Food Recognition Conveyor System for Independent Zone Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food service appliances require manual input of settings for heating, warming, toasting, and cooling, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, and they rely on expensive input panels with graphics.

Innovation Solution

A food recognition system that uses sensors and computer-readable media to automatically identify and track food products on a conveyor, allowing for variable control of conveyor speed and heating element operation to achieve target processing for each product.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual input panels with graphics are used for selecting products and adjusting settings, then the appliance can provide precise control over processing parameters, but the operation becomes time-consuming and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to automatically detect food products on the conveyor and identifies them without manual input. The appliance self-determines the product type and automatically selects appropriate processing parameters, eliminating the need for users to manually input settings while maintaining precise control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical input panels with sensors and automated detection systems. Optical sensors or other detection devices identify food products, and a controller automatically processes this information to set processing parameters, substituting manual operation with automated sensing and control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidinput panel complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical input panels with sensors and automated detection systems. Optical sensors or other detection devices identify food products, and a controller automatically processes this information to set processing parameters, substituting manual operation with automated sensing and control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual input is required for selecting products and adjusting settings, then the appliance can accommodate various food products, but the operation becomes prone to input errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct adaptabilityVSAvoidoperation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect food products and provides feedback to the controller, which automatically adjusts processing parameters based on the detected product. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures accurate and reliable operation by continuously monitoring and adjusting settings based on actual product conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If a single conveyor moves multiple food products simultaneously through a processing zone, then productivity increases, but each product requires different processing parameters to achieve target processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoidprocessing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The processing zone is divided into multiple independent heating zones or segments along the conveyor path. Each zone can be independently controlled with different temperature and timing parameters, allowing simultaneous processing of different food products with different requirements while maintaining high throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts processing parameters for different zones based on real-time detection of food products. As products move through the conveyor, the controller modifies heating power, zone activation, and processing timing dynamically to match each product's specific requirements, enabling precise control while maintaining continuous high-speed operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250031287A1Pattern recognizing appliance

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 HATCO CORP

AI summary

A food recognition system includes a sensor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The sensor is configured to acquire data regarding (i) a respective type of each of multiple food products and (ii) a positioning of the multiple food products relative to one another spaced along a single conveyor. The non-transitory computer-readable medium has instructions stored thereon. The instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to control the single conveyor and a heating element to facilitate providing independent zone processing based on the data such that the multiple food products spaced along the single conveyor can be processed with different operating parameters as the single conveyor moves the multiple food products simultaneously through a processing zone of the food preparation appliance to achieve target processing for each of the multiple food products.