| 1. | Apparatus for production of one or more wafers (2), in which said apparatus comprises a wafer iron (4) having an upper and a lower frying plate (4a, 4b) with heater elements (5a, 5b), and an actuator (6) arranged for opening the wafer iron 84a, 4b) for filling of wafer mixture (8) and for closing the wafer iron for frying the wafer mixture to the produced wafer (2) ; and thereby for opening the wafer iron (4) for removing the produced wafer (2) ; in which a batch container (24) is arranged to receive dry wafer mixture comprising dry wafer powder with flour and other dried wafer ingredients (8a, 8b) from a powder container (10), and liquid (12) supplied from a liquid line (14); characterized by the following features: that the batch container (24) is arranged on a weight cell (27) for weighing up desired masses comprising dry wafer powder (8a, 8b) and liquid (12) for mixing the wafer mixture (8); a whisk (26) run by a motor (28) and arranged for being moved or rotate in the wafer mixture (8a, 8b, 12) and thereby to blend the wafer mixture to the prepared wafer mixture (8); and the batch container (24) having a rotating bearing on an axle 828) run by a motor (29) for turning and pouring of the batch container's (24) wafer mixture (8) into the wafer iron (4) for frying. |
| 2. | The apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus being partitioned into a raw material compartment (100) and a process compartment (200) separated from each other by a generally steamproof partition wall (210). |
| 3. | The machine according to claim 1, in which said liquid (12) is water, and that said liquid line (14) is connected to an ordinary water distribution line (16) at the user site. |
| 4. | The apparatus according to claim 1, with a fat line (20) leading from a fat container (22) with frying fat (18), in which said fat line (20) is arranged for conducting frying oil to said batch container (24) in its filling position. |
| 5. | The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said axle (28) is horizontal. |
| 6. | The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said weight cell (27) is arranged on said axle (28). |
| 7. | The apparatus according to claim 1, in which also said fluid (12) supplied from said liquid line (14) flows into said batch container (24) via a nozzle head (39) comprising a central channel (31) for flushing the rotating whisk's (26) central portion (39). |
| 8. | The apparatus according to claim 7, in which said nozzle head (30) comprises a ring nozzle (32) for flushing the container's (24) inwards facing wall (25). |
| 9. | The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said powder container (10) is connected to an underlying powder funnel (120) being open upwards toward the powder container's (10) powder volume, in which said powder funnel comprises a sleeve portion (122) with a through feeder screw (110) run by a motor (114) and with an outlet (116) by the feeder screw's (110) first end (112) to the batch container (24). |
| 10. | The apparatus according to claim 9, in which said powder container (10) is arranged in the raw material compartment (100) and the batch container is arranged in the process compartment (200), and in which a slide valve (212) is arranged to open and close a powder channel (214) between said feedout opening (116) and said batch container (24). |
| 11. | the apparatus according to claim 1, with a ventilation fan (290) arranged for extracting humid air and frying exhausts from the process compartment (200). |
| 12. | Apparatus according to claim 1, in which a frying plate (4a) is arranged on a heat conductive paste (41) on a first metal plate (43) with electrical resistive heat film (5a) arranged on the rear side, resting on an insulating plate (45) preferably of ceramic paper, further resting on a second metal plate (47), all mounted on separation sleeves on through rods (46) on a third mounting plate (49). |
| 13. | Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said frying surfaces are replaced by plates for production of pancakes etc. , all comprising a fried mixture comprising flour and liquid and desired additional matter. |
| 14. | A method for producing one or more wafers (2) by means of an apparatus having a wafer iron (4) with at least an upper and a lower frying plate (4a, 4b) with heater elements (5a, 5b), and an actuator (6) arranged for opening the wafer iron (4a, 4b) for pouring in wafer mixture (8) and for closing said wafer iron to the produced wafer (2), and for opening said wafer iron (4) for removing said produced wafer (2); characterized by the following steps: feeding dry wafer powder comprising flour and other dried wafer ingredients (8a, 8b) from a powder container (10) to a batch container (24), and supplying liquid (12) to the batch container 810) from a liquid line (14); blending the wafer mixture (8a, 8b, 12) using a whisk (26) run by a motor (28) thereby blending the wafer mixture to said prepared wafer mixture (8), pouring the wafer mixture (8) from the batch container (24) to the wafer iron (4) for frying the wafer mixture (8) to a fried wafer 82), while returning the batch container (24) to said liquid line (14) and the whisk (26) for adding liquid for cleaning said batch container (24) and said whisk (26) ; returning the batch container (24) to said liquid line (14) and the whisk (26) for adding liquid for cleaning said batch container (24) and said whisk (26); turning and emptying said batch container over an outlet ; returning said batch container (24) to said fluid line (14) and said whisk (26) for feeding of new wafer mixture. |
| 15. | Method according to claim 14, in which said batch container (249 is arranged on a weight cell (27) continuously measuring the supplied masses comprising dry wafer powder 88a, 8b) and liquid (12) for mixing of the wafer mixture (8). |
| 16. | 15 Method according to claim 14, in which said batch container (24) is arranged on a weight cell (27) continuously measuring the supplied masses comprising dry wafer powder (8a, 8b) and liquid (12) for mixing of the wafer mixture (8). |
| 17. | Method according to claim 14, comprising splitting up the batch measurement cycle into a series of cycles comprising short flushing of water to the batch container, short break for stabilizing the weight cell, with subsequent reading off the weight cell for weighing of the batch container with contents, until the weight cell feeds out a weight corresponding to a state in which the desired amount of water has been supplied. |
Wafers loose quality relatively rapidly and loose their crispiness of the crust, and become soft and sticky. For such a semiautomatic wafer machine, the unpredictable production rate might suggest that one may prepare wafer mixture of sufficently large volume to meet the peak demand, but problems would arise if the expected demand should not occur, because one would have to store unused wafer mixture for a relatively long time so the quality of the stored wafer mixture would decrease to such a degree that a desired quality (with respect to taste, crust, flavour and hygiene) of the wafers then produced, may not be achieved, or in which unused wafer mixture must be frozen to avoid undesired bacterial growth in the mixture or in which unused mixture simply has to be poured out at the end of the day. A waste problem may also arise when pouring out unused wafer mixture due to the risk of blocking the outlet pipe. Further, most employees have a common sense feeling saying that one should not dispose of raw material and food. Thus in the present invention use is made of a powder mixture for preparation of desired volumes of wafer mixture, in which a dose of a desired amount of powder is made, and added a desirable amount of liquid just before frying the wafer. The present invention solves the problems that appeared in this connection.
Prior art in the field For catering, production-ready wafer mixture may be delivered as frozen blocks. Such wafer mixture blocks must be taken out the day before use. Such frozen blocks have the disadvantage that they require freeze refrigeration during transport and frozen storage in the users catering kitchen. Moreover condensation on the frozen block due to humidity in the air will occur if it is unpacked during melting, and the mixture becomes undesiredly watered out.
One may of course produce wafers in considerable numbers at once and stack them on a plate in the counter. Due to hygienic precautions the health authorities require that wafers prepared for sale are kept under a tight glass cover, so as to avoid dust and air carried contamination. Thus, in addition to the ordinary reduction of quality when the wafer is stored, that the wafers become sticky and loose their crispiness when stored under the glass bell, and thus impractical held, and less attractive to eat.
Norwegian patent 314381, "Machine for automatic production and purchase of water based on prepared raw materials"and belonging to the applicant, comprises a powder container for dry wafer powder and a powder volume measurement device for delivering dry wafer powder to a mixing container using a control unit, and a valve for liquids or a pump for provision of a liquid to the mixing container, and a stirring mechanism for mixing the dry wafer powder and the fluid to a wafer mixture.
However, N0314381 does not solve the requirement for a sufficiently precise measurement of dry wafer powder and liquid to a wafer mixture. Further, N0314381 does not solve the problem arising after each preparation and discharge of wafer mixture in that remains must be removed and the mixing container and the whisk must be thoroughly cleaned to maintain hygienic conditions in the apparatus.
Short summary of the invention A solution to some of the above-mentioned problems are, according to the invention, an apparatus as defined in the attached patent claims, in which said apparatus is arranged for producing one or more wafers and in which said apparatus comprises a wafer iron having an upper and a lower frying plate with heat elements, and an actuating device arranged for opening the wafer iron for adding wafer mixture and for adding the batch of wafer mixture to the wafer iron in order to fry the wafer mixture into a produced wafer, thereafter to open the wafer iron to remove the produced wafer, with a batch preparation container arranged for receiving wafer powder comprising dry wafer powder with flour and other dried ingredients from a powder container, and liquid added from a liquid line (14) in which the invention is characterized by the following features: that the batch preparation container is arranged on a weighing cell for measuring of a desired mass comprising dry wafer powder and liquid for mixing of the wafer mixture ; a whisk driven by a motor and arranged for being moved or rotate in the wafer mixture to mix the wafer mixture; that the batch preparation container is arranged rotating about an axle driven by a motor for discharging the batch preparation container and arranged for adding the wafer mixture into the wafer iron for frying.
According to the invention there is also a method for producing wafers, as defined in a separate independent claim. Other inventive steps appear from the dependent claims.
Short figure captions.
The invention is illustrated in the attached drawings. The drawings are meant to illustrate the invention without being construed to limit the scope of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a front view of a cabinet having an upper raw material compartment for being dry, and a separate, lower chamber called a process compartment, in which mixing, frying and cleaning is conducted.
Fig. 2 is a front wiew illustrating the upper raw material compartment separately, having a powder container and a nozzle for adding water and flushing, providing dry wafer powder and water, respectively, to the process compartment.
Fig. 3 shows a front view of the process compartment in which powder is batch measured into the batch and mixing container, and in which the flushing nozzle adds a desired amount of water, in a preferred embodiment in a desired number of small impacts, until the desired amount of dry wafer powder mixture in the batch measurement and mixing container, hereafter called the batch container. Further is shown actuators for horizontal and vertical movement of the batch container, with a wafer iron with corresponding actuator, and an outlet for drain water.
Fig. 4 shows a side view as seen from the left side of the underlying process compartment portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, such as the illustration would be without a side panel. At the left portion of Fig. 4 is shown a section of the rear wall
of the process compartment, with an outline of actuators for vertical and horizontal movement of the batch container for wafer mixture. Also shown is a motor and a rotating weight cell arranged on this actuator system. Thus the batch container may also be used as a moveable container for filling, weighing, mixing, pouring, washing and flushing may be conducted by means of the same container. As a dominating part of Fig. 4 is shown an upper wafer iron in an elevated posture in an oblique angle view (transparent so as to see the behind arranged batch container), and a lower wafer iron in an end view arranged on a frame at the left sidewall (facing the reader in this Figure), with parts of the drain system shown in broken lines.
Fig. 5 a shows parts of the image of Fig. 4, with the mobile and motorized rotating batch container arranged on the weighing cell, which further is arranged on the horizontal (inward and outward with respect to the image plane) running actuator, further being arranged on a vertically running actuator.
Fig. 5B shows a side elevation view of a wafer iron, here shown the lower wafer iron, with a wafer pattern only indicated. The upper wafer iron is generally similarly compiled, but arranged rotating and motorised about a bearing arranged near the left portion of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 illustrates a front elevation view of the process compartment in which the weighed batch of wafer mixture is being mixed by means of the whish, and in which the batch container by means of the vertically running actuator is lowered from the water nozzle so as for the batch container to run free of the whisk. The batch container is in this position ready for being moved towards the wafer iron which is arranged aside of the whisk and the water nozzle so as to avoid dripping on the wafer iron both in an open and a closed state. The wafer iron is here opened in that the upper wafer is swung up in order for the lower wafer iron to be ready to receive the wafer mixture from the batch container. Please notice that the outlet is arranged under the whisk and the nozzle in order to receive possible drops when the batch container is elsewhere.
Fig. 7 shows the batch container transported to a position over the lower wafer iron and ready to be turned to pour the contents into the lower wafer iron. Highly advantageously the lower wafer iron would start being pre-heated so as for the frying of the wafer's lower side could commence immediately after the wafer mixture arrives
in the wafer iron.
Fig. 8 shows the batch container pouring the wafer mixture into the lower wafer iron.
Fig 9 shows the batch container turned to such a degree that is entirely emptied, and practically all of the wafer mixture is about to spread out in the lower wafer iron. One condition for achieving this is to mix a sufficiently viscous mixture so that it will pour easily out of the batch container. This reduces the risk of mixture to remain hanging on the whisk and in the batch container. The consistency of the mixture should be considerably thinner than what is usually produced for manual manufacture of wafers both with respect to spreading in the wafer iron and best possible removal from the batch container. This incurs a rather high proportion of water having to be boiled off the wafer during the frying process, resulting in that the power of the lower and upper wafer iron having to be sufficiently dimensioned in order to fry the mixture sufficiently. Similarly, the fan leading out of the process compartment should be sufficiently large so as to remove steam and evaporated gases from the frying process. There should also be inlet valves to the process compartment that are large enough to allow air in to replace the pumped-out fry steam.
Fig. 10 shows the evacuated batch container having been run away from the wafer iron and placed below the whisk and the flushing nozzle, whereby the upper wafer iron has been turned down by means of the actuator and being closed on to the wafer mixture so as to shape the upper surface of the wafer in a desired pattern and being fried.
Fig. 11 shows the wafer iron being opened through the upper wafer iron elevating the wafer iron. Simultaneously the batch container has been elevated to a position just below the flushing nozzle so as for the walls of the batch container and the central portions of the whisk to be flushed with water, possibly with some soap added to the water. Advantageously the whisk should rotate during the flushing in order to face several sides towards the water jet while keeping flushed-off mixture moving in the water.
Fig. 12 shows that the wafer may be taken out of the wafer iron independent of the mixing cup may be run to a lowered position and turned above an outlet. In Fig. 9
and the present Figure is illustrated positions of the mixing container to be rotated through a complete rotation for pouring the wafer mixture into the iron, reject water or flushing water into the outlet. This may simplify the control of the motor for rotating, and sensors for sensing the positions of the rotated mixture container. The batch container should be run back to up below the nozzle for each flushing after the washing, particularly from hygienic considerations if no mixture shall be immediately prepared. The batch container may after washing and possible flushing be run back to the initial position illustrated in Fig. 3 and is ready for receiving new dry wafer mixture powder and water for mixing a new wafer mixture.
Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation view of a wafer machine according to the invention, arranged in a metal cabinet having an overlying raw material compartment (100) which preferably is dry, and a separate, underlying"process compartment" (200) separated from each other by a generally humidity proof partition wall (210).
Fig. 2 is a front elevation view illustrating the overlying raw material compartment (100) as such, with a powder container (10) and a nozzle (30) for water supply and flushing providing dry wafer raw materials comprising flour (8a) and other dry wafer ingredients, e. g. Sugar and additional powder materials, and water, respectively, down to the process compartment (200). Further is seen a powder funnel (120) with a mouth in a generally horizontal cylinder-shaped sleeve portion (122) in the lower end of the powder container (10). A feeder screw (110) is arranged in the sleeve portion (122) and arranged for feeding forward dry wafer powder from said powder container's sleeve portion. The feeder screw is run by a motor (114) commanded by a control system (250). A slide valve (212) covers or opens an aperture called a powder channel (216) through the bottom plate (210) of the raw material compartment. Said bottom plate may be constituted by ha horizontal partition wall (210) between said process compartment (200) and said raw material compartment (100), Said slide valve (212) may be opened when the feeder screw (110) is rotated, in order for dry wafer powder to fall down into the process compartment (200) where, according to the invention, shall be caught by a mixing or batch container (24). Fig. 2 also shows a stirrer motor (38) being started and halted
by the control system. At the same time Fig. 2 shows a water nozzle arranged near said powder channel (216) in which the water nozzle is arranged for adding water (12) or other desired liquid supplied from a liquid line (14, not illustrated) to the mixing container and for flushing inside the mixing container (24). The fluid line may be connected from the ordinary water supply line locally. In the raw material compartment is also arranged a fat pump (not shown) on a fat container (22) with frying oil (18), with a fat line (20) leading from said fat container and through said partition wall (210) and arranged for conducting frying oil to said batch container (24) in its filling position. A flexible membrane with a fissure, a so-called split gasket, is according to the preferred embodiment of the invention arranged on the fat line (20) outlet so as to prevent dripping from the fat line.
The control system (250) is in a prototype embodiment of the invention a programmable logical control system, a so-called"PLS", but may in a preferred embodiment be a fixed programmed electronic circuit controlling the wafer machines functions, and is not described in detail here.
Fig. 3 shows a front elevation view of the process compartment (200) with a batch measurement-and mixing container (24). Dry wafer powder (8a) is about to be dropped down through the powder channel (216) and being batch measured to a desired amount in the batch-and mixing container (24). The way that the amount of dry wafer powder is determined, is explained below. A flushing nozzle (30) fills in a desired amount of water. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said flushing nozzle gives a desired number of short releases from said flushing nozzle (30) down into said batch of dry wafer powder in said batch-and mixing container (24), hereafter called the batch container (24). Further are seen actuators (35,36) for horizontal and vertical movement, respectively, of said batch container, and a wafer iron (4) with the lower frying plate (4a) with heating element (5a), and the upper frying plate (4b) with heating element (5b) with a corresponding actuator (6) for opening and closing said wafer iron (4), in the preferred embodiment by lifting the upper frying plate (4b). A funnel-shaped outlet (288) for outlet water is arranged. A ring-shaped flushing channel (289) with nozzles is arranged inside and along the edge of said outlet funnel (288) for inside flushing of the outlet funnel after pouring out washing and rinsing water, possibly after dripping from the whisk (26). In a preferred
embodiment of the invention there may also be arranged a centrally upwards directed flushing nozzle (287) in the outlet funnel (288), see Fig. 12. The flushing nozzle (287) is used for when the batch container (24) is turned upside down just above the outlet funnel and shall be flushed clean to remove remainders of wafer mixture and rinsing water.
The batch measurement container (24) is arranged to pour the wafer mixture (8) into the wafer iron (4) for frying. This will be explained in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.
Fig. 4 shows a side elevation view from the left side of the underlying process compartment portion (200) of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, as a preferred embodiment of the invention would look without the left side panel. At the left side of Fig. 4 is shown a section of the rear wall of the process compartment (200) with an outline of the actuators (35,36) for vertical and horizontal movement of the batch container (24) for wafer mixture. The apparatus is provided with a relatively powerful ventilating fan (290) arranged for extracting humid air and frying exhaust gases from said process compartment (200).
Also shown is a motor (29) and a rotating weight cell (27) arranged on a horizontal axle (28) on this actuator system (35,36). Thus the batch container (24) may also be used as a mobile container in which filling, weighing, mixing, pouring, washing, and rinsing may be conducted using the same container, please see the below description. As a dominating part of Fig. 4 is shown the upper frying plate (4b), also named"the upper wafer iron" (4b) in an elevated position in an oblique view, and the lower frying plate (4a), also named"the lower wafer iron" (4a) in an end view and arranged on a frame on the left sidewall (facing the reader in this figure), and portions of the outlet system.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the batch container (24) is arranged on a weighing cell (27) for batch-measuring desired masses of dry wafer powder (8a, 8b) and fluid (12) for blending of the wafer mixture (8). Further the batch container (24) is arranged rotating on a horizontal axle (28) that holds the weighing cell (27) with the batch container (24). The axle (28) may be turned about its axis by means of a motor (29) for turning and pouring out of the batch container (24). This makes the batch container (24) able to pour out the prepared blend of wafer mixture
(8), such as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. In the same manner the batch container (24) may pour out washing-and rinsing water such as illustrated in Fig. 12, in which is also shown that the batch container may be flushed in an upside down position.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid (12) added from the fluid line (14) and flows into the batch container (24) via a nozzle head (30) comprising a central channel (31) for flushing a central portion of the rotating whisk (26). The nozzle head (30) comprises also a ring nozzle (32) for approximately radial flushing of the container's (24) inner wall (25). It may also be advantageous if the whisk is rotated for short periods in order to stir the liquid in the batch container without the fluid to be centrifuged over the edge of the batch container. This is particularly important if there shall only be flushing water in the batch container.
The build-up of the wafer iron.
According to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention a frying plate (4a) or"a half part of a wafer iron"is arranged on a heat conductive paste (41) on a first metal plate (43) having an electrical resistive heat foil (5a) arranged on the rear side, resting against an insulating plate (45), preferably made of ceramic paper, further arranged on a second metal plate (47), all arranged on separation pieces on through rods on a third mounting plate (49). the upper iron or frying plate (4b) has a shape corresponding to the shape of the frying plate (4a) for being combined to envelope and shape a fried wafer, and is correspondingly built up and arranged generally upside-down, and arranged rotating. The upper wafer iron (4b) is moved by an arm to a moment arm on an axle on an electrical motor. The purpose of arranging an aluminium plate upon the heat element is that the aluminium plate conducts heat in a sufficient degree through to the plate, while the frying plate (4a, 4b) may be exchanged without having to exchange the heating element.
Likewise one may exchange the heating element without rejecting the frying plate.
This is advantageous for large entity use, and may divide the parts costs nearly by half when repairing the wafer irons.
A considerable problem with the known art is that the wafer iron is hot during long periods of time, often continuously. Then the fat from the previously fried wafer will remain in the iron while the power of the iron continues to burn the fat. Thus the
release properties of the fat are degraded and becomes worse by time, and then the wafer may attach and part of it may remain stuck after a time, a feature that requires thorough cleaning and thus interrupted production. Moreover, the heat element requires large power, rather between 2000 and 3000 Watt in the preferred embodiment, a power that from an economical point of view should be essentially reduced in consumption. It is thus an essential moment not to let the heat elements in the wafer irons being turned on in a continuous mode.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the control device is connected so as to turn off the iron after about 60 seconds or some other period of time whereby it is expected that the wafer is finished frying and shall be taken out, and cools the iron in that the fan (290) extracts heated air. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the control device connects the current to the resistive heat film (5a) so that the iron is heated during about 15 seconds while the mixture is blended, and the mixture is poured in when the iron is sufficiently hot. In the preferred embodiment of the iron we use a power of about 1400 W per frying plate (4a, 4b), that is above and below, altogether about 2800 W for frying of one wafer in the wafer iron. In the preferred embodiment the control device uses separate current control of the lower and upper irons. The lower frying plate is heated firstly because it receives the mixture first, thus requiring more energy earlier. A short while after the lower frying plate has been turned on, the current is connected for the upper frying plate's (4b) heating film (5b) so as for the upper frying plate to be sufficiently hot when it is rotated and shut down towards the wafer mixture that has already become poured down into the lower wafer iron and has spread and started frying on one of the sides.
The method for frying wafers A method according to the invention for producing one or more wafers (2) by means of an apparatus with a wafer iron (4) having at least an upper and a lower frying plate (4a, 4b) with heat elements (5a, 5b), and an actuator (6) arranged for opening the wafer iron (4a, 4b) for filling of wafer mixture (8) and for closing said wafer iron for frying the wafer mixture to the finished wafer (), and thereby to open the wafer iron (4) for taking out the finished wafer (2), is characterized by the following steps:
firstly, wafer mixture blend comprising dry materials comprising dry wafer mixture powder with flour (8a) and other dried wafer ingredients (8b) are fed from a powder container (10) to a batch container (10) as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter or simultaneously, a supply of liquid (12) may take place to said batch container (24) from a liquid line (14) as shown in Fig. 3. The liquid line may extend from a separate tank, but according to the preferred embodiment the liquid line leads from an ordinary water supply if the liquid is just fresh water.
One problem that arose during the testing of the prototype of the apparatus is that there is a contradiction between flushing of the batch container in order to conduct cleansing, and supply of water for batch-measurement of a correct mixing relationship in the batch container (24). During the flushing it is required to hav a certain pressure of the water sufficient for wafer mixture remnants to be dissolved and torn off from the wall of the batch container and the stirrer. It is particularly important to flush vigorously onto the central portions of the whisk that has a low relative speed during the blending, and onto which is proves that some incompletely mixed wafer mixture may collect. During the batch measurement of water for supply of a desired amount of water to the wafer mixture in the batch container, it is a disadvantage to have a high pressure of the water and continuous supply, because the weight cell is unable to weigh the batch container continuously. This is not only due to the weight cell not being capable to feed out of weight data, but also that the weight cell us subject to a certain force from above due to the flushing force of the ray that incurs the weight cell to assess higher mass in the container than the actual mass of water and wafer mixture powder. One way of solving these problems is to maintain the full water pressure of the flushing nozzle and arrange a separate computer controlled valve for flushing, in addition to arranging a separate water batch-measurement nozzle with a pressure reduction valve and a separate computer controlled valve for batch measuring. Alternatively, one may arrange a computer controlled valve to a pressure reduction circuit on the water supply line to the existing flushing-and batch measurement nozzle. But this requires more computer control channels in the control device, and computer controlled valves, incurring an expensive and complex solution. A solution to these problems that proved to be much simpler, was to maintain the high pressure so as for the flushing to remain
efficient. For batch-measuring water to the batch container one may then partition the batch-measurement cycle of flushing of fluid (12) to the batch container (24) in a series of cycles comprising the following steps: short flushing of water (12) from the nozzle (30) to the batch container (24), short pause for stabilizing the weight cell (27), with subsequent reading off the weight cell (27) for weighing the batch container (24) with contents (8a, 8b, 12), until the weight cell (27) provides a weight indicating that the desired amount of water has been reached. Thus one is independent of calibrating the batch supply of water to the local water pressure or a varying water pressure. The supply of dry powder mix does not constitute the same problem as the supply of water, maybe due to the lower density and speed of the powder being so small when it is fed out from the powder feeding screw and falls straight into the cup, so that the weight cell is not disturbed by the falling weight or the speed by which the weight increases.
After, and possibly simultaneously with the supply of water from the batch measurement nozzle (30) mixing of the wafer mixture batch (8a, 8b, 12) takes place by means of a whisk (26) run by a motor (38) for stir-blending the wafer mixture batch to the prepared wafer mixture (8), such as illustrated in Fig. 4. Please notice that the wafer iron is shown in an open state in Figs. 3 and 4, but in which rather should stand closed for heating during filling and blending of wafer mixture, but would stand open attending a start command after production of a preceding wafer, for assuring that the wafer irons are cooled efficiently after the production of the preceding wafer. After the blending of the wafer mixture batch has been completed, the batch container (24) is moved from the nozzle (30) through a series of operations, among others while the wafer iron is opened subsequent to the batch container has reached the position shown in Fig. 6. the batch container (24) is turned to pour the wafer mixture (8) into the wafer iron for frying, such as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9.
Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of the process compartment (200) in which the batch of wafer mixture (8) has been blended by means of said whisk (26), and in which said batch container (24) by means of the vertically running actuator (26) has been lowered from the water nozzle (30) such that the batch container runs free of said whisk (26). The batch container is in this position ready for displacement toward the lower wafer iron (4a) standing aside of the whisk and the water nozzle in order to
avoid dripping on the wafer iron both in open and shut position. The wafer iron will in a preferred embodiment be shut in this moment, and shall be opened by means of the actuator (6) so that the upper wafer iron (4b) to be swung open so as for the lower wafer iron (4a) to become ready to receive the wafer mixture (8) from the batch container. Please notice that the outlet funnel (288) is arranged under the whisk (26) and the nozzle (30) in order to receive possible dripping from said whisk and said nozzle when the batch container (24) is away.
Fig. 7 shows the batch container (24) transported by the horizontal actuator (35) to a position above the lower wafer iron (4a) and being ready for being turned to pour the contents of the prepared wafer mixture (8) into the lower wafer iron (4a), It is a significant advantage if the lower wafer iron already during the batch measurement or the blending of the wafer mixture has begun its heating so as for frying of an underside of the wafer in the following may take place immediately when the wafer mixture arrives in the lower wafer iron.
Fig. 8 shows that the batch container (24) becomes rotated about a horizontal axle (28) also comprising the weight cell (27), by means of said motor (29) and pours the wafer mixture into the lower wafer iron (4a). The motor (29) and the axle (28) and the arrangement of the weight cell is shown in side elevation view in Fig. 5a. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the axle and the weight cell a distance from the horizontally and vertically running movement apparatus so that the motor (29) shall not interfere with the motor (29).
Fig. 9 shows that the batch container (24) at this stage is turned so much that it will be completely empty, and practically all the wafer mixture is being spread out in the lower wafer iron (4a). A condition to achieve this is to blend a wafer mixture (8) so thin that it floats easily of the batch container (24). This reduces the risk of mixture (8) to retain on the whisk (26) and in the batch container (24). The consistence of the mixture may according to a preferred embodiment of the invention be considerably more viscous than what is usually considered as sufficient for manual frying of wafers, both with respect to spreading in the wafer iron and best possible outpouring from the batch container. This incurs a relatively large amount of water which shall be boiled rapidly off the wafer during the frying process, so the power of the lower frying plate and the upper frying plate must be sufficiently dimensioned in order to fry the
mixture efficiently. At the same time the fan (290) leading out from the process compartment be dimensioned so it may be run with a high air pumping capacity in order to take out the steam and the evaporated gas from the frying process. Inlet valves, e. g. Simple holes near the bottom of the right and left sidewalls, or in the front panel of the process compartment (200) allows air to enter the process compartment to replace the evacuated frying steam. There should be arranged a ventilation outlet fan or air outlet from the wafer machine leading out of the building in order to avoid the frying steam to condense inside the house. The exchange of air that takes place using the fan (290) will also contribute to a rapid cooling of the frying plates (4a, 4b) after the wafer has been removed. A simple powder valve being a slide valve (212) which may be moved using an electromagnetic actuator (not shown). The slide valve (212) has two functions : a) it opens and closes for powder filling from the batch feeder screw, and b) it prevents steam from intruding from the lower humid compartment to the upper dry compartment. The upper compartment must be dry in order to prevent the powder from clumping and to reduce the risk of bacterial growth and/or formation of fungus in the powder storage due to supply of humid air which otherwise would promote bacterial/fungal growth.
Fig. 10 shows the emptied batch container (24) having been run away from the wafer iron by means of the horizontal actuator (35) and has been elevated using the vertically running actuator (36) and placed under the whisk and the flushing nozzle. The upper wafer iron (4b) is now in a preferred embodiment of the invention turned down using the actuator (6) and closed towards the wafer mixture (8) in the lower wafer iron (4a) so as for the upper side of the wafer to be formed into a desired pattern, and the wafer mixture to be fried to a finished wafer (2).
Fig. 11 shows a consecutive opening of the wafer iron in that the actuator lifts the upper wafer iron (4b). At the same time the batch container (24) has been elevated to just below the flushing nozzle (30,31, 32) for having the walls of the batch container and the central portion of the whisk to be flushed with water, possibly with soap added to the water using a soap batch measurement unit. It is an advantage if the whisk rotates unevenly during the flushing in order for turning several sides to the water jet while keeping the flushed-off mixture moving in the water, and also for itself to contribute to tear off unused wafer mixture from the batch
container's (24) wall and bottom.
Fig. 12 shows that the wafer may be taken out of the wafer iron independently of the batch cup may be driven to a lowered position and turned by means of the motor (29) over the outlet (288). In Fig. 9 and in this Figure is illustrated positions that indicate that the mixing cup may be turned through an entire rotation for pouring the wafer mixture into the iron, the outlet, or flushing water in the outlet. This may simplify the control for the motor for turning, and sensors or switches for sensing the mix cup's rotated position. The batch container should be run back below the nozzle for each flushing after the washing, particularly due to hygienic considerations if not a new mixture immediately shall be prepared. The batch container may after washing and possible flushing thereafter be run back to the initial position as shown in Fig. 3 and be ready for receiving new dry wafer mixture and water for blending of a new wafer mixture. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the central flushing nozzle (287) to finally flush the batch container in its lower upside-down position, so that it may be ready to be elevated in order to return for receiving wafer mixture powder and liquid for blending of new wafer mixture.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, no particular pick-out mechanism for the wafer is made, as it is expected that the machine shall be located at a place with attendants. Moreover, a pick-out mechanism may run into problems due to somewhat uneven and unpredictable slip properties in the wafer irons, so that the wafer is not guaranteed to be in a correct position to be picked out. The wafer may for example stick half in one iron, and half in the other, and not rest nicely on the lower iron for being picked out. Since there is attendance at the site, and one expects the attendants to control the use of the machine, it appears feasible picking out the wafer manually.
An industrial advantage by a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis that the apparatus may be connected directly to the water supply network so that no water tank would be required, neither any pump for creating a water pressure, as one would expect the water supply line to provide sufficient water pressure. An other industrial advantage by a preferred embodiment of the present invention is the absence of a mud pit, and that the machine may be directly connected to the outlet network. Both these aspects reduce transport problems, and facilitates a more
thorough cleaning without direct regard of the available amount of water. This makes the apparatus considerably lighter and smaller than if it should have been provided with a heavy water tank, rather with 20 liters of water, and a mud tank that should have the same capacity if in worst case all the mixture must be flushed.
In the above description the term"wafers"is used about the desired product.
However, one may exchange the frying surface in the wafer iron and produce pancakes and the like, which all comprise a fried mixture comprising flour and liquid and desired additives like baking powder, spice, sour cream, or other, and that preferably shall be fried on both sides.
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