Food Preparation Device with Sensor-Based Comminution State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food preparation devices lack the ability to accurately determine the comminution state of hard food ingredients like ice cream or Parmesan, leading to inconsistent results and unnecessary noise and energy consumption due to fixed comminution times that do not account for variations in food quantity or hardness.
Innovation Solution
A food preparation device equipped with a sensor to detect the weight and acoustic or acceleration signals during the comminution process, allowing a control unit to determine when a predetermined comminution state is reached, enabling automatic adjustment of process parameters and stopping the tool to prevent over-processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed comminution time is used, then the device is simple to operate, but the comminution result is inconsistent when food quantity or hardness varies
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors sensor signals during comminution and automatically adjusts the comminution time based on real-time feedback about the comminution state, ensuring consistent results while maintaining ease of operation through automatic adaptation
2Manufacturing precision
If the comminution time is extended to ensure thorough processing, then the comminution quality improves, but noise and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses sensor feedback to detect when the desired comminution state is achieved and automatically stops the comminution process, preventing unnecessary extended operation that would generate excess noise and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The comminution time is made dynamic rather than fixed, automatically adapting to the actual comminution state through sensor monitoring, allowing the process to end as soon as the desired quality is achieved without unnecessary extension
3Manufacturing precision
If the comminution time is extended to account for variations in food properties, then the comminution precision improves, but the noise nuisance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors sensor signals during comminution and automatically adjusts the comminution time based on real-time feedback about the comminution state, ensuring consistent results while maintaining ease of operation through automatic adaptation
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 solution ensures reproducible results, reduces noise and energy consumption by automatically adjusting parameters based on real-time feedback, ensuring the desired degree of comminution is achieved efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor, in particular for determining the weight of a meal in the food preparation vessel
Implementation Method 2
Abrupt jumping movements and/or shaking movements from movement impulses due to tool collisions with hard food components can preferably be reflected in the measured variable, which normally lead to cracking acoustic noises and noise emissions
Implementation Method 3
The measured variable is an acceleration. The measured variable can then be detected by an acceleration sensor or weight sensor. When the tool strikes a hard food item, the tool may partially rebound and/or deflect the tool up or down. This creates movement impulses that can lead to abrupt changes in acceleration
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a food preparation device 1 as well as a method and a computer program product. The food preparation appliance 1 comprises a food preparation vessel 2, a rotatable tool 5 for chopping a meal 4 in the food preparation vessel 2 and a sensor 3a, 3b, 3c, 13, in particular for determining the weight of a meal 4 in the food preparation vessel 2. A control unit 7 is provided and set up in this way that when a meal 4 is comminuted by the tool 5, the control unit 7 can determine on the basis of a sensor signal S from the sensor 3a, 3b, 3c, 13 whether a predetermined comminution state of the meal 4 has been reached. The invention also relates to a method and a computer program product. A particularly reproducible cooking result can be obtained in this way.