JPH08215041A - Rice cooker and warmer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a rice cooker and warmer with which the taste of boiled rice can be kept for a long time by preventing the boiled rice under heat insulation from being bedewed or dried. CONSTITUTION: This rice cooker and warmer is provided with an inner pot 6 housed in a main body 1, a lid 7 for covering the upper opening of these main body 1 and inner pot 6, a main body heating means 3 fitted in the main body 1 for heating the inner pot 6, a lid heating means 9 set on the lid 7 for heating the lid 7, and a control part 11 for controlling electrification to the main body heating means 3 and the lid heating means 9. Concerning this rice cooker and warmer, the control part 11 is provided with temperature adjusting means 12 and 13 for adjusting the inner pot 6 at a certain prescribed adjusted temperature by controlling the electrification to the main body heating means 3 and for adjusting the lid 7 at the other prescribed temperature by controlling the electrification to the lid heating means 9, a changing means 14 for temporarily changing either or both the prescribed adjusted temperature on the side of the inner pot 6 and the other prescribed adjusted temperature on the side of the lid 7, and an intermitting means 15 for intermittently repeating the operation of this changing means 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a jar rice cooker for improving the heat retention performance after cooking rice and providing delicious rice even if it is kept warm for a long time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional jar rice cooker has an inner pot to be housed in the body and a lid for covering the body and the upper opening of the inner pot.
The main body is equipped with a main body heating means for heating the inner pot, a lid heating means for heating the lid to the lid, and a temperature adjusting means for the main body. The main body heating means and the lid heating means are energized by the temperature adjusting means to control the main body. And the rice is kept warm by keeping the lid at a substantially constant temperature. As an example of the temperature control method by the temperature control means, a pan bottom temperature sensor that is thermally coupled to the inner pan bottom part is provided at the bottom of the main body, and when the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor falls below a certain temperature, the main body heating means and the lid heating means are energized. Then, when the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor rises above a certain temperature, the energization is stopped to adjust the temperature so that the main body and the lid are kept at a predetermined substantially constant temperature. By keeping the main body and the lid at a substantially constant temperature, both the inner pot and the rice in the inner pot can be kept at an appropriate temperature (for example, Shoukai 62-10012).
No. 6 publication).

As a second example, in order to suppress temperature unevenness and dew condensation on the lid, a lid temperature sensor is newly provided on the lid, and the temperature of the main body heating means is controlled by the output of the pan bottom temperature sensor as in the first example. In some cases, the temperature of the lid heating means is adjusted independently by the output of the lid temperature sensor (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-36922).

[0004]

In the first example in which the electric power control of the main body heating means and the lid heating means in the past is synchronized to adjust the temperature to a predetermined regulated temperature, or a lid sensor is newly provided in the lid part. In the second example in which the temperature of the lid heating means is controlled independently, the inner pot and the lid are configured to adjust the temperature to a predetermined substantially constant temperature. The inner pot is stabilized at a predetermined substantially constant temperature and the lid is maintained at a predetermined substantially constant temperature, and this stable state continues as long as the heat retention is continued.

However, it is very difficult to make the inner pot and the lid substantially constant temperature exactly the same temperature, and even if they are set to the same temperature, the heating amount (electric power) of the main body heating means and the lid heating means.
And temperature difference due to variations in the operating temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor and the lid temperature sensor. In addition, there are differences in temperature between the inner pot and the lid. For example, the temperature of the inner pot near the main body heating means is high, and the farther away it is, the lower it is.

A problem here is that water is evaporated from the rice during the heat retention, and the evaporated water is condensed on a portion having a low temperature. When the temperature of the inner pot is lower than the temperature of the lid, moisture condenses on the inner pot, and the condensed water flows downward along the side wall of the inner pot and the rice in contact with the side wall of the inner pot gets wet and collapses like a paste. Occurs. Conversely, if the temperature of the lid is lower than that of the inner pot, dew will condense on the lid, the dew will drip from the lid onto the rice surface, and the rice surface will become paste-like, and when the lid is opened, a large amount of condensed water will flow to the main body side. There was a problem that it would get into the inner pot or flow over the top of the main unit to make it dirty.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and includes an inner pot to be housed in a main body, a lid for covering the main body and an upper opening of the inner pot, and an inner pot. It has a main body heating means provided for heating the inner pan and a lid heating means provided for the lid to heat the lid, and a control section for controlling the power supply to the main body heating means and the lid heating means is provided to cook rice. Also, in a jar rice cooker that keeps rice at an appropriate temperature, the control unit controls the power supply to the main body heating means to adjust the inner pot on the main body side to a predetermined control temperature and controls the power supply to the lid heating means to separate the lid. Temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature to a predetermined adjustment temperature, a changing means for temporarily changing one or both of the predetermined adjusting temperature on the main body side and another predetermined adjusting temperature on the lid side, and the operation of the changing means intermittently. Equipped with repeating intermittent means, And it shall be given the fluctuation in constant adjustment temperature.

[0008]

According to the configuration of the present invention, the changing means is operated intermittently by the intermittent means, for example, at regular time intervals, and the predetermined adjusting temperature of either the main body side or the lid side is temporarily changed by the operation of the changing means. Change high or low. Alternatively, the one in which the predetermined adjustment temperature is always high is changed to a low value, and the one in which the other predetermined adjustment temperature is always low is changed to a high value. As a result, a so-called fluctuation is given to the predetermined regulated temperature, and when the predetermined regulated temperature is low and the dew condensation is high, while the changing means is operating, the temperature is higher than that of the other predetermined regulated temperature which is higher. Adjusted. Alternatively, the higher the predetermined regulated temperature is usually lower than the other. That is, the relationship between the temperature of the main body side and the temperature of the lid side is reversed during the operation of the changing means.

As a result, the dew condensation water of the dew condensation person starts to evaporate, and the inside of the inner pot becomes in a high humidity state. Next, the moisture contained in the high-humidity air slowly begins to condense toward the newly lowered temperature. By intermittently reversing the high-low temperature relationship at intervals shorter than the time when dew condensation completely shifts to one side by the intermittent means, concentrated dew condensation on either the inner pot or the lid is eliminated, and a large amount Condensation water does not drip into the inner pot, and a large amount of condensation water does not drip to the main body when the lid is opened. Furthermore, it becomes possible to keep condensation on the lid and to keep the rice dry and dry with minimal stickiness, and the evaporation of the condensed water keeps the inside of the inner pot at a high humidity to prevent the rice from drying.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a jar rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart during a heat retaining operation of the jar rice cooker, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the jar rice cooker and each part. FIG. 4 is a temperature characteristic diagram, and FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart during a heat retaining operation of a jar rice cooker to which another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, an inner container 2 forming an inner wall of the container is attached inside a cylindrical main body 1 having an upper opening and a bottom. Main body heating means 3 composed of an electric heater is attached to the side surface of the inner container 2, and rice cooking heating means 4 composed of an electric heater or an induction heating coil and a pan bottom temperature sensor 5 are attached to the bottom of the inner container 2. The inner pot 6 is detachably accommodated in the inner container 2, and the bottom of the inner pot 6 and the pot bottom temperature sensor 5 are in contact with each other and thermally coupled.

A lid 7 is openably and closably attached to the main body 1 via a hinge portion 8. When the lid 7 is closed, the main body 1 is opened.
And the upper opening of the inner pot 6 is covered. A lid heating means 9 composed of an electric heater and a lid temperature sensor 10 are attached to a surface of the lid 7 facing the inner pot 6.

Inside the main body 1, there is provided a control section 11 to which the main body heating means 3, rice cooking heating means 4, pan bottom temperature sensor 5, lid heating means 9 and lid temperature sensor 10 are connected. Further, the control unit 11 receives the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor 5 and controls the energization of the main body heating means 3 and the rice cooker heating means 4 to adjust the temperature of the main body 1 side, that is, the inner pan 6 to adjust the main body temperature. A lid temperature adjusting means 13 for controlling the energization of the lid heating means 9 in response to the temperature of the lid temperature sensor 10 to adjust the temperature on the lid side, and a changing means 14 for changing the adjusted temperature of the lid temperature adjusting means 13. Change means 1
4 has an intermittent means 15 for intermittently determining the operation of 4.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

The user puts the washed rice and an appropriate amount of water in the inner pot 6, stores it in the inner container 2 and closes the lid 7. Next, when a rice cooking operation is performed, rice cooking is started via the control unit 11, electricity is supplied to the rice cooking heating means 4, and the inner pot 6 is heated. Eventually, the inside of the inner pot 6 boils and the rice absorbs water, and when the water runs out, the temperature at the bottom of the inner pot 6 begins to rise sharply. When the pan bottom temperature sensor 5 catches the rapid rise in the pan bottom temperature, the control section 11 stops the energization of the cooked rice heating means 4 and finishes the heating. The control unit 11 continues to automatically shift to the purging operation, and after about 15 minutes, the cooked rice (including the Murashi) is finished and the cooked rice is cooked. The operation of the control unit 11 thereafter shifts to the heat retention operation.

Next, description will be made after the transition to the heat retention operation with reference to FIGS. When the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor 5 falls below the control temperature T1 (for example, 72 ° C.) by the operation of the main body temperature adjusting means 12 of the control unit 11, the heat retaining operation energizes the main body heating means 3 to heat the inner pan 6 from the side. At the same time, a small amount of electricity is also applied to the rice cooking heating means 4 to heat the inner pan 6 from the bottom, and when the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor 5 becomes equal to or higher than the control temperature T1 due to heating, the main body heating means 3 and the rice cooking heating means 4 are heated. The operation of stopping energization is repeated. This keeps the inner pot 6 at a substantially constant temperature, for example, 74 ° C.

In parallel with the operation of the body temperature adjusting means 12, the operation of the lid temperature adjusting means 13 of the control section 11 causes
When the temperature of the lid temperature sensor 10 falls below the adjustment temperature FT1 (for example, 72 ° C.), the lid heating means 9 is energized to heat the lid 7, and when the temperature of the lid temperature sensor 10 becomes equal to or higher than the adjustment temperature FT1 by heating. The operation of stopping the energization of the heating means 9 is repeated. This keeps the lid 7 at a substantially constant temperature, for example 73 ° C. When the temperature of the inner pot 6 is 74 ° C. and the temperature of the lid 7 is 73 ° C., the water evaporated from the rice is condensed on the lid 7 having a low temperature.

In this embodiment, the changing means 1 of the control unit 11
4 repeatedly operates once every 5 minutes via the intermittent means 15. When the changing means 14 is operated by the intermittent means 15, the adjusted temperature of the lid temperature adjusting means 13 is then FT1 for 5 minutes.
(From the above 72 ° C.), TF2 (eg 78
℃) is changed. This raises the temperature of the lid 7,
For example, it is maintained at 79 ° C. During this period, the temperature of the lid 7 becomes higher than the temperature of the inner pot 6 of 74 ° C., so that the water that has condensed on the lid 7 evaporates from the lid 7 to make the air in the inner pot 6 highly humid and the inner pot 6 Condensation begins to shift to the side.

Five minutes after the operation of the intermittent means 15, the operation of the changing means 14 ends, and the adjusted temperature of the lid temperature adjusting means 13 returns to FT1. As a result, the temperature of the lid 7 becomes lower than the temperature of the inner pot 6 again, and the dew condensation water on the side surface of the inner pot 6 evaporates inside the inner pot 6 and begins to dew on the lid 7. As described above, during the heat retention operation, FT1 is alternately repeated for 5 minutes and FT2 is repeated for the next 5 minutes, and the operation of reversing the temperature relationship between the lid 7 and the inner pot 6 is repeated.

As described above, since the dew condensation is not concentrated on either the lid 7 or the inner pot 6 and a large amount of condensed water does not drip to break the rice, the rice can be kept warm in a delicious state. . Further, there is no problem that a large amount of condensed water flows when the lid 7 is opened. Furthermore, since the inside of the inner pot 6 is kept at a high humidity due to the evaporation of dew condensation water, it is possible to prevent the rice from drying and keep the rice warm in a delicious state with little drying even when it is kept warm for a long time.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 will be briefly described. Unlike the above-described embodiment, the lid temperature sensor 10 is not provided, and the temperature adjusting means of the control unit 11 operates only by the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor 5, and the main body heating means 3,
The temperature is adjusted by adjusting the electricity supplied to the rice cooking heating means 4 and the lid heating means 9.

For example, when the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor 5 becomes lower than the control temperature T1 (for example, 72 ° C.), the main body heating means 3 is energized, and the rice cooking heating means 4 is energized in a very small amount. At the same time, the lid heating means 9 is energized by controlling the energization amount to 70%. When the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor 5 becomes higher than T1, the power supply to each heating means is stopped. By repeating this, the inner pot 6 is kept at about 74 ° C, and the lid 7 is kept at about 72 ° C by repeating 70% energization and OFF.

Here, when the changing means 14 is operated by the intermittent means 15 of the control section 11, when the temperature of the pan bottom temperature sensor 5 is lower than the adjustment temperature T1, the electricity to the lid heating means 9 is changed from 70% to 100%. Change. As a result, the lid 7
Is maintained at about 78 ° C. by repeating 100% energization and OFF. In this way, even in the case where the temperature control by the temperature of the lid 7 is not performed, the temperature of the lid 7 changes by intermittently changing the energization rate to the lid heating means 9, and the temperature of the inner pot 6 and the temperature Since the height relationship is reversed, the same effect as that of the one embodiment can be obtained.

Although the temperature control on the main body side is fixed and the temperature control on the lid side is increased or decreased in the above embodiment, the lid side may be fixed and the main body side may be changed. However, both of them may be changed to low and the other may be changed to high. Further, the intermittent means 15 does not switch at regular intervals, but may be a combination of irregular times. Further, the change of the temperature adjustment temperature (substantially constant temperature) by the changing means 14 does not have to change from the normal temperature by a fixed temperature, but may have an indefinite temperature change.

That is, any one or both of the cover side and the body side adjustment temperature may be changed to give "fluctuation" to the adjustment temperature. Also, this "fluctuation"
Therefore, even if the temperature of the lid side and the temperature of the main body side are not completely reversed, it is sufficient for the purpose that the dew condensation water of the dew condensation side evaporates and moves to the other side. Furthermore, this "fluctuation" may be activated not only during heat retention but also during purging or cooking rice.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a jar rice cooker that cooks rice and then keeps the rice warm at an appropriate temperature, the controller controls the power supply to the heating means of the body to adjust the inner pot of the body to a predetermined temperature. Then, one or both of the temperature adjusting means for controlling the electricity to the lid heating means to adjust the lid to another predetermined adjustment temperature, the predetermined adjustment temperature on the main body side, and the other predetermined adjustment temperature on the lid side are temporarily changed. Since the change means for causing the change and the intermittent means for repeating the operation of the change means are provided to give fluctuation to the predetermined adjustment temperature, dew condensation on the lid portion,
It is possible to prevent rice from drying due to the lid temperature rising too high, and to prevent rotting and stickiness due to the temperature falling too low in the inner pot, and to provide a jar rice cooker that can retain heat for a long time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a jar rice cooker showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart during a heat retention operation of the jar rice cooker.

FIG. 3 is a temperature characteristic diagram of the operation and each part of the rice cooker.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart during a heat retaining operation of a jar rice cooker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Body 3 Main Body Heating Means 6 Inner Pan 7 Lid 9 Lid Heating Means 11 Controller 12 Main Body Temperature Adjusting Means 13 Lid Temperature Adjusting Means 14 Changing Means 15 Intermittent Means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An inner pot to be housed in the main body, a lid for covering the upper opening of the main body and the inner pot, a main body heating means provided in the main body for heating the inner pot, and a lid provided in the lid for heating. In a jar rice cooker which has a lid heating means and which controls a main body heating means and energization to the lid heating means, and cooks rice and then keeps the rice at an appropriate temperature, the control part (11) is a main body. The power supply to the heating means (3) is controlled to adjust the inner pot (6) on the main body (1) side to a predetermined control temperature, the power supply to the lid heating means (9) is controlled, and the lid (7) is set to another predetermined temperature. Temperature adjusting means (12) (13) for adjusting the temperature to a controlled temperature
And a changing means (14) for temporarily changing one or both of a predetermined adjusted temperature on the body (1) side and another predetermined adjusted temperature on the lid (7) side, and the operation of the changing means (14) is intermittent. Jar rice cooker characterized by including intermittently repeating means (15).