Abstract
The present invention relates to a system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e) for preparing foods (100), comprising a housing (10) for receiving the food (100), a recognition device (20) for recognizing at least one food carrier (200) couplable with the system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e), and thereby recognizing the weight of the food carrier (200), as well as a determining device (40) for determining the tare weight of the food based on the detected weight of the food carrier (200).
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. A system for preparing foods, comprising a housing for receiving the food, a recognition device for recognizing at least one food carrier couplable with the system, and thereby recognizing the weight of the food carrier, as well as a determining device for determining the tare weight of the food based on the detected weight of the food carrier.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system comprises a weighing device for weighing the food carrier together with foods stored thereon or therein, and the determining device is configured for determining the weight of the food, based on a subtraction of the detected weight of the food carrier from at least the weighed weight of the food carrier and the food stored thereon or therein.
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the weighing device comprises at least one strain gauge.
20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system is configured as a cooking device for cooking the food.
21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the recognition device comprises a code scanner for recognizing a code on the food carrier (200), and thereby for recognizing the food carrier, wherein the code scanner.
22. The system according to claim 17, wherein the recognition device comprises a camera for recognizing the shape of the food carrier, and thereby to recognize the food carrier.
23. The system according to claim 17, wherein the recognition device comprises an NFC module for recognizing the food carrier.
24. The system according to claim 17, wherein the recognition device comprises a magnetic switching module for recognizing the food carrier.
25. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system comprises a coupling device for coupling with the food carrier in a defined position in the system.
26. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system comprises a storage device, in which weight data assigned to different food carriers is stored.
27. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system comprises a communications device for obtaining recognition data, via the internet or a different wired or wireless network for recognizing the food carrier.
28. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system comprises a display device for displaying the determined weight of the food.
29. A food carrier for use in a system for preparing foods, comprising a housing for receiving the food, a recognition device for recognizing at least one food carrier couplable with the system, and thereby recognizing the weight of the food carrier, as well as a determining device for determining the tare weight of the food based on the detected weight of the food carrier, comprising a code readable by the code scanner, an NFC counter-module for communication with at least the NFC module or a magnetic counter-switching module for interaction with the magnetic switching module.
30. A method for automatically determining the weight of food in a system for preparing food, with a housing for receiving the food, comprising the steps: recognizing at least one food carrier, couplable with the system, on or in the housing; assigning a weight to the recognized food carrier; and determining the tare weight of the food based on the detected weight of the food carrier.
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein operating parameters of the system for preparing the food are set depending on the determined tare weight of the food.
32. The method according to claim 30 for determining the weight of food, with a food carrier for use in a system for preparing foods, comprising a housing for receiving the food, a recognition device for recognizing at least one food carrier couplable with the system, and thereby recognizing the weight of the food carrier, as well as a determining device for determining the tare weight of the food based on the detected weight of the food carrier, comprising a code readable by the code scanner, an NFC counter-module for communication with at least the NFC module or a magnetic counter-switching module for interaction with the magnetic switching module.
Description
[0038] In each case schematically shown are in:
[0039] FIG. 1 a system according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
[0040] FIG. 2 a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention,
[0041] FIG. 3 a system according to a third embodiment of the present invention,
[0042] FIG. 4 a system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and
[0043] FIG. 5, a system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] Elements with the same function and effect are respectively provided, in the FIGS. 1 to 5, with the same reference characters.
[0045] FIG. 1 shows a system 1a, configured as an oven, for the preparation of foods 100 according a first embodiment. The system 1a comprises a housing 10 for accommodating the food 100, presently bread dough. The system 1a moreover comprises a recognition device 20 for recognizing at least one food carrier 200 couplable with the system 1a. The food carrier 200, configured as a baking tray, is mounted in a rail-like coupling device 50, which is formed in the interior space of the housing 10, in a defined position in system 1a.
[0046] The recognition device 10 further comprises a code scanner 21 for recognizing a code 210. The code scanner 21 is, in the illustrated embodiment, arranged in the housing 10 or integrated in this. The code 210 is, according to FIG. 1, arranged on the lower side of the food carrier 200. It is to be noted here, that the code 210 is illustrated as a projection from the food carrier 200 merely for the purpose of better understanding. In practice, the code 210 is rather flush, or substantially placed flush with the lower side of the food carrier 210, for example as an adhesive label or as an imprint. Based on the code 210, which in the present case is a QR code, the food carrier 200 can automatically be recognized. Accordingly, the weight of the food carrier 200 can thereby automatically be detected or assigned. To that end, the system 1a comprises a communications device 70 for obtaining recognition data via the internet or a different network. Through the communications device 70, the system 1a can obtain all available weight data for various food carriers 200, for example via the internet. The communications device 70 is, according to FIG. 1a, arranged, at least in sections, outside of the housing 10 for a better reception or for a better transmission power.
[0047] The system 1a illustrated in FIG. 1 further shows a determining device 40 to determine the tare weight of the food 100 based on the detected weight of the food carrier 200. The determining device 40, to that end, comprises a computing unit. As shown in FIG. 1, the determining device 40 is configured integrated into the housing 10. The system 1a shown in FIG. 1 moreover comprises a weighing device 30 for weighing the food carrier 200 together with the foods 100 stored thereon. The determining device 40 is here configured to determine the weight of the food 100, based on a subtraction of the detected weight of the food carrier 200 from the weighed weight of the food carrier 200 and the food 100 stored thereon or therein.
[0048] The weighing device 30 comprises two strain gauges which are arranged in the two stands 11 or stand portions of the housing 10. More or fewer strain gauges can also of course be provided in the system. The system 1a according to the first embodiment further comprises a display device 80 for displaying the determined weight of the food 100.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows a system 1b according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment differs in particular from the first embodiment in that the system 1b or the recognizing device 40 comprises a camera 22 in place of the code scanner 210. The camera is configured to recognize the shape of the food carrier 200, and thereby to recognize the food carrier 200. The camera 22, just like the code scanner 21, is configured integrated into the housing 10.
[0050] FIG. 3 shows a system 1c according to a third embodiment. The third embodiment differs in particular from the other embodiments in that the system 1b or the recognition device 20, respectively, comprises a NFC module 23. The NFC module 23 is configured to recognize an NFC counter-module 230, which is located in the food carrier 200, and thereby to recognize the food carrier 200. The NFC module 23 is, according to FIG. 3, configured in the coupling device 50 inside the housing 10, i.e. within the interior space of the housing 10.
[0051] FIG. 4 shows a system 1d according to a fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment in particular differs from the third embodiment in that the NFC module 23 is configured in a coupling device 50 outside of the housing 10, and correspondingly, outside of the interior space of the housing 10. Furthermore, the system 1d illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises a storage device 60, in which weight data, associated with different food carriers 200, are stored.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows a system 1e according to a fifth embodiment. The fifth embodiment in particular differs from the other embodiments in that the system 1e or the recognition device 20 comprises a magnetic switching module 24. The magnetic switching module 24 is configured to recognize a magnetic counter-switching module 240 in the food carrier 200, and thereby to recognize the food carrier 200. The magnetic switching module 24 comprises two magnetic switches. The magnetic counter-switch module 240 comprises two counter magnetic switches, which correspond, or can be brought into operative connection with the two magnetic switches. The magnetic switching module 24 is designed according to FIG. 5 in the coupling device 50 outside the housing 10 and correspondingly outside the interior of the housing 10. FIG. 5 furthermore differs from the other embodiments in that the determining device 40 is formed outside of the housing 10, and correspondingly outside of the interior space of the housing 10, and the communications device 70 is configured as to be integrated flush with the housing 10. Such a modification is of course also conceivable in all other possible embodiments illustrated. The same also applies to the recognizing device 20, which can be formed outside of the housing 10, as well as also inside of the housing 10.
[0053] Subsequently, with respect to FIG. 1, a method according to an embodiment is described. In the method, the system 1a disclosed above in detail is initially made available. Subsequently, the food carrier 200 is inserted into the coupling device 50, in the interior space of the housing 10. Now, the code 210 on the underside of the food carrier 200 is recognized by the recognizing device 20, i.e. the code scanner 21. The system 1a thereby knows which food carrier 200 is located in the housing 10, and can assign this food carrier 200 the matching weight. Simultaneously, by means of the weighing device 30, the food carrier 200, along with the foods stored thereon is weighed, and thereby a corresponding total weight is measured. Now, the detected weight of the food carrier 200 is subtracted from the weighed total weight, i.e. the weight of the food carrier 200 and the food 100 stored thereon. The result of the subtraction is the tare weight of the food 100. This result is now displayed on the display device 80.
[0054] Subsequently, operating parameters of the system 1a can be set to prepare the food 100, such as for example an oven temperature, depending upon the determined tare weight of the food 100.
[0055] FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate the recognizing device 20 and the determining device 40 as separate units. The recognizing device 20 and the determining device 40 can, however, also be configured as a unit integrated with one another outside of the housing 10, as well as also inside of the housing 10. Furthermore, it should yet be pointed out to the fact that the code scanner 21, the camera 22, the NFC module 23, and/or the magnetic switching module 24 can be configured as an integral part of the recognizing device 20, although the corresponding units in the FIGS. 1 to 5 are illustrated as spatially separated from one another.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0056] 1 system [0057] 10 housing [0058] 11 stand [0059] 20 recognition device [0060] 21 code scanner [0061] 22 camera [0062] 23 NFC module [0063] 24 magnetic switching module [0064] 30 weighing device [0065] 40 determining device [0066] 50 coupling device [0067] 60 storage device [0068] 70 communications device [0069] 80 display device [0070] 100 food [0071] 200 food storage vessel [0072] 210 code [0073] 230 NFC counter-module [0074] 240 magnetic counter-switching module
