Stackable Meal Tray Assembly for Induction Oven Catering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transition from traditional steam and convection ovens to induction ovens in aircraft galleys requires a meal carrier system that maintains existing catering logistics, allowing for efficient loading, heating, and serving of meals without altering current processes.
Innovation Solution
A modular stackable tray system designed for induction ovens, featuring casserole-receiving portions with guiding rails for spacing and securing elements, such as a base assembly, cover assembly, and securing system, allowing for easy stacking, transportation, and secure positioning within the oven.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual casseroles are placed in metallic trays and then in meal carriers for conventional ovens, then the catering logistics work for steam and convection ovens, but the system complexity increases when adapting to induction ovens with shelf-based heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the meal carrier system into modular stackable trays that can be independently handled and positioned. Each tray is a discrete unit that can be stacked and secured, allowing the system to adapt to induction oven shelves without requiring a complete redesign of the meal carrier infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stackable trays are designed to serve multiple functions: they hold individual casseroles, stack efficiently for storage and transport, and can be positioned on induction oven shelves. This multi-functionality allows the same basic tray design to work across different oven types and configurations.
2Productivity
If meal carriers are used to transport multiple casseroles, then logistics efficiency improves, but the space utilization in induction oven shelves decreases due to carrier structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of meal carriers (transporting multiple casseroles) and implements it through simple stackable trays without the bulky carrier structure. By removing the outer carrier housing and using individual stackable trays, the system maintains logistics efficiency while minimizing space occupation in the induction oven.
Solution Approach 2:
The trays utilize vertical stacking in the third dimension to achieve efficient logistics handling, rather than requiring horizontal expansion of carrier structures. This allows multiple casseroles to be transported and stored efficiently while occupying minimal horizontal space in the induction oven shelves.
3Volume of moving object
If trays are stacked closely for efficient storage, then space efficiency improves, but heating effectiveness decreases due to lack of spacing between trays
Solution Approach 1:
The trays are designed with nested stacking features where one tray fits partially within the structure of another when stacked, achieving compact storage. However, the guiding rails and spacing features ensure that when positioned for heating, the trays maintain appropriate separation to allow effective induction heating while still stacking efficiently for storage and transport.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide stackable meal trays for use in transporting and heating meal casseroles in an induction oven.