Flexible Heating Unit for Direct-Contact Low-Temperature Cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low-temperature cooking machines require two separate products, a thermostat water bath, and a vacuum plastic package machine, and involve complex operating procedures, making them less user-friendly and less integrated.
Innovation Solution
A low-temperature cooking machine with a flexible heating unit that surrounds the food cooking cavity, connected to a pump for deformation and direct contact with the food, eliminating the need for vacuum plastic packaging and thermostat water baths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate products (thermostat water bath and vacuum plastic package machine) are used for low-temperature cooking, then the cooking function is achieved, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vacuum packaging function and water bath heating function into a single integrated device. The container serves both as the vacuum chamber and as the water bath container, eliminating the need for separate vacuum packaging and heating devices. This merging resolves the technical contradiction by achieving full cooking functionality while reducing device complexity from two separate products to one unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The container in the patent performs multiple functions: it serves as the vacuum chamber for packaging, as the water bath container for heating, and as the cooking vessel for the food. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple specialized devices, resolving the contradiction between achieving comprehensive cooking capabilities and maintaining simple device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two separate products (thermostat water bath and vacuum plastic package machine) are used for low-temperature cooking, then the cooking function is achieved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to complex procedures
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the vacuum packaging and water bath heating operations into a single integrated device, the patent eliminates the need for sequential operations with multiple devices. Users can perform both vacuum packaging and heating in one device, significantly simplifying the operating procedure and improving ease of operation while maintaining full cooking functionality.
3Temperature
If a rigid heating structure is used, then the heating function is achieved, but the heat transfer efficiency to food deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible heating film that can conform to the shape of the food and the container interior. This flexible structure maximizes the contact area between the heating element and the food, enabling efficient heat transfer while adapting to different food shapes and sizes. The flexible nature of the heating film resolves the contradiction by maintaining effective heating function while significantly improving heat transfer efficiency compared to rigid structures.
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
The machine simplifies cooking operations by directly heating food within a vacuum environment, preserving food quality and eliminating the need for multiple devices, thus offering a more integrated and user-friendly cooking solution.
Implementation Method 1
the pump (2) for creating a vacuum environment in said food cooking cavity (4)
Implementation Method 2
the flexible heating unit (1) under the action of the pump (2) can be deformed to directly contact with and heat the food (41)
Implementation Method 3
The flexible heating unit is a liquid heating bag connected with a water heater
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3a~4a
Figure 4b~6
AI summary
Disclosed in the present invention is a low-temperature cooking machine. The low-temperature cooking machine comprises a flexible heating unit (1) and a pump (2), and the pump (2) is used for providing pressure or suction to cause the flexible heating unit (1) to deform and contact and heat food (41). The low-temperature cooking machine in the present invention is a novel cooking device; under the action of the pump, the flexible heating unit as a heater can be deformed and directly contact food, so as to directly heat and cook the food. The low-temperature cooking machine in the present invention is a novel device and can replace an existing low-temperature cooking device having a constant temperature water bath and a vacuum plastic package machine.