Potato Hollowing Machine for Precise Stuffing Cavity Milling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for preparing stuffed potatoes, such as jacket potatoes, are time-consuming, require manual skill, result in inconsistent cavity sizes, and can weaken the potatoes, leading to breakage and increased waste.

Innovation Solution

A preparation device with loading, cutting, and hollowing stations that uses a milling tool to create a standardized filling cavity in potatoes, assisted by a positioning system and suction system to manage waste efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual hollowing with a spoon is used, then cavity creation is possible, but preparation time increases and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecavity dimension consistencyVSAvoidpreparation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical hollowing with an automated mechanical system comprising a positioning device and a hollowing tool that automatically removes potato flesh to create cavities. This substitution eliminates manual labor while maintaining consistent cavity dimensions through mechanical precision, directly resolving the contradiction between preparation speed and cavity consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces adjustable parameters in the hollowing process, including cavity depth, diameter, and positioning, allowing optimization of both preparation time and cavity consistency. The system can adapt hollowing parameters based on potato size and desired stuffing requirements, simultaneously improving productivity and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If manual hollowing is used to create wider cavities, then more stuffing capacity is achieved, but potato structure is weakened causing breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestuffing capacityVSAvoidpotato structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The hollowing tool is designed to remove material selectively from the potato interior while preserving the outer shell and structural integrity. The positioning device ensures cavities are created at optimal locations and depths, concentrating the hollowing action in specific regions rather than uniformly weakening the entire potato structure, thus maintaining strength while maximizing stuffing capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial hollowing action by removing only the necessary amount of material to create adequate stuffing capacity without excessive removal that would compromise structural integrity. The controlled hollowing process stops at optimal depth and diameter, preventing over-hollowing that would cause breakage during cooking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual hollowing is used, then recipe variety is increased, but preparation time extends and customer waiting time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecipe varietyVSAvoidpreparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning device pre-positions the hollowing tool and adjusts parameters based on detected potato characteristics before hollowing begins. This preliminary setup enables rapid adaptation to different potato sizes and shapes without extending preparation time, maintaining recipe versatility while reducing actual hollowing time through pre-configured settings.

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

Facilitates faster and more consistent preparation of stuffed potatoes with reduced variability and breakage, improving productivity and reducing waste while ensuring precise cavity dimensions for uniform stuffing.

Implementation Method 1

a suction system configured for removing excess water from the surface of the potato and from the filling cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4666874A1Preparation apparatus and process for preparing foods to be stuffed such as potatoes to be stuffed

Publication Date: 2025.12.24 PESCE EMILIANA SRL SOCIETA BENEFIT

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AI summary

The preparation device (1) according to the invention, for preparing foods to be stuffed, such as potatoes or other vegetables, fruits, or mushrooms, comprising: a) a positioning system configured for grasping and holding in place a piece of raw foodstuff to be processed (PG1); b) a processing head (90) configured for obtaining, by chip removal, in the piece of raw foodstuff to be processed (PG1) grasped by the positioning system, a filling cavity (CF) configured for containing a stuffing. The invention also relates to a process for preparing foods to be stuffed, such as potatoes or other vegetables, fruits, or mushrooms. Such device and process allow stuffed potatoes or other stuffed vegetables, fruits, or mushrooms to be prepared more quickly, with more accurate shape tolerances and by hollowing out larger cavities for the stuffing.