JPH0467820A - rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a rice cooker which can realize the cooking-up of rice which suits user's taste without adjusting the water quantity by providing a control means for controlling a heating means so that the temperature of a pot becomes a pre-cooking temperature set by a setting means in the course of the pre-cooking process at the time of rice cooking. CONSTITUTION:First of all, the key input of a rice cooking switch 9, etc., is executed, counting of a pre-cooking time is started, a pre-cooking temperature set by a temperature setting means 10 is inputted, and subsequently, the temperature of a pot 1 is inputted from a thermistor 7. Whether the temperature of the pot 1 exceeds the pre- cooking temperature set by the temperature setting means 10 or not is judged and when it does not exceed, a heater 11 is energized and when it exceeds, the electric conduction to the heater 11 is stopped. Subsequently, the end of the pre-cooking time is decided, and when it reaches the pre-cooking end time, rice cooking is executed by advancing to a cooking-up process. In such a manner, the 'pre-cooking process' is executed at the pre-cooking temperature set by the temperature setting means 10, therefore, the water absorption quantity can be varied by changing the pre-cooking temperature, and the rice cooker which can realize cooking-up of rice in accordance with a request can be obtained.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a rice cooker that performs a pre-cooking process.

Conventional Technology In recent years, rice cookers equipped with a pre-cooking process have become mainstream in order to cook delicious rice.

Conventionally, when cooking rice, rice is soaked in water for a certain period of time as a preparation, and if the rice does not absorb enough water, the rice will not be cooked properly. We have a ``pre-cooking process'' where the rice is kept at a constant temperature and soaked for a certain period of time.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention With such conventional rice cookers, the only way to adjust the doneness of the rice is to either perform or omit the "pre-cooking process"; When you want to cook rice or hard rice, you have to adjust the amount of water to get the rice cooked to your liking.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and its first object is to provide a rice cooker that can cook rice to the user's preference without adjusting the amount of water.

The second purpose is to reproduce the cooked rice to the user's preference at any time after the rice has been cooked to the user's preference, without having to go through the trouble of adjusting the doneness the next time the rice is cooked. The goal is to get a rice cooker that can.

Furthermore, a third object is to provide a rice cooker that can cook rice of several hardnesses according to the preferences of a plurality of users with a simple operation.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, the first means of the present invention provides a pot for storing rice, a heating means for heating the pot, and a heating means for heating the pot. a temperature detection means for detecting a pre-cooking temperature during rice cooking; a setting means for setting a pre-cooking temperature during rice cooking; and a control means for inputting a signal from the temperature detection means to control the heating means; The heating means is controlled so that the temperature of the steel becomes the pre-cooking temperature set by the setting means during the pre-cooking process.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the second means of the present invention includes a storage means for storing the pre-cooking temperature, and a setting for changing the setting of the pre-cooking temperature stored in the storage means. and controlling the heating means so that the temperature of the steel becomes the pre-cooking temperature stored in the storage means.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the third object, the third means of the present invention includes a storage means for storing a plurality of pre-cooking temperatures during rice cooking, and a setting for the pre-cooking temperatures stored in this storage means. and a selection means for selecting an arbitrary temperature from a plurality of pre-cooking temperatures stored in the storage means, wherein the temperature of the steel is selected from the pre-cooking temperature by the selection means from the storage means. The heating means is controlled so as to maintain the temperature.

Since the pre-cooking temperature in the "pre-cooking process" can be set arbitrarily, the amount of water absorbed into the rice can be changed.

Furthermore, by using the second means, the storage means stores the pre-cooking temperature set by the previous setting means, so that the next time the rice is cooked, the rice is cooked to the same degree of doneness as the previous time without having to set the pre-cooking temperature each time. be able to. Furthermore, by the third means, a plurality of pre-cooking temperatures set by the setting means are stored in the storage means.
The stored pre-cooking temperature can be arbitrarily selected by the selection means.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 show an embodiment related to the first means of the present invention. As shown in the figure,
A heating means 2 for heating the pot 1, a temperature detecting means 3 for detecting the temperature of the pot 1, a setting means 4 for setting a pre-cooking temperature in a "pre-cooking process" during rice cooking, and a signal from the temperature detecting means 3. The control means 6 inputs the information and controls the heating means 2 to cook rice.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the rice cooker in the above embodiment,
It is made up of a microcomputer 6 having a control means 6 and peripheral circuits. A thermistor 7 that detects the temperature of the pot 1 is connected to a microcomputer 6 via an A/D converter 8.
is connected to the input port of As a result, the temperature signal from the thermistor 7 is converted into a binary code and read into the microcomputer 6. 9 is a rice cooking switch;
The microcomputer 6 determines whether this button is pressed and starts cooking rice. Reference numeral 1o denotes temperature setting means, which is configured such that the pre-cooking temperature can be changed by changing the resistance value using a variable resistor, and the pre-cooking temperature set by this is inputted into the microcomputer 6. Furthermore, the heater 11 that heats the pot 1 is connected to an AC power source 13 in series with a relay 12 that controls energization of the heater 11, and current is caused to flow through a relay coil 15 via a transistor 14 in response to an output signal from the microcomputer 6. Relay 12
The structure is such that the heater 11 is turned on and off by opening and closing.

16 is a DC power supply for operating the circuit described above.

Next, the operation of the rice cooker described above will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step 21, keys such as the rice cooking switch 9 are operated manually, and in step 22, it is determined whether or not the rice cooking switch 9 has been pressed, and if the rice cooking switch 9 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step 23. In this step 23, counting of 01 cooking time is started, in step 24, the pre-cooking temperature set by the temperature setting means 1Q is input, and then in step 26, the temperature of the pot 1 is input from the thermistor 7. In step 26, it is determined whether the temperature of the pot 1 exceeds the pre-cooking temperature set by the temperature setting means 10, and if it does not, step 2
In step 7, the heater 11 is energized, and if it exceeds the current, the energization to the heater 11 is stopped in step 28. Next step 2
The end of the pre-cooking time is determined in step 9, and if the time counted in step 23 has not reached the pre-cooking end time stored in the computer 6, the process returns to step 23;
Repeat step 29 from If the pre-cooking end time has been reached in step 29, the process proceeds to the cooking process in step 3o and the rice is cooked.

With the above configuration, the "pre-cooking process" is performed at the pre-cooking temperature set by the temperature setting means 10, so the amount of water absorbed into the rice can be changed by changing the pre-cooking temperature, and the rice can be cooked to suit your needs. It is possible to obtain a rice cooker that can be realized in combination.

FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 show an embodiment according to the second means of the present invention.

In each figure, those having the same configuration as the first means described above are given the same numbers, and the explanation thereof will be omitted. The difference from the first means is that the storage means 41 that stores the pre-cooking temperature in the "pre-cooking step" during rice cooking is set, and the setting means 42 sets the pre-cooking temperature stored in the storage means 41. It is configured to change the .

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the rice cooker in the above embodiment,
The microcomputer 6 has a built-in storage means 41, and the pre-cooking temperature in the storage means 41 can be changed by pressing a setting switch 42 of the pre-cooking temperature setting means.

Next, the operation of the rice cooker described above will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

1. At step 51, turn on the rice cooking switch 9. The keys such as the setting switch 42 are operated manually, and it is determined whether the key pressed in step 62 is the rice cooking switch 9. If it is not the rice cooking switch 9, the system is turned off.

At step 63, it is determined whether the setting switch 42 has been pressed, and if it has not been pressed, the process returns to step 51. Step 51 to step 661 until rice cooking switch 9 is pressed
Repeat. If the setting switch 42 has been pressed in step 53, the process proceeds to step 54, where the pre-cooking temperature stored in the storage means 41 in the microcomputer 6 is increased by one rank. Next, in step 55, it is determined whether the previous cooking temperature exceeded a specified temperature (for example, sot:), and if it did, in step 66, this ml
Initialize the cooking temperature (for example, 50°C) and proceed to step 61.
Return to If it has not been exceeded, the process returns to step 51. If the rice cooking switch 9 has been pressed in step 52, the process advances to step 23, and from this point on, the same operation as in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is performed, but in this embodiment,
Step 24 of inputting the pre-cooking temperature set by the temperature setting means 1o in FIG. It is determined whether the temperature exceeds the temperature. If the temperature has not been exceeded, the heater 11 is energized in step 27, and if it has been exceeded, the heater 11 is de-energized in step 28.

In this way, according to the rice cooker of the embodiment of the second means, the pre-cooking temperature in the "pre-cooking step" can be changed simply by pressing the setting switch 42, and the pre-cooking temperature is stored in the storage means 41. Therefore, by changing the amount of water absorbed into the rice, the rice can be cooked to the desired level, and the rice can always be cooked to the same level of doneness.

In addition, the pre-cooking temperature in the "pre-cooking process" can be changed simply by pressing the setting switch 42, and the pre-cooking temperature is stored in the storage means 41, so the handle of the variable resistor etc. is provided outside the main body. There is no need for this, and only one setting switch is required, making it possible to create a compact operation unit with excellent airtightness and design.

FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 show an embodiment related to the third means of the present invention. In each figure, the same components as those of the second problem-solving means described above are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

The difference from the second problem solving means is that the selection means 63 is configured to select an arbitrary temperature from a plurality of pre-cooking temperatures stored in the storage means 61.

Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of the rice cooker in the above embodiment.
The microcomputer 6 has a built-in storage means 61, and by pressing the setting switch 62 of the pre-cooking temperature setting means, the pre-cooking temperature selected by the selection switch 63 from among the plurality of pre-cooking temperatures in the storage means 61 is selected. The structure is such that it can be changed.

Next, the operation of the rice cooker described above will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step 71, the rice cooking switch 9. The setting switch 629, selection switch 63, etc. keys are operated manually, and it is determined in step 72 whether the key pressed is the rice cooking switch 9, and if it is not the rice cooking switch 9, the setting switch 62 is pressed in step 73. If the selection switch 63 has not been pressed, it is determined in step 74 whether the selection switch 63 has been pressed, and if it has not been pressed, the process returns to step 71. Steps 71 to 80 are repeated until the rice cooking switch 9 is pressed. If the setting switch 62 was pressed in step 73, then step 75
, and press the selection switch 6 among the plurality of pre-cooking temperatures stored in the storage means 61 in the manochrome computer 6.
Increase the pre-cooking temperature selected by 3 by one rank. Next, in step 76, it is determined whether or not the pre-cooking temperature exceeds a specified temperature (for example, 80°C), and if it does, the pre-cooking temperature is initialized (for example, 50°C) in step 77.
0° C.) and return to step 71. If it has not been exceeded, the process directly returns to step 71.

If the selection switch 63 has been pressed in step 74, the process advances to step 78 and the selection counter is increased by one rank. Next, in step 79, it is determined whether this counter has exceeded a predetermined number (for example, 6), and if so, this counter is initialized in step 80, and step 7
Return to 1. If it has not been exceeded, the process directly returns to step 71. If the rice cooking switch 9 has been pressed in step 72, the process advances to step 23, and from this point onwards, the same operations as in the flowchart of FIG. 6 are performed.

As described above, according to the rice cooker of the embodiment of the third means, the pre-cooking temperature in the "pre-cooking step" can be changed simply by pressing the setting switch 62, and the plurality of pre-cooking temperatures are stored in the storage means 61. Since the pre-cooking temperature in the storage means 61 can be easily selected by the selection means 63, it is possible to achieve the rice cooked to the desired degree by changing the amount of water absorbed into the rice, and the pre-cooking temperature can be adjusted according to the preference of some people. By memorizing the cooking temperature, you can cook several types of rice.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the description of the embodiments above, in the present invention, the pre-cooking temperature in the "pre-cooking process" is arbitrarily set by the setting means, so the amount of water absorbed into the rice is changed, and the rice is heated. You can freely change the hardness of the rice, and you can achieve cooked rice that suits your tastes without increasing the water absorption time.

In addition, since the pre-cooking temperature of the "pre-cooking process" stored in the storage means can be arbitrarily changed by the setting means, the amount of water absorbed into the rice can be changed and the hardness of the rice can be freely changed. By remembering the pre-cooking temperature you have set, you can reproduce the same consistency, so you can cook rice to your liking without having to extend the water absorption time. It is possible to obtain a rice cooker that can cook rice to the same degree of doneness at any time without setting the cooking temperature.

Furthermore, the selection means selects a plurality of "
Select any temperature from the pre-cooking temperature of "Pre-cooking process",
Since this temperature can be changed arbitrarily using the setting means, the amount of water absorbed into the rice can be changed and the hardness of the rice can be changed freely, and multiple pre-cooking temperatures can be stored. By continuously repeating this process, you can reproduce several different hardness levels, and you can achieve the desired doneness of rice without increasing the water absorption time.Furthermore, in cases where users have different preferences for how well they want their rice to be cooked, it is possible to It is possible to obtain a rice cooker that can cook rice that is cooked to suit each individual's preference just by using a selection means without setting the cooking temperature.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the first means of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the rice cooker, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. A block diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment related to the second means, FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram thereof, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the third means of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram thereof, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment. 1... Pot, 2... Heating means, 3...
...Temperature detection means, 4...Setting means, 6...
...control means, 41... Storage means, 42...Setting means, 61...
- Storage means, 62...Setting means, 63...
...Selection means. Name of agent Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano et al. 16th figure flute, 3rd figure

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A pot for storing rice, a heating means for heating the pot, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pot, a setting means for setting a pre-cooking temperature when cooking rice, and a signal from the temperature detecting means. and a control means for controlling the heating means, the control means controlling the heating means so that the temperature of the pot becomes the pre-cooking temperature set by the setting means during the pre-cooking process during rice cooking. A rice cooker that can be controlled. (2) The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising a storage means for storing the pre-cooking temperature, and a setting means for changing the setting of the pre-cooking temperature. (3) A storage means for storing a plurality of pre-cooking temperatures, a setting means for changing the settings of the pre-cooking temperatures stored in the storage means, and a plurality of pre-cooking temperatures stored in the storage means. Rice cooking according to claim 1, further comprising a selection means for selecting an arbitrary temperature, and controlling the heating means so that the temperature of the pot becomes a pre-cooking temperature selected from the storage means by the selection means. vessel.