Proofer for proofing dough
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing proofing cabinets are difficult to clean due to horizontal installation of profiles, which allows flour, dirt, and water to remain, creating niches for bacteria and contamination.
Innovation Solution
The proofing cabinet features frame profiles running at an angle to the direction of gravity, designed as shaped tubes with a square or rectangular cross-section, ensuring that dirt and water flow off during operation and cleaning, and includes a conveyor device with transport planes that are inclined to facilitate easy cleaning and prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If frame profiles are installed horizontally to simplify manufacturing and component attachment, then ease of manufacture is improved, but cleaning difficulty increases due to material accumulation and bacterial niches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the frame profiles from horizontal to inclined (at an angle between 10° and 60° relative to the horizontal plane). This parameter change allows materials like flour and water to drain off the profiles during cleaning operations, eliminating accumulation zones while maintaining the structural integrity and manufacturability of the proofing cabinet.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing horizontal profiles that require active cleaning intervention, the patent inverts the approach by creating self-draining inclined profiles. The inclination naturally directs materials away from the profiles during normal operation and cleaning, transforming the cleaning process from an active effort to remove accumulated material to a passive process where material naturally drains away.
2Stability of the object's composition
If frame profiles are installed horizontally, then structural stability is maintained, but contamination risk increases due to material accumulation creating bacterial niches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the orientation parameter of frame profiles to an inclined configuration (10°-60° from horizontal), which maintains structural stability while eliminating material accumulation zones. This parameter change prevents the formation of niches where flour, water, and other materials can accumulate and create bacterial growth environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of material accumulation on horizontal profiles into a benefit by inclining the profiles. The inclination causes materials to naturally drain away during operation and cleaning, transforming what would be a contamination source into a self-cleaning feature that actively prevents bacterial niche formation.
3Ease of operation
If transport planes are horizontal, then dough piece handling is simplified, but cleaning efficiency decreases due to material remaining on surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of transport planes from horizontal to inclined (10°-60° relative to horizontal). This parameter modification allows materials such as flour and water to drain off the transport planes during cleaning operations, significantly improving cleaning efficiency while maintaining functional capability for dough piece handling.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing horizontal transport planes that trap materials requiring intensive cleaning, the patent inverts the approach by creating inclined surfaces. This inversion causes materials to naturally drain away during cleaning, transforming the cleaning process from labor-intensive material removal to efficient drainage-based cleaning.
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 angled frame profiles and inclined transport planes allow for efficient drainage of dirt and water, making the cabinet easier to clean and reducing the risk of bacterial contamination, while the sealed design prevents the escape of liquids and penetration of moisture.
Implementation Method 1
at least one profile surface of the frame profiles of the outer frame, which extend at an angle to the direction of gravity, is inclined towards the interior... This ensures that any dirt and water inside the fermentation cabinet drain into the interior.
Implementation Method 2
the conveying device spans a number of substantially horizontal or vertical, in particular horizontal or vertical, transport planes... with the characterizing features of claim 1
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7a
Figure 8~11
AI summary
The invention relates to a proofing chamber (100) for proofing dough, comprising - an outer frame (10) which comprises profiled frame sections running at an angle to the gravitational direction and which encloses the interior (30) of the proofing chamber, - a number of covering panels (3, 4, 5) which are arranged on the outer frame (10), and - a conveyor device (6) which runs through the interior (30) of the proofing chamber (100), wherein the conveyor device (6) is designed to transport dough pieces through the proofing chamber (100), the conveyor device (6) defines a number of transport planes arranged substantially horizontally or vertically, in particular horizontally or vertically, and at least one profiled surface of the outer frame (10) profiled sections which run at an angle to the gravitational direction and are arranged below the transport plane or the point of the transport plane arranged at the top in the gravitational direction is inclined in the direction of the interior (30).