Crustless Sandwich Bread Shaping With Rotary Crust Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing crustless sandwich bread result in uniform shapes due to the constraints of mold shapes and trimming tools, limiting the ability to create a variety of different shapes without significant changes to the production line or tools.

Innovation Solution

The method employs rotary cutting means to remove the crust, allowing for the creation of diverse shapes by moving the sandwich bread tangentially against high-speed rotating knives, with optional freezing to maintain a firm crust, and subsequent slicing and wrapping to achieve complex shapes like straight, curved, or polygonal forms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional mold-based shaping methods are used, then the production process is simple and straightforward, but the shape variety of the sandwich bread is limited and uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape varietyVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bread is frozen before the crust removal operation to firm up the crust, making it easier to remove and shape without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the shaping process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a rotary drum with multiple knives that can be adjusted to create different shapes. The system is dynamic and adaptable, allowing the same machine to produce various shapes by changing the knife configuration rather than requiring multiple fixed molds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the mold shape is changed to produce different bread shapes, then shape variety is improved, but the production line requires extensive modifications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape varietyVSAvoidproduction line modification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the shaping operation from the mold-based process and separates it into a subsequent crust removal and shaping step. This allows the bread to be baked in a standard mold and then shaped later using a rotary drum with knives, eliminating the need to change molds for different shapes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary drum shaping device serves multiple functions: it removes the crust and simultaneously creates various shapes by adjusting the knife positions. One device can produce multiple shapes, making the production line versatile without requiring extensive modifications

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

3Productivity

If high-speed rotary cutting means are used to remove crust, then shaping efficiency and variety are improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrust removal efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Freezing the bread before crust removal firms up the crust, making it easier to remove with the rotary knives. This preliminary action reduces the energy required for cutting by making the material more manageable

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

Enables the production of a wide range of attractive and complex shapes for sandwich bread, independent of initial mold shapes, through efficient crust removal and shaping using rotary cutting tools, enhancing product variability without requiring extensive changes to the production line.

Implementation Method 1

The rotary cutting means 20 are in the form of knives 26 mounted on a rotary drum 24 rotating at high speed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical cutting:

Implementation Method 2

Before passing onto the means of transport, and at least during the crust removal step, the sandwich bread is frozen at a surface temperature below about -20 °C so as to maintain a firm crust

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Implementation Method 3

the pieces of the latter torn from the sandwich bread are removed according to the arrow A, for example by suction means 30

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2138285B1Method for manufacturing sandwich bread with no crust
Publication Date: 2012.10.03 BARILLA HARRYS FRANCE
  • EP2138285B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing crustless sandwich bread, comprising the steps consisting in: - producing a sandwich bread dough piece (5) by kneading, shaping, then fermentation in a mould, - cooking the dough piece in the mould, then allowing the cooked sandwich bread (5) to cool, - removing the crust from the sandwich bread (5) at least on its side faces, and characterized in that the step of removing the crust is carried out by scraping of the peripheral surface (6) of the sandwich loaf 5 using rotary cutting means (20).