Ingredient Preservation and Metering System for Automated Culinary Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for preserving and metering ingredients in automated culinary preparation machines face limitations in recipe variety, space requirements, energy consumption, and loading efficiency, particularly in semi-industrial processes, due to the need for multiple storage tanks and complex handling systems.

Innovation Solution

A preservation and metering system featuring a chamber with multiple compartments and a picking and metering device that uses a controlled conveying mechanism and collecting vessel to precisely extract and distribute ingredients, allowing for flexible recipe selection and efficient loading onto a substrate, while minimizing energy consumption and space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple storage tanks are used to increase recipe variety, then the number of possible recipes increases, but the space requirement and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecipe varietyVSAvoidnumber of storage tanks

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single storage tank is designed to serve multiple functions by containing different ingredient types in separate compartments. The picking device can selectively access different compartments within the same tank, allowing one tank to replace multiple dedicated tanks and thereby increasing recipe variety without proportionally increasing the number of tanks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage tank is divided into multiple compartments, each dedicated to a specific ingredient type. This segmentation allows the single tank to store diverse ingredients separately while maintaining organized access through the picking device, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pizza dough is moved between multiple tanks, then all ingredients for a recipe can be collected, but the handling system becomes complex and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveingredient collection capabilityVSAvoidspace requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the pizza dough between multiple storage tanks, the invention inverts the approach by bringing the picking device to the storage tank. The picking device travels along a rail system to access different compartments within a single tank, collecting all required ingredients in one location before the dough is processed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple ingredient storage compartments are merged into a single storage tank structure. The picking device integrates the function of accessing all these compartments sequentially, eliminating the need for complex multi-tank handling systems while maintaining the capability to collect all ingredients for any recipe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If a complex moving system is used to load ingredients, then precise ingredient placement is achieved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveingredient placement precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces complex mechanical moving systems with a simpler rail-based conveying mechanism. The picking device moves along a fixed rail structure rather than requiring complex multi-axis positioning systems, reducing energy consumption while maintaining precise ingredient placement through controlled movement along the rail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10588322B2System for preserving and metering ingredients, and preserving and metering method implementing such a system

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 EKIM

AI summary

A system for preserving and metering ingredients, including a set of compartments arranged in a preservation chamber and a device for removing and metering ingredients for removing a predetermined quantity of ingredients from at least one compartment, the removing device including (i) a collecting vessel intended to temporarily store, in successive layers, the ingredients withdrawn from each compartment, (ii) a controlled conveying mechanism intended to move the collecting vessel into the vicinity of each compartment, and (iii) a control unit. A distribution device is intended to dispose the removed ingredients randomly and homogeneously on the surface of a substrate.