Rice cooker

Abstract

To provide a rice cooker capable of suppressing the deterioration of sealability in a rice charging port.SOLUTION: A rice cooker according to the present invention includes a pot, a heating unit that heats the pot, a housing that has an upper surface opening and houses the pot through the upper surface opening, a lid that openably covers the upper surface opening, a rice container that houses rice, a rice supply unit that supplies the rice in the rice container into the pot, and a rice loading lid that openably covers a rice loading port provided in the lid. The rice supply part is provided with a cylindrical rice feeding pipe whose one end part communicates with the inside of the rice container and whose other end part penetrates the inside of the lid body and opens toward the rice charging port. The rice charging lid part is movable to a closing position for closing the rice charging port and an opening position for opening the rice charging port. When the rice charging lid part is positioned at the opening position, it is positioned away from a passage area through which the rice charged into the pot through the opening of the rice feeding pipe and the rice charging port passes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] So-called fully automatic rice cookers are known in the past that can automatically perform processes from supplying rice and water to the pot to cooking the rice. As an example of this type of fully automatic rice cooker, Patent Document 1 discloses a fully automatic rice cooker that includes a rice bin section for storing rice, a rice washing section for washing the rice, and a rice cooking section for cooking the rice washed in the rice washing section. In the fully automatic rice cooker of Patent Document 1, rice washed in the rice washing section is supplied to a rice supply path, and then fed from the rice supply path through a rice inlet into the rice cooking section. The rice inlet is covered by an opening / closing device that moves up and down to open and close the rice inlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-218113 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional fully automatic rice cookers have room for improvement in terms of the sealing performance of the rice inlet.

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a rice cooker having a rice inlet lid that can be freely opened and closed to cover the rice inlet for putting rice into the pot, and which can prevent a decrease in the sealing performance of the rice inlet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. A rice cooker according to one aspect of the present invention includes: A pot and A heating unit that heats the pot; A housing having an upper surface opening and accommodating the pot through the upper surface opening; a lid that covers the top opening in an openable and closable manner; a rice container for storing rice; a rice supply unit that supplies rice from the rice container into the pot; a rice-injection lid portion that freely opens and closes the rice-injection port provided on the lid body; Equipped with The rice supply unit has a cylindrical rice supply pipe whose one end communicates with the inside of the rice container and whose other end penetrates the inside of the lid and opens toward the rice inlet, The rice-inlet lid is movable between a closed position for closing the rice inlet and an open position for opening the rice inlet, When the rice-introducing lid portion is in the open position, it is positioned away from the passage area through which rice passes after protruding from the opening of the rice-transporting pipe and being introduced into the pot through the rice-introducing port. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, in a rice cooker having a rice inlet lid that can be freely opened and closed to cover a rice inlet for putting rice into a pot, deterioration of the sealing ability of the rice inlet can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the rice cooker of FIG. 1 with the outer lid open. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the rice cooker of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of components related to the rice storage section and the rice supply section, seen obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the internal structure of the outer lid. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A1-A1 in FIG. 5. [Figure 7]The rice lid is shown in the closed position. [Figure 8] The rice-inlet lid is shown in a half-open position. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 7. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which the inner lid is attached to the outer lid. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rice cooker of FIG. 1 taken in the depth direction. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a rice pouring lid according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Findings that form the basis of the present invention) The present inventors have conducted extensive research to prevent deterioration of the sealing performance at the rice inlet, and have come to the following findings.

[0010] Conventional fully automatic rice cookers are typically configured to supply rice into the pot by allowing the rice to fall from above the pot under its own weight through a rice inlet provided in the lid. In this configuration, when an opening / closing device that moves up and down to freely open and close the rice inlet is used, the rice supplied into the pot can adhere to the opening / closing device located below the rice inlet. When rice adheres to the opening / closing device, the rice becomes trapped between the opening / closing device and the lid, creating a gap between the opening / closing device and the lid. This can result in a loss of sealing ability at the rice inlet.

[0011] The inventors therefore discovered a configuration in which, when the rice-introducing lid is in the open position that opens the rice inlet, it is positioned away from the passage area through which rice passes as it is introduced into the pot through the opening of the rice-feeding pipe and the rice inlet. With this configuration, when rice is introduced into the pot with the rice-introducing lid in the open position, the rice-introducing lid is positioned away from the passage area, preventing the rice from adhering to the rice-introducing lid. As a result, deterioration of the sealing performance of the rice inlet can be prevented. Based on this novel finding, the inventors arrived at the following invention.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, A pot and A heating unit that heats the pot; A housing having an upper surface opening and accommodating the pot through the upper surface opening; a lid that covers the top opening in an openable and closable manner; a rice container for storing rice; a rice supply unit that supplies rice from the rice container into the pot; a rice-injection lid portion that freely opens and closes the rice-injection port provided on the lid body; Equipped with The rice supply unit has a cylindrical rice supply pipe whose one end communicates with the inside of the rice container and whose other end penetrates the inside of the lid and opens toward the rice inlet, The rice-inlet lid is movable between a closed position for closing the rice inlet and an open position for opening the rice inlet, When the rice-introducing lid is positioned at the open position, it is located away from a passage area through which rice introduced into the pot through the opening of the rice-transport pipe and the rice-introducing port passes.

[0013] With this configuration, when rice is placed in the pot with the rice-feeding lid in the open position, the rice-feeding lid is positioned away from the passage area through which the rice passes as it is placed in the pot through the opening of the rice-feeding pipe and the rice-feeding opening. This prevents rice from adhering to the rice-feeding lid and reduces the deterioration of the sealing performance of the rice-feeding opening.

[0014] The passage area may be an area vertically below an opening of the rice delivery pipe.

[0015] With this configuration, when rice is supplied into the pot by letting it fall under its own weight from the opening of the rice delivery pipe, the rice is prevented from adhering to the rice inlet lid, and the sealing ability at the rice inlet is prevented from decreasing.

[0016] The rice cooker may include a detection unit that detects whether the rice-inlet lid is open or closed, and the rice supply unit may be configured to supply rice in the rice delivery pipe into the pot through the rice inlet when the detection unit detects that the rice-inlet lid is in the open position.

[0017] With this configuration, when rice is poured into the pot through the rice pouring opening, the rice pouring lid is in the open position, preventing the rice from adhering to the rice pouring lid, thereby preventing deterioration of the sealing performance of the rice pouring opening.

[0018] The rice cooker may be equipped with a detection unit that detects whether the rice-inlet lid is open or closed, and the heating unit may be configured to operate when the detection unit detects that the rice-inlet lid is in the closed position, and not to operate when the detection unit detects that the rice-inlet lid is in the open position.

[0019] When steam generated by the operation of the heating unit flows into the rice delivery pipe, the rice before it is placed in the pot may absorb moisture, reducing the accuracy of rice measurement. Furthermore, when sticky rice (a viscous broth that contains the rice's flavor) generated by the operation of the heating unit flows into the rice delivery pipe, rice delivery errors may occur. In contrast, with this configuration, the heating unit operates when the rice-introducing lid is in the closed position and does not operate when the rice-introducing lid is in the open position, preventing steam or sticky rice generated by the heating unit heating the pot from flowing into the rice delivery pipe through the rice inlet. As a result, a reduction in measurement accuracy or rice delivery errors can be prevented.

[0020] The rice cooker may include an elastic annular sealing member that is disposed around the rice inlet and seals the gap between the rice inlet lid and the lid body, and the sealing member may include a base that is attached to the lid body and a sloping portion that is connected to the base via a bent portion and that slopes downward toward one radial side of the sealing member, and when the rice inlet lid is positioned in the closed position, the sloping portion may come into contact with the rice inlet lid and elastically deform so as to bend around the bent portion.

[0021] With this configuration, when the rice-inlet lid is in the closed position, the sealing member elastically deforms around the bent portion, so that the sealing member and the rice-inlet lid come into contact with each other with pressure acting on the contact area between the inclined portion and the rice-inlet lid, thereby improving the sealing performance at the rice-inlet.

[0022] Furthermore, with this configuration, because the inclined portion is inclined downward toward one radial side of the sealing member, even if rice is attached to the inclined portion, the rice will easily fall out due to its own weight. Furthermore, even if rice is present between the rice inlet lid and the inclined portion of the sealing member when the rice inlet lid is in the closed position, when the rice inlet lid is moved from the closed position to the open position, the force of the sealing member returning to its original shape will easily cause the rice to fall out of the inclined portion. As a result, deterioration of the sealing performance at the rice inlet can be suppressed.

[0023] The rice cooker may include an arm portion having one end to which the rice-inlet lid portion is connected and which rotates around a pivot axis located to the side of the other end of the rice delivery pipe, and the arm portion may be configured to move the rice-inlet lid portion between the closed position and the open position by rotating around the pivot axis.

[0024] One possible method for moving the rice lid between the open and closed positions is to slide the rice lid in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. However, with this method, when attempting to close the rice inlet while pressure is applied to the contact area between the rice lid and the sealing member, the rice lid must be slid from the open position in this direction to position it below the rice inlet, and then moved upward to press it against the sealing member. This method therefore requires a mechanism for sliding the rice lid in this direction and a mechanism for moving it vertically, making the mechanism for moving the rice lid complex. In contrast, with this configuration, when moving the rice lid from the open position to the closed position, the rice lid can be pressed against the sealing member by rotating the arm about its pivot axis. As a result, the rice inlet can be closed while pressure is applied to the contact area between the rice lid and the sealing member with a simpler configuration than the method of sliding the rice lid in the above direction.

[0025] The amount of deformation of the sealing member due to contact with the rice-introducing lid portion located in the closed position when the heating portion is operating may be greater than the amount of deformation of the sealing member due to contact with the rice-introducing lid portion located in the closed position when the heating portion is not operating.

[0026] With this configuration, the pressure acting on the contact point between the rice-inlet lid and the seal member when the heating unit is operating is greater than the pressure acting on the contact point between the rice-inlet lid and the seal member when the heating unit is not operating. This improves the seal at the rice inlet when the heating unit is operating, preventing steam or sticky rice generated by the heating unit heating the pot from flowing into the rice delivery pipe through the rice inlet. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in measurement accuracy or abnormal rice delivery.

[0027] The rice supply unit may include a rice supply fan that generates an air flow in the rice supply pipe from the rice container side toward the rice inlet and pushes the rice in the rice supply pipe into the pot through the rice inlet, and the rice inlet lid may be positioned between the closed position and the open position, and may open the rice inlet and be capable of stopping at a half-open position where at least a portion of the rice inlet lid is positioned in the passage area, and the rice supply fan may be driven to generate an air flow in the rice supply pipe from the rice container side toward the rice inlet with the rice inlet lid positioned at the half-open position before being driven to supply rice into the pot.

[0028] When the rice lid is wet, rice tends to adhere to the lid. When rice adheres to the lid, rice can get caught between the lid and the lid body when the lid is closed, creating a gap between the lid and the lid, potentially reducing the sealing ability of the rice inlet. In contrast, with this configuration, before the rice fan is driven to supply rice to the pot, the rice fan is driven with the lid in the half-open position to generate an airflow in the rice delivery pipe from the rice container toward the rice inlet. This allows the airflow to hit the rice lid, drying it. As a result, even if the rice lid is wet before rice is added to the pot, the lid is dry by the time rice is added, preventing rice from adhering to the lid and reducing the sealing ability of the rice inlet.

[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, A pot and A heating unit that heats the pot; A housing having an upper surface opening and accommodating the pot through the upper surface opening; a lid that covers the top opening in an openable and closable manner; a rice container for storing rice; a rice supply unit that supplies rice from the rice container into the pot; A rice-injection lid that freely opens and closes the rice-injection port provided on the lid body; a detection unit that detects opening and closing of the rice insertion lid unit; Equipped with The rice supply unit includes a cylindrical rice supply pipe having one end communicating with the inside of the rice container and the other end penetrating the inside of the lid and opening toward the rice inlet.

[0030] This configuration has a detector that detects whether the rice-inlet lid is open or closed, so for example, by operating the heating unit when the detector detects that the rice-inlet lid is closed, steam or sticky rice generated by heating the pot in the heating unit is prevented from flowing into the rice-transport pipe. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in weighing accuracy or abnormal rice transport.

[0031] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, A pot and A heating unit that heats the pot; A housing having an upper surface opening and accommodating the pot through the upper surface opening; a lid that covers the top opening in an openable and closable manner; a rice container for storing rice; a rice supply unit that supplies rice from the rice container into the pot; a rice-injection lid portion that freely opens and closes the rice-injection port provided on the lid body; Equipped with The rice supply department a cylindrical rice-feeding pipe having one end communicating with the interior of the rice container and the other end penetrating the interior of the lid and opening toward the rice inlet; a rice sending fan that generates an air flow from the rice container side toward the rice inlet in the rice sending pipe and pushes the rice in the rice sending pipe into the pot through the rice inlet; Equipped with The rice-inlet lid is movable between a closed position for closing the rice inlet, an open position for opening the rice inlet, and a half-open position located between the closed position and the open position, The rice cooker is provided in which the rice-feeding fan is driven to generate an air flow in the rice-feeding pipe from the rice container side toward the rice-feeding port with the rice-feeding lid in the open position or the half-open position before being driven to feed rice into the pot.

[0032] With this configuration, before the rice feeding fan is driven to feed rice into the pot, the rice feeding fan is driven to generate an airflow in the rice feeding pipe from the rice container toward the rice inlet with the rice charging lid in the open or half-open position. This allows the airflow to hit the rice charging lid, drying it. As a result, even if the rice charging lid is wet before rice is charged into the pot, it is dry by the time rice is charged, preventing rice from adhering to the rice charging lid and reducing the deterioration of the sealing performance of the rice inlet.

[0033] 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 addition, substantially the same components in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0034] Furthermore, for the sake of convenience, the following uses terms indicating directions such as "up," "down," "front," "back," and "side," assuming a state of normal use, but this does not mean to limit the state of use of the rice cooker according to the present invention.

[0035] (Embodiment) 1 is a perspective view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. The rice cooker according to this embodiment is a so-called fully automatic rice cooker, which can automatically perform all processes from supplying rice and water to the pot to cooking the rice.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the rice cooker of this embodiment includes a housing 1, an outer lid 2 that covers the top of the housing 1, a water container 3 provided at the bottom of the housing 1, a rice container 4 provided along one side of the housing 1, and a rice container lid 5 that covers the top of the rice container 4.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the rice cooker of FIG. 1 with the outer lid 2 open. In this embodiment, the housing 1 has a rectangular or approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 2, an upper opening 1a is provided on the top surface of the housing 1. A pot 6 is inserted through the upper opening 1a, thereby storing the pot 6 inside the housing 1. An outer lid hinge portion 1b is provided on the upper rear portion of the housing 1. The outer lid hinge portion 1b is provided to extend in the lateral direction X.

[0038] The outer lid 2 is configured to cover the top opening 1a of the housing 1 in an openable and closable manner by rotating around the outer lid hinge portion 1b. In this embodiment, the outer lid 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped or approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. When viewed from above, the outer lid 2 and the housing 1 have the same or approximately the same shape. That is, the outer lid 2 and the housing 1 have the same or approximately the same dimensions in the horizontal direction X and the depth direction Y perpendicular to the horizontal direction X.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, an inner lid 7 is detachably attached to the outer lid 2. In this embodiment, the inner lid 7 has a disk or approximately disk shape. The inner lid 7 is configured to cover the opening of the pot 6 in an openable and closable manner as the outer lid 2 rotates. The inner lid 7 is provided with a rice inlet 7a for putting rice into the pot 6 and an exhaust port 7b for discharging fluids such as air or steam from inside the pot 6. In this embodiment, the outer lid 2 and the inner lid 7 form a lid body that covers the upper opening of the housing 1 in an openable and closable manner.

[0040] A water container 3 for storing water is provided at the bottom of the housing 1. In this embodiment, the water container 3 is configured to be detachable from the housing 1 by sliding in the depth direction Y.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the rice cooker of FIG.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, the rice container 4 is for storing rice. In this embodiment, the rice stored in the rice container 4 is rice that does not need to be washed, so-called no-wash rice. A rice container opening 4a is provided at the top of the rice container 4 for placing rice inside the rice container 4. A rice container hinge portion 4b is provided at the upper rear of the rice container 4. The rice container lid 5 (shown in Figure 1) is configured to rotate around the rice container hinge portion 4b to cover the rice container opening 4a in an openable and closable manner.

[0043] The rice container 4 has a rice storage section 41 that stores rice. The rice storage section 41 has an inclined surface 41a that slopes in the depth direction Y and height direction Z so that the cross-sectional area decreases downward. The rice stored in the rice storage section 41 moves downward along the inclined surface 41a due to its own weight and is collected below the inclined surface 41a. The height direction Z is perpendicular to the width direction X and depth direction Y.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the configuration of parts related to the rice storage section 41 and the rice supply section, seen obliquely from above.

[0045] As shown in Figure 4, one end of a cylindrical rice delivery pipe 42 is connected to the bottom of the rice storage section 41. The other end of the rice delivery pipe 42 penetrates the interior of the outer lid 2 and opens toward the rice inlet 7a (see Figure 2) of the inner lid 7. In this embodiment, rice passing through the rice delivery pipe 42 is supplied into the pot 6 (shown in Figure 2) by falling under its own weight through an opening O1 (shown in Figure 10) provided at the other end of the rice delivery pipe 42. In this embodiment, the rice delivery pipe 42 has an internal flow path with a uniform or approximately uniform cross-sectional area along its length. The internal flow path of the rice delivery pipe 42 is formed in a straight or smoothly curved shape to avoid any protrusions or recesses that could clog the rice.

[0046] A rice feeding device 43 is provided below the inclined surface 41a. The rice feeding device 43 measures the amount of rice according to the rice cooking amount selected on the display operation unit 8 (shown in FIG. 1), which will be described later, and supplies the rice from the rice container 4 into the rice feeding pipe 42. In other words, the rice feeding device 43 of this embodiment functions as a rice measuring unit that measures the amount of rice to be put into the pot 6 (shown in FIG. 2).

[0047] A rice feeding fan 44 is attached to the rice feeding pipe 42. The rice feeding fan 44 is configured to generate an air flow in the rice feeding pipe 42 from the rice container 4 side toward the rice inlet 7a, pushing the rice in the rice feeding pipe 42 into the pot 6 through the rice inlet 7a.

[0048] A filter 45 is provided below the rice sending fan 44. In this embodiment, the filter 45 is configured to be detachable from the rice container 4 by sliding in the lateral direction X. The filter 45 prevents dust and other particles from entering the rice sending fan 44 from outside the rice container 4.

[0049] A rice supply channel on-off valve 46 is provided between the rice storage section 41 and the rice delivery pipe 42 to open and close the rice supply channel from the rice storage section 41 to the rice delivery pipe 42. More specifically, the rice supply channel on-off valve 46 is provided between the rice delivery device 43 and the rice delivery pipe 42.

[0050] In this embodiment, the rice supply pipe 42, rice supply device 43, rice supply fan 44, and rice supply path opening / closing valve 46 constitute a rice supply section that supplies rice in the rice container 4 (rice storage section 41) into the pot 6.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a top view showing the internal structure of the outer lid 2. As shown in FIG.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, the straight pipe section 42a of the rice feed pipe 42 is arranged coaxially with the outer lid hinge section 1b and penetrates the side wall 2a of the outer lid 2. The outer lid-side end 42aa of the straight pipe section 42a is rotatably connected to one end 42ca of the joint section 42c via an annular sliding packing 42b. In this embodiment, the joint section 42c is formed in a substantially L-shape. The joint section 42c is configured to rotate around the straight pipe section 42a as a rotation axis. In other words, the joint section 42c is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the outer lid 2. The straight pipe section 42a and the joint section 42c are made of a rigid material such as plastic.

[0053] The rice delivery pipe 42 includes a flexible tube 42d. In this embodiment, the tube 42d is made of rubber. One end 42da of the tube 42d is connected to the other end 42cb of the joint 42c. The other end 42db of the tube 42d penetrates the outer casing 22 of the rice introduction unit 21 and is connected to the outer casing 22 so as to be exposed below the outer lid 2. The rice introduction unit 21 is a unit for introducing rice discharged from the rice delivery pipe 42 into the pot 6. The outer shape of the tube 42d changes from a flat shape to a substantially square shape from the one end 42da to the other end 42db. However, the internal flow path of the tube 42d has a uniform or approximately uniform cross-sectional area along its length and is formed in a straight or smoothly curved shape to avoid protrusions or recesses that could clog the rice. In this embodiment, the other end of the rice delivery pipe 42 is defined by the other end 42db of the tube 42d.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 in FIG.

[0055] As shown in Figure 6, the outer casing member 22 forms part of the inner wall (the wall on the pot 6 side) of the outer lid 2, and is a portion recessed toward the upper wall of the outer lid 2. The other end 42db of the tube 42d is provided so as to pass through the outer casing member 22 and open toward the rice insertion opening 7a of the inner lid 7 (see Figure 10).

[0056] The rice feeding unit 21 includes an outer casing member 22, a rice feeding lid portion 23, an annular sealing member 24, and an arm portion 25.

[0057] The rice-introducing lid 23 is configured to cover the rice inlet 7a (shown in FIG. 10) in an openable and closable manner. In this embodiment, the rice-introducing lid 23 has a disk or approximately disk shape. The diameter of the rice-introducing lid 23 is smaller than the rice inlet 7a and larger than the inner diameter of the sealing member 24. The rice-introducing lid 23 is connected to one end of the arm 25.

[0058] The rice insertion lid 23 can be moved between a closed position where it contacts the sealing member 24 to close the rice insertion opening 7a, and an open position where it moves away from the sealing member 24 to open the rice insertion opening 7a. The rice insertion lid 23 can be positioned between the closed and open positions and can be stopped in a half-open position where it opens the rice insertion opening 7a. Figure 6 shows the rice insertion lid 23 in the open position. Figure 7 shows the rice insertion lid 23 in the closed position. Figure 8 shows the rice insertion lid 23 in the half-open position.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, when the rice-feeding lid 23 is in the open position, the rice-feeding lid 23 is located away from the passage area R1, which is the area vertically below the opening O1 (shown in FIG. 10) of the rice-feeding pipe 42. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the rice-feeding lid 23 is in the half-open position, a portion of the rice-feeding lid 23 is located in the passage area R1. The passage area R1 refers to the area through which rice is fed into the pot 6 through the opening O1 of the rice-feeding pipe 42 and the rice-feeding port 7a. In this embodiment, rice is supplied to the pot 6 by falling under its own weight through the opening O1 provided at the other end of the rice-feeding pipe 42, so the passage area R1 is the area vertically below the opening O1 of the rice-feeding pipe 42. However, the passage area R1 is not limited thereto. For example, if rice is fed into the pot 6 diagonally downward from the opening O1 of the rice-feeding pipe 42, the passage area R1 may be the area formed diagonally downward from the opening O1 of the rice-feeding pipe 42.

[0060] In this embodiment, the arm 25 rotates about a pivot 25a located to the side of the other end 42db of the tube 42d, thereby moving the rice-dropping lid 23 between the closed position, the open position, and the half-open position. As shown in Figure 7, when the rice-dropping lid 23 is in the closed position, the arm 25 is located within a sealed space E1 between the outer lid 2 and the inner lid 7, which is sealed except for the other end 42db of the rice-transport tube 42. The sealed space E1 is formed by the outer casing 22, the rice-dropping lid 23, and the seal member 24.

[0061] The rotation shaft 25a extends in a direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the height direction Z. The rotation shaft 25a is connected to a stepping motor 26. The rotation shaft 25a is covered by the arm portion 25 and is configured not to be exposed to the sealed space E1. The stepping motor 26 is disposed outside the sealed space E1. When the stepping motor 26 is driven, the rotation shaft 25a rotates, and the arm portion 25 rotates. In this embodiment, the stepping motor 26 is an example of a drive source. The drive source according to the present invention is not limited to a stepping motor, and may be another drive mechanism.

[0062] The sealing member 24 is provided on the bottom wall of the outer lid 2 facing the inner lid 7 (shown in Figure 10). When the inner lid 7 is attached to the outer lid 2 as shown in Figure 10, the sealing member 24 is arranged around the rice insertion opening 7a and is configured to seal the gap between the outer lid 2 and the inner lid 7. Furthermore, when the rice insertion lid portion 23 is in the closed position, the sealing member 24 is configured to seal the gap between the rice insertion lid portion 23 and the inner lid 7. In other words, the sealing member 24 has the function of sealing gaps in two places with a single part.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 6, the sealing member 24 includes a base 24a attached to the bottom wall of the outer lid 2 and an inclined portion 24b. The base 24a and the inclined portion 24b are connected via a bent portion 24c. The base 24a extends from the bent portion 24c upward, i.e., toward the bottom wall 2, at an inclination toward the radially inward direction of the sealing member 24. The inclined portion 24b extends downward, i.e., toward the pot 6, at an inclination toward the radially inward direction of the sealing member 24. The inclined portion 24b may extend downward from the bent portion 24c at an inclination toward the radially outward direction of the sealing member 24. In this case, it is preferable that the base 24a extend upward from the bent portion 24c at an inclination toward the radially outward direction of the sealing member 24.

[0064] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the main part of Figure 7. As shown in Figure 9, when rice throwing lid part 23 is in the closed position, inclined part 24b of sealing member 24 comes into contact with rice throwing lid part 23 and elastically deforms so as to bend around bent part 24c. As a result, sealing member 24 and rice throwing lid part 23 are in contact with each other with pressure acting on the contact area between sealing member 24 and rice throwing lid part 23.

[0065] 6 to 8, the rice putting unit 21 includes a detector 21a that detects whether the rice putting lid 23 is open or closed. In this embodiment, the detector 21a detects whether the rice putting lid 23 is in the open position, the closed position, or the half-open position. The detector 21a in this embodiment is a transmission-type photosensor.

[0066] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the inner lid 7 attached to the outer lid 2. As shown in FIG. 10, the inner lid 7 is provided with an exhaust port 7b for discharging fluids such as air or steam from inside the pot 6, as described above. The outer lid 2 is provided with an exhaust passage 27. The exhaust passage 27 is located opposite the exhaust port 7b. An annular gasket (not shown) is provided around the exhaust passage 27 of the outer lid 2 to seal the gap between the inner lid 7 and the outer lid 2 when the inner lid 7 is attached to the outer lid 2. The fluid inside the pot 6 flows into the exhaust passage 27 through the exhaust port 7b.

[0067] The inner lid 7 is provided with a steam inlet 7c and a water inlet 7d. The outer lid 2 is provided with a steam sensor 28 and a water inlet passage 29. The steam sensor 28 is provided at a position corresponding to the steam inlet 7c. The water inlet passage 29 is provided at a position corresponding to the water inlet 7d. In this embodiment, the steam sensor 28 measures the temperature of steam generated in the pot 6.

[0068] As shown in Figure 3, one end of a cylindrical water supply pipe 31 communicates with the water inlet passage 29. The other end of the water supply pipe 31 communicates with the interior of the water container 3 through the outer lid hinge portion 1b. A water supply pump (not shown) is provided on the water supply pipe 31. When the water supply pump is driven, water in the water container 3 is supplied into the pot 6 through the water supply pipe 31, the water inlet passage 29, and the water inlet port 7d. In this embodiment, the water supply pipe 31 and the water supply pump constitute a water supply unit that supplies water from the water container 3 into the pot 6.

[0069] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the rice cooker of Fig. 1 taken in the depth direction Y. As shown in Fig. 11, an exhaust hole 2b is provided in the upper wall of the outer lid 2. The exhaust hole 2b is connected to an exhaust passage 27. Fluid in the pot 6 that flows into the exhaust passage 27 is released to the outside through the exhaust hole 2b. In this embodiment, the exhaust hole 2b is formed to extend in the lateral direction X, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0070] The size of the rice inlet 7a (shown in FIG. 10), i.e., the opening area, is, for example, 215 mm 2 The size of the exhaust port 7b (shown in FIG. 10), that is, the opening area, is, for example, 80.0 mm 2That is, in a top view, it is preferable that the rice inlet 7a is close to the center of the pot 6. Thereby, the rice mountain formed in the pot 6 by the rice discharged from the rice inlet 7a has a more uniform shape. Further, it is preferable that the exhaust port 7b is arranged away from the rice inlet 7a. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the rice discharged from the rice inlet 7a from flowing into the exhaust passage 27 through the exhaust port 7b. In the present embodiment, the distance L 1 from the center of the pot 6 to the center of the rice inlet 7a is set to be smaller than the distance L 2 from the center of the pot 6 to the center of the exhaust passage 27 (L 1 < L 2). In a top view, the center of the rice inlet 7a and the center of the exhaust port 7b are located at positions facing each other through the center of the pot 6. The distance L 1 is, for example, 22.5 mm. The distance L 2 is, for example, 44.9 mm.

[0071] Further, as shown in FIG. 1, on the upper wall of the outer lid 2, a display operation unit 8 is provided that displays various cooking rice information such as the amount of cooked rice and the cooking rice course (white rice course, brown rice course, etc.) and can select specific cooking rice information from the various cooking rice information. The display operation unit 8 is configured to display various cooking rice information and, in addition to selecting the amount of cooked rice and the cooking rice course, instruct the execution of starting, canceling, reserving, etc. of cooking rice.

[0072] Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the housing 1 has a pot housing portion 1c that houses the pot 6. A pot heating device 9 is provided at a position facing the pot 6 on the outer peripheral surface of the pot housing portion 1c of the housing 1. The pot heating device 9 is an example of a heating portion that heats the pot 6. The pot heating device 9 is, for example, an induction heating coil that inductively heats the pot 6 when energized. A through hole is provided at the central bottom of the pot housing portion 1c of the housing 1, and a pot temperature sensor 10, which is an example of a temperature detection portion, is provided so as to contact the central bottom of the pot 6 through the through hole.

[0073] <H Also located inside the housing 1 is a control unit 11. The control unit 11 controls the water pump, stepping motor 26, rice feed device 43, and rice feed fan 44 to supply rice and water into the pot 6, and controls the pot heating device 9 to perform the rice cooking process. The control unit 11 is equipped with a memory unit that stores multiple rice cooking sequences for cooking rice. Here, a "rice cooking sequence" refers to a rice 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. The control unit 11 controls the pot heating device 9 to perform the rice cooking process based on the rice cooking information selected on the display / operation unit 8, the temperatures detected by the pot temperature sensor 10 and the steam sensor 28, and the position of the rice-inlet lid 23 detected by the detection unit 21a. In this embodiment, when detection unit 21a detects that rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the closed position, control unit 11 controls pot heating device 9 to perform the rice cooking process and the keep-warm process that follows the rice cooking process. On the other hand, when detection unit 21a detects that rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the open or half-open position, control unit 11 controls pot heating device 9 not to operate. In other words, pot heating device 9 is configured to operate when detection unit 21a detects that rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the closed position, and not to operate when detection unit 21a detects that rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the open or half-open position.

[0074] The control unit 11 also has a memory unit that stores multiple preparation sequences to be performed before the rice cooking process begins. Here, a "preparation sequence" refers to a procedure in which the operating time of each pump or fan is predetermined for each process, including rice feeding and water feeding. Based on the rice cooking information selected on the display / operation unit 8, the control unit 11 controls the water feeding pump, stepping motor 26, rice feeding device 43, and rice feeding fan 44 to perform each process.

[0075] When the control unit 11 drives the water supply pump, water in the water container 3 is supplied into the pot 6 through the water supply pipe 31, the water inlet passage 29, and the water inlet 7d. When the control unit 11 drives the stepping motor 26, the arm 25 rotates about the pivot 25a, and the rice charging lid 23 moves from the closed position to the open position. When the control unit 11 drives the rice feeding device 43 and the rice feeding fan 44, the rice feeding device 43 feeds rice in the rice container 4 into the rice feeding pipe 42, and the rice feeding fan 44 feeds rice in the rice feeding pipe 42 into the pot 6 through the rice inlet 7a. In this embodiment, the control unit 11 drives the rice feeding fan 44 when the detection unit 21a detects that the rice charging lid 23 is in the open position. In other words, the rice feeding fan 44 is configured to operate when the detection unit 21a detects that the rice inlet lid 23 is in the open position, and to supply the rice in the rice feeding pipe 42 into the pot 6 through the rice inlet 7a.

[0076] Before the rice feeding device 43 and rice feeding fan 44 are driven to feed rice from the rice feeding pipe 42 into the pot 6 through the rice inlet 7a, the control unit 11 drives the rice feeding fan 44 without driving the rice feeding device 43, with the rice charging lid 23 in the half-open position, to generate an airflow in the rice feeding pipe 42 from the rice container 4 toward the rice inlet 7a. In other words, before the rice feeding fan 44 is driven to feed rice into the pot 6, with the rice charging lid 23 in the half-open position, it drives the rice feeding fan 44 to generate an airflow in the rice feeding pipe 42 from the rice container 4 toward the rice inlet 7a. At this time, the rice supply path opening / closing valve 46 is closed.

[0077] Furthermore, control unit 11 controls pot heating device 9 so that it can be driven when detection unit 21a detects that rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the closed position, and so that it cannot be driven when detection unit 21a detects that rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the open position. In other words, pot heating device 9 is configured to operate when detection unit 21a detects that rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the closed position, and not to operate when detection unit 21a detects that rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the open position. In other words, when pot heating device 9 is operating (e.g., during the rice cooking process or the keep-warm process), rice pouring lid unit 23 is in the closed position.

[0078] Control unit 11 controls stepping motor 26 so that the amount of rotation of stepping motor 26 before pot heating device 9 operates (i.e., before the start of the rice cooking process or the keep-warm process) is greater than the amount of rotation of stepping motor 26 under normal circumstances (when pot heating device 9 is not scheduled to operate). Here, the amount of rotation in this specification refers to the amount of rotation of stepping motor 26 when rice pouring lid portion 23 is moved from the open position to the closed position. As a result, the amount of deformation of sealing member 24 due to contact with rice pouring lid portion 23 when pot heating device 9 is operating is greater than the amount of deformation of sealing member 24 due to contact with rice pouring lid portion 23 when pot heating device 9 is not operating.

[0079] In the rice cooker according to this embodiment, when the rice pouring lid 23 is in the open position, it is located away from the passage area R1 through which rice passes when it is poured into the pot 6 via the opening O1 of the rice delivery pipe 42 and the rice pouring opening 7a. This configuration prevents the rice from adhering to the rice pouring lid 23 when rice is poured into the pot 6 with the rice pouring lid 23 in the open position, and prevents a decrease in the sealing performance of the rice pouring opening 7a.

[0080] In the rice cooker according to this embodiment, the passage area R1 is the area vertically below the opening O1 of the rice feeding pipe 42. With this configuration, when rice is supplied into the pot 6 by letting the rice fall under its own weight from the opening O1 of the rice feeding pipe 42, the rice is prevented from adhering to the rice charging lid 23, and the sealing performance of the rice charging opening 7a is prevented from decreasing.

[0081] The rice cooker according to this embodiment is equipped with a detector 21a that detects whether the rice-introducing lid 23 is open or closed. The rice supply unit is configured to supply rice from the rice feed pipe 42 into the pot 6 through the rice inlet 7a when the detector 21a detects that the rice-introducing lid 23 is in the open position. With this configuration, when rice is introduced into the pot 6 through the rice inlet 7a, the rice introduc- ing lid 23 is in the open position, preventing the rice from adhering to the rice introduc- ing lid 23. As a result, deterioration of the sealing performance of the rice introduc- ing lid 7a can be prevented.

[0082] The rice cooker according to this embodiment is equipped with a detector 21a that detects whether the rice-introducing lid 23 is open or closed. The pot heating device 9 is configured to operate when the detector 21a detects that the rice-introducing lid 23 is in the closed position and not operate when the detector 21a detects that the rice-introducing lid 23 is in the open position. This configuration allows the pot heating device 9 to operate when the rice-introducing lid 23 is in the closed position and not operate when the rice-introducing lid 23 is in the open position. This prevents steam or sticky rice generated by the pot heating device 9 heating the pot 6 from flowing into the rice delivery pipe 42 through the rice inlet 7a. This prevents a decrease in weighing accuracy or abnormal rice delivery.

[0083] The rice cooker according to this embodiment includes an elastic, annular sealing member 24 that is disposed around the rice inlet 7a and seals the gap between the rice inlet lid 23 and the inner lid 7. The sealing member 24 includes a base 24a that is attached to the lid body and a sloped portion 24b that is connected to the base 24a via a bent portion 24c and slopes downward toward one radial direction of the sealing member 24. When the rice inlet lid 23 is in the closed position, the sloped portion 24b contacts the rice inlet lid 23 and elastically deforms, bending around the bent portion 24c. With this configuration, when the rice inlet lid 23 is in the closed position, the sealing member 24 elastically deforms, bending around the bent portion 24c. Therefore, the sealing member 24 and the rice inlet lid 23 come into contact with each other while pressure is applied to the contact portion between the sloped portion 24b and the rice inlet lid 23. This improves the sealing performance of the rice inlet 7a.

[0084] Furthermore, with this configuration, since inclined portion 24b is inclined downward toward one radial side of sealing member 24, even if rice is attached to inclined portion 24b, the rice will easily fall out due to its own weight. Furthermore, even if rice is present between rice pouring lid portion 23 and inclined portion 24b of sealing member 24 when rice pouring lid portion 23 is in the closed position, when rice pouring lid portion 23 is moved from the closed position to the open position, the force of sealing member 24 returning to its original shape will cause the rice to easily fall out of inclined portion 24b. As a result, deterioration of the sealing performance at rice pouring opening 7a can be suppressed.

[0085] The rice cooker according to this embodiment includes an arm 25, one end of which is connected to the rice-inlet lid 23, and which rotates around a pivot 25a located to the side of the other end of the rice-transport pipe 42. The arm 25 rotates around the pivot 25a to move the rice-inlet lid 23 between the closed position and the open position. With this configuration, when the rice-inlet lid 23 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the arm rotates around the pivot 25a, pressing the rice-inlet lid 23 against the sealing member 24. As a result, with this simple configuration, the rice-inlet opening 7a can be closed with pressure acting on the contact area between the rice-inlet lid 23 and the sealing member 24.

[0086] In the rice cooker according to this embodiment, the amount of deformation of sealing member 24 due to contact with rice throwing lid 23 in the closed position when pot heating device 9 is operating is greater than the amount of deformation of sealing member 24 due to contact with rice throwing lid 23 in the closed position when pot heating device 9 is not operating. This configuration results in greater pressure acting on the contact area between rice throwing lid 23 and sealing member 24 when pot heating device 9 is operating than pressure acting on the contact area between rice throwing lid 23 and sealing member 24 when pot heating device 9 is not operating. This improves the sealing performance of rice throwing opening 7a when pot heating device 9 is operating, preventing steam or sticky rice generated by heating the pot with pot heating device 9 from flowing into rice delivery pipe 42 through rice throwing opening 7a. This prevents a decrease in weighing accuracy and abnormal rice delivery.

[0087] In the rice cooker according to this embodiment, the rice supply unit includes a rice supply fan 44 that generates an airflow in the rice supply pipe 42 from the rice container toward the rice inlet 7a and pushes the rice in the rice supply pipe 42 through the rice inlet 7a into the pot 6. The rice inlet lid 23 is positioned between a closed position and an open position, opens the rice inlet 7a, and can be stopped in a half-open position where at least a portion of the rice inlet lid 23 is located within the passage area R1. The rice supply fan 44 is configured to be driven to generate an airflow in the rice supply pipe 42 from the rice container toward the rice inlet 7a with the rice inlet lid 23 in the half-open position before being driven to supply rice into the pot 6. With this configuration, the rice supply fan is driven to generate an airflow in the rice supply pipe 42 from the rice container toward the rice inlet 7a with the rice inlet lid 23 in the half-open position before being driven to supply rice into the pot 6. This allows the airflow to hit rice pouring lid 23, drying it. As a result, even if rice pouring lid 23 is wet before rice is poured into pot 6, rice pouring lid 23 is dry by the time rice is poured into pot 6, which prevents rice from adhering to rice pouring lid 23 and prevents deterioration of the sealing performance of rice pouring opening 7a.

[0088] (Other embodiments) As described above, the above embodiments have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to these, and can also be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Other embodiments will be described below as examples.

[0089] In the above embodiment, when the rice-charging lid 23 is in the open position, the rice-charging lid 23 is positioned away from the rice-transport area R1. In another embodiment, a portion of the rice-charging lid 23 may be positioned within the rice-transport area R1 when the rice-charging lid 23 is in the open position. Even in this case, the rice cooker according to the above embodiment preferably includes a detector 21a that detects whether the rice-charging lid 23 is open or closed. With this configuration, for example, the pot heating device 9 is operated when the detector 21a detects that the rice-charging lid 23 is in the closed position, and the pot heating device 9 is not operated when the detector 21a detects that the rice-charging lid 23 is in the open position. This prevents steam or sticky rice generated by heating the pot 6 with the pot heating device 9 from flowing into the rice-transport pipe 42. This prevents a decrease in weighing accuracy and abnormal rice transport.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the rice throwing lid 23 is configured to move between an open position and a closed position by rotating the arm 25 about the rotation shaft 25a. As another example of an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, the rice throwing lid 23 may move vertically, i.e., in the height direction Z, to cover the rice throwing opening 7a in an openable and closable manner. The rice cooker according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 has the same configuration as the rice cooker according to the above embodiment except for the configuration of the rice throwing unit 21, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0091] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the rice loading lid 23 is movable between a closed position that closes the rice loading opening 7a, an open position that opens the rice loading opening 7a, and a half-open position located between the closed and open positions. In other words, the rice loading lid 23 can be stopped at the closed position that closes the rice loading opening 7a, the open position that opens the rice loading opening 7a, and a half-open position located between the closed and open positions. In FIG. 12, the rice loading lid 23 in the open position is indicated by a solid line, the rice loading lid 23 in the closed position is indicated by a dashed line, and the rice loading lid 23 in the half-open position is indicated by a two-dot dashed line. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, when the rice loading lid 23 is in the open position or the half-open position, a portion of the rice loading lid 23 is located in the passage region R1. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the rice feeding fan 44 is preferably driven to generate an airflow in the rice feeding pipe 42 from the rice container 4 toward the rice inlet 7a with the rice charging lid 23 in the open or half-open position before being driven to supply rice into the pot 6. With this configuration, the airflow hits the rice charging lid 23, drying it before the rice charging fan 44 is driven to supply rice into the pot 6. As a result, even if the rice charging lid 23 is wet before rice is charged into the pot 6, the rice charging lid 23 is dry by the time the rice is charged. This prevents rice from adhering to the rice charging lid 23 and prevents a deterioration in the sealing performance of the rice charging lid 23 at the rice charging lid 23.

[0092] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied in various other forms.

[0093] For example, in the above embodiment, the rice putting lid part 23 is configured to move between the open position and the closed position by rotating the arm part 25 about the rotation shaft 25a, but the method of moving the rice putting lid part 23 between the open position and the closed position is not limited to this. For example, the rice putting lid part 23 may be moved between the open position and the closed position by sliding the rice putting lid part 23 in a direction intersecting the up-down direction.

[0094] Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments, with appropriate reference to the drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they depart therefrom. [Industrial Applicability]

[0095] The rice cooker according to the present invention can suppress deterioration of the sealing property at the rice inlet, and is therefore useful, for example, as a fully automatic rice cooker that can automatically perform everything from supplying rice and water to cooking the rice in the pot. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1 chassis 1a Top opening 1b Outer lid hinge 1c Pot storage section 2 Outer lid 2a side wall 2b Exhaust hole 3 water container 4 rice container 4a Rice container opening 4b Rice container hinge 5 Rice container lid 6. Pot 7 Inner lid 7a Rice inlet 7b Exhaust port 7c Steam intake 7d Water inlet 8 Display operation section 9 Pot heating device (heating section) 10 Pot temperature sensor 11 Control section 21 Rice Input Unit 21a Detection unit 22 Outer shell components 23 Rice input lid part 24 Sealing material 25 Arm section 25a Rotating shaft 26 Stepping motor (drive source) 27 Exhaust passage 28 Steam Sensor 28a Gasket 29 Water input passage 29a Gasket 31 Water pipe 32 Water pump 41 US Detention Center 41a Slope 42 Rice feeding tube 42a Straight pipe section 42aa end 42b Sliding packing 42c Joint 42ca one end 42cb other end 42d tube 42da One end 42db other end 43 Rice feeding device 44 Rice-sending fans 45 filters 46 Rice supply line on-off valve E1 Closed space O1 opening R1 passing area

Claims

1. A pot and A heating unit that heats the pot; A housing having an upper surface opening and accommodating the pot through the upper surface opening; a lid that covers the top opening in an openable and closable manner; a rice container for storing rice; a rice supply unit that supplies rice from the rice container into the pot; a rice-injection lid portion that freely opens and closes the rice-injection port provided on the lid body; Equipped with The rice supply unit has a cylindrical rice supply pipe whose one end communicates with the inside of the rice container and whose other end penetrates the inside of the lid and opens toward the rice inlet, The rice-inlet lid is movable between a closed position for closing the rice inlet and an open position for opening the rice inlet, When the rice-introducing lid is in the open position, it is positioned away from a passage area through which rice passes after being introduced into the pot through the opening of the rice-feeding pipe and the rice-introducing port.

2. The rice cooker according to claim 1 , wherein the passage area is an area vertically below an opening of the rice delivery pipe.

3. A detection unit is provided to detect the opening and closing of the rice charging lid unit, 3. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rice supply unit is configured to supply rice in the rice delivery pipe into the pot through the rice inlet when the detection unit detects that the rice inlet lid is in the open position.

4. A detection unit is provided to detect the opening and closing of the rice charging lid unit, 3. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is configured to operate when the detection unit detects that the rice pouring lid unit is in the closed position, and not to operate when the detection unit detects that the rice pouring lid unit is in the open position.

5. An elastic annular sealing member is provided around the rice inlet to seal the gap between the rice inlet lid and the lid body. The sealing member is a base attached to the lid; an inclined portion connected to the base via a bent portion and inclined downward toward one side in the radial direction of the seal member; Equipped with 5. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein when the rice pouring lid is in the closed position, the inclined portion of the sealing member comes into contact with the rice pouring lid and elastically deforms so as to bend around the bent portion.

6. The rice feeding lid is connected to one end of the arm portion, and the arm portion rotates around a rotation axis disposed on the side of the other end of the rice feeding pipe. The rice cooker according to claim 5 , wherein the arm portion is configured to rotate about the rotation shaft to move the rice pouring lid portion between the closed position and the open position.

7. 7. The rice cooker according to claim 5, wherein the amount of deformation of the sealing member due to contact with the rice throwing lid portion located in the closed position when the heating unit is operating is greater than the amount of deformation of the sealing member due to contact with the rice throwing lid portion located in the closed position when the heating unit is not operating.

8. The rice supply unit includes a rice supply fan that generates an air flow in the rice supply pipe from the rice container side toward the rice inlet and pushes the rice in the rice supply pipe into the pot through the rice inlet, The rice-inlet lid is positioned between the closed position and the open position, opens the rice inlet, and can be stopped at a half-open position where at least a part of the rice-inlet lid is positioned in the passage area, 8. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rice-feeding fan is driven to generate an air flow in the rice-feeding pipe from the rice container toward the rice-feeding opening with the rice-feeding lid in the half-open position before being driven to feed rice into the pot.

9. A pot and A heating unit that heats the pot; A housing having an upper surface opening and accommodating the pot through the upper surface opening; a lid that covers the top opening in an openable and closable manner; a rice container for storing rice; a rice supply unit that supplies rice from the rice container into the pot; A rice-injection lid that freely opens and closes the rice-injection port provided on the lid body; a detection unit that detects opening and closing of the rice insertion lid unit; Equipped with The rice supply unit includes a cylindrical rice supply pipe having one end communicating with the inside of the rice container and the other end penetrating the inside of the lid and opening toward the rice inlet.

10. A pot and A heating unit that heats the pot; A housing having an upper surface opening and accommodating the pot through the upper surface opening; a lid that covers the top opening in an openable and closable manner; a rice container for storing rice; a rice supply unit that supplies rice from the rice container into the pot; a rice-injection lid portion that freely opens and closes the rice-injection port provided on the lid body; Equipped with The rice supply department a cylindrical rice-feeding pipe having one end communicating with the interior of the rice container and the other end penetrating the interior of the lid and opening toward the rice inlet; a rice sending fan that generates an air flow from the rice container side toward the rice inlet in the rice sending pipe and pushes the rice in the rice sending pipe into the pot through the rice inlet; Equipped with The rice-inlet lid is movable between a closed position for closing the rice inlet, an open position for opening the rice inlet, and a half-open position located between the closed position and the open position, In the rice cooker, before being driven to supply rice into the pot, the rice-feeding fan is driven to generate an air flow in the rice-feeding pipe from the rice container side toward the rice-feeding opening with the rice-feeding lid positioned at the open position or the half-open position.

Images