EP1078337B1 - Portioning device for portioning pieces of food and for transferring the pieces of food into a heated cooking area - Google Patents

Abstract

A portioning device for portioning pieces of food and for transferring food into a heated cooking area. The portioning device has an insulated housing to ensure thermal insulation from the cooking area. The insulated housing has at least one closing slider which is located in the bottom of said housing and seals off a transfer opening when in a closed position. A weigher fitted with a funnel is arranged inside the insulated housing and receives pieces of food. The funnel of the weigher consists of two halves that can swing apart. Both halves can swing apart when a given weight of food pieces inside the funnel has been reached, whereby an exit opening that is associated with a transfer opening is formed. When the two halves of the weigher funnel swing apart, a catch element belonging to the closing slider is impinged upon by one of said halves. The closing slider can move into an open position, freeing the transfer opening so that the food can be transferred into the cooking area. The two halves of the weigher funnel swing back together again when the food has been transferred and the closing slider can automatically return to a closed position.

Description

The invention relates to a portioning device for Portioning lumpy foods and for transfer the food in a heatable cooking space. Chunky food means in the context of the invention in particular raw or pre-fried potato sticks, the to be fried in the cooking space with french fries. Lumpy Food also means in particular pieces of meat, for example pieces of chicken, preferably breaded and conveniently pre-fried. Heated cooking space means in the context of the invention in particular a fryer in which a fryer container is arranged with frying fat. The deep fryer container or the frying fat are at an appropriate temperature can be heated to fry the lumpy food. The lumpy foods are preferred from a cooled storage container expediently automatically piecewise and / or batchwise into the portioning device introduced and from there in the heatable Cooking chamber or deep fryer room transferred. Preferably the chunky food in the storage container kept frozen. - The portioning device according to the invention is preferred in a vending machine for fried lumpy foods, preferably french fries fries, used.

A portioning device of the type mentioned at the beginning, on which the invention is based, is from EP 0 534 889 A2 known. This portioning device has a weighing station on which filled with pieces of food Weighing funnels to be weighed. After reaching a definable Weight of the taken up in the weighing funnel Food can be dispensed through two weighing hopper halves the pieces of food are moved apart. This known portioning device can initially in With regard to the functional reliability and accuracy of the Portioning to be desired. In addition, with this Portioning device no effective measures for separation and for thermal insulation of the portioning device from a cooking space, in particular from one Deep fryer room provided.

In a further known metering device or Portioning devices (EP 0 608 463 B1) are raw or pre-fried potato sticks from a chilled storage container in batches in one on a scale surface a scale transferred to the weighing container. The scale container has a weighing container opening on the underside. If a predefined weight of the weight in the weighing container Potato sticks are reached, the scale container pulled away from the scale parallel to the scale surface and through a filler opening of a deep fryer transported so the potato sticks into the fryer can fall. The known metering or portioning device and that known from EP 0 608 463 B1 Vending machine for french fries have basically proven. The portioning device is nonetheless in terms of functional reliability and accuracy room for improvement. In addition, the known Portioning device or the known vending machine effective separation or isolation of the portioning device and the storage container from the cooking space or the fryer is not guaranteed. With others Words can transfer heat from the fryer to the portioning device and also transferred to the cooled storage container become. Furthermore, it is in the known device relatively easily possible that hot vapors or hot gases from the cooking space or the deep fryer into the portioning device and from there into the cooled storage container reach. This allows the quality and Freshness of the chilled chunky food is affected become. Otherwise, the hot vapors or Gases also the functionality of the portioning device affect by creating unwanted deposits in the portioning device result or result in disadvantageous corrosion consequences.

In contrast, the invention is the technical problem based on a portioning device of the aforementioned Specify the one hand with regard to the Functional reliability and accuracy of portioning meets all requirements and on the other one effective separation and thermal insulation from that Cooking space is guaranteed.

wobei die Portioniervorrichtung ein Isoliergehäuse zur thermischen Isolierung gegen den Garraum aufweist und das Isoliergehäuse im Bereich eines Isoliergehäusebodens zumindest einen in einer Schließstellung eine Überführungsöffnung verschließenden Verschlußschieber aufweist,

wobei in dem Isoliergehäuse eine Waage mit Waagentrichter zur Aufnahme der stückigen Lebensmittel angeordnet ist und der Waagentrichter aus zwei auseinanderschwenkbaren Waagentrichterhälften besteht,

wobei nach Erreichen eines vorgebbaren Gewichtes der im Waagentrichter aufgenommenen Lebensmittel die beiden Waagentrichterhälften unter Ausbildung einer der Überführungsöffnung zugeordneten Ausgabeöffnung auseinanderschwenkbar sind,

wobei beim Auseinanderschwenken der Waagentrichterhälften ein Mitnehmerelement des Verschlußschiebers von einer Waagentrichterhälfte beaufschlagbar ist und der Verschlußschieber zur Überführung der Lebensmittel in den Garraum in eine die Überführungsöffnung freigebende Offenstellung verschiebbar ist

und wobei nach Überführung der Lebensmittel die beiden Waagentrichterhälften zusammenschwenkbar sind und der Verschlußschieber selbsttätig in seine Schließstellung zurückführbar ist.

To solve this technical problem, the invention teaches a portioning device for portioning lumpy foods and for transferring the foods into a heatable cooking space,

wherein the portioning device has an insulating housing for thermal insulation against the cooking space and the insulating housing in the region of an insulating housing base has at least one closure slide closing a transfer opening in a closed position,

wherein a scale with a weighing funnel for holding the lumpy food is arranged in the insulating housing and the weighing funnel consists of two weighing funnel halves that can be swung apart,

after reaching a predeterminable weight of the food taken up in the weighing hopper, the two weighing hopper halves can be swung apart to form a dispensing opening assigned to the transfer opening,

wherein when the halves of the balance are pivoted apart, a driver element of the closure slide can be acted upon by a half of the balance and the closure slide for transferring the food into the cooking space can be moved into an open position which releases the transfer opening

and wherein after transfer of the food, the two halves of the weighing hopper can be pivoted together and the closure slide can be automatically returned to its closed position.

The chunky foods are preferably made from a chilled one Storage container fed to the portioning device. The storage container expediently has a appropriate cooling unit. The lumpy food are in the weighing funnel open at the top the portioning device. According to preferred Embodiment of the invention are the lumpy Food the hopper through an automatic Feed device fed piece by piece and / or in batches. The automatic feeder is convenient arranged in the storage container and the storage container preferably has one above the weighing funnel arranged feed opening. It is within the Invention that the feed device corresponding elements for a separation of the lumpy food having.

The insulating housing of the portioning device also has the insulating housing base at least insulating housing side walls on. It is within the scope of the invention that the insulating case bottom and the insulating case side walls have a sufficient thickness and / or consist of a suitable insulating material, so that the Heat from the cooking space, especially the deep fryer, is not on the portioning device and in particular not on the preferably cooled storage container for the Food passes. In the insulating housing bottom is preferred a centrally located transfer opening for the foods provided with the at least one Lock slide is closable. It's in the frame the invention that also the at least one slide gate is designed as an insulating element and against the cooking space, especially the deep fryer space, is sufficient Thermal insulation guaranteed. Preferably the at least one slide valve consists of one heat-insulating and temperature-resistant plastic, for example polyethylene. It is also within the scope the invention that the at least one slide gate from a food-safe or food-safe Plastic is made.

The pieces of food picked up by the hopper are automatically weighed using the scale. For this purpose, the balance funnel is on the balance hung up. The two weighing hopper halves are preferably each suspended on a swivel axis of the scale. The scale can according to an embodiment of the invention as a mechanical scale with manually adjustable Adjustment weight and counterweight must be executed. To Another embodiment of the invention is the scale designed as an electronic scale. - When the Portioning device according to the invention preferably that conveniently in the reservoir arranged automatic feeder controlled and the feed device works until the specified weight of the weight taken up in the hopper Pieces of food is reached. It is understood that the desired portion weight of the food on one mechanical scales or an electronic scale can be set in a known manner.

According to a preferred embodiment, the scope of the invention is of particular importance Weighing funnels, at least in the lower area, with a gable roof with one facing the transfer opening Ridge edge formed. Expedient are with this Embodiment the hopper halves by one the ridge edge running (imaginary) vertical plane than two in the lower area of the hopper in essentially mirror-symmetrical saddle roof halves The hopper halves can be swung apart. Preferably is after reaching the predeterminable weight in Food hopper ingested food Balance hopper half of at least one opening lever and the two halves of the balance are loadable thereby pivoting apart. According to a preferred embodiment there are two opening levers on two opposite sides of one half of the hopper can attack. Preferably the two act Opening lever each an area of the upper edge of the both mentioned hopper sides. - After preferred Embodiment that is special within the scope of the invention Importance is given after reaching the predeterminable Weight of the taken up in the weighing funnel Food using the two halves of the balance an eccentric control can be swung apart. Preferably are the two weighing hopper halves after transfer the food through the transfer opening Tension spring force can be swung back together. Conveniently is in the embodiment with eccentric control an eccentric shaft with a drive motor connected and expediently has the eccentric shaft at least one eccentric bolt with the at least an opening lever interacts.

The at least one closure slide is preferably held in its closed position under compression spring load. In other words, the at least one slide gate expediently always independently by a compression spring retractable to its closed position. After a preferred embodiment, within the scope of the invention are of particular importance are two in the Closing position with closing slides butting each provided at least one driver element and is when swinging the balance hopper halves apart a driver element of each slide slide from the associated Half of the hopper for moving the Locking slide can be acted upon in the open position. According to this embodiment, the two shutters are thus when moving to the closed position mobile against each other. The two prefer to bump Locking slider in the middle of the transfer opening to each other. Appropriate locking devices are expedient provided so everyone prefers compression spring-loaded locking slide does not have the above middle impact zone is pushed out. It understands yourself that the driver elements of the shutter slide in front the swinging apart of the balance hopper halves none Contact or no contact with the weighing funnel halves or with the hopper. - It's also in the Framework of the invention that the at least one slide gate as a flap pivotable about a pivot axis is formed, which closure flap also has a corresponding driver element, which can be loaded by one half of the hopper. Closure slide means according to one embodiment of the Invention therefore also closure flap.

According to a preferred embodiment, the scope of the invention is of particular importance is under Transfer opening a the cooking space, in particular the Fryer-covered clipboard for the food provided and the food is only after Swivel together the weighing funnel halves and only after Return of the at least one slide in the closed position from the clipboard into the cooking space transferable. This is expediently the Clipboard designed as a slide plate, which Slider plate preferably in a retracted position is convertible so that the lumpy food in the Cooking space can fall. It is also within the scope of the invention that the clipboard in the form of two separable Slider plates are present. Furthermore, the clipboard is also designed as a swivel flap be, when pivoting the lumpy food can fall into the cooking space. In addition, the Clipboard also in the form of two pivoting apart Swing flaps are available.

It is within the scope of the invention that the invention Portioning device in an essentially fully automatic Vending machines, preferably for fried ones Goods, such as French fries, were used becomes. A control and / or regulating device is expedient provided that the individual components of the Vending machine controls and / or regulates. Is preferred otherwise a microcomputer with appropriate software connected. In particular, the feed device preferably works for feeding the lumpy Food into the portioning device automatically. The feed device is preferably in an expedient refrigerated storage container for the lumpy Food provided. According to a preferred embodiment the feeder works depending on the the weight of the scales measured in the funnel Food. It is understood that depending of the determined weight also that Swinging apart of the weighing funnel halves automatically is carried out, whereby the at least one Slider is operated. Furthermore, the preferably provided clipboard after returning of at least one slide in his Conveniently operated automatically closed position.

The invention is based on the knowledge that with the Portioning device according to the invention a very reliable and accurate portioning of the food is possible. In addition to portioning, that the portioning device and in particular the food storage container is also effective and reliable from the cooking compartment, especially the deep fryer compartment, is separated. The portioning device met according to the invention in addition to the surprisingly reliable Portion also the function of a separation component between hot area and cold area. With The cold area is in particular a cooled storage container meant for the lumpy food. Also the The weighing hopper according to the invention fulfills a double one Function. On the one hand, it serves to weigh the filled in Pieces of food and on the other hand it serves as an opening device for the at least one slide gate. As a result, with the invention Portioning device achieved considerable advantages. The Portioning device works flawlessly and without mechanical Constraints. In addition, the portioning device Can be manufactured or assembled with relatively little effort.

Fig. 1

eine Frontansicht eines Verkaufsautomaten für fritierte Lebensmittel im Schnitt, mit erfindungsgemäßer Portioniervorrichtung, Vorratsbehälter und Garraum,

Fig. 2

die erfindungsgemäße Portioniervorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Portioniervorrichtung aus Richtung des Pfeiles A und

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt B-B durch die erfindungsgemäße Portioniervorrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a drawing which represents only one exemplary embodiment. In a schematic representation:

Fig. 1

2 shows a front view of a vending machine for fried foods in section, with portioning device according to the invention, storage container and cooking space,

Fig. 2

the portioning device according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in an enlarged view,

Fig. 3

a plan view of the portioning device according to the invention from the direction of arrow A and

Fig. 4

a section BB through the portioning device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a vending machine for fried Foodstuffs, in particular for French fries, with the inventive Portioning device 1 and above Portioning device 1 arranged storage container 2 for chunky foods. In the embodiment according to 1 is a cooking chamber below the portioning device 1 3 arranged, which cooking space 3 as a deep fryer is executed and has a deep fryer container 4. It it goes without saying that the fryer container 4 with frying fat is filled. In the reservoir 2, the chunky food preferably chilled or frozen. The reservoir 2 expediently has one automatic feeder 5 with which the chunky food piece by piece and / or batch the portioning device 1 can be fed. The feeder For example, 5 does not consist of one illustrated slide with which the chunky food can be transferred into the portioning device 1. It is within the scope of the invention that the feed device 5 in accordance with that in the portioning device 1 determined weight of the recorded in the hopper 6 Food works or is controlled.

The portioning device 1 has an insulating housing 7 for thermal insulation against the cooking space 3. The In the exemplary embodiment, insulating housing 7 consists of insulating housing side walls 8 and an insulating housing bottom 9. It goes without saying that the insulating housing side walls 8 and the insulating housing bottom 9 has a suitable wall thickness have and / or from a suitable insulating material consist of the portioning device 1 and Storage container 2 thermally relative to the cooking space 3 isolate. In the embodiment and after more preferred Embodiment of the invention are in the field of Isoliergehäusebodens 9 two slide 10th provided in the figures in their closed position are shown and a transfer opening 11 close. It is within the scope of the invention that the closure slider 10 made of a heat-insulating material, preferably made of a heat-insulating plastic, for example polyethylene.

A scale 12 is arranged in the insulating housing 7 which scales 12 the scales 6 is connected. In the exemplary embodiment, the scale 12 is mechanical Scale 12 with adjustable adjustment weight 13 and counterweight 14 executed. However, it is also within the scope of Invention to run the scale 12 as an electronic scale. It is understood that the hopper 6 above, i. H. to the reservoir 2 is open. The The weighing funnel 6 consists of two parts which can be pivoted apart Balance funnel halves 15, 16. The balance funnel halves 15, 16 are on two pivot axes 17, 18 on the scale 12 hung up. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention and in the embodiment according to the figures is the Weighing funnel 6 with a gable roof with one of the transfer opening 11 facing ridge edge 19 is formed. The balance hopper halves 15, 16 are of one through the Ridge edge 19 extending imaginary vertical plane than two in the lower area of the hopper 6 in essentially mirror-symmetrical saddle roof halves Balance hopper halves 15, 16 can be pivoted apart. Are preferred and in the embodiment the two halves of the hopper 20 15, 16 via circular segment-shaped disc joints 21 engaged with each other. The one shows Balance funnel half 15 circular segment-shaped recesses 22 and the other half of the weighing funnel 16 are in the form of segments of a circle Engagement elements 23 on. Preferably after swinging the balance hopper halves apart 15, 16 a positive connection between the circular segment-shaped Recesses 22 and the engaging elements 23 reached.

After reaching the predetermined weight of the Weighing funnel 6 food is conveniently an activation switch 24 of the balance 12 is actuated, whereby the swinging apart of the Balance hopper halves 15, 16 is introduced. Through the Actuation of the activation switch 24 is preferred a drive motor 25 activated, which expediently drives an eccentric shaft 26. Preferably and in the embodiment according to the figures, the two Balance hopper halves 15, 16 by means of an eccentric control both swung apart and after Transfer of the food through the transfer opening 11 swung back together. For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment to the eccentric shaft 26 two eccentric bolts 27 connected. Appropriately and in the exemplary embodiment summarizes each eccentric 27 in an associated Elongated hole 28 of an opening lever 29.

The two opening levers are during the weighing process 29 not in contact with the hopper 6. However, after the eccentric control has been activated, the Opening lever 29 on the top edges of the hopper sides 20 a balance hopper half 15, whereby the Balance hopper halves 15, 16 are pivotable apart. 2 limit switches 30 can be seen in the rest of which initiates the opening movement of the eccentric shaft 26 or is stopped. After swinging apart the balance hopper halves 15, 16 and after transferring the Food through the transfer opening 11 are the Balance hopper halves 15, 16 using the eccentric control back into the closed position shown in the figures brought in which the opening lever 29 none Have contact with the weighing funnel 6.

When the balance hopper halves 15 are pivoted apart, 16 are according to the preferred embodiment and in the embodiment according to the figures, two slide valves 10 moved to their open position. For this purpose, the locking slide 10 each have a driver element 31, which when swiveling apart by one Balance hopper half 15, 16 is applied. It understands yourself that the balance hopper 6 before swinging apart the hopper halves 15, 16 no contact to the driver elements 31 or to the locking slides 10 has. Accordingly, in the embodiment the ridge edge 19 expediently in the center in a limited by the driver elements 31 Intermediate space arranged. On each slide 10 a compression spring 32 is connected so that a slide valve 10 spring loaded in its closed position is held. Conveniently and in Embodiment encounter the two slide valves 10 in its closed position centrally above the transfer opening 11 to each other. So that position of Locking slide 10 is observed exactly and especially in the closed position, no contact with Weighing funnel 6 is available to everyone Locking slide 10 assigned a locking bolt 33, which locking bolt 33 in a slide slide channel 34 is arranged. To ensure reliable operation and to ensure accurate movement of the slide 10 is a slanted bed guide 35 of the slide gate 10 provided on the insulating housing bottom 9 (Fig. 4).

By swinging the halves of the balance apart 15, 16 and the resulting displacement of the slide 10 in its open position, the transfer opening 11 open and the food can from the hopper 6 through the transfer opening 11 fall. Is preferred and in the embodiment a cooking space 3 below the transfer opening 11 or intermediate storage space 36 covering the fryer space. This is preferred and in the exemplary embodiment Clipboard 36 designed as a slide plate. As soon as the food is on the clipboard 36 and the balance hopper halves 15, 16 are pivoted together again are and the shutter 10 by their Compression springs 32 are returned to the closed position have been the food of the Clipboard 36 can be transferred into cooking space 3. This will expediently and in the exemplary embodiment Slider plate briefly in a retracted position emotional. The clipboard 36 makes one special effective separation of the portioning device 1 or Storage container 2 reached by the cooking space 3.

Claims (8)

1. A portioning device for portioning pieces of food and for transferring the food into a heatable cooking chamber (3),

   in which the portioning device (1) comprises an insulating housing (7) for thermal insulation from the cooking chamber (3) and in which the insulating housing (7) comprises at least one sliding closing bar (10) in the area of the insulating housing floor (9) for closing a transfer opening (11) when in a closed position,

   in which the insulating housing (7) contains a pair of scales (12) with a scales funnel (6) for holding the pieces of food and the scales funnel (6) consisting of two scales funnel halves (15, 16) that can be moved apart,

   in which, after the food accepted in the scales funnel (6) has reached a pre-settable weight, the two scales funnel halves (15, 16) can be moved apart to form a funnel opening assigned to the transfer opening (11),

   in which, when the scales funnel halves (15, 16) are moved apart, a driving element (31) of the sliding closing bar (10) can be pressurised by one scales funnel half (15, 16) and the sliding closing bar (10) can be moved into an open position, releasing the transfer opening (11) for transferring the food into the cooking chamber (3) andin which after the transfer of the food, the two scales funnel halves (15, 16) can be moved together and the sliding closing bar (10) is automatically moved back into its closed position.
2. A portioning device according to claim 1, in which the pieces of food can be supplied to the scales funnel (6) via an automatic feed unit (5) individually and/or in batches.
3. A portioning device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the scales funnel (6), at least in its lower part, contains a gable-roof-like ridge (19) facing the transfer opening (11).
4. A portioning device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, in which, after the food accepted in the scales funnel (6) has reached the pre-settable weight, one scales funnel half (15, 16) can be pressurised by at least one opening lever (29), allowing the two scales funnel halves (15, 16) to be moved apart.
5. A portioning device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, in which, after the food accepted in the scales funnel (6) has reached the pre-settable weight, the two scales funnel halves (15, 16) can be moved apart by an eccentric gear control.
6. A portioning device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, in which, the at least one sliding closing bar (10) is held in its closed position by a pressure spring.
7. A portioning device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, in which, two sliding closing bars (10) abutting in their closed position, each contain at least one driving element (31) and, in which, when the scales funnel halves (15, 16) are moved apart, a driving element (31) of each sliding closing bar (10) is pressurised by the respective scales funnel half (15, 16) to move the sliding closing bar (10) into the open position.
8. A portioning device according to one of the claims 1 to 7, in which, an initial holding plate (36), covering the cooking chamber (3), is provided for the food below the transfer opening (11) and in which the food can only be transferred from the initial holding plate (36) to the cooking chamber (3) once the scales funnel halves (15, 16) have been moved together and the at least one sliding closing bar (10) has returned into the closed position.

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