Waffle Grill with Upper-Plate Batter Flow for Uniform Crispiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waffle irons face challenges in achieving uniform crispiness and shape consistency due to uneven batter distribution and contact times between the lower and upper grill plates, making it difficult to produce high-quality waffles.
Innovation Solution
The grill device features an upper and lower grill unit with a guide unit that includes a hollow guiding member and cutting set, allowing fluidic food material to flow evenly between the plates and cutting excess batter, ensuring consistent waffle shape and crispiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the upper grill unit is pivoted down to cover the lower grill unit with the batter held therebetween, then the waffle can be cooked, but the batter contacts the lower grill plate for a longer time period than the upper grill plate, making it difficult to achieve the same degree of crispiness for top and bottom sides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional pouring method by introducing batter through the upper grill plate rather than the lower grill plate. This inversion allows the batter to first contact the upper grill plate and then flow downward to the lower grill plate, equalizing the contact time and cooking conditions for both surfaces, thereby achieving uniform crispiness.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual spreading of batter is used on the lower grill plate, then the waffle can be formed, but it is difficult to achieve uniform shape and consistency in quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates manual spreading operations by designing the system to automatically distribute batter. The batter flows through the upper grill plate and is self-distributed across the cooking surface by gravity and pressure, achieving uniform shape and consistent quality without requiring manual intervention.
3Quantity of substance
If a measured cup is used to control the amount of batter, then the quantity can be controlled, but it is still difficult to form waffles with uniform shape in different operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical measuring cup system with a controlled delivery mechanism integrated into the upper grill plate. This mechanism precisely controls batter flow rate and distribution through the opening, ensuring uniform waffle shapes across different operations by eliminating variability in manual pouring and spreading.
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 design ensures both top and bottom waffle surfaces are evenly cooked, with the guide unit facilitating uniform batter distribution and easy cleaning, while the cutting set maintains consistent waffle shape by removing excess batter.
Implementation Method 1
The upper grill plate defines an opening which is in spatial communication with the cooking space and which is adapted to permit the fluidic food material to flow therethrough into the cooking space
Data Source
AI summary
A grill device is for cooking a fluidic food material, and includes an upper grill unit and a lower grill unit. The lower grill unit includes a lower grill plate. The upper grill unit removably covers and is operable to uncover the lower grill unit, and includes an upper grill plate that cooperates with the lower grill plate to define a cooking space therebetween, which is adapted to accommodate the fluidic food material when cooking, and that defines an opening, which is in spatial communication with the cooking space and which is adapted to permit the fluidic food material to flow into the cooking space therethrough.