Device for cooking rice

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for cooking rice, which is capable of automatically carrying out a series of processes including withdrawing rice from a rice storage container, rinsing the rice, and cooking the rice. The device comprises: a rice storage portion provided in one side of a casing; a rice pot comprising an outer pot having heating wires for cooking rice therein, and an inner pot seated in the outer pot; a rice injection portion which withdraws rice and injects the rice into the inner pot; a rice cooker lid which is installed to be vertically moved immediately above the rice cooker; a water supply portion which supplies water into the rice pot; a rice rinsing portion for rinsing the rice; and a water discharge portion which removes water from the inside of the rice pot.

Description

rice cooker

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice cooking device, and more specifically, to a rice cooking device that can automatically perform a series of operations of automatically taking out rice from a rice storage container, washing it, and then cooking rice.

[0002]

[0003] Typically, when cooking rice at home, you take the appropriate amount of rice from the rice container, rinse it in the sink, and then place it in the rice cooker. The rice cooker automatically adjusts the heat as it cooks, sending a signal when the rice is done. This sequence of steps is currently the most convenient way to cook rice.

[0004] However, this is also inconvenient, as it requires the steps of removing the rice, washing it, and adding it to the rice cooker with the appropriate amount of water.

[0005] To address these issues, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1703318 proposes a fully automatic rice container with integrated rice storage and washing functions. The rice container comprises a main body cabinet; a storage and withdrawal section provided on one side of the main body cabinet, where rice is stored and a predetermined amount of rice is withdrawn; and an automatic washing section provided on the other side of the main body cabinet adjacent to the storage and withdrawal section, where the automatic washing section automatically washes rice withdrawn from the storage and withdrawal section.

[0006] However, this device simply lists the steps of removing, washing, and adding rice to the rice cooker in a chronological order, lacking any special technical features. The complex configuration of the rice cooker component in particular makes manufacturing difficult and expensive.

[0007]

[0008] In response to the above problems, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a rice cooking device that can automatically perform a series of steps of taking out stored rice, washing it, adjusting the amount of water, putting it into a rice cooker, heating it, and cooking rice.

[0009] More specifically, the purpose is to provide a fully automatic rice cooking device that is simple in configuration, easy to manufacture, and can lower the supply price.

[0010]

[0011] The above purpose is to provide a rice cooker comprising: a rice storage unit provided on one side of the casing for storing rice; an outer pot provided on the other side of the casing for having a built-in heating element for cooking rice, and an inner pot installed inside the outer pot; a rice input unit for taking out rice stored in the rice storage unit and putting it into the inner pot; a rice cooker lid installed vertically above the rice cooker for sealing an upper opening of the rice cooker; a rice cooker lid elevating unit for elevating the rice cooker lid; a water supply unit for supplying water to the inside of the rice cooker when the rice cooker lid has been raised and entered a space between the rice cooker and the lid; a rice washing unit for washing rice when the rice cooker lid has been raised and entered a space between the rice cooker and the lid; This is achieved by a rice cooking device characterized by including a water discharge unit that removes water inside the rice cooker while the rice cooker lid is raised and enters the space between the rice cooker and the lid.

[0012]

[0013] According to another feature of the present invention, the rice cooker lid lifting unit may include: a vertical guide rod installed vertically around the rice cooker; an lifting plate coupled to the upper portion of the rice cooker lid to be lifted while coupled to the vertical guide rod; an lifting motor for moving the lifting plate up and down; and an lifting mechanism including a spiral shaft and a gear for transmitting the rotational force of the lifting motor to the lifting plate.

[0014]

[0015] According to another feature of the present invention, the water supply unit comprises a moving base (33) installed at the bottom of the lifting plate (29) and horizontally movable; a water supply pipe (35) installed at the moving base (33) so as to be able to spray water directly below; and a water supply valve or a water supply pump for supplying water to the water supply pipe (35); and the moving base (33) is characterized in that it can be positioned directly above the rice cooker or laterally separated therefrom by being moved horizontally while being coupled to a guide rail or horizontal guide rod (37) installed at the bottom of the lifting plate (29).

[0016]

[0017] According to another feature of the present invention, the rice washing unit is installed at the bottom of the lifting plate (29) and includes a moving platform (33) that is installed to be able to move horizontally;

[0018] This is achieved by a rice cooking device characterized by including: a stirring shaft (41) installed to be hung upside down on the moving table (33); a stirring blade (43) installed at the end of the stirring shaft (41) to rotate rice and water to produce a washing effect; and a stirring motor that rotates the stirring shaft (43).

[0019]

[0020] According to another feature of the present invention, the rice cooker further includes a water discharge unit for draining water, wherein the water discharge unit includes: a moving base (33) installed at the bottom of the lifting plate (29) and movable in a horizontal direction; a water drainage pipe (36) installed on the moving base (33); and a drainage pump for sucking and draining water through the water drainage pipe (36).

[0021] The above moving platform (33) can be positioned directly above the rice cooker or laterally away from it by moving horizontally while being connected to a guide rail or horizontal guide rod (37) installed at the bottom of the lifting plate (29).

[0022]

[0023] According to the present invention, a rice cooking device is provided that can automatically perform a series of steps of taking out stored rice, washing it, adjusting the amount of rice, putting it into a rice cooker, and heating it to cook rice.

[0024] More specifically, a fully automatic rice cooking device is provided that is simple in configuration, easy to manufacture, and can lower the supply price.

[0025]

[0026] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rice cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a rice cooker of a rice cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention is pulled out.

[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a rice cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a rice cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the rice cooker lid closed.

[0030] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a rice cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the rice cooker lid open.

[0031] Figures 6 to 9 are cross-sectional views of a rice cooking device for explaining the operation of the rice cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention step by step.

[0032]

[0033] * Explanation of symbols for major parts of the drawing *

[0034] 1: Casing

[0035] 3: Rice storage compartment

[0036] 5: Rice cooker

[0037] 7: Outer pot

[0038] 9: Inner pot

[0039] 11: Rice input section

[0040] 13: Screw feed section

[0041] 15: Guide Hall

[0042] 17: Transport motor

[0043] 19: Transfer screw

[0044] 21: Barrel

[0045] 23: Rice cooker lid

[0046] 25: Rice cooker lid lift

[0047] 27: Vertical guide bar

[0048] 29: Elevator

[0049] 31: Elevator motor

[0050] 33: Moving platform

[0051] 35: Water pipe

[0052] 36: Drainage pump

[0053] 37: Horizontal transport motor

[0054] 41: Stirring shaft

[0055] 43: Stirring blade

[0056] 45: Pot detection sensor

[0057] R: Rice

[0058] W: Water

[0059]

[0060] Hereinafter, the specific contents of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached FIGS. 1 to 9. FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate the operating states step by step and will be cited where necessary. In particular, FIGS. 6 to 7 are cross-sectional views taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 8 to 9 are side cross-sectional views taken along line BB of FIG. 1.

[0061]

[0062] The rice cooking device of the present invention is provided in the form of a single casing (1). Several components are installed inside the casing (1).

[0063] A rice storage compartment (3) for storing rice is provided on one side of the casing (1), and the user can open the cap (3a) or cover installed on the top and put in rice. A viewing window (3b) for viewing the remaining amount may be provided on the side of the casing (1) (see Fig. 1).

[0064] A rice cooker (5) is provided on the other side of the casing (1). The rice cooker (5) is composed of an outer pot (7) having a built-in heating element for cooking rice, and an inner pot (9) that is installed inside the outer pot (7). The inner pot (9) can be taken out of the outer pot (7) for cleaning, etc. According to the present embodiment, the outer pot (7) can be slidably pulled out of the casing (1) as shown in Fig. 2. This is to enable a user to easily scoop out rice from the inner pot (9).

[0065]

[0066] The rice input section (11) is used to take out rice stored in the rice storage section (3) and put it into the inner pot (9). The lower part (4) of the rice storage section (3) is shaped like a hopper that becomes narrower toward the bottom so that the rice can be gathered in one place, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0067] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9, the rice input unit (11) includes a screw feed unit (13) for scooping up rice (R) at the bottom of the rice storage unit (3), and a guide pipe (15) for guiding the rice scooped up by the screw feed unit (13) into the inner pot (9) so that it is fed thereto. The screw feed unit (13) includes a feed motor (17), a feed screw (19), and a barrel (21). Rice can be supplied to the inner pot (9) in a state where the outlet of the barrel (21) is aligned with the inlet of the guide pipe (15). According to the present embodiment, the guide pipe (15) can be placed at a position where rice can be selectively fed, i.e., at the outlet of the barrel. The guide pipe (15) can be installed on a moving platform (33) described later. This will be described later.

[0068]

[0069] A rice cooker lid (23) for sealing the upper opening of a rice cooker (5) is installed so as to be able to rise and fall vertically directly above the rice cooker. A rice cooker lid lifting member (25) is installed around the rice cooker to raise and lower the rice cooker lid (23). The rice cooker lid lifting member (25) includes a vertical guide rod (27), an elevation plate (29), an elevation motor (31), and an elevation mechanism. The vertical guide rod (27) is installed vertically around the rice cooker (5) and is composed of two or more. The elevation plate (29) is connected to the vertical guide rod (27) through a bushing or bearing and moves up and down along the extension direction thereof. The rice cooker lid (23) is connected to the bottom of this elevation plate (29).

[0070] The elevator motor (31) provides power to move the elevator plate (29) up and down. An elevator mechanism is installed between the elevator motor (31) and the elevator plate (29) to transmit the rotational power of the elevator motor (31) to the elevator plate (29). The elevator mechanism can be provided in various ways. For example, the elevator mechanism may include a spiral shaft and a reduction gear meshed with the spiral shaft, or an electric cylinder may be used.

[0071]

[0072] As illustrated in Fig. 6, rice placed in a rice cooker (5) is washed by a rice washing unit. Water must be supplied for washing, and this water is supplied by a water supply unit. The water supply unit supplies water to the inside of the rice cooker by entering the space between the rice cooker (5) and the rice cooker lid (23) created by the rice cooker lid (23) rising.

[0073] The water supply unit is installed at the bottom of the elevator plate (29) and includes a moving platform (33) that is installed so as to be able to move horizontally, a water supply pipe (35) that is installed on the moving platform (33) so as to be able to spray water directly below, and a water supply valve or water supply pump for supplying water to the water supply pipe (35).

[0074] The moving platform (33) can be horizontally moved while being connected to a guide rail or horizontal guide rod (37) installed at the bottom of the lifting plate (29), so that it can be positioned directly above the rice cooker (5) or laterally offset therefrom as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The horizontal movement motor (39) moves the moving platform (33) horizontally to bring it into the state shown in FIG. 8. The horizontal guide rod (37) can be a screw rod.

[0075] A water discharge unit for removing water from inside the rice cooker must be included together with the water supply unit. The water discharge unit is configured to suck water inside the rice cooker and discharge it to the outside when the water discharge unit enters the space between the rice cooker (5) and the rice cooker lid (23) created by the rice cooker lid (5) rising.

[0076] According to this embodiment, water inside the rice cooker is sucked in through the water supply pipe (35) and then drained. In other words, the water supply pipe (35) also functions as a water drain pipe (36). That is, a water supply pump and a drain pump can be selectively connected to the water supply pipe (35) or the drain pipe (36). Of course, the drain pipe can also be provided separately from the water supply pipe.

[0077] Water supply and discharge can be monitored and controlled by a flow sensor (not shown). Water supply and discharge can be automatically calculated based on the amount of rice added by the user.

[0078] The rice washing unit also washes rice while entering the space between the rice cooker and the lid (23) of the rice cooker. According to the present embodiment, in order to simplify the configuration, the water supply unit, the water discharge unit, and the rice washing unit are combined into one, that is, installed on a moving platform (33) and operated together (see FIGS. 6 to 9).

[0079] The rice washing unit may include a stirring shaft (41) that is installed to be hung upside down on a moving table (33) and a stirring blade (43) that is installed at the end of the stirring shaft (41) to rotate rice and water to achieve a washing effect. The stirring shaft (43) may be rotated by a stirring motor.

[0080]

[0081] And as mentioned above, a guide pipe (15) may be further installed (or built into) the moving platform (33) to provide a passage for supplying rice. When the moving platform (33) is positioned at the center of the lifting plate (29) and the lifting plate (29) is lowered, the outlet (21a) of the barrel (21) and the inlet (15a) of the guide pipe are aligned as shown in Fig. 6. The rice is dropped into the rice cooker (5) through the rice discharge port (16) located at the center of the guide pipe (15). The guide pipe (15) is installed to be inclined downward so that the rice can flow down smoothly under its own weight.

[0082]

[0083] As shown in FIG. 6, when the lifting plate (29) is lowered and the moving platform (33) is positioned at the center of the lifting plate (29), a series of operations in which rice (R) and water (W) are supplied, washing is performed, and water is discharged are sequentially performed. When washing is completed and an appropriate amount of water is supplied, the lifting plate (29) is raised as shown in FIG. 7, and the moving platform (33) moves laterally. As a result, the guide pipe (15), the water supply pipe (35), and the stirring shaft (41) are moved laterally away from the rice cooker (5) as shown in FIG. 8. When the lifting plate (29) is lowered in this state, the rice cooker lid (23) is coupled to the rice cooker (5) as shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter, rice is cooked in the same manner as a conventional electric rice cooker or electric pressure rice cooker. The rice cooker (5) is equipped with the same components as a conventional electric rice cooker, such as a steam outlet.

[0084]

[0085] The presence and weight of the inner pot (9) can be detected by the pot detection sensor (45). The control unit receives a signal from the pot detection sensor (45) and sends a warning message to the user or controls the device. The control unit controls each component described above. In order to control the device, various sensors must be added to obtain information.

[0086] All users have to do is select the amount and characteristics of the rice they want to cook (amount of water, mixed grains, white rice, brown rice, porridge, etc.) and press the start button, and all steps will proceed automatically.

[0087] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a means for maintaining the freshness of rice stored in the rice storage unit may be provided. For example, a temperature and humidity control device may be provided to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity in the rice storage unit.

[0088]

[0089] The device of the present invention can be widely used in commercial establishments, group cafeterias, and general homes. Various specifications may be provided depending on the specific application.

[0090] The configurations illustrated and described above are merely preferred embodiments based on the technical concepts of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will likely make various modifications based on common technical knowledge, but it should be noted that such modifications fall within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments disclosed above may be combined in various ways, and all such combinations fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. As installed in one casing; A rice storage section provided on one side of the above casing for storing rice; A rice cooker (5) comprising an outer pot (7) having a heating element for cooking rice and provided on the other side of the casing, and an inner pot (9) installed inside the outer pot (7); A rice input unit that takes out rice stored in the above rice storage unit and puts it into the inner pot (9); A rice cooker lid (23) installed so as to be able to rise and fall in the upper direction directly above the rice cooker (5) and to seal the upper opening of the rice cooker (5); A rice cooker lid lifting unit for lifting the above rice cooker lid (23); A water supply unit that supplies water to the inside of the rice cooker (5) while the rice cooker lid (23) is raised and enters the space between the rice cooker (5) and the rice cooker lid (23); A rice washing unit that washes rice while entering the space between the rice cooker (5) and the rice cooker lid (23) created by the rice cooker lid (23) rising; and A rice cooking device characterized by including a water discharge unit that removes water inside the rice cooker (5) while the rice cooker lid (23) rises and enters the space between the rice cooker (5) and the rice cooker lid (23). The above rice cooker lid lifting part; A vertical guide rod (27) installed vertically around the above rice cooker (5); A lifting plate (29) that is lifted while being connected to the vertical guide rod (27) and is connected to the upper part of the rice cooker lid (23); An elevator motor (31) for moving the elevator plate (29) up and down; And it includes an elevator mechanism including a spiral shaft and a gear for transmitting the rotational force of the elevator motor (31) to the elevator plate (29); The above water supply unit, A moving platform (33) installed at the bottom of the above-mentioned elevator plate (29) and capable of moving horizontally; a water supply pipe (35) installed on the moving platform (33) so as to be able to spray water directly underneath; and a water supply valve or water pump for supplying water to the water supply pipe (35); The above rice washing unit, A stirring shaft (41) installed to hang upside down on the above moving platform (33); It includes a stirring blade (43) installed at the end of the stirring shaft (41) to rotate rice and water to produce a washing effect; and a stirring motor that rotates the stirring shaft (41); The above water discharge part, By including a water drainage pipe (36) installed on the above moving platform (33); and a drainage pump for sucking and discharging water through the water drainage pipe (36); The above water supply unit, rice washing unit and water discharge unit are, A rice cooking device characterized in that the moving platform (33) is moved horizontally while being connected to a guide rail or horizontal guide rod (37) installed at the bottom of the lifting plate (29), thereby being positioned directly above the rice cooker (5) or laterally away from it.

2. In paragraph 1, The above rice input unit includes a screw conveyor (13) for scooping up rice (R) at the bottom of the rice storage unit, and a guide pipe (15) for guiding the rice scooped up by the screw conveyor (13) into the inner pot (9) so that it is fed thereto; The above screw conveying unit (13) includes a conveying motor (17), a conveying screw (19) and a barrel (21); A rice cooking device characterized in that rice can be supplied to the inner pot (9) while the outlet of the barrel (21) is aligned with the inlet of the guide tube (15).

3. In paragraph 2, A rice cooking device characterized in that the above guide tube (15) is installed on the moving platform (33) so that it can be placed at the outlet of the barrel (21), which is a position where rice can be put in.

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