Rice cooker

Abstract

To provide a rice cooker capable of cooking more desirable rice according to an amount of rice to be cooked.SOLUTION: A rice cooker includes: a pot; a housing storing the pot; a heating part heating the pot; a feeding part feeding rice and water into the pot; a selection means capable of selecting an amount of rice to be cooked; and a control part performing a rice cooking process including a temperature rising step where the heating part is controlled to heat the pot until the water in the pot is boiled after controlling the feeding part to feed the rice and the water into the pot. The control part feeds a predetermined amount of the rice and the water into the pot according to the amount of rice to be cooked selected by the selection means, and changes a heating amount per unit time for heating the pot in the temperature rising step according to the amount of rice to be cooked.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice cooker. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of rice cooker, for example, the rice cooker described in Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 9-276132) is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a rice cooker that increases or decreases the amount of heat applied to the pot when the temperature rise per unit time of the pot is outside a specified range. The rice cooker in Patent Document 1 discloses a rice cooker that can adjust the amount of water to an appropriate amount of rice to cook even if the amount of water supplied to the pot by the user according to the amount of rice to be cooked before starting cooking is inaccurate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-276132 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional rice cookers still have room for improvement in terms of cooking rice to a more desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a rice cooker that can cook rice to a desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. According to the present invention, a pot and A housing for housing the pan; A heating unit for heating the pan; A supply unit for supplying rice and water into the pot; A selection means for selecting the amount of rice to be cooked; a control unit that controls the supply unit to supply rice and water into the pot, and then controls the heating unit to perform a rice cooking process including a temperature increasing process of heating the pot until the water in the pot boils; Equipped with The control unit supplies predetermined amounts of rice and water into the pot according to the amount of rice to be cooked selected by the selection means, and changes the amount of heat per unit time for heating the pot in the heating process according to the amount of rice to be cooked. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a rice cooker can be provided that can cook rice to a more desired level depending on the amount of rice to be cooked. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A2-A2 of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature detected by a pan temperature sensor when a rice sending step, a water sending step, and a rice cooking step are performed using the rice cooker of FIG. 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a guideline for changing the amount of water supplied to the pot according to rice hardness information. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between the temperature of water supplied into a pot and the time from when rice and water are supplied into the pot to when the rice cooking process is started. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the temperature of water supplied into a pot and the time of a preheating process. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the amount of cooked rice, the power, the current conduction rate, and the temperature rising process time. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the relationship between the amount of cooked rice, the power, the energization rate, and the temperature rising process time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A rice cooker according to one aspect of the present invention includes a pot and A housing for housing the pan; A heating unit for heating the pan; A supply unit for supplying rice and water into the pot; A selection means for selecting the amount of rice to be cooked; a control unit that controls the supply unit to supply rice and water into the pot, and then controls the heating unit to perform a rice cooking process including a temperature increasing process of heating the pot until the water in the pot boils; Equipped with The control unit is configured to supply predetermined amounts of rice and water into the pot according to the amount of rice to be cooked selected by the selection means, and to change the amount of heat per unit time for heating the pot in the heating process according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0010] The rice cooker in Patent Document 1 is configured to increase or decrease the amount of heat in the pot based on the temperature rise per unit time of the pot. The temperature rise per unit time of the pot correlates with the water in the pot, but does not necessarily correlate with the rice in the pot. This causes variation in the ratio of rice to water (hydration ratio), which can result in variation in the taste of the rice.

[0011] In contrast, in a rice cooker according to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the supply unit to supply rice and water into the pot before the rice cooking process, so that rice and water appropriate for the amount of rice to be cooked can be more accurately supplied into the pot at the start of the rice cooking process. Also, since the amount of heat per unit time for heating the pot during the temperature rise process is changed according to the amount of rice to be cooked, it is possible to maintain an optimal water addition ratio according to the amount of rice to be cooked throughout the temperature rise process. As a result, rice can be cooked to the desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0012] The selection means may be configured to be able to select rice hardness information, and the control unit may change the amount of water supplied to the pot in accordance with the rice hardness information selected by the selection means. With this configuration, the water addition ratio can be adjusted according to the user's preference for rice hardness, and the rice can be cooked to a more desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0013] The selection means may be configured to select the time to start or end the rice cooking process, and the control unit may change the timing of supplying water into the pot according to the time selected by the selection means. This configuration can prevent the rice from absorbing too much water. It can also prevent the rice bran from settling at the bottom of the pot, which can occur when the rice absorbs water for a long period of time, and can prevent a decrease in the heating power of the rice and water. As a result, the rice can be cooked to the desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0014] The selection means may be configured to select a time for starting or ending the rice cooking process, and the control unit may change the timing for supplying rice into the pot depending on the time selected by the selection means. With this configuration, the timing of noise generated when rice is supplied into the pot can be controlled. This makes it possible to suppress noise generation, for example, late at night or early in the morning.

[0015] The control unit may also change the time from when rice and water are supplied to the pot until the rice cooking process starts, depending on the time selected by the selection means. This configuration makes it possible to control the time it takes for the rice to absorb water, optimizing the water absorption of the rice. In addition, since the rice is made to absorb water without heating, damage to the surface of the rice is reduced, and rice that is less sticky can be cooked. As a result, rice can be cooked to a more desired level depending on the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0016] Also, if rice is allowed to absorb high-temperature water for a long period of time, such as in summer, the rice is likely to spoil. On the other hand, if rice is allowed to absorb low-temperature water for a long period of time, such as in winter, the rice may not absorb enough water, resulting in rice with a hard core. For this reason, the rice cooker may further include a water temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the water supplied to the pot, and the control unit may change the time from when rice and water are supplied to the pot until the rice cooking process is started, depending on the water temperature detected by the water temperature detection unit. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce variations in rice absorption due to differences in water temperature, and to cook rice to a more desired level depending on the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0017] The cooking apparatus may further include a water temperature detector that detects the temperature of water supplied into the pot, and the control unit may control the heating unit to heat the pot to a temperature lower than the gelatinization temperature of rice before the temperature increasing step, thereby performing a preheating step in which the rice in the pot absorbs water, and the control unit may change the time of the preheating step according to the water temperature detected by the water temperature detector. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce variations in water absorption by the rice due to differences in water temperature, and to cook rice to a more desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0018] The selection means may be configured to select an automatic rice cooking course and a manual rice cooking course, and the control unit may control the supply unit to supply a predetermined amount of rice and water into the pot according to the amount of rice selected by the selection means when the automatic rice cooking course is selected by the selection means, and then perform the rice cooking process, while when the manual rice cooking course is selected by the selection means, perform the rice cooking process without controlling the supply unit. According to this configuration, by selecting the automatic rice cooking course or the manual rice cooking course, the user can select whether to automatically supply rice and water into the pot and cook rice, or to cook rice by putting rice and water into the pot himself. As a result, for example, when cooking rice that does not require washing (so-called no-wash rice), the automatic rice cooking course is selected, while when cooking rice that requires washing, the manual rice cooking course is selected, making it possible to cook rice suitable for each type of rice. Therefore, the usability of the user can be improved. Also, in a configuration in which rice is supplied into the pot from a rice supply port above the pot, the rice is usually supplied in a mountain shape with the part located below the rice supply port raised. For this reason, the surface of the rice is also likely to become mountain-shaped. On the other hand, when a user cooks rice by putting rice and water in a pot, the rice is usually placed in the pot so that the top surface is approximately flat. Therefore, the surface of the rice is likely to be approximately flat. According to the above configuration, by selecting the automatic rice cooking course or the manual rice cooking course, the user can select whether the surface of the rice is to be mountain-shaped or approximately flat.

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In the drawings, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0020] In addition, for ease of explanation, the following uses terms indicating directions such as "up," "down," "front," and "rear," assuming a state of normal use, but this is not meant to limit the state of use of the rice cooker of the present invention.

[0021] (Embodiment) The overall configuration of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rice cooker according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A2-A2 in Fig. 1. The rice cooker according to this embodiment is a so-called fully automatic rice cooker, which can automatically perform processes from supplying rice and water to the pot to cooking the rice.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the rice cooker of this embodiment comprises a housing 1, a lid 2 covering the upper part of the housing 1, and a rectangular or approximately rectangular water tank 3 and rice tank 4 arranged along one side of the housing 1.

[0023] The housing 1 comprises a rectangular or approximately rectangular main body 11 and a rectangular or approximately rectangular base 12 on which the water tank 3 and rice tank 4 are placed. The main body 11 and the base 12 have the same length in the front-to-rear direction Y, and are connected so that one side of each is spatially connected. The housing 1, the main body 11, and the base 12 each have a rectangular or approximately rectangular shape when viewed from above.

[0024] The base 12 is provided so as to extend laterally from a lower portion of one side surface of the main body 11. The length of the base 12 in the height direction Z is set to be shorter than the length of the main body 11 in the height direction Z. This allows one side surface of the main body 11 to be exposed to the outside. In the first embodiment, the one side surface of the main body 11 corresponds to one side surface of the housing 1. The water tank 3 and the rice tank 4 are provided so as to run along the one side surface of the main body 11 exposed to the outside.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, main body 11 has a pot housing section 11a that houses pot 5. A rotation axis TA extending in lateral direction X is provided at the upper rear portion of main body 11. The lateral direction X, the front-rear direction Y, and the height direction Z are perpendicular to one another. Lid 2 is attached to rotation axis TA so as to be able to rotate freely. Lid 2 is configured to cover the opening of pot 5 so as to be able to be opened and closed freely by rotating about rotation axis TA. In this first embodiment, lid 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped or approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, in a closed state where the lid 2 covers the opening of the pot 5, the length of the lid 2 in the front-rear direction Y coincides with the length of the main body 11 in the front-rear direction Y. In a closed state of the lid 2, the total length of the main body 11 of the housing 1 and the lid 2 in the height direction Z coincides with the total length of the base 12 of the housing 1 and the water tank 3 or rice tank 4 in the height direction Z. In addition, in a closed state of the lid 2, the total length of the main body 11 and base 12 of the housing 1 in the lateral direction X coincides with the total length of the lid 2 and the water tank 3 (or the lid 2 and the rice tank 4) in the lateral direction X. That is, in a closed state of the lid 2, the rice cooker according to the first embodiment has a rectangular parallelepiped or approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0027] The water tank 3 is a container that stores water. The rice tank 4 is a container that stores rice. The water tank 3 and the rice tank 4 are arranged in series from the front to the rear of the rice cooker, and at least one of them is removable. In this first embodiment, both the water tank 3 and the rice tank 4 are removable. Furthermore, the water tank 3 is arranged further forward of the rice cooker than the rice tank 4.

[0028] The water tank 3 is in fluid communication with the inside of the pot 5 through a water supply pipe 61 shown in Figure 2. In this first embodiment, the water supply pipe 61 extends through a pivot shaft housing portion TA1 that houses the pivot shaft TA. A water supply pump 62 shown in Figure 3 is provided in the water supply pipe 61. When the water supply pump 62 is driven, water in the water tank 3 is supplied into the pot 5 through the water supply pipe 61.

[0029] The rice tank 4 is also in fluid communication with the rice insertion section 72 through a rice sending pipe 71 shown in FIG. 2. In this first embodiment, the rice sending pipe 71 extends through a rotating shaft housing section TA1 that houses the rotating shaft TA. A rice sending fan (not shown) is provided in the rice sending pipe 71. When the rice sending fan is driven, the rice in the rice sending pipe 71 is supplied into the rice insertion section 72. The rice insertion section 72 is a section that separates the rice from the airflow of the rice sending fan and inserts the rice into the pot 5. The bottom of the rice insertion section 72 is formed to have a tapered cross section that protrudes downward.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the rice tank 4 is provided with a rice sending device 73. The bottom of the rice tank 4 is formed to have a tapered cross section that protrudes downward. The rice sending device 73 is connected to the bottom of the rice tank 4 and is provided to extend in the lateral direction X. The rice sending device 73 is also in communication with the rice sending pipe 71 shown in FIG. 2. The rice sending device 73 is configured to take in rice in the rice tank 4 and send it out into the rice sending pipe 71.

[0031] In this first embodiment, the water supply pipe 61, the water supply pump 62, the rice supply pipe 71, the rice supply fan, the rice insertion section 72, and the rice supply device 73 constitute an example of a supply section that supplies the water in the water tank 3 and the rice in the rice tank 4 into the pot 5.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the upper wall of the lid body 2 is provided with a display operation unit 21 that displays various types of rice cooking information such as the amount of rice cooked and the rice cooking course (white rice course, brown rice course, etc.) and allows the user to select specific rice cooking information from the various types of rice cooking information. The display operation unit 21 includes a liquid crystal display 21A that displays various types of rice cooking information, and a plurality of buttons 21B that allow the user to select the amount of rice cooked and the rice cooking course, as well as to start, cancel, and reserve the rice cooking process. The user can select specific rice cooking information using the plurality of buttons 21B to start the rice cooking process, etc., while referring to the various types of rice cooking information displayed on the liquid crystal display 21A. In this embodiment, the display operation unit 21 is an example of a selection means that allows the user to select the amount of rice cooked. In this embodiment, the display operation unit 21 is configured to allow the user to select the time to start or end the rice cooking process, as well as rice hardness information.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, a pan heating device 13 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of pan accommodating section 11a of housing 1 at a position facing pan 5. Pan heating device 13 is an example of a heating section that heats pan 5. Pan heating device 13 is, for example, an induction heating coil that inductively heats pan 5 when electricity is passed through it. A through hole is provided in the central bottom of pan accommodating section 11a of housing 1, and a pan temperature sensor 14 is provided so as to contact the central bottom of pan 5 through the through hole. In this embodiment, pan temperature sensor 14 also functions as a water temperature detection section that detects the temperature of water supplied into pan 5.

[0034] A control unit 15 is provided inside the main body 11 of the housing 1. The control unit 15 controls the water supply pipe 61, the water supply pump 62, the rice supply pipe 71, the rice supply fan, and the rice supply device 73 to supply rice and water into the pot 5, and then controls the pot heating device 13 to perform the rice cooking process.

[0035] The control unit 15 is equipped with a memory unit that stores multiple preparation sequences to be performed before the rice cooking process begins. Here, the "preparation sequence" refers to a procedure in which the operating time of each pump or fan is predetermined for each process, including rice and water delivery. Based on the rice cooking information selected on the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 controls the water delivery pipe 61, the water delivery pump 62, the rice delivery pipe 71, the rice delivery fan, and the rice delivery device 73 to perform each process.

[0036] The control unit 15 also includes a storage unit that stores multiple cooking sequences for cooking rice. Here, the term "cooking sequence" refers to a cooking procedure in which the power supply time, heating temperature, heating time, heating output, etc. are predetermined for each of the four main steps of preheating, heating, maintaining boiling, and steaming. Each cooking sequence corresponds to one of multiple cooking courses. The control unit 15 controls the pan heating device 13 based on the cooking information selected by the display operation unit 21 and the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor 14 to carry out the cooking process.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of changes in the temperature detected by pan temperature sensor 14 when the rice sending step, the water sending step, and the rice cooking step are performed using the rice cooker according to this embodiment.

[0038] In this embodiment, when rice cooking information is selected and an instruction to start rice cooking is given on the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 is configured to perform the rice sending process, the water sending process, and the rice cooking process in that order.

[0039] The rice sending process is a process of sending rice in the rice tank 4 into the pot 5. In the rice sending process, the control unit 15 is configured to supply a predetermined amount of rice into the pot 5 according to the amount of rice to be cooked selected on the display operation unit 21. Specifically, the control unit 15 drives the rice sending device 73 for a time period predetermined according to the amount of rice to be cooked, to move the rice in the rice tank 4 into the rice sending pipe 71, and drives the rice sending fan to supply the rice in the rice sending pipe 71 into the pot 5 through the rice insertion unit 72.

[0040] In this embodiment, the control unit 15 is configured to change the timing of supplying rice into the pot 5 depending on the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected on the display operation unit 12. For example, when the end time of the rice cooking process selected on the display operation unit 12 is 6:00 AM and the selected time (current time) is 10:00 PM, the control unit 15 supplies rice into the pot 5 between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Also, when the end time of the rice cooking process selected on the display operation unit 12 is 10:00 AM and the selected time (current time) is 11:00 PM, the control unit 15 supplies rice into the pot 5 at 8:00 AM. This makes it possible to suppress noise caused by rice being supplied into the pot 5 late at night or early in the morning.

[0041] The water supplying step is a step of supplying water from the water tank 3 into the pot 5. In the water supplying step, the control unit 15 is configured to supply a predetermined amount of water according to the amount of rice to be cooked selected on the display operation unit 21 into the pot 5. Specifically, the control unit 15 drives the water supply pump 62 for a time period predetermined according to the amount of rice to be cooked, to supply the water from the water tank 3 into the pot 5 through the water supply pipe 61.

[0042] In this embodiment, the control unit 15 is configured to change the amount of water to be supplied into the pot 5 according to the rice hardness information selected by the display operation unit 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the display operation unit 21 is configured to allow selection of "hard", "slightly hard", "normal", "slightly soft", and "soft" as the rice hardness information. When "hard" is selected by the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 supplies into the pot 5 an amount of water that is 60 ml less than the amount predetermined according to the amount of cooked rice. When "hard" is selected by the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 supplies into the pot 5 an amount of water that is 60 ml less than the amount predetermined according to the amount of cooked rice. When "slightly hard" is selected by the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 supplies into the pot 5 an amount of water that is 30 ml less than the amount predetermined according to the amount of cooked rice. When "normal" is selected by the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 supplies into the pot 5 an amount of water that is 60 ml less than the amount predetermined according to the amount of cooked rice. When "slightly soft" is selected on the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 supplies into the pot 5 an amount of water that is 30 ml more than the amount predetermined according to the amount of rice to be cooked. When "soft" is selected on the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 supplies into the pot 5 an amount of water that is 60 ml more than the amount predetermined according to the amount of rice to be cooked. This allows the water ratio to be adjusted according to the user's preference for hardness, and allows the user to cook rice as desired according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0043] In this embodiment, the control unit 15 is configured to change the timing of supplying water into the pot 5 according to the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the display operation unit 12. For example, when the end time of the rice cooking process selected by the display operation unit 12 is 6:00 a.m., the control unit 15 supplies water into the pot 5 at 4:00 a.m. Also, when the end time of the rice cooking process selected by the display operation unit 12 is 10:00 a.m., the control unit 15 supplies water into the pot 5 at 8:00 a.m. This can prevent the rice from absorbing too much water. It can also prevent the rice bran from settling at the bottom of the pot 5, which may occur when the rice absorbs water for a long time, and can prevent a decrease in the heating power for the rice and water. As a result, the rice can be cooked to a more desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0044] In this embodiment, the control unit 15 is configured to change the time T1 from when rice and water are supplied into the pot 5 until the rice cooking process is started, depending on the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the display operation unit 12. For example, when the end time of the rice cooking process selected by the display operation unit 12 is 6:00 a.m., the control unit 15 supplies rice and water into the pot 5 at 4:00 a.m. Also, when the end time of the rice cooking process selected by the display operation unit 12 is 10:00 a.m., the control unit 15 supplies rice and water into the pot 5 at 8:00 a.m. This makes it possible to control the time when the rice absorbs water, and the rice can be optimally absorbed. In addition, since the rice is absorbed without heating, the surface of the rice is less damaged, and less sticky rice can be cooked. As a result, the rice can be cooked more desired depending on the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, control unit 15 is configured to change time T1 from when rice and water are supplied into pot 5 until the rice cooking process is started, depending on the temperature of the water detected by pot temperature sensor 14. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, when the temperature of the water detected by pot temperature sensor 14 is 5°C, time T1 is set to 60 minutes. When the temperature of the water detected by pot temperature sensor 14 is 20°C, time T1 is set to 45 minutes. When the temperature of the water detected by pot temperature sensor 14 is 35°C, time T1 is set to 30 minutes. This makes it possible to reduce variations in water absorption by the rice due to differences in water temperature, and to cook rice to a more desired level depending on the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0046] The "rice cooking process" is mainly composed of four processes: a preheating process (also called a water absorption process), a temperature increase process (also called a cooking process), a boiling maintenance process, and a steaming process. The preheating process is a process in which rice is soaked in water that is lower than the gelatinization start temperature of rice (about 60 degrees) to allow the rice to absorb water in advance. In the preheating process, the control unit 15 controls the pan heating device 13 to heat the pan 5 at a temperature lower than the gelatinization start temperature of rice and allow the rice in the pan 5 to absorb water. The temperature increase process is a process in which the water in the pan 5 is heated until it reaches a boiling state (about 100°C). In the temperature increase process, the control unit 15 controls the pan heating device 13 to heat the pan 5 until the water in the pan 5 boils (until the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor 14 reaches 100°C). The boiling maintenance process is a process in which the boiling state of the water in the pan 5 is maintained to gelatinize the rice starch and increase the gelatinization degree to about 50% to 80%. In the boiling maintenance step, control unit 15 controls pan heating device 13 to heat pan 5 with a lower amount of heat than in the temperature increase step. When the moisture in pan 5 is depleted and the temperature detected by pan temperature sensor 14 reaches or exceeds the boiling point of water (e.g., 130°C), the process moves to the steaming step. The steaming step is a step in which excess moisture is evaporated using preheating, and the gelatinization degree of the rice is increased to nearly 100%. In the steaming step, control unit 15 controls pan heating device 13 to heat pan 5 intermittently.

[0047] In this embodiment, control unit 15 is configured to change time T2 of the preheating step according to the water temperature detected by pan temperature sensor 14. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, when the water temperature detected by pan temperature sensor 14 is 5°C, time T2 is set to 15 minutes. When the water temperature detected by pan temperature sensor 14 is 20°C, time T2 is set to 10 minutes. When the water temperature detected by pan temperature sensor 14 is 35°C, time T2 is set to 5 minutes. This reduces variations in water absorption by rice due to differences in water temperature, making it possible to cook rice to a more desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, control unit 15 is configured to change the amount of heat per unit time for heating pot 5 in the temperature raising process in accordance with the amount of rice to be cooked selected on display operation unit 21. The amount of heat per unit time can be changed, for example, by changing the power or current conduction rate of pot heating device 13.

[0049] For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the amount of rice to be cooked selected on the display operation unit 21 is 0.5 gou, the control unit 15 sets the power of the pan heating device 13 to 500 W (watts). When the amount of rice to be cooked selected on the display operation unit 21 is 3.0 gou, the control unit 15 sets the power of the pan heating device 13 to 800 W (watts). When the amount of rice to be cooked selected on the display operation unit 21 is 5.5 gou, the control unit 15 sets the power of the pan heating device 13 to 1200 W (watts). In this case, the control unit 15 sets the power supply rate of the pan heating device 13 to 16 / 16 (seconds) and the time T3 of the temperature rise process to 300 seconds, regardless of the amount of rice to be cooked selected on the display operation unit 21. A power supply rate of 16 / 16 (seconds) means that the time for driving the pan heating device 13 is 16 seconds in one 16-second cycle (i.e., there is no pause period).

[0050] Also, for example, as shown in Fig. 9, when the amount of rice to be cooked selected on display operation unit 21 is 0.5 gou, control unit 15 sets the power supply rate of pan heating device 13 to 7 / 16 (seconds). When the amount of rice to be cooked selected on display operation unit 21 is 3.0 gou, control unit 15 sets the power supply rate of pan heating device 13 to 11 / 16 (seconds). When the amount of rice to be cooked selected on display operation unit 21 is 5.5 gou, control unit 15 sets the power supply rate of pan heating device 13 to 16 / 16 (seconds). In this case, control unit 15 sets the power of pan heating device 13 to 1200 W and the time T3 of the temperature rise process to 300 seconds, regardless of the amount of rice to be cooked selected on display operation unit 21.

[0051] The rice cooker according to this embodiment is configured to supply rice and water into the pot 5 before the rice cooking process. This allows rice and water appropriate for the amount of rice selected on the display operation unit 21 at the start of the rice cooking process to be more accurately supplied into the pot 5. Furthermore, the rice cooker according to this embodiment is configured to change the amount of heat per unit time for heating the pot 5 in the heating process according to the amount of rice selected on the display operation unit 21. This makes it possible to maintain an optimal water addition ratio according to the amount of rice cooked throughout the heating process. As a result, rice can be cooked as desired according to the amount of rice cooked.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be embodied in various other aspects. For example, in the above, the rice cooker according to the present embodiment is equipped with the water tank 3 and the rice tank 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the water tank 3, the water supply pipe 61 may be connected to a water pipe, and water may be supplied from the water pipe into the pot 5. Also, instead of the rice tank 4, the rice supply pipe 71 may be connected to a rice container provided separately from the rice cooker according to the present embodiment, and rice may be supplied from the rice container into the pot 5.

[0053] In the above, the pot temperature sensor 14 is used as the water temperature detector, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The water temperature detector may be any one that detects the temperature of the water supplied into the pot 5. The water temperature detector may be, for example, a water tank temperature sensor (not shown) configured to detect the temperature of the water in the water tank 3. In this case, the temperature of the water in the water tank 3, which is the water to be supplied into the pot 5, can be measured directly, so that the temperature of the water to be supplied into the pot 5 can be measured more accurately. The temperature of the water can be detected without actually supplying water into the pot 5. In addition, a temperature sensor is generally provided on the lid 2 of the rice cooker to detect, for example, the temperature of steam generated from the pot 5. The water temperature detector may be a temperature sensor provided on the lid 2. In addition, a room temperature sensor is generally provided on the housing 1 of the rice cooker to detect, for example, the temperature around the rice cooker (the pot temperature sensor 14 may be used as the room temperature sensor). The water temperature detector may be a room temperature sensor provided on the housing 1. In these cases, an existing sensor is used as the water temperature detector, so that the number of parts and the increase in costs can be suppressed.

[0054] In addition, in the above description, the water conveying step is performed after the rice conveying step, but the present invention is not limited to this. The rice conveying step may be performed after the water conveying step.

[0055] In addition, although the preheating step is performed in the above, the present invention is not limited to this. According to the rice cooker of this embodiment, the rice in the pot 5 can be made to absorb water sufficiently by performing the rice and water sending steps before the rice cooking step, so that the preheating step does not need to be performed. This allows energy saving.

[0056] 8 and 9, the time T3 of the temperature-raising process is 300 seconds, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the time T3 of the temperature-raising process may vary depending on the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0057] In the above, the control unit 15 is configured to perform the rice feeding process, the water feeding process, and the rice cooking process in this order when the display operation unit 21 selects the rice cooking information and instructs the start of rice cooking, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the display operation unit 21 may be configured to be able to select an automatic rice cooking course and a manual rice cooking course. Furthermore, when the automatic rice cooking course is selected on the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 may perform the rice cooking process after supplying a predetermined amount of rice and water into the pot 5 according to the amount of rice selected on the display operation unit 21. Furthermore, when the manual rice cooking course is selected on the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 may perform the rice cooking process without controlling each fan, pump, and device. That is, when the manual rice cooking course is selected on the display operation unit 21, the control unit 15 may immediately perform the rice cooking process on the assumption that the user himself has put rice and water in the pot 5. This allows the user to select whether to automatically put rice and water in the pot 5 and cook rice, or to put rice and water in the pot himself and cook rice. For example, when cooking pre-washed rice, the automatic cooking course is selected, whereas when cooking rice that requires washing, the manual cooking course is selected, making it possible to cook rice in a way that is appropriate for each type of rice. This improves usability for users. In addition, by selecting the automatic cooking course or the manual cooking course, the user can select whether the surface of the rice should be mountain-shaped or approximately flat.

[0058] In addition, although the display operation unit 21 is given as an example of the selection means in the above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the selection means may be an information terminal device such as a smartphone. Furthermore, the selection means may receive information selected by an information terminal device such as a smartphone, and select the amount of cooked rice, etc. based on the information.

[0059] Any of the various embodiments described above may be appropriately combined to achieve the effects of each of the embodiments. [Industrial Applicability]

[0060] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The rice cooker according to the present invention can cook rice to a desired level according to the amount of rice to be cooked, and is therefore useful, for example, as a rice cooker for home or commercial use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1 Case 2 Lid 3. Water tank 4. US Tank 5. Pot 11 Main body 11a Pot storage section 12 base 13 Pot heating device (heating section) 14 Pot temperature sensor (water temperature detector) 15 Control section 21 Display operation unit (selection means) 21A LCD display 21B Button 61 Water pipe 62 Water Pump 71 Rice feeding tube 72 Rice input section 73 Rice feeding device TA Rotating Axis TA1 Rotating shaft housing

Claims

1. A pot and A housing for housing the pan; A heating unit for heating the pan; A supply unit for supplying rice and water into the pot; A selection means for selecting the start or end time of the rice cooking process; A control unit that controls the supply unit; Equipped with The control unit determines a timing for supplying the rice and a timing for supplying the water, Rice cooker.

2. The rice cooker further includes a water temperature detector that detects the temperature of water supplied to the pot, The water temperature detection unit detects a temperature of the water to be supplied into the pot before the water is supplied into the pot, The control unit determines the timing of supplying the water into the pot according to the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the selection means, The time from when the water is supplied into the pot until the rice cooking process starts varies depending on the temperature of the water detected by the water temperature detection unit. The rice cooker according to claim 1.

3. The rice cooker according to claim 2 , wherein the water temperature detection unit is a room temperature sensor that measures a temperature around the rice cooker.

4. The rice cooker further includes a water tank, The rice cooker according to claim 2 , wherein the water temperature detection unit is a water tank temperature sensor provided in the water tank and configured to measure a temperature of the water in the water tank.

5. The control unit determines the timing of supplying the rice into the pot according to the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the selection means, The time from when the rice is supplied into the pot until the rice cooking process starts varies depending on the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the selection means. The rice cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. 6. The rice cooker according to claim 5, wherein the control unit determines the timing of supplying the rice into the pot depending on the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the selection means and the time when a selection operation is performed by the selection means.

7. A pot and A housing for housing the pan; A heating unit for heating the pan; A supply unit for supplying water into the pot; A selection means for selecting the start or end time of the rice cooking process; A water temperature detector that detects the temperature of water supplied to the pot; A control unit that controls the supply unit; Equipped with The water temperature detection unit detects a temperature of the water to be supplied into the pot before the water is supplied into the pot, The control unit determines the timing of supplying the water into the pot according to the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the selection means, The time from when the water is supplied into the pot until the rice cooking process starts varies depending on the temperature of the water detected by the water temperature detection unit. Rice cooker.

8. The rice cooker according to claim 7 , wherein the water temperature detection unit is a room temperature sensor that measures a temperature around the rice cooker.

9. The rice cooker further includes a water tank, The rice cooker according to claim 7 , wherein the water temperature detection unit is a water tank temperature sensor provided in the water tank and configured to measure a temperature of the water in the water tank.

10. A pot and A housing for housing the pan; A heating unit for heating the pan; A supply unit that supplies rice into the pot; A selection means for selecting the start or end time of the rice cooking process; A control unit that controls the supply unit; Equipped with The control unit determines the timing of supplying the rice into the pot according to the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the selection means, The time from when the rice is supplied into the pot until the rice cooking process starts varies depending on the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the selection means. Rice cooker.

11. The rice cooker according to claim 10, wherein the control unit determines the timing of supplying the rice into the pot depending on the start or end time of the rice cooking process selected by the selection means and the time when a selection operation is performed by the selection means.

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