thus supplied is polished to the level of polishing read in step 100.

In step 112, the polished rice polished by the rice milling machine 18 is sampled and the polished rice is supplied to the moisture content measuring device 20, and the moisture content of this polished rice is measured.

Next, in step 114, it is determined whether or not the rice polishing has been completed, and whether all of the brown rice taken in in step 100 has been polished to a predetermined degree of polishing. If it is determined that the rice polishing has not been completed, the process returns to step 112 and sampling is not repeated. If it is determined that the rice polishing has been completed, the weight of the polished rice supplied to the hopper 22 is measured in step 116.

In step 118, the optimum amount of water, that is, the amount of water to be supplied suitable for rice cooking, is calculated from the table of FIG.

Next, step 120 is executed, and the rice is washed and cooked using the optimum amount of water. Step 120 according to Figure 3 below.
Explain.

The shutter 40 is closed in step 122, the conveyor 38 is operated in step 124, and the polished rice in the hopper 22 is supplied to the rice washer 28.

Next, in step 126, the solenoid valve 3G is closed and the solenoid valve 34 is opened, and water is supplied into the rice washer 28 in this state. Thereafter, in step 128, the motor 26 is activated to rotate the stirring propeller 30. As a result, the rice in the water is stirred and washed. After stirring for a specified time,
In step 129, the solenoid valve 3G is opened and the water after washing the rice is discharged through the pipe 28B.

In step 130, it is determined whether the water after washing the rice has been drained three times, that is, whether the rice has been washed three times. If it is determined that the rice has not been discharged three times, steps 126 to 130 are repeated, and if it is determined that the rice has been discharged three times, the lid 45 of the rice cooker 44 is opened in step 132, and the rice is discharged after washing. of white rice is supplied into the rice cooker 44.

Then, after the solenoid valve 34 is closed in step 134,
In step 136, the solenoid valve 36 is opened and water is supplied into the rice cooker 44 to the optimum amount calculated in step 118. In this case, the flow rate meter 32 measures the amount of water flowing out of the conduit 28Δ, and the flow rate is captured in step 138.

In step 140, the captured flow rate is determined in step 118.
It is determined whether the amount of water is the optimum water amount calculated in . If it is determined that the flow rate is not optimal, step 138.140
Repeat this process, and when it is determined that the optimum flow rate is reached, proceed to step 1.
At 42, the solenoid valve 34 is closed. As a result, rice cooker 4
The water supply to 4 is stopped.

Next, in step 144, the lid 45 is closed, and in step 146, it is determined whether a predetermined immersion time has elapsed.

If it is determined that the predetermined soaking time has not elapsed, step 146 is repeated, and if it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, the rice cooker 44 is turned on in step 148 and the rice is cooked. Begins. If it is determined in step 150 that the predetermined time has elapsed, step 1
At step 52, the rice cooker 44 is turned off to end the rice cooking.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the amount of water to be supplied is calculated taking into consideration the moisture content of polished rice, it is possible to cook rice well depending on the type of rice.

In the above example, the rice production area is not taken into account in step 118, but if you operate the operation panel 50 and enter data indicating the production area, a table that also takes into account the rice production area as explained in FIG. 4 will be selected. By calculating the amount of water supplied from this,
It is possible to calculate the optimal amount of water supply, and to cook rice optimally according to the rice production area.

FIG. 5 shows an automatic rice cooking device according to a second embodiment. Note that the same members as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that brown rice is directly supplied to the rice milling machine 18 without measuring the weight of the brown rice. Therefore, in the embodiment, the brown rice storage container 11 is not necessary.

The control routine of the present invention will be explained below using the flowchart of FIG.

At step 160, the milling level and white rice weight are captured.

Next, in step 162, the rice is polished to the predetermined polishing degree. In step 164, polished rice polished to a predetermined degree of polishing is sampled, and the water content of the polished rice is measured. Further, in step 166, the weight of the polished rice is measured.

In step 168, it is determined whether the amount of polished rice is a predetermined amount, and if it is determined that it is not the predetermined amount, step 166
．． Do not repeat 168. If it is determined that the predetermined amount has been reached, that is, if it is determined that the weight of polished rice taken in in step 160 has been reached, the rice milling machine 18 is stopped in step 170. In step 172, the optimum amount of water is calculated in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Then, apply step 1 to this optimal amount of water.
Washing and cooking of rice is performed by step 20. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, rice can be cooked with the optimum moisture content depending on the rice.

FIG. 7 shows an automatic rice cooking device according to a third embodiment. 7. In this embodiment, a polished rice storage device 56 is provided in which the polished rice is stored by the rice milling machine 18, and a moisture content measuring device 20 is provided to which a portion of the polished rice discharged from the polished rice storage device 56 is supplied. This embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that it is provided below the polished rice storage container 56.

The control routine of the present invention will be explained below using the flowchart of FIG.

In step 180, the milling degree and the weight of white rice are captured;
In step 182, the rice is polished to the desired degree of polishing.

In step 184, the conveyor 52 is activated, and the polished rice storage machine 5
6. White rice is supplied. Next, the feed valve 58 is opened in step 186, and the polished rice is sampled in step 188 to measure the moisture content of the polished rice. If it is determined in step 190 that a predetermined amount of polished rice has been supplied to Hui μ14,
At step 192, the feed valve 58 is closed to stop the supply of polished rice to the hopper 14. If it is determined that the predetermined amount of polished rice has not been supplied, step 190 is repeated.

Next, in step 194, the optimum amount of water is calculated in the same manner as in the first to third embodiments, and in step 120, the rice is washed and cooked. In the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, rice can be cooked with the optimum amount of water depending on the rice.

FIG. 9 shows an automatic rice cooking device according to a fourth embodiment. This embodiment is a device for cooking white rice that has been polished to a predetermined polishing level, and the first point is that it is not equipped with a rice polishing machine 18.
This is different from the third embodiment.

The control routine of the fourth embodiment will be explained below using the flowchart of FIG.

In step 200, the weight of white rice is captured, and in step 202
The delivery valve 58 is opened. As a result, polished rice is supplied to the hopper 14 and the water content measuring device 20. Step 20
In step 4, the moisture content of white rice is measured. Then step 206
It is determined whether the amount of polished rice supplied to the hopper 14 is a predetermined amount. If it is determined that the amount is the predetermined amount, step 21
If the delivery valve 58 is closed at 0 and it is determined that the predetermined amount is not reached, step 206 is repeated.

In step 210, the optimum amount of water is calculated in the same manner as in the first to third embodiments.

Then, as in the first to third embodiments, the step 12
0 is executed, and the rice is washed and cooked with the optimum amount of water. In the fourth embodiment as well, rice can be cooked with the optimum moisture content depending on the rice.

〔Effect of the invention〕

With the above structure, according to the inventions of claims (1) to (4), rice can be cooked with the optimum amount of water depending on the rice even if the moisture content of the rice is different.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic rice cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts explaining the operation of the automatic rice cooking device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a water content of polished rice. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic rice cooking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 explains the operation of the automatic rice cooking device of FIG. 2. Flowchart, FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic rice cooking device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the automatic rice cooking device of FIG. 7, and FIG. A schematic configuration diagram of the automatic rice cooking device according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the automatic rice cooking device of FIG. 9. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Automatic rice cooker, 18... Rice polisher, 20... Moisture content measuring device, 28... Rice washer, 44... Rice cooker, 48... Control means. Go to Figure 3 Layers

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An automatic rice cooking method that measures the moisture content of polished rice and the amount of the polished rice, washes the polished rice after the measurement, and cooks the rice with a predetermined amount of water based on the measured moisture content and the amount of polished rice. (2) Measure the moisture content of the white rice and the amount of the white rice, wash the white rice after the measurement, and remove the amount determined based on the measured moisture content, the amount of white rice, and the production area of the rice that is considered white rice. An automatic rice cooking method that uses water to cook rice. (3) A moisture meter that measures the moisture content of polished rice, a weighing machine that measures the amount of polished rice, a rice washing machine that washes the polished rice, a rice cooker, and a water supply machine that supplies water to the rice cooker; An automatic rice cooking device comprising: a control means for controlling the water supply machine so that a water content of polished rice and an amount of water determined based on the amount of polished rice are supplied to the rice cooker. (4) A moisture meter that measures the moisture content of white rice, a weighing machine that measures the amount of white rice, a rice washing machine that washes white rice, a rice cooker that cooks white rice, and supplying water to the rice cooker. A water supply machine, a production area specifying device, and controlling the water supply machine so that a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the rice cooker based on the moisture content of polished rice, the amount of polished rice, and the production area of the rice that is determined to be polished rice. An automatic rice cooking device comprising: a control means for controlling the rice;