JP4072067B2 - rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rice cooker that recovers and reuses steam generated during rice cooking.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when cooking rice with a rice cooker, the amount of water relative to the rice is heated to 1.2 to 1.5 or more by weight, and moisture that is not absorbed by the rice has been released outside the rice cooker as steam. Therefore, there is a problem that moisture is increased in the room and condensation is generated on the windows and walls, causing mold. In order to solve this problem, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, the lid of the rice cooker is provided with a case provided with a hood that covers the upper part of the steam port, and the steam that is blocked by the hood below the case. An invention is proposed in which a steam recovery unit comprising a motor-driven fan that sucks and returns to the rice cooker is provided to reduce the amount of steam released from the rice cooker and to save water required for rice cooking Yes.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-204748
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since this steam recovery unit is configured to receive and suck the steam once released from the steam port with a hood, it does not recover all of the released steam, and eventually prevents humidification indoors. Was insufficient. Further, since a structure such as a fan or a motor is added in addition to the hood, there is a problem that a protruding portion is generated, which is inconvenient for handling such as opening and closing of the lid, and the cost is increased.
[0005]
Therefore, the invention described in claim 1 has a simple configuration and can effectively reuse steam generated during cooking, saving electricity, gas, etc. required for cooking, shortening cooking time, and preventing humidification in the room. It aims at providing the rice cooker which can acquire an effect optimally.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided on the lid with a condensing means for cooling and condensing steam generated in the rice cooker, and formed on the back surface of the lid and obtained by the condensing means. Condensed from an inclined part that guides the condensed water to the opening edge of the rice cooker, and a cylindrical body that is detachable into the rice cooker and allows only water to enter and exit from the bottom, and is shaped slightly smaller than the rice cooker. Returning means for returning water to the bottom of the rice cooker is provided.
In addition to the object of claim 1, the invention described in claim 2 is a water storage system that can cool the lid in order to easily obtain the condensing means and to suitably prevent heat dissipation into the room. And a plurality of fins standing on the back surface of the lid.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the object of the first aspect, in order to make the lid lightweight and easy to handle even if the condensing means is provided, the condensing means is provided in the steam passage, and cooling air is provided. The heat exchanger includes a heat absorption tube through which the heat absorption tube passes and a plurality of fins through which the heat absorption tube passes.
[0007]
Invention of claim 4, in addition to any of the purposes of the claims 1 to 3, in order to perform a suitable cooking which does not release the air steam into the room, the heating control means, cooking the heating power of the heating means From the start to the boiling, the maximum is set, and after the boiling, the heating power is controlled to a small heating force necessary for maintaining the boiling and cooking rice.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gas rice cooker which is an example of a rice cooker. The gas rice cooker 1 includes a rice cooker 2 and a burner 3 as a heating means for heating the rice cooker 2. The gas pipe is provided with an original electromagnetic valve 4 for opening and closing the gas flow path and a control valve 5 for adjusting the gas amount. A temperature sensor 6 as temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the bottom of the rice cooker 2 is provided at the bottom of the outer surface of the rice cooker 2, and a detection signal can be output to the controller 7 as heating control means. The controller 7 is connected to an operation panel 8 having a rice cooking switch, a heat retention switch, and an operation state display unit. Reference numeral 9 denotes a dry battery serving as an operating power source for the controller 7.
[0009]
A lid 10 for closing the rice cooker 2 is formed in a conical shape, and a steam passage 11 and steam outlets 12 and 12 are formed at the center. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of fins 13, 13... Stand radially from the center of the lid 10 on the back surface of the lid 10 that is also a conical inclined portion. The fins 13, 13... Extend in the passage 11 to the vicinity of the steam outlet 12 to divide the space in the passage 11 radially.
Moreover, the water storage part 14 is provided in the lid | cover 10 so that it may correspond to the standing range of the fin 13 in a back surface side. The water reservoir 14 rises from the outer periphery of the lid 10 and rises along the shape of the lid 10, and is a space formed inside the lid 10 by a conical cover 15 whose opening is centered on the passage 11. Thus, water can be supplied from the upper opening 16.
Thus, the lid 10 is formed with a condensing means by the fins 13 and the water reservoir 14.
[0010]
On the other hand, a return water cylinder 17 as return water means is detachably accommodated in the rice cooker 2. The return water cylinder 17 is a cylinder that is slightly smaller than the rice cooker 2, and a gap is formed between the return water cylinder 17 and the inner peripheral surface of the rice cooker 2 while being placed on the bottom of the rice cooker 2. On the upper and lower sides of the outer peripheral surface of the return water cylinder 17 are protrusions 18, 18, which are in contact with or close to the inner surface of the rice cooker 2 in the accommodated state so that the return water cylinder 17 is located at the bottom center of the rice cooker 2. Four protrusions are provided at equal intervals in the direction.
Further, a plurality of notches 19, 19,... Smaller than rice grains are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at the lower end of the return water cylinder 17, and the inner periphery side of the return water cylinder 17 is placed on the bottom of the pot. And the outer peripheral side communicate with each other so that only water can enter and exit.
[0011]
In the gas rice cooker 1 configured as described above, the lid 10 in which rice and water are put in the return water cylinder 17 and water is put in the water storage section 14 in a state where the return water pipe 17 is put in the rice cooker 2. When the rice cooking switch on the operation panel 8 is pressed and the controller 7 is pressed, the controller 7 opens the original solenoid valve 4 and the control valve 5 and activates an ignition device (not shown) to ignite the burner 3 to heat the rice cooker 2. To do. Thereafter, the controller 7 controls the original electromagnetic valve 4 and the control valve 5 based on the temperature of the rice cooker 2 obtained from the temperature sensor 6, and executes a predetermined rice cooking sequence. For example, a heating process that heats up to the boiling temperature after ignition, a boiling process that maintains the high temperature by reducing the heating power after boiling point detection, and a boiling maintenance process in which the rice is pregelatinized, and water is absorbed by the rice and the bottom of the kettle This is a sequence consisting of a steaming process in which the combustion of the burner 3 is stopped for a predetermined time when the temperature sensor 6 detects a temperature rise due to the loss of water.
[0012]
During execution of this rice cooking sequence, when the temperature in the rice cooker 2 rises and the moisture evaporates, the generated steam rises along the back surface of the lid 10 and reaches the steam outlet 12 through the passage 11. However, since the temperature of the back surface of the lid 10, the inner surface of the passage 11, and the fins 13, 13,... Is lowered by the water in the water storage section 14, the lid 10, the passage 11, the fins 13, 13,. The steam coming into contact with the surface is cooled and condensed there, and becomes condensed water, descends to the outer periphery of the lid 10 (when the rice cooker 2 is opened) through the back surface of the lid 10 and the fins 13, 13. Furthermore, it reaches the bottom of the rice cooker 2 along the inner peripheral surface of the rice cooker 2. Since the notches 19, 19,... Are formed at the lower end of the return water cylinder 17, the condensed water reaching the bottom returns to the return water cylinder 17 through the notches 19, 19, and is reused for cooking rice. Will be.
[0013]
Thus, according to the gas rice cooker 1 of the said form, while providing the lid | cover 10 with the fin 13 and the water storage part 14 which cool and condense the vapor | steam generated in the rice cooker 2, condensate water is provided to the lid | cover 10 and the rice cooker 2. By providing the return water cylinder 17 that returns the gas to the bottom of the rice cooker 2, the steam generated during the rice cooking can be efficiently condensed and recovered in the vessel and reused. Therefore, the amount of steam released to the outside from the steam outlet 12 is small, and no extra moisture is generated in the room. In addition, since the amount of water released is small, the amount of water added first can be reduced, and rice can be cooked in a short time, leading to savings in electricity bills and gas bills.
In particular, since the condensed water returns to the bottom of the kettle, the condensed water is reliably reused without touching the rice, and the moisture is evenly distributed up and down the rice cooking pot 2 and cooked evenly. In addition, there is no possibility of causing a so-called premature disconnection in which the bottom temperature rises with the moisture remaining at the top and combustion stops. Furthermore, since the condensed water generated during steaming or heat insulation is also induced to the bottom of the kettle, the cooked rice does not cause partial soot.
[0014]
And since the condensation means was made into water cooling by the fin 13 and the water storage part 14, while a condensation means is obtained easily, the temperature rise of the rice cooker itself is also suppressed, and the thermal radiation to a room | chamber interior is prevented suitably. Therefore, the user does not feel uncomfortable by touching the hand or the room temperature does not rise. Moreover, since water can be taken in and out from the opening 16, it can be exchanged with new water any number of times during cooking.
In addition, the use of the return water cylinder 17 makes it easy to obtain return water means.
Furthermore, since the controller 7 executes the rice cooking sequence that maximizes the heating power of the burner 3 from the start of rice cooking to boiling and controls the heating power to a small heating power required for boiling maintenance and rice cooking after boiling, steam is not released into the room. Suitable cooking rice can be performed.
[0015]
In the above embodiment, the lid is formed in a conical shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the lid has an arcuate cross-sectional shape with a bend down, or a part of the periphery is the highest, An inclined portion other than the conical shape can also be adopted, for example, by forming a single flow shape that becomes lower in an arc shape or a linear shape. Therefore, the fin is not limited to a radial shape, and an inclined portion formed on the back surface of the lid, for example, by standing fins parallel to each other along a gradient in a single flow shape so that condensed water is guided when the rice cooker is opened. The direction may be determined according to
[0016]
Moreover, although the water cooling structure using a water storage part is employ | adopted as a condensation means in the said form, an air cooling structure is also employable. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a fan 22 driven by a motor in response to a command from the controller 7 and cooling air from the fan 22 pass through a steam passage 21 formed in a lid 20 having an inclined portion on the back surface. Is provided with a heat exchanger 25 comprising a plurality of fins 24, 24,... Through which the heat absorption tubes 23, 23,. It is conceivable to condense and collect on the surface of the fin 24. With such an air cooling structure, the lid 20 becomes lighter than the water cooling structure and is easy to handle.
However, in this case, it is desirable that the lower edge of the fin 24 is formed in an inclined shape or an arc shape so that the condensed water does not fall at the center of the rice cooker 2 and is continuously brought into contact with the back surface of the lid 20. Note that the fan 22 may be omitted and natural cooling by the heat absorption tube 23 may be performed.
[0017]
Further, even in the return water means, if the water can pass sufficiently in the mounted state, the lower edge of the return water cylinder may not be cut out, and more reliable guidance to the opening of the rice cooker is possible. Therefore, it is also possible to interpose, for example, a conical saucer or the like that receives condensed water that falls midway from the back surface or fins of the lid and guides it to the opening side between the lid and the rice cooker .
In addition, although the gas rice cooker is illustrated in the said form, this invention is applicable similarly also in the rice cooker using other heating means, such as an electric rice cooker using an electric heater.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
According to invention of Claim 1, the vapor | steam which generate | occur | produced during rice cooking is condensed and collect | recovered in a container, and it becomes recyclable. Therefore, the amount of steam released to the outside is small, and no extra moisture is generated in the room. In addition, since the amount of water released is small, the amount of water added first can be reduced, and rice can be cooked in a short time, leading to savings in electricity bills and gas bills.
In particular, since the condensed water returns to the bottom of the kettle, the condensed water is reliably reused without touching the rice, and the moisture is evenly distributed to the top and bottom of the rice cooker and cooked evenly. In addition, there is no possibility of causing a so-called premature disconnection in which the bottom temperature rises with the moisture remaining at the top and combustion stops. Furthermore, since the condensed water generated during steaming or heat insulation is also induced to the bottom of the kettle, the cooked rice does not cause partial soot.
In addition, the return water means is provided on the back surface of the lid to guide the condensed water to the opening edge of the rice cooker, and can be attached to and detached from the rice cooker and only water can enter and exit on the bottom side. Since the cylindrical body is slightly smaller than that, the return water means can be obtained easily.
[0019]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the condensing means includes a water storage unit capable of cooling the lid and a plurality of fins standing on the back surface of the lid, thereby condensing. Means can be easily obtained, and heat radiation into the room can be suitably prevented.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect, the condensation means is provided in the steam passage, and the heat absorption pipe through which the cooling air passes, and the heat absorption pipe penetrates. Since the heat exchanger is composed of a plurality of fins, the lid can be made light and easy to handle even if a condensing means is provided.
[0020]
According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to any effect of claims 1 to 3, pressurized thermal control means, the maximum heating power of the heating means to boil the cooking start, after boiling boils By setting it as the structure controlled to the small heating power required for a maintenance and rice cooking, suitable rice cooking which does not discharge | release a vapor | steam indoors can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gas cooker.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the back surface of the lid.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gas rice cooker showing a modified example of condensing means.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ・ ・ Gas rice cooker 2 ・ ・ Rice cooker 3 ・ ・ Burner 7 ・ ・ Controller 10, 20 ・ ・ Lid 11,21 ・ ・ Aisle 13 ・ ・ Fin 14 ・ ・ Water storage unit 17・ Return water bottle, 25 ・ ・ Heat exchanger.

Claims (4)

A rice cooker comprising: a rice cooker that can be closed by a lid; heating means for heating the rice cooker; heating control means for controlling the heating means; and temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the rice cooker. ,
The lid is provided with a condensing means for cooling and condensing steam generated in the rice cooker, while an inclined portion is formed on the back surface of the lid and guides condensed water obtained by the condensing means to the opening edge of the rice cooker. And a cylindrical body that is detachably attached to the inside of the rice cooker and that allows only water to enter and exit on the bottom side, and is shaped slightly smaller than the rice cooker, and returns the condensed water to the bottom of the rice cooker. A rice cooker characterized by providing a return water means.   The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the condensing means is a water storage section capable of cooling the lid and a plurality of fins standing on the back surface of the lid.   2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the condensing means is a heat exchanger that is provided in a steam passage and includes a heat absorption pipe through which cooling air passes and a plurality of fins through which the heat absorption pipe passes. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the heating control means maximizes the heating power of the heating means from the start of rice cooking to boiling, and controls the heating power to a small heating power required for boiling maintenance and rice cooking after boiling.

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