JPH10165301A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve practicality by preventing dew condensation at the under surface of a lid when cold rice is preserved in a pot. SOLUTION: After rice cooking by a rice cooking control means 81, a cold rice preservation means 84 does not keep the rice in the pot warmth but preserves it in a cold condition. At this time, the cold rice preservation control means 84 heats a plate under the lid following the temperature fall of the rice. Consequently even in a condition where steam is generated from the rice, the plate under the lid is not dewed. In addition, we can make the best use of a practical merit for preserving cold rice. as it is.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rice cooker such as an electric kettle or an electric kettle combined with a jar, and more particularly to a rice cooker with improved practicability after cooking rice.

[0002]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a rice cooker that can automatically start warming after cooking rice or start only warming by operating a switch from a cut-off state, the warmed rice becomes yellowish with time. However, it is a factor that lowers the taste due to smell or the like, and it has been a problem to improve the taste during warming. this is,
This is attributable to the Maillard reaction when rice is heated to a temperature of 70 to 76 ° C., which is a heat retaining temperature, and to the oxidative deterioration of fatty acids.

[0003] Since the deterioration of the condition of rice occurs more rapidly as the temperature increases, there has been a recent improvement in the temperature of rice during heat retention by lowering the temperature to about 60 to 70 ° C.
However, even in such a case, the condition of rice deteriorated over time.

[0004] In storing rice, it is preferable to lower the storage temperature in order to keep the rice in good condition. In particular, when rice is stored for a long time, it is most preferable to store it in a frozen state to prevent spoilage and aging. . This is common sense in many foods, not just rice. Therefore, even if it has a heat retention function, the remaining rice after cooking is not cut off without keeping it warm, cut it into cold rice, store it frozen, and then reheat it using a cooking device such as a microwave oven the next time you eat There is a case to use to eat. In order to cope with such use, it has been considered to be able to select whether to keep the temperature after cooking rice. However, there is no danger of decay even if it is stored at room temperature for a short time of about 10 to 12 hours, so for example, cook in the rice cooker without freezing until you cook it in the morning and eat it in the evening. There is a method of using cold rice as it is. With this use, reheating time is shorter than in the case of freezing, and not only is the utility practical, but also there is no need to remove the rice from the pot and freeze it.

However, such usage causes the following problems. If the rice is not cooked and kept warm after cooking, the rice in the pot will not be heated, but since the rice immediately after cooking is at a high temperature of about 100 ° C, the steam generated will condense on the lower surface of the lid, and much dew will adhere. I do. If the lid is opened in this state, a large amount of dew will flow down from the lower surface of the lid, and the upper part of the rice cooker body will be soiled. Also, if the dew overflows from the top of the rice cooker body, the whole rice cooker body may become dirty, and in any case, there is a problem that the dew that has flowed down from the bottom of the lid after use has to be cleaned up I do. In recent years, in recent years, a rice cooker without a dew holder has become the mainstream, in which the lower surface of the lid is heated during cooking and keeping the temperature warm so that dew is not attached, but such a structure is provided with a dew holder. Since there is no,
The above problem becomes more pronounced.

[0006] Further, if the time during which the rice is kept cold and not kept warm is longer than about 12 hours, the rice may rot depending on the conditions, and if the self-management is neglected, the rice can be eaten if it rots. Disappears. This is a problem common to all rice cookers, with or without a heat retention function.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a rice cooker capable of preventing dew condensation on the lower surface of a lid when storing cold rice in a pot and improving practicality. This is the purpose of 1.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker capable of preventing spoilage when storing cold rice in a pot for a long time.

[0009]

In order to achieve the first object, a rice cooker according to the present invention has a pot for accommodating cooked food, and a lid for opening and closing an upper opening of the pot. Heating means for heating the pot, rice cooking control means for controlling the heating means to perform a rice cooking operation, the lid is not heated after the rice is cooked by the rice cooking control means, and the lid is kept according to the temperature drop of the rice in the pan. It is provided with cold rice storage control means for heating the lower surface.

According to the configuration of claim 1, when the rice cooking by the rice cooking control means is completed, the cold rice storage control means for storing the rice in the pan in a cold rice state without keeping the temperature warmed, according to the temperature drop of the rice in the pan. Heat the underside of the lid. Therefore, even when steam is generated from the rice in the pan, dew does not adhere to the lower surface of the lid that opens and closes the upper opening of the pan, and the dew condensation on the lower surface of the lid is maintained while keeping the practicality of cold rice storage as it is. Can be prevented.

[0011] The rice cooker according to claim 2 of the present invention,
In order to achieve the second object, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the apparatus further comprises an elapsed time display means for displaying an elapsed time after rice cooking by the rice cooking control means.

According to the configuration of the second aspect, the user can intuitively know the putrefaction caused by leaving the rice at a low temperature for a long time in the pot by displaying the elapsed time display means.

[0013] The rice cooker according to claim 3 of the present invention comprises:
In order to also achieve the second object, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, further comprising a heat retention control means for keeping the rice in the pot warm, and after the rice is cooked by the rice cook control means, the cold rice is stored by the cold rice storage control means. After a predetermined period of time has passed, the temperature is controlled by the temperature control means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the storage of the cold rice after cooking the predetermined time has elapsed, the operation is forcibly switched to the heat retaining operation, so that the rice in the pan is left in the cold rice state for a long time. Whatever happens, the rice can be kept warm and heated automatically to prevent rot.

Further, the rice cooker according to claim 4 of the present invention comprises:
In addition to the configuration of claim 1, a heat retention control means for keeping the rice in the pot warm, and after cooking by the rice cooking control means, which of the heat retention by the heat retention control means and the storage of cold rice by the cold rice storage control means is performed. And selecting means for selecting

According to the configuration of the fourth aspect, by using the selection means, it is possible to freely select the normal warming operation and the cold rice preservation according to the use condition.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the rice cooker according to claim 5 of the present invention further comprises, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, a rice cooker for keeping rice in the pot warm. When the operating means is operated during the storage of the cold rice by the cold rice storage control means, the heat retention by the heat retention control means is started.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the operating means is operated while the rice in the pot is stored in a cold rice state, the heat retention is started, so that the rice is warmed in accordance with the next meal. Can be. In addition, even if the rice in the pot is left in a cold rice state for a long time, rot can be prevented by immediately switching to heating and heating at the will of the user.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the rice cooker according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 2 which is a cross-sectional view showing the entire configuration of the rice cooker, reference numeral 1 denotes a rice cooker main body, and 2 denotes an outer shell of the rice cooker main body 1, that is, an outer frame which forms an outer surface. , The bottom plate 3 is fitted and fixed. In addition, inside the outer frame 2, there is a pan 4
Is provided with a bottomed cylindrical inner frame 5 which detachably accommodates the inner frame 5.
The inner frame 5 is formed of a resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate resin containing glass fiber, and has a heating coil 6 opposed to the lower side of the pot 4 and the lower side of the pot 4 and the bottom of the pot 4.
It is molded in one piece. Further, the upper end of the inner frame 5 is fitted with an outer frame end 8 hanging down from an outer frame 7 formed integrally with the outer frame 2, and these inner frame 5 and the outer frame end 8 are fitted. Thus, the entire pot housing 9 is constituted. That is, the entire outer shell of the rice cooker main body 1 is composed of three parts, the outer frame 2, the inner frame 5, and the bottom plate 3.

[0020] The bottomed cylindrical pot 4 for storing the cooked rice
Is a pot body 11 mainly made of aluminum material, and a heating element made of a magnetic metal material such as ferrite stainless steel disposed from the bottom to the lower side of the outer surface of the pot body 11.
And 12. In addition, the pan 4 is supported by the outer frame part 7 at the upper end part, and except for the upper end part of the pan 4, the air between the inner surfaces of the inner frame 5 and the outer frame end part 8 and the outer surface of the pan 4 A pot insulation layer 13 is formed. Also, inner frame 5
The spring 14 is an elastic member
A spring presser 15 containing the
The pan temperature sensor 16 urged upward by the contact of the pan 4 abuts against the outer bottom surface of the pan 4 in a pressed state. The temperature of the pan 4 is detected by a pan temperature sensor 16 corresponding to the pan temperature detecting means.

A heating coil 6 as a heating means for heating the pot 4 by electromagnetic induction heating is provided on a bottom outer surface and a lower portion of an outer surface of the inner frame 5.
A litz wire coated with a polyurethane resin is provided spirally. A substrate 21 provided with an inverter circuit for supplying a predetermined high-frequency current of 24 to 30 kHz to the heating coil 6 is provided.
Is attached to the lower side of the inner frame 5. The heating output of the heating coil 6 is adjusted by changing the oscillation frequency in the built-in inverter circuit. A ferrite member 22 is attached to the outside of the heating coil 6 for eliminating magnetic flux leakage from the heating coil 6 and increasing the heat generation efficiency of the heating element 12 of the pot 4 due to eddy current. The ferrite member 22 is screwed and fixed to the bottom outer surface of the inner frame 5 (not shown).

The substrate 21 includes, in addition to various control circuit components 23, a switching element for generating a high-frequency current.
24 is installed. Since the switching element 24 generates considerable heat, a radiator 25 for cooling the switching element 24 is provided inside the rice cooker main body 1. Reference numeral 26 denotes a connecting member made of a material having good thermal conductivity, which mechanically and thermally connects the heat radiating surface of the switching element 24 and the radiator 25. An operation panel on the upper side of the outer frame 2
The operation panel 27 will be described later in detail.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a lid for opening and closing the upper opening of the pot 4, which is an outer lid 32 and a lid which covers the inner opening of the outer lid 32 and is a lower surface of the lid facing the upper opening of the pan 4. An outer shell is formed by the lower surface plate 33. A lid heater 34 as a lid heating unit for heating the lid lower plate 33 and a lid temperature sensor 35 as a lid temperature detecting unit for detecting the temperature of the lid lower plate 33 are provided on the upper surface or the rear surface of the lid lower plate 33. Each is provided. 36
Is a steam port having a plurality of openings formed substantially at the center of the outer lid 32, and is for discharging steam in the pan 4 to the outside. Inside the lid 31, there is formed a steam passage 38 defined by a vertical wall 37 hanging down from the upper surface of the outer lid 32. The steam passage 38 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 39 for adjusting a pressure mainly during boiling in the pot 4, located below the steam port 36. The lower part of the pressure regulating valve 39
An openable and closable safety valve 41 urged downward by a spring 40, that is, toward the pan 4 is provided here. Further, in a hole 43 of the lid lower surface plate 33 communicating with the steam passage 38 through the bypass passage 42, a pressure reducing valve 45 that moves up and down by a solenoid 44 to open and close the hole 43 is provided. Then, during the cut-off state and during the heat retention, the pressure reducing valve 45 is opened by the solenoid 44, and the inside of the pot 4 and the outside are slightly communicated with each other through the bypass passage 42 so that the inside of the pot 4 is not closed. I do. Conversely, during cooking rice, the pressure reducing valve 45 is closed, and the safety valve urged by the spring 40 is closed.
According to 41, the pressure in the pan 4 is adjusted. Further, during murara, the pressure reducing control valve 45 is opened and closed by the solenoid 44 to discharge excess water.

Next, the structure of the operation panel 27 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation panel 27 includes an indicator L
CD51 and four LEDs 52, 53, 54, 55, and nine switches 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62,
63 and 64 are provided. The LCD 51 has a time / time display section 51a for displaying the elapsed time and time after the completion of rice cooking, and when the time / time display section 51a is displaying the current time or the cooking time, the time is morning or afternoon. And the morning and afternoon display portion 51b having a display form of "morning" and "afternoon" indicating whether the
A reservation display part 51c having a display form of "reservation" indicating that the time displayed on the time / time display part 51a is the time of cooking, and a display of "normal heat retention" which is turned on when the heat retention, that is, normal heat retention is set. A normal rice keeping display section 51d, a cold rice storage display section 51e having a display mode of “cold rice storage” that is turned on when cold rice storage is set, and a course display section 51f for displaying a selected rice cooking course. ing. The four LEDs 52, 53, 54, 55 are all for displaying a stroke. That is, the reservation display LED
Numeral 52 is illuminated during the timer operation of reserved rice cooking, rice cooked display LED 53 is lit during rice cooking, warming display LED 54 is lit during warming, and cold rice storage display LED 55 is lit during cold rice storage.

Each of the switches 56,... 64 is a normally open return type switch (push button switch).
It turns on only when it is pressed, and turns off when you stop pressing it. Of the switches 56,... 64, the clock switch 56 is used for setting the time of the clock.
If the watch switch 56 is pressed while the LCD 51 is displaying the time of the watch, the time is set to the time setting mode of the watch. If the watch switch 56 is pressed during the time setting mode of the watch, the mode is released. The hour switch 57 and the minute switch 58 are used for setting the hour or minute in the time setting mode of the watch and in the cooking time setting mode, and each time the hour switch 57 and the minute switch 58 are operated. The display of the time on the time / time display section 51a changes.
Further, the reservation switch 59 is used for performing pre-cooked rice cooking, and when the reservation switch 59 is pressed in the off state, the cooking time setting mode is set. When the switch 60 is depressed, the switch 60 is forcibly turned off. The menu switch 61 is used to set the rice cooking course. Each time the menu switch 61 is pressed, the rice cooking course of white rice, firmness, softening, and early cooking is switched with the display of the course display section 51f. Be replaced. When the cooker switch 62 is pressed, the cooker starts cooking. In particular, when the cooker switch 62 is pressed in the cook-up time setting mode, the timer operation of the reserved cooker starts. In addition, when the warming switch 63 is pressed in the OFF state, the warming starts, and when the cold rice is stored, the warming switch 63 is switched to a normal warming. further,
The warming selection switch 64 is used to select whether to keep warm after cooking rice.Each time the switch is pressed in the off state, normal warming that keeps warming after cooking and cold rice storing that does not keep warm after cooking are used. Set selectively.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the configuration of electrical control of the rice cooker. In the figure, reference numeral 71 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer), which is not shown, but includes a clock device, an RO device, in addition to a control device and an arithmetic device constituting a known microprocessor.
It comprises a storage device such as M or RAM, and an input / output device. Then, the microcomputer 71 inputs the operation signals from the switches 56 to 64 and the temperature detection signals from the pot temperature sensor 16 and the lid temperature sensor 35, and based on the signals, the IH including the control circuit components 23 on the substrate 21. Drive circuit 72
And the high-frequency current generating means 73 to control the output and cutoff of the heating coil 6 and to control the heater drive circuit.
74 and the power supply / disconnection means 75 to control the power supply / disconnection of the lid heater 34.
The display operation of the LED 51 and the LEDs 52 to 55 is controlled.

Next, the functional configuration of the microcomputer 71 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 81 is a heating coil 6 and a lid heater 34.
This is a rice-cooking control unit that performs a normal rice-cooking operation from the dawn to the spot while controlling the power cutoff. Reference numeral 82 denotes a reserved rice cooking means having a timer function. As described above, when the rice cooker switch 62 is pressed following the reservation switch 59, the rice is cooked so that the rice is cooked at the set cooking time. When a predetermined time (for example, 55 minutes before) the rising time comes, the rice cooking control means 81 automatically starts the rice cooking. Then, when the rice cooker switch 62 is pressed or a predetermined time comes during the timer operation by the reserved rice cooker 82, the rice cooker 81 starts the rice cooker operation.

Reference numeral 83 denotes a heat retention control means for keeping the temperature of the rice in the pan 4 at a predetermined temperature, for example, 73 ° C. while controlling the power supply of the heating coil 6 to cut off. This heat retention control means 83 is performed following the rice cooking operation by the rice cook control means 81.While the heat retention control means 83 is keeping the heat, the lid lower plate 33 is heated by the lid heater 34 in the same manner as during rice cooking, and the pot It is configured to prevent dew condensation on the lid lower plate 33 which directly faces the rice in 4. In addition, even when the heat retention switch 63 is pressed in the off state, the heat retention by the heat retention control means 83 is performed.

On the other hand, the rice cooker of the present embodiment is provided with a separate cold rice storage control means 84 for storing the rice in the pan 4 in a cold rice state without keeping the temperature after cooking the rice. After rice cooking by the rice cooking control means 81, the selection of whether to keep the heat by the heat retention control means 83 or to perform the cold rice preservation by the cold rice preservation control means 84 can be made by selecting the heat preservation before the reserved rice cooking or the rice cooking. The configuration is such that the selection switch 64 is used.
The cold rice storage control means 84 does not heat the rice in the pan 4 by the heating coil 6, so that the temperature of the rice gradually decreases to a cold rice state, but the lid heater 34 heats the lid lower plate 33. . That is, the lid lower plate 33 is heated so as to prevent dew condensation on the lid lower plate 33 as the temperature of the rice drops. Further, the heat insulation switch 63 is provided with a cold rice storage control means 84.
When the rice in the pot 4 is stored while storing it in cold rice, it also functions as an operating means for starting the heat retention by the heat retention control means 83. The operations of cooking rice, cooking reserved rice, keeping warm water, and storing cold rice are forcibly canceled by operating the off switch 60.

Next, the operation of the rice cooker having the above configuration will be described based on each display mode of the operation panel 27 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 and each flowchart shown in FIGS.

First, a procedure for selecting a heat retention course will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The heat retention course,
It is selected in advance when the cooker is in the off state (step S1) in which cooking rice or reserved cooking rice is not performed. Specifically, in step 2, either the heat retention by the rice cooking control means 83, that is, the normal heat retention, or the cold rice preservation by the cold rice preservation control means 84 is set and stored as the heat retention course in the off state. This heat retention course is not changed unless the heat retention selection switch 64 is operated in the next step S3. However, when the heat retention operation switch 64 is operated, the process proceeds to step S4, and the setting of the heat retention course is changed. If the warming course before the operation was cold rice preservation, it will be changed to normal warming, while if the warming course before the operation was normal warming, it will be changed to cold rice preservation, and the changed warming course will be changed. The settings are stored. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the heat retention selection switch 64 is operated again by returning to the procedure of step S3. The routine for changing the heat retention course in step S3 to step S4 is accepted as long as the off state is continued.

When the rice cooker switch 62 is operated, or when a predetermined time is reached by the timer operation of the reserved rice cooker 82, the rice cooker control means 81 follows the control sequence of the built-in program to perform the normal operation from the rice cooking to the rice cooking. Of rice cooking. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the rice cooking display LED 53 of the operation panel 27 lights up to inform the user that the rice cooking operation is being performed, and at the same time, the time / time display part 51a and the morning / afternoon display part 51b of the LCD 51 are displayed. Displays the current clock time. Further, when the heat retention course for preserving cold rice has been set in advance, the cold rice preservation display section 51e lights up to notify the user of that. In the embodiment,
Although the clock time is displayed on the LCD 51, the remaining time until the end of rice cooking may be displayed.

After that, according to the flowchart of FIG. 8, when the heat retention course of the normal heat retention is set, the heat retention control means 83 performs normal heat retention after the rice cooking. While keeping warm,
While the heat retention display LED 54 of the operation panel 27 lights up,
The normal heat display section 51d of the LCD 51 is turned on to inform the user that normal heat is being maintained. In addition, LCD51
The elapsed time from the end of cooking rice is displayed on the time / time display section 51a. The display mode of the operation panel 27 during the normal heat retention will be described later in detail.

On the other hand, if the heat retention course for preserving the cold rice has been set in advance, the cold rice preservation control means 84 sets the pan 4
Store the rice in the cold rice. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, when the rice cooking is completed (step S11), in the next step S12, the cold rice storage control means 84 cuts off the power supply to the heating coil 6 and the pot 4 Stop heating the rice inside. As a result, the temperature of the cooked rice gradually decreases from about 100 ° C, and finally reaches the same temperature as room temperature. Although the rice has a large heat capacity and is hard to cool, the temperature of the lid lower surface plate 33 constituting the lower surface of the lid 31 decreases faster than that of the pot 4 containing the rice. Therefore, when the heating of the lid lower plate 33 is stopped at the same time, a large amount of dew adheres to the lid lower plate 33. On the other hand, without considering the temperature of the rice in the pan 4,
Simply heating, the condensation on the lid lower plate 33 can be prevented, but the radiant heat from the lid lower plate 33 increases and only the upper surface of the rice is significantly dried.

Therefore, in order to prevent such a situation, the cold rice storage control means 84 responds to the temperature decrease of the pot 4 by
The lid lower plate 33 is heated by the lid heater 34, and when the temperature of the rice in the pan 4 becomes substantially the same as the room temperature and steam is no longer generated from the rice, the heating of the lid lower plate 33 is stopped. Specifically, immediately after the completion of rice cooking, for example, the temperature of
℃, lid bottom plate detected by lid temperature sensor 35
The lid heater 34 is energized to heat the lid lower plate 33 so that the temperature of 33 (lid temperature) becomes 105 ° C., which is 5 ° C. higher than this (step S13). Then, in the following step S14, this state is maintained for 7 minutes. Next, in step S15, after the heating of the lid lower plate 33 is temporarily stopped, the temperature of the lid lower plate 33 is lower by 5 ° C. than the temperature of the pan 4 (pot temperature) detected by the pan temperature sensor 16. When the temperature reaches below 95 ° C (Step S1
6) Then, the heating of the lid lower plate 33 is started again (step S1).
7). In the subsequent step S18, if the temperature of the lid lower plate 33 becomes higher by 5 ° C. than the temperature of the pan 4,
Then, the heating of the lid lower plate 33 is stopped, and thereafter, the pan 4 is controlled according to the control routine enclosed by the broken line in the flowchart of FIG.
The temperature of the lid lower plate 33 is higher than
Lid heater within the range of not more than 5 ° C or less than -5 ° C
While the power is being cut off through 34, the heating of the lid lower plate 33 is controlled. Then, in step S19, the temperature drop of the pan 4 is reduced,
When the temperature change has settled to within a predetermined rate, that is, about ± 3 ° C. within 10 minutes (± 3 ° C./10 minutes), it is determined that the rice in the pan 4 has been stabilized as cold rice, and the routine of steps S15 to S18 is performed. And the heating of the lid lower plate 33 is completely stopped (step S20).

As described above, if the lid lower plate 33 is continuously heated even slightly higher than the temperature of the rice in the pan 4, the upper surface of the rice is dried, and conversely, the lid is heated even slightly lower than the temperature of the rice. If the lower plate 33 continues to be heated, the lid lower plate 33 will condense, so the temperature of the lid lower plate 33 will be lower than the temperature of the rice in the pan 4 until the rice in the pan 4 becomes cold. The lid lower surface plate 33 is heated so that the high period and the low period are alternately repeated. In the embodiment, a lid lower plate 33 constituting the lid 31 is provided.
In the temperature detection, the heating condition for the lid lower plate 33 is determined, but without detecting the temperature of the lid 31, the heating condition for the lid lower plate 33 is determined by detecting the temperature of the pan 4 and controlling the time. May be. As an example, when the temperature of the pan 4 is 90 ° C. or more, the lid heater 34 is heated to the lid lower surface plate 33 at a duty ratio of 30%, and the temperature of the pan 4 is less than 90 ° C. to 70 ° C. or more. Heats the lid lower plate 33 with the lid heater 34 set to 25% duty ratio, and sets the lid heater 34 to 15% duty ratio when the temperature of the pan 4 is less than 70 ° C. to 40 ° C. or more. Heats the lid lower plate 33, and if the temperature of the pan 4 is lower than 40 ° C, the lid heater
Heating is applied to the lid lower plate 33 with 34 being 5% duty ratio,
When the temperature of the pan 4 is stabilized, a method of stopping the heating of the lid lower plate 33 may be used.

By the way, even if the temperature is not kept by the temperature keeping control means 83 after the completion of rice cooking, since the lid lower plate 33 is heated by the cold rice preservation control means 84 to heat the rice well, It is necessary to inform the user of this. Therefore, in the present embodiment, during the storage of the cold rice by the cold rice storage control means 84, as shown in FIG. 6, the cold rice storage display LED 55 of the operation panel 27 is turned on, and at the same time, the cold rice storage display section 51e of the LCD 51 is turned on. It informs that it is being saved. In addition, the LCD 51 displays the cold rice storage time from the end of rice cooking (h in the drawing is
(meaning hour = means), so that if the cold rice is stored for a long time, the user is directly informed that there is a risk of spoilage.

In this embodiment, a function for preventing long-term storage of cold rice is provided. This is shown in FIG.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, after the rice is cooked in step S21, if the cold rice storage control unit 84 performs the cold rice storage (step S22), the cold rice storage control unit 84 uses a built-in timer to execute this cold rice storage operation. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 10 hours has elapsed (step S
twenty three). Then, after a lapse of a predetermined 10 hours, in step S24, the temperature is automatically switched to the temperature keeping by the temperature keeping control means 83, and the rice in the pot 4 which is kept in a low temperature state is kept warm and heated to prevent rot.

As another function, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, when the cold rice storage is performed by the cold rice storage control means 84 after the completion of rice cooking in step S31 (step S32), the next step S33. Then, the operation of the heat retention switch 63 is received. And
In this step S33, if the warming switch 63 is operated, immediately from the cold rice storage by the cold rice storage control means 84,
By switching to the heat keeping by the heat keeping control means 83, the rice in the pot 4 in which the low temperature condition continues can be prevented from being putrefied by the will of the user.

When the storage mode is switched from cold rice storage to normal temperature control automatically or manually according to the procedure of FIG. 10 or 11, thereafter, as shown in FIG.
54 lights up, and the normal heat display section 51d of the LCD 51
Lights up to inform the user that the mode has been switched to the normal heat retention. At this time, the LCD 51 accumulates the time from the start of the normal heat retention and the time of the cold rice preservation, and displays the total elapsed time on the time / time display section 51a. That is, the LCD 51 serving as the elapsed time display means displays the total elapsed time including the storage of the cold rice after the completion of the cooking of the rice, instead of displaying the elapsed time since the switching to the normal heat retention, so that the rice stored in the pan 4 can be displayed. Can be accurately determined.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the rice cooking by the rice cooking control means 81 is completed, the cold rice storage control means 84 for storing the rice in the pan 4 in a cold rice state without keeping the temperature warm is performed by the pan 4
The lid lower plate 33 is heated according to the temperature drop of the rice inside. Therefore, even when steam is generated from the rice in the pan 4,
The lower surface of the lid 31 that opens and closes the upper opening of the pan 4, that is, the lid lower plate
Dew does not adhere to 33, and it is possible to prevent dew condensation on the lid lower plate 33 while keeping the practicality of cold rice storage as it is.

That is, the pot 4 for accommodating the rice to be cooked, the lid 31 for opening and closing the upper opening of the pot 4, the heating coil 6 for heating the pot 4, and the rice cook operation by controlling the heating coil 6 Rice cooker control means 81 for performing the above-mentioned process, and cold rice storage control means 84 for heating the lid lower surface plate 33 which is the lower surface of the lid 31 in accordance with a drop in the temperature of the rice in the pan 4 without keeping the temperature after the rice cooked by the rice cooker control means 81. Thereby, when storing the cold rice in the pot 4, it is possible to prevent dew condensation on the cover lower plate 33, and it is possible to improve the practicality.

Further, in this embodiment, the elapsed time of storing the cold rice after cooking by the rice cooking control means 81 is displayed on the LCD 51 as the elapsed time display means. It is possible to intuitively know the rot caused by leaving the rice for a long time at a low temperature on the display of the LCD 51. Therefore, it is possible to promote self-management of the user himself and prevent rot when storing the cold rice in the pot 4 for a long time.

In this embodiment, the cold rice storage control means 84
Separately from the above, after the rice is cooked by the rice cooking control means 81 and the cold rice storage by the cold rice storage control means 84 has elapsed for a predetermined time, the heat retention by the heat retention control means 83 is provided. It is configured to do so. Therefore, in this case, if the storage of the cold rice after cooking has passed for a predetermined time, the operation is forcibly switched to the warming operation, so that the rice in the pan 4 may be left in the cold rice state for a long time. In addition, the rice can be automatically kept warm and heated to prevent rot when the cold rice is stored in the pot 4 for a long time.

Further, in this embodiment, the heat retention control means
In addition to the rice cooker 83, the rice cooker 81 further includes a heat retention selection switch 64 as a selection means for selecting whether to perform the heat retention by the heat retention control means 83 or the cold rice storage by the cold rice storage control means 84 after the rice is cooked. Therefore, by using the heat retention selection switch 64, it is possible to freely select the normal heat retention operation and the cold rice storage according to the use situation.

In addition, in this embodiment, the cold rice storage control means
When the warming switch 63, which is an operation means, is operated while the cold rice is stored by the 84, the warming control by the warming control means 83 is started. Therefore, in this case, if the warming switch 63 is operated while the rice in the pan 4 is stored in a cold rice state, the warming is started, so that the rice can be warmed in accordance with the next meal, and the usability is improved. improves. In addition, even if the rice in the pan 4 is left in a cold rice state for a long time, if the user decides to immediately switch to heating and heating and store the cold rice in the pan 4 for a long time Rot can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the heating of the lower surface of the lid during the storage of the cold rice is not limited to the procedure of the flowchart shown in the embodiment, and is configured to control the heating of the lower surface of the lid according to the temperature decrease of the rice or the pot containing the rice. I just need.

[0048]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rice cooker comprising: a pot for accommodating cooked food; a lid for opening and closing an upper opening of the pot; a heating means for heating the pan; A rice cooking control means for controlling and performing a rice cooking operation, and a cold rice storage control means for heating the lower surface of the lid in accordance with a decrease in the temperature of the rice in the pan without keeping the temperature after cooking by the rice cooking control means, When storing the cold rice inside, it is possible to prevent dew condensation on the lower surface of the lid and improve the practicality.

The rice cooker according to claim 2 of the present invention
In addition to the configuration of claim 1, the apparatus is provided with an elapsed time display means for displaying an elapsed time after rice cooking by the rice cooking control means. In this case, not only the operation and effect of claim 1, but also
By promoting self-management of the user himself, it becomes possible to prevent spoilage when cold rice is stored in the pot for a long time.

[0050] The rice cooker according to claim 3 of the present invention comprises:
In addition to the configuration of claim 1, further comprising a heat retention control means for keeping the rice in the pot warm, and after the rice is cooked by the rice cook control means, when the cold rice storage by the cold rice storage control means has passed a predetermined time, the heat retention control means In this case, not only the function and effect of claim 1 but also the automatic heating and heating of rice to prevent rotting when cold rice is stored for a long time in a pot. It becomes possible to do.

Further, the rice cooker according to claim 4 of the present invention comprises:
In addition to the configuration of claim 1, a heat retention control means for keeping the rice in the pot warm, and after cooking by the rice cooking control means, which of the heat retention by the heat retention control means and the storage of cold rice by the cold rice storage control means is performed. In this case, not only the function and effect of claim 1 but also the normal warming operation and the storage of cold rice can be freely selected according to the use situation.

Further, the rice cooker according to claim 5 of the present invention comprises:
In addition to the configuration of claim 1, the apparatus further comprises a heat retention control means for keeping the rice in the pot warm, and when the operating means is operated while the cold rice storage control means is performing cold rice preservation, the heat retention by the heat retention control means is reduced. In this case, not only the function and effect of claim 1 but also
It is possible to immediately switch to warming and heating at the user's will and prevent rot when storing cold rice in a pot for a long time. Also, even if the rice is stored in a cold rice state,
The rice can be warmed up to the next meal, improving usability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall sectional view of the rice cooker.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the operation panel.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the rice cooker.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an operation panel showing a display mode in a case where a rice cooking operation is being performed during the setting of cold rice storage.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an operation panel showing a display mode during storage of the cold rice;

FIG. 7 is a front view of an operation panel showing a display mode at the time of heat retention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for selecting a heat retaining course according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for heating the lid lower plate during the storage of the same cold rice.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure when shifting from cold rice storage to heat retention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for shifting from storing cold rice to keeping warm.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Pot 6 Heating coil 31 Lid 33 Lower lid plate (lower lid) 51 LCD (elapsed time display means) 63 Insulation switch (operation means) 64 Insulation selection switch (selection means) 81 Cooking rice control means 83 Insulation control means 84 Cold rice preservation control means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pot for storing cooked rice, a lid for opening and closing an upper opening of the pot, heating means for heating the pot, rice cooking control means for controlling the heating means to perform a rice cooking operation, Without heating after rice cooking by the rice cooking control means,
A rice cooker comprising cold rice storage control means for heating the lower surface of the lid according to the temperature drop of the rice in the pan. 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising an elapsed time display means for displaying an elapsed time after the rice is cooked by the rice cooking control means. 3. A heat retention control means for keeping the rice in the pot warm, and after the rice is cooked by the rice cook control means, when the cold rice storage control means has passed a predetermined time for storing the cold rice, the heat retention control means performs the heat retention. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rice cooker is configured as follows. 4. A heat retention control means for keeping the rice in the pot warm, and a selection for selecting whether to perform the heat retention by the heat retention control means or the cold rice preservation by the cold rice preservation control means after the rice is cooked by the rice cook control means. The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising means. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heat-retaining control means for keeping the rice in the pot warm, wherein when the operating means is operated while storing the cold rice by the cold-rice storage control means, the heat retention by the heat-retaining control means is started. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rice cooker is configured.