Method and assembly for manufacturing dough products made of batter

No. NLP186651A

Method and Assembly for manufacturing pancakes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing pancakes, in which method use is made of a so-called food printer (food jet printer).

Such food printers have recently been developed and are used, among other things, for decorating foodstuffs and for manufacturing multi-layer foodstuffs. An example of such a food printer is described in Dutch patent 2000466, although there are now also other food printers on the market.

Dutch patent 2000466 describes a food printer for dispensing a second food such as a liquid, or a liquid substance such as a suspension, an emulsion or a dispersion, onto a first food product. The food printer comprises a container for the liquid such as yoghurt, mayonnaise, sauce, oil, etc., to which several dispensing openings are connected, for controlled and targeted delivery of the liquid to the first food product. A characteristic feature of a food printer is that each dispensing opening can be controlled separately to determine whether or not to dispense one or more drops of the first food product. The first food may be a substantially solid substance, such as chocolate, or a jelly-like substance such as a pudding or yoghurt.

Although such food printers are used to decorate batter products, they have not yet been used in the production of pancakes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, among other things, an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing pancakes, in which method use is made of a food printer.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method with which pancakes are produced that are comparable in quality and texture to traditionally made pancakes.

To this end, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing pancakes, in which method use is made of a conveyor with a heatable carrier on which the pancakes to be manufactured are transported, and a first food printer (food jet printer), which method comprises the steps by:

- applying a layer of cooking oil (or a similar shortening) to the carrier, and

- applying an amount of pancake batter by the first food printer to the layer of cooking oil applied to the carrier, wherein the carrier is moved relative to the food printer by the conveyor and wherein the food printer dispenses a preset amount of pancake batter per position on the carrier.

The invention is based on the insight that the quantity and position of pancake batter that is dispensed on the carrier, i.e. delivered in portions, can be accurately adjusted by means of a food printer. In particular, the food printer dispenses drops of the pancake batter according to a preset pattern on the carrier. The pattern determines the shape of the pancake.

The amount of pancake batter per position on the carrier is then determined by the number of drops that the food printer applies at or near a certain position. In one embodiment, this number of drops per position is determined by controlling the frequency of dispensing the drops as a function of the position of the food printer relative to the carrier.

On the one hand, it is possible to apply the pancake batter by the food printer to a cold carrier (in particular with a temperature below the baking temperature), after which the carrier with the pancakes dispensed on it is heated to a set baking temperature for baking the pancakes.

On the other hand, it has been found that the method according to the invention can also be applied to an already heated carrier. In one embodiment, the method, prior to applying an amount of pancake batter by the first food printer, comprises the step of heating the carrier substantially to a set baking temperature. By dispensing pancake batter directly onto a hot carrier, the fluidity of the dispensed pancake batter will quickly decrease during baking. This essentially fixes the dispensed pancake batter in the dispensed position. Partly because of this, the shape or contour of the pancake can be adjusted more accurately. In this way, pancakes can be made with various shapes, such as heart-shaped, star-shaped or pine tree-shaped pancakes.

On the other hand, the amount of pancake batter, and therefore also the thickness of the final pancake, can be adjusted for a specific position on the carrier.

In an advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, the step of applying an amount of pancake batter by the first food printer to the layer of cooking oil applied to the carrier is carried out in such a way that the pancake has edges that are thinner than the rest of the pancake. By properly controlling the food printer, it has been possible to make the edges of the pancakes thinner than the rest, so that the manufactured pancake is at least comparable in appearance and/or texture to traditionally made pancakes.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, the step of applying an amount of pancake batter by the first food printer to the layer of cooking oil applied to the carrier is carried out in such a way that the amount of pancake batter has an at least approximately centrally located part that is thinner than the rest of the amount of pancake batter. In particular, the method further includes the step of placing a filling on the central part, such as jam, syrup, raisins, apple pieces, cheese, or meat, for example a piece of bacon. On the one hand, the thicker part of the pancake surrounding the central thin part can help a viscous filling, such as jam or syrup, stay in place. On the other hand, placing a filling on a thinner center portion can ensure that both the filling such as raisins, apple chunks, cheese or meats, and the part of the pancake dough on which the piece of bacon sits are cooked correctly.

In one embodiment, the layer of cooking oil (or a comparable cooking fat) is applied to the carrier with a second food printer that is placed upstream of the first food printer, at least considering a transport direction of the conveyor. Because the inventive method uses a food printer to apply cooking oil (or a comparable cooking fat), the cooking oil can be dosed in such a way that only those places on the carrier where the pancake batter will later be applied by the first food printer are applied. oil is applied. This can significantly reduce the amount of oil required for pancake production.

In one embodiment, a first pancake batter is applied by the first food printer, and a second pancake batter is applied by a third food printer, which is placed downstream of the first food printer, at least viewed in a transport direction of the conveyor, wherein the second pancake batter is different from the first pancake batter. By using two different batters, which differ in color, for example, pancakes can be made in which visible figures are made in the pancake. These figures can be made in different ways:

In a first method, the decorative parts are applied to the carrier with the first food printer. A base layer is then applied over essentially the entire surface of the pancake with the second food printer. After inverting the at least partially baked pancake, the decoration at the top is visible.

In an alternative method, a base layer is first applied to the carrier with the first food printer, covering essentially the entire surface of the pancake to be formed. Decorative parts are then applied to the base layer with the second food printer.

In a second alternative method, a first part of the pancake is applied with the first food printer and the remaining parts of the pancake are then applied with the second food printer. This last method has the advantage that the decoration can be visible on both sides of the pancake.

In a third alternative method, the first food printer first applies a contour to the carrier, which is then at least partially filled in by the second food printer.

In one embodiment, the food printer is provided with openings, such as holes or slots, for dispensing drops of pancake batter. In one embodiment, essentially each opening of the food printer can be individually controlled for whether or not to eject a drop of pancake batter and for setting the frequency with which drops of pancake batter are ejected.

In one embodiment, the food printer is provided with an insert plate provided with the openings on a side facing the carrier. This makes it possible to change the shape and/or diameter of the openings of the food printer by exchanging one insert with openings of a first type by another insert with openings of a second type, and the food printer can be optimized for processing a specific type of pancake batter.

In one embodiment, the food printer comprises a row of adjacent openings, wherein the row is placed on a substantially straight line. In one embodiment, the angle between the straight line and a transport direction of the conveyor is adjustable. This allows the pitch of the openings, or at least their projection in the transport direction, to be adjusted.

In one embodiment the openings are shaped as substantially round holes. In one embodiment, the center distance of two adjacent holes is approximately four times as large as the diameter of the holes. It has been found that the dimensions of the food printer for dispensing drops of pancake batter, especially on a hot carrier, is an important factor for obtaining the desired result. On the one hand, the drops should not be too small, otherwise the drops will not flow into each other and the pancake would consist of a collection of drops. On the other hand, the drops should not be too large, otherwise there will be too little resolution for decorative parts on the pancake. Favorable results have been obtained with a food printer in which the holes are essentially 1 millimeter in diameter and the center distance of two adjacent holes is essentially 4 millimeters.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides an assembly for baking pancakes, comprising a conveyor with a heatable carrier on which the pancakes to be produced are transported, a first food printer (food jet printer) placed above the conveyor, wherein the food printer is provided with openings. for dispensing drops of pancake batter, whereby essentially each opening of the food printer can be individually controlled for whether or not to eject a drop of pancake batter and for adjusting the frequency with which drops of pancake batter are ejected.

In one embodiment, openings are essentially round holes, wherein the center distance of two adjacent holes is essentially four times as large as the diameter of the holes.

In one embodiment, the holes are essentially one millimeter in diameter and the center distance of two adjacent holes is essentially four millimeters.

In one embodiment, a second food printer is placed upstream of the first food printer above the conveyor, at least when viewed in a transport direction of the conveyor, wherein the second food printer is designed to dispense drops of cooking oil (or a comparable cooking fat) onto the carrier.

In one embodiment, a third food printer is placed downstream of the first food printer above the conveyor, at least when viewed in a transport direction of the conveyor, wherein the third food printer is designed for dispensing drops of pancake batter.

In one embodiment, the assembly further comprises heating elements or burners for heating the carrier to substantially a set baking temperature, at least before the carrier reaches the first food printer.

The aspects and measures described in this description and conclusions of the application and/or shown in the drawings of this application can also be applied separately where possible. These individual aspects and other aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications aimed at them. This applies in particular to the measures and aspects that are described in themselves in the subclaims.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained on the basis of a number of example embodiments shown in the attached drawings. Shown in:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an assembly for baking pancakes;

Figure 2 shows a bottom view of a food printer for baking pancakes;

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of an assembly for baking pancakes;

Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of an assembly for baking pancakes;

Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an assembly for baking pancakes with decorations;

Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of an assembly for baking pancakes on baking trays;

Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a pancake manufactured according to a first exemplary method;

Figures 8A, 8B and 8C show a schematic cross-sectional view of steps in different methods for manufacturing pancakes with two different batters; and

Figures 9A and 9B show a schematic cross-sectional view of various steps in a further example method for manufacturing pancakes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventive method for manufacturing pancakes 1 uses a generally known conveyor 10 which is provided with a carrier surface 11 that can be heated to a baking temperature of approximately 180 degrees Celsius. To this end, a series of burners 14 are arranged under the conveyor 10 for heating the carrier surface 11. Instead of burners 14, other known heating elements can also be used. A food printer 20 is arranged above the hot carrier surface 11, which on a side facing the carrier surface 11 is provided with a series of S holes 21 (see figure 2) for dispensing drops of pancake batter 30 to the carrier surface 11 via the holes 21.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the holes 21 have a diameter d of essentially one millimeter, and are placed in a line behind each other with a center distance h1 of essentially four millimeters.

The distance between the drops of pancake batter dispensed on the carrier surface 11 is equal to hl for an arrangement in which the series S extends substantially transversely to the transport direction T1 of the conveyor 10. As shown schematically in Figure 2, the distance between the drops dispensed on the carrier surface 11 can be reduced by placing the series S at an acute angle with respect to the transport direction of the conveyor 10. For example, if the angle between the series S and the transport direction T2 includes an angle α, then the distance h2 between the drops projected in the transport direction T2 is equal to:

h2 = hl sin α

The pitch of the holes 21 is thus adjustable by adjusting the angle α.

Upstream of the food printer 20, the carrier surface is provided in a known manner with a layer of cooking oil, on which the food printer 20 dispenses drops of pancake batter 30 at the desired positions, which together form a pancake 1.

The food printer 20 allows the amount of pancake batter 30 that is applied to a specific position on the carrier surface 11 to be accurately adjusted. This makes it possible for the first time to apply an amount of pancake batter 30 to the layer of cooking oil applied to the carrier 11 in an industrial process for manufacturing pancakes, such that the amount of pancake batter 30 near the edges is less than the rest of the pancake batter. the pancake 1 to be formed, in particular by suitable control of the food printer 20, which gives the manufactured pancakes 1 the shape and texture of traditionally manufactured pancakes.

Additionally or alternatively, by suitable control of the food printer 20, the application of an amount of pancake batter 30 by the food printer 20 to the layer of cooking oil applied to the carrier 11 can be carried out in such a way that the amount of pancake batter has an at least approximately centrally located part that is less than the rest of the amount of pancake batter. As a result, the pancake 1 will be substantially thinner at this centrally located part than at the rest of the pancake. A piece of bacon 2 can then be placed on this centrally located part, as shown schematically in cross-section in Figure 6.

In a second exemplary embodiment, as shown in figure 3, the conveyor 12 is designed as a disk with a round carrier surface 13. Such an embodiment is used, for example, in solid disk ovens. A food printer 20 is very suitable in particular for such a carrier surface 13, because a food printer can take radial speed differences of the conveyor into account. This allows the food printer 20 to be placed in a fixed position above the conveyor 12. The food printer 20 can dispense pancake batter 30 to the carrier 13 without moving along with the carrier surface 13, whereby an offset placement of the pancakes 1 on the carrier surface 13 can also be taken into account, i.e. further from the center of the conveyor, more pancakes 1 can be placed on a perimeter than more towards the center.

In a third exemplary embodiment, as shown in figure 4, a second food printer 40 is placed above the carrier surface 11, at least in the transport direction T of the conveyor 11. This second food printer 40 is designed for dispensing drops of cooking oil 41 onto the carrier 11. For dispensing oil, the second food printer 40 is provided with holes that are smaller than the holes for dispensing pancake dough. This makes it possible to apply a layer of cooking oil 41 to the carrier surface 11 only at those positions where pancake batter 30 will later be dispensed by the first food printer 20. The layers of cooking oil 41 thus have a comparable surface shape 42 as the pancakes 1 to be produced.

In a fourth exemplary embodiment, as shown in figure 5, a third food printer 50 is placed above the carrier surface 11 downstream, at least in the transport direction T of the conveyor 11. This third food printer 50 is designed to dispense drops of pancake batter 51 with a substantially different composition than the pancake batter 30 from the first food printer 20. Preferably, the pancake batter 51 has a different color than the pancake batter 30. This makes it possible to produce pancakes 1 that have a first surface part 31 formed from the first pancake batter 30 and a second surface part 32 formed from the second pancake batter 51. This means that the pancakes 1 can be provided with a decoration as shown schematically in figure 5.

As shown in Figure 5, the first surface part 31 can first be dispensed by dispensing the first pancake batter 30 on the carrier surface 11 at the desired locations (see Figure 8A), and then dispensing the second pancake batter 51 at the still empty locations on the carrier surface 11. (see figure 8B) for forming the second surface part 32.

In addition, it is also possible to first dispense the first pancake batter 30 at the desired locations (see Figure 8A), and then to dispense the second pancake batter 51 over the entire pancake surface on the carrier 11 (see Figure 8C). The two different surface parts only become visible after turning the pancake over.

Furthermore, pancakes 2 with a different shape, such as a bear's head, can also be produced. To this end, frying oil 41 is dispensed onto the carrier surface 11, which is preferably heated to a set frying temperature, for example by means of burners 14 as shown in Figure 1, essentially in the desired shape 3 of the pancake. Pancake batter 30 is then dispensed onto the frying oil 41 by the first food printer 20 to form the contour of the pancake 2, after which further shapes, such as eyes and nose, are filled in by the third food printer 50.

In a fifth example embodiment, as shown in figure 6, use is made of a series of baking trays 16 that are connected to a chain conveyor 15. The baking trays 16 are passed through the chain conveyor 15 under a second food printer 40 for dispensing drops of cooking oil 41. on the baking trays 16. The baking trays 16 are then passed under a first food printer 20 for dispensing drops of pancake batter to form a thin layer of pancake batter 1 on the baking trays 16, for example in the shape of a pine tree, a heart or a face. Of course, the usual round pancakes can also be made in the same way. The baking trays 16 are then fed into an oven 60 for baking the pancakes on the baking trays 16.

In Figure 9A, the first pancake batter 30 is first applied to the entire pancake surface on the carrier 11, and then the second pancake batter 51 is applied to the desired positions, as shown in Figure 9B.

By correct individual operation of the openings 20, the time at which these spray nozzles dispense the relevant product, oil 41 or pancake batter 30, 51, can be controlled, and it is also possible to regulate which spray nozzles 20 can dispense the relevant product, so that it is possible to deliver the relevant product. can be applied in different shapes to the carrier 11, 13 on the conveyor 10, 12.

According to the inventive method, use is made of at least one first food printer 20. The first food printer 20 applies an amount of pancake batter 30 to the layer of cooking oil applied to the carrier 11, 13. Its shape can be oval, round or another shape by suitable control of the nozzles 20. The assembly 5 of a layer of cooking oil and an amount of pancake batter applied to the carrier is usually fried directly on the hot carrier 11, 13.

In an alternative method, the carrier with the layer of pancake batter lying on it can also be passed through an oven 10 to bake the pancakes.

It is of course possible to provide a fourth or even further food printer in addition to the third food printer 50, with which layered pancakes can be produced, or with which different colors of pancake batter can be applied to provide pancakes with an attractive appearance.