Heated Food Processor Safety Control for Open-Lid Cooking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heating household food preparation appliances require the lid to be closed for operation, which interrupts heating when the lid is removed, making manual stirring or adding food tedious and limiting the variety of preparations possible.

Innovation Solution

The appliance allows operation of the electric heating device at specific temperature levels without the lid being closed, enabling continued heating and manual stirring without the lid, with higher temperature levels allowing for open-lid use for evaporation and browning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the safety device prohibits operation when the lid is not closed, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device dynamically adapts its behavior based on the selected temperature level. At high temperature levels, the safety device authorizes heating even without the lid closed. At low temperature levels, the safety device requires the lid to be closed. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the safety requirements flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the safety device based on the selected temperature level. By introducing temperature level as a controlling parameter, the safety device can adjust its strictness - allowing open-lid operation at high temperatures while maintaining closed-lid requirements at low temperatures, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the lid must be closed for heating operation, then safety is improved, but versatility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidversatility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device dynamically adapts its behavior based on the selected temperature level. At high temperature levels, the safety device authorizes heating even without the lid closed, enabling evaporation and browning operations. At low temperature levels, the safety device requires the lid to be closed. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making safety requirements flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the safety device based on the selected temperature level. By introducing temperature level as a controlling parameter, the safety device can adjust its strictness - allowing open-lid operation at high temperatures while maintaining closed-lid requirements at low temperatures, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the lid must be replaced to continue heating, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device dynamically adapts its behavior based on the selected temperature level. At high temperature levels, the safety device authorizes heating even without the lid closed, allowing continuous operation during manual stirring or food addition. At low temperature levels, the safety device requires the lid to be closed. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making safety requirements flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the safety device based on the selected temperature level. By introducing temperature level as a controlling parameter, the safety device can adjust its strictness - allowing open-lid operation at high temperatures while maintaining closed-lid requirements at low temperatures, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Facilitates easier and more versatile food preparation by allowing heating without a lid at higher temperatures, enhancing user convenience and expanding preparation options.

Implementation Method 1

a control device to select a temperature level from among several predetermined temperature levels in order to control the power supply to the electric heating device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a detection mechanism to detect the presence of the lid occupying the closed position on the working container, in which the predetermined temperature levels include one or more predetermined temperature level(s) provided for the use of the heating household food preparation appliance without the lid necessarily occupying the closed position on the working container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3687354B1Household apparatus for the heated preparation of food comprising a safety arrangement
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 SEB SA
  • EP3687354B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a heating household appliance (10) for food preparation comprising a motorised base (1) that comprises an electric motor (14), a processing vessel (2), a rotary processing tool (3), a cover (4) able to occupy a closed position on the processing vessel (2), an electric heating device (5) for heating the processing vessel (2), a control device (6) for selecting a temperature level from a plurality of predetermined temperature levels, a temperature control device using the selected temperature level to control the power supply of the electric heating device (5) and a safety device (8) blocking the power supply of the electric motor (14) if the cover (4) does not occupy the closed position on the processing vessel (2). According to the invention, the predetermined temperature levels comprise one or more predetermined temperature levels, for which the safety device (8) allows power to be supplied to the electric heating device (5) if the cover (4) does not occupy the closed position on the processing vessel (2).