Kitchen appliance system and a method for automatically taring a kitchen appliance system

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional kitchen appliances require multiple manual taring operations when ingredients are added or accessories are changed, leading to user inconvenience and potential weight reading distortions.

Innovation Solution

A kitchen appliance system with a detection device to identify accessory features and a control device to automatically calculate net weight by detecting position changes, eliminating the need for manual taring and accurately determining net weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual taring operations are performed multiple times when ingredients are added or accessories are changed, then weight readings can be adjusted, but user convenience deteriorates and operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight reading accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs taring operations by detecting accessory identification features and position changes, eliminating the need for manual user input. The control device autonomously calculates net weight by subtracting accessory weights from gross weight readings, making the system self-servicing in the taring process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses detection devices to identify accessory features and monitor position changes, then feeds this information back to the control device which automatically adjusts weight calculations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures accurate net weight determination without requiring user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If manual taring is performed repeatedly, then weight measurements can be maintained, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenet weight accuracyVSAvoidtaring operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of accessory features when accessories are first attached to the base unit. The control device stores this identification information and uses it for subsequent automatic taring operations, eliminating the need for repeated manual taring and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The detection device continuously monitors accessory position changes and the weighing module continuously provides gross weight readings. The control device continuously calculates net weight based on this continuous data stream, ensuring uninterrupted accurate measurement without periodic manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If accessory weights are not automatically accounted for, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to weight reading distortions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidweight reading accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection device serves multiple functions: it identifies accessory types, determines accessory weights from stored data, and detects position changes. This multi-functional approach maintains relatively simple device structure while achieving accurate net weight measurement through automatic accessory weight compensation.

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

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides an automatic, intelligent tare function that ensures accurate net weight determination with reduced user effort and increased user-friendliness by automatically adjusting for accessory changes and additional weights.

Implementation Method 1

a weighing module configured to detect a gross weight is provided on the base unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4242605B1Kitchen appliance system and a method for automatically taring a kitchen appliance system
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP4242605B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4242605B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4242605B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a kitchen appliance system (2, 202) comprising a basic unit (4, 204) having a housing (14, 214) and at least one accessory (6, 8, 206, 208) having an identification feature. A weighing module (16, 220) designed to detect a gross weight and a control unit (18, 216) are provided on the basic unit (4, 204).Furthermore, the base unit (4, 204) is equipped with a detection device (22, 218) for capturing an identification feature of at least one accessory (6, 8, 206, 208), and the control unit (18, 216) is configured to detect a change in position of the at least one accessory (6, 8, 206, 208) relative to the base unit (4, 204), to retrieve weight information corresponding to an identification feature captured by the detection device (22, 218), and to calculate a net weight based on a gross weight captured by the weighing module (16, 220) and taking the weight information into account. A corresponding procedure is also described.