Abstract:
A method of controlling a food processor includes retaining in a container cooked rice and sushi dressing in a predetermined ratio, mixing the cooked rice and the sushi dressing in the container to perform a mixing process, and cooling the cooked rice and the sushi dressing with air to perform a cooling process. The mixing process and cooling process are performed intermittently according to a cooling-mixing process, which comprises a plurality of cycles carried out repeatedly. One cycle includes one-cooling operation, having a standstill duration, for merely sending air while keeping the cooked rice without mixing, and another-cooling operation for sending air while mixing the cooked rice. The standstill duration of the one-cooling operation is gradually prolonged in every predetermined number of the cycles.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 11/071,181 filed on Mar. 4, 2005. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a method of controlling a food processor for producing vinegared rice by mixing cooked rice with sushi dressing and, more particularly, to a method of controlling a food processor that can produce delicious and good-texture vinegared rice, suppressing stickiness of the cooked rice.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0003]     In general, the vinegared rice is produced by spreading cooked rice in a container such as a sushi-rice tub, by mixing by means of a rice paddle the cooked rice with sushi dressing in which vinegar, sugar, and the like are blended in a predetermined ratio that depends on the measure of the cooked rice, the sushi dressing being sprinkled on the cooked rice, and by cooling the cooked rice to human-body temperature using a paper fan or the like.  
         [0004]     In this situation, it is said to be preferable to mix the cooked rice with the sushi dressing as if the cooked rice were sliced by the rice paddle. This is to apply as less load as possible to the cooked rice; mashing the surfaces of the cooked rice through friction caused by the rice paddle makes the rice sticky, thereby degrading the taste and texture thereof.  
         [0005]     Meanwhile, at places, such as restaurants, hotels, and cooked-rice processing plants, where a great deal of cooked rice is consumed, because it is necessary to prearrange a great deal of vinegared rice at one time, the vinegared rice is produced by automatically mixing the cooked rice with sushi dressing by means of dedicated food processors.  
         [0006]     For example, a food processor disclosed in Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. H5-39433) is structured in such a way that a horizontal rotating-axle rotatably supports a sphere-shaped container on the main body of the processor and the container is rotated by means of predetermined mixing means. The processor is designed in such a manner that a supplying opening for a blower as cooling means is formed at the one end of the horizontal rotating-axle; at the other end of the horizontal rotating-axle, an air-discharging outlet for the container is formed; and air sent from the blower cools cooked rice in the container.  
         [0007]     According to Patent Literature 1, by sending air into the container and rotating the container on the horizontal rotating-axle, the cooked rice and sushi dressing that have been put into the container are cooled and appropriately mixed with each other, whereupon a great deal of vinegared rice can be produced.  
         [0008]     In such a food processor as described above, the operation of the mixing means and the cooling means are controlled by unillustrated controlling means. In other words, as represented in  FIG. 8 , the controlling means includes a mixing process in which, once cooked rice and sushi dressing are put into the container, the cooked rice and the sushi dressing are mixed by merely rotating the container over a certain-period of time, and a cooling process in which the cooked rice is cooled by repeating at a certain interval of time rotating and stopping of the container, sending air into the container; whereby vinegared rice can efficiently be produced within a period of time that is set. In addition, the setting of conditions for each process is implemented by an operator, an operational panel being operated by him or her, before the operation of the processor is initiated.  
         [0009]     However, conventional food processors had a problem described below. That is to say, in a conventional food processor, standstill duration (t 1 ) and rotating duration (t 2 ) are set for the container in the cooling process; the standstill and the rotation of the container is considered as one cycle based on the set duration; and the cycle is repeated within duration that is set.  
         [0010]     Moreover, as set forth above, the lower the temperature is, the lower the fluidity of cooked rice is, thereby creating difficulty in mixing the cooked rice. When the cooked rice in its low temperature is mixed, the surfaces of the cooked rice grains are mashed through contact between the surfaces of the cooked rice grains and the inner wall of the container or a mixing rod.  
         [0011]     Therefore, in the case of operation, as represented in  FIG. 8 , that simply repeats the rotation and the standstill, the number of the rotation becomes unnecessarily large, thereby inducing the stickiness of the cooked rice. The stickiness caused in cooked rice degrades the taste and the texture of vinegared rice.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     In order to address the foregoing problem, the present invention has been implemented, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling a food processor that can produce delicious and good-texture vinegared rice, suppressing the stickiness of cooked rice.  
         [0013]     In order to achieve the object described above, the present invention has a number of features described below. In the first place, in a food processor including a container for retaining cooked rice and sushi dressing blended with each other in a predetermined ratio that depends on the measure of the cooked rice, mixing means for mixing the cooked rice in the container, cooling means for cooling with air the cooked rice in the container, controlling means for controlling the mixing means and the cooling means, the controlling means includes a cooling process for intermittently mixing the cooked rice through the mixing means while sending air into the container through the cooling means; in the cooling process, standstill-cooling (one-cooling) operation for merely sending air through blowing means while keeping the cooked rice not to be mixed, and mixing-cooling (another-cooling) operation for sending air through the blowing means white mixing the cooked rice, constitute a cycle, the cycle being recurrently carried out within the cooling process, and standstill duration of the standstill-cooling operation is set in such a way as to gradually be prolonged every predetermined number of the cycles.  
         [0014]     According to the present invention, the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation in the cooling operation gradually becomes longer as time passes, thereby making the number of mixing rotations in the cooling operation relatively reduced, whereby the generation of stickiness caused by the decrease of cooked-rice temperature can be suppressed.  
         [0015]     As a preferred aspect, the operating duration of the mixing-cooling operation is preferably constant in each cycle. This allows control to be carried out only for standstill-cooling operation, thereby facilitating the control.  
         [0016]     Moreover, given that the operating duration, in the first cycle, of the standstill-cooling operation is t 1 , prolonged duration for the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation is k (k is a positive number), and the operating duration, in the n-th cycle (n is a positive integer), of the standstill-cooling operation is tn, the operating duration, in the n-th cycle (n is a positive integer), of the standstill-cooling operation tn is preferably set so as to meet the equation: tn=t 1 +((n−1)×k).  
         [0017]     According to this aspect, prolonging cycle by cycle the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation can continuously reduce the number of the mixing rotations in response to the decrease of cooked-rice temperature. Furthermore, given that the total duration of the cooling process is T, that the operating duration, in the first cycle, of the standstill-cooling operation is t 1 , that the operating duration of the mixing-cooling operation is t 2 , that the prolonged duration for the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation is k (k is a positive number), and that the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation is prolonged in m (m is a positive integer) incremental steps within the total duration T, by calculating the average cycle-duration Cave through the equation Cave=t 2 +(t 1 ×m+m (m−1)×k/2)/m and by calculating with the foregoing average cycle-duration Cave the total cycle number n in the total duration T of the cooling process through the equation n=T/Cave, the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation is prolonged every n/m cycles that is obtained by multiplying the total cycle number n by 1/m.  
         [0018]     According to this aspect, by calculating the total cycle number in the total duration of the cooling process, by dividing the total cycle into a number of portions, and by prolonging the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation portion by portion, quadratic-curve-like operation control can be carried out in response to the decrease of cooked-rice temperature.  
         [0019]     As another aspect, given that the total duration of the cooling process is T, that the operating duration, in the first cycle, of the standstill-cooling operation is t 1 , that the operating duration of the mixing-cooling operation is t 2 , that the prolonged duration for the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation is k (k is a positive number), and that the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation is prolonged in m (m is a positive integer) incremental steps within the total duration T, the total operating duration in the m-th step Tm is given by Tm=T/m; the operating duration of one cycle in the m-th step Cm is given by Cm=(t 1 +((m−1)×k))+t 2 ; and the cycle is recurrently carried out (Tm/Cm) times within each of the operating duration Tm.  
         [0020]     According to this aspect, by dividing the total duration of the cooling process into a number of portions, and by prolonging the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation portion by portion, the number of the mixing rotations can effectively be reduced.  
         [0021]     As a preferred aspect, the controlling means preferably includes a mixing process for mixing the cooked rice through the mixing means, without sending air into the container. According to this aspect, the sushi dressing can be made to fit in the cooked rice because the cooked rice being put in the container can be mixed with sushi dressing, in the first place.  
         [0022]     As a further preferable aspect, a maturing process in which both the mixing means and the cooling means stop is preferably included between the mixing process and the cooling process. According to this aspect, maturing (steaming) can be carried out after the end of the mixing process. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a food processor according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an explanatory view for explaining the operational sequence of the mixing and cooling processes of the food processor;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an explanatory view for explaining the operational sequence of the maturing process;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart for explaining the mixing operation of the food processor according to the foregoing embodiment;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5A  is an explanatory view for explaining a first variant example of the operational sequence of the cooling process;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5B  is an explanatory view for explaining a second variant example of the operational sequence of the cooling process;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart for explaining the mixing operation according to the first variant example;  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart for explaining the mixing operation according to the second variant example; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is an explanatory view for explaining the operational sequence of a conventional food processor. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]     An embodiment of the present invention will be discussed referring to the drawings.  
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a cooked-rice processor according to an embodiment of the present invention; A food processor  10  includes a container  20  that is formed in the shape of a hollow sphere, and a main body  30 , of the processor, that supports the container  20 , by means of an axle, in such a way that the container  20  can rotate on a predetermined horizontal rotating-axis L as a central axis. The container  20  is detachable from and attachable to the main body  30 .  
         [0034]     A detachable lid  40  is provided on the container  20 . Disposing the lid  40  on the container  20  makes the hollow an enclosed space. In addition, in  FIG. 1 , the lid  40  is illustrated being removed.  
         [0035]     The inner surface of the container  20  is preferably provided with resistance processing for preventing acid corrosion caused by adhesion of cooked rice or by sushi dressing. In the present embodiment, as the resistance processing, resistance coating with fluoride resin is applied.  
         [0036]     Inside the container  20 , a mixing rod  21  is provided for mixing cooked rice being put into the container with sushi dressing, appropriately loosening the cooked rice. The mixing rod  21  includes two main rod members  21   a  that are hung in a diametrical direction across the inside of the container and two sub rod members  21   b  that are provided between the main rod members. The mixing rod  21  is formed to be tilted by a predetermined angle from the rotating-axle line L.  
         [0037]     In addition, the foregoing resistance processing is preferably applied also to the mixing rod  21 . In the present embodiment, the mixing rod  21  is made of the combination of two kinds of the rod members  21   a , and  21   b ; however, the shape of the mixing rod  21  is not specifically limited and can arbitrarily be changed depending on specification.  
         [0038]     The container  20  is provided with supporting axles  22 ,  22  for rotatably supporting the container  20  on the main body  30 . The supporting axles  22 ,  22  are disposed, facing each other, in the side walls of the container  20 , along the rotating-axle line L, and are formed in the form of a hollow cylindrical pipe.  
         [0039]     In the one supporting axle  22 , an air-inlet  23  is formed for taking into the container  20  air supplied from blowing means (a blower) provided in the main body  30 ; in the other supporting axle  22 , an air-outlet (not illustrated) is provided for discharging the air being inside the container  20 .  
         [0040]     The lid  40  is formed in the form of a detachable and attachable hemisphere whose circumference is along the opening of the container  20 ; as is the case with the container  20 , resistance processing is applied to the inner surface of the lid. The lid  40  is fixable on the container  20  using locking means.  
         [0041]     A mixing rod  41  that is disposed in a manner of protruding toward the inside of the container  20  is provided inside the lid  40 . The mixing rod,  41  is constituted in such a way that U-shaped rod members  41   a  and  41   b  whose heights are different from each other are alternately arranged and is situated in the place where the mixing rod  41  does not interfere with the mixing rod  21  inside the container  20 . In addition, resistance processing is preferably applied also to the mixing rod  41 .  
         [0042]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the main body  30  includes a base  31  that is installed on a horizontal installation plane such as a floor, a pair of support posts  32 ,  33 , and bearing portions  34  and  35  that are integrally disposed on the respective support posts  32 ,  33  and that rotatably support the supporting axles  22  of the container  20 . The base  31 , the supporting posts  32 ,  33 , and the bearing portions  34  and  35  are made of stainless-steel having high corrosion-resistance.  
         [0043]     The base  31  is a stand whose bottom portion is provided with traveling casters, and the respective supporting posts  32  and  33  are stood on the four corners of the base  31 .  
         [0044]     Inside the one bearing portion  34 , an unillustrated blower (cooling means) is contained for sending through the supporting axle  22  air into the inside of the container  20 . In this example, the blower draws in air through an air-inlet provided at the one side of the bearing portion  34  and then sends through the supporting axle  22  the air into the container  20  by way of a sirocco fan (not illustrated) in the bearing portion  34 . In addition, the constitution of the blower can arbitrarily be changed depending on specification as long as air can be sent into the container  20 .  
         [0045]     Inside the other bearing portion  35 , an unillustrated driving system (mixing means) is contained for rotating the container  20  on the horizontal axis line L. In this example, the driving system includes a driving motor, and a transmission gear for transmitting the rotation-driving force of the driving motor to the supporting axle  22  for the container  20  (both the motor and the gear are not illustrated); however, the constitution of the driving system is not specifically limited as long as the driving system is structured in such a manner that it can rotatably drive the container  20 .  
         [0046]     In the bearing portion  35 , an unillustrated air-discharging path is also provided for discharging air that has been utilized for cooling operation in the container  20 . The one end of the air-discharging path is connected to the other supporting axle  22 , and the other end thereof is connected to an air-discharging portion  36  provided at the side of the bearing portion  35 ; the air is discharged through the air-discharging portion  36 .  
         [0047]     Because the air that has been utilized for cooling contains a great deal of acid of sushi dressing, it adversely affects the surrounding environment. In order to address this, the air-discharging portion  36  is preferably provided with an acid-removing filter for removing acid contained in the discharged air.  
         [0048]     In a place that is at the rear side of the food processor  10  and is on the bearing portion  35 , an operational panel  50  is provided for operating the food processor  10 . On the operational panel  50 , various kinds of lamps such as a pilot lamp, a display for displaying operational status and the like, and various kinds of buttons such as a start button, an emergency stop button are also provided. The operational panel  50  has a built-in microcomputer as controlling means, and the total operation, of the processor, including the foregoing mixing means and the blowing means is controlled through the controlling means.  
         [0049]     In the present invention, the specification for the food processor  10  is not limited, as long as the processor is provided fundamental structure for rotating the container, thereby mixing the cooked rice therein. In other words, the present invention may be applied, for example, to a type of food processor, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-253191, in which the container  20  is supported in a cantilever-like fashion.  
         [0050]     Next, referring to  FIG. 2 , the processes for producing vinegared rice, of the food processor  10 , will be discussed. The food processor  10  includes a mixing process  100  for mixing cooked rice with sushi dressing and a cooling process  200  for cooling the mixed vinegared rice by means of air. Both the mixing process  100  and the cooling process  200  are controlled by the controlling means.  
         [0051]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the mixing process  100  is an initial process for blending cooked rice with sushi dressing and the container  20  is rotated at the constant rotating velocity, within set operating duration (T 1 ). On this occasion, when a predetermined duration (T 3 ) has passed after the start of mixing, the blowing means (blower) is switched on, thereby initiating blowing. In addition, the operating duration T 1  of the mixing process  100  and the duration T 3  corresponding to the operation-starting timing can arbitrarily be set by the foregoing operational panel  50 .  
         [0052]     The cooling process  200  is to lower in the predetermined duration (T 2 ) the temperature of the vinegared rice that has been mixed with the sushi dressing in the mixing process  100  prior thereto. The cooling process  200  includes standstill-cooling operation  210  for merely sending air-through the blowing means, halting the rotation of the container  20  and mixing-cooling operation  220  for sending air through the blowing means, rotating the container  20 ; the standstill-cooling operation  210  and the mixing-cooling operation  220  in that order are regarded as one cycle, and that one cycle is repeated within the duration (T 2 ).  
         [0053]     The present invention is characterized by prolonging the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation  210  as time passes. In other words, in the present example, the standstill-cooling operation  210  is set in such a way that, given that the operating duration, in the first cycle, of the standstill-cooling operation  210  is t 1 , prolonged duration for the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation  210  is k (k is a positive number), and the operating duration in the n-th cycle (n is a positive integer) is tn, the operating duration in the n-th cycle (n is a positive integer) tn meats the following equation: 
 
 tn=t 1+(( n− 1)× k ) 
 
 In addition, in the present example, the operating duration t 2  of the mixing-cooling operation is constant in each cycle. 
 
         [0054]     The total operating duration T 2  of the cooling process, the operating duration t 1  of the standstill-cooling operation  210  in the first cycle, and the operating duration t 2  of the mixing-cooling operation are inputted through the operational panel  50  described above. Moreover, in the present example, the prolonged duration k is an invariable value preset by the controlling means; however, the prolonged duration k may be inputted through the operational panel  50  depending on specification.  
         [0055]     According to the present example, the operating duration t 1  to tn of the standstill-cooling operation  210  gradually becomes longer as time passes, thereby making the accumulated duration of the operating duration t 2  of the mixing-cooling operation relatively short compared to the total operating duration T 2 , whereupon the mixing duration for the vinegared rice is reduced, thereby enabling suppression of the generation of stickiness in the vinegared rice.  
         [0056]     In the foregoing embodiment, the mixing process  100  is followed by the cooling process  200 ; however, in some cases, cooked rice and sushi dressing are made to fit in each other to change the taste of the rice. As an example of this, there is an approach in which taste is matured by steaming the vinegared rice after the cooked rice has been mixed with the sushi dressing.  
         [0057]     For that purpose, as represented in  FIG. 3 , the controlling means preferably performs a maturing process  300  between the mixing process  100  and the cooling process  200 . The maturing process  360  is to steam within preset duration (T 4 ) the vinegared rice in the container, with both the mixing means and the cooling means being completely halted. The operating duration (T 4 ) of the maturing process can also be inputted through the operational panel  50 .  
         [0058]     After the maturing process  300  has been completed, the cooling process  200  is started with the standstill-cooling operation  210  followed by the mixing-cooling operation  220 ; however, by regarding a portion of the standstill duration in the maturing process  300  as the standstill-cooling operation  210  in the first cycle, the mixing-cooling operation  220  may precede the standstill-cooling operation  210 .  
         [0059]     Next, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , an example of controlling means of the food processor will be discussed utilizing a flowchart. In starting the mixing operation, after receiving memory-call from an operator, the controlling means retrieves a setting memory in the operational panel  50  to determine whether any setting for operational conditions are stored or not (step ST 400 ).  
         [0060]     When there is no setting stored, the operator inputs each of conditions through various kinds of consoles provided on the operational panel  50 . In the first place, the operating duration T 1  of the mixing process  100  is inputted (step ST 401 ). Then, the operating duration T 4  of the maturing process  300  is inputted; in this situation, inputting zero as the duration T 4  makes the controlling means determine that the maturing process  300  does not exist (step ST 402 ).  
         [0061]     Further in the next step, after the operating duration T 2  of the cooling process  200  (Step ST 403 ), the duration T 3  corresponding to the operation-starting timing (step ST 404 ) of the blowing means, the operating duration t 1  (Step ST 405 ), in the first cycle, of the standstill-cooling operation, and the operating duration of the mixing-cooling operation (step ST 406 ) are inputted, thereby completing all inputting, it is determined whether the conditions set are to be stored or not (step ST 407 ).  
         [0062]     In the case where the conditions set are stored, they are stored by writing the set conditions in the setting memory (step ST 408 ). After storing the setting, or determining that no setting is to be stored, the controlling means makes the food processor enter into a standby state from which the food processor is initiated merely by pushing the operation start button on the operational panel  50 .  
         [0063]     Before operating the operation start button, the operator puts into the container  20  the cooked rice and the sushi dressing blended depending on the measure of the cooked rice (step ST 409 ) and sets the lid  40  (step ST 410 ) after mounting the mixing rods  21  and  41  in the container  20 . After confirming that the setting is completed, the operation is initiated by the operator&#39;s pushing the operation start button (step ST 411 ).  
         [0064]     After acknowledging the operation of the operation start button, the controlling means starts the mixing process  100  (step ST 412 ). Next, the controlling means issues a driving command to driving means, thereby driving the driving means during the operating duration T 1  that has been set in ST 401 .  
         [0065]     After the operating duration T 1  of the mixing process  100  passes, the operating means checks whether the Maturing process  300  exists or not (step ST 413 ). When it is determined that the maturing process  300  exists, the controlling means issues a stop command to the driving means, thereby stopping the rotation of the container  20 , based on the set duration T 4  (step ST 414 ).  
         [0066]     In addition, in the maturing process  200 , the duration T 3  corresponding to the blowing starting timing is counted by an unillustrated timer; when the blowing process  200  and the maturing process  300  overlap with each other, the maturing process  300  is prioritized; when the blowing timing is set in the maturing process  300 , the air sending by the blower is started immediately after the completion of the maturing process  300 . Moreover, it is also possible to set the driving means in such a way as to start driving the blowing means in the middle of the cooling process  200 .  
         [0067]     When the maturing process  300  has been completed, or when the controlling means determines that the maturing process does not exist, the controlling means issues a driving command to the blower, based on the duration T 3  corresponding to the blowing starting timing, thereby-driving the blower to send air into the container  20  (step ST 415 ). In addition, in the present example, a blower-operation stop command and an operation-stop command for the subsequent cooling process are issued at the same time.  
         [0068]     Next, the controlling means initiates the cooling process  200  (step ST 416 ). In the cooling process  200 , with the blower being kept on, driving and driving-stop commands are issued to the driving means, based on the cooling-process duration T 2 , the standstill-cooling-operation duration t 1 , and the mixing-cooling-operation duration t 2  that have been inputted in steps ST  403 ,  405 , and  406 , respectively, thereby intermittently rotating the container  20 .  
         [0069]     The controlling means controls the operating durations of the driving means in such a way that the equation tn=t 1 +((n−1)−k) holds for tn that is the operating duration in the n-th cycle (n is a positive integer), thereby intermittently carrying out the cycle within the operating duration T 2  (step ST 418 ). In other words, for example, setting the prolonged duration k to 10 seconds makes the standstill-cooling-operation duration 10 seconds longer cycle by cycle.  
         [0070]     On the completion of the cooling process  200 , the controlling means issues a stop command to the blower, thereby stopping blowing by the blower (step ST 419 ). At the same time, the controlling means again issues a command to the driving means, thereby returning the posture of the container  20  to its original one (ST 420 ). A series of operation ends here, and the controlling means returns to be standby-state. Thereafter, the operator removes the lid  40  of the container  20  and takes completed vinegared rice out of the container  20 ; then, the total production process for the vinegared rice ends (step ST  421 ).  
         [0071]     Next,  FIG. 5A  represents a first variant example of the cooling process. As represented in  FIG. 5A , in the first variant example, given that the total cooling-process duration is T 2 , that the operating duration, in the first cycle, of the standstill-cooling operation  210  is t 1 , that the operating duration of the mixing-cooling operation  220  is t 2 , and that prolonged duration for the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation  210  is k (k is a positive number), the operating durations of the standstill-cooling operation  210  are prolonged in m incremental steps (three steps, in this case).  
         [0072]     That is to say, in the first place, by calculating the average cycle-duration Cave of cycles in the m-th step, through the equation Cave=t 2 +(t 1 ×m+m (m−1)×k/2)/m and by calculating with the foregoing average cycle-duration Cave the total cycle number n in the total duration T 2  of the cooling process  200  through the equation n=T 2 /Cave, the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation  210  is prolonged every n/m cycles that is obtained by multiplying the total cycle number n by 1/m. In addition, the step number m can arbitrarily be set according to specification.  
         [0073]     According to the first variant example, by calculating the total cycle number in the total duration of the cooling process, by dividing the total cycle into a number of portions, and by prolonging the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation portion by portion, quadratic-curve-like operation control can be carried out in response to the decrease of the cooked-rice temperature.  
         [0074]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the controlling mode of the first variant example will be discussed utilizing a flowchart.  
         [0075]     Because each of the process from the start to the end of the maturing process and the process from the end of the cooling process to the completion is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment, the explanation therefor will be omitted.  
         [0076]     After the maturing process  300  ends, the controlling means initiates the cooling process  200  (step ST 430 ). In the cooling process  200 , with the blower being kept on, the controlling means calculates the duration to be set, based on the cooling-process duration T 2 , the standstill-cooling-operation duration t 1 , and the mixing-cooling-operation duration t 2  that have been inputted in step ST  403 ,  405 , and  406  in  FIG. 4 , respectively. After the calculation, the controlling means issues driving and driving-stop commands to the driving means, thereby intermittently rotating the container  20 .  
         [0077]     In this situation, the controlling means calculates the average cycle-duration Cave of cycles in the m-th step, through the equation Cave=t 2 +(t 1 ×m+m (m−1)×k/2)/m (step ST 431 ).  
         [0078]     At the same time, the controlling means calculates with the average cycle-duration the total cycle number n in the total duration T 2  of the cooling process  200 , through the equation n=T 2 /Cave (step ST 432 ).  
         [0079]     Based on this information, the controlling means repeats each cycle (1/m)×n times (step ST 433 ). The operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation  210  is prolonged every n/m cycles that is obtained by multiplying the total cycle number n by 1/m. (step ST 434 ).  
         [0080]     Upon ending the step ST 434 , the controlling means once checks whether the cooling-process duration T 2  has passed or not (step ST 435 ). If determining that the cooling-process duration T 2  is still remaining, the controlling means carries out control so as to repeat the final cycle within the residual duration (step ST 436 ). After the duration passes, the controlling means moves to step ST 419  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0081]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the controlling mode of the first variant example will be discussed utilizing a flowchart. Because each of the process from the start to the end of the maturing process and the process from the end of the cooling process to the complete stop is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment, the explanation therefor will be omitted.  
         [0082]     After the maturing process  300  ends, the controlling means initiates the cooling process  200  (step ST 430 ). In the cooling process  200 , with the blower being kept on, the controlling means calculates the duration to be set, based on the cooling-process duration T 2  seconds, the standstill-cooling-operation duration t 1 , and the mixing-cooling-operation duration t 2  that have been inputted in steps ST  403 ,  405 , and  406  in  FIG. 4 , respectively, and issues a driving and a driving-stop command to the driving means, thereby intermittently rotating the container  20 .  
         [0083]     Next,  FIG. 5B  represents a second variant example of the cooling process. In the second variant example, given that the total cooling-process duration is T 2 , that the respective operating time periods of the standstill-cooling operation and the mixing-cooling operation, in the first cycle, are t 1  and t 2 , and that prolonged duration for the operating duration of the standstill-cooling operation is k (k is a positive number), the operating durations of the standstill-cooling operation  210  are prolonged in m incremental steps (three steps, in this case).  
         [0084]     In other words, in the second variant example, the operating duration Tm for each step is obtained by evenly dividing the total operating duration T by the number of the steps m (Tm=T/m); the operating duration of one cycle in the m-th step Cm is obtained by calculating through the equation Cm=(t 1 +((m−1)×k))+t 2 ; and, utilizing the results calculated, the cooling cycle is recurrently carried out (Tm/Cm) times within each operating duration Tm.  
         [0085]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the controlling mode of the second variant example will be discussed utilizing a flowchart. Because each of the process from Start to the end of the maturing process (step ST 414 ) and the process from the end of the cooling process (step ST 419 ) to complete stop is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment, the explanation therefor will be omitted.  
         [0086]     After the maturing process  300  ends, the controlling means initiates the cooling process  200  (step ST 440 ). In the cooling process  200 , with the blower being kept on, the controlling means calculates the duration to be set, based on the cooling-process duration T 2  seconds, the standstill-cooling-operation duration t 1 , and the mixing-cooling-operation duration t 2  that have been inputted in steps ST  403 ,  405 , and  406  in  FIG. 4 , respectively, and issues driving and driving-stop commands to the driving means, thereby intermittently rotating the container  20 .  
         [0087]     In the first place, the controlling means evenly divides the total operating duration T 2  (Tm=T 2 /m) by the number of steps m (step ST 441 ). The controlling means calculates the operating duration of one cycle in the m-th step Cm, through the equation Cm=(t 1 +((m+1)×k))+t 2  (step ST 442 ). Utilizing the results calculated, the controlling means recurrently carries out the cycle (Tm/Cm) times within each operating duration Tm (step ST 443 ). After step ST 448  ends, the controlling means moves to step ST 419  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0088]     In addition, in the foregoing embodiment, the blowing means (blower) is kept on throughout the cooling process  200 ; however, controlling the air volume in line with the cycle status or other methods may be employed. Various kinds of variant examples, as long as they meet the rotating mode of the container  20 , are included in the present invention.  
         [0089]     Hereinbefore, the preferable embodiment of the present invention has been discussed with reference to the attached drawings; however, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment herein. Various kinds of variant examples or modified examples that may be inferred by any person who is engaged in the food-processor field and has an ordinary skill in the art, within the scope of the technical idea recited in the claims, should be included in the technical scope of the present invention.