JPH07102183B2 - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rice cooker, and in particular, one rice from soft rice, normal rice, and firm rice is reliably and stably cooked by simple rice cooking control, and its soft rice -The present invention relates to a rice cooker capable of displaying a plurality of different types of cooked rice in stages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Rice cookers currently on the market are a combination of an electric rice cooker and a heat retaining jar.
In such a rice cooker, a heater is provided at the bottom of the inner pot, and heating power is supplied to the heater to cook rice.

In addition, for the purpose of cooking delicious rice, the temperature of the rice cooking pot is measured by a controller equipped with a temperature sensor and a microcomputer, and the data of the temperature or the degree of temperature rise is input to the microcomputer to calculate the rice cooking capacity. A microcomputer-controlled automatic rice cooker has been developed, which determines whether the rice is cooked or not and performs appropriate power control according to the rice cooking capacity. An automatic rice cooker that cooks rice under microcomputer control is a program that controls the microcomputer in order to sequentially absorb water, cook capacity, cook, boil, boil, boil, and boil. After controlling the rice cooking process such as the cooking process and the heat retaining process, the rice is cooked in the optimum state, and after the rice cooking control is performed, the heat retaining control state is set. In this way, in the microcomputer-controlled rice cooker, the control of the rice cooking process can be finely controlled by the program control, so by providing the programs of multiple types of rice cooking control patterns,
It is equipped with various convenient functions such as multi-function rice, early cooked rice, timer-scheduled rice, notification about when to eat, and rice immediately after washing. Moreover, it is possible to always perform optimal rice cooking by determining the amount of water and the amount of rice cooking.

[0004]

However, in the above rice cooker, even if the amount of water and the amount of rice cooked (judgment judgment) are judged, the rice cooked with a soft turtle is
It takes time and effort to adjust the water content.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to build a firm, ordinary, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that can surely and stably cook desired rice from soft rice cooked under normal water conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to select a desired cooked rice from a plurality of kinds of cooked rice such as soft, slightly soft, normal, slightly hard, hard, and the like. It is to provide a rice cooker that can be divided and displayed in stages.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the means (1) of the present invention performs a rice cooking capacity determination, and a rice cooking step including a cooking step and a boiling maintaining step based on the determined rice cooking capacity. In a rice jar that performs control sequentially and cooks rice, a separate cooking rice setting switch that specifies one rice from multiple types of rice such as soft rice, slightly soft rice, normal, slightly hard, and hard rice, Means for changing the rice cooking temperature and the rice cooking time in each step of the water absorption step, the cooking step, and the mudling step according to the type of rice cooked specified by the separate rice cooking setting switch, each of the plurality of types
Addition time of water absorption time and unevenness time of each rice cooking
A hand that controls the cooking time so that it will remain for a certain period of time.
The most important feature is to have a step.

The means (2) of the present invention determines the rice-cooking capacity and sequentially controls the rice-cooking step including the step of boiling and the step of maintaining boiling according to the judged rice-cooking capacity, and the rice-cooker for cooking rice is soft. A separate cooked rice setting switch that specifies one cooked rice out of multiple types of cooked rice such as small, slightly soft, normal, slightly hard, firm
Water process according to rice type specified by該炊can divide cooking setting switch, cook up step, and means for changing the cooking temperature and cooking time in each step of the steaming step, the double
When adding water absorption time and muddle time when cooking several kinds of rice
Make sure that the interval is the same for each cooked rice
It is characterized in that it is provided with a control means and a rice cooking condition means for stepwise displaying the different types of cooked rice , such as soft, slightly soft, normal, slightly hard, and firm.

In the means (3) of the present invention, the rice cooking condition display means is soft, slightly soft, normal, slightly firm, and firm each time the rice cooking setting switch is pressed. It is characterized in that it is configured to gradually shift the cooking degree display of.

The means (4) of the present invention is characterized in that the rice-cooking condition display means is configured such that the higher the degree of firmness, the smaller the illuminance area thereof and the visual display.

[0012] The means (5) of the present invention is characterized in that the rice cooking condition display means is configured to display the cooking grade display by numbers.

[0013]

[Function] According to the above-mentioned means (1), a plurality of types of cooked rice, for example, one cooked rice out of five cooked cooked meals of soft, slightly soft, medium, soft, and firm Depending on the type of rice cooked specified by the separate rice cooking setting switch, the rice cooking temperature and rice cooking time in each step of the water absorption process, the cooking process, and the mashing process can be changed , and multiple types
Addition time of water absorption time and unevenness time of each kind of rice cooking
Controlled so that each cooked rice has a certain fixed time
As a result, even in the above-mentioned multiple types of cooked rice, the gelatinization of rice is sufficient.
Since it is done in minutes, you can surely and stably cook your favorite rice out of the five types of rice that are soft, slightly soft, normal, slightly hard and firm.

According to the above-mentioned means (2), one of the five types of cooked rice, which is soft, slightly soft, normal, slightly hard, and firm, is designated by the separate cooking rice setting switch. Depending on the type of cooked rice, the rice cooking temperature and the cooking time in each process of the water absorption process, the cooking process, and the mashing process are changed , and the water absorption at the time of each of the multiple types of rice cooking
The time added to the time and the time required for each meal may vary depending on the rice cooked.
It is controlled so that it becomes a certain fixed time, and the alpha conversion of rice is sufficiently performed.
In addition , the five different types of cooked rice conditions, soft, slightly soft, normal, slightly hard, and firm, are displayed in stages, so you can surely and stably cook your favorite rice. You can check your favorite rice.

According to the means (3) of the present invention, in the rice cooker of the means (2), the rice-cooking condition display means is softened each time the rice-separating rice-cooking setting switch is pressed. Since the display of the cooking grade of 5 types of rice, which is slightly soft, normal, slightly firm, and firm, is changed step by step, you can easily set your favorite rice conditions and check your favorite rice. can do.

According to the means (4) of the present invention, the rice cooking condition display means in the rice cooker of the above-mentioned means (2) or (3) is visually reduced by increasing the degree of hardness. Since it is displayed on the screen, it is possible to make it easier to confirm the favorite rice.

According to the means (5) of the present invention, since the rice cooking condition display means in the rice cooker of the means (2) or (3) displays the cooking level display numerically,
The configuration of the display mechanism can be simplified, and it is possible to make it easier to check the favorite rice.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a rice cooker body,
Reference numeral 2 is a lid portion of the rice cooker body 1, and 3 is a body portion of the rice cooker body 1. The main body 3 includes an inner pan 4, an inner pan container 5 for accommodating the inner pan 4, a rice cooker 6 at the bottom of the inner pan 6, a shoulder ring 7 provided on the shoulder of the inner pan container 5, an inner pan container. 5, a warming heater (hereinafter referred to as a shoulder heater) 8 provided in the shoulder ring 7 of the shoulder 5, a warming heater (hereinafter referred to as a warming heater) 9 provided at the body of the inner pot storage container 5, a microcomputer, etc. The control unit 10 and the like incorporating the are provided inside. Further, the inner pot 4 has a shoulder portion in contact with the pot lid 4a and an upper portion covered with the pot lid 4a. The pot lid 4a is formed by molding a material having high thermal conductivity, for example, aluminum. The temperature sensor 25 is provided by being placed in a sensor case arranged at a position in which the temperature sensor 25 is in close contact with the pan lid 4a. A temperature sensor 29 is provided at the bottom of the inner pot 4. Reference numeral 11 is a function display selection operation unit.

The function display selection operation unit 11 is arranged at an upper position of the rice cooker main body 1. The function display selection operation unit 11 has a plurality of operation key switches and various states as will be described later. A light emitting diode for displaying and a 7-segment character display for displaying time are provided. As the operation key switches, there are hour key switch, minute key switch, reserved key switch, menu key switch, white rice cooked selection key switch, clock set key switch, start key switch, and cancel / heat retention key switch. ing.

FIG. 2a is a front view showing the panel surface of the function selection operation unit 11. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 2a, 12 is a character display, for example, a 4-digit numerical display liquid crystal module that displays the characters of each display digit in 7 segments. The character display unit 12 displays the time and the reserved time when the reserved rice is cooked. 13a is a key switch for operating a time digit, 13b is a minute key switch for operating a minute digit, 13c is a reservation key switch for instructing a reservation, 13d is a menu key switch for instructing a rice cooking menu, and 13e is a rice cooking operation start or reservation. A start key switch for instructing the start of the rice cooking operation, 13f cancels each operation (or sets heat retention during the waiting period), a cancel / heat retention key switch, 13g includes multiple types of cooked rice, for example, soft, slightly soft White rice cooking selection key switch for selecting your favorite rice from five types of rice cooking such as me, normal, a little hard, and hard, and 13h is a clock set key switch for setting the current time. Also,
A state display unit 14 displays the operation mode. The state display unit 14 is provided with a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that display various states of the rice cooker. As the states to be displayed, "reservation 1", "reservation 2", "white rice", "early cooking", in order to display the states of the reservation mode, the rice menu type of rice control and the heat insulation mode, respectively. "Rice cooked", "rice", "brown rice", "porridge",
Light-emitting diode (L
ED) is turned on to display various states.

The display of "separate cooking" is shown in FIG.
As shown in b, "5: soft turtle" ⇒ "4: slightly soft turtle" ⇒ "3: normal" ⇒ "2: a little warm" ⇒
It is configured so that it can be adjusted in five stages of "1: hard". Then, when the menu selection is "white rice", the light emitting diode (LED) lights up at the "normal" position first, and thereafter, every time the white rice cooked selection key switch 13g is pressed, "normal" ⇒ "a little warm" ”⇒“ Hard ”⇒“ Soft turtle ”⇒“ Slightly soft turtle ”⇒“ Normal ”, the display changes to rotate once and the user can set it to the desired hardness. Once set, from the next time onward, the cooking conditions for that hardness and its display position will be stored in memory (the cooking conditions will be stored at the same time), and the cooking conditions for that hardness and its display position will be set automatically. To be done.

The "cooking" display indicates the degree of hardness by numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (the smaller the number, the higher the degree of hardness) and the illuminance area of the light emitting diode. The degree of hardness is small. By doing so, the degree of hardness of the cooked rice can be visually displayed, so that the selective cooking condition can be made easy to understand. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, as the cooking display means,
Although both the numerical display method and the illuminance area display method are used, it goes without saying that one of the numerical display method and the illuminance area display method may be used in the present invention.

Table 1 shows an outline of the contents of the rice cooking conditions with the desired hardness.

[0025]

[Table 1]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a control unit using the microcomputer 20.
In FIG. 3, 6 is a rice cooking heater, 8 is a shoulder heater, 9 is a warming heater, 10 is a control unit, 11 is a function display selection operation unit, 25 is a temperature sensor for the lid provided on the pot lid (hereinafter, lid sensor). Further, 29 is a bottom temperature sensor (hereinafter referred to as a bottom sensor) provided in the bottom portion of the inner pot. As described above, the function display selection operation unit 11 includes a 7-segment character display 12,
The operation key switches 13 (13a to 13h) and the light emitting diode of the status display unit 14 are provided. Further, 15 is a commercial AC power supply, and 16 is a thermal fuse. The control unit 10 includes a triac 18 and a relay 17 for controlling energization of the rice cooking heater 6, a triac 19a for controlling energization of the warming heater 9, a triac 19b for controlling energization of the shoulder heater 8, a microcomputer 20, and a clock mechanism 2.
1, a buzzer 22 and the like are provided. The temperature sensor (lid sensor 25) provided on the lid of the inner pot is composed of a thermistor or the like. Further, the bottom temperature sensor (bottom sensor 29) provided at the bottom of the pot is also composed of a thermistor or the like. These temperature sensors detect the temperature and output an electric signal corresponding to the temperature. The electric signal corresponding to the temperature is input to the analog / digital conversion port of the microcomputer 20. The microcomputer 20
Built-in processor CPU, memory RAM, program memory ROM, input port with analog / digital conversion function, multiple input ports for receiving key switch input, output port for outputting control output signal and display control signal, etc. According to the program stored in the program memory, a predetermined output signal is output from the output port in response to the input from the input port. That is, the microcomputer 20 receives inputs from the respective temperature sensors (lid sensor 25, bottom sensor 29), timepiece mechanism 21, and operation key switch 13, performs a series of processing according to a processing program incorporated therein, and energizes the heater. A control signal is sent to a triac for controlling, and a lighting control signal is sent to the light emitting diode of the status display section 14 to display the status of the operation mode. The time signal from the clock mechanism 21 is sent to the microcomputer 20.
The time is displayed on the character display 12 and is input to the microcomputer 20 as a signal for determining the reserved time when the timer reserved rice is cooked.

Next, the operation of the cooked rice heat insulation jar thus constructed will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the outline of the overall control flow of the microcomputer 20. Figure 3
And FIG. 4 will be described.

When the power is turned on, pre-processing for rice cooking control is performed (step 31). In this pre-processing of rice cooking control,
Initialization processing for resetting various internal registers, timers, etc. of the microcomputer 20 is performed, rice cooking operation instruction data such as rice cooking menu setting, rice cooking reservation time setting, etc. is performed, and then the start key switch 13e (Fig. Two
When a) is turned on (or at the reserved time in the case of reserved rice cooking), the relay 17 is turned on and the rice cooking heater circuit is turned on for controlling rice cooking (step 3).
2). Next, the rice cooking process control is performed (step 33). As a result, a rice cooking operation for cooking rice is performed. When the rice cooking operation is completed, the relay 17 is turned off (step 3
4) The rice heating heater circuit is turned off to enter the heat retention control mode in which the heat retention control is performed to keep the cooked rice warm.
In the heat retention control mode, the process from step 35 is performed.

In this heat retention control mode, normal heat retention control is performed (step 35), and it is determined whether or not there is a temperature abnormality (step 36). If the temperature is abnormal, error processing such as abnormality notification and abnormality display is performed (step 37),
The whole process ends. Also, in step 36,
If the temperature is not abnormal, the process returns to step 35 to repeat the normal heat retention control.

Next, the general operation of the processing of rice cooking control by the microcomputer control thus constructed will be described.

When a desired amount of rice and water corresponding thereto are put in the inner pot 4 and the start key switch 13e (FIG. 2a) is turned on, the microcomputer 20 of the control unit 10
According to the processing steps of the rice cooking program stored in the program memory ROM therein, power control for heating in the rice cooking process is started. At this time, the microcomputer 20 converts the voltage output from the lid sensor 25 and the bottom sensor 29 into a digital quantity from the input port A / D of the analog / digital conversion function, and inputs the digital quantity.
A process of converting to temperature is performed, the input temperature is determined, and various rice cooking processes are controlled based on the temperature determination result. In this rice cooking process, at the beginning of rice cooking,
A water absorption process is performed in which the heating power is reduced and the rice absorbs water.
Next, the heating power is increased, the rice cooking capacity is determined at a predetermined temperature, the temperature is rapidly raised, a boiling step of boiling is performed, and a boiling maintaining step of continuing boiling is performed. When the rice has sufficiently absorbed water and the water in the bottom of the inner pot has disappeared and the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, 130 ° C., this boiling maintaining step continues, and this temperature is detected by the bottom sensor 29 to heat the microcomputer 20. The heater for heating is turned off, and the boiling maintaining process is completed. Next, during a predetermined time period, the first mulling step, the first additional cooking step, the second uneven cooking step, the second additional cooking step, etc. are performed, and finally the heat retention step is reached and the rice cooking step is completed. When the rice cooking process control is completed, the process proceeds to the heat retention process control.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a rice cooking temperature curve showing the temperature change of the inner pot when the normal rice cooking process is controlled by the control of the microcomputer 20. Figure 5
In, the region A shows the water absorption process, the region B shows the cooking process including the rice cooking capacity determination process, and the region C shows the boiling maintaining process. Further, the area D shows the purging process including the additional cooking process. The cooking process in the region B is a process in which the heating power is increased, the temperature is rapidly raised to boil, and the boiling maintaining process is continued. This step includes a step of determining the rice cooking capacity (sum number determination), and the rice cooking capacity is determined by this rice cooking capacity determining step. Then, in the next boiling maintaining step, the heating power is controlled to an appropriate value according to the determined cooking capacity, and the boiling is appropriately maintained to cook the rice. For example, a fuzzy heating method can be used in the rice cooking capacity determination step.

Next, the separate rice cooking control of this embodiment will be described. In the separate rice cooking control, basically, the rice cooking control is performed by the rice cooking control sequence similar to the control of the normal rice cooking process, but the time control and the temperature control in each of the water absorption process, the cooking process and the mudling process are performed. Rice cooking control is performed by changing the hardness according to preference.

FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c are views showing an example of a rice cooking temperature curve showing the temperature change of the inner pot when the rice is separately cooked and the rice cooking control is performed. 6B is a rice cooking temperature curve showing a temperature change of a normal inner pot, and FIG. 6C is a rice cooking temperature curve showing a temperature change of a firm inner pot.

In the soft rice cooker control, as shown in FIG. 6a, first, the rice cooker / heat-retaining heaters 6 and 9 are energized 4/14 to absorb water (water absorption step) at about 60 ° C. for 20 minutes. Judging rice cooking capacity, depending on the judged rice cooking capacity,
Cook at a temperature around 120 ° C. (up from 60 ° C. to 120 ° C.) (sum determination process: fuzzy heating). Then, the unevenness is applied for about 10 minutes at a temperature of around 110 ° C. (the uneven cooking step), and the water absorption time (20 minutes
30 minutes between the time period) and the time spent on the spot (about 10 minutes)
Cook the rice cooked softly until it reaches the rank .

Normally, rice cooking control is performed as shown in FIG. 6b.
First, the rice cooker / heat insulation heaters 6 and 9 are energized on 4/14,
Water absorption (water absorption step) is performed at around 60 ° C for 10 minutes, and then
Judging the rice cooking capacity, depending on the judged rice cooking capacity, 13
Cook at a temperature near 0 ° C. (up from 60 ° C. to 130 ° C.) (sum determination process: fuzzy heating). continue,
At about 110 ℃ for about 20 minutes unevenness (cooking finish unevenness process) is performed, water absorption time (10 minutes) like this
Addition time of Tomurashi time (about 20 minutes) to about 30 minutes
As usual, cook rice.

The firm rice cooking control is as shown in FIG. 6c.
First, the rice cooker / heat insulation heaters 6 and 9 are energized on 4/14,
Judging the rice cooking capacity, depending on the judged rice cooking capacity, 13
Cook at a temperature near 0 ° C. (up from 60 ° C. to 130 ° C.) (sum determination process: fuzzy heating). continue,
The unevenness (cooking completion unevenness process) is performed for about 30 minutes at a temperature of around 110 ° C., and the water absorption time (0 minutes) is reduced as described above.
Addition time of 30 minutes (about 30 minutes) becomes about 30 minutes
In this way cook rice. In the embodiment of the present invention,
As shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b, and 6c, each of a plurality of types
Even when cooking rice, adding the absorption time and the time required
By controlling the interval to be constant at 30 minutes,
Precise conversion of rice even when cooking multiple types of rice
You can surely cook the rice with the desired hardness.
When it comes to cooking and soft rice cooking,
Also, you can cook rice in the same fixed time as rice cooking.
Rice cooked regardless of whether it is firm or soft
Even when setting the timer and meal time, during normal rice cooking
It can be made in time and is convenient to use.

FIGS. 7a and 7b are flow charts showing an example of the control operation of the separate rice cooking control by the microcomputer control. 7a and 7b, 1
Hard cooked rice, 2 slightly cooked rice, 3 normal cooked rice,
4 is a slightly soft cooked rice, 5 is a soft cooked rice.

First, a description will be given with reference to FIG. 7a. Rice cooked
The 14/14 heaters 6 and 9 are energized (ON) (step 101), and it is determined whether the temperature of the bottom sensor 29 is 60 ° C. or higher (step 102). NO), the power failure confirmation processing is performed (step 10
3) and returns to step 101. If it is 60 ° C or higher (Y
ES), it is determined whether the setting of the cooked rice is cooked rice 1 (step 104A), and if it is cooked rice 1 (YES), the process of the cooked rice capacity determination (total number determination) step is performed, and if it is other than cooked rice 1 If (NO), the water absorption process is performed.

The process of this water absorption process is performed in step 104A.
In this case, it is to be performed when the setting of the cooked rice is other than the cooked rice 1. First, the setting of the cooked rice is set to the cooked rice 2.
Whether or not it is rice cooking 2 (NO), it is determined whether or not the rice is set separately for cooking rice 3 (step 104C), and if it is not rice cooking 3 (NO),
It is determined whether or not the cooked rice is set to the cooked rice 4 (step 104D). If the cooked rice is not cooked rice 4 (NO), the rice cooking process of the cooked rice 5 is performed.

In step 104B, if it is rice cooking 2 (YES), the timer is started (step 104B1), and 2/14 of the rice cooking / heat retaining heaters 6 and 9 is turned off (turned off: step 104B2). Next, it is determined whether the timer has passed 5 minutes (step 104B).
3) If 5 minutes have passed (YES), the rice cooking capacity determination (sum number determination) process is performed, and if 5 minutes have not passed (NO), whether the temperature is 60 ° C or lower is determined. It is determined (step 104B4), and if it is 60 ° C. or higher (N
O), and returns to step 104B2. If the temperature is 60 ° C. or lower (YES), electricity is supplied to the rice cooker / heat insulation heaters 6 and 9/14 (ON: step 104B5), and step 1
Return to 04B3. Step 104C, Step 10
In 4D, the settings for cooking rice are 3 and 3, respectively.
In the case of cooked rice 4 and cooked rice 5, similar processing is performed. However, in the step of determining whether the timer of step 104B3 has passed 5 minutes (step 104B3), it is determined whether the timer of rice cooking 3 has passed 10 minutes (step 104C3) and the timer of rice cooking 4 has 15 seconds. It is determined whether or not minutes have passed (step 104D3), and in the rice cooking 5, it is determined whether or not the timer has passed 20 minutes (step 104E3).

In the process of the sum decision process, the reference temperature of 13 is used.
It is determined whether the temperature is 0 ° C. or higher (step 105), and if the temperature is 130 ° C. or lower (NO), the process returns to step 105. If the temperature is 130 ° C. or higher (YES), the timer is started (step 106). The temperature is 110
It is determined whether or not the temperature is equal to or higher than ℃ (step 107), 11
If it is below 0 ℃ (NO), rice cooker / heat insulation heater 3/14
Energize (turn on: step 108) 110 ° C
If yes (YES), rice cooker / heat insulation heaters 6 and 9 2
/ 14 is turned off (turned off: step 109). Next, electricity is applied to 9/14 of the shoulder heater 8 (step 11).
0).

Next, it is judged whether or not the setting of the cooked rice is rice cooking 1 (step 111A), and if it is rice cooking 1 (YE
S), it is determined whether or not the timer has passed 30 minutes (step 112A), and if 30 minutes have passed (YES), the buzzer 22 notifies the end of the divided rice cooking (step 113),
Perform the heat retention process.

If it is determined in step 111A whether the cooked rice is set to cooked rice 1 or not, and the cooked rice is not set to cooked rice 1 (NO), first, whether the cooked rice is set to cooked rice 2 or not It is judged (step 111B) and the rice is cooked 2
If not (NO), it is determined whether or not the separately cooked rice is set to cooked rice 3 (step 111C), and if it is not cooked rice 3 (NO), it is determined whether or not the separately cooked rice is set to cooked rice 4 ( Step 111D), if not rice cooked 4 (NO),
The rice cooking process of the rice cooking 5 is performed.

Further, the steps 111B and 1
If the determinations of 11C and step 111D are that the rice is cooked separately, that is, cooked rice 2, cooked rice 3, and cooked rice 4 (YE
S) includes steps 112B and 112, respectively.
C, go to step 112D, and set each timer to 25
It is determined whether or not minutes, 20 minutes, and 15 minutes have passed, and if the predetermined time has passed (YES), the buzzer 22 notifies the end of the divided rice cooking (step 113), and the heat retention process is performed. . Similarly in step 112E, it is determined whether or not the timers have passed 10 minutes, respectively, and if 10 minutes have passed (YES), the buzzer 22 is notified of the end of the cooked rice (step 113), and the process of the heat retention step is performed. To do.

Further, the steps 112A and 1
If the predetermined times of 12B, step 112C, step 112D, and step 112E have not elapsed (NO), the process returns to step 107.

As can be seen from the above description, according to the present embodiment, one cooked rice is designated by selecting one of five stages of cooked rice: firm, slightly firm, normal, slightly soft and soft. water process in accordance with the designated cooking kinds setting switch, cook up step, steaming changing the cooking temperature and cooking time in each step of the process, and more
Addition time of water absorption time and unevenness time of each kind of rice cooking
Controlled so that each cooked rice has a certain fixed time
As a result, the rice is pregelatinized even in each cooked rice.
Since it is done in a warm manner , you can choose your favorite rice from firm, slightly warm, normal, slightly soft rice, soft rice cooked, and you can do it reliably and stably .
Even for cooked rice and soft rice, it is usually the same as cooked rice.
Because you can cook rice for a certain time,
Set rice meal timer and eat regardless of soft rice cooked
The time can be adjusted to the normal cooking time.
Is easy to use.

In addition, the water absorption process according to the type of rice specified by the separate rice-cooking rice setting switch, which specifies one rice from the five-step rice cooking of firm, slightly firm, normal, slightly soft, and soft , The rice cooking temperature and the rice cooking time in each process of the cooking process and the Murashi process are changed ,
In addition, the water absorption time and the unevenness time of each kind of rice
The added time will be a fixed time even for each rice cooked
In this way, rice is pregelatinized sufficiently by controlling in this way, and each rice cooking condition of 5 stages of firmness, a little warmness, normal, a little softness, and softness is displayed stepwise. It is possible to surely and stably cook the desired rice, and it is possible to confirm the rice condition setting for the favorite rice.

Further, the rice-cooking condition display means is pressed each time the rice-cooking rice-cooking setting switch is pressed.
Since the cooking degree display of firm, normal, and soft rice is changed step by step, you can select each of the five cooking conditions: firm, slightly hard, normal, slightly soft, and soft rice. The rice cooking conditions can be easily set and the set favorite rice cooking conditions can be confirmed.

The rice cooker condition display means in the rice cooker is visually displayed by reducing the illuminance area as the degree of firmness is higher, so that the user can easily confirm the desired rice cooker condition.

In the above-mentioned rice cooking condition display means, since the cooking degree display is indicated by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
It is possible to simplify the configuration of the display mechanism and make it easier to confirm the desired rice cooking conditions.

In addition, porridge cooking can be incorporated in the menu for separate cooking. Needless to say, the menu for differently cooked rice is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various combinations may be made as necessary.

Although the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. .

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the absorption time and the unevenness of even a plurality of types of cooked rice can be obtained.
Control the time addition time to be a certain fixed time
Since rice is gelatinized , (1) soft, normal,
Select cooking preference from among a plurality of types of cooking stiffer cooking, you can do it reliably and stably, at the same
Usually, even when cooked with soft and soft rice
Because you can cook rice in the same fixed time as cooking rice,
Whether the rice is cooked or soft rice cooked
Even when setting and eating time, adjust to normal rice cooking time.
It can be used and is easy to use.

(2) It is possible to reliably and stably select the desired cooked rice, and to confirm the cooked rice condition setting of the selected preferred cooked rice.

(3) It is possible to easily set one of the desired rice cooking conditions by selecting one of the five rice cooking conditions of warm, slightly warm, normal, slightly soft and soft. At the same time, it is possible to confirm the selected preferred rice cooking conditions.

(4) In the rice-cooking condition display means in the rice-cooking jar, the higher the degree of firmness, the smaller the illuminance area is displayed and the image is visually displayed, so that the desired rice-cooking condition can be more easily confirmed.

(5) The rice cooking condition display means displays the degree of cooking classification with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 so that the structure of the display mechanism is simplified and the desired rice cooking conditions are further confirmed. It can be made easier.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2a is a front view showing a panel surface of the function selection operation unit, FIG.

FIG. 2b is a front view showing the panel surface of the separately cooked rice control display,

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a control unit using a microcomputer,

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of the overall control flow of the microcomputer,

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a rice cooking temperature curve showing a temperature change of an inner pot when a normal rice cooking process is controlled by a microcomputer.

[Fig. 6a] Rice-cooking temperature curve showing the temperature change of the inner pot of the soft-boiled cooked rice when the cooked rice is controlled separately.

FIG. 6b is a rice cooking temperature curve showing the temperature change of the inner pot of ordinary rice when the rice is separately cooked and controlled.

[Fig. 6c] Rice-cooking temperature curve showing the temperature change of the inner pot of the cooked rice when the cooking control is performed separately.

FIG. 7a is a flow chart showing an example of a control operation of a rice-sorting and rice-cooking control by a microcomputer control,

FIG. 7b is a flowchart showing an example of a control operation of rice cooking control according to the microcomputer control.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Rice cooker main body, 2 ... Lid part, 3 ... Main body part, 4 ... Inner pot, 4
a ... pot lid, 5 ... inner pot storage container, 6 ... rice cooking heater, 7 ... shoulder ring, 8 ... shoulder heater, 9 ... heater heater, 10 ... control unit, 11 ... function display selection operation unit, 12 ... character display , 13 ... Operation key switch, 13a ... Hour key switch, 13b ... Minute key switch, 13c ... Reserved key switch, 13d ... Menu key switch, 13e ... Start key switch, 13f ... Cancel / heat retention key switch, 13g
... White rice cooking selection key switch, 13h ... Clock set key switch, 14 ... Status display section, 15 ... Commercial AC power supply, 16 ... Thermal fuse, 17 ... Relay, 18, 19
a, 19b ... Triac, 20 ... Microcomputer, 21 ... Clock mechanism, 22 ... Buzzer, 25 ... Temperature sensor (lid sensor), 29 ... Temperature sensor (bottom sensor).

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A rice cooker that determines a rice cooking capacity and sequentially controls a rice cooking process including a cooking process and a boiling maintaining process according to the determined rice cooking capacity, and in a rice cooker that cooks rice, a plurality of soft-meat, normal, and hard rice are prepared. Rice cooking setting switch for designating one rice out of rice cooking types, and rice cooking temperature in each step of the water absorption process, the cooking process, and the mulling process according to the rice type specified by the rice cooking setting switch And means for changing the rice cooking time, and the plurality of
Addition time of water absorption time and unevenness time when cooking rice of each type
Is controlled so that each rice cooks for a certain fixed time.
A rice cooker characterized by having means for controlling . 2. A rice cooker that determines a rice cooking capacity and sequentially controls a rice cooking process including a cooking process and a boiling maintaining process according to the determined rice cooking capacity, and a plurality of soft, normal and hard rice cookers are used for cooking rice. Rice cooking setting switch for designating one rice out of rice cooking types, and rice cooking temperature in each step of the water absorption process, the cooking process, and the mulling process according to the rice type specified by the rice cooking setting switch And means for changing the rice cooking time, and the plurality of
Addition time of water absorption time and unevenness time when cooking rice of each type
Is controlled so that each rice cooks for a certain fixed time.
Gosuru means and, rice cooker, characterized in that it comprises a cooking condition display means for stepwise display the cooking divided plural kinds of cooking such as for the softer, somewhat softer, usually, little or & stiffer. 3. The rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein the rice-cooking condition display means is soft / slightly soft / normal / slightly hardened each time the rice-separating-rice-setting switch is pressed. A rice cooker characterized by being configured to gradually shift the display of the degree of separate cooking. 4. The rice cooker according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the rice-cooking condition display means is configured such that the higher the degree of firmness is, the smaller the illuminance area is to be displayed visually. Rice cooker to be. 5. The rice cooker according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the rice-cooking condition display means is configured to display the cooking grade display by numbers.