Electric cooking device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric cookers have a fixed hinge height, leading to gaps between dies when different-thickness dies are used, causing dough to seep out and resulting in inconsistent baking, necessitating multiple cookers for various products, increasing manufacturing and operational costs.
Innovation Solution
An electric cooker with a hinge-shaft height adjusting mechanism that allows for vertical adjustment of the upper housing, enabling the use of different-thickness dies without replacing the hinge or housings, and a detachable die engagement system for easy die replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-height hinge is used to pivotally mount the upper housing to the lower housing, then the structure is simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the upper housing cannot accommodate dies of different thicknesses, causing gaps between dies and inconsistent baking quality
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge shaft is made adjustable in height through a adjusting mechanism comprising an adjusting screw, nut, and scale. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the hinge shaft to be positioned at different heights to accommodate dies of varying thicknesses, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that can adapt to different baking requirements while maintaining consistent die contact.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple electric cookers are manufactured for different baked products with different die thicknesses, then each cooker is optimized for specific products, but manufacturing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The electric cooker is designed with universal adaptability through the adjustable hinge shaft mechanism, allowing a single cooker to handle multiple baked products with different die thicknesses. The hinge shaft can be adjusted to various heights to match different die combinations, making one cooker perform the function of multiple specialized cookers, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining baking consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the height of the upper housing is changed to accommodate different die thicknesses, then different thicknesses can be used, but it requires substituting the entire upper housing which is complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment function is segmented from the entire upper housing structure and isolated to a specific component - the hinge shaft. This segmentation allows only the hinge shaft to be adjusted in height while the rest of the upper housing remains unchanged. The adjusting mechanism (screw, nut, scale) provides a simple, localized solution that avoids the complexity and cost of substituting entire housings.
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 consistent baking of various products with a single electric cooker by allowing adjustable die thickness, reducing manufacturing costs and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an electric heater disposed in at least one of the lower housing and the upper housing and heating at least one of the lower die and the upper die from back
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a inexpensive electric cooker in which a different-height upper or lower die is properly mounted without necessity of replacing a hinge or upper and lower housings or of manufacturing an electric cooker exclusively used for each baked product. The electric cooker comprises a lower housing 1; a lower die 7 mounted on the the lower housing 1; an upper housing 5 pivotally mounted at the rear end via a hinge shaft 4 to the lower housing 1 to turn upward from the lower housing 1 upward; an upper die 8 mounted on the upper housing, a lower surface of the upper die being capable of being disposed in an upper surface of the lower die; an electric heater disposed in at least one of the lower housing 1 and upper housing 5 and heating at least one of the lower die 7 and the upper die 8 from back to heat dough for bread or the like between the lower die and the upper die; and hinge-shaft height adjusting means 6 changing a vertical position of the upper housing 5 pivotally mounted via the hinge shaft by adjusting height of the hinge shaft.