Culinary press
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional culinary presses require separate actions for pressing and removing foodstuff, leading to inefficiencies and wastage in fast-paced commercial kitchens, where speed and convenience are crucial.
Innovation Solution
A culinary press design where the action of pressing foodstuff automatically generates the action of removing pressed foodstuff, utilizing a pivotably connected pressing member and a reciprocating scraping member within a transmission mechanism, allowing simultaneous foodstuff pressing and removal with a single squeezing action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional culinary press is used, then the pressing function is achieved, but the pressed foodstuff remains adhered to the receptacle requiring separate removal tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressing member and scraping member into a single integrated device. The pressing member, when moved to press foodstuff, automatically engages the scraping member to remove pressed foodstuff from the receptacle. This merging of two separate functions (pressing and scraping) into one device eliminates the need for separate removal tools and simplifies the operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing member is designed to automatically perform the scraping function during its pressing motion. As the pressing member moves towards the receptacle to press the foodstuff, it simultaneously engages the scraping member to scrape away the pressed foodstuff. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for a separate scraping action or tool, making the device self-sufficient for both pressing and removal tasks.
2Ease of operation
If a built-in scraper is added to the culinary press, then foodstuff removal is enabled, but the preparation speed is considerably hindered due to sequential operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pressing and scraping operations into a single simultaneous action. The pressing member and scraping member are coupled such that when the user performs one pressing motion, both the pressing and scraping functions are executed at the same time. This eliminates the sequential nature of conventional presses where pressing must be completed before scraping can begin, thereby maintaining high preparation speed while enabling foodstuff removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The design ensures that the useful action of removing pressed foodstuff continues simultaneously with the pressing action. As the pressing member moves to compress the foodstuff, the scraping member continuously removes the pressed material from the receptacle. This continuous dual action prevents any interruption in the food preparation process, maintaining productivity while adding the removal capability.
3Reliability
If pressing and removal are performed as separate actions, then each function can be optimized, but time is lost and foodstuff may be wasted in fast-paced commercial kitchens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate functional actions (pressing and removal) into a single integrated mechanism. The pressing member and scraping member work together such that one user action simultaneously achieves both pressing the foodstuff and removing it from the receptacle. This eliminates the time required to perform these operations sequentially while maintaining the reliability and effectiveness of both functions through proper mechanical coupling.
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
Enables efficient and simultaneous foodstuff pressing and removal, enhancing the speed and convenience of food preparation by combining two tasks into one intuitive action, reducing wastage and improving operational efficiency in commercial kitchens.
Implementation Method 1
a pressing member for moving towards or away from the receptacle... the pressing member is pivotably connected to the receptacle at a first pivot, the first pivot defining a first axis extending across the receptacle
Implementation Method 2
a scraping member for scraping processed foodstuff away from the receptacle... the scraping member may be reciprocatingly movable in the guide
Implementation Method 3
the transmission mechanism may include a first actuation arm pivotably connected to the receptacle at the first pivot and fixedly connected to (and with respect to) the pressing member, wherein the transmission mechanism may be configured whereby movement of force is transferrable from the pressing member to the first actuation arm
Data Source
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
The present invention is concerned with an elongate culinary press (2). The press has a receptacle (8) for accommodating foodstuff to be processed, a pressing member (4) for moving towards or away from the receptacle (8), a pair of handle members (16, 18) extending from the receptacle (8) and the pressing member (4), respectively, a scraping member (38) for scraping processed foodstuff away from the receptacle (8), and a transmission mechanism. The press (4) is adapted to assume a first configuration in which the arms (16, 18) are spread apart, the receptacle (8) is exposed to receive foodstuff and the scraper (38) is disposed in one end of the receptacle (8), and a second configuration in which the arms (16, 18) are moved towards each other, the pressing member (4) is pressed against the foodstuff in the receptacle (8), and the scraping member (38) is moved from one end to the opposite end of the receptacle (8).