WO2020003165A1

WO2020003165A1 - Autonomous rice and flat bread cooking device

Info

Publication number: WO2020003165A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/055409
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shaik Basheer Mohiddin
Original assignee: Gendroi Technologies Private Limited
Priority date: 2018-06-27
Filing date: 2019-06-26
Publication date: 2020-01-02

Abstract

An autonomous cooking device (100) comprising a platform (110) on which two cooking units (104) and (106) are installed for cooking rice and flat breads simultaneously. The rice cooking unit (104) comprises a rice storage, a washing, a strainer for collecting waste water, a dispensing, and a cooking means (104) installed vertically with a cooking bowl (102) operable over the cooking means installed to the platform (104). The flat bread cooking unit (106) comprises a multi compartment storage (213), a dough making compartment (214), a dough refill compartment, a refill inserting wheel, a kneading means (219), a robotic arm (218), a flattening means (216), and a heating pan (208) for making of the breads (222).

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“AUTONOMOUS RICE AND FLAT BREAD COOKING DEVICE”

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION COMPLETE

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the way in which it is to be performed. DESCRIPTION

Technical Field of the Invention The invention relates to an autonomous rice and flat bread cooking device connected to a platform via internet and operated through a mobile application. More particularly, relates to an improved version of a cooking device which performs end-to-end cooking operations automatically by itself and is controlled from remote location. Background of the Invention

Present modern life style has forced many people to resort to unhealthy food habits. In earlier days people had enough time on their hands to cook and eat healthy foods but now-a-days we tend to prefer a quick meal such as junk food and fast food. Only when we land into trouble we realize the bad state of affairs which are being the side effects of the modem life style.

Now-a-days many working professionals and busy people are not having enough time to spare in the kitchen due to their busy schedules. To solve this problem, many devices such as microwaves, rice-cookers, pressure-cookers are developed which are convenient to use but need user presence to measure, wash and cook rice or other recipes.

Therefore, it will be advantageous to develop a solution which enables busy professionals to prepare quality and healthy food from any remote location for better eating and to reduce consumption of fast food which is unhealthy. Brief Summary of the Invention

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an autonomous rice and flat bread cooking device is wherein the device comprising a platform on which two cooking units are installed for cooking rice and flat breads simultaneously.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a rice storage, a washing, a strainer for collecting waste water, a dispensing, and a cooking means installed vertically with a cooking bowl operable over the cooking means installed to the platform.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rice stored in the storage means is dropped to the washing means wherein the water from the water storage means is flushed, stirred with a stirrer for carrying a multi stage washing;

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the proposed autonomous cooking device is proposed be operated through a mobile application from any remote location.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the proposed cooking device automatically performs several operations such as measuring required ingredients, washing the ingredients by itself and taking required ingredients for preparing food based on the calories of the user.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, user can provide input from remote location such as desired time, required ingredients and temperature settings, etc., which are required to prepare food. Accordingly, the present invention relates in providing real-time information regarding selected program, power failures and cooking status, etc.

In accordance with the aspect of the present invention, the flat bread making compartment comprises of a multi compartment storage, a dough making compartment, a dough refill compartment, a refill inserting wheel, a kneading means, a robotic arm, a flattening means, and a heating pan for making of the breads.

In accordance with the aspect of the present invention, the kneading means comprises of a blade to cut a required amount of dough sufficient for making a bread, the robotic arm, in conjunction with an end of arm tool pushes the dough balls to desired locations in the work area and the flattening means with the steamer flattens the dough balls to required thickness acting from top. In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the dough which is required to make the flat breads can be manually prepared and placed in an inverted bottles and fed accordingly to make the bread.

In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the dough pallets with selected amounts of dough balls are conveyed on to the flattening means with a belt arrangement for making flat breads.

From a reading of the description above of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, modifications and variations thereto may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the claims of this invention. Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates the autonomous rice and flat bread cooking device for making both rice and flat breads simultaneously in their respective compartments.

FIG. 2 illustrates the dough making compartment along with the process of preparation of flat breads according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the inverted bottle arrangement for storing and feeding the dough to cook flat breads according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the conveyor belt arrangement with dough balls for cooking flat breads/roti according to the third embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

This invention is directed towards autonomous rice and flat bread cooking device which helps in saving time and providing nutritious and well-balanced meals. FIG. 1 illustrates the autonomous rice and flat bread cooking device (100) for making both rice and flat breads simultaneously in their respective compartments (104) & (106). As shown in FIG. 1, a platform (110) with two cooking units are installed for cooking rice (104) and flat breads (106) simultaneously wherein the rice cooking unit (104) comprises of a rice storage, a washing, a strainer for collecting waste water, a dispensing, and a cooking means installed vertically with a cooking bowl (102) operable over the cooking means. Initially the specified quantity of rice stored in a storage means is measured and released for washing. Then the process of flushing, stirring is carried out in a washing chamber for multi stage washing of the rice being dispensed. After the washing process, the waste water is drained through a drain pipe to a strainer compartment for disposal. The washed rice is dispensed into a cooking bowl (102) for cooking for a pre-defined programmed time mentioned by the user.

The autonomous cooking device (100) equipped with sensors for measuring ingredient levels in the storage means and to indicate the level of waste water in the strainer. The input and output device is proposed to be a touch screen monitor and input/output slots for a wired connection operating on alternate current (AC) source connected to mains. To operate, user needs to install the software application in his/her communication device (215) and connect to Wi-Fi using the mobile application. The autonomous cooking device (100) comprises several containers for storing plurality of ingredients that are useful for cooking. The user from the remote location commands several inputs such as required quantity, required ingredients and process of preparation, etc. Based on the user command the cooking device cooks food by using its robotic capabilities.

In one embodiment, if the user wants to cook rice before he/she reaches the house. The user initially needs to fill the containers with required ingredients such as rice and water, etc. The user from the remote location sends the commands to the cooking device regarding the quantity of rice to be taken soak or not soak the rice before cooking, washing rice and dispensing water, etc.

In other embodiment, user can regulate the temperature settings from 0 to 250 degree Celsius and has the flexibility to customize the cooking time to slow down the cooking process. In other embodiment, the user can simultaneously cook flat breads (222) at another compartment (106) of the same device (100) comprising a dough refill compartment (214) , a refill inserting wheel, a kneading means (219), a robotic arm (218), a flattening means (216), and a heating pan (208) for making of the breads (222).

FIG. 2 illustrates the dough making compartment (106) along with the process of preparation of flat breads (222) according to the embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the dough making compartment (106) comprises multi compartment storage (213) of three containers for storing of oil (212), water (210) and flour (211) necessary for the preparation of dough (220). The required amount of dough (220) is prepared with respect to the command given by the user in a bowl (214) with the help of a stirrer (217) which mixes the water, oil and flour uniformly which are dispensed into the bowl by the sliding means. The kneading means contains a blade (219) which cuts the dough whilst it is dispensed from the bowl. The dough ball (220) at is cut is guided through the flat bed by the robotic arm (218) on to the heating pan (208) where the dough (220) is pressed between the ram (216) and the pan (208). The pan (208) and the ram (216) are equipped with a steamer/heater to heat the pressed bread/roti to complete the cooking. The finished flat bread (222) is then removed by the robotic arm (218) and the process continues. The heating pan (208) is regulated to have a required temperature to cook the bread to make puffy and spongy flat breads. An input device proposed to be a smartphone/laptop (215) is required wherein, a user to access the autonomous cooking device, and to enter preferences, quantity of food to be cooked based on number of persons or equivalent calories the person(s) wish to take.

FIG. 3 illustrates the inverted bottle (324) arrangement for storing and feeding the dough (320) to cook flat breads (222) according to the second embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the dough for making flat bread can be manually prepared by the user and placed/inserted in the bottle shaped structure (324) arranged in place of multi compartment storage (213) with openings at both ends. The flattening means (216) with a ram structure pushes the dough onto the pan wherein the blade (319) of the kneading means cuts it to the required proportion. The robotic arm (318) then slides the dough ball (320) to the heating portion of the pan (308) where the dough is flattened between the ram (316) and the pan (308) before heating. This process is basically employed when the user desires a hand-made taste of the ingredient. A QR code is available on the pallet for the machine to gather the inputs related to the cooking process. FIG. 4 illustrates the conveyor belt (426) arrangement with dough balls for cooking flat breads/roti (222) according to the third embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a pallet (426) containing a plurality of dough balls (420) is proposed to be conveyed over the flattening bed/pan area (408) with the help of a conveyor belt (430). The dough balls (420) from the pallet (426) is pushed by the flattening means on to the bed and is slides onto the heating pan by the robotic arm where the dough is flattened and heated to make flat breads. The user provides the command via mobile application regarding the amount of breads/rotis to be cooked.

According to the embodiment of the invention, at least one electronic controlling device is provided mainly a mobile app (315) or from the laptop or computer which capable of reading a preference from the user(s) from a preset listing, quantities, cooking times and conditions, determining a quantity in the storage using the level and/or weight sensors, comparing the quantity with a prescribed contentment quantity and display them based on the comparisons on the output device and on the preferred communication device over a communication network. According to the embodiment of the invention, wherein the electronic controlling device (315) performs a health check of the device and holds the device (100) in its idle state until a command for cooking is received. The communications over a network is through home wireless internet connectivity or by a GSM based internet connectivity.

A detailed description of the above embodiment of the present invention is only for ease of understanding and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Any person skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

I/We Claim

1. An autonomous cooking device (100), wherein the device comprising:

a platform (110) on which two cooking units (104) and (106) are installed for cooking rice and flat breads simultaneously; the rice cooking unit (106) comprises a rice storage, a washing, a strainer for collecting waste water, a dispensing, and a cooking means (104) installed vertically with a cooking bowl (102) operable over the cooking means installed to the platform (104);

the rice stored in the storage means is dropped to the washing means wherein the water from the water storage means is flushed, stirred with a stirrer for carrying a multi stage washing; the waste water after wash is drained through a drain pipe to the strainer compartment for disposal;

the dispenser means dispenses washed rice into the cooking bowl for cooking for a pre-defined programmed time;

the cooking bowl receives the uncooked rice through a funnel from the dispenser removably connected to a top covering lid of the cooking bowl;

the flat bread cooking unit (106) comprises a multi compartment storage (213), a dough making compartment (214), a dough refill compartment, a refill inserting wheel, a kneading means (219), a robotic arm (218), a flattening means (216), and a heating pan (208) for making of the breads (222);

the multi compartment storage comprises place for storing flour

(211), oil (212), water (210), salt which are needed for dough making (220);

the dough making compartment (214) comprises of a stirrer (216) and a geared wheel to make a soft dough, alternatively the dough (220) made manually can be inserted in the form of refills into a holding wheel;

the kneading means comprises of a blade (219) to cut a required amount of dough (2200 sufficient for making a bread;

the dough (220) that is kneaded is dropped on to a flattening bed;

the robotic arm (218), in conjunction with an end of arm tool, selectively engaging, disengaging and moving push the dough balls (220) to desired locations in the work area;

the flattening means (216) flattens the dough balls (220) to required thickness acting from top;

the heating pan (208) is regulated to have a required temperature to cook the bread (222) to make puffy and spongy flat breads;

an input device for a user to access the autonomous cooking device, and to enter preferences, quantity of food to be cooked based on number of persons or equivalent calories the person(s) wish to take; an output device;

at least one level and weight sensor;

at least one communication device; and

at least one electronic controlling device, capable of reading a preference from the user(s) from a preset listing, quantities, cooking times and conditions, determining a quantity in the storage using the level and/or weight sensors, comparing the quantity with a prescribed contentment quantity, and display them based on the comparisons on the output device and on the preferred communication device (215) over a communication network.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the autonomous cooking device (100) equipped with sensors for measuring ingredient levels in the storage means. 3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input and output device is a touch screen monitor and input/output slots for a wired connection.

4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device operates with an alternate current source connected to mains.

5. The device (100 )as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user can select the dough to be kneaded from the compartment which is freshly made or from the refilled cartridges held on to the holding wheel.

6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device has sensors to indicate the level of waste water in the strainer.

7. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic controlling device performs a health check of the device and holds the device in its idle state until a command for cooking is received.

8. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communications over a network is through home wireless internet connectivity or by a GSM based internet connectivity.

9. A method of operating an autonomous cooking device (100) over a communication network and cooking desired quantities of rice and flat breads simultaneously, wherein the method comprises steps of: allowing a user to connect remotely to the cooking device with use of the user’s communication device (215) connected to electronic controller of the device;

inputting preferences to make desired quantity of rice or flat breads based on number of persons or based on equivalent calories they wish to take;

the rice cooking process involves:

releasing a measured quantity of rice stored in a storage means for washing;

flushing, stirring for carrying a multi stage washing of the rice being dispensed;

draining the waste water through a drain pipe to a strainer compartment for disposal;

dispensing washed rice into a cooking bowl for cooking for a pre-defined programmed time;

the flat bread making process involves:

releasing required quantities of flour, oil, water, salt and any other ingredients to be added based on user preferences;

engaging a stirrer and a geared wheel to make a soft dough; or engage an arm to push the refilled dough held in cartridges on a holding wheel;

kneading a required amount of dough by using a blade for making a bread;

pushing the dough ball that is kneaded with a robotic arm to a work place for flattening;

flattening the dough balls to required thickness by a flatting means acting from top;

regulating a heating pan to have a required temperature to cook the flattened dough to make puffy and spongy flat breads; and the electronic controlling device, capable of reading the preference from the user from a preset listing, quantities, cooking times and conditions, also determines a quantity in the storage using a plurality of level and/or weight sensors.