Steam-Circulating Blade Assembly for Single-Bowl Food Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing countertop cooking appliances for preparing food are inefficient, inconvenient, and lack effectiveness in processing and cooking food ingredients, particularly requiring separate containers for steaming and processing functions.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance with a base, container, and rotatable blade assembly that utilizes steam circulation from top to bottom for efficient cooking, incorporating a steam-producing chamber and blade assembly with vapor apertures and outlets to facilitate simultaneous steaming and processing of food ingredients within a single bowl.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate containers are used for steaming and processing functions, then the appliance can perform specialized functions, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines steaming and processing functions into a single container by integrating a blade assembly with vapor outlets directly into the cooking container. This allows steam to be generated and distributed while simultaneously processing food, eliminating the need for separate steaming and processing containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a steaming chamber and a processing container. The blade assembly with integrated vapor outlets enables the same container to both generate/distribute steam and mechanically process food, making the container universal for both functions.
2Productivity
If steam circulates from top to bottom through the blade assembly, then cooking efficiency and evenness improves, but the blade assembly design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly incorporates vapor outlets at specific locations (adjacent to the bottom of the blade assembly) to create localized steam circulation zones. This targeted approach to steam distribution improves cooking efficiency by directing steam exactly where needed, rather than using a complex overall system redesign.
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 even cooking of food ingredients by allowing steam to circulate from top to bottom, eliminating the need for separate containers and improving cooking efficiency and convenience by integrating steaming and processing functions in a single bowl.
Implementation Method 1
a heater for converting a liquid into a cooking vapor
Implementation Method 2
a heater for converting a liquid into a cooking vapor
Implementation Method 3
utilizes the circulation of steam from top to bottom within a container to cook or heat food within the container
Implementation Method 4
a blade assembly rotatably mounted in the container and having at least one vapor aperture located adjacent to a top of said blade assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance in accordance with the present invention includes a base, a container engageable with the base and configured to receive one or more food ingredients, a heater for converting a liquid into a cooking vapor and a blade assembly rotatably mounted in the container and having at least one vapor aperture located adjacent to a top of said blade assembly and at least one vapor outlet located adjacent to a bottom of said blade assembly.