Baked Food Pattern Stencils for Flexible, High-Productivity Production

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing baked food products lack optimal productive flexibility, high productivity, and versatility, particularly when changing patterns, and are limited to structured contexts like the food industry, not accommodating less structured environments such as restaurants or domestic use.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of stencils to reproduce patterns on stretched dough or baked food products, allowing easy change of patterns by replacing stencils, combined with digital image processing to create customizable designs, using materials like Plexiglass or polycarbonate for rapid stencil production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If automated units with specific patterns are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern precisionVSAvoidproductive flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses stencils as simple copies or templates that can be easily replaced to produce different patterns. Instead of complex automated units programmed for specific patterns, the invention employs physical stencil templates that replicate desired patterns through direct contact with the baked food product surface, allowing rapid pattern changes without reprogramming or substantial modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the key parameter from fixed automated programming to interchangeable physical templates. By using stencils with different geometric configurations, the system can rapidly switch between patterns by simply replacing the stencil template, rather than modifying complex automated unit parameters or programming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If substantial modifications are made to change patterns, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern accuracyVSAvoidproduction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the pattern definition function from the application mechanism. The stencil serves as a detachable segment that contains only the pattern information, while the application device remains constant. This segmentation allows rapid replacement of pattern segments (stencils) without modifying the entire system, thereby maintaining high productivity while achieving precise patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stencils are prepared in advance with precise patterns already defined, allowing them to be directly applied without requiring complex real-time modifications during production. The pattern design work is done beforehand in the stencil creation phase, enabling rapid deployment during actual production cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If specialized productive units are used for each pattern, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern fidelityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal application device that can work with multiple different stencil templates. Instead of having specialized equipment for each pattern, a single multi-functional device can accommodate various stencils, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to produce diverse patterns with high fidelity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The stencil acts as an intermediary element between the simple application device and the desired pattern output. This intermediary carries the complex pattern information, allowing the application device itself to remain simple while still achieving complex pattern results through the mediating stencil template.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4599680A1Production method of at least one baked food product
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 CARBONE ARNALDO
  • EP4599680A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4599680A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4599680A1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

The present invention concerns a method for producing at least one baked food product (1), preferably a pizza. Said method comprises the following steps: - providing at least one stretched dough (S) of said product (1); - providing at least one stencil (2) reproducing at least one pattern (M) to be achieved; -applying said at least one stencil (2) on said stretched dough (S) and/or on said baked food product (1); - placing at least one food ingredient on said stretched dough (S) and/or on said product (1) in correspondence of the pattern (M) of said stencil (2), in such a way that said pattern (M) is reproduced on the stretched dough (S) and/or on said product (1).