Spiral Cooking Device with External Drive and Drumless Airflow Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spiral cooking devices suffer from uneven and inconsistent air and heat distribution due to the presence of a center drum, which also occupies valuable space that could be used for other components.
Innovation Solution
A spiral cooking device with independently controlled cooking zones that allow for adjustable temperature, pressure, humidity, and air speed, eliminating the center drum to enhance air and heat distribution and utilizing a conveyor belt drive member positioned externally to drive the spiral conveyor belt, thereby improving cooking efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a center drum is used to drive the spiral conveyor belt, then the conveyor belt can be driven, but air and heat distribution becomes uneven and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the center drum from the spiral cooking device, extracting the problematic component that blocked air and heat flow. The conveyor belt is driven by an external drive mechanism at the periphery instead, eliminating the obstruction in the center and enabling uniform air and heat distribution throughout the cooking chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external drive mechanism as an intermediary element to drive the conveyor belt without requiring a center drum. This mediator transfers the driving function from the center to the periphery, resolving the conflict between reliable conveyor operation and uniform thermal environment.
2Productivity
If a center drum is present in the spiral cooking device, then the conveyor belt can be driven, but valuable space is occupied that could be used for other components
Solution Approach 1:
The center drum is extracted and removed from the cooking chamber, freeing up the central space that can now be utilized for improved air circulation, heat distribution, or additional cooking zones, thereby increasing the overall cooking capacity and efficiency of the device.
3Reliability
If multiple cooking zones with independent control are implemented, then cooking versatility and consistency improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking chamber is segmented into multiple independently controlled zones, each capable of maintaining specific temperature, humidity, and air flow conditions. This segmentation allows different food products or stages of cooking to occur simultaneously under optimized conditions, improving consistency and reliability of cooking results.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooking zone is equipped with local control mechanisms for temperature, humidity, and air flow, allowing tailored cooking conditions in different regions of the device. This local quality control ensures that each zone optimizes cooking for its specific requirements, enhancing overall cooking consistency.
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 solution provides uniform airflow, temperature, and humidity, leading to highly efficient cooking with consistent results and increased space utilization within the cooking device.
Implementation Method 1
heated air passes through the first cooking zone in a first direction and heated air passes through the second cooking zone in a second direction different than the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a spiral cooking device includes a first cooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in a first direction, a second cooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in a second direction different than the first direction, and a spiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned in the first and second cooking zones and configured to transport food product thereon through the first and second cooking zones. In one aspect, a spiral cooking device includes a spiral conveyor belt providing a central opening inside the belt and a conveyor belt drive member positioned externally of the central opening. In one aspect, a conveyor belt cleaning device is provided. In one aspect, a cooking device includes a frame including a plurality of coupled pipes for providing structural support to the device and at least one of the pipes is configured to have liquid pass therethrough.