Microwave Egg Holder Layout for One-Step Opening and Cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing egg cooking apparatuses require a large number of actions to open and close the housing and holder, which becomes annoying when the cooking time is reduced.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a housing with a first and second holder part, where the first part is movable below the second part, allowing simultaneous opening and closing of the confined space and cavity, with a liquid inlet and outlet system and a device for microwave radiation, and includes a spring for egg stabilization and a seal to prevent liquid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the holder has two parts that need to be opened separately to access the cavity, then the egg can be placed in the cavity, but the number of actions required to open and close the holder increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first holder part and second holder part are merged into a single movable assembly that can be opened and closed as one unit. The first housing part with the first holder part moves together relative to the second housing part with the second holder part, reducing the number of separate opening/closing actions while maintaining the cavity structure needed for egg placement
2Productivity
If the cooking time is reduced to less than two minutes, then the egg cooking efficiency improves, but the large number of opening and closing actions becomes relatively more annoying
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the first holder part and second holder part into a single movable assembly, the patent reduces the number of manual operations required. This allows the rapid cooking process (under 2 minutes) to not be offset by excessive preparation and access time, improving the overall productivity-to-operation-ratio
3Ease of operation
If the first housing part is located below the second housing part, then it is easier to place the egg in the first holder part, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges the first housing part and second housing part in a vertical stacking configuration along the height dimension. This spatial arrangement takes advantage of the vertical dimension to facilitate egg placement into the lower first holder part while integrating both holder parts into a cohesive movable assembly, thereby managing structural complexity
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
This design reduces the number of actions needed for cooking an egg to one, allowing efficient cooking with minimal pressure buildup and easy cleaning, while ensuring the egg is fully surrounded by liquid for effective microwave cooking.
Implementation Method 1
a device for providing microwave radiation in a confined space in the housing
Implementation Method 2
The liquid as well as the egg is being heated. The liquid is in heat exchanging contact with the eggshell
Implementation Method 3
The liquid is in heat exchanging contact with the eggshell, whereby due to the layer of liquid around the eggshell a good cooking process of the egg by means of the microwave radiation is obtained
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An apparatus and method for cooking at least one egg with an eggshell. The apparatus comprises a housing provided with a device for providing microwave radiation in a confined space in the housing and a holder located in the confined space. The holder is provided with at least one cavity adapted to the shape of the egg with the eggshell. The holder comprises at least a first holder part and a second holder part being movable with respect to each other between a first position in which an egg with an eggshell can be positioned in the cavity to a second position wherein the holder parts enclose the cavity. The apparatus further comprises means to insert a liquid into the holder for filling the cavity with the liquid to at least partly surround the eggshell of the egg located in the cavity. The housing comprises at least a first housing part provided with the first holder part and a second housing part provided with the second holder part. The first housing part is located at least partly below the second housing part. The first housing part with the first holder part is movable between the first and second position with respect to the second housing part with the second holder part.