DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING PRODUCTS

Abstract

Device (10) for treating products (100), in particular bakery products, comprising: at least one treating unit (40), comprising at least one storage belt (41) and arranged to process the products (100); at least one dispensing unit (50), comprising at least one storage belt (51) and arranged to dispense the products (100); at least one operating device (20), arranged to transport the products (100); wherein the operating device (20) comprises at least one operating belt (21) and at least one coupling device (30); wherein the operating belt (21) is arranged to store the products (100); wherein the coupling device (30) is arranged to couple the operating belt (21) with a storage belt (41, 51) in order to exchange the products (100) with the coupled storage belt (41, 51), and wherein the operating device (20) comprises at least one operating belt (21) and at least one coupling device (30).

wherein the coupling device (30) comprises at least one drive unit (23) which is arranged to drive at least one storage belt (41, 51) coupled to the operating device (20).

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A device for treating products in particular bakery products, comprising: at least one treating unit, in particular, in the form of a baking oven comprising at least one storage belt and arranged to process the products; at least one dispensing unit comprising at least one storage belt and arranged to dispense the finished products to a customer; and at least one operating device adapted to transport the products between the units; wherein the operating device comprises at least one operating belt and at least one coupling device; wherein the operating belt is arranged to store the products; wherein the coupling device is arranged to couple the operating belt to a storage belt in order to exchange the products with the coupled storage belt, and wherein the coupling device comprises at least one drive unit which is arranged to drive at least one storage belt coupled to the operating device.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the coupling device is arranged to couple the operating belt to the storage belt mechanically, preferably with the aid of an intermediate element, preferably an intermediate wheel, or contactlessly; and/or wherein the coupling device comprises only one drive unit; and/or wherein in the coupled state the belt of the operating belt and the belt of a coupled storage belt are without contact.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the operating belt is formed in several parts, preferably in two parts.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the operating device comprises a supporting device which is arranged to support the operating belt and to move it horizontally and/or vertically.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the supporting device is arranged to tilt the operating belt against the horizontal; and/or wherein the operating device comprises a storage frame on which the supporting device is mounted.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the operating device comprises a cleaning device adapted to clean a coupled storage belt; and wherein preferably the cleaning device comprises a vacuum cleaner and/or a disinfecting device.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein the operating device is designed as a driverless transport system, AGV; and/or wherein preferably a movement of the operating device is determined by a rail system.

18. The device according to claim 11, comprising: at least one storage unit comprising at least one storage belt and adapted to store the products; and/or at least one filling unit comprising at least one storage belt and arranged to fill the device with products.

19. The device according to claim 11, comprising: a control device which is arranged to control the operating device (20) in a self-learning manner.

20. A method of treating products, comprising the steps of: processing of the products by a treating unit, in particular, in the form of a baking oven, comprising at least one storage belt; coupling an operating belt of an operating device to the storage belt of the treating unit by a coupling device of the operating device; exchanging products between the operating belt and the storage belt (41) coupled to the operating belt of the treating unit; and transporting the products from the treating unit to a dispensing unit, which at least comprises a storage belt; coupling the operating belt of the operating unit with the storage belt of the dispensing unit by the coupling device of the operating device; dispensing the finished products by the dispensing unit to the customer.

Description

[0112] An example embodiment is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therein shows:

[0113] FIG. 1 Schematic top view of a device for treating products;

[0114] FIG. 2 a perspective view of an operating device according to a first embodiment;

[0115] FIG. 2a a front view of the operating device according to the first embodiment;

[0116] FIG. 2b a bottom view of the operating device according to the first embodiment;

[0117] FIG. 2c an enlarged view of a coupling device of the operating device according to the first embodiment;

[0118] FIG. 3 a perspective view of a coupled coupling device of the operating device according to the first embodiment;

[0119] FIG. 4 a perspective view of an operating device according to a second embodiment;

[0120] FIG. 4a a front view of the operating device according to the second embodiment;

[0121] FIG. 4b a bottom view of the operating device according to the second embodiment;

[0122] FIG. 4c an enlarged view of a coupling device of the operating device according to the second embodiment; and

[0123] FIG. 5 a perspective view of a coupled coupling device of the operating device according to the second embodiment.

[0124] Identical reference signs, as used in various embodiments, denote identical elements of each embodiment.

[0125] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a device 10 for treating products. In this embodiment example, the device is designed as an automatic baking machine 10 which treats bakery products 100 as products. The automatic baking machine comprises an operating device 20, a treating unit in the form of a baking oven 40, a plurality of dispensing units 50, a filling unit 60 and a plurality of storage units 70. In addition, the automatic baking machine 10 comprises a deep-freeze storage unit 80 and a reject receiving unit 90. The automatic baking machine 10, in particular the operating device 20, is controlled by a control device (not shown).

[0126] The individual units 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 preferably each comprise a plurality of storage belts 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 which are further preferably arranged horizontally one above the other.

[0127] The automatic baking machine 10 can be filled via the filling unit 60. Typically, this task is performed by an operator. The filling unit 60 comprises at least one storage belt 61, on which the bakery products 100 are to be placed in raw form. In order that the operator knows which type of bakery product 100 is to be placed in the filling unit 60, the filling unit 60 comprises a display device 62, in particular a monitor, which indicates to the operator which type of bakery product 100 is to be placed on the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60. Preferably, the filling unit 60 comprises a filling area 63 and a storage area 64. For filling the filling unit 60, the storage belt 61 is arranged in the filling area 63. The filling area 63 is accessible on an exterior of the automatic baking machine 10 such that the operator can place the bakery products 100 on the storage belt 61 disposed therein. After the storage belt 61 has been filled, the storage belt 61 moves from the filling area 63 to the storage area 64, which is arranged inside the automatic baking machine 10 and is not accessible to the operator. The operator thus has access only to the filling area 63 of the filling unit 60 during the smooth operation of the automatic baking machine.

[0128] In order for the operator to know exactly where to place the bakery products 100 on the storage belt 61, the filling unit 60 preferably comprises a projector 65 which projectingly marks the locations on the storage belt 61 where the operator is to place the bakery products 100.

[0129] For an efficient filling process, the operator preferably receives a signal to fill the automatic baking machine 10. The control device of the automatic baking machine 10 indicates to the operator, via the display device 62, the type of bakery product 100 to be filled. The operator fetches the corresponding bakery products, which are still in raw form, from a product store. Via an operator impulse, in particular an input unit, such as a button, on the automatic baking machine 10, a release for filling is effected. Preferably, this is confirmed by a signal tone. The operator can now move the storage belt 61 from the storage area 64 from a retracted position into the filling area 63 to an extended position. When the storage belt 61 has reached the extended position, a placement grid is projected onto the storage belt 61 via the projector 65 or displayed on the display device 62. After the operator has filled the storage belt 61 and thus the filling unit 60, the filling is acknowledged, in particular by scanning a product code from a container of the bakery products 100 from the product storage. Only when the acknowledgement has been made, the filling operation can be completed, otherwise the control device will refuse to fill.

[0130] After filling, the bakery products 100 are in raw form on the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60, which is in the retracted position. The control device then directs the operating device 20 to pick up the bakery products 100 to convey them to the baking oven 40.

[0131] The operating device 20 has an operating belt 21 onto which the bakery products 100 are to be transferred from the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60. The operating device 20 has a driving unit 24, which is designed, for example, as a chassis with a plurality of tires, in order to allow the operating device 20 to move between the individual units, such as between the filling unit 60, the storage unit 70, the baking oven 40 and/or the dispensing unit 50. In this regard, the operating device 20 may be configured as a driverless transport system, AGV, which allows maximum mobility of the operating device 20. Alternatively, a fixed mobility is also possible by means of a rail system. To pick up the bakery products 100 from the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60, the operating device 20 moves to the filling unit 60 and positions itself in front of the filling unit 60 in such a way that the operating belt 21 of the operating device 20 is arranged horizontally in front of the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60.

[0132] The operating belt 21 is supported in the operating device 20 by a supporting device 22. The supporting device 22 moves the operating belt 21 in the vertical direction RV until the operating belt 21 is horizontally level with the storage belt 61. In order to be able to exchange products 100 between the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 and the operating belt 21 of the operating device 20, the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 and the operating belt 21 of the operating device 20 must be coupled to each other. This coupling may be mechanical or contactless. The only decisive factor is that both the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 and the operating belt 21 of the operating device 20 rotate in the same direction at an identical speed. In this way, the products 100 can be interchanged with each other. As can be seen in FIG. 1, both the operating belt 21 and the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 are formed in two parts. Each of the two parts of the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 and the operating belt 21 can perform rotation separately from each other.

[0133] For coupling the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 and the operating belt 21, the operating device 20, in particular the supporting device 22, performs a so-called initial stroke, in which the operating belt 21 is moved in the horizontal direction RH towards the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 until the operating belt 21 is in a coupling position. In the coupling position, there is only a very small gap between the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 and the operating belt 21, and a coupling device 30 of the operating device 20 couples the operating belt 21 to the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60. When the operating belt 21 is coupled to the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60, a drive unit 23 provided for this purpose, preferably in the form of a motor, drives the operating belt 21 in such a way that it rotates away from the filling unit 60. By coupling the operating belt 21 to the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60, the movement of the operating belt 21 is transmitted to the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 in such a way that the latter rotates in the same direction, that is to say in the direction of the operating device 20. In this way, the products 100 are transferred from the storage belt 61 of the filling unit 60 to the operating belt 21. A detailed embodiment of the coupling is described in the figures described below.

[0134] In the same manner, the operating device can move between each unit, filling unit 60, storage unit 70, oven 40, dispensing unit 50 and/or deep-freeze storage unit 80, and pick up or dispense products 100.

[0135] After receiving the products 100 to be processed from the filling unit 60, the operating device 20 transports the products 100 either to the storage unit 70 or to the baking oven 40. Via the respective storage belts 41, 71, the operating device 20 can either remove the products 100 or fill the respective units with products. The respective action is controlled by the control device. After baking the products 100 in the baking oven 40, the finished products 100 are picked up by the operating device 20 and transported to the dispensing unit 50.

[0136] The dispensing unit 50 includes one or more bulk or piece dispensers on an exterior of the automatic baking machine 10. Through these outputs, customers can remove the finished products 100 from the automatic baking machine 10. The bulk or piece goods dispensers can have various designs, such as flaps, each for only one product or an entire level, or individual removal options, which preferably enable 24-hour operation in a vandalism-proof manner.

[0137] Typically, the dispensing unit 50 has a storage belt 51 which is arranged at an angle, since this way a better presentation and selection possibility for the customers is possible. In this case, in order to couple the operating belt 21, the supporting device 22 pivots the operating belt 21 after it has been aligned vertically with respect to the storage belt 51 of the dispensing unit 50 in addition to the horizontal displacement of the initial stroke also in accordance with the storage belt 51 of the dispensing unit 51, and thus inclines it in order to reach the coupling position. The coupling method here is basically the same as the coupling method described between the operating belt 21 and the respective storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81.

[0138] Additionally, by the described function of the control device 20, rejected products 100 can be transported from the dispensing unit 50 to the reject receiving unit 90 where they can be collected for further recycling. Products 100 are preferably marked as reject by the control device and disposed of from the dispensing unit 50 when the products 100 have spent a predetermined reject time in the dispensing unit 50 and could not be sold. The dwell time that individual products or batches of products have spent in the dispensing unit 50 is monitored by the control device. The control device compares this time to a product dependent reject time. Typically, the reject time is three to four hours, but may be as low as two hours for example for fine products such as croissants. If the dwell time of a product 100 exceeds the corresponding reject time, the respective product is marked as a reject and transported by the control device 20 to the reject receiving unit 90 and dispensed.

[0139] The control device monitors and controls the entire automatic baking machine 10. The control device is provided with real-time data via various sensors, such as weight sensors on the operating belt 21 and/or the storage belts 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, as well as information from the user or the individual units 40, 50, 60, 70, 80. In addition, the control device preferably comprises a machine-learning device by which the control device is optimized. In this way, the control device can control the filling of the automatic baking machine 10 in such a way that as little waste as possible is produced. According to the purchasing behaviour of the customers, i.e. according to the produced rejects of individual types of products 100, the machine-learning device adjusts the control of the control device in such a way that according to the type of product 100, the time, the location and/or the date, the filling of the automatic baking machine 10 is adjusted. For example, croissants sell particularly sluggishly at later times. Accordingly, the control device will bake and refill fewer croissants in the afternoon than in the morning to avoid waste.

[0140] FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b show an operating device 20 according to a first embodiment. The operating device 20 comprises an operating belt 21, a supporting device 22, a drive unit 23, a driving unit 24, a cleaning device 25, a storage frame 26, a guide rail 27 and a coupling device 30. In this embodiment, the storage frame 26 is designed as a closed frame. However, other embodiments are also conceivable. For example, the storage frame 26 may also be configured as a single spar as long as it has sufficient integrity to support the supporting device 22 and the operating belt 21 supported therein. The storage frame 26 includes the guide rail 27, which is arranged in a vertical direction on the storage frame 26. The supporting device 22 is arranged on the guide rail 27, which in turn receives the operating belt 21.

[0141] The supporting device 22 is vertically movable along the guide rail 27. In this way, the supporting device 22 can move the operating belt 21 supported therein in the vertical direction RV. This is required to align the operating belt 21 horizontally with a storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81. In addition, the supporting device 22 allows the operating belt 21 to be moved in the horizontal direction RH. This function is referred to as the initial stroke. Furthermore, the operating belt 21 can be tilted about the supporting device 22 in a tilting direction RS. This function is particularly important for the filling and removal of products 100 from tilted storage belts 51, as in the case of the dispensing unit 50. Especially in the case of long bakery products, such as baguettes, an inclined coupling of the operating belt 21 with the storage belt 51 is important.

[0142] The operating belt 21 can be driven by the drive unit 23 in an operating belt direction RB. Depending on whether products are to be loaded onto the operating belt 21 or removed from the operating belt 21, the operating belt 21 can be driven in one of the two operating belt directions RB. As shown in FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b, the operating belt 21 is formed in two parts, so that the respective half of the operating belt 21 can be driven independently of the other half of the operating belt 21.

[0143] The cleaning device 25 comprises a suction device, in this case a vacuum cleaner 25c, and/or a disinfection device 25b arranged laterally on the storage frame 26 and guided to one end of a cleaning operating belt 25a formed similarly to the operating belt 25. Additionally, the cleaning operating belt 25a has access points for the disinfecting device 25b and the vacuum cleaner 25c at one end. A collection device for collecting product debris may also be provided at a leading edge of the cleaning operating belt 25a. By coupling the cleaning operating belt 25a to a storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, the respective storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 can be cleaned over its entire storage surface. Preferably, the control device controls the cleaning device 25 in such a way that cleaning is carried out at a time when there is a particularly low demand for products, in particular at night.

[0144] FIG. 2c shows an enlargement of the coupling device 30. The coupling device 30 is provided at one end of the operating belt 21 and comprises an intermediate wheel 31, a contact wheel 32 and a connecting element 33. Direct contact of the operating belt 21 with a storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 would not serve the desired purpose of having the operating belt 21 and the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 rotate in the same belt direction RB to exchange products 100. Therefore, the coupling device 30 comprises an intermediate wheel 31 which is connected to the operating belt 21 and rotates in a direction opposite to the belt direction RB due to direct contact. The intermediate wheel 31 drives the contact wheel 32 in precisely this direction opposite to the belt direction RB. When the contact wheel 32 now establishes contact with the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, the movement of the contact wheel 32 is transmitted to the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, which thus moves in the belt direction RB and thus in the opposite direction to the contact wheel 32. The connecting element 33 supports the coupling of the operating belt 21 to the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 and serves primarily as an orientation aid and/or spacing aid.

[0145] FIG. 3 shows a coupling of the operating belt 21 with a storage belt 41 of a baking oven 40, which is used here only as an example. In this example, the operating belt 21 moves in the operating direction RB toward the storage belt 41 to transfer products 100 from the operating belt 21 to the storage belt 41. If the operating belt 21 were directly connected to the storage belt 41 to transmit the movement of the operating belt 21 directly to the storage belt 41, the storage belt 41 would move in a direction opposite to the operating direction RB. Thus, an exchange of products 100 between the operating belt 21 and the storage belt 41 would not be possible. Therefore, the intermediate wheel 31 is provided which rotates in accordance with the operating belt 21 in the intermediate wheel direction RZ. The movement of the intermediate wheel 31 in the intermediate wheel direction RZ is transmitted to the contact wheel 32. Here, the described direction reversal takes place so that the contact wheel 32 rotates in a contact wheel direction RK. The contact wheel 32 now contacts another contact wheel 42 of the storage belt 41, whereby the movement of the contact wheel 32 of the coupling device 30 is transmitted to the contact wheel 42 of the storage belt 41. Again, a reversal of direction takes place so that the storage belt 41 now moves in the operating direction RB and products 100 can be transferred from the operating belt 21 to the storage belt 41. In addition, for coupling, the connecting element 33 of the coupling, device 30 is inserted into a connecting element 43 of the storage belt 41. In this way, a minimum distance between the storage belt 41 and the operating belt 21 and their alignment with each other can be ensured. As shown in FIG. 3, the operating belt (21) and the storage belt (41) are aligned with each other by the coupling by means of the coupling device (30) so that the force transmitting element, contact wheel (32), and the force-absorbing element, contact wheel (42), are engaged with each other and locked. The contact wheels may also be configured as gears, not shown here. By engaging connecting element (33) in connecting element (43), the coupling device is locked and, in addition to fixing the position of the operating belt (21) with respect to the storage belt (41), directional transmission of force from the operating belt (21) to the storage belt (41) is ensured. It is also shown that the operating belt (21) and the storage belt (41) do not contact each other.

[0146] FIGS. 4, 4a and 4b show an operating device 120 according to a second embodiment. The operating device 120 of the second embodiment differs from the operating device 20 of the first embodiment in particular by a coupling unit 130 of the second embodiment which is different from the coupling device 30 of the first embodiment.

[0147] FIG. 4c shows an enlargement of the coupling device 130. The coupling device 130 is provided at one end of the operating belt 21 and includes an intermediate wheel 131, a contact wheel 132, and a connecting element 133. The coupling device 130 is arranged laterally to the belt of the operating belt 21 and does not contact the belt of the operating belt 21.

[0148] Directly contacting the operating belt 21 with a storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 would not achieve the desired purpose of having the operating belt 21 and the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 rotate in the same belt direction RB to exchange products 100. Therefore, the coupling device 130 comprises the intermediate wheel 131 which is connected to the operating belt 21 and rotates opposite to the belt direction RB due to the direct contact. The intermediate wheel 131 drives the contact wheel 132 in this very direction opposite to the belt direction RB. When the contact wheel 132 now establishes contact with the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, the movement of the contact wheel 132 is transmitted to the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, which thus moves in the belt direction RB and thus in the opposite direction to the contact wheel 132. The coupling element 133 supports the coupling of the operating belt 21 with the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 and serves primarily as an orientation aid. In contrast to the coupling device 30 of the first embodiment, the contact wheel 132 is rotatably mounted around the intermediate wheel 131. For coupling the operating belt 21 with the storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, the contact wheel 132, which is otherwise mounted horizontally relative to the operating belt 21, is rotated about the intermediate wheel 131 in such a way that the contact wheel 132 contacts a contact wheel of the corresponding storage belt 41, 51, 61, 71, 81.

[0149] FIG. 5 shows a coupling of the operating belt 21 with a storage belt 41 of a baking oven 40, which is used here only as an example. In this example, the operating belt 21 moves in the operating direction RB toward the storage belt 41 to transfer products 100 from the operating belt 21 to the storage belt 41. If the operating belt 21 were directly connected to the storage belt 41 to transmit the movement of the operating belt 21 directly to the storage belt 41, the storage belt 41 would move in a direction opposite to the operating direction RB. Thus, an exchange of products 100 between the operating belt 21 and the storage belt 41 would not be possible. Therefore, the intermediate wheel 131 is provided which rotates in accordance with the operating belt 21 in the intermediate wheel direction RZ. The movement of the intermediate wheel 131 in the intermediate wheel direction RZ is transmitted to the contact wheel 132 via. Here, the described direction reversal takes place so that the contact wheel 132 rotates in a contact wheel direction RK. The contact wheel 132 now contacts another contact wheel 42 of the storage belt 41, whereby the movement of the contact wheel 132 of the coupling device 30 is transmitted to the contact wheel 42 of the storage belt 41. Again, a reversal of direction takes place so that the storage belt 41 now moves in the operating direction RB and products 100 can be transferred from the operating belt 21 to the storage belt 41. In addition, for coupling, the connecting element 133 of the coupling device 130 is inserted into a connecting element 43 of the storage belt 41. In this way, a minimum distance between the storage belt 41 and the operating belt 21 and their alignment with respect to each other can be ensured.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 10 Device 20 Operating device 21 Operating belt 22 Supporting device 23 Drive unit 24 Driving unit 25 Cleaning device  25a Cleaning operating belt  25b Disinfection device  25c Vacuum cleaner 26 Storage frame 27 Guide rail 30 Coupling device 31 Intermediate wheel 32 Contact wheel 33 Connecting element 40 Treating unit, baking oven 41 Storage belt 42 Contact wheel 43 Connecting element 50 Dispensing unit 51 Storage belt 60 Filling unit 61 Storage belt 62 Display device 63 Filling area 64 Storage area 65 Projector 70 Storage unit 71 Storage belt 80 Cooling/deep-freeze storage unit 81 Storage belt 90 Reject receiving unit 100  Product, bakery product 130  Coupling device 131  Intermediate wheel 132  Contact wheel 133  Connecting element R Movement direction RB Operating direction RS Tilt direction RV Vertical direction RH Horizontal direction RZ Intermediate wheel direction RK Contact wheel direction