JP6239014B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker that cooks a pot-like container containing food such as rice.

  In a conventional rice cooker, it is known that the inner pot (pan-shaped container) is shaped into a feather pot in order to heat rice uniformly and cook deliciously. As an example of a rice cooker having a hook-shaped inner pot, Patent Document 1 describes that the heel portion of the inner pot is provided in the vicinity of the water level set when cooking rice with the maximum capacity of the rice cooker. ing.

JP 2002-65456 A (see paragraph [0019], FIG. 1)

  However, when rice of the maximum capacity is cooked with the rice cooker described in Patent Document 1, the rice grains swell and increase in volume due to rice cooking, so in the latter half of rice cooking, the upper rice is located above the buttock and heated. It becomes insufficient. Thus, when a difference in heating occurs depending on the location of rice, delicious cooking of rice cannot be performed due to uneven cooking.

  This invention is made | formed against the background as mentioned above, and it aims at providing the rice cooker which can fully cook the whole to-be-heated material and can be cooked deliciously.

A rice cooker according to the present invention includes a pot-shaped container that accommodates an object to be heated, a main body that opens an upper surface and accommodates the pot-shaped container therein, and a lid that covers the opening of the upper surface of the main body so as to be opened and closed And a heating means for heating the pot-shaped container, wherein the pot-shaped container has a feather pot shape with a hook portion provided on an outer peripheral side surface, and the pot portion is the pot-shaped container. The distance between the upper part that is provided below the upper end of the pot-like container and is located above the flange of the pot-like container and the part that faces the upper part of the main body or the lid is the pot-like container. The space between the upper part and the part facing the upper part of the main body or the lid is in a state in which the lid is closed. in, and external communication with, the body or the lid, the outside communicating with slits form Ru is.

  According to the rice cooker according to the present invention, the distance between the upper part located above the buttock of the pot-like container and the part facing the upper part of the main body or the lid is from the outer peripheral side surface of the pot-like container. Therefore, a large space can be provided between the upper part of the pot-like container and the part facing the upper part of the main body or lid, and the upper part of the pot-like container Can be cooled. Thereby, the spillage during cooking is suppressed, and heating with a large heating power is possible.

It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows schematically the structure of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the pan-shaped container at the time of the maximum amount rice cooking of the rice cooker in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which expanded a part of cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows schematically the structure of the rice cooker in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows schematically the structure of the rice cooker in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the form of this drawing. Moreover, in the following drawings, the relationship of the size of each component may be different from the actual one.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a rice cooker 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The rice cooker 100 in the present embodiment is a household rice cooker that heats and cooks food that is an object to be heated (rice 200 and water 201 in the example of FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 1, a rice cooker 100 is accommodated in a main body 1 having a bottomed cylindrical appearance, a lid 10 that is attached to the main body 1 and opens and closes an upper opening of the main body 1, and the main body 1. And a pot-shaped pot-shaped container 5.

(Main unit 1)
The main body 1 drives a container cover 2, a heating coil 3 as a heating means, a pan bottom temperature sensor 4, a hinge part 6 that supports the lid 10 so as to be opened and closed, a time measuring means 7, and each part and each device. The control means 8 which controls and performs a rice cooking process is provided.

  The container cover 2 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the pot-shaped container 5 is detachably accommodated therein. In the center of the bottom of the container cover 2, a hole 2a into which the pan bottom temperature sensor 4 is inserted is provided. Further, a shoulder portion 2 b for placing the pan-like container 5 is provided on the side surface of the container cover 2. Furthermore, the shoulder 2b is provided with an elastic member 2c (for example, silicon) for enhancing the sealing with the pot-like container 5. By placing the flange 5a of the pot-shaped container 5 on the shoulder 2b of the container cover 2, a space between the container cover 2 and the pot-shaped container 5 is closed. When the heating coil 3 is heated in this state, it is insulated by the closed space, so that the temperature of the portion located below the ridge portion 5a of the pan-like container 5 and the rice 200 accommodated therein is difficult to cool. Can be efficiently heated.

  A heat insulating material 18 is provided in the space between the exterior member 19 of the main body 1 and the container cover 2. The heat insulating material 18 is disposed below the shoulder portion 2 b of the container cover 2. Thereby, the heat insulation of the space between the container cover 2 and the part located below the collar part 5a of the pan-shaped container 5 can be improved.

  The heating coil 3 is energized and controlled by the control means 8 and induction-heats the pan-like container 5. As a heating means, an electric heater such as a sheathed heater may be provided in place of the heating coil 3. Moreover, in the example of FIG. 1, although the heating coil 3 is arrange | positioned near the bottom face of the pan-like container 5, arrangement | positioning of the heating coil 3 is not limited to the thing of illustration, For example, in addition to the bottom face vicinity of the pan-like container 5 The heating coil 3 may be provided along the side surface of the pan-like container 5.

  The pan bottom temperature sensor 4 is composed of, for example, a thermistor, and detects the temperature of the pan-like container 5. The pan bottom temperature sensor 4 according to the present embodiment is biased upward by an elastic means (not shown) such as a spring and is in contact with the bottom surface of the pan-like container 5 accommodated in the container cover 2. Information regarding the temperature of the pot-like container 5 detected by the pot bottom temperature sensor 4 is output to the control means 8. The specific configuration of the pan bottom temperature sensor 4 is not limited to the thermistor, and the temperature of the pan-shaped container 5 such as an infrared sensor is not contacted in addition to the contact-type temperature sensor that detects the temperature by contacting the pan-shaped container 5. A non-contact temperature sensor that detects at a point may be adopted.

  The hinge portion 6 is provided on one end side (the left side in FIG. 1) of the upper portion of the main body 1 and supports the lid body 10 so that it can be opened and closed. In addition, you may provide the main body 1 with the handle (not shown) for conveying the rice cooker 100. FIG. When the handle is provided, the handle is preferably pivotally supported at the front and rear center of the upper part of the side surface of the main body 1 so that the rotation direction of the handle coincides with the rotation direction of the lid body 10. Then, when transporting the rice cooker 100, the user can lift the handle by rotating the handle so that it is positioned almost directly above the pivot point of the handle, and can transport the rice cooker 100 with only the handle. It becomes.

  The time measuring means 7 counts the elapsed time based on the instruction signal from the control means 8. The elapsed time counted by the time measuring means 7 is output to the control means 8.

  The control means 8 controls the high-frequency current supplied to the heating coil 3 based on the output from the pan bottom temperature sensor 4 and the operation display unit 15 and the internal temperature sensor 16 provided on the lid 10. In addition, the control means 8 controls the overall operation of the rice cooker 100. The control means 8 can be configured by hardware such as a circuit device that realizes the function, or can be configured by an arithmetic device such as a microcomputer or CPU and software executed thereon.

(Cover 10)
The lid 10 has an outer lid 11 and an inner lid 12. A removable cartridge 14 is provided on the outer lid 11, and an operation display unit 15 is provided on the upper surface of the outer lid 11. A fan 17 is provided at one end of the outer lid 11 (on the right side in FIG. 1) as a cooling means for cooling the upper portion 5b located above the ridge portion 5a of the pan-like container 5. The fan 17 sends external air to the space SP <b> 1 between the upper portion 5 b of the pot-like container 5 and the container cover 2 under the control of the control means 8.

  The outer lid 11 constitutes an upper portion and a side portion of the lid body 10, and an inner lid 12 is detachably attached to a lower surface of the outer lid 11 (a surface facing the pan-like container 5). The inner lid 12 is made of, for example, a metal such as stainless steel, and is attached to the surface of the outer lid 11 on the main body 1 side via a locking member 13. A lid packing 9, which is a sealing material that ensures hermeticity with the outer periphery of the upper end of the pot-like container 5, is attached to the peripheral edge of the inner lid 12. Further, the inner lid 12 is formed with a hole 12a into which the internal temperature sensor 16 is inserted, and the outer lid 11 is sealed to close a gap on the outer periphery of the internal temperature sensor 16 inserted into the hole 12a of the inner lid 12. 11a is attached. Further, the inner lid 12 is provided with a steam port 12b through which steam generated in the pan-like container 5 passes, and communicates with a steam inlet 14a of the cartridge 14 described later.

  The cartridge 14 includes a steam inlet 14a having a valve (not shown) that moves up and down according to the steam pressure generated during rice cooking, and a steam exhaust that discharges the steam that has passed through the valve of the steam inlet 14a to the outside. An outlet 14b is provided. The steam inlet 14a communicates with the steam port 12b, passes through the steam port 12b, enters the cartridge 14 from the steam inlet 14a, flows in the cartridge 14, and flows out of the cartridge 14 from the steam outlet 14b. . Since the steam is cooled and condensed in the process of flowing through the cartridge 14, the amount of steam flowing out of the rice cooker 100 can be reduced.

  The operation display unit 15 is provided on the upper surface of the outer lid 11. The operation display unit 15 receives an operation input from the user and displays information related to the operation input and an operation state of the rice cooker 100. Items that can be set for the operation display unit 15 include, for example, start and cancellation of rice cooking, rice cooking reservation, and rice cooking menu. Specific examples of the rice cooking menu include things related to rice types such as white rice cooking or brown rice cooking, things related to cooking time such as standard rice cooking or quick cooking rice, things related to the hardness of cooked rice such as hardened or soft rice Is mentioned. Items displayed by the operation display unit 15 include, for example, the state of the rice cooker 100 during cooking or waiting for reservation, the contents of the set rice cooking menu, the scheduled cooking time, the current time, the amount of rice to be cooked, etc. Is mentioned. The specific configuration of the operation display unit 15 shown here is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention.

  When the user performs an operation input on the operation display unit 15, the control means 8 incorporated in the main body 1 operates the heating coil 3 according to the input rice cooking menu and the rice cooking program according to the amount of rice to be cooked. Let the rice cooking process run.

  The internal temperature sensor 16 is temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the pan-like container 5 and is attached to the outer lid 11. A part of the internal temperature sensor 16 is inserted into the hole 12a of the inner lid 12, and the internal temperature sensor 16 detects the temperature in the pan-like container 5 through the hole 12a. The internal temperature sensor 16 can be composed of, for example, a thermistor. Information regarding the temperature in the pan-like container 5 detected by the internal temperature sensor 16 is output to the control means 8.

(Pot-shaped container 5)
The pot-like container 5 has a bottomed cylindrical shape and is made of a material containing a magnetic metal that generates heat by induction heating. Inside the pot-shaped container 5, rice 200 and water 201 which are heated objects are accommodated. Moreover, the pan-shaped container 5 of this Embodiment has a feather pot shape, and the collar part 5a which protrudes outside is provided in the outer peripheral side over the perimeter. The pot-shaped container 5 is accommodated in the container cover 2 by placing the collar 5 a of the pot-shaped container 5 on the shoulder 2 b provided on the side surface of the container cover 2.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the pot-like container 5 when the rice 200 having the maximum capacity of the rice cooker 100 is cooked (hereinafter referred to as “when cooking the maximum amount”). As shown in FIG. 2, in this Embodiment, the ridge part 5a of the pot-shaped container 5 is below the upper end of the pot-shaped container 5, and is the position more than the height of the cooked rice 202 cooked at the time of the maximum amount rice cooking. Provided. By providing the heel part 5a at this position, the temperature of the entire rice 200 can be maintained at a high temperature by the heel part 5a even when cooking the maximum amount of rice.

  Further, when the bowl portion 5a is provided at or near the upper end of the pan-like container 5, the temperature of the space SP2 above the cooked rice 202 (the space surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 2) is also kept at a high temperature by the bowl portion 5a. It will be. In this case, because the temperature of the space SP2 is high, it is not possible to suppress the rise of bubbles and rice balls that have risen due to boiling during cooking, and this may lead to spilling. On the other hand, in this Embodiment, it becomes also possible to suppress the temperature rise of space SP2 by providing the collar part 5a in the height of the cooked rice 202 at the time of the maximum amount rice cooking. In addition, although it says that the heel part 5a is provided in "the height of the cooked rice 202 at the time of maximum amount cooking", the "height of the cooked rice 202 at the time of the maximum amount cooked" in this case is the It includes not only the same position as the height but also a position in the vicinity of the height of cooked rice 202 when cooking the maximum amount of rice.

  Then, operation | movement of the rice cooking process of the rice cooker 100 in this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  The rice cooking process of rice cooker 100 in the present embodiment includes a water absorption process, a temperature raising process, a boiling maintenance process, and a steaming process. The water absorption step is a step for promoting water absorption up to the inside of the rice 200 in the pan-like container 5. The next temperature raising step is a step from the end of the water absorption step until the water 201 in the pot-like container 5 boils. When the water 201 in the pot-like container 5 boils, the control means 8 shifts to the next boiling maintenance step. In this boiling maintenance process, it heats so that the temperature in the pan-like container 5 may maintain a boiling temperature, and gelatinization of the starch of the rice 200 is accelerated | stimulated. The last steaming process is a process in which gelatinization proceeds to the center of the rice grain by steaming the rice 200 in the pan-like container 5 and the moisture distribution in the rice grain is made uniform.

  During the boiling maintenance process, the rice 200 expands due to heat and water 201, so the volume of the object to be heated in the pan-like container 5 changes between the first half and the second half of the rice cooking process. Here, in this Embodiment, let the position of the collar part 5a of the pan-shaped container 5 be the height of the to-be-heated thing cooking at the time of the maximum amount rice cooking. Therefore, also when the rice 200 expand | swells at the time of the maximum amount rice cooking, the whole rice 200 is located in the same position as the lower part 5a of the pan-shaped container 5, or the downward direction. Thereby, the whole rice 200 is hold | maintained at high temperature through a rice cooking process, and delicious rice cooking without a cooking unevenness is attained. Even when the maximum amount of rice is not cooked, the entire rice 200 is heated through the rice cooking process as in the case of the maximum amount of rice, so that delicious rice cooking can be performed.

  Moreover, generally, when the boiling maintenance process is performed with a large heating power, delicious rice can be obtained. However, the movement of bubbles and rice balls becomes so intense that the spillage occurs. In order to prevent such spilling, it is conceivable that rice is cooked while suppressing the thermal power, but in this case, there is a possibility that it may not be cooked deliciously. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the boiling maintenance process starts, the control unit 8 drives the fan 17 to send outside air into the space SP1 shown in FIG. Thereby, the upper part 5b located above the collar part 5a of the pan-like container 5 is cooled, and the space SP2 above the cooked rice 202 inside the pot-like container 5 shown in FIG. 2 is also cooled. As a result, even when foam or boil-up comes up by boiling during cooking rice, these rises can be suppressed and blown-up can be suppressed. Therefore, also in a boiling maintenance process, heating can be performed with desired thermal power (namely, large thermal power).

  When the boiling maintenance process is completed, the control means 8 stops the fan 17. In this way, an unnecessary temperature drop of the pan-like container 5 can be suppressed by stopping the fan 17 at a timing at which spillage cannot occur.

  Thus, in this Embodiment, the whole rice can fully be heated through a rice cooking process by providing the ridge part 5a of the pan-shaped container 5 at the height of cooking of the heated object at the time of the maximum amount rice cooking. It will be possible to cook delicious rice without any uneven cooking. Moreover, by suppressing the temperature rise of space SP2 above the collar part 5a inside the pot-shaped container 5, a spill can be suppressed and the heating by a large thermal power is also attained.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a rice cooker 100A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 100A of rice cookers in this Embodiment differ from Embodiment 1 in the point by which the slit 20 is formed in the main body 1A. Other configurations of the rice cooker 100A and the rice cooking process are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the slit 20 is formed in the container cover 2A and the exterior member 19A provided in the main body 1A. The slit 20 is formed on the opposite side of the fan 17 and at a position facing the upper portion 5b of the pan-like container 5 (portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 3). The slit 20 is composed of a plurality of slits arranged at equal intervals. By forming the slit 20, the heat of the upper part 5b of the pan-like container 5 is discharged to the outside of the main body 1A. Thereby, space SP2 (FIG. 2) inside the pan-like container 5 can be further cooled, and it becomes possible to further suppress blowing up.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Subsequently, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of rice cooker 100B in the third embodiment. In the rice cooker 100 of Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1, the entire pan-like container 5 is configured to be accommodated in the main body 1, but the rice cooker 100 </ b> B of the present embodiment is as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, a part of the pan-like container 5 protrudes from the main body 1B. In addition, about the structure and rice cooking process to which the same number as FIG. 1 was attached | subjected in the rice cooker 100B, it is the same as that of Embodiment 1. FIG.

  The container cover 2 </ b> B included in the main body 1 </ b> B in the present embodiment is configured so as to accommodate a portion below the flange 5 a of the pan-like container 5. Further, the lid 10 </ b> B has a side wall 30 for covering the upper part 5 b above the brim part 5 a of the pan-like container 5. The side wall 30 is provided so as to protrude downward along the outer periphery of the lid body 10B.

  Furthermore, a slit 21 is formed in the side wall 30 of the lid 10B. The slit 21 is formed at a position (a portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 4) opposite to the fan 17 and facing the upper portion 5 b of the pot-like container 5. Similarly to the slit 20 of the second embodiment, the slit 21 includes a plurality of slits arranged at equal intervals, and the heat of the upper portion 5 b of the pan-like container 5 is discharged to the outside by the slit 21. Thereby, also in the case of the present embodiment, the space SP2 (FIG. 2) above the pot portion 5a of the pan-like container 5 can be further cooled as in the second embodiment, and the spillage is further suppressed. It becomes possible.

  The above is the description of the embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and various modifications or combinations are possible within the scope of the technical idea. . For example, in the above-described embodiment, the slit 20 or the slit 21 is formed in addition to the fan 17 as a means for cooling the space SP2, but only the slit 20 or the slit 21 is formed and the fan 17 is formed. It is good also as a structure which omits. In this case, it is not necessary to use electricity and energy saving can be realized. Further, the circumferential positions of the slits 20 and 21 are not limited to the opposite side of the fan 17 described in the above embodiment, but any position on the outer periphery of the main body 1A or the lid body 10B, or the entire outer periphery. It may be formed over the circumference.

  Moreover, it is good also as a structure which can open and close the slit 20 and the slit 21. FIG. In this case, control is performed so that the slit 20 or the slit 21 is opened by the control means 8 only in the boiling maintaining process in which the space SP2 needs to be cooled and closed in other processes. By setting it as such a structure, the heat | fever of the pot-shaped container 5 is not discharged | emitted unnecessarily and energy saving is realizable.

  Further, as a means for cooling the upper portion 5b of the pot-like container 5, in addition to (or in place of) the fan 17 and the slits 20, 21, the thermal resistance of the upper portion 5b of the pot-like container 5 is greater than that of the flange portion 5a. You may comprise so that it may become small compared with the thermal resistance of a lower part. For example, heat dissipation can be promoted by configuring at least a part of the upper portion 5b of the pan-like container 5 with a material having a high thermal conductivity. In this case, the thermal conductivity of the portion below the flange portion 5a is smaller than the thermal conductivity of the upper portion 5b. Or you may make the thickness of the upper part 5b of the pan-shaped container 5 thin compared with the thickness of the part below the collar part 5a. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which accelerates | stimulates heat dissipation by forming the some collar part 5a and expanding a surface area.

  1, 1A, 1B main body, 2, 2A, 2B container cover, 2a hole, 2b shoulder, 2c elastic member, 3 heating coil, 4 pot bottom temperature sensor, 5 pot-shaped container, 5a bowl, 5b upper part, 6 Hinge part, 7-hour measuring means, 8 control means, 9 lid packing, 10, 10B lid body, 11 outer lid, 11a packing, 12 inner lid, 12a hole, 12b steam port, 13 locking material, 14 cartridge, 14a Steam inlet, 14b Steam outlet, 15 Operation display section, 16 Internal temperature sensor, 17 Fan, 18 Heat insulating material, 19, 19A Exterior member, 20, 21 Slit, 30 Side wall, 100, 100A, 100B Rice cooker.

Claims (7)

A pan-like container for storing the object to be heated;
A main body that opens an upper surface and accommodates the pot-like container therein;
A lid that covers the opening on the upper surface of the main body so as to be opened and closed;
A rice cooker comprising heating means for heating the pan-like container,
The pan-like container has a cocoon shape with a collar provided on the outer peripheral side surface,
The eaves part is provided below the upper end of the pan-like container,
The distance between the upper part of the pan-like container that is located above the hook part and the part of the main body or the lid that faces the upper part is the hook part from the outer peripheral side surface of the pot-like container. Is longer than the protruding length of
The space between said upper portion, and the body or the upper part facing the portion of the lid, in a state where the lid is closed, and outside communication,
The body or the lid, rice cookers, wherein Rukoto the outside communicating slit is formed.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the bowl portion is provided at a height of the heated object when the object to be heated having a maximum capacity in the rice cooker is cooked. The rice cooker according to claim 1 , wherein the slit is openable and closable. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a cooling means for cooling the upper part of the pan-like container. The rice cooker according to claim 4 , wherein the cooling means is a fan provided on the lid. As the cooling means, at least a part of the upper part of the pan-like container is made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the lower part of the pot-like container. Item 6. A rice cooker according to item 4 or 5 . Wherein as the cooling means, at least a portion of the thickness of the upper portion of the pot-like container, according to claim 4 to which is characterized in that thinner than the thickness of the lower portion than the flange portion of the pot-shaped container The rice cooker as described in any one of 6 .

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