Apparatus for accelerating heat transfer on flat griddles and methods for using such apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toasting apparatuses on flat griddles are inefficient in accelerating heat transfer, often requiring five minutes to achieve quality toast, and existing solutions either fail to meet health standards, are difficult to clean, or introduce contamination risks due to direct contact with the griddle surface.

Innovation Solution

A toasting apparatus with a rigid frame and independent flexible members that apply pressure to food products without direct contact with the griddle surface, reducing heat and grease transfer concerns and preventing contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If weight is added to the top of the bun to accelerate toasting, then heat transfer rate is improved, but health department standards and labor efficiency are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoasting speedVSAvoidhealth department standards compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a griddle cover as an intermediary device between the heat source and the food product. The cover includes pressure application members that apply downward force on the bun without directly contacting the griddle surface, thereby accelerating heat transfer while maintaining hygiene standards and allowing for easy cleaning and sanitization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If floating pins are used in the toasting apparatus, then consistent toast quality is achieved, but cleaning and sanitization become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoast quality consistencyVSAvoidcleaning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The griddle cover acts as a removable intermediary that separates the pressure application mechanism from the griddle surface. This design allows the cover and its components to be easily removed, cleaned, and sanitized without the complexity of cleaning individual floating pins embedded in a fixed structure, thereby improving ease of maintenance while maintaining toast quality consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If chainmail is pulled tight to prevent sagging, then contamination is reduced, but bun deformation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrease contaminationVSAvoidbun deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the pressure application mechanism into multiple discrete pressure application members distributed across the griddle cover surface. This segmentation allows each member to independently apply pressure to contact areas of the bun without requiring the entire cover to be tightly tensioned, thereby preventing bun deformation while still maintaining adequate separation from the griddle surface to prevent contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If direct contact with griddle surface is allowed, then heat transfer is maximized, but grease transfer and contamination occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidgrease contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The griddle cover serves as a thermal intermediary that conducts heat from the griddle surface to the food product through its pressure application members. This intermediary approach maintains effective heat transfer by ensuring close contact between the cover and the bun, while simultaneously preventing direct contact between the bun and the contaminated griddle surface, thereby eliminating grease transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 apparatus accelerates heat transfer and improves toasting efficiency while maintaining cleanliness and safety standards by applying uniform pressure to food products without direct contact with the griddle, reducing contamination risks and ensuring consistent toast quality.

Implementation Method 1

This enhances direct contact with the griddle, which increases the rate of conductive heat transfer to the bun

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConductive heat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11337554B1Apparatus for accelerating heat transfer on flat griddles and methods for using such apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 IN-N-OUT BURGERS CORP

AI summary

Toasting apparatus for preparing food products, e.g., buns, are provided for a griddle including a flat griddle surface onto which food products may be placed for cooking, as well as methods for using such apparatus. The apparatus includes a rigid frame movable between a raised position to place food products on or remove food products from the griddle surface and a lowered position wherein a lower surface of the frame is positioned above the griddle surface. The frame includes a plurality of flexible members, e.g., elongate strips, including intermediate regions extending from the lower surface to contact food products on the griddle surface such that the flexible members conform to shapes of food products placed on the griddle surface when the frame is placed in the lowered position to apply pressure to the food products.