Adjustable Dough Curling Device with Dynamic Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dough curling devices fail to control the orientation of curled dough slices effectively, leading to unpredictable tip positions, especially when dealing with filled dough slices, which is crucial for consistent croissant production.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a conveyor with an adjustable gripping element and pressure means that maintains continuous grip on the dough slice during curling, allowing for precise control over the curling process and orientation, using a flexible mat with enhanced friction and adjustable pressure to ensure stable positioning and orientation of curled dough slices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a pressure board is used to roll the dough piece after curling, then the dough piece is deformed and stabilized, but the tip position becomes undefined or disappears
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure means are made displaceable along the conveyor in the direction of conveyance, allowing dynamic adjustment of the pressing position. This enables the system to adapt to different dough slice positions and maintain optimal pressing location, thereby stabilizing the dough while preserving tip position information
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure means serve multiple functions: they stabilize the curled dough slice on the conveyor and simultaneously maintain the tip position information. By being displaceable, they can adapt to different dough types and curling positions, making the device universally applicable while achieving both stabilization and precision
2Manufacturing precision
If the gripping element maintains continuous grip on the dough slice, then the orientation is controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping element and pressure means are combined into a single integrated device that performs both gripping and pressing functions. This merging reduces the need for separate mechanisms while maintaining continuous control over the dough slice orientation throughout the curling process
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions: gripping the dough slice, maintaining orientation control during curling, and applying pressure for stabilization. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate independent mechanisms for each function
3Adaptability or versatility
If the distance along which the gripping element grips dough slices is adjustable, then the curling process is optimized for different dough types, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping element features an adjustable gripping distance that can be dynamically modified to accommodate different dough slice sizes and types. This adjustability allows optimization of the curling process for various products while maintaining a relatively simple adjustment mechanism
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 device enables controlled orientation of curled dough slices, preventing tip displacement and rotation, ensuring consistent product quality, even with filled dough, by maintaining continuous grip and adjusting the curling process to accommodate different dough types and dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
the friction between the mat and a dough slide is configured such that the leading edge or flank of a dough slide is peeled off the conveyor, and the dough slide starts to curl up
Implementation Method 2
When the curled up dough slice is pressed on the conveyor by the pressure means it is deformed slightly, so that it becomes just stable enough not to displace on the conveyor when released
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c
Figure 2a
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and device (1) for curling up dough slices (3), comprising a conveyor (2a,2b,2c) for the dough slices, a gripping element (10a-10e), arranged above the conveyor, for curling up a dough slice conveyed under the gripping element by the conveyor, pressure means (11), for pressing curled up dough slices (8) on the conveyor, wherein the distance along which the gripping element grips dough slices is adjustable in the direction of conveyance.