Automated cooking device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated cooking devices face issues with food staining during washing due to splashing water and inefficient heat conduction, particularly when cooking high-heat foods like fried items, as the induction heating plate's placement hinders effective heat transfer and positions the pot for washing and serving in a way that causes splashes.
Innovation Solution
An automated cooking device with a container holding unit that pivots and changes postures for ingredient receiving, cooking, serving, and washing, featuring a rotation mechanism and heating system to maintain efficient heat distribution and prevent splashing by positioning the cooking container to face downward during washing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the induction heating plate is disposed beside and adjacent to the outer peripheral wall surface of the pot, then the device structure is simplified, but the heat conduction efficiency to the pot cannot be achieved sufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heating plate that contacts the bottom surface of the cooking container, using the container bottom as an intermediary to transfer heat efficiently to the ingredients. This resolves the contradiction by providing direct thermal contact while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of heating the pot from the side (adjacent to outer peripheral wall), the heating plate is positioned to heat from the bottom surface of the container. This inverted approach achieves better heat conduction efficiency while keeping the device structure simple.
2Ease of operation
If the pot is positioned for washing on the front side of the device, then the washing operation is convenient, but washing water splashes toward the distributed food and stains it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotatable container holding unit that can dynamically change position between cooking and washing modes. During washing, the unit rotates to position the container away from the front side, preventing water splash onto distributed food while maintaining washing accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses rotational movement in the horizontal plane to separate the washing water trajectory from the food distribution area. By rotating the container to a different angular position during washing, the system eliminates the harmful splash effect while preserving washing convenience.
3Productivity
If the container holding unit is inclined forward for serving, then the food distribution is efficient, but the washing water splash problem worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The container holding unit is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be inclined forward for efficient food serving, then rotated to a different position for washing. This dynamic adjustment separates the serving and washing operations in space, eliminating water splash onto distributed food while maintaining serving efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively prevents food and dish staining during washing by controlling the container's posture to direct splashes away and ensures efficient heating through a dedicated heating mechanism, allowing for uniform cooking and easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an induction heating plate that is disposed beside and adjacent to an outer peripheral wall surface of this pot
Data Source
AI summary
An automated cooking device for washing a cooking container includes a controller controlling driving of a container holder to change the container holder to any of an ingredient receiving posture in which the cooking container receives ingredients from a supply device, a cooking posture in which the cooking container is rotated in a state in which the cooking container is inclined forward with respect to a cooking table to stir the ingredients, a serving posture in which the container holder is inclined forward more than in the cooking posture with respect to the cooking table to face downward to a dish on the front side of the container holder, and a washing posture in which a rotation support mechanism of the container holder is inclined backward with respect to a base frame and the cooking container is washed on a rear side of the container holder.