Automated Batter Dispenser for Precision Pancake Shape Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for making pancakes are inefficient, impractical, aesthetically unpleasing, and lack hygiene, as they require manual pouring of batter onto a hot surface, leading to inconsistent shapes and limited design options, especially for home cooks.
Innovation Solution
A device combining a batter dispenser with a microcontroller that controls the flowrate and location of batter deposition on a cooking surface, allowing users to input desired designs electronically, enabling precise creation of custom-shaped pancakes and other food items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual pouring of batter is used, then the process is simple and requires no complex equipment, but the shape consistency and design precision are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical pouring with an automated dispensing system controlled by a microcontroller. The dispensing needle, positioned by a robotic arm or gantry system, automatically deposits batter in precise patterns based on digital design inputs, eliminating the need for manual skill while maintaining shape consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to input their own designs digitally (via scanner, stylus, or mouse), and the microcontroller automatically translates these designs into precise batter deposition patterns. The system serves itself by converting user intent directly into manufactured shapes without requiring intermediate manual shaping steps.
2Manufacturing precision
If pre-shaped pancake molds are used, then the shape is easier to control, but the batter leaks out and the user is limited to fixed die shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic, movable dispensing needle that can be positioned anywhere on the cooking surface under microcontroller control. Unlike fixed molds, the needle can trace any digital design pattern, allowing the system to adapt to unlimited shape variations while maintaining precise shape control through automated motion control.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing system serves multiple functions: it can create any shape by following digital designs, control batter flow rate precisely, and adapt to different design inputs (scanned images, hand-drawn, or digital creations). This universal capability replaces the need for multiple fixed molds with a single versatile system.
3Productivity
If die cast molds are used for commercial production, then large quantities of shaped pancakes can be produced, but there is high initial expense for producing custom molds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital copies of designs (scanned or drawn) stored in the microcontroller's memory to guide batter deposition. Instead of creating physical molds for each design, the system reproduces shapes by following digital blueprint copies, eliminating the need for expensive custom mold fabrication while maintaining production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical mold-making process with a digital design and automated dispensing approach. The microcontroller interprets digital designs and controls the dispensing needle to create shapes directly on the cooking surface, eliminating the need for physical mold production infrastructure.
4Ease of operation
If a fixed amount of batter is used per pancake, then the portion control is simple, but the pancake thickness becomes inconsistent on uneven cooking surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback through pressure-sensitive flow control that monitors batter dispensing in real-time. The microcontroller adjusts the flow rate based on the digital design requirements and cooking surface conditions, ensuring consistent thickness by controlling the exact amount of batter deposited in each location rather than using fixed portioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing system applies batter with locally optimized flow rates based on the specific requirements of each area being dispensed. The microcontroller controls the needle to deposit precise amounts of batter at each position along the design path, ensuring uniform thickness even on uneven surfaces by adjusting local deposition parameters rather than using a fixed global portion size.
Data Source
AI summary
A foodstuff making machine comprising a batter dispenser connected to a device for capturing a design to dispense the batter onto a cooking surface with a first controller to control the flow rate and deposit of the batter to result in a desired shape and size of the foodstuff; a second controller that allows for a timed delay between dispensing of said foodstuff to allow subsequent pours to cook longer thereby creating a contrasting color between the foodstuff dispensed at different times; a removable dispensing device controlled by a positive or negative air displacement created by vacuum pump and redirected by one or more valves; and a third controller to control flow rate as well as starting and stopping of batter flow wherein there is no contact of food stuff and mechanical or moving parts.