Movable Heating Plate for Flush Tabletop Food Container Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food preparation and serving devices lack flexibility and functionality for preparing and serving food, particularly in accommodating food containers of different sizes and formats, and do not allow for food preparation directly on the device.
Innovation Solution
A device with a closure plate driven by an electric motor and a slip clutch that adjusts torque to ensure the plate remains in contact with food containers, allowing for flexible use as a heating or cooling surface, and automatically moves between closed and lowered positions based on occupancy, ensuring secure placement and efficient energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a closure plate is used to close recesses in the table top, then objects are protected from falling into recesses and food can be prepared on the table surface, but the device cannot accommodate food containers in gastronorm format and lacks flexibility for different uses
Solution Approach 1:
The closure plate is made movable between a closed position (flush with table top) and a lowered position (below table top surface). This dynamic positioning allows the same structure to serve multiple functions: protecting recesses when closed and accommodating gastronorm containers when lowered, thereby increasing adaptability without adding complex separate structures
Solution Approach 2:
The closure plate serves multiple functions: it acts as a protective cover for recesses, a preparation surface for food, and a support for gastronorm containers. By integrating these functions into a single movable component rather than separate fixed structures, the device achieves versatility while maintaining structural simplicity
2Reliability
If the closure plate is held in contact with food containers using a drive device, then secure placement and temperature maintenance are achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drive device automatically detects when a gastronorm container is placed in the recess and autonomously moves the closure plate to the lowered position and maintains contact with the container. This self-acting mechanism eliminates the need for manual operation or complex control systems, achieving reliable container securing through simple automated response
Solution Approach 2:
A slip clutch mechanism is used to replace complex electronic control systems. The slip clutch automatically slips when a certain torque threshold is reached, providing a simple mechanical means to detect container weight and trigger the lowering action, thereby achieving reliable container securing with minimal device complexity
3Extent of automation
If the closure plate is moved between positions using a motor and slip clutch, then automatic positioning is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slip clutch mechanism provides automatic positioning through pure mechanical means. When the container weight exceeds a threshold, the clutch slips and allows the closure plate to lower under gravity. This mechanical automation replaces complex electronic sensors and motors, achieving automatic position change with simple, reliable components
Solution Approach 2:
A pneumatic or hydraulic actuator is used to provide controlled movement of the closure plate. The actuator can be simply activated to move the plate between positions and then allows gravity to return it, providing automatic positioning functionality with a simple activation mechanism rather than continuous complex control
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 device provides a versatile surface for preparing and serving food, securely holding food containers in place and maintaining consistent temperature, allowing for cooking or keeping food warm, while maintaining a continuous table surface when not in use.
Implementation Method 1
The closure plate can be designed as a heating or cooling plate... low-loss energy transfer from the closure plate to the food container and vice versa... When the closure plate is in the retracted position, the upper side of the food container is approximately flush with the table top... the closure plate, which has a heating device, for example, is reliably held in contact with the underside of the food container
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (10) has a table top (12) with a recess (14) for receiving food containers in a gastronomy format or insertion parts. A closure plate (16) closes the recess in the table top in a closed position. The closure plate is arranged perpendicular to the tabletop in a movable manner. A drive device for the closure plate is provided to selectively move the closure plate into the closed position or a discharge position. The closure plate releases the recess in the discharge position. The closure plate is designed as a heating- or cooling plate.