Kitchen appliance system, method of controlling a kitchen appliance system and control for a kitchen appliance system

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food processor systems require manual confirmation of accessory placement, which is labor-intensive and error-prone, potentially leading to preparation failures or safety hazards if incorrect accessories are used.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a detection device to identify accessory features and a position detection system that automatically confirms proper accessory placement, eliminating the need for manual input by recognizing and verifying the accessory's identity and position through a communication interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual confirmation of accessory placement is required, then safety can be ensured, but user effort increases and errors may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiduser effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects and confirms accessory placement using sensors and communication interfaces, eliminating the need for manual user confirmation. The accessory itself provides identification signals that the control unit automatically processes, making the system self-verify without requiring user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical confirmation process is replaced with an automated detection system using sensors, communication interfaces, and control units that electronically verify accessory placement, substituting human action with automated technological systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual confirmation is required, then accessory placement can be verified, but preparation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification accuracyVSAvoidpreparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic accessory detection and verification in the background before the preparation process begins, so that when the user initiates cooking, the verification is already complete. This preliminary automated action eliminates time loss during the actual preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically verifies accessory placement without requiring user time for manual confirmation, as the detection and verification processes occur autonomously through sensors and control units that continuously monitor accessory status.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If automatic detection is implemented, then user-friendliness increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-friendlinessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs multiple functions including accessory detection, verification, and control coordination through a single integrated system. The communication interface serves multiple purposes by exchanging information between various components, reducing the need for separate dedicated devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication interface acts as an intermediary that standardizes interactions between different components (sensors, control units, accessories), simplifying the overall system architecture by providing a universal communication protocol rather than requiring complex direct connections between all components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4241631A1Kitchen appliance system, method of controlling a kitchen appliance system and control for a kitchen appliance system
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP4241631A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4241631A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4241631A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a kitchen machine system (2) comprising a basic unit (4) having a housing (10), a control unit (14) and a communication interface (16) and at least one accessory (6, 42) having an identification feature.To improve user-friendliness, it is proposed that a detection device (18) be provided and configured to detect an identification feature of at least one accessory (6, 42) and forward corresponding information to the control unit (14); that a position detection device (20) be provided and configured to detect the position of the at least one accessory (6, 42) in relation to the base unit (4) and/or in relation to another accessory (6, 42) and forward corresponding information to the control unit (14); that the control unit (14) be configured to recognize an accessory (6, 42) and its position based on the forwarded information; and that the control unit (14) be configured to automatically confirm an intended position or change in position of a recognized accessory (6, 42) and, in the case of an unintended position or change in position, toThe system is designed to issue a corresponding user notification (48) in the event of a change in position or if an accessory (6, 42) is not recognized. A corresponding procedure, a control system for controlling a food processor system, and a corresponding computer program are also described.