Food Processor Speed Factor Adjustment for Dynamic Recipe Timing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing kitchen appliances struggle to dynamically adjust food preparation times based on a user's actual working speed, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in determining the completion time of dishes.

Innovation Solution

A food processor that electronically accesses recipes, compares target working times with actual times, determines speed factors, and adjusts future target working times based on user behavior, allowing for dynamic optimization of food preparation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If static target working times from recipes are used for food preparation, then the recipe can be executed with predetermined timing, but the preparation time cannot be adapted to the user's actual working speed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAdaptability of preparation time to user speedVSAvoidInaccurate end time prediction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the actual time taken by the user to complete each preparation step and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the remaining preparation time. The control unit compares target working times with actual working times, calculates speed factors, and updates future target working times accordingly, enabling real-time adaptation to user pace

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms static target working times into dynamic values that automatically adjust during recipe execution. The system modifies future target working times based on previously measured actual working times, making the timing adaptive rather than fixed, thereby improving end time prediction accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the system dynamically adjusts target working times based on user behavior, then preparation time accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccuracy of end time predictionVSAvoidComplexity of time adjustment system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically comparing target times with actual times and recalculating future target times without user intervention. The control unit autonomously computes speed factors and updates timing parameters, reducing the need for complex user interfaces or manual adjustments while maintaining high prediction accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If comparisons between target and actual working times are performed for every preparation step, then speed factor determination is precise, but the processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePrecision of speed factor determinationVSAvoidTime for time comparisons and calculations
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs comparisons for each preparation step to ensure precise speed factor determination, accepting the additional processing time as necessary for accurate end time prediction. The detailed per-step timing analysis provides the foundation for reliable dynamic adjustment, with the computational overhead justified by the improved accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4588406A1Food processor, method for preparing food, computer program product and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP4588406A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4588406A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4588406A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a food processor (10) which is configured and designed for: electronically accessing a recipe (11) and processing the recipe (11) for carrying out a food preparation with a plurality of preparation steps (12), carrying out comparisons between target working times (t1 - t7) specified in the recipe (11) for carrying out the preparation steps (12) and actual working times actually required by a user of the food processor (10) for carrying out the preparation steps (12), determining at least one speed factor (f1; f2; f3, f4; f5) with regard to a working speed of the user on the basis of the comparisons carried out, and determining at least one future target working time for carrying out at least one future preparation step (12) on the basis of a specified target working time and the at least one determined speed factor (f1; f2; f3, f4; f5).The invention further relates to a method for preparing food using the food processor (10), a computer program product (14) for carrying out the method and a storage medium (15) on which the computer program product is stored.