JP3393373B2 - Multi-variety simultaneous rice cooking system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-type simultaneous rice cooking system, and more particularly to a novel rice cooking system capable of simultaneously cooking necessary amounts of other types of cooked rice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a rice cooking system for continuously cooking cooked rice, it is necessary to cook rice from weighing and feeding rice, through washing and soaking, and then cooking, steaming, stirring, and cooling. There is known a type in which various processes are arranged on one transport line and a rice cooker is moved along the delivery line to automatically cook rice. However, in this conventional rice-cooking system, all the steps are on one transport line, so the process that takes the longest time is the rate-controlling process and the efficiency is poor. Therefore, for example, when cooking different types of cooked rice, it is necessary to change the cooking conditions such as heating temperature and heating time, and other conditions.
Only one type of cooked rice can be cooked simultaneously with one rice cooking system.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the inconvenience of the conventional rice cooking system as described above. It is an object to provide a multi-kind simultaneous rice cooking system that can simultaneously cook rice.

[0004]

As a result of earnest efforts to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor has found that the conventional conveyor line is at least a main conveyor line for washing and dipping rice, It has been found that the above problems can be solved by separating rice into a rice cooking / steaming line for steaming and steaming, and providing a plurality of rice cooking / steaming lines.

That is, the present invention is a rice cooking system in which a rice cooker is moved along a conveyor line to sequentially perform various steps required for rice cooking. In the rice cooker, a step of measuring and adding rice to each rice cooker, a step of washing rice. , A dipping step, an additive feeding step, a main transportation line for performing at least one step, a plurality of rice cooking / steaming lines for which rice cooking conditions and / or steaming conditions can be set for each line, and the main transportation line is moved. Depending on the type of rice to be cooked, the transfer means that moves the incoming rice cooker to the selected rice cooking / steaming line among the multiple rice cooking / steaming lines, and each rice cooker moving on the main transport line The above problem is solved by providing a multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system including a control means for selecting a corresponding rice cooking / steaming line and controlling the transfer means.

In the multi-various simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention, the rice cooking / steaming line is set with optimum rice cooking conditions and / or steaming conditions in accordance with the type of cooked rice to be cooked, in addition to the main transport line. The rice cooker that has been moved to the main transfer line is moved to the corresponding cooked / steaming line among the prepared cooked / steamed lines according to the type of cooked rice to be cooked. To be The transfer is performed by automatically determining the type of cooked rice to be cooked for each rice cooker that is sequentially sent, and after optimal rice cooking and steaming are performed, each rice cooker is transferred to the main transfer line. Is returned.

As described above, in the multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention, a plurality of rice cooking / steaming lines for individually setting rice cooking conditions and steaming conditions are provided in addition to the main transportation line. Even if the type of cooked rice to be cooked differs depending on the rice cooker sent to the top, it is possible to cook multiple types of cooked rice at the same time by shifting to the optimum cooking / steaming line. is there. The rice cooking / steaming conditions can be varied depending on the number of rice cooking / steaming lines, and by increasing the number of rice cooking / steaming lines, it is possible to increase the types of cooked rice that can be cooked at the same time. Further, when the amount of cooked rice of a specific type is large, it is possible to set a plurality of cooked / steaming lines under the same conditions and apply the cooked rice of the same type of cooked rice.

Similarly, a plurality of stirring / cooling lines may be provided, and the rice cooker after the rice cooking and steaming process is moved to the stirring / cooling line in which the optimum stirring and cooling conditions are respectively set. Thus, it becomes possible to apply optimum stirring and cooling to various kinds of cooked rice.

The kind of cooked rice for each rice cooker may be determined by any means. For example, the order of the rice cookers sequentially sent and the kind of cooked rice to be cooked in the cooker. The correspondence relationship of is input to the control device in advance as a correspondence table, the number of rice cookers moving on the main transport line is counted, and the kind of cooked rice to be cooked in the rice cooker is determined. Is also good. Alternatively, a marker corresponding to the type of cooked rice may be attached to the rice cooker, and the type of cooked rice to be cooked may be determined by identifying the marker.

Any marker can be used as long as it can be moved together with the rice cooker and can be identified. For example, the marker placed on the lid of the rice cooker can be identified. Solid markers having different shapes are preferred. Such a solid marker can automatically discriminate the difference in shape even in an environment where some steam is present, for example, by a TV camera or the like. Allows discrimination.

Further, in the multi-type simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention, it is preferable that the weighing, feeding, washing and soaking of rice are performed for each pot. That is, a predetermined amount of the cooked rice is weighed and placed in each rice cooker. The rice cooker moves along the main transfer line, and the rice is washed and dipped in each rice cooker.
It is desirable to have multiple dipping lines, which allows
The dipping process can be performed under the optimal dipping conditions according to the type of cooked rice and the type of rice.

In the multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention, at least the main transport line and the rice cooking / steaming line, and further the stirring / cooling line are individually controlled in temperature and humidity. It is desirable to store rice under optimum temperature condition or humidity condition separately, so that rice can be weighed, added, cooked,
It becomes possible to perform stirring and the like.

There is no limitation on the types of cooked rice that can be cooked in the multi-various simultaneous cooking system of the present invention, such as white rice, tea rice, vinegared rice, salted rice, rice porridge, chicken rice, mushroom rice, bean rice, chestnut rice, etc. It is possible to cook multiple types of cooked rice at the same time.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated ones.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an entire example of the multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention. As shown in the figure,
This multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system is roughly divided into a rice rice storage room A, a main transfer line room B, a rice cooking / steaming line room C, and a stirring / cooling line room D. Each room is basically sealed, except for the passage of rice, rice cooker, and cooked rice that move between rooms, and it is possible to adjust and set atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity independently. It is possible.

For example, the rice storeroom A has a temperature of about 10 to 15 ° C.
The humidity is maintained at about 60% to prevent the stored rice from deteriorating, and the main transfer line room B is about 15 to 25
The temperature is maintained at a constant temperature of about 20 ° C., preferably about 20 ° C., and the rice dipping process is performed under constant conditions. Further, the rice cooking / steaming line chamber C is maintained at about 30 ° C. to keep the thermal efficiency of the heating device for rice cooking in a good state, and the stirring / cooling line chamber D is the main transfer line chamber B. Similarly, the temperature is maintained at about 15 to 25 ° C., and the cooked cooked rice is managed so as not to be cooled excessively rapidly. In this way, in the multi-type simultaneous rice cooking system shown in the figure, each line is divided into individual rooms, and it is possible to control temperature and humidity independently, so each process required under optimal conditions It is possible to

The multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system shown in the figure will be described below along the flow of rice.

<Rice storage room A> In the rice storage room A,
1 is a hopper with a loading table, and the rice loaded into the hopper 1 with a loading table using an external means (not shown) is transferred to a horizontal first branch conveyor 3 via an elevator 2, and then, It is put into the rice silo 4 with a weighing machine. There are a plurality of rice silos 4 with weighing machines, and it is possible to store rice by type. In response to a rice call command from a central control unit (not shown), the rice silo 4 with a weighing machine weighs only the amount of rice to be used for the time being and drops it on the transfer conveyor 5 below it. The rice grains dropped on the transfer conveyor 5 are transferred to the second branch conveyor 8 via the hopper 6 and the elevator 7, and the transferred rice particles are transferred to the plurality of weighing hoppers 9 located below the branch conveyor 8. The rice is then stored, for example, for each type of rice and temporarily stored.

A central control unit (not shown) provides various types of rice cooking data such as rice type, rice washing condition, soaking condition, additive type and amount, rice cooking condition, steaming condition, stirring / cooling condition, etc. to the rice type. When a rice cooking command is received via the input device, the necessary amount of rice is calculated from the commanded type and amount of cooked rice to be cooked, and a rice calling command is issued to the weighing hopper 9. Hang The required amount of rice is taken out from the weighing hopper 9 while the primary weighing is performed by the weighing device 10,
It is transferred to the cyclone 13 in the main transfer line chamber B via the duct collector 12 by the air rice blower 11 having a blower.

<Main Transport Line Chamber B> In the main transport line chamber B, first, when a predetermined amount of rice is received from the rice storage chamber A by the cyclone 13, the rice precisely weighed by the weighing hopper 14 is transferred to the cyclone 13. Put it in a rice cooker (not shown) that moves down. The weighing hopper 14 weighs the rice and puts it into the rice cooker under the control of a central controller (not shown), and the central controller controls the rice required for each type of cooked rice according to the amount of cooked rice to be cooked. Calculate the amount and number of rice cookers, and command the weighing of rice and the addition to the rice cookers. At the same time, the central controller assigns an order number to each rice cooker and creates a correspondence table of the order of the rice cookers and the type of cooked rice to be cooked.

For example, when 35 kg of white rice before cooking rice and 60 kg of brown rice are continuously cooked, assuming that the amount of rice that can be cooked in one rice cooker is 7 kg, the central control unit causes the white rice to cook. However, since it is 35kg / 7kg = 5, it is judged that 5 rice cookers are required, and 5 rice cookers are needed.
No. in each of the rice cookers. 1-No. The number 5 is assigned, and the weighing hopper 14 is instructed to add exactly 7 kg of rice to each rice cooker. On the other hand, as for rice, 60 kg / 7 kg = 8, and the remaining 4 kg, so 9 rice cookers are assigned and N is set for each rice cooker.
o. 6-No. No. 14 is assigned, and No. 14 is assigned.
6-No. The weighing hopper 14 is instructed to add exactly 7 kg of rice to each of the 14 rice cookers. Or 60k
Although it is possible to add 9 g of rice to the nine rice cookers so as to be approximately even, it is preferable that the control becomes complicated because the dipping conditions and the rice cooking conditions change when the amount of rice in the rice cookers changes. Absent. The central control unit works in parallel to create a correspondence table for the numbers assigned to each rice cooker, the type of cooked rice, the amount of rice in the cooker, and the type of rice added as needed. .

The rice cooker, into which a predetermined amount of rice has been added, subsequently passes through an automatic rice washing device composed of a rice washing machine 15 and a water drainage water supply device 16, to wash the rice and drain the water after washing the rice. The water supply is repeated a plurality of times, and the water is not drained at the end and is sent to the automatic lid attachment device 18, where the lid that has separately moved the lid feed conveyor 17 is attached to the rice cooker.
In the vicinity of the rice washing machine 15 on the most upstream side, a detection means (not shown) for detecting the conveyed rice cooker is provided, and when the order of the rice cooker conveyed is recognized depending on the number of detections, The central control unit determines the type and amount of rice cooked by each rice cooker, the washing conditions according to the type of rice, the amount of water for immersion, etc., and based on the determined information, the rice washing machine 15 and drainage water supply device 1
Control 6 In addition, the rice washing machine 15 and the drainage water supply device 1
The control of 6 may be performed by a local control means arranged in the vicinity of the rice washing machine 15 and the drainage water supply device 16, and this local control means controls the rice to be cooked corresponding to the rice cooker number. When a signal about the type, the amount of rice, and the type of rice is received from the central controller, the rice washing machine 15 and the drainage water supply device 16 are operated according to a unique program.
To control. Note that the water left in the rice cooker at the end in this rice washing step is for dipping rice, so for example, 10
It is desirable to use water maintained at a constant water temperature such as ° C. In this case, since the room temperature of the main transfer line chamber B is kept constant, there is an advantage that the water temperature can be easily controlled.

The rice cooker with the lid attached by the automatic lid attaching device 18 is further moved by the conveyor 19 and guided to the three-dimensional immersion conveyor 21 by the lifter 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the three-dimensional immersion conveyor 21 includes a plurality of multi-stage conveyors 21a, 21b, 21c, 2
It is composed of 1d. This multistage conveyor 21
The moving speeds of a, 21b, 21c, and 21d can be adjusted independently of each other.
Depending on which conveyor is selected from b, 21c, and 21d, different dipping times can be given to the rice cooker.

In the vicinity of the lifter 20, a detection means (not shown) for detecting the rice cooker being conveyed is provided.
When the order of the rice cookers conveyed is recognized based on the number of detections, the central controller determines the type and amount of cooked rice cooked by each cooker, and further determines the dipping condition according to the type of rice. And based on that determined information,
The lifter 20 is controlled to shift the conveyed rice cooker to the most suitable one of the multi-stage conveyors 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, and the multi-stage conveyor 21a,
It also controls the operations of 21b, 21c and 21d. Such control may be performed by a local control means arranged in the vicinity of the solid immersion conveyor 21.
This is similar to the case of the rice washing process, and this local control means receives a signal about the type of rice to be cooked corresponding to the rice cooker number, the amount of rice to be cooked, and the type of rice from the central controller, Lifter 2 according to the program
0, including the lifter 22, controls the three-dimensional immersion conveyor 21. Multi-stage conveyors 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d
It is desirable to move one rice cooker each time a new rice cooker is sent from the lifter 20.

This multistage conveyor 21a, 21b, 21
On c and 21d, the rice cooker is moved to the lifter 22 on the outlet side and returned to the original transport line 19 after the dipping process for a predetermined time. By sterically configuring the dipping process as the multi-stage conveyors 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, not only the dipping time can be changed according to the type of cooked rice but also the time required for the rice washing process. It is possible to buffer the gap with the time required for the dipping process. Also, even if
Even if one of the multistage conveyors 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d fails, it is possible to proceed with the work without stopping all the lines, and there is an advantage that the flexibility of the entire system is increased. The central control unit
Calculate the time required for each rice cooker to pass through the dipping process, and if there is a difference in the order of the rice cookers before and after this dipping process, the order of the rice cookers and rice should be cooked as necessary. The correspondence table for the type of cooked rice is rewritten.

The rice cooker returned to the transfer line by the lifter 22 after the dipping process is transferred by the conveyor 23, and the lid is removed by the automatic lid removing device 24, so that the upper portion is in the open state. The removed lid is separately conveyed by the lid feed conveyor 25 located at the upper portion along the conveyance line of the rice cooker.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a water draining device, and the rice cooker with the lid removed is drained by the water draining device 26 and conveyed by the conveyor 27 to the additive supply device 28. Reference numeral 29 denotes an additive supply tank. The additive supply tank 29 stores seasonings such as salt and pure oil, cooking materials such as beans, wakame, chicken, jaco, and peeled chestnuts, and further cooking water. Therefore, the additive can be appropriately supplied to the additive supply device 28. In the vicinity of the upstream side of the additive supply device 28, a detection means (not shown) for detecting the conveyed rice cooker is provided, and when the order of the conveyed rice cooker is recognized depending on the number of times of detection, the center is detected. The control device determines the type and amount of the additive to be added according to the type and amount of rice cooked by each rice cooker, and further the type of rice, and based on the determined information, By controlling the additive supply device 28, a predetermined amount of a predetermined additive is introduced into the conveyed rice cooker. At the same time, the required amount of cooking water is also supplied to the rice cooker.

Such control may be performed by a local control means as in the rice washing step and the dipping step. This local control means is the kind of cooked rice to be cooked corresponding to the rice cooker number and the rice. Upon receiving a signal from the central controller about the amount, and also the type of rice, it is possible to control the additive supply device 28 according to its own program.

The additive supply device 28 is also provided downstream of the rice cooking / steaming line, which will be described later, so that it can cope with additives such as vinegar to be added after rice cooking. .

The rice cooker to which necessary additives and water have been added by the additive supply device 28 is conveyed to the narashi device 31 by the conveyor 30. The oak device 31 stirs the contents of the rice cooker to make the mixed state of the rice and the additive in the rice cooker uniform, and to ensure that the rice and the additive are not unevenly distributed in the rice cooker. To be evenly distributed in the
The rice cooker that has passed through the oak device 31 is conveyed to the automatic lid attaching device 33 by the conveyor 32, and the lid conveyed by the lid feeding conveyor 25 is automatically attached thereto.

The rice cooker with the lid attached is the conveyor 3
4, the sheet is conveyed to the direction switching lifter 35.
Reference numeral 36 is a lateral feed conveyor, and 41 is a return conveyor, and both are arranged, for example, at different heights in the vertical direction. The direction switching lifter 35 moves, for example, in the vertical direction, the rice cookers conveyed along the main conveyance line to the corresponding lateral feed conveyors 36, or is conveyed by the return conveyor 41. The rice cooker can be received and returned to the main transport line. Direction switching lifter 3
A plurality of sets of 5, the horizontal feed conveyor 36, and the return conveyor 41 are provided along the main transport line, and each set corresponds to one rice cooking / steaming line. In the illustrated example, three sets of direction switching lifters 35, a lateral feed conveyor 36, and a return conveyor 41 are provided.
However, although the number of the direction switching lifter 35, the lateral feed conveyor 36, and the return conveyor 41 is not limited to those shown in the figure, they are provided along the main transport line.

A detection means (not shown) for detecting the rice cooker being conveyed is provided in the vicinity of the direction switching lifter 35 at the most upstream side, and the order of the rice cookers conveyed is recognized depending on the number of times of detection. Then, the central control unit selects the cooked rice / steaming line in which the optimum cooked / steaming conditions are set according to the type and amount of rice cooked in each rice cooker, and the type of rice. , And controls the direction switching lifter 35 based on the selected information. As a result, the rice cooker is transported to different rice cooking / steaming lines according to the type of cooked rice, etc., and different rice cooking / steaming conditions are used depending on the type of cooked rice and the amount of rice. , Will be cooked and steamed.

The control of the direction switching lifter 35 as described above may be performed by a local control means like the rice washing step and the dipping step. This local control means cooks rice corresponding to the rice cooker number. When a signal about the type of rice to be cooked, the amount of rice, and the type of rice, etc. is received from the central control unit, the rice cooking / steaming line in which the optimum rice cooking / steaming conditions are set according to its own program is selected and the direction It is possible to control the switching lifter 35.

<Cooking / Steaming Room C> In the cooking / steaming room C, a plurality of cooking / steaming lines 39 are provided,
Each rice cooking / steaming line 39 is composed of an upper rice cooking line 37 and a lower steaming line 40, and a rice cooker 38 is provided in the upper rice cooking line 37. The rice cooker conveyed by the lateral conveyer 36 is heated while moving on the rice cooker 38, and moves to the back of the rice cooking line 37. Each rice cooking line 37 can adjust and set the rice cooking heating time and the heating temperature-time pattern independently, and the optimum rice cooking heating according to the type of each cooked rice to be cooked. It is possible to

The rice cooker, which has finished cooking and has moved to the depth of the rice cooking line 37, is transferred to the steaming line 40 at the lower stage by a lifter (not shown). The steaming conditions such as steaming time can be adjusted and set for each steaming line, for example, by changing the conveying speed of the steaming line. To set and change such rice cooking conditions and steaming conditions,
It may be automatically performed according to a command from the central control device, or may be performed by an on-site operator via an input device provided near each rice cooking / steaming line.

As described above, in this example, since a plurality of rice cooking / steaming lines having different cooking conditions and steaming conditions are provided, it is possible to prepare various kinds of cooked rice by selecting a suitable rice cooking / steaming line. You can cook rice at the same time. In addition, the rice cooking and steaming conditions are set to one value for each rice cooking and steaming line, so 1
One rice cooking / steaming line only needs to operate under constant conditions at all times, which simplifies control, and when looking at one rice cooking / steaming line, all rice cookers passing through that rice cooking / steaming line have the same conditions. Since the rice is cooked and steamed underneath, the quality of the cooked rice is kept constant and at the same time efficient. As described above, in the multi-kind simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention, the multi-kind cooked rice is simultaneously cooked while ensuring the efficiency and quality stability of the conventional rice cooking system that cooks a large amount of cooked rice under the same conditions. It is possible and extremely convenient.

In addition, in the rice cooking / steaming line 39 of this example, since the steaming line 40 is below the rice cooking line 37, the heat accompanying the heating of the rice escapes upward, and the steaming line 40 below may be adversely affected. Moreover, since the rice cooking line 37 and the steaming line 40 are constituted by upper and lower two-stage conveying lines that move in opposite directions, there is an advantage that space is saved. The lengths of the rice cooking line 37 and the steaming line 40 can be set as appropriate, and the number of the rice cooking / steaming lines 39 is not limited to three as shown in the figure, and can be appropriately set according to the number of kinds of cooked rice to be cooked. It can be a number. When cooking a large amount of cooked rice of a specific type, set an appropriate number of cooked / steamed lines among the plurality of cooked / steamed lines 39 to the same cooked / steamed condition and address the same type of cooked rice. Is also optional.

As described above, in the multi-kind simultaneous rice cooking system of this example, a plurality of rice cooking / steaming lines are provided separately from the main transport line, and each rice cooking / steaming line has an independent rice cooking condition. Moreover, since the steaming condition can be set, it is possible to continuously cook many kinds of cooked rice at the same time. For example, even if the type of cooked rice to be cooked is different randomly for each rice cooker that is transported, by moving each rice cooker from the main transport line to the corresponding rice cooking / steaming line, The rice can be cooked and steamed under the respective optimum conditions. In addition, the rice cookers that are sequentially transported are accepted by a plurality of rice cooking / steaming lines provided separately from the main transportation line, and are returned to the main transportation line after the rice cooking / steaming process is completed. Even if the time required for steaming is long or short, a plurality of rice cooking / steaming lines serve as a buffer and do not hinder or rate-control smooth transport on the main transport line.

<Main Transport Line Chamber B> The rice cooker which has completed the rice cooking / steaming process is returned to the main transport line via the return conveyor 41 and the direction switching lifter 35. In addition,
At this time, the central control unit calculates the time required for each rice cooker to pass through the rice cooker / steaming line, and if the rice cooker steamers before and after this rice cooker / steamer line, the order of the rice cookers on the main transport line is different. In case of occurrence, the correspondence table of the order of the rice cooker and the type of cooked rice to be cooked is rewritten as necessary.

The rice cooker returned to the main carrying line is carried by the conveyor 42 to the automatic lid removing device 43 with direction switching. A plurality of direction-changing automatic cap removal devices 43 are provided along the transport line, and in the vicinity of the most upstream direction-switching automatic cap removal device 43, as in the direction switching lifter 35 described above. A detection means (not shown) for detecting the conveyed rice cookers is provided, and when the order of the conveyed rice cookers is recognized based on the number of detections, the central control unit causes the rice cookers to cook the rice. Select the stirring / cooling line for which the optimum stirring / cooling conditions are set according to the type and amount of cooked rice, and the type of rice, and based on the selected information, the automatic lid with direction switching Control the device 43. As a result, the rice cooker is moved to the different stirring / cooling lines 44 provided in the stirring / cooling chamber D according to the type of cooked rice, etc. Different agitation depending on the type and the amount of rice,
You will receive cooling.

The control of the automatic lid removing device with direction switching 43 as described above may be carried out by a local control means as in the rice washing step and the dipping step. This local control means corresponds to the rice cooker number. When a signal about the type of cooked cooked rice, the amount of rice, and the type of rice, etc., is received from the central control unit, a stirring / cooling line with optimum stirring / cooling conditions is set according to its own program. It is possible to select and control the automatic lid removing device with direction switching 43.

<Stirring / Cooling Line Chamber D> The rice cooker selected by the automatic lid removing device with direction switching 43 is transferred to the conveyor 45 with the lid removed and conveyed to the automatic rice cooker reversing machine 46. To be done. The automatic rice cooker reversing machine 46 reverses the rice cooker and drops the cooked rice inside the stirring conveyor 47. The cooked rice taken out on the stirring conveyor 4 is stirred and loosened while being conveyed on the stirring conveyor 47. The agitated cooked rice is subsequently cooled by the cooling conveyor 48. The cooled cooked rice is transported by the transport conveyor 49, weighed by the weighing device 50, and transferred to the free roller conveyors 51 and 52.

<Main transfer line room B> Automatic rice cooker reversing machine 4
The rice cooker, which has been turned over by 6 and whose cooked rice has been taken out, is returned to the main transfer line by the conveyor 45, and is transferred by the return conveyor 53 before and after the lid removed earlier, and then the rice cooker washing machine. Sent to 54. The washed rice cooker and the lid are conveyed by the conveyor 55 to the sorting device 56, where they are sorted into the rice cooker and the lid, and the lid is guided to the lid feed conveyor 17, and the rice cooker again returns to the weighing hopper 14. Be transported to.

In the above example, the control of each process depending on the type and amount of cooked rice to be cooked for each rice cooker sequentially conveyed is performed by the order of the rice cookers sequentially conveyed. However, the control method of each step is not limited to such a method. For example, a marker corresponding to the type of cooked rice may be attached to each rice cooker, and the type and amount of cooked rice to be cooked may be determined by identifying the marker.

What is a marker that moves along with the rice cooker and is identifiable even in the presence of steam or the like normally expected in the rice cooking system, and if it is sanitary acceptable? It may be anything, for example, a bar code, a magnetic tag, an IC chip, a color board, etc., and the position of attaching the marker may be anywhere on the rice cooker or the lid as long as it is a position convenient for external access. It is good, but as a marker to be used, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a solid marker 59 having an identifiable shape placed on the lid 58 of the rice cooker 57 is preferable. Such a solid marker can automatically discriminate the difference in shape even in an environment where some steam exists, for example, by the TV camera 60, and the type of cooked rice for each cooker. Can be determined. Various shapes are conceivable as the shape of the solid marker 59 shown in FIG. Any shape may be used. Incidentally, 61 is a conveyor.

Such a marker 59 can be used in any process part of the rice cooking system as long as the lid is mounted on the rice cooker, and the marker 59 can be used for the dipping process or the rice cooking process.
It can be used in the steaming process. For example, to use the marker 59 in the dipping process, the marker 59 is placed on the lid between the automatic lid attaching device 18 and the lifter 20. The marker 59 to be placed is selected by the automatic lid attachment device 1
It is performed based on the order of the rice cooker that has been transported to 8.
In front of the lifter 20, a marker 59 placed on the lid.
It is preferable to provide a discriminating means for discriminating the marker 59 by the discriminating means and based on the discriminating signal.
The operation of 0 is controlled to convey each rice cooker to the corresponding one of the multistage conveyors 21a to 21d.

The marker 5 is again provided downstream of the lifter 22.
It is preferable that the identification means 9 is provided, the marker 59 is identified by the identification means, and the correspondence table between the order of the rice cooker and the type of cooked rice to be cooked can be rewritten based on the identification signal. As described above, since the marker 59 is placed on the lid of the rice cooker while passing through the dipping process, the central controller needs to calculate the time required for passing through the dipping process for each rice cooker. Is eliminated and the burden is reduced. In addition, even if a particular rice cooker is removed from the dipping line during the dipping process, the markers are placed on the lids of the individual rice cookers, so that the rice cooker and the rice cooker can cook the rice. Correspondence with kind of cooked rice should not be disturbed. Marker 5 downstream of lifter 22
After the 9 is identified, it is desirable that the marker 59 be removed. The removed marker is returned to the marker installation location through a transport line (not shown) and stocked until needed.

Similarly, for example, in order to use the marker 59 in the rice cooking / steaming process, the marker 59 is placed on the lid between the automatic lid attaching device 33 and the most upstream direction switching lifter 35. The selection of the marker 59 to be placed is performed based on the order of the rice cooker conveyed to the automatic lid attachment device 33. Before the direction switching lifter 35 at the most upstream side, it is preferable to provide a means for identifying the marker 59 placed on the lid. The identifying means identifies the marker 59, and based on the identification signal, the main transport line is identified. The operation of the plurality of direction switching lifters 35 provided along the line is controlled to shift each rice cooker to the selected rice cooking / steaming line 39.

It is preferable to again provide a marker 59 identification means downstream of the most downstream direction switching lifter 35. The identification means identifies the marker 59, and based on the identification signal, the main conveyance line is fed. A plurality of direction switching automatic lid removing devices 43 are controlled along the line to automatically remove the lids of the respective rice cookers,
The rice cooker is moved to the corresponding stirring / cooling line 44. As described above, since the marker 59 is placed on the lid of the rice cooker while passing through the rice cooking / steaming process, the central controller calculates the time required for passing through the dipping process for each rice cooker. Then, it is not necessary to rewrite the correspondence table and the burden is reduced. Even if a specific rice cooker is removed from the rice cooking / steaming line during the rice cooking / steaming process, the markers are placed on the lids of the individual rice cookers. Correspondence with the type of cooked rice that should be cooked in the kettle is not disturbed. It is desirable that the marker 59 be removed after the marker 59 is identified downstream from the most downstream direction switching lifter 35. The removed marker is returned to the marker installation location through a transport line (not shown) and stocked until needed.

In the above example, since the marker placed on the lid is used, the process control based on the marker identification can be performed only in the process in which the lid is mounted on the rice cooker. However, for example, when a marker is attached to the rice cooker itself, it goes without saying that process control by marker identification can be performed in all processes using the rice cooker. Further, for reading the marker, an appropriate means such as an optical means or an electromagnetic means can be adopted according to the type of the marker used.

[0051]

Industrial Applicability As described above, the multi-type simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention is separate from the steps of measuring and charging rice into individual rice cookers, and the main transfer line for washing and dipping. There are multiple rice cooking / steaming lines, each of which
Since the rice cooking condition and / or the steaming condition can be set and changed independently for each steaming line,
By selectively moving the rice cooker transported along the main transport line to the rice cooking / steaming line set under different conditions according to the type of cooked rice to be cooked in the rice cooker, etc. , It is possible to cook many kinds of cooked rice at the same time. Also, by increasing the number of rice cooking / steaming lines, the types of cooked rice that can be cooked at the same time can be increased, or by setting multiple rice cooking / steaming lines under the same conditions, the amount of cooked rice of a specific type has increased. It is also possible in case.

In the multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention, in addition to the rice cooking / steaming line, a plurality of stirring / cooling lines are provided separately from the main carrier line, and a rice cooker conveyed along the main carrier line is used. Depending on the type of cooked rice cooked in the rice cooker, it is possible to simultaneously stir and cool multiple types of cooked rice by selectively shifting to different stirring and cooling lines set under different conditions. is there. Also, as with the rice cooking / steaming line, by increasing the number of stirring / cooling lines, the types of cooked rice that can be stirred / cooled simultaneously can be increased, or multiple stirring / cooling lines can be set to the same conditions. This makes it possible to deal with an increase in the amount of a particular type of cooked rice.

In the multi-type simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention, when the type of cooked rice to be cooked is recognized by the marker attached to the rice cooker, the rice cooker and the rice cooker should cook the rice. Alternatively, it is possible to always perform the cooking step suitable for the type of cooked rice in any of the steps without misidentifying the type of cooked cooked rice. Especially when a solid marker having an identifiable shape is placed on the lid of the rice cooker, the rice cooker can be identified even under adverse conditions such as the presence of steam.
Reliable control can be realized.

Further, in the multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention, at least the main carrier line and the rice cooking / steaming line, and further the stirring / cooling line are individually controlled in temperature and humidity. When stored in a room, it is possible to measure and add rice, cook rice, stir, etc. under optimum temperature conditions or humidity conditions, respectively, and avoid unnecessary energy loss. Or
The worker can be freed from the work in the bad environment. The present invention is a useful invention with such excellent effects, and its effect on the industry is immeasurable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of an example of a multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a dipping process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a marker and its installation mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

A rice storage room B Main transfer line room C rice cooking / steaming line room D stirring / cooling line room 4 Rice silo with weighing machine 11 pneumatic rice machine 13 cyclone 14 Weighing hopper 15 rice washing machine 16 Water drainage system 17 Lid feed conveyor 18 Automatic lid attachment device 20 lifters 21 Three-dimensional immersion conveyor 22 Lifter 24 Automatic lid removing device 26 Drainer 28 Additive supply device 29 Additive supply tank 31 Narasi device 33 Automatic lid attachment device 35 Lifters with direction switching 36 Horizontal feed conveyor 37 rice cooking line 38 rice cooker 39 Rice cooking and steaming line 40 steaming line 41 Return conveyor 43 Automatic lid removal device with direction switching 44 Stirring / cooling line 46 Automatic rice cooker reversing machine 47 stirring conveyor 48 cooling conveyor 53 Return conveyor 54 rice cooker washing machine

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rice cooker is moved along a transfer line,
In a rice cooking system that sequentially performs various steps required for rice cooking, at least one of a step of weighing and adding rice to each rice cooker, a step of washing rice, a step of dipping, and a step of adding additives.
Of the multiple rice cooking / steaming lines, the main transportation line that performs one process, the multiple rice cooking / steaming lines that can set the rice cooking condition and / or the steaming condition for each line, and the rice cooker that moves on the main transportation line The transfer means for transferring to the selected rice cooking / steaming line and the rice cooking / steaming line corresponding to the type of cooked rice to be cooked for each rice cooker moving on the main transport line, and the transfer means Multi-kind simultaneous rice cooking system equipped with control means for controlling. 2. The multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer means for returning the rice cooker from the rice cooking / steaming line to the main transport line. 3. The multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 1, wherein the rice cooking / steaming line is composed of an upper rice cooking line and a lower steaming line whose conveying directions are opposite to each other. 4. A plurality of agitation / cooling lines capable of setting agitation conditions and / or cooling conditions for each line are provided on the downstream side of the transfer means for transferring the rice cooker from the rice cooking / steaming line to the main transfer line. The rice cooker moving on the main transfer line is selected from the multiple stirring / cooling lines.
A transfer means for transferring to the cooling line, and a control means for controlling the transfer means by selecting a corresponding stirring / cooling line according to the type of cooked rice for each rice cooker moving on the main transport line. The multi-type simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 1, 2, or 3. 5. The control means recognizes the order of the rice cookers moving along the main transport line, and based on a predetermined correspondence table of the order of the rice cookers and the type of cooked rice, the corresponding rice cooked / steamed. The multi-type simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein a line and / or a stirring / cooling line is selected. 6. A means for rewriting a correspondence table between the order of the rice cooker after the rice cooking / steaming process and the type of cooked rice, based on the time information required for each rice cooker to pass through the rice cooking / steaming line. The multi-kind simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 5. 7. The control means recognizes the marker attached to the rice cooker moving on the main transport line, and the corresponding rice cooked / steamed based on the correspondence table of the predetermined marker and the type of cooked rice. The multi-type simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein a line and / or a stirring / cooling line is selected. 8. The type of cooked rice is placed in the rice cooker upstream of the transfer means for transferring the rice cooker moving on the main transport line to the selected rice cooked / steamed line of the plurality of rice cooked / steamed lines. The multi-kind simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 7, further comprising means for giving a marker. 9. The multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 8, wherein the marker is a solid having an identifiable shape which is placed on the lid of the rice cooker. 10. A means for removing a marker between a transition means for returning the rice cooker from the rice cooking / steaming line to the main transfer line and a transition means for transferring the rice cooker from the main transfer line to the selected stirring / cooling line. The multi-kind simultaneous rice cooking system according to claim 9, further comprising: 11. The main transport line and / or the rice cooking / steaming line and / or the agitation / cooling line are housed in separate rooms whose temperature and / or humidity can be controlled independently. Multi-product simultaneous rice cooking system described in any of the above.