Method for operating a kitchen appliance and kitchen appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food processor methods fail to ensure favorable results when incorrect quantities of ingredients are input, affecting the consistency and quantity of prepared food.

Innovation Solution

The food processor adjusts quantities of media in a recipe by using an integrated scale or external communication, comparing entered weights with stored values, and adapting processing parameters like agitator speed and heating duration to accommodate deviations, while informing the user through displays or messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the food processor allows addition of incorrect quantities of ingredients, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors the actual quantity of ingredients added through weighing and compares it with the recipe specifications. When a deviation is detected, the system provides feedback by notifying the user and automatically adjusting subsequent processing parameters to compensate for the incorrect quantity, thus maintaining product quality despite the initial error.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

When an incorrect ingredient quantity is detected, the control system dynamically changes other processing parameters such as processing time, temperature, or speed of mixing to compensate for the deviation. This parameter adjustment ensures that the final product maintains the desired consistency and quality characteristics despite the initial measurement error.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the food processor strictly enforces correct ingredient quantities, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of immediately stopping the process when a quantity deviation is detected, the system provides feedback information to the user about the nature and magnitude of the error, then automatically calculates and implements compensatory adjustments to subsequent steps, maintaining both precision and operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system pre-calculates compensatory adjustments for subsequent processing steps based on the detected ingredient quantity deviation. By preparing correction protocols in advance, the system can quickly implement adjustments without interrupting the overall processing flow, thus maintaining precision while minimizing operational disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the food processor automatically adjusts processing parameters to compensate for incorrect ingredients, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system autonomously monitors ingredient quantities, detects deviations, calculates appropriate compensatory adjustments, and modifies subsequent processing parameters without requiring user intervention. This self-service capability maintains manufacturing precision while minimizing the need for complex user-side adjustments or manual recalibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a closed-loop control mechanism where the control unit continuously receives feedback from weight sensors, processes the information against recipe specifications, and automatically adjusts processing parameters. This automated feedback loop achieves high manufacturing precision through integrated control rather than through complex external adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2901903B1Method for operating a kitchen appliance and kitchen appliance
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a food processor and a food processor with a preparation vessel, for example in the form of a mixing vessel, in which the preparation vessel can contain a means of action, such as a stirrer, for example, with predetermined processing processes being able to be triggered step-by-step by a user be carried out by the food processor and for a processing operation the addition of a certain weight or volume of a medium to the preparation vessel can be provided. In order to specify a method for operating a food processor and a food processor that makes it possible to achieve a favorable result even when entering a quantity that does not correspond to a processing operation, it is proposed that the quantity of the medium added is recorded and the recorded quantity with it compared to the quantity provided for the processing process, possibly on the basis of a known specific weight assigned to the medium, to trigger a reaction from the food processor in any case if the detected quantity, possibly if it exceeds or falls below a predetermined bandwidth, from the Processing operation planned quantity deviates.