Contactless Dough Analysis via Fluid Jet Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for analyzing dough provide limited information, primarily focusing on the increase in volume of dough lumps, and do not effectively measure material properties such as viscosity and elasticity, which are crucial for understanding dough changes during production.
Innovation Solution
A device that applies a jet of pressurized fluid to the dough surface and uses a distance sensor to measure deformation, allowing for the determination of material properties like viscosity and elasticity by analyzing the development and removal of deformation using a mathematical deformation model, while maintaining a contactless analysis to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If contactless measurement is used to prevent contamination, then product purity is improved, but measurement precision is worsened due to inability to directly interact with the dough surface
Solution Approach 1:
A jet of pressurized fluid is introduced as an intermediary medium to transmit force to the dough surface from a contactless distance. The fluid jet serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the non-contacting measurement device and the dough surface, enabling force application without direct mechanical contact while maintaining measurement capability through deformation observation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical contact measurement systems with a combined fluid jet and optical/electronic distance measurement system. Instead of using physical probes that touch the dough, the system uses a fluid jet to apply force and a distance sensor to measure the resulting deformation, substituting mechanical contact with a hybrid fluid-optical approach
2Device complexity
If only volume increase measurement is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but information completeness is worsened by lacking material property data
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can measure both volume increase (through distance measurements at different positions) and material properties (through controlled deformation measurements). The same fluid jet and distance sensor combination serves dual purposes, making the system universal rather than requiring separate specialized devices for each measurement type
3Measurement precision
If a jet of pressurized fluid is applied to measure deformation, then material property analysis is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the force application mechanism (fluid jet) with the measurement mechanism (distance sensor) into an integrated system. The fluid jet nozzle and distance sensor are positioned and coordinated to work together as a unified measurement assembly, reducing the need for separate independent systems for force application and deformation measurement
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 comprehensive analysis of dough material properties, including viscosity and elasticity, through non-invasive means, effectively monitoring changes during the production process without damaging the product, and providing real-time data for improved process control.
Implementation Method 1
a laser to generate a beam of coherent light aimed at the area on the surface of the object under test impacted by the fluid jet, a detector to sense the light reflected off of the surface of the object from the laser beam
Implementation Method 2
a means to generate an impulsive jet of a fluid aimed at a surface of the object under test
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (2) and a method for a contactless analysis of a food product (2), in particular for the contactless analysis of a dough product. The device (2) comprises a distance sensor (3) configured for measuring a distance (d) between the device (1) and the product (2), and a nozzle (4) configured for directing a jet (5) of pressurized fluid to a position (6) on a surface (7) of said product (2). The distance sensor (3) is arranged for measuring the distance (d) between the device (1) and the position (6) of the surface (7) where the jet (5) of pressurized fluid is directed to.