Rice forming machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a rice molding machine for shaping cooked rice into predetermined shapes, such as the shape of nigiri sushi. [Solution] The molding machine comprises a molding body (1) having a cavity (4) that opens downward from the bottom, an ejector (3) having an extrusion plate (3a) inserted into the cavity (4), and an arm portion (10) extending from the extrusion plate. The arm portion (10) normally holds the extrusion plate (3a) in a storage position (P1) facing the bottom of the cavity (4) via a flexible deformable portion (16), but when a downward pressing force is applied, the deformable portion (16) bends, causing the extrusion plate (3a) to move to an extrusion position (P2) facing the outside of the cavity (4). A molded rice product is formed by filling the cavity (4) with cooked rice while the extrusion plate (3a) is held in the storage position (P1), and the molded rice product is pushed out of the cavity (4) by moving the extrusion plate (3a) to the extrusion position (P2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice cooker for shaping cooked rice into a predetermined shape, for example, shaping a rice cooker into the shape of nigiri sushi.

Background Art

[0002] When cooking sushi such as nigiri sushi at home, it is difficult to shape the cooked rice with the palm and fingers like a sushi chef. Therefore, a molding device has been proposed that can easily shape the cooked rice into the shape of sushi by manual operation (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The prior art proposed by Patent Document 1 provides a clamping plate at the tip of a U-shaped tong having a pair of clamping arms, and a pressing plate at the tip of a pressing arm extending between the clamping arms from the tail end of the tong.

[0005] Therefore, by inserting the tips of the clamping arms and the pressing arm into the cooked rice contained in a sushi barrel or the like, bringing the pair of clamping arms closer together to sandwich and hold the cooked rice between the clamping plates, and lowering the pressing arm to press the cooked rice, a块状 rice cooker can be formed.

[0006] However, it is not easy to operate the clamping arms and the pressing arm from three sides while they are inserted into the cooked rice, and a strong gripping force is required, which is difficult for women and the like.

[0007] Furthermore, when the molded rice product is removed from the rice container, such as a sushi tub, while being held from three sides, and then placed on a plate or other tableware, there is a risk that the molded rice product may lose its orientation. Specifically, when the pair of clamping arms and the restraining arm are separated from the molded rice product, if the molded rice product is forced to move in an adhesive state to the clamping plate of one of the clamping arms, it may fall over sideways.

[0008] The objective of this invention is to provide a rice molding machine that solves the problems described above in the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Therefore, the first means of the present invention is a rice molder comprising a molder body and an ejector, wherein a rice molded product is formed by filling the cavity of the molder body with cooked rice, and the ejector is moved from a storage position to an extrusion position to push the rice molded product out of the cavity, wherein the molder body has a head portion formed to cause the cavity to open downward from the bottom, and the ejector has an extrusion plate inserted into the cavity and the push The device is configured to include an arm portion extending from the extruded plate, the tail end of which is fixed to the molding machine body, and the arm portion having a flexible, deformable portion which normally holds the extruded plate in a storage position facing the bottom of the cavity, but when a downward pressing force is applied to the arm portion, the deformable portion bends, moving the extruded plate to an extruded position facing the outside of the cavity, and when the pressing force is released, the deformable portion returns to its upward position, returning the extruded plate from the operating position to the storage position.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention provides a second means for a rice molder comprising a molder body and an ejector, wherein a rice molded product is formed by filling the cavity of the molder body with cooked rice, and the ejector is moved from a storage position to an extrusion position to push the rice molded product out of the cavity, wherein the molder body comprises a head portion formed to cause the cavity to open downward from the bottom, and a handle portion extending from the head portion, and the ejector comprises an extrusion plate movable between a storage position facing the bottom of the cavity and an extrusion position facing the outside of the cavity, and an extension from the extrusion plate The device is equipped with an arm section, and the molding machine body and the ejector are detachably fixed to each other via fixing means at the tail ends of the handle section and the arm section, and an operating button is erected on the arm section that protrudes upward through the handle section, and the arm section is equipped with a flexible deformable section that normally holds the extrusion plate in the stored position, but when a downward pressing force is applied to the operating button, the deformable section bends, moving the extrusion plate to the extrusion position, and when the pressing force is released, the deformable section returns to its upward position, returning the extrusion plate from the operating position to the stored position.

[0011] In this embodiment of the present invention, the cavity is surrounded by a peripheral wall formed downward from the bottom, and ribs extending in the vertical direction are arranged in a circumferential direction on the inside of the peripheral wall.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the handle portion of the molding machine body forms a housing that opens downward, the arm portion of the ejector is fitted into the housing, the operating button is erected on the arm portion near the extrusion plate and is inserted through a guide hole in the handle portion so as to protrude upward from the handle portion, and the deformable portion is formed in the region between the operating button and the fixing means on the arm portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to this invention, the ejector's extrusion plate is normally in a storage position facing the bottom of the cavity, so by filling the cavity with cooked rice in this state, a rice molded product of a predetermined shape can be easily formed. After molding, by simply applying a downward pressing force to the ejector's arm on a plate or other tableware, the extrusion plate is moved from the storage position to the ejection position, allowing the rice molded product to be accurately pushed out and dropped in a predetermined direction while maintaining its shape. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Regarding embodiments of the present invention, the diagram shows a rice molding machine in which the ejector's extrusion plate is positioned in a storage position, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. [Figure 2] Regarding embodiments of the present invention, the diagram shows a rice molding machine in which the ejector's extrusion plate is positioned in the extrusion position, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the molder body and ejector that make up the rice molder, viewed from above. (A) is a perspective view showing the molder body and ejector separated, and (B) is a perspective view showing the molder body and ejector joined together. [Figure 4] The diagram shows the molder body and ejector that make up the rice molder, viewed from below. (A) is a perspective view showing the molder body and ejector separated, and (B) is a perspective view showing the molder body and ejector joined together. [Figure 5] Regarding the cross-section of the rice molding machine, (A) is a cross-sectional view showing the molding machine body and ejector separated, and (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the molding machine body and ejector joined together. [Figure 6] Regarding the use of the rice molder, (A) is a perspective view showing a rice molded into the shape of nigiri sushi being dropped onto a nori sheet placed on a sushi stand, and (B) is a perspective view showing sushi toppings placed on top of the rice molded into nigiri sushi. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following drawings.

[0016] The rice cooker 1 is composed of a cooker body 2 and an ejector 3. As shown in FIG. 1, with the rice cooker 1 forming a rice molded product R by packing rice into the cavity 4 of the cooker body 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the rice molded product R is configured to be extruded from the cavity 4 by moving the extrusion plate 3a of the ejector 3 from the storage position P1 to the extrusion position P2.

[0017] (Cooker body) The cooker body 2 includes a head portion 5 and a handle portion 6 extending from the head portion 5.

[0018] The cavity 4 is formed in the head portion 5. As shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 5(A), the cavity 4 is formed by a downwardly opening space surrounded by a peripheral wall 4b formed downward from the bottom portion 4a, and ribs 7 extending in the vertical direction are arranged in a circumferential direction on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 4b.

[0019] The handle portion 6 forms a housing 8 that opens downward from the head portion 5 to the tail end of the handle portion 6. As shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 5(A), the housing 8 is formed by a space surrounded by side plate portions 8b extending from an upper plate portion 8a to both side portions and the tail portion of the handle portion 6.

[0020] At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 5(A), the cavity 4 and the housing 8 are communicated through a communication portion 9. That is, the peripheral wall 4b forming the cavity 4 is interrupted at the portion of the communication portion 9, whereby the cavity 4 and the housing 8 are communicated.

[0021] (Ejector) The ejector 3 has an arm portion 10 extending from the extrusion plate 3a. The extrusion plate 3a is provided with an auxiliary wall 4c that fits into the communication portion 9 between the cavity 4 and the housing 8 in the molding machine body 2 described above. Therefore, when the extrusion plate 3a is in the storage position P1, the auxiliary wall 4c is connected to the peripheral wall 4b, and as a result, the cavity 4 is surrounded all around by the peripheral wall 4b and the auxiliary wall 4c. When the extrusion plate 3a moves to the extrusion position P2, the auxiliary wall 4c also moves with it.

[0022] The arm portion 10 is fitted into a housing 8 formed on the handle portion 6 of the molding machine body 2, and the tail end of the arm portion 10 is detachably fixed to the tail end of the handle portion 6 via a fixing means 11.

[0023] (Fixing means) As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the fixing means 11 consists of a locking means 12 provided at the tail end of the arm portion 10 and a locking means 13 provided at the tail end of the handle portion 6.

[0024] The locking means 12 is provided on a flat plate portion 14 located at the tail end of the arm portion 10 and facing the lower opening of the housing 8, and comprises a locking claw 12a that rises from the tail end and a fixing plate 12b adjacent to the locking claw 12a.

[0025] In contrast, the locking means 13 includes a locking hole 13a that locks and locks the locking claw 12a in a way that allows it to be easily removed when inserted, and a slit 13b that holds the fixing plate 12b when inserted.

[0026] When the fixing plate 12b is inserted into the slit 13b, the locking claw 12a is inserted while deforming, and as soon as it approaches the locking hole 13a, it returns to its original shape and locks into the locking hole 13a, thereby fixing the tail end of the arm portion 10 to the tail end of the handle portion 6.

[0027] Then, by pushing the locking claw 12a sideways, it disengages from the locking hole 13a, and by pulling the locking claw 12a and the fixing plate 12b out of the locking hole 13a and the slit 13b, the arm portion 10 can be separated from the handle portion 6.

[0028] (Deformable parts and control buttons) As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the arm portion 10 of the ejector 3 includes a frame portion 15 that is fitted into the housing 8 of the handle portion 6 of the molding machine body 2. The frame portion 15 is reinforced to be non-flexible by providing reinforcing plates 15b, 15b on both sides of a plate arm 15a that extends along the upper plate portion 8a of the housing 8.

[0029] Therefore, a flexible flat plate portion is provided in the non-flexible frame portion 15, which is bent diagonally from the flat plate portion 14 toward the plate arm 15a, and this flat plate portion forms a deformable portion 16.

[0030] Furthermore, the plate arm 15a is bent between the reinforcing plates 15b, 15b on both sides toward the lower opening of the housing 8, thereby forming a recessed portion 17. The plate arm 15a is connected to the auxiliary wall 4c via this recessed portion 17, and an operation button 18 is erected in the recessed portion 17. The operation button 18 is inserted through a guide hole 6a formed in the handle portion 6 and protrudes upward.

[0031] (action) As described above, the rice molder 1 is assembled and put into use by inserting the extrusion plate 3a into the cavity 4 of the molder body 2, fitting the arm portion 10 into the housing 8 of the handle portion 6, and fixing the arm portion 10 and the tail end of the handle portion 6 with the fixing means 11. When not in use, the molder body 2 and ejector 3 can be disassembled and easily cleaned by detaching the fixing means 11.

[0032] In this state, the arm portion 10 positions the frame portion 15 inside the housing 8 via the deformable portion 16 from the flat plate portion 14, the operation button 18 protrudes above the handle portion 6, and the extrusion plate 3a is held in the storage position P1 inside the cavity 4. When a pressing force is applied to the operation button 18, the deformable portion 16 flexes, moving the extrusion plate 3a to the extrusion position P2. When the pressing force is released, the deformable portion 16 returns to its upward position, returning the extrusion plate 3a from the operating position P2 to the storage position P1.

[0033] Therefore, when shaping cooked rice into a sushi shape, as shown in Figure 1, the desired shape of the molded cooked rice product R can be formed by packing cooked rice into the cavity 4 while holding the extruded plate 3a in the storage position P1 inside the cavity 4. The cooked rice can be packed in by inserting the head unit 5 into the cooked rice contained in a sushi tub or the like and moving it to scoop it out, or by packing cooked rice scooped by hand into the cavity 4.

[0034] Then, with the molded rice product R held inside the cavity 4, the head portion 5 of the rice molder 1 is positioned over a plate or other tableware, and the operation button 18 is moved downwards. As shown in Figure 2, the extrusion plate 3a moves to the extrusion position P2, pushing the molded rice product R out of the cavity 4 and dropping it onto the tableware.

[0035] Figure 6 shows a sushi stand 19 for placing a molded rice product R in the shape of nigiri sushi. The sushi stand 19 has a groove-shaped holding part 21 that is bent downward in an arc shape between a pair of leg plates 20, 20. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6(A), when a nori sheet 22 is placed on the groove-shaped holding part 21 and pressed down, the nori sheet 22 is held in a state with both ends spread open.

[0036] Therefore, when the rice product R formed by the rice product molder 1 is dropped from above the nori sheet 22, the rice product R is placed in a suitable position on the concave curved portion of the nori sheet 22.

[0037] Therefore, as shown in Figure 6(B), an appropriate sushi topping 23 is placed on top of the rice molded product R, and the rice molded product R and the sushi topping 23 are held together by pinching the nori sheet 22 with the fingers, allowing for hygienic consumption without getting one's hands dirty. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1 Rice forming machine R Rice molding 2 Forming machine body 3 Ejectors 3a Extruded sheet P1 storage location P2 Extrusion position 4 Cavities 4a bottom 4b Surrounding wall 4c Auxiliary wall 5. Head section 6. Handle section 6a Guide hole 7. Ribs (ribs on the surrounding wall) 8 Housing 8a Upper plate section 8b Side plate part 9 Communication section 10 Arm section 11 Fixing means 12 Locking means 12a Locking claw 12b Fixed plate 13 Locked means 13a Locking hole 13b Slit 14 Flat plate part 15 Frame section 15a Plate Arm 15b Reinforcement plate 16. Deformable parts 17 Recessed area 18 Operation buttons 19 Sushi Stand 20 Leg plate part 21 Holding part 22 Nori Sheets 23 Sushi toppings

Claims

1. A rice molder comprising a molder body (2) and an ejector (3), wherein a rice molded product is formed by filling the cavity (4) of the molder body (2) with cooked rice, and the ejector is moved from a storage position to an extrusion position to push the rice molded product out of the cavity (4), The molding machine body (2) includes a head portion (5) formed such that the cavity (4) opens downward from the bottom portion (4a), The ejector (3) comprises an extrusion plate (3a) inserted into the cavity (4) and an arm portion (10) extending from the extrusion plate, with the tail end of the arm portion fixed to the molding machine body (2). The rice molding machine is characterized in that the arm portion (10) is equipped with a flexible, deformable portion (16), which normally holds the extrusion plate (3a) in a storage position (P1) facing the bottom of the cavity (4), but when a downward pressing force is applied to the arm portion (10), the deformable portion (16) bends, moving the extrusion plate (3a) to an extrusion position (P2) facing the outside of the cavity (4), and when the pressing force is released, the deformable portion (16) returns to its upward position, returning the extrusion plate (3a) from the operating position (P2) to the storage position (P1).

2. A rice molder comprising a molder body (2) and an ejector (3), wherein a rice molded product is formed by filling the cavity (4) of the molder body (2) with cooked rice, and the ejector (3) is moved from a storage position to an extrusion position to push the rice molded product out of the cavity (4), The molding machine body (2) comprises a head portion (5) formed to open the cavity (4) downward from the bottom (4a), and a handle portion (6) extending from the head portion. The ejector (3) comprises an extrusion plate (3a) that is movable between a storage position (P1) facing the bottom (4a) of the cavity (4) and an extrusion position (P2) facing the outside of the cavity (4), and an arm portion (10) extending from the extrusion plate. The molding machine body (2) and the ejector (3) are detachably fixed to each other via fixing means (11) at the tail ends of the handle portion (6) and the arm portion (10), and an operating button (18) is erected on the arm portion (10) that protrudes upward through the handle portion (6). The rice molder is characterized in that the arm portion (10) is equipped with a flexible deformable portion (16), which normally holds the extrusion plate (3a) in the storage position (P1), but when a downward pressing force is applied to the operation button (18), the deformable portion (16) bends, moving the extrusion plate (3a) to the extrusion position (P2), and when the pressing force is released, the deformable portion (16) returns to its upward position, returning the extrusion plate (3a) from the operating position (P2) to the storage position (P1).

3. The rice molder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cavity (4) is surrounded by a peripheral wall (4b) formed downward from the bottom (4a), and ribs (7) extending in the vertical direction are arranged in a circumferential direction inside the peripheral wall (4b).

4. The handle portion (6) of the molding machine body (2) forms a housing (4) that opens downward, and the arm portion (10) of the ejector (3) is fitted inside the housing (4). The operation button (18) is erected on the arm portion (10) near the extrusion plate (3a) and is inserted through the guide hole (6a) of the handle portion (6) so that it protrudes upward from the handle portion (6). The rice molder according to claim 2, characterized in that the deformable portion (16) is formed in the region between the operation button (18) and the fixing means (11) on the arm portion (10).

Images