Intelligent pastry modeling device

Abstract

This invention discloses an intelligent pastry shaping device, relating to the food processing field, comprising a support module, a communication receiving module, a graphics processing module, a size adjustment and confirmation module, a motion control module, a cutting execution module, and a protection module. The support module holds the pastry to be cut; the communication receiving module receives personalized graphic files sent from an external terminal; the graphics processing module extracts the inner and outer contours and important feature lines of the graphic; the size adjustment and confirmation module scales the extracted contours proportionally to generate a previewable cutting size diagram; the motion control module generates the cutting motion trajectory; the cutting execution module precisely cuts the pastry based on the motion trajectory; and the protection module ensures safety during the cutting process. This invention achieves an integrated process from graphic reception, contour and important feature line extraction, size confirmation to automatic cutting, offering convenient operation, high personalization, and good safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food processing, specifically to an intelligent pastry shaping device, suitable for scenarios such as restaurant, home, and pastry shop pastry making. It can automatically extract the outline of a personalized graphic provided by the user and make the pastry into the shape corresponding to the graphic. Background Technology

[0002] Shaped pastries, such as into swords, pagodas, or toy guns, enhance their appeal and attractiveness when baked, steamed, fried, or grilled. Current pastry shaping methods are mainly divided into two categories: manual shaping and automated machine shaping. Manual shaping requires manually drawing the outline, patterns, or aligning cutting lines, which is cumbersome, has low cutting precision, low efficiency, and struggles to cut complex and personalized shapes, especially hollow shapes like the hollow parts of a toy gun wrench or a toy bamboo ladder, often resulting in incomplete cutting of hollow areas and uneven edges. Automated shaping machines are mostly used in food processing enterprises for mass production of pastries, primarily enabling large-scale production of single-shaped pastries such as peaches, tigers, and fish. These machines use molds, meaning each mold can only produce one type of pastry, limiting personalization.

[0003] In existing technologies, some automatic pastry shaping devices have simple outline shaping functions, using mold pressing to shape pastries, such as cartoon shapes, tiger shapes, apple shapes, and other pastry products. These automatic pastry shaping devices have simple shape outline making functions, but require manual pre-making of corresponding molds. One mold can only produce pastry products of one shape, resulting in low personalization.

[0004] For irregular, personalized shapes such as bicycles, toy guns, and pagodas, due to market limitations, there are few individual molds available to produce these shapes. Especially for personalized designs created by ordinary consumers, where users only need to produce a few pastry products based on their own drawings, the small quantity makes it economically impractical for manufacturers to develop individual molds for producing these shapes. Manual cutting with knives is highly demanding, requiring skilled knife work and making it difficult to control the size of the pastry during cutting, leading to errors and wasting time and effort. The overall time and labor costs are too high. Furthermore, using a knife requires concentration, and even a slight mistake could result in hand injuries, making it unsafe.

[0005] Therefore, in response to the pain point that existing mold technology cannot meet users' needs for personalized pastry shaping, and the problems of manual pastry cutting technology such as cumbersome operation, inconvenient size control, difficulty in adapting to the cutting of hollow shapes, and poor safety in the shaping process, there is an urgent need for a new type of personalized intelligent pastry shaping device to solve the above-mentioned technical defects. Summary of the Invention

[0006] (1) Technical problems to be solved

[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides an intelligent pastry shaping device that enables personalized and precise cutting of pastries, adapts to various cutting needs including solid and hollow shapes, and features easy operation and flexible size adjustment. It also enhances the safety of pastry shaping and the device's adaptability to different scenarios.

[0008] (2) Technical solution

[0009] The technical solution adopted in this invention is: an intelligent pastry shaping device, including a carrying module, a communication receiving module, a graphics processing module, a size adjustment confirmation module, a motion control module, a cutting execution module and a protection module. The modules work together to realize the automatic cutting and shaping of personalized contour pastries.

[0010] The supporting module is a table-shaped structure with a rectangular plate supported by four columns, used to place the dough to be cut and to provide a stable support platform for cutting and shaping the dough;

[0011] The communication receiving module is the core component of the graphic input, used to receive personalized graphic files sent by external terminals. It supports graphic transmission from instant messaging tools such as mobile phones and tablets, and can read image format files sent by terminals. The communication receiving module includes a wireless communication unit and an image file parsing unit. The wireless communication unit supports WiFi, Bluetooth and mobile network connections. The image file parsing unit can parse common image file formats such as JPG, PNG, and TIFF, identify the effective graphic area in the image file, and eliminate background interference.

[0012] The graphics processing module is electrically connected to the communication receiving module and is used to perform standardization processing on the received graphics file, including grayscale, binarization, and noise reduction processing, and to extract the outer contour lines, inner hollow contour lines and the maximum feature lines of the graphics, so as to obtain a graphic to be cut containing the outer contour, hollow contour and the maximum feature lines.

[0013] The size adjustment confirmation module is electrically connected to the graphics processing module and is used to receive the external contour lines, internal hollow contour lines and maximum feature line data output by the graphics processing module. It provides a proportional scaling function, can adjust the size of the overall graphic contour according to user needs, generate a cutting preview image and display the specific length and width parameters. After the user confirms the command, the confirmed size data of the overall graphic contour is sent to the motion control module.

[0014] The motion control module is electrically connected to the size adjustment confirmation module. The motion control module includes a trajectory planning unit and a drive unit. The trajectory planning unit is used to analyze and generate the motion trajectory of the cutting execution module based on the confirmed contour size data, including the external contour trajectory, the internal hollow contour trajectory, and the trajectory of the maximum feature line. The planned trajectory cutting priority and cutting force are determined by first cutting along the trajectory of the maximum feature line, with the force ensuring that the surface is not cut through, but only leaving a certain mark after cutting. Next, cutting is done along the external contour trajectory, and finally cutting is done along the internal hollow contour trajectory. The drive unit uses a stepper motor to drive and control the cutting execution module to move bidirectionally along the X and Y axes.

[0015] The cutting execution module is electrically connected to the motion control module and is installed above the support module. It can move horizontally and is used to precisely cut the surface points on the support module according to the instructions of the motion control module, along the external contour trajectory, the internal hollow contour trajectory, and the trajectory of the maximum feature line. The cutting execution module includes a cutting tool and a tool adjustment unit. The cutting tool is a vibrating blade, which is driven by an eccentric motor to vibrate the blade at high frequency. The tool adjustment unit can adjust the tool height and blade direction according to the thickness of the surface points. The tool height is adjustable to adapt to surface points of different thicknesses. During the cutting process, the tool maintains perpendicular contact with the surface points, and the blade edge always follows the direction of the trajectory, precisely conforming to the contour lines.

[0016] The protection module includes an infrared sensing safety module and a protective cover. It can detect foreign objects in the cutting area and control the cutting execution module to stop moving in a timely manner to avoid safety hazards. The protective cover is made of transparent material to ensure the visibility and safety of the cutting process.

[0017] Furthermore, a separate pad can be placed on the supporting module. The pad can be made of wood or other materials and has anti-slip texture on its surface to ensure that the pastry does not shift during the cutting process and that the cut pastry can be removed as a whole.

[0018] Furthermore, the size adjustment confirmation module has a size memory function, which can store commonly used cutting sizes for easy reuse later.

[0019] Furthermore, the communication receiving module, graphics processing module, size adjustment confirmation module, and motion control module (partial) are integrated on the same control motherboard, supporting software and hardware upgrades and facilitating the expansion of subsequent functions.

[0020] Beneficial effects

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] (1) High degree of personalization, strong adaptability, simple operation, and can realize hollow shape cutting. This device supports the transmission of personalized graphic files through instant messaging tools such as mobile phones and tablets. Users can quickly upload the graphics to be cut to the graphic processing module. The graphic processing module can automatically extract the outer contour lines, inner hollow contour lines and the largest feature lines of the graphics, and remove irrelevant internal lines without manual intervention. The largest feature lines extracted in the closed area are not completely cut. The execution module will control the descent height of the cutter according to the instructions, leaving only imprints on the surface.

[0023] (2) Flexible size adjustment with preview confirmation. The size adjustment confirmation module provides proportional scaling function, supports user-defined size, and can distinguish the external contour lines, internal hollow contour lines and maximum feature line data output by the graphic processing module through different colors. The cutting effect and size parameters can be previewed in real time. Cutting can be carried out after user confirmation to avoid size deviation and solve the problem of inconvenience in manual cutting size control.

[0024] (3) Precise cutting and good hollow cutting effect. The motion control module is driven by a stepper motor, which has high positioning accuracy, smooth trajectory planning, and a reasonable cutting sequence. First, it cuts along the trajectory of the largest feature line, ensuring that the surface is not cut through, but only leaving a certain mark after cutting. Then, it cuts along the outer contour trajectory, and finally cuts along the inner hollow contour trajectory, avoiding the problem of tearing the surface, which is better than manual cutting. The cutting tool is a vibrating knife with adjustable height to adapt to different thicknesses of surface.

[0025] (4) High safety and reliable use. The device has a protection module, which includes an infrared sensing safety module and a protective cover. It can detect foreign objects in the cutting area and control the cutting execution module to stop moving in time to avoid safety hazards. The protective cover is made of transparent material to ensure the visibility and safety of the cutting process.

[0026] (5) Controllable cost. Compared with industrial-grade cutting equipment, this device has a simplified structure, uses consumer-grade components, has low manufacturing cost, and is suitable for use in homes, bakeries, schools, restaurants and other places. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the load-bearing module structure;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the motion control module and the cutting execution module;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the protection module structure.

[0031] In the attached diagram: 1-supporting table leg, 2-pad, 3-supporting tabletop, 4-support frame, 5-protective cover, 6-Y-axis drive unit, 7-Y-axis lead screw, 8-X-axis drive unit, 9-X-axis lead screw, 10-tool adjustment unit, 11-tool, 12-protective cover door, 13-handle. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0033] Please refer to the following: Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 ,in Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the load-bearing module structure; Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the motion control module and the cutting execution module; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the protection module structure.

[0034] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, an intelligent pastry shaping device is described, in which 1-supporting table leg, 2-pad, 3-supporting tabletop, 4-support frame, 5-protective cover, 6-Y-direction drive unit, 7-Y-direction lead screw, 8-X-direction drive unit, 9-X-direction lead screw, 10-tool adjustment unit, 11-tool, 12-protective cover door, 13-handle.

[0035] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0036] Example:

[0037] An intelligent pastry shaping device includes a support module, a communication receiving module, a graphics processing module, a size adjustment and confirmation module, a motion control module, a cutting execution module, and a protection module.

[0038] The support tabletop 3 of the support module is made of stainless steel, and the surface to be cut is placed on the pad 2.

[0039] The communication receiving module is the core component of the graphic input, used to receive personalized graphic files sent by external terminals. It supports graphic transmission from instant messaging tools such as mobile phones and tablets, and can read image format files sent by terminals. It includes a wireless communication unit and an image file parsing unit. The wireless communication unit supports WiFi, Bluetooth and mobile network connections, and the image file parsing unit can parse common image file formats such as JPG, PNG, and TIFF, identify the valid graphic areas in the image file, and eliminate background interference.

[0040] The graphics processing module is electrically connected to the communication receiving module and is used to perform standardization processing on the received graphics files, including grayscale, binarization, and noise reduction. It extracts the outer contour lines, inner hollow contour lines, and maximum feature lines of the graphics to obtain a graphic to be cut containing the outer contour, hollow contour, and maximum feature lines, and generates coordinate data containing only the contour of the graphic to be cut.

[0041] The size adjustment confirmation module is electrically connected to the graphics processing module. It is used to receive the external contour lines, internal hollow contour lines and maximum feature line data output by the graphics processing module, and provides a proportional scaling function. It can adjust the size of the overall graphic contour according to the user's needs, generate a cutting preview image and display the specific length and width parameters. After the user's command is confirmed, the confirmed size data of the overall graphic contour is sent to the motion control module.

[0042] The motion control module is electrically connected to the size adjustment confirmation module. The motion control module includes a trajectory planning unit and a drive unit. The trajectory planning unit is used to analyze and generate the motion trajectory of the cutting execution module based on the confirmed contour size data, including the external contour trajectory, the internal hollow contour trajectory, and the trajectory of the maximum feature line. The planning trajectory priority and cutting force are determined first. Cutting is performed along the trajectory of the maximum feature line, with the force ensuring that the surface is not cut through, but only leaving a certain mark after cutting. Cutting is then performed along the external contour trajectory, and finally along the internal hollow contour trajectory. The drive unit includes an X-axis drive unit and a Y-axis drive unit, which are driven by stepper motors to control the cutting execution module to move bidirectionally along the X-axis and Y-axis.

[0043] The cutting execution module includes a tool adjustment unit 10 and a tool 11. The tool adjustment unit 10 is electrically connected to the motion control module and is installed above the support module. It can adjust the tool height and blade direction according to the thickness of the surface. The cutting tool 11 is a vibrating tool. The vibrating tool is driven by an eccentric motor to vibrate the blade at high frequency. According to the instructions of the motion control module, the tool 11 accurately cuts the surface on the support module pad 2 along the outer contour trajectory, the inner hollow contour trajectory, and the trajectory of the maximum feature line.

[0044] The protection module includes an infrared sensing safety module and a protective cover 5, which can detect foreign objects in the cutting area and control the cutting execution module to stop moving in a timely manner to avoid safety hazards; the protective cover 5 is made of transparent material to ensure the visibility and safety of the cutting process.

[0045] The workflow of this embodiment:

[0046] (1) The user places the surface to be cut on the working area of ​​the support module pad 2, pulls the handle 13, and closes the protective cover door 12;

[0047] (2) Send graphic files to the communication receiving module of this device via mobile phone, tablet computer, etc.;

[0048] (3) After receiving the graphic file, the communication receiving module parses and sends it to the graphic processing module. The graphic processing module performs grayscale, binarization, and noise reduction on the graphic, extracts the outer contour lines, inner hollow contour lines and the maximum feature lines of the required graphic, and generates contour line coordinate data.

[0049] (4) The size adjustment confirmation module receives the outline coordinate data, displays the graphic outline preview and the initial default size. The user inputs the scaling ratio, the preview is updated in real time, and the scaled size is displayed. After the user confirms that there is no error, a confirmation command is sent.

[0050] (5) The motion control module receives the confirmed contour dimensions and coordinate data, parses and generates the cutting motion trajectory, and controls the stepper motor to drive the cutting execution module to move along the X-axis and Y-axis;

[0051] (6) The cutting execution module first cuts along the trajectory of the largest feature line according to the motion trajectory, and the force is guaranteed not to cut through the surface point, but only to ensure that there is a certain imprint after the cut. Then it cuts along the outer contour trajectory, and finally cuts along the inner hollow contour trajectory. During the cutting process, the infrared sensing safety module detects in real time. If a foreign object approaches, the cutting will stop immediately.

[0052] (7) After cutting is completed, the cutting execution module is reset. The user pulls handle 13 to open the protective cover door 12 and remove the pad 2. The cut personalized shaped pastries are then taken out completely along with the pad 2. The cut personalized shaped pastries can be used for subsequent baking, steaming, frying, deep-frying and other processing operations.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made based on the content of the present invention specification and drawings within the spirit and principles of the present invention, or directly or indirectly applied to other related technical fields, should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An intelligent pastry shaping device, characterized in that: It includes a load-bearing module, a communication receiving module, a graphics processing module, a size adjustment confirmation module, a motion control module, a cutting execution module, and a protection module; The supporting module is a table-shaped structure with a rectangular plate supported by four columns, used to place the surface to be cut; The communication receiving module is used to receive personalized graphic files sent by external terminals, supports graphic transmission from instant messaging tools such as mobile phones and tablets, and can read image format files sent by external terminals. The graphics processing module is electrically connected to the communication receiving module and is used to perform standardization processing on the received graphics file, including grayscale, binarization, and noise reduction, and to extract the outer contour lines, inner hollow contour lines and the maximum feature lines of the graphics to obtain a graphic to be cut containing the outer contour, hollow contour and the maximum feature lines. The size adjustment confirmation module is electrically connected to the graphics processing module and is used to receive the external contour lines, internal hollow contour lines and maximum feature line data output by the graphics processing module. It provides a proportional scaling function, can adjust the size of the overall graphic contour according to user needs, generate a cutting preview image and display the specific length and width parameters. After the user confirms the command, the confirmed size data of the overall graphic contour is sent to the motion control module. The motion control module is electrically connected to the size adjustment confirmation module. It is used to analyze and generate motion trajectories based on the confirmed contour size data, including the external contour trajectory, the internal hollow contour trajectory and the maximum feature line trajectory, and to plan the trajectory priority and cutting force. First, it cuts along the maximum feature line trajectory, and the force is used to ensure that the surface points are not cut through, but only to ensure that there is a certain imprint after the cut. Second, it cuts along the external contour trajectory, and finally cuts along the internal hollow contour trajectory. The cutting execution module is electrically connected to the motion control module and is installed above the support module. It can move horizontally and is used to precisely cut the surface points on the support module according to the instructions of the motion control module, along the external contour trajectory, the internal hollow contour trajectory, and the trajectory of the maximum feature line. The protection module includes an infrared sensing safety module and a protective cover. It can detect foreign objects in the cutting area and control the cutting execution module to stop moving to avoid safety hazards. The protective cover is made of transparent material to ensure the visibility and safety of the cutting process.

2. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The communication receiving module includes a wireless communication unit and an image file parsing unit. The wireless communication unit supports WiFi, Bluetooth and mobile network connections. The image file parsing unit can parse common image file formats such as JPG, PNG, and TIFF, identify valid graphic areas in the image file, and eliminate background interference.

3. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The graphics processing module uses the Canny operator for contour extraction, combined with median filtering and opening operations for noise reduction, to ensure the continuity and integrity of the contour lines, remove redundant nodes in the contour, and improve cutting accuracy; it can automatically identify the external contour lines, internal hollow contour lines, and the largest feature lines in the graphics.

4. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The size adjustment confirmation module includes a display unit and a modification and input unit. The display unit is used to display the overall outline preview, current size parameters, and scaling ratio. Different colors can be used to distinguish the outer outline lines, internal hollow outline lines, and the largest feature lines in the graphic for easy viewing by the user. The modification and input unit allows the user to delete the corresponding outline line trajectory data according to different colors. Then, the user can input the scaling ratio or directly input the target size. Real-time preview of the size parameters is supported. After the user confirms, an unchangeable cutting instruction is generated.

5. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motion control module includes a trajectory planning unit and a drive unit. The trajectory planning unit generates a continuous and smooth motion trajectory based on the data of the outer contour lines, the inner hollow contour lines, and the maximum feature lines. It plans the motion sequence according to the principle of first virtual cutting and then real cutting, and first external cutting and then internal cutting. That is, it first cuts along the trajectory of the maximum feature line, ensuring that the surface is not cut through, but only leaves a certain mark after cutting. Secondly, it cuts along the outer contour trajectory, and finally cuts along the inner hollow contour trajectory to avoid jamming, offset, and tearing of surface during the cutting process. The drive unit uses a stepper motor to drive and control the cutting execution module to move bidirectionally along the X and Y axes.

6. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cutting execution module includes a cutting tool and a tool adjustment unit. The cutting tool is a vibrating blade, which is driven by an eccentric motor to vibrate the blade at high frequency. The tool adjustment unit can adjust the tool height and blade direction according to the thickness of the surface. The tool height is adjustable to adapt to surface with different thicknesses. During the cutting process, the tool maintains perpendicular contact with the surface, and the blade always follows the direction of the trajectory, accurately conforming to the contour lines.

7. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A separate pad can be placed on the support module. The pad can be made of wood or other materials and has anti-slip texture on its surface to ensure that the pastry does not shift during the cutting process and that the cut pastry shape can be removed as a whole.

8. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protection module includes an infrared sensing safety module and a protective cover. The infrared sensing safety module is electrically connected to the motion control module. When a foreign object such as a finger is detected approaching the cutting area, the module is immediately controlled to stop moving to avoid safety hazards. The protective cover is made of transparent material and covers the entire cutting work area to ensure the visibility and safety of the cutting process.

9. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The size adjustment confirmation module has a size memory function, which can store commonly used cutting sizes for easy reuse later.

10. The intelligent pastry shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The graphics processing module, size adjustment confirmation module, and motion control module (partial) are integrated on the same control motherboard, supporting software and hardware upgrades and facilitating the expansion of subsequent functions.

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