Compartmentalized Marinator Drum for Simultaneous Chicken Piece Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The time-consuming process of separating chicken pieces from a whole chicken for marination in commercial restaurants slows down the overall preparation process, as existing methods require separate marination of each piece type in a rotating drum, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A marinator apparatus with a fluid-tight hollow drum divided into two compartments by an interior baffle, allowing for simultaneous marination of different chicken pieces, with a support axle and pin mechanism to prevent rotation during filling and enable efficient tumbling and uniform coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If chicken pieces are marinated separately in a rotating drum, then uniform coating is achieved, but the preparation time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The drum is divided into multiple compartments by baffles, allowing different chicken pieces to be marinated simultaneously in separate sections. Each compartment can hold different types of chicken pieces (breasts, wings, thighs, legs) and be filled independently, enabling parallel processing while maintaining uniform coating through the tumbling action in each compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a spatial dimension to the marination process by creating vertical and horizontal compartments within the drum. The baffles create separated zones that allow simultaneous marination of multiple piece types, effectively using three-dimensional space to parallelize the process rather than sequentially processing pieces in a single space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If chicken pieces are sorted into separate bins for marination, then piece-specific treatment is enabled, but the overall process speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple separate marination processes into a single integrated drum system. Multiple compartments within one drum allow different chicken pieces to be marinated simultaneously in different marination compositions, combining the benefits of piece-specific treatment with the efficiency of a unified system rather than requiring multiple separate bins and processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum serves multiple functions: it can marinate different types of chicken pieces simultaneously, accommodate different marination compositions, and process various quantities. The universal design allows the same apparatus to handle breasts, wings, thighs, and legs in different compartments with different marinades, eliminating the need for separate dedicated equipment for each piece type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a whole chicken is separated into pieces before marination, then piece-specific marination is achieved, but the time-consuming separation process slows down overall preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention allows chicken pieces to be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator, then directly loaded into the compartmentalized drum for marination. The preliminary separation of pieces is done beforehand, and the drum's compartments are designed to receive pre-separated pieces, eliminating the need for complex automated separation equipment during the marination process itself.
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
Simplifies the chicken piece sorting and marination process, reducing preparation time by allowing separate compartments for different pieces, ensuring uniform coating and efficient use of marination time, thereby speeding up the overall chicken preparation process in high-throughput restaurants.
Implementation Method 1
The pieces are often tumbled for 20-30 minutes in order to ensure that the pieces are fully coated with the marination composition.
Implementation Method 2
The drum is rotatably supported by a support axle... and by a drive axle... configured to be rotatably driven by a source of rotational power.
Data Source
AI summary
A marinator apparatus for the preparation of pieces of a whole chicken includes a fluid-tight hollow drum with opposing top and bottom walls that are substantially planar and that include an opening with a lid configured to sealingly close the opening. The drum further includes an interior baffle fixed inside that separates the drum into a top compartment accessible only through the top opening and an opposite bottom compartment accessible only through the bottom opening. The drum is supported for rotation by a support axle projecting from one end wall and a drive axle projecting from the opposite end wall. The drive axle includes a driven gear configure to be driven by a powered drive gear.