JPS62286414A - Rice cooker - 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 3. Detailed Description of the Invention Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a rice cooker for cooking rice and keeping it warm in general households.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional rice cooker of this type is comprised of a microcomputer 1 and peripheral circuits as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The microcomputer 1 shown here includes a CPU
, ROM, RAM, input/output ports, etc., and is a so-called one-chip microcomputer. Reference numeral 2 denotes a temperature sensing element attached to the center of the bottom of a bottomed cylindrical pot, and this temperature sensing element 2 is connected to the input port of the microcomputer 1 via a human/D converter 3. As a result, the temperature signal from the temperature sensing element 2 is converted into a binary code and read into the microcomputer 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a rice cooking switch, and an input is inputted to the microcomputer 1 to determine whether or not the rice cooking switch 4 is pressed. 5 is the 4th
As shown in the figure, this selection switch 5 is a rotary switch for selecting a rice cooking menu, and contacts are opened and closed according to the menu at each rotational position, and the contacts are input to the microcomputer 1. 6
is an AC power supply, and a series circuit of a heater 7 and a relay contact 8 for heating rice, water, etc. stored in a pot is connected to this AC power supply 6, and a transistor 9fc is connected by a signal from an output port of the microcomputer 1. The relay contacts 8 are opened and closed by passing an electric current Kk through the relay coil 10 through the relay coil 10. Reference numeral 11 denotes a DC power supply for operating the entire circuit described above, which is composed of a transformer, a diode bridge, a capacitor, a resistor, and a Zener diode.

In the rice cooker configured in this way, when rice, water, etc. are placed in the pot, the rice cooking menu is set with the selection switch 5, and the rice cooking switch 4 is pressed, electricity to the heater 7 is started and the sensor is turned on. Based on the signal from the heating element 2, the heater 7 is repeatedly energized and de-energized according to the rice cooking sequence according to each menu to complete the rice cooking, and then moves to the warming sequence to keep the cooked rice warm. .

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such a conventional configuration, first, rice cooking does not start unless the rice cooking switch 4 is pressed, so there is a problem that timer cooking cannot be performed using an external timer. . Next, after a power outage or movement after removing the concentrator, the heat retention mode will no longer be active, so it was necessary to set the selection switch 5 to the heat retention mode. Furthermore, it was very troublesome to have to select a menu with the selection switch 6 and then press the rice cooking switch 4 to not cook the rice.However, if the rice cooking switch 4 was removed, rice would automatically start cooking after a power outage, etc. There was a problem that the cooked rice inside would burn.

There is also a plan to use the rice cooking switch 4 as a lunch mechanism and remove the latch mechanism when rice cooking is completed, but in this case, the mechanism is complicated and expensive.

The present invention solves these problems.

The overall purpose of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that can electrically store the heat retention state, is easy to operate, and can also be used with an external timer.

Means for Solving All the Problems In order to solve all the above problems, the rice cooker of the present invention includes a cylindrical pot with a bottom, a heater for heating rice, water, etc. stored in the pot, polished rice, A selection switch for selecting a rice cooking menu such as rice cooking, a capacitor, a discharging means for discharging the electric charge of the capacitor during cooking, a photoelectric means for charging the electric charge of the capacitor during keeping warm, and whether or not the capacitor is photoelectrically charged. a charge determining means for determining the amount of electricity; and an energization control means for keeping the capacitor warm if the capacitor is photoelectrically charged based on the determination output of the charge determining means, and cooking rice according to the menu of the selection switch if the capacitor is not charged. According to the above structure, rice can be cooked just by setting the rice cooking menu selection switch, so the operation is very simple and easy to understand, and an external timer can also be used. Furthermore, once the heat retention mode is entered, the charge is stored in the capacitor and stored in memory, so even if there is a power outage or if the outlet is unplugged and moved, the rice can be kept warm without immediately entering the rice cooking mode once the power is restored. It is.

With such a simple configuration, it is possible to provide a safe and easy-to-use rice cooker.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 2. Components in FIGS. 1 and 2 that are the same as those in FIGS. 3 and 4 shown in the conventional example are given the same numbers, and their explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is composed of a microcomputer 1 and peripheral circuits. A capacitor 12 is connected in series with a resistor 13 and a diode 14, and is charged by the DC power supply 11. 15.18 is a transistor,
The transistor 15 is connected to the anode and cathode of the diode 14, respectively, and when turned on, the transistor 15 stops charging the capacitor 12, and when turned off, the transistor 15 stops charging the capacitor 12.
Start charging. The transistor 16 is turned on to discharge the charge in the capacitor 12. It is also connected to the input port of the microcomputer 1 in order to determine whether the voltage of the capacitor 12 is high or low.

Next, the operation of the rice cooker configured as above will be explained. Figure 2 shows a flowchart of the program stored in the RO card in the microcomputer 1, and its operation will be explained according to the steps of the program shown in this flowchart.First, in step 1, the voltage VC of the capacitor 12 is high. If the temperature is high, the mode moves to the heat retention mode in step 2, and the energization to the heater 7 is controlled based on the temperature of the temperature sensing element 2. In step 3, it is determined whether the rice cooking menu has been switched by the selection switch 6. If not, in step 4 the transistors 15 and 16i are turned off to charge the capacitor 12, and the process returns to step 1. If the rice cooking menu has been changed in step 3, the process proceeds to step 5, where the transistors 15 and 16'(il'' are turned on to discharge the charge in the capacitor 12, and the process returns to step 1).

In Step 1, if the voltage Vc of the capacitor 12 is low,
In step 6, it is determined whether the rice cooking menu is "off" or not. If it is "off", in step 7 the power to the heater is completely stopped, and in step 8 the transistor 15.16i is turned on and the capacitor 12 is turned on. Discharge the charge and return to step 1.

In step 6, if the rice cooking menu is not "Pakiri" 7, proceed to step 9, and the rice cooking menu is , White rice.

Determine whether or not it is, and if it is “white rice”, step 10
The mode shifts to the white rice mode, and the energization of the heater 7 is fully controlled according to the temperature of the thermosensor 2. In step 11, it is determined whether or not the rice cooking has been completed. If the rice cooking has not been completed, the transistor 16 is turned on in step 12.゜16' (i-ON to discharge the electric charge in the capacitor 12, and return to step 1. If it is determined in step 11 that rice cooking is completed, proceed to step 13, move to the warming mode, and change the temperature of the temperature sensing element 2. In step 14, the transistor 1 is turned on.
5゜Turn off 16 and apply photoelectricity to capacitor 12,
Return to step 1.

If the rice cooking menu is set to ``white rice'' in step 9, the process proceeds to step 15, where it is determined whether the rice cooking menu is ``cooked rice''. , the energization of the heater 7 is fully controlled according to the temperature of the temperature sensing element 2, and the process proceeds to step 11. Step 1
If the rice cooking menu is not "Okowa" in Step 5, the process goes to Step 17, and it is determined whether the rice cooking menu is "Okowa". The energization of the heater is fully controlled according to the temperature of the element 2, and the process proceeds to step 11. If the rice cooking menu is not "Okowa" in step 17, the process proceeds to step 19, and it is determined whether the rice cooking menu is "keep warm". ``Heat insulation''
If so, proceed to step 13; if not, proceed to step 7.

In this way, rice can be cooked simply by setting the rice cooking menu all selection switch 5, and even if the power goes out or the outlet is unplugged while the rice is moved to the Keep Warm mode after cooking, the power will be turned off. Without returning to rice cooking mode, you need to keep it warm! Well, it can continue automatically.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, rice can be cooked simply by setting the rice cooking menu with the selection switch, and when the rice is in the keep warm mode after cooking, the electric charge is stored in the capacitor and stored. Even if there is a power outage or the appliance is unplugged when moving, the rice can be kept warm without going into cooking mode as soon as the power is restored, making the operation simple and easy to understand. Furthermore, an external timer can be used, and a safe and easy-to-use rice cooker with a simple configuration can be provided at low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of a rice cooker showing one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is a flowchart showing an example of a program of the rice cooker, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the conventional rice cooker, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the operation section of the rice cooker. 1... Microcomputer, 2. Temperature sensing element, 5
... Selection switch, A ... Heater, 8 ... Relay contact, 10 ... Relay coil, 12 ... Capacitor, 15 ... Transistor, 16 ... Transistor. Agent's name: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao Rumored to one other person; 27th Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] A cylindrical pot with a bottom, a heater that heats the rice, water, etc. stored in the pot, a selection switch that selects a rice cooking menu such as white rice or boiled rice, a capacitor, and a capacitor that stores the electric charge of the capacitor during cooking. a discharging means for discharging, a charging means for charging the capacitor with electric charge during heat retention, a charging determining means for determining whether the capacitor is charged, and a determining output of the charging determining means to determine whether the capacitor is charged. and a power supply control means that keeps the rice warm and, on the other hand, cooks rice according to the menu of the selection switch when the capacitor is not charged.