FR2676619A1 - Machine for preparing doughs - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine for preparing food doughs. It will find its application particularly in the field of bakery and/or patisserie. The machine includes: - a vat (1), - motorised tools (2-5) for mixing the ingredients and kneading the dough in the vat, - a set (6) of controlled ingredient dispensers, - a central unit (7) for calculating and processing information equipped with: - a memory circuit (8) in which the recipe or recipes are stored, - means (9) for communicating with the said unit (7) allowing the user to select a recipe and the quantity of dough which he wishes to manufacture, - means (10, 11, 12) for controlling the said set (6) of ingredient dispensers and the said motorised tools (2-5).

Description

 The invention relates to a machine for preparing pasta. It will particularly find its application in the field of baking and / or pastry making.

 In this field, food products have been produced for a long time in an artisanal way by mixing different ingredients and kneading the dough according to the recipe which very often comes from the craftsman's know-how.

 For this, various mechanical kneaders are known in which the craftsman pours the different ingredients and submits them to kneading tools which, depending on the case, can be a hook, a whisk, or even a sheet.

 The bowl generally has a cylindrical or frustoconical shape and the kneading tool is driven by an epicyclic movement in order to work the dough homogeneously.

 In other cases, instead of being animated by an epicyclic movement, the tool is moved in rotation about its axis and it is the bowl which is intended to rotate in order to arrive at the same relative movement for the dough.

 The evolution of the distribution of bakery and pastry products, and the commercial competition in this field, tends to depreciate the profession, because many bakers or pastry chefs no longer manufacture their dough themselves and resort to industries which work at very large scale and which then distribute mixtures of ingredients or pasta as semi-finished products to artisans.

 However, from a taste point of view, this is not satisfactory and the craftsmen are faced with a dilemma: either sell their product more expensive with higher quality, or sell at low prices a completely arbitrary product.

 The aim of the present invention is to propose a machine for the preparation of pasta which makes it possible to find a compromise between these two extremes to produce a quality product with a very acceptable cost price.

 One of the aims of the present invention is to propose a machine for the preparation of bakery and / or pastry doughs which makes it possible to automate the tasks of the craftsman while respecting the craft tradition and leaving him the possibility of using its know-how, particularly in terms of recipes.

 One of the aims of the present invention is to provide such an automated machine which allows the recording of these traditional recipes and the production of pasta, repeatedly, almost without operator intervention.

 In fact, once the recipes have been registered, the operator will only need to program the type of dough he wishes to make and its quantity, and the machine of the present invention will select the necessary ingredients, will carry out the necessary mixing, in particular by as a function of time, will choose the types of tools required and authorize the course of the dough preparation cycle.

 Furthermore, the machine of the present invention, thanks to an intermediate washing will allow the production of successive doughs of a different type. In addition, the machine of the present invention can be loaded periodically from ingredients, this in large quantities, without having to empty the machine after each production of dough.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for the preparation of pasta whose cost is affordable and therefore that can equip many craftsmen for a reasonable investment.

 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the following description which is however given only for information and which is not intended to limit it.

According to the invention, the machine for the preparation of doughs, which will particularly find its application in the field of baking and / or pastry making, comprising at least one tank and motorized tools for mixing the ingredients and kneading the dough, is characterized by the fact that it comprises
- a set of distributors of ordered ingredients,
- a central computing and information processing unit equipped with
- a memory circuit in which the recipe or recipes are stored,
means of dialogue with said unit allowing the user to select a recipe and the quantity of dough desired to be produced,
- means for controlling said set of ingredient distributors and said motorized tools.

 The present invention will be better understood on reading the description accompanied by FIG. 1 in the appendix which schematically represents the machine of the present invention.

 The objective of the present invention is therefore to propose a machine for the preparation of doughs, which will find its application particularly in the field of baking and / or pastry making, making it possible to automate the preparation and the task of kneading all keeping the traditional craft work of the dough.

 The machine as represented in FIG. 1 comprises at least one tank 1 and motorized tools 2 for mixing the ingredients and kneading the dough.

 The tools used are those traditionally known in this field, namely: the hook 3, the sheet 4 or even the whip 5.

 As regards the shapes of the tank, a profile advantageously in the form of a truncated cone will also be used to in particular facilitate the incorporation of the ingredients and in particular of the fat.

 In addition, according to the invention, the machine comprises a set 6 of ingredient dispensers 61, 62, ... 6, ... 6 =. Each of the distributors is further provided such that it can be ordered, that is to say that one can control the delivery of the products it contains.

 Furthermore, according to the present invention, the machine is equipped with a central unit 7 for computing and processing information, organized around a microprocessor for example, or even constituted by a microcomputer.

 The central unit 7 firstly comprises a memory circuit 8 in which the recipe or recipes will be stored.

 In this regard, in a machine learning procedure, the operator will successively enter into the computer memory the name of the recipe, the type of ingredients, their proportion by weight of final product to be obtained, the instant of introduction of each ingredient into the tank in relation to the progress of the recipe considered, the intermediate and total kneading time (s), the temperature of the ingredients, in particular if it is different from the ambient temperature, the temperature at which it must be performed the mixing, especially if it is different from the ambient temperature, or the type or types of tools to be used in the course of the recipe.

 These various parameters are introduced by means of dialogue 9 with said central unit 7. In addition, these means 9 will also allow the user, when using the machine, to select in particular a recipe and the quantity of dough desired to make.

 However, the central unit 7 also includes control means 10, 11, 12 of said set of ingredient distributors 6 and of said motorized tools 2-5.

 In addition, the central unit 7 will include, like any computer, a circuit for computing and processing information which, according to an established program, according to the instructions of the memory and any input information, will allow the programmed triggering of the said control means 10, 11, 12.

 In one embodiment of the present invention, allowing the automated production of most of the doughs used in baking and pastry making, the set of distributors 6 comprises for example ten to fifteen distributors, in particular for flour, sugar, salt , butter, egg yolk, egg white, water, milk, yeast, crème fraîche which are the most common ingredients.

 Naturally, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and it is possible to envisage other versions of the machine equipped with a greater number of dispensers to include, for example, flavorings, fruits, chocolate, margarine. , alcohol....

 That said, the said set of distributors 6 includes a magazine whose configuration is adapted to the ingredient, identified in FIG. 61, 62, ... 6i, 6 =.

 In some cases, connection pipes will be used, for example the case of cold water or hot water. In other cases, hoppers will be used to contain pulverulent or pasty products.

 Furthermore, to authorize the conservation of the ingredients placed in the dispenser and / or to facilitate their delivery and / or to comply with certain criteria imposed by the recipes, the said set 6 of dispensers comprises means 131, 132, ... 13i, ... 13 = heating and / or cooling of the respective ingredients.

 In addition, it should be noted that these heating and / or refrigeration means can work with several thresholds, that is to say that it is possible to consider keeping all of the ingredient considered at low temperature for its conservation, as for example for butter, milk, eggs, cream, etc ..., and nevertheless authorize the reheating of a certain quantity to make pasty certain ingredients and facilitate their delivery, as for example for butter.

 For water, advantageously use a hot and cold water supply coupled to a mixer to control the final temperature of the water.

 However, if certain ingredients do not require special temperature conditions, such heating and / or cooling means will not be provided, this is the case for example of flour, sugar, salt, yeast.

 In addition, the tank will also be equipped with means 14 for heating and / or refrigerating the ingredients and / or their mixture.

 Indeed, in the implementation of certain recipes, it is necessary to bring a mixture of ingredients to a certain temperature for a good success. For example, for the "Italian meringue", it is necessary to heat the mixture of water and sugar to a temperature above 100 OC for a given period of time.

 In this case, Tc heating means 14, in particular surrounding the tank will allow this temperature rise. Reverse situations can be envisaged and in this case it is refrigeration that will be caused.

 It should be noted that a person skilled in the art will be able to produce such heating and / or refrigeration means by using, for example, immersion heaters or those surrounding the walls of the elements. It is also possible to use a heat transfer fluid isolated in a coil in direct or indirect contact with the material to be temperature controlled.

 Furthermore, it should be noted that it is the central unit 7 which, depending on the recipe chosen, will control, via the control means 10, the different desired temperatures.

 In addition, the said set 6 of distributors comprises metering means 151, 152, ... 15i, ... 15 = of the delivered ingredients cooperating with the said central unit 7. Thus, when a recipe has been selected, these means 15 will make it possible to deliver, for the quantity provided by the recipe as a function of the quantity of final product, the right doses of ingredients, and this in particular during the course of the recipe. These means 15 will be controlled by the control means 11 described above.

 In practice, the dosages are made with solenoid valves for liquids, in particular water, milk, eggs, etc. On the other hand, we will carry out volumetric weighings for butter, margarine, natural yeast etc ...

 In a simplified version of the machine of the present invention, the dosages will be determined as a function of the flow rate and of the time. On the other hand, in a more elaborate embodiment, provision could be made for weighing means, reacting at an input circuit 16 of the computer, measuring the quantities q1 ... qn actually delivered.

 Similarly, the temperatures can be controlled by probes arranged for this purpose sending the corresponding information t ^, ... tn to the input circuit 16 of the computer. In such a case, the processing unit will allow temperature regulation.

 Furthermore, in order to be universal, the machine of the present invention comprises a selector 2 equipped with three tools, namely: hook 3, sheet 4, and whip 5. This selector will be controlled by the central unit, depending on selected recipes, via control means 12 of the tools mentioned above.

 This selector allows, as the arrows simulate in the figure, a rotational movement 17 of each tool around its axis, an epicyclic relative movement 18 of the tool relative to the axis of the tank 19, a rotational movement 20 around the axis of the selector to change the tool, as well as an up and down movement 21 of the selector to remove the tool from the tank.

 In addition, to authorize the evacuation of the dough at the end of the latter's work, the tank 1 is equipped with delivery means, shown diagrammatically at 21 in the figure, controlled by said central unit 7.

 For example, in this regard, the tank is pivotable about the transverse axis 22. Finally, the machine of the present invention further comprises cleaning means, not shown in the figure, of the tank and / or tools, also controlled by said central unit 7 at the end of the cycle.

 These cleaning means will consist, for example, of spray jets of the internal walls of the tank and of the tools, from hot water possibly added with detergent.

 To evacuate the cleaning water, the tank will advantageously be fitted with a retractable plug 23 authorizing the emptying of the tank. It should be noted that the shape of this plug, as shown in the figure, will also allow correct kneading of the dough, by constituting a bottom of the tank in the shape of a W.

 By way of nonlimiting example, the machine of the present invention will allow the production of recipes such as brioche dough, sponge cake, Italian meringue, cake, etc.

 In the case of brioche dough, a typical recipe will include the following ingredients: 1 kg of flour, 100 g of sugar, 20 g of salt, 30 g of yeast, 12 eggs, or 6 dl, 500 g of butter and 30 g of water.

 Furthermore, the execution of this dough requires the use of the hook.

 All these data are recorded in the machine as well as the succession of introductions of the various ingredients during the recipe.

 If the user selects brioche dough, the machine will execute the recipe according to the quantity of dough requested.

 For the sponge cake, the recipe proportions will be for example 16 whole eggs, 500 g of sugar, 500 g of farime.

 It should be noted that, in this case, the whisk is used as a tool and the flour is incorporated at the end of the operation in small doses.

 For the Italian meringue, the basic ingredients will be for example 16 egg whites, 200 g of water, and 500 g of sugar.

 It should be noted that, in this case, the whisk is also used; and the machine will heat the water and sugar syrup to the temperature desired for the recipe, which is approximately 118 OC.

 For the cake, we will use, as a basic recipe: 500 g of sugar, 500 g of butter, 4 dl of eggs, 100 g of raisins, and 500 g of flour.

 However, for the constitution of the machine, naturally use materials of the food type such as for example stainless steel and plastic.

 Naturally, other implementations of the present invention, within the reach of those skilled in the art, could be envisaged, without thereby departing from the present invention.

Claims (9)

 1. Machine for the preparation of doughs, which will find its application particularly in the field of baking and / or pastry making, comprising at least one tank (1) and motorized tools (2-5) for mixing the ingredients and kneading dough, characterized in that it contains  - a set (6) of dispensers of ordered ingredients,  - a central unit (7) for calculating and processing information equipped with  - a memory circuit (8) in which the recipe or recipes are stored,  - dialogue means (9) with said unit (7) allowing the user to select a recipe and the quantity of dough desired to be produced,  - control means (10, 11, 12) of said set (6) of ingredient dispensers and said motorized tools (2-5).  2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the said assembly (6) of distributors comprises means (151 ... 15 =) for metering the delivered ingredients cooperating with the said central unit (7).  3. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (1) and / or the said set (6) of distributors comprises, according to the ingredients and / or the recipes, means (13l ... 13 =, 14) heating and / or refrigerating the ingredients and / or their mixture.  4. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a selector (2) of tools (3-5) controlled by said central unit (7), depending on the recipes chosen.  5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the selector (2) is equipped with three tools, namely: a hook (3), a sheet (4), a whisk (5).  5. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (1) is equipped with means (21, 22) for delivering the dough, controlled by said central unit (7) at the end of working the dough.  7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the tank (1) is pivotable.  8. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for cleaning the tank and / or tools, controlled by said central unit at the end of the cycle.  9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the tank is equipped with a drain for cleaning water discharge.