DE102018220192A1 - Food printer and method for preparing multidimensionally printed food - Google Patents

Abstract

A food printer (1; 11) has an extrusion station (2) for dispensing basic food mass (GM) for producing at least one multi-dimensionally structured raw food body (RK), an oven (3) for heat-treating the at least one raw food body (RK ) to at least one finished food product (RK) and a transport system (4, 5; 13, 17) for transporting the at least one raw food product (RK) to the oven and for transporting the at least one finished food product (RK) from the Oven, the transport system having an automatically movable transport carriage (4; 13) which has a support surface (5; 17) for placing at least one food carrier (12) and which can be automatically positioned at least in a first position and a second position, in the first position the food base mass (GM) from the extrusion station to produce the at least one raw body on at least one on the Contact surface (5; 17) placed food carrier is dispensable, and in the second position the at least one food carrier can optionally be placed in the oven and picked up from the oven.

Description

The invention relates to a food printer, comprising an extrusion station for dispensing food base material for producing at least one multi-dimensionally structured raw food body, an oven for heat-treating the at least one raw food body to at least one finished food body and a transport system for transporting the at least one food product - Raw body to the oven and for transporting the at least one finished food product from the oven. The invention also relates to a method for preparing multi-dimensionally printed foods using a food printer.

In US 8,888,480 B3 describes a three-dimensional printing system and equipment arrangement for making three-dimensionally printed articles. The equipment arrangement includes a 3D printing system, an optional fluid removal system and an optional dispensing system. The 3D printing system comprises a conveyor, several assembly units and at least one production station with a powder coating system and a printing system. The device assembly can be used to manufacture pharmaceutical, medical and non-pharmaceutical / non-medical objects. The printing system can be used to prepare single or multiple items.

US 2017/043538 A1 discloses a printing platform support module and a three-dimensional printer using this module. The printing platform support module comprises a support frame, the printing platform, a heating arrangement, an adjustment module and a printing plate. The heating arrangement is arranged on the printing platform. The setting module is arranged on the printing platform and comprises several locking units. The pressure plate has a working surface and a fastening surface opposite the working surface. The work surface is pressed against the heating arrangement. The pressure plate is removably arranged on the printing platform by means of a locking action and an unlocking action of the locking units.

It is the object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide a 3D food printer which is of particularly compact construction.

This object is achieved in accordance with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

• - eine Extrusionsstation zum Ausgeben von Lebensmittel-Grundmasse zur Erzeugung mindestens eines mehrdimensional strukturierten Lebensmittel-Rohkörpers,
• - einen Ofen zum Wärmebehandeln des mindestens einen Lebensmittel-Rohkörpers zu mindestens einem Lebensmittel-Fertigkörper und
• - ein Transportsystem zum Transportieren des mindestens einen Lebensmittel-Rohkörpers zu dem Ofen und zum Transportieren des mindestens einen Lebensmittel-Fertigkörpers aus dem Ofen,

wobei

• - das Transportsystem einen automatisch bewegbaren Transportschlitten aufweist, der eine Auflagefläche zum Auflegen mindestens eines Lebensmittelträgers aufweist und der automatisch mindestens auf einer ersten Position und einer zweiten Position positionierbar ist,
• - in der ersten Position die Lebensmittel-Grundmasse von der Extrusionsstation zur Erzeugung des mindestens einen Rohkörpers auf mindestens einen auf der Auflagefläche aufgelegten Lebensmittelträger ausgebbar ist,
• - in der zweiten Position der mindestens eine Lebensmittelträger wahlweise in den Ofen ablegbar und aus dem Ofen aufnehmbar ist.

The task is accomplished by having a food printer

• an extrusion station for dispensing basic food mass to produce at least one multi-dimensionally structured raw food body,
• - An oven for heat treating the at least one raw food body to form at least one finished food body and
• a transport system for transporting the at least one raw food product to the oven and for transporting the at least one pre-food product out of the oven,

in which

• the transport system has an automatically movable transport carriage, which has a support surface for placing at least one food carrier and which can be automatically positioned at least in a first position and a second position,
• in the first position, the food base mass can be dispensed from the extrusion station to produce the at least one raw body on at least one food carrier placed on the support surface,
• - In the second position, the at least one food carrier can optionally be placed in the oven and picked up from the oven.

This food printer has the advantage that it can be constructed in a particularly compact manner, since the raw body can be automatically transported by the transport carriage to an oven integrated in the food printer, heat-treated there and then removed from the oven by means of this transport carriage. There is no need for a voluminous conveyor belt and an elaborate continuous furnace.

A food printer is understood in particular to mean a printer which can produce a multidimensionally structured (i.e. not uniform, but rather different, in particular multilayer) raw material by dispensing different food base materials from an extrusion station. The raw body can be structured in one plane (two-dimensional) or in three dimensions (three-dimensional). Such a raw body can also be referred to as a “printed” raw body.

This raw body is heat-treated in the oven, to be a semi-finished product or a finished food, both of which are referred to below as “finished bodies”. The finished body can then be removed from the oven again using the same transport carriage. The furnace itself therefore has no transport system and can therefore be constructed in a particularly compact manner. In particular, the food printer can be set up and treated as one unit.

It is a further development that the extrusion station has at least one dispensing unit (“printhead”) for dispensing the basic food masses. A printhead can have several dispensing openings for dispensing different basic foodstuffs. Alternatively or additionally, several print heads can be provided, each of which is provided for dispensing a food base. The at least one printhead can be a replaceable printhead, e.g. in the form of a cartridge.

The basic food composition can be understood to mean in particular any pasty, granular, granular and / or liquid (in particular viscous) composition which is suitable, in particular, for human consumption, in particular also after heat treatment. Food base mass can include, for example, dough, fruit mass and / or sugar mass.

The heat treatment may include baking, steam cooking, microwave treatment, or any combination thereof. The oven can therefore also be viewed or referred to in general as a food processing unit or cooking unit.

The transport system can include the transport carriage and at least one motor, in particular an electric motor, e.g. a servo motor or a stepper motor to move the transport carriage. The motor can be connected to the transport carriage directly or via a gear. It is a further development that the transport carriage is moved along a guide rail, is firmly connected to a driven gear and / or is permanently connected to a bearing (e.g. ball bearing) or an axis of rotation.

The fact that the transport carriage can be moved automatically can also be expressed in such a way that it can be moved by the device, e.g. by means of a control device of the food printer. A control device takes over the control of the system and determines when the transport carriage is transported to which position with which acceleration and speed.

The transport carriage can e.g. made of plastic and / or metal, etc.

The fact that the transport carriage can be automatically positioned at at least a first position and a second position does not rule out that it can also be positioned at least at a further position, in particular between the first position and the second position. At least one further function module of the food printer can be located at this at least one further position, e.g. a cooling station (which may have a cooling fan, for example), a decoration station, a packaging station, etc.

The support surface is in particular intended to carry or store the product (raw body, finished body, etc.) deposited thereon during its entire treatment or during its entire stay in the food printer.

The support surface can be designed such that the at least one food carrier lies flat on it. It is a development that the at least one food carrier is held in a form-fitting manner on the support surface with respect to forces directed vertically downwards and with respect to horizontal forces, while it is freely movable with respect to forces directed vertically upwards. For this purpose, the support surface can be formed locally with protrusions projecting upwards, such as ribs, knobs, etc., which, when supported, engage in corresponding recesses or recesses (e.g. in the form of notches, embossments, blind holes, etc.) in the at least one food carrier.

Alternatively, the support surface can be designed in such a way that the at least one food carrier rests only on the projections projecting upwards. This has the advantage that the at least one food carrier can not or not noticeably stick to the support surface, e.g. because sticky food has got between the food carrier and the support surface or similar.

The food carrier is made of heat-resistant material so that it can remain in the oven during the heat treatment. The food carrier is advantageously made of metal and can e.g. be a sheet metal part.

In particular, the food carrier can have a disk-shaped basic shape. The flat shape (in plan view) is basically arbitrary and can e.g. be rectangular, circular, etc.

In order to remove the finished articles from the food printer, the transport carriage can be moved or moved back to the first position will be or can be moved to another position.

• - der Ofen einen heizbaren Ofenraum mit einem fest angeordneten Oberteil und einem absenkbaren Boden aufweist,
• - der Boden zum Ablegen des mindestens einen Lebensmittelträgers darauf absenkbar ist und zum Heizen an das Oberteil hochfahrbar ist und
• - der Transportschlitten sich zum Ablegen des mindestens einen Lebensmittelträgers auf den Boden und zum Aufnehmen des mindestens einen Lebensmittelträgers von dem Boden in seiner zweiten Position befindet, wobei sich seine Auflagefläche dann zwischen dem abgesenkten Boden und dem Oberteil befindet.

It is an embodiment that

• the furnace has a heatable furnace space with a fixed upper part and a lowerable bottom,
• - The floor for placing the at least one food carrier on it can be lowered and can be raised to the top for heating and
• - The transport carriage is for depositing the at least one food carrier on the floor and for receiving the at least one food carrier from the floor in its second position, its support surface then being between the lowered floor and the upper part.

This has the advantage that the oven - and thus the food printer - can be designed to be particularly compact, since a movement of the floor is also used to take over or hand over the food carrier. In addition, such a configuration enables a particularly large opening with structurally simple means. To load the oven with a raw body, the oven is opened by lowering the floor, then the transport carriage with the at least one food carrier resting on it is moved into the opening between the floor and the upper part, the at least one food carrier is taken into the oven, the transport carriage then without the At least one food carrier is moved out of the opening, the oven with the food carrier located therein is closed, the oven is activated in order to heat the raw body into a finished body, the oven is opened again by lowering the bottom, the transport sled is opened again in the opening between the bottom and the upper part driven, the at least one food carrier is then transferred to the transport carriage, and the transport carriage with the at least one food carrier is subsequently moved out of the opening.

Alternatively, the opening in the furnace can be carried out by lifting the top part with the bottom fixed, or by moving both bottom and top part apart.

Alternatively, the transport carriage can move into and out of the furnace through an optional opening and closing side opening in the furnace.

• - der Boden mehrere an seiner Oberseite hochstehende längliche Vorsprünge aufweist,
• - der Transportschlitten mindestens einen seitlich ansetzenden Schlitz dergestalt aufweist, dass dann, wenn sich der Transportschlitten in seiner zweiten Position befindet, die Vorsprünge in dem mindestens einen Schlitz eingetaucht sind,
• - der Boden zum Ablegen des mindestens einen Lebensmittelträgers darauf aus einer unteren Höhenposition, an dem die Vorsprünge unterhalb des mindestens einen Lebensmittelträgers enden bzw. den Lebensmittelträger nicht berühren, in eine Zwischenposition, an der die Vorsprünge den mindestens einen Lebensmittelträger von dem Transportschlitten angehoben haben, verschiebbar ist,
• - der Transportschlitten mit dem Boden in seiner Zwischenposition aus dem Bereich des Ofens heraus bewegbar ist und
• - der Boden nach Herausbewegung des Transportschlittens aus dem Bereich des Ofens in seine geschlossene Stellung verfahrbar ist.

It is an education that

• the bottom has a plurality of elongated projections standing up on its top,
• the transport carriage has at least one laterally positioned slot in such a way that when the transport carriage is in its second position, the projections are immersed in the at least one slot,
• the bottom for depositing the at least one food carrier thereon from a lower height position at which the projections end below the at least one food carrier or do not touch the food carrier into an intermediate position at which the projections have lifted the at least one food carrier from the transport carriage, is movable,
• - The transport carriage with the floor in its intermediate position is movable out of the area of the oven and
• - The floor can be moved into its closed position after the transport carriage has been moved out of the area of the oven.

The advantage is achieved that the structurally particularly simple and robust means that the at least one food carrier can be moved from the transport carriage into the oven and removed from the oven. In addition, due to the slots made in the transport carriage, the furnace only needs to perform a comparatively small opening movement.

It is a further development that the protruding elongated projections of the base and / or the transport slide are pins or bolts. In particular, the projections of the base are longer or higher than the projections of the transport carriage. It is a further development that the floor and / or the transport carriage each have at least three projections.

It is a further development that the projections of the base are arranged in such a way that, when the transport carriage is in its second position, it is located below the at least one food carrier. By lifting the floor into its intermediate position, the protrusions lift the at least one food carrier from the transport carriage and then serve itself as a carrier or support surface. The transport carriage can now be moved out of the space between the bottom and the top of the oven without the at least one food carrier. The at least one food carrier remains on the projections of the base and remains in the oven when the oven is closed.

It is a further development that there is at least one recess on an underside of the at least one food carrier, into which at least one elongated projection of the bottom of the oven can be inserted. This has the advantage that the at least one food carrier can be positively fixed to the floor against lateral movement etc. It is a further development that at least one elongated projection and the at least one recess form a plug connection when engaged. The at least one food carrier is thus held in a form-fitting manner by means of the projections with respect to vertically downward forces and with respect to horizontal forces, while it is freely movable with respect to vertically upwardly directed forces.

It is a development that a food carrier has on its underside a set of several recesses for receiving projections of the transport carriage and a set of several recesses for receiving projections on the oven floor. It is a further development for the particularly stable support of a food carrier that the number of returns of each set is at least three. In particular, the number of returns of each sentence is an even number. The number of returns in the sentences can be the same or different. The setbacks of each set can also be arranged symmetrically.

• - den Boden (bei vorteilhafterweise ausgeschaltetem Ofen) erneut in seine Zwischenposition abzusenken,
• - den Transportschlitten dann in seine zweite Position zu bewegen, wobei die Vorsprünge erneut in den mindestens einen Schlitz eintauchen,
• - den Boden dann zum Übergeben des mindestens einen Lebensmittelträgers an den Transportschlitten auf seine untere Höhenposition abzusenken, wodurch der mindestens eine Lebensmittelträger wieder auf dem Transportschlitten aufliegt und dann
• - den Transportschlitten mit dem mindestens einen Lebensmittelträger aus dem Bereich des Ofens herauszubewegen.

The above configuration can be adapted analogously to remove the at least one food carrier from the oven. In this case, the food printer can be set up to

• - to lower the floor again (with the furnace advantageously switched off) to its intermediate position,
• then move the transport carriage into its second position, the projections again immersing in the at least one slot,
• - Then lower the floor to transfer the at least one food carrier to the transport carriage to its lower height position, whereby the at least one food carrier rests on the transport carriage and then
• - to move the transport sled with the at least one food carrier out of the area of the oven.

The transport carriage can subsequently be moved to a position suitable for removing the at least one finished body, e.g. back to the first position or to another position.

It is an embodiment that the transport carriage can be pivoted about an axis of rotation, in particular between its first position and its second position. This enables a particularly simple and low-maintenance movement of the transport carriage. The transfer carriage is therefore rotated about the axis of rotation for transfer between different positions, in particular in a horizontal plane. In this case, the slots, if present, are advantageously circular in shape.

It is an embodiment that the transport carriage can be moved radially. The advantage of a particularly flexible positionability of the transport carriage is achieved.

It is an embodiment that the transport carriage for positioning the extrusion station and thus for positioning the at least one print head is rotatable and radially movable relative to the at least one food carrier about its axis of rotation. This has the advantage that the movement of the transport carriage can also be used for the production or for 3D printing of the raw bodies, as a result of which components can be saved and a particularly compact construction is made possible. The transport carriage is therefore in a horizontal (r, θ ) Level freely movable. A relative height movement of the transport carriage and the extrusion station is optional and can be implemented, for example, by adjusting the height of the transport carriage and / or the extrusion station.

It is an alternative or additional embodiment that the transport carriage is linearly displaceable between its first position and its second position. The shift can take place in one direction or two-dimensionally in one plane. The displacement can take place on the basis of predetermined guideways or freely adjustable. In the event of linear displacement, the slots of the transport carriage - if present - can advantageously be designed in a straight line.

In both cases (pivotability and / or linear displacement), the transport carriage is advantageously moved in a horizontal plane.

In general, a user can individually use the food printer to produce at least one 3D-printed finished article. In particular, the user can select a finished body (for example a certain food) via a user interface and make the basic dimensions required for its production available to the extrusion station. The provision can be made, for example, by inserting appropriate cartridges. Optionally, the user can also select a surface pattern of the finished body, for example one Ornament. The user can also optionally use a vessel or similar. place it on the food carrier, e.g. a mold, if this is not done at a separate station on the food printer. When the user starts the manufacturing process, the at least one raw body can then be produced fully automatically, heat-treated in the furnace and made available for dispensing. In order to carry out its operation, the food printer has a correspondingly configured, for example programmed, control device.

The object is also achieved by a method for preparing three-dimensionally printed foods using a food printer. The method can be designed analogously to the food printer and has the same advantages.

1. a) ein Transportschlitten des Lebensmitteldruckers mit mindestens einem darauf abnehmbar aufliegenden Lebensmittelträger in einer ersten Position bereitgestellt wird,
2. b) mittels einer Extrusionsstation des Lebensmitteldruckers auf dem mindestens einen Lebensmittelträger mindestens ein mehrdimensional strukturierter Rohkörper aus Lebensmittel-Grundmasse aufgedruckt wird,
3. c) der Transportschlitten in eine zweite Position verfahren wird,
4. d) der mindestens eine Lebensmittelträger mit dem mindestens einen Rohkörper von dem Transportschlitten an einen Ofen des Lebensmitteldruckers übergeben wird,
5. e) der Transportschlitten aus seiner zweiten Position verfahren wird,
6. f) der mindestens eine Lebensmittelträger mit dem mindestens einen Rohkörper in dem Ofen erhitzt wird,
7. g) der Transportschlitten wieder in die zweite Position verfahren wird,
8. h) der mindestens eine Lebensmittelträger mit dem mindestens einen dann wärmebehandelten Fertigkörper von dem Ofen an den Transportschlitten übergeben wird und
9. i) der Transportschlitten mit dem mindestens einen Lebensmittelträger und mit dem mindestens einen Fertigkörper aus seiner zweiten Position verfahren wird.

It is an embodiment that in the process

1. a) a transport carriage of the food printer with at least one food carrier removably resting thereon is provided in a first position,
2. b) by means of an extrusion station of the food printer, on the at least one food carrier, at least one multidimensionally structured raw body made of basic food composition is printed,
3. c) the transport carriage is moved into a second position,
4. d) the at least one food carrier with the at least one raw body is transferred from the transport carriage to an oven of the food printer,
5. e) the transport carriage is moved from its second position,
6. f) the at least one food carrier is heated in the oven with the at least one raw body,
7. g) the transport carriage is moved back to the second position,
8. h) the at least one food carrier with the at least one then heat-treated finished body is transferred from the oven to the transport carriage and
9. i) the transport carriage with the at least one food carrier and with the at least one finished body is moved from its second position.

It is an embodiment that the oven has a heatable oven chamber with an upper part and a lowerable bottom and in step c) the bottom has been lowered so far that the transport carriage can be moved into a second position in which the at least one food carrier is located in a space between the top and the bottom. In this way, a particularly compact furnace can advantageously be provided.

It is an embodiment that in step d) the at least one food carrier is lifted off the transport carriage by a relative vertical movement of the floor in the direction of the transport carriage. This enables the at least one food carrier to be transferred from the transport carriage to the floor in a structurally particularly simple and robust manner.

It is an embodiment that the floor has a plurality of vertically oriented projections which, when the floor moves in the direction of the transport carriage, are first brought into contact with the at least one food carrier and then and then lift the at least one food carrier from the transport carriage as it moves further. The advantage is achieved that the structurally particularly simple and robust means that the at least one food carrier can be moved from the transport carriage into the oven, and vice versa. In addition, due to the slots made in the transport carriage, the furnace only needs to perform a comparatively small opening movement.

It is an embodiment that in step f) the furnace is closed by moving the bottom to the upper part before heating the raw body.

It is an embodiment that in or before step g) the bottom of the oven is lowered from its upper part and in step h) the bottom is lowered until the at least one food carrier only rests on the transport carriage.

It is an embodiment that the transport carriage is rotated about a fixed axis of rotation, in particular by means of a servo motor or a stepper motor.

It is an embodiment that in step b ) a position of the extrusion station against the at least one food carrier is set at least by rotating the transport carriage and radial movement of the transport carriage against the extrusion station.

• 1 zeigt in Seitenansicht eine nicht maßstabsgetreue Skizze eines Lebensmitteldruckers gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel während eines Druckens eines Lebensmittel-Rohkörpers;
• 2 zeigt in Seitenansicht eine Skizze des Lebensmitteldruckers während einer Übergabe eines Lebensmittelträgers in einen Ofen;
• 3 zeigt in Seitenansicht eine Skizze des Lebensmitteldruckers während einer Wärmebehandlung in dem Ofen;
• 4 zeigt eine Skizze des Lebensmitteldruckers in Draufsicht;
• 5 zeigt in einer Sicht von unten eine Skizze eines Lebensmittelträgers eines Lebensmitteldruckers gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 6 zeigt eines Skizze des Lebensmittelträgers aus 5 als Schnittdarstellung in Seitenansicht;
• 7 zeigt in Draufsicht eine Skizze eines Transportschlittens des Lebensmitteldruckers gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 8 zeigt eines Skizze des Transportschlittens aus 7 als Schnittdarstellung in Seitenansicht;
• 9 zeigt in Draufsicht eine Skizze eines Bodens eines Ofens des Lebensmitteldruckers gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 10 zeigt eine Skizze des Bodens aus 9 als Schnittdarstellung in Seitenansicht;
• 11 zeigt in Draufsicht eines Skizze des Bodens des Ofens während einer Bewegung des Transportschlittens in seine zweite Position;
• 12 zeigt als Schnittdarstellung in Seitenansicht eines Skizze des Lebensmittelträgers, des Transportschlittens und des Bodens des Ofens nach Einführen des Lebensmittelträgers und des Transportschlittens in den geöffneten Ofen;
• 13 zeigt eine zu 12 analoge Darstellung, bei der nun der Boden des Ofens den Lebensmittelträger kontaktiert hat;
• 14 zeigt eine zu 12 analoge Darstellung, bei der nun der Boden des Ofens den Lebensmittelträger von dem Transportschlitten übernommen hat; und
• 15 zeigt eine zu 12 analoge Darstellung, bei der nun der Transportschlitten aus dem Ofen herausgefahren worden ist.

The above-described characteristics, features and advantages of this invention as well as the manner in which they are achieved will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description an embodiment that is explained in connection with the drawings.

• 1 shows a side view of a not to scale sketch of a food printer according to a first embodiment during printing of a raw food body;
• 2nd shows a side view of a sketch of the food printer during a transfer of a food carrier in an oven;
• 3rd shows a side view of a sketch of the food printer during a heat treatment in the oven;
• 4th shows a sketch of the food printer in top view;
• 5 shows a view from below of a sketch of a food carrier of a food printer according to a second embodiment; and
• 6 shows a sketch of the food carrier 5 as a sectional view in side view;
• 7 shows a plan view of a sketch of a transport carriage of the food printer according to the second embodiment; and
• 8th shows a sketch of the transport carriage 7 as a sectional view in side view;
• 9 shows a plan view of a bottom of an oven of the food printer according to the second embodiment; and
• 10th shows a sketch of the floor 9 as a sectional view in side view;
• 11 shows a top view of a sketch of the bottom of the furnace during a movement of the transport carriage in its second position;
• 12 shows a sectional side view of a sketch of the food carrier, the transport carriage and the bottom of the oven after inserting the food carrier and the transport carriage in the open oven;
• 13 shows one too 12 analog representation, in which the bottom of the oven has now contacted the food carrier;
• 14 shows one too 12 analog representation, in which the bottom of the oven has now taken over the food carrier from the transport carriage; and
• 15 shows one too 12 analog representation, in which the transport carriage has now been moved out of the oven.

1 shows a side view of a sketch of a food printer 1 according to a first embodiment during 3D printing of a raw food product RK . The food printer 1 has an extrusion station 2nd on the at least one print head (not shown) for dispensing different food bases GM having. The basic foodstuffs GM can be in the form of respective cartridges in the extrusion station 2nd be stored.

The food printer 1 also has an oven 3rd on top of a fixed top 3a with opening on the underside and a lowerable floor 3b has to close the opening, as indicated by the vertical double arrow. The oven 3rd is intended for this, the typically three-dimensional structured or “printed” food raw body RK heat-treat or heat and thereby in a food product FK (please refer 3rd ) convert. The oven 3rd is a in the food printer 1 integrated module.

To the food raw body RK from the extrusion station 2nd in the oven 3rd the food printer instructs to spend 1 a transport system for transporting the raw body RK from the extrusion station 2nd to or in the oven 2nd and to transport the finished body FK from the oven 3rd on. The transport system has an automatic - e.g. B. by means of a stepper motor or a servo motor - movable transport carriage 4th on which is a top surface 5 to put on a food carrier 6 and which can be positioned or moved horizontally automatically between a first position and a second position.

In the first position of the transport carriage shown 4th is the contact surface 5 below the extrusion station 2nd and carries the food carrier 6 . The food carrier 6 can turn the raw food body RK carry that in the first position by dispensing food base GM from the extrusion station 2nd has been generated. In this case, at least one container or a base such as an edible bowl (eg made from raw dough), a paper bowl, etc. can be placed on the food carrier beforehand 6 have been placed in the or the food base GM is filled. In the second position of the transport carriage 4th is the contact surface 5 in the area of the furnace 2nd . However, the transport sled can 4th Optionally move to other positions where there may be additional function modules (not shown).

2nd shows a side view of a sketch of the food printer during a handover of the food carrier 6 in the oven 3rd . This is the ground 3b of the oven 2nd have been lowered to a lower height position, for example by means of a lifting device (not shown). Between the floor 3b and the top 3a a space has been created in which the transport carriage 4th with its contact surface 5 , the food carrier 6 and the raw body RK has been moved into it. The transport carriage is located there 4th in its second position.

In the second position, the food carrier 6 with the food raw body RK by raising the floor 3b from the transport sled 4th to the floor 3b be handed over and the transport sled 4th then be moved out of the space, for example back to its first position.

3rd shows a side view of a sketch of the food printer 1 during a heat treatment of the raw body RK in the oven 3rd . This is the floor 3b after moving the transport carriage 4th from the gap to the top 3a has been started up, so that a closed furnace space has formed in the furnace. The oven 3rd is then activated to release heat into the furnace chamber.

For removing the finished food product FK from the oven 3rd after its heat treatment, the soil is placed in reverse order to its introduction 3b of the oven 3rd shut down again, the transport sled 4th back into the space between the floor 3b and the top 3a retracted, the food carrier 6 with the finished body RK by further shutting down the floor 3b back on the sled 4th stored and the transport sled 4th then with the food carrier 6 and the finished food product RK from the area of the furnace 3rd moved out, eg back to the first position.

4th shows a sketch of the food printer 1 in top view. The transport sledge 4th is between its first position and its second position, for example here θ = 180 ° about an axis of rotation D pivotable.

The transport sledge 4th can also be radial to the axis of rotation D movable, in particular radially linearly displaceable, what its free movement in one plane in a band ± Δr around the path of the angle of rotation θ enables. In a further development, this enables a free movement around the first position in such a way that the transport carriage 4th in the area of the contact surface 5 in relation to the extrusion station 2nd or whose printhead or printheads are freely movable or adjustable horizontally. This can result in different food bases GM in a basically any flat pattern on the food carrier placed on it 6 be applied, even in multiple layers. In turn, the raw body can RK with any flat and vertical structure to a three-dimensional structured food raw body RK be put together. A relative vertical movement of the carriage 4th and the extrusion station 2nd can be provided but is not required.

5 shows a sketch of a food carrier in a view from below 12 a food printer 11 according to a second embodiment. The food printer 11 is different from the food printer 1 in that the associated transport carriage 13 (please refer 7 and 8th ) not about an axis of rotation D is pivotable, but is linearly displaceable and is therefore also linearly displaceable between its first position and its second position, in particular is linearly displaceable.

On the bottom shown 14 of the food carrier 12 there are several non-continuous recesses in the form of notches or blind holes, consisting of a first set of four recesses here 15 that are symmetrical to a center of the food carrier 12 are arranged, and a second set of also four symmetrically arranged recesses 16 that are closer to the center of the food carrier 12 are arranged as the recesses 15 . The returns 15 and 16 can have the same or a different size and / or shape.

In particular, the returns are 15 and 16 each in an example in a square arrangement with a (hole center) distance from neighboring recesses 15 respectively. 16 the size a respectively. b arranged.

6 shows a sketch of the food carrier 12 as a sectional view through two recesses 15 in side view.

7 shows a top view of a sketch of the transport carriage 13 of the food carrier 12 or a section of it. The transport sledge 13 has on its top several upstanding elongated projections in the form of here four vertically projecting pins 17th on. The pencils 17th are in the same arrangement as the recesses in plan view 15 arranged and loosely into the recesses from below 15 insertable. The pencils 17th thus serve as a support surface 5 for the food carrier 12 . The food carrier 12 is through the pins 17th fixed positively in the horizontal direction.

The transport sledge 13 also has two laterally extending, parallel linear slots 18th on. The slots 18th are parallel to a direction of displacement V of the transport carriage 13 aligned and open laterally towards the furnace 2nd . The distance of the slots 18th to each other corresponds to the distance b . Their length is greater than the distance here b .

8th shows a sketch of the transport carriage 13 as a sectional view in side view.

9 shows a top view of a sketch of the floor 3b of the oven 3rd of the food printer 11 . The floor 3b points at its top 19th several protruding elongated projections in the form of here four vertically protruding pins 20th on. The pencils 20th are in the same arrangement as the recesses in plan view 16 arranged and loosely into the recesses from below 16 insertable. The pencils 20th thus serve as a support surface for the food carrier 12 . The food carrier 12 is through the pins 20th fixed positively in the horizontal direction. Due to the arrangement of the pins 17th and 20th as well as the returns 15 and 16 can the pens 17th as a whole only in the recesses 15 intervene and the pins 20th as a whole only in the recesses 16 intervention.

10th shows a sketch of the vertically movable floor 3b out 9 as a sectional view through two adjacent pins 20th in side view.

11 shows a top view of a sketch of the floor 3b of the oven 3rd during a movement of the transport carriage 13 in its second position. The transport sled is thereby 13 horizontally shifted so that the pins 20th in the slot assigned to them 18th immerse, here: two pens 20th per slot 18th . The food carrier indicated by dashed lines 12 is still on the pens 17th of the transport carriage 13 on.

12 shows a sectional side view of a sketch of the food carrier 12 , of the transport carriage 13 and the floor 3b of the oven 3rd after inserting the food carrier 12 and the transport carriage 13 in the open oven 3rd . The transport sledge 13 is in its second position. The floor 3b is in its lower height position and is therefore lowered so far that its pins 20th the food carrier 12 do not contact. The food carrier 12 is therefore still alone on the pens 17th of the transport carriage 13 on.

13 shows one too 12 analog representation, in which now the floor 3b of the oven 3rd by lifting the food carrier vertically 12 has just contacted his pens 20th in the returns 16 are immersed.

14 shows one too 12 analog representation, in which now the floor 3b of the oven 3rd by further raising the food carrier to an intermediate position 12 from the transport sled 13 has taken off and taken over.

15 shows one too 12 analog representation, in which the transport carriage 13 followed by lateral displacement from the oven 3rd has been brought out. The food carrier 12 is therefore only on the pens 20th on. The floor 3b can now be moved to its upper height position or "closed position", in which the floor 3b the upper part closes on the underside. This is the food carrier 12 with the raw body RK has been placed in the furnace and can be heat treated.

To remove the heat-treated finished body FK is in reverse order: the bottom 3b lowered to its intermediate position, the transport carriage 13 move to its second position, the floor 3b move to its lower position and then the transport carriage 13 with that back on the pens 17th filed food carrier 12 on the stove 3rd away.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown.

The food carrier can also have a different shape in plan view, e.g. be circular. Especially in this case the recesses of both sets can also be rotationally symmetrical to each other, e.g. in that the setbacks of both sets lie alternately on the same circular path with the same angular distance.

In general, "a", "a" etc. can be understood to mean a single number or a plurality, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more" etc., as long as this is not explicitly excluded, e.g. with the expression "exactly one" etc.

A number can also include the specified number as well as a usual tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

Reference symbol list

1

Food printer

2nd

Extrusion station

3rd

oven

3a

Top of the oven

3b

Bottom of the oven

4th

Transport sledge

5

Contact surface

6

Food carrier

11

Food printer

12

Food carrier

13

Transport sledge

14

Bottom of the food carrier

15

Return

16

Return

17th

pen

18th

slot

19th

Top of the bottom

20th

pen

a

distance

b

distance

D

Axis of rotation

GM

Basic foodstuff

RK

Food raw body

FK

Ready-made food

V

Direction of displacement

θ

Angle of rotation

Δr

Radial displacement

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• US 8888480 B3 [0002]
• US 2017043538 A1 [0003]

Claims (15)

Food printer (1; 11), having - an extrusion station (2) for dispensing food base mass (GM) for producing at least one multidimensionally structured raw food body (RK), - An oven (3) for heat treating the at least one raw food body (RK) to form at least one finished food body (RK) and - A transport system (4, 5; 13, 17) for transporting the at least one raw food product (RK) to the oven (3) and for transporting the at least one finished food product (RK) from the oven (3), wherein - The transport system (4, 5; 13, 17) has an automatically movable transport carriage (4; 13), which has a support surface (5; 17) for placing at least one food carrier (12) and which is automatically at least in a first position and one second position is positionable - In the first position, the basic food mass (GM) can be dispensed from the extrusion station (2) to produce the at least one raw body on at least one food carrier (12) placed on the support surface (5; 17), - In the second position, the at least one food carrier (12) can optionally be placed in the oven (3) and taken out of the oven (3). Food printer (1; 11) after Claim 1 , wherein - the oven (3) has a heatable oven space with a fixed upper part (3a) and a lowerable bottom (3b), - the bottom (3b) for placing the at least one food carrier (12) can be lowered thereon and for heating the upper part (2a) can be raised and - the transport carriage (4; 13) lies down for depositing the at least one food carrier (12) on the floor (3b) and for receiving the at least one food carrier (12) from the floor (3b) in it second position, with its support surface (5) then between the bottom (3b) and the upper part (3a). Food printer (1; 11) after Claim 2 , wherein - the bottom (3b) has a plurality of elongated projections (20) standing up on its upper side (19), - the transport carriage (4; 13) has at least one laterally positioned slot (18) such that when the transport carriage ( 4; 13) is in its second position, the projections (20) are immersed in the at least one slot (18), - the bottom (3b) for depositing the at least one food carrier (12) thereon from a lower height position at which the Projections (20) end below the at least one food carrier (12), into an intermediate position at which the projections (20) have lifted the at least one food carrier (12) from the transport carriage (4; 13), - the transport carriage ( 4; 13) with the base (3b) in its intermediate position can be moved out of the region of the furnace (3) and - the base (3b) after the transport carriage (4; 13) has been moved out of the region of the furnace (3) into its closed e position is movable. Food printer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport carriage (4) between its first position and its second position is pivotable about an axis of rotation (D). Food printer (1) after Claim 4 , wherein the transport carriage (4) is radially movable. Food printer (1) after Claim 5 , The transport carriage (4) for positioning the extrusion station (2) being rotatable and radially movable relative to the at least one food carrier (12) about its axis of rotation (D). Food printer (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport carriage (13) is linearly displaceable between its first position and its second position. Method for preparing three-dimensionally printed food by means of a food printer (1; 11), in which a) a transport carriage (4; 13) of the food printer (1; 11) with at least one food carrier (12) removably resting thereon is provided in a first position , b) by means of an extrusion station (2) of the food printer (1; 11), on the at least one food carrier (12), at least one multi-dimensionally structured raw body (RK) made of food base material (GM) is printed, c) the transport carriage (4; 13 ) is moved into a second position, d) the at least one food carrier (12) with the at least one raw body (RK) is transferred from the transport carriage (4; 13) to an oven (3) of the food printer (1; 11), e ) the transport carriage (4; 13) is moved from its second position, f) the at least one food carrier (12) with the at least one raw body (RK) is heated in the oven (3), in order to produce at least one finished body (FK), g) the transport slide (4; 13) is moved back into the second position, h) the at least one food carrier (12) with the at least one then heat-treated Finished body (FK) is transferred from the oven (3) to the transport carriage (4; 13) and i) the transport carriage (4; 13) then with the at least one food carrier (12) and with the at least one finished body (FK) from it second position is moved. Procedure according to Claim 8 , in which the furnace (3) has a heatable furnace chamber with an upper part (3a) and a lowerable bottom (3b) and in step c) the bottom (3b) is lowered so far that the transport carriage (4; 13) into one second position is moved, in which the at least one food carrier (12) is located in an intermediate space between the upper part (3a) and the bottom (3b). Procedure according to Claim 9 , in which in step d) the at least one food carrier (12) is lifted from the transport carriage (4; 13) by a relative vertical movement of the base (3b) in the direction of the transport carriage (4; 13). Procedure according to Claim 10 , in which the base (3b) has a plurality of vertically oriented projections (20) which are first brought into contact with the at least one food carrier (12) during the movement of the base (3b) in the direction of the transport carriage (4; 13) and then lift the at least one food carrier (12) from the transport carriage (4; 13) when moving on. Procedure according to one of the Claims 9 to 11 , in step f) before the at least one raw body (RK) is heated, the furnace (3) is closed by moving the base (3b) to the upper part (3a). Procedure according to one of the Claims 9 to 12 , - in or before step g) the bottom (3b) of the oven (3) is lowered from its upper part (3a) and - in step h) the bottom (3b) is lowered until the at least one food carrier (12) only rests on the transport carriage (4; 13). Procedure according to one of the Claims 7 to 12 , in which the transport carriage (13) is rotatable about a fixed axis of rotation (D). Procedure according to Claim 14 , in which in step b) a position of the extrusion station (2) against the at least one food carrier (12) is set at least by rotation (θ) of the transport carriage (4) and radial movement (Δr) of the transport carriage (4).

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