DE102020117688A1 - Roasting device for long roasting items, preferably for sausages - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a roasting device (1-6) for elongate fried food (7), preferably for fried sausages (7), with at least one conveyor unit (1) with at least one roasting surface (11) for receiving the elongate fried food (7) and with at least a preferably adjustable heating unit (2) for roasting the elongate fried food (7) on the roasting surface (11) of the conveyor unit (1). The frying device (1-6) is characterized in that the conveyor unit (1) has at least one conveyor (12) which is closed endlessly around the frying surface (11), the conveyor unit (1) being designed to have the conveyor (12 ) in a conveying direction (A) over the frying surface (11), the conveying means (12) having a plurality of rod elements (12b) at least substantially perpendicularly to the conveying direction (A), each of which has a receiving space (12c) between them for have at least one elongate item (7) to be roasted, preferably for exactly one elongate item (7) to be roasted, with the conveying means (12) being arranged opposite the roasting surface (11) in such a way that an elongate item (7 ) can be moved over the frying surface (11) by a rod element (12b) of the conveyor (12) at least essentially in a rolling manner in the conveying direction (A).

Description

The present invention relates to a roasting device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Bratwursts are one of the generally popular dishes that are sold in public to take away, so to speak "on the hand". Different types of meat are known, depending on the composition of the meat products, as well as different shapes, which can differ in length, diameter and, if necessary, in the course along the elongated extension between straight or curved, if necessary in the degree of curvature.

Such sausages are usually freshly prepared and sold in public from sausage stands. For this purpose, the sausages are stored there, usually cooled, prepared by one person using a roasting device and then sold, for example, in a half-cut roll or a cardboard pad for direct consumption to the customer to take away. The sausages can be freshly prepared when an order is received or prepared in advance and then kept warm on a shelf in order to be able to react more quickly to an order from a customer. Other meat-containing or meat-free dishes can also be prepared as such elongated roasting goods by roasting and sold for direct consumption.

Devices are known as roasting devices and are widely used because of their simplicity, which have a heatable, smooth, closed plate on which, for example, the sausages can be placed and roasted through contact with the hot plate. The heating can usually take place electrically or with gas from below against the underside of the plate and can be adjusted with regard to the temperature or the intensity of the heating. Possibly. two sections of the plate can be heated to different degrees in order to fry the sausages on one section and to keep the fried sausages warm on the other section as a shelf.

The sausages must be regularly turned or rolled by the person, for example using tongs or the like, in order to avoid burning or excessive frying in the same place on the sausages and to fry the outer surface of the sausages as completely and evenly as possible. This can have a major impact on the quality of the roasting process and thus also of the fried sausages. In particular, frying the sausages for too long in the same place can lead to the sausages being burned, which can lead to the burnt sausages being rejected. Furthermore, turning or rolling the sausages represents an effort which the person can tie up accordingly so that the person cannot undertake any other tasks such as accepting orders and the like during this time.

In order to relieve the person of turning or rolling the sausages during the roasting process and / or to make the roasting of the sausages more even and uniform in the roasting result, various roasting devices are known which roast the sausages at the same time and let them roll on the spot be able. For example, describe CN 201452929 U , US 7,367,261 B2 and US 2017/0156545 A1 each roasting device in which sausages can be heated from above or below and thus fried. The sausages each rest on two parallel, immediately adjacent rotating rollers, ie the sausages are located between the two rollers, which are either heated themselves or can allow the heat to reach the respective sausage from below through the slot-like distance.

For the same purpose, for example, are out US 7,377,209 B2 , CN 107811525 A , CN 202 537 259 U and EP 1 814 425 B1 Roasting devices are known in which a guide unit is arranged above a flat or inclined, heatable, flat, closed plate, which guide unit has a plurality of elongate receptacles running parallel to one another, each for a sausage. The guide unit can be moved back and forth automatically over a sufficient distance in order to roll the sausages received by the grid unit back and forth in the circumferential direction on the heatable flat closed plate and thereby to fry them automatically.

In both cases, due to the uniform rotating movement of the sausages on the rotating rollers or by means of the lateral back and forth movement on the heatable flat closed plate of the roasting device with constant heating, even roasting of the sausages can be achieved independently without a Person must contribute to this.

However, it remains disadvantageous that the roasting process per sausage has to be ended manually by one person by removing the sausages from the roasting device and serving or storing them. The person can also recognize or decide when the roasting process for each sausage has been achieved with the desired roasting result. The person also has to add fresh sausages to be fried in order to to start the roasting process. This still represents a certain amount of effort for the person or it still requires time. The frying result can also differ from bratwurst to bratwurst if the person removes a bratwurst from the roasting device too early or too late. Furthermore, the person can forget to start another roasting process by placing a fresh sausage to be roasted on the roasting device.

Frying devices are therefore also known which, for example, can pick up sausages and move or convey them in the horizontal plane, while the sausages are fried by being heated from above or below. At the end of the conveyor line, the sausages are automatically placed on a shelf for storage. During the conveyance, the sausages are also rotated about their longitudinal axis in order to achieve a uniform roasting process in this case as well. If the length of the conveying path, the speed at which the sausages are conveyed and the degree of heating are coordinated with one another, the sausages can consistently have the desired frying result at the end of the conveying path. At the same time, the roasting process can be ended automatically at this point in time or in this state of the sausage. Such roasting devices can have a sausage store at the beginning of the conveying path, from which fresh sausages to be roasted are replenished on the conveying path by rollers, so that automatic continuous production of fried sausages can be made possible.

The person then only has to remove the sausages from the shelf at the end of the conveyor line and serve them. The remaining steps such as removing fried sausages from the heated area of the roasting device and reloading fresh sausages to be fried on the heated area of the roasting device are removed from the person by the roasting device. This can save time and effort for the person. Also, the person can no longer forget to remove fried sausages, so that the desired roasting result can be achieved more reliably and uniformly than with the roasting devices described above. Furthermore, the person can no longer forget to add more sausages to be fried, which can increase the throughput of the roasting device or even out the production of fried sausages.

The sausages can be promoted during frying by rotating rollers on the spot, in the interstices of which the sausages are picked up from above and, as previously described, rolled around their longitudinal axis by the rotation of the rollers and at the same time on the rollers of the roasting device in are rolled away in the conveying direction and thus conveyed further, see for example U.S. 4,370,920 A , DE 20 2011 107 515 U1 and DE 25 32 157 A1 . at KR 2010 0006663 U For this purpose, the heated rollers rotating on the spot are arranged above the sausages and the sausages are also rolled around the longitudinal axis on a flat closed surface underneath and conveyed through it.

A technically more complex roasting device of this type can have an endlessly closed conveyor which, in its upper area, the upper run, can pick up sausages to be roasted at a first point and convey them to a second point, where they can be roasted and rolled around their longitudinal axis.

TWM 263 065 U describes such a roasting device. Two endlessly closed chains run parallel to one another around two toothed wheels, which are connected in the transverse direction by a large number of rollers that can rotate about their own longitudinal axis. A heat source is arranged above in the area of the upper run of the chain conveyor. Below is a rack on which the rollers roll in this area and are set in rotation as a result. At the beginning of the upper strand, individual sausages to be fried roll out of the funnel of a storage tank into the spaces between the immediately adjacent rollers, are then conveyed with the chain conveyor and are both fried from above and simultaneously rolled continuously around their own longitudinal axis by the rollers. At the end of the upper run, the fried sausages then fall onto the shelf.

A similar roasting device is also available DE 810 572 B to be taken, the roles are each covered roof-like by an angle rail, so that the sausages are not deformed or crushed between the individual roles during the roasting process. In this case, the rollers are set in rotation by a drive mechanism on the part of the chain conveyor. The heat source is arranged below the upper run.

at DE 24 35 341 A1 the roasting process takes place within closed rollers of a chain conveyor, which are opened at the first point to pick up a sausage to be roasted and are opened again at a second point to deliver the roasted sausage. The conveyor line leads over the upper run and back over the lower run.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a roasting device of the type described at the outset, so that the quality of the roasting can be improved gangs can be improved. In particular, the roasting process should be able to be carried out independently and, as far as possible, correspond to a roasting process carried out manually by a person in order to also achieve a corresponding quality. At least an alternative to the known roasting devices described above is to be created.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a roasting device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the subclaims.

The present invention thus relates to a roasting device for elongated roasting goods, preferably for roasting sausages, with at least one conveyor unit with at least one roasting surface for receiving the elongated roasting goods and with at least one, preferably adjustable, heating unit for roasting the elongated roasting goods on the roasting surface of the conveyor unit. Such a roasting device is designed to independently carry out a roasting process for the elongated item to be roasted, as described above. Bratwursts, in particular, but also other foods shaped in this way, which can be prepared by roasting, can be used as elongated items to be fried. The preparation by roasting takes place on a roasting surface on which the elongated roasting item is moved by means of the conveyor unit and at the same time can be roasted by sufficient heating on the part of the roasting surface and / or from above on the part of the heating unit. The heating unit can preferably be operated by means of gas, but also electrically or by means of coal and generate heat.

The roasting device according to the invention is characterized in that the conveyor unit has at least one conveyor which is closed endlessly around the roasting surface, the conveyor unit being designed to move the conveyor in a conveying direction over the roasting surface, the conveyor being at least substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction has a plurality of rod elements which each have a receiving space for at least one elongated roasting item, preferably for exactly one elongated roasting item, between them, the conveying means being arranged opposite the roasting surface in such a way that an elongated roasting item received in a receiving space is removed from a rod element of the Can be moved by means of at least substantially rolling in the conveying direction over the roasting surface.

In other words, the roasting device according to the invention is based on the manual roasting process of elongated roasting material described above, in which a roasting surface is used on which the elongated roasting material to be roasted is placed by a person and roasted by rolling under the action of heat from the roasting surface from below. Are for example out US 7,377,209 B2 , CN 107811525 A , CN 202 537 259 U and EP 1 814 425 B1 Roasting devices known, which automatically but permanently carry out this process of rolling by a back and forth movement, so that the roasting process can be ended by a person by removing the sausages from the receptacles, the roasting device promotes the KR 2010 0006663 U When roasting the sausages by rolling them on the roasting surface towards the person, thereby ending the roasting process automatically. The rolling of the sausages on the roasting surface of the roasting device KR 2010 0006663 U due to rollers rotating on the spot above the roasting surface, however, a uniform and uninterrupted rolling movement of the sausages in the conveying direction cannot be guaranteed. This can lead to uneven roasting of the sausages and even areas of the sausages that are inadmissibly fried or burned, which can render the sausages unusable. In particular, the rollers of the roasting device rotating on the spot above the roasting surface can KR 2010 0006663 U it cannot be ensured that the sausages can actually be grasped and rolled, which can lead to blockages and completely burned sausages. These blockages are to be removed by interventions by the person and the burned sausages, which constitute scrap, are to be disposed of by the person. Thus, by the roasting device KR 2010 0006663 U Neither an automatic nor an even roasting process of the sausages can be ensured.

Even roasting of the sausages by rolling them evenly can be achieved, for example, with the roasting devices from TWM 263 065 U and DE 810 572 B can be achieved by the sausages being transported there lying on a conveyor in the conveying direction and thereby being rolled on the conveyor on the spot. However, this requires a significantly higher technical effort in order not only to drive the conveying means in a translatory manner but also to drive its rollers in rotation at the same time.

According to the invention, the roasting surface is therefore arranged in the area of the upper run of the conveyor unit below the endlessly closed conveyor, so that the elongated roasting goods rest on the top of the roasting surface and can be moved there by rolling in the conveying direction. This takes place by means of the endlessly closed conveying means in such a way that the endlessly closed conveying means through bars running transversely to the conveying direction Elements forms intermediate receiving spaces which can each receive at least one elongated item to be fried and, in particular, exactly one elongated item to be fried between the rod elements. The rod elements can each touch an elongated item to be fried, which is received in the immediately adjacent receiving space in the conveying direction, and thereby transmit the translational movement of the conveyor in the conveying direction to the elongated item to be fried so that the elongated item to be fried is at least essentially over the roasting surface the conveying direction can be rolled. The elongated roasting item rolls around its own longitudinal axis, which extends at least substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

In this way, according to the invention, a continuously rolling movement of the elongated item to be roasted on the roasting surface can be achieved with comparatively simple mechanical means. As a result, the roasting process of the elongated item to be roasted can be carried out essentially independently by the roasting device according to the invention. The corresponding previously described properties and advantages of such an independent roasting process can be implemented and used in this way. This can be done in a comparatively simple, robust and / or inexpensive manner. In particular, the rolling movement of the elongated item to be fried in the conveying direction can take place more uniformly and / or more reliably than previously known. This can lead to a more even result of the roasting process than previously known and in particular at least reduce or even completely avoid the scrap of burnt elongated roasting goods. In particular, the roasting process can be carried out in a simple manner without any human intervention.

According to one aspect of the invention, the rod elements are arranged in relation to the roasting surface in such a way that the elongated roasting item touches the rod element approximately at the level of its longitudinal axis and can thereby be moved at least essentially rolling in the conveying direction over the roasting surface. The arrangement of the rod elements in the vertical direction approximately at the middle level of the elongated roast, d. H. at the level of the longitudinal axis of the elongated item to be fried can represent a possibility of implementing the properties and advantages described above and generating the rolling movement of the item to be fried on the roasting surface as described above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the rod elements are arranged in relation to the roasting surface in such a way that the elongated roasting item is in contact with the rod element in the vertical direction above its longitudinal axis, preferably at about three quarters of its height, is rolled over by the rod element in the vertical direction and thereby at least can be moved essentially rolling over the roasting surface in the conveying direction. The arrangement of the rod elements in the vertical direction in the area of the upper half of the vertical roast, d. H. Above the height of the longitudinal axis of the elongated item to be fried, a special type of movement of the elongate item to be fried on the roasting surface can be made possible. In this way, the elongated roasting item can be rolled over by the rod element in the vertical direction and thereby compressed, so that a certain frictional connection is achieved between the roasting surface, the elongated roasting item and the rod element, which can lead to the elongated roasting item on the part of the Bar elements on the roasting surface reliably at least substantially to exclusively rolled and a translatory pushing of the food to be fried by the bar element in the conveying direction can be reduced or completely avoided, which could lead to more uneven frying and / or to an uneven movement of the elongated food to be fried .

Rolling over the elongated food on the part of the bar element is understood to mean that the bar element moves in the conveying direction as well as in the vertical direction over the elongated food and presses the elongated food on the roasting surface, thereby moving with it and this to one leads at least substantially to a completely rolling movement of the food to be fried about its longitudinal axis on the frying surface of the conveyor unit. The speed of the conveyor in the conveying direction is greater than the speed of the rolling movement of the elongated food on the roasting surface.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the rod elements are arranged exactly perpendicular or obliquely to the conveying direction. By arranging the rod elements exactly perpendicular to the conveying direction, the receiving spaces between the rod elements are also aligned exactly perpendicular to the conveying direction. Correspondingly, the elongated items to be fried are also received in the receiving spaces of the conveying means exactly perpendicular to the conveying direction. Furthermore, the elongated items to be fried are touched by the rod elements at the same time over their elongated extent and moved in a rolling manner. This can represent a particularly simple implementation of the conveying means and also lead to a uniform rolling movement of the elongated items to be roasted on the roasting surface.

Arranging the rod elements at an angle to the conveying direction means that the rod elements are each arranged at the same angle to the perpendicular direction of the conveying direction. That angle can for example be in the range up to 10 °, so that - in other words - the rod elements are aligned at an angle of at least 80 ° to the conveying direction. This applies accordingly to the receiving spaces of the conveyor, which are formed by the rod elements. In this case, too, the elongated roasting goods can be moved rolling in the conveying direction on the roasting surface, with the contact between the rod elements and the elongated roasting goods being more punctiform or small-area and this contact point moving along in the course of the contact of the rod element with the elongated roasting goods the elongated direction of extent of the elongated roasting material moved over this from one end to the other end. This can be advantageous in particular for implementing the rollover described above, in order to implement the rollover over a longer distance in the conveying direction.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the conveyor has two endlessly closed drive elements, preferably two endlessly closed roller chains, which are connected to one another by the rod elements at least essentially perpendicular to the conveying direction, preferably exactly perpendicular to the conveying direction, the rod elements being fixed to the drive elements , preferably each stationary on a link of the roller chain, are arranged. This can represent a mechanically simple, robust and / or inexpensive way of implementing the endlessly closed conveying means.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the conveying means per drive element has at least one conveying element, preferably a gearwheel, which is designed to be rotationally driven and to drive the respective drive element, the two conveying elements being fixedly connected to one another by means of an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. This makes it possible to create a mechanically simple, robust and / or inexpensive possibility of driving the endlessly closed conveying means.

It can be advantageous that the conveyor has at least or exactly two conveyor elements or gearwheels per drive element, which are arranged opposite one another in such a way that each drive element can be driven by at least or precisely one conveyor element or gearwheels. This can enable the drive forces to be transmitted as uniformly as possible from the conveying elements or gears to the drive elements.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the conveying elements are designed to be changed in their positioning relative to a frame of the conveying unit in order to set a tension of the drive elements in the conveying direction. As a result, the tension of the drive elements can be adjusted in a simple manner, in particular after assembly or after maintenance of the drive elements.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the roasting surface is oriented horizontally. This can simplify the implementation of the roasting device. In particular, it can thereby be ensured that a movement of the elongated item to be roasted in the conveying direction can take place exclusively through the conveying means. As a result, the movement of the elongated item to be roasted in the conveying direction can be carried out in a more controlled manner by the conveying means than by rolling it independently over a roasting surface that is inclined to the horizontal.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the roasting surface is designed to be closed over a large area. As a result, the roasting surface can be designed comparatively simply and / or inexpensively. This also allows the elongated items to be heated as uniformly as possible, in that the roasting surface is itself heated and the heating can be distributed along the roasting surface. This indirect heating of the elongated food can also reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, this can simplify the cleaning of the roasting device, since liquids such as cooking fat can remain on the roasting surface and thus only the roasting surface needs to be cleaned. It can also be advantageous here that a larger contact surface can be provided on the part of the roasting surface, against which the elongated roasting item can be pressed when it is rolled over. This can encourage the elongated food to roll over.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the roasting surface has through openings at least substantially in the conveying direction. In other words, the roasting surface is designed as a grillage or as a grillage. This can make it possible that liquids such as frying fat can run off through the through openings in the vertical direction downward from the frying surface. This can make the roasting process even more even if you use it for a long time. Heat rising from below in the vertical direction can also reach the elongated items to be fried directly through the passage opening, which can improve the quality of the roasting process. This direct heating of the elongated items to be fried can also enable the degree of heating to be regulated more quickly, since the indirect heating of the roasting surface has a certain inertia of heating and cooling.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the through openings of the roasting surface run obliquely to the conveying direction. In particular, the through openings run at an angle of up to 10 ° to the conveying direction. In this way, it can be avoided that, in the course of a roasting process, an elongated item to be fried has places which have completely rolled over the through openings or the intervening webs of the roasting surface and accordingly show a different roasting result compared to the places adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the elongate item to be fried. Rather, by appropriately choosing the inclined alignment of the through-openings in the roasting surface, at the end of the roasting process the entire surface of the elongated food is rolled as evenly as possible over the through-openings and over the ridges of the roasting surface and fried accordingly. This can lead to a better or more even frying result, for example in the form of a more even browning of the elongated food. In other words, local excessive heating of the elongated item to be fried, which can arise through continuous contact of the corresponding points of the elongate item to be fried with the webs of the roasting surface, can thereby be avoided. The rolling behavior of the elongated roasting item on the roasting surface can also be improved as a result.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the thermal unit can be removed from a frame of the delivery unit. This can simplify and / or accelerate the assembly, repair or replacement of the thermal unit. This can also enable the use of different thermal units.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the frame of the conveyor unit is designed to adjust the height of the heating unit in the vertical direction, and / or the frame of the conveyor unit is designed to accommodate the heating unit at different heights in the vertical direction. This can influence the amount of heat or heat that can be exerted by the heating unit on the frying surface of the conveyor unit.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the heating unit is arranged below the frying surface of the conveyor unit. As a result, the heat that can be generated and emitted by the heating unit can not only be directed as thermal radiation towards the roasting surface, but also rise up as heated air by means of convection in the vertical direction towards the roasting surface. This can promote the fullest possible use of the generated heat for the roasting process and thereby reduce energy consumption.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the thermal unit has at least two independently adjustable heat sources along the conveying direction. This can make it possible to carry out the roasting process of the elongated roasting goods at different temperatures. This can increase the design options for the roasting process and possibly lead to a better result of the roasting process.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the conveyor unit has at least one output element which is designed to receive at least one elongated roasting item from a receiving space of the conveyor and to deliver it at least to the outside of the conveyor unit, preferably to the outside of the roasting device. As a result, the roasting process can be ended automatically on the part of the roasting device and the roasted elongated items to be roasted can be fed to a person or to a shelf.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the conveyor unit has at least one, preferably removable, collecting element, which is arranged at least in sections, preferably over the entire surface, at least substantially horizontally in the vertical direction below the frying surface and is designed to receive at least liquids, preferably frying fat. In this way, especially in the event that the frying surface has through openings, liquids such as frying fat can be absorbed and stored by the support element. Cleaning of the collecting element can be facilitated by the fact that the collecting element can be removed from the delivery unit. For this purpose, the removable collecting element can preferably have a handling element, for example in the form of a handle.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the conveyor unit has at least one, preferably removable, cover element which is designed to cover the roasting surface at least in sections, preferably largely, particularly preferably over the entire surface, at least in the vertical direction from above, preferably also at least in sections, preferably largely, particularly preferably to enclose the entire surface, laterally perpendicular to the conveying direction. As a result, the roasting surface can be enclosed at least in sections, as far as possible or even over the entire surface perpendicular to the conveying direction, so that the heat that is released from the roasting surface and / or through the through openings of the roasting surface in the vertical direction upwards hen can be held above the frying surface. This can make the roasting process of the elongated items to be roasted more evenly, since the elongate items to be roasted can now be rolled through by the accumulated heat of the roasting surface. This can also reduce the energy consumption of the thermal unit, since the loss of heat to the surroundings can be reduced.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the roasting device has at least one storage unit which is designed to receive a plurality of elongated items to be fried and to deliver them individually to the conveyor unit, preferably to a feed element of the conveyor unit, with the feed element of the conveyor unit preferably being designed, the elongated Bring food to a receiving space of the conveyor. Such a storage unit can also be referred to as a storage unit, a separator or a separating unit. In other words, the storage unit is able to store a plurality of elongated items to be fried and individually, i. H. one elongated roasting item after the other to be delivered to the conveyor unit, so that one elongated roasting item after the other can be roasted there as described above. This can make it possible to relieve the person of reloading individual items to be fried. In particular, it can be ensured that the roasting process of the conveyor unit is run through completely for all elongated roasting goods to be roasted, which can promote the evenness of the roasting process.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the storage unit has a plurality of interspaces which are formed by, preferably removable, guide elements, each interspace being designed to accommodate a plurality of elongated items to be fried in the vertical direction at least substantially, preferably precisely, one above the other, wherein the storage unit is configured to let a single elongated roasting item fall down from one of the spaces in the vertical direction. In this way, the elongated items to be fried can be moved out of the storage unit by means of gravity, which can simplify the implementation of this movement. Furthermore, it can be achieved that in each case a single elongated roasting item can be dispensed from the storage unit, so that jamming or wedging of the elongated roasting items with one another can be avoided, as could occur when using a funnel or the like. This can ensure a trouble-free supply of individual elongated items to be fried from the storage unit to the conveyor unit. The removability of the guide elements can simplify the cleaning of the storage unit.

According to a further aspect of the invention, each space in the vertical direction, preferably at the lower end, has a, preferably removable, receiving element which is designed to receive exactly a single elongated roasting item and to allow it to fall downwards in the vertical direction when actuated. In this way, the previously described function of feeding individual elongated items to be fried can be implemented easily and reliably. The removability of the receiving elements can simplify the cleaning of the storage unit.

The gaps can end at the receiving element or the gaps can extend further downwards in the vertical direction beyond the receiving elements, for example by making the guide elements correspondingly long or by additional guide elements in order to keep the elongated roasting item falling out of the receiving element to lead. This can improve or ensure the desired alignment of the elongated roasting item when it reaches the conveyor unit.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the receiving elements each have at least one receiving opening which is designed to receive exactly one single elongated roasting item, the receiving elements being arranged parallel to one another and rotatable, and the receiving openings of the receiving elements being arranged at an angle to one another around the axes of rotation are, so that only the receiving opening of a receiving element can precisely let a single elongated roasting item fall down in the vertical direction. In this way it can be achieved, on the one hand, that on the part of each receiving element, a single elongated roasting item can always be picked up in the vertical direction from above and conveyed downwards. On the other hand, this can be done through the angular offset of the receiving openings of the receiving elements, evenly distributed among one another over all the gaps so that all gaps can deliver the elongated roasting goods one after the other or alternately. The angular offset of the receiving openings of the receiving elements with one another can at the same time represent a mechanically simple way of implementing this.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the receiving elements are rotatably connected to one another by means of at least one drive element, preferably by means of at least one gearwheel each, the storage unit having a motor, preferably a stepping motor, which is designed to rotate the receiving elements by means of the drive element. In this manner and all the receiving elements can be operated or rotated by means of a single motor, which can keep the corresponding expenditure low. This also applies to the drive element which connects the receiving elements to one another, which in particular can be gearwheels, with an endlessly closed belt or the like also being possible. It is advantageous to use a stepper motor as the motor, since only a partial rotary movement of the receiving elements, for example by 90 °, may be necessary for the output of a single item to be fried.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the storage unit is designed to be heatable. In this way, the elongated roasting goods can already have a heat at the beginning of the roasting process of the conveyor unit which can be above the ambient temperature and in particular above the temperature of cooled elongated roasting goods. Thus, if the person places them in the storage unit in the cooled state, the elongated roasting goods can already be preheated there in order to be warmed up at least compared to the cooled state or the ambient temperature at the beginning of the roasting process, which accelerates the roasting process or can shorten it.

This can take place, for example, at a temperature of approx. 70 °, so that, on the one hand, the formation of germs etc. and, on the other hand, cooking of the elongated foodstuffs can be avoided. This can be done electrically, for example, by means of appropriate heat radiators within the storage unit, which can act on the elongated roasting goods stored there.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the roasting device has a supply unit which is designed to receive a single elongated item to be fried from the storage unit, preferably by falling in the vertical direction from above, and in a conveying direction to the conveying unit, preferably to a supply element of the Delivery unit to deliver. As a result, the individual elongated items to be fried can be fed to the conveyor unit in a targeted or orderly manner, so that the individual elongate items to be fried can be received there by the receiving spaces of the conveying means, as described above. At the same time, the dispensing of the individual elongated items to be roasted by the storage unit can take place as described above by falling down in the vertical direction, which can simplify the dispensing of the individual elongate items to be roasted by the storage unit.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the feed unit has a receiving surface which is arranged in the vertical direction below the storage unit, preferably below the spaces between the storage unit, the receiving surface being inclined towards the conveying unit. This can represent a particularly simple way of picking up the individual elongated items to be fried from the storage unit and feeding them independently by rolling, i.e. by a rolling movement, via the inclined receiving surface of the feed unit.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the feed unit has a receiving surface which is arranged in the vertical direction below the storage unit, preferably below the spaces between the storage unit, the receiving surface being designed horizontally, the feeding unit having a conveying means which is designed to move an elongated roasting item on the receiving surface in the conveying direction, wherein the conveying means is preferably designed to be moved in the conveying direction towards the conveying unit and away from the conveying unit. In this way, the individual elongated items to be fried can be picked up from the storage unit, in particular by falling down in the vertical direction, on the receiving surface. Since in this case, in particular due to the impact of the individual elongated items to be fried when falling down, the alignment of the individual elongate items to be fried cannot be ensured as precisely as possible perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying means of the conveying unit, the supply unit can also have a conveying means which can be moved in a conveying direction, in order to roll the individual elongated items to be fried over the receiving surface of the feed unit and thereby feed it to the conveyor unit in its conveying direction.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the receiving surface is adjoined in the conveying direction by a delivery surface which is inclined towards the conveying unit. This can enable a transfer of the individual elongated items to be fried from the feed unit to the conveyor unit by means of an automatic rolling movement with as little effort as possible.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the feed unit has a collecting element which is designed to catch a rolling elongated roasting item in a horizontal direction and to deliver it falling downwards at least essentially in the vertical direction to the conveyor unit, preferably to a feed element of the conveyor unit. As a result, the alignment of the individual elongated items to be fried during the transfer from the feed unit to the conveyor unit can be perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying means of the conveyor The unit can be ensured by aligning the collecting element of the feed unit also perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying means of the conveying unit. The corresponding impact of the elongated item to be fried can simultaneously effect a downward direction reversal as precisely as possible in the vertical direction.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the roasting device has at least one trigger element which is designed to be actuated by a user, the roasting device, preferably a control unit of the roasting device, being designed to dispense a single elongated item of roasting from the storage unit, preferably and that Conveying the individual elongated items to be fried through the feed unit, preferably immediately, in response to the actuation of the release element by the user. In this way, the person as the user of the roasting device according to the invention can trigger the roasting process of a single elongated item to be roasted by actuating the triggering element, for example in the form of a button, a button or the like, for example with a finger. In particular, on the part of a control unit of the roasting device, a single elongated item of roasting can be delivered from the storage unit and fed to the conveyor unit, preferably by means of the feed unit described above. There, the individual elongated items to be fried can be received by a receiving space of the conveying means, so that the roasting process can be carried out as described above. The conveyor of the conveyor unit can be operated continuously at a constant speed.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the roasting device has at least one heating unit which is arranged in the vertical direction below the storage unit, preferably further below the supply unit, and is designed to generate heat and at least allow it to rise into the storage unit. As a result, the elongated items to be fried, which are arranged in the storage unit, can be heated as already described above. This can take place on the part of the heating unit in addition or as an alternative to the previously described heating on the part of the storage unit itself. This can expand the options for heating the elongated items to be fried in the storage unit or provide an alternative option for this.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a receiving surface of the supply unit has at least one passage opening, preferably a plurality of passage openings, which is designed to allow the heat of the heating unit to rise into the storage unit, wherein preferably the passage opening, preferably the passage openings, at least substantially is aligned in the conveying direction of the feed unit. In this way, the heat can rise, for example in the form of heated air or water vapor, from the heating unit through the supply unit into the storage unit and heat the elongated items to be fried there. In this way, heating of an individual elongated item to be roasted, which is located within the feed unit, can take place at the same time, so that the heating of the individual elongate item to be roasted can be maintained for a longer period of time.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the heating unit has at least one water intake for receiving water, the water intake being designed to be heatable, preferably electrically, particularly preferably by means of an electrical heating element, preferably as an immersion heater. In this way, the above-described heating can take place by rising heated water vapor, which can be generated in the water absorption by the evaporation of the water by means of heating. This can be done electrically or by means of an electric heating element, in particular in the form of an immersion heater, in a comparatively compact, inexpensive, simple, space-saving and / or quickly controllable or regulatable manner.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the heating unit has at least one temperature sensor which is designed to detect a temperature of the water in the water intake, wherein the roasting device, preferably a control unit of the roasting device, is preferably designed to record the water intake as a function of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor Heating temperature. In this way, the generation of water vapor can take place in a controlled manner.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the heating unit has at least one water level sensor, preferably a float switch, which is designed to detect a fill level of the water in the water intake. In this way, the heating unit or the roasting device or its control unit can automatically detect if the level of the water in the water intake falls below a minimum amount due to evaporation, at which water has to be refilled in the water intake, for example to ensure that the immersion heater is adequately covered with water.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the heating unit has at least one water inlet through which water can be let into the water intake, wherein the roasting device, preferably a control unit of the roasting device, is designed to let water into the water intake as a function of the fill level detected by the water level sensor . This can make it easier to pour water into the water intake. In particular, this can take place automatically on the part of the heating unit or the roasting device, or its control unit, in order to ensure a sufficient water level within the water intake.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the roasting device has at least one control unit which is designed to control at least the speed of the conveying means of the conveying unit. In this way, the speed of the conveyor of the conveyor unit can be adjusted in order to influence the roasting process. In particular, this can be done in combination with an adjustable heat generation of the heating unit in order to carry out the roasting process as desired by the person.

With regard to the roasting device according to the invention, it should be noted that the roasting device can be designed as an essentially one-piece object, in which the conveyor unit, the heating unit, the control unit, the storage unit, the supply unit and / or the heating unit as assemblies or as elements, preferably within of a common housing, executed and arranged.

Alternatively, it is also possible to design the roasting device according to the invention as a system in which the conveyor unit, the heating unit, the control unit, the storage unit, the supply unit and / or the heating unit as separate units or as separate devices, preferably each within its own Housing, executed and functionally assembled to the roasting device according to the invention as a whole. In this case, the delivery unit, the heating unit, the control unit, the storage unit, the feed unit and / or the heating unit can each also be designed as individual devices and used in combination with other such units or devices in order to achieve the corresponding aspects of the invention described above the conveying unit, the heating unit, the control unit, the storage unit, the supply unit and / or the heating unit as a whole, independently of the roasting device according to the invention.

Correspondingly, each of the delivery unit, the heating unit, the control unit, the storage unit, the supply unit and / or the heating unit can represent a separate invention. In particular, the storage unit according to the invention and / or the feed unit according to the invention can also be used to feed individual elongated items to be fried to a different conveyor unit than the conveyor unit according to the invention. This applies to the storage unit according to the invention and to the feed unit according to the invention, in each case individually and in combination with one another.

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Bratvorrichtung mit Fördereinheit, Wärmeeinheit, Steuerungseinheit, Vorratseinheit, Zuführungseinheit und Erwärmungseinheit;
• 2 die Darstellung der 1 lediglich mit Fördereinheit, Wärmeeinheit und Steuerungseinheit sowie abgenommenem Abdeckelement der Wärmeeinheit;
• 3 eine alternative Darstellung der 2;
• 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Wärmeeinheit;
• 5 eine Detailansicht des oberen Bereich der Fördereinheit;
• 6 die Darstellung der 1 von schräg oben;
• 7 eine Darstellung der Bratfläche der Fördereinheit;
• 8 eine seitliche Darstellung der rollenden Bewegung eines längliches Bratguts auf der Bratfläche der Fördereinheit gemäß eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels;
• 9 eine seitliche Darstellung der rollenden Bewegung eines längliches Bratguts auf der Bratfläche der Fördereinheit gemäß eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels;
• 10 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorratseinheit, Zuführungseinheit und Erwärmungseinheit;
• 11 eine perspektivische Schnittdarstellung durch die Vorratseinheit;
• 12 eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung durch den unteren Bereich der Vorratseinheit;
• 13 eine perspektivische Darstellung des unteren Bereichs der Vorratseinheit;
• 14 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Zuführungseinheit und Erwärmungseinheit;
• 15 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Zuführungseinheit;
• 16 eine perspektivische Darstellung des Übergangs von Vorratseinheit und Zuführungseinheit zur Fördereinheit; und
• 17 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Erwärmungseinheit von oben.

Several exemplary embodiments and further advantages of the invention are illustrated and explained in more detail below in connection with the following figures. It shows:

• 1 a perspective view of a roasting device according to the invention with a conveyor unit, heating unit, control unit, storage unit, supply unit and heating unit;
• 2 the representation of the 1 only with delivery unit, heating unit and control unit as well as removed cover element of the heating unit;
• 3 an alternative representation of the 2 ;
• 4th a perspective view of the thermal unit;
• 5 a detailed view of the upper area of the conveyor unit;
• 6th the representation of the 1 from diagonally above;
• 7th a representation of the frying surface of the conveyor unit;
• 8th a side view of the rolling movement of an elongated item to be fried on the frying surface of the conveyor unit according to a first embodiment;
• 9 a side view of the rolling movement of an elongated item to be fried on the frying surface of the conveyor unit according to a second embodiment;
• 10 a perspective view of the storage unit, feed unit and heating unit;
• 11th a perspective sectional view through the storage unit;
• 12th a lateral sectional view through the lower region of the storage unit;
• 13th a perspective view of the lower region of the storage unit;
• 14th a perspective view of the feed unit and heating unit;
• 15th a perspective view of the feed unit;
• 16 a perspective view of the transition from storage unit and feed unit to the conveyor unit; and
• 17th a perspective view of the heating unit from above.

The above figures are viewed in Cartesian coordinates. A longitudinal direction X extends, which can also be referred to as depth X or length X. A transverse direction Y, which can also be referred to as width Y, extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. A vertical direction Z, which can also be referred to as the height Z, extends perpendicularly both to the longitudinal direction X and to the transverse direction Y. The longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y together form the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as the horizontal X, Y plane.

A roasting device 1-6 according to the invention consists of a conveyor unit 1, a removable heating unit 2, a control unit 3, a storage unit 4, a feed unit 5 and a heating unit 6 Form of sausages 7 can be fried independently. For this purpose, the sausages 7 can be filled into the storage unit 4 by a person as a user in a cooled state and removed at the end of the conveyor unit 1 in the fried state. The intervening steps of the roasting process can be carried out independently by the roasting device 1-6. The roasting process of an individual sausage 7 can be triggered in a targeted manner by the person.

The conveyor unit 1 has a frame 10, which can also be referred to as a housing 10 or a frame 10. The frame 10 has in the vertical direction Z on its underside at the four corners in each case a stand element 10a, which are designed as feet 10a in order to stand on a surface (not shown). In the upper area of the conveyor unit 1, a horizontal roasting surface 11 is formed, which can also be referred to as a grillage 11.

An endlessly closed conveyor 12 runs around the frame 10 and the roasting surface 11 of the conveyor unit 1 in the transverse direction Y and in the vertical direction Z. The conveyor 12 has continuously closed drive elements 12a in the form of roller chains 12a, spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction X. The individual links of the roller chains 12a are hingedly connected to each other in the endlessly closed direction. In the longitudinal direction X, the individual links of the roller chains 12a are each fixedly connected to one another by a fixed rod element 12b, which can also be referred to as a rod 12b. The bars 12b are spaced from one another in the endlessly closed direction such that a receiving space 12c for exactly one sausage 7 is formed between two directly adjacent bars 12b. At the acjt corners of the frame 10 of the conveyor unit 1, a conveyor element 12d in the form of gear wheels 12d is rotatably arranged, a pair of gear wheels 12d being fixedly connected to one another in the longitudinal direction X by an axis 12e. One of the two roller chains 12a runs around four gear wheels 12d, so that the two roller chains 12a can be driven in a conveying direction A by the gear wheels 12d by means of an electric drive (not shown), see for example 3 .

In the transverse direction Y opposite to the conveying direction A of the conveying means 12 in front of the roasting surface 11, a feed element 13 is formed in order to receive a sausage 7 to be roasted from the feed unit 5, as will be explained in more detail below. At this point on the conveyor unit 1, the sausage 7 to be roasted can fall in the vertical direction Z from above onto the conveyor 12 or into a receiving space 12c of the conveyor 12 and then rolled by the conveyor 12 over the roasting surface 11 in the conveying direction A of the conveyor 12 . At the end of the roasting surface 11, this merges into an output element 14 in the form of an ejection ramp 14, so that a fried sausage 7 can be automatically delivered by the conveyor unit 1 of the roasting device 1-6, for example to a bowl or the like. In this way, the roasting process of the sausage 7 can be ended.

The roasting process in the course of the conveyor unit 1 takes place in such a way that the heating unit 2, which is located inside the frame 10 of the conveyor unit 1 in the vertical direction Z below the roasting surface 11, removes sufficient heat or heat to carry out the roasting process for the sausages 7 is made available. The heating unit 2 has a housing 20, within which two heat sources 22 in the form of gas burners 22 are arranged next to one another in the transverse direction Y or in the conveying direction A of the conveying means 12, see for example 4th . The heat or heat generated by the gas burners 22 can rise upwards in the vertical direction Z and, on the one hand, can reach and heat the roasting surface 11 from below. On the other hand, the Heat or heat from the gas burner 22 of the heating unit 2 can reach the sausages 7 directly through through openings 11a in the form of slots 11a of the roasting surface 11. The amount of heat or heat of the two gas burners 22 of the heating unit 2 can be set by the user via a setting element 23 in the form of a rotary knob 23, which can additionally or alternatively be done independently by the control unit 3, in particular depending on the speed of the conveying means 12 in the conveying direction A can take place. The setting elements 23 are arranged on a cover element 21 of the heating unit 2, which can be removed from the housing 20 in order to make the interior of the heating unit 2 accessible, see for example 3 .

The slots 11a of the roasting surface 11 are at least essentially aligned in the transverse direction Y or in the conveying direction A of the conveying means 12 and can preferably be slightly inclined to the transverse direction Y or to the conveying direction A of the conveying means 12, for example at an angle of a few degrees , be aligned, see for example 7th . As a result, the sausages 7 can in the course of their movement in the conveying direction A of the conveyor 12 over the roasting surface 11 at all points reach both the webs of the roasting surface 11 and the inclined slots 11a and thereby correspondingly evenly through contact with the roasting surface 11 and through In contact with the rising heat or heat. This can promote frying of the sausages 7 as evenly as possible over their elongated extent in the longitudinal direction X.

Around the heat that can be emitted from the roasting surface 11 of the conveyor unit 1 and / or from the heating unit 2 through the slots 11a of the roasting surface 11 of the conveyor unit 1, in particular in the vertical direction Z upwards, in the area directly To hold above the roasting surface 11 of the conveyor unit 1, a removable cover element 15 in the form of a removable roof 15 can be arranged above the roasting surface 11 of the conveyor unit 1 on the frame 10 of the conveyor unit 1, see for example 5 . In this way, the sausages 7 to be roasted can be moved in the area of the roasting surface 11 of the conveyor unit 1 through a comparatively evenly heated area between the roasting surface 11 and the roof 15, which ensures a more even roasting process and reduces the energy required for the heating unit 2 can. However, this can also be dispensed with by removing the roof 15 of the conveyor unit 1.

The conveying unit 1 has a removable collecting element 16 in its lower area in the vertical direction Z in the form of a removable collecting tray 16, which serves to collect liquids such as frying fat that drip down from above through the slots 11a of the frying surface 11 in the vertical direction Z and save. By means of a handling element 16a in the form of a handle 16a, the removable collecting tray 16 can be removed by the person outside of the operation of the roasting device 1-6 in order to dispose of the collected liquids.

The rolling movement of the sausages 7 during the roasting process in the conveying direction A of the conveying means 12 over the frying surface 11 takes place, as already mentioned above, by means of the bars 12b of the conveying means 12. The bars 12b of the conveying means 12 can be in the vertical direction Z on the one hand approximately be arranged centrally at the level of the sausages 7 and thus touch the sausages 7 approximately centrally in their height. The stationary rods 12b of the conveyor 12 move purely translationally in the conveying direction A of the conveyor 12 and thus press laterally in the middle against the sausages 7, whereby the sausages 7 can be moved rolling in front of the rods 12b of the conveyor 12, see for example 8th . As a result, the sausages 7 can be rolled in the conveying direction A of the conveying means 12 in a rolling direction B over the frying surface 11 of the conveying unit 1.

Alternatively and preferably, the bars 12b of the conveying means 12 are arranged in the vertical direction Z above the center of the sausages 7 and in particular at approximately% of the height of the sausages 7, see for example 9 . The transmission of the translational movement of the bars 12b of the conveyor 12 in the conveying direction A takes place in this case in such a way that the sausage 7 is rolled on the frying surface 11 in the rolling direction B due to the contact with the bar 12b of the conveyor 12, but at the same time in the vertical direction Z is compressed elastically deforming by the rod 12b of the conveyor 12. The rod 12b of the conveying means 12 and its roller chains 12a are also raised slightly in the vertical direction Z as a result. In this way, in the vertical direction Z, there is a force-locking effect between the rod 12b of the conveyor 12 of the conveyor unit 1, the sausage 7 and the roasting surface 11 of the conveyor unit 1, which can be referred to as rollover. In this way, it can be achieved with a high degree of certainty that the sausage 7 is rolled by the rod 12b of the conveyor 12 in the rolling direction B exclusively over the roasting surface 11 and is not pushed in translation over the roasting surface 11 in front of it in the conveying direction A of the conveyor 12, as this with the arrangement of the rod 12b of the conveyor 12 of the 8th rather the case may be.

After completion of the process of rolling over the rod 12b of the conveyor 12 over the sausage 7, the sausage 7 is in the next receiving space 12c of the conveyor 12 against the conveying direction A behind the rod 12b. Correspondingly, the rolling movement of the sausages 7 when rolling over takes place at a lower speed in the conveying direction A of the conveying means 12 than the movement of the conveying means 12 itself.

The control unit 3 for its part has a housing 30 which is fastened laterally in the transverse direction Y to the frame 10 of the conveyor unit 1. The other two lower corners of the housing 30 of the control unit 3 each have stand elements 30a in the form of feet 30a. In the longitudinal direction X facing the person, both a display element 31 and an operating element 32 are provided in the housing 30 of the control unit 3. By means of the display element 31 of the control unit 3, for example, the speed of the conveying means 12 of the conveying unit 1 in the conveying direction A and / or the respective temperature of the gas burners 22 of the heating unit 2 can be displayed to the person. By means of the operating element 32 of the control unit 3, for example, these parameters of the roasting process can be set by the person.

The control unit 3 is also assigned a manual control unit 33, which is connected to the control unit 3 by a cable 34 to transmit energy and signals. The manual control unit 33 of the control unit 3 has a release element 35 in the form of a button 35 or a button 35. The button 35 of the manual control unit 33 can be pressed by the person in order to start the roasting process of a further unroasted sausage 7, as described in more detail above or below.

The storage unit 4 is used to store unroasted sausages 7, that is to say to be roasted, and can therefore also be referred to as a storage store 4, a separator 4 or a separating unit 4. The storage unit 4 has a housing 40 which forms an interior space 41 in which the unroasted sausages 7 are received and stored. The interior 41 of the storage unit 4 is accessible to the person in the vertical direction Z in the upper area by means of an input opening 48, see for example 6th . The input opening 48 of the storage unit 4 can be closed or covered by the person using a closure element 49 in the form of a lid 49, the lid 49 being able to be handled by the person by means of a handling element 49a in the form of a handle 49a, see FIG example 10 .

In the interior 41 of the storage unit 4, several guide elements 42 in the form of metallic rails are arranged, which can be removed to simplify cleaning. The guide elements 42 are spaced from one another in the transverse direction Y by intermediate spaces 43, which can also be referred to as shafts 43. The spaces 43 are each designed in such a way that they extend continuously in the vertical direction Z and are arranged directly one above the other and can accommodate several unroasted sausages 7 in contact with one another. For this purpose, a plurality of guide elements 42 are arranged accordingly in the longitudinal direction X, so that the unfinished sausages 7 can be guided laterally in the transverse direction Y along their longitudinal extension direction in the longitudinal direction X at several points. The spaces between the guide elements 42 in the longitudinal direction X (not designated) serve to rise or distribute water vapor of the heating unit 6 in the vertical direction from below, as will be explained in more detail below. The interior 41 of the storage unit 4 is designed to be open downwards in the vertical direction Z, as a result of which a dispensing opening 47 is formed for individual unroasted sausages 7 that fall down, see for example 11th and 12th .

In each case in the vertical direction Z at the lower end of the spaces 43, a receiving element 44 in the form of a roller 44 is arranged, which is also designed to be removable to simplify cleaning. Comparable to the guide elements 42, each roller 44 consists of several individual elements (not designated) which are fixedly connected to one another in the longitudinal direction X by connecting elements 44b and together each form a roller 44. Each roller 44 or each individual element of each roller 44 has a receiving opening 44a, which is designed in each case radially to the longitudinal axis of the respective roller 44 in a U-shape pointing outwards. The receiving openings 44a of the individual elements of each roller 44 are aligned in the same way with one another. Along its longitudinal axis, each roller 44 is rotatably fastened in the longitudinal direction X on one side to the inside of the housing 40 (not shown) and connected on the opposite side to a common drive mechanism 45, each in the form of a gear 45. The gears 45 of the rollers 44 mesh with one another, whereby a gear 45 can be driven by a motor 46 as a stepping motor 46, see for example 13th .

The storage unit 4 can thus be operated in such a way that a plurality of sausages 7 to be roasted into the four intermediate spaces 43 by the person from above through the opened input port opening 48 are inserted, the sausages 7 to be fried extend in the longitudinal direction X and are arranged in contact with one another in the vertical direction Z one above the other within the respective intermediate space 43. The gears 45 connect the four rollers 44 to one another in such a way that the receiving openings 44a of the four rollers 44 are each offset by 90 ° to the adjacent roller 44 or to the two adjacent rollers 44. As a result, the receiving opening 44a of a roller 44 always points downwards, to the right, to the left and upwards, see for example 12th .

By actuating the stepping motor 46, all rollers 44 are rotated further by 90 ° by means of the gearwheels 45, so that when the stepping motor 46 is actuated, one roller 44 with an empty receiving opening 44a is always rotated upwards and the next one to be roasted from the corresponding gap 43 Bratwurst 7 picks up by falling. Another roller 44, which has picked up the next sausage 7 to be fried by falling during the previous actuation of the stepping motor 46, is rotated to the side by 90 °. The sausage 7 to be roasted, which has already been received in the receiving opening 44a of this roller 44, is taken along. Another roller 44, which was turned to the side during the previous actuation of the stepping motor 46, is now rotated with its receiving opening 44a pointing directly downward in the vertical direction Z, so that the picked up sausage 7 to be roasted falls down from the dispensing opening 47 the storage unit 4 can be delivered out. The fourth and last roller 44, which was oriented directly downward with the receiving opening 44a during the previous actuation of the stepping motor 46, is now rotated 90 ° to the side with the receiving opening 44a empty. In this way, per actuation of the stepping motor 46, a single sausage 7 to be fried can be dispensed from the storage unit 4 in the vertical direction Z downwards through the dispensing opening 47 by falling. At the same time, the four spaces 43 can be emptied one after the other and evenly distributed. Both of these can be ensured in a simple manner by the mechanical arrangement of the components described above.

The feed unit 5 is arranged in the vertical direction Z directly below the storage unit 4. The feed unit 5 for its part has a housing 50. The feed unit 5 has a receiving surface 51 which is open upwards in the vertical direction Z and extends horizontally, onto which the individual sausage 7 to be fried can fall from above from the output opening 47 of the storage unit 4 and be caught. In order to feed the caught sausage 7 to be fried to the conveyor unit 1, the feed unit 5 in turn has a conveyor 52 which has a drive element 52a at the edge in the longitudinal direction X, which are fixedly connected to one another in the longitudinal direction X by a transverse rod 52b. The conveying means 52 can be moved back and forth over the receiving surface 51 in the transverse direction Y as the conveying direction C by means of an electric motor (not shown). The reaching of the respective end position can be detected in the conveying direction C by two front limit switches 53, against which the two drive elements 52a of the conveying means 52 can strike. The end of the movement against the conveying direction C can also be detected by two rear limit switches 54, against which the drive elements 52a of the conveying means 52 can strike in the opposite direction along the transverse direction Y.

If the person has now operated the stepping motor 46 of the storage unit 4 by actuating the trigger element 35 of the manual control unit 33, and as a result, a single sausage 7 to be roasted has fallen from the storage unit 4 in the vertical direction Z down onto the receiving surface 51 of the feed unit 5 , the conveying means 52 of the feed unit 5 is automatically started with a sufficient time delay and thereby moved from the position at the rear limit switches 54 in the conveying direction C over the receiving surface 51. As a result, the individual sausage 7 to be fried located there can be rolled along in front of the conveyor 52 in the conveying direction C on the receiving surface 51, see for example 14th and 15th .

In the transverse direction Y at its end facing the conveyor unit 1, the receiving surface 51 of the feed unit 5 merges into an incline 55 or into a ramp 55 which is oriented obliquely to the horizontal X, Y. The sausage 7 to be fried is rolled onto this ramp 55 by the conveyor means 52 as described above. Then the conveying means 52 reaches the two front limit switches 53 and is thereby automatically moved again counter to the conveying direction C to the left to the rear limit switches 54 in order to wait there for the next single falling sausage 7 to be fried. Meanwhile, the individual bratwurst 7 currently to be roasted rolls down the ramp 55 towards the conveyor unit 1, this movement in the transverse direction Y being terminated by a bracket-like collecting element 56 of the feed unit 5. Rather, the sausage 7 to be roasted falls essentially directly downward in the vertical direction Z after it hits the collecting element 56 and lands on the feed element 13 of the conveyor unit 1, see for example 16 . From here on it can Bratende Bratwurst 7 are transported further and fried by the conveyor 12 of the conveyor unit 1 described above.

The heating unit 6, which in turn has a housing 60, is arranged in the vertical direction Z directly below the feed unit 5. The housing 60 of the heating unit 6 has a stand element 60a at each of the four corners, which is designed as a stand 60a, see for example 14th . With its four feet 60a, the heating unit 6 stands on the housing 30 of the control unit 3, see for example 1 . Comparable to the control unit 3, the heating unit 6 also has a display element 61 and an operating element 62, which are each arranged facing the person. For example, a temperature can be displayed by means of the display element 61 and set by means of the operating element 62.

The heating unit 6 has in the vertical direction Z in its upper region a water receptacle 63 in the form of a water basin 63 which is designed to be open at the top. Water can be taken in from the water basin 63 via a water inlet 64, the fill level of the water basin 63 being able to be detected by means of a water level sensor 65 in the form of a float switch 65. Furthermore, a temperature sensor 66 is arranged within the water basin 63 in order to be able to detect the temperature of the water in the water basin 63. An electrical heating element 67 in the form of an immersion heater 67 is arranged within the water basin 63 in order to heat the water in the water basin 63 by means of electrical heating and thereby allow it to evaporate. The water vapor generated in this way can rise in the vertical direction Z through passage openings 51a of the receiving surface 51 of the feed unit 5 in the form of slots 51a, which are aligned in the conveying direction C of the conveying means 52 of the feed unit 5, upwards into the interior space 41 of the storage unit 4. As a result, the sausages 7 to be roasted received by the storage unit 4 can be preheated by means of the steam from the heating unit 6 in order to accelerate the roasting process of the conveyor unit 1 and / or to allow it to proceed more evenly.

On the part of the control unit 3, which is connected to the heating unit 6 in a signal-transmitting manner, the temperature of the water in the water basin 63 can be recorded by the temperature sensor 66 and the electrical heating power of the immersion heater 67 can be regulated accordingly in order to achieve the desired heating of the sausages 7 to be fried in the To reach storage unit 4. At the same time, the water level in the water basin 63 can be monitored by means of the float switch 65 and can be filled up independently via the water inlet 64 in order to be able to operate the heating unit 6 without further action by the person. On the part of the control unit 3, which for this purpose is also connected to the feed unit 5 in a signal-transmitting manner, the actuation of the conveying means 52 and the evaluation of the front limit switches 53 and the rear limit switches 54 can also take place. This also applies to the actuation of the stepping motor 46 of the storage unit 4, which for this purpose is also connected to the control unit 3 in a signal-transmitting manner.

List of reference symbols

A.

Direction of conveyance of the conveying means 12 of the conveying unit 1

B.

Roll direction of the food 7

C.

Conveying direction of the conveying means 52 of the feed unit 5

X

Longitudinal direction; Depth; length

Y

Transverse direction; broad

Z

vertical direction; height

X, Y

Horizontal; horizontal plane

1-6

(automatic) roasting device

1

Delivery unit

10

Frame; Casing; framework

10a

Stand elements; Feet

11th

Frying surface; Grill grate

11a

(inclined) through openings; (oblique) slots

12th

endlessly closed conveyor

12a

Drive elements; Roller chains

12b

Bar elements; Bars

12c

Receiving spaces between rod elements 12b for an elongated roast 7

12d

Conveyor element; Gears

12e

axes

13th

Feed element

14th

Output element; Ejection ramp

15th

(removable) cover element; (removable) roof

16

(removable) collecting element; (removable) drip tray

16a

Handling element of the (removable) collecting element 16; Handle of the (removable) catch element 16

2

(removable) thermal unit

20th

casing

21

Cover element

22nd

Heat sources; Gas burner

23

Adjustment elements; Rotary knobs

3

Control unit

30th

casing

30a

Stand elements; Feet

31

Display element

32

Control element

33

Hand control unit

34

cable

35

Release element; Button; Button

4th

Storage unit; Storage tank; Singler; Separation unit

40

casing

41

inner space

42

(removable) guide elements

43

Gaps; Shafts

44

(removable) receiving elements; (removable) rollers

44a

Receiving opening of the receiving elements 44

44b

Connecting elements of the receiving element disks 44

45

Drive mechanism; Gears

46

Engine; Stepper motor

47

Dispensing opening

48

Input opening

49

Closure element; lid

49a

Handling element of the closure element 49; Handle of the locking element 49

5

Feeding unit

50

casing

51

Recording area

51a

Passage openings or slots in the receiving surface 51

52

Funding

52a

Drive elements of the conveyor 52

52b

Conveyor crossbar 52

53

front limit switch

54

rear limit switch

55

Ramp; Slope

56

Catch element

6th

Heating unit

60

casing

60a

Stand elements; Feet

61

Display element

62

Control element

63

Water absorption; Water basin

64

Water inlet

65

Water level sensor; Float switch

66

Temperature sensor

67

electric heating element; Immersion heater

7th

elongated fried food; bratwurst

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely 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

• CN 201452929 U [0006]
• US 7367261 B2 [0006]
• US 2017/0156545 A1 [0006]
• US 7377209 B2 [0007, 0021]
• CN 107811525 A [0007, 0021]
• CN 202537259 U [0007, 0021]
• EP 1814425 B1 [0007, 0021]
• US 4370920 A [0012]
• DE 202011107515 U1 [0012]
• DE 2532157 A1 [0012]
• KR 20100006663 U [0012, 0021]
• DE 810572 B [0015, 0022]
• DE 2435341 A1 [0016]

Claims (37)

Roasting device (1-6) for elongated roasting goods (7), preferably for sausages (7), with at least one conveyor unit (1) with at least one roasting surface (11) for receiving the elongated roasting goods (7) and with at least one, preferably adjustable, Heating unit (2) for roasting the elongated food (7) on the roasting surface (11) of the conveyor unit (1), characterized in that the conveyor unit (1) has at least one conveyor (12) which is endless around the roasting surface (11) is closed, the conveying unit (1) being designed to move the conveying means (12) in a conveying direction (A) over the roasting surface (11), the conveying means (12) at least substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction (A) a plurality of Has rod elements (12b) which each have a receiving space (12c) between them for at least one elongated roasting item (7), preferably for exactly one elongated roasting item (7), the conveying means (12) opposite the roasting surface (11) of the type is arranged so that an elongated roasting item (7) accommodated in a receiving space (12c) can be moved over the roasting surface (11) by a rod element (12b) of the conveyor (12) at least essentially rolling in the conveying direction (A). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 1 , characterized in that the bar elements (12b) are arranged in relation to the roasting surface (11) so that the elongated roasting item (7) touches the bar element (12b) approximately at the level of its longitudinal axis and thereby at least essentially rolls in the conveying direction ( A) can be moved over the roasting surface (11). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 1 , characterized in that the bar elements (12b) are arranged in relation to the roasting surface (11) so that the elongated roasting item (7) in the vertical direction (Z) above its longitudinal axis, preferably at about three-quarters of its height, from the bar element (12b ) touched, rolled over by the rod element (12b) in the vertical direction (Z) and can thereby be moved at least essentially rolling in the conveying direction (A) over the roasting surface (11). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rod elements (12b) are arranged exactly perpendicular or obliquely to the conveying direction (A). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying means (12) has two endlessly closed drive elements (12a), preferably two endlessly closed roller chains (12a), which through the rod elements (12b) at least substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction (A), preferably exactly perpendicular to the conveying direction (A), the rod elements (12b) are fixedly arranged on the drive elements (12a), preferably each fixedly on a link of the roller chain (12a). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 5 , characterized in that the conveyor (12) per drive element (12a) has at least one conveyor element (12d), preferably a gear (12d), which is designed to be driven in rotation and to drive the respective drive element (12a), the the two conveying elements (12d) are fixedly connected to one another perpendicular to the conveying direction (A) by means of an axis (12e). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 6 , characterized in that the conveying elements (12d) are designed to be changed in their positioning relative to a frame (10) of the conveying unit (1) in order to set a tension of the drive elements (12a) in the conveying direction (A). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roasting surface (11) is oriented horizontally. Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roasting surface (11) is designed to be closed over a large area. Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the roasting surface (11) has through openings (11a) running at least substantially in the conveying direction (A). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 10 , characterized in that the through openings (11a) of the roasting surface (11) run obliquely to the conveying direction (A). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating unit (2) can be removed from a frame (10) of the conveyor unit (1). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (10) of the conveyor unit (1) is formed is to adjust the heating unit (2) in the vertical direction (Z) in height, and / or the frame (10) of the conveyor unit (1) is designed, the heating unit (2) in the vertical direction (Z) in different To record highs. Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating unit (2) is arranged below the roasting surface (11) of the conveyor unit (1). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating unit (2) has at least two independently adjustable heat sources (22) along the conveying direction (A). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying unit (1) has at least one output element (14) which is designed to be at least one elongated item of roasting (7) from a receiving space (12c) of the conveying means (12) ) and at least to the outside of the conveyor unit (1), preferably to the outside of the roasting device (1-6), to deliver. Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor unit (1) has at least one, preferably removable, collecting element (16) which at least in sections, preferably over the entire surface, at least substantially horizontally in the vertical direction ( Z) is arranged underneath the frying surface (11) and designed to receive at least liquids, preferably frying fat. Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor unit (1) has at least one, preferably removable, cover element (15) which is designed to cover the roasting surface (11) at least in sections, preferably largely, particularly preferably over the entire area, at least in the vertical direction (Z) from above, preferably furthermore at least in sections, preferably largely, particularly preferably over the entire area, laterally perpendicular to the conveying direction (A). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one storage unit (4) which is designed to receive a plurality of elongated items to be fried and individually to the conveyor unit (1), preferably to a feed element (13) the conveying unit (1), the feed element (13) of the conveying unit (1) preferably being designed to feed the elongated roasting goods (7) to a receiving space (12c) of the conveying means (12). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 19 , characterized in that the storage unit (4) has a plurality of interspaces (43) which are formed by, preferably removable, guide elements (42), each interspace (43) being designed to hold a plurality of elongated items to be fried (7) in the vertical direction (Z) at least substantially, preferably exactly, one above the other, the storage unit (4) being designed to drop a single elongated item of meat (7) from one of the spaces (43) downward in the vertical direction (Z) leave. Roasting device (1-6) Claim 20 , characterized in that each intermediate space (43) in the vertical direction (Z), preferably at the lower end, has a, preferably removable, receiving element (44) which is designed to receive exactly one single elongated roasting item (7) and when actuated drop down in the vertical direction (Z). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 21 , characterized in that the receiving elements (44) each have at least one receiving opening (44a) which is designed to receive exactly a single elongated item of roasting (7), the receiving elements (44) being arranged parallel to one another and rotatable, and the receiving openings (44a) of the receiving elements (44) are arranged angularly offset to one another around the axes of rotation, so that only the receiving opening (44a) of a receiving element (44) allow exactly one single elongated roasting item (7) to fall down in the vertical direction (Z) can. Roasting device (1-6) Claim 21 or 22nd , characterized in that the receiving elements (44) are rotatably connected to one another by means of at least one drive element (45), preferably by means of at least one gear wheel (45) each, the storage unit (4) having a motor (46), preferably a stepping motor (46 ), which is designed to rotate the receiving elements (44) by means of the drive element (45). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the Claims 19 until 23 , characterized in that the storage unit (4) is designed to be heatable. Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the Claims 19 until 24 , characterized by a feed unit (5) which is designed to receive a single elongated roasting item (7) from the storage unit (4), preferably by falling in the vertical direction (Z) from above, and in a conveying direction (C) the delivery unit (1), preferably to a feed element (13) of the delivery unit (1). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 25 , characterized in that the feed unit (5) has a receiving surface (51) which is arranged in the vertical direction (Z) below the storage unit (4), preferably below the spaces (43) of the storage unit (4), wherein the The receiving surface (51) is designed to be inclined towards the conveyor unit (1). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 25 , characterized in that the feed unit (5) has a receiving surface (51) which is arranged in the vertical direction (Z) below the storage unit (4), preferably below the spaces (43) of the storage unit (4), wherein the Receiving surface (51) is formed horizontally, the feed unit (5) having a conveyor (52) which is configured to move an elongated roasting item (7) on the receiving surface (51) in the conveying direction (C), wherein preferably the conveyor (52) is designed to be moved in the conveying direction (C) towards the conveying unit (1) and away from the conveying unit (1). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 27 , characterized in that the receiving surface (51) is adjoined in the conveying direction (C) by a delivery surface (55) which is inclined towards the conveying unit (1). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 26 or 28 , characterized in that the feed unit (5) has a collecting element (56) which is designed to collect a rolling, elongated roasting item (7) in a horizontal direction (Y) and falling downwards at least substantially in the vertical direction (Z) to the delivery unit (1), preferably to a feed element (13) of the delivery unit (1). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the Claims 19 until 29 , characterized by at least one trigger element (35) which is designed to be actuated by a user, wherein the roasting device (1-6), preferably a control unit (3) of the roasting device (1-6), is designed to deliver a individual elongated roasting goods (7) of the storage unit (4), preferably and the conveying of the individual elongated roasting goods (7) through the feed unit (5) in response to the actuation of the triggering element (35) by the user, preferably immediately. Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the Claims 19 until 30th , characterized by at least one heating unit (6) which is arranged in the vertical direction (Z) below the storage unit (4), preferably further below the supply unit (5), and is designed to generate heat and at least into the storage unit (4) to let rise. Roasting device (1-6) Claim 31 , characterized in that a receiving surface (51) of the feed unit (5) has at least one passage opening (51a), preferably a plurality of passage openings (51a), which is designed to transfer the heat from the heating unit (6) into the storage unit (4) to let rise, wherein preferably the passage opening (51a), preferably the passage openings (51a), is at least substantially aligned in the conveying direction (C) of the feed unit (5). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 31 or 32 , characterized in that the heating unit (6) has at least one water receiver (63) for receiving water, the water receiver (63) being heatable, preferably electrically, particularly preferably by means of an electrical heating element (67), preferably as an immersion heater (67) is trained. Roasting device (1-6) Claim 33 , characterized in that the heating unit (6) has at least one temperature sensor (66) which is designed to detect a temperature of the water in the water receptacle (63), wherein preferably the roasting device (1-6), preferably a control unit (3 ) the roasting device (1-6) is designed to heat the water receptacle (63) as a function of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor (66). Roasting device (1-6) Claim 33 or 34 , characterized in that the heating unit (6) has at least one water level sensor (65), preferably a float switch (65), which is designed to detect a fill level of the water in the water receptacle (63). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the Claims 33 until 35 , characterized by that the heating unit (6) has at least one water inlet (64) through which water can be let into the water receptacle (63), preferably the roasting device (1-6), preferably a control unit (3) of the roasting device (1-6) , is designed to let water into the water receptacle (63) as a function of the fill level detected by the water level sensor (65). Roasting device (1-6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one control unit (3) which is designed to control at least the speed of the conveying means (12) of the conveying unit (1).

Images