METERING APPARATUS

Abstract

A metering apparatus (1) for metering frozen piece goods, comprising a housing (10) which defines a refrigerated chamber (11), wherein a piece goods container (3), a first conveyor unit (4), and a weighing unit (5) are arranged in the refrigerated chamber (11), wherein piece goods can be transported from the piece goods container (3) via the first conveyor unit (4) to the weighing unit (5), wherein an airlock (13) is arranged below the weighing unit (5), through which piece goods can pass out of the refrigerated chamber (11).

Claims

1. A metering apparatus (1) for metering frozen piece goods, comprising: a housing (10), which defines a refrigerated chamber (11), wherein a piece goods container (3), a first conveyor unit (4), and a weighing unit (5) are arranged in the refrigerated chamber (11), wherein piece goods can be transported from the piece goods container (3) via the first conveyor unit (4) to the weighing unit (5), characterized in that an airlock (13) is arranged below the weighing unit (5), through which piece goods can pass out of the refrigerated chamber (11).

2. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (10) comprises a jacket (100) having an insulation (101) arranged therein.

3. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the jacket (100) partially comprises metal and partially comprises plastic.

4. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the jacket (100) comprises metal in the contact region with a slide (130) of the airlock (13) and comprises plastic in a region above the slide (130).

5. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein a tightly closable filling opening (12) is provided in the housing (10), in the region above the piece goods container (3).

6. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the piece goods container (3) is formed funnel-shaped having a delimiting upper opening (30) and having a delimiting lower opening (31), wherein the upper opening (30) is multiple times larger than the lower opening (31).

7. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first conveyor unit (4) comprises a first conveyor line (40) and a conveyor drive (41), wherein the conveyor drive (41) can apply oscillations to the first conveyor line (41) in such a way that piece goods located thereon are movable in a predetermined transportation direction.

8. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first conveyor line (40) is formed inclined with respect to the horizontal.

9. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first conveyor line (40) converges conically from its side arranged below the piece goods container (3) to its side arranged above the weighing unit (5), wherein lateral delimitations (400) are provided, which prevent piece goods from being able to fall laterally off of the conveyor line (40) and wherein deflection elements (401) are provided on the upper side of the conveyor line (40), using which the piece goods can be deflected transversely to the transportation direction.

10. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the weighing unit (5) comprises a metering scale (50) and a metering container (51) connected thereto, wherein the weight of the piece goods located in the metering container (51) is measurable using the metering scale (50) and wherein the metering container (51) is formed to be at least partially pivotable, whereby the piece goods located in the metering container (51) are removable therefrom.

11. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the weighing unit (5) comprises a counter unit (52), using which the individual piece goods can be counted, which are supplied to the weighing unit (5) before the weighing.

12. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the airlock (13) comprises a movable slide (130), which can release a region of the housing (10) located below the weighing unit (5).

13. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 12, wherein the airlock (13) can execute at least one movement selected from the group of displacement, pivoting, and folding.

14. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, comprising a refrigerated chamber fan (7), which can aspirate air from outside the metering apparatus (1) to be able to generate an overpressure in the refrigerated chamber (11) when the airlock (13) is open.

15. The metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, comprising a heating module (15), which is arranged in the refrigerated chamber (11) and designed in such a way that it can thaw accumulations of ice and/or oil in the refrigerated chamber.

16. An automatic deep fryer (9) comprising a housing (90), a metering apparatus (1) according to claim 1, which is arranged in the upper region of the housing (90), a frying unit (2), which is arranged in the housing (90) below the metering apparatus (1), wherein piece goods which leave the metering apparatus (1) through the airlock (13) can reach the frying unit (2).

17. The automatic deep fryer (9) according to claim 16, comprising a second conveyor unit (6), using which piece goods, which leave the metering apparatus (1) through the airlock (13), can be transported to the frying unit (2).

18. The automatic deep fryer (9) according to claim 16, comprising an airlock fan (8), which is designed in such a way that rising vapors of the frying unit (2) can be kept away from the airlock (13).

19. The automatic deep fryer (9) according to claim 16, wherein two or more metering apparatuses (1) for storing and metering different piece goods are arranged adjacent to one another in the housing (90), wherein two or more conveyor units (6) are provided, which can transport the respective piece goods from the metering apparatuses (1) to a common frying unit (2) or which can transport the respective piece goods to a frying unit (2) provided separately for them.

20. The automatic deep fryer (9) according to claim 16, comprising a third conveyor unit (91), a removal unit (92), an input unit (93), a payment unit (94), a security unit (95), and a transmission unit (96).

21. A method for metering frozen piece goods, comprising the following steps: providing a metering apparatus according to claim 1; filling the piece goods container (3) with frozen piece goods; conveying the frozen piece goods from the piece goods container (3) to the weighing unit (5) using the first conveyor unit (4); weighing the piece goods; opening the airlock (13); emptying the weighed piece goods through the open airlock (13); and closing the airlock (13).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in greater detail hereafter on the basis of figures. They only serve for explanation and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. In the figures:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a metering apparatus according to the invention;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial sectional view through the housing and the airlock of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective partial sectional view of the metering apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of an automatic deep fryer according to the invention; and

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective partial sectional view of the automatic deep fryer of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a metering apparatus 1 according to the invention. The metering apparatus 1 comprises a housing 10, which delimits a refrigerated chamber 11. The housing 10 comprises a jacket 100, which essentially completely internally and/or externally encloses an insulation core 101. A funnel-shaped piece goods container 3 having an upper opening 30 and a lower opening 31 is provided in the refrigerated chamber 11, wherein the upper opening 30 is multiple times larger than the lower opening 31. A first conveyor unit 4 having a first conveyor line 40 and a conveyor drive 41 is provided below the piece goods container 3, using which piece goods can be transported from the piece goods container 3 to a weighing unit 5, which is arranged laterally below the lower opening 31 of the piece goods container 3. The weighing unit 5 comprises a metering scale 50, using which the weight of the piece goods located in a metering container 51 is determinable. A counter unit 52 is provided in the region above the metering container 51, using which the number of the piece goods can be counted which move from the conveyor unit 4 into the metering container 51. An airlock 13 is provided, using which the region of the housing 10 below the metering container 51 can be opened and closed leak-tight again. The airlock 13 comprises a plate-shaped slide 130 having a jacket 131, which essentially completely encloses an insulation core 132. The slide 130 is guided in guides 133 arranged on the housing 10 and can be laterally displaced using an actuator 134. The displacement occurs essentially in parallel to the housing bottom, on which the slide 130 is arranged. To improve the seal of the refrigerated chamber 11 in relation to the surroundings, seals 135 are provided in the contact region of the slide 130 with the housing 10. A refrigeration module 14 ensures the required low temperatures in the refrigerated chamber 11. A heating module 15 arranged in the region of the airlock 13 can thaw accumulations of ice in this region. Partition walls 102, which are arranged adjoining the region of the airlock 13 on the interior of the housing 10 and protrude from the housing 10 into the refrigerated chamber 11, prevent the inflow of ambient air into the refrigerated chamber 11 when airlock 13 is open. The partition walls 102 enclose the metering container 51 in such a way that the passage between the refrigerated chamber 11 and the surroundings is closed nearly leak-tight by the metering container 51 when airlock 13 is open. A refrigerated chamber fan 7 is arranged in the region of the airlock 13, using which an overpressure can be generated in the refrigerated chamber 11 using outside air, whereby the penetration of ambient air into the refrigerated chamber 11 through the airlock opening when the airlock 13 is open can be prevented. A tightly closable filling opening 12 is provided in the region above the piece goods container 3 in the housing 10, through which the piece goods container 3 is fillable. Seals 120 are provided in the contact region between the housing 10 and the filling opening 12. The filling opening 12 is closable solidly, tightly, and securely using a closure 121.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial sectional view through the housing 10 or the housing bottom, respectively, and the airlock 13 of FIG. 1. The housing bottom has an attachment, in which the airlock slide 130 is incorporated essentially aligned with the housing exterior. The slide 130 is guided by guides 133 laterally arranged on the housing 10 in the attachment. A seal 135 is provided on the outwardly oriented face of the attachment and/or on the inwardly oriented face of the slide 130. The slide 130 comprises a chromium steel jacket 131, which essentially completely encloses a plastic insulation core 132. The housing 10 comprises a chromium steel jacket 100, which essentially completely encloses a plastic insulation core 101. In the slide region, the jacket of the housing 10 comprises a contact region 1000 made of chromium steel in the attachment and an attachment region 1001 made of plastic above the attachment.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective partial sectional view of the metering apparatus of FIG. 1. The first conveyor line 40 arranged on the conveyor drive 41 tapers conically from its one end located below the piece goods container 3 to its other end located above the weighing unit 5. Lateral delimitations 400 are provided along the tapering section and at the end below the piece goods container 3. Deflection elements 401 extend from the lateral delimitations 400 diagonally in the conveying direction toward the center of the first conveyor line 40 and beyond it. The deflection elements 401 are aligned at an angle with respect to the general conveying direction. For example, at an angle of 30 degrees with respect to the connecting line of the piece goods container 3 to the weighing unit 5.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of an automatic deep fryer 9 according to the invention. The automatic deep fryer 9 comprises a closable housing 90 in which a metering apparatus 1 according to the invention and a frying unit 2 are arranged. The metering apparatus 1 is arranged in the upper region of the housing 90 adjoining thereon and the frying unit 2 is arranged below the metering apparatus 1. The frying unit 2 comprises a deep fryer 20, a housing 21, which delimits a frying chamber 22 and comprises an upper inlet opening 23 and a frontal outlet opening 24. The inlet opening 23 of the frying unit 2 is arranged laterally offset to the airlock 13 of the metering apparatus 1. A second conveyor unit 6 having a second conveyor line 60 is arranged between the airlock 13 and the frying unit 2 and extends from the region below the airlock 13 through the inlet opening 23 up to the deep fryer 20. An airlock fan 8 is arranged in the region between the metering apparatus 1 and the frying unit 2 and prevents air rising from the frying unit 2 from reaching the airlock 13.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective partial sectional view of the automatic deep fryer 9 of FIG. 4. The automatic deep fryer 9 comprises a third conveyor unit 91, which is arranged in the housing 90 and adjoins the outlet opening 24 of the frying unit 2, and a removal unit 92 adjoining thereon. An input unit 93 and a payment unit 94 are arranged on the housing exterior in a region well accessible to a user. A security unit 95 and a transmission unit 96 are arranged in the housing interior.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0047] 1 metering apparatus

[0048] 10 housing

[0049] 100 jacket

[0050] 1000 contact region

[0051] 1001 connector region

[0052] 101 insulation

[0053] 102 partition wall

[0054] 11 refrigerated chamber

[0055] 12 filling opening

[0056] 120 seal

[0057] 121 closure

[0058] 13 airlock

[0059] 130 slide

[0060] 131 jacket

[0061] 132 insulation

[0062] 133 guide

[0063] 134 actuator

[0064] 135 seal

[0065] 14 refrigeration module

[0066] 15 heating module

[0067] 2 frying unit

[0068] 20 deep fryer

[0069] 21 housing

[0070] 22 frying chamber

[0071] 23 inlet opening

[0072] 24 outlet opening

[0073] 3 piece goods container

[0074] 30 upper opening

[0075] 31 lower opening

[0076] 4 first conveyor unit

[0077] 40 first conveyor line

[0078] 400 lateral delimitation

[0079] 401 deflection elements

[0080] 41 conveyor drive

[0081] 5 weighing unit

[0082] 50 metering scale

[0083] 51 metering container

[0084] 52 counter unit

[0085] 6 second conveyor unit

[0086] 60 second conveyor line

[0087] 7 refrigerated chamber fan

[0088] 8 airlock fan

[0089] 9 automatic deep fryer

[0090] 90 housing

[0091] 91 third conveyor unit

[0092] 92 removal unit

[0093] 93 input unit

[0094] 94 payment unit

[0095] 95 security unit

[0096] 96 transmission unit