Multi-function cooking apparatus with synchronized food processing for a remote kitchen appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-function cooking apparatuses struggle to synchronize their operations with remote kitchen appliances, leading to deviations from desired cooking results due to variations in operating conditions, which affect the reproducibility of food products.

Innovation Solution

A control system that communicates with both the cooking apparatus and remote kitchen appliances to synchronize food processing steps through recipe programs, adjusting parameter settings and re-scheduling instructions based on actual operating conditions to ensure compliance with predefined tolerance ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a multi-function cooking apparatus operates with predefined recipe programs under ideal conditions, then reproducible cooking results are achieved, but actual operating conditions deviate from ideal conditions leading to loss of reproducibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereproducibility of cooking resultsVSAvoidadaptability to varying operating conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors actual operating conditions of the cooking apparatus and remote kitchen appliances, compares them against expected parameters from the recipe program, and automatically adjusts subsequent processing steps to compensate for deviations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains reproducible cooking results despite variations in heating power, temperature, or timing across different devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The recipe program is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities where processing parameters (time, temperature, sequence) are not fixed but can be modified in real-time based on actual device performance. The control system recalculates and re-schedules processing steps adaptively, allowing the same recipe to produce consistent results across appliances with different technical characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If remote kitchen appliances are used for food processing steps, then cooking functionality is extended, but synchronization between appliances becomes difficult leading to deviations from desired cooking results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking functionality extensionVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A centralized control system acts as an intermediary between the multi-function cooking apparatus and remote kitchen appliances. This control system coordinates all processing steps across devices, manages communication protocols, and ensures synchronized operation by sending and receiving status updates, thereby maintaining reliable coordination despite the physical separation and different technical behaviors of remote appliances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is designed to work with multiple types of kitchen appliances (cooking apparatus, ovens, microwaves, refrigerators) through a universal interface and standardized communication protocol. This multi-functional capability allows different remote appliances to be integrated into a single coordinated recipe execution, extending cooking functionality while maintaining synchronization through a common control framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If the recipe program is strictly followed without adjustments, then cooking results are reproducible under ideal conditions, but actual deviations in operating conditions cause the cooking result to fall outside the predefined tolerance range

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking result precisionVSAvoidtolerance to operating condition variations

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically changes processing parameters (time, temperature, power levels, sequence) based on actual measured operating conditions. When deviations are detected in heating power, temperature achievement, or processing time, the system automatically adjusts subsequent parameters to compensate and bring the final cooking result back within the predefined tolerance range, maintaining precision despite initial variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11291327B2Multi-function cooking apparatus with synchronized food processing for a remote kitchen appliance

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH

AI summary

A control system is described for synchronizing food processing steps performed by a multi-function cooking apparatus with food processing steps performed by one or more remote kitchen appliances, includes a recipe program interface for accessing a recipe program on a data storage device wherein the recipe program is configured to be executed by the cooking apparatus and has internal instructions configured to control functions of the cooking apparatus for performing food processing steps thereon, and has at least one external instruction for a remote food processing step performed by a particular remote kitchen appliance.