Griddle platen height adjustment method and system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjusting the gap between the upper and lower platens of a griddle for different food products is a time-consuming task, affecting uniform cooking temperature and food thickness.
Innovation Solution
A height adjustment mechanism with a height set plate, adjustment lever plate, and locking mechanism that allows for quick and precise setting of the cooking gap between the upper and lower platens, using a coupler and clamp to lock the height set plate in position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional height adjustment mechanism is used, then the cooking gap can be adjusted to accommodate different food products, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism transitions from a static fixed-height structure to a dynamic adjustable-height structure. The height set plate can move vertically along the coupler, and the cam body can rotate about the coupler, allowing the cooking gap to be dynamically adjusted to accommodate different food product thicknesses while maintaining quick adjustment through mechanical leverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam body acts as an intermediary between the height set plate and the armature. By rotating the cam body about the coupler, the stud moves along the cam slot to precisely control the vertical position of the height set plate, enabling quick and accurate gap adjustment without direct manual positioning of the platen.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the height adjustment mechanism allows frequent adjustment, then different food thicknesses can be accommodated, but the complexity of the mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler serves multiple functions: it acts as a pivot point for the cam body rotation, a guide for the height set plate vertical movement, and a structural connector between the armature and the adjustment components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, maintaining relatively simple device complexity while enabling versatile height adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism employs a nested arrangement where the stud is received within the cam slot of the cam body, and the cam body rotates about the coupler which passes through the height set plate. This nested configuration allows compact packaging of multiple functional elements within a limited space, avoiding excessive complexity while achieving adjustable functionality.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to secure the height setting, then the cooking gap remains stable, but the adjustment process requires additional steps
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp serves itself by using its own movement along the rod to achieve both unlocking and locking functions. When moved to the first position, the clamp's first end engages the cam body to prevent rotation (locking). When moved to the second position, the engagement is released (unlocking). This self-service mechanism maintains ease of operation with a single component performing multiple states without requiring separate locking and unlocking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring provides temporary elastic deformation to enable the clamp to move between positions. During adjustment, the spring is compressed or extended to allow clamp movement (discarding its rigid constraint). Once the desired position is reached, the spring recovers its original shape, pushing the clamp into the locking position to secure the setting (recovering its constraining function). This allows simple operation with automatic locking.
Data Source
AI summary
A height adjustment mechanism is provided for setting a gap between upper and lower platens of a griddle, comprising: a height plate coupled to an armature of the upper platen, a stud and a lower end to engage a stop of the lower platen when the upper platen is in a lowered position; an adjustment plate coupled to the armature for rotation relative to the height plate and including a cam slot to receive the stud; a coupler; and a clamp that is movable between an unlocked position wherein the rotation of the adjustment plate causes the stud to move within the cam slot to adjust the height plate to a position corresponding to a desired gap when the lower end engages the stop, and a locked position wherein the clamp prevents rotation of the adjustment plate, locking the height plate in position and setting the desired gap.