Automatic Cooking Apparatus with Integrated Water Supply and Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic cooking apparatuses, such as electrical rice-cookers, require manual measurement of food and water quantities, which is inconvenient for busy individuals, especially office workers and housewives, due to the lack of an automatic water supply system for cooking.
Innovation Solution
An automatic cooking apparatus that integrates a drinking water supply unit and a grinding arrangement, capable of dispensing the correct amount of drinking water and grinding food items, allowing for automated cooking processes controlled by a single button or remote controller, eliminating the need for external water sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual measurement of water and food is used in conventional cooking apparatus, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inconvenient manual measuring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the water supply function with the cooking apparatus by integrating a water tank and automatic water dispensing system into the cooking device. This combination eliminates the need for separate manual water measurement and supply operations, allowing the apparatus to automatically measure and dispense the required water quantity for cooking, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining manageable device complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus implements self-service by automatically measuring and dispensing water without requiring manual intervention. The system includes automatic water level detection and dispensing control that enables the cooking apparatus to supply the correct amount of water autonomously, eliminating the need for users to manually measure water and significantly improving operational convenience
2Productivity
If automatic water supply system is added to cooking apparatus, then productivity is improved through automated cooking, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions including water storage, water dispensing, food storage, and cooking operations into a single integrated apparatus. By merging these functions into one unified system with coordinated control, the apparatus achieves automated cooking capability that improves productivity while keeping device complexity manageable through functional consolidation rather than separate independent systems
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking apparatus is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a cooking device and an automatic water dispenser. The water tank and dispensing system are integrated into the cooking apparatus, allowing it to perform multiple functions (water supply for cooking, drinking water dispensing) within a single device framework, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity
3Ease of operation
If drinking water supply unit is integrated into cooking apparatus, then ease of operation is improved by eliminating external water sources, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the drinking water supply unit with the cooking apparatus by incorporating a water tank and dispensing system into the same device. This merging allows the apparatus to serve dual purposes (cooking and drinking water supply) from a single integrated system, eliminating the need for external water sources and improving ease of operation while managing complexity through unified design
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is designed with universal functionality to provide both cooking operations and drinking water dispensing. The integrated water tank and dispensing system enable the device to fulfill multiple user needs (cooking water supply and drinking water supply) within one apparatus, improving operational convenience by consolidating functions rather than requiring separate devices
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
This solution enables convenient, time-saving, and energy-efficient cooking by automatically measuring and dispensing the required water and grinding food, simplifying the cooking process and reducing manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element provided in the receiving cavity and thermally communicated with the pot
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic cooking apparatus includes a main housing, a drinking water supply unit, a cooking apparatus and a controller. The drinking water supply unit includes a drinking water tank and a drinking water supplying apparatus including a water delivering unit connected to the drinking water tank. At least one drinking water outlet is provided on the main housing and is connected to the water delivering unit. The cooking apparatus includes a food storage tank and a cooking unit. The cooking unit includes a pot and a heater thermally communicated with the pot. The controller is electrically connected to the drinking water supply unit and the cooking apparatus, and operates the automatic cooking apparatus on at least one of a water supplying mode and a cooking mode.