Cooking Appliance Scheduling With Prep and Follow-Up Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliance methods fail to account for preparation and follow-up times, leading to inefficient process planning and capacity utilization in commercial kitchens, particularly during events like buffets or large gatherings.
Innovation Solution
A method that automatically suggests an operating sequence for cooking appliances by displaying work programs on a timeline, including preparation and follow-up times, and determines the maximum capacity of food that can be cooked in a cooking chamber with multiple zones, considering the loading state and type of food, to optimize the cooking process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If only cooking time is displayed in the schedule, then the display is simple, but preparation time and follow-up time are not accounted for, leading to inefficient process planning
Solution Approach 1:
The schedule display is segmented into three distinct time components: preparation time (before cooking), cooking time (actual cooking process), and follow-up time (after cooking). Each work program is represented by separate visual elements showing these time segments, allowing comprehensive process planning while maintaining clear visual organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The schedule transitions from a one-dimensional time display to a two-dimensional visualization where the vertical axis represents different work programs and the horizontal axis represents time sequences. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous display of multiple work programs with their respective preparation, cooking, and follow-up times without overwhelming complexity.
2Productivity
If the cooking appliance operates without capacity planning, then operations are simple, but kitchen staff deployment and resource utilization are inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback on cooking chamber capacity utilization by monitoring the loading state and calculating maximum food capacity. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of work programs and staff deployment based on current appliance utilization, improving productivity without requiring complex manual tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking appliance automatically calculates and displays its own capacity information and work program schedules. The system self-monitors its loading state, determines maximum food capacity, and provides this information to operators, eliminating the need for external tracking systems or complex manual planning processes.
3Reliability
If preparation and follow-up times are excluded from scheduling, then the schedule is easier to manage, but timely service during events cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates preparation time (activities before cooking such as ingredient preparation and loading) and follow-up time (activities after cooking such as plating and serving) into the work program schedules. This preliminary and post-processing time inclusion ensures that all necessary activities are accounted for, guaranteeing timely service delivery during events.
Solution Approach 2:
The schedule integrates multiple time components (preparation, cooking, and follow-up times) into a unified work program representation. By merging these previously separate time elements into a single coordinated schedule, the system ensures reliable service timing while maintaining manageable schedule complexity through integrated visualization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to method for operating at lest one cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber, an input device, a display and a memory device. According to said method, a plurality of work programs for the cooking appliance can be called up from the memory device, including a time that is characteristic of the execution of every work program. Said time is defined, in addition to the duration of the work program, by a preparation time for preparing the program sequence and/or a follow-up time for following up the execution of the work program. The display device is able to display a representative of every stored work program, the respective associated time being displayed above every representative displayed.