JPS61272015A - Automatic rice charging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a series of rice storage, measuring and washing rice, and supplying the washed rice and water corresponding to the rice into a pot of a rice cooker. This relates to an automatic rice preparation device that automatically performs its work.

[Conventional technology]

In this type of conventional device, the amount of water supplied into the rice cooker was constant depending on the amount of rice.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Therefore, with the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, it is not possible to adjust the hardness of cooked rice according to the user's preference, and it is also not possible to increase or decrease the amount of water supplied according to the type or freshness of the rice.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.It is an automatic method that can adjust the hardness of rice cooking according to the user's preference, the type of rice, the freshness of rice, etc. The purpose is to obtain rice preparation equipment.

[Means for solving problems]

The automatic rice preparation device according to the present invention is provided with an operating means for increasing or decreasing the amount of water supplied to the rice cooker by changing the set number of slits on the optical scale in the water supply means.

[Effect]

The water supply means indicates a change in the water level in the metering tank by the number of changing slits on an optical scale, detects this number of changing slits with an optical sensor, and stops the water supply operation when the number of changing slits reaches a set number of slits. Therefore, by changing the set number of slits, the amount of water supplied to the rice cooker can be increased or decreased.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 1, 1 is the main body, 2 is the rice storage chamber located at the upper part of the main body 1, 3 is the rice measuring device installed at the bottom of the rice storage chamber 2, and 4 is the rice measuring device f3. A rice washing device provided below, a water flow control device provided above the 5Fi rice washing device 4, 8 a conveyance device provided at the bottom of the rice washing device 4, and 6 electrically connected to each of these components. This is a control device that controls each part.

The rice storage chamber 2 is shaped like a hopper and has an opening formed at its bottom. At the bottom of this rice storage room 2 is a rice measuring device 3.
A casing 3d constituting the casing 3d is integrally formed, and a circular square 3a is rotatably installed inside the casing 3d. Divided into 4 rooms, 1/4
Measure the specified amount of rice for each rotation. The cell 3a is rotated by a motor 3c via a transmission disk 3b in contact with its outer periphery, and the motor 3c is controlled by a control device 6.

In addition, the bottom of the casing 3d that accommodates the cell 3a has a cell 3a.
An unbuilt lower opening with almost the same shape as the opening of one room is formed,
The fixed wood is put into one chamber of the cell 3a from the rice storage room 2, and when the cell 3a rotates and that chamber coincides with the lower hole of the casing 3d, it falls downward through the lower hole of the casing 3d. A chute 7 is provided at the dropping position of the rice to receive the rice and drop it into the container 4a of the rice washing device 4. The container 4a is a cylindrical container with an open top and bottom, and a stirring rod 4b is arranged inside the container, and the upper end of the stirring rod 4b is connected to the rotating shaft of a motor 4C. The bottom opening of the container 4a can be opened and closed by a bottom plate 4d, and the opening and closing of the bottom plate 4d is performed in conjunction with the transport device 8. The conveying device 8 has a gutter-like conveying body 8a, and the conveying body 8a is arranged so that its almost middle part is located directly below the rice washing container 4a, and is designed to swing like a scene with this middle part as a fulcrum. It is attached to a drive device (not shown).

Further, the bottom plate 4d is pivotally supported outside the bottom opening of the rice washing container 4a, and is pressed by a spring force in the direction in which it is always opened, that is, downward. A motor (not shown) that drives the carrier 8a and the motor 4C are controlled by the control device 6.

A water supply device 5 is provided above the rice washing device 4, the details of which are shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, 20 is a water supply port 20a
and a metering tank having a drain port 20b, 21 is a water supply pipe provided between the water supply port 20a and the water supply source;
1 is provided with a first flow control device 22 consisting of a solenoid valve or a pump. Moreover, a partition wall 20c is provided in the measuring tank 20 to partition the inside thereof, and a communication hole 20d is provided in the lower part of the partition wall 20c. 23 is a drain pipe connected to the drain port 20b and facing the upper opening of the rice washing container 4a; 24 is a pump or 'I installed in the drain pipe 23;
A second flow control device consisting of an IL magnetic valve, 25 is a float housed in the measuring tank 20, 2G is a nine optical scale attached to the float 25, and the optical scale 26 is mounted on a transparent material such as plastic or glass. It is formed by printing 26a that blocks light at equal intervals or by pasting a printed film, and as shown in FIG. A blocking portion 26b is formed, a transparent portion 26c is formed at the top, and a slit portion 26d in which slits 26a are provided at predetermined intervals is formed at the middle portion. The width and spacing of the slits 26a are determined by the resolution of the optical sensor 27, but in this example, the width and spacing of the slits 26a are determined by the resolution of the optical sensor 27.
The width and spacing of 6a were set to 0.6 squares. An optical sensor 27 is arranged opposite to the scale 26 and is composed of a light emitting diode and a phototransistor. The positional relationship between the scale 26 and the sensor 27 is such that when there is no water and the float 25 is on the bottom of the measuring tank 20, the sensor 27 detects the slit portion 26d of the transparent portion 26c of the scale 26. . The output of the optical sensor 27 is applied to the control device 6, which controls the first . Controls the second flow control device 22.24. FIG. 4 shows a part of the control device 6 connected to the sensor 27, 28 to 30 are comparators, and the comparator 28 is connected to the reference voltage V! and sensor output V, and comparators 29 and 30 also compare reference voltages V, , v4 and sensor output V, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the output V of the sensor 27 is Vo when the light blocking section 26b, the slit section 26d, and the transparent section 26c are detected, respectively.

V, , Vll. As a result, comparators 28 to 30
The output is as shown in FIG.

Further, at the lowest part of the main body 1, a drainage receiver 9 is provided for receiving and discharging water flowing down from the right end 8b when the carrier 8a swings with its right end 8b facing down. Also,
The rice cooker 10 is arranged at a position where it can receive water and rice flowing down from the left end 8c when the conveyor 8a swings with its left end 8c facing down. The lid 11 of the rice cooker 10 is opened so that rice and water that has flowed down can enter the pot. At that time, as shown in FIG. 7, the lid holding device 12 attached to a predetermined position in the main body 1 holds the handle 11a formed on the top surface of the lid 11, and holds the lid 11 halfway open, that is, at an angle of 90 degrees or less. Hold it open. The rice cooker 10 supports a lid 11 with a hinge mechanism so that it can be opened on one side, and has a latch mechanism for the lid 11 on the other end side. The lid holding device 12 is shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b).
), two opposing plates 13a and 13b are pivotally connected at a pivot joint 14, an electromagnet 15 is provided at one end of the plate 13a, and a coil spring 16 is installed between one end of the plates 13a and 13b. Provided to open. The plate material 13a is fixed inside the main body 1. Also, 17 is a limit switch,
This is for determining whether the lid holding device 12 is holding the lid ll. When the lid holding device 12 does not hold the lid 11 as shown in FIG. 8(a), the plates 13a, L
One end of the plate 13b is wide open, and one end of the plate 13b comes into contact with the contact 17a of the limit switch 17, activating it. Electromagnet 15 and limit switch 17 are connected to control device 6 . When setting the rice cooker 10 inside the main body l, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the plates 13a and 13b
The handle 11a is held between the other ends, and the spring force of the coil spring 16 holds the lid 11 in the middle-open state. To release this holding, the stain magnet 15 is energized by a signal from the control device 6, one end of the plate 13b is attracted to the electromagnet 15, and the handle 11a is released. Therefore, the lid 11 rotates downward under its own weight, and the latch mechanism is activated by the force of the rotation, thereby closing the lid 11. Further, 18a and 18b are limit switches provided below the carrier 8a, and 19 is a control display board provided at the top of the main body 1 and connected to the control device 6. Rice measuring switch 19a for controlling rice cooking switch 1 for controlling rice cooking
9b and a rice washing switch 19 that controls rice washing.
A selection switch such as c is provided. In addition, the control light display board 1
9, as shown in FIG. Operation switches 36a to 36c are provided for setting.

Next, the operation of the above device will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. First, if rice is not properly loaded into the rice storage chamber 2), then place the lid 11 of the rice cooker 10 on the lid holding device 1.
2. Latch it in the υ middle open state. Next, the rice cooking amount and rice cooking time are set using the methane 34 and 35, and the rice cooking state is selected using the operation switches 36a to 36c, thereby changing the set number of slits in the water supply device 5. Next, select the selection switches 19a to 19c to select the range of operations to be performed. Now, when the rice cooking switch 19b is selected, the control device 6 controls the limit switch 1.
It is determined whether or not the lid 11 is open based on the signal from the controller 7. If the limit switch 17 is turned on, that is, if the lid 11 is held, the device enters a standby state until the operation start time set by the timer. If the limit switch 17 is off, the operation is stopped and the user is immediately notified by an alarm or the like. Next, when the operation start time set by the timer comes, the carrier 8
a is swung toward the drainage side (the side shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). As a result, the bottom opening of the rice washing container 4a is closed by the bottom plate 4d interlocking with the carrier 8a.

Next, the square 3a of the measuring device 3 is rotated by a predetermined number of revolutions based on the rice cooking amount set, and the rice thus weighed is placed into the rice washing container 4a through the chute 7. After that, the second flow rate control device 24 is activated and the rice washing container 4a
At the same time, the stirring rod 4b is rotated to wash the rice. At this time, the bottom opening of the rice washing container 4a and the bottom plate 4d are not completely sealed, so that some water may leak out. As a result, the washed rice wastewater is sequentially passed through the conveyor 8a and drained out of the main body l from the drainage receiver part 9.

Such rice washing is repeated until the sewage turbidity falls below a predetermined value or a predetermined time elapses. After the final rice washing, the second flow rate control device 24 is closed and the operation continues until all drainage is completed. stop. Thereafter, the conveyor 8a is swung so that the left end 8c is on the lower side, and the bottom opening of the rice washing container 4a is opened.

Then, the second flow rate control device 24 is opened for a predetermined period of time, and
Water is supplied into the rice washing container 4a, and the container 4a and the carrier 8a are
While washing off the rice adhering to the rice, pour rice and the corresponding amount of water into the pot of the rice cooker IO. At this time, if the operation switch 36a is pressed, the water amount will be adjusted by the operation switch 36a.
It will increase a little more than if you press b, and conversely, if you press operation switch 36
If c is pressed, it usually decreases. Incidentally, at this time, a watering tool may be attached to the tip of the drain pipe 23 in order to completely wash off the rice adhering to the rice washing container 4a and the like. Next, the carrier 8a is again swung to the drainage side, and water is supplied for a predetermined period of time to perform post-cleaning. The position of the carrier 8a is the limit switch 18.
a, 18b and precisely controlled by the control device 6. At the same time as post-cleaning, the electromagnet 15 of the lid holding device 12 is energized to attract one end of the plate 13b, and the lid 11 is latched off. As a result, the lid 11 is closed by its own weight. - 10,000, the rice in the pot is in a state of being piled up like a mountain, but in reality, the rice cooker 10 is given horizontal vibration by a vibration table installed at the bottom of the rice cooker 10, and the rice is cooked in the pot. Place it evenly within. Thereafter, a standby time is allowed to soak the rice in water for a predetermined time, and then energy is applied to the rice cooker 10.

The above is the case where the rice cooking switch 19b is selected, but when the rice measuring switch 19a is selected, the carrier 8a is swung toward the rice cooker lO side from the beginning and the rice is weighed as described above. The washed rice passes through the rice washing container 4a and is stored in the pot of the rice cooker IO via the carrier 8a, and the lid 11 is closed.

Also, when the rice washing switch 19c is pressed, the rice cooker 10
The steps up to the input of rice cooking energy to the rice cooker are performed in the same manner as when the rice cooking switch 19b is selected. This is used, for example, when making takikomi rice.

Next, the operation of the water supply device 5 will be explained using the time chart shown in FIG. First, the first flow rate control device 22 operates according to an AND condition between the water supply command and the output of the comparator 28, and water is supplied to the metering tank 20 via the water supply pipe 21. As a result, water flows into the partition wall 20c through the communication hole 20d into a portion of the float 25, and the float 25 and scale 26 move upward. Here, sensor 27
When the light blocking portion 26b is detected, the output of the comparator 28 is turned off, the first flow rate control device 22 is deactivated, and the water supply is stopped. At this time, since the water flow is suddenly stopped, the water surface shakes, and the scale 26 also shakes, which may cause the sensor 27 to detect the water incorrectly. For this reason, the first
One hour has elapsed since the second flow rate control device 22 became inactive, and a command to turn on the second flow rate control device 24 is issued to the constant diameter. Second
The flow control device 24 is activated by the AND condition of this ON command, the counter output, and the inverted output of the comparator 30, and as a result, water drainage (with respect to the rice washing container 4a) starts and the scale 26 descends. . At this time, the sensor 27
6a, the comparator 29 generates a pulse, which is converted into a counter in the control device 6. When a predetermined number of slits are counted, the second flow rate control device 24 is stopped, and drainage is stopped. Since the amount of water discharged is proportional to the number of slits 26a, a predetermined amount of water is discharged and supplied to the rice washing container 4a. The measurement accuracy of this device is proportional to the number of counts of the slit 26a for a predetermined amount of water.
Accuracy improves when the cross-sectional area of the scale 7 is made smaller and the moving distance of the scale 7 is made longer. In addition, when supplying water to the measuring tank 20, it is necessary to reduce the shaking of the water surface in order to reduce errors, and for this purpose, the water supply port 20a is installed at a position υ higher than the highest water level, and the water supply port 20a is placed at a position υ higher than the highest water level, and the water supply port 20a is placed at a position υ higher than the highest water level, and the water supply port 20a is placed at a position υ higher than the highest water level, and the water supply port 20a is placed at a position υ higher than the highest water level, and the water supply port 20a is placed at a position υ higher than the highest water level. It is made to hit the partition wall 20c once every.

Note that there may be cases where it is necessary to configure the capacity of the measuring tank 20 to be smaller due to the physical factors of the entire device, and in such a case, the volume in the measuring tank 20 may be reduced before the number of counts corresponding to the required displacement amount is reached. Water may run out. At this time, the inverted output of the comparator 30 is turned off before the count is completed, so the second flow rate control device 24 is stopped. However, when the ON command is issued to the flow rate control device 22 of the cylinder 1 again, water supply starts, and the scale 26 The water level rises until the light blocking part 26b is detected, and when the second flow control device 27 is turned on again, the counter counts the slits 26a, and the cumulative total with the previous count reaches a predetermined count. Then the second
The sequence may be configured to turn off the flow rate control device 24. Further, the waste water from the second flow rate control device 24 is used not only for water necessary for cooking rice but also for washing rice and washing the rice washing tank, and in such a case, the amount of water supplied does not require precision.

Therefore, the output of the comparator 28 and the inverted output of the comparator 30 are used to control the first and second flow rate control devices 2 without using a counter.
2.24 may be driven.

Also, depending on the selection of the operation switches 36a to 36c, the rice cooker l
The amount of water supplied to O changes because the number of slits set for changing the optical scale 26 in the water supply device 5 is changed via the control device 6.

In the above embodiment, the amount of water supplied is increased or decreased according to the amount of rice according to the user's preference, but the amount of water supplied may be increased or decreased according to the type or freshness of the rice.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, an operating means is provided that increases or decreases the amount of water supplied to the rice cooker corresponding to the amount of rice by changing the set number of slits in the water supply means, and the amount of water can be adjusted according to the amount of rice by operating the operating means. You can adjust the amount of water supplied,
The hardness of cooked rice can be optimized according to the user's preference or according to the type and freshness of the rice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are respectively a block diagram of the device of the present invention and a front view of its control display board, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the water supply device according to the present invention, and FIGS. Partial configuration diagram, voltage waveform diagram and output characteristic diagram of each part of the control device, Part 7
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the lid holding mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 8(a)
, (b) are plan views of the differential holding state and the differential holding state of the lid holding mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a diagram of the operation of the water supply device according to the present invention. It is a time chart showing. 2...Rice storage room, 3...Rice measuring device, 4...Rice washing device, 5...Water supply device, 6...# control device, 8...
Conveyance device・10...Rice cooker, 20...Measuring tank,
22... First flow rate control device, 24... Second flow rate control device, 26... Optical scale, 26a... Slit, 27... Optical sensor, 36a-36c... Operation switch . Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) a rice storage means for storing rice; a rice measuring means for measuring and taking out a predetermined amount of rice from the rice stored in the rice storage means;
A rice washing means for washing weighed rice, a conveying means for transporting the washed rice into the rice cooker, a measuring tank, a flow control device for controlling the amount of water supplied and drained from the measuring tank, and a device that moves up and down with the water level in the measuring tank. It also has an optical scale having equally spaced slits and an optical sensor that detects the slits of the optical scale, and the water supply operation is performed until the optical sensor detects the set number of slits, and the water is supplied to the rice washing means and the rice is supplied to the rice cooker. a water supply means for supplying a quantity of water corresponding to the quantity of rice; an operating means for increasing or decreasing the quantity of water supplied corresponding to the quantity of rice to be fed to the rice cooker by changing the number of slits set in the water supply means; and control for controlling each of these means. An automatic rice preparation device characterized by being equipped with means.