Abstract:
The disclosed automatic bread-maker ( 1 ) is provided with a bread container ( 50 ) into which the bread-making starting materials are introduced, a baking chamber ( 40 ) that is provided within a main body ( 10 ) and that accepts the bread container ( 50 ), a blade-rotating axle ( 52 ) provided at the bottom of the bread container ( 50 ), a pulverizing blade ( 54 ) mounted on the blade-rotating axle ( 52 ), a kneading blade ( 70 ) disposed above the pulverizing blade ( 54 ), and a motor ( 60 ) that applies torque to the blade-rotating axle ( 52 ). A depression ( 44 ) is formed on the bottom of the bread container ( 50 ) so as to surround the blade-rotating axle ( 52 ), and the pulverizing blade ( 54 ) rotates within the depression ( 55 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to an automatic bread-maker for use mainly in general households. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Commercially available bread-makers for household use are typically configured such that a bread container in which bread ingredients are put is placed in a baking chamber, the bread ingredients inside the bread container being mixed and kneaded by using a mixing/kneading blade, and after a fermentation process, baked into bread, by using the bread container as a baking pan. An example of such baking machines is disclosed in Patent Literature 1. 
         [0003]    Sometimes, optional ingredients such as raisins and nuts are added to the bread ingredients to bake bread with optional ingredients. Patent Literature 2 discloses an automatic bread-maker equipped with means for automatically feeding optional bread ingredients such as raisins, nuts, or cheese. 
       Citation List 
     Patent Literature 
       [0004]    Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2000-116526 
         [0005]    Patent Literature 2: Japan Patent No. 3191645 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0006]    Conventionally, bread making needs to be started by preparing flour made by grinding grains of cereal such as wheat and rice, or ready-mixed flour made of such flour and various auxiliary ingredients mixed together. Even when there are cereal grains (typically rice) available at hand, it is not easy to make bread directly from such cereal grains. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic bread-maker equipped with a mechanism that is convenient for making bread directly from cereal grains, and to make bread making easier to work on. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0007]    To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an automatic bread-maker includes: a bread container in which bread ingredients are put; a baking chamber which is provided inside a body and accommodates the bread container; a blade rotation shaft which is provided at a bottom portion of the bread container; a grinding blade which is fitted to the blade rotation shaft; a mixing/kneading blade which is arranged above the grinding blade; and a motor which imparts a rotational force to the blade rotation shaft. Here, a recess is so formed in a bottom portion of the bread container as to surround the blade rotation shaft and the grinding blade rotates inside the recess. 
         [0008]    With this structure, it is possible to produce bread ingredients inside the bread container by putting cereal grains in the bread container and grinding them with the grinding blade. Thereafter, mixing/kneading of the bread ingredients is carried out by the mixing/kneading blade, and the procedure can further proceed in the bread container to fermentation and baking processes. It is possible to bake bread in the bread container from cereal grains ground in the same bread container. Thus, in contrast to a structure in which cereal grains are first ground in a container and then shifted to the bread container, this structure is free from volume loss of cereal grains resulting from some of the cereal grains being left in the container without moving to the bread container. Furthermore, it is possible to leave the grinding blade and the mixing/kneading blade inside the bread container from the start of the grinding of cereal grains until the end of baking operation, and this makes the automatic bread-maker easy to handle. Moreover, since the grinding blade rotates inside the recess formed in the bottom portion of the bread container, it is possible to minimize the amount of cereal grains scattering outside the bread container. 
         [0009]    In the automatic bread-maker structured as described above, the grinding blade may be unrotatably attached to the blade rotation shaft, the mixing/kneading blade may be fitted to the blade rotation shaft such that the mixing/kneading blade rotates above the recess, and, between the mixing/kneading blade and the blade rotation shaft, there may be provided a clutch which couples the mixing/kneading blade and the blade rotation shaft to each other or uncouples the mixing/kneading blade and the blade rotation shaft from each other. 
         [0010]    With this structure, it is possible to uncouple the mixing/kneading blade from the blade rotation shaft in grinding cereal grains, and this makes it possible to grind the cereal grains efficiently by making only the grinding blade rotate at high speed. 
         [0011]    In the automatic bread-maker structured as described above, the clutch may be a unidirectional clutch which couples the mixing/kneading blade and the blade rotation shaft to each other when the blade rotation shaft rotates in one direction, and which uncouples the mixing/kneading blade and the blade rotation shaft from each other when the blade rotation shaft rotates in a direction opposite to said one direction. 
         [0012]    With this structure, it is possible to impart or not to impart torque to the mixing/kneading blade just by changing the rotation direction of the blade rotation shaft, and this makes the automatic bread-maker easy to handle. 
         [0013]    In the automatic bread-maker structured as described above, a disc which conceals the recess may be combined with the mixing/kneading blade. 
         [0014]    With this structure, the disc stops the dough from going into the recess, and this helps avoid formation of a recess-shaped protrusion in the bottom of bread. In addition, the provision of the disc helps prevent the cereal grains from jumping upward after hitting the grinding blade. 
         [0015]    The automatic bread-maker structured as described above may further include a dome-shaped cover which is fitted to the blade rotation shaft, the cover covering the grinding blade and having the mixing/kneading blade formed on an external surface thereof, such that the cover is accommodated in the recess. 
         [0016]    With this structure, the grinding blade grinds cereal grains inside the cover, and this prevents the cereal grains from scattering outside the bread container during the grinding process. Furthermore, since the cover is accommodated in the recess and does not protrude from the bottom portion in the bread container, no large trace of the cover is left in the bottom of bread. 
         [0017]    In the automatic bread-maker structured as described above, the grinding blade may be unrotatably attached to the blade rotation shaft, and, between the cover and the blade rotation shaft, there may be provided a clutch which couples the cover and the blade rotation shaft to each other or uncouples the cover and the blade rotation shaft from each other. 
         [0018]    With this structure, the mixing/kneading blade can be uncoupled from the blade rotation shaft when cereal grains are ground, and this makes it possible to grind the cereal grains efficiently by rotating only the grinding blade at high speed. 
         [0019]    In the automatic bread-maker structured as described above, the clutch may couple the cover and the blade rotation shaft to each other when the blade rotation shaft rotates in one direction, and may uncouple the cover and the blade rotation shaft from each other when the blade rotation shaft rotates in a direction opposite to said one direction. 
         [0020]    With this structure, it is possible to impart or not to impart torque to the mixing/kneading blade provided on the external surface of the cover just by changing the rotation direction of the blade rotation shaft, and this makes the automatic bread-maker easy to handle. 
         [0021]    In the automatic bread-maker structured as described above, between an outer peripheral portion of the cover and an internal surface of the recess, there may be formed a clearance which allows passage of bread ingredients therethrough, and the cover may have formed therein a window through which a space inside the cover and a space outside the cover communicate with each other. 
         [0022]    With this structure, it is possible to create a circulation in which mixture of cereal grains and liquid present above the recess enters the recess through the clearance, the mixture is then moves from the recess into the cover, where the cereal grains are ground by the grinding blade, and then moves out of the cover through the window back to above the recess. This helps grind cereal grains with high efficiency. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0023]    According to the present invention, it is possible to bake bread by using cereal grains at hand, and thus there is no need of buying cereal flour as a bread ingredient. In the case of using rice, bread can be baked by using rice grains of any polishing rate from brown to white. And, since the processes from the grinding of cereal grains to the baking of bread can be all carried out in the bread container placed inside the baking chamber, there is less risk of undesired mixing of foreign matter into dough. Furthermore, in contrast to a structure in which cereal grains are first ground in a container and then shifted into the bread container, this structure is free from loss associated with such shift, in which some of the cereal grains may stick to the container to be left therein. Since the grinding blade and the mixing/kneading blade are placed inside the bread container from beginning to end, it is easy to handle them; since the grinding blade rotates inside the recess at the bottom portion of the bread container, it is possible to minimize the amount of cereal grains scattering out of the bread container. Furthermore, with the structure in which the cover is accommodated in the recess, it is possible to grind the cereal grains inside the cover, and this helps prevent the cereal grains from scattering out of the bread container and thus makes it easier to grind the cereal grains. Moreover, since the cover is accommodated in the recess and does not protrude from the bottom portion in the bread container, no large trace of the cover is left in the bottom of bread. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    [ FIG. 1 ] A vertical sectional view showing an automatic bread-maker of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]    [ FIG. 2 ] A vertical sectional view showing the automatic bread-maker of the first embodiment taken along a direction perpendicular to the sectional direction of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]    [ FIG. 3 ] A top plan view showing the automatic bread-maker of the first embodiment in a mixing/kneading process; 
           [0027]    [ FIG. 4 ] A control block diagram of the automatic bread-maker of the first embodiment; 
           [0028]    [ FIG. 5 ] An overall flow chart showing processes in a first example of bread-making process; 
           [0029]    [ FIG. 6 ] A flow chart showing a pre-grinding soaking process in the first example of bread-making process; 
           [0030]    [ FIG. 7 ] A flow chart showing a grinding process in the first example of bread-making process; 
           [0031]    [ FIG. 8 ] A flow chart showing a mixing/kneading process in the first example of bread-making process; 
           [0032]    [ FIG. 9 ] A flow chart showing a fermentation process in the first example of bread-making process; 
           [0033]    [ FIG. 10 ] A flow chart showing a baking process in the first example of bread-making process; 
           [0034]    [ FIG. 11 ] An overall flow chart showing processes in a second example of bread-making process; 
           [0035]    [ FIG. 12 ] A flow chart showing a post-grinding soaking process in the second example of bread-making process; 
           [0036]    [ FIG. 13 ] An overall flow chart showing processes in a third example of bread-making process; 
           [0037]    [ FIG. 14 ] A vertical sectional view showing an automatic bread-maker of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]    [ FIG. 15 ] A vertical sectional view showing the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment taken along a direction perpendicular to the sectional direction of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0039]    [ FIG. 16 ] A top plan view showing a bread container of the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment in a mixing/kneading process; 
           [0040]    [ FIG. 17 ] A top plan view showing the bread container of the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment in a grinding process; 
           [0041]    [ FIG. 18 ] A perspective view showing a cover included in the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment and having a mixing/kneading blade attached thereto; 
           [0042]    [ FIG. 19 ] A side view showing the cover included in the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment and having the mixing/kneading blade attached thereto; 
           [0043]    [ FIG. 20 ] A perspective view as seen from below showing the cover included in the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment and having the mixing/kneading blade attached thereto; 
           [0044]    [ FIG. 21 ] A bottom plan view showing the cover included in the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment and having the mixing/kneading blade attached thereto; 
           [0045]    [ FIG. 22 ] A bottom plan view showing the cover in the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment when the mixing/kneading blade is in an open posture; and 
           [0046]    [ FIG. 23 ] A control block diagram of the automatic bread-maker of the second embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0047]    Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the automatic bread-maker of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0048]    First, the structure of an automatic bread-maker of the first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . In  FIG. 1 , the left side is the front (facade) side of the automatic bread-maker  1 , and the right side is the rear (back) side of the same. The left-hand side and the right-hand side of an observer facing the front of the automatic bread-maker  1  are the left side and the right side, respectively, of the automatic bread-maker  1 . 
         [0049]    The automatic bread-maker  1  has a box-shaped body  10  formed with an external shell made of a synthetic resin. To an upper portion of the body  10 , a handle  11  for carrying is attached. An operation portion  20  is provided in a front portion of an upper surface of the body  10 . The operation portion  20  is, as shown  FIG. 3 , provided with: a group of operation keys  21  including keys such as a key for selecting bread type (wheat bread, rice bread, bread with optional ingredient), a cooking program selection key, a timer key, a start key, and a cancellation key; and a display portion  22  that displays a description of a set cooking program and time set through the timer key. The display portion  22  is formed with, for example, a liquid crystal display panel. 
         [0050]    A portion of the top surface of the body behind the operation portion  20  is covered with a lid  30  made of a synthetic resin. The lid  30  is hinged to a rear edge of the body  10  with an unillustrated hinge shaft, to be swingable around the hinge shaft within a vertical plane. 
         [0051]    Inside the body  10 , a baking chamber  40  is provided. The baking chamber  40  is made of a sheet metal and has an open top through which a bread container  50  is put thereinto. The baking chamber  40  has a peripheral side wall  40   a  which is rectangular in horizontal section and a bottom wall  40   b.    
         [0052]    Inside the body  10 , a base  12  made of a sheet metal is placed. On the base  12 , there is fixed a bread container support portion  13 , which is made by die casting an aluminum alloy, to a position corresponding to a position in the center of the baking chamber  40 . The inside of the bread container support portion  13  is exposed to the inside of the baking chamber  40 . 
         [0053]    At a position in the center of the bread container support portion  13 , a drive shaft  14  is vertically supported. To a lower end of the drive shaft  14 , a pulley  15  is fixed. The pulley  15  is made to rotate by a motor  60  supported by the base  12 . The motor  60  has a vertical shaft, and has an output shaft  61  protruding from a lower surface thereof. To the output shaft  61 , there is fixed a pulley  62 , which is coupled to the pulley  15  via a belt  63 . The bread container support portion  13  receives a cylindrical pedestal  51  which is fixed to a bottom surface of the bread container  50 , and thereby supports the bread container  50 . The pedestal  51  is also made by die casting an aluminum alloy. 
         [0054]    The bread container  50  is made of a metal sheet in a bucket-like shape and provided with a carrying handle (not shown) attached to a rim of an opening thereof. The bread container  50  is rectangular with rounded corners in horizontal section. At a position in the center of a bottom portion of the bread container  50 , a vertical blade rotation shaft  52  is vertically supported, with sealing applied thereto. To the blade rotation shaft  52 , a rotational force is transmitted from the drive shaft  14  via a coupling  53 . The coupling  53  is formed of two members, one of which is fixed to a lower end of the blade rotation shaft  52  and the other of which is fixed to an upper end of the drive shaft  14 . The entirety of the coupling  53  is enclosed by the pedestal  51  and the bread container support portion  13 . 
         [0055]    Unillustrated protrusions are formed on an internal peripheral surface of the bread container support portion  13  and on an outer peripheral surface of the pedestal  51 . These protrusions form a known bayonet coupling. Specifically, in attaching the bread container  50  to the bread container support portion  13 , the bread container  50  is brought down such that the protrusions of the pedestal  51  do not interfere with the protrusion of the bread container support portion  13 . Then, after the pedestal  51  is fitted into the bread container support portion  13 , the bread container  50  is horizontally turned, so that the protrusions of the pedestal  51  are engaged with lower surfaces of the protrusions of the bread container support portion  13 , as a result of which the bread container  50  is fixed such that it cannot be pulled out upward. This operation also accomplishes coupling of the coupling  53 . The bread container  50  is twisted, when being set, in the same direction as the rotation direction of a mixing/kneading blade which will be described later, so that rotation of the mixing/kneading blade does not cause the bread container  50  to come off 
         [0056]    A heating device  41  arranged inside the baking chamber  40  surrounds the bread container  50  and applies heat to bread ingredients. The heating device  41  is formed with a sheath heater. 
         [0057]    The blade rotation shaft  52  has a grinding blade  54  unrotatably attached thereto. The grinding blade  54  is made of stainless steel and shaped like a propeller of an airplane. In a bottom portion of the bread container  50 , a recess  55  is formed to be circular in plan view, and the grinding blade  54  rotates inside the recess  55 . 
         [0058]    A center portion of the grinding blade  54  is formed as a hub  54   a,  and in a lower surface of the hub  54   a,  a groove (not shown) is formed across the hub  54   a  in a diameter direction thereof. An unillustrated pin horizontally penetrating the blade rotation shaft  52  receives the hub  54   a  and engages with the groove to unrotatably couple the hub  54   a  to the blade rotation shaft  52 . The grinding blade  54  is able to be easily pulled out of the blade rotation shaft  52 , and this facilitates cleaning after a bread making operation and replacement of a dull grinding blade  54  with a new one. 
         [0059]    To an upper end of the blade rotation shaft  52 , a mixing/kneading blade  70  is attached. The mixing/kneading blade is also made by die casting an aluminum alloy, and includes a hub  71  fitted to the blade rotation shaft  52 , a horizontal disc  72  provided under the hub  71 , and a blade  73  that stands upright on an upper surface of the disc  72  and is “&lt;”-shaped in plan view. The disc  72  is slightly smaller in diameter than the recess  55 , and substantially conceals the recess  55 . 
         [0060]    An unillustrated unidirectional clutch is provided between the hub  71  of the mixing/kneading blade  70  and the blade rotation shaft  52 . The unidirectional clutch couples the blade rotation shaft  52  and the mixing/kneading blade  70  to each other when the blade rotation shaft  52  rotates counterclockwise in  FIG. 3 , and uncouples the blade rotation shaft  52  and the mixing/kneading blade  70  from each other when the blade rotation shaft  52  rotates clockwise in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0061]    The hub  71  is also able to be easily pulled out of the blade rotation shaft  52 , and this facilitates cleaning of the mixing/kneading blade  70  after a bread making operation. 
         [0062]    Operation of the automatic bread-maker  1  is controlled by a control device  80  shown in  FIG. 4 . The control device  80  is formed of a circuit board appropriately located within the body  10  (preferably at a place where it is least affected by heat from the baking chamber  40 ). To the control device  80 , the operation portion  20  and the heating device  41  are connected, and further, a motor driver  81  of the motor  60  and a temperature sensor  83  are also connected to the control device  80 . The temperature sensor  83  is disposed inside the baking chamber  40 , and detects temperature of the baking chamber  40 . Reference numeral  84  denotes a commercial power supply that supplies power to each component. 
         [0063]    Next, a description will be given of a process of making bread from cereal grains by using the automatic bread-maker  1 , with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 13 .  FIGS. 5 to 10  show a first example of bread making process. 
         [0064]      FIG. 5  is an overall flow chart of the first example of bread making process. As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the first example of bread making process, a pre-grinding soaking process # 10 , a grinding process # 20 , a mixing/kneading process # 30 , a fermentation process # 40 , and a baking process # 50  are performed in this order. Now, the processes will be described one by one. 
         [0065]    The pre-grinding soaking process # 10  shown in  FIG. 6  starts with step # 11  where the user measures cereal grains and puts a certain amount of cereal grains in the bread container  50 . As the cereal grains, rice is the most available, but grains of other cereals such as wheat, barley, foxtail millet, Japanese barnyard millet, buckwheat (soba), and corn may be used. 
         [0066]    In step # 12 , the user measures liquid and puts a certain amount of liquid in the bread container  50 . The liquid is typically water, but it may be a soup stock which contains a taste component, or it may be fruit juice. The liquid may contain alcohol. Step # 11  and step # 12  may be performed in a reverse order. 
         [0067]    The cereal grains and the liquid may be put in the bread container  50  with the bread container  50  placed outside or inside the baking chamber  40 . 
         [0068]    After the cereal grains and the liquid are put into the bread container  50  inside the baking chamber  40 , or after the bread container  50  in which the cereal grains and the liquid is put outside the baking chamber  40  is attached to the bread container support portion  13 , the lid  30  is closed. Here, the user presses a predetermined operation key of the operation portion  20  to start counting how long the cereal grains are soaked in the liquid. At this time point, step # 13  starts. 
         [0069]    In step # 13 , a mixture of the cereal grains and the liquid is left to rest in the bread container  50 , so that the liquid soaks into the cereal grains. Generally, the higher the liquid temperature is, the faster the cereal grains absorb the liquid, and thus the heating device  41  may be energized to raise the temperature of the baking chamber  40 . 
         [0070]    In step # 14 , the control device  80  checks how long the cereal grains and the liquid have been left to rest. The pre-grinding soaking process # 10  finishes when the cereal grains and the liquid are found to have been left to rest for a predetermined time. This is informed to the user via a display provided on the operation portion  20 , via sound, or the like. 
         [0071]    After the pre-grinding soaking process # 10 , the procedure proceeds to the grinding process # 20  shown in  FIG. 7 . When the user inputs grinding operation data (kind and amount of cereal grains, kind of bread to be baked, etc.) through the operation portion  20  and presses the start key, step # 21  starts to be performed. 
         [0072]    In step # 21 , the control device  80  drives the motor  60 , to make the blade rotation shaft  52  rotate clockwise in  FIG. 3 . Then the unidirectional clutch functions to uncouple the mixing/kneading blade  70  from the blade rotation shaft  52 , and consequently no torque is imparted to the mixing/kneading blade  70  from the blade rotation shaft  52 , and the grinding blade  54  alone rotates together with the blade rotation shaft  52 . 
         [0073]    Since the cereal grains are ground by the grinding blade  54  after the liquid has soaked into them, it is easy to grind them to their cores. Since the grinding of the cereal grains is performed inside the recess  55 , only a minimum amount of grains are scattered outside the bread container. 
         [0074]    In step # 22 , the control device  80  checks whether or not the grinding has been performed according to a set grinding pattern (whether the grinding blade is to be continuously rotated or intermittently rotated interspersed with stop periods, how the intervals should be set and how long a rotation period should last in the case of intermittent rotation, etc.). 
         [0075]    When the grinding of the set grinding pattern is found to have been completed, the procedure proceeds to step # 23 , where the grinding blade  54  finishes rotating, and the grinding process # 20  is finished. This is informed to the user via a display provided on the display portion  22 , via sound, etc. 
         [0076]    In the above description, after the pre-grinding soaking process # 10 , the grinding process # 20  is made to start by the user by operating the operation portion  20 ; however, the grinding process # 20  may be set to automatically start after the pre-grinding soaking process # 10  according to grinding operation data inputted by the user either before or in the course of the pre-grinding soaking process # 10 . 
         [0077]    Following the grinding process # 20 , the procedure proceeds to the mixing/kneading process # 30  shown in  FIG. 8 . At the start of the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the cereal grains and the liquid in the bread container  50  have become a dough material in a pasty or slurry state. Note that, herein, a substance that is present at the start of the mixing/kneading process # 30  is referred to as “dough material,” while a substance becoming increasingly similar to the aimed dough as the mixing/kneading proceeds is referred to as “dough” even before it is completed as dough. 
         [0078]    In step # 31 , the user opens the lid  30  to add a certain amount of gluten to the dough material. Any of seasonings such as salt, sugar, and shortening is added to the dough material as necessary. It is also possible to provide the automatic bread-maker  1  with an automatic feeder for gluten and seasonings such that they are fed without bothering the user. 
         [0079]    Substantially simultaneously with step # 31 , the user operates the operation portion  20  to input the kind of bread to be baked and the cooking program to be performed. When the machine is ready, the user presses the start key, to start the bread making operation in which processes are automatically performed in series from the mixing/kneading process # 30 , to the fermentation process # 40 , and to the baking process # 50 . 
         [0080]    In step # 32 , the control device  80  drives the motor  60  to make the blade rotation shaft  52  rotate counterclockwise in  FIG. 3 . Then the unidirectional clutch operates to couple the mixing/kneading blade  70  to the blade rotation shaft  52 , and the mixing/kneading blade  70  rotates together with the blade rotation shaft  52 . 
         [0081]    Here, the control device  80  energizes the heating device  41  to raise the temperature of the baking chamber  40 . As the mixing/kneading blade  70  rotates, the dough material is mixed and kneaded, to be worked into a lump of dough having predetermined elasticity. The mixing/kneading blade  70  swings the dough around and beats it against an internal wall of the bread container  50 , and this adds an element of “kneading (folding, pressing and stretching)” to the mixing/kneading process. The dough material inside the recess  55  gradually mixes with the lump of dough mixed and kneaded by the mixing/kneading blade  70 . 
         [0082]    In step # 33 , the control device  80  checks how much time has elapsed since the start of the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  70 . When a predetermined period time is found to have elapsed, the procedure proceeds to step # 34 . 
         [0083]    In step # 34 , the user opens the lid  30  to add yeast to the dough. The yeast added to the dough here is dry yeast. Instead of yeast, baking powder may be used. It is also possible to adopt an automatic feeder for yeast or baking powder as well, to thereby save the user time and trouble. 
         [0084]    In step # 35 , the control device  80  checks how much time has elapsed since the addition of yeast to the dough. When a period of time necessary to obtain desired dough is found to have elapsed, the procedure proceeds to step # 36 , where the mixing/kneading blade  70  finishes rotating. At this time, a lump of dough having required elasticity is completed. The disc  72  stops the dough from going into the recess  55 , and thus most part of the dough stays above the recess  55 , with very small part of the dough, if any, going into the recess  55 . 
         [0085]    In the case of baking bread with an optional ingredient, at any step in the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the optional ingredient is added. An automatic feeder can be adopted for optional ingredients, as well. 
         [0086]    Following the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the fermentation process # 40  shown in  FIG. 9  is performed. In step # 41 , dough resulting from the mixing/kneading process  30  is placed in a fermentation environment. That is, the control device  80  energized the heating device  41 , if necessary, to thereby raise the temperature of the baking chamber  40  to a temperature within a range suitable for fermentation. The user forms the dough into a desired shape and leaves it to rest as necessary. 
         [0087]    In step # 42 , the control device  80  checks how long the dough has been in the fermentation environment. When a predetermined time is found to have elapsed, the fermentation process # 40  is finished. 
         [0088]    Following the fermentation process # 40 , the baking process # 50  shown in  FIG. 10  is performed. In step # 51 , the dough undergone fermentation is put in a baking environment. That is, the control device  80  supplies the heating device  41  with power necessary for baking bread, and thereby raises the temperature of the baking chamber  40  to a temperature within a bread-baking temperature range. 
         [0089]    In step # 52 , the control device  80  checks how long the dough has been in the baking environment. When a predetermined time is found to have elapsed, the baking process # 50  is finished. Here, completion of the bread making is announced in the form of a sign displayed on the display portion  22  or in sound, and in response to the announcement, the user opens the lid  30  and takes out the bread container  50 . Then, the user takes the bread out of the bread container  50 . Here, a trace of the mixing/kneading blade  70  is left in the bottom of the baked bread when it is taken out of the bread container  50 ; however, no protrusion in the shape of recess  55  is formed in the bottom of the bread, since the disc  72  has stopped the dough from dropping into the recess  55 . 
         [0090]    Next, a second example of bread making process will be described based on  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 11  is an overall flow chart showing the second example of bread making process. As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the second example of bread making process, a grinding process # 20 , a post-grinding soaking process # 60 , a mixing/kneading process # 30 , a fermentation process # 40 , and a baking process # 50  are performed in this order. Now, steps in the post-grinding soaking process # 60  will be described based on  FIG. 12 . 
         [0091]    In step # 61 , dough material formed in the grinding process # 20  is left to rest in the bread container  50 . The dough material here has not undergone the pre-grinding soaking process. While the dough material is left to rest, the liquid soaks into the ground cereal grains. The control device  80  energizes the heating device  41  as necessary to apply heat to the dough material to promote the soaking. 
         [0092]    In step # 62 , the control device  80  checks how long the dough material has been left to rest. When a predetermined time is found to have elapsed, the post-grinding soaking process # 60  is finished. When the post-grinding soaking process # 60  is finished, the procedure automatically proceeds to the mixing/kneading process # 30 . The mixing/kneading process # 30  and processes performed thereafter are the same as in the first example of bread making process. 
         [0093]    Next, a third example of bread making process will be described based on FIG.  13 .  FIG. 13  is an overall flow chart showing the third example of bread making process. Here, the pre-grinding soaking process # 10  of the first example is carried out before a grinding process # 20 , and the post-grinding soaking process  60  of the second example is performed after the grinding process # 20 . Then a mixing/kneading process  30  is performed; the mixing/kneading process  30  and processes performed thereafter are the same as in the first example of bread making process. 
         [0094]    The grinding blade  54  can be used not only to grind cereal grains but also to break optional ingredients such as nuts and leaf vegetables into small pieces. This makes it possible to bake bread containing small-particle optional ingredients. The grinding blade  54  can also be used, for example, to grind foodstuff other than optional ingredients for bread, or to grind crude drug materials. 
         [0095]    In this embodiment, the single control device  80  is able to control the grinding blade  54  and the mixing/kneading blade  70  to rotate in association with each other, and thus, it is possible to impart rotation to the grinding blade  54  and the mixing/kneading blade  70  according to the kind and the amount of cereal grains in the stage of grinding cereal grains and in the stage of mixing/kneading the cereal flour resulting from the grinding, to thereby improve the quality of bread. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0096]    Next, the structure of an automatic bread-maker of a second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14 to 23 . In  FIG. 14 , the left side is the front (facade) side of the automatic bread-maker  100 , and the right side is the rear (back) side of the automatic bread-maker  100 . The left-hand side and the right-hand side of an observer facing the front of the automatic bread-maker  100  are the left side and the right side, respectively, of the automatic bread-maker  100 . 
         [0097]    The automatic bread-maker  100  has a box-shaped body  110  formed with an external shell made of a synthetic resin. An operation portion  120  is provided in an upper front portion of the body  110 . Although not illustrated in the figures, the operation portion  120  is provided with: a group of operation keys such as a key for selecting the type of bread (wheat bread, rice bread, bread with optional ingredients, etc.), a cooking program selection key, a timer key, a start key, and a cancellation key; and a display portion that displays a description of a set cooking program and time set through the timer key. The display portion is formed with a liquid crystal display panel and a display lamp including a light emitting diode as its light source. 
         [0098]    A portion of the top surface of the body behind the operation portion  120  is covered with a lid  130  made of a synthetic resin. The lid  130  is hinged to a rear-side edge of the body  110  with an unillustrated hinge shaft, to be swingable around the hinge shaft within a vertical plane. 
         [0099]    Inside the body  110 , a baking chamber  140  is provided. The baking chamber  140  is made of a sheet metal and has an open top through which a bread container  150  is put thereinto. The baking chamber  140  has a peripheral side wall  140   a  which is rectangular in horizontal section and a bottom wall  140   b.    
         [0100]    Inside the body  110 , a base  112  made of a sheet metal is placed. On the base  112 , there is fixed a bread container support portion  113  at a position corresponding to a position in the center of the baking chamber  40 . The bread container support portion  113  is made by die casting an aluminum alloy. The inside of the bread container support portion  113  is exposed to the inside of the baking chamber  140 . 
         [0101]    At a position in the center of the bread container support portion  113 , a drive shaft  114  is vertically supported. It is pulleys  115 ,  116  that impart rotation to the drive shaft  114 . Clutches are arranged one between the pulley  115  and the drive shaft  114  and one between the pulley  116  and the drive shaft  114  such that, when the pulley  115  is made to rotate in a direction to transmit the rotation to the drive shaft  114 , the rotation of the drive shaft  114  is not transmitted to the pulley  116 , while, when the pulley  116  is made to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pulley  115  is made to rotate, to transmit the rotation to the drive shaft  114 , the rotation of the drive shaft  114  is not transmitted to the pulley  115 . 
         [0102]    The pulley  115  is made to rotate by a mixing/kneading motor  160  supported by the base  112 . The mixing/kneading motor  160  has a vertical shaft, and has an output shaft  161  protruding from a lower surface thereof. To the output shaft  161 , there is fixed a pulley  162 , which is coupled to the pulley  115  via a belt  163 . The mixing/kneading motor  160  itself is a low-speed high-torque motor, and moreover, the pulley  162  makes the pulley  115  rotate at a reduced speed, and thus the drive shaft  114  rotates at a low speed and with a high torque. 
         [0103]    The pulley  116  is made to rotate by a grinding motor  164  which is also supported by the base  112 . The grinding motor  164  also has a vertical shaft, and has an output shaft  165  protruding from an upper surface thereof. To the output shaft  165 , there is fixed a pulley  166 , which is coupled to the pulley  116  via a belt  167 . 
         [0104]    The grinding motor  164  undertakes a role of imparting high-speed rotation to a later-described grinding blade. Thus, a high-speed rotation motor is chosen as the grinding motor  164 , and the speed reduction ratio between the pulley  166  and the pulley  116  is set to approximately 1:1. 
         [0105]    The bread container support portion  113  receives a cylindrical pedestal  151  which is fixed to a bottom surface of the bread container  150 , and thereby supports the bread container  150 . The pedestal  151  is also made by die casting an aluminum alloy. 
         [0106]    The bread container  150  is made of a metal sheet in a form like a bucket, with a handle for carrying (not shown) attached to a rim of an opening thereof. The bread container  150  is rectangular with rounded corners in horizontal section. At a position in the center of a bottom portion of the bread container  150 , a vertical blade rotation shaft  152  is vertically supported, with sealing applied thereto. To the blade rotation shaft  152 , a rotational force is transmitted from the drive shaft  114  via a coupling  153 . The coupling  153  is formed of two members, one of which is fixed to a lower end of the blade rotation shaft  152  and the other of which is fixed to an upper end of the drive shaft  114 . The entirety of the coupling  153  is enclosed by the pedestal  151  and the bread container support portion  113 . 
         [0107]    Unillustrated protrusions are formed on an internal peripheral surface of the bread container support portion  113  and on an outer peripheral surface of the pedestal  151 . These protrusions form a known bayonet coupling. Specifically, in attaching the bread container  150  to the bread container support portion  113 , the bread container  150  is brought down such that the protrusions of the pedestal  151  do not interfere with the protrusions of the bread container support portion  113 . Then, after the pedestal  151  is fitted into the bread container support portion  113 , the bread container  150  is horizontally turned, so that the protrusions of the pedestal  151  are engaged under the protrusions of the bread container support portion  113 , as a result of which the bread container  150  is fixed such that it cannot be pulled out upward. This operation also accomplishes coupling of the coupling  153 . The bread container  150  is twisted, when being set, in the same direction as the rotation direction of a mixing/kneading blade which will be described later, such that rotation of the mixing/kneading blade does not cause the bread container  150  to come off. 
         [0108]    A heating device  141  placed inside the baking chamber  140  surrounds the bread container  150  and applies heat to the bread ingredients. The heating device  141  is formed with a sheath heater. 
         [0109]    The blade rotation shaft  152  has a grinding blade  154  attached thereto at a position slightly above the bottom portion of the bread container  150 . The grinding blade  154  is unrotatable with respect to the blade rotation shaft  152 . The grinding blade  154  is made of stainless steel, and as shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , shaped like a propeller of an airplane. 
         [0110]    A center portion of the grinding blade  154  is formed as a hub  154   a  that is fitted to the blade rotation shaft  152 . In a lower surface of the hub  154   a,  a groove  154   b  is formed across the hub  154   a  in a diameter direction thereof. An unillustrated pin horizontally penetrating the blade rotation shaft  152  receives the hub  154   a  and engages with the groove  154   b  to unrotatably couple the grinding blade  154  to the blade rotation shaft  152 . The grinding blade  154  is able to be easily pulled out of the blade rotation shaft  152 , and this facilitates cleaning after a bread making operation and replacement of a dull grinding blade  154  with a new one. 
         [0111]    To an upper end of the blade rotation shaft  152 , a dome-shaped cover  170  having a circular shape in plan view is attached. The cover  170  is made by die casting an aluminum alloy, and covers up the grinding blade  154 . The cover  170  is rotatably fitted to the blade rotation shaft  152 , and is received by the hub  154   a  of the grinding blade  154 . The cover  170  is also able to be easily pulled out of the blade rotation shaft  152 , and this facilitates cleaning after a bread making operation. 
         [0112]    A mixing/kneading blade  172  having a “&lt;” shape in plan view is attached to an external surface of the cover  170  via a vertical support shaft  171  arranged at a place away from the blade rotation shaft  152 . The mixing/kneading blade  172  is also made by die casting an aluminum alloy. The support shaft  171  is fixed to or integrally formed with the mixing/kneading blade  172 , and moves with the mixing/kneading blade  172 . 
         [0113]    The mixing/kneading blade  172  rotates, with the support shaft  171  as a center, in a horizontal plane, with respect to the cover  170 , and takes two postures, namely, a folded posture shown in  FIG. 16  and an open posture shown in  FIG. 17 . In the folded posture, the mixing/kneading blade  172  is in contact with a stopper portion  173  formed in the cover  170 , so that the mixing/kneading blade  172  is prevented from further rotating clockwise with respect to the cover  70 . At this time, a tip end of the mixing/kneading blade  172  slightly protrudes from the cover  170 . In the open posture, the mixing/kneading blade  172  is away from the stopper portion  173 , and the tip end of the mixing/kneading blade  172  much protrudes from the cover  170 . 
         [0114]    In the cover  170 , there is formed a window  174  through which a space inside the cover and a space outside the cover communicate with each other. The window  174  is located as high as or above the grinding blade  153 . In this embodiment, four windows are formed as the window  174  to be arranged at intervals of 90°, but any number of windows may be arranged at any intervals. 
         [0115]    As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , on an internal surface of the cover  170 , a total of four ribs  175  are formed corresponding to the windows  174  on a one-to-one basis. Each of the ribs  175  extends obliquely with respect to a radius direction of the cover  170  from near a center of the cover  170  to a circumferential annular wall of the cover  170 , the four ribs  175  being arranged in a kind of tomoe-formation (a formation that looks like a fan impeller). Furthermore, the ribs  175  are each curved such that a side thereof which faces the bread ingredients rushing thereto is convex. The grinding blade  154  rotates so close to lower edges of the ribs  175  that the grinding blade  154  almost shaves the lower edges of the ribs  175 . 
         [0116]    A clutch  176  (see  FIG. 21 ) is provided between the cover  170  and the blade rotation shaft  152 . The clutch  176  couples the cover  170  to the blade rotation shaft  152  in a direction in which the blade rotation shaft  152  rotates when the mixing/kneading motor  160  makes the drive shaft  114  rotate (hereinafter, rotation in this direction will be referred to as “forward rotation”). On the other hand, in a direction in which the blade rotation shaft  152  rotates when the grinding motor  164  makes the drive shaft  114  rotate (hereinafter, rotation in this direction will be referred to as “backward rotation”), the clutch  176  uncouples the cover  170  from the blade rotation shaft  152 . Incidentally, in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the “forward rotation” is a counterclockwise rotation and the “backward rotation” is a clockwise rotation. 
         [0117]    The clutch  176  is composed of a first engagement body  176   a  and a second engagement body  176   b.  The first engagement body  176  is fixed to or integrally formed with the hub  154   a  of the grinding blade  154 , and thus is unrotatably attached to the blade rotation shaft  152 . The second engagement body  176   b  is fixed to or integrally formed with the support shaft  171  of the mixing/kneading blade  172 , and changes its angle along with a shift of the posture of the mixing/kneading blade  172 . 
         [0118]    The clutch  176  changes its coupling state according to the posture of the mixing/kneading blade  172 . Specifically, when the mixing/kneading blade  172  is in the folded posture as shown in  FIG. 16 , the second engagement body  176   b  is at the angle shown in  FIG. 21 . At this time, the second engagement body  176   b  interferes with the rotation path of the first engagement body  176   a;  when the blade rotation shaft  152  rotates clockwise in  FIG. 21 , in other words, rotates forward, the first engagement body  176   a  engages with the second engagement body  176   b,  and the rotational force of the blade rotation shaft  152  is transmitted to the cover  170  and the mixing/kneading blade  172 . When the mixing/kneading blade  172  is in the open posture as shown in  FIG. 17 , the second engagement body  176   b  is at an angle shown in  FIG. 22 . In this state, the second engagement body  176   b  is withdrawn from the rotation path of the first engagement body  176   a;  when the blade rotation shaft  152  rotates counterclockwise in  FIG. 22 , in other words, rotates backward, no engagement occurs between the first engagement body  176   a  and the second engagement body  176   b . Thus, the rotational force of the blade rotation shaft  152  is not transmitted to the cover  170  and the mixing/kneading blade  172 . 
         [0119]    In a bottom portion of the bread container  150 , a recess  155  is formed to accommodate the grinding blade  154  and the cover  170 . The recess  155  is circular in plan view, and between an outer peripheral portion of the cover  170  and an internal surface of the recess  155 , there is formed a clearance  156  that allows passage of the bread ingredients therethrough. 
         [0120]    Operation of the automatic bread-maker  100  is controlled by a control device  180  shown in  FIG. 23 . The control device  180  is formed of a circuit board appropriately located within the body  110  (preferably at a place where it is least affected by heat from the baking chamber  140 ). To the control device  180 , the operation portion  120  and the heating device  141  are connected, and further, a motor driver  181  of the mixing/kneading motor  160 , a motor driver  182  of the grinding motor  164 , and a temperature sensor  183  are also connected to the control device  180 . The temperature sensor  183  is disposed inside the baking chamber  140 , and detects temperature of the baking chamber  140 . Reference numeral  184  denotes a commercial power supply that supplies power to each component. 
         [0121]    Next, a description will be given of a process of making bread from cereal grains by using the automatic bread-maker  100 . Here, the process of making bread from cereal grains by using the automatic bread-maker  100  of the second embodiment is basically the same as the process (shown in  FIGS. 5 to 13 ) of making bread from cereal grains by using the automatic bread-maker  1  of the first embodiment. Thus, the description will be focused on differences resulting from the difference in structure between the automatic bread-maker  100  of the second embodiment and the automatic bread-maker  1  of the first embodiment, and overlapping descriptions will be omitted. 
         [0122]    The automatic bread-maker  100  of the second embodiment operates differently from the automatic bread-maker  1  of the first embodiment in the grinding process shown in  FIG. 7  and the mixing/kneading process shown in  FIG. 8 , and the differences will be described below. First, a description will be given of the grinding process shown in  FIG. 7 . When a user inputs grinding operation data (kind and amount of the cereal grains, kind of bread to be baked, etc.) through the operation portion  120  and presses the start key, step # 21  is started. 
         [0123]    In step # 21 , the control device  180  drives the grinding motor  164 , to make the blade rotation shaft  152  rotate backward. Then, the grinding blade  154  starts rotating in the mixture of cereal grains and liquid. The cover  170  also follows the blade rotation shaft  152  to start rotating. The direction in which the cover  170  rotates at this time is clockwise in  FIG. 16 , and the mixing/kneading blade  172 , when it is in the folded posture, moves into the open posture on receiving resistance from the mixture of the cereal grains and the liquid. When the mixing/kneading blade  172  has moved into the open posture, the clutch  176  uncouples the cover  170  from the blade rotation shaft  152  by the second engagement body  176   b  withdrawing from the rotation path of the first engagement body  176   a.  At the same time, the mixing/kneading blade  170  in the open posture hits an internal wall of the bread container  150  as shown in  FIG. 17 , to stop the rotation of the cover  170 . Thereafter, the blade rotation shaft  152  and the grinding blade  154  rotate backward at high speed. Even though the grinding blade  154  is rotating at high speed, since the cover  170  and the mixing/kneading blade  172  are not moving, the mixture of the cereal grains and the liquid does not swirl in the bread container  150 . This helps prevent occurrence of a situation in which a swirl rises along the periphery of the bread container  150  to flow over the bread container  150 . 
         [0124]    While the cover  170  is not rotating, the grinding blade  154  rotates at a high speed to grind the cereal grains. Since the cereal grains are ground by the grinding blade  154  in a state in which the liquid has soaked thereinto, the cereal grains are easily ground to their cores. The ribs  175  each extending from near the center of the cover  170  to the circumferential annular wall of the cover  170  assist the grinding by reducing the flow of the mixture of the cereal grains and the liquid in the same direction as the rotation direction of the grinding blade  154 . That is, the ribs  175  change the flow of the mixture to increase the chances for the mixture to hit against the grinding blade  154 . Since the grinding is performed inside the cover  170 , the cereal grains are prevented from scattering outside the bread container  150 . 
         [0125]    The mixture of the ground cereal grains and the liquid is guided by the ribs  175  toward the windows  174 , through which the mixture is discharged out of the cover  170 . Also, since each of the ribs  175  is curved to protrude on the side thereof which faces the mixture of the cereal grains and the liquid rushing thereto, the mixture of the cereal grains and the liquid is less likely to stay on the surface of each of the ribs  175  and more likely to flow smoothly toward the windows  174 . 
         [0126]    When the mixture of the cereal grains and the liquid is discharged from inside the cover  170 , the mixture of the cereal grains and the liquid present above the recess  155  moves into the recess  155  through the clearance  156  and then moves from the recess  155  into the cover  170 . The cereal grains are ground by the grinding blade  154  inside the cover  170 , and return to above the recess  155  through the windows  174  of the cover  170 . By grinding the cereal grains while making them circulate in this way, it is possible to efficiently grind the cereal grains. The provision of the ribs  175  allows the ground substance produced by the grinding blade  154  to be quickly guided to the windows  174  without remaining in the cover  170 , and this further improves the grinding efficiency. 
         [0127]    Since the windows  174  are located at the same height as or higher than the grinding blade  153 , the mixture of the ground cereal grains and the liquid is discharged out of the cover  170  in a horizontal or obliquely upward direction, and this helps promote the circulation of the cereal grains. 
         [0128]    In step # 22 , the control device  180  checks whether or not the grinding has been completed according to a set grinding pattern (whether the grinding blade is to be continuously rotated or intermittently rotated interspersed with stop periods, how the intervals be set and how long a rotation time period should be in the case of intermittent rotation, etc.). When the grinding is found to have been completed according to the set grinding pattern, the procedure proceeds to step # 23 , where the grinding blade  154  is made to stop rotating, and the grinding process # 20  is finished. This is informed to the user via a display provided on the display portion  122 , via sound, etc. 
         [0129]    Following the grinding process # 20 , the mixing/kneading process # 30  shown in  FIG. 10  is carried out. At the start of the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the cereal grains and the liquid in the bread container  150  have become a dough material in a pasty or slurry state. 
         [0130]    In step # 31 , the user opens the lid  130  to add a certain amount of gluten to the dough material. A seasoning such as salt, sugar, or shortening is added to the dough material as necessary. It is also possible to provide the automatic bread-maker  100  with an automatic feeder for gluten and seasoning such that they are fed without bothering the user. 
         [0131]    Substantially simultaneously with step # 31 , the user operates the operation portion  120  to input the kind of bread to be baked and the cooking program to be performed. When the machine is ready, the user presses the start key, to start the bread making operation in which processes are automatically performed in series from the mixing/kneading process # 30 , to the fermentation process # 40 , and to the baking process # 50 . 
         [0132]    In step #  32 , the control device  180  drives the mixing/kneading motor  160 . When the blade rotation shaft  152  rotates forward, to cause the cover  170  to rotate forward, the mixing/kneading blade  172  receives resistance from the dough material, to convert its posture from the open posture into the folded posture. In response to this, in the clutch  176 , the second engagement body  176   b  moves to be at such an angle as to interfere with the rotation path of the first engagement body  176   a,  and thereby the clutch  176  couples the cover  170  to the blade rotation shaft  152 , so that the cover  170  and the mixing/kneading blade  172  together rotate integrally with the blade rotation shaft  152 . 
         [0133]    Here, the control device  180  energizes the heating device  141  to raise the temperature of the baking chamber  140 . The mixing/kneading blade  172  rotates to mix/knead the dough material, which is thereby worked into a lump of dough having predetermined elasticity. The mixing/kneading blade  172  swings the dough around and beats it against an internal wall of the bread container  150 , and this adds an element of “kneading (folding, pressing and stretching)” to the mixing/kneading process. 
         [0134]    When the cover  170  rotates, the ribs  175  rotate as well. As the ribs  175  rotate, the dough material inside the cover  170  is quickly discharged through the windows  174 , to mix with the lump of dough material mixed and kneaded by the mixing/kneading blade  172 . 
         [0135]    In step # 33 , the control device  180  checks how much time has elapsed since the start of the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  172 . When a predetermined period of time is found to have elapsed, the procedure proceeds to step # 34 . 
         [0136]    In step # 34 , the user opens the lid  130  to add yeast to the dough. The yeast added to the dough here is dry yeast. Instead of yeast, baking powder may be used. It is also possible to adopt an automatic feeder for yeast or baking powder as well, to thereby save the user time and trouble. 
         [0137]    In step # 35 , the control device  180  checks how much time has elapsed since the addition of yeast to the dough. When a period of time necessary to obtain desired dough is found to have elapsed, the procedure proceeds to step # 36 , where the mixing/kneading blade  172  finishes rotating. At this time, a lump of dough having required elasticity is completed. Most of the dough stays above the recess  155 , and only a very small amount thereof is left in the recess  155 . In the case of baking bread with an optional ingredient, at any step in the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the optional ingredient is added. An automatic feeder can be adopted for optional ingredients as well. 
         [0138]    Thereafter, in the same manner as with the automatic bread-maker  1  of the first embodiment, the fermentation process # 40  (see  FIG. 9 ) and the baking process (see  FIG. 10 ) are carried out to bake bread. Here, a trace of the mixing/kneading blade  172  is left in the bottom of resulting bread when it is taken out of the bread container  150 ; however, as to the cover  170 , since it is accommodated in the recess  155  and thus does not protrude from the bottom portion of the bread container  150 , it doesn&#39;t leave a large trace in the bottom of the bread. 
         [0139]    In the same manner as with the automatic bread-maker  1  of the first embodiment, the grinding blade  154  of the automatic bread-maker  100  of the second embodiment is able to be used not only to grind cereal grains but also to break optional ingredients such as nuts and leaf vegetables into small pieces. This makes it possible to bake bread containing a small-particle optional ingredient. The grinding blade  154  can also be used, for example, to grind foodstuff other than optional ingredients for bread or to grind crude drug materials. 
         [0140]    In this embodiment as well, the single control device  180  is able to control the grinding blade  154  and the mixing/kneading blade  172  to rotate in association with each other, and thus, it is possible to impart rotation to the grinding blade  154  and the mixing/kneading blade  172  according to the kind and the amount of the cereal grains in the stage of grinding cereal grains and in the stage of mixing/kneading the cereal flour resulting from the grinding, to improve the quality of bread. 
       Others 
       [0141]    It should be understood that the first and second embodiments of automatic bread-makers specifically described above are not meant to limit the present invention, and that the present invention can be practiced with many modifications within the spirit of the present invention. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0142]    The present invention is widely applicable to automatic bread-makers for use mainly in general households. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               1 ,  100  automatic bread-maker 
               10 ,  110  body 
               40 ,  140  baking chamber 
               50 ,  150  bread container 
               52 ,  152  blade rotation shaft 
               54 ,  154  grinding blade 
               55 ,  155  recess 
               60  motor 
               70 ,  172  mixing/kneading blade 
               72  disc 
               156  clearance 
               160  mixing/kneading motor 
               164  grinding motor 
               170  cover 
               174  window 
               176  clutch