Various examples are related to making flatbreads such as, e.g., a compact machine for making flatbread in a residential kitchen-type environment or other countertop, tabletop, or space limited applications. In one example, a machine includes a hopper including a mixing chamber configured for bulk addition of raw materials for preparation of flatbread pieces; a mixing assembly configured to blend the raw materials into a flatbread dough mixture; a dough piecing assembly configured to generate a dough piece from an extruded portion of the flatbread dough mixture; a lower platen configured to transfer the pressed flatbread dough piece to a cooking zone on the dough contacting surface for cooking; and a flatbread ejection station configured to remove a cooked flatbread piece from the machine. A second cooking zone can be included to further cook the pressed flatbread dough piece prior to ejection from the machine.

To allow simplification of the operating mechanism for automatic charging of auxiliary material, thus enabling compactization/simplification of the automatic bread making machine as well as increased readiness of its cleaning. An auxiliary material accommodating container detachably attachable to an automatic bread making machine. The container includes a base body 31, a first accommodating section 31a, a second accommodating section 31b, a first opening/closing member (a lid member 32 and a frame member 33) and a second opening/closing member (a yeast lid member 34). The first accommodating section 31a and the second accommodating section 31b accommodate auxiliary materials to be charged to bread. The first opening/closing member is pivotable relative to the base body 31 about a pivot axis G to open/close the first accommodating section 31a. The second opening/closing member is pivotable relative to the base body 31 about the pivot axis G to open/close the second accommodating section 31b.

An apparatus and method are provided for the industrial manufacture of bakery products, such as long or elongated breads, rolls, baguettes, Parisian breads, round loaves. The apparatus includes a conveyor for conveying at least one piece of dough on a conveying surface in a transport direction, a substrate which is arranged above said conveyor. The substrate includes a contact surface at a side facing the conveyor. The apparatus is configured for providing a relative movement between the contact surface and the conveying surface. The contact surface is configured for touching an upper side of said at least one piece of dough on said conveying surface. And the apparatus further includes a heating device configured for heating at least a part of a circumference of the at least one piece of dough facing the contact surface for forming a film on said part of the circumference.

Devices and methods for automating the process of making flatbread, such as roti. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing, an ingredient metering assembly, a mixing bowl assembly, a mixing actuator assembly, a cooking assembly, and an electronic assembly. The housing defines an interior volume and has several access openings with corresponding lids and/or covers. The ingredient metering assembly includes a flour container assembly, a flour delivery system, a water reservoir, and an oil reservoir. The mixing bowl assembly includes two bowls and a measurement system. The mixing actuator assembly includes a mixing mount, a mixing motor, a mixing paddle assembly, and a lower motor. The cooking assembly includes two platens and an actuator assembly. The electronic assembly includes a power source, a control module, and a LCD input/output screen. All components are integrated within the housing such that the apparatus is a consumer grade countertop appliance.

A food-preparation apparatus for forming and baking a food product (5) from a dough portion (2) in a capsule (12) includes a housing (3) having a capsule-handling device (4) for opening and/or emptying the capsule (12), an upper plate (14), and a lower plate (11), arranged in the housing (3). The lower plate can be adjusted in a guide device between a receiving position (A) for receiving the dough portion (2) from the capsule (12), a position of interaction (W) for interacting with the upper plate (14) for baking and/or forming the dough portion, and an emptying position (E) wherein the lower plate (11) is inclined relative to a base surface (46) of the food-preparation apparatus. The guide device has a diverter (20) with a diverter element (21), which can be switched between at least two switching positions for predetermining an adjustment distance of the lower plate (11) in the guide device, wherein the diverter element (21) is assigned an electromotive drive (M) for switching the diverter element (21) automatically.

Devices and methods for automating the process of making flatbread, such as roti. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing, an ingredient metering assembly, a mixing bowl assembly, a mixing actuator assembly, a cooking assembly, and an electronic assembly. The housing defines an interior volume and has several access openings with corresponding lids and/or covers. The ingredient metering assembly includes a flour container assembly, a flour delivery system, a water reservoir, and an oil reservoir. The mixing bowl assembly includes two bowls and a measurement system. The mixing actuator assembly includes a mixing mount, a mixing motor, a mixing paddle assembly, and a lower motor. The cooking assembly includes two platens and an actuator assembly. The electronic assembly includes a power source, a control module, and a LCD input/output screen. All components are integrated within the housing such that the apparatus is a consumer grade countertop appliance.

A baking attachment for a kitchen appliance has an outer container with inner walls enclosing a receiving compartment and an insertion opening on an upper side. A preparation container is arranged in the receiving compartment. A heating device is provided in an intermediate space between a base and side walls of the preparation container and inner walls of outer container. A mixing and kneading mechanism and a cover for the insertion opening are provided. The outer container detachably inserts into a receiving section of the kitchen appliance base. A free end of a rotary shaft of the mixing and kneading mechanism arranged in a connection section has a first coupling section for rotationally fixed connection to a second coupling section on a drive shaft of the kitchen appliance base. Electrical contact elements of the heating device in the connection section detachable connect to electrical contacts of a kitchen appliance base.

An automated production system is disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward an automated system for the continuous production of baked bread. The system can include a priming assembly having a dry ingredients priming unit and a wet ingredients priming unit. The dry ingredients priming unit can include a vertically-oriented hopper and a screw positioned within an interior region of the hopper, wherein the first screw extends along the central longitudinal axis of the hopper and is configured to rotate about its own central longitudinal axis. The system can also include a mixing assembly, a forming assembly, an oven, and a controller. The controller can be coupled to the priming assembly and configured to adjust the amount of dry ingredients delivered from the hopper to the mixing chamber by controlling rotation of the screw.

The invention relates to a food-preparation apparatus, in particular baking apparatus, for forming and baking a food product (5), preferably a flat bread from a dough portion (2) accommodated in a capsule (12), having a housing (3), having a capsule-handling device (4) for opening and/or emptying the capsule (12), and having an upper plate (14), and a lower plate (11), arranged in the housing (3), it being possible for the lower plate to be adjusted in a guide device between a receiving position (A) for receiving the dough portion (2) from the capsule (12), a position of interaction (W) for interacting with the upper plate (14) for baking and/or forming, in particular pressing, the dough portion, and an emptying position (E), in which the lower plate (11) is inclined relative to a base surface (46) of the food-preparation apparatus (1), wherein the guide device has a diverter (20) with a diverter element (21), which can be switched between at least two switching positions and is intended for predetermining an adjustment distance of the lower plate (11) in the guide device, wherein the diverter element (21) is assigned an electromotive drive (M) for switching the diverter element (21) automatically.

An automated production system is disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward an automated system for the continuous production of baked bread. The system can include a priming assembly having a dry ingredients priming unit and a wet ingredients priming unit. The dry ingredients priming unit can include a vertically-oriented hopper and a screw positioned within an interior region of the hopper, wherein the first screw extends along the central longitudinal axis of the hopper and is configured to rotate about its own central longitudinal axis. The system can also include a mixing assembly, a forming assembly, an oven, and a controller. The controller can be coupled to the priming assembly and configured to adjust the amount of dry ingredients delivered from the hopper to the mixing chamber by controlling rotation of the screw.