Design and Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of a Multi-Stage Automatic Cooking Machine for Smart Food Preparation Systems

The growing demand for hygienic, energy-efficient, and labor-independent food preparation systems has accelerated the development of automated cooking technologies for domestic and small-scale commercial applications. This study presents the design and thermo-mechanical modeling of a multi-stage automatic cooking machine capable of executing sequential operations including raw ingredient loading, mechanical size reduction (cutting), hydraulic washing, precision spice dosing, controlled thermal cooking, and automated food dispensing within a single integrated platform. The system architecture is formulated using modular food-process engineering principles, incorporating motor-driven cutting mechanisms (150–300 W), pressurized washing subsystems (0.2–0.4 MPa), gravimetric micro-dispensers (±1–2% dosing accuracy), and electrically heated cooking chambers (1.2–2.0 kW). Thermodynamic behavior is modeled using transient heat-transfer relations Q=mcpΔT, enabling prediction of cooking time, internal food temperature profiles (75–105 °C), and energy consumption under variable food loads (0.3–2.0 kg per batch). Mechanical torque, blade shear stress, and material flow stability are analytically evaluated to ensure reliable handling of vegetables, meat, and fish with heterogeneous mechanical properties. A microcontroller-based control framework employing closed-loop temperature and mass feedback is proposed to ensure recipe repeatability, with estimated total system energy efficiency exceeding 78–85% under standard domestic operating conditions. Food safety and sanitation are addressed through HACCP-compliant design, stainless-steel food-contact surfaces (AISI 304/316), automated self-cleaning cycles, and post-operation thermal sterilization (>65 °C surface temperature). The results indicate that the proposed system can reduce manual labor by approximately 60–75%, improve cooking time consistency by over 40%, and minimize cross-contamination risk compared to conventional kitchen workflows. The presented thermo-mechanical framework establishes a scalable foundation for next-generation smart cooking appliances applicable to smart homes, institutional kitchens, and decentralized food production environments. Please check the attachment for details