Pasta Cooking Dispenser Nozzle Layout for Uniform Steam and Water Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cooking dispensers for pasta are unable to cook pasta quickly while ensuring homogeneous cooking and preserving its organoleptic qualities, particularly in the quick-service food field.

Innovation Solution

A dispenser with a nozzle body that supplies steam and hot water separately or simultaneously through multiple openings, optimizing cooking time and quality, and a lid that forms a sealed compartment to maintain overpressure, allowing for uniform distribution of steam and hot water around the pasta.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If steam is supplied through a single central nozzle, then the dispenser structure is simple, but the pasta cooking is not homogeneous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneous cookingVSAvoidnozzle structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single central steam nozzle is segmented into multiple nozzles arranged in a circular pattern around the central axis. This segmentation allows steam to be distributed from multiple directions simultaneously, ensuring homogeneous cooking of pasta while maintaining a relatively simple overall nozzle body structure that can be manufactured as a single piece.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If cooking is performed in an open environment, then the dispenser structure is simple, but cooking time is excessive and organoleptic qualities are not preserved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking timeVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is equipped with a lid that is placed on the container before the cooking process begins. This preliminary action of closing the container creates a sealed environment that traps steam and heat, maintaining overpressure conditions throughout the cooking process. This eliminates the need for complex real-time pressure control mechanisms while achieving rapid and efficient pasta cooking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If hot water is supplied from a single central point, then the dispenser structure is simple, but the pasta cooking is not homogeneous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneous cookingVSAvoidnozzle structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single central hot water supply is segmented into multiple hot water nozzles arranged in a circular pattern around the central axis, similar to the steam nozzle configuration. This segmentation enables hot water to be distributed from multiple directions simultaneously, ensuring homogeneous penetration and cooking of pasta throughout the container volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If steam and hot water are supplied simultaneously through separate nozzles, then cooking efficiency is improved, but the dispenser structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking efficiencyVSAvoidnozzle body
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The steam nozzles and hot water nozzles are merged into a single integrated nozzle body structure with multiple openings arranged in concentric circular patterns. The steam nozzles are positioned in an inner circle while hot water nozzles are positioned in an outer circle, both sharing the same central axis. This merging allows simultaneous supply of steam and hot water from a single compact component, achieving high cooking efficiency without proportionally increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 rapid and homogeneous cooking of pasta by uniformly distributing steam and hot water, maintaining the quality and flavor of the pasta.

Implementation Method 1

a first opening in fluidic communication with a steam supply channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSteam: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

at least a second opening in fluidic communication with a hot water supply channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHot water flow: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 3

where the overpressure of the steam can be maintained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOverpressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3955781B1Dispenser of a machine for cooking a dose of pasta
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 PASTIFICIO RANA
  • EP3955781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3955781B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A dispenser (5) of a machine for cooking a dose of pasta (P) in a container (3) has a nozzle body (13), which has at least a first opening (23) in fluidic communication with a steam supply channel (15) and at least a second opening (24) in fluidic communication with a hot water supply channel (16); and a lid (14) arranged around the nozzle body (13) and configured to close the container (3).