Multi-Lane Conveyor Grill with Independent Time and Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grilling appliances lack automatic temperature and cooking time control, often resulting in undercooked, overcooked, or burned food products, and are unable to simultaneously cook different types of food at varying temperatures and cooking speeds.

Innovation Solution

A grilling appliance featuring upper and lower endless conveyor belts made from PTFE that route over and around heated platens, allowing for precise control of cooking time and temperature, with adjustable platen positions to accommodate different food heights and independent control of multiple conveyor lanes for simultaneous cooking of various food types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If conventional flat grills or clam-shell apparatus are used, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the cooking time and temperature cannot be automatically controlled, resulting in undercooked, overcooked, or burned food

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic cooking controlVSAvoidappliance structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamically adjustable cooking parameters including variable conveyor belt speeds for different cooking times, adjustable platen temperatures for precise heat control, and movable platens to accommodate different food thicknesses. This dynamic control system automatically adapts cooking conditions to prevent undercooking, overcooking, or burning while maintaining manageable appliance structure through standardized adjustable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional grilling apparatus are used, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to simultaneously cook different types of food at different temperatures and cooking speeds is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-food cooking capabilityVSAvoidconveyor system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cooking system into multiple independent conveyor lanes, each with its own platen assembly, temperature control, and speed regulation. This segmentation allows different food items to be cooked simultaneously in separate lanes under different conditions (temperatures and speeds) while using standardized modular components that limit overall system complexity. Each lane operates independently but follows the same design template.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If manual cooking monitoring is used, then the operation is simple, but the cooking results are inconsistent and food quality varies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking consistencyVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automatic control where conveyor belt speeds and platen temperatures are predetermined and automatically maintained for each food type. The conveyor mechanism itself controls cooking time through its speed, eliminating the need for manual timing and monitoring. This ensures consistent cooking results while operational simplicity is maintained through programmable settings and automated control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Ensures consistent, properly cooked food products by predetermining cooking time and temperature, preventing undercooking or overcooking, and allowing for the simultaneous preparation of multiple food items with different cooking requirements.

Implementation Method 1

the conveyor belts are flow-through conveyor belts, that is, they extend from a first food-insert end of the appliance toward a second oppositely disposed food-output end of the appliance, and consequently, depending upon the speed of the conveyor belts, which can be optimally controlled, the time during which the food articles are exposed to the heated conveyor belts, which are heated by means of the heated platens

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10258194B2Conveyor-type grilling appliance for cooking or re-thermalizing food with multiple independently controlled sets of conveyors defining multiple independently controlled cooking lanes

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 ANTUNES AJ & CO

AI summary

A grilling appliance is disclosed for preparing various different types of food wherein the food is conveyed through the appliance, from a food insert end of the appliance to a food removal end of the appliance, by means of continuously movable flow-through upper and lower cooperating conveyors operatively associated with platen-type heating members over which the upper and lower conveyors are conveyed so as to be heated by the platen-type heating members and thereby, in turn, heat, brown, or carmelize the food as desired or required. Multiple independently controlled conveyor sets define multiple independently controlled conveyor cooking lanes within the appliance.