Oven Muffle Tray Support Layout for Standardized Tray Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oven muffles require multiple tray sizes due to differences in tray support mechanisms, leading to increased manufacturing and storage costs, as well as consumer inconvenience, since the clear width for tray insertion varies with the type of tray support means used.
Innovation Solution
Designing oven muffles with components that allow for independent clear width for tray insertion regardless of the tray support means, achieved by either integrally forming tracks in the sidewalls or using tray racks, and ensuring the same components can be used across different oven models by maintaining consistent dimensions for the muffle floor, top wall, and rear wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tray racks with vertical fixtures are used to support trays at multiple heights, then tray support functionality is improved, but the clear width for tray insertion is reduced due to the vertical fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The muffle sidewall is segmented into multiple discrete tracks formed by deep-drawing elongated plateaus, allowing trays to be supported at multiple discrete heights without requiring continuous vertical fixtures that would block tray insertion
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using vertical fixtures that extend in the width direction (blocking tray insertion), the solution transitions to using plateaus that extend in the height direction, creating tracks in the vertical dimension while preserving horizontal clearance for tray insertion
2Ease of manufacture
If different tray widths are provided for ovens with integral tracks versus ovens with tray racks, then each oven model can have optimized tray support, but manufacturing and storage costs increase due to multiple tray sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The muffle sidewall design with deep-drawn plateaus creating discrete tracks provides a universal tray support system that accommodates standard-sized trays while maintaining consistent clear width, allowing the same trays to be used across different oven models regardless of tray support mechanism type
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the muffle sidewall by deep-drawing additional plateaus to create tracks, which maintains the external dimensions and clear width while providing multiple tray support heights, thus standardizing tray dimensions across oven models
3Adaptability or versatility
If the clear width for tray insertion is made independent of tray support means, then standardization is improved, but the width of the oven muffle must be reduced to accommodate tray racks
Solution Approach 1:
The muffle sidewall is designed with localized deep-drawn plateaus that create tracks only in the regions where tray support is needed, while the overall external dimensions and clear width of the muffle remain standardized, allowing tray racks to be accommodated without reducing the standard muffle width
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for producing oven muffles (10; 52), comprises: (a) providing a muffle floor (12; 60), a muffle top wall (14), two opposing muffle side walls (16; 32) and a muffle rear wall (18; 62), (b) providing said muffle side walls (16; 32) with means for supporting food preparation trays at a plurality of discrete heights, by alternatively (i) integrally forming a plurality of tracks (34; 54) in the muffle side walls (32), or (ii) providing for each muffle side wall (16) a tray rack (20) comprising a plurality of tracks and providing means (28, 30, 40) for attaching said racks to said muffle side walls; and (c) connecting said muffle rear wall (18; 62) to said muffle floor (12; 60), said muffle top wall (14) and said muffle side walls (16; 32); in which method a dimensioning and shaping is selected for the components of the oven muffle (10; 52) such that the clear width for insertion of trays at the tray support means of opposing muffle side walls (16; 32) is independent of the choice selected in step (b).