Conveyorized Oven Position Tracking via Image Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

In conveyorized ovens, it is difficult to ascertain the position of a food item, such as a pizza, without opening the access door and wasting time and heat energy.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a conveyorized oven with image capture devices and a display monitor, where a computer processes imaging data to provide positional data, allowing real-time display of the pizza's position on a monitor without opening the oven door.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the access door is opened to check the food item position, then the position information is obtained, but heat energy is lost and time is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood item position informationVSAvoidheat energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses image capture devices to create visual copies (images) of the food item inside the oven chamber. These images are transmitted to a display device, allowing the user to view a copy of the food item's position without physically opening the door. This resolves the contradiction by providing position information through copying rather than direct observation that would require opening the door and losing heat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Loss of information

If the access door is opened to check the food item position, then the position information is obtained, but the cooking time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood item position informationVSAvoidcooking time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures images of the food item at various positions within the oven and displays these images on a monitor. This allows continuous monitoring of the food item's progress through the cooking chamber without interrupting the cooking process by opening the door, thereby preventing extension of cooking time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of information

If the access door is opened to check the food item position, then the position information is obtained, but the cooking temperature fluctuates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood item position informationVSAvoidcooking temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a visual monitoring system using image capture devices that transmit images of the food item to an external display. This allows the user to obtain position information without opening the access door, thereby maintaining stable cooking temperature without fluctuations caused by door opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Loss of energy

If the oven is enclosed to maintain temperature, then heat energy is conserved, but the food item position cannot be observed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat energyVSAvoidfood item position information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces image capture devices and a display system as intermediaries between the user and the food item inside the enclosed oven. The image capture devices are positioned to view the food item through the enclosed chamber, and the display system transmits this visual information to the user externally. This intermediary system allows position observation without compromising the enclosed structure that maintains temperature and conserves heat energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9041799B2Food item positional display system and method

Publication Date: 2015.05.26 BIELSTEIN LEE A

AI summary

A system and method for displaying the actual position of one or more food items on a conveyorized oven system on a display monitor. Digital images of each food item are captured, stored and processed into positional imaging data using data transmitted from sensors adjacent to the conveyorized oven system. Characteristic data for each food item may be associated with the positional imaging data. The characteristic and positional imaging data of the food items may be stored or communicated to a display monitor for the user to view.