DESC: FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)

BREAD MAKER

Mukunda Foods Pvt. Ltd.,
a company incorporated under the laws of India, having its address at
No. 2, Gopal Menon Street, Near Doveton Playground,
Choolai, Chennai – 600112

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bread maker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automatic bread maker devices are widely used for producing bread in large quantity for commercial or domestic use. However, the bread produced using these devices is of very poor quality due to lack of proper mixing of flour, appropriate shape, adequate time, and sufficient temperature to cook. Moreover, the efficiency of these devices is very low and consumes longer time for producing the bread when high production of bread is required.
Hence, the object of present invention is to design and develop a bread maker that solves one or more of aforesaid issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In first embodiment a bread maker is provided. The bread maker comprising an ingredient unit for storing ingredients, and a kneading unit, connected to the ingredient unit, for preparing dough, the kneading unit comprising a upper housing, and a lower housing, wherein the upper housing may be adapted within the lower housing, and a pressing and heating unit, adapted to receive dough from the kneading unit, for the pressing and heating the dough to prepare a bread.
In second embodiment, a kneading unit for making dough is provided. The kneading unit comprising an upper housing, and a lower housing, wherein the upper housing may be adapted within the lower housing.
According to the present invention, the upper housing comprises inlet ports for receiving ingredients from an ingredient unit and at least one mixing blade, adapted at the top, for mixing the ingredient and preparing the dough. The lower housing of the kneading unit comprises rotating disc and a outlet port for outlet of dough.
According to the present invention, the kneading unit comprises an adapt unit for moving either the upper housing or the lower housing of the kneading unit upwards or downwards to adapt the upper housing within the lower housing.
In third embodiment a pressing and heating unit for bread making is provided, the pressing and heating unit comprising a conveyor belt, a lower pressing and heating plate adapted within the conveyor belt, and an upper pressing and heating plate adapted above the conveyor belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, example of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figure(s). These figure(s) are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a bread maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a kneading unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 shows an extended view of upper and lower housing of a kneading unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 4 shows a pressing and heating unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In first embodiment, a bread maker for preparing is bread is disclosed according to an embodiment of the present invention, the bread maker comprising an ingredient unit for storing ingredients, a kneading unit, connected to the ingredient unit, for preparing dough, the kneading unit comprising, a upper housing, and a lower housing, and a pressing and heating unit, adapted to receive dough ball from the kneading unit, for the pressing and heating the dough to prepare a bread.

According to the present invention, the ingredient unit comprises at least one compartment for storing ingredients such as flour, oil, spices, salt, and water. The compartment for storing ingredient comprises a primary storage and a secondary storage, wherein the ingredient from the primary storage is filled in the secondary storage. Advantageously, the secondary storage allows uniform potential height on the ingredient column in the bread maker thereby giving consistent output with high accuracy.
According to the present invention, multiple compartments may be used for holding multiple kinds of ingredients. Advantageously, the compartments are easily replaceable for refilling of ingredients. Advantageously, various input and ingredient parameters can be predefined for various size, quantity, and quality of dough balls and breads. Advantageously, flours can be dispensed in varied proportions to get a multigrain dough.
According to the present invention, the upper housing of the kneading unit may be adapted within the lower housing of the kneading unit. The upper housing comprises inlet ports for receiving ingredients from the ingredient unit and at least one mixing blade, adapted at the top, for mixing the ingredient and preparing the dough. Advantageously, the inlet ports of the upper housing of the kneading unit, for receiving fluid material like water and oil from the ingredient unit, dispenses the fluid in a controlled droplet manner to avert spillage without affecting the kneading process.
According to the present invention, the lower housing of the kneading unit comprises rotating disc and an outlet port for outlet of dough.
According to the present invention, the kneading unit comprises an adapt unit for moving either the upper housing or the lower housing of the kneading unit upwards or downwards to adapt the upper housing within the lower housing.
According to the present invention, various processes carried out for dough making viz. mixing, kneading, rounding and ejecting is carried out in the kneading unit. Advantageously, upper housing and lower housing of the kneading unit is of telescopic design to get the best possible output in the smallest possible space. Advantageously, the bread maker may be configured to make different size of dough balls. The dough rounding mechanism and coating the dough ball with a layer of flour and oil is advantageously implemented for making round dough balls consistently thereby providing consistent output of round flat bread. Advantageously, the rotating disc the lower housing of the kneading unit enables the output of the dough ball from the kneading chamber by centrifugal force.
According to the present invention, the pressing and heating unit comprises a conveyor belt, a lower pressing and heating plate adapted within the conveyor belt, and an upper pressing and heating plate adapted above the conveyor belt.
According to the present invention, advantageously the ingredient unit comprises at least one ingredient sensor, the kneading unit comprises at least one kneading sensor, the pressing and heating unit comprises at least one pressing and heating sensor.
According to the present invention, advantageously a control unit is provided. The control unit having an input unit for receiving user input, and a controller for controlling preparation of bread based on predefined data stored in a storage unit of a control unit or information received from the user through the input unit, connected to the ingredient sensor, the kneading sensor, and the pressing and heating sensor.
According to the present invention, the ingredient sensor determines the quantity of ingredient in the compartment and quantity of ingredients to be dispensed to the kneading unit.
According to the present invention, the kneading sensor is used to determine the quality of the dough, rotation of the mixing blade of the upper housing and the rotating disc of the lower housing, movement of upper housing and lower housing.
According to the present invention, the pressing and heating sensor is used to determine the placement of the dough ball from the kneading unit on the conveyor belt, move the conveyor belt such that the dough is placed in center between the upper pressing and heating plate and the lower pressing and heating plate, and determine temperature of the pressing and heating plates. Advantageously, the dough ball is placed on the conveyor belt of the pressing and heating unit without damaging the smoothness of the dough ball and it is stopped exactly at the place where the dough ball is supposed to be pressed and/or heated using the information received from the pressing and heating sensor by the controller.
According to the present invention, the controller of the control unit controls dispensing of the ingredient in the kneading unit based on the information received from the ingredient sensor, rotation of the mixing blade of the upper housing and the rotating disc of the lower housing, movement of upper housing and lower housing, and movement of the conveyor belt and the pressing and heating plates of the pressing and heating unit.
According to the present invention, the bread maker works based of user input parameters, thereby providing uniform thickness bread output or variable thickness bread output as per the requirements. The heating surface of the pressing and heating unit provides an appropriate temperature to the bread to cook. Once the bread is cooked the conveyor belt outputs the cooked bread as per requirements. Advantageously, the pressing and heating unit can be converted into an oven to cook the output if required. The pressing and heating unit has a nichrome wire based heating element for heating.
In second embodiment, a kneading unit for making dough is provided. The kneading unit comprising a upper housing, and a lower housing, wherein the upper housing may be adapted within the lower housing.
According to the present invention, the upper housing comprises inlet ports for receiving ingredients from an ingredient unit and at least one mixing blade, adapted at the top, for mixing the ingredient and preparing the dough.
According to the present invention, the lower housing of the kneading unit comprises rotating disc and an outlet port for outlet of dough.
According to the present invention, the kneading unit comprises an adapt unit for moving either the upper housing or the lower housing of the kneading unit upwards or downwards to adapt the upper housing within the lower housing.

In third embodiment a pressing and heating unit for bread making is provided, the pressing and heating unit comprising a conveyor belt, a lower pressing and heating plate adapted within the conveyor belt, and an upper pressing and heating plate adapted above the conveyor belt.

For example, a process of bread making using a bread marker may include the steps of:
(a) the ingredients such as flour, spices, salt, oil, and water are filled in separate primary storage of the compartment for storing the ingredients;
(b) the primary storage has a controllable outlet port, manually or automatically controlled, for allowing sufficient quantity of ingredient to flow in the secondary storage of the compartment;
(c) the desired quantity of ingredients through controllable outlet port, manually or automatically controlled, of the secondary storage of each compartment are filled in the kneading unit. The automatically controlled outlet ports of primary and secondary storage of each compartment are controlled through a controller of a control unit. The controller operates the outlet port to dispense appropriate quantity of each ingredient in the kneading unit;
(d) once the chamber is created by the upper housing being adapted within the lower housing, the desired quantity of ingredients are filled in chamber and then the mixing blade adapted at the top of upper housing is operated until the dough is created. The ingredients from the secondary storage may be filled again in the kneading unit if required;
(e) on preparation of the dough, the flour and oil may again be spayed in the kneading unit, and the rotating disc of the lower housing of the kneading unit is rotated in clockwise direction at a very high speed and without any delay the direction of rotation is reversed which leads the ball to move to the edge of the container due to centrifugal force and due to the sudden change in rotation direction the ball will be toggled and converted into a smooth round ball;
(f) once the rounded dough is created, either the upper housing or lower housing of the kneading unit moves apart and the rotating disc having the dough is rotated again thereby allowing the outlet of rounded dough from the outlet port of the lower housing of the kneading unit due to centrifugal force;
(g) the rounded dough from the outlet of the lower housing of the kneading unit falls on the conveyor belt of the pressing and heating unit. The conveyor belt of the pressing and heating is moved such that the dough is placed in center between the upper and lower pressing and heating plates of the pressing and heating unit;
(h) Once the dough is placed, the upper pressing and heating plate is moved downward applying defined pressure and heat to the dough, the heat is also provided from the bottom through the lower pressing and heating plate, once the adequate pressure and heat is provided the upper pressing and heating plate moves upwards. Once the bread is cooked the conveyor belt moves to output the cooked bread as per requirements.
The subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purpose of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident however, that such matter can be practiced with these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures as shown in diagram form in order to facilitate describing the invention.

Referring Figure 1 shows a bread maker (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bread maker (100) comprising a housing (110), an ingredient unit (120) for storing ingredients, a kneading unit (not shown), encapsulated within the housing (110) connected to the ingredient unit (120), for preparing dough, and a pressing and heating unit (130) for pressing and heating the dough received from the kneading unit (not shown) to prepare a bread.

Referring Figure 2 shows a kneading unit (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The kneading unit (200) comprises a upper housing (210) and a lower housing (220).
As shown in Figure 2, the upper housing (210) is adapted within the lower housing (220) such that the upper housing (210) encapsulates the rotating disc (not shown) of the lower housing (220).
As shown in Figure 2, the upper housing (210) comprises inlet ports (211, 212) for supply of ingredients and a mixing blade port (213) for adapting mixing blade (not shown) within the upper housing (210).

Referring Figure 3 shows an extended view of upper and lower housing (310, 320) of a kneading unit (300) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The kneading unit (300) comprising a upper housing (310) and a lower housing (320).
As shown in Figure 3, the lower housing (320) comprises a rotating disc (321) and an outlet port (322) for outlet of dough.
As shown in Figure 3, the upper housing (310) comprises inlet ports (311, 312), and for supply of ingredients and a mixing blade port (313) for adapting mixing blade (not shown) within the upper housing (310) for preparing the dough.

Referring Figure 4 shows a pressing and heating unit (400) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pressing and heating unit (400) comprises a conveyor belt (410), a lower pressing and heating plate (420) adapted within the conveyor belt (410), and a upper pressing and heating plate (430) above the lower pressing and heating plate (420).
As shown in Figure 4, the heating elements (432) are adapted at the top of upper pressing and heating plate (430). The upper pressing and heating plate (430) is connected to a movable system (431) for moving the upper pressing and heating plate (430) downwards for pressing the dough on the conveyor belt (410) at predefined pressure and providing adequate heat to prepare the bread. Once the adequate pressure and heat is provided, the upper pressing and heating plate (430) is moved upwards by the movable system (431).

The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the substance of the invention may occur to person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the disclosure.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A bread maker comprising:
an ingredient unit for storing ingredients;
a kneading unit, connected to the ingredient unit, for preparing dough, the kneading unit comprising:
an upper housing; and
a lower housing, wherein the upper housing may be adapted within the lower housing; and
a pressing and heating unit, adapted to receive dough ball from the kneading unit, for the pressing and heating the dough to prepare a bread.
2. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ingredient unit comprises at least one compartment for storing ingredients such as flour, oil, spices, salt, and water.
3. The bread maker as claimed in claim 2, wherein the compartment for storing ingredient comprises a primary storage and a secondary storage, wherein the ingredient from the primary storage is filled in the secondary storage.
4. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper housing comprises inlet ports for receiving ingredients from the ingredient unit and at least one mixing blade, adapted at the top, for mixing the ingredient and preparing the dough.
5. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower housing of the kneading unit comprises rotating disc and an outlet port for outlet of dough.
6. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kneading unit comprises an adapt unit for moving either the upper housing or the lower housing of the kneading unit upwards or downwards to adapt the upper housing within the lower housing.
7. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing and heating unit comprises:
a conveyor belt;
a lower pressing and heating plate adapted within the conveyor belt; and
an upper pressing and heating plate adapted above the conveyor belt.
8. The bread marker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ingredient unit comprises at least one ingredient sensor, the kneading unit comprises at least one kneading sensor, the pressing and heating unit comprises at least one pressing and heating sensor.
9. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a control unit having an input unit for receiving user input, and a controller for controlling preparation of bread based on predefined data stored in a storage unit of a control unit or information received from the user through the input unit, connected to the ingredient sensor, the kneading sensor, and the pressing and heating sensor.
10. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ingredient sensor determines the quantity of ingredient in the compartment and quantity of ingredients to be dispensed to the kneading unit.
11. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kneading sensor is used to determine the quality of the dough, rotation of the mixing blade of the upper housing and the rotating disc of the lower housing, movement of upper housing and lower housing.
12. The bread maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing and heating sensor is used to determine the placement of the dough ball from the kneading unit on the conveyor belt, move the conveyor belt such that the dough is placed in center between the upper pressing and heating plate and the lower pressing and heating plate, and determine temperature of the pressing and heating plates.
13. The bread maker as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller of the control unit controls dispensing of the ingredient in the kneading unit based on the information received from the ingredient sensor, rotation of the mixing blade of the upper housing and the rotating disc of the lower housing, movement of upper housing and lower housing, and movement of the conveyor belt and the pressing and heating plates of the pressing and heating unit.
14. A kneading unit for making dough, the kneading unit comprising:
a upper housing; and
a lower housing, wherein the upper housing may be adapted within the lower housing.
15. The kneading unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the upper housing comprises inlet ports for receiving ingredients from an ingredient unit and at least one mixing blade, adapted at the top, for mixing the ingredient and preparing the dough.
16. The kneading unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lower housing of the kneading unit comprises rotating disc and an outlet port for outlet of dough.
17. The kneading unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the kneading unit comprises an adapt unit for moving either the upper housing or the lower housing of the kneading unit upwards or downwards to adapt the upper housing within the lower housing.
18. A pressing and heating unit for bread making, the pressing and heating unit comprising:
a conveyor belt;
a lower pressing and heating plate adapted within the conveyor belt; and
an upper pressing and heating plate adapted above the conveyor belt.