System for determining the development status of a mass such as bread dough in a powered mixer
AssigneeKansas State University Research Foundation
InventorsEddie R. Fowler, Chen-Kang Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system determines the development status of a mass such as bread dough in a powered mixer by applying a set of expert rules to qualitative variables determined from the elapsed mixing time and instantaneous power flow to the mixer over time. The preferred apparatus includes a monitor for tracking the instantaneous power flow coupled with a computer for determining the variables and applying the rules stored in computer memory.
Claims25
An apparatus for use with a powered mixer for determining the development status of an agglomerated mass prepared in the powered mixer, said apparatus comprising:
- sensing means for sensing the input power to the mixer and for producing power signals representative thereof;
- and
- signal processing means for receiving said power signals and responsive thereto for determining the development status of the mass in the mixer, said signal processing means including
- means for deriving from said power signals a set of qualitative variables related to the development status of the mass,
- memory means for storing at least one qualitative status parameter in association with conditions that can be satisfied by said qualitative variables, and
- means for determining whether said variables satisfy said conditions and for selecting said at least one status parameter upon satisfaction of said conditions.
An apparatus for use with a powered mixer for determining the development status of dough prepared in the powered mixer, said apparatus comprising:
- sensing means for sensing the input power to the mixer and for producing power signals representative thereof;
- and
- signal processing means for receiving said power signals and responsive thereto for producing a status parameter therefrom, said signal processing means including! means for deriving power variables from said power signals, said power variables including at least one of the statistical mean of the input power over time, the statistical standard deviation of input power over time, and the frequency of change of input power over time,
- said signal producing means further including means for producing said status parameter as a function of said at least one of said mean, standard deviation and frequency of change, said status parameter being indicative of the development status of the dough in the mixer.
An apparatus for preparing dough comprising:
- a powered mixer;
- sensing means for sensing the input power to said mixer and for producing power signals representative thereof;
- and
- signal processing means for receiving said power signals and responsive thereto for determining the development status of dough in said mixer, said signal processing means including
- means for deriving power variables from said power signals, said power variables including at least one of the statistical mean of the input power over time, the statistical standard deviation of input power over time, and the frequency of change of the input power over time,
- means for deriving from said power variables a set of qualitative variables related to the development status of the dough,
- memory means for storing at least one qualitative status parameter in association with conditions that can be satisfied by said qualitative variables, and
- means for determining whether said variables satisfy said conditions and for selecting said at least one status parameter upon satisfaction of said conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.