Method for operating a kitchen system, kitchen system for preparing food, and computer program product
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen systems lack the ability to efficiently and automatically adjust food preparation parameters and appliance usage for scaled recipes, leading to inconsistent results and increased preparation times and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen system with a database system that includes recipe, food, and appliance databases, allowing for automatic scaling of recipes and selection of appropriate appliances based on food parameters and quantity, optimizing preparation parameters such as heating time, chopping time, and mixing time, and selecting the most suitable kitchen appliances for efficient processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a kitchen system uses fixed preparation parameters from a recipe database, then the recipe can be executed automatically, but the system cannot adapt to scaled quantities of food leading to inconsistent quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts preparation parameters (heating time, chopping time, mixing time) based on the scaled quantity of food. Instead of using fixed parameters from the recipe database, the control device calculates modified parameters by multiplying original parameters with a scaling factor derived from the ratio of desired quantity to original recipe quantity, enabling the system to adapt automatically to different portion sizes while maintaining execution automation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the preparation parameters (time, temperature, speed) as a function of the food quantity scaling. The control device modifies at least one preparation parameter based on the scaled quantity to ensure consistent food quality across different recipe scales, transforming the static parameters into variable ones that respond to quantity changes
2Manufacturing precision
If the system manually adjusts preparation parameters for scaled recipes, then quality can be maintained, but preparation time increases and automation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of preparation parameters through automatic calculation by the control device. When a user inputs the desired quantity, the system autonomously computes the scaling factor and modifies the preparation parameters without requiring manual intervention, maintaining quality consistency while eliminating the time loss associated with manual parameter adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the user's quantity input to automatically recalculate and adjust preparation parameters. The control device receives the desired quantity information, computes the appropriate scaling factor, and modifies the parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that maintains quality without adding preparation time
3Productivity
If the system uses a single kitchen appliance for all preparation steps, then device complexity is reduced, but preparation time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables kitchen appliances to perform multiple functions through automatic parameter adjustment and task allocation. The control device can assign different preparation steps to different appliances (e.g., oven for heating, food processor for chopping) and coordinate their operations, allowing each appliance to be versatile rather than specialized for a single function, thereby improving efficiency without requiring excessive device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the recipe preparation into distinct tasks that can be performed by different kitchen appliances simultaneously. The control device divides the overall preparation process into heating, chopping, mixing, and other sub-tasks, assigning each to appropriate appliances based on the scaled quantity and appliance capabilities, enabling parallel processing that reduces total preparation time
4Ease of operation
If the system scales recipes automatically, then user convenience is improved, but energy consumption increases due to extended preparation times
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes preparation parameters intelligently based on scaling factors. For small quantities, the system reduces heating time and power consumption proportionally, and for large quantities, it optimizes by using multiple appliances in parallel rather than extending single-appliance operation time, thereby maintaining ease of automatic scaling while minimizing energy waste
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically optimizes energy consumption by adjusting preparation parameters in real-time based on the scaled quantity. The control device calculates energy-efficient parameter sets that maintain food quality while reducing unnecessary energy usage, such as lowering heating power for small batches or coordinating multiple appliances to operate simultaneously at optimal loads rather than one appliance running continuously
Data Source
AI summary
A technique to operating a kitchen system for at least partially automatic preparation of food, a kitchen system and a computer program product are proposed, wherein one or more preparation parameters for one or more preparation steps and/or one or more kitchen appliances of the kitchen system to be used for the preparation are determined, adjusted and/or selected automatically and using a database system.