JP2008253649A

JP2008253649A - Pressure rice cooker

Info

Publication number: JP2008253649A
Application number: JP2007101436A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Takeshi Naito; 内藤　　毅; Akio Hokimoto; 保木本　　明雄; Naoki Sugimoto; 直樹杉本; Daisuke Okamoto; 大輔岡本; Tetsuya Matsuoka; 哲也松岡
Original assignee: Sanyo Electric Co Ltd; Sanyo Consumer Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sanyo Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-09
Filing date: 2007-04-09
Publication date: 2008-10-23

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pressure rice cooker, surely performing water absorption for a short time to perform favorable rice cooking. <P>SOLUTION: This pressure type rice cooker 1 includes a pressure valve 6 for regulating the pressure in a pot 3 in which a cooked material containing water and rice is put and a pressure valve opening mechanism 7 for controlling the pressure valve 6. The cooker is provided with a pressure reducing device 12 for reducing the internal pressure in the pot 3 as compared with the atmospheric pressure, wherein in a water absorption step, the pressure valve 6 is closed through the operation of the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 by a control device 9, and the pressure reducing device 12 is operated to reduce the pressure in the pot 3 as compared with the atmospheric pressure. After pressure reduction, the operation of the pressure reducing device 12 is stopped, and the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 is operated to open the pressure valve 6, thereby increasing the pressure in the pot 3 to reach the vicinity of the atmospheric pressure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、水と米とを含む被炊飯物を投入する鍋と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を加熱する加熱手段と、該鍋の開口部を塞ぐ蓋体と、該鍋内の内圧を大気圧に比して高く調整する圧力弁と、該圧力弁を制御する圧力弁開放機構と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を吸水させる吸水工程と沸騰するまで昇温加熱する立上り加熱工程及び被炊飯物を沸騰状態に維持する沸騰維持工程を含む所定の炊飯工程の実行を行う制御装置とを備えた圧力式炊飯器に係り、特に米の吸水を短時間に確実に行なうようにした圧力式炊飯器に関する。 The present invention provides a pan for charging a cooked rice containing water and rice, a heating means for heating the cooked rice in the pan, a lid for closing the opening of the pan, and an internal pressure in the pan. A pressure valve that is adjusted to be higher than the atmospheric pressure, a pressure valve opening mechanism that controls the pressure valve, a water absorption process for absorbing the cooked rice in the pan, a rising heating process for heating up until boiling, and a target This invention relates to a pressure rice cooker equipped with a control device that performs a predetermined rice cooking process including a boiling maintenance process for maintaining the cooked rice in a boiling state, and in particular, a pressure type that reliably absorbs rice in a short time. It relates to rice cookers.

圧力式炊飯器を用いた炊飯では、鍋内で米に水を吸水させる吸水工程と、吸水後に急速に加熱して沸騰状態に至らせる立上り加熱工程と、加圧された鍋内で沸騰状態を保って米を炊き続ける沸騰維持工程と、沸騰維持工程の終了後に米を蒸らす蒸らし工程とを経て炊飯を行うことが一般的である。 In rice cooking using a pressure rice cooker, a water absorption process in which water is absorbed into the rice in the pan, a rising heating process in which the rice is rapidly heated to a boiling state after water absorption, and a boiling state in the pressurized pan It is common to cook rice through a boiling maintaining process that keeps cooking rice while it is kept and a steaming process that steams rice after the completion of the boiling maintaining process.

圧力式炊飯器による炊飯の大きな特徴は、炊飯時において、特に沸騰開始前や沸騰中に鍋内の圧力を高くし、加熱と圧力の相乗効果によって水を米粒内に短時間で浸透させるようにして炊飯時間を短縮し、またやわらかく米を炊き上げるところにある。 The main feature of rice cooking with a pressure rice cooker is that when cooking rice, the pressure in the pan is increased before boiling or during boiling, and water is allowed to penetrate into the rice grains in a short time by the synergistic effect of heating and pressure. The rice cooking time is shortened and the rice is cooked softly.

従来においては、更に効率的に水を米粒内に浸透させる技術として、下記の特許文献１に示すものが提案されている。これは、減圧釜本体内部に収納された籠に洗米済みの米粒を入れ、気体吸引手段によって減圧釜本体内部を大気圧より減圧させる。減圧された雰囲気中にある米粒は、米粒の細胞間の間隙に存在する気体が迅速に米粒外部に追い出され、米粒内部の細胞間の間隙を大きく広げる。従って、米粒の表面に付着した水分が、米粒内部から追い出された気体に代わって米粒内部の細胞間の間隙に速やかに確実に侵入する。 Conventionally, a technique shown in Patent Document 1 below has been proposed as a technique for more efficiently penetrating water into rice grains. In this method, the washed rice grains are put in a koji stored inside the decompression kettle body, and the interior of the decompression kettle body is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure by the gas suction means. In the rice grains in the decompressed atmosphere, the gas present in the gaps between the cells of the rice grains is rapidly expelled to the outside of the rice grains, greatly expanding the gaps between the cells inside the rice grains. Therefore, the moisture adhering to the surface of the rice grain quickly and surely enters the gap between the cells inside the rice grain instead of the gas expelled from the inside of the rice grain.

一方、炊飯器における鍋内は、加熱状態が均一でなく鍋の内側壁に近い領域にある米は十分に加熱されるが、内側壁から離れた鍋の中央部分にある米は加熱不足となり、炊きむらが生じることがある。特に、鍋を誘導加熱コイルによる渦電流で発熱させる所謂ＩＨ炊飯器では、鍋自体が発熱する構造になっているために上記炊きむらの障害が生じやすい。 On the other hand, in the pan in the rice cooker, the rice in the region near the inner wall of the pan is not sufficiently heated and is sufficiently heated, but the rice in the central part of the pan away from the inner wall is underheated, Uneven cooking may occur. In particular, in a so-called IH rice cooker that heats a pan with an eddy current generated by an induction heating coil, the pan itself has a structure that generates heat, and thus the above-mentioned cooking unevenness is likely to occur.

そこで、従来においては、例えば、下記の特許文献２で示す技術が提案されている。これは、鍋内の圧力を略一定とするように鍋内と外気とを連通あるいは遮断する開閉機構を有する圧力弁と、圧力弁を強制的に開状態にするための圧力弁開放機構と、加熱手段により加熱した状態で圧力弁開放機構による圧力弁の開動作の制御を行う制御手段を備えたものである。そして、立上り加熱工程において、圧力弁を閉じ、鍋内の圧力を高めると同時に加熱して沸騰維持工程に移行させる。沸騰維持工程に移行すると加熱量を制御し、強制的に圧力弁を開く。その結果、鍋内の圧力が大気圧近傍まで急速に低下し、鍋内に激しい沸騰状態を発生させて生じた泡によって米粒を攪拌することになる。これを数回繰り返すことにより、鍋内の米粒が均一の温度に加熱されて炊きむらがなくなる。
特開昭６３−１３７６５２号公報（２頁左下欄、上から第８行〜第２０行、３頁左上欄、下から第１行〜同頁右上欄、上から第３行）特開２００４−３４４５６８号公報（段落［００１１］、［００３４］〜［００４４］、図６） Therefore, conventionally, for example, a technique shown in Patent Document 2 below has been proposed. This includes a pressure valve having an opening / closing mechanism for communicating or blocking the inside of the pan and the outside air so that the pressure in the pan is substantially constant, a pressure valve opening mechanism for forcibly opening the pressure valve, Control means for controlling the opening operation of the pressure valve by the pressure valve opening mechanism in a state heated by the heating means. Then, in the rising heating process, the pressure valve is closed to increase the pressure in the pan, and at the same time, the heating is performed to shift to the boiling maintenance process. When shifting to the boiling maintenance process, the amount of heating is controlled and the pressure valve is forcibly opened. As a result, the pressure in the pan rapidly decreases to near atmospheric pressure, and the rice grains are stirred by the foam generated by generating a vigorous boiling state in the pan. By repeating this several times, the rice grains in the pan are heated to a uniform temperature, and there is no uneven cooking.
JP-A-63-137652 (2nd page, lower left column, 8th line to 20th line from the top, 3rd page, upper left column, 1st line from the bottom to the upper right column of the same page, 3rd line from the top) JP 2004-344568 (paragraphs [0011], [0034] to [0044], FIG. 6)

しかしながら、上述した従来技術においては、まだ鍋内で米に水を十分に吸水させることができず、効率よく満足のいく炊飯を行えるものでなかった。特に、近時は短時間に吸水を行って良好な炊飯が行われることがますます望まれている。 However, in the above-described conventional technology, the rice still cannot sufficiently absorb water in the pot, and the rice cannot be cooked efficiently and satisfactorily. In particular, recently, it is increasingly desired that good cooking is performed by absorbing water in a short time.

そこで、本発明は、上述したような要望を満たす圧力式炊飯器を提供することを目的とする。 Then, an object of this invention is to provide the pressure type rice cooker which satisfy | fills the above requests.

前記課題を解決するために、本願の請求項１に係る発明は、水と米とを含む被炊飯物を投入する鍋と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を加熱する加熱手段と、該鍋の開口部を塞ぐ蓋体と、該鍋内の圧力を調整する圧力弁と、該圧力弁を制御する圧力弁開放機構と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を吸水させる吸水工程と沸騰するまで昇温加熱する立上り加熱工程及び被炊飯物を沸騰状態に維持する沸騰維持工程を含む所定の炊飯工程の実行を行う制御装置とを備えた圧力式炊飯器において、前記鍋内の内圧を大気圧に比して減圧する減圧装置を設け、前記制御装置は、前記吸水工程において、前記圧力弁開放機構によって前記圧力弁を閉動させると共に、前記減圧装置を作動させて前記鍋内を大気圧に比して減圧し、該減圧後に該圧力弁開放機構を作動させて該圧力弁を開放し該鍋内の圧力を大気圧近傍に至るまで昇圧するように制御することを特徴とする。 In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is directed to a pan for feeding a cooked rice containing water and rice, a heating means for heating the cooked rice in the pan, A lid for closing the opening, a pressure valve for adjusting the pressure in the pan, a pressure valve opening mechanism for controlling the pressure valve, a water absorption step for absorbing the cooked rice in the pan, and a temperature rise until boiling In a pressure rice cooker having a controller for performing a predetermined rice cooking process including a rising heating process for heating and a boiling maintaining process for maintaining the cooked rice in a boiling state, the internal pressure in the pan is compared to the atmospheric pressure In the water absorption step, the control device closes the pressure valve by the pressure valve opening mechanism and operates the pressure reducing device to compare the inside of the pan with the atmospheric pressure. The pressure valve is opened and the pressure valve opening mechanism is operated after the pressure reduction. Wherein the pressure in the open 該鍋 be controlled to boost up to near atmospheric pressure.

また、本願の請求項２に係る発明においては、水と米とを含む被炊飯物を投入する鍋と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を加熱する加熱手段と、該鍋の開口部を塞ぐ蓋体と、該鍋内の圧力を調整する圧力弁と、該圧力弁を制御する圧力弁開放機構と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を吸水させる吸水工程と沸騰するまで昇温加熱する立上り加熱工程及び被炊飯物を沸騰状態に維持する沸騰維持工程を含む所定の炊飯工程の実行を行う制御装置とを備えた圧力式炊飯器において、前記鍋内の内圧を大気圧に比して減圧する減圧装置を設け、前記制御装置は、前記吸水工程において、前記圧力弁開放機構によって前記圧力弁を閉動させると共に、前記減圧装置を作動させて前記鍋内を大気圧に比して減圧し、該減圧後に該圧力弁開放機構を作動させて該圧力弁を開放し該鍋内の圧力を大気圧近傍に至るまで昇圧し、前記沸騰維持工程において、該圧力弁開放機構によって該圧力弁の開閉制御を複数回行い、該鍋内の圧力を加圧状態から大気圧近傍への減圧及び該大気圧近傍から加圧状態への昇圧を交互に繰り返すことを実行するように制御することを特徴とする。 Moreover, in invention which concerns on Claim 2 of this application, the pan which throws in the to-be-cooked rice containing water and rice, the heating means to heat the to-be-cooked rice in this pan, and the lid | cover which closes the opening part of this pan Body, a pressure valve for adjusting the pressure in the pan, a pressure valve opening mechanism for controlling the pressure valve, a water absorption step for absorbing the cooked rice in the pan, and a rising heating step for heating up until boiling And a pressure-type rice cooker comprising a controller that performs a predetermined rice cooking process including a boiling maintenance process for maintaining the cooked rice in a boiling state, and reducing the internal pressure in the pan relative to atmospheric pressure An apparatus, and in the water absorption step, the control device closes the pressure valve by the pressure valve opening mechanism and operates the pressure reducing device to depressurize the pan relative to the atmospheric pressure. After the pressure is reduced, the pressure valve opening mechanism is operated to open the pressure valve, and the pan The pressure is increased to near atmospheric pressure, and in the boiling maintaining step, the pressure valve opening mechanism performs opening and closing control of the pressure valve a plurality of times, and the pressure in the pan is changed from the pressurized state to near atmospheric pressure. Control is performed so as to repeatedly perform depressurization and pressure increase from the vicinity of the atmospheric pressure to a pressurized state alternately.

また、本願の請求項３に係る発明においては、請求項１又は２に記載の圧力式炊飯器において、前記制御装置は、前記吸水工程における前記減圧と前記昇圧を前記減圧装置と前記圧力弁開放機構との作動を交互に繰り返して実行するように制御してなることを特徴とする。 Moreover, in the invention which concerns on Claim 3 of this application, in the pressure type rice cooker of Claim 1 or 2, the said control apparatus makes the said pressure reduction and the pressure | voltage rise in the said water absorption process open the said pressure reduction apparatus and the said pressure valve. Control is performed so that the operation with the mechanism is alternately repeated.

また、本願の請求項４に係る発明においては、請求項１又は２に記載の圧力式炊飯器において、前記減圧装置は、前記蓋体に設けた弁（例えば、弁１２０）と、該弁を開閉可能に制御する弁開閉機構（例えば、弁開閉機構１２１）と、減圧ポンプとからなり、前記制御装置は、前記吸水工程において、前記弁開閉機構により前記弁を開動作可能に制御すると共に、前記減圧ポンプを作動させて前記鍋内の空気を吸引して外部に放出することによって減圧し、該減圧後に該減圧ポンプの作動を停止させると共に、該弁開閉機構により該弁を閉状態に制御して該減圧を停止させるように制御することを特徴とする。 Moreover, in the invention which concerns on Claim 4 of this application, in the pressure type rice cooker of Claim 1 or 2, the said pressure reduction apparatus is a valve (for example, valve 120) provided in the said cover body, and this valve. A valve opening / closing mechanism (for example, the valve opening / closing mechanism 121) that is controlled to be opened and closed, and a pressure reducing pump, the control device controls the valve opening / closing mechanism so that the valve can be opened in the water absorption step, and The decompression pump is operated to reduce the pressure by sucking the air in the pan and releasing it outside, and after the decompression, the operation of the decompression pump is stopped, and the valve is controlled to be closed by the valve opening / closing mechanism. Then, control is performed to stop the decompression.

本発明は上記構成を備えることにより、以下に示すような優れた効果を奏する。すなわち、請求項１の発明によれば、前記鍋に前記被炊飯物を投入した状態で、前記制御装置が前記吸水工程において減圧装置を作動させ該鍋内を減圧するので、米粒の細胞間の間隙に存在する気体が迅速に米粒外部に追い出され、米粒内部の細胞間の間隙を大きく広げる。従って、米粒の表面に付着した水分が、米粒内部から追い出された気体に代わって米粒内部の細胞間の間隙に速やかに確実に侵入する。その後、前記制御装置が前記圧力弁開放機構を作動させて該鍋内の圧力を大気圧近傍に至るように前記圧力弁を開放して昇圧するので、水圧が増大して細胞間の間隙に強力に侵入する。そのため、第一の効果として、米の芯まで水が短時間に確実に浸透されて吸水を短時間に行うことができる。第二の効果として、前記鍋内のどの位置の米も確実に吸水し吸水むらを生じないので、炊き上がりむらをまったく生じない。第三の効果として、昇圧のための機構が従前の前記圧力弁と圧力弁開放機構をそのまま用いるので構成が簡単である。 By providing the above configuration, the present invention has the following excellent effects. That is, according to the invention of claim 1, with the rice to be cooked being put into the pan, the control device operates the decompression device in the water absorption step to depressurize the inside of the pan. The gas present in the gap is rapidly expelled to the outside of the rice grain, greatly expanding the gap between the cells inside the rice grain. Therefore, the moisture adhering to the surface of the rice grain quickly and surely enters the gap between the cells inside the rice grain instead of the gas expelled from the inside of the rice grain. Thereafter, the control device operates the pressure valve opening mechanism to open the pressure valve to increase the pressure in the pan to near atmospheric pressure, so that the water pressure increases and strongly increases the gap between cells. Break into. Therefore, as a first effect, water can be surely permeated in a short time to the core of rice and water can be absorbed in a short time. As a second effect, the rice in any position in the pan surely absorbs water and does not cause uneven water absorption, so there is no unevenness in cooking. As a third effect, the structure for the pressure increase is simple because the conventional pressure valve and the pressure valve opening mechanism are used as they are.

また、請求項２の発明によれば、前記鍋に前記被炊飯物を投入した状態で、前記制御装置が前記吸水工程において減圧装置を作動させ該鍋内を減圧するので、米粒の細胞間の間隙に存在する気体が迅速に米粒外部に追い出され、米粒内部の細胞間の間隙を大きく広げる。従って、米粒の表面に付着した水分が、米粒内部から追い出された気体に代わって米粒内部の細胞間の間隙に速やかに確実に侵入する。その後、前記制御装置が前記圧力弁開放機構を作動させて該鍋内の圧力を大気圧近傍に至るように前記圧力弁を開放して昇圧するので、水圧が増大して細胞間の間隙に強力に侵入する。そのため、第一の効果として、米の芯まで水が短時間に確実に浸透されて吸水を短時間に行うことができる。第二の効果として、前記鍋内のどの位置の米も確実に吸水し吸水むらを生じないので、炊き上がりむらをまったく生じない。第三の効果として、昇圧のための機構が従前の前記圧力弁と圧力弁開放機構をそのまま用いるので構成が簡単である。更に、第四の効果として、前記鍋内が加圧状態から急激に減圧されて沸騰状態になって被炊飯物を激しく攪拌し、これを複数回繰り返すので、加熱が全体的に平均化される。そして、炊きむらのない良好な炊飯状態が得られる。 Moreover, according to invention of Claim 2, since the said control apparatus operates the pressure-reduction apparatus in the said water absorption process and depressurizes the inside of the pan in the state which put the said to-be-cooked food into the said pan, between the cells of rice grain The gas present in the gap is rapidly expelled to the outside of the rice grain, greatly expanding the gap between the cells inside the rice grain. Therefore, the moisture adhering to the surface of the rice grain quickly and surely enters the gap between the cells inside the rice grain instead of the gas expelled from the inside of the rice grain. Thereafter, the control device operates the pressure valve opening mechanism to open the pressure valve to increase the pressure in the pan to near atmospheric pressure, so that the water pressure increases and strongly increases the gap between cells. Break into. Therefore, as a first effect, water can be surely permeated in a short time to the core of rice and water can be absorbed in a short time. As a second effect, the rice in any position in the pan surely absorbs water and does not cause uneven water absorption, so there is no unevenness in cooking. As a third effect, the structure for the pressure increase is simple because the conventional pressure valve and the pressure valve opening mechanism are used as they are. Furthermore, as a fourth effect, since the inside of the pan is suddenly depressurized from the pressurized state and becomes a boiling state, the cooked rice is vigorously stirred, and this is repeated a plurality of times, so that the heating is averaged overall. . And the favorable rice cooking state without cooking unevenness is obtained.

また、請求項３の発明によれば、前記鍋内の圧力を減圧と昇圧を繰り返して複数回行うことにより、米の芯まで水が極めて短時間に確実に浸透されるので、従前に比して吸水を極めて短時間内に効果的に行なう圧力式炊飯器を提供できる。 Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the pressure in the pan is repeatedly reduced and increased a plurality of times, water is surely permeated into the rice core in a very short time. Thus, it is possible to provide a pressure rice cooker that effectively absorbs water within an extremely short time.

また、請求項４の発明によれば、前記弁開閉機構による前記弁を開動作可能にした状態で前記減圧ポンプが強制的に前記鍋内の空気を吸引して外部に放出するので、前記減圧を高速に行うことができる。従って、短時間に繰り返して減圧と昇圧を確実に行う圧力式炊飯器を提供できる。 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, since the pressure reducing pump forcibly sucks and releases the air in the pan in a state where the valve opening and closing mechanism is enabled to open, the pressure reducing Can be performed at high speed. Therefore, the pressure type rice cooker which repeats in a short time and performs pressure reduction and pressure | voltage rise reliably can be provided.

以下、図面を参照して本発明の最良の実施形態を説明する。但し、以下に示す実施形態は、本発明の技術思想を具体化するための圧力式炊飯器を例示するものであって、本発明をこの圧力式炊飯器に特定することを意図するものではなく、特許請求の範囲に含まれるその他の実施形態のものも等しく適応し得るものである。 Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, embodiment shown below illustrates the pressure type rice cooker for materializing the technical idea of this invention, Comprising: This invention is not intended to specify this pressure type rice cooker. Other embodiments within the scope of the claims are equally applicable.

図１は本発明の実施形態に係る圧力式炊飯器の正面図、図２は図１の圧力式炊飯器の外部ケースが省略された縦断面図、図３は図２の減圧装置の減圧ポンプを省いた部分を示す拡大断面図、図４は図２における制御装置を構成するブロック図、図５は本発明の実施形態に係る圧力式炊飯器の炊飯の動作を示すフローチャート、図６は本発明の実施形態に係る圧力式炊飯器の温度・圧力変化および減圧・昇圧状態を示す特性図である。 1 is a front view of a pressure rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in which an outer case of the pressure rice cooker of FIG. 1 is omitted, and FIG. 3 is a pressure reducing pump of the pressure reducing device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control device in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the rice cooking operation of the pressure rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a characteristic view which shows the temperature and pressure change of a pressure type rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of invention, and pressure reduction / pressure | voltage rise state.

圧力式炊飯器１は、図１、図２に示すように、米と水を含む被炊飯物が投入される鍋３と、上方にこの鍋３が収容される開口部及び内部にこの鍋３を加熱し被炊飯物を加熱する加熱手段４を有する圧力式炊飯器本体（以下、本体という）２と、この本体２の一側に枢支されて開口部を覆い閉塞状態に係止する係止機構を有する蓋体５と、この蓋体５に装着されて鍋３内の圧力を大気圧に比し高く調整する圧力弁６と、この圧力弁６を制御する圧力弁開放機構７と、炊飯のスタート、タイマー予約、保温などの操作を行う表示操作部８と、表示操作部８からの炊飯の開始信号に従って加熱手段４及び圧力弁開放機構７を制御し、鍋３内の被炊飯物を所定温度に加熱すると共に、所定時間をかけて所定量の水分を被炊飯物に吸水させる吸水工程、この吸水された被炊飯物を沸騰するまで昇温加熱する立上り加熱工程、この被炊飯物を沸騰状態に維持する沸騰維持工程、この沸騰維持工程後に被炊飯物を蒸らす蒸らし工程等を順次実行する制御装置９とを備えている。 As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the pressure rice cooker 1 includes a pan 3 into which a rice to be cooked containing rice and water is put, an opening in which the pan 3 is accommodated above, and an inner portion of the pan 3. A pressure-type rice cooker main body (hereinafter referred to as main body) 2 having a heating means 4 for heating the cooked rice, and a mechanism pivotally supported on one side of the main body 2 to cover the opening and lock in a closed state A lid 5 having a stop mechanism, a pressure valve 6 that is attached to the lid 5 and adjusts the pressure in the pan 3 higher than the atmospheric pressure, a pressure valve opening mechanism 7 that controls the pressure valve 6, A cooking operation in the pan 3 by controlling the heating means 4 and the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 according to the display operation unit 8 for performing operations such as start of rice cooking, timer reservation, and heat retention, and a rice cooking start signal from the display operation unit 8 A water absorption step of heating the food to a predetermined temperature and allowing the cooked rice to absorb a predetermined amount of moisture over a predetermined time, The rising heating process for heating and heating the absorbed rice to be boiled, the boiling maintaining process for maintaining the cooked rice in a boiling state, and the steaming process for steaming the cooked rice after the boiling maintaining process are sequentially executed. And a control device 9.

本体２は、図１、図２に示すように、有底の箱状外部ケース２０と、この外部ケースに収容されその中に鍋３が収容される内部ケース２１とからなり、外部ケース２０と内部ケース２１との間に隙間が形成され、この隙間に制御装置９を構成する制御回路基板等（図示省略）が配設されている。内部ケース２１は、その底部２１ａ及び側部２１ｂに加熱手段４、底部２１ａに鍋底温度を検出するサーミスタ等からなる鍋底温度センサ１０が設けられている。加熱手段４には、ドーナツ状に巻装した電磁誘導コイルが使用されている。 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 2 includes a box-shaped outer case 20 with a bottom and an inner case 21 that is accommodated in the outer case and in which the pan 3 is accommodated. A gap is formed between the inner case 21 and a control circuit board or the like (not shown) constituting the control device 9 is disposed in the gap. The inner case 21 is provided with a heating means 4 on the bottom 21a and side 21b, and a pan bottom temperature sensor 10 comprising a thermistor for detecting the pan bottom temperature on the bottom 21a. As the heating means 4, an electromagnetic induction coil wound in a donut shape is used.

また、本体２は、図１に示すように、その正面２ａに各種炊飯メニューを表示する表示パネル及びこの炊飯メニューを選択等する操作ボタンからなる表示操作部８が設けられている。 Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the main body 2 is provided with a display operation unit 8 including a display panel for displaying various rice cooking menus on the front surface 2a and operation buttons for selecting the rice cooking menu.

鍋３は、図２に示すように、米と水からなる所定量の被炊飯物が投入される比較的深底の容器からなり、アルミニウムとステンレスとのクラッド材で形成されている。 As shown in FIG. 2, the pan 3 is a relatively deep bottom container into which a predetermined amount of cooked rice made of rice and water is put, and is made of a clad material of aluminum and stainless steel.

蓋体５は、図２に示すように、鍋３の開口部を閉蓋する内蓋５０と、本体２の開口部全体を閉蓋する外蓋５１等とで構成されている。この蓋体５は、一端が本体２の一端に枢支され、他端が本体の他端に係止機構により係止されるようになっている。 As shown in FIG. 2, the lid 5 includes an inner lid 50 that closes the opening of the pot 3, an outer lid 51 that closes the entire opening of the main body 2, and the like. One end of the lid 5 is pivotally supported on one end of the main body 2, and the other end is locked to the other end of the main body by a locking mechanism.

内蓋５０上部には、圧力弁６とこの圧力弁６を開放させる圧力弁開放機構（図示せず）が設けられている。圧力弁６は、図２に示すように、所定径の弁孔６０が形成された弁座６１と、この弁孔６０を塞ぐように弁座６１上に載置される金属製ボール６２と、このボール６２の移動を規制しボール６２を弁座６１上に保持するカバー６３とで構成されている。また、圧力弁開放機構は、電磁コイルが巻回されたシリンダと、このシリンダ内を電磁コイルの励磁により摺動してボール６２を移動させるプランジャと、プランジャの先端に装着されたバネ及び作動棹とで構成されている。 At the upper part of the inner lid 50, a pressure valve 6 and a pressure valve opening mechanism (not shown) for opening the pressure valve 6 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure valve 6 includes a valve seat 61 in which a valve hole 60 having a predetermined diameter is formed, a metal ball 62 placed on the valve seat 61 so as to close the valve hole 60, The cover 62 is configured to restrict the movement of the ball 62 and hold the ball 62 on the valve seat 61. The pressure valve release mechanism includes a cylinder around which an electromagnetic coil is wound, a plunger that moves inside the cylinder by the excitation of the electromagnetic coil to move the ball 62, a spring attached to the tip of the plunger, and an operating rod. It consists of and.

圧力弁開放機構は、制御装置９により制御される。すなわち、制御装置９からの指令に基づいて電磁コイルが励磁されると、プランジャがシリンダから突出してボール６２に衝突し、このボール６２を横方向に押し出す。この押し出しにより、ボール６２は弁座６１上から移動され、弁孔６０を強制的に開放させる。また、この開放状態において、電磁コイルへの励磁がストップされると、プランジャがシリンダ内にばね力により引き戻され、この引き戻しにより、プランジャがボール６２を横方向に押す力がなくなるので、ボール６２は弁座６１上に戻り、弁孔６０がボール６２により閉塞される。 The pressure valve opening mechanism is controlled by the control device 9. That is, when the electromagnetic coil is excited based on a command from the control device 9, the plunger protrudes from the cylinder and collides with the ball 62, pushing out the ball 62 in the lateral direction. By this extrusion, the ball 62 is moved from above the valve seat 61 to forcibly open the valve hole 60. Further, in this open state, when excitation to the electromagnetic coil is stopped, the plunger is pulled back into the cylinder by the spring force, and this pull back eliminates the force that the plunger pushes the ball 62 in the lateral direction. Returning to the valve seat 61, the valve hole 60 is closed by the ball 62.

圧力弁６の上部には、弁孔６０から噴出する蒸気の温度を測定する蒸気温度センサ（図示せず）が取り付けられている。また、内蓋５０には、鍋３内の圧力が所定値以上の異常圧力に上昇したときに、鍋３内の蒸気を外部に逃がすための安全弁が設けられている（図示せず）。 A steam temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of steam ejected from the valve hole 60 is attached to the upper part of the pressure valve 6. Further, the inner lid 50 is provided with a safety valve (not shown) for releasing the steam in the pan 3 to the outside when the pressure in the pan 3 rises to an abnormal pressure of a predetermined value or more.

また、蓋体５には、鍋３内の圧力を大気圧に比し減圧するための減圧装置１２が設けられている。 Further, the lid 5 is provided with a decompression device 12 for decompressing the pressure in the pan 3 as compared with the atmospheric pressure.

減圧装置１２は、内蓋５０上部に設けた弁１２０と、同じく内蓋５０上部に設けられ弁１２０の開閉を制御する弁開閉機構１２１と、外蓋５１に設けられた減圧ポンプ１２２と、弁１２０と減圧ポンプ１２２との間を連結する通気用パイプ１２３とから構成されている。 The pressure reducing device 12 includes a valve 120 provided on the upper portion of the inner lid 50, a valve opening / closing mechanism 121 provided on the upper portion of the inner lid 50 for controlling the opening / closing of the valve 120, a pressure reducing pump 122 provided on the outer lid 51, It is comprised from the ventilation pipe 123 which connects between 120 and the pressure reduction pump 122. FIG.

弁１２０は、図３で詳しく示すように、所定径の弁孔１２４が形成された弁座１２５と、この弁孔１２４を塞ぐように弁座１２５上に載置される金属製ボール１２６と、このボール１２６の移動を規制しボール１２６を弁座１２５上に保持するカバー１２７とで構成されている。また、弁開閉機構１２１は、電磁コイルが巻回されたシリンダ１２８と、このシリンダ１２８内を電磁コイルの励磁により摺動してボール１２６を移動させるプランジャ１２９と、該プランジャ１２９をシリンダ１２８内に引き込む方向に付勢されたバネ１３０とから構成されている。 As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the valve 120 includes a valve seat 125 in which a valve hole 124 having a predetermined diameter is formed, a metal ball 126 placed on the valve seat 125 so as to close the valve hole 124, The cover 127 is configured to restrict the movement of the ball 126 and hold the ball 126 on the valve seat 125. The valve opening / closing mechanism 121 includes a cylinder 128 around which an electromagnetic coil is wound, a plunger 129 that moves inside the cylinder 128 by excitation of the electromagnetic coil and moves the ball 126, and the plunger 129 in the cylinder 128. The spring 130 is biased in the retracting direction.

弁開閉機構１２１は、制御装置９により制御される。定常状態においては、図３（ａ）に示すように電磁コイルが励磁されず、バネ１３０はシリンダ１２８の内部に引き込まれる形で付勢されていることから、プランジャ１２９はシリンダ１２８から十分に突出せず、先端はボール１２６に当接しない。するとボール１２６は自重により弁座１２５上で安定し、弁孔１２４を塞ぐようになっている。このとき、減圧ポンプ１２２は停止した状態である。 The valve opening / closing mechanism 121 is controlled by the control device 9. In the steady state, as shown in FIG. 3A, the electromagnetic coil is not excited and the spring 130 is urged to be pulled into the cylinder 128, so that the plunger 129 sufficiently protrudes from the cylinder 128. The tip does not contact the ball 126. Then, the ball 126 is stabilized on the valve seat 125 by its own weight, and closes the valve hole 124. At this time, the decompression pump 122 is in a stopped state.

制御装置９からの減圧の指令に基づいて電磁コイルの励磁が開始されると、図３（ｂ）に示すようにプランジャ１２９がシリンダ１２８から突出してボール１２６に衝突し、このボール１２６は横方向に押し出される。この押し出しによりボール１２６は弁座１２５上から移動して、弁孔１２４を強制的に開放させる。同時に、制御装置９は減圧ポンプ１２２を作動させ、鍋７内の圧力よりも通気用パイプ１２３内の圧力が下がり、ボール１２６を弁座１２５上から移動させ弁孔１２４を開放させるようにも働く。このように弁孔１２４が開放状態になると、鍋３内の空気は減圧ポンプ１２２によって吸引されて外部へと放出されるようになっている。 When the excitation of the electromagnetic coil is started based on the pressure reducing command from the control device 9, the plunger 129 protrudes from the cylinder 128 and collides with the ball 126 as shown in FIG. Extruded. By this extrusion, the ball 126 moves from above the valve seat 125 and forcibly opens the valve hole 124. At the same time, the control device 9 operates the pressure reducing pump 122 so that the pressure in the ventilation pipe 123 is lower than the pressure in the pan 7, and the ball 126 is moved from the valve seat 125 to open the valve hole 124. . When the valve hole 124 is opened as described above, the air in the pan 3 is sucked by the decompression pump 122 and released to the outside.

開放状態から電磁コイルの励磁がストップすると、プランジャ１２９はバネ１３０の付勢力を受けてシリンダ１２８内に引き込まれ、プランジャ１２９のボール１２６に対する押し出しが解消する。すると、ボール１２６は弁座１２５上に戻り、再び弁孔１２４を塞ぐ。 When the excitation of the electromagnetic coil stops from the open state, the plunger 129 receives the biasing force of the spring 130 and is pulled into the cylinder 128, and the pushing of the plunger 129 against the ball 126 is eliminated. Then, the ball 126 returns onto the valve seat 125 and closes the valve hole 124 again.

次に、制御装置９の構成について図４を参照して説明する。制御装置９は炊飯器１内に設けられた炊飯工程の制御を行う装置本体９０を備えている。この装置本体９０には、メニューキー１４０、スタートキー１４１、予約キー１４２等からなる複数個の操作ボタンと、加熱手段４と、表示パネル１４３と、圧力弁開放機構７と、減圧ポンプ１２２と、弁開閉機構１２１と、鍋底温度センサ１０と、蒸気温度センサ１１とが接続されている。 Next, the configuration of the control device 9 will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 9 includes a device main body 90 that controls the rice cooking process provided in the rice cooker 1. The apparatus main body 90 includes a plurality of operation buttons including a menu key 140, a start key 141, a reservation key 142, a heating unit 4, a display panel 143, a pressure valve opening mechanism 7, a decompression pump 122, The valve opening / closing mechanism 121, the pan bottom temperature sensor 10, and the steam temperature sensor 11 are connected.

また、装置本体９０内には、種々の処理を行うためのＣＰＵと、各種データの記憶を行うためのＲＯＭ及びＲＡＭと、選択された炊飯メニューを検出する炊飯メニュー検出回路と、圧力弁６と弁１２０の開閉時間が設定された弁開閉タイマーと、圧力弁６と弁１２０の開閉回数をカウントするカウンタと、炊飯器１の加熱温度及び加熱時間を制御する加熱制御回路と、表示パネルに表示される表示画面を制御するための表示パネル制御回路と、圧力弁開放機構７を駆動させて圧力弁の開閉タイミングを制御する圧力弁開放機構駆動回路と、減圧ポンプ１２２を作動させる減圧ポンプ駆動回路と、弁開閉機構１２１を駆動させて弁１２０の開閉タイミングを制御する弁開閉機構駆動回路とを備えている。 In the apparatus main body 90, a CPU for performing various processes, a ROM and a RAM for storing various data, a rice cooking menu detection circuit for detecting a selected rice cooking menu, and a pressure valve 6 are provided. A valve opening / closing timer in which the opening / closing time of the valve 120 is set, a counter that counts the number of times the pressure valve 6 and the valve 120 are opened / closed, a heating control circuit that controls the heating temperature and heating time of the rice cooker 1, and a display panel Display panel control circuit for controlling the displayed screen, a pressure valve opening mechanism drive circuit for controlling the opening / closing timing of the pressure valve by driving the pressure valve opening mechanism 7, and a pressure reducing pump driving circuit for operating the pressure reducing pump 122 And a valve opening / closing mechanism driving circuit for controlling the opening / closing timing of the valve 120 by driving the valve opening / closing mechanism 121.

制御装置９は、圧力炊飯器１が炊飯のスタート後に装置本体９０に記憶されたプログラムによって吸水工程、立上り加熱工程、沸騰維持工程、蒸らし工程、追い炊き工程、とを順に実行するように制御するものである。 The control device 9 controls the pressure rice cooker 1 so as to sequentially execute a water absorption process, a rising heating process, a boiling maintenance process, a steaming process, and an additional cooking process in accordance with a program stored in the apparatus main body 90 after the start of rice cooking. Is.

吸水工程においては、制御装置９は、鍋３を加熱手段４によって吸水に適した温度に加熱すると共に、前述したように減圧装置１２の減圧ポンプ１２２と弁開閉機構１２１とを作動させて減圧を行い、鍋３内の圧力が約０．６気圧に達するように制御する。 In the water absorption process, the control device 9 heats the pan 3 to a temperature suitable for water absorption by the heating means 4 and operates the pressure reduction pump 122 and the valve opening / closing mechanism 121 of the pressure reduction device 12 as described above to reduce the pressure. Control is performed so that the pressure in the pan 3 reaches about 0.6 atm.

その後、制御装置９は、減圧ポンプ１２２と弁開閉機構１２１の作動を停止させ、圧力弁開放機構７を作動させて圧力弁６を開放させる。そして、鍋３内の圧力が大気圧近傍になるように昇圧させる。制御装置９はこの減圧と昇圧の動作を吸水工程中に複数回繰り返すように制御し、所定時間経過後に吸水工程を終了とする。 Thereafter, the control device 9 stops the operation of the decompression pump 122 and the valve opening / closing mechanism 121 and operates the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 to open the pressure valve 6. And it raises so that the pressure in the pan 3 may become atmospheric pressure vicinity. The control device 9 performs control so that the pressure reduction and pressure increase operations are repeated a plurality of times during the water absorption process, and ends the water absorption process after a predetermined time has elapsed.

吸水工程の終了後は、制御装置９は立上り加熱工程を経て沸騰維持工程へと至るように制御する。沸騰維持工程中に、制御装置９は鍋３内の圧力を約１．２気圧と大気圧との間で複数回切り替えして変化させるように制御する。この状態は、いわゆるおどり炊きであって、圧力弁開放機構７を作動させることによって鍋３内の昇圧と減圧を繰り返し、被炊飯物を攪拌するものである。 After completion of the water absorption process, the control device 9 performs control so as to reach the boiling maintenance process through the rising heating process. During the boiling maintenance step, the control device 9 controls the pressure in the pan 3 to be changed by switching a plurality of times between about 1.2 atm and atmospheric pressure. This state is so-called cooking, and the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 is operated to repeatedly increase and decrease the pressure in the pan 3 to stir the cooked rice.

沸騰維持工程後は、制御装置９は蒸らし工程へと至るように制御し、蒸らしを行って炊飯を完了するように制御する。 After the boiling maintenance step, the control device 9 controls to reach the steaming step, and performs control to complete the rice cooking by steaming.

次に、上述した構成の圧力式炊飯器の動作について、図５及び図６を参照して詳しく説明する。 Next, operation | movement of the pressure type rice cooker of the structure mentioned above is demonstrated in detail with reference to FIG.5 and FIG.6.

炊飯の開始に際し、ユーザーにより所定量の水と米とを含む被炊飯物が投入された鍋３が内部ケース２１内に収納され、蓋体５が閉められて炊飯セット状態とされる（Ｓ１）。次いで、表示操作部８のスタートキー１４１が押圧されることにより炊飯スタート操作が行われる（Ｓ２）。 At the start of rice cooking, the pan 3 into which the rice to be cooked containing a predetermined amount of water and rice is put by the user is housed in the inner case 21, the lid 5 is closed, and the rice cooking state is set (S1). . Next, the rice cooking start operation is performed by pressing the start key 141 of the display operation unit 8 (S2).

なお、必要に応じてメニューキー１４０、予約キー１４２等が押圧されて所定のメニュー、予約等が設定される。 If necessary, the menu key 140, the reservation key 142, and the like are pressed to set a predetermined menu, reservation, and the like.

上記のスタートの操作により、制御装置９における装置本体９０はプログラムに従って圧力炊飯器１の吸水工程を開始する（Ｓ３）。装置本体９０は、加熱手段４を作動させて鍋３を加熱し、鍋３内の温度を５５℃に維持するように鍋底温度センサ１０によって管理する。 By the above start operation, the apparatus main body 90 in the control apparatus 9 starts the water absorption process of the pressure cooker 1 according to the program (S3). The apparatus main body 90 operates the heating means 4 to heat the pan 3 and manages it with the pan bottom temperature sensor 10 so as to maintain the temperature in the pan 3 at 55 ° C.

この吸水工程においては、装置本体９０によって弁開閉機構１２１と減圧ポンプ１２２とが作動され、鍋３内が減圧される（Ｓ４）。鍋３内が約０．６気圧になるまで減圧されると装置本体９０が弁開閉機構１２１と減圧ポンプ１２２との作動を停止し、今度は圧力弁開放機構７を作動させる。圧力弁開放機構７の作動によってボール６２は移動されて圧力弁６を強制的に開状態にする。すると、鍋３内は大気圧になるまで一気に昇圧される（Ｓ５）。以後、装置本体９０は減圧の回数が所定数、例えば４回になるまで弁開閉機構１２１、減圧ポンプ１２２と圧力弁開放機構７とを交互に作動させて減圧と昇圧を繰り返す（Ｓ６）。 In this water absorption process, the valve main body 90 operates the valve opening / closing mechanism 121 and the decompression pump 122 to decompress the inside of the pan 3 (S4). When the pressure in the pan 3 is reduced to about 0.6 atm, the apparatus main body 90 stops the operation of the valve opening / closing mechanism 121 and the pressure reducing pump 122 and this time the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 is operated. The ball 62 is moved by the operation of the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 to forcibly open the pressure valve 6. Then, the pressure in the pan 3 is increased at a stretch until atmospheric pressure is reached (S5). Thereafter, the apparatus main body 90 repeats pressure reduction and pressure increase by alternately operating the valve opening / closing mechanism 121, the pressure reduction pump 122 and the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 until the number of times of pressure reduction reaches a predetermined number, for example, four times (S6).

ここで、減圧状態における弁解放機構１２１は、前述したように、プランジャ１２９がシリンダ１２８から突出することによって、ボール１２６は弁座１２５から移動して弁孔１２４を開き、同時に、装置本体９０は減圧ポンプ１２２を作動させるように制御することによって、鍋３内の圧力よりも通気用パイプ１２３内の圧力が下がってボール１２６が弁座１２５上からカバー１２７に当接するまで移動させられ弁孔１２４を開放させるようになっている。そして、鍋３内の空気が減圧ポンプ１２２によって通気用パイプ１２３を通し吸引されて外部へと放出される。 Here, in the valve release mechanism 121 in the decompressed state, as described above, when the plunger 129 protrudes from the cylinder 128, the ball 126 moves from the valve seat 125 and opens the valve hole 124. By controlling the pressure reducing pump 122 to operate, the pressure in the ventilation pipe 123 is lower than the pressure in the pan 3, and the ball 126 is moved from above the valve seat 125 until it abuts against the cover 127. Is to be released. Then, the air in the pan 3 is sucked through the ventilation pipe 123 by the decompression pump 122 and released to the outside.

吸水工程における鍋３内が約０．６気圧まで減圧された状態では、米粒の細胞間の間隙に存在する気体が迅速に米粒外部に追い出され、米粒内部の細胞間の間隙が大きく広がる。従って、米粒の表面に付着した水分が、米粒内部から追い出された気体に代わって米粒内部の細胞間の間隙に速やかに確実に侵入する。 In the state in which the inside of the pot 3 in the water absorption process is decompressed to about 0.6 atm, the gas present in the gap between the rice grain cells is quickly expelled to the outside of the rice grain, and the gap between the cells inside the rice grain is greatly expanded. Therefore, the moisture adhering to the surface of the rice grain quickly and surely enters the gap between the cells inside the rice grain instead of the gas expelled from the inside of the rice grain.

その後、上述したように、装置本体９０が圧力弁開放機構１２１と減圧ポンプ１２２の動作を停止し、弁１２０を閉鎖した状態で鍋３内の圧力を大気圧近傍に至るように圧力弁６０を開放して昇圧すると、水圧が増大して細胞間の間隙に強力に侵入する。そして、この減圧と昇圧が繰り返されることにより、吸水が加速され米の芯まで水が短時間に確実に浸透する。 Thereafter, as described above, the apparatus main body 90 stops the operation of the pressure valve opening mechanism 121 and the decompression pump 122, and the pressure valve 60 is set so that the pressure in the pan 3 reaches near atmospheric pressure with the valve 120 closed. When the pressure is increased after opening, the water pressure increases and strongly enters the intercellular space. And by repeating this pressure reduction and pressure increase, water absorption is accelerated and water penetrates reliably to the core of rice in a short time.

装置本体９０は、減圧回数が所定回数、例えば４回になったことをカウンタによって検知すると弁開閉機構１２１、減圧ポンプ１２２及び圧力弁開放機構７の作動を停止させる（Ｓ７）。そして、吸水工程を終了させて次の立上り加熱工程へと移行させる（Ｓ８）。 The apparatus main body 90 stops the operation of the valve opening / closing mechanism 121, the pressure reducing pump 122, and the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 when the counter detects that the number of times of decompression has reached a predetermined number, for example, four (S7). And a water absorption process is complete | finished and it transfers to the next rising heating process (S8).

この立上り加熱工程においては、装置本体９０は圧力弁開放機構７を作動させてプランジャ７０を引き戻すことでボール６２が自重により弁孔６０上に転げて弁孔６０を塞ぎ、圧力弁６を閉鎖状態とすることにより圧力弁６を閉鎖させる。このとき、減圧ポンプ１２２及び弁開閉機構１２１は作動が停止された状態にある。その結果、鍋３は密封状態になる。 In this rising heating process, the apparatus main body 90 operates the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 to pull back the plunger 70, whereby the ball 62 rolls over the valve hole 60 by its own weight to close the valve hole 60, and the pressure valve 6 is closed. Thus, the pressure valve 6 is closed. At this time, the operation of the decompression pump 122 and the valve opening / closing mechanism 121 is stopped. As a result, the pan 3 is sealed.

立上り加熱工程への移行によって鍋３が密封状態になると、装置本体９０が加熱手段４を全加熱（フルパワー加熱）させて圧力式炊飯器１が短時間で沸騰状態になるように制御する。 When the pan 3 is in a sealed state by shifting to the rising heating process, the apparatus main body 90 controls the heating means 4 to be fully heated (full power heating) so that the pressure rice cooker 1 is in a boiling state in a short time.

この状態においては、鍋３内の圧力は弁孔６０を介してボール６２を押し上げ得る圧力値に上昇するまで昇圧される。従って、このときの鍋内の蒸気の圧力は、ボール６２の重さ及び弁孔６０の大きさを設定することにより適宜定めることができる。 In this state, the pressure in the pan 3 is increased until the pressure rises to a pressure value at which the ball 62 can be pushed up through the valve hole 60. Therefore, the pressure of the steam in the pan at this time can be appropriately determined by setting the weight of the ball 62 and the size of the valve hole 60.

また、この立上り加熱工程では、蒸気温度を蒸気温度センサ１１により計測する。そしてこの蒸気温度が所定温度、例えば７５℃に達すると被炊飯物が沸騰現象を起こす温度になり、立上り加熱工程が終了したものとみなされる。このときの蒸気圧力は、圧力弁６により制御され、大気圧以上の所定圧力、例えば約１．２気圧となる。そして、次の沸騰維持工程が開始される（Ｓ９）。 In this rising heating process, the steam temperature is measured by the steam temperature sensor 11. And when this steam temperature reaches predetermined temperature, for example, 75 degreeC, it will become the temperature which a to-be-cooked rice will raise | generate a boiling phenomenon, and it is considered that the start-up heating process was complete | finished. The vapor pressure at this time is controlled by the pressure valve 6 and becomes a predetermined pressure equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure, for example, about 1.2 atmospheric pressure. Then, the next boiling maintenance step is started (S9).

沸騰維持工程が開始されると、鍋３内の圧力は大気圧以上の所定圧力、例えば約１．２気圧となり、被炊飯物はこの圧力に対応する飽和温度で沸騰するようになる。 When the boiling maintenance process is started, the pressure in the pan 3 becomes a predetermined pressure equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure, for example, about 1.2 atm, and the cooked rice comes to boil at a saturation temperature corresponding to this pressure.

鍋３内が沸騰状態になると、装置本体９０は、圧力弁開放機構７を作動させてボール６２を移動させることにより圧力弁６の強制的な開動作を行なう。また、この開動作の際には、加熱手段４による加熱を停止して、圧力弁６の強制的開動作を所定時間継続する。この圧力弁６の強制的開動作により、鍋３内の圧力が大気圧近傍まで一気に減圧する（Ｓ１０）。 When the inside of the pan 3 is in a boiling state, the apparatus main body 90 operates the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 to move the ball 62, thereby forcibly opening the pressure valve 6. Further, during this opening operation, heating by the heating means 4 is stopped, and the forced opening operation of the pressure valve 6 is continued for a predetermined time. By the forced opening operation of the pressure valve 6, the pressure in the pan 3 is reduced to a pressure close to atmospheric pressure (S10).

このように鍋３内の圧力を所定沸騰圧力（約１．２気圧）から一気に大気圧近傍まで低下させると、鍋３内は激しく沸騰して突沸状態となる。この突沸状態になると、鍋３内に泡が発生し、この泡によって被炊飯物が撹拌される。この結果、被炊飯物が均一に加熱され、炊き上げられることになる。 Thus, when the pressure in the pan 3 is lowered from the predetermined boiling pressure (about 1.2 atm) to the vicinity of the atmospheric pressure at once, the inside of the pan 3 boils violently and enters a bumping state. In this bumping state, bubbles are generated in the pan 3, and the cooked rice is stirred by the bubbles. As a result, the cooked rice is heated uniformly and cooked.

圧力弁６を強制的に開放する所定時間は、圧力弁６の強制的開動作により鍋３内の圧力が略大気圧に戻る程度の時間に定められている。圧力弁６を強制的に開放する時間をこのように設定することにより、最大限の撹拌エネルギーを得ることができるようにしている。 The predetermined time for forcibly opening the pressure valve 6 is set to a time that the pressure in the pan 3 returns to substantially atmospheric pressure by the forcible opening operation of the pressure valve 6. By setting the time for forcibly opening the pressure valve 6 in this way, the maximum agitation energy can be obtained.

また、圧力弁６の強制的な開放を上記所定時間行った後は、圧力弁開放機構７を作動させて再び圧力弁６を閉状態とし、再び加熱し、鍋３内を昇圧する（Ｓ１１）。なお、この加熱時間は、鍋３内の圧力が前述の所定沸騰圧力（約１．２気圧）まで回復するのに必要な時間である。 In addition, after the pressure valve 6 has been forcibly opened for the predetermined time, the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 is operated to close the pressure valve 6 again, and then heated again to increase the pressure in the pan 3 (S11). . In addition, this heating time is time required for the pressure in the pan 3 to recover to the aforementioned predetermined boiling pressure (about 1.2 atmospheres).

この圧力弁開放機構７による圧力弁６の強制的開放による減圧は複数回、例えば６回繰り返される（Ｓ１２）。沸騰維持工程においては、時間の経過と共に、鍋３内の残水量が減少し、圧力変動幅が小さくなり、突沸現象が弱くなる。このため、圧力弁６の強制的な開放は沸騰維持工程の初期段階に集中させると効果的である。 The pressure reduction by the forced opening of the pressure valve 6 by the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 is repeated a plurality of times, for example, six times (S12). In the boiling maintenance step, the amount of residual water in the pot 3 decreases with the passage of time, the pressure fluctuation range becomes smaller, and the bumping phenomenon becomes weaker. For this reason, forcibly opening the pressure valve 6 is effective when concentrated in the initial stage of the boiling maintenance process.

装置本体９０は、減圧回数が６回になったことをカウンタによって検知すると圧力弁開放機構７による圧力弁６の強制的開放が停止され、圧力弁６を閉状態とする。一方、装置本体９０は加熱手段４による加熱を継続し、鍋底温度が所定温度、例えば１３０℃になると鍋３内の水が枯れて強制ドライアップを終了したと判断する。そこで、装置本体９０は、加熱手段４による沸騰維持工程を終了させる（Ｓ１３）。そして、装置本体９０は圧力炊飯器１を次の第１回目の蒸らし工程へと移行させる（Ｓ１４）。 When the apparatus main body 90 detects that the number of times of depressurization has become 6 by a counter, the forced opening of the pressure valve 6 by the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 is stopped, and the pressure valve 6 is closed. On the other hand, the apparatus main body 90 continues the heating by the heating means 4, and when the pot bottom temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, 130 ° C., it is determined that the water in the pot 3 is dried up and the forced dry-up is finished. Therefore, the apparatus main body 90 ends the boiling maintenance process by the heating means 4 (S13). And the apparatus main body 90 transfers the pressure rice cooker 1 to the following 1st steaming process (S14).

装置本体９０は、第１回目の蒸らし工程において、圧力弁開放機構７を制御して圧力弁６を閉状態にし、所定の時間だけ蒸らしを行なう。装置本体９０は第１回目の蒸らし工程を終了した後は、圧力炊飯器１を追炊き工程へと移行させる（Ｓ１５）。 In the first steaming step, the apparatus main body 90 controls the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 to close the pressure valve 6 and performs steaming for a predetermined time. After completing the first steaming process, the apparatus main body 90 shifts the pressure cooker 1 to the additional cooking process (S15).

この追炊き工程では、圧力弁開放機構７により圧力弁６が強制的に開放され、加熱手段４によって鍋３が再び加熱され、米の表面に付着した水を蒸発させる。 In this additional cooking process, the pressure valve 6 is forcibly opened by the pressure valve opening mechanism 7, and the pan 3 is heated again by the heating means 4 to evaporate water adhering to the surface of the rice.

装置本体９０は追炊き工程が終了すると圧力炊飯器１を第２回目の蒸らし工程へと移行させる（Ｓ１６）。第２回目の蒸らし工程では、再び圧力弁開放機構７が圧力弁６を閉状態にする。 The apparatus main body 90 will transfer the pressure rice cooker 1 to the 2nd steaming process, if an additional cooking process is complete | finished (S16). In the second steaming step, the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 closes the pressure valve 6 again.

所定時間経過後には、第２回目の蒸らし工程が終了されて圧力式炊飯器１による炊飯が終了する。 After the elapse of the predetermined time, the second steaming process is finished, and the rice cooking by the pressure rice cooker 1 is finished.

上述した本発明の実施例によれば、鍋３に被炊飯物を投入した状態で、制御装置９が吸水工程において装置本体９０により減圧装置１２を作動させ鍋３内を減圧する。このときは、圧力弁６は閉状態にあるので、鍋３には外気が流入しない。そのため、鍋３内は急速に減圧され、米粒の細胞間の間隙に存在する気体が迅速に米粒外部に追い出され、米粒内部の細胞間の間隙を大きく広げる。 According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, with the rice to be cooked in the pan 3, the control device 9 operates the decompression device 12 by the device main body 90 in the water absorption process to decompress the inside of the pan 3. At this time, since the pressure valve 6 is in the closed state, the outside air does not flow into the pan 3. Therefore, the inside of the pan 3 is rapidly depressurized, and the gas present in the gaps between the rice grain cells is quickly expelled to the outside of the rice grains, greatly widening the gaps between the cells inside the rice grains.

その後、制御装置９が装置本体９０により減圧装置１２の動作を停止させ圧力弁開放機構７を作動させて圧力弁６を開放する。この開放によって鍋３内には、外気が急速に流入して鍋３内が大気圧近傍に至るように昇圧するので、水圧が増大して細胞間の間隙に強力に侵入する。そのため、米の芯まで水が短時間に確実に浸透されて吸水を効果的に行うことができる。しかも、昇圧のための機構は従前の圧力弁６と圧力弁開放機構７をそのまま用いることができる。 Thereafter, the control device 9 stops the operation of the pressure reducing device 12 by the device main body 90 and operates the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 to open the pressure valve 6. As a result of this opening, the outside air rapidly flows into the pot 3 and the pressure is increased so that the inside of the pot 3 reaches the vicinity of the atmospheric pressure, so that the water pressure increases and strongly enters the gap between the cells. Therefore, water can be surely penetrated to the core of the rice in a short time and water can be absorbed effectively. Moreover, the conventional pressure valve 6 and the pressure valve opening mechanism 7 can be used as they are as the mechanism for increasing the pressure.

また、鍋３内の減圧と昇圧とは繰り返して複数回行うことにより、米の芯まで水が極めて短時間に確実に浸透される。そのため、従前に比して吸水を極めて短時間でもって効果的にできる。しかも、鍋３内のどの位置の米も確実に吸水し吸水むらを生じないので、炊き上がりむらをまったく生じない。 Moreover, the pressure reduction and pressure increase in the pan 3 are repeated a plurality of times, so that water can be surely infiltrated into the rice core in a very short time. Therefore, water absorption can be effectively performed in a very short time as compared with the prior art. And since the rice of any position in the pan 3 absorbs water reliably and does not produce water absorption unevenness, there is no uneven cooking.

更に、沸騰維持工程においては、加圧状態から急激に減圧されて鍋３内が沸騰状態になって被炊飯物が激しく攪拌され、これが複数回繰り返される。そのため、加熱が全体的に平均化される結果、炊きむらのない良好な炊飯状態が得られる。 Furthermore, in a boiling maintenance process, it pressure-reduces rapidly from a pressurization state, the inside of the pan 3 will be in a boiling state, and a to-be-cooked rice will be stirred violently, and this is repeated several times. Therefore, as a result of heating being averaged as a whole, a good cooked state without uneven cooking is obtained.

なお、上述した実施例においては、吸水工程における減圧した鍋３の圧力を約０．６としたが、この圧力は必要に応じて変更してもよい。また、その減圧回数も必要に応じて変更してもよい。加えて、上記実施例においては、吸水工程において減圧ポンプ１２２により減圧された後大気圧近傍まで昇圧するまでの間は、一時的に減圧ポンプ１２２が停止するものとして説明したが、減圧ポンプ１２２を停止することなく、弁開閉機構１２１によって弁１２０を閉鎖することのみによって減圧状態を維持するようにしても良い。 In addition, in the Example mentioned above, although the pressure of the pressure-reduced pan 3 in the water absorption process was set to about 0.6, you may change this pressure as needed. Further, the number of times of decompression may be changed as necessary. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the decompression pump 122 temporarily stops until the pressure is increased to near atmospheric pressure after being decompressed by the decompression pump 122 in the water absorption process. You may make it maintain a pressure-reduced state only by closing the valve 120 by the valve opening / closing mechanism 121, without stopping.

なお、上述した実施例においては、沸騰維持工程における昇圧した鍋３の圧力を約１．２気圧としたが、この圧力は必要に応じて変更してもよい。また、その回数も必要に応じて変更してもよい。 In addition, in the Example mentioned above, although the pressure of the pressure-raised pan 3 in the boiling maintenance process was about 1.2 atmospheres, you may change this pressure as needed. Further, the number of times may be changed as necessary.

図１は本発明の実施形態に係る圧力式炊飯器の正面図である。FIG. 1 is a front view of a pressure rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. 図２は図１の圧力式炊飯器の外部ケースが省略された縦断面図である。FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in which the outer case of the pressure rice cooker of FIG. 1 is omitted. 図３は図２の減圧装置の減圧ポンプを省いた部分を示す拡大断面図であって、図３（ａ）は定常状態における減圧装置の様子を示す図であり、図３（ｂ）は作動状態における減圧装置の様子を示す図である。3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of the decompression device of FIG. 2 from which the decompression pump is omitted. FIG. 3 (a) is a diagram showing the state of the decompression device in a steady state, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the mode of the decompression device in a state. 図４は図２における制御装置を構成するブロック図である。FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control device in FIG. 図５は本発明の実施形態に係る圧力式炊飯器の炊飯の動作を示すフローチャートである。FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of rice cooking of the pressure rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention. 図６は本発明の実施形態に係る圧力式炊飯器の温度・圧力変化および減圧・昇圧状態を示す特性図である。FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing temperature / pressure changes and reduced pressure / pressurized states of the pressure rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１圧力式炊飯器
２炊飯器本体
２ａ正面
３鍋
４加熱手段
５蓋体
６圧力弁
７圧力弁開放機構
８表示操作部
１０鍋底温度センサ
１１蒸気温度センサ
１２減圧装置
３０表示操作部
５０内蓋
５１外蓋
６０弁孔
６１弁座
６２金属製ボール
６３カバー
７０シリンダ
７１プランジャ
７２バネ及び作動棹
９０装置本体
１２０弁
１２１弁開閉機構
１２２減圧ポンプ
１２３通気用パイプ
１２４弁孔
１２５弁座
１２６金属製ボール
１２７カバー
１２８シリンダ
１２９プランジャ
１３０バネ
１４０メニューキー
１４１スタートキー
１４２予約キー
１４３表示パネル DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pressure type rice cooker 2 Rice cooker main body 2a Front 3 Pan 4 Heating means 5 Cover body 6 Pressure valve 7 Pressure valve opening mechanism 8 Display operation part 10 Pan bottom temperature sensor 11 Steam temperature sensor 12 Decompression device 30 Display operation part 50 Inner lid 51 Outer cover 60 Valve hole 61 Valve seat 62 Metal ball 63 Cover 70 Cylinder 71 Plunger 72 Spring and actuating rod 90 Main body 120 Valve 121 Valve opening / closing mechanism 122 Pressure reducing pump 123 Ventilation pipe 124 Valve hole 125 Valve seat 126 Metal ball 127 Cover 128 Cylinder 129 Plunger 130 Spring 140 Menu key 141 Start key 142 Reserved key 143 Display panel

Claims

水と米とを含む被炊飯物を投入する鍋と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を加熱する加熱手段と、該鍋の開口部を塞ぐ蓋体と、該鍋内の圧力を調整する圧力弁と、該圧力弁を制御する圧力弁開放機構と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を吸水させる吸水工程と沸騰するまで昇温加熱する立上り加熱工程及び被炊飯物を沸騰状態に維持する沸騰維持工程を含む所定の炊飯工程の実行を行う制御装置とを備えた圧力式炊飯器において、前記鍋内の内圧を大気圧に比して減圧する減圧装置を設け、前記制御装置は、前記吸水工程において、前記圧力弁開放機構によって前記圧力弁を閉動させると共に、前記減圧装置を作動させて前記鍋内を大気圧に比して減圧し、該減圧後に該圧力弁開放機構を作動させて該圧力弁を開放し該鍋内の圧力を大気圧近傍に至るまで昇圧するように制御することを特徴とする圧力式炊飯器。 A pan for charging the cooked rice containing water and rice, a heating means for heating the cooked rice in the pan, a lid for closing the opening of the pan, and a pressure valve for adjusting the pressure in the pan And a pressure valve opening mechanism for controlling the pressure valve, a water absorption process for absorbing the cooked rice in the pan, a rising heating process for heating up until boiling, and a boiling maintenance process for maintaining the cooked rice in a boiling state A pressure-type rice cooker equipped with a control device that executes a predetermined rice cooking process including a pressure reducing device that reduces the internal pressure in the pan relative to atmospheric pressure, the control device in the water absorption step The pressure valve is closed by the pressure valve opening mechanism, and the pressure reducing device is operated to reduce the pressure in the pan relative to the atmospheric pressure. After the pressure reduction, the pressure valve opening mechanism is operated to operate the pressure. Open the valve to increase the pressure in the pan to near atmospheric pressure Pressure type rice cooker and controlling.

水と米とを含む被炊飯物を投入する鍋と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を加熱する加熱手段と、該鍋の開口部を塞ぐ蓋体と、該鍋内の圧力を調整する圧力弁と、該圧力弁を制御する圧力弁開放機構と、該鍋内の被炊飯物を吸水させる吸水工程と沸騰するまで昇温加熱する立上り加熱工程及び被炊飯物を沸騰状態に維持する沸騰維持工程を含む所定の炊飯工程の実行を行う制御装置とを備えた圧力式炊飯器において、前記鍋内の内圧を大気圧に比して減圧する減圧装置を設け、前記制御装置は、前記吸水工程において、前記圧力弁開放機構によって前記圧力弁を閉動させると共に、前記減圧装置を作動させて前記鍋内を大気圧に比して減圧し、該減圧後に該圧力弁開放機構を作動させて該圧力弁を開放し該鍋内の圧力を大気圧近傍に至るまで昇圧し、前記沸騰維持工程において、該圧力弁開放機構によって該圧力弁の開閉制御を複数回行い、該鍋内の圧力を加圧状態から大気圧近傍への減圧及び該大気圧近傍から加圧状態への昇圧を交互に繰り返すことを実行するように制御することを特徴とする圧力式炊飯器。 A pan for charging the cooked rice containing water and rice, a heating means for heating the cooked rice in the pan, a lid for closing the opening of the pan, and a pressure valve for adjusting the pressure in the pan And a pressure valve opening mechanism for controlling the pressure valve, a water absorption process for absorbing the cooked rice in the pan, a rising heating process for heating up until boiling, and a boiling maintenance process for maintaining the cooked rice in a boiling state A pressure-type rice cooker equipped with a control device that executes a predetermined rice cooking process including a pressure reducing device that reduces the internal pressure in the pan relative to atmospheric pressure, the control device in the water absorption step The pressure valve is closed by the pressure valve opening mechanism, and the pressure reducing device is operated to reduce the pressure in the pan relative to the atmospheric pressure. After the pressure reduction, the pressure valve opening mechanism is operated to operate the pressure. Open the valve and increase the pressure in the pan to near atmospheric pressure, In the rising maintenance step, the pressure valve opening / closing control is performed a plurality of times by the pressure valve opening mechanism, and the pressure in the pan is reduced from the pressurized state to near atmospheric pressure and from the near atmospheric pressure to pressurized state. It is controlled to execute repeating alternately.

前記制御装置は、前記吸水工程における前記減圧と前記昇圧を前記減圧装置と前記圧力弁開放機構との作動を交互に繰り返して実行するように制御してなることを特徴とする請求項１又は請求項２に記載の圧力式炊飯器。 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs control so that the pressure reduction and the pressure increase in the water absorption step are alternately and repeatedly performed by the pressure reduction device and the pressure valve opening mechanism. Item 3. A pressure rice cooker according to item 2.

前記減圧装置は、前記蓋体に設けた弁と、該弁を開閉可能に制御する弁開閉機構と、減圧ポンプとからなり、前記制御装置は、前記吸水工程において、前記弁開閉機構により前記弁を開動作可能に制御すると共に、前記減圧ポンプを作動させて前記鍋内の空気を吸引して外部に放出することによって減圧し、該減圧後に前記弁開閉機構により前記弁を閉状態に制御して該減圧を停止させるように制御することを特徴とする請求項１又は請求項２に記載の圧力式炊飯器。 The pressure reducing device includes a valve provided on the lid, a valve opening / closing mechanism that controls the valve so that the valve can be opened and closed, and a pressure reducing pump. The control device uses the valve opening / closing mechanism to Is controlled so as to be able to open, and the decompression pump is operated to reduce the pressure by sucking the air in the pan and releasing it outside, and after the decompression, the valve opening / closing mechanism controls the valve to be closed. The pressure rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressure reduction is controlled to stop.