Patent Publication Number: US-2011048247-A1

Title: Automatic bread maker

Description:
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-202230 filed on Sep. 2, 2009, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-202585 filed on Sep. 2, 2009, and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an automatic bread maker mainly for household use. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An automatic bread maker commercially available for household use generally works as follows. That is, a bread container containing breadmaking materials are installed into a baking chamber inside a body, and the breadmaking materials in the bread container are mixed and kneaded with a mixing/kneading blade to be turned into dough. The dough is then subjected to a fermentation process. After that, the dough is baked to make bread using the bread container as a bread pan. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-116526 discloses an example of the automatic bread maker. 
     The breadmaking materials may also be mixed with fillings such as raisins and nuts to bake bread with such fillings. Japanese Patent No. 3191645 discloses an automatic bread maker provided with a device for automatically feeding sub-materials, such as raisins, nuts, and cheese, for breadmaking. 
     Meanwhile, rice flour bread made by using rice flour is unique in texture, and in demand different from that for wheat bread. A conventional automatic bread maker is intended for making bread by using wheat flour as a main raw material therefor. When the conventional automatic bread maker is used to make bread by using rice flour as a main raw material therefor, rice flour bread cannot be made fluffy if the same process for making bread by using wheat flour as a main raw material therefor is used because rice flour is different from wheat flour in moisture content and has the properties for releasing moisture over time. 
     In order to solve the problem, there is proposed an automatic bread maker, in which a degassing process for promoting the activity of yeast, which is one of the breadmaking processes, is omitted, to thereby reduce time it takes to make bread (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-255163). According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-255163, moisture release from the rice flour may be suppressed, and hence the bread may be made fluffy even in a case where rice flour is used as a main raw material for the bread. 
     [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-116526 A 
     [Patent Document 2] JP 3191645 B 
     [Patent Document 3] JP 2004-255163 A 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     When making bread, heretofore, flour made from cereals such as wheat and rice, or a mix of the flour and various auxiliary materials should be prepared at first. Even if there are cereal grains in hand (rice grains are typical therefor), it has been difficult to make bread directly therefrom. Further, most of commercially available rice flour, which have been conventionally used for making bread, is made from rice which is relatively high in rice milling rate, and the rice milling rate cannot be selected. However, coupled with rising concern for health in recent years, it is desired that the rice milling rate be made freely selectable from white rice to brown rice as the raw material for the bread from various viewpoints in terms of, for example, nutritional value, taste, color, and appearance. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic bread maker which has a mechanism convenient for making bread from grains (cereal grains) without going through a flour preparation process, to thereby make breadmaking more familiar. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, an automatic bread maker which sequentially performs a mixing/kneading process, a fermentation process, and a baking process, includes: a bread container used for accommodating breadmaking materials; a baking chamber which is provided inside a body and receives the bread container; a grinding blade which is capable of being put into and taken out of the bread container in the baking chamber; and a grinding motor provided for rotating the grinding blade. 
     With this configuration, grains are put into the bread container and the grains are ground by the grinding blade. Therefore, breadmaking materials are prepared inside the bread container. Then, the ground grains are directly used for making bread inside the bread container, without a loss of the ground grains, which may otherwise be suffered when the grains are ground in another container and transferred into the bread container (the loss refers to residual ground grains in the another container without being transferred into the bread container). Further, in and after the mixing/kneading process, the grinding blade may be removed from the bread container, and hence the bread may be baked without being distracted by the grinding blade. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration further includes a lid for covering the baking chamber, and in a state in which the bread container is disposed inside the baking chamber and the baking chamber is covered with the lid, the grinding blade is provided to a tip end of a rotation shaft hanging down inside the bread container from the lid. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, a sheathing may be provided, which surrounds the rotation shaft and the grinding blade. With this configuration, a risk of injury to the fingers due to contact with the rotation shaft and the grinding blade may be reduced. 
     Further, in the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the sheathing is bulged at a portion surrounding the grinding blade, and the bulged portion may have an inner surface formed in a concavo-convex shape for preventing a flow of food. With this configuration, the sheathing may form a protection space corresponding to an area occupied by the rotation shaft and the grinding blade. Further, the concavo-convex shape may suppress the flow of the food, to thereby promote the grinding. 
     Further, in the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the sheathing may preferably have an air vent hole formed in the bulged portion. With this configuration, air does not build up inside the bulged portion, and hence entry of the food into the bulged portion may not be inhibited by air, with the result that the grinding may be performed reliably. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the grinding motor, which rotates the rotation shaft, may be incorporated in a motor case which is insertable into the lid from above, and the rotation shaft and the grinding blade may hang down from a lower surface of the motor case, and may be capable of being pulled out, along with the motor case, from the lid. 
     With this configuration, the rotation shaft and the grinding blade are pulled out from the lid together with the motor case after grinding grains in the bread container, so that the mixing/kneading process may be performed without being distracted by the rotation shaft and the grinding blade. 
     Further, in the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the grinding motor, which rotates the rotation shaft, may be incorporated in the lid, and the rotation shaft and the grinding blade may form a grinding blade assembly, which may be coupled to the grinding motor in a detachable manner. 
     With this configuration, the grinding blade assembly may be detached from the motor after grinding grains in the bread container, so that the mixing/kneading process may be performed without being distracted by the grinding blade assembly. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferred that the lid is capable of being lifted up from the body and turned in a lift up state. With this configuration, the lid is turned (to an open position) in the lift up state, so that the grinding blade assembly may be attached to and detached from the motor in a horizontal position. Accordingly, the grinding blade assembly may be attached and detached with ease. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration further includes: a rotation shaft provided with the grinding blade at a lower end thereof; and a mixing kneader surrounding the grinding blade and the rotation shaft, and in a state in which the bread container is disposed inside the baking chamber, the rotation shaft and the mixing kneader hang down inside the bread container from above. 
     With this configuration, the rotation shaft and the grinding blade are surrounded by the mixing kneader, and hence the risk of injury to the fingers due to contact with the rotation shaft and the grinding blade may be reduced. Further, the grinding blade and the mixing kneader are disposed inside the bread container as hanging down from the above, rather than being provided to the bread container, and hence the bread container may be simplified in configuration. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferred that the mixing kneader include a dough kneading part in a dorm shape surrounding the grinding blade and a dough turning part in a form of a rotational body provided above the dough kneading part. When the dough is kneaded by the dough kneading part in the dorm shape surrounding the grinding blade, the dough tends to make its way upward. The dough moving upward is held back by the dough turning part above the dough kneading part, and hence the dough may be kept to the dough kneading part. Accordingly, the dough may be kneaded sufficiently. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the mixing kneader may preferably be provided with a plurality of kneading arms projecting in radial directions, between the dough kneading part and the dough turning part. With this configuration, the kneading arms catch the dough, so that the dough is made to reliably follow the movement of the mixing kneader, and hence the dough may be kneaded sufficiently. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the rotation shaft and the mixing kneader may be separately rotated by different motors. With this configuration, a high-speed rotation required for the grinding blade and a low-speed and high-torque rotation required for the mixing kneader may be implemented without effort. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferred that a lifting part for supporting the rotation shaft and the mixing kneader be further included inside the automatic bread maker, and the lifting part move up and down, to thereby allow the rotation shaft and the mixing kneader to be alternately switched between a state in which the rotation shaft and the mixing kneader are disposed inside the bread container and a state in which the rotation shaft and the mixing kneader are pulled out from the bread container. 
     With this configuration, there may be easily achieved a state in which the grinding blade (provided at a lower end of the rotation shaft) and the mixing kneader are disposed inside the bread container in the baking chamber, and a state in which the grinding blade and the mixing kneader are pulled out therefrom. Further, in this configuration, the rotation shaft and the mixing kneader may be preferably pulled out from the bread container, prior to baking bread. In this manner, bread with no trace of the rotation shaft, the grinding blade, and the mixing kneader may be baked. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration further includes: a rotation shaft which is provided with the grinding blade at a lower end thereof and hangs down from above the baking chamber; and a lifting part for moving up the bread container in the baking chamber to a grinding position where the grinding blade is brought close to a bottom of the bread container. 
     With this configuration, the bread container containing grains is lifted up by the lifting part so that the grains are ground by the grinding blade waiting above, to thereby prepare breadmaking material inside the bread container. The bread container containing the grains thus ground is brought down to be placed at the bottom of the baking chamber, so that the ground grains are directly used for baking bread inside the bread container. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, a sheathing may be provided, which surrounds the rotation shaft and the grinding blade. With this configuration, the risk of injury to the fingers due to contact with the rotation shaft and the grinding blade may be reduced. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferred that the bread container have a mixing/kneading blade disposed at the bottom thereof, and the baking chamber have a driving shaft disposed at a bottom thereof, the driving shaft being coupled to the mixing/kneading blade when the bread container is disposed at the bottom of the baking chamber. With this configuration, a series of breadmaking process from the process of grinding grains to the process of baking of bread may be performed seamlessly in the bread container placed inside the automatic bread maker. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration further includes: a rotation shaft provided with the grinding blade at one end thereof; and a lifting part for supporting the grinding motor and the rotation shaft, and the lifting part moves up and down, to thereby allow the grinding blade and the rotation shaft to be alternately moved to a grinding position where the grinding blade is brought close to the bottom of the bread container disposed in the baking chamber and a retraction position where the grinding blade is retracted outside the bread container disposed in the baking chamber. 
     With this configuration, the grinding blade is brought down into the bread container containing grains, to thereby grind the grains. In this manner, the breadmaking material is prepared inside the bread container and the breadmaking material thus prepared is directly used for baking bread inside the bread container. 
     In the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the lifting part may move up and down in a vertical direction, and the rotation shaft may be placed in a horizontal direction as being in the retraction position. With this configuration, the automatic bread maker may be reduced in height. 
     The automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration may be realized by, for example, further including: a holding part for holding the grinding motor and the rotation shaft; a support shaft for supporting the holding part with respect to the lifting part so that the rotation shaft is allowed to be turned freely between the vertical direction and the horizontal direction; a protruding portion formed at a top of the holding part; and an attitude changer for changing an attitude of the holding part along with the lifting part moving up and down, in cooperation with the protruding portion. 
     With this configuration, when the lifting part is moved up, the holding part is turned and raised so that the rotation shaft is moved from a vertical position to a horizontal position, to thereby reduce time it takes to completely bring the holding part out of the bread container, which allows the following process to be started immediately thereafter. Further, the configuration also has an effect of turning the holding part without the use of a motor. 
     Further, in the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the retraction position is set to a position retracted to clear a space above the bread container. With this configuration, there may be easily obtained a structure for allowing the baked bread to be taken out from an upper surface of the automatic bread maker. 
     Further, the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration may be achieved by further including a lifting shaft extending in the vertical direction for guiding the lifting part which moves up and down, and having a structure in which the lifting part is turnable in a horizontal plane, with respect to the lifting shaft. With this configuration, after the lifting part holding the rotation shaft and the grinding motor is moved out of the bread container, the rotation shaft and the grinding motor are retracted to clear a space above the bread container. Then, when moving down the lifting part, the rotation shaft and the grinding motor may be returned from the retraction position to be placed above of the bread container. 
     It should be noted that, in the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, a sheathing may be provided, which surrounds the rotation shaft and the grinding blade. With this configuration, the risk of injury to the fingers due to contact with the rotation shaft and the grinding blade may be reduced. 
     Further, in the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferred that the bread container have a mixing/kneading blade disposed at the bottom thereof, and the baking chamber have a drive shaft disposed at a bottom thereof, the drive shaft being coupled to the mixing/kneading blade when the bread container is disposed at the bottom of the baking chamber. With this configuration, a series of breadmaking process from the process of grinding grains to the process of baking of bread may be performed seamlessly in the bread container placed inside the automatic bread maker. 
     The automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration may further include a control device for controlling a lifting motor for moving the lifting part up and down, the grinding motor, and a mixing/kneading motor for rotating the drive shaft, and the control device may perform control so that a rotation of the grinding blade is stopped to provide a grinding downtime during a grinding process which is performed by rotating the grinding blade. With this configuration, the heat generated by the grinding is dissipated during the grinding downtime, with the result that the grinding operation may be performed without excessively increasing the temperature of the grains being ground. 
     Further, in the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the control device may perform control, during the grinding downtime, so that the lifting part is moved up, before rotating the mixing/kneading blade, to a position of allowing the mixing/kneading blade to rotate without one of coming into contact with the grinding blade and the rotation shaft or coming into contact with an outer body surrounding the grinding blade and the rotation shaft, and the mixing/kneading blade is rotated in this state. With this configuration, the grains are stirred by the mixing/kneading blade during the grinding, with the result that the grains are ground to be uniform in grain size. 
     Further, the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration may further include: a shielding lid for shielding an opening of the baking chamber; and a closing part for closing the baking chamber by moving the shielding lid, and the closing part may be controlled by the control device. 
     Further, in the automatic bread maker with the above-mentioned configuration, the motor for rotating the rotation shaft, and the motor for rotating the mixing/kneading blade inside the bread container or the mixing kneader may preferably be controlled by the control device in common. With this configuration, the rotation of the grinding blade and the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade (or the mixing kneader) may be controlled in association with each other, and hence the grinding blade and the mixing/kneading blade each may be applied with rotation suited for the type and amount of the grains in a stage of grinding the grains and in a stage of mixing/kneading the ground grains, to thereby improve the quality of the bread. 
     According to the present invention, bread may be baked by using grains (cereal grains) in hand, which eliminates the need to buy cereal flour. Further, a series of breadmaking process from the process of grinding the grains to the process of baking of bread may be performed seamlessly in the bread container placed inside the baking chamber, which reduces a risk that foreign matters are mixed into the bread dough. Further, unlike the case where grains are ground in another container and transferred into the bread container, there arises no loss, which may otherwise be produced as residual ground grains adhering to the another container due to the transfer of the grains. 
     In the case of rice, according to the present invention, rice flour bread may be made directly from rice grains with a desired rice milling rate. Accordingly, there may be made various kinds of bread such as, for example, brown rice bread made from brown rice which is rich in dietary fiber and maintains a high nutritional value, bread made from white rice or whole rice which is easy-to-digest, and bread made from partially-polished rice (such as 30% polished rice, 50% polished rice, 70% polished rice) with a rice milling rate which stands midway between white rice and brown rice. Such a difference in rice milling rate influences the nutritional value, and further makes a difference in texture which is influenced by the amount of fiber. Further, in addition to rice flour bread made from rice with varying rice milling rates, there may also be made rice flour bread from an improved variety of rice, namely, low-allergic rice which is low in protein as a main cause of rice allergy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a vertical sectional view of an automatic bread maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is taken along the section orthogonal to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the automatic bread maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a grinding unit of the automatic bread maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional view of the grinding unit of the automatic bread maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a grinding blade and a sheathing, which form the grinding unit of the automatic bread maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which the grinding unit is pulled out from a lid; 
         FIG. 8  is another vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the state in which the grinding unit is pulled out from the lid, which is taken along the section orthogonal to  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a control block diagram of the automatic bread maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an overall flow chart illustrating a breadmaking process according to a first aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a pre-grinding impregnation process in the breadmaking process according to the first aspect; 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating a grinding process in the breadmaking process according to the first aspect; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a mixing/kneading process in the breadmaking process according to the first aspect; 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart illustrating a fermentation process in the breadmaking process according to the first aspect; 
         FIG. 15  is a flow chart illustrating a baking process in the breadmaking process according to the first aspect; 
         FIG. 16  is an overall flow chart illustrating a breadmaking process according to a second aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a flow chart illustrating a post-grinding impregnation process in the breadmaking process according to the second aspect; 
         FIG. 18  is an overall flow chart illustrating a breadmaking process according to a third aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a vertical sectional view of an automatic bread maker according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  is another vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker according to the modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, which is taken along the section orthogonal to  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a front view of a grinding unit assembly of the automatic bread maker according to the modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a vertical sectional view of the grinding unit assembly of the automatic bread maker according to the modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  is a vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker according to the modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which a lid is lifted up; 
         FIG. 24  is another vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker according to the modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which the lid is placed in an open position after being lifted up; 
         FIG. 25  is a vertical sectional view of an automatic bread maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 26  is another vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker similar to that of  FIG. 25 , which illustrates a state different from that of  FIG. 25 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a side view of a rotation shaft, which illustrates a mixing kneader in cross section; 
         FIG. 28  is a top view of the mixing kneader; 
         FIG. 29  is a bottom view of the mixing kneader and a grinding blade; 
         FIG. 30  is a first explanatory diagram for illustrating a mixing/kneading operation; 
         FIG. 31  is a second explanatory diagram for illustrating the mixing/kneading operation; 
         FIG. 32  is a third explanatory diagram for illustrating the mixing/kneading operation; 
         FIG. 33  is a fourth explanatory diagram for illustrating the mixing/kneading operation; 
         FIG. 34  is a fifth explanatory diagram for illustrating the mixing/kneading operation; 
         FIG. 35  is a control block diagram of the automatic bread maker according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 36  is a front view of an automatic bread maker according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 37  is a vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker of  FIG. 36 ; 
         FIG. 38  is another vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker of  FIG. 36 , which is taken along the section orthogonal to  FIG. 37 ; 
         FIG. 39  is a still further vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker similar to that of  FIG. 37 , which illustrates a state different from that of  FIG. 37 ; 
         FIG. 40  is a yet further vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker in the state illustrated in  FIG. 39 , which is taken along the section orthogonal to  FIG. 39 ; 
         FIG. 41  is a control block diagram of the automatic bread maker according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 42  is a vertical sectional view of an automatic bread maker according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 43  is a horizontal sectional view of the automatic bread maker of  FIG. 42 ; 
         FIG. 44  is another vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker similar to that of  FIG. 42 , in which an elevator is on the way of making a descent; 
         FIG. 45  is a still further vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker similar to that of  FIG. 42 , in which the descent of the elevator is completed; 
         FIG. 46  is a horizontal sectional view of the automatic bread maker of  FIG. 45 ; 
         FIG. 47  is a control block diagram of the automatic bread maker according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 48  is a vertical sectional view of an automatic bread maker according to a modified example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 49  is a horizontal sectional view of the automatic bread maker of  FIG. 48 ; 
         FIG. 50  is another vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker similar to that of  FIG. 48 , in which the elevator is put into a descendible state; 
         FIG. 51  is a horizontal sectional view of the automatic bread maker of  FIG. 50 ; 
         FIG. 52  is a still further vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker similar to that of  FIG. 48 , in which the descent of the elevator is completed; 
         FIG. 53  is a yet further vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker similar to that of  FIG. 48 , in which the elevator is moved up to an intermediate position; 
         FIG. 54  is a yet further vertical sectional view of the automatic bread maker illustrating a state in which a mixing/kneading blade is rotated in the state illustrated in  FIG. 53 ; and 
         FIG. 55  is an operation chart of constituent elements in a grinding process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following, embodiments of the automatic bread maker according to the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     An automatic bread maker  1 A according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 18 . In  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a front surface side of the automatic bread maker  1 A is on the left side of  FIGS. 1 and 3 , while a back surface (rear surface) side of the automatic bread maker  1 A is on the right side of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Further, the left side of the automatic bread maker  1 A falls on the left-hand side of an observer facing the automatic bread maker  1 A in front thereof, and the right side of the automatic bread maker  1 A falls on the right-hand side of the observer. 
     The automatic bread maker  1 A includes a body  10  in a box shape. The body  10  is provided with an outer shell made of a synthetic resin. A synthetic resin handle  11  in a U-shape is attached at both ends to the left side surface and the right side surface of the body  10 , and the synthetic resin handle  11  may be held for hand-carrying the body  10 . 
     A console part  20  is formed on an upper surface side of the body  10  (see, for example,  FIG. 3 ). The console part  20  is provided with an operation key group  21  and a display part  22 . The operation key group  21  includes a selection key for selecting a kind of bread (such as wheat bread, rice flour bread, and bread with filling), a recipe selection key, a timer key, a start key, and a cancel key. The display part  22  displays the specified recipe, a time set by a timer, and the like. The display part  22  is formed of a liquid crystal display panel. 
     The rest of the upper surface of the body  10  situated behind the console part  20  is covered by a lid  30  made of a synthetic resin (see, for example,  FIG. 1 ). The lid  30  is attached to an edge on the back surface side of the body  10  via a hinge shaft (not shown), and turns in vertical plane using the hinge shaft as a support point. 
     A baking chamber  40  is provided inside the body  10  (see, for example,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The baking chamber  40  is made of a sheet metal, and opens at an upper side thereof, from which a bread container  50  is inserted therein. The baking chamber  40  has a peripheral side wall  40   a  which is rectangular in horizontal section and a bottom wall  40   b.    
     The bottom wall  40   b  of the baking chamber  40  has a bread container support  13  fixed thereto, at a position in the center of the baking chamber  40  (see, for example,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The bread container support  13  is a die-cast component of an aluminum alloy. The bread container support  13  has its inside exposed to the inside of the baking chamber  40  via an opening formed in the bottom wall  40   b  of the baking chamber  40 . 
     The bread container support  13  supports, at the center thereof, a vertical rotation shaft (drive shaft)  14  (see, for example,  FIG. 2 ). The rotation shaft  14  protrudes, at a lower end thereof, from a lower surface of the bread container support  13 , and a pulley  15  is fixed to the lower end of the rotation shaft  14 . 
     The bread container support  13  receives a cylindrical pedestal  51  fixed to a bottom surface of the bread container  50 , to thereby support the bread container  50 . The pedestal  51  is also a die-cast component of an aluminum alloy. 
     The bread container  50  is made of a sheet metal, and formed in a bucket-like shape (see, for example,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The bread container  50  is provided with a carrying handle (not shown) attached to a rim of an opening on an upper side thereof. The bread container  50  is rectangular with rounded corners in horizontal section, and has a convex portion  50   a , which is in a ridge shape extending in a vertical direction, formed on an inner surface of each of two opposing sides of the four sides. 
     The bread container  50  has a mixing/kneading blade  52  disposed at the center of the bottom. The mixing/kneading blade  52  is attached by being simply engaged with a noncircular section at an upper end of a vertical rotation shaft (blade rotation shaft)  53  which is supported at the center of the bottom of the bread container  50  and is sealed against leakage, and hence the mixing/kneading blade  52  is detachable without the use of tools. Accordingly, the mixing/kneading blade  52  is easily replaceable with another type thereof. 
     The rotation shaft  53  is coupled to the rotation shaft  14 , and receives power transmitted from the rotation shaft  14 . For the transmission of power, a coupling  54  accommodated in the pedestal  51  is used (see  FIG. 2 ). Specifically, the coupling  54  is formed of two members, and one of the members is fixed to a lower end of the rotation shaft  53  while the other one is fixed to an upper end of the rotation shaft  14 . 
     Protrusions (not shown) are each formed on an inner peripheral surface of the bread container support  13  and on an outer peripheral surface of the pedestal  51 . The protrusions form a known bayonet coupling. Specifically, when mounting the bread container  50  onto the bread container support  13 , the bread container  50  is held down in a manner that the protrusion from the pedestal  51  does not interfere with the protrusion from the bread container support  13 . Once the pedestal  51  is fit into the bread container support  13 , the bread container  50  is twisted horizontally, so that the protrusion from the pedestal  51  engages with a lower surface of the protrusion from the bread container support  13 , to thereby prevent the bread container  50  from being pulled out upward. This operation also attains coupling of the coupling  54 . The bread container  50  to be mounted is twisted in a rotation direction of the mixing/kneading blade  52 , so that the bread container  50  may not be detached even when the mixing/kneading blade  52  is rotated. 
     A heating device  41  disposed inside the baking chamber  40  (see, for example,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) surrounds the bread container  50 , to thereby heat breadmaking materials. The heating device  41  is formed of a sheathed heater. 
     The body  10  has a base  12  disposed therein. The base  12  is made of a sheet metal. A motor (mixing/kneading motor)  60  is attached to the base  12 . The motor  60  has a vertical shaft, and has an output shaft  61  protruding from a lower surface thereof. A pulley  63  is fixed to the output shaft  61 , and the pulley  63  is coupled to the pulley  15  of the rotation shaft  14  via a belt  62 . 
     In the lid  30 , a vertical penetrating part  31  formed in a cylindrical shape is formed (see, for example,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The vertical penetrating part  31  is formed at a position displaced slightly to the right from the center of the bread container  50 . Then, a grinding unit  70 A is inserted from above into the vertical penetrating part  31 . 
     The grinding unit  70 A includes a motor case  71  (see, for example,  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) made of a synthetic resin. The motor case  71  has a handle  72  formed on an upper surface thereof, and incorporates a motor (grinding motor)  73  with a vertical shaft. The motor case  71  has an annular ledge  71   a  formed around an upper periphery thereof. The ledge  71   a  engages with an upper edge of the vertical penetrating part  31 , to thereby hinder the motor case  71  from being pressed further downward. When the motor case  71  is stopped going downward by the ledge  71   a , the upper surface of the motor case  71  becomes substantially flush with an upper surface of the lid  30 . The vertical penetrating part  31  and the motor case  71  are both quadrangular in horizontal section, and the grinding unit  70 A inserted into the lid  30  do not rotate with respect to the lid  30 . 
     A rotation shaft  75  is coupled to an output shaft  74  protruding downward from the motor  73 . A grinding blade  76  is fixed to a lower end of the rotation shaft  75 . A sheathing  77 , which is fixed at an upper end thereof to the motor case  71 , surrounds the rotation shaft  75  and the grinding blade  76 . The sheathing  77  is a cylindrical member made of a sheet metal such as a stainless steel plate. A lower end of the sheathing  77 , that is, a portion surrounding the grinding blade  76 , is formed into a bulged portion  77   a  which is larger in diameter than the rest portion and shaped like a tulip flower turned upside down. 
     An inner surface of the bulged portion  77   a  has convexities  77   b  opposing to the grinding blade  76 . According to the first embodiment, the bulged portion  77   a  is dented inwardly at predetermined angular intervals, to thereby form the convexities  77   b  (see  FIG. 6 ). A horizontal beam  78  is fixed inside the bulged portion  77   a , and a bearing  79  for bearing the rotation shaft  75  is attached to the beam  78 . Further, the bulged portion  77   a  has an air vent hole  77   c  formed above a level of the grinding blade  76  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
     An operation of the automatic bread maker  1 A is controlled by a control device  80  illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The control device  80  is formed of a circuit board disposed in an appropriate place inside the body  10  (place unsusceptible to heat of the baking chamber  40  is preferable). The control device  80  is connected to the console part  20  and the heating device  41 , which have been described above, and is further connected to a motor driver  81  for the motor (mixing/kneading motor)  60 , to a motor driver  82  for the motor (grinding motor)  73 , and to a temperature sensor  83 . The temperature sensor  83  is disposed inside the baking chamber  40 , and detects temperature of the baking chamber  40 . A commercial power source  84  supplies power to each constituent element. 
     The motor  73  and the motor driver  82  are connected to each other via a connector  85 , which is configured to establish connection inside the vertical penetrating part  31  (see  FIG. 1 ). One end of the connector  85  is fixed to an inner surface of the vertical penetrating part  31 , and another end thereof is fixed to the motor case  71 . When the motor case  71  is inserted into the vertical penetrating part  31 , the connector  85  establishes connection. 
     Next, a process of making bread from grains by using the automatic bread maker  1 A is described with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 18 . Of the drawings,  FIGS. 10 to 15  illustrate a breadmaking process according to a first aspect of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is an overall flow chart illustrating a breadmaking process according to the first aspect of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , according to the first aspect, the process includes a pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 , a grinding process # 20 , a mixing/kneading process # 30 , a fermentation process # 40 , and a baking process # 50 , which are sequentially performed in the stated order. Next, each of the processes is described in detail. 
     In the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10  illustrated in  FIG. 11 , first in Step # 11 , a user measures a predetermined amount of grains, and puts the grains into the bread container  50 . Rice grains may be most easily available as the grains. Alternatively, grains of other kinds of cereals, such as wheat, barley, foxtail millet, Japanese barnyard millet, buck wheat, and corn may also be used. 
     In Step # 12 , the user measures a predetermined amount of liquid, and puts the liquid into the bread container  50 . Water may be most commonly used as the liquid. Alternatively, there may also be used liquid with a flavor, such as soup stock or fruit juice. The liquid may contain alcohol. It should be noted that Step # 11  and Step # 12  may be interchanged with each other in sequence. 
     The grains and the liquid may be put into the bread container  50  which is taken out from the baking chamber  40 , or may be put into the bread container  50  which is placed inside the baking chamber  40 . When opening the lid  30  to put in and take out the bread container  50  or to put grains and liquid into the bread container  50  inside of the baking chamber  40 , the grinding unit  70 A is pulled out from the lid  30  in advance. 
     When the grains and the liquid are put into the bread container  50  inside of the baking chamber  40 , or when the bread container  50  containing the grains and the liquid put thereinto outside the baking chamber  40  is installed into the baking chamber  40 , the lid  30  is closed and the grinding unit  70 A is inserted into the vertical penetrating part  31 . When the grinding unit  70 A is inserted downward to be stopped by the ledge  71   a , the connector  85  establishes connection while the rotation shaft  75  provided with the grinding blade  76  at a lower end thereof and the sheathing  77  surrounding the same are disposed inside the bread container  50  as hanging down from a lower surface of the lid  30 . 
     The mixing/kneading blade  52  is turned in advance to a direction of avoiding contact with the sheathing  77  descending from above. Alternatively, an origin position of the mixing/kneading blade  52  may be set to a position of avoiding contact with the sheathing  77 , and the mixing/kneading blade  52  may be configured to always stop at the origin position after rotation. 
     In a state in which the grinding unit  70 A is completely inserted into the vertical penetrating part  31 , the grinding blade  76  and a lower end of the bulged portion  77   a  of the sheathing  77  are brought close to an inner bottom surface of the bread container  50  at a predetermined distance. In this state, the user presses a predetermined operation key in the console part  20  to start counting time for liquid impregnation. From this time point on, Step # 13  is started. 
     In Step # 13 , a mixture of the grains and the liquid is left still stand in the bread container  50 , to thereby impregnate the grains with the liquid. In general, the impregnation is further promoted as the liquid temperature becomes higher. In view of this, the heating device  41  may be energized so that the temperature of the baking chamber  40  may be increased. 
     In Step # 14 , the control device  80  checks how much time has elapsed since the start of the still standing of the grains and the liquid. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10  is ended, which is informed to the user by display in the display part  22  or by voice. 
     Following the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 , the grinding process # 20  illustrated in  FIG. 12  is performed. The user inputs data on the grinding operation (such as a kind and an amount of the grains and a kind of bread to be baked) via the console part  20 , and presses the start key, to thereby start grinding. 
     In Step # 21 , the control device  80  drives the motor  73  of the grinding unit  70 A, to thereby rotate the rotation shaft  75 . In this manner, the grinding blade  76  starts rotation in the mixture of the grains and the liquid. The grains to be ground by the grinding blade  76  are impregnated beforehand with the liquid, and therefore the grains may be easily ground to the core. The convexities  77   b  formed in the inner surface of the bulged portion  77   a  of the sheathing  77  suppress the flow of the mixture of the grains and the liquid, to thereby promote the grinding. The bulged portion  77   a  has the air vent hole  77   c  formed therein, and hence air does not build up inside the bulged portion  77   a . Accordingly, the entry of the mixture of the grains and the liquid into the bulged portion  77   a  is not inhibited by air, with the result that the grinding may be performed reliably. 
     In the manner as described above, during the rotation of the grinding blade  76 , the grains in the bread container  50  go into the bulged portion  77   a  together with the liquid through a gap between the bulged portion  77   a  and the inner bottom surface of the bread container  50  to be ground by the grinding blade  76 , and go out of the bulged portion  77   a , in a repetitive manner, so that the grains are ground down into small pieces. 
     In Step # 22 , the control device  80  checks whether the grinding pattern is carried through according to the settings (such as, as to whether the grinding blade is continuously rotated or intermittently rotated at intervals, and in a case of rotating the grinding blade intermittently, as to how the intervals are provided and how the duration of the rotation is set) for obtaining desired ground grains. When the grinding pattern according to the settings is carried through, the process proceeds to Step # 23 , in which the rotation of the grinding blade  76  is stopped, and the grinding process # 20  is ended. The end of the grinding process # 20  is informed to the user by display in the display part  22  or by voice. 
     It has been described in the above that the grinding process # 20  is started in response to an operation by the user after the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the user may input data on the grinding operation before the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10  or during the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 , so that the grinding process # 20  may be automatically started after the completion of the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 . 
     Following the grinding process # 20 , the mixing/kneading process # 30  illustrated in  FIG. 13  is performed. Prior to the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the user pulls out the grinding unit  70 A from the lid  30 , and inserts a dummy stopper  90  in place of the grinding unit  70 A into the vertical penetrating part  31  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The dummy stopper  90  is the same in dimension as the motor case  71 , and has a handle  91  provided on an upper surface thereof. 
     It should be noted that, if the mixing/kneading blade  52  is rotated in a state in which the sheathing  77  is hanging down inside the bread container  50 , the mixing/kneading blade  52  inevitably collides with the sheathing  77 . In view of this, a detector for detecting the presence of the sheathing  77  in the bread container  50  may be provided, and the motor  60  may be prevented from being driven as long as the detector is detecting the presence of the sheathing  77 . 
     When starting the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the grains and the liquid in the bread container  50  are in the form of a dough material in paste form or in slurry form. It should be noted that, in this specification, the materials which are found at a time point of starting the mixing/kneading process # 30  are collectively referred to as “dough material”, while the materials which are further mixed and kneaded to be almost turned into a desired dough state are collectively referred to as “dough” even in an unfinished state. 
     In Step # 31 , the user adds a predetermined amount of gluten to the dough material. As necessary, seasonings, such as salt, sugar, and shortening may also be added. It should be noted that the seasonings may be put in advance into the bread container  50  at an initiation stage of the grinding process # 10 . Alternatively, the automatic bread maker  1 A may be provided with an automatic dispenser device for dispensing gluten and seasonings, so that those materials may be added without having the user take the trouble to do so. 
     Before or after Step # 31 , the user makes an input via the console part  20  to select a kind of bread and a recipe. When the settings are ready, the user presses the start key to start a breadmaking operation which is performed in an automatic sequence of the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the fermentation process # 40 , and the baking process # 50 . 
     In Step # 32 , the control device  80  drives the motor  60 . As a result, the mixing/kneading blade  52  starts rotation in the dough material. Further, the control device  80  energizes the heating device  40  as necessary, to thereby increase the temperature of the baking chamber  40 . Along with the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  52 , the dough material is further mixed and kneaded into dough which comes together and exhibits a predetermined degree of elasticity. The mixing/kneading blade  52  brings the dough up and down to beat the dough on an inner wall of the bread container  50 , which adds an element of “kneading” to the mixing. The convex portions  50   a  formed on the inner walls of the bread container  50  help the “kneading”. 
     In Step # 33 , the control device  80  checks how much time has elapsed since the start of the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  52 . After a lapse of a predetermined time, the process proceeds to Step # 34 . In Step # 34 , the user opens the lid  30  and adds yeast to the dough. 
     In Step # 35 , the control device  80  checks how much time has elapsed since the dough is added with yeast. After a lapse of time necessary for obtaining a desired dough, the process proceeds to Step # 36 , where the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  52  is stopped. At this point, the dough material is completed into dough which comes together and exhibits a necessary degree of elasticity. 
     It should be noted that dry yeast may be used as the yeast to be added to the dough in Step # 34 . Alternatively, a baking powder may be used in place of the yeast. Further, an automatic dispenser device may also be adopted for dispensing the yeast or the baking powder, to thereby save the user the trouble. When making bread with fillings, the fillings are added in any one of the steps in the mixing/kneading process # 30 . An automatic dispenser device may also be adopted for adding the fillings. 
     Following the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the fermentation process # 40  illustrated in  FIG. 14  is performed. In Step # 41 , the dough, which has undergone the mixing/kneading process # 30 , is placed in a fermentation environment. Specifically, the control device  80  energizes the heating device  41  as necessary to maintain the baking chamber  40  in a temperature zone in which fermentation is promoted. The user shapes the dough as necessary and leaves the dough still stand in the baking chamber  40 . 
     In Step # 42 , the control device  80  checks how long the dough has been placed in the fermentation environment. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the fermentation process # 40  is ended. 
     Following the fermentation process # 40 , the baking process # 50  illustrated in  FIG. 15  is performed. In Step # 51 , the dough thus fermented is placed in a baking environment. Specifically, the control device  80  supplies power necessary for baking bread to the heating device  41 , so that the temperature of the baking chamber  40  is increased to a temperature zone for baking bread. 
     In Step # 52 , the control device  80  checks how long the dough has been placed in the baking environment. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the baking process # 50  is ended. At this time, the completion of breadmaking is informed by display in the display part  22  or by voice, and the user opens the lid  30  to take out the bread container  50 . 
     Next, a breadmaking process according to a second aspect of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 16  and  17 .  FIG. 16  is an overall flow chart illustrating the breadmaking process according to the second aspect. In  FIG. 16 , the process includes the grinding process # 20 , a post-grinding impregnation process # 60 , the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the fermentation process # 40 , and the baking process # 50 , which are performed in the stated order. Next, the post-grinding impregnation process # 60  is described in detail with reference to  FIG. 17 . 
     In Step # 61 , the dough material formed in the grinding process # 20  (which is performed similarly to that according to the first aspect) is left still stand in the bread container  50 . The dough material is formed without being subjected to the pre-grinding impregnation process. The ground grains are impregnated with the liquid during the still standing. The control device  80  energizes the heating device  41  as necessary to heat the dough material, so that the impregnation is promoted. 
     In Step # 62 , the control device  80  checks how long the dough material has been left still stand. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the post-grinding impregnation process # 60  is ended. After the completion of the post-grinding impregnation process # 60 , the process automatically proceeds to the mixing/kneading process # 30 . The mixing/kneading process # 30  and the processes thereafter are similar to those of the breadmaking process according to the first aspect. 
     Next, a breadmaking process according to a third aspect of the present invention is described with reference to  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 18  is an overall flow chart illustrating the breadmaking process according to the third aspect. In the breadmaking process according to the third aspect, the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10  according to the first aspect precedes the grinding process # 20 , and the post-grinding impregnation process # 60  according to the second aspect follows the grinding process # 20 . The mixing/kneading process # 30  and the processes thereafter are similar to those of the breadmaking process according to the first aspect. 
     The grinding unit  70 A may also be used for pulverizing fillings such as nuts and leaf vegetables into small particles, as well as for grinding grains. Accordingly, bread with finely-ground fillings may be baked. The grinding unit  70 A may also be used for pulverizing foodstuffs and herbal medicines, other than the fillings to be mixed into bread. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 19 to 24 , a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention is described. It should be noted that, in the modified example of the first embodiment, constituent elements which are the same as or share a function in common with those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols used in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. 
     An automatic bread maker  1 B according to the modified example of the first embodiment is different from the automatic bread maker  1 A according to the first embodiment in terms of configuration of the grinding unit. Specifically, the automatic bread maker  1 B has a grinding unit  70 B which has a configuration in which the motor  73  is incorporated into the lid  30 , rather than a configuration which allows the entire grinding unit including the motor (grinding motor)  73  to be pulled out from the lid  30  (configuration of the grinding unit  70 A). 
     In the grinding unit  70 B, the rotation shaft  75 , the grinding blade  76 , and the sheathing  77  form a grinding blade assembly  90  (see  FIGS. 21 and 22 ) which may be coupled to the motor  73  in a detachable manner. Further, the lid  30  is configured not only to be turned in a vertical plane using a hinge shaft as a support point, but also to be lifted up along with the support point which itself moves upward (see  FIGS. 23 and 24 ). 
     In order to lift up the lid  30 , a lift up column  91  illustrated in  FIG. 24  is provided to a back surface of the body  10 . The lift up column  91  is sheathed into a guide  92  which is in a scabbard-like shape attached to the back surface of the body  10 , and moves in a vertical direction. The lift up column  91  may be moved up and down by man power, or through the use of a motor or an air cylinder. Alternatively, there may be adopted a configuration in which the lift up column  91  may be biased upward by a spring, so that the lift up column  91  is held downward when the lift up column  91  is pressed down and locked, and when the lock is released, the lift up column  91  moves upward due to a tension of the spring, bringing the lid  30  into a lift up state. The lid  30  is attached to an upper end of the lift up column  91  via a hinge shaft  93 . 
     In the automatic bread maker  1 B, the lid  30  is lifted up as illustrated in  FIG. 23  when taking out the bread container  50  from the baking chamber  40 , or when installing the bread container  50  into the baking chamber  40 . In the lift up state, the lid  30  is turned to an open position as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . In this manner, the grinding blade assembly  90  is placed sideways (the rotation shaft  75  is placed in a horizontal position), and hence the grinding blade assembly  90  may be coupled to and detached from the motor  73  with ease. When the grinding process # 20  is ended, the lid  30  is lifted up and the grinding blade assembly  90  is detached, before the process proceeds to the mixing/kneading process # 30 . 
     Both in the first embodiment and in the modified example of the first embodiment, the rotation of the grinding blade  76  and the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  52  may be controlled in association with each other by the single control device  80 , and hence the grinding blade  76  and the mixing/kneading blade  52  each may be applied with rotation suited for the type and amount of the grains in a stage of grinding the grains and in a stage of mixing/kneading the ground grains, to thereby improve the quality of the bread. 
     Second Embodiment 
     An automatic bread maker  100  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 25 to 35 . In  FIGS. 25 and 26 , a front surface side of the automatic bread maker  100  is on the left side of  FIGS. 25 and 26 , while a back surface (rear surface) side of the automatic bread maker  100  is on the right side of  FIGS. 25 and 26 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 25 and 26 , the automatic bread maker  100  has a body  110  in a box shape provided with an outer shell made of a synthetic resin. The body  110  has an upper surface covered with a lid  120  made of a synthetic resin. The lid  120  is attached to an edge on a back surface side of the body  110  via a hinge shaft  121 , and turns in a vertical plane using the hinge shaft  121  as a support point. 
     A baking chamber  130  is provided inside the body  110 . The baking chamber  130  has a peripheral side wall  130   a  and a bottom wall  130   b . The baking chamber  130  is similar in configuration to the baking chamber  40  of the first embodiment, which has a heating device  132  disposed therein for heating breadmaking materials, and also has a bread container support  131  fixed to the bottom wall  130   b . The bread container support  131  is configured to support a bread container  140  by receiving a cylindrical pedestal  141  fixed to a bottom surface of the bread container  140 . 
     Protrusions (not shown) are each formed on an inner peripheral surface of the bread container support  131  and on an outer peripheral surface of the pedestal  141 , similarly to the bread container support  13  and the pedestal  51  of the first embodiment. The protrusions form a known bayonet coupling, as in the first embodiment. It should be noted that the bread container  140  to be mounted is twisted in a rotation direction of a mixing kneader to be described later, so that the bread container  140  may not be detached even when the mixing kneader is rotated. 
     The bread container  140  is substantially similar in configuration to the bread container  50  of the first embodiment. The bread container  140  has a convex portion  140   a  in a ridge shape extending in a vertical direction formed on an inner surface thereof. It should be noted that, unlike the configuration of the first embodiment, a vertical receiving shaft  142  is disposed at the center of the bottom of the bread container  140 . The receiving shaft  142  is rotatably supported at the center of the bottom of the bread container  140  and is sealed against leakage, and has a small diameter portion formed at an upper end thereof. 
     A horizontal lifting deck (lifting part)  150  is provided inside the lid  120 . The lifting deck  150  moves up and down along a guiding device (not shown) while keeping itself in a horizontal state. The lifting deck  150  is moved up and down by a lifting motor  151  disposed on the back surface side of the lid  120 . The lifting motor  151  has a vertical shaft, and has a motor shaft  152  protruding downward. A feed screw  153  is fixed to the motor shaft  152 , and the feed screw  153  is coupled to a nut  155  which is attached to a bracket  154  extending from the lifting deck  150 . When the lifting motor  151  rotates the feed screw  153 , the nut  155  is moved in the direction of axis of the feed screw  153 , to thereby cause the lifting deck  150  to move up and down. In order to reduce a loss in power transmission, the feed screw  153  and the nut  155  may be formed of a ball screw and a ball nut, respectively, which are used in combination. 
     A grinding motor  160  and a mixing/kneading motor  170  are fixed onto an upper surface of the lifting deck  150 . The grinding motor  160  and the mixing/kneading motor  170  both have a vertical shaft, and each have motor shafts  161  and  171  protruding downward, respectively. The motor shaft  161  is directly connected to a vertical rotation shaft  162  (see  FIGS. 25 and 26 ), which is provided at a lower end thereof with a grinding blade  163 . 
     A cylindrical shaft  172  is provided outside the rotation shaft  162 , in a manner that the cylindrical shaft  172  is relatively rotatable with respect to the rotation shaft  162  while being relatively immovable in the direction of axis of the rotation shaft  162 . A pulley  173  is fixed to an upper end of the cylindrical shaft  172 . The pulley  173  is coupled to a pulley  174  which is fixed to the motor shaft  171 , via a belt  175 . The pulley  174  is configured to slow down the rotation of the pulley  173 , so that the cylindrical shaft  172  is rotated at low speed with high torque. 
     A mixing kneader  176  is fixed to the cylindrical shaft  172 . The mixing kneader  176  (see also  FIGS. 27 to 29 ) includes a dough kneading part  177  in a dorm shape surrounding the grinding blade  163  and the rotation shaft  162  which has the grinding blade  163  attached thereto, and a dough turning part  178  in the form of a rotational body provided above the dough kneading part  177 . The dough kneading part  177  is formed in a slightly flattened hemispherical shape and the dough turning part  178  is formed in an abacus bead shape, which are substantially the same in diameter. The dough kneading part  177  and the dough turning part  178  have a constricted portion therebetween, from which a plurality of kneading arms (rod-like arms)  179  project in a radial fashion. The kneading arms  179  are retracted inwardly so that the tip ends thereof fall within the maximum diameters of the dough kneading part  177  and the dough turning part  178 . The number of the kneading arms  179  is not specifically limited. However, if the kneading arms  179  are provided too many, the dough cannot be held therebetween. Accordingly, the number may be set to around two to four. 
     The mixing kneader  176  may be integrally formed from a synthetic resin or metal. Alternatively, the mixing kneader  176  may be configured with a combination of synthetic resin components, a combination of metal components, or a combination of synthetic resin components and metal components. 
     An operation of the automatic bread maker  100  is controlled by a control device  180  illustrated in  FIG. 35 . The control device  180  is formed of a circuit board disposed in appropriate place inside the body  110  (similarly to the first embodiment). The control device  180  is connected to the heating device  132 , and is further connected to a console part  111  provided in appropriate place on a surface of the body  110 , for example, on a front surface thereof, to a motor driver  181  for the lifting motor  151 , to a motor driver  182  for the grinding motor  160 , to a motor driver  183  for the mixing/kneading motor  170 , and to a temperature sensor  184 . The temperature sensor  184  is disposed inside the baking chamber  130 , and detects temperature of the baking chamber  130 . A commercial power source  185  supplies power to each constituent element. 
     The automatic bread maker  100  configured as described above is also capable of making bread from grains, similarly to the automatic bread maker  1 A of the first embodiment, by following the breadmaking processes according to the first to third aspects (see  FIGS. 10 to 18 ). In the following, an operation of making bread from grains by using the automatic bread maker  100  is described, mainly focusing on the difference from the first embodiment. 
     In the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10  (see  FIG. 11 ), operations of measuring the grains and the liquid in Steps # 11  and # 12  are basically similar to those in the first embodiment. In the following, the points of difference in Steps # 11  and # 12  are described. 
     When the automatic bread maker  100  is used, prior to opening the lid  120  in order to take out or install the bread container  140  or in order to put grains and a liquid to the bread container  140  placed inside the baking chamber  130 , the lifting deck  150  is set in an ascent position as illustrated in  FIG. 25 , with the rotation shaft  162 , the grinding blade  163 , and the mixing kneader  176  being placed inside the lid  120  without protruding outside therefrom. 
     The lid  120  is closed after grains and a liquid are put into the bread container  140  placed inside the baking chamber  130 , or after the bread container  140 , which contains grains and a liquid put thereinto outside the baking chamber  130 , is installed into the baking chamber  130 . Then, the following operation is performed. After the lid  120  is closed, the lifting deck  150  is moved down, and the rotation shaft  162 , the grinding blade  163 , and the mixing kneader  176  gradually go down into the bread container  140  as hanging down from the above. When the lifting deck  150  is further moved down to the limit, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , a concave portion formed in a lower end surface of the rotation shaft  162  engages with the small diameter portion formed at the upper end of the receiving shaft  142 . This configuration prevents runout of the rotation shaft  162  at the lower end thereof. After the engagement, the receiving shaft  142  rotates integrally with the rotation shaft  162 . Further, at this point, the grinding blade  163  and the dough kneading part  177  are placed close to the bottom of the bread container  140 . 
     Following Step # 12 , Step # 13  for still standing and Step # 14  for checking time are performed similarly as in the case of the first embodiment. 
     Following the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 , the grinding process # 20  (see  FIG. 12 ) is started by an operation similar to that of the first embodiment. In Step # 21 , the control device  180  drives the grinding motor  160 , to thereby rotate the rotation shaft  162 . As a result, the grinding blade  163  starts rotation in the mixture of the grains and the liquid. The mixing kneader  176  is not in operation. The grains to be ground by the grinding blade  163  are impregnated beforehand with the liquid, and therefore the grains may be easily ground to the core. 
     In the manner as described above, during the rotation of the grinding blade  163 , the grains in the bread container  140  go into the dough kneading part  177  together with the liquid through a gap between the dough kneading part  177  and the inner bottom surface of the bread container  140  to be ground by the grinding blade  163 , and go out of the dough kneading part  177 , in a repetitive manner, so that the grains are ground down into small pieces. 
     It should be noted that Step # 22  for checking whether or not the set grinding pattern is carried through and Step # 23  for stopping rotation of the grinding blade  163  are performed similarly as in the case of the first embodiment. 
     Following the grinding process # 20 , the mixing/kneading process # 30  (see  FIG. 13 ) is performed. As in the case of the first embodiment, prior to the rotation of the mixing kneader  176  (which does not have the mixing/kneading blade in this embodiment), the preparation operations in Step # 31  (including: an operation to add gluten and seasonings; an operation to set the console part  111 ; and an operation to press the start key) are performed (see  FIG. 30 ). 
     In Step # 32 , the control device  180  drives the mixing/kneading motor  170 . As a result, the mixing kneader  176  starts rotation in the dough material. Further, the control device  180  energizes the heating device  132  as necessary, to thereby increase the temperature of the baking chamber  130 . Along with the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  176 , the dough material is further mixed and kneaded by the dough kneading part  177  to be turned into dough which comes together and exhibits a predetermined degree of elasticity. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 31 and 32 , dough A tends to make its way up onto an upper surface of the dough kneading part  177  from an outer periphery of the dough kneading part  177 . Due to the dough turning part  178  lying thereabove, the dough A moving upward is held down to stay within certain limits. The kneading arm  179  catches the dough A in this state, as illustrated in  FIG. 33 , so that the dough A is made to reliably follow the movement of the mixing kneader  176 , and hence the dough A may be kneaded sufficiently. The convex portions  140   a  formed on the inner walls of the bread container  140  help the kneading. 
     Step # 33  for checking time, Step # 34  for adding yeast, Step # 35  for checking time, and Step # 36  for stopping rotation of the mixing kneader  176  are performed following Step # 32 , similarly as in the first embodiment. 
     After the rotation of the mixing kneader  176  is stopped, the control device  180  drives the lifting motor  151  to move up the lifting deck  150 . The rotation shaft  162 , the grinding blade  163 , and the mixing kneader  176  are pulled out from the bread container  140  as illustrated in  FIG. 34 . The dough A slips through between the outer peripheral surface of the dough kneading part  177  and the inner peripheral surface of the bread container  140  to fall onto the bottom of the bread container  140 . When baking the dough A, the rotation shaft  162 , the grinding blade  163 , and the mixing kneader  176  are not contained in the dough A, and hence the dough A may be baked into bread with no trace of the rotation shaft  162 , the grinding blade  163 , and the mixing kneader  176 , which improves the appearance of the bread. 
     Following the mixing/kneading process # 30 , the fermentation process # 40  ( FIG. 14 ) and the baking process # 50  ( FIG. 15 ) are sequentially performed similarly as in the first embodiment. Further, the operation in the post-grinding impregnation process # 60  ( FIG. 17 ) in the breadmaking process according to the second and third aspects is similarly performed as in the first embodiment. 
     It should be noted that the grinding blade  163  may also be used for pulverizing fillings such as nuts and leaf vegetables into small particles, as well as for grinding grains. Accordingly, bread with finely-ground fillings may be baked. The grinding blade  163  may also be used for pulverizing foodstuffs and herbal medicines, other than the fillings to be mixed into bread. 
     Further, the rotation of the grinding blade  163  and the mixing kneader  176  may be controlled in association with each other by the single control device  180 , to thereby improve the quality of the bread similarly to the first embodiment. 
     Third Embodiment 
     An automatic bread maker  200  according to a third embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 36 to 41 . In  FIGS. 38 and 40 , a front surface side of the automatic bread maker  200  is on the left side of  FIGS. 38 and 40 , while a back surface (rear surface) side of the automatic bread maker  200  is on the right side of  FIGS. 38 and 40 . Further, the left side of the automatic bread maker  200  falls on the left-hand side of an observer facing the automatic bread maker  200  in front thereof, and the right side of the automatic bread maker  200  falls on the right-hand side of the observer. 
     The automatic bread maker  200  has a body  210  in a box shape. The body  210  is provided with an opening and a door  211  for closing the opening (see  FIG. 36 ). The opening is provided on the left side of the front surface of the body  210  and leads to a baking chamber to be described later. The door  211  turns in a vertical plane using the lower edge as a support point, and has a handle  212  on an upper edge and an observation window  213  at a position below the handle  212 . A pane of heat-resistant glass is fit into the observation window  213 . 
     On the front surface of the body  210 , a console part  220  is formed on a right side of the door  211  (see  FIG. 36 ). The console part  220  is provided with an operation key group  221  and a display part  222  (which is formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel) similarly to the first embodiment. 
     In the body  210 , a baking chamber  230  for receiving a bread container  240  is provided on the rear side of the door  211  (see, for example,  FIGS. 37 and 38 ). The baking chamber  230  has side walls and a bottom wall made of a sheet metal. Similarly to the baking chamber  40  of the first embodiment, a heating device  231  for heating breadmaking materials is disposed inside the baking chamber  230 . 
     A base  214  made of a sheet metal is provided below the baking chamber  230 . The base  214  has a bread container support  215  fixed thereto, at a position in the center of the baking chamber  230 . The bread container support  215  is a die-cast component of an aluminum alloy. The bread container support  215  has its inside exposed to the inside of the baking chamber  230  via an opening formed in the bottom wall of the baking chamber  230 . 
     The bread container support  215  supports, at the center thereof, a drive shaft  216  vertically. The drive shaft  216  protrudes, at a lower end thereof, from a lower surface of the bread container support  215 , and a pulley  217  is fixed to the lower end of the drive shaft  216 . The bread container support  215  receives a cylindrical pedestal  241  fixed to a bottom surface of the bread container  240 , to thereby support the bread container  240 . The pedestal  241  is also a die-cast component of an aluminum alloy. 
     The bread container  240  is similar in configuration to the bread container  50  of the first embodiment. The bread container  240  has a convex portion  240   a  in a ridge shape extending in a vertical direction formed on an inner surface thereof, and a mixing/kneading blade  242  disposed at the center of the bottom thereof. Similarly to the first embodiment, the mixing/kneading blade  242  is attached by being simply engaged with a noncircular section at an upper end of the blade attachment shaft (blade rotation shaft)  243  which is supported at the center of the bottom of the bread container  240  and is sealed against leakage. 
     The blade attachment shaft  243  is coupled to the drive shaft  216  and receives power transmitted therefrom. In order to attain the power transmission, a coupling member  244  is fixed to a lower end of the blade attachment shaft  243 , while a coupling member  245  to be coupled to the coupling member  244  is fixed to an upper end of the drive shaft  216 . 
     A mixing/kneading motor  250  is disposed inside the body  210 . The mixing/kneading motor  250  has a vertical shaft, and a motor shaft  251  protrudes from a lower surface of the mixing/kneading motor  250 . A pulley  252  is fixed to the motor shaft  251 , and the pulley  252  is coupled to a pulley  217  of the drive shaft  216  via a belt  253 . The pulley  252  is configured to slow down the rotation of the pulley  217 , so that the drive shaft  216  is rotated at low speed with high torque. 
     In a ceiling of the baking chamber  230 , a motor chamber  260  is formed, in which a grinding motor  261  is disposed. The motor chamber  260  protrudes halfway up from a top surface of the body  210 . The grinding motor  261  has a vertical axis, and has a motor shaft  262  protruding downward therefrom. A vertical rotation shaft  263 , which is provided with a grinding blade  264  at a lower end thereof, is directly coupled to the motor shaft  262 . The rotation shaft  262  and the grinding blade  264  are configured to hang down from the grinding motor  261  (from the above of the baking chamber  230 ). 
     A sheathing  265  surrounds the rotation shaft  263  and the grinding blade  264 . The sheathing  265  is a cylindrical member made of a sheet metal such as a stainless steel plate. A lower end of the sheathing  265 , that is, a portion surrounding the grinding blade  264  is formed to be larger in diameter than the rest portion, and is bulged in a shape like an upper half of an eggshell. 
     An elevator (lifting part)  270  is disposed inside the baking chamber  230 . The elevator  270  supports and lifts up the bread container  240  from below. The elevator  270  is a metal component which has a through hole for receiving a pedestal  241  to be fit thereinto. The elevator  270  has a bracket  271 , which extends horizontally, formed on one end thereof. A hole elongated in a vertical direction for having the bracket  271  pass therethrough is formed in a side wall of the baking chamber  230 . A lifting motor  272  is provided to a ceiling of the body  210 , so as to be located above the bracket  271 . The lifting motor  272  has a vertical shaft, and has a motor shaft  273  protruding downward therefrom. The motor shaft  273  has a feed screw  274  fixed thereto. The feed screw  274  is coupled to a nut  275  attached to the bracket  271 . When the lifting motor  272  rotates the feed screw  274 , the nut  275  is moved in the direction of axis of the feed screw  274 , to thereby cause the elevator  270  to move up and down. In order to reduce a loss in power transmission, the feed screw  274  and the nut  275  may be formed of a ball screw and a ball nut, respectively, which are used in combination. 
     An operation of the automatic bread maker  200  is controlled by a control device  280  illustrated in  FIG. 41 . The control device  280  is formed of a circuit board disposed in appropriate place inside the body  210  (similarly to the first embodiment). The control device  280  is connected to a console part  220  and the heating device  231 , and is further connected to a motor driver  281  for the lifting motor  250 , to a motor driver  282  for the grinding motor  261 , to a motor driver  283  for the mixing/kneading motor  272 , and to a temperature sensor  284 . The temperature sensor  284  is disposed inside the baking chamber  230 , and detects temperature of the baking chamber  230 . A commercial power source  285  supplies power to each constituent element. 
     The automatic bread maker  200  configured as described above is also capable of making bread from grains, similarly to the automatic bread maker  1 A of the first embodiment, by following the breadmaking processes according to the first to third aspects (see  FIGS. 10 to 18 ). In the following, an operation of making bread from grains by using the automatic bread maker  200  is described, mainly focusing on the difference from the first embodiment. 
     In the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10  (see  FIG. 11 ), operations of measuring the grains and the liquid in Steps # 11  and # 12  are basically similar to those in the first embodiment. In the following, the points of difference in Steps # 11  and # 12  are described. 
     When the automatic bread maker  200  is used, the bread container  240  may be taken out from the baking chamber  230  through the door  211  which is opened, so that grains and a liquid may be put into the bread container  240  outside the baking chamber  230 . Alternatively, grains and a liquid may be put into the bread container  240  placed inside the baking chamber  230 , through the door  211  opened. At this time, the elevator  270  is set in a descent position as illustrated in  FIGS. 37 and 38 . When grains and a liquid are put into the bread container  240  inside the baking chamber  230 , or when the bread container  240 , which contains grains and a liquid put thereinto outside the baking chamber  230 , is installed into the baking chamber  230 , the door  211  is closed. 
     Following Step # 12 , Step # 13  for still standing and Step # 14  for checking time are performed similarly as in the case of the first embodiment. 
     Following the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 , the grinding process # 20  (see  FIG. 12 ) is started after a preparatory operation (of inputting data on the grinding operation and pressing the start key) similar to that of the first embodiment. However, unlike in the case of the first embodiment, the control device  280  drives the lifting motor  272  to move up the elevator  270 , before starting the rotation of the grinding blade  264 . 
     The elevator  270  is moved up to a position (grinding position) where the grinding blade  264  comes close to the bottom of the bread container  240 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 39 and 40 . When the elevator  270  is stopped, the grinding blade  264  and the sheathing  265  are placed close to an inner bottom surface of the bread container  240  at a predetermined distance. At this time, the mixing/kneading blade  242  is turned in advance to a direction of avoiding contact with the grinding blade  264  and the sheathing  265 . Alternatively, an origin position of the mixing/kneading blade  242  may be set to a position of avoiding contact with the sheathing  265 , and the mixing/kneading blade  242  may be configured to always stop at the origin position after rotation. 
     In Step # 21 , the control device  280  drives the grinding motor  261 , to thereby rotate the rotation shaft  263 . In this manner, the grinding blade  264  starts rotation in the mixture of the grains and the liquid. The grains to be ground by the grinding blade  264  are impregnated beforehand with the liquid, and therefore the grains may be easily ground to the core. 
     In the manner as described above, during the rotation of the grinding blade  264 , the grains in the bread container  240  go into the sheathing  265  together with the liquid through a gap between the sheathing  265  and the inner bottom surface of the bread container  240  to be ground by the grinding blade  264 , and go out of the sheathing  265 , in a repetitive manner, so that the grains are ground down into small pieces. 
     It should be noted that Step # 22  for checking whether or not the set grinding pattern is carried through and Step # 23  for stopping rotation of the grinding blade  264  are performed similarly as in the case of the first embodiment. However, in the automatic bread maker  200 , the following operation is performed after the rotation operation of the grinding blade  264 . 
     Specifically, when the rotation of the grinding blade  264  is ended, the elevator  270  is moved down to a position illustrated in  FIGS. 37 and 38 , so that the bread container  240  is brought down to be placed at a bottom of the baking chamber  230 , to thereby reestablish the coupling between the coupling members  244  and  245 . After that, the grinding process # 20  is ended. An operation of ending the grinding process is similarly performed as in the first embodiment. 
     The mixing/kneading process # 30  ( FIG. 13 ), the fermentation process # 40  ( FIG. 14 ), and the baking process # 50  ( FIG. 15 ) are sequentially performed following the grinding process # 20 , in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Further, the operation in the post-grinding impregnation process # 60  ( FIG. 17 ) in the bread making process according to the second and third aspects is similarly performed as in the first embodiment. 
     It should be noted that the third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment in that the grinding blade  264  may be used for a purpose other than grinding grains (such as, for pulverizing fillings such as nuts into small particles, or for pulverizing foodstuffs and herbal medicines other than the fillings to be mixed into bread). Further, the third embodiment is also similar to the first and second embodiments in that the rotation of the grinding blade  264  and the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  242  may be controlled in association with each other by the single control device  280  so that the quality of the bread is improved. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     An automatic bread maker  300 A according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 42 to 47 . In  FIG. 43 , a front surface side of the automatic bread maker  300 A is on the lower side of  FIG. 43 , while a back surface (rear surface) side of the automatic bread maker  300 A is on the upper side of  FIG. 43 . Further, the left side of the automatic bread maker  300 A falls on the left-hand side of an observer facing the automatic bread maker  300 A in front thereof, and the right side of the automatic bread maker  300 A falls on the right-hand side of the observer. 
     The automatic bread maker  300 A has a body  310  in a box shape. The body  310  is provided with an opening and a door  311  for closing the opening (see  FIG. 43 ). The opening is provided on the left side of the front surface of the body  310  and leads to a baking chamber  330  to be described later. The door  311  turns in a vertical plane using the lower edge as a support point, and has a handle  312  attached on an upper edge thereof. 
     A console part  320  illustrated in  FIG. 47  is provided in part of an external surface of the body  310  (for example, the same configuration as that of the automatic bread maker  200  according to the third embodiment (see  FIG. 36 ) may be employed). The console part  320  is provided with, similarly to the first embodiment, an operation key group and a display part which is formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel. 
     In the body  310 , a baking chamber  330  for receiving a bread container  340  is provided on the rear side of the door  311 . The baking chamber  330  has side walls and a bottom wall made of a sheet metal (example of a heat resistance material). Similarly to the baking chamber  40  of the first embodiment, a heating device  331  for heating breadmaking materials is disposed inside the baking chamber  330 . It should be noted that the baking chamber  330  may be configured to have an open upper surface thereof. However, it is preferable to provide a shielding lid  330   a  as illustrated by the short dashed line of  FIG. 42  or the like. When the shielding lid  330   a  is provided, the shielding lid  330   a  on the opened upper surface of the baking chamber  330  may be configured to be opened and closed by a motor or the like (not shown). 
     Further, a base  314  is provided below the baking chamber  330 , similarly as in the case of the automatic bread maker  200  of the third embodiment. A bread container support  315  is fixed to the base  314 . Similarly to the third embodiment, a drive shaft  316  is vertically supported at the center of the bread container support  315 . A configuration (including a pulley  317 , a mixing/kneading motor  350 , a motor shaft  351 , a pulley  352 , and a belt  353 ) for driving the drive shaft  316  is similar to that of the third embodiment. 
     Further, protrusions (not shown) are each formed on an outer peripheral surface of a bread container support  315  for receiving a cylindrical pedestal  341  fixed to a bottom surface of the bread container  340  and an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical pedestal  341  similarly to the bread container support  13  and the pedestal  51  of the first embodiment. The protrusions form a known bayonet coupling similarly as in the first embodiment. It should be noted that the bread container  340  to be mounted is twisted in a rotation direction of the mixing/kneading blade  342 , so that the bread container  340  may not be detached even when the mixing/kneading blade  342  is rotated. 
     The bread container  340  is similar in configuration to the bread container  50  of the first (third) embodiment. The bread container  340   a  has a convex portion  340   a  in a ridge shape extending in a vertical direction formed on an inner surface thereof, and a mixing/kneading blade  342  disposed at the center of the bottom thereof. Similarly to the first (third) embodiment, the mixing/kneading blade  342  is attached by being simply engaged with a noncircular section at an upper end of the blade attachment shaft (blade rotation shaft)  43  which is supported at the center of the bottom of the bread container  340  and is sealed against leakage. 
     The blade attachment shaft  343  is coupled to the drive shaft  316  and receives power transmitted therefrom. In order to attain the power transmission, a coupling member  344  is fixed to a lower end of the blade attachment shaft  343 , while a coupling member  345  to be coupled to the coupling member  344  is fixed to an upper end of the drive shaft  316 . The coupling members  344  and  345  are accommodated in the pedestal  341  and in the bread container support  315 . It should be noted that the operation of mounting the bread container  340  onto the bread container support  315  (operation for attaining the above-mentioned bayonet coupling) simultaneously establishes coupling between the coupling members  344  and  345 . 
     An elevator (lifting part)  360  is disposed inside the body  310 . A lifting motor  361  powers the elevator  360 , so that the elevator moves up and down along a guide column  362  extending in a vertical direction. The elevator  360  supports a casing (holding part)  363  via a horizontal support shaft  364  so that the casing  363  may be turned in a vertical plane. Inside the casing  363 , a grinding motor  370  and a grinding shaft (rotation shaft)  371  coupled to an axis of the grinding motor  370  are held. The grinding shaft  371  protrudes from the casing  363  at the tip, to which a grinding blade  372  is fixed. 
     A sheathing  373  surrounds the grinding shaft  371  at the portion protruding outside the casing  363  and the grinding blade  372 . The sheathing  373  is a rotational body made of a sheet metal such as a stainless steel plate, and shaped like a part of an eggshell. 
     An attitude changer  366  for changing an attitude of the casing  363  along with the movement of the elevator  360  is disposed in a movement path of the casing  363 . The attitude changer  366  is formed of a rod hanging down from a tip end of a bracket  365  fixed to an upper end of the guide column  362 . A protruding portion  363   a  is formed at an end portion of the casing  363 . The protruding portion  363   a  has an inclined surface which comes into contact with a lower end of the attitude changer  366 . 
     A control device  380  illustrated in  FIG. 47  controls an operation of the automatic bread maker  300 A. The control device  380  is formed a circuit board disposed in an appropriate place inside the body  310  (similarly as in the case of the first embodiment). The control device  380  is connected to the console part  320  and the heating device  331 , and is further connected to a motor driver  381  for the mixing/kneading motor  350 , to a motor driver  382  for the lifting motor  361 , to a motor driver  383  for the grinding motor  370 , and to a temperature sensor  384 . The temperature sensor  384  is disposed inside the baking chamber  330 , and detects temperature of the baking chamber  330 . A commercial power source  385  supplies power to each constituent element. It should be noted that, in the case where the shielding lid  330   a  is provided to the baking chamber  330 , a closing device (for example, motor) for closing the baking chamber  330  by moving the shielding lid  330   a  may be controlled by the control device  380 . 
     The automatic bread maker  300 A configured as described above is also capable of making bread from grains, similarly to the automatic bread maker  1 A of the first embodiment, by following the breadmaking processes according to the first to third aspects (see  FIGS. 10 to 18 ). In the following, an operation of making bread from grains by using the automatic bread maker  300 A is described, mainly focusing on the difference from the first embodiment. 
     In the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10  (see  FIG. 11 ), operations of measuring the grains and the liquid in Steps # 11  and # 12  are basically similar to those in the first embodiment. In the following, the points of difference in Steps # 11  and # 12  are described. 
     When the automatic bread maker  300 A is used, the bread container  340  may be taken out from the baking chamber  330  through the door  311  (see  FIG. 43 ) which is opened, so that grains and a liquid may be put into the bread container  240 . Alternatively, grains and a liquid may be put into the bread container  340  placed inside the baking chamber  330 , through the door  211  opened. At this time, the elevator  360  is set in an ascent position as illustrated in  FIGS. 42 and 43 . The protruding portion  363   a  of the casing  363  is brought into contact with the attitude changer  364 , so that the casing  363  maintains an attitude in which the grinding shaft  371  is kept in a horizontal position. This attitude is referred to as retraction position of the casing  363 . 
     When grains and a liquid are put into the bread container  340  inside the baking chamber  330 , or when the bread container  340 , which contains grains and a liquid put thereinto outside the baking chamber  330 , is installed into the baking chamber  330 , the door  311  is closed. Following Step # 12 , Step # 13  for still standing and Step # 14  for checking time are performed similarly as in the first embodiment. 
     Following the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 , the grinding process # 20  (see  FIG. 12 ) is started after a preparatory operation (of inputting data on the grinding operation and pressing the start key) similar to that of the first embodiment. However, unlike in the case of the first embodiment, the control device  380  drives the lifting motor  361  to move down the elevator  360 , before starting the rotation of the grinding blade  372 . It should be noted that, when the shielding lid  330   a  is provided to the baking chamber  330 , the shielding lid  330   a  is moved beforehand to clear the upper surface of the baking chamber  330  before moving down the elevator  360 . 
     Along with the downward movement of the elevator  360 , the casing  363  is tilted in a slanting direction as illustrated in  FIG. 44 , and then turned into a vertical attitude illustrated in  FIG. 45 . The elevator  360  continues to move down even after the casing  363  is turned into a vertical attitude, so that the grinding blade  372  is brought to a position (grinding position) close to the bottom of the bread container  340  at a predetermined distance. At this time, the mixing/kneading blade  342  is turned in advance to a direction of avoiding contact with the grinding blade  372  and the sheathing  373 . Alternatively, an origin position of the mixing/kneading blade  342  may be set to a position of avoiding contact with the sheathing  373 , and the mixing/kneading blade  342  may be configured to always stop at the origin position after rotation. 
     In Step # 21 , the control device  380  drives grinding motor  370 , to thereby rotate the rotation shaft  371 . In this manner, the grinding blade  372  starts rotation in the mixture of the grains and the liquid. The grains to be ground by the grinding blade  372  are impregnated beforehand with the liquid, and therefore the grains may be easily ground to the core. 
     In the manner as described above, during the rotation of the grinding blade  372 , the grains in the bread container  340  go into the sheathing  373  together with the liquid through a gap between the sheathing  373  and the inner bottom surface of the bread container  340  to be ground by the grinding blade  372 , and go out of the sheathing  373 , in a repetitive manner, so that the grains are ground down into small pieces. 
     It should be noted that Step # 22  for checking whether or not the set grinding pattern is carried through and Step # 23  for stopping rotation of the grinding blade  372  are performed similarly as in the case of the first embodiment. However, in the automatic bread maker  300 A, the following operation is performed after the rotation operation of the grinding blade  372 . 
     Specifically, when the rotation of the grinding blade  372  is ended, the elevator  360  is moved up to a position illustrated in  FIGS. 42 and 43 . Along with the upward movement of the elevator  360 , the casing  363  changes its attitude so that the grinding shaft  371  is turned into a horizontal position from a vertical position, and is eventually settled in the retraction position of  FIGS. 42 and 43 . It should be noted that, when the shielding lid  330   a  is provided to the baking chamber  330 , the shielding lid  330   a  is moved along with the movement of the casing  363  to the retraction point, so that the upper surface of the baking chamber  330  is closed. 
     The mixing/kneading process # 30  ( FIG. 13 ), the fermentation process # 40  ( FIG. 14 ), and the baking process # 50  ( FIG. 15 ) are sequentially performed following the grinding process # 20 , in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Further, the operation in the post-grinding impregnation process # 60  ( FIG. 17 ) in the bread making process according to the second and third aspects is similarly performed as in the first embodiment. 
     It should be noted that, in the cases of the bread making processes according to the first and third aspects, the breadmaking operation may be configured in a fully automated manner so that each process to the baking process # 50  as the last process is automatically performed in sequence once the start key is pressed after the setting of grains and a liquid is completed in the pre-grinding impregnation process # 10 . Further, in the case of the breadmaking process according to the second aspect, the breadmaking operation may be configured in a fully automated manner that each process to the baking process # 50  as the last process is automatically performed in sequence once the start key is pressed after the setting of grains and a liquid is completed in the grinding process # 20 . Those configurations apply to the automatic bread makers  100  and  200  according to the second and the third embodiment. 
     It should be noted that the fourth embodiment is similar to the second and third embodiments in that the grinding blade  372  may be used for a purpose other than grinding grains (such as, for pulverizing fillings such as nuts into small particles, or for pulverizing foodstuffs and herbal medicines other than the fillings to be mixed into bread). Further, the fourth embodiment is also similar to the first, second and third embodiments in that the rotation of the grinding blade  372  and the rotation of the mixing/kneading blade  342  may be controlled in association with each other by the single control device  380  so that the quality of the bread is improved. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 48 to 55 , a modified example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is described. In the modified example of the fourth embodiment, constituent elements which are the same as those of the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols used in the fourth embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. 
     The modified example of the fourth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in terms of configuration of the elevator  360  and the casing  363 . Specifically, the casing  363  according to the modified example of the fourth embodiment is integrally formed with the elevator  360  and fixed to a vertical position (see, for example,  FIGS. 48 ,  50 , and  52 ). Further, as illustrated in  FIGS. 48 to 51 , the elevator  360  is configured to be turned in a horizontal plane with respect to the guide column  362 , and the elevator  360  is turned by a power source (for example, motor) (not shown), so that the casing  363  is turned in a horizontal plane. 
       FIGS. 48 and 49  each illustrate a state in which the grinding process # 20  is yet to be performed. The elevator  360  is placed in the ascent position, and the casing  363  is turned to a position to be cleared away from the above of the bread container  340 . This position serves as a retraction position of the casing  363  holding the grinding motor  370  and the grinding shaft  371  (which has the grinding blade  372  at the tip). When the grinding process # 20  is started, the elevator  360  turns 90 degrees as illustrated in  FIGS. 50 and 51 , so that the casing  363  is turned to a position facing the bread container  340 . After that, the elevator  360  is moved down, to thereby bring the grinding blade  372  to a position (grinding position) close to the bottom of the bread container  340  at a predetermined distance (state illustrated in  FIG. 52 ). Similarly to the fourth embodiment, the mixing/kneading blade  342  is turned in advance to a direction of avoiding contact with the grinding blade  372  and the sheathing  373 . 
     After the grinding is completed and the grinding motor  370  is stopped, the elevator  360  moves up to a height as illustrated in  FIG. 50 . When the casing  363  and the sheathing  373  come out of the bread container  340 , the elevator  360  turns to a position as illustrated in  FIGS. 48 and 49 , and the casing  363  is turned to the retraction position. 
     In the grinding process # 20 , the control device  380  controls the elevator  360  (lifting motor  361 ), the grinding motor  370 , and the mixing/kneading motor  350 , according to the chart of  FIG. 55 . Specifically, first, the elevator  360  is moved down and the grinding motor  370  is turned ON to start grinding. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the grinding motor  370  is turned OFF to start a grinding downtime. During the grinding downtime, the control device  380  moves the elevator  360  up to an intermediate position between the ascent position and the descent position as illustrated in  FIGS. 53 and 54 , and then rotates the mixing/kneading blade  342 . The grinding blade  372  and the sheathing  373  are pulled up sufficiently higher than the mixing/kneading blade  342 , and hence the mixing/kneading blade  342  does not come in contact therewith during the rotation. 
     The mixing/kneading blade  342  is stopped after being rotated for a predetermined duration in time. The elevator  360  is moved down to a position illustrated in  FIG. 52  and the grinding downtime is ended. Then, the grinding is re-started. After the first grinding period, the above-mentioned cycle of the grinding down-period and the grinding period is repeated several times, to thereby complete the grinding process # 20 . For example, the time setting may be made in the following manner. That is, the grinding downtime may be set to 10 seconds (or to a longer time of, for example, 5 minutes) and the grinding period may be set to 60 seconds (or to a shorter time of, for example, 30 seconds), and the cycle of the grinding downtime and the grinding time is repeated six to seven times (or more times as 10 times) after the first grinding period. 
     When grinding is performed, the grains being ground are increased in temperature due to friction heat generated between the grinding blade  372  and the grains and the heat generated by the grinding motor  370  which is conducted through the grinding shaft  371 . If no countermeasures are taken, the grains are likely to be heated up to high temperature inappropriate for breadmaking. In view of this, the grinding downtime is provided as describe above, so that the heat generated by the grinding is dissipated during the grinding downtime, with the result that the grinding operation may be performed without excessively increasing the temperature of the grains being ground. Further, during the grinding downtime, the elevator  360  is moved up to a position capable of allowing the mixing/kneading blade  342  to rotate without coming into contact with the sheathing  373 , and the mixing/kneading blade  342  rotates in this state to stir the grains. As a result, the grains are ground to be uniform in grain size. 
     It should be noted that the above-mentioned grinding method may be employed, not only in the modified example of the fourth embodiment, but also in the fourth embodiment. 
     Further, in the case of the modified example of the fourth embodiment, the retraction position of the casing  363  is located outside the baking chamber  330  but medially in the body  310 . Accordingly, there is no need to provide the door  311  anteriorly to the body  310  in order to take out the baked bread, and may be configured to allow the bread to be taken out from the upper surface of the body  310 . 
     In the above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be implemented by being subjected to various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention.