Robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking robots lack reliability in transporting and processing solid food ingredients efficiently, leading to inconsistencies in cooking quality due to inadequate handling and transfer mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A robot system with a processing module, storage container, transfer tube, feed tube, and control valve that includes a motor and solenoid motor to control the drop of solid ingredients, along with an intermediate valve and variable stopper for precise ingredient transfer, ensuring reliable and controlled delivery to the ingredient port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional transfer mechanism is used for solid ingredients, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of transporting solid ingredients deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic pressure through a blower to transport solid ingredients through the feed tube. The blower generates airflow that propels the solid ingredients from the storage container through the transfer tube and feed tube to the ingredient port, replacing complex mechanical transfer mechanisms with a pneumatic system that achieves reliable transport with simpler components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air flow as an intermediary medium to facilitate the transfer of solid ingredients. The blower generates air pressure that acts as a carrier medium, enabling the solid ingredients to be transported through the feed tube without direct mechanical contact or complex handling mechanisms, thereby improving reliability while reducing device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If solid ingredients are dropped freely from the storage container, then the use of energy is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of ingredient delivery deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve operates periodically to open and close the outlet of the storage container, allowing solid ingredients to drop in controlled intervals. This periodic operation, driven by a motor and solenoid motor, enables precise control over when and how many ingredients are delivered, improving manufacturing precision while managing energy consumption through intermittent rather than continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valve system dynamically adjusts the delivery of solid ingredients by controlling the opening and closing timing. The motor and solenoid motor provide dynamic control capability, allowing the system to adapt the ingredient delivery rate and timing to achieve precise manufacturing precision while optimizing energy consumption based on operational requirements.
3Reliability
If the feed tube is horizontal, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of ingredient transport deteriorates due to ingredient accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The feed tube is inclined at an angle rather than being horizontal, introducing a dimensional change in the installation configuration. This inclination allows solid ingredients to move reliably toward the ingredient port under gravity and pneumatic pressure without accumulating, while the angled installation remains practically feasible and does not significantly complicate the manufacturing or installation process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple storage containers are provided for different ingredients, then the adaptability of the robot is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple storage containers, each capable of storing different solid ingredients, with each container connected to the common feed tube through its own transfer tube. This configuration provides multi-functionality, allowing the robot to handle various ingredients by selecting different storage containers while maintaining a unified transfer system that reduces overall complexity compared to completely separate transfer mechanisms for each ingredient.
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 system ensures high reliability in transporting and processing solid ingredients, minimizing ingredient degradation and maintaining cooking quality by controlling the drop and transfer of ingredients, and reducing power consumption through elastic deformation and pneumatic operation.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid motor configured to linearly reciprocate the motor rod
Implementation Method 2
an elastic plug configured to open a transfer passage inside the transfer tube while being deformed by the solid ingredients dropped from the storage container
Implementation Method 3
a spring configured to elastically support the stopper to allow the stopper to rotate in a direction of blocking the passage
Implementation Method 4
a blower disposed opposite to the ingredient port to provide pneumatic pressure to the passage
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes an ingredient mold configured to process food ingredients into solid ingredients; a storage container configured to store the solid ingredients processed in the ingredient mold; a transfer tube through which the solid ingredients in the storage container pass; a feed tube connected to the transfer tube, formed with an ingredient port, and having a passage configured to guide ingredients to the ingredient port; and a feeder configured to feed the solid ingredients, which are moved to the feed tube, to the ingredient port.