JP5607664B2 - Brown rice germination equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a brown rice germination apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a brown rice germination device, for example, an exterior body provided with a heating pot inside, a heater that heats the inside of the inner pot accommodated in the heating pot to 32-38 ° C. via the heating pot, An electric heater for producing germinated brown rice having a controller such as a timer for maintaining the temperature for 18 to 24 hours is known (see Patent Document 1). Here, in the electric heater for producing germinated brown rice disclosed in Patent Document 1, an inner pot for accommodating the brown rice is formed of an antibacterial material. Examples of the antibacterial material include antibacterial stainless steel, stainless steel coated with a fluororesin containing an antibacterial agent, and copper.

  However, in the electric heater for producing germinated brown rice of Patent Document 1, the antibacterial inner pot is formed of the antibacterial metal itself. Therefore, ionization of the antibacterial metal has progressed due to long-term use, so that the antibacterial action is reduced, and there is a possibility that a bad odor is generated.

  Moreover, it is generally said that silver ions have a particularly bactericidal effect, and copper ions have a particularly fungicidal and antialgal effect.

  However, in the electric heater for producing germinated brown rice of Patent Document 1, since these points are not taken into consideration at all, a bad odor may be generated depending on use conditions and the like.

  In addition, as a known technique using the bactericidal effect due to silver ions, the fungicidal effect and the algae-proofing effect due to copper ions, the amount of silver ions that decrease by adsorbing to a copper channel pipe is detected, and the decrease is newly There is known a water sterilization and purification system for replenishing (see Patent Document 2).

  However, the water sterilization purification system of Patent Document 2 includes silver ion amount detection means, silver ion replenishment means, and the like. Therefore, the water sterilization purification system of Patent Document 2 has a complicated apparatus structure and is difficult to reduce in size, and is not easy to use for a small germination brown rice production apparatus for home use.

  In addition, when silver ions and copper ions are compared, silver ions are generally easier to elute. As a known technique focusing on this point, a metal electrode having a bactericidal effect, an antifungal effect, or an antialgae effect on the anode side of a pair of electrodes, and a variable resistor connected in series to the metal electrode, There is a water sterilizer that detects the number of bacteria, the number of molds, and the number of algae, and changes the resistance value of the variable resistor based on the detection result (see Patent Document 3).

  However, the water sterilizer of Patent Document 3 has a complicated apparatus structure such as a means for detecting the number of bacteria, mold and algae in water, and a means for changing the resistance value of the variable resistor, and is small in size. Therefore, it is not easy to use this for a small germination brown rice production apparatus for home use.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-117713 JP 2000-084566 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-052770

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the brown rice germination apparatus which can prevent generation | occurrence | production of a bad odor over a long period of time with a simple and small structure.

  In order to develop a brown rice germination apparatus that can effectively prevent the generation of malodor, the present inventor first conducted intensive research on what mechanism causes malodor. And, the present inventor is able to effectively prevent the generation of malodor if the silver ion generating member and the copper ion generating member have any shape and any arrangement structure, and further prevent the generation thereof. We conducted intensive research on how to maintain the effect for a long time.

  As a result, it was first found that the generation of malodor in the conventional brown rice germination apparatus was caused not only by various bacteria but also by mold. And the silver (particle) containing container which stores brown rice, and the structure of the copper member in the inside specific area of the container can completely prevent the generation of bad odor while having an extremely simple structure, and the prevention effect It was found that it can be maintained for a long time, and the present invention has been completed.

  That is, the present invention includes a bottomed inner container having a side wall and an opening, and a copper member provided at least near the bottom inside the inner container, and the inner container is silver-based at least on the inner wall near the opening. It has an antibacterial agent-containing portion formed of a material containing an antibacterial agent.

  According to the present invention, generation of malodor can be prevented over a long period of time with a simple and small configuration.

It is a perspective view which shows embodiment of the brown rice germination apparatus concerning this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the said brown rice germination apparatus. It is a perspective view of the inner container accommodated in the said brown rice germination apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the said inner container. It is a perspective view of the copper member accommodated in the said inner container. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the modification of the said copper member. It is a perspective view of the inner lid | cover covered on the said inner container. It is a figure which shows the usage example of the said brown rice germination apparatus, and is a figure which shows the mode of material injection | throwing-in. It is a figure which shows the usage example of the said brown rice germination apparatus, and is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the structure and material of an inner container. It is a figure which shows the usage example of the said brown rice germination apparatus, and is a figure which shows a mode that the opening part of an inner container is obstruct | occluded with an inner cover. It is a figure which shows the usage example of the said brown rice germination apparatus, and is a figure which shows a mode that an inner container is accommodated in the main body of a brown rice germination apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a brown rice germination apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a brown rice germination apparatus 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the brown rice germination apparatus 1.

  The brown rice germination apparatus 1 includes a main body 2 having an opening 2a, a bottom 2b, and a side wall 2c, and an outer lid 3 that covers the opening 2a. The brown rice germination apparatus 1 includes an inner container 4 housed inside the main body 2, a copper member 5 disposed inside the inner container 4, and an inner lid 6 that covers the inner container 4.

  Although not shown, the main body 2 is provided with a heat source such as an electric heater with a timer at an appropriate location on the inner wall 2d. The main body 2 is provided with a pilot lamp 2e for allowing the user to recognize the operating state of the heater, a power cord 2f, and a plug 2g.

  The outer lid 3 is provided to shield the inside and outside of the main body 2. The outer lid 3 includes an outer lid main body 3 a and a grip portion 3 b for a user to grip when attaching to and detaching from the main body 2. The outer lid body 3a has a substantially disk shape having an edge portion joined to the opening 2a. The grip portion 3b is provided on the upper surface of the outer lid body 3a. The grip portion 3b has a shape that allows the user to easily grip the outer lid 3, for example, a hollow shape.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner container 4 accommodated in the brown rice germination apparatus 1. The inner container 4 has an opening 4a, a bottom 4b, and a side wall 4c, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The inner container 4 is formed of a resin having desired heat resistance such as polypropylene.

  The inner container 4 is not limited to a cylindrical shape with a bottom as shown in FIG. 3, and has an opening 4a, a bottom 4b, and a side wall 4c, and can contain a material such as brown rice and moisture therein. Any shape is acceptable.

  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the inner container 4. The inner container 4 has an antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e (shaded portion in FIG. 4) formed of a material containing a silver-based antibacterial agent on the inner wall 4d in the vicinity of the opening 4a.

  The antibacterial agent-containing part 4e is formed integrally with the other side wall 4c of the inner container 4 by a resin kneaded with a glass-based material containing a silver antibacterial agent. The antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e is preferably provided on the inner wall 4d in the range from the vicinity of the upper limit of the region where the brown rice is introduced to the opening 4a. In the glass-based material containing the silver-based antibacterial agent, the silver-based antibacterial agent is incorporated into the glass structure, and the internal silver-based antibacterial agent is gradually released to the outside and exhibits an antibacterial effect. The antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e needs to have an antibacterial effect on the material (brown rice, moisture, etc.) accommodated on the inner wall 4d side, so that it should be configured so that silver ions are eluted on the inner wall 4d side. .

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e is formed integrally with the other side wall 4c. Instead, the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e is formed as a separate member from the other side wall. May be. Further, the material containing the silver-based antibacterial agent is not limited to the antibacterial agent-containing part 4e, and may be another part of the inner container 4 other than the antibacterial agent-containing part 4e, for example, the side wall 4c (the whole side wall 4c or a part thereof). ) Or the bottom 4b. Furthermore, the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e is not limited to the glass-based material containing the above-described silver-based antibacterial agent, and other various silver-based antibacterial agents may be used.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the copper member 5 accommodated in the inner container 4. The copper member 5 is accommodated in the inner container 4 when the brown rice germination apparatus 1 is used. The copper member 5 has a shape that can be accommodated inside the inner container 4, for example, a substantially disk-shaped outer shape that is smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the inner container 4. The copper member 5 is formed by a ring-shaped outer frame 5a that forms the above-described outer shape, and a copper net 5b stretched inside the outer frame 5a.

  In addition, the copper member 5 may form the whole copper member 5 with a disk-shaped copper plate, or may drill a copper plate etc., without extending | stretching the copper net | network 5b inside.

  FIG. 6 is a side view of the right half and a longitudinal sectional view of the left half showing a modification of the copper member. Unlike the copper member 5, the copper member 50 has a bottomed substantially cylindrical shape that can be accommodated in the inner container 4. The copper member 50 has an opening 50a, a bottom 50b, a side wall net 50c, and a side wall 50d.

  The bottom part 50b and the side wall net part 50c are integrally formed into a bottomed substantially cylindrical shape by pressing a copper net or the like, and are joined to the side wall 50d by an appropriate method such as caulking, brazing, or soldering. Is done. A rib 50e for reinforcement is provided on the bottom 50b.

  Unlike the bottom part 50b and the side wall net part 50c, the opening part 50a and the side wall 50d are formed of a material other than copper. The opening 50a is provided with a grip 50f for facilitating removal from the inner container 4.

  The copper member 50 has a bottomed substantially cylindrical shape in which the bottom portion 50b and the side wall mesh portion 50c are formed of a copper mesh, so that brown rice can be taken in and out from the inner container 4 through the copper member 50. .

  In addition, the copper member 50 may form the whole side wall 50d with a copper net. Alternatively, the entire side wall 50d may be formed of a copper plate without providing the side wall net 50c. Further, the copper member 50 may be formed with a copper plate instead of a copper net at the bottom 50b. In such a case, for example, the copper plate used for the copper member 50 may be drilled.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inner lid 6 that covers the inner container 4. The inner lid 6 has a shape along the outer shape of the opening 4a so that the inside of the inner container 4 can be kept in a predetermined sealed state when the brown rice germination apparatus 1 is used. The inner lid 6 can be fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the opening 4a. As a method for fixing the inner lid 6 and the opening 4a, for example, a method of making the inner lid 6 detachable by rotating and tightening the inner lid 6 can be used. The inner lid 6 has an inner lid body 6a and a gripping portion 6b. The inner lid main body 6a has a substantially disk shape having an edge portion joined to the opening 4a. The gripping portion 6b has a handle and a recessed portion so that the user can easily hold the inner lid 6 when the inner lid 6 is attached or detached.

  The inner lid 6 is formed of a resin having a desired heat resistance in the same manner as the material forming the inner container 4. In particular, the inner lid 6 may be formed of a resin obtained by kneading a glass-based material containing a silver-based antibacterial agent similarly to the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e. When the inner lid 6 is formed of a resin kneaded with a glass-based material containing a silver-based antibacterial agent, silver ions are also eluted from the inner lid 6 into the inner container 4 and have an antibacterial effect on brown rice. It can be further increased.

[Usage example of brown rice germination device]
Next, the usage example of the brown rice germination apparatus 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of use of the brown rice germination apparatus 1 and shows a state of material input. When using the brown rice germination apparatus 1, the user places a copper member 5 inside the inner container 4, and then puts a predetermined amount of brown rice and moisture (hereinafter simply referred to as “brown rice 10”) into the inner container 4. To do.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of use of the brown rice germination apparatus 1, and is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the configuration of the inner container 4 and the brown rice 10. As shown in FIG. 9, in the inner container 4 after the brown rice 10 is introduced, the copper member 5 is located inside the bottom portion 4b, and the brown rice 10 is placed thereon. At this time, the upper end of the brown rice 10 is at a position that reaches the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e.

  In addition, the positional relationship between the brown rice 10 and the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e is not limited to the position shown in FIG. For example, the position where the antibacterial agent containing portion 4e is provided only needs to be separated from the place where a part of the copper member 5 of the inner wall 4d is placed. In particular, the position where the antibacterial agent-containing part 4e is provided is preferably such that the upper end position of the brown rice 10 and the lower end position of the antibacterial agent-containing part 4e overlap.

  Further, when the copper member 50 is accommodated in the inner container 4 instead of the copper member 5, the antibacterial agent-containing part 4e of the inner container 4 and the copper side wall mesh part 50c are positioned at a predetermined distance apart. As described above, the position of the antibacterial agent-containing part 4e in the inner container 4 and the position of the side wall net part 50c in the copper member 50 are set.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a usage example of the brown rice germination apparatus 1, and illustrates a state in which the opening 4 a of the inner container 4 is closed by the inner lid 6. After the brown rice 10 is put in, the user closes the opening 4 a by fitting the inner lid 6 to the outer peripheral surface of the opening 4 a of the inner container 4. As a closing method, for example, screws may be cut into the outer peripheral surface of the opening 4a and the inner peripheral surface of the inner lid 6 and tightened to each other.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of use of the brown rice germination apparatus 1, and shows a state in which the inner container 4 is accommodated in the main body 2. The user accommodates the inner container 4 covered with the inner lid 6 in the main body 2. The user covers the outer cover 3 after the inner container 4 is accommodated, and closes the opening 2a. Thereafter, the user inserts the plug 2g of the power cord 2f into an outlet and operates a switch (not shown) provided on the main body 2 to turn on the power.

  When the power is turned on, the heater (not shown) is energized and the inner container 4 is heated. The energization status of the heater is displayed on the pilot lamp 2e. The heater is heated at a predetermined temperature (for example, 30 to 37 ° C.) required for germination of brown rice for a predetermined time (for example, 24 to 48 hours) by a temperature control mechanism (not shown).

  Inside the inner container 4, copper ions are eluted from the copper member 5 to the inside of the inner container 4, and exhibit an antifungal effect on the brown rice 10. On the other hand, silver ions are eluted from the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4 e and exert an antibacterial effect on the brown rice 10.

  And after the said predetermined time progress, the brown rice 10 exhibits the desired germination degree inside the inner container 4. FIG.

[Operation and effect of the present invention]
In the brown rice germination apparatus 1 described above, an antibacterial agent-containing part 4e containing a silver antibacterial agent and a copper member 5 are arranged in an inner container 4 in which brown rice to be germinated is accommodated.

  Here, when silver ions and copper ions are compared, silver ions are more likely to be eluted (the ionization tendency is greater). For this reason, when the silver antibacterial agent and the copper member are simply used in the same inner container, the silver antibacterial agent is more likely to elute and the silver ions are reduced more quickly. It is difficult to prevent the generation of odors. Moreover, depending on the positional relationship between the silver-based antibacterial agent region and the copper member, or the relative relationship of the surface area, some of the eluted silver ions may adhere to the copper member surface and precipitate. The precipitated silver particles reduce the ability to generate copper ions from the copper member.

  Therefore, in the brown rice germination apparatus 1, the copper member 5 is disposed on the bottom 4b of the inner container 4 in which the brown rice and moisture (brown rice 10) are accommodated, and the antibacterial agent-containing part 4e is disposed on the side wall 4c near the opening 4a of the inner container 4. Form.

  In the brown rice germination apparatus 1 configured as described above, copper ions are eluted from the copper member 5 inside the inner container 4, and silver ions are eluted from the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e. Here, since the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e and the copper member are arranged apart from each other by a predetermined distance, it is possible to suppress the precipitation of silver particles to a level at which there is no practical problem, and as a result, the antibacterial effect due to silver ions is prolonged. Can last for a period.

  Moreover, according to the brown rice germination apparatus 1, in order to prevent the fall of the copper ion generation | occurrence | production ability from the copper member 5 by silver particle precipitation, the antifungal effect by silver ion and the mold-proof effect by copper ion last for a long time. It is possible to prevent generation of malodor.

  Furthermore, in the brown rice germination apparatus 1, the range from the vicinity of the upper limit of the area into which brown rice and moisture (brown rice 10) is introduced to the opening 4a is formed of a material containing a silver antibacterial agent as the antibacterial agent containing part 4e. . According to the brown rice germination apparatus 1 configured as described above, the location formed by the material containing the silver antibacterial agent of the inner container 4 is upward from the vicinity of the upper limit of the area where the brown rice and moisture are introduced, and the silver ions Decrease speed can be slowed.

  Furthermore, according to the brown rice germination apparatus 1, since silver ions are eluted from the inner lid 6, the antibacterial effect can be maintained for a long period of time and the generation of malodor can be prevented.

  In the brown rice germination apparatus 1, among the materials forming the inner container 4, a glass-based material is used as a material containing a silver-based antibacterial agent, and this glass-based material is kneaded with a resin to form an inner container. According to such a brown rice germination apparatus 1, since the elution amount of silver ions can be easily adjusted by adjusting the amount of the glass-based material containing the silver-based antibacterial agent kneaded into the resin, the antibacterial effect due to the silver ions can be improved. The desired period can be set as the desired period. When a glass-based material containing a silver-based antibacterial agent is used in the antibacterial agent-containing portion 4e, the antibacterial component is evenly contained in a stable form throughout the glass-based material, and the antibacterial effect lasts for a long time. Odor generation can be prevented.

  Moreover, according to the brown rice germination apparatus 1, even if it is a case where the mold prevention effect of the copper member 5 falls, the mold prevention effect can be easily recovered | restored by replacement | exchange of the copper member 5. FIG.

  Furthermore, according to the brown rice germination apparatus 1, the copper member 5 has a net shape (copper net 5b or side wall net portion 50c), thereby increasing the surface area of the copper member and further improving the anti-mold effect due to copper ions. Can do. In addition, drainability is improved and handling of germinated brown rice becomes easy.

  In addition, when it has the side wall net | network part 50c, although it is anxious about silver particle becoming easy to precipitate on a copper net surface, the roughness (number of meshes), thickness, etc. of a copper net are set to an appropriate value suitably. By doing so, precipitation of silver particles can be suppressed to a practically satisfactory level.

[Modification]
Here, the brown rice germination apparatus may not have the heater described above. For example, the main body or the inner container may have heat retention, and brown rice may be germinated by adding water and brown rice that have been preliminarily set to a predetermined temperature and leaving them for a predetermined time. Further, for example, the brown rice germination apparatus may be provided with the brown rice germination apparatus in a device capable of maintaining a predetermined temperature, such as a thermostatic bath, without providing a heater, and temperature management may be performed.

1: Brown rice germination device 2: Main body 3: Outer lid 4: Inner container 4a: Opening part 4b: Bottom part 4c: Side wall 4d: Inner wall 4e: Antibacterial agent containing part 5: Copper member 6: Inner lid 10: Brown rice

Claims (6)

A bottomed inner container having a side wall and an opening;
A copper member provided at least near the bottom inside the inner container;
With
The said inner container has an antibacterial agent containing part currently formed with the material containing a silver type antibacterial agent at least in the inner wall near the said opening part, The brown rice germination apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The antibacterial agent-containing part is provided on the side wall in the range from the vicinity of the upper limit of the area where brown rice is introduced to the opening,
The brown rice germination apparatus according to claim 1. The material containing the silver antibacterial agent is a glass material containing a silver antibacterial agent,
The antibacterial agent-containing part is formed of a material in which a glass-based material containing the silver-based antibacterial agent and a resin are kneaded,
The brown rice germination apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A lid covering the opening;
The lid is formed of a material containing a silver antibacterial agent,
The brown rice germination apparatus according to claim 1. The copper member is detachably provided to the inner container;
The brown rice germination apparatus according to claim 1. The copper member has a net shape,
The brown rice germination apparatus according to claim 1.

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