Apparatus for preparing food having a drawer with a sliding mechanism
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food preparation apparatuses face challenges in maintaining efficient air sealing and user convenience due to incorrect drawer positioning and increased weight from substantial food loads, leading to reduced heating/cooking/frying efficiency and manual handling difficulties.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a sliding mechanism between the internal walls and the drawer's bottom part, minimizing air leakage and facilitating easy drawer positioning and manipulation, with options for ball-bearing, roller-mounted, or two-parts sliders for smooth and cost-effective operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the drawer is made fixed and heavy to support substantial food ingredients, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased weight for manual handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by introducing a spring-loaded lifting mechanism that provides an upward counterbalancing force to offset the drawer's weight. The spring is anchored to the housing and connects to the drawer via a lifting rod, creating a mechanical system where the spring force counteracts gravity's pull on the heavy drawer, enabling easy manual operation despite substantial food loads.
2Ease of operation
If the drawer positioning is made flexible for easy loading, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sealing performance deteriorates causing hot air leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sealing strip as an intermediary element between the drawer and housing. This flexible sealing strip is attached to the drawer's front surface and extends into the housing, creating a dynamic seal that maintains airtight closure while accommodating the drawer's movement during loading and operation, thus preventing hot air leakage despite positioning flexibility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the food basket is integrated fixed with the pan, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased weight for manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the food preparation system into separable components: a removable food basket and a stationary pan. The food basket is designed as a distinct, detachable element that can be independently removed from the pan, allowing users to handle only the lightweight basket when loading food, while the pan remains fixed to maintain structural stability and positioning.
4Ease of operation
If the drawer is made fully removable for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sealing performance deteriorates causing hot air to leak outside
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sealing strip as an intermediary element between the drawer and housing. This flexible sealing strip is attached to the drawer's front surface and extends into the housing, creating a dynamic seal that maintains airtight closure while accommodating the drawer's movement during loading and operation, thus preventing hot air leakage despite positioning flexibility.
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
This solution optimizes heating/cooking/frying efficiency by minimizing air leaks and reduces user effort in handling heavy food loads, while allowing easy cleaning and maintenance without disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
a sliding mechanism placed between the internal walls and the drawer... allows a smooth sliding movement of the drawer
Implementation Method 2
the first slider and the second slider are ball-bearing sliders... allows a smooth sliding movement of the drawer, even if the weight of the food basket is significant. Moreover, this reduces the wearing effect of the sliding mechanism along the time
Implementation Method 3
the first slider and the second slider are roller-mounted sliders... allows a cost-effective solution for a smooth sliding movement of the drawer, even if the weight of the food basket is significant
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus for preparing food, said apparatus comprising: - a shell (1) having internal walls (2), - a drawer (3) placed inside the shell (1), the drawer comprising a pan (4) and a food basket (5), the food basket (5) being placed inside the pan (4), - an air heating system (6) and an air fan (7) placed inside the shell (1), - a sliding mechanism (8) placed between the internal walls (2) and the drawer (3). The sliding mechanism allows to correctly position the drawer inside the apparatus, and reduces efforts of use to manipulate the drawer.