Cooking appliance and method for setting a cooking appliance of this type

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances are not optimized for quick, easy, and error-free operation, particularly for restaurant chains, as they do not efficiently adapt to the frequency of use of cooking programs based on time, season, or regional preferences.

Innovation Solution

The cooking appliance automatically displays and selects cooking programs based on their frequency of use, which can be updated in real-time, using parameters like time of day, day of the week, season, and region, allowing preselected programs to appear sorted by popularity immediately after startup, using a touchscreen interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If country-specific program lists are displayed with recipes arranged in national average frequency order, then the selection speed of cooking recipes is improved, but the appliance cannot accommodate customized program sequences required by restaurant chains

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprogram selection speedVSAvoidcustomization for restaurant chains
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic program sequence adjustment by allowing the control unit to store multiple sequence variants and switch between them based on operational context. The display can dynamically reconfigure program lists to show either country-specific frequency-based sequences or customized restaurant chain sequences, making the system adaptable to different operational requirements while maintaining ease of use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different sequence configurations for different operational modes. Restaurant chains can define custom program sequences tailored to their specific kitchen workflows and menu items, while private households continue to benefit from country-specific frequency-based arrangements. Each user type receives a customized experience appropriate to their needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sequence variants are stored and switchable based on time, season, or region, then the adaptability to different cooking scenarios is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to time, season, regionVSAvoidcontrol unit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple sequence variants in the control unit's memory before operation begins. Each sequence variant is prepared in advance with specific program arrangements optimized for particular times of day, seasons, or regional preferences. When operational conditions change, the system automatically or manually switches to the pre-prepared appropriate sequence, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations or reconfiguration during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is designed with multi-functionality to handle both country-specific frequency-based sequencing and customized restaurant chain sequencing within a single device. The same control unit stores and manages multiple sequence variants that can be selected based on operational context, eliminating the need for separate devices or complex external configuration systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If cooking programs are automatically displayed sorted by frequency of use, then the number of selection steps is reduced, but the ability to present specific restaurant chain menus at specific times is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidtime-specific menu presentation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic sequence selection where the control unit can automatically switch between different program sequences based on time of day, season, or region. Restaurant chains can define specific program sequences for breakfast, lunch, and dinner periods, or for seasonal menu items, and the system automatically presents the appropriate sequence at the appropriate time, maintaining high productivity while enabling time-specific menu presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2069690B2Cooking appliance and method for setting a cooking appliance of this type
Publication Date: 2017.11.15 LECHMETALL LANDSBERG EDELSTAHLERZEUGNISSE
  • EP2069690B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance in which a large number of programs can be preselected as a function of at least one parameter. One parameter relates to the time of day and/or the date and/or the season at the site of installation of the cooking appliance. A large number of programs which are preselected by means of the parameters can be automatically displayed on a display device after the cooking appliance is switched on, and one of these displayed programs can be selected by means of at least one operator control device. The invention also relates to a method for setting a cooking appliance of this type.