Grain-Sensing Flour Milling With Adjustable Roller Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flour milling devices lack versatility, efficiency, and adaptability, often requiring manual labor, sacrificing nuanced control over milling, leading to inconsistent output, excessive energy consumption, and nutrient loss due to heat generation, while being bulky and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A flour milling device with anodized aluminum rollers and corundum stones that adjust spacing based on grain type, combined with an inbuilt cleaning mechanism using steel brushes and blowers, ensuring precise milling and user-friendly operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional manual stone mills are used for flour milling, then natural flavor and nutritional content are preserved, but manual labor dependency and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies grain type using NIRED sensors and selects appropriate milling parameters without user intervention, making the device self-sufficient in decision-making while preserving traditional milling benefits
Solution Approach 2:
Manual stone milling is replaced with an automated system using sensors, processors, and adjustable rollers that simulate traditional milling while eliminating manual labor
2Ease of operation
If modern home flour milling devices are used, then convenience and automation are improved, but control over milling parameters and adaptability to different grains are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The milling device features dynamically adjustable roller spacing and milling parameters that change based on real-time grain identification, providing both automation and adaptability to different grain types and desired flour characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts milling parameters such as roller spacing, speed, and pressure based on grain type identification and desired flour grade, enabling versatile control without manual intervention
3Productivity
If existing modern flour milling devices are used, then milling efficiency is improved, but heat generation increases causing nutrient loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes milling parameters including speed, pressure, and roller spacing based on grain type and desired output, maintaining efficient milling while controlling heat generation to preserve nutrients
4Productivity
If industrial milling machines are used, then large-scale production is achieved, but natural flavor and nutritional content are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies different milling conditions to different grains and produces different flour grades as needed, allowing customized milling that preserves nutritional content while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts milling parameters based on real-time grain identification and desired output, enabling flexible production that maintains quality while achieving efficiency
5Adaptability or versatility
If traditional milling approaches are used, then nuanced control over milling is achieved, but device complexity and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device integrates multiple functions including grain identification, parameter selection, and milling control into a single automated system, providing nuanced control without increasing apparent complexity for the user
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 device provides customizable flour grades with minimal heat generation, maintaining nutritional value, and efficient, hygienic, and sustainable flour production across different scales, while being compact and easy to use.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of anodized aluminum rollers... a corundum stone and the corundum roller... milling the grains based on the grinding option
Implementation Method 2
The hopper includes a set of Near Infrared (NIRED) sensors that are configured to identify a type of grains fed into the hopper
Implementation Method 3
The inbuilt cleaning mechanism includes a set of steel brushes and a pair of blowers that are configured to automatically clean the flour milling device
Implementation Method 4
a pair of blowers that are configured to automatically clean the flour milling device. Each of the pair of blowers includes a set of fans
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a flour milling device. The flour milling device includes a hopper including Near Infrared (NIRED) sensors configured for identifying a type of grains fed into the hopper to provide at least one grinding option to a user. The flour milling device further includes a pair of anodized aluminum rollers positioned below the hopper and horizontally aligned with each other. A first anodized aluminum roller is stationary, and a second anodized aluminum roller is configured to move to adjust spacing based on a selected grinding option. The flour milling device further includes a corundum stone and a corundum roller positioned below the pair of anodized aluminum rollers. The corundum stone is stationary, and the corundum roller is configured to move to adjust spacing based on the selected grinding option. The flour milling device further includes an inbuilt cleaning mechanism to automatically clean the flour milling device.