Method and cooling line for vacuum cooling hot products
The cooling line with vacuum cooling stations on a conveyor addresses the inefficiencies of existing systems by providing rapid, energy-efficient, and compact cooling, enhancing productivity and reducing manual handling in the baking and packaging processes.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2025174035
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-05-07
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing vacuum cooling systems for baked goods are space-consuming, time-consuming, and energy-intensive, requiring manual handling and leading to increased manufacturing costs due to their integration with intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machines.
A cooling line with vacuum cooling stations integrated along a product conveyor, allowing products to pass through in one direction, utilizing vacuum cooling chambers to achieve compact, energy-efficient cooling without manual handling, synchronized with upstream baking and downstream packaging processes.
The solution enables rapid, space-saving, and energy-efficient cooling of products, reducing manual steps and increasing output by integrating vacuum cooling stations with the conveyor, facilitating seamless integration with packaging processes.
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Abstract
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 5.
[0002] DE29607689U1 discloses an intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machine with a sealing station, to which a mechanical cooling device is downstream in the transport direction, which presses on sealed packaging from above and below by means of cooling cushions attached to it in order to cool it downstream of the sealing station after the sealing process.
[0003] JPS57-1021A discloses another intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machine with a forming station positioned in the production direction for producing thermoforming troughs, a sealing station for producing packaging, and a vacuum station positioned between the forming station and the sealing station to remove moisture from enclosed products.
[0004] 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. Products arriving at the pasteurization station can be heat-treated by means of steam. Optionally, a vacuum cooling process takes place following the pasteurization process.
[0005] EP4335759A2 discloses another intermittently operating thermoforming packaging machine with a vacuum cooling unit positioned upstream of the sealing station along an infeed section in the production direction. Along the vacuum cooling unit, the vacuum cooling process is distributed across several vacuum cooling chambers, allowing the thermoforming packaging machine to operate with a machine cycle time that essentially corresponds to the duration of a sealing process at the sealing station.
[0006] The vacuum cooling systems described above are integrated into the design of the respective thermoforming packaging machines. Therefore, the effectiveness of these vacuum cooling systems depends on the intermittent operation of the thermoforming packaging machine and its design. This can lead to increased manufacturing costs.
[0007] Long cooling lines are used in practice to cool baked goods, for example, cooling towers with spirally arranged conveyor belts, allowing hot baked goods transported along these lines to cool down in the ambient air. However, these cooling lines require a long distance to cool the baked goods to a predetermined temperature level. Consequently, these cooling lines occupy a relatively large installation space and require a considerable amount of time to cool the hot baked goods. Furthermore, the extensive geometry of these cooling lines necessitates multiple drive units, making their operation energy-intensive.
[0008] Furthermore, vacuum refrigerators are used in practice. These create a closed cooling chamber in which products placed on trays on a transport trolley are cooled by means of a vacuum. However, for this to work, the baked goods must first be loaded onto baking trays, the trays pushed into the transport trolley, and the trolley then pushed into the vacuum refrigerator. Several steps, particularly manual ones, must therefore be carried out before the vacuum cooling process. 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 production volume of such vacuum refrigerators is low.
[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a method and a cooling line for improved product cooling, taking into account the disadvantages described above in connection with the prior art. This object is achieved by means of a method according to claim 1 and a cooling line according to claim 5.
[0010] Advantageous further developments of the invention are given by the respective subject matter of the dependent claims.
[0011] The invention relates to a method for cooling products transported along a cooling line by means of a product conveyor provided thereon in the direction of transport. 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. Because a vacuum cooling station configured for vacuum cooling is assigned to a section of the product conveyor or a section of the cooling line, and this 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 more compact design due to the additional 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 by means of the vacuum cooling station operating along the cooling line.
[0012] The process is carried out in particular using a chambered belt vacuum cooling machine designed as a cooling line. This can be used as an independent machine, separate from a packaging process, as a stand-alone solution, for the purpose of actively cooling products.
[0013] 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 therefore be described as " Stand-alone "-Processes are carried out without interference from a packaging process in order to cool products, especially baked goods."
[0014] In particular, the products can pass through the vacuum cooling station in one direction only, meaning they can pass through without reversing direction, 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 chilled products.
[0015] 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 chamber can be designed in such a way that it hermetically encloses the section of the product conveyor on which the product rests, so that it is located within the vacuum cooling chamber.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, several vacuum cooling chambers are arranged in series along the transport direction of the cooling line for the intermittent vacuum cooling of products conveyed through them on the product conveyor. This series of vacuum cooling chambers enables the products to pass through in short cooling intervals, allowing them to be further processed downstream of the vacuum cooling chambers in the transport direction within short intervals. This allows, for example, the products to be fed at a desired temperature level to a downstream packaging machine at short intervals. For this purpose, it would be conceivable for the cooled products to first be received by a feeding device upstream of the packaging machine, which could, for example, act as a buffer for the packaging machine, particularly a thermoforming packaging machine.
[0017] It would be conceivable to heat the product conveyor to a predetermined temperature level. This would reduce the condensation of water vapor on the conveyor, which is removed from the product during the vacuum cooling process by the vacuum created within the cooling chamber. One alternative involves heating the product conveyor using an integrated heating element, such as a heating mat. This could be heated inductively to the predetermined temperature level.
[0018] One approach involves heating the walls of the vacuum cooling chamber(s) to a predetermined temperature. This reduces the formation 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 circulating a fluid within them.
[0019] 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 in accordance with the highest hygiene requirements.
[0020] It is conceivable that several vacuum cooling stations along the cooling line could operate synchronously. According to a cost-effective solution, this could be achieved using a lifting mechanism shared by the vacuum cooling stations. This lifting mechanism could, in particular, incorporate a servo motor.
[0021] Advantageously, the operation of the vacuum cooling station(s) and an intermittent feed movement of the product conveyor are dynamically coordinated with regard to a provided, detected quantity of products to be cooled, in order to regulate the output of vacuum-cooled products according to a provision of hot products.
[0022] The intermittent operation method for vacuum cooling hot products along the cooling line can be controlled, in particular, depending on a machine work cycle of a baking unit upstream of the cooling line in the production direction and / or a packaging machine downstream of the cooling line in the production direction.
[0023] The products, especially baked goods, preferably have a core temperature of less than 35°C after vacuum cooling, particularly between 18°C and 25°C. Preferably, the product or baked goods have a core temperature of at least 70°C at the start of vacuum cooling in the vacuum cooling chamber, more preferably at least 78°C, and further preferably at least 85°C.
[0024] 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, particularly during vacuum cooling.
[0025] Furthermore, the invention 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 includes a vacuum cooling station at least along a section of the product conveyor, which is 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 requires less space on its own or when integrated as a cooling line in a production line.
[0026] It is conceivable that the product conveyor, along with its associated vacuum cooling station, could be an integral part of a chamber belt vacuum cooling machine. This could then be used as a stand-alone machine, independent of any packaging process, for the active cooling of products. One variant envisions the cooling line comprising several chamber belt vacuum cooling machines positioned in series.
[0027] 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.
[0028] According to a variant of the invention, the vacuum cooling station is configured to form several vacuum cooling chambers positioned one behind the other in the transport direction and / or several vacuum cooling chambers positioned side by side 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 several stages. This configuration is suitable for intermittent transport of the products in short cooling process intervals, so that vacuum-cooled products can be transported along the cooling line without significant delay.
[0029] Preferably, the vacuum cooling station has at least one upper mold part and / or at least one lower mold part mounted in a height-adjustable manner 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 and lower mold parts when the vacuum cooling station is in a closed position for vacuum cooling.
[0030] Preferably, the upper and / or lower tool part is designed to generate the vacuum. In particular, the lower and upper tool parts can be combined to form a vacuum cooling chamber such that the vacuum is generated via both the lower and upper tool parts.
[0031] One option involves using a conveyor belt or a link belt conveyor as the product conveyor. This allows for the transport of different products.
[0032] Advantageously, the product conveyor is designed to be heated to a predetermined temperature level. This reduces the amount of water vapor that condenses on the products during vacuum cooling. Preferably, the product conveyor includes a heating element, for example, an integrated heating mat. This can be in the form of a wire mesh embedded in the conveyor belt.
[0033] In particular, the chamber walls of the vacuum cooling chamber are designed to be heated to a predetermined temperature level. This counteracts the condensation of water vapor, which is extracted from the products being cooled during vacuum cooling. This promotes hygienic operation of the cooling line.
[0034] One option is to have the cooling line include at least one cleaning and / or drying unit for at least one surface of the product conveyor used for transporting the products. This allows the product conveyor to be freed from any water vapor condensation that forms on it during vacuum cooling. The cleaning and / or drying unit can be positioned directly behind the vacuum cooling chamber so that the products picked up at the beginning of the product conveyor can be placed on a clean surface before being transported into the vacuum cooling chamber.
[0035] Preferably, the cooling line has at least one additional product conveyor upstream of the vacuum cooling station, in particular configured as a buffer conveyor. This allows for buffering a varying inflow of products to be cooled upstream of the vacuum cooling station.
[0036] One variant provides that the cooling line has at least one feed conveyor designed for continuous transport upstream of the vacuum cooling station, specifically upstream of the buffer conveyor in the direction of transport. Its operation can be configured so that products transported on it are reliably fed to the vacuum cooling station, taking into account a predetermined cooling interval.
[0037] A particularly advantageous variant of the cooling line comprises an infeed conveyor positioned at the entrance, a buffer conveyor, two product conveyors each configured as a conveyor belt with associated vacuum cooling stations, and a discharge conveyor, all arranged in this order in the direction of transport. The number of product conveyors with vacuum cooling stations is arbitrary and can be further expanded.
[0038] It would be conceivable to create a packaging line comprising at least one cooling line and at least one packaging machine configured for packaging the products vacuum-cooled along the cooling line, particularly in the form of a thermoforming packaging machine. This would allow products to first be vacuum-cooled along the cooling line and then fed to the packaging machine, where they would be packaged with packaging material processed by the machine.
[0039] In particular, a discharge conveyor located at the exit of the cooling line can serve as a feed for the packaging machine, which is especially a thermoforming packaging machine. The discharge conveyor can be positioned, at least in sections, above a transport device with lateral transport chains designed for transporting manufactured packaging trays, in order to discharge the vacuum-cooled products into the packaging trays transported below by means of the transport chains.
[0040] 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 is designed to be height-adjustable, at least in sections.
[0041] In particular, the packaging line includes at least one baking unit configured for baking, whereby the products baked by the baking unit can be transferred to the cooling line, specifically to a feed conveyor provided therein. Along this packaging line, the products can be manufactured, vacuum-cooled, and mechanically packaged with packaging material.
[0042] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. They show: Figure 1 shows a cooling line for vacuum cooling of products in a schematic side view, Figure 2 shows an isolated view of a vacuum cooling station of the cooling line in perspective, Figure 3 shows a thermoforming packaging machine for packaging products cooled by means of the cooling line in perspective, and Figure 4 shows a tray sealing machine for packaging products cooled by means of the cooling line in perspective.
[0043] Identical components are consistently labelled with the same reference symbols in the figures.
[0044] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a cooling line. Products P are transported along cooling line 1 in a transport direction T to be vacuum-cooled. The system includes the following components: Figure 1 The cooling line 1 shown includes 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 contained therein by means of a generated vacuum V in order to cool them in successive steps.
[0045] Vacuum cooling stations 2a and 2b each have a product conveyor 3a and 3b, respectively. The two product conveyors 3a and 3b of vacuum cooling stations 2a and 2b are in Figure 1 designed as conveyor belts 4a, 4b. Furthermore, it shows Figure 1that hermetically sealed vacuum cooling chambers 5a, 5b are formed at the respective vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b. According to Figure 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 generated vacuum V.
[0046] According to Figure 1 The products P are cooled down from a first temperature level T1, which the products P have at the inlet of cooling line 1, to a lower, desired temperature level T2, which the products P have at the outlet of cooling line 1, by passing through the two vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b step by step.
[0047] At the respective vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b from Figure 1Height-adjustable upper tool sections 6a, 6b are provided as chamber covers. By opening and closing, the respective upper tool sections 6a, 6b, together with the respective associated conveyor belts 4a, 4b, and optionally with lower tool sections (not shown), can form the respective vacuum cooling chambers 5a, 5b, in order to hermetically enclose the products P to be cooled.
[0048] Figure 1The schematic diagram further shows that the respective vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b each have a heating 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 condensation of water vapor removed from the products P by vacuum cooling on the conveyor belts 4a, 4b. For the purpose of reducing condensation, 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, in particular by means of the respective heating sources 7a, 7b.
[0049] Furthermore, it shows Figure 1In a schematic representation, a cleaning unit 9a, 9b and a drying unit 10a, 10b are arranged at the outlet 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 partially, a surface O on which the products P are placed.
[0050] According to Figure 1 Cooling line 1 has a product conveyor 11 configured as a buffer conveyor, which is positioned in the transport direction T upstream of the vacuum cooling station 2a. This is specifically configured to intermittently supply products P to the downstream vacuum cooling station 2a according to a desired operating cycle.
[0051] According to Figure 1Cooling line 1 has an infeed conveyor 12 positioned at the entrance, which is designed to continuously transport products P, in particular to continuously receive them from a schematically depicted baking device 13. From the infeed conveyor 12, the hot products P are continuously transferred to the product conveyor 11, configured as a buffer conveyor, which intermittently transfers the hot products P to the vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b.
[0052] In the transport direction T, a discharge conveyor 13 is arranged downstream of the vacuum cooling stations 2b to transport chilled products P. The in Figure 1 The conveyor belt 13 shown can serve as a feeding device for a downstream packaging machine 14 to transfer the chilled products P to the packaging machine 14 so that they can be packaged along it.
[0053] Figure 2 shows one of the in Figure 1Vacuum cooling stations 2a, 2b used in isolated, perspective view.
[0054] In Figure 2 The vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b is shown in an open position. According to Figure 2 Four products P are positioned below the upper part of the tool 6a, 6b by means of the conveyor belt 4a, 4b. To carry out the vacuum cooling process, the upper part of the tool 6a, 6b is lowered to hermetically enclose the products P positioned below it in a vacuum cooling chamber 5a, 5b formed by this lowering.
[0055] According to Figure 2The vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b has a controller 15. The vacuum cooling and ventilation processes carried out in the vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b can be controlled and monitored using the controller 15. In particular, the vacuum cooling process carried out within the vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b can be dynamically controlled using the controller 15, especially taking into account the temperature level T1 of the products P, which can be detected by a temperature sensing unit 16 positioned at the inlet of the vacuum cooling station 2a, 2b. Alternatively, the controller 15 can be used to control and monitor the vacuum cooling process. Figure 2In the position shown, the temperature sensing unit 16 could also be located within the vacuum cooling chamber 5a, 5b, for example, directly on the upper part of the tool 6a, 6b. Alternatively and / or additionally to temperature sensing, 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 measured within the vacuum cooling chamber with a target vacuum pressure gradient.
[0056] The in Figure 2 The machine shown forms a vacuum cooler that can be operated independently of the machine structure of a packaging machine, i.e., without being structurally integrated into it, and can in particular be used as Stand-alone solution They are used for vacuum cooling of the products P passing through it.
[0057] Figure 3Figure 14 shows a packaging machine configured as a thermoforming packaging machine 16. The thermoforming packaging machine 16 has a forming station 17 for producing thermoformed cavities M in a base film 18. Downstream of the forming station 17 in the production direction R, an infeed section 19 is provided. Further downstream in the production direction R of the thermoforming packaging machine 16, a sealing station 20 is arranged to seal the product-loaded cavities M with a top film material. Following the sealing station 20 in the production direction R are a cross-cutting station 21 and a longitudinal cutting station 22 to produce individual packages from the sealed film material.
[0058] The in Figure 1 Cooling line 1 shown can be used together with the one in Figure 3The thermoforming packaging machine 16 shown forms a production line. The products P, which are vacuum-cooled along the cooling line 1, can be placed into the troughs M provided on the thermoforming packaging machine 16 via the discharge conveyor 13 positioned at the outlet of the cooling line 1. The discharge conveyor 13 thus serves as a product feed device for the thermoforming packaging machine 16.
[0059] Figure 4Figure 14 shows a packaging machine configured as a tray sealing machine 23. The tray sealing machine 23 has a feed conveyor 24 on which separate tray parts, so-called trays 25, are arranged. A sealing station 26 is provided downstream of the feed conveyor 24 in the production direction R. The sealing station 26 has a gripper device 27, which is designed to pick up the tray parts 25 provided on the feed conveyor 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 joined 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 a top film 30 passed through the sealing station 26.The shell parts 25, sealed by the top film 30, can be picked up by the gripper 27 and transferred to a discharge conveyor 31. Simultaneously, the gripper 27 can pick up unsealed shell parts 25 from the feed conveyor 24 and place them into the lower mold part 28.
[0060] The in Figure 1 The cooling line 1 shown can be used to cool the area in Figure 4 The tray sealing machine 23 shown is to be supplied with chilled products P. For example, the discharge conveyor 13 of the cooling line 1 shown in Figure 1 can be configured to place the chilled products P transported on it into the tray parts 25 positioned on the feed conveyor 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 direction of transport (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 the fact that In the direction of transport (T) several vacuum cooling chambers (5a, 5b) arranged one behind the other are formed for intermittent vacuum cooling of products (P) conveyed through them on the product conveyor (3a, 3b).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact 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 any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the product conveyor (3a, 3b) is heated to a predetermined temperature level and / or the chamber walls (8a, 8b) limiting 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) has 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 by the fact thatThe vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) is configured to form several vacuum cooling chambers (5a, 5b) positioned one behind the other in the transport direction (T), which are intended for intermittent vacuum cooling of products (P) conveyed through them on the product conveyor (3a, 3b).
5. Cooling line according to claim 4, characterized by the fact 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 the fact that The vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) is configured to form several vacuum cooling chambers (5a, 5b) positioned side by side transversely to the transport direction (T).
7. Cooling line according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by the fact thatthe vacuum cooling station (2a, 2b) has at least one upper tool part (6a, 6b) mounted in a height-adjustable manner relative to the product conveyor (3a, 3b) and / or at least one lower tool part mounted in a height-adjustable manner relative to the product conveyor (3a, 3b).
8. Cooling line according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the upper part of the tool (6a, 6b) and / or the lower part of the tool is designed to generate the vacuum (V).
9. Cooling line according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized by the fact that the product conveyor (3a, 3b) is heated to a predetermined temperature level and / or the chamber walls (8a, 8b) limiting 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 by the fact that 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 for transporting the products (P).
11. Cooling line according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized by the fact that the cooling line (1) has at least one additional 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 conveyor (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 for packaging 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 the fact 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).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
cooling device
DE29607689U1
Deep draw packaging machine with vacuum cooling station and method for vacuum cooling of hot-packed products
EP4335759A2
Vacuum packing method
JP1982001021A
Surface pasteurization method
US20040105927A1
Cooling and packaging device for baked goods
DE102018132897A1