JPH05115359A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily achieve a required cooking by providing a plurality of levels according to user's liking and kinds of rice on a control table and conducting currents in accordance with the desired level in a cooking heater. CONSTITUTION:A control switch 2, an indicator 3, a heater 4, a thermal sensor 5, a back up circuit 6, and a learning key 7 to instruct change of cooking are connected to a controller 1 composed of microcomputers. When a soft-mode or hard-mode is preset by a control switch 2, previously stored data are read out from a table 14 and inputted into a process control means 11 through an area 13 for controlling. The process control means 11 sets a timer 12 in accordance with the input from a memory 13 and starts a heater 4 and reads the thermal sensor 5. The back up circuit 6 is provided for a black out. The learning key 7 is used on changing modes. On the indicator 3, present time, expected cooking time, and a cooking mode are shown. In this way, user's favorite cooked rice can be obtained in accordance with the kind of rice.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rice cooker which heats a rice cooking pot containing white rice and the like together with water by a rice heating heater to perform a rice cooking operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional rice cooker, a program for each rice cooking operation is set, and an operation key for selecting the rice cooking operation is provided corresponding to the program. For example, it is known that a key for selecting white rice cooked rice, brown rice cooked rice, or porridge cooked rice is provided, and further, a key for selecting soft rice or firmness is provided after selection of each rice cooking operation. Therefore, the user of the rice cooker inputs a desired key from those operation keys when the rice cooker performs the rice cooking operation.

In addition, for example, there is also a rice cooker in which several different levels of different cooked states are prepared for cooked rice.
When the rice cooker performs the rice cooking operation, the user of the rice cooker performs a key input to select a desired level of the cooked state from among these several types of levels.

[0004]

Recently, many varieties of white rice are generally distributed. There is a problem in that the cooked state may be slightly different depending on those varieties, and there is a problem that it is not possible to deal with the soft key or the hard key of the conventional rice cooker. Also, in the conventional rice cookers that have several levels with different cooked states, which level is the optimum level is selected by the user, taking into consideration the relationship between the level and the cooked state. Must. This has a problem that it is difficult for users to understand and is troublesome.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the cooked state can be easily adjusted according to the taste of the user, and therefore, the rice can be cooked according to delicate conditions such as the type of white rice, and the operability can be improved. The purpose is to provide a rice cooker.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rice cooker containing white rice and the like together with water, and a rice cooker for heating the rice cooker by energizing the rice cooker to control the heating amount of the rice cooker. And the cooking-up setting means for setting the cooking-up temperature in the rice-cooking operation, the energization control means for controlling energization of the rice-cooking heater based on the heating amount and the cooking-up temperature set in the cooking-up setting means, and the current cooking rice. From the cooked state in operation to the next cooked state, the cooked-up change instruction input means for inputting a firm or soft-boiled instruction, and when the cooked-up change instruction input means instructs the firm or soft-boiled, A setting change is performed to increase or decrease the heating amount of the rice-cooking heater set in the rice-cooking setting means and to increase or decrease the cooking temperature in the rice-cooking operation. Cook is provided with a an uplink setting changing means.

[0007]

In the present invention having such a configuration, the heating amount of the rice cooking heater and the cooking temperature in the rice cooking operation are set in the cooking-up setting means. The energization control unit controls the energization of the rice cooking heater based on the heating amount and the cooking temperature set in the cooking setting unit. The rice cooking operation is performed by heating with the rice cooking heater.

[0008] Based on the cooked-up state in the rice-cooking operation performed by the cooked-up change instruction input means, an instruction to firm or soften the next cooked-up state is input. Then, the cooked rice setting change means changes the setting of increasing or decreasing the heating amount of the rice cooker heater set in the cooked rice setting means and increasing or decreasing the cooked rice temperature in the rice cooking operation.

Therefore, in the next rice cooking operation, the energization control means controls the rice cooking heater based on the increased or decreased heating amount of the rice cooking heater set in the cooking setting means and the increased or decreased cooking temperature in the rice cooking operation. Energization control is performed, and the rice cooking operation is performed by heating with this rice cooking heater. The state of cooking up by this rice operation is
It will be firmer or softer than the previous cooked state.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this embodiment applies the present invention to a rice cooker having a "white rice fluffy" mode and a "white rice crispy" mode. In FIG. Is. An operation switch 2, a display 3, a heater 4 as a rice cooking heater, a temperature sensor 5, a backup circuit 6, and a learning key 7 as a cooking change instruction input means are connected to the control unit 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation switch 2 is provided on a part of the liquid crystal display panel 8 and is "white rice fluffy".
White rice fluffy key 2a and white rice squeaky key 2b, which can be selected from either mode or white rice "shaky" mode
And a timer key 2c and timer setting keys 2d and 2e for setting the cooked temperature, a power off key 2f, a rice cooking key 2g for performing a rice cooking operation, and a clock key 2h for adjusting the current time. It is configured.

The display device 3 is provided on the liquid crystal display panel 8 and is composed of a time display device 3a for displaying the current time and the cooking time and a cooking completion determination lamp 3b which blinks when the cooking condition is reached. ..

The pot bottom temperature of the rice cooker heated by the heater 4 is detected by the temperature sensor 5. The backup circuit 6 is provided for the control unit 1 in case of power failure.
It supplies electric power to.

As shown in FIG. 2, the learning key 7 is depressed when the cooked rice is too soft, and the "too soft" key 7a is depressed when the cooked rice is properly cooked. The "good" key 7b and the "too hard" key 7c that is pressed when the cooked rice is too hard.

In the control unit 1, the stroke control means 11 as an energization control means performs setting and processing based on the data input from the operation switch 2, and the pot bottom of the rice cooker output from the temperature sensor 5. Based on the temperature data and the time data output from the timer 12, the heater 4 is energized to control the rice heating based on the data of the heating amount of the heater and the cooking temperature B stored in the memory 13, and further the display device. Control 3

The memory 13 is provided with a plump control area 13a and a crisp control area 13b which serve as a cooking up setting means. When the white rice fluffy mode or the white rice chubby mode is selected by the white rice fluffy key 2a or the white rice chubby key 2b of the operation switch 2, the stroke control means 11 causes the stroke control means 11 to chubby control area 13a or the crispy control area 13 of the memory 13.
Data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B are read from b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the table memory 14 has a fluffy control table 14 in which data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B are set corresponding to a plurality of levels.
a and a crisp control table 14b are provided.

The control program changing means 15 as the cooked-up setting changing means is responsive to the soft key 7a or the hard key 7b of the learning key 7 being pressed, and is fluffy according to the mode selected at that time. 1 from the control table 14a or the crisp control table 14b
By reading the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B of one step higher level or one step lower level, the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B stored in the fluffy control area 13a or the squeaking control area 13b are read,
Change to the read data of heater heating amount and cooking temperature B of one level higher or one level lower. FIG. 4 shows a flow showing the main part control.

The rice cooking operation is started, and the stroke control means 1
1 controls rice cooking. This rice cooking control is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), first, in the hot water cooking process, the heater 4 is intermittently energized according to the pot bottom temperature data output from the temperature sensor 5, to cook hot rice. After the hot water is cooked for a predetermined time, the heating process is started, and the heater 4 is continuously energized to heat the rice cooking pot with the maximum heating amount of the heater 4.
Since this heating causes the water stored together with the white rice stored in the rice cooking pot to boil, the pot bottom temperature data output from the temperature sensor 5 eventually becomes stable at about 100 ° C. Then, in the cooking process, the heater 4 is continuously energized with the current amount limited, and the rice cooker is further heated by the heater heating amount stored in the plump control area 13a or the crisp control area 13b. By this heating, the water in the rice cooker gradually evaporates, and when the water disappears, the pot bottom temperature data output from the temperature sensor 5 starts to rise again. When this rising pot bottom temperature data reaches the cooking temperature B set in the plump control area 13a or the crisp control area 13b, the purging process is started. In the purging process, the heater 4 is intermittently energized for a comparatively short time based on the pot bottom temperature data output from the temperature sensor 5 to perform the purging. When the pan bottom temperature data output from the temperature sensor 5 that drops due to the unevenness drops to the heat retention temperature, the rice cooking control ends and rice cooking is completed. The heat retention process will be started here.

Upon completion of rice cooking, as step 1, the cooked rice determination lamp 3b is flashed to determine whether or not any of the learning keys 7 has been key-input (ON). If none of the learning keys 7 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the rice cooking key 2g has been pressed (ON). If the rice cooking key 2g has not been pressed, the process returns to the above-mentioned step 1. When the rice cooking key 2g is pressed, the cooking completion determination lamp 3b is released from blinking and turned off (OFF), and the heater heating amount and the cooking amount currently stored in the fluffy control area 13a or the crisp control area 13b of the memory 13 are cooked. The data of the temperature B is held as it is, and the process returns to the first rice cooking start of the main part control.

When any of the learning keys 7 is keyed (ON), the cooking completion determination lamp 3b is released from blinking and turned off (OFF). Next, the learning key 7 keyed in is judged whether it is the too soft key 7a or the too hard key 7c, and if it is the too soft key 7a, the fluffy control area 1 corresponding to the mode in which the rice cooking control is performed is performed.
3a or the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B which are one step higher than the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B stored in the squeaky control area 13b are made by the control program changing means 15 by the fluffy control table 14a. Alternatively, the data is read from the crisp control table 14b, and the read data is stored instead of the data stored in the plump control area 13a or the crisp control area 13b.

If the learning key 7 that has been key-in is the too hard key 7c, the plump control area 13a or the crisp control area 1 corresponding to the mode in which the rice cooking control is performed.
Heater heating amount and cooking temperature B stored in 3b
The data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B which is one step lower than the data of 1) is read from the fluffy control table 14a or the fluffy control table 14b by the control program changing means 15, and the read data is read to the fluffy control area 13a or the fluffy control. Control area 1
The data is stored in place of the data stored in 3b.

Further, if the learned key 7 input by the key is neither the soft key 7a nor the hard key 7c, it is judged to be a good key 7b, and the fluffy control area 13a is determined.
Alternatively, the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B stored in the crisp control area 13b are held as they are.

When any of the learning keys 7 is pressed, a standby state is entered until the next rice cooking key 2g is pressed. When the rice cooking key 2g is pressed, the process returns to the start of the first rice cooking of the main part control.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, first, the white rice fluffy key 2a or the white rice squeaky key 2b is pressed to select the white rice fluffy mode or the white rice squeaky mode.

Here, it is assumed that the white rice fluffy key 2a is pressed to select the white rice fluffy mode. At this time, in the fluffy control area 13a, the heater heating amount 10 of the level "0" in the fluffy control table 14a is set.
Data of 0% and cooking temperature B112 ° C are stored. Then, the process control means 11 controls the energization of the heater 4 based on the data of the level "0" heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B stored in the plump control area 13a to control rice cooking.

When the rice cooking control (operation) by the process control means 11 is completed, the cooked rice determination lamp 3b blinks to prompt the user to judge the current cooked state of rice. Then, the user presses any one of the learning keys 7 or immediately presses the rice cooking key 2g for the next rice cooking.

When the rice cooking key 2g is pressed, the cooking completion determination lamp 3b is turned off by turning off the light, and the memory 1
Data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B stored in the fluffy control area 13a of No. 3 are held as they are. Then, based on the data of the level "0" heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B held in the plump control area 13a, the process control means performs the next rice cooking control. When any one of the learning keys 7 is keyed in, the blinking determination lamp 3b is turned off and then turned off, and it is determined which one of the learning keys 7 is keyed in.

If the soft key 7a of the learning key 7 is pressed, the control program changing means 15 changes the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B stored in the fluffy control area 13a from the fluffy control table 14a. Level “+1” one step higher than the data level
The data of the heater heating amount of 110% and the cooking temperature B114 ° C. are read. Further, the read data of the level "+1" is changed to the level "0" set in the fluffy control area 13a by the control program changing means.
Is stored instead of the data.

When the hard key 7c of the learning key 7 is pressed, the control program changing means 15 causes the fluffy control table 14a to change the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature stored in the fluffy control area 13a. Level "-1" which is one step lower than the level of B data
The data of the heater heating amount of 90% and the cooking temperature B112 ° C. are read. Further, the read data of the level "-1" is stored by the control program changing means in place of the data of the level "0" set in the plump control area 13a.

Further, if the good key 7b of the learning key 7 is pressed, the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B stored in the plump control area 13a are held as they are.

When any of the learning keys is pressed, when the storing process or holding of the data in the fluffy control area 13a is completed, the rice cooker key 2g is put into a standby state.

When the rice cooking key 2g is pressed here, the fluffy control area 13a is responsive to the key input of the learning key 7.
Based on the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B of the level "+1" or the level "-1" or the level "0" stored in the table, the process control means performs the next rice cooking control.

If the cooked state does not meet the user's preference by this rice cooking control, the cooked-up determination lamp 3b blinks again to depress the too soft key 7a or too hard key 7c of the learning key 7. ,
Heater heating amount 1 at level "+2", which is one level higher
Data of 10% and cooking temperature B116 ° C. or low level “-2” heater heating amount 90% and cooking temperature B
The data of 110 ° C. is read from the plump control table 14a. Furthermore, by the control program changing means,
The data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B of the read level "+2" or "-2" are the level "+1" or "-1" stored in the plump control area 13a.
The heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B are stored in place of the data.

When the rice cooking key 2g is pressed here, the process control means is operated based on the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature B of the level "+2" or "-2" stored in the plump control area 13a. The following rice cooking control is performed. It should be noted that the above description is similarly applied to the white rice hiccup mode.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control table in which the heating amount of the heater 4 and the cooking temperature in the rice cooking operation are set to a plurality of levels, and the learning keys of the soft key 7a and the hard key 7c are set. By pressing down the control table, the control program changing means for storing the data of the heater heating amount and the cooking temperature one level higher or one level lower from the control table is stored in the control area. Instead, the cooked state can be adjusted by merely sensuously determining the cooked state and pressing the too soft key 7a or too hard key 7b. That is, the cooked state can be adjusted according to preference.

Therefore, even for delicate conditions such as the type of white rice, the cooked state is sensuously judged and the soft or too hard key is pressed, so that the heater corresponding to those conditions can be obtained. It is possible to adjust the amount of heating and the cooking temperature of rice, and cook rice appropriately.

As described above, the user can adjust the cooked state according to his or her preference by simply pressing the soft key or the hard key, so that the operation is simple and easy, and the operability can be improved.

In this embodiment, the rice cooking control of white rice was described, but the present invention is not limited to the rice cooking control of white rice, and is similarly applied to the rice cooking control of brown rice, rice porridge and the like. Is.

[0040]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to easily adjust the cooked state according to the taste of the user, and accordingly, it is possible to provide a rice cooker that can cook rice according to delicate conditions such as the type of white rice and can improve operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display unit, operation switches, and a learning key of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing configurations of a plump control table and a crisp control table according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of main part control of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a graph of a pot bottom temperature output from a temperature sensor and a heater energization control during a rice cooking operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 ... Heater, 5 ... Temperature sensor, 7 ... Learning key, 11 ... Stroke control means, 13a ... Puffy control area, 13b ... Crunch control area, 14a ... Puffy control table,
14b ... a crisp control table, 15 ... control program changing means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rice cooker that stores white rice and the like together with water, and a rice cooker that controls the electric power of a rice cooker to heat the rice cooker to perform a rice cooking operation. In the rice cooker, the heating amount of the rice cooking heater and the rice cooking operation are performed. In the rice cooking operation of this time, the cooking up setting means for setting the rising temperature, the energization control means for controlling energization of the rice cooking heater based on the heating amount and the cooking temperature set in the cooking up setting means. From the cooked state to the next cooked state, a cooked-up change instruction input means for inputting a firm or soft-boiled instruction, and when the cooked-boiler change instruction input means instructs the cooked or soft-boiled cooked Setting for increasing or decreasing the heating amount of the rice cooking heater set in the up setting means and increasing or decreasing the cooking temperature in the rice cooking operation A rice cooker characterized by being provided with a means for changing cooking settings for making changes.