Device for spreading runny batter on a hot plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pancake and crêpe manufacturing machines fail to replicate the quality and texture of handmade products, particularly in terms of uniform cooking, precision, and authenticity, while also posing hygiene and musculoskeletal disorder risks and requiring precise batter consistency and flat hotplates.
Innovation Solution
A device with a rotary shaft and dual rakes, one fixed and one adjustable, that spreads and rakes batter on a hotplate to mimic human action, incorporating silicone rakes for flexibility and hygiene, and a carousel system for continuous production, allowing for precise control over batter distribution and cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mechanical spreader is used to automate pancake production, then productivity increases and hygiene improves, but the quality and texture of the pancakes deteriorate compared to handmade products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by replicating the human hand raking motion through a mechanical rake that moves along an arc trajectory. The rake follows the same path and performs the same spreading and layering actions as a human hand, thereby copying the handmade technique to achieve authentic quality while maintaining automated productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting the rake's position, speed, and arc trajectory to precisely control batter distribution. The system varies parameters such as rake height, movement speed, and angular position to replicate the nuanced variations in human hand motion, ensuring uniform thickness and proper layering for optimal pancake quality
2Manufacturing precision
If hand raking is used to spread batter, then quality and texture are optimized, but musculoskeletal disorders occur and hygiene standards are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the human hand mechanical system with an automated mechanical rake system. The rake is driven by a motorized mechanism that follows a predetermined arc path, eliminating direct human contact with the batter and removing the physical strain on workers while maintaining the quality benefits of hand raking
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by using the mechanical rake to automatically perform the spreading and layering functions that previously required human operators. The rake moves autonomously along the hot plate surface, distributing batter uniformly without human intervention, thereby eliminating hygiene concerns and musculoskeletal risks
3Device complexity
If a fixed rake spreader is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different batter types and recipes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the rake position and movement characteristics adjustable rather than fixed. The system can dynamically modify the rake's height, speed, and arc trajectory to adapt to different batter viscosities and recipe requirements, providing versatility without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical rake system is designed with universal applicability, capable of handling various batter types through adjustable parameters. The same basic mechanism can accommodate different recipes by modifying operational settings rather than requiring different hardware, achieving multi-functionality while maintaining device simplicity
4Productivity
If high-speed automated spreading is used, then productivity increases, but uniform cooking and layer formation become difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action through the oscillating or reciprocating motion of the rake as it moves along the arc trajectory. The rake performs repeated spreading and layering cycles during its forward and return movements, ensuring uniform batter distribution and proper layer formation even at high production speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring the rake is constantly engaged with the batter throughout its arc motion, continuously spreading and layering as it moves. This continuous action prevents gaps or uneven areas in the pancake batter, ensuring uniform cooking while maintaining high productivity through uninterrupted operation
Data Source
AI summary
A device for spreading a runny batter on a hotplate for manufacturing pancakes or crêpes, including a rotary shaft intended to be disposed almost perpendicular with respect to the cooking face of the hotplate, a plate fixed to said rotary shaft, said plate carrying a spreading and raking means, and at least one abutment designed to bear, run or slide on the heating face of the hotplate. The spreading and raking includes at least one rake, the working free edge of which is rectilinear, making it possible to spread a portion of batter previously deposited on the heating face of said hotplate and rake the thickness of batter as long as it remains liquid so as to redeposit a layer of material upstream in order to layer the batter and fill in the holes, reproducing the action of a person skilled in the art of making pancakes or crêpes.