Modular cooking appliance having a hot air oven with a built-in magnetron
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Food-service operators require multiple ovens to cook various food types, which occupy valuable space and require multiple electrical power plugs, and different operating skills for each oven type, complicating the cooking process.
Innovation Solution
A modular cooking appliance with interchangeable modules containing an impingement oven, hot air oven, and microwave oven, featuring a common control panel, adaptive power management, and a food transport system, allowing for concurrent cooking of different food items using a single-phase 50-Amp outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ovens are used to cook various food types, then cooking versatility is improved, but device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single oven capable of performing multiple cooking functions (convection baking, convection roasting, microwave cooking, and combination mode) through interchangeable cooking modules and adjustable rack positions. This allows one device to replace multiple specialized ovens, achieving cooking versatility without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The oven is divided into modular components including removable cooking racks, interchangeable module sets, and separable functional units. This segmentation allows flexible configuration for different cooking tasks while maintaining a compact single-unit structure, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ovens are used to cook various food types, then cooking versatility is improved, but occupied space increases
Solution Approach 1:
By designing a single oven that can perform convection baking, convection roasting, microwave cooking, and combination modes through modular rack configurations, the patent eliminates the need for multiple separate ovens, thereby reducing countertop space occupation while maintaining full cooking versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested rack designs where cooking racks can be positioned at multiple levels and configured to accommodate different food types and sizes. The modular modules can be nested or stacked within the single oven cavity, maximizing space utilization and reducing the overall footprint required
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ovens are used to cook various food types, then cooking versatility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single oven integrates multiple heating elements and a microwave generator that can be selectively activated based on the cooking task. This allows the system to use only the necessary energy-intensive components (microwave or convection heating) for each specific cooking operation, rather than running multiple separate ovens simultaneously, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The oven controls temperature, power level, and cooking mode parameters dynamically based on the selected cooking task. By adjusting these parameters and using intelligent power management, the system optimizes energy consumption for each operation type, resolving the contradiction between versatility and power usage
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ovens are used to cook various food types, then cooking versatility is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a unified control system with a single interface that manages all cooking functions (convection baking, convection roasting, microwave, and combination modes). This centralized control eliminates the need for operators to learn and switch between multiple different oven interfaces, reducing operational complexity while maintaining full cooking versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The oven features dynamically adjustable rack positions and interchangeable modular components that can be quickly reconfigured for different cooking tasks. This dynamic adaptability allows operators to easily switch between cooking types without complex setup procedures, resolving the contradiction between versatility and ease of operation
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 modular design streamlines cooking operations by allowing multiple oven types to be used concurrently within a single appliance, optimizing space and power usage while simplifying the cooking process through adaptive power management and a unified control system.
Implementation Method 1
a microwave oven having a cooking chamber and a magnetron built-in the cooking chamber
Implementation Method 2
a blower for directing heated air in a horizontal direction beneath said cook rack
Data Source
AI summary
A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven, and a second interchangeable cooking module containing a hot air oven having a cooking chamber. The hot air oven includes a cook rack having multiple air deflectors having different lengths located within said cooking chamber and a blower for directing heated air in a horizontal direction beneath said cook rack.