JPH04240421A - Automatic rice washing and cooking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to accurately measure directly the weight of rice and water by a cooking bowl in an automatic rice-washing and cooking device for washing and cooking rice. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a rice cooking bowl, a heater for the bow, and a rotor 51 supporting the rice cooking bowl and rotating via belts by means of a rice-washing motor. And a straining material is arranged in the neighborhood of the rotor 51 and a load cell 62 is provided by fixing strain gauges 61 dispersed to almost square directions around the center of the rotor 51 at the upper face of the straining material 60 to measure the strain of the load cell 62 by receiving the weight of the rice cooking bowl on the load cell 62 via the rotor 51, the thrust bearing 66, a supporting plate 64 in order to measure the weight of rice and water. Since the strain gauges 61 are dispersed to about square directions at the upper face of the straining material 60, even if the weight of the rice cooking bowl is deviated to one side, it can be accurately measured.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic rice washing and rice cooker that automatically performs everything from washing to cooking rice.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of automatic rice-washing rice cooker has been constructed as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 51-45989. The configuration will be described below with reference to FIG. 5.

As shown in the figure, a rice bin 2 for storing rice is provided at the bottom of a cabinet body (hereinafter referred to as the body) 1. At the top of the main body 1 above the rice jug 2, there is provided a rice cooking part 3 which can be inserted and removed. Above the rice cooking section 3 from near the bottom surface 4 of the rice jug 2, there is a cylinder 6 having a rotatable screw 5 therein, and from the upper end of this cylinder 6, the rice cooking section 3 is connected.
A screw guide 8 for weighing and conveying rice consisting of a chute 7 and a chute 7 which is inclined and protrudes toward is installed. That is, the screw guide 8 first measures and conveys the rice in the rice bin 2 to the rice cooking section 3. Next, rice washing water is first stored in a water tank 9 provided at the upper end of the main body 1 from a water supply valve 10, and a water supply hose 11 is extended below this water tank 9.
Water is supplied into the rice cooking pot 12 provided in the rice cooking section 3 through the water.

Next, the rotating blade 13 is lowered into the open rice cooking pot 12 to wash the rice by stirring, and then the rotating blade 13
The dirty rice washing water is drained by a drain hose 16 equipped with a drain pump 15 at the other end. Rice washing is completed by repeating this water supply and drainage several times. Thereafter, cooking water is again stored in the water tank 9 from the water supply valve 10, and then supplied to the rice cooking pot 12. After that, the height of one opening 14 of the drain hose 16 is adjusted by the cooking water measuring means 17 to remove excess cooking water. Drain the water and complete measuring the cooking water. After that, the rice cooking heater 18 of the rice cooking section 3 starts to be energized to start cooking rice.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional automatic rice cooker, the height of the opening 14 of the drain hose 16 is adjusted by the cooking water measuring means 17 to measure the cooking water, and the excess cooking water is drained. It is something that will be completed. For this reason, when using a pot with a large flat area, such as a pot with a large flat surface area, it is not possible to accurately measure the amount of water used for cooking rice, and as a result, the rice cannot be cooked deliciously.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its first object to provide an automatic rice-washing rice cooker that can accurately measure the weight directly in the rice cooker and measure the cooking water without any mistakes. . The second purpose is to simplify the structure for measuring the weight of a rice cooker. A third purpose is to particularly improve the accuracy of measuring the rice transferred to the rice cooker. The fourth purpose is to further improve the accuracy of measuring the rice. A fifth purpose is to simultaneously measure the rice and cooking water in the rice cooker and wash the rice, and to simplify the overall configuration of this part.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above first object, the automatic rice-washing rice cooker of the present invention includes a cabinet body, a bottomed cylindrical rice cooking pot provided in the cabinet body, and a rice cooking pot. A heating element for heating the rice cooker, a rotating means for rotating the rice cooker to wash rice, and a transmission rod that transmits the weight of the rice cooker to strain gauges on approximately four sides at the lower center of the outer bottom surface of the rice cooker. This structure includes weight measuring means distributed over the strained body.

In order to achieve the second object, the rice cooker is configured to transmit the weight of the rice cooker to the strain body of the rice cooker's weight measuring means via a rotor that rotates the rice cooker. It is.

[0009] Furthermore, in order to achieve the third objective, a plurality of strain gauges are distributed on the strain-generating body, one on the contraction side and the other on the tension side, and a plurality of strain gauges are placed on each approximately four sides. , the inner and outer strain gauges at two locations on the contraction side and the tension side are connected in parallel, and a weight measuring means is provided in which these parallel connections are connected in a bridge manner.

[0010] In order to achieve the fourth object, strain gauges distributed on the strain body are arranged diagonally to the substantially central axis of the rice cooker in substantially all directions on the contraction side and the tension side. A weight measuring means is provided in which a plurality of each of the strain gauges are arranged, the outer and inner strain gauges at two locations on the contraction side and the tension side are connected in parallel, and these parallel connected bodies are connected in a bridge. This is what I did.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the fifth object, the strain-generating body is arranged such that one end is fixed to the cabinet body, and the other end of the strain-generating body is supported in the direction of the center of the strain-generating body. A plate is extended, and a rotor for rotating the rice cooker is provided on this support plate via a thrust bearing, so that the rice cooker is supported as the rice cooker rotates.

0012

[Operation] According to the above-described structure, the strain gauges provided on the strain body of the weight measuring means are distributed in approximately four directions at the lower center of the outer bottom surface of the rice cooker, and the strain gauges are disposed on the strain gauge of the strain body. By receiving the weight of the rice cooker and reading the change in the strain gauge, it is possible to directly measure the rice water poured into the rice cooker using the rice cooker.

[0013] Furthermore, by transmitting the weight of the rice cooker to the strain body of the weight measuring means through the rotor of the rotation means that rotates the rice cooker, the weight transmission rod is connected to the rotor that rotates the rice cooker. Can serve as both.

Furthermore, the strain gauges disposed on the strain body are connected in parallel with the inner and outer strain gauges at two locations on the contraction side and the tension side, and these parallel connected bodies are connected in a bridge. By improving the four-corner characteristics of the strain gauges placed on all sides, it is possible to accurately measure the weight of rice transported into the rice cooker without being affected by the eccentricity of the rice.

[0015] Also, a plurality of strain gauges are arranged diagonally to the central axis of the rice cooker on approximately four sides, one on the contraction side and one on the tension side. By connecting the strain gauges in parallel and connecting these parallel connections in a bridge, the four-corner characteristics of the strain gauge can be further improved, and the strain gauge can be used without being affected by the eccentricity of rice transferred into the rice cooker. Weight can be measured more accurately.

Furthermore, one end of the flexure element is fixed to the cabinet body, and a support plate is provided at the other end extending toward the center of the flexure element, and a rice cooker is connected to this support plate via a thrust bearing. By providing a rotating rotor to support the rice cooking pot as it rotates, it is possible to perform the rice washing process by rotating the rice cooking pot and the weight measurement of rice cooking water and rice at the same time.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. That is, in FIG. 4, a rice cooking section 26 is provided in one side opening of the cabinet main body 25 so as to be able to move in and out from side to side. The rice cooking section 26 includes a rice cooking pot 27, a heating coil 28 for induction heating that covers the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the rice cooking pot 27, and a lid 29 for closing the rice cooking pot 27.

The lid 29 is also provided with a steam hole 31, a rice conveying tube 33 in the center thereof, and a valve 34 which is housed inside the rice conveying tube 33 and can be opened and closed by moving up and down. On the outer periphery of the rice conveying cylinder 33, an inner cover ring 35 that can be raised and lowered is arranged between a compression coil spring-shaped inner cover ring 35 and a heat sink 32.
6, it is urged downward and provided around the periphery. The inner cover ring 35 is detachably provided with an inner cover 38 via an inner cover packing 37, and the inner cover 38 is closed by being pressed against the rice cooking pot 27 by an inner cover spring 36.

The inner lid 38 has a plurality of elongated holes 40 extending in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery, and the outer periphery of the inner lid 38 is provided with the outer periphery loosely aligned with the inner surface of the upper end of the rice cooker 27. The rice cooker 2 is provided with a rib 41 whose end extends with a gap from the upper edge of the rice cooker 27 and partially contacts the upper edge of the rice cooker 27.
7 and the ribs 41 are arranged with a gap narrower than a grain of rice.

Note that a lid packing 42 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lid 29.
and is airtightly sealed together with the upper frame 30 of the outer periphery of the drain groove 43 arranged on the upper end outer periphery of the rice cooking pot 27 housed in the rice cooking part 26.

A rice bin portion 44 is provided in the lower part of the cabinet body 25 so as to be freely retractable to the left and right. This rice jug section 44 has a rice measuring section (not shown) integrally provided at the lower part of the rice jug (not shown), which has a sloping bottom that descends toward the center.

An ejector (not shown) is provided on the side of the cabinet body 25 below the rice measuring section.
has been established. A conveying pipe 45 is provided which communicates with this ejector and conveys rice to the rice cooking pot 27 via the rice conveying cylinder 33 of the rice cooking section 26.

Further, above the rice cooking section 26, there is a water supply hole 47 at the tip of a water supply valve 46, the other of which is directly connected to the water supply, and a water supply hole 47 connected to the steam hole 3.
We are preparing to face 1.

Furthermore, the rice cooking portion 26 has a lower connector 49 at its upper end that removably engages with an upper connector 48 provided approximately at the center of the bottom surface of the rice cooking pot 27, and a co-rotating plate 5 at its lower end.
The rotor 51 is provided with a cylindrical rotor 51 having a diameter of 0.

The co-rotating plate 50 is provided with a sliding pin 52 erected parallel to the rotor 51 on the outer periphery, and a linear bearing 53 that is slidably engaged with the sliding pin 52. A large pulley 54 that is arranged and rotates concentrically with the rotor 51, a rice washing motor 55 that rotationally drives the rice cooking pot 27 via this large pulley 54, and further this rice washing motor 55.
Together with a belt 57 that transmits rotation from a small pulley 56 to a large pulley 54, the rotating means for washing rice is constituted.

The rotor 51 is slidably and rotatably supported by a large linear bearing 59 housed in a bearing housing 58. FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG.
is equipped with a strain-generating body 60 having a constricted portion 60a in the center thereof, and two sets of load cells 62 each having a strain gauge 61 fixed to the upper surface of the constricted portion 60a, one end of which is connected to a screw 63. and is fixed to the bearing housing 58.

Front and rear strain bodies 60A and 60B forming the front and rear load cells 62A and 62B of the two load cells 62
Strain gauge elements R1-1, R1-2 and R2-1, R2-2 (not shown) are installed in both constricted portions 60a, with one side (screw 63 side) of the constricted portion 60a being the contraction side. The other side is the tension side and has strain gauge elements R1-3, R1-4 and R2-3, R2-4 (not shown).
It has two of each. That is, two of them are distributed approximately symmetrically with the rotor 51 at the center on all four sides of the bottom center of the rice cooker 27.

Then, as shown in the strain measurement circuit diagram of FIG. 2, the strain gauges 61 at two locations on the contraction side and the tension side are connected in parallel, and these parallel connections are connected in a bridge to measure strain. It constitutes a circuit.

A cantilevered support plate 64 extending toward one end of the load cell 62 (towards the screw 63) passing through the rotor 51 is fixed to the other end of the load cell 62 with a screw 65.

The support plate 64 is also provided with a thrust bearing 66 on its upper surface that engages with the large-diameter stepped portion of the upper part of the rotor 51, and a pivot portion 66b with bearing plates 66a on the back surfaces of both ends thereof. They are placed in contact with each other. That is, rotor 5
1 is pivotally supported by a large linear bearing 59 so as to be vertically slidable and rotatable, supports a downward load by a thrust bearing 66, and moves up and down in accordance with changes in the weight inside the rice cooking pot 27. At this time, the inclination of the support plate 64 with respect to the rotor 51 is absorbed by the load cell 62 via the pivot portion 66b of the bearing plate 66a. Then, the amount of descent of the rotor 51 is measured by a so-called pan weight sensor 67 that measures the amount of strain absorbed by the load cell 62.

The operation of the above configuration will now be explained. First, prepare the rice by putting rice into the rice pot part 44, and then use the operation part (
(not shown), key in the desired amount of rice to be cooked, etc., and turn on the start switch to start the machine.

[0032] First, in the rice measuring section, the rice meter is operated a number of times according to the desired amount of rice to be cooked, and at the same time, the rice is measured in the rice cooking pot 27 via the ejector, the delivery pipe 45, and the rice conveying cylinder 33. Transport the rice to

In the rice cooking section 26, the rice cooking pot 27 is lowered together with the inner lid 38 due to the weight of the rice transferred to the rice cooking pot 27, and the load cell 62 is displaced via the upper connector 48, the lower connector 49, and the rotor 51. let

This amount of displacement is amplified by the bridge circuit of the strain gauge 61, and the data is transmitted to a control section (not shown) to measure the weight of the rice. Here, the rice is not necessarily stored uniformly in the rice cooking pot 27, but even if it is stored eccentrically, the amount of strain can be controlled by the parallel connection of the strain gauges 61 distributed inside and outside the strain body 60. It is equalized and can be weighed accurately.

Next, the water supply valve 46 is opened, and rice washing water is first supplied from the water supply hole 47 to the rice cooking pot 27 through the steam hole 31. The water supplied into the rice cooking pot 27, including the water temporarily stored in the inner lid 38, transmits the displacement amount data of the load cell 62 to the control section in the same way as the measurement of the rice weight described above, and the water is Measure the weight sequentially.

Next, the rice washing motor 55, which is the rotational driving body of the rice cooking pot 27, is rotated in the forward and reverse directions to rotate the rice cooking pot 27 and wash the rice. Furthermore, speed up the rotation of the rice cooker 27 and pour the washed rice water into the rice cooker 2.
The liquid is discharged into the drainage groove 43 of the upper frame 30 through the gap between the upper end of the frame 7 and the inner lid 38.

After the rice washing process is repeated several times in which the rice washing water is supplied to the rice cooking pot 27, the pot is rotated, and the water is drained, the water supply valve 46 is opened again, and this time the rice cooking water is adjusted to the desired amount of rice in the same way as the rice washing water. The corresponding amount of water is directly supplied and measured into the rice cooking pot 27 by the pot weight sensor 67. When the rice-cooking water supply is completed, the heating coil 28 is energized to proceed with rice cooking.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 and 3. The difference from the above embodiment is that the front load cell 62A shown in FIG. It's the same.

That is, the strain gauge elements R1-1, R1-2, R1-3, and R1-4 on the top surface of the front strain body 60A are arranged as shown in FIG. 1, but on the top surface of the rear strain body 60B. Strain gauge elements R2-1, R2-2, R2-3, R2-4 (not shown) arranged in the same arrangement as the front strain body 60A
By repeatedly turning 180° left and right, the rear straining body 6
Strain gauge element R2-1 is located on the lower surface of 0B.
, R2-2 is on the right side and strain gauges R3-1, R3-2
, strain gauge elements R2-3 and R2-4 are on the left side, and strain gauges R3-3 and R3-4 (both not shown)
become. By changing the arrangement as described above, the strain gauges 61 of the two load cells 62 are divided into strain gauge elements R1-1, R1-2 and R3-1 in the diagonal direction with the rotor 51 at the center. , R3-2, and on the tension side, R1-3, R1- in the same diagonal direction.
4, R3-3, and R3-4. And the strain gauge elements R1-1 and R at the outer positions on the contracting side
3-2, strain gauge elements R1-3 and R3-4 between the outer positions on the tension side, and strain gauge elements R1-2 between the inner positions on the contraction side and the tension side.
, R3-1, R1-4, and R3-3 are connected in parallel as shown in FIG. 3, and these parallel connections are connected in a bridge to form a strain measurement circuit.

With the above configuration, the elements of the strain gauges 61 distributed in the four directions below the bottom surface of the rice cooker 27 are arranged diagonally around the rotor 51 on both the contraction side and the tension side. It can be placed further apart than in the previous embodiment. As a result, by equalizing the distortion amount of the pot weight sensor 67, the four corner characteristics are further improved, and the rice cooker 27
Even if the rice transported inside is eccentric, more accurate weight measurement is possible.

[0041]

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description of the embodiments, the automatic rice-washing rice cooker of the present invention includes a cabinet body, a bottomed cylindrical rice cooking pot provided inside the cabinet body, and this rice cooking pot. A strain-generating body having a heating body for heating, a rotating means for rotating the rice-cooking pot to wash rice, and a transmission rod that transmits the weight of the rice-cooking pot using strain gauges on approximately four sides at the lower center of the outer bottom surface of the rice-cooking pot. By configuring the rice cooker with a weight measuring means distributed in several directions, the rice cooker can measure the cooking water using the weight measuring means in which strain gauges are distributed in approximately all directions on the strain body at the bottom of the rice cooker. This can be done directly from In addition, the weight is transmitted to the strain body of the weight measuring means through the rotor, which is the rotating means for rotating the rice cooker, and the structure can be simplified by using the weight transmission rod as the rotor. .

[0042]Furthermore, the strain gauges are distributed in approximately four directions by connecting the two inner and outer strain gauges on the contraction side and the tension side in parallel, and connecting these parallel connections in a bridge. The four-corner characteristics of the strain gauge have been improved, and the weight can be accurately measured without being affected by the eccentricity of the rice transferred into the rice cooker. In addition, a plurality of strain gauges are arranged diagonally around the central axis of the rice cooker on each of the four sides on the contraction side and the tension side, and the two outer and inner strain gauges on each of the contraction side and the tension side are connected to each other. By connecting these strain gauges in parallel and connecting these parallel connected bodies in a bridge, the four-corner characteristics are further improved by equalizing the amount of strain in each parallel connected body. This makes it possible to more accurately measure the weight of the rice and cook it more accurately.

Furthermore, a support plate is provided at the other end of the flexure element, extending in the direction of the center of the flexure element, and a rotor for rotating the rice cooking pot is provided on this support plate via a thrust bearing, so that the rice cooking pot is rotated. By adopting a configuration in which the rice cooking pot is supported as the pot rotates, the rice washing process by rotating the rice cooking pot and the weight measurement of the amount of cooking water and rice can be performed at the same time, and the overall configuration of this part can be simplified. It is something that can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of the main weight measuring means taken along line A-A in FIG. 4 in an automatic rice-washing rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Strain measurement circuit diagram of a strain gauge installed in the same weight measuring means

[Figure 3] Strain measurement circuit diagram of another embodiment of the strain gauge provided in the same weight measuring means

[Figure 4] Partial cross-sectional view of the automatic rice-washing rice cooker

[Figure 5] Longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conventional washed rice cooker

[Explanation of symbols]

25 Cabinet body 27 Rice cooker 28 Heating coil (heating body) 48 Upper connector (rotating means) 49 Lower connector (rotating means) 51 Rotor (rotating means) 54 Large pulley (rotating means) 55 Rice washing motor (rotating means) 56 Small Pulley (rotating means) 57 Belt (rotating means) 58 Bearing housing (weight measuring means) 60 Strain body 61 Strain gauge 62 Load cell (weight measuring means) 64 Support plate (transmission rod) 66 Thrust bearing (transmission rod) 66a Bearing plate (Transmission rod) 66b Pivot part (transmission rod)

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claims 1: A cabinet body, a bottomed cylindrical rice cooker provided in the cabinet body, a heating element for heating the rice cooker, a rotating means for rotating the rice cooker to wash rice, and the rice cooker. An automatic rice-washing rice cooker equipped with a weight measuring means in which strain gauges are distributed on approximately four sides of the lower center of the outer bottom of the pot on a strain-generating body having a transmission rod for transmitting the weight of the rice-cooking pot. 2. The automatic rice-washing rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the rice-cooking pot is transmitted to the strain body of the weight measuring means of the rice-cooking pot via a rotor that rotates the rice-cooking pot. 3. A plurality of strain gauges distributed on the strain-generating body are arranged on approximately four sides, with one side serving as a contraction side and the other serving as a tension side; Claim 1 comprising a weight measuring means in which the strain gauges at two locations, one on the inside and one on the outside, are connected in parallel, and these parallel connections are connected in a bridge.
The automatic rice cooker listed. 4. A plurality of strain gauges distributed on the strain-generating body are arranged in a diagonal direction of a substantially central axis of the rice cooker on substantially four sides as a contraction side and a tension side, and a plurality of strain gauges are disposed on each substantially four sides on the contraction side and the tension side. 2. The automatic rice washer and rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising weight measuring means in which the strain gauges at two locations on the tension side are connected in parallel, and the parallel connections are connected in a bridge manner. 5. A strain-generating body having one end fixed to the cabinet body, a supporting plate extending in the direction of the center of the strain-generating body at the other end of the strain-generating body; 3. The automatic rice-washing rice cooker according to claim 2, further comprising a rotor that rotates the rice-cooking pot via a thrust bearing to support the rice-cooking pot as it rotates.