System and method for recipe dependent cleaning of cooking appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in determining the optimal timing and type of cleaning for cooking appliances, leading to suboptimal cleaning results and potential contamination during multi-step food preparation processes in multifunction cooking devices.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for recipe-dependent cleaning, which analyzes recipe instructions to determine necessary cleaning modes based on cooking modes, temperature parameters, and ingredient identifiers, and executes cleaning actions automatically after completing relevant cooking steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cleaning actions are performed manually by users, then users have flexibility in decision-making, but cleaning timing and type may be suboptimal leading to poor cleaning results
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking apparatus automatically determines and executes cleaning actions based on recipe instructions and cooking step analysis. The system analyzes recipe data, identifies cooking steps requiring cleaning, and autonomously controls cleaning apparatus operations without requiring user intervention or subjective judgment, thereby ensuring consistent and optimal cleaning results.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by analyzing the results of cooking steps and using this information to determine appropriate cleaning actions. The control unit processes information about completed cooking steps, ingredient types, and cooking conditions to dynamically decide when and how to perform cleaning, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to actual cooking conditions.
2Reliability
If cleaning actions are automated based on recipe instructions, then cleaning timing and type are optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls cooking operations, analyzes recipe instructions, determines cleaning requirements, and controls cleaning apparatus operations. By integrating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional control system, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components while achieving automated cleaning optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of recipe instructions before cooking begins. The control unit pre-processes recipe data to identify potential cleaning requirements, allowing it to proactively prepare and execute appropriate cleaning actions at optimal times without adding complex real-time decision-making mechanisms during cooking operations.
3Productivity
If multiple cooking apparatuses are used in joint cooking processes, then more food products can be prepared, but coordination of cleaning across devices becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lead cooking apparatus serves as an intermediary that receives recipe instructions, analyzes them, and generates coordinated control signals for multiple cooking apparatuses and their respective cleaning operations. This central mediation simplifies the complexity of coordinating cleaning across multiple devices by providing a single point of control that manages all cleaning decisions based on the overall cooking process requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A recipe program with a plurality of recipe instructions for the preparation of a food product includes recipe instructions to be executed by a multifunction cooking apparatus as controlled by a recipe execution engine. A recipe instruction analyzer module analyzes a recipe instruction with regard to parameters (cooking mode, temperature, ingredients) of the recipe instruction. A cleaning mode determination module determines suitable cleaning mode(s) dependent on the results of the analysis by using a decision module which associates one or more cleaning modes with the parameters. A cleaning mode selector module selects, in accordance with predefined selection rules, a particular cleaning mode from the suitable cleaning mode(s). A cleaning execution module executes the selected cleaning mode after completed execution of the respective recipe instruction if the respective recipe instruction is not associated with a non-cleaning indicator in the recipe program.