Heating Regulator

Abstract

To provide a cooking device capable of reducing the risk of burns by lowering the temperature of a pan after a drying course is completed. [Solution] The rice cooker of the present invention has a pot 4 that contains rice and water, a lid gasket 25 that seals the pot 4, an inner lid assembly 23 that covers the opening of the pot 4, a heating coil 11 that heats the pot 4, a lid heater 31 that heats the inner lid 24, a pot sensor 12 that detects the temperature of the pot 4, and a lid temperature sensor 32 that detects the temperature of the inner lid 24.Based on the detection by the pot sensor 12, the heating coil 11 heats the pot 4 to a first pot temperature α that is higher than the boiling temperature of water, and based on the detection by the lid temperature sensor 32, the lid heater 31 heats the inner lid 24 to a third lid temperature β3 or a fourth lid temperature ε that are higher than the boiling temperature of water but lower than the first pot temperature α, and is configured to have a drying course that dries the inside of the pot 4.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance capable of carrying out a drying course for drying the inside of a pot. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a rice cooker as a cooking appliance capable of implementing a drying course in which a heating means (12) heats the inner pot (3) and a lid heating means (10) heats the inner lid (4), thereby heating both the inner pot (3) and the inner lid (4) and drying these components. At the end of the drying course, the temperatures of the inner pot (3) and the inner lid (4) are maintained at a first predetermined temperature T1, which is 100°C, the evaporation temperature of water. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-178076 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inner lid (4) is made of a stainless steel plate combined with elastic materials such as rubber and resin parts, but there was a risk that such rubber and resin parts would deteriorate if exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a cooking appliance that can dry the pot and inner lid without deteriorating the elastic member while reducing the possibility of condensation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The cooking device of the present invention comprises a pot for accommodating food to be cooked, an inner lid having an elastic member for sealing the pot and covering an opening of the pot, a pot heating means for heating the pot, a lid heating means for heating the inner lid, a pot temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the pot, and a lid temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the inner lid. The pot is heated by the pot heating means based on detection by the pot temperature detection means so that a target pot temperature is higher than the boiling temperature of water, and the inner lid temperature is adjusted based on detection by the lid temperature detection means so that a target inner lid temperature is higher than the boiling temperature of water but lower than the target pot temperature. Record The drying course includes a drying course in which the inner lid is heated by a heating means to dry the inside of the pot, and when the target pot temperature is set to a first target pot temperature, the drying course includes a first drying process in which the pot is heated by the pot heating means so as to maintain a temperature range including the first target pot temperature for a predetermined time after the temperature of the pot reaches the first target pot temperature, and a second drying process in which the pot is heated by the pot heating means so as to maintain a temperature range including a second target pot temperature that is lower than the boiling temperature of water after the predetermined time has elapsed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the temperature difference between the pot and the inner lid is suppressed, thereby reducing the possibility of condensation, and the pot and inner lid can be dried in a limited time, and the inner lid and elastic member can be dried without deteriorating the elastic member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a rice cooker showing one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the rice cooker. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a top view of the LCD displaying the top screen. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a top view of the LCD displaying the maintenance selection screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a top view of the LCD displaying the boiling cleaning setting screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a top view of the LCD displaying the drying course confirmation screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a top view of the LCD displaying the boiling cleaning screen. [Figure 9] 10 is a graph showing the changes over time in the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor, the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor, the output of the heating coil, and the output of the lid heater in the drying course of the same. [Figure 10] This is a graph showing the changes over time in the detected temperature of the pot temperature sensor, the detected temperature of the lid temperature sensor, the output of the heating coil, and the output of the lid heater when the first drying process is completed before the temperature of the inner lid reaches the first lid temperature during the drying course. [Figure 11] This is a graph showing the changes over time in the detected temperature of the pot temperature sensor, the detected temperature of the lid temperature sensor, the output of the heating coil, and the output of the lid heater when the temperature of the pot reaches the first pot temperature during the first drying process in the drying course. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a top view of the LCD displaying the drying course execution screen. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a top view of the LCD displaying the drying course completion screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the rice cooker of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that common parts will be designated by common reference numerals throughout these drawings.

[0010] Figures 1 to 11 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a rice cooker. First, the overall configuration of the rice cooker will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body, which, when viewed from above, is generally rectangular with a front, rear, left, and right sides facing each other, and has an open top. Reference numeral 2 denotes a lid that can be opened and closed to cover the top opening of main body 1. Like main body 1, lid 2 also has a generally rectangular shape with a front, rear, left, and right sides facing each other, and has a generally flat top. Main body 1 has a pot housing 3 with an open top. When lid 2 is opened, a bottomed pot 4, which serves as a container for holding water and rice to be cooked, is removably housed in pot housing 3. Pot housing 3 is constructed by combining a bowl-shaped resin inner frame 5 and other components, and the overall shape is cylindrical with a bottom.

[0011] Pot 4 has a main material 7 made of aluminum, which has good thermal conductivity, and a heating element 8 made of a magnetic metal plate such as ferritic stainless steel, which is bonded to the outer surface of main material 7 from the lower side to the bottom. Additionally, on the outer surface of inner frame 5, which faces the lower side of pot 4 toward the bottom, a heating coil 11 is provided as a heating means for electromagnetic induction heating of heating element 8 of pot 4. When high-frequency current is supplied to heating coil 11, the alternating magnetic field generated by heating coil 11 causes heating element 8 of pot 4 to heat, thereby heating the food inside pot 4 during cooking and keeping warm. Additionally, pot sensor 12, which serves as a pot temperature detection means, is disposed in the center of the bottom of inner frame 5 so that it comes into elastic contact with the outer bottom surface of pot 4.

[0012] A hinge 13 is provided at the rear of the lid 2, which connects it to the main body 1. A lid operating body 14 is provided in an exposed state on the front upper surface of the lid 2, and when the lid operating body 14 is pressed, the engagement between the main body 1 and the lid 2 is released, and a hinge spring 10 provided at the upper rear of the main body 1 opens the lid 2 with the hinge axis of the hinge 13 as the rotation center.

[0013] A steam vent 15 is provided on the upper rear surface of the lid 2, which allows steam generated from the food being cooked in the pot 4 to be released to the outside of the rice cooker. In addition to the steam vent 15 and the lid operating mechanism 14, the top surface of the lid 2 is also provided with a display means 18, which includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 16 as a screen display and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display 17 as a status display, for displaying various information related to rice cooking, and an operating means 19, which is provided above the LCD 16 and consists of a touch sensor, for starting rice cooking and selecting the time and cooking course. A control PC (Printed Circuit) board 21 equipped with a display and operating control means 51 (see Figure 4) for controlling the operation and display is also provided on the underside of the display means 18 and operating means 19.

[0014] The LED display 17 displays the actual status of the rice cooker. In this embodiment, the "Reservation" LED indicator lights when a timer is set, the "Keep Warm" LED indicator lights when the rice cooker is in the Keep Warm state, the "Vacuum" LED indicator lights when the pressure inside the pot 4 is reduced below atmospheric pressure by the pressure reducing means 38 (described later), and the "Pressure" LED indicator lights when the pressure inside the pot 4 is increased from the time pressure inside the pot 4 begins to build up during cooking until the rice is cooked. Therefore, even when the backlight of the LCD 16 is dimmed, the user can check the LED display 17 to understand the current status of the rice cooker at a glance. The LED display 17 may be illuminated in different colors when each LED indicator lights up, allowing the current status of the rice cooker to be understood at a glance. In this embodiment, the LED display 17 is located directly in front of the LCD 16, but it may also be located away from the LCD 16. Alternatively, the LED display unit 17 may be omitted and the display contents of the LED display unit 17 may be displayed on the LCD 16.

[0015] The operating means 19, which is composed of a touch sensor, is configured such that a plurality of components are arranged as touch keys, each of which is connected by pattern wiring between a transparent electrode section made of a conductive polymer and a contact section connected to the control PC board 21, and by performing a touch operation on one of a plurality of button display sections displayed on the LCD 16, the touch key arranged above that button display section and corresponding to that button display section is touched and that button display section is selected.

[0016] In this way, taking user operability and safety into consideration, lid operating member 14 is located on the front of the top surface of the rice cooker, closer to the user, and steam vent 15 is located on the rear of the top surface, farther from the user. This allows for ample space on the top surface of lid 2 between lid operating member 14 and steam vent 15 for display means 18. This allows for larger display means 18 and operating means 19 located above it, improving the visibility of display means 18 and the operability of operating means 19. Furthermore, apart from operating means 19 above LCD 16, the top surface of lid 2 does not contain any operating means, such as physical keys and buttons like a rice cooker key or an off key, as found on conventional rice cookers. This eliminates the need to search for buttons when operating the rice cooker, thereby improving operability. It also allows for a very sleek appearance and allows for a compact space for display means 18 and operating means 19, which are precision components. In addition, by removing the physical keys and buttons, the top surface of the cover 2 can be made approximately flat, making it easier to wipe and clean, improving cleanability.

[0017] An inner lid assembly 23 is disposed below the lid 2 and serves as the lower component of the lid 2. The inner lid assembly 23 is made of a metal material and has a disk shape with approximately the same diameter as the upper opening of the pot 4. The inner lid assembly 23 includes an inner lid 24 that covers the upper opening of the pot 4, a lid gasket 25 as an elastic member provided around the entire outer periphery of the inner lid 24 to seal the gap between the inner lid 24 and the pot 4, and a pressure regulator 26 that adjusts the internal pressure of the pot 4. The annular lid gasket 25 abuts against the top surface, which is the opening of the pot 4, when the lid 2 is closed as shown in FIG. 2, to close the gap between the pot 4 and the inner lid 24 and seal out steam generated from the pot 4.

[0018] Lid opening / closing detection means 27 is provided inside lid 2 near hinge 13 to detect whether lid 2 is open or closed. Lid opening / closing detection means 27 may be optical, mechanical, magnetic, or any other type of detection system as long as it can output a detection signal in response to the opening or closing of lid 2. Also provided inside lid 2 are lid heater 31 as lid heating means for heating inner lid 24 and a thermistor-type lid temperature sensor 32 for controlling the temperature of inner lid 24 using lid heater 31. Also formed inside lid 2 is steam exhaust path 33 that connects steam vent 15 and pressure adjustment unit 26 and serves as a passageway for releasing steam generated in pot 4 to the outside.

[0019] Pressure adjustment unit 26 is provided with pressure adjustment valve 34, which opens and closes steam exhaust path 33 between the inside of pot 4 and steam vent 15. Pressure adjustment valve 34 is ball-shaped and works in conjunction with solenoid 35 provided inside lid 2. Solenoid 35 rotates pressure adjustment valve 34 to open steam exhaust path 33 when steam inside pot 4 is to be released to the outside, and to close steam exhaust path 33 when the pressure inside pot 4 is to be pressurized or reduced. When pressurized, high-frequency current is passed through heating coil 11 to heat the food to be cooked in pot 4, causing the food to boil and generate steam. This steam fills pot 4, and when the internal pressure of pot 4 reaches a predetermined value, pressure adjustment valve 34 opens steam exhaust path 33 against its own weight, thereby maintaining the pressure inside pot 4 at or above atmospheric pressure.

[0020] Reference numeral 38 denotes a pressure reducing means for lowering the pressure inside pot 4 below normal atmospheric pressure when lid 2 is closed on main body 1. After pot 4 is placed in pot holder 3 and lid 2 is closed, pressure reducing means 38 reduces the internal pressure of sealed pot 4 by energizing solenoid 35 and closing pressure regulator valve 34 to block steam exhaust path 33. When the pressure inside pot 4 drops below atmospheric pressure by a certain value, pressure reducing pump 39, which powers pressure reducing means 38, stops operating, maintaining the inside of pot 4 at a reduced pressure. Furthermore, when the pressure inside pot 4 is to be restored from the reduced pressure state to the same pressure as the outside air, pressure reducing pump 39 stops operating and a path (not shown) connecting pressure reducing pump 39 to the inside of pot 4 is opened. In other words, pressure reducing means 38 also serves as a pressure return means for restoring the inside of pot 4 from the reduced pressure state to the same pressure as the outside air.

[0021] Additionally, a unitized heating board assembly 42 including a heating control means 41 is disposed inside the main body 1. The heating control means 41 is configured to electrically control each part of the rice cooker and is equipped with a control IC 43 constituting a microcomputer, storage means 44 (see Figure 3) such as a readable and writable memory that stores various information and data, and timing means 45 (see Figure 3) such as a timer that can measure the time related to cooking rice. In particular, the heating control means 41 is configured to control the temperature of the bottom of the pot 4 mainly by controlling the heating coil 11 based on the temperature detected by the pot sensor 12, and to control the temperature of the inner lid 24 that faces the food to be cooked mainly by controlling the lid heater 31 based on the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 32.

[0022] Figure 3 shows the electrical configuration of the rice cooker of this embodiment. In the figure, the heating control means 41 equipped in the main body 2 includes a control IC 43, memory means 44, and timer means 45 that constitute a microcomputer, and receives temperature detection signals from the pot sensor 12 and lid temperature sensor 32, detection signals from the lid open / close detection means 27, and control signals from the display / operation control means 51 (described later) to control the heating coil 11 and lid heater 31 during cooking, keeping warm, and maintenance, as well as the solenoid 35 that operates the pressure regulating valve 34 and the pressure reducing pump 39 of the pressure reducing means 38.

[0023] The heating control means 41 includes a rice cooking control means 47, a keep-warm control means 48, and a maintenance control means 49 in the control IC 43 as functions in the control sequence of the program read from the memory means 53. Upon receiving a command to start rice cooking from the operating means 19, the rice cooking control means 47 sequentially executes a soaking process to promote water absorption by the rice placed in the pot 4, a boiling heating process to quickly raise the temperature of the food to boiling, a boiling continuation process to maintain the boiling state of the food, and a steaming process to maintain the rice at a high temperature without burning it, thereby controlling the rice cooking process by heating the food in the pot 4 at the desired pressure. The keep-warm control means 48 controls the rice in the pot 4 to be kept at a predetermined keep-warm temperature. The maintenance control means 49 controls the boiling cleaning and drying of the inside of the pot 4, the inner lid 24 and the lid gasket 25 facing the pot 4, and the inside of the steam exhaust path 33.

[0024] On the other hand, the display and operation control means 51 includes a control IC 52, memory means 53, and timing means (not shown) that constitute a microcomputer, and receives operation signals from the operation means 19 and control signals from the heating control means 41 to control the display operation of the display means 18 and the notification operation of the notification means 54, such as a buzzer that issues a sound when the rice cooker starts and ends operation, and also sends control signals to the heating control means 41. This display and operation control means 51 includes a display control means 55 and a condition setting means 56 in the control IC 52 as functions in the control sequence of the program stored in the memory means 53. The display control means 55 generates various control signals based on operation signals from the operation means 19, and controls the display operation of the display means 18 and the notification operation of the notification means 54. The condition setting means 56 also works in conjunction with the display control means 55 to enable the selection and setting of conditions that can be selected by the operation means 19, for example, the selection and setting of a desired rice cooking course from among a plurality of rice settings, cooking method settings, hardness settings, and water hardness settings.

[0025] The storage means 44 stores, for example, rice cooking courses corresponding to the rice settings, cooking method settings, and hardness settings, as well as boiling cleaning courses and drying courses corresponding to the boiling cleaning settings. These rice cooking courses are selected and set by the display control means 55 controlling the display means 18 to selectably display the rice settings, cooking method settings, and hardness settings of the rice cooking courses stored in the storage means 44, and selecting these settings with the operation means 19. Furthermore, these boiling cleaning courses are selected and set by the display control means 55 controlling the display means 18 to selectably display the boiling cleaning time settings and other settings stored in the storage means 44, and selecting these settings with the operation means 19. The memory means 44 also stores a plurality of heating patterns, which are patterns for driving the heating coil 11, lid heater 31, pressure regulating valve 34 and pressure reducing means 38, and specify the timing and output at which the heating coil 11, lid heater 31, pressure regulating valve 34 and pressure reducing means 38 are driven. The rice cooking control means 47, keep-warm control means 48 and maintenance control means 49 control the heating coil 11, lid heater 31, pressure regulating valve 34 and pressure reducing means 38 using these heating patterns and current patterns.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the LCD 16, and in each drawing, the upper side will be referred to as the "front," the lower side as the "rear," the left side as the "left," and the right side as the "right." The front side of each drawing will be referred to as the "top" and the back side as the "bottom." This drawing shows the top screen G1. When the user inserts the power plug provided in the main body 1 into a household outlet, the necessary power is supplied to each part of the rice cooker. At this time, the display control means 55 causes the LCD 16 to display the top screen G1 layout shown in FIG. 4 as the usual initial screen to be displayed on the LCD 16 after a predetermined time has elapsed or when a predetermined startup display screen is displayed.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, the top screen G1 will be described. A menu key display area A1 is formed at the front of the screen, displaying four button display areas B1 to B7 arranged side by side. The "Rice Cooking" button display area B1 includes a text display element D1 that reads "Rice Cooking" and a text display element D2 that reads "▼." The "How to Cook" button display area B3 includes a text display element D3 that reads "How to Cook" and a text display element D4 that reads "▼." The "Texture" button display area B5 includes a text display element D5 that reads "Texture" and a text display element D6 that reads "▼." The "Keep Warm" button display area B7 includes a text display element D7 that reads "Keep Warm" and a text display element D8 that reads "▼."

[0028] Additionally, behind the menu key display area A1, there is a rice cooking information display area A2 displaying four setting indicators D11-D14 arranged side by side. Here, the "Rice / Cooking" setting indicator D11 displays the set rice or cooking information. It is located behind the "Rice" button display B1, and in FIG. 4, it displays "White Rice, Random Brand." The "Cooking Method" setting indicator D12 displays the set cooking method. It is located behind the "Cooking Method" button display B3, and in FIG. 4, it displays "Master Cooking." The "Texture" setting indicator D13 displays the set texture, such as hard or soft. It is located behind the "Texture" button display B5, and in FIG. 4, it displays "Normal." The "Keep Warm" setting indicator D14 displays the set keep warm information. It is located behind the "Keep Warm" button display B7, and in FIG. 4, it displays "Standard."

[0029] Behind the rice cooking information display area A2, a button display B15 containing a text display D15 that reads "Soak+" and a button display B16 containing a text display D16 that reads "Maintenance" are displayed side by side. To the right of the "Soak+" button display B15 and the "Maintenance" button display B16, a text display D17 that reads "Cooking time," suggesting that the numbers displayed on the clock display D16 represent the cooking time, a clock display D18 that displays the required cooking time, the remaining time until the actual completion of cooking, and the predicted cooking completion time (in Fig. 4, "approximately 38 minutes," the required cooking time calculated from the settings in the rice cooking information display area A2), and a button display B19 containing a text display D19 that reads "Start cooking" are displayed side by side.

[0030] Also, at the rear of the top screen G1, a setting button display B20 including a text display D20 reminiscent of a gear diagram, a button display B21 including a text display D21 saying "Keep warm", a button display B22 including a text display D22 saying "Reservation", a time display D23 showing the current time, and a button display B24 including a text display D24 saying "Off" are displayed side by side.

[0031] The "Off" button display B24 is operated when stopping cooking rice or keeping it warm. When the "Off" button display B24 is touched, the display control means 55 receives an operation signal from the operation means 19 arranged above the "Off" button display B24 and sends it to the heating control means 41, and the rice cooking control means 47 controls the cooking information display area A2 to stop heating the food to be cooked in the pot 4 or the scheduled cooking and switch it to the off state, and the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display the top screen G1 with the settings from the most recent time rice was cooked, i.e., the settings stored in the memory means 53. Furthermore, when the "Off" button display section B24 is touched on the top screen G1, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to discard the rice settings, cooking method settings, hardness adjustment settings, and water hardness settings that were set before cooking and are currently displayed in the rice cooking information display area A2, and to display the settings in the rice cooking information display area A2 as they were when rice was most recently cooked, i.e., the settings stored in the memory means 53.

[0032] The "Start cooking" button display section B19 is operated when starting to cook rice. When the "Start cooking" button display section B19 is touched, the condition setting means 56 stores the rice and cooking settings, cooking method settings, texture settings, and keep warm settings currently displayed in the rice cooking information display area A2 in the memory means 53 as the settings for this rice cooking course, the rice cooking control means 47 controls the start of cooking the food to be cooked in the main body 1 using the settings for this rice cooking course stored in the memory means 44, and the keep warm control means 48 controls the keep warm operation for the rice in the main body 1 after the cooking process using the settings for this rice cooking course.

[0033] The "Keep Warm" button display B19 is operated when keeping the food warm, and when the "Keep Warm" button display B19 is touched, the keep warm control means 48 sends an appropriate control signal to the heating coil 11 and the lid heater 31 so that the food to be cooked in the main body 1 starts to be kept warm and reheated.

[0034] The "Rice - Cooking" button display section B1 is operated to select the type and brand of rice to be cooked, or to select a cooking method such as porridge. When the "Rice - Cooking" button display section B1 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display a rice and cooking selection screen (not shown), and when a type and brand of rice or a cooking method is selected on this rice and cooking selection screen, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to return to the top screen G1 and display the selected type and brand of rice or cooking method on the text display D11.

[0035] The "Cooking method" button display section B3 is operated to select the type of cooking method for the food to be cooked. When the "Cooking method" button display section B3 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display a cooking method selection screen (not shown). When the cooking method for the food to be cooked is selected on this cooking method selection screen, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to return to the top screen G1 and display the selected cooking method for the food to be cooked on the text display D12.

[0036] The "Texture" button display section B5 is operated to select the type of texture of rice to be cooked. When the "Texture" button display section B5 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display a texture selection screen (not shown), and when a rice texture is selected on this texture selection screen, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to return to the top screen G1 and display the selected rice texture on the text display D13.

[0037] The "Keep Warm" button display section B7 is operated to set the keep warm operation in the keep warm process that is carried out after the rice cooking process. When the "Keep Warm" button display section B7 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display a keep warm selection screen (not shown), and when the keep warm operation is set on this keep warm selection screen, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to return to the top screen G1 and display the current keep warm operation setting on the text display D14.

[0038] The "Soaking +" button display section B15 is operated when extending the time of the soaking cooking process in advance during the rice cooking process. When the "Soaking +" button display section B15 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display a soaking cooking extension time selection screen (not shown). When an extension time is selected on this soaking cooking extension time selection screen, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to return to the top screen G1 and display a display on the text display D15 that adds the selected extension time to "Soaking +", for example, if the selected extension time is 30 minutes, a display such as "Soaking + 30 minutes" is displayed.

[0039] The setting button display section B20 is operated to set the rice cooker, and when the setting button display section B20 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display a setting screen (not shown). The setting screen may be configured to allow the user to set whether or not to notify the notification means 54 and the volume of the notification sound, and may also be configured to allow the user to set whether or not to notify when the rice cooker starts and stops operating.

[0040] The "Reservation" button display section B22 is operated when performing scheduled rice cooking. When the "Reservation" button display section B22 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display a reservation setting screen (not shown). A reservation is set on this reservation setting screen, and when scheduled rice cooking is started, the rice cooking control means 47 starts cooking so that the food to be cooked in the main body 1 is cooked at the scheduled time that has been set, and the keep-warm control means 48 also controls to start keeping the food warm.

[0041] The "Maintenance" button display section B16 is operated when boiling and drying the rice cooker, and when the "Maintenance" button display section B16 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display the maintenance selection screen G2 as shown in Figure 5.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows the maintenance selection screen G2, which is displayed when the "Maintenance" button display B16 on the top screen G1 is touched. Referring to FIG. 5, the maintenance selection screen G2 is described below. A text display D31 reading "Please select maintenance" is displayed in the front of the screen. Behind the text display D31 is a maintenance selection display area A3 displaying two button displays B32 and B34 side by side. The "Boiling Cleaning" button display B32 includes a text display D32 reading "Boiling Cleaning" and an image display D33 showing a photo of water boiling in the pot 4. The "Drying Program" button display B34 includes a text display D34 reading "Drying Program" and an image display D35 showing a photo of the pot 4 and inner lid assembly 23. The rear of the maintenance selection screen G2 includes a button display B36 containing a text display D36 reading "Back" and a button display B37 containing a text display D37 reading "Cancel." These are displayed side by side.

[0043] The "Boiling cleaning" button display section B32 and the "Drying course" button display section B34 are operated to select the type of maintenance. When the "Boiling cleaning" button display section B32 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display the boiling cleaning setting screen G3 as shown in Figure 6, and when the "Drying course" button display section B34 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display the drying course screen G3 as shown in Figure 8.

[0044] The "Back" button display section B36 is operated to discard the settings on the current screen, for example, the maintenance selection screen G2, and return to the previous screen, for example, the top screen G1. When the "Back" button display section B36 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to discard the settings currently displayed on the LCD 16, return to the previous screen, for example, the top screen G1, and display the settings that were displayed on the previous screen.

[0045] The "Cancel" button display section B37 is operated to discard the settings on the current screen, for example, the maintenance selection screen G2, and return to the top screen G1. When the "Cancel" button display section B37 is touched, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to discard the settings currently displayed on the LCD 25, return to the top screen G1, and display the settings that were displayed on the most recent top screen G1.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows the boiling cleaning setting screen G3, which is displayed when the "Boiling Cleaning" button display B32 on the maintenance selection screen G2 is touched. Referring to FIG. 6, the boiling cleaning setting screen G3 is described below. A text display D41 reading "Maintenance [Boiling Cleaning]" is displayed at the front of the screen. Behind the text display D41, an explanatory text display D42 reading "(1) Add water to the 'White Rice' water level mark 2 and close the lid" and an explanatory text display D43 reading "(2) Select the boiling time and touch Start" are arranged side by side. Behind the explanatory text display D43, a boiling time selection display area A4 is formed, displaying three button displays B44-B46 side by side. The "10-minute start" button display B44 includes a text display D44 reading "10-minute start for light soiling." The "30 minute start" button display B45 includes a text display D45 that reads "30 minute start recommended." The "60 minute start" button display B46 includes a text display D46 that reads "60 minute start when odors are a concern." At the rear of the maintenance selection screen G2, a "Back" button display B36, a time display D23, and a "Cancel" button display B37 are arranged side by side, and the current time is displayed on the time display D23 to provide reference for setting the boiling time.

[0047] Button display sections B44 to B46 are operated to select the boiling cleaning time and start the boiling cleaning. When button display sections B44 to B46, for example button display section B45 for "Start in 30 minutes," are touched, maintenance control means 49 performs boiling cleaning operation for the time set in accordance with the heating pattern set for this boiling cleaning, for example for 30 minutes.

[0048] 7 shows the drying course confirmation screen G4, which is displayed when the "Drying Course" button display B34 on the maintenance selection screen G2 is touched. Referring to the figure, the drying course confirmation screen G4 has a text display D51 at the front that reads "Maintenance [Drying Course]," and behind the text display D51 are an explanatory text display D52 that reads "This is a course for drying the inner pot and inner lid in the rice cooker after hand washing," and a pre-drying confirmation text display D53 that reads "Please set the inner pot and inner lid."

[0049] Behind the pre-drying confirmation text display D53, a clock display D18 that displays the drying time, and in Figure 7 displays "approximately 30 minutes," and a button display B54 including a text display D54 that reads "Start drying" are displayed side by side.

[0050] At the rear of the drying course confirmation screen G4, a "Back" button display B36, a time display D23, and a "Cancel" button display B37 are arranged side by side, and the current time is displayed on the time display D23 so that the user can refer to the end time of the drying period.

[0051] The "Start Drying" button display section B54 is operated to start the drying course, and when the "Start Drying" button display section B54 is touched, the setting of the drying course is sent from the display / operation control means 51 to the heating control means 41. Then, the maintenance control means 49 of the heating control means 41 controls the heating coil 11 and the lid heater 31 so as to perform the heating operation of the drying course in accordance with the heating pattern of the setting of the drying course stored in the storage means 44.

[0052] Next, we will explain the operation of the boiling cleaning function for the rice cooker configured as described above. First, water is poured into the pot 4 as instructed on the explanatory text display D42, and the pot 4 is then placed in the pot housing 3, after which the lid 2 is closed. Around the same time, the "Maintenance" button display B16 on the top screen G1 is touched using the operating means 19, and the "Boiling Cleaning" button display B32 on the maintenance selection screen G2 is touched to move to the boiling cleaning setting screen G3.

[0053] Then, when the operation means 19 is used to touch the button display sections B44 to B46 on the boiling cleaning setting screen G3, for example, the "Start in 30 minutes" button display section B45, the display / operation control means 51 sends this boiling cleaning setting to the heating control means 41, and the maintenance control means 49 performs the boiling cleaning operation for the set time, for example, 30 minutes, in accordance with the heating pattern of the current boiling cleaning setting.

[0054] When the boiling cleaning operation is started, maintenance control means 49 controls solenoid 35 to rotate pressure regulating valve 34 to open steam exhaust path 33, thereby connecting the inside of pot 4 to the outside of main body 1. Maintenance control means 49 also controls heating coil 11 to strongly heat the water in pot 4 until boiling detection is performed, raising the temperature to boiling in a short period of time. Display control means 55 then controls display means 18 to display boiling cleaning execution screen G5 as shown in Figure 8.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 7, the boiling cleaning execution screen G5 displays a warning text D61 that reads "Heating" and a text D62 that reads "Boiling cleaning in progress" side by side at the front. Behind the "Heating" warning text D61 and the "Boiling cleaning in progress" text D62, a clock display D16 displays a text D63 that reads "Remaining," suggesting that the number displayed indicates the time remaining until the boiling cleaning is complete. A clock display D18 displays the remaining time until the boiling cleaning is complete, and in FIG. 7, displays "approximately 30 minutes," which is the set time for the boiling cleaning. At the rear of the top screen G1, a time display D23 and an "Off" button B24 are arranged side by side. The time display D23 displays the current time, allowing the user to refer to the time when the boiling cleaning will be completed. The "Off" button B24 allows the user to end the boiling cleaning at any time.

[0056] Subsequently, when maintenance control means 49 receives a temperature detection signal from pot sensor 12 indicating that the temperature of pot 4 has reached a predetermined temperature or higher, for example, 90°C, maintenance control means 49 begins boiling detection control to detect boiling of water. Maintenance control means 49 continues to control continuous current flow through heating coil 11 to strongly heat the water inside pot 4, while calculating the slope of the detected temperature, i.e., the rate at which the temperature detected by pot sensor 12 rises over a predetermined period of time. Specifically, when maintenance control means 49 calculates from the temperature detected by pot sensor 12 that the temperature rise at the bottom of pot 4 has fallen below a predetermined rate of temperature rise, such as 3°C or less in 120 seconds, it determines that boiling due to a change in the rate of temperature rise of pot 4 has been detected. Maintenance control means 49 also receives the temperature detection signal from pot sensor 12, and determines that the water inside pot 4 has boiled when the detected temperature at the bottom of pot 4 reaches the predetermined temperature of 100°C.

[0057] When maintenance control means 49 determines that the water in pot 4 has boiled, it controls the power on / off of heating coil 11 based on the temperature detected by pot sensor 12 so that the temperature of pot 4 remains at a predetermined temperature, such as 100°C, the boiling temperature of water, thereby maintaining the boiling state of the water in pot 4. The rice cooker of this embodiment employs a circulating steam method for boiling cleaning, which kills microorganisms by directly circulating heated steam. The water in pot 4 is boiled to produce steam, which is then attached to the inner wall of pot 4, the parts of inner lid 24 and lid gasket 25 facing the inside of pot 4, the inner wall of steam exhaust path 33, and steam vent 15, thereby sterilizing the areas where the steam has adhered and eliminating odors. Here, the maintenance control means 49 controls the lid heater 31 to operate, preventing excessive water droplets from adhering to the inner lid 24 when boiling cleaning is completed, thereby reducing the amount of water droplets adhering to the inner lid 24 dripping down the surface of the inner lid 24 onto the top surface of the pot storage section 3 when the lid body 2 is opened after boiling cleaning is completed.

[0058] When the display on the clock display D18 becomes "approximately 0 minutes" and the maintenance control means 49 receives a timing signal from the timing means 45 indicating that the set time has elapsed, the maintenance control means 49 performs control to stop the power supply to the heating coil 11 and sends a signal to the display and operation control means 51 indicating that the boiling cleaning operation has ended. In response to this signal, the display control means 55 controls the notification means 54 to issue a notification that the boiling cleaning operation has ended, and also controls the display means 18 to display the top screen G1.

[0059] Next, the operation of the rice cooker having the above-described configuration in the dry course will be described. Figures 9 to 11 show the pan temperature t P and the lid temperature t L and the output P of the heating coil 11 P and the output P of the lid heater 31 L The graphs show the changes over time in and .

[0060] First, referring to Figure 9, the operation of the drying course of this embodiment will be explained. For example, after washing the pot 4 and inner lid assembly 23, the inner lid assembly 23 is attached to the lid body 2 and the pot 4 is set in the pot storage section 3, and then the lid body 2 is closed, or when the boiling cleaning operation is completed, and there are water droplets on the pot 4, inner lid 24, or lid gasket 25, use the operating means 19 to touch the ``Care'' button display section B16 on the top screen G1, and then touch the ``Drying course'' button display section B34 on the maintenance selection screen G2 to move to the drying course confirmation screen G4.

[0061] Then, when the "Start Drying" button display section B54 on the drying course confirmation screen G4 is touched using the operation means 19, information on the drying course is sent from the display / operation control means 51 to the heating control means 41, and the maintenance control means 49 carries out the drying course in accordance with the heating pattern of the drying course.

[0062] When the drying course begins, the process transitions to the first drying step, and the maintenance control means 49 controls the solenoid 35 to rotate the pressure regulator valve 34 to open the steam exhaust path 33, thereby connecting the inside of the pot 4 to the outside of the main body 1. The maintenance control means 49 also controls the duty cycle of the heating coil 11 to A% based on the temperature of the bottom of the pot 4 detected by the pot sensor 12, thereby strongly heating the pot 4. Furthermore, the maintenance control means 49 controls the lid heater 31 to be continuously energized based on the temperature of the inner lid 24 detected by the lid temperature sensor 32, thereby strongly heating the inner lid 24. By heating with both the heating coil 11 and the lid heater 31 in this way, the temperature difference between the pot 4 and the inner lid 24 is suppressed, reducing the possibility of condensation. The display control means 55 then controls the display means 18 to display the drying course execution screen G6, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0063] Referring to the same figure, the drying course execution screen G6 will be explained. At the front, a warning text display D65 saying "Drying" is displayed. Behind the warning text display D65 saying "Drying," a text display D63 saying "Remaining" and a clock display D18 showing the time remaining until the end of the drying course, which in Fig. 12 shows "approximately 30 minutes," are displayed side by side. At the rear of the drying course execution screen G6, a time display D23 and an "Off" button display B24 are arranged side by side. The current time is displayed on the time display D23, allowing the user to refer to the end time of the drying course, and the "Off" button display B24 allows the user to end the drying course at any time.

[0064] The pot temperature t in Figure 9 P As shown in the graph, when heating coil 11 is powered on and off at a duty ratio of A%, the temperature of pot 4 rises at the start, and when the temperature of pot 4 reaches first pot temperature α, for example, where the target temperature is set to a value above 100°C, such as 104 to 105°C, heating coil 11 is turned OFF, and when the temperature of pot 4 falls below first pot temperature α, heating coil 11 is turned ON at a duty ratio of A%, and power is controlled to and from the heating coil so that the temperature is maintained at first pot temperature α, thereby controlling the temperature of pot 4.

[0065] When the maintenance control means 49 receives a temperature detection signal from the lid temperature sensor 24 indicating that the temperature of the inner lid 24 has reached a first lid temperature β1, which is set to a target temperature of, for example, 95 to 100°C, it controls the lid heater 31 to be turned on and off at a duty ratio of B%. Furthermore, when the temperature reaches a second temperature β2, which is set to, for example, 101 to 105°C, it turns the lid heater off and controls the lid heater 31 to maintain the temperature of the inner lid 24 at a third temperature β3 between the first lid temperature β1 and the second lid temperature β2. Because the inner lid assembly 23 uses a resin material, for example, the lid gasket 25, maintaining the temperature below the second lid temperature β2 allows the inner lid 24 and components incorporated in the inner lid assembly 23 to dry without deteriorating the resin-based components. Note that this is just one example, and the third lid temperature β3 may be set to a target temperature of, for example, 96 to 101°C, or a value close to 100°C.

[0066] In this way, in the first drying process, when the temperature of the pot 4 is maintained at the first pot temperature α and the temperature of the inner lid 24 is maintained at the third lid temperature β3, the water droplets adhering to the pot 4 and the inner lid 24 evaporate into water vapor, and this water vapor and heat are discharged outside the machine through the steam outlet 15 via the steam exhaust path 33.

[0067] When the maintenance control means 49 receives a timing signal from the timer means 45 indicating that the time T1 has elapsed since the start of the first drying step, the maintenance control means 49 ends the first drying step and moves on to the next second drying step. Note that in this embodiment, the time T1 of the first drying step is set to the time T of the entire drying course, for example, 30 minutes. whole The time T1 of the first drying step is set to half the time of the first drying step, for example, 15 minutes, but this is just one example. For example, the time T1 of the first drying step may be changed depending on the temperature of the pot 4 or inner lid 24 at the start of the drying course. If the temperature of the pot 4 or inner lid assembly 23 is low after cleaning, for example, the time T1 may be extended to, for example, 18 minutes, and the time T2 of the second drying step may be shortened. If the temperature of the pot 4 or inner lid assembly 23 is high after a boiling cleaning operation, for example, the time T1 may be shortened to, for example, 12 minutes, and the time T2 of the second drying step may be lengthened.

[0068] When moving to the second drying process, the maintenance control means 49 controls the duty ratio of the heating coil 11 when it is ON to C% (A≧C) which is lower than or equal to A% based on the temperature detection of the bottom of the pot 4 by the pot sensor 12, and controls the heating coil 11 so that the temperature of the pot 4 is maintained at a value lower than the first pot temperature α, for example, a second pot temperature γ (α>γ) whose target temperature is set to 91-92°C, and also controls the duty ratio of the lid heater 31 when it is ON to D% (B≧D) which is lower than or equal to B% based on the temperature detection of the inner lid 24 by the lid temperature sensor 32, and controls the heating coil 11 so that the temperature of the inner lid 24 is maintained at a value lower than the third lid temperature β3, for example, a fourth lid temperature ε (β3≧ε) whose target temperature is set to 98-100°C. In this embodiment, an upper limit temperature ε1 and a lower limit temperature ε2 for the second drying process are also set, with the upper limit temperature ε1 being set to 100°C or higher so that the temperature of the inner lid 24 always reaches 100°C or higher at least once while being maintained at the fourth lid temperature ε.

[0069] In this embodiment, the pan temperature t P and lid temperature t L As shown in the graph, in the second drying step, the pot 4 and the inner lid 24 are maintained at a lower temperature than in the first drying step, and by maintaining the temperature lower than 100°C, which is the boiling temperature of water, the entire drying course time T whole This allows pot 4 and inner lid 24 to be dried in a limited time, while minimizing the risk of burns even if pot 4 or inner lid 24 is touched after the drying course is completed. Also, in the second drying step, the difference between third temperature β3 and fourth lid temperature ε is set to be smaller than the difference between first pot temperature α and second pot temperature γ ((β3-ε)<(α-γ)), and since the temperature of inner lid 24 could not be raised to the temperature of pot 4 in the first drying step, the temperature is reduced by a smaller amount than the temperature of pot 4, thereby accelerating the drying of inner lid 24 and the parts incorporated in inner lid assembly 23, and the total drying course time T whole This allows the drying of inner lid 24 to be completed. Note that one of second pan temperature γ and fourth lid temperature ε may be higher than the other, or they may be the same temperature.

[0070] FIG. 10 shows the pan temperature t when the first drying step is completed without the temperature of the inner lid 24 reaching the first lid temperature β1. P and lid temperature t L and the output P of the heating coil 11 P and the output P of the lid heater 31 L and changes over time.

[0071] For example, if the ambient temperature, such as the temperature around the rice cooker, is low, if the heating performance or heating output of lid heater 31 is low, or if there are a large amount of water droplets on inner lid 24, the temperature of inner lid 24 may rise more slowly than the temperature of pot 4, and the temperature of inner lid 24 may not have reached first lid temperature β1 even at the end of the first drying step. To explain this case with reference to the same figure, when the process moves to the second drying step, maintenance control means 49, as described above, controls heating coil 11 so that the duty ratio when ON is C% based on the temperature detected at the bottom of pot 4 by pot sensor 12, and controls heating coil 11 so that the temperature of pot 4 is maintained at second pot temperature γ. Meanwhile, the maintenance control means 49 switches the target temperature of the inner lid 24 from the first lid temperature β1 to the fourth lid temperature ε, and controls the lid heater 31 to be continuously energized until the temperature of the inner lid 24 reaches the fourth lid temperature ε based on a temperature detection signal from the lid temperature sensor 24, thereby strongly heating the inner lid 24.

[0072] Furthermore, when the maintenance control means 49 receives a temperature detection signal from the lid temperature sensor 24 indicating that the temperature of the inner lid 24 has reached the fourth lid temperature ε, it controls the lid heater 31 to be on or off at a duty ratio of D%, and if the upper limit temperature ε1 is reached, it turns the lid heater off and controls the lid heater 31 to maintain the temperature of the inner lid 24 at the fourth lid temperature ε between the upper limit temperature ε1 and the lower limit temperature ε2. Here, the maintenance control means 49 controls the lid heater 31 so that the temperature of the inner lid 24 is always 100°C or higher at least once, so that drying of the inner lid 24 can be promoted even if the temperature of the inner lid 24 first reaches the fourth lid temperature ε during the second drying step during the drying course.

[0073] FIG. 11 shows the pan temperature t when the temperature of the inner lid 24 reaches the first lid temperature β1 after the temperature of the pan 4 reaches the first pan temperature α in the first drying step. P and lid temperature t L and the output P of the heating coil 11 P and the output P of the lid heater 31 L and changes over time.

[0074] Referring to the same figure, in the first drying step, maintenance control means 49 turns off heating coil 11 when the temperature of pot 4 reaches first pot temperature α based on the temperature detection of the bottom of pot 4 by pot sensor 12 as described above, and turns on heating coil 11 at a duty ratio of A% when the temperature of pot 4 falls below first pot temperature α, controlling the temperature of pot 4. Also, when maintenance control means 49 receives a temperature detection signal from lid temperature sensor 24 indicating that the temperature of inner lid 24 has reached first lid temperature β1 as described above, it controls the lid heater 31 to be turned on and off at a duty ratio of B%, and when the temperature reaches second temperature β2, it turns off the lid heater and controls lid heater 31 to maintain the temperature of inner lid 24 at a third temperature β3 between first lid temperature β1 and second lid temperature β2. Therefore, the maintenance control means 49 is able to promote the drying of the inner lid 24 even if it takes a long time for the temperature of the inner lid 24 to reach the first lid temperature β1 when the drying course is being performed.

[0075] When the maintenance control means 49 receives a timing signal from the timing means 45 indicating that the time T1 has elapsed since the start of the first drying step, the maintenance control means 49 ends the first drying step and transitions to the second drying step described above.

[0076] The maintenance control means 49 displays "about 0 minutes" on the clock display D18, and the time T wholeWhen the display control means 55 receives a timing signal indicating that the drying course has elapsed, it controls to stop the power supply to the heating coil 11 and also controls to stop the power supply to the lid heater 31, and sends a signal to the display and operation control means 51 indicating that the drying course has ended. In response to this signal, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to display a drying course end screen G7 as shown in FIG. 13. On the other hand, assuming that the drying course will be carried out in the middle of the night, the display control means 55 controls the notification means 54 not to notify the user that the drying course has ended, thereby improving user convenience. Note that the device may be configured so that the user can set whether or not the notification means 54 will sound an alarm to notify the user that the drying course has ended when the drying course has ended, and this setting may be configured to be set on a setting screen that is accessed by touching the setting button display section B20 on the top screen G1.

[0077] 13, the drying course end screen G7 will be explained. At the front of the screen, a text display D71 saying "Drying course has ended" is displayed. Behind the text display D71 saying "Drying course has ended," an explanatory text display D72 saying "Please allow the oven to cool before cooking rice or cleaning." At the rear of the drying course end screen G7, an "Off" button display B24 is provided, allowing the drying course end screen G7 to be cleared at any time and the top screen G1 to be displayed.

[0078] When the display control means 55 receives a signal indicating that the temperature of the pot 4 and the temperature of the inner lid 24 have both fallen below a predetermined temperature that will not cause burns, such as 45°C, based on the temperature detection signal of the pot 4 from the pot sensor 12 or the temperature detection signal of the inner lid 24 from the lid temperature sensor 32, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to erase the drying course completion screen G7 and transition to the top screen G1. Alternatively, when the display control means 55 receives a timing signal from the timing means indicating that a predetermined time, such as 30 minutes, has elapsed since the end of the drying course, the display control means 55 controls the display means 18 to erase the drying course completion screen G7 and transition to the top screen G1. Therefore, by checking the display means 18, it is possible to know whether the inside of the pot 4 has cooled to a normal temperature and that it is safe to touch the pot 4 or the inner lid 24.

[0079] As described above, the rice cooker as a cooking appliance of this embodiment has pot 4 for containing rice and water as food to be cooked, lid gasket 25 made of a resin material as an elastic member that seals between pot 4 and inner lid assembly 23 as an inner lid that covers the opening of pot 4, heating coil 11 as pot heating means for heating pot 4, lid heater 31 as lid heating means for heating inner lid 24 of inner lid assembly 23, pot sensor 12 as pot temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of pot 4, and lid temperature sensor 31 for detecting the temperature of inner lid 24. The cooking device is provided with a lid temperature sensor 32 as a detection means, and based on the detection of the pot sensor 12, the pot 4 is heated by the heating coil 11 so that the pot temperature reaches a first pot temperature α, which is a target pot temperature higher than the boiling temperature of water, and based on the detection of the lid temperature sensor 32, the inner lid 24 is heated by the lid heater 31 so that the inner lid temperature reaches a third lid temperature β3 or a fourth lid temperature ε, which are target inner lid temperatures higher than the boiling temperature of water and lower than the first pot temperature α, thereby providing a drying course for drying the inside of the pot 4.

[0080] By configuring it in this manner, it is possible to dry the pot 4 and the inner lid assembly 23 in a limited time while suppressing the temperature difference between the pot 4 and the inner lid 24 and reducing the possibility of condensation, and it is also possible to dry the parts incorporated in the inner lid 24 and the inner lid assembly 23 without deteriorating the lid gasket 25.

[0081] In addition, in the rice cooker of this embodiment, when the pot target temperature is set to a first pot temperature α as the first pot target temperature, the drying course is configured to include a first drying process in which, after the temperature of pot 4 reaches the first pot temperature α, pot 4 is heated by heating coil 11 to maintain a temperature range including first pot temperature α for a predetermined period of time from the start of the first drying process until time T1 has elapsed, and a second drying process in which pot 4 is heated by heating coil 11 after time T1 has elapsed from the start of the first drying process so as to maintain a temperature range including a second pot temperature γ as the second pot target temperature that is lower than the first pot temperature α.

[0082] By configuring it in this way, the temperature of the pot 4 drops to the second pot temperature γ at the end of the drying course, so the pot 4 can be dried in a limited time and the risk of getting burned even if the pot 4 is touched after the drying course is completed can be reduced.

[0083] In the rice cooker of this embodiment, after the temperature of the inner lid 24 reaches the fourth lid temperature ε in the second drying step, the lid heater 31 heats the inner lid 24 to maintain the upper limit temperature ε1 and the lower limit temperature ε2, which are temperature ranges including the fourth lid temperature ε, for a predetermined time period from the start of the second drying step until the time T2 has elapsed. whole The inner lid 24 can be dried in this limited time.

[0084] Furthermore, in the rice cooker of this embodiment, when the fourth lid temperature ε is set as the second inner lid target temperature, a third lid temperature β3 is set as the first inner lid target temperature that is higher than the fourth lid temperature ε. In the first drying step, after the temperature of the inner lid 24 reaches the third lid temperature β3, the lid heater 31 heats the inner lid 24 to maintain the temperature range of the first lid temperature β1 to the second lid temperature β2, which is a temperature range that includes the third lid temperature β3, for the predetermined time period from the start of the first drying step until time T1 has elapsed. wholeThis allows the inner lid 24 to dry in a limited time, and also reduces the risk of getting burned even if the inner lid 24 is touched after the drying course has finished.

[0085] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the numerical values ​​exemplified in the embodiment are merely examples, and may be modified as appropriate depending on the specifications of the rice cooker. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 4. Hotpot 11 Heating coil (pot heating means) 12 Pot sensor (pot temperature detection means) 23 Inner lid assembly (inner lid) 25 Lid packing (elastic material) 31 Lid heater (lid heating means) 32 Lid temperature sensor (lid temperature detection means) α First pot temperature (pot target temperature, first pot target temperature) β3 Third lid temperature (inner lid target temperature, first inner lid target temperature) γ Second pot temperature (second pot target temperature) ε Fourth lid temperature (inner lid target temperature, second inner lid target temperature)

Claims

1. a pot for containing food to be cooked; an inner lid that covers the opening of the pot and has an elastic member that seals between the inner lid and the pot; a pot heating means for heating the pot; a lid heating means for heating the inner lid; a pot temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the pot; and a lid temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the inner lid. Based on the detection by the pan temperature detection means, the pan is heated by the pan heating means so that the pan temperature reaches a target pan temperature higher than the boiling temperature of water, Based on the detection by the lid temperature detection means, the inner lid is heated by the lid heating means so that the inner lid target temperature is higher than the boiling point of water and lower than the pot target temperature, A drying course for drying the inside of the pot is provided. When the target pot temperature is set to a first target pot temperature, The drying course includes: a first drying step of heating the pot by the pot heating means so as to maintain a temperature range including the first pot target temperature for a predetermined time after the temperature of the pot reaches the first pot target temperature; A cooking device characterized by comprising a second drying process in which, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the pot is heated by the pot heating means so as to maintain a temperature range including a second pot target temperature that is lower than the boiling temperature of water.

2. The heating cooker described in claim 1, characterized in that in the second drying process, after the temperature of the inner lid reaches the inner lid target temperature, the inner lid is heated by the lid heating means so as to maintain a temperature range including the inner lid target temperature for a predetermined time.

3. When the inner lid target temperature is set to the second inner lid target temperature, A first inner lid target temperature higher than the second inner lid target temperature is set, The heating cooker described in claim 2, characterized in that in the first drying process, the pot is heated by the pot heating means so that the temperature of the inner lid is maintained in a temperature range including the first inner lid target temperature for a predetermined time after the temperature of the inner lid reaches the first inner lid target temperature.

Images