Swing-Arm Stirring in Rotating Drums for Uniform Stir-Frying
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing continuous stir-fry cooking apparatus of a rotating drum type has insufficient stirring of ingredients due to a fixed stirring blade position, which is affected by the types and amounts of ingredients and heating temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A rotating drum type continuous stir-fry cooking apparatus with a swing arm and a rotating shaft supporting a stirring blade member that can be swung to optimize its position within the heating drum, allowing for effective stirring by adjusting the swing angle based on operational conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed stirring blade position is used in the rotating drum type continuous stir-fry cooking apparatus, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the stirring effectiveness deteriorates under varying cooking conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The stirring blade is made movable through a swing arm mechanism that allows it to change its radial position within the heating drum. The swing arm can rotate about a swing shaft, enabling the stirring blade to adjust its position dynamically based on cooking conditions such as ingredient type, amount, and heating temperature, thereby resolving the contradiction between fixed structure simplicity and adaptive stirring effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The radial position parameter of the stirring blade is made variable through the swing arm mechanism. By changing the swing angle of the swing arm, the stirring blade's position parameter is adjusted to optimize stirring effectiveness for different cooking conditions, while the overall mechanical structure remains relatively simple
2Device complexity
If the stirring blade position is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the stirring uniformity deteriorates when ingredients are distributed unevenly within the drum
Solution Approach 1:
The swing arm mechanism enables the stirring blade to dynamically adjust its radial position to follow the distribution of ingredients within the drum. When ingredients are concentrated in certain regions, the swing arm can be positioned to enhance stirring in those areas, improving stirring uniformity without requiring a complex multi-blade system
Solution Approach 2:
The stirring blade's position is locally optimized by adjusting the swing arm angle according to ingredient distribution patterns. This allows the single stirring blade to effectively address local stirring needs different parts of the drum may have, achieving uniform stirring without increasing overall device complexity
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
This design enables efficient stirring of ingredients regardless of their location within the drum, improving cooking outcomes for various food items like vegetables, meats, and seafood, and ensuring uniform cooking by adjusting the stirring blade's position according to conditions such as drum speed and ingredient distribution.
Implementation Method 1
by rotating the stirring blade member while the swing arm is kept swung back and forth like a pendulum
Implementation Method 2
a stirring blade member provided to the rotating shaft with a tip end coming in close proximity to an inner peripheral surface of the heating drum
Implementation Method 3
a heating drum provided in a rotatable manner with a center axis of a cylindrical body being oriented in a horizontal direction and having a cooking ingredient charging portion at one end and a product discharging portion at the other end
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous stir-fry cooking apparatus of a rotating drum type includes a heating drum having a cooking ingredient charging portion at one end and a product discharging portion at the other end, a swing arm 23 swingable about a swing shaft provided on an axis line of the heating drum 14, a rotating shaft 24 provided to a swing end of the swing arm to be parallel to the axis line of the heating drum, and a stirring blade member 26 provided to the rotating shaft with a tip end coming in close proximity to an inner peripheral surface of the heating drum. The stirring position of the stirring blade member can be optimized by regulating the swing angle of the swing arm according to the conditions, such as the rotating velocity of the heating drum.