JPH06124A - Timer rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Water supply is started by the water supply start signal
(1) Water supply means that stops water supply when the amount of water suitable for the amount of rice contained in the rice is completed (3) In the type of timer type rice cooker equipped, the moisture content of rice before starting rice cooking is made constant By improving the cooking efficiency. [Configuration] A timer (T) that outputs a rice cooking start signal when a predetermined set time has elapsed from the time when the water supply by the water supply means (3) is completed is provided, and the rice heating device (12) is started by the output of this timer (T). What I did.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rice cooker, and more particularly to a timer type rice cooker of a type capable of setting an amount of water suitable for the amount of cooked rice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a domestic rice cooker, a plurality of water amount scales corresponding to the amount of cooked rice are engraved on the inner surface of a rice cooker.
When rice is cooked, a pre-measured amount of rice is stored in a rice cooker, water is added up to a water amount scale corresponding to the amount of rice, and the rice is heated by a heating device to cook rice.

However, in this conventional device, the engraved position of the water amount scale corresponds to the corresponding amount of rice accurately, but when the measured amount of rice is inaccurate, the water level is changed. Even if the water amount scale is accurately adjusted, the water amount ratio will be inaccurate. Further, even if the amount of rice is accurate, it is difficult to align the position of the water surface with the water amount scale on the inner surface of the rice cooker, and if the position of the water surface and the water amount scale do not match, the water amount ratio will be similarly inaccurate.

In addition, when cooking an amount of rice that deviates from the amount of rice corresponding to the water amount scale, an accurate water amount ratio cannot be set because there is no corresponding water amount scale. As a rice cooker for eliminating such inconvenience, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-346951 has already been proposed. In this case, since the amount of water accurately adapted to the amount of cooked rice can be automatically supplied, the above inconvenience can be solved.

However, even if such a problem of water amount setting can be solved, the water content of rice is proceeding between the end of water amount setting and the start of rice cooking, and the water content at the start of rice cooking becomes a predetermined degree. It is desirable to be set. For example, when the water content is high, the rice is cooked too soft. Such a problem is remarkable especially in the case of a timer type rice cooker.

In the case of a timer type rice cooker, since the set time before starting rice cooking changes each time, the time during which rice is soaked in water is not constant before the rice cooking starts, and the result is that the rice before rice cooking starts. May have an excessively high water content, and in some cases, the cooked rice will be insufficiently cooked. In particular, the set time of the timer is often long, and in this case, the immersion time is too long and the above-mentioned cooking may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and "The water supply is started by the water supply start signal.
(1) In a type of timer type rice cooker equipped with water supply means (3) that stops water supply at the time of completion of water supply of an amount suitable for the amount of rice stored in the rice, The object is to improve the cooked quality by making it constant.

[0008]

[Technical Means] A technical means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a timer for outputting a rice cooking start signal when a predetermined set time has elapsed from the point of completion of water supply by the water supply means (3).
(T) is provided, and the rice heating device (12) is started by the output of this timer (T). ”
(See Figure 1)

[0009]

The above technical means operates as follows. Rice cooker
The water supply means (3) supplies water to the rice cooker (1) with an amount of water precisely adapted to the amount of rice stored in (1). After the completion of this water supply operation, when the time set by the timer (T) has elapsed, the rice cooking operation is started by the output of the rice cooking timer.

Therefore, the immersion time from the point of water supply to the point of starting rice cooking is always maintained at a constant time. In addition, if the water is slightly overheated during this immersion time, the water-containing effect can be enhanced and the immersion time can be shortened.

[0011]

[Effect] Since the rice soaking time until the start of rice cooking is kept constant, the water content of rice at the start of rice cooking becomes constant, and the cooked rice is stable and improved. Moreover, since the water amount ratio is also precisely adapted to the amount of cooked rice, cooking efficiency is improved in this respect as well.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention described above will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and subsequent figures, the amount of water is automatically set by the rice cooking operation, and the rice can be cooked by the timer. As shown in FIG. 2, this rice cooker is provided with an annular heater (12a) as a heating device (12) at the bottom of a casing (10) that is open upward, and is housed in the casing (10) so that it can be taken out freely. The cooked rice cooker (1) is the heater (12a)
It is placed in. The cylindrical output part (51) of the vibration generating means (5) projects from the central opening of the heater (12a) and the heater (12a)
Touch the bottom of the rice cooker (1) placed on. Further, at the center of the cylindrical output part (51), a temperature sensor (S) is provided which is biased in an upward direction by a spring (B) interposed between the vibration generating means (5) and the casing. This temperature sensor (S)
The heat-sensitive surface of is in contact with the center of the bottom of the rice cooker (1).

A soup saucer (13) is provided on the outer periphery of the heating device (12).
Between the juice receiving tray (13) and the bottom of the casing (10), the vibration generating means (5) as well as the control device (C) and the water supply valve (31) are disposed. Casing (10) with the above configuration
A lid (2) is capped on the upper end open part of this, but in this embodiment, this lid (2) is composed of an outer lid (2a) and an inner lid (2b),
The inner lid (2b) is detachably connected by a connecting shaft portion (21) protruding from the center inner surface of the outer lid (2a). The lid
(2) is the bearing part (14) provided on the upper side wall of the casing (10)
It is rotatably supported by one side, and the swingable hook (22) provided on the opposite side can be engaged and disengaged with the engaged part (15) provided on the upper side wall of the corresponding casing (10). Engage.

Therefore, when the lid (2) having the above construction is closed, the hook (22) is engaged with the inner lid (2b) in contact with the flange portion (F) at the upper end of the rice cooker (1). It is engaged with (15) and locked in the closed state. Connecting shaft part (21) provided on the outer lid (2a)
Has a communication hole (32) that communicates with the inside of the rice cooker (1), and the tube (33) that communicates with this communication hole (32) has an outer lid (2a).
Through the bearing part (14) to the water supply valve (3
If the inlet of the water supply valve (31) is connected to the water supply source, the rice is cooked from the communication hole (32) through the tube (33) when the water supply valve (31) is open. Water is supplied to the pot (1).

Further, a water depth detecting means (4) is attached to the outer lid (2a), and the detection portion at the tip of the means protrudes into the rice cooker (1) through a through hole provided in the inner lid (2b). . This water depth detection means (4)
Is equipped with an ultrasonic wave oscillating unit and a receiving unit for receiving the reflected wave, and the distance to the water surface calculated by receiving the reflected wave from the water surface of the water contained in the rice cooker (1) and The depth of water (H) is calculated from the difference with the distance to the upper surface of the rice layer calculated by receiving the reflected wave from the rice layer below. Therefore, the water depth detection means (4) outputs a signal directly corresponding to the water depth (H).

Therefore, in this embodiment, the combination of the water supply circuit having the water supply valve (31) inserted therein and the water depth detection means (4) functions as the water supply means (3). Each part described above is started by the operation switch of the operation panel (6) provided on the side wall of the casing (10), and its operation is controlled by the output of the control device (C) configured by the microcomputer based on the input signal from each part. To be done.

As described above, in this embodiment, the timer (T ₁ ) is the control device in order to enable the timer rice cooking.
Built in (C). Therefore, the operation panel (6) is provided with a timer set switch (62) for timer rice cooking in addition to the rice rice switch (61) for rice cooking operation. In the timer cooked rice, the elapsed time from the timer set to the start of cooked rice is set, and this elapsed time becomes the set time of the timer (T ₁ ) and the time obtained by subtracting 30 minutes from the set time has passed. It is a timer that outputs an output signal at a point of time. In other words, if you want to start cooking rice after 8 hours, set it so that the display of [08:00] appears on the display unit (not shown) provided on the operation panel (6). Output signal (water supply command signal in this embodiment) is output. Therefore, this timer (T ₁ ) becomes the above-mentioned rice cooking timer.

A program for executing the operation of the control device (C) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Prior to starting rice cooking, open the lid (2) and put rice in the rice cooker (1). Thereafter, in the case of timer rice cooking, the elapsed time from the set time to the rice cooking start time is set by the timer set switch (62), and the rice cooking switch (61) is operated.

When cooking rice normally without depending on the timer, the rice cooking switch (61) is operated without operating the timer set switch (62). When the power is turned on, first, in step (71), it is monitored whether or not the rice cooking switch (61) has been operated. When the rice cooking switch (61) is operated, the process proceeds to step (72), where it is determined whether or not the timer rice cooking is set.

When the rice is set to be cooked by the timer, the timer (T ₁ ) is turned on, the elapsed time is monitored in step (73), and 30 minutes before the set time, the vibration generating means (5 ) Operates for the time set by the timer (T ₂ ), and the water supply valve (31) is opened. That is, prior to the water supply, the set time of the timer (T ₂ ) (for example, 10 seconds to 1
Vibration is applied to the rice cooker (1) until
The top surface of the rice in the rice cooker (1) is smoothed. Then water valve
Water supply is started from the communication hole (32) of the connecting shaft part (21) by opening the valve (31), and in step (74), the output from the water depth detection means (4) is monitored and the water depth detection means (4) Water depth (H) is the set value
When reaching (H ₀ ), the water supply valve (31) is closed. This completes the water volume setting. In this case, the upper surface of the rice layer is smoothed prior to water supply, and the water depth between the smoothed upper surface of the rice layer and the water surface is detected to set the water amount, so that the water amount setting accuracy is good.

After that, the timer (T
_The time measured in ₃ ) is monitored, and when the set time (30 minutes) has elapsed, the heater (12a) turns on and rice cooking proceeds. As a result, rice cooking will be started at the set time. At the start of this rice cooking, the soaking time of about 30 minutes has elapsed from the time of supplying water to the rice cooker (1).
Rice is started to be cooked after each rice grain has been watered to a certain degree for a minute. In this embodiment, the combination of the timer (T ₃ ) and the timer (T ₂ ) functions as the timer (T) in the claims.

During this rice cooking, in the state of step (76), the temperature sensor (S) monitors the temperature in the rice cooker (1) and the water in the rice cooker (1) evaporates and the rice cooker (1) When the bottom part of () rises to the rice cooking completion temperature, the heater (12a) is turned off and the main rice cooking operation is completed, after which a predetermined time unevenness process is started. The above operation is the case of timer rice cooking, but if the timer is not set by the timer set switch (62), the water is supplied without looking at the time measured by the timer (T ₁ ) through step (72). The valve (31) is opened to execute the subsequent operation. Therefore, in this case, after the amount of water suitable for the amount of cooked rice is added by the operation of the cooked rice switch (61), the cooked rice automatically advances after 30 minutes.

The above-mentioned soaking time of 30 minutes is effective in the case of rice that does not require washing, but it may be too long if the rice needs to be sharpened before cooking. For this purpose, the control panel (6) is equipped with a selection switch (63) for selecting the necessity of immersion time, and control with immersion time is only possible when this selection switch (63) is turned on. The method can be executed. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 4, a step (77) for judging the state of the selection switch (63) is inserted before the step (75), and this selection switch is inserted.
When (63) is `` ON '', the process proceeds to step (75) .On the contrary, when the selection switch (63) is OFF, the rice cooker heating device (12) is turned ON directly without going through step (75). It is sufficient to adopt a configuration that allows

When the rice which has been previously sharpened with water and has a certain water content is cooked, the immersion time is 30
It is also possible to set the time shorter than the minute, for example, about 10 minutes. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the time counting step (78) is inserted in the flow branched from the step (77). do it. In the above embodiment, the immersion time set in step (75) was set to 30 minutes, but this value is
It is appropriately set according to the rice cooking method and the like, and is not limited to 30 minutes.

In the above embodiment, the rice cooker heating device (12) is the heater (12a), but the rice cooker (1) may be heated by a gas burner. In this case, in the rice cooking start operation, the on-off valve inserted in the gas circuit to the gas burner is opened and the ignition operation is performed, and when the main rice cooking is completed, the on-off valve is closed. In the above embodiment, the outer lid
Although the water is supplied through the connecting shaft portion (21) that connects the (2a) and the inner lid (2b), the water may be supplied into the rice cooker (1) from another place.

Next, as the water depth detecting means (4), a known rangefinder (40) as shown in FIG. 6 may be used. The range finder (40) is a collection of light emitted from the light emitting diode (41) which is converted into parallel rays by the lens (42) and reflection rays from the measured part are provided at a certain distance from the lens (42). The optical lens (45) is used for focusing, and the position detecting element (44) is arranged at the position located at this focal point. The position detection element (44), the output current value changes according to the distance (X) from the center to the light receiving point (D),
Then, the output current value is input to the arithmetic circuit (46), and in the arithmetic circuit (46), the output current value, the center distance (B) between the light emitting diode (41) and the position detecting element (44), Distance (f) from the optical lens (45) to the position detection element (44), and
The detection distance (L) is calculated based on the detection width (A) of the position detection element (44).

Based on this detection distance (L), the set value of water depth (H
To detect ₀ ), a program based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is executed. According to this, the initial detection distance (L ₀ ) by the distance meter (40) at the start of water supply is the distance meter (40).
To the top of the rice layer. Then, this initial detection distance (L ₀ ) is stored, and thereafter, in step (79), the detection distance (L) by the rangefinder is compared with the initial detection distance (L ₀ ) and the difference is monitored. This difference is the set value (H
_{When the} water supply valve (31) is closed at the time when it coincides with ₀ ), it functions as in the case of the above-described embodiment. In this embodiment, the distance meter (40) and the device corresponding to the step (79) serve as the water depth detecting means (4).

The set value (H ₀ ) is determined according to the optimum amount of water, but this value slightly changes in relation to the diameter of the rice cooker (1). In the case of a rice cooker of a domestic rice cooker, this set value (H ₀ ) may be about 20 mm. Further, in the above embodiment, the water amount is set without actually measuring the amount of cooked rice stored in the rice cooker (1), but the amount of rice measured in advance is accommodated in the rice cooker and is suitable for this. It may be used as a water supply means (3) for supplying the amount of water to be supplied. Further, the amount of rice in the rice cooker (10) may be measured by a measuring device built in the rice cooker, and a suitable amount of water may be supplied. In these cases, instead of the water supply means of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the water supply means for measuring the amount of water supply in the water supply and stopping the water supply when this integrated water supply amount reaches a water amount value that matches the rice cooked rice amount. May be

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of the program of the control device (C).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of main parts of a modified example of the flowchart.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of main parts of another modification.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a distance meter (40).

[Fig. 7] Flowchart diagram of water depth detection using a distance meter (40)

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) ・ ・ ・ Rice cooker (3) ・ ・ ・ Water supply means (T) ・ ・ ・ Timer (12) ・ ・ ・ Rice cooker

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A timer of a type having a water supply means (3) for stopping the water supply when the water supply is started by a water supply start signal and the amount of water suitable for the amount of rice stored in the rice cooker (1) is completed. The rice cooker is equipped with a timer (T) that outputs a rice cooking start signal when a predetermined set time elapses from the completion of water supply by the water supply means (3), and the rice heating device (12) is output by the output of this timer (T). A timer type rice cooker that is designed to start. 2. A rice cooking timer for setting the starting time of the rice heating device (12) is provided, and the pre-water supply means (3) is set before the rice cooking timer is set and at the time set by the timer (T).
The timer type rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rice cooker is started.