Integrated Kitchen Machine in Cooking Appliance to Free Up Workspace

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooking appliances occupy valuable kitchen space with separate units for food preparation and cooking, limiting workspace and functionality.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a kitchen machine or food processor into a cooking appliance, with a dedicated area and energy supply, allowing for combined cooking and food preparation functions, and incorporating a downdraft extraction device to optimize space usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate units for food preparation and cooking are used, then each unit can perform its function well, but valuable kitchen space is occupied and workspace is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkspace availabilityVSAvoidfunctionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a cooking appliance with a food processor into a single integrated unit. The food processor is positioned within the cooking appliance housing, allowing both cooking and food preparation functions to be performed in one location, thereby freeing up kitchen workspace while maintaining full functionality of both devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated appliance serves multiple functions: it can perform cooking operations (heating, boiling) and food preparation operations (chopping, mixing, blending) simultaneously or sequentially. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate standalone units, optimizing space utilization in the kitchen environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Area of stationary object

If a kitchen machine is integrated into the cooking appliance, then kitchen space is freed up, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekitchen spaceVSAvoidappliance structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The food processor is nested within the cooking appliance housing structure. The motor and processing components are positioned in the lower portion of the cooking appliance, utilizing otherwise underutilized space. This nesting approach integrates the second function without significantly increasing the external dimensions or visual complexity of the primary cooking device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The food processor components are arranged in the vertical dimension of the cooking appliance, utilizing height rather than horizontal space. The motor housing and processing chamber are positioned below the cooking surface level, effectively using the third dimension to accommodate additional functionality without expanding the appliance's footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4276362A1Cooking appliance

Publication Date: 2023.11.15 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES

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AI summary

The present invention concerns a cooking appliance (12), which comprising at least one food treatment area. According to the invention, a kitchen machine (62) or a food processor, in particular a cooking food processor, is included in the cooking appliance (12). Alternatively, the cooking appliance (12) provides a space for including the kitchen machine (62) or food processor and/or a connection to an energy supply for energizing the kitchen machine (62) or food processor.