Automated breading machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Quick-service restaurants face challenges in efficiently and consistently breading food products onsite due to manual methods leading to uneven coating, flavor, and texture inconsistencies, which reduce efficiency and throughput in frying processes.

Innovation Solution

A breading system with a rotatable bottom surface in a breading basket that automates the coating process, coupled with a drive motor and locking mechanism, ensures consistent breading and efficient transfer of food products, and a frying basket that allows for easy dispensing without lifting and flipping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual application of breading compound is used, then the process is simple and equipment-free, but coating consistency and uniformity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of equipmentVSAvoidcoating consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The food product itself serves as the applying tool by rolling against the breading compound reservoir. The product's own rotation and movement through the tunnel accomplishes the coating action without requiring external mechanical application devices, thereby maintaining equipment simplicity while achieving uniform coating through consistent rotational contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of mechanically applying breading compound onto stationary or conveyed food products, the invention inverts the process by having the food product actively roll against the breading compound reservoir. This reversal allows the product to self-coat uniformly without complex application mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If automated breading systems are implemented, then coating consistency improves, but equipment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating consistencyVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The food product performs the coating action itself by rolling through the breading compound, eliminating the need for complex automated application mechanisms. This self-service approach achieves consistent coating while keeping equipment simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the complex breading application mechanism from traditional automated systems, retaining only the essential tunnel and reservoir structures. This simplification removes unnecessary mechanical complexity while preserving coating consistency through the rolling action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If manual breading process is used, then equipment cost is low, but productivity and throughput decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment costVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple food products are simultaneously processed through the tunnel in continuous batches, with each product rolling through the breading compound without interruption. This continuous batch processing eliminates the sequential manual breading of individual items, significantly increasing throughput while keeping equipment simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The tunnel design allows multiple products to be processed at once (excessive capacity), enabling batch processing that exceeds manual throughput. This partial automation approach processes more items simultaneously without requiring proportionally complex equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Device complexity

If food products are transferred manually, then handling equipment is simple, but labor time and efficiency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling equipment simplicityVSAvoidlabor time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The breading and transfer functions are merged into a single continuous operation. Products are loaded once at the entrance and automatically transported through the breading tunnel, eliminating separate manual transfer steps between breading and frying stations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor mechanism maintains continuous movement of products through the breading tunnel, eliminating intermittent manual handling. This continuous action reduces labor time by keeping products in motion throughout the breading process without stopping for transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250248434A1Automated breading machine

Publication Date: 2025.08.07 CFA PROPERTIES INC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for holding food products. An example system includes a basket comprising a bottom surface extending between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the basket. The bottom surface may be rotatable about a first axis extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and configured hold a plurality of food products. The bottom surface may comprise a plurality of voids sized to pass material through the bottom surface and oppose movement of the plurality of food products through the bottom surface. The bottom surface may further comprise a locking mechanism configured to prevent rotation of the bottom surface about the first axis in an engaged configuration. The system may include a member configured to transition the locking mechanism from the engaged configuration to a disengaged configuration to enable rotation of the bottom surface about the first axis.