System and method with kitchen appliance for collaborative cooking

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising: at least two kitchen appliances (1, 12, 13, 14); electronic resource storage means (16) for storing a list of kitchen appliances included in the system and / or for storing the number of users working for the preparation of one or more food products; recipe storage means (17) for storing recipes for preparing food products; optimization means (18) arranged so that it optimizes the preparation of one or more food products, more precisely taking into account information for the system including recipes; control means (19) for preparing one or more food products in accordance with the sequence of processing steps optimized by the optimization means. The invention also relates to a method for producing food products using the system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the preparation of food products according to recipes using a kitchen appliance, and more precisely to both a system and a method. Background Art

[0002] A multifunctional kitchen appliance in the sense of the present invention for preparing food according to a recipe is known from the prior art. TM6. Kitchen multi-purpose machine The invention comprises: a container having stirring and cutting tools located therein; a scale for weighing the ingredients loaded into the container; a heating device for heating the container and a control device for controlling the kitchen multi-purpose machine. The stirring and cutting tool can be set to have a blunt edge and an opposite sharp edge. The user can use the kitchen appliance to cook food particularly reliably. Recipes to prepare food because Recipes include step-by-step instructions: Which steps of the recipe should be carried out in which order and with which settings. The individual settings can be carried out even semi-automatically within the context of food preparation. The user can The recipe thus contains precise instructions at a given time: which ingredient should be processed in which quantity and at which setting. The recipes precisely predetermine the speed of the mixing and chopping tools, the direction of the mixing and chopping tools, the duration and, if necessary, the temperature to be set. The kitchen appliance has a display on which the steps to be performed and the settings to be implemented of the recipe can be shown one after another. This allows even unskilled users to prepare food products reproducibly. Further information and details can be found on the kitchen appliance. The user manual of TM6.

[0003] A kitchen appliance, namely a stirrer, comprising a container and a stirring tool is known from document DE 10 2009 016 897 A1. The stirring tool is integrated into an attachment for the container. The attachment comprises a piezoelectric stepper motor as a drive device. In comparison, TM6 can only achieve low rotation speed and low torque.

[0004] Agitator In the sense of the present invention, a kitchen appliance is a container and a stirring tool located in the container, wherein the stirring tool is connected to a kitchen multi-purpose machine. TM6 can only rotate at a low speed and low torque. In particular, such a mixer is not suitable for kneading dough due to the low torque. As a stirring tool, a stirring and cutting tool can also be used in the mixer, which has a blunt edge and an opposite sharp edge. The stirring and cutting tool can also be used for chopping ingredients in a kitchen multifunction machine. In such a case, the mixer can preferably rotate the stirring tool only in the direction of its blunt edge. Since the functional range of the mixer is smaller than that of the kitchen multifunction machine, its structural space is basically smaller than the structural space of the kitchen multifunction machine.

[0005] A mixer, the Vitamix Pro 750, is known from the prior art, which also requires less space than conventional kitchen multi-purpose appliances. Unlike blenders, such mixers are provided for chopping ingredients. Therefore, such mixers have a cutting tool that can be rotated at high speed in the direction of its sharp edge, so that, for example, fruit can be chopped to produce a fruit drink.

[0006] Therefore, within the meaning of the present invention, a mixer is a kitchen appliance with a container and a cutting tool. Since the functional scope of a mixer is smaller than that of a kitchen multi-purpose machine, the structural space of the mixer is basically smaller than that of a kitchen multi-purpose machine. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to further facilitate the preparation of foodstuffs.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a system with at least two kitchen appliances is used. Kitchen appliances are appliances with which food can be prepared. The term "food" also includes liquid food, i.e. soup or beverages. Kitchen appliances can be, for example, a kitchen multifunction machine, a blender, an oven, a microwave oven, a kettle, a stove with a frying pan or with a cooking pot, a steamer, a mixer, a refrigerator or a freezer.

[0009] The system comprises an electronic resource storage device for storing a list of kitchen appliances included in the system and / or for storing the number of users available for preparing one or more food items. In the electronic resource storage device, it can be stored, for example, that the system comprises a kitchen multi-function machine and a blender. Then, the system comprises a kitchen multi-function machine and a blender as kitchen appliances. In the electronic resource storage device, it can be stored, for example, that there are two users. Thus, manual work of two different persons can be implemented.

[0010] The system comprises an electronic recipe storage device for storing recipes for preparing food. Recipes, ie planned instructions for preparing food, can be stored in the storage device.

[0011] According to the invention, the recipe is divided into a plurality of processing steps. Processing steps are steps that must be performed in order to prepare the food. For example, the recipe states that the cheese should be shredded by a kitchen multi-purpose machine or a mixer. The recipe may then include the following processing steps.

[0012] First processing step: putting cheese into the container of a kitchen multi-purpose machine or mixer;

[0013] Second processing step: placing the cover on the container;

[0014] • Third processing step: Shred the cheese in the container at maximum rotation speed for 10 seconds.

[0015] A processing step therefore means an individual, continuous task of the user or the kitchen appliance, which in principle cannot be divided any further.

[0016] The recipe contains information for the system for each processing step, which information can be extracted from the system.

[0017] Information for the system means that the system is provided with information that the system processes and can thereby optimize the instructions for preparing the food product. If the information is available and understandable to the user, but is not in a form that the system can "understand" (so that it can use the information to optimize calculations), then information for the system does not exist.

[0018] The information can include time specifications for processing steps, i.e. the time required for carrying out the processing steps. In particular, a time specification can be given for each processing step of the recipe. The recipe contains, for example, the following information for the system: for the first processing step mentioned above, a time of 10 seconds is required, for the second processing step mentioned above, a time of 5 seconds is required and for the third processing step mentioned above, a time of 15 seconds is required. For the third processing step, for example, 15 seconds (instead of only 10 seconds) can be specified, since the third processing step includes, in a working step of the kitchen appliance, the automatic locking of an attached lid by the kitchen appliance before shredding and the automatic unlocking of the lid immediately following the shredding and the automated shredding in between.

[0019] The information may include, for one processing step, an indication of which kitchen appliance is required to carry out the processing step. There may also be two or more kitchen appliances to choose from for one processing step. Thus, for each of the three processing steps mentioned previously, the recipe may include an indication of whether a kitchen multi-purpose machine or a mixer is required.

[0020] The information may include, for a processing step, a statement that the user is required to perform. Thus, the first and second processing steps mentioned previously may include a statement that the user is required because "placing cheese into the container of a kitchen multi-purpose machine or mixer" and placing the lid require manual work by the user. "Peeling an onion" is another example of a processing step for which a statement may be provided that the processing step should be performed by a user of the system. Peeling an onion is an example of a processing step that does not involve the use of a kitchen appliance.

[0021] The information may include that a processing step is associated with another processing step. This means that the processing step mentioned at the beginning is only performed after the other processing step has been performed. The recipe therefore includes the following information for the system: the previously mentioned third processing step is associated with the second processing step. The recipe may include the following information for the system: the previously mentioned second processing step is associated with the previously mentioned first processing step.

[0022] The system comprises an optimization device, which is arranged in such a way that the optimization device optimizes the preparation of one or more foods, more precisely, optimizes under the consideration of information for the system. This means that the optimization device can change the order of the processing steps based on the information or at least can combine the processing steps of two recipes with each other, thereby generating a new order of the processing steps, thereby achieving a predetermined goal. For example, the first recipe includes three processing steps R11, R12, R13, and the second recipe includes three processing steps R21, R22 and R23, which should be performed in this order according to the recipe. As a goal, it is predetermined that the two foods should be completed as quickly as possible. The optimization device now calculates which order of the processing steps can prepare the two foods as quickly as possible. The optimization device thus uses the information provided to the system for the calculation. The calculation can, for example, show that the processing steps should be implemented in the following order in order to prepare the two foods in the shortest time: R22, R21, R11, R12, R23, R13. The optimization device thus changes the sequence specified by the two recipes and creates a single new sequence from the two sequences, thereby achieving the desired optimization goal. Thus, instructions for a step-by-step process (processing steps) are provided, according to which a plurality of foods can be prepared. This is achieved in an optimized manner depending on the selected optimization goal.

[0023] The system comprises a control device for preparing one or more food products according to an optimized sequence of processing steps created by the optimization device. The control device is arranged so that it instructs the one or more users: how which processing steps should be implemented in what order and optionally which kitchen utensils should be selected for food preparation and how these kitchen utensils should be set. The control device can also be arranged so that these settings are automatically implemented in the kitchen utensils. Therefore, the system can include a display screen, on which it is shown that according to the processing step R22, the user should fill two tablespoons of oil into the container of the kitchen multifunction machine. According to the subsequent processing step R21, the user should peel two onions. According to the subsequent processing step R11, the stove should be heated together with the frying pan located thereon. For example, the user is asked to confirm the implementation of the processing steps by touching a display area on the touch screen. If the user touches the area, the control device automatically sets the specified temperature and thus heats the stove to the temperature. Alternatively, the user can be asked to manually set the temperature displayed on the display by the display screen. For this purpose, for example, a setting knob can be provided, in which the desired temperature can be set by turning. For this purpose, an input area for the desired temperature can be provided on the touch screen.

[0024] The system enables the preparation of multiple foods in an optimized manner according to a recipe, more precisely taking into account the resources available, i.e. the number of kitchen utensils available and / or the number of users who can perform manual work. This applies in particular to the case where multiple foods are to be prepared in parallel, more precisely using more than one kitchen utensil. The necessary information is provided to the optimization device by the recipe or recipes so that, for example, one or more foods can be produced in parallel and, for example, in an optimized manner in time, more precisely in the indicated form. The instructions for the step-by-step processing of the food can be provided by a display screen. Alternatively or in addition, a voice output can be provided by the loudspeaker of the system in order to instruct the user. The instructions for the step-by-step processing do not have to be output in a manner that each processing step is fully output. The output can be limited to those processing steps that are required for the user to prepare the food. In this way, the output does not in principle include information about the association.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the optimization device can also consider within the scope of optimization that at least two different kitchen utensils can be used for the implementation of a processing step. In this embodiment, the optimization device can select kitchen utensils from the kitchen utensils stored in the resource storage device so that the desired optimization goal is achieved through this selection. For example, in the case where the stirring specified in the processing step is implemented by an existing kitchen multi-purpose machine, that is, a kitchen multi-purpose machine stored in the electronic resource storage device, the optimization device calculates the speed of preparation of one or more foods, and on the other hand, if one or more foods should be prepared as quickly as possible, it is implemented by an existing stirrer.

[0026] The optimization device may include an input device, through which a desired optimization target can be input and thus specified. As an optimization target, for example, it can be specified by means of the input device that the selected foods should be completed simultaneously and as quickly as possible. The control device can then control the preparation of the foods in accordance with such an optimization and instruct one or more users accordingly so that the foods are prepared in parallel in the shortest possible time so that the foods are completed simultaneously. As an optimization target, for example, it can be specified by means of the input device that the selected foods should be completed in such a way that the number of kitchen utensils used is minimized. The control device can then control the preparation of the foods in accordance with such an optimization and instruct one or more users accordingly so that the selected foods are prepared in such a way that the number of kitchen utensils required for this is as small as possible. As an optimization target, for example, it can be specified by means of the input device that a first food is completed at a first time point, and a second food is completed later in time, for example 30 minutes later. The control device can then control the preparation of the foods in accordance with such an optimization and instruct one or more users accordingly so that one food is prepared at a first time point and another food is prepared at a desired later time point. As an optimization goal, it can be predetermined, for example, that the first food should be finished at a first time point, and the second food at a later time point, and that the user must also work as little as possible immediately after the first food is finished. The control device can then control the preparation of the food according to such an optimization and instruct one or more users accordingly, so that one food is prepared at a first time point and the other food is prepared at a desired later time point. After the first food is finished, the user still has to work only minimally. The user can then finish the two foods at desired different times according to the step-by-step instructions.

[0027] The control device can be arranged in such a way that it can, for example, acoustically signal when a user must take action.

[0028] A keyboard may be provided as an input device. A keypad may be provided as an input device. A microphone may be provided together with a speech recognition device as an input device.

[0029] In one embodiment, the optimization device is arranged so that the order of the processing steps can be calculated backwards. This means that the optimization device starts the calculation of the optimization device with the last processing step specified in the recipe and starts calculating the optimization, for example the shortest duration. The corresponding content applies to two or more recipes. This embodiment enables the selected foods to be completed at the same time. Completion at the same time does not mean that two foods can be completed accurately to the second. The selected foods are completed within a time interval of several minutes according to the instructions for step-by-step processing, that is, for example, within a time interval of no more than five minutes, preferably within no more than three minutes, and particularly preferably within one minute.

[0030] By calculating backwards it is also possible that two different foods can be finished at different desired points in time.

[0031] In one embodiment, the optimization device is configured such that it calculates the sequence of the processing steps backwards and can also input the time for the completion of the food, i.e., for example, 12:30, via the input device. By calculating backwards, the optimization device can also calculate when the preparation of the food must start so that the one or more desired foods are completed at 12:30. In cooperation with the control device, the user can be indicated at which point in time the preparation of the food must start.

[0032] In one embodiment, a first time can be selected for a first food and a second time can be selected for a second food. In one embodiment, a first time can be selected for one or more first foods and a second time can be selected for one or more second foods, and so on.

[0033] The electronic resource storage device may include an input device, through which the number of users and / or the kitchen utensils available for use can be input for storage. Thus, for example, the following can be input via the input device: a kitchen multi-function machine and a blender are available for use. Based on the input, it is stored in the resource storage device: there is a kitchen multi-function machine and a blender. Through the input, for example, it can be input: how many users are there. Based on the input, it is stored in the resource storage device: how many users are there.

[0034] The electronic resource storage device can be configured in such a way that it can automatically identify and store existing kitchen utensils. The existing kitchen utensils can then be connected or connected to the resource storage device accordingly. This can involve a wireless connection, such as a Bluetooth connection or a Wifi connection. As long as, for example, a kitchen multi-function machine is connected to the electronic resource storage device, the resource storage device recognizes that a kitchen multi-function machine is present and stores the information.

[0035] The electronic resource storage device may be configured in such a way that it can automatically detect a present user, for example by means of a camera.

[0036] The optimization device can be configured so that if speed is the optimization target, the optimization device calculates the speed for all possible combinations of the order of the processing steps, so as to eventually find such an order of the processing steps by which the predetermined optimization target is achieved. The optimization device can therefore be configured so that the optimization device calculates the time that should be spent to complete the selected food for all possible combinations. Subsequently, the optimization device can identify the possible combination that requires the shortest time.

[0037] The optimization device can be configured in such a way that it calculates, for example, the number of kitchen appliances required for all possible combinations in order to ultimately find the combination with the smallest number of required kitchen appliances.

[0038] A possible combination (combination possibility) means a possible sequence of the processing steps. If a second processing step must be carried out immediately after a first processing step and information is stored for the system, the execution of the first processing step after the second processing step in time is not a possible combination in the sense of the invention, since this sequence of the processing steps is not possible.

[0039] The optimization means may comprise an optimization program which can find the searched optimal combination by means of an algorithm. Suitable optimization programs are commercially available.

[0040] In one embodiment, the recipe contains information for the system for a processing step: with which further processing step the processing step is connected, wherein a distinction is made between at least two different connections. For example, a distinction can be made between direct and indirect connections.

[0041] If a second processing step must be carried out immediately after the first processing step using the same kitchen appliance, a direct correlation results between the first and the subsequent second processing step. It is then not possible to first carry out the first processing step using the kitchen appliance, immediately thereafter carry out the third processing step and immediately thereafter carry out the second processing step. It is also not possible to carry out the second processing step before the first processing step.

[0042] If a third processing step can be carried out between the first and second processing step, an indirect correlation is obtained between the first and the subsequent second processing step, wherein the first and second processing steps are not carried out using the same kitchen appliance. In turn, it is not possible to carry out the second processing step before the first processing step.

[0043] If the second processing step must be carried out with a kitchen appliance immediately following the first processing step, this is a direct correlation. If this information is stored for the system, the sequence first processing step, third processing step, second processing step is not a possible sequence, wherein the third processing step is a processing step that is also to be carried out with the kitchen appliance. The sequence first processing step, third processing step, second processing step is not a possible combination that the optimization device can consider.

[0044] An indirect association is involved if the second processing step must be carried out immediately after the first processing step and the same kitchen appliance is not required for both processing steps and the third processing step can be carried out between the first and second processing steps. If this information is stored for the system, the sequence first processing step, third processing step, second processing step is a possible sequence and therefore a combination possibility that the optimization device can take into account. Carrying out the second processing step before the first processing step is not a combination possibility that the optimization device can take into account.

[0045] For example, onions should be chopped and stewed. Manual peeling of the necessary one or more onions is the first processing step. This processing step is carried out manually by the user of the system. The second processing step is to add the peeled onions to the container of the kitchen multifunction machine. The second processing step is linked to the first processing step, because the onions can only be placed in the container after the onions have been peeled. This is an indirect correlation, because after peeling the onions, it is not immediately necessary for the user to put the onions in the container of the kitchen multifunction machine. Instead, the user can implement a third processing step between these two processing steps, which requires manual action. If the peeled onions have been placed in the container, the container opening must be closed with a lid in order to be able to continue. Putting the lid on is the third processing step, which is linked to the second processing step. This is a direct correlation, because putting the lid on must be carried out immediately after pouring the peeled onions and the kitchen multifunction machine cannot be used in other ways in the intervening time. Then the fourth processing step is to chop the onions by the kitchen multifunction machine. According to the fourth processing step, it can be provided that the onions are chopped for 3 seconds at level 5. The fourth processing step is linked to the third processing step. This again involves a direct link, since the same kitchen multicooker is used and the kitchen multicooker cannot be used to carry out other processing steps between the third and fourth processing steps. The fifth processing step is to add two tablespoons of oil to the container. In the case of the TM6, it is not necessary to remove the cover, since the cover has an opening through which the oil can be added. The fifth processing step is linked to the fourth processing step. This again involves a direct correlation, since both processing steps are carried out by the same multifunctional kitchen appliance and it is not possible for the multifunctional kitchen appliance to carry out other processing steps in between. The sixth processing step includes heating the container. According to the sixth processing step, it can be provided that the container is heated to 100° C. for three minutes while the stirring tool is rotated at speed 1. The sixth processing step is linked to the fifth processing step. This again involves a direct correlation, since the multifunctional kitchen appliance cannot be used in any other way between the two processing steps and the same multifunctional kitchen appliance should be used for both processing steps.

[0046] Indirect and direct connections can be described in the system, for example, by numbers. An indirect connection can be marked with a "1", while a direct connection can be marked with a "2".

[0047] In one embodiment of the invention, if for the execution of a processing step it is possible to select from a plurality of kitchen appliances stored in a resource storage device that can be used to execute the processing step, then, as already described, one combination possibility can be distinguished from other combination possibilities in the following way, that is, in a first combination possibility, the execution of the processing step is provided with a first kitchen appliance, while in a second combination possibility, the execution of the processing step is provided with a second kitchen appliance. A kitchen appliance can then be selected with the aid of an optimization device. Alternatively or additionally, the system comprises a selection device, which is arranged so that it automatically selects a kitchen appliance from the kitchen appliances stored in the resource storage device according to at least one selection criterion, if the processing step can be executed with different kitchen appliances stored in the resource storage device.

[0048] As a selection criterion, it can be provided that the kitchen utensils that have been used in the previous processing step are selected from the kitchen utensils that can be used to perform the processing steps stored in the resource storage device. For example, a kitchen multi-purpose machine and a blender are available. The kitchen multi-purpose machine and the blender are therefore stored in the resource storage device. According to the first processing step, the first ingredient of the food has been chopped by the kitchen multi-purpose machine. Now the chopped first ingredient should be mixed with the second ingredient. For the mixing, there are now two kitchen utensils to choose from, namely the kitchen multi-purpose machine and the blender. Therefore, for mixing, it is necessary to choose from the two possibilities, namely the kitchen multi-purpose machine or the blender. Because the kitchen multi-purpose machine has been used in the previous processing step, the selection device selects the kitchen multi-purpose machine for mixing the first and second ingredients.

[0049] As a selection criterion, it can be provided that if there is a direct correlation between the processing step and the previous processing step, then the kitchen utensil that has been used in the previous processing step is selected from the kitchen utensil stored in the resource storage device and that can be used to perform the processing step. In the above example, there is a direct correlation between the processing step "stirring the first and second ingredients" and the previous processing step "chopping the first ingredient". Therefore, the selection device selects the kitchen multi-purpose machine.

[0050] As a selection criterion, it can be specified that if there is a direct correlation between the processing step and the previous processing step and the processing step can be performed quickly, then the kitchen utensils that have been used in the previous processing step are selected from the kitchen utensils that can be used to perform the processing step stored in the resource storage device. "Can be performed quickly" means that there is a predetermined time interval within which the processing step can be fully performed. As a short time interval, for example, 30 seconds, 60 seconds or 120 seconds can be specified. As a time interval, a value between 30 seconds and 120 seconds can be specified. In the aforementioned example, for example, the first and second ingredients should be stirred for only 10 seconds. Therefore, the selection device selects a kitchen multi-purpose machine.

[0051] As a selection criterion, it can be provided that if a processing step can only be performed slowly, i.e., it takes a relatively long time to perform the processing step, then among the kitchen appliances stored in the resource storage device that can be used to perform the processing step, not the kitchen appliance that has been used in the previous processing step, but a different kitchen appliance is selected. In the above example, for example, the first and second ingredients should be stirred for 10 minutes. Therefore, the selection device selects the stirrer.

[0052] As a selection criterion, it can be provided that if a processing step can only be performed slowly, i.e., a relatively long time is required to perform the processing step and the other kitchen appliance has a small functional range, then among the kitchen appliances stored in the resource storage device that can be used to perform the processing step, the kitchen appliance that has already been used in the previous processing step is not selected. The selection device then selects the other kitchen appliance.

[0053] If fewer processing steps can be carried out with the kitchen appliance than can be carried out with the other kitchen appliance, then the kitchen appliance has a smaller range of functions than the other kitchen appliance.

[0054] In the above example, the first and second ingredients are to be stirred for ten minutes, for example. With a stirrer, stirring is only possible. Therefore, with a stirrer, only processing steps in which the ingredients are to be stirred can be carried out. With a kitchen multifunction machine, stirring is also possible. Therefore, with a kitchen multifunction machine, all processing steps in which the ingredients are to be stirred can be carried out. However, a kitchen multifunction machine can also, for example, chop the ingredients or knead the dough. Therefore, with a kitchen multifunction machine, processing steps in which the ingredients are to be chopped or the dough is to be kneaded can be carried out. The kitchen multifunction machine can have a larger range of functions. Therefore, the selection device selects a stirrer in the above example.

[0055] As a selection criterion, it can be provided that if the other kitchen appliance has a larger functional range, then the kitchen appliance that has been used in the previous processing step is selected from the kitchen appliances stored in the resource storage device that can be used to perform the processing step. For example, within the scope of a processing step, the mixer should stir the first and second ingredients for ten minutes. Now the third ingredient should also be added and then stirred for another 180 seconds. The other kitchen appliance is a kitchen multi-purpose machine. The selection device now selects the mixer in order to perform the processing step "stir the three ingredients for 180 seconds".

[0056] Several recipes are known, such as the one mentioned at the beginning Recipes (suitable for kitchen multi-purpose machine TM6), contains accurate information on: Which settings should be implemented in the TM6 in each case so that even unskilled users can prepare foods reproducibly. It is desirable to supplement this recipe information so that it can be used according to the invention. In order to implement the supplementation at least partially automatically, a text recognition is first carried out using a text recognition device if necessary, so that the text of the recipe can be analyzed by an analysis device. The analysis device can include a text recognition device.

[0057] The analysis device can be configured in such a way that it can divide the recipe into modules. A module starts when the kitchen appliance is used for the first time according to the recipe. A module ends when the kitchen appliance is no longer used. Thus, a change of the kitchen appliance causes the previous module to end and a new module to start.

[0058] The analysis device can be configured such that it can automatically detect the association and can add the corresponding information to the recipe. For the automatic detection of the association, a list of allowed words and / or prohibited words can be stored in the analysis device. The analysis device can be configured such that it can search for recipes by word, for example by the word "vegetable soup", in order to detect the association.

[0059] If the word "vegetable soup" is used in two consecutive processing steps and the word "vegetable soup" is not a banned word, and both processing steps are provided for the same kitchen appliance, the evaluation device assigns a value of "2" for example, in order to indicate that a direct association exists.

[0060] If the word "vegetable soup" is used in two consecutive processing steps and the word "vegetable soup" is not a prohibited word and the two processing steps do not involve the same kitchen appliance, the evaluation device assigns a value of "1" for example, in order to indicate that an indirect association exists.

[0061] The evaluation device can be configured in such a way that this connection between the processing steps of a module is always marked as a direct connection, for example by assigning the value “2”.

[0062] Banned words can be specified because there are such frequently used ingredients that no relevance can be inferred from the repeated use of the corresponding words. Thus, for example, the word "onion" can be a banned word.

[0063] The invention also relates to an analytical device as described previously.

[0064] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a system for preparing at least two foods is also provided, which system comprises at least two kitchen appliances and a control device. The control device is arranged in such a way that two foods can be prepared by means of step-by-step instructions for processing using a plurality of kitchen appliances. The step-by-step instructions for processing are such that the processing steps for preparing one of the foods are mixed with the processing steps for preparing the other food. Therefore, it is not necessary to first implement the processing steps for one of the foods and then implement the processing steps for the other food. The order of the processing steps is such that a predetermined optimization goal can be achieved. Such a system can be provided by means of an optimization device. It is no longer mandatory for the optimization device to be part of the system, for example.

[0065] The order of the processing steps may be such in the system that two food products are made simultaneously. Alternatively or additionally, the order of the processing steps may be such in the system that two food products can be prepared as quickly as possible. The order of the processing steps may be such in the system that the first food product is completed at a desired first point in time and the second food product is completed at a desired later point in time.

[0066] In order to achieve this object, a method is also provided for producing one or more food products according to step-by-step processing instructions.

[0067] In the present invention, "more" or "plurality" means two, three or more than three. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] The present invention is described in more detail below. In the figure:

[0069] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a kitchen multi-purpose machine;

[0070] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing additional kitchen appliances;

[0071] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing a computer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] Figure 1 A multifunctional kitchen appliance 1 is shown, which can be part of the system according to the invention. The multifunctional kitchen appliance 1 comprises a container 2 as a food preparation space, which is inserted into a holder 3 of the multifunctional kitchen appliance 1. The container 2 comprises a handle 4 in order to be able to easily remove the container 2 from the holder 3. The multifunctional kitchen appliance 1 comprises a closing mechanism with a pivotably mounted arm 5. Figure 1 In the closed position shown in the figure, the arm 5 surrounds the cover 6. As a result, the cover 6 is firmly connected to the container 2. The cover 6 comprises an opening, into which a transparent container 7, for example, is inserted. The opening in the cover 6 is closed by the container 7. The container 7 can be removed from the opening at any time, thereby providing an opening through which ingredients can be introduced into the container 2. The container 7 can be used as a metering aid. If the closing mechanism is opened, the cover 6 can be removed from the container 2. The kitchen multi-purpose machine 1 comprises a foot 8 for erection.

[0073] The user interface 9 is displayed on a display screen 10. The display screen 10 is preferably touch-sensitive so that, for example, operating parameters can be set by touching the display screen. The kitchen multi-purpose machine may additionally include, for example, a setting knob 11, which can also be used to set one or more operating parameters in cooperation with the user interface 9. If the user interface 9, for example, relates to the stirring and cutting device of the kitchen multi-purpose machine 1, the rotation speed can be set by the setting knob 11, for example. If the user interface 9, for example, relates to the heating or heating of the container 2 of the kitchen multi-purpose machine 1, the setting knob 11 can be used to set the desired temperature, for example. But instead of the setting knob 11, for example, a sliding regulator can also be provided, in which operating parameters such as temperature, stirring speed or duration can be set by sliding motion. But the temperature, stirring speed or duration can also be input digitally in one embodiment. However, the setting knob 11 should be preferably set because a large range can be set very simply without providing an excessively large position for this. Alternatively or in addition, the setting knob 11 can be constructed as a button. The button can be understood as a button that can be pressed to trigger an action, such as starting to prepare one or more foods.

[0074] exist Figure 1 The kitchen multi-function machine 1 shown in the figure may include an interface for exchanging electronic data. This may be a wireless interface. The kitchen multi-function machine 1 can be connected to other kitchen appliances that are spatially separated from the kitchen multi-function machine 1 and / or to a computer via the interface.

[0075] The system may include one or more Figure 2 The other household appliances shown in the figure, more precisely the stove 12 together with the frying pan 13 as one household appliance, and the blender 14 as another household appliance. The two kitchen appliances can include an interface, through which electronic data can be exchanged, for example with each other, with the kitchen multifunction machine 1 that can be separated from the kitchen appliances in space, and / or with an external computer.

[0076] exist Figure 3 Schematically shows the components of the computer 15, more specifically:

[0077] an electronic resource storage device 16 in which a list of kitchen utensils 1, 12, 13, 14 is stored;

[0078] a recipe storage device 17 including a plurality of recipes stored therein for preparing food;

[0079] an optimization device 18 which is designed in such a way that it optimizes the preparation of one or more food products, more precisely taking into account information for the system, including recipes;

[0080] control means 19 for preparing one or more food products according to the sequence of processing steps optimized by the optimization means;

[0081] The selection device 20 is designed such that if a processing step can be performed with different kitchen appliances stored in the resource storage device, it automatically selects from the possible kitchen appliances stored in the resource storage device according to at least one selection criterion.

[0082] The computer 15 constructed in this way can be integrated in one of the individual kitchen appliances 1, 12, 13, 14. The computer 15 can be spatially separated from the kitchen appliances 1, 12, 13, 14 and connected to the kitchen appliances 1, 12, 13, 14 via an interface so that electronic data can be exchanged. However, the computer 15 can also have only Figure 3 15. The components not present in the computer 15 may be present in one of the other kitchen appliances, for example. Thus, for example, the control device 19 may be missing from the computer 15. Alternatively, the control device 19 may be integrated into the kitchen multi-purpose machine 1, for example.

[0083] The computer 15 and / or the kitchen appliance 1 , 12 , 13 , 14 can have input means.

Claims

1. System, including: At least two kitchen utensils (1, 12, 13, 14); Electronic resource storage means (16) for storing a list of kitchen appliances included in the system and / or for storing the number of users contributing to the preparation of one or more food products; a recipe storage device (17) for storing a recipe for preparing food; an optimization device (18) arranged such that it optimizes the preparation of one or more food products, i.e. takes into account information for the system including recipes; Control means (19) for preparing one or more food products according to the sequence of processing steps optimized by the optimization means; wherein at least one recipe is stored in the recipe storage device (17), and the recipe is divided into a plurality of processing steps, wherein the recipe contains information for the system for each processing step; characterised in that the recipe includes two different associations between the processing steps as the information, namely a direct association and an indirect association; wherein a direct relevance is a relevance between a first and a subsequent second processing step if the subsequent second processing step must be performed immediately after the first processing step using the same kitchen appliance; An indirect relationship is a relationship between a first and a subsequent second processing step if a third processing step can be carried out between the first and a subsequent second processing step, wherein the first and second processing steps are not carried out using the same kitchen appliance.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that Information selected from: · Timing of processing steps; kitchen appliances (1, 12, 13, 14) required for carrying out the processing steps and / or users required for carrying out the processing steps; • The correlation between two processing steps.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that A distinction is made between direct and indirect associations.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The optimization device (18) comprises an input device, through which a desired optimization target can be input.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The system comprises a selection device (20) which is arranged such that, if a processing step can be performed using different kitchen appliances (1, 12, 13, 14) stored in the resource storage device, the selection device automatically selects from possible kitchen appliances (1, 12, 13, 14) stored in the resource storage device according to at least one selection criterion.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that The selection criterion is one of the following selection criteria: Selecting a kitchen utensil that has been used in a previous processing step from among the kitchen utensil that can be used to perform the processing step and is stored in the resource storage device; If there is a direct correlation between the processing step and a previous processing step, selecting a kitchen utensil that has been used in the previous processing step from among the kitchen utensil stored in the resource storage device and that can be used to perform the processing step; If there is a direct correlation between the processing step and a previous processing step and the processing step can be quickly performed, selecting a kitchen utensil that has been used in the previous processing step from among the kitchen utensil stored in the resource storage device and that can be used to perform the processing step; If the processing step can only be performed slowly, then among the kitchen appliances that can be used to perform the processing step and stored in the resource storage device, a kitchen appliance that has been used in a previous processing step is not selected, but another kitchen appliance is selected; If the processing step can only be performed slowly and the other kitchen appliance has a smaller range of functions, then among the kitchen appliances stored in the resource storage device that can be used to perform the processing step, the kitchen appliance already used in the previous processing step is not selected, but the other kitchen appliance is selected.

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The optimization device is arranged so that it can calculate the sequence of the processing steps backwards.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The system comprises a kitchen multi-purpose machine (1) and a blender (14), and the kitchen multi-purpose machine (1) comprises a container (2), a blending and cutting tool in the container (2), a heating device for the container and / or a scale.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least two kitchen appliances (1, 12, 13, 14) and a control device (19) for preparing at least two food products, wherein: The control device (19) is arranged so that two food products can be prepared by using a plurality of kitchen appliances (1, 12, 13, 14) through step-by-step processing instructions, wherein the step-by-step processing instructions are such that the processing steps for preparing one of the food products are mixed with the processing steps for preparing the other food product, and the order of the processing steps is such that a predetermined optimization target can be achieved.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that The system comprises a kitchen multi-purpose machine (1) and a blender (14), and the blender (14) is used only when blending has to be performed for longer than a predetermined time interval, according to step-by-step processing instructions.

11. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that The two step-by-step instructions allow two food products to be completed simultaneously.

12. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that The kitchen multi-purpose machine comprises a container and a stirring and cutting tool located therein, a heating device for the container and a scale, wherein the stirring and cutting tool has a blunt edge and an opposite sharp edge, and the weight of the ingredients in the container can be measured by means of the scale, and / or the blender comprises a stirring and cutting tool having a blunt edge and an opposite sharp edge, and the blender can only rotate the stirring and cutting tool in the direction of the blunt edge.

13. Method for preparing at least one food product using a system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that The at least one food product is manufactured according to step-by-step processing instructions.

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