JPH0330730A - rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the time of a previous cooking process to be arbitrarily changed according to the convenience of a user, and enable rice to be cooked, and improve using convenience of the cooper by executing the previous cooking process of rice cooking stored in a storing means, and after that, by controlling the process to be shifted to a cooking process when output from a timer means is received, to cook the rice. CONSTITUTION:By a timer means 5, output from this input means 4 is received, and the previous cooking time of rice cooking is measured, and a setting means 6, the initial value of the timer means 5 is changed. In a storing means 7, a heat quantity to be applied to a vessel 1, and a rice cooking process are stored. By a control means 8, the output of a temperature detecting means 3 is received, and a heating means 2 is controlled, and the previous cooking process of the rice cooking stored in the storing means 7 by receiving the output of the timer means 5 is executed, and is controlled to be shifted to a cooking process when the output from the timer means 5 is received. By the setting means 6, in the initial value of the timer means 5 for measuring the time of 'the previous cooking process' of the rice cooking, an arbitrary time can be included, and so according to the convenience of a user, in case of cooking hardish, the previous cooking time is shortened, and in case of cooking rather soft, the initial value of the timer means 5 can be arbitrarily changed to make the previous cooking time longer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a rice cooker used in general households.

Conventional technology In conventional rice cookers, when cooking rice, the rice must be soaked in water for a certain period of time as a preliminary preparation, otherwise the rice will not be well-done if it does not absorb enough water. It was common to have a process of keeping the water at a constant temperature and soaking it for a certain period of time.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such conventional rice cookers, the only way to adjust the doneness of cooked rice is to perform or omit the "pre-cooking process." There was a problem in that it was not possible to arbitrarily change the pre-cooking time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that solves these problems.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the rice cooker of the present invention includes a container for holding rice and water, a heating means for heating the container, and a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the container. , an input means for inputting the start of rice cooking, a timer means for timing the pre-cooking time of the rice in response to the output from the input means, a setting means for changing the initial value of the timer means, and an amount of heat to be applied to the container. and a pre-cooking step of rice, which receives the output of the temperature detection means to control the heating means and further receives the output of the timer means and stores it in the storage means. and control means for controlling and cooking the rice so as to execute the step and then proceed to the cooking step when receiving the output from the timer means.

Effect By having the above structure, it is possible to set an arbitrary time to the initial value of the timer means that measures the time of the "pre-cooking process" of rice cooking by the setting means, so that it is possible to adjust the hardness according to the user's preference. The initial value of the timer means can be arbitrarily changed so that the pre-cooking time is shortened if the product is soft, and the pre-cooking time is lengthened if the product is soft.

Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a container for storing rice and water, 2 is a heating means for heating this container 1,
3 is a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the container 1; 4 is an input means for inputting the start of rice cooking; 6 is a timer means for measuring the pre-cooking time of rice in response to the output from the input means 4; 7 is a storage means for storing the amount of heat given to the container 1 and the rice cooking process; 8 is a heating means 2 which receives the output of the temperature detection means 3; Further, in response to the output of the timer means 6, the pre-cooking step of rice cooking stored in the storage means 7 is executed, and then when the output from the timer means 5 is received, the process is shifted to the cooking step. This is a control means that controls and cooks rice.

FIG. 2 shows a specific circuit diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 1o is a heater that heats the container 1, and 11 is a relay that energizes the heater 11. , 12 is a relay drive unit for driving the relay 11, 13 is a start key for inputting the start of rice cooking, 1
4 is a setting key for changing the initial value of the pre-cooking time; 16 is a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the container 1; 16 is an A/D converter for A/D converting the signal from the thermistor 15; 17 is the start key 13. and an input section for inputting signals from the setting key 14 and the A/D converter 16;
19 is a control section that controls the output section 18 by a signal input from the input section 17; 2o is the input section 1;
7, the output section 18, and the control section 19.

FIG. 3 shows a main part of a flowchart of the microcomputer 2o, and the operation will be explained based on this flowchart.

First, in step 31, the keys are pressed manually, and in step 32, it is determined whether the pressed key is the start key 13. If it is not the start key 13, in step 33, it is determined whether or not the setting key 14 was pressed. If not, the process returns to step 31. Set key 14 in step 33
If it has been pressed, the process proceeds to step 34, where the initial value counter for the pre-cooking time is increased by one rank. Next, in step 35, it is determined whether or not this counter has exceeded a predetermined number, and if it has, then in step 3θ, this counter is initialized. If it has not been exceeded, the process returns to step 31, and steps 31 to 36 are repeated until the start key 13 is pressed.

If the start key 13 is pressed in step 32, the process advances to step 37, and the thermistor 1
6. Enter the temperature of container 1.

In step 38, it is determined whether or not the pre-cooking temperature has been exceeded, and if it has, in step 39, the energization of the heater 1o is stopped. If not, the heater 1o is energized in step 40. Next, in step 41, the timer means 5 measures the time, and in step 42, it is determined whether the pre-cooking time has ended, and if the end time has not been reached, the process returns to step 37, and steps 37 to 42 are repeated.

If it is determined in step 42 that it is the end time of pre-cooking, the process proceeds to step 43, where the process proceeds to the cooking process and cooks the rice.

Through the above operations, by pressing the setting key 14, the pre-cooking time can be arbitrarily changed and the rice can be cooked.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the "pre-cooking" function can be adjusted according to the user's preference, such as when the rice cooking time is to be shortened, when the rice is allowed to absorb water before cooking, or when the rice is desired to be adjusted to the degree of doneness of the rice. It is now possible to cook rice by changing the cooking time at will, which improves usability, and it also allows for a variety of rice results, unlike previous methods.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a rice cooker showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a specific circuit diagram of the rice cooker, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the microcomputer in the rice cooker. 1... Container, 2... Heating means, 3...
...Temperature detection means, 4...Input means, 6.
...Timer means, 6...Setting means, 7.
...Storage means, 8...Control means, 2o.
...Microcomputer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A container for holding rice and water, a heating means for heating the container, a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the container, an input means for inputting the start of rice cooking, and an output from the input means. a timer means for measuring the pre-cooking time of rice cooking; a setting means for changing the initial value of the timer means; a storage means for storing the amount of heat given to the container and the rice cooking process; and an output of the temperature detection means. The heating means is then controlled, and upon receiving the output of the timer means, a pre-cooking step of rice cooking stored in the storage means is executed, and when the next output from the timer means is received, the rice is moved to a cooking step. A rice cooker comprising a control means for controlling and cooking rice.