Oven with partially extractable cooking module on fixed tracks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooking ovens in professional catering settings face challenges with inaccessible and integrated functional parts, requiring frequent removal and dismantling for maintenance, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A cooking oven design featuring a partially extractable cooking module on fixed tracks, allowing for horizontal traversal and exposing essential functional parts on one side for easy access and maintenance, while the opposite side remains blank for compact positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If functional parts are integrated inside the oven body, then the oven structure is compact, but maintenance access becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidstructural integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The oven is divided into a stationary body and a mobile cooking module that can be partially extracted. The cooking module contains functional parts (heating elements, motors, pumps, solenoid valves, probes, contactors, timers, thermostats) grouped together on one side, allowing maintenance personnel to access these components by simply pulling out the module rather than disassembling the entire oven.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cooking module is extracted from the stationary body through a partial extraction mechanism guided by fixed tracks. This extraction exposes the functional parts on the equipped side wall, enabling rapid inspection, adjustment, servicing, and replacement without removing the entire appliance or performing complex dismantling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of repair

If functional parts are exposed on one side, then maintenance is facilitated, but the oven requires more lateral space for positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparts accessibilityVSAvoidlateral space requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking module is designed with asymmetry: one side wall is equipped with functional parts while the opposite side wall is blank. This asymmetric configuration allows the module to be positioned with the equipped side facing outward for maintenance access, while the blank side can be positioned against a wall or in tight spaces, optimizing both accessibility and space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Functional parts are concentrated on one specific side wall of the cooking module rather than being distributed throughout. This local concentration ensures that all maintenance-related components are accessible from a single location, while the opposite side remains simple and can adapt to various installation environments with limited space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of repair

If the cooking module is fully extractable, then maintenance access is maximized, but structural stability and safety decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodule accessibilityVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking module's extractability is made dynamic and controlled through fixed tracks that guide the module during partial extraction. The system allows the module to be pulled out to a limited extent for maintenance while maintaining structural connection and stability, preventing complete removal that would compromise safety and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed tracks and guidance mechanisms are designed beforehand to control the extraction movement, ensuring the module can be accessed for maintenance while maintaining sufficient structural stability. The track system provides mechanical guidance and support throughout the extraction process, preventing instability or damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Ease of repair

If maintenance requires complete removal of the appliance, then all parts are accessible, but kitchen disruption and repair time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparts accessibilityVSAvoidrepair time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the oven into a stationary body and a mobile cooking module with functional parts concentrated on one side, the design enables maintenance personnel to access all essential components by simply extracting the module a limited distance. This eliminates the need to completely remove the appliance or perform extensive dismantling, significantly reducing repair time and kitchen disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4538600A1Oven with partially extractable cooking module on fixed tracks
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 ALI SPA CARPIGIANI GRP
  • EP4538600A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4538600A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4538600A1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5c

AI summary

A cooking oven (10, 10a) for community catering, composed of a fixed part comprising an outer body (100) functioning as an enclosure and support, and a mobile part comprising a cooking module (101) mounted inside the body and at least partially extractable (EP) due to horizontal travel on fixed tracks (114) and corresponding carriages (115, 116) located under the module. The cooking module (101) includes an oven chamber (102) having the functional equipment grouped together and mounted on the same side, constituting an equipped side wall (108) of the oven chamber, being accommodated in a housing (109) contained by the body, wherein said equipment is exposed and accessible from the side, when the module is partially extracted (101, 117, EP). The proposed solution facilitates routine maintenance tasks of a professional oven, and reduces inconvenience in the kitchen.