JPH0824620B2 - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric rice cooker in which arbitrary heating control corresponding to the amount of cooked rice is performed to control the cooked state of cooked rice to a desired state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electric rice cookers are controlled by a microcomputer to control the power supply state to a rice cooker heater so that the temperature of the rice cooker changes according to a predetermined reference temperature curve (heating rice cooker curve). The vessel is widely used. Since the above-mentioned reference temperature curve differs depending on the amount of rice cooked, in the above-described microcomputer-controlled electric rice cooker, the amount of rice cooked is first determined in the first heating process, and then the rice is cooked based on the determination result. In general, the state of power supply to the rice cooker during the raising process is controlled.

In order to determine the amount of cooked rice in the above heating process, for example, the heating time required for the temperature of the rice cooker to rise from the predetermined first temperature to the second temperature with the power supplied to the rice cooking heater being the maximum. Is measured, and the amount of cooked rice is determined from the measurement time. Also, power is supplied to the rice cooking heater until the temperature of the rice cooker reaches a predetermined temperature, and then the power is stopped and the temperature drops to another predetermined temperature. The method of measuring the amount of time required for cooking and determining the amount of cooked rice from this measured time has been applied.

However, with these techniques, the temperature change of the rice cooker deviates from the above-mentioned reference curve at least during the heating period for determining the amount of cooked rice, and thus ideal heating control cannot be realized. .

Therefore, recently, according to the above-mentioned reference temperature curve from the stage of the cooking step, paying attention to the fact that the above-mentioned reference temperature curve is substantially the same in the cooking step until reaching the boiling state regardless of the amount of cooked rice. The amount of cooked rice is judged by checking the heating state in this cooking process while controlling the heating, and the amount of cooked rice (total number) is determined by changing the time of the subsequent boiling process according to the amount of cooked rice. Technology has come to be used (for example, JP-A-60
-193417 gazette).

FIG. 9 is a characteristic diagram for explaining such a cooked rice amount determination technique. An example of an actual temperature change of a rice cooker during heating is shown along with a reference temperature curve Lref corresponding to the above-mentioned cooking process. This is indicated by L ₁ . The power supply state to the rice cooking heater is controlled based on the output of a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice cooker by turning ON / OFF the relay between the rice cooking heater and the commercial AC power source. That is, a period ΔOF during which the temperature of the rice cooker exceeds the illustrated reference temperature curve Lref due to the heating (ON) of the rice cooking heater.
In F, the relay is cut off and power supply to the rice cooking heater is stopped, and during the period ΔON when the temperature of the rice cooker falls below the indicated reference temperature curve Lref, the relay is turned on and the rice cooking heater is energized. Be seen.

[0007] Then, the length of the ON period ΔON or the OFF period ΔOFF of the relay within a predetermined time during the cooking process is integrated, and the amount of cooked rice is determined based on the integrated time. That is, in order to perform heating control along the above-mentioned constant reference temperature curve Lref without detecting a specific amount of cooked rice, it is necessary to increase the power supply time to the rice cooker as the amount of cooked rice increases. Therefore, since the integrated value of the on time (or off time) of the relay within the predetermined time will correspond to the amount of cooked rice, the amount of cooked rice is determined based on the integrated value of the on time (or off time). can do.

In such a determination technique, the amount of cooked rice can be determined while realizing almost ideal heating control in the cooking process, so that delicious rice with higher quality than the above methods can be cooked. .

On the other hand, recently, for example, an electric rice cooker equipped with a cooking function that directly cooks the rice in a plurality of stages such as “soft”, “normal”, and “hard” without changing the water level. The provision of vessels is being considered. With an electric rice cooker equipped with such a cooking function, it is possible to set the cooking status such as “soft”, “normal”, and “hard” as described above by simply turning on the selection key. Since it is possible to cook hard rice, it is extremely convenient, and it is possible to cook "sushi sushi" which was difficult to add and remove with the conventional method. There is a merit to become.

[0010]

However, the cooking system which is currently being considered in part, for example, focuses on the water absorption process and changes the heating temperature and heating time in the water absorption process according to the cooking condition. Yes, there is no particular consideration after the cooking process. Therefore, the amount of water evaporation is not properly adjusted, and good cooking control is not necessarily realized.

Therefore, for example, in the rice cooked state, the amount of cooked rice is accurately determined by the above-described method, and the temperature sensor provided at the bottom of the inner pot is used to check the heat increase / decrease when the temperature rises, for example, every 10 seconds to finely evaporate water. A system that changes the cooking method while adjusting the amount can be considered, but if such a configuration is adopted, there is a problem that the control program becomes very complicated and the cost becomes high.

[0012]

The invention described in each of claims 1 to 3 of the present application was made for the purpose of solving the above problems, and is configured as follows. .

(1) Structure of the invention according to claim 1 The electric rice cooker according to the invention according to claim 1 is a rice cooker for storing rice and water, a rice cooker heater for heating the rice cooker, and the rice cooker. In an electric rice cooker including a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice and a heater control unit that controls the heating of the rice cooking heater in the rice cooking process according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor, the hardness of the cooked rice is different. A plurality of different cooking levels for setting different cooking levels, and a plurality of different cooked rice hardnesses set by the cooking setting means for the uneven temperature in the unevenness process of the heater control unit after cooking. The present invention is characterized in that a nonuniformity temperature setting means is provided that is arbitrarily set according to the level of different seeds.

(2) Structure of the invention according to claim 2 The electric rice cooker according to the invention according to claim 2 is a rice cooker for storing rice and water, a rice cooker heater for heating the rice cooker, and the rice cooker. In an electric rice cooker including a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice and a heater control unit that controls the heating of the rice cooking heater in the rice cooking process according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor, the hardness of the cooked rice is different. A plurality of different cooking levels for setting different cooking levels and a plurality of different cooking hardnesses set by the cooking setting means for the unevenness time in the unevenness process after cooking by the heater control unit. The present invention is characterized by being provided with a nonuniformity time setting means that is arbitrarily set according to the level of different types of rice.

(3) Structure of the Invention According to Claim 3 The electric rice cooker according to the invention described in claim 3 is a rice cooker for storing rice and water, a rice cooker for heating the rice cooker, and the rice cooker. In an electric rice cooker including a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice and a heater control unit that controls the heating of the rice cooking heater in the rice cooking process according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor, the hardness of the cooked rice is different. A plurality of different cooking levels for setting different cooking levels, and a plurality of different cooked rice hardnesses set by the cooking setting means for the uneven temperature in the unevenness process of the heater control unit after cooking. The uneven temperature setting means arbitrarily set according to the cooking level of the seed and the unevenness time in the unevenness process after cooking of the heater control unit are different from each other according to the hardness of the cooked rice set by the cooking setting means. Sir It is characterized in that a nonuniformity time setting means for arbitrarily setting a plurality of different types of cooking levels is provided.

[0016]

(1) Operation of the invention of claim 1 In the configuration of the electric rice cooker of the invention of claim 1, a rice cooker for storing rice and water, a rice cooker for heating the rice cooker,
In an electric rice cooker comprising a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice cooker and a heater control unit that controls heating of the rice cooker heater in the rice cooking process according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor, the hardness of cooked rice Different cooking level setting means for setting different levels of cooking, and the unevenness temperature in the unevenness process after cooking of the heater control section differs depending on the hardness of the cooked rice set by the cooking level setting means. There is a temperature setting means to set arbitrarily according to the different cooking levels of different types. For example, you can set different cooking levels for different hardness such as hard, normal, soft rice etc. Set by the separate cooking setting means, and according to the set level, the uneven temperature setting means arbitrarily sets and controls the uneven temperature in the uneven processing after the rice is cooked. A way, so as to achieve a state divided cooking with high accuracy.

In general, the adjustment of the final water content in the rice cooking process can be most efficiently realized in the purging process after the completion of cooking. Therefore, as in the configuration of the present invention, in the same unevenness process, the uneven temperature is appropriately set according to the different cooking levels “hard”, “normal”, “soft” etc. By doing so, it is possible to effectively realize the different cooking of rice having a desired cooked rice hardness and water content.

(2) Operation of the invention according to claim 2 In the configuration of the electric rice cooker according to the invention described in claim 2, as described above, the rice cooker for storing rice and water and the rice cooker are heated. In an electric rice cooker comprising a rice cooking heater, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice cooker, and a heater control unit that controls heating of the rice cooking heater in the rice cooking process according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor, Cooking setting means for setting a plurality of types of cooking levels having different hardness of cooked rice, and the cooking time of the cooking process of the heater control section, which is set by the cooking setting means. There is a non-uniformity time setting means for arbitrarily setting the different levels of cooking according to the level of different types of cooking. Cooking level Set by the dividing setting means, and according to the setting level, the unevenness time setting means can realize the highly accurate cooking state by arbitrarily controlling the unevenness time in the unevenness step after the rice is cooked. It has become.

Generally, the adjustment of the final water content in the rice cooking process can be most efficiently realized in the purging process after the completion of cooking. Therefore, as in the configuration of the present invention, in the muramura process, the muramura time is appropriately set according to the cooking level “hard”, “normal”, “soft” etc. set by the cooking setting means. By doing so, it is possible to effectively realize the different cooking of rice having a desired cooked rice hardness and water content.

(3) Operation of the invention of claim 3 In the configuration of the electric rice cooker of the invention of claim 3, as described above, the rice cooker for storing rice and water and the rice cooker are heated. In an electric rice cooker comprising a rice cooking heater, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice cooker, and a heater control unit that controls heating of the rice cooking heater in the rice cooking process according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor, Cooking setting means for setting a plurality of types of cooking levels having different hardness of cooked rice, and the cooking temperature of the cooking control of the heater control unit for the cooking temperature of the cooked rice set by the cooking setting means. The uneven temperature setting means for arbitrarily setting different levels of different types of different cooking levels and the uneven heating time of the heater control section in the uneven process after cooking are set by the above-mentioned cooking setting means. It is equipped with a non-uniformity time setting means that can be arbitrarily set according to the different cooking levels of different types of cooked cooked rice. For example, the hard, normal, soft Two kinds of parameters, namely, the uneven temperature and the uneven time in the uneven process after the rice is cooked by the uneven temperature setting means and the uneven time setting means, are used for different types of different cooked rice having different hardness. It can be realized with higher accuracy by arbitrarily controlling the combination of.

Generally, the adjustment of the final water content in the rice cooking process can be most efficiently realized in the purging process after the completion of cooking. Therefore, as in the configuration of the present invention, in the uniforming step, especially the uniforming temperature and the uniforming time both of which are set by the above-mentioned cooking setting means, "hard", "normal", "soft" By appropriately setting the cooked rice according to the above, it is possible to more effectively realize the different cooking of rice having a desired cooked rice hardness and water content.

[0022]

As described above, according to the electric rice cooker of the present invention, water is absorbed in the cooked rice as compared with the rice cooked by controlling the heating time and the heating temperature only in the water absorption step which has already been studied. Since the amount of evaporated water itself can be finally adjusted more accurately, it is possible to realize a more accurate cooking state.

[0023]

Embodiments (1) First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 6 show the configuration of an electric rice cooker having a cooking function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

First, FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the overall construction of the electric rice cooker in the embodiment. This electric rice cooker is used for both rice cooking and heat retention,
The container main body Z includes a bottomed tubular outer case 1 configured to set the rice cooker 6 therein, and a lid unit 7 that covers the upper portion of the outer case 1.

The outer case 1 is composed of a cylindrical cover member 22 formed of a thin metal plate, and a shoulder member 4 and a bottom member 3 made of synthetic resin, which are connected to the upper and lower ends of the cover member 2, respectively. It is configured and is provided with a bottomed cylindrical inner container 5 in which the rice cooker 6 is detachably set.

A center sensor 28 that comes into contact with the bottom surface of the rice cooker 6 is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the inner container 5, and an annular rice cooking heater H is provided so as to surround the center sensor 28.
₁ is embedded in the heating plate 24.
In the center sensor 28, a temperature sensing element 72 (see FIG. 3) for detecting the temperature of the rice cooker 6 and a rice cooker set sensor 71 (see FIG. 3) for detecting whether or not the rice cooker 6 is set. ) Etc. are built in.

The lid unit 7 is formed in a hollow structure by an outer cover 8 made of synthetic resin forming the outer peripheral surface and an inner cover 9 made of synthetic resin forming the inner peripheral surface. The inner cover 9 and the inner cover 9 are joined to each other with high airtightness by high frequency welding or the like. The lid unit 7 is rotatably attached to the position side of the shoulder member 4 via a hinge mechanism 20, and has an open end engaged with a predetermined position of the lid unit 7. A lock mechanism 21 for maintaining the closed state of the unit 7 is provided.

Further, in the substantially central portion of the lid unit 7,
A steam discharge port 15 is provided, and a steam discharge cylinder mounting hole 13 is formed below the steam discharge port 15. In the vapor discharge cylinder mounting hole 13, a rubber vapor discharge cylinder packing 14 is mounted.

Further, an inner lid 10 for closing the upper opening of the rice cooker 6 is provided below the lid unit 7, and the inner lid 10 is provided at the center of the inner lid 10. A steam discharge cylinder 12 having a pressure adjusting device 11 for releasing the steam guided to the internal space 16 above the inner lid 10 to the outside via a steam port 17 formed at a proper position is fixed. The vapor discharge cylinder 12 is detachably attached to the vapor discharge cylinder packing 14. That is, the inner lid 10 is detachably attached to the lid unit 7 via the vapor discharge tube 12. The lid unit 7 and the inner lid 10
The space between and is sealed by a packing 18 attached to the peripheral edge of the inner cover 9 to prevent steam from leaking outside from a portion other than the pressure regulator 11.

A heat insulating heater H ₂ is further provided on the outer surface of the side peripheral portion of the inner container 5, and a shoulder heater H ₃ is provided at a portion of the shoulder member 4 to which the inner lid 10 is joined. Has been done. The warming heater H ₂ is mainly used to keep the cooked rice warm to prevent decay, and the shoulder heater H ₃ heats the inner lid 10 by heat conduction to evaporate water droplets generated on the surface, It is used to prevent water drops from falling into the rice cooker 6.

On the other hand, between the inner container 5 and the outer case 1, a rice cooking heater H ₁ , a heat retaining heater H ₂ and a shoulder heater H _{3 are provided.}
A microcomputer 23 for controlling power supply to the power supply is accommodated. In addition, the shoulder member 4 is provided with an operation board 22 that constitutes an operation unit. This operation board 2
The 2, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the menu switch 41 for selecting three cooking functions white rice cooking and brown rice cooking and porridge cooking (the rice menu), the insulation heater H ₂
A heat retention / cancel switch 42 for controlling energization and de-energization of the rice, a rice cooking switch 43 for starting rice cooking by the rice cooking heater H ₁ based on the rice cooking menu selected by the menu switch 41, and a soft rice A,
Standard B and hard C Cooking switch 44 for setting different levels of cooking, a rice cooker indicator light 46 that lights up based on the selection of the rice cooker switch 43, and a warming condition that lights up when the warming switch 42 is turned on. A warming indicator lamp 47 that indicates that there is a timer indicator lamp 48 that lights up in response to a timer operation, a rice cooking menu selected by the menu switch 41 and the cooking switch 44, and a hardness level are displayed to the user. A liquid crystal display section 53 is provided for making the selection menu visible.

Next, the electrical configuration of the electric rice cooker of this embodiment will be described based on the electric circuit diagram shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, parts corresponding to the respective parts shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Electric power from the commercial AC power supply 29 is supplied to the rice cooking heater H ₁ , the heat retaining heater H ₂ and the shoulder heater H ₃ via a temperature fuse 30 which detects and abnormally heats the rice cooker 6 and blows it. The voltage is stepped down by the step-down transformer 35, rectified by the rectifier 36, and supplied to the microcomputer 23 as its power supply. The configuration of the microcomputer 23 will be described later.

The rice cooking heater H ₁ , the heat retaining heater H _{2 and the} shoulder heater H ₃ are connected in parallel with each other. Further, a normally open contact 31a of the relay 31 is connected in series to the rice cooking heater H ₁ . Relay coil 3 of this relay 31
In 1b, the excitation / demagnetization is controlled by the transistor 37 which is ON / OFF controlled by a command from the microcomputer 23. Reference numeral 32 is a diode for absorbing a counter electromotive force generated when the relay coil 31b is demagnetized.

Triacs 33 and 34 are connected between the heat-retaining heater H ₂ and the commercial AC power supply 29 and between the shoulder heater H ₃ and the commercial AC power supply 29, respectively. The gates of these triacs 33, 34 are turned on / off by a command from the microcomputer 23.
Control signals are supplied from the transistors 38 and 39 to be controlled.

The microcomputer 23 operates based on a clock signal from a reference frequency generation circuit (OSC) 40, and the transistor 3 operates according to a predetermined program.
7, 38, 39 are controlled to control power supply to the rice cooking heater H ₁ , the warming heater H ₂ and the shoulder heater H ₃ . This power supply control is performed based on the output signal from the temperature sensing element 72 incorporated in the center sensor 28. Reference numeral 71 is a rice cooker set sensor for detecting whether or not the rice cooker 6 is set.

In the microcomputer 23, the switches 41 to 45 and the indicator lights 46 to 48 are provided.
And a buzzer 73 for notifying the liquid crystal display unit 53 and the completion of rice cooking
Is connected. Note that the microcomputer 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a heater control unit in the claims.

By the way, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an ideal temperature change (basic rice cooking characteristic) of the rice cooker 6 during a normal (normal B) rice cooking operation. The rice cooking operation is to maintain the boiling state by the "water absorption step (1)" in which the rice absorbs water at a predetermined temperature (for example, the rice cooker temperature is 60 ° C), the "cooking step (2)" in which the rice is heated to the boiling state, and the boiling state. It includes a "boiling step (3)" and a "purple step (4)" to spread cooked rice. The ideal heating conditions of rice device 6, depend rice amount, for example, the length of the "boiling step (3)", the power supplied to the cooking heater H ₁ corresponding to cooking amount in "Boiling step (3)" It is known that rice can be cooked deliciously by setting the above. On the other hand, in the "cooking step (3)", it is also empirically known that the rice can be cooked deliciously by causing a substantially constant temperature change regardless of the amount of cooked rice. In the present embodiment, during a predetermined period Δt (for example, a period of 4 minutes after the temperature of the rice cooker 6 reaches 71 ° C.) during the “cooking step (2)”,
The amount of cooked rice (total number) is determined, and then the "boiling process (3)"
The heating control is performed according to the determined amount of cooked rice.

Then, in the case of the present embodiment, the ideal curve is set by the cooking switch 44 as described above.
Cooked state of type, "soft A", "normal B", "hard C"
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, three sets of ideal curves A, B, and C having different "uneven" temperatures are set in the microcomputer (heater control unit) 23, and the cooking switch 44 is used. The uneven temperatures T ₁ , T ₂ , T _{3 in} the ideal curve are automatically selected in correspondence with the cooking state set by.

That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case where the "purple temperature" in the "purple process" is "soft A", for example, with respect to the basic rice cooking characteristics of FIG. The first temperature T ₁ ° C, the second temperature T ₂ ° C which is higher than the _first temperature T ₁ ° C by a predetermined value in the case of "normal B", and the "hardness C" in the case of "hard C". a was changed each "steaming temperature" as further than the second temperature T ₂ ° C. a third temperature T ₃ ° C. predetermined value increase, B, C3 single "steaming characteristics" is set , The corresponding "murar characteristics" A, B, C corresponding to the three different cooking levels set by the cooking switch 44, "soft A", "normal B", and "hard C". select "steaming temperature _{T 1, T 2, T 3} " is adapted to be optimally controlled.

Next, FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the separate cooking control operation of the microcomputer 23 when cooking rice.

First, when the electric rice cooker body is turned on and the preheating is started by continuously turning on the rice cooking heater H ₁ and the heat retention heater H ₂ , the water absorption process of step S ₁ shown in the figure is started. To be done.

Then, when the water absorption process is completed after a predetermined time has elapsed, the cooking process of step S ₂ is subsequently executed, and at the same time, the above-described FIG.
The amount of cooked rice is determined by the method. As a result, the temperature of the rice cooker 6 of the electric rice cooker eventually reaches the boiling temperature of 130 ° C., and the boiling step is realized.

Therefore, next, in step S ₃ , the temperature of the rice cooker 6 is set to a boiling temperature of 130 ° C. in order to judge the fact.
It is determined whether or not the following.

As a result, if the determination is YES, that is, the boiling step is not finished yet at 130 ° C. or lower, the determination is continued until the determination becomes NO. On the other hand, when the answer is NO and it is confirmed that the boiling process has been completed, the process proceeds to steps S ₄ and S ₅ to sequentially turn off the rice cooking heater H ₁ and the heat retention heater H ₂ to gradually lower the temperature of the rice cooker 6. Then, move to the Murashi process.

[0046] Then the process proceeds to step S _6, whether it has the heater H _1, and H ₂ is a manner prescribed steaming step setting time that is pre Ji because setting the OFF e.g. 720 seconds (12 minutes) has elapsed To determine. As a result of the determination, the heater H ₁ ,
Of course, even after the H ₂ is turned off for a while, the above-mentioned 720-second staggering time has not elapsed, so it is determined to be NO, and the operation proceeds to step S ₈ , for example.

[0047] Then, the in step S _8, it determines whether the current setting cook divided level set by the user such as first "stiff C".

[0048] As a result, if the answer is NO, if not at least set level "harder C", further proceeds to step S _9, now it determines whether the same set level is "Normal B" Yes (see below).

[0049] On the other hand, in the determination in step S _8, when the set level is determined to be YES as a "harder C"
In step S ₁₀ , it is determined whether or not the current temperature of the rice cooker 6 has dropped to, for example, T ₃ = 120 ° C. or lower, which is the third uneven temperature, and if NO, steps S ₁₁ and S ₁₂ On the other hand, the heat-retaining heater H ₂ and the rice-cooking heater H ₁ are kept in the OFF state, and when YES (120 ° C. or less), the process proceeds to steps S ₁₃ and S ₁₄ , and the heat-retaining heater H _{2 is set} to 12 /
14 duty time, and the rice cooking heater H ₁ is turned on for 2/14 duty time respectively, and the uneven temperature T ₃ =
Aim to maintain 120 ° C. The "murar process" at the Murmur temperature T ₃ = 120 ° C. is continued until it is determined in step S ₆ that the predetermined "murar time 720 seconds" has elapsed.

[0050] Then, when the course of the pre Ji is because setting "steaming time 720 seconds" is determined in step S _6, the cooking heater H ₁ at step S _7, S ₁₇ subsequent, warmth heater H ₂ after sequentially OFF, the buzzer sounds at step S ₁₉ with turns off the stove indicator lamp 46 in step S _18, informing the user that the cooking of the "harder C" state set by the user has completed Turning to incubating process of step S ₂₀ on the in.

Meanwhile, in step S _8, the current setting cooking divided level is determined NO as not "harder C", whether further or proceeds to step S ₉ is "normal B" is determined in the case, when it is judged as YES as "normal B" further proceeds to step S _16, T ₂ = 11 temperature current rice device 6 is, for example, a second Nomura Centigrade
It is determined whether or not the temperature has dropped to 0 ° C. or lower, and if NO, the process proceeds to steps S ₁₁ and S ₁₂ to continue the OFF state of the heat retaining heater H ₂ and the rice cooking heater H ₁ , while YES (T ₂ =
When the temperature is less than 110 ° C.), the process proceeds to steps S ₁₃ and S ₁₄ , and the heat retention heater H ₂ is turned on for 12/14 duty time, and the rice cooking heater H ₁ is turned on for 2/14 duty time.
Then, the second uneven temperature T ₂ = 110 ° C. is maintained. The “murar process” at the _second temperature T ₂ = 110 ° C. is continued until it is determined in step S ₆ that the predetermined setting “murar time 720 seconds” has elapsed.

[0052] Then, when the course of the pre Ji is because setting "steaming time 720 seconds" is determined in the same step S _6,
It said cooking heater H ₁ at step S _7, S ₁₇ that follows, after sequentially OFF warmth heater H _2, a buzzer at step S ₁₉ with turns off the stove indicator lamp 46 in step S _18, by the user Turning to incubating process of step S ₂₀ that the cooking at the set "normal B" state is completed after having informed the user.

[0053] Further, when the setting level in the determination of step S ₉ is determined to be NO as neither "Average B" of the "soft turtle A", the process proceeds to step S _15, the current rice unit 6
Is the first uneven temperature T ₁ = 105 ° C.
Determines whether decreased to below the insulation heater H ₂ proceeds to step S _11, S ₁₂ when NO, the one to continue the OFF state of the cooking heater _{H 1, YES (T 1 =} 10
(5 ° C. or less), the process proceeds to steps S ₁₃ and S ₁₄ , and first, the heat retention heater H ₂ is turned on for 12/14 duty time, and the rice cooking heater H ₁ is turned on for 2/14 duty time. Maintain T ₁ = 105 ° C. The "murarizing process" at the uniformer temperature T ₁ = 105 ° C. is continued until it is determined in step S ₆ that a predetermined setting “murarizing time 720 seconds” has elapsed.

[0054] Then, when the course of the pre Ji is because setting "steaming time 720 seconds" is determined in step S _6, the cooking heater H ₁ at step S _7, S ₁₇ subsequent, warmth heater H ₂ after sequentially OFF, the buzzer sounds at step S ₁₉ with turns off the stove indicator lamp 46 in step S _18, the user that cooking in the "soft turtle a" state set by the user has completed Turning to incubating process of step S ₂₀ in terms of the broadcast.

Therefore, according to the cooking system of the electric rice cooker according to the present embodiment, compared to the cooking system which is controlled by controlling the heating time and the heating temperature only in the water absorption process which is currently being examined, the rice cooking Since the amount of evaporation of the absorbed water can be accurately and finally adjusted, it is possible to realize a more accurate cooking state.

(2) Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, in addition to the structure of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the “mulling step” is added to the basic rice cooking characteristics of FIG. "Murashi temperature" and "Murashi time"
In the case of "soft A", the first set uneven temperature T ₁
° C. and the second set steaming time t ₁ minute, also "normal B" second setting predetermined value higher than the temperature T ₁ ° C. The first set steaming in the case of steaming temperature T ₂ ° C. And to a second setting unevenness time t ₂ minutes which is longer than the first setting unevenness time t ₁ minute by a predetermined time, and in the case of “hard C”, from the second setting unevenness temperature T ₂ ° C. Also, the third set uneven temperature T ₃ ℃, which is higher by a predetermined value, and the third set uneven time t ₃ minutes, which is a predetermined time longer than the second set uneven time t ₂ minutes, are set to “ ₃ ”. Softness A, Normal B, and Hardness C in which the "Murashi temperature" and the "Murashi time" are changed are set. The microcomputer 23 automatically selects the corresponding "murar characteristics" corresponding to the three different cooking levels of B, C, and " Rashi temperature "and" steaming time "is characterized in that is adapted to be appropriately controlled.

Therefore, the cooking control operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when preheating is started by turning on the electric rice cooker main body and continuously turning on the rice cooking heater H ₁ and the heat retention heater H ₂ , the water absorption step of step S ₁ shown in the figure is started. To be done.

When the water absorption process is completed after a lapse of a predetermined time, the cooking process of step S ₂ is subsequently executed, and at the same time, the above-mentioned determination of the amount of cooked rice is performed. As a result, the temperature of the rice cooker 6 of the electric rice cooker eventually reaches the boiling temperature of 130 ° C., and the boiling step is realized.

Therefore, next, in step S ₃ , the temperature of the rice cooker 6 is set to a boiling temperature of 130 ° C. in order to judge the fact.
It is determined whether or not the following.

As a result, when the determination is YES, that is, the boiling step is not completed yet at 130 ° C. or lower, the determination is continued until the determination becomes NO. On the other hand, when the answer is NO and it is confirmed that the boiling process has been completed, the process proceeds to steps S ₄ and S ₅ to sequentially turn off the rice cooking heater H ₁ and the heat retention heater H ₂ to gradually lower the temperature of the rice cooker 6. Then, move to the Murashi process.

Subsequently, in step S ₆ , it is determined whether or not the current cooking level set by the user is, for example, "hard C".

[0063] As a result, if the answer is NO, if not at least "Firm C", further proceeds to step S _7, now it determines whether the cooking divided level is "normal B".

On the other hand, when it is determined YES in the determination in step S ₆ that the set level is “hard C”,
Proceeds to step S _8, and determines whether or not the elapsed the steaming third set steaming time t ₃ minutes time t from the process proceeds to step showed example in FIG. 7, when the NO (In the middle of the unevenness process), the process further proceeds to step S ₁₄ , where the current temperature of the rice cooker 6 is the third set unevenness temperature T ₃ = 1 in FIG.
It is determined whether the temperature has dropped to 20 ° C. or lower. Then, when the determination result is NO, the further step S _17,
While proceeding to S ₁₈ , the heaters H ₂ and H ₁ are kept in the OFF state, while the determination result of step S ₁₄ is YES (T ₃ ° C.
Proceeds to step S _15, S ₁₆ when in the following), the heat insulating heater H ₂ 12/14 duty time, the cooking heater H ₁ 2
The duty ratio is turned on for each / 14 duty time to maintain the _third set uneven temperature T ₃ ° C. The “unevenness process” at the _third set irregularity temperature T ₃ ° C. is continued until it is determined in step S ₈ that the third preset irregularity time t ₃ has elapsed (YES).

[0065] Then, when the third setting steaming elapsed time t ₃ when is the pre Ji fit set in the step S ₈ is determined,
It said cooking heater H ₁ in step S _9, S ₁₀ that follows, after sequentially OFF warmth heater H _2, a buzzer at step S ₁₂ with turns off the stove indicator lamp 46 in step S _11, the above-mentioned "harder After notifying the user that the separate cooking in the “C” state has been completed, the process proceeds to the heat retaining step of step S ₁₃ .

On the other hand, in step S ₆ , it is determined as NO because the current set cooking level is not "hard C", and the process proceeds to step S ₇ to determine whether the cooking level is "normal B". If it is determined to be "normal B" and YES is determined, further step S is performed.
_In step ₁₉ , it is determined whether or not the time t from the shift to the unevenness process has passed, for example, the second set unevenness time t ₂ shown in FIG. proceed to step in the middle) is further step S _20, determines whether the current temperature of the rice unit 6 is lowered to the second set steaming temperature T ₂ following FIG 7. Then, when the judgment result is NO, the insulation heater H ₂ further proceeds to step S _17, S _18, while to continue the OFF state of the cooking heater H _1, Y
In the case of ES (T ₂ ℃ or less), the process proceeds to steps S ₁₅ and S ₁₆ to turn on the heat retaining heater H ₂ for 12/14 duty time and turn on the rice cooking heater H ₁ for 2/14 duty time respectively. 2. Maintain the setting uneven temperature T ₂ ℃ of ₂ . The "muraning step" at the temperature T ₂ ° C is continued until it is determined in step S ₁₉ that the second set nonuniformity time t ₂ has elapsed.

Then, if it is determined in step S ₁₉ that the second preset unevenness time t ₂ set in advance is determined,
It said cooking heater H ₁ in step S _9, S ₁₀ that follows, after sequentially OFF warmth heater H _2, a buzzer at step S ₁₂ with turns off the stove indicator lamp 46 in step S _11, the above-mentioned "ordinary After notifying the user that the rice cooking in the “B” state is completed, the process proceeds to the heat retaining step of step S ₁₃ .

[0068] In addition, NO is determined as neither "Average B" in the determination in step S ₇ in the case of "soft turtle A", the process proceeds to step S _21, from the proceeds to the steaming step The time is, for example, the first setting unevenness time shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not t ₁ minute has elapsed, and when the result is NO (during the purging process), the process proceeds to step S ₂₂ , and the current temperature of the rice cooker 6 is the first setting irregularity in FIG. It is determined whether the temperature has dropped to T ₁ or less. Then, when the determination result is NO, while to continue further the insulation heater H ₂ proceeds to step S _17, S _18, the OFF state of the cooking heater H _1, step when the YES (T ₁ ° C. or less) S ₁₅ , S ₁₆
Then, the heat retention heater H ₂ is turned on for 12/14 duty time and the rice cooking heater H ₁ is turned on for 2/14 duty time to maintain the _first set uneven temperature T ₁ ° C. The "purging process" at the temperature T ₁ ° C is the above step S
_This is continued until it is judged at ₂₁ that the first set nonuniformity time t ₁ has elapsed.

[0069] When the first set steaming time passes t ₁ to the same step S ₂₁ is fit set Ji said pre is determined,
Said cooking heater H ₁ in step S _9, S ₁₀ that follows, after sequentially OFF warmth heater H _2, a buzzer at step S ₁₂ with turns off the stove indicator lamp 46 in step S _11, the above-mentioned "soft Turning to incubating process of step S ₁₃ that the cooking in turtle a "state has been completed after having informed the user.

Therefore, according to the cooking system of the electric rice cooker of the present embodiment, the uneven temperature is compared with the cooking system which is controlled by controlling the heating time and the heating temperature only in the water absorption process which is currently being studied. It is possible to further accurately and finally adjust the evaporation amount of the water absorbed in the cooked rice by both of the parameters such as the sourashi time, so that it is possible to realize a higher quality and more accurate cooking state. Like

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electric rice cooker.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of the electric rice cooker.

FIG. 4 is a basic rice cooking characteristic diagram of the electric rice cooker during normal rice cooking.

FIG. 5 is a rice cooking characteristic diagram of the electric rice cooker of the present embodiment in which the basic rice cooking characteristics of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a cooking control operation using the rice cooking characteristics of FIG. 5 of the electric rice cooker.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing rice cooking characteristics of the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention in which the characteristics of FIG. 5 are further corrected.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a cooking control operation of the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing basic heating characteristics of an electric rice cooker according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is an outer case, 5 is an inner container, 6 is a rice cooker, 22 is an operation board, 23 is a microcomputer, 29 is an AC power supply, 3
7, 38, 39 are transistors, 44 is a separate switch, H ₁ is a main heater, and H ₂ is a heat retention heater.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A rice cooker that stores rice and water, a rice cooker heater that heats the rice cooker, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice cooker, and a rice cooker according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor.
In the electric rice cooker including a heater control unit that controls the heating of the rice cooking heater according to the first step, a cooking setting unit that sets a plurality of types of cooking levels having different hardness of cooked rice, and the heater control unit. steaming arbitrarily set according to the temperature <br/> definitive uneven step steaming after raising-out炊the plural kinds of cooking divided levels having different hardness of the set rice by the cook separately setting means An electric rice cooker comprising a temperature setting means. 2. A rice cooker that stores rice and water, a rice cooker that heats the rice cooker, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice cooker, and a rice cooker according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor.
In the electric rice cooker including a heater control unit that controls the heating of the rice cooking heater according to the first step, a cooking setting unit that sets a plurality of types of cooking levels having different hardness of cooked rice, and the heater control unit. The unevenness time in the unevenness step after cooking is arbitrarily set according to a plurality of different cooking levels with different hardness of the cooked rice set by the above-mentioned cooking setting means. An electric rice cooker characterized by having setting means. 3. A rice cooker that stores rice and water, a rice cooker that heats the rice cooker, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the rice cooker, and a rice cooker according to the temperature detection value of the temperature sensor.
In the electric rice cooker including a heater control unit that controls the heating of the rice cooking heater according to the first step, a cooking setting unit that sets a plurality of types of cooking levels having different hardness of cooked rice, and the heater control unit. The mudling temperature in the mudling process after cooking the rice is set according to the cooking level of a plurality of types with different hardness of the cooked rice set by the cooking setting means. The setting means and the unevenness time in the unevenness process after cooking of the heater control unit are arbitrarily set according to a plurality of types of different cooking levels having different hardness of cooked rice set by the different cooking setting means. An electric rice cooker characterized by having a time setting means.