JPH07114745B2 - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rice cooker.

(Prior Art) As an automatic rice cooking device of this type, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-1061
The one described in Japanese Patent No. 22 is known.

This conventional automatic rice cooker includes a rice storage unit for storing rice, a weighing unit for discharging a predetermined amount of rice from the rice storage unit, a rice washing unit for washing the rice discharged from the weighing unit, and a rice for the rice washing unit. And a rice cooking unit for cooking the rice discharged from the rice discharging unit.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The above-mentioned conventional one automatically measures from weighing to washing rice and then cooking rice, but does not have a "crane raising" step.

That is, the "straining" process is a process of washing the rice and then draining it to keep the rice in a wet state for a predetermined time. You can cook.

In the above-mentioned conventional automatic rice cooker, it is considered that a strainer raising step can be obtained by washing the rice and then draining the water and holding it for a predetermined time. However, the strainer raising step needs to be kept under a predetermined humidity. However, it was not possible to cook delicious rice simply by holding it.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic rice cooker that produces a colander in an ideal state.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has taken the following means in order to achieve the above object. That is, a feature of the present invention is that a rice storage unit for storing rice, a measuring unit for discharging a predetermined amount of rice in the rice storage unit, a rice washing unit for washing the rice discharged from the measuring unit, and the washed rice. In a rice cooker comprising a rice discharging unit for discharging rice from a rice discharging unit and a rice cooking unit for cooking rice discharged from the rice discharging unit, when a straining step is performed in the rice washing unit, a strainer is raised. The point is that a water supply device that sprinkles water on the rice in every predetermined time is provided.

(Operation) According to the present invention, the rice stored in the rice storage unit is discharged by the measuring unit by a predetermined amount, and the discharged rice is washed in the rice washing unit,
After draining, a straining process is carried out in the rice washing section. During this straining process, a predetermined amount of water is sprinkled from the water supply device at predetermined time intervals, so that the rice is not dried and has a predetermined moistness. When the colander is finished, the rice is submitted by the subordinates and cooked in the rice cooker.

(Example) Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described based on drawing.

2 to 3 show an automatic gas rice cooker for business use, which has a main body frame 1, a caster 2 is provided below the frame 1, and the automatic rice cooker is It is free to move.

In the frame 1, a rice storing section 3 for storing rice, a measuring section 4 for discharging a predetermined amount of rice from the rice storing section 3, a rice washing section 5 for washing the rice discharged from the measuring section 4, and the washed rice A rice discharging unit 6 that discharges rice from the unit 5, a rice cooking unit 7 that cooks the rice discharged from the rice discharging unit 6, and a control unit 8 that controls the operation of each unit are formed.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 5, the rice storage unit 3 has a funnel-shaped rice storage 9, and the rice storage 9 has a rice storage sensor 10 for detecting the amount of rice in the rice storage. Is provided. In the inside of the rice storage 9, a sieve member 11 for preventing foreign matter from entering is detachably provided. An auxiliary tank 12 for increasing the amount of stored rice can be detachably attached to the upper part of the rice storage 9.

The weighing unit 4 is integrally provided at the bottom of the rice storage 9. The weighing unit 4 has a cutting means 13 for discharging a predetermined amount of rice in one rotation, a weighing motor 14 for rotationally driving the cutting means 13, and a weighing count sensor 15 for detecting the rotation amount of the cutting means 13. .

The rice storage unit 3 and the weighing unit 4 are detachable upward from the frame 1.

The rice washing section is disposed below the weighing section 4 and stores the rice discharged from the cutting means 13 in a rice washing tank 16
Have. In front of the rice washing tank 16 is a transparent cleaning window 16
a is openable and closable. Inside the rice washing section tank 16, a stirring means 17 for stirring the rice inside is rotatably provided. This stirring means 17 is rotationally driven by a rice washing motor 18. A rice washing rotation sensor 19 for detecting the rotation of the rice washing motor 18 is provided.

The rice washing unit 5 is provided with a water supply device 20 for supplying water to the rice washing tank 16. The water supply device 20 includes a main pipe 21 connected to a water pipe, and a shower supply pipe for branching from the main pipe 21 and sprinkling water from the upper portion of the rice washing tank 16.
22 and an overflow supply pipe 23 for supplying water from the lower part of the rice washing tank 16. The main pipe 21 includes a main pipe
A flow rate sensor 24 is provided to detect the amount of water flowing in 21. The shower supply pipe 22 is provided with a shower solenoid valve 25 for opening and closing the pipe 22, and the overflow supply pipe 23 is provided with an overflow solenoid valve 26 for opening and closing the pipe 23.

The rice washing unit 5 is provided with a drainage device 27 for draining the water in the rice washing tank 16. This drainage device 27
Is a lower drain pipe 28 connected to the lower part of the tank 16 for draining the water in the tank 16 from the lower part.
And an overflow drain pipe 29 connected to the upper portion of the rice washing tank 16 in order to drain the water in the tank 16. An opening / closing valve 30 is provided in the lower drain pipe 28, and the opening / closing valve 30 is normally open, and is driven to be closed by a drainage motor 31 composed of a solenoid motor.
The opening / closing valve 30 is provided with a confirmation sensor 32 for confirming the opening / closing of the valve 30. Further, the rice washing tank 16 is provided with a water level limit sensor 33 for detecting the water level in the tank.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rice discharging section 6 is provided with the rice washing tank 16
Rice discharge valve 34 that can open and close the opening provided at the bottom of
And an opening / closing device 35 for opening / closing the valve 34. The opening / closing device 35 includes a rod 36 penetrating the central portion of the stirring means 17, a link 37 that engages with the upper end of the rod 36 and swings, and the link 37 swings. The rice discharging motor 38 and the rice discharging valve 34 at the lower end of the rod 36.
Is attached. This opening / closing device 35 has a rice discharge valve 34
A rice discharge home sensor 39 for detecting that the rice is closed and a rice discharge lower sensor 40 for detecting that the rice discharge valve 34 is open are provided.

The rice cooker 7 is composed of a rice cooker lid device 41 arranged below the rice discharge valve 34, and a rice cooker main body device 42 with which the lid device 41 is fitted.

The rice cooker lid device 41 includes an opening / closing operation lever 43 swingably provided on the main body frame 1 as shown in FIGS.
A vertically movable lid 45 is connected to the opening / closing operation lever 43 via a link 44.

The operation lever 43 is projected to the front side, and the operation lever 43 is configured to move upward by moving the operation lever 43 upward.

As shown in FIG. 7, a shutter 47 having an opening 46 in the central portion of the lid 45 and capable of opening and closing the opening 46 is provided in the lid 45.
It is provided slidably on the upper surface of 45. This shutter
47 is a pinion 49 driven by a shutter motor 48
The rack 50 that engages with the pinion 49 is driven to open and close. The lid 45 is provided with a shutter open sensor 51 and a shutter close sensor 52 before the opening / closing of the shutter 47 is detected.

The rice cooker main body device 42 includes a mounting table 53 that can be pulled out from the main body frame 1, and an outer pot 54 mounted on the mounting table 53.
And an inner hook 55 which is removably inserted into the outer hook 54. The outer kettle 54 has an ignition lever 56 for igniting the gas burner.
And rice-cooking lever sensor 57 that detects that gas is ignited
And an inner hook confirmation sensor 58 for confirming that the inner hook 55 is inserted. A rail set sensor 59 for detecting that the mounting table 53 is set at the rice cooking position is provided on the main body frame 1 side.

By operating the operation lever 43 upward, the lid 45 is moved upward, and the outer pot 54 into which the inner pot 55 is inserted is placed on the placing table 53.
When the mounting table 53 is pushed to a predetermined position and the operation lever 43 is swung downward, the lid 45 is lowered and the shuttles 54 and 55 are sealed. When the operating lever 43 swings downward, the operating lever is locked by the lock device 43a, and the lid 45 is kept airtight.

The operation lever 43 is connected to the lid 45 by a link 44, and is configured so that the heavy lid 45 can be opened and closed with a light operating force. Further, the rice cooker main body device 42 can be pulled out to the same front side as the protruding direction of the operation lever 43, so that the hooks 54 and 55 can be easily taken in and out.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, the control unit 8 includes an operation panel 60 provided on the front surface of the upper portion of the main body frame 1, a microcomputer device housed in the panel 60, a high-power control device, and the like. It is configured.

FIG. 8 shows details of the operation panel 60. Push buttons 61, 62, 63, 64 of “reserve”, “immediate”, “start”, and “cancel” are provided in a horizontal row on the upper portion of the operation panel 60. Next to the push button row, a time / flow rate / rice cooking amount display section 65 is provided.

Below the push button row, a process position display section 66 for displaying each step is provided. This display 66
Is configured to display the process being processed by lighting or blinking a green lamp. Further, next to the display unit 66, a "water addition start" push button 67 is arranged. Above the push button 67, a strainer waiting time display section 68 is provided, and below the push button 67, a steaming time display section 69 is provided.

Below the time / flow rate / rice cooking amount display unit 65, a check position display unit 70 is provided. This display 70
Indicates an error or trouble in each process by lighting or blinking a red lamp.

A graphic display unit 71 is provided between the process position display unit 66 and the check position display unit 70. The graphic display unit 71 shows the whole shape of the rice cooker, and a lamp is provided at a position corresponding to the process position and the check position, and the lamp is operated by the process position display unit 66. When the check position display section 70 is in operation, the lamp at the corresponding position lights up or blinks in green, and the lamp in the corresponding position lights up in red if it blinks.

At the bottom of the operation panel 60, select button 72 for "rice cooked",
"Hardness" selection button 73 for adjusting the amount of cooking, "Washing" selection button for selecting the degree of rice washing
74, and select "Automatic rice cooking" that performs all the steps from weighing to cooking, "Preparing rice" that waits until rice is washed and waits until rice is washed, and "Rinses rice" that is performed before ignition The "mode" selection buttons 75 to be operated are arranged in a horizontal row.

Further, below the selection button row, a "timer set" button 76, a "maintenance" button 77, a "time and reservation set" button 78, and a "total rice cooking amount" display / clear button
79 are arranged in a line.

Each button from the "rice cooked amount" selection button 72 to the "total rice cooked amount" display / clear button 79 is covered with a single cover 80 that can be opened and closed.

Although the rice cooking unit 7 is exposed to the outside, the weighing unit 4
Equipment such as a rice washing motor 18, a drainage motor 31, a rice removal motor 38, and various sensors are housed in a sealed portion above the main body frame 1. Therefore, the steam generated in the rice cooker 7 is unlikely to enter the sealed portion, but if it should enter, the steam is discharged and the cooling of various devices is performed by the exhaust fan on the sealed bottom plate 81. 82 is provided (see FIG. 3). 83 is a main switch.

Next, the operation of the automatic rice cooker having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the operator turns on the main switch 83, the microcomputer device of the control unit 8 determines whether or not the "test" has been performed. This “test” is selected by simultaneously pressing a plurality of buttons on the operation panel 60. In the case of “test”, the process proceeds to the test processing step and various tests are performed.

If it is not "test", the process proceeds to "initial processing" and "maintenance processing" steps. The step of "initial processing" is to set each device to an initial state, and is a step used at the initial stage of use. "Maintenance processing" is
This is a step that is activated when the maintenance button 77 is pressed. In normal use, the above steps are bypassed.

The operator then presses either the "Reserve" button 61 or the "Immediate" button 62. "Reservation" is used when operating at a predetermined time, and "immediate" is used when operating from the current time.

When any of the push buttons is pressed, the process goes to the "check water amount" step.

In this water amount confirmation step, the shower solenoid valve 25 is opened, water is supplied to the rice washing tank 16, residual rice treatment in the tank 16 is performed, and the flow rate is measured by the flow rate sensor 24, and there is a predetermined flow rate. Whether or not it is confirmed and the flow rate is stored.

Next, the operator makes a menu selection. This menu selection is made by pressing the selection buttons 72-75 for the amount of cooked rice, hardness, washing method, and mode, and these time settings are made by operating the timer setting button 76 for raising the colander and the murmur. Be seen. If no menu is selected, the previously selected menu is adopted.

Next, the operator sets the time. In this time set, the current time is correctly displayed or the reserved time is set by using the time and reservation set button 78. If you want to use the current settings, you don't need to set them.

Next, the operator presses the start button 63. When the reservation button 61 is pressed, the reservation process starts, and when a predetermined set time comes, the measurement process starts.

When the reservation button 61 is not operated, that is, when the immediate button 62 is pressed, the start button 63 is pressed to immediately proceed to the weighing process.

In the weighing process, a predetermined amount of rice is discharged from the rice storage 9 through the weighing unit 4 to the rice washing tank 16 according to the selected amount of cooked rice. In the measuring unit 4, the amount of discharged rice is stored and integrated, and the total amount of cooked rice (total amount of rice for a predetermined period such as one day or one week) can be displayed on the rice cooking amount display unit 65.

After the weighing process, proceed to washing, polishing, and overflowing.

The rice washing step is a step in which a predetermined amount of water is sprayed from the shower water supply pipe 22 and the rice in the rice washing tank 16 is stirred and washed by the stirring means 17. At this time, the on-off valve 30 is opened and drained.

The rice polishing process is a process of stopping the water supply and rotating the stirring means 17.

In the overflow process, the on-off valve 30 is closed and the shower water supply pipe
While supplying water to the washing rice tank 16 from the overflow water supply pipe 22 and the overflow water supply pipe 23, stir the rice with the stirring means 17 to overflow
Drain water from 29 and finally open the on-off valve 30 to wash rice tank
This is the process of draining all the water in 16.

The washing process and the polishing process are performed multiple times, and the overflow process is performed once at the end. These steps depend on the selection of the washing method selection button 74, and are controlled depending on whether a predetermined time has elapsed or a predetermined amount of water has been supplied.

When the above steps are completed, it is determined whether or not the washing mode. That is, when “washing rice” is not selected by the mode button 75, the process proceeds to the strainer raising process.

The straining step is a step of holding the rice in the rice washing tank 16 for a predetermined time while the water is drained. The holding time is the time set by the timer set button 76. The display unit 68 displays the remaining time during the waiting for raising the strainer.

When “preparation of rice” is selected by the mode selection button 75, the process is once interrupted in the straining process and the next shutter opening process does not proceed unless the operator presses the water addition start button 67.

When the "Automatic rice cooking" mode is selected, the process automatically advances to the next shutter opening process.

When the mode is “washed rice”, the colander lifting process is skipped and the shutter opening process is performed.

FIG. 1 shows a subroutine of the straining process.

In this colander raising process, the timer set button 76
The colander raising time set by is called,
It is displayed on the display unit 68 and is displayed as a countdown. At the same time, the 8-minute timer starts. And when this 8 minute timer times out, the shower solenoid valve
25 turns on, water is sprayed from the shower water supply pipe 22 to the rice in the rice washing tank 16 for 5 seconds, and then the shower solenoid valve
25 is turned off. Such intermittent watering is performed a predetermined number of times while waiting for the raising of the strainer.

The watering interval of 8 minutes and the watering time of 5 seconds are not limited to this.

If the water addition start button 67 is pressed while waiting for the raising of the strainer and when the strainer has not yet finished, the straining process is stopped and the process proceeds to the next shutter opening process.

When the setting time of the colander set by the timer elapses, in the case of the automatic rice cooking mode, the process proceeds to the shutter opening process of the next process. If it is not in the automatic rice cooking mode, that is, in the rice cooking preparation mode, unless the operator presses the water addition start button 67, the next shutter-to-shutter step does not proceed.

The shutter opening step is a step of opening the shutter 47 and opening the opening 46 of the lid 45.

When the shutter 47 opens, the process goes to the next water addition / decrease process.

The water addition / reduction process is a process in which the amount of water controlled by the selection of the hardness selection button 72 is supplied from the shower water supply pipe 22 to the rice washing tank 16. In this process, the open / close valve 30 is closed.

Next, the valve opening process is performed. This process is the rice removal valve of the rice removal device 6.
This is a process of opening 34 and discharging the rice and water in the rice washing tank 16 to the inner pot 55 of the rice cooking device 7.

Then, in the next valve closing step, the rice discharge valve 34 is closed, and in the next shutter closing step, the shutter 47 opens the opening portion of the lid 45.
Seal 46.

When the rice washing mode is selected, the above steps are completed.

If it is not in the rice washing mode, that is, in the automatic rice cooking mode,
Proceed to the washing process. This step is a step in which the operator is informed of the completion of washing the rice by using a guide buzzer or the like. Then, proceed to the dipping process. This step is a step of notifying the operator by sounding a guide buzzer or the like after a lapse of a predetermined time.

Next, the process of waiting for input of the rice cooking lever is started, and the ignition of the ignition lever 56 is awaited. When the operator operates the ignition lever 56 to ignite the gas, the rice cooking process, the steaming process, and the cooking process are performed thereafter, and all the processes are completed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

(Effect of the invention) According to the present invention, in the rice washing section, when the strainer raising process is performed, a water supply device for sprinkling the rice in the strainer every predetermined time is provided. It prevents the rice from drying and you can cook delicious plump rice.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a sub-routine of a strainer step of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing an automatic rice cooker of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view of the same, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are automatic. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the rice cooker, FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the rice discharging unit, FIG. 7 is a shutter block diagram, FIG. 8 is a front view of the operation panel, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic rice cooker. Is. 2 ... rice storage part, 4 ... weighing part, 5 ... rice washing part, 6 ... rice discharging part, 7 ... rice cooking part, 20 ... water supply device.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Nobuhide Yanagawa 64 Ishizukitamachi, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture Kubota Sakai Factory (72) Inventor Mitsuaki Nakajima 90 Mizusawa, Higashi Osaka City, Osaka Daiwa Seiko Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Sadao Fukushima 90 Mizusawa, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Daiwa Seiko Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rice storage unit for storing rice, a weighing unit for discharging a predetermined amount of rice from the rice storage unit, a rice washing unit for washing the rice discharged from the weighing unit, and discharging the rice in the rice washing unit. In a rice cooker comprising a rice discharging unit and a rice cooking unit for cooking the rice discharged from the rice discharging unit, in the rice washing unit, when a straining step is performed, for rice being strained, A rice cooker comprising a water supply device that sprays water at predetermined time intervals.