Spiral Cooking Device Without Center Drum for Uniform Airflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 caused uneven air and heat distribution. The conveyor belt is driven by an external drive mechanism at the periphery instead, eliminating the obstruction in the center and allowing uniform airflow and heat distribution throughout the cooking chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive mechanism is moved from the central axial position to the peripheral radial position. This dimensional change in the drive system location transforms the airflow pattern from obstructed to uniform, while still achieving the same conveyor belt driving function.
2Productivity
If a center drum is used to drive the spiral conveyor belt, 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 additional cooking zones, larger conveyor belt capacity, or other functional components that enhance productivity.
3Reliability
If multiple cooking zones with independent control are implemented, then cooking performance and consistency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking chamber is segmented into multiple independently controlled zones, each with its own heating and airflow control. This segmentation allows different cooking parameters to be applied to different sections of the conveyor belt, improving cooking consistency for various food products while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooking zone is equipped with dynamically adjustable parameters including temperature, pressure, humidity, and air speed. This dynamic control capability allows the system to adapt to different cooking requirements while maintaining consistency through automated regulation in each zone.
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 more efficient and consistent cooking performance without the space constraints of a center drum, enhancing the cooking device's reliability and efficiency.
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.