Stackable Pan Cooking Appliance for Multi-Item Meal Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking an entire meal typically requires multiple appliances and operations due to varying cooking times, temperatures, and energy sources for different food types, increasing preparation time and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance with a microwave module and multiple heat sources, including upper and lower heater modules, and a convection module, combined with a rotatable turntable and upper pan, allows for precise energy distribution to multiple food items in a single cycle, optimizing cooking conditions for diverse food types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple appliances and operations are used to cook different food items with varying cooking requirements, then each food item can receive optimal cooking conditions, but the preparation time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooking functions (microwave heating, radiant heating, convection heating) into a single cooking appliance. The cooking system integrates a microwave module, upper and lower heater modules, and a convection module within one appliance, allowing simultaneous operation of multiple energy sources to cook different food items with varying requirements in a single cycle, thereby reducing preparation time while maintaining cooking condition adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the cooking space into multiple zones with distinct heating characteristics. The cooking cavity is segmented into an upper region with the upper heater module and microwave module, and a lower region with the lower heater module and convection module. This segmentation allows different spatial zones to provide different cooking conditions (microwave energy, radiant heat, convection heat) to different food items simultaneously, enabling optimal cooking for diverse foods within a single appliance operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple appliances are used to prepare different components of a meal, then optimal cooking conditions can be achieved for each food type, but the operational complexity and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple cooking appliances (microwave oven, broiler, convection oven) into a single integrated cooking appliance. By merging these separate devices into one unified system with shared control and simultaneous operation capability, the patent eliminates the need to coordinate multiple independent appliances, reducing operational complexity while maintaining diverse cooking method capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal cooking appliance that can perform multiple cooking functions (microwave heating, radiant heating, convection heating) simultaneously or sequentially. This multi-functional design allows a single appliance to replace several specialized appliances, providing cooking method diversity without requiring users to manage multiple separate devices and their coordination
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
Enables efficient and simultaneous cooking of multiple food items with varying cooking requirements in a single cycle, reducing preparation time and complexity by providing tailored energy exposure to each item based on its spatial location.
Implementation Method 1
a microwave module for delivering microwave energy into the cooking cavity
Implementation Method 2
at least one secondary heat source for delivering thermal energy into the cooking cavity
Implementation Method 3
A convection module is provided in the cooking appliance
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, and a turntable rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. An upper pan is mounted above the turntable. The cooking appliance also includes a motor operatively coupled to the turntable to rotate the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking cavity.