Food Processor Lid Lock Release Using Multi-State Drum Decay Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for releasing the lock of a preparation vessel in kitchen machines, such as food processors, do not adequately account for various state values like mass, force, and flow velocity, leading to potential food spillage due to incomplete drum decay, compromising ease of use and safety.
Innovation Solution
A method that measures and compares state values including mass, force, pressure, and flow velocity, along with temperature and agitator speed, against reference data to determine a safe delay period for releasing the lid, with active braking of the drum to reduce decay time, and incorporates a backup period for initial use scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lid is released immediately after the agitator and heating device are switched off, then the ease of operation is improved, but food spillage occurs due to incomplete drum decay
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of drum decay state before allowing lid release. The control unit continuously measures state values (vibration, acceleration, sound, or pressure) and compares them against reference values to determine when the drum has sufficiently decayed, ensuring safe lid release timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring state values during and after the mixing process, comparing current values with reference values, and using this information to dynamically determine the appropriate delay period before lid release, preventing both premature and excessive waiting.
2Device complexity
If a fixed delay period is used for lid release, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing food spillage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed delay periods to dynamic adaptive delay periods. The control unit adjusts the delay period based on real-time monitoring of state values, allowing the system to adapt to different food types, quantities, and mixing conditions while maintaining simple overall system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If multiple state values are monitored to improve drum decay detection accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multi-functional sensors that can detect multiple state values (vibration, acceleration, sound, pressure) using single sensor components where possible. This approach improves measurement precision for drum decay detection while minimizing the increase in device complexity through sensor multi-functionality.
4Reliability
If the lid release delay is extended to ensure complete drum decay, then the safety of food containment is improved, but the productivity of the kitchen machine deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control to determine the minimum necessary delay period based on actual drum decay state. By continuously monitoring state values and comparing them with reference values, the system releases the lid as soon as safe conditions are met, avoiding unnecessary delays while ensuring food containment safety.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention firstly relates to a method for releasing a lock on a lid (2) closing a preparation vessel (1), in particular a preparation vessel (1) of a food processor (3) which is provided with an agitator (4) and can be heated, in particular after it has been switched off of the agitator (4) and/or a heating device (6), with a state value used for preparing a meal within the preparation vessel (1) being measured and stored, with the state value measured within a certain period of time being compared with stored reference data and with the The locking is released after a delay period defined as a function of the comparison result has elapsed. For better ease of use, it is proposed that the measured status value indicates a mass and/or a force and/or a pressure and/or a flow rate of the food contained in the preparation vessel (1). The invention also relates to a food processor (3) with a preparation vessel (1) and an agitator (4) assigned to the preparation vessel (1) and/or a heating device (6) assigned to the preparation vessel (1).