WO2022018327A1

WO2022018327A1 - Device for controlling the cooking of food with a food processor by an infrared temperature sensor

Info

Publication number: WO2022018327A1
Application number: PCT/FR2021/000072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Herbault
Original assignee: Patrick Herbault
Priority date: 2020-07-20
Filing date: 2021-07-13
Publication date: 2022-01-27
Also published as: FR3112594A1

Abstract

Device for controlling the cooking of food with a food processor by means of an infrared temperature sensor The invention relates, in the field of food processors, to a device for remotely measuring the temperature of food in order to control the cooking of food by the food processor. To measure the temperature of the food (A), the device according to the invention comprises an infrared (IR) temperature sensor. This sensor is designed to target the location of the food being cooked either directly or indirectly by reflective devices. The temperature thus measured can be displayed to the user. In addition, the electronics of the infrared (IR) temperature sensor can be connected to the food processor, so that the temperature measurement can be used by the control electronics of the food processor (RC) to optimise the cooking process.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for controlling the cooking of food with a cooking robot by an infrared temperature sensor

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

The invention relates in the field of cooking robots, a device for measuring the temperature of food remotely to control the cooking of food by the cooking robot.

PRIOR ART

[0003] In many cooking robots, the cooking power is adjusted in an open loop by a simple rotary knob with several positions.

[0004] On more sophisticated models, it is possible to give a temperature setpoint, but in fact this setpoint applies to a measurement of the temperature of the heating element, in certain cases to the measurement of the temperature of the container which contains the food.

[0005] In fact, the temperature of the food is not the element that makes it possible to control the cooking control by the cooking robot.

[0006] There are already cooking robots which incorporate an infra-red sensor but which are not directed towards the surface of the food placed in the heating bowl but in other contexts.

[0007] Patent CN108542280A describes a different use of an infrared sensor. The infrared sensor is used to measure from below the heating element and not the temperature of the food contained in the mixing bowl.

[0008] Patent US2013344204 also describes a different use of the infrared sensor. An infrared sensor can be used to measure the temperature of the mixing shaft shaft, but not the temperature of the food contained in the mixing bowl.

[0009] Patent CN108497936 also describes a different use of an infrared temperature sensor. The infrared sensor is used to measure the temperature of the inner pot and not the temperature of the food contained in the cooking space.

[0010] Patent CN206617979 describes an alarm system that monitors the cooking of food using an infrared sensor. In this context, the infrared sensor is used to trigger an alarm and not to measure the temperature of the food contained in the container to control its cooking.

CN110326982 patent describes a stirring device which includes an infrared sensor. The subject of this patent is a device for controlling the whisk of a pastry robot with adjustment of the speed of rotation of the whisk as well as the duration of WO 2022/018327 PCT/FR2021/000072 the operation. If the device does include an infrared sensor which measures the temperature of the food in the mixing bowl, the robot does not include a heating element, and consequently no control of the cooking of the food on the basis of this infrared sensor.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device for controlling the cooking of food by a cooking robot comprising a mixing bowl heated by a heating element comprises according to the invention at least one infra-red temperature sensor integrated into the cooking robot to measure the temperature remote food inside the mixing bowl.

[0014] The infra-red temperature sensor is oriented or orientable in order to be able to target the temperature of a food on its upper face.

[0015] The infrared temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the food has an optical ray path of at least several centimeters, at least 5 cm.

[0016] Depending on the embodiments, the path of the optical ray can be several tens of centimeters.

[0017] Depending on the embodiments, the path of the optical ray may comprise at least one reflection on a reflecting device.

This reflecting device comprises at least one mirror, but preferably several mirrors to improve the ratio between the infrared emission of the food, reflected by the reflecting device and the infrared emission of the mirror.

According to one embodiment, the infrared temperature sensor is directly integrated into a household cooking robot in two variants.

[0020] In a first variant, the infrared temperature sensor can be integrated above the food, in particular for cooking robots whose motorization of the mixer axis is in the upper part of the device.

[0021] In a second variant, the infrared temperature sensor is integrated in the lower part, which requires a system of mirrors to transmit the infrared emission of the food.

[0022] At least one measured temperature is displayed for the user.

In fact, the invention is a form of device for controlling the cooking of food based on an infrared temperature sensor.

[0024] The control can be manual when the user uses the displayed temperature himself to cook the food.

[0025] The control can also be electronic when the electronics of the infrared temperature sensor can be connected to the control electronics of the cooking robots for the most sophisticated models.

[0026] It may be a connection between the electronics of the infrared temperature sensor and the control electronics by wired link or by wireless link (wifi, Bluetooth) possibly in cooperation with the user's smartphone.

[0027] Then the variation in the temperature of the food measured by the infrared temperature sensor is an input parameter for the control electronics of the cooking robot to estimate the mass of the food according to the electrical power produced.

If the cooking robot also has the mass of the food measured by an integrated electronic scale, this value associated with the variation in the temperature of the food measured by the infrared temperature sensor is a parameter input for the cooking robot's control electronics to estimate the caloric capacity of the food according to the electrical power produced.

For even more sophisticated models, the cooking robot's control electronics have optical physical measurements of the infrared temperature sensor other than the temperature, such as diffusion, emissivity or polarization coefficients.

[0030] It is also possible for the orientation of the optical beam of an infrared temperature sensor to be controlled by the control electronics of the electric cooking robot.

[0031] In addition, if the control electronics of the cooking robot include the possibility of giving a temperature setpoint which applies to a temperature measurement of the heating element or to the temperature measurement of the container which contains the food, this makes it possible to use the temperature difference between this setpoint and the measurement by the infrared sensor of the surface of the food contained in the mixing bowl to optimize the cooking of the food.

[0032] Advantageously, the cooking robot also comprises a measurement of the temperature of the mixing bowl. This measurement can also be obtained by an infrared sensor.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description for the understanding of which reference is made to the accompanying drawing.

[0034] [Fig.1] shows a household cooking robot whose motorization of the mixer axis is in the upper part equipped according to the invention with an infra-red temperature sensor which aims in the direction of a food present at inside the mixing bowl.

[0035] [Fig.2] shows a household cooking robot whose motorization of the mixer axis is in the lower part equipped according to the invention with an infra-red temperature sensor is integrated in the lower part which requires a device reflective to aim at food inside the mixing bowl. [0036] [Fig.3] illustrates the example of a simple reflecting device composed of a single mirror.

[0037] [Fig.4] illustrates the example of a double reflecting device composed of two mirrors.

[0038] [Fig.5] illustrates the example of a triple reflecting device composed of three mirrors, capable of bypassing the wall of a kitchen utensil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device for controlling the cooking of food by a cooking robot (RC) comprising a mixing bowl heated by a heating element comprises according to the invention at least one infra-red (IR) temperature sensor integrated into the robot (RC) to measure the temperature of the food (A) remotely inside the mixing bowl

The food temperature is that measured at the surface when the food (A) is in the kitchen utensil (U) which contains it, in this case the mixing bowl.

[0041] The infrared (IR) temperature sensor is oriented or orientable in order to be able to target the temperature of a food (A) on its upper face.

The infrared temperature sensor (IR) for measuring the temperature of the food (A) has a path of the optical ray (R) of at least several centimeters, at least 5 cm.

[0043] Depending on the embodiments, the path of the optical ray (R) can be several tens of centimeters.

[0044] Depending on the embodiments, the path of the optical ray (R) may comprise at least one reflection on a reflecting device (DR).

This reflecting device (DR) comprises at least one mirror (M), but preferably several mirrors (M) to improve the ratio between the infra-red emission of the food, reflected by the reflecting device (DR) and the infrared emission from the mirror.

[0046] In fact, to prevent the infra-red (IR) temperature sensor from measuring the temperature of a mirror (M) and not that of the food (A), it is first necessary to avoid conventional mirrors with a glass face which would emit in the infrared.

[0047] Preferably, the face of the mirror (M) will be a bare metal surface. This bare metal surface can be produced by the smooth surface of a metal element such as aluminum or stainless steel, common metals in the field of household appliances. It can also be a thin layer of aluminum vacuum deposited on a plastic element.

The [Fig.3] illustrates the example of a simple reflecting device (DR, DRS) composed of a single mirror (M). In this case the infrared ray (RA) emitted by the food (A) is reflected by the mirror into a ray (RB) which will be superimposed on the infra-red emission of the mirror (M).

The [Fig.4] illustrates the example of a double reflecting device (DR, DRD) composed of two mirrors (MA, MB). In this case, the infrared ray (RA) emitted by the food (A) is reflected by the mirror (MA) into a ray (RB) then by the mirror (MB) into a ray (RC). Due to the decrease in the value of the angle of incidence, the coefficient of reflection of the mirrors (MA, MB) will be increased and the emission in G infrared of the mirrors (MA, MB) along the axis rays (RB) (RC) will be decreased.

The [Fig.5] illustrates the example of a triple reflecting device (DR, DRT) composed of three mirrors (MA, MB, MC). In this case the infrared ray (RA) emitted by the food (A) is reflected by the mirror (MA) into a ray (RB) then by the mirror (MB) into a ray (RC) ) then by the mirror (MC) into a ray (RD). Due to the decrease in the value of the angle of incidence, the reflection coefficient of the mirrors (MA, MB, MC) will be further increased and the emission in the infrared of the mirrors (MA, MB, MC ) along the axis of the rays (RB) (RC) (RD) will be further reduced. In addition, this possibly makes it possible to circumvent the wall (P) of the kitchen utensil (U) which contains the food (A), in this case the mixing bowl.

The infrared temperature sensor is directly integrated into the household cooking robot (RC).

In a first illustrated variant [Fig.l], the infra-red temperature sensor can be integrated above the food, in particular for cooking robots whose motorization of the mixer axis is in the upper part of the device.

[0053] The upper part of the device can pivot when the device is unlocked by pressing a button (V).

[0054] The infra-red temperature sensor is placed at the front, of course offset with respect to the axis of the mixer and makes it possible to measure the temperature of the food (A) despite the presence of the mixer, including when it is is rotating.

[0055] An additional display (AT) is also illustrated to display the temperature measured for the attention of the user.

In a second illustrated variant [Fig.2], the infra-red temperature sensor is integrated in the lower part, which requires a reflective device at the location (EM) to transmit the infra-red emission of the food.

Preferably, this reflective device (DR) comprises several mirrors to circumvent the wall (P) of the kitchen utensil (U) which contains the food (A), in this case the mixing bowl.

In one embodiment the mirrors (M) are the surface of metal elements integrated into the kitchen utensil (U). This has the advantage of also heating the surface of the mirrors (M) which makes it possible to prevent a fogging effect. In another embodiment, the mirrors (M) are vacuum aluminum layers deposited on a plastic element which can be integrated into a plastic cover, not shown but usual for this type of food processor (RC ).

For all of the two preceding variants, the temperature thus measured by the infrared (IR) temperature sensor can be directly displayed for the attention of the user who can use it at his convenience.

[0061] In particular in the case of a liquid, this makes it possible to use the maximum power of the cooking robot (RC) to obtain the desired temperature as quickly as possible.

[0062] In the case of a delicate food (A) such as a sauce, this makes it possible, on the contrary, to regulate the power of the cooking robot (RC), for example by not exceeding a temperature threshold that has been set .

In fact, the invention is a device for controlling the cooking of food based on an infrared (IR) temperature sensor. Control is in this case manual but it can be supplemented by electronic control.

[0064] For the most sophisticated models, the electronics of the infrared (IR) temperature sensor can be connected to the control electronics of the electric cooking robot (RC) and the temperature measurement can be a parameter input of the control electronics of the electric cooking robot (RC) to achieve optimum control in the sense of automatic.

This has the advantage of optimal control to perform a specific action.

[0066] By way of example, the control electronics can achieve optimal control in place of the user as in the two previous examples.

[0067] In addition, the control electronics produced conventionally by a microprocessor have real-time calculation means that the user does not have.

[0068] By way of example, the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared temperature sensor is an input parameter for the control electronics of the electric cooking robot (AC ) estimates the mass of the food (A) as a function of the electrical power produced.

If moreover, the control electronics of the electric cooking robot have the mass of the food (A) measured by an integrated electronic scale and the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared temperature sensor, it is then possible to estimate the caloric capacity of the food (A) according to the electrical power produced.

It is also possible that the orientation of the optical ray (R) of a sensor is controlled by the control electronics of the electric cooking robot (AC).

[0071] By way of example, the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infra-red (IR) temperature sensor is an input parameter for the control electronics of the cooking robot (RC) electric estimates the mass of the food (A) according to the electrical power produced.

[0072] In fact, the control electronics know on the one hand the electrical power actually used in relation to the electrical power of the plate concerned.

On the other hand, the observation as a result of the temperature variation of the food (A) in ° C per second with regard to the averaged electrical power will determine the water value of the food (A ). If the food (A) is not known, it can be estimated that it has a caloric capacity close to that of water and therefore a mass equal to that of the water value previously calculated.

If moreover, the control electronics of the electric cooking robot (AC) have the mass of the food (A) measured by an electronic scale integrated in the cooking robot (RC) and the variation of the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared temperature sensor (IR), it is then possible to estimate the caloric capacity of the food (A) according to the electrical power produced. The caloric capacity is obtained by comparing the water value previously calculated with that obtained by dividing by the mass actually measured by the integrated electronic scale.

In addition, the infrared (IR) temperature sensor, being an optical sensor, can give optical physical measurements other than the temperature, such as scattering, emissivity or polarization coefficients. For example, a liquid, a sauce, a Pyrex container or a metal wall at the same temperature and at the same optical distance from the sensor will be differentiated by these physical measurements that are different from the temperature measurement alone.

The surface of a liquid will have a polarized reflection, the sauce will have a high diffusion coefficient, the pyrex will have a vitreous reflection and a metal wall a non-polarized reflection with high emissivity.

[0077] From this point of view, if the user needs a sensor to measure only the temperature, the control electronics unlike the user can optimize his control process according to these optical physical measurements different from the only temperature measurement.

The control electronics of the cooking robot (RC) can have optical physical measurements of the infrared temperature sensor other than the temperature such as diffusion, emissivity or polarization coefficients and exploit them.

Thus the cooking robot (RC) can accompany the sequencing of a recipe by synchronizing with respect to the progress of the recipe by the physical measurements of the infrared temperature sensor (IR).

[0080] Furthermore, if the control electronics of the cooking robot (RC) include the possibility of giving a temperature setpoint which applies to a measurement of the temperature of the heating element or to the measurement of the temperature of the container that contains the food, this makes it possible to use the temperature difference between this set point and the measurement by the infrared sensor of the surface of the food contained in the mixing bowl to optimize the cooking of the food (A).

Advantageously, the cooking robot (RC) also comprises a measurement of the temperature of the mixing bowl. This measurement can also be obtained by an infrared sensor. Thus the control electronics has the double information of the temperature of the mixing bowl and the temperature of the food (A) inside the mixing bowl to optimize the cooking process.

The presence according to the invention of an infra-red (IR) temperature sensor makes it possible to transform a simple electronic control of the cooking robot (RC) into a real optimal process control in the sense of automatic.

Industrial application

In terms of industrial application, the invention applies to the measurement of food temperatures (A) within the framework of a cooking robot.

The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and re presented, but those skilled in the art will be able to make any variant therein in accordance with their spirit for a range of products with different levels of sophistication.

Claims

[Claim 1] Device for controlling the cooking of food (A) by a cooking robot (RC) comprising a mixing bowl heated by a heating element characterized in that it comprises at least one infrared temperature sensor (IR) integrated into the food processor (RC) to measure the temperature of the food (A) remotely inside the mixing bowl.

[Claim 2] Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the infra-red (IR) temperature sensor is oriented or orientable in order to be able to target the temperature of a food (A) on its upper face.

[Claim 3] Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the infrared temperature sensor (IR) for measuring the temperature of the food (A) has an optical ray path (R) which includes at least one reflection on a reflecting device (DR).

[Claim 4] Device according to claim 3 in that the reflected device (DR) comprises several mirrors to improve the ratio between the infrared emission of the food reflected by the reflected device and the infrared emission mirror red.

[Claim 5] Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one measured temperature is displayed at the user's fingertips.

[Claim 6] Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electronics of the infrared temperature sensor (IR) is connected to the control electronics of the cooking robot (RC).

[Claim 7] Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the infrared temperature sensor (IR) can be oriented by the control electronics of the cooking robot (RC).

[Claim 8] Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infra-red (IR) temperature sensor is an input parameter for the electronics of control of the cooking robot (RC) estimates the mass of the food (A) according to the electrical power produced.

[Claim 9] Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the control electronics of the cooking robot (RC) has the mass of the food (A) measured by an integrated electronic scale and that associated with the variation the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared temperature sensor (IR) and that it estimates the capacity calorie of the food (A) according to the electrical power produced.

[Claim 10] Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the control electronics of the cooking robot (RC) have optical physical measurements of the infrared temperature sensor (IR) other than the temperature, such as coefficients of scattering, emissivity or polarization and exploits them.

[Claim 11] Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the control electronics of the cooking robot (RC) include the possibility of giving a temperature setpoint which applies to a measurement of the temperature of the heating element or measuring the temperature of the container that contains the food and uses the temperature difference between this set point and the measurement by the infrared sensor of the surface of the food contained in the mixing bowl to optimize the cooking of the food food (A).

[Claim 12] Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cooking robot (RC) comprises a sensor for measuring the temperature of the mixing bowl.