Process and cooling line for vacuum cooling of hot products

Abstract

Method for cooling products (P) transported along a cooling line (1) by means of a product conveyor (3a, 3b) provided thereon in the transport direction (T), wherein at least one vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) provided along a section of the product conveyor (3a, 3b) cools the products (P) transported into it on the product conveyor (3a, 3b) by means of a vacuum generated within the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for vacuum cooling products transported along a cooling line according to claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cooling line for vacuum cooling products according to claim 4.

[0002] JP2004-132594A discloses a generic vacuum cooling method.

[0003] WO2020 / 032907A1 discloses a vacuum cooling device with multiple vacuum cooling chambers.

[0004] DE29607689U1 discloses an intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machine with a sealing station, which is followed in the transport direction by a mechanical cooling device which presses on sealed packages from above and below by means of cooling pads mounted thereon in order to cool them downstream of the sealing station after the sealing process.

[0005] JPS57-1021A discloses another intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machine with a forming station positioned at the beginning in the production direction for producing thermoforming trays, a sealing station for producing packaging and a vacuum station positioned between the forming station and the sealing station for removing moisture from products enclosed therein.

[0006] US2004 / 0105927A1 discloses another intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machine with a pasteurization station positioned upstream of a sealing station of the packaging machine in the production direction. Within the pasteurization station, incoming products can be heat-treated by applying steam. Optionally, a vacuum cooling process takes place following the pasteurization process.

[0007] EP 4 335 759 A2 discloses another intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machine with a vacuum cooling device positioned upstream of the sealing station along an infeed path in the production direction. Along the vacuum cooling device, the vacuum cooling process is distributed among several vacuum cooling chambers, allowing the thermoforming packaging machine to operate at a machine cycle that essentially corresponds to the duration of a sealing process at the sealing station.

[0008] The (vacuum) cooling devices described above are integrated into the design of the respective thermoforming packaging machines. These (vacuum) cooling devices are therefore dependent on the intermittent operation of the respective thermoforming packaging machine or its structural design. This can lead to increased manufacturing costs.

[0009] In practice, long cooling lines are used to cool baked goods, for example, cooling towers with spiral conveyor belts, so that hot baked goods transported along these cooling lines can cool in the ambient air. However, these cooling lines require a long route to cool the baked goods in the ambient air to a predetermined temperature level. These cooling lines therefore occupy a relatively large space and require a considerable amount of time to cool the hot baked goods. Furthermore, due to the extensive geometry of these cooling lines, multiple drive units are required, making their operation energy-intensive.

[0010] Furthermore, vacuum refrigerators are used in practice. These can form a closed cooling chamber in which the products placed on trays on a transport trolley pushed into them are cooled using a vacuum. However, this requires that the baked goods first be loaded onto baking trays, the trays pushed into the transport trolley, and the transport trolley pushed into the vacuum refrigerator. Therefore, several steps, particularly manual ones, must be carried out before the vacuum cooling process begins. In practice, such vacuum refrigerators are primarily used in bakeries to quickly cool warmed baked goods to a desired temperature level so that they are ready for sale. However, the output of such vacuum refrigerators is low.

[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a method and a cooling line for improved cooling of products in view of the disadvantages described above in connection with the prior art. This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and by a cooling line according to claim 4.

[0012] Advantageous further developments of the invention are given by the respective subject matters of the subclaims.

[0013] The invention relates to a method for cooling products transported along a cooling line in the transport direction by means of a product conveyor provided thereon. According to the invention, at least one vacuum cooling station provided along a section of the product conveyor cools the products transported into it on the product conveyor by means of a vacuum generated within the vacuum cooling station. By assigning a vacuum cooling station configured for vacuum cooling to a section of the product conveyor or a section of the cooling line, which vacuum cooling station cools the products transported into it on the product conveyor by means of the vacuum generated within the vacuum cooling station, the cooling line as a whole can have a space-saving design due to the additionally assigned vacuum cooling station.The process for cooling the products along the cooling line can thus be carried out in a space-saving and, above all, energy-efficient manner thanks to the vacuum cooling station operating along the cooling line.

[0014] The process is carried out using a chamber belt vacuum cooling machine designed as a cooling line. This can be used as a stand-alone machine, independent of a packaging process, for the purpose of actively cooling products.

[0015] Preferably, the method for cooling the products is carried out along a cooling line separate from the operation of a packaging machine, in particular by means of a chamber belt vacuum cooling machine. This method can thus be implemented as a stand-alone process without being influenced by a packaging process to cool products, in particular baked goods.

[0016] In particular, the products can pass through the vacuum cooling station in one direction, meaning they can pass through it without reversing, allowing them to be transported further along the cooling line after the vacuum cooling process. This reduces manual work steps and increases the output of cooled products.

[0017] Preferably, at least one vacuum cooling chamber is formed at the vacuum cooling station for vacuum cooling the products transported into it on the product conveyor. This vacuum cooling chamber can be configured to hermetically enclose the section of the product conveyor on which the product rests, so that it is located within the vacuum cooling chamber.

[0018] According to the invention, several vacuum cooling chambers are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction of the cooling line for the intermittent vacuum cooling of products conveyed through them on the product conveyor. This juxtaposition of several vacuum cooling chambers enables the products to pass through at short cooling intervals, so that they can be further processed within short intervals downstream of the vacuum cooling chambers in the transport direction, for example to be fed at short intervals to a downstream packaging machine at a desired temperature level. For this purpose, it would be conceivable for the cooled products to first be received by a feed device arranged upstream of the packaging machine, which, for example, functions as a buffer device for the packaging machine, in particular for a thermoforming packaging machine.

[0019] It would be conceivable for the product conveyor to be heated to a predetermined temperature level. This would reduce the precipitation of water vapor on the product conveyor, which is extracted from the product during the vacuum cooling process by the vacuum created within the vacuum cooling chamber. One variant provides for the product conveyor to be heated using a structurally integrated heating medium, such as an integrated heating mat. This can be heated to the predetermined temperature level, particularly inductively.

[0020] One variant involves heating the chamber walls surrounding the vacuum cooling chamber(s) to a predetermined temperature level. This makes it possible to reduce the precipitation of water vapor on the chamber walls, which is removed from the product during vacuum cooling. Active heating of the chamber walls could be achieved, for example, by means of a fluid circulating within them.

[0021] In particular, the product conveyor passes through a cleaning and / or drying unit located along the cooling line. This allows the product conveyor to be operated to the highest hygienic standards.

[0022] It is conceivable that several vacuum cooling stations along the cooling line could operate synchronously. A cost-effective solution would be to use a lifting mechanism shared by the vacuum cooling stations. This lifting mechanism could, in particular, be equipped with a servo motor.

[0023] It is advantageous for the operation of the vacuum cooling station(s) and an intermittent feed movement of the product conveyor to be dynamically coordinated with one another with regard to a provided, recorded quantity of products to be cooled in order to regulate the output of vacuum-cooled products in accordance with the provision of hot products.

[0024] The intermittent operation for vacuum cooling of hot products along the cooling line can be controlled in particular as a function of a machine work cycle of a baking device arranged upstream of the cooling line in the direction of production and / or of a packaging machine arranged downstream of the cooling line in the direction of production.

[0025] The products, in particular baked goods, preferably have a core temperature of below 35°C after vacuum cooling, in particular between 18°C and 25°C. Preferably, the product or baked good has a core temperature of at least 70°C, preferably at least 78°C, and more preferably at least 85°C, at the start of vacuum cooling in the vacuum cooling chamber.

[0026] In particular, during vacuum cooling, the products can be cooled by at least 5°C, preferably at least 10°C, preferably at least 15°C, preferably at least 20°C, preferably at least 25°C, preferably at least 30°C, preferably at least 35°C.

[0027] The invention further relates to a cooling line comprising at least one product conveyor for transporting products along a transport direction. According to the invention, the cooling line comprises, at least along a section of the product conveyor, a vacuum cooling station designed to vacuum-cool the products transported into it on the product conveyor by means of a generated vacuum. The cooling line is thus equipped with a vacuum cooling station that actively vacuum-cools the products transported on the product conveyor along the cooling line. This allows the cooling line to be implemented with reduced installation space, so that it takes up less space on its own or as a cooling line integrated into a production line.

[0028] It would be conceivable for the product conveyor and its associated vacuum cooling station to be an integral part of a chamber belt vacuum cooling machine. This can be used as a stand-alone solution, independent of a packaging process, for the purpose of actively cooling products. One variant involves the cooling line comprising several chamber belt vacuum cooling machines positioned one behind the other.

[0029] Preferably, at least one vacuum cooling chamber can be formed at the vacuum cooling station for vacuum cooling the products transported into it on the product conveyor. This chamber can be hermetically sealed.

[0030] According to the invention, the vacuum cooling station is configured to form a plurality of vacuum cooling chambers positioned one behind the other in the transport direction, in particular a plurality of vacuum cooling chambers positioned next to one another transversely to the transport direction. The products can pass through these vacuum cooling chambers along the cooling line in such a way that they are cooled in multiple steps. This configuration is suitable for intermittent product transport that can be carried out in short cooling process intervals, so that vacuum-cooled products can be transported along the cooling line without significant delay.

[0031] The vacuum cooling station preferably has at least one upper tool part that is mounted so as to be height-adjustable relative to the product conveyor and / or at least one lower tool part that is mounted so as to be height-adjustable relative to the product conveyor. The section of the product conveyor on which the products are vacuum-cooled can be completely enclosed within a vacuum cooling chamber formed by the upper tool part and the lower tool part when the vacuum cooling station is in a closed position for vacuum cooling.

[0032] Preferably, the upper tool part and / or the lower tool part are configured to generate the vacuum. In particular, the lower tool part and the upper tool part can be combined to form a vacuum cooling chamber such that the vacuum is generated across both the lower tool part and the upper tool part.

[0033] The invention provides for the product conveyor to be a conveyor belt. This allows different products to be transported.

[0034] The product conveyor is expediently designed to be heatable to a predetermined temperature level. This reduces the precipitation of water vapor, which is extracted from the products during vacuum cooling. The product conveyor preferably includes a heating means, for example, an integrated heating mat. This can be in the form of a wire mesh embedded in the conveyor belt.

[0035] In particular, the walls surrounding the vacuum cooling chamber are designed to be heated to a predetermined temperature level. This counteracts the precipitation of water vapor, which is extracted from the products being cooled during vacuum cooling. This promotes hygienic operation of the cooling line.

[0036] One variant provides for the cooling line to have at least one cleaning unit and / or drying unit for at least one surface of the product conveyor used to transport the products. The product conveyor can thus be freed of water vapor deposits formed on it during vacuum cooling. The cleaning unit and / or drying unit can be positioned directly behind the vacuum cooling chamber so that the products picked up at the entrance of the product conveyor can be placed on a cleaned surface before being transported into the vacuum cooling chamber.

[0037] Preferably, the cooling line has at least one additional product conveyor, particularly configured as a buffer belt, upstream of the vacuum cooling station. This allows a varying inflow of products to be cooled upstream of the vacuum cooling station to be buffered.

[0038] One variant provides for the cooling line to have at least one feed belt designed for continuous transport upstream of the vacuum cooling station, particularly upstream of the buffer belt in the transport direction. Its operation can be adjusted so that products transported thereon are reliably fed to the vacuum cooling station, taking into account a predetermined cooling interval.

[0039] A particularly advantageous variant provides for the cooling line to comprise an infeed belt positioned at the beginning, a conveyor belt used as a buffer, two product conveyors each configured as a conveyor belt with associated vacuum cooling stations, and a conveyor belt configured as a discharge belt, arranged one behind the other in this order in the transport direction. The number of product conveyors with vacuum cooling stations is optional and can, in particular, be further expanded.

[0040] It would be conceivable to create a packaging line comprising at least one cooling line and at least one packaging machine configured to package the products vacuum-cooled along the cooling line, particularly in the form of a thermoforming packaging machine. This would allow products to be vacuum-cooled along the cooling line and then fed to the packaging machine, where they can be packaged along the cooling line using a packaging material processed thereon.

[0041] In particular, a discharge belt arranged at the exit of the cooling line can be designed as a feed for the packaging machine, which is particularly in the form of a thermoforming packaging machine. The discharge belt can be arranged, at least in sections, above a transport device designed for transporting produced packaging trays, with lateral transport chains, in order to discharge the vacuum-cooled products into the packaging trays transported below by the transport chains.

[0042] In particular, the discharge conveyor of the cooling line can be configured to compensate for height differences between the cooling line and the packaging machine. For example, it can be designed to be height-adjustable, at least in sections.

[0043] In particular, the packaging line comprises at least one baking device configured for baking, wherein the products baked by the baking device can be transferred to the cooling line, in particular to a feed belt provided thereon. Along this packaging line, the products can be manufactured, vacuum-cooled, and mechanically packaged with a packaging material.

[0044] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. They show: Fig. 1 a cooling line for vacuum cooling of products in schematic side view, Fig. 2 an isolated view of a vacuum cooling station of the cooling line in perspective view, Fig. 3 a thermoforming packaging machine for packaging products cooled by means of the cooling line in perspective view, and Fig. 4 a tray sealing machine for packaging products cooled by means of the cooling line in perspective view.

[0045] Identical components are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a cooling line 1. Products P are transported along a transport direction T along the cooling line 1 in order to be vacuum cooled. For this purpose, the Fig. 1, the cooling line 1 shown comprises a vacuum cooling station 2a and a further vacuum cooling station 2b positioned behind it in the transport direction T. These vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b are each configured to carry out a vacuum cooling process, whereby water vapor is extracted from the products P accommodated therein by means of a generated vacuum V in order to cool them in successive steps.

[0047] The vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b each have a product conveyor 3a, 3b. The two product conveyors 3a, 3b of the vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b are Fig. 1 as conveyor belts 4a, 4b. Furthermore, Fig. 1, that hermetically sealed vacuum cooling chambers 5a, 5b are formed at the respective vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b. According to Fig. 1, at the respective vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b, two products P are transported on the respective conveyor belts 4a, 4b into the vacuum cooling chambers 5a, 5b in order to be cooled therein by means of the vacuum V generated.

[0048] According to Fig. 1, the products P are cooled down from a first temperature level T1, which the products P have at the inlet of the cooling line 1, to a lower, desired temperature level T2, which the products P have at the outlet of the cooling line 1, by passing through the two vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b step by step.

[0049] At the respective vacuum cooling stations 2a,2b from Fig. 1, height-adjustable upper mold parts 6a, 6b are provided as chamber lids. By opening and closing, the respective upper mold parts 6a, 6b, together with the respective associated conveyor belts 4a, 4b, and optionally additionally with lower mold parts (not shown), can form the respective vacuum cooling chambers 5a, 5b in order to hermetically enclose the products P to be cooled therebetween.

[0050] Fig. 1 further shows, in a schematic representation, that the respective vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b each have a heat source 7a, 7b, by means of which the respective conveyor belts 4a, 4b can be heated to a predetermined temperature level. This makes it possible to reduce the precipitation of the water vapor extracted from the products P by vacuum cooling on the conveyor belts 4a, 4b. For the purpose of reducing precipitation, it would be conceivable for the respective vacuum cooling chambers 5a, 5b to have chamber walls 8a, 8b that can be heated to a predetermined temperature level, which can be heated in particular by means of the respective heat sources 7a, 7b.

[0051] Further shows Fig. 1 schematically shows that a cleaning unit 9a, 9b and a drying unit 10a, 10b are arranged at the output of the respective vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b. These units can each be used to clean the conveyor belts 4a, 4b of the two vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b, at least in certain areas, a surface O on which the products P are deposited.

[0052] According to Fig. 1, the cooling line 1 has a product conveyor 11 configured as a buffer conveyor, which is positioned upstream of the vacuum cooling station 2a in the transport direction T. This conveyor is configured, in particular, to intermittently supply products P to the downstream vacuum cooling station 2a according to a desired work cycle.

[0053] According to Fig. 1, the cooling line 1 has an inlet-positioned feed belt 12, which is designed to continuously transport products P, in particular to continuously receive them from a schematically illustrated baking device 13. From the feed belt 12, the hot products P are continuously transferred to the product conveyor 11, which is configured as a buffer conveyor and intermittently transfers the hot products P to the vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b.

[0054] In the transport direction T, a discharge belt 13 is arranged downstream of the vacuum cooling stations 2b to transport cooled products P. The Fig. The discharge belt 13 shown in Fig. 1 can serve as a feeding device for a downstream packaging machine 14 in order to transfer the cooled products P to the packaging machine 14 so that they can be packaged along it.

[0055] Fig. 2 shows one of the Fig. 1 used vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b in isolated, perspective view.

[0056] In Fig. 2, the vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b is shown in an open position. According to Fig. 2, four products P are positioned below the upper mold part 6a, 6b by means of the conveyor belt 4a, 4b. To carry out the vacuum cooling process, the upper mold part 6a, 6b is lowered to hermetically enclose the products P positioned below in a vacuum cooling chamber 5a, 5b formed thereby.

[0057] According to Fig. 2, the vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b has a controller 15. The vacuum cooling processes and ventilation processes carried out in the vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b can be controlled and tracked by the controller 15. In particular, the vacuum cooling process carried out within the vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b can be dynamically controlled by the controller 15, in particular taking into account the temperature level T1 of the products P, which can be recorded by a temperature detection unit 16 positioned at the entrance to the vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b. Alternatively to the Fig. 2, the temperature detection unit 16 could also be arranged within the vacuum cooling chamber 5a, 5b, for example, directly on the upper mold part 6a, 6b. Alternatively and / or in addition to temperature detection, the dynamic control of the vacuum cooling process could also be carried out by dynamic pressure control based on a comparison of an actual pressure gradient detected within the vacuum cooling chamber with a desired vacuum pressure gradient.

[0058] The Fig. The machine shown in Figure 2 forms a vacuum cooler which can be operated as an independent machine independently of the machine structure of a packaging machine, i.e. without being structurally integrated into it, and can be used in particular as a stand-alone solution for vacuum cooling the products P passing through it.

[0059] Fig. Figure 3 shows a packaging machine 14 configured as a thermoforming packaging machine 14'. The thermoforming packaging machine 14' has a forming station 17 for producing thermoformed cavities M in a bottom film 18. An insertion section 19 is provided downstream of the forming station 17 in the production direction R. Further downstream of the thermoforming packaging machine 14' in the production direction R is a sealing station 20 for sealing product-laden cavities M with a top film material. The sealing station 20 In the production direction R, a cross-cutting station 21 and a longitudinal cutting station 22 follow in order to produce individual packages from the sealed film material.

[0060] The Fig. Cooling line 1 shown in Figure 1 can be used together with the cooling line Fig. 3. The products P vacuum-cooled along the cooling line 1 can be inserted into the troughs M provided in the area of the insertion section 19 formed on the thermoforming packaging machine 14' using the discharge belt 13 positioned at the exit of the cooling line 1. The discharge belt 13 is used as a product feed device for the thermoforming packaging machine 14'.

[0061] Fig. 4 shows a packaging machine 14 configured as a tray sealing machine 23. The tray sealing machine 23 has a feed belt 24 on which separate tray parts, so-called trays 25, are arranged. A sealing station 26 is formed downstream of the feed belt 24 in the production direction R. The sealing station 26 has a gripper device 27 designed to pick up the tray parts 25 provided on the feed belt 24 and transfer them to a lower tool part 28 of the sealing station 26. The lower tool part 28 of the sealing station 26 is designed to be brought together with an upper tool part 29 positioned above it in order to seal the tray parts 25 received in the lower tool part 26 with an upper film 30 guided through the sealing station 26.The shell parts 25 sealed by the upper film 30 can be picked up by the gripper device 27 and transferred to a discharge belt 31. At the same time, the gripper device 27 can pick up unsealed shell parts 25 from the feed belt 24 and place them in the lower tool part 28.

[0062] The Fig. Cooling line 1 shown in Figure 1 can be used to Fig. 4 shown tray sealing machine 23 to supply chilled products P. For example, the Fig. 1, the discharge belt 13 of the cooling line 1 can be configured to deposit the cooled products P transported thereon into the tray parts 25 positioned on the feed belt 24 of the tray sealing machine 23, i.e. to fill them, before they are transported to the sealing station 26 by means of the gripper device 27.

Claims

[1] Method for cooling products (P) transported along a cooling line (1) by means of a product conveyor (3a, 3b) provided thereon in the form of a conveyor belt (4a, 4b) in the transport direction (T), wherein at least one vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) provided along a section of the product conveyor (3a, 3b) cools the products (P) transported into it on the product conveyor (3a, 3b) by means of a vacuum (V) generated within the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b), characterized by that in the transport direction (T) a plurality of vacuum cooling chambers (5a, 5b) arranged one behind the other are formed for the intermittent vacuum cooling of products (P) conveyed through them on the product conveyor (3a, 3b). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one vacuum cooling chamber (5a, 5b) is formed at the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) for vacuum cooling the products (P) transported into it on the product conveyor (3a, 3b). [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the product conveyor (3a, 3b) is heated to a predetermined temperature level and / or chamber walls (8a, 8b) delimiting the vacuum cooling chamber (5a, 5b) are heated to a predetermined temperature level and / or the product conveyor (3a, 3b) passes through a cleaning unit (9a, 9b) and / or drying unit (10a, 10b) arranged along the cooling line (1). [4] Cooling line (1) comprising at least one product conveyor (3a, 3b), which is a conveyor belt (4a, 4b), for transporting products (P) along a transport direction (T), wherein the cooling line (1) comprises, at least along a section of the product conveyor (3a, 3b), a vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) which is designed for vacuum cooling the products (P) transported into it on the product conveyor (3a, 3b) by means of a generated vacuum, characterized byin that the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) is configured to form a plurality of vacuum cooling chambers (5a, 5b) positioned one behind the other in the transport direction (T), which are provided for the intermittent vacuum cooling of products (P) conveyed through them on the product conveyor (3a, 3b). [5] Cooling line according to claim 4, characterized by that at least one vacuum cooling chamber (5a, 5b) can be formed at the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) for vacuum cooling the products (P) transported into it on the product conveyor (3a, 3b). [6] Cooling line according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) is configured to form a plurality of vacuum cooling chambers (5a, 5b) positioned next to one another transversely to the transport direction (T). [7] Cooling line according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized bythat the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) has at least one upper tool part (6a, 6b) which is mounted so as to be height-adjustable relative to the product conveyor (3a, 3b) and / or at least one lower tool part which is mounted so as to be height-adjustable relative to the product conveyor (3a, 3b). [8] Cooling line according to claim 7, characterized by that the upper tool part (6a, 6b) and / or the lower tool part is designed to generate the vacuum (V). [9] Cooling line according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized by that the product conveyor (3a, 3b) is heated to a predetermined temperature level and / or chamber walls (8a, 8b) delimiting the vacuum cooling chamber (5a, 5b) can be heated to a predetermined temperature level. [10] Cooling line according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized bythat the cooling line (1) has at least one cleaning unit (9a, 9b) and / or drying unit (10a, 10b) for at least one surface (O) of the product conveyor (3a, 3b) used to transport the products (P). [11] Cooling line according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized by that the cooling line (1) has at least one further product conveyor (11) configured as a buffer conveyor, in particular a conveyor belt, upstream of the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) and / or that the cooling line (1) has at least one feed belt (12) designed for continuous transport upstream of the vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b). [12] Packaging line, comprising at least one cooling line (1) according to one of claims 4 to 11 and at least one packaging machine (14) configured to package the products (P) vacuum-cooled along the cooling line (1), in particular in the form of a thermoforming packaging machine (14'). [13] Packaging line according to claim 12, characterized by that the packaging line has at least one baking device (13) configured for baking, wherein the products (P) baked by means of the baking device (13) can be transferred to the cooling line (1).

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