JPH04240417A - Full-automatic rice cooking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately feed water necessary for cooking rice. CONSTITUTION:Feed water volume is decided from a rice cooking condition and the feeding interval of water is calculated by the feeding speed from a nozzle 14. A water feed valve 14 is opened just for the feeding interval to feed water into the rice cooking inner bowl 33 at a certain feeding rate through the nozzle 41 from the water in a storage tank 10. When time water in the storage tank 10 is lowered to the lower water level H2, a water feed valve 12 is opened to supply water to the storage tank 10. And when the water reaches the high water level H1, the water feed valve 14 is closed to keep the water level between the low and high levels, H2, H1. When the feeding interval lapses, the water feed valve 14 is closed. In this time, the air existing in the water feed path 13 is extruded by the water flow and this air is raised in the nozzle 41 and discharged from a nozzle outlet 41a.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fully automatic rice cooker that integrates rice washing and rice cooking processes, or rice washing, rice cooking, and warming processes.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional fully automatic rice cooker is equipped with a rice washing section that washes rice, and a rice cooking section that supplies a predetermined amount of water to the washed rice and cooks the rice.

[0003] In the rice washing section, the rice is washed by a swirling water stream or a fountain stream.

[0004] Furthermore, as a method for supplying a predetermined amount of water necessary for rice cooking in the rice cooking section, there is a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1-18521.
No. 7 discloses a method in which the amount of rice and the amount of water are measured by weight using a weight sensor.

[0005] A home rice cooker must be able to cook 2 to 10 cups of rice. If we calculate the total weight when cooking 10 cups of rice, 10 cups of rice is approximately 1.5 kg.
The water required for this rice cooking is approximately 2 kg for 2000 ml, and the weight of the pot (with heater) is approximately 6.5 kg, so the total weight is approximately 10 kg.

By the way, in the case of 2 cups of rice, the required amount of water is 4
00g, and the allowable variation in water supply is ±3% (±12g
), the allowable variation of the weight sensor is ±0.12%
(for a maximum of 10 kg).

For example, a known weight sensor used in a microwave oven has a measuring weight of 0 to 1.5 kg and a measurement accuracy of 5 g (=0.33%) in display units.

[0008] Therefore, when measuring the weight of rice and water using a weight sensor, it is possible to measure up to 10 kg, and from 0 to 10 kg.
In order to achieve a measurement accuracy of ±0.12%, including linearity and temperature characteristics up to kg, the system becomes more complex and larger than the weight sensor described above, and is also more expensive.

(Prior Art) In order to solve the above problem, the applicant proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-325024 a water supply device that supplies water to a rice cooking section at a constant water supply rate, and a rice cooking device set by a setting means. A water supply control device that controls the water supply device based on conditions is provided, and the water supply device includes a water storage tank, a supply valve that opens and closes a supply waterway that supplies water to the water storage tank, and a water supply control device that supplies water from the water storage tank to the rice cooking section. It consists of a water supply valve that opens and closes the water supply channel, and the water storage tank is equipped with a high water level detector and a low water level detector for detecting two water levels, high and low. It was proposed that the supply valve and the water supply valve be controlled to open and close by a water supply control device so that the water level in the water storage tank is maintained between the water level and the water supply rate at a constant rate.

0010

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above prior art, if the direction of the water flow discharged from the nozzle formed at the tip of the water supply channel is directed downward, air tends to accumulate between the nozzle and the water supply valve. When water accumulates, it becomes difficult to drain, and the passage resistance in the waterway increases.As a result, even if a constant water level is created in the water storage tank, the flow rate of the water stream discharged from the nozzle becomes unstable, making it difficult to accurately adjust the water volume. Can not.

[0011] Further, water remains in the water supply device at a constant level even after the required amount of water has been supplied, and there is a risk of bacteria breeding, making it unsanitary to use the device for cooking rice at a later date.

[0012] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a fully automatic rice cooker that can accurately supply the amount of water required for cooking rice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary fully automatic rice cooker that does not use water left in a water supply device.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problem] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the means for solving the problem according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a rice washing section 1 that washes rice and water while stirring, and a rice washing section 1 that washes the washed rice with a predetermined amount of water. A rice cooking section 2 for cooking rice using a rice cooker, and a water supply device 4 for supplying water to the rice cooking section 2 at a constant water supply rate are provided, and the water supply device 4 includes a water storage tank 10 and a water storage tank 10 for replenishing water. A supply valve 12 that opens and closes the supply waterway 11; a water supply valve 14 that opens and closes the water supply waterway 13 that supplies water from the water storage tank 10 to the rice cooking section 2; a high water level detector 15 and a low water level detector 16;
Constant water level creation control that controls the opening and closing of the supply valve 12 and water supply valve 14 so that the water level in the water storage tank 10 is maintained between the low water level and the high water level and a constant water supply rate is achieved based on the outputs of both water level detectors 15 and 16. and a device 17, the water supply channel 1
A discharge nozzle 41 is formed at the tip of the nozzle 41.
In this case, the nozzle outlet 41a is oriented upward so that air does not accumulate in the water supply channel 13.

In claim 2, the nozzle 41 is disposed such that the nozzle outlet 41a is located below the water storage tank 10, and the constant water level creation control device 17 controls the internal water supply device 4 before supplying water to the rice cooking section 2. It is equipped with a drainage means 17c for draining the water.

[0016]

In the problem solving means according to claim 1, the water flow discharged from the nozzle 41 is directed upward, and even if air accumulates in the water channel, the air is pushed out by the flow of water.

According to claim 2, before water is supplied to the rice cooking section 2, the water supply valve 14 is opened to drain water accumulated in the water supply device 4. After draining water, the water supply valve 14 is closed and the supply valve 12 is opened to supply water to the water storage tank 10 until the water reaches the high water level H1. After water is supplied, the water supply valve 14 is opened to drain the water inside the water supply device 4 to keep the inside of the water supply device 4 clean.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a fully automatic rice cooker showing an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a control block diagram, Figure 3 is a detailed diagram of a water supply device, Figure 4 is a plan view of a stirring blade, and Figure 5 is an overall diagram. It is a process diagram up to rice cooking in an automatic rice cooker.

The fully automatic rice cooker of this embodiment includes a rice washing section 1 that washes rice and water while stirring, and a rice cooking section 2 that cooks the washed rice using a predetermined amount of water. A setting means 3 for setting, and a water supply device 4 for supplying water to the rice cooking section 2 at a constant water supply rate are provided.

The water supply device 4 includes a water storage tank 10, a supply valve 12 that opens and closes a supply waterway 11 that supplies water to the water storage tank 10, and a water supply waterway 13 that supplies water from the water storage tank 10 to the rice cooking section 2. A water supply valve 14 that opens and closes, a high water level detector 15 and a low water level detector 16 for detecting two high and low water levels in the water storage tank 10, both water level detectors 15,
a constant water level creation control device 17 that controls the opening and closing of the supply valve 12 and the water supply valve 14 so that the water level of the water storage tank 10 is maintained between the low water level and the high water level by the outputs A and B of the water supply valve 16, and a constant water supply rate is achieved; Consisting of

The constant water level creation control device 17 includes a water supply time calculation means 17a that calculates the water supply time until a set water amount is reached based on the water supply speed, and a water supply device drive that operates the water supply device 4 for the water supply time. It has a means 17b and a drainage means 17c for draining water in the water supply device 4 before water is supplied to the rice cooking section 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rice washing section 1 includes a rice washing machine 20 disposed above the rice cooking section 2 in the main body of the rice cooker, an outer rice washing pot 21 housed inside the rice washing machine 20, and a rice washing outer pot 21 disposed inside the rice washing machine 20. An inner pot for washing rice 22 integrally formed inside the pot 21, and the inner pot for washing rice 22
The stirring blade 23 is rotatably inserted into the inside of the stirring blade 23.

The outer peripheral wall of the rice washing inner pot 22 is provided with holes 2 having a size that allows water and dirt from washing the rice to pass through, but does not allow the rice to pass through.
A drain pipe 24 for draining water flowing out from the rice washing inner pot 22 is provided at the lower part of the rice washing outer pot 21, and a solenoid valve 25 is interposed in the drain pipe 24.

A pipe opening 26a is formed at the center of the bottom of the rice washing inner pot 22 and communicates with the rice feeding pipe 26 which passes through the rice washing outer pot 21 and the rice washer 20 and reaches the rice cooking section 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the stirring blade 23 has a long diameter blade 23a and a short diameter blade 2 having different blade diameters on a rotating shaft 27.
3b are attached alternately in pairs in a cross shape. The rotating shaft 27 is an extension of the shaft of a motor 28, and the motor 28 is supported above the washed rice inner pot 22 so as to be vertically movable by a lifting device (not shown) in the rice cooker main body.

A disc-shaped plug 29 tapered on both the upper and lower sides is fitted onto the lower part of the rotating shaft 27, and the motor 2
8, the stopper 29 descends and closes the pipe opening 26a of the rice feeding pipe 26, thereby shutting off the rice cooking section 2 and the rice washing section 1, and as the motor 28 rises, the plug 29 closes the pipe opening 26a of the rice feeding pipe 26. is opened to put the rice cooking section 2 and the rice washing section 1 into communication.

The rice cooking section 2 includes an outer rice cooking pot 31 housed in an outer tank 30 disposed at the lower part of the rice cooker main body, and an inner rice cooking pot internally supported on the outer rice cooking pot 31 via a support member 32. 33
and a heater 34 attached to the bottom of the outer rice cooking pot 31 in an annular shape.

A slightly recessed drainage hole 35 is formed in the center of the bottom of the rice cooking inner pot 33, and a mesh-like net 36 of about 2 mm is covered over the drainage hole 35 so that only water can be drained without draining rice. ing. A drain pipe 37 is provided at the bottom of the outer rice cooking pot 31, and a solenoid valve 38 is interposed in the drain pipe 37.

A lid 39 is placed over the top of the outer rice cooking pot 31, and the rice feeding pipe 26 passes through the lid 39 to reach the inner rice cooking pot 33.

[0030] The supply waterway 11 of the water supply device 4 is directly connected to a water pipe, and protrudes into the interior of the water storage tank 10 through a supply valve 12 formed of a solenoid valve. Further, the water supply channel 13 is connected from the bottom of the water storage tank 10 to a branch pipe 40 connected to the rice supply pipe 26 via a water supply valve 14 consisting of an electromagnetic valve, and at the outlet of the water supply channel 13, Replenishment waterway 11 for discharging water at a constant flow rate
A nozzle 41 having a smaller diameter than that of the water supply channel 13 is formed, and the speed of water supply to the rice cooking section 2 is much slower than the speed of water supply to the water storage tank 10. The nozzle 41 is
The nozzle outlet 41 is designed to prevent air from accumulating in the water supply channel 13.
a is directed upward, and the nozzle outlet 41a is connected to the water storage tank 10.
It is arranged so that it is lower than the

The high water level detector 15 and the low water level detector 16 are composed of a pair of photodiodes 15a and 16a and phototransistors 15b and 16b facing each other, and the height from the tip of the nozzle 41 is H1. ,H
2 (H1>H2), and the photodiodes 15a, 16a and the phototransistor 15b
, 16b, an L signal is output from the photodiodes 15b, 16b to the constant water level creation control device 17.

The setting means 3, as shown in FIG. 2, is used to change and confirm settings such as the cooking time, rice cooking menu, amount of rice cooked, and amount of water using set keys.

The water supply time calculation means 17a of the constant water level creation control device 17 determines the water supply amount from the rice cooking conditions set by the setting means 3, and calculates the water supply time based on the constant water supply rate from the water supply device 4. It has the function of

That is, the speed at which the water level in the water storage tank 10 changes from the high water level H1 to the low water level H2 is from H2 to H1.
The average water level during the water supply time is considered to be (H1+H2)/2, since the speed of change is more than 10 times slower than the rate of change.

Therefore, the velocity of water flowing from the nozzle 41 V
teeth,

[0036]

[Math 1]

[0037]

c: Flow coefficient g: Weight acceleration h: Pressure loss head at the nozzle Here, the nozzle 41 has an inner diameter of 1.5 mm and a thickness of 32 mm.
Using a glass tube, H1 = 195 mm, H2 = 185
According to the experiment, V=1.15m/sec
It became. In this case, the amount of water flowing from the nozzle 41 is 2.0
It becomes 33 ml/sec.

For example, when cooking 10 cups of white rice,
Since the average amount of water required is 2000 ml, water supply is completed in 16.4 minutes.

The water supply device driving means 17b has a function of opening the water supply valve 14 of the water supply device 4 for the time calculated by the water supply time calculation means 17a to supply water.

The drain means 17c opens the water supply valve 14 to drain the water in the water supply device 4, and then temporarily closes the water supply valve 1.
4 is closed, the supply valve 12 is opened to supply water to the high water level H1 of the water storage tank 10, and the water supply valve 14 is opened to drain water, which is carried out simultaneously with the rice washing process.

[0042] In Figures 1 and 2, 42 is the rice input port, 43
is a water supply pipe for washing rice, 44 is a solenoid valve, 45 is a water nozzle, 4
6 is an overflow pipe, and 47 is a start switch.

[0043] In the above configuration, the user inputs rice measured using a scale or the like into the rice washing inner pot 22 from the input port 42, and
The setting means 3 is used to change or confirm the rice cooking completion time, rice cooking menu, amount of rice cooked, amount of water, etc., and the start switch 47 is pressed. Then, the constant water level creation control device 17
Calculates and memorizes the time to start washing rice and the water supply time for opening the water supply valve 14 of the water supply device 4 to supply the required amount of water for rice cooking using the water supply time calculation means 6,
When the time comes, automatic rice washing begins (preparation process).

First, the stirring blade 23 is rotated to polish the rice without water. Next, the solenoid valve 44 is opened and water is supplied from the water supply pipe 43 for washing rice. At this time, a large amount of water is supplied without turning the stirring blade 23 to remove rice waste, and the solenoid valve 25 is immediately opened to drain water from the drain pipe 24. Next, the motor 28 is driven to rotate the stirring blade 23, and the water supply pipe 4
The rice is washed by the water continuously supplied from 3 and the action of the stirring blade 23. At that time, excess water and small garbage are drained and disposed of through the hole 22a of the rice washing inner pot 22. After washing the rice for several minutes, the motor 28 is stopped and the stirring blade 23 is stopped, but water is continuously supplied. This way, the water used for cooking the rice will be clean, and any remaining dirt and bran will be discarded (rice washing process).

Thereafter, the stopper 29 is raised together with the motor 28, and the rice is poured into the rice feeding pipe 2 while water is flowing from the water nozzle 45.
6 to the inner pot 33 for cooking rice. Next, the solenoid valve 38 is opened, and after the rice cooking inner pot 33 is drained, the solenoid valve 38 is closed (rice transfer step).

[0046] Simultaneously with the start of the rice washing process, the water supply valve 14 is opened and the water accumulated in the water supply device 4 is drained. After draining water, the water supply valve 14 is closed and the supply valve 12 is opened to supply water to the water storage tank 10 until the water reaches the high water level H1. After water supply,
The water supply valve 14 is opened and the water in the water supply device 4 is drained to keep the interior of the water supply device 4 clean.

[0047] Then, the water supply valve 14 is closed, and the process of supplying a predetermined amount of water necessary for cooking rice begins. The water supply device driving means 17b first opens the supply valve 12 to supply water to the water storage tank 10, and the water level in the water storage tank 10 reaches the high water level H1, and the output A of the phototransistor 15b of the high water level detector 15 becomes L. When the A output from the high water level detector 15 becomes L, the supply valve 12 is closed. Then, during the water supply time calculated by the water supply time calculation means 17a, the water supply valve 14 is opened and a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the rice cooking inner pot 33 via the nozzle 41 (water amount adjustment step).

At this time, if the direction of the water flow discharged from the nozzle 41 is directed downward, the nozzle 41 and the water supply will be damaged due to breathing action (water expands due to temperature rise and comes out of the tube, and conversely air enters due to temperature drop). Air tends to accumulate between the valves 14, and once air accumulates, the passage resistance in the water channel increases, and as a result, the flow rate of the water stream discharged from the nozzle 41 becomes unstable even if a constant flow is created by the water supply device 4. (i.e. (1)
(increasing h in the equation) directs the water flow discharged from the nozzle 41 upward, and even if air accumulates in the water channel, the air will be pushed out by the flow of water.

During this water supply, when the water level in the water storage tank 10 falls below the low water level H2 and the output B of the phototransistor 16b of the low water level detector 16 becomes H, the supply valve 12 is opened and water flows into the water storage tank 10. water supply, high water level detector 1
Supply water until the output A of No. 5 becomes L.

In this way, during the water supply time, the water level in the water storage tank 10 is maintained between the low water level H2 and the high water level H1, so the amount of water discharged from the nozzle 41 is kept constant.

When the water supply time is completed, the water supply valve 14 is closed, and after a while (approximately 30 minutes from the start of the rice washing process) to allow the rice to absorb water, the heater 34 is energized.
Cooking begins.

Therefore, from the water storage tank 10 to the nozzle 4
Since water is supplied through 1, the water supply rate is constant,
Moreover, since the water supply is carried out slowly over 0.2 minutes or more per cup, the accuracy of the water supply amount can be made highly accurate.

Moreover, even if air gets mixed into the water channel, the air can be easily discharged, so that the required amount of water can be supplied accurately.

Furthermore, since the water supply device 4 is directly connected to the city water via the supply valve 12, there is no need to store a large amount of water, so the cross-sectional area of the water storage tank 10 can be reduced, which is different from conventional water supply devices. Smaller than water supply equipment using weight sensors,
Moreover, it can be done cheaply.

Furthermore, by draining the remaining water that was previously stored in the water supply device 4 during the rice washing process or before the rice washing process, the water used for cooking rice is always clean, thereby eliminating hygienic problems. This means that you can cook delicious rice without the smell of water transferring to the rice.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

[0057]

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to claim 1 of the present invention, the outlet of the nozzle is directed upward, so that even if air accumulates in the waterway, the air can be removed by the flow of water. being pushed out. Therefore, even if air gets mixed into the water channel, the air can be easily discharged, so that the required amount of water required for cooking rice can be accurately supplied.

According to claim 2, before water is supplied to the rice cooking section, the water that was previously stored in the water supply device is drained, so that the water used for rice cooking is always clean. This eliminates hygiene problems and allows delicious rice to be cooked without the smell of water transferring to the rice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a fully automatic rice cooker showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is also a control block diagram.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the water supply device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a stirring blade.

FIG. 5 is a process diagram of rice cooking in a fully automatic rice cooker.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Rice washing section 2 Rice cooking section 4 Water supply device 10 Water storage tank 11 Replenishment waterway 12 Supply valve 13 Supply waterway 14 Water supply valve 15 High water level detector 16 Low water level detector 17 Constant water level creation control device 17a
Water supply time calculation means 17b Water supply device driving means 17c Drainage means 23 Stirring blade 41 Nozzle

Claims (2)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A rice washing section that washes rice and water while stirring;
a rice cooking section that cooks washed rice using a predetermined amount of water;
A water supply device that supplies water to the rice cooking section at a constant water supply rate is provided, and the water supply device includes a water storage tank, a supply valve that opens and closes a supply channel that supplies water to the water storage tank, and a water supply device that supplies water to the rice cooking section from the water storage tank. A water supply valve that opens and closes a water supply channel that supplies water to the water storage tank, a high water level detector and a low water level detector for detecting two water levels, high and low, in the water storage tank, and a low water level and a low water level detected by the outputs of both water level detectors. It consists of the supply valve and a constant water level creation control device that controls the opening and closing of the water supply valve to maintain the water level in the water storage tank between the high water level and a constant water supply rate, and a discharge nozzle is formed at the tip of the water supply channel. and the nozzle is
A fully automatic rice cooker characterized by a nozzle outlet facing upward to prevent air from accumulating in the water supply channel. 2. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle outlet is arranged below the water storage tank.
The constant water level creation control device described above is a fully automatic rice cooker characterized in that it has a drainage means for draining water in the water supply device before water is supplied to the rice cooking section.