Compact Flatbread Maker Automation and Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for producing flat dough products, such as tortillas and chapatis, require users to measure ingredients accurately and lack storage capacity, corrective mechanisms for proportion errors, and are bulky and expensive for home use, making them unsuitable for unskilled users and home applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact, fully automated apparatus that dispenses, mixes, kneads, flattens, and cooks flatbreads using internal sensors and user input, with a modular design for storage, kneading, and cooking, allowing for optimal dough consistency and minimizing user intervention, including self-cleaning capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a whole array of automated mixing, flattening, and cooking devices is used, then the production process is simplified, but the device becomes bulky and expensive for home use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (mixing, flattening, cooking) into a single integrated device. The mixing bowl serves as both the mixing container and the flattening surface, while the heating element is integrated within the same device structure, eliminating the need for separate appliances and reducing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions using the same components. The mixing bowl is used for both mixing and flattening operations. The heating element can cook different types of flatbreads. The blade assembly serves both mixing and dough preparation functions, making the device versatile and space-efficient.
2Stress or pressure
If pneumatic systems are used for pressurizing, then the device achieves required pressure, but the device becomes expensive and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex pneumatic systems with a simpler mechanical pressing mechanism. A spring-loaded or weight-based press applies the necessary pressure for flattening and cooking the dough directly in the mixing bowl, eliminating the need for bulky pneumatic components while achieving the required pressurizing effect.
3Extent of automation
If a conveyor belt and carousel are included, then automated cooking is achieved, but the device size at least doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooking function into the mixing bowl itself by integrating a heating element at the bottom. This eliminates the need for separate conveyer belts and carousels, as the dough is cooked in-place within the mixing bowl, significantly reducing device volume while maintaining automated cooking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of horizontal conveyer belts and rotating carousels that increase device footprint, the patent uses vertical heating through the bottom of the mixing bowl. This dimensional change allows cooking to occur in the vertical space already occupied by the mixing bowl, eliminating the need for additional horizontal space.
4Measurement precision
If users must add measured quantities of ingredients, then ingredient control is possible, but unskilled users cannot operate the device
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates an automatic ingredient dispensing system that self-regulates the quantities of ingredients added to the mixing bowl. The system automatically measures and dispenses the correct proportions of flour, water, and other ingredients without requiring user measurement, making the device operable by unskilled users while maintaining precise ingredient control.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses sensors and control systems to monitor the mixing process and automatically adjust ingredient addition. The system provides feedback on the dough consistency and automatically adds or withholds ingredients to achieve the desired measurement precision, eliminating the need for user skill while maintaining accurate ingredient proportions.
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 apparatus produces high-quality flatbreads with customizable parameters like thickness, size, and cooking temperature, reducing user error and equipment costs, while being compact and portable for home use.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing blade that is configured to mix the liquid material and the grounded edible material to form a dough of optimal consistency
Implementation Method 2
a heating element that is configured to heat and flatten the dough to form a flat edible
Data Source
AI summary
A method of using compact apparatus for automatically making a plurality of flat edibles includes a storage and dispensing limit that makes it unnecessary for a user to pre-measure ingredients. The apparatus also includes a mixing and kneading unit for making dough of optimal consistency. The dough prepared may be transferred onto a lower platen from a transfer base by a transfer sweeper. The dough may be flattened in a platen unit. An upper platen and the lower platen of the platen unit may be heated to a pre-programmed temperature for cooking the flat edible. The temperature may also be manually set by the user based on user's preference. The flat may be cooked by the platen unit. This method has very little human intervention. One has to load the flour and water in their respective containers and every other step is automated.