JPS6131987B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a natto maker that allows natto to be easily made at home.

Conventionally, natto was made at home using a kotatsu or hot water bottle, or in the bathroom, but the temperature was inaccurate, so the natto bacteria did not grow, and the environment and container used were unsanitary. Because of this, bacteria can breed,
Due to inappropriate temperature and ventilation, natto could not be made and rotted. Also, the quality of the natto was uneven, and it took a long time to make it. Commercially available natto is manufactured in factories equipped with automated air conditioning and temperature control, but this requires enormous equipment costs and is extremely large-scale, making it difficult to manufacture at home. It was not suitable for making hot and easy natto.

The present invention solves these problems and maintains the optimum temperature for the growth of natto bacteria, which is a necessary condition for making natto.
It satisfies the requirements of high humidity, ventilation, and cleanliness, and completely achieves its purpose with a simple and completely new means structure.

The structure will be explained below using the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a manufacturing device body which is made of synthetic resin and molded into, for example, a rectangular box shape. Reference numeral 2 denotes a rib-shaped hakama portion extending below the bottom outer periphery of the main body 1 of the manufacturing device. Reference numeral 3 denotes a heating element, for example, a cord-shaped heater sandwiched between aluminum foil and double-sided adhesive tape, and this heating element 3 is attached to the bottom of the main body 1 of the manufacturing device with the double-sided adhesive tape. Reference numeral 4 denotes a temperature controller, such as a thermal reed switch or a small bimetal type thermostat, and this temperature controller 4 is similarly attached to the bottom of the manufacturing device body 1 using means such as screws. These heating element 3 and temperature controller 4 are electrically connected in series, and further connected to an outer power cord 5. A bottom cover 6 protects electrical components such as the heating element 3 and the temperature controller 4, and is assembled so as to be fitted to the lower end of the hakama part 2 and integrated. 7 is a protrusion provided inside the main body 1 of the manufacturing device, and the injected water 8
It is integrally molded with the maker body 1 so as to protrude above the water surface. Reference numeral 9 denotes a bean storage container, which is molded using a heat-resistant synthetic resin such as polypropylene so that it can be sterilized by boiling, and is placed on the protrusion 7. This bean storage container 9 has a container part 10 and a lid part 1.
1, both of which are integrally molded via a thin hinge 20. Further, 12 is a lid locking piece that can close the lid part 11 to the container part 10 and lock it in a hooked state. Furthermore, both the container part 10 and the lid part 11,
A large number of small holes 13 are opened so that soybeans cannot pass through. Reference numeral 14 denotes an outer lid, which is usually molded using a transparent synthetic resin material, and is removably fitted into an outer lid locking step 15 provided on the upper outer periphery of the main body 1 of the manufacturing device. ing. The internal space created when they are fitted together serves as a breeding chamber 16. Reference numeral 17 denotes a ventilation hole, which is a through hole that connects the breeding chamber 16 with the outside air, and is provided on the upper surface of the outer cover 14.

To explain how to use the home natto maker configured as above, first remove the outer lid 14, then take out the bean storage container 9, open the lid 11, and remove the outer lid 14.
Put soybeans 18 that have been boiled in a pressure cooker in advance. A small amount of natto bacteria is applied to the soybeans 18, and the lid 11 is returned to its original position on the container 10 containing the soybeans 18 and closed with the lid locking piece 12. Place the bean storage container 9.
Furthermore, water 8 is injected into this inside. At this time water 8
Be careful not to touch the bean storage container 9 with this injected water 8.
It is placed in a higher position. When the outer lid 14 is covered and electricity is turned on from the power cord 5, the heating element 3 at the bottom of the production device body 1 is heated, and the water 8 that is subsequently injected is heated, and the water 8 is evaporated into the breeding chamber 16. At the same time, this breeding chamber 16 is heated. When the temperature in the breeding chamber 16 reaches approximately 40° C. or higher, the temperature controller 4 connected in series with the heating element 3 is opened to cut off the power and stop generating heat. Furthermore, when the temperature of the breeding chamber 16 falls below approximately 40°C, the temperature controller 4 is operated to close, so that the breeding chamber 16 is always maintained at a constant temperature of approximately 40°C, which is an appropriate temperature.
The soybeans 18 in the bean storage container 9 are also maintained at a similar temperature. In addition, the breeding chamber 16 is constantly in a high humidity state due to transpiration of the water 8, and outside air enters the breeding chamber 16 through the ventilation hole 17. Since moisture and air enter through the small holes 13, the soybeans 18 inside are in a high humidity and ventilation state like the propagation chamber 16. Since it acts on the soybeans 18 in the bean storage container 9 in this way, the natto bacteria attached to the soybeans 18 multiply very well, and the soybeans 18 are fermented overnight and become natto.

As shown in FIG. 4, a protrusion 7 is integrally formed as a protrusion 7' on the bottom of the bean storage container 9, and the injected water 8
It goes without saying that even if the bean storage container is configured to be at a higher level, it will function in the same way as described above.

Since it is configured and operates as described above, it has the effects described below. In other words, the soybeans in the bean storage container must be able to maintain a constant temperature suitable for Bacillus natto, which is the condition in which Bacillus natto grows most easily, the soybeans must always be kept in a high humidity state, and the soybeans must be ventilated. Since all of these conditions are met, the natto bacteria can multiply quickly and in a short time, and the resulting natto is even and error-free. Furthermore, the bean storage container can be constantly sterilized by boiling, which kills germs on the bean storage container and allows natto to be made in a clean state at any time. Moreover, since most of the parts are molded and assembled from synthetic resin materials, they have excellent effects such as being lightweight, small, and easy to use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the combined state of the home natto maker of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the bean storage container of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a home natto maker of the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sectional views of a home-use natto maker showing other embodiments of the present invention. 1...Maker body, 3...Heating element, 4...Temperature controller, 7...Protrusion, 8...Water, 9...Bean storage container, 13...Small hole, 14...Outer lid, 16 ...Breeding room, 17...Vent.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Attach a heating element and a temperature controller to the bottom of the maker body, place a bean storage container with a small hole inside the maker body so that the protrusion is higher than the injected water, and then remove it from the maker body. 2. A home characterized in that a breeding chamber is provided by fitting a flexible outer cover, the breeding chamber is penetrated by the outside air through a ventilation hole, and is configured to maintain an appropriate temperature and high humidity using the heating element and temperature controller. natto maker.