Automatic Cooker Water Supply Control for Food-to-Water Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic cooking apparatuses, such as electrical rice-cookers, lack an automatic water supply system, requiring users to manually add cold or hot water, which is inconvenient for busy individuals, especially single office workers or housewives, leading them to opt for instant noodles or eating out instead of cooking.
Innovation Solution
An automatic cooking apparatus with a drinking water tank, supply unit, food storage, cooking unit, and controller, featuring sensors, valves, and a pot cover actuator, allowing for intelligent control of water and food ratios through a simple user interface, enabling convenient and time-saving cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual water measurement and supply is used in conventional cooking apparatus, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring manual measurement and water addition
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking apparatus automatically measures and supplies water to the cooking pot based on the detected food weight, eliminating the need for manual water measurement and addition by the user
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of water measurement and pouring is replaced by an automated system using sensors, controllers, and valves to supply water automatically
2Productivity
If automatic water supply system is added to cooking apparatus, then productivity is improved by reducing preparation time, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
Water is supplied to the cooking pot before heating begins, based on preliminary detection of food weight, ensuring proper water-to-food ratio is established before the cooking process starts
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a weight sensor to detect the food weight and provides feedback to the controller, which then automatically adjusts the water supply amount accordingly
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 apparatus enables direct introduction of required water and intelligent control of food and water ratios, enhancing cooking convenience, saving time, and ensuring delicious results.
Implementation Method 1
The drinking water tank (104) includes a drinking water sensor (107)... wherein the drinking water sensor (107) is disposed on a bottom-side surface of the drinking water tank (104)
Implementation Method 2
The food storage (110) includes a food sensor (111)... wherein the food sensor (111) is disposed on a bottom surface of the food storage (110)
Implementation Method 3
The cooking unit (170) includes a heater (126)... The heater (126) is used for heating a pot placed thereon
Implementation Method 4
The steam output member includes a steam output tube (121) and an external steam output port (120)
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic cooking apparatus capable of supplying drinking water is provided, and includes a drinking water tank, a drinking water supplying unit, a food storage, a cooking unit and a controller. The drinking water tank includes a drinking water sensor, a drinking water output tube, and a drinking water valve. The food storage includes a food sensor, a food output member and a food valve. The cooking unit includes a heater, a steam output member and a pot cover actuator. The controller controls the drinking water valve, the food valve, the heater and the pot cover actuator based on a user's instruction.