JPH1080360A - Automatic rice cooking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent careless switching operation of adjustment switches, which have been adjusted precisely by an operator, when operating a start switch. SOLUTION: An automatic rice cooking device is provided with a control board 60 for control operation of rice washing and cooking, on which adjustment switches 72-74 for adjusting one or more stages of rice cooking conditions, a start switch 63 of washing and cooking rice, and a process position display part 66 for displaying rice cooking processes are attached. The adjustment switches 72-74 are arranged centrally on one part of the control board 60, so as to separate them from the start switch 63, and the process position display part 66.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to rice weighing, rice washing,
The present invention relates to an automatic rice cooker that automatically cooks rice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as an automatic rice cooker, a rice storing section for storing rice, a measuring section for discharging a predetermined amount of rice in the rice storing section, a rice washing section for washing rice discharged from the measuring section, and the rice washing section. It has a rice cooker that cooks the rice discharged from the unit, and has an operation panel with a setting switch on the front to set the amount of rice cooked, how to wash the rice, the degree of cooking, etc., and set it with the setting switch In some cases, rice is automatically weighed, washed, and cooked according to specified conditions.

In this type of automatic rice cooker, a control panel for controlling rice washing and rice cooking is provided with a "rice cook" setting switch, a "hardness" setting switch for adjusting cooking level, and a degree of rice washing. "How to wash" setting switch,
A plurality of adjustment switches such as a “mode” setting switch for adjusting rice cooking conditions in a plurality of stages are provided,
A start switch for rice washing and rice cooking and a process position display section for displaying a rice cooking process are provided. In the conventional case, an adjustment switch for adjusting rice cooking conditions in a plurality of stages, a start switch for rice washing and rice cooking, and rice cooking A process position display unit for displaying a process is not provided on the operation panel in a spatially distinguishable manner.

[0004]

The automatic rice cooker always adjusts the type of rice, the cooking habits of the craftsman, and the like, by making fine adjustments to the adjustment switch and maintaining the adjustment state until the rice type changes. The rice can be cooked deliciously under the rice cooking conditions, and as long as the same conditions are maintained, even a person who is unfamiliar with rice can cook delicious rice just by pressing the start switch.

However, in the prior art, when the start switch of rice washing and rice cooking is operated, switches are mixed, so that the switch for rice cooking adjustment is erroneously operated where the start switch should be pressed, and the condition set by the craftsman is set. Changed, sometimes it was not delicious rice cooked. Further, the adjustment switch cannot be clearly distinguished from each display on the process position display section, and there is a fear that the adjustment switch may be operated accidentally.

Accordingly, the present invention is intended to prevent a worker from accidentally operating a finely set adjustment switch when operating a start switch.

[0007]

A first technical means for solving the above-mentioned problems according to the present invention is to provide a control panel for controlling rice-washing / cooking for adjusting rice-cooking conditions in a plurality of stages. In an automatic rice cooker provided with a plurality of adjustment switches, a start switch for rice washing and rice cooking, and a process position display unit for displaying a rice cooking process, the plurality of adjustment switches are the start switch and the process position display unit. And that they are concentrated in a part of the operation panel so as to be distinguished from the operation panel.

A second technical means is that the process position display section is provided between the plurality of adjustment switches and the start switch. A third technical means is that a cover for covering the adjustment switch is provided. A fourth technical means is that a cover for covering the adjustment switch is provided so as to be openable and closable, and the cover is configured to be able to be held in a closed state for covering the adjustment switch.

A fifth technical means is that a cover for covering the adjustment switch is provided so as to be openable and closable, so that the cover can be held in an open state. A sixth technical means is that the cover is openable and closable up and down. Therefore, the “cooked rice amount” setting switch 72,
A plurality of adjustment switches such as a "hardness" setting switch 13, a "washing" setting switch 74, and a "mode" setting switch 75, and a start switch for rice-washing and rice cooking and a display of a process position display section are spatially distinguished. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the adjustment switch from being operated by mistake when the start switch is to be pressed, and to prevent the adjustment switch from being accidentally operated.

[0010] Further, since the process position display section is provided between the plurality of adjustment switches and the start switch, the plurality of adjustment switches and the start switch for rice washing and rice cooking are largely separated from each other. Can be. In addition, since the cover that covers the adjustment switch is provided, it is necessary to act to open the cover to operate the adjustment switch. Can be prevented.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 3 and 4, the automatic rice cooker has a main body frame 1, a caster 2 is provided below the frame 1, and the automatic rice cooker is movable. A rice storage unit 3 for storing rice in the frame 1, a measuring unit 4 for discharging a predetermined amount of rice in the rice storage unit 3, a rice washing unit 5 for washing the rice discharged from the measuring unit 4, A rice discharging unit 6 for discharging the rice of the unit 5, a rice cooking unit 7 for cooking the rice discharged from the rice discharging unit 6, and a control unit 8 for controlling the operation of each unit are formed.

As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG.
Has a funnel-shaped rice storage 9, and the rice storage 9 is provided with a rice storage sensor 10 for detecting the amount of rice in the rice storage. Inside the rice storage 9, there is a sieve member 11 for preventing foreign matter from entering.
Are provided detachably. Above the rice storage 9, an auxiliary tank 12 for increasing the amount of stored rice is detachably attachable.

The measuring section 4 is provided integrally below the rice storage 9. The weighing unit 4 includes a cutting unit 13 for discharging a predetermined amount of rice in one rotation, and the cutting unit 13.
And a weighing count sensor 15 for detecting the amount of rotation of the cut-out means 13.
The rice storage unit 3 and the measuring unit 4 are detachable upward from the frame 1.

The rice washing section 5 has a rice washing tank 16 which is arranged below the measuring section 4 and stores rice discharged from the cutting means 13. At the front of the rice washing tank 16, a transparent cleaning window 16a is provided to be freely opened and closed. In the rice washing tank 16, a stirring means 17 for stirring the rice inside is rotatably provided. The stirring means 17 is driven to rotate 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 section 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 supply pipe, a shower supply pipe 22 branched from the main pipe 21 to spray water from an upper part of the rice washing tank 16,
Overflow supply pipe 23 for supplying water from the lower part of 6
And The main pipe 21 is provided with a flow rate sensor 24 for detecting an amount of water flowing in the main pipe 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 section 5 includes the rice washing tank 16.
A drainage device 27 for draining the water inside is provided. The drainage device 27 includes a lower drain pipe 28 connected to a lower portion of the rice washing tank 16 to drain water in the tank 16 from a lower portion of the rice washing tank 16, and a water drainer in the tank 16 from an upper portion of the rice washing tank 16. And an overflow drain pipe 29 connected to the upper part of the tank.
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 close by a drain motor 31 composed of a solenoid motor. The on-off valve 30 is provided with a confirmation sensor 32 for confirming the opening and closing of the valve 30. In the rice washing tank 16,
Water level limit sensor 3 for detecting the water level in the tank
3 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rice washing section 6 includes a rice discharge valve 34 for opening and closing an opening provided at a lower portion of the rice washing tank 16 and an opening / closing device 35 for opening and closing the valve 34. Having. The opening and closing device 35 is provided with the stirring means 1.
7, a rod 36 penetrating through the center of the rod 7, a link 37 that swings by engaging with the upper end of the rod 36, and a drain motor 38 that swings the link 37.
The rice discharging valve 34 is attached to the lower end of the rod 36. The opening / closing device 35 is provided with a rice discharging home sensor 39 for detecting that the rice discharging valve 34 is closed, and a rice discharging lower sensor 40 for detecting that the rice discharging valve 34 is open.

The rice cooker 7 comprises a rice cooker lid device 41 disposed below the rice discharge valve 34 and a rice cooker main unit 42 into which the lid device 41 is fitted. The rice cooker lid device 4
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an opening / closing operation lever 43 slidably provided on the main body frame 1 and a vertically movable lid 45 connected to the opening / closing operation lever 43 via a link 44 are provided. Have. At the center of the lid 45, as shown in FIG. 8, a shutter 47 having an opening 46 and capable of opening and closing the opening 46 is slidably provided on the upper surface side of the lid 45. I have. The shutter 47 includes a shutter motor 48
Is driven by the pinion 49 and the rack 50 meshed with the pinion 49 to open and close. The lid 4
The shutter 5 has a shutter open sensor 51 for detecting the opening and closing of the shut 47 and a shutter close sensor 52.

The rice cooker main unit 42 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, a mounting table 53 that can be pulled out with respect to the main body frame 1, an outer shuttle 54 mounted on the mounting table 53,
And an inner hook 55 inserted removably into the outer hook 54. The outer pot 54 is provided with an ignition lever 56 for gas burner ignition, a rice cooker lever sensor 57 for detecting that the gas has been ignited, and an inner pot confirmation sensor 58 for confirming that the inner pot 55 is inserted. ing. On the main body frame 1 side, a rail set sensor 59 for detecting that the mounting table 53 is set at the rice cooking position is provided.

The control unit 8 includes, as shown in FIGS.
It comprises an operation panel 60 provided on the front of the upper part of the main body frame 1 and arranged vertically, and a microcomputer device, a high-power control device, and the like housed in a storage box 84 provided on the back side of the operation panel 60. Have been. As shown in FIG.
The storage box 84 is immersed and mounted in the frame 1, and the operation panel 60 is fixed to the front side of the storage box 84. The center of the front of the operation panel 60 is recessed on the back side, and the bottom 85a of the recess 85 is formed to be inclined upward toward the back, and the bottom 85a is provided with various switches and lamps. Is provided. Operation panel 6
Numeral 0 has a display panel 86 superposed on the front surface of the bottom 85a of the recess 85.

FIG. 2 shows the display panel 86 in detail. On the upper part of the display panel 86, switches 61, 6 for "reservation", "immediately", "start", and "cancel" are displayed.
2, 63, 64 are arranged in a horizontal line. These switches 61, 62, 63, 64 are arranged in a concentrated manner on the upper side of the operation panel 60, and are arranged at positions different from a plurality of adjustment switches described later. A time / flow rate / cooked rice amount display section 65 is provided next to these switch rows.

A process position display section 66 for displaying each process is provided below the switch row.
The display unit 66 is configured to display the process being processed by lighting or blinking a green lamp. Further, next to the display section 66, a “water control start” switch 6 is provided.
7 are arranged. Above the switch 67, there is provided a time display section 68 for waiting for zirconing.
A steaming time display section 69 is provided below.

A check position display section 70 is provided below the time / flow rate / cooked rice display section 65. The display unit 70 displays an error or trouble in each process by lighting or blinking a red lamp. A graphic display section 71 is provided between the process position display section 66 and the check position display section 70. The graphic display unit 71 schematically depicts the overall shape of the rice cooker, and lamps are arranged at positions corresponding to the process position and the check position. The lamp is operated by the process position display unit 66. When the check position indicator 70 is activated, the lamp at the corresponding position lights or flashes red when the check position display unit 70 is operating.

At the lower part of the display panel 86, a "cooking rice" setting switch 72 and a "hardness" for adjusting the amount of cooking are provided.
A setting switch 73, a "washing" setting switch 74 for selecting the degree of rice washing, and a "cooking rice automatic" for performing all processes from weighing to cooking, and waiting until the rice is washed. The "mode" setting switches 75 for selecting each step of "preparing rice" and "washing rice" up to the step before ignition are arranged in a horizontal row. These "cooked rice amount" setting switch 72, "hardness" setting switch 13,
The “washing” setting switch 74 and the “mode” setting switch 75 are adjustment switches for finely adjusting rice cooking conditions in a plurality of stages.
The start switch 63 and the process position display section 66 are arranged side by side in a concentrated manner at a part (lower side) of the operation panel 60 so as to be distinguished from the start switch 63 and the process position display section 66. And the plurality of adjustment switches and the start switch 6.
3, a process position display section 66 is provided.

Further, below the row of setting switches, there is provided a "zara raising timer set" switch 76a for setting a zircon raising time, an "irregular timer set" switch 76b for setting a rippling time, and a rice washing tank. 16
After supplying a certain amount of water to the
"Remaining rice in tank" switch 77 for processing remaining rice in the tank
a, a "water supply" switch 77b for showering water into the rice washing tank 16 while the switch is pressed, a "time setting" switch 78 for setting a current time or a reservation time, and a "total" for displaying a total rice cooked amount. A "display rice cooked amount" switch 79a and a "total rice cooked clear" switch 79b for erasing the total cooked rice amount are arranged in a horizontal row.

The setting switches 72, 73, 74, and 74 for the "cooked rice amount", "hardness", "washing", and "mode" are set.
75, and switches 76a, 76b, 7 for "Zara-raising, spotting timer set", "Tank remaining rice processing", "Water supply", "Time setting", "Total cooked rice amount display, Clear"
7a, 77b, 78, 79a, 79b are covered with a single transparent plate-shaped cover 80 so as not to be accidentally pushed. The right and left sides of the upper end of the cover 80 are pivotally supported by a pivot 87 on the upper side such as the various setting switches so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis so that the cover 80 can swing up and down. ing. A notch 88 for catching a finger is formed at the center of the lower end of the cover 80. And
When the cover 80 is rotated upward to the open position indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. 1, the display panel 86 is inclined upward to the rear side because the display panel 86 is inclined. It can be held in position. To return the cover 80 from the open position to the closed position, the free end of the cover 80 may be pulled slightly forward. With the above configuration, it is possible to operate the opening and closing operation of the cover 80 and the switch operation from the “rice cooked amount” setting switch 72 to the “total cooked rice square” switch 79b with one hand.

Although the rice cooking section 7 is exposed to the outside world, the measuring section 4, the rice washing motor 18, the drain motor 31, the rice discharging motor 38, and various sensors and the like are arranged in the main body frame 1.
It is stored in the upper sealed part. Therefore, there is little fear that the steam generated in the rice cooker 7 will enter the closed part,
An exhaust fan 82 is provided on the bottom plate 81 for discharging steam in the event of intrusion and for cooling various devices (see FIG. 4). 83 is a main switch.

Next, the operation of the automatic rice cooker having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 9 (A), 9 (B) and 9 (C). First, when the operator turns on the main switch 83,
The microcomputer device of the control unit 8 determines whether or not it is a “test”. 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 a test processing step, and various tests are performed.

If it is not "test", the process proceeds to "initial process" and "maintenance process" steps. The “initial processing” step is a step for setting each device to an initial state, and is a step used at the beginning of use. The "maintenance processing" is a step that is activated when the "tank remaining rice processing" or the "water supply" switches 77a and 77b are pressed. In normal use, the above steps are bypassed.

Next, the operator operates the "reservation" switch 61.
Or, press any of the "immediate" switches 62. "Reservation"
Is used when operating at a predetermined time, and "immediately"
Used when starting from the present time. When any of the switches is pressed, the process proceeds to a “water amount check” step. In this water amount confirmation step, the shower solenoid valve 25 is opened, water is supplied to the rice washing tank 16, the remaining rice in the tank 16 is processed, and the flow rate is measured by the flow rate sensor 24, and there is a predetermined flow rate. Whether or not
The flow rate is stored.

Next, the operator makes a menu selection.
This menu selection is made by pressing the setting switches 72 to 75 for "cooking rice amount", "hardness", "washing method", and "mode". Is operated to set these times. When the menu set in advance or the previous time is adopted, no menu selection is performed.

Next, the operator performs time setting.
This time set uses the “time” setting switch 78 to correctly display the current time or set a reservation time. There is no need to set if you want to use the current settings as they are. Next, the operator presses the "start" switch 63. When the "reservation" switch 61 is pressed, a reservation process is started, and when a predetermined set time is reached, the process proceeds to a weighing process.

"When the reservation switch 61 is not operated, that is, the" immediate "switch 62 is pressed,
By pressing the "start" switch 63, the process proceeds to the weighing process. In the measuring process, a predetermined amount of rice is discharged from the rice storage 9 to the rice washing tank 16 via the measuring unit 4 according to the set rice cooking amount. The metering unit 4 stores and integrates the amount of discharged rice, and the rice cooked amount display unit 65 can display the total cooked rice amount (total amount for a predetermined period such as one day or one week).

When the measuring step is completed, the process proceeds to the washing, polishing and overflowing steps. In the rice washing process, the shower supply pipe 22 is used.
This is a step of stirring and washing the rice in the rice washing tank 16 by the stirring means 17 while sprinkling a predetermined amount of water from the washing machine. At this time, the on-off valve 30 is open and drained. The rice polishing step is a step of stopping water supply and rotating the stirring means 17.

In the overflow step, the on-off valve 30 is closed, the shower supply pipe 22 and the overflow supply pipe 23 are closed.
While the water is being supplied to the rice washing tank 16, the rice is stirred by the stirring means 17 and drained from the overflow drain pipe 29.
Finally, the on-off valve 30 is opened to drain all the water in the rice washing tank 16. The rice washing and polishing steps are performed a plurality of times, and the overflow step is performed once at the end. These steps depend on the setting of the “washing” setting switch 74 and are controlled by 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 mode is the rice washing mode. That is, when “rice washing” is not set by the “mode” switch 75, the process proceeds to a zirzag raising process. The shrinking step is a step of holding rice for a predetermined time in the rice washing tank 16 with the water being drained. The holding time is the time set by the timer set button 76. Display section 68 for remaining time during standby
Will be displayed.

If the "mode" setting switch 75 is set to "preparing rice", the process is temporarily interrupted in the raising process, and the operator starts the water addition / reduction start switch 67.
Unless is pressed, the process does not proceed to the next shutter opening step. When the "automatic rice cooking" mode is selected, the process automatically proceeds to the next shutter opening process.

When the mode is "washing rice", the zirzag step is skipped and the process proceeds to a shutter opening step. In the shutter opening step, the shutter 47 is opened and the opening 4 of the lid 45 is opened.
6 is a step of opening. When the shutter 47 is opened, the process proceeds to the next water adjusting process.

The water addition / detachment step includes a “hardness” setting switch 7
The amount of water controlled by the setting of 3
In this step, water is supplied to the rice washing tank 16 from Step 2. At this time, the on-off valve 30 is closed. Next, the process proceeds to a valve opening process. In this step, the rice discharging valve 34 of the rice discharging unit 6 is opened, and the rice and water in the rice washing tank 16 are discharged to the inner pot 55 of the rice cooking unit 7.

Then, the rice discharging valve 34 is closed in the next valve closing step, and the shutter 4 is closed in the next shutter closing step.
7 seals the opening 46 of the lid 45. If the rice washing mode has been set, the process ends. When the mode is not the rice washing mode, that is, in the automatic rice cooking mode, the process proceeds to the rice washing completion process. This step is a step of sounding a guide buzzer or the like to notify the operator of the completion of rice washing. Then, the process proceeds to the dipping process. This step is a step of sounding a guide buzzer or the like after a predetermined time has elapsed to notify the operator.

Next, the process enters a rice-cooking lever input waiting step, and waits for ignition of the ignition lever 56. The operator sets the ignition lever 56
Is operated to ignite the gas, and thereafter, the process proceeds to the rice cooking process, the steaming process, and the cooking process, and all the processes are completed.
FIG. 10 shows another embodiment, in which a display panel 8 of an operation panel is provided.
6 is upright, and the cover 80 is pivoted at a distance from the display panel 86 so as to be inclined upward toward the rear when the cover 80 is in the closed position, as indicated by phantom lines. It is pivotally supported by a support 87.

[0042]

According to the present invention, a plurality of adjustment switches for adjusting rice cooking conditions in a plurality of stages are distinguished from a start switch for rice washing and rice cooking and a process position display section for displaying a rice cooking process. It is located in a part of the operation panel, so that it is possible to prevent the adjustment switch from being operated by mistake when the start switch is to be pressed, Switch operation can also be prevented. Therefore, the craftsman does not inadvertently switch the adjustment switch that has been set in detail, and the craftsman can finely adjust the cooking condition with the adjustment switch by the craftsman's hand, so that even an amateur can cook the same cooked rice as the craftsman at any time. You can cook repeatedly.

Further, since the process position display section is provided between the plurality of adjustment switches and the start switch, the plurality of adjustment switches and the start switch can be largely separated from each other. ,
During the adjustment of the rice cooking condition by the adjustment switch, it is possible to more reliably prevent the start switch of rice washing and rice cooking from being erroneously operated.

Since the cover for covering the adjustment switch is provided, it is necessary to open the cover to operate the adjustment switch. It can be prevented more reliably. Further, since the cover can be held open, the opening and closing operation of the cover and the switch operation of the adjustment switch can be operated with one hand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the display panel.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the automatic rice cooker.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the automatic rice cooker.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the automatic rice cooking device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the automatic rice cooking device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of the rice discharging unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the shutter.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic rice cooker.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 60 operation panel 63 start switch 66 process position display section 72 rice cooking amount setting switch (adjustment switch) 73 hardness setting switch (adjustment switch) 74 washing method setting switch (adjustment switch) 75 mode setting switch (adjustment switch) 80 cover

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Minoru Nakajima 2-2-227 Mizuhashi, Higashi-Osaka-shi, Osaka Daiwa Seiko Co., Ltd. No. 27 in Yamato Seiko Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A control panel for controlling rice washing and rice cooking, a plurality of adjustment switches for adjusting rice cooking conditions in a plurality of stages, a start switch for rice washing and rice cooking, and a process position display unit for displaying a rice cooking process. In the automatic rice cooker provided with the above, the plurality of adjustment switches are concentratedly arranged at a part of the operation panel so as to be distinguished from the start switch and the process position display unit. Automatic rice cooker characterized by the following. 2. The automatic rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the process position display section is provided between the plurality of adjustment switches and the start switch. 3. The automatic rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising a cover that covers the adjustment switch. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cover for covering the adjustment switch is provided so as to be openable and closable, and the cover can be held in a closed state for covering the adjustment switch. Automatic rice cooker. 5. The automatic rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein a cover that covers the adjustment switch is provided so as to be openable and closable, and the cover can be held in an open state. 6. The automatic rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the cover is openable and closable up and down.