Cooking Chamber Zone Scheduling for Overlapping Multi-Item Cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances lack flexibility in automating cooking processes, leading to inefficiencies in energy use, time management, and resource allocation, especially when handling multiple cooking products with varying requirements.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance that allows for the interlacing and stacking of cooking programs, enabling simultaneous automation of cooking processes with optimized energy consumption, time management, and flexible loading/unloading schedules, using a combination of heating devices, moisture control, and sensor feedback for precise temperature and atmosphere management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple cooking products are cooked simultaneously in different loading levels, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple clocks and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent clock systems into a single centralized control system that manages multiple loading levels. The control unit integrates the timing functions of what would otherwise be separate clocks, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to cook multiple products simultaneously with different cooking times.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it acts as a universal timer for all loading levels, a coordinator for staggered cooking programs, and a display controller. This multi-functional approach replaces multiple specialized clocks with a single versatile control system.
2Ease of operation
If cooking programs are interlaced and stacked for automation, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time increases due to coordination overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit pre-calculates and stores optimal cooking programs and their interlacing sequences before operation. By preparing the timing schedules in advance, the system minimizes real-time coordination overhead and enables automatic execution of complex multi-level cooking sequences without time loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cooking chamber atmosphere is set separately in different loading levels, then adaptability is improved, but use of energy increases due to multiple heating zones
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic switching of heating zones rather than continuous operation of all zones. Different loading levels are heated in alternating periods according to their specific requirements, allowing adaptability for different cooking types while reducing overall energy consumption compared to simultaneous continuous heating of all zones.
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
This approach enhances cooking reliability and efficiency by reducing dead times, saving resources, and ensuring precise cooking results while allowing for energy optimization and flexible operation, including automatic plausibility testing and compensation for door openings.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device (18) comprising at least one electrical heater
Implementation Method 2
a device for introducing moisture (20) into the cooking chamber comprising at least one steam generator
Implementation Method 3
a device for removing moisture (22a, 22b) from the cooking chamber comprising at least one condenser (22b)
Implementation Method 4
a device for circulating the cooking chamber atmosphere (24) comprising at least one fan (24)
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a cooking appliance that includes performing at least one cooking process on a first item of a plurality of items in a first cooking chamber zone of the cooking chamber. The at least one cooking process being performed based on parameters entered through the input device. The method also includes identifying a second item to be cooked in the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance. The method further includes proposing, with an output device, cooking the second item in the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, and displaying, with the output device, a loading request indicating a second cooking chamber zone in which the second item is to be loaded. Further, the method includes cooking the second item while the first item is already cooking such that the second item is cooked at least partially overlapping with the first item.