Transfer device for loading and / or unloading a food processing unit

Abstract

Transfer device for loading and / or unloading a food processing unit, comprising a movable transfer carriage (3) which has a carrying device (20, 22) for at least one drive-in frame (27, 28) or for at least one product carrier, a drive (19) for moving the transfer carriage (3), and an actuator (21, 23) arranged on the transfer carriage (3) which is intended to move the drive-in frame (27, 28) or the product carrier into a receiving device of the food processing unit located on a first side (13) of the transfer carriage (3) and to remove it therefrom, characterized in that the transfer carriage (3) and the actuator (21, 23) are designed to additionally move the drive-in frame (27, 28) or the product carrier into at least one second receiving device (25, 26) located on a second side (14) of the transfer carriage (3) and to remove it therefrom.

Description

The invention relates to a transfer device for the loading and / or unloading of a treatment unit for food, in particular an oven. The invention further relates to a treatment device for food with such a transfer device, and to a method for loading and unloading the treatment unit for food with the transfer device.The transfer device for the loading and / or unloading of a treatment unit for food has a movable transfer carriage, a drive for moving the transfer carriage and an actuator. The transfer carriage is a movable carriage which has a carrying device which carries at least one entry chassis or a product carrier. Such devices for facilitating the transfer of food to a treatment unit are frequently used in baking treatment. Herein dough pieces cooked in a cooking chamber and baked in an oven are placed on baking sheets for these processing steps. The baking sheets form the product carriers. A plurality of baking sheets can be arranged in entry racks, which can then be moved with all baking sheets accommodated therein. The actuator is arranged on the transfer carriage and is intended to move the entry chassis or the product carrier from the transfer carriage into a receiving device of the treatment unit for food and to remove it therefrom.Such a transfer device for the loading and / or unloading of a treatment unit (oven) is known from FR 1 458 682 A. The transfer device disclosed therein enables a simultaneous transfer of a plurality of baking sheets into or out of an oven. The baking sheets are arranged one above the other on supporting strips of a retraction frame referred to as frame. The frame is arranged detachably on a manually movable transfer carriage. With a manually actuatable lifting system arranged on the transfer carriage, the frame can be lifted and can be placed in the baking chamber of the baking oven.A further transfer device and a method for the loading and / or unloading of a treatment unit is known from DE 10 2012 003 799 A1. This describes an apparatus which has an oven, at least one loading carriage and at least one handling device. The loading trolley accommodates an entry frame, referred to as a loading frame, in which a plurality of product carriers are arranged. It can be coupled to the handling device on the oven. The handling device allows the loading rack with the product carriers to be transferred between the baking oven and the loading trolley when the loading trolley is coupled to the baking oven. The handling device can be integrated on the baking oven or on the loading carriage. It can have a lifting device and a moving device for moving the charging frame. In this case, a driver can be provided which performs a vertical and / or a horizontal movement. The loading carriage has guide rails and the baking oven has introduction rails. The loading frame has running wheels which roll on the guide rails and introduction rails, so that the loading frame can be moved between the loading carriage and the baking oven. A development of this transfer device is described in DE 10 2015104517B3.These transfer devices known from the prior art can be coupled to one side of the loading or transfer trolley for loading and unloading the treatment devices with entry racks. Loading or transfer cars are intended to be moved manually.WO 2006 / 097448 A1 discloses an apparatus for storing, treating and dispensing foods, in which a vertically movable carriage has a horizontally movable transport means on a vertical rail, which transport means transports individual product carriers from fixed conveyor belts on one side of the rail to fixed conveyor belts of a tunnel furnace on the other side of the rail. This device is very inflexible due to the stationary conveyor belts installed.It is the object of the invention to make the loading and / or unloading of a treatment unit for foods particularly flexible, time-efficient and cost-effective.The object is achieved by a transfer device, a treatment device and a method having the features of the independent patent claims.The transfer device for loading and / or unloading a treatment unit for foods comprises a movable transfer carriage which has a carrying device for at least one entry stand or for at least one product carrier, a drive for moving the transfer carriage, and an actuator which is arranged on the transfer carriage and is intended to move the entry stand or the product carrier into a receiving device, located on a first side of the transfer carriage, of the treatment unit assigned to the transfer carriage and to remove it therefrom.To achieve the above object, the transfer carriage and the actuator are configured to additionally move the entry chassis or the product carrier into at least one second receiving device located on a second side of the transfer carriage and remove it therefrom.In other words, the retraction chassis or the product carrier with the transfer carriage and the actuator described here can be transferred into the second receiving device or removed therefrom not only via one side of the transfer carriage, but via at least two sides of the transfer carriage. It is thus possible to move a running-in stand or a product carrier into and out of several sides of the transfer carriage. The second receiving device can be arranged, for example, on a loading carriage. Unlike in the prior art, it is therefore proposed not to drive the loading carriage directly in front of the treatment unit in order to move the entry stand back and forth between the loading carriage and the treatment unit. Instead, a special transfer car acting as autonomously and automatically as possible takes over the entry stand or product carrier from the loading car and transfers it into the treatment unit.Because the transfer carriage is movable, it can be moved into different positions in which it receives or discharges product carriers. When the transfer carriage is positioned in a loading position in front of a loading opening of a treatment unit, e.g. of an oven, the retraction frame or the product carrier can be moved via the first side of the transfer carriage into the receiving device of the treatment unit and removed therefrom. The transfer carriage can automatically move treatment units or feed carriages with the second receiving device to other transfer positions, wherein the second receiving device is located either on the first side or the second side of the transfer carriage. The actuator for moving the product carrier or the retraction frame can act in both directions.The drive for moving the transfer carriage can be arranged on the transfer carriage itself. In particular, the drive can be designed as an electric motor. Alternatively, drive means (e.g. a drive chain) can be provided on the floor, which is coupled to the transfer carriage and moves the latter into the provided positions.The second side of the transfer carriage may be opposite the first side of the transfer carriage. In this case, entry racks or product carriers can be guided on guide rails of the transfer carriage, from which they can be pushed out on both sides. Alternatively, however, the second side can also adjoin the first side. The actuator is arranged and configured in or on the transfer carriage in such a way that the entry chassis or the product carrier can be transferred with the actuator either via the first side or via the second side of the transfer carriage. Transferring means in particular pushing in, pulling in, pivoting in and / or lifting in and pushing out, pulling out, pivoting out and / or lifting out. For example, the retraction frame or the product carrier can be pulled into the transfer carriage by the actuator from the second receiving device via the second side of the transfer carriage and pushed out of the transfer carriage by the actuator via the first side into the receiving device of the treatment unit and vice versa. The actuator can be constructed particularly simply if the first side and the second side are opposite one another.By means of the transfer device described here, the transfer carriage can be automatically driven in different positions and can receive or discharge entry racks or product carriers here via a plurality of sides and thus from different directions. As a result, the transfer of entry racks or product carriers with, for example, unbaked dough pieces between the loading carriage and the baking oven and ready-baked bakery products back to the loading carriage, with which the bakery products are transported for packaging or sale, is very flexible and temporally decoupled from one another. The same applies to the loading and unloading of other food processing devices such as fermenters, refrigerators and freezers or also steam cookers or combination steamers. Overall, costs can thus be saved with the transfer device.In practice, the transfer device can have a guide device, with which the transfer carriage is guided along a travel path.By means of the drive and the guide device, the transfer carriage can be moved automatically, in particular between one or more second receiving devices and one or more treatment units for foods.In practice, the guide device can comprise a rail, a cross-member, a conductor track, or a navigation system or else a combination thereof. The drive for moving the transfer carriage can be arranged on the transfer carriage itself and the transfer carriage has means with which it can roll or slide on a floor surface.If the guide device is a rail, the transfer carriage has, for example, rollers which roll on the rail and provide lateral guidance. A system comprising a rail and rollers is particularly simple, robust and reliable. In this case, the rail defines a predetermined travel path of the transfer carriage. The rail can be fastened to the floor, to the treatment unit, or to the ceiling of the room in which the transfer device is located.If the conducting device is designed as an electrical conductor track, the conductor track can be provided in the floor. A corresponding sensor arranged on the transfer carriage detects the course of the conductor track and communicates with a control unit for steering the transfer carriage. When the transfer carriage is moved, the control unit controls the drive in such a way that the transfer carriage follows the electrical conductor track.If the guide device is designed as a navigation system, the transfer carriage has greater freedom of movement. In principle, any known navigation system can be used. In particular, a raster navigation or a laser navigation can be used. A method such as laser navigation, in which the location is determined and obstacles are detected by scanning the environment, has the advantage that it makes do without additional installations such as electrical conductor loops and can be used in existing food processing installations without complicated structural retrofitting. In practice, this method is referred to as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and is used for simultaneous position determination and map creation. By scanning the environment with laser beams, the environment is detected (map creation / mapping) and the position in the environment is determined. Certain properties of the scanned surfaces, in particular of the treatment unit and of the unit on which the second recording device is arranged, facilitate position determination and navigation. In addition, mechanical guide elements, in particular close to the working positions, can be arranged, which guide the movement of the transfer carriage.The automatic guiding device enables the transfer of entry racks or product carriers between e.g. the loading trays with the second receiving device and the treatment unit to be carried out fully automatically by means of the transfer device. The personnel are relieved of these tasks and can focus, for example, on the preparation of the foods.In practice, the transfer carriage can be movable with the guide device substantially transversely to the direction in which the actuator acts and moves the entry frame or the product carrier. If the loading of the treatment unit and thus the direction of action of the actuator defines the longitudinal direction, the direction of movement predefined by the guide device can be the transverse direction. It is oriented parallel to the side of the treatment unit in which a door to a treatment chamber of the treatment unit is provided. The transfer device can thus be moved to the left and right before the loading opening of the treatment unit. The transversely movable transfer carriage makes it possible to arrange the transfer and loading positions next to one another on both sides of the travel path. This resulted in a simple and cost-effective construction, simple control and great flexibility.In practice, the transfer carriage can have a frame. The frame can extend at least over the height and the width of the treatment space of the treatment unit when it surrounds the entry frame. The side facing the treatment unit and the opposite side of the transfer carriage can form the first and the second side and be configured open. In other words, the transfer carriage is designed as a portal which is accessible from two opposite, open sides. In particular, the dimensions of the side of the treatment unit can be approximately congruent with the treatment chamber door and the frame.For the loading and / or unloading of the treatment unit assigned to the transfer device, the frame can be positioned with the first open side at the loading opening of the treatment unit and the retraction frame or the product carrier is introduced into the treatment unit by means of the actuator through the loading opening on the first side of the transfer device or removed therefrom. Likewise via the first open side of the frame or alternatively via the second open side thereof, the entry chassis or the product carrier can be transferred between the transfer carriage and the second receiving device (e.g. loading carriage).The support device for the running-in frame or the product carrier can be arranged in the frame of the transfer carriage. The support device can have, for example, two guide rails which are fastened to two opposite sides of the frame and enable the retraction frame or the product carrier to be displaced in its longitudinal direction. The retraction frame or the product carrier can have sliding surfaces or rollers which rest on the guide rails.The transfer carriage can have running rollers for the movement below the frame.The actuator for transferring the retraction frame or the product carrier can have in practice at least one drive and at least one driver. The driver can be a projection which can be brought into engagement with an abutment on the retraction frame or product carrier. Additionally or alternatively, the driver may be an anti-slip surface that can be non-slip brought into contact with a surface of the chassis or the product carrier. The driver can be moved by the drive in the direction of the first and second sides of the transfer carriage, so that the retraction frame or the product carrier in the carrier device is displaced in this direction when the projection is in engagement with the abutment.The actuator for transferring the retraction frame or the product carrier can additionally be assigned a sensor and a control unit. The sensor, which can be, for example, a fundamentally known optical sensor, monitors the position of the driver and transmits data relating to the position to a control unit. The control unit controls the drive of the actuator as a function of the position of the driver and the transfer to be carried out into or out of the transfer carriage. This embodiment enables the transfer operation to be completely automatically performed and monitored.The invention further relates to a treatment device having at least one treatment unit for foods, which has at least one treatment space with a receiving device for receiving at least one entry stand or a product carrier, having at least one automatically opening and closing treatment space door, and having at least one second receiving device, assigned to the treatment unit, for receiving the entry stand or the product carrier. The treatment device further comprises the above-described transfer device for the loading and / or unloading of the treatment unit.The receiving device of the treatment unit can be designed in particular as entry rails which are arranged on two opposite inner walls of the treatment space and are at the same height as the guide rails which are arranged in the transfer carriage and form the carrying device. The entry stand runs with rollers or sliding shoes on the rails and can be pushed with the actuator from the guide rails of the support device onto the entry rails in the treatment space of the treatment unit and pulled down therefrom. Alternatively or additionally, the receiving device of the treatment unit can also be designed as a simple floor in the treatment space, or can be formed by rollers on which rails on the entry chassis can be displaced.The treatment chamber door is arranged at the loading or loading opening of the treatment unit. It can be automatically opened and closed, so that the loading and / or the unloading of the treatment unit can be carried out fully automatically by the transfer device through the loading opening. The treatment chamber door can be mounted pivotably on the treatment unit, for example, via a joint. A drive, in particular an electric motor or a pneumatic cylinder, can generate a force by which the treatment chamber door pivots about the axis of rotation of the joint and thus automatically opens or closes. The drive which opens and closes the treatment chamber door can be controlled by electrical signals for opening and closing. The signals are sent to the drive by a control unit controlling the treatment room door when the transfer carriage is outside the pivot range of the treatment room door. The position of the transfer carriage can be determined, for example, by a sensor which communicates with the control unit for the treatment room door. The sensor can be communicated with the control unit wirelessly or by cable.In practice, the second receiving device can be arranged on at least one charging carriage, as already mentioned above. Alternatively, the second receiving device can also be arranged on at least one cooling unit or a fermentation unit. Charging trays, cooling units and fermentation units are fundamentally known from the prior art. The second receiving device can be movable or fixed at a location.In practice, the second receiving device can be assigned a transfer position in which the second receiving device can be positioned on the first or second side of the transfer carriage for carrying out the transfer of the retraction frame or product carrier. In the transfer position, the retraction frame is movable back and forth between the second receiving device and the support device of the transfer carriage. In practice, a plurality of transfer positions can be provided, as well as a plurality of loading positions for different treatment units. The transfer carriage is thus movable between various predetermined positions, loading positions and transfer positions and can transfer food to be treated flexibly and without any personnel input into the treatment units and out again onto the loading trays for the transport away. Thus, for example, the loading of several feed trays with dough pieces to be baked can be decoupled from the baking process in terms of time. The loaded loading trays can be set down by the personnel at various transfer positions and the automatic transfer of the dough pieces into the oven takes place without the need for personnel by the transfer carriage. The same applies to the removal of the fully baked bakery products, which is automatically removed from the treatment unit (oven) by the transfer carriage at the end of the baking process and is brought onto a loading carriage. The further transport can then take place again at the given time by an employee. The same naturally applies to foods and treatment units other than ovens.A treatment device can have a plurality of identical or different treatment units (oven, fermentation cabinet, freezer cabinet).If the second receiving device is arranged on a carriage with rollers on the underside, the carriage can be displaced into the transfer position and locked there with the second receiving device in practice. The locking can be effected, for example, by positioning the rollers in a depression in the base of the transfer position. When the transfer carriage has moved up to the carriage with the second receiving device and the actuator transfers the retraction frame, the dead weight of the carriage carrying the second receiving device prevents a movement out of the trough. The carriage with the second receiving device can, however, also be guided into the predetermined transfer position by any other guide means (guide rails or guide plates) and fixed in this position by any locking means or brakes.The invention further relates to a method for automatically loading and unloading a treatment unit with a first receiving device. The method for automatically loading and unloading the treatment unit comprises the following method steps:positioning a second receiving device in a transfer position;automatically moving a transfer carriage to the transfer position;transferring a running-in chassis or a product carrier between the transfer carriage and the second receiving device in the transfer position with an actuator arranged on the transfer carriage;automatically opening or closing a treatment chamber door provided on the treatment unit;automatically moving the transfer carriage into a loading position;transferring the running-in frame or the product carrier between the treatment unit and the transfer carriage in the loading position by the actuator arranged on the transfer carriage.As explained above, therefore, the insertion stand or the product carrier is not transferred from the loading carriage into the furnace (or another treatment unit) but rather is taken over by an automatically driven transfer carriage which has the actuator and a drive and thus can automatically and without any personnel drive along the various transfer positions and treatment units and can in this way feed the product carriers / insertion stands to the desired treatment and then transfer them to loading carriages for further transport. Again, it is desirable that the transfer be accomplished by the separate transfer carriage across at least two sides of the transfer carriage.Further practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described below in conjunction with the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a processing device for food with a transfer carriage in a view obliquely from above; FIG. 2A is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the treatment device with the transfer carriage in a transfer position; FIG. 2B is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the treatment device with the transfer carriage in a waiting position; FIG. 2C is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the treatment device with the transfer carriage in a loading position; FIG. 2D is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the treatment device during the closing of the treatment unit; FIG. 3A shows an actuator arranged on the transfer carriage for transferring a retraction frame in a first position in a view obliquely from the front; FIG. 3B shows the actuator from FIG. 3A arranged on the transfer carriage in a second position in a view obliquely from the front; FIG. 4A shows a loading carriage with a retraction frame at the beginning of the transfer into the transfer carriage in a view obliquely from the front; FIG. 4B is a view corresponding to FIG. 4A when the actuator of the transfer carriage engages the retraction frame; FIG. 4C is a view corresponding to FIG. 4A, with the retraction frame located largely in the transfer carriage; FIG. 4D is a view corresponding to FIG. 4A, with the retraction stand located completely in the transfer carriage.FIG. 1 shows a treatment device for food, which comprises as treatment units two ovens 1 a, 1 b, four feed trays 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 dassociated with the two ovens 1 a, 1 band a transfer carriage 3. The two ovens 1 a, 1 band the charging trays 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 dare each of identical construction.The ovens 1a, 1b shown in Figs. 1 and 2A-2D are shop ovens or production ovens which are usually used in bakery or bakery plants. In the embodiment shown, they each comprise a housing 4 a, 4 bin which two baking rooms are arranged one above the other, and in each case two treatment room doors 5 a, 6 a, 5 b, 6 barranged on the front side of the baking ovens to the baking rooms. The treatment chamber doors 5 a, 6 a, 5 b, 6 bare closed during the baking process and can be automatically opened and closed for introducing the dough pieces and removing the baked goods.In FIG. 1, two control panels 7 a, 7 b, which are arranged on the front side of the ovens 1 a, 1 band have a display screen, can also be seen. Parameters of the baking processes (e.g. baking sequence, duration, temperature, steam) can be input via the control panels 7 a, 7 b, which are subsequently displayed for control via the display screen of the control panels 7 a, 7 b. It is also possible to remotely control the ovens 1a, 1b via data connections. The ovens 1a, 1b are positioned spaced apart side by side with the same orientation. Their treatment room doors 5 a, 6 a, 5 b, 6 btherefore point in the same direction.In front of the ovens 1a, 1b, a straight rail 8 is arranged, which represents a guide device for the transfer carriage 3. With respect to the baking ovens 1 a, 1 barranged next to one another, the rail 8 runs in the transverse direction and is at the same distance from each baking oven 1 a, 1 b. It is arranged on an overhang 9 a, 9 bfixed to the upper edge of the front sides of the oven, which overhang is formed by the steam hood. In the transverse direction, the rail 8 protrudes to the left and right of the ovens 1a, 1b by a distance larger than the width of the transfer carriage 3. The transfer carriage 3 can be moved along the rail 8 in the transverse direction to the ovens 1 a, 1 b.The transfer carriage 3 has a frame 10 with an upper support region 11 and a lower support region 12. The dimensions of the frame 10 are matched to the dimensions of the ovens 1a, 1b such that a first open side 13 and a second open 14 side of the frame 10 are substantially congruent with the front side of the ovens 1a, 1b. In addition, the size of the upper support area 11 corresponds approximately to the size of the upper treatment room doors 5 a, 5 bof the ovens 1 a, 1 band the size of the lower support area 12 corresponds to the size of the lower treatment room doors 6 a, 6 b. Rollers 16 are arranged on a downwardly facing bottom surface 15 of the frame 10, with which rollers the frame 10 can be moved on the ground. In addition, on an upwardly facing cover surface 17 of the frame 10, fastening means 18 are provided for further rollers (not shown) which run in the rail 8. When the transfer carriage 3 is driven by a drive 19 arranged on the floor surface 15, it is guided along the rail 8 via the rollers mounted on the fastening means 18 so that the transfer carriage 3 can be automatically moved in the transverse direction.The lateral walls of the frame 10 of the transfer carriage 3 are closed, so that the frame 10 can also be referred to as a housing. However, the frame 10 could also be designed to be open, as for example in the case of the charging trays 2 a- 2 d.In the upper and lower support region 11, 12 of the transfer carriage 3, a respective entry chassis 27, 28 can be accommodated, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2B. For moving the entry frames 27, 28, the transfer carriage 3 has an upper support device 20 and an upper actuator 21 in the upper support region 11 and a lower support device 22 and a lower actuator 23 in the lower support region 12. The support devices 20, 22 are identical and each formed as a pair of guide rails which are respectively fixed to the opposite vertical inner sides of the frame 10. They support the load of the entry racks 27, 28 in the transfer carriage 3 and allow the entry racks 27, 28 to be slid through the first and second open sides 13, 14 of the frame 10. This direction is referred to as the longitudinal direction and extends at right angles to the transverse direction. The actuators 21, 23 are likewise identical to one another. They are designed to move the entry racks through the first or the second open side 13, 14 along the guide rail pairs 20, 22 into the support regions 11, 12 of the transfer carriage 3 or out of it. Details of the support devices 20, 22 and the actuators 21, 23 will be described below.The four feed carriages 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 dare of identical construction. The following description of the charging trolley 2 acan therefore be transferred to the other charging trucks 2 b, 2 c, 2 d. The loading carriage 2a has a support frame, on the underside of which rollers 24 for manually moving the loading carriage 2a are arranged on the floor. In the loading carriage 2a, an upper second receiving device 25 and a lower second receiving device 26 are provided, which-like the supporting devices 20, 22 of the transfer carriage 3-are designed as guide rail pairs 25, 26. The guide rail pairs 25, 26 are fastened to two mutually opposite inner sides of the supporting frame of the loading carriage 2 aand are aligned in the longitudinal direction with the upper and the lower guide rail pair 20, 21 of the transfer carriage 3, respectively. the upper guide rail pair 25 supports an upper entry frame 27 and the lower guide rail pair 26 supports a lower entry frame 28. the entry frames 27, 28 can be pushed out of the loading carriage 2 ain the longitudinal direction manually or with the actuator 21, 23. For example, product carriers such as baking sheets (not shown) with baked goods can be placed into the driving racks 27, 28. It is also possible that a plurality of non-identical feed trays are used. For example, open shaped feed trays and closed feed trays may be provided. It is important in the case of the loading trays that entry racks or product carriers arranged therein can be transferred via one side out of the loading trays into the transfer device or out of the transfer device.In FIG. 1, the loading trays 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 dare each shown in a transfer position. The transfer positions are predetermined positions of the loading carriages 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 din which their guide rails 25, 26 are aligned with the guide rails 21, 22 in the transfer carriage 3 when the latter is aligned with the respective loading carriage 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d. In this transfer position, the rollers 24 are lockable under the load trays by a brake or other locking device (not shown). For the transfer of the entry chassis 27, 28, the upper guide rail pairs 25 and 20 and the lower guide rail pairs 26 and 22 are each of the same design.Of course, the treatment device can also have more or fewer ovens and / or more or fewer charging trays with second receiving devices than shown in FIG. 1. Other treatment units than ovens may also be present.FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show the treatment device of FIG. 1 in different states during a loading process of the oven 1 a. FIG. 2A shows the treatment device in a first state in which the transfer carriage 3 has been moved by automatic movement along the rail 8 to the transfer positions of the loading carriages 2 aand 2 b. In this position of the transfer carriage 3, the retraction racks 27, 28 can be moved into the transfer carriage 3 by the loading carriages 2 aor 2 bpositioned and locked in the adjacent transfer positions. For this purpose, a first position measurement sensor (not shown), which is arranged on the transfer carriage 3 and / or on the rail 8, first determines whether at least one of the loading carriages 2 a, 2 bis arranged in the transfer position, whether the transfer carriage 3 is located in the position adjoining it and whether at least one entry chassis 27, 28 is accommodated in a loading carriage 2 a, 2 bor the transfer carriage. When this prerequisite is fulfilled, a control unit for controlling the actuators 21, 23 (not shown) may actuate the actuators 21, 23, and the transfer of the retraction rack / racks 27, 28 from the at least one loading truck to the transfer truck 3 is carried out automatically. If two loading trucks each having at least one entry chassis 27, 28 are positioned in the transfer position, the control unit selects the entry chassis 27, 28 currently to be transferred automatically or according to information about the loading of the entry chassis. The transmission of signals from the first position measurement sensor and the loading information to the control unit can take place, for example, via radio.FIG. 2B shows the treatment device in a second state after the retraction racks 27, 28 have been transferred from the loading carriage 2 ato the transfer carriage 3. The transfer carriage 3 has been moved along the rail 8 to a first waiting position. The first waiting position is assumed by the transfer carriage 3 for a short time, while one or both of the treatment chamber doors 5a, 6a of the oven are pivoted open. When the transfer carriage 3 is in the first waiting position, this is registered by the first position measuring sensor on the transfer carriage 3 and automatically sends an "open" signal to a control unit for controlling the treatment room doors 5a, 6a. The control unit controls a drive (not shown) for pivoting open at least one of the treatment room doors 5 a, 6 a.FIG. 2C shows the treatment device in a third state in which the treatment chamber doors 5 a, 6 aare open. Thus, loading openings closed in Figures 2A and 2B by the treatment room doors 5a, 6a are released and the transfer trolley 3 can be positioned by moving along the rail 8 with the first open side 13 of the frame 10 adjacent to the loading openings of the oven 1a. The first position measurement sensor registers this loading position and sends again automatically the "transfer" signal to the control unit for controlling the actuators 21, 23. the retraction racks 27, 28 can then be automatically moved by the actuators 21, 23 through the first open side 13 of the transfer carriage 3 in the longitudinal direction into the baking rooms of the oven 1 a. Further details regarding the process of loading with the actuators 21, 23 are described further below.FIG. 2D shows the treatment device in a fourth state, in which the retraction racks 27, 28 have been transferred from the transfer carriage 3 into the baking oven 1 a. The transfer carriage 3 has been moved away from the loading position along the rail 8 to the waiting position. The first position measuring sensor automatically sends a "close" signal to the control unit for controlling the treatment room doors 5 a, 6 a.The transfer trolley 3 can either remain in this waiting position until the baking process is completed and subsequently carry out the unloading of the oven 1a in the reverse sequence to the loading. Alternatively, the transfer carriage 3 can carry out loading or unloading of the baking oven 1 b. For example, the oven can be loaded with the entry racks 27, 28 of the loading carriages 2 b, 2 c, or 2 d, or entry racks 27, 28 already arranged in the oven 1 bcan be removed and transferred into the loading carriage 2 a.FIGS. 3A and 3B show the upper actuator 21 arranged on the transfer carriage 3 in detail. The lower actuator 23 is constructed identically to this. In FIG. 3A, the actuator 21 is shown in a first position in the middle of the transfer carriage 3 and in FIG. 3B in a second position, in which the actuator 21 protrudes beyond the second open side 14 of the transfer carriage 3.The actuator 21 is arranged on two side walls 29, 30 of the frame 10 which are opposite one another in the transverse direction and is substantially mirror-symmetrical. Two identical belt guides 31 of the actuator, which each guide a drive belt 32 with drivers 33, are arranged on the inner surfaces of the side walls 29, 30 of the transfer carriage 3. The drive belts 33 are guided around belt wheels 34 and are each driven by a drive belt wheel 35. The drive belt wheels 35 are fastened to a coupling shaft 36 supported between the belt guides 31, and the coupling shaft 36 is drivable by a first drive 37. When the coupling shaft 36 performs a rotational movement caused by the first drive 37, this movement is transmitted via the drive belt wheels 35 to the drive belts 32 on both side walls 29, 30 of the transfer carriage 3, so that the drivers 33 are synchronously driven. The drivers 33 are designed in the present case as pins which project perpendicularly from the drive belt 32 and can engage behind abutments on the upper entry frame 27. When the drivers 33 engage behind the abutments on the retraction frame 27, the retraction frame 27 can be moved together with the drivers 33 along the belt guide 31. As a result, the entry stand 27 can be pressed or pulled by the guide rail pair 25 of the loading carriage 2 ato the guide rail pair 20 of the transfer carriage 3. Alternatively to the belts and belt wheels, the actuator 21 can of course also have a chain and toothed wheels which drive the drivers.Furthermore, guide grooves 38 are formed in the side walls 29, 30 of the frame 10, which are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the transfer carriage 3 and in which the first drive 37 and a second drive 39 are displaceably mounted. In the present case, the drives 37, 39 are arranged on the outer surface of the side 29 and / or 30. The second drive 39 can have a gearwheel, the teeth of which engage in a rack 40 oriented parallel to the guide grooves 38. When the gear wheel is driven by the second drive 39, the second drive 39 and the belt guides 31 rigidly connected thereto via the coupling shaft 36 are displaced along the toothed rack. This displacement is represented by the different positions of the actuator 21 in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Due to the mechanical connection of the belt guides 31 by the coupling shaft 36, it is sufficient if a first and a second drive 37, 39 are provided on one side of the actuator 21. Alternatively, a first and a second drive 37, 39 can also be provided on both sides 29, 30. In this case, connection with the coupling shaft 36 can be omitted. Furthermore alternatively, the actuators 21, 23 and their drives 37, 39 can be arranged at any other positions in the middle or on the side of the transfer carriage 3. It merely has to be ensured that the drives of the actuators can cooperate with the transfer carriage in such a way that the retraction frame can be displaced.In FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, a transfer of the upper retraction frame 27 from the loading carriage 2 ain the transfer position to the transfer carriage is illustrated in detail. The transfer of the lower cradle 28 and the transfer from the other loading trays 2b, 2c, 2d functions in the same manner.When the transfer carriage 3 has been moved to the transfer positions of the loading carriage 2 a, the first position measurement sensor sends the "transfer" signal to the control unit for controlling the actuator 21, whereupon the drives 37, 39 bring about the transfer.FIG. 4A shows the start of the transfer, in which rollers of the entry stand 27 rest on the upper guide rail pair 25 of the loading carriage 2 aand support the entry stand 27. The actuator 21 has been moved by the second drive 39 in the longitudinal direction through the second open side 14 of the transfer carriage 3 into the second loading carriage 2 a. The position of the actuator 21 shown corresponds to the position shown in FIG. 3B. The drive belts 32 are adjusted such that the drivers 33 project in the longitudinal direction and can thus be moved past abutments 41 of the retraction frame 2 a. A second position measuring sensor (not shown) continuously detects the position of the actuator 21 in relation to the transfer carriage 3 and the position of the drive belts 32 in the belt guides 31 and transmits these to the control unit for controlling the actuator 21. When the actuator 21 has assumed the position shown in FIG. 4A, the second position measuring sensor sends a signal to the control unit for controlling the actuator, whereupon the first drive 37 drives the drive belts 32 in such a way that the drivers 33 rotate the belt guides 31 until they protrude upwards, as shown in FIG. 4B, and engage with the abutments 41.Upon further drive of the drive belt 32 by the two drive belt wheels 35 coupled via the coupling shaft 36 (FIGS. 3A and B ), the drivers 33 engaged with the abutments 41 pull the retraction frame 27 towards the transfer carriage 3 until it is completely above the actuator. This position is shown in FIG. 4C. In this position, the retraction frame 27 is partially supported by the pair of guide rails 25 of the loading carriage 2a and partially supported by the pair of guide rails 20 of the transfer carriage 3.The second drive 39 is then activated again and pulls the belt guides 31 completely into the transfer carriage 3. The retraction frame 27 held by the drivers 33 via the belt guides 31 of the actuator 21 is also pulled completely into the transfer carriage 3 and is supported completely on the pair of guide rails 20 of the transfer carriage 3.The transfer of the retraction frame from the transfer carriage 3 into the baking oven 1a takes place in the opposite manner. First, the actuator 21 with the retraction frame 27 is moved by the second drive 39 through the first open side 13 of the transfer carriage 3. When the actuator 21 has assumed an end position in which it protrudes at most out of the transfer carriage 3 and into the baking chamber of the oven 1 a, the control unit activates the first drive 37 for controlling the actuator, which drive moves the drivers 33 into the baking chamber via the drive belt wheels 35 and the drive belts 32, which in turn displace the entry stand 27 completely into the oven 1 a. The actuator will then be retracted again into the transfer carriage 3 and the oven door can be closed.The transfer of the retraction frame 27 out of the oven 1 ainto the transfer carriage 3 functions in the same way as the transfer from the loading carriage 2 ato the transfer carriage 3. In this position, the transfer from the transfer carriage 3 into the feed carriage 2a takes place in the same way as the transfer from the transfer carriage 3 into the baking oven 1a described above.It can be seen that the actuator 21 can transfer a retraction frame located in the transfer carriage 3 on both sides of the transfer carriage 3 to a receiving device located there. The same applies to the second actuator 23 of the transfer carriage.It should be noted that the construction and mode of operation of the actuator described here is explained only by way of example. The actuator can also be realized in another manner, for example as a pivot arm arranged in the transfer carriage, which can be pivoted out of the transfer carriage, or as a longitudinally displaceable arm, which can be pushed out of the transfer carriage and the end of which interacts with a receptacle on the entry chassis.FIG. 5 shows a block diagram in which the communication of the electronic functional elements of the treatment device is shown by way of example. The arrows indicate communication paths. In this case, the communication between the control unit of the transfer carriage 42 and the control unit of the oven 43 can take place wirelessly. This saves the wiring of the control units that are movable relative to one another. The control units of the transfer cart 42 and of the baking oven 43 are preferably connected to a communication network via which they can communicate with one another and with further devices and a central computer of the baking installation.The control unit of the transfer car 42 controls the first and the second drives 37, 39 of the actuators 21, 23 and the travel drive of the transfer car 19. It is usually equipped with the control panel 7a, but can also be remotely controlled via the mentioned communication network or a remote control (not shown).A first position measurement sensor 44 determines whether at least one loading carriage 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 dis arranged in the transfer position and whether at least one entry chassis 27, 28 is accommodated in a loading carriage 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d. This can be arranged on the transfer carriage 3, on the feed weighing means 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, or else in a stationary manner in the transfer device. In addition to the position of the loading carriages 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, information about the loading of the entry chassis located therein can also be transmitted via the communication network, in particular to the control unit of the oven 43, in order to operate the latter in an optimum manner.The second position measurement sensor 45 for measuring the position of the actuator 21 in relation to the transfer carriage 3 and the position of the drive belts 32 in the belt guides 31 likewise continuously transmits the measurement results to the control unit for controlling the actuators 21, 23.By means of the position measurement sensors 44, 45 and the controllers 42, 43, the movable parts (transfer cars 3, charging trays 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, oven doors 5 a, 6 a, actuators 21, 23) can be moved in such a way that the transfer of the entry racks between the ovens 1 a, 1 band the charging trays takes place fully automatically, without collisions of these movable parts.The features of the invention disclosed in the present description, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential, both individually and in any combinations, for the realisation of the invention in its various embodiments. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. It can be varied within the scope of the claims and taking into account the knowledge of the responsible person skilled in the art.List of reference characters1 a, 1 bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb; second open side of the frame 15 bottom surface of the frame 16 rollers under the transfer carriage 17 top surface of the frame 18 fasteners 19 drive of the transfer carriage 20 upper support device, upper guide rail pair of the transfer carriage 21 upper actuator 22 lower support device, lower guide rail pair of the transfer carriage 23 lower actuator 24 rollers under the loading carriage 25 upper second receiving device; upper guide rail pair of the loading carriage 26 lower second receiving device; Lower guide rail pair of the loading carriage 27 Upper entry frame 28 Lower entry frame 29 Side wall of the frame 30 Side wall of the frame 31 Belt guide of the actuator 32 Drive belt 33 Driver 34 Belt wheels 35 Drive belt wheels 36 Coupling shaft 37 First drive 38 Guide grooves 39 Second drive 40 Toothed rack 41 Abutment 42 Control unit of the transfer carriage 43 Control unit of the oven 44 First position measurement sensor 45 Second position measurement sensor 46 Door drive

Claims

Transfer device for loading and / or unloading a treatment unit for foods, having a movable transfer carriage (3) which has a carrying device (20, 22) for at least one entry stand (27, 28) or for at least one product carrier, having a drive (19) for moving the transfer carriage (3), and having an actuator (21, 23) which is arranged on the transfer carriage (3) and is intended to move the entry stand (27, 28) or the product carrier into a receiving device of the treatment unit for foods which is located on a first side (13) of the transfer carriage (3) and to remove it therefrom, characterized in that the transfer carriage (3) and the actuator (21, 23) are designed to additionally move the entry stand (27, 28) or the product carrier into at least one second receiving device (25, 25 which is located on a second side (14) of the transfer carriage (3), 26) and take it out therefrom.Transfer device according to Claim 1, characterized bya guide device which guides the transfer carriage (3) along the travel path.Transfer device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the guide device has at least one of the following: - a rail (8); - a conductor track; - a navigation system.Transfer device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transfer carriage (3) has a frame (10), the first side (13) and the second side (14) of the frame (10) being open and lying opposite one another.Transfer device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuator (21, 23) has at least one drive (37, 39) and a driver.Transfer device according to Claim 5, characterized in that at least one sensor and one control unit (42) are assigned to the actuator (21, 23).Transfer device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sensor assigned to the actuator (21, 23) is a position measurement sensor (45).Treatment device for foods, comprising - a treatment unit for foods, which has at least one treatment space with a receiving device for receiving at least one entry stand (27, 28) or product carrier; - at least one automatically opening and closing treatment space door (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b); and - at least one second receiving device (25, 26), which is assigned to the treatment unit for foods, for receiving the entry stand (27, 28) or product carrier; characterized bya transfer device according to one of the preceding claims.Treatment device according to claim 8, characterised in that the second receiving device (25, 26) is arranged on at least one of the following: - a loading trolley (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d); - a cooling unit; - a fermentation unit.Treatment device according to claim 8 or 9da characterised in that the at least one second receiving device (25, 26) is assigned a transfer position in which the second receiving device (25, 26) can be positioned on the first (13) or second side (14) of the transfer carriage (3) and in which the retraction frame (27, 28) or the product carrier can be moved into the second receiving device (25, 26) and removed therefrom.Treatment device according to claim 10, characterised in that the second receiving device (25, 26) is displaceable and lockable in the transfer position.Method for automatically loading and unloading a treatment unit (1a, 1b) for food with a first receiving device, having the following method steps: - positioning a second receiving device (25, 26) in a transfer position; - automatically moving a transfer carriage (3) to the transfer position; - transferring a retraction frame (27, 28) or a product carrier between the transfer carriage (3) and the second receiving device (25, 26) in the transfer position with an actuator (21, 23) arranged on the transfer carriage (3); - automatically opening or closing a treatment space door (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) provided on the treatment unit (1a, 1b); - automatically moving the transfer carriage (3) into a loading position; transferring the retraction frame (27, 28) or the product carrier between the treatment unit (1a, 1b) and the transfer carriage (3) in the loading position by the actuator (21, 23) arranged on the transfer carriage (3).Method according to claim 12, characterised in that the transfer of the retraction frame (27, 28) or product carrier by the actuator (21, 23) takes place via at least two different sides (13, 14) of the transfer carriage (3).

Images