Control method of electric cooker

Abstract

The invention relates to a control method of an electric cooker. The control method comprises the steps that information of the number N of diners is obtained; the rice washing cavity is disconnected from the pot body, the rice adding part is driven to move to a first state, and in the first state, a first rice adding cavity of the rice adding part is communicated with the rice storage box and disconnected from the rice washing cavity; the driving device drives rice in the rice storage box to enter the first rice adding cavity until the first rice adding cavity is filled; the rice adding part is driven to move to a second state, in the second state, the first rice adding cavity is communicated with the rice washing cavity and disconnected from the rice storage box, and rice in the first rice adding cavity falls into the rice washing cavity; starting a rice washing device to wash rice; the rice washing cavity is communicated with the pot body, so that rice in the rice washing cavity falls into the pot body; repeating for N times; and starting the heating piece to heat the pot body. The capacity of the first rice adding cavity is fixed, and the electric cooker can accurately control the rice cooking amount after obtaining the information of the diner number N selected by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of cooking appliances, in particular to a control method for an electric rice cooker. Background Art

[0002] In existing electric rice cookers, users need to measure and wash the rice in advance and add it to the pot before cooking. The operation process is relatively cumbersome and time-consuming.

[0003] Although some smart rice cookers can automatically drop rice, wash rice, and cook rice, they usually use gravity to drop rice, which has low rice dropping accuracy. This may result in too much or too little rice being cooked, and may also affect the cooking effect. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a control method for an electric rice cooker to address the above problems, which enables the electric rice cooker to automatically drop rice, wash rice, and cook rice, and can ensure the accuracy of rice dropping.

[0005] The present invention provides a method for controlling an electric rice cooker, comprising the steps of:

[0006] (a) Obtain information about the number of people N dining together;

[0007] (b) disconnecting the rice washing cavity from the pot body, and driving the rice adding member to move to a first state, in which the first rice adding cavity of the rice adding member is communicated with the rice storage box and disconnected from the rice washing cavity;

[0008] (c) a driving device drives the rice in the rice storage box into the first rice adding chamber until the first rice adding chamber is filled;

[0009] (d) driving the rice adding member to move to a second state, wherein the first rice adding chamber is connected to the rice washing chamber and disconnected from the rice storage box, and the rice in the first rice adding chamber falls into the rice washing chamber;

[0010] (e) starting the rice washing device to clean rice;

[0011] (f) connecting the rice washing cavity to the pot body so that the rice in the rice washing cavity falls into the pot body;

[0012] (g) repeating steps (b) to (f) N times;

[0013] (h) starting the heating element to heat the pot body.

[0014] In the control method of the above-mentioned electric rice cooker, since the capacity of the first rice adding chamber is fixed, i.e., the amount of rice for one person, when steps (b) to (f) are cycled once, the amount of rice in the pot body is the amount of rice for one person. Therefore, the electric rice cooker can control the number of cycles of the above-mentioned steps after obtaining information about the number of diners N selected by the user, so as to accurately control the amount of rice to be cooked, thereby ensuring the rice dropping accuracy of the electric rice cooker and improving the cooking effect. In addition, through this control method, the electric rice cooker can automatically perform steps such as rice dropping, rice washing, and cooking, eliminating the need for the user to manually measure and wash the rice before cooking, thereby simplifying the operating steps and saving time.

[0015] In one embodiment, in the first state, the first heating chamber of the heating element is connected to the fan;

[0016] In step (c), the method further comprises the steps of:

[0017] Start the blower and form a negative pressure in the first rice-adding chamber to suck the rice in the rice storage box until the first rice-adding chamber is filled.

[0018] With such arrangement, the fan has a simple structure and high working efficiency.

[0019] In one embodiment, in the second state, the first heating chamber is disconnected from the fan;

[0020] In step (e), the method further comprises the steps of:

[0021] (e1) opening the clean water tank and adding clean water into the rice washing cavity;

[0022] (e2) starting the stirring member to rotate relative to the rice washing cavity;

[0023] (e3) Open the rice washing chamber to discharge sewage into the sewage tank.

[0024] With this arrangement, rice and water can be rotated and cleaned in the rice washing chamber, thereby improving the cleaning effect.

[0025] In one embodiment, steps (e1) to (e3) are repeated multiple times.

[0026] This arrangement ensures that the rice in the rice washing cavity is cleaned.

[0027] In one embodiment, after step (a), the method further comprises the following steps:

[0028] The second detection component determines whether the water level in the clean water tank reaches a first preset height H1, and if so, proceeds to step (b), and if not, reminds the user to add water; and / or,

[0029] After step (a), the method further comprises the steps of:

[0030] The third detection component determines whether the water level in the sewage tank reaches a second preset height H2, and if so, proceeds to step (b), and if not, reminds the user to pour water; and / or,

[0031] In step (e1), the method further comprises the steps of:

[0032] Open the clean water tank and add clean water into the rice washing cavity until the water level detection component detects that the water level in the rice washing cavity reaches a third preset height H3.

[0033] Such setting can remind the user to add water or pour water in time to ensure the normal cooking of the rice cooker.

[0034] In one embodiment, in the second state, the first heating chamber is connected to the fan;

[0035] In step (e), the method further comprises the steps of:

[0036] (e4) starting the blower and forming a cyclone in the first rice adding chamber and the rice washing chamber.

[0037] With such an arrangement, a cyclone rice washing method is adopted, so that some larger impurities in the rice can be removed, and the water-soluble nutrients in the rice will not be lost, thereby being able to cook clean and nutritious rice.

[0038] In one embodiment, after step (g), the method further comprises the following steps:

[0039] (i) disconnecting the rice washing cavity from the pot body, and driving the rice adding member to move to a third state, wherein the second rice adding cavity of the rice adding member is communicated with the auxiliary material box and disconnected from the rice washing cavity;

[0040] (j) a driving device drives the auxiliary material in the auxiliary material box into the second rice adding chamber until the second rice adding chamber is filled;

[0041] (k) driving the rice adding member to move to a fourth state, wherein the second rice adding chamber is communicated with the rice washing chamber and disconnected from the auxiliary material box, and the auxiliary material in the second rice adding chamber falls into the rice washing chamber;

[0042] (1) start rice washing device to clean auxiliary material;

[0043] (m) communicating the rice washing cavity with the pot body so that the auxiliary material in the rice washing cavity falls into the pot body;

[0044] (n) Repeat steps (i) to (m) N times.

[0045] With this setting, brown rice, whole grains and other auxiliary ingredients can be added and cooked together with rice during the cooking process, and the amount of auxiliary ingredients added can be accurately controlled to control the ratio of the amount of auxiliary ingredients to the amount of rice, thereby improving the cooking effect.

[0046] In one embodiment, after step (a), the method further comprises the following steps:

[0047] The first detection component determines whether the amount of rice in the rice storage box reaches a first preset amount V1, and if so, proceeds to step (b), and if not, prompts the user to add rice; and / or,

[0048] After step (g), the method further comprises the steps of:

[0049] The fourth detection component determines whether the amount of auxiliary material in the auxiliary material box reaches the second preset amount V2. If so, the process proceeds to step (i); otherwise, the user is prompted to add auxiliary material.

[0050] This setting can remind users to add rice or auxiliary materials in time to ensure normal cooking of the rice cooker.

[0051] In one embodiment, the driving device drives the rice adding member to rotate or move relative to the rice washing cavity to switch between the first state and the second state.

[0052] With such arrangement, the movement of the rice adding piece is simple and easy to control, and does not take up too much space inside the rice cooker.

[0053] In one embodiment, before step (h), the method further comprises the following steps:

[0054] (o) Open the clean water tank and add clean water into the pot body.

[0055] With this arrangement, when the amount of rice in the pot meets the user's needs, the rice cooker can open the water tank to add an appropriate amount of water to the pot, and the user does not need to add water manually. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the conventional technology, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the conventional technology descriptions. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0057] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an electric rice cooker in a first state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an electric rice cooker in a second state;

[0059] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of the electric rice cooker in a third state;

[0060] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of the electric rice cooker in a fourth state;

[0061] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an opening and closing assembly in an electric rice cooker in an open state;

[0062] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the electric rice cooker in which the base extends out of the accommodating cavity;

[0063] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the rice cooker from another angle;

[0064] Figure 8 1 is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an electric rice cooker in a first state according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an electric rice cooker in a second state;

[0066] Figure 10 The process of the control method of the electric rice cooker of one embodiment of the present invention is as follows Figure 1 ;

[0067] Figure 11 The process of the control method of the electric rice cooker of one embodiment of the present invention is as follows Figure 2 ;

[0068] Figure 12 The process of the control method of the electric rice cooker of one embodiment of the present invention is as follows Figure 3 .

[0069] Reference numerals: 1, main body; 11, shell; 111, accommodating cavity; 112, opening; 12, base; 13, pot cover; 131, cover body; 132, inner cover; 133, sealing ring; 14, slide rail; 2, cooking device; 21, pot body; 22, heating element; 23, temperature measuring element; 24, exhaust pipe; 3, rice washing device; 31, rice washing cavity; 311, first inlet; 312, first outlet; 313, inlet Air port; 32, opening and closing assembly; 321, sealing member; 3211, sealing surface; 3212, pushing portion; 322, push rod; 3221, inclined surface; 323, first driving member; 33, clean water tank; 331, second detection member; 34, sewage tank; 341, third detection member; 35, water inlet pipe; 351, first water inlet section; 352, second water inlet section; 36, water outlet pipe; 361, first water outlet section; 362 , second water outlet section; 37, stirring assembly; 371, stirring member; 372, second driving member; 38, water level detection member; 4, rice adding device; 41, rice storage box; 411, first detection member; 42, rice outlet pipe; 43, rice adding member; 431, first rice adding chamber; 432, second inlet; 433, second outlet; 434, first air extraction port; 435, second rice adding chamber; 436, fourth inlet; 437, fourth Outlet; 438, second air exhaust port; 44, movable cavity; 441, third inlet; 442, third outlet; 443, air vent; 45, third driving member; 46, auxiliary material box; 461, fourth detection member; 5, driving device; 51, fan; 52, exhaust pipe; 53, dust collection box; 531, filter element; 6, power supply device; 61, power board; 62, coupler; 621, male end; 622, female end. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0071] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another component, it may be directly on the other component or there may be a central component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it may be directly connected to the other component or there may be a central component at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in the specification of this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation method.

[0072] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0073] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it can mean that the first feature is directly in contact with the second feature, or the first feature and the second feature are indirectly in contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0074] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the specification of this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used in the specification of this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items.

[0075] With existing rice cookers, users must measure, wash, and add rice to the pot before cooking, a cumbersome and time-consuming process. While some smart rice cookers can automatically add rice, wash, and cook, they typically use gravity to drop the rice, which has low accuracy and can result in overcooking or undercooking. Furthermore, whether adding rice manually or automatically, the rice-to-water ratio is affected by this accuracy, which can also affect cooking results.

[0076] In order to solve the above problems, Figures 1 to 12 As shown, the present invention provides a control method for an electric rice cooker, which enables the electric rice cooker to automatically drop rice, wash rice, and cook rice, and can ensure the accuracy of rice dropping.

[0077] like Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 7As shown, the electric rice cooker includes a main body 1, a cooking device 2, a rice washing device 3, a rice adding device 4 and a driving device 5, wherein: the cooking device 2 is arranged in the main body 1, and includes a pot body 21 and a heating element 22 for heating the pot body 21; the rice washing device 3 is arranged in the main body 1, and includes a rice washing cavity 31 located above the pot body 21 and a clean water tank 33 communicated with the pot body 21, the top wall of the rice washing cavity 31 is provided with a first inlet 311, and the bottom wall of the rice washing cavity 31 is provided with a first outlet 312 capable of communicating with the pot body 21; the rice adding device 4 is arranged in the main body 1, and includes a rice storage box 41 and a rice adding member 43, and the rice adding member 43 is arranged on the upper side of the rice washing cavity 31 The rice adding component 43 is provided with a first rice adding chamber 431 and a second inlet 432 and a second outlet 433 connected to the first rice adding chamber 431; the rice adding component 43 has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second inlet 432 is connected to the rice storage box 41, and the second outlet 433 is disconnected from the first inlet 311. In the second state, the second inlet 432 is disconnected from the rice storage box 41, and the second outlet 433 is connected to the first inlet 311; the driving device 5 is arranged in the main body 1. In the first state, the driving device 5 can drive the rice in the rice storage box 41 into the first rice adding chamber 431 through the second inlet 432.

[0078] like Figure 10 As shown, the control method of the electric rice cooker comprises the steps of:

[0079] S100. Get information about the number of people dining N;

[0080] S200. According to the number of people N dining, rice falling, washing rice;

[0081] S400. Open the water tank 33 and add water to the pot 21;

[0082] S500 . Start the heating element 22 to heat the pot body 21 .

[0083] Wherein, N is a positive integer.

[0084] like Figure 11 As shown, specifically, step S200 includes the following steps:

[0085] S210. The rice washing cavity 31 is disconnected from the pot 21, and the rice member 43 is driven to move to a first state. In the first state, the first rice chamber 431 of the rice member 43 is connected to the rice storage box 41 and is disconnected from the rice washing cavity 31;

[0086] S220. The driving device 5 drives the rice storage box 41 into the first rice chamber 431, until the first rice chamber 431 is filled;

[0087] S230 drive plus rice member 43 moves to the second state, in the second state, the first plus rice chamber 431 communicates with the rice washing chamber 31, disconnected from the rice storage box 41, the first plus rice chamber 431 of rice falls into the rice washing chamber 31;

[0088] S240. Start the rice washing device 3 to wash the rice;

[0089] S250. The rice washing cavity 31 is connected to the pot body 21 so that the rice in the rice washing cavity 31 falls into the pot body 21;

[0090] S260. Repeat steps S210 to S250 N times.

[0091] Before cooking, the user can input the number of people N, the softness of the rice and other cooking requirements to the rice cooker according to actual needs. When the rice cooker starts working, it first obtains the information of the number of people N, and drives the rice adding member 43 to move to the position as shown in the figure. Figure 1 In the first state shown, the second inlet 432 is communicated with the rice storage box 41, and then the driving device 5 drives the rice in the rice storage box 41 to enter the first rice adding chamber 431 through the second inlet 432; After the rice fills the first rice adding chamber 431, the driving device 5 rotates the rice adding member 43 to the position as shown in FIG. Figure 2 In the second state shown, the second outlet 433 is connected to the first inlet 311, allowing the rice in the first rice adding chamber 431 to fall into the rice washing chamber 31 under the action of gravity through the second outlet 433 and the first inlet 311. The rice washing device 3 is then activated to wash the rice in the rice washing chamber 31. After washing, the first outlet 312 of the rice washing chamber 31 is connected to the pot body 21, allowing the rice in the rice washing chamber 31 to fall into the pot body 21 under the action of gravity through the first outlet 312. Because the capacity of the first rice adding chamber 431 is fixed, the rice cooker can control the number of cycles of the above steps after obtaining information about the number of diners N selected by the user to accurately control the amount of rice to be cooked, thereby ensuring the accuracy of rice drop and improving the cooking effect. When the amount of rice in the pot 21 meets the user's requirements, the rice cooker can control the water tank 33 to add an appropriate amount of water to the pot 21 based on the amount of rice and the user's selected cooking requirements, such as the softness or firmness of the rice. Finally, the heating element 22 is activated to heat the pot 21 and start cooking. In this way, through this control method, the rice cooker can automatically complete the steps of adding rice, washing rice, and cooking, eliminating the need for the user to manually measure and wash rice before cooking, thereby simplifying the operation steps, saving time, and improving the user experience.

[0092] The capacity of the first rice adding chamber 431 is set to the amount of rice for one serving. After one cycle of steps S210 to S250, the amount of rice in the pot 21 is equal to one serving. Therefore, if the number of people dining is N, steps S210 to S250 need to be repeated N times. N can be a larger positive integer such as 1, 2, 3, 4, or the like. In actual use, if the user's appetite is small or large, the input value can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0093] Of course, in other embodiments, the user can also manually add water to the pot body 21 according to his or her own needs. In this case, step S400 can be omitted and step S500 can be directly entered from step S200.

[0094] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the rice adding device 4 also includes a movable cavity 44. The top wall of the movable cavity 44 is provided with a third inlet 441 connected to the rice storage box 41. The bottom wall of the movable cavity 44 is provided with a third outlet 442 connected to the first inlet 311. The rice adding member 43 is disposed in the movable cavity 44 and is movable relative to the movable cavity 44. In a first state, the second inlet 432 is connected to the third inlet 441, and the second outlet 433 is sealed by the bottom wall of the movable cavity 44. In a second state, the second outlet 433 is connected to the third outlet 442. The movable cavity 44 can limit the range of movement of the rice adding member 43. Moreover, in the first state, the third inlet 441 of the movable cavity 44 can connect the rice storage box 41 with the second inlet 432 of the first rice adding chamber 431, and the bottom wall of the movable cavity 44 disconnects the second outlet 433 from the rice washing chamber 31, so that the rice entering the first rice adding chamber 431 from the rice storage box 41 can remain in the first rice adding chamber 431, preventing the rice from falling into the rice washing chamber 31. At the same time, in the second state, the third outlet 442 of the movable cavity 44 can connect the second outlet 433 of the first rice adding chamber 431 with the first inlet 311 of the rice washing chamber 31, so that the rice in the first rice adding chamber 431 can fall into the rice washing chamber 31, and the top wall of the movable cavity 44 disconnects the second inlet 432 of the first rice adding chamber 431 from the rice storage box 41, preventing the rice in the rice storage box 41 from continuing to enter the first rice adding chamber 431. In this way, the switch element for controlling the opening and closing of the second inlet 432, the second outlet 433 and the first inlet 311 can be omitted, thereby reducing the number of parts and facilitating production and processing.

[0095] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the driving device 5 includes a fan 51, and the adding member 43 is further provided with a first air exhaust port 434 connected to the first adding chamber 431. In the first state, the first air exhaust port 434 is connected to the air inlet of the fan 51, and the air outlet of the fan 51 is connected to the outside.

[0096] Specifically, in step S220, the step of starting the fan 51 and forming a negative pressure in the first rice adding chamber 431 to suck the rice in the rice storage box 41 until the first rice adding chamber 431 is filled is also included.

[0097] In one embodiment, when the first rice-adding chamber 431 is filled, the rice in the rice storage box 41 cannot be further sucked into the first rice-adding chamber 431, and the fan 51 is blocked, causing an abnormal change in the current. Therefore, when the current passing through the fan 51 changes abnormally, it can be determined that the first rice-adding chamber 431 is filled, and the fan 51 is turned off. In another embodiment, the time required for the first rice-adding chamber 431 to be filled can be recorded through multiple experiments based on the operating power of the fan 51, and the operating time of the corresponding fan 51 can be set according to the experimental results to ensure that the first rice-adding chamber 431 can be filled.

[0098] Wherein, the first air extraction port 434 is set to a grid structure to ensure that only fine impurities such as air and dust can pass through the first air extraction port 434, while rice cannot pass through the first air extraction port 434. In the first state, when the blower fan 51 is working, the air in the first rice-adding chamber 431 is first sucked away through the first air extraction port 434, so that a negative pressure is formed in the first rice-adding chamber 431, thereby forming a larger suction force to the rice in the rice storage box 41, so that the rice in the rice storage box 41 is sucked into the first rice-adding chamber 431. The structure of the blower fan 51 is simple, convenient for production and assembly, and has high work efficiency. Of course, the driving device 5 can also include other elements such as an air pump that can produce suction force to the rice in the first rice-adding chamber 431 and the rice storage box 41, and the embodiments of the present invention are not specifically limited here.

[0099] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the drive device 5 also includes an exhaust pipe 52 and a dust box 53. The two ends of the dust box 53 are connected to the air inlet of the fan 51 and the exhaust pipe 52, respectively. The end of the exhaust pipe 52 away from the dust box 53 is connected to the third inlet 441 of the movable chamber 44. In the first state, the air inlet of the fan 51 is connected to the first rice adding chamber 431 through the dust box 53, the exhaust pipe 52, the third inlet 441, and the first exhaust port 434. A filter 531 is provided within the dust box 53 to prevent impurities such as dust from rice or the first rice adding chamber 431 from entering the fan 51, thereby preventing a decrease in the air volume of the fan 51 and polluting the external ambient air.

[0100] The filter 531 can be a sponge, a Hepa, or other filtering element. Furthermore, the dust box 53 is detachably connected to the main body 1, and the filter 531 is also detachably connected to the dust box 53. Users can remove the dust box 53 and empty the dust inside, or remove the filter 531 to clean or replace it with a new one, thereby improving the filtering effect.

[0101] like Figure 1 and Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment, the rice washing device 3 further includes a sewage tank 34, a water inlet pipe 35, and a water outlet pipe 36. The two ends of the water inlet pipe 35 are respectively connected to the clean water tank 33 and the rice washing chamber 31, and the two ends of the water outlet pipe 36 are respectively connected to the sewage tank 34 and an end of the rice washing chamber 31 near the first outlet 312. In addition, in the second state, the first rice adding chamber 431 is disconnected from the fan 51.

[0102] like Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the rice washing device 3 also includes a stirring assembly 37, which includes a stirring member 371 disposed in the rice washing chamber 31 and capable of rotating relative to the rice washing chamber 31, and a second driving member 372 for driving the stirring member 371. The stirring member 371 allows the rice and water to rotate and wash in the rice washing chamber 31, thereby improving the washing effect. The second driving member 372 can be configured as a motor, a worm gear, a gear rack, or other element capable of driving the stirring member 371 to rotate relative to the rice washing chamber 31, and the present invention is not specifically limited thereto.

[0103] Specifically, in step S240, the following steps are also included:

[0104] S241. Open the water tank 33 and add water to the rice washing cavity 31;

[0105] S242 starts the stirring member 371 to rotate relative to the rice washing chamber 31;

[0106] S243. Open the rice washing chamber 31 and discharge the sewage into the sewage tank 34.

[0107] S244. Repeat steps S241 to S243 multiple times.

[0108] When the rice washing device 3 washes rice, the first outlet 312 is closed, and the clean water tank 33 is opened so that the water in the clean water tank 33 enters the rice washing chamber 31 through the water inlet pipe 35. After washing the rice, the rice washing chamber 31 is opened so that the sewage in the rice washing chamber 31 flows into the sewage tank 34 through the outlet pipe 36, and the rice remains in the rice washing chamber 31. The outlet pipe 36 is connected to the end of the rice washing chamber 31 near the first outlet 312 to ensure that the sewage in the rice washing chamber 31 is completely discharged. After drainage is completed, the first outlet 312 is opened, and the rice in the rice washing chamber 31 falls into the pot body 21. The rice washing time and number of times required to clean the rice in the rice washing chamber 31 can be recorded through multiple experiments, and the rice washing time and number of times of washing can be set according to the experimental results. Of course, the user can also manually input the required washing time and number of times according to actual needs to ensure that the rice in the rice washing chamber 31 is clean. At this time, when the amount of rice in the pot body 21 meets the user's needs, open the clean water tank 33 to add clean water into the pot body 21. Specifically, the water in the clean water tank 33 can flow into the pot body 21 through the water inlet pipe 35, the rice washing cavity 31 and the first outlet 312 in sequence, or the water inlet pipe 35 can be directly connected to the pot body 21, so that the water in the clean water tank 33 flows directly into the pot body 21 through the water inlet pipe 35. When the amount of water in the pot body 21 meets the needs, the clean water tank 33 and the first outlet 312 are both closed, and cooking begins.

[0109] Among them, the clean water tank 33 and the sewage tank 34 are arranged side by side with the cooking device 2 and do not need to be set above the rice washing cavity 31, thereby reducing the overall height of the rice cooker and avoiding the overall volume of the rice cooker being too large, resulting in too much space occupied and difficult to store.

[0110] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the top wall of the movable cavity 44 is further provided with an air vent 443. In the second state, the second inlet 432 or the first air outlet 434 of the rice adding member 43 is connected to the air vent 443. When the rice washing device 3 is adding water, the rice adding member 43 is controlled to rotate to the second state, the first inlet 311 of the rice washing chamber 31 is opened, and the first rice adding chamber 431 and the second inlet 432 or the first air outlet 434 are connected to the air vent 443, thereby preventing the generation of negative pressure in the rice washing chamber 31 and ensuring that the water in the clean water tank 33 can enter the rice washing chamber 31 through the water inlet pipe 35. When the rice washing device 3 is washing rice, the rice adding member 43 is controlled to rotate to the first state, and the first inlet 311 of the rice washing chamber 31 is closed. After the rice washing is completed, the rice adding component 43 is controlled to rotate to the second state again, the first inlet 311 of the rice washing chamber 31 is opened, and is connected with the air vent 443 through the first rice adding chamber 431 and the second inlet 432 or the first air exhaust port 434, ensuring that the sewage in the rice washing chamber 31 can be discharged from the outlet pipe 36 to the sewage tank 34, and the rice can fall into the pot body 21 from the first outlet 312.

[0111] like Figure 7 As shown, a second detection element 331 is provided in the clean water tank 33, and a third detection element 341 is provided in the dirty water tank 34. The second detection element 331 is used to detect the water level in the clean water tank 33. If the water level is insufficient, the display screen prompts the user to add water to the clean water tank 33. The third detection element 341 is used to detect the water level in the dirty water tank 34. If the water level is excessive, the display screen prompts the user to empty the dirty water in the dirty water tank 34. The second and third detection elements 331 and 341 are preferably radar probes that determine the water level by detecting the distance between the water surface and the radar probe.

[0112] like Figure 10 As shown, specifically, after step S100, the method further includes the following steps:

[0113] The second detection component 331 determines whether the water level in the clean water tank 33 reaches the first preset height H1. If so, the process proceeds to step S200. Otherwise, the user is reminded to add water.

[0114] The third detection component 341 determines whether the water level in the sewage tank 34 reaches the second preset height H2. If so, the process goes to step S200. If not, the process reminds the user to pour water.

[0115] The second detection element 331 and the third detection element 341 can be controlled to start working after step S100 to promptly remind the user to add water when the water level in the clean water tank 33 is insufficient, or to promptly remind the user to pour water when the water level in the sewage tank 34 is excessive, so as to avoid affecting the normal cooking of the rice cooker. When the water levels in the clean water tank 33 and the sewage tank 34 both meet the requirements, the process proceeds to step S200. In these two steps, the second detection element 331 and the third detection element 341 can operate simultaneously, or either one can operate first. When the detection results of both steps are positive, the process proceeds to step S200.

[0116] Of course, when the electric cooker is not provided with a clean water tank 33, for example, when the water inlet pipe 35 is directly connected to an external water source, or when the electric cooker is not provided with a sewage tank 34, for example, when the water outlet pipe 36 is directly connected to an external drain, the above steps can also be omitted and step S200 can be directly entered from step S100.

[0117] like Figure 1As shown, the rice washing device 3 further includes a water level detector 38 disposed within the rice washing chamber 31. The water level detector 38 is used to detect the amount of water within the rice washing chamber 31. When the rice washing device 3 is washing rice, the clean water tank 33 is opened, allowing water within the clean water tank 33 to enter the rice washing chamber 31 through the water inlet pipe 35 until the water level detector 38 detects that the water level within the rice washing chamber 31 has reached a third preset height H3. This prevents excessive or insufficient water within the rice washing chamber 31 from affecting the washing effect. The water level detector 38 is preferably a water level electrode. When the water within the rice washing chamber 31 contacts the water level electrode, it is determined that the preset water level has been reached, resulting in accurate detection results. The water level detector 38 can also be a radar probe, which determines the amount of water within the rice washing chamber 31 by detecting the distance between the water surface and the radar probe.

[0118] Specifically, in step S241, the following steps are also included:

[0119] Open the clean water tank 33 and add clean water into the rice washing cavity 31 until the water level detection component 38 detects that the water level in the rice washing cavity 31 reaches the third preset height H3.

[0120] like Figures 8 and 9 As shown, in another embodiment, the rice washing chamber 31 is further provided with an air inlet 313 communicating with the outside. Moreover, in the second state, the first rice adding chamber 431 is communicated with the fan 51.

[0121] At this time, in step S240, the following steps are further included:

[0122] S244. Start the fan 51 and form a cyclone in the first rice adding chamber 431 and the rice washing chamber 31.

[0123] When the second outlet 433 of the rice adding member 43 is connected to the first inlet 311 of the rice washing chamber 31, the rice in the first rice adding chamber 431 can enter the rice washing chamber 31. Furthermore, when the driving device 5 is in operation, outside air can circulate through the air inlet 313 of the rice washing chamber 31, the rice washing chamber 31, the first rice adding chamber 431, the first air extraction port 434, and the driving device 5, thereby forming a cyclone within the rice washing chamber 31 and the first rice adding chamber 431. The rice in the rice washing chamber 31 and the first rice adding chamber 431 is driven by the cyclone, and dust and other impurities in the rice are discharged from the first rice adding chamber 431 through the first air extraction port 434. However, the rice cannot pass through the first air extraction port 434 and remains within the rice washing chamber 31 and the first rice adding chamber 431. Furthermore, by implementing the two steps of rice dropping and rice washing with a single driving device 5, the number of parts can be reduced, thereby avoiding increasing the overall volume of the electric rice cooker. At the same time, the cyclone rice washing method is used to remove some larger impurities in the rice, and the water-soluble nutrients in the rice will not be lost, so that clean and nutritious rice can be cooked.

[0124] like Figures 1 to 2As shown, in one embodiment, the rice adding device 4 further includes a third driving member 45, which is used to drive the rice adding member 43 to rotate relative to the rice washing chamber 31 within the movable chamber 44 to switch between the first state and the second state. The movement of the rice adding member 43 is simple and easy to control, and does not occupy excessive space within the rice cooker. The third driving member 45 can be configured as a motor, a worm gear, a gear rack, or other components, and the present invention is not specifically limited thereto.

[0125] like Figures 8 and 9 As shown, in another embodiment, the third driving member 45 is used to drive the rice adding member 43 to move relative to the rice washing chamber 31 within the movable chamber 44 to switch between the first state and the second state. Since the rice adding member 43 moves relative to the rice washing chamber 31, the orientation of the first air extraction port 434 can remain unchanged. Therefore, when the first rice adding chamber 431 is connected to the fan 51 in the second state, it is possible to facilitate the connection of the first air extraction port 434 with the driving device 5. The third driving member 45 can be configured as an electric push rod, a gear rack, or other components, and the present invention does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0126] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the rice washing device 3 further includes an opening and closing assembly 32, which is used to control the opening and closing of the first outlet 312. When the rice in the first rice adding chamber 431 enters the rice washing chamber 31, and when the rice washing device 3 is washing rice, the opening and closing assembly 32 controls the first outlet 312 to close, ensuring that the rice in the rice washing chamber 31 does not fall into the pot body 21. After washing is completed, the opening and closing assembly 32 controls the first outlet 312 to open, and the rice in the rice washing chamber 31 falls into the pot body 21.

[0127] like Figure 5 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the opening and closing assembly 32 includes a sealing member 321, a push rod 322 and a first driving member 323. The first driving member 323 can drive the push rod 322 to extend or retract relative to the rice washing chamber 31, so as to drive the sealing member 321 to descend or ascend relative to the rice washing chamber 31, so that the first outlet 312 is opened or closed. The sealing member 321 can ensure the sealing effect of the first outlet 312. Among them, the first driving member 323 can be set as a driving element such as a cylinder, an electric push rod, etc. that can drive the push rod 322 to perform linear motion.

[0128] The first driving member 323 can drive the push rod 322 to move horizontally, which in turn drives the sealing member 321 to move vertically. The push rod 322 has an inclined surface 3221, and the sealing member 321 includes a push portion 3212. When the push rod 322 extends relative to the rice washing chamber 31, the inclined surface 3221 cooperates with the push portion 3212 to push the sealing member 321 downward, opening the first outlet 312. The opening and closing assembly 32 may also include a reset member (not shown). When the push rod 322 retracts relative to the rice washing chamber 31, the seal 321 moves upward under the reset member, closing the first outlet 312. This reduces the height of the rice washing device 3, further reducing the overall size of the rice cooker. Alternatively, the first driving member 323 can drive the push rod 322 to move vertically or horizontally, which in turn drives the sealing member 321 to move vertically or horizontally to open or close the first outlet 312.

[0129] Of course, in other embodiments, the opening and closing component 32 can also be configured as a regulating valve, a solenoid valve, a butterfly valve, or other components capable of controlling the opening and closing of the first outlet 312 , and the embodiment of the present invention does not impose any specific limitation thereto.

[0130] like Figure 5 As shown, the seal 321 includes a sealing surface 3211 that can be sealed against the edge of the first outlet 312, and the angle between the sealing surface 3211 and the horizontal plane satisfies 25°≤α<90°. The angle α can be any angle within the range of 25°≤α<90°, such as 25°, 26°, 27°...30°, 40°...88°, 89°, etc. Preferably, α=30°. When the angle α of the sealing surface 3211 satisfies the above angle, the rice in the rice washing cavity 31 is more likely to fall into the pot body 21, avoiding the rice residue on the sealing surface 3211 and being unable to fall, thereby affecting the rice falling accuracy. At the same time, it can also avoid increasing the size of the seal 321 along the height direction of the rice cooker, thereby avoiding the seal 321 occupying too much space in the rice washing cavity 31.

[0131] like Figures 3 and 4As shown, due to different dietary habits, some users will add auxiliary ingredients such as brown rice and whole grains to the rice during cooking. Therefore, the rice adding device 4 also includes an auxiliary ingredient box 46, and the rice adding member 43 is further provided with a second rice adding chamber 435 spaced apart from the first rice adding chamber 431, and a fourth inlet 436 and a fourth outlet 437 connected to the second rice adding chamber 435. The rice adding member 43 also has a third state and a fourth state. In the third state, the fourth inlet 436 is connected to the auxiliary ingredient box 46, and the fourth outlet 437 is disconnected from the first inlet 311. In the second state, the fourth inlet 436 is disconnected from the auxiliary ingredient box 46, and the fourth outlet 437 is connected to the first inlet 311. In the third state, the driving device 5 can drive the rice in the auxiliary ingredient box 46 into the second rice adding chamber 435 through the fourth inlet 436.

[0132] In addition, the rice adding member 43 is further provided with a second air extraction port 438 communicating with the second rice adding chamber 435 . In the third state, the second air extraction port 438 is communicated with the air inlet of the fan 51 .

[0133] like Figure 8 As shown, the user can input whether to add auxiliary materials to the rice cooker as needed. When auxiliary materials are not needed, the rice cooker can directly enter step S400 after step S200; when auxiliary materials need to be added, the rice cooker further includes the following steps after step S200:

[0134] S300. Put down and wash the side dishes according to the number of people N eating.

[0135] like Figure 10 As shown, specifically, step S300 includes the steps of:

[0136] S310. The rice washing cavity 31 is disconnected from the pot 21, and the driving member 43 moves to the third state. In the third state, the second rice chamber 435 of the rice member 43 is connected to the auxiliary material box 46 and is disconnected from the rice washing cavity 31;

[0137] S320. The driving device 5 drives the auxiliary material in the auxiliary material box 46 into the second plus rice chamber 435 until the second plus rice chamber 435 is filled;

[0138] S330 drive plus rice member 43 moves to the fourth state, in the fourth state, the second plus rice chamber 435 communicates with the rice washing chamber 31, disconnected from the auxiliary material box 46, the second plus rice chamber 435 of the auxiliary material falls into the rice washing chamber 31;

[0139] S340. Start the rice washing device 3 to clean the accessories;

[0140] S350. The rice washing cavity 31 is connected to the pot body 21 so that the auxiliary material in the rice washing cavity 31 falls into the pot body 21;

[0141] S360. Repeat steps S310 to S350 N times.

[0142] Since the capacity of the second rice adding chamber 435 is also fixed, the rice cooker can control the number of times the above steps are repeated according to the number of diners N selected by the user, so as to accurately control the amount of auxiliary materials added, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the addition of auxiliary materials, controlling the ratio of the amount of auxiliary materials to the amount of rice, and improving the cooking effect. In addition, the user does not need to manually measure or wash the auxiliary materials before cooking, which simplifies the operation steps and saves time.

[0143] The specific working methods of the rice washing device 3, the rice adding device 4 and the driving device 5 in step 300 are similar to those in step 200 and will not be described in detail here. Of course, in actual use, the user can also input only cooking ingredients into the rice cooker. In this case, step S200 can be omitted and step S300 can be directly entered from step S100.

[0144] like Figure 1 、 Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 4 , the rice adding device 4 also comprises a rice-discharging pipe 42, one end of which is communicated with a rice storage box 41 and an auxiliary material box 46, and the other end is communicated with the 3rd import 441 of the movable cavity 44. Like this, the rice storage box 41 and the auxiliary material box 46 can all be arranged side by side with the cooking device 2, and do not need to be arranged above the rice-adding member 43, thereby the overall height of the electric cooker can be reduced, and the overall volume of the electric cooker is avoided to be too large and cause to take up too much space, be difficult to accommodate. In addition, between the rice-discharging pipe 42 and the rice storage box 41 and between the rice-discharging pipe 42 and the auxiliary material box 46, a control valve is provided to control the on-off between the rice-discharging pipe 42 and the rice storage box 41 and the auxiliary material box 46. In the first state, the rice-discharging pipe 42 is communicated with the rice storage box 41, disconnected with the auxiliary material box 46, and it is ensured that the rice in the rice storage box 41 only enters the first rice-adding cavity 431 by the rice-discharging pipe 42. In the third state, the rice outlet tube 42 is connected to the auxiliary material box 46 and disconnected from the rice storage box 41 to ensure that only the auxiliary material in the auxiliary material box 46 enters the second rice adding chamber 435 through the rice outlet tube 42.

[0145] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the capacity V1 of the first rice adding chamber 431 and the capacity V2 of the second rice adding chamber 435 are different, and satisfy the following relationship: 0.3V1≤V2≤0.8V1. This ensures that the final amount of rice V3 and the amount of side dishes V4 during cooking also satisfy 0.3V3≤V4≤0.8V3. When the amount of rice V3 and the amount of side dishes V4 meet this ratio, the cooking effect is better and the taste is more delicious. Preferably, V2 = 0.5V1 and V4 = 0.5V3. Of course, in other embodiments, the capacity V1 of the first rice adding chamber 431 and the capacity V2 of the second rice adding chamber 435 can also be the same.

[0146] When the capacity V1 of the first rice-adding chamber 431 is different from the capacity V2 of the second rice-adding chamber 435, the second rice-adding chamber 435 can also be used to add rice according to actual needs. At this time, in the third state, the rice outlet pipe 42 is connected to the rice storage box 41 and disconnected from the auxiliary material box 46, ensuring that only the rice in the rice storage box 41 will enter the second rice-adding chamber 435 through the rice outlet pipe 42, and the amount of rice added to the pot body 21 each time is less than the amount of rice added by the first rice-adding chamber 431. Alternatively, the first rice-adding chamber 431 can also be used to add auxiliary materials according to actual needs. At this time, in the first state, the rice outlet pipe 42 is connected to the auxiliary material box 46 and disconnected from the rice storage box 41, ensuring that only the auxiliary materials in the auxiliary material box 46 will enter the first rice-adding chamber 431 through the rice outlet pipe 42, and the amount of auxiliary materials added to the pot body 21 each time is greater than the amount of auxiliary materials added by the second rice-adding chamber 435.

[0147] like Figure 7 As shown, the first detection member 411 is used to detect the amount of rice in the rice storage box 41. When the amount of rice is detected to be insufficient, the display screen can be used to remind the user to add rice to the rice storage box 41. The fourth detection member 461 is used to detect the amount of auxiliary materials in the auxiliary material box 46. When the amount of auxiliary materials is detected to be insufficient, the display screen can be used to remind the user to add auxiliary materials to the auxiliary material box 46. Among them, the first detection member 411 and the fourth detection member 461 are preferably radar wave probes, which determine the amount of rice by detecting the distance between the meter and the radar wave probe.

[0148] After step S100, the method further includes the following steps:

[0149] The first detection element 411 determines whether the amount of rice in the rice storage box 41 reaches the first preset amount V1. If so, the process proceeds to step S200. If not, the process prompts the user to add more rice.

[0150] The fourth detection component 461 determines whether the amount of auxiliary material in the auxiliary material box 46 reaches the second preset amount V2. If so, the process goes to step S300. If not, the user is reminded to add auxiliary material.

[0151] Wherein, the first detection member 411 and the fourth detection member 461 can be controlled to start working after step S100, so as to promptly remind the user to add when the amount of rice or the amount of auxiliary material is insufficient, to avoid affecting the normal cooking of the electric rice cooker, and then enter step S200 and step S300 when the amount of rice in the rice storage box 41 and the amount of auxiliary material in the auxiliary material box 46 all meet the requirements. In the above two steps, the first detection member 411 and the fourth detection member 461 can work after step S100 simultaneously, or the first detection member 411 can start working before step S200 and then enter step S200 when the test result is yes, and the fourth detection member 461 can start working before step S300 and then enter step S300 when the test result is yes.

[0152] Of course, when step S200 is not required, the first step can be omitted, that is, the first detection component 411 does not work. When step S300 is not required, the second step can be omitted, that is, the fourth detection component 461 does not work.

[0153] like Figures 5 and 6 As shown, the main body 1 includes a shell 11 and a base 12. The shell 11 is provided with a receiving cavity 111 and an opening 112 communicating with the receiving cavity 111. The pot 21 is detachably mounted on the base 12 and can slide out of or into the receiving cavity 111 together with the base 12 through the opening 112. When cooking or storing, the pot 21 and base 12 are embedded in the shell 11 to avoid occupying excessive space on the external surface. After cooking is completed, the pot 21 and base 12 can be controlled to slide out of the receiving cavity 111, making it easy for the user to remove or clean the pot 21, making operation simple and convenient.

[0154] like Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the rice cooker also includes a power supply device 6, which includes a power board 61 and a coupler 62. The power board 61 can be electrically connected to an external power source via a power cord. The third drive member 45, the fan 51, and the display screen on the rice cooker are all electrically connected to the power board 61. The coupler 62 includes a male end 621 and a female end 622 that can couple with each other. One of the male end 621 and the female end 622 is disposed on the housing 11 and electrically connected to the power board 61, while the other is disposed on the base 12 and electrically connected to the heating element 22, the first drive member 323, and the second drive member 372. When the base 12 slides into the accommodating cavity 111, the male end 621 and the female end 622 of the coupler 62 are coupled and electrically connected. When the base 12 slides out of the accommodating cavity 111, the male end 621 and the female end 622 of the coupler 62 separate.

[0155] In addition, the main body 1 also includes a slide rail 14 arranged between the base 12 and the shell 11. The slide rail 14 is used to limit the sliding direction of the base 12 relative to the shell 11, ensuring that each time the base 12 slides into the accommodating cavity 111, the male end 621 and the female end 622 of the coupler 62 can be accurately coupled, and the first inlet 311 can also be accurately aligned with the third outlet 442.

[0156] like Figures 5 and 6As shown, the main body 1 also includes a pot lid 13 disposed on the base 12. The pot lid 13 can rotate relative to the base 12 to open or close the pot body 21. When the base 12 is retracted into the accommodating cavity 111, the pot lid 13 covers the pot body 21 to ensure a good cooking effect. When the base 12 is extended out of the accommodating cavity 111, the pot lid 13 can be rotated relative to the base 12 to open the pot body 21. In the open state, the maximum angle β between the pot lid 13 and the opening of the pot body 21 satisfies β>90°, for example, an angle greater than 90° such as 95°, 100°, or 110°. This allows the pot lid 13 to remain in the open state and prevent accidental closing, and makes it easy for the user to remove and put the pot body 21.

[0157] Specifically, the pot lid 13 comprises a lid body 131, an inner lid 132, and a sealing ring 133. When the pot lid 13 is placed on the pot body 21, the inner lid 132 covers the opening of the pot body 21, and the sealing ring 133 is located between the inner lid 132 and the opening of the pot body 21, ensuring that the pot lid 13 is properly closed, thereby ensuring a good cooking effect. Furthermore, the inner lid 132 is detachably connected to the lid body 131, and the sealing ring 133 is detachably connected to the inner lid 132, making it easy for the user to remove and clean the inner lid 132 and sealing ring 133.

[0158] like Figures 5 and 6 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the rice washing chamber 31 is disposed within the lid 13. This allows the rice washing chamber 31 to utilize the existing space within the lid 13, avoiding the need to separate the rice washing chamber 31 and the lid 13, which would increase the overall height of the rice cooker. The water inlet pipe 35 includes a first water inlet section 351 disposed within the housing 11 and connected to the clean water tank 33, and a second water inlet section 352 disposed within the lid 13 and connected to the rice washing chamber 31. When the base 12 slides into the accommodating chamber 111, the first water inlet section 351 and the second water inlet section 352 are connected. When the base 12 slides out of the accommodating chamber 111, the first water inlet section 351 and the second water inlet section 352 are separated. The water outlet pipe 36 includes a first water outlet section 361 provided on the shell 11 and connected to the sewage tank 34, and a second water outlet section 362 provided on the pot cover 13 and connected to one end of the rice washing cavity 31 near the first outlet 312. When the base 12 slides into the accommodating cavity 111, the first water outlet section 361 is connected to the second water outlet section 362; when the base 12 slides out of the accommodating cavity 111, the first water outlet section 361 is separated from the second water outlet section 362.

[0159] Of course, in other embodiments, the rice washing cavity 31 can also be set in the shell 11. When the base 12 slides into the accommodating cavity 111, the rice washing cavity 31 is located above the pot cover 13, and the pot cover 13 is provided with an opening corresponding to the first outlet 312, so that the rice and water in the rice washing cavity 31 can fall into the pot body 21 through the first outlet 312 and the opening on the pot cover 13.

[0160] like Figure 1and Figure 6 As shown, the cooking device 2 also includes a temperature measuring element 23 disposed on the lid 13 and extending into the pot body 21. The temperature measuring element 23 is electrically connected to one end of the coupler 62 disposed on the base 12. The temperature measuring element 23 is used to detect the air temperature within the pot body 21, thereby enabling the rice cooker to adjust the heating power and heating time of the heating element 22, thereby improving the cooking effect. The temperature measuring element 23 is preferably a thermistor, which provides high accuracy in temperature measurement results.

[0161] like Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the cooking device 2 also includes an exhaust pipe 24 arranged on the pot cover 13. The two ends of the exhaust pipe 24 are respectively connected to the pot body 21 and the outside world, so that the thermally expanded air and water vapor generated by the heat inside the pot body 21 can be discharged to the outside world through the exhaust pipe 24, preventing the generation of high pressure in the pot body 21 and causing safety hazards, thereby improving the safety of the rice cooker.

[0162] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0163] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present application, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of patent protection for the present application shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electric rice cooker, characterized in that: Including steps: (a) Obtain information about the number of people N dining together; (b) disconnecting the rice washing cavity (31) from the pot body (21), and driving the rice adding member (43) to move to a first state, wherein the first rice adding cavity (431) of the rice adding member (43) is communicated with the rice storage box (41) and disconnected from the rice washing cavity (31); (c) the driving device (5) drives the rice in the rice storage box (41) into the first rice adding chamber (431) until the first rice adding chamber (431) is filled; (d) driving the rice adding member (43) to move to a second state, in which the first rice adding chamber (431) is communicated with the rice washing chamber (31) and disconnected from the rice storage box (41), and the rice in the first rice adding chamber (431) falls into the rice washing chamber (31); (e) starting the rice washing device (3) to wash the rice; (f) connecting the rice washing cavity (31) with the pot body (21) so that the rice in the rice washing cavity (31) falls into the pot body (21); (g) repeating steps (b) to (f) N times; (h) starting the heating element (22) to heat the pot body (21).

2. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the first state, the first rice adding chamber (431) of the rice adding member (43) is in communication with the fan (51); In step (c), the method further comprises the steps of: The fan (51) is started to form a negative pressure in the first rice adding chamber (431) to suck the rice in the rice storage box (41) until the first rice adding chamber (431) is filled.

3. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 2, characterized in that: In the second state, the first heating chamber (431) is disconnected from the fan (51); In step (e), the method further comprises the steps of: (e1) opening the clean water tank (33) and adding clean water into the rice washing cavity (31); (e2) starting the stirring member (371) to rotate relative to the rice washing chamber (31); (e3) Open the rice washing chamber (31) to discharge sewage into the sewage tank (34).

4. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 3, characterized in that: Repeat steps (e1) to (e3) multiple times.

5. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 3, characterized in that: After step (a), the method further comprises the steps of: The second detection member (331) determines whether the water level in the clean water tank (33) reaches a first preset height H1, and if so, proceeds to step (b), and if not, reminds the user to add water; and / or, After step (a), the method further comprises the steps of: The third detection element (341) determines whether the water level in the sewage tank (34) reaches a second preset height H2, and if so, proceeds to step (b), and if not, reminds the user to pour water; and / or, In step (e1), the method further comprises the steps of: Open the clean water tank (33) and add clean water into the rice washing cavity (31) until the water level detection component (38) detects that the water level in the rice washing cavity (31) reaches a third preset height H3.

6. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 2, characterized in that: In the second state, the first heating chamber (431) is in communication with the fan (51); In step (e), the method further comprises the steps of: (e4) starting the fan (51) and forming a cyclone in the first rice adding chamber (431) and the rice washing chamber (31).

7. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that: After step (g), the method further comprises the steps of: (i) disconnecting the rice washing cavity (31) from the pot body (21), and driving the rice adding member (43) to move to a third state, wherein the second rice adding cavity (435) of the rice adding member (43) is communicated with the auxiliary material box (46) and disconnected from the rice washing cavity (31); (j) the driving device (5) drives the auxiliary material in the auxiliary material box (46) into the second rice adding chamber (435) until the second rice adding chamber (435) is filled; (k) driving the rice adding member (43) to move to a fourth state, wherein the second rice adding chamber (435) is communicated with the rice washing chamber (31) and disconnected from the auxiliary material box (46), and the auxiliary material in the second rice adding chamber (435) falls into the rice washing chamber (31); (1) starting the rice washing device (3) to clean auxiliary materials; (m) connecting the rice washing cavity (31) with the pot body (21) so that the auxiliary materials in the rice washing cavity (31) fall into the pot body (21); (n) Repeat steps (i) to (m) N times.

8. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 7, characterized in that: After step (a), the method further comprises the steps of: The first detection member (411) determines whether the amount of rice in the rice storage box (41) reaches a first preset amount V1, and if so, proceeds to step (b), and if not, reminds the user to add rice; and / or, After step (a), the method further comprises the steps of: The fourth detection component (461) determines whether the amount of auxiliary material in the auxiliary material box (46) reaches the second preset amount V2. If so, the process proceeds to step (i). If not, the user is reminded to add auxiliary material.

9. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving device (5) drives the rice adding member (43) to rotate or move relative to the rice washing cavity (31) to switch between the first state and the second state.

10. The control method of the electric rice cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before step (h), the method further comprises the steps of: (o) Open the clean water tank (33) and add clean water into the pot body (21).

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