Process and apparatus for preparing a food product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing a food product, comprising a frame (10), a tray (20) having an upper face (20A) and a lower face (20B), the upper face comprising means (25, 26) for reversibly attaching a food filling support, means (40-1, 40-2) for rotating the tray (20) relative to the frame (10) around an axis of rotation (AA'), and means (45-1, 45-2) for maintaining the tray in a first stable position in which the upper face (20A) of the tray is oriented upwards, or in a second stable position in which the lower face (20B) of the tray is oriented upwards. The lower face of the tray comprises means for carrying out a processing and / or finalizing step of the food product. Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for preparing a food product technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for preparing a food product, comprising a frame, a tray having an upper face and a lower face, the upper face comprising means for reversibly connecting to the tray of a food filling support, means for rotating the tray about an axis of rotation, and means for maintaining the tray in a first stable position in which the upper face of the tray is oriented upwards. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing a food product using such a device. Background

[0002] The applicant has developed and described in application WO 2020 / 012078 a filling support for a food product as well as a process and device for preparing a food product to simplify and optimize the manufacturing process of food products such as sandwiches.

[0003] Such a food preparation device comprises at least one food garnish holder and a tray pivoting about a horizontal axis. The food garnish holder includes reversible means for connecting the food garnish holder to the tray, which retain the food garnish holder on the tray when the pivoting tray is tilted.

[0004] The process of preparing a food product using such a device includes steps of arranging the food filling on the food filling support; collecting liquid or semi-liquid compounds flowing from the filling, by means of collection such as grooves integrated into the food filling support; tilting the tray and transferring the food filling into a food preparation, tilting the filled support sufficiently to cause the filling to slide into the food preparation.

[0005] The food filling support can be made from various materials, such as paper, plastic, or any other food-grade material. It is designed to be both rigid and flexible to facilitate the addition of ingredients and their retention. Once the food filling is placed on the support, it can be kept chilled and distributed to food production and sales locations. At the production and sales locations, the rotating tray allows to transfer the food filling between slices of bread or onto another base, ensuring good cohesion and presentation of the final food product.

[0006] This process offers several advantages. It reduces the time required to prepare food products in quantity, particularly sandwiches. The filling support ensures even distribution of ingredients, thus improving the quality and consistency of the finished products. The process can be adapted to various types of food products beyond sandwiches, such as wraps, burgers, salads, etc. Finally, the device is very easy to use. The design of the rotating platform and the device aims to simplify the process for operators, thereby reducing human error and increasing efficiency while offering great flexibility of use.

[0007] Once the food product has been made, it may undergo an additional processing and / or finalization step, such as the addition of ingredients, sauce, salt, pepper or other spices, or a bagging step.

[0008] It might therefore be desirable to integrate such steps into the food product preparation process implemented by means of a rotating platform device, in order to further facilitate the work of the operator in charge of preparing the food product. Summary

[0009] To this end, embodiments relate to a device for preparing a food product, comprising a frame, a tray having an upper face and a lower face, the upper face comprising means for reversibly connecting to the tray of a food filling support, means for rotating the tray about an axis of rotation, and means for maintaining the tray in a first stable position in which the upper face of the tray is oriented upwards. The device also comprises means for rotating the tray from the first stable position to a second stable position in which the lower face of the tray is oriented upwards, and the lower face of the tray comprises means for carrying out a processing and / or finalizing step of the food product.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the means for carrying out a processing and / or finalizing step of the food product include a food product support, the food product support being arranged in elevation relative to the lower face of the tray.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the food product support has one end connected to the tray by retaining means, and a free cantilevered end, the free end allowing, when a food product is placed on the food product support, for one packaging bag at a time to be slid around the product. food and around the food product support, passing through the cantilevered free end of the food product support.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the device includes at least one rotation stop for the platform attached to the chassis, the stop having an upper face coming into contact with the lower face of the platform when the latter is in the first stable position, and an lower face coming into contact with the lower face of the platform when the latter is in the second stable position.

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment, the device includes at least one rotation stop for the platform attached to the platform, the stop having a lower face coming into contact with a wall of the chassis when the platform is in the first stable position, and an upper face coming into contact with the wall when the platform is in the second stable position.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the platform has a first region between the axis of rotation and a first edge of the platform, and a second region between the axis of rotation and a second edge of the platform, and the mass of the platform in the first region is greater than the mass of the platform in its second region, to confer stability to the first and second positions of the platform.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the rotation means comprise two half-axes fixed to the plate and engaged in open slots made in two walls of the chassis, the device being devoid of means for locking the half-axes in the slots so that the plate can be removed from the chassis by lifting it so as to move it away from the chassis.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the means for reversibly connecting the food filling support with the tray include at least one male organ intended to cooperate with at least one cavity of the food filling support.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the means for reversibly connecting the food filling support with the tray comprise two longitudinal tabs attached to the upper face of the tray, located a few centimeters apart and inclined relative to each other at opposite angles.

[0018] Embodiments also relate to a combination of a device as previously described and a food filling support, in which the device comprises two male members fixed to the upper face of the tray, forming said reversible connection means with the tray of the food filling support, and the food filling support comprises a food filling receiving wall extending along a first plane, at least two food filling retaining walls inclined with respect to the first plane and bordering respectively two first opposite edges of the receiving wall, at least two reinforcing walls inclined relative to the foreground and bordering respectively the first two opposite edges of the receiving wall, opposite the retaining walls, and at least four corner walls, each corner wall connecting and extending a retaining wall and a reinforcing wall, the reinforcing walls forming with the retaining walls and the corner walls, two receiving housings for the male organs of the device.

[0019] Embodiments also relating to a method of preparing a food product using a device as previously described, comprising the steps of: with the tray in the first stable position, placing on the upper face of the tray the food filling support on which a food filling has been placed; tilting the tray sufficiently to cause the food filling to slide onto a food preparation, and thus form a food product; rotating the tray by half a turn relative to the first stable position, to reach the second stable position; placing the food product on the food product support, and carrying out a processing and / or finalizing step of the food product while it is placed on the food product support.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the food product support is arranged in elevation relative to the lower face of the tray, includes an end connected to the tray by means of fixing and a free cantilevered end, and the food product processing and / or finalization step includes a step of packaging the food product by means of a packaging bag which is slid both around the food product and around the food product support by passing through the free cantilevered end of the support, followed by a step of removing the food product from the support while keeping it in the packaging bag.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the food preparation is a piece of bread and the food product is a sandwich. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Examples of the embodiment of a device and a method for preparing a food product will be described below, by way of non-limiting example, in relation to the accompanying figures, among which:

[0023] - Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a product preparation device food, in a first stable position,

[0024] - Figure [Fig. 2] shows the device of Figure [Fig. 1] in a second stable position,

[0025] - [Fig.3A] shows an example of a food filling support and [Fig.3B] shows the garnish support on which a food garnish has been placed,

[0026] - [Fig. 4] shows a step in a process for preparing a food product means of the device of [Fig.1] and the food filling support of [Fig.3B],

[0027] - Figure 5 shows another step in the process of preparing a product eating,

[0028] - Figure 6 shows another step in the process of preparing a product eating,

[0029] - Figure 7 shows another step in the process of preparing a product food, and

[0030] - Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the device for preparing a food garnish of the [Fig.l]. Detailed description

[0031] Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 show an embodiment of a food preparation device 1. The device 1 comprises a frame 10, a tray 20 having an upper face 20A and a lower face 20B, and means 40-1, 40-2 for rotating the tray 20 about an axis of rotation AA'. The frame 10 here comprises two vertically arranged side walls 11-1, 11-2, and a base 13 resting on a support surface (not shown), the base ensuring the connection of the walls 11-1, 11-2. The assembly is, for example, made of metal or any other material suitable for food preparation.

[0032] The upper face 20A of the tray 20 includes male elements 25, 26 for reversibly connecting to the tray of a food filling support 50 of a type shown in Figures 3A, 3B. These reversible connecting means include, by way of non-limiting example, two short longitudinal tabs 25, 26, generally a few centimeters high and about twenty centimeters long, attached to the upper face of the tray 20A and located a few centimeters apart. The tabs 25, 26 are inclined relative to each other at opposite angles, in a V-shaped arrangement with a truncated base.

[0033] The means for rotating the plate 20 here comprise two half-axes 40-1, 40-2. The half-axe 40-1 ([Fig. 1]) cooperates in rotation with the wall 11-1 of the frame, the second half-axe 40-2 cooperating in rotation with the side wall 11-2. As shown in [Fig. 1], the half-axe 40-1 here comprises a rod 27-1 inserted into a slot 116-1 in the form of an open slot machined in the wall 11-1. The rod 27-1 is here a flat tab extending from a left edge 21 of the plate 20 and is formed here by machining the plate. The slot 116-1 is here machined in a projecting tab or flange 115-1 extending above an upper edge 110-1 of the wall. The flange 115-1 is the same thickness as the wall 11-1 and is machined from a single piece during the wall machining process. The half-shaft 40-2 is identical to the half-shaft 40-1 and comprises a rod 27-2 inserted into an open slot-shaped housing 116-2 made in a projecting leg 115-2 which extends above an upper edge 110-2 of the wall 11-2. The stem 27-2, like the stem 27-1, is here a tongue which extends in the continuation of a straight edge 22 of the plate 20.

[0034] In order to prevent the tabs 27-1, 27-2, which extend beyond the slots 116-1, 116-2 on either side of the walls 11-1, 11-2, from injuring an operator, their ends are here provided with a flared 28-1, 28-2 with a rounded edge, for example in the shape of a semicircle.

[0035] Due to this arrangement, the platform 20, under the effect of its own weight, is supported by the half-axes 40-1, 40-2, which rest on the left 11-1 and right 11-2 walls of the frame, in a position where it extends substantially above the upper edges 110-1, 110-2 of the walls 11-1, 11-2 and can rotate about the axis of rotation AA'. The platform can be easily removed by lifting it away from the walls 11-1, 11-2, which has the effect of extracting the tabs 27-1, 27-2 from the slots 116-1, 116-2.

[0036] The device here comprises two rotation stops 45-1, 45-2 for the turntable, arranged on either side of it. The stop 45-1 is a tab which, like the flange 115-1, was formed as an extension of the upper edge 110-1 of the wall 11-1 of the frame, but was then bent at 90° to occupy a horizontal position instead of a vertical one. Similarly, the stop 45-2 was formed as an extension of the upper edge 110-2 of the wall 11-2 of the frame, and was bent at 90° to occupy a horizontal position.

[0037] The plate 20 has a first region extending between the axis of rotation AA' and a first transverse edge 23 of the plate parallel to the axis of rotation AA', and a second region extending between the axis of rotation AA' and a second transverse edge 24 parallel to the axis of rotation AA'. In one embodiment, the first region has a greater mass than the second region. This difference in mass can be obtained by a difference in the extent of each region relative to the axis of rotation AA' and / or a difference in thickness, or by any other means. In the example shown, the transverse edge 23 of the plate 20 that delimits the first region is located at a distance dl from the axis of rotation AA', while the transverse edge 24 is located at a distance d2 from the axis of rotation AA', the distance d2 being less than the distance dl.For a precise calculation of the mass difference between the first and second regions of the tray, the components of each region can also be taken into account, as will be seen later. The two reversible connecting tabs 25, 26 of the food filling support are arranged here in the second region of the tray. Tab 25 is formed by cutting the tray according to a pattern corresponding to the desired shape of the tab, followed by a folding step. The cut-out portion forms the tongue. The tongue 26 extends along the edge 24 of the tray and is formed by machining and folding this edge 24.

[0038] Due to the arrangement just described, the plate 20 can occupy two stable positions. In a first stable position shown in [Fig. 1], the upper face 20A of the plate is oriented upwards. The upper face of the stops 45-1, 45-2 is in contact with the lower face 20B of the plate in its first region. In [Fig. 2], the plate has been rotated half a turn around the axis of rotation AA'. The plate is in a second stable position in which its lower face 20B is oriented upwards. The lower face of the stops 45-1, 45-2 is here in contact with the lower face 20B of the plate, and the second stable position is maintained by a counterweight effect, the second region of the plate, of extent d1, acting as a counterweight.

[0039] According to one aspect of this disclosure, after a food product 62 has been prepared in a manner that will be described later, the underside 20A of the tray is used to perform a processing and / or finishing step on the food product and is provided for this purpose with specific means. In the example shown, these specific means include or take the form of a support 30 designed to receive the food product and facilitate its packaging, among other things (including possible finishing operations such as salting, peppering, adding a sauce to the food product, etc.). The support 30 is shaped to match the shape of the food product in question and here takes the form of a longitudinal support plate providing a flat surface for placing a sandwich.The support plate 30 is arranged in the first region of the platform 20, parallel to the lower face 20B of the platform and raised a few centimeters above it. It has a proximal end 31 which is fixed to the platform 20 by a vertical partition 33, and a cantilevered distal end 32. The partition 33 has a portion 33a which extends above the support plate 30, forming a stop for the food product.

[0040] Fig. 3A shows a food filling support 50 of the type described in WO 2020 / 012078 and Fig. 3B shows the support 50 on which a food filling 60 is arranged. The support 50 is made of cardboard or plastic, preferably a recyclable or bio-based material, and comprises a wall 51 for receiving the filling 60, or base, which extends along a foreground, preferably having longitudinal grooves for draining liquids or semi-liquids. The support 50 also comprises two retaining walls 52a, 52b for holding the filling 60, inclined with respect to the foreground and respectively bordering two opposite first edges of the receiving wall, as well as two reinforcing walls 53a, 53b inclined with respect to the foreground and respectively bordering the two opposite first edges of the The receiving wall is opposite the retaining walls 52a and 52b. The support 50 also includes four corner walls 54a1, 54a2, 54b1, and 54b2, each corner wall connecting and extending a retaining wall 52a and 52b and a reinforcing wall 53a and 53b. The lower part of the support 50 may also include a peripheral reinforcing wall 55 that runs all the way around the support 50 and gives it good rigidity.

[0041] The reinforcing walls 53a, 53b form, together with the retaining walls 52a, 52b and the corner walls 54al, 54a2, 54b1, 54b2, two housings for receiving the tabs 25, 26 provided on the upper face 20A of the tray 20. The assembly here constitutes the means of reversible connection with the tray 20 of the support 50 of food filling 60.

[0042] Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show steps in preparing a food product 62 in accordance with an embodiment of the process which is the subject of this disclosure.

[0043] At a step shown in [Fig. 4], the tray 20 is in the first stable position, with its upper face 20A facing upwards. The support 50, on which a food filling 60 is placed, is arranged on the tray by inserting the ends of the tabs 25, 26 into their receiving slots.

[0044] At a step shown in [Fig.5], the tray 20 is tilted by rotating it around the axis of rotation AA' until the food filling 60 present on the food filling support 50 slides into a food preparation 61, here a piece of bread split lengthwise.

[0045] In a step illustrated in [Fig. 6], the tray 20 was rotated half a turn and is now in the second stable position, with its lower face 20B facing upwards. Between the steps in [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6], the support 50 for the food filling 60 may have been removed from the upper face 20A of the tray, or it may have detached itself from the tray when the tray was turned over. The food product 62, here a sandwich, is placed on the support plate 30 and may undergo optional finishing steps, if necessary.

[0046] In a step shown in [Fig. 7], a packaging bag 70 is slid simultaneously around the food product 62 and around the support plate 30 by its cantilevered free end 32. The food product can then be removed from the support plate while remaining in the bag 70.

[0047] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the device according to the invention is susceptible to various variants and other embodiments. The support 30 for the food product 62 provided on the underside 20B of the tray 20 can take various forms appropriate to the targeted processing or finalization stages of the food product, or various forms appropriate to the shape of the food product. For example, the support 30 can take the form of a plate having an opening for receive a cardboard or plastic container to be bagged, into which the food filling is poured during the step illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0048] Furthermore, any other type of attachment of the trim support to the upper face of the plate can be provided, for example, an attachment using magnets integrated into the plate and a metal trim support held magnetically to the plate. Similarly, the two longitudinal tabs 25, 26 could be made on an independent support magnetically attached to the rotating plate 20.

[0049] The embodiment described above has the advantage of not including any assembly of parts by means of screws, and comprises only two constituent parts, namely the plate 20 and the chassis 10. Removing the plate 20 from the chassis 10 does not require any disassembly and allows for quick cleaning of the plate, and its immediate reassembly by simply inserting the tabs 27-1, 27-2 into the slots 116-1, 116-2.

[0050] For the distribution of the masses of the tray on either side of the axis of rotation AA', conferring the stability of the tray 20 in the two stable positions mentioned above, the weight of the support 30 of food product 62, as well as the weight of the support 50 of food preparation when it is filled, may be taken into account.

[0051] Figure 8 shows an embodiment 2 of the device in which the plate 20 has two rotation stops 46-1, 46-2 fixed to the plate 20. The stop 46-1 is a tab or lug extending horizontally on the left edge 21 of the plate. The stop 46-2 is a tab or lug extending horizontally on the right edge 22 of the plate. When the plate is in the first stable position, with the upper face 20A facing upwards, the lower face of the stop 46-1 is in contact with the edge 110-1 of the left wall 11-1 of the frame, while the lower face of the stop 46-2 is in contact with the edge 110-2 of the right wall 11-2 of the frame.When the platform has been turned over as shown by an arrow and brought into the second stable position, with its upper face 20A facing downwards, the upper face of the stop 46-1 is in contact with the edge 110-1 of the left wall 11-1 of the chassis and the upper face of the stop 46-2 is in contact with the edge 110-2 of the right wall 11-2 of the chassis.

Claims

Demands

1. A device (1, 2) for preparing a food product (62), comprising: - a frame (10, 11-1, 11-2, 13), - a tray (20) comprising an upper face (20A) and a lower face (20B), the upper face (20A) comprising means (25, 26) for reversibly connecting a food filling (60) to the tray (20), - means (40-1, 40-2) for rotating the tray about an axis of rotation (AA1), and - means (45-1, 45-2, 46-1, 46-2) for maintaining the tray in a first stable position in which the upper face (20A) of the tray is oriented upwards, a device characterized in that it comprises means (40-1, 40-2, 45-1, 45-2, 46-1, 46-2) to rotate the platform from the first stable position to a second stable position in which the lower face (20B) of the platform is oriented upwards,and in that the lower face (20B) of the tray comprises means (30) for carrying out a processing and / or finalization step of the food product (62).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means for carrying out a processing and / or finalizing step of the food product (62) comprise a food product (62) support (30), the food product (62) support (30) being arranged in elevation relative to the lower face (20B) of the tray.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the food product support (30) (62) has an end (31) connected to the tray (20) by retaining means (33), and a cantilevered free end (32), the free end allowing, when a food product (62) is placed on the food product support, a packaging bag (70) to be slid around both the food product (62) and the food product support (30) (62) by passing through the cantilevered free end (32) of the food product support.

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for rotating the platform from the first stable position to a second stable position comprise at least a rotation stop (45-1, 45-2) of the plate attached to the chassis (10, 11-1, 11-2), the stop having an upper face coming into contact with the lower face (20B) of the plate when the latter is in the first stable position, and an lower face coming into contact with the lower face (20B) of the plate when the latter is in the second stable position.

5. Device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for rotating the platform from the first stable position to a second stable position comprise at least one rotation stop (46-1, 46-2) of the platform integral with the platform, the stop (46-1, 46-2) having a lower face in contact with a wall (11-1, 110-1, 11-2, 110-2) of the frame (10) when the platform is in the first stable position, and an upper face in contact with the wall (11-1, 11-2) when the platform is in the second stable position.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: - the platform has a first region between the axis of rotation (AA') and a first edge (23) of the platform, and a second region between the axis of rotation (AA') and a second edge (24) of the platform, and - the mass of the platform in the first region is greater than the mass of the platform in its second region, to confer stability to the first and second positions of the platform.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rotation means (40-1, 40-2) comprise two half-axes (27-1, 27-2) integral with the platter (20) and engaged in open slots (116-1, 116-2) made in two walls (11-1, 11-2) of the chassis, the device being devoid of means for locking the half-axes (27-1, 27-2) in the slots (116-1, 116-2) such that the platter can be removed from the chassis by lifting it away from the chassis.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reversible linking means of the food filling support (50) (60) with the tray (20) comprise at least one male member (25, 26) intended to cooperate with at least one cavity of the food filling support.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the reversible connection means of the food filling support (50) (60) with the tray include two longitudinal tabs (25, 26) attached to the upper face of the tray (20A), located a few centimeters apart and inclined relative to each other at opposite angles.

10. A combination of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a food filling support (50) (60), wherein: - the device comprises two male members (25, 26) integral with the upper face (20A) of the tray (20), forming said reversible connection means with the tray of the food filling support (60), and - the food filling support (60) comprises a food filling receiving wall (51) extending along a first plane, at least two food filling retaining walls (52a, 52b) inclined with respect to the first plane and respectively bordering two first opposite edges of the receiving wall, at least two reinforcing walls (53a, 53b) inclined with respect to the first plane and respectively bordering the first two second opposite edges of the receiving wall, opposite the retaining walls (52a, 52b), and at least four walls corner (54al, 54a2, 54b 1, 54b2),each corner wall connecting and extending a retaining wall and a reinforcing wall, the reinforcing walls forming, together with the retaining walls and the corner walls, two housings for receiving the male components (25, 26) of the device.

11. A method for preparing a food product (62) using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of: - with the tray (20) in the first stable position, place the food filling support (50) (60) on the upper face (20A) of the tray, on which a food filling (60) has been placed, - tilt the tray sufficiently to cause the food filling (60) to slide onto a food preparation (61), thus forming a food product (62), - rotate the platform (20) half a turn relative to the first stable position, to reach the second stable position, - place the food product (62) on the food product support (30), and

12.

13. - carry out a processing and / or finalization step of the food product (62) while it is placed on the support (30) of food product (62). A method according to claim 11, wherein the food product support (30) (62) is arranged in elevation relative to the lower face (20B) of the tray, comprises an end (31) connected to the tray (20) by means (33) of fastening and a free end (32) in cantilever, and wherein the food product processing and / or finalization step comprises a step of packaging the food product (62) by means of a packaging bag (70) which is slid both around the food product (62) and around the food product support (30) (62) by passing through the free end (32) in cantilever of the support, followed by a step of removing the food product from the support while keeping it in the packaging bag. A method according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the food preparation (61) is a piece of bread and the food product (62) is a sandwich.

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