Autonomous apparatus to cook food

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autonomous cooking apparatuses face issues with inconsistent heat distribution and air flow, leading to incorrect cooking results due to fixed ventilation speed settings that are not correlated with temperature thresholds, particularly in multicooking devices handling diverse food types.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous cooking apparatus with a regulation device that allows for adjustable ventilation speed and temperature settings, where the rotation speed of the ventilation device is correlated with a pre-defined threshold temperature, enabling optimal cooking conditions for different types of food through a single control mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the rotation speed of the ventilation device is fixed at factory settings, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooking quality deteriorates due to inadequate heat distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidcooking quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adjustable rotation speed for the ventilation device, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different cooking requirements. The control unit enables users to modify the rotation speed according to specific cooking needs, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that can optimize heat distribution for various food types and cooking processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows changing the rotation speed parameter of the ventilation device to optimize cooking performance. By adjusting this parameter, the system can achieve different air flow patterns and heat distribution characteristics suitable for various cooking requirements, thereby improving cooking quality without significantly complicating the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the rotation speed of the ventilation device is increased to improve heat distribution, then cooking uniformity improves, but food accumulation in the center occurs causing aesthetic deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking uniformityVSAvoidfood appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adjustable rotation speed control, allowing users to optimize the balance between heat distribution and food appearance. By dynamically adjusting the ventilation speed, the system can achieve sufficient heat circulation for uniform cooking while avoiding excessive air flow that would cause food to accumulate in the center and deteriorate its aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a single ventilation speed setting is used to simplify the device, then device complexity is reduced, but cooking effectiveness deteriorates for different food types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidcooking adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an adjustable ventilation system with variable rotation speed control. This dynamic capability allows the single ventilation device to adapt to different cooking requirements for various food types, processes, and recipes, significantly improving cooking versatility without requiring multiple fixed-speed ventilation devices or an overly complex control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If the ventilation device operates at high speed to ensure adequate heat exchange, then heat distribution improves, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to excessive heat exchange

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat distributionVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adjustable rotation speed control for the ventilation device, enabling optimization of energy efficiency. Users can set the ventilation speed according to specific cooking requirements, allowing adequate heat exchange when needed while reducing ventilation speed during phases where intensive heat exchange is unnecessary, thereby minimizing energy waste from excessive ventilation operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Ensures uniform cooking and aesthetic quality by allowing users to easily set parameters for various recipes, preventing overcooking or undercooking, and optimizing heat exchange without complicating the apparatus design or user setup.

Implementation Method 1

The support body is provided with a lid to create, together with the container, a cooking chamber with a controlled atmosphere suitable for the cooking to be performed. The controlled atmosphere is generated by at least one heating device, that is, a producer of thermal energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a ventilation device to transfer the thermal energy inside the container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3629862B1Autonomous apparatus to cook food
Publication Date: 2021.03.24 DE LONGHI APPLIANCES SRL
  • EP3629862B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3629862B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3629862B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Autonomous apparatus to cook food comprising a support body (11), a lid (12) associated with the support body (11) and mobile with respect thereto, and a container (13) positioned inside the support body (11), wherein the lid (12) in the closed condition together with the container (13) defines a cooking chamber (14). The autonomous apparatus also comprises at least one upper heating device (15), located above the container (13), and at least one ventilation device (16) associated with the upper heating device (15).