Flat Bakery Decoration Scattering and Topping Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for decorating flat baked goods result in uneven topping distribution and loose ingredients, leading to visual imperfections and issues with frozen pizzas where toppings can fall out of packaging and components drying out.

Innovation Solution

A continuous method involving a production line where a flat baked good is conveyed with a scattering component applied using a waterfall method and piece components placed in open areas formed by guiding devices or templates, ensuring even distribution and preventing loose toppings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If scattering component is applied uniformly over the entire horizontal section, then coverage is complete, but piece components cannot be arranged and toppings become loose

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of scattering componentVSAvoidarrangement of piece components
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies scattering component selectively to specific regions of the horizontal section, leaving designated areas free of scattering component. This local differentiation allows piece components to be arranged in the free areas while maintaining scattering component coverage in other regions, resolving the contradiction between complete coverage and ease of arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If piece component is placed below scattering component, then arrangement is simple, but piece component is not visible to end user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement of piece componentVSAvoidvisibility of piece component
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the piece component below the scattering component as in conventional methods, the patent inverts this arrangement by placing the piece component in free areas where no scattering component is applied. This inversion makes the piece components visible to end users while simplifying the manufacturing process through the continuous application method.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Illumination intensity

If piece component is arranged in free area, then visibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of piece componentVSAvoidproduction line complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates free areas in the horizontal section before applying the scattering component, using templates or masking elements that define where scattering component should not be applied. This preliminary action of creating free areas simplifies the overall process by allowing continuous scattering component application while ensuring piece components can be arranged in the pre-defined free areas, reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method achieves visually appealing and evenly distributed toppings, preventing loose ingredients from falling and ensuring they adhere to the base, thus maintaining freshness and presentation.

Implementation Method 1

applying at least one scattering component to the horizontal section at a downstream station of the production line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP1952693B1Method and device for decorating or coating a horizontal part of a flat bakery product
Publication Date: 2009.11.18 DR AUGUST OETKER NAHRUNGSMITTEL KG
  • EP1952693B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1952693B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c

AI summary

For the continuous decoration of a horizontal section (3H) of flat pastry goods, at least one decoration (29) is applied to the surface at a station along the conveyor production line. A surface section is kept clear while surface material (1) is scattered, before the decoration is applied.