Adjustable Vacuum Chamber for Faster Food Sealing in Compact Drawers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen vacuum devices face challenges in accommodating items of varying sizes efficiently, as they require a large chamber for larger items but a smaller chamber for quicker evacuation and storage, leading to space inefficiencies, especially when housed in compact drawers.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen appliance with a vacuum device featuring adjustable walls that can change positions to alter the vacuum chamber's volume, allowing for flexible adaptation to different item sizes and compact storage, utilizing a design where one wall can be turned or pivoted to adjust the chamber's size, enabling quick evacuation and space-saving storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the vacuum chamber is made large enough to accommodate larger foods, then the capacity to vacuum larger items is improved, but the evacuation time increases and storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum chamber incorporates at least one adjustable wall that can change position between a first position (larger volume) and a second position (smaller volume). This dynamic adjustment allows the chamber volume to be optimized for different operational requirements: larger volume for accommodating bigger foods, and smaller volume for faster evacuation and compact storage.
2Volume of moving object
If the vacuum chamber is made large enough to accommodate larger foods, then the capacity to vacuum larger items is improved, but the storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable wall enables the vacuum chamber to transition between expanded and compact configurations. When not in use or when processing smaller items, the wall is positioned to reduce the chamber volume, allowing the device to occupy less storage space in the drawer while maintaining the capability to accommodate larger foods when needed.
3Loss of time
If the vacuum chamber volume is reduced for smaller items, then the evacuation time is reduced, but the capacity to accommodate larger foods is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable wall provides a mechanism to dynamically change the chamber volume based on the size of the items being vacuumed. For smaller items, the wall is positioned to create a smaller chamber volume, enabling faster evacuation. For larger foods, the wall is repositioned to expand the chamber volume, maintaining adequate capacity.
4Volume of stationary object
If the vacuum device is designed to be compact for storage in small drawers, then the storage space efficiency is improved, but the chamber volume for accommodating larger foods is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum device incorporates an adjustable wall that allows the chamber to be compact during storage (reducing the volume occupied in the drawer) while enabling expansion to a larger volume during operation to accommodate larger foods. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between compact storage and adequate processing capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable vacuum chamber allows for efficient vacuuming of items of all sizes while minimizing storage space, as the device can be compactly housed in low-height drawers, eliminating the need for additional inserts to reduce chamber volume during evacuation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one evacuation device (8) for evacuating fluid in the vacuuming chamber (2)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The vacuum device (1) according to the invention and the method are particularly suitable for packaging foodstuffs. The vacuum device has a closable vacuum chamber with two walls (3, 9) and with an evacuation device (8) for evacuating fluid in the vacuum chamber. In order to adjust the volume of the vacuuming chamber, one wall is designed to be adjustable between two closed positions.