Device and method for drying and puffing

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for drying and puffing organic, moist products, in particular fruits and / or vegetables, comprising a microwave treatment chamber (10), at least one post-drying container (11) having a first infrared radiation source, at least one cooling container (13) having a second infrared radiation source, and a discharge lock (14), which are each connected to at least one vacuum unit (15), wherein the post-drying container (11) and the cooling container (13) each have a plurality of receiving compartments (16) for product carriers (17), which receiving compartments are arranged substantially one above the other in the vertical direction, and wherein a displacement unit (18) is provided upstream of each of the post-drying container (11) and the cooling container (13) in the conveying direction of the product carriers (17), and the height position of the receiving compartments (16) and of the displacement units (18) relative to one another can be changed in order to load the receiving compartments (16) individually with product carriers (17) for continuous operation and / or to unload the receiving compartments.

Description

[0001] Device and method for drying and puffing

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The invention relates to a device for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products, in particular fruits and / or vegetables, according to the preamble of patent claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for drying and puffing such products. A device of the type mentioned above is disclosed, for example, in EP 2 408 322 B1.

[0004] EP 2 408 322 B1 describes a device which, by supplying microwave energy, enables particularly efficient and cost-effective drying of organic, water-moist products, while maintaining high product quality. The device comprises a microwave treatment chamber and at least one post-drying container containing an infrared radiation source. The product pre-dried in the microwave treatment chamber is further dried in the post-drying container by the infrared radiation source. In order to reduce the temperature generated in the product by drying, an infrared sink is also provided in the post-drying container, which is arranged downstream of the infrared radiation source in the direction of movement of the product to be dried. The dried and cooled products leave the device via a discharge lock.

[0005] In the known device, the microwave treatment chambers, the post-drying container, and the discharge lock are each connected to at least one vacuum unit to create a negative pressure in the respective chambers. The use of a microwave treatment chamber has led to significant improvements in product quality while simultaneously increasing efficiency with regard to energy input and energy consumption. However, it has been shown that further improvements are both sensible and possible.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products that is even more efficient and can be used to increase productivity. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a method for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products using such a device.

[0007] This object is achieved with regard to the device for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products by the subject matter of patent claim 1 and with regard to the associated method by the features of patent claim 12.

[0008] The invention is based on the idea of ​​providing a device for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products, in particular fruits and / or vegetables, wherein the device comprises a microwave treatment chamber, at least one post-drying container with a first infrared radiation source, at least one cooling container with a second infrared radiation source, and a discharge lock, each of which is connected to at least one vacuum unit. According to the invention, the post-drying container and the cooling container each have a plurality of receiving compartments for product carriers, which are arranged essentially vertically. A displacement unit is arranged upstream of each of the post-drying container and the cooling container in the conveying direction of the product carriers.The height of the receiving compartments and the shifting units can be changed relative to each other in order to load and / or unload the receiving compartments individually with product carriers for continuous operation.

[0009] The particular advantage of the invention is that the multiple compartments for product carriers, whose height can be adjusted relative to one another, enable continuous drying of a large number of products. The device can therefore be used in continuous operation. The post-drying container operates continuously and dries products on multiple product carriers simultaneously. This increases the process speed and thus the efficiency of the device. The shifting unit, which can transfer individual product carriers from one process step to the next, also contributes to this. The shifting unit can thus transfer the product carriers from the microwave treatment chamber to the post-drying container and, in particular, from the post-drying container to the cooling container when the desired degree of dryness for this product carrier has been achieved.The shifting unit and the receiving compartments, which are arranged vertically and whose height can be adjusted, interact in such a way that essentially continuous loading and unloading of the post-drying container is possible.

[0010] Overall, the invention reduces idle times for the post-drying tank and the cooling tank. The drying process in the microwave treatment chamber requires considerably less time than the post-drying in the post-drying tank under the influence of infrared radiation sources. Previously, the microwave treatment chamber could therefore only be refilled with a new product carrier once the post-drying process in the post-drying tank had been completed. With the invention, however, product carriers can be continuously introduced into the microwave treatment chamber in a timed manner, and can also be passed on to the post-drying tank at the same time. This can be done, in particular, in an automated manner.

[0011] By placing the product carriers in individual compartments, the dwell time of each product carrier can be maintained to ensure sufficient post-drying. Furthermore, product carriers can be continuously inserted into the compartments in a timed manner, eliminating idle time for the microwave treatment chamber.

[0012] Furthermore, product carriers can also be transferred from the drying tank to the cooling tank at the same time after the final drying period has been completed. The transfer units are used for this purpose. The same applies to loading and unloading the discharge lock. In particular, the transfer units allow the device to be emptied under its own power, ensuring that no empty product carriers are left behind in the device.

[0013] Preferably, a control unit is provided that is connected at least to the microwave treatment chamber, the post-drying container, the cooling container, and the displacement units. The control unit can be configured for continuous operation such that a) the receiving compartments of the post-drying container can be successively loaded with product carriers from the microwave treatment chamber, and b) the product carriers, after the respective target degree of post-drying has been reached, can be continuously conveyed by the displacement unit arranged upstream of the post-drying container into the receiving compartments of a subsequent container, in particular another post-drying container or the cooling container.

[0014] The control unit thus ensures continuous process operation. The multiple storage compartments allow for simultaneous post-drying of several products on different product carriers, with the degree of drying depending on the time of loading. The product carriers are then continuously conveyed depending on the degree of drying. Preferably, it is ensured that all product carriers have the same residence time in the post-drying container and / or the cooling container. The loading of the post-drying container and / or the cooling container therefore takes place in the same order as the unloading of the post-drying container and / or the cooling container.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control unit is configured for continuous operation such that c) the product carriers, after reaching the respective target treatment degree, in particular target post-drying degree or target cooling degree, can be continuously conveyed into the receiving compartments of a subsequent container, in particular a further post-drying container or the cooling container, or into the discharge lock by the displacement unit arranged upstream of the subsequent container or the discharge lock.

[0016] Essentially, any number of subsequent containers can be installed, for example, to achieve improved or intensified drying, to carry out drying more gently at lower temperatures, or to accelerate the overall process. Overall, the device can be individually adapted to the specific product to be dried and the on-site conditions.

[0017] The control unit for continuous operation can also be configured so that the product carriers can be removed from the receiving compartments in the same order in which they are loaded. This ensures the maximum post-drying time of the first product carrier is optimally used to fill the receiving compartments. The number of receiving compartments can be based on the total drying time of a product carrier and the duration of the loading or unloading process.

[0018] It is preferred if the receiving compartments are movable vertically by a lifting device. By allowing the receiving compartments to be moved vertically, the shifting device can be vertically stationary. This significantly simplifies the assembly, especially since the shifting device can also be arranged outside the containers in this configuration. This facilitates maintenance of the shifting device.

[0019] The storage compartments are preferably individually temperature-controlled, particularly heatable or coolable. This allows for very precise temperature control. The proximity of the heat source to the product is particularly helpful for achieving uniform and easily controllable drying. Specifically, the storage compartments can have heat exchanger plates that serve as a source of infrared radiation. The heat exchanger plates preferably form the support for the product carriers, allowing the infrared heat radiation to be transmitted directly to the product carriers.

[0020] The product carriers themselves preferably comprise a heat-conducting material in order to be able to transfer the heat to the products to be dried.

[0021] The number of receiving compartments in the post-drying container preferably corresponds at least to the number of receiving compartments in the cooling container. This also ensures continuous operation, as the product carriers can be transferred from one drying station to the next at the same rate without having to accept extended dwell times in a drying station. In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the displacement unit comprises at least one pivoting arm, which can be moved along the conveyor track of the product carrier on the one hand and removed from the conveyor track of the product carrier on the other. Because the pivoting arm is movable along the conveyor track of the product carrier, the product carrier can be transferred from one container to the next using the pivoting arm, i.e. moved along its conveyor track. In this way, the product carrier can be unloaded from a container, for example.However, to ensure that the conveyor track of the subsequent product carrier is not obstructed when loading a container, the swivel arm can be removed from the conveyor track of the product carrier.

[0022] The displacement unit can also have at least one guide, in particular two guides, that extend along the conveyor track and delimit it. The guides ensure a safe and precise conveying movement between the individual containers.

[0023] It can be provided that the guide, in particular one of the two guides, has a particularly profiled, waste surface, along which the product carrier rolls as it moves along its conveyor track. Rolling the product carrier along a guide has the advantage that the position of the product carrier automatically changes as it is conveyed from one container to another, i.e., the product carrier rotates relative to the respective receiving compartment. The product carrier is thus rotated as it moves from one heat exchanger plate in one receiving compartment to another heat exchanger plate in the next receiving compartment in a subsequent container, ensuring that the heat input into the product carrier is uniform.

[0024] The rotational movement of the product carrier can be controlled particularly well if the rolling surface is profiled. For example, the rolling surface can be a toothed surface. It is also preferred if the product carrier has a corresponding counter-toothing, ensuring rotation through a predetermined angle.

[0025] In this regard, a preferred embodiment provides that the profile and / or length of the rolling surface is dimensioned such that the product carrier describes a rolling angle of 90° to 270°, in particular of 150° to 210°, in particular of 180°. Specifically, it is particularly preferred if the product carrier rotates 180° when transferring from one container to the next. This ensures that all products on the product carrier are exposed to the appropriate heat essentially evenly. This can improve the drying result.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment, the displacement unit comprises at least one measuring unit configured to detect at least one measured variable for determining process progress data during the transition of the product carrier between the microwave treatment chamber, the post-drying container, the cooling container, and / or the discharge lock. The measured variable can be, in particular, a surface temperature of the product carrier, a product moisture content, and / or a product mass. The detection of the product mass or its change can serve as an indicator for balancing the drying progress. It is also particularly preferred if the control unit is configured such that the drying process is controlled based on the measured variables detected by the measuring unit. This allows the device to be individually adapted to the conditions of the respective product to be dried.If, for example, it is detected after the microwave treatment chamber that the desired degree of drying has not been fully achieved, the drying time or drying temperature in the post-drying container can be adjusted accordingly. This results in extremely evenly dried products.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the invention, the microwave treatment chamber can also comprise a movable receiving device, in particular a turntable, for receiving the product carrier, wherein a drive system of the receiving device comprises a measuring cell for determining a change in the mass of the products during the microwave treatment. It has been shown that the integration of such a measuring cell into the drive system of the receiving device is particularly simple and can be used efficiently to record the drying progress in the microwave treatment chamber. The change in mass developed by the measuring cell in the drive system of the receiving device can be used as an input data set for the control unit in order to adapt the subsequent process steps according to the degree of drying after the microwave treatment.A secondary aspect of the invention relates to a method for drying and buffering organic, water-moist products, in particular fruits and / or vegetables, using a device described above. In the method according to the invention, a) the receiving compartments of the post-drying container are successively loaded with product carriers from the microwave treatment chamber, and b) after the respective target degree of post-drying has been reached, the product carriers are continuously transported by the displacement unit arranged upstream of the post-drying container into the receiving compartments of a subsequent container, in particular another post-drying container or the cooling container.

[0028] The advantages and preferred developments mentioned in connection with the device described above also apply accordingly to the drying and puffing process according to the invention.

[0029] Preferably, the method according to the invention provides that c) the product carriers, after reaching the respective target degree of treatment, in particular the target degree of post-drying or target degree of cooling, are continuously conveyed into the receiving compartments of a following container, in particular a further post-drying container or the cooling container, or into the discharge lock by the displacement unit arranged upstream of the following container or the discharge lock.

[0030] The device described here and the associated method are preferably used for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products, in particular fruits and / or vegetables. However, the field of application of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention extends further and covers all organic products that are water-moist. Mixtures of organic products with a water moisture content can also be treated. This applies in particular to mixtures of or with fruits and vegetables. The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached schematic drawings.

[0031] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the invention for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products;

[0032] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a section of a device according to the invention as shown in Fig. 1, showing the displacement path of a product carrier;

[0033] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through a post-drying container of the device according to Fig. 1;

[0034] Fig. 4 is a plan view of a displacement unit of the device according to Fig. 1;

[0035] Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a heat exchanger plate, a receiving compartment, a product carrier and a guide of the sliding unit to explain the usefulness of a rolling mechanism for the product carrier; and

[0036] Fig. 6 a plan view of a sliding unit with profiled guide for unrolling a product carrier.

[0037] Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of an apparatus according to the invention for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products. The apparatus comprises several chambers and containers arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction of the product to be dried. In this way, various drying stages are implemented.

[0038] A first drying stage is formed by a microwave treatment chamber 10. The microwave treatment chamber 10 is connected to a vacuum unit 15. The vacuum unit 15 essentially forms a vacuum pump that creates a negative pressure in the microwave treatment chamber 10. A vacuum seal VH1, VH2 is arranged directly upstream and downstream of the microwave treatment chamber 10. A first post-drying container 11 is arranged downstream of the microwave treatment chamber 10 in the conveying direction of the products. The first post-drying container 11 is followed by a second post-drying container 11. In the illustrated embodiment, two essentially identical post-drying containers 11 are provided. More than two post-drying containers 11 can be connected in series, particularly if spatial conditions or customer-specific processes require it.However, it is also possible for the device to comprise only a post-drying container 11.

[0039] The post-drying container 11 is also connected to a vacuum unit 15 so that the pressure in the post-drying container 11 is controllable. In addition, the post-drying container 11 is connected to a heat source WA, which preferably comprises a liquid-filled heat circuit. The liquid-filled heat circuit is preferably controlled by a heat circuit pump WP. The heat circuit is connected to heat exchangers 24 or infrared radiation sources, which are arranged in the receiving compartments 16 for the product carriers. The receiving compartments 16 are each located in the post-drying containers 11. The structure and arrangement of the receiving compartments 16 will be explained in more detail later in connection with Fig. 3.

[0040] In the conveying direction of the products, the post-drying container 11, in particular the second post-drying container 11, is followed by a cooling container 13. The cooling container 13 has essentially the same structure as the post-drying container 11. The cooling container 13 is also connected to the vacuum unit 15.

[0041] The vacuum unit 15 can comprise one or more vacuum pumps, VP1, VP2. A design with just one vacuum pump VP1 is possible. However, in the embodiment shown here, two vacuum pumps VP1, VP2 are provided. A first vacuum pump VP1 is connected to the post-drying containers 11 and the cooling container 13, so that a uniform pressure can be set simultaneously in these containers. However, the pressures in the individual containers can also be individually adjusted via valves. A second vacuum pump VP2 is coupled to the microwave treatment chamber 10 and a discharge lock 14, so that the pressures in these containers or chambers can be set simultaneously and uniformly. Here, too, individual pressure adjustment can be achieved via valves. The two vacuum pumps VP1, VP2 of the vacuum pump unit 15 can preferably be controlled separately from one another.Thus, different pressures can be set in the microwave treatment chamber 10 and the discharge lock 14 than in the post-drying container 11 and the cooling container 13.

[0042] The cooling tank 13 is also connected to a cooling source CA, which comprises a coolant circuit. The coolant circuit further includes a coolant pump CP. The coolant circuit is also connected to heat exchangers arranged on the receiving compartments 16.

[0043] The heat exchangers essentially form a second infrared radiation source that operates at a lower temperature than the first infrared radiation source. In this way, the heat required for drying can be extracted from the dried products in the cooling container, allowing the products to be cooled to a predetermined temperature. Preferably, the products can be cooled to room temperature.

[0044] A discharge lock 14 is arranged downstream of the cooling tank 13 in the product conveying direction. A third vacuum seal VH3 is arranged between the cooling tank 13 and the discharge lock 14. A fourth vacuum seal VH4 is located downstream of the discharge lock 13 in the product conveying direction. The product can exit the device via the fourth vacuum seal VH4.

[0045] Preferably, the post-drying tanks 11 and the cooling tank 13 are arranged in a single chamber, which is sealed off by the second vacuum seal VH2 and the third vacuum seal VH3. This allows the products to be transferred between the individual tanks without pressure fluctuations.

[0046] Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a possible arrangement of the individual containers or chambers relative to one another. Furthermore, Fig. 2 uses arrows to show how a product carrier 17 preferably passes through the device. The product carrier 17 first passes through the first vacuum seal VH1 into the microwave treatment chamber 10. There, the product carrier 17 is positioned on a receiving device (e.g., a turntable) that moves, preferably rotates, the product carrier 17 to ensure uniform microwave treatment. At the same time, the receiving device can be moved vertically to ensure uniform heating of the products by the microwave radiation.

[0047] The drive system of the receiving device preferably comprises a measuring cell for determining product data for evaluating the drying process during microwave treatment. Such a measuring cell can, for example, be a load cell that monitors the mass of the products. A change in the mass of the products indicates the respective degree of drying, so that the microwave treatment process can be stopped as soon as a certain degree of drying or a certain change in product mass has been achieved.

[0048] The product carrier 17 is then transferred to the first post-drying container 11, where the product carrier 17 is placed in a receiving compartment 16. The receiving compartments 16 each have heat exchangers 24 in their bases, which are coupled to the heat circuit. The heat exchangers 24 can, for example, be plates through which fluid flows. These plates form an infrared radiation source that transfers heat to the products. This heat provides the post-drying process.

[0049] Preferably, the receiving compartments 16 are moved vertically during the drying process so that the receiving compartments 16 can be loaded successively or in a synchronized manner with new product carriers 17 from the microwave treatment chamber 10. The vertical movement of the receiving compartments 16 occurs in both directions, so that after loading, a receiving compartment 16 is first moved vertically in one direction and then back in the opposite direction. This brings the receiving compartment 16 back to the level of a transfer unit 18, which can transfer the product carrier 17 to the next post-drying container 11. The dwell time or travel time of the receiving carrier 16 corresponds to a predetermined period of time that leads to the desired degree of drying of the respective product.

[0050] In the device according to Fig. 2, the product carrier 17 then passes into a second post-drying container 11. The transfer between the microwave treatment chamber 10 and the post-drying containers 11 or between the post-drying containers 11 or between a post-drying container 11 and a cooling container 13 as well as between the cooling container 13 and the discharge lock 14 takes place via displacement units 18, which will be explained in more detail later in connection with Fig. 4.

[0051] In the device according to Fig. 2, the product carrier 17 is transferred from the second post-drying tank 11 to the cooling tank 13. The cooling tank 13 also contains several receiving compartments 16 that move vertically. Each receiving compartment 16 carries a heat exchanger 24, which is, however, connected to a coolant circuit. The heat exchanger 24 can thus be formed by a plate through which liquid flows, with a liquid at a lower temperature flowing through the plate than through the heat exchanger plates 24 in the post-drying tanks 11. In this way, the temperature that was previously introduced into the products in the post-drying tanks 11 is removed from the products in the cooling tank 13. After the cooling process in the cooling tank 13, the product carrier 17 is transferred to the discharge lock 14.The product carrier 17 can then be removed from the discharge lock 14 and thus leaves the device for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products.

[0052] Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a post-drying container 11. A cooling container 13 can also have the same structure. The post-drying container 11 is essentially designed as a silo-like tank that forms a conveyor track in a central region. A product carrier 17 can enter the post-drying container 11 via the conveyor track and exit it again from the opposite side. Several shelf-like receiving compartments 16 are arranged in the post-drying container 11. The shelf with receiving compartments 16 is vertically displaceable, with a lifting device in the form of a winch 19 being provided for this purpose, which pulls the receiving compartments 16 vertically upwards or lowers them vertically downwards. Each receiving compartment 16 carries a heat exchanger 24, which in the post-drying containers 11 is connected to a heat source. In the cooling container 13, the heat exchanger 24 is coupled to a coolant circuit.

[0053] To dry the products, a product carrier 17 is inserted into the post-drying container 11, where the product carrier 17 is pushed into a receiving compartment 16. The receiving compartment 16 is then moved vertically upwards while a negative pressure prevails in the post-drying container 11 and, at the same time, infrared radiation is emitted onto the products via the heat exchangers. The heat exchangers thus form the infrared radiation sources. As soon as the receiving compartment 16 reaches the top dead center of the lifting path, the direction of movement of the winch 19 is reversed and the receiving compartment 16 moves vertically downwards. As soon as the receiving compartment 16 reaches the conveyor path again, the product carrier 17 is discharged from the post-drying container 11 by the shifting unit 18 and transferred to another post-drying container 11 or the cooling container 13. The discharge therefore takes place during a pause in the downward movement of the rack of receiving compartments 16.

[0054] Conversely, it is also possible for the lowest receiving compartment 16 to be loaded first, then for the shelf of receiving compartments 16 to be lowered downwards and raised again, so that the product carriers 17 are discharged during a pause in the upward movement of the shelf of receiving compartments 16.

[0055] The speed of the vertical movement of the receiving compartments 16 is preferably adjusted to the dwell time of a product carrier 17 such that the products arranged thereon leave the post-drying containers 11 with a predetermined degree of dryness. At the same time, the speed of the vertical movement of the receiving compartments 16 is adjusted so that product carriers 17 can be continuously fed out of the microwave treatment chamber 10. In this way, a timed but continuous drying operation can be achieved, thereby achieving a high level of device efficiency.

[0056] Fig. 4 schematically shows a displacement unit 18 arranged between two containers. Preferably, a displacement unit 18 is arranged between the microwave treatment chamber 10 and the post-drying container 11, between the post-drying container and the cooling container 13, and between the cooling container 13 and the discharge lock 14. The displacement unit 18 can also be provided upstream of the microwave treatment chamber 10, just as another displacement unit 18 can be arranged downstream of the discharge lock 14. If multiple post-drying containers 11 are provided, additional displacement units 18 can be provided between each of these post-drying containers 11.

[0057] The displacement unit 18 comprises a pivot arm 20 that is movable along the conveyor track of the product carrier 17. The pivot arm 20 can engage in a receiving compartment 16 to grasp the product carrier 17 and move it along the conveyor track. To ensure a secure direction of movement for the product carrier 17, two guides 21, 22 are preferably provided that limit the conveyor track for the product carrier 17. The pivot arm 20 can insert the product carrier 17 between the guides 21, 22 and move it within the guides 21, 22 to the next container. The pivot arm 20 is also rotatable so that it can be pivoted completely out of the conveyor track of the product carrier 17 so as not to block the conveyor track.

[0058] Fig. 5 schematically shows a heat exchanger 24 designed as a heat exchanger plate. Fluid guides run through the heat exchanger plate, allowing a liquid heat transfer medium to flow through the heat exchanger plate. Since the heat exchanger transfers its temperature to the product carrier 17, different temperatures develop within the heat exchanger. Fig. 5 shows, by way of example, that the heat exchanger 24 has a temperature of approximately 70°C in the area where the heat exchanger fluid enters, whereas the heat exchanger fluid exits at a temperature of only 60°C.

[0059] In order to nevertheless achieve uniform heating and drying of the products on the product carrier 17, it is provided that at least one of the guides 21, 22 has a rolling surface 23 against which the product carrier 17 rolls when moving along the conveyor track. The rolling surface 23 can be profiled, as shown by way of example in Fig. 6. This shows two guides 21, 22 which delimit the conveyor track for the product carrier 17. A first guide 21 has a profiled rolling surface 23, which is designed in particular as a toothing. The product carrier 17 has corresponding counter-toothing, so that the product carrier 17 rotates through a predetermined angle when conveyed along the conveyor track. This makes it possible for the product carrier 17 to rotate through 180° between two containers.In particular, the product carrier 17 can rotate 180° between the first post-drying container 11 and the second post-drying container 11, so that the area of ​​the product carrier 17 previously located on the warmer side of the heat exchanger 24 is exposed to the colder side of the heat exchanger 24 in the second post-drying container 11. This ensures uniform heating of the products.

[0060] List of reference symbols

[0061] 10 Microwave treatment chamber

[0062] 11 post-drying containers

[0063] 13 cooling containers

[0064] 14 Discharge lock

[0065] 15 Vacuum unit

[0066] 16 storage compartment

[0067] 17 product carriers

[0068] 18 Shifting unit

[0069] 19 Lifting device, winch

[0070] 20 swivel arm

[0071] 21 first lead

[0072] 22 second lead

[0073] 23 roll-off containers

[0074] 24 heat exchangers

[0075] CA cooling source

[0076] CP coolant pump

[0077] VH1-VH4 vacuum seal

[0078] VP1, VP2 Vacuum pump WA Heat source WP Heat circulation pump

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products, in particular fruits and / or vegetables, comprising a microwave treatment chamber (10), at least one post-drying container (11) with a first infrared radiation source, at least one cooling container (13) with a second infrared radiation source, and a discharge lock (14), each connected to at least one vacuum unit (15), characterized in that the post-drying container (11) and the cooling container (13) each have a plurality of receiving compartments (16) for product carriers (17), which are arranged substantially vertically, wherein a displacement unit (18) is arranged upstream of the post-drying container (11) and the cooling container (13) in the conveying direction of the product carriers (17), and the height of the receiving compartments (16) and the displacement units (18) is variable relative to one another,to load and / or unload the receiving compartments (16) individually with product carriers (17) for continuous operation.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a control device is connected at least to the microwave treatment chamber (10), the post-drying container (11), the cooling container (13) and the displacement units (18), wherein the control device is configured for continuous operation in such a way that a) the receiving compartments (16) of the post-drying container (11) can be successively loaded with product carriers (17) from the microwave treatment chamber (10) and b) the product carriers (17) are moved after reaching the respective target post-drying degree by the (11) upstream displacement unit (18) into the receiving compartments (16) of a following container, in particular a further post-drying container (11) or the cooling container (13). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the control unit is configured for continuous operation such that c) the product carriers (17), after reaching the respective target degree of treatment, in particular the target post-drying degree or target cooling degree, are continuously conveyed into the receiving compartments (16) of a following container, in particular a further post-drying container (11) or the cooling container (13), or into the discharge lock (14) by the displacement unit (18) upstream of the following container or the discharge lock (14).Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the control unit is configured for continuous operation such that the product carriers (17) can be removed from the receiving compartments (16) in the same order in which they are loaded. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the receiving compartments (16) can be moved in the vertical direction by a lifting device (19). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the receiving compartments (16) can be individually temperature-controlled, in particular heated or cooled. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the number of receiving compartments (16) of the post-drying container (11) is at least equal to the number of receiving compartments (16) of the cooling container (13). corresponds. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the displacement unit (18) comprises at least one pivoting arm (20) which is movable on the one hand along the conveyor track of the product carrier (17) and on the other hand can be removed from the conveyor track of the product carrier (17). Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the displacement unit (18) has at least one guide (21), in particular two guides (21, 22), which extend along the conveyor track and delimit it. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the guide (21), in particular one of the two guides (21, 22), has a, in particular profiled, rolling surface (23) on which the product carrier (17) rolls when moving on the conveyor track.Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the profiling and / or the length of the rolling surface (23) is dimensioned such that the product carrier (17) describes a rolling angle of 90° to 270°, in particular of 150° to 210°, in particular of approximately 180°. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement unit (18) has at least one measuring unit which is configured to record at least one measured variable for determining process progress data during the transition of the product carrier (17) between the microwave treatment chamber, the post-drying container, the cooling container and / or the discharge lock, wherein the measured variable is in particular a surface temperature of the product carrier, a product moisture content and / or a product mass. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microwave treatment chamber (10) has a movable receiving device, in particular a turntable, for receiving the product carrier (17), wherein a drive system of the receiving device has a measuring cell for determining a change in mass of the products during the microwave treatment.Method for drying and puffing organic, water-moist products, in particular fruits and / or vegetables, with a device according to one of the preceding claims, in which a) the receiving compartments (16) of the post-drying container (11) are successively loaded with product carriers (17) from the microwave treatment chamber (10) and b) the product carriers (17), after the respective target degree of post-drying has been reached, are continuously conveyed by the displacement unit (18) arranged upstream of the post-drying container (11) into the receiving compartments (16) of a following container, in particular a further post-drying container (11) or the cooling container (13).Method according to claim 14, in which c) the product carriers (17), after reaching the respective target degree of treatment, in particular the target degree of post-drying or target degree of cooling, are continuously conveyed into the receiving compartments (16) of a following container, in particular a further post-drying container (11) or the cooling container (13), or into the discharge lock (14) by the displacement unit (18) arranged upstream of the following container or the discharge lock (14).

Images