Kitchen Appliance System, Method of Controlling a Kitchen Appliance System and Control for a Kitchen Appliance System

Abstract

The invention relates to a kitchen appliance system with a base unit having a housing, a controller and a communication interface, and with at least one accessory having an identifier. In order to increase user-friendliness, it is proposed that a detector is provided and configured to detect an identifier of at least one accessory and to forward corresponding information to the controller, that a position detector is provided and configured to detect the position of the at least one accessory in relation to the base unit and/or in relation to a further accessory and to forward corresponding information to the controller, in that the controller is configured to recognise an accessory and its position on the basis of the forwarded information, and in that the controller is configured to automatically confirm a proper position or change in position of a recognised accessory and, in the event of an undetermined position or change in position or in the event of an undetected position or change in position, to automatically confirm the position of the accessory, position change or in the case of an unrecognised accessory, to output a corresponding user message. Also described are a corresponding method, a control system for controlling a kitchen appliance system and a corresponding computer program.

Claims

1. A kitchen appliance system, wherein the kitchen appliance system comprises a base unit having a housing, a controller and a communication interface, and at least one accessory having an identifier, wherein a detector is provided and is configured to detect an identifier of at least one accessory and to forward corresponding information to the controller, wherein a position detector is provided and is configured to detect the position of the at least one accessory with respect to the base unit and/or with respect to a further accessory and to forward corresponding information to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to recognized an accessory and its position on the basis of the forwarded information, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically confirm a proper position or change in position of a detected accessory and to output a corresponding user instruction in the event of an improper position or change in position or in the event of an unrecognized accessory.

2. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control components of the kitchen appliance system according to at least one predetermined preparation process, and automatically adjust the course of a preparation process depending on the detected position or change in position and depending on the detected identifier.

3. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically provide instructions for preparation steps of at least one preparation process via the communication interface depending on the detected position or change in position and depending on the detected identifier.

4. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein an assembly or a removal of at least one accessory is recommended for carrying out a preparation step, and wherein the controller is configured to, upon detection of an appropriate, intended assembly or removal of the at least one recommended accessory, automatically confirm this; and resume the corresponding preparation step or provide instructions for a subsequent preparation step.

5. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to, upon detection of an improper assembly or an improper removal during a first detection operation, to perform a new detection operation after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and provide a corresponding user message when an improper assembly or an improper removal is detected during the new detection process and to prevent a preparation step from being continued at the kitchen appliance system.

6. The kitchen appliance system according to any claim 1, wherein for carrying out a preparation step an assembly of at least one accessory is recommended, and wherein the controller is configured to, upon detection of the absence of the at least one recommended accessory during a first detection process, automatically provide a corresponding user indication and to carry out a renewed detection process after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

7. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein an assembly of at least one accessory is required for executing a preparation step, and wherein the controller is configured to, upon detection of the absence of the at least one required accessory automatically provide an appropriate user message, and prevent continuation of a preparation step at the kitchen appliance system until a proper assembly of the required accessory is detected.

8. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein a preparation instruction with a sequence of preparation steps with corresponding instructions is provided, and wherein the controller is configured to skip a provision of an instruction relating to an assembly or a removal of an accessory if a corresponding proper position change of the accessory has already been detected before the provision of this instruction, and/or if a corresponding proper position is detected.

9. A method for controlling a kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein an identifier of at least one accessory is detected, wherein the position of the at least one accessory is detected with respect to the base unit and/or with respect to a further accessory, wherein an accessory and its position are recognized on the basis of the detected identifier and the detected position, and wherein an proper position or change in position of a detected accessory is automatically confirmed and in the case of an improper position or change in position or in the case of an unrecognized accessory, a corresponding user message is output.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein components of the kitchen appliance system are controlled in accordance with at least one predetermined preparation process, the course of a preparation process being automatically adapted in dependence on the detected position or change in position and in dependence on the detected identifier.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein instructions for preparation steps of at least one preparation process are automatically provided via the communication interface in dependence on the detected position or change in position and in dependence on the detected identifier.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein an instruction relating to an assembly or removal of an accessory is skipped if a corresponding proper position or change in position of the accessory was already detected in time before this instruction was made available.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein assembly or removal of at least one accessory is recommended for carrying out a preparation step, and wherein, when a corresponding, proper assembly or a corresponding, proper removal of the at least one recommended accessory is detected, this is automatically confirmed and the corresponding preparation step is completed or an instruction for a subsequent preparation step is provided.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein, upon detection of an improper assembly or an improper removal during a first detection operation, a new detection operation is performed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and wherein, when an improper assembly or improper removal is detected during the renewed detection process, a corresponding user message is provided and a continuation of a preparation step on the kitchen appliance system is prevented.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein an assembly of at least one accessory is recommended for carrying out a preparation step, and wherein, upon detection of the absence of the at least one recommended accessory during a first detection process, a corresponding user message is automatically provided and a new detection process is carried out after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, or wherein the performance of a preparation step requires the assembly of at least one accessory, and wherein, upon detection of the absence of the at least one required accessory, a corresponding user message is automatically provided and a continuation of a preparation step on the kitchen appliance system is prevented until a proper assembly of the required accessory is detected.

16. A computer program comprising instructions, the execution of which on at least one processor of a controller of a kitchen appliance system causes a method according to claim 9 to be carried out.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of examples of embodiments, reference being made to the accompanying drawing.

[0072] In the drawing show

[0073] FIG. 1 an embodiment of a kitchen appliance system in a first case constellation,

[0074] FIG. 2 the kitchen appliance system of FIG. 1 in a further case constellation,

[0075] FIG. 3 the kitchen appliance system of FIG. 1 in a further case constellation and

[0076] FIG. 4 an example of a method for controlling a kitchen appliance system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0077] FIG. 1 shows a kitchen appliance system 2 in a first embodiment with a base unit 4 and with an accessory 6. The accessory 6 is designed as a cooking vessel and has an RFID module 8 with an identifier. The base unit 4 has a housing 10, an electric motor 12 for driving a functional part of an accessory 6, a controller 14 and a communication interface 16.

[0078] A detector 18 and a position detector 20 are also provided on the base unit 4, which are each configured to detect the identifier of the accessory 6 and the position or a change in position of the accessory 6. Here, the detector 18 is designed as an RFID reader.

[0079] The position sensing device 20 is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding element (not shown) on the accessory 6. Accordingly, the position sensing device 20 is capable of detecting correct assembly or removal or incorrect assembly or removal of the accessory 6 on the base unit 4.

[0080] The communication interface 16 is designed as a touch-sensitive screen 22 with a multifunction button 24.

[0081] The sensing device 18, the position sensing device 20, the electric motor 12 and the communication interface 16 are each connected to the controller 14 by a communication link 26, 28, 30, 32.

[0082] In the case constellation shown, the accessory 6 is first removed from the base unit 4 (left part of FIG. 1) and then assembled with the base unit 4 (right part of FIG. 1). In the position of the accessory 6 removed from the base unit 4, the communication interface 16 displays an instruction 34 to assemble the accessory 6 with the base unit 4. After assembling the accessory 6, the identifier of the accessory 6 was detected by the detector 18 and recognised by the controller 14 and, in addition, the position of the accessory 6 was also detected by the position detector 20 and recognised by the controller 14 as the proper position. Subsequently, the controller has independently and automatically confirmed the intended assembly of the correct accessory 6 and has also caused the communication interface 16 to display a corresponding user message 36.

[0083] The kitchen appliance system 2 shown by FIG. 2 is the same as in FIG. 1 with the difference that the case constellation wherein the accessory 6 is removed from the base unit 4 as intended is shown.

[0084] In the left part of FIG. 2, the communication interface 16 indicates an instruction 38 to remove the accessory 6 from the base unit 4. As a result of the removal of the accessory 6 by the user, detection of the identifier of the accessory 6 by the detector 18 and corresponding recognition by the controller 14, and also detection of a change in position by the position detector 20 and corresponding recognition of the change in position as removal by the controller 14, the controller 14 has independently and automatically confirmed the intended removal of the correct accessory 6 and caused the communication interface 16 to display a corresponding user instruction 40.

[0085] FIG. 3 shows the kitchen appliance system 2 of FIG. 1, wherein an additional, second accessory 42 is provided in the form of a cutting unit 44 with an RFID module 46 having an identifier.

[0086] The position detector 20 is also adapted to cooperate with a corresponding element (not shown) on the second accessory 42, and is thus adapted to detect correct assembly or removal or incorrect assembly or removal of the second accessory 42 in the first accessory 6.

[0087] In the constellation shown, the second accessory 42 is not correctly assembled or its position does not allow proper interaction with the electric motor 12 of the base unit 4. After detection of the identifier of the second accessory 42 by the position detector 20 and corresponding recognition of the accessory 42 by the controller 14 and also detection of the position of the second accessory 42 by the position detector 20, the controller 14 has determined by comparison with information from the database stored on its storage medium that the detected position does not correspond to any intended, designated position for this accessory 42. As a result, the controller 14 has caused the communication interface 16 to display a corresponding user message 48, in this case a warning message. Furthermore, the controller 14 prevents the second accessory 42 from being driven by the electric motor 12 until a proper position of the second accessory 42 is detected.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows an example of a method for controlling a kitchen appliance system 2 with a flowchart. In a first step 100, an instruction is provided to a user, wherein the instruction concerns an assembly of an accessory X.

[0089] Once the instruction is provided, an identification process with several steps begins, which are shown together in a block A. As the first step 200 of the identification process, an identifier is captured. Then, at step 202, this is compared with identifiers stored in a database.

[0090] If the comparison does not result in a match, a user message is displayed in step 206 stating that the accessory has not been recognised or is not the accessory recommended for the current preparation process. A waiting time (step 208) then starts to give the user the opportunity to assemble the correct accessory recommended for the current preparation process. After this waiting time has elapsed, the machine starts again at step 200.

[0091] If the comparison from step 202 results in a match of the detected identifier with an identifier from the database, then a position recognition process is initiated, the steps of which are grouped in block B of FIG. 4. After positive recognition of the accessory X, its position is detected in step 300 and then compared in step 302 with predefined, proper positions for the accessory X from the database.

[0092] If the comparison does not result in a match, then in step 306 a user message is output indicating that the accessory is not positioned as intended or that there is a risk of damaging the kitchen appliance system 2 and that a correction of the position to a proper position is recommended. A waiting time (step 308) then starts to give the user the opportunity to correct the position of the accessory. After this waiting time has elapsed, the system starts again at step 300.

[0093] If the comparison from step 302 results in a match, then in step 400 it is confirmed internally that the correct accessory X is positioned as intended. In step 500, the display of the instruction to assemble accessory X is then terminated. In the following step 600, the instruction for the next preparation step is displayed.