System for preparing food

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature-controlled electric pots face issues with reliable thermal contact between the temperature probe and the pot, leading to inconsistent monitoring of the cooking process due to potential soiling of the probe and recess.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a dishwasher-safe temperature sensor within the food receiving device, which is connected to an intelligent docking station that supplies energy based on sensor data, ensuring consistent thermal contact and allowing for precise monitoring of the cooking process, with optional app or program operation, and adaptable operation modes for different food receiving devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a temperature probe is externally attached to the base, then the device structure is simple, but thermal contact reliability deteriorates due to soiling and poor contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidthermal contact reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor is integrated into the food receiving device itself, merging the sensing function with the cooking vessel. This eliminates the separate external probe and its associated thermal contact problems, while maintaining simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The food receiving device acts as an intermediary that directly contacts both the food (for temperature measurement) and the heating element (for thermal coupling). This mediator role ensures reliable thermal contact without requiring separate probe attachments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a temperature sensor is integrated into the food receiving device, then thermal contact reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal contact reliabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor is integrated into the food receiving device itself, merging the sensing function with the cooking vessel. This eliminates the separate external probe and its associated thermal contact problems, while maintaining simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the temperature sensor is not dishwasher safe, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cleaning difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidease of cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor is designed to be dishwasher-safe, allowing the food receiving device to be easily cleaned along with the sensor without special handling. This enables the device to serve itself in terms of maintenance, eliminating separate cleaning procedures for the sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If manual probe attachment is required, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to poor thermal contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly complexityVSAvoidtemperature monitoring precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor is integrated into the food receiving device itself, merging the sensing function with the cooking vessel. This eliminates the separate external probe and its associated thermal contact problems, while maintaining simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution ensures reliable and precise monitoring of the cooking process by eliminating concerns about thermal contact and allowing for automated meal preparation, adaptable operation, and reduced device complexity, while maintaining ease of cleaning for the food receiving device.

Implementation Method 1

proper operation requires good and well-defined thermal contact between the temperature probe and the recess at the bottom of the pot

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

an electric heating device is integrated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3586699B1System for preparing food

Publication Date: 2021.01.06 RIEBER GMBH & CO KG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a food preparation system (10) in which the cooking process can be monitored by means of a temperature sensor (16), comprising a food receiving device (12) into which an electric heating element (14) is integrated in a dishwasher-safe manner, and a docking station (18) which can be connected to a power source (20) on one side and to which the food receiving device (12) can be manually and detachably coupled on the other. According to the invention, at least one temperature sensor (16) is integrated into the food receiving device (12) in a dishwasher-safe manner, and the docking station (18) supplies the food receiving device (12) with power based on data received from the temperature sensor (16) integrated into the food receiving device (12) in a dishwasher-safe manner.