Self-contained popcorn popper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current popcorn poppers emit particulates into the environment, which can damage digital projection equipment and degrade image quality, and existing solutions do not adequately reduce emissions to immeasurable levels, especially in open-sided poppers without the need for costly exhaust ductworks.
Innovation Solution
A popcorn popper design featuring a recirculation passage with a filter and blower system that captures and recirculates filtered effluent back into the popping chamber, ensuring minimal particulate discharge by directing filtered air downward through a diffuser with multiple exhaust apertures, eliminating the need for external venting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a blower and filter combination is used to capture and filter effluent from the popper kettle, then particulate emissions are reduced to acceptable levels, but the system requires connection to existing exhaust ductwork or costly modifications to building infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the exhaust ductwork requirement from the system by directing filtered effluent downward through diffusers into the popper cabinet rather than requiring external venting. This eliminates the need for costly building modifications while maintaining particulate filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves itself by recirculating filtered effluent back into the popper cabinet, eliminating the need for external exhaust infrastructure. The popper handles its own emissions containment through downward direction into the cabinet space.
2Ease of manufacture
If effluent is discharged into the surrounding environment, then the system operates without complex filtration, but particulates deposit on projection equipment and degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces filtered air as an intermediary substance that displaces effluent downward into the cabinet. This intermediary prevents direct discharge of particulates into the environment while maintaining system operational simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If open-sided cabinets are used for large capacity poppers, then installation flexibility is improved, but unfiltered particulates escape into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to contain effluent within a closed cabinet, the patent inverts the approach by using downward-directed filtered effluent to suppress and contain particulates within the open cabinet space, allowing installation flexibility while preventing emissions.
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 system effectively captures and recirculates popcorn popping effluent, reducing particulate emissions to negligible levels, allowing for installation in theaters and facilities without additional hoods or ductwork, maintaining equipment integrity and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a blower and filter combination to capture, from within the popper cabinets, oil, steam, smoke and particulates from the effluent emitted from the popper kettle
Implementation Method 2
Within the cabinet, the self-contained system filters the particulates and effluent emitting from the kettle
Data Source
AI summary
A popcorn popper is provided having a cabinet including a popcorn popping chamber, a kettle positioned within the popcorn popping chamber, at least one inlet provided in the top wall of the popcorn popping chamber configured to receive effluent from the kettle when popping popcorn and a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the at least one inlet that is configured to receive effluent from the at least one inlet. A filter is positioned in the recirculation passage and a blower including a housing in fluid communication with the recirculation passage is provided with an outlet of the housing being configured to direct filtered effluent into the popcorn popping chamber through the top wall and downwardly generally parallel to one of the side walls. A method of operating a popcorn popper is also provided.