Disposable cup for heating food products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for heating food or beverages in disposable cups require separate appliances or equipment for heating water, and existing disposable solutions are either expensive or not cost-effective for single-use applications.
Innovation Solution
A disposable heating cup with a printed electrical heating circuit and USB connector, allowing for heating via a USB interface without the need for additional equipment, using conductive ink for cost-effective mass production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate heating appliances or equipment are used to heat water for food preparation, then the heating function is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the cup structure, merging the heating function with the container. This eliminates the need for separate heating appliances and reduces system complexity while maintaining reliable heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup serves multiple functions: it acts as both the food container and the heating device. The USB-powered heating circuit enables the cup to heat various food items directly, making it a universal solution for preparing different types of instant food products.
2Temperature
If reusable thermally conductive cups with integrated heating components are used, then heating and temperature maintenance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a disposable cup design with a printed heating circuit that can be mass-produced at low cost. The cup is intended for single use, eliminating the need for expensive reusable materials and complex cleaning mechanisms while maintaining effective heating and temperature maintenance during the usage period.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating circuit parameters (power, resistance, trace dimensions) are optimized for single-use applications. The printed circuit uses conductive ink with specific electrical properties that enable effective heating at low power consumption, making the disposable design economically viable.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional disposable cups without integrated heating are used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the heating function requires additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is merged with the disposable cup through a printed circuit board integrated into the cup structure. This combination maintains low manufacturing costs while adding heating capability, eliminating the need for separate heating equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical heating system (external heating appliances) is replaced with an electrical heating system integrated into the cup. The USB-powered printed circuit provides direct heating, substituting the need for external mechanical heating devices.
4Ease of operation
If USB-powered printed heating circuits are integrated into disposable cups, then the heating function is achieved without separate equipment, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional complex heating mechanisms are replaced with a simple printed circuit board using conductive ink. This substitution simplifies manufacturing while enabling USB-powered heating functionality that is easy for consumers to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating circuit uses printed conductive traces with optimized electrical parameters (resistance, width, length) that can be directly manufactured using printing processes. This approach simplifies production compared to traditional wired heating elements while maintaining effective heating performance.
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 cost-effective heating of food or beverages in disposable cups using a USB connection, suitable for single-use applications, maintaining temperature for extended periods without the need for separate heating appliances.
Implementation Method 1
a disposable heating cup for heating a food product via USB interface characterized in that the heating cup comprises a printed electrical heating circuit
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a disposable heating cup intended for heating up a food product or for maintaining such a food product when pre-heated hot in a disposable cup over an extended period of time, wherein the heating cup is characterized in that it comprises a printed electrical heating circuit and a printed USB connector linked to said electrical heating circuit. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a packaged food product comprising the disposable heating cup, and a method for heating a food or beverage product with making use of a disposable heating cup.