Rice milling machine

Abstract

The amount of brown rice placed in the rice milling machine is accurately estimated, and the brown rice is milled appropriately. [Solution] The rice milling machine 10 comprises a motor 20, a shaft 15, a rotating blade 19, and a first container 13. The shaft 15 is rotated by the motor 20. The rotating blade 19 is connected to the shaft 15. The first container houses the rotating blade 19 inside. The motor 20 has a stator 21, a rotor 22, a first sensor 25, a second sensor 26, and a control unit 27. The rotor 22 rotates relative to the stator 21 and is connected to the shaft 15. The first sensor 25 measures the rotational speed of the rotor. The second sensor 26 measures the current flowing through a coil 22B of the stator 21 or rotor 22. The control unit 27 controls the rotation of the rotor 22. Based on the rotational speed of the rotor 22 measured by the first sensor 25 and / or the current flowing through the coil 22B measured by the second sensor 26, the control unit 27 estimates the amount of brown rice and controls the rotational speed and time of the rotor 22 to achieve the set milling rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rice milling machine.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a rice milling machine for milling rice grains used at home. The rice milling machine mills, for example, brown rice into white rice. In such a rice milling machine, the rice grains are stirred and the bran is removed from the rice grains by the friction between the rice grains. To stir the rice grains, the rice milling machine has a rotating blade and a motor for rotating the rotating blade.

[0003] In a conventional rice milling machine, the user sets the amount of brown rice put into the rice milling machine. The conventional rice milling machine rotates the rotating blade at a rotation speed and for a time corresponding to the set amount of brown rice to mill the brown rice.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] It is difficult for the user to accurately set the amount of brown rice put into the rice milling machine. The amount of brown rice set by the user may be inaccurate with respect to the amount of brown rice put into the rice milling machine. Since the rice milling machine mills the brown rice put into the rice milling machine based on the set amount of brown rice, if the amount of brown rice set by the user is inaccurate with respect to the amount of brown rice put into the rice milling machine, the brown rice put into the rice milling machine cannot be properly milled. An object of the present disclosure is to properly mill brown rice with respect to the amount of brown rice put into the rice milling machine.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The rice milling machine of the present disclosure a motor, The shaft rotated by the motor, The rotating blades connected to the shaft, The system comprises a first container that houses the rotating blades inside, The motor comprises a stator, a rotor that rotates relative to the stator and is connected to the shaft, a first sensor for measuring the rotational speed of the rotor, a second sensor for measuring the current flowing through the coils of the stator or the rotor, and a control unit for controlling the rotation of the rotor. The control unit controls the rotational speed and duration of the rotor's rotation based on the rotational speed of the rotor measured by the first sensor and / or the current flowing through the coil measured by the first sensor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rice milling machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a photograph showing the motor, the first shaft, and the rotating disc. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a photograph showing coupling. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a photograph showing the second shaft placed inside the first container. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a photograph showing the rotating blades placed inside the first container. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a photograph showing a rotating blade. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the first sensor, second sensor, and control unit in a top view of the motor's interior. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of brown rice contained in the first container and the rotation speed of the rotating blades when a constant voltage is applied to the coil. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of brown rice contained in the first container and the current flowing through the coil when a constant voltage is applied to the coil. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a graph showing the results of the taste test. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to the following [1] to

[10] . [1] Motor and, The shaft rotated by the motor, The rotating blades connected to the shaft, The system comprises a first container that houses the rotating blades inside, The motor comprises a stator, a rotor that rotates relative to the stator and is connected to the shaft, a first sensor for measuring the rotational speed of the rotor, a second sensor for measuring the current flowing through the coils of the stator or the rotor, and a control unit for controlling the rotation of the rotor. The control unit controls the rotational speed and duration of the rotor based on the rotational speed of the rotor measured by the first sensor and / or the current flowing through the coil measured by the second sensor, in a rice milling machine. [2] The rice milling machine according to [1], wherein the control unit estimates the amount of brown rice in the first container based on the relationship between the amount of brown rice in the first container and the rotation speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil, and controls the rotation speed and time of the rotor based on the estimated amount of brown rice. [3] The rice milling machine according to [1] or [2], wherein the control unit controls the rotation of the rotor so that the milling rate of the brown rice contained in the first container becomes a set milling rate. [4] The rotating blade is directly connected to the shaft, The rotor is directly connected to the shaft, as described in any one of [1] to [3], for the rice milling machine. [5] A method for milling brown rice using a rice milling machine comprising: a motor having a stator and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator and is connected to the shaft; a shaft rotated by the motor; a rotating blade connected to the shaft; and a first container that houses the rotating blade inside, A step of estimating the amount of brown rice stored in the first container; A step of determining the rotation speed and time for the rotor to rotate based on the estimated amount of brown rice; A method for polishing brown rice, comprising a step of rotating the rotor. [6] The step of estimating the amount of brown rice includes a step of measuring the rotation speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil when a constant voltage is applied to the coil, and a step of calculating the amount of brown rice from the rotation speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil. The method for polishing brown rice according to [5]. [7] The step of calculating the amount of brown rice is performed based on the relationship between the amount of brown rice in the first container pre-recorded in the control unit and the rotation speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil. The method for polishing brown rice according to [6]. [8] The rotation speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil is measured after a set time has elapsed since the voltage was applied to the coil. The method for polishing brown rice according to [6] or [7]. [9] The rotation speed and time for the rotor to rotate are determined such that the polishing rate of the brown rice stored in the first container becomes the set polishing rate. The method for polishing brown rice according to any one of [5] to [8].

[10] The rotating blade is directly connected to the shaft. The rotor is directly connected to the shaft. The method for polishing brown rice according to any one of [5] to [9].

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings attached to this specification, for the convenience of illustration and easy understanding, the scale, the aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal dimensions, etc. may be changed and exaggerated from those of the actual object as appropriate. In some of the drawings, the configurations shown may be omitted in other drawings.

[0010] In this specification, terms such as "parallel," "orthogonal," and "identical," as well as values ​​of length and angle, which specify shapes, geometric conditions, and their degrees, are to be interpreted not in a strict sense, but to include a range that can be expected to function similarly.

[0011] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a rice polishing machine 10 according to one embodiment. The rice polishing machine 10 polishes brown rice by removing the bran. The rice polishing machine 10 is used in homes. As shown in Figure 1, the rice polishing machine 10 has a housing 11, a lid 12, a first container 13, a second container 14, a first shaft 15, a rotating disc 16, a coupling 17, a second shaft 18, a rotating blade 19, and a motor 20.

[0012] The housing 11 houses the first container 13, the second container 14, the first shaft 15, the rotating disc 16, the coupling 17, the second shaft 18, the rotating blades 19, and the motor 20 inside. The housing 11 has an opening at the top. The lid 12 is provided to close the opening of the housing 11. The lid 12 can be opened and closed. When closed, the lid 12 closes the opening of the housing 11, preventing rice grains from flying out of the housing 11. When open, rice grains can be put in and taken out of the housing 11 through the opening.

[0013] The first container 13 contains rice grains inside the housing 11. The first container 13 has an opening at its top. The opening of the first container 13 faces the opening of the housing 11. The first container 13 houses the rotating blades 19 inside. The first container 13 has a plurality of holes. The maximum diameter of the holes is smaller than the minimum diameter of the rice grains. For example, the maximum diameter of the holes may be 3 mm or less, or 1 mm or less. With holes of this size, it is difficult for rice grains to fall out of the holes and bran is discharged. The first container 13 may be formed of a mesh member or of a perforated plate.

[0014] The second container 14 contains the rice bran that comes out of the holes in the first container 13. The second container 14 is positioned to contain the first container 13. Each dimension of the second container 14 is larger than each dimension of the first container 13. The second container 14 has an opening at the top.

[0015] The first shaft 15 transmits the rotational power of the motor 20 to the turntable 16. The shaft 15 is rotated by the motor 20. The shaft 15 extends in the axial direction X.

[0016] The turntable 16 is directly connected to the first shaft 15. The turntable 16 transmits the rotational power of the motor 20 to the second shaft 18 via the coupling 17. The turntable 16 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the first shaft 15. Figure 2 shows a photograph of the turntable 16 connected to the first shaft 15. As shown in Figure 2, the turntable 16 has a projection 16A for connection with the coupling 17.

[0017] The coupling 17 connects to the turntable 16. The coupling 17 transmits the rotation of the turntable 16 to the second shaft 18. The coupling 17 is directly connected to the second shaft 18. Figure 3 shows a photograph of the coupling 17 provided at the bottom of the first container 13. As shown in Figure 3, the coupling 17 has a receiving portion 17A. The turntable 16 and the coupling 17 are connected when the receiving portion 17A engages with the protrusion 16A of the turntable 16.

[0018] Figure 4 shows a photograph of the second shaft 18 positioned inside the first container 13. As shown in Figure 4, the second shaft 18 extends inside the first container 13. The second shaft 18 extends in the same axial direction X as the first shaft 15. The second shaft 18 is directly connected to the coupling 17 via the bottom surface of the first container 13. The second shaft 18 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the coupling 17. The second shaft 18 is directly connected to the rotor blades 19. The rotation of the second shaft 18 causes the rotor blades 19 to rotate.

[0019] Figure 5 shows a photograph of the rotating blade 19. As shown in Figure 5, the rotating blade 19 is located inside the first container 13. The rotating blade 19 agitates the rice grains contained in the first container 13 by rotating. The friction between the agitated rice grains removes the bran from the rice grains. The rotating blade 19 is directly connected to the second shaft 18. The rotation of the first shaft 15 causes the rotating blade 19 to rotate. The first shaft 15 is directly connected to the turntable 16, the turntable 16 is connected to the coupling 17, the coupling 17 is directly connected to the second shaft 18, and the rotation of the second shaft 18 causes the rotating blade 19 to rotate. The rotating blade 19 is directly connected to the first shaft 15 via the turntable 16, the coupling 17 and the second shaft 18. Figure 6 shows a photograph of an example of the rotating blade 19. As shown in the example in Figure 6, the rotating blade 19 may include a base 19A that extends non-parallel to the axial direction X, and a plurality of blade portions 19B extending from the base 19A. The base 19A supports the blade portions 19B and rotates with the rotation of the second shaft 18. The blade portions 19B move with the rotation of the base 19A to agitate the rice grains. The rotating blade 19 may have any configuration and shape that is capable of agitating the rice grains contained in the first container 13, and is not limited to the illustrated example.

[0020] The motor 20 transmits rotational power to the rotating blades 19 via the first shaft 15, the turntable 16, the coupling 17, and the second shaft 18. To directly transmit the rotational power of the motor 20 to the rotating blades 19, there are no pulleys, belts, or the like between the motor 20 and the turntable 16. The motor 20 is a so-called direct-drive motor. As shown in Figure 2, the motor 20 has a flattened shape.

[0021] Figure 7 shows a schematic top view of the inside of the motor 20 and the components of the motor 20. As shown in Figure 7, the motor 20 includes a stator 21, a rotor 22, a commutator 23, brushes 24, a first sensor 25, a second sensor 26, and a control unit 27.

[0022] The stator 21 is a fixed component. The stator 21 interacts with the rotor 22. In the example shown in Figure 7, the stators 21 are arranged circumferentially at positions radially separated from the axial direction X from which the first shaft 15 extends. The stator 21 may include magnets 21A. The magnets 21A may be permanent magnets, as in the illustrated example, or they may be electromagnets. If the magnets 21A are electromagnets, the stator 21 includes coils.

[0023] The rotor 22 is a component that rotates relative to the stator 21. The rotor 22 is connected to the first shaft 15. The rotor 22 may also be directly connected to the first shaft 15. The rotor 22 rotates around the axial direction X from which the first shaft 15 extends. As the rotor 22 rotates, the rotational power of the motor 20 is directly transmitted to the rotating blades 19 via the first shaft 15, etc.

[0024] In the illustrated example, the rotor 22 may include a core 22A and a coil 22B. The core 22A includes a plurality of teeth that form the core of the coil 22B. The plurality of teeth are arranged circumferentially with respect to the axial direction X. The core 22A is made of a ferromagnetic material. The coil 22B is formed by winding a wire around the teeth of the core 22A. In the example shown in Figure 7, the coil 22B is formed by winding a wire across four teeth of the core 22A. When an electric current flows through the coil 22B, the coil 22B functions as an electromagnet. The current-carrying coil 22B interacts with the stator 21. The winding of the coil 22B is, for example, copper wire.

[0025] The stator 21 may also include an electromagnet, not just the example shown. The following description focuses on the case where only the rotor 22 includes the coil 22B, but the same method is possible even when the stator 21 includes the coil.

[0026] The commutator 23 controls the order and direction of the current flowing through the coil 22B. The ends of the windings of the coil 22B are each connected to a different commutator 23. The commutator 23 rotates together with the rotor 22.

[0027] The brushes 24 contact the commutator 23, thereby allowing current to flow to the coil 22B via the commutator 23. The brushes 24 are connected to a power supply (not shown). As the rotor 22 rotates, the brushes 24 contact different commutators 23. As shown in Figure 7, the brushes 24 are arranged circumferentially with respect to the axial direction X. In the circumferential direction, positive and negative brushes 24 are arranged alternately.

[0028] The first sensor 25 measures the rotational speed of the rotor 22. The first sensor 25 may be a contact-type sensor or a non-contact-type sensor that measures rotational speed by changes in light or magnetism. The first sensor 25 is connected to the rotor 22 or the first shaft 15, or is located near the rotor 22 or the first shaft 15.

[0029] The second sensor 26 measures the current flowing through the coils of the stator 21 or rotor 22. In the illustrated example, the second sensor 26 measures the current flowing through the coil 22B of the rotor 22. The second sensor 26 is an ammeter. The second sensor 26 is connected to the brush 24. The second sensor 26 measures the current flowing through the coil 22B when the brush 24 contacts the commutator 23.

[0030] The control unit 27 controls the rotation of the rotor 22. The control unit 27 controls the rotational speed and duration of the rotor 22's rotation, for example, by controlling the voltage applied to the coil 22B. In the example shown in Figure 7, the control unit 27 is connected to the brush 24 so as to control the voltage applied to the coil 22B. The control unit 27 may also control the voltage applied to the coil 22B by converting the voltage into a digital signal using pulse width modulation and changing the duty cycle of the pulse.

[0031] The control unit 27 controls the rotational speed and duration of the rotor 22 based on the rotational speed of the rotor 22 measured by the first sensor 25 and / or the current flowing through the coil 22B measured by the second sensor 26. The control unit 27 is connected to the first sensor 25 and the second sensor 26 so that it can receive information on the rotational speed of the rotor 22 measured by the first sensor 25 and the current flowing through the coil 22B measured by the second sensor 26.

[0032] The rotational speed of the rotor 22 changes depending on the load on the rotating blades 19, which is affected by the amount of brown rice in the first container 13. Figure 8 shows an example of the relationship between the amount of brown rice in the first container 13 and the rotational speed of the rotor 22 in the rice milling machine 10, with a solid line. From this relationship, if the detected rotational speed of the rotor 22 is x [rpm] and the estimated amount of brown rice in the first container 13 is y [go], then in this rice milling machine 10, y = 65 × 10 -6 x 2 There is an approximate relationship with -0.0218x + 18.16. This approximate relationship is shown by a dashed line in the graph of Figure 8. This approximate relationship is pre-recorded in a memory (not shown) included in the control unit 27. Note that 1 go is equal to 180.39 cm 3 That is the case.

[0033] The current flowing through coil 22B also changes depending on the load on the rotating blades 19, which is affected by the amount of brown rice in the first container 13. Figure 9 shows an example of the relationship between the amount of brown rice in the first container 13 and the current flowing through coil 22B in the rice milling machine 10, shown by a solid line. From this relationship, if the detected current flowing through coil 22B is x [A] and the estimated amount of brown rice in the first container is y [go], then in this rice milling machine 10, there is a linearly approximated relationship of y = 1.47x - 1.2. This approximated relationship is shown by a dashed line in the graph of Figure 9. This relationship is pre-recorded in a memory (not shown) included in the control unit 27.

[0034] The motor 20 may further include a temperature sensor (not shown). The temperature sensor measures the temperature of the control unit 27 of the motor 20. The temperature sensor may also measure the temperature of elements such as MOSFETs included in the control unit 27. When the motor 20 is driven, the internal temperature of the motor 20 rises. When the internal temperature of the motor 20 rises, the rotational speed of the rotor 22 measured by the first sensor 25 and the current of the coil 22B measured by the second sensor 26 are more likely to have errors compared to the actual rotational speed and current. By measuring the temperature of the control unit 27 inside the motor 20 with the temperature sensor, the measured rotational speed of the rotor 22 and the current of the coil 22B may be corrected to take into account the effect of the internal temperature of the motor 20.

[0035] The performance of the motor 20, such as the rotational speed of the rotor 22 and the change in current flowing through the coil 22B in response to the load on the rotating blades 19, may vary from one rice milling machine 10 to another. After the rice milling machine 10 is manufactured, the motor 20 may be driven without anything being placed in the first container 13, and the rotational speed of the rotor 22 and the current flowing through the coil 22B may be measured and pre-recorded in a memory (not shown) included in the control unit 27. Based on the rotational speed of the rotor 22 and the current flowing through the coil 22B measured without anything being placed in the first container 13, the variation in the performance of the motor 20 may be corrected.

[0036] The rice milling machine 10 removes bran from the brown rice contained in the first container 13, aiming to achieve a set milling rate. The control unit 27 determines the rotation speed and time of the rotor 22 so that the milling rate of the brown rice contained in the first container 13 reaches the set milling rate. However, this does not mean that the milling rate of the rice milled by the rice milling machine 10 will always be the set milling rate. The relationship between the amount of brown rice contained in the first container 13 and the rotation speed and time of the rotor 22 for each milling rate is pre-recorded in a memory (not shown) included in the control unit 27. Milling rate refers to the ratio of the weight of rice grains after milling to the weight of rice grains before milling. The set milling rate is preferably 91%. The preference for a milling rate of 91% is based on the results of the following taste test.

[0037] In the taste test, a sensory evaluation was conducted using rice with a milling ratio of 91% as a baseline. Rice with different milling ratios was scored on a scale from -3 to +3 for appearance, aroma, taste, stickiness, and hardness. For each milling ratio, 3 cups of brown rice were milled to the desired ratio, immediately washed, and then 2 cups of rice were soaked in 1.33 times its weight in water for 1 hour and 15 minutes before being cooked in a Tiger IH rice cooker JKI-G550. The brown rice used before milling was Koshihikari from Fukushima Prefecture and Tsuyahime from Yamagata Prefecture. The average of the scores given by multiple testers of varying ages and genders was used as the taste score for the rice with that milling ratio. Figure 10 shows the results of the taste test and the milling ratio and taste score based on those results. A graph showing the relationship between the milling ratio and the taste score is also shown for the results of the taste test. The solid line graph shows milled brown rice from Fukushima Prefecture's Koshihikari variety, while the dashed line graph shows milled brown rice from Yamagata Prefecture's Tsuyahime variety. For reference, the results of a taste test of rice 49 days after milling are also shown. As can be seen from Figure 10, rice milled to a 91% milling ratio yielded the best taste test results. This indicates that rice milled to 91% has a good taste. Therefore, it is preferable to set the milling ratio at 91%.

[0038] The milling rate that can be set in the rice milling machine 10 is not limited to 91%. In particular, in a home-use rice milling machine 10, it is preferable that the milling rate can be appropriately set according to the nutritional value of the rice, the side dishes eaten with the rice, the cooking method of the rice such as fried rice, etc. The rice milling machine 10 mills the brown rice with the set desired milling rate as the target.

[0039] Based on these relationships recorded in memory, the control unit 27 estimates the amount of brown rice in the first container 13 from the rotational speed of the rotor 22 measured by the first sensor 25 and / or the current flowing through the coil 22B measured by the second sensor 26. Based on the estimated amount of brown rice, it determines and controls the rotational speed and time of the rotor 22 so that the milling rate of the brown rice contained in the first container 13 becomes the set milling rate. The rotational speed and time are appropriately determined without pre-setting the amount of brown rice.

[0040] The amount of brown rice may be estimated by averaging the amount of brown rice estimated from the rotor rotation speed measured by the first sensor 25 and the amount of brown rice estimated from the current flowing through the coil 22B measured by the second sensor 26. This allows for a more accurate estimation of the amount of brown rice.

[0041] The process by which the rice milling machine 10 removes bran from brown rice and mills it will be described. The method for milling brown rice includes the steps of: estimating the amount of brown rice contained in the first container 13; determining the rotation speed and time for which the rotor 22 rotates; and rotating the rotor 22.

[0042] First, the lid 12 is opened and brown rice is placed into the first container 13 inside the housing 11. The user of the rice milling machine 10 may input the approximate amount of brown rice placed in the rice milling machine 10. The lid 12 is closed and voltage is applied to the motor 20. The voltage applied to the motor 20 is controlled by the control unit 27 by pulse width modulation. To estimate the amount of brown rice contained in the first container 13, the control unit 27 controls the voltage applied to the coil 22B to be lower and constant than the voltage required for the subsequent process of rotating the rotor 22 to remove bran from the brown rice. A constant voltage is applied to the coil 22B. Current flows through the coil 22B and interacts with the magnet 21A. The rotor 22 of the motor 20 rotates. After a set time has elapsed since the voltage was first applied to the coil 22B, the rotational speed of the rotor 22 is measured by the first sensor 25 and the current flowing through the coil 22B is measured by the second sensor 26. The reason for measuring the rotational speed of the rotor 22 and the current flowing through the coil 22B after a set time has elapsed since the voltage was first applied to the coil 22B is to allow sufficient time to pass for the voltage applied to the coil 22B to stabilize. The set time is, for example, 5 seconds or more. The measurement results are sent to the control unit 27. The control unit 27 calculates the amount of brown rice contained in the first container 13 from the relationship between the rotational speed of the rotor 22 measured by the first sensor 25, the current flowing through the coil 22B measured by the second sensor 26, and the amount of brown rice contained in the first container 13 recorded in memory, as well as the rotational speed of the rotor 22 and the current flowing through the coil 22B. The amount of brown rice contained in the first container 13 is estimated.

[0043] The control unit 27 determines the rotational speed and duration of the rotor 22 based on the estimated amount of brown rice, the amount of brown rice stored in the first container 13 recorded in memory, and the relationship between the rotational speed and duration of the rotor 22. The rotational speed and duration of the rotor 22 are determined so that the milling rate of the brown rice stored in the first container 13 becomes the set milling rate.

[0044] The control unit 27 controls the voltage applied to the coil 22B to rotate the rotor 22 at a rotational speed and for a duration determined by the control unit 27. The rotation of the rotor 22 is directly transmitted to the rotating blades 19 via the first shaft 15, the turntable 16, the coupling 17, and the second shaft 18. The rotating blades 19 rotate inside the first container 13. The rotating blades 19 agitate the rice grains inside the first container 13. The friction between the agitated rice grains removes the bran from them. The removed bran exits through the holes in the first container 13 and is collected in the second container 14. The rice grains from which the bran has been removed have a set milling rate, for example, about 91%. The lid 12 is opened and the rice grains from which the bran has been removed are taken out of the first container 13.

[0045] Traditionally, the amount of brown rice to be placed in a rice milling machine is measured by the user using a measuring cup or similar device, and that amount is entered into the machine. However, there is variation in the amount of brown rice that can be placed in a measuring cup. For example, even for one cup, the amount of brown rice when the cup is leveled off is significantly different from the amount when the cup is overflowing. Even if there are instructions such as measuring with a level cup, it is difficult to completely follow these instructions. If the amount of brown rice placed in the rice milling machine is greater than the amount entered by the user, the milling rate may be higher than the desired value, for example, the milling rate for white rice may be higher than 91%, such as 92% or 93%. Rice like this has a significantly inferior taste. If the amount of brown rice placed in the rice milling machine is less than the amount entered by the user, the milling rate will be lower than the desired value. This results in over-milling, and broken grains are more likely to be mixed in with the milled rice. Rice like this has a significantly inferior texture.

[0046] In the rice milling machine 10 of this embodiment, the amount of brown rice contained in the first container 13 is estimated, and the rotation speed and time of the rotor 22 are determined based on the estimated amount of brown rice. Since the amount of brown rice placed in the rice milling machine 10 is estimated independently of human judgment, the amount of brown rice can be determined objectively and accurately. The brown rice can be milled appropriately in relation to the amount of brown rice placed in the rice milling machine 10. The brown rice can be milled to a degree that is closer to the desired milling ratio.

[0047] In the rice milling machine 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 27 controls the rotational speed and time of the rotor 22 based on the rotational speed of the rotor 22 measured by the first sensor 25 and / or the current flowing through the coil 22B measured by the second sensor 26. The rotational speed of the rotor 22 and the current flowing through the coil 22B change depending on the amount of brown rice that becomes the load on the rotating blades 19 connected to the shaft 15 connected to the rotor 22. By measuring the rotational speed of the rotor 22 and / or the current flowing through the coil 22B when a constant voltage is applied to the coil 22B, the amount of brown rice contained in the first container 13 is calculated from the relationship between these measured values ​​and the amount of brown rice. The amount of brown rice placed in the rice milling machine 10 can be accurately estimated without human intervention. The amount of brown rice placed in the rice milling machine 10 can be milled appropriately.

[0048] The control unit 27 controls the rotation of the rotor 22 so that the milling rate of the brown rice contained in the first container 13 reaches the set milling rate. The milling rate of the brown rice milled by the rice mill 10 can be brought close to 91%. Results of taste tests have shown that rice with a milling rate of 91% is the best. The taste of the rice milled by the rice mill 10 can be brought closer to a good level.

[0049] The rotating blades 19 are directly connected to the first shaft 15 via the turntable 16, coupling 17, and second shaft 18, and the rotor 22 is directly connected to the shaft 15. The motor 20 is a direct-drive motor. Because there are no pulleys or belts, there is less loss and variation when transmitting the rotational power of the motor 20 to the rotating blades 19. The correspondence between the rotation of the rotor 22 and the rotation of the rotating blades 19 becomes more accurate. By controlling the rotor 22, the rotation of the rotating blades 19 can be controlled more accurately. From the rotational speed of the rotor 22 and the current flowing through the coil 22B, the amount of brown rice that becomes the load on the rotating blades 19 can be estimated more accurately. The amount of brown rice put into the rice milling machine 10 can be estimated more accurately. Brown rice can be milled more appropriately in relation to the amount of brown rice put into the rice milling machine 10.

[0050] The rotational speed of the rotor 22 and / or the current flowing through the coil 22B are measured after a set time has elapsed since the voltage was first applied to the coil 22B. After a sufficient amount of time has elapsed, the voltage applied to the coil 22B stabilizes. As a result, the current flowing through the coil 22B and the rotational speed of the rotor 22, including the coil 2B, also stabilize. The rotational speed of the rotor 22 and / or the current flowing through the coil 22B can be measured more accurately. From the rotational speed of the rotor 22 and / or the current flowing through the coil 22B, the amount of brown rice can be estimated more accurately. The amount of brown rice put into the rice milling machine 10 can be estimated more accurately.

[0051] The embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, but include various modifications that a person skilled in the art could conceive, and the effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible, provided that they do not depart from the conceptual idea and spirit of this disclosure derived from the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10 Rice milling machine 11 cabinets 12 Lid 13 1st container 14 Second container 15. First shaft 16-turn disc 17 Couplings 18. Second shaft 19 Rotating blades 20 motors 21 status 21A Magnet 22 rotors 22A core 22B coil 22B core 23 Commutator 24 brushes 25 First Sensor 26. Second Sensor 27 Control Unit

Claims

1. Motor and, The shaft rotated by the motor, The rotating blades connected to the shaft, The system comprises a first container that houses the aforementioned rotating blades inside, The motor comprises a stator, a rotor that rotates relative to the stator and is connected to the shaft, a first sensor for measuring the rotational speed of the rotor, a second sensor for measuring the current flowing through the coils of the stator or the rotor, and a control unit for controlling the rotation of the rotor. The control unit controls the rotational speed and duration of the rotor based on the rotational speed of the rotor measured by the first sensor and / or the current flowing through the coil measured by the second sensor, in a rice milling machine.

2. The rice milling machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit estimates the amount of brown rice in the first container based on a relationship between the amount of brown rice in the first container and the rotation speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil, and controls the rotation speed and time of the rotor based on the estimated amount of brown rice.

3. The rice milling machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the rotation of the rotor so that the milling rate of the brown rice contained in the first container becomes a set milling rate.

4. The rotating blade is directly connected to the shaft, The rice milling machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is directly connected to the shaft.

5. A method for milling brown rice using a rice milling machine comprising: a motor having a stator and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator and is connected to the shaft; a shaft rotated by the motor; a rotating blade connected to the shaft; and a first container that houses the rotating blade inside, A step of estimating the amount of brown rice contained in the first container, A step of determining the rotational speed and time of the rotor based on the estimated amount of brown rice, A method for milling brown rice, comprising the step of rotating the rotor.

6. The method for milling brown rice according to claim 4, wherein the step of estimating the amount of brown rice includes the steps of measuring the rotational speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil when a constant voltage is applied to the coil, and calculating the amount of brown rice from the rotational speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil.

7. The method for milling brown rice according to claim 6, wherein the step of calculating the amount of brown rice is performed based on the relationship between the amount of brown rice in the first container and the rotation speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil, which is recorded in advance in the control unit.

8. The method for milling brown rice according to claim 6, wherein the rotational speed of the rotor and / or the current flowing through the coil are measured after a set time has elapsed since a voltage was first applied to the coil.

9. The method for milling brown rice according to claim 5, wherein the rotational speed and time of the rotor are determined so that the milling rate of the brown rice contained in the first container becomes a set milling rate.

10. The rotating blade is directly connected to the shaft, The method for milling brown rice according to claim 5, wherein the rotor is directly connected to the shaft.

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