Electrical cooking appliance comprising a work tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric cooking appliances, such as pressure cookers, lack the ability to adapt cooking parameters based on the transformation of food consistency during cooking and to detect the presence of cooking tools without additional sensors, especially in pressure cooking scenarios where depressurization is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
An electric pressure cooking appliance with a control unit that monitors the electric motor's operating parameters, such as supply current, to detect the presence of a working tool and adjust cooking settings based on food consistency changes, using a magnetic drive system and a control unit to manage cooking parameters like rotation speed, temperature, and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a magnetic sensor (Hall effect sensor) is used to detect the presence of a magnetic stirring tool, then the detection of tool presence is enabled, but the solution is only applicable for electric cooking appliances equipped with a magnetic stirring tool and does not allow monitoring of food processing status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the magnetic sensor detection system with an acoustic emission detection system. Instead of using Hall effect sensors that detect magnetic fields from magnetic stirring tools, the invention uses acoustic sensors to detect sound waves generated by the interaction between the working tool and food material. This substitution enables detection of both tool presence and food processing status across different tool types (magnetic and non-magnetic), resolving the limitation of magnetic sensor applicability.
2Device complexity
If a reed switch sensor is used to detect the presence of the stirring tool, then the detection is simplified, but it does not allow monitoring of the processing status of the food contained in the cooking tank
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces acoustic emissions as an intermediary that carries information about both tool presence and food processing status. The acoustic signals serve as a mediator between the physical interaction of the tool with food and the control system, enabling the system to infer both tool presence and food consistency changes without requiring multiple separate sensors, thus maintaining simplicity while gaining monitoring capability.
3Extent of automation
If electric current measurement of the motor is used to deduce quantity of rice, then the control can be adapted to ingredient quantity, but the control law is only based on comparison with threshold values during soaking stage where consistency is not transformed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism using acoustic emission monitoring that continuously tracks food consistency changes throughout the entire cooking process. Unlike current measurement that only works during soaking stage, the acoustic feedback system detects real-time changes in food texture and consistency during all cooking stages including heating, pressure cooking, and stirring, enabling dynamic adaptation of control parameters throughout the complete cooking cycle.
4Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to detect tool presence and monitor food status, then the monitoring capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the acoustic emission detection system multi-functional, enabling it to perform multiple tasks: detecting tool presence, monitoring food processing status, determining food consistency changes, and controlling cooking parameters. This single acoustic sensing system replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate sensors (magnetic sensors for tool detection, temperature sensors for food status, pressure sensors for consistency), thereby improving monitoring capability while avoiding increased device complexity.
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
Enables automatic detection of tool presence and adaptation of cooking parameters to evolving food consistency without additional sensors, ensuring optimal cooking progress and preventing tool jamming.
Implementation Method 1
a drive system comprising an electric motor configured to rotate the working tool
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic drive system configured to rotate the magnetic stirring tool
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The electric cooking appliance (2) includes a housing (3) arranged to receive a cooking vat (4); an interface for selecting and/or setting at least one cooking recipe, a working tool (7) configured to work one or more ingredients contained in the cooking vat (4); a drive system (11) comprising an electric motor (16) configured to rotate the working tool (7);and a control unit configured to control the operation of the electric cooking appliance, the control unit being configured to determine a state of transformation of the consistency of the ingredient(s) contained in the cooking vessel (4) as a function of exceeding a predetermined threshold of a determinable value representative of the operating parameter of the electric motor (16) and to at least adjust the operating parameters of the electric cooking appliance (2) to the selected and/or programmed cooking recipe as a function of this exceeding of the predetermined threshold of the determinable value representative of the operating parameter of the electric motor (16).;